Website code number
fa19049
Archive code number
95053
Summary of question
Which one of the holy Imams (AS) recited Dua Faraj?
question
Which one of the holy Imams (AS) recited Dua Faraj? Please provide references.
Concise answer
The term “faraj” means remedy or improvement or relief from grief and sorrow. [1] The hadith books which include this term and also duas and deeds (a’amāl) have referred to the same meaning. We suffice to mentioning a few examples of duas which have been named “dua Faraj” or “Namaz-e Faraj”:
1. A dua, which has also been called “Dua Faraj”, has been narrated from the Holy Prophet (S) as such:
«اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ يَا اللَّهُ يَا اللَّهُ يَا اللَّهُ يَا مَنْ عَلَا فَقَهَرَ...»[2]
2. A dua known as “Dua Faraj of Imam Zaman (AS)” and in which the phrase “farajan ‘ajilan”[3] (quick reappearance) is used and which begins with:
«أللٌهُمَ (إلهِی) عَظُمَ البَلاءُ وَبَرِحَ الخَفَاءُ...»[4]
3. A dua which contains the concept of remedy, relief and improvement and which Sheikh Tusi has reported as part of the daily a’amal (religious deeds which yield reward). This dua has been reported from Imam Sadiq (AS): [5]
«اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّ الصَّادِقَ الْأَمِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ قَالَ إِنَّكَ قُلْتَ مَا تَرَدَّدْتُ فِي شَيْءٍ أَنَا فَاعِلُهُ كَتَرَدُّدِي فِي قَبْضِ رُوحِ عَبْدِيَ الْمُؤْمِنِ يَكْرَهُ الْمَوْتَ وَ أَكْرَهُ مَسَاءَتَهُ اللَّهُمَّ فَصَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ عَجِّلْ لِوَلِيِّكَ الْفَرَجَ وَ الْعَافِيَةَ وَ النَّصْرَ وَ لَا تَسُؤْنِي فِي نَفْسِي وَ لَا فِي أَحَدٍ مِنْ أَحِبَّتِي»
“O’Allah! Bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad. O’ Allah! Your Messenger, the truthful, the trustworthy - may Your blessings be upon him and his household has said that You say ‘I have not hesitated in a matter that I decide to do more than My hesitation in taking the soul of My believing servant who hates to encounter death and I hate to perturb him.’ O’ Allah! Bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad and hasten the relief of your intimate servant and give him wellbeing and succor, and do not perturb me or any of those whom I love, ...’[6]
4. A prayer which has been narrated from Imam Ali (AS) and which is known as Namaz-e Faraj.[7]
As for the well-known dua which begins with “Allahumma kun li waliyik…” (أللٌهُمَ کُن لِوَلِیٌکَ.), given the meaning considered for faraj, it is not named “Dua Faraj”; rather it is one of the duas which Shia Muslims recite for the reappearance of Imam of Time (AS). It is considered to be part of the a’amal (religious deeds) on the 23rd night of the month of Ramadhan. In fact, this supplication can be recited at any time to remember the twelfth Imam who is in occultation.[8]
It is worth mentioning that supplications which incorporate high moral and mystical contents and are in accordance with Quran and traditions do not need to have a strong and authentic chain of transmission as required in jurisprudence. Indeed, the supplications mentioned above are authentic and have reliable chain of transmission.
1. A dua, which has also been called “Dua Faraj”, has been narrated from the Holy Prophet (S) as such:
«اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ يَا اللَّهُ يَا اللَّهُ يَا اللَّهُ يَا مَنْ عَلَا فَقَهَرَ...»[2]
2. A dua known as “Dua Faraj of Imam Zaman (AS)” and in which the phrase “farajan ‘ajilan”[3] (quick reappearance) is used and which begins with:
«أللٌهُمَ (إلهِی) عَظُمَ البَلاءُ وَبَرِحَ الخَفَاءُ...»[4]
3. A dua which contains the concept of remedy, relief and improvement and which Sheikh Tusi has reported as part of the daily a’amal (religious deeds which yield reward). This dua has been reported from Imam Sadiq (AS): [5]
«اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّ الصَّادِقَ الْأَمِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ قَالَ إِنَّكَ قُلْتَ مَا تَرَدَّدْتُ فِي شَيْءٍ أَنَا فَاعِلُهُ كَتَرَدُّدِي فِي قَبْضِ رُوحِ عَبْدِيَ الْمُؤْمِنِ يَكْرَهُ الْمَوْتَ وَ أَكْرَهُ مَسَاءَتَهُ اللَّهُمَّ فَصَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ عَجِّلْ لِوَلِيِّكَ الْفَرَجَ وَ الْعَافِيَةَ وَ النَّصْرَ وَ لَا تَسُؤْنِي فِي نَفْسِي وَ لَا فِي أَحَدٍ مِنْ أَحِبَّتِي»
“O’Allah! Bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad. O’ Allah! Your Messenger, the truthful, the trustworthy - may Your blessings be upon him and his household has said that You say ‘I have not hesitated in a matter that I decide to do more than My hesitation in taking the soul of My believing servant who hates to encounter death and I hate to perturb him.’ O’ Allah! Bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad and hasten the relief of your intimate servant and give him wellbeing and succor, and do not perturb me or any of those whom I love, ...’[6]
4. A prayer which has been narrated from Imam Ali (AS) and which is known as Namaz-e Faraj.[7]
As for the well-known dua which begins with “Allahumma kun li waliyik…” (أللٌهُمَ کُن لِوَلِیٌکَ.), given the meaning considered for faraj, it is not named “Dua Faraj”; rather it is one of the duas which Shia Muslims recite for the reappearance of Imam of Time (AS). It is considered to be part of the a’amal (religious deeds) on the 23rd night of the month of Ramadhan. In fact, this supplication can be recited at any time to remember the twelfth Imam who is in occultation.[8]
It is worth mentioning that supplications which incorporate high moral and mystical contents and are in accordance with Quran and traditions do not need to have a strong and authentic chain of transmission as required in jurisprudence. Indeed, the supplications mentioned above are authentic and have reliable chain of transmission.
[1] Ibn Manzur, Muhammad bin Mukram, Lisan al-Arab, vol.2, p.343, term “al-Faraj”, Dar Sadir Publications, Beirut, Third Edition, 1414 A.H; Turaihi, Fakhruddin, Majma’ al-Bahrain, researcher and editor: Sayyid Ahmad, vol.2, p.323, Murtazawi Bookstore Publications, Tehran, 3rd edition, 1416 A.H.
[2] Ibn Tavus, Ali bin Musa, Mahaj al-Da’awat wa Manhaj al-Ibadat, p.90, Dar al-Zakhaer, Qom, first edition, 1411 A.H.
[3] In fact, elsewhere this dua has been reported with a little variation which is recited after prayer for the Imam of Time; (Vide: Sheikh Hurr Amili, Muhammad bin Hasan, Wasail al-Shi’ah, vol., p.18, Aalulbayt (AS) Institute, Qom, first edition, 1409 A.H.).
[4] Amili Kaf’ami, Ibrahim bin Ali, al-Mesbah – Junnatul Aman al-Waqiyah wa Junnat al-Iman al-Baqiyah, p.176, Al-Razi Publications Center, Qom, 2nd edition, 1405 A.H.
[5] Sheikh Tusi, Mesbah al-Mutahajjid wa Selah al-Muta’abbid, vol.1, p.58, Fiqh al-Shi’ah Institute, Beirut, first edition, 1407 A.H.
[6] Biharul Anwar, vol. 86, pg. 7, sec. 38, no. 7; Makarim al-Akhlaq, pg. 284; Qutbuddin Rawandi, Al-Da’awat, Salwat al-Hazin, p.134, Imam Hadi School, Qom, first edition, 1407 A.H.
[7] Tabarsi, Hasan bin Fazl, Makarem al-Akhlaq, p.329, p.329, Sharif Razi, Qom, fourth edition, 1412 A.H.
[8] Sheikh Tusi Muhammad bin al-Hasan, Tahzib al-Ahkam, researcher and editor: Kharsan Hasan al-Musavi, vol.3, p.103, Dar al-Kotob al-Islamiyyah, Tehran, 4th edition, 1407 A.H.; Mafatih al-Jenan, A’amal of the holy month of Ramadhan, the supplication of the twenty third night.