Lightening fast Prayer (for worldly desires)

Text and Translation

It is reported that a man came to Imam Ali, Amir al-Mu'minin (a), complaining of the delay in his prayers being answered. The Imam asked, "Have you tried the swift-responded prayer?" "What prayer is that?" the man asked, and the Imam taught him to say:

اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّىْۤ اَسْئَلُكَ بِاسْمِكَ الْعَظِيْمِ الْاَعْظَمِ الْاَجَلِّ الْاَكْرَمِ الْمَخْزُوْنِ الْمَكْنُوْنِ النُّوْرِ الْحَقِّ الْبُرْهَانِ الْمُبِيْنِ

ALLAAHUMMA INNEE AS-ALUKA BISMIKAL A'ZEEMIL A'ZAMIL AJALLIL AKRAMIL MAKHZOONIL MAKNOONIN NOORIL HAQQIL BURHAANIL MUBEEN

O Allah, I ask You by Your Name, the Great, the Greatest, the Most Glorious, the Most Noble, the Treasured, the Hidden, the Light of Truth, the Manifest Proof,

الَّذِىْ هُوَ نُوْرٌ مَعَ نُوْرٍ وَ نُوْرٌ مِنْ نُوْرٍ وَ نُوْرٌ فِىْ نُوْرٍ وَ نُوْرٌ عَلٰى كُلِّ نُوْرٍ وَ نُوْرٌ فَوْقَ كُلِّ نُوْرٍ

AL-LAZEE HUWA NOORUM MA-A' NOOR WA NOORUM MIN NOOR WA NOORUN FEE NOOR WA NOORUN A'LAA KULLI NOOR WA NOORUN FAWQA KULLI NOOR

which is light with light, light from light, light within light, light above every light, and light beyond every light,

وَ نُوْرٌ تُضِيْۤئُ بِهِ كُلُّ ظُلْمَةٍ وَ يُكْسَرُ بِهِ كُلُّ شِدَّةٍ وَ كُلُّ شَيْطَانٍ مَرِيْدٍ وَ كُلُّ جَبَّارٍ عَنِيْدٍ

WA NOORUN TUDEEA-O BIHI KULLU ZULMATIW WA YUKSARU BIHI KULLU SHIDDATIW WA KULLU SHAYTAANIM MAREEDIW WA KULLU JABBAARIN A'NEED

a light by which every darkness is illuminated, and by which every hardship, every rebellious devil, and every obstinate tyrant is broken,

لَا تَقِرُّ بِهِ اَرْضٌ وَلَا يَقُوْمُ بِهِ سَمَاۤءٌ وَ يَاْمَنُ بِهِ كُلُّ خَاۤئِفٍ

LAA TAQIRRU BIHI ARDUW WA LAA YAQOOMU BIHI SAMAAA-UW WA YA-MANU BIHI KULLU KHAAA-IF

before which the earth does not settle nor does the sky remain firm, and by which every frightened one is made secure;

يَبْطُلُ بِهِ سِحْرُ كُلِّ سَاحِرٍ وَ بَغْىُ كُلِّ بَاغٍ وَ حَسَدُ كُلِّ حَاسِدٍ

YABTULU BIHI SIHRU KULLI SAAHIRIW WA BAGHYU KULLI BAAGHIN WA HASADU KULLI HAASID

by which the magic of every magician, the aggression of every aggressor, and the envy of every envier is nullified,

وَ يَتَصَدَّعُ لِعَظَمَتِهِ الْبَرُّ وَالْبَحْرُ وَ يَسْتَقِلُّ بِهِ الْفُلْكُ حِيْنَ يَتَكَلَّمُ بِهِ الْمَلَكُ فَلَا يَكُوْنُ لِلْمَوْجِ عَلَيْهِ سَبِيْلٌ

WA YATASADDA-U' LI-A'ZAMATIHIL BARRU WAL BAHRU WA YASTAQILLU BIHIL FULKU HEENA YATAKALLAMU BIHIL MALAKU FALAA YAKOONU LIL MAWJI A'LAYHI SABEEL

before whose greatness land and sea split apart, and by which a vessel stands upright when an angel speaks it, so that no wave can find a way against it;

وَ هُوَ اسْمُكَ الْاَعْظَمُ الْاَعْظَمُ الْاَجَلُّ الْاَجَلُّ النُّوْرُ الْاَكْبَرُ الَّذِىْ سَمَّيْتَ بِهِ نَفْسَكَ وَاسْتَوَيْتَ بِهِ عَلٰى عَرْشِكَ

WA HUWAS MUKAL A'ZAMUL A'ZAMUL AJALLUL AJALLUN NOORUL AKBARUL LAZEE SAMMAYTA BIHI NAFSAKA WASTAWAYTA BIHI A'LAA A'RSHIK

and it is Your Greatest Name, the Most Glorious, the Greatest Light, by which You have named Yourself and by which You are established upon Your Throne;

وَ اَتَوَجَّهُ اِلَيْكَ بِمُحَمَّدٍ وَ اَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ وَاَسْئَلُكَ بِكَ وَ بِهِمْ اَنْ تُصَلِّىَ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ اَنْ تَفْعَلَ بِىْ كَذَا وَ كَذَا

WA ATAWAJJAHU ILAYKA BI-MUHAMMADIW WA AHLI BAYTIHI WA AS-ALUKA BIKA WA BIHIM AN TUSALLIYA A'LAA MUHAMMADIW WA AALI MUHAMMADIW WA AN TAF-A'LA BEE KAZAA WA KAZAA

and I turn to You through Muhammad and his Household, and I ask You, by You and by them, to bless Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad, and to do with me such-and-such.

One may then submit his requests.

Amr ibn Abi'l-Miqdam reports: Imam al-Sadiq (a) dictated this supplication, which secures benefits in this world and the next. After praising and thanking Allah, say:

اَللّٰهُمَّ اَنْتَ اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ الْحَلِيْمُ الْكَرِيْمُ وَ اَنْتَ اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ الْعَزِيْزُ الْحَكِيْمُ

ALLAAHUMMA ANTAL LAAHO LAA ILAAHA ILLAA ANTAL HALEEMUL KAREEM WA ANTAL LAAHO LAA ILAAHA ILLAA ANTAL A'ZEEZUL HAKEEM

O Allah, You are Allah, there is no god but You, the Forbearing, the Generous; and You are Allah, there is no god but You, the Mighty, the Wise;

وَ اَنْتَ اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ الْوَاحِدُ الْقَهَّارُ وَ اَنْتَ اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ الْمَلِكُ الْجَبَّارُ

WA ANTAL LAAHO LAA ILAAHA ILLAA ANTAL WAAHIDUL QAHHAAR WA ANTAL LAAHO LAA ILAAHA ILLAA ANTAL MALIKUL JABBAAR

and You are Allah, there is no god but You, the One, the Subduer; and You are Allah, there is no god but You, the Sovereign, the Compeller;

وَ اَنْتَ اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ الرَّحِيْمُ الْغَفَّارُ وَ اَنْتَ اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ الشَّدِيْدُ الْمِحَالِ

WA ANTAL LAAHO LAA ILAAHA ILLAA ANTAR RAHEEMUL GHAFFAAR WA ANTAL LAAHO LAA ILAAHA ILLAA ANTASH SHADEEDUL MIHAAL

and You are Allah, there is no god but You, the Merciful, the Ever-forgiving; and You are Allah, there is no god but You, Severe in punishment;

وَ اَنْتَ اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ الْكَبِيْرُ الْمُتَعَالُ وَ اَنْتَ اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ السَّمِيْعُ الْبَصِيْرُ

WA ANTAL LAAHO LAA ILAAHA ILLAA ANTAL KABEERUL MUTA-A'AL WA ANTAL LAAHO LAA ILAAHA ILLAA ANTAS SAMEE-U'L BASEER

and You are Allah, there is no god but You, the Great, the Most High; and You are Allah, there is no god but You, the All-hearing, the All-seeing;

وَ اَنْتَ اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ الْمَنِيْعُ الْقَدِيْرُ وَ اَنْتَ اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ الْغَفُوْرُ الشَّكُوْرُ

WA ANTAL LAAHO LAA ILAAHA ILLAA ANTAL MANEE-U'L QADEER WA ANTAL LAAHO LAA ILAAHA ILLAA ANTAL GHAFOORUSH SHAKOOR

and You are Allah, there is no god but You, the Impregnable, the Powerful; and You are Allah, there is no god but You, the Forgiving, the Appreciative;

وَ اَنْتَ اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ الْحَمِيْدُ الْمَجِيْدُ وَ اَنْتَ اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ الْغَنِىُّ الْحَمِيْدُ

WA ANTAL LAAHO LAA ILAAHA ILLAA ANTAL HAMEEDUL MAJEED WA ANTAL LAAHO LAA ILAAHA ILLAA ANTAL GHANIYYUL HAMEED

and You are Allah, there is no god but You, the Praiseworthy, the Glorious; and You are Allah, there is no god but You, the Self-sufficient, the Praiseworthy;

وَ اَنْتَ اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ الْغَفُوْرُ الْوَدُوْدُ وَ اَنْتَ اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ الْحَنَّانُ الْمَنَّانُ

WA ANTAL LAAHO LAA ILAAHA ILLAA ANTAL GHAFOORUL WADOOD WA ANTAL LAAHO LAA ILAAHA ILLAA ANTAL HANNAANUL MANNAAN

and You are Allah, there is no god but You, the Forgiving, the Loving; and You are Allah, there is no god but You, the Compassionate, the Bounteous;

وَ اَنْتَ اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ الْحَلِيْمُ الدَّيَّانُ وَ اَنْتَ اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ الْجَوَادُ الْمَاجِدُ

WA ANTAL LAAHO LAA ILAAHA ILLAA ANTAL HALEEMUD DAYYAAN WA ANTAL LAAHO LAA ILAAHA ILLAA ANTAL JAWAADUL MAAJID

and You are Allah, there is no god but You, the Forbearing, the Requiter; and You are Allah, there is no god but You, the Generous, the Glorious;

وَ اَنْتَ اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ الْوَاحِدُ الْاَحَدُ وَ اَنْتَ اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ الْغَاۤئِبُ الشَّاهِدُ

WA ANTAL LAAHO LAA ILAAHA ILLAA ANTAL WAAHIDUL AHAD WA ANTAL LAAHO LAA ILAAHA ILLAA ANTAL GHAAA-IBUSH SHAAHID

and You are Allah, there is no god but You, the One, the Only; and You are Allah, there is no god but You, the Absent, the Present;

وَ اَنْتَ اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ الظَّاهِرُ الْبَاطِنُ وَ اَنْتَ اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنْتَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيْمٌ

WA ANTAL LAAHO LAA ILAAHA ILLAA ANTAZ ZAAHIRUL BAATIN WA ANTAL LAAHO LAA ILAAHA ILLAA ANTA BI-KULLI SHAY-IN A'LEEM

and You are Allah, there is no god but You, the Manifest, the Hidden; and You are Allah, there is no god but You, All-knowing of everything.

تَمَّ نُوْرُكَ فَهَدَيْتَ وَ بَسَطْتَ يَدَكَ فَاَعْطَيْتَ رَبَّنَا وَجْهُكَ اَكْرَمُ الْوُجُوْهِ وَجَهَتُكَ خَيْرُ الْجِهَاتِ

TAMMA NOORUKA FAHADAYTA WA BASATTA YADAKA FA-A'TAYT RABBANAA WAJHUKA AKRAMUL WUJOOH WA JAHATUKA KHAYRUL JIHAAT

Your light was complete, so You guided; You spread out Your hand, so You gave. Our Lord, Your Countenance is the noblest of countenances, and Your direction is the best of directions,

وَ عَطِيَّتُكَ اَفْضَلُ الْعَطَايَا وَ اَهْنَاُهَا تُطَاعُ رَبَّنَا فَتَشْكُرُ وَ تُعْصٰى رَبَّنَا فَتَغْفِرُ لِمَنْ شِئْتَ

WA A'TIYYATUKA AFDALUL A'TAAYAA WA AHNA-UHAA TUTAA-O' RABBANAA FATASHKUR WA TU'SAA RABBANAA FATAGHFIRU LIMAN SHI-T

and Your giving is the best and most pleasant of gifts. You are obeyed, our Lord, and You are thankful; and You are disobeyed, our Lord, yet You forgive whomever You will;

تُجِيْبُ الْمُضْطَرِّيْنَ وَ تَكْشِفُ السُّوْۤءَ وَ تَقْبَلُ التَّوْبَةَ وَ تَعْفُوْ عَنِ الذُّنُوْبِ

TUJEEBUL MUDTARREENA WA TAKSHIFUS SOOO-A WA TAQBALUT TAWBATA WA TA'FOO A'NIZ ZUNOOB

You answer the distressed, You remove harm, You accept repentance, and You pardon sins;

لَا تُجَازٰى اَيَادِيْكَ وَلَا تُحْصٰى نِعَمُكَ وَلَا يَبْلُغُ مِدْحَتَكَ قَوْلُ قَاۤئِلٍ

LAA TUJAAZAA AYAADEEKA WA LAA TUHSAA NI-A'MUKA WA LAA YABLUGHU MIDHATAKA QAWLU QAAA-IL

Your favors cannot be repaid, Your blessings cannot be counted, and no speaker's words can reach Your praise.

اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَجِّلْ فَرَجَهُمْ وَ رَوْحَهُمْ وَ رَاحَتَهُمْ وَ سُرُوْرَهُمْ وَاَذِقْنِىْ طَعْمَ فَرَجِهِمْ

ALLAAHUMMA SALLI A'LAA MUHAMMADIW WA AALI MUHAMMADIW WA A'JJIL FARAJAHUM WA RAWHAHUM WA RAAHATAHUM WA SUROORAHUM WA AZIQNEE TA'MA FARAJIHIM

O Allah, bless Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad, and hasten their relief, their comfort, their ease, and their joy, and let me taste the sweetness of their relief,

وَ اَهْلِكْ اَعْدَاۤئَهُمْ مِنَ الْجِنِّ وَالْاِنْسِ وَ اٰتِنَا فِىْ الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَ فِى الْاٰخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَ قِنَا عَذَابَ النّارِ

WA AHLIK A'DAAA-AHUM MINAL JINNI WAL INSI WA AATINAA FID DUNYAA HASANATAW WA FIL AAKHIRATI HASANATAW WA QINAA A'ZAABAN NAAR

and destroy their enemies among jinn and mankind; grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire,

وَاجْعَلْنَا مِنَ الَّذِيْنَ لَاخَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَاهُمْ يَحْزَنُوْنَ وَاجْعَلْنِىْ مِنَ الَّذِيْنَ صَبَرُوْا وَ عَلٰى رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُوْنَ

WAJ-A'LNAA MINAL LAZEENA LAA KHAWFUN A'LAYHIM WA LAA HUM YAHZANOON WAJ-A'LNEE MINAL LAZEENA SABAROO WA A'LAA RABBIHIM YATAWAKKALOON

and make us among those who have no fear nor grief, and make me among those who are patient and rely upon their Lord;

وَثَبِّتْنِىْ بِالْقَوْلِ الثَّابِتِ فِى الْحَيٰوةِ الدُّنْيَا وَ فِى الْاٰخِرَةِ وَ بَارِكْ لِىْ فِى الْمَحْيَا وَ الْمَمَاتِ وَالْمَوْقِفِ وَالنُّشُوْرِ وَ الْحِسَابِ وَالْمِيْزَانِ وَ اَهْوَالِ يَوْمِ الْقِيٰمَةِ

WA THABBITNEE BIL QAWLITH THAABITI FIL HAYAATID DUNYAA WA FIL AAKHIRATI WA BAARIK LEE FIL MAHYAA WAL MAMAATI WAL MAWQIFI WAN NUSHOORI WAL HISAABI WAL MEEZAANI WA AHWAALI YAWMIL QIYAAMAH