Namaz e Shab (Short)

Text and Translation

Ibn Abi Jumhur reported the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) as saying to his companions, “When you go to sleep, Satan ties three knots at your head. Each knot inspires to you that the night is still long; therefore, you would better sleep. When you wake up and mention Almighty Allah, one knot is untied. When you do the ritual ablution, another knot is untied. When you perform the prayer, the third knot is untied. Hence, you will find yourselves active and positive in the morning; lest, you find yourselves inactive and frowning.”

This tradition is reported in Ahle Tasannun books of hadees, too.

Al-Qutb al-Rawandi reported Imam Ali Ameer al-Momineen (a.s.) as saying, “Do not expect three matters as long as you have been engaged in three: Do not expect ability to do night worship as long as you overeat. Do not expect bright-facedness as long as you spend the whole night sleeping. Do not expect security in your life as long as you accompany sinful people.”

Al-Qutb al-Rawandi has also reported that Prophet Eesaa (a.s.) called his mother (a.s.) after her death and asked, “Mother, do you wish to return to life?” His mother answered, “Yes, I do, so that I will offer prayers to Almighty Allah in the midst of night and observe fasting in the extremely hot days. O son, this path is horrifying.”

THE NIGHT PRAYER

The time of the Night Prayer begins after midnight; yet, it is recommended to perform it as near as possible to dawn.

The Night Prayer consists of eight units of prayer; each two alone. Tasleem should be said at the end of each two units with the intention of offering the Night Prayer. It is advisable to recite [Surah Ikhlas](A116) after [Surah al-Faatehah](A5) in 1st rak’at at least once and at most thirty times (if there is time). In the 2nd rak’at recite [Surah al-Kafirun](A113) after [Surah al-Faatehah](A5).

In the other six units of the prayer, one may recite any Surah he chooses. However, it is sufficiently acceptable to recite [Surah al-Faatehah](A5) and [Surah Ikhlas](A116) in each unit of the Night Prayer. It is also permissible to recite [Surah al-Faatehah](A5) alone.

NAMAZ-E-SHAF’

When you accomplish the eight-unit Night Prayer, you may then offer the two-unit Shafa Prayer. It has two rakats. Recite it after finish Namaz e tahajjud. In the first rakat, after [Surah Fatehah](A5) recite [Surah al-Ikhlaas](A116) or [Surah al-Falaq](A117). In the second rakat, recite only [Surah Fatehah](A5) and Surah al-Nas and finish the namaz. Qunoot is not recited in this namaz. After finishing the namaz, recite Tasbeeh-e-Janab-e-Fatemah (s.a.) and supplicate to Allah. The supplication will be surely granted for this is the right time for the grants of prayers. Then after performing Sajdah e Shukr recite Namaz-e-Watr.

NAMAZ-E-WATR

This namaz has one rakat. In this prayer recite [Surah Fatehah](A5) the [Surah al-Ikhlas](A116), [Surah al-Falaq](A117), Surah al-Nas three times each. Then raise your hands and recite the following Qunoot.

لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللّٰهُ الْحَلِيْمُ الْكَرِيْمُ

LAA ELAAHA ILAL LAAHUL HALEEMUL KAREEM

There is none worth worshipping but Allah Who is Forbearing and Generous

لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللّٰهُ الْعَلِىُّ الْعَظِيْمُ

LAA ELAAHA ILAL LAAHUL A’LIYYUL A’ZEEM

There is none worth worshipping but Allah Who is Most High and Great

سُبْحَانَ اللّٰهِ رَبِّ السَّمٰوَاتِ السَّبْعِ

SUBHAANAL LAAHE RABBIS SAMAAWAATIS SAB-E’

Glory be to Allah, Who is the Sustainer of the seven heavens

وَرَبِّ الْاَرَضِيْنَ السَّبْعِ

WA RABBUL ARZEENAS SAB-E’

and of the seven earth

وَمَا فِيْهِنَّ وَمَا بَيْنَهُنَّ

WA MAA FEEHINNA WA MAA BAYNAHUNNA

in them, and between them,

وَمَا فَوْقَهُنَّ وَمَا تَحْتَهُنَّ

WA MAA FAWQAHUNNA WA MAA TAHTAHUNNA

above them, beneath them

وَهُوَ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيْمِ

WA HOWA RABBUL A’RSHIL A’ZEEM

And Who is the Lord of the great ‘Arsh (Divine Center of Authority & Power)

وَسَلَامٌ عَلَى الْمُرْسَلِيْنَ

WA SALAAMUN A’LAL MURSALEEN

And peace be on the apostles.

وَالْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ

WAL HAMDO LILLAAHE RABBIL A’ALAMEEN

And all praise for Allah, the Lord of the worlds.

يَا اَللهُ الَّذِيْ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهٖ شَيْءٌ

YAA ALLAAHUL LAZEE LAYSA KAMISLEHI SHAYUN

O Allah! The One nothing is like Him

وَهُوَ السَّمِيْعُ الْبَصِيْرُ

WA HOWAS SAMEE-U’L BASEER

and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.

وَصَلِّ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَّاٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ.

WA SALLE A’LAA MOHAMMADIN WA AALE MOHAMMAD.

And blessings be upon Muhammad and the progeny of Muhammad.

It is also recommended, during Qunut, to weep, or even try to weep, out of fear of Almighty Allah and fear of His chastisement. It is also desirable to pray Almighty Allah for the good of one’s brethren-in-faith, whether dead or alive, in the following words:

اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِهٰذَا.....

It is also highly advisable to repeat the following imploration seventy times and, meanwhile, raise the left hand for supplicating and count with the right hand:

اَسْتَغْفِرُاللهَ رَبِّىْ وَاَتُوْبُ اِلَيْهِ

ALLAAHUMMAGH FIR LE-HAAZAA...

O Allah, forgive (Name)…

It is also narrated that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) used to implore for Almighty Allah’s forgiveness seventy times during the Watr Prayer and then say the following statement:

هٰذَا مَقامُ الْعَاۤئِذِ بِكَ مِنَ النَّارِ

It is also narrated that Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn Zayn al-’Abidin (a.s.) used to repeat the following word three hundred times during the Watr Prayer:

اَلْعَفْوَ اَلْعَفْوَ

AL-AFWA

(I ask for) forgiveness

After that, the Imam (a.s.) would say the following supplicatory prayer:

رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِىْ وَارْحَمْنِىْ وَتُبْ عَلىَّ

RABBIGH FIR LEE WAR HAMNEE WA TUB A’LAYYAO

my Lord, (please) forgive me, have mercy upon me, and accept my repentance,

اِنَّكَ اَنْتَ التَّوَّابُ الْغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِيْمُ

INNAKA ANTAT TAWWABUL GHAFOORUR RAHEEMO

for You are surely the Oft-Returning, the All-forgiving, and the All-merciful.

You may then prostrate yourself and accomplish the prayer. After the accomplishment, you may say Tasbih al-Zahra’. After that, you may say the following:

اَلْحَمْدُ لِرَبِّ الصَّبَاحِ

ALHAMDO LE-RABBIS SABAAHE

All praise belongs to the Lord of the dawn.

اَلْحَمْدُ لِفَالِقِ الْاِصْبَاحِ

ALHAMDO LE-FAALEQIL ISBAAHE

All praise belongs to the Splitter (or Cleaver) of the dawn.

It is also highly advisable to say the following supplicatory prayer, which is called Dua-e-Hazeen (The Supplication of the Sad).

اُنَاجِیْكَ یَا مَوْجُوْدً فِی كُلِّ مَكَانٍ

ONAAJEEKA YAA MAWJOODAN FEE KULLE MAKAANIN

I whisper unto You O One Who is present in every place

لَعَلَّكَ تَسْمَعُ نِدَاۤئِی

LA-A’LLAKA TASMA-O NEDAAA-EE

So that you may hear my call

فَقَدْ عَظُمَ جُرْمِیْ وَقَلَّ حَیَاۤئِی

FAQAD A’ZOMA JURMEE WA QALLA HAYAA-EE

for surely my sin is excessive and my shame is less

مَوْلَایَ یَا مَوْلَایَ اَیَّ الْاَهْوَالِ اَتَذَكَّرُ وَاَیَّهَا اَنْسٰی

MAWLAAYA YAA MAWLAAYA AYYAL AHWAALE ATAZAKKARO WA AYYAHA ANSAA

My Master, O my Master which of the terrifying states shall I remember and which of them shall I forget

وَلَوْ لَمْ یَكُنْ اِلَّا الْمَوْتُ لَكَفٰی

WA LAW LAM YAKUN ILLAL MAWTO LAKAFAA

for if there was nothing except death it would be enough

كَیْفَ وَمَا بَعْدَ الْمَوْتِ اَعْظَمُ وَاَدْهٰی

KAYFA WA MAA BA’DAL MAWTE A-A’ZAMO WA ADHAA

then what about after death greater and much worse?

مَوْلَایَ یَا مَوْلَایَ حَتّٰی مَتٰی وَاِلٰی مَتٰی اَقُوْلُ

MAWLAAYA YAA MAWLAAYA HATTAA MATAA WA ELAA MATAA AQOOLO

My master O my Master up to when and till when will I say,

لَكَ الْعُتْبٰی مَرَّةً بَعْدَ اُخْرٰی

LAKAL UTBAA MARRATAN BA’DA UKHRAA

I am to blame, again and again,

ثُمَّ لَا تَجِدُ عِنْدِیْ صِدْقًا وَلَا وَفَاۤءً

SUMMA LAA TAJEDO I’NDEE SIDQAN WA LAA WAFAAA-AN

but then You do not find any truth or loyalty in me?

فَیَا غَوْثَاهُ ثُمَّ وَا غَوْثَاهُ بِكَ

FA-YAA GHAWSAA-HO SUMMA WAA GHAWSAA-HO BEKA

I call for help and I call for help,

یَاۤ اَللهُ مِنْ هَوًی قَدْ غَلَبَنِیْ

YAA ALLAAHO MIN HAWAN QAD GHALABANEE

O Allah from desires which have overpowered me

وَمِنْ عَدُوٍّ قَدِ اسْتَكْلَبَ عَلَیَّ

WA MIN A’DUWWIN QADIS TAKLABA A’LAYYA

and from the enemy which has pounced on me

وَمِنْ دُنْیَا قَدْ تَزَیَّنَتْ لِیْ

WA MIN DUNYAA QAD TAZAYYANAT LEE

and from the world which attracts me and

وَمِنْ نَفْسِ اَمَّارَةٍ بِالسُّوْۤءِ اِلَّا مَا رَحِمَ رَبِّیْ

WA MIN NAFSIN AMMAARATIN BIS-SOOO-E ILLAA MAA RAHEMA RABBEE

from the soul that leads towards evil except that on which my Lord has mercy.

مَوْلَایَ یَا مَوْلَایَ اِنْ كُنْتَ رَحِمْتَ مِثْلِیْ فَارْحَمْنِیْ

MAWLAAYA YAA MAWLAAYA IN KUNTA RAHIMTA MISLEE FARHAMNEE

My master O my master if You have had mercy on the likes of me then have mercy on me

وَاِنْ كُنْتَ قَبِلْتَ مِثْلِیْ فَاقْبَلْنِیْ

WA IN KUNTA QABILTA MISLEE FAQBALNEE

and if You have accepted from the likes of me then accept from me

یَا قَابِلَ السَّحَرَةِ اقْبَلْنِیْ

YAA KAABELAS-SAHARATE IQBALNEE

O One Who accepts the early morning prayer accept me,

یَا مَنْ لَمْ اَزَلْ اَتَعَرَّفُ مِنْهُ الْحُسْنٰی

YAA MAN LAM AZAL ATA-A’RRAFO MINHUL HUSNAA

O One who, I still know only good from Him

یَا مَنْ یُغَذِّیْنِیْ بِالنِّعَمِ صَبَاحًا وَمَسَاۤءً

YAA MAN YOGAZZEENEE BIN NEA’ME SABAAHAN WA MASAAHAN

O One who nourishes me with blessings morning and evening

اِرْحَمْنِیْ یَوْمَ اٰتِیْكَ فَرْدًا شَاخِصًا اِلَیْكَ بَصَرِیْ

IRHAMNEE YAWMAA AATEEKA FARDAN SHAAKHESAN ELAYKA BASAREE

have mercy on me when I come to You alone, my glance fixed on You

مُقَلَّدًا عَمَلِیْ قَدْ تَبَرَّاَ جَمِیْعُ الْخَلْقِ مِنِّیْ

MOQALLADAN A’MALEE QAD TABARRA-A JAMEE-U’L KHALQE MINNEE

my actions carried on my neck When all of creation will withdraw away from me

نَعَمْ وَاَبِیْ وَاُمِّیْ وَمَنْ كَانَ لَهُ كَدِّیْ وَسَعْیِیْ

NA-A’M WA ABEE WA UMMEE WA MAN KAANA LAHU QADDEE WA SA’YEE

yes, even my father and mother and those for whom I worked and struggled

فَاِنْ لَمْ تَرْحَمْنِیْ فَمَنْ یَرْحَمُنِیْ

FA-IN LAM TARHAMNEE FA-MAN YARHAMONEE

then if You will not have mercy on me who will have mercy on me

وَمَنْ یُؤْنِسُ فِی الْقَبْرِ وَحْشَتِیْ

WA MAN YOONESO FIL QABRE WAHSHATEE

who will give me solace from the loneliness of the grave

وَمَنْ یُنْطِقُ لِسَانِیْ اِذَا خَلَوْتُ بِعَمَلِیْ

WA MAN YUNTEQO LESAANEE EZAA KHALAWTO BE-A’MALEE

and who will make me speak when I am alone with my deeds

وَسَاَلْتَنِیْ عَمَّاۤ اَنْتَ اَعْلَمُ بِهِ مِنِّیْ

WA SAA-ALTANEE A’MMAA ANTA A-A’LAMO BEHI MINNEE

and when You will ask me about what You know better than me?

فَاِنْ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ فَاَیْنَ الْمَهْرَبُ مِنْ عَدْلِكَ

FA-IN QULTO NA-A’M FA-AYNAL MAHRABO MIN A’DLEKA

Then if I say yes (to my sins) where will be the escape from Your Justice?

وَاِنْ قُلْتُ لَمْ اَفْعَلْ قُلْتَ اَلَمْ اَكُنِ الشَّاهِدَ عَلَیْكَ

WA IN QULTO LAM AF-A’L QULTA ALAM AKANISH SHAAHEDA A’LAYKA

And if I say I did not commit it You will say was I not a witness over you?

فَعَفْوُكَ عَفْوُكَ یَا مَوْلَایَ قَبْلَ سَرَابِیْلِ الْقَطِرَانِ

FA-A’FWOKA A’FWOK YAA MAWLAAYA QABLA SARAABEELIL QATERAANE

So (I beseech) Your Forgiveness Your Pardon O my master before the wearing of the clothes of Hell

عَفْوُكَ عَفْوُكَ یَا مَوْلَایَ قَبْلَ جَهَنَّمَ وَالنِّیْرَانِ

A’FWOKA A’FWOK YAA MAWLAAYA QABLA JAHANNAMA WAN NEERAANE

Your Forgiveness Your Pardon O my Master before the Hell and the Fire

عَفْوُكَ عَفْوُكَ یَا مَوْلَایَ قَبْلَ اَنْ تُغَلَّ الْاَیْدِیْ اِلَی الْاَعْنَاقِ

A’FWOKA A’FWOK YAA MAWLAAYA QABLA AN TOGHALLAL AYDEE ELAL A-A’NAAKE

Your Forgiveness Your Forgiveness O my Master before the hands are tied to the necks

یَاۤ اَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِیْنَ وَخَیْرَ الْغَافِرِیْنَ.

YAA ARHAMAR RAAHEMEEN WA KHAYRAL GHAAFEREEN.

O the most Merciful and the best of Forgivers

You may then prostrate yourself and repeat the following five times:

سُبُّوْحٌ قُدُّوْسٌ رَبُّ الْمَلَاۤئِكَةِ وَالرُّوْحِ

SUBBOOHUN QUDDOOSUN RABBUL MALAAA-EKATE WAR ROOHE

All Glorious, All Holy, Lord of the Angels and the Spirit.