Night & Day of 25th Zilqad (The Spreading of the earth)

Text and Translation

THE TWENTY-FIFTH NIGHT OF ZILQAD (The Earth Spreading night)

This night is called laylat dahw al-arz (the night at which the earth was spread on the water where the Holy Ka’bah is now situated). Being distinctively honorable, at this night the mercy of Almighty Allah is poured on people. A great reward is obtained by those who practice acts of worship at this night. Ali ibn al-Hasan al-Washsha’ has narrated that when he was young, he was with his father in the hospitality of Imam al-Reza (a.s.) at the twenty-fifth night of Dhu’l-Qa’dah. After they had their supper, Imam al-Reza (a.s.) said, “At the twenty-fifth night of Dhu’l-Qa’dah, Prophet Ibrahim (a.s.) was born, Prophet Eesaa (a.s.) the son of Mary was born, and the earth was spread on the water where the Holy Ka’bah is now situated. Hence, if one observes fasting on this day, he will be given the reward of observing fasting in sixth months.” According to another narration, Imam al-Reza (a.s.) added, “Verily, on this day, al-Qa’im (i.e. Imam al-Mahdi) (a.t.f.s.) will appear.”

THE TWENTY-FIFTH OF ZILQAD (The Earth Spreading Day)

The twenty-fifth of Zilqad is one of the four days on which fasting is exclusively confirmed. According to a narration, to observe fasting on this day is equal to seventy year fasting. It also erases the sins of seventy years. According to another narration, to observe fasting on this day and to practice acts of worship at its night is equal (in reward) to one hundred year worship. Everything that is between the sky and the earth will ask God’s forgiveness for one who does these rites. On this day, the mercy of Almighty Allah has been spread. To practice acts of worship and hold sessions for mentioning Almighty Allah on this day bring about an abundant reward. Apart from fasting, acts of worship, remembrance of Almighty Allah, and bathing, there are two other acts that are advisably done on this day:

First: The books written by Shi’ite scholars of Qumm have mentioned that, on this day, it is recommended to offer, in the morning, a prayer consisting of two units, reciting in the each unit Surah al-Faatehah once and repeating Surah al-Shams (No. 91) five times. After accomplishment, the following litany is said:

لَا حَوْلَ وَ لَا قُوَّةَ اِلَّا بِاللّٰهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيْمِ

LAA HAWLA WA LAA QUWWATA ILLAA BILLAAHIL A’LIYYIL A’ZEEMO

There is no power and no strength except with Allah, the Most High, the All-great.

Then, one may pray Almighty Allah for granting his needs and then say the following supplicatory prayer:

يَا مُقِيْلَ الْعَثَرَاتِ اَقِلْنِيْ عَثْرَتِيْ

YAA MOQEELAL A’SARAATE AQILNEE A’SRATEE

O He Who overlooks slips, (please) overlook my slip.

يَا مُجِيْبَ الدَّعَوَاتِ اَجِبْ دَعْوَتِيْ

YAA MOJEEBAD DA-A’WAATE AJIB DA’WATEE

O He Who responds to prayers, (please) respond to my prayer.

يَا سَامِعَ الْاَصْوَاتِ اسْمَعْ صَوْتِيْ

YAA SAAME-A’L ASWAATIS MA’ SAWTEE

O He Who hears all sounds, (please) listen to mine,

وَ ارْحَمْنِيْ وَ تَجَاوَزْ عَنْ سَيِّئَاتِيْ

WAR HAMNEE WA TAJAAWAZ A’N SAYYE-AATEE

have mercy on me, and excuse my wrongdoings

وَ مَا عِنْدِيْ يَا ذَا الْجَلَالِ وَ الْاِكْرَامِ.

WA MAA I’NDEE YAA ZAL JALAALE WAL IKRAAME.

and whatever I have committed. O Lord of majesty and honor!

Second: In Misbah al-Mutahajjid, Shaykh al-Tusi has mentioned that it is recommended to say the following supplicatory prayer on this day:

اَللّٰهُمَّ دَاحِيَ الْكَعْبَةِ وَ فَالِقَ الْحَبَّةِ

ALLAAHUMMA DAAHE-YAL KA’BATE WA FAALEQAL HABBATE

O Allah Who spread the Ka'bah, split the kernel,

وَ صَارِفَ اللَّزْبَةِ وَ كَاشِفَ كُلِّ كُرْبَةٍ

WA SAAREFAL LAZBATE WA KAASHEFA KULLE KURBATIN

removes troubles, and relieves from all distresses!

اَسْاَلُكَ فِىْ هٰذَا الْيَوْمِ مِنْ اَيَّامِكَ

AS-ALOKA FEE HAAZAL YAWME MIN AYYAAMEKAL

I beseech You on this day, which is one of Your days

الَّتِيْ اَعْظَمْتَ حَقَّهَا وَ اَقْدَمْتَ سَبْقَهَا

LATEE A-A’ZAMTA HAQQAHAA WA AQDAMTA SABQAHAA

whose standing You have deemed great, whom You have given preference,

وَ جَعَلْتَهَا عِنْدَ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ وَدِيْعَةً

WA JA-A’LTAHAA I’NDAL MOAMENEENA WADEE-A’TAN

and whom You have put as trust with the believers

وَ اِلَيْكَ ذَرِيْعَةً وَ بِرَحْمَتِكَ الْوَسِيْعَةِ

WA ELAYKA ZAREE-A’TAN WA BE-RAHMATEKAL WASEE-A’TE

and as means to approaching to You; and [I beseech You] in the name of Your ample mercy

اَنْ تُصَلِّىَ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ عَبْدِكَ الْمُنْتَجَبِ

AN TOSALLEYA A’LAA MOHAMMADIN A’BDEKAL MUNTAJABE

to send blessings to Muhammad, Your servant that You have selected

فِي الْمِيْثَاقِ الْقَرِيْبِ يَوْمَ التَّلَاقِ

FIL MEESAAQIL QAREEBE YAWMAT TALAAQE

in the Nigh Covenant on the Meeting Day,

فَاتِقِ كُلِّ رَتْقٍ وَ دَاعٍ اِلٰى كُلِّ حَقٍّ

FAATEQE KULLE RATQIN WA DAA-IN ELAA KULLE HAQQIN

the splitter of all joined things and the caller to all truths,

وَ عَلٰىۤ اَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ الْاَطْهَارِ

WA A’LAA AHLE BAYTEHIL ATHAARIL

and to his Household, the pure,

الْهُدَاةِ الْمَنَارِ دَعَاۤئِمِ الْجَبَّارِ

HODAATIL MANAARE DA-A’AA-EMIL JABBAARE

the guides, the lanterns, the pillars of the Omnipotent (Lord),

وَ وُلَاةِ الْجَنَّةِ وَ النَّارِ

WA WOLAATIL JANNATE WAN NAARE

and the supervisors on Paradise and Hell,

وَ اَعْطِنَا فِيْ يَوْمِنَا هٰذَا

WA A-A’TENAA FEE YAWMENAA HAAZAA

to give us on this day

مِنْ عَطَاۤئِكَ الْمَخْزُوْنِ

MIN A’TAA-EKAL MAKHZOONE

from Your stored gifts,

غَيْرَ مَقْطُوْعٍ وَ لَا مَمْنُوْعٍ

GHAYRA MAQTOO-I’N WA LAA MAMNOO-I’N

gifts that are neither interrupted nor prohibited

تَجْمَعُ لَنَا بِهِ التَّوْبَةَ وَ حُسْنَ الْاَوْبَةِ

TAJ-MA-O’ LANAA BEHIT TAWBATA WA HUSNAL AWBATE

by which You join for us both repentance and acceptable return [to You].

يَا خَيْرَ مَدْعُوٍّ وَ اَكْرَمَ مَرْجُوٍّ

YAA KHAYRA MAD-U’WWIN WA AKRAMA MARJUWWIN

O He Who is the best of all supplicated ones and the most generous of all hoped ones!

يَا كَفِيُّ يَا وَفِيُّ يَا مَنْ لُطْفُهٗ خَفِيٌّ

YAA KAFIYYO YAA WAFIYYO YAA MAN LUTFOHU KHAFIYYUN

O All-sufficer! O All-true! O He Whose grace is gentle!

اُلْطُفْ لِيْ بِلُطْفِكَ وَ اَسْعِدْنِيْ بِعَفْوِكَ