Supplicatory Utterances of the Thanksgiving Prostration

Text and Translation

Supplications of the Thanksgiving Prostration

Although many utterances are reported to be said in thanksgiving prostrations, here are the easiest of these:

First: Through a valid chain of authority, Imam al-Reza (a.s.) is reported to have instructed that one may repeat the following word one hundred times in thanksgiving prostrations:

شُكْرًا شُكْرًا.

SHUKRAN SHUKRAN

Thanks Thanks

One may also repeat the following word one hundred times:

عَفْوًا عَفْوًا.

A’FWAN A’FWAN

Pardon Pardon.

In the book of Oyoon Akhbar al-Reza, it is reported on the authority of Raja’ ibn Abi’l Zahhak that Imam al-Reza (a.s.), on his way to Khurasan, used to prostrate himself after the post-Afternoon Prayer utterances and repeat the following phrase one hundred times:

حَمْدًا لِلّٰهِ.

HAMDAN LILLAAH.

All praise be to Allah.

Second: Al-Kulayni has reported through a valid chain of authority that Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) said: The closest position of a servant to Almighty Allah is when he prostrates himself before Him and supplicates Him. Therefore, when you prostrate, you may say:

يَا رَبَّ الْاَرْبَابِ وَ يَا مَلِكَ الْمُلُوْكِ وَ يَا سَيِّدَ السَّادَاتِ وَ يَا جَبَّارَ الْجَبَابِرَةِ وَ يَا اِلٰهَ الْاٰلِهَةِ صَلِّ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَّ اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ.

YAA RABBAL ARBAABE WA YAA MALEKAL MOLOOKE WA YAA SAYYEDAS SAADAATE WA YAA JABBAARAL JABAABERATE WA YAA ELAAHAL AALAHATE SALLE A’LAA MOHAMMADINW WA AALE MOHAMMADIN.

O Lord of lords, O King of kings, O Master of masters, O Subduer of tyrants, and O God of gods, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad.

You may now pray Him to grant you your request.

After that, you may say:

فَاِنِّىْ عَبْدُكَ نَاصِيَتِىْ فِىْ قَبْضَتِكَ.

FA-INNEE A’BDOUKA NAASEYATEE FEE QABZATEKA.

For I am indeed Your servant; my forelock is in Your grasp.

You may then pray Almighty Allah, for He is forgiver of all sins and no problem is unsolvable for Him.

Third: Al-Kulayni has reported through an authenticated chain of authority that Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) said: One night, I saw my father prostrating himself in the mosque. I could hear him saying with tender tone:

سُبْحَانَكَ اللّٰهُمَّ اَنْتَ رَبِّى حَقًّا حَقًّا سَجَدْتُ لَكَ يَا رَبِّ تَعَبُّدًا وَّ رِقًّا اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنَّ عَمَلِىْ ضَعِيْفٌ فَضَاعِفْهُ لِىْ اَللّٰهُمَّ قِنِىْ عَذَابَكَ يَوْمَ تَبْعَثُ عِبَادَكَ وَ تُبْ عَلَىَّ اِنَّكَ اَنْتَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيْمُ.

SUBHAANAKAL LAAHUMMA ANTA RABBEE HAQQAN HAQQAN SAJADTO LAKA YAA RABBE TA-A’BBODANW WA RIQQAN ALLAAHUMMA INNA A’MALEE ZA-E’EFUN FA-ZAA-I’FHO LEE ALLAAHUMMA QENEE A’ZAABAKA YAWMA TAB-A’SO E’BAADAKA WA TUB A’LAYYA INNAKA ANTAT TAWWAABUR RAHEEMO.

Glory be to You, O Allah, You are my Lord, truly, truly. I have prostrated to You, my Lord, in worship and servitude. O Allah, indeed my deeds are weak, so multiply them for me. O Allah, protect me from Your punishment on the Day You resurrect Your servants, and turn towards me in forgiveness, for indeed You are the Oft-Returning, the Most Merciful.

Fourth: Through a valid chain of authority, al-Kulayni also reports that Imam Musa al-Kazim (a.s.) used to say the following supplicatory prayer while prostrating himself:

اَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ نَّارٍ حَرُّهَا لَا يُطْفٰى وَ اَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ نَّارٍ جَدِيْدُهَا لَا يَبْلٰى وَ اَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ نَّارٍ عَطْشَانُهَا لَا يُرْوٰى وَ اَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ نَّارٍ مَسْلُوْبُهَا لَا يُكْسٰى.

A-O’OZO BEKA MIN NAARIN HARROHAA LAA YUTFAA WA A-O’OZO BEKA MIN NAARIN JADEEDOHAA LAA YABLAA WA A-O’OZO BEKA MIN NAARIN A’TSHAANOHAA LAA YURWAA WA A-O’OZO BEKA MIN NAARIN MASLOOBOHAA LAA YUKSAA.

I seek refuge in You from a Fire whose heat is never extinguished, and I seek refuge in You from a Fire whose newness never fades, and I seek refuge in You from a Fire whose thirsty one is never quenched, and I seek refuge in You from a Fire whose despoiled one is never clothed.

Fifth: Through a valid chain of authority, al-Kulayni also reports that a man complained to Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) about an ailment that affected one of his bondwomen. The Imam said: In the thanksgiving prostration after all obligatory prayers, you may say this supplicatory prayer:

يَا رَؤُوْفُ يَا رَحِيْمُ،يَا رَبِّ يَا سَيِّدِىْ.

YAA RA-OOFO YAA RAHEEMO YAA RABBE YAA SAYYEDEE.

O Most Compassionate, O Most Merciful, O Lord, O my Master.

You may then pray Him to grant you your request.

Sixth: Through several valid chains of authority, Imam al-Sadiq and Imam al-Kazim (a.s.) are reported to have very frequently said the following supplicatory prayer when they did the thanksgiving prostrations:

اَسْاَلُكَ الرَّاحَةَ عِنْدَ الْمَوْتِ وَ الْعَفْوَ عِنْدَ الْحِسَابِ.

AS-ALOKAR RAAHATA I’NDAL MAWTE WAL A’FWA I’NDAL HESAABE.

I ask You for comfort at the time of death and pardon at the time of reckoning.

Seventh: Through an authentic chain of authority, it is reported that Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) used to say the following statement when he prostrated himself:

سَجَدَ وَجْهِىَ اللَّئِيْمُ لِوَجْهِ رَبِّىَ الْكَرِيْمِ.

SAJADA WAJHEYAL LA-EEMO LE-WAJHE RABBEYAL KAREEME.

My lowly face has prostrated to the Noble Face of my Lord.

Eighth: In some considerable reference books, it is reported that Imam Ali Ameer al-Momineen (a.s.) said: The most favorite words to Almighty Allah is that when a servant (of Him) prostrates himself, he should repeat the following statement three times:

اِنِّىْ ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِىْ فَاغْفِرْ لِىْ.

INNEE ZALAMTO NAFSEE FAGHFIR LEE.

Indeed, I have wronged myself, so forgive me.

Ninth: In the book of al-Ja’fariyyat, it is recorded through an authentic chain of authority that Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) quoted the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) used to say when he placed his face on the ground for prostration:

اَللّٰهُمَّ مَغْفِرَتُكَ اَوْسَعُ مِنْ ذُنُوْبِىْ وَ رَحْمَتُكَ اَرْجىٰ عِنْدِىْ مِنْ عَمَلِىْ فَاغْفِرْ لِىْ ذُنُوْبِىْ يَا حَيًّا لَا يَمُوْتُ.

ALLAAHUMMA MAGHFERATOKA AW-SA-O’ MIN ZONOOBEE WA RAHMATOKA ARJAA I’NDEE MIN A’MALEE FAGHFIR LEE ZONOOBEE YAA HAYYAN LAA YAMOOTO.

O Allah, Your forgiveness is vaster than my sins, and Your mercy is more hopeful to me than my deeds, so forgive my sins, O Ever-Living Who never dies.

Tenth: al-Qutb al-Rawandi has reported Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) to have said: Whenever an ordeal or agony afflict or accumulate against you, you may prostrate on the ground and say:

يَا مُذِلَّ كُلِّ جَبَّارٍ يَا مُعِزَّ كُلِّ ذَلِيْلٍ قَدْ وَحَقِّكَ بَلَغَ مَجْهُوْدِىْ فَصَلِّ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَّ اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَّ فَرِّجْ عَنِّىْ.

YAA MOZILLA KULLE JABBAARIN YAA MO-I’ZZA KULLE ZALEELIN QAD WA HAQQEKA BALAGHA MAJ-HOODEE FASALLE A’LAA MOHAMMADINW WA AALE MOHAMMADINW WA FARRIJ A’NNEE.

O Humiliator of every tyrant, O Honorer of every lowly one. By Your right, my patience and effort have reached their limit; so bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, and grant me relief.

In the book of ‘Uddat al-Daaee, Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) is reported to have said, “Anyone who is afflicted by a disaster, a misfortune, or a tribulation may bare his knees and arms to the elbows and stick them, as well as his chest, to the ground and supplicate for the settlement of his problem.”

Eleventh: Ibn Baabwayh, through a valid chain of authority, reports Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) as saying: When a servant repeats the following supplicatory prayer three times while prostrating, the Blessed and Exalted Lord will answer him, “Here I am to respond to you, My servant! Ask for what you need.”

This is the supplicatory prayer:

يَا اَللّٰهُ يَا رَبَّاهُ‏ يَا سَيَّدَاهُ.

YAA ALLAAHO YAA RABBAAHO YAA SAYYEDAAHO.

O Allah, O Lord, O Master.

In the book of Makarem al-Akhlaaq, it is recorded that when a servant prostrates himself and repeats the following supplicatory prayer all in one breath, the Blessed and Exalted Lord will answer him, “Here I am to respond to you. What do you need?”

This is the supplicatory prayer:

يَا رَبَّاهُ يَا سَيَّدَاهُ.

YAA RABBAAHO YAA SAYYEDAAHO.

O Lord, O Master.

Twelfth: In the book of Makarim al-Akhlaq too, Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) is reported to have related that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) passed by a prostrating man and could hear him saying this supplicatory prayer:

يَا رَبِّ مَا ذَا عَلَيْكَ اَنْ تُرْضِىَ عَنِّىْ كُلَّ مَنْ كَانَ لَهٗ عِنْدِىْ تَبِعَةٌ وَ اَنْ تَغْفِرَ لِىْ ذُ نُوْبِىْ وَ اَنْ تُدْخِلَنِىْ الْجَنَّةَ بِرَحْمَتِكَ فَاِنَّمَا عَفْوُكَ عَنِ الظَّالِمِيْنَ وَ اَنَا مِنَ الظَّالِمِيْنَ فَلْتَسَعْنِىْ رَحْمَتُكَ يَا اَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِيْنَ.

YAA RABBE MAA ZAA A’LAYKA AN TURZEYA A’NNEE KULLA MAN KAANA LAHU1 I’NDEE TABE-A’TUN WA AN TAGHFERA LEE ZONOOBEE WA AN TUDKHELANIL JANNATA BERAHMATEKA FA-INNAMAA A’FWOKA A’NIZ ZAALEMEENA WA ANA MENAZ ZAALEMEENA FAL-TASA’-NEE RAHMATOKA YAA ARHAMAR RAAHEMEENA.

O my Lord, what would it cost You to satisfy everyone who has a claim against me, to forgive me for my sins, and to admit me into Paradise by Your mercy? For indeed, Your pardon is for the wrongdoers, and I am among the wrongdoers; so let Your mercy encompass me, O Most Merciful of the merciful.

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said to him, “Raise your head. Your prayer has been responded. You have just prayed Allah with the supplicatory prayer of a prophet who lived among the people of ‘Ad.”

Dua for one's brother in faith while in prostration

It is worth mentioning that within the rites of Masjid al-Kufah and Masjid Zayd that are mentioned in my book of Mafatih al-Jinan, I have referred to some supplicatory prayers to be said in prostrations.

Mentioning the thanksgiving prostration, Shaykh al-Tusi, in his book of Misbah al-Mutahajjid, says that it is recommended to pray for one’s brothers-in-faith while prostrating. The following supplicatory prayer is thus advisable:

اَللّٰهُمَّ رَبَّ الْفَجْرِ وَاللَّيَالِى الْعَشْرِ

ALLAAHUMMA RABBAL FAJRE WAL LAYAALIL A’SHRE

O Allah, Lord of the dawn and the ten nights,

وَ الشَّفْعِ وَ الْوَتْرِ