The month of Dhu’l-Qa’dah is the first of the Sacred Months to which Almighty Allah has referred in the Holy Qur’an. Sayyid Ibn Tawus defines this month as the month of responding to the prayers in hardships. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) is reported as having mentioned a great reward for those who offer a special prayer on Sundays in Dhu’l-Qa’dah, adding that their repentance would be accepted, their sins forgiven, their rivals made pleased with them on the Resurrection Day, caused to die on true faith, given the true religion, granted expansion and light in the grave, the parents made pleased with them, their parents and offspring had their sins forgiven, provided with expansive sustenance, and granted lenience of the Angel of Death and easiness of their souls leaving their bodies.
The method of this prayer is that one should bathe oneself on Sunday, do the ritual ablution (wudu’), and offer a four-unit prayer in each unit of which Surah al-Faatehah is recited once, Surah al-Tawheed repeated three times, and Surahs al-Falaq and al-Nas recited once each. After that, the statement of imploring for forgiveness (Istighfar: saying, astaghfirullah) is repeated one hundred times, and, finally, the following statement is said:
لا حَوْلَ وَ لا قُوَّةَ اِلا بِاللّٰهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ
After that, the following supplicatory prayer is said:
يَا عَزِيزُ يَا غَفَّارُ اغْفِرْ لِي ذُنُوبِي وَ ذُنُوبَ جَمِيعِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ فَاِنَّهُ لا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ اِلا اَنْتَ .
It is worth mentioning that a Hadith reads that to observe fasting on three consecutive days in a sacred month; namely, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, brings about the reward of nine hundred year worship.
The lofty Shaykh Ali ibn Ibrahim al-Qummi says, “The rewards of good deeds, as well as the punishments for evil deeds, are doubled in the sacred months.”
11TH, 15TH & 23RD OF ZILQAD
THE ELEVENTH OF DHU’L-QA’DAH
On the eleventh of Dhu’l-Qa’dah, AH 148, Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Rida(a.s.) was born.
THE FIFTEENTH NIGHT OF DHU’L-QA’DAH
The fifteenth night of Dhu’l-Qa’dah is a blessed night at which Almighty Allah observes His faithful servants with the eye of mercy. According to a tradition that is reported from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), one who practices acts of worship at this night will have the reward of one hundred fasters who confine themselves to mosques and who have never disobeyed Almighty Allah. Accordingly, it is highly advisable to seize this excellent opportunity and practice acts of worship and obedience, offer prayers, and pray Almighty Allah for granting one’s needs. In this respect, it has been narrated that Almighty Allah will respond to one who prays Him for any need at this night.
THE TWENTY-THIRD OF DHU’L-QA’DAH
On the twenty-third of Dhu’l-Qa’dah, AH 200, Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Rida(a.s.) departed life, according to some narrations. Hence, it is familiar to visit his tomb on this day whether from nearby or from far off. In this respect, Sayyid Ibn Tawus, in Iqbal al-A’mal, says that he has seen in the book of some non-Arab scholars that it is recommended to visit the holy tomb of Imam al-Rida(a.s.) on the twenty-third of Dhu’l-Qa’dah from nearby or from far off by one of the familiar forms of Ziyarah or any other form.
NIGHT & DAY OF 25TH ZILQAD (THE SPREADING OF THE EARTH)
THE TWENTY-FIFTH NIGHT OF ZILQAD;
The Earth Spreading night
This night is called laylat dahw al-ard (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-Rida(a.s.) at the twenty-fifth night of Dhu’l-Qa’dah. After they had their supper, Imam al-Rida(a.s.) said, “At the twenty-fifth night of Dhu’l-Qa’dah, Prophet Abraham was born, Prophet Jesus 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-Rida(a.s.) added, “Verily, on this day, al-Qa’im (i.e. Imam al-Mahdi) will appear.”
THE TWENTY-FIFTH OF ZILQAD;
The Earth Spreading Day
The twenty-fifth of Dhu’l-Qa’dah 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:
لا حَوْلَ وَ لا قُوَّةَ اِلا بِاللّٰهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ
Then, one may pray Almighty Allah for granting his needs and then say the following supplicatory prayer:
يَا مُقِيلَ الْعَثَرَاتِ اَقِلْنِي عَثْرَتِي يَا مُجِيبَ الدَّعَوَاتِ اَجِبْ دَعْوَتِي يَا سَامِعَ الْاَصْوَاتِ اسْمَعْ صَوْتِي وَ ارْحَمْنِي وَ تَجَاوَزْ عَنْ سَيِّئَاتِي وَ مَا عِنْدِي يَا ذَا الْجَلالِ وَ الْاِكْرَامِ .
Second: In Misbah al-Mutahajjid, Shaykh al-Tusi has mentioned that it is recommended to say the following supplicatory prayer on this day:
اللّٰهُمَّ دَاحِيَ الْكَعْبَةِ وَ فَالِقَ الْحَبَّةِ وَ صَارِفَ اللَّزْبَةِ وَ كَاشِفَ كُلِّ كُرْبَةٍ اَسْاَلُكَ فِي هٰذَا الْيَوْمِ مِنْ اَيَّامِكَ الَّتِي اَعْظَمْتَ حَقَّهَا وَ اَقْدَمْتَ سَبْقَهَا وَ جَعَلْتَهَا عِنْدَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَدِيعَةً وَ اِلَيْكَ ذَرِيعَةً وَ بِرَحْمَتِكَ الْوَسِيعَةِ اَنْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ عَبْدِكَ الْمُنْتَجَبِ فِي الْمِيثَاقِ الْقَرِيبِ يَوْمَ التَّلاقِ فَاتِقِ كُلِّ رَتْقٍ وَ دَاعٍ اِلَى كُلِّ حَقٍّ وَ عَلَى اَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ الْاَطْهَارِ الْهُدَاةِ الْمَنَارِ دَعَائِمِ الْجَبَّارِ وَ وُلاةِ الْجَنَّةِ وَ النَّارِ وَ اَعْطِنَا فِي يَوْمِنَا هٰذَا مِنْ عَطَائِكَ الْمَخْزُونِ غَيْرَ مَقْطُوعٍ وَ لا مَمْنُوعٍ [مَمْنُونٍ] تَجْمَعُ لَنَا بِهِ التَّوْبَةَ وَ حُسْنَ الْاَوْبَةِ، يَا خَيْرَ مَدْعُوٍّ وَ اَكْرَمَ مَرْجُوٍّ يَا كَفِيُّ يَا وَفِيُّ يَا مَنْ لُطْفُهُ خَفِيٌّ الْطُفْ لِي بِلُطْفِكَ وَ اَسْعِدْنِي بِعَفْوِكَ وَ اَيِّدْنِي بِنَصْرِكَ وَ لا تُنْسِنِي كَرِيمَ ذِكْرِكَ بِوُلاةِ اَمْرِكَ وَ حَفَظَةِ سِرِّكَ وَ احْفَظْنِي مِنْ شَوَائِبِ الدَّهْرِ اِلَى يَوْمِ الْحَشْرِ وَ النَّشْرِ وَ اَشْهِدْنِي اَوْلِيَاءَكَ عِنْدَ خُرُوجِ نَفْسِي وَ حُلُولِ رَمْسِي وَ انْقِطَاعِ عَمَلِي وَ انْقِضَاءِ اَجَلِي اللّٰهُمَّ وَ اذْكُرْنِي عَلَى طُولِ الْبِلَى اِذَا حَلَلْتُ بَيْنَ اَطْبَاقِ الثَّرَى وَ نَسِيَنِيَ النَّاسُونَ مِنَ الْوَرَى وَ اَحْلِلْنِي دَارَ الْمُقَامَةِ وَ بَوِّئْنِي مَنْزِلَ الْكَرَامَةِ ، وَ اجْعَلْنِي مِنْ مُرَافِقِي اَوْلِيَائِكَ وَ اَهْلِ اجْتِبَائِكَ وَ اصْطِفَائِكَ وَ بَارِكْ لِي فِي لِقَائِكَ وَ ارْزُقْنِي حُسْنَ الْعَمَلِ قَبْلَ حُلُولِ الْاَجَلِ بَرِيئا مِنَ الزَّلَلِ وَ سُوءِ الْخَطَلِ اللّٰهُمَّ وَ اَوْرِدْنِي حَوْضَ نَبِيِّكَ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ اسْقِنِي مِنْهُ مَشْرَبا رَوِيّا سَائِغا هَنِيئا لا اَظْمَاُ بَعْدَهُ وَ لا اُحَلَّاُ وِرْدَهُ وَ لا عَنْهُ اُذَادُ وَ اجْعَلْهُ لِي خَيْرَ زَادٍ وَ اَوْفَى مِيعَادٍ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْاَشْهَادُ اللّٰهُمَّ وَ الْعَنْ جَبَابِرَةَ الْاَوَّلِينَ وَ الْآخِرِينَ وَ بِحُقُوقِ [لِحُقُوقِ] اَوْلِيَائِكَ الْمُسْتَأْثِرِينَ اللّٰهُمَّ وَ اقْصِمْ دَعَائِمَهُمْ وَ اَهْلِكْ اَشْيَاعَهُمْ وَ عَامِلَهُمْ وَ عَجِّلْ مَهَالِكَهُمْ وَ اسْلُبْهُمْ مَمَالِكَهُمْ وَ ضَيِّقْ عَلَيْهِمْ مَسَالِكَهُمْ وَ الْعَنْ مُسَاهِمَهُمْ وَ مُشَارِكَهُمْ. اللّٰهُمَّ وَ عَجِّلْ فَرَجَ اَوْلِيَائِكَ وَ ارْدُدْ عَلَيْهِمْ مَظَالِمَهُمْ وَ اَظْهِرْ بِالْحَقِّ قَائِمَهُمْ وَ اجْعَلْهُ لِدِينِكَ مُنْتَصِرا وَ بِاَمْرِكَ فِي اَعْدَائِكَ مُؤْتَمِرا اللّٰهُمَّ احْفُفْهُ بِمَلائِكَةِ النَّصْرِ وَ بِمَا اَلْقَيْتَ اِلَيْهِ مِنَ الْاَمْرِ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ مُنْتَقِما لَكَ حَتَّى تَرْضَى وَ يَعُودَ دِينُكَ بِهِ وَ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ جَدِيدا غَضّا وَ يَمْحَضَ الْحَقَّ مَحْضا وَ يَرْفِضَ الْبَاطِلَ رَفْضا اللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَيْهِ وَ عَلَى جَمِيعِ آبَائِهِ وَ اجْعَلْنَا مِنْ صَحْبِهِ وَ اُسْرَتِهِ وَ ابْعَثْنَا فِي كَرَّتِهِ حَتَّى نَكُونَ فِي زَمَانِهِ مِنْ اَعْوَانِهِ اللّٰهُمَّ اَدْرِكْ بِنَا قِيَامَهُ وَ اَشْهِدْنَا اَيَّامَهُ وَ صَلِّ عَلَيْهِ [عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ] وَ ارْدُدْ اِلَيْنَا سَلامَهُ وَ السَّلامُ عَلَيْهِ [عَلَيْهِمْ] وَ رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَ بَرَكَاتُهُ.
In his epistle entitled al-Arba’at Ayyam (The Four Days), Sayyid al-Damad has mentioned that to visit the holy tomb of Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Rida(a.s.) on the day; i.e. the Earth Spreading Day, is the most preferable act. Similarly, to visit his tomb on the first of Rajab is highly desirable; therefore, he has urged on it greatly.
THE LAST DAY OF ZILQAD
On the last day of Dhu’l-Qa’dah 220 AH, Imam Muhammad ibn Ali al-Yaqi al-Jawad(a.s.) was martyred. He was poisoned by Al-Mu’tasim Bi’llah, the ‘Abbasid ruler. That was only two years and a half after the death of al-Ma’mun, the ‘Abbasid ruler. The Imam (a.s.) himself had predicted so when he said, “Relief shall come thirty months after the death of al-Ma’mun.”
In fact, this statement reveals the scope of torture and pain that were suffered by the Imam (a.s.) in his life with al-Ma’mun. Hence, the Imam (a.s.) regarded his passing away as relief. Similarly, his father, Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Rida(a.s.), suffered the same pains and hardships when he was appointed as the crown prince. Whenever he returned from the mosque on Fridays, Imam al-Rida(a.s.) used to raise his hands to the sky, sweaty and dust-covered, and supplicate to Almighty Allah, saying, “My God, if my death is my relief, then please do hasten the hour of my death.” He, furthermore, was always depressed and miserable until he departed life.
Imam Muhammad ibn Ali al-Yaqi(a.s.) lived for twenty-five years and a few months only. His holy tomb is directly behind the holy tomb of his grandfather, Imam Musa al-Kazim (a.s.), in the city of al-Kazimiyyah, Baghdad. - Mafatihul_Jinan.
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