CONCERNING THE RITUAL PRAYER FOR THE REMOVAL OF THE TORMENT OF THE TOMB [AS-SALAT LI-RAF' 'ADHAB AL-QABR].
According to a traditional report, transmitted on the authority of 'Abdu'llah ibn al-Hasan, 'Ali (may Allah be well pleased with him) stated that Allah's Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) once said:
If someone performs two cycles of ritual prayer [rak'atain]--reciting in one of the two cycles the last part of [the Sura of] the Criterion [al-Furqan], from "Tabaraka 'lladhi ja'ala fi 's-sama'i burujan [Blessed is He who has placed in the heaven mansions of the stars]" until he reaches the end of the Sura--then starting into the second cycle, and reciting in it, after the Opening Sura [al-Fatiha], from the beginning of the Sura of the Believers [Surat al-Muminin] until he reaches "Fa-tabaraka 'llahu Ahsanu 'l-khaliqin [So Blessed be Allah, the Fairest of creators]"--he will be safe from the double-dealing of the jinn and of humankind.
He will receive his record sheet with his right hand on the Day of Resurrection [Yawm al-Qiyama]. He will be safe from the torment of the tomb, and safe from the greatest terrror [al-faza' al-akbar]. The Book will teach him, even if he is not an eager student. He will be relieved of poverty. Allah will bring him [into compliance with] the law [hukm]. He will give him insight into His Book, which He has sent down to His Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace).
He will instill in him the evidence he will need [in order to make his case] on the Day of Resurrection [Yawm al-Qiyama]. He will install a light in his heart. Thus he will not grieve when other people grieve, and he will not be afraid when they are afraid. Light will be installed in his faculty of vision, the love of this world will be extracted from his heart, and he will be recorded in the presence of Allah as one of the champions of truth [as-siddiqin].
