Concerning the ritual prayer of those who are emancipated [from the Fire of Hell] in the month of Shawwal [salat al-'utaqa' fi Shawwal].

As for the ritual prayer of those who are emancipated [from the Fire of Hell] in [the month of] Shawwal we learn from a traditional report, transmitted [by a chain of reliable authorities] from Anas [ibn Malik] (may Allah be well pleased with him), that Allah's Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) once said:

 If someone performs eight cycles of ritual prayer [raka'at] in the month of Shawwal, either during the night or during the day—reciting in each cycle the Opening Sura of the Book [Fatihat al-Kitab] [one time] and "Qul Huwa'llahu Ahad [Say: 'He is Allah, One!']" fifteen times—and if, when he has finished performing his ritual prayer [salat], he glorifies Allah [sabbaha] seventy times, and invokes Allah's blessing upon the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) seventy times—by Him who sent me as a Prophet bearing the Truth [bi'l-Haqqi Nabiyyan], no servant [of the Lord] will perform this ritual prayer [salat], without Allah causing the fountains of wisdom [yanabi' al-hikma] to well up in his heart, and causing his tongue to speak with wisdom, and showing him both the sickness of this world and the cure for that sickness. 

By Him who sent me as a Prophet bearing the Truth [bi'l-Haqqi Nabiyyan], if someone performs this ritual prayer [salat], exactly as I have just described it, that person will not raise his head from his final prostration [sujud] until Allah has granted him forgiveness, and if he dies, he will die as a martyr [shahid]  to whom forgiveness has been granted.   

 Nor will any servant [of the Lord] perform this ritual prayer [salat], in the course of a journey, without Allah making it smooth and easy for him to travel and arrive at his intended destination.  If he is burdened with debt, Allah will settle his debt.  If he is needy, Allah will satisfy his needs. 

By Him who sent me as a Prophet bearing the Truth [bi'l-Haqqi Nabiyyan], no servant [of the Lord] will perform this ritual prayer [salat], without Allah (Exalted is He) granting him—for every letter [harf] and every verse [aya] [of his Qur'anic recitation]—a makhrafa in the Garden of Paradise. 

 Someone asked:  "And what is this makhrafa, O Messenger of Allah?"  So he went on to explain (Allah bless him and give him peace):

[The term makhrafa is applied to] orchards in the Garden of Paradise, through which the rider may travel for a hundred years without passing beyond the shade of just one of the trees that grow there.

CONCERNING THE RITUAL PRAYER FOR HELP IN TIME OF NEED [SALAT AL-HAJA].

According to a traditional report, transmitted by Abu Hashim al-Ayyili on the authority of Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be well pleased with him), the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) once said: 

If someone has a seriously pressing need, requiring Allah's help, he should perform the ritual ablution [wudu']  with proper care.  He should then perform two cycles of ritual prayer [rak'atain].  In the first cycle he should recite the Opening Sura of the Book [Fatihat al-Kitab] and the Verse of the Throne [Ayat al-Kursi], and in the second cycle, the Opening Sura of the Book [Fatihat al-Kitab] and "Amana 'r-Rasulu... [The Messenger believes...]" to the end of that passage.  Then, having pronounced the testimony [tashahhud] and the salutation [taslima], he should make his plea by offering this prayer of supplication [du'a'], for his need will then be satisfied.  The words of the prayer of supplication [du'a'] are as follows:

 O Allah!  O Intimate Friend of every lonely individual!  O Companion of every solitary individual!  O You who are Near, not distant!  O You who are Present, not absent!  O You who are Invisible, but not vanquished!

Allahumma : ya Mu'nisa kulli wahid : wa ya Sahiba kulli farid : wa ya Qariban ghaira ba'id: wa ya Shahidan ghaira gha'ib : wa ya Gha'iban ghaira maghlub :

 I beseech you by invoking Your Name: In the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the All-Compassionate, the Ever-Living, the Eternally Self-Sustaining the One whom neither slumber nor sleep can overtake.    

as'alu-ka bi'smi-ka bi'smi'llahi 'r-Rahmani 'r-Rahim: al-Hayyi 'l-Qayyum:  alladhi la ta'khudhu-hu sinatun wa la nawm.

Again I beseech you by invoking Your Name: In the Name of Allah the All-Merciful, the All-Compassionate, the Ever-Living, the Eternally Self-Sustaining, the One before whom faces are humbled, and voices are subdued and hearts quake and tremble.   

wa as'alu-ka bi'smi-ka bi'smi'llahi 'r-Rahmani 'r-Rahim: al-Hayyi 'l-Qayyum: alladhi 'anat la-hu 'l-wujuh: wa khasha'at la-hu 'l-aswat: wa wajilat min-hu 'l-qulub : 

[I beseech You] to bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad and to grant me a happy solution and a way out of my problem, and to satisfy my need. 

an yusalliya 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala ali  Muhammad wa an taj'ala li min amri farajan wa makhrajan wa taqdiya hajati.

SALAT AL-KHUSAMA.

CONCERNING THE RITUAL PRAYER FOR ONE'S ADVERSARIES IN LITIGATION [SALAT AL-KHUSAMA'].

The ritual prayer for one's adversaries in litigation [salat al-khusama'] consists of four cycles [raka'at], with only one salutation [taslima]. 

In the first cycle, the worshipper must recite the Opening Sura of the Book [Fatihat al-Kitab] [one time] and "Qul Huwa'llahu Ahad [Say: 'He is Allah, One!']" eleven times.  In the second cycle, he must recite the Opening Sura [al-Fatiha] [one time], "Qul Huwa'llahu Ahad [Say: 'He is Allah, One!']" ten times, and "Qul ya ayyuha 'l-kafirun... [Say: 'O unbelievers...']"  three times.  In the third cycle, he must recite the Opening Sura [al-Fatiha] [one time], "Qul Huwa'llahu Ahad [Say: 'He is Allah, One!']" ten times, and "Alha-kumu 't-takathuru... [Gross rivalry distracts you...]"  one time.  In the fourth cycle, he must recite the Opening Sura [al-Fatiha] [one time], "Qul Huwa'llahu Ahad [Say: 'He is Allah, One!']" fifteen times, and the Verse of the Throne [Ayat al-Kursi]  one time.

Then he must donate the spiritual reward [earned by his performance of this prayer] to his adversaries in litigation [khusama'], so that Allah may satisfy their claim on the Day of Resurrection [Yawm al-Qiyama], if Allah (Exalted is He) so wills. 

He must perform this ritual prayer [salat] on seven specific occasions, namely:  (1) on the first night of [the month of] Rajab; (2) on the night of the middle of [the month of] Sha'ban; (3) on the last Friday of [the month of] Ramadan; (4,5) on each of the two Days of Festival  [al-'Idain];  (6) on the Day of 'Arafa; and (7) on the Day of 'Ashura'.

AS-SOLAT LI RAF' 'ADHAB AL QABR

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].

SALAT AT-TASBIH.

CONCERNING THE SPECIAL MERIT OF THE RITUAL PRAYER OF GLORIFICATION [SALAT AT-TASBIH].

As for the special quality of the ritual prayer of glorification [salat at-tasbih], we learn from a traditional report, transmitted [by a chain of reliable authorities] from Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be well pleased with him and with his father), that Allah's Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) once said to al-'Abbas ibn 'Abdi'l-Muttalib (may Allah be well pleased with him) :

O 'Abbas, my dear uncle!  I really must give you a gift!  I really must make you a present!  I really must do you a favor!  I really must let you know about ten special practices [khisal], for, if you carry them out, Allah will forgive you your sin, the first and the last of it, the old and the new, the unintentional and the deliberate, the small and the great, the private and the public.  

You must perform four cycles of ritual prayer [raka'at], reciting in each cycle the Opening Sura of the Book [Fatihat al-Kitab] and one other Sura.

When you have finished the Qur'anic recitation in the first cycle [rak'a], and while you are still standing erect, you must say-fifteen times:

Glory be to Allah,

subhana 'llahi 

and praise be to Allah,

wa 'l-hamdu li'llahi

and there is no god but Allah,

wa la ilaha illa 'llahu

and Allah is Supremely Great!

wa 'llahu Akbar.

Then you must perform the act of bowing, pronouncing it [the same affirmation] ten times while you are in the posture of bowing [raki']. 

Then you must raise your head from the act of bowing [rak'a], and pronounce it ten times.

Then you must perform the act of prostration, and pronounce it ten times.

Then you must raise your head from the posture of prostration [sujud], and pronounce it ten times.

Then you must perform the [second] act of prostration, and pronounce it ten times.

Then you must raise your head from the posture of prostration [sujud], and pronounce it ten times.

That all adds up to a total of seventy-five in each cycle [rak'a].  You must do the same in all four cycles [raka'at]. 

If you are able to perform this special prayer once every day, then do so.  If you cannot do it that often, then once every Friday [the Day of Congregation].  If you cannot do it that often, then once every month.  If you cannot do it that often, then once every year.  If you cannot do it that often, then at least once in your lifetime. 

According to another version of this report, the Qur'anic recitation should be:

In the first cycle:  the Opening Sura of the Book [Fatihat al-Kitab] and "Sabbihi 'sma Rabbi-ka 'l-A'la... [Glorify the Name of your Lord the Most High...]."

 In the second cycle:  the Opening Sura of the Book [Fatihat al-Kitab] and "Idha zulzilat... [When (the earth) is shaken...]."

 In the third cycle:  the Opening Sura of the Book [Fatihat al-Kitab] and "Qul ya ayyuha 'l-kafirun... [Say:  'O you unbelievers...']." 

 In the fourth cycle:  the Opening Sura of the Book [Fatihat al-Kitab] and "Qul Huwa 'llahu Ahad [Say:  'He is Allah, One!']"

According to yet another traditional report, the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) once said to Ja'far ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be well pleased with him) :

I really must make you a present!  I really must do you a favor!  I really must give you a gift!

(Our informant went on to quote the rest of the report [hadith].)

SALAT AL-ISTIKHARA.

CONCERNING THE RITUAL PRAYER FOR GUIDANCE IN CHOOSING THE BEST OPTION [SALAT AL-ISTIKHARA],AND THE PRAYER OF SUPPLICATION [DU'A'] APPROPRIATE TO IT.

 According to a traditional report transmitted on the authority of Muhammad ibn al-Munkadir, it was Jabir ibn 'Abdi'llah (may Allah be well pleased with him and with his father) who said:

"Allah's Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) used to teach us how to seek guidance in choosing the best option available in a practical enterprise [al-istikhara fi 'l-amr], just as he would sometimes teach us a Chapter [Sura] from the Qur'an.  : 

"'If one of you is concerned about some practical undertaking, or about making plans for a journey, he should perform two cycles of ritual prayer [rak'atain], not as an obligatory observance [farida], but voluntarily.  Then he should say:  

'"O Allah, I ask You to show me what is best, through Your knowledge, and I ask You to empower me, through Your power, and I beg You to grant me Your tremendous favor, for You have power, while I am without power, and You have knowledge, while I am without knowledge, and You are the One who knows all things invisible.

Allahumma inni astakhiru-ka bi-'ilmi-ka wa astaqdiru-ka bi-qudrati-ka wa as'alu-ka min fadli-ka 'l-'azim fa-inna-ka taqdiru wa la aqdiru wa ta'lamu wa la a'lamu wa Anta 'Allamu 'l-ghuyub :

O Allah, if You know that this undertaking is in the best interests of my religion, my life in this world, and my life in the Hereafter, and can yield successful results in both the short term and the long term, then make it possible for me and make it easy for me, and then bless me in it.

Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadha 'l-amra khairun li fi dini wa dunyaya wa akhirati wa 'aqibati amri wa 'ajili-hi wa ajili-h :fa-'qdir-hu li wa yassir-hu li thumma barik li fi-h :

If not, then turn it away from me, and make it easy for me to do well, wherever I may happen to be,  and make me content with Your verdict, O Most Merciful of the merciful.'"

wa illa fa-'srif-hu 'an-ni wa yassir liya 'l-khaira haithu kana ma kuntu wa raddi-ni bi-qada'i-ka ya Arhama 'r-rahimin :