Imam
Zamana (a.t.f.s.), our sympathetic and caring father is the most beloved person
for us in this world. Our eyes and heart equally await his reappearance. Our
forefathers have been praying for him and we too are praying for him. We wish
to meet him, but it seems our prayers are not reaching the desired level of
acceptance.
In
this short treatise, let us re-look at some of the etiquettes of praying for
Imam e Zamana (a.t.f.s.) and rejuvenate ourselves to pray for our master.
First - The very first thing essential in
praying for Imam (a.s.) is excessiveness in praying. Imam (a.s.) has himself
ordered us
وَ
أَكْثِرُوا الدُّعَاءَ بِتَعْجِيلِ الْفَرَجِ فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ فَرَجُكُم
‘And
you pray excessively for my reappearance for certainly in it is your
deliverance’ (Ref: Kamaluddin Vol 2 Pg. 485)
Second - Praying for him (a.s.) before praying for ourselves and
our family. This is another etiquette which we should observe while praying for
Imam (a.s.). Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) is as follows: “Surely a person will not
be a believer till he considers Allah’s Messenger (s.a.w.a.) dearer than his
own life, and the progeny of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) more beloved than his own
family….”
We
prioritize our duas based on our needs, urgency, etc. We need to realize that
the most important, urgent and immediate requirement of the whole humanity is
reappearance of Imam Zamana (a.t.f.s.) There is no doubt that reappearance of
Hazrat Wali-e-Asr (a.t.f.s.) is among the most important affairs, through which
hearts will gain peace and satisfaction.
Hence,
it is proper for a believer that before he starts praying for himself and his
family, he should pray for the reappearance, thereby observing the due right of
the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.).
Third - Namaz is defined as conversation
between a slave and his Master, Allah (s.w.t.). The qunoot of the namaz is the
best place for asking one’s need. There are many duas of qunoot, available in
various books where our previous Imams (a.s.) have prayed for Imam-e-Zamana (a.t.f.s.).
Let us have a look at some sentences to understand the intensity of their
desire for the era of peace and justice i.e. golden era of Imam Zamana
(a.t.f.s.).
Imam
Zainul Abedeen (a) recites in his Qunoot: …Replace
their leaders with the Shia Imam and replace them with just and fair Shia
people in their place. Light the way for the fire of the truth, bring about the
ones who are looking for justice and revenge of the
Imam’s blood. Strengthen the seeker of
justice and fairness with Your Might…
(Muhajj ad-Dawaat, Pg. 49)
Imam
Baqir (a) recites: …O Allah, make nearer
what has come near and make us reach what is near and make our hopes realized
and make the aspirations of believers true; and help Your religion. And make Your
proof evident and take revenge from Your enemies making it fruitful… (Muhajj
ad-Dawaat, Pg. 51)
These
are long Qunoots and we may not be able to memorize them or read them regularly
in our prayers. However, we realize that praying for Imam e Asr (a.t.f.s.) in
Qunoot is Sunnat of Aimmah (a.s.), hence we can recite Allahumma Kun or any other Dua for his early reappearance in our
qunoot daily.
Fourth - In Prostration - Another occasion in
which it is emphasized to pray for early reappearance is the position of Sajdah
for Allah. As per traditions, this is the most proximate position to Allah.
Therefore the best thing is to mention the most important matter when one is in
prostration and that one should pay special attention to it. Especially, the
prostration of thanksgiving, when you should understand that all the bounties
that Allah has given are only because of the blessing of our master - the Master
of the Time (a.s.). We must also know that to pray for one, who is the cause of
blessings reaching us and the medium thereof, is the best way to pay thanks to
him (a.t.f.s.)
Fifth - Holy month of Ramazan - The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) in his
famous sermon on welcoming the month of Ramazan, introduces this month in which
prayers are accepted. In the month of Ramazan itself there are various special
occasions when the prayers are accepted viz. at the time of Seher, Iftar and
Lailatul Qadr. We should pray for his
Holy reappearance at these times
There
is a special Dua for this month quoted in Iqbal and Zaadul Maad from the fourth
Imam, Imam Zainul Abideen (a.s.) and his son, Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) which
begins as follows:
O Allah, this is the month of Ramadan…
I ask You to help the vicegerent of Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) and the successor of
Muhammad and the one who will establish justice from the successors of
Muhammad. Your blessings be upon him and them. Bestow Your help to them.
Supporting
this point also is the traditional report that Thiqatul Islam, Muhammad Ibne Yaqoob
Kulaini has recorded in the chapter of fasting, in Usool e Kafi from Muhammad
bin Isa through his own chain of narrators from the Holy Imam (a.s.) that they
said:
Recite
this Dua on the eve of 23rd of Ramadan in Sajdah (prostration), in sitting and
standing, and go on repeating it as much as you can. So much so, that you learn
it by heart for your life. Thus after praise and glorification of the Almighty
Allah recite ALLAHUMMA KUN..
We
have discussed about only five ways through which our duas may reach the final
destination.
The
sixth part in volume two of the reputed book Mikyalul Makarim Fee Fawaid ad Dua
lil Qaem of Ayatullah Sayed Mohammed Taqi Musawai Isfahani is dedicated to this
topic. The chapter is titled as ‘Times and conditions emphasized for
supplicating.’
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