Sufficient Provision for Seekers of the Path of Truth

also known in the Indian sub-continent as
Al-Ghunya li-Talibin.

Author’s Prologue

Praise be to Allah for His gracious favor, and blessings and peace be upon the Prince of His Prophets and upon his family and his friends.

The following are the words of our Supreme Helper [Ghawthuna’l-A’zam], the Mainstay of the Arabs and the non-Arabs [Sanad al-‘Arab wa’l-‘Ajam], the Light of Mankind and the Jinn [Nur ath-Thaqalain], the Axis of East and West [Qutb al-Khafiqain], the Reviver of the Prophetic Example [Muhyi’s-Sunna], Abu Muhammad ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Hasani al-Husaini al-Jilani (may Allah the Exalted sanctify his innermost being, and may He pour His gracious blessings in abundance upon those who follow his lofty example):

Praise be to Allah, for every book must begin with the declaration of His praise, as every speech must start with the mention of His name. The people of bliss will take delight in praising Him [hereafter] in the abode of requital and reward. By His name is every sickness healed, and with it every grief and tribulation is removed. Toward Him hands are raised in earnest entreaty and supplication, in hardship and in ease, in good times and in bad. He is Attentive [Sami’] to all voices, with all their various forms of speech in different languages, and He is Responsive [Mujib] to those who feel the need to appeal [to Him].

Praise be to Him, therefore, for all that is best and finest, and thanks be to Him for all the favors He has bestowed, for all the gifts He has granted, and for the evidence and guidance He has clearly shown. May His blessings be upon His chosen friend [safi] and Messenger [Rasul], Muhammad, through whom He has guided us out of error, and on his family, his companions, his brother Envoys [Mursalun] and the angels brought near [mala’ika muqarrabun], and may He grant them peace.

Now to address the subject of the present work: One of my friends had been pressing me, urging me in very emphatic terms to compose this book, because of his excellent appreciation of what is right and proper. Of course, Allah is the One who protects from harm [‘Asim] in words and deeds, the One who has insight [Muttali’] into consciences [dama’ir] and intentions [niyyat], and the Benefactor [Mun’im] who graciously condescends to facilitate whatever He wishes. Refuge with Him (Almighty and Glorious is He) must be sought through cleansing hearts of pretense [riya’] and hypocrisy [nifaq], and replacing bad deeds with good. He is Forgiving [Ghafir] of sins and mistakes, and Accepting [Qabil] of repentance from His servants.

I came to recognize the sincerity of his [my friend’s] wish to acquire real knowledge [ma’rifa] of modes of behavior consistent with the sacred law [adab shar’iyya], namely obligatory religious duties [fara’id], recommended practices [sunan] and formal refinements [hai’at]; real knowledge of the Maker [Sani’] (Almighty and Glorious is He) through signs [ayat] and indications [‘alamat]; then instruction in the Qur’an and Prophetic utterances [alfaz nabawiyya], in discourses [majalis] we shall mention later; and real knowledge of the morals and ethics of the righteous [salihun], which we shall review in the course of the book, so that it may serve as a helper to him in following the path of Allah (Almighty and Glorious is He), in carrying out His commandments and observing His prohibitions.

I found that he had a sincere intention [niyya sadiqa], which I experienced within me among the revelations of the Unseen [futuh al-ghaib], so I gave him a positive response in this matter.

Promptly and eagerly, counting on the reward, hoping for salvation on the Day of Reckoning, I set about the work of compiling this book, with the helpful guidance of the Lord of lords [Rabb al-arbab], the Inspirer of what is right [Mulhim as-sawab], and I have given it the title:

Sufficient Provision for Seekers of the Path of Truth [Al-Ghunya li-Talibi Tariq al-Haqq].

Al Ghunya Prayers

CONCERNING THE SPECIAL QUALITIES OF THE [VOLUNTARY] RITUAL PRAYERS [SALAWAT] PERFORMED IN THE DAYTIME ON EACH OF THE DAYS OF THE WEEK.

1. Traditional reports concerning [voluntary] ritual prayers performed during the daytime [salawat an-nahar].

As for what has come down to us on the subject of the daytime ritual prayers [salawat an-nahar], one item is the traditional report, transmitted on the authority of Abu Salama, according to which Abu Huraira (may Allah be well pleased with him) said:

“Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) once said to me:

“‘Whenever you are about to go out of your place of residence, you should perform two cycles of ritual prayer [fa-salli rak’atain], for they will prevent you from making a bad exit, and whenever you enter your place of residence, you should likewise perform two cycles of ritual prayer, for they will prevent you from making a bad entrance.'”

According to another traditional report, this one transmitted on the authority of Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be well pleased with him), Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) once said, with reference to the prayer of daybreak [salat as-subh] :

Whenever someone performs the ritual ablution [tawadda’], then sets out for the mosque [masjid], and then performs the ritual prayer [salat] inside it, for every step he takes, he will be credited with a good deed, and a bad deed will be erased from his record. Moreover, the good deed will carry the value of ten of its kind.

If he performs the ritual prayer [salla], then takes his leave [from the mosque] at the rising of the sun, Allah (Exalted is He) will record a good deed in his favor for every hair on his body, and he will return home with an accepted Pilgrimage [Hijja mabrura] to his credit.

If he sits until he is ready to perform a cycle of prayer [hatta yarka’a], for every act of sitting [jalsa] Allah (Exalted is He) will record a million good deeds in his credit column.

Whenever someone performs the late evening prayer [salat al-‘atama], he is entitled to receive a similar reward, and he will return home with an accepted Visitation [‘Umra mabrura] to his credit.

[The Caliph] ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan (may Allah be well pleased with him) is reported as having said: “I once heard Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) say:

“‘When someone performs the late evening prayer [salat al-‘isha’] in a congregation [jama’a], it is as if he has devoted half the night to worship. And when someone performs the dawn prayer [salat al-fajr] in a congregation [jama’a], it is as if he has spent the entire night in prayer.'”

According to another traditional report, this one transmitted on the authority of Abu Salih, Abu Huraira (may Allah be well pleased with him) stated that Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) once said:

No ritual prayer [salat] is more burdensome for the hypocrites [munafiqin] than the prayer of late evening and that of the dawn [salat al-‘isha’ wa ‘l-fajr]. If they did but know what [blessings] these two contain, they would surely come to perform them, even if they had to come crawling on their hands and knees! I once considered the idea of ordering my servants to gather firewood, so I could make it too hot for men who do not attend [the congregation] with us to stay in their houses!

According to ‘Ata’ ibn Yasar, Abu Huraira (may Allah be well pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) once said:

If someone performs four cycles of ritual prayer [salla arba’a raka’at] after the sun has declined from the meridian, paying proper attention to their Qur’anic recitation [qira’a] and to their acts of bowing [ruku’] and prostration [sujud], seventy thousand angels will pray together with him, begging forgiveness on his behalf until the night sets in.

According to this same report, Abu Huraira (may Allah be well pleased with him) went on to say:

“Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) would never fail to perform four [voluntary cycles of prayer] after the sun’s decline from the meridian. He would prolong them, and he used to say:

“‘The gates of heaven are opened at this hour, so I would like to have a good deed of mine rise up into it.’

“Someone asked: ‘O Messenger of Allah, is there a [ritual salutation of] “Peace!” in them, marking a division [of the four cycles into two segments]?’ ‘No,’ said he (Allah bless him and give him peace).”

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) is also reported as having said:

May Allah bestow His mercy upon any servant [of His] who performs four [voluntary cycles of prayer] before [the obligatory ritual prayer of] the afternoon [al-‘asr].

Sunday Prayer

CONCERNING [VOLUNTARY] RITUAL PRAYER PERFORMED ON A SUNDAY [SALAT YAWM AL-AHAD].

According to a traditional report transmitted on the authority of Abu Huraira (may Allah be well pleased with him), the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) once said:

If someone performs four cycles of ritual prayer [salla arba’a raka’at] on a Sunday–reciting the Opening Sura of the Book [Fatihat al-Kitab] in each cycle, and [the passage that begins with] “Amana ‘r-Rasulu… [The Messenger believes…]” one time –Allah (Exalted is He) will record in his favor a number of good deeds, a number corresponding to the total figure arrived at by counting every Christian man and Christian woman [Nasrani wa Nasraniyya]. He will grant him the spiritual reward of a Prophet [Nabi]. He will record a Pilgrimage [Hijja] and a Visitation [‘Umra] in his credit column.

For each cycle [rak’a], He will credit him with a thousand ritual prayers [alf salat]. Then, for every letter [in the words of his Qur’anic recitation], Allah (Exalted is He) will grant him, in the Garden of Paradise, a city constructed from the most fragrantly aromatic musk.

According to another traditional report, this one transmitted on the authority of [the Caliph] ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be well pleased with him), the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) once said:

Affirm the Oneness of Allah (Exalted is He) by performing the ritual prayer [salat] frequently on Sunday, for He is Single [Wahid], without any partner [la sharika la-h]. If someone performs four [voluntary] cycles of ritual prayer [salla arba’a raka’at] on a Sunday, after the noon prayer [salat az-zuhr] that is strictly obligatory [farida] and that which is customary [sunna]-reciting, in the first cycle, the Opening Sura of the Book [Fatihat al-Kitab] and the Sura of Prostration [as-Sajda], which begins with “Alif-Lam-Mim…,” and, in the second cycle, the Opening Sura of the Book [Fatihat al-Kitab] and the Sura of Sovereignty [al-Mulk], which begins with “Tabaraka… [Blessed is He…];” then pronouncing the testimony and the salutation [yatashahhad wa yusallim]; then standing up and proceeding to perform the last two cycles, reciting in both of them the Opening Sura of the Book [Fatihat al-Kitab] and the Sura of the Congregation [Surat al-Jumu’a]; and asking [in his supplication] for his need to be satisfied-it will be an obligation [haqq] incumbent upon Allah (Exalted is He) to satisfy his need, and to declare him innocent of the errors committed by the Christians [Nasara].

Sunday Night Prayer

CONCERNING THE SPECIAL QUALITY OF [VOLUNTARY] RITUAL PRAYER PERFORMED DURING THE NIGHT OF SUNDAY [SALAT LAILAT AL-AHAD].

Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be well pleased with him) is reported as having said: “I once heard Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) say:

“‘If someone performs twenty [voluntary] cycles of ritual prayer [‘ishrin rak’a] on a Sunday night-reciting in each cycle “Al-hamdu li’llahi… [Praise be to Allah…’]” one time, “Qul Huwa’llahu Ahad [Say: ‘He is Allah, One!’]” fifty times, and the Two Pleas for Divine Refuge [al-Mu’awwidhatain] three times–and if he begs forgiveness of Allah (Glory be to Him) one hundred times, and begs forgiveness of Allah for himself and his parents one hundred times, and invokes Allah’s blessing on the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) one hundred times, and renounces all personal claim to power and strength [tabarra’a min al-hawli wa ‘l-quwwa], and takes refuge in the power and strength of Allah –and if he then says:

I bear witness that there is no god but Allah,
ashhadu an la ilaha illa ‘llah :

and I bear witness that Adam is the Choice of Allah, and His Creation,
wa ashhadu anna Adama Safwatu ‘llahi wa Fitratu-h :

and Abraham is the Bosom Friend of Allah (Almighty and Glorious is He),
wa Ibrahima Khalilu ‘llahi (‘azza wa jall) :

and Moses is the Interlocutor of Allah (Exalted is He),
wa Musa Kalimu ‘llahi (ta’ala) :

and Jesus is the Spirit of Allah (Glory be to Him),
wa ‘Isa Ruhu ‘llahi (subhana-h) :

and Muhammad is the Beloved of Allah (Almighty and Glorious is He).
wa Muhammadan Habibu ‘llahi (‘azza wa jall).

–he will be entitled to as many grants of recompense and reward as the total figure arrived at by counting all those who call Allah (Almighty and Glorious is He) a “Son,” as well as all those who do not call Him a “Son.” On the Day of Resurrection [Yawm al-Qiyama], Allah (Exalted is He) will bring him back to life in the company of those who have nothing to fear [al-aminin], and it will be an obligation [haqq] incumbent upon Allah to admit him to the Garden of Paradise in the company of the Prophets [an-Nabiyyin].

Monday Prayer

CONCERNING [VOLUNTARY] RITUAL PRAYER PERFORMED ON A MONDAY [SALAT YAWM AL-ITHNAIN].

According to a traditional report transmitted by Abu ‘z-Zubair, on the authority of Jabir ibn ‘Abdi ‘llah [al-Ansari] (may Allah be well pleased with him and with his father), Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) once said:

If someone performs two [voluntary] cycles of ritual prayer [rak’atain] at daybreak on a Monday-reciting the Opening Sura of the Book [Fatihat al-Kitab] once in each cycle, the Verse of the Throne [Ayat al-Kursi] one time, “Qul Huwa’llahu Ahad [Say: ‘He is Allah, One!’]” one time, and the Two Pleas for Divine Refuge [al-Mu’awwidhatain] one time each-and if, when he pronounces the salutation [idha sallama], he appeals ten times to Allah for forgiveness, and invokes His blessing upon the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) ten times-Allah will forgive him all his sins.

According to another traditional report, this one transmitted by Thabit al-Bunani, on the authority of Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be well pleased with him), Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) once said:

If someone performs twelve [voluntary] cycles of ritual prayer [salla ithnatai ‘ashrata rak’a] on a Monday, reciting the Opening Sura of the Book [Fatihat al-Kitab] in each cycle, and the Verse of the Throne [Ayat al-Kursi] one time-and if, when he has concluded his performance of the prayer [salat], he recites “Qul Huwa’llahu Ahad [Say: ‘He is Allah, One!’]” twelve times, and seeks forgiveness twelve times-an angelic voice will call for him on the Day of Resurrection [Yawm al-Qiyama], saying: “Where is So-and-so, the son of So-and-so? Let him step forward to receive his reward from Allah (Exalted is He) !” He will then be given, as the first part of his reward, a thousand fine articles of clothing. A crown will be placed upon his head, and he will be told: “Enter the Garden of Paradise!” A thousand angels will bid him welcome, each angel bearing a gift, and they will escort him on a tour of a thousand palaces constructed from glittering light.

Monday Night Prayer

CONCERNING THE SPECIAL QUALITY OF [VOLUNTARY] RITUAL PRAYERPERFORMED DURING THE NIGHT OF MONDAY [SALAT LAILAT AL-ITHNAIN].

(It should be noted that in Islam the night of Monday is Sunday night).

According to a traditional report, transmitted on the authority of al-A’mash, Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be well pleased with him) stated that Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) once said:

If someone performs four [voluntary] cycles of ritual prayer [raka’at] on a Monday night-reciting in the first cycle “Al-hamdu li’llahi… [Praise be to Allah…’]” one time, and “Qul Huwa’llahu Ahad [Say: ‘He is Allah, One!’]” ten times, and in the second cycle “Al-hamdu li’llahi… [Praise be to Allah…’]” one time, and “Qul Huwa’llahu Ahad [Say: ‘He is Allah, One!’]” twenty times, and in the third cycle “Al-hamdu li’llahi… [Praise be to Allah…’]” one time, and “Qul Huwa’llahu Ahad [Say: ‘He is Allah, One!’]” thirty times, and in the fourth cycle “Al-hamdu li’llahi… [Praise be to Allah…’]” one time, and “Qul Huwa’llahu Ahad [Say: ‘He is Allah, One!’]” forty times–and if he then pronounces the testimony and the salutation [tashahhada wa sallama], and recites “Qul Huwa’llahu Ahad [Say: ‘He is Allah, One!’]” seventy-five times, and begs forgiveness of Allah for himself and his parents seventy-five times, and invokes Allah’s blessing on the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) seventy-five times, and then asks [in his supplication] for his need to be satisfied–it will be an obligation [haqq] incumbent upon Allah (Exalted is He) to satisfy his need.

This is actually called the Ritual Prayer of Need [salat al-haja].

According to another traditional report, this transmitted on the authority of Abu Umama (may Allah be well pleased with him), Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) once said:

If someone performs two [voluntary] cycles of ritual prayer [rak’atain] on a Monday night-reciting in the 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 he recites the Verse of the Throne [Ayat al-Kursi] fifteen times after the salutation [taslim], and begs forgiveness of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) fifteen times–Allah (Exalted is He) will include his name among the names of those who belong to the Garden of Paradise, even if he is one of those who [would otherwise] belong to the Fire of Hell, and He will forgive him his sins of flagrant wrongdoing. For every Qur’anic verse [aya] he recites, He will credit him with a Pilgrimage [Hijja] and a Visitation [‘Umra], and if he dies between that Monday and the next Monday, he will die as a martyr [shahid].

Tuesday Prayer

4. Concerning [voluntary] ritual prayer performed on a Tuesday
[salat yawm ath-thalatha’].

According to a traditional report transmitted by Yazid ar-Raqashi, on the authority of Malik ibn Anas (may Allah be well pleased with him), Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) once said:

If someone performs ten [voluntary] cycles of ritual prayer [raka’at] on a Tuesday, in the middle of the day–reciting the Opening Sura of the Book [Fatihat al-Kitab] once in each cycle, the Verse of the Throne [Ayat al-Kursi] one time, and “Qul Huwa’llahu Ahad [Say: ‘He is Allah, One!’]” three times–no sinful error will be recorded in his debit column for seventy days. Then, if he dies before the seventy days are up, he will die as a martyr [shahid], and he will be forgiven the sins of seventy years.

Tuesday Night Prayer

CONCERNING THE SPECIAL QUALITY OF [VOLUNTARY] RITUAL PRAYER PERFORMED DURING THE NIGHT OF TUESDAY [SALAT LAILAT ATH-THALATHA’].

(it should be noted that the night of Tuesday is Monday night as we know it in the West).

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) is reported as having said:

If someone performs twelve [voluntary] cycles of ritual prayer [ithnatai ‘asharata rak’a] on a Tuesday night-reciting in each cycle the Opening Sura of the Book [Fatihat al-Kitab] one time, and “Idha ja’a nasru ‘llahi… [When the help of Allah comes…’]” five times-Allah (Exalted is He) will build him a house in the Garden of Paradise, and each of the dimensions of that house will be ten times the size of this lower world.

Wednesday Prayer

CONCERNING [VOLUNTARY] RITUAL PRAYER PERFORMED ON A WEDNESDAY
[SALAT YAWM AL-ARBA’A’].

According to a traditional report transmitted by Abu Idris al-Khawlani, on the authority of Mu’adh ibn Jabal (may Allah be well pleased with him), Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) once said:

If someone performs twelve [voluntary] cycles of ritual prayer [ithnatai ‘asharata rak’a] on a Wednesday, at the high point of the day-reciting the Opening Sura of the Book [Fatihat al-Kitab] in each cycle, the Verse of the Throne [Ayat al-Kursi] one time, “Qul Huwa’llahu Ahad [Say: ‘He is Allah, One!’]” three times, and the Two Pleas for Divine Refuge [al-Mu’awwidhatain] three times-an angel will call out to him from beside the Heavenly Throne [‘Arsh] : “O servant of Allah, you may now set to work with a clean slate, for all your previous sins have been forgiven!” Allah will exempt him from the torment of the tomb, and from its narrowness and gloom. He will also exempt him from the terrible hardships of the Resurrection, and He will accept his day’s work with the honor conferred on the work of a Prophet [Nabi].

Wednesday Night Prayer

CONCERNING THE SPECIAL QUALITY OF [VOLUNTARY] RITUAL PRAYERPERFORMED DURING THE NIGHT OF WEDNESDAY [SALAT LAILAT AL-ARBA’A’].

(It should be noted that the night of Wednesday is Tuesday night as we know it in the West).

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) is reported as having said:

If someone performs two [voluntary] cycles of ritual prayer [rak’atain] on a Wednesday night–reciting in the first cycle the Opening Sura of the Book [Fatihat al-Kitab] one time, and “Qul a’udhu bi-Rabbi ‘l-Falaq [Say: I take refuge with the Lord of the Daybreak’]” ten times, and in the second cycle the Opening Sura of the Book [Fatihat al-Kitab] one time, and “Qul a’udhu bi-Rabbi ‘n-Nas [Say: I take refuge with the Lord of Mankind’]” ten times–seventy thousand angels will come down from every heaven, recording the reward in his credit column until the Day of Resurrection [Yawm al-Qiyama].

Thursday Prayer

CONCERNING [VOLUNTARY] RITUAL PRAYER PERFORMED ON A THURSDAY [SALAT YAWM AL-KHAMIS].

According to a traditional report transmitted by ‘Ikrima, on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be well pleased with him and with his father), Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) once said:

If someone performs two [voluntary] cycles of ritual prayer [rak’atain] on a Thursday, at some point between the [obligatory prayers of] noon [az-zuhr] and afternoon [al-‘asr]-reciting in the first cycle the Opening Sura of the Book [Fatihat al-Kitab] one time, and the Verse of the Throne [Ayat al-Kursi] one hundred times, and in the second cycle the Opening Sura of the Book [Fatihat al-Kitab] [one time], and “Qul Huwa’llahu Ahad [Say: ‘He is Allah, One!’]” one hundred times-and if, when he has finished [performing the ritual prayer], he invokes Allah’s blessing upon me one hundred times-Allah (Exalted is He) will grant him the spiritual reward of someone who fasts in the months of Rajab, Sha’ban and Ramadan. The amount of his spiritual reward will be comparable to that of a Pilgrim of the House [of Allah] [Hajj al-Bait]. As for the good deeds to be recorded in his credit column, their number will be equal to the total figure arrived at by adding up all the people who believe in Allah (Exalted is He) and put their trust in Him.

Thursday Night Prayer

CONCERNING THE SPECIAL QUALITY OF [VOLUNTARY] RITUAL PRAYERPERFORMED DURING THE NIGHT OF THURSDAY [SALAT LAILAT AL-KHAMIS].

(It should be noted that the night of Thursday is Wednesday night as we know it in the west).

If someone performs two [voluntary] cycles of ritual prayer [rak’atain] on a Thursday night, at some point between the [obligatory prayers of] sunset [al-maghrib] and late evening [al-‘isha’]–reciting in each cycle the Opening Sura of the Book [Fatihat al-Kitab] one time, “Qul Huwa’llahu Ahad [Say: ‘He is Allah, One!’]” five times, and the Two Pleas for Divine Refuge [al-Mu’awwidhatain] five times–and if, when he has finished performing his ritual prayer [salat], he begs forgiveness of Allah (Exalted is He) fifteen times, and donates the spiritual reward for it [his prayer] to his parents–he will have discharged his obligation to them both, even if he has been undutiful [‘aqq] in his treatment of them, and Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) will grant him the gracious favor that He bestows upon the champions of truth [siddiqin] and the martyrs [shuhada’].

Friday Prayer

CONCERNING [VOLUNTARY] RITUAL PRAYER PERFORMED ON A FRIDAY
[SALAT YAWM AL-JUM’A].

According to a traditional report, ‘Ali ibn al-Husain heard from his father that his grandfather (may Allah’s good pleasure be upon them all) had told him: “I once heard the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) say:

“‘The whole of Friday, the Day of the Congregation, is [a time devoted to] ritual prayer [Yawm al-Jum’a kullu-hu salat]. If any truly believing servant of the Lord [‘abd mu’min] gets up-when the sun has emerged and risen by the length of a spear, or more than that-and performs the ablution and does so thoroughly [tawadda’a fa-asbagha ‘l-wudu’], and performs two cycles [rak’atain] of the supererogatory forenoon prayer [subhat ad-duha], as an act of faith and with an attitude of total dedication [ihtisab], Allah (Exalted is He) will record two hundred good deeds in his credit column, and He will also erase two hundred bad deeds from his debit column.

“‘If someone performs four cycles [raka’at], Allah (Exalted is He) will upgrade his status in the Garden of Paradise by four hundred degrees.

“‘If someone performs eight cycles [raka’at], Allah (Exalted is He) will upgrade his status in the Gardens of Paradise by eight hundred degrees, and He will forgive him all his sins.

“‘If someone performs twelve cycles [ithnatai ‘asharata rak’a], Allah (Exalted is He) will record one thousand two hundred good deeds in his credit column, and He will also erase one thousand two hundred bad deeds from his debit column. He will also upgrade his status in the Garden of Paradise by one thousand two hundred degrees.'”

If someone performs the [obligatory] daybreak prayer [salla ‘s-subh] on a Friday, as a member of a congregation [jama’a], then sits in the mosque [masjid], practicing the remembrance of Allah (Exalted is He), until the sun has risen into view, he will be entitled to seventy degrees in Paradise [Firdaws]. Moreover, in the space between two degrees, he will have trained horses at his disposal for seventy years.

If someone performs the Friday [Congregational] prayer [salla ‘l-jum’a], as a member of a congregation [jama’a], he will be entitled to fifty degrees in Paradise [Firdaws], and he will have thoroughbred horses at his disposal for fifty years.

If someone performs the [obligatory] afternoon prayer [salla ‘l-‘asr] on a Friday, as a member of a congregation [jama’a], it will be to his credit as if he had emancipated eighty of the offspring of Ishmael [Isma’il], delivering each of them from slavery.

If someone performs the [obligatory] sunset prayer [salla ‘l-maghrib] on a Friday, as a member of a congregation [jama’a], it will be to his credit as if he had performed a Pilgrimage [Hijja] blessed with acceptance and a Visitation [‘Umra] worthy of approval.

According to yet another traditional report, this one transmitted on the authority of Mujahid, Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be well pleased with him and with his father) stated that Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) once said:

If someone performs two [voluntary] cycles of ritual prayer [rak’atain] on a Friday, at some point between the [obligatory prayers of] noon [az-zuhr] and afternoon [al-‘asr]-reciting in the first cycle the Opening Sura of the Book [Fatihat al-Kitab] one time, the Verse of the Throne [Ayat al-Kursi] one time, and “Qul a’udhu bi-Rabbi ‘l-Falaq [Say: I take refuge with the Lord of the Daybreak’]” twenty-five times; and reciting in the second cycle the Opening Sura of the Book [Fatihat al-Kitab] one time, “Qul Huwa’llahu Ahad [Say: ‘He is Allah, One!’]” one time, and “Qul a’udhu bi-Rabbi ‘l-Falaq [Say: I take refuge with the Lord of the Daybreak’]” twenty times–and if, when he has pronounced the salutation [sallama], he says, fifty times:

There is no power,nor is there any strength, except through Allah, the All-High, the Almighty!

la hawla wa la quwwata illa bi’llahi ‘l-‘Aliyyi ‘l-‘Azim!

–he will not depart from this world until he has seen his Lord (Almighty and Glorious is He) in a dream, and has seen his situation in the Garden of Paradise, or had it shown to him.

It is related that an Arab of the desert [A’rabi] once came to town to visit the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). “O Messenger of Allah,” he said, “we are out in the desert, far from the city, and we cannot come to join you every Friday. So advise me of some practice that can appropriately be observed on the Day of Congregation, and I shall tell my people about it when I return to them.” To this Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) responded by saying:

O Arab of the desert, when Friday [the Day of Congregation] comes around, perform two cycles of ritual prayer [salli rak’atain] when the day is near its height. In the first cycle, recite the Opening Sura of the Book [Fatihat al-Kitab] and “Qul a’udhu bi-Rabbi ‘l-Falaq [Say: I take refuge with the Lord of the Daybreak’]. In the second cycle, recite the Opening Sura of the Book [Fatihat al-Kitab] and “Qul a’udhu bi-Rabbi ‘n-Nas [Say: I take refuge with the Lord of Mankind’].” Then pronounce the testimony and the salutation [tashahhad wa sallim], and recite the Verse of the Throne [Ayat al-Kursi] seven times, remaining in a sitting posture while you do so.

Then perform eight cycles of ritual prayer [raka’at], as two sets of four. In the each cycle, recite the Opening Sura of the Book [Fatihat al-Kitab] and “Idha ja’a nasru ‘llahi wa ‘l-fath… [When the help of Allah comes, and victory…’]” one time, and “Qul Huwa’llahu Ahad [Say: ‘He is Allah, One!’]” twenty-five times. Then, when you have finished performing your prayer [salat], say, seventy times:

There is no power,nor is there any strength, except through Allah, the All-High, the Almighty!

la hawla wa la quwwata illa bi’llahi ‘l-‘Aliyyi ‘l-‘Azim!

By the One who holds the soul of Muhammad in His hand, no truly believing man [mu’min], and no truly believing woman [mu’mina], will perform this particular ritual prayer [salat] on a Friday, exactly as I have just described it, without my being his [or her] guarantor of the Garden of Paradise.

Nor will any such person leave his place [of prayer] until Allah has granted forgiveness to him and to his parents, if they are Muslims. And an angelic herald will cry out from beneath the Heavenly Throne [‘Arsh] : “O servant of Allah, you may now set to work with a clean slate, for all your previous and more recent sins have been forgiven!”

Many more special qualities have been attributed to it [i.e., to voluntary ritual prayer performed on a Friday], but it would take too long to mention them all here. As we have in fact mentioned previously, in connection with other special qualities, there is another [voluntary] ritual prayer [salat], appropriately performed on a Friday, in which “Qul Huwa’llahu Ahad [Say: ‘He is Allah, One!’]” is recited eighteen times. So, if anyone wishes to perform such a prayer, let him perform it!

Friday Night Prayer

CONCERNING THE SPECIAL QUALITY OF [VOLUNTARY] RITUAL PRAYER PERFORMED DURING THE NIGHT OF FRIDAY [SALAT LAILAT AL-JUM’A].

(It should be noted that the night of Friday is Thursday night as we know it in the west)

According to another traditional report, this one transmitted on the authority of Jabir ibn ‘Abdi ‘llah [al-Ansari] (may Allah be well pleased with him and with his father) the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) once said:

If someone performs twelve [voluntary] cycles of ritual prayer [ithnatai ‘asharata rak’a] on a Friday night, at some point between the [obligatory prayers of] sunset [al-maghrib] and late evening [al-‘isha’]–reciting in each cycle the Opening Sura of the Book [Fatihat al-Kitab], and “Qul Huwa’llahu Ahad [Say: ‘He is Allah, One!’]” ten times–it will be as if he had devoted himself to the worshipful service of Allah (Exalted is He) for twelve whole years, by fasting every day and keeping vigil every night throughout that time.

According to yet another traditional report, this one transmitted on the authority of Kathir ibn Salama, Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be well pleased with him) stated that Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) once said:

If, on a Friday night, someone performs the [obligatory] late evening ritual prayer [salat al-‘isha’ al-akhira] in a congregation [jama’a], and follows it with the performance of the two cycles of customary prayer [rak’atayi ‘s-sunna], then goes on to perform ten cycles [of additional, voluntary] prayer-reciting in each cycle “Al-hamdu li’llahi… [Praise be to Allah…’]” one time, “Qul Huwa’llahu Ahad [Say: ‘He is Allah, One!’]” one time, and the Two Pleas for Divine Refuge [al-Mu’awwidhatain] one time each–and if he then performs a witr prayer of three cycles, and sleeps on his right side, with his face turned toward the Qibla [the direction of the Ka’ba in Mecca] –it will be as if he had kept vigil throughout the Night of Power [Lailat al-Qadr].

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) also said:

Invoke Allah’s blessing upon me, many times over, in the course of the illustrious night [al-lailat al-gharra’], and during the brightly shining day [al-yawm al-azhar]–on the night of Friday, the Day of Congregational Prayer [Lailat al-Jum’a], and then on the Day itself.

Saturday Prayer

CONCERNING [VOLUNTARY] RITUAL PRAYER PERFORMED ON A SATURDAY [SALAT YAWM AS-SABT].

According to a traditional report transmitted by Sa’id, Abu Huraira (may Allah be well pleased with him) stated that Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) once said:

If someone performs four [voluntary] cycles of ritual prayer [raka’at] on a Saturday-reciting in each cycle the Opening Sura of the Book [Fatihat al-Kitab] one time, and “Qul ya ayyuha ‘l-kafirun… [Say: ‘O unbelievers…’]” three times-and if, when he has finished performing his ritual prayer [salat] and has pronounced the salutation [sallama], he recites the Verse of the Throne [Ayat al-Kursi] -for every letter [in the words of his Qur’anic recitation] Allah (Exalted is He) record a Pilgrimage [Hijja] and a Visitation [‘Umra] in his credit column. For every letter, He will confer upon him the merit of a whole year devoted to fasting by day and keeping vigil by night. For every letter [harf], Allah will grant him the spiritual reward of a martyr [shahid], and [in the Hereafter] he will be in the company of the Prophets [Anbiya’] and the martyrs [shuhada’] beneath the Heavenly Throne [‘Arsh].

This brings us to the end of the Chapter concerning the special qualities of the [voluntary] ritual prayers [salawat] in the daytime on each of the days of the week.

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of All the Worlds!

[al-hamdu li’llahi Rabbi ‘l-‘alamin].

Saturday Night Prayer

CONCERNING THE SPECIAL QUALITY OF [VOLUNTARY] RITUAL PRAYER PERFORMED DURING THE NIGHT OF SATURDAY [SALAT LAILAT AS-SABT].

(It should be noted that the night of Saturday is Friday night as we know it in the west).

According to a traditional report transmitted 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 performs twelve [voluntary] cycles of ritual prayer [ithnatai ‘asharata rak’a] on a Saturday night, at some point between the [obligatory prayers of] sunset [al-maghrib] and late evening [al-‘isha’], Allah (Exalted is He) will build a palatial mansion for him in the Garden of Paradise. It will be as if he had made a charitable donation [tasaddaqa] to every believing man and woman [mu’min wa mu’mina]. He will be uncontaminated by the errors of Judaism [al-Yahudiyya], and it will be an obligation [haqq] incumbent upon Allah to grant him forgiveness.

* * * * *

A REMINDER CONCERNING THE IMPORTANCE OF (A) FULFILLING ONE’S OBLIGATORY RELIGIOUS DUTIES [FARA’ID] BEFORE ENGAGING IN THE PERFORMANCE OF SUPEREROGATORY DEVOTIONS [NAWAFIL], AND (B) PERFORMING SUPEREROGATORY DEVOTIONS [NAWAFIL] WITH THE INTENTION OF MAKING UP FOR PREVIOUS OMISSIONS IN THE PERFORMANCE OF OBLIGATORY RELIGIOUS DUTIES [FARA’ID].

We have already discussed this topic in the Discourse on Repentance [Majlis at-Tawba], as well as elsewhere in the course of this book, but the following points deserve to be reiterated here:

The worshipper’s first priority must be the complete and proper performance of all obligatory religious duties [fara’id] and customary observances [sunan]. After these have been discharged, and only then, he may engage in supererogatory devotions [nawafil], whether these be connected with ritual prayer [salat], fasting [siyam], charitable donation [sadaqa], or any of the various forms of worshipful service [‘ibadat].

In all his acts of worshipful service [‘ibadat], of whatever type they may be, his conscious intention should be to fulfill the strict obligations [fara’id] that are incumbent upon him. Thus, with respect to all these [voluntary] ritual prayers [salawat] we have mentioned, as being appropriate to the various nights and days of the week, the worshipper should perform them with the intention of making up [qada’] for previous omissions. He will thereby acquit himself of outstanding duty [fard], and he will also obtain additional merit [fadl]. Allah (Exalted is He) will combine the two, through His grace, His mercy, and His noble generosity.

Finally, once he has really and truly acquitted himself of strictly obligatory duties [fara’id], the worshipper may legitimately intend [yanwi] his performance of all that [additional worship] to be a purely supererogatory devotion [nafila].