() is a book of supplications attributed to Ali al-Sajjad (âÂÂ713), the fourth imam in Shia Islam, and the great-grandson of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad. The oldest prayer manual in Islam, has been praised as the epitome of Islamic spirituality and the answer to many of today's spiritual questions. In particular, Shia tradition holds the book in great esteem, ranking it behind the Quran, the central religious text of Islam, and Nahj al-Balagha, which is attributed to the fourth Caliph and first Shia imam, Ali ibn Abi Talib. 54 supplications form the core of , which often also includes an addenda of 14 supplications and 15 whispered prayers ().
() is a collection of supplications. Regarded as a seminal work in Islamic spirituality, has been praised as the epitome of Islamic spiritual expression and as a source of guidance for many contemporary spiritual questions. The book is attributed to Ali al-Sajjad, the great-grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and an imam in Shia Islam, also known by the honorific title Zayn al-Abidin (). Within Shia tradition, is held in great esteem, ranking immediately after the QuranâÂÂthe central text of IslamâÂÂand , attributed to Ali ibn Abi Talib, the first Shia imam and grandfather of al-Sajjad. The book is also known by several honorific titles, including âÂÂSister of the Quran,â âÂÂGospel of the Holy Household,â and âÂÂPsalms of Muhammad's Household.â It is additionally revered by certain Sufi orders. Numerous commentaries have been written on .
Supplication refers to addressing God with praise, thanksgiving, hopes, and needs. Muslims often recite the supplications transmitted by their religious authoritiesâÂÂbeginning with Muhammad and, for the Shia, continuing with their imams. Al-Sajjad likely composed with the wider Muslim community in mind. The work includes prayers for communal occasions such as Eid al-Fitr, as well as a supplication for parents in which al-Sajjad speaks as though his parents were still alive.
may be viewed as a practical expression of the essential Islamic testimony of faith, the âÂÂthat âÂÂthere is no god but God,â meaning that God is everything and the human being is nothing without Him. Among its central themes are âÂÂThere is no goodness but in God,â âÂÂThere is no patience without God's help,â and âÂÂThere is no gratitude except through God,â along with their complementary acknowledgements: âÂÂThere is no evil but in me,â âÂÂThere is no impatience but in my own ego,â and âÂÂThere is no hate but in myself.â Once the worshipper admits his own shortcomings and sinfulness, he can humble himself before God and seek His generosity and forgiveness.
has been likened to a mosaic in which each element corresponds to a component of the Quranic text. In particular, the predominance of divine mercy in the Quran is reflected throughout , where al-Sajjad repeatedly seeks refuge in God's mercy and emphasizes its precedence over His wrath. He thus frequently asks God for forgiveness in âÂÂas did Muhammad in his prayersâÂÂeven though both figures are regarded as infallible in Shia Islam. Both likely repented with utmost sincerity, but their âÂÂsinsâ were not acts of deliberate disobedience. Instead, they repeatedly asked God to conceal () their human limitations. The emphasis in on God's mercy also mirrors the attitude of its author, al-Sajjad, who is reported to have said, âÂÂIt is only strange if a person perishes as he perishes, given the scope of God's mercy.â This posture resembles that of Muhammad, who taught that a worshipper âÂÂshould be firm and make his desire great, for what God gives is nothing great for Him.â At the same time, awareness of God's wrath is maintained, since hope in divine mercy must be coupled with âÂÂrefraining from arrogance, pulling aside from persistence [in sin], and holding fast to praying [for] forgiveness,â as stated in passage 12:13 of .
In , al-Sajjad sometimes alludes to the injustices suffered by Muhammad's household, the Ahl al-Bayt. There are also cases in the book where al-Sajjad prays for the Muslim community () and the rectification of their affairs, as well as soldiers guarding Muslim frontiers. might have initially been a sectarian booklet for the Shia. For instance, salutations to Muhammad and his family frequently appear in the book in defiance of Umayyad policies. In some supplications, al-Sajjad refers to imamate, a central tenet of Shia Islam.
Besides its spiritual dimension, is also a source of Islamic teachings. Its prayer, "Blessing Upon the Bearers of the Throne," for instance, summarizes Islamic views about angels.
The attribution of to al-Sajjad is often regarded as authentic, although parts of the books may have been artistically edited by others. In Shia tradition, the text is regarded as , that is, handed down by numerous chains of transmission. The addenda were collected by the prominent Shia scholar Muhammad ibn Makki (), while the were popularized by Muhammad-Baqir Majlisi (), another leading Shia scholar.
was translated into Persian during the Safavid era. An English translation of the book, entitled The Psalms of Islam, is also available with an introduction and annotations by the Islamicist W.C. Chittick.
In addition to , there are other collections of prayers attributed to al-Sajjad. The second was compiled in 1643 by al-Hurr al-Amili, a renowned Shia scholar. The third was collected by Afandi, a student of Majlisi. The fifth by Muhsin al-Amin, a well-known contemporary Shia scholar, is the longest such collection and subsumes all other collections.