traduza o texto completamente e perfeitamente para o português Chapter 68
THE FIRST STAR: THE SUPERIORITY OF
SUPPLICATION
A superior way of prayer and an easy method to achieve nearness to Allah is through supplication. The method of supplication, as prescribed by
the Infallible Imams (a.s), is that after offering the mandatory prayers,
one must recite supplications depending on the time that can be taken
out from the other duties.
The Creator of the Universe Himself says, “Call Me (through supplication) and I shall respond! Those who don’t believe in supplication are
conceited people. Their place will be the Hell in the Hereafter.If man
wants to call Allah and wishes the prayers to be answered, then he has to
implicitly follow the Commandments of Allah.”
Imam Jafar e Sadiq (a.s) said to Maisar, “O Maisar! Offer prayer to Allah and don’t say that what is destined will happen. You should remember that Allah has absolute control over the destinies and supplication
can change the fate of persons.”
Imam Mohammed Baqir (a.s) said, “The best prayer is supplication
and the worst enemy of Allah is a person who, in his pride, refuses to do
supplication.and invocation. To the contrary one who supplicates to Allah with due humility will get his prayers answered. It is like the door
opening for a person who keeps knocking at it!”
Hazrat Ali (a.s) says, “Suppliocation is the dearest act of the creature
in the consideration of Allah.”
The Prophet of Allah (a.s) has said, “Supplication is the sword of the
momin to subdue his adversaries. It is a pillar of the Faith that makes the
structure of the Faith stronger. It illumines the Firmament and the
earth.”
Imam Reza (a.s) has said, “Supplication is sharper than the spear and
the arrow. It wards away calamities. Supplicate, and supplicate the
more! Supplication is the key to Allah’s Blessings. It is the cure for all
pains and aches.”
362Hazrat Ali (a.s) has said that for warding out the wave of calamities
one should have access to supplication even before the calamitous situation arises. He also said that calamities visit the momins fast like the water falling down the hill.In such situation the only alternative for the person will be prayer and supplication.
Imam Jafar e Sadiq (a.s) says that three things are there for a person’s
protection: 1. Prayer whien a calamity comes. 2. Repentence after commiting a sin. 3. Thanking Allah for the Bounties.
363Chapter 69
THE SECOND STAR: THE ETIQUETTE OF
SUPPLICATION
Supplication is petitioning Allah for fufillment of ones legitimate desires.
It is therefore necessary that the supplicant should be conversant with
the meaning of the prayer and the etiquette of reciting the prayer. He
must recite the supplication with dedication of heart and his attitude
should be equally submissive if not more than what he adopts for asking
a favor from a fellow human being.
FIRST CONDITION: When a person approaches another person for a
favor, he keeps in mind certain things. Firstly, whatever he says, he says
with full understanding. Whatever he plans in his mind to say, he communicates to the person verbatim. While supplicating to Allah, a person
should have his specific purpose in his mind.
Hazrat Ali (a.s) has said, “Allah doesn’t answer the prayer of a person
whose prayer doesn't come from his heart.” Therefore, one should pray
from the depths of his heart and should have a conviction that Allah will
fulfil his wish.
SECOND CONDITION: When a person seeks help from another in
time of difficulty, it is necessary that the person has to be known to
him.It is an added advantage if the two have been acquainted with each
other in the past. Similarly when one has to approach Allah for the grant
of a wish, it is necessary that the person should have been offering
thanks to the Almighty for His Bounties!
Imam Jafar e Sadiq (a.s) has said that when a person wants Allah to
help him in times of difficulty, he must make it a habit to supplicate to
Allah before any such difficulty arises. He should not present himself to
Allah as a total stranger when he needs help.
One person asked Imam Jafar e Sadiq (a.s) that Allah exhorts people to
ask for things and he would grant them. But he said that he keeps praying but the prayers remain unanswered. The Imam (a.s) replied, “Have
you fulfilled the covenants you made with Allah? Have you observed
364the do’s and don’ts prescribed for you. If not, then how can you expect
Him to grant your wishes?”
THIRD CONDITION: When we expect favors from a person, we
serve him meticulously to keep him in good cheer. Similarly those who
are more particular in offering prayers to Allah, generally get their
wishes granted.
Therefore the prayers of those who are closer to Allah get answered.
For this one has to be pious, honest and truthful.
FOURTH CONDITION: Another condition for the effectiveness of
supplication is the state of understanding of the Almighty. Firmer the
Faith of the supplicant, better the chance of his prayers getting answered.
Imam Moosa Kazim (a.s) was asked by someone, “O son of the Prophet (a.s)! We pray, but our prayers are not answered.” The Imam replied,
“Do you know Him whom you approach for granting your wishes!”
FIFTH CONDITION: Beseeching and lamentation during supplication is very effective for acceptance of the prayers. The more humility a
supplicant manifests, the more there will be the chance of Allah granting
his wish. It is common knowledge that even in mndane affairs, the persons in power respond to those who appeal to them for help with humility and beseeching.
SIXTH CONDITION: The etiquette of supplication demands that the
supplicant doesn’t reveal the purpose his prayer. The belief is that Allah
prefers the individual prayer of a suppliant over that of a group.
However, if the suppliant feels that he is a sinner, he can join a group of
persons of piety to make a supplication. Imam Jafar e Sadiq (a.s) has said
in this regard that if forty persons supplicate as a group on Friday, their
prayers will definitely be answered. The Imam (a.s) also said,
“Whenever my revered father did supplication, he used to call all the
members of the family to join in. He would recite the supplication and
the rest would say, ‘Aameen’!”
SEVENTH CONDITION: The timing of a supplication too is very vital for the effectiveness of the prayers. Imam Jafar e Sadiq (a.s) has said
that four times are most suitable for prayer: 1. When there is a sandstorm. 2 When it rains. 3. At the time when a battle is going on. 4. When
a momin is martyred and the first drop of his blood falls to the ground.
Hazrat Ali (a.s) has said that four timings are specific for supplications: 1. While reciting the Holy Quiran. 2. When one hears the call for
prayer- Adhan. 3. When it rains. 4. When a battle is raging and momins
get martyred.