The

supplication Supplication (also known as petitioning) is a form of prayer, wherein one party humbly or earnestly asks another party to provide something, either for the party who is doing the supplicating (e.g., "Please spare my life.") or on behalf of someon ...

of Abu Hamza al-Thumali (

Arabic Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...

: دعاء أبي حمزة الثمالي) is a attributed to Ali ibn al-Husayn, the great-grandson of the

Islam Islam is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the Quran, and the teachings of Muhammad. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number Islam by country, 2 billion worldwide and are the world ...

prophet In religion, a prophet or prophetess is an individual who is regarded as being in contact with a divinity, divine being and is said to speak on behalf of that being, serving as an intermediary with humanity by delivering messages or teachings ...

Muhammad Muhammad (8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious and political leader and the founder of Islam. Muhammad in Islam, According to Islam, he was a prophet who was divinely inspired to preach and confirm the tawhid, monotheistic teachings of A ...

, and the fourth

Shia Shia Islam is the second-largest branch of Islam. It holds that Muhammad designated Ali ibn Abi Talib () as both his political successor (caliph) and as the spiritual leader of the Muslim community (imam). However, his right is understood ...

Imam Imam (; , '; : , ') is an Islamic leadership position. For Sunni Islam, Sunni Muslims, Imam is most commonly used as the title of a prayer leader of a mosque. In this context, imams may lead Salah, Islamic prayers, serve as community leaders, ...

, also known by the honorific title Zayn al-Abidin (). Abu Hamzah Al-Thumali, who was a companion of Zayn al-Abidin, is the principal narrator of this supplication, which appears in ''Eqbal al-a’mal'' by

Sayyed ibn Tawus Sayyed Radhi ud-Deen Ali ibn Musa ibn Tawus al Hasani wal Husaini (1193–1266 AD), commonly called Sayyed Ibn Tawus (), was a Shiite jurist, theologian, historian and astrologer. He was a descendant of Hasan ibn Ali through his father and a descen ...

. It is said that Zayn al-Abidin recited the supplication every evening or dawn during the month of

Ramadan Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting (''Fasting in Islam, sawm''), communal prayer (salah), reflection, and community. It is also the month in which the Quran is believed ...

Abu Hamza al-Thumali

Thabit ibn Safiya, known also as Abu Hamza al-Thumali, was born in

Kufa Kufa ( ), also spelled Kufah, is a city in Iraq, about south of Baghdad, and northeast of Najaf. It is located on the banks of the Euphrates, Euphrates River. The estimated population in 2003 was 110,000. Along with Samarra, Karbala, Kadhimiya ...

. Though little is known about his birth, it is believed that he lived in the seventh and eighth centuries. He was a companion of three

s, namely, Zayn al-Abidin,

Muhammad al-Baqir Muhammad ibn Ali al-Baqir (; ) was a descendant of the prophets and messengers in Islam, Islamic prophet Muhammad and the fifth of the Twelve Imams, twelve Shia imams, succeeding his father, Ali al-Sajjad, and succeeded by his son, Ja'far al-Sad ...

, and

Jafar al-Sadiq Ja'far al-Sadiq (; –765) was a Muslim hadith transmitter and the last agreed-upon Shia Imam between the Twelvers and Isma'ilis. Known by the title al-Sadiq ("The Truthful"), Ja'far was the eponymous founder of the Ja'fari school of Islamic ...

. It is possible that he was also a companion of

Musa al-Kadhim Musa al-Kazim (; 745–799) was a descendant of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and the seventh imam in Twelver Shia Islam. Musa is often known by the title al-Kazim (), apparently a reference to his patience and gentle disposition. He was born ...

, the seventh Shia Imam. Abu Hamza is said to have been a close confidante of the Imams.

Ali al-Ridha Ali al-Rida (, 1 January 766 – 6 June 818), also known as Abū al-Ḥasan al-Thānī, was a descendant of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and the eighth imam in Twelver Shia Islam, succeeding his father, Musa al-Kazim. He is also part of th ...

, the eighth Shia Imam, praised him as, "Abu Hamza in his time was similar to

Salman Salman may refer to: People * Salman (name), people with the name Places in Iran * Salman, Khuzestan, a village in Khuzestan Province * Salman, alternate name of Deh-e Salman, Lorestan, a village in Lorestan Province * Salman, Razavi Khorasa ...

in prophet's time." Ahmad ibn Ali al-Najashi, a renowned Shia scholar, maintains that "He bu Hamzawas the best of our companions and the most reliable of them in narration and tradition." Abu Hamza authored several theological works, such as the ''Kitab fi Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim,'' an

exegesis Exegesis ( ; from the Ancient Greek, Greek , from , "to lead out") is a critical explanation or interpretation (philosophy), interpretation of a text. The term is traditionally applied to the interpretation of Bible, Biblical works. In modern us ...

of the

Quran The Quran, also Romanization, romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a Waḥy, revelation directly from God in Islam, God (''Allah, Allāh''). It is organized in 114 chapters (, ) which ...

, ''Kitab al-Nawadir'', a book on the rare topics, ''Kitab al-Zuhd'' on

asceticism Asceticism is a lifestyle characterized by abstinence from worldly pleasures through self-discipline, self-imposed poverty, and simple living, often for the purpose of pursuing Spirituality, spiritual goals. Ascetics may withdraw from the world ...

, and ''

Al-Risalah al-Huquq () is an early Islamic text about social and religious responsibilities. The book is attributed to Ali al-Sajjad (), an imam in Shia Islam, and the great-grandson of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad. exhaustively describes the rights God has upon ...

'', which enumerates human rights and responsibilities. He died in the year 150 AH.

Chain of authority

Abu Hamzah is the first narrator of this supplication from Zayn al-Abidin. The supplication appears in ''Eqbal al-A'mal'' by

, who also includes the following chain of transmission for the supplication: Sayyed ibn Tawus received the supplication on the authority of Harun ibn Musa ibn Ahmad Talla'ukbara, who, in turn, received it from Hassan bin Mahboob Srad, who received it from Abu Hamza al-Thimali, who received it from Zayn al-Abidin. Abu Hamzah is recognized as a credible narrator of hadith by notable Shia scholars, including Najasi,

Shaykh Tusi Shaykh Tusi (), full name ''Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Tusi'' (), known as Shaykh al-Ta'ifah () was a Persian scholar of the Twelver school of Shia Islam. He is the author of two of the Four Books of hadith; namely, '' Tahdhib al-Ahka ...

Ibn Babawayh Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn 'Ali ibn Babawayh al-Qummi ( Persian: ; –991), commonly referred to as Ibn Babawayh (Persian: ) or al-Shaykh al-Saduq (Persian: ), was a Persian Shia Islamic scholar whose work, entitled '' Man La Yahduruhu al-Faq ...

, and Ibn Shahre Ashub, though most

Sunni Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam and the largest religious denomination in the world. It holds that Muhammad did not appoint any successor and that his closest companion Abu Bakr () rightfully succeeded him as the caliph of the Mu ...

scholars have not confirmed him.

The supplication begins with, "O my Lord! Do not discipline me by means of your punishment," and ends with, "Make me content with whatever you have provided me with, O the Most Merciful of all!" This supplication discusses sincere repentance and vividly portrays the darkness of the grave and the hardships of the Day of Judgment. The necessity of following the guidelines laid by Muhammad and his household (

Ahl al-Bayt () refers to the family of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. In Sunni Islam, the term has also been extended to all descendants of the Banu Hashim (Muhammad's clan) and even to all Muslims. In Shia Islam, the term is limited to Muhammad, his daugh ...

) is also emphasized in the supplication. This asks God for abundant bounties, the opportunity to make a pilgrimage to Mecca, protection from evil and ruthless rulers, purification from vices, and relief from laziness, disappointment, and distress.

Time of recitation

Zayn al-Abidin is said to have recited this supplication every night or dawn during Ramadan.

Reception

Several commentaries and explanations have been written by Shia scholars for the supplication of Abu Hamzah Thumali, including * Shaykh Muhammad Ebrahim ibn al-Mawli abd-Alwahab Sabzevary * Mawla Muhammad Taqi ibn Hussain Ali al-Heravy al-Esfahany al-Hayery (in his book titled ''Nahayat al-Amal'') * Mehdi Bahr al-Ulum (in his book titled ''Al-Rovzat'') *

Mohammad-Taqi Mesbah-Yazdi Muhammad Taqi Misbah Yazdi Giwachi (; 31 January 19351 January 2021) was an Iranian Shia scholar, political theorist and philosopher who served as the spiritual leader of the Front of Islamic Revolution Stability. He was a member of the Assembly ...

Ruhollah Khomeini Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini (17 May 1900 or 24 September 19023 June 1989) was an Iranian revolutionary, politician, political theorist, and religious leader. He was the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the main leader of the Iranian ...

recommended reciting a passage of the at a time and contemplating its meaning.

References

{{Reflist, 20em

External links

Supplication of Abu Hamza al-Thumali, recited by Muhammad Husayn Lawati with English and Arabic subtitles

Supplication of Abu Hamza al-Thumali with English translation
Shia prayers