The Right Path: March 2010

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

The Opening Supplications.of the Solāh

The Opening Supplications of the Solāh

(Du’a Al-Istiftah)

The Solāh of the Prophet S.A.W
By Shaikh Muhammad Nasiruddin Al-Albāni

[The book was translated by Usama Ibn Suhaib Hasan Al-Brittani; it would be worthwhile to revisit it and I invite you to provide inputs with regards to this piece of work by Albāni]

In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful;

All the praise and thanks is due to Allāh, the Lord of al-‘ālameen. There is none worthy of worship except Allāh, and that Muhammad, Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam is His Messenger.

The Opening Supplications of the Solāh

2.6 - The Opening Supplications

Next, [i.e after the Intention and Takbiratul ‘Ihram] the Allāh’s Messenger (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) would commence his recitation with many kinds of supplications in which he would praise Allah the Exalted, and glorify and extol Him. Rasulullah (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) in fact ordered "the man who prayed badly" to do so, saying to him: “No person's Solāh is complete unless he says Takbir, praises Allah the Mighty and Sublime and extols Him, recites of the Quran what is easy for him ..” [98]

There are several supplications as follows:

1. Rasūlullāh (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) say this Opening Supplications:

اللّهُـمَّ باعِـدْ بَيـني وَبَيْنَ خَطـايايَ كَما باعَدْتَ بَيْنَ المَشْرِقِ وَالمَغْرِبْ ، اللّهُـمَّ نَقِّنـي مِنْ خَطايايَ كَمـا يُـنَقَّى الثَّـوْبُ الأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الدَّنَسْ ، اللّهُـمَّ اغْسِلْنـي مِنْ خَطايـايَ بِالثَّلـجِ وَالمـاءِ وَالْبَرَدْ

“Allāhumma bā‘id baini wabaina khataya kama ba`adta bainalmushriqi wal Maghrib, Allahumma naqqiniy min khatayaya Kama yunaqqathawbulmaab yadhu minaddanas, Allahumaghsilni min khataya i biththalji walma’a iwalbarad”

(O Allah! Separate me (far) from my sins as you have separated (far) the East and West. O Allah! Cleanse me of my sins as white cloth is cleansed from dirt. O Allah! Wash me of my sins with water, ice and snow).

Rasūlullāh (Sallallāhu '`alayhi wa sallam) used to say this in the Obligatory Solāh. [99]

2. Rasūlullāh (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) would also say:

وَجَّهـتُ وَجْهِـيَ لِلَّذي فَطَرَ السَّمـواتِ وَالأَرْضَ حَنـيفَاً وَمـا أَنا مِنَ المشْرِكين ، إِنَّ صَلاتـي ، وَنُسُكي ، وَمَحْـيايَ ، وَمَماتـي للهِ رَبِّ العالَمين ، لا شَريـكَ لَهُ وَبِذلكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنا مِنَ المسْلِـمين . اللّهُـمَّ أَنْتَ المَلِكُ لا إِلهَ إِلاّ أَنْت ،أَنْتَ رَبِّـي وَأَنـا عَبْـدُك ، ظَلَمْـتُ نَفْسـي وَاعْـتَرَفْتُ بِذَنْبـي فَاغْفِرْ لي ذُنوبي جَميعاً إِنَّـه لا يَغْـفِرُ الذُّنـوبَ إلاّ أَنْت .وَاهْدِنـي لأَحْسَنِ الأَخْلاقِ لا يَهْـدي لأَحْسَـنِها إِلاّ أَنْـت ، وَاصْـرِف عَـنّْي سَيِّئَهـا ، لا يَصْرِفُ عَـنّْي سَيِّئَهـا إِلاّ أَنْـت ، لَبَّـيْكَ وَسَعْـدَيْك ، وَالخَـيْرُ كُلُّـهُ بِيَـدَيْـك ، وَالشَّرُّ لَيْـسَ إِلَـيْك ، أَنا بِكَ وَإِلَيْـك ، تَبـارَكْتَ وَتَعـالَيتَ أَسْتَغْـفِرُكَ وَأَتوبُ إِلَـيك

“Wajjahtu wajhiya lilladzi fatara al-samawāti wal-ard hanīfan musliman wa mā ana min al-mushrikeen. Inna salāti wa nusuki wa mahyāya wa mamāti Lillāhi Rabb il-‘alamīn, Lā sharīka lahu wa bidzālika umirtu wa ana minal - muslimeen.

Allāhumma anta al-malik lā ilāha illa anta, anta rabbi wa ana ‘abduka. Zalamtu nafsi wa’tarafty bi dzanbi, faghfir li dzunūbi Jami’an, innahu lā yaghfir ul-dzunūba illa anta. Wahdini li ahsan al-akhlāq la yahdi li ahsaniha illa anta. Wasrif ‘anni sayyi’aha lā yasrifu ‘anni sayyi’aha illa anta. Labbayka wa sa’dayka wa’l-khayra kulluhu fi yadayka wa’l-sharru laysa ilayka, ana bika wa ilayka, tabārakta wa ta’ālayta, astaghfiruka wa atūbu ilayk.

(I have set my face towards the Originator of the heavens and the earth sincerely [in Islam] and I am not among the Mushrikeen. Indeed my prayer, my sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the Worlds: no partner has He. With this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims (those who submit to Him). [100]

O Allah! You are the King, none has the right to be worshiped but you, [You are the Most Perfect and all Praise is for you] You are my Lord and I am Your slave [101]. I have wronged myself, and have acknowledged my sins, so forgive all my sins, for no-one forgives sins except You. Guide me to the best of characters, to which no- one can guide except You, and save me from the worst of characters, from which no-one can save except You. I am here and happy to serve you [102]. All good is in your Hands, and evil is not from You. [103] [The guided one is he who is guided by you.] I exist by your will and belong to You. [There is no escape or shelter from You except to You.] You are blessed and exalted. I seek Your forgiveness and repent to You).

Rasūlullāh (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) used to say this in obligatory and voluntary Solāh [104].

3. Similar to the No .2 above, without “Anta rabbi wa ana ‘abduka” (You are my Lord and I am Your slave to the end), with the following addition: “Allāhummaantalmālik, Lā ilāhailla anta, Subhānaka wabihamdika” (O Allah! You are the King, there is no (true) deity except You, glorified be You and praised). [[105] Nasā'ie with a sahih isnad.]

The version of this supplication is as follows:

“Wajjahtu wajhiya lilladzi fatara al-samawāti wal-ard hanīfan muslimañ wa mā ana min al-mushrikeen. Inna solāti wa nusuki wa mahyāya wa mamāti Lillāhi Rabb il-‘alameen, Lā sharīka lahu wa bidzālika umirtu wa ana minal - muslimeen. Allahummaantalmalik, Lā ilāhailla anta, Subhānaka wabihamdika”

(I have set my face towards the Originator of the heavens and the earth sincerely [in Islam] and I am not among the Mushrikeen. Indeed my prayer, my sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the Worlds: no partner has He. With this I have been commanded, and I am those who submit to Him.O Allah! You are the King; none has the right to be worshiped but You. Glorified be You and the praised).

4. [*] Similar to no. 2 but until “Wa ana minal muslimin” (and I am those who submit to Him.), with an addition: Allahummahdini liah sanil alakhalaqi waah sanil ‘amali layahdi liahsaniha illa anta, waqini saiyi alakhlaqi wal ‘amali la yaqi saiyiaha illa anta”. [106].

The version of this supplication is as follows:

“Wajjahtu wajhiya lilladzi fatara al-samawāti wal-ard hanīfan musliman wa mā ana min al-mushrikīn. Inna salāti wa nusuki wa mahyāya wa mamāti Lillāhi Rabb il-‘Ālameen, lā shareeka lahu wa bidzālika umirtu wa ana minal muslimen.

Allahummahdini liah sanil alakhalaqi waah sanil ‘amali layahdi liahsaniha illa anta, waqini saiyi alakhlaqi wal ‘amali la yaqi saiyiaha illa anta”.

( I have set my face towards the Originator of the heavens and the earth sincerely [in Islam] and I am not among the Mushrikeen. Indeed my prayer, my sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the Worlds: no partner has He. With this I have been commanded, and I am those who submit to Him.

O Allah, guide me to the best of characters and the best of actions, no one to which can guide except You, and save me from the evil characters and actions, from which no one except You can save (others) except You) [106].

5. Rasūlullāh (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) would also say:

سُبْـحانَكَ اللّهُـمَّ وَبِحَمْـدِكَ وَتَبارَكَ اسْمُـكَ وَتَعـالى جَـدُّكَ وَلا إِلهَ غَيْرُك

“Subhanakallahumma wabihamdika wataba rakasmuka wata’ala jadduka wala ilaha nghairuka”

(You are Glorified [107], O Allah, and Praised [108]; Your Name is Blessed [109]; Your Majesty [110] is Exalted, and none has the right to worshiped but You). [111]

Rasulullah (Sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam) also said: “Indeed, the words most loved by Allah are when His slave says: “You are glorified, O Allah”) [112]

6. Similar to the No 5 above, adding in Solāh at night: “Lā ilāha illallāh” (There is no true god except Allah), three times, and “Allāhu Akbaru Kabira” (Allah is the Greatest, Very Great), three times. Thus the version of this supplication is as follows:

“Subhānakallāhumma wabihamdika wataba rakasmuka wata’ala jadduka walā ilāha nghairuka.

Lā ilāha illallāh, Allāhu Akbaru Kabira; Lā ilāha illallāh, Allāhu Akbaru Kabira; Lā ilāha illallāh; Allāhu Akbaru Kabira”

(You are Glorified [107], O Allah, and Praised [108] ; Your Name is Blessed [109] ; Your Majesty [110] is Exalted, and none has the right to worshiped but You).[111] (There is no true god except Allah, Allah is the Greatest, Very Great, (There is no true god except Allah, Allah is the Greatest, Very Great), (There is no true god except Allah, Allah is the Greatest, Very Great).

7. One of the Companions commenced the Openning Du’a with this:

اللهُ أَكْبَـرُ كَبـيرا ، وَالْحَـمْدُ للهِ كَثـيرا ، وَالْحَـمْدُ للهِ كَثـيرا ، وَسُبْـحانَ اللهِ بكْـرَةً وَأَصيـلا

“Allahu Akbaru Kabira Walhamdulillahikathira wasubhanallahi bukratañ wa asila”

(Allah is the Greatest, Very Great, And all the Praise is due to Allah, and I declare the perfection of Allah in the early morning and in the late afternoon.)

And the Allāh’s Messenger (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:”Wonderful for it (the supplication) is that the doors of the heavens were opened for it." [113]

7.1 A similar to to the above, adding it with part of No.2 until “Wa ana minal muslimeen” (and I am the first of the Muslims). The version of this supplication is as follows:

اللهُ أَكْبَـرُ كَبـيرا ، وَالْحَـمْدُ للهِ كَثـيرا ، وَالْحَـمْدُ للهِ كَثـيرا ، وَسُبْـحانَ اللهِ بكْـرَةً وَأَصيـلا. وَجَّهـتُ وَجْهِـيَ لِلَّذي فَطَرَ السَّمـواتِ وَالأَرْضَ حَنـيفَاً وَمـا أَنا مِنَ المشْرِكين ، إِنَّ صَلاتـي ، وَنُسُكي ، وَمَحْـيايَ ، وَمَماتـي للهِ رَبِّ العالَمين ، لا شَريـكَ لَهُ وَبِذلكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنا مِنَ المسْلِـم

“Allāhu Akbar Kabira, walhamdulillāhi kathira, wasubhanallāhi bukratañwa asila. Wajjahtu wajhiya lilladzi fatara al-samawāti wal-ard hanīfan muslimañ wa mā ana min al-mushrikeen. Inna solāti wa nusuki wa mahyāya wa mamāti Lillāhi Rabb il-‘Ālameen, lā sharīka lahu wa bidzālika umirtu wa ana minal muslimeen"

(Allah is the Greatest, Very Great, Much praise is for Allah, and I declare the perfection of Allah in the early morning and in the late afternoon. I have set my face towards the Originator of the heavens and the earth sincerely [in Islam] and I am not among the Mushrikeen. Indeed my prayer, my sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the Worlds: no partner has He. With this I have been commanded, and I am those who submit to Him.)

The followers of Shafi'ie School of Jurisprudence begin with the above supplication

8. Anas bin Malik (radiyallahu’anhu) narrated that a man came to pray, and he was short of breath (as he rushed to prayer). So commenced with:

“Allahhu Akbaru, Alhamdulillahi hamdan kathiran taiyiban mubarakan feeh”

(Allah is the Greatest, Very Great. All the Praise is due to Allah, Plentiful, Pure, and blessed praises.)

Allāh’s Messenger (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: “I saw twelve angels competing as to which of them would take it up (to Allah first)”. [114]

9. Rasūlullāh (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) would also say:

اللّهُـمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ نـورُ السَّمـواتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فيـهِن ، وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ قَـيِّمُ السَّـمواتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فيـهِن ، [وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ رَبُّ السَّـمواتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فيـهِن] [وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ لَكَ مُلْـكُ السَّـمواتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَنْ فيـهِن] [وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ أَنْتَ مَلِـكُ السَّـمواتِ وَالأَرْضِ ] [وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ] [أَنْتَ الْحَـقّ وَوَعْـدُكَ الْحَـق ، وَقَوْلُـكَ الْحَـق ، وَلِقـاؤُكَ الْحَـق ، وَالْجَـنَّةُحَـق ، وَالنّـارُ حَـق ، وَالنَّبِـيّونَ حَـق ، وَمـحَمَّدٌ حَـق ، وَالسّـاعَةُحَـق] [اللّهُـمَّ لَكَ أَسْلَمت ، وَعَلَـيْكَ تَوَكَّلْـت ، وَبِكَ آمَنْـت ، وَإِلَـيْكَ أَنَبْـت ، وَبِـكَ خاصَمْت ، وَإِلَـيْكَ حاكَمْـت . فاغْفِـرْ لي مـا قَدَّمْتُ ، وَما أَخَّـرْت ، وَما أَسْـرَرْت ، وَما أَعْلَـنْت ] [أَنْتَ المُقَـدِّمُ وَأَنْتَ المُـؤَخِّر ، لا إِاـهَ إِلاّ أَنْـت] [أَنْـتَ إِلـهي لا إِاـهَ إِلاّ أَنْـت

Allāhummalakalhamd, Antanurassamawatiwal ardhiwama feeheen, Walakalhamd, Antaqaiyumussamawati wal ardhi waman fiheen, [walakalhamd, anta malikussama wati wal ardhi waman feeheen], Walakalhamd, Antalhaq, Wawa’dukahaq, Waqawluka haq, Waliqa ukahaq, WaljannatuHaq, Wannaruhaq, Wassa‘atu haq, Wannabiyunhaq,Wa Muhammadanhaq, Allahumalakalaslamtu, Wa’alaikatawakaltu, Wabika amantu, Wailaikanabtu, Wabikakhasamtu, Wailaika hakamtu [Antarabbuna wailaikalmaseer, Faghfirli maqaddamtu, Wamaakhartu, Waasrartu, wama’alantu], [Wamaanta’alamubihi minni] Antal muqaddimu waantalmuakhiru, [antail hiya], Lā ilāha illa anta.

(O Allah, to You belongs all Praise. You are the Light [115] of the heavens and the earth and all those in them; to You belongs all Praise. You are the Maintainer [116] of the heavens and the earth and all those in them; [to You belongs all Praise. You are the King of the heavens and the earth and all those in them] to You belongs all Praise. You are the Haqq [117]; Your promise is haqq; Your saying is haqq; meeting You is haqq; Paradise is haqq; the Fire is haqq; the Hour is haqq; the Prophets are haqq; Muhammad is haqq. O Allah! to You I have submitted; in You I have placed my trust; in You I have believed; to You I have turned; for Your sake I have fought; to You I have referred for judgement; [You are our Lord and to You is the end of all journeys: so forgive me my earlier and later sins, what I have concealed and what I have showed] [and whatever else You know about more than I.] You are the Bringer- Forward and You are the Delayer; [You are my deity;] and none has the right to worshiped but You. [118] [and there is neither might nor power except with You]).

Rasūlullāh (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) used to say this in prayer at night, as he did the following supplications: [119]

10. Rasūlullāh (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) would also say:

اللّهُـمَّ رَبَّ جِـبْرائيل ، وَميكـائيل ، وَإِسْـرافيل، فاطِـرَ السَّمواتِ وَالأَرْض ، عالـِمَ الغَيْـبِ وَالشَّهـادَةِ أَنْـتَ تَحْـكمُ بَيْـنَ عِبـادِكَ فيـما كانوا فيهِ يَخْتَلِفـون. اهدِنـي لِمـا اخْتُـلِفَ فيـهِ مِنَ الْحَـقِّ بِإِذْنِك ، إِنَّـكَ تَهْـدي مَنْ تَشـاءُ إِلى صِراطٍ مُسْتَقـيم

“Allāhumma Rabbi Jibrail wa Mikail wa Israfil, Fatarassama wa ti wal ardh, ‘alimalngaibi washahadah, antatah kumu baina ‘abadika fima kanu fihiyakhtalifun, ihdinilimakhah tulifafihiminalhaqqabiiznika, innakatahdi mintashau ila sitatim mus taqeem”

(O Allah, Lord of Jibrail, Mika’il and Israfil, Creator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of all that is hidden and open! It is You that will judge between Your servants in those matters about which they used to differ. Guide me by Your Grace to the Truth concerning that about which they differed, for indeed You guide whomsoever You wish to a path that is straight.) [120]

11. Rasūlullāh (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam) would also say:

Tahmid: “Alhamdulillāh (All the Praise be to Allāh)”,

Tasbih: “Subhānallah (Glory is to Allah)”,

Tahlil: “Lā illā ha illallāh (There is no true God but Allāh)”,

And Istighfar: “Astaghfirullah ( I seek the forgiveness of Allāh)” ten times each,

And then say, “Allahummaghfirli Wahdini Warzuqni Wa’afini” (O Allah! forgive me, and Guide me, and Grants me sustenance, and bestow good health)” ten times,

And then say: “Allāhumma inni a’udzubika minaddhai yiqi yaw mulhisab” (O Allah! I seek refuge with You from the distress of the Day of Account) ten times. [121]

12. Rasūlullāh (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) would also say:

“Allahu Akbar (three times) Zulmalakuti waljabaruti walkubiriya iwal’adzamati”

(Allah is the Greatest, Possessor of Kingdom, Power, Magnificence and Might.) [122.]

Wallāhu’alam

Footnotes

98. Bukhari, Muslim and Ibn Abi Shaibah (12/110/2). It is given in Irwa' (no. 8)
99. Abu Dawud and Hakim, who declared it sahih and Dhahabi agreed.
100. It is thus in most of the narrations; in some, it is wa ana min al-muslimīn ("I am one of the Muslims"). It is likely that this is because of the mistake of one of the narrators, and other evidence points to that, so the worshipper should say: wa ana min al-muslimīn ("I am the first of the Muslims"). There is nothing wrong with that, contrary to what some people say under the impression that this means "I am the first person who has this quality, while the rest of the people do not." But it is not so; this phrase actually represents competing to fulfil orders - similar to this is "Say: if the Merciful God has a son, then I am the first of the worshippers" (Zukhruf, 43:81) and the saying of Musa (‘alaihis Salam), "and I am the first of the believers." (A’raf, 7:143)
101. Azhari said: i.e. `I do not worship anything other than You.'
102. Labbaik: I am firmly and continually present in Your obedience; sa’daik: extremely happy under Your order and devoutly following the deen which You have chosen.
103. i.e. Evil cannot be traced back to Allāh because there is nothing bad in His actions, for they are all good, ranging from justice to grace to wisdom, all of which are good with no bad in them. But evil is evil because it cannot be traced back to Allāh. Ibn al-Qayyim (rahimallāh) said: "He is the Creator of good and evil, but the evil exists in some of His creatures, neither in His act of creating nor in His actions. Hence the Exalted is cleared of any zulm, which is fundamentally to put something in other than its proper place. He does not put anything except in its suitable place, so that is all good. But evil is to put something in other than its proper place: when it is put in its proper place it is not evil, so be sure that evil is not from Him. ...But if it is said: Why did He create something which is evil? I would say: He did the creating, and His action is good not evil, for creation and action is with Allāh, and it is impossible for evil to be with, or attributed to, Allāh. Anything evil in the created cannot be traced back to Allāh, but His actions and His creation can be attributed to Him, so they are good." The rest of this important discussion as well as its conclusion are to be found in his book ‘Shifā ‘al-‘Alil fi Masā'il al-Qada' wal-Qadar wat-Ta’lil’ (pp. 178-206).
104. Muslim, Abu 'Awānah, Abu Dawud, Nasā'ie, Ibn Hibbān, Ahmad, Shāfi`ie and Tabarāni; those who specify it to optional prayers are mistaken.
105. Nasā'ie with a sahih isnad.
106. Nasā'ie and Daraqutni with a sahih isnad.
107. i.e I glorify You, meaning I consider You totally free from any deficiency.
108. i.e. we are submerged in Your praise.
109. i.e. the blessings of Your Name are great, for great good springs from the remembrance of Your Name.
110. i.e. Your Glory and Might.
111. Abu Dawud and Hakim, who declared it sahih and Dhahabi agreed. ‘Uqaili said (p. 103): "this has been narrated via several routes with good isnads." It is given in 'Irwa (no. 341) Transmitted by Ibn Mandah in At-Tawhid (123/2) with a sahih isnad and Nasā’ie in al-Yawm wal-Laylah as mawquf and marfu’, as in Jāmi` al-Masanid of Ibn Kathir (vol. 3 part 2 p. 235/2)
112. Abu Dawud and Tahawi with a hasan isnad.
113. Muslim and Abu 'Awānah; declared sahih by Tirmidzi. Abu Nu`aim also narrated it in Akhbar Isbahan (1/210) from Nafa’ Ibn Jubair ibn Mut`am who heard the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) saying it in voluntary prayer.
114. Muslim and Abu ‘Awānah.
115. i.e. You are the Giver of Light to them, and those in them are guided by You.
116. i.e. the Protector and the constant Watcher over them.
117. Haqq: truth, reality.
118. Bukhari, Muslim, Abu ‘Awānah, Abu Dawud, Ibn Nasar and Darimi.
119. Although that clearly does not rule out using them in the obligatory prayers also, except for the imam, so that he does not prolong the prayer for the followers.
120. Muslim and Abu ‘Awānah.
121. Ahmad, Ibn Abi Shaibah (12/119/2), Abu Dawud and Tabarāni in Mu’jam al-Awsat (62/2) with one isnad sahih, and another hasan.
122. Tayalisi and Abu Dawud with a sahih isnad.

[Via The Qur'an and Sunnah Society]

Description of the Prophet’s Solāh