Shia Calendar - 15 Rajab

15 Rajab

Night of 15th Rajab

According to narrations, there are many rites to be performed on the 15th (i.e. middle) night of Rajab:

Ghusl

Ghusl (bathing) is a highly recommended act on this night.

Spending night in worship

As said by ‘Allamah al-Majlisi, it is recommended to spend this whole night in acts of worship.

Visit shrine of Imam Husain (عليه السلام)

It is recommended to visit the holy shrine of Imam al-Husayn (عليه السلام) on this night.

Prayer 1

It is also recommended to offer the six rakat prayer (to be recited in 2 rakat each) in each rakat of which it is recommended to recite Surah al-Fātiḥah once and Surahs Yasin (No. 36), al-Mulk (No. 67), and al-Tawḥīd.

Prayer 2

It is recommended to offer a prayer consisting of thirty rakat in each of which one should recite Surah al-Fātiḥah one time and Surah al-Tawḥīd ten times. Sayyid Ibn Tawus has reported this prayer from the Holy Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) with an abundant reward.

Prayer 3

It is recommended to offer another prayer consisting of twelve rakat in which in each rakat, Surahs of al-Fātiḥah, al-Tawḥīd, al-Falaq, al-Nas, al-Qadr, and Ayah al-Kursi should be recited four times each. After completing the prayer, one should recite the following four times:

اللّٰهُ اللّٰهُ رَبِّي لَا اُشْرِكُ بِهِ شَيْئاً وَ لَا اَتَّخِذُ مِنْ دُونِهِ وَلِيّاً

One may then pray for their legitimate desires.

Sayyid Ibn Tawus has narrated this prayer in this form from Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (عليه السلام) although Shaykh al-Tusi, in Misbah al-Mutahajjid, has mentioned that Dawud ibn Sarhan narrated that Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq(عليه السلام) said the following:

On the 15th night of Rajab, you may offer a twelve rakat prayer in each rakat of which you may recite Surah al-Fātiḥah and any other Surah. When you finish, you may recite Surah al-Fātiḥah, al-Falaq, al-Nas, al-Tawḥīd, and Ayah al-Kursi each four times. After that, you may recite the following 4 times:

سُبْحَانَ اللّٰهِ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَ اللّٰهُ اَكْبَرُ

Then, you may recite the following:

اللّٰهُ اللّٰهُ رَبِّي لَا اُشْرِكُ بِهِ شَيْئاً وَ مَا شَاءَ اللّٰهُ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللّٰهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ.

The same prayer may be offered at the twenty-seventh night of Rajab.

Day of 15th Rajab

On this blessed day, the following rites are recommended:

Ghusl

It is recommended to bathe on this day.

Visit the shrine of Imam Husain (عليه السلام)

It is also recommended to visit the holy shrine of Imam al-Husayn (عليه السلام) on this day. In this respect, it has been narrated that Abu Basir asked Imam al-Rida (عليه السلام) about the best times of visiting Imam al-Husayn’s tomb. The Imam (عليه السلام) answered, “These are the fifteenth of Rajab and the fifteenth of Sha’ban.”

Salaat-e-Salman

It is recommended to offer the famous Salat Salman prayer in the form which has been previously mentioned within the rites of the first day of Rajab. The prayer is as follows: It is recommended to begin with offering the famous Salat Salman (The Prayer of Salman al-Farsi), which consists of thirty rakat. On the first of Rajab, it is advisable to offer ten units of this prayer separating each couple with a Taslim. In each unit, one should recite Surah al-Fātiḥah one time, Surah al-Tawḥīd three times, and Surah al-Kafirun three times. After Taslim, it is recommended to raise the hands up and recite the following:

لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَ لَهُ الْحَمْدُ يُحْيِي وَ يُمِيتُ وَ هُوَ حَيٌّ لَا يَمُوتُ بِيَدِهِ الْخَيْرُ وَ هُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ قَدِيرٌ

The following invocation should be recited thereafter:

اَللّٰهُمَّ لَا مَانِعَ لِمَا اَعْطَيْتَ وَ لَا مُعْطِيَ لِمَا مَنَعْتَ وَ لَا يَنْفَعُ ذَا الْجَدِّ مِنْكَ الْجَدُّ

Then, one should pass the hands over the face.

Other ten units of this prayer should be offered on the fifteenth (i.e. middle) of Rajab in the very aforementioned form. However, the following invocation should be added after the first one:

إِلَهاً وَاحِداً أَحَداً فَرْداً صَمَداً لَمْ يَتَّخِذْ صَاحِبَةً وَلَا وَلَداً

The last ten units of this prayer should be offered on the last day of Rajab in this very form; rather, the following invocation is added after the first one:

وَ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ الطَّاهِرِينَ وَ لَا حَوْلَ وَ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللّٰهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ

Then, one should pass the hands over the face and submit his requests.

This greatly beneficial prayer must not be neglected. However, Salman has another prayer, to be offered on this day, which consists of ten units in each of which Surah al-Fātiḥah should be recited once and Surah al-Tawḥīd three times. This prayer brings about a great reward; it achieves forgiveness of all sins, protects against the grave torture and the chastisement on the Resurrection Day, and saves from leprosy, elephantiasis, and pleurisy.

Prayer

One may offer a four-rakat prayer after the completion of which, one may extend the hands and recite the following supplication:

اَللّٰهُمَّ يَا مُذِلَّ كُلِّ جَبَّارٍ وَ يَا مُعِزَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ اَنْتَ كَهْفِي حِينَ تُعْيِينِي الْمَذَاهِبُ وَ اَنْتَ بَارِئُ خَلْقِي رَحْمَةً بِي وَ قَدْ كُنْتَ عَنْ خَلْقِي غَنِيّاً وَ لَوْ لَا رَحْمَتُكَ لَكُنْتُ مِنَ الْهَالِكِينَ وَ اَنْتَ مُؤَيِّدِي بِالنَّصْرِ عَلَى اَعْدَائِي وَ لَوْ لَا نَصْرُكَ اِيَّايَ لَكُنْتُ مِنَ الْمَفْضُوحِينَ يَا مُرْسِلَ الرَّحْمَةِ مِنْ مَعَادِنِهَا وَ مُنْشِئَ الْبَرَكَةِ مِنْ مَوَاضِعِهَا يَا مَنْ خَصَّ نَفْسَهُ بِالشُّمُوخِ وَ الرِّفْعَةِ فَاَوْلِيَاؤُهُ بِعِزِّهِ يَتَعَزَّزُونَ وَ يَا مَنْ وَضَعَتْ لَهُ الْمُلُوكُ نِيرَ الْمَذَلَّةِ عَلَى اَعْنَاقِهِمْ فَهُمْ مِنْ سَطَوَاتِهِ خَائِفُونَ اَسْأَلُكَ بِكَيْنُونِيَّتِكَ الَّتِي اشْتَقَقْتَهَا مِنْ كِبْرِيَائِكَ وَ اَسْأَلُكَ بِكِبْرِيَائِكَ الَّتِي اشْتَقَقْتَهَا مِنْ عِزَّتِكَ وَ اَسْأَلُكَ بِعِزَّتِكَ الَّتِي اسْتَوَيْتَ بِهَا عَلَى عَرْشِكَ فَخَلَقْتَ بِهَا جَمِيعَ خَلْقِكَ فَهُمْ لَكَ مُذْعِنُونَ اَنْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ اَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ.

According to a narration, any aggrieved person who recites this supplication will have his grief removed by Almighty Allah.

Amaal & Dua of Ummi Dawood

The most important rite on this day is to say the supplication known as Dua Ummi-Dawud. This great supplication brings about innumerable rewards some of which are that it grants the requests, relieves from anguishes, and saves from the persecutions of the wrongdoers.