COMMANDER OF THE FAITHFUL'S SAHIFA ALAWIYA

Imam Ali (a.s.), born in the House of Allah whose walls were raised by the two great Prophets of Allah and martyred in the House of Allah of Allah; Masjid-e-Kufa, whose every moment of life was entrusted for the safety and security of the Gem of Prophets; (Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa (s.a.w.s.) and the defense of Islam. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) himself had said, “I am City of Gateway of knowledge and Ali is its Gate. I am the City of Hikmah (Wisdom) and Ali is its Gate.”

Nahjul Balagha, a collection of the Sermons, letters and the Golden Quotes of the Commander of the Faithful, was collected by famous Sayyid Razi. Similarly, various Supplications have been collected by different followers. Abdullah bin Saleh Samahiji collected those supplications and named the collection: Sahifa Alawiya. This was the most popular collection. It had 160 Du’as. It was first published from Bombay in 1305 A.H. Later from Majmaul Bahrayn Press, Ludhiyana, and afterwards it was published in 1311 A.H. from Tehran. The fourth time it was published in 1371 A.H. from Nizami Press, Lucknow with translation and commentary.

The Supplications of Sahifa Alawiya can be broadly divided into two sections: The expression of Allah’s slave ship and the entreaties of the supplicant.

Each of the supplicants is a masterpiece of the expression of one’s helplessness before   grandeur of the Almighty Allah and only the Gateway of Knowledge; Imam Ali (a.s.) could have composed such Duas.

However, the present version is based on the Urdu translation of Sahifa Alawiya by Sayyid Murtaza Hussain Lakhnavi, republished by Haideri Kutubkhana.

The supplications include: Dua-e-Yastasheer, Allah’s Greatness, Important Affairs,

Solving Problems, Dua taught to Owais-e-Qarani, Asma’ul Husna, Dua’a-e-Mashlool,

Isme Azam, Dua’a-e-Jameah, Dua’a-e-Mazkoor, Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.), Helplessness before Almighty Allah, Sincere Attention to Allah, Morning Prayers, Seeking Pardon and Forgiveness from Allah, Muna’jaat, Severe Difficulties, Month of Sha’baan, Moon-sighting, Dua’a-e-Kumayl, Month of Ramazaan, First 10 Days of Zil-Hajj, Sickness and Pains including toothache and stomachache, Refuge from Burning and Drowning, Stability like Fort, Seeking Refuge from Calamities, Proximity to Allah, Sustenance,

Dua’a-e-Yamani, Protection from Enemies, Dua’a-e-Sabah, Repayment of Debts, Battles of Siffin and Jamal, Achieving Martyrdom, Istekhara, Journey, For Rain, Dua’a at Every Stage of Performing Wuzu, Friday Nawafil, After Daily Prayers, Mid-night Prayers,

Dua’a-e-Saname Quraish (Cursing the Idols of Quraish), Dua’as for Each Day of the Month, Dua’as for Each Day of the Week.

Owais-e-Qarani, was one of the special companions of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) who had never seen or met him. He used to live in a village called Qarn. When he heard that a few teeth of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) were broken in one of the Ghazawat (wars in which the Noble Prophet participated), he broke all his teeth out of love and respect.

To get an in-sight of the contents of the book, here are few lines from his supplications Eulogizing Allah and expressing His Greatness, the Commander says:

“Praise is for Allah Who is the foremost of the Praised and the One Who deserves to be worshiped till the end. Who is near than all those who are present, Whose limit is unknown as He is Eternal, Whose beginning has no limit, Who was before everyone without being needing to be everywhere but is not to be seen, Who is near to the secret gathering without being near. Being hidden is like apparency for Him. And the heart is lost in His Greatness. Neither eye can know His Heights or the heart due to His imperceptibility deny His recognition. He is visible in the hearts but neither imagination nor feelings can ever imagine or fantasize Him.”