Daily Duas for Shia Kids: With Meaning and Sources
شیعہ بچوں کے لیے روزمرہ کی دعائیں
ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُم
Duas for waking and sleeping, the toilet and wudu, eating and new clothes, leaving home and travelling, sneezing, parents, fear and worry, beautiful duas from the Holy Quran, and duas for the Imam of our time (A.T.F.S.). Each dua has its Arabic, transliteration, meaning and its source in Shia books, mostly al-Kafi.
What is in this book
Nine chapters, from the first dua of the morning to the duas for Imam al-Mahdi (A.T.F.S.). Learn one dua a week, say it at its time, and by the end of the year you will know them all.
Why we make dua, and its manners
دعا کیوں اور اس کے آداب
Dua means calling on Allah and asking Him. It is the simplest and most powerful act of worship: you can make dua in any language, at any time and in any place, and Allah always hears. The Ahlulbayt (A.S.) taught their followers to make dua for everything, big or small.
وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ
“Your Lord has said: Call on Me, and I will answer you.”
وَأَفْضَلُ الْعِبَادَةِ الدُّعَاءُ
“And the best worship is dua.”
Source: Usul al-Kafi, al-Kulayni, Book of Supplication
عَلَيْكُمْ بِالدُّعَاءِ فَإِنَّكُمْ لَا تَقَرَّبُونَ بِمِثْلِهِ، وَلَا تَتْرُكُوا صَغِيرَةً لِصِغَرِهَا أَنْ تَدْعُوا بِهَا، إِنَّ صَاحِبَ الصِّغَارِ هُوَ صَاحِبُ الْكِبَارِ
“Hold on to dua, for you cannot come near to Allah with anything like it. And do not leave a small thing because it is small: ask for it too, for the One who owns the small things is the One who owns the big things.”
Source: Usul al-Kafi, al-Kulayni, Book of Supplication
إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنْ بَابٍ يُقْرَعُ إِلَّا يُوشِكُ أَنْ يُفْتَحَ لِصَاحِبِهِ
“There is no door that is knocked on again and again, except that it will soon be opened for the one knocking.”
Source: Usul al-Kafi, al-Kulayni, Book of Supplication
The manners of dua
- Begin and end with salawat. Imam al-Sadiq (A.S.) said: “A dua stays veiled until salawat is sent on Muhammad and the family of Muhammad” (Usul al-Kafi). So we say اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ before and after our dua.
- Praise Allah first, then ask.
- Pray for others too. Imam al-Baqir (A.S.) said that the dua closest to being answered, and the fastest, is a person's dua for his brother when he is not there (Usul al-Kafi).
- Keep asking, and trust Allah. Sometimes Allah gives at once, sometimes later, and sometimes something better.
Waking up and going to sleep
جاگنے اور سونے کی دعائیں
The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W.) and the Imams (A.S.) began and ended each day with the remembrance of Allah. Sleep is like a small death, and waking up is like being given life again, so we thank Allah for both.
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَحْيَانِي بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنِي وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ
Al-ḥamdu lillāhil-ladhī aḥyānī ba'da mā amātanī wa ilayhin-nushūr
All praise is for Allah, who gave me life after He made me die (in sleep), and to Him is the return.
Source: Usul al-Kafi, al-Kulayni: Imam al-Sadiq (A.S.) describing what the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W.) said on waking.
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي رَدَّ عَلَيَّ رُوحِي لِأَحْمَدَهُ وَأَعْبُدَهُ
Al-ḥamdu lillāhil-ladhī radda 'alayya rūḥī li-aḥmadahū wa a'budah
All praise is for Allah, who returned my soul to me so that I may praise Him and worship Him.
Source: Usul al-Kafi, al-Kulayni: Imam al-Baqir (A.S.) to Zurarah.
اللَّهُمَّ بِاسْمِكَ أَحْيَا وَبِاسْمِكَ أَمُوتُ
Allāhumma bismika aḥyā wa bismika amūt
O Allah, in Your name I live and in Your name I die.
Source: Usul al-Kafi, al-Kulayni: the words of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W.) on going to bed, narrated by Imam al-Sadiq (A.S.).
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، آمَنْتُ بِاللَّهِ، وَكَفَرْتُ بِالطَّاغُوتِ، اللَّهُمَّ احْفَظْنِي فِي مَنَامِي وَفِي يَقَظَتِي
Bismillāh, āmantu billāh, wa kafartu biṭ-ṭāghūt, Allāhumma-ḥfaẓnī fī manāmī wa fī yaqaẓatī
In the name of Allah. I believe in Allah and I reject every false god. O Allah, protect me in my sleep and when I am awake.
Before it, recite Ayat al-Kursi (Surah al-Baqarah 2:255).
Source: Usul al-Kafi, al-Kulayni: Imam al-Sadiq (A.S.) said the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W.) would recite Ayat al-Kursi and then say this when going to bed.
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ ×٣٤ · الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ×٣٣ · سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ ×٣٣
Allāhu akbar 34 times · Al-ḥamdu lillāh 33 times · Subḥānallāh 33 times
Allah is the Greatest · All praise is for Allah · Glory be to Allah.
You can count it with the Tasbih counter in our Namaz book.
Source: Usul al-Kafi, al-Kulayni: Imam al-Sadiq (A.S.) taught it for bedtime, with Ayat al-Kursi and the last two surahs of the Quran.
The toilet, wudu and the mosque
بیت الخلاء، وضو اور مسجد کی دعائیں
Islam teaches us to remember Allah even in the smallest daily acts. Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (A.S.) said: “When you say the name of Allah in your wudu, your whole body is purified; and if you do not, only the parts the water touched are purified” (Furu' al-Kafi).
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْخَبِيثِ الْمُخْبِثِ الرِّجْسِ النِّجْسِ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ
Bismillāh, Allāhumma innī a'ūdhu bika minal-khabīthil-mukhbith, ar-rijsin-nijs, ash-shayṭānir-rajīm
In the name of Allah. O Allah, I seek Your protection from the filthy one who spreads filth, the unclean, the accursed Shaytan.
Say it before you go in, not inside.
Source: Furu' al-Kafi, vol. 3, chapter on what to say on entering and leaving the toilet: Imam al-Sadiq (A.S.) to Mu'awiyah ibn Ammar.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي عَافَانِي مِنَ الْخَبِيثِ الْمُخْبِثِ وَأَمَاطَ عَنِّي الْأَذَى
Bismillāh, al-ḥamdu lillāhil-ladhī 'āfānī minal-khabīthil-mukhbith, wa amāṭa 'annil-adhā
In the name of Allah. All praise is for Allah, who has kept me safe from the filthy one and has removed harm from me.
Source: Furu' al-Kafi, vol. 3: Imam al-Sadiq (A.S.), in the same narration.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ
Bismillāh
In the name of Allah.
Source: Furu' al-Kafi, vol. 3: Imam al-Sadiq (A.S.) said that naming Allah in wudu purifies the whole body.
أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِي مِنَ التَّوَّابِينَ وَاجْعَلْنِي مِنَ الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
Ash-hadu an lā ilāha illallāh, Allāhumma-j'alnī minat-tawwābīn, waj'alnī minal-mutaṭahhirīn, wal-ḥamdu lillāhi rabbil-'ālamīn
I bear witness that there is no god but Allah. O Allah, make me one of those who turn to You in repentance, and one of those who keep themselves pure. And all praise is for Allah, Lord of the worlds.
Source: Furu' al-Kafi, vol. 3: Imam al-Sadiq (A.S.) to Mu'awiyah ibn Ammar.
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ
Allāhumma ṣalli 'alā Muḥammadin wa āli Muḥammad
O Allah, send blessings on Muhammad and the family of Muhammad.
Enter with your right foot and leave with your left, as the Imams (A.S.) taught.
Source: Furu' al-Kafi, vol. 3, chapter on what to say when entering and leaving the mosque: Imam al-Sadiq (A.S.) said to send salawat on the Prophet when you enter and when you leave.
After every Namaz, recite the Tasbih of Lady Fatima (S.A.). Wudu step by step is explained in Fiqh Jaffari for Kids.
Food, drink and new clothes
کھانے، پینے اور نئے کپڑوں کی دعائیں
Every meal is a gift from Allah. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W.) said that when food is set down, four thousand angels surround it. When a person says Bismillah, the angels say, “May Allah bless your food,” and tell Shaytan, “Go away, you have no power over them.” When they finish and say Alhamdulillah, the angels say, “These are people whom Allah blessed, and they thanked their Lord” (Furu' al-Kafi).
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ
Bismillāh
In the name of Allah.
Source: Furu' al-Kafi, vol. 6, chapter on saying the name of Allah over food.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ عَلَى أَوَّلِهِ وَآخِرِهِ
Bismillāhi 'alā awwalihī wa ākhirih
In the name of Allah, at its beginning and its end.
Source: Furu' al-Kafi, vol. 6: taught by Imam al-Sadiq (A.S.).
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي يُطْعِمُ وَلَا يُطْعَمُ
Al-ḥamdu lillāhil-ladhī yuṭ'imu wa lā yuṭ'am
All praise is for Allah, who feeds and is not fed.
Source: Furu' al-Kafi, vol. 6: Imam al-Sadiq (A.S.) said, “Mention the name of Allah over food, and when you finish, say…”
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي كَسَانِي مَا أُوَارِي بِهِ عَوْرَتِي وَأَتَجَمَّلُ بِهِ فِي النَّاسِ
Al-ḥamdu lillāhil-ladhī kasānī mā uwārī bihī 'awratī wa atajammalu bihī fin-nās
All praise is for Allah, who has clothed me with what covers my body and with which I look nice among people.
Source: Furu' al-Kafi, vol. 6, chapter on what to say when wearing new clothes: Imam al-Baqir (A.S.) to Muhammad ibn Muslim.
Leaving home and travelling
گھر سے نکلنے اور سفر کی دعائیں
Abu Hamzah al-Thumali went to the door of Imam Zain al-Abideen (A.S.) just as the Imam was coming out, and heard him say a short dua. Then the Imam explained: when a servant of Allah leaves his home, Shaytan stands in his way. When he says Bismillah, two angels say, “You have been taken care of.” When he says Amantu billah, they say, “You have been guided.” When he says Tawakkaltu 'alallah, they say, “You have been protected.” And Shaytan moves away, saying, “What can we do with one who is guided, cared for and protected?” (Usul al-Kafi).
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، آمَنْتُ بِاللَّهِ، وَتَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ
Bismillāh, āmantu billāh, wa tawakkaltu 'alallāh
In the name of Allah. I believe in Allah, and I put my trust in Allah.
Source: Usul al-Kafi, al-Kulayni, chapter on the dua for leaving home: Imam Zain al-Abideen (A.S.) to Abu Hamzah al-Thumali.
سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ، وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ
Subḥānal-ladhī sakhkhara lanā hādhā wa mā kunnā lahū muqrinīn, wa innā ilā rabbinā lamunqalibūn
Glory be to the One who has made this of service to us, for we could never have done it ourselves; and to our Lord we shall surely return.
Source: The Holy Quran, Surah al-Zukhruf 43:13–14, which teaches these words for riding.
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ (going up) · سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ (coming down)
Allāhu akbar when going up · Subḥānallāh when coming down
Allah is the Greatest · Glory be to Allah.
Children can say it when a plane takes off and lands, or on a hill or in a lift.
Source: Furu' al-Kafi, vol. 4, chapter on duas during a journey: Imam al-Sadiq (A.S.) said this was the practice of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W.) on his journeys.
مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ، لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ، اللَّهُمَّ آنِسْ وَحْشَتِي وَأَعِنِّي عَلَى وَحْدَتِي
Mā shā'allāh, lā quwwata illā billāh, Allāhumma ānis waḥshatī wa a'innī 'alā waḥdatī
What Allah wills happens; there is no strength except with Allah. O Allah, comfort me in my loneliness and help me when I am alone.
Source: Furu' al-Kafi, vol. 4: Imam al-Sadiq (A.S.) taught it for one who travels alone.
Sneezing, parents and praying for others
چھینک، والدین اور دوسروں کے لیے دعا
Duas are not only for ourselves. Islam teaches us to pray for our parents, our families and every believer, and even a sneeze is a reason to remember Allah and send salawat.
The sneeze that the Imam did not answer
A man sneezed in the presence of Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (A.S.) and said only “Alhamdulillah”. The Imam did not reply to him, and said, “You have cut short our right.” Then he taught: “When one of you sneezes, let him say: Alhamdu lillahi rabbil-'alamin, wa sallallahu 'ala Muhammadin wa ahli baytih.” The man said it, and then the Imam answered his sneeze (Usul al-Kafi).
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، وَصَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَأَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ
Al-ḥamdu lillāhi rabbil-'ālamīn, wa ṣallallāhu 'alā Muḥammadin wa ahli baytih
All praise is for Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah bless Muhammad and the people of his house.
Source: Usul al-Kafi, al-Kulayni, Book of Social Manners, chapter on answering a sneeze: Imam al-Baqir (A.S.).
يَرْحَمُكَ اللَّهُ · يَهْدِيكُمُ اللَّهُ وَيُصْلِحُ بَالَكُمْ
Yarḥamukallāh · (reply) Yahdīkumullāhu wa yuṣliḥu bālakum
May Allah have mercy on you · (reply) May Allah guide you and set your affairs right.
Source: Usul al-Kafi, al-Kulayni, the same chapter: Imam al-Sadiq (A.S.) counted this among the rights of a Muslim over his brother.
رَبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا
Rabbir-ḥamhumā kamā rabbayānī ṣaghīrā
My Lord, have mercy on them as they raised me when I was small.
Source: The Holy Quran, Surah al-Isra 17:24.
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِمَنْ دَخَلَ بَيْتِيَ مُؤْمِنًا وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ
Rabbigh-fir lī wa liwālidayya wa liman dakhala baytiya mu'minan wa lil-mu'minīna wal-mu'mināt
My Lord, forgive me and my parents, and whoever enters my home as a believer, and all believing men and believing women.
Source: The Holy Quran, Surah Nuh 71:28: the dua of Prophet Nuh (A.S.).
دُعَاءُ الْمَرْءِ لِأَخِيهِ بِظَهْرِ الْغَيْبِ يُدِرُّ الرِّزْقَ وَيَدْفَعُ الْمَكْرُوهَ
“A person's dua for his brother when he is not there brings sustenance and turns away harm.”
Source: Usul al-Kafi, al-Kulayni, chapter on praying for one's brothers in their absence
When you are worried, afraid or angry
پریشانی، خوف اور غصے کی دعائیں
Everyone feels worried or afraid sometimes: before an exam, when someone is ill, or when something goes wrong. The Imams taught us to turn to Allah at such times, and promised that He is near.
يَا أَبْصَرَ النَّاظِرِينَ، وَيَا أَسْمَعَ السَّامِعِينَ، وَيَا أَسْرَعَ الْحَاسِبِينَ، وَيَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ
Yā abṣaran-nāẓirīn, wa yā asma'as-sāmi'īn, wa yā asra'al-ḥāsibīn, wa yā arḥamar-rāḥimīn
O Best of all who see, O Best of all who hear, O Quickest of all who take account, O Most Merciful of all who show mercy.
The Imam taught: face the Qibla, pray two rak'ahs, then say these words seventy times, asking for your need each time. Children can begin with a few times.
Source: Usul al-Kafi, al-Kulayni, chapter on duas for pain, worry, sadness and fear: Imam al-Baqir (A.S.) to Abu Hamzah.
حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ
Ḥasbunallāhu wa ni'mal-wakīl
Allah is enough for us, and He is the best One to trust.
Source: The Holy Quran, Surah Al-i Imran 3:173. Imam Muhammad al-Jawad (A.S.) included it in a dua he taught for after the Fajr prayer (Usul al-Kafi).
أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ
A'ūdhu billāhi minash-shayṭānir-rajīm
I seek Allah's protection from the accursed Shaytan.
Source: The Holy Quran, Surah al-A'raf 7:200: “If a prompting from Shaytan stirs you, seek refuge in Allah.”
Dua in sajdah
Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (A.S.) taught that when a hardship comes to someone, he should go into sajdah, placing his knees, arms and chest close to the ground, and ask Allah for his need while in sajdah (Usul al-Kafi). Sajdah is the closest a servant comes to his Lord.
Duas from the Holy Quran
قرآن مجید کی دعائیں
The Quran itself teaches us duas, often in the words of the prophets. These are among the most beautiful duas a child can learn, and many Shia families recite them in qunut.
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
Rabbanā ātinā fid-dunyā ḥasanatan wa fil-ākhirati ḥasanatan wa qinā 'adhāban-nār
Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.
Source: The Holy Quran, Surah al-Baqarah 2:201.
رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِنْ لَدُنْكَ رَحْمَةً إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْوَهَّابُ
Rabbanā lā tuzigh qulūbanā ba'da idh hadaytanā wa hab lanā min ladunka raḥmah, innaka antal-wahhāb
Our Lord, do not let our hearts turn away after You have guided us, and grant us mercy from Yourself. You are the Giver.
Source: The Holy Quran, Surah Al-i Imran 3:8.
رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنْفُسَنَا وَإِنْ لَمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
Rabbanā ẓalamnā anfusanā wa in lam taghfir lanā wa tarḥamnā lanakūnanna minal-khāsirīn
Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves. If You do not forgive us and have mercy on us, we will surely be among the losers.
Source: The Holy Quran, Surah al-A'raf 7:23.
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
Lā ilāha illā anta subḥānaka innī kuntu minaẓ-ẓālimīn
There is no god but You, glory be to You; I have been among the wrongdoers.
Source: The Holy Quran, Surah al-Anbiya 21:87. Allah says next: “So We answered him and saved him from grief, and so do We save the believers” (21:88). Imam al-Jawad (A.S.) included these verses in a dua for after Fajr (Usul al-Kafi).
رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي، وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي، وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِنْ لِسَانِي، يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي
Rabbish-raḥ lī ṣadrī, wa yassir lī amrī, waḥlul 'uqdatan min lisānī, yafqahū qawlī
My Lord, open my heart for me, make my task easy for me, and untie the knot from my tongue, so that they understand what I say.
Source: The Holy Quran, Surah Taha 20:25–28.
رَبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا
Rabbi zidnī 'ilmā
My Lord, increase me in knowledge.
Source: The Holy Quran, Surah Taha 20:114.
رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلَاةِ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاءِ
Rabbij-'alnī muqīmaṣ-ṣalāti wa min dhurriyyatī, rabbanā wa taqabbal du'ā'
My Lord, make me one who keeps up the prayer, and my children too. Our Lord, accept my dua.
Source: The Holy Quran, Surah Ibrahim 14:40.
رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا
Rabbanā hab lanā min azwājinā wa dhurriyyātinā qurrata a'yunin waj'alnā lil-muttaqīna imāmā
Our Lord, grant us from our families and children the coolness of our eyes, and make us leaders for the pious.
Source: The Holy Quran, Surah al-Furqan 25:74.
Duas for the Imam of our time, and Nad-e-Ali
امام زمانہ کی دعائیں اور نادِ علی
We live in the time of the occultation of our twelfth Imam, Imam Muhammad al-Mahdi (A.T.F.S.). He is alive, and he is our Imam. The Imams before him taught us to remember him, pray for him and ask Allah to hasten his reappearance. Children can read more about him in My Faith: Shia Aqaid for Kids.
اللَّهُمَّ كُنْ لِوَلِيِّكَ الْحُجَّةِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ، صَلَوَاتُكَ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَى آبَائِهِ، فِي هَذِهِ السَّاعَةِ وَفِي كُلِّ سَاعَةٍ، وَلِيًّا وَحَافِظًا، وَقَائِدًا وَنَاصِرًا، وَدَلِيلًا وَعَيْنًا، حَتَّى تُسْكِنَهُ أَرْضَكَ طَوْعًا، وَتُمَتِّعَهُ فِيهَا طَوِيلًا
Allāhumma kun li-waliyyikal-Ḥujjatibnil-Ḥasan, ṣalawātuka 'alayhi wa 'alā ābā'ih, fī hādhihis-sā'ati wa fī kulli sā'ah, waliyyan wa ḥāfiẓā, wa qā'idan wa nāṣirā, wa dalīlan wa 'aynā, ḥattā tuskinahū arḍaka ṭaw'ā, wa tumatti'ahū fīhā ṭawīlā
O Allah, be for Your representative, al-Hujjah son of al-Hasan, Your blessings be on him and his forefathers, in this hour and in every hour, a guardian and a protector, a leader and a helper, a guide and a watchful eye, until You settle him on Your earth willingly and let him enjoy it for a long time.
Many families recite it after every Namaz.
Source: Furu' al-Kafi, vol. 4, chapter on the duas of the last ten nights of Ramadan, where Imam al-Sadiq (A.S.) taught it for the 23rd night, the whole month “and whenever you can”, with “so-and-so son of so-and-so” in place of the Imam's name; Mafatih al-Jinan.
اللَّهُمَّ عَرِّفْنِي نَفْسَكَ، فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ لَمْ تُعَرِّفْنِي نَفْسَكَ لَمْ أَعْرِفْ نَبِيَّكَ، اللَّهُمَّ عَرِّفْنِي رَسُولَكَ، فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ لَمْ تُعَرِّفْنِي رَسُولَكَ لَمْ أَعْرِفْ حُجَّتَكَ، اللَّهُمَّ عَرِّفْنِي حُجَّتَكَ، فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ لَمْ تُعَرِّفْنِي حُجَّتَكَ ضَلَلْتُ عَنْ دِينِي
Allāhumma 'arrifnī nafsak, fa innaka in lam tu'arrifnī nafsaka lam a'rif nabiyyak. Allāhumma 'arrifnī rasūlak, fa innaka in lam tu'arrifnī rasūlaka lam a'rif ḥujjatak. Allāhumma 'arrifnī ḥujjatak, fa innaka in lam tu'arrifnī ḥujjataka ḍalaltu 'an dīnī
O Allah, make me know You, for if You do not make me know You, I will not know Your Prophet. O Allah, make me know Your Messenger, for if You do not make me know Your Messenger, I will not know Your Hujjah. O Allah, make me know Your Hujjah, for if You do not make me know Your Hujjah, I will go astray from my religion.
Source: Usul al-Kafi, vol. 1, chapter on the occultation: Imam al-Sadiq (A.S.) told Zurarah to recite it in the time of the occultation.
إِلَهِي عَظُمَ الْبَلَاءُ، وَبَرِحَ الْخَفَاءُ، وَانْكَشَفَ الْغِطَاءُ، وَانْقَطَعَ الرَّجَاءُ، وَضَاقَتِ الْأَرْضُ، وَمُنِعَتِ السَّمَاءُ، وَأَنْتَ الْمُسْتَعَانُ، وَإِلَيْكَ الْمُشْتَكَى، وَعَلَيْكَ الْمُعَوَّلُ فِي الشِّدَّةِ وَالرَّخَاءِ، اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، أُولِي الْأَمْرِ الَّذِينَ فَرَضْتَ عَلَيْنَا طَاعَتَهُمْ، وَعَرَّفْتَنَا بِذَلِكَ مَنْزِلَتَهُمْ، فَفَرِّجْ عَنَّا بِحَقِّهِمْ فَرَجًا عَاجِلًا قَرِيبًا كَلَمْحِ الْبَصَرِ أَوْ هُوَ أَقْرَبُ، يَا مُحَمَّدُ يَا عَلِيُّ، يَا عَلِيُّ يَا مُحَمَّدُ، اكْفِيَانِي فَإِنَّكُمَا كَافِيَانِ، وَانْصُرَانِي فَإِنَّكُمَا نَاصِرَانِ، يَا مَوْلَانَا يَا صَاحِبَ الزَّمَانِ، الْغَوْثَ الْغَوْثَ الْغَوْثَ، أَدْرِكْنِي أَدْرِكْنِي أَدْرِكْنِي، السَّاعَةَ السَّاعَةَ السَّاعَةَ، الْعَجَلَ الْعَجَلَ الْعَجَلَ، يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ، بِحَقِّ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ الطَّاهِرِينَ
Ilāhī 'aẓumal-balā', wa bariḥal-khafā', wankashafal-ghiṭā', wanqaṭa'ar-rajā', wa ḍāqatil-arḍ, wa muni'atis-samā', wa antal-musta'ān, wa ilaykal-mushtakā, wa 'alaykal-mu'awwalu fish-shiddati war-rakhā'. Allāhumma ṣalli 'alā Muḥammadin wa āli Muḥammad, ulil-amril-ladhīna faraḍta 'alaynā ṭā'atahum, wa 'arraftanā bidhālika manzilatahum, fafarrij 'annā biḥaqqihim farajan 'ājilan qarīban kalamḥil-baṣari aw huwa aqrab. Yā Muḥammadu yā 'Alī, yā 'Aliyyu yā Muḥammad, ikfiyānī fa innakumā kāfiyān, wanṣurānī fa innakumā nāṣirān. Yā mawlānā yā Ṣāḥibaz-zamān, al-ghawth al-ghawth al-ghawth, adriknī adriknī adriknī, as-sā'ah as-sā'ah as-sā'ah, al-'ajal al-'ajal al-'ajal, yā arḥamar-rāḥimīn, biḥaqqi Muḥammadin wa ālihiṭ-ṭāhirīn
My God, the trial has become great, the hidden has become plain, the cover has been lifted, hope has been cut off, the earth has become narrow and the sky has held back its blessings. You are the One whose help is sought, to You is the complaint, and on You we rely in hardship and in ease. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, the holders of authority whom You made it obligatory for us to obey, and so made us know their rank. So give us relief through their right, a quick and near relief, like the blink of an eye or nearer. O Muhammad, O Ali, O Ali, O Muhammad, be enough for me, for you are enough; help me, for you are helpers. O our master, O Master of the Age, help, help, help! Reach me, reach me, reach me! Now, now, now! Quickly, quickly, quickly! O Most Merciful of the merciful, by the right of Muhammad and his pure family.
In this dua we ask Allah, and call on the Prophet, Imam Ali and the Imam of our time as our means (tawassul) to Him.
Source: Kunuz al-Najah, Shaykh al-Tabrisi; Jamal al-Usbu', Sayyid Ibn Tawus; Mafatih al-Jinan, Shaykh Abbas al-Qummi. It is narrated as taught by Imam al-Mahdi (A.T.F.S.) himself.
نَادِ عَلِيًّا مَظْهَرَ الْعَجَائِبِ، تَجِدْهُ عَوْنًا لَكَ فِي النَّوَائِبِ، كُلُّ غَمٍّ وَهَمٍّ سَيَنْجَلِي، بِوِلَايَتِكَ يَا عَلِيُّ يَا عَلِيُّ يَا عَلِيُّ
Nādi 'Aliyyan maẓharal-'ajā'ib, tajidhu 'awnan laka fin-nawā'ib, kullu ghammin wa hammin sayanjalī, bi-wilāyatika yā 'Alī, yā 'Alī, yā 'Alī
Call on Ali, the one through whom wonders appear; you will find him a help to you in hardships. Every sorrow and worry will clear away, through your wilayah, O Ali, O Ali, O Ali.
Nad-e-Ali is a well-known short supplication of tawassul. Scholars note that it is not narrated with a reliable chain from the Ma'sumeen (A.S.), so it is recited as a dua, asking Allah through the high status that He gave to Imam Ali (A.S.). It is Allah who answers every dua.
Source: Bihar al-Anwar, al-Majlisi, vol. 20, p. 73; al-Misbah, al-Kaf'ami.
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