Conditions of Dua & what Dua Kumayl is

Conditions of Du`¡’

If the supplicant wants his du`¡’ to be accepted, s/he should meet certain conditions, which are numerated by Ahl al-Bayt (a.s) in valid books such as “Usol Al-K¡f¢”, “Mahajjat al-Bayza’ “, “Wasa’il al-Shi’a”, “Jami’ al-Ahadith al-Shi’a”, etc.

Here’s a list of such conditions without further ado:

Islamic purity like wudo (ablution), ghusl (ritual washing) and tayammum (ablution with soil), clearing up the rights of the people (haqqunnas), sincerity, correct pronunciation of du`¡’, permissibility of income, observing and strengthening kinship ties (silatur-rahim), charity (sadaqah) before du`¡’, obedience to Allah, abstention from sins, rectification of deeds, du`¡’ at dawn, du`¡’ in watr (name of a salat), du`¡’ at the true dawn, du`¡’ at sunrise, du`¡’ between noon and evening prayer on Wednesday, and finally praising the Prophet(s.a) and his progeny (salawat) before du`¡’.[1]

Thursday Night

Thursday night is considered among the best times for du`¡’ in the traditions of Ahl al-Bayt (a.s), to the extent that it is about to be equal to the Qadr night[2] in value. The insightful and pious theologians believe: Do spend Thursday night with praying, worshipping, and invoking Allah to the morning, if you can, because the Compassionate sends the angels to the first heaven to add to the virtues of the believers and abolish their sins.

It is narrated from Imam ¯¡diq (a.s) in a valid tradition:

إنَّ لِلجُمُعَةِ حقّاً فَإيَّاكَ أنْ تُضَيِّعَ حُرْمَتَهُ أوْ تُقَصِّرَ فِي شَيْءٍ مِنْ عِبَادَةِ اللهِ وَالتَّقَرُّبِ إلَيْهِ بِالعَمَلِ الصَّالِحِ وَتَرْكِ الْمَحَارِمَ كُلِّهَا فَإنَّ اللهَ تَعَالَى يُضَاعِفُ فِيهِ الْحَسَنَاتِ وَيَمْحُو السَّيِّئَاتِ وَيَرْفَعُ فِيهِ الدَّرَجَاتِ، وَيَوْمُُهُ مِثْلُ لَيْلَتِهِ فَإن اسْتَطَعْتَ أنْ تُحْيِيَهَا بِالدُّعَاءِ وَالصَّلاَةِ فَافْعَلْ فَإنَّ اللهَ تَعَالَى يُرْسِلُ فِيهَا الْمَلائِكَةَ إلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا لِتُضَاعَفَ فِيهَا الْحَسَناتُ وَتُمْحَى فِيهَا السَّيِّئَاتُ وَإنَّ اللهَ وَاسِعٌ كَرِيم.ٌ

Verily, Fridays enjoy rights (incumbent upon people). Therefore, beware of violating Fridays’ sanctity through showing shortcoming in acts of worship and seeking nearness to Almighty Allah by means of righteous deeds and abandonment of all forbidden acts. Certainly, on Fridays Almighty Allah doubles up the rewards (of good deeds), erases forgivingly punishments (for evildoings), and raises the ranks (of faith). Friday daytimes are as same as Friday nights; therefore, you may, when possible, stay up supplicating and offering prayers to Almighty Allah Who, at that night, orders the angels to descend to the lower heavens in order to double up the rewards and erase the evildoings. Most surely, Allah is Ample-giving and All-generous.[3]

إنَّ المُؤمِنَ لَيَدْعُو فِي الحَاجَةِ فَيُؤَخِّرُ اللهُ حَاجَتَهُ الَّتِي سَأَلَ إلَى يَوْمِ الجُمُعَةِ لِيَخُصَّهُ بِفَضْلِهِ.

The believer may pray for an exigency and Allah postpones answering him to grant him his demand on Thursday night.[4]

لَمَّا سَألَ إخْوَةُ يُوسُفَ يَعقُوبَ أنْ يَسْتَغْفِرَ لَهُمْ، قَالَ: (سَوْفَ أَسْتَغْفِرُ لَكُمْ رَبّي) ثُمَّ أخَّرَ الاسْتِغْفَارَ إلى السَّحَرِ مِنْ لَيْلَةِ الْجُمُعَةِ كَيْ يُسْتَجَابَ لَهُ.

When Prophet Josef’s brothers asked their father, Prophet Jacob, to seek forgiveness for them from Allah, Jacob said: ‘I will seek forgiveness for you soon.’ And he delayed seeking forgiveness for them until Friday dawn so that his exigency will be answered.[5]

Imam al-B¡qir (a.s) says:

إنَّ اللهَ تَعالَى لَيَأمُرُ مَلَكاً فَيُنَادِي كُلَّ لَيْلَةِ جُمُعَةٍ مِنْ فَوْقِ عَرْشِهِ مِنْ أوَّلِ اللَّيْلِ إلَى آخِرِهِ: ألاَ عَبْدٌ مُؤمِنٌ يَدعُونِي لآخِرَتِهِ وَدُنْياهُ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الفَجْرِ فَأُجِيبُهُ؟ ألاَ عَبْدٌ مُؤمِنٌ يَتُوبُ إلَيَّ مِنْ ذُنُوبِهِ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الفَجْرِ فَأتُوبُ عَلَيْهِ؟ ألاَ عَبْدٌ مُؤمِنٌ قَدْ قَتَّرْتُ عَلَيْهِ رِزْقَهُ فَيَسْأَلُنِي الزِّيَادَةَ فِي رِزْقِهِ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الْفَجْرِ فَأزِيدُهُ وَأوسِعُ عَلَيْهِ؟ ألاَ عَبْدٌ مُؤمِنٌ سَقِيمٌ فَيَسْألُنِي أنْ أشْفِيَهُ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الفَجْرِ فَأُعَافِيهِ؟ ألاَ عَبْدٌ مُؤمِنٌ مَغْمُومٌ مَحْبُوسٌ يَسْألُنِي أنْ أُطْلِقَهُ مِنْ حَبْسِهِ وَأُفَرِّجُ عَنْهُ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الفَجْرِ فَأُطْلِقُهُ وَأُخَلّي سَبِيلَهُ؟ ألاَ عَبْدٌ مُؤمِنٌ مَظْلُومٌ يَسْألُنِي أنْ آخُذَ لَهُ بِظُلامَتِهِ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الفَجْرِ فَأَنْتَصِرُ لَهُ وَآخُذُ بِظُلامَتِهِ؟ قال: فَلا يَزالُ يُنادِي حَتَّى يَطْلُعَ الفَجْرُ.

Throughout every Thursday night, Allah orders an angel to call on behalf of the Almighty: Is there any believer who calls Me for this world and the Hereafter so that I grant his exigency? Is there any believer who repents of his sins before the sunrise, so that I forgive him? Is there any believer who asks for the abundance of his sustenance, which I have made scanty, before the sunrise, so that I will expand it? Is there any sick believer who asks Me to heal him before the sunrise, so that I make him well? Is there any jailed believer who asks me to free him before the sunrise, so that I grant him his demand? Is there any oppressed believer who asks Me to revenge from the oppressor, so that I restore his rights? He will keep saying so until dawn.[6]

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said:

إجْتَنِبوا المَعاصِيَ لَيْلَةَ الجُمُعَةِ فَإنَّ السَّيِّئَةَ مُضَاعَفَةٌ وَالحَسَنَةَ مُضَاعَفَةٌ. وَمَنْ تَرَكَ مَعْصِيَةَ اللهِ لَيْلَةَ الجُمُعَةِ غَفَرَ اللهُ لَهُ كُلَّ مَا سَلَفَ، وَمَنْ بَارَزَ اللهَ لَيْلَةَ الجُمُعَةِ بِمَعْصِيَةٍ أخَذَهُ اللهُ بِكُلِّ مَا عَمِلَ فِي عُمُرِهِ وَضَاعَفَ عَلَيْهِ العَذَابَ بِهَذِهِ المَعْصِيَةِ.

Avoid committing sins on Thursday nights, since the punishment is double then, as the recompense for virtues is multifold. Whoever avoids sins on Thursday night, Allah will forgive his previous sins. And whoever openly commits sins on Thursday night, Allah will chastise him for his lifetime sins and will multiply punishment of his Thursday night sin, because of breaking Thursday night forbiddance.[7]

Many prayers and supplications have been mentioned for Thursday night, among which du`¡’ Kumayl has a special importance.

Kumayl Ibn Ziy¡d Nakha’i

Shi’a and Sunni great scholars have admired Kumayl for his strong belief, purified soul and conduct, and sincere intention. They agree on Kumayl’s justice and greatness. Kumayl is among the noble disciples of Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s) and Imam °asan (a.s).[8] Amir al-Mu’minin too, has considered Kumayl as his ten most faithful disciples.[9] Kumayl has been one of the best lovers and friends of Imam `Al¢ (a.s).[10] The recommendations and bequests Imam `Al¢ (a.s) has made to Kumayl indicate his strong belief and great insight. The sunni who have never had a favorable opinion about the disciples of Ahl al-Bayt (a.s) consider Kumayl as trustee in all issues.[11] The ascetics know Kumayl as knowing Imam `Al¢’s secrets and spiritual knowledge. Kumayl accompanied the Great Prophet of Islam (a.s) for eighteen years and benefited from the blessings of prophethood. He was martyred by Hajjaj Ibn Y£suf Thaqafi, due to his magnitude and `Al¢(a.s) had informed him of his martyrdom in advance.

When Hajjaj Ibn Y£suf was assigned as the ruler of Iraq by the Umayyid ruler, he sought after Kumayl to kill him for his affection to the Ahl al-Bayt (a.s), since being shi’a was the greatest sin to the Umayyid. Kumayl hid himself, and Hajjaj stopped his relatives’ pension from baytul mal (public treasury). Being informed of Hajjaj’s action, Kumayl said: “I will not be alive long so I don’t want my relatives to get deprived of their pension because of me.” He left his hiding place and went to Hajjaj. Hajjaj told him: “I was looking for you to punish you.” Kumayl said: “Do as you can, since I will not live long. You and I will return to Allah. My master, `Al¢, has informed me that you are my killer.” Then Hajjaj ordered to behead Kumayl who was ninety then. His holy tomb is in Thuwiah, a place between Najaf and K£fah, and the believers make pilgrims to it.

Du`¡’ Kumayl

The vigilant believers consider the position of du`¡’ Kumayl among other du`¡’s as the position of mankind among other creatures. In other words, they know du`¡’ Kumayl as “Insan al-Ad’iyah”. The great scholar, researcher and hadith reporter, Allameh Majlis¢ views du`¡’ Kumayl as the ebst du`¡’. Allameh Majlis¢ narrates from “Iqbal” of Sayyid Ibn Tawus in his book “Zad al-Ma’ad”:

Kumayl said: “One day, I was with my master `Al¢ (a.s) in K£fah. We were talking about Sha’ban the fifteenth. Imam said: “One who spends that night worshipping and recites du`¡’ Khidhr, his prayer will be answered for sure.” When Imam (a.s) returned home, I went to him. He said: “What do you want?” I answered: “I’ve come to you to teach me du`¡’ Khidhr.” He told me to sit down. Then he said: “O Kumayl! When you memorize this du`¡’, recite it every Thursday night, or once in a month, or once in a year or once in your lifetime, and Allah will save you from enemies, help you, extend your sustenance, and forgive your sins. O Kumayl! Your extended and faithful service made me teach you such a blissful du`¡’.” Then he said: “Write it down!” And recited it o me.

The divine theologist, Kaf’ami, writes in his book ‘Misbah’: “Am¢r al-Mu’min¢n (a.s) recited this du`¡’ in prostration.”[12]

The supplicant should recite this du`¡’ on Thursday night, facing the qiblah direction, sincerely and humbly. This way the supplication is more probable to be answered.[13] The tearful eye is so valuable before Allah, and it causes forgiveness of sins and attraction of Allah’s blessings.[14]

It is narrated from Imam Sadiq (a.s):

مَا مِنْ شَيْءٍ إلاَّ وَلَهُ كَيْلٌ وَوَزْنٌ، إلاَّ الدُّمُوعَ؛ فَإنَّ القَطْرَةَ تُطْفِئُ بِحَاراً مِنَ النَّارِ، وَلَو أنَّ باكِياً بَكَى فِي أُمَّةٍ لَرُحِمُوا.

Everything has a special scale except tears; a drop of tear putts off oceans of fire. Allah forbids inferno from burning a tearful eye. In fact if there’s one tearful person (from Allah’s fear) in any nation, all the people will be forgiven.[15]

كُلُّ عَيْنٍ بَاكِيَةٌ يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ إلاَّ ثَلاثَةً: عَيْنٌ غُضَّتْ عَنْ مَحَارِمِ اللهِ، وَعَيْنٌ سَهِرَتْ فِي طَاعَةِ اللهِ، وَعَيْنٌ بَكَتْ فِي جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ مِنْ خَشْيَةِ اللهِ.

All the people are tearful in the Hereafter except three: one who closes his eyes to what Allah forbade, one who remains alive for Allah, and one cries for the fear of Allah at midnight.[16]