Since it is superstitious to do the chelle practice in order to conceive a child, which supplications and prayers do you recommend in this regard?
Concise answer
Based on our research through hadith collections, we did not find any reference to the chelle practice for pregnancy. As for supplications for pregnancy, there are some points to be noted:
1-This world is a place of tests and tribulations, and everyone is tested in one way or another; one through wealth; another through poverty and yet another through children or through infertility.
2-Since every event in this world happens with God's permission and through His infinite power, one should pray only to Him to resolve the problems and open up the closed doors.
3-Since the Infallibles (A) are more knowledgeable than others, they have introduced and taught supplications that are more effective than any other supplications, it is, therefore, prudent to benefit from these supplications instead of taking other actions.
4-The world is based on causes and effects; therefore our relation with God and prayers should not withhold us from referring to physicians and seeking cure through the chain of causes God has granted.
Detailed Answer
Based on our research in hadith collections, we could not find any reference to the chelle[i] practice for pregnancy.
For more information, please refer to the index chelle cutting to unlock a supposedly locked marriage 8334 (website code No.8395).
However when it comes to pregnancy, some points should be taken into account:
1-This world is a place of test and tribulations and everyone is put to test in one way or another; one through wealth; another through poverty and yet another through children or through infertility. For more information, please refer to index "tests for the believers" 8302 (website code no.8394) and also index of "Ways to put man to test from Quran's viewpoint" (website code no.4682)
2- Every event in this world happens by His infinite power, if someone has been blessed with a child, God has granted him/her the child and if he does not have a child, God has not granted him a child, God says in the Quran: "Or He makes them of both sorts, male and female; and He makes whom He pleases barren; surely He is the Knowing, the Powerful"[ii]; therefore one should pray only to Him to resolve the problems and open up the closed doors. This statement, however, imply that man has no effect on events; in fact, there may be a lot of events that we are their causes but we attribute them all to God unknowingly.
For more information, please refer to index of "Man, determinism and freedom" 1896 (website code no.2718), not having a suitor and fate 11971 (website code no.11752) and ascription of evil to God accidentally 5529 (website code no.5732)
3- Since the infallibles (A) are the mediums of divine grace and are more knowledgeable than all other people; therefore if they have introduced and taught supplications, those supplications and prayers would be more effective than other prayers, therefore it is prudent to benefit from these prayers instead of other turning to other means.
Regarding the issue in question, we have received prayers from the infallibles (A) some of which has been mentioned here:
a) Imam Muhammad Baqer (A) has said: "If someone wants his wife to become pregnant he should offer a two-rak'at prayer on Friday with a long roku' [to bow down]and sojood [to prostrate]and then recite:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ بِمَا سَأَلَكَ بِهِ زَكَرِيَّا إِذْ قَالَ رَبِّ لا تَذَرْنِي فَرْداً وَ أَنْتَ خَيْرُ الْوارِثِينَ اللَّهُمَّ هَبْ لِي ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ الدُّعاءِ اللَّهُمَّ بِاسْمِكَ اسْتَحْلَلْتُهَا وَ فِي أَمَانَتِكَ أَخَذْتُهَا فَإِنْ قَضَيْتَ فِي رَحِمِهَا وَلَداً فَاجْعَلْهُ غُلَاماً وَ لَا تَجْعَلْ لِلشَّيْطَانِ فِيهِ نَصِيباً وَ لَا شِرْكاَ.
"Oh God I ask you what Zachariah (PBUH) asked you when he said:"And Zachariah, when he cried to his Lord: O my Lord leave me not alone; and Thou art the best of inheritors"; Oh God by Thy name I made her halal and I took her as amanat [deposit]so if Thou ordain a child in her womb please make it a boy and do not let Satan take a share of it"[iii]
b) Ali bin Muhammad Nasiri says: "I married Ja'far bin Mahmood's daughter and I loved her. However, after a while she did not become pregnant. I went to see Imam Reza (A.S) and shared this point with him. He (A.S) smiled and said: "Inscribe this verse from Quran on a turquoise ring "O my Lord leave me not alone; and Thou art the best of inheritors". Ali bin Muhammad says: "I performed this and after a year God granted me a child."[iv]
4-Supplication and communication with God is not limited to a specific language or specific words, rather in any way that one can speak with God it is considered a desirable way, therefore if in some case we have not received a supplication, it does not mean that we can resort to superstitions, we can normally speak with God and ask Him our requests.
5-It should be noted that praying is not in contrast with seeing a physician, this world is based on causes and effects and it is possible that a cure for a disease is placed in a physician's prescription; therefore praying to and communicating with God should not hinder us from visiting a doctor and seeking his advice. While maintaining this relation we should benefit from the causes that God has made available for us.
For more information, see index of "Divine power, causes and means" 7273 (website code No.7471).
[i] Based on a superstitious belief, if a woman can't become pregnant, she is said to have been put under a spell or affected by a bride who is married less than 40 days and to cut chelle, therefore, means to break this spell or this evil connection.
[ii] Quran 42:50
[iii]Kulayni, al-Kafi, vol.3, p.482, DarulKotob al-Eslamyie, Tehran, 1986
[iv]Atarodi, Aziz Allah, Mosnad al-Emam al-Reza (A), vol.2, p.366, AstaneQods (Conference), first print, Mashad, 1985; Horr-e Ameli, Wasa'el al-Shi'a, vol.5, Mo'assesat Aalulbayt (A) Qom, 1988
source : www.islamquest.net
