O my God! I beseech Thee through (the medium of) Thy Mercy which encompasses all things, and through (the medium of) Thy Might which over-powers all things, to which all things submit and compared to which all things are humble, and through (the medium of) Thy Power through which Thou has conquered all things, and through (the medium of) Thy Might against which nothing can stand up (or can rise), and through (the medium of) Thy Grandeur which prevails upon all things, and through (the medium of) Thy Domain which extends over all things, and through (the medium of) Thy Own Self which will continue existing when all things will pass away (case to exist), and through (the medium of) Thy Names (attributes) which manifest Thy Power over all things, and through (the medium of) Thy Knowledge which pervades all things, and through the glory of Thy Person which illuminates all things. O Thou (who art) the Light, O Thou (who art) the most Holy, O Thou who existeth before the foremost things (from time without beginning), O Thou who shalt exist after the last things will cease to exist (Thou art Eternal - no beginning and no end). O my Lord! Forgive my such sins as would disgrace virtue; O my Lord! Forgive my such sins as would bring down retribution (from the Heavens); O my Lord! Forgive my such sins as would change prosperity and happiness (into afflictions and sorrows); O my Lord! Forgive my such sins as would intercept my invocations and prayers; O my Lord! Forgive my such sins as would suppress hope; O my Lord! Forgive my such sins as would bring down afflictions; O my Lord! Forgive all the sins that I have committed and all the vices that I am guilty of. O my Lord! I endeavour to achieve Thy favour through Thy praises and invocations to Thee; I pray to Thee to intercede Thyself on my behalf; I entreat of Thy benevolence to grant me Thy nearness; to bestow on me the quality of feeling (truly) grateful to Thee and to inspire me to keep on remembering and invoking Thee, O my Lord! I entreat Thee begging submissively, humbly and meekly to treat me mercifully, to take pity on me, to make me contented, satisfied and pleased with what is allotted to me by Thee, and to keep me gentle and modest in all circumstances (n all phases of life). Lord! I beg of Thee as one who is passing through extreme privations and in his misery supplicates his needs to Thee, and (as one) whose cravings are great for the things which are Thin, Lord! Great is Thy Kingdom, exalted is Thy Place, inscrutable are Thy ways, evident is Thy Authority, Overwhelming is Thy Might, ever-operating (acting) is Thy Power and no escape is possible from Thy Domain. Lord! Except Thee I do not find any one (so kind as) to pardon my sins, to conceal my degradations (despicable actions) and who converts my bad action into good. There is no God but Thou, Glory and Praise be to Thee, I have harmed myself (by foul deeds), I have boldly taken to sins and vices as I was ignorant (of Thy wrath and Power) and confident of my past prayers and invocations and Thy (constant) favours on me (which I took for granted). My God! O my Lord! How many of my vices hast Thou covered (from public gaze); how many calamities (descending upon me) hast Thou reduced the severity of; how many of my mistakes hast Thou corrected; how many misfortunes hast Thou averted (from me); how many elegant praises hast Thou allowed to be propagated about me which I did not merit: O my Lord! My trials and misfortunes are great, and my sorrows and sufferings are intense, and my good deeds are few, and my manacles (liabilities and responsibilities) life heavy upon me, and inordinate (remote) desires keep me away even from lawful gains, the world has deceived me with its vanities, and my mind has deceived me with dishonesty and procrastination, and not to disgrace me by exposing my (hidden) sins and vices of which Thou hast knowledge. Therefore my Lord I implore thee in the name of Thy Might not to let my sins and vices hinder my prayers from access to Thy realm, and do not hasten Thy retribution for the vices I have committed secretly and which were due to evil-mindedness, sinfulness, ignorance, lustfulness and negligence. So my Lord (I crave Thee) for the sake of Thy Might be merciful, compassionate unto me, under all circumstances and in all affairs, O my God and my sustainer! Whom I have other than Thee can I turn in my  hour of afflictions to relieve me of my sorrows and to put my affairs in order? My God! My Master! Thy commandments came into force for me (to obey) but I followed (evil) intentions of my (warped) mind, and I heeded not (those commandments) on account of allurements staged by my enemy who deceived me through my passions (evil desires), and my ill luck also favoured him (my enemy) in this, thus I transgressed some of the bonds set by Thee (for human freedom and I disobeyed some of Thy commands. Praise be to Thee, my Lord! Thou hast proof against me in all these matters, and I have no pretence ever to protest against Thy Judgment and Thy Orders and afflictions (sent down upon me by Thee). I have come to Thee my Lord after having committed the sins of omission and commission against myself apologetic, repentant, broken-hearted, imploring forgiveness, begging pardon (for my sins), confessing (my vices), submissive and admitting (my faults); I see no escape from that which has been done by me, and I find no refuge to which I may turn except that Thou mayest (kindly) accept my excuse (plea), and allow me to enter the realm of Thy Mercy. O my Lord! Accept my apology, and have pity on my intense sufferings, and set me free from the strong fetters (put on by me evil deeds). Lord! have mercy on the weakness of my body, and on the tenderness of my skin and on the brittleness of my bones. O Thou! Who originated my creation (and then) granted me fame and honour, (Who) arranged for my upbringing and ensured my welfare and made provisions for my food, as Thou hast been generous to me from the very beginning of my life, please continue Thy Favours and Blessings as before. O my God! My Lord! O my sustainer! Wilt Thou see me punished in Thy hell after I have faithfully believed in Thy oneness, and when my heart has been truly and loyally filled with knowledge about Three, and when my tongue has persistently praised Thee and repeated Thy name, and I have conscientiously, and constantly loved Thee, and after sincere confessions (of my sins and vices) and after the moving and humble entreaties made by me, submitting myself to Thy Divinity? No, my Lord! such an action is far from Thy Magnanimity, Thou art far too kind and generous to lay waste the one whom Thou hast nourished, sustained and supported, or drive away from Thyself the one whom Thou hast favoured with Thy Nearness, or to scare away one whom Thou hast given shelter, or to abandon one to afflictions and trials whom Thou hast protected and hast shown Kindness and Mercy. O my Master! My God and my Lord! I can never believe that Thou wilt empower the fire (of hell) to burn faces which have submissively bowed in prostration before Thy Greatness, and Thou wilt burn in the fire of hell) the tongues which have sincerely declared Thy oneness and have been always thankful (for Kindness and Mercy), and (Thou wilt permit the fires of hell to consume) the hearts which have acknowledged Thy Divinity with conviction, and (Thou wilt allow to be cremated in hell) the minds which have gathered such knowledge about Thee as to feel humble and submissive before Thee, and (Thou wilt consent to consumption by fire in hell) of bodies whose endeavours, wherever they lived, were directed towards obedience and service to Thee and which have exerted themselves with deserving humility to seek Thy Forgiveness; such an attitude can never be expected of Thee (O my God), nor Thy Kindness and Grace will allow me to hold such a belief, O Generous One! O Lord! Thou art aware of my weakness to bear ever minor afflications and calamities of this world or their consequences, and also of adversities which behalf men inhabiting this world, though all those trials and afflictions are momentary, short lived and transient. (Lord!) How can I bear the retributions and the punishments of the hereafter which are enormous and of intensive sufferings, of prolonged period or of perpetual duration, and which shall never never be reduced or alleviated for those who deserve these punishments; because those retributions will be the result of Thy wrath, Thy punishment and Thy anger which neither the heavens nor the earth can withstand and bear, O my Lord how can I, a weak, insignificant, humble, poor and a destitute creature of Thine (bear them)? O my God, my Lord, my Kind and my Master! About how many things shall I complain to Thee and about how many shall I bewail and weep; about the pain and pangs of punishment and its intensity or about the prolongation of sufferings and their duration. Because (my Lord!) if Thou wilt submit me to the penalties (of Hell) together with Thy enemies and cast me with those who deserved those punishments, and if Thou wilt separate me from Thy friends and from those who love Thee, I realise that Thou hast the right to do so, but my God, my Lord and my Master! (please let me submit that) though I may patiently bear Thy punishments, how can I calmly accept the separation from Thee (Thy Grace and Mercy)? (and) please Lord, let me submit that though I may patiently endure the scorching fire of Thy hell, yet how can I resign myself to the denial of Thy pity and clemency; how can I remain in the fire (of hell) while I have hopes of Thy Forgiveness? Truly do I swear by my honour, O my Lord and O my Master! that, if Thou wilt allow my power of speech to be retained by me, I will, from amongst the inmates (of the hell), cry out unto Three with the cry of those who have faith in Thy Kindness and Compassion, and I shall loudly beseech Thee for help and mercy with the voice of those who shriek for succour, and I shall lament like hose who are desperately in need of Thy help, and I shall keep on calling unto Thee: "Where art Thou, O Guardian of the believers! O (Thou who art) the last hope and resort of those who have faith in Thy Clemency and Kindness; O the Helper of those who seek Thy help! O (Thou who art) dear to the hearts of those who truly believe in Thee! and O (Thou who art) Lord of the Universe". Seest Thou my plight O my Lord! Glory and Praise be unto thee, Thou wilt be hearing from inside hell the voice of thy humble creature (myself) who is thrown in there in punishment for his disobedience and who tastes the chastisements (of hell) for his sins, and who is confined within its layers because of his crimes and vices, and who cries to Thee (my Lord) with the voice of one who has faith in Thy mercy and calls out to Thee in the language of those who believe in Thy Oneness and who seeks Thy Grace and Help (with a firm belief) in Thy Authority and Lordship. O My Lord! How could he remain in the abode of chastisement who puts his confidence in Thy past Forbearance and Clemency? How could the fire of hell hurt him who has hope in Thy Kindness and Compassion? How could the flames of hell burn anybody while Thou hearest his voice and seest his plight? How could the roaring (fires) of hell terrify anyone whose weaknsses Thou art aware of? How can he, whose sincerity is known to Thee, be tossed into the layers of hell? How can the flames of hell torture him who keeps on calling Thee as his Lord? How is it possible that while a person has faith in Thy Kindness and Mercy to set him free from the hell, Thou shouldst abandon him there? No my Lord! nobody can believe Three to be thus, neither Thy Grace ha such a reputation; nor hast Thou through Goodness and Clemency ever dealt in this way with those who had faith in Thy Unity. I am positively certain (my Lord) that hadst Thou not ordained punishment for those who disbelieve in Thee, and hadst Thou not decreed Thy enemies to remain forever in hell, Thou wouldst have turned the fire of hell cold and pleasant, and it (the burning and blazing hell) would never have become an abode of or a halting place for any one. But, sanctified be Thy names, Thou hast sworn to fill hell with all the disbelievers from amongst the Jinns and mankind and to throw in it (hell) all Thy enemies (and to keep them there) forever. Thou, exalted be Thy Praise, hath said in the beginning and, out of Thy Generosity and Kindness, hath come to the generous decision that faithful followers (of Thy Orders) can never be treated) like those who are sinners. My Lord! My Master! I, therefore, implore Thee by that Power and Might which Thou possesseth and by that faith of Thine (not to treat alike the good and bad) which thou hast finalised and ordained and thereby hath over-powered those upon whom Thou hast imposed it, to forgive tonight and during this very hour all the transgressions that I am guilty of, all the sins that I have committed, all the vices that I have kept secret and all the evil deeds that I have done, which I may have done secretly, and which I may have tried to keep hidden or may have committed publicly, and all my evil actions that Thou hast ordered the two immaculate (and accurate) Scribes to not down, they are appointed by Three to keep a correct record of all of my actions and to act, along with the limbs of my body, as witnesses to all of my doings, and beside them all Thou (my Lord) doest keep a watch over me; and Thou knowest the things which have been hidden from them, but hast through Thy Mercy kept my vices secret (from every body) and through Thy Kindness drawn a curtain over them; and (I pray to Thee my Lord) to increase my share in all the good that thou doest bestow; and all the favours that Thou doest grant, all the virtues that Thou doest allow to be known every-where; all the sustenance and livelihood that Thou doest distribute (in greater and greater quantities); all the sins that Thou doest forgive and all the vices that Thou doest cover up. O Lord! O Lord! O Lord! O my God! My Lord! my King! O Master of my freedom! O Thou! Who holdeth my destiny and art aware of my sufferings and my poverty, O Thou! Who knoweth my destitution and starvation, O Lord! O Lord! O Lord! I beseech Thee by Thy Glory and Thy Honour, by Thy Supremely high attributes and Thy Names to make me busy day and night with Thy Remembrance, engaged in serving Thee (Thy Cause) and to let my deeds be acceptable to Thee, so much so that all my actions and offerings (prayers) may be transformed into one continuous and sustained effort and my life may take the form of constant and perpetual service to Thee (Thy Cause). O My Master! O Thou! On Whom I rely, O Thou! Unto Whom I supplicate about (the miseries) and sufferings of) my life. O my Lord! my Lord! my Lord! Strengthen my limbs for Thy service and sustain my strength and perseverance to continue it. (Lord) Grant me that I may continuously endeavour to keep Thy fear (in my mind) and to be occupied constantly in Thy service, till I can successfully compete (with those striving) to reach Thee (Thy Grace) faster and quicker than the ones who are in the first rank; and I may hasten with those who eagerly surge to be near Thee, so that I may be as close to Thee as those sincere ones who have attained Thy Nearness, and I may keep on fearing Thee like those sincere believers who constantly keep thy fear in their minds and thus I may join the assemblage of the faithfuls (gathered) near Thee. O Allah, (please) let ill befall on him who wishes me ill. (please) bring distress to him who plots against me, and assign unto me a place in Thy Presence with the best of Thy servants whose place is nearest to Three, for verily that position cannot be attained except through Thy Favour. Lord! please treat me benevolently and through Thy Greatness extend Thy Favour towards me, and through Thy Mercy protect me and let my tongue be constantly busy in Thy Remembrance and let my heart be filled with Thy Love, and be kind to me with Gracious acceptance (of my service and prayers), and weaken the force and intensity of my vices and forgive my evil doings. For verily, Thou hast ordained that Thy creatures should obey Thee and hast bidden them to pray unto Thee and hast assure them of a favourable response. So, my Lord! I have fixed my gaze upon Thee and my Lord! I have extended my hands (in supplications) towards Thee. Therefore for sake of Thy Might accept my prayers and allow me to attain my objective; and by Thy Favour (I implore Thee) do not frustrate my hopes, and thoroughly to protect me from the enmity and malice of my foes, from among the Jinns and mankind. O Thou Who art readily pleased! Forgive one  who possesses nothing but prayers, verily They doest what Tou wilt. O Thou! Whose name is the remedy (for all ills) and Whose Remembrance is a sure cure for all ailments, and Whose Obedience will make one independent of all, have Mercy on one whose only asset is his hop (in Thy Kindness and Mercy) and whose only armament is supplication to Thee. O Thou! Who bestoweth cure and happiness, Who granteth remedy and blessings and Who wardeth off misfortunes, O Light! Who illuminateth those who are in darkness (of sins and sorrows), O Omniscient! Who knoweth without (acquisition of) learning, bless Muhammad and descendends of Muhammad and do that unto me which befitteth Thee (Thy Mercy, Kindness and Grace) And my Lord! bless Muhammad and the blessed Imams amongst his descendents and bestow upon them peace and tranquilities to the utmost extent that Thou canst. 
 

 

Fatima Zahra, the daughter of the Prophet is to have thus related: My father, the Prophet of Allah, came to my house one day and said to me:  "Peace be on you. O Fatima."  

I replied: "And upon you be peace." He said: " I feel weakness in my body. "I said: "May Allah protect you from weakness, O my father." He said: "O Fatima, please bring the vestment of Yemen and cover me with it." Then I looked at him and saw that his face was shining like the full moon in its full glory and splendour. After a while, my son Hasan came in and said: "Peace be upon you, my mother." I replied: "And upon you be peace, O light of my eyes and the happiness of my heart. "He then said: "Mother, I smell a fragrance so sweet and pure, as that of my grandfather, the Prophet of Allah." I replied: "Yes, indeed. Your grandfather is lying underneath the vestment." Hasan went near the vestment and said: "Peace be upon you, my grandfather, the Prophet of Allah. Do you permit me to enter the vestment with you?" He replied: "And upon you be peace, my son and the master of my fountain. I do give you permission to enter."  

After a while my son Hussein came in and said: "Peace be upon you, my mother." I replied: "And upon you be peace, O light of my eyes and happiness of my heart." He then said" "Mother, I smell a fragrance sweet and pure as that of my grandfather, the Prophet of Allah." I replied: "Yes, indeed. Your grandfather and your brother are lying underneath the vestment." Hussein advanced toward the vestment and said: "Peace be upon you, O my grandfather, the chosen of Allah. Do you allow me to enter the vestment with both of you?" he replied: "And upon you be peace, my son and intercessor of my followers. I give you permission." So Hussein entered the vestment with them. After a while, Abdul Hasan Ali son of Abu Talib, came in and said: "Peace be on you, O daughter of the Prophet of Allah." I replied: "And upon you be peace, O father of Hasan and commander of the faithful." He then said: "O Fatima, I smell a sweet fragrance which is like of my brother and cousin, the Prophet of Allah." I replied: "Yes, he is underneath the vestment with both your sons." Ali went near the vestment and said: "Peace be on you, O Prophet of Allah, May I enter the vestment with you?" He replied: "And upon you be peace, my brother, my legatee, my successor and my standard bearer. I give you permission to enter." So Ali entered the vestment with them. Then I said" "Peace be upon you, my father, O Prophet of Allah. Do you permit me to enter the vestment with all of you?"  He replied: "And upon you be peace, my daughter, O part of myself. I give you permission to enter." So I entered the vestment. When all of us had gathered together under the vestment, my father, the Prophet, held the two ends of the vestment and raised his right hand towards Heaven and prayed: O Allah, these are the people of my Household (Ahle Bait) and very specially my own and my protectors. They are of my own flesh and of my own blood. Whoever gives them trouble, gives me trouble too. Whoever makes them unhappy, makes me unhappy, I am at war with those who are at war with them. I am at peace with those who are at peace with them. I am the enemy of those who are at enmity with them. I am the friend of those who befriend them. Indeed they are from me and I am from them. Therefore, send Thy Blessings, Mercy, Forgiveness and Pleasure upon me and upon them. Also, remove my blemish from them and keep impurity away from them as is justified."  

Then Allah, the Majestic, the Glorified, spoke (to the angels), "O my angels and the residents of My Heavens. Verily, I have not created the raised sky, the spread earth, the illuminated moon, the bright sun, the rotating universe, the flowing seas, and the sailing ships, but in love of the five souls lying underneath the vestment." Angel Gabriel, the trusted one, asked Allah" "O Lord, who are underneath the vestment?"  

Allah, the Majestic, the Glorified, answered: "They are the household of the Prophet and the mine of prophethood, viz: Fatima, his daughter, her husband and her (two) sons." 

Angel Gabriel then said, "O Lord, may I go to the earth to be the sixth of them?" Allah replied: "Yes, I give you permission to do so." Gabriel, the trusted, came to the earth and said: "Peace be upon you, O Prophet of Allah. The Exalted conveys His peace upon you and His salutation and swears by His Honour and Glory that He has not created the raid sky, the spread earth, the illuminated moon, the bright sun, the rotating universe, the flowing seas, and the sailing ships, but for your sake and in love of you. He has given me permission to enter the vestment with you. Do you also allow me to enter?"  

The Prophet replied: "And upon you be peace O you who are trusted with the revelations of Allah. Yes, I grant you permission to enter." 

So Gabriel entered the vestment with us and said to my father that indeed Allah has sent this revelation to him: "Verily, Allah desires to remove all blemish from you, O Ahle Bait and purify you with complete purgation." Then Ali asked my father" O Prophet of Allah, what significance does Allah attach to this event of our gathering underneath the vestment?" 

The Prophet replied: "I swear by Him who appointed me a prophet and chose me a trustworthy messenger, that no assembly - wherever this event is narrated by our followers and devotees - shall remain without the Mercy of Allah upon them, and the angels will ask Allah for the remission of their sins till the assembly has dispersed."  

Ali exclaimed: "I swear by Allah, Lord of Ka'aba, we have succeeded and our followers have succeeded, too."  

Again the Prophet said: "I swear by Him who appointed me a Prophet and chose me a trustworthy messenger that in any of the assemblies on earth in which our followers and friends have gathered and in which this event is narrated, there shall remain non grievous as Allah will remove his grief; there shall be none distressed as Allah will dispel his distress; and whosoever seeks fulfillment of a whish, Allah will grant them their wish."  

Ali then said: "Verily, by Allah, we have succeeded and become happy, so also our followers have succeeded and become happy in this world as well as in the next world, by the Lord of the Ka'aba."