Supplicatory Utterances of the Thanksgiving Prostration

Text and Translation

In some considerable reference books, it is reported that Imam Ali Ameer al-Momineen (a.s.) said: The most favorite words to Almighty Allah is that when a servant (of Him) prostrates himself, he should repeat this statement three times.

In the book of al-Ja’fariyyat, it is recorded through an authentic chain of authority that Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) quoted the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) used to say when he placed his face on the ground for prostration.

al-Qutb al-Rawandi has reported Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) to have said: Whenever an ordeal or agony afflict or accumulate against you, you may prostrate on the ground and say.

Ibn Baabwayh, through a valid chain of authority, reports Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) as saying: When a servant repeats this supplicatory prayer three times while prostrating, the Blessed and Exalted Lord will answer him, “Here I am to respond to you, My servant! Ask for what you need.”

In the book of Makarem al-Akhlaaq, it is recorded that when a servant prostrates himself and repeats this supplicatory prayer all in one breath, the Blessed and Exalted Lord will answer him, “Here I am to respond to you. What do you need?”

In the book of Makarim al-Akhlaq too, Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) is reported to have related that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) passed by a prostrating man and could hear him saying this supplicatory prayer. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said to him, “Raise your head. Your prayer has been responded. You have just prayed Allah with the supplicatory prayer of a prophet who lived among the people of ‘Ad.”

Mentioning the thanksgiving prostration, Shaykh al-Tusi, in his book of Misbah al-Mutahajjid, says that it is recommended to pray for one’s brothers-in-faith while prostrating.

Duas of Sajdah al-Shukr

Any of these may be said in the thanksgiving prostration.

Imam al-Reza (a.s.) instructed to repeat 100 times:

شُكْرًا شُكْرًا.

SHUKRAN SHUKRAN

Thanks Thanks

One may also repeat the following word one hundred times:

عَفْوًا عَفْوًا.

A’FWAN A’FWAN

Pardon Pardon.

Imam al-Reza (a.s.) also used to repeat 100 times:

حَمْدًا لِلّٰهِ.

HAMDAN LILLAAH.

All praise be to Allah.

When you prostrate, you may say:

يَا رَبَّ الْاَرْبَابِ وَيَا مَلِكَ الْمُلُوْكِ وَيَا سَيِّدَ السَّادَاتِ وَيَا جَبَّارَ الْجَبَابِرَةِ وَيَا اِلٰهَ الْاٰلِهَةِ صَلِّ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَّاٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ.

YAA RABBAL ARBAABE WA YAA MALEKAL MOLOOKE WA YAA SAYYEDAS SAADAATE WA YAA JABBAARAL JABAABERATE WA YAA ELAAHAL AALAHATE SALLE A’LAA MOHAMMADINW WA AALE MOHAMMADIN.

O Lord of lords, O King of kings, O Master of masters, O Subduer of tyrants, and O God of gods, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad.

You may now pray Him to grant you your request.

After that, you may say:

فَاِنِّىْ عَبْدُكَ نَاصِيَتِىْ فِىْ قَبْضَتِكَ.

FA-INNEE A’BDOUKA NAASEYATEE FEE QABZATEKA.

For I am indeed Your servant; my forelock is in Your grasp.

You may then pray Almighty Allah, for He is forgiver of all sins and no problem is unsolvable for Him.

Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) heard his father say in prostration, in a tender tone:

سُبْحَانَكَ اللّٰهُمَّ اَنْتَ رَبِّى حَقًّا حَقًّا سَجَدْتُ لَكَ يَا رَبِّ تَعَبُّدًا وَّرِقًّا اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنَّ عَمَلِىْ ضَعِيْفٌ فَضَاعِفْهُ لِىْ اَللّٰهُمَّ قِنِىْ عَذَابَكَ يَوْمَ تَبْعَثُ عِبَادَكَ وَتُبْ عَلَىَّ اِنَّكَ اَنْتَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيْمُ.

SUBHAANAKAL LAAHUMMA ANTA RABBEE HAQQAN HAQQAN SAJADTO LAKA YAA RABBE TA-A’BBODANW WA RIQQAN ALLAAHUMMA INNA A’MALEE ZA-E’EFUN FA-ZAA-I’FHO LEE ALLAAHUMMA QENEE A’ZAABAKA YAWMA TAB-A’SO E’BAADAKA WA TUB A’LAYYA INNAKA ANTAT TAWWAABUR RAHEEMO.

Glory be to You, O Allah, You are my Lord, truly, truly. I have prostrated to You, my Lord, in worship and servitude. O Allah, indeed my deeds are weak, so multiply them for me. O Allah, protect me from Your punishment on the Day You resurrect Your servants, and turn towards me in forgiveness, for indeed You are the Oft-Returning, the Most Merciful.

Imam al-Kazim (a.s.) used to say while prostrating:

اَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ نَّارٍ حَرُّهَا لَا يُطْفٰى وَاَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ نَّارٍ جَدِيْدُهَا لَا يَبْلٰى وَاَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ نَّارٍ عَطْشَانُهَا لَا يُرْوٰى وَاَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ نَّارٍ مَسْلُوْبُهَا لَا يُكْسٰى.

A-O’OZO BEKA MIN NAARIN HARROHAA LAA YUTFAA WA A-O’OZO BEKA MIN NAARIN JADEEDOHAA LAA YABLAA WA A-O’OZO BEKA MIN NAARIN A’TSHAANOHAA LAA YURWAA WA A-O’OZO BEKA MIN NAARIN MASLOOBOHAA LAA YUKSAA.

I seek refuge in You from a Fire whose heat is never extinguished, and I seek refuge in You from a Fire whose newness never fades, and I seek refuge in You from a Fire whose thirsty one is never quenched, and I seek refuge in You from a Fire whose despoiled one is never clothed.

In the thanksgiving prostration after all obligatory prayers, you may say (for an ailment):

يَا رَؤُوْفُ يَا رَحِيْمُ،يَا رَبِّ يَا سَيِّدِىْ.

YAA RA-OOFO YAA RAHEEMO YAA RABBE YAA SAYYEDEE.

O Most Compassionate, O Most Merciful, O Lord, O my Master.

You may then pray Him to grant you your request.

Imam al-Sadiq and Imam al-Kazim (a.s.) very frequently said in the thanksgiving prostration:

اَسْاَلُكَ الرَّاحَةَ عِنْدَ الْمَوْتِ وَالْعَفْوَ عِنْدَ الْحِسَابِ.

AS-ALOKAR RAAHATA I’NDAL MAWTE WAL A’FWA I’NDAL HESAABE.

I ask You for comfort at the time of death and pardon at the time of reckoning.

Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) used to say when he prostrated:

سَجَدَ وَجْهِىَ اللَّئِيْمُ لِوَجْهِ رَبِّىَ الْكَرِيْمِ.

SAJADA WAJHEYAL LA-EEMO LE-WAJHE RABBEYAL KAREEME.

My lowly face has prostrated to the Noble Face of my Lord.

In prostration, repeat 3 times:

اِنِّىْ ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِىْ فَاغْفِرْ لِىْ.

INNEE ZALAMTO NAFSEE FAGHFIR LEE.

Indeed, I have wronged myself, so forgive me.

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) used to say when placing his face on the ground for prostration:

اَللّٰهُمَّ مَغْفِرَتُكَ اَوْسَعُ مِنْ ذُنُوْبِىْ وَرَحْمَتُكَ اَرْجىٰ عِنْدِىْ مِنْ عَمَلِىْ فَاغْفِرْ لِىْ ذُنُوْبِىْ يَا حَيًّا لَا يَمُوْتُ.

ALLAAHUMMA MAGHFERATOKA AW-SA-O’ MIN ZONOOBEE WA RAHMATOKA ARJAA I’NDEE MIN A’MALEE FAGHFIR LEE ZONOOBEE YAA HAYYAN LAA YAMOOTO.

O Allah, Your forgiveness is vaster than my sins, and Your mercy is more hopeful to me than my deeds, so forgive my sins, O Ever-Living Who never dies.

When an ordeal or agony afflicts you, prostrate on the ground and say:

يَا مُذِلَّ كُلِّ جَبَّارٍ يَا مُعِزَّ كُلِّ ذَلِيْلٍ قَدْ وَحَقِّكَ بَلَغَ مَجْهُوْدِىْ فَصَلِّ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَّاٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَّفَرِّجْ عَنِّىْ.

YAA MOZILLA KULLE JABBAARIN YAA MO-I’ZZA KULLE ZALEELIN QAD WA HAQQEKA BALAGHA MAJ-HOODEE FASALLE A’LAA MOHAMMADINW WA AALE MOHAMMADINW WA FARRIJ A’NNEE.

O Humiliator of every tyrant, O Honorer of every lowly one. By Your right, my patience and effort have reached their limit; so bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, and grant me relief.

In the book of ‘Uddat al-Daaee, Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) is reported to have said, “Anyone who is afflicted by a disaster, a misfortune, or a tribulation may bare his knees and arms to the elbows and stick them, as well as his chest, to the ground and supplicate for the settlement of his problem.”

While prostrating, repeat 3 times:

يَا اَللّٰهُ يَا رَبَّاهُ‏ يَا سَيَّدَاهُ.

YAA ALLAAHO YAA RABBAAHO YAA SAYYEDAAHO.

O Allah, O Lord, O Master.

Or, while prostrating, repeat in one breath:

يَا رَبَّاهُ يَا سَيَّدَاهُ.

YAA RABBAAHO YAA SAYYEDAAHO.

O Lord, O Master.

Say this dua of a prophet of the people of ‘Ad:

يَا رَبِّ مَا ذَا عَلَيْكَ اَنْ تُرْضِىَ عَنِّىْ كُلَّ مَنْ كَانَ لَهٗ عِنْدِىْ تَبِعَةٌ وَاَنْ تَغْفِرَ لِىْ ذُنُوْبِىْ وَاَنْ تُدْخِلَنِىْ الْجَنَّةَ بِرَحْمَتِكَ فَاِنَّمَا عَفْوُكَ عَنِ الظَّالِمِيْنَ وَاَنَا مِنَ الظَّالِمِيْنَ فَلْتَسَعْنِىْ رَحْمَتُكَ يَا اَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِيْنَ.

YAA RABBE MAA ZAA A’LAYKA AN TURZEYA A’NNEE KULLA MAN KAANA LAHU1 I’NDEE TABE-A’TUN WA AN TAGHFERA LEE ZONOOBEE WA AN TUDKHELANIL JANNATA BERAHMATEKA FA-INNAMAA A’FWOKA A’NIZ ZAALEMEENA WA ANA MENAZ ZAALEMEENA FAL-TASA’-NEE RAHMATOKA YAA ARHAMAR RAAHEMEENA.

O my Lord, what would it cost You to satisfy everyone who has a claim against me, to forgive me for my sins, and to admit me into Paradise by Your mercy? For indeed, Your pardon is for the wrongdoers, and I am among the wrongdoers; so let Your mercy encompass me, O Most Merciful of the merciful.

Dua for Brothers in Faith

While prostrating, pray for your brothers in faith:

اَللّٰهُمَّ رَبَّ الْفَجْرِ وَاللَّيَالِى الْعَشْرِ

ALLAAHUMMA RABBAL FAJRE WAL LAYAALIL A’SHRE

O Allah, Lord of the dawn and the ten nights,

وَالشَّفْعِ وَالْوَتْرِ

WASH SHAF-E’ WAL WATRE

And the even and the odd,

وَاللَّيْلِ اِذَا يَسْرِ

WAL LAYLE EZAA YASRE

And the night when it departs,

وَرَبَّ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ

WA RABBA KULLE SHAY-IN

And the Lord of everything,

وَاِلٰهَ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ

WA ELAAHA KULLE SHAY-IN

And the God of everything,

وَخَالِقَ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ

WA KHAALEQA KULLE SHAY-IN

And the Creator of everything,

وَمَلِكَ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ

WA MALEKA KULLE SHAY-IN

And the King of everything,

صَلِّ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَّاٰلِهٖ

SALLE A’LAA MOHAMMADINW WA AALEHI

Bless Muhammad and his family,

وَافْعَلْ بِىْ وَبِفُلَانٍ وَفُلَانٍ مَا اَنْتَ اَهْلُهٗ

WAF A’L BEE WA BE-FOLAANIN WA FOLAANIN MAA ANTA AHLOHU

And do for me and for [so-and-so] and [so-and-so] what You are worthy of,

وَلَا تَفْعَلْ بِنَا مَا نَحْنُ اَهْلُهٗ

WA LAA TAF-A’L BENAA MAA NAHNO AHLOHU

And do not do to us what we are deserving of,

فَاِنَّكَ اَهْلُ التَّقْوٰى وَاَهْلُ الْمَغْفِرَةِ.

FA-INNAKA AHLUT TAQWAA WA AHLUL MAGHFERATE.

For indeed, You are the Source of Piety and the Source of Forgiveness.

Wiping the Face after Sajdah

Once you raise your head from prostration, you may pass your hand over the place of prostration and then pass it on your right cheek, forehead, and left cheek respectively three times, repeating each time the following supplicatory prayer:

اَللّٰهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ

ALLAAHUMMA LAKAL HAMDO

O Allah, for You is all praise.

لَا اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اَنْتَ

LAA ELAAHA ILLAA ANTA

There is no god but You,

عَالِمُ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ

A’ALEMUL GHAYBE WASH SHAHAADATIR

the Knower of the unseen and the seen,

الرَّحْمٰنُ الرَّحِيْمُ

RAHMAANUR RAHEEMO

the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.

اَللّٰهُمَّ اَذْهِبْ عَنِّى الْهَمَّ وَالْحَزَنَ

ALLAAHUMMA AZHIB A’NNIL HAMMA WAL HAZANA

O Allah, take away from me anxiety and grief,

وَالْغِيَرَ وَالْفِتَنَ

WAL GHEYARA WAL FETANA

and misfortunes and tribulations,

مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ.

MAA ZAHARA MINHAA WA MAA BATANA.

those which are apparent and those which are hidden.