Published on Books on Islam and Muslims | Al-Islam.org (http://www.al-islam.org) Home > Commentary On Kumayl Supplication Commentary On Kumayl Supplication Log in [1] or register [2] to post comments This book presents a detailed commentary- phrase by phrase- of Dua (Supplication of ) Kumayl taught to the esteemed companion Kumayl ibn Ziyad by Imam Ali (AS). Author(s): ● Allama Husayn Ansariyan [3] Translator(s): ● Hamideh Elahinia [4] Publisher(s): ● Ansariyan Publications - Qum [5] Category: ● Imam Ali [6] ● Supplications [7] Topic Tags: ● Dua Kumayl [8] Featured Category: ● Spirituality [9] Person Tags: ● Kumayl Ibn Ziyad [10] ● Imam Ali [11] Publisher’s Foreword Supplication (du’a') is man’s dialogue with his Lord and the connecting rope between the creature and his Creator. Intellectual scholars consider du’a’ to be practical compliance with monotheism. This can be particularly evidenced through the Prophets and the Ahl al-Bayt (as) who have given considerable importance to du’a’. The Supplication of Kumayl (or Du’a’ Kumayl) establishes itself as one of the most significant supplications and is regarded as a resource of Divine salvation, since it interweaves paramount mystical contents. Thus, it has been referred to as the ‘source of all supplications’. According to reliable narratives, Du’a’ Kumayl’s origin is divine; it was the words of al- Khadhir spoken by our master and the commander of the believers, Imam ‘Ali ibn Abi-Talib (as). Owing to this fact, Du’a’ Kumayl has occupied a salient rank in the view of the Household of the Prophet (SAWW) who have shown it considerable importance. In view of that, the Du’a’ Kumayl is looked at as a reflective school that contains significant spiritual and humanitarian issues of man’s everyday activities. The well-versed professor, Shaykh Husayn Ansariyan, has undertaken the mission of annotating and commenting on this magnificent supplication, and he has actually excelled in this field since he has interpreted it using reliable Muslim references in addition to including a thoughtful attachment to this noble supplication. His one and only aim has been to increase awareness of the words and significances of this supplication in the conscience and perception of man. As a result, the commentaries of this scholar have been based upon fundamentals derived from the Holy Qur'an, reliable narrations, and mystical knowledge. Based on the commentator’s spiritual and sentimental connection with this noble supplication, his commentaries are full of knowledge, perception, and enlightened insight. Presenting this wonderful book to the dear readers, the Ansariyan Publications hopes that the seekers of knowledge and Islamic education will find it to be a window of detecting the features of this noble supplication. Ansariyan Publications Holy Qum - Iran Author’s Preface At age eleven, I would attend a religious session during holy nights of Ramadhan, along with my father. In that session, the late Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Lali Zari, who was a reverend scholar, would enlighten people with an eloquent speech. He would also recite the holy supplication of Kumayl in the darkness of Thursday nights, with eyes filled with tears, heart pierced and a tone so divine. No one attended that session except those who were greatly impressed by the supplication of Kumayl combined with the effective tenor of the late Ayatollah. Like other aspirants, I, too, was attracted to this great supplication through his warm tone; a supplication which has come from the heart of the Commander of the Believers in order to purify people’s souls and urge the sinners for repentance. I managed to memorize this supplication three days after I had heard it for the first time. And then, I recited it on Thursday nights for my family members or friends. Sometime after my coming to Qom Seminary for studying theology, I began preaching, by Allah’s Mercy. I felt it necessary to recite Kumayl supplication in my Thursday night sessions which after some time got very popular throughout Iran as well as abroad and people attended them eagerly. Some people obtained spiritual benefits from the sessions too. On the auspicious night of Imam ‘Ali’s (as) birthday, Hujjat Al-Islam Rahimian prompted me to write a commentary on the supplication, so that people could engage in it more profoundly and take part in the Kumayl sessions with more insight. I finally managed to write a commentary on the holy Kumayl supplication and now it is up to the readers to benefit from it. Finally I should appreciate the assistance of my friends in the research section of Dar Al- ‘Irfan Publications, who have edited and prepared the work for being published. Husayn Ansariyan Note from Translator All Praise is to Allah, Lord of the worlds, Who destined me to translate this sacred du’a’ into English. Kumayl’s Supplication is one of the most glorious Islamic du’a’s which is resorted to, by the believers, for the forgiveness of sins, increase in sustenance, and protection against enemies. It contains numerous rich meanings and heavenly themes that requires to be explained in order to be understood thoroughly. I sincerely dedicate this miniscule attempt of introducing Islamic teachings throughout the world to the holy presence of Prophet Muhammad (S), peace be upon him and his pure progeny, who endured numerous hardships for the growth of Islam. The challenges of translating texts in general and the demanding translation of Islamic works in particular are quite obvious. It requires a deep native-like knowledge of the English language combined with a moderate understanding of Islamic themes. I hope my effort in trying to convey the message has not been in vain. Thus, I greatly need the sincere comments from the readers, both natives and non-natives of English, on the quality of the work. It will be very kind of you to send me messages either to Ansariyan Publication’s mailing address or my own email address at [email protected] [12]. Hamideh Elahinia Du’a’ (supplication) in a Glance Du’a’ is the expression of deprivation to the One. Du’a’ is the pronunciation of poverty to the Eternal Absolute. Du’a’ is seeking assistance of the powerless from the All-Powerful. Du’a’ is the demonstration of humility to the Omnipotent. Du’a’ is loved by the Almighty, and is dear to the mystic and the miserable. Du’a’ in the Holy Qur’an The Almighty, who is the Revealer of knowledge and wisdom, states in His Qur’an: ﻗُﻞْ ﻣَﺎ ﻳَﻌْﺒَﺄُ ﺑِﻜُﻢْ رَﺑِّﻲ ﻟَﻮْﻻ دُﻋَﺎؤُﻛُﻢْ ﻓَﻘَﺪْ ﻛَﺬَّﺑْﺘُﻢْ ﻓَﺴَﻮْفَ ﻳَﻜُﻮنُ ﻟِﺰَاﻣًﺎ. Say (O’ Muhammad to the disbelievers): My Lord would not concern Himself with you, but for your prayers. (25:77) Du’a’ is a tool for attracting God’s attention and blessings. His attention removes calamity from the life of one who prays, and brings about blessings for him/her. The All-Knowing Lord says in Qur’an: وَإِذَا ﺳَﺄَﻟَﻚَ ﻋِﺒَﺎدِي ﻋَﻨِّﻲ ﻓَﺈِﻧِّﻲ ﻗَﺮِﻳﺐٌ أُﺟِﻴﺐُ دَﻋْﻮَةَ اﻟﺪَّاﻋِﻲ إِذَا دَﻋَﺎﻧِﻲ. And when My servant question thee concerning Me, then surely I am close (to them). I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he calleth unto Me. (2:186) No one is as close to the man as his creator, Allah. He is the One who has created man, fashioning him in the womb, and then transferring him to this world. He bestows His material and spiritual blessings unto man, sent the prophets to guide him, and granted him the Divine Qur’an and the Immaculate Imams (as). Allah has created water for the thirst of man and food for his hunger. He cures man’s diseases and improves his health. He discards man’s loneliness with a spouse, children, and friends, and his starkness with various kinds of clothes. Allah makes man cherished by the others, and maintains his dignity before them. Allah solves his problems, however difficult they may seem. Who is so closely and intently aware of man’s deepest needs and can provide him with all these blessings, except Allah? He is indeed closer to man than anyone else. Hence He says in Qur’an: وَﻟَﻘَﺪْ ﺧَﻠَﻘْﻨَﺎ اﻹِﻧْﺴَﺎنَ وَﻧَﻌْﻠَﻢُ ﻣَﺎ ﺗُﻮَﺳْﻮِسُ ﺑِﻪِ ﻧَﻔْﺴُﻪُ وَﻧَﺤْﻦُ أَﻗْﺮَبُ إِﻟَﻴْﻪِ ﻣِﻦْ ﺣَﺒْﻞِ اﻟْﻮَرِﻳﺪِ. We verily created a man and We know what his soul whispereth to him, and We are nearer to him than his jugular vein. (50:16) In spite of being superior to all others in terms of wisdom and insight, aware of the unseen more than others, and knowing the reality as it is, the prophets (as) too were extensively devoted to du’a’. They spent part of their time, both at day and night, to attach themselves to this firm and reliable string, and stand humbly before Allah. They considered du’a’ as the means to strengthen the mind, purify the soul, and solve problems. The holy prophets (as) knew for sure that no suppliant ends his du’a’ except that Allah grants his requests to him from His presence. They hence believed in the fulfillment of du’a’ and humbly asked Allah to grant their supplication. The holy Qur’an states this fact so clearly from Prophet Abraham’s enlightened soul and purified speech: اﻟْﺤَﻤْﺪُ ﻟِﻠَّﻪِ اﻟَّﺬِي وَﻫَﺐَ ﻟِﻲ ﻋَﻠَﻰ اﻟْﻜِﺒَﺮِ إِﺳْﻤَﺎﻋِﻴﻞَ وَإِﺳْﺤَﺎقَ إِنَّ رَﺑِّﻲ ﻟَﺴَﻤِﻴﻊُ اﻟﺪُّﻋَﺎءِ. Praise be to Allah who hath given me, in my old age, Ishmael and Isaac! Lo! My Lord is indeed the Hearer of Prayer. (14:39) Zechariah requested God, with the power of du’a’, to grant him a child. God fulfilled his desire and bestowed on him John, though his wife was barren. (19:5-9) Following his disciples’ request, the Christ asked Allah to descend a heavenly table spread with food.