Prayer and the asking for one’s needs from God is not limited to the words uttered by the noble Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the Ahlul Bayt (peace be upon them). Therefore, a person is free in their prayer to call upon the self-sufficient God in any situation, at any time, and in any language or words they are capable of. They can express their needs, speak what is in their heart, and share their desires with their Lord, asking for the fulfillment of their needs.
However, in this context, it is possible for an ordinary person not to be fully aware of their noble values, or not to realize what truly contributes to their happiness. Instead, their attention may be consumed by a series of trivial and insignificant matters, which they ask God for, mistakenly considering them to be their true and most important needs.
Moreover, when praying and presenting their needs before God, a person may not be able to approach the act of prayer with the proper level of dignity, respect, and decorum appropriate to God’s majestic station. In such cases, they might not know what to ask for or how to ask for it.
Thus, it is better to turn to the threshold of those closest to God, the infallible ones who possess the wisdom of true servitude—the family of the Prophet (peace be upon them). Through their supplications and invocations, one can learn how to pray and make requests from God.
In this regard, from the fountains of divine mercy and wisdom, we have received numerous profound and monotheistic teachings through the supplications and invocations of the Ahlul Bayt (peace be upon them). These prayers provide solace for every person, in every situation and difficulty, offering a refuge where they can express their sorrow and speak with their Creator.
The blessed Sahifa Sajjadiya (The Psalms of Imam Ali Zayn al-Abidin, peace be upon him) holds a special place in this regard. It is remarkable both in its authenticity and the comprehensiveness of its content. Indeed, it has an astonishing effect on creating the state of prayer and connecting a person with God. Its melodies resonate deeply, stirring the soul and enabling the individual to soar with a unique sense of communion with God.
Ibn Jawzi, a scholar from the Sunni tradition, mentions: “Imam Ali ibn Hussein Zayn al-Abidin has a unique and significant role in teaching the Muslim community how to pray and communicate with God and how to present their needs before Him. Without him and his teachings, Muslims would not know how to speak with God. It is this Imam who taught them what to say in repentance, when requesting something, or when fearing enemies…” [1]
As Ibn Jawzi refers to in his words, for instance, Imam Zayn al-Abidin (peace be upon him) teaches us, in the context of repentance, to pray with the following words: “…O Lord! I return to You and repent… just like the repentance of one who (out of intense disgust and hatred for sin) does not even allow the memory of sin to cross his mind or his heart to think of returning to any wrongdoing.” [2]
May we benefit from this…
(From the book “Repentance (Explanation of Prayer 31 of Sahifa Sajjadiya)” by Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Ziyaabadi)
Footnotes:
[1] Introduction by Ayatollah Mar’ashi Najafi to Sahifa Sajjadiya [2] Excerpt from Prayer 31 of Sahifa Sajjadiya