Remembering Imam Mahdi in the last part of Iftitāḥ supplication

The last part of Iftitāḥ supplication

The al-Iftitāḥ supplication (Arabic: دعاء الافتتاح) is a prayer narrated by Muhammad b. 'Uthmān, one of the Imam Mahdi’s four special Deputies. It is recited by the Shi'a during the nights of the month of Ramaḍān. This supplication contains profound themes about God, and a few scholars have written commentaries on it. This prayer is rich in profound meanings and offers us valuable insights into the life of Imam al-Mahdi. It also paints a beautiful vision of the world following his appearance. The final paragraph of the supplication highlights important aspects, such as expressing affection for the Islamic government that will be established with the appearance of Imam al-Mahdi and describing the ultimate goal of Islamic rule, as well as our responsibilities within it.

In a message to the Shi'a, Imam al-Mahdi said: ‘Recite this prayer every night during Ramadan, for the angels listen to it and ask Allah to forgive the one who recites it.’ (Al-Ṣaḥifa al-Mahdiyah, part 5)

Reflecting on its translation while reciting it can greatly enhance our understanding and connection to its message. This prayer can also be found in Mafātīḥ al-Jinān. We recite in the last part of this supplication:

 أللَّهُمَّ وَ صَلِّ عَلَى وَليِّ أَمْرِكَ...

O Allah, (please do) send blessings to the custodian of Your commandments,

ٱلْقَائِمِ ٱلْمُؤَمَّلِ

the vigilant guardian, the reliable patron,

وَ ٱلْعَدْلِ ٱلْمُنْتَظَرِ

and the awaited establisher of justice.

وَ حُفَّهُ بِمَلائِكَتِكَ ٱلْمُقَرَّبِينَ

And (please) surround him with Your favorite angels

وَ أَيِّدْهُ بِرُوحِ ٱلْقُدُسِ

and assist him with the Holy Spirit

يَا رَبَّ ٱلْعَالَمِينَ

O Lord of the worlds!

اَللَّهُمَّ ٱجْعَلْهُ ٱلدَّاعِيَ إِلَى كِتَابِكَ

O Allah, (please) choose him to be the caller to Your Book

وَ ٱلْقَائِمَ بِدِينِكَ

and the establisher of Your religion;

ٱسْتَخْلِفْهُ فِي ٱلأَرْضِ

make him succeed in the earth

كَمَا ٱسْتَخْلَفْتَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ

as You caused those who were before him to succeed,

مَكِّنْ لَهُ دِينَهُ ٱلَّذِي ٱرْتَضَيْتَهُ لَهُ

establish for him his faith which You have approved for him,

أَبْدِلْهُ مِنْ بَعْدِ خَوْفِهِ أَمْناً

and give him in exchange safety after the fear.

يَعْبُدُكَ لاَ يُشْرِكُ بِكَ شَيْئاً

He serves You. He ascribes nothing as partner to You.

اَللَّهُمَّ أَعِزَّهُ وَ أَعْزِزْ بِهِ

O Allah, (please) grant him power, make him the source of power,

وَ ٱنْصُرْهُ وَ ٱنْتَصِرْ بِهِ

grant him support, make him the means of Your victory,

وَ ٱنْصُرْهُ نَصْراً عَزِيزاً

help him with a mighty help,

وَ ٱفْتَحْ لَهُ فَتْحاً يَسِيراً

make him prevail over all with easiness,

وَ ٱجْعَلْ لَهُ مِنْ لَدُنْكَ سُلْطَاناً نَصِيراً

and delegate him Your controlling authority.

اَللَّهُمَّ أَظْهِرْ بِهِ دِينَكَ وَ سُنَّةَ نَبِيِّكَ

O Allah, (please) make prevalent Your religion and the norms of Your Prophet through him

حَتَّى لاَ يَسْتَخْفِيَ بِشَيْءٍ مِنَ ٱلْحَقِّ

so that he will not have to hide any item of truth

مَخَافَةَ أَحَدٍ مِنَ ٱلْخَلْقِ

for fear of any of the creatures.

اَللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَرْغَبُ إِلَيْكَ فِي دَوْلَةٍ كَرِيمَةٍ

O Allah, we ardently desire that You confer upon us a respectful government

تُعِزُّ بِهَا ٱلإِسْلاَمَ وَ أَهْلَهُ

through which You may give might to Islam and its followers,

وَ تُذِلُّ بِهَا ٱلنِّفَاقَ وَ أَهْلَهُ

humiliate hypocrisy and its people,

وَ تَجْعَلُنَا فِيهَا مِنَ ٱلدُّعَاةِ إِلَى طَاعَتِكَ

and include us among those who invite people to the obedience to You and

وَٱلْقَادَةِ إِلَى سَبِيلِكَ

and lead them to Your approved path.

وَ تَرْزُقُنَا بِهَا كَرَامَةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا و َٱلآخِرَةِ

Give us the good of this world and the world to come.

اَللَّهُمَّ مَا عَرَّفْتَنَا مِنَ ٱلْحَقِّ فَحَمِّلْنَاهُ

O Allah, let us bear out that which You make known to us as the truth

وَ مَا قَصُرْنَا عَنْهُ فَبَلِّغْنَاهُ

and let us attain that which we fall short to do.

اَللَّهُمَّ ٱلْمُمْ بِه شَعَثَنَا

O Allah, through him, set in order our disorder,

وَ ٱشْعَبْ بِهِ صَدْعَنَا

gather and unite our flock,

وَ ٱرْتُقْ بِهِ فَتْقَنَا

stitch together our ripped open separation,

وَ كَثِّرْ بِهِ قِلَّتَنَا

increase our few numbers,

وَ أَعْزِزْ بِهِ ذِلَّتَنَا

lift us up from our degradation,

وَ أغْنِ بِهِ عَائِلَنَا

grant wealth to the needy among us,

وَ ٱقْضِ بِهِ عَنْ مُغْرَمِنَا

pull us out from our debts,

وَ ٱجْبُرْ بِهِ فَقْرَنَا

set up our poverty,

وَ سُدَّ بِهِ خَلَّتَنَا

fill the gap of confusion among us,

وَ يَسِّرْ بِهِ عُسْرَنَا

make easy all difficulties we may face,

وَ بَيِّضْ بِهِ وُجُوهَنَا

refine our substance and style,

وَ فُكَّ بِهِ أَسْرَنَا

release us from captivity,

وَ أَنْجِحْ بِهِ طَلِبَتَنَا

make successful our applications,

وَ أَنْجِزْ بِهِ مَوَاعِيدَنَا

fulfill Your promises to us,

وَ ٱسْتَجِبْ بِهِ دَعْوَتَنَا

give answer to our prayers,

وَ أَعْطِنَا بِهِ سُؤْلَنَا

respond to our requests,

و َبَلِّغْنَا بِهِ مِنَ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلآخِرَةِ آمَالَنَا

make us attain our hopes in this world as well as the world to come,

وَ أَعْطِنَا بِهِ فَوْقَ رَغْبَتِنَا

and grant us beyond our wishes.

يَا خَيْرَ ٱلْمَسْؤُولِينَ

O Most Favorable of all those whom may be besought

وَ أَوْسَعَ ٱلْمُعْطِينَ

and Most magnanimous of all those who may grant requests!

إشْفِ بِهِ صُدُورَنَا

Through him, heal our breasts,

وَ أَذْهِبْ بِهِ غَيْظَ قُلُوبِنَا

remove the rage of our hearts,

وَ إهْدِنَا بِهِ لِمَا ٱخْتُلِفَ فِيهِ مِنَ ٱلْحَقِّ بِإِذْنِكَ

and in the event of dispute in the matter of truth, show us the right path.

إِنَّكَ تَهْدِي مَنْ تَشَاءُ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ

Verily, You guide whosoever You will to the Right Path.

وَ ٱنْصُرْنَا بِهِ عَلَى عَدُوِّكَ وَ عَدُوِّنَا

Grant us victory over Your and our enemy.

إِلهَ ٱلْحَقِّ آمِينَ

O God of Truth, respond to us!

اَللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَشْكُو إِلَيْكَ

O Allah, we complain to You

فَقْدَ نَبِيِّنَا صَلَوَاتُكَ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ

about the departure of our Prophet, Your blessings be on him and on his Household,

وَ غَيْبَةَ وَلِيِّنَا

the absence of our leader,

وَ كَثْرَةَ عَدُوِّنَا

the big numbers of our enemies,

وَ قِلَّةَ عَدَدِنَا

the few numbers of us,

وَ شِدَّةَ ٱلْفِتَنِ بِنَا

widespread disorder,

وَ تَظَاهُرَ ٱلزَّمَانِ عَلَيْنَا

and vicissitudes of time against us.

فَصَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ

So, (please do) send blessings to Muhammad and his Household

وَأَعِنَّا عَلَى ذلِكَ بِفَتْحٍ مِنْكَ تُعَجِّلُهُ

and help us overcome all that through victory from You that You expedite,

وَ بِضُرٍّ تَكْشِفُهُ

through relieving us from our injuries,

وَ نَصْرٍ تُعِزُّهُ

through Your help that You confirm,

وَ سُلْطَانِ حَقٍّ تُظْهِرُهُ

through bringing in the rule of justice and fair-play,

وَ رَحْمَةٍ مِنْكَ تُجَلِّلُنَاهَا

through mercy that You expand over us,

وَ عَافِيَةٍ مِنْكَ تُلْبِسُنَاهَا

and through good health that You cover us with,

بِرَحْمَتِكَ يَا أَرْحَمَ ٱلرَّاحِمِينَ

in the name of Your mercy, O most Merciful of all those who show mercy!

Source: Mahdism.net