Resources for Self Improvement

Ultimate Goal

To pass the tests in the short life of this world and return to our Lord, having earned the lofty status of a Believer and a true Servant of Allah swt. And live happily ever after in gardens of perpetuity – in a blissful state, and above all, feeling His Closeness and Love. This is the crux. The ultimate goal of our Journey is ALLAH s.w.t. – the End to which we aspire ……… everything else is a means to this End.

Free eBooks
All Islamic Topics

For free access and download of hundreds of islamic ebooks on all topics including Quran, Tafseer, Hadith, Holy Prophet (saw) and Imams(a.s.), following websites are recommended. Here you will find works of eminent scholars including Sheikh Sudooq, Sheikh Mufid, Sheikh Abbas Qummi, Ayt Tabatabai, Ayt Jaffer Subhani, Seyyid Musavi Lari, Morteza Motahhari and Syed Baqir Majlisi:

Full of Wisdom & Tranquility
Sublime Supplications

The popular website Duas.org  contains a vast selection of the treasures of beautiful supplications as taught by the Holy Prophet (saws) & his Pure Progeny, Ahlulbayt(as).

For complete list please refer to the Index page

For ebooks relating to merits of supplicating, head to this link: http://www.duas.org/articlesbooks.htm

From the Ocean of Duas
Some Priceless Pearls
Al-Sahifat Al-Sajjadiyya
by Imam Zainal Abedin (a.s.)
Al-Sahifat Al-Sajjadiyya is the oldest prayer manual in Islamic sources and one of the most seminal works of Islamic spirituality of the early period. It was composed by the Prophet’s great grandson, `Ali ibn al-Husayn, known as Zayn al-‘Abidin (`the adornment of the worshippers’), and has been cherished in Shi’ite sources from earliest times. Zayn al-‘Abidin was the fourth of the Shi’ite Imams, after his father Husayn, his uncle Hasan, and his grandfather ‘Ali, the Prophet’s son-in-law. Shi’ite tradition considers the Sahifa a book worthy of the utmost veneration, ranking it behind only the Qur’an and `Ali’s Nahj al-balagha.The Sahīfa al-Sajjādiyya is an epic in Muslim devotional literature and liturgy. Its contents are both theological and ethically edifying in nature.
Duas Index
 

1. In Praise of God :

التَّحْمِيدُ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَل

2. Blessings upon Prophet(saws)

الصَّلَاةُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِه

3. Blessings on Bearers of throne & angels

الصَّلَاةُ عَلَى حَمَلَةِ الْعَرْشِ و كلّ مَلَكٍ مقرّبٍ

4. Blessings on Followers & Attestors to Prophets

الصَّلَاةُ عَلَى اتباع الرسل و مُصَدِّقِيهم

5. Prayer for People under guardianship

دُعَاؤُهُ لِنَفسِهِ وَ اهل وِِلايتهِ

6. His Supplication for Morning & Evening

دُعَاؤُهُ عِنْدَ الصَّبَاحِ وَ الْمَسَاءِ

7. When faced with Worrisome Task

ُعَاؤُهُ فِي الْمُهِمَّاتِ

8. Seeking Refuge from Hateful things

ُعَاؤُهُ فِي الْمُهِمَّاتِ

9. In Yearning to Ask Forgiveness

دُعَاؤُهُ فِي الِاشْتِيَاقِ الى طَلَبِ المَغفِرَةِ مِن الله

10. Seeking Asylum with God.

دُعَاؤُهُ فِي اللَّجَإِ إِلَى اللَّهِ تَعَالَى

11. Seeking Good Outcomes

دُعَاؤُهُ بِخَوَاتِمِ الْخَيْرِ

12.His Supplication in Confession and in Seeking Repentance toward God

دُعَاؤُهُ فِي الِاعْتِرَافِ و طَلَبِ التَوبَةِ الى الله

13. In Seeking Needs

دُعَاؤُهُ فِي طَلَبِ الْحَوَائِجِ الى الله تعالى

14. When Hostility was shown to him

دُعَاؤُهُ فِي الظُّلَامَاتِ

15. His supplication when sick

دُعَاؤُهُ عِنْدَ الْمَرَضِ

16. In Asking Release from sins and Seeking Pardon

دُعَاؤُهُ فِي الِاسْتِقَالَةِ مِِن ذُنوبِهِ و طَلَبِ العَفو

17. When he Mentioned Satan and Sought Refuge from him

دُعَاؤُهُ إذا ذُكِرَ الشيطان فَاستَعاذَ مِنهُِ

18. When Perils were repelled or Requests quickly granted

دُعَاؤُهُ إذا دُفِعَ عَنهُ ما يَحذَرُ او عُجّلَ لَهُ مَطلَبُهُ

19. His Supplication in Asking for Water during a Drought

دُعَاؤُهُ فِي الِاسْتِسْقَاءِ

20. Makaeremul Akhlaq- Noble Traits

دُعَاؤُهُ فِي مَكَارِمِ الْأَخْلَاقِ

20. Makarem Akhlaq(alternate)

21.When Something made him Sorrowful :

دُعَاؤُهُ إِذَا حَزَنَهُ أَمْرٌ

22. His Supplication in Hardship, Effort, and Difficult Affairs

دُعَاؤُهُ عِنْدَ الشِّدَّةِ و الجَحدِ و تَعَسُّرِ اللُمور

23. When he Asked God for Well-Being

دُعَاؤُهُ بِالْعَافِيَةِ

24. His Prayer for Parents

دُعَاؤُهُ لِأَبَوَيْهِ

25. His Supplication for his Children

دُعَاؤُهُ لِوُلْدِهِ

26. His Supplication for Neighbours and Friends

دُعَاؤُهُ لِجِيرَانِهِ وَ أَوْلِيَائِهِ

27. His Supplication for People of Frontiers

دُعَاؤُهُ لِأَهْلِ الثُّغُورِ

28. His Supplication in Fleeing to God for Protection

دُعَاؤُهُ فِي التَّفَزُّعِ الى اللهِ

29. His Supplication when his Provision was Stinted

دُعَاؤُهُ إِذَا قُتِّرَ عَلَيْهِ الرِّزْقُ

30. His Supplication for help in repaying debts

دُعَاؤُهُ إِذَا قُتِّرَ عَلَيْهِ الرِّزْقُ

31. In mentioning and asking for Repentance

دُعَاؤُهُ بِالتَّوْبَةِ

31. Tauba(Repentance) alternate

32. His Supplication in the Night Prayer

دُعَاؤُهُ فِي صَلَاةِ اللَّيْلِ

33. His Supplication in Asking for the Best

دُعَاؤُهُ فِي الِاسْتِخَارَةِ

34. When he was afflicted or saw someone afflicted with the Disgrace of Sin

دُعَاؤُهُ إِذَا ابْتُلِيَ أَوْ رَأَى مُبْتَلًى بِفَضِيحَةٍ بِذَنْبٍِ

35. In Satisfaction when he Looked upon the Companions of this world

دُعَاؤُهُ فِي الرِّضَا إذا نَظَرَ الى اَصحابِ الدُنيا

36. When he saw Clouds and Lightening and heard the Thunder

دُعَاؤُهُ إذا نَظَرَ الى السَّحابِ و البَرقِ و عِنْدَ سَمَاعِ الرَّعْدِ

37. His supplication in giving Thanks

دُعَاؤُهُ فِي الشُّكْرِ

38. His supplication in asking Pardon

دُعَاؤُهُ فِي الِاعْتِذَارِ

39. His supplication in seeking Pardon & Mercy

دُعَاؤُهُ فِي طَلَبِ الْعَفْوِ و المَغْفِرَةِ

40. When he remembered Death

دُعَاؤُهُ إذا ذَكَرَ الْمَوْتِ

41. His Supplication in Asking for Covering and Protection

دُعَاؤُهُ فِي طَلَبِ السَّتْرِ وَ الْوِقَايَةِ

42. Upon Completing a Reading of the Qur’an

دُعَاؤُهُ عِنْدَ خَتْمِهِ الْقُرْآنَ

43. When he Looked at the New Crescent Moon

دُعَاؤُهُ إِذَا نَظَرَ إِلَى الْهِلَالِ

44. For the Coming of the Month of Ramadan

دُعَاؤُهُ لِدُخُوْلِ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ

45. Farewell to the Month of Ramadan

دُعَاؤُهُ لِوَدَاعِ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ

46. On the Day of Fast-Breaking and on Friday

دُعَاؤُهُ فِي عِيدِ الْفِطْرِ وَ الْجُمُعَةِ

47. His Supplication On the Day of Arafah

دُعَاؤُهُ فِي يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ

48. His Supplication On the Day of Sacrifice and Friday

دُعَاؤُهُ فِي يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ

49. Repelling the trickery of enemies

دُعَاؤُهُ فِي يَوْمِ الْأَضْحَى وَ الْجُمُعَةِ

50. His Supplication in Fear

دُعَاؤُهُ فِي دَفْعِ كَيْدِ الْأَعْدَاءِِ

51. In Pleading and Abasement

دُعَاؤُهُ فِي الرَّهْبَةِ

52. His Supplication in Imploring God

دُعَاؤُهُ فِي التَّضَرُّعِ وَ الِاسْتِكَانَةِ

53. Abasing himself before God

دُعَاؤُهُ فِي الْإِلْحَاحِ

54. Removal of Worries

دُعَاؤُهُ فِي التَّذَلُّلِ


5 Pearls for Inner Peace
from dua Makarim al Akhlaq

To whet appetites, here are  just 5 appetisers from one of the hundreds of mouth watering, soul nourishing, dishes gifted by the one whom friends and foes refer to as the Ornament of the Worshippers. Savour, act upon and be uplifted by these amazing recipes from Imam Zaynul Abedin’s (a.s.) famous dua Makarim al Akhlaq (Du`a # 20 in Sahifa ).

1. We are sdvised to pray for things that matter: strong faith (yaqeen), pure intention, best deeds:

“ O’Allah, bless Muhammad and his Household. Cause my faith to reach the most perfect faith, make my certainty the most excellent certainty, and take my intention to the best of intentions and my works to the best of works!”

2. Do not nullify your rewards through self-conceit:

“ O’Allah, make me worship Thee and corrupt not my worship with self-admiration! Let good flow out from my hands upon the people and efface it not by my making them feel obliged! Give me the highest moral traits and preserve me from vainglory!”

3. Long life at all costs? Better to die than serve shaitan:

“ O’Allah, let me live as long as my life is a free gift in obeying Thee, but if my life should become a pasture for Satan, seize me to Thyself before Thy hatred overtakes me or Thy wrath against me becomes firm!”

4. Pray for adornments and ornaments of a different kind:

“ O’Allah, adorn me with the adornment of the righteous, and clothe me in the ornaments of the god-fearing, through:                                          .

o spreading justice, restraining rage,

o quenching the flame of hate, bringing together the people of separation,

o correcting discord, spreading about good behaviour,

o covering faults, mildness of temper, lowering the wing,

o beauty of conduct, gravity of bearing,

o agreeableness in comportment, precedence in reaching excellence,

o preferring bounteousness, refraining from condemnation,

o bestowing bounty on the undeserving,

o speaking the truth, though it be painful!”

o making little of the good in my words and deeds, though it be much,

o and making much of the evil in my words and deeds,though it be little!

5. Pray for good in both worlds:

“ O’Allah, incite me to remember Thee in times of heedlessness, employ me in Thy obedience in days of disregard, open a smooth road for me to Thy love, and complete for me thereby the good of this world and the next!”

Has the time not come to come together and raise our hands in prayer to be brought out of darkness into light? 

15 Munajat (Whispered Prayers)

1. Munajaat Taebeen (Repenters)

مناجاة التائبين

2. Munajaat Shakeen(Complainers)

مناجاة الشاكين

3. Munajaat Khaifeen( Fearful)

مناجاة الخائفين

4. Munajaat Rajeen(Hopeful)

مناجاة الراجين

5. Munajaat Raghibeen(Beseechers)

مناجاة الراغبين

6. Munajaat Shakireen(Thankful)

مناجاة الشاكرين

7. Munajaat Mutieen(Obedient)

مناجاة المطيعين للهِ

8. Munajaat Murideen(Devotees)

مناجاة المريدين

9. Munajaat Muhibeen(Lovers)

مناجاة الـمحبّين

10. Munajaat Mutawassileen(seeking mediation)

مناجاة المتوسّلين

11. Munajaat Muftaqireen(Utterly Poor)

مناجاة المفتقرين

12. Munajaat ‘Arifeen(Knowers)

مناجاة العارفين

13. Munajaat Dhakireen(Rememberers)

مناجاة الذاكرين

14. Munajaat M’utasimeen( Who hold fast)

مناجاة المعتصمين

15. Munajaat Zahideen(Abstainers)

مناجاة الزاهدين

Book of Advice
Ayt. Makarem Shirazi
Extract: Seek the main missing one!

If we look into our hearts, we find that all of us have a missing one that we are searching for. Since we do not analyse in depth as to who it is that we miss, we look for it in everything and in every place.
At times one thinks that it is wealth and property, and that once he finds it, he will be the happiest man around. However, when he acquires this wealth, he soon realizes that the fearsome eyes of the greedy, glib tongues of the flatterers, vicious snares of the thieves, and biting words of the jealous are lying in wait for him. Looking after wealth can often be more difficult than acquiring it and cause much bigger worries and anxiety! So, the realisation dawns that an error was made, that wealth is not the missing one that his heart yearns!
Others may think that if they had a beautiful and wealthy spouse, life will be a breeze. But when he achieves his goal and comes face to face with the dangers and difficulties of maintaining such a spouse, and the burdens of her high expectations and unusual demands, he finds that his dream was in fact a nightmare!
Then there are those who find the prospect of fame and high position much more enchanting. But in reality these translate into much greater burdens and tribulations including the accountability before God and men when one presides over the affairs of many.
The late Grand Ayatollah Boroujerdi, who had reached the position of the highest religious authority and power in the Shiite world and among the clergy of his time, had this to say when faced with the troubles of fame and rank: “If someone is going to achieve a position and rank similar to me, not for God, but for his sensual desire, have no doubt about his utter stupidity”!
That is right. These are nothing but mirages. On achieving them, the thirst inside is not quenched. Instead, one becomes thirstier in the desert of life. As Quran says:
كسراب بقيعه يحسبه الظمآن ماءَ حتي اذا جائه لم يجده شيئاَ
“But the Unbelievers,- their deeds are like a mirage in sandy deserts, which the man parched with thirst mistakes for water; until when he comes up to it, he finds it to be nothing..” (Quran, Light, 24:39)
Is it possible that in a creation based on such wisdom, a solution for man’s yearning for that missing one would have been overlooked? Undoubtedly, based on the God’s wisdom, thirst without water is impossible, as water without thirsty is meaningless!
Yes! The man of perception gradually finds that the missing one he has been searching for high and low without success, has always been with him, has embraced him, and is nearer to him than his jugular vein:
و نحن اقرب اليه من حبل الوريد
We are nearer to him than the jugular vein. (Quran, Qaf, 50:16)
Yes! Man’s real missing one is everywhere, always with him, but the veils do not let him see it. Man’s preoccupation with the mundane and pursuit of the material needs and desires hinders him from searching in the right places.
Yes my dear! The missing one is with you. Try to remove the veils to see His beauty and love, and make your soul and spirit quench the thirst at His door. Here you will savour the real tranquility and peace and find the hosts of the heavens at your service! Your real missing one is the same being who created you.
The entire world of being is a beam of His existence:
هو الذي انزل السكينه في قلوب المؤمنين ليزدادوا ايماناَ مع ايمانهم و لله جنود السموات و الأرض و كان الله عليماَ حكيماَ.
“ It is He Who sent down tranquillity into the hearts of the Believers, that they may add faith to their faith;- for to Allah belong the Forces of the heavens and the earth; and Allah is Full of Knowledge and Wisdom” (Quran, Victory, 48:4)