Al-Faraj Supplication

This article is an introduction to the al-Faraj Supplication; to read its text see text:al-Faraj Supplication.

Al-Faraj Supplication

Other names	Supplication of Ilahi 'azum al-bala
Subject	Istighatha from Imams of the Shi'a (a)
Hadith-Based/Non-Hadith-Based	Hadith-Based
Issued by	Imam al-Mahdi (a)
Narrator	Muhammad b. Ahmad b. Abi Layth
Shi'a sources	Kunuz al-najah • Jamal al-usbu' • Wasa'il al-Shi'a

Duʿāʾ al-Faraj (Arabic: دُعاء الفَرَج) [supplication for relief] is a supplication which begins with the phrase "Ilahi 'azum al-bala'" [O my God! Adversities have escalated!] and Shia read it to be relieved of afflictions. It is quoted from al-Kaf'ami's al-Balad al-amin and mentioned in Mafatih al-jinan. Regarding the chain of transmission, it does not reach one of Imams (a). It is said that this supplication was taught by Imam al-Mahdi (a) to Muhammad b. Ahmad b. Abi Layth, in the dream when he had taken refuge to Kadhimiya out of fear of being killed.

To Shia, the supplication beginning with "Allahumm kun li-waliyyik, al-Hujjat ibn al-Hasan" [O God, for Your Proof, al-Hujjat b. al-Hasan (a), be…] is also known as Du'a al-Faraj.

Authenticity

In Wasa'il al-Shi'a and other books of hadith, this supplication has been quoted from al-Sayyid b. Tawus's Jamal al-usbu' among ta'qibat [practices following daily prayers]; but, there is no reference indicating that it has been issued by one of the Imams (a). In Ibn al-Mashhadi's al-Mazar al-kabir, among practices upon visiting the basement of Imam al-Mahdi (a), first there is a ziyarah, then a two-rak'a prayer and then, this supplication. In al-Kaf'ami's Misbah, this supplication is mentioned to have been taught by Imam al-Mahdi (a) to a prisoner who was released from prison by reciting this supplication. In his Kunuz al-najah, al-Tabrisi has mentioned that this supplication was taught by Imam al-Mahdi (a) to Muhammad b. Ahmad b. Abi Layth in the dream when he had taken refuge to Kadhimiya out of his fear of being killed, and he survived for the blessings of this supplication. Mafatih al-jinan has quoted this supplication from Hadyyat al-za'ir among the practices of the night of Ramadan 23rd.

In none of the sources, this supplication has reached an Imam (a) and it is weak regarding the chain of transmission.

Condition of Issuance

In his Kunuz al-najah, al-Tabrisi said that Du'a al-Faraj is a supplication which was taught by Imam al-Mahdi (a) to Aba l-Hasan, Muhammad b. Ahmad b. Abi Layth in Baghdad when he had taken refuge to Kadhimiya out of fear for being killed, and for the blessings of this supplication, Abu l-Hasan survived from death.

Content

This supplication has three parts: In the first part, the great trial people are afflicted with at the time of Occultation is mentioned. In the second part, there is greetings upon the Prophet (s) and the Ahl al-Bayt (a) and then it talks about the necessity of believers' obedience from them due to their great positions. In the last part of the supplication, the reciter asks God to support his affairs and help him for the rights and position of the Infallibles (a) upon him.

Other Du'as of Faraj

The word "Faraj" means "to relieve from sadness and distress". In the books of hadith which mention supplications and practices for achieving Faraj, the literal meaning of Faraj as relief is meant. In vol. 95 of Bihar al-anwar, al-'Allama al-Majlisi has mentioned 39 supplications under the title of "Bab Ad'iyat al-Faraj" ["chapter on supplications of Faraj"].