Al-Nudba Supplication

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This article is an introduction to the al-Nudba Supplication; to read its text see text:al-Nudba Supplication.
Al-Nudba Supplication
SubjectIstighatha from Imam al-Mahdi (a)
Hadith-Based/Non-Hadith-BasedHadith-Based
Shi'a sourcesAl-Mazar al-kabir
MonographsMa'alim al-qurba fi sharh du'a al-NudbaFurugh al-wilayaRisala hawl du'a al-Nudba
TimeEid al-FitrEid al-AdhaEid al-GhadirFriday


Prayer

Al-Nudba Supplication (Arabic:دعاء الندبة) is one of the most famous supplications recommended to be recited in the four eids. Sayyid Radi al-Din Ali b. Tawus has narrated it in his book, Iqbal al-a'mal. Shi'a usually recite this supplication -which has been narrated from Imam al-Sadiq (a)- on Friday mornings before the sunrise lamenting Imam al-Mahdi (a).

Etymology

The word Nudba in Arabic means calling, wailing, and mourning. This supplication was named so because it includes calling and asking Imam al-Mahdi (a) for help, lament on his occultation and wail on his absence.[1]

Authenticity

Sayyid b. Tawus has narrated it in his books, Iqbal al-a'mal[2] and Misbah al-za'ir chapter 7. Also, Muhammad b. Ja'far b. Mashhadi -one of the Shi'a personalities of the 6th/12th century- has narrated it in his famous book known as al-Mazar al-kabir[3].

Al-Allama al-Majlisi, who had an exact and comprehensive knowledge about narrations, hadiths, narrators and their masters, in addition to assertion of its authenticity in his books such as: Bihar al-anwar[4] and Tuhfat al-za'ir -which he has asserted that all of the supplications in it, are authentic- he explicitly and specifically confirms that the chain of narrators of this supplication, which reaches Imam al-Sadiq (a), is authentic. Also, he adds in his book, Zad al-ma'ad :

" … Du'a al-Nudba, which contains true Shi'a beliefs and lament the occultation of Imam al-Mahdi (a), has been quoted by an authentic chain of narrators from Imam al-Sadiq (a) [and] it is sunna (recommended) to recite this supplication in four eids."[5]

Time of Recitation

Recitation of Du'a al-Nudba is mustahab (recommended) in four eids:

Content of Du'a al-Nudba

The supplication starts by glorifying and praising Allah and sending his peace and blessing upon the Prophet (s) and his progeny. It continues explaining the purpose of choosing prophets and saints and the fact that they were approved by Allah, and then the most important part of Adam (a) and Ulu l-'Azm prophets' (five great prophets who brought a new religion: Noah (a), Abraham (a), Moses (a), Jesus (a), Muhammad (s)) lives. Also, it has been emphasized that God has appointed an executor and a successor for each of them so that Haqq (right) stays and Batil (wrong) cannot overcome the right, and no one has any excuses before Allah -in the hereafter- that why none of your prophets and messengers came to us so we would follow your signs.

Afterwards, it proceeds with succession of Imam Ali (a), and after mentioning some of his virtues, it points out disloyalty and wickedness of their enemies who -against the Prophet's (s) explicit order- martyred Imam 'Ali (a) and his holy sons one after another. It then asks for help and yearning for the last remaining infallible of the Prophet's progeny. The supplication ends with sending special salutations to the Prophet (s) and his progeny (a) and several important requests for strengthening our relations with Imam al-Mahdi (a), hastening his reappearance and establishment of the right government and elimination of wrong by him.[7]

Commentaries

Some of the commentaries which have been written on Du'a al-Nudba are as follows:

  • Commentary on Du'a al-Nudba written by Sadr al-Din Muhammad Hasani Mudarris Yazdi.
  • 'Aqd al-jiman li nudbat Sahib al-Zaman; written by Mirza 'Abd al-Rahim Tabrizi.
  • Wasilat al-qurba fi sharh Du'a al-Nudba written by Shaykh Ali kho'i.
  • Commentary on Du'a al-Nudba written by Mulla Hasan Turbati Sabziwari.
  • Al-Nukhba fi Sharh Du'a al-Nudba written by Sayyid Mahmud Mar'ashi.
  • Commentary (or translation) on Du'a al-Nudba written by Sardar Kabuli.
  • Ma'alim al-qurba fi sharh Du'a al-Nudba written by Muhaddith Urmavi.
  • Waza'if al-Shi'a fi sharh Du'a al-Nudba written by Adib Isfahani.
  • Kashf al-kurba written by Muhaddith Urmavi.
  • Navid bamdad piruzi written by Musavi Khurram Abadi.
  • Commentary and translation of Du'a al-Nudba written by Muhibb al-Islam.
  • Nusrat al-Muslimin written by [Abd al-Rida Khan Ibrahimi.
  • Furugh al-wilayya written by Ayatollah Lutf Allah Safi Gulpaygani.

Notes

  1. Ḥāʾirī, "Duʾā-yi nudba", vol. 7, p. 535.
  2. Ibn Ṭāwūs, Iqbāl al-aʿmāl, p. 604-609.
  3. Ibn Mashhadī, al-Mazār al-kabīr, p. 537-584.
  4. Majlisī, Biḥār al-anwār, vol. 99, p. 104.
  5. Majlisī, Zād al-maʿād, p. 303.
  6. Ibn Ṭāwūs, Iqbāl al-aʿmāl, p. 604-609.
  7. Ḥāʾirī, "Duʾā-yi nudba", vol. 7, p. 535.

References

  • Ḥāʾirī, Sayyid Mahdī. 1380 Sh. "Duʾā-yi nudba." Dāʾirat al-Maʿārif Tashayyuʿ 7.
  • Ibn Mashhadī, Muḥammad b. Jaʿfar. Al-Mazār al-kabīr. Qom: Daftar-i Intishārāt-i Islāmī, 1419 AH.
  • Ibn Ṭāwūs, ʿAlī b. Mūsā. Iqbāl al-aʿmāl. Beirut: Muʾassisat al-Aʿlamī li-l-Maṭbūʿāt, 1417 AH.
  • Majlisī, Muḥammad Bāqir al-. Biḥār al-anwār. Beirut: Dār Iḥyāʾ al-Turāth al-ʿArabī, 1403 AH.
  • Majlisī, Muḥammad Bāqir al-. Zād al-maʿād. Beirut: Aʿlamī, 1423 AH.