Al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya (book)

Al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya

Bibliographical Information
Author	Imam al-Sajjad (a)
Original title	الصحیفة الکاملة السجادیة
Language	Arabic
Series	1 vol
Subject	Prayer and Supplication
English translation
En. title	The Psalms of Islam (As-Sahifa Al-Kamilah Al-Sajjadiyya)
En. publisher	Muhammadi Trust of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Al-Ṣaḥīfa al-Sajjādīyya (Arabic:الصَّحيفَة السَّجَّادية) is a book containing Imam al-Sajjad's 54 supplications and du'as. After the Qur'an and Nahj al-balagha, this book has an important position among the Shi'a school of thought and is known as "Zabur Al Muhammad" (the Psalms of the Family of Muhammad (s)) and "Injil Ahl al-Bayt (a)" (the Gospel of the Household of the Prophet (s)).

Many commentaries have been written on it; in al-Dhari'a, Aqa Buzurg Tihrani mentioned around 50 commentaries, among the most famous of which is Riyad al-salikin. Al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya has been translated into many languages including English, French, Turkish, Urdu, Spanish, Bosnian, Albanian, Tamil, etc. In addition to the status of this book among Shi'a, some Sunni scholars have also praised the eloquence of this book.

Although this book is in the form of supplications, it also contains many Islamic teachings mentioned alongside the supplications. In this book, topics surrounding different issues are explained in the form of supplications such as theology, ideology, anthropology, the Unseen World, angels, nubuwwa, the position of the Prophet Muhammad (s) and the Ahl al-Bayt (a), Imamate, moral virtues and vices, honoring Eids, social and economic issues, historical points, different blessings of God, manners of supplication, recitation, dhikr, prayer, worship, etc. The most famous supplication of al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya is Makarim al-Akhlaq.

Names

Some Muslim scholars believe that al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya is the greatest treasure of divine knowledge and truth after the Qur'an and Nahj al-balagha, and thus it has been called Ukht al-Qur'an (the Sister of the Qur'an), Injil Ahl al-bayt (a) (the Gospel of the Ahl al-bayt (a)], Zabur Al Muhammad (the Psalms of the Family of Muhammad) and al-Sahifa al-kamila (the Complete Sahifa). It is said that the book is called al-Sahifa al-Kamila since Zaydis have a version of the book which is incomplete, rather it is around half of al-Sahifa al-Kamila. Therefore, Twelver Shi'a have called the version they have, as al-Sahifa al-Kamila.

Reference

Regarding the references, al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya is close to tawatur (frequent) in narration. Aqa Buzurg Tehrani says, "The first Sahifa, the reference of which reaches Imam al-Sajjad (a), is among mutawatir (frequently narrated) hadiths and Qat'iyyat (definitely narrated) before the companions; since one of its qualities is that [from their teachers, all companions] took the permission for narrating it among different classes of Rijal in all times."

Also, Muhammad Taqi al-Majlisi claimed that he has one million references as narrations of al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya.

Al-Shaykh al-Mufid in al-Irshad, 'Ali b. Muhammad al-Khazzaz al-Qummi, a student of al-Shaykh al-Saduq, Ahmad b. 'Ayyashi, Abu l-fadl al-Shaybani, etc. narrated it. Also, among Sunni scholars, Ibn al-Jawzi in Khasa'is al-a'imma and Sulayman b. Ibrahim al-Qunduzi in Yanabi' al-mawadda have mentioned al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya and have narrated some parts of its supplications.

Abu l-Ma'ali Muhammad b. Ibrahim al-Kalbasi (d. 1315/1897) has briefly explained the reference of al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya in Risala fi sanad al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya.

Views of Sunni Scholars

In his al-Manaqib, Ibn Shahrashub says, "Once sitting with one of the top scholars in literature, a discussion surrounding the eloquence of al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya came up. He said, 'I can write a similar one for you too!' Then he took the pen and dropped his head thinking [and became speechless] and passed in that state."

In 1939, Ayatullah Mar'ashi Najafi sent a copy of al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya for Tantawi, the Sunni scholar and the author of Tafsir Tantawi (Mufti of Alexandria). He praised the book saying, "[It is] a speech higher than the words of creatures and lower than the Words of the Creator."

In Khasa'is al-a'imma, Ibn Jawzi says, "'Ali b. al-Husayn, Zayn al-'Abidin (a) has the right to teach Muslims in writing, quality of speech and stating demands before God; because if it was not for him, Muslims would not know the manner of speech and the manner of stating their needs before the Almighty God. Hence, Imam (a) taught people how to speak with God in asking for forgiveness, in asking for rain in drought, how to take refuge before God in fear and in asking God to repel the evil of enemies."

In al-Tasawwuf al-Islami wa l-adab wa l-akhlaq, Zaki Mubarak has considered "al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya as similar to the Bible in all aspects with the only difference that the Bible turns the heart toward Jesus Christ and al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya turns the heart towards God."

Content

In the first supplication, Imam al-Sajjad (a) praises God and then the family of the Prophet (s), so that most supplications of al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya contain the phrases of Salawat. In the end of the supplication, he (a) requests his needs from God.

Al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya does not only contain supplications to God and stating one's needs before God; rather, it is a collection of Islamic sciences and teachings in which ideological, cultural, social, political and some natural rules and religious rulings are in the form of supplication.

For the connection with God, some supplications are mentioned regarding different times and situations; some of its supplications such as 'Arafa and Wida' (farewell) with Ramadan are recited every year and some are recited every month, such as the supplication of sighting the new moon, every week or every day.

Supplications of al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya have different names and many Islamic teachings are stated in them. In this book, many topics are mentioned in supplications such as theology, ontology, world of the Unseen, angels, the Prophet's missions, position of the Prophet (s) and the Ahl al-Bayt (a), Imamate, moral virtues and vices, honoring Eids, social and economic issues, historical points, different blessings of God, manners of supplication, recitation, Dhikr, prayer, worship, etc. The most famous supplication of al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya is Makarim al-Akhlaq.

One of the most important religious-political topics is imamate. Also, the theory of Tashbih is rejected in it.

Titles of the Supplications

1. In Praise of God
2. Blessing upon Muhammad (s)
3. Archangels
4. Attesters to the Messengers
5. Himself and the People under his Guardianship
6. Morning and Evening
7. Worrisome Tasks
8. Blameworthy Acts
9. Yearning for Forgiveness
10. Seeking Asylum with God
11. Good Outcomes
12. Confession
13. Seeking Needs
14. When Hostility was Shown
15. When Sick
16. Asking for Release from Sins
17. Against Satan
18. When Perils were Repelled
19. Asking for Rain During a Drought
20. Noble Moral Traits (Makarimul Akhlaq)
21. In Sorrow
22. In Hardship
23. For Well-Being
24. For his Parents
25. For his Children
26. For his Neighbors and Friends
27. For the Border Guards
28. In Fleeing to God
29. When his Provision was Stinted
30. For Help in Repaying Debts
31. In Repentance
32. In the Night Prayer
33. In Asking for the Best
34. When Afflicted
35. In Satisfaction with the Decree
36. Upon Hearing Thunder
37. In Giving Thanks
38. In Asking Pardon
39. In Seeking Pardon and Mercy
40. When Death was Mentioned
41. In Asking for Covering and Protection
42. Upon Completing a Reading of the Qur'an
43. When he Looked at the New Crescent Moon
44. For the Coming of the Month of Ramadan
45. In Bidding Farewell to the Month of Ramadan
46. On the Eid of Fitr [Fast-Breaking] and on Friday
47. On the Day of 'Arafa
48. On the Eid of Qurban [Sacrifice] and on Friday
49. In Repelling Enemies
50. In Fear from God
51. Pleading and Abasement Before God
52. Imploring God
53. In Abasing himself Before God
54. For the Removal of Worries

Translations

Thus far, al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya has been translated into different languages, among which are 60 translations and commentaries in Farsi. Other languages include: English, French, Turkish, Urdu, Spanish, Bosnian, Albanian, Tamil, Bahasa Indonesia, etc.

Some of these translations are:

• 'Abd al-Hamid Ayati's translation into Farsi published by Sida wa simay-i jumhuri-i Islami-i Iran (Surush).
• Muhammad Mahdi Fuladvand's translation into Farsi titled as Pishva-i chehre bar khak sayan published by Sazman-i Tablighat-i Islami in 2001 in 419 pages.
• English translation titled as The Treatise on Rights, by 'Ali Payravi and Lisa Zaynab Morgan published by Ansariyan Publications between 2002 and 2006.
• French translation by Farida Mahdavi Damghani published by al-Hadi Publications in 2003. According to the translator, this was the first French translation of al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya.
• Spanish translation titled as "Las INNVO Caciones del Imam sayyad" by Dr. Muhammad 'Ali Morales in 1997 published by Islamic Propagation Organization in one volume.
• Azeri Turkish translation by Rasul Isma'ilzada published by al-Huda Publications in 2003 in one volume.
• Indonesian translation titled as Shahifah Sajjadiyyah, gita suci keluarga Nabi by Jalal al-Din Rahmat.

Commentaries

In al-Dhari'a, Aqa Buzurg Tihrani mentioned about 50 commentaries of al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya. Some have counted these commentaries to be more than 80.

Farsi Commentaries

• Riyad al-salikin fi sharh Sahifat Sayyid al-Sajidin written by Sayyid 'Alikhan Madani.
• Shuhud wa shinakht, written in 4 volumes by Hasan Mamduhi Kermanshahi with a preface by Ayatullah Jawadi Amuli, published by Bustan-i Kitab publications of Islamic Propagation Office of the Seminary of Qom.
• Diyar-i 'ashiqan written by Husayn Ansariyan.
• Translation and commentary of al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya written by Sayyid 'Ali Naqi Fayd al-Islam published by the Center for the Works of Fayd al-Islam.

Arabic Commentaries

• Amal al-'arifin fi sharh Sahifat Sayyid al-Sajjidin written by Mirza 'Abd al-Wahhab b. Muhammad Salih Baraghani Qazwini (d. 1249/1833-4). It is a comprehensive commentary on al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya which is compiled considering the opinions and comments of Sayyid 'Ali Khan Kabir in Riyad al-salikin. It mentions narrations and views of famous philosophers and mystics and tries to link philosophical principles with religious opinions.
• Asfar al-da'in 'ala sharh Sahifat Sayyid al-'Abidin written by Muhammad b. Ali b. Ahmad al-Shami (12th/18th century)
• Al-Tuhfat al-Radawiyya fi sharh Sahifat al-Sajjadiyya written by Qadi b. Kashif al-Din Muhammad Ardakani Yazdi (after 1057/1647-8) is a comprehensive commentary compiled in the name of Shah Abbas II Safavi. The author only interpreted the first two supplications of al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya and then decided to translate a summary of his commentary into Farsi in order for more people to benefit from its delicate points. However, both the commentary and its translation were left unfinished and the commentary in Farsi only includes 11 supplications.
• Tibyan al-lugha written by Mirza Muhammad 'Ali b. Muhammad Nasir Gilani Chahardehi (d. 1334/1915-6)

Glosses and Marginal Notes

• Ta'liqat 'ala al-Sahifat al-Sajjadiyya written by Mulla Muhsin b. Murtada Fayd Kashani. This is a short gloss on al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya explaining the literary and lexical points only, which is published in 1055/1645-6. This book has also been listed as Sharh Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya and Hashiya Sahifat al-Sajjadiyya.

• Hashiyat al-Sahifat al-Sajjadiyya written by Sayyid Muhammad Baqir b. Muhammad Husayni Astarabadi, Mirdamad (d. 1041/1631-2). This is a brief commentary with the title "Qawlahu-Qawluh" including lexical and philosophical discussions which is sometimes prolonged in Rijal and astronomy. This commentary includes explaining delicate points and the language of al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya. Mirdamad wrote it after his other piece, al-Sab' al-shidad.

• Hashiyat 'ala al-sahifat al-kamila written by Abu Ja'far Muhammad b. Mansur b. Ahmad b. Idris al-Hilli (d. 598/1201-2). This is a short gloss on al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya which explains its difficult terms. The importance of Ibn Idris's gloss, is that it is the first and oldest commentary on al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya.

Mustadraks (Supplemented Works)

Several supplements have been written for al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya which include Imam al-Sajjad's attributed supplications. These have not been included in al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya. Some of these supplements are:

• Al-Sahifa al-thaniya written by Shaykh Muhammad b. Hasan al-Hurr al-'Amili, the author of Wasa'il al-Shi'a.
• Al-Sahifa al-thalitha, al-durar al-manzumat al-ma'thura fi jam' la'ali al-ad'iyat al-Sajjadiyyat al-mashhura written by Mirza 'Abd Allah b. 'Isa known as Afandi (1130/1717-8) who has collected supplications attributed to Imam al-Sajjad (a) which have not been mentioned either in al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya or Shaykh Hurr 'Amili's al-Sahifa al-thania.
• Al-Sahifa al-rabi'a written by Muhaddith Mirza Husayn Nuri Tabrisi.
• Al-Sahifa al-khamisa written by 'Allama Sayyid Muhsin al-Amin 'Amili.
• Al-Sahifa al-sadisa written by Shaykh Muhammad Baqir Qa'ini Birjandi.
• AL-Sahifa al-sabi'a written by Shaykh Hadi Kashif al-Ghita, the author of Mustadrak Nahj al-balagha.
• Al-Sahifa al-thamina written by Haj Mirza Ali Husayni Mar'ashi Shahristani Ha'iri.
• Mulhaqqat Sahifa written by Shaykh Muhammad known as Taqi Ziya Abadi Qazwini, a student of Shaykh Baha'i.