Mafatih al-jinan (book): Difference between revisions

| author = [[Shaykh 'Abbas Qummi]]

| translated_as = ''Mafatih al-jinan'': The Keys to the Gardens of Paradise

 

'''''Mafātīḥ al-jinān''''' (Arabic:{{ia| مفاتیح الجنان}}), (keys to the heavens) by [[Shaykh 'Abbas Qummi]] is the most popular book of [[supplication]] in the [[Shi'a]] world. It contains [[du'a]]s, supplications, [[Ziyara texts]], practices specific to certain days, months, and occasions, religious practices and manners, as well as some anecdotes narrated from the [[Prophet (s)]], [[Imams (a)]], and Islamic scholars.

[[File:شیخ عباس قمی.jpg|180px|thumbnail|Shaykh 'Abbas Qummi the compiler of ''Mafatih al-jinan''.]]

{{main|Shaykh 'Abbas Qummi}}

'Abbas b. Muhammad Rida al-Qummi (b. [[1294]]/1877 - d. [[1359]]/1940), known as Shaykh 'Abbas Qummi and Muhaddith Qummi, was a Shiite scholar of the fourteenth/twentieth century. He was well-known in hadiths and history as well as preaching and orations. Shaykh Abbas Qummi wrote many books, the best-known of which are ''[[Mafatih al-jinan]]'', ''Safinat al-bihar'', and ''[[Muntaha al-amal]]''. He died in [[Najaf]] in [[1359]]/1940 and was buried in the [[Holy Shrine of Imam Ali (a)]].<ref>Ṭāliʿī, "Sālshumār-i ḥayāt wa āthār-i muḥaddith-i Qummī", p. 13-48</ref> His son has quoted that his father wrote this book while he has [[wudu]].<ref>Qummī, ''Mafātīḥ al-jinān'', p. 28.</ref>

The author has composed ''Mafatih al-jinan'' in order to enhance the reliability of another book called ''Miftah al-jinan'' which was being vastly used at that time and included unauthentic du'as. Shaykh Abbas Qummi wrote at the end of the first print of his book: "My brothers in religion have asked me to collect authentic du'as of ''Miftah al-jinan'' and other authentic du'as and compile a book"<ref>Qummī, ''Mafātīḥ al-jinān'', p. 12.</ref>.

In the second edition of ''Mafatih al-jinan'', [[Shaykh 'Abbas Qummi]] attached a section named ''Mulhaqat'' to the book.<ref>Qummī, ''Mafātīḥ al-jinān'', p. 869.</ref> In this part, eight new pieces of content have been attached to the book, that the author believed was a necessity for the readers: the [[Supplication of Farewell to Ramadan (by Imam al-Sadiq)|Du'a for the farewell of the month of Ramadan]], the Sermon of [[Eid al-Fitr]], Ziyara Jami'at A'immat al-Mu'minin, Du'a after Ziyaras, the Ziyara for the farewell after visiting the holy shrines of [[Imams (a)]], a sealed message for making requests, Du'a at the time of [[Occultation of Imam al-Mahdi (aj)]], and the manners of vicarious ziyara.

In order to prevent other things from being added to ''Mafatih al-jinan'', he had asked [[God]], [[the Prophet (s)]], and the Imams (a) to curse anybody that added anything to the book.<ref>Qummī, ''Mafātīḥ al-jinān'', p. 869.</ref> Although Shaykh 'Abbas Qummi did not allow any content to be added to ''Mafatih al-jinan'', publishers attached a second addenda to ''Mafatih al-jinan'' which contains the famous [[Hadith al-Kisa]].<ref>Qummī, ''Mafātīḥ al-jinān'', p. 985.</ref>

# The third chapter provides solutions for pains, difficulties, limbs aches, fever, etc. through various du'as are mentioned specifically for the removal of pain and different illnesses.

# The sixth chapter mentions the benefits of certain [[sura]]s, [[verse]]s and various du'as. The fruits of some Qur'anic suras and verses which are beneficial for daily problems are mentioned in this chapter such as, du'a for meeting a person in a dream, du'a for studying, manners of [['Aqiqa]], and performing [[Istikhara]] with the [[Qur'an]].

Since ''Mafatih al-jinan'' is sometimes needed in a variety of situations for example, whilst traveling, developers have designed various apps for devices including cellphones and tablets.

''Mafatih al-jinan'' has been translated into many languages including Farsi, English, French, Turkish, Urdu, and Spanish.

# Adding an introduction about [[du'a]], its status, and the reasons of its acceptance or refusal

# Adding introductions to each section of du'as and [[ziyara]]s

# Mentioning the references of du'as and ziyaras in the footnotes

# Removing some similar practices and selecting the best ones

# The new order of contents

# Removing some less authentic contents

# Studying the content of du'as and ziyaras and not just sufficing to the sources for selecting them

Some Years before the publication of ''Mafatih al-hayat'', Ayatollah Jawadi Amuli, the author, during a [[Friday Prayer]] sermon in [[Qom]] said: "We need a second volume for ''Mafatih al-jinan'', which has not been written yet. God bless [[Shaykh 'Abbas Qummi]] and other scholars, but prayers; [[Dhikr]]s and [[ziyara]]s are not the only part of the religion."