wikishia:Featured Article/2016/26

Al-Jawshan al-Kabīr (Arabic: الجوشن الکبیر) is a supplication cited from the Prophet (s). Imam al-Sajjad (a) cited his father, Imam al-Husayn (a) who cited his father, Imam 'Ali (a) who cited the Prophet (s) as saying that in one battle, the Prophet (s) was wearing a heavy armor and it was bothering him. Gabriel appeared for the Prophet (s) and saluted him, and then told him: "take off the armor and, instead, recite this supplication which brings safety for you and your people". Hence, the supplication is called "al-Jawshan al-Kabir" (the great armor).

The supplication has 100 section, each containing 10 of divine names and attributes, except for the 55th section that contains 11 such names and attributes. Thus the supplication contains 1001 divine names and attributes.

According to a hadith, if a person recites the supplication when he or she leaves home, God will protect and reward him or her. And if a person writes the supplication on their shroud, they will be protected from the tortures of the grave. If a person recites it at the beginning of the month of Ramadan, God will give him or her the reward of Laylat al-Qadr. And if a person recites it three times during the month of Ramadan, God will protect him or her in their lifetime. Read more...