Prayers and Charms [IO Islamic 371] Anthology of Shīʿī prayers

Prayers and charms.

This manuscript is now IO Islamic 473 in the India Office collections.

[metadata: Otto Loth, A Catalogue of the Arabic Manuscripts in the Library of the India Office, (volume 1), no. 371 here with further notations and hyperlinks].

371.

473. Size 41/4 in. by 81/4 in.; foll. 400. Usually ten lines in a page.

A copious Shî’ah Prayer-book. Well written throughout, and mostly with vowel-points. Of the end of the eleventh and beginning of the twelfth century [=17th-18th century CE].

The following is a list of the principal contents:

I.Foll. 1-11. Benedictions on Muḥammad, beginning: اللهم صلّ علی محمد سیّد المرسلین, and proceeding in the same style, only the concluding words of each benediction being varied. A Persian introduction precedes.

II.Foll. 16-22. Some prayers, ascribed to ‘ALÎ; with Persian introduction and interlinear translation.

III.Foll. 23-75, on paper sprinkled with gold, and all written in the same hand, contain:

Foll. 23—26. Another prayer of ‘ALÎ.

Foll. 28-54. The great “Coat of Mail,” دعاء الجوشن الکبیر, handed down by السجّاد, i.e. ‘ALÎ ZAIN AL-‘ÂBIDÎN, from the Prophet, to whom it was communicated by Gabriel, in one of his campaigns.

Begins:

اللهمّ انی اسئلک باسمک یا الله یا رحمن یا رحیم

It is divided into one hundred sections (فصل), and preceded by an introduction. Cf. Cat. Mus. Brit. 77, and Cat. Lugd. iv. 345 [=Catalogus codicum orientalium Bibliothecae Academiae Lugduno-Batavae].

At the end of the introduction is the following note: نقل من حواشی المصباح للکفعمی. The seal of Fakhr al-dîn Muḥammad Ḥusainî (A.H. 1099) is impressed below.

Foll. 64-75. The little “Coat-of-mail Prayer,” دعاء الجوشن الصغیر, ascribed to the Imâm MÛSA KÂẒIM (d. A.H. 183, from whom it descended to ABU JA’FAR ṬÛSÎ (d. A.H. 460). The present text was collected during the years A.H. 503-514, from four different authorities, who received it from Ṭûsî, in Ramaḍan, 458, at the mausoleum of ‘Alî Riḍa (المشهد المقدّس الغَرَوی), near Ṭûs. Their names are, Abu ‘Alî al- Ḥasan b. Muḥammad b. ‘Alî Ṭûsî, Abu’l-wafâ ‘Abd al-jabbâr ..Râzî, Najm al-dîn Abu’l-Faḍl.. Ḥusainî, of Jurjân, and Abu ‘Abdallah Muḥammad b. Aḥmad b. al-Shahriyâr, guardian of the mausoleum of ‘Alî.1

The introduction, which contains the above statements, begins:

و منه ایضا الدعاء المعروف بدعاء الجوشن المرویّ عن موسی بن جعفر الکاظم.

The prayer commences:

آلهی کم من عدوّ انتضی علیّ سیف عداوته.

At the end of it (fol. 73v.) is added a charm, in several versions. Notes.

This copy is derived from a MS. of Mîr Muḥammad Bâḳir Dâmâd, by whom the charm was added. It is very neatly written, and was transcribed by Muḥammad b. Ḥusain Ḥusainî Astarâbâdî, for Mîr ‘Abd al-wahhâb Ḥusainî Sammâkî Astarâbâdî, at Aḥmadnagar (ببلدة احمدنکر من بلاد هند دکن), in A.H. 1095.

Between the two pieces last mentioned (foll. 54-64) the Burdah has been inserted, written across the pages.

The remainder, which, with the exception of the concluding portion, is written in one hand, contains:

IV. Foll. 76-106. Several prayers, ascribed to ‘ALÎ.

Fol. 76. A prayer in verse, from the Dîwân of ‘Alî, as edited by Saiyid Raḍî al-dîn. It begins:

لک الحمد یا ذا الجود و المجد و العلی

تبارکت تعطی من تشاء و تمنع.

With interlineation, notes, and introduction, in Persian.

Fol. 80. هذا دعاء المخمّس مروی عن امیر المؤمنین الخ.

Another prayer in five-lined strophes, beginning:

یا سماع الدعاءِ و یا رافع السماءِ

و یا دائم البقاءِ و یا واسع العطاءِ

لذی الفاقة العدیمِ.

There follows an advice how to use these two prayers, in Persian.

Fol. 87v. دعاء صباح از حضرت امیر المؤمنین الخ.

A morning prayer, beginning: اللهمّ یا من دلع لسان الصباح بنطق تبلّجه; with a Persian interlinear translation.

Fol. 103. A miraculous prayer, said to have been recited by ‘ALÎ before the battle of Nahrawân. It was subsequently communicated by the Imâm Mahdî to SA’ÎD السمِّری.

It begins: فَأَوْجَسَ فی نَفْسِهِ خِیفَةً مُوسَی (Sû. 20, 70).

The introduction is in Persian.

This piece was copied at Lahore, in Ramaḍân, 1098 (year thirty-one of Aurangzîb), from a MS., which had been transcribed at Tabrîz, A.H. 1090, from the copy of Mîrzâ Ibrâhîm, Wazîr of Âzarbaijân. The latter copy was derived from a MS. in the handwriting of Shaikh Mufîd (d. A.H. 413).

V. Foll. 109-121. A long prayer without title, beginning: اللهمّ انت الملک الحق المبین; to which is added (fol. 121)دعائی که بعد از (ختم) سیفی باید گفت, and (fol. 122) اختتام دعاء السیفی, the latter ascribed to ‘ALÎ. Hence it would appear that the first prayer is the دعاء السیف itself. This prayer seems to be also attributed to ‘ALÎ, and is mentioned in Cat. Bodl. ii. 393, 6; Cat. Mus. Brit. 382a; Flügel, Hdss. Wien, iii. 165, etc.

VI. Foll. 123v.-129. An advice how to use the حزب البحر of Shâdhilî. In Persian.

VII. Foll. 130-152. A long prayer, beginning: الهی من ذا الذی دعاک فلم تجبه.

It is preceded by a note in Perisan, in which it is called دعای علوی مصری, and its origin related as follows. MUḤAMMAD B. ‘ALÎ ‘Alawî Ḥusainî Miṣrî, persecuted by a tyrannical governor, fled to Karbalâ.

Here the Imâm Mahdî صاحب الزمان appeared to him in a dream, and taught him this prayer, which on its first recital caused the instant death of the tyrant.

VIII. Foll. 155v.-163. Prayers for Muḥammad and the twelve Imâms, to be recited on the seven week-days as follows: on Saturday, the prayer for Muḥammad; on Sunday, the prayer for ‘Alî; on Monday, the prayers for Ḥasan and Ḥusain; on Tuesday, those for Zain al-‘âbidîn, Muḥammad Bâḳir, and Ja’far Ṣâdiḳ; on Wednesday, those for Mûsa Kâẓim, ‘Alî Riḍa, Muḥammad Taḳî, and ‘Alî Naḳî; on Thursday, the prayer for Ḥasan ‘Askarî; and on Friday, that for Mahdî صاحب الزمان. Each prayer represents a visit to the respective sanctuary.

Beginning: روز شنبه زیارت حضرت رسول..نیّت کند که زیارت حضرت رسول..میکنم قربةً الی الله اشهد ان لا اله الّا الله.

IX. Foll. 164-174. A prayer to be recited on Friday evening; with a Persian introduction.

X. Foll. 175-182. من منهاج الصلاح دُعآء العَبَرات یدعی للحوائج العظام مروی عن الصادق عن امیر المومنین علیهما السلام.

The “Prayer of Tears,” so called from its beginning, اللهم یا راحم العبرات. It is taken from the work of IBN MUṬAHHAR ḤILLÎ, mentioned above (no. 342).

XI. Foll. 184-216. Prayers for the Imâms, taken from Ṭûsî’s مصباح المتهجّد.1

Foll. 184-196. هذه الصلوات علی النبی و آله من املاء سیدنا و مولانا ابا (!) محمد الحسن بن علی العسکری علیهما السلام.

Prayers for the Prophet and the Imâms, ascribed to the eleventh Imâm, ḤASAN ‘ASKARÎ, who dictated them to ‘Abdallah b. Muḥammad, at Surr-man-râ. A.H. 255.

Beginning: اخبرنا جماعة من اصحابنا عن ابی المفضّل الشیبانی قال حدثنا ابو محمد عبدالله بن محمد العابد بالدالیة لفظا قال سالت مولای ابا محمد الحسن بن علی الخ.

The first prayer is for Muḥammad, ‘Alî, and Fâṭimah; the second for Ḥasan and Ḥusain; and each following one for one of the other Imâms, including ‘Askarî himself, and his successor, Mahdî ولیّ الامر المنتظر.

Foll. 196-201. دعاء مرویّ عن صاحب الزمان عم.

A prayer for Muḥammad and his family, attributed to Mahdî. It was revealed to ABU’L- ḤASAN ḌARRÂB Iṣfahânî, at Makkah.

The Isnâd of this prayer is omitted for brevity’s sake.

It begins: اللهمّ صلّ علی محمد سیّد المرسلین.

Foll. 201-207. الدعاء لصاحب الامر المرویّ عن الرضا عم. A prayer for Mahdî, the Imâm who is to come, derived from ‘ALÎ RIḌA by YÛSUF B. ‘ABD AL-RAḤMÂN.

Begins: اللهم ادفع عن ولیّک و خلیفتک.

Foll. 207-216. الدعاء فی غیبة القائم من آل محمد.

A similar prayer, by ABU ‘AMR ‘OMARÎ, who dictated it to Abu ‘Alî Muḥammad b. Humâm,1 etc.

Begins: اللهمّ عرِّفْنی نفسک.

XII. Foll. 216-225. A Ḳaṣîdah in praise of the Prophet and his family, by SAIYID ḤIMYARÎ (Abu Hâshim Ismâ’îl b. Muḥammad, d. A.H. 179 or 171), the same as Cat. Mus. Brit. 402, xi.

It is preceded by an introduction, which begins: اقول وجدت فی بعض تالیفات اصحابنا انّه روی باسناده عن سهیل بن زبیان قال دخلت علی الامام علی الخ.

From this we learn that the Ḳaṣîdah was composed by the poet in Heaven, and that it was first made known to the world by ‘ALÎ RIḌA, who learned it in a dream. With an interlinear Persian translation.

XIII. Foll. 225-233. A prayer for ‘Alî. It begins: اللهم صلّ علی علیّ امیر المؤمنین.

XIV. Foll. 234-275. A long prayer for Muḥammad, beginning: الصلوة و السلام علی من خلقه الله من نوره.

A considerable portion of it consists of verses from the Koran, which are invariably introduced by the words الصلوة و السلام علیک یا من قال الله تعالی فی حقّه.

Foll. 260-65 Have been reversed in binding.

XV. Foll. 276-311. Names and attributes of God, selected from the Koran.

According to the Persian introduction, this selection was made by ‘ALÎ during Muḥammad’s lifetime, with his and Gabriel’s approbation.

XVI. Foll. 316-325. هذه مناجاة النفس لعلی بن الحسین عم. A prayer, ascribed to ‘ALÎ ZAIN AL-‘ÂBIDÎN.

The name of it is taken from the beginning, آه وانفساه.

It is followed (fol. 324) by ‘ALÎ’s night prayer, inscribed کان امیر المؤمنین عم یدعو فی جوف اللیل.

It begins: الهي كم من موبقة.

The rest of the MS. contains chiefly selections from the Koran.

XVII. Foll. 385-399, of different paper, and added at a somewhat later date, contain:

Prayers for Muḥammad and the twelve Imâms, beginning: اللهم صلّ علی النبی الامّی العربی الهاشمی القرشی المکی المدنی.

(Fol. 394). دعاء استشفاع دوازده امام خواجه نصیر الدین طوسی رحمه الله. Invocations of ‘Alî, Fâṭimah, and the Imâms in succession, ascribed to NAṢÎR AL-DÎN ṬÛSÎ (d. A.H. 672).

Beginning: اللهمّ انّی اسئلک و اتوجّه الیک بنبیّک.

This piece is written in a bold hand, by ‘Izz al-dîn Ḥasan, A.H. 1127. Red lines round the pages.

Bound breadthways.

[Johnson.]

1 See no. 334.

1 See his Fihrist, p. ۲۸۸, I. 6, and above, no. 342.

1 See regarding him Ṭûsî, p. ۳۲۴.