Prayers and Amaals of Welcoming Ramadan (Ramaḍān)
Watching the New Moon (Istihlal): It is highly recommended to watch the new moon of Ramadan at the first night of it. Moreover, some scholars have decided this act as obligatory.
When your eyes fall on the new moon, you must not point to it; rather, you should turn yourself towards the kiblah direction, raise both your hands towards the sky, and address the new moon with the following words:
رَبِّي وَ رَبُّكَ اللّٰهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ اللّٰهُمَّ اَهِلَّهُ عَلَيْنَا بِالْاَمْنِ وَ الْاِيمَانِ وَ السَّلامَةِ وَ الْاِسْلامِ وَ الْمُسَارَعَةِ اِلَى مَا تُحِبُّ وَ تَرْضَى اللّٰهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِي شَهْرِنَا هٰذَا وَ ارْزُقْنَا خَيْرَهُ وَ عَوْنَهُ وَ اصْرِفْ عَنَّا ضُرَّهُ وَ شَرَّهُ وَ بَلاءَهُ وَ فِتْنَتَهُ.
Translation:
Your and my Lord is Allah; the Lord of the worlds. O Allah: (please do) cause this crescent to carry with it for us security and faith And safety and Islam And expedition to whatever You love and please O Allah: (please do) bless us in this month, And confer upon us with its goodness and aid, And save us from its harm, evil, ordeals, and sedition.
It has been narrated that when the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) would see the new moon of Ramadan, he would turn his face to the kiblah direction and say the following:
اللّٰهُمَّ اَهِلَّهُ عَلَيْنَا بِالْاَمْنِ وَ الْاِيمَانِ وَ السَّلامَةِ وَ الْاِسْلامِ وَ الْعَافِيَةِ الْمُجَلَّلَةِ وَ دِفَاعِ الْاَسْقَامِ وَ الْعَوْنِ عَلَى الصَّلاةِ وَ الصِّيَامِ وَ الْقِيَامِ وَ تِلاوَةِ الْقُرْآنِ اللّٰهُمَّ سَلِّمْنَا لِشَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وَ تَسَلَّمْهُ مِنَّا وَ سَلِّمْنَا فِيهِ حَتَّى يَنْقَضِيَ عَنَّا شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ وَ قَدْ عَفَوْتَ عَنَّا وَ غَفَرْتَ لَنَا وَ رَحِمْتَنَا
Translation:
O Allah: (please do) cause this crescent to carry with it for us security and faith And safety and Islam And encompassing good health and repulsion of ailments, And assistance on praying, observing fasting, and doing acts of worship, And on reciting the Qur'an. O Allah: (please do) keep us sound for the month of Ramadan, And accept our deeds during it, And save us during it, Until the month of Ramadan will not elapse Except that You have pardoned us, forgiven us, and had mercy upon us
Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq(a.s.) is also reported to have said: When you see the new moon of Ramadan, you may say the following:
اللّٰهُمَّ قَدْ حَضَرَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ وَ قَدِ افْتَرَضْتَ عَلَيْنَا صِيَامَهُ وَ اَنْزَلْتَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنَ هُدًى لِلنَّاسِ وَ بَيِّنَاتٍ مِنَ الْهُدَى وَ الْفُرْقَانِ اللّٰهُمَّ اَعِنَّا عَلَى صِيَامِهِ وَ تَقَبَّلْهُ مِنَّا وَ سَلِّمْنَا فِيهِ وَ سَلِّمْنَا مِنْهُ وَ سَلِّمْهُ لَنَا فِي يُسْرٍ مِنْكَ وَ عَافِيَةٍ اِنَّكَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ يَا رَحْمَانُ يَا رَحِيمُ.
Translation:
O Allah: the month of Ramadan has commenced, And You have made obligatory upon us to observe fasting during it, And You revealed the Qur'an in it, As guidance for people and clear proofs of true guidance and distinction (between the right and the wrong). O Allah: (please) help us observe fasting in it, And accept it from us, And keep us safe during it, And help us observe it adequately, And keep it sound for us with easiness and good health from You. You verily have power over all things. O the All-beneficent, O the All-merciful
It is recommended, at the sight of the new moon of Ramadan, to say the supplication No. 43 of al-Sahifah al-Kamilah al-Sajjadiyyah. Sayyid Ibn Tawus narrated that Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn Zayn al-’Abidin(a.s.), once, gazed at the new moon of Ramadan while he was walking. He therefore stopped and said the following:
اَيُّهَا الْخَلْقُ الْمُطِيعُ الدَّائِبُ السَّرِيعُ الْمُتَرَدِّدُ فِي مَنَازِلِ التَّقْدِيرِ الْمُتَصَرِّفُ فِي فَلَكِ التَّدْبِيرِ آمَنْتُ بِمَنْ نَوَّرَ بِكَ الظُّلَمَ وَ اَوْضَحَ بِكَ الْبُهَمَ وَ جَعَلَكَ آيَةً مِنْ آيَاتِ مُلْكِهِ وَ عَلامَةً مِنْ عَلامَاتِ سُلْطَانِهِ فَحَدَّ بِكَ الزَّمَانَ وَ امْتَهَنَكَ بِالْكَمَالِ وَ النُّقْصَانِ وَ الطُّلُوعِ وَ الْاُفُولِ وَ الْاِنَارَةِ وَ الْكُسُوفِ فِي كُلِّ ذَلِكَ اَنْتَ لَهُ مُطِيعٌ وَ اِلَى اِرَادَتِهِ سَرِيعٌ سُبْحَانَهُ مَا اَعْجَبَ مَا دَبَّرَ مِنْ اَمْرِكَ وَ اَلْطَفَ مَا صَنَعَ فِي شَأْنِكَ جَعَلَكَ مِفْتَاحَ شَهْرٍ حَادِثٍ لِاَمْرٍ حَادِثٍ فَاَسْاَلُ اللّٰهَ رَبِّي وَ رَبَّكَ وَ خَالِقِي وَ خَالِقَكَ وَ مُقَدِّرِي وَ مُقَدِّرَكَ وَ مُصَوِّرِي وَ مُصَوِّرَكَ ، اَنْ يُصَلِّيَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ اَنْ يَجْعَلَكَ هِلالَ بَرَكَةٍ لا تَمْحَقُهَا الْاَيَّامُ وَ طَهَارَةٍ لا تُدَنِّسُهَا الْآثَامُ هِلالَ اَمْنٍ مِنَ الْآفَاتِ وَ سَلامَةٍ مِنَ السَّيِّئَاتِ هِلالَ سَعْدٍ لا نَحْسَ فِيهِ وَ يُمْنٍ لا نَكَدَ مَعَهُ وَ يُسْرٍ لا يُمَازِجُهُ عُسْرٌ وَ خَيْرٍ لا يَشُوبُهُ شَرٌّ هِلالَ اَمْنٍ وَ اِيمَانٍ وَ نِعْمَةٍ وَ اِحْسَانٍ وَ سَلامَةٍ وَ اِسْلامٍ اللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ اجْعَلْنَا مِنْ اَرْضَى مَنْ طَلَعَ عَلَيْهِ، وَ اَزْكَى مَنْ نَظَرَ اِلَيْهِ وَ اَسْعَدَ مَنْ تَعَبَّدَ لَكَ فِيهِ وَ وَفِّقْنَا اللّٰهُمَّ فِيهِ لِلطَّاعَةِ وَ التَّوْبَةِ وَ اعْصِمْنَا فِيهِ مِنَ الْآثَامِ وَ الْحَوْبَةِ وَ اَوْزِعْنَا فِيهِ شُكْرَ النِّعْمَةِ وَ اَلْبِسْنَا فِيهِ جُنَنَ الْعَافِيَةِ وَ اَتْمِمْ عَلَيْنَا بِاسْتِكْمَالِ طَاعَتِكَ فِيهِ الْمِنَّةَ اِنَّكَ اَنْتَ الْمَنَّانُ الْحَمِيدُ وَ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ الطَّيِّبِينَ وَ اجْعَلْ لَنَا فِيهِ عَوْنا مِنْكَ عَلَى مَا نَدَبْتَنَا اِلَيْهِ مِنْ مُفْتَرَضِ طَاعَتِكَ وَ تَقَبَّلْهَا اِنَّكَ الْاَكْرَمُ مِنْ كُلِّ كَرِيمٍ وَ الْاَرْحَمُ مِنْ كُلِّ رَحِيمٍ آمِينَ آمِينَ رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ.
Translation:
O obedient creature, speedy and untiring, frequenter of the mansions of determination, moving about in the sphere of governance! I have faith in Him Who lights up darknesses through you, illuminates jet-black shadows by you, appointed you one of the signs of His kingdom And one of the marks of His authority, So, He identified time through You, And humbled you through increase and decrease, And rising and setting, And illumination and eclipse. In all of this you are obedient to Him, And prompt toward His will. Glory be to Him! How wonderful is what He has arranged in Your situation! How subtle what He has made for Your task! He has made You the key to a new month for a new situation. So I ask Allah, my Lord and Your Lord, my Creator and Your Creator, my Determiner and Your Determiner, my Form-giver and Your Form-giver, that He bless Muhammad and his Household and appoint You a crescent of blessings not effaced by days and of purity not defiled by sins; a crescent of security from blights and of safety from evil deeds; a crescent of auspiciousness containing no misfortune, of prosperity accompanied by no adversity, of ease not mixed with difficulty, of good unstained by evil; a crescent of security and faith, favor and good-doing, safety and submission! O Allah, bless Muhammad and his Household, place us among the most satisfied of those over whom the crescent has risen, the purest of those who have looked upon it, the most fortunate of those who have worshiped You under it; give us the success during [the new month] to repent, preserve us within it from misdeeds and exposition to punishment, allot to us within it thanksgiving for Your favor, clothe us during it in the shields of well-being, and complete for us Your kindness by perfecting therein obedience to You! Surely You are All-kind, Praiseworthy. And bless Muhammad and his Household, the good, the pure. And grant us aid from You to carry out that which You have ordered us to do in it; Such as the obedience to You which You have made incumbent upon us, and accept them from us, for You are the most Generous of all those who show generosity and the most Merciful of all those who show mercy. Respond! Respond! O the Lord of the Worlds.
It is highly advisable to bathe oneself at this night. A Hadith reads that if one washes himself at the first night of Ramadan, one will be secured against prurigo up to the next Ramadan.
It is recommended to bathe oneself in a flowing river and to pour on the head thirty handfuls of water so as to be mentally pure up to the next Ramadan.
It is recommended to visit the holy tomb of Imam al-Husayn (a.s.) so that sins will be forgiven and the like of the reward of those who undertake Hajj and ‘Umrah in that year will be gained.
It is recommended to offer a two unit prayer reciting in each unit Surah al-Faatehah and Surah al-An’am (No. 6) and to pray Almighty Allah for security against apprehensions and ailments.
It is recommended to offer a two unit prayer reciting in each unit Surah al-Faatehah and Surah al-An’am (No. 6) and to pray Almighty Allah for security against apprehensions and ailments.
It is recommended to say this supplicatory prayer
اَللّٰھُمَّ إنَّ ہذَا الشَّھْرَ الْمُبارَکَ الَّذِی ٲُ نْزِلَ فِیہِ الْقُرْآنُ وَجُعِلَ ھُدیً لِلنَّاسِ وَبَیِّناتٍ مِنَ الْھُدی وَالْفُرْقانِ قَدْ حَضَرَ فَسَلِّمْنا فِیہِ وَسَلِّمْہُ لَنا وَتَسَلَّمْہُ مِنّا فِی یُسْرٍ مِنْکَ وَعافِیَۃٍ، یَا مَنْ اَخَذَ الْقَلِیلَ وَشَکَرَ الْکَثِیرَ اقْبَلْ مِنِّی الْیَسِیرَ ۔ اَللّٰھُمَّ إنِّی اَسْاَ لُکَ اَنْ تَجْعَلَ لِی إلی کُلِّ خَیْرٍ سَبِیلاً، وَمِنْ کُلِّ مَا لاَ تُحِبُّ مانِعاً یَا اَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِینَ یَا مَنْ عَفا عَنِّی وَعَمَّا خَلَوْتُ بِہِ مِنَ السَّیِّئاتِ یَا مَنْ لَمْ یُؤاخِذْنِی بِارْتِکابِ الْمَعاصِی عَفْوَکَ عَفْوَکَ عَفْوَکَ یَا کَرِیمُ إلھِی وَعَظْتَنِی فَلَمْ اَ تَّعِظْ ، وَزَجَرْتَنِی عَنْ مَحارِمِکَ فَلَمْ اَ نْزَجِرْ، فَما عُذْرِی فَاعْفُ عَنِّی یَا کَرِیمُ، عَفْوَکَ عَفْوَکَ ۔ اَللّٰھُمَّ إنِّی اَسْاَ لُکَ الرَّاحَۃَ عِنْدَ الْمَوْتِ، وَالْعَفْوَ عِنْدَ الْحِسابِ، عَظُمَ الذَّنْبُ مِنْ عَبْدِکَ فَلْیَحْسُنِ التَّجاوُزُ مِنْ عِنْدِکَ ، یَا اَھْلَ التَّقْوی وَیَا اَھْلَ الْمَغْفِرَۃِ، عَفْوَکَ عَفْوَکَ اَللّٰھُمَّ إنِّی عَبْدُکَ بْنُ عَبْدِکَ بْنُ اَمَتِکَ ضَعِیفٌ فَقِیرٌ إلی رَحْمَتِکَ وَاَ نْتَ مُنْزِلُ الْغِنی وَالْبَرَکَۃِ عَلَی الْعِبادِ، قاھِرٌ مُقْتَدِرٌ اَحْصَیْتَ اَعْمالَھُمْ، وَقَسَمْتَ اَرْزاقَھُمْ وَجَعَلْتَھُمْ مُخْتَلِفَۃً اَ لْسِنَتُھُمْ وَاَ لْوانُھُمْ خَلْقاً مِنْ بَعْدِ خَلْقٍ، وَلاَ یَعْلَمُ الْعِبادُ عِلْمَکَ، وَلاَ یَقْدِرُ الْعِبادُ قَدْرَکَ، وَکُلُّنا فَقِیرٌ إلی رَحْمَتِکَ، فَلا تَصْرِفْ عَنِّی وَجْھَکَ، وَاجْعَلْنِی مِنْ صالِحِی خَلْقِکَ فِی الْعَمَلِ وَالْاَمَلِ وَالْقَضائِ وَالْقَدَرِ اَللّٰھُمَّ اَبْقِنِی خَیْرَ الْبَقائِ وَاَفْنِنِی خَیْرَ الْفَنائِ عَلَی مُوالاۃِ اَوْ لِیائِکَ، وَمُعاداۃِ اَعْدائِکَ وَالرَّغْبَۃِ إلَیْکَ، وَالرَّھْبَۃِ مِنْکَ وَالْخُشُوعِ وَالْوَفائِ وَالتَّسْلِیمِ لَکَ، وَالتَّصْدِیقِ بِکِتابِکَ ، وَاتِّباعِ سُنَّۃِ رَسُو لِکَ اَللّٰھُمَّ مَا کانَ فِی قَلْبِی مِنْ شَکٍّ اَوْ رِیبَۃٍ اَوْ جُحُودٍ اَوْ قُنُوطٍ اَوْ فَرَحٍ اَوْ بَذَخٍ اَوْبَطَرٍ اَوْ خُیَلائَ اَوْ رِیائٍ اَوْ سُمْعَۃٍ اَوْ شِقاقٍ اَوْ نِفاقٍ اَوْ کُفْرٍ اَوْ فُسُوقٍ اَوْ عِصْیانٍ اَوْ عَظَمَۃٍ اَوْ شَیْئٍ لاَ تُحِبُّ، فَاَسْاَ لُکَ یَا رَبِّ اَنْ تُبَدِّلَنِی مَکانَہُ إیماناً بِوَعْدِکَ وَوَفائً بِعَھْدِکَ، وَرِضاً بِقَضائِکَ، وَزُھْداً فِی الدُّنْیا، وَرَغْبَۃً فِیما عِنْدَکَ، وَ اَثَرَۃً وَطُمَٲْنِینَۃً وَتَوْبَۃً نَصُوحاً، اَسْاَ لُکَ ذلِکَ یَا رَبَّ الْعالَمِینَ ۔ إلھِی اَ نْتَ مِنْ حِلْمِکَ تُعْصی فَکَاَنَّکَ لَمْ تُرَ، وَمِنْ کَرَمِکَ وَجُودِکَ تُطاعُ فَکَاَ نَّکَ لَمْ تُعْصَ وَاَ نَا وَمَنْ لَمْ یَعْصِکَ سُکَّانُ اَرْضِکَ فَکُنْ عَلَیْنا بِالْفَضْلِ جَواداً وَبِالْخَیْرِ عَوَّاداً، یَا اَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِینَ وَصَلَّی اللّهُ عَلَی مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِہِ صَلاۃً دائِمَۃً لاَ تُحْصی وَلاَ تُعَدُّ وَلاَ یَقْدِرُ قَدْرَہا غَیْرُکَ یَا اَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِینَ ۔
Translation:
O Allah, this blessed month in which the Qur'an was revealed and was made guidance for people and clear proofs of the guidance, and the Criterion (of right and wrong), has commenced. So, (please) keep us out of blemish during it, keep it sound for us, and receive it from us with means of easiness and good health from You. O He Who has accepted the little (deed) and thanked for the much, (please) accept from me the little (deed). O Allah, I beseech You to make for me a path to every decency, and to make for me a barrier against everything that You do not like. O most Merciful of all those who show mercy! O He Who has pardoned me and overlooked the misdeeds that I have committed secretly! O He Who has not punished me for my committing acts of disobedience to Him! I seek Your pardon, I seek Your pardon, I seek Your pardon, O All-generous! O my God, You advised me, but I have not followed Your advice and You rebuked me for violating that which You have deemed forbidden, but I have not stopped. Now, what is my excuse? So, (please) pardon me, O All-generous! I seek Your pardon, I seek Your pardon! O Allah, I beseech You for rest at death and for pardon at calling to account. Great is the sin of Your servant; so, let Your overlooking him be excellent. O He Who is worth being feared and is worth forgiving! I seek Your pardon, I seek Your pardon. O Allah, I am Your servant and the son of Your servant and Your she-servant and I am weak and in need for Your mercy; while You are the Pourer of wealth and bless on the servants (of You), You are omnipotent and full of power, You have recorded all their (i.e. Your servants) deeds, decided the sustenance of each one them, and made them of different languages and colors in different stages of creation. Your servants can never attain Your knowledge and Your servants can never recognize the real estimate that is due to You. All of us are needy for Your mercy. So, (please) do not turn Your Face away from me and include me with the virtuous creatures of You in deeds, hopes, and Your decisions (for me). O Allah, (please) keep me alive in the best manner of living, decide for me to die in the best manner of death keeping loyal to Your representatives, incurring the enmity of Your enemies, keeping desiring for You, fearing from You, and submitting to You, being loyal to You, complying with You, believing in Your Book, and following Your Prophet’s instructions. O Allah, as for whatever I bear in my heart, including suspicion, doubt, denial, despair, (excessive) joy, lavish expenditure or recklessness, pride, arrogance, ostentation, discord, hypocrisy, unbelief, licentiousness, disobedience, conceit, or anything else that You do not like; I thus beseech You, O my Lord, to substitute all that with belief in Your promise, fulfillment of my covenant to You, satisfaction with what You decide for me, indifference to the worldly pleasures, desire for that which You have, altruism, tranquility, and sincere repentance. I beseech You for all that, O Lord of the worlds! O my God, because You are so forbearing, You are disobeyed as if You are not present, and because You are so generous and magnanimous, You are obeyed as if You have not been disobeyed at all. Both those who have not disobeyed You and I are the inhabitants of Your lands; so, (please) confer magnanimously upon us with Your favors and always refer to us with Your goodness. O most Merciful of all those who show mercy! May Allah bless Muhammad and his Household with endless blessings that are innumerable, uncountable, and none can do it save You. O most Merciful of all those who show mercy!
It is recommended to say the following supplicatory prayer while raising the hands after the Maghrib Prayer. The supplicatory prayer has been reported in al-Iqbal from Imam Muhammad and Jawad al-Taqi(a.s.):
اللّٰهُمَّ يَا مَنْ يَمْلِكُ التَّدْبِيرَ وَ هُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ يَا مَنْ يَعْلَمُ خَائِنَةَ الْاَعْيُنِ وَ مَا تُخْفِي الصُّدُورُ وَ تُجِنُّ الضَّمِيرُ وَ هُوَ اللَّطِيفُ الْخَبِيرُ اللّٰهُمَّ اجْعَلْنَا مِمَّنْ نَوَى فَعَمِلَ وَ لا تَجْعَلْنَا مِمَّنْ شَقِيَ فَكَسِلَ وَ لا مِمَّنْ هُوَ عَلَى غَيْرِ عَمَلٍ يَتَّكِلُ اللّٰهُمَّ صَحِّحْ اَبْدَانَنَا مِنَ الْعِلَلِ وَ اَعِنَّا عَلَى مَا افْتَرَضْتَ عَلَيْنَا مِنَ الْعَمَلِ حَتَّى يَنْقَضِيَ عَنَّا شَهْرُكَ هٰذَا وَ قَدْ اَدَّيْنَا مَفْرُوضَكَ فِيهِ عَلَيْنَا اللّٰهُمَّ اَعِنَّا عَلَى صِيَامِهِ وَ وَفِّقْنَا لِقِيَامِهِ وَ نَشِّطْنَا فِيهِ لِلصَّلاةِ وَ لا تَحْجُبْنَا مِنَ الْقِرَاءَةِ وَ سَهِّلْ لَنَا فِيهِ اِيتَاءَ الزَّكَاةِ اللّٰهُمَّ لا تُسَلِّطْ عَلَيْنَا وَصَبا وَ لا تَعَبا وَ لا سَقَما وَ لا عَطَبا. اللّٰهُمَّ ارْزُقْنَا الْاِفْطَارَ مِنْ رِزْقِكَ الْحَلالِ اللّٰهُمَّ سَهِّلْ لَنَا فِيهِ مَا قَسَمْتَهُ مِنْ رِزْقِكَ وَ يَسِّرْ مَا قَدَّرْتَهُ مِنْ اَمْرِكَ وَ اجْعَلْهُ حَلالا طَيِّبا نَقِيّا مِنَ الْآثَامِ خَالِصا مِنَ الْآصَارِ وَ الْاَجْرَامِ اللّٰهُمَّ لا تُطْعِمْنَا اِلا طَيِّبا غَيْرَ خَبِيثٍ وَ لا حَرَامٍ وَ اجْعَلْ رِزْقَكَ لَنَا حَلالا لا يَشُوبُهُ دَنَسٌ وَ لا اَسْقَامٌ يَا مَنْ عِلْمُهُ بِالسِّرِّ كَعِلْمِهِ بِالْاَعْلانِ يَا مُتَفَضِّلا عَلَى عِبَادِهِ بِالْاِحْسَانِ يَا مَنْ هُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ وَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ اَلْهِمْنَا ذِكْرَكَ وَ جَنِّبْنَا عُسْرَكَ وَ اَنِلْنَا يُسْرَكَ وَ اهْدِنَا لِلرَّشَادِ وَ وَفِّقْنَا لِلسَّدَادِ وَ اعْصِمْنَا مِنَ الْبَلايَا وَ صُنَّا مِنَ الْاَوْزَارِ وَ الْخَطَايَا يَا مَنْ لا يَغْفِرُ عَظِيمَ الذُّنُوبِ غَيْرُهُ وَ لا يَكْشِفُ السُّوءَ اِلا هُوَ يَا اَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ ، وَ اَكْرَمَ الْاَكْرَمِينَ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ اَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ الطَّيِّبِينَ وَ اجْعَلْ صِيَامَنَا مَقْبُولا وَ بِالْبِرِّ وَ التَّقْوَى مَوْصُولا وَ كَذَلِكَ فَاجْعَلْ سَعْيَنَا مَشْكُورا وَ قِيَامَنَا مَبْرُورا وَ قُرْآنَنَا مَرْفُوعا وَ دُعَاءَنَا مَسْمُوعا وَ اهْدِنَا لِلْحُسْنَى وَ جَنِّبْنَا الْعُسْرَى وَ يَسِّرْنَا لِلْيُسْرَى وَ اَعْلِ لَنَا الدَّرَجَاتِ وَ ضَاعِفْ لَنَا الْحَسَنَاتِ وَ اقْبَلْ مِنَّا الصَّوْمَ وَ الصَّلاةَ وَ اسْمَعْ مِنَّا الدَّعَوَاتِ وَ اغْفِرْ لَنَا الْخَطِيئَاتِ وَ تَجَاوَزْ عَنَّا السَّيِّئَاتِ وَ اجْعَلْنَا مِنَ الْعَامِلِينَ الْفَائِزِينَ وَ لا تَجْعَلْنَا مِنَ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَ لا الضَّالِّينَ حَتَّى يَنْقَضِيَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ عَنَّا وَ قَدْ قَبِلْتَ فِيهِ صِيَامَنَا وَ قِيَامَنَا وَ زَكَّيْتَ فِيهِ اَعْمَالَنَا وَ غَفَرْتَ فِيهِ ذُنُوبَنَا وَ اَجْزَلْتَ فِيهِ مِنْ كُلِّ خَيْرٍ نَصِيبَنَا فَاِنَّكَ الْاِلَهُ الْمُجِيبُ وَ الرَّبُّ الْقَرِيبُ وَ اَنْتَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ مُحِيطٌ .
Translation:
O Allah Who controls the management of all affairs and He has power over all things! O He Who knows the stealth of looks, that which breasts conceal, and that which selves hide and He is the Knower of subtle, the Aware! O Allah, (please do) include us with those who intend and carried out their intentions, and do not include us with those who are unhappy due to their laziness or with those who depend upon unreal hopes. O Allah, (please do) cure our bodies from ailments and help us carry out the deeds You have made incumbent upon us to do so that when this month, which is Your month, elapses, we shall have carried out all the duties that You have made obligatory upon us to do. O Allah, (please do) help us observe fasting in this month, guide us to practice the acts of worship (perfectly), grant us vigor to offer prayers, do not preclude us from reciting (the Holy Qur'an), and make easy for us to give alms. O Allah, (please) do not inflict us with fatigue, tiredness, ailment, or injury. O Allah, (please do) grant us the food with which we break our fasting from Your sustenance that is legally gotten. O Allah, (please do) make easy for us the gaining of Your sustenance that You decide for us, facilitate for us gaining that which You decide for us, and make it pure, empty of sins, and free from offenses and flaws. O Allah, (please) do not feed us except the good that is neither bad nor forbidden. (Please do) let the sustenance that You decide for us be legal, carrying neither filth nor diseases. O He Who knows the secret in the same was as He knows the public! O He Who confers upon His servants with benevolence! O He Who has power over all things and has acquaintance with all things! (Please do) bestow upon us with (ceaseless) reference to You, keep us away Your difficulty, make us obtain Your ease, guide us to the right path, lead us to righteousness, protect us against misfortunes, and safeguard us against sins and faults. O He save Whom none forgives the grave sins and none can relieve from hardships! O most Merciful of all those who show mercy and most Generous of all those who show generosity! (Please do) send blessings to Muhammad and his Household the pure and decide our fasting to be acceptable and connected to piety and godliness. Similarly, (please do) decide our efforts to be praiseworthy, our acts of worship admissible, our reciting of the Qur'an raised (to the heavens), and our supplications responded. (Please do) guide us to the most excellent way, save us from difficulties, facilitate for us the easy end, elevate our ranks, double the rewards for our good deeds, accept our fasting and prayers, react to our supplications, forgive our sins, overlook our wrongdoings, make us of the successful worshippers, and do not include us with those who earn Your anger nor of those who go astray so that when the month of Ramadan elapses, You shall have accepted our fasting and acts of worship, blessed our deeds, forgiven our sins, and doubled our shares from all good things. Verily, You are the God Who responds, the Lord Who is Nigh, and You encompass all things.
It is recommended to say the following supplicatory prayer that is reported from Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq(a.s.) as is mentioned in the book of al-Iqbal:
اللّٰهُمَّ رَبَّ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ مُنَزِّلَ الْقُرْآنِ هٰذَا شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي اَنْزَلْتَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنَ وَ اَنْزَلْتَ فِيهِ آيَاتٍ بَيِّنَاتٍ مِنَ الْهُدَى وَ الْفُرْقَانِ اللّٰهُمَّ ارْزُقْنَا صِيَامَهُ وَ اَعِنَّا عَلَى قِيَامِهِ اللّٰهُمَّ سَلِّمْهُ لَنَا وَ سَلِّمْنَا فِيهِ وَ تَسَلَّمْهُ مِنَّا فِي يُسْرٍ مِنْكَ وَ مُعَافَاةٍ وَ اجْعَلْ فِيمَا تَقْضِي وَ تُقَدِّرُ مِنَ الْاَمْرِ الْمَحْتُومِ وَ فِيمَا تَفْرُقُ مِنَ الْاَمْرِ الْحَكِيمِ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ مِنَ الْقَضَاءِ الَّذِي لا يُرَدُّ وَ لا يُبَدَّلُ اَنْ تَكْتُبَنِي مِنْ حُجَّاجِ بَيْتِكَ الْحَرَامِ الْمَبْرُورِ حَجُّهُمْ الْمَشْكُورِ سَعْيُهُمْ الْمَغْفُورِ ذُنُوبُهُمْ الْمُكَفَّرِ عَنْهُمْ سَيِّئَاتُهُمْ وَ اجْعَلْ فِيمَا تَقْضِي وَ تُقَدِّرُ اَنْ تُطِيلَ لِي فِي عُمْرِي وَ تُوَسِّعَ عَلَيَّ مِنَ الرِّزْقِ الْحَلالِ .
Translation:
O Allah, the Lord of the month of Ramadan and the Revealer of the Qur'an. This is the month of Ramadan in which You revealed the Qur'an and revealed therein chapters of true guidance and distinction (between the right and the wrong). O Allah, make us observe fast in its days and remain awake in its nights to pray. O Allah, let it be peaceful for us, keep us in sound condition for it, and receive it from us with easiness and wellbeing. While taking decisions from among Your inevitable decisions and from among that which You decide from the wise affairs at the Destiny Night from the act that is neither rejected nor altered, (please) write my name in the list of those pilgrims to Your Sacred House whose pilgrimage receives Your approval, whose efforts are appreciated, whose sins are forgiven, and whose wrongdoings are overlooked. While making decisions and rendering possible things and events, (please) grant me long lifetime and my sustenance, making it from legal sources only.
It is recommended to say the supplicatory prayer No. 44 of al-Sahifah al-Kamilah al-Sajjadiyyah, which begins with the following statement:
According to a Hadith, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) used to say this supplicatory prayerat the beginning of Ramadan.
اللّٰهُمَّ اِنَّهُ قَدْ دَخَلَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ اللّٰهُمَّ رَبَّ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي اَنْزَلْتَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنَ وَ جَعَلْتَهُ بَيِّنَاتٍ مِنَ الْهُدَى وَ الْفُرْقَانِ اللّٰهُمَّ فَبَارِكْ لَنَا فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وَ اَعِنَّا عَلَى صِيَامِهِ وَ صَلَوَاتِهِ وَ تَقَبَّلْهُ مِنَّا
Translation:
O Allah: This month of Ramadhan, in which You revealed the Qur'an, As guidance for people and clear proofs of true guidance and distinction (between the right and the wrong), Has commenced. O Allah: in this month, I seek Your protection against Satan, the accursed, And against his tricks and his ruses, And his deception and his trickeries, And his parties and his riding forces, And his on foot forces and his evil inspirations, And against straying off after being guided, And against atheism after belief, And against hypocrisy and showing off and felonies, And against the evil of the whisperings of the slinking Devil, Who whispers into the hearts of men; From among the jinn and the men. O Allah: and confer upon me with the fasting and the doing of acts of worship during this month, And with the doing of acts of obedience to You, And to Your Messenger and the Men in Authority, May peace be upon him and them, And the doing of whatever act that takes me near You, And (please) take me away from acts of disobedience to You. And confer upon me in this month with repentance, turning to You, and responding to Your instructions. And protect me in it against backbiting and lethargy and failure. And respond my prayers in it. And grant me well-being for my body and my intellect. And grant me time to do acts of obedience to You as well as acts that take me near You. O the All-generous; O the All-magnanimous. O the All-generous: (please) send blessings upon Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad, Peace be upon him and them, And do all that to us, O the most Merciful of all those who show mercy.
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) is also reported to have said the following supplicatory prayer at the first night of Ramadan:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي اَكْرَمَنَا بِكَ اَيُّهَا الشَّهْرُ الْمُبَارَكُ اللّٰهُمَّ فَقَوِّنَا عَلَى صِيَامِنَا وَ قِيَامِنَا وَ ثَبِّتْ اَقْدَامَنَا وَ انْصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ اللّٰهُمَّ اَنْتَ الْوَاحِدُ فَلا وَلَدَ لَكَ وَ اَنْتَ الصَّمَدُ فَلا شِبْهَ لَكَ وَ اَنْتَ الْعَزِيزُ فَلا يُعِزُّكَ شَيْءٌ وَ اَنْتَ الْغَنِيُّ وَ اَنَا الْفَقِيرُ وَ اَنْتَ الْمَوْلَى وَ اَنَا الْعَبْدُ وَ اَنْتَ الْغَفُورُ وَ اَنَا الْمُذْنِبُ وَ اَنْتَ الرَّحِيمُ وَ اَنَا الْمُخْطِئُ وَ اَنْتَ الْخَالِقُ وَ اَنَا الْمَخْلُوقُ وَ اَنْتَ الْحَيُّ وَ اَنَا الْمَيِّتُ اَسْاَلُكَ بِرَحْمَتِكَ اَنْ تَغْفِرَ لِي وَ تَرْحَمَنِي وَ تَجَاوَزَ عَنِّي اِنَّكَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ.
Translation:
All praise be to Allah Who has honored us with you, O blessed month. O Allah, (please do) grant us strength to observe fasting and practice acts of worship in this month, make our steps firm, and assist us against the unbelieving people. O Allah, You are surely the One; therefore, You have not son. You are the eternally Besought of all; therefore, nothing is like You. You are the Almighty; therefore, nothing can overcome You. You are the Self-sufficient while I am poor. You are the Master while I am (Your) slave. You are the All-forgiving while I am sinful. You are the All-merciful while I am mistaken. You are the Creator while I am (Your) creature. You are the Ever-living while I am mortal. I thus beseech You in the name of Your mercy to forgive me, have mercy upon me, and excuse my offenses. You have power over all things.
it is recommended to say the supplicatory prayer known as Dua al-Jawshan al-Kabir at the first night of Ramadan.
It is recommended to say the supplicatory prayer known as Dua al-Hajj, which has been previously mentioned in this book.
It is highly advisable to recite the Holy Qur’an very frequently at the first hours of Ramadan. In this respect, it has been narrated that Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq(a.s.) used to say the following supplicatory prayer before he would start reciting the Holy Qur’an:
اللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّي اَشْهَدُ اَنَّ هٰذَا كِتَابُكَ الْمُنْزَلُ مِنْ عِنْدِكَ عَلَى رَسُولِكَ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللّٰهِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ كَلامُكَ النَّاطِقُ عَلَى لِسَانِ نَبِيِّكَ جَعَلْتَهُ هَادِيا مِنْكَ اِلَى خَلْقِكَ وَ حَبْلا مُتَّصِلا فِيمَا بَيْنَكَ وَ بَيْنَ عِبَادِكَ اللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّي نَشَرْتُ عَهْدَكَ وَ كِتَابَكَ اللّٰهُمَّ فَاجْعَلْ نَظَرِي فِيهِ عِبَادَةً وَ قِرَاءَتِي فِيهِ فِكْرا وَ فِكْرِي فِيهِ اعْتِبَارا وَ اجْعَلْنِي مِمَّنِ اتَّعَظَ بِبَيَانِ مَوَاعِظِكَ فِيهِ وَ اجْتَنَبَ مَعَاصِيَكَ وَ لا تَطْبَعْ عِنْدَ قِرَاءَتِي عَلَى سَمْعِي وَ لا تَجْعَلْ عَلَى بَصَرِي غِشَاوَةً وَ لا تَجْعَلْ قِرَاءَتِي قِرَاءَةً لا تَدَبُّرَ فِيهَا بَلِ اجْعَلْنِي اَتَدَبَّرُ آيَاتِهِ وَ اَحْكَامَهُ، آخِذا بِشَرَائِعِ دِينِكَ وَ لا تَجْعَلْ نَظَرِي فِيهِ غَفْلَةً وَ لا قِرَاءَتِي هَذَرا اِنَّكَ اَنْتَ الرَّءُوفُ الرَّحِيمُ
Translation:
O Allah I testify that this is the Book revealed by Thee on Thy Messenger Muhammad bin Abdillah, blessings of Allah be on him and on his children; (these are) Thy Words, Thy Prophet gave tongue to, (whom) Thou appointed as a Guide for the people, and an uninterrupted closely connected link of protecting friendship between Thee and Thy servants. O Allah I make publicly known Thy testament and Thy Book. O Allah let me pay full attention to (this) adorable pious work; let me notice and take warning from (this)thoughtful reflection;< let me be one of them who exhort themselves from Thy plain warnings and preaching found in this Book, and keep from that which Thou has made unlawful. Do not seal my hearing and do not cover my eyes when I recite (it). Do not let me recite for the sake of recitation , paying no attention to its meaning, but let me contemplate over its signs and commands, to know and understand the modus operandi of Thy religion. Do not let my concentration go slack, nor my recitation be like a delirious monologue. Verily Thou art full of pity, Merciful.
Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) used to say the following supplicatory prayer When he finished reciting the Holy Qur’an,
اللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّي قَدْ قَرَأْتُ مَا قَضَيْتَ مِنْ كِتَابِكَ الَّذِي اَنْزَلْتَهُ عَلَى نَبِيِّكَ الصَّادِقِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ فَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ رَبَّنَا اللّٰهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِي مِمَّنْ يُحِلُّ حَلالَهُ وَ يُحَرِّمُ حَرَامَهُ وَ يُؤْمِنُ بِمُحْكَمِهِ وَ مُتَشَابِهِهِ وَ اجْعَلْهُ لِي اُنْسا فِي قَبْرِي وَ اُنْسا فِي حَشْرِي وَ اجْعَلْنِي مِمَّنْ تُرْقِيهِ بِكُلِّ آيَةٍ قَرَاَهَا دَرَجَةً فِي اَعْلَى عِلِّيِّينَ آمِينَ رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ.
Translation:
O Allah I have recited that which Thou commands from Thy Book Thou revealed to Thy truthful Prophet, blessings of Allah be on him and on his children. (All) praise be to our Lord. O Allah let me be one of those who take to the lawful and keep from the unlawful, accept and show submissionto its clear as well as consimilar commands, let (this recitation) be my companion in my grave and at the time of Resurrection, and let me be one of those whom Thou shall raise and exalt, on account of this recitation, on the highest pedestal in the Paradise. Be it so O the Lord of the worlds.