Du‘ay-i-Sahar
Du'a al-Baha (Arabic: دعاء البهاء) (known as Du'a al-Sahar (Arabic: دعاء السحر)) is a prayer recommended to Muslims to recite in pre-dawns of Ramadan, when Muslims usually eat their pre-dawn meal. Since it is very common among Shia Muslims, it is known Dua al-Sahar (supplication of pre-dawn), despite there being other pre-dawn supplications for Ramadan. The prayer is ascribed to Muhammad al-Baqir, the fifth Imam,[1][2] and reported by Ali ibn Musa al-Riḍha, eighth Shia Imam.[3][4] It is also mentioned in Mafatih al-Jinan by Abbas Qumi.[5]
In the Bahá'í Faith, the prayer is known as the source of the names of the months of the Badi calendar. [6][7]
Contents[edit]
Dua al-Baha has 23 paragraphs which starts with “O Allah, I ask You to...” and beseech all of his glories, beauties, loftiness, greatness, luminosity, compassion, words, perfections, names, might, volition, omnipotence, knowledge, speeches, questions, honors, authorities, dominions, highness, bounties and signs. Then it is said: “O Allah, I ask You to give me whereby You gives answer to my supplication whenever I turn to You; therefore, hear my prayers, O Allah!”[8]
Bahá'í calendar[edit]
The names of the months of the Badi calendar, which refer to attributes of God, were adopted by the Báb from the Du'ay-i-Baha.[6] Leaving aside "Ayyam-i-Há", the names of the nineteen months appear in that prayer, in that order: Bahá, Jalál, Jamál, ‘Aẓamat, Núr, Raḥmat, Kalimát, Kamál, Asmá’, ‘Izzat, Mashíyyat, ‘Ilm, Qudrat, Qawl, Masá’il, Sharaf, Sulṭán, Mulk, and ‘Alá’. This prayer also gives precedence to the name Bahá, which is apparently a word which does not appear in the Qur'án.[9]
Islamic interpretation[edit]
Several scholars including Ruhollah Khomeini, founder of the Islamic revolution in Iran, have written books to explain the supplication. Description of the Dawn prayer (Sharhe Du'a al-Sahar) is Khomeini's first book.[10][11][12]
References[edit]
- ↑ R. Khanam (2005). Encyclopaedic Ethnography of Middle-East and Central Asia: A-I. Global Vision Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-8220-063-0.
- ↑ Nagendra Kr Singh; Abdul Mabud Khan (2001). Encyclopaedia of the world Muslims: tribes, castes and communities. Global Vision Pub. House.
- ↑ Rajab, Sha'ban Ramadan. Sohale Sizar. p. 342. GGKEY:8QWR009T8F1.
- ↑ مجلسی، محمدباقر، زادالمعاد، بیروت، چاپ علاءالدین اعلمی، 2003، ج 95، صص 95-93
- ↑ J. A. McLean (1997). Revisioning the Sacred: New Perspectives on a Bahá'í Theology. Kalimat Press. p. 75. ISBN 978-0-933770-96-6.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Taherzadeh, A. (1976). The Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh, Volume 1: Baghdad 1853-63. Oxford, UK: George Ronald. pp. 116–7. ISBN 0-85398-270-8.
- ↑ Stephen N. Lambden. The Du'á Sahar or Supplication of Glory-Beauty (al-bahá')[dead link]
- ↑ الاقبال بالاعمال الحسنه، ابن طاووس، علی بن موسی، محقق: جواد قیومی اصفهانی، مکتب الاعلام الاسلامی، قم، 1997، ج1، 175
- ↑ http://wi.bahai.us/2012/11/30/the-names-of-the-baha%E2%80%99i-months-separating-fact-from-fiction
- ↑ Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini (3 July 2015). The Mystery of Prayer: The Ascension of the Wayfarers and the Prayer of the Gnostics. BRILL. p. 15. ISBN 978-90-04-29831-6.
- ↑ Arshin Adib-Moghaddam (10 February 2014). A Critical Introduction to Khomeini. Cambridge University Press. p. 196. ISBN 978-1-107-72906-3.
- ↑ Imam Khomeini: Life, Thought and Legacy. The Other Press. 2009. p. 85. ISBN 978-967-5062-25-4.
External links[edit]
