Sayyidina Ibn Abbas narrated: While we were seated with Allah’s Messenger, Ali ibn Abu Talib came. He said, “May my parents be ransomed to you. This Qur’an is heavy, on my bosom and I do not find myself remembering it. “So, Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said to him, “0 Abu Hasan, shall I not teach you words whereby Allah will benefit you and also benefit those whom you teach them? Whatever you learn will remain firm in your heart.” He said, ‘Yes, 0 Messenger of Allah, so teach me.’
So, he said : When it is Friday night, and if you can, then stand (in prayer) in the last one-third of the night for that is an auspicious hour and prayer in it is granted. My brother Ya’qub, had said to his sons, “I will make istighfar for you to my Lord,” meaning on the night of Friday. But, if you cannot then stand in the middle of the night. If you cannot, them stand in the first part of it, pray four raka’a.
In the first raka’ah, recite the fatihatul-kitab (surah al-Fatihah) and surah Yasin, In the second recite fatjhatul Kitab and HaMeen ad-Dukhan and in the third recite fatihatul Kitab and Alif Laam Meem Tanzil-as-Sajdah and in the fourth Fatihatul Kitab and Tabarak, the whole. When you have finsihed with the tashahhad, praise Allah and glorify Him in the best way, and invoke blessing on me, making it well, and on all the Prophets. Seek forgiveness for all the believers men and women and your brothers who have preceded you in faith. Then say in the end of that:
O Allah, have mercy on me that I may give up sin always as long as You spare me (to live), And have mercy on me that I may not indulge in that which is of no conseqence to me. Provide me deep insight to do what pleases You with me.
O Allah, Originator of heavens and earth, Owner of Majesty and Benevolence and of night unfathomed, I ask you, 0 Allah, 0 Compassionate (Rahman), by Your Majesty and the light of Your countenance that You cause my heart to necessarily memorise (and retain) Your Book as You have taught me, and enable me to recite it in such a manner as pleases You with me.
O Allah, Originator of the heavens and earth, Owner of Majesty and Benevolence and of Might unfathomed! I ask You, 0 Allah, O Compassionate, by Your Majesty and light of Your countenance that You illuminate with Your Book my sight, and that You make fluent thereby my tongue, and that You open my heart with it, and that You expand my bossom with it, and that You wash my body with it. For, indeed, there is none to help me attain the truth except You. And none will give it besides You. And there is no power and no might except with Allah, the Elevated, the Mighty.
O Abdul Hasan,.do that for three Fridays or five, or seven. You will be granted, with Allah’s command. And, by Him Who has sent me with Truth, no believer who makes this supplication will ever be deprived.
Ibn Abbas asserted: By Allah, Ali had not passed but five or seven (Fridays) when he came to Allah’s Messenger (SAW) like that (earlier) gathering and exclaimed, 0 Messenger of Allah, before this I would learn four verses or so but when I tried to recollect them to myself, I would grope for them. But now, I learn today forty verses or so and when I recite them to myself, it is as though the Book of Allah is before my eyes. Also, I would hear a hadith, but when I intended to recall it, I would fail to narrate it. But now,, today, I hear the hadith and as I narrate it, I do not miss a word.” So, Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said to him, “In that case, you are a Believer, by the lord of the Ka’bah, 0 Abdul Hasan.”
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