Dhul Qa'dah
The eleventh month of the Islamic calendar and the first of the four sacred months (al-Ashhur al-Hurum) in which fighting is forbidden. Sayyid Ibn Tawus defines it as 'the month of responding to prayers in hardships.' It contains the birth anniversary of Imam Ali al-Ridha (a.s.) and the blessed occasion of Dahw al-Ardh (the spreading of the earth).
11th of Dhul Qa'dah — Birthday of Imam Ali al-Ridha (a.s.)
On the 11th of Dhul Qa'dah, 148 AH, Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha (a.s.) — the eighth Imam — was born in Medina. He is known for his vast knowledge, extraordinary patience, and noble character. His holy shrine in Mashhad, Iran, is one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in the world. Mafatih al-Jinan recommends fasting and ziyarat on this auspicious day.
Recommended Acts
On the birthday of Imam Ali al-Ridha (a.s.): 1. Observe fasting as an act of gratitude and devotion 2. Give charity (sadaqah) in honor of the Imam (a.s.) 3. Recite the Ziyarat of Imam Ali al-Ridha (a.s.) 4. Send abundant salawat upon the Imam and his pure forefathers 5. Visiting his holy shrine in Mashhad on this day is greatly recommended [Ziyarat of Imam Ali al-Ridha (a.s.)](dua://ziyarat-imam-ali-reza)
15th of Dhul Qa'dah (Shab)
The fifteenth night of Dhul Qa'dah is a blessed night. Almighty Allah observes His faithful servants with the eye of mercy at this night. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) is reported to have said that one who worships at this night will receive the reward of one hundred fasters who confine themselves to mosques and have never disobeyed Allah.
Worship on the 15th Night
On the 15th night of Dhul Qa'dah: 1. Seize this night for acts of worship, prayer (nawafil), and obedience to Allah 2. Pray to Allah for your needs — it has been narrated that Allah responds to every need asked at this night 3. The reward of worship at this night equals that of one hundred fasters who dedicate themselves to mosques and have never disobeyed Allah (reported from the Holy Prophet, s.a.w.a.)
25th of Dhul Qa'dah (Shab) — Dahw al-Ardh
The 25th night of Dhul Qa'dah is called Laylat Dahw al-Ardh — the night the earth was spread out from beneath the Ka'bah across the waters. Imam al-Ridha (a.s.) said: 'On the 25th of Dhul Qa'dah, Prophet Ibrahim (a.s.) was born, Prophet Isa ibn Maryam (a.s.) was born, and the earth was spread on the water.' He added: 'Verily, on this day, al-Qa'im (Imam al-Mahdi) will appear.'
Worship on Dahw al-Ardh Night
On the night of Dahw al-Ardh: 1. Engage in acts of worship, prayers, and dhikr — this night carries a tremendous reward 2. Fast the following day (25th Dhul Qa'dah) — Imam al-Ridha (a.s.) said: 'If one observes fasting on this day, he will be given the reward of observing fasting for sixty months' 3. The mercy of Allah is poured upon people at this night
25th of Dhul Qa'dah (Day) — Dahw al-Ardh
The 25th of Dhul Qa'dah — Dahw al-Ardh — is one of the four days on which fasting is especially confirmed in narrations. Fasting on this day equals seventy years of fasting and erases the sins of seventy years. Everything between the sky and the earth asks Allah's forgiveness for one who fasts and worships on this day. Sayyid al-Damad lists visiting the shrine of Imam Ridha (a.s.) as the most preferable act on this day.
Fast
Observe fasting on the 25th of Dhul Qa'dah. This is one of the four days on which fasting is especially confirmed: - Fasting this day = reward of seventy years of fasting - It erases the sins of seventy years - Fasting + worship at its night = reward of one hundred years of worship - Everything between the sky and earth asks Allah's forgiveness for the one who fasts
Morning Two-Unit Prayer
Offer a two-unit prayer in the morning: 1. Unit one: [Surah al-Fatihah](surah://1) once + [Surah al-Shams](surah://91) five times 2. Unit two: [Surah al-Fatihah](surah://1) once + [Surah al-Shams](surah://91) five times After completing the prayer, recite: {{arabic}} Then pray to Allah for your needs, followed by the Dua of Dahw al-Ardh (next item).
لا حَوْلَ وَلا قُوَّةَ اِلاَّ بِاللهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ
La hawla wa la quwwata illa billahil Aliyyil Azeem
There is no might nor power except with Allah, the Most High, the Most Great.
Dua of Dahw al-Ardh (Short)
After the morning prayer, recite this dua from the scholars of Qumm:
يَا مُقِيلَ الْعَثَرَاتِ اَقِلْنِي عَثْرَتِي يَا مُجِيبَ الدَّعَوَاتِ اَجِبْ دَعْوَتِي يَا سَامِعَ الاَصْوَاتِ اسْمَعْ صَوْتِي وَتَجاوَزْ عَنْ سَيِّئاتِي وَمَا عِنْدِي يَا ذَا الْجَلالِ وَالاِكْرامِ ارْحَمْنِي وَارْحَمْنِي
Ya muqilal atharaat, aqilni atharati, ya mujibad da'awaat, ajib da'wati, ya sami'al aswaat, isma' sawti wa tajawaz 'an sayyi'ati wa ma 'indi, ya dhal jalali wal ikraam, irhamni wa irhamni
O Pardoner of stumbles, pardon my stumble. O Responder of prayers, respond to my prayer. O Hearer of voices, hear my voice, overlook my sins and what is with me. O Possessor of Majesty and Honor, have mercy on me, have mercy on me.
Dua of Dahw al-Ardh (Full — Misbah al-Mutahajjid)
Shaykh al-Tusi has mentioned in Misbah al-Mutahajjid that it is recommended to recite this supplication on the Day of Dahw al-Ardh:
اَللّهُمَّ دَاحِيَ الْكَعْبَةِ وَفَالِقَ الْحَبَّةِ وَصَارِفَ اللَّزْبَةِ وَكَاشِفَ كُلِّ كُرْبَةٍ اَسْاَلُكَ فِي هذَا الْيَوْمِ مِنْ اَيَّامِكَ الَّتِي اَعْظَمْتَ حَقَّهَا وَاَقْدَمْتَ سَبْقَهَا وَجَعَلْتَهَا عِنْدَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَدِيعَةً وَاِلَيْكَ ذَرِيعَةً اَنْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلى مُحَمَّدٍ عَبْدِكَ الْمُنْتَجَبِ فِي الْمِيثَاقِ الْقَرِيبِ يَوْمَ التَّلاقِ وَعَلى اَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ الطَّاهِرِينَ الْهُداةِ الْمَنارِ دُعاةِ اِلى كُلِّ حَقٍّ وَفاتِقِ كُلِّ رَتْقٍ وَاَعْطِنا فِي يَوْمِنا هذا مِنْ عَطائِكَ الْمَخزُونِ غَيْرَ مَقْطُوعٍ وَلا مَمْنُوعٍ وَمَنْ يَجْمَعُ لَنا بِهِ التَّوْبَةَ وَحُسْنَ الاَوْبَةِ يَا خَيْرَ مَدْعُوٍّ وَاَكْرَمَ مَرْجُوٍّ يَا كَفِيُّ يَا وَفِيُّ اَسْعِدْنِي بِعَفْوِكَ وَاَيِّدْنِي بِنَصْرِكَ وَلا تُنْسِنِي كَرِيمَ ذِكْرِكَ بِوُلاةِ اَمْرِكَ وَاحْفَظْنِي مِنْ شَوائِبِ الدَّهْرِ اِلى يَوْمِ الْحَشْرِ وَالنَّشْرِ وَاَشْهِدْنِي اَوْلِياءَكَ عِنْدَ خُرُوجِ نَفْسِي وَحُلُولِ رَمْسِي وَانْقِطاعِ عَمَلِي وَانْقِضاءِ اَجَلِي اَللّهُمَّ اذْكُرْنِي عَلى طُولِ الْبِلى وَحُلُولِ الثَّرى بَيْنَ اَطْباقِ الثَّرى اِذا نَسِيَنِي النَّاسُونَ مِنَ الْوَرى
O Allah, O Spreader of the Ka'bah, O Splitter of the grain, O Remover of hardships, O Reliever of every affliction — I ask You on this day, from among Your days whose right You have magnified and whose precedence You have advanced, and which You have made a trust with the believers and a means to approach You — that You send blessings upon Muhammad, Your chosen servant at the close covenant on the Day of Meeting, and upon his pure household, the guides, the beacons, the callers to every truth and the openers of every closure. Grant us on this our day from Your stored gifts, uninterrupted and undenied, and gather for us through it repentance and the best of return. O Best of those invoked, O Most Generous of those hoped in, O Sufficient, O Faithful — make me happy with Your pardon, support me with Your aid, and do not make me forget Your noble remembrance through the guardians of Your command. Protect me from the afflictions of time until the Day of Gathering and Resurrection, and let me witness Your awliya at the moment of the departure of my soul, the settling in my grave, the cessation of my deeds, and the expiry of my appointed term. O Allah, remember me through the long decay in the layers of the earth, when those among the living have forgotten me.
Visit the Tomb of Imam Ali al-Ridha (a.s.)
Sayyid al-Damad, in his epistle al-Arba'at Ayyam (The Four Days), states that visiting the holy tomb of Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha (a.s.) on the Day of Dahw al-Ardh is the most preferable act. He urges it greatly. Those unable to travel to Mashhad may recite the Ziyarat of Imam Ridha (a.s.) from a distance. [Ziyarat of Imam Ali al-Ridha (a.s.)](dua://ziyarat-imam-ali-reza)
Last Day of Dhul Qa'dah — Martyrdom of Imam Muhammad al-Jawad (a.s.)
On the last day of Dhul Qa'dah, 220 AH, Imam Muhammad ibn Ali al-Jawad (a.s.) — the ninth Imam — was martyred by poison administered by al-Mu'tasim Bi'llah, the Abbasid ruler, only two-and-a-half years after the death of al-Ma'mun. The Imam (a.s.) himself had foretold his martyrdom, saying: 'Relief shall come thirty months after the death of al-Ma'mun.' He lived only twenty-five years. His holy tomb is in al-Kazimayn, Baghdad, directly behind that of his grandfather Imam Musa al-Kadhim (a.s.).
Recommended Acts
On the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Muhammad al-Jawad (a.s.): 1. Observe fasting in mourning and gratitude 2. Express grief and hold mourning ceremonies 3. Recite Ziyarat of Imam Muhammad al-Jawad (a.s.) from Mafatih al-Jinan or any authentic form 4. Give sadaqah on behalf of the Imam (a.s.) 5. Visit his holy shrine in al-Kazimayn, Baghdad, if possible [Ziyarat of Imam Muhammad al-Taqi al-Jawad (a.s.)](dua://ziyarat-imam-taqi-jawad)