Day 28 – Aug. 5, 2013

Prayer from Imam Zayn al-Abidin (AS):

My God, were it not incumbent to accept Your command, I would declare You far too exalted for me to remember You, for I remember You in my measure, not in Your measure, and my scope can hardly reach the point where I may be a locus for calling You holy! Among Your greatest favors to us is the running of Your remembrance across our tongues and Your permission to us to supplicate You, declare You exalted, and call You holy!

My God, inspire us with Your remembrance alone and in assemblies, by night and day, publicly and secretly, in prosperity and adversity! Make us intimate with silent remembrance, employ us in purified works and effort pleasing to You, and reward us with the full balance!

My God, love-mad hearts are enraptured by You, disparate intellects are brought together by knowing You, hearts find no serenity except in remembering You, souls find no rest except in seeing You. You art the glorified in every place, the worshiped at every time, the found at every moment, the called by every tongue, the magnified in every heart! I pray forgiveness from You for every pleasure but remembering You, every ease but intimacy with You, every happiness but nearness to You, every occupation but obeying You!

My God, You hast said – and Your word is true – O you who have faith, remember God with much remembrance and glorify Him at dawn and in the evening! You hast said – and Your word is true – Remember Me, and I will remember you! You hast commanded us to remember You, and promised us that You wilt remember us thereby, in order to ennoble, respect, and honor us. Here we are, remembering You as You hast commanded us! So accomplish what You hast promised, O Rememberer of the rememberers! O Most Merciful of the merciful!

Day 29 – Aug. 6, 2013

Prayer from Imam Zayn al-Abidin (AS):

My God, who can have tasted the sweetness of Thy love, then wanted another in place of Thee? Who can have become intimate with Thy nearness, then sought removal from Thee?

My God, place us with him whom Thou hast chosen for Thy nearness and Thy friendship, purified through Thy affection and Thy love, given yearning for the meeting with Thee, made pleased with Thy decree, granted gazing upon Thy face, shown the favor of Thy good pleasure, given refuge from separation from Thee and Thy loathing, settled in a sure sitting place in Thy neighbourhood, singled out for true knowledge of Thee, made worthy for worship of Thee, whose heart Thou hast captivated with Thy will, whom Thou hast picked for contemplating Thee, whose look Thou hast made empty for Thee, whose breast Thou hast freed for Thy love, whom Thou hast made desirous of what is with Thee, inspired with Thy remembrance, allotted thanksgiving to Thee, occupied with obeying Thee, turned into one of Thy righteous creatures, chosen for whispered prayer to Thee, and from whom Thou hast cut off all things which cut him off from Thee!

O God, place us among those whose habit is rejoicing in Thee and yearning for Thee, whose time is spent in sighing and moaning! Their foreheads are bowed down before Thy mightiness, their eyes wakeful in Thy service, their tears flowing in dread of Thee, their hearts fixed upon Thy love, their cores shaken with awe of Thee. O He the lights of whose holiness induce wonder in the eyes of His lovers, the glories of whose face arouse the longing of the hearts of His knowers! O Furthest Wish of the hearts of the yearners! O Utmost Limit of the hopes of the lovers! I ask from Thee love for Thee, love for those who love Thee, love for every work which will join me to Thy nearness, and that Thou makest Thyself more beloved to me than anything other than Thee and makest my love for Thee lead to Thy good pleasure, and my yearning for Thee protect against disobeying Thee! Oblige me by allowing me to gaze upon Thee, gaze upon me with the eye of affection and tenderness, turn not Thy face away from me, and make me one of the people of happiness with Thee and favored position! O Responder, O Most Merciful of the merciful!

Day 30 – Aug. 7, 2013

Surah an-Nas (114):

Say, ‘I seek the protection of the Lord of humans,
Sovereign of humans,
God of humans,
from the evil of the sneaky tempter
who puts temptations into the breasts of humans,
from among the jinn and humans.’

Thank you for reading me this month. Eid Mubarak!