One of the duties of God-worshippers is supplication and requesting the Almighty God to protect our faith and religion against suspicions of devils and the heresy of Muslims.
One of these prayers is a prayer that, based on various documents, Shaykh Nu’maī and Kulaynī narrated from Zurārah about it. He mentioned:
I heard Abu Abdullah (pbuh) stated that, ‘In fact, Our Qa’im [mGehr] will be in Major Occultation Era, before he rises!’ I wondered, ‘How come?!” He stated, ‘He will fear!’ And he referred to his blessed stomach[1]! Then, he continued, ‘O, Zurārah! He is the very Muntadhar [expected]. And he is the one whose birth is doubted before! After that, some people will say, ‘His father has died, without considering any successor!’ Some others will say, ‘He [Qa’im (mGehr]) was aborted! Also, the last group will say, ‘He had died two years before his father died!’
He is Muntadhar; since God has decided to test the Shiites’ hearts! Yet people of falsehood will fall into doubt during this time.
Zurārah kept on, “I asked again, ‘May God sacrifice my life for you! If I am alive at that time, what will be I expected to do?’ He stated, ‘O, Zurārah! If you are alive then, recite this prayer:
اَللّھـُمَّ عـَرِّفـْنـى نـَفـْسـَكَ فـَاِنَّكَ اِنْ لَمْ تـُعَّرِفـْنى نَفْسَكَ لَمْ اَعْرِفْ نِبیِّكَ اَللّھُمَّ عَرِّفْنى نَفْسَكَ فَاِّنَكَ اِنْ لَمْ
تُعَرِّفْنِى رَسُولَكْ لَمْ اَعْرِفْ حُجَّتَكْ اَللّھُمَّ عَرِّفْنِى حُجَّتَكْ فَاِنَّكَ اِنْ لَمْ تُعَّرِفْنى حُجَّتَكْ ضَلَلْتُ عَنْ دينى
O Allah, let me know Yourself, for if You do not let me know Yourself, I will not know Your Prophet. O Allah, let me know Your Messenger, for if You do not let me know Your Messenger, I will not know Your proof. O Allah, let me know Your proof, for if You do not let me know Your proof, I will go astray from my religion. And after that, the following one ought to be recited:
اَللّھُمَّ لاتُمِتْنى میتَةً جـاھِلیَّةً وَ لاتُزِغْ َقلْبى بَعْدَ اِذْ ھَدَيْتَنى
O Allah, do not let me die the death of ignorance, and do not let my heart deviate after You have guided me.
We [the author] wrote the preceding prayer in the book attachments of “Mafātīh”. Furthermore, it was written by Sayyid ibn Ṭāwūs in the book “Jamal al-Saqq”. And he believed that it ought to be recited after Maʼthur[2] prayers, and after the afternoon prayer on Fridays.
He also mentioned:
If you have a problem that makes you unable to recite it after Maʼthur prayers, and after the afternoon prayer on Fridays, leave it; in case you recite it carelessly! [But,] If you have any excuse for not following the afternoon prayer on Friday, from all that we have mentioned, then beware of calling it neglect!
In fact, I realized that this is due to the grace of The Glorified God, who granted us the prayer, not to others. So, trust it!
Faqīr [the author] says:
Similar to these words of Sayyid ibn Tawus, were mentioned by His Excellency. The Sir Sahib al Amr (mGehr), in continuation of a Ṣalwāt, attributed to Abu al Ḥasan Zarrab Iṣfahānī. Dealing with these noble words, it is perceived that the Imām was granted [divine] things in this regard. Given the high position that the Imām holds, it is not unlikely for him to be given such prayers.
Moreover, there is another prayer which was narrated by Shaykh Ṣadūq from Abdullâh ibn Sinān. He mentioned:
Abu Abdullâh (pbuh) stated, ‘Soon, you will experience an outbreak of religious doubts [in the society]. Then, you will be left without any sign, guide, or leading fore runner. And you will not be saved; otherwise, you will recite the prayer called “Ghareeq”.’
There, I asked, ‘What is the prayer called “Ghareeq”
It’s the prayer:
يـا اَللّهُ يـا رَحـْمـنُ يا رَحیمُ يا مُقَلِّبَ الْقُلُوبِ ثَبِّتْ قَلْبى عَلى دينِكَ
O, God, O, The Most Gracious, O, The Most Merciful, O, The Changer of hearts, make my heart steadfast upon Your religion!
There, I recited:
يا مُقَلِّبَ الْقُلُوبِ ثَبِّتْ قَلْبى عَلى دينِكَ
O, The Changer of hearts, make my heart steadfast upon Your religion!
Then he stated, ‘Indeed God, The Honorable and Glorified, changes hearts and eyes, but say as I say!’
1- Maʼthur refers to the texts mentioned by 12 infallible Imāms (pbu th).
2- It is an expression that refers to killing by tearing the belly of the murderer!