Shaykh al-Tusi, Sayyid Ibn Baqi, and Shaykh al-Kaf`ami have divided the day into twelve hours, dedicating each hour to one of the Twelve Imams (`a) and mentioning an advocacy-seeking supplication (i.e. tawassul) addressed to the Imam of that hour. Although these master scholars have not mentioned any tradition that is reported from the Holy Imams (`a) about this division, we, depending on the high regard of these scholars, can say that they would never say or do anything unless they had acquainted themselves with a narration indicating that saying or deed.
However, in this brief book, I will mention only the supplicatory prayers that I have quoted from the book of Misbah al-Mutahajjid (by Shaykh al-Tusi).
The first hour of the day, which is the space of time between dawn and sunrise, is dedicated to Imam `Ali Amir al-Mu'minin (`a). The supplication at this hour is as follows:
اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ ٱلْبَهَاءِ وَٱلْعَظَمَةِ
allahumma rabba albaha'i wal`azamati
O Allah, O Lord of brilliance, greatness,
وَٱلْكِبْرِيَاءِ وَٱلسُّلْطَانِ
walkibriya'i walssultani
grandeur, and authority!
اظْهَرْتَ ٱلْقُدْرَةَ كَيْفَ شِئْتَ
azharta alqudrata kayfa shi'ta
You have demonstrated the power as You wished,
وَمَنَنْتَ عَلَىٰ عِبَادِكَ بِمَغْفِرَتِكَ
wa mananta `ala `ibadika bimaghfiratika
bestowed upon Your servants with Your forgiveness,
وَتَسَلَّطْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ بِجَبَرُوتِكَ
wa tasallatta `alayhim bijabarutika
dominated over them with Your supremacy,
وَعَلَّمْتَهُمْ شُكْرَ نِعْمَتِكَ
wa `allamtahum shukra ni`matika
and taught them how to thank Your graces.
salli `ala muhammadin wa alihi fi al-awwalina wal-akhirina
(please) send blessings upon Muhammad and his Household among the past and the coming generations,
وَاقَدِّمُهُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ حَوَائِجِي
wa uqaddimuhu bayna yaday hawa'iji
and I present him (i.e. `Ali) as my mediation for the settling of my needs,
انْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ …
an tusalliya `ala muhammadin wa ali muhammadin…
[I beseech You] to send blessings upon Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad and...
The second hour, which is the space of time between sunrise and disappearance of the redness of the sun, is dedicated to Imam al-Hasan ibn `Ali (`a). The following is the supplication at this hour:
wa khallasta fihi ahla alththiqati bika `inda judika
Through it (i.e. knowledge), You have accurately selected those having full trust in You, out of Your magnanimity.
فَتَعَالَيْتَ فِي كِبْرِيَائِكَ
fata`alayta fi kibriya'ika
So, exalted by You in Your grandeur
`uluwwan `azumat fihi minnatuka `ala ahli ta`atika
with such exaltation due to which Your conferrals upon the people of obedience to You have been immense.
fabahayta bihim ahla samawatika biminnatika `alayhim
You therefore boasted the inhabitants of Your heavens about Your favoring upon them (i.e. the obedient to You).
The third hour, which is from disappearance of the ray of the sun to the rising of the daylight, is dedicated to Imam al-Husayn ibn `Ali (`a). The following is the supplication at this hour:
يَا مَنْ تَجَبَّرَ فَلاَ عَيْنٌ تَرَاهُ
ya man tajabbara fala `aynun tarahu
O He Who is too Omnipotent to be seen by any eye!
The fourth hour is the space of time between the rise of daylight up to midday. It is dedicated to Imam `Ali ibn al-Husayn (`a). The following is the supplication at this hour:
اللَّهُمَّ صَفَا نُورُكَ فِي اتَمِّ عَظَمَتِكَ
allahumma safa nuruka fi atammi `azamatika
O Allah, very clear is Your Light in Your most perfect greatness.
وَعَلاَ ضِيَاؤُكَ فِي ابْهَىٰ ضَوْئِكَ
wa `ala diya'uka fi abha daw'ika
Very exalted is Your brightness in Your most brilliant glow.
as'aluka binurika alladhi nawwarta bihi alssamawati wal-aradina
I beseech You in the name of Your Light by which You have lit up the heavens and the layers of the earth,
وَقَصَمْتَ بِهِ ٱلْجَبَابِرَةَ
wa qasamta bihi aljababirata
annihilated the tyrants,
وَاحْيَيْتَ بِهِ ٱلامْوَاتَ
wa ahyayta bihi al-amwata
restored the dead to life,
وَامَتَّ بِهِ ٱلاحْيَاءَ
wa amatta bihi al-ahya'a
caused the alive to die,
وَجَمَعْتَ بِهِ ٱلْمُتَفَرِّقَ
wa jama`ta bihi almutafarriqa
brought together the scattered,
وَفَرَّقْتَ بِهِ ٱلْمُجْتَمِعَ
wa farraqta bihi almujtami`a
split the brought together,
وَاتْمَمْتَ بِهِ ٱلْكَلِمَاتِ
wa atmamta bihi alkalimati
perfected the Words,
وَاقَمْتَ بِهِ ٱلسَّمَاوَاتِ
wa aqamta bihi alssamawati
and established the heavens.
The fifth hour of the day, which is the space of time between midday and the amount of four units of prayer after midday, is dedicated to Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (`a). The supplication at this hour is as follows:
اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ ٱلضِّيَاءِ وَٱلْعَظَمَةِ
allahumma rabba alddiya'i wal`azamati
O Allah, O Lord of brightness, greatness,
وَٱلنُّوْرِ وَٱلْكِبْرِيَاءِ وَٱلسُّلْطَانِ
walnnuri walkibriya'i walssultani
light, grandeur, and authority!
تَجَبَّرْتَ بِعَظَمَةِ بَهَائِكَ
tajabbarta bi`azamati baha'ika
You have practiced omnipotence in the greatness of Your brilliance,
The sixth hour, which is the space of time between the amount of four units of prayer before midday up to the time of the Noon Prayer, is dedicated to Imam Ja`far ibn Muhammad al-Sadiq (`a). The supplication at this hour is the following:
يَا مَنْ لَطُفَ عَنْ إِدْرَاكِ ٱلاوْهَامِ
ya man latufa `an idraki al-awhami
O He Who is too subtle to be comprehended by illusions!
يَا مَنْ كَبُرَ عَنْ مَوْجُودِ ٱلْبَصَرِ
ya man kabura `an mawjudi albasari
O He Who is too great to be observed by existent sights!
يَا مَنْ تَعَالَىٰ عَنِ ٱلصِّفَاتِ كُلِّهَا
ya man ta`ala `an alssifati kulliha
O He Who is too exalted above all attributes!
يَا مَنْ جَلَّ عَنْ مَعَانِي ٱللُّطْفِ
ya man jalla `an ma`ani allutfi
O He Who is too majestic above all significances of subtlety
وَلَطُفَ عَنْ مَعَانِي ٱلْجَلاَلِ
wa latufa `an ma`ani aljalali
and too subtle above all significances of majesty!
اسْالُكَ بِنُورِ وَجْهِكَ وَضِيَاءِ كِبْرِيَائِكَ
as'aluka binuri wajhika wa diya'i kibriya'ika
I beseech You in the name of the light of Your Face and the brightness of Your grandeur
وَاسْالُكَ بِحَقِّ عَظَمَتِكَ
wa as'aluka bihaqqi `azamatika
and I beseech You in the name of Your greatness
ٱلْعَافِيَةَ مِنْ نَارِكَ
al`afiyata min narika
to grant me salvation from Your Fire.
The seventh hour, which is the space of time between the Noon Prayer and the amount of four units of prayer before afternoon, is dedicated to Imam Musa ibn Ja`far al-Kazim (`a). The supplication at this hour is as follows:
يَا مَنْ تَكَبَّرَ عَنِ ٱلاوْهَامِ صُورَتُهُ
ya man takabbara `an al-awhami suratuhu
O He Whose Figure is too great above all illusions!
يَا مَنْ تَعَالَىٰ عَنِ ٱلصِّفَاتِ نُورُهُ
ya man ta`ala `an alssifati nuruhu
O He Whose Light is too elevated above attributes!
يَا مَنْ قَرُبَ عِنْدَ دُعَاءِ خَلْقِهِ
ya man qaruba `inda du`a'i khalqihi
O He Whose is Nigh when His creatures pray Him!
يَا مَنْ دَعَاهُ ٱلْمُضْطَرُّوْنَ
ya man da`ahu almudtarruna
O He Whom is supplicated by the distressed,
وَلَجَا إِلَيْهِ ٱلْخَائِفُونَ
wa laja'a ilayhi alkha'ifuna
to Whom the afraid have recourse,
وَسَالَهُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنوْنَ
wa sa'alahu almu'minuna
asked by the believers,
وَعَبَدَهُ ٱلشَّاكِرُونَ
wa `abadahu alshshakiruna
served by the thankful,
وَحَمِدَهُ ٱلْمُخْلِصُونَ
wa hamidahu almukhlisuna
and praised by the sincere!
اسْالُكَ بِحَقِّ نُورِكَ ٱلْمُضِيءِ
as'aluka bihaqqi nurika almudi'i
I beseech You in the name of Your glowing light
وَبِحَقِّ مُوسَىٰ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْكَ
wa bihaqqi musa bni ja`farin `alayka
and the regard of Musa, the son of Ja`far, with You
وَاتَقَرَّبُ بِهِ إِلَيْكَ
wa ataqarrabu bihi ilayka
through whom I seek nearness to You
وَاقَدِّمُهُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ حَوَائِجِي
wa uqaddimuhu bayna yaday hawa'iji
and I present him as my mediation for the settling of my needs,
انْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ…
an tusalliya `ala muhammadin wa ali muhammadin…
(please) send blessings upon Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad and...
The eighth hour, which is the space of time between the amount of four units of prayer after the Noon Prayer and the Afternoon Prayer, is dedicated to Imam `Ali ibn Musa al-Rida (`a). The supplication at this hour is the following:
يَا خَيْرَ مَدْعُوٍّ
ya khayra mad`uwwin
O Best of all besought ones!
يَا خَيْرَ مَنْ اعْطَىٰ
ya khayra man a`ta
O Best of all givers!
يَا خَيْرَ مَنْ سُئِلَ
ya khayra man su'ila
O Best of all asked ones!
يَا مَنْ اضَاءَ بِاسْمِهِ ضَوْءُ ٱلنَّهَارِ
ya man ada'a bismihi daw'u alnnahari
O He by Whose Name the light of days beams,
وَاظْلَمَ بِهِ ظُلْمَةُ ٱللَّيْلِ
wa azlama bihi zulmatu allayli
the darkness of nights dims,
وَسَالَ بِٱسْمِهِ وَابِلُ ٱلسَّيْلِ
wa sala bismihi wabilu alssayli
the heavy rain of floods flows,
وَرَزَقَ اوْلِيَاءَهُ كُلَّ خَيْرٍ
wa razaqa awliya'ahu kulla khayrin
and has provided His intimate servants with all prosperity!
يَا مَنْ عَلاَ ٱلسَّمَاوَاتِ نُورُهُ
ya man `ala alssamawati nuruhu
O He Whose light has gone up the heavens,
وَٱلارْضَ ضَوْؤُهُ
wal-arda daw'uhu
Whose beam has gone up the earth,
وَٱلشَّرْقَ وَٱلْغَرْبَ رَحْمَتُهُ
walshsharqa walgharba rahmatuhu
and Whose mercy has gone up the east and the west!
يَا وَاسِعَ ٱلْجُودِ
ya wasi`a aljudi
O Ample in magnanimity,
اسْالُكَ بِحَقِّ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُوسَىٰ ٱلرِّضَا
as'aluka bihaqqi `aliyyi bni musa alrrida
I beseech You in the name of `Ali, the son of Musa, the well-contented,
عَلَيْهِمَا ٱلسلاَمُ
`alayhima alssalamu
peace be upon both of them,
وَاقَدِّمُهُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ حَوَائِجِي
wa uqaddimuhu bayna yaday hawa'iji
and I present him as my mediation for the settling of my needs,
انْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ…
an tusalliya `ala muhammadin wa ali muhammadin…
(please) send blessings upon Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad and...
The ninth hour, which is the space of time between the Afternoon Prayer up to two hours after that, is dedicated to Imam Muhammad ibn `Ali al-Taqi (`a). The supplication at this hour is as follows:
يَا مَنْ دَعَاهُ ٱلْمُضْطَرُّونَ فَاجَابَهُمْ
ya man da`ahu almudtarruna fa'ajabahum
O He Who, when the distressed prayed Him, responded to them,
وَٱلْتَجَا إِلَيْهِ ٱلْخَائِفُونَ فَآمَنَهُمْ
waltaja'a ilayhi alkha'ifuna fa'amanahum
when the afraid had recourse with Him, granted them security,
وَعَبَدَهُ ٱلطَّائِعُونَ فَشَكَرَهُمْ
wa `abadahu altta'i`una fashakarahum
when the obedient served Him, thanked them,
وَشَكَرَهُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ فَحَبَاهُمْ
wa shakarahu almu'minuna fahabahum
when the believers thanked Him, favored upon them,
وَاطَاعُوهُ فَعَصَمَهُمْ
wa ata`uhu fa`asamahum
when they obeyed Him, safeguarded them,
وَسَالُوهُ فَاعْطَاهُمْ
wa sa'aluhu fa'a`tahum
when they asked Him, gave them,
The tenth hour, which is the space of time between two hours after the Afternoon Prayer and the time before the sun is colored yellowish, is dedicated to Imam `Ali ibn Muhammad al-Naqi (`a). The following is the supplication at this hour:
يَا مَنْ عَلاَ فَعَظُمَ
ya man `ala fa`azuma
O He Who is Exalted and thus All-great!
يَا مَنْ تَسَلَّطَ فَتَجَبَّرَ
ya man tasallata fatajabbara
O He Who is All-powerful and thus Omnipotent!
وَتَجَبَّرَ فَتَسَلَّطَ
wa tajabbara fatasallata
O He Who is Omnipotent and thus All-powerful!
يَا مَنْ عَزَّ فَٱسْتَكْبَرَ فِي عِزِّهِ
ya man `azza fsstakbara fi `izzihi
O He Who is Almighty and thus All-grand in His almightiness!
يَا مَنْ مَدَّ ٱلظِّلَّ عَلَىٰ خَلْقِهِ
ya man madda alzzilla `ala khalqihi
O He Who extended the shadow on His creatures!
يَا مَنِ ٱمْتَنَّ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ عَلَىٰ عِبَادِهِ
ya man imtann bilma`rufi `ala `ibadihi
O He Who has conferred upon His servants with favors!
يَا عَزِيزاً ذَا ٱنْتِقَامٍ
ya `azizan dha intiqamin
O Mighty and Lord of retribution!
يَا مُنْتَقِماً بِعِزَّتِهِ مِنْ اهْلِ ٱلشِّرْكِ
ya muntaqiman bi`izzatihi min ahli alshshirki
O He Who retaliates upon the people of polytheism by His Might!
اسْالُكَ بِحَقِّ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ
as'aluka bihaqqi `aliyyi bni muhammadin
I beseech You in the name of `Ali, the son of Muhammad,
عَلَيْهِمَا ٱلسلاَمُ
`alayhima alssalamu
peace be upon both of them,
وَاقَدِّمُهُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ حَوَائِجِي
wa uqaddimuhu bayna yaday hawa'iji
and I present him as my mediation for the settling of my needs,
انْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ…
an tusalliya `ala muhammadin wa ali muhammadin…
(please) send blessings upon Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad and...
The eleventh hour, which extends from the time before the yellowishing of the sun up to the time when it is colored yellowish, is dedicated to Imam al-Hasan ibn `Ali al-`Askari (`a). The supplication at this hour is the following:
يَا اوَّلاًَ بِلاَ اوَّلِيَّةٍ
ya awwalan bila awwaliyyatin
O Foremost without having beginning!
وَيَا آخِراً بِلاَ آخِرِيَّةٍ
wa ya akhiran bila akhiriyyatin
O Ultimate without having end!
يَا قَيُّوْماً بِلاَ مُنْتَهىٰ لِقِدَمِهِ
ya qayyuman bila muntaha liqidamihi
O Self-Subsisting without there being termination of His eternity!
يَا عَزِيزاً بِلاَ ٱنْقِطَاعٍ لِعِزَّتِهِ
ya `azizan bila inqita`in li`izzatihi
O Almighty without cessation of His almightiness!
يَا مُتَسَلِّطاً بِلاَ ضَعْفٍ مِنْ سُلْطَانِهِ
ya mutasallitan bila da`fin min sultanihi
O All-powerful without there being weak point in His overpowering!
يَا كَرِيـماً بِدَوَامِ نِعْمَتِهِ
ya kariman bidawami ni`matihi
O All-generous along with perpetuity of His graces!
يَا جَبَّاراً وَمُعِزّاً لاِوْلِيَائِهِ
ya jabbaran wa mu`izzan li'awliya'ihi
O Omnipotent and Dignifier of His intimate servants!
يَا خَبِيراً بِعِلْمِهِ
ya khabiran bi`ilmihi
O All-aware in His knowledge!
يَا عَلِيماً بِقُدْرَتِهِ
ya `aliman biqudratihi
O All-knowledgeable in His power!
يَا قَدِيراً بِذَاتِهِ
ya qadiran bidhatihi
O Powerful in His Essence!
اسْالُكَ بِحَقِّ ٱلْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ
as'aluka bihaqqi alhasani bni `aliyyin
I beseech You in the name of al-Hasan, the son of `Ali,
عَلَيْهِمَا ٱلسلاَمُ
`alayhima alssalamu
peace be upon both of them,
وَاقَدِّمُهُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ حَوَائِجِي
wa uqaddimuhu bayna yaday hawa'iji
and I present him as my mediation for the settling of my needs,
انْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ…
an tusalliya `ala muhammadin wa ali muhammadin…
(please) send blessings upon Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad and...
The twelfth hour of the day begins with the sun coloring yellowish and ends with sunset. This hour is dedicated to Imam al-Mahdi the Patron of the Age (`a), and the following is the supplication at this hour:
يَا مَنْ تَوَحَّدَ بِنَفْسِهِ عَنْ خَلْقِهِ
ya man tawahhada binafsihi `an khalqihi
O He Who has excluded Himself lonely from His creatures!
يَا مَنْ غَنِيَ عَنْ خَلْقِهِ بِصُنْعِهِ
ya man ghaniya `an khalqihi bisun`ihi
O He Who has sufficed Himself from His creatures by His making!
يَا مَنْ عَرَّفَ نَفْسَهُ خَلْقَهُ بِلُطْفِهِ
ya man `arrafa nafsahu khalqahu bilutfihi
O He Who has introduced Himself to His creatures out of His gentleness!
يَا مَنْ سَلَكَ بِاهْلِ طَاعَتِهِ مَرْضَاتَهُ
ya man salaka bi'ahli ta`atihi mardatahu
O He Who has led the people of obedience to Him to His pleasure!
as'aluka bihaqqi alkhalafi alssalihi `alayhi alssalamu `alayka
I beseech You in the name of the regard of the Righteous Successor, peace be upon him, with You,
وَاتَضَرَّعُ إِلَيْكَ بِهِ
wa atadarra`u ilayka bihi
implore to You in his name,
وَاقَدِّمُهُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ حَوَائِجِي
wa uqaddimuhu bayna yaday hawa'iji
and present him as my mediation for the settling of my needs,
انْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ…
an tusalliya `ala muhammadin wa ali muhammadin…
(please) send blessings upon Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad and...
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ
allahumma salli `ala muhammadin wa ali muhammadin
O Allah, (please) send blessings upon Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad,
اولِي ٱلامْرِ ٱلَّذِينَ امَرْتَ بِطَاعَتِهِمْ
uli al-amri alladhina amarta bita`atihim
the men of authority whom You have ordered us to obey,
وَاولِي ٱلارْحَامِ ٱلَّذِينَ امَرْتَ بِصِلَتِهِمْ
wa uli al-arhami alladhina amarta bisilatihim
the kindred by blood whom You have ordered us to connect,
wa ahli albayti alladhina adhhabta `anhum alrrijsa wa tahhartahum tathiran
and the People of the House from whom You have removed away filth and whom You have purified with thorough purifying,
انْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ…
an tusalliya `ala muhammadin wa ali muhammadin…
(please) send blessings upon Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad and...
In his book of Miqbas al-Masabih, `Allamah al-Majlisi says: Imam al-Sadiq (`a) is reported through valid chains of authority to have said: There are three hours at night and three others at day at which Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, glorifies Himself. The three hours of days begin when the sun in the east side is in the same rising in the afternoon on the other (west) side; that is at early forenoon. The three hours of night begin at the last third of night up to dawn. Any servant glorifies Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, at these hours with full heart presence, Almighty Allah will settle his needs, and if he is unhappy (because of sinning), I expect that he will be made happy.
It is most suitable to say the following words of glorification at these hours:
anta allahu alladhi la ilaha illa anta lam tazal wa la tazalu
You are Allah; there is no god save You, You have been always existent and You will always be existent.