Praising Allah Before Praying and Pleading for Help

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘You must bear in mind that whenever one of you likes to ask his Lord for help in worldly matters or of the next life, he must begin with praise of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, thank Him and ask His favors for the Holy Prophet and then ask for help.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘It is in the book of Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) “praise comes before asking for favors. Whenever you like to pray and plead before Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, for help, speak of His glory.” The narrator has said that I asked the Imam, ‘How should we speak of His glory?’ The Imam said, ‘Say, O You Who are closer to me than my jugular veins, O the One Who does without fail as He wishes, O the One Who stands between a man and his heart, O the One Who is on a high position and the One like Whom is no creature.”’

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘It is thanking then praising, then confession of sins then pleading before Allah for help. By Allah, no servant (of Allah) can come out of sins without confession.’”

Then praising and confessing sins.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Whenever you wish to pray and plead before Allah for help, speak of the glory of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, thank Him, speak of His Holiness, and say that no one deserves to be worshipped except Him, praise Him and ask from Him favors for Muhammad and his family and then ask Him for help, you will receive it.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Whenever anyone of you wishes to ask for help he should praise his Lord and thank Him. When a man wants to ask a king for something, he prepares to say the best of words that he can. When you like to ask for help, speak of the Glory of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Compelling, thank Him and praise Him saying, “O the Most Generous in granting favors and the Best to be asked for help. O the Most Kind to those who ask for kindness, O the only One and Self-sufficient. O the One Who has no children and is not born from anyone and there is no one as His partner. O the One Who has no companion and children. O the One Who does as He wishes, commands as He wills and judges as He loves. O the One Who stands between a man and his heart, O the One Who is in a high position, O the One in Whose likeness there is no creature, O the Hearing, and the Seeing.” Speak of the names of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy; they are many and ask from Him favors for Muhammad and his family and then say, ‘O Lord, extend for me of Your lawful supplies with which I can save my face, return safely what is entrusted with me, maintain good relations with relatives and be helpful in my Hajj and ‘Umrah.’ The Imam said, ‘Once a man came in the Mosque, performed two Rak’at (prayer consisting of twice kneeling) then asked Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, for help and the Messenger of Allah said, ‘The servant (of Allah) hastened his Lord.’ Then another man came in and prayed two Rak’at then he praised Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, and asked from Him favors for the Holy Prophet and his family and the Messenger of Allah said, ‘Ask for help you will receive it.’”

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Once a man came to the Mosque and he began without praising Allah and asking from Him favors for the Holy Prophet. The Messenger of Allah said, ‘The servant (of Allah) hastened his Lord.’ Then another man came in and prayed, praised Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, and asked favors from Him for the Messenger of Allah. The Messenger of Allah said, ‘Ask for help you will receive it.’ Thereafter the Imam said, ‘It is in the book of Ali (a.s.) “Praising Allah and asking favors from Him for the Messenger of Allah should come before asking for help. When anyone comes to a man to request a favor, he loves to say to him the best words to him before asking for help.’”

“Once I said to Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘There are two verses in the book of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, that I search for but I do not find them, (their meaning).’ The Imam aked, ‘What are they?’ I said, ‘They are the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, “Call Me (for help) and I will answer you.’” (40:60) We call Him and pray to Him but do not see any answer.’ The Imam asked, ‘Do you think He, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ignores His promise?’ I said, ‘No, He does not ignore it.’ The Imam asked, ‘Why is that then?’ I said, ‘I do not know.’ The Imam said, ‘I will tell you about it. Whoever obeys Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, in whatever He has commanded and then prays to Him the way prayer should be done He answers them.’ I then asked, ‘What is the way of prayer?’ The Imam said, ‘Begin the prayer by praising Allah, recall His bounties with you, thank Him, ask favors from Him for the Holy Prophet, recall your sins and confess them then seek refuge against them and such is the way of praying.’ Then the Imam said, ‘What is the other verse?’ I said, ‘It is the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘. . .He will replace whatever you spend for His cause and He is the best provider of sustanance,’ (34:39) I spend but do not see any replacement.’ The Imam said, ‘Do you think Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has ignored His promise?’ I said, ‘No.’ The Imam asked, ‘Why is that then?’ I said, ‘I do not know.’ The Imam said, ‘If anyone of you earns something in lawful ways and spends it in a lawful way, every dirham (unit of money) is replaced.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Whoever of you wants his prayer answered must make his earning clean.’”