Repeating Supplications or Prayers for Needs

Question

Is focusing on one of them sufficient for a period of 40 days, such as the prayer for needs, visiting Imam Hussein (peace be upon him), or one of the Imams (peace be upon them)?

Answer 1

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings,

Regarding the specifics of these matters, we can refer to the narrations that have been reported about them as a certain measure. If we are discussing what can be done to fulfill needs, there are several actions that can be taken, including:

1- Fasting: It has been reported from Abu Abdullah (peace be upon him) that if you have a need, you should fast on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, pray two units of prayer at noon under the sky, and say: 'O Allah, I have come to Your sanctuary due to my knowledge of Your oneness, the supplication...'

2- Supplication: There is a highly esteemed supplication that Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him) heard from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family), in which it was conveyed (O Ali, if someone were to invoke this supplication upon iron plates, they would melt... If a man were to invoke this supplication upon a mountain between him and the place he desires, the mountain would split so he could pass through to the place he wants...) The beginning of the supplication is:

'O Allah, You are Allah, You are the Most Merciful, You are the Most Compassionate, the King, the Most Holy, the Peace, the Guardian, the Mighty, the Compeller, the Supreme, the First, the Last, the Manifest, the Hidden...' (Bihar al-Anwar 92: 372).

3- Prayers: There are many prayers such as the prayers of the infallibles and the prayer of Ja'far al-Tayyar, among others. You may refer to the book 'Mafatih al-Janan' and the book 'Al-Misbah' by al-Kaf'ami for more details.

As for visiting Imam Hussein (peace be upon him), there is much virtue, great reward, and immense merit associated with it, and it is beneficial for fulfilling needs, as mentioned in several narrations. Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) stated that beside you is a grave that no distressed person approaches except that Allah alleviates their distress and fulfills their need (Bihar al-Anwar 101: 45).

And he (peace be upon him) said to Safwan ibn Mahran al-Jamal: 'Maintain this visit (i.e., the visitation of Ashura) and invoke this supplication, for I guarantee by Allah for everyone who visits with this visitation and invokes this supplication, whether near or far, that their visitation is accepted, their efforts are appreciated, their greetings are delivered without obstruction, and their needs are fulfilled by Allah, no matter how great they may be, and they will not be disappointed, O Safwan!' (Misbāh al-Mutahajjid, 542).

Imam al-Baqir (peace be upon him) emphasized the possibility of visiting Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) from afar when asked: 'What about those who are in distant lands and cannot travel to him on that day?' He replied (peace be upon him): 'If that is the case, go out to the desert or ascend a high roof in your house, and gesture to him with peace, strive in supplication against his killers, and pray two units of prayer from a distance, and let it be in the early part of the day before the sun sets. Then, let him mourn for Hussein (peace be upon him) and weep for him, and let those in his house who do not fear him weep for him, and let him express his grief for the tragedy in his house, and let them console one another for their loss of Hussein (peace be upon him)' (Mustadrak al-Wasa'il 10: 308).

Such narrations do not limit the effect of these actions to a specific number of repetitions; Allah may fulfill your need from performing them just once. Yes, being consistent and repeating them is undoubtedly commendable and virtuous. In the words and experiences of the scholars of the Imamiya, there are indications of a specific number, such as a duration of forty days, but this does not contradict the effect of these actions occurring without that specific number. And Allah knows best.

May you be successful in all good.