Source: Celebrating the Wiladat of 4th Imam (AS)

The Ornament of the Worshippers is one of the titles given to the Imam whose birth anniversary we commemorate in the month of Shabaan - an individual who also happens to be the 4th Imam. Of course, the person whom we are talking about is none other than Imam Ali ibnil Hussein Zainul Abideen (peace be upon him). A descendent of the Prophet of Islam from his father's side, his mother was the daughter of the then Emperor of the Persian Empire, as scholars such as Shaykh Hurr al-Amili and Allamah Majlisi have confirmed in their writings.

After the events of Kerbala and the extreme pressures upon the remaining members of the family, the Ahlul Bayt were forced to convey the message of Islam and the teachings of the Ahlul Bayt in discreet ways. Thus, it is for this reason that the forth Imam took to the Dua - supplication - to enlighten the community to the greatness of the Prophet, the beauty of Islam and the rights of the Ahlul Bayt.

A glance at the prayers contained in “As-Sahifatul Kamilatul Sajjadiyah” or the Pslams of Islam as it is commonly referred to (the book of prayers written by the Imam), shows the level of spirituality and closeness of the Imam to Allah - something which he wanted us to try and achieve through his book of prayers and other acts of devotion in Islam.

If the Dua is the weapon of the believer as the Prophet has told us, then this magnificent work is nothing less than fortified tank of spiritual and physical protection!  Although it is difficult to highlight just one prayer in such a short article, we present a few lines from the Prayer for the “People on the Frontiers” - Dua number 27. This prayer has especially been recommended to be read during the current political climate we are living in:
“O Allah! Bless Muhammad and his Household, fortify the frontiers of the Muslims through Your might, support their defenders through Your strength, and lavish upon them gifts through Your wealth!

O Allah! Distract the idolaters from reaching for the borders of the Muslims through the idolaters (detract the enemies of Islam through the use of another group of enemies), bar them from cutting them down through being cut down, and hold them back from massing together against them (the Muslims) through dissension!

O Allah! Bless Muhammad, Your slave and Your messenger, and the Household of Muhammad, with a blessing high above all other blessings, towering beyond all other salutations, a blessing whose end is never reached and whose number is never cut off, like the most perfect of Your blessings that has passed to any one of Your friends!”