Du’a al-Ahd — the supplication of the covenant — is related from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq a.s. and recited in the morning as a renewal of allegiance to Imam al-Mahdi a.s. It asks for nothing of this world. It is a declaration of where one stands: the reciter affirms again the bond he acknowledges upon his neck, then asks to be counted among those who will help the Imam when he appears.

A report in Bihar al-Anwar 53/97 holds that whoever recites this supplication for forty mornings will be counted among the helpers of al-Qa’im a.s.; and should he die before the appearance, Allah will bring him out of his grave to join them.

What stands out in this supplication is the request that follows from that. Should death come first, the reciter asks to be brought out of his grave — wrapped in his shroud, his sword drawn — to answer the call. The pledge renewed each morning is, on the terms of this du’a, not bounded by death.

This is the supplication referred to in the discussion of Lailatul Qadr elsewhere in this archive, as one recommended for that night.

Calling upon Allah

اَللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ ٱلنُّورِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ
وَرَبَّ ٱلْكُرْسِيِّ ٱلرَّفِيعِ
وَرَبَّ ٱلْبَحْرِ ٱلْمَسْجُورِ
وَمُنْزِلَ ٱلتَّوْرَاةِ وَٱلإِنْجِيلِ وَٱلزَّبُورِ
وَرَبَّ ٱلظِّلِّ وَٱلْحَرُورِ
وَمُنْزِلَ ٱلْقُرْآنِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ
وَرَبَّ ٱلْمَلاَئِكَةِ ٱلْمُقَرَّبِينَ
وَٱلأَنْبِيَاءِ وَٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ

Allâhumma rabban nûril ‘azhîm
wa rabbal kursiyyir rafî‘
wa rabbal bahril masjûr
wa munzilat tawrâti wal injîli waz zabûr
wa rabbazh zhilli wal harûr
wa munzilal qur’ânil ‘azhîm
wa rabbal malâ’ikatil muqarrabîn
wal anbiyâ’i wal mursalîn

O Allah, Lord of the Great Light
Lord of the Elevated Throne
Lord of the surging sea
who sent down the Torah, the Gospel and the Psalms
Lord of the shade and the scorching heat
who sent down the mighty Qur’an
Lord of the angels brought near
and of the prophets and the messengers

Asking by His names

اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ بِٱسْمِكَ ٱلْكَرِيـمِ
وَبِنُورِ وَجْهِكَ ٱلْمُنِيرِ
وَمُلْكِكَ ٱلْقَدِيمِ
يَا حَيُّ يَا قَيُّومُ
أَسْأَلُكَ بِٱسْمِكَ ٱلَّذِي أَشْرَقَتْ بِهِ ٱلسَّمَاوَاتُ وَٱلأَرَضُونَ
وَبِٱسْمِكَ ٱلَّذِي يَصْلَحُ بِهِ ٱلأَوَّلُونَ وَٱلآخِرُونَ
يَا حَيّاً قَبْلَ كُلِّ حَيٍّ
وَيَا حَيّاً بَعْدَ كُلِّ حَيٍّ
وَيَا حَيّاً حِينَ لا حَيُّ
يَا مُحْيِيَ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ وَمُمِيتَ ٱلأَحْيَاءِ
يَا حَيُّ لا إِلٰهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ

Allâhumma innî as’aluka bismikal karîm
wa binûri wajhikal munîr
wa mulkikal qadîm
yâ hayyu yâ qayyûm
as’aluka bismikal ladzî asyraqat bihis samâwâtu wal aradhûn
wa bismikal ladzî yashluhu bihil awwalûna wal âkhirûn
yâ hayyan qabla kulli hayy
wa yâ hayyan ba‘da kulli hayy
wa yâ hayyan hîna lâ hayy
yâ muhyiyal mawtâ wa mumîtal ahyâ’
yâ hayyu lâ ilâha illâ anta

O Allah, I ask You by Your noble name
by the light of Your shining face
and by Your everlasting dominion
O Ever-Living, O Self-Subsisting
I ask You by Your name through which the heavens and the earths were lit
and by Your name through which the first and the last are set right
O Living before every living thing
O Living after every living thing
O Living when there was nothing living
O You who give life to the dead and bring death to the living
O Ever-Living, there is no god but You

Blessings upon Imam al-Mahdi a.s.

اَللَّهُمَّ بَلِّغْ مَوْلاَنَا ٱلإِمَامَ ٱلْهَادِيَ ٱلْمَهْدِيَّ ٱلْقَائِمَ بِأَمْرِكَ
صَلَوَاتُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَىٰ آبَائِهِ ٱلطَّاهِرِينَ
عَنْ جَمِيعِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ
فِي مَشَارِقِ ٱلأَرْضِ وَمَغَارِبِهَا
سَهْلِهَا وَجَبَلِهَا
وَبَرِّهَا وَبَحْرِهَا
وَعَنِّي وَعَنْ وَالِدَيَّ
مِنَ ٱلصَّلَوَاتِ زِنَةَ عَرْشِ ٱللَّهِ
وَمِدَادَ كَلِمَاتِهِ
وَمَا أَحْصَاهُ عِلْمُهُ وَأَحَاطَ بِهِ كِتَابُهُ

Allâhumma balligh mawlânal imâmal hâdiyal mahdiyyal qâ’ima bi’amrik
shalawâtullâhi ‘alayhi wa ‘alâ âbâ’ihith thâhirîn
‘an jamî‘il mu’minîna wal mu’minât
fî masyâriqil ardhi wa maghâribihâ
sahlihâ wa jabalihâ
wa barrihâ wa bahrihâ
wa ‘annî wa ‘an wâlidayya
minash shalawâti zinata ‘arsyillâh
wa midâda kalimâtih
wa mâ ahshâhu ‘ilmuhu wa ahâtha bihi kitâbuh

O Allah, convey to our master, the guiding Imam, al-Mahdi, who rises by Your command
may the blessings of Allah be upon him and upon his pure forefathers
from all the believing men and believing women
in the easts of the earth and its wests
its plains and its mountains
its land and its sea
and from me and from my parents
blessings equal to the weight of the Throne of Allah
and to the ink of His words
and to all that His knowledge has counted and His book encompassed

Renewing the pledge

اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أُجَدِّدُ لَهُ فِي صَبِيحَةِ يَوْمِي هٰذَا
وَمَا عِشْتُ مِنْ أَيَّامِي
عَهْداً وَعَقْداً وَبَيْعَةً لَهُ فِي عُنُقِي
لا أَحُولُ عنها وَلا أَزُولُ أَبَداً

Allâhumma innî ujaddidu lahu fî shabîhati yawmî hâdzâ
wa mâ ‘isytu min ayyâmî
‘ahdan wa ‘aqdan wa bay‘atan lahu fî ‘unuqî
lâ ahûlu ‘anhâ wa lâ azûlu abadâ

O Allah, I renew for him on this morning of mine
and for all the days that I live
a covenant, a bond and an allegiance to him upon my neck
from which I will not turn and which I will never abandon

Asking to be among his helpers

اَللَّهُمَّ ٱجْعَلْنِي مِنْ أَنْصَارِهِ
وَأَعْوَانِهِ وَٱلذَّابِّينَ عَنْهُ
وَٱلْمُسَارِعِينَ إِلَيْهِ فِي قَضَاءِ حَوَائِجِهِ
وَٱلْمُمْتَثِلِينَ لأَوَامِرِهِ
وَٱلْمُحَامِينَ عَنْهُ
وَٱلسَّابِقِينَ إِلَىٰ إِرَادَتِهِ
وَٱلْمُسْتَشْهَدِينَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ

Allâhummaj‘alnî min anshârih
wa a‘wânihi wadz dzâbbîna ‘anh
wal musâri‘îna ilayhi fî qadhâ’i hawâ’ijih
wal mumtatsilîna li’awâmirih
wal muhâmîna ‘anh
was sâbiqîna ilâ irâdatih
wal mustasyhadîna bayna yadayh

O Allah, make me one of his helpers
his supporters, and those who defend him
who hasten to him in meeting his needs
who comply with his commands
who shield him
who race to do his will
and who are martyred before him

Should death come first

اَللَّهُمَّ إِنْ حَالَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهُ ٱلْمَوْتُ ٱلَّذِي جَعَلْتَهُ عَلَىٰ عِبَادِكَ حَتْماً مَقْضِيّاً
فَأَخْرِجْنِي مِنْ قَبْرِي مُؤْتَزِراً كَفَنِي
شَاهِراً سَيْفِي
مُجَرِّداً قَنَاتِي
مُلَبِّياً دَعْوَةَ ٱلدَّاعِي فِي ٱلْحَاضِرِ وَٱلْبَادِي

Allâhumma in hâla baynî wa baynahul mawtul ladzî ja‘altahu ‘alâ ‘ibâdika hatman maqdhiyyâ
fa’akhrijnî min qabrî mu’taziran kafanî
syâhiran sayfî
mujarridan qanâtî
mulabbiyan da‘watad dâ‘î fil hâdhiri wal bâdî

O Allah, if death — which You have decreed upon Your servants as a certainty — should come between me and him
then bring me out of my grave wrapped in my shroud
my sword unsheathed
my spear bared
answering the call of the caller, in the town and in the wilderness

Asking to see him

اَللَّهُمَّ أَرِنِي ٱلطَّلْعَةَ ٱلرَّشِيدَةَ
وَٱلْغُرَّةَ ٱلْحَمِيدَةَ
وَٱكْحُلْ نَاظِرِي بِنَظْرَةٍ مِنِّي إِلَيْهِ
وَعَجِّلْ فَرَجَهُ
وَسَهِّلْ مَخْرَجَهُ
وَأَوْسِعْ مَنْهَجَهُ
وَٱسْلُكْ بِي مَحَجَّتَهُ
وَأَنْفِذْ أَمْرَهُ
وَٱشْدُدْ أَزْرَهُ

Allâhumma arinith thal‘atar rasyîdah
wal ghurratal hamîdah
wakhul nâzhirî binazhratin minnî ilayh
wa ‘ajjil farajah
wa sahhil makhrajah
wa awsi‘ manhajah
wasluk bî mahajjatah
wa anfidz amrah
wasydud azrah

O Allah, show me that rightly guided countenance
and that praiseworthy brow
and cool my eyes with a look upon him
hasten his relief
ease his coming forth
widen his path
lead me along his way
carry out his command
and strengthen his back

For the earth and for His servants

وَٱعْمُرِ ٱللَّهُمَّ بِهِ بِلادَكَ
وَأَحْيِ بِهِ عِبَادَكَ
فَإِنَّكَ قُلْتَ وَقَوْلُكَ ٱلْحَقُّ:
«ظَهَرَ ٱلْفَسَادُ فِي ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ
بِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِي ٱلنَّاسِ.»

wa‘muril lâhumma bihi bilâdak
wa ahyi bihi ‘ibâdak
fa’innaka qulta wa qawlukal haqq
zhaharal fasâdu fil barri wal bahr
bimâ kasabat aydin nâs

O Allah, settle Your lands through him
and revive Your servants through him
for You have said, and Your word is the truth:
“Corruption has appeared on land and sea
by what the hands of men have wrought.”

Asking that he be made manifest

فَأَظْهِرِ ٱللَّهُمَّ لَنَا وَلِيَّكَ
وَٱبْنَ بِنْتِ نَبِيِّكَ
ٱلْمُسَمَّىٰ بِٱسْمِ رَسُولِكَ
صَلَّىٰ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ
حَتَّىٰ لا يَظْفَرَ بِشَيْءٍ مِنَ ٱلْبَاطِلِ إِلاَّ مَزَّقَهُ
وَيُحِقُّ ٱلْحَقَّ وَيُحَقِّقَهُ وَٱجْعَلْهُ
ٱللَّهُمَّ مَفْزَعاً لِمَظْلُومِ عِبَادِكَ
وَنَاصِراً لِمَنْ لا يَجِدُ لَهُ نَاصِراً غَيْرَكَ
وَمُجَدِّداً لِمَا عُطِّلَ مِنْ أَحْكَامِ كِتَابِكَ
وَمُشَيِّداً لِمَا وَرَدَ مِنْ أَعْلامِ دِينِكَ وَسُنَنِ نَبِيِّكَ
صَلَّىٰ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِهِ وَٱجْعَلْهُ
ٱللَّهُمَّ مِمَّنْ حَصَّنْتَهُ مِنْ بَأُسِ ٱلْمُعْتَدِينَ

fa’azhhiril lâhumma lanâ waliyyak
wabna binti nabiyyik
al musammâ bismi rasûlik
shallallâhu ‘alayhi wa âlih
hattâ lâ yazhfara bisyay’in minal bâthili illâ mazzaqah
wa yuhiqqal haqqa wa yuhaqqiqahu waj‘alh
allâhumma mafza‘an limazhlûmi ‘ibâdik
wa nâshiran liman lâ yajidu lahu nâshiran ghayrak
wa mujaddidan limâ ‘uththila min ahkâmi kitâbik
wa musyayyidan limâ warada min a‘lâmi dînika wa sunani nabiyyik
shallallâhu ‘alayhi wa âlihi waj‘alh
allâhumma mimman hashshantahu min ba’sil mu‘tadîn

So show us, O Allah, Your wali
the son of the daughter of Your Prophet
who bears the name of Your Messenger
may Allah bless him and his family
so that he meets nothing of falsehood without tearing it apart
and establishes the truth and makes it real. And make him
O Allah, a refuge for the oppressed among Your servants
a helper for whoever finds no helper but You
a renewer of what has been left idle of the rulings of Your Book
and a builder of what has come down of the marks of Your religion and the practices of Your Prophet
may Allah bless him and his family. And make him
O Allah, among those You have shielded from the violence of transgressors

Closing

اَللَّهُمَّ وَسُرَّ نَبِيَّكَ مُحَمَّداً
صَلَّىٰ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِهِ
بِرُؤْيَتِهِ وَمَنْ تَبِعَهُ عَلَىٰ دَعْوَتِهِ
وَٱرْحَمِ ٱسْتِكَانَتَنَا بَعْدَهُ
اَللَّهُمَّ ٱكْشِفْ هٰذِهِ ٱلْغُمَّةَ عَنْ هٰذِهِ ٱلأُمَّةِ بِحُضُورِهِ
وَعَجِّلْ لَنَا ظُهُورَهُ
«إِنَّهُمْ يَرَوْنَهُ بَعِيداً وَنَرَاهُ قَرِيباً.»
بِرَحْمَتِكَ يَا أَرْحَمَ ٱلرَّاحِمِينَ
الْعَجَلَ ٱلْعَجَلَ يَامَوْلايَ يَا صَاحِبَ ٱلزَّمَانِ

Allâhumma wa surra nabiyyaka muhammadâ
shallallâhu ‘alayhi wa âlih
biru’yatihi wa man tabi‘ahu ‘alâ da‘watih
warhamis tikânatanâ ba‘dah
Allâhummaksyif hâdzihil ghummata ‘an hâdzihil ummati bihudhûrih
wa ‘ajjil lanâ zhuhûrah
innahum yarawnahu ba‘îdan wa narâhu qarîbâ
birahmatika yâ arhamar râhimîn
al ‘ajala al ‘ajala yâ mawlâya yâ shâhibaz zamân

O Allah, gladden Your Prophet Muhammad
may Allah bless him and his family
with the sight of him, and gladden whoever followed him in his call
and have mercy on our abasement after him
O Allah, lift this grief from this community by his presence
and hasten his appearance for us
“Indeed they see it as distant, but We see it as near.”
by Your mercy, O Most Merciful of the merciful
Hasten, hasten, O my master, O Master of the Age

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(1) The merit of this supplication is cited from Bihar al-Anwar 53/97 as given in the Indonesian text of Du’a al-Ahd used in preparing this page.
(2) The Arabic and its transliteration follow the text published at duas.org (https://www.duas.org/dua-ahad.html), checked against that same source. The English rendering here was written for this archive.
(3) The verses quoted within the supplication are QS Ar-Rum (30):41 and QS Al-Ma’arij (70):6-7.