دُعَاءُ الْفَرَجْ – إلهي عظم البلاء
Du‘a’ al-Faraj – Invocation for the Advent of the Imam of the Age (‘atfs)
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Bismillahi ’r-rahmani ’r-rahim
In the Name of Allah, the All-beneficent, the All-merciful
إِلَهِيْ عَظُمَ الْبَلَاءُ وَبَرِحَ الْخَفَاءُ
Ilahi ‘azuma’l-bala’u wa bariha’l-khafa’
O my Lord! The calamity has aggravated; the absence prolonged;
وَانْكَشَفَ الْغِطَاءُ وَانْقَطَعَ الرَّجَاءُ
Wa’nkashafa’l-ghita’u wa’nqata‘a’r-raja’
The curtain of modesty has been lifted; hope has been curtailed;
وَضَاقَتِ الْأَرْضُ وَمُنِعَتِ السَّمَاءُ
Wa daqati’l-ardu wa muni‘ati’s-sama’
The earth has been narrow; and sky has been denied.
وَأَنْتَ الْمُسْتَعَانُ وَإِلَيْكَ الْمُشْتَكَي
Wa anta’l-musta‘anu wa ilayka’l-mushtaka
And You are the One from whom help is sought and complaints are made
وَ عَلَيْكَ الْمُعَوَّلُ فِيْ الشِّدَّةِ وَالرَّخَاءِ
Wa ‘alayka al-mu‘awwalu fi’sh-shiddati wa’r-rakha’
And in You we trust in the times of difficulty.
اَللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَي مُحَمَّدٍ وَّآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ
Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ali Muhammad
O Allah! Send blessings upon Muhammad (S) and the progeny of Muhammad (S),
أُوْلِي الْأَمْرِ الَّذِيْنَ فَرَضْتَ عَلَيْنَا طَا عَتَهُمْ
Uli’l-amri’l-ladhina faradta ‘alayna ta‘atahum
The possessors of authority whose obedience you have enjoined upon us
وَ عَرَّفْتَنَا بِذَالِكَ مَنْزِلَتَهُمْ، فَفَّرِجْ عَنَّا بِحَقِّهِمْ فَرَجاً عَاجِلاً قَرِيْباً كَلَمْحِ الْبَصَرِ أَوْ هُوَ أَقْرَبُ
Wa ‘arraftana bidhalika manzilatahum fafarrij ‘anna bi-haqqihim farajan ‘ajilan qariban kalamhi’l-basari aw huwa aqrab
And by that made us aware of their position. Then make open for us, by their truth, an immediate opening, immediate as a wink or sooner.
يَامُحَمَّدُ يَاعَلِيُّ يَاعَلِيُّ يَامُحَمَّدُ
Ya Muhammadu ya ‘Aliyyu ya Muhammad
O Muhammad! O ‘Ali! O ‘Ali! O Muhammad!
ِكْفِيَانِيْ فَإِنَّكُمَا كَافِيَانِ وَ انْصُرَانِيْ فَإِنَّكُمَا نَاصِرَانِ
Ikfiyani fainnakuma kafiyani wa’n-surani fainnakuma nasiran
Suffice me both of you as both of you are sufficient. Help me—two of you—for you are my helpers.
يَامَوْلَانَا يَاصَاحِبَ الزَّمَانِ
Ya mawlana ya sahiba’z-zaman
O our Master, O Master of the Time!
اَلْغَوْثَ اَلْغَوْثَ اَلْغَوْثَ
Al-ghawtha’l-ghawtha’l-ghawth
Help! Help!
أَدْرِكْنِيْ أَدْرِكْنِيْ أَدْرِكْنِيْ
Adrikni adrikni adrikni
Rescue me! Rescue me! Rescue me!
اَلسَّاعَةَ اَلسَّاعَةَ اَلسَّاعَةَ
As-sa‘ata’s-sa‘ata’s-sa‘ah
This moment! This moment! This moment!
Slap Your Right Thigh Three Times and Say:
اَلْعَجَلَ اَلْعَجَلَ اَلْعَجَلَ
Al-‘ajala’l-‘ajala’l-‘ajal
Hasten, hasten, hasten!
يَا أَرْحَمَ لرَّاحِمِيْنَ بِحَقِّ مُحَمَّدٍ وَّآلِهِ الطَّا هِرِيْنَ
Ya arhama’r-rahimina bi-haqqi Muhammad wa alihi’t-tahirin
O Most Merciful of the Merciful, For the sake of Muhammad (S) and his holy progeny.
References:
Al-Baladul Ameen: 607; Al- Mizar by Shaheed: 231; Al- Misbaah: 235; Minhajil Arifeen: 483.
About Dua al-Faraj (Ilahi Azum al-Bala)
Dua al-Faraj, which begins Ilahi ‘azuma’l-bala’ (“O my Lord, the calamity has become great”), is a supplication for relief from hardship and for the reappearance of Imam al-Mahdi (a.t.f.s.), the twelfth Imam. In it the believer describes the difficulty of the time of occultation, calls upon Muhammad and Ali (a.s.) for help, and asks Allah to hasten the faraj, the relief that comes with the Imam’s return. It is recorded in classical prayer manuals and in Mafatih al-Jinan.
When to Recite Dua al-Faraj
- In times of personal difficulty, illness, debt or worry.
- After the daily prayers, as many believers do as a regular practice.
- On Fridays and on the night of 15 Sha’ban, the birth anniversary of Imam al-Mahdi (a.t.f.s.).
- Together with other duas for the Imam of the Age, such as Dua Ahd and the short dua Allahumma kun li-waliyyik.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dua al-Faraj?
It is a supplication beginning “Ilahi azuma al-bala” that asks Allah for relief from hardship and for the reappearance of Imam al-Mahdi (a.t.f.s.).
When should Dua al-Faraj be recited?
It can be recited at any time, especially in difficulty, after daily prayers, on Fridays and on the night of 15 Sha’ban.
Who is the Imam of the Age?
Shia Muslims believe Imam Muhammad al-Mahdi (a.t.f.s.), the twelfth Imam, is alive in occultation and will reappear to fill the earth with justice.
