On 21st Ramadhan, 40 AH , Imam Ali ibn Abi-Talib, Amir al-Mu’minin(peace be upon him),departed from this life as a martyr. The night of 19 Ramadhan 40 A.H. Ibne Muljim (May the curse of Allah befall him) had dealt a blow on his head, when Imam(as) cried out:“By the Lord of the Kabah, I have been successful!”
﷽
اللّهُمّ اجْعَلْ لِي فِيهِ إِلَى مَرْضَاتِكَ دَلِيلاً
allahumma aj`al li fihi ila mardatika dalilan
O Allah; on this day, (please) make for me a course that takes me to Your pleasure;
وَلا تَجْعَلْ لِلشّيْطَانِ فِيهِ عَلَيّ سَبِيلاً،
wa la taj`al lilshshitani fihi `alayya sabilan
And do not make for Satan a course to me;
وَاجْعَلِ الجَنّةَ لِي مَنْزِلاً وَمَقِيلاً،
waj`ali aljannata li manzilan wa maqilan
And make Paradise my home and dwelling;
يَا قَاضِيَ حَوَائِجِ الطَّالِبِينَ.
ya qadiya hawa’iji alttalibina
O He Who settles the needs of the beseechers.
Amaal Eve 21
(Eve of 21 Ramadan)Pray an 8 Rak-a’t Salaat, In every Rak-a’t recite Soorah Al Faatih’ah and any other Soorah.
Dua after namaz
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
يَا عَلِيُّ يَا عَظِيمُ
يَا غَفُورُ يَا رَحِيمُ
أَنْتَ الرَّبُّ الْعَظِيمُ
الَّذِي لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ
وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ
وَهذَا شَهْرٌ عَظَّمْتَهُ وَكَرَّمْتَهُ
وَشَرَّفْتَهُ وَفَضَّلْتَهُ عَلَى الشُّهُورِ،
وَهُوَ الشَّهْرُ الَّذِي فَرَضْتَ صِيَامَهُ عَلَيَّ،
وَهُوَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلْتَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنَ
هُدَىً لِلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ
وَجَعَلْتَ فِيهِ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ
وَجَعَلْتَهَا خَيْراً مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ
فَيَا ذَا الْمَنِّ وَلا يُمَنُّ عَلَيْكَ
مُنَّ عَلَيَّ بِفَكَاكِ رَقَبَتِي مِنَ النَّارِ فِي مَنْ تَمُنُّ عَلَيْهِ
وَأَدْخِلْنِي الْجَنَّةَ
بِرَحْمَتِكَ يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ
اللّهُمّ الْعَنْ قَتَلَةَ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
allahumma al`an qatalata ameeri almu´mineena
O Allah: (please do) withdraw your mercy from the killers of the Commander of the Believers (Ameer al-Mu’mineen Imam Ali)
About the Dua for the 21st Day of Ramadan
The dua for the 21st day of Ramadan asks for a path to Allah’s pleasure, that Satan is given no way over the believer, and that Paradise becomes his home. Like each of the thirty daily supplications, it is short enough to memorise, yet it turns the day’s fast into a focused request for one quality the believer needs. As one of the last ten days of Ramadan, it falls in the period when the Holy Prophet (s) used to observe i’tikaf and increase his worship.
The thirty daily duas of Ramadan are narrated from the Holy Prophet (s) through Ibn Abbas and are recorded in classical Shia prayer manuals, including Mafatih al-Jinan by Shaykh Abbas Qummi. The night prayer shown above belongs to the eve of the 21st, which in the Islamic calendar is the night before the day of fasting.
Significance of the 21st of Ramadan
The 21st is the day of the martyrdom of Imam Ali (a.s.) in 40 AH, and its night is the second of the nights of Qadr. Shia Muslims hold majalis, recite Ziyarat Amin Allah and spend the night in prayer, Dua Jawshan al-Kabir and seeking forgiveness.
How to Recite This Dua
- Recite it during the day of the 21st fast, for example after the Fajr prayer or shortly before iftar.
- Read the Arabic text, and go through the English translation so you understand each request.
- Begin and end with salawat: Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin wa aali Muhammad.
- On the eve before, perform the recommended night prayer (amaal) listed above.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I recite the dua for the 21st day of Ramadan?
Recite it during the daytime of the 21st of Ramadan, while fasting. Many people read it after Fajr or before iftar. The night prayer for this date is performed on the eve, the night before the 21st day.
What does the 21st Ramadan dua ask for?
It asks for a path to Allah’s pleasure, that Satan is given no way over the believer, and that Paradise becomes his home.
Can I recite the daily Ramadan dua in English or Urdu?
Yes. A dua can be made in any language, and understanding the meaning matters. Reading the transmitted Arabic wording as well is recommended, since these are the words narrated from the Holy Prophet (s).
Why is the 21st of Ramadan important?
The 21st is the day of the martyrdom of Imam Ali (a.s.) in 40 AH, and its night is the second of the nights of Qadr. Shia Muslims hold majalis, recite Ziyarat Amin Allah and spend the night in prayer, Dua Jawshan al-Kabir and seeking forgiveness.
More Ramadan duas: ← Dua for the 20th day · All 30 Ramadan daily duas · Dua for the 22nd day →
Want to read Ramadan duas fluently in Arabic? Al Mehdi Center offers one-to-one Quran and Tajweed classes with qualified Shia teachers. Book your free trial.
