Al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya: A Life of Supplication

A collection of supplications

As-Sahifa al-Kamilah al-Sajjadiyya is a collection of supplications attributed to Imam Ali Zayn al-Abidin, the great-grandson of Prophet Muhammad. The linked edition includes prayers associated with the beginning and farewell of Ramadan, as well as the Treatise on Rights. These features offer a concrete introduction to the collection. [1]

The foreword by Sayyid Husayn M. Jafari frames supplication as a response to inward and outward human difficulty and personal limits, with a direct turning to God. He connects this inward spiritual life to love, justice, mercy, loyalty, goodness, and truth. This emphasis presents prayer as a way of attending to the inner person as well as one’s relationships and conduct. [3]

William C. Chittick translated the edition discussed in that foreword. Readers approaching the collection in English can keep in mind that a translation carries the translator’s choices; consulting the identified edition helps preserve the connection to a specific source. [3]

Dua as turning to Allah

Dua means supplication: a person’s call or request to Allah. It is distinct from salah, the prescribed ritual prayer. Recognizing the difference helps a learner encounter supplication as its own devotional form without confusing it with ritual prayer. [2]

To begin reading, use the original edition and spend time with a small portion. Notice what concerns it brings before Allah and what relationships or responsibilities the text makes you consider. Because English wording reflects translation choices, attend to the identified edition rather than treating one rendering as the original wording. [1]

Supplication can be read as an expression of dependence, gratitude, concern, or hope, depending on the particular text. A reader may ask what the words direct attention toward and how the act of turning to Allah relates to daily character. These are reflective questions, not claims about a guaranteed result. [3]

Devotion alongside responsibility

The collection’s Ramadan prayers can give a reader a way to reflect on beginnings and endings in the devotional year. The Treatise on Rights offers a different entry point, drawing attention to duties and human relationships. A reader can consider how prayer and responsibility meet in their own life while distinguishing that personal reflection from what the text itself says. [1]

An unhurried reading may be more useful than trying to cover a large amount at once. Keep notes on questions, unfamiliar language, or themes you want to understand more fully. Supplication is an act of turning toward Allah; it need not be framed as a guaranteed result or a prescribed number of repetitions. The original edition provides a place to encounter the work and continue learning with care. [2]