AAMAL AT MASJID AL-SAHLAH

It is highly recommended to offer at Masjid al-Sahlah a two-unit prayer between the obligatory Maghrib (Sunset) and ‘Isha’ (Evening) prayers, for it has been reported that Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) said that Almighty Allah shall definitely save whoever offers this prayer and supplicates Almighty Allah from all grievances.

In the word of some guidebooks of ziyarah, when you intend to enter Masjid al-Sahlah, you may stop at its gate and say the following words:

You may then recite Ayah al-Kursi (2:255), Surah al-Falaq, Surah al-Nas, each one seven times and then repeat the following doxology (zikr) prayer seven times, too:

Then, you may say the following doxological and supplicatory words:

Sayyid Ibn Tawus says that if you intend to visit Masjid al-Sahlah, you may choose for this visit the time between the Maghrib and the ‘Isha’ obligatory prayers at the night before Wednesday. This is because this time is better than any other time. At Masjid al-Sahlah, you may offer the obligatory Maghrib Prayer and then offer the Maghrib supererogatory (mustahab / nafilah) (mustahab / nafilah) prayer. Then, you may stand up for offering a two-unit prayer as the prayer of greeting the mosque. This prayer may be intended for seeking nearness to Almighty Allah. When you finish, you may raise your hands towards the sky and say the following supplicatory prayer:

You may then prostrate yourself, show submission to Almighty Allah, and supplicate Him for anything you need. Then, you may move to the west-northern side of the mosque, which is the place of Prophet Abraham’s house, from where he used to ready himself for fighting against the giants. At this place, you may offer a two-unit prayer after which you may say the Tasbih statements followed by this supplicatory prayer:

You may then move to the other side, which is in the kiblah direction, and offer a two-unit prayer. You may then raise your hands towards the sky and say the following supplicatory words:

You may then prostrate yourself and put your cheek on the ground. Then, you may walk to the eastern side of the mosque where you may offer a two-unit prayer. After that, you may extend your hands and say the following supplicatory words:

According to an anonymous guidebook of Ziyarah, it has been mentioned that you may then walk to the other eastern corner of the mosque and offer there a two-unit prayer and then say the following supplicatory prayer:

Then, you may offer a two-unit prayer in the house that is situated in the middle of Masjid al-Sahlah. Upon accomplishment, you may say the following supplicatory words:

You may then put both your cheeks on the ground.

This holy area of Masjid al-Sahlah is currently known as maqam zayn al-’Abidin (the Place of Imam Zayn al-’Abidin).

In the book of al-Mazar al-Qadim, it is mentioned that one may offer at this place a two-unit prayer and then say the previously mentioned supplicatory prayer, which begins with the following statement:

Next to this place, there is an area known as maqam al-mahdi (the Place of Imam al-Mahdi). It is thus appropriate to visit Imam al-Mahdi (‘a) from this place.

However, some books of ziyarah have instructed that one, while standing up at this place, may visit Imam al-Mahdi (‘a) with the ziyarah formula that begins with the following statements:

This form of ziyarah has been mentioned in the seventh chapter of the first section of this book under the title, Seeking Aid From Imam al-Mahdi (pp. 458 of vol. 1).

Sayyid Ibn Tawus has included this form of ziyarah with the other forms that are used for visiting Imam al-Mahdi (‘a) in the Holy Vault (sirdab) in Samarra’ after offering a two-unit prayer.