o Al-Baqiyat al-Salihat, Hadiyyat al-Za’irin, Fawa’id al-Rajabiyyah, al-Li’ali al-Manthurah, al-Tuhfat al-Tusiyyah on the topics of ziyarah, supplications and observances; This chapter includes: Ta'qibat (acts of worship after prayers), practices of days, nights, and days of the week, famous prayers such as the Prayer of the Prophet (s), the Prayer of Amir al-Mu'minin (a), the Prayer of Lady Fatima (a), and the Prayer of Ja'far al-Tayyar, Ziyara texts of Imams (a) on the days of the week, supplications including Munajat Khams 'Ashar of Imam al-Sajjad (a), Munajat of Imam Ali (a) in Mosque of Kufa, Du'a al-Simat, Du'a al-Kumayl, al-Jawshan al-Saghir, al-Jawshan al-Kabir, Du'a Makarim al-Akhlaq. After the Ziyaras of Imam al-Mahdi (a), the Ziyaras of Prophets (a), the Ziyara of Lady Ma'suma (a), and the Ziyara of 'Abd al-'Azim al-Hasani have been mentioned. The last content of this chapter, which was the last content of the first edition of Mafatih al-jinan, is the Ziyara of the Graves of the Faithful and the related du'as. One of the senior scholars of Najaf once said to Shaykh Abbas-e-Qummi, “My foot is constantly hurting me - please pray for me.” The Shaykh replied, “If I say I will pray for you, it is possible that my prayer may not be answered if I have uttered something sinful in the past. However, I will pass my hand over your foot, because with this hand I have written many ahadith of the Ahlu'l Bayt (AS) and Insha'Allah Imam Sadiq (AS) will effect a cure for you.” He rubbed his hand over the scholar's foot and the pain left him immediately.

Mafātīḥ al-jinān (Arabic: مفاتیح الجنان), (keys to the heavens) by Shaykh Abbas Qummi is the most popular book of supplication in the Shi'a world. It contains du'as, supplications, Ziyara texts, practices specific to certain days, months, and occasions, religious practices and manners, as well as some anecdotes narrated from the Prophet (s), Imams (a), and Islamic scholars. The sixth Imam al-Sadiq (as) (d. 148 AH / 765 AD) transmits the following report from the Prophet of Allah (saw), who said: ‘(The month of) Rajab is the month of seeking repentance for my community, so increase the seeking of repentance in it for He (Allah) is Forgiving and Merciful. This month is called “ al-Rajab al-A s abb” (i.e. the [month of] Rajab in which there is an abundant and excessive outpouring and flow). This is because the mercy of Allah flows on my community (in this month) with abundant exuberance. Therefore dedicate yourselves with increasing intensity to the recitation of the formula: Ziyarat e Aale Yaaseen, Ziyarat e Ameenullah, Ziyarat e Arbaeen, Ziyarat e Ashura, Ziyarat e Hazrat Abbas (a.s.), Ziyarat e Hazrat Ali Akbar (a.s.), Ziyarat e Imam Husain (a.s.) 1st Rajab, 15th Rajab & 15th Shabaan, Ziyarat e Imam Reza (a.s.), Ziyarat e Imam Zamana (a.s.), Ziyarat e Jaamea'h Kabeerah, Ziyarat e Jaamea'h Sagheerah, Ziyaraat of Masoomeen (a.s.) for the days of the week, Ziyarat e Nahiya, Ziyarat e Shohada e Karbala, Ziyarat e Taziyah (Condolence), Ziyarat e Warisa, Ziyarat Al Haqq Al Jadeed The supplication starts by glorifying and praising Allah and sending his peace and blessing upon the Prophet (s) and his progeny. It continues explaining the purpose of choosing prophets and saints and the fact that they were approved by Allah, and then the most important part of Adam (a) and Ulu l-'Azm prophets' (five great prophets who brought a new religion: Noah (a), Abraham (a), Moses (a), Jesus (a), Muhammad (s)) lives. Also, it has been emphasized that God has appointed an executor and a successor for each of them so that Haqq (right) stays and Batil (wrong) cannot overcome the right, and no one has any excuses before Allah -in the hereafter- that why none of your prophets and messengers came to us so we would follow your signs. June is an inauspicious month, as is confirmed by Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) who is reported to have said to those who mentioned June before him, “In this month, (Prophet) Moses invoked Almighty Allah’s curse upon the Israelites; therefore, three hundred thousands Israelites died in a single day and night.”

Shaykh Abbas-e-Qummi (R.A.)

When he began to compile the Mafatih, some scholars of Qum advised him to use his vast knowledge to write explanatory notes on some of the complicated books, like Kifayah and Makasib of Shaykh al-Ansari, instead. “Are you just sitting writing a book of du'as?” they asked. He replied, “I will continue writing the Mafatih, and I have dedicated its reward to the soul of Fatima Zahra (AS), and, with her blessings, it will become Mafatih-al-Jinan - keys to the gardens of Paradise.” Allamah al-Majlisi says, “In my conception, as for salat al-ziyarah, as well as the other prayers performed in the holy shrines, it is preferable to offer them behind the tomb or to the side of the head.”

Second: It is required to save one’s money in a secured place. It is narrated that saving of one’s money in a safe place indicates the traveler’s discernment. O One Who grants (even) the one who does not beseech Him and does not know Him, (yet He grants) in compassion and mercy! Since the Mafatih al-jinan in full form is a large book, and it is not easy to be carried, many publishers have frequently published selections of it. First: It is required not to forget mentioning Almighty Allah’s Name (i.e. Basmalah; Bismil-lahir-rahmanir-rahim: In the Name of Allah, the All-beneficent, the All-merciful) at the moment of riding (or getting in transportation means). So grant me the totality of the good of this world and that of the hereafter by my seeking You specifically.

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Refinement of the chains of transmissions of supplications and ziyaras in Mafatih al-jinan, and the elimination and substitution of some of these. The etiquettes of ziyarah (i.e. pilgrimage to the holy shrines) are many; yet, I will restrict to the following: Quoting the book of ‘Uyun al-Mu’jizat, ‘Allamah al-Majlisi, in his book of Bihar al-Anwar, has mentioned the following precious narration: Twenty-eighth: Ibn Mahbub is reported to have said: Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) taught a man this supplicatory prayer to say it in his supplications: Before Mafatih al-jinan, other du'a books were used by the Shi'ites. The compiler of Mafatih al-jinan has included content from other books including Iqbal al-a'mal by al-Sayyid b. Tawus, Misbah by al-Kaf'ami, and Zad al-ma'ad by al-'Allama al-Majlisi.