Du'a' Kumayl

'supplication of Kumayl') is a supplication (du'a') attributed to Ali ibn Abi Talib (d. 661), the fourth Rashidun caliph (r. 656–661), the first Shia Imam, and the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

This du'a' contains esoteric teachings about divine mercy and repentance, and remains popular especially among Shia Muslims.

[2] Among Shia scholars, the du'a' is quoted by al-Tusi (d. 1067) in his Misbah al-mutahajjid, by Ibn Tawus (d. 1266) in his Iqbal, and by Sharif al-Murtada (d. 1044).

[5] There are several commentaries concerning this du'a', some of which are listed by the Shia jurist Agha Bozorg Tehrani (d. 1970) in his al-Dhari'a ila tasanif al-shi'a.

[6] Especially among Shia Muslims, the Du'a' Kumayl remains popular, recited every Thursday night,[2] and on mid-Shaban.

[5] The invocation of this du'a' is said to be "useful for protecting against the evil of enemies, for opening the gates of one's daily bread and for the forgiveness of sins.

"[7] The Du'a' Kumayl is also rich with esoteric teachings, chief among them the concept of rahma, which might be translated from Arabic as 'loving mercy and compassion'.

Together, these two verses of the supplication imply that the defining quality of all divine names is mercy, suggests the Islamic author Reza Shah-Kazemi.

[11] Another verse of the supplication reads, "My far-fetched hopes have held me back from my true gain," echoing other statements attributed to Ali, including, "Most shattered minds have been felled by lightning bolts of covetous desires.

I ask You by Your truth and Your holiness, and the greatest of Your attributes and names, that You make my times in the night and the day inhabited by Your remembrance, and joined to Your service, and my deeds acceptable to You, so that my deeds and my litanies may all be a single litany, and my occupation with Your service everlasting.And protect me with Your mercy, and make my tongue remember You without ceasing, and my heart enthralled by Your love, and be gracious to me by answering me favorably, and nullify my slips, and forgive my lapses.O He, whose satisfaction is quickly achieved!