Salah (prayer) when Asking for Increase in One’s Sustenance

“A man complained before abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), against his poverty and deprivation in business after being affluent and that in whatever way he moves to make a living, he faces difficulties. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), commanded him to go to the special place of the Messenger of Allah which is between his grave and pulpit. ‘Perform two Rak‘at Salah (prayer) there and say, one hundred times, ‘O Lord, I appeal to You through Your power, Your determination, Your majesty and through whatever Your knowledge has encompassed, please facilitate my business and increase it for my sustenance in a way that is better and of good consequences.’ The man has said that thereafter in whichever way I moved for business Allah granted me benefits.”

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said that a man came to the Holy Prophet and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, I am a man with (a large) family, indebted; and my condition has become difficult. Please teach me a prayer through which Allah will provide me enough to pay my debts and help my family.’ The Messenger of Allah said, ‘Take Wudu’ properly, then perform two Rak‘at Salah (prayer) with complete Ruku‘ and sajdah in both Rak‘at. Thereafter say, “O owner of glory, O the only One, O gracious, I turn to You through Muhammad, Your prophet, the prophet of mercy. O Muhammad, O Messenger of Allah, I have turned through you to Allah, your Lord and the Lord of all things. Allahumma Salli ‘Ala Muhammad wa ‘Ali Muhammad (O Allah grant Muhammad and his family a compensation worthy of their serving Your cause). I appeal to You for relief from that with which You grant relief, an easy success and vast sustenance with which I can overcome my difficulties, pay my debts and help my family.’””

“I said to abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘I had some property which now has scattered away and I am under severe constraint.’ The Imam asked, ‘Do you have a shop in the market place?’ I replied, ‘Yes, but I have abandoned it.’ The Imam said, ‘When you go back to Kufah, attend your shop and broom clean it. When you want to go to your market place, perform two Rak‘at Salah (prayer) or four Rak‘at and at the end say, “I have decided to go to work and it is without any power and means from myself but (O Lord), it is by Your power and means. I disassociate myself from all powers and means except for your power and means. You are my power and means. O Lord, grant me, with your generosity vast sustenance, plentiful and fine, so I become affluent in good health by Your help. No one owns it (good health) except You.’” The narrator has said, ‘I followed the instruction but I became afraid of tax collector due to my inability to pay the rent and that I might lose the shop for this reason and I did not have anything to pay. One day a merchant came to me and asked me to rent out to him half of my house. I then rented out one half for the rent of the whole house. He tried to sell his merchandise but did not get the price he wanted, thus he did not sell it. I then asked him if he could allow me to sell a certain amount of his merchandise in my shop; if sold I shall give him his purchase price and keep the extra. He said, “How can that happen?” I said, “Trust me before Allah.” He agreed that I take a bundle. I took it. The weather became very cold. I was able to sell the merchandise the same day. I gave him his purchase price and kept the extra. I continued selling his merchandise, gave back his capital and kept the extra until I was able to buy horses, slaves and a house.”’

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), asked me, ‘Where is your shop in relation to the Masjid?’ I replied, ‘It is near the door of the Masjid.’ He then said, ‘When you want to go to your shop, first go to the Masjid, perform two or four Rak‘at Salah (prayer) and at the end say, “I have attended this morning by the means and power of Allah, but not by my own means and power, in fact it is by Your means and power O Lord. O Allah, I am Your servant and I appeal to You to grant me (wealth) through Your generosity, as You have commanded me to pray to You and appeal. Make this possible for me with ease, so I can be affluent and in good health by Your help.’””

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), asked me, ‘O so and so, do you sometimes need something? Do you visit the great Masjid near you in Kufah?’ I replied, ‘Yes, I do.’ He said, ‘Perform four Rak‘at Salah (prayer) there and say, “I have attended this morning by the means and power of Allah, not by my own means and power, but with Your means and power, O Lord. I appeal before You for the blessings of this day and the blessing of the people of this day and I appeal before You to grant me through Your generosity lawful and fine sustenance which You will send to me through Your means and power so I can live affluently in good health by Your help.’””

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said to me, ‘If one feels hungry he should take Wudu’ and perform two Rak‘at Salah (prayer), then say, “O my Lord, I am hungry. Please feed me.” He will be fed within the same hour.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that when you in the morning after Salah (prayer) want to go to work, perform two Rak‘at Salah (prayer). After saying the testimonies say, ‘O Lord, I have attended this morning and I seek favor through Your generosity, as You have commanded, in the form of lawful and fine sustenance with which You will grant me good health.’ Say it three times. Then perform another two Rak‘at Salah (prayer). At the end of testimonies say, ‘By the power and means of Allah, I attend this morning not by my own power and means, but by Your power and means, O Lord, and I disassociate from all powers and means. O Lord, I appeal to You for the blessings of this day and the blessings of the people of this day. I appeal before You to grant me through Your generosity vast, fine and lawful sustenance which You will send to me by Your means and power so I can live affluently in good health.’ Say it three times.”