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Almighty Allah in Surat al-Nazi'aat 79:30 speaking clearly about dahwul ardh says: ﴾and the earth-after that He spread it out
(dahahaa)..﴿
1. What is Dahwul Ardh?
"Dahwul Ardh" - the 25th of Dhul qa'dah, according to a tradition of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.H.) reported by one of his Sahabi - 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud, is the day when the earth
was spread for the advantage of human beings. The phrase "Dahwul Ardh" literally means "The spread of the
earth". In another tradition it is reported that the first Rahmah & blessing descended on this very day.
Hence it is a very important occasion indeed. According to a tradition of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.H.), whosoever fasts on this day his fast would equal 70 years of
fasting.
Having known these merits, should we limit our celebration with fasting and the expression of joy, or should our struggle transcend beyond that? This obviously would depend on our
vision about this important day. And in order to understand properly the importance of this day, we should understand the earth better.
Understanding the Earth Better
We would like to now ask the Holy Qur'an two basic questions about the earth:
A) WHY WAS THE EARTH CREATED?
The Holy Qur'an in chapter 20, verse 53 says: ﴾He who appointed the earth to be a cradle for you.﴿
Allamah Tabataba'i in his Al-Mizan says: "Thus Allah stationed man in the earth to live an earthly life, so that he may earn a provision for his heavenly and exalted life, in the
manner that a baby is stationed in the cradle, and is brought up for a more sacred and developed life..." (vol. 14, pg. 171)
From this we come to realize that the earth was created as a preparing ground & means for human perfection and the purity of the heart. Sadly, however, many a people, instead
of maintaining it for a good Hereafter, tend to destroy it for selfish gains.
B) DO THE HUMAN BEINGS EMPLOY THE EARTH FOR THE PURPOSE IT WAS CREATED?
The Holy Qur'an in chapter 30, verse 41 clearly talks of a people who instead of practically thanking Allah (swt) by utilizing the earth for its sacred purpose cause mischief
therein and subsequently face its evil consequences:
"Corruption has appeared in the land and sea, for that men's own hands have earned, that He may let them taste some of that which they have done, that haply so they may
return."
And in chapter 7, verse 10, Almighty Allah says: ﴾Indeed We made you live in the earth and made therein for you the means of livelihood;
little is it that you thank.﴿
In this verse, ﴾little is it that you thank﴿ should not merely taken as "verbal thanks," for the reality of
"shukr" is to use the gift for the purpose it was created.
The Eve of twenty-fifth of Thu’l-Qa`dah;
The Earth Spreading Eve (from Mafatih al Jinan)
This night is called laylat dahw al-arz (the night at which the earth was spread on the water where the Holy Ka`bah is now situated). Being distinctively honorable, at this night
the mercy of Almighty Allah is poured on people. A great reward is obtained by those who practice acts of worship at this night. `Ali ibn al-Hasan al-Washsha’ has narrated that
when he was young, he was with his father in the hospitality of Imam al-Rida(A.S.) at the twenty-fifth night of Dhu’l-Qa`dah. After they had their supper, Imam al-Rida (A.S.)
said, “At the twenty-fifth night of Dhu’l-Qa`dah, Prophet Abraham was born, Prophet Jesus the son of Mary was born, and the earth was spread on the water where the
Holy Ka`bah is now situated. Hence, if one observes fasting on this day, he will be given the reward of observing fasting in sixth months.” According to another
narration, Imam al-Rida (A.S.) added,﴾Verily, on this day, al-Qa'im (i.e. Imam al-Mahdi) will appear.﴿
The twenty-fifth of Dhu’l-Qa`dah is one of the four days on which fasting is exclusively confirmed. According to a narration, to observe fasting on this day is equal to seventy
year fasting. It also erases the sins of seventy years. According to another narration, to observe fasting on this day and to practice acts of worship at its night is equal (in
reward) to one hundred year worship. Everything that is between the sky and the earth will ask God’s forgiveness for one who does these rites. On this day, the mercy of Almighty
Allah has been spread. To practice acts of worship and hold sessions for mentioning Almighty Allah on this day bring about an abundant reward. Apart from fasting, acts of worship,
remembrance of Almighty Allah, and bathing, there are two other acts that are advisably done on this day:
On this day, it is recommended to offer, in the morning, a prayer consisting of two units, reciting in the each unit Surah al-Fatihah once and repeating Surah al-Shams (No. 91)
five times. After accomplishment, the following is said:
There is no power and no strength except with Allah, the Most High, the All-great.
Then, one may pray Almighty Allah for granting his needs and then say the following prayer:
O He Who overlooks slips, (please) overlook my slip.
O He Who responds to prayers, (please) respond to my prayer.
O He Who hears all sounds, (please) listen to mine,
have mercy on me, and excuse my wrongdoings and whatever I have committed.
O Lord of majesty and honor!
Second: In Misbah al-Mutahajjid, Shaykh al Tusi has mentioned that it is recommended to say the following prayer on this day:
O Allah Who spread the Ka`bah,
split the kernel,
removes troubles,
and relieves from all distresses!
I beseech You on this day, which is one of Your days
whose standing You have deemed great,
whom You have given preference,
and whom You have put as trust with the believers
and as means to approaching to You;
and [I beseech You] in the name of Your ample mercy
to send blessings to Muhammad,
Your servant that You have selected in the Nigh Covenant
on the Meeting Day,
the splitter of all joined things
and the caller to all truths,
and to his Household, the pure,
the guides, the lanterns,
the pillars of the Omnipotent (Lord),
and the supervisors on Paradise and Hell,
to give us on this day from Your stored gifts,
gifts that are neither interrupted nor prohibited
by which You join for us both repentance and acceptable return [to You].
O He Who is the best of all supplicated ones
and the most generous of all hoped ones!
O All-sufficer! O All-true!
O He Whose grace is gentle!
(Please) treat me gracefully with Your graciousness,
make me feel happy with Your pardon,
aid me with Your support,
never make me inattentive of Your noble mention through Your Representatives
and the keepers of Your secret,
protect me against the vicissitudes of time
up to the day of resurrection and raising (the dead to life),
and make Your Representatives attend at the hour of the departure of my souls,
the time of my entry to my grave,
when my deed will be interrupted
and my lifetime will come to its end.
O Allah, (please) remember me all over the stages of trial
when I will reside between the layers of the earth
and the forgetful people will forget me.
Allow me to dwell in the abode of eternity,
settle me in the residence of honor,
make me of the companions of Your intimate servants
and the people of Your choice and selection,
bless me by meeting You,
and grant me good-doing before the end of my lifetime,
making me free from slips and foolish doing.
O Allah, allow me to enter the Pool of Your Prophet, Muhammad,
Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Household,
allow me to drink from it a quenching drink
that is palatable and salubrious
after which I will never be thirsty, I will never be prevented from reaching it,
and I will never be disallowed to approach it.
Make for me the best nourishment
and the most fulfilling promise on the day when the Witnesses will rise.
O Allah, curse the tyrants from the past and the last generations
who usurped the dues of Your Representatives.
O Allah, demolish their posts,
annihilate their allies and their assistants,
and hasten their perdition,
seize their estates,
make narrow their ways,
and curse their helpers and aides.
Allah, (please) hasten the relief of Your Representatives,
restore to them their usurped rights,
cause their Riser to prevail with the truth,
and make him support Your religion
and carry out Your commandments about Your enemies.
O Allah, make the angels of victory surround him
and so are the commandments that You addressed to him
at the Destiny Night
so that he will punish Your enemies on behalf of You until You are pleased,
Your religion will recover its freshness and bloom at his hands,
he will clean the truth with thorough cleaning,
and he will reject the wrong with absolute rejection.
O Allah, send blessings to him and to all of his forefathers,
include us with his companions and group,
and resurrect us during his return
so that we will live in his age and become of his helpers.
O Allah, make us catch up his advent,
make us witness his days,
bless him, and convey to us his greetings.
Peace and Allah’s mercy and blessings be upon him.
In his epistle entitled al-Arba`at Ayyam (The Four Days), Sayyid al-Damad has mentioned that to visit the holy tomb of Imam `Ali ibn Musa al-Rida (A.S.) on the day; i.e. the Earth
Spreading Day, is the most preferable act. Similarly, to visit his tomb on the first of Rajab is highly desirable; therefore, he has urged on it greatly.
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