7th Day of Dhu al-Hijjah
The 7th of Dhu al-Hijjah is a day of deep sorrow and spiritual reflection, as it marks the Martyrdom (Shahadat) of the 5th Holy Imam, Muhammad al-Baqir (as) in the year 114 AH. Because it is a day of mourning during the sacred "Ten Nights," the Amaal (devotional acts) combine the general virtues of the month with specific mourning for the Imam who witnessed the tragedy of Karbala.
The 7th of Dhu al-Hijjah: A Day of Knowledge and Mourning
The 7th of Dhu al-Hijjah is a day of profound significance for the followers of the Ahl al-Bayt (as). While it sits within the "Ten Blessed Nights" of worship, it is also a day marked by grief, as we commemorate the Martyrdom (Shahadat) of Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (as), the fifth Holy Imam and the "Splitter of Knowledge."
The Legacy of Baqir al-Ulum
Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (as) was not only a mountain of knowledge but also a witness to history. Having been present in Karbala as a young child, he carried the message of Imam Hussain (as) throughout his life, establishing the great school of jurisprudence that would later be expanded by his son, Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (as).
Recommended Amaal (Acts of Worship)
On this day, believers combine the general blessings of Dhu al-Hijjah with the specific mourning of the Imam.
Fasting
Fasting on this day is highly recommended. It serves as a means of spiritual purification and carries a reward equivalent to years of worship.
The "Wa Wa'adna" Prayer
Continue the nightly 2-Rak'ah prayer between Maghrib and Isha. This prayer is the "passport" for those at home to share in the rewards of the Hajj pilgrims.
Recitation: In each Rak'ah, after Surah al-Hamd and Surah al-Ikhlas, recite:
وَ وَاعَدْنَا مُوسَىٰ ثَلَاثِينَ لَيْلَةً وَ أَتْمَمْنَاهَا بِعَشْرٍ فَتَمَّ مِيقَاتُ رَبِّهِ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً وَ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِأَخِيهِ هَارُونَ اخْلُفْنِي فِي قَوْمِي وَ أَصْلِحْ وَ لَا تَتَّبِعْ سَبِيلَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ
— (Surah Al-A'raf, 7:142)
Ziyarat of Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (as)
Offer your salutations to the 5th Imam. Since his grave remains in the destroyed cemetery of Jannat al-Baqi, reciting his Ziyarat from afar is a powerful way to show devotion and protest the injustice against the Ahl al-Bayt (as).
The Ziyarat of Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.) involves prayers, salutations (peace be on you), and praises highlighting his titles like "Baqir al-'Ilm" (the splitter of knowledge) and "Imam al-Huda" (leader to guidance). Key phrases include asking for his intercession, acknowledging his role as a repository of Allah's knowledge, and seeking blessings upon him and the Household of the Prophet (Ahl al-Bayt). These Ziyarat texts, often found on sites like Duas.org, emphasize his piety, divine selection, and role as a guide for believers, often recited with salutations like "Assalamu alayka ya Baqira 'ilmil nabiyyina" (Peace be on you, O revealer of the knowledge of Prophets).
Amaal for the 1st 10 Nights of Dhu al-Hijjah
In the blessed month of Dhu'l-Hijjah, the pious companions of the Holy Prophet and their followers used to do acts of worship extraordinarily. The first ten days of this month are called al-ayyam al-ma'lumat (The Stated Days) by the Holy Qur'an.
About these highly honorable days, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) is reported to have said that nothing is more preferable to Almighty Allah than practicing acts of worship on these ten stated days.
Fasting
It is recommended to observe fasting on the first nine days of Dhu'l-Hijjah, for it is equal to the fasting of one's whole lifetime.
2 Rakaat Prayer
At each of these ten nights, it is recommended to offer a two unit prayer between the Maghrib and Isha' obligatory prayers and to recite at each unit Surah al-Fātiḥah once, Surah al-Tawḥīd once, and the following verse (7/142):
وَ وَاعَدْنَا مُوسَىٰ ثَلَاثِينَ لَيْلَةً وَ أَتْمَمْنَاهَا بِعَشْرٍ فَتَمَّ مِيقَاتُ رَبِّهِ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً وَ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِأَخِيهِ هَارُونَ اخْلُفْنِي فِي قَوْمِي وَ أَصْلِحْ وَ لَا تَتَّبِعْ سَبِيلَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ
The reward of offering this prayer is to participate in the rewards of those who go on Hajj.
Supplication
It is recommended to say the following supplication, which is reported by Shaykh al-Tusi and Sayyid Ibn Tawus from Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (as), after the obligatory Fajr and Maghrib Prayers since the first day of Dhu'l-Hijjah and up to the eve of the 'Arafat Night, the ninth of Dhu'l-Hijjah:
اَللَّهُمَّ هَذِهِ الْأَيَّامُ الَّتِي فَضَّلْتَهَا عَلَى الْأَيَّامِ وَ شَرَّفْتَهَا قَدْ بَلَّغْتَنِيهَا بِمَنِّكَ وَ رَحْمَتِكَ فَأَنْزِلْ عَلَيْنَا مِنْ بَرَكَاتِكَ وَ أَوْسِعْ عَلَيْنَا فِيهَا مِنْ نَعْمَائِكَ اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ أَنْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ أَنْ تَهْدِيَنَا فِيهَا لِسَبِيلِ الْهُدَى وَ الْعَفَافِ وَ الْغِنَى وَ الْعَمَلِ فِيهَا بِمَا تُحِبُّ وَ تَرْضَى
اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ يَا مَوْضِعَ كُلِّ شَكْوَى وَ يَا سَامِعَ كُلِّ نَجْوَى وَ يَا شَاهِدَ كُلِّ مَلَإٍ وَ يَا عَالِمَ كُلِّ خَفِيَّةٍ أَنْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ أَنْ تَكْشِفَ عَنَّا فِيهَا الْبَلَاءَ وَ تَسْتَجِيبَ لَنَا فِيهَا الدُّعَاءَ وَ تُقَوِّيَنَا فِيهَا وَ تُعِينَنَا وَ تُوَفِّقَنَا فِيهَا لِمَا تُحِبُّ رَبَّنَا وَ تَرْضَى وَ عَلَى مَا افْتَرَضْتَ عَلَيْنَا مِنْ طَاعَتِكَ وَ طَاعَةِ رَسُولِكَ وَ أَهْلِ وِلَايَتِكَ
اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ أَنْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، وَ أَنْ تَهَبَ لَنَا فِيهَا الرِّضَا إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ الدُّعَاءِ وَ لَا تَحْرِمْنَا خَيْرَ مَا تُنْزِلُ فِيهَا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ وَ طَهِّرْنَا مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ يَا عَلَّامَ الْغُيُوبِ وَ أَوْجِبْ لَنَا فِيهَا دَارَ الْخُلُودِ
اَللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ لَا تَتْرُكْ لَنَا فِيهَا ذَنْباً إِلَّا غَفَرْتَهُ وَ لَا هَمّاً إِلَّا فَرَّجْتَهُ وَ لَا دَيْناً إِلَّا قَضَيْتَهُ وَ لَا غَائِباً إِلَّا أَدَّيْتَهُ وَ لَا حَاجَةً مِنْ حَوَائِجِ الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ إِلَّا سَهَّلْتَهَا وَ يَسَّرْتَهَا إِنَّكَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
اَللَّهُمَّ يَا عَالِمَ الْخَفِيَّاتِ يَا رَاحِمَ الْعَبَرَاتِ يَا مُجِيبَ الدَّعَوَاتِ يَا رَبَّ الْأَرَضِينَ وَ السَّمَاوَاتِ يَا مَنْ لَا تَتَشَابَهُ عَلَيْهِ الْأَصْوَاتُ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ اجْعَلْنَا فِيهَا مِنْ عُتَقَائِكَ وَ طُلَقَائِكَ مِنَ النَّارِ وَ الْفَائِزِينَ بِجَنَّتِكَ وَ النَّاجِينَ بِرَحْمَتِكَ يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ وَ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ
Testimony
It is recommended to say the following five testaments on the first ten days of Dhu'l-Hijjah:
(1) أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَ لَهُ الْحَمْدُ بِيَدِهِ الْخَيْرُ وَ هُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
(2) أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ أَحَداً صَمَداً لَمْ يَتَّخِذْ صَاحِبَةً وَ لَا وَلَداً
(3) أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ أَحَداً صَمَداً لَمْ يَلِدْ وَ لَمْ يُولَدْ وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُواً أَحَدٌ
(4) أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَ لَهُ الْحَمْدُ يُحْيِي وَ يُمِيتُ وَ هُوَ حَيٌّ لَا يَمُوتُ بِيَدِهِ الْخَيْرُ وَ هُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
(5) حَسْبِيَ اللهُ وَ كَفَى سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ دَعَا لَيْسَ وَرَاءَ اللهِ مُنْتَهَى أَشْهَدُ لِلهِ بِمَا دَعَا وَ أَنَّهُ بَرِيءٌ مِمَّنْ تَبَرَّأَ وَ أَنَّ لِلهِ الْآخِرَةَ وَ الْأُولَى
Archangel Gabriel has conveyed these five testaments as a gift of Almighty Allah to Prophet Jesus (as) and instructed him to say them on the first ten days of Dhu'l-Hijjah. An excellent reward has been mentioned to be for whoever repeats these five statements one hundred times each day.
However, 'Allamah al-Majlisi says that it is not improbable that each of these five testaments is repeated ten times each day. Yet, to repeat them one hundred times is better.
Invocation
It is recommended to say the following invocation, which is reported from Imam Ali Ameer al-Momineen (as), on the first ten days of Dhu'l-Hijjah. An excellent reward has been reported for those saying this invocation, which should preferably be repeated ten times a day:
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ عَدَدَ اللَّيَالِي وَ الدُّهُورِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ عَدَدَ أَمْوَاجِ الْبُحُورِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَ رَحْمَتُهُ خَيْرٌ مِمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ عَدَدَ الشَّوْكِ وَ الشَّجَرِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ عَدَدَ الشَّعْرِ وَ الْوَبَرِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ عَدَدَ الْحَجَرِ وَ الْمَدَرِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ عَدَدَ لَمْحِ الْعُيُونِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ فِي اللَّيْلِ إِذَا عَسْعَسَ وَ [فِي] الصُّبْحِ إِذَا تَنَفَّسَ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ عَدَدَ الرِّيَاحِ فِي الْبَرَارِي وَ الصُّخُورِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ مِنَ الْيَوْمِ إِلَى يَوْمِ يُنْفَخُ فِي الصُّورِ
Conclusion
The 7th of Dhu al-Hijjah concludes as a day of solemn reflection, bridging the heights of spiritual devotion with the grief of the Shahadat of Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (as). As the sun sets, we transition from a day of fasting and mourning into the 8th night, moving closer to the climax of the Hajj season. By performing the "Wa Wa'adna" prayer tonight, we honor the "Splitter of Knowledge" and pray that our names are recorded alongside the pilgrims in Makkah and the visitors of the Ahl al-Bayt (as).
On this day of mourning for the 5th Imam (as) — the witness of Karbala — we are reminded that our journey to the Holy Land is a response to the call of the Ahl al-Bayt.
Let this month of Dhu al-Hijjah be your time to commit to your spiritual calling. Secure your place in our 2026 caravan as we prepare to serve the 'Guests of Al-Husayn.'
For more information or any queries, feel free to contact us. We are always ready to help you plan a peaceful and blessed journey.
