19. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from his father from Fadalah ibn Ayyub from Mu’awiyah ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following:

“Once I said to Abu ‘Abdillah ‘Will you instruct me with a special supplication?’ The Imam said, ‘Yes, I will do so, say, “O the One, the Glorious, the Only, O self-sufficient. Who has not given birth to anyone and is not born from anyone and Who has no partner, O Majestic, O Magnanimous, O Compassionate, O Obliging, O Hearer of supplications, O the Most Generous of those who are asked for help, O the Best of those who give, O Allah, O Allah, O Allah, You have said, ‘Noah pleaded before Us for help and We are the best to answer.’ “Abu ‘Abd Allah then said, ‘The Messenger of Allah would say, “Yes, indeed. You are the best Who answers, the best to be called for help, and the best to plead with, I plead before You through the light of Your face, through Your majesty, Your power, Your might, I plead before You through Your kingdom, through Your formidable coats of arm and Your community, the members of Your community all of them, through Muhammad and the successors after Muhammad to grant al-Salat (favors) upon Muhammad and his family and provide me help in such and such matters.” (One should mention one’s wishes).”’