The Prophet's Silence & his frequent Du'a‏

The Prophet's Silence
In a lengthy narration from Imam al-Husayn (AS) who asked his father [Imam 'Ali (AS)] about the conduct, interaction and manners of the Prophet, he (AS) says, 'I then asked my father about the silence of the Holy Prophet (S).' So he (AS) said:


'His silence was based on four things: forbearance, caution, consideration and contemplation. 


As for (his silence in) consideration, this was in order to look and listen to everyone equally. 


As for contemplation, it was about what remains and what perishes. 
He had a perfect balance of forbearance and patience. 
Nothing would enrage him or upset him. 


He was cautious in four things: 
- in his performing a good deed so that others would emulate him, 
- in his abandoning evil so that others would also reject it, 
- in his struggling to make the best decisions for reforming his community, 
- and in his performing that which secures the good of this world and the next.'
Sunan al-Nabi; Allamah Tabatabai quoting from Ma'ani al-Akhbar: 83, 'Uyun Akhbar al-Ridha, 1:246, al-Sirah al-Nabawiyyah of Ibn Kathir 2:601


The Prophet's frequent Du'a
Umm Salamah narrates that the Holy Prophet(S) would frequently say in his du'a:
اللهم يا مقلب القلوب ثبت قلبي على دينك
O Allah - the Transformer of hearts! Make my heart steadfast on Your religion.


I said: “O Prophet of Allah! And are hearts transformed?” 
He said: “Yes. Allah did not create any human being but that his heart was between two fingers from the fingers of Allah, so if He willed he would make it upright and if He willed he would make it deviate.” 
Sunan al-Nabi; Allamah Tabatabai quoting from al-Durr al-Manthur 2:8 – Surat Ale 'Imran (3)

Jabir's powerful words to 'Atiyyah on the Arba'in of Imam al-Husayn ('A)

Al-A’mash narrates from ‘Atiyyah al-‘Awfi, who said:


I left with Jabir bin ‘Abdillah al-Ansari (may Allah have mercy on him) to visit the grave of al-Husayn bin ‘Ali (‘a) bin Abi Talib (upon whom be peace); and when we entered Karbala, Jabir came near the bank of River Euphrates, performed the major ablution (ghusl) and wore his clothes; then he opened his purse which contained su’d [a plant with sweet odor]. He spread the perfume over his body; thereafter he did not take a step save in the remembrance of Allah, until he neared the grave [of al-Husayn ‘a].


[Then] he said to me:


Make me touch the grave, and I made him do so. Thereupon he fell over the grave unconscious.


I sprinkled some water on him, and he gained consciousness.


Then he cried three times ‘Ya Husayn....’


Addressing al-Husayn (‘a) he said: 


Why is the beloved not responding to the call of the lover? And how can you respond, while your veins have been severed, and your body has been separated from your head? I bear witness that you are the offspring of Prophets, and the son of the master of believers, and the offspring of the companion of piety, and the offspring of guidance, and the fifth member of the people of the cloak, and the son of the master of chiefs, and the son of Fatimah, the mistress of women; how can you not be so, while the hand of the Leader of Apostles (s) fed you, and you were breast fed from the breast of belief, and trained in the bosoms of pious people, your weaning accompanied the state of utter submission; hence you enjoyed a pleasant state both during your life and death; however, the hearts of the believers are sorrowful due to your separation, and do not doubt about your good position. So upon you be Allah’s Peace and Approval. And I bear witness that you faced what your brother [Prophet] Yahya ('a) had faced.

Thereafter Jabir felt the presence around the grave and said:


Peace be unto you and the spirits that have descended in the neighborhood of al-Husayn (‘a)…I bear witness that you kept prayer steadfast and gave the zakat and you commanded the good and prohibited the forbidden and struggled against the deniers of religion and you worshipped Allah until conviction came to you.


I swear by the One Who sent Muhammad as a Prophet with truth; surely we participated with you in what you encountered.


‘Atiyyah (not understanding this powerful statement made by Jabir) says: I asked Jabir: How can that be possible, while we did not descend on any valley, nor did we climb any mountainous area, nor did we fight with the sword, whereas the heads of the group of al-Husayn (‘a) have been separated from their bodies, their children made orphans and their women made widows? 


Jabir said: “O ‘Atiyyah, I heard from my beloved, the Apostle of Allah (S), say:

‘Whosoever loves a nation, would be resurrected with them, and whosoever loves the deed of a nation, would be considered one who has participated in the deed. I swear by the One Who Sent Muhammad as a Prophet in truth, surely my intention and the intention of my companions is according to the intention of al-Husayn and his companions.


[Then Jabir says to ‘Atiyyah]: take me towards the houses of Kufa[n]. ‘Atiyyah says: when we reached a certain point on the way, Jabir said to me: ‘O ‘Atiyyah, may I advise you, for I do not think that I shall meet you after this short journey? Love the lover of Aali Muhammad as long as he/shes loves them, and have aversion for one who has aversion for Aali Muhammad as long as he/she has aversion for them, even if he/she were to fast and stand in prayer frequently; and befriend the lover of Aali Muhammad, for surely if one of their feet were to slip due to excess of sin, the other foot would be firm due to love for Aali Muhammad, for verily the lover of Aali Muhammad would return to Paradise and one who have aversion for them would return to Hell Fire.


[Ref: 'Allamah Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwaar, v.65, p.131]