This prayer is also called Litany of the Sea by Shaykh ‘Ali Abu’l Hasan ash-Shadhdhuli who received it in a dream (ru’ya) from the inspiration (‘ilham) of Sayidina Muhammad, alayhee salaam. He spoke of the hizb as the instrument of protection and prevention. He said that if it was read in any place, that place was then preserved from harm, any jinn are dispelled, the fearful are made secure, the sick one is cured, and the anxious one is made peaceful.
This is a great prayer to say to bless a home.
When ‘Ali Abu-l-Hasan ash-Shadhdhuli, alayhee salaam, was dying, he gathered all of his students together. He said, “Continue with the Hizb al-Bahr. Teach it to your children. In it is the Greatest Name (al-‘ismu-l-‘adham).”
Shaykh Ahamd az-Zarruq, may Allah sanctify his secret, said, “He that reads it at sunrise, Allah will satisfy his need, cause him to reach his goal, remove his grief, raise his grade, cause him to be respected by the people, increase his faith and facilitate his affairs in this life and the next and protect him from evil whether by day or by night.”
To hear this prayer recited by Fethi Benhalim click Litany of the Sea.
Bismi-llahi r-Rahman r-Rahim In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
Allahumma Ya Aliyyu Ya Adhimu Ya Halimu Ya Alim Oh Allah, Oh Most High, Oh Exalted, Oh Gentle, Oh All-Knowing
‘Anta Rabbi wa ‘ilmuka hasbiy You are my Sustainer and Your Knowledge is my sufficiency
Fani’ma r-Rabbu Rabbi wa ni’ma-l-Hasbu Hasbiy How excellent a Sustainer is my Sustainer, How excellent a Sufficer is my Sufficer
Tansuru man tasha’u wa’anta-l-‘Aziz r-Rahim You aid whom You choose and You are the All Powerful, the Compassionate
Nas’aluka-l-‘ismata fi-l-harakati wa-s-sakanati wa-l-kalimati wa-l-‘iradati wa-l-khatarati min ash-shukuki wa-dh- dhununi wa-l-‘awhami s-satirati li-l-qulubi-‘an mutala’ati-l-Ghuyuba We beseech Your protection in our movements and our stillness, in our words, in our desires, and our thoughts, from the doubts and the suspicions and the illusions that veil our hearts from the perception of the Unseen.
Faqada ‘ubatuliy al-mu’minuna wa zulzilu zilzalan shadida wa ‘idh yaqulu al-munafiquna wal ladhina fi qulubihim maradum ma wa ‘adana al-lahu wa rasuluhu ‘illa ghurara And truly have the believers been tested and shaken, shaken severely and if the hypocrites and those with doubting hearts say: Allah and His Messenger did not promise us other than delusion. (33:11-12)
Fathabbitna wa-n-surna wa sakhkhir lana hadha al-bahr Firmly root us and support us and subjugate to us this Sea
Kama sakhkhart al-bahra li-Musa As You subjugated the Sea to Musa, peace be upon him
Wa sakhkharta an-nara li-‘Ibrahim And You subjugated the Fire to Ibrahim, peace be upon him
Wasakhkhart al-jibala wa-l-hadida li-Dawuda And You subjugated the Mountains and the Iron to Dawud, peace be upon him
Wa sakhkharta r-riha wa-sh-shayatina wa-l-jinna li-Sulayman And You subjugated the Wind and the Demons and the Jinns to Sulayman, peace be upon him
Wa sakhkhirlana kulla bahrin huwa laka fi-l ‘ardi was sama’i wal mulki wal malakut So subjugate to us every Sea of Yours on the Earth, in the Skies, the Dominions, and the Heavens
Wa bahra dunya wa bahr al’aakhkhirah And the Sea of this World and the Sea of the World to come
Wa sakhir lana kulla shay’iny ya mam biyadihi malakutu kulli shay’ And subjugate to us everything Oh You in Whose Hand is the dominion over every thing
K-AAA-F HA YA’A-YYY-N S-AAA-WD * K-AAA-F HA YA’A-YYY-N S-AAA-WD * K-AAA-F HA YA’A-YYY-N S-AAA-WD (Hold AAA and YYY for 6 counts and the A in HA for 2 counts)
‘unsurna fa’innaka khayru nasirin Aid us for You are the best of those who aid
Wa f-tah lana fa’innaka khayru-l-fatihin And open us for You are the best that Opens
Wa gh-fir lana fa’innaka khayru-l-ghafirin And forgive us for You are the best of Forgivers
Wa r-hamma fa’innaka khayru r-Rahimin And show mercy to us for You are the best of those who show Mercy
Wa r-zuqana fa’innaka khayru r-Razziqin And provide for us for You are the best of Providers
Wa-h-dina wa najjina min al-qawmi dhalimin And Guide us and Deliver us from the hands of the oppressors
Wa hab lana rihan taiyyibatan kama hiya fi ‘ilmik And grant us a fair wind according to Your Knowledge
Wa-n-shurha ‘alayna min khaza’ini Rahmatik Waft it upon us from the Treasures of Your Mercy
Wa-h-milna biha haml al-Karamati ma’a Salamati wal’afiyati fi dini wa dunya wal’akhirah Carry us by the conveyance of Your Generosity with Peace and Well Being in our spiritual life and our worldly life and our life to come
‘Innaka ‘ala kulli shay’in qadir You are powerful over all things (3:26)
Allahumma yassirlana ‘umurana ma’a rahati li qulubina wa ‘abadanina O my Allah make easy for us our situation with rest for our hearts and our bodies
Wa salamati wa al-‘afiyati fi dunyana wa dinina And peace and well being in our worldly and spiritual lives
Wa kun lana sahiban fi safarina wa khalifatan fi ‘ahlina And be to us our Companion in our journey and Guardian of our family
Wa tamis ‘ala wujuhi’a’da’ina Efface the faces of our enemies
Wa m-sakhhum ‘ala makanatihim fala yastati’un al-mudiyya wa la-l-maji’a ‘ilayna Freeze them in their places so that they are unable to go or come against us
Wa low nasha’u la tamasna ‘alaa’a ‘yunihim fa stabaqu sirata fa ‘anna yubasirun If We willed We would have wiped out their eyes then they would have raced to the Way, but how would they see? (36:66)
Wa low nasha’u lamasakhnahum ‘ala makanatihim fama-s-tata’u mudiyyan wala yarji’un If We willed We would have frozen them in their places, neither could they go forth or return (36:67)
Ya SIIIN (Hold I for 6 counts)
Wa-l-Qur’ani-l-Hakim By the Wisdom Reading
‘Innaka lamin al-mursalin Truly you are from the Messengers
‘Ala sirati mustaqim On a Straight Way
Tanzil al-azizi r-Rahim Sent down by the All Mighty, the Mercy Bestowing
Li tundhira Qawma maa ‘undhira abaa’uhum fahum ghafilun So that you may warn a people whose forefathers were never warned so that thus they are heedless
Laqada haqq al-qawlu ‘alaa ‘aktharihim fahum la yu’minun The Word has been proved True by most of them yet they will not believe
‘inna ja’alna fii’a’naqihim ‘aghlalan fahiya ‘ila al’adhqani fahum muqamahun Behold We have placed fetters around their necks reaching to their chins so their heads are forced up
Wa ja’alna mim bayni’aydihim saddan wa min khalfihim saddan fa ‘aghshaynahum fahum la yubasirun And We placed before them a barrier and behind them a barrier and We shrouded them so that they do no see (36:1-9)
Shahati-l-wujuh * Shahati-l-wujuh * Shahati-l-wujuh Defaced Defaced Defaced
Wa ‘anati-l-wujuhu li-l-Hayyi-l-Qayyumi wa qada khaba man hamala dhulma Faces shall be humbled before The Living, The Self-Subsistent; frustrated is he who carries oppression. (20:111)
TAW SIIIN * HA MIIIM ‘AYYYN SIIIN QAAAF (Hold AAA and YYY for 6 counts and the A in HA for 2 counts)
Maraja-l-bahrayni yal taqiyani baynahuma barzakhun la yabaghiyan He let forth the two seas that come together, between them is a barrier they do not pass (55:19-20)
HA MIIIM *HA MIIIM *HA MIIIM *HA MIIIM *HA MIIIM *HA MIIIM *HA MIIIM Say Ha Miiim 6 times: pointing to the right and forward, upwards and downwards, left and behind, saying internally, “By Allah all evil and catastrophe coming from these 6 directions is erased; by the barakah of these letters good comes from the six directions.” Say Ha Miiim the 7th time on your breath into your upraised hands and then pass them across your face. At the same time image Ha Miim written in light within and across your breast from right to left.
Hum al’amru wa ja’a nasru fa ‘alayna la yunsarun The matter is decreed, victory came, against us they shall not be victorious
HA MIIM * Tanzilu-l-Kitabi min Allahi-l-‘Azizi-l’Alim HA MIIM, The Book came down from Allah, the All-Mighty, the All-Knowing (41:1-2)
Ghafiri dhanbi wa qabili tawbi shadidi al-‘iqabi dhi tawli la’ilaha ‘illa huwa ‘ilayhi-l-masir Pardoner of sin, Acceptor of penitence, Terrible in retribution, the Bountiful, no deity except Him, to Him is the Homecoming. (40:3)
Bismi-llahi babuna In the name of Allah is our door
Tabaraka hitanuna Tabaraka our walls
YA SIIIN Saqafuna Ya Siiin our roof
KAAAF HA YA ‘AYYYN SAAAWDA kifayatuna our sufficiency (As you read Kaaaf Ha Ya ‘Ayyyn Saaawda you should one by one close the open fingers of both hands starting with the little finger on each hand.)
HA MIIIM ‘AYYYN SIIIN QAAAF himayatuna our protection (As you read Ha Miiim ‘Ayyyn Siiin Qaaaf you should one by one open the closed fingers of both hands starting with the thumb of each hand.)
Fasa yakfikahumu-illahu wa huwa Sami’u-l-‘Alim (x3) And Allah will suffice you against them and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing (2:137)
Sitru-l-‘arshi masbulun ‘alayna The veil of the Throne is extended over us
Wa ‘aynu-llahi nadhiratun ‘ilayna The eye of Allah behonds us
Bi hawli-llahi la yuqadaru ‘alayna By the Power of Allah none may decree evil upon us
Wa illahu min wara’ihim muhita And Allah, all unseen, has surrounded them (85:20)
Bal huwa Qur’an majid. Fi lawhim mahfudh Truly it is a glorious Reading. In a preserved Tablet. (85:21-22)
Fa-llahu khayrun hafidhan wa huwa ‘arhamu r-Rahimin (X3) Allah is the best Protector and He is the Most Merciful Bestower of Mercy (12:92)
‘Inna waliyya-llahu-l-ladhi nazal al-Kitaba wa huwa yatawal as-salihin (X3) Truly my Protector is Allah who sent down the Book and He protects the Righteous (7:196)
Hasbi ya-llahu la ‘ilaha ‘illa huwa ‘alayhi tawakkaltu wa huwa rabbu-l-‘arshi-l-‘adhim (X3) Sufficient for me is Allah, there is no god other than He, on Him I place my trust, He is the Lord of the Glorious Throne (9:129)
Bismillahi ladhi la yaduru ma’a s-mihi shay’un fi-l-ardi wa la fi sama’i wa huwa s-sami’u-l-alim (X3) In the Name of Allah with whose Name no harm shall come to anything on the earth or in the heavens and He is All-Hearing and He is All-Knowing.
‘A’udhu bi kalimati’llahi tammati min shari ma khalaq (X3) I take refuge in the Perfect Words of Allah from the evil of what He created.
Wa la hawla wa la quwwata ‘illa bi-llahi’-l-‘Aliyyi-l-‘Adhim And there is no Power and no Might except with Allah, the Most High, the Exalted.
Practice after the Hizb
Wa sala-llahu ‘ala sayyidna wa nabiyyina wa ‘amirina wa mawlana wa shafiyi’ina wa habibina Muhammad TA HA YA SIIIN HA MIIIM Khatimi nabiyyin al-mursali rahmat al-li-‘alamina mi-r-rabbi-l-‘alamin salla’llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam And the Greetings of Allah upon our Master and Prophet and Commander and Protector and Intercessor and Beloved Muhammad TA HA YA SIIIN HA MIIIM Seal of the Prophets. The Messenger of Mercy to all the Worlds from the Sustainer of all the Worlds. Greetings of Allah and Peace be upon him.
Wa Sallamun ‘ala jami’i-l-‘anbiya’i wal mursalin wa jami’-l-mala’ikati wal muqarrabin wa-r-da ‘an’ahli-l-kisa’i wa aali-l-bayti-l-kiram wa ‘ashabihi ‘ajama’in wa tabi’ina wa tabi’ihima wa jami’i mashaikhina wa murrabina wa murshidina ‘illa Allahi ta’ala bi-‘ihsanin wa ‘imanin wa ‘islamin ‘ila yawmi-d-din ya ‘arhana r-rahim And peace be upon all the Prophets and Messengers and all of the Angels Brought Near and contentment be upon the People of the Cloak and the Family of the Nobe House and upon all of the Companions and Followers and their Followers and all of our Venerable Masters and those who Foster us and our Guides to Allah the Most High with abiding goodness and faithful belief and peaceful self surrender until the Day of Judgment Oh Merciful Bestower of Compassion
‘Alfu sallam ‘Alfu sallam ‘alfu’alfi sallamin fi qulubina Thousandfold peace, thousandfold peace, thousand thousand fold peace in our hearts
Subahana rabbika rabbi-l-l’izzati ‘amma yasifun wa salamu ‘ala mursalin wa-l-hamdu lillahi rabbi-l-‘alamin Glorified be your Sustainer, the Lord of Glory and Mercy beyond all which they attribute and peace be upon the Messengers and praise be to Allah the Lord of all the worlds. (37:180-182) Recite on each of your ten fingers starting with the thumb of the right hand and ending with the thumb of the left hand
Allahu-r-Rahman (X10) Allah the Merciful
Then read al-fatiha 5 times. The first time for the Prophet, alayhee salaam. The second time for the people of his household, alayhee salaam. The third time for your shaykh and all the pure phuyukh of all the turuq. The fourth time for your own family. The fifth time for all beings – past, present, and future – on the Way to Allah.