Silah al-Mumin fi al-Dua
- Author died
- 745 AH
- Editions
- Dār Ibn Kathīr
Silah al-Mumin fi al-Dua (The Weapon of the Believer in Supplication) is a compendium of prophetic supplications (dua) and remembrances of God (dhikr) authored by the traditionist and Quran reciter Ibn al-Imam (d. 745 AH / 1344–1345 CE) .
Author and Context
The author grew up in Cairo during the late seventh and early eighth centuries AH within an established scholarly family that held hereditary prominence in preaching, leading prayer, and issuing legal rulings (fatwa) . Ibn al-Imam became recognized as a traditionist (muhaddith), Quran reciter (muqri), and author; besides Silah al-Mumin, he composed al-Ihtida fi al-Waqf wa-al-Ibtida on Quranic recitation .
Contents and Scope
The work is dedicated to collecting and organizing hadiths and traditions concerning supplication and dhikr . It treats topics such as the virtues, conditions, and auspicious times for supplication. Among the issues examined in the text is the hour of divine acceptance on Friday (sa'at al-ijaba), where Ibn al-Imam reviewed the differing reports and noted that this hour may rotate among the various times mentioned across the prophetic traditions, observing that several scholars had favored this view . The book also transmits specific narrations on making abundant supplication during times of ease (al-rakha) to ensure divine response in times of distress .
Reception and Editions
Silah al-Mumin was consulted and cited by later scholars writing on supplications and hadith, such as Mulla Ali al-Qari in his commentary al-Hirz al-Thamin and Hasan ibn Ali al-Fayyumi in Fath al-Qarib al-Mujib . A modern critical edition of the book was prepared by Muhyi al-Din Dib Mistu and published by Dar Ibn Kathir in Damascus and Beirut (1414 AH / 1993 CE) .
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