Uddatul Daee (The Asset of Supplicant) - by : Allamah Hilli (r.a.)

Ahmad Ibne Mohammad Ibne Fahd Assadi Heli was born in the city of Helleh, Iraq in the year 757 A.H. After acquiring higher knowledge of Islam in the same city, he came a religious authority establishing "Zeinabieh Helli" Theological School where he served as a teacher and from whose source of knowledge students benefited a lot.

In addition to teaching, he authored 47 books and treatises on such topics as Jurisprudence, ethics, discourse and history.

It is said that once in his dream, Ibne Fahd saw Imam Ali (A.S.) and Seyyed Mortadha Alamolhoda dressed in green silk walking in the holy shrine of Najaf with the hand of Seyyed in the hand of the Imam. Ibne Fahad went forth and greeted them. The Imam and Seyyed too greeted him. Then Seyyed Mortadha turned to him, saying: "Bravo to you for helping the Ahlol-Bayt (the Household of the Holy Prophet of Islam)." Then he asked about Fahd's books and when Ibne Fahad gave the names, Seyyed said to him:

"Write a book to ease the paths leading to Allah and begin it with the following sentences: In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. Praise is due to Allah, the Holy One who is Absolute and Independent from similar creatures."

When he woke up from sleep he started writing the book "Tahrir" with the sentences of Seyyed in its preface.

Ibne Fahd and the book Oddatol Daee (The Asset of Supplicant) and Nejahol-Sa-ee (provision of striver)

In this book, the etiquette of Dua (Supplication) in terms of time, place and the supplicant have been discussed and the main question as to why our prayers are not answered despite the fact that God has promised to answer our prayers has been sufficiently dealt with. Furthermore, such topics as rules governing charity, the virtue of acquiring knowledge, the duty of Islamic scholars and researchers, the parents-children mutual duties, the etiquettes of business, as well as the duty of wife towards her husband have been mentioned.

To sum it up, the honorable reader will finally judge that the book is somehow unrivaled. This book has a preface, six chapters, some guidelines and an epilogue as follows:

Introduction: Definition of Dua (Supplication)

Chapter one: How to invite others to Du

Chapter two: How prayers are answered?

Chapter three: Who is a supplicant?

Chapter four: How to supplicate

Chapter five: Zekr (Remembrance of Allah)

Chapter six: Recitation of the Holy Quran

Guidelines: The importance of piety and keeping away from sin

Epilogue: Allah's Attributes (Best Names)

The author completed this book in the year 801 A.H. at the age of 44. It is noteworthy that he has summarized the book under the tittle "The Assets of Supplicant".

Allameh Hilli passed away in the year 841 A.H. at the age of 84 and was buried near the holy shrine of his master, Imam Hossein (A.S.) in Karbala and his tomb recently repaired in a street named after him is visited by his devotees.

Keywords: Shia, books, Islamic books, shi'ite, sins, akhlaq, traditions. hadith, hadis, hadees, imam