Mafatih Al-Jinan: Its Features and Significance
This is according to Seyyed Mohammad Kazem Tabatabaei, a faculty member of the University of Quran and Hadith in Iran, who gave a speech at a conference held to mark the 100th anniversary of the publication of the book Mafatih al-Jinan [Keys to Heavens]. Here are excerpts from his speech:
The tradition of supplications started with the Holy Quran. There are many supplications in the Quran, some of which we recite every day and night.
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) taught these prayers and established them among his followers. Unfortunately, after the Holy Prophet (PBUH), writing and reciting prayers was neglected, until Imam Baqir (AS) wrote down the prayers of his honorable father and left us the Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya as a legacy.
During the time of Imam Sadiq (AS), many prayers were narrated by him and he also mentioned the prayers of Imam Ali (AS) and the Holy Prophet (PBUH). Now we have a collection of prayers from Imam Sadiq (AS), which is more than the prayers of Imam Sajjad (AS).
This practice was continued by the followers of Ahl al-Bayt (AS). Abdur Rahman's book Amal al-Iyum wa al-Laylah [Day and Night Actions] was also a book similar to Mafatih al-Jinan. Several imams saw this work and approved it. Imam Javad (AS) and Imam Hassan Askari (AS) said that for every letter in this work, God will give him a rank in heaven.
Mafatih al-Jinan is a unique book in this regard. The author of this work has reviewed all the previous books and presented the supplications in a new way according to the needs of his audience.
The late Abbas Qomi (1877-1941) was an expert in his field. He took his writing style from the book Miftah, took the texts from ancient sources, and this made his book timeless. After the Islamic Revolution, this book became the most important prayer book for Shias.
Of course, Dar al-Hadith Institute is in Qom, with the efforts of the late Ayatollah Reyshahri, has compiled supplications and the result is a three-volume book.
