Night of Ashura Worship
Ashura Night Practice: Ayatul Kursi 360 & Special Duʿāʾs
Ashura Night Practice is a traditional worship routine for the night before the Day of Ashura, including prayer, Ayatul Kursi 360 times, Qurʾanic recitation, special duʿāʾs, and dhikr.
Ashura Night Practice Overview
This practice is performed after Maghrib on the 9th of Muharram, which is the night before the Day of Ashura. It includes wuḍūʾ, two rakʿahs of prayer, sitting while facing the qiblah, reciting Ayatul Kursi with Bismillah 360 times, then continuing with Qurʾanic verse recitation, duʿāʾ, and dhikr.
The purpose of this night practice is to enter the Day of Ashura with a heart filled with remembrance, repentance, hope, and reliance upon Allah. The goal is not only completing numbers, but also softening the heart and turning sincerely toward Allah.
When to Perform This Ashura Night Worship
This practice is done after Maghrib on the 9th of Muharram. That night is counted as the night before Ashura, because the Islamic day begins from Maghrib.
Steps of the Ashura Night Practice
1. Perform wuḍūʾ.
2. Pray two rakʿahs.
3. Sit facing the qiblah.
4. Recite Ayatul Kursi with Bismillah 360 times.
5. Recite the following verse 84 times.
6. Recite the special duʿāʾ 12 times.
7. Complete the long supplication and final dhikr.
Qul bi Faḍlillāhi — 84 Times
قُلْ بِفَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَبِرَحْمَتِهِ فَبِذَٰلِكَ فَلْيَفْرَحُوا هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ
Special Duʿāʾ — 12 Times
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّ هَذِهِ لَيْلَةٌ جَدِيدَةٌ، وَشَهْرٌ جَدِيدٌ، وَسَنَةٌ جَدِيدَةٌ، فَأَعْطِنِي اللَّهُمَّ خَيْرَهَا وَخَيْرَ مَا فِيهَا، وَاصْرِفْ عَنِّي شَرَّهَا وَشَرَّ مَا فِيهَا، وَشَرَّ فِتْنَتِهَا وَمُحْدَثَاتِهَا، وَشَرَّ النَّفْسِ وَالْهَوَى وَالشَّيْطَانِ
Long Supplication for the Night of Ashura
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ وَسَلِّمْ، رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَإِسْرَافَنَا فِي أَمْرِنَا وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا وَانْصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ، رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِنْ لَدُنْكَ رَحْمَةً إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْوَهَّابُ، رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنْفُسَنَا وَإِنْ لَمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ، رَبَّنَا آتِنَا مِنْ لَدُنْكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا، رَبَّنَا اصْرِفْ عَنَّا عَذَابَ جَهَنَّمَ إِنَّ عَذَابَهَا كَانَ غَرَامًا، رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا، رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِالْإِيمَانِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ رَءُوفٌ رَحِيمٌ، رَبَّنَا عَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ الْمَصِيرُ، رَبَّنَا أَتْمِمْ لَنَا نُورَنَا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا إِنَّكَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ، اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِوَالِدَيْنَا، رَبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا، رَبِّ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِينِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ رَبِّ أَنْ يَحْضُرُونِ، رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ، رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
Final Dhikr
سُبْحَانَ اللهِ × 100
لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ × 100
Why Spend the Night Before Ashura in Worship?
The night before Ashura can be used for prayer, Qurʾan, dhikr, salawat, istighfar, and personal duʿāʾ. It is a valuable time to prepare the heart before a blessed day known for fasting, gratitude, repentance, and remembrance.
A believer should approach these practices with sincerity and balance. The real benefit comes when the tongue, heart, and intention come together in worship.
Source
كنز النجاح والسرور
للشيخ عبد الحميد بن محمد المكي الشافعي
The text mentions this practice as a means of seeking Allah’s protection from harms and evils throughout the year.
Related Muharram Resources
