Is It Permissible to Recite Duas from the Sahifa Sajjadiya Attributed to Ali Ibn al-Husayn?
Answered by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick
Question
Is it permissible to recite duas from the Sahifa Sajjadiya attributed to Ali ibn al-Husayn, or does it contain anything impermissible, such as shirk?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Especially Merciful. May Allah guide us to what pleases Him and protect us from all forms of misguidance.
The Sahifa Sajjadiya may contain heartfelt supplications, but it is rooted in the Shi‘i tradition. Sunni Muslims should rely on sound, authenticated sources that do not raise questions about creed or religious practice, and conform to the rigorous standards of Sunni Hadith criteria. It is both safer and more rewarding to use the prophetic and scholarly supplications preserved by the scholars of Ahl al-Sunna wa al-Jama‘a, such as the Kitab al-Adhkar by Imam Nawawi.
What Is the Sahifa Sajjadiya?
The Sahifa Sajjadiya is a well-known collection of supplications attributed to
(Allah be pleased with him), the great-grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace). It is considered a revered devotional work within Shi‘i Islam, particularly among Twelver Shia. Some of their scholars have even called it “the Psalms of Islam” due to its eloquent and spiritually reflective nature.
While many of its supplications appear to be deeply moving and filled with humility before Allah, it is essential to understand its doctrinal context and possible content concerns, particularly for Sunni Muslims.
Sunni Caution and Clarity
As Sunni Muslims, we uphold the necessity of guarding our beliefs and devotional acts against anything that may contain doubtful elements, especially those that could risk theological error, such as shirk (associating partners with Allah) or innovation in worship (bid‘a).
Since the Sahifa Sajjadiya is not part of the Sunni tradition, and because its chains of transmission and theological framing are drawn from Shi‘i sources, it may contain terminology or ideas not aligned with Sunni creed. Even if it does not explicitly contain shirk, the presence of sectarian language or indirect invocations can cause confusion or raise legitimate concern.
Allah Most High says: “And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight, and the heart, about all those [one] will be questioned.” [Quran, 17:36]
This verse reminds us to be cautious with what we take in as religious guidance. Worship is not a place for speculation.
A Safer and Richer Alternative
Sunni Islam has a rich tradition with authentic and beneficial collections of supplications from the Quran, the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), and the righteous scholars of Ahl al-Sunna. For example:
- Kitab al-Adhkar by Imam Nawawi (Allah have mercy on him); a beautiful and widely accepted Sunni compendium of daily supplications, drawn directly from the Quran and authentic hadiths.
Other recommended works include:
- Hisn al-Muslim (Fortress of the Muslim)
- Various Awrad (litanies) by Imam Haddad
- The Khulasa by Habib Umar
These sources are spiritually uplifting and free of theological confusion.
And Allah knows best.
[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Irshaad Sedick was raised in South Africa in a traditional Muslim family. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Strand, Western Cape, under the guidance of the late world-renowned scholar Shaykh Taha Karaan (Allah have mercy on him), where he taught.
Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Shaykh Muhammad Awama, Shaykh Muhammad Hasan Hitu, and Mawlana Abdul Hafeez Makki, among others.
He is the author of the text “The Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal: A Hujjah or not?” He has been the Director of the Discover Islam Centre, and for six years, he has been the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen, Mowbray, Cape Town.
Shaykh Irshaad has fifteen years of teaching experience at some of the leading Islamic institutes in Cape Town. He is currently building an Islamic podcast, education, and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and has completed his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy Prophetic living and fitness.
