The Prayer of the Ant: Narratives and Meaning
What is the Prayer of the Ant?
The Prayer of the Ant is a well-known supplication, believed to have been made by an ant during the time of Prophet Solomon (peace be upon him) amidst a severe drought. This prayer is recited as a plea for abundance and prosperity and is often displayed in shops or workplaces.
Why is the Prayer of the Ant Recited?
The Prayer of the Ant is recited by those seeking relief from financial difficulties, debts, and hardships, aiming to attain ease and prosperity.
- This prayer is a plea to Allah for mercy, assistance, and blessings.
- It is believed that displaying this prayer in a shop or workplace can bring prosperity to the business.
- The invocation includes references to prophets, angels, holy scriptures, and the names of the Companions of the Cave (Ashab al-Kahf), seeking their intercession.
The Story Behind the Prayer of the Ant
Prophet Solomon (peace be upon him) once gathered the people and animals to collectively pray for rain during a drought. On their way, he observed an ant lying on its back, raising its antennae as if in supplication.
The ant’s prayer was as follows:
“O Allah, I am one of Your creatures who cannot survive without Your sustenance. If You grant us rain, we shall thrive; otherwise, we will perish. Send us Your mercy and let us live.”
Upon hearing this, Prophet Solomon (peace be upon him) turned to the crowd and said:
“Return to your homes. It is not your prayers but the plea of another creature that Allah has accepted to grant rain.”
This narrative is documented in Az-Zuhd (1/73) by Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal and further reported by Hakim (1/473) and Ibn Hajar (Sharh Mushkil al-Athar, 2/331).
The Prayer of the Ant: Text, Pronunciation, and Meaning
The Prayer of the Ant in Arabic:
اللَّهُمَّ يَا رَبِّ جِبْرَايِلَ وَمِيْكَائِيلَ وَإِسْرَافِيلَ وَعَزْرَائِيلَ وَإِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَمُنْزِلَ الْبَرَكَاتِ وَالتَّوْرَاةِ وَالزَّبُورِ وَالإِنْجِيلِ وَالْفُرْقَانِ وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ. لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ الْمَلِكُ الْحَقُّ الْمُبِينُ. مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَادِقُ الْوَعْدِ الْأَمِينُ. يَا رَبِّ يَا رَبِّ يَا حَيُّ يَا قَيُّومُ يَا ذَا الْجَلَالِ وَالإِكْرَامِ. أَسْأَلُكَ يَا رَبَّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ أَنْ تَرْزُقَنِي رِزْقًا حَلَالًا طَيِّبًا بِرَحْمَتِكَ يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ. يَمْلِيحَا، مَكْسَلِينََا، مِسْلِينَا، مَرْنُوشَ، دَبَرْنُوشَ، شَاذَنُوشَ، كَفَشْتَتَيُّوشَ، قِطْمِيرُ.
Pronunciation of the Prayer of the Ant:
“Allahumma ya Rabbi Jibra’il wa Mika’il wa Israfil wa Azra’il wa Ibrahim wa Isma’il wa Ishaq wa Yaqub wa munzila al-barakati wa al-Tawrah wa al-Zabur wa al-Injil wa al-Furqan. Wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billahi al-aliyyi al-azim. La ilaha illa Allah al-Malik al-Haqq al-Mubin. Muhammadu Rasulullahi sadiqul wa’dil amin. Ya Rabbi, Ya Rabbi, Ya Hayyu, Ya Qayyum, Ya Dhal Jalali wal Ikram. As’aluka ya Rabbal arshil azim an tarzuqani rizqan halalan tayyiban birahmatika ya arhamar Rahimin. Yemliha, Meksalina, Mislina, Mernush, Debernush, Shazennush, Kafeshfettayush, Qitmir.”
Meaning:
“O Allah, the Lord of Gabriel, Michael, Israfil, Azrael, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, and Jacob! O Lord who bestows blessings and revealed the Torah, Psalms, Gospel, and Furqan! I acknowledge that strength and power belong only to Allah, the Almighty. There is no deity but Allah, the Sovereign, the Absolute Truth. Muhammad, the trustworthy and truthful, is the Messenger of Allah.
O my Lord, O my Lord, O the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsisting! O the One of Majesty and Generosity! O Lord of the great throne! I ask You to provide me with lawful and pure sustenance through Your mercy, O Most Merciful of the merciful! Yemliha, Meksalina, Mislina, Mernush, Debernush, Shazennush, Kafeshfettayush, Qitmir (names of the Companions of the Cave).”
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