The Path to Perfect Faith: Lessons from Du'a Makarim al-Akhlaq - Session 1
Seeking the Highest Spiritual Stations Through Supplication
In the blessed nights of spiritual gathering, we turn to one of the most profound supplications taught by our Imams—Du’a Makarim al-Akhlaq (The Supplication of Noble Moral Traits). Found as the 20th supplication in Al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiya by Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn (AS), this prayer focuses primarily on ethical and moral excellence, teaching us invaluable lessons about how to approach God with our requests and what we should truly seek from the Divine.
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The Priority of Spiritual Over Material Requests
The first lesson this supplication teaches us is that our prayers should not be limited to material and worldly needs. While most people turn to prayer when facing immediate physical, social, or financial difficulties, Du’a Makarim al-Akhlaq reminds us that acquiring moral virtues requires even more supplication than material needs. Just as moral excellences are superior to material possessions, they deserve deeper and more frequent prayers.
The Quran describes how people call upon Allah with sincere devotion when riding in ships amid stormy seas:
“And when they board a ship, they supplicate Allah, sincere to Him in religion. But when He delivers them to the land, at once they associate others with Him”
— (Quran, Surah al-Ankabut, Chapter 29, The Spider, Verse 65).
However, Islamic culture teaches us to seek everything from Allah at all times, acknowledging our absolute ontological poverty—the state of being in constant need of the Creator (Quran, Surah al-Fatir, Chapter 35, The Originator, Verse 15). We possess nothing of our own, and whatever Allah has granted us has no guarantee of permanence without His continued favour.
The Etiquette of Supplication
The supplication demonstrates a crucial etiquette in prayer—beginning with Salawat (blessings) upon Muhammad and his family. This practice is emphasised in numerous narrations, including Saying 361 of Nahj al-Balagha, where it is suggested that Allah is too generous to accept the beginning and end of a prayer (the Salawat) and reject the request in the middle. Since Salawat is always accepted, placing our requests between two accepted prayers increases the likelihood of their acceptance.
Seeking the Highest Stations
After the opening Salawat, the supplication contains four profound requests:
“Make my faith reach the most perfect faith” (بلغ بإيماني أكمل الإيمان) - Quran, al-Anfal, Chapter 8, The Spoils of War, Verse 2
“Make my certainty the best certainty” (واجعل يقيني أفضل اليقين) -
“Let my intention culminate in the best of intentions” (وانته بنيتي إلى أحسن النيات)
“Let my deeds culminate in the best of deeds” (وبعملي إلى أحسن الأعمال) - Quran, al-Mulk, Chapter 67, The Kingdom, Verse 2
These four requests teach us a fundamental lesson: in spiritual matters especially, our aspirations should not be low. Allah is not miserly. Faith has many levels and can increase, as noted in the Quran: “It increased them in faith” (Quran, Surah at-Tawba, Chapter 9, The Repentance, Verse 124). Therefore, we should ask for the highest degree (akmal).
Understanding the Levels of Faith and Certainty
For certainty (yaqin), the term used is “best” (afdal). While certainty is absolute conviction, Islamic epistemology (as discussed by scholars like Mulla Sadra and Al-Ghazali) identifies three qualitative levels:
‘Ilm al-Yaqin (Knowledge of Certainty): Certainty through logical proof and reasoning (Quran, Surah, at-Takathur, Chapter 102, The Multiplication of Wealth, Verse 5).
‘Ayn al-Yaqin (Eye of Certainty): Certainty through spiritual witnessing or “seeing” with the heart (Quran, Quran, Surah, at-Takathur, Chapter 102, The Multiplication of Wealth, Verse 7).
Haqq al-Yaqin (Truth of Certainty): The highest form, likened to “tasting” or becoming one with the reality (Quran, Surah al-Waqi’a, Chapter 56, The Event, Verse 95).
The Importance of Intention and Action
The supplication emphasises quality over quantity. The Quran states: “He who created death and life to test you as to which of you is best in deed” (Quran, Surah, al-Mulk, Chapter 67, The Kingdom, Verse 2). Notice it says “best,” not “most.”
Regarding intentions in worship, Imam Ali (AS) identifies three types in Nahj al-Balagha (Saying 237):
Worship of Slaves: Performed out of fear of punishment.
Worship of Merchants: Performed for the sake of Paradise and reward.
Worship of the Free: Performed out of love and gratitude for Allah because He is worthy of worship.
While we may aspire to the highest form, our actual intentions depend on our ma’rifah (spiritual knowledge). We must honestly examine ourselves: Would we still pray if there were no Hell? Would we fast if there were no Paradise? The answers reveal our true spiritual station.
Conclusion
Du’a Makarim al-Akhlaq teaches us to aim high. Just as people seek the best in worldly matters—the finest homes, vehicles and comforts—we should seek the highest levels of faith, certainty, intention and action in our spiritual lives. As the Imam guides us, material blessings often bring complications, but spiritual blessings bring only greater happiness, perfection, and proximity to the Divine. Let us follow this guidance and ask Allah for nothing less than the best in our journey toward Him.