some wonders of the number forty

In this article, we present recommendations and the astonishing properties of the number forty based on the traditions and valuable sayings of the Imams (peace be upon them).

Effect of Reciting “Forty” Times from a Specific Prayer for Healing:
Hassan al-Qummi said: I was afflicted with a disease that astonished doctors, and they were unable to cure it. My father took me to the doctors, and they all gathered and said, “This disease cannot be treated except by God.” I returned home, feeling heartbroken and distressed. I took one of my father’s books and saw that on the cover it was written: “Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) narrated from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) that he said: ‘Whoever is ill, let him say after the Fajr prayer forty times: “In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds. Allah is sufficient for us and the best disposer of affairs. Blessed is Allah, the best of creators. There is no power and no strength except through Allah, the Most High, the Most Great.” Then he should pass his hand over the painful area.’ Allah, the Most Merciful, will remove it and grant healing.” So I followed the instructions, and by God’s grace, I was healed.

Reproaching the Soul is Better than Forty Years of Worship:
Hassan ibn Jahm said: I heard from Abu al-Hasan (peace be upon him) that he said: “A man from the Children of Israel worshiped Allah for forty years and then offered a sacrifice which was not accepted. He said to himself: ‘What has happened (the non-acceptance of the sacrifice) is due to you, and the sin is also from you.’ So Allah revealed to the Prophet of his time: ‘The reproach you directed at yourself is better than your forty years of worship.'”

Reward for Reciting Ayat al-Kursi During Wudu:
Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever recites Ayat al-Kursi once after performing wudu, Allah will reward him as if he has performed forty years of worship, will elevate him by forty degrees, and will marry him to forty virgins.”

The Number Forty in Fetal Development:
The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said: “The child’s nourishment in the mother’s womb is a sperm for forty nights, then a clot for forty nights, then a lump for forty nights, then a lump that has taken color. After that, it becomes a piece of flesh and then bones that begin to solidify. Afterward, it becomes a fetus, at which point the fetus cries out and the soul is breathed into it.”

Eating Halal for Forty Days Illuminates the Heart:
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever eats halal for forty days, Allah will illuminate his heart.”

Eating One Forbidden Bite Prevents Acceptance of Prayer and Supplication for Forty Days:
The Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever eats a forbidden bite, his prayer will not be accepted for forty nights, and his supplication will not be answered for forty mornings. Any flesh that grows from haram will be more deserving of the Fire.”

Abstaining from Meat for Forty Days Leads to Bad Morality:
Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: “Eating meat contributes to the growth of the body’s flesh. Whoever abstains from eating meat for forty days will develop bad manners, and if one’s manners worsen, he should be called to prayer in his ear.”

Great Reward for Memorizing Forty Hadiths:
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever memorizes forty hadiths from my Ummah that they need for their religion, Allah will resurrect him on the Day of Resurrection as a scholar and knowledgeable.”

Reward for Performing Forty Hajj:
Imam al-Kadhim (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever performs Hajj forty times will be told to intercede for those he loves, and a door from the gates of Paradise will be opened for him, through which he and those he intercedes for will enter.”

Prayer and Fasting Are Not Accepted for Forty Days for One Who Slanders a Muslim:
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever slanders a Muslim or Muslimah, Allah will not accept his prayer or fasting for forty days and nights, unless the person he slandered forgives him.”