Barakah (Blessing)
Divine blessing and abundance, obtained through worship and good deeds.
Barakah (Arabic: بركة) means "blessing," "abundance," or "divine grace" and refers to the invisible, divine force that enriches and blesses everything it touches. Barakah can be in time, wealth, health, knowledge, relationships, and all other aspects of life.
The Quran mentions barakah in many contexts: "Blessed (tabarak) is He in whose hand is the dominion" (Surah Al-Mulk 67:1). The Kaaba is described as "the first house established for humanity, the one in Bakkah, blessed and a guidance" (Surah Aal-Imran 3:96). Laylat al-Qadr is described as a "blessed night" (Surah Al-Dukhan 44:3).
Imam Ali (peace be upon him) said: "Prayer draws down livelihood, and alms increase blessing" (Nahj al-Balagha). Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: "The one who prays his prayers on time and recites Tasbihat al-Zahra, Allah will bless his livelihood" (Al-Kafi, vol. 3). These narrations show the direct connection between regular prayer and barakah in one's life.
In Shia tradition, barakah is also associated with sacred places (Karbala, Najaf, Mashhad), sacred times (Ramadan, Muharram, Fridays), and sacred persons (the Prophet and Ahl al-Bayt). The turbah from Karbala carries barakah from the sacred land, and ziyarah to the Imams' graves is a source of barakah. For the believer, the search for barakah is a natural part of daily life — and prayer is the most direct path to Allah's blessing.
Related terms
Qiyam (Standing Position)
The standing position in prayer, during which the Quran is recited.
Qibla (Prayer Direction)
The direction toward the Kaaba in Mecca, which Muslims face during prayer.
Du'a al-Qunut (The Qunut Supplication in Witr)
The special supplication recited during the last rak'ah of the Witr prayer.
Qasr (Shortened Prayer)
The permission to shorten the four-rak'ah prayers to two rak'ah during travel.
Qunut (Supplication with Raised Hands)
A personal supplication (du'a) with raised hands, recited during the prayer.
Usul al-Fiqh (Principles of Jurisprudence)
Islamic legal theory that defines the methods for deriving legal rules from the sacred sources.