This is the wird (litany) of Imām an-Nawawī. An Imām who dedicated all of his life in the path of Allāh in knowledge, action, abstention (zuhd), remembrance, service to the generality of the Muslims and giving sincere advice to their leaders.
“He is Imām Yahyā bin Sharaf al-Nawawī who passed away in the year (d. 676 A.H). It is my conviction that if this Imām was not from the great godly righteous friends of Allāh, then Allāh the most High does not have, on the earth, any friends after him. Our discussion will become lengthy if I entered into the mentioning of his biography and unveiling of his unique states, excellences (manāqib) and qualities. However it is sufficient for you to know that the Imām, ‘Alī bin ‘Abdullāh al-Kāfī al-Subkī, the father of Tāj al-Dīn al-Subkī, author of ‘Tabaqāt al-Shāfi’iyyah’ – and he is well known for his immense virtues and vast knowledge came from Cairo to Damascus with the intention to attend the ‘Dar al-Hadith’, to visit Imām al-Nawawī, as he (Allāh have mercy on him) was resident there.
It was said to him (al-Subkī) that he (al-Nawawī) had departed for his home place of Nawā. He then passed away there after falling ill for a few days. So he (al-Subki) asked for the place where he (al-Nawawī) used to sit, when they pointed it out to him Imam al-Subkī placed his head on the ground of that place and covered his cheek and face with dust on it saying:
And in Dar al-Hadith there is a subtle meaning
On carpets where I incline and take refuge:
Perhaps I might touch with my very face
A spot touched by al-Nawawi’s foot.
This great Imām had a litany consisting of supplication, invocation and prayer that he would recite daily along with his other litanies, which was his habit. This litany of his was met with widespread acceptance from the scholars and Imams after him till this day. They recite it every morning, and it reflects in their heart the radiance of tawhīd (Divine Oneness), the familiarity of intimate supplication (munājāt) and pleasure in the slavehood of humility to Allāh, The Most Exalted beyond measures.
It is from the prayers (ibtihālāt) proven for the relief of distress and repelling of the plots of the oppressors. I will not lengthen the commentary, for I have personally experienced the blessing of this litany. For its light has grown in my heart and I have witnessed many of its effects in my life.
So make a firm resolve to be regular in its recitation every morning with the attention of the mind and humility of the heart.”
[Shaykh Ramadhān al-Būtī’s introduction to ‘Wird an-Nawawī’]