Why many dua books have no chain?

 (Iqbal al-A’mal, vol 3, page 171)

Sayyid ibn Tawus clarifies why he mentions reports with no isnad in his book “Iqbal al-A’mal”on mustahab practices such as duas, ziyarat, etc.

“And we will mention through the reports (ahadith) a part of the acts of worship and secrets during the night and the day that necessitate the bliss of eternal heaven, so do not turn away from goodness or blame yourself on the Day of Resurrection. 

If I do not mention an isnad for all of these reports, [that is acceptable] as I will prove this with reports which have chains of trustworthy individuals stating that whomever hears a report about a good deed and he performs it - he will earn the rewards stated in the report. 

(Cites hadith to prove it)

I say: And this is is a favor from Allah and generosity from Him - that you would perform an act He did not reveal in His book nor did He order His prophet to transmit to you, but you are permitted to accept that this (reported) deed was revealed to you [by the Prophet] - which makes it a source of happiness for you in your worldly life and hereafter

(Cites numerous ahadith to prove his point)”

وسوف نذكر من طريق الاخبار طرفا من العبادات والاسرار في الليل والنهار المقتضية لنعيم دار القرار، فلا تكن عن الخير نواما ولا لنفسكيوم القيامة لواما، وإذا لم نذكر اسنادا لكلها فسوف نذكر أحاديث مسندة عن الثقات انه من بلغه اعمال صالحة وعمل بها فإنه يظفر بفضلها،وقد قدمناها في أول المهمات، وإنما أعددناها هاهنا في المراقبات.

فمن ذلك اننا روينا بإسنادنا إلى أبي جعفر بن بابويه رضوان الله عليه من كتاب ثواب الأعمال فيما رواه باسناده إلى صفوان عن أبي عبدالله الصادق عليه السلام أنه قال : من بلغه شئ من الخير فعمل به كان له أجر ذلك، وإن كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله لم يقله (3).

أقول: وهذا فضل من الله جل جلاله وكرم ما كان في الحساب، انك تعمل عملا لم ينزله في الكتاب ولم يأمر الله جل جلاله رسوله ان يبلغه إليكفتسلم أن يكون خطر ذلك العمل عليك، وتصير من سعادتك (3) في دنياك وآخرتك.