Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

52) His Supplication in Imploring God

(52) وَ كَانَ مِنْ دُعَائِهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فِي الْإِلْحَاحِ عَلَى اللَّهِ تَعَالَى

1. يَا اللَّهُ الَّذِي لَا يَخْفَى عَلَيْهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ

فِي الْأَرْضِ وَ لَا فِي السَّمَاءِ ،

وَ كَيْفَ يَخْفَى عَلَيْكَ يَا إِلَهِي مَا أَنْتَ خَلَقْتَهُ ،

وَ كَيْفَ لَا تُحْصِي مَا أَنْتَ صَنَعْتَهُ ،

أَوْ كَيْفَ يَغِيبُ عَنْكَ مَا أَنْتَ تُدَبِّرُهُ ،

أَوْ كَيْفَ يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يَهْرُبَ مِنْكَ مَنْ لَا حَيَاةَ لَهُ إِلَّا بِرِزْقِكَ ،

أَوْ كَيْفَ يَنْجُو مِنْكَ مَنْ لَا مَذْهَبَ لَهُ فِي غيْرِ مُلْكِكَ .

2. سُبْحَانَكَ

أَخْشَى خَلْقِكَ لَكَ أَعْلَمُهُمْ بِكَ ،

وَ أَخْضَعُهُمْ لَكَ أَعْمَلُهُمْ بِطَاعَتِكَ ،

وَ أَهْوَنُهُمْ عَلَيْكَ مَنْ أَنْتَ تَرْزُقُهُ وَ هُوَ يَعْبُدُ غَيْرَكَ

3. سُبْحَانَكَ

لَا يَنْقُصُ سُلْطَانَكَ مَنْ أَشْرَكَ بِكَ ،

وَ كَذَّبَ رُسُلَكَ ،

وَ لَيْسَ يَسْتَطِيعُ مَنْ كَرِهَ قَضَاءَكَ

أَنْ يَرُدَّ أَمْرَكَ ،

وَ لَا يَمْتَنِعُ مِنْكَ مَنْ كَذَّبَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ ،

وَ لَا يَفُوتُكَ مَنْ عَبَدَ غَيْرَكَ ،

وَ لَا يُعَمَّرُ فِي الدُّنْيَا مَنْ كَرِهَ لِقَاءَكَ .

4. سُبْحَانَكَ مَا أَعْظَمَ شَأْنَكَ ،

وَ أَقْهَرَ سُلْطَانَكَ ،

وَ أَشَدَّ قُوَّتَكَ ،

وَ أَنْفَذَ أَمْرَكَ

5. سُبْحَانَكَ

قَضَيْتَ عَلَى جَمِيعِ خَلْقِكَ الْمَوْتَ

مَنْ وَحَّدَكَ وَ مَنْ كَفَرَ بِكَ ،

وَ كُلٌّ ذَائِقُ الْمَوْتِ ،

وَ كُلٌّ صَائِرٌ إِلَيْكَ ،

فَتَبَارَكْتَ وَ تَعَالَيْتَ

لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ

وَحْدَكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ .

6. آمَنْتُ بِكَ ، وَ صَدَّقْتُ رُسُلَكَ ،

وَ قَبِلْتُ كِتَابَكَ ،

وَ كَفَرْتُ بِكُلِّ مَعْبُودٍ غَيْرِكَ ،

وَ بَرِئْتُ مِمَّنْ عَبَدَ سِوَاكَ .

7. اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أُصْبِحُ وَ أُمْسِي

مُسْتَقِلًّا لِعَمَلِي ،

مُعْتَرِفاً بِذَنْبِي ،

مُقِرّاً بِخَطَايَايَ ،

أَنَا بِإِسْرَافِي عَلَى نَفْسِي ذَلِيلٌ ،

عَمَلِي أَهْلَكَنِي ، وَ هَوَايَ أَرْدَانِي ، وَ شَهَوَاتِي حَرَمَتْنِي .

8. فَأَسْأَلُكَ يَا مَوْلَايَ

سُؤَالَ مَنْ نَفْسُهُ لَاهِيَةٌ لِطُولِ أَمَلِهِ ،

وَ بَدَنُهُ غَافِلٌ لِسُكُونِ عُرُوقِهِ ،

وَ قَلْبُهُ مَفْتُونٌ بِكَثْرَةِ النِّعَمِ عَلَيْهِ ،

وَ فِكْرُهُ قَلِيلٌ لِمَا هُوَ صَائِرٌ إِلَيْهِ .

9. سُؤَالَ مَنْ قَدْ غَلَبَ عَلَيْهِ الْأَمَلُ ،

وَ فَتَنَهُ الْهَوَى ،

وَ اسْتَمْكَنَتْ مِنْهُ الدُّنْيَا ،

وَ أَظَلَّهُ الْأَجَلُ ،

سُؤَالَ مَنِ اسْتَكْثَرَ ذُنُوبَهُ ،

وَ اعْتَرَفَ بِخَطِيئَتِهِ ،

سُؤَالَ مَنْ لَا رَبَّ لَهُ غَيْرُكَ ،

وَ لَا وَلِيَّ لَهُ دُونَكَ ،

وَ لَا مُنْقِذَ لَهُ مِنْكَ ،

وَ لَا مَلْجَأَ لَهُ مِنْكَ ، إِلَّا إِلَيْكَ .

10. إِلَهِي أَسْأَلُكَ بِحَقِّكَ الْوَاجِبِ عَلَى جَمِيعِ خَلْقِكَ ،

وَ بِاسْمِكَ الْعَظِيمِ

الَّذِي أَمَرْتَ رَسُولَكَ أَنْ يُسَبِّحَكَ بِهِ ،

وَ بِجَلَالِ وَجْهِكَ الْكَرِيمِ ،

الَّذِي لَا يَبْلَى وَ لَا يَتَغَيَّرُ ،

وَ لَا يَحُولُ وَ لَا يَفْنَى ،

أَنْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ ،

وَ أَنْ تُغْنِيَنِي عَنْ كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ بِعِبَادَتِكَ ،

وَ أَنْ تُسَلِّيَ نَفْسِي عَنِ الدُّنْيَا بِمَخَافَتِكَ ،

وَ أَنْ تُثْنِيَنِي بِالْكَثِيرِ مِنْ كَرَامَتِكَ بِرَحْمَتِكَ .

11. فَإِلَيْكَ أَفِرُّ ،

و مِنْكَ أَخَافُ ،

وَ بِكَ أَسْتَغِيثُ ،

وَ إِيَّاكَ أَرْجُو ، وَ لَكَ أَدْعُو ،

وَ إِلَيْكَ أَلْجَأُ ، وَ بِكَ أَثِقُ ،

وَ إِيَّاكَ أَسْتَعِينُ ، وَ بِكَ أُومِنُ ،

وَ عَلَيْكَ أَتَوَكَّلُ ،

وَ عَلَى جُودِكَ وَ كَرَمِكَ أَتَّكِلُ .

1- O God, from whom nothing is concealed in earth or heaven!

How should what Thou hast created, my God,

be concealed from Thee?

How shouldst Thou not number

what Thou hast made?

How should what Thou governest

be absent from Thee?

How should one who has no life except through Thy provision have the ability to flee from Thee?

How should one who has no road except in Thy kingdom escape from Thee?

2- Glory be to Thee!

He among Thy creatures who fears Thee most

knows Thee best,1

he among them most bent in humility

is most active in obeying Thee,

and he among them whom Thou providest while he worships another is most contemptible before Thee!

3- Glory be to Thee!

He who associates others with Thee and denies Thy messengers

diminishes not Thy authority.

He who dislikes Thy decree

cannot reject Thy command.

He who denies Thy power

keeps himself not away from Thee.

He who worships other than Thee

escapes Thee not.

He who dislikes meeting Thee

will not be given endless life in this world.

4. Glory be to Thee!

How mighty is Thy station,

overpowering Thy authority,

intense Thy strength,

penetrating Thy command!

5. Glory be to Thee!

Thou hast decreed death for all Thy creatures,

both him who professes Thy Unity

and him who disbelieves in Thee;

each one will taste death,2

each one will come home to Thee.

Blessed art Thou and high exalted!

There is no god but Thou, Thou alone,

who hast no associate.

6. I have faith in Thee,

I attest to Thy messengers,

I accept Thy Book,

I disbelieve in every object of worship other than Thee,

I am quit of anyone who worships another!

7. O God,

I rise in the morning and enter the evening

making little of my good works,

confessing my sins,

admitting my offenses;

I am abased because of my prodigality against myself.

My works have destroyed me,

my caprice has ruined me,

my passions have deprived me.

8- So I ask Thee, my Master,

the asking of him

whose soul is diverted by his drawn out expectations,

whose body is heedless because of the stillness of his veins,3

whose heart is entranced

by the multitude of favours done for him,

whose reflection is little

concerning that to which he is coming home;

9- the asking of him whom

false expectation has overcome,

caprice has entranced,

and this world has mastered,

and over whom death has cast its shadow;

the asking of him who

makes much of his sins

and confesses his offense;

the asking of him who has

no Lord but Thou,

no friend besides Thee,

no one to deliver him from Thee,

and no asylum from Thee except in Thee.4

10- My God, I ask Thee

by Thy right incumbent upon all Thy creatures,

by Thy mighty name

with which Thou commanded Thy messenger to glorify Thee,

and by the majesty of Thy generous face,

which ages not, nor changes,

nor alters, nor passes away,

that Thou blessest Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad,

that Thou freest me from need for all things

through worshipping Thee,

that Thou distractest my soul from this world

through fear of Thee,

and that Thou turnest me back toward Thy abundant generosity through Thy mercy!

11- To Thee I flee,

Thee I fear,

from Thee I seek aid,

in Thee I hope,

Thee I supplicate,

in Thee I seek asylum,

in Thee I trust,

from Thee I ask help,

in Thee I have faith,

in Thee I have placed my confidence,

and upon Thy munificence and Thy generosity I rely.

Footnotes

1. Allusion to 35:28: Only those of His servants fear God who have knowledge.

2. Reference to 29: 57: Every soul shall taste death, then unto Us you shall be returned.

3. The commentator suggests that the 'stillness of his veins' alludes to the health of his body, which in turn brings about comfort and ease, making him heedless of God and the next world.

4. Another allusion to the Prophet's supplication; cf. 48.13.

53) His Supplication in Abasing himself

(53) وَ كَانَ مِنْ دُعَائِهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فِي التَّذَلُّلِ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ

His Supplication in Abasing himself before God (Mighty and Majestic is He)

1. رَبِّ أَفْحَمَتْنِي ذُنُوبِي ،

وَ انْقَطَعَتْ مَقَالَتِي ،

فَلَا حُجَّةَ لِي ، فَأَنَا الْأَسِيرُ بِبَلِيَّتِي ،

الْمُرْتَهَنُ بِعَمَلِي ،

الْمُتَرَدِّدُ فِي خَطِيئَتِي ،

الْمُتَحَيِّرُ عَنْ قَصْدِي ،

الْمُنْقَطَعُ بِي .

2. قَدْ أَوْقَفْتُ نَفْسِي مَوْقِفَ الْأَذِلَّاءِ الْمُذْنِبِينَ ،

مَوْقِفَ الْأَشْقِيَاءِ الْمُتَجَرِّينَ عَلَيْكَ ،

الْمُسْتَخِفِّينَ بِوَعْدِكَ

3. سُبْحَانَكَ أَيَّ جُرْأَةٍ اجْتَرَأْتُ عَلَيْكَ ،

وَ أَيَّ تَغْرِيرٍ غَرَّرْتُ بِنَفْسِي

4. مَوْلَايَ ارْحَمْ كَبْوَتِي لِحُرِّ وَجْهِي وَ زَلَّةَ قَدَمِي ،

وَ عُدْ بِحِلْمِكَ عَلَى جَهْلِي وَ بِإِحْسَانِكَ عَلَى إِسَاءَتِي ،

فَأَنَا الْمُقِرُّ بِذَنْبِي ،

الْمُعْتَرِفُ بِخَطِيئَتِي ،

وَ هَذِهِ يَدِي وَ نَاصِيَتِي ،

أَسْتَكِينُ بِالْقَوَدِ مِنْ نَفْسِي ،

ارْحَمْ شَيْبَتِي ، وَ نَفَادَ أَيَّامِي ،

وَ اقْتِرَابَ أَجَلِي

وَ ضَعْفِي وَ مَسْكَنَتِي

وَ قِلَّةَ حِيلَتِي .

5. مَوْلَايَ وَ ارْحَمْنِي

إِذَا انْقَطَعَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا أَثَرِي ،

وَ امَّحَى مِنَ الْمَخْلُوقِينَ ذِكْرِي ،

وَ كُنْتُ مِنَ الْمَنْسِيِّينَ كَمَنْ قَدْ نُسِيَ

6. مَوْلَايَ وَ ارْحَمْنِي عِنْدَ تَغَيُّرِ صُورَتِي وَ حَالِي

إِذَا بَلِيَ جِسْمِي ،

وَ تَفَرَّقَتْ أَعْضَائِي ،

وَ تَقَطَّعَتْ أَوْصَالِي ،

يَا غَفْلَتِي عَمَّا يُرَادُ بِي .

7. مَوْلَايَ وَ ارْحَمْنِي فِي حَشْرِي وَ نَشْرِي ،

وَ اجْعَلْ فِي ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ مَعَ أَوْلِيَائِكَ مَوْقِفِي ،

وَ فِي أَحِبَّائِكَ مَصْدَرِي ،

وَ فِي جِوَارِكَ مَسْكَنِي ،

يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ .

1- My Lord, my sins have silenced me,

and my words have been cut off.

I have no argument,

for I am the prisoner of my own affliction,

the hostage to my works,

the frequenter of my own offense,

the confused in my intended way,

the thwarted.

2- I have brought myself to a halt in the halting place of the abased sinners,

the halting place of the wretched and insolent,

those who think lightly of Thy promise.

3- Glory be to Thee! What insolence I have insolently shown toward Thee!

What delusion with which I have deluded myself!

4- My Master, have mercy on my falling flat on my face, the slipping of my foot,

grant me

my ignorance through Thy clemency,

and my evildoing through Thy beneficence,

for I admit my sin

and I confess my offense:

Here are my hand and my forelock!

I am resigned to retaliation against my soul!

Have mercy on

my white hair,

the depletion of my days,

the nearing of my term,

my frailty, my misery,

and the paucity of my stratagems!

5- My Master,

and have mercy upon me when

my trace is cut off from this world,

my mention is effaced among the creatures,

and I join the forgotten, like the forgotten ones!

6- My Master,

and have mercy upon me at the change of my form and state when

my body decays,

my limbs are scattered,

and my joints are dismembered!

O my heedlessness toward what was wanted from me!

7- My Master,

have mercy upon me at my mustering and uprising

and on that day, appoint

my standing place with Thy friends,

my place of emergence with Thy beloveds,

and my dwelling in Thy neighbourhood!

O Lord of the worlds!

54) His Supplication for the Removal of Worries

(54) وَ كَانَ مِنْ دُعَائِهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فِي اسْتِكْشَافِ الْهُمُومِ

1. يَا فَارِجَ الْهَمِّ ،

وَ كَاشِفَ الْغَمِّ ،

يَا رَحْمَانَ الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ وَ رَحِيمَهُمَا ،

صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ ،

وَ افْرُجْ هَمِّي ، وَ اكْشِفْ غَمِّي .

2. يَا وَاحِدُ يَا أَحَدُ يَا صَمَدُ

يَا مَنْ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَ لَمْ يُولَدْ

وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُواً أَحَدٌ ،

اعْصِمْنِي وَ طَهِّرْنِي ،

وَ اذْهَبْ بِبَلِيَّتِي .

وَ اقْرَأْ آيَةَ الْكُرْسِيِّ وَ الْمُعَوِّذَتَيْنِ وَ قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ، وَ قُلْ :

3. اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ

سُؤَالَ مَنِ اشْتَدَّتْ فَاقَتُهُ ،

وَ ضَعُفَتْ قُوَّتُهُ ،

وَ كَثُرَتْ ذُنُوبُهُ ،

سُؤَالَ مَنْ لَا يَجِدُ لِفَاقَتِهِ مُغِيثاً ،

وَ لَا لِضَعْفِهِ مُقَوِّياً ،

وَ لَا لِذَنْبِهِ غَافِراً غَيْرَكَ ،

يَا ذَا الْجَلَالِ وَ الْإِكْرَامِ

أَسْأَلُكَ عَمَلًا تُحِبُّ بِهِ مَنْ عَمِلَ بِهِ ،

وَ يَقِيناً تَنْفَعُ بِهِ مَنِ اسْتَيْقَنَ بِهِ

حَقَّ الْيَقِينَ فِي نَفَاذِ أَمْرِكَ .

4. اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ ،

وَ اقْبِضْ عَلَى الصِّدْقِ نَفْسِي ،

وَ اقْطَعْ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا حَاجَتِي ،

وَ اجْعَلْ فِيمَا عِنْدَكَ رَغْبَتِي

شَوْقاً إِلَى لِقَائِكَ ،

وَ هَبْ لِي صِدْقَ التَّوَكُّلِ عَلَيْكَ .

5. أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ خَيْرِ كِتَابٍ قَدْ خَلَا ،

وَ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ كِتَابٍ قَدْ خَلَا ،

أَسْأَلُكَ خَوْفَ الْعَابِدِينَ لَكَ ،

وَ عِبَادَةَ الْخَاشِعِينَ لَكَ ،

وَ يَقِينَ الْمُتَوَكِّلِينَ عَلَيْكَ ،

وَ تَوَكُّلَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْكَ .

6. اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ رَغْبَتِي فِي مَسْأَلَتِي

مِثْلَ رَغْبَةِ أَوْلِيَائِكَ فِي مَسَائِلِهِمْ ،

وَ رَهْبَتِي مِثْلَ رَهْبَةِ أَوْلِيَائِكَ ،

وَ اسْتَعْمِلْنِي فِي مَرْضَاتِكَ

عَمَلًا لَا أَتْرُكُ مَعَهُ شَيْئاً مِنْ دِينِكَ

مَخَافَةَ أَحَدٍ مِنْ خَلْقِكَ .

7. اللَّهُمَّ هَذِهِ حَاجَتِي فَأَعْظِمْ فِيهَا رَغْبَتِي ،

وَ أَظْهِرْ فِيهَا عُذْرِي ،

وَ لَقِّنِّي فِيهَا حُجَّتِي ،

وَ عَافِ فِيهَا جَسَدِي .

8. اللَّهُمَّ مَنْ أَصْبَحَ لَهُ

ثِقَةٌ أَوْ رَجَاءٌ غَيْرُكَ ،

فَقَدْ أَصْبَحْتُ

وَ أَنْتَ ثِقَتِي وَ رَجَائِي فِي الْأُمُورِ كُلِّهَا ،

فَاقْضِ لِي بِخَيْرِهَا عَاقِبَةً ،

وَ نَجِّنِي مِنْ مَضَلَّاتِ الْفِتَنِ

بِرَحْمَتِكَ يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ .

9. وَ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا

مُحَمَّدٍ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ الْمُصْطَفَى

وَ عَلَى آلِهِ الطَّاهِرِينَ

1- O Reliever of worry!

O Remover of grief!

O Merciful in this world and the next

and Compassionate in both!

Bless Muhammad and his Household,

relieve my worry,

and remove my grief!

2- O One, O Unique, O Eternal Refuge!

O He Who has not begotten,

nor has been begotten,

and equal to Him is not any one!1

Preserve me,

purify me,

and take away my affliction!

Here you should recite the throne verse (2:255), the two Suras of taking refuge (113-114), and unity (112). Then say:

3- O God, I ask Thee

with the asking of him whose neediness is intense,

whose strength is frail,

whose sins are many,

the asking of one who finds no helper in his neediness,

no strengthener in his frailty,

no forgiver of his sin other than Thee,

O Possessor of majesty and munificence!

I ask of Thee a work through which Thou wilt love him who works it

and a certainty by which Thou wilt profit him who is certain

with the truth of certainty concerning the execution of Thy command!

4- O God,

bless Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad,

take my soul while it is firm in sincerity,

cut off my need for this world,

make my desire for what is with Thee

become a yearning to meet Thee,

and give me true confidence in Thee!

5- I ask of Thee the good of the writ that has been made

and I seek refuge with Thee from the evil of the writ that has been made.2

I ask of Thee

the fear of The worshipers,

the worship of those humbly fearful of Thee,

the certainty of those who have confidence in Thee,

and the confidence of those who have faith in Thee.

6- O God, make my desire in my asking

like the desire of Thy friends in their asking,

and my fear

like the fear of Thy friends!

Employ me in Thy good pleasure through works

in which I will not leave aside anything of Thy religion

fearing any of Thy creatures!

7- O God,

this is my need,

so make my desire for it great,

within it make manifest my excuse,

through it instil me with my argument,

and by means of it make well my body!

8- O God,

some rise in the morning

having trust or hope in other than Thee.

I rise in the morning,

and Thou art my trust and my hope in all affairs,

so decree for me those which are best in outcome

and deliver me from misguiding trials,

O Most Merciful of the merciful!

9- And God bless our chief,

Muhammad the Messenger of God, the chosen,

and his Household, the pure!

Footnotes

1. Sura 112

2. Allusion to such verses as 8:68: Had it not been for a prior writ from God, there had afflicted you, for what you took, a dreadful chastisement.

Addenda :These seven additional supplications are appended in some copies of the Sahifa

55) One of his Glorifications of Allah

(55) وكان من تسبيحه أعني زين العابدين عليه السلام

One of his glorifications, that is, of Zayn al-‘Abidin (upon him be peace)

1. سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَحَنَانَيْكَ.

2. سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَتَعَالَيْتَ.

3. سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَالْعِزُّ إزارُكَ.

4. سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَالْعَظَمَةُ رِدآؤُكَ.

5. سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَالْكِبْرِيآءُ سُلْطانُكَ.

6. سُبْحَانَكَ مِنْ عَظِيم ما أَعْظَمَكَ.

7. سُبْحَانَكَ سُبِّحْتَ فِي الملا الأَعْلى،

تَسْمَعُ وَتَرى ما تَحْتَ الثَّرى.

8. سُبْحَانَكَ

أَنْتَ شَاهِدُ كُلِّ نَجْوى.

9. سُبْحَانَكَ مَوْضِعُ كُلِّ شَكْوى.

10. سُبْحَانَكَ حاضِرُ كُلِّ مَلا.

11. سُبْحَانَكَ عَظِيمُ الرَّجآءِ.

12. سُبْحَانَكَ

تَرى ما فِي قَعْرِ الْمَآءِ.

13. سُبْحَانَكَ تَسْمَعُ أَنْفَاسَ الْحِيتَانِ

فِي قُعُورِ الْبِحَارِ.

14. سُبْحَانَكَ

تَعْلَمُ وَزْنَ السَّمَواتِ.

15. سُبْحَانَكَ تَعْلَمُ وَزْنَ الاَرَضِينَ.

16. سُبْحَانَكَ تَعْلَمُ وَزْنَ الشَّمْسِ وَالْقَمَرِ.

17. سُبْحَانَكَ تَعْلَمُ وَزْنَ الظُّلْمَةِ وَالنُّورِ.

18. سُبْحَانَكَ

تَعْلَمُ وَزْنَ الْفَيْءِ وَالْهَوَآءِ.

19. سُبْحَانَكَ تَعْلَمُ وَزْنَ

الرِّيحِ كَمْ هِيَ مِنْ مِثْقَالِ ذَرَّة.

20. سُبْحَانَكَ قُدُّوسٌ قُدُّوسٌ قُدُّوسٌ.

21. سُبْحَانَكَ عَجَبَاً مَنْ عَرَفَكَ

كَيْفَ لاَ يَخَافُكَ؟!.

22. سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ

23. سُبْحَانَكَ اللهُ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ.

روى الزُّهْرِي عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ قالَ:

كانَ الْقَوْمُ لا يَخْرُجُونَ مِنْ مَكَّةَ حَتَّى يَخْرُجَ عَلِيٌّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ سَيِّدُ الْعَابِدِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ،

فَخَرَجَ وَخَرَجْتُ مَعَهُ، فَنَزَلَ فِي بَعْضِ لْمَنَازِلِ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ، فَسَبَّحَ فِي سُجُودِهِ ـ يَعْنِي بِهذَا التَّسْبِيحِ ـ

فَلَمْ يَبْقَ شَجَرٌ وَلا مَدَرٌ إلاَّ سَبَّحَ مَعَهُ، فَفَزِعْنَا، فَرَفَعَ رَأسَهُ،

فَقَالَ: يَا سَعِيدٌ أَفَزِعْتَ؟ فَقُلْتُ: نَعَمْ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللهِ

فَقالَ: هذَا التَّسْبِيحُ الاعْظَمُ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي عَنْ جَدِّي عَنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: لاَ تَبْقَى الذُّنُوبُ مَعَ هَذَا التَّسْبِيحِ، وَأَنَّ الله جَلَّ جَلالُهُ لَمَّا خَلَقَ جَبْرَئِيلَ أَلْهَمَهُ هذَا التَّسْبِيحَ، وَهُوَ اسْمُ اللهِ الأَكْبَرُ.

1- Glory be to Thee, O God,

and I beg Thy loving care!

2- Glory be to Thee, O God,

and high art Thou exalted!

3- Glory be to Thee, O God,

and might is Thy loincloth!1

4- Glory be to Thee, O God,

and mightiness is Thy cloak!

5- Glory be to Thee, O God,

and magnificence is Thy authority!

6- Glory be to Thee, All-Mighty!

How mighty Thou art!

7- Glory be to Thee!

Thou art glorified in the highest!2

Thou hearest and seest what is under the soil!3

8- Glory be to Thee!

Thou art witness over every whispered conversation!4

9- Glory be to Thee,

the place where every complaint is put down!

10- Glory be to Thee,

present in every assembly!

11- Glory be to Thee,

object of great hopes!

12- Glory be to Thee!

Thou seest what is at the lowest depth of the water!

13- Glory be to Thee!

Thou hearest the breaths of the fish

in the lowest depths of the oceans!

14- Glory be to Thee!

Thou knowest the weight of the heavens!

15- Glory be to Thee!

Thou knowest the weight of the earths!

16- Glory be to Thee!

Thou knowest the weight of the sun and the moon!

17- Glory be to Thee!

Thou knowest the weight of the darkness and the light!

18- Glory be to Thee!

Thou knowest the weight of the shadow and the air!

19- Glory be to Thee!

Thou knowest the weight of the wind,

how many times it is greater than the weight of a dust mote!

20- Glory be to Thee,

All-holy, All-holy, All-holy!

21- Glory be to Thee!

I wonder how any who knows Thee could fear Thee not!

22- Glory be to Thee, O God,

and Thine is the praise!

23- Glory be to God, the All-high, the All-Mighty!

Al-Zuhri related from Sa'id ibn al-Musayyib.5 He said:

The people were not going out of Mecca until Ali ibn al-Husayn, the chief of the worshippers (upon him be peace) went out.

So he went out, and they went out with him. He stopped in one of the waystations and prayed two rak'as. Then he glorified God - I mean with this glorification - during his prostration.

There was no tree and no clod of earth that did not glorify along with him, so we were frightened. He raised his head.

He said: O Sa'id, are you frightened? I said: Yes, O son of the Messenger of God!

He said: This is the greatest glorification. It was related to me by my father from his grandfather from the Messenger of God (God bless him and his Household). No sins remain with this glorification. When God (majestic is His majesty) created Gabriel, He inspired him with this glorification. It is God's greatest name.

56) A Supplication and Magnification by him (upon him be peace)

(56) دعاء وتمجيد له عليه السلام

1 ـ الْحَمْدُ للهِ الَّذِي تَجَلَّى لِلْقُلُوبِ بِالْعَظَمَةِ،

وَاحْتَجَبَ عِنِ الاَبْصَارِ بِالْعِزَّةِ،

وَاقْتَدَرَ عَلَى الاَشْيآءِ بِالْقُدْرَةِ.

2 ـ. فَلاَ الاَبْصارُ تَثْبُتُ لِرُؤْيَتِهِ

وَلاَ الاَوْهَامُ تَبْلُغُ كُنْهَ عَظَمَتِهِ.

3 ـ. تَجَبَّرَ بالْعَظَمَةِ وَالْكِبْرِيآءِ،

وَتَعَطَّفَ بِالْعِزِّ وَالْبِرِّ وَالْجَلالِ،

وَتَقَدَّسَ بِالْحُسْنِ وَالْجَمَالِ،

وَتَمَجَّدَ بِالْفَخْرِ وَالْبَهآءِ،

وَتَجَلَّلَ بِالْمَجْدِ وَالاْلاءِ،

وَاسْتَخْلَصَ بِالنَّورِ وَالضِّيآءِ.

4. خالِقٌ لا نَظِيرَ لَهُ،

وَأَحَدٌ لا نِدَّ لَهُ،

وَواحِدٌ لا ضِدَّ لَهُ،

وَصَمَدٌ لاَ كُفْوَ لَهُ،

وَإلهٌ لا ثَانِيَ مَعَهُ،

وَفاطِرٌ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَرازِقٌ لا مُعِينَ لَهُ.

5ـ. وَالأَوَّلُ بِلا زَوال،

والدَّآئِمُ بِلا فَناء،

وَالْقائِمُ بِلا عَنآء، وَالْمُؤْمِنُ بِلا نِهَايَة

وَالْمُبْدِئُ بِلا أَمَد، وَالصَّانِعُ بِلا أَحَد،

وَالرَّبُّ بِلا شَرِيك، وَالْفاطِرُ بِلا كُلْفَة، وَالْفَعَّالُ بِلا عَجْز.

6. لَيْسَ لَهُ حَدٌّ فِي مَكان،

وَلا غايَةٌ فِي زَمان.

لَمْ يَزَلْ وَلاَ يَزُولُ وَلَنْ يَزَالَ

كَذلِكَ أَبَدَاً

هُوَ الإِلهُ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ،

الدَّآئِمُ القَديمُ الْقادِرُ الْحَكِيمُ.

7. إلهِي عُبَيْدُكَ بِفِنآئِكَ،

سآئِلُكَ بِفِنآئِكَ،

فَقِيرُكَ بِفِنآئِكَ

(ثَلاثاً)

8. إلهِي لَكَ يَرْهَبُ الْمُتَرَهِّبُونَ،

وَإلَيْكَ أَخْلَصَ الْمُسْتَهِلُّونَ،

رَهْبَةً لَكَ، وَرَجآءً لِعَفْوِكَ.

9. يا إلهَ الْحَقِّ

ارْحَمْ دُعآءَ الْمُسْتَصْرِخِينَ،

وَاعْفُ عَنْ جَرآئِمِ الْغافِلِينَ،

وَزِدْ فِي إحْسَانِ الْمُنِيبِينَ

يَوْمَ الْوُفُودِ عَلَيْكَ

يا كَرِيمُ.

1- Praise belongs to God, who

disclosed Himself to hearts through mightiness,

veiled Himself from eyes through might,

and exercises power over the things through power!

2- Eyes are not firm enough to see Him

and imaginations reach not the core of His mightiness.

3- He displays His overwhelming power in mightiness and magnificence,

robes Himself in might, goodness, and majesty,

is far removed from imperfection through comeliness and beauty,

assumes His glory in pride and splendour,

puts on His majesty through glory and boons,

and has chosen for Himself light and radiance.

4- He is a Creator who has no equal,

a Unique who has no rival,

a One who has no opposite,

an Eternal Refuge who has no match,

a God who has no second,

an Initiator who has no partner,

a Provider who has no helper.

5- He is the First without disappearance,

the Everlasting without annihilation,

the Standing without difficulty,

the Security-giver without end,

the Originator without term,

the Maker without anything,

the Lord without partner,

the Initiator without discomfort,

the Accomplisher without incapacity.

6- He has no bound in space

and no limit in time;

He ever was, He ever is,

He ever will be the same, endlessly.

He is God, the Living, the Self-subsistent,

the Everlasting, the Eternal, the All-powerful, the All-wise.

7- My God,

Thy little slave is in Thy courtyard,

Thy beggar is in Thy courtyard,

Thy poor one is in Thy courtyard!

This verse should be said three times

8- My God,

before Thee tremble the pious tremblers,

to Thee devote themselves the lamenters,

in fear of Thee, in hope of Thee!

9- O God of Truth,

have mercy upon the supplication

of those who cry for help!

Pardon the sins of the heedless!

And increase beneficence

toward those who keep turning [to Thee]

on the Day they arrive before Thee,

O Generous God!

57) His Supplication in Mentioning the Household of Muhammad (upon them be peace)

(57) وكان من دعائه ( عليه السلام ) في ذكر آل محمّد عليهم السلام

1. أَللَّهُمَّ يامَنْ

خَصَّ مُحَمَّداً وَآلَهُ بِالْكَرَامَةِ،

وَحَباهُمْ بِالرِّسالَةِ،

وَخَصَّصهُمْ بِالْوَسِيلَةِ،

وَجَعَلَهُمْ وَرَثَةَ الاَنْبِيآءِ،

وَخَتَمَ بِهِمُ الاَوْصِيآءَ وَالاَئِمَّةَ،

وَعَلَّمَهُمْ عِلْمَ ما كَانَ وَعِلمَ مَا بَقِيَ

وَجَعَلَ أَفْئِدَةً مِنَ النَّاسِ تَهْوِي إلَيْهِمْ.

2. فَصَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّد وَآلِهِ الطَّاهِرِينَ،

وَافْعَلْ بِنا ما أَنْتَ أَهْلُهُ

فِي الدِّينِ وَالدُّنْيا وَالاخِرَةِ،

إنَّكَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْء قَدِيرٌ.

1- O God, O He Who

singled out Muhammad and his Household for honour,

showed favour toward them with messengerhood,

specified them for the mediation,6

appointed them the heirs to the prophets,

sealed with them the executors and the Imams,

taught them the knowledge of what has been

and what remains to be,

and made the hearts of the people incline toward them!

2- Bless Muhammad and his Household, the pure,

and act toward us with that of which Thou art worthy

in religion, in this world, and in the next world!

Thou art powerful over everything.7

Footnotes

1. A case can be made for translating the word dhalim (wrongdoer) in the context of the present supplication as 'oppressor' or 'tyrant', especially if we read the text as expressing the Imam's relationships with the Umayyad authorities. However, the word dhulm along with its derivatives is an important and frequently used term in the Qur'an, and only the Qur'anic context can provide us with a reliable insight into the way the word must have been understood by Zayn al-'Abidin and his contemporaries.

In the Qur'an, it is obvious that terms like 'oppression' and 'tyranny', with their narrow political connotations, cannot begin to do justice to the wide range of meanings included in the primary Qur'anic significance, since oppression is merely one of many forms of human 'wrongdoing', an English term which is sufficiently vague and concrete to render the Qur'anic idea rather closely.

According to the Qur'an, the basic meaning of dhulm is to deny the reality of God and the truth of His revelation and then to transgress the bounds, limits, laws, and statutes He has set down. This Qur'anic concept can clearly be perceived in such typical verses as the following:

Who does greater wrong than he who bars God's places of worship, so that His Name be not rehearsed in them, and strives to destroy them? (2:114);

Who does greater wrong than he who conceals a testimony received from God? (2:140);

Whosoever transgresses the bounds of God - those are the wrongdoers (2:229);

And the unbelievers - they are the wrongdoers (2:254);

Whoso judges not according to what God has sent down - they are the wrongdoers (5:45);

Who does greater wrong than he who forges against God a lie, or cries lies to His signs? (7:37, 10:17);

Who does greater wrong than he who, being reminded of the signs of his Lord, turns away from them? (18:57, 32:22);

None denies Our signs but the wrongdoers (29:49);

Do not associate others with God; to associate others with God is a mighty wrong (31:13);

And whoso repents not, those - they are the wrongdoers (49:1l);

Whoso trespasses the bounds of God has done wrong to himself (65:1).

In most of the cases in which the Imam employs the term in the Sahifa, the Qur'anic context is clear, and this is sufficient reason to maintain consistency of translation in the present supplication, where 'oppression' might also be a valid translation. (For uses of the term in obvious Qur'anic contexts, cf. 1.12, 4.8, 8.4, 12.7, 12.11, 16.31, 24.11, 31.7, 37.8, 39.9, 42.16, 45.9, 45.47, 47.62, 47.132, 48.15, 51.14, 60.3, 63.8, 71.5; contexts which suggest 'oppression' as a valid rendering include 20.7, 51.4, 68.1). The term dhulm is often used as the opposite of 'adl or 'justice'; the Sahifa also provides a few instances where 'injustice' would translate the term well, such as 22.13 (where it is used as a synonym for jawr, translated there as 'injustice'), 25.11, 44.l0.

2. Some editions read yuhadirani for yuhasirani. The translation then becomes: 'and overcome me in my rights.'

3. Allusion to such Qur'anic verses as: We shall surely destroy the wrongdoers (14:13); We have prepared for the wrongdoers a painful chastisement (25:37)

4. Again reference to 27:62: He who responds to the distressed when he supplicates Him, and removes the evil.

15) His Supplication when Sick

( 15 ) وَ كَانَ مِنْ دُعَائِهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ إِذَا مَرِضَ أَوْ نَزَلَ بِهِ كَرْبٌ أَوْ بَلِيَّةٌ

His Supplication when Sick or Visited by Distress or an Affliction

1. اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ

عَلَى مَا لَمْ أَزَلْ أَتَصَرَّفُ فِيهِ مِنْ سَلَامَةِ بَدَنِي ،

وَ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ

عَلَى مَا أَحْدَثْتَ بِي مِنْ عِلَّةٍ فِي جَسَدِي

2. فَمَا أَدْرِي ، يَا إِلَهِي ،

أَيُّ الْحَالَيْنِ أَحَقُّ بِالشُّكْرِ لَكَ ،

وَ أَيُّ الْوَقْتَيْنِ أَوْلَى بِالْحَمْدِ لَكَ

3. أَ وَقْتُ الصِّحَّةِ

الَّتِي هَنَّأْتَنِي فِيهَا طَيِّبَاتِ رِزْقِكَ ،

وَ نَشَّطْتَنِي بِهَا لِابْتِغَاءِ مَرْضَاتِكَ وَ فَضْلِكَ ،

وَ قَوَّيْتَنِي مَعَهَا

عَلَى مَا وَفَّقْتَنِي لَهُ مِنْ طَاعَتِكَ

4. أَمْ وَقْتُ الْعِلَّةِ

الَّتِي مَحَّصْتَنِي بِهَا ،

وَ النِّعَمِ الَّتِي أَتْحَفْتَنِي بِهَا ،

تَخْفِيفاً لِمَا ثَقُلَ بِهِ عَلَيَّ ظَهْرِي مِنَ الْخَطِيئَاتِ ،

وَ تَطْهِيراً لِمَا انْغَمَسْتُ فِيهِ مِنَ السَّيِّئَاتِ ،

وَ تَنْبِيهاً لِتَنَاوُلِ التَّوْبَةِ ،

وَ تَذْكِيراً لِمَحْوِ الْحَوْبَةِ بِقَدِيمِ النِّعْمَةِ

5. وَ فِي خِلَالِ ذَلِكَ مَا كَتَبَ لِيَ الْكَاتِبَانِ

مِنْ زَكِيِّ الْأَعْمَالِ ،

مَا لَا قَلْبٌ فَكَّرَ فِيهِ ،

وَ لَا لِسَانٌ نَطَقَ بِهِ ،

وَ لَا جَارِحَةٌ تَكَلَّفَتْهُ ،

بَلْ إِفْضَالًا مِنْكَ عَلَيَّ ،

وَ إِحْسَاناً مِنْ صَنِيعِكَ إِلَيَّ .

6. اللَّهُمَّ فَصَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ ،

وَ حَبِّبْ إِلَيَّ مَا رَضِيتَ لِي ،

وَ يَسِّرْ لِي مَا أَحْلَلْتَ بِي ،

وَ طَهِّرْنِي مِنْ دَنَسِ مَا أَسْلَفْتُ ،

وَ امْحُ عَنِّي شَرَّ مَا قَدَّمْتُ ،

وَ أَوْجِدْنِي حَلَاوَةَ الْعَافِيَةِ ،

وَ أَذِقْنِي بَرْدَ السَّلَامَةِ ،

وَ اجْعَلْ مَخْرَجِي عَنْ عِلَّتِي إِلَى عَفْوِكَ ،

وَ مُتَحَوَّلِي عَنْ صَرْعَتِي إِلَى تَجَاوُزِكَ ،

وَ خَلَاصِي مِنْ كَرْبِي إِلَى رَوْحِكَ ،

وَ سَلَامَتِي مِنْ هَذِهِ الشِّدَّةِ إِلَى فَرَجِكَ

7. إِنَّكَ الْمُتَفَضِّلُ بِالْإِحْسَانِ ، الْمُتَطَوِّلُ بِالِامْتِنَانِ ،

الْوَهَّابُ الْكَرِيمُ ،

ذُو الْجَلَالِ وَ الْإِكْرَامِ .

1- O God, to Thee belongs praise

for the good health of my body

which lets me move about,

and to Thee belongs praise,

for the ailments

which Thou causest to arise in my flesh!

2- For I know not, my God,

which of the two states deserves more my thanking Thee

and which of the two times is more worthy for my praise of Thee:

3- the time of health,

within which Thou makest me delight in the agreeable things of Thy provision,

through which Thou givest me the joy to seek

the means to Thy good pleasure and bounty,

and by which Thou strengthenest me

for the acts of obedience

which Thou hast given me success to accomplish;

4- or the time of illness

through which Thou puttest me to the test

and bestowest upon me favours:

lightening of the offenses

that weigh down my back,

purification of the evil deeds

into which I have plunged,

incitement to reach for repentance,

reminder of the erasure of misdeeds through ancient favour;

5- and, through all that, what the two writers write for me:

blameless acts,

which no heart had thought,

no tongue had uttered,

and no limb had undertaken,

rather, as Thy bestowal of bounty upon me

and the beneficence of Thy benefaction toward me.1

6- O God,

bless Muhammad and his Household,

make me love what Thou hast approved for me,

make easy for me what Thou hast sent down upon me,

purify me of the defilement of what I have sent ahead,

erase the evil of what I have done beforehand,

let me find the sweetness of well-being,

let me taste the coolness of safety,

and appoint for me

a way out from my illness to Thy pardon,

transformation of my infirmity into Thy forbearance,

escape from my distress to Thy refreshment,

and safety from this hardship in Thy relief!

7- Thou art gratuitously bountiful in beneficence,

ever gracious in kindness,

the Generous, the Giver,

Possessor of majesty and munificence!

Footnote

1. A believer who cannot perform the obligatory acts of worship because of illness is credited with them in any case. The commentator cites a number of hadith to this effect, e.g.: 'When the believer becomes sick, God says to the angel charged with him: "Write for him what you used to write when he was healthy".'

16) His Supplication in Asking Release

(16) وَ كَانَ مِنْ دُعَائِهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ إِذَا اسْتَقَالَ مِنْ ذُنُوبِهِ ، أَوْ تَضَرَّعَ فِي طَلَبِ الْعَفْوِ عَنْ عُيُوبِهِ

His Supplication when he Asked Release from his Sins or Pleaded in Seeking Pardon for his Defects

1. اللَّهُمَّ يَا مَنْ بِرَحْمَتِهِ يَسْتَغيثُ الْمُذْنِبُونَ

2. وَ يَا مَنْ إِلَى ذِكْرِ إِحْسَانِهِ يَفْزَعُ الْمُضْطَرُّونَ

3. وَ يَا مَنْ لِخِيفَتِهِ يَنْتَحِبُ الْخَاطِئُونَ

4. يَا أُنْسَ كُلِّ مُسْتَوْحِشٍ غَرِيبٍ ،

وَ يَا فَرَجَ كُلِّ مَكْرُوبٍ كَئِيبٍ ،

وَ يَا غَوْثَ كُلِّ مَخْذُولٍ فَرِيدٍ ،

وَ يَا عَضُدَ كُلِّ مُحْتَاجٍ طَرِيدٍ

5. أَنْتَ الَّذِي وَسِعْتَ كُلَّ شَيْ‏ءٍ رَحْمَةً وَ عِلْماً

6. وَ أَنْتَ الَّذِي جَعَلْتَ لِكُلِّ مَخْلُوقٍ

فِي نِعَمِكَ سَهْماً

7. وَ أَنْتَ الَّذِي عَفْوُهُ أَعْلَى مِنْ عِقَابِهِ

8. وَ أَنْتَ الَّذِي تَسْعَى رَحْمَتُهُ أَمَامَ غَضَبِهِ .

9. وَ أَنْتَ الَّذِي عَطَاؤُهُ أَكْثَرُ مِنْ مَنْعِهِ .

10. وَ أَنْتَ الَّذِي اتَّسَعَ الْخَلَائِقُ كُلُّهُمْ فِي وُسْعِهِ .

11. وَ أَنْتَ الَّذِي لَا يَرْغَبُ فِي جَزَاءِ مَنْ أَعْطَاهُ .

12. وَ أَنْتَ الَّذِي لَا يُفْرِطُ فِي عِقَابِ مَنْ عَصَاهُ .

13. وَ أَنَا ، يَا إِلَهِي ، عَبْدُكَ

الَّذِي أَمَرْتَهُ بِالدُّعَاءِ

فَقَالَ لَبَّيْكَ وَ سَعْدَيْكَ ،

هَا أَنَا ذَا ، يَا رَبِّ ، مَطْرُوحٌ بَيْنَ يَدَيْكَ .

14. أَنَا الَّذِي أَوْقَرَتِ الْخَطَايَا ظَهْرَهُ ،

وَ أَنَا الَّذِي أَفْنَتِ الذُّنُوبُ عُمُرَهُ ،

وَ أَنَا الَّذِي بِجَهْلِهِ عَصَاكَ ،

وَ لَمْ تَكُنْ أَهْلًا مِنْهُ لِذَاكَ .

15. هَلْ أَنْتَ ، يَا إِلَهِي ،

رَاحِمٌ مَنْ دَعَاكَ

فَأُبْلِغَ فِي الدُّعَاءِ

أَمْ أَنْتَ غَافِرٌ لِمَنْ بَكَاكَ

فَأُسْرِعَ فِي الْبُكَاءِ

أَمْ أَنْتَ مُتَجَاوِزٌ عَمَّنْ عَفَّرَ لَكَ وَجْهَهُ تَذَلُّلًا

أَمْ أَنْتَ مُغْنٍ مَنْ شَكَا إِلَيْكَ ، فَقْرَهُ تَوَكُّلًا

16. إِلَهِي لَا تُخَيِّبْ مَنْ لَا يَجِدُ

مُعْطِياً غَيْرَكَ ،

وَ لَا تَخْذُلْ مَنْ لَا يَسْتَغْنِي عَنْكَ بِأَحَدٍ دُونَكَ .

17. إِلَهِي فَصَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ ،

وَ لَا تُعْرِضْ عَنِّي وَ قَدْ أَقْبَلْتُ عَلَيْكَ ،

وَ لَا تَحْرِمْنِي وَ قَدْ رَغِبْتُ إِلَيْكَ ،

وَ لَا تَجْبَهْنِي بِالرَّدِّ وَ قَدِ انْتَصَبْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْكَ .

18. أَنْتَ الَّذِي وَصَفْتَ نَفْسَكَ بِالرَّحْمَةِ ،

فَصَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ ، وَ ارْحَمْنِي ،

وَ أَنْتَ الَّذِي سَمَّيْتَ نَفْسَكَ بِالْعَفْوِ

فَاعْفُ عَنِّي

19. قَدْ تَرَى يَا إِلَهِي ،

فَيْضَ دَمْعِي مِنْ خِيفَتِكَ ،

وَ وَجِيبَ قَلْبِي مِنْ خَشْيَتِكَ ،

وَ انْتِقَاضَ جَوَارِحِي مِنْ هَيْبَتِكَ

20. كُلُّ ذَلِكَ حَيَاءٌ مِنْكَ لِسُوءِ عَمَلِي ،

وَ لِذَاكَ خَمَدَ صَوْتِي عَنِ الْجَأْرِ إِلَيْكَ ،

وَ كَلَّ لِسَانِي عَنْ مُنَاجَاتِكَ .

21. يَا إِلَهِي فَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ

فَكَمْ مِنْ عَائِبَةٍ سَتَرْتَهَا عَلَيَّ فَلَمْ تَفْضَحْنِي ،

وَ كَمْ مِنْ ذَنْبٍ غَطَّيْتَهُ عَلَيَّ فَلَمْ تَشْهَرْنِي ،

وَ كَمْ مِنْ شَائِبَةٍ أَلْمَمْتُ بِهَا فَلَمْ تَهْتِكْ عَنِّي سِتْرَهَا ،

وَ لَمْ تُقَلِّدْنِي مَكْرُوهَ شَنَارِهَا ،

وَ لَمْ تُبْدِ سَوْءَاتِهَا

لِمَنْ يَلْتَمِسُ مَعَايِبِي مِنْ جِيرَتِي ،

وَ حَسَدَةِ نِعْمَتِكَ عِنْدِي

22. ثُمَّ لَمْ يَنْهَنِي ذَلِكَ عَنْ أَنْ جَرَيْتُ

إِلَى سُوءِ مَا عَهِدْتَ مِنِّي

23. فَمَنْ أَجْهَلُ مِنِّي ، يَا إِلَهِي بِرُشْدِهِ

وَ مَنْ أَغْفَلُ مِنِّي عَنْ حَظِّهِ

وَ مَنْ أَبْعَدُ مِنِّي مِنِ اسْتِصْلَاحِ نَفْسِهِ

حِينَ أُنْفِقُ مَا أَجْرَيْتَ عَلَيَّ مِنْ رِزْقِكَ

فِيمَا نَهَيْتَنِي عَنْهُ مِنْ مَعْصِيَتِكَ

وَ مَنْ أَبْعَدُ غَوْراً فِي الْبَاطِلِ ،

وَ أَشَدُّ إِقْدَاماً عَلَى السُّوءِ مِنِّي

حِينَ أَقِفُ بَيْنَ دَعْوَتِكَ وَ دَعْوَةِ الشَّيْطَانِ

فَأَتَّبِعُ دَعْوَتَهُ عَلَى غَيْرِ عَمًى مِنِّي

فِي مَعْرِفَةٍ بِهِ وَ لَا نِسْيَانٍ مِنْ حِفْظِي لَهُ

24. وَ أَنَا حِينَئِذٍ مُوقِنٌ بِأَنَّ مُنْتَهَى دَعْوَتِكَ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ ،

وَ مُنْتَهَى دَعْوَتِهِ إِلَي النَّارِ .

25. سُبْحَانَكَ مَا أَعْجَبَ مَا أَشْهَدُ بِهِ عَلَى نَفْسِي ،

وَ أُعَدِّدُهُ مِنْ مَكْتُومِ أَمْرِي .

26. وَ أَعْجَبُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ أَنَاتُكَ عَنِّي ،

وَ إِبْطَاؤُكَ عَنْ مُعَاجَلَتِي ،

وَ لَيْسَ ذَلِكَ مِنْ كَرَمِي عَلَيْكَ ،

بَلْ تَأَنِّياً مِنْكَ لِي ،

وَ تَفَضُّلًا مِنْكَ عَلَيَّ

لِأَنْ أَرْتَدِعَ عَنْ مَعْصِيَتِكَ الْمُسْخِطَةِ ،

وَ أُقْلِعَ عَنْ سَيِّئَاتِيَ الْمُخْلِقَةِ ،

وَ لِأَنَّ عَفْوَكَ عَنِّي أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ عُقُوبَتِي

27. بَلْ أَنَا ، يَا إِلَهِي ، أَكْثَرُ ذُنُوباً ،

وَ أَقْبَحُ آثَاراً ، وَ أَشْنَعُ أَفْعَالًا ،

وَ أَشَدُّ فِي الْبَاطِلِ تَهَوُّراً ،

وَ أَضْعَفُ عِنْدَ طَاعَتِكَ تَيَقُّظاً ،

وَ أَقَلُّ لِوَعِيدِكَ انْتِبَاهاً وَ ارْتِقَاباً

مِنْ أَنْ أُحْصِيَ لَكَ عُيُوبِي ،

أَوْ أَقْدِرَ عَلَى ذِكْرِ ذُنُوبِي .

28. وَ إِنَّمَا أُوَبِّخُ بِهَذَا نَفْسِي طَمَعاً فِي رَأْفَتِكَ

الَّتِي بِهَا صَلَاحُ أَمْرِ الْمُذْنِبِينَ ،

وَ رَجَاءً لِرَحْمَتِكَ الَّتِي بِهَا فَكَاكُ رِقَابِ الْخَاطِئِينَ .

29. اللَّهُمَّ وَ هَذِهِ رَقَبَتِي قَدْ أَرَقَّتْهَا الذُّنُوبُ ،

فَصَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ ،

وَ أَعْتِقْهَا بِعَفْوِكَ ،

وَ هَذَا ظَهْرِي قَدْ أَثْقَلَتْهُ الْخَطَايَا ،

فَصَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ ،

وَ خَفِّفْ عَنْهُ بِمَنِّكَ

30. يَا إِلَهِي لَوْ بَكَيْتُ إِلَيْكَ حَتَّى تَسْقُطَ أَشْفَارُ عَيْنَيَّ ،

وَ انْتَحَبْتُ حَتَّى يَنْقَطِعَ صَوْتِي ،

وَ قُمْتُ لَكَ حَتَّى تَتَنَشَّرَ قَدَمَايَ ،

وَ رَكَعْتُ لَكَ حَتَّى يَنْخَلِعَ صُلْبِي ،

وَ سَجَدْتُ لَكَ حَتَّى تَتَفَقَّأَ حَدَقَتَايَ ،

وَ أَكَلْتُ تُرَابَ الْأَرْضِ طُولَ عُمُرِي ،

وَ شَرِبْتُ مَاءَ الرَّمَادِ آخِرَ دَهْرِي ،

وَ ذَكَرْتُكَ فِي خِلَالِ ذَلِكَ حَتَّى يَكِلَّ لِسَانِي ،

ثُمَّ لَمْ أَرْفَعْ طَرْفِي إِلَى آفَاقِ السَّمَاءِ اسْتِحْيَاءً مِنْكَ

مَا اسْتَوْجَبْتُ بِذَلِكَ

مَحْوَ سَيِّئَةٍ وَاحِدَةٍ مِنْ سَيِّئَاتِي .

31. وَ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَغْفِرُ لِي حِينَ أَسْتَوْجِبُ مَغْفِرَتَكَ ،

وَ تَعْفُو عَنِّي حِينَ أَسْتَحِقُّ عَفْوَكَ

فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ غَيْرُ وَاجِبٍ لِي بِاسْتِحْقَاقٍ ،

وَ لَا أَنَا أَهْلٌ لَهُ بِاسْتِيجَابٍ ،

إِذْ كَانَ جَزَائِي مِنْكَ فِي أَوَّلِ مَا عَصَيْتُكَ النَّارَ ،

فَإِنْ تُعَذِّبْنِي فَأَنْتَ غَيْرُ ظَالِمٍ لِي .

32. إِلَهِي فَإِذْ قَدْ تَغَمَّدْتَنِي بِسِتْرِكَ

فَلَمْ تَفْضَحْنِي ،

وَ تَأَنَّيْتَنِي بِكَرَمِكَ فَلَمْ تُعَاجِلْنِي ،

وَ حَلُمْتَ عَنِّي بِتَفَضُّلِكَ فَلَمْ تُغَيِّرْ نِعْمَتَكَ عَلَيَّ ،

وَ لَمْ تُكَدِّرْ مَعْرُوفَكَ عِنْدِي ،

فَارْحَمْ طُولَ تَضَرُّعِي وَ شِدَّةَ مَسْكَنَتِي ،

وَ سُوءَ مَوْقِفِي .

33. اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ ،

وَ قِنِي مِنَ الْمَعَاصِي ،

وَ اسْتَعْمِلْنِي بِالطَّاعَةِ ،

وَ ارْزُقْنِي حُسْنَ الْإِنَابَةِ ،

وَ طَهِّرْنِي بِالتَّوْبَةِ ، وَ أَيِّدْنِي بِالْعِصْمَةِ ،

وَ اسْتَصْلِحْنِي بِالْعَافِيَةِ ،

وَ أَذِقْنِي حَلَاوَةَ الْمَغْفِرَةِ ،

وَ اجْعَلْنِي طَلِيقَ عَفْوِكَ ، وَ عَتِيقَ رَحْمَتِكَ ،

وَ اكْتُبْ لِي أَمَاناً مِنْ سُخْطِكَ ،

وَ بَشِّرْنِي بِذَلِكَ فِي الْعَاجِلِ دُونَ الْآجِلِ ،

بُشْرَى أَعْرِفُهَا ،

وَ عَرِّفْنِي فِيهِ عَلَامَةً أَتَبَيَّنُهَا .

34. إِنَّ ذَلِكَ لَا يَضِيقُ عَلَيْكَ فِي وُسْعِكَ ،

وَ لَا يَتَكَأَّدُكَ فِي قُدْرَتِكَ ،

وَ لَا يَتَصَعَّدُكَ فِي أَنَاتِكَ ،

وَ لَا يَئُودُكَ فِي جَزِيلِ هِبَاتِكَ الَّتِي دَلَّتْ عَلَيْهَا آيَاتُكَ ،

إِنَّكَ تَفْعَلُ مَا تَشَاءُ ، وَ تَحْكُمُ مَا تُرِيدُ ،

إِنَّكَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ قَدِيرٌ .

1- O God,

O He through whose Mercy sinners seek aid!

2- O He to the remembrance of whose beneficence the distressed flee!

3- O He in fear of whom the offenders weep!

4- O Comfort of every lonely stranger!

O Relief of all who are downcast and distressed!

O Aid of everyone abandoned and alone!

O Support of every needy outcast!

5- Thou art He

who embracest everything in mercy and knowledge!1

6- Thou art He

who hast appointed for each creature a share of Thy favours!

7- Thou art He

whose pardon is higher than His punishment!

8- Thou art He

whose mercy runs before His wrath!

9- Thou art He

whose bestowal is greater than His withholding!

10- Thou art He

by whose mercy all creatures are embraced!

11- Thou art He

who desires no repayment by him upon whom He bestows!

12- Thou art He

who does not overdo the punishment of him who disobeys Thee!

13- And I, my God, am Thy servant

whom Thou commanded to supplicate

and who said:

I am at Thy service and disposal!

Here am I, my Lord,

thrown down before Thee.

14- I am he

whose back offenses have weighed down!

I am he

whose lifetime sins have consumed!

I am he

who was disobedient in his ignorance,

while Thou didst not deserve that from him!

15- Wilt Thou, my God,

be merciful toward him who supplicates Thee,

that I should bring my supplication before Thee?

Wilt Thou forgive him who weeps to Thee

that I should hurry to weep?

Wilt Thou show forbearance toward

him who puts his face in the dust before Thee in lowliness?

Wilt Thou free from need him who complains to Thee of his indigent need with confidence?

16- My God,

disappoint not him who finds no bestower

other than Thee,

and abandon not him who cannot be freed from his need for Thee through less than Thee!

17- My God,

so bless Muhammad and his Household,

turn not away from me

when I have turned my face toward Thee,

deprive me not

when 1 have besought Thee,

and slap not my brow with rejection

when I have stood before Thee!

18- Thou art He who has described Himself by mercy,

so bless Muhammad and his Household

and have mercy upon me!

Thou art He who has named Himself by pardon,

so pardon me!

19- Thou hast seen, my God,

the flow of my tears

in fear of Thee,

the throbbing of my heart in dread of Thee,

and the infirmity of my limbs in awe of Thee.

20- All this from my shame before Thee

because of my evil works!

So my voice has become silent,

no longer crying to Thee,

and my tongue has gone dumb,

no longer whispering in prayer.

21- My God, so to Thee belongs praise!

How many of my flaws Thou hast covered over

without exposing me!

How many of my sins Thou hast cloaked

without making me notorious!

How many faults I have committed, yet Thou didst not

tear away from me their covering,

collar me with their detested disgrace,

or make their dishonour plain

to those of my neighbours who search for my defects

and to those who envy Thy favour toward me!

22- But that did not prevent me from passing on

to the evil that Thou knowest from me!

23- So who is more ignorant than I, my God,

of his own right conduct?

Who is more heedless than I

of his own good fortune?

Who is further than I

from seeking to set himself right?

For I spend the provision Thou deliverest to me

in the disobedience Thou hast prohibited to me!

Who sinks more deeply into falsehood

and is more intensely audacious in evil than I?

For I hesitate between Thy call and the call of Satan

and then follow his call

without being blind in my knowledge of him

or forgetful in my memory of him,

24- while I am certain that Thy call takes to the Garden

and his call takes to the Fire!

25- Glory be to Thee!

How marvellous the witness I bear against my own soul

and the enumeration of my own hidden affairs!

26- And more marvellous than that is Thy lack of haste with me,

Thy slowness in attending to me!

That is not because I possess honour with Thee,

but because Thou waitest patiently for me

and art bountiful toward me

that I may refrain from disobedience displeasing to Thee

and abstain from evil deeds that disgrace me,

and because Thou lovest to pardon me more than to punish!

27- But I, my God, am more numerous in sins,

uglier in footsteps, more repulsive in acts,

more reckless in rushing into falsehood,

weaker in awakening to Thy obedience,

and less attentive and heedful toward Thy threats,

than that I could number for Thee my faults

or have the power to recount my sins.

28- I only scold my own soul,

craving Thy gentleness,

through which the affairs of sinners are set right,

and hoping for Thy mercy,

through which the necks of the offenders are freed.

29- O God,

this is my neck,

enslaved by sins,

bless Muhammad and his Household

and release it through Thy pardon!

This is my back,

weighed down by offenses,

bless Muhammad and his Household

and lighten it through Thy kindness!

30- My God,

were I to weep to Thee until my eyelids drop off,

wail until my voice wears out,

stand before Thee until my feet swell up,

bow to Thee until my backbone is thrown out of joint,

prostrate to Thee until my eyeballs fall out,

eat the dirt of the earth for my whole life,

drink the water of ashes till the end of my days,

mention Thee through all of that until my tongue fails,

and not lift my glance to the sky's horizons in shame before Thee,

yet would I not merit through all of that

the erasing of a single one of my evil deeds!

31- Though Thou forgivest me when I merit Thy forgiveness

and pardonest me when I deserve Thy pardon,

yet I have no title to that through what I deserve,

nor am I worthy of it through merit,

since my repayment from Thee

from the first that I disobeyed Thee

is the Fire!

So if Thou punishest me,

Thou dost me no wrong.

32- My God, since Thou hast

shielded me with Thy covering

and not exposed me,

waited patiently for me through Thy generosity,

and not hurried me to punishment,

and shown me clemency through Thy bounty,

and not changed Thy favour upon me

or muddied Thy kindly acts toward me,

have mercy on my drawn out pleading,

my intense misery,

and my evil situation!

33- O God,

bless Muhammad and his Household,

protect me from acts of disobedience,

employ me in obedience,

provide me with excellent turning back [to Thee],

purify me through repentance,

strengthen me through preservation from sin,

set me right through well being,

let me taste the sweetness of forgiveness,

make me the freedman of Thy pardon

and the slave released by Thy mercy,

and write for me a security

from Thy displeasure!

Give me the good news of that

in the immediate, not the deferred

- a good news I recognize -

and make known to me therein a sign

which I may clearly see!

34- That will not constrain Thee in Thy plenty,

distress Thee in Thy power,

ascend beyond Thy lack of haste,

or tire Thee in Thy great gifts,

which are pointed to by Thy signs.

Verily Thou dost what Thou wilt,

Thou decreest what Thou desirest.

Thou art powerful over everything.2

Footnotes

1. 40:7

2. 3:26

Footnotes

1. A case can be made for translating the word dhalim (wrongdoer) in the context of the present supplication as 'oppressor' or 'tyrant', especially if we read the text as expressing the Imam's relationships with the Umayyad authorities. However, the word dhulm along with its derivatives is an important and frequently used term in the Qur'an, and only the Qur'anic context can provide us with a reliable insight into the way the word must have been understood by Zayn al-'Abidin and his contemporaries.

In the Qur'an, it is obvious that terms like 'oppression' and 'tyranny', with their narrow political connotations, cannot begin to do justice to the wide range of meanings included in the primary Qur'anic significance, since oppression is merely one of many forms of human 'wrongdoing', an English term which is sufficiently vague and concrete to render the Qur'anic idea rather closely.

According to the Qur'an, the basic meaning of dhulm is to deny the reality of God and the truth of His revelation and then to transgress the bounds, limits, laws, and statutes He has set down. This Qur'anic concept can clearly be perceived in such typical verses as the following:

Who does greater wrong than he who bars God's places of worship, so that His Name be not rehearsed in them, and strives to destroy them? (2:114);

Who does greater wrong than he who conceals a testimony received from God? (2:140);

Whosoever transgresses the bounds of God - those are the wrongdoers (2:229);

And the unbelievers - they are the wrongdoers (2:254);

Whoso judges not according to what God has sent down - they are the wrongdoers (5:45);

Who does greater wrong than he who forges against God a lie, or cries lies to His signs? (7:37, 10:17);

Who does greater wrong than he who, being reminded of the signs of his Lord, turns away from them? (18:57, 32:22);

None denies Our signs but the wrongdoers (29:49);

Do not associate others with God; to associate others with God is a mighty wrong (31:13);

And whoso repents not, those - they are the wrongdoers (49:1l);

Whoso trespasses the bounds of God has done wrong to himself (65:1).

In most of the cases in which the Imam employs the term in the Sahifa, the Qur'anic context is clear, and this is sufficient reason to maintain consistency of translation in the present supplication, where 'oppression' might also be a valid translation. (For uses of the term in obvious Qur'anic contexts, cf. 1.12, 4.8, 8.4, 12.7, 12.11, 16.31, 24.11, 31.7, 37.8, 39.9, 42.16, 45.9, 45.47, 47.62, 47.132, 48.15, 51.14, 60.3, 63.8, 71.5; contexts which suggest 'oppression' as a valid rendering include 20.7, 51.4, 68.1). The term dhulm is often used as the opposite of 'adl or 'justice'; the Sahifa also provides a few instances where 'injustice' would translate the term well, such as 22.13 (where it is used as a synonym for jawr, translated there as 'injustice'), 25.11, 44.l0.

2. Some editions read yuhadirani for yuhasirani. The translation then becomes: 'and overcome me in my rights.'

3. Allusion to such Qur'anic verses as: We shall surely destroy the wrongdoers (14:13); We have prepared for the wrongdoers a painful chastisement (25:37)

4. Again reference to 27:62: He who responds to the distressed when he supplicates Him, and removes the evil.

15) His Supplication when Sick

( 15 ) وَ كَانَ مِنْ دُعَائِهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ إِذَا مَرِضَ أَوْ نَزَلَ بِهِ كَرْبٌ أَوْ بَلِيَّةٌ

His Supplication when Sick or Visited by Distress or an Affliction

1. اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ

عَلَى مَا لَمْ أَزَلْ أَتَصَرَّفُ فِيهِ مِنْ سَلَامَةِ بَدَنِي ،

وَ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ

عَلَى مَا أَحْدَثْتَ بِي مِنْ عِلَّةٍ فِي جَسَدِي

2. فَمَا أَدْرِي ، يَا إِلَهِي ،

أَيُّ الْحَالَيْنِ أَحَقُّ بِالشُّكْرِ لَكَ ،

وَ أَيُّ الْوَقْتَيْنِ أَوْلَى بِالْحَمْدِ لَكَ

3. أَ وَقْتُ الصِّحَّةِ

الَّتِي هَنَّأْتَنِي فِيهَا طَيِّبَاتِ رِزْقِكَ ،

وَ نَشَّطْتَنِي بِهَا لِابْتِغَاءِ مَرْضَاتِكَ وَ فَضْلِكَ ،

وَ قَوَّيْتَنِي مَعَهَا

عَلَى مَا وَفَّقْتَنِي لَهُ مِنْ طَاعَتِكَ

4. أَمْ وَقْتُ الْعِلَّةِ

الَّتِي مَحَّصْتَنِي بِهَا ،

وَ النِّعَمِ الَّتِي أَتْحَفْتَنِي بِهَا ،

تَخْفِيفاً لِمَا ثَقُلَ بِهِ عَلَيَّ ظَهْرِي مِنَ الْخَطِيئَاتِ ،

وَ تَطْهِيراً لِمَا انْغَمَسْتُ فِيهِ مِنَ السَّيِّئَاتِ ،

وَ تَنْبِيهاً لِتَنَاوُلِ التَّوْبَةِ ،

وَ تَذْكِيراً لِمَحْوِ الْحَوْبَةِ بِقَدِيمِ النِّعْمَةِ

5. وَ فِي خِلَالِ ذَلِكَ مَا كَتَبَ لِيَ الْكَاتِبَانِ

مِنْ زَكِيِّ الْأَعْمَالِ ،

مَا لَا قَلْبٌ فَكَّرَ فِيهِ ،

وَ لَا لِسَانٌ نَطَقَ بِهِ ،

وَ لَا جَارِحَةٌ تَكَلَّفَتْهُ ،

بَلْ إِفْضَالًا مِنْكَ عَلَيَّ ،

وَ إِحْسَاناً مِنْ صَنِيعِكَ إِلَيَّ .

6. اللَّهُمَّ فَصَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ ،

وَ حَبِّبْ إِلَيَّ مَا رَضِيتَ لِي ،

وَ يَسِّرْ لِي مَا أَحْلَلْتَ بِي ،

وَ طَهِّرْنِي مِنْ دَنَسِ مَا أَسْلَفْتُ ،

وَ امْحُ عَنِّي شَرَّ مَا قَدَّمْتُ ،

وَ أَوْجِدْنِي حَلَاوَةَ الْعَافِيَةِ ،

وَ أَذِقْنِي بَرْدَ السَّلَامَةِ ،

وَ اجْعَلْ مَخْرَجِي عَنْ عِلَّتِي إِلَى عَفْوِكَ ،

وَ مُتَحَوَّلِي عَنْ صَرْعَتِي إِلَى تَجَاوُزِكَ ،

وَ خَلَاصِي مِنْ كَرْبِي إِلَى رَوْحِكَ ،

وَ سَلَامَتِي مِنْ هَذِهِ الشِّدَّةِ إِلَى فَرَجِكَ

7. إِنَّكَ الْمُتَفَضِّلُ بِالْإِحْسَانِ ، الْمُتَطَوِّلُ بِالِامْتِنَانِ ،

الْوَهَّابُ الْكَرِيمُ ،

ذُو الْجَلَالِ وَ الْإِكْرَامِ .

1- O God, to Thee belongs praise

for the good health of my body

which lets me move about,

and to Thee belongs praise,

for the ailments

which Thou causest to arise in my flesh!

2- For I know not, my God,

which of the two states deserves more my thanking Thee

and which of the two times is more worthy for my praise of Thee:

3- the time of health,

within which Thou makest me delight in the agreeable things of Thy provision,

through which Thou givest me the joy to seek

the means to Thy good pleasure and bounty,

and by which Thou strengthenest me

for the acts of obedience

which Thou hast given me success to accomplish;

4- or the time of illness

through which Thou puttest me to the test

and bestowest upon me favours:

lightening of the offenses

that weigh down my back,

purification of the evil deeds

into which I have plunged,

incitement to reach for repentance,

reminder of the erasure of misdeeds through ancient favour;

5- and, through all that, what the two writers write for me:

blameless acts,

which no heart had thought,

no tongue had uttered,

and no limb had undertaken,

rather, as Thy bestowal of bounty upon me

and the beneficence of Thy benefaction toward me.1

6- O God,

bless Muhammad and his Household,

make me love what Thou hast approved for me,

make easy for me what Thou hast sent down upon me,

purify me of the defilement of what I have sent ahead,

erase the evil of what I have done beforehand,

let me find the sweetness of well-being,

let me taste the coolness of safety,

and appoint for me

a way out from my illness to Thy pardon,

transformation of my infirmity into Thy forbearance,

escape from my distress to Thy refreshment,

and safety from this hardship in Thy relief!

7- Thou art gratuitously bountiful in beneficence,

ever gracious in kindness,

the Generous, the Giver,

Possessor of majesty and munificence!

Footnote

1. A believer who cannot perform the obligatory acts of worship because of illness is credited with them in any case. The commentator cites a number of hadith to this effect, e.g.: 'When the believer becomes sick, God says to the angel charged with him: "Write for him what you used to write when he was healthy".'

16) His Supplication in Asking Release

(16) وَ كَانَ مِنْ دُعَائِهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ إِذَا اسْتَقَالَ مِنْ ذُنُوبِهِ ، أَوْ تَضَرَّعَ فِي طَلَبِ الْعَفْوِ عَنْ عُيُوبِهِ

His Supplication when he Asked Release from his Sins or Pleaded in Seeking Pardon for his Defects

1. اللَّهُمَّ يَا مَنْ بِرَحْمَتِهِ يَسْتَغيثُ الْمُذْنِبُونَ

2. وَ يَا مَنْ إِلَى ذِكْرِ إِحْسَانِهِ يَفْزَعُ الْمُضْطَرُّونَ

3. وَ يَا مَنْ لِخِيفَتِهِ يَنْتَحِبُ الْخَاطِئُونَ

4. يَا أُنْسَ كُلِّ مُسْتَوْحِشٍ غَرِيبٍ ،

وَ يَا فَرَجَ كُلِّ مَكْرُوبٍ كَئِيبٍ ،

وَ يَا غَوْثَ كُلِّ مَخْذُولٍ فَرِيدٍ ،

وَ يَا عَضُدَ كُلِّ مُحْتَاجٍ طَرِيدٍ

5. أَنْتَ الَّذِي وَسِعْتَ كُلَّ شَيْ‏ءٍ رَحْمَةً وَ عِلْماً

6. وَ أَنْتَ الَّذِي جَعَلْتَ لِكُلِّ مَخْلُوقٍ

فِي نِعَمِكَ سَهْماً

7. وَ أَنْتَ الَّذِي عَفْوُهُ أَعْلَى مِنْ عِقَابِهِ

8. وَ أَنْتَ الَّذِي تَسْعَى رَحْمَتُهُ أَمَامَ غَضَبِهِ .

9. وَ أَنْتَ الَّذِي عَطَاؤُهُ أَكْثَرُ مِنْ مَنْعِهِ .

10. وَ أَنْتَ الَّذِي اتَّسَعَ الْخَلَائِقُ كُلُّهُمْ فِي وُسْعِهِ .

11. وَ أَنْتَ الَّذِي لَا يَرْغَبُ فِي جَزَاءِ مَنْ أَعْطَاهُ .

12. وَ أَنْتَ الَّذِي لَا يُفْرِطُ فِي عِقَابِ مَنْ عَصَاهُ .

13. وَ أَنَا ، يَا إِلَهِي ، عَبْدُكَ

الَّذِي أَمَرْتَهُ بِالدُّعَاءِ

فَقَالَ لَبَّيْكَ وَ سَعْدَيْكَ ،

هَا أَنَا ذَا ، يَا رَبِّ ، مَطْرُوحٌ بَيْنَ يَدَيْكَ .

14. أَنَا الَّذِي أَوْقَرَتِ الْخَطَايَا ظَهْرَهُ ،

وَ أَنَا الَّذِي أَفْنَتِ الذُّنُوبُ عُمُرَهُ ،

وَ أَنَا الَّذِي بِجَهْلِهِ عَصَاكَ ،

وَ لَمْ تَكُنْ أَهْلًا مِنْهُ لِذَاكَ .

15. هَلْ أَنْتَ ، يَا إِلَهِي ،

رَاحِمٌ مَنْ دَعَاكَ

فَأُبْلِغَ فِي الدُّعَاءِ

أَمْ أَنْتَ غَافِرٌ لِمَنْ بَكَاكَ

فَأُسْرِعَ فِي الْبُكَاءِ

أَمْ أَنْتَ مُتَجَاوِزٌ عَمَّنْ عَفَّرَ لَكَ وَجْهَهُ تَذَلُّلًا

أَمْ أَنْتَ مُغْنٍ مَنْ شَكَا إِلَيْكَ ، فَقْرَهُ تَوَكُّلًا

16. إِلَهِي لَا تُخَيِّبْ مَنْ لَا يَجِدُ

مُعْطِياً غَيْرَكَ ،

وَ لَا تَخْذُلْ مَنْ لَا يَسْتَغْنِي عَنْكَ بِأَحَدٍ دُونَكَ .

17. إِلَهِي فَصَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ ،

وَ لَا تُعْرِضْ عَنِّي وَ قَدْ أَقْبَلْتُ عَلَيْكَ ،

وَ لَا تَحْرِمْنِي وَ قَدْ رَغِبْتُ إِلَيْكَ ،

وَ لَا تَجْبَهْنِي بِالرَّدِّ وَ قَدِ انْتَصَبْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْكَ .

18. أَنْتَ الَّذِي وَصَفْتَ نَفْسَكَ بِالرَّحْمَةِ ،

فَصَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ ، وَ ارْحَمْنِي ،

وَ أَنْتَ الَّذِي سَمَّيْتَ نَفْسَكَ بِالْعَفْوِ

فَاعْفُ عَنِّي

19. قَدْ تَرَى يَا إِلَهِي ،

فَيْضَ دَمْعِي مِنْ خِيفَتِكَ ،

وَ وَجِيبَ قَلْبِي مِنْ خَشْيَتِكَ ،

وَ انْتِقَاضَ جَوَارِحِي مِنْ هَيْبَتِكَ

20. كُلُّ ذَلِكَ حَيَاءٌ مِنْكَ لِسُوءِ عَمَلِي ،

وَ لِذَاكَ خَمَدَ صَوْتِي عَنِ الْجَأْرِ إِلَيْكَ ،

وَ كَلَّ لِسَانِي عَنْ مُنَاجَاتِكَ .

21. يَا إِلَهِي فَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ

فَكَمْ مِنْ عَائِبَةٍ سَتَرْتَهَا عَلَيَّ فَلَمْ تَفْضَحْنِي ،

وَ كَمْ مِنْ ذَنْبٍ غَطَّيْتَهُ عَلَيَّ فَلَمْ تَشْهَرْنِي ،

وَ كَمْ مِنْ شَائِبَةٍ أَلْمَمْتُ بِهَا فَلَمْ تَهْتِكْ عَنِّي سِتْرَهَا ،

وَ لَمْ تُقَلِّدْنِي مَكْرُوهَ شَنَارِهَا ،

وَ لَمْ تُبْدِ سَوْءَاتِهَا

لِمَنْ يَلْتَمِسُ مَعَايِبِي مِنْ جِيرَتِي ،

وَ حَسَدَةِ نِعْمَتِكَ عِنْدِي

22. ثُمَّ لَمْ يَنْهَنِي ذَلِكَ عَنْ أَنْ جَرَيْتُ

إِلَى سُوءِ مَا عَهِدْتَ مِنِّي

23. فَمَنْ أَجْهَلُ مِنِّي ، يَا إِلَهِي بِرُشْدِهِ

وَ مَنْ أَغْفَلُ مِنِّي عَنْ حَظِّهِ

وَ مَنْ أَبْعَدُ مِنِّي مِنِ اسْتِصْلَاحِ نَفْسِهِ

حِينَ أُنْفِقُ مَا أَجْرَيْتَ عَلَيَّ مِنْ رِزْقِكَ

فِيمَا نَهَيْتَنِي عَنْهُ مِنْ مَعْصِيَتِكَ

وَ مَنْ أَبْعَدُ غَوْراً فِي الْبَاطِلِ ،

وَ أَشَدُّ إِقْدَاماً عَلَى السُّوءِ مِنِّي

حِينَ أَقِفُ بَيْنَ دَعْوَتِكَ وَ دَعْوَةِ الشَّيْطَانِ

فَأَتَّبِعُ دَعْوَتَهُ عَلَى غَيْرِ عَمًى مِنِّي

فِي مَعْرِفَةٍ بِهِ وَ لَا نِسْيَانٍ مِنْ حِفْظِي لَهُ

24. وَ أَنَا حِينَئِذٍ مُوقِنٌ بِأَنَّ مُنْتَهَى دَعْوَتِكَ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ ،

وَ مُنْتَهَى دَعْوَتِهِ إِلَي النَّارِ .

25. سُبْحَانَكَ مَا أَعْجَبَ مَا أَشْهَدُ بِهِ عَلَى نَفْسِي ،

وَ أُعَدِّدُهُ مِنْ مَكْتُومِ أَمْرِي .

26. وَ أَعْجَبُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ أَنَاتُكَ عَنِّي ،

وَ إِبْطَاؤُكَ عَنْ مُعَاجَلَتِي ،

وَ لَيْسَ ذَلِكَ مِنْ كَرَمِي عَلَيْكَ ،

بَلْ تَأَنِّياً مِنْكَ لِي ،

وَ تَفَضُّلًا مِنْكَ عَلَيَّ

لِأَنْ أَرْتَدِعَ عَنْ مَعْصِيَتِكَ الْمُسْخِطَةِ ،

وَ أُقْلِعَ عَنْ سَيِّئَاتِيَ الْمُخْلِقَةِ ،

وَ لِأَنَّ عَفْوَكَ عَنِّي أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ عُقُوبَتِي

27. بَلْ أَنَا ، يَا إِلَهِي ، أَكْثَرُ ذُنُوباً ،

وَ أَقْبَحُ آثَاراً ، وَ أَشْنَعُ أَفْعَالًا ،

وَ أَشَدُّ فِي الْبَاطِلِ تَهَوُّراً ،

وَ أَضْعَفُ عِنْدَ طَاعَتِكَ تَيَقُّظاً ،

وَ أَقَلُّ لِوَعِيدِكَ انْتِبَاهاً وَ ارْتِقَاباً

مِنْ أَنْ أُحْصِيَ لَكَ عُيُوبِي ،

أَوْ أَقْدِرَ عَلَى ذِكْرِ ذُنُوبِي .

28. وَ إِنَّمَا أُوَبِّخُ بِهَذَا نَفْسِي طَمَعاً فِي رَأْفَتِكَ

الَّتِي بِهَا صَلَاحُ أَمْرِ الْمُذْنِبِينَ ،

وَ رَجَاءً لِرَحْمَتِكَ الَّتِي بِهَا فَكَاكُ رِقَابِ الْخَاطِئِينَ .

29. اللَّهُمَّ وَ هَذِهِ رَقَبَتِي قَدْ أَرَقَّتْهَا الذُّنُوبُ ،

فَصَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ ،

وَ أَعْتِقْهَا بِعَفْوِكَ ،

وَ هَذَا ظَهْرِي قَدْ أَثْقَلَتْهُ الْخَطَايَا ،

فَصَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ ،

وَ خَفِّفْ عَنْهُ بِمَنِّكَ

30. يَا إِلَهِي لَوْ بَكَيْتُ إِلَيْكَ حَتَّى تَسْقُطَ أَشْفَارُ عَيْنَيَّ ،

وَ انْتَحَبْتُ حَتَّى يَنْقَطِعَ صَوْتِي ،

وَ قُمْتُ لَكَ حَتَّى تَتَنَشَّرَ قَدَمَايَ ،

وَ رَكَعْتُ لَكَ حَتَّى يَنْخَلِعَ صُلْبِي ،

وَ سَجَدْتُ لَكَ حَتَّى تَتَفَقَّأَ حَدَقَتَايَ ،

وَ أَكَلْتُ تُرَابَ الْأَرْضِ طُولَ عُمُرِي ،

وَ شَرِبْتُ مَاءَ الرَّمَادِ آخِرَ دَهْرِي ،

وَ ذَكَرْتُكَ فِي خِلَالِ ذَلِكَ حَتَّى يَكِلَّ لِسَانِي ،

ثُمَّ لَمْ أَرْفَعْ طَرْفِي إِلَى آفَاقِ السَّمَاءِ اسْتِحْيَاءً مِنْكَ

مَا اسْتَوْجَبْتُ بِذَلِكَ

مَحْوَ سَيِّئَةٍ وَاحِدَةٍ مِنْ سَيِّئَاتِي .

31. وَ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَغْفِرُ لِي حِينَ أَسْتَوْجِبُ مَغْفِرَتَكَ ،

وَ تَعْفُو عَنِّي حِينَ أَسْتَحِقُّ عَفْوَكَ

فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ غَيْرُ وَاجِبٍ لِي بِاسْتِحْقَاقٍ ،

وَ لَا أَنَا أَهْلٌ لَهُ بِاسْتِيجَابٍ ،

إِذْ كَانَ جَزَائِي مِنْكَ فِي أَوَّلِ مَا عَصَيْتُكَ النَّارَ ،

فَإِنْ تُعَذِّبْنِي فَأَنْتَ غَيْرُ ظَالِمٍ لِي .

32. إِلَهِي فَإِذْ قَدْ تَغَمَّدْتَنِي بِسِتْرِكَ

فَلَمْ تَفْضَحْنِي ،

وَ تَأَنَّيْتَنِي بِكَرَمِكَ فَلَمْ تُعَاجِلْنِي ،

وَ حَلُمْتَ عَنِّي بِتَفَضُّلِكَ فَلَمْ تُغَيِّرْ نِعْمَتَكَ عَلَيَّ ،

وَ لَمْ تُكَدِّرْ مَعْرُوفَكَ عِنْدِي ،

فَارْحَمْ طُولَ تَضَرُّعِي وَ شِدَّةَ مَسْكَنَتِي ،

وَ سُوءَ مَوْقِفِي .

33. اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ ،

وَ قِنِي مِنَ الْمَعَاصِي ،

وَ اسْتَعْمِلْنِي بِالطَّاعَةِ ،

وَ ارْزُقْنِي حُسْنَ الْإِنَابَةِ ،

وَ طَهِّرْنِي بِالتَّوْبَةِ ، وَ أَيِّدْنِي بِالْعِصْمَةِ ،

وَ اسْتَصْلِحْنِي بِالْعَافِيَةِ ،

وَ أَذِقْنِي حَلَاوَةَ الْمَغْفِرَةِ ،

وَ اجْعَلْنِي طَلِيقَ عَفْوِكَ ، وَ عَتِيقَ رَحْمَتِكَ ،

وَ اكْتُبْ لِي أَمَاناً مِنْ سُخْطِكَ ،

وَ بَشِّرْنِي بِذَلِكَ فِي الْعَاجِلِ دُونَ الْآجِلِ ،

بُشْرَى أَعْرِفُهَا ،

وَ عَرِّفْنِي فِيهِ عَلَامَةً أَتَبَيَّنُهَا .

34. إِنَّ ذَلِكَ لَا يَضِيقُ عَلَيْكَ فِي وُسْعِكَ ،

وَ لَا يَتَكَأَّدُكَ فِي قُدْرَتِكَ ،

وَ لَا يَتَصَعَّدُكَ فِي أَنَاتِكَ ،

وَ لَا يَئُودُكَ فِي جَزِيلِ هِبَاتِكَ الَّتِي دَلَّتْ عَلَيْهَا آيَاتُكَ ،

إِنَّكَ تَفْعَلُ مَا تَشَاءُ ، وَ تَحْكُمُ مَا تُرِيدُ ،

إِنَّكَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ قَدِيرٌ .

1- O God,

O He through whose Mercy sinners seek aid!

2- O He to the remembrance of whose beneficence the distressed flee!

3- O He in fear of whom the offenders weep!

4- O Comfort of every lonely stranger!

O Relief of all who are downcast and distressed!

O Aid of everyone abandoned and alone!

O Support of every needy outcast!

5- Thou art He

who embracest everything in mercy and knowledge!1

6- Thou art He

who hast appointed for each creature a share of Thy favours!

7- Thou art He

whose pardon is higher than His punishment!

8- Thou art He

whose mercy runs before His wrath!

9- Thou art He

whose bestowal is greater than His withholding!

10- Thou art He

by whose mercy all creatures are embraced!

11- Thou art He

who desires no repayment by him upon whom He bestows!

12- Thou art He

who does not overdo the punishment of him who disobeys Thee!

13- And I, my God, am Thy servant

whom Thou commanded to supplicate

and who said:

I am at Thy service and disposal!

Here am I, my Lord,

thrown down before Thee.

14- I am he

whose back offenses have weighed down!

I am he

whose lifetime sins have consumed!

I am he

who was disobedient in his ignorance,

while Thou didst not deserve that from him!

15- Wilt Thou, my God,

be merciful toward him who supplicates Thee,

that I should bring my supplication before Thee?

Wilt Thou forgive him who weeps to Thee

that I should hurry to weep?

Wilt Thou show forbearance toward

him who puts his face in the dust before Thee in lowliness?

Wilt Thou free from need him who complains to Thee of his indigent need with confidence?

16- My God,

disappoint not him who finds no bestower

other than Thee,

and abandon not him who cannot be freed from his need for Thee through less than Thee!

17- My God,

so bless Muhammad and his Household,

turn not away from me

when I have turned my face toward Thee,

deprive me not

when 1 have besought Thee,

and slap not my brow with rejection

when I have stood before Thee!

18- Thou art He who has described Himself by mercy,

so bless Muhammad and his Household

and have mercy upon me!

Thou art He who has named Himself by pardon,

so pardon me!

19- Thou hast seen, my God,

the flow of my tears

in fear of Thee,

the throbbing of my heart in dread of Thee,

and the infirmity of my limbs in awe of Thee.

20- All this from my shame before Thee

because of my evil works!

So my voice has become silent,

no longer crying to Thee,

and my tongue has gone dumb,

no longer whispering in prayer.

21- My God, so to Thee belongs praise!

How many of my flaws Thou hast covered over

without exposing me!

How many of my sins Thou hast cloaked

without making me notorious!

How many faults I have committed, yet Thou didst not

tear away from me their covering,

collar me with their detested disgrace,

or make their dishonour plain

to those of my neighbours who search for my defects

and to those who envy Thy favour toward me!

22- But that did not prevent me from passing on

to the evil that Thou knowest from me!

23- So who is more ignorant than I, my God,

of his own right conduct?

Who is more heedless than I

of his own good fortune?

Who is further than I

from seeking to set himself right?

For I spend the provision Thou deliverest to me

in the disobedience Thou hast prohibited to me!

Who sinks more deeply into falsehood

and is more intensely audacious in evil than I?

For I hesitate between Thy call and the call of Satan

and then follow his call

without being blind in my knowledge of him

or forgetful in my memory of him,

24- while I am certain that Thy call takes to the Garden

and his call takes to the Fire!

25- Glory be to Thee!

How marvellous the witness I bear against my own soul

and the enumeration of my own hidden affairs!

26- And more marvellous than that is Thy lack of haste with me,

Thy slowness in attending to me!

That is not because I possess honour with Thee,

but because Thou waitest patiently for me

and art bountiful toward me

that I may refrain from disobedience displeasing to Thee

and abstain from evil deeds that disgrace me,

and because Thou lovest to pardon me more than to punish!

27- But I, my God, am more numerous in sins,

uglier in footsteps, more repulsive in acts,

more reckless in rushing into falsehood,

weaker in awakening to Thy obedience,

and less attentive and heedful toward Thy threats,

than that I could number for Thee my faults

or have the power to recount my sins.

28- I only scold my own soul,

craving Thy gentleness,

through which the affairs of sinners are set right,

and hoping for Thy mercy,

through which the necks of the offenders are freed.

29- O God,

this is my neck,

enslaved by sins,

bless Muhammad and his Household

and release it through Thy pardon!

This is my back,

weighed down by offenses,

bless Muhammad and his Household

and lighten it through Thy kindness!

30- My God,

were I to weep to Thee until my eyelids drop off,

wail until my voice wears out,

stand before Thee until my feet swell up,

bow to Thee until my backbone is thrown out of joint,

prostrate to Thee until my eyeballs fall out,

eat the dirt of the earth for my whole life,

drink the water of ashes till the end of my days,

mention Thee through all of that until my tongue fails,

and not lift my glance to the sky's horizons in shame before Thee,

yet would I not merit through all of that

the erasing of a single one of my evil deeds!

31- Though Thou forgivest me when I merit Thy forgiveness

and pardonest me when I deserve Thy pardon,

yet I have no title to that through what I deserve,

nor am I worthy of it through merit,

since my repayment from Thee

from the first that I disobeyed Thee

is the Fire!

So if Thou punishest me,

Thou dost me no wrong.

32- My God, since Thou hast

shielded me with Thy covering

and not exposed me,

waited patiently for me through Thy generosity,

and not hurried me to punishment,

and shown me clemency through Thy bounty,

and not changed Thy favour upon me

or muddied Thy kindly acts toward me,

have mercy on my drawn out pleading,

my intense misery,

and my evil situation!

33- O God,

bless Muhammad and his Household,

protect me from acts of disobedience,

employ me in obedience,

provide me with excellent turning back [to Thee],

purify me through repentance,

strengthen me through preservation from sin,

set me right through well being,

let me taste the sweetness of forgiveness,

make me the freedman of Thy pardon

and the slave released by Thy mercy,

and write for me a security

from Thy displeasure!

Give me the good news of that

in the immediate, not the deferred

- a good news I recognize -

and make known to me therein a sign

which I may clearly see!

34- That will not constrain Thee in Thy plenty,

distress Thee in Thy power,

ascend beyond Thy lack of haste,

or tire Thee in Thy great gifts,

which are pointed to by Thy signs.

Verily Thou dost what Thou wilt,

Thou decreest what Thou desirest.

Thou art powerful over everything.2

Footnotes

1. 40:7

2. 3:26