Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

4. The Whispered Prayer of the Hopeful

الرابعة : مناجاة الراجين

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

1. يا مَنْ إذا سَأَلَهُ عَبْدٌ أَعْطَاهُ،

وَإذا أَمَّلَ ما عِنْدَهُ بَلَّغَهُ مُناهُ،

وَإذا أَقْبَلَ عَلَيْهِ قَرَّبَهُ وَأَدْناهُ،

وَإذا جاهَرَهُ بِالْعِصْيانِ سَتَرَ عَلَى ذَنْبِهِ وَغَطَّاهُ،

وَإذا تَوَكَّلَ عَلَيْهِ أَحْسَبَهُ وَكَفَاهُ.

2. إلهِي مَنِ الَّذِي نَزَلَ بِكَ مُلْتَمِساً قِراكَ

فَما قَرَيْتَهُ؟

وَمَنِ الَّذِي أَناخَ بِبابِكَ مُرْتَجِياً نَداكَ

فَما أَوْلَيْتَهُ؟

أَيَحْسُنُ أَنْ أَرْجِعَ عَنْ بابِكَ بِالْخَيْبَةِ مَصْرُوفاً،

وَلَسْتُ أَعْرِفُ سِواكَ مَوْلىً بِالإِحْسانِ مَوْصُوفاً؟

كَيْفَ أَرْجُو غَيْرَكَ

وَالْخَيْرُ كُلُّهُ بِيَدِكَ؟!

وَكَيْفَ أُؤَمِّلُ سِوَاكَ

وَالْخَلْقُ وَالأَمْرُ لَكَ؟!

أَأَقْطَعُ رَجآئِي مِنْكَ

وَقَدْ أَوْلَيْتَنِي ما لَمْ أَسْأَلْهُ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ؟!

أَمْ تُفْقِرُنِي إلى مِثْلِي

وَأَنَا أَعْتَصِمُ بِحَبْلِكَ؟!

يا مَنْ سَعِدَ بِرَحْمَتِهِ الْقاصِدُونَ،

وَلَمْ يَشْقَ بِنِقْمَتِهِ الْمُسْتَغْفِرُونَ،

كَيْفَ أَنْسَاكَ

وَلَمْ تَزَلْ ذاكِرِي؟!

وَكَيْفَ أَلْهُو عَنْكَ

وَأَنْتَ مُراقِبِي؟!

3. إلهِي بِذَيْلِ كَرَمِكَ أَعْلَقتُ يَدِي،

وَلِنَيْلِ عَطاياكَ بَسَطْتُ أَمَلِي،

فَأَخْلِصْنِي بِخالِصَةِ تَوْحِيدِكَ،

وَاجْعَلْنِي مِنْ صَفْوَةِ عَبِيدِك،

يا مَنْ كُلُّ هارِب إلَيْهِ يَلْتَجِئُ،

وَكُلُّ طالِب إيَّاهُ يَرْتَجِي،

يا خَيْرَ مَرْجُوٍّ،

وَيا أَكْرَمَ مَدْعُوٍّ،

وَيا مَنْ لا يُرَدُّ سآئِلُهُ،

وَلا يُخَيَّبُ آمِلُهُ،

يا مَنْ بابُهُ مَفْتُوحٌ لِدَاعِيهِ،

وَحِجابُهُ مَرْفُوعٌ لِراجِيهِ،

أَسْأَلُكَ بِكَرَمِكَ أَنْ تَمُنَّ عَلَيَّ

مِنْ عَطآئِكَ بِما تَقَرُّ بِهِ عَيْنِي،

وَمِنْ رَجآئِكَ بِما تَطْمَئِنُّ بِهِ نَفْسِي،

وَمِنَ الْيَقِينِ بِما تُهَوِّنُ بِهِ عَلَيَّ مُصِيباتِ الدُّنْيا،

وَتَجْلُو بِهِ عَنْ بَصِيرَتِي غَشَواتِ الْعَمى

بِرَحْمتِكَ يا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ.

In the Name of God, the All-merciful,

the All-compassionate

1- O He who gives to a servant who asks from Him,

takes him to his wish when he expectantly hopes for what is with Him,

brings him near and close when he approaches Him,

covers over his sin and cloaks it when he shows it openly,

and satisfies and suffices him when he has confidence in Him!

2- My God, who is the one who has come before Thee seeking hospitality,

and whom Thou hast not received hospitably?

Who is the one who has dismounted at Thy door

hoping for magnanimity,

and to whom Thou hast not shown it?

Is it good that I come back from Thy door,

turned away in disappointment,

while I know of no patron qualified by beneficence but Thee?

How should I have hope in other than Thee,

when the good - all of it - is in Thy hand?7

How should I expect from others,

when Thine are the creation and the command?8

Should I cut off my hope for Thee,

when Thou hast shown me of Thy bounty

that for which I have not asked?

Wouldst Thou make me have need for my like?

But I hold fast to Thy cord!

O He through whose mercy the strivers reach felicity

and through whose vengeance the seekers of forgiveness are not made wretched!

How should I forget Thee,

while Thou never ceasest remembering me?

How should I be diverted from Thee

while Thou art my constant watcher?

3- My God,

I have fastened my hand

to the skirt of Thy generosity,

I have stretched forth my expectation toward reaching Thy gifts,

so render me pure through the purest profession of Thy Unity,

and appoint me one of Thy choice servants!

O He who is the asylum of every fleer,

the hope of every seeker!

O Best Object of hope!

O Most Generous Object of supplication!

O He who does not reject His asker

or disappoint the expectant!

O He whose door is open to His supplicators

and whose veil is lifted for those who hope in Him!

I ask Thee by Thy generosity to show kindness toward me

through Thy gifts, with that which will gladden my eye,

through hope in Thee, with that which will give serenity to my soul,

and through certainty with that which will make easy for me the afflictions of this world

and lift from my insight the veils of blindness!

By Thy mercy,

O Most Merciful of the merciful!

5. The Whispered Prayer of the Beseechers

الخامسة : مناجاة الراغبين

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

1. إلهِي إنْ كانَ قَلَّ زادِي فِي الْمَسِيرِ إلَيْكَ،

فَلَقَدْ حَسُنَ ظَنِّي بِالتَّوَكُّلِ عَلَيْكَ،

وَإنْ كَانَ جُرْمِي قَدْ أَخافَنِي مِنْ عُقُوبَتِكَ،

فَإنَّ رَجآئِي قَدْ أَشْعَرَنِي بِالأَمْنِ مِنْ نِقْمَتِكَ،

وَإنْ كانَ ذَنْبِي قَدْ عَرَّضَنِي لِعِقابِكَ،

فَقَدْ آذَنَنِي حُسْنُ ثِقَتِي بِثَوابِكَ،

وَإنْ أَنامَتْنِي الْغَفْلَةُ

عَنِ الاسْتِعْدادِ لِلِقآئِكَ،

فَقَدْ نَبَّهَتْنِي الْمَعْرِفَةُ بِكَرَمِكَ وَآلائِكَ،

وَإنْ أَوْحَشَ ما بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكَ

فَرْطُ الْعِصْيانِ وَالطُّغْيانِ،

فَقَدْ آنَسَنِي بُشْرَى الْغُفْرانِ وَالرِّضْوانِ،

أَسْأَلُكَ بِسُبُحاتِ وَجْهِكَ وَبِأَنْوارِ قُدْسِكَ،

وَأَبْتَهِلُ إلَيْكَ بِعَوَاطِفِ رَحمَتِكَ وَلَطائِفِ بِرِّكَ،

أَنْ تُحَقِّقَ ظَنِّي بِما أُؤمِّلُهُ

مِنْ جَزِيلِ إكْرامِكَ، وَجَمِيلِ إنْعامِكَ

فِي الْقُرْبى مِنْكَ، وَالزُّلْفى لَدَيْكَ،

وَالتَّمَتُّعِ بِالنَّظَرِ إلَيْكَ،

وَها أَنَا مُتَعَرِّضٌ لِنَفَحاتِ

رَوْحِكَ وَعَطْفِكَ،

وَمُنْتَجِعٌ غَيْثَ جُودِكَ وَلُطْفِكَ،

فَارٌّ مِنْ سَخَطِكَ إلى رِضاكَ،

هارِبٌ مِنْكَ إلَيْكَ،

راج أَحْسَنَ ما لَدَيْكَ

مُعَوِّلٌ عَلى مَواهِبِكَ،

مُفْتَقِرٌ إلى رِعايَتِكَ.

2. إلهِي ما بَدَأْتَ بِهِ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ

فَتَمِّمْهُ،

وَما وَهَبْتَ لِي مِنْ كَرَمِكَ فَلا تَسْلُبْهُ،

وَما سَتَرْتَهُ عَلَيَّ بِحِلْمِكَ

فَلا تَهْتِكْهُ،

وَما عَلِمْتَهُ مِنْ قَبِيحِ فِعْلِي

فَاغْفِرْهُ.

3. إلهِي اسْتَشْفَعْتُ بِكَ إلَيْكَ

وَاسْتَجَرْتُ بِكَ مِنْكَ

أَتَيْتُكَ طامِعَاً فِي إحْسانِكَ،

راغِباً فِي امْتِنانِكَ،

مُسْتَسْقِياً وابِلَ طَوْلِكَ

مُسْتَمْطِراً غَمامَ فَضْلِكَ،

طالِباً مَرْضاتِكَ،

قاصِدَاً جَنابَكَ،

وارِداً شَرِيعَةَ رِفْدِكَ،

مُلْتَمِساً سَنِيَّ الْخَيْراتِ مِنْ عِنْدِكَ،

وافِدَاً إلى حَضْرَةِ جَمالِكَ،

مُرِيداً وَجْهَكَ،

طارِقاً بابَكَ،

مُسْتَكِيناً لِعَظَمَتِكَ وَجَلالِكَ،

فَافْعَلْ بِي ما أَنْتَ أَهْلُهُ مِنَ الْمَغْفِرَةِ وَالرَّحْمَةِ،

وَلا تَفْعَلْ بِي ما أَنَا أَهْلُهُ مِنَ الْعَذابِ وَالنِّقْمَةِ

بِرَحْمَتِكَ يا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ.

In the Name of God, the All-merciful,

the All-compassionate

1- My God, though my stores for travelling to Thee are few,

my confidence in Thee has given me a good opinion.9

Though my sin has made me fear Thy punishment,

my hope has let me feel secure from Thy vengeance.

Though my misdeed has exposed me to Thy penalty,

my excellent trust has apprised me of Thy reward.

Though heedlessness has put to sleep my readiness to meet Thee,

knowledge has awakened me to Thy generosity and boons.

Though excessive disobedience and rebellion

have estranged me from Thee,

the glad tidings of forgiveness and good pleasure have made me feel intimate with Thee.

I ask Thee by the splendours of Thy face

and the lights of Thy holiness,

and I implore Thee by the tenderness of Thy mercy and the gentleness of Thy goodness,

to verify my opinion in expecting

Thy great generosity and Thy beautiful favour,

through nearness to Thee, proximity with Thee,

and enjoyment of gazing upon Thee!

Here am I,

addressing myself to the breezes of Thy freshness and tenderness,

having recourse to the rain of Thy generosity and gentleness,

fleeing from Thy displeasure to Thy good pleasure

and from Thee to Thee,10

hoping for the best of what is with Thee,

relying upon Thy gifts,

utterly poor toward Thy guarding!

2- My God, Thy bounty which Thou hast begun - complete it!

Thy generosity which Thou hast given me - strip it not away!

Thy cover over me through Thy clemency - tear it not away!

My ugly acts which Thou hast come to know - forgive them!

3- My God,

I seek intercession from Thee with Thee,

and I seek sanctuary in Thee from Thee!

I have come to Thee craving Thy beneficence,

desiring Thy kindness,

seeking water from the deluge of Thy graciousness,

begging rain from the clouds of Thy bounty,

requesting Thy good pleasure,

going straight to Thy side,

arriving at the watering-place of Thy support,

seeking exalted good things from Thy quarter,

reaching for the presence of Thy beauty,

wanting Thy face,

knocking at Thy door,

abasing myself before Thy mightiness and majesty!

So act toward me with the forgiveness and mercy of which Thou art worthy!

Act not toward me with the chastisement and vengeance of which I am worthy!

By Thy mercy,

O Most Merciful of the merciful!

6. The Whispered Prayer of the Thankful

السادسة : مناجاة الشاكرين

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

1. إلهِي أَذْهَلَنِي عَنْ إقامَةِ شُكْرِكَ تَتابُعُ طَوْلِكَ،

وَأَعْجَزَنِي عَنْ إحْصآءِ ثَنآئِكَ فَيْضُ فَضْلِكَ،

وَشَغَلَنِي عَنْ ذِكْرِ مَحامِدِكَ تَرادُفُ عَوآئِدِكَ،

وَأَعْيانِي عَنْ نَشْرِ عوارِفِكَ تَوالِي أَيدِيكَ،

وَهذَا مَقامُ مَنِ

اعْتَرَفَ بِسُبُوغِ النَّعْمآءِ،

وَقابَلَها بِالتَّقْصِيرِ،

وَشَهِدَ عَلى نَفْسِهِ بِالإهْمالِ وَالتَّضْيِيعِ،

وَأَنْتَ الرَّؤُوفُ الرَّحِيمُ

الْبَرُّ الْكَرِيمُ،

الَّذِي لا يُخَيِّبُ قاصِدِيهِ،

وَلا يَطْرُدُ عَنْ فِنآئِهِ آمِلِيهِ،

بِساحَتِكَ تَحُطُّ رِحالُ الرَّاجِينَ،

وَبِعَرْصَتِكَ تَقِفُ آمالُ الْمُسْتَرْفِدِينَ،

فَلا تُقابِلْ آمالَنا بِالتَّخْيِيبِ وَالإياسِ،

وَلا تُلْبِسْنا سِرْبالَ الْقُنُوطِ وَالإِبْلاسِ.

2. إلهِي تَصاغَرَ عِنْدَ تَعاظُمِ آلائِكَ شُكْرِي،

وَتَضَاءَلَ فِي جَنْبِ إكْرَامِكَ إيَّايَ ثَنآئِي وَنَشْرِي،

جَلَّلَتْنِي نِعَمُكَ

مِنْ أَنْوَارِ الإِيْمانِ حُلَلاً،

وَضَرَبَتْ عَلَيَّ لَطآئِفُ بِرِّكَ مِنَ الْعِزِّ كِلَلاً،

وَقَلَّدَتْنِي مِنَنُكَ قَلائِدَ لا تُحَلُّ،

وَطَوَّقْتَنِي أَطْوَاقَاً لا تُفَلُّ،

فَآلاؤُكَ جَمَّةٌ

ضَعُفَ لِسانِي عَنْ إحْصائِها،

وَنَعْمآؤُكَ كَثِيرَةٌ

قَصُرَ فَهْمِي عَنْ إدْرَاكِها

فَضْلاً عَنِ اسْتِقْصآئِها،

فَكَيْفَ لِي بِتَحْصِيلِ الشُّكْرِ،

وَشُكْرِي إيَّاكَ يَفْتَقِرُ إلى شُكْر،

فَكُلَّما قُلْتُ: لَكَ الْحَمْدُ،

وَجَبَ عَلَيَّ لِذلِكَ أَنْ أَقُولَ: لَكَ الْحَمْدُ.

3. إلهِي فَكَما غَذَّيْتَنا بِلُطْفِكَ،

وَرَبَّيْتَنا بِصُنْعِكَ،

فَتَمِّمْ عَلَيْنَا سَوابِـغَ النِّعَمِ،

وَادْفَعْ عَنَّا مَكارِهَ النِّقَمِ،

وَآتِنا مِنْ حُظُوظِ الدَّارَيْنِ

أَرْفَعَهَا وَأَجَلَّها

عاجِلاً وَآجِلاً،

وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ عَلى حُسْنِ بَلاَئِكَ

وَسُبُوغِ نَعْمآئِكَ

حَمْدَاً يُوافِقُ رِضاكَ،

وَيَمْتَرِي الْعَظِيمَ مِنْ بِرِّكَ وَنَداكَ،

يا عَظِيمُ يا كَرِيمُ،

بِرَحْمَتِكَ

يا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ.

In the Name of God, the All-merciful,

the All-compassionate

1- My God, the uninterrupted flow of Thy graciousness hast distracted me from thanking Thee!

The flood of Thy bounty has rendered me incapable of counting Thy praises!

The succession of Thy kind acts has diverted me

from mentioning Thee in laudation!

The continuous rush of Thy benefits has thwarted me from spreading the news of Thy gentle favours!

This is the station of him who

confesses to the lavishness of favours,

meets them with shortcomings,

and witnesses to his own disregard and negligence.

Thou art the Clement, the Compassionate,

the Good, the Generous,

who does not disappoint those who aim for Him,

nor cast out from His courtyard those who expect from Him!

In Thy yard are put down the saddlebags of the hopeful

and in Thy plain stand the hopes of the help-seekers!

So meet not our hopes by disappointing and disheartening

and clothe us not in the shirt of despair and despondency!

2- My God, my thanksgiving is small before Thy great boons,

and my praise and news-spreading shrink

beside Thy generosity toward me!

Thy favours have wrapped me

in the robes of the lights of faith,

and the gentlenesses of Thy goodness have let down over me delicate curtains of might!

Thy kindnesses have collared me with collars not to be moved

and adorned me with neck-rings not to be broken!

Thy boons are abundant –

my tongue is too weak to count them!

Thy favours are many –

my understanding falls short of grasping them,

not to speak of exhausting them!

So how can I achieve thanksgiving?

For my thanking Thee requires thanksgiving.

Whenever I say, 'To Thee belongs praise!',

it becomes thereby incumbent upon me to say,

'To Thee belongs praise'!

3- My God, as Thou hast fed us through Thy gentleness

and nurtured us through Thy benefaction,

so also complete for us lavish favours,

repel from us detested acts of vengeance,

and of the shares of the two abodes,

give us their most elevated and their greatest,

both the immediate and the deferred!

To Thee belongs praise for Thy good trial

and the lavishness of Thy favours,

a praise conforming to Thy good pleasure

and attracting Thy great goodness and magnanimity.

O All-mighty, O All-generous!

By Thy mercy,

O Most Merciful of the merciful!

7. The Whispered Prayer of the Obedient Toward God

السابعة : مناجاة المطيعين للهِ

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

1 ـ أَللَّهُمَّ أَلْهِمْنا طاعَتَكَ،

وَجَنِّبْنا مَعْصِيَتَكَ،

وَيَسِّرْ لَنا بُلُوغَ ما نَتَمَنّى مِنِ ابْتِغآءِ رِضْوانِكَ،

وَأَحْلِلْنا بُحْبُوحَةَ جِنانِكَ،

وَاقْشَعْ عَنْ بَصائِرنا سَحابَ الارْتِيابِ،

وَاكْشِفْ عَنْ قُلُوبِنا أَغْشِيَةَ الْمِرْيَةِ وَالْحِجابِ،

وَأَزْهِقِ الْباطِلَ عَنْ ضَمآئِرِنا،

وَأَثْبِتِ الْحَقَّ فِي سَرائِرِنا،

فَإنَّ الشُّكُوكَ وَالظُّنُونَ لَواقِحُ الْفِتَنِ،

وَمُكَدِّرَةٌ لِصَفْوِ الْمَنآئِحِ وَالْمِنَنِ.

2 ـ أَللَّهُمَّ احْمِلْنا فِي سُفُنِ نَجاتِكَ،

وَمَتِّعْنا بِلَذِيْذِ مُناجاتِكَ،

وَأَوْرِدْنا حِياضَ حُبِّكَ،

وَأَذِقْنا حَلاوَةَ وُدِّكَ وَقُرْبِكَ،

وَاجْعَلْ جِهادَنا فِيكَ،

وَهَمَّنا فِي طاعَتِكَ،

وَأَخْلِصْ نِيَّاتِنا فِي مُعامَلَتِكَ،

فَإنَّا بِكَ وَلَكَ،

وَلا وَسِيلَةَ لَنا إلَيْكَ إلاَّ أَنْتَ.

3 ـ إلهِي اجْعَلْنِي مِنَ الْمُصْطَفَيْنَ الأَخْيارِ،

وَأَلْحِقْنِي بِالصَّالِحِينَ الأَبْرارِ،

السَّابِقِينَ إلَى الْمَكْرُماتِ،

الْمسارِعِينَ إلَى الْخَيْراتِ،

الْعامِلِينَ لِلْباقِياتِ الصَّالِحاتِ،

السَّاعِينَ إلى رَفِيعِ الدَّرَجاتِ،

إنَّكَ عَلى كُلِّ شَيْء قَدِيرٌ،

وَبِالإجابَةِ جَدِيرٌ

بِرَحْمَتِكَ يا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ.

In the Name of God, the All-merciful,

the All-compassionate

1- O God, inspire us to obey Thee,

turn us aside from disobeying Thee,

make it easy for us to reach the seeking of Thy good pleasure which we wish,

set us down in the midst of Thy Gardens,

dispel from our insights the clouds of misgiving,

uncover from our hearts the wrappings of doubt and the veil,

make falsehood vanish from our innermost minds,

and fix the truth in our secret thoughts,

for doubts and opinions fertilize temptations

and muddy the purity of gifts and kindnesses!

2- O God, carry us in the ships of Thy deliverance,

give us to enjoy the pleasure of whispered prayer to Thee,

make us drink at the pools of Thy love,

let us taste the sweetness of Thy affection and nearness,

allow us to struggle in Thee,11

preoccupy us with obeying Thee,

and purify our intentions in devoting works to Thee,

for we exist through Thee and belong to Thee,

and we have no one to mediate with Thee but Thee!

3- My God,

place me among the chosen, the good,

Join me to

the righteous, the pious,

the first to reach generous gifts,

the swift to come upon good things,

the workers of the abiding acts of righteousness,

the strivers after elevated degrees!

Thou art powerful over everything12

and disposed to respond!

By Thy mercy,

O Most Merciful of the merciful!

8. The Whispered Prayer of the Devotees

الثامنة : مناجاة المريدين

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

1. سُبْحانَكَ ما أَضْيَقَ الطُّرُقَ

عَلى مَنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ دَلِيلَهُ!

وَما أَوْضَحَ الْحَقَّ عِنْدَ مَنْ هَدَيْتَهُ سَبِيلَه!

2. إلهِي فاسْلُكْ بِنا سُبُلَ الْوُصُولِ إلَيْكَ،

وَسَيِّرْنا فِي أَقْرَبِ الطُّرُقِ لِلْوُفُودِ عَلَيْكَ،

قَرِّبْ عَلَيْنَا الْبَعِيدَ،

وَسَهِّلَ عَلَيْنَا الْعَسِيرَ الشَّدِيدَ،

وَأَلْحِقْنا بِعِبادِكَ الَّذِينَ هُمْ بِالْبِدارِ إلَيْكَ يُسارِعُونَ

وَبابَكَ عَلَى الدَّوامِ يَطْرُقُونَ،

وَإيَّاكَ فِي اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهارِ يَعْبُدُونَ،

وَهُمْ مِنْ هَيْبَتِكَ مُشْفِقُونَ،

الَّذِينَ صَفَّيْتَ لَهُمُ الْمَشارِبَ،

وَبَلَّغْتَهُمُ الرَّغآئِبَ،

وَأَنْجَحْتَ لَهُمُ الْمَطالِبَ،

وَقَضَيْتَ لَهُمْ مِنْ فضْلِكَ الْمَآرِبَ،

وَمَلأْتَ لَهُمْ ضَمآئِرَهُمْ مِنْ حُبِّكَ

وَرَوَّيْتَهُمْ مِنْ صافِي شِرْبِكَ،

فَبِكَ إلى لَذِيذِ مُناجاتِكَ وَصَلُوا،

وَمِنْكَ أَقْصى مَقاصِدِهِمْ حَصَّلُوا،

فَيا مَنْ هُوَ عَلَى الْمُقْبِلِينَ عَلَيْهِ مُقْبِلٌ،

وَبِالْعَطْفِ عَلَيْهِمْ عآئِدٌ مُفْضِلٌ،

وَبِالْغافِلِينَ عَنْ ذِكْرِهِ رَحِيمٌ رَؤُوفٌ،

وَبِجَذْبِهمْ إلى بابِهِ وَدُودٌ عَطُوفٌ،

أَسْأَلُكَ أَنْ تَجْعَلَنِي مِنْ أَوْفَرِهِمْ مِنْكَ حَظّاً،

وَأَعْلاهُمْ عِنْدَكَ مَنْزِلاً،

وَأَجْزَلِهِـمْ مِنْ وُدِّكَ قِسَمـاً،

وَأَفْضَلِهِمْ فِي مَعْرِفَتِكَ نَصِيباً،

فَقَدِ انْقطَعَتْ إلَيْكَ هِمَّتِي،

وَانْصَرَفَتْ نَحْوَكَ رَغْبَتِي،

فَأَنْتَ لاَ غَيْرُكَ مُرادِي،

وَلَكَ لا لِسِواكَ سَهَرِي وَسُهادِي،

وَلِقاؤُكَ قُرَّةُ عَيْني،

وَوَصْلُكَ مُنى نَفْسِي،

وَإلَيْكَ شَوْقِي،

وَفِي مَحَبَّتِكَ وَلَهِي،

وَإلى هَواكَ صَبابَتِي،

وَرِضاكَ بُغْيَتي،

وَرُؤْيَتُكَ حاجَتِي،

وَجِوارُكَ طَلَبِي، وَقُرْبُكَ غايَةُ سُؤْلِي،

وَفِي مُنَاجَاتِكَ رَوْحِي وَراحَتِي،

وَعِنْدَكَ دَوآءُ عِلَّتِي،

وَشِفآءُ غُلَّتِي،

وَبَرْدُ لَوْعَتِي، وَكَشْفُ كُرْبَتِي.

فَكُنْ أَنِيْسِي فِي وَحْشَتِي،

وَمُقِيلَ عَثْرَتِي،

وَغافِرَ زَلَّتِي،

وَقابِلَ تَوْبَتِي،

وَمُجِيبَ دَعْوَتِي،

وَوَلِيَّ عِصْمَتِي،

وَمُغْنِيَ فاقَتِي،

وَلا تَقْطَعْنِي عَنْكَ، وَلا تُبْعِدْنِي مِنْكَ

يا نَعِيمِي وَجَنَّتِي،

وَيا دُنْيايَ وَآخِرَتِي،

يا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ.

In the Name of God, the All-merciful,

the All-compassionate

1- Glory be to Thee!

How narrow are the paths

for him whom Thou hast not guided!

How plain the truth

for him whom Thou hast guided on his way!

2- My God, make us travel on the roads that arrive at Thee

and set us into motion on the paths nearest to reaching Thee!

Make near for us the far,

and make easy for us the hard and difficult!

Join us to Thy servants, those who hurry to Thee swiftly,

knock constantly at Thy door,

and worship Thee by night and by day,

while they remain apprehensive in awe of Thee!

Thou hast purified their drinking places,

taken them to the objects of their desire,

granted their requests,

accomplished their wishes through Thy bounty,

filled their minds with Thy love,

and quenched their thirst with Thy pure drink.

Through Thee have they reached the pleasure of whispered prayer to Thee,

and in Thee have they achieved their furthest goals.

O He who

comes toward those who come toward Him

and grants gifts and bestows bounty upon them

through tenderness!

He is compassionate and clement toward those

heedless of His remembrance

and loving and tender in drawing them to His door!

I ask Thee to place me among those of them who have the fullest share from Thee,

the highest station with Thee,

the most plentiful portion of Thy love,

and the most excellent allotment of Thy knowledge,

for my aspiration has been cut off from everything but Thee

and my desire has turned toward Thee alone.

Thou art my object, none other;

to Thee alone belongs my waking and my sleeplessness.

Meeting Thee is the gladness of my eye,

joining Thee the wish of my soul.

Toward Thee is my yearning,

in love for Thee my passionate longing,

in inclining toward Thee my fervent craving.

Thy good pleasure is the aim I seek,

vision of Thee my need,

Thy neighbourhood my request, nearness to Thee the utmost object of my asking.

In whispered prayer to Thee I find my repose and my ease.

With Thee lies the remedy of my illness,

the cure for my burning thirst,

the coolness of my ardour, the removal of my distress.

Be my intimate in my loneliness,

the releaser of my stumble,

the forgiver of my slip,

the accepter of my repentance,

the responder to my supplication,

the patron of preserving me from sin,

the one who frees me from my neediness!

Cut me not off from Thee and keep me not far from Thee!

O my bliss and my garden!

O my this world and my hereafter!

O Most Merciful of the merciful!

9. The Whispered Prayer of the Lovers

التاسعة : مناجاة المحبّين

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

1. إلهِي مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي ذَاقَ حَلاوَةَ مَحَبَّتِكَ،

فَرامَ مِنْكَ بَدَلاً؟

وَمَنْ ذَا الَّذِي أَنِسَ بِقُرْبِكَ،

فَابْتَغَى عَنْكَ حِوَلاً؟

2. إلهِي فَاجْعَلْنا مِمَّنِ اصْطَفَيْتَهُ

لِقُرْبِكَ وَوِلايَتِكَ،

وَأَخْلَصْتَه لِوُدِّكَ وَمَحَبَّتِكَ،

وَشَوَّقْتَهُ إلى لِقَآئِكَ،

وَرَضَّيْتَهُ بِقَضآئِكَ،

وَمَنَحْتَهُ بِالنَّظَرِ إلى وَجْهِكَ،

وَحَبَوْتَهُ بِرِضاكَ،

وَأَعَدْتَهُ مِنْ هَجْرِكَ وَقِلاكَ،

وَبَوَّأْتَهُ مَقْعَدَ الصِّدْقِ فِي جَوارِكَ،

وَخَصَصْتَهُ بِمَعْرِفَتِكَ،

وَأَهَّلْتَهُ لِعِبادَتِكَ،

وَهَيَّمْتَ قَلْبَهُ لإرادَتِكَ،

وَاجْتَبَيْتَهُ لِمُشاهَدَتِكَ،

وَأَخْلَيْتَ وَجْهَهُ لَكَ،

وَفَرَّغْتَ فُؤادَهُ لِحُبِّكَ،

وَرَغَّبْتَهُ فِيمَا عِنْدَكَ،

وَأَلْهَمْتَهُ ذِكْرَكَ،

وَأَوْزَعْتَهُ شُكْرَكَ،

وَشَغَلْتَهُ بِطاعَتِكَ،

وَصَيَّرْتَهُ مِنْ صالِحِي بَرِيَّتِكَ،

وَاخْتَرْتَهُ لِمُناجاتِكَ،

وَقَطَعْتَ عَنْهُ كُلَّ شَيْء يَقْطَعُهُ عَنْكَ.

3. أَللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنَا مِمَّنْ دَأْبُهُمُ

الارْتِياحُ إلَيْكَ وَالْحَنِينُ،

وَدَهْرُهُمُ الزَّفْرَةُ وَالأَنِينُ،

جِباهُهُمْ سَاجِدَةٌ لِعَظَمَتِكَ،

وَعُيُونُهُمْ ساهِرَةٌ فِي خِدْمَتِكَ،

وَدُمُوُعُهُمْ سآئِلَةٌ مِنْ خَشْيَتِكَ،

وَقُلُوبُهُمْ مُتَعَلِّقَةٌ بِمَحَبَّتِكَ،

وَأَفْئِدَتُهُمْ مُنْخَلِعَةٌ مِنْ مَهابَتِكَ،

يا مَنْ أَنْوارُ قُدْسِهِ لأَبْصارِ مُحِبِّيهِ رآئِقَةٌ،

وَسُبُحاتُ وَجْهِهِ لِقُلُوبِ عارِفيهِ شآئِقَةٌ،

يا مُنى قُلُوبِ الْمُشْتاقِينَ،

وَيا غَايَةَ آمالِ الْمُحِبِّينَ

أَسْأَلُكَ حُبَّكَ وَحُبَّ مَنْ يُحِبُّكَ،

وَحُبَّ كُلِّ عَمَل يُوصِلُنِي إلى قُرْبِكَ،

وَأَنْ تَجْعَلَكَ أَحَبَّ إلَيَّ مِمَّا سِواكَ

وَأَنْ تَجْعَلَ حُبِّي إيَّاكَ قآئِداً إلى رِضْوانِكَ،

وَشَوْقِي إلَيْكَ ذآئِداً عَنْ عِصْيانِكَ،

وَامْنُنْ بِالنَّظَرِ إلَيْكَ عَلَيَّ،

وَانْظُرْ بِعَيْنِ الْوُدِّ وَالْعَطْفِ إلَيَّ،

وَلا تَصْرِفْ عَنِّي وَجْهَكَ،

وَاجْعَلْنِي مِنْ أَهْلِ الإِسْعادِ وَالْحُظْوَةِ عِنْدَكَ،

يا مُجِيبُ، يا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ.

In the Name of God, the All-merciful,

the All-compassionate

1- My God,

who can have tasted the sweetness of Thy love,

then wanted another in place of Thee?

Who can have become intimate with Thy nearness,

then sought removal from Thee?

2- My God, place us with him whom Thou hast

chosen

for Thy nearness and Thy friendship,

purified through Thy affection and Thy love,

given yearning for the meeting with Thee,

made pleased with Thy decree,

granted gazing upon Thy face,

shown the favour of Thy good pleasure,

given refuge from separation from Thee and Thy loathing,

settled in a sure sitting place in Thy neighbourhood,

singled out for true knowledge of Thee,

made worthy for worship of Thee,

whose heart Thou hast captivated with Thy will,

whom Thou hast picked for contemplating Thee,

whose look Thou hast made empty for Thee,

whose breast Thou hast freed for Thy love,

whom Thou hast made desirous of what is with Thee,

inspired with Thy remembrance,

allotted thanksgiving to Thee,

occupied with obeying Thee,

turned into one of Thy righteous creatures,

chosen for whispered prayer to Thee,

and from whom Thou hast cut off all things

which cut him off from Thee!

3- O God,

place us among those whose habit is

rejoicing in Thee and yearning for Thee,

whose time is spent in sighing and moaning!

Their foreheads are bowed down before Thy mightiness,

their eyes wakeful in Thy service,

their tears flowing in dread of Thee,

their hearts fixed upon Thy love,

their cores shaken with awe of Thee.

O He

the lights of whose holiness

induce wonder in the eyes of His lovers,

the glories of whose face arouse the longing of the hearts of His knowers!

O Furthest Wish of the hearts of the yearners!

O Utmost Limit of the hopes of the lovers!

I ask from Thee love for Thee, love for those who love Thee,

love for every work which will join me to Thy nearness,

and that Thou makest Thyself more beloved to me than anything other than Thee

and makest my love for Thee

lead to Thy good pleasure,

and my yearning for Thee

protect against disobeying Thee!

Oblige me by allowing me to gaze upon Thee,

gaze upon me with the eye of affection and tenderness,

turn not Thy face away from me,

and make me one of the people of happiness with Thee and favoured position!

O Responder,

O Most Merciful of the merciful!

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