Dua-e-Kumayl

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Kumayl Ibn Ziyad Nakhai was a confidant amongst the companions of Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib (as.) and this sublime Dua was first heard from the beautiful, though anguished, voice of Imam Ali.

دُعَاء كُميل
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
In the Name of Allah, the All-merciful, the All-compassionate
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْألُكَ بِرَحْمَتِكَ الَّتِي وَسِعَتْ كُلَّ شَيٍْء
O Allah, I ask You by Your mercy, which “..embraces all things” (7:156),
وَبِقُوَّتِكَ الَّتِي قَهَرْتَ بِهَا كُلَّ شَيٍْء
And by Your strength, through which You dominate all things,
وَخَضَعَ لَهَا كُلُّ شَيٍْء
And toward which all things are humble
وَذَلَّ لَهَا كُلُّ شَيٍْء
And before which all things are lowly;
وَبِجَبرُوتِكَ الَّتِي غَلَبْتَ بِهَا كُلَّ شَيٍْء
And by Your invincibility through which You overwhelm all things,
وَبِعِزَّتِكَ الَّتِي لا يَقُومُ لَهَا شَيْءٌ
And by Your might, which nothing can resist;
وَبِعَظَمَتِكَ الَّتِي مَلَأَتْ كُلَّ شَيٍْء
And by Your tremendousness, which has filled all things;
وَبِسُلْطَانِكَ الَّذِي عَلاَ كُلَّ شَيٍْء
by Your force, which towers over all things;
وَبِوَجْهِكَ الْبَاقِي بَعْدَ فَنَاءِ كُلِّ شَيٍْء
And by Your face, which subsists after the annihilation of all things,
وَبِأَسْمَائِكَ الَّتِي مَلَأَتْ أَرْكَانَ كُلِّ شَيٍْء
And by Your Names, which have filled the foundations of all things;
وَبِعِلْمِكَ الَّذِي أَحَاطَ بِكُلِّ شَيٍْء
And by Your knowledge, which encompasses all things;
وَبِنُورِ وَجْهِكَ الَّذِي أَضَاءَ لَهُ كُلُّ شَيٍْء
And by the light of Your face, through which all things are illumined!
يَّا نُورُ يَا قُدُّوسُ
O Light! O All-holy!
يَا أَوَّلَ الأَوَّلِينَ
O First of those who are first
وَيَا آخِرَ الآخِرِينَ
And O Last of those who are last!
اَللَّهُمَ اغْفِرْ لِي الذُّنُوبَ الَّتِي تَهتِكُ الْعِصَمَ
O Allah, forgive me those sins which tear apart safeguards!
اَللَّهُمَ اغْفِرْ لِيَ الذُّنُوبَ الَّتِي تُنْزِلُ النِّقَمَ
O Allah, forgive me those sins which draw down adversities!
اَللَّهُمَ اغْفِرْ لِيَ الذُّنُوبَ الَّتِي تُغيِّرُ النِّعَمَ
O Allah, forgive me those sins which alter blessings!
اَللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِيَ الذُّنُوبَ الَّتِي تَحْبِسُ الدُّعَاءَ
O Allah forgive me those sins which hold back supplication!
اَللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِيَ الذُّنُوبَ الَّتِي تَقْطَعُ الرَّجَاءَ
O Allah forgive me those sins which cut down hopes!
اَللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِيَ الذُّنُوبَ الَّتِي تُنْزِلُ البَلآءَ
O Allah, forgive me those sins which draw down tribulation!
اَللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ كُلَّ ذَنْبٍ أَذْنَبْتُهُ وَكُلَّ خَطِيئَةٍ أَخْطَأْتُهَا
O Allah, forgive me every sin I have committed and every mistake I have made!
اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَتَقَرَّبُ إِلَيْكَ بِذِكْرِكَ
O Allah, verily I seek nearness to You through remembrance of You,
وَأَسْتَشْفِعُ بِكَ إِلَى نَفْسِكَ
And I seek intercession from You with Yourself,
وَأَسْألُكَ بِجُودِكَ أَن تُدْنِيَنِي مِن قُرْبِكَ
And I ask You through Your munificence to bring me near to Your proximity,
وَأَن تُوزِعَنِي شُكْرَكَ
And to provide me with gratitude toward You
وَأَن تُلْهِمَنِي ذِكْرَكَ
And to inspire me with Your remembrance.
اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْألُكَ سُؤَالَ خَاضِعٍ مُّتَذَلِّلٍ خَاشِعٍ أَن تُسَامِحَنِي وَتَرْحَمَنِي
O Allah, verily I ask You with the asking of a submissive, abased and lowly man to show me forbearance, to have mercy on me
وَتَجْعَلَنِي بِقَسَمِكَ رَاضِيًا قَانِعًا، وَفِي جَمِيعِ الأَحْوَاِل مُتَوَاضِعًا
And to make me satisfied and content with Your apportionment and humble in every state.
اَللَّهُمَّ وَأَسْألُكَ سُؤَالَ مَنِ اشْتَدَّتْ فَاقَتُهُ
O Allah, I ask You with the asking of one whose indigence is extreme,
وَأَنْزَلَ بِكَ عِنْدَ الشَّدَائِدِ حَاجَتَهُ
And who has stated to You in difficulties his need
وَعَظُمَ فِيمَا عِنْدَكَ رَغْبَتُهُ
And whose desire for what is with You has become great.
اَللَّهُمَّ عَظُمَ سُلْطَانُكَ وَعَلاَ مَكَانُكَ
O Allah, Your force is tremendous, Your place is lofty,
وَخَفِيَ مَكْرُكَ وَظَهَرَ أَمْرُكَ
And Your deception is hidden, Your command is manifest,
وَغَلَبَ قَهْرُكَ وَجَرَتْ قُدْرَتُكَ
And Your domination is overwhelming, Your power is unhindered
وَلا يُمْكِنُ الْفِرَارُ مِنْ حُكُومَتِكَ
And escape from Your governance is impossible.
اَللَّهُمَّ لا أَجِدُ لِذُنُوبِي غَافِرًا
O Allah, I find no forgiver of my sins,
وَلا لِقَبَائِحِي سَاتِرًا
No concealer of my ugly acts,
وَلا لِشَيٍْء مِّنْ عَمَلِيَ الْقَبِيحِ بِالْحَسَنِ مُبَدِّلاً غَيْرَكَ
And no transformer of any of my ugly acts into good acts but You
لا إِلَهَ إِلا أَنْتَ
There is no god but You!
سُبْحَانَكَ وَبِحَمْدِكَ
Glory be to You, and Yours is the praise!
ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي
I have wronged myself,
وَتَجَرَّأْتُ بِجَهْلِي
And I have been audacious in my ignorance
وَسَكَنْتُ إِلَى قَدِيمِ ذِكْرِكَ لِي وَمَنِّكَ عَلَيَّ
And I have depended upon Your ancient remembrance of me and Your favour toward me.
اللَّهُمَّ مَوْلايَ
O Allah! O my Protector!
كَمْ مِّنْ قَبِيحٍ سَتَرْتَهُ
How many ugly things You have concealed!
وَكَمْ مِّن فَاِدحٍ مِّنَ البَلاءِ أَقَلْتَهُ
How many burdensome tribulations You have abolished!
وَكَمْ مِّنْ عِثَارٍ وَّقَيْتَهُ
And how many stumbles You have prevented!
وَكَمْ مِّن مَّكْرُوهٍ دَفَعْتَهُ
And how many ordeals You have repelled!
وَكَمْ مِّنْ ثَنَاءٍ جَمِيلٍ لَّسْتُ أَهْلاً لَّهُ نَشَرْتَهُ
And how much beautiful praise, for which I was unworthy, You have spread abroad!
اَللَّهُمَّ عَظُمَ بَلائِي
O Allah, my tribulation is tremendous,
وَأَفْرَطَ بِي سُوءُ حَاِلي
And my bad state is excessive,
وَقَصُرَتْ بِي أَعْمَاِلي
And my acts are inadequate,
وَقَعَدَتْ بِي أَغْلاَلِي
And my fetters have tied me down,
وَحَبَسَنِي عَن نَّفْعِي بُعْدُ آمَاِلي
And my far-fetched hopes have held me back from my gain
وَخَدَعَتْنِي الدُّنْيَا بِغُرُورِهَا وَنَفْسِي بِجِنَايَتِهَا (بِخِيَانَتِهَا) وَمِطَاِلي
And this world with its delusions, my own soul with its offences and my delay have deceived me.
يَا سَيِّدِي فَأَسْأَلُكَ بِعِزَّتِكَ أَن لا يَحْجُبَ عَنْكَ دُعَآئِي سُوءُ عَمَلِي وَفِعَاِلي
O my Master! So I ask You by Your might not to let my evil works and acts veil my supplication from You,
وَلا تَفْضَحْنِي بِخَفِيِّ مَا اطَّلَعْتَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ سِرِّي
And not to disgrace me through the hidden things You know of my secrets
وَلا تُعَاجِلْنِي بِالْعُقُوبَةِ عَلَى مَا عَمِلْتُهُ فِي خَلَوَاتِي
And not to hasten me to punishment for what I have done in private:
مِنْ سُوءِ فِعْلِي وَإِسَاءَتِي،
My evil acts in secrecy and my misdeeds
وَدَوَامِ تَفْرِيطِي وَجَهَالَتِي
And my continuous negligence and my ignorance
وَكَثْرَةِ شَهَوَاتِي وَغَفْلَتِي
And my manifold passions and my forgetfulness.
وَكُنِ اللَّهُمَّ بِعِزَّتِكَ لِي فِي كُلِّ الأَحْوَاِل رَؤُوفًا
And by Your might, O Allah, be kind to me in all states
وَّعَلَيَّ فِي جَمِيعِ الأُمُورِ عَطُوفًا
And be gracious to me in all affairs!
إِلَهِي وَرَبِّي مَن لِّي غَيْرُكَ أَسْأَلُهُ كَشْفَ ضُرِّي وَالْنَّظَرَ فِي أَمْرِي!
My God and my Lord! Have I any but You from whom to ask removal of my affliction and regard for my affairs!
إِلَهِي وَمَوْلايَ أَجْرَيْتَ عَلَيَّ حُكْمًا اتَّبَعْتُ فِيهِ هَوَى نَفْسِي،
My God and my Protector! You put into effect through me a decree in which I followed the caprice of my own soul
وَلَمْ أَحْتَرِسْ فِيهِ مِن تَزْيِيْنِ عَدُوِّي،
And did not remain wary of adorning my enemy.
فَغَرَّنِي بِمَا أَهْوَى وَأَسْعَدَهُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ القَضَاءُ
So he deluded me through my soul’s caprice and therein destiny favoured him
فَتَجَاوَزْتُ بِمَا جَرَى عَلَيَّ مِنْ ذَلِكَ بَعْضَ حُدُودِكَ
So, in what was put into effect through me in that situation, I transgressed some of Your statutes
وَخَالَفْتُ بَعْضَ أَوَامِرِكَ
And disobeyed some of Your commands.
فَلَكَ الْحُجَّةُ عَلَيَّ فِي جَمِيعِ ذَلِكَ
So Yours is the argument against me in all of that
وَلا حُجَّةَ لِي فِيمَا جَرَى عَلَيَّ فِيهِ قَضَاؤُكَ،
I have no argument in what Your destiny put into effect through me therein
وَأَلْزَمَنِي حُكْمُكَ وَبَلاؤُكَ
nor in what Your decree and Your tribulation imposed upon me.
وَقَدْ أَتَيْتُكَ يَا إِلَهِي بَعْدَ تَقْصِيرِي وَإِسْرَافِي عَلَى نَفْسِي
Now I have come to You, My God, after my shortcoming and my immoderation toward myself,
مُعْتَذِرًا نَّادِمًا،
Proffering my excuse, regretful,
مُّنْكَسِرًا مُّسْتَقِيلاً
Broken, apologizing,
مُّسْتَغْفِرًا مُّنِيبًا،
Asking forgiveness, repenting,
مُّقِرًّا مُّذْعِنًا مُّعْتَرِفًا
Acknowledging, submissive, confessing.
لا أَجِدُ مَفَرًّا مِّمَّا كَانَ مِنِّي
I find no place to flee from what occurred through me,
وَلا مَفْزَعًا أَتَوَجَّهُ إِلَيْهِ في أَمْرِي
Nor any place of escape to which I may turn in my affairs,
غَيْرَ قَبُولِكَ عُذْرِي، وَإِدخَاِلكَ إِيَّايَ فِي سَعَةٍ مِّن رَّحْمَتِكَ
Other than Your acceptance of my excuse and Your entering me into the compass of Your mercy.
اَللَّهُمَّ فَاقْبَل عُذْرِي
O Allah, so accept my excuse,
وَارْحَمْ شِدَّةَ ضُرِّي
Have mercy upon the severity of my affliction
وَفُكَّنِي مِنْ شَدِّ وَثَاقِي
And release me from the tightness of my fetters,
يَا رَبِّ ارْحَمْ ضَعْفَ بَدَنِي وَرِقَّةَ جِلْدِي وَدِقَّةَ عَظْمِي
My Lord, have mercy upon the weakness of my body, the thinness of my skin and the frailty of my bones.
يَا مَنْ بَدَأَ خَلْقِي وَذِكْرِي وَتَرْبِيَتِي وَبِرِّي وَتَغْذِيَتِي
O Thou who gave rise to my creation, to the remembrance of me, to the nurture of me, to goodness toward me and to nourishment on me,
هَبْنِي لابْتِدَآءِ كَرَمِكَ وَسَاِلفِ بِرِّكَ بِي
Bestow upon me for the sake of Your having given rise [to me] with generosity and Your previous goodness to me!
يَا إِلَهِي وَسَيِّدِي وَرَبِّي
O Allah, my Master and my Lord!
أَتُرَاكَ مُعَذِّبِي بِنَارِكَ بَعْدَ تَوْحِيدِكَ
Can You see Yourself tormenting me with Your fire after I have professed Your Unity
وَبَعْدَ مَا انْطَوَى عَلَيْهِ قَلْبِي مِن مَّعْرِفَتِكَ
And after the knowledge of You my heart has embraced,
وَلَهِجَ بِهِ لِسَانِي مِنْ ذِكْرِكَ
And the remembrance of You my tongue has constantly mentioned
وَاعْتَقَدَهُ ضَمِيرِي مِنْ حُبِّكَ
And the love of You to which my mind has clung,
وَبَعْدَ صِدْقِ اعْتِرَافِي وَدُعَائِي خَاضِعًا لِّرُبُوبِيَّتِكَ
And after the sincerity of my confession and my supplication, humble before Your lordship?
هَيْهَاتَ أَنْتَ أَكْرَمُ مِنْ أَنْ تُضَيِّعَ مَن رَّبَّيْتَهُ
Far be it from You! You are more generous than that You should squander him whom You have nurtured,
أَوْ تُبْعِدَ مَنْ أَدْنَيْتَهُ
Or banish him whom You have brought nigh,
أَوْ تُشَرِّدَ مَنْ آوَيْتَهُ
Or drive away him whom You have given an abode
أَوْ تُسْلِمَ إِلىَ الْبلآءِ مَن كَفَيْتَهُ وَرَحِمْتَهُ
Or submit to tribulation him whom You have spared and shown mercy.
وَلَيْتَ شِعْرِي يَا سَيِّدِي وَإِلَهِي وَمَوْلايَ
Would that I knew, my Master, My God and my Protector,
أَتُسَلِّطُ النَّارَ عَلَى وُجُوهٍ خَرَّتْ لِعَظَمَتِكَ سَاجِدَةً
Whether You will give the Fire dominion over faces fallen down prostrate before Your Tremendousness,
وَعَلَى أَلْسُنٍ نَّطَقَتْ بِتَوْحِيدِكَ صَادِقَةً وَّبِشُكْرِكَ مَادِحَةً
And over tongues voicing sincerely the profession of Your Unity and giving thanks to You in praise,
وَعَلَى قُلُوبٍ اعْتَرَفَتْ بِإِلَهِيَّتِكَ مُحَقِّقَةً
And over hearts acknowledging Your Divinity through verification,
وَعَلَى ضَمَائِرَ حَوَتْ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ بِكَ حَتَّى صَارَتْ خَاشِعَةً
And over minds encompassing knowledge of You until they have become humble
وَعَلَى جَواِرحَ سَعَتْ إِلَى أَوْطَانِ تَعَبُّدِكَ طَائِعَةً وَّأَشَارَتْ بِاسْتِغْفَارِكَ مُذْعِنَةً
And over bodily members speeding to the places of Your worship in obedience and beckoning for Your forgiveness in submission.
مَّا هَكَذَا الظَّنُّ بِكَ وَلا أُخْبِرْنَا بِفَضْلِكَ عَنْكَ
No such opinion is held of You! Nor has such been reported – thanks to Your bounty — concerning You,
يَا كَرِيمُ، يَا رَبِّ
O All-generous! My Lord,
وَأَنْتَ تَعْلَمُ ضَعْفِي عَنْ قَلِيلٍ مِّن بَلآءِ الدُّنْيَا وَعُقُوبَاتِهَا،
And You know my weakness before a little of this world’s tribulations and punishments,
وَمَا يَجْرِي فِيهَا مِنَ الْمَكَارِهِ عَلَى أَهْلِهَا
And before those ordeals which befall its inhabitants,
عَلَى أَنَّ ذَلِكَ بَلآءٌ وَّمَكْرُوهٌ قَلِيلٌ مَّكْثُهُ، يَسِيرٌ بَقَآؤُهُ، قَصِيرٌ مُّدَّتُهُ
Even though it is a tribulation and ordeal whose stay is short, whose subsistence is but little and, whose period is but fleeting.
فَكَيْفَ احْتِمَاِلي لِبَلآءِ الآخِرَةِ وَجَلِيلِ وُقُوعِ الْمَكَارِهِ فِيهَا!
So how can I endure the tribulations of the next world and the great ordeals that occur within it?
وَهُوَ بَلآءٌ تَطُولُ مُدَّتُهُ، وَيَدُومُ مَقَامُهُ، وَلا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْ أَهْلِهِ
For it is a tribulation whose period is long, whose station endures and whose sufferers are given no respite,
لِأَنَّهُ لا يَكُونُ إِلا عَنْ غَضَبِكَ وَانْتِقَامِكَ وَسَخَطِكَ
Since it only occurs as a result of Your wrath, Your vengeance and Your anger,
وَهَذَا مَا لا تَقُومُ لَهُ السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالأَرْضُ
And these cannot be withstood by the heavens and the earth.
يَا سَيِّدِي فَكَيْفَ بِي
O Master, so what about me?!
وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ الضَّعِيفُ الذَّلِيلُ الْحَقِيرُ الْمِسْكِينُ الْمُسْتَكِينُ
For I am Your weak, lowly, base, wretched and miserable slave.
يَا إِلَهِي وَرَبِّي وَسَيِّدِي وَمَوْلايَ
My God! My Lord! My Master! My Protector!
لِأَيِّ الأُمُورِ إِلَيْكَ أَشْكُو
For which things would I complain to You?
وَلِمَا مِنْهَا أَضِجُّ وَأَبْكِي
And for which of them would I lament and weep?
لِأَلِيمِ الْعَذَابِ وَشِدَّتِهِ!
For the pain and severity of chastisement?
أَمْ لِطُولِ الْبَلآءِ وَمُدَّتِهِ!
Or for the length and period of tribulation?
فَلَئِن صَيَّرْتَنِي لِلْعُقُوبَاتِ مَعَ أَعْدَآئِكَ
So if You take me to the punishments with Your enemies,
وَجَمَعْتَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ أَهْلِ بَلآئِكَ
And gather me with the people of Your tribulation
وَفَرَّقْتَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ أَحِبَّائِكَ وَأَوْلِيَائِكَ
And separate me from Your friends and saints,
فَهَبْنِي يَا إِلَهِي وَسَيِّدِي وَمَوْلايَ وَرَبِّي صَبَرْتُ عَلَى عَذَابِكَ،
Then suppose, My God, my Master, my Protector and my Lord that I am able to endure Your chastisement,
فَكَيْفَ أَصْبِرُ عَلَى فِرَاقِكَ
How can I endure separation from You?
وَهَبْنِي صَبَرْتُ عَلَى حَرِّ نَارِكَ،
And suppose that I am able to endure the heat of Your fire,
فَكَيْفَ أَصْبِرُ عَنِ النَّظَرِ إِلَى كَرَامَتِكَ
How can I endure not gazing upon Your generosity?
أَمْ كَيْفَ أَسْكُنُ فِي النَّارِ وَرَجَائِي عَفْوُكَ
Or how can I dwell in the Fire while my hope is Your pardon?
فَبِعِزَّتِكَ يَا سَيِّدِي وَمَوْلايَ أُقْسِمُ صَادِقًا، لَئِنْ تَرَكْتَنِي نَاطِقًا
So by Your might, my Master and my protector, I swear sincerely, if You leave me with speech,
لَأَضِجَّنَّ إِلَيْكَ بَيْنَ أَهْلِهَا ضَجِيجَ الآمِلِينَ
I will lament to You from the midst of the Fire’s inhabitants with lamentation of the hopeful;
وَلأَصْرُخَنَّ إِلَيكَ صُرَاخَ المُسْتَصْرِخِينَ
I will cry to You with the cry of those crying for help;
وَلَأَبْكِيَنَّ عَلَيْكَ بُكَاءَ الفَاقِدِينَ
I will weep to You with the weeping of the bereft;
وَلَأُنَادِيَنَّكَ أَيْنَ كُنْتَ يَا وَلِيَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
And I will call to You, Where art Thou, O Sponsor of the believers,
يَا غَايَةَ آمَاِل العَارِفِينَ
O Goal of the hopes of Your knowers,
يَا غِيَاثَ المُسْتَغِيْثِينَ
O Aid of those who seek assistance,
يَا حَبِيبَ قُلُوبِ الصَّادِقِينَ
O Friend of the hearts of the sincere
وَيَا إِلَهَ العَالَمِينَ
And O God of all the world’s inhabitants!
أَفَتُرَاكَ، سُبْحَانَكَ يَا إِلَهِي وَبِحَمْدِكَ، تَسْمَعُ فِيهَا صَوْتَ عَبْدٍ مُّسْلِمٍ
Can You see Yourself — Glory be to You My God, and Yours is the praise — hearing within the Fire the voice of a slave surrendered to
سُجِنَ فِيهَا بِمُخَالَفَتِهِ
Imprisoned there because of his violations,
وَذَاقَ طَعْمَ عَذَابِهَا بِمَعْصِيَتِهِ
Tasting the flavour of its torment because of his disobedience,
وَحُبِسَ بَيْنَ أَطْبَاقِهَا بِجُرْمِهِ وَجَرِيرَتِهِ
And confined within its levels because of his sin and crime,
وَهُوَ يَضِجُّ إلَيْكَ ضَجِيجَ مُؤَمِّلٍ لِّرَحْمَتِكَ
While he laments to You with the lament of one hopeful for Your mercy,
وَيُنَادِيكَ بِلِسَانِ أَهْلِ تَوْحِيدِكَ
And calls to You with the tongue of those who profess Your Unity
وَيَتَوَسَّلُ إلَيْكَ بِرُبُوبِيَّتِكَ
And entreats You by Your lordship!
يَا مَوْلايَ فَكَيْفَ يَبْقَى فِي الْعَذَابِ وَهُوَ يَرْجُو مَا سَلَفَ مِنْ حِلْمِكَ
My Protector, so how should he remain in the chastisement, while he has hope for Your previous clemency?
أَمْ كَيْفَ تُؤْلِمُهُ النَّارُ وَهُوَ يَأْمَلُ فَضْلَكَ وَرَحْمَتَكَ
Or how should the Fire cause him pain while he expects Your bounty and mercy?
أَمْ كَيْفَ يُحْرِقُهُ لَهِيبُهَا وَأَنتَ تَسْمَعُ صَوْتَهُ وَتَرَى مَكَانَهُ
Or how should its flames burn him, while You hear his voice and see his place?
أَمْ كَيْفَ يَشْتَمِلُ عَلَيْهِ زَفِيرُهَا وَأَنْتَ تَعْلَمُ ضَعْفَهُ
Or how should its groaning encompass him, while You know his weakness?
أَمْ كَيْفَ يَتَقَلْقَلُ بَيْنَ أَطْبَاقِهَا وَأَنْتَ تَعْلَمُ صِدْقَهُ
Or how should he be convulsed among its levels, while You know his sincerity?
أَمْ كَيْفَ تَزْجُرُهُ زَبَانِيَتُهَا وَهُوَ يُنَادِيكَ يَا رَبَّهُ
Or how should its keepers torture him while he calls out to You, “O Lord”?
أَمْ كَيْفَ يَرْجُو فَضْلَكَ فِي عِتْقِهِ مِنْهَا فَتَتْرُكُهُ فِيهَا
Or how should he have hope of Your bounty in freeing him from it, while You abandon him within it?
هَيهَاتَ مَا ذَلِكَ الظَّنُّ بِكَ
Far be it from You! That is not what is expected of You,
وَلا الْمَعْرُوفُ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ
Nor what is well-known of Your bounty,
وَلا مُشْبِهٌ لِمَا عَامَلْتَ بِهِ الْمُوَحِّدِينَ مِنْ بِرِّكَ وَإِحْسَانِكَ
Nor it is similar to the goodness and kindness Thou hast shown to those who profess Your Unity.
فَبِالْيَقِينِ أَقْطَعُ لَوْلا مَا حَكَمْتَ بِهِ مِن تَعْذِيبِ جَاحِدِيكَ
So I declare with certainty that were it not for what You have decreed concerning the chastisement of Your deniers
وَقَضَيْتَ بِهِ مِنْ إِخْلاَدِ مُعَانِدِيكَ
And what You have foreordained concerning the everlasting home of those who stubbornly resist,
لَجَعَلْتَ النَّارَ كُلَّهَا بَرْدًا وَّسَلاَمًا،
You would make the Fire, all of it, coolness and safety,
وَمَا كَانَ لأَحَدٍ فِيهَا مَقَرًّا وَّلا مُقَامًا
And no one would have a place of rest or abode within it.
لَّكِنَّكَ تَقَدَّسَتْ أَسْمَاؤُكَ أَقْسَمْتَ أَنْ تَمْلَأَهَا مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَ،
But You —holy are Your Names—hast sworn that You will fill it with the unbelievers,
مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ
Both Jinn and men together,
وَأَنْ تُخَلِّدَ فِيهَا الْمُعَانِدِينَ
And that You will place those who stubbornly resist therein forever.
وَأَنْتَ جَلَّ ثَنَاؤُكَ قُلْتَ مُبْتَدِئًا، وَّتَطَوَّلْتَ بِالإِنْعَامِ مُتَكَرِّمًا:
And You — majestic is Your eulogy— said at the beginning and were gracious through kindness as a favour,
أَفَمَنْ كَانَ مُؤْمِنًا كَمَنْ كَانَ فَاسِقًا لَّا يَسْتَوُونَ
“What? Is he who has been believer like unto him who has been ungodly? They are not equal” (32:18)
إِلَهِي وَسَيِّدِي فَأَسْألُكَ بِالْقُدْرَةِ الَّتِي قَدَّرْتَهَا
My God and my Master! So I ask You by the power You have apportioned
وَبِالْقَضِيَّةِ الَّتِي حَتَمْتَهَا وَحَكَمْتَهَا وَغَلَبْتَ مَنْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرَيْتَهَا
And by the decision which You have determined and imposed and through which You have overcome him toward whom it has been put into
أَن تَهَبَ لِي، فِي هذِهِ اللَّيْلَةِ، وَفِي هَذِهِ السَّاعَةِ
That You forgive me in this night and at this hour
كُلَّ جُرْمٍ أَجْرَمْتُهُ
Every offence I have committed,
وَكُلَّ ذَنْبٍ أَذْنَبْتُهُ
And every sin I have performed,
وَكُلَّ قَبِيحٍ أَسْرَرْتُهُ
And every ugly thing I have concealed
وَكُلَّ جَهْلٍ عَمِلْتُهُ،
And every folly I have enacted
كَتَمْتُهُ أَوْ أَعْلَنتُهُ،
Whether I have hidden or announced it,
أَخفَيْتُهُ أَوْ أَظْهَرْتُهُ
Or I have concealed it or manifested it
وَكُلَّ سَيِّئَةٍ أَمَرْتَ بِإِثْبَاتِهَا الْكِرَامَ الكَاتِبِينَ
And every evil act which You have commanded the Noble Writers to record,
الَّذِينَ وَكَّلْتَهُم بِحِفْظِ مَا يَكُونُ مِنِّي،
Those whom You have appointed to watch over what appears from me
وَجَعَلْتَهُمْ شُهُودًا عَلَيَّ مَعَ جَوَارِحِي،
And whom You have made, along with my bodily members, witness against me.
وَكُنتَ أَنْتَ الرَّقِيبَ عَلَيَّ مِن وَّرَائِهِمْ،
And “You were Yourself the Watcher” (5:117) over me from behind them,
وَالشَّاهِدَ لِمَا خَفِيَ عَنْهُمْ،
And the Witness of what is hidden from them
وَبِرَحْمَتِكَ أَخْفَيْتَهُ،
But through Your mercy You concealed it
وَبِفَضْلِكَ سَتَرْتَهُ
And through Your bounty You veiled it.
وَأَنْ تُوَفِّرَ حَظِّي مِن كُلِّ خَيْرٍ تُنْزِلُهُ،
[And I ask You] that You bestow upon me an abundant share of every good You send down,
أَوْ إِحْسَانٍ تُفْضِلُهُ
Or kindness You confer,
أَوْ بِرٍّ تَنْشُرُهُ،
Or goodness You unfold,
أَوْ رِزْقٍ تَبْسُطُهُ
Or provision You spread out,
أَوْ ذَنْبٍ تَغْفِرُهُ
Or sin You forgive,
أَوْ خَطَأٍ تَسْتُرُهُ
Or error You cover.
يَا رَبِّ يَا رَبِّ يَا رَبِّ
My Lord! My Lord! My Lord!
يَا إِلَهِي وَسَيِّدِي وَمَوْلايَ وَمَاِلكَ رِقِّي
My God! My Master! My Protector! Owner of my bondage!
يَا مَنْ بِيَدِهِ نَاصِيَتِي
O He in whose hand is my forelock!
يَا عَلِيمًا بِضُرِّي وَمَسْكَنَتِي
O He who knows my affliction and my misery!
يَا خَبِيرًا بِفَقْرِي وَفَاقَتِي
O He who is aware of my poverty and indigence!
يَا رَبِّ يَا رَبِّ يَا رَبِّ
My Lord! My Lord! My Lord!
أَسْأَلُكَ بِحَقِّكَ وَقُدْسِكَ
I ask You by Your Truth and Your Holiness
وَأَعْظَمِ صِفَاتِكَ وَأَسْمَائِكَ
And the greatest of Your Attributes and Names,
أنْ تَجْعَلَ أَوْقَاتِي فِى اللَّيلِ وَالنَّهَارِ بِذِكْرِكَ مَعْمُورَةً،
That You make my times in the night and the day inhabited by Your remembrance,
وَبِخِدْمَتِكَ مَوْصُولَةً،
And joined to Your service
وَّأَعْمَاِلي عِنْدَكَ مَقْبُولَةً،
And my works acceptable to You,
حَتَّى تَكُونَ أَعْمَاِلي وَأَوْرَادِي كُلُّهَا وِرْدًا وَّاحِدًا،
So that my works and my litanies may all be a single litany
وَّحَاِلي فِي خِدْمَتِكَ سَرْمَدًا
And my occupation with Your service everlasting.
يَا سَيِّدِي، يَا مَنْ عَلَيْهِ مُعَوَّلِي
My Master! O He upon whom I depend!
يَا مَنْ إلَيْهِ شَكَوْتُ أَحْوَاِلي
O He to whom I complain about my states!
يَا رَبِّ يَا رَبِّ يَا رَبِّ
My Lord! My Lord! My Lord!
قَوِّ عَلَى خِدْمَتِكَ جَوَارِحِي
Strengthen my bodily members in Your service,
وَاشْدُدْ عَلىَ الْعَزِيمَةِ جَوَانِحِي
And fortify my ribs in determination
وَهَبْ لِيَ الْجِدَّ فِي خَشْيَتِكَ
And bestow upon me earnestness in my fear of You
وَالدَّوَامَ فِي الإِتِّصَاِل بِخِدْمَتِكَ
And continuity in my being joined to Your service
حَتَّى أَسْرَحَ إِلَيكَ فِي مَيَادِينِ السَّابِقِينَ
So that I may move easily toward You in the battlefields of the foremost
وَأُسْرِعَ إلَيْكَ فِي الْمبُادِرِينَ
And hurry to You among the prominent
وَأَشْتَاقَ إلىَ قُرْبِكَ فِي الْمُشْتَاقِينَ
And desire fervently Your proximity among the fervently desirous
وَأَدْنُوَ مِنْكَ دُنُوَّ الْمُخْلِصِينَ
And move nearer to You with the nearness of the sincere
وَأَخَافَكَ مَخَافَةَ الْمُوقِنِينَ
And fear You with the fear of those who have certitude
وَأَجْتَمِعَ فِي جِوَارِكَ مَعَ الْمُؤْمنِينَ
And gather with the believers in Your vicinity.
اَللَّهُمَّ وَمَنْ أَرَادَنِي بِسُوٍء فَأَرِدْهُ
O Allah, whoever desires evil for me, desire [it] for him!
وَمَنْ كَادَنِي فَكِدْهُ
whoever deceives me-deceive him!
وَاجْعَلْنِي مِنْ أَحْسَنِ عَبِيدِكَ نَصِيبًا عِنْدَكَ
And make me one of the most excellent of Your slaves in Portion from You,
وَأَقْرَبِهِم مَّنْزِلَةً مِّنْكَ
And the nearest of them in station to You
وَأَخَصِّهِمْ زُلْفَةً لَّدَيْكَ
And the most elect of them in proximity to You.
فَإِنَّهُ لا يُنَالُ ذَلِكَ إِلاّ بِفَضْلِكَ
For that cannot be attained except by Your bounty.
وَجُدْ لِي بِجُودِكَ
And grant generously to me through Your munificence,
وَاعْطِفْ عَلَيَّ بِمَجْدِكَ
And incline toward me with Your splendour
وَاحْفَظْنِي بِرَحْمَتِكَ
And protect me with Your mercy!
وَاجْعَل لِّسَانِي بِذِكْرِكَ لَهِجًا
And make my tongue remember You without ceasing
وَقَلْبِي بِحُبِّكَ مُتَيَّمًا
And my heart enthralled by Your love!
وَّمُنَّ عَلَيَّ بِحُسْنِ إِجَابَتِكَ
And be gracious to me by answering me favourably,
وَأَقِلْنِي عَثْرَتِي
And nullify my slips
وَاغْفِرْ زَلَّتِي
And forgive my lapses!
فَإِنَّكَ قَضَيْتَ عَلَى عِبَادِكَ بِعِبَادَتِكَ
For Thou hast decreed Your worship for Your servants
وَأَمَرْتَهُم بِدُعَائِكَ
And commanded them to supplicate You
وَضَمِنْتَ لَهُمُ الإِجَابَةَ
And assured them that they would be answered.
فَإِلَيْكَ يَا رَبِّ نَصَبْتُ وَجْهِي
So toward You, my Lord, I have turned my face
وَإلَيْكَ يَا رَبِّ مَدَدْتُ يَدِي
And toward You, my Lord, I have extended my hand.
فَبِعِزَّتِكَ اسْتَجِبْ لِي دُعَائِي
So by Your might, comply with my supplication
وَبَلِّغْنِي مُنَايَ
And make me attain my desires!
وَلا تَقْطَعْ مِن فَضْلِكَ رَجَائِي
Do not severe my hopes of Your favours
وَاكْفِنِي شَرَّ الْجِنِّ وَالإِنْسِ مِنْ أَعْدَائِي
And spare me the evil of my enemies from among the jinn and men!
يَا سَرِيعَ الرِّضَا
O He, whose pleasure is quickly achieved!
اِغْفِرْ لِمَن لا يَمْلِكُ إِلا الدُّعَاءَ
Forgive him who owns nothing but supplication
فَإِنَّكَ فَعَّالٌ لِّمَا تَشَاءُ
For You do what You will.
يَا مَنْ اسْمُهُ دَوَاءٌ
O He whose Name is a remedy,
وَذِكْرُهُ شِفَاءٌ
And whose remembrance is a cure,
وَطَاعَتُهُ غِنًى
And whose obedience is wealth!
ارْحَم مَّن رَّأْسُ مَاِلهِ الرَّجَاءُ
Have mercy upon him whose capital is hope
وَسِلاَحُهُ الْبُكَاءُ
And whose weapon is tears!
يَا سَاِبغَ النِّعَمِ
O Ample in blessings!
يَا دَافِعَ النِّقَمِ
O Repeller of adversities!
يَا نُورَ الْمُسْتَوْحِشِينَ فِي الظُّلَمِ
O Light of those who are lonely in the darkness!
يَا عَالِمًا لا يُعَلَّمُ
O Knower who was never taught!
صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَّآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ
Bless Muhammad and Muhammad”s household!
وافْعَلْ بِي مَا أَنتَ أَهْلُهُ
And do with me what is worthy of You!
وَصَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَى رَسُولِهِ وَالأَئِمَّةِ الْمَيَامِينَ مِنْ آلِهِ
And Allah bless His messenger and the holy Imams of his household
وَسَلَّمَ تَسْلِيمًا كَثِيرًا
And give them abundant peace!