Imam al-Husayn’s Prayer

اَللَّهُمَّ اَنْتَ الَّذِي ٱسْتَجَبْتَ لآِدَمَ وَحَوَّاءَ إِذْ قَالاَ

allahumma anta alladhee istajabta li-adama wa hawwa'a idh qala

O Allah, it is You who responded to Adam and Eve when they both said,

«رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا اَنْفُسَنَا

rabbana ¨alamna anfusana

“Our Lord! We have been unjust to ourselves,

وَإِنْ لَمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا

wa in lam taghfir lana wa tarhamna

and if You forgive us not and have not mercy on us,

لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْخَاسِرِينَ.»

lanakunanna mina alkhasireena

we shall certainly be of the losers.”

وَنَادَاكَ نُوحٌ فَٱسْتَجَبْتَ لَهُ

wa nadaka nuhun fastajabta lahu

And when Noah cried to You, You answered him

وَنَجَّيْتَهُ وَاَهْلَهُ مِنَ ٱلكَرْبِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ

wa najjaytahu wa ahlalu mina al-karb al`a¨eemi

and delivered him and his family from the great calamity.

وَاَطْفَاْتَ نَارَ نُمْرُودَ عَنْ خَلِيلِكَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ

wa atfa'ta nara numruda `an khaleelika ibraheema

And it is You who extinguished the fire of Nimrod for Your intimate friend Abraham

فَجَعَلْتَهَا بَرْداً وَسَلاماً

faja`altaha bardan wa salaman

and thus changed it into coldness and peace.

وَاَنْتَ ٱلَّذِي ٱسْتَجَبْتَ لاَيُّوبَ إِذْ نَادَىٰ

wa anta alladhee istajabta li-ayyuba idh nada

And it is You Who responded to Job when he cried to You, saying,

«إِنِّي مَسَّنِيَ ٱلضُّرُّ وَاَنْتَ اَرْحَمُ ٱلرَّاحِمِينَ.»

innee massaniya aldhdhurru wa anta arhamu alrrahimeena

“Harm has afflicted me, and You are the most Merciful of all those who show mercy.”

فَكَشَفْتَ مَا بِهِ مِنْ ضُرٍّ

fakashafta ma bihee min dhurrin

Therefore, You took off what harm he had,

وَآتَيْتَهُ اَهْلَهُ وَمِثْلَهُمْ مَعَهُمْ

wa ataytahu ahlahu wa mithlahum ma`ahum

and You gave him his family and the like of them with them:

رَحْمَةً مِنْ عِنْدِكَ وَذِكْرَىٰ لاُِوْلِي ٱلاَلْبَابِ

rahmatan min `indika wa dhikra li-ulil-albabi

a mercy from You and a reminder to the owners of sound intellects.

وَاَنْتَ ٱلَّذِي ٱسْتَجَبْتَ لِذِي ٱلنُّونِ

wa anta alladhee istajabta lidhilnnuni

And it is You Who responded to Dhu’l-Nun (i.e. Prophet Jonah)

حِينَ نَادَاكَ فِي ٱلظّلُمَاتِ

heena nadaka fee al¨¨ulumati

when he cried through the depths of darkness,

اَنْ لاَ إِلٰهَ إِلاَّ اَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ

an la ilaha illa anta subhanaka

“There is no god but You. Glory be to You.

إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّالِمِينَ

innee kunti mina al¨¨alimeena

I was indeed of those who are wrong!”

فَنَجَّيْتَهُ مِنَ ٱلغَمِّ

fanajjaytahu mina alghammi

So, You delivered him from distress.

وَاَنْتَ ٱلَّذِي ٱسْتَجَبْتَ لِمُوسَىٰ وَهَارُونَ دَعْوَتَهُمَا

wa anta alladhee istajabta limusa wa haruna da`watahuma

And it is You Who responded to the prayer of Moses and Aaron

حِينَ قُلْتَ «قَدْ اُجِيبَتْ دَعْوَتُكُمَا فَٱسْتَقِيمَا.»

heena qulta qad ujeebat da`watukuma fastaqeema

when You said, “Accepted is your prayer! So, stand you straight.”

وَاَغْرَقْتَ فِرعَوْنَ وَقَوْمَهُ

wa aghraqta fir`awna wa qawmahu

You thus drowned Pharaoh and his people.

وَغَفَرْتَ لِدَاوُودَ ذَنْبَهُ

wa ghafarta lidawuda dhanbahu

You forgave the sin of David

وَتُبْتَ عَلَيْهِ رَحْمَةً مِنْكَ وَذِكْرَىٰ

wa tubta `alayhi rahmatan minka wa dhikra

and accepted his repentance out of Your mercy and as a reminder.

وَفَدَيْتَ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بِذِبْحٍ عَظِيمٍ

wa fadayta isma`eela bidhibhin `a¨eemin

You ransomed Ishmael with a momentous sacrifice

بَعْدَ مَا اَسْلَمَ وَتَلَّهُ لِلْجَبِينِ

ba`da ma aslama wa tallahu lil-jabeeni

after he had submitted his will and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead for sacrifice.

فَنَادَيْتَهُ بِٱلْفَرَجِ وَٱلرَّوْحِ

fanadaytahu bilfaraji walrrawhi

Hence, You called him with relief and comfort.

وَاَنْتَ ٱلَّذِي نَادَاكَ زَكَرِيَّا نِدَاءً خَفِيّاً

wa anta alladhee nadaka zakariyya nida'an khafiyyan

And it is You to Whom Zachariah cried in secret,

فَقَالَ «رَبِّ إِنِّي وَهَنَ ٱلْعَظْمُ مِنِّي

faqala rabbi innee wahana al`a¨mu minnee

praying, “O my Lord! Infirm indeed are my bones,

وَٱشْتَعَلَ ٱلرَّاْسُ شَيْباً

washta`ala alrra'su shayban

and the hair of my head has glistened with grey,

وَلَمْ اَكُنْ بِدُعَائِكَ رَبِّ شَقِيّاً.»

wa lan akun bidu`a'ika rabbi shaqiyyan

but never am I unblest, O my Lord, in my prayer to You.”

وَقُلْتَ «يَدْعُونَنَا رَغَباً وَرَهَباً

wa qulta yad`unana raghaban wa rahaban

And You said, “They used to call on Us with love and reverence

وَكَانُوا لَنَا خَاشِعِينَ.»

wa kanu lana khashi`eena

and they humbled themselves before Us.”

وَاَنْتَ ٱلَّذِي ٱسْتَجَبْتَ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوٱ ٱلصَّالِحَاتِ

wa anta alladhee istajabta lilladheena amanu wa `amilu alssalihati

And it is You Who responded to those who had believed and done good deeds

لِتَزِيدَهُمْ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ

litazeedahum min fadhlika

so as to increase Your favor upon them.

فَلاَ تَجْعَلْنِي مِنْ اَهْوَنِ ٱلدَّاعِينَ لَكَ وَٱلرَّاغِبِينَ إِلَيْكَ

fala taj`alnee min ahwani aldda`eena laka walrraghibeena ilayka

So, (please) do not consider me the most debased suppliant and desirous to You.

وَٱسْتَجِبْ لِي كَمَا ٱسْتَجَبْتَ لَهُمْ

wastajib lee kama istajabta lahum

And respond to me in the same way as You responded to them,

بِحَقِّهِمْ عَلَيْكَ

bihaqqihim `alayka

(I beseech to You) by their right (that is incumbent) on You.

فَطَهِّرْنِي بِتَطْهِيـرِكَ

fatahhirnee bitatheerika

Purify me with Your purification,

وَتَقَبَّلْ صَلاَتِي وَدُعَائِي بِقَبُولٍ حَسَنٍ

wa taqabbal salatee wa du`a'ee biqabulin hasanin

accept my prayer and supplication in the best manner,

وَطَيِّبْ بَقِيَّةَ حَيَاتِي

wa tayyib baqiyyata hayatee

make the rest of my life good,

وَطَيِّبْ وَفَاتِي

wa tayyib wafatee

make my demise good,

وَٱخْلُفْنِي فِيمَنْ اَخْلُفُ

wakhlufnee feeman akhlufu

be the supervisor of my inheritors,

وَٱحْفَظْنِي يَا رَبِّ بِدُعَائِي

wahfa¨nee ya rabbi bidu`a'ee

safeguard me, O my Lord, through my supplication,

وَٱجْعَلْ ذُرِّيَّتِي ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً

waj`al dhurriyyatee dhurriyyatan tayyibatan

and make my offspring goodly

تَحُوطُهَا بِحِيَاطَتِكَ

tahutuha bihiyatatika

by encompassing them

بِكُلِّ مَا حُطْتَ بِهِ ذُرِّيَّةَ اَحَدٍ مِنْ اَوْلِيَائِكَ وَاَهْلِ طَاعَتِكَ

bikulli ma hutta bihee dhurriyyata ahadin min awliya'ika wa ahli ta`atika

with the same things with which You have encompassed the offspring of Your intimate saints and the people who obeyed You appropriately,

بِرَحْمَتِكَ يَا اَرْحَمَ ٱلرَّاحِمِينَ

birahmatika ya arhama alrrahimeena

out of Your mercy, O most merciful of all those who show mercy.

يَا مَنْ هُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ رَقِيبٌ

ya man huwa `ala kulli shay'in raqeebun

O You Who observes all things,

وَلِكُلِّ دَاعٍ مِنْ خَلْقِكَ مُجِيبٌ

wa likulli da`in min khalqika mujeebun

Who answers all those who supplicate to You amongst Your creatures,

وَمِنْ كُلِّ سَائِلٍ قَرِيبٌ

wa min kulli sa'ilin qareebun

and Who is close to all those who implore You!

اَسْاَلُكَ يَا لاَ إِلٰهَ إِلاَّ اَنْتَ

as'aluka ya la ilaha illa anta

I thus implore You, O He save Whom there is no god,

ٱلْحَيُّ ٱلْقَيُّومُ

alhayyu alqayyumu

O He Who is Ever-living, Self-Subsisting,

ٱلاَحَدُ ٱلصَّمَدُ

al-ahadu alssamadu

One and Only, Absolute,

ٱلَّذِي لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ

alladhee lam yalid wa lam yulad

You beget not nor are You begotten

وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُواً اَحَدٌ

wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan ahadun

and there is none like unto You.

وَبِكُلِّ ٱسْمٍ رَفَعْتَ بِهِ سَمَاءَكَ

wa bikulli ismin rafa`ta bihee sama'aka

And I implore You by all Names with which You raised Your heavens,

وَفَرَشْتَ بِهِ اَرْضَكَ

wa farashta bihee ardhaka

spread out Your earth,

وَاَرْسَيْتَ بِهِ ٱلْجِبَالَ

wa arsayta bihee aljibala

firmly fixed the mountains,

وَاَجْرَيْتَ بِهِ ٱلْمَاءَ

wa ajrayta bihee alma'a

made water flow,

وَسَخَّرْتَ بِهِ ٱلسَّحَابَ

wa sakhkharta bihee alssahaba

made the clouds subservient,

وَٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ وَٱلنُّجُومَ

walshshamsa walqamara walnnujuma

as well as the sun, the moon, the stars,

وَٱللَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ

wallayla walnnahara

the night, and the daylight,

وَخَلَقْتَ ٱلْخَلائِقَ كُلَّهَا

wa khalaqta alkhala'iqa kullaha

and created all beings.

اَسْاَلُكَ بِعَظَمَةِ وَجْهِكَ ٱلْعَظِيمِ

as'aluka bi`a¨amati wajhika al`a¨eemi

I implore You by the magnitude of Your Magnificent Face

ٱلَّذِي اَشْرَقَتْ لَهُ ٱلسَّمَاوَاتُ وَٱلاَرْضُ

alladhee ashraqat lahu alssamawatu wal-ardhu

to which the heavens and the earth shone

فَاَضَاءَتْ بِهِ ٱلظُّلُمَاتُ

fa-adha'at bihee al¨¨ulumatu

causing darkness to change into lights,

إِلاَّ صَلَّيْتَ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ

illa sallayta `ala muhammadin wa ali muhammadin

(I implore You by all these) to send blessings to Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad,

وَكَفَيْتَنِي اَمْرَ مَعَاشِي وَمَعَادِي

wa kafaytanee amra ma`ashee wa ma`adee

save me from the troubles of my living and my other life,

وَاَصْلَحْتَ لِي شَأنِي كُلَّهُ

wa aslahta lee sha'nee kullahu

amend all my affairs,

وَلَمْ تَكِلْنِي إِلَىٰ نَفْسِي طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ

wa lan takilnee ila nafsee tarfata `aynin

not to cause me to depend upon myself for even a winking of an eye,

وَاَصْلَحْتَ اَمْرِي وَاَمْرَ عِيَالِي

wa aslahta amree wa amra `iyalee

manage the affairs of my household and me,

وَكَفَيْتَنِي هَمَّهُمْ

wa kafaytanee hammahum

save me from their concerns,

وَاَغْنَيْتَنِي وَإِيَّاهُمْ مِنْ كَنْزِكَ وَخَزَائِنِكَ

wa aghnaytanee wa iyyahum min kanzika wa khaza'inika

make them and me rich out of Your treasure, hoards,

وَسَعَةِ فَضْلِكَ الَّذِي لاَ يَنْفَدُ اَبَداً

was a`ati fadhlika alladhee la yanfadu abadan

and Your expansive grace that never runs out,

وَاَثْبِتْ فِي قَلْبِي يَنَابِيعَ ٱلْحِكْمَةِ

wa athbit fee qalbee yanabee`a alhikmati

fix in my heart founts of sagacity

ٱلَّتِي تَنْفَعُنِي بِهَا

allatee tanfa`unee biha

from which I may benefit

وَتَنْفَعُ بِهَا مَنِ ٱرْتَضَيْتَ مِنْ عِبَادِكَ

wa tanfa`u biha man irtadhayta min `ibadika

and from which You may benefit Your servants with whom You are pleased,

وَٱجْعَلْ لِي مِنَ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ

waj`al lee mina almuttaqeena

choose for me an imam (i.e. leader)

فِي آخِرِ الزَّمَانِ إِمَاماً

fee akhiri alzzamani imaman

that is pious in the last of time

كَمَا جَعَلْتَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ٱلْخَلِيلَ إِمَاماً

kama ja`alta ibraheema alkhaleela imaman

in the same way as You made Abraham Your intimate friend to be a leader.

فَإِنَّ بِتَوْفِيقِكَ يَفُوزُ ٱلْفَائِزُونَ

fa-inna bitawfeeqika yafuzu alfa'izuna

Verily, only through Your guidance do the winners achieve prosperity,

وَيَتُوبُ ٱلتَّائِبُونَ

wa yatubu altta'ibuna

the repentant declare repentance,

وَيَعْبُدُكَ ٱلْعَابِدُونَ

way a`buduka al`abiduna

and the true worshippers worship You.

وَبِتَسْدِيدِكَ يَصْلُحُ ٱلصَّالِحُونَ

wa bitasdeedika yasluhu alssalihuna

And only through Your supervision do the righteous,

ٱلْمُحْسِنُونَ ٱلْمُخْبِتُونَ

almuhsinuna almukhbituna

the good-doers, those who humble themselves before You,

ٱلْعَابِدُونَ لَكَ ٱلْخَائِفُونَ مِنْكَ

al`abiduna laka alkha'ifuna minka

those who worship You sincerely, and those who fear You become righteous.

وَبِإِرْشَادِكَ نَجَا ٱلنَّاجُونَ مِنْ نَارِكَ

wa bi-irshadika naja alnnajuna min narika

And only through Your direction will those who will be delivered from Your Hellfire be saved

وَاَشْفَقَ مِنْهَا ٱلْمُشْفِقُونَ مِنْ خَلْقِكَ

wa ashfaqa minha almushfiquna min khalqika

and those who fear You, from amongst Your creatures, stand in awe of it.

وَبِخِذْلاَنِكَ خَسِرَ ٱلْمُبْطِلُونَ

wa bikhudhlanika khasira almubtiluna

But through Your disappointing them will the wrong lose,

وَهَلَكَ ٱلظَّالِمُونَ

wa halaka al¨¨alimuna

the unjust perish,

وَغَفَلَ ٱلْغَافِلُونَ

wa ghafala alghafiluna

and those distracted from You be inattentive.

اَللَّهُمَّ آتِ نَفْسِي تَقْوَاهَا

allahumma ati nafsee taqwaha

O Allah, grant my soul its piety

فَاَنْتَ وَلِيُّهَا وَمَوْلاَهَا

fa anta waliyyuha wa mawlaha

for You are its guardian and master

وَاَنْتَ خَيْرُ مَنْ زَكَّاهَا

wa anta khayru man zakkaha

and You are the best to purify it.

اَللَّهُمَّ بَيِّنْ لَهَا هُدَاهَا

allahumma bayyin laha hudaha

O Allah, show it its true guidance,

وَاَلْهِمْهَا تَقْوَاهَا

wa alhimha taqwaha

inspire it with what is good for it,

وَبَشِّرْهَا بِرَحْمَتِكَ حِينَ تَتَوَفَّاهَا

wa bashshirha birahmatika heena tatawaffaha

carry to it the good news of Your mercy when You grasp it,

وَنَزِّلْهَا مِنَ ٱلْجِنَانِ عُلْيَاهَا

wa nazzilha mina aljinani `ulyaha

lodge it in the highest positions of the gardens of Paradise,

وَطَيِّبْ وَفَاتَهَا وَمَحْيَاهَا

wa tayyib wafataha wa mahyaha

make good its death and life,

وَاَكْرِمْ مُنْقَلَبَهَا وَمَثْوَاهَا

wa akrim munqalabaha wa mathwaha

and honor its place and abode

وَمُسْتَقَرَّهَا وَمَأوَاهَا

wa mustaqarraha wa ma'waha

and its dwelling and house,

فَاَنْتَ وَلِيُّهَا وَمَوْلاَهَا

fa anta waliyyuha wa mawlaha

for You are its guardian and master.