Imam Ali’s Prayer

سُبْحَانَ مَنْ لاَ تَبِيدُ مَعَالِمُهُ

subhana man la tabeedu ma`alimuhu

Glory be to Him Whose signs never perish.

سُبْحَانَ مَنْ لاَ تَنْقُصُ خَزَائِنُهُ

subhana man la tanqusu khaza'inuhu

Glory be to Him Whose reserves never downgrade.

سُبْحَانَ مَنْ لاَ ٱضْمِحْلاَلَ لِفَخْرِهِ

subhana man la idhmihlala lifakhrihee

Glory be to Him Whose honor never vanishes.

سُبْحَانَ مَنْ لاَ يَنْفَدُ مَا عِنْدَهُ

subhana man la yanfadu ma `indahu

Glory be to Him Whose possessions never run out.

سُبحَانَ مَنْ لاَ ٱنْقِطَاعَ لِمُدَّتِهِ

subhana man la inqita`a limuddatihee

Glory be to Him Whose duration (of existence) is never interrupted.

سُبْحَانَ مَنْ لاَ يُشَارِكُ اَحَداً فِي اَمْرِهِ

subhana man la yushariku ahadan fee amrihee

Glory be to Him Who never betakes to Himself a partner in His affairs.

سُبْحَانَ مَنْ لاَ إِلٰهَ غَيْرُهُ

subhana man la ilaha ghayruhu

Glory be to Him save Whom there is no god.

يَا مَنْ عَفَا عَنِ ٱلسَّيِئَاتِ وَلَمْ يُجَازِ بِهَا

ya man `afa `ani alssayyi'ati wa lam yujazi biha

O He who overlooks sins and does not inflict punishment in return,

إرْحَمْ عَبْدَكَ يَا اللَّهُ

irham `abdaka ya allahu

(please) have mercy on Your servant, O Allah,

نَفْسِي نَفْسِي

nafsee nafsee

that is I myself, that is I myself.

اَنَا عَبْدُكَ يَا سَيّْدَاهُ

ana `abduka ya sayyidahu

I am Your servant, O my Chief,

اَنَا عَبْدُكَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْكَ يَا رَبَّاهُ

ana `abduka bayna yadayka ya rabbahu

I am Your servant; I am at Your disposal; O my Lord.

إِلٰهِي بِكَيْنُونَتِكَ يَا اَمَلاَهُ

ilahee bikaynunatika ya amalahu

O my God, in the name of Your Being, O my Hope,

يَا رَحْمٰنَاهُ يَا غِيَاثَاهُ

ya rahmanahu ya ghiyathahu

O my All-beneficent, O my Supporter,

عَبْدُكَ عَبْدُكَ لاَ حِيلَةَ لَهُ

`abduka `abduka la heelata lahu

Your servant, Your servant, has no strategy.

يَا مُنتَهىٰ رَغْبَتَاهُ

ya muntaha raghbatahu

O Ultimate of my desire!

يَا مُجْرِيَ ٱلدَّمِ فِي عُرُوقِ عَبْدِكَ

ya mujriya alddami fee `uruqee `abdika

O He Who makes blood run into the veins of Your slave!

يَا سَيِّدَاهُ يَا مَالِكَاهُ

ya sayyidahu ya malikahu

O my Chief, O my Master!

اَيَا هُوَ اَيَا هُوَ يَا رَبَّاهُ

aya huwa aya huwa ya rabbahu

O He Who is Unique! O He Who is Unique! O my Lord!

عَبْدُكَ عَبْدُكَ

`abduka `abduka

I—Your servant, Your servant—

لاَ حِيلَةَ لِي وَلاَ غِنىٰ بِي عَنْ نَفسِْي

la heelata lee wa la ghinan bee `an nafsee

have no strategy and I cannot avail myself

وَلاَ اَسْتَطِيعُ لَهَا ضَرّاً وَلاَ نَفْعاً

wa la astatee`u laha dharran wa la naf`an

and I have no control over loss or over profit.

وَلاَ اَجِدُ مَنْ اُصَانِعُهُ

wa la ajidu man usani`uhu

I do not find anyone from whom I may seek help;

تَقَطَّعَتْ اَسْبَابُ ٱلْخَدَائِعِ عَنِّي

taqatta`at asbabu alkhada'i`i `annee

so, all profitable avenues have been blocked,

وَاضْمَحَلَّ كُلُّ مَظْنُونٍ عنِّي

wadhmahalla kullu ma¨nunin `annee

and all my expectations have turned into disappointments.

اَفْرَدَنِِي ٱلدَّهْرُ إِلَيْكَ

afradanee alddahru ilayka

Helpless and forsaken I came to You,

فَقُمْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْكَ هٰذَا ٱلْمَقَامَ

faqumtu bayna yadayka hadha almaqama

So, I have presented myself before You in this current stand.

يَا إِلٰهِي بِعِلْمِكَ كَانَ هٰذَا كُلُّهُ

ya ilahee bi`ilmika kana hadha kulluhu

O my God, You are aware of all that which I speak about.

فَكَيْفَ اَنْتَ صَانِعٌ بِي

fakayfa anta sani`un bee

So, how would You deal with me?

وَلَيْتَ شِعْرِي كَيْفَ تَقُولُ لِدُعَائي

wa layta shi`ree kayfa taqulu lidu`a'ee

If I but knew how would You dispense with my prayer?

اَتَقُولُ نَعْمَ اَمْ تَقُولُ لاَ

ataqulu na`am am taqulu la

Would You say, ‘Yes’ or ‘No’?

فَإِنْ قُلْتَ لاَ فَيَا وَيْلِي يَا وَيْلِي يَا ويْلِي

fa-in qulta la fayawaylee yawaylee yawaylee

If You say ‘No,’ then I am ruined! I am ruined! I am ruined!

يَا عَوْلِي يَا عَوْلِي يَا عَوْلِي

ya `awlee ya `awlee ya `awlee

Woe to me! Woe to me! Woe to me!

يَا شِقْوَتِي يَا شِقْوَتِي يَا شِقْوَتِي

ya shiqwatee ya shiqwatee ya shiqwatee

Oh my misery! Oh my misery! Oh my misery!

يَا ذُلّي يَا ذُلِّي يَا ذُلِّي

ya dhullee ya dhullee ya dhullee

Oh my ill-luck! Oh my ill-luck! Oh my ill-luck!

إِلَىٰ مَنْ وَمِمَّنْ

ila man wa mimman

To whom? By Whom?

اَوْ عِنْدَ مَنْ اَوْ كَيْفَ اَوْ مَاذَا

aw `inda man aw kayfa aw madha

From whom? How? What?

اَوْ إِلَىٰ اَيِّ شَيْءٍ اَلْجَاُ

aw ila ayyi shay'in alja'u

In which place to take shelter?

وَمَنْ اَرْجُو

wa man arju

For whom shall I hope?

وَمَنْ يَجُودُ عَلَيَّ بِفَضْلِهِ حِينِ تَرْفُضُنِي

wa man yajudu `alayya bifadhlihee heena tarfudhunee

Who shall bestow upon me with his favor when You forsake me?

يَا وَاسِعَ ٱلْمَغْفِرَةِ

ya wasi`a almaghfirati

O Liberal in forgiveness!

وَإِنْ قُلْتَ نَعَمْ كَمَا هُوَ ٱلظَّنُّ بِكَ وَٱلرَّجَاءُ لَكَ

wa in qulta na`am kama huwa al¨¨annu bika walrraja'u laka

But if You say ‘Yes,’ as I expect You to say and as I desire from You,

فَطُوبَىٰ لِي اَنَا ٱلسَّعيدُ وَاَنَا ٱلْمَسْعُودُ

fatuba lee ana alssa`eedu wa ana almas`udu

then joy is for me, I am successful, I am happy;

فَطُوبِي لِي وَاَنَا ٱلْمَرْحُومُ

fatuba lee wa ana almarhumu

then joy is for me, I will receive (Your) mercy.

يَا مُتَرَحِّمُ يَامُتَرَئِّفُ

ya mutarahhimu ya mutara'ifu

O Ever-merciful! O Ever-compassionate!

يَا مُتَعَطِّفُ يَا يَا مُتَحَنِّنُ

ya muta`attifu ya mutahanninu

O Ever-sympathetic! O Ever-commiserating!

يَا مُتَمَلِّكُ يَا مُقْسِطُ

ya mutamalliku ya muqsitu

O Ever-sovereign! O Just!

لاَ عَمَلَ لِي اَبْلُغُ بِهِ نَجَاحَ حَاجَتِي

la `amala lee ablughu bihee najaha hajatee

I lack any act due to which I can attain achievement of my desire.

اَسْاَلُكَ بِٱسْمِكَ ٱلَّذِي جَعَلْتَهُ فِي مَكْنُونِ غَيْبِكَ

as'aluka bismika alladhee ja`altahu fee maknuni ghaybika

I thus beseech You in the name of Your Name which You have reserved in the innermost of Your Hidden Knowledge

وَٱسْتَقَرَّ عِنْدَكَ فَلاَ يَخْرُجُ مِنْكَ إِلىٰ شَيْءٍ سِوَاكَ

wastaqarra `indaka fala yakhruju minka ila shay'in siwaka

and it has thus settled with You so firmly that nothing of it can come out from You to any other thing.

اَسْاَلُكَ بِهِ وَبِكَ فَإنَّهُ اَجَلُّ وَاَشْرَفُ اَسْمَائِكَ

as'aluka bihee wa bika fa'innahu ajallu wa ashrafu asma'ika

I beseech You by it and by You, for it is certainly the most exalted and honored of Your Names.

لاَ شَيْءَ لِي غَيْرُ هٰذَا

la shay'a lee ghayru hadha

I have nothing to mention except this,

وَلاَ اَحَدَ اَعْوَدُ عَلَيَّ مِنْكَ

wa la ahada a`wadu `alayya minka

and no one can be more beneficent to me than You.

يَا كَيْنُونُ يَا مُكَوِّنُ

ya kaynunu ya mukawwinu

O Absolute Being! O Creator of creation!

يَا مَنْ عَرَّفَنِي نَفْسَهُ

ya man `arrafanee nafsahu

O He Who has introduced Himself to me!

يَا مَنْ اَمَرَنِي بِطَاعَتِهِ

ya man amaranee bita`atihee

O He Who has commanded me to obey Him!

يَا مَنْ نَهَانِي عَنْ مَعْصِيَتِهِ

ya man nahanee `an ma`siyatihee

O He Who has warned me against disobeying Him!

وَيَا مَدْعُوُّ يَا مَسْؤُولُ

wa ya mad`uwwu ya mas'ulu

O He Who is besought! O He Who is pleaded!

يَا مَطْلُوباً إِلَيْهِ

ya matluban ilayhi

O He Who is desired!

رَفَضْتُ وَصِيَّتَكَ ٱلَّتِي اَوْصَيْتَنِي وَلَمْ اُطِعْكَ

rafadhtu wasiyyataka allatee awsaytanee wa lam uti`ka

I have overlooked Your instructions, which You gave me and have not obeyed You.

وَلَوْ اَطَعْتُكَ فِيمَا اَمَرْتَنِي لَكَفَيْتَنِي مَا قُمْتُ إِلَيْكَ فيهِ

wa law ata`tuka feema amartanee lakafaytanee ma qumtu ilayka feehi

If I obeyed You in what You have ordered me, You would certainly grant my requests that I am presenting before You.

وَاَنَا مَعَ مَعْصِيَتِي لَكَ رَاجٍ

wa ana ma`a ma`siyatee laka rajin

In spite of my transgression, I am hopeful for You.

فَلاَ تَحُلْ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ مَا رَجَوْتُ

fala tahul baynee wa bayna ma rajawtu

So, do not let my hope remain unfulfilled.

يَا مُتَرَحِّماً لِي اَعِذْنِي مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيَّ وَمِنْ خَلْقِي

ya mutarahhiman lee a`idhnee min bayni yadayya wa min khalfee

O He Who always has mercy upon me, keep me safe, under Your protection, from (all evils that are) before me, behind me,

وَمِنْ فَوْقِي وَمِنْ تَحْتِي

wa min fawqee wa min tahtee

above me, below me,

وَمِنْ كُلِّ جِهَاتِ ٱلإِحَاطَةِ بِي

wa min kulli jihati al-ihatati bee

and from all sides that surround me.

اَللَّهُمَّ بِمُحَمَّدٍ سَيِّدِي

allahumma bimuhammadin sayyidee

O Allah, [I beseech You] in the name of Muhammad, my master,

وَبِعَلِيٍّ وَلِيِّي

wa bi`aliyyin waliyyee

and [in the name of] `Ali, my chief,

وَبِٱلاَئِمَّةِ ٱلرَّاشِدِينَ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلسَّلاَمُ

wa bil-a'immati alrrashideena `alayhimu alssalamu

and [in the names of] the orthodox Imams (leaders), peace be upon them,

ٱجْعَلْ عَلَيْنَا صَلَوَاتِكَ وَرَأفَتَكَ وَرَحْمتَكَ

ij`al `alayna salawatika wa ra'fataka wa rahmataka

(please) bestow upon us with Your blessings, compassions, and mercy;

وَاَوسِعْ عَلَيْنَا مِنْ رِزْقِكَ

wa awsi` `alayna min rizqika

and grant us expansive shares of Your sustenance;

وَٱقْضِ عَنَّا ٱلدَّيْنَ وَجَميعَ حَوَائِجِنَا

waqdhi `anna alddayna wa jamee`a hawa'ijina

and help us repay our debts and settle all our needs,

يَا اللَّهُ يَا اللَّهُ يَا اللَّهُ

ya allahu ya allahu ya allahu

O Allah, O Allah, O Allah.

إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَديرٌ

innaka `ala kulli shay'in qadeerun

Verily, You have full power over all things.

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ ٱلنَّبِيِّ ٱلْعَرَبِيِّ وَآلِهِ

allahumma salli `ala alnnabiyyi al`arabiyyi wa alihee

O Allah, send blessings to the Arab Prophet and on his Household.