Sahifa Sajjadiya 13: In Seeking Needs from God

أللَّهُمَّ يَا مُنْتَهَى مَطْلَبِ الْحَاجَاتِ

al-laahum-ma yaa muntahaa mat'-labil-h'aajaat

1O God, O ultimate object of needs!

وَيَا مَنْ عِنْدَه نَيْلُ الطَّلِبَاتِ

wa yaa man i'ndahoo nay-lut'-t'alibaat

2O He through whom requests are attained!

وَيَا مَنْ لا يَبِيْعُ نِعَمَهُ بالأثْمَانِ

wa yaa mal-laa yabeeu' nia'mahoo bil-ath-maan

3O He whose favours are not bought by prices!

وَيَا مَنْ لا يُكَدِّرُ عَطَايَاهُ بِالامْتِنَانِ

wa yaa mal-laa yukad-diru a't'aayaahoo biiam-tinaan

4O He who does not muddy His gifts by the imposition of obligations!

وَيَا مَنْ يُسْتَغْنَى بِهِ وَلاَ يُسْتَغْنَى عَنْهُ

wa yaa may-yus-tagh-naa bihee wa laa yus-tagh-naa a'n-h

5O He along with whom nothing is needed and without whom nothing can be done!

وَيَا مَنْ يُرْغَبُ إلَيْهِ وَلا يُرْغَبُ عَنْهُ.

wa yaa may-yur-ghabu ilay-hee wa laa yur-ghabu a'n-h

6O He toward whom desire is ever directed and never turned away!

وَيَا مَنْ لا تُفنى خَزَآئِنَهُ الْمَسَائِلُ

wa yaa mal-laa tuf-nee khazaaa-inahul-masaaa-il

7O He whose treasuries cannot be exhausted by demands!

وَيَا مَنْ لاَ تُبَدِّلُ حِكْمَتَهُ الْوَسَائِلُ.

wa yaa mal-laa tubad-dilu h'ik-matahul-wasaaa-il

8O He whose wisdom cannot be altered by any means!

وَيَا مَنْ لاَ تَنْقَطِعُ عَنْهُ حَوَائِجُ الْمُحْتَاجِينَ

wa yaa mal-laa tanqat'iu' a'n-hoo h'awaaa-ijul-muh'-taajeen

9O He from whom the needs of the needy are never cut off!

وَيَا مَنْ لاَ يُعَنِّيهِ دُعَاءُ الدَّاعِينَ

wa yaa mal-laa yua'n-neehee dua'aaa-ud-daae'en

10O He who is not distressed by the supplications of the supplicators!

تَمَدَّحْتَ بِالْغَنَاءِ عَنْ خَلْقِكَ وَأَنْتَ أَهْلُ الْغِنَى عَنْهُمْ

tamad-dah'-ta bil-ghanaaa-i a'n khal-qik wa anta ah-lul-ghinaa a'n-hum-

11You hast lauded Yourself for having no need for Your creatures, and it suits You to have no need for them,

وَنَسَبْتَهُمْ إلَى الفَقْرِ وَهُمْ أَهْلُ الْفَقْرِ إلَيْكَ.

wa nasab-tahum ilaal-faq-r wa hum ah-lul-faq-ri ilay-k

12and You hast attributed to them poverty, and it suits them to be poor toward You.

فَمَنْ حَاوَلَ سَدَّ خَلَّتِهِ مِنْ عِنْدِكَ

faman h'aawala sad-da khal-latihee min i'ndik

13So he who strives to remedy his lack through what is with You

وَرَامَ صَرْفَ الْفَقْر عَنْ نَفْسِهِ بِكَ فَقَدْ طَلَبَ حَاجَتَهُ

wa raama s'ar-fal-faq-ri a'n-naf-sihee bik faqad t'alaba h'aajatahoo

14and wishes to turn poverty away from himself through You has sought his need

فِي مَظَانِّها وَأَتَى طَلِبَتَهُ مِنْ وَجْهِهَا

fee? maz'aaan-nihaa wa ataa t'ilabatahoo miw-waj-hihaa

15in the most likely place and come to his request from the right quarter.

وَمَنْ تَوَجَّهَ بِحَاجَتِهِ إلَى أَحَد مِنْ خَلْقِكَ أَوْ جَعَلَهُ سَبَبَ نُجْحِهَا

wa man tawj-jaha bih'aajatiheee ilaaa ah'adim-min khal-qika aw jaa'lahoo sababa nuj-h'ihaa

16But he who turns in his need toward one of Your creatures or assigns the cause of its being granted

دُونَكَ فَقَدْ تَعَرَّضَ لِلْحِرْمَانِ

doonaka faqad t-taa'r-raz''a lil-h'ir-maan

17to other than You, has exposed himself to deprivation

وَاسْتَحَقَّ مِنْ عِنْدِكَ فَوْتَ الاِحْسَانِ

was-tah'aq-qa min i'ndika faw-tal-ih'-saan

18and deserves to miss Your beneficence.

أللَّهُمَّ وَلِي إلَيْكَ حَاجَةٌ قَـدْ قَصَّرَ عَنْهَـا جُهْدِي

al-laahum-ma wa leee ilay-ka h'aajah qad qas'-s'ara a'n-haa juh-dee

19O God, I have a need of You: my exertion has fallen short of it

وَتَقَطَّعَتْ دُونَهَا حِيَلِي

wa taqat'-t'aa't d-doonahaa h'eealee

20and my stratagems have been cut back before reaching it.

وَسَوَّلَتْ لِيْ نَفْسِي رَفْعَهَا إلَى مَنْ يَرْفَعُ حَوَائِجَهُ إلَيْكَ

wa saw-walat lee naf-see raf-a'haaa ilaa may-yar-fau' h'awaaa-ijahooo ilay-ka

21My soul induced me to present it to him who presents his needs to You

وَلاَ يَسْتَغْنِي فِي طَلِبَاتِهِ عَنْكَ

wa laa yas-tagh-nee fee t'alibaatihee a'nka

22and can do nothing without You in his requests,

وَهِيَ زَلَّةٌ مِنْ زَلَلِ الْخَاطِئِينَ

wa hee zal-latum-min zalalil-khaat'i-een

23but this is one the slips of the offenders,

وَعَثْرَةٌ مِنْ عَثَراتِ الْمُذْنِبِينَ

wa a'th-ratum-min a'tharaatil-mud'-nibeen

24one of the stumbles of the sinners!

ثُمَّ انْتَبَهْتُ بِتَذْكِيرِكَ لِي مِنْ غَفْلَتِي

thum-ma antabah-tu bitad'-keerika lee min ghaf-latee

25Then through Your reminding me, I was aroused from my heedlessness,

وَنَهَضْتُ بِتَوْفِيقِكَ مِنْ زَلَّتِي

wa nahaz''-tu bitaw-feeqika min zal-ltee

26through Your giving success, I stood up from my slip,

وَ رَجَعتُ وَنَكَصْتُ بِتَسْـدِيدِكَ عَنْ عَثْـرَتِي

wa rajaa'-tu wa nakas'-tu bitas-deedika a'n a'th-ratee

27and through Your pointing the way, I returned and withdrew from my stumble.

وَقُلْتُ: سُبْحَانَ رَبّي كَيْفَ يَسْأَلُ مُحْتَاجٌ مُحْتَاجـاً

wa qul-tu: sub-h'aana rab-bee kay-fa yas-alu muh'-taajum-muh'-taajaa?

28I said: Glory be to my Lord! How can the needy ask from the needy?

وَأَنَّى يَرْغَبُ مُعْدِمٌ إلَى مُعْدِم؟

wa an-naa yarghabu mua'-dimun ilaa mua'-dimin?

29How can the destitute beseech the destitute?

فَقَصَدْتُكَ يا إلهِي بِالرَّغْبَةِ

faqas'at-tuka yaaa ilaahee bir-ragh-bah

30So I went straight to You, my God, in beseeching,

وَأَوْفَدْتُ عَلَيْكَ رَجَائِي بِالثِّقَةِ بِكَ

wa aw-fat-tu a'lay-ka rajaaa-ee bith-thiqati bik

31and I sent You my hope with trust in You.

وَعَلِمْتُ أَنَّ كَثِيرَ مَا أَسْأَلُكَ يَسِيرٌ فِي وُجْدِكَ

wa a'lim-tu an-na katheera maaa as-aluka yaseerun fee wuj-dik

32I came to know that the many I request from You are few before Your wealth,

وَأَنَّ خَطِيرَ مَا أَسْتَوْهِبُكَ حَقِيرٌ فِيْ وُسْعِكَ

wa an-na khat'eera maaa as-taw-hibuka h'aqeerun fee wus-i'k

33the weighty I ask from You is vile before Your plenty;

وَأَنَّ كَرَمَكَ لاَ يَضِيقُ عَنْ سُؤَال أحَد

wa an-na karamaka laa yaz''eequ a'n soo-aali ah'ad

34Your generosity is not constrained by anyone's asking,

وَأَنَّ يَدَكَ بِالْعَطايا أَعْلَى مِنْ كُلِّ يَد.

wa an-na yadaka bil-a't'aayaaa aa'-laa min kul-li yad

35Your hand is higher in bestowing gifts than every hand!

أللَهُمَّ فَصَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّد وَآلِهِ وَاحْمِلْنِي بِكَرَمِكَ عَلَى التَّفَضُّلِ

al-laahum-ma fas'al-li a'laa muh'am-madiw-wa aaalih wa ah'-mil-nee bikaramika a'laat-tafaz''-z''ul

36O God, so bless Muhammad and His Household, take me through their generosity to Your gratuitous bounty

وَلاَ تَحْمِلْنِي بِعَدْلِكَ عَلَى الاسْتِحْقَاقِ

wa laa tah'-mil-nee bia'd-lika a'laalis-tih'-qaaq

37And take me not through Your justice to what I deserve!

فَما أَنَا بِأَوَّلِ رَاغِبِ رَغِبَ إلَيْكَ فَأَعْطَيْتَهُ وَهُوَ يَسْتَحِقُّ الْمَنْعَ

famaaa ana biw-wali raaghibir-raghiba ilay-ka faaa'-t'ay-tahoo wa huwa yas-tah'iq-qul-man-a'-

38I am not the first beseecher to beseech You and You bestowed upon him while he deserved withholding,

وَلاَ بِأَوَّلِ سَائِل سَأَلَكَ فَأَفْضَلْتَ عَلَيْهِ وَهُوَ يَسْتَوْجِبُ الْحِرْمَانَ.

wa laa biw-wali saaa-ilin saalaka faaf-z''al-ta a'lay-hee wa huwa yas-taw-jibul-h'ir-maan

39nor am I the first to ask from You and Your vast bounteous toward him while he merited deprivation.

أللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّد وَآلِهِ

al-laahum-ma s'al-li a'laa muh'am-madiw-wa aaalih

40O Allah, bless Muhammad and his Household,

وَكُنْ لِدُعَائِي مُجِيباً وَمِنْ نِدائِي قَرِيباً

wa kul-lidua'aa-ee mujeebaa wa min-nidaaa-ee qareebaa

41respond to my supplication, come near my call,

وَلِتَضَرُّعِي رَاحِماً وَلِصَوْتِي سَامِعاً

wa litaz''ar-rue'e raah'imaa wa lis'aw-tee saamia'a

42have mercy on my pleading, listen to my voice,

وَلاَ تَقْطَعْ رَجَائِي عَنْكَ وَلا تَبُتَّ سَبَبِي مِنْكَ

wa laa taq-t'aa' rajaaa-ee a'nk wa laa tabut-ta sababee mink

43cut not short my hope for You, sever not my thread to You,

وَلاَ تُوَجِّهْنِي فِي حَاجَتيْ هَذِهِ وَغَيْرِهَا إلى سِوَاكَ

wa laa tuwaj-jih-nee fee h'aajatee hd'ihee waghay-rihaaa ilaa siwaak

44turn not my face in this my need, and other needs, away from You,

وَتَوَلَّنِي بِنُجْحِ طَلِبَتِي وَقَضاءِ حَاجَتِي

wa tawal-lanee binuj-hee t'alibatee wa qaz''aaa-i h'aajatee

45attend for my sake to the fulfillment of my request, the granting of my need,

وَنَيْلِ سُؤْلِي قَبْلَ زَوَالِي عَنْ مَوْقِفِي هَذَا

wa nay-li soo-lee qab-la zawaalee a'm-maw-qifee had'aa

46and the attainment of what I have asked before I leave this place

بِتَيسِيرِكَ لِيَ الْعَسِيْرَ وَحُسْنِ تَقْدِيرِكَ لِي فِي جَمِيعِ الأُمُورِ.

bitay-seerika leeal-a'seer wa h'us-ni taq-deerika lee fee jameei'l-umoor

47through Your making easy for me the difficult and Your excellent ordainment for me in all affairs!

وَصَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّد وَآلِهِ صَلاَةً دَائِمَةً نَامِيَةً لاَ انْقِطَاعَ لأِبَدِهَا

wa s'al-li a'laa muh'am-madiw-wa aaalih s'alaatan daaa-imatan-naameeah laa anqit'aaa' liabadihaa

48Bless Muhammad and his Household with a permanent, ever-growing blessing, whose perpetuity has no cutting off

وَلا مُنْتَهَى لأِمَدِهَا وَاجْعَلْ ذَلِكَ عَوْناً لِيْ وَسَبَباً لِنَجَاحِ طَلِبَتِي إنَّكَ وَاسِعٌ كَرِيْمٌ.

wa laa muntahaa liamadihaa waj-a'l d'alika a'w-nal-lee wa sababal-linajaahee t'alibatee in-naka waasiu'n kareem

49and whose term knows no limit, and make that a help to me and a cause for the granting of my request! You art Boundless, Generous!

وَمِنْ حَاجَتِي يَا رَبِّ كَذَا وَكَذَا

wa min h'aajatee yaa rab-bi kad'aa wakad'aa

50And of my needs,my Lord, are such and such

وَتَذْكُرُ حَاجَتَكَ ثمّ تَسْجُـدُ وَتَقُولُ فِي سُجُودِكَ:

Then mention your need, then prostrate and say in your prostration:

فَضْلُكَ آنَسَنِي وَإحْسَانُكَ دَلَّنِي

faz''-luka aaanasanee wa ih'-saanuka dal-lanee

.Your bounty has comforted me and Your beneficence has shown the way,

فَأَسْأَلُكَ بِكَ وَبِمُحَمَّـد وَآلِهِ صَلَواتُكَ عَلَيْهمْ أَنْ لاَ تَرُدَّنِي خَائِباً.

faas-aluka bika wa bimuh'am-madiw-wa aaalihee s'alawaatuka a'lay-him al-laa tarud-danee khaaa-ibaa

.So I ask You by You and by Muhammad and his Household (Your blessings be upon them) that You sendest me not back in disappointment!