Sahifa Sajjadiya 15: Supplication When Sick

وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ عَلَى مَا أَحْدَثْتَ بِي مِنْ عِلَّةٍ فِي جَسَدِي

Wa laka al-ḥamdu ‘alā mā aḥdathta bī min ‘illatin fī jasadī

And praise be to You for the illness You brought upon my body.

فَمَا أَدْرِي يَا إِلَهِي أَيُّ الْحَالَيْنِ أَحَقُّ بِالشُّكْرِ لَكَ

Famā adrī yā ilāhī ayyu al-ḥālayni aḥaqqu bi-ash-shukri laka

For I know not, O my God, which of the two states is more worthy of gratitude to You,

وَأَيُّ الْوَقْتَيْنِ أَوْلَى بِالْحَمْدِ لَكَ

Wa ayyu al-waqtayni awlā bi-al-ḥamdi laka

and which of the two times is more deserving of praise to You:

أَوَقْتُ الصِّحَّةِ الَّتِي هَنَّأْتَنِي فِيهَا طَيِّبَاتِ رِزْقِكَ

Awaqtu aṣ-ṣiḥḥati allatī hanna’tanī fīhā ṭayyibāti rizqika

The time of health, in which You delighted me with the good provisions,

وَنَشَّطْتَنِي بِهَا لِابْتِغَاءِ مَرْضَاتِكَ وَفَضْلِكَ

Wa nashshaṭtanī bihā li-ibtighā’i marḍātika wa faḍlika

and energized me with it to seek Your pleasure and Your favor,

وَقَوَّيْتَنِي مَعَهَا عَلَى مَا وَفَّقْتَنِي لَهُ مِنْ طَاعَتِكَ

Wa qawwaytanī ma‘ahā ‘alā mā waffaqtanī lahu min ṭā‘atika

and strengthened me with it for what You enabled me to do of Your obedience?

أَمْ وَقْتُ الْعِلَّةِ الَّتِي مَحَّصْتَنِي بِهَا

Am waqtu al-‘illati allatī maḥḥaṣtanī bihā

Or the time of illness, by which You purified me,

وَالنِّعَمِ الَّتِي أَتْحَفْتَنِي بِهَا تَخْفِيفًا لِمَا ثَقُلَ بِهِ عَلَى ظَهْرِي مِنَ الْخَطِيئَاتِ

Wa an-ni‘ami allatī atḥaftanī bihā takhfīfan limā thaqula bihi ‘alā ẓahrī mina al-khaṭī’āti

and the blessings You bestowed upon me to lighten what weighed heavily on my back of sins,

وَتَطْهِيرًا لِمَا انْغَمَسْتُ فِيهِ مِنَ السَّيِّئَاتِ

Wa taṭhīran limā anghamastu fīhi mina as-sayyi’āti

and to purify what I indulged in of misdeeds,

وَتَنْبِيهًا لِتَنَاوُلِ التَّوْبَةِ

Wa tanbīhan litanāwuli at-tawbati

and as a reminder to seek repentance,

وَتَذْكِيرًا لِمَحْوِ الْحَوْبَةِ بِقَدِيمِ النِّعْمَةِ

Wa tadhkīran limaḥwi al-ḥawbati biqadīmi an-ni‘mati

and a reminder to erase sins with Your longstanding grace?

وَفِي خِلَالِ ذَلِكَ مَا كَتَبَ لِيَ الْكَاتِبَانِ مِنْ زَكِيِّ الْأَعْمَالِ

Wa fī khilāli dhālika mā kataba liya al-kātibāni min zakiyyi al-a‘māli

And amidst that, what the two angels recorded for me of pure deeds,

مَا لَا قَلْبٌ فَكَّرَ فِيهِ وَلَا لِسَانٌ نَطَقَ بِهِ وَلَا جَارِحَةٌ تَكَلَّفَتْهُ

Mā lā qalbun fakkara fīhi wa lā lisānun naṭaqa bihi wa lā jāriḥatun takallafathu

which no heart conceived, nor tongue uttered, nor limb undertook,

بَلْ إِفْضَالًا مِنْكَ عَلَيَّ وَإِحْسَانًا مِنْ صَنِيعِكَ إِلَيَّ

Bal ifḍālan minka ‘alayya wa iḥsānan min ṣanī‘ika ilayya

but as a favor from You upon me, and kindness from Your doing toward me.

أَللَّهُمَّ فَصَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ

Allāhumma faṣalli ‘alā Muḥammadin wa ālihi

O Allah, send blessings on Muhammad and his family,

وَحَبِّبْ إِلَيَّ مَا رَضِيتَ لِي

Wa ḥabbib ilayya mā raḍīta lī

and make beloved to me what You have decreed for me,

وَيَسِّرْ لِي مَا أَحْلَلْتَ بِي

Wa yassir lī mā aḥlalta bī

and ease for me what You have brought upon me,

وَطَهِّرْنِي مِنْ دَنَسِ مَا أَسْلَفْتُ

Wa ṭahhirnī min danasi mā aslaftu

and purify me from the taint of what I have committed,

وَامْحُ عَنِّي شَرَّ مَا قَدَّمْتُ

Wa imḥu ‘annī sharra mā qaddamtu

and erase from me the evil of what I have sent forth.

وَأَوْجِدْنِي حَلَاوَةَ الْعَافِيَةِ

Wa awjidnī ḥalāwata al-‘āfiyati

And grant me the sweetness of well-being,

وَأَذِقْنِي بَرْدَ السَّلَامَةِ

Wa adhiqnī barda as-salāmati

and let me taste the coolness of safety.

وَاجْعَلْ مَخْرَجِي عَنْ عِلَّتِي إِلَى عَفْوِكَ

Wa ij‘al makhrajī ‘an ‘illatī ilā ‘afwika

And make my escape from my illness to Your pardon,

وَمُتَحَوَّلِي عَنْ صَرْعَتِي إِلَى تَجَاوُزِكَ

Wa mutaḥawwalī ‘an ṣar‘atī ilā tajāwuzika

and my transition from my affliction to Your forbearance,

وَخَلَاصِي مِنْ كَرْبِي إِلَى رَوْحِكَ

Wa khalāṣī min karbī ilā rawḥika

and my deliverance from my distress to Your relief,

وَسَلَامَتِي مِنْ هَذِهِ الشِّدَّةِ إِلَى فَرَجِكَ

Wa salāmatī min hādhihi ash-shiddati ilā farajika

and my safety from this hardship to Your ease.

إِنَّكَ الْمُتَفَضِّلُ بِالْإِحْسَانِ الْمُتَطَوِّلُ بِالِامْتِنَانِ الْوَهَّابُ الْكَرِيمُ ذُو الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ

Innaka al-mutafaḍḍilu bi-al-iḥsāni al-mutaṭawwilu bi-al-imtināni al-wahhābu al-karīmu dhū al-jalāli wa al-ikrāmi

For You are the Benefactor with kindness, the Bountiful with grace, the Generous Giver, Possessor of majesty and honor.

أللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ عَلَى مَا لَمْ أَزَلْ أَتَصَرَّفُ فِيهِ مِنْ سَلاَمَةِ بَدَنِي،

al-laahum-ma lakal-h'am-du a'laa maa lam azal atas'ar-rafu feehee min salaamati badanee

1.O God, to You belongs praise for the good health of my body which lets me move about,

وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ عَلَى مَا أَحْدَثْتَ بِيْ مِنْ عِلَّة فِي جَسَـدِي.

wa lakal-h'am-du a'laa maaa ah'-dath-ta bee min i'l-latin fee jasadee

2.and to You belongs praise, for the ailments which You causest to arise in my flesh!

فَمَا أَدْرِي يَـا إلهِي، أَيُّ الْحَالَيْنِ أَحَقُّ بِالشُّكْرِ لَكَ،

famaaa ad-ree yaaa ilaahee ay-yul-h'aalay-ni ah'aq-qu bish-shuk-ri laka?

3.For I know not, my God, which of the two states deserves more my thanking You

وَأَيُّ الْوَقْتَيْنِ أوْلَى بِالْحَمْدِ لَكَ،

wa ay-yul-waq-tay-ni aw-laa bil-h'am-di laka?

4.and which of the two times is more worthy for my praise of You:

أَوَقْتُ الصِّحَةِ الَّتِي هَنَّـأْتَنِي فِيهَا طَيِّبَاتِ رِزْقِكَ،

awaq-tus'-s'ih'-h'atil-latee han-naa-tanee feehaa t'ay-yibaati riz-qik

5.the time of health, within which You makest me delight in the agreeable things of Your provision,

وَنَشَّطْتَنِي بِهَا لابْتِغاءِ مَرْضَاتِكَ وَفَضْلِكَ،

wa nash-shat'-tanee bihaa liab-tighaaa-i mar-z''aatika wafaz''-lik

6.through which You givest me the joy to seek the means to Your good pleasure and bounty,

وَقَوَّيْتَنِي مَعَهَا عَلَى مَـا وَفَّقْتَنِي لَهُ مِنْ طَـاعَتِـكَ

wa qaw-way-tanee maa'haa a'laa maa waf-faq-tanee lahoo min t'aaa'tika?

7.and by which You strengthenest me for the acts of obedience which You hast given me success to accomplish;

أَمْ وَقْتُ الْعِلَّةِ الَّتِي مَحَّصْتَنِي بِهَا،

am waq-tul-i'l-latil-latee mah'-h'as'-tanee bihaa

8.or the time of illness through which You puttest me to the test

وَالنِّعَمِ الَّتِي أَتْحَفْتَنِي بِهَا

wan-nia'mi al-lateee at-h'af-tanee bihaa?

9.and bestowest upon me favours:

تَخْفِيفاً لِمَا ثَقُلَ بِهِ عَلَى ظَهري مِنَ الْخَطِيئاتِ

takh-feefal-limaa thaqula a'laa z'ah-ree minal-khat'ee-aat

10.lightening of the offenses that weigh down my back,

وَتَطْهيراً لِمَا انْغَمَسْتُ فيهِ مِنَ السَّيِّئاتِ ،

wa tat'-heeral-liman-ghamas-tu feehee minas-say-yi-aat

11.purification of the evil deeds into which I have plunged,

وَتَنْبِيهاً لِتَنَاوُلِ التَّوْبَةِ، وَتَذْكِيراً لِمَحْوِ الْحَوْبَةِ بِقَدِيمِ النِّعْمَةِ،

wa tambeehal-litanaawlit-taw-bah wa tad'-keeral-limah'-wil-h'aw-bati biqadeemin-nia'-mah

12.incitement to reach for repentance, reminder of the erasure of misdeeds through ancient favour;

وَفِي خِلاَلِ ذَلِكَ مَا كَتَبَ لِيَ الْكَاتِبَانِ

wa fee khilaali d'alika maa kataba leeal-kaatibaani

13.and, through all that, what the two writers write for me:

مِنْ زَكِيِّ الأعْمَالِ، مَا لا قَلْبٌ فَكَّرَ فِيهِ،

min zaky-yil-aa'-maal maa laa qal-bun fak-kara feeh

14.blameless acts, which no heart had thought,

وَلا لِسَانٌ نَطَقَ بِهِ وَلاَ جَارِحَةٌ تَكَلَّفَتْهُ بَلْ إفْضَالاً مِنْكَ عَلَيَّ،

wa laa lisaanun-nat'aqa bih wa laa jaarih'atun takal-lafat-h bal if-z''aalam-minka a'lay

15.no tongue had uttered, and no limb had undertaken, rather, as Your bestowal of bounty upon me

وَإحْسَاناً مِنْ صَنِيعِـكَ إلَيَّ.

wa ih'-saanam-min s'aneei'ka ilay

16.and the beneficence of Your benefaction toward me.

أللَّهُمَّ فَصَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّـد وَآلِـهِ

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

17.O God, bless Muhammad and his Household,

وَحَبِّبْ إلَيّ مَـا رَضِيتَ لِي ،

wa h'ab-bib ilay-ya maa raz''eeta lee

18.make me love what You hast approved for me,

وَيَسِّرْ لِي مَا أَحْلَلْتَ بِيْ،

wa yas-sir lee maaa ah'-lal-ta bee

19.make easy for me what You hast sent down upon me,

وَطَهِّرْنِي مِنْ دَنَسِ مَا أَسْلَفْتُ ،

wa t'ah-hir-nee min danasi maaa as-laf-t

20.purify me of the defilement of what I have sent ahead,

وَامْحُ عَنِّي شَرَّ مَا قَـدَّمْتُ،

wam-hoo a'n-nee shar-ra maa qad-dam-t

21.erase the evil of what I have done beforehand,

وَأَوْجِدْنِي حَلاَوَةَ الْعَافِيَةِ ، وَأَذِقْنِي بَرْدَ السَّلاَمَةِ

wa aw-jid-nee h'alaawatal-a'afeeah wa ad'iq-nee bar-das-salaamah

22.let me find the sweetness of well-being, let me taste the coolness of safety,

وَاجْعَلْ مَخْرَجِي عَنْ عِلَّتِي إلَى عَفْوِكَ،

waj-a'l makh-rajee a'n i'l-lateee ilaa a'f-wik

23.and appoint for me a way out from my illness to Your pardon,

وَمُتَحَوَّلِي عَنْ صَرْعَتِي إلَى تَجَاوُزِكَ،

wa mutah'aw-walee a'n s'ar-a'teee ilaa tajaawuzik

24.transformation of my infirmity into Your forbearance,

وَخَلاصِي مِنْ كَرْبِي إلَى رَوْحِكَ،

wa khalaas'ee min kar-beee ilaa raw-h'ik

25.escape from my distress to Your refreshment,

وَسَلاَمَتِي مِنْ هَذِهِ الشِّدَّةِ إلَى فَرَجِكَ،

wa salaamatee min hd'ihish-shid-dati ilaa farajik

26.and safety from this hardship in Your relief!

إنَّكَ الْمُتَفَضِّلُ بِالإِحْسَانِ،

in-nakal-mutafaz''-z''ilu bil-ih'-saan

27.You art gratuitously bountiful in beneficence,

الْمُتَطَوِّلُ بِالامْتِنَانِ، الْوَهَّابُ الْكَرِيمُ،

al-mutat'aw-wilu biiam-tinaan al-wah-haabul-kareem

28.ever gracious in kindness, the Generous, the Giver,

ذُو الْجَلاَلِ وَالإكْرَامِ

d'ool-jalaali wal-ik-raam

29.Possessor of majesty and munificence!