Sahifa Sajjadiya 22: Hardship, Effort, and Difficult Affairs

أَللَّهُمَّ إنَّكَ كَلَّفْتَنِي مِنْ نَفْسِي مَا أَنْتَ أَمْلَكُ بِهِ مِنِّي،

al-laahum-ma in-nak kal-laf-tanee min-naf-see maaa anta am-laku bihee min-nee

1O God, You hast charged me concerning myself with that which belongs more to You than to me.

وَقُدْرَتُكَ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَيَّ أَغْلَبُ مِنْ قُدْرَتِي،

wa qud-ratuka a'lay-hee waa'lay-ya agh-labu min qud-ratee

2Your power over it and over me is greater than my power,

فَأَعْطِنِي مِنْ نَفْسِي مَا يُرْضِيْكَ عَنِّي،

faaa'-t'inee min-naf-see maa yur-z''eeka a'n-nee

3so give me in myself what will make You pleased with me

وَخُذْ لِنَفْسِكَ رِضَاهَا مِنْ نَفْسِي فِي عَافِيَة.

wa khud' linaf-sika riz''aahaa min-naf-see fee a'afeeah

4and take for Yourself Your good pleasure in my self's well-being!

أللَّهُمَّ لاَ طَاقَةَ لِي بِالجَهْدِ ، وَلاَ صَبْرَ لِي عَلَى البَلاَءِ،

al-laahum-ma laa t'aaqata lee bil-jah-d wa laa s'ab-ra lee a'laal-balaaa

5O God, I have no endurance for effort, no patience in affliction,

وَلاَ قُوَّةَ لِي عَلَى الْفَقْرِ، فَلاَ تَحْظُرْ عَلَيَّ رِزْقِي،

wa laa qoo-wata lee a'laal-faq-r falaa tah'-z'ur a'lay-ya riz-qee

6no strength to bear poverty. So forbid me not my provision

وَلاَ تَكِلْنِيْ إلَى خَلْقِكَ بَلْ تَفَرَّدْ بِحَاجَتِي، وَتَولَّ كِفَايَتِي،

wa laa takil-neee ilaa khal-qik bal tafar-rad bih'aajatee wa tawal-la kifaayatee

7and entrust me not to Your creatures, but take care of my need alone and Yourself attend to sufficing me!

وَانْظُرْ إلَيَّ وَانْظُرْ لِي فِي جَمِيْعِ اُمُورِي،

wanz'ur ilay-ya wanz'ur lee fee jameei' umooree

8Look upon me and look after me in all my affairs,

فَإنَّكَ إنْ وَكَلْتَنِي إلَى نَفْسِي عَجَزْتُ عَنْهَا،

fa in-naka iw-wakal-taneee ilaa naf-see a'jaz-tu a'n-haa

9for if You entrust me to myself, I will be incapable before myself

وَلَمْ اُقِمْ مَا فِيهِ مَصْلَحَتُهَا،

wa lam uqim maa feehee mas'-lah'atuhaa

10and fail to undertake that in which my best interest lies.

وَإنْ وَكَلْتَنِي إلَى خَلْقِكَ تَجَهَّمُونِي،

wa iw-wakal-taneee ilaa khal-qika tajah-hamoonee

11If You entrust me to Your creatures, they will frown upon me,

وَإنْ أَلْجَأتَنِيْ إلَى قَرَابَتِي حَرَمُونِي،

wa in al-jaa-taneee ilaa qaraabatee h'aramoonee

12and if You makest me resort to my kinsfolk, they will refuse to give to me;

وَإنْ أَعْطَوْا أَعْطَوْا قَلِيْلاً نَكِداً،

wa in aa'-t'aw-aaa aa'-t'aw-a qaleelan-nakidaa

13if they give, they will give little and in bad temper,

وَمَنُّوا عَلَيَّ طَوِيلاً وَذَمُّوا كَثِيراً.

wa man-noo a'lay-ya t'aweelaw-wad'am-moo katheeraa

14making me feel long obliged and blaming me much.

فَبِفَضْلِكَ أللَّهُمَّ فَأَغْنِنِي، وَبِعَظَمَتِكَ فَانْعَشنِي،

fabifaz''-likal-laahum-ma faagh-ninee wa bia'z'amatika faan-i'sh-nee

15So through Your bounty, O God, free me from need, through Your mightiness, lift me up,

وَبِسَعَتِكَ فَابْسُطْ يَدِي، وَبِمَا عِنْدَكَ فَاكْفِنِي.

wa bisaa'tika fab-sut' yadee wa bimaa i'ndaka fak-finee

16through Your boundless plenty, open my hand, and with that which is with You, suffice me!

أللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّد وَآلِهِ،

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

17O God, bless Muhammad and his Household,

وَخَلِّصْنِي مِنَ الْحَسَدِ، وَاحْصُرْنِي عَن الذُّنُوبِ،

wa khal-lis'-nee minal-h'asad wah'-s'ur-nee a'nid'-d'unoob

18rid me of envy, encircle me against sins,

وَوَرِّعْنِي عَنِ الْمَحَارِمِ، وَلا تُجَرِّئْنِي عَلَى الْمَعَاصِي،

wa war-ria'-nee a'nil-mah'aarim wa laa tujar-ri-nee a'laal-maa'as'ee

19make me abstain from things unlawful, give me not the boldness of disobedient acts,

وَاجْعَلْ هَوايَ عِنْدَكَ، وَرِضَايَ فِيمَا يَرِدُ عَلَيَّ مِنْكَ،

waj-a'l hawaaya i'ndaka wa riz''aaya feemaa yaridu a'lay-ya mink

20assign me love for that which is with You and satisfaction with that which comes to me from You,

وَبَارِكْ لِي فِيْمَا رَزَقْتَنِي، وَفِيمَا خَوَّلْتَنِي،

wa baarik lee feemaa razaq-tanee wafeemaa khaw-wal-tanee

21bless me in that which You providest me, that which You conferrest upon me,

وَفِيمَا أَنْعَمْتَ بِهِ عَلَيَّ، وَاجْعَلْنِي فِي كُلِّ حَالاَتِي

wa feemaaa an-a'm-ta bihee a'lay waj-a'l-nee fee kul-li h'aalaatee

22and that through which You favourest me, and make me in all my states

مَحْفُوظَاً مَكْلُوءاً مَسْتُوراً مَمْنُوعاً مُعَاذاً مُجَاراً.

mah'-fooz'am-mak-looo-aa mas-tooram-mam-nooa'a mua'ad'am-mujaaraa

23safeguarded, watched, covered, defended, given refuge, and granted sanctuary!

أللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّد وَآلِهِ

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

24O God, bless Muhammad and his Household

وَاقْضِ عَنِّي كُلّ مَا أَلْزَمْتَنِيهِ وَفَرَضْتَهُ عَلَيَّ لَكَ فِي وَجْه مِنْ وُجُوهِ طَاعَتِكَ،

waq-z''i a'n-nee kul-la maaa al-zam-taneehee wa faraz''-tahoo a'lay-ya laka fee waj-him-miw-wujoohee t'aaa'tik

25and let me accomplish everything which You hast enjoined upon me or made obligatory for me toward You, in one of the ways of Your obedience,

أَوْ لِخَلْق مِنْ خَلْقِكَ وَإنْ ضَعُفَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ بَدَنِي، وَوَهَنَتْ عَنْهُ قُـوَّتِي،

aw likhal-qim-min khal-qik wa in z''au'fa a'n d'alika badanee wa wahanat a'n-hoo qoo-watee

26or toward one of Your creatures, though my body be too frail for that, my strength too feeble,

وَلَمْ تَنَلْهُ مَقْدِرَتِي، وَلَمْ يَسَعْهُ مَالِي وَلاَ ذَاتُ يَدِي، ذَكَرْتُهُ أَوْ نَسِيتُهُ

wa lam tanal-hoo maq-duratee wa lam yasaa'-hoo maalee wa laa d'aatu yadee d'akar-tuhooo aw naseetuh

27my power not able to reach it, and my possessions and what my hand owns not encompass it, and whether I have remembered it or forgotten it.

هُوَ يَا رَبِّ مِمَّا قَدْ أَحْصَيْتَهُ عَلَيَّ وَأَغْفَلْتُهُ أَنَا مِنْ نَفْسِي،

huwa yaa rab-bi mim-maa qad ah'-s'ay-tahoo a'lay wa agh-fal-tuhooo ana min-naf-see

28It, my Lord, is among that which You hast counted against me while I have been heedless of it in myself.

فَأَدِّهِ عَنِّي مِنْ جَزِيْلِ عَطِيَّتِكَ وَكَثِيرِ مَا عِنْدَكَ،

faad-dihee a'n-nee min jazeeli a't'ee-yatika wa kabeeri maa i'ndaka

29Let me perform it through Your plentiful giving and the abundance which is with You

فَإنَّكَ وَاسِعٌ كَرِيمٌ حَتَّى لاَ يَبْقَى عَلَيَّ شَيْ مِنْهُ

fa in-naka waasiu'n kareemun h'at-taa laa yab-qaa a'lay-ya shay-um min-hoo

30- for You art Boundless, Generous - so that nothing of it may remain against me,

تُرِيدُ أَنْ تُقَاصَّنِي بِهِ مِنْ حَسَنَاتِي،

tureedu an tuqaaas'-s'anee bihee min h'asanaatee

31lest You wouldst wish to settle accounts for it from my good deeds

أَوْ تُضَاعِفَ بِهِ مِنْ سَيِّئاتِي يَوْمَ أَلْقَاكَ يَا رَبِّ.

aw tuz''aai'fa bihee min say-yi-aatee yaw-ma al-qaaka yaa rab

32or to compound my evil deeds on the day I meet You, my Lord!

أَللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّد وَآلِهِ

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

33O God, bless Muhammad and his Household

وَارْزُقْنِي الرَّغْبَةَ فِي الْعَمَـلِ لَكَ لآخِـرَتِي،

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

34and provide me with desire to serve You for the sake of my state in the hereafter,

حَتَّى أَعْرِفَ صِدْقَ ذلِكَ مِنْ قَلْبِي،

war-zuq-neer-ragh-bata fil-a'mali laka liakhiratee

35such that I know the truthfulness of that [desire] in my heart,

وَحَتَّى يَكُونَ الْغَالِبُ عَلَيَّ الزُّهْدُ فِي دُنْيَايَ،

wa h'at-taa yakoonal-ghaalibu a'lay-yaz-zuh-da fee dunyaay

36be dominated by renunciation while in this world,

وَحَتَّى أَعْمَلَ الْحَسَنَاتِ شَوْقاً،

wa h'at-taaa aa'-malal-h'asanaati shaw-qaa

37do good deeds with yearning,

وَآمَنَ مِنَ السَّيِّئاتِ فَرَقاً وَخَوْفاً،

wa aaamana minas-say-yi-aati faraqaw-wakhaw-faa

38and remain secure from evil deeds in fright and fear!

وَهَبْ لِي نُوراً أَمْشِي بِهِ فِي النَّاسِ، وَأَهْتَدِي بِهِ فِي الظُّلُماتِ،

wa hab lee noorana am-shee bihee fin-naas wa ah-tadee bihee feez'-z'ulumaat

39And give me 'a light whereby I may walk among the people' (ref.6:122), be guided in the shadows,

وَأَسْتَضِيءُ بِهِ مِنَ الشَّكِّ وَالشُّبُهَـاتِ .

wa as-taz''ee-u bihee minash-shak-ki wash-shubuhaat

40and seek illumination in doubt and uncertainty!

اللّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّد وَآلِهِ

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

41O God, bless Muhammad and his Household

وَارْزُقْنِي خَوْفَ غَمِّ الْوَعِيْـدِ،

war-zuq-nee khaw-fa gham-mil-wae'ed

42and provide me with fear of the threatened gloom

وَشَوْقَ ثَوَابِ الْمَوْعُودِ حَتَّى أَجِدَ لَذَّةَ مَا أَدْعُوكَ لَهُ،

wa shaw-qa thawaabil-maw-u'wdi h'at-taa ajida lad'-d'ata maaa ad-u'wka lah

43and yearning for the promised reward, such that I may find the pleasure of that for which I supplicate You

وَكَأْبَةَ مَا أَسْتَجِيرُ بِكَ مِنْهُ.

wa kaa-bata maaa as-tajeeru bika min-h

44and the sorrow of that from which I seek sanctuary in You!

أللَّهُمَّ قَـدْ تَعْلَمُ مَا يُصْلِحُنِي مِنْ أَمْرِ دُنْيَايَ وَآخِـرَتِي،

al-laahum-ma qad t-taa'-lamu maa yus'-lih'unee min am-ri dunyaaya wa aaakhiratee

45O God, You knowest what will set my affairs right in this world and the next,

فَكُنْ بِحَوَائِجِيْ حَفِيّاً.

fakum-bih'awaaa-ijee h'afee-yaa

46so be ever gracious toward my needs!

أللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّد وَآلِ مُحَمَّد

al-laahum-ma s'al-li a'laa muh'am-madiw-waaali muh'am-mad

47O God, bless Muhammad and Muhammad's Household

وَارْزُقْنِي الْحَقَّ عِنْدَ تَقْصِيرِي فِي الشُّكْرِ لَكَ

war-zuq-neel-h'aq-qa i'nda taq-s'eeree feesh-shuk-ri laka

48and provide me with what is Your right when I fall short in thanking You

بِمَا أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ فِي اليُسـرِ وَالْعُسْرِ وَالصِّحَّـةِ وَالسَّقَمِ

bimaaa an-a'm-ta a'lay-ya feel-yus-ri wal-u's-r was'-s'ih'-h'ati was-saqam

49for that through which You hast favoured me in ease and difficulty, health and sickness,

حَتَّى أَتَعَرَّفَ مِنْ نَفْسِي رَوْحَ الرِّضَا

h'at-taaa ataa'r-rafa min-naf-see raw-h'ar-riz''aa

50such that I may come to know in myself repose in satisfaction

وَطُمَأنِينَةَ النَّفْسِ مِنِّي بِمَا يَجِبُ لَكَ فِيمَا يَحْدُثُ

wa t'umaa-neenatan-naf-si min-nee bimaa yajibu lak feemaa yah'-duthu

51and serenity of soul in that which You hast made incumbent upon me

فِي حَالِ الْخَوْفِ وَالاَمْنِ،

fee h'aali al-khaw-fi wal-am-n

52in whatever states may occur: fear and security,

وَالرِّضَا وَالسُّخْطِ، وَالضَّرِّ وَالنَّفْعِ.

war-riz''aa was-sukh-t' waz''-z''ur-ri wan-naf-a'

53satisfaction and displeasure, loss and gain!

أللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّد وَآلِهِ

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

54O God, bless Muhammad and his Household

وَارْزُقْنِي سَلاَمَةَ الصَّدْرِ مِنَ الْحَسَدِ

war-zuq-nee salaamatas'-s'ad-ri minal-h'asad

55and provide me with a breast safe from envy,

حَتَّى لاَ أَحْسُدَ أَحَداً مِنْ خَلْقِكَ عَلَى شَيْء مِنْ فَضْلِكَ،

h'at-taa laaa ah'-suda ah'adam-min khal-qika a'laa shay-im-min faz''-lik

56such that I envy none of Your creatures and in anything of Your bounty

وَحَتَّى لاَ أَرى نِعْمَـةً مِنْ نِعَمِـكَ عَلَى أَحَد مِنْ خَلْقِكَ

wa h'at-taa laaa araa nia'-matam-min-nia'mika a'laaa ah'adim-min khal-qika

57and such that I see none of Your favours toward any of Your creatures

فِي دِيْن أَوْ دُنْيا، أَوْ عَافِيَة أَوْ تَقْوَى،

fee deenin aw dunyaa aw a'afeeatin aw taq-waa

58in religion or this world, well-being or reverential fear,

أَوْ سَعَة أَوْ رَخاء، إلاّ رَجَوْتُ لِنَفْسِي أَفْضَلَ ذلِكَ،

aw saa'tin aw rakhaaa- il-laa rajaw-tu linaf-seee af-z''ala d'alika

59plenty or ease, without hoping for myself better than it

بِكَ وَمِنْكَ وَحْدَكَ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَكَ.

bika wa minka wah'-daka laa shareeka lak

60through and from You alone, who hast no associate!

أللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّـد وَآلِـهِ

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

61O God, bless Muhammad and his Household

وَارْزُقْنِي التَّحَفُّظَ مِن الْخَطَايَا،

war-zuq-nee at-tah'af-fuz'a minal-khat'aayaa

62and provide me with caution against offenses

وَالاحْتِرَاسَ مِنَ الزَّلَلِ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ،

walih'-tiraasa minaz-zalali fid-dunyaa wal-aaakhirah

63and wariness against slips in this world and the next

فِي حَالِ الرِّضَا وَالْغَضَبِ،

fee h'aalir-riz''aa wal-ghaz''ab

64in the state of satisfaction and wrath,

حَتَّى أكُونَ بِمَا يَرِدُ عَلَيَّ مِنْهُمَا بِمَنْزِلَة سَوَاء،

h'at-taaa akoona bimaa yaridu a'lay-ya min-humaa bimanzilatin sawaaa

65such that I may remain indifferent toward that which enters upon me from the two states,

عَامِلاً بِطَاعَتِكَ مُؤْثِراً لِرِضَاكَ عَلَى مَا سِوَاهُمَا فِي الأَوْلِياءِ وَالأعْدَاءِ

a'amilam-bit'aaa'tika moo-thiral-liriz''aaka a'laa maa siwaahumaa fil-aw-leeaaa-i wal-aa'-daaa-i

66work toward Your obedience, and prefer it and Your good pleasure over all else in both friends and enemies.

حَتّى يَأْمَنَ عَدُوِّي مِنْ ظُلْمِي وَجَوْرِي،

h'at-taa yaa-mana a'doo-wee min z'ul-mee wa jaw-ree

67Then my enemy may stay secure from my wrongdoing and injustice

وَيَيْأَسَ وَلِيِّي مِنْ مَيْلِي وَانْحِطَاطِ هَوَايَ،

wa yay-ssa wa lee-yee mim-may-lee wa an-h'it'aat'i hawaay

68and my friend may despair of my inclination and the bent of my affection.

وَاجْعَلنِي مِمَّنْ يَدْعُوكَ مُخْلِصاً في الرَّخَاءِ

waj-a'l-nee mim-may-yad-u'wka mukh-lis'ana fir-rakhaaa-i

69Make me one of those who supplicate You with sincerity in ease

دُعَـاءَ الْمُخْلِصِينَ الْمُضْطَرِّينَ لَـكَ فِي الدُّعَاءِ

dua'aa-al-mukh-lis'eenal-muz''-t'ar-reena laka fid-dua'aa-i

70with the supplication of those who supplicate You with sincerity in distress!

إنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجيدٌ .

in-naka h'ameedum-majeed

71Verily You art Praiseworthy, Glorious.