Sahifa Sajjadiya 24: Prayer for Parents

أللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّد عَبْـدِكَ

al-laahum-ma s'al-li a'laamuh'am-madin a'b-dika

1O God, bless Muhammad, Your slave

وَرَسُولِـكَ وَأَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ الطَّاهِرِينَ،

wa rasoolika wa ah-li bay-tihit'-t'aahireena

2and Your messenger, and his Household, the pure,

وَاخْصُصْهُمْ بِأَفْضَلِ صَلَوَاتِكَ وَرَحْمَتِكَ وَبَرَكَاتِكَ وَسَلاَمِكَ،

wa akh-s'us'-hum bif-z''ali s'alawaatika wa rah'-matika wa barakaatika wa salaamik

3and single them out for the best of Your blessings, Your mercy, Your benedictions, and Your peace!

وَاخْصُصِ اللَّهُمَّ وَالِدَيَّ بِالْكَرَامَةِ لَدَيْكَ،

wa akh-s'us'il-laahum-ma waaliday-ya bil-karaamati laday-k

4And single out my parents, O God, for honour with You

وَالصَّلاَةِ مِنْكَ يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ.

was'-s'alaati minka yaaa ar-h'amar-raah'imeen

5and blessings from You, O Most Merciful of the merciful!

أللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّد وَآلِهِ

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

6O God, bless Muhammad and his Household,

وَأَلْهِمْنِي عِلْمَ مَا يَجبُ لَهُمَا عَلَىَّ إلْهَاماً،

wa al-him-nee i'l-ma maa yajibu lahumaa a'l-lay il-haamaa

7teach me through inspiration knowledge of everything incumbent upon me toward them,

وَاجْمَعْ لِي عِلْمَ ذلِكَ كُلِّهِ تَمَامـاً،

wa aj-maa' lee i'l-ma d'alika kul-lihee tamaamaa

8and gather within me knowledge of all that completely!

ثُمَّ اسْتَعْمِلْنِي بِمَا تُلْهِمُنِي مِنْـهُ،

thum-ma as-taa'-mil-nee bimaa tul-himunee min-h

9Then make me act in accordance with what You hast inspired me

وَوَفِّقْنِي لِلنُّفُوذِ فِيمَا تُبَصِّـرُنِيْ مِنْ عِلْمِهِ،

wa waf-fiq-nee liln-nufood'i feemaa tubas'-s'irunee min i'l-mih

10and give me the success to put into practice the knowledge You hast shown to me,

حَتَّى لاَ يَفُوتَنِي اسْتِعْمَالُ شَيْء عَلَّمْتَنِيْهِ،

h'at-taa laa yafootanee as-tia'-maalu shay-in a'l-lam-taneeh

11lest I fail to act according to something You hast taught me

وَلاَ تَثْقُلَ أَرْكَانِي عَنِ الْحُفُوفِ فِيمَا أَلْهَمْتَنِيهِ.

wa laa tath-qula ar-kaanee a'nil-h'ufoofi feemaaa al-ham-taneeh

12or my limbs feel too heavy to perform that with which You hast inspired me!

أللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّد وَآلِهِ

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

13O God, bless Muhammad and his Household,

كَمَا شَرَّفْتَنَا بِهِ

kamaa shar-raf-tanaa bih

14as You hast ennobled us through him,

وَصَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّد وَآلِهِ

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

15and bless Muhammad and his Household,

كَمَا أَوْجَبْتَ لَنَا الْحَقَّ عَلَى الْخَلْقِ بِسَبَبِهِ.

kamaaa aw-jab-ta lanaal-h'aq-qa a'laal-khal-qi bisababih

16as You hast made incumbent upon us rights toward the creatures because of him!

أللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِي أَهَابُهُمَا هَيْبَةَ السُّلْطَانِ الْعَسُوفِ،

al-laahum-ma aj-a'l-nee ahaabuhumaa hay-batas-sul-t'aanil-a'soof

17O God, fill me with awe of my parents, the awe one has toward a tyrannical sovereign,

وَأَبَرُّهُمَا بِرَّ الأُمِّ الرَّؤُوفِ،

wa abar-ruhumaa bir-ral-um-mir-ra-oof

18and let me be devoted to them, with the devotion of a compassionate mother!

وَاجْعَلْ طَاعَتِي لِوَالِدَيَّ وَبِرِّيْ بِهِمَا

waj-a'l t'aaa'tee liwaaliday-ya wa bir-ree bihimaa

19Make my obedience and devotion to them

أَقَرَّ لِعَيْنِي مِنْ رَقْدَةِ الْوَسْنَانِ،

aqar-ra lia'y-nee mir-raq-datil-was-naan

20more gladdening to my eyes than sleep to the drowsy

وَأَثْلَجَ لِصَدْرِي مِنْ شَرْبَةِ الظَّمْآنِ

wa ath-laja lis'ad-ree min shar-batiz'-z'am-aaan

21and more refreshing to my breast than drink to the thirsty,

حَتَّى أوثِرَ عَلَى هَوَايَ هَوَاهُمَا

hat-taaa oothira a'laa hawaaya hawaahumaa

22so that I may prefer their inclination to my inclination,

وَأُقَدِّمَ عَلَى رِضَاىَ رِضَاهُمَا وَأَسْتَكْثِرَ بِرَّهُمَا

wa uqad-dima a'laa riz''aaya riz''aahumaa wa as-tak-thira bir-rahumaa

23set their satisfaction before my satisfaction, make much of their devotion to me

بِي وَإنْ قَلَّ وَأَسْتَقِلَّ بِرِّي بِهِمَا وَإنْ كَثُرَ.

bee wa in qal wa as-taqil-la bir-ree bihimaa wa in kathur

24though it be little, and make little of my devotion to them though it be great.

أللَّهُمَّ خَفِّضْ لَهُمَا صَوْتِي،

al-laahum-ma khaf-fiz'' lahumaa s'aw-tee

25O God, lower before them my voice,

وَأَطِبْ لَهُمَا كَلاَمِي،

wa at'ib lahumaa kalaamee

26make agreeable to them my words,

وَأَلِنْ لَهُمَا عَرِيْكَتِي،

wa alil-lahumaa a'reekatee

27make mild before them my temper,

وَاعْطِفْ عَلَيْهِمَا قَلْبِي،

wa aa'-t'if a'lay-himaa qal-bee

28make tender toward them my heart,

وَصَيِّرْنِي بِهِمَا رَفِيقاً، وَعَلَيْهِمَا شَفِيقاً.

wa s'ay-yir-nee bihimaa rafeeqaw-wa a'lay-himaa shafeeqaa

29and turn me into their kind companion, their loving friend!

أللَّهُمَّ اشْكُرْ لَهُمَا تَرْبِيَتِي وَأَثِبْهُمَا عَلَى تَكْرِمَتِي،

al-laahum-ma ush-kur lahumaa tar-beeatee wa athib-humaa a'laa tak-rimatee

30O God, thank them for my upbringing, reward them for honouring me,

وَاحْفَظْ لَهُمَا مَا حَفِظَاهُ مِنِّي فِي صِغَرِي.

wa ah'-faz' lahumaa maa h'afiz'aahoo min-nee fee s'igharee

31and guard them as they guarded me in my infancy!

اللَّهُمَّ وَمَا مَسَّهُمَا مِنِّي مِنْ أَذَىً أَوْ خَلَصَ إلَيْهِمَا عَنِّي مِنْ مَكْرُوه

al-laahum-ma wa maa mas-sahumaa min-nee min ad'ana aw khalas'a ilay-himaa a'n-nee mim-mak-rooh

32O God, and whatever harm has touched them from me, detested thing has reached them from me,

أَوْ ضَاعَ قِبَلِي لَهُمَا مِنْ حَقٍّ

aw z''aaa' qibalee lahumaa min h'aq

33or right of theirs which has been neglected by me,

فَاجْعَلْهُ حِطَّةً لِذُنُوبِهِمَا

faj-a'l-h h'it'-t'atal-lid'unoobihimaa

34allow it to alleviate their sins,

وَعُلُوّاً فِي دَرَجَاتِهِمَا

wa u'loo-wan fee darajaatihimaa

35raise them in their degrees,

وَزِيَادَةً فِي حَسَنَاتِهِمَا

wa zeeaadatan fee h'asanaatihimaa

36and add to their good deeds!

يَا مُبَدِّلَ السَّيِّئاتِ بِأَضْعَافِهَا مِنَ الْحَسَنَاتِ.

yaa mubad-dilas-say-yi-aati biz''-a'afihaa minal-h'asnaat

37O He who changes evil deeds into manifold good deeds!

أللَّهُمَّ وَمَا تَعَدَّيَا عَلَيَّ فِيهِ مِنْ قَوْل،

al-laahum-ma wa maa taa'd-dayaa a'lay-ya feehee min qaw-l

38O God, whatever word through which they have transgressed against me,

أَوْ أَسْرَفَا عَلَىَّ فِيْهِ مِنْ فِعْل،

aw as-rafaa a'lay-ya feehee min fia'-l

39act through which they have been immoderate with me,

أَوْ ضَيَّعَاهُ لِي مِنْ حَقٍّ أَوْ قَصَّرا بِي عَنْهُ مِنْ وَاجِب

aw z''ay-yaa'ahoo lee min h'aq aw qas'-s'araa bee a'n-hoo miw-waajib

40right of mine which they have left neglected, or obligation toward me in which they have fallen short,

فَقَدْ وَهَبْتُهُ وَجُدْتُ بِهِ عَلَيْهِمَا،

faqad wahab-tuhoo lahumaa wa jut-tu bihee a'lay-himaa

41I grant it to them and bestow it upon them,

وَرَغِبْتُ إلَيْكَ فِي وَضْعِ تَبِعَتِهِ عَنْهُمَا

wa raghib-tu ilay-ka fee waz''-i' tabia'tihee a'n-humaa

42and I beseech You to remove from them its ill consequence,

فَإنِّي لا أَتَّهِمُهُمَا عَلَى نَفْسِي،

fa in-nee laaa at-tahimuhumaa a'laa naf-see

43for I do not accuse them concerning myself,

وَلاَ أَسْتَبْطِئُهُمَا فِي بِرِّي،

wa laaa as-tab-t'i-uhumaa fee bir-ree

44find them slow in their devotion toward me,

وَلا أكْرَهُ مَا تَوَلَّياهُ مِنْ أَمْرِي يَا رَبِّ

wa laaa ak-rahoo maa tawal-layaahoo min am-ree yaa rab

45or dislike the way they have attended to my affairs, my Lord!

فَهُمَا أَوْجَبُ حَقّاً عَلَيَّ،

fahumaaa aw-jabu h'aq-qana a'lay

46They have rights against me which are more incumbent,

وَأَقْدَمُ إحْسَانـاً إلَيَّ

wa aq-damu ih'-saanan ilayya

47precedence in beneficence toward me that is greater

وَأَعْظَمُ مِنَّةً لَـدَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ أقَاصَّهُمَا بِعَدْل،

wa aa'-z'amu min-natal-laday min an uqaaas'-s'ahumaa bia'd-l

48and kindness toward me that is mightier than that I should settle accounts with justice

أَوْ أُجَازِيَهُمَا عَلَى مِثْل،

aw ujaazeeahumaa a'laa mith-lin

49or repay them with equivalents.

أَيْنَ إذاً يَا إلهِيْ طُولُ شُغْلِهِمَا بِتَرْبِيَتِي ؟

sy-na id'ay-yaaa ilaahee t'oolu shugh-lihimaa bitarbeeatee?

50Where then, my God, would be their long occupation with bringing me up?

وَأَيْنَ شِدَّةُ تَعَبِهِمَا فِي حِرَاسَتِيْ ؟

wa ay-na shid-datu taa'bihimaa fee h'iraasatee?

51Where the hardship of their toil in taking care of me?

وَأَيْنَ إقْتَارُهُمَا عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمَا لِلتَّوْسِعَةِ عَلَيَّ؟

wa ay-na iq-taaruhumaa a'laaa anfusihimaa lilt-taw-sia'ti a'lay-ya?

52Where the stinting of themselves to provide me with plenty?

هَيْهَاتَ مَا يَسْتَوْفِيَانِ مِنِّي حَقَّهُمَا،

hay-haat maa yas-taw-feeaani min-nee h'aq-qahumaa

53What an idea! I can never discharge their right against me,

وَلاَ اُدْرِكُ مَا يَجِبُ عَلَيَّ لَهُمَا

wa laaa ud-riku maa yajibu a'lay-ya lahumaa

54fulfil my obligations toward them,

وَلا أَنَا بِقَاض وَظِيفَةَ خِدْمَتِهِمَا.

wa laaa ana biqaaz''iw-waz'eefata khid-matihimaa

55or accomplish the duty of serving them.

فَصَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّد وَآلِهِ

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

56So bless Muhammad and his Household

وَأَعِنِّي يَا خَيْرَ مَنِ اسْتُعِينَ بِهِ.

wa ai'n-nee yaa khay-ra mani as-tue'ena bih

57and help me, O Best of those whose help we seek!

وَوَفِّقْنِي يَا أَهْدَى مَنْ رُغِبَ إلَيْهِ،

wa waf-fiq-nee yaaa ah-daa mar-rughiba ilay-h

58Give me success, O Most Guiding of those whom we beseech!

وَلاَ تَجْعَلْنِي فِي أَهْلِ الْعُقُوقِ لِلآباءِوَالأُمَّهاتِ

wa laa taj-a'l-nee feee ah-lil-u'qooqi lil-abaaa-i wal-um-mahaati

59Place me not among the people of disrespect to fathers and mothers

يَوْمَ تُجْزى كُلُّ نَفْس بِمَا كَسَبَتْ وَهُمْ لاَيُظْلَمُونَ.

(yaw-ma tuj-zaa kul-lu naf-sim-bimaa kasabat wahum laa yuz'-lamoon)

60on the day when "every soul will be repaid for what it has earned, they shall not be wronged" (45:22).

أللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّد وَآلِـهِ وَذُرِّيَّتِهِ،

al-laahum-ma s'al-li a'laa muh'am-madiw-wa aaalihee wad'ur-ree-yatih

61O God, bless Muhammad, his Household, and his progeny

وَاخْصُصْ أَبَوَيَّ بِأَفْضَلِ مَا خَصَصْتَ بِهِ

wa akh-s'us' abaway-ya bif-z''ali maa khas'as'-ta biheee

62and single out my parents for the best which You hast singled out for

آبَاءَ عِبَادِكَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَاُمَّهَاتِهِمْ يَا أَرْحَمَ الـرَّاحِمِينَ.

aaabaaa-a i'baadikal-moo-mineena wum-mahaatihim- yaaa ar-h'amar-raah'imeen

63the fathers and mothers of Your faithful servants, O Most Merciful of the merciful!

أللَّهُمَّ لاَ تُنْسِنِي ذِكْرَهُمَا فِي أَدْبَارِ صَلَوَاتِي

al-laahum-ma laa tunsinee d'ik-rahumaa feee ad-baari s'alawaatee

64O God, let me not forget to remember them after my ritual prayers,

وَفِي أَناً مِنْ آناءِ لَيْلِي،

wa feee inana min aaanaaa-i lay-lee

65at every time throughout my night,

وَفِي كُلِّ سَاعَة مِنْ سَاعَاتِ نَهَارِي.

wa fee kul-li saaa'tim-min saaa'ati nahaaree

66and in each of the hours of my day!

أللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّد وَآلِهِ

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

67O God, bless Muhammad and his Household,

وَاغْفِرْ لِي بِدُعَائِي لَهُمَا،

wa agh-fir lee bidua'aa-ee lahumaa

68forgive me through my supplication for my parents,

وَاغْفِرْ لَهُمَـا بِبِرِّهِمَـا بِي،

wagh-fir lahumaa bibir-rihimaa bee

69and forgive them through their devotion toward me

مَغْفِرَةً حَتْمـاً وَارْضَ عَنْهُمَا

magh-firatan h'at-maa war-z''a a'n-humaa

70with unfailing forgiveness, be well pleased with them

بِشَفَاعَتِي لَهُمَا رِضَىً عَزْماً،

bishafaaa'tee lahumaa riz''ana a'z-maa

71through my intercession for them with resolute good pleasure,

وَبَلِّغْهُمَا بِالْكَرَامَةِ مَوَاطِنَ السَّلاَمَةِ.

wa bal-ligh-humaa bil-karaamati mawaat'inas-salaamah

72and make them reach through Your generosity the abodes of safety!

أللَّهُمَّ وَإنْ سَبَقَتْ مَغْفِرَتُكَ لَهُمَا فَشَفِّعْهُمَا فِيَّ،

al-laahum-ma wa in sabaqat magh-firatuka lahumaa fashaf-fia'-humaa fee

73O God, if Your forgiveness reaches them first, make them my intercessors,

وَإنْ سَبَقَتْ مَغْفِرَتُـكَ لِي فَشَفِّعْنِي فِيْهِمَا،

wa in sabaqat magh-firatuka lee fashaf-fia'-nee feehimaa

74and if Your forgiveness reaches me first, make me their intercessors,

حَتّى نَجْتَمِعَ بِرَأفَتِكَ فِي دَارِ كَرَامَتِكَ

h'at-taa naj-tamia' biraa-fatika fee daari karaamatika

75so that we may gather together through Your gentleness in the house of Your generosity

وَمَحَلِّ مَغْفِرَتِكَ وَرَحْمَتِكَ،

wa mah'al-li magh-firatika warah'-matik

76and the place of Your forgiveness and mercy!

إنَّكَ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ وَالْمَنِّ الْقَدِيْمِ وَأَنْتَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ .

in-naka d'ool-faz''-lil-a'z'eemi wal-man-nil-qadeem wa anta ar-h'amur-raah'imeen

77Verily You art Possessor of abounding bounty and ancient kindness, and "Thou art the Most Merciful of the merciful" (7:151)!