Sahifa Sajjadiya 33: Asking for the Best

أَللَّهُمَّ إنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ

al-laahum-ma in-neee as-takheeruka bii'l-mik

1O God, I ask from You the best in Your knowledge,

فَصَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّد وَآلِهِ وَاقْضِ لِيْ بِالْخِيَرَةِ

fas'al-li a'laa muh'am-madiw-wa aaalih waq-z''i lee bil-kheearah

2so bless Muhammad and his Household and decree for me the best!

وَأَلْهِمْنَا مَعْرِفَةَ الاخْتِيَارِ،

wa al-him-naa maa'-rifatalikh-teeaar

3Inspire us with knowledge to chose the best

وَاجْعَلْ ذَلِكَ ذَرِيعَةً إلَى الرِّضَا

waj-a'l d'alik d'areea'tan ilaa r-riz''aa

4and make that a means to being pleased

بِمَا قَضَيْتَ لَنَا وَالتَّسْلِيْمِ لِمَا حَكَمْتَ.

bimaa qaz''ay-ta lanaa wat-tas-leemi limaa h'akam-t

5with what You hast decreed for us and submitting to what You hast decided!

فَأَزِحْ عَنَّا رَيْبَ الارْتِيَابِ،

faazih' a'n-naa ray-balir-teeaab

6Banish from us the doubt of misgiving

وَأَيِّدْنَا بِيَقِينِ الْمُخْلِصِينَ،

wa ay-yid-naa beeaqeenil-mukh-lis'een

7and confirm us with the certainty of the sincere!

وَلاَ تَسُمْنَا عَجْزَ الْمَعْرِفَةِ عَمَّا تَخَيَّرْتَ،

wa laa tasum-naa a'j-zal-maa'-rifati a'm-maa takhay-yar-t

8Visit us not with incapacity to know what You hast chosen,

فَنَغْمِطَ قَدْرَكَ، وَنَكْرَهَ مَوْضِعَ رِضَاكَ،

fanagh-mit'a qad-rak wa nak-raha maw-z''ia' riz''aak

9lest we despise Your measuring out, dislike the place of Your good pleasure,

وَنَجْنَحَ إلَى الَّتِي هِيَ أَبْعَدُ مِنْ حُسْنِ الْعَاقِبَةِ

wa naj-nah'a ilaal-latee hee ab-a'du min h'us-nil-a'aqibah

10and incline toward that which is further from good outcome

وَأَقْرَبُ إلَى ضِدِّ الْعَافِيَةِ.

wa aq-rabu ilaa z''id-dil-a'afeeah

11and nearer to the opposite of well-being!

حَبِّبْ إلَيْنَا مَا نَكْرَهُ مِنْ قَضَائِكَ

h'ab-bib ilay-naa maa nak-rahoo min qaz''aaa-ik

12Make us love what we dislike in Your decree

وَسَهِّلْ عَلَيْنَا مَا نَسْتَصْعِبُ مِنْ حُكْمِكَ،

wa sah-hil a'lay-naa maa nas-tas'-i'bu min h'uk-mik

13and make easy for us what we find difficult in Your decision!

وَأَلْهِمْنَـا الانْقِيَـادَ لِمَا أَوْرَدْتَ عَلَيْنَـا مِنْ مَشِيَّتِكَ

wa al-him-naalinqeeaada limaaa aw-rat-ta a'lay-naa mim-mashee-yatik

14Inspire us to yield to that which You bringest upon us by Your will,

حَتَّى لاَ نُحِبَّ تَأخِيْرَ مَا عَجَّلْتَ،

h'at-taa laa nuh'ib taa-kheera maa a'j-jal-t

15lest we love the delay of what You hast hastened

وَلاَ تَعْجيْلَ مَا أَخَّرْتَ، وَلا نَكْرَهَ مَا أَحْبَبْتَ،

wa laa taa'-jeela maaa skh-khar-t wa laa nak-raha maaa ah'-bab-t

16and the hastening of what You hast delayed, dislike what You lovest,

وَلا نَتَخَيَّرَ مَا كَرِهْتَ،

wa laa natakhay-yara maa karih-t

17and choose what You dislikest!

وَاخْتِمْ لَنَا بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْمَدُ عَاقِبةً وَأكْرَمُ مَصِيراً

wakh-tim lanaa bil-latee hee ah'-madu a'aqibah wa ak-ramu mas'eeraa

18Seal us with that which is most praised in outcome and most generous in issue!

إنَّكَ تُفِيدُ الْكَرِيمَةَ وَتُعْطِي الْجَسِيمَةَ،

in-naka tufeedul-kareemah wa tua'-t'eel-jaseemah

19Surely You givest generous gain, bestowest the immense,

وَتَفْعَلُ مَا تُرِيدُ وَأَنْتَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْء قَدِيرٌ .

wa taf-a'lu maa tureed wa anta a'laa kul-li shay-in qadeer

20dost what You wilt, and You art "powerful over everything" (3:26).