Sahifa Sajjadiya 36: Upon Seeing Clouds and Lightning

أَللَّهُمَّ إنَّ هذَيْن آيَتَانِ مِنْ آياتِكَ،

Allāhumma inna hadhayni āyatāni min āyātika,

O Allah! Indeed these two are among Your signs,

وَهذَين عَوْنَانِ مِنْ أَعْوَانِكَ

Wahadhayni ‘awnāni min a‘wānika,

And these two are among Your helpers,

يَبْتَدِرَانِ طَاعَتَكَ بِرَحْمَةٍ نَافِعَةٍ أَوْ نِقْمَةٍ ضَارَّةٍ،

Yabtadirāni ṭā‘ataka biraḥmatin nāfi‘atin aw niqmatin ḍārratin,

They hasten to obey You, bringing either helpful mercy or harmful punishment,

فَلاَ تُمْطِرْنَا بِهِمَا مَطَرَ السَّوْءِ،

Falā tumṭirnā bihimā maṭara as-saw’i,

So do not pour upon us their evil rain,

وَلا تُلْبِسْنَا بِهِمَا لِبَاسَ الْبَلاَءِ.

Walā tulbisnā bihimā libāsa al-balā’,

And do not clothe us with affliction through them.

صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ

Ṣalli ‘alā Muḥammadin wa ālih,

Send blessings upon Muhammad and his family,

وَأَنْزِلْ عَلَيْنَا نَفْعَ هَذِهِ السَّحَائِبِ وَبَرَكَتَهَا،

Wa anzil ‘alaynā naf‘a hādhihi as-saḥā’ibi wa barakatahā,

And send down upon us the benefit and blessing of these clouds,

وَاصْرِفْ عَنَّا أَذَاهَا وَمَضَرَّتَهَا،

Waṣrif ‘annā adhāhā wa maḍarratahā,

And turn away from us their harm and damage,

وَلا تُصِبْنَا فِيْهَا بآفَةٍ،

Walā tuṣibnā fīhā bi’āfah,

And do not strike us with calamity through them,

وَلا تُرْسِلْ عَلَى مَعَايِشِنَا عَاهَةً.

Walā tursil ‘alā ma‘āyishinā ‘āhah,

And do not send blight upon our livelihoods.

أللَّهُمَّ وَإنْ كُنْتَ بَعَثْتَهَا نِقْمَةً وَأَرْسَلْتَهَا سَخْطَةً

Allāhumma wa in kunta ba‘athtahā niqmah wa arsaltahā sakhta,

O Allah, if You have sent them as a punishment and anger,

فَإنَّا نَسْتَجِيْرُكَ مِنْ غَضَبِكَ،

Fa innā nastajīruka min ghaḍabika,

Then we seek refuge in You from Your anger,

وَنَبْتَهِلُ إلَيْكَ فِي سُؤَالِ عَفْوِكَ،

Wa nabtahilu ilayka fī su’āli ‘afwika,

And we implore You in asking for Your pardon,

فَمِلْ بِالْغَضَبِ إلَى الْمُشْرِكِينَ،

Famul bilghaḍabi ilā al-mushrikīn,

So direct Your anger towards the polytheists,

وَأَدِرْ رَحَى نِقْمَتِكَ عَلَى الْمُلْحِدِينَ.

Wa adir raḥā niqmatika ‘alā al-mulḥidīn,

And turn the mill of Your punishment upon the disbelievers.

أللَّهُمَّ أَذْهِبْ مَحْلَ بِلادِنَا بِسُقْيَاكَ،

Allāhumma adhhib maḥla bilādinā bisuqyāk,

O Allah, remove the drought of our land with Your rain,

وَأَخْرِجْ وَحَرَ صُدُورِنَا بِرِزْقِكَ،

Wa akhrij waḥara ṣudūrinā birizqik,

And bring out the burning of our hearts with Your provision,

وَلاَ تَشْغَلْنَا عَنْكَ بِغَيْرِكَ،

Walā tashghalnā ‘anka bighayrik,

And do not distract us from You with anything else,

وَلاَ تَقْطَعْ عَنْ كَافَّتِنَا مَادَّةَ بِرِّكَ،

Walā taqṭa‘ ‘an kāffatinā māddata birrik,

And do not cut off from us the flow of Your goodness,

فَإنَّ الغَنِيَّ مَنْ أَغْنَيْتَ،

Fa innal-ghaniyya man aghnayt,

For the truly rich is the one whom You enrich,

وَإنَّ السَّالِمَ مَنْ وَقَيْتَ،

Wa inna as-sālima man waqayt,

And the safe one is the one You protect,

مَا عِنْدَ أَحَدٍ دُونَكَ دِفَاعٌ،

Mā ‘inda aḥadin dūnaka difā‘,

No one besides You has defense,

وَلاَ بِأَحَدٍ عَنْ سَطْوَتِكَ امْتِنَاعٌ،

Walā bi’aḥadin ‘an saṭwatika imtinā‘,

And no one can resist Your might,

تَحْكُمُ بِمَا شِئْتَ عَلَى مَنْ شِئْتَ،

Taḥkumu bimā shi’ta ‘alā man shi’ta,

You judge as You will over whom You will,

وَتَقْضِي بِمَا أَرَدْتَ فِيمَنْ أَرَدْتَ.

Wataqḍī bimā aradta fī man aradta,

And You decree as You wish upon whom You wish.

فَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ عَلَى مَا وَقَيْتَنَا مِنَ الْبَلاءِ،

Falaka al-ḥamdu ‘alā mā waqaytanā minal-balā’,

So praise is Yours for protecting us from affliction,

وَلَكَ الشُّكْرُ عَلَى مَا خَوَّلْتَنَا مِنَ النِّعْمَاءِ

Walaka ash-shukru ‘alā mā khawwaltanā minan-ni‘mā’,

And thanks are Yours for what You granted us of blessings,

حَمْداً يُخَلِّفُ حَمْدَ الْحَامِدِينَ وَرَاءَهُ،

Ḥamdan yukhallifu ḥamda al-ḥāmidīna warā’ahu,

A praise that surpasses the praise of those who praise,

حَمْداً يَمْلأُ أَرْضَهُ وَسَمَاءَهُ

Ḥamdan yamla’u arḍahu wa samā’ahu,

A praise that fills His earth and His heaven,

إنَّكَ الْمَنَّانُ بِجَسِيمِ الْمِنَنِ،

Innakal-mannānu bijasīmil-minan,

Surely, You are the Bestower of immense favors,

الْوَهَّابُ لِعَظِيمِ النِّعَمِ،

Al-Wahhābu li‘aẓīmin-ni‘am,

The Giver of great blessings,

القَابِلُ يَسِيْرَ الْحَمْدِ،

Al-qābilu yasīra al-ḥamd,

The Accepter of even little praise,

الشَّاكِرُ قَلِيْلَ الشُّكْرِ،

Ash-shākiru qalīla ash-shukr,

The Thankful for even little gratitude,

الْمُحْسِنُ الْمُجْمِلُ ذُو الطَّوْلِ

Al-muḥsinu al-mujmilu dhū aṭ-ṭawl,

The Beneficent, the Generous, the Possessor of bounty,

لا إلهَ إلاّ أَنْتَ إلَيْكَ الْمَصِيرُ.

Lā ilāha illā anta ilayka al-maṣīr,

There is no god but You; to You is the return.

أَللَّهُمَّ إنَّ هذَيْن آيَتَانِ مِنْ آياتِكَ،

al-laahum-ma in-na hd'ay-ni aaayataani min aaayaatik

1.O God, these are two of Your signs

وَهذَين عَوْنَانِ مِنْ أَعْوَانِكَ

wa hd'ay-ni a'w-naani min aa'-waanik

2.and these are two of Your helpers.

يَبْتَدِرَانِ طَاعَتَكَ بِرَحْمَة نَافِعَة أَوْ نَقِمَة ضَارَّة،

yab-tadiraani t'aaa'taka birah'-matin-naafia'tin aw naqimatin z''aaar-rah

3.They rush to obey You with beneficial mercy or injurious vengeance,

فَلاَ تُمْطِرْنَا بِهِمَا مَطَرَ السَّوْءِ،

falaa tum-t'ir-naa bihimaa mat'aras-saw

4.so rain not down upon us from them the evil rain

وَلا تُلْبِسْنَـا بِهِمَا لِبَاسَ الْبَلاَءِ.

wa laa tul-bis-naa bihimaa libaasal-balaaa

5.and clothe us not through them in the garment of affliction!

صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّد وَآلِهِ

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

6.O God, bless Muhammad and his Household,

وَأَنْزِلْ عَلَيْنَا نَفْعَ هَذِهِ السَّحَائِبِ وَبَرَكَتَهَا،

wa anzil a'lay-naa naf-a' had'ihs-sah'aaa-ibi wa barakatahaa

7.send down upon us the benefit of these clouds and their blessing,

وَاصْرِفْ عَنَّا أَذَاهَا وَمَضَرَّتَهَا،

was'-rif a'n-naaa ad'aahaa wamaz''ar-ratahaa

8.turn away from us their harm and their injury,

وَلا تُصِبْنَا فِيْهَا بآفَة،

wa laa tus'ib-naa feehaa biaafah

9.strike us not through them with blight,

وَلا تُرْسِلْ عَلَى مَعَايِشِنَا عَاهَةً.

wa laa tur-sil a'laa maa'ayishinaa a'ahah

10.and loose not upon our livelihoods any bane!

أللَّهُمَّ وَإنْ كُنْتَ بَعَثْتَهَا نَقِمَةً وَأَرْسَلْتَهَا سَخْطَةً

al-laahum-ma wa in kunta baa'th-tahaa naqimah wa ar-sal-tahaa sakh-t'ah

11.O God, if You hast incited them as vengeance and loosed them in anger,

فَإنَّا نَسْتَجِيْرُكَ مِنْ غَضَبِكَ،

fa in-naa nas-tajeeruka min ghaz''abik

12.we seek sanctuary with You from Your wrath

وَنَبْتَهِلُ إلَيْكَ فِي سُؤَالِ عَفْوِكَ،

wa nab-tahilu ilay-ka fee soo-aali a'f-wik

13.and implore You in asking Your pardon!

فَمِلْ بِالْغَضَبِ إلَى الْمُشْـركِينَ،

famil bil-ghaz''abi ilaal-mush-rikeen

14.So incline with wrath toward the idolaters

وَأَدِرْ رَحَى نَقِمَتِـكَ عَلَى الْمُلْحِـدينَ.

wa adir rah'aa naqimatika a'laal-mul-h'ideen

15.and set the millstone of Your vengeance turning upon the heretics

أللَّهُمَّ أَذْهِبْ مَحْلَ بِلاَدِنَا بِسُقْيَاكَ،

al-laahum-ma ad'-hib mah'-la bilaadinaa bisuq-yaak

16.O God, take away the barrenness of our lands with Your watering,

وَأَخْرِجْ وَحَرَ صُدُورِنَا بِرِزْقِكَ،

wa akh-rij wah'ara s'udoorinaa biriz-qik

17.dislodge the malice from our breasts with Your providing,

وَلاَ تَشْغَلْنَا عَنْكَ بِغَيْرِكَ،

wa laa tash-ghal-naa a'nka bighay-rik

18.distract us not from You through other than You,

وَلاَ تَقْطَعْ عَنْ كَافَّتِنَا مَادَّةَ بِرِّكَ،

wa laa taq-t'aa' a'n kaaaf-fatinaa maaad-data bir-rik

19.and cut none of us off from the stuff of Your goodness,

فَإنَّ الغَنِيَّ مَنْ أَغْنَيْتَ،

fa in-nal-ghanee-ya man agh-nay-t

20.for the rich is he to whom You hast given riches,

وَإنَّ السَّالِمَ مَنْ وَقَيْتَ،

wa in-nas-saalima maw-waqay-t

21.and the safe he whom You hast protected!

مَا عِنْدَ أَحَد دُونَكَ دِفَـاعٌ،

maa i'nda ah'adin doonaka difaaa'

22.No one has any defense against You,

وَلاَ بِأَحَد عَنْ سَطْوَتِكَ امْتِنَاعٌ،

wa laa bih'adin a'n sat'-watika am-tinaaa'

23.nor any means to bar Your penalty.

تَحْكُمُ بِمَا شِئْتَ عَلَى مَنْ شِئْتَ،

tah'-kumu bimaa shi-ta a'laa man shi-t

24.You decidest what You wilt for whom You wilt

وَتَقْضِي بِمَـا أَرَدْتَ فِيمَنْ أَرَدْتَ.

wa taq-z''ee bimaaa arat-ta fee man arat-t

25.and You decreest what You desirest for any whom You desirest!

فَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ عَلَى مَا وَقَيْتَنَا مِنَ الْبَلاءِ،

falakal-h'am-du a'laa maa waqay-tanaa minal-balaaa

26.So to You belongs praise for protecting us from affliction

وَلَكَ الشُّكْرُ عَلَى مَا خَوَّلْتَنَا مِنَ النّعْمَاءِ

wa lakash-shuk-ru a'laa maa khaw-wal-tanaa minan-naa'-maaa-i

27.and to You belongs thanks for conferring upon us blessings,

حَمْداً يُخَلِّفُ حَمْدَ الْحَامِدِينَ وَرَاءَهُ،

h'am-day-yukhal-lifu h'am-dal-h'aamideena waraaa-ah

28.a praise which will leave behind the praise of the praisers,

حَمْداً يَمْلاُ أَرْضَهُ وَسَمَاءَهُ

h'am-day-yam-laa ar-z''ahoo wasamaaa-ah

29.a praise which will fill the earth and the heaven!

إنَّـكَ الْمَنَّانُ بِجَسِيمِ الْمِنَنِ،

in-nakal-man-naanu bijaseemil-minan

30.Surely You art the All-kind through immense kindnesses,

الْوَهَّابُ لِعَظِيمِ النِّعَمِ،

al-wah-haabu lia'z'eemin-nia'm

31.the Giver of abounding favours,

القَابِلُ يَسِيْرَ الْحَمْدِ،

al-qaabilu yaseeral-h'am-d

32.the Accepter of small praise,

الشَّاكِرُ قَلِيْلَ الشُّكْرِ،

ash-shaakiru qaleelash-shuk-r

33.the Grateful for little gratitude,

الْمُحْسِنُ الْمُجْمِلُ ذُو الطَّوْلِ

al-muh'-sinul-muj-milu d'oot'-t'aw-l

34.the Beneficent, the Benevolent, Possessor of graciousness!

لا إلهَ إلاّ أَنْتَ إلَيْكَ الْمَصِيرُ.

laaa ilaha il-laaa anta ilay-kal-mas'eer

35.There is no god but Thou; unto You is the homecoming