Sahifa Sajjadiya 37: Supplication in Giving Thanks

أللَّهُمَّ إنَّ أَحَداً لاَ يَبْلُغُ مِنْ شُكْرِكَ غَايَةً

al-laahum-ma in-na ah'adal- laa yab-lughu min shuk-rika ghaayatan

1O God, no one reaches a limit in thanking You

إلاّ حَصَلَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ إحْسَانِكَ مَا يُلْزِمُهُ شُكْرَاً،

il-laa h'as'ala a'lay-hee min ih'-saanika maa yul-zimuhoo shuk-ran

2without acquiring that of Your beneficence which enjoins upon him thanksgiving,

وَلا يَبْلُغُ مَبْلَغاً مِنْ طَاعَتِكَ وَإن اجْتَهَدَ

wa laa yab-lughu mab-lagham-min t'aaa'tika waani aj-tahada

3nor does anyone reach a degree in obeying You, even if he strives,

إلاَّ كَانَ مُقَصِّراً دُونَ اسْتِحْقَاقِكَ بِفَضْلِكَ،

laa kaana muqas'-s'irana doona as-tih'-qaaqika bifaz''-lik

4without falling short of what You deservest because of Your bounty.

فَأَشْكَرُ عِبَادِكَ عَاجِزٌ عَنْ شُكْرِكَ

faash-karu i'baadika a'ajizun a'n shuk-rik

5The most thankful of Your servants has not the capacity to thank You,

وَأَعْبَدُهُمْ مُقَصِّرٌ عَنْ طَاعَتِكَ،

wa aa'-baduhum lak mqas'-s'irun a'n t'aaa'tik

6and the most worshipful of them falls short of obeying You.

لا يَجبُ لأِحَد أَنْ تَغْفِرَ لَهُ بِاسْتِحْقَاقِهِ،

laa yajibu liah'adim-min-hum an tagh-fira lahoo bis-tih'-qaaqih

7To none of them is due Your forgiveness through what he himself deserves

وَلا أَنْ تَرْضَى عَنْهُ بِاسْتِيجَابِهِ،

wa laa yah'iq-qu lahooo an tar-z''aa a'n-hoo bis-teejaabih

8or Your good pleasure for his own merit.

فَمَنْ غَفَرْتَ لَهُ فَبِطَولِكَ،

faman ghafar-ta lahoo fabit'aw-lik

9When You forgivest someone, it is through Your graciousness,

وَمَنْ رَضِيْتَ عَنْهُ فَبِفَضْلِكَ

wa mar-raz''eeta a'n-hoo fabifaz''-lik

10and when You art pleased with someone, it is through Your bounty.

تَشْكُرُ يَسِيرَ مَا شُكِرْتَهُ وَتُثِيبُ عَلَى قَلِيلِ مَا تُطَاعُ فِيهِ

tash-kuru yaseera maa shukir-tah wa tutheebu a'laa qaleeli maa tut'aau' feeh

11You showest gratitude for the paltry for which gratitude is shown to You and You rewardest the small act in which You art obeyed,

حَتَّى كَأَنَّ شُكْـرَ عِبَادِكَ الَّذِيْ أَوْجَبْتَ عَلَيْهِ ثَوَابَهُمْ

h'at-taa kaan-na shuk-ra i'baadikal-lad'ee aw-jab-ta a'lay-hee thawaabahum

12so that it seems as if Your servants' thanksgiving for which You hast made incumbent their reward

وَأَعْظَمْتَ عَنْهُ جَزَاءَهُمْ

wa aa'-z'am-ta a'n-hoo jazaaa-ahum

13and made great their repayment

أَمْرٌ مَلَكُوا اسْتِطَاعَةَ الامْتِنَاعِ مِنْهُ دُونَكَ

am-rum-malakoos-tit'aaa'talim-tinaai' min-hoo doonaka

14is an affair from which they could have held back without You,

فَكَافَيْتَهُمْ أَوْ لَمْ يَكُنْ سَبَبُهُ بِيَدِكَ فَجَازَيْتَهُمْ،

fakaafaa-tahum- wa lam yakun sababuhoo beeadika fajaazay-tahum

15and hence You wilt recompense them, and whose cause is not in Your hand, and hence You wilt repay them.

بَـلْ مَلَكْتَ يَا إلهِي أَمْرَهُمْ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَمْلِكُوا عِبَادَتَكَ،

bal malak-ta yaaa ilaaheee am-rahum qab-la ay-yam-likoo i'baadatak

16Nay, my God, You hadst power over their affair before they had power to worship You,

وَأَعْدَدْتَ ثَوَابَهُمْ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُفِيضُوا فِي طَاعَتِكَ،

wa aa'-dat-ta thawaabahum qab-la ay-yufeez''oo fee t'aaa'tik

17and You hadst prepared their reward before they began to obey You;

وَذَلِكَ أَنَّ سُنَّتَكَ الأِفْضَالُ،

wa d'alika an-na sun-natakal-if-z''aal

18and that because Your wont is bestowal of bounty,

وَعَادَتَكَ الإحْسَانُ، وَسَبِيلَكَ الْعَفْوُ،

wa a'adatakal-ih'-saan wa sabeelakal-a'f-w

19Your custom beneficence, Your way pardon.

فَكُلُّ الْبَرِيِّةِ مًعْتَرِفَةٌ بِأَنَّكَ غَيْرُ ظَالِم لِمَنْ عَاقَبْتَ،

fakul-lul-baree-yah mua'-tarifatum-bi n-naka ghay-ru z'aalimil-liman a'aqab-t

20So all creatures confess that You wrongest not him whom You punishest

وَشَاهِدَةٌ بِأَنَّكَ مُتَفَضِّلٌ عَلَى مَنْ عَافَيْتَ،

wa shaahidatum-bi n-naka mutafaz''-z''ilun a'laa man a'afay-t

21and bear witness that You bestowest bounty upon him whom You pardonest.

وَكُلٌّ مُقِرٌّ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ بِالتَّقْصِيْرِ عَمَّا اسْتَوْجَبْتَ،

wa kul-lu muqir-ru a'laa naf-sihee bit-taq-s'eeri a'm-mas-taw-jab-t

22Each admits that he has fallen short of what You meritest.

فَلَوْلا أَنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَخْتَدِعُهُمْ عَنْ طَاعَتِكَ ما عَصاكَ عاصٍ

falaw-laaa an-nash-shay-t'aana yakh-tadiu'hum a'n t'aaa'tika maa a's'aaka a'as'

23Had Satan not misled them from Your obedience, no disobeyer would have disobeyed You,

وَلَوْلا أَنَّهُ صَوَّرَ لَهُمُ البَاطِلَ فِي مِثَالِ الْحَقِّ

wa law-laaa an-nahoo yus'aw-wiru lahumul-baat'ila

24and had he not shown falsehood to them in the likeness of truth

مَا ضَلَّ عَنْ طَرِيْقِكَ ضَالٌّ.

fee mithaalil-h'aq-qi maa z''al-la a'n t'areeqika z''aaal

25no strayer would have gone astray from Your path.

فَسُبْحَانَكَ مَا أَبْيَنَ كَرَمَكَ

fasub-h'aanak maaa ab-yana karamaka

26So glory be to You! How manifest is Your generosity

فِي مُعَامَلَةِ مَنْ أَطَاعَكَ أَوْ عَصَاكَ،

fee mua'amalati man at'aaa'ka aw a's'aak

27in dealing with him who obeys or disobeys You!

تَشْكُرُ للْمُطِيْعِ مَا أَنْتَ تَوَلَّيْتَهُ لَهُ،

tash-kurul-mut'eea' a'laa maaa anta tawal-lay-tahoo lah

28You showest gratitude to the obedient for that which You undertakest for him,

وَتُمْلِي لِلْعَاصِي فِيْمَا تَمْلِكُ مُعَاجَلَتَهُ فِيْهِ،

wa tum-lee lil-a'as'ee feemaa tam-liku mua'ajalatahoo feeh

29and You grantest a respite to the disobedient in that within which You art able to hurry him.

أَعْطَيْتَ كُلاًّ مِنْهُمَا مَا لَمْ يَجِبْ لَهُ،

aa'-t'ay-ta kul-lam-min-humaa maa laa yajibu lah

30You givest to each of them that which is not his due,

وَتَفَضَّلْتَ عَلَى كُلٍّ مِنْهُمَا بِمَا يَقْصُرُ عَمَلُهُ عَنْهُ

wa tafaz''-z''al-ta a'laa kul-lim-min-humaa bimaa yaq-s'uru a'maluhoo a'n-h

31and You bestowest bounty upon each in that wherein his works fall short.

وَلَوْ كَافَأْتَ الْمُطِيعَ عَلَى مَا أَنْتَ تَوَلَّيْتَهُ

wa law kaafay-tal-mut'eea' a'laa maaa anta tawal-lay-tahoo

32Wert You to counterbalance for the obedient servant that which You Yourself hadst undertaken,

لاَوْشَكَ أَنْ يَفْقِدَ ثَوَابَكَ،

lahoo laaw-shaka ay-yaf-qida thawaabak

33he would be on the point of losing Your reward

وَأَنْ تَزُولَ عَنْهُ نِعْمَتُكَ

wa an tazoola a'n-hoo nia'-matuk

34and seeing the end of Your favour,

وَلكِنَّكَ بِكَرَمِكَ جَازَيْتَهُ

wa lkin-naka bikaramika jaazay-tahoo

35but through Your generosity You hast repaid him

عَلَى الْمُدَّةِ الْقَصِيرَةِ الفَانِيَةِ بِالْمُدَّةِ الطَّوِيلَةِ الْخَالِدَةِ،

a'laal-mud-datil-qas'eeratil-faaneeati bil-mud-datit'-t'aweelatil-khaalidah

36for a short, perishing term with a long, everlasting term,

وَعَلَى الْغَايَةِ الْقَرِيبَةِ الزَّائِلَةِ بِالْغايَةِ الْمَدِيدَةِ الْبَاقِيَةِ،

wa a'laal-ghaayatil-qareebatiz-zaaa-ilati bil-ghaayatil-madeedatil-baaqeeah

37and for a near, vanishing limit with an extended, abiding limit.

ثُمَّ لَمْ تَسُمْهُ الْقِصَاصَ فِيمَا أَكَلَ مِنْ رِزْقِكَ

thum-ma lam tasum-hul-qis'aas'a feemaaa akala mir-riz-qika

38Then You dost not visit him with a settling of accounts for Your provision

الَّذِي يَقْوَى بِهِ عَلَى طَاعَتِكَ،

al-lad'ee yaq-waa bihee a'laa t'aaa'tik

39through which he gained strength to obey You,

وَلَـمْ تَحْمِلْهُ عَلَى الْمُنَاقَشَاتِ فِي الآلاتِ

wa lam tah'-mil-hoo a'laal-munaaqashati fil-aaalaati

40nor dost You force him to make reckonings for the organs

الَّتِي تَسَبَّبَ بِاسْتِعْمَالِهَا إلَى مَغْفِـرَتِكَ،

latee tasab-baba bis-tia'-maalihaaa ilaa magh-firatik

41he employed to find the means to Your forgiveness.

وَلَـوْ فَعَلْتَ ذلِكَ بِهِ

wa law faa'l-ta d'alika bihee

42Wert You to do that to him,

لَذَهَبَ بِجَمِيْعِ مَا كَدَحَ لَهُ

lad'ahab jameeu' maa kadah'a lah

43it would take away everything for which he had laboured

وَجُمْلَةِ مَا سَعَى فِيهِ،

wa jum-latu maa saa'a feehee

44and all wherein he had exerted himself

جَزَاءً لِلصُّغْرى مِنْ أَيادِيْكَ وَمِنَنِكَ،

jazaaa-al-lils'-s'ugh-raa min ayaadeeka wa minanik

45as repayment for the smallest of Your benefits and kindnesses,

وَلَبَقِيَ رَهيناً بَيْنَ يَدَيْكَ بِسَائِرِ نِعَمِكَ

wa labaqeea raheenam-bay-na yaday-ka bisaaa-iri nia'mik

46and he would remain hostage before You for Your other favours.

فَمَتَى كَانَ يَسْتَحِقُّ شَيْئاً مِنْ ثَوَابِكَ ، لا ، مَتَى؟.

famataa kaana yastah'iq-qu shay-am-min thawaabika? laa mataa?

47So how can he deserve something of Your reward? Indeed, how?

هَذَا يا إلهِي حَالُ مَنْ أَطَاعَكَ وَسَبِيلُ مَنْ تَعَبَّدَ لَكَ،

had'aa yaaa ilaahee h'aalu man at'aaa'ka wa sabeelu man taa'b-bada lak

48This, my God, is the state of him who obeys You and the path of him who worships You.

فَأَمَّا الْعَاصِيْ أَمْرَكَ وَالْمُوَاقِـعُ نَهْيَكَ

faam-maal-a'as'eee am-raka wal-muwaaqiu' nah-yak

49But as for him who disobeys Your command and goes against Your prohibition,

فَلَمْ تُعَاجِلْهُ بِنَقِمَتِكَ لِكَيْ يَسْتَبْدِلَ بِحَالِهِ فِي مَعْصِيَتِكَ

falam tua'ajil-hoo binaqimatika likay yas-tab-dila bih'aalihee fee maa'-s'eeatika

50You dost not hurry him to Your vengeance, so that he may seek to replace his state in disobeying You

حَالَ الاِنَابَـةِ إلَى طَـاعَتِـكَ،

h'aalal-inaabati ilaa t'aaa'tik

51with the state of turning back to obey You,

وَلَقَـدْ كَـانَ يَسْتَحِقُّ فِي أَوَّلِ مَـا هَمَّ بِعِصْيَانِكَ

wa laqad kaana yas-tah'iq-qu yaaa ilaahee feee aw-wali maa ham-ma bii's'-yaanika

52though he deserved from the time he set out to disobey You

كُلَّ مَا أَعْدَدْتَ لِجَمِيعِ خَلْقِكَ مِنْ عُقُوبَتِكَ،

kul-la maaa aa'-dat-ta lijameei' khal-qika min u'qoobatik

53every punishment which You hast prepared for all Your creatures.

فَجَمِيعُ مَا أَخَّرْتَ عَنْهُ مِنْ الْعَذَابِ،

fajameeu' maaa akh-khar-ta a'n-hoo minal-a'd'aab

54Through each chastisement which You hast kept back from him

وَأَبْطَأتَ بِهِ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ سَطَوَاتِ النَّقِمَةِ وَالْعِقَابِ تَرْكٌ مِنْ حَقِّكَ،

wa ab-t'aa-ta a'lay-hee min sat'awaatin-niq-mati wal-i'qaab tar-kum-min h'aq-qika

55and each penalty of Your vengeance and Your punishment which You hast delayed from him, You hast refrained from Your right

وَرِضىً بِدُونِ وَاجِبِكَ،

wariz''an bidooni waajibik

56and shown good pleasure in place of what You hast made obligatory.

فَمَنْ أكْرَمُ يَا إلهِي مِنْكَ

faman ak-ramu yaaa ilaahee minka?

57So who is more generous, my God, than Thou?

وَمَنْ أَشْقَى مِمَّنْ هَلَكَ عَلَيْـكَ، لا ، مَنْ؟

waman ash-qaa mim-man halaka a'lay-ka? laa man-?!

58And who is more wretched than he who perishes in spite of You? Indeed, who?

فَتَبَارَكْتَ أَنْ تُوصَفَ إلاّ بِالإحْسَانِ،

fatabaarak-ta an toos'afa il-laa bil-ih'-saan

59You art too blessed to be described by any but beneficence

وَكَـرُمْتَ أَنْ يُخَافَ مِنْكَ إلاّ الْعَدْلُ،

wa karum-ta ay-yukhaafa minka il-laal-a'd-l

60and too generous for any but justice to be feared from You!

لا يُخْشَى جَوْرُكَ عَلَى مَنْ عَصَاكَ،

laa yukh-shaa jaw-ruka a'laa man a's'aak

61There is no dread that You wilt be unjust toward him who disobeys You,

وَلاَ يُخَافُ إغْفَالُكَ ثَوَابَ مَنْ أَرْضَاكَ.

wa laa yukhaafu igh-faaluka thawaaba man ar-z''aaka

62nor any fear of Your neglecting to reward him who satisfies You.

فَصَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّد وَآلِهِ وَهَبْ لِيْ أَمَلِي،

fas'al-li a'laa muh'am-madiw-wa aaalih wa hab lee minka amalee

63So bless Muhammad and his Household, give me my hope,

وَزِدْنِي مِنْ هُدَاكَ

wa zid-nee min hudaaka

64and increase me in that of Your guidance

مَا أَصِلُ بِهِ إلَى التَّوْفِيقِ فِي عَمَلِي،

maaa as'ilu biheee ilaat-taw-feeqi fee a'malee

65through which I may be successful in my works!

إنَّكَ مَنَّانٌ كَرِيمٌ.

in-naka man-naanun kareem

66Surely You art All-kind, Generous.