Sahifa Sajjadiya 37: Supplication in Giving Thanks

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّ أَحَدًا لَا يَبْلُغُ مِنْ شُكْرِكَ غَايَةً

Allāhumma inna aḥadan lā yablughu min shukrika ghāyah

O Allah, nobody can ever reach the limit of thanking You

إِلَّا حَصَلَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ إِحْسَانِكَ مَا يُلْزِمُهُ شُكْرًا

Illā ḥaṣala ʿalayhi min iḥsānika mā yulzimuhu shukran

Except that Your kindness to him requires him to thank You further

وَلَا يَبْلُغُ مَبْلَغًا مِنْ طَاعَتِكَ وَإِنِ اجْتَهَدَ

Wa lā yablughu mablaghan min ṭāʿatika wa in ijtahada

And no one attains the rank of truly obeying You, even by striving

إِلَّا كَانَ مُقَصِّرًا دُونَ اسْتِحْقَاقِكَ بِفَضْلِكَ

Illā kāna muqaṣṣiran dūna istiḥqāqika bifaḍlika

Except that he always falls short of deserving Your grace

فَأَشْكَرُ عِبَادِكَ عَاجِزٌ عَنْ شُكْرِكَ

Fa-ashkaru ʿibādika ʿājizun ʿan shukrika

Thus, the most grateful of Your servants is weak in thanking You

وَأَعْبَدُهُمْ مُقَصِّرٌ عَنْ طَاعَتِكَ

Wa-aʿbaduhum muqaṣṣirun ʿan ṭāʿatika

And the best worshipper among them falls short in serving You

لَا يَجِبُ لِأَحَدٍ أَنْ تَغْفِرَ لَهُ بِاسْتِحْقَاقِهِ

Lā yajibu li-aḥadin an taghfira lahu bi-istiḥqāqihi

No one deserves forgiveness on account of their own merit

وَلَا أَنْ تَرْضَى عَنْهُ بِاسْتِيجَابِهِ

Wa lā an tarḍā ʿanhu bi-istijābihi

Nor does anyone earn Your pleasure by their own acts

فَمَنْ غَفَرْتَ لَهُ فَبِطَوْلِكَ

Fa-man ghafarta lahu fa-bi-ṭawlika

Whomever You forgive, it is through Your benevolence

وَمَنْ رَضِيتَ عَنْهُ فَبِفَضْلِكَ

Wa-man raḍīta ʿanhu fa-bi-faḍlika

And whomever You are pleased with, it is by Your favor

تَشْكُرُ يَسِيرَ مَا شُكِرْتَهُ وَتُثِيبُ عَلَى قَلِيلِ مَا تُطَاعُ فِيهِ

Tashkuru yasīra mā shukirta wa tuthību ʿalā qalīli mā tuṭāʿu fīh

You reward even a little thankfulness, and grant much for few acts of obedience

حَتَّى كَأَنَّ شُكْرَ عِبَادِكَ الَّذِي أَوْجَبْتَ عَلَيْهِ ثَوَابَهُمْ

Ḥattā ka-anna shukra ʿibādika alladhī awjabta ʿalayhi thawābahum

Until it seems that the thankfulness of Your servants has necessitated their reward

وَأَعْظَمْتَ عَنْهُ جَزَاءَهُمْ

Wa a'ẓamta ʿanhu jazā'ahum

And You have magnified their recompense

أَمْرٌ مَلَكُوا اسْتِطَاعَةَ الاِمْتِنَاعِ مِنْهُ دُونَكَ

Amrun malakū istiṭāʿata al-imtināʿ minhu dūnaka

As if they possessed the strength to abstain from it without You

فَكَافَيْتَهُمْ أَوْ لَمْ يَكُنْ سَبَبُهُ بِيَدِكَ فَجَازَيْتَهُمْ

Fa-kāfaytahum aw lam yakun sababuhu biyadika fa-jāzaytahum

You rewarded them—or if its reason were not in Your hand, You would still reward them

بَلْ مَلَكْتَ يَا إِلَهِي أَمْرَهُمْ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَمْلِكُوا عِبَادَتَكَ

Bal malakta yā Ilāhī amrahum qabla an yamlikū ʿibādataka

Rather, O my God, You owned their affair before they owned Your worship

وَأَعْدَدْتَ ثَوَابَهُمْ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُفِيضُوا فِي طَاعَتِكَ

Wa aʿdadda thawābahum qabla an yufīḍū fī ṭāʿatika

And prepared their reward before they could even perform Your obedience

وَذَلِكَ أَنَّ سُنَّتَكَ الْإِفْضَالُ

Wa dhalika anna sunnataka al-ifḍāl

And that is because Your tradition is to show grace

وَعَادَتَكَ الإِحْسَانُ وَسَبِيلُكَ الْعَفْوُ

Wa ʿādatuka al-iḥsānu wa-sabīluka al-ʿafwu

Your custom is generosity, and Your way is forgiveness

فَكُلُّ الْبَرِيَّةِ مُعْتَرِفَةٌ بِأَنَّكَ غَيْرُ ظَالِمٍ لِمَنْ عَاقَبْتَ

Fa-kullu al-barīyah muʿtarifatun bi-anna-ka ghayru ẓālimin liman ʿāqabta

All creation acknowledges that You do not wrong those whom You punish

وَشَاهِدَةٌ بِأَنَّكَ مُتَفَضِّلٌ عَلَى مَنْ عَافَيْتَ

Wa shāhidatun bi-anna-ka mutafaḍḍilun ʿalā man ʿāfayta

And witnesses that You bestow grace upon those You pardon

وَكُلٌّ مُقِرٌّ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ بِالتَّقْصِيرِ عَمَّا اسْتَوْجَبْتَ

Wa kullun muqirrun ʿalā nafsihi bi-t-taqṣīr ʿammā istawjabta

And everyone admits his own shortcomings before what You rightfully deserve

فَسُبْحَانَكَ مَا أَبْيَنَ كَرَمَكَ

Fa-subḥānaka mā abyana karamak

Glory be to You, how clear Your generosity is

فِي مُعَامَلَةِ مَنْ أَطَاعَكَ أَوْ عَصَاكَ

Fī muʿāmalati man aṭāʿaka aw ʿaṣāk

In Your dealing with those who obey or disobey You

تَشْكُرُ لِلْمُطِيعِ مَا أَنْتَ تَوَلَّيْتَهُ لَهُ

Tashkuru lil-muṭīʿi mā anta tawallaytahu lahu

You thank the obedient for what You undertook for him

وَتُمْلِي لِلْعَاصِي فِيمَا تَمْلِكُ مُعَاجَلَتَهُ فِيهِ

Wa tumlī lil-ʿāṣī fīmā tamluku muʿājilatahu fīh

And You give respite to the sinner in matters You could punish him for

أَعْطَيْتَ كُلًّا مِنْهُمَا مَا لَمْ يَجِبْ لَهُ

Aʿṭayta kulla minhumā mā lam yajib lahu

You have given both what they did not earn

وَتَفَضَّلْتَ عَلَى كُلٍّ مِنْهُمَا بِمَا يَقْصُرُ عَمَلُهُ عَنْهُ

Wa tafadalt ʿalā kullin minhumā bimā yaqṣuru ʿamaluhu ʿanhu

And You granted each of them what his deeds could not attain

وَلَوْ كَافَأْتَ الْمُطِيعَ عَلَى مَا أَنْتَ تَوَلَّيْتَهُ

Wa law kāfa'ta al-muṭīʿa ʿalā mā anta tawallaytahu

And if You rewarded the obedient only for what You undertook

لَأَوْشَكَ أَنْ يَفْقِدَ ثَوَابَكَ

La-awshaka an yafqida thawābaka

He would soon lose Your reward

وَأَنْ تَزُولَ عَنْهُ نِعْمَتُكَ

Wa an tazūla ʿanhu niʿmatuka

And Your blessing would depart from him

وَلَكِنَّكَ بِكَرَمِكَ جَازَيْتَهُ

Wa lakinnaka bikaramika jāzaytahu

But by Your generosity, You rewarded him

عَلَى الْمُدَّةِ الْقَصِيرَةِ الْفَانِيَةِ بِالْمُدَّةِ الطَّوِيلَةِ الْخَالِدَةِ

ʿalā al-muddati al-qaṣīrati al-fāniyati bil-muddati al-ṭawīlati al-khālidah

With the passing, brief time by the everlasting time

وَعَلَى الْغَايَةِ الْقَرِيبَةِ الزَّائِلَةِ بِالْغَايَةِ الْمَدِيدَةِ الْبَاقِيَةِ

Wa ʿalā al-ghāyati al-qarībati az-zā'ilati bil-ghāyati al-madīdati al-bāqiyah

And for the short-lived outcome by the never-ending final reward

ثُمَّ لَمْ تَسُمْهُ الْقِصَاصَ فِيمَا أَكَلَ مِنْ رِزْقِكَ

Thumma lam tasumhu al-qiṣāṣa fīmā akala min rizqika

Then, You did not demand compensation for what he ate from Your provision

الَّذِي يَقْوَى بِهِ عَلَى طَاعَتِكَ

Alladhī yaqwa bihi ʿalā ṭāʿatika

By which he was able to obey You

وَلَمْ تَحْمِلْهُ عَلَى الْمُنَاقَشَةِ فِي الْآلاتِ

Wa lam taḥmilhu ʿalā al-munāqasha fī al-ālāt

Nor did You call him to account for all the means

الَّتِي تَسَبَّبَ بِاسْتِعْمَالِهَا إِلَى مَغْفِرَتِكَ

Allatī tasabbaba bi-istimāliha ilā maghfiratika

Which he used to obtain Your forgiveness

وَلَوْ فَعَلْتَ ذَلِكَ بِهِ

Wa law faʿalta dhalika bihi

And had You done so to him

لَذَهَبَ بِجَمِيعِ مَا كَدَحَ لَهُ

Ladhahaba bijamīʿi mā kadhaha lahu

It would have taken away all his efforts

وَجُمْلَةِ مَا سَعَى فِيهِ

Wa jumlati mā saʿa fīh

And all that he tried to achieve

جَزَاءً لِلصُّغْرَى مِنْ أَيَادِيكَ وَمِنَنِكَ

Jazā'an lil-ṣughra min ayādīka wa minanik

As a price for the smallest of Your gifts and blessings

وَلَبَقِيَ رَهِينًا بَيْنَ يَدَيْكَ بِسَائِرِ نِعَمِكَ

Wa labaqiya rahīnan bayna yadayka bisā'iri niʿamik

And he would remain hostage to You for all Your blessings

فَمَتَى كَانَ يَسْتَحِقُّ شَيْئًا مِنْ ثَوَابِكَ، لَا، مَتَى؟

Fa-matā kāna yastaḥiqu shay'an min thawābaka, lā, matā?

So when would he ever deserve any of Your reward? Never. When?

هَذَا يَا إِلَهِي حَالُ مَنْ أَطَاعَكَ وَسَبِيلُ مَنْ تَعَبَّدَ لَكَ

Hādhā yā Ilāhī ḥālu man aṭāʿaka wa-sabīlu man taʿabbada laka

This, O my God, is the state of those who obey You and the path of those devoted in worship to You

فَأَمَّا الْعَاصِي أَمْرَكَ وَالْمُوَاقِعُ نَهْيَكَ

Fa-ammā al-ʿāṣī amraka wa-l-muwāqiʿu nahyaka

But as for the one who defies Your commands and carries out Your prohibitions

فَلَمْ تُعَاجِلْهُ بِنَقِمَتِكَ لِكَيْ يَسْتَبْدِلَ بِحَالِهِ فِي مَعْصِيَتِكَ

Fa-lam tuʿājilhu bi-niqmatik li-kay yastabdil bi-ḥālihi fī maʿṣiyatik

You did not hasten punishment, that he might change his condition in Your disobedience

حَالَ الإِنَابَةِ إِلَى طَاعَتِكَ

Hāla al-inābah ilā ṭāʿatika

To a state of returning to Your obedience

وَلَقَدْ كَانَ يَسْتَحِقُّ فِي أَوَّلِ مَا هَمَّ بِعِصْيَانِكَ

Wa la-qad kāna yastaḥiqu fī awwali mā hamma bi-ʿiṣyānika

Indeed, he deserved, the moment he intended to defy You

كُلَّ مَا أَعْدَدْتَ لِجَمِيعِ خَلْقِكَ مِنْ عُقُوبَتِكَ

Kulla mā aʿdadda li-jamīʿ khalqika min ʿuqūbatik

All that You have prepared for all Your creation of retribution

فَجَمِيعُ مَا أَخَّرْتَ عَنْهُ مِنِ الْعَذَابِ

Fa-jamīʿu mā akhkharta ʿanhu min al-ʿadhāb

So all that You have delayed from him of punishment

وَأَبْطَأْتَ بِهِ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ سَطَوَاتِ النَّقِمَةِ وَالْعِقَابِ تَرْكٌ مِنْ حَقِّكَ

Wa abṭa'ta bihi ʿalayhi min saṭawāti an-niqmah wa-l-ʿiqābi tarkun min ḥaqqika

And withheld from him of Your wrath and retribution is a reduction in what he truly deserves from You

وَرِضًا بِدُونِ وَاجِبِكَ

Wa riḍān bi-dūni wājibik

And contentment with less than what was obligatory (upon him)

فَمَنْ أَكْرَمُ يَا إِلَهِي مِنْكَ

Fa-man akramu yā Ilāhī minka

So who is more generous than You, my God?

وَمَنْ أَشْقَى مِمَّنْ هَلَكَ عَلَيْكَ ، لَا ، مَنْ؟

Wa-man ashqā mimman halak ʿalayk, lā, man?

And who is more wretched than one destroyed before You? No one—who?

فَتَبَارَكْتَ أَنْ تُوصَفَ إِلَّا بِالإِحْسَانِ

Fa-tabārakta an tuwaṣafa illā bi-l-iḥsān

You are Blessed, none may describe You except with excellence

وَكَرُمْتَ أَنْ يُخَافَ مِنْكَ إِلَّا الْعَدْلُ

Wa karumta an yukhāfa minka illā al-ʿadl

You are Noble, none should fear You except in justice

لَا يُخْشَى جَوْرُكَ عَلَى مَنْ عَصَاكَ

Lā yukhshā jawruka ʿalā man ʿāṣāk

No one fears injustice from You, even those who disobey

وَلَا يُخَافُ إِغْفَالُكَ ثَوَابَ مَنْ أَرْضَاكَ

Wa lā yukhāfu ighfāluka thawāba man arḍāk

Nor should anyone fear being deprived of reward who has pleased You

فَصَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ وَهَبْ لِي أَمَلِي

Fa-ṣalli ʿalā Muḥammad wa ālih wa hab lī amalī

So bless Muḥammad and his family, and grant me my hopes

وَزِدْنِي مِنْ هُدَاكَ

Wa zidnī min hudāk

And increase me in Your guidance

مَا أَصِلُ بِهِ إِلَى التَّوْفِيقِ فِي عَمَلِي

Mā aṣilu bihi ilā at-tawfīqi fī ʿamalī

So I may attain success in my actions through it

إِنَّكَ مَنَّانٌ كَرِيمٌ

Innaka mannānun karīm

Truly, You are Most Generous and Noble

أللَّهُمَّ إنَّ أَحَداً لاَ يَبْلُغُ مِنْ شُكْرِكَ غَايَةً

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

1.O 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

2.without 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

3.nor 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

4.without 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

5.The 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

6.and 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

7.To 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

8.or Your good pleasure for his own merit.

فَمَنْ غَفَرْتَ لَهُ فَبِطَولِكَ،

faman ghafar-ta lahoo fabit'aw-lik

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

وَمَنْ رَضِيْتَ عَنْهُ فَبِفَضْلِكَ

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

10.and 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

11.You 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

12.so 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

13.and made great their repayment

أَمْرٌ مَلَكُوا اسْتِطَاعَةَ الامْتِنَاعِ مِنْهُ دُونَكَ

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

14.is 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

15.and 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

16.Nay, 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

17.and 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

18.and that because Your wont is bestowal of bounty,

وَعَادَتَكَ الإحْسَانُ، وَسَبِيلَكَ الْعَفْوُ،

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

19.Your 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

20.So 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

21.and 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

22.Each 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'

23.Had 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

24.and 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

25.no strayer would have gone astray from Your path.

فَسُبْحَانَكَ مَا أَبْيَنَ كَرَمَكَ

fasub-h'aanak maaa ab-yana karamaka

26.So 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

27.in 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

28.You 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

29.and 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

30.You 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

31.and 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

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

لاَوْشَكَ أَنْ يَفْقِدَ ثَوَابَكَ،

lahoo laaw-shaka ay-yaf-qida thawaabak

33.he would be on the point of losing Your reward

وَأَنْ تَزُولَ عَنْهُ نِعْمَتُكَ

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

34.and seeing the end of Your favour,

وَلكِنَّكَ بِكَرَمِكَ جَازَيْتَهُ

wa lkin-naka bikaramika jaazay-tahoo

35.but 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

36.for 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

37.and 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

38.Then 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

39.through which he gained strength to obey You,

وَلَـمْ تَحْمِلْهُ عَلَى الْمُنَاقَشَاتِ فِي الآلاتِ

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

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

الَّتِي تَسَبَّبَ بِاسْتِعْمَالِهَا إلَى مَغْفِـرَتِكَ،

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

41.he employed to find the means to Your forgiveness.

وَلَـوْ فَعَلْتَ ذلِكَ بِهِ

wa law faa'l-ta d'alika bihee

42.Wert You to do that to him,

لَذَهَبَ بِجَمِيْعِ مَا كَدَحَ لَهُ

lad'ahab jameeu' maa kadah'a lah

43.it would take away everything for which he had laboured

وَجُمْلَةِ مَا سَعَى فِيهِ،

wa jum-latu maa saa'a feehee

44.and all wherein he had exerted himself

جَزَاءً لِلصُّغْرى مِنْ أَيادِيْكَ وَمِنَنِكَ،

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

45.as 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

46.and 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?

47.So 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

48.This, 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

49.But 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

50.You 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

51.with 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

52.though 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

53.every 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

54.Through 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

55.and 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

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

فَمَنْ أكْرَمُ يَا إلهِي مِنْكَ

faman ak-ramu yaaa ilaahee minka?

57.So 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-?!

58.And 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

59.You 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

60.and 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

61.There 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

62.nor 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

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

وَزِدْنِي مِنْ هُدَاكَ

wa zid-nee min hudaaka

64.and increase me in that of Your guidance

مَا أَصِلُ بِهِ إلَى التَّوْفِيقِ فِي عَمَلِي،

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

65.through which I may be successful in my works!

إنَّكَ مَنَّانٌ كَرِيمٌ.

in-naka man-naanun kareem

66.Surely You art All-kind, Generous.