Sahifa Sajjadiya 49: Repelling the Trickery of Enemies

إلهِي هَدَيْتَنِي فَلَهَوْتُ،

ilaahee haday-tanee falahaw-t

1My God, You guided me but I diverted myself,

وَوَعَظْتَ فَقَسَوْتُ،

wa waa'z'-ta faqasaw-t

2You admonished me but my heart became hardened,

وَأَبْلَيْتَ الْجَمِيلَ فَعَصَيْتُ،

wa ab-lay-tal-jameela faa's'ay-t

3You tried me graciously but I disobeyed.

ثُمَّ عَرَفْتُ مَا أَصْدَرْتَ؟

thum-ma a'raf-tu maaa as'adar-ta

4Then, when You caused me to know it, I came to know that from

إذْ عَرَّفْتَنِيهِ فَاسْتَغْفَرْتُ، فَأَقَلْتَ فَعُدتُ،

id' a'r-raftaneeh fas-tagh-far-tu faaqal-t

5which You hadst turned [me] away, so I prayed forgiveness and You released, and I returned

فَسَتَرْتَ فَلَكَ إلهِي الْحَمْدُ.

fau't-tu fasatar-t falaka ilaaheel-h'am-d

6and You covered over. So Thine, my God, is the praise!

تَقَحَّمْتُ أَوْدِيَةَ الْهَلاَكِ،

taqah'-h'am-tu aw-deeatal-halaak

7I plunged into the valleys of destruction

وَحَلَلْتُ شِعَابَ تَلَف تَعَرَّضْتُ فِيهَا لِسَطَوَاتِكَ،

wa h'alal-tu shia'aba talaf taa'r-raz''-tu feehaa lisat'awaatik

8and settled in the ravines of ruin, exposing myself to Your chastisements

وَبِحُلُولِهَا عُقُوبَاتِكَ،

wa bih'uloolihaa u'qoobaatik

9and the descent of Your punishments!

وَوَسِيلَتِي إلَيْكَ التَّوْحِيدُ،

wa waseelateee ilay-kat-taw-h'eed

10My mediation with You is the profession of Unity,

وَذَرِيْعَتِي أَنِّي لَمْ أُشْرِكْ بِكَ شَيْئاً،

wa d'areea'teee an-nee lam ush-rik bika shay-aa

11my way of coming to You that I associate nothing with You,

وَلَمْ أَتَّخِذْ مَعَكَ إلهاً،

wa lam st-takhid' maa'ka ilahaa

12nor do I take along with You a god;

وَقَدْ فَرَرْتُ إلَيْكَ بِنَفْسِي،

wa qad farar-tu ilay-ka binaf-see

13I have fled to You with my soul -

وَإلَيْكَ مَفَرُّ الْمُسِيءِ،

wa ilay-ka mafar-rul-musee-

14in You is the place of flight for the evildoer,

وَمَفْزَعُ الْمُضَيِّعِ لِحَظِّ نَفْسِهِ، الْمُلْتَجِئِ.

wa maf-zau'l-muz''ay-yii' lh'az'-z'i naf-sihil-mul-taji-

15the place of escape for him who has squandered the share of his soul and seeks asylum.

فَكَمْ مِنْ عَدُوٍّ انْتَضى عَلَيَّ سَيْفَ عَدَاوَتِهِ،

fakam min a'dooin intaz''aa a'lay-ya say-fa a'daawatih

16How many an enemy has unsheathed the sword of his enmity toward me,

وَشَحَذَ لِيْ ظُبَةَ مُدْيَتِهِ،

wa shah'ad'a lee z'ubata mud-yatih

17honed the cutting edge of his knife for me,

وَأَرْهَفَ لِي شَبَا حَدِّهِ،

wa ar-hafa lee shabaa h'ad-dih

18sharpened the tip of his blade for me,

وَدَافَ لِيْ قَوَاتِلَ سُمُومِهِ،

wa daafa lee qawaatila sumoomih

19mixed his killing potions for me,

وَسَدَّدَ نَحْوِي صَوَائِبَ سِهَامِهِ،

wa sad-dada nah'-wee s'awaaa-iba sihaamih

20pointed toward me his straight-flying arrows,

وَلَمْ تَنَمْ عَنِّي عَيْنُ حِرَاسَتِهِ،

wa lam tanam a'n-nee a'y-nu h'iraasatih

21not allowed the eye of his watchfulness to sleep toward me,

وَأَضْمَرَ أَنْ يَسُومَنِي الْمَكْرُوهَ وَيُجَرِّ عَنِّي زُعَافَ مَرَارَتِهِ ،

wa az''-mara ay-yasoomaneel-mak-rooh wa yujar-ria'nee zua'aqa maraaratih

22and secretly thought of visiting me with something hateful and making me gulp down the bitter water of his bile!

فَنَظَرْتَ يا إلهِيْ إلَى ضَعْفِي عَنِ احْتِمَـالِ الْفَـوَادِحِ ،

fanaz'ar-ta yaaa ilaaheee ilaa z''aa'-fee a'ni ah'-timaalil-fawaadih'

23So You looked my God, at my weakness in bearing oppressive burdens,

وَعَجْزِي عَنِ الانْتِصَارِ مِمَّنْ قَصَدَنِيْ بِمُحَارَبَتِهِ،

wa a'j-zee a'nilints'aari mim-man qas'adanee bimuh'aarabatih

24my inability to gain victory over him who aims to war against me,

وَوَحْدَتِي فِي كَثِيرِ عَدَدِ مَنْ نَاوَانِيْ

wa wah'-datee fee katheeri a'dadi man-naawaanee

25and my being alone before the great numbers of him who is hostile toward me

وَأَرْصَدَ لِيْ بِالْبَلاءِ فِيمَا لَمْ أُعْمِلْ فِيهِ فِكْرِي،

wa ar-s'ada leeal-balaaa-a feemaa lam ua'-mil feehee fik-ree

26and lies in wait for me with an affliction about which I have not thought.

فَابْتَدَأْتَنِي بِنَصْرِكَ،

fab-tadaa-tanee binas'-rik

27You set out at once to help me

وَشَدَدْتَ أَزْرِي بِقُوَّتِكَ،

wa shadat-ta az-ree biqoo-watik

28and You braced up my back!

ثُمَّ فَلَلْتَ لِيَ حَدَّهُ،

thum-ma falal-ta lee h'ad-dah

29You blunted for me his blade,

وَصَيَّرْتَهُ مِنْ بَعْدِ جَمْع عَدِيْد وَحْدَهُ،

wa s'ay-yar-tahoo mim-baa'-di jam-i'n a'deediw-wah'-dah

30made him, after a great multitude, solitary,

وَأَعْلَيْتَ كَعْبِي عَلَيْهِ،

wa aa'-lay-ta kaa'-bee a'lay-h

31raised up my heel over him,

وَجَعَلْتَ مَا سَدَّدَهُ مَرْدُوداً عَلَيْهِ،

wa jaa'l-ta maa sad-dadahoo mar-doodana a'lay-h

32and turned back upon him what he had pointed straight.

فَرَدَدْتَهُ لَمْ يَشْفِ غَيْظَهُ،

faradat-tahoo lam yash-fi ghayz'ah

33So You sent him back, his rage not calmed,

وَلَمْ يَسْكُنْ غَلِيلُهُ،

wa lam yas-kun ghaleeluh

34his burning thirst not quenched!

قَدْ عَضَّ عَلَى شَوَاهُ،

qad a'z''-z''a a'lay-ya shawaah

35Biting his fingers,

وَأَدْبَرَ مُوَلِّياً قَدْ أَخْلَفَتَ سَرَاياهُ.

wa ad-bara muwal-leeana qad akh-laf-ta saraayaah

36he turned his back in flight, his columns having been of no use.

وَكَمْ مِنْ باغ بَغانِيْ بِمَكَائِدِهِ،

wa kam mim-baagh baghaanee bimakaaa-idih

37How many an oppressor has oppressed me with his tricks,

وَنَصَبَ لِيْ شَرَكَ مَصَائِدِهِ،

wa nas'aba lee shiraaka mas'aaa-idih

38set up for me the net of his snares,

وَوَكَّلَ بِيْ تَفَقُّدَ رِعَايَتِهِ،

wa wak-kala bee tafaq-quda ria'ayatih

39appointed over me the inspection of his regard,

وَأَظْبَأَ إلَيَّ إظْبَآءَ السَّبُعِ لِطَرِيْدَتِهِ،

wa az''-baa ilay-ya iz''-baaa-as-sabui' lit'areedatih

40and lay in ambush for me, the lying in ambush of a predator for its game,

انْتِظَـاراً لانْتِهَازِ الْفُرْصَةِ لِفَرِيسَتِهِ،

antiz'aaral-liantihaazil-fur-s'ati lifareesatih

41waiting to take advantage of its prey,

وَهُوَ يُظْهِرُ لِيْ بَشَاشَةَ المَلَقِ،

wa huwa yuz'-hiru lee bashaashatal-malaq

42while he showed me the smile of the flatterer

وَيَنْظُـرُنِي عَلَى شِدَّةِ الْحَنَقِ،

wa yanz'urunee a'laa shid-datil-h'anaq

43and looked at me with the intensity of fury!

فَلَمَّا رَأَيْتَ يَا إلهِي تَبَارَكْتَ وَتَعَالَيْتَ دَغَلْ سَرِيرَتِهِ،

falam-maa raay-ta yaaa ilaahee tabaarak-ta wa taa'alay-t daghala sareeratih

44So when You saw, my God, (blessed art You and high exalted) the depravity of his secret thoughts

وَقُبْحَ مَا انْطَوى عَلَيْهِ، أَرْكَسْتَهُ لاُِمِّ رَأْسِهِ فِي زُبْيَتِهِ،

wa qub-h'a mant'awaa a'lay-h ar-kas-tahoo lium-mi raa-sihee fee zub-yatih

45and the ugliness of what he harboured, You threw him on his head into his own pitfall

وَرَدَدْتَهُ فِي مَهْوى حُفْرَتِهِ،

wa radat-tahoo fee mah-waa h'uf-ratih

46and dumped him into the hole of his own digging.

فَانْقَمَعَ بَعْدَ اسْتِطَالَتِهِ ذَلِيلاً فِي رِبَقِ حِبالتِهِ

faanqamaa' baa'-da as-tit'aalatihee d'aleelan fee ribaqi h'ibaalatihi

47So he was brought down low, after his overbearing, by the nooses of his own snare,

الَّتِي كَانَ يُقَدِّرُ أَنْ يَرَانِي فِيهَا،

latee kaana yuqad-diru ay-yaraanee feehaa

48wherein he had thought he would see me;

وَقَدْ كَادَ أَنْ يَحُلَّ بِيْ لَوْلاَ رَحْمَتُكَ مَا حَلَّ بِسَاحَتِهِ.

wa qad kaada ay-yah'ul-la bee law-laa rah'-matuka maa h'al-la bisaah'atih

49and what came down upon his courtyard - had it not been for Your mercy - was on the point of coming down upon me!

وَكَمْ مِنْ حَاسِد قَدْ شَرِقَ بِي بِغُصَّتِهِ،

wa kam min h'aasidin qad shariqa bee bighus'-s'atih

50How many an evier has choked upon me in his agony,

وَشَجِيَ مِنِّي بِغَيْظِهِ، وَسَلَقَنِي بِحَدِّ لِسَانِهِ،

wa shajeea min-nee bighay-z'ih wa salaqanee bih'ad-d lisaanih

51fumed over me in his rage, cut me with the edge of his tongue,

وَوَحَرَنِي بِقَرْفِ عُيُوبِهِ،

wa wah'aranee biqar-fi u'yoobih

52showed malice toward me by accusing me of his own faults,

وَجَعَلَ عِرْضِيْ غَرَضاً لِمَرَامِيهِ،

wa jaa'la i'r-z''ee gharaz''al-limaraameeh

53made my good repute the target of his shots,

وَقَلَّدَنِي خِلاَلاً لَمْ تَزَلْ فِيهِ،

wa qal-ladanee khilaalal-lam tazal feeh

54collared me with his own constant defects,

وَوَحَرنِي بِكَيْدِهِ، وَقَصَدَنِي بِمَكِيدَتِهِ،

wa wah'aranee bikaydih wa qas'adanee bimakeedatih

55showed malice toward me with his trickery, and aimed at me with his tricks!

فَنَادَيْتُكَ يَا إلهِي مُسْتَغِيْثاً بِكَ،

fanaaday-tuka yaaa ilaahee mus-tagheetham-bik

56So I called upon You, my God, seeking aid from You,

وَاثِقاً بِسُرْعَةِ إجَابَتِكَ،

waathiqam-bisur-a'ti ijaabatik

57trusting in the speed of Your response,

عَالِماً أَنَّهُ لاَ يُضْطَهَدُ مَنْ آوى إلَى ظِلِّ كَنَفِكَ،

a'aliman an-nah laa yuz''-t'ahadu man awaaa ilaa z'il-li kanafik

58knowing that he who seeks haven in the shadow of Your wing will not be mistreated,

وَلاَ يَفْزَعُ مَنْ لَجَأَ إلَى مَعْقِل انْتِصَارِكَ،

wa lay-yaf-zaa' mal-lajaa ilaa maa'-qili antis'aarik

59and he who seeks asylum in the stronghold of Your victory will not be frightened.

فَحَصَّنْتَنِي مِنْ بَأْسِهِ بِقُدْرَتِكَ.

fah'as'-s'antanee mim-baa-sihee biqud-ratik

60So You fortified me against his severity through Your power.

وَكَمْ مِنْ سَحَائِبِ مَكْرُوه جَلَّيْتَهَا عَنِّي،

wa kam min- sah'aaa-ibi mak-roohin jal-lay-tahaa a'n-nee

61How many a cloud of detested things You hast dispelled from me,

وَسَحَائِبِ نِعَم أَمْطَرْتَهَا عَلَيَّ،

wa sah'aaa-ibi nia'min am-t'ar-tahaa a'lay

62a cloud of favour You hast made rain down upon me,

وَجَدَاوِلِ رَحْمَة نَشَرْتَهَا،

wa jadaawili rah'-matin-nashar-tahaa

63a stream of mercy You hast let flow,

وَعَافِيَة أَلْبَسْتَهَا، وَأَعْيُنِ أَحدَاث طَمَسْتَهَا،

wa a'afeeatin al-bas-tahaa wa aa'-yuni ah'-daathin t'amas-tahaa

64a well-being in which You hast clothed me, an eye of mishap You hast blinded,

وَغَواشي كُرُبَات كَشَفْتَهَا،

wa ghawaasheea kurubaatin kashaf-tahaa

65and a wrap of distress You hast removed!

وَكَمْ مِنْ ظَنٍّ حَسَن حَقَّقْتَ، وَعَدَم جَبَرْتَ،

wa kam min- z'an-nin h'asanin h'aq-qaq-t wa a'damin jabar-t

66How many a good opinion You hast verified, a destitution You hast redressed,

وَصَرْعَة أَنْعَشْتَ وَمَسْكَنَة، حَوَّلْتَ،

wa s'ara'tin an-a'sh-t wa mas-kanatin h'aw-wal-t

67an infirmity You hast restored to health, and a misery You hast transformed!

كُلُّ ذَلِكَ إنْعَامَاً وَتَطَوُّلاً مِنْكَ،

kul-l d'alika in-a'amaw-watat'aw-wulam-mink

68All of that was favour and graciousness from You,

وَفِي جَمِيعِهِ انْهِمَاكاً مِنِّي عَلَى مَعَاصِيْكَ،

wa fee jameei'hee an-himaakam-min-nee a'laa maa'as'eek

69and in all of it I was occupied with acts of disobeying You.

لَمْ تَمْنَعْكَ إساءَتِي عَنْ إتْمَامِ إحْسَانِكَ،

lam tam-naa'-ka isaaa-atee a'n it-maami ih'-saanik

70My evildoing did not hinder You from completing Your beneficence,

وَلاَ حَجَرَنِي ذالِكَ عَنِ ارْتِكَابِ مَسَاخِطِكَ،

wa laa h'ajaranee d'alika a'ni ar-tikaabi masaakhit'ik

71nor was I stopped from committing acts displeasing to You.

لاَ تُسْأَلُ عَمَّا تَفْعَلُ، وَلَقَدْ سُئِلْتَ فَأَعْطَيْتَ،

laa tus-alu a'm-maa taf-a'l wa laqad su-il-ta faaa'-t'ay-t

72You art not questioned as to what You dost! You wert asked, and You bestowed.

وَلَمْ تُسْأَلْ فابْتَدَأْتَ، وَاسْتُمِيحَ فَضْلُكَ فَمَا أَكْدَيْتَ،

wa lam tus-al fab-tadaa-t was-tumeeh'a faz''-luka famaaa ak-day-t

73You wert not asked, and You began. Your bounty was requested, and You didst not skimp.

أَبَيْتَ يَا مَوْلاَيَ إلاَّ إحْسَانَـاً

abay-ta yaa mawlaay il-laaa ih'-saana

74You refused, my Master, everything but beneficence,

وَامْتِنَاناً وَتَطوُّلاً وَإنْعَامـاً ،

wa am-tinaanaw-wa tat'aw-wulaw-wa in-a'amaa

75kindness, graciousness, and favour,

وَأَبَيْتُ إلاَّ تَقَحُّماً لِحُرُماتِكَ،

wa abay-tu il-laa taqah'-h'umal-lih'urumaatik

76and I refused everything but plunging into what You hast made unlawful,

وَتَعَدِّياً لِحُدُودِكَ، وَغَفْلَةً عَنْ وَعِيدِكَ.

wa taa'd-deeal-lh'udoodik wa ghaf-latan a'w-wae'edik

77transgressing Your bounds, and paying no heed to Your threat!

فَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ إلهِي مِنْ مُقْتَدِر لاَ يُغْلَبُ،

falakal-h'am-du ilaahee min- muq-tadiril-laa yugh-lab

78So Thine is the praise, my God, the All-powerful who is not overcome,

وَذِي أَناة لاَ تَعْجَلُ.

wa d'eee anaatil-laa yaa'-jal

79and the Possessor of patient waiting who does not hurry!

هَذَا مَقَامُ مَنِ اعْتَرَفَ بِسبوغِ النِّعَمِ،

had'aa maqaamu mani aa'-tarafa bisubooghin-nia'm

80This is the station of one who confesses to lavishness of favours,

وَقَابَلَهَا بِالتَّقْصِيرِ، وَشَهِدَ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ بِالتَّضْيِيْعِ.

wa qaabalahaa bit-taq-s'eer wa shahida a'laa naf-sihee bit-taz''-yeea'

81counters them with shortcomings, and bears witness to his own negligence.

أللَّهُمَّ فَإنِّي أَتَقَرَّبُ إلَيْكَ بِالْمُحَمَّدِيَّةِ الرَّفِيعَةِ،

al-laahum-ma fa in-neee ataqar-rabu ilay-ka bil-muh'am-madee-yatir-rafeea'h

translation pending

وَالْعَلَوِيَّةِ الْبَيْضَآءِ، وَأَتَـوَجَّهُ إلَيْكَ بِهِمَا،

wal-a'lawee-ytil-bay-z''aaa-i wa atawaj-jahooo ilay-ka bihimaaa

83and I turn to You through them so that You wilt give me

تُعِيذَنِيْ مِنْ شَرِّ [كَذَا وَكَذَا] فَإنَّ ذَالِكَ

an tue'ed'anee min shar-ri kad'aa wa kad'aa fa in-na d'alika

84refuge from the evil of [so and so],

لا يَضِيْقُ عَلَيْكَ فِي وُجْدِكَ،

laa yaz''eequ a'leeka fee? wuj-dik

85for that will not constrain You in Your wealth,

وَلاَ يَتَكَأدُّكَ فِي قُدْرَتِكَ،

wa laa yatakaaa-aaduka fee qud-ratik

86nor trouble You in Your power,

وَأَنْتَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْء قَدِيرٌ،

wa anta a'laa kul-li shay-in qadeer

87and You art powerful over everything!

فَهَبْ لِي يا إلهِي مِنْ رَحْمَتِكَ وَدَوَامِ تَوْفِيقِكَ،

fahab lee yaaa ilaahee mir-rah'-matika wa dawaami taw-feeqik

88So give me, my God, by Your mercy and Your lasting bestowal of success,

مَا أَتَّخِذُهُ سُلَّماً أَعْرُجُ بِهِ إلى رِضْوَانِكَ،

mat-takhid'-hoo sul-laman aa'-ruju bih ilaa riz''-waanik

89that which I may take as a ladder with which to climb to Your good pleasure

وَآمَنُ بِهِ مِنْ عِقَابِكَ، يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ.

wa aaamanu bih min i'qaabk yaaa ar-h'am-r-raah'imeen

90and be secure from Your punishment, O Most merciful of the merciful!