Sahifa Sajjadiya 49: Repelling the Trickery of Enemies

وَوَعَظْتَ فَقَسَوْتُ،

wa-wa‘aẓta fa-qasawtu,

and You admonished, yet I hardened (my heart),

وَأَبْلَيْتَ الْجَمِيلَ فَعَصَيْتُ،

wa-ablayta l-jamīl fa-‘aṣaytu,

and You showed beautiful favour, yet I disobeyed,

ثُمَّ عَرَفْتُ مَا أَصْدَرْتَ؟

thumma ‘araftu mā aṣdart?

Then I knew what You had issued (the warning)?

إذْ عَرَّفْتَنِيهِ فَاسْتَغْفَرْتُ، فَأَقَلْتَ فَعُدتُ،

idh ‘arraftanīhi fa-staghfartu, fa-aqalta fa-‘udtu,

When You made me know it, I sought forgiveness, and You overlooked (my fault), yet I returned (to sin),

فَسَتَرْتَ فَلَكَ إلهِي الْحَمْدُ.

fa-satarta fa-lak Ilāhī l-ḥamd.

and You concealed (my fault), so for You, my God, is the praise.

تَقَحَّمْتُ أَوْدِيَةَ الْهَلاَكِ،

Taqahḥamtu awdiyata l-halāk,

I plunged into the valleys of perdition,

وَحَلَلْتُ شِعَابَ تَلَف تَعَرَّضْتُ فِيهَا لِسَطَوَاتِكَ،

wa-ḥalaltu shi‘āba talaf ta‘arraḍtu fīhā li-saṭawātik,

and I settled in the passes of ruin, where I exposed myself to Your assaults,

وَبِحُلُولِهَا عُقُوبَاتِكَ،

wa-bi-ḥulūlihā ‘uqūbātik,

and to the descent of Your punishments by settling in them,

وَوَسِيلَتِي إلَيْكَ التَّوْحِيدُ،

wa-wasīlatī ilayk at-tawḥīd,

And my means (of approach) to You is Monotheism (at-tawḥīd),

وَذَرِيْعَتِي أَنِّي لَمْ أُشْرِكْ بِكَ شَيْئاً،

wa-dharī‘atī annī lam ushrik bik shay’ā,

and my plea is that I did not associate anything with You,

وَلَمْ أَتَّخِذْ مَعَكَ إلهاً،

wa-lam attakhidh ma‘ak ilhā,

and I did not take any god alongside You,

وَقَدْ فَرَرْتُ إلَيْكَ بِنَفْسِي،

wa-qad farartu ilayk bi-nafsī,

and I have fled to You with myself,

وَإلَيْكَ مَفَرُّ الْمُسِيءِ،

wa-ilayk mafarrul-musī’,

and to You is the escape of the one who does wrong,

وَمَفْزَعُ الْمُضَيِّعِ لِحَظِّ نَفْسِهِ، الْمُلْتَجِئِ.

wa-mafza‘u l-muḍayyi‘ li-ḥaẓẓi nafsih, al-multaji’.

and the refuge of the one who wasted his own portion, the refugee.

فَكَمْ مِنْ عَدُوٍّ انْتَضى عَلَيَّ سَيْفَ عَدَاوَتِهِ،

Fa-kam min ‘aduwwin antaḍā ‘alayya sayfa ‘adāwatih,

So how many an enemy has unsheathed his sword of enmity against me,

وَشَحَذَ لِيْ ظُبَةَ مُدْيَتِهِ،

wa-shaḥadha lī ẓubata mudiyatih,

and sharpened the blade of his knife for me,

وَأَرْهَفَ لِي شَبَا حَدِّهِ،

wa-arhafa lī shabā ḥaddih,

and made keen the sharpness of its edge for me,

وَدَافَ لِيْ قَوَاتِلَ سُمُومِهِ،

wa-dāfa lī qawātila sumūmih,

and mixed the deadly poisons of his venom for me,

وَسَدَّدَ نَحْوِي صَوَائِبَ سِهَامِهِ،

wa-saddada naḥwī ṣawā’iba sihāmih,

and aimed the accurate shots of his arrows at me,

وَلَمْ تَنَمْ عَنِّي عَيْنُ حِرَاسَتِهِ،

wa-lam tanam ‘annī ‘aynu ḥirāsatih,

and the eye of his guard did not sleep concerning me,

وَأَضْمَرَ أَنْ يَسُومَنِي الْمَكْرُوهَ وَيُجَرِّ عَنِّي زُعَافَ مَرَارَتِهِ،

wa-aḍmara an yasūmanī l-makrūh wa-yujarri ‘annī zu‘āfa marāratih,

and he intended to impose evil upon me and to make me swallow the deadly bitterness of his venom –

فَنَظَرْتَ يا إلهِيْ إلَى ضَعْفِي عَنِ احْتِمَـالِ الْفَـوَادِحِ،

fa-naẓarta yā Ilāhī ilā ḍa‘fī ‘ani ḥtimāli l-fawādiḥ,

Then You looked, O my God, at my weakness in bearing the calamities,

وَعَجْزِي عَنِ الانْتِصَارِ مِمَّنْ قَصَدَنِيْ بِمُحَارَبَتِهِ،

wa-‘ajzī ‘ani l-intiṣāri mimman qaṣadanī bi-muḥārabaith,

and my incapacity to defend myself against the one who intended to make war on me,

وَوَحْدَتِي فِي كَثِيرِ عَدَدِ مَنْ نَاوَانِيْ

wa-waḥdatī fī kathīri ‘adadi man nāwānī

and my solitude amid the large number of those who showed me hostility

وَأَرْصَدَ لِيْ بِالْبَلاءِ فِيمَا لَمْ أُعْمِلْ فِيهِ فِكْرِي،

wa-arṣada lī bi-l-balā’ fīmā lam u‘mil fīhi fikrī,

and lay in wait for me with tribulation in a matter in which I did not employ my thought—

فَابْتَدَأْتَنِي بِنَصْرِكَ،

fa-btada’tanī bi-naṣrik,

So You began by granting me Your help,

وَشَدَدْتَ أَزْرِي بِقُوَّتِكَ،

wa-shadadta azrī bi-quwwatik,

and You strengthened my back with Your power,

ثُمَّ فَلَلْتَ لِيَ حَدَّهُ،

thumma falalta liya ḥaddah,

Then You blunted his edge for me,

وَصَيَّرْتَهُ مِنْ بَعْدِ جَمْع عَدِيْد وَحْدَهُ،

wa-ṣayartahū min ba‘di jam‘in ‘adīd waḥdah,

and You made him, after a large gathering, stand alone,

وَأَعْلَيْتَ كَعْبِي عَلَيْهِ،

wa-a‘layta ka‘bī ‘alayh,

and You raised my heel above him (gave me victory over him),

وَجَعَلْتَ مَا سَدَّدَهُ مَرْدُوداً عَلَيْهِ،

wa-ja‘alta mā saddadahū mardūdan ‘alayh,

and You made what he aimed return upon him,

فَرَدَدْتَهُ لَمْ يَشْفِ غَيْظَهُ،

fa-radadtahū lam yashfi ghayẓah,

So You drove him back without his having satisfied his rage,

وَلَمْ يَسْكُنْ غَلِيلُهُ،

wa-lam yaskun ghalīluh,

and without his heat of thirst being quenched,

قَدْ عَضَّ عَلَى شَوَاهُ،

qad ‘aḍḍa ‘alā shawāh,

he bit his lips,

وَأَدْبَرَ مُوَلِّياً قَدْ أَخْلَفَتَ سَرَاياهُ.

wa-adbara muwalliyan qad akhlafat sarāyāh.

and he turned away in retreat, his expeditions having failed.

وَكَمْ مِنْ باغ بَغانِيْ بِمَكَائِدِهِ،

Wa-kam min bāghin baghānī bi-makā’idih,

And how many an oppressor sought to oppress me with his plots,

وَنَصَبَ لِيْ شَرَكَ مَصَائِدِهِ،

wa-naṣaba lī sharaka maṣā’idih,

and set up the net of his traps for me,

وَوَكَّلَ بِيْ تَفَقُّدَ رِعَايَتِهِ،

wa-wakkala bī tafaqquda ri‘āyatih,

and assigned to me the checking of his vigilance,

وَأَظْبَأَ إلَيَّ إظْبَآءَ السَّبُعِ لِطَرِيْدَتِهِ،

wa-aẓba’a ilayya iẓbā’a s-sab‘i li-ṭarīdtih,

and lay in wait for me like a wild beast for its quarry,

انْتِظَاراً لانْتِهَازِ الْفُرْصَةِ لِفَرِيسَتِهِ،

intiẓāran li-ntihāzi l-furṣati li-farīsatih,

waiting to seize the opportunity for his prey,

وَهُوَ يُظْهِرُ لِيْ بَشَاشَةَ المَلَقِ،

wa-huwa yuẓhiru lī bashāshata l-malaq,

while he displayed to me the cheerfulness of flattery,

وَيَنْظُـرُنِي عَلَى شِدَّةِ الْحَنَقِ،

wa-yanẓurunī ‘alā shiddati l-ḥanaq,

and looked at me with intense wrath—

فَلَمَّا رَأَيْتَ يَا إلهِي تَبَارَكْتَ وَتَعَالَيْتَ دَغَلْ سَرِيرَتِهِ،

fa-lammā ra’ayta yā Ilāhī tabārakta wa-ta‘ālayta daghala sarīratih,

So when You saw, O my God—blessed and exalted be You—the corruption of his inner being,

وَقُبْحَ مَا انْطَوى عَلَيْهِ، أَرْكَسْتَهُ لاُِمِّ رَأْسِهِ فِي زُبْيَتِهِ،

wa-qubḥa mā nṭawā ‘alayh, arkastahū li-umm rā’sihī fī zubyatih,

and the foulness of what he concealed, You made him fall headlong into his own pit,

وَرَدَدْتَهُ فِي مَهْوى حُفْرَتِهِ،

wa-radadtahū fī mahwā ḥufratih,

and You turned him back into the downfall of his own hole,

فَانْقَمَعَ بَعْدَ اسْتِطَالَتِهِ ذَلِيلاً فِي رِبَقِ حِبالتِهِ

fa-nqama‘a ba‘da stiṭālatihī dhalīlan fī ribaq ḥibālatih

So he was humbled after his aggression, disgraced in the snares of his own trap

الَّتِي كَانَ يُقَدِّرُ أَنْ يَرَانِي فِيهَا،

allatī kāna yuqaddir an yarānī fīhā,

in which he intended to see me,

وَقَدْ كَادَ أَنْ يَحُلَّ بِيْ لَوْلاَ رَحْمَتُكَ مَا حَلَّ بِسَاحَتِهِ.

wa-qad kāda an yaḥulla bī lawlā raḥmatuka mā ḥalla bi-sāḥatih.

and what befell his courtyard had nearly fallen upon me, were it not for Your mercy.

وَكَمْ مِنْ حَاسِد قَدْ شَرِقَ بِي بِغُصَّتِهِ،

Wa-kam min ḥāsidin qad shariqa bī bi-ghuṣṣatih,

And how many an envier (ḥāsid) has choked on account of me with his grief,

وَشَجِيَ مِنِّي بِغَيْظِهِ، وَسَلَقَنِي بِحَدِّ لِسَانِهِ،

wa-shajī minnī bi-ghayẓih, wa-salaqanī bi-ḥaddi lisānih,

and suffered on my account with his rage, and stung me with the sharpness of his tongue,

وَوَحَرَنِي بِقَرْفِ عُيُوبِهِ،

wa-waḥaranī bi-qarf ‘uyūbih,

and vexed me by slandering my faults,

وَجَعَلَ عِرْضِيْ غَرَضاً لِمَرَامِيهِ،

wa-ja‘ala ‘irḍī gharaḍan li-marāmīh,

and made my honour a target for his aims,

وَقَلَّدَنِي خِلاَلاً لَمْ تَزَلْ فِيهِ،

wa-qalladanī khilālan lam tazal fīh,

and accused me of qualities that were never absent from him,

وَوَحَرنِي بِكَيْدِهِ، وَقَصَدَنِي بِمَكِيدَتِهِ،

wa-waḥaranī bi-kaydih, wa-qaṣadanī bi-makīdatih,

and vexed me with his guile, and intended me with his plot—

فَنَادَيْتُكَ يَا إلهِي مُسْتَغِيْثاً بِكَ،

fa-nādaytuka yā Ilāhī mustaghīthan bik,

So I called upon You, O my God, seeking help in You,

وَاثِقاً بِسُرْعَةِ إجَابَتِكَ،

wāthiqan bi-sur‘ati ijābatik,

confident in the swiftness of Your response,

عَالِماً أَنَّهُ لاَ يُضْطَهَدُ مَنْ آوى إلَى ظِلِّ كَنَفِكَ،

‘āliman annahū lā yuḍṭahadu man āwā ilā ẓilli kanafika,

knowing that no one who takes shelter under the shadow of Your protection will be wronged,

وَلاَ يَفْزَعُ مَنْ لَجَأَ إلَى مَعْقِل انْتِصَارِكَ،

wa-lā yafza‘u man laja’a ilā ma‘qil intiṣārik,

and no one who seeks refuge in the stronghold of Your help will be terrified—

فَحَصَّنْتَنِي مِنْ بَأْسِهِ بِقُدْرَتِكَ.

fa-ḥaṣṣantanī min ba’sihī bi-qudratik.

So You fortified me against his malice with Your power.

وَكَمْ مِنْ سَحَائِبِ مَكْرُوه جَلَّيْتَهَا عَنِّي،

Wa-kam min saḥā’ibi makrūhin jallaytahā ‘annī,

And how many clouds of detestable things You cleared away from me,

وَسَحَائِبِ نِعَم أَمْطَرْتَهَا عَلَيَّ،

wa-saḥā’ibi ni‘amin amṭartahā ‘alayy,

and clouds of blessings You showered upon me,

وَجَدَاوِلِ رَحْمَة نَشَرْتَهَا،

wa-jadāwili raḥmatin nashartahā,

and streams of mercy You spread,

وَعَافِيَة أَلْبَسْتَهَا، وَأَعْيُنِ أَحدَاث طَمَسْتَهَا،

wa-‘āfiyatin albasthā, wa-a‘yuni aḥdāthin ṭamastahā,

and well-being You clothed me in, and eyes of calamities You blinded,

وَغَواشي كُرُبَات كَشَفْتَهَا،

wa-ghawāshī kurubātin kashaftahā,

and overpowering distresses You removed,

وَكَمْ مِنْ ظَنٍّ حَسَن حَقَّقْتَ، وَعَدَم جَبَرْتَ،

wa-kam min ẓannin ḥasanin ḥaqqaqt, wa-‘adamin jabart,

And how many a good expectation You fulfilled, and a lack You remedied,

وَصَرْعَة أَنْعَشْتَ وَمَسْكَنَة، حَوَّلْتَ،

wa-ṣar‘atin an‘ashta wa-maskanatin ḥawwalt,

and a fall You revived, and wretchedness You transformed—

كُلُّ ذَلِكَ إنْعَامَاً وَتَطَوُّلاً مِنْكَ،

kullu dhālik in‘āman wa-taṭawwulan mink,

All of that being favour and bestowal from You,

وَفِي جَمِيعِهِ انْهِمَاكاً مِنِّي عَلَى مَعَاصِيْكَ،

wa-fī jamī‘ihī inhimākan minnī ‘alā ma‘āṣīk,

while in all of it, I was absorbed in Your acts of disobedience,

لَمْ تَمْنَعْكَ إساءَتِي عَنْ إتْمَامِ إحْسَانِكَ،

lam tamna‘k isā’atī ‘an itmāmi iḥsānik,

My wrongdoing did not prevent You from completing Your benevolence,

وَلاَ حَجَرَنِي ذالِكَ عَنِ ارْتِكَابِ مَسَاخِطِكَ،

wa-lā ḥajaranī dhālik ‘ani rtikābi masākhiṭik,

and that did not restrain me from committing Your displeasing acts,

لاَ تُسْأَلُ عَمَّا تَفْعَلُ، وَلَقَدْ سُئِلْتَ فَأَعْطَيْتَ،

lā tus’alu ‘ammā taf‘al, wa-laqad su’ilta fa-a‘ṭayt,

You are not questioned about what You do, and You were asked, and You gave,

وَلَمْ تُسْأَلْ فابْتَدَأْتَ، وَاسْتُمِيحَ فَضْلُكَ فَمَا أَكْدَيْتَ،

wa-lam tus’al fa-btada’t, wa-stumīḥa faḍluk fa-mā akdayt,

and You were not asked, and You initiated, and Your favour was sought, and You did not fail—

أَبَيْتَ يَا مَوْلاَيَ إلاَّ إحْسَانَـاً

abayta yā Mawlāya illā iḥsānā

You refused, O my Master, except to show benevolence,

وَامْتِنَاناً وَتَطوُّلاً وَإنْعَامـاً ،

wa-mtinānan wa-taṭawwulan wa-in‘āmā,

and bestowal of grace, and granting of favour, and blessing,

وَأَبَيْتُ إلاَّ تَقَحُّماً لِحُرُماتِكَ،

wa-abaytu illā taqaḥḥuman li-ḥurumātik,

and I refused except to plunge into violation of Your sanctities,

وَتَعَدِّياً لِحُدُودِكَ، وَغَفْلَةً عَنْ وَعِيدِكَ.

wa-ta‘addiyan li-ḥudūdik, wa-ghaflatan ‘an wa‘īdik.

and transgression of Your bounds, and heedlessness of Your threat.

فَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ إلهِي مِنْ مُقْتَدِر لاَ يُغْلَبُ،

Fa-laka l-ḥamdu Ilāhī min muqtadirin lā yughlab,

So for You is the praise, O my God, as the One who is Powerful, Who is not overcome,

وَذِي أَناة لاَ تَعْجَلُ.

wa-dhī anātin lā ta‘jal.

and the One Possessing Deliberation, Who does not hasten.

هَذَا مَقَامُ مَنِ اعْتَرَفَ بِسبوغِ النِّعَمِ،

Hādhā maqāmu mani ‘tarafa bi-subūgh i-n-ni‘am,

This is the station of one who acknowledged the fullness of blessings,

وَقَابَلَهَا بِالتَّقْصِيرِ، وَشَهِدَ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ بِالتَّضْيِيْعِ.

wa-qābalahā bi-t-taqṣīr, wa-shahida ‘alā nafsihī bi-t-taḍyī‘.

and met them with deficiency, and bore witness against himself of wasting (them).

أللَّهُمَّ فَإنِّي أَتَقَرَّبُ إلَيْكَ بِالْمُحَمَّدِيَّةِ الرَّفِيعَةِ،

Allāhumm fa-innī ataqarrabu ilayk bi-l-Muḥammadiyyati r-rafī‘ah,

O God, truly I draw near to You by the lofty Muḥammadiyyah (the path/status of Muḥammad),

وَالْعَلَوِيَّةِ الْبَيْضَآءِ، وَأَتَـوَجَّهُ إلَيْكَ بِهِمَا،

wa-l-‘Alawiyyati l-bayḍā’, wa-atawajjahu ilayk bihimā,

and the radiant ‘Alawiyyah (the path/status of ‘Alī), and I turn to You through them both,

تُعِيذَنِيْ مِنْ شَرِّ [كَذَا وَكَذَا] فَإنَّ ذَالِكَ

tu‘īdhanī min sharr [kadhā wa-kadhā] fa-inna dhālik

(asking that) You grant me refuge from the evil of [such and such], for truly that

لا يَضِيْقُ عَلَيْكَ فِي وُجْدِكَ،

lā yaḍīqu ‘alayk fī wujdik,

does not strain You in Your richness,

وَلاَ يَتَكَأدُّدُكَ فِي قُدْرَتِكَ،

wa-lā yataka’adduk fī qudratik,

and it does not weary You in Your power,

وَأَنْتَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْء قَدِيرٌ،

wa-anta ‘alā kulli shay’in qadīr,

and You have power over everything,

فَهَبْ لِي يا إلهِي مِنْ رَحْمَتِكَ وَدَوَامِ تَوْفِيقِكَ،

fa-hab lī yā Ilāhī min raḥmatik wa-dawāmi tawfīqik,

So grant me, O my God, from Your mercy and the lastingness of Your enabling (tawfīq),

مَا أَتَّخِذُهُ سُلَّماً أَعْرُجُ بِهِ إلى رِضْوَانِكَ،

mā attakhidhuhū sullaman a‘ruju bihī ilā riḍwānik,

that which I may take as a ladder by which I may ascend to Your good pleasure,

وَآمَنُ بِهِ مِنْ عِقَابِكَ، يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ.

wa-āmanu bihī min ‘iqābik, yā Arḥama r-Rāḥimīn.

and by which I may be safe from Your punishment, O Most Merciful of the merciful ones.

إلهِي هَدَيْتَنِي فَلَهَوْتُ،

ilaahee haday-tanee falahaw-t

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

وَوَعَظْتَ فَقَسَوْتُ،

wa waa'z'-ta faqasaw-t

2.You admonished me but my heart became hardened,

وَأَبْلَيْتَ الْجَمِيلَ فَعَصَيْتُ،

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

3.You tried me graciously but I disobeyed.

ثُمَّ عَرَفْتُ مَا أَصْدَرْتَ؟

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

4.Then, 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

5.which 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

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

تَقَحَّمْتُ أَوْدِيَةَ الْهَلاَكِ،

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

7.I 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

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

وَبِحُلُولِهَا عُقُوبَاتِكَ،

wa bih'uloolihaa u'qoobaatik

9.and the descent of Your punishments!

وَوَسِيلَتِي إلَيْكَ التَّوْحِيدُ،

wa waseelateee ilay-kat-taw-h'eed

10.My 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

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

وَلَمْ أَتَّخِذْ مَعَكَ إلهاً،

wa lam st-takhid' maa'ka ilahaa

12.nor do I take along with You a god;

وَقَدْ فَرَرْتُ إلَيْكَ بِنَفْسِي،

wa qad farar-tu ilay-ka binaf-see

13.I have fled to You with my soul -

وَإلَيْكَ مَفَرُّ الْمُسِيءِ،

wa ilay-ka mafar-rul-musee-

14.in 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-

15.the 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

16.How 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

17.honed the cutting edge of his knife for me,

وَأَرْهَفَ لِي شَبَا حَدِّهِ،

wa ar-hafa lee shabaa h'ad-dih

18.sharpened the tip of his blade for me,

وَدَافَ لِيْ قَوَاتِلَ سُمُومِهِ،

wa daafa lee qawaatila sumoomih

19.mixed his killing potions for me,

وَسَدَّدَ نَحْوِي صَوَائِبَ سِهَامِهِ،

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

20.pointed toward me his straight-flying arrows,

وَلَمْ تَنَمْ عَنِّي عَيْنُ حِرَاسَتِهِ،

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

21.not 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

22.and 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'

23.So 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

24.my 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

25.and 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

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

فَابْتَدَأْتَنِي بِنَصْرِكَ،

fab-tadaa-tanee binas'-rik

27.You set out at once to help me

وَشَدَدْتَ أَزْرِي بِقُوَّتِكَ،

wa shadat-ta az-ree biqoo-watik

28.and You braced up my back!

ثُمَّ فَلَلْتَ لِيَ حَدَّهُ،

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

29.You 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

30.made him, after a great multitude, solitary,

وَأَعْلَيْتَ كَعْبِي عَلَيْهِ،

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

31.raised up my heel over him,

وَجَعَلْتَ مَا سَدَّدَهُ مَرْدُوداً عَلَيْهِ،

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

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

فَرَدَدْتَهُ لَمْ يَشْفِ غَيْظَهُ،

faradat-tahoo lam yash-fi ghayz'ah

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

وَلَمْ يَسْكُنْ غَلِيلُهُ،

wa lam yas-kun ghaleeluh

34.his burning thirst not quenched!

قَدْ عَضَّ عَلَى شَوَاهُ،

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

35.Biting his fingers,

وَأَدْبَرَ مُوَلِّياً قَدْ أَخْلَفَتَ سَرَاياهُ.

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

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

وَكَمْ مِنْ باغ بَغانِيْ بِمَكَائِدِهِ،

wa kam mim-baagh baghaanee bimakaaa-idih

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

وَنَصَبَ لِيْ شَرَكَ مَصَائِدِهِ،

wa nas'aba lee shiraaka mas'aaa-idih

38.set up for me the net of his snares,

وَوَكَّلَ بِيْ تَفَقُّدَ رِعَايَتِهِ،

wa wak-kala bee tafaq-quda ria'ayatih

39.appointed over me the inspection of his regard,

وَأَظْبَأَ إلَيَّ إظْبَآءَ السَّبُعِ لِطَرِيْدَتِهِ،

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

40.and 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

41.waiting to take advantage of its prey,

وَهُوَ يُظْهِرُ لِيْ بَشَاشَةَ المَلَقِ،

wa huwa yuz'-hiru lee bashaashatal-malaq

42.while he showed me the smile of the flatterer

وَيَنْظُـرُنِي عَلَى شِدَّةِ الْحَنَقِ،

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

43.and 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

44.So 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

45.and 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

46.and 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

47.So 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

48.wherein 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

49.and 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

50.How 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

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

وَوَحَرَنِي بِقَرْفِ عُيُوبِهِ،

wa wah'aranee biqar-fi u'yoobih

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

وَجَعَلَ عِرْضِيْ غَرَضاً لِمَرَامِيهِ،

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

53.made my good repute the target of his shots,

وَقَلَّدَنِي خِلاَلاً لَمْ تَزَلْ فِيهِ،

wa qal-ladanee khilaalal-lam tazal feeh

54.collared me with his own constant defects,

وَوَحَرنِي بِكَيْدِهِ، وَقَصَدَنِي بِمَكِيدَتِهِ،

wa wah'aranee bikaydih wa qas'adanee bimakeedatih

55.showed 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

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

وَاثِقاً بِسُرْعَةِ إجَابَتِكَ،

waathiqam-bisur-a'ti ijaabatik

57.trusting 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

58.knowing 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

59.and 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

60.So 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

61.How 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

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

وَجَدَاوِلِ رَحْمَة نَشَرْتَهَا،

wa jadaawili rah'-matin-nashar-tahaa

63.a 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

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

وَغَواشي كُرُبَات كَشَفْتَهَا،

wa ghawaasheea kurubaatin kashaf-tahaa

65.and 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

66.How 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

67.an 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

68.All 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

69.and 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

70.My 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

71.nor 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

72.You 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

73.You 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

74.You refused, my Master, everything but beneficence,

وَامْتِنَاناً وَتَطوُّلاً وَإنْعَامـاً ،

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

75.kindness, graciousness, and favour,

وَأَبَيْتُ إلاَّ تَقَحُّماً لِحُرُماتِكَ،

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

76.and 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

77.transgressing 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

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

وَذِي أَناة لاَ تَعْجَلُ.

wa d'eee anaatil-laa yaa'-jal

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

هَذَا مَقَامُ مَنِ اعْتَرَفَ بِسبوغِ النِّعَمِ،

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

80.This 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'

81.counters 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

82.O God, so I seek nearness to You through the elevated rank of Muhammad and the radiant degree of 'Ali,

وَالْعَلَوِيَّةِ الْبَيْضَآءِ، وَأَتَـوَجَّهُ إلَيْكَ بِهِمَا،

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

83.and 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

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

لا يَضِيْقُ عَلَيْكَ فِي وُجْدِكَ،

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

85.for that will not constrain You in Your wealth,

وَلاَ يَتَكَأدُّكَ فِي قُدْرَتِكَ،

wa laa yatakaaa-aaduka fee qud-ratik

86.nor trouble You in Your power,

وَأَنْتَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْء قَدِيرٌ،

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

87.and You art powerful over everything!

فَهَبْ لِي يا إلهِي مِنْ رَحْمَتِكَ وَدَوَامِ تَوْفِيقِكَ،

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

88.So 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

89.that 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

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