Sahifa Sajjadiya 51: In Pleading and Abasement

إلهِي أَحْمَـدُكَ ـ وَأَنْتَ لِلْحَمْدِ أَهْلٌ ـ

ilaaheee ah'-maduk wa anta lil-h'am-di ah-lun

1My God, I praise You, - and You art worthy of praise -

عَلَى حُسْنِ صَنِيعِكَ إلَيَّ، وَسُبُـوغِ نَعْمَآئِكَ عَلَيَّ،

a'laa h'us-ni s'aneei'ka ilay wa subooghi naa'-maaa-ika a'lay

2for Your benefaction toward me, the lavishness of Your favours toward me,

وَجَزِيْلِ عَطَآئِكَ عِنْدِي،

wa jazeeli a't'aaa-ika i'ndee

3and Your plentiful bestowal upon me,

وَعَلَى ما فَضَّلْتَنِي مِنْ رَحْمَتِكَ،

wa a'laa maa faz''-z''al-tanee mir-rah'-matik

4and for showing bounty toward me through Your mercy

وَأَسْبَغْتَ عَلَيَّ مِنْ نِعْمَتِكَ،

wa as-bagh-ta a'lay-ya min-nia'-matik

5and lavishing Your favour upon me.

فَقَدِ اصْطَنَعْتَ عِنْدِي ما يَعْجِزُ عَنُهُ شُكْرِي، وَلَوْلاَ إحْسَانُكَ، إلَيَّ

faqadi as'-t'anaa'-ta i'ndee maa yaa'-jizu a'n-hoo shuk-ree wa law-laaa ih'-saanuka ilay

6You hast done well toward me and I am incapable of thanking You. Were it not for Your beneficence toward me

وَسُبُوغُ نَعْمَآئِـكَ عَلَيَّ

wa subooghu naa'-maaa-ika a'lay

7and the lavishness of Your favours upon me,

مَا بَلَغْتُ إحْرازَ حَظِّي، وَلاَ إصْلاَحَ نَفْسِي،

maa balagh-tu ih'-raaza h'az'-z'ee wa laaa is'-laah'a naf-see

8I would not have reached the taking of my share nor would my soul have been set right,

وَلكِنَّكَ ابْتَدَأْتَنِي بِالإحْسَانِ،

wa lkin-naka ab-tadaa-tanee bil-ih'-saan

9but You began with beneficence toward me,

وَرَزَقْتَنِي فِي أُمُورِي كُلِّهَا الْكِفَايَةَ،

wa razaq-tanee feee umwree kul-lihaal-kifaayah

10provided me sufficiency in all my affairs,

وَصَرَفْتَ عَنِّي جَهْدَ الْبَلاءِ،

wa s'araf-ta i'n-nee jah-dal-balaaa-

11turned away from me the toil of affliction,

وَمَنَعْتَ مِنِّي مَحْذُورَ الْقَضَآءِ

wa manaa'-ta min-nee mah'-d'ooral-qaz''aaa-i

12and held back from me the feared decree.

إلهِي فَكَمْ مِنْ بَلاء جَاهِد قَدْ صَرَفْتَ عَنِّي،

ilaahee fakam mim-balaaa-in jaahidin qad s'araf-ta a'n-nee

13My God, how many a toilsome affliction which You hast turned away from me!

وَكَمْ مِنْ نِعْمَة سَابِغَة أَقْرَرْتَ بِهَا عَيْنِي،

wa kam min-nia'-matin saabighatin aq-rar-ta bihaa a'y-nee

14How many a lavish favour with which You hast gladdened my eye!

وَكَمْ مِنْ صَنِيعَة كَرِيمَة لَكَ عِنْدِي.

wa kam min s'aneea'tin kareematil-laka i'ndee

15How many a generous benefaction of Thine which is present with me!

أَنْتَ الَّذِي أَجَبْتَ عِنْدَ الاضْطِرَارِ دَعْوَتِي،

antal-lad'ee ajab-ta i'ndaliz''-t'iraari daa'-watee

16It is You who responded to my supplication at the time of distress,

وَأَقَلْتَ عِنْدَ الْعِثَارِ زَلَّتِي،

wa aqal-ta i'ndal-i'thaari zal-latee

17released me from my slip in stumbling,

وَأَخَذْتَ لِي مِنَ الاَعْدَآءِ بِظُلاَمَتِي.

wa akhad'-ta lee minal-aa'-daaa-i biz'ulaamatee

18and took my enemies to task for doing wrong to me.

إلهِي مَا وَجَدْتُكَ بَخِيلاً حِينَ سَأَلْتُكَ،

ilaahee maa wajat-tuk bakheelana h'eena saal-tuk

19My God, I did not find You a miser when I asked of You

وَلاَ مُنْقَبِضاً حِينَ أَرَدْتُكَ،

wa laa munqabiz''ana h'eena arat-tuk

20nor a withholder when I desired from You.

بل وَجَدْتُكَ لِدُعَآئِي سَامِعاً، وَلِمَطَالِبِي مُعْطِياً،

bal wajat-tuka lidua'aa-ee saamia'a wa limat'aalibee mua'-t'eeaa

21No, 1 found You a hearer of my supplication and a bestower of my requests;

وَوَجَدْتُ نُعْمَاكَ عَلَيَّ سَابِغَةً،

wa wajat-tu nua'-maaka a'lay-ya saabighatan

22I found Your favours toward me

فِي كُلِّ شَأْن مِنْ شَأْنِي، وَكُلِّ زَمَان مِنْ زَمَانِي،

fee kul-li shaa-nim-min shaa-nee wa kul-li zamaanim-min zamaanee

23lavish in my every situation and in my every time.

فَأَنْتَ عِنْدِي مَحْمُودٌ، وَصَنِيعُكَ لَدَيَّ مَبْرُورٌ،

faanta i'ndee mah'-mood wa s'aneeu'ka laday-ya mab-roor

24So You art praised by me and Your benefaction honoured.

تَحْمَدُكَ نَفْسِي وَلِسَانِيْ وَعَقْلِي حَمْداً يَبْلُغُ الوَفَآءَ وَحَقِيقَةَ الشُّكْرِ،

tah'-maduka naf-see walisaanee wa a'q-lee h'am-day-yab-lughul-wafaaa-a wa h'aqeeqatash-shuk-r

25My soul, my tongue, and my intelligence praise You, a praise that reaches fulfilment and the reality of thanksgiving,

حَمْداً يَكُونُ مَبْلَغَ رِضَاكَ عَنِّي،

h'am-day-yakoonu mab-lagha riz''aaka a'n-nay

26a praise that attains to Your good pleasure with me -

فَنَجِّنِي مِنْ سَخَطِكَ يَا كَهْفِي حِينَ تُعْيينِي الْمَذَاهِبُ،

fanaj-jinee min sakhat'ik yaa kah-fee h'eena tua'-yeeneel-mad'aahib

27so deliver me from Your displeasure! O my cave when the ways thwart me!

وَيَا مُقيلِي عَثْرَتِي،

wa yaa muqeelee a'th-ratee

28O He who releases me from my stumble!

فَلَوْلاَ سَتْرُكَ عَوْرَتِي لَكُنْتُ مِنَ الْمَفْضُوحِينَ،

falaw-laa sat-ruka a'w-ratee lakuntu minal-maf-z''ooh'een

29Were it not for Your covering my shameful defects, I would be one of the disgraced.

وَيَا مُؤَيِّدِي بِالنَّصْرِ،

wa yaa moo-ay-yidee bin-nas'-r

30O my confirmer through help!

فَلَوْلاَ نَصْرُكَ إيَّايَ لَكُنْتُ مِنَ الْمَغْلُوبِينَ،

falaw-laa nas'-ruka ee-yaaya lakuntu minal-magh-loobeen

31Were it not for Your helping me, I would be one of the overcome!

وَيَا مَنْ وَضَعَتْ لَهُ الْمُلُوكُ نِيرَ الْمَذَلَّةِ عَلى أَعْنَاقِهَا،

wa yaa maw-waz''aa't lahul-mulwku neeral-mad'al-lati a'laaa aa'-naaqihaa

32O He before whom kings place the yoke of lowliness around their necks,

فَهُمْ مِنْ سَطَواتِهِ خَائِفُونَ، وَيَا أَهْلَ التَّقْوَى،

fahum min sat'awaatihee khaaa-ifoon wa yaaa ah-lat-taq-waa

33fearing His penalties! O worthy of reverent fear!

وَيَا مَنْ لَهُ الأَسْمَآءُ الْحُسْنى أَسْأَلُكَ أَنْ تَعْفُوَ عَنِّي،

wa yaa mal-lahul-as-maaa-ul-h'us-naa as-aluka an taa'-fuwa a'n-nee

34O He to whom belong the names most beautiful! I ask You to pardon me

وَتَغْفِرَ لِي فَلَسْتُ، بَرِيئاً فَأَعْتَذِرَ،

wa tagh-fira lee falas-tu baree-ana faaa'-tad'ir

35and to forgive me, for I am not innocent that I should offer excuses,

وَلاَ بِذِي قُوَّة فَأَنْتَصِرَ،

wa laa bid'ee qoo-watin faantas'ir

36nor a possessor of strength that I should gain victory,

وَلاَ مَفَرَّ لِي فَأَفِرَّ. وَأَسْتَقِيْلُكَ عَثَراتِي،

wa laa mafar-ra lee faafir wa as-taqeeluka a'tharaatee

37nor have I any place of flight that I should flee! I ask You to release me from my stumbles,

وَأَتَنَصَّلُ إلَيْكَ مِنْ ذُنُوبِي الَّتِي قَدْ أَوْبَقَتْنِي،

wa atanas'-s'alu ilay-ka min d'unwbeeal-latee qad aw-baqat-nee

38and before You I disavow my sins, which have laid me waste,

وَأَحَاطَتْ بِي فَأَهْلَكَتْنِي،

wa ah'aat'at bee faah-lakat-nee

39encompassed me, and destroyed me!

مِنْهَا فَرَرْتُ إلَيْكَ رَبِّ تَائِباً،

min-haa farar-tu ilay-ka rab-bi taaa-ibana

40I flee from them to You, my Lord, turning repentantly,

فَتُبْ عَلَيَّ مُتَعَوِّذاً، فَأَعِذْنِي مُسْتَجِيراً،

fatub a'lay mutaa'w-wid'ana faai'd'-nee mus-tajeerana

41so turn toward me, seeking refuge, so grant me refuge, asking sanctuary,

فَلاَ تَخْذُلْنِي سَآئِلاً، فَلاَ تَحْرِمْنِي مُعْتَصِماً،

falaa takh-d'ul-nee saaa-ilana falaa tah'-rim-nee mua'-tas'imana

42so abandon me not, requesting, so deprive me not, holding fast,

فَلاَ تُسْلِمْنِي دَاعِياً، فَلاَ تَرُدَّنِي خَائِباً،

falaa tus-lim-nee daae'eana falaa tarud-danee khaaa-ibaa

43so leave me not, supplicating, so send me not back disappointed!

دَعوْتُكَ يَارَبِّ مِسْكِيناً، مُسْتَكِيناً،

daa'w-tuka yaa rab mis-keenam-mus-takeenaa

44I have supplicated You, my Lord, as one miserable, abased,

مُشْفِقاً، خَائِفاً، وَجِلاً، فَقِيراً، مُضْطَرّاً، إلَيْكَ

mush-fiqana khaaa-ifaa wajilana faqeeraa muz''-t'ar-ran ilay-k

45apprehensive, fearful, quaking, poor, driven to have recourse to You!

أَشْكُو إلَيْكَ يَا إلهِي ضَعْفَ نَفْسِي

ash-kw ilay-ka yaaa ilaahee z''aa'-fa naf-see

46I complain to You, my God, of my soul - which is too weak

عَنِ الْمُسَارَعَةِ فِيمَا وَعَدْتَهُ أَوْلِيَآءَكَ،

a'nil-musaaraa'ti feemaa waa't-tahooo aw-leeaaa-ak

47to hurry to that which You hast promised Your friends

وَالْمُجَانَبَةِ عَمَّا حَذَّرْتَهُ أَعْدَآءَكَ،

wal-mujaanabati a'm-maa h'ad'-d'ar-tahooo aa'-daaa-ak

48or to avoid that against which You hast cautioned Your enemies -

وَكَثْرَةَ هُمُومِي وَوَسْوَسَةَ نَفْسِي .

wa kath-rata humoomee wa was-wasata naf-see

49and of the multitude of my concerns, and of my soul's confusing thoughts.

إلهِي لَمْ تَفْضَحْنِي بِسَرِيرَتِي،

ilaahee lam taf-z''ah'-nee bisareeratee

50My God, You hast not disgraced me through my secret thoughts

وَلَمْ تُهْلِكْنِي بِجَرِيرَتِي، أَدْعُوكَ فَتُجِيبُنِي

wa lam tuh-lik-nee bijareeratee ad-u'wka fatujeebunee

51or destroyed me because of my misdeeds! I call upon You, and You respondest,

وَإنْ كُنْتُ بَطِيئاً حِيْنَ تَدْعُونِي.

wa in kuntu bat'ee-ana h'eena tad-u'wnee

52even if I am slow when You callest upon me.

وَأَسْأَلُكَ كُلَّمَا شِئْتُ مِنْ حَوَائِجِي،

wa as-aluka kul-lamaa shi-tu min h'awaaa-ijee

53I ask You everything I want of my needs,

وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنْتُ وَضَعْتُ عِنْدَكَ سِرِّي،

wa h'ay-thu maa kuntu waz''aa'-tu i'ndaka sir-ree

54and I deposit with You my secret wherever I may be.

فَلاَ أَدْعُو سِوَاكَ، وَلاَ أَرْجُو غَيْرَكَ،

falaaa ad-u'w siwaak wa laaa ar-joo ghay-rak

55I supplicate no one besides You, and I hope for no one other than You.

لَبَّيْكَ لَبَّيْكَ، تَسْمَعُ مَنْ شَكَا إلَيْكَ،

lab-bay-ka lab-bay-k tas-mau' man shakaaa ilay-k

56At Your service! At Your service! You hearest him who complains to You!

وَتَلْقى مَنْ تَوَكَّلَ عَلَيْكَ،

wa tal-qaa man tawak-kala a'lay-k

57You receivest him who has confidence in You!

وَتُخَلِّصُ مَنِ اعْتَصَمَ بِكَ،

wa tukhal-lis'u mani aa'-tas'ama bik

58You savest him who holds fast to You!

وَتُفَرِّجُ عَمَّنْ لاذَ بِكَ.

wa tufar-riju a'm-mal-laad'a bik

59You givest relief to him who seeks shelter in You!

إلهِي فَلاَ تَحْرِمْنِي خَيْرَ الآخِرَةِ وَالأُولى لِقِلَّةِ شُكْرِي،

ilaahee falaa tah'-rim-nee khay-ral-akhirati wal-oolaa liqil-lati shuk-ree

60My God, so deprive me not of the good of the last world and the first because of the paucity of my thanksgiving

وَاغْفِرْ لِي مَا تَعْلَمُ مِنْ ذُنُوبِي،

wagh-fir lee maa taa'-lamu min d'unoobee

61and forgive me the sins of mine which You knowest!

إنْ تُعَذِّبْ فَأَنَا الظَّالِمُ، الْمُفَرِّطُ،

in tua'd'-d'ib faanaa az'-z'aalimul-mufar-rit'

62If You chastisest, I am the wrongdoer, the neglecter,

الْمُضَيِّعُ، الاثِمُ، الْمُقَصِّرُ، الْمُضْجِعُ،

al-muz''ay-yiu'l-aaathim al-muqas'-s'irul-muz''aj-jia'-

63the negligent, the sinner, the derelict, the sluggard,

الُمُغْفِلُ حَظَّ نَفْسِي،

al-mugh-filu h'az'-z'a naf-see

64the heedless of the share of my soul!

وَإنْ تَغْفِرْ فَأَنْتَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ.

wa in tagh-fir faanta ar-h'amur-raah'imeen

65And if You forgivest - You art the Most Merciful of the merciful!