Sahifa Sajjadiya 7: When Faced with a Worrisome Task

وَيَا مَنْ يُفْثَأُ بِهِ حَدُّ الشَّدَائِدِ،

wa ya man yufthaʾu bihi ḥaddu l-shadāʾid,

And O You by Whom the extremes of hardships are removed,

وَيَا مَنْ يُلْتَمَسُ مِنْهُ الْمَخْرَجُ إِلَى رَوْحِ الْفَرَجِ،

wa ya man yultamasu minhu al-makhraju ilā rawḥi l-faraj,

And O You from Whom a way to relief is sought,

ذَلَّتْ لِقُدْرَتِكَ الصِّعَابُ،

dhallat li-qudratika al-ṣiʿāb,

The difficulties have yielded to Your power,

وَتَسَبَّبَتْ بِلُطْفِكَ الْأَسْبَابُ،

wa tasabbabat bi-luṭfika al-asbāb,

And the means have been facilitated by Your kindness,

وَجَرَى بِقُدْرَتِكَ الْقَضَاءُ،

wa jarā bi-qudratika al-qaḍāʾ,

And by Your power, the decree proceeds,

وَمَضَتْ عَلَى إِرَادَتِكَ الْأَشْيَاءُ،

wa maḍat ʿalā irādatika al-ashyāʾ,

And all things move according to Your will,

فَهِيَ بِمَشِيَّتِكَ دُونَ قَوْلِكَ مُؤْتَمِرَةٌ،

fahiya bi-mashīyatika dūna qawlik muʾtamarah,

So by Your command, they act without speaking,

وَبِإِرَادَتِكَ دُونَ نَهْيِكَ مُنْزَجِرَةٌ،

wa bi-irādatika dūna nahyika munzajirah,

And by Your will, they are restrained without Your prohibition,

أَنْتَ الْمَدْعُوُّ لِلْمُهِمَّاتِ،

anta al-madʿū li-l-muhimmāt,

You are the one called upon for important matters,

وَأَنْتَ الْمَفْزَعُ فِي الْمُلِمَّاتِ،

wa anta al-mafzaʿu fī al-mulimmāt,

And You are the refuge in calamities,

لَا يَنْدَفِعُ مِنْهَا إِلَّا مَا دَفَعْتَ،

lā yandafiʿu minhā illā mā dafaʿta,

Nothing is removed from them except by Your removal,

وَلَا يَنْكَشِفُ مِنْهَا إِلَّا مَا كَشَفْتَ،

wa lā yankashifu minhā illā mā kashfta,

Nothing is revealed from them except what You unveil,

وَقَدْ نَزَلَ بِي يَا رَبِّ مَا قَدْ تَكَأدَنيَّ ثِقْلُهُ،

wa qad nazala bī yā rabbi mā qad takaʾadaniyya thiqluhu,

Indeed, O Lord, what has befallen me is almost unbearable,

وَأَلَمَّ بِي مَا قَدْ بَهَظَنِي حَمْلُهُ،

wa allamma bī mā qad bahazani ḥamluhu,

And the burden of it has caused me pain,

فَصَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ،

fa-ṣalli ʿalā Muḥammadin wa-Ālihi,

So bless Muhammad and his family,

وَافْتَحْ لِي يَا رَبِّ بَابَ الْفَرَجِ بِطَوْلِكَ،

wa-iftaḥ lī yā rabbi bāba al-faraj bi-ṭawlik,

And open for me, O Lord, the door of relief by Your power,

وَاكْسِرْ عَنِّي سُلْطَانَ الْهَمِّ بِحَوْلِكَ،

wa-aksir ʿannī sulṭāna al-hammi bi-ḥawlik,

And break from me the power of distress by Your strength,

وَأَنِلْنِي حُسْنَ النَّظَرِ فِيمَا شَكَوْتُ،

wa-anilnī ḥusna al-naẓari fīmā shakawtu,

And grant me good perception in what I complain of,

وَأَذِقْنِي حَلَاوَةَ الصُّنْعِ فِيمَا سَأَلْتُ،

wa-adhhiqnī ḥalāwata al-ṣunʿi fīmā sa'altu,

And let me taste the sweetness of good deeds in what I ask,

وَهَبْ لِي مِنْ لَدُنْكَ رَحْمَةً وَفَرَجاً هَنِيئاً،

wa-hab lī min ladunka raḥmatan wa-farajan hanīʾan,

And grant me from You mercy and a joyful relief,

وَاجْعَلْ لِي مِنْ عِنْدِكَ مَخْرَجاً وَحِيّاً،

wa-jʿal lī min ʿindik makhrajan wa-ḥiyyan,

And make for me from You a way out and guidance,

وَلَا تَشْغَلْنِي بِالاهْتِمَامِ عَنْ تَعَاهُدِ فُرُوضِكَ وَاسْتِعْمَالِ سُنَّتِكَ،

wa-lā tashghalnī bil-ihtimām ʿan taʿāhudi furūḍika wa-istiʿmāli sunnatika,

And do not occupy me with concern away from fulfilling Your obligations and following Your Sunnah,

فَقَدْ ضِقْتُ لِمَا نَزَلَ بِي يَا رَبِّ ذَرْعاً،

fa-qad ḍiqqtu limā nazala bī yā rabbi dharʿan,

Indeed, I am constrained by what has befallen me, O Lord,

وَامْتَلَأْتُ بِحَمْلِ مَا حَدَثَ عَلَيَّ هَمّاً،

wa-imtalātu bi-ḥamli mā ḥadatha ʿalayya hamman,

And I am filled with the burden of what has occurred to me,

وَأَنْتَ الْقَادِرُ عَلَى كَشْفِ مَا مُنِيتُ بِهِ،

wa-anta al-qādiru ʿalā kashfi mā munītu bihi,

And You are capable of removing what I am afflicted with,

وَدَفْعِ مَا وَقَعْتُ فِيهِ،

wa-dafʿi mā waqaʿtu fīhi,

And of averting what has befallen me,

فَافْعَلْ بِي ذَلِكَ وَإِنْ لَمْ أَسْتَوْجِبْهُ مِنْكَ،

fa-ifʿal bī dhālika wa-in lam astawjibhu minka,

So do this for me even if I have not deserved it from You,

يَا ذَا الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ.

yā dhā al-ʿarshi al-ʿaẓīm,

O Possessor of the Great Throne."

يَا مَنْ تُحَلُّ بِهِ عُقَدُ الْمَكَارِهِ ،

yaa man tuh'al-lu bihee u'qadul-makaarih

1.O He through whom the knots of detested things are untied!

وَيَا مَنْ يُفْثَأُ بِهِ حَدُّ الشَّدَائِدِ،

wa yaa may-yuf-thaa bihee h'ad-dush-shadaaa-id

2.O He through whom the cutting edge of hardships is blunted!

وَيَا مَنْ يُلْتَمَسُ مِنْهُ الْمَخْرَجُ إلَى رَوْحِ الْفَرَجِ ،

wa yaa may-yul-tamasu min-hul-makh-raju ilaa raw-h'il-faraj

3.O He from whom is begged the outlet to the freshness of relief!

ذَلَّتْ لِقُدْرَتِـكَ الصِّعَابُ

d'al-lat liqud-ratikas'-s'ia'ab

4.Intractable affairs yield to Your power,

وَتَسَبَّبَتْ بِلُطْفِكَ الاسْبَابُ ،

wa tasab-babat bilut'-fikal-as-baab

5.means are made ready by Your gentleness,

وَجَرى بِقُدْرَتِكَ الْقَضَاءُ

wa jaraa biqud-ratikal-qaz''aaa

6.the decree goes into effect through Your power,

وَمَضَتْ عَلَى إرَادَتِكَ الاشْياءُ ،

wa maz''at a'laaa iraadatikal-ash-yaaa-u

7.and all things proceed according to Your desire.

فَهْيَ بِمَشِيَّتِكَ دُونَ قَوْلِكَ مُؤْتَمِرَةٌ ،

faheea bimashee-yatika doona qaw-lika moo-tamirah

8.By Your desire they follow Your command without Your word

وَبِإرَادَتِكَ دُونَ نَهْيِكَ مُنْزَجِرَةٌ.

wa biiraadatika doona nah-yika munzajirah

9.and by Your will they obey Your bans without Your prohibition.

أَنْتَ الْمَدْعُوُّ لِلْمُهِمَّاتِ ،

antal-mad-u'w-wu lil-muhim-maat

10.You art the supplicated in worries

وَأَنْتَ الْمَفزَعُ فِي الْمُلِمَّاتِ ،

wa antal-maf-zau' fil-mulim-maat

11.and the place of flight in misfortunes;

لاَيَنْدَفِعُ مِنْهَا إلاّ مَا دَفَعْتَ ،

laa yandafiu' min-haaa il-laa maa dafaa'-t

12.none of them is repelled unless You repellest,

وَلا يَنْكَشِفُ مِنْهَا إلاّ مَا كَشَفْتَ.

wa laa yankashifu min-haaa il-laa maa kashaf-ta

13.and none is removed unless You removest.

وَقَدْ نَزَلَ بِي يا رَبِّ مَا قَدْ تَكَأدَنيَّ ثِقْلُهُ ،

wa qad nazala bee yaa rab-bi maa qad t-takaa-adanee thiq-luh

14.Upon me has come down, My Lord, something whose weight burdens me

وَأَلَمَّ بِي مَا قَدْ بَهَظَنِي حَمْلُهُ ،

wa alam-ma bee maa qad bahaz'anee h'am-luh

15.and upon me has fallen something whose carrying oppresses me.

وَبِقُدْرَتِكَ أَوْرَدْتَهُ عَلَيَّ

wa biqud-ratika aw-rat-tahoo a'lay

16.Through Your power You hast brought it down upon me

وَبِسُلْطَانِكَ وَجَّهْتَهُ إليَّ.

wa bisul-t'aanika waj-jah-tahooo ilay

17.and through Your authority You hast turned it toward me.

فَلاَ مُصْدِرَ لِمَا أوْرَدْتَ ،

falaa mus'-dira limaaa aw-rat-t

18.None can send away what You hast brought,

وَلاَ صَارِفَ لِمَا وَجَّهْتَ ،

wa laa s'aarifa limaa waj-jah-t

19.none can deflect what You hast turned,

وَلاَ فَاتِحَ لِمَا أغْلَقْتَ ،

wa laa faatih'a limaaa agh-laq-t

20.none can open what You hast closed,

وَلاَ مُغْلِقَ لِمَا فَتَحْتَ ،

wa laa mugh-liqa limaa fatah'-t

21.none can close what You hast opened,

وَلاَ مُيَسِّرَ لِمَا عَسَّرْتَ،

wa laa muyas-sira limaa a's-sar-t

22.none can make easy what You hast made difficult,

وَلاَ نَاصِرَ لِمَنْ خَذَلْتَ

wa laa naas'ira liman khad'al-t

23.none can help him whom You hast abandoned.

فَصَلَّ عَلَى مُحَمَّد وَآلِهِ ،

fas'al-li a'laa muh'am-madiw-wa aaalih

24.So bless Muhammad and his Household,

وَافْتَحْ لِي يَا رَبِّ بَابَ الْفَرَجِ بِطَوْلِكَ ،

wa af-tah' lee yaa rab-bi baabal-faraji bit'aw-lik

25.open for me, my Lord, the door of relief through Your graciousness,

وَاكْسِرْ عَنِّيْ سُلْطَانَ الْهَمِّ بِحَوْلِكَ ،

wa ak-sir a'n-nee sul-t'aanal-ham-mi bih'aw-lik

26.break from me the authority of worry by Your strength,

وَأَنِلْيني حُسْنَ ألنَّظَرِ فِيمَا شَكَوْتُ ،

wa anil-nee h'us-nan-naz'ari feemaa shakaw-t

27.confer the beauty of Your gaze upon my complaint,

وَأذِقْنِي حَلاَوَةَ الصُّنْعِ فِيمَا سَاَلْتُ.

wa ad'iq-nee h'alaawatas'-s'un-i' feemaa saal-t

28.let me taste the sweetness of benefaction in what I ask,

وَهَبْ لي مِنْ لَدُنْكَ رَحْمَةً وَفَرَجاً هَنِيئاً

wa hab lee mil-ladunka rah'-mataw-wa farajan hanee-aa

29.give me from Yourself mercy and wholesome relief,

وَاجْعَلْ لِي مِنْ عِنْدِكَ مَخْرَجاً وَحِيّاً.

waj-a'l-lee min i'ndika makh-rjaw-wah'ee-yaa

30.and appoint for me from Yourself a quick way out!

وَلا تَشْغَلْنِي بالاهْتِمَامِ عَنْ تَعَاهُدِ فُرُوضِكَ وَاسْتِعْمَالِ سُنَّتِكَ.

wa laa tash-ghal-nee biiah-timaami a'n taa'ahudi furooz''ik was-tia'-maali sun-natik

31.Distract me not through worry from observing Your obligations and acting in accordance with Your prescriptions.

فَقَدْ ضِقْتُ لِمَا نَزَلَ بِي يَا رَبِّ ذَرْعاً ،

faqad z''iq-tu limaa nazala bee yaa rab-bi d'ar-a'a

32.My capacity has been straitened, my Lord, by what has come down on me,

وَامْتَلاتُ بِحَمْلِ مَا حَـدَثَ عَلَيَّ هَمّاً ،

wa am-talaa-tu bih'am-li maa h'adatha a'lay-ya ham-maa

33.and I am filled with worry by carrying what has happened to me,

وَأنْتَ الْقَادِرُ عَلَى كَشْفِ مَا مُنِيتُ بِهِ ،

wa antal-qaadiru a'laa kash-fi maa muneetu bih

34.while You hast power to remove what has afflicted me

وَدَفْعِ مَا وَقَعْتُ فِيهِ ،

wa daf-i' maa waqaa'-tu feeh

35.and to repel that into which I have fallen.

فَافْعَلْ بِي ذلِـكَ وَإنْ لَمْ أَسْتَوْجِبْهُ مِنْكَ ،

faf-a'l bee d'alika wa il-lam as-taw-jib-hoo mink

36.So do that for me though I merit it not from You,

يَا ذَا العَرْشِ الْعَظِيمَ.

yaa d'aal-a'r-shil-a'z'eem

37.O Possessor of the Mighty Throne!