دُعَاء الصَّبَاح

Dua Al-Ṣabāḥ

Source: Ikhtiyar al-Misbah by Sayyid Ibn Baqiy (d. 653 AH) according to the transmission in Bihar Al-Anwar
Dua Al-Ṣabāḥ was a hymn that has been reported to have been recited by the Commander of the Faithful Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s) after dawn (fajr) prayer. According to some Shi'a scholars, this supplication contains the highest spiritual, mystical, and theological teachings in a very eloquent style.
1
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِِ
bismi llāhi ar-raḥmāni ar-raḥīm

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
2
أَللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلى مُحَمَّدٍ وَّ آلِ مُحَمَّد
allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā muḥammadin wa āli muḥammad

O Allah! Bless Muhammad and his progeny.
3
اَللّـهُمَّ يا مَنْ دَلَعَ لِسانَ الصَّباحِ بِنُطْقِ تَبَلُّجِهِ
allāhumma yā man dalʿa liṣāna ṣ-ṣabāḥi binuṭqi taballujihī

Oh God, Oh He who extended the morning's tongue in the speech of its dawning
4
وَ سَرَّحَ قِطَعَ الّلَيْلِ الْمُظْلِمِ بِغَياهِبِ تَلَجْلُجِهِ
wa sarrh qaṭaʿa allayli al-muẓlimi bighayāhibi talajlujih

And dispatched the fragments of the dark night into the gloom of its stammering
5
وَ اَتْقَنَ صُنْعَ الْفَلَكِ الدَّوّارِ في مَقاديرِ تَبَرُّجِهِ
wa atqana sunʿa al-falaki al-dawwari fi maqadiri tabarrujihi

And made firm the structure of the turning spheres in the measures of its display
6
وَ شَعْشَعَ ضِياءَ الشَّمْسِ بِنُورِ تَاَجُّجِهِ
wa sha'sha'a ḍiyā' ash-shamsi bi-nūri ta'ajjūhi

And beamed forth the brightness of the sun through the light of its blazing!
7
يا مَنْ دَلَّ عَلى ذاتِهِ بِذاتِهِ
yā man dallā ʿalā dhātihī bi dhātihī

Oh He who demonstrates His Essence by His Essence
8
وَ تَنَزَّهَ عَنْ مُجانَسَةِ مَخْلُوقاتِهِ
wa tanazzaha ʿan mujānasati makhlūqātihi

And transcends congeneity with His creatures
9
وَ جَلَّ عَنْ مُلاءَمَةِ كَيْفِيّاتِهِ
wa jalla ʿan mulā'amati kaywiyyātihi

And is exalted beyond conformity with His qualities!
10
يا مَنْ قَرُبَ مِنْ خَطَراتِ الظُّنُونِ
yā man qaruba min khaṭarāt al-ẓunūn

Oh He who is near to the passing thoughts of opinions
11
وَ بَعُدَ عَنْ لَحَظاتِ الْعُيُونِ
wa baʿuda ʿan laḥẓāt al-ʿuyūn

And far from the regards of eyes
12
وَ عَلِمَ بِما كانَ قَبْلَ اَنْ يَكُونَ
wa ʿalima bimā kāna qabla an yakūna

And knows what will be before it comes to be!
13
يا مَنْ اَرْقَدَني في مِهادِ اَمْنِهِ وَ اَمانِهِ
yā man arqadani fī mihādi amnihī wa amānihī

Oh He who has put me at ease in the cradle of His security and sanctuary
14
وَ اَيْقَظَني إلى ما مَنَحَني بِهِ مِنْ مِنَنِهِ وَ اِحْسانِهِ
wa ayaqẓanī ilā mā manahanī bihī min minnihi wa iḥsānihī

And awakened me to the favors and kindness that He has bestowed upon me
15
وَ كَفَّ اَكُفَّ السُّوءِ عَنّي بِيَدِهِ وَ سُلْطانِهِ
wa kaffa akuffa as-su'i 'anni biyadihi wa sultanihi

And held me from the claws of evil with His hand and His force!
16
صَلِّ اللّـهُمَّ عَلَى الدَّليلِ اِلَيْكَ فِي اللَّيْلِ الأَلْيَلِ
ṣalli allāhumma ʿalā ad-dalīl ʾilayka fī allayli al-alyal.

Bless, oh God, the guide to Thee in the darkest night
17
وَ الْماسِكِ مِنْ اَسْبَابِكَ بِحَبْلِ الشَّرَفِ الأَطْوَلِ
wa al-māsiki min asbābika bi-ḥabl al-sharafi al-aṭwal

And him who, of Thy ropes, clings to the cord of the longest nobility
18
وَ النّاصِعِ الْحَسَبِ في ذِرْوَةِ الْكاهِلِ الأَعْبَلِ
wa al-nāṣiʿi al-ḥasabi fī dhirwat al-kāhil al-aʿbali

And him whose glory is evident at the summit of stout shoulders
19
وَ الثّابِتِ الْقَدَمِ عَلى زَحاليفِها فِي الزَّمَنِ الأَوَّلِ
wa al-thābiti al-qadam ʿalā zahālīfihā fī al-zamani al-awwal

And whose feet were entrenched in spite of slippery places in ancient time
20
وَ عَلى آلِهِ الأَخْيارِ الْمُصْطَفِيْنَ الأَبْرارِ
wa ʿalā ālihi al-akhyāri al-muṣtafīna al-abrār

And [bless] his household, the good, the chosen, the pious
21
وَ افْتَحِ اللّـهُمَّ لَنا مَصاريعَ الصَّباحِ
wa iftahil-lāhumma lanā maṣārīʿaṭaṣ-ṣabāḥi

And open for us, oh God, the leaves of morning's door
22
بِمَفاتيحِ الرَّحْمَةِ وَ الْفَلاحِ
bi-mafātīḥi r-raḥmah wa-l-falāḥ

With the keys of mercy and prosperity!
23
وَ اَلْبِسْنِي اللّـهُمَّ مِنْ اَفْضَلِ خِلَعِ الْهِدايَةِ وَ الصَّلاحِ
wa albisni allahumma min afḍali khilāʿi al-hidāyah wa al-ṣalāḥ

And clothe me, oh God, with the most excellent robes of guidance and righteousness!
24
وَ اَغْرِسِ اللّـهُمَّ بِعَظَمَتِكَ في شِرْبِ جَناني يَنابيعَ الخُشُوعِ
wa aghrisil-lāhummabi'adhamatika fī sharbi jannānī yanābi' al-khushūʿ

And plant, oh God, through Thy tremendousness, the springs of humility in the watering place of my heart!
25
وَ اَجْرِ اللّـهُمَّ لِهَيْبَتِكَ مِنْ آماقي زَفَراتِ الدُّمُوعِ
wa ajri allahumma lihaybatika min amaqa'i zafaratid-dumu'i

And cause to flow, oh God, because of Thy awesomeness, tears of moaning from the corner of my eyes!
26
وَ أَدِّبِ اللّـهُمَّ نَزَقَ الْخُرْقِ مِنّي بِاَزِمَّةِ الْقُنُوعِ
wa addibillahumma nazaqal-khurqi minni bi'azimmah al-qunū'i.

And chastise, oh God, the recklessness of my clumsiness with the reins of contentment!
27
اِلـهي اِنْ لَمْ تَبْتَدِئنِي الرَّحْمَةُ مِنْكَ بِحُسْنِ التَّوْفيقِ
ilāhī in lam tabda'ni al-raḥmah minka bi ḥusni al-tawfīq

My God, if mercy from Thee does not begin with fair success for me
28
فَمَنِ السّالِكُ بي اِلَيْكَ في واضِحِ الطَّريقِ
famanis-sāliku biyyi ilayka fī wāḍiḥi ṭ-ṭarīq

Then who can take me to Thee upon the evident path?
29
وَ اِنْ اَسْلَمَتْني اَناتُكَ لِقائِدِ الأَمَلِ وَالْمُنى
wa in aslamatni anaataka liqa'idil amali wal munaa

If Thy deligerateness would turn me over to the guide of hope and wishes
30
فَمَنِ الْمُقيلُ عَثَراتي مِنْ كَبَواتِ الْهَوى
famanil muqīlu ʿatharāti min kabāwātil hawā

Then who will annul my slips from the stumbles of caprice?
31
وَ اِنْ خَذَلَني نَصْرُكَ عِنْدَ مُحارَبَةِ النَّفْسِ وَ الشَّيْطانِ
wa in khadhalani nasruka ʿinda muhārabati al-nafs wa al-shayṭān

If Thy help should forsake me in the battle with the soul and Satan
32
فَقَدْ وَكَلَني خِذْلانُكَ إلى حَيْثُ النَّصَبُ وَ الْحِرْمانُ
faqad wakalani khidhlānuka ilā ḥaythu al-nasabu wal-ḥirmānu

Then Thy forsaking will have entrusted me to where there is hardship and deprivation
33
اِلـهي اَتَراني ما اَتَيْتُكَ إلاّ مِنْ حَيْثُ الآمالِ
allāhumma aṭrānī mā ataytuka illā min ḥaythu al-āmāl

My God, dost Thou see that I have only come to Thee from the direction of hopes
34
عَلِقْتُ بِاَطْرافِ حِبالِكَ إلاّ حينَ باعَدَتْني ذُنُوبي عَنْ دارِ الْوِصالِ
ʿaliqu tu bi-aṭrāfi ḥibālik, illā ḥīna bāʿadatnī dhunūbī ʿan dār il-wi

Or clung to the ends of Thy cords when my sins have driven me from the house of union?
35
فَبِئْسَ الْمَطِيَّةُ الَّتي امْتَطَتْ نَفْسي مِنْ هَواهـا
fa-bi'sa al-maṭiyyatu allati imtataat nafsi min hawaha

So what an evil mount upon which my soul has mounted - its caprice!
36
فَواهاً لَها لِما سَوَّلَتْ لَها ظُنُونُها وَ مُناها
fawāhā lahā limā sawwalat lahā ẓunūnuhā wa munāhā

Woe upon it for being seduced by its own opinions and wishes!
37
وَ تَبّاً لَها لِجُرْاَتِها عَلى سَيِّدِها وَ مَوْلاها
wa tabban lahā li-jur'ātihā ʿalā sayyidihā wa mawlāhā

And destruction be upon it for its audacity toward its Master and Protector!
38
اِلـهي قَرَعْتُ بابَ رَحْمَتِكَ بِيَدِ رَجائي
ilāhī qaraʿtu bāba raḥmatika biyadi rajāʾī

My God, I have knocked upon the door of Thy mercy with the hand of my hope
39
وَ هَرَبْتُ اِلَيْكَ لاجِئاً مِنْ فَرْطِ اَهْوائي
wa harabtu ilayka laji'an min farti ahwā'ī

And fled to Thee seeking refuge from my excessive caprice
40
وَ عَلَّقْتُ بِاَطْرافِ حِبالِكَ اَنامِلَ وَلائي
wa ʿallaqtu bi-aṭrāfi ḥibālik ʾanāmil walāʾī

And fixed the fingers of my love to the ends of Thy cords
41
فَاْصْفَحِ اللّـهُمَّ عَمّا كُنْتُ اَجْرَمْتُهُ مِنْ زَلَلي وَ خَطائي
fāsfiḥi allāhumma ʿammā kuntu ajramtuhu min zallī wa khataʾī

So pardon, oh God, the slips and errors I have committed
42
وَ اَقِلْني مِنْ صَرْعَةِ رِدائي
wa aqilni min sarʿati ridāʾi

And release me from the foot-tangling of my robe
43
فَاِنَّكَ سَيِّدي وَ مَوْلاي وَ مُعْتَمَدي وَ رَجائي
fainnaka sayyidi wa mawlāy wa muʿtamadī wa rajāʾiy

For Thou art my Master, my Protector, my Support and my Hope
44
وَ اَنْتَ غايَةُ مَطْلُوبي وَ مُناي في مُنْقَلَبي وَ مَثْواىَ
wa anta ghayatu matlubi wa munayi fi munqalabi wa mathwayi

And Thou art the object of my search and my desire in my ultimate end and stable abode
45
اِلـهي كَيْفَ تَطْرُدُ مِسْكيناً الْتَجَأَ اِلَيْكَ مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ هارِباً
ilāhī kayfa taṭrudu miskīnan al-tajāʾa ilayka mina al-ḏunūbi hāriban

My God, how couldst Thou drive away a poor beggar who seeks refuge in Thee from sins, fleeing?
46
اَمْ كَيْفَ تُخَيِّبُ مُسْتَرْشِداً قَصَدَ إلى جَنابِكَ ساعِياً
am kayfa tukhayyibu mustarshidan qasada ila janabika sa'iyā

Or how couldst Thou disappoint one seeking guidance who repairs to Thy threshold, running?
47
اَمْ كَيْفَ تَرُدُّ ظَمآناً وَرَدَ إلى حِياضِكَ شارِباً
am kayfa taruddu zamānan wa rada ilā ḥiyāḍika shāriba

Or how could You reject a thirsty man who comes to Your wells to drink?
48
كَلاّ وَحِياضُكَ مُتْرَعَةٌ في ضَنْكِ الُْمُحُولِ
kalā waḥīāḍuka mutraʿatun fī ḍanki almuhūli

Never! For Thy pools are full in the hardship of drought
49
وَ بابُكَ مَفْتُوحٌ لِلطَّلَبِ وَ الْوُغُولِ
wa babuka mafṭūḥun liltalabi wal-wughūlِ

Thy door is open for seeking and penetration
50
وَ اَنْتَ غايَةُ الْمَسْؤولِ وَ نِهايَةُ الْمَأمُولِ
wa anta ghāyatul-mas'ooli wa nihāyatul-ma'mooli

And Thou art the goal of requests and the object of hopes
51
اِلـهي هذِهِ اَزِمَّةُ نَفْسي عَقَلْتُها بِعِقالِ مَشِيَّتِكَ
ilāhī hādhīhi azimmatu nafsī ʿaqaltuhā bi ʿiqāl-i mashīyatik

My God, these are the reins of my soul I have bound them with the ties of Thy will
52
وَ هذِهِ اَعْباءُ ذُنُوبي دَرَأتُها بِعَفْوِكَ وَ رَحْمَتِكَ
wa hadhihi a'ba'u dhanubi dar'atuhā bi'afwik wa raḥmatik

These are the burdens of my sins I have averted them with Thy pardon and mercy
53
وَ هذِهِ اَهْوائِي الْمُضِلَّةُ وَكَلْتُها إلى جَنابِ لُطْفِكَ وَ رَأفَتِكَ
wa haḏihi ahwāʾī al-muḍillah wa-kaltuhā ilá janābi luṭfika wa-raʾfatika

these are my caprices that lead astray - I have entrusted them to the threshold of Thy gentleness and kindliness
54
فَاجْعَلِ اللّـهُمَّ صَباحي هذا ناِزلاً عَلَي بِضِياءِ الْهُدى
fajʿalil-lāhummah sabāhī hādhā nāzilan ʿalayya bidīā'ihudā

So make this morning of mine, oh God, descend upon me with the radiance of guidance
55
وَ بِالسَّلامَة فِي الدّينِ وَ الدُّنْيا
wa bil-salāmati fī al-dīni wa al-dunyā

and with safety in religion and this world!
56
وَ مَسائي جُنَّةً مِنْ كَيْدِ الْعِدى
wa masa'i junna min kayd al-'adā

And [make] my evening a shield against the deception of enemies
57
وَ وِقايَهً مِنْ مُرْدِياتِ الْهَوى
wa wiqāyah min murdiyāt al-hawā.

And a protection against the destructive blows of caprice!
58
اِنَكَ قادِرٌ عَلى ما تَشاءُ
innaka qadirun ʿala ma tashāʾu

Thou art able over what Thou wilt!
59
تُؤتِي الْمُلْكَ مَنْ تَشاءُ ، وَ تَنْزِعُ الْمُلْكَ مِمَّنْ تَشاءُ
tu'ti al-mulka man tashau, wa tanzī'u al-mulka mimman tashau

Thou givest the kingdom to whom Thou wilt, and Thou seizest the kingdom from whom Thou wilt
60
وَ تُعِزُّ مَنْ تَشاءُ ، وَ تُذِلُّ مَنْ تَشاءُ
wa tuʿizzu man tashaʾu wa tudhillu man tashaʾu

Thou exaltest whom Thou wilt, and Thou abasest whom Thou wilt
61
بِيَدِكَ الْخَيْرُ اِنَّـكَ عَلى كُلِّ شَيْء قَديرٌ
bi-yadika al-khayru innaka `ala kulli shay'in qadeerun

In Thy hand is the good, Thou art powerful over all things
62
تُولِجُ اللَيْلَ في النَّهارِ ، وَ تُولِجُ النَّهارَ فِي اللَّيْلِ
tūlijul layla fi al-nahār, wa tūlijun-nahāra fi al-layl

Thou makest the night to enter into the day, and Thou makest the day to enter into the night
63
وَ تُخْرِجُ الْحَيَّ مِنَ الْمَيِّتِ ، وَ تُخْرِجُ الْمَيِّتَ مِنَ الْحَي
wa tukhrijul hayya minal mayyiti, wa tukhrijul mayyita minal hayy

Thou bringest forth the living from the dead, and Thou bringest forth dead from the living
64
وَ تَرْزُقُ مَنْ تَشاءُ بِغَيْرِ حِساب
wa tarzuqu man tashā'u bighayri ḥisāb

and Thou providest whomsoever Thou wilt without reckoning
65
لا اِلـهَ إلاّ اَنْتَ سُبْحانَكَ اللّـهُمَّ وَ بِحَمْدِكَ
la ilaha illa anta subhanaka allahumma wa bihamdik

There is no god but Thou! Glory be to Thee, oh God, and Thine is the praise!
66
مَنْ ذا يَعْرِفُ قَدْرَكَ فَلا يَخافُكَ
man dhā yaʿrifu qadraka falā yakhāfuka

Who knows Thy measure without fearing Thee?
67
وَ مَن ذا يَعْلَمُ ما اَنْتَ فَلا يَهابُكَ
wa man dhā yaʿlamu mā anta fala yahābuka

Who knows what Thou art without awe of Thee?
68
اَلَّفْتَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ الْفِرَقَ
al-lafta bi qudratikal firaqa

Through Thy power Thou hast joined disparate things
69
وَ فَلَقْتَ بِلُطْفِكَ الْفَلَقَ
wa falaqta bilutfika al-falaq

And through Thy gentleness Thou hast cleaved apart the daybreak
70
وَ اَنَرْتَ بِكَرَمِكَ دَياجِي الْغَسَقِ
wa anarta bi-karamika dayajiy al-ghasaq

And through Thy generosity Thou hast illumined the dark shrouds of night
71
وَ اَنْهَرْتَ الْمِياهَ مِنَ الصُّمِّ الصَّياخيدِ عَذْباً وَ اُجاجاً
wa anharta al-miyāh mina al-ṣummi al-ṣayākhide ʿadhbān wa ujājān

Thou hast made waters, sweet and salt, flow forth from hard shining stones
72
وَ اَنْزَلْتَ مِنَ الْمُعْصِراتِ ماءً ثَجّاجاً
wa anzalta min almuʿṣirāti mā'an thajjājan.

And sent down out of rain-clouds water cascading
73
وَ جَعَلْتَ الشَّمْسَ وَ الْقَمَرَ لِلْبَرِيَّةِ سِراجاً وَهّاجاً
wa jaʿaltal-shamsa wal-qamara lil-bariyyati sirajan wahhajaa

And appointed the sun and moon a blazing lamp for the creatures
74
مِنْ غَيْرِ اَنْ تُمارِسَ فيما ابْتَدَأتَ بِهِ لُغُوباً وَ لا عِلاجاً
min ghayr an tumārisa fīmā ibtadāta bihī lughūban walā ʿilājan

Without experiencing in that which Thou originated either weariness or effort
75
فَيا مَنْ تَوَحَّدَ بِالْعِزِّ وَ الْبَقاءِ
faya man tawáhad bi-al-‘izz wa-l-baqāʾ

So, oh He who is alone in might and subsistence
76
قَهَرَ عِبادَهُ بِالْمَوْتِ وَ الْفَناءِ
qaḥara ʿibādahu bil-mawti wa al-fanāʾi

And dominates His slaves with death and annihilation
77
صَلِّ عَلى مُحَمَّد وَ آلِهِ الاَْتْقِياءِ
ṣalli ʿalā muḥammad wa ālih al-aṭqiyāʾ

Bless Muhammad and his household, the godfearing
78
وَ اسْمَعْ نِدائي ، وَ اسْتَجِبْ دُعائي
wa smaʿ niḍāyī, wa stajib duʿāyī

And answer my supplication hear my call
79
وَ حَقِّقْ بِفَضْلِكَ اَمَلي وَ رَجائي
wa ḥaqqiq bi faḍlika amalī wa rajāʾī

And actualize through Thy bounty my hope and desire
80
يا خَيْرَ مَنْ دُعِي لِكَشْفِ الضُّرِّ
yā khayra man duʿiya li-kashfi al-ḍurri

Oh best of those who is called to remove affliction
81
وَ الْمَأمُولِ لِكُلِّ عُسْر وَ يُسْر
wa al-maʾmūl li-kulli ʿusrin wa yusr.

And object of hope in every difficulty and ease!
82
بِكَ اَنْزَلْتُ حاجَتي فَلا تَرُدَّني مِنْ سَنِيِّ مَواهِبِكَ خائِباً
bi-ka anzaltu ḥājatī, fala taruddanī min sanīyyi mawāhibika khā'iban

I have stated my need, so do not reject me, oh my master, despairing of Thy exalted gifts
83
يا كَريمُ ، يا كَريمُ ، يا كَريمُ
yā karīm, yā karīm, yā karīm

Oh All-generous! Oh All-generous! Oh All-generous!
84
بِرَحْمَتِكَ يا اَرْحَمَ الرّاحِمينَ
bi-raḥmatika yā ar-ḥama ar-raḥimīn

By Thy mercy, oh Most Merciful of the merciful!
85
وَ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلى خَيْرِ خَلْقِهِ مُحَمَّد وَ آلِهِ اَجْمَعينَ
wa ṣalla allāhu ʿalā khayri khalqihī muḥammad wa ālihī ajmaʿīn

And God bless the best of His creatures, Muhammad, and all his household!
86
ثمّ اسجد و قل : اِلـهي قَلْبي مَحْجُوبٌ
thumma sjid waqul: ilahi qalbi mahjubun

Then prostrate and say: My God, my heart is veiled
87
وَ نَفْسي مَعْيُوبٌ
wa nafsi maʿyūbun

My soul is deficient
88
وَ عَقْلي مَغْلُوبٌ
wa ʿaqlī maghlūbun

My intelligence is defeated
89
وَ هَوائي غالِبٌ
wa hawa'i ghalibun

My caprice is triumphant
90
وَ طاعَتي قَليلٌ
wa ṭāʿatī qalīlun

My obedience is little
91
وَ مَعْصِيَتي كَثيرٌ
wa maʿṣiyatī kathīr

My disobedience is much
92
وَ لِساني مُقِرٌّ بِالذُّنُوبِ
wa lisānī muqirrun bidh-dhunūb

And my tongue acknowledges sins
93
فَكَيْفَ حيلَتي يا سَتّارَ الْعُيُوبِ
fa kayfa hīlatī yā sattār al-ʿuyūb

So what am I to do? Oh He who covers defects!
94
وَ يا عَلاّمَ الْغُيُوبِ
wa yā ʿāllamal-ghuyūb

Oh He who knows the unseen things!
95
وَ يا كاشِفَ الْكُرُوبِ
wa yā kāshif al-kurūb

Oh He who removes troubles
96
اِغْفِرْ ذُنُوبي كُلَّها بِحُرْمَةِ مُحَمَّد وَ آلِ مُحَمَّد
ighfir dhunubi kullaha bihurmati muhammad wa ali muhammad

Forgive my sins, all of them, by the sacredness of Muhammad and the household of Muhammad!
97
يا غَفّارُ ، يا غَفّارُ ، يا غَفّارُ
yā ghaffār, yā ghaffār, yā ghaffār

Oh All-forgiver! Oh All-forgiver! Oh All-forgiver!
98
بِرَحْمَتِكَ يا اَرْحَمَ الرّاحِمينَ
bi-raḥmatika yā ar-ḥama ar-raḥimīn

By Thy mercy, oh Most Merciful of the mercifull!