دُعَاؤُهُ فِي الرَّهْبَةِ

In Pleading and Abasement

1
إلهِي أَحْمَـدُكَ ـ وَأَنْتَ لِلْحَمْدِ أَهْلٌ ـ
ilāhī aḥmaduka waanta li-l-ḥamdi ahlu
My God, I praise Thee, - and Thou art worthy of praise -
2
عَلَى حُسْنِ صَنِيعِكَ إلَيَّ، وَسُبُـوغِ نَعْمَآئِكَ عَلَيَّ،
ʿalā ḥusni ṣanīʿika ilayya, wa subūgh naʿmāʾika ʿalayya
for Thy benefaction toward me, the lavishness of Thy favours toward me,
3
وَجَزِيْلِ عَطَآئِكَ عِنْدِي،
wajazīli ʿataāʾika ʿindī
and Thy plentiful bestowal upon me,
4
وَعَلَى ما فَضَّلْتَنِي مِنْ رَحْمَتِكَ،
wa ʿalā mā faḍḍaltanī min raḥmatika
and for showing bounty toward me through Thy mercy
5
وَأَسْبَغْتَ عَلَيَّ مِنْ نِعْمَتِكَ،
wa-asbaghta ʿalayya min niʿmatika
and lavishing Thy favour upon me.
6
فَقَدِ اصْطَنَعْتَ عِنْدِي ما يَعْجِزُ عَنُهُ شُكْرِي، وَلَوْلاَ إحْسَانُكَ، إلَيَّ
faqadisṭanaʿta ʿindī mā yaʿjizu ʿanuhu shukrī, walawlā iḥsānuka, ʾil
Thou hast done well toward me and I am incapable of thanking Thee. Were it not for Thy beneficence toward me
7
وَسُبُوغُ نَعْمَآئِـكَ عَلَيَّ
wa subuughu naʿmaa'ika ʿalayya
and the lavishness of Thy favours upon me,
8
مَا بَلَغْتُ إحْرازَ حَظِّي، وَلاَ إصْلاَحَ نَفْسِي،
mā balaghtu iḥrāza ḥaẓẓī, walā iṣlāḥa nafsī
I would not have reached the taking of my share nor would my soul have been set right,
9
وَلكِنَّكَ ابْتَدَأْتَنِي بِالإحْسَانِ،
walakinna-ka abtada'tani bil-ihsan
but Thou began with beneficence toward me,
10
وَرَزَقْتَنِي فِي أُمُورِي كُلِّهَا الْكِفَايَةَ،
wa razaqtanī fī umūrī kullihā al-kifāyah
provided me sufficiency in all my affairs,
11
وَصَرَفْتَ عَنِّي جَهْدَ الْبَلاءِ،
waṣarafata ʿannī jahd al-balāʾi
turned away from me the toil of affliction,
12
وَمَنَعْتَ مِنِّي مَحْذُورَ الْقَضَآءِ
wa manʿta minni maḥḏūra al-qaḍāʾ
and held back from me the feared decree.
13
إلهِي فَكَمْ مِنْ بَلاء جَاهِد قَدْ صَرَفْتَ عَنِّي،
ilāhī fakam min balā'in jāhid qad ṣarafata ʿannī
My God, how many a toilsome affliction which Thou hast turned away from me!
14
وَكَمْ مِنْ نِعْمَة سَابِغَة أَقْرَرْتَ بِهَا عَيْنِي،
wa kam min niʿmatin sābighah aqarrarta bihā ʿayni
How many a lavish favour with which Thou hast gladdened my eye!
15
وَكَمْ مِنْ صَنِيعَة كَرِيمَة لَكَ عِنْدِي.
wa kam min ṣanīʿa kareema lak āndi
How many a generous benefaction of Thine which is present with me!
16
أَنْتَ الَّذِي أَجَبْتَ عِنْدَ الاضْطِرَارِ دَعْوَتِي،
anta alladhī ʾajabta ʿinda al-iḍṭirār ḍaʿwatī
It is Thou who responded to my supplication at the time of distress,
17
وَأَقَلْتَ عِنْدَ الْعِثَارِ زَلَّتِي،
wa-aqalta 'indal-'ithaari zal-latii
released me from my slip in stumbling,
18
وَأَخَذْتَ لِي مِنَ الاَعْدَآءِ بِظُلاَمَتِي.
wa'akhadhta li mina al-a'daa'i bi dhulamati
and took my enemies to task for doing wrong to me.
19
إلهِي مَا وَجَدْتُكَ بَخِيلاً حِينَ سَأَلْتُكَ،
'ilāhī mā wajadtu-ka bakheelan hīna sa'al-tuka
My God, I did not find Thee a miser when I asked of Thee
20
وَلاَ مُنْقَبِضاً حِينَ أَرَدْتُكَ،
wa lā munqabidaan hīna aradtu-ka
nor a withholder when I desired from Thee.
21
بل وَجَدْتُكَ لِدُعَآئِي سَامِعاً، وَلِمَطَالِبِي مُعْطِياً،
bal wajadtu-ka li-du'aa-i saami'an, wa limataalibi mu'ti'an
No, 1 found Thee a hearer of my supplication and a bestower of my requests;
22
وَوَجَدْتُ نُعْمَاكَ عَلَيَّ سَابِغَةً،
wa wajadtu nuʿmāka ʿalayya sābighatan
I found Thy favours toward me
23
فِي كُلِّ شَأْن مِنْ شَأْنِي، وَكُلِّ زَمَان مِنْ زَمَانِي،
fī kulli shaʾnin min shaʾnī, wa kulli zamānin min zamānī
lavish in my every situation and in my every time.
24
فَأَنْتَ عِنْدِي مَحْمُودٌ، وَصَنِيعُكَ لَدَيَّ مَبْرُورٌ،
faanta ʿindee mahmoodun, waṣanineeka ladayya mabroorun
So Thou art praised by me and Thy benefaction honoured.
25
تَحْمَدُكَ نَفْسِي وَلِسَانِيْ وَعَقْلِي حَمْداً يَبْلُغُ الوَفَآءَ وَحَقِيقَةَ الشُّكْرِ،
taḥmaduka nafsī wa lisānī wa ʿaqlī ḥamdan yabluġu al-wafāʾa wa ḥaqīqata al-shuk
My soul, my tongue, and my intelligence praise Thee, a praise that reaches fulfilment and the reality of thanksgiving,
26
حَمْداً يَكُونُ مَبْلَغَ رِضَاكَ عَنِّي،
ḥamdan yakūnu mablagha riḍāka ʿannī
a praise that attains to Thy good pleasure with me -
27
فَنَجِّنِي مِنْ سَخَطِكَ يَا كَهْفِي حِينَ تُعْيينِي الْمَذَاهِبُ،
fanağğinī min sakhaṭika yā kahfī ḥīna tuʿyīnī al-maẓāhibu
so deliver me from Thy displeasure! O my cave when the ways thwart me!
28
وَيَا مُقيلِي عَثْرَتِي،
wa yā muqīlī ʿathratī
O He who releases me from my stumble!
29
فَلَوْلاَ سَتْرُكَ عَوْرَتِي لَكُنْتُ مِنَ الْمَفْضُوحِينَ،
falawla sātruka ʿawratī lakuntu min al-mafḍūḥīn
Were it not for Thy covering my shameful defects, I would be one of the disgraced.
30
وَيَا مُؤَيِّدِي بِالنَّصْرِ،
wa yā muʾayyadī bil-naṣr
O my confirmer through help!
31
فَلَوْلاَ نَصْرُكَ إيَّايَ لَكُنْتُ مِنَ الْمَغْلُوبِينَ،
falawlā naṣrukā ʾiyyāya lakuntu min al-maghloobīn
Were it not for Thy helping me, I would be one of the overcome!
32
وَيَا مَنْ وَضَعَتْ لَهُ الْمُلُوكُ نِيرَ الْمَذَلَّةِ عَلى أَعْنَاقِهَا،
wa yā man waḍaʿat lahul mulūku nīra al-maẓallati ʿalā aʿnāqihā
O He before whom kings place the yoke of lowliness around their necks,
33
فَهُمْ مِنْ سَطَواتِهِ خَائِفُونَ، وَيَا أَهْلَ التَّقْوَى،
fahum min satawatihi kha'ifun, wa ya ahl al-taqwa
fearing His penalties! O worthy of reverent fear!
34
وَيَا مَنْ لَهُ الأَسْمَآءُ الْحُسْنى أَسْأَلُكَ أَنْ تَعْفُوَ عَنِّي،
wayā man lahul asma'ul husnā as'aluka an ta'fuwa 'anni
O He to whom belong the names most beautiful! I ask Thee to pardon me
35
وَتَغْفِرَ لِي فَلَسْتُ، بَرِيئاً فَأَعْتَذِرَ،
wa taghfir li fa lam astu, bari'an fa a'thira
and to forgive me, for I am not innocent that I should offer excuses,
36
وَلاَ بِذِي قُوَّة فَأَنْتَصِرَ،
walā bi dhī quwwah fa'antassir
nor a possessor of strength that I should gain victory,
37
وَلاَ مَفَرَّ لِي فَأَفِرَّ. وَأَسْتَقِيْلُكَ عَثَراتِي،
wa lā mafarr li faʾafr." "wa astaqīluka ʿatharātī
nor have I any place of flight that I should flee! I ask Thee to release me from my stumbles,
38
وَأَتَنَصَّلُ إلَيْكَ مِنْ ذُنُوبِي الَّتِي قَدْ أَوْبَقَتْنِي،
wa-atanassalu ilaika min dhunubiyya allati qad awbaqatni
and before Thee I disavow my sins, which have laid me waste,
39
وَأَحَاطَتْ بِي فَأَهْلَكَتْنِي،
wa-ahat biy fa-ahlaqatni
encompassed me, and destroyed me!
40
مِنْهَا فَرَرْتُ إلَيْكَ رَبِّ تَائِباً،
minhā farartu ʾilayka rabbi tāʾiban
I flee from them to Thee, my Lord, turning repentantly,
41
فَتُبْ عَلَيَّ مُتَعَوِّذاً، فَأَعِذْنِي مُسْتَجِيراً،
fatabba ʿalayya mutaʿawwizan, fa'aʾidhni mustajiran
so turn toward me, seeking refuge, so grant me refuge, asking sanctuary,
42
فَلاَ تَخْذُلْنِي سَآئِلاً، فَلاَ تَحْرِمْنِي مُعْتَصِماً،
fala taḫẓulnī sāʾilan, fala taḥrimnī muʿtaṣiman
so abandon me not, requesting, so deprive me not, holding fast,
43
فَلاَ تُسْلِمْنِي دَاعِياً، فَلاَ تَرُدَّنِي خَائِباً،
fala tusallimnī dāʿiyan, fala taruddanī khāʾiban
so leave me not, supplicating, so send me not back disappointed!
44
دَعوْتُكَ يَارَبِّ مِسْكِيناً، مُسْتَكِيناً،
daʿawtu-ka yā rabbī, mis-kīnan, mustakīnan
I have supplicated Thee, my Lord, as one miserable, abased,
45
مُشْفِقاً، خَائِفاً، وَجِلاً، فَقِيراً، مُضْطَرّاً، إلَيْكَ
mushfiqan, kha'ifan, wajilan, faqiran, mudtarran, ilayka
apprehensive, fearful, quaking, poor, driven to have recourse to Thee!
46
أَشْكُو إلَيْكَ يَا إلهِي ضَعْفَ نَفْسِي
ashku ilayka ya ilahi da'fanafsi
I complain to Thee, my God, of my soul - which is too weak
47
عَنِ الْمُسَارَعَةِ فِيمَا وَعَدْتَهُ أَوْلِيَآءَكَ،
ʿanil musāraʿati fīmā waʿadtahu ʾawliyāʾaka
to hurry to that which Thou hast promised Thy friends
48
وَالْمُجَانَبَةِ عَمَّا حَذَّرْتَهُ أَعْدَآءَكَ،
wal-mujānabati ʿammā ḥaḏḏartahū ʾaʿdāʾaka
or to avoid that against which Thou hast cautioned Thy enemies -
49
وَكَثْرَةَ هُمُومِي وَوَسْوَسَةَ نَفْسِي .
wa kathrat humoomi wa waswasat nafsi
and of the multitude of my concerns, and of my soul's confusing thoughts.
50
إلهِي لَمْ تَفْضَحْنِي بِسَرِيرَتِي،
ilāhī lam tafḍaḥnī bi-sarīrati
My God, Thou hast not disgraced me through my secret thoughts
51
وَلَمْ تُهْلِكْنِي بِجَرِيرَتِي، أَدْعُوكَ فَتُجِيبُنِي
walaml tuhlīkni bi-jarīratī, ad'ūka fatujībunī
or destroyed me because of my misdeeds! I call upon Thee, and Thou respondest,
52
وَإنْ كُنْتُ بَطِيئاً حِيْنَ تَدْعُونِي.
wa-in kuntu baṭi'an hinna tadʿūnī
even if I am slow when Thou callest upon me.
53
وَأَسْأَلُكَ كُلَّمَا شِئْتُ مِنْ حَوَائِجِي،
wa as'aluka kullama shi'tu min hawaa'iji
I ask Thee everything I want of my needs,
54
وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنْتُ وَضَعْتُ عِنْدَكَ سِرِّي،
wa ḥaythu mā kuntu waḍaʿtu ʿindaka sirrī
and I deposit with Thee my secret wherever I may be.
55
فَلاَ أَدْعُو سِوَاكَ، وَلاَ أَرْجُو غَيْرَكَ،
fala adʿu siwaka, wa la arju ghayraka
I supplicate no one besides Thee, and I hope for no one other than Thee.
56
لَبَّيْكَ لَبَّيْكَ، تَسْمَعُ مَنْ شَكَا إلَيْكَ،
labbaika labbaika, tasmaʿu man shaka ʾilayka
At Thy service! At Thy service! Thou hearest him who complains to Thee!
57
وَتَلْقى مَنْ تَوَكَّلَ عَلَيْكَ،
wa talqā man tawakkala ʿalayk
Thou receivest him who has confidence in Thee!
58
وَتُخَلِّصُ مَنِ اعْتَصَمَ بِكَ،
wa tukhalliṣu mani ʿtaṣama bi-ka
Thou savest him who holds fast to Thee!
59
وَتُفَرِّجُ عَمَّنْ لاذَ بِكَ.
wa tufarriju ʿamman ladh bi-ka
Thou givest relief to him who seeks shelter in Thee!
60
إلهِي فَلاَ تَحْرِمْنِي خَيْرَ الآخِرَةِ وَالأُولى لِقِلَّةِ شُكْرِي،
ilāhī falā taḥrimnī khayra al-ākhirati wal-ūlā liqillati shukrī
My God, so deprive me not of the good of the last world and the first because of the paucity of my thanksgiving
61
وَاغْفِرْ لِي مَا تَعْلَمُ مِنْ ذُنُوبِي،
waġfir li mā taʿlamu min dhunūbī
and forgive me the sins of mine which Thou knowest!
62
إنْ تُعَذِّبْ فَأَنَا الظَّالِمُ، الْمُفَرِّطُ،
'in tu'adhhib fa ana al-thalimu, al-mufraṭu,'
If Thou chastisest, I am the wrongdoer, the neglecter,
63
الْمُضَيِّعُ، الاثِمُ، الْمُقَصِّرُ، الْمُضْجِعُ،
al-muḍayyiʿu, al-āthimu, al-muqaṣṣiru, al-mudjiʿu
the negligent, the sinner, the derelict, the sluggard,
64
الُمُغْفِلُ حَظَّ نَفْسِي،
al-mughfilu haẓẓa nafsi
the heedless of the share of my soul!
65
وَإنْ تَغْفِرْ فَأَنْتَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ.
wa-in taghfir fa-anta arhamu arrahimīn
And if Thou forgivest - Thou art the Most Merciful of the merciful!