Sahifa Sajjadiya 12: Confession and Repentance

Text and Translation

اللَّهُمَّ اِنَّهٗ يَحْجُبُنِي عَنْ مَسْاَلَتِكَ خِلَالٌ ثَلَاثٌ، وَتَحْدُونِي عَلَيْهَا خَلَّةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ

ALLAAHUMMA INNAHOO YAHJUBUNEE A'N MAS'ALATIKA KHILAALUN THALAATHUN WA TAHDOONEE A'LAYHAA KHALLATUN WAAHIDAH

O God, three traits have prevented me from asking Thee and one trait has urged me on:

يَحْجُبُنِي اَمْرٌ اَمَرْتَ بِهٖ فَاَبْطَاْتُ عَنْهُ، وَنَهْيٌ نَهَيْتَنِي عَنْهُ فَاَسْرَعْتُ اِلَيْهِ، وَنِعْمَةٌ اَنْعَمْتَ بِهَا عَلَيَّ فَقَصَّرْتُ فِي شُكْرِهَا

YAHJUBUNEE AMRUN AMARTA BIHEE FA-ABTA'TU A'NHU WA NAHYUN NAHAYTANEE A'NHU FA-ASRA'TU ILAYHI WA NI'MATUN AN'AMTA BIHAA A'LAYYA FAQASSARTU FEE SHUKRIHAA

I am prevented by a command Thou hast commanded in which I have been slow, a prohibition Thou hast prohibited toward which I have hurried, and a favour through which Thou hast favoured for which I have not given sufficient thanks.

وَيَحْدُونِي عَلَى مَسْاَلَتِكَ تَفَضُّلُكَ عَلَى مَنْ اَقْبَلَ بِوَجْهِهٖ اِلَيْكَ، وَوَفَدَ بِحُسْنِ ظَنِّهٖ اِلَيْكَ، اِذْ جَمِيعُ اِحْسَانِكَ تَفَضُّلٌ، وَاِذْ كُلُّ نِعَمِكَ ابْتِدَاءٌ

WA YAHDOONEE A'LAA MAS'ALATIKA TAFADDULUKA A'LAA MAN AQBALA BIWAJHIHEE ILAYKA WA WAFADA BIHUSNI ZANNIHEE ILAYKA IDH JAMEE'U IHSAANIKA TAFADDULUN WA IDH KULLU NI'AMIKAB TIDAA'

I am urged to ask Thee by Thy gratuitous bounty upon him who turns his face toward Thee and comes to Thee with a good opinion, since all Thy beneficence is gratuitous bounty and every one of Thy favours a new beginning!

فَهَا اَنَا ذَا، يَا اِلٰهِي، وَاقِفٌ بِبَابِ عِزِّكَ وُقُوفَ الْمُسْتَسْلِمِ الذَّلِيلِ، وَسَائِلُكَ عَلَى الْحَيَاءِ مِنِّي سُؤَالَ الْبَائِسِ الْمُعِيلِ

FAHAA ANAA DHAA YAA ILAAHEE WAAQIFUN BIBAABI I'ZZIKA WUQOOFAL MUSTASLIMIDH DHALEELI WA SAA'ILUKA A'LAL HAYAA'I MINNEE SU'AALAL BAA'ISIL MU'EEL

So here I am, my God, standing at the gate of Thy might, the standing of the lowly, the surrendered, asking Thee in my shame, the asking of the destitute, the pitiful,

مُقِرٌّ لَكَ بِاَنِّي لَمْ اَسْتَسْلِمْ وَقْتَ اِحْسَانِكَ اِلَّا بِالْاِقْلَاعِ عَنْ عِصْيَانِكَ، وَلَمْ اَخْلُ فِي الْحَالَاتِ كُلِّهَا مِنِ امْتِنَانِكَ

MUQIRRUN LAKA BI-ANNEE LAM ASTASLIM WAQTA IHSAANIKA ILLAA BIL IQLAA'I A'N I'SYAANIKA WA LAM AKHLU FIL HAALAATI KULLIHAA MINIM TINAANIK

admitting to Thee that at the time of Thy beneficence I surrendered not save through abstaining from disobedience toward Thee and in none of my states was I ever without Thy Kindness.

فَهَلْ يَنْفَعُنِي، يَا اِلٰهِي، اِقْرَارِي عِنْدَكَ بِسُوءِ مَا اكْتَسَبْتُ وَهَلْ يُنْجِينِي مِنْكَ اعْتِرَافِي لَكَ بِقَبِيحِ مَا ارْتَكَبْتُ اَمْ اَوْجَبْتَ لِي فِي مَقَامِي هٰذَا سُخْطَكَ اَمْ لَزِمَنِي فِي وَقْتِ دُعَايَ مَقْتُكَ

FAHAL YANFA'UNEE YAA ILAAHEE IQRAAREE I'NDAKA BISOO'I MAK TASABTU WA HAL YUNJEENEE MINKA' TIRAAFEE LAKA BIQABEEHI MAR TAKABTU AM AWJABTA LEE FEE MAQAAMEE HAADHAA SUKHTAKA AM LAZIMANEE FEE WAQTI DU'AAYA MAQTUK

Will it profit me, my God, to admit to Thee the evil of what I have earned? Will it save me from Thee to confess the ugliness of what I have done? Or wilt Thou impose upon me in this my station Thy displeasure? Will Thy hate hold fast to me in the time of my supplication?

سُبْحَانَكَ، لَا اَيْاَسُ مِنْكَ وَقَدْ فَتَحْتَ لِي بَابَ التَّوْبَةِ اِلَيْكَ، بَلْ اَقُولُ مَقَالَ الْعَبْدِ الذَّلِيلِ الظَّالِمِ لِنَفْسِهِ الْمُسْتَخِفِّ بِحُرْمَةِ رَبِّهٖ

SUBHAANAKA LAA AY'ASU MINKA WA QAD FATAHTA LEE BAABAT TAWBATI ILAYKA BAL AQOOLU MAQAALAL A'BDIDH DHALEELIZ ZAALIMI LINAFSIHIL MUSTAKHIFFI BIHURMATI RABBIH

Glory be to Thee! I do not despair of Thee, for Thou hast opened the door of repentance toward Thyself. Rather, I say, the words of a lowly servant, having wronged himself and made light of his Lord's inviolability,

الَّذِي عَظُمَتْ ذُنُوبُهٗ فَجَلَّتْ، وَاَدْبَرَتْ اَيَّامُهٗ فَوَلَّتْ حَتَّى اِذَا رَاَى مُدَّةَ الْعَمَلِ قَدِ انْقَضَتْ وَغَايَةَ الْعُمُرِ قَدِ انْتَهَتْ، وَاَيْقَنَ اَنَّهٗ لَا مَحِيصَ لَهٗ مِنْكَ، وَلَا مَهْرَبَ لَهٗ عَنْكَ، تَلَقَّاكَ بِالْاِنَابَةِ، وَاَخْلَصَ لَكَ التَّوْبَةَ، فَقَامَ اِلَيْكَ بِقَلْبٍ طَاهِرٍ نَقِيٍّ، ثُمَّ دَعَاكَ بِصَوْتٍ حَائِلٍ خَفِيٍّ

ALLADHEE A'ZUMAT DHUNOOBUHOO FAJALLAT WA ADBARAT AYYAAMUHOO FAWALLAT HATTAA IDHAA RA'AA MUDDATAL A'MALI QADIN QADAT WA GHAAYATAL U'MURI QADIN TAHAT WA AYQANA ANNAHOO LAA MAHEESA LAHOO MINKA WA LAA MAHRABA LAHOO A'NKA TALAQQAAKA BIL INAABATI WA AKHLASA LAKAT TAWBATA FAQAAMA ILAYKA BIQALBIN TAAHIRIN NAQIYYIN THUMMA DA'AAKA BISAWTIN HAA'ILIN KHAFIYY

and whose sins are dreadful, great, whose days have parted, fled, until, when he sees the term of his works expired and the limit of his lifetime reached and knows with certainty that he has no escape from Thee, no place to flee from Thee, he turns his face toward Thee in repeated turning, makes his repentance toward Thee sincere, stands before Thee with a pure and purified heart, then supplicates Thee with a feeble, quiet voice.

قَدْ تَطَاْطَاَ لَكَ فَانْحَنَى، وَنَكَّسَ رَاْسَهٗ فَانْثَنَى، قَدْ اَرْعَشَتْ خَشْيَتُهٗ رِجْلَيْهِ، وَغَرَّقَتْ دُمُوعُهٗ خَدَّيْهِ، يَدْعُوكَ بِيَا اَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ، وَيَا اَرْحَمَ مَنِ انْتَابَهُ الْمُسْتَرْحِمُونَ، وَيَا اَعْطَفَ مَنْ اَطَافَ بِهِ الْمُسْتَغْفِرُونَ، وَيَا مَنْ عَفْوُهٗ اَكْثَرُ مِنْ نَقِمَتِهٖ، وَيَا مَنْ رِضَاهُ اَوْفَرُ مِنْ سَخَطِهٖ

QAD TATA'TA'A LAKA FANHANAA WA NAKKASA RA'SAHOO FANTHANAA QAD AR'ASHAT KHASHYATUHOO RIJLAYHI WA GHARRAQAT DUMOO'UHOO KHADDAYHI YAD'OOKA BIYAA ARHAMAR RAAHIMEENA WA YAA ARHAMA MANIN TAABAHUL MUSTARHIMOONA WA YAA A'TAFA MAN ATAAFA BIHIL MUSTAGHFIROONA WA YAA MAN A'FWUHOO AKTHARU MIN NAQIMATIHEE WA YAA MAN RIDAAHU AWFARU MIN SAKHATIH

He is bowed before Thee, bent, his head lowered, thrown down, his legs shaking in fear, his tears flooding his cheeks. He supplicates Thee: O Most Merciful of the merciful! O Most Merciful of those toward whom seekers of mercy keep on turning! O Tenderest of those around whom run seekers of forgiveness! O He whose pardon is greater than His vengeance! O He whose good pleasure is more abundant than His anger!

وَيَا مَنْ تَحَمَّدَ اِلَى خَلْقِهٖ بِحُسْنِ التَّجَاوُزِ، وَيَا مَنْ عَوَّدَ عِبَادَهٗ قَبُولَ الْاِنَابَةِ، وَيَا مَنِ اسْتَصْلَحَ فَاسِدَهُمْ بِالتَّوْبَةِ وَيَا مَنْ رَضِيَ مِنْ فِعْلِهِمْ بِالْيَسِيرِ، وَمَنْ كَافَى قَلِيلَهُمْ بِالْكَثِيرِ، وَيَا مَنْ ضَمِنَ لَهُمْ اِجَابَةَ الدُّعَاءِ، وَيَا مَنْ وَعَدَهُمْ عَلَى نَفْسِهٖ بِتَفَضُّلِهٖ حُسْنَ الْجَزَاءِ

WA YAA MAN TAHAMMADA ILAA KHALQIHEE BIHUSNIT TAJAAWUZI WA YAA MAN A'WWADA I'BAADAHOO QABOOLAL INAABATI WA YAA MANIS TASLAHA FAASIDAHUM BIT TAWBATI WA YAA MAN RADIYA MIN FI'LIHIM BIL YASEERI WA MAN KAAFAA QALEELAHUM BIL KATHEERI WA YAA MAN DAMINA LAHUM IJAABATAD DU'AA'I WA YAA MAN WA'ADAHUM A'LAA NAFSIHEE BITAFADDULIHEE HUSNAL JAZAA'

O He who seeks His creatures' praise with excellent forbearance! O He who has accustomed His servants to the acceptance of their repeated turning! O He who seeks to heal their corruption through repentance! O He who is pleased with the easy of their acts! O He who recompenses with the much their little! O He who has made himself accountable to them to respond to supplication! O He who pledged Himself by His gratuitous bounty to give them excellent repayment!

مَا اَنَا بِاَعْصَى مَنْ عَصَاكَ فَغَفَرْتَ لَهٗ، وَمَا اَنَا بِاَلْوَمِ مَنِ اعْتَذَرَ اِلَيْكَ فَقَبِلْتَ مِنْهُ، وَمَا اَنَا بِاَظْلَمِ مَنْ تَابَ اِلَيْكَ فَعُدْتَ عَلَيْهِ

MAA ANAA BI-A'SAA MAN A'SAAKA FAGHAFARTA LAHOO WA MAA ANAA BI-ALWAMI MANI' TADHARA ILAYKA FAQABILTA MINHU WA MAA ANAA BI-AZLAMI MAN TAABA ILAYKA FA'UDTA A'LAYH

I am not the most disobedient of those who have disobeyed Thee and whom Thou hast forgiven, nor am I the most blameworthy to offer excuses which Thou hast accepted, nor am I the most wrongdoing of those who have repented to Thee, and to whom Thou hast returned

اَتُوبُ اِلَيْكَ فِي مَقَامِي هٰذَا تَوْبَةَ نَادِمٍ عَلَى مَا فَرَطَ مِنْهُ، مُشْفِقٍ مِمَّا اجْتَمَعَ عَلَيْهِ، خَالِصِ الْحَيَاءِ مِمَّا وَقَعَ فِيهِ

ATOOBU ILAYKA FEE MAQAAMEE HAADHAA TAWBATA NAADIMIN A'LAA MAA FARATA MINHU MUSHFIQIN MIMMAJ TAMA'A A'LAYHI KHAALISIL HAYAA'I MIMMAA WAQA'A FEEH

I repent to Thee in this my station, the repentance of one remorseful over what preceded from him hastily, apprehensive of what has gathered around him, pure in shame for that into which he has fallen,

عَالِمٍ بِاَنَّ الْعَفْوَ عَنِ الذَّنْبِ الْعَظِيمِ لَا يَتَعَاظَمُكَ، وَاَنَّ التَّجَاوُزَ عَنِ الْاِثْمِ الْجَلِيلِ لَا يَسْتَصْعِبُكَ، وَاَنَّ احْتِمَالَ الْجِنَايَاتِ الْفَاحِشَةِ لَا يَتَكَأَّدُكَ، وَاَنَّ اَحَبَّ عِبَادِكَ اِلَيْكَ مَنْ تَرَكَ الِاسْتِكْبَارَ عَلَيْكَ، وَجَانَبَ الْاِصْرَارَ، وَلَزِمَ الِاسْتِغْفَارَ

A'ALIMIN BI-ANNAL A'FWA A'NIDH DHANBIL A'ZEEMI LAA YATA'AAZAMUKA WA ANNAT TAJAAWUZA A'NIL ITHMIL JALEELI LAA YASTAS'IBUKA WA ANNAH TIMAALAL JINAAYAATIL FAAHISHATI LAA YATAKA''ADUKA WA ANNA AHABBA I'BAADIKA ILAYKA MAN TARAKAL ISTIKBAARA A'LAYKA WA JAANABAL ISRAARA WA LAZIMAL ISTIGHFAAR

knowing that pardoning great sins is nothing great for Thee, overlooking enormous misdeeds is not difficult for Thee, putting up with indecent crimes does not trouble Thee, and the most beloved of Thy servants to Thee is he who refrains from arrogance before Thee, pulls aside from persistence, and holds fast to praying forgiveness!

وَاَنَا اَبْرَاُ اِلَيْكَ مِنْ اَنْ اَسْتَكْبِرَ، وَاَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ اَنْ اُصِرَّ، وَاَسْتَغْفِرُكَ لِمَا قَصَّرْتُ فِيهِ، وَاَسْتَعِينُ بِكَ عَلَى مَا عَجَزْتُ عَنْهُ

WA ANAA ABRA'U ILAYKA MIN AN ASTAKBIRA WA A'OODHU BIKA MIN AN USIRRA WA ASTAGHFIRUKA LIMAA QASSARTU FEEHI WA ASTA'EENU BIKA A'LAA MAA A'JAZTU A'NH

I am clear before Thee of arrogance, I seek refuge in Thee from persistence, I pray forgiveness from Thee for shortcomings, I seek help from Thee in incapacity!

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهٖ، وَهَبْ لِي مَا يَجِبُ عَلَيَّ لَكَ، وَعَافِنِي مِمَّا اَسْتَوْجِبُهٗ مِنْكَ، وَاَجِرْنِي مِمَّا يَخَافُهٗ اَهْلُ الْاِسَاءَةِ، فَاِنَّكَ مَلِيءٌ بِالْعَفْوِ، مَرْجُوٌّ لِلْمَغْفِرَةِ، مَعْرُوفٌ بِالتَّجَاوُزِ، لَيْسَ لِحَاجَتِي مَطْلَبٌ سِوَاكَ، وَلَا لِذَنْبِي غَافِرٌ غَيْرُكَ، حَاشَاكَ

ALLAAHUMMA SALLI A'LAA MUHAMMADIN WA AALIHEE WA HAB LEE MAA YAJIBU A'LAYYA LAKA WA A'AFINEE MIMMAA ASTAWJIBUHOO MINKA WA AJIRNEE MIMMAA YAKHAAFUHOO AHLUL ISAA'ATI FA-INNAKA MALEE'UN BIL A'FWI MARJUWWUN LIL MAGHFIRATI MA'ROOFUN BIT TAJAAWUZI LAYSA LIHAAJATEE MATLABUN SIWAAKA WA LAA LIDHANBEE GHAAFIRUN GHAYRUKA HAASHAAK

O God, bless Muhammad and his Household, dispense with what is incumbent upon me toward Thee, release me from what I merit from Thee, and grant me sanctuary from what the evildoers fear! For Thou art full of pardon, the hoped-for source of forgiveness, well known for Thy forbearance. My need has no object but Thee, my sin no forgiver other than Thee - could that be possible?

وَلَا اَخَافُ عَلَى نَفْسِي اِلَّا اِيَّاكَ، اِنَّكَ اَهْلُ التَّقْوَى وَاَهْلُ الْمَغْفِرَةِ، صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، وَاقْضِ حَاجَتِي، وَاَنْجِحْ طَلِبَتِي، وَاغْفِرْ ذَنْبِي، وَآمِنْ خَوْفَ نَفْسِي، اِنَّكَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ، وَذٰلِكَ عَلَيْكَ يَسِيرٌ، آمِينَ رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ

WA LAA AKHAAFU A'LAA NAFSEE ILLAA IYYAAKA INNAKA AHLUT TAQWAA WA AHLUL MAGHFIRATI SALLI A'LAA MUHAMMADIN WA AALI MUHAMMADIN WAQDI HAAJATEE WA ANJIH TALIBATEE WAGHFIR DHANBEE WA AAMIN KHAWFA NAFSEE INNAKA A'LAA KULLI SHAY'IN QADEERUN WA DHAALIKA A'LAYKA YASEERUN AAMEENA RABBAL A'ALAMEEN

I have no fear for myself except from Thee; Thou art worthy of reverential fear, and worthy to forgive! Bless Muhammad and his Household, grant my need, answer my request favourably, forgive my sin, and give me security from fear for myself! Thou art powerful over everything, and that is easy for Thee. Amen, Lord of the world!