Sahifa Sajjadiya 13: Seeking Needs from Allah

Text and Translation

اللَّهُمَّ يَا مُنْتَهَى مَطْلَبِ الْحَاجَاتِ

ALLAAHUMMA YAA MUNTAHAA MATLABIL HAAJAAT

O God, O ultimate object of needs!

وَيَا مَنْ عِنْدَهٗ نَيْلُ الطَّلِبَاتِ

WA YAA MAN I'NDAHOO NAYLUT TALIBAAT

O He through whom requests are attained!

وَيَا مَنْ لَا يَبِيعُ نِعَمَهٗ بِالْاَثْمَانِ

WA YAA MAN LAA YABEE'U NI'AMAHOO BIL ATHMAAN

O He whose favours are not bought by prices!

وَيَا مَنْ لَا يُكَدِّرُ عَطَايَاهُ بِالِامْتِنَانِ

WA YAA MAN LAA YUKADDIRU A'TAAYAAHU BIL IMTINAAN

O He who does not muddy His gifts by the imposition of obligations!

وَيَا مَنْ يُسْتَغْنَى بِهٖ وَلَا يُسْتَغْنَى عَنْهُ

WA YAA MAN YUSTAGHNAA BIHEE WA LAA YUSTAGHNAA A'NH

O He along with whom nothing is needed and without whom nothing can be done!

وَيَا مَنْ يُرْغَبُ اِلَيْهِ وَلَا يُرْغَبُ عَنْهُ

WA YAA MAN YURGHABU ILAYHI WA LAA YURGHABU A'NH

O He toward whom desire is ever directed and never turned away!

وَيَا مَنْ لَا تُفْنِي خَزَائِنَهُ الْمَسَائِلُ

WA YAA MAN LAA TUFNEE KHAZAA'INAHUL MASAA'IL

O He whose treasuries cannot be exhausted by demands!

وَيَا مَنْ لَا تُبَدِّلُ حِكْمَتَهُ الْوَسَائِلُ

WA YAA MAN LAA TUBADDILU HIKMATAHUL WASAA'IL

O He whose wisdom cannot be altered by any means!

وَيَا مَنْ لَا تَنْقَطِعُ عَنْهُ حَوَائِجُ الْمُحْتَاجِينَ

WA YAA MAN LAA TANQATI'U A'NHU HAWAA'IJUL MUHTAAJEEN

O He from whom the needs of the needy are never cut off!

وَيَا مَنْ لَا يُعَنِّيهِ دُعَاءُ الدَّاعِينَ

WA YAA MAN LAA YU'ANNEEHI DU'AA'UD DAA'EEN

O He who is not distressed by the supplications of the supplicators!

تَمَدَّحْتَ بِالْغَنَاءِ عَنْ خَلْقِكَ وَاَنْتَ اَهْلُ الْغِنَى عَنْهُمْ

TAMADDAHTA BIL GHANAA'I A'N KHALQIKA WA ANTA AHLUL GHINAA A'NHUM

Thou hast lauded Thyself for having no need for Thy creatures, and it suits Thee to have no need for them,

وَنَسَبْتَهُمْ اِلَى الْفَقْرِ وَهُمْ اَهْلُ الْفَقْرِ اِلَيْكَ

WA NASABTAHUM ILAL FAQRI WA HUM AHLUL FAQRI ILAYK

and Thou hast attributed to them poverty, and it suits them to be poor toward Thee.

فَمَنْ حَاوَلَ سَدَّ خَلَّتِهٖ مِنْ عِنْدِكَ، وَرَامَ صَرْفَ الْفَقْرِ عَنْ نَفْسِهٖ بِكَ فَقَدْ طَلَبَ حَاجَتَهٗ فِي مَظَانِّهَا، وَاَتَى طَلِبَتَهٗ مِنْ وَجْهِهَا

FAMAN HAAWALA SADDA KHALLATIHEE MIN I'NDIKA WA RAAMA SARFAL FAQRI A'N NAFSIHEE BIKA FAQAD TALABA HAAJATAHOO FEE MAZAANNIHAA WA ATAA TALIBATAHOO MIN WAJHIHAA

So he who strives to remedy his lack through what is with Thee and wishes to turn poverty away from himself through Thee has sought his need in the most likely place and come to his request from the right quarter.

وَمَنْ تَوَجَّهَ بِحَاجَتِهٖ اِلَى اَحَدٍ مِنْ خَلْقِكَ اَوْ جَعَلَهٗ سَبَبَ نُجْحِهَا دُونَكَ فَقَدْ تَعَرَّضَ لِلْحِرْمَانِ، وَاسْتَحَقَّ مِنْ عِنْدِكَ فَوْتَ الْاِحْسَانِ

WA MAN TAWAJJAHA BIHAAJATIHEE ILAA AHADIN MIN KHALQIKA AW JA'ALAHOO SABABA NUJHIHAA DOONAKA FAQAD TA'ARRADA LIL HIRMAANI WASTAHAQQA MIN I'NDIKA FAWTAL IHSAAN

But he who turns in his need toward one of Thy creatures or assigns the cause of its being granted to other than Thee, has exposed himself to deprivation and deserves to miss Thy beneficence.

اللَّهُمَّ وَلِي اِلَيْكَ حَاجَةٌ قَدْ قَصَّرَ عَنْهَا جُهْدِي، وَتَقَطَّعَتْ دُونَهَا حِيَلِي، وَسَوَّلَتْ لِي نَفْسِي رَفْعَهَا اِلَى مَنْ يَرْفَعُ حَوَائِجَهٗ اِلَيْكَ، وَلَا يَسْتَغْنِي فِي طَلِبَاتِهٖ عَنْكَ، وَهِيَ زَلَّةٌ مِنْ زَلَلِ الْخَاطِئِينَ، وَعَثْرَةٌ مِنْ عَثَرَاتِ الْمُذْنِبِينَ

ALLAAHUMMA WA LEE ILAYKA HAAJATUN QAD QASSARA A'NHAA JUHDEE WA TAQATTA'AT DOONAHAA HIYALEE WA SAWWALAT LEE NAFSEE RAF'AHAA ILAA MAN YARFA'U HAWAA'IJAHOO ILAYKA WA LAA YASTAGHNEE FEE TALIBAATIHEE A'NKA WA HIYA ZALLATUN MIN ZALALIL KHAATI'EENA WA A'THRATUN MIN A'THARAATIL MUDHNIBEEN

O God, I have a need of Thee: My exertion has fallen short of it and my stratagems have been cut back before reaching it. My soul induced me to present it to him who presents his needs to Thee and can do nothing without Thee in his requests, but this is one of the slips of the offenders, one of the stumbles of the sinners!

ثُمَّ انْتَبَهْتُ بِتَذْكِيرِكَ لِي مِنْ غَفْلَتِي، وَنَهَضْتُ بِتَوْفِيقِكَ مِنْ زَلَّتِي، وَرَجَعْتُ وَنَكَصْتُ بِتَسْدِيدِكَ عَنْ عَثْرَتِي

THUMMAN TABAHTU BITADHKEERIKA LEE MIN GHAFLATEE WA NAHADTU BITAWFEEQIKA MIN ZALLATEE WA RAJA'TU WA NAKASTU BITASDEEDIKA A'N A'THRATEE

Then through Thy reminding me, I was aroused from my heedlessness, through Thy giving success, I stood up from my slip, and through Thy pointing the way, I returned and withdrew from my stumble.

وَقُلْتُ سُبْحَانَ رَبِّي كَيْفَ يَسْاَلُ مُحْتَاجٌ مُحْتَاجاً؟ وَاَنَّى يَرْغَبُ مُعْدِمٌ اِلَى مُعْدِمٍ؟

WA QULTU SUBHAANA RABBEE KAYFA YAS'ALU MUHTAAJUN MUHTAAJAN WA ANNAA YARGHABU MU'DIMUN ILAA MU'DIM

I said: Glory to my Lord! How can the needy ask from the needy? How can the destitute beseech the destitute?

فَقَصَدْتُكَ يَا اِلٰهِي، بِالرَّغْبَةِ، وَاَوْفَدْتُ عَلَيْكَ رَجَائِي بِالثِّقَةِ بِكَ

FAQASADTUKA YAA ILAAHEE BIR RAGHBATI WA AWFADTU A'LAYKA RAJAA'EE BITH THIQATI BIK

So I went straight to Thee, my God, in beseeching, and I sent Thee my hope with trust in Thee.

وَعَلِمْتُ اَنَّ كَثِيرَ مَا اَسْاَلُكَ يَسِيرٌ فِي وُجْدِكَ، وَاَنَّ خَطِيرَ مَا اَسْتَوْهِبُكَ حَقِيرٌ فِي وُسْعِكَ، وَاَنَّ كَرَمَكَ لَا يَضِيقُ عَنْ سُؤَالِ اَحَدٍ، وَاَنَّ يَدَكَ بِالْعَطَايَا اَعْلَى مِنْ كُلِّ يَدٍ

WA A'LIMTU ANNA KATHEERA MAA AS'ALUKA YASEERUN FEE WUJDIKA WA ANNA KHATEERA MAA ASTAWHIBUKA HAQEERUN FEE WUS'IKA WA ANNA KARAMAKA LAA YADEEQU A'N SU'AALI AHADIN WA ANNA YADAKA BIL A'TAAYAA A'LAA MIN KULLI YAD

I came to know that the many I request from Thee are few before Thy wealth, the weighty I ask from Thee is vile before Thy plenty; Thy generosity is not constrained by anyone's asking, Thy hand is higher in bestowing gifts than every hand!

اللَّهُمَّ فَصَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهٖ، وَاحْمِلْنِي بِكَرَمِكَ عَلَى التَّفَضُّلِ، وَلَا تَحْمِلْنِي بِعَدْلِكَ عَلَى الِاسْتِحْقَاقِ، فَمَا اَنَا بِاَوَّلِ رَاغِبٍ رَغِبَ اِلَيْكَ فَاَعْطَيْتَهٗ وَهُوَ يَسْتَحِقُّ الْمَنْعَ، وَلَا بِاَوَّلِ سَائِلٍ سَاَلَكَ فَاَفْضَلْتَ عَلَيْهِ وَهُوَ يَسْتَوْجِبُ الْحِرْمَانَ

ALLAAHUMMA FASALLI A'LAA MUHAMMADIN WA AALIHEE WAHMILNEE BIKARAMIKA A'LAT TAFADDULI WA LAA TAHMILNEE BI-A'DLIKA A'LAL ISTIHQAAQI FAMAA ANAA BI-AWWALI RAAGHIBIN RAGHIBA ILAYKA FA-A'TAYTAHOO WA HUWA YASTAHIQQUL MAN'A WA LAA BI-AWWALI SAA'ILIN SA'ALAKA FA-AFDALTA A'LAYHI WA HUWA YASTAWJIBUL HIRMAAN

O God, so bless Muhammad and his Household, take me through Thy generosity to Thy gratuitous bounty and take me not through Thy justice to what I deserve! I am not the first beseecher to beseech Thee and Thou bestowed upon him while he deserved withholding, nor am I the first to ask from Thee and Thou wast bounteous toward him while he merited deprivation.

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهٖ، وَكُنْ لِدُعَائِي مُجِيباً، وَمِنْ نِدَائِي قَرِيباً، وَلِتَضَرُّعِي رَاحِماً، وَلِصَوْتِي سَامِعاً

ALLAAHUMMA SALLI A'LAA MUHAMMADIN WA AALIHEE WA KUN LIDU'AA'EE MUJEEBAN WA MIN NIDAA'EE QAREEBAN WA LITADARRU'EE RAAHIMAN WA LISAWTEE SAAMI'AA

O God, bless Muhammad and his Household, respond to my supplication, come near my call, have mercy on my pleading, listen to my voice,

وَلَا تَقْطَعْ رَجَائِي عَنْكَ، وَلَا تَبُتَّ سَبَبِي مِنْكَ، وَلَا تُوَجِّهْنِي فِي حَاجَتِي هٰذِهِ وَغَيْرِهَا اِلَى سِوَاكَ

WA LAA TAQTA' RAJAA'EE A'NKA WA LAA TABUTTA SABABEE MINKA WA LAA TUWAJJIHNEE FEE HAAJATEE HAADHIHI WA GHAYRIHAA ILAA SIWAAK

cut not short my hope for Thee, sever not my thread to Thee, turn not my face in this my need, and other needs, away from Thee,

وَتَوَلَّنِي بِنُجْحِ طَلِبَتِي وَقَضَاءِ حَاجَتِي وَنَيْلِ سُؤْلِي قَبْلَ زَوَالِي عَنْ مَوْقِفِي هٰذَا بِتَيْسِيرِكَ لِيَ الْعَسِيرَ وَحُسْنِ تَقْدِيرِكَ لِي فِي جَمِيعِ الْاُمُورِ

WA TAWALLANEE BINUJHI TALIBATEE WA QADAA'I HAAJATEE WA NAYLI SU'LEE QABLA ZAWAALEE A'N MAWQIFEE HAADHAA BITAYSEERIKA LIYAL A'SEERA WA HUSNI TAQDEERIKA LEE FEE JAMEE'IL UMOOR

attend for my sake to the fulfillment of my request, the granting of my need, and the attainment of what I have asked before I leave this place through Thy making easy for me the difficult and Thy excellent ordainment for me in all affairs!

وَصَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهٖ، صَلَاةً دَائِمَةً نَامِيَةً لَا انْقِطَاعَ لِاَبَدِهَا وَلَا مُنْتَهَى لِاَمَدِهَا، وَاجْعَلْ ذٰلِكَ عَوْناً لِي وَسَبَباً لِنَجَاحِ طَلِبَتِي، اِنَّكَ وَاسِعٌ كَرِيمٌ

WA SALLI A'LAA MUHAMMADIN WA AALIHEE SALAATAN DAA'IMATAN NAAMIYATAN LAN QITAA'A LI-ABADIHAA WA LAA MUNTAHAA LI-AMADIHAA WAJ'AL DHAALIKA A'WNAN LEE WA SABABAN LINAJAAHI TALIBATEE INNAKA WAASI'UN KAREEM

Bless Muhammad and his Household with a permanent, ever-growing blessing, whose perpetuity has no cutting off and whose term knows no limit, and make that a help to me and a cause for the granting of my request! Thou art Boundless, Generous!

وَمِنْ حَاجَتِي يَا رَبِّ كَذَا وَكَذَا

WA MIN HAAJATEE YAA RABBI KADHAA WA KADHAA

And of my needs, my Lord, are such and such.

Here state your needs, then prostrate and say in prostration:

فَضْلُكَ آنَسَنِي، وَاِحْسَانُكَ دَلَّنِي، فَاَسْاَلُكَ بِكَ وَبِمُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهٖ، صَلَوَاتُكَ عَلَيْهِمْ، اَنْ لَا تَرُدَّنِي خَائِباً

FADLUKA AANASANEE WA IHSAANUKA DALLANEE FA-AS'ALUKA BIKA WA BIMUHAMMADIN WA AALIHEE SALAWAATUKA A'LAYHIM AN LAA TARUDDANEE KHAA'IBAA

Thy bounty has comforted me and Thy beneficence has shown the way, so I ask Thee by Thee and by Muhammad and his Household (Thy blessings be upon them) that Thou sendest me not back in disappointment!