Sahifa Sajjadiya 49: Repelling Enemies

Text and Translation

اِلٰهِي هَدَيْتَنِي فَلَهَوْتُ، وَوَعَظْتَ فَقَسَوْتُ، وَاَبْلَيْتَ الْجَمِيلَ فَعَصَيْتُ، ثُمَّ عَرَفْتُ مَا اَصْدَرْتَ اِذْ عَرَّفْتَنِيهِ، فَاسْتَغْفَرْتُ فَاَقَلْتَ، فَعُدْتُ فَسَتَرْتَ، فَلَكَ اِلٰهِي الْحَمْدُ

ILAAHEE HADAYTANEE FALAHAWTU WA WA'AZTA FAQASAWTU WA ABLAYTAL JAMEELA FA'ASAYTU THUMMA A'RAFTU MAA ASDARTA IDH A'RRAFTANEEHI FASTAGHFARTU FA-AQALTA FA'UDTU FASATARTA FALAKA ILAAHIL HAMD

My God, Thou guided me but I diverted myself, Thou admonished me but my heart became hardened, Thou tried me graciously but I disobeyed. Then, when Thou caused me to know it, I came to know that from which Thou hadst turned [me] away, so I prayed forgiveness and Thou released, and I returned and Thou covered over. So Thine, my God, is the praise!

تَقَحَّمْتُ اَوْدِيَةَ الْهَلَاكِ، وَحَلَلْتُ شِعَابَ تَلَفٍ، تَعَرَّضْتُ فِيهَا لِسَطَوَاتِكَ وَبِحُلُولِهَا عُقُوبَاتِكَ

TAQAHHAMTU AWDIYATAL HALAAKI WA HALALTU SHI'AABA TALAFIN TA'ARRADTU FEEHAA LISATAWAATIKA WA BIHULOOLIHAA U'QOOBAATIK

I plunged into the valleys of destruction and settled in the ravines of ruin, exposing myself to Thy chastisements and the descent of Thy punishments!

وَوَسِيلَتِي اِلَيْكَ التَّوْحِيدُ، وَذَرِيعَتِي اَنِّي لَمْ اُشْرِكْ بِكَ شَيْئاً، وَلَمْ اَتَّخِذْ مَعَكَ اِلٰهاً، وَقَدْ فَرَرْتُ اِلَيْكَ بِنَفْسِي، وَاِلَيْكَ مَفَرُّ الْمُسِيءِ، وَمَفْزَعُ الْمُضَيِّعِ لِحَظِّ نَفْسِهِ الْمُلْتَجِئِ

WA WASEELATEE ILAYKAT TAWHEEDU WA DHAREE'ATEE ANNEE LAM USHRIK BIKA SHAY'AN WA LAM ATTAKHIDH MA'AKA ILAAHAN WA QAD FARARTU ILAYKA BINAFSEE WA ILAYKA MAFARRUL MUSEE'I WA MAFZA'UL MUDAYYI'I LIHAZZI NAFSIHIL MULTAJI'

My mediation with Thee is the profession of Unity, my way of coming to Thee that I associate nothing with Thee, nor do I take along with Thee a god; I have fled to Thee with my soul - in Thee is the place of flight for the evildoer, the place of escape for him who has squandered the share of his soul and seeks asylum.

فَكَمْ مِنْ عَدُوٍّ انْتَضَى عَلَيَّ سَيْفَ عَدَاوَتِهٖ، وَشَحَذَ لِي ظُبَةَ مُدْيَتِهٖ، وَاَرْهَفَ لِي شَبَا حَدِّهٖ، وَدَافَ لِي قَوَاتِلَ سُمُومِهٖ، وَسَدَّدَ نَحْوِي صَوَائِبَ سِهَامِهٖ، وَلَمْ تَنَمْ عَنِّي عَيْنُ حِرَاسَتِهٖ، وَاَضْمَرَ اَنْ يَسُومَنِي الْمَكْرُوهَ، وَيُجَرِّعَنِي زُعَاقَ مَرَارَتِهٖ

FAKAM MIN A'DUWWININ TADAA A'LAYYA SAYFA A'DAAWATIHEE WA SHAHADHA LEE ZUBATA MUDYATIHEE WA ARHAFA LEE SHABAA HADDIHEE WA DAAFA LEE QAWAATILA SUMOOMIHEE WA SADDADA NAHWEE SAWAA'IBA SIHAAMIHEE WA LAM TANAM A'NNEE A'YNU HIRAASATIHEE WA ADMARA AN YASOOMANIL MAKROOHA WA YUJARRI'ANEE ZU'AAQA MARAARATIH

How many an enemy has unsheathed the sword of his enmity toward me, honed the cutting edge of his knife for me, sharpened the tip of his blade for me, mixed his killing potions for me, pointed toward me his straight-flying arrows, not allowed the eye of his watchfulness to sleep toward me, and secretly thought of visiting me with something hateful and making me gulp down the bitter water of his bile!

فَنَظَرْتَ يَا اِلٰهِي اِلَى ضَعْفِي عَنِ احْتِمَالِ الْفَوَادِحِ، وَعَجْزِي عَنِ الِانْتِصَارِ مِمَّنْ قَصَدَنِي بِمُحَارَبَتِهٖ، وَوَحْدَتِي فِي كَثِيرِ عَدَدِ مَنْ نَاوَانِي، وَاَرْصَدَ لِي بِالْبَلَاءِ فِيمَا لَمْ اُعْمِلْ فِيهِ فِكْرِي

FANAZARTA YAA ILAAHEE ILAA DA'FEE A'NIH TIMAALIL FAWAADIHI WA A'JZEE A'NIL INTISAARI MIMMAN QASADANEE BIMUHAARABATIHEE WA WAHDATEE FEE KATHEERI A'DADI MAN NAAWAANEE WA ARSADA LEE BIL BALAA'I FEEMAA LAM U'MIL FEEHI FIKREE

So Thou looked my God, at my weakness in bearing oppressive burdens, my inability to gain victory over him who aims to war against me, and my being alone before the great numbers of him who is hostile toward me and lies in wait for me with an affliction about which I have not thought.

فَابْتَدَاْتَنِي بِنَصْرِكَ، وَشَدَدْتَ اَزْرِي بِقُوَّتِكَ، ثُمَّ فَلَلْتَ لِي حَدَّهٗ، وَصَيَّرْتَهٗ مِنْ بَعْدِ جَمْعٍ عَدِيدٍ وَحْدَهٗ، وَاَعْلَيْتَ كَعْبِي عَلَيْهِ، وَجَعَلْتَ مَا سَدَّدَهٗ مَرْدُوداً عَلَيْهِ، فَرَدَدْتَهٗ لَمْ يَشْفِ غَيْظَهٗ، وَلَمْ يَسْكُنْ غَلِيلُهٗ، قَدْ عَضَّ عَلَى شَوَاهُ وَاَدْبَرَ مُوَلِّياً قَدْ اَخْلَفَتْ سَرَايَاهُ

FABTADA'TANEE BINASRIKA WA SHADADTA AZREE BIQUWWATIKA THUMMA FALALTA LEE HADDAHOO WA SAYYARTAHOO MIN BA'DI JAM'IN A'DEEDIN WAHDAHOO WA A'LAYTA KA'BEE A'LAYHI WA JA'ALTA MAA SADDADAHOO MARDOODAN A'LAYHI FARADADTAHOO LAM YASHFI GHAYZAHOO WA LAM YASKUN GHALEELUHOO QAD A'DDA A'LAA SHAWAAHU WA ADBARA MUWALLIYAN QAD AKHLAFAT SARAAYAAH

Thou set out at once to help me and Thou braced up my back! Thou blunted for me his blade, made him, after a great multitude, solitary, raised up my heel over him, and turned back upon him what he had pointed straight. So Thou sent him back, his rage not calmed, his burning thirst not quenched! Biting his fingers, he turned his back in flight, his columns having been of no use.

وَكَمْ مِنْ بَاغٍ بَغَانِي بِمَكَايِدِهٖ، وَنَصَبَ لِي شَرَكَ مَصَايِدِهٖ، وَوَكَّلَ بِي تَفَقُّدَ رِعَايَتِهٖ، وَاَضْبَاَ اِلَيَّ اِضْبَاءَ السَّبُعِ لِطَرِيدَتِهِ انْتِظَاراً لِانْتِهَازِ الْفُرْصَةِ لِفَرِيسَتِهٖ، وَهُوَ يُظْهِرُ لِي بَشَاشَةَ الْمَلَقِ، وَيَنْظُرُنِي عَلَى شِدَّةِ الْحَنَقِ

WA KAM MIN BAAGHIN BAGHAANEE BIMAKAAYIDIHEE WA NASABA LEE SHARAKA MASAAYIDIHEE WA WAKKALA BEE TAFAQQUDA RI'AAYATIHEE WA ADBA'A ILAYYA IDBAA'AS SABU'I LITAREEDATIHIN TIZAARAN LINTIHAAZIL FURSATI LIFAREESATIHEE WA HUWA YUZHIRU LEE BASHAASHATAL MALAQI WA YANZURUNEE A'LAA SHIDDATIL HANAQ

How many an oppressor has oppressed me with his tricks, set up for me the net of his snares, appointed over me the inspection of his regard, and lay in ambush for me, the lying in ambush of a predator for its game, waiting to take advantage of its prey, while he showed me the smile of the flatterer and looked at me with the intensity of fury!

فَلَمَّا رَاَيْتَ يَا اِلٰهِي تَبَارَكْتَ وَتَعَالَيْتَ دَغَلَ سَرِيرَتِهٖ، وَقُبْحَ مَا انْطَوَى عَلَيْهِ، اَرْكَسْتَهٗ لِاُمِّ رَاْسِهٖ فِي زُبْيَتِهٖ، وَرَدَدْتَهٗ فِي مَهْوَى حُفْرَتِهٖ، فَانْقَمَعَ بَعْدَ اسْتِطَالَتِهٖ ذَلِيلًا فِي رِبَقِ حِبَالَتِهِ الَّتِي كَانَ يُقَدِّرُ اَنْ يَرَانِي فِيهَا، وَقَدْ كَادَ اَنْ يَحُلَّ بِي لَوْ لَا رَحْمَتُكَ مَا حَلَّ بِسَاحَتِهٖ

FALAMMAA RA'AYTA YAA ILAAHEE TABAARAKTA WA TA'AALAYTA DAGHALA SAREERATIHEE WA QUBHA MAN TAWAA A'LAYHI ARKASTAHOO LI-UMMI RA'SIHEE FEE ZUBYATIHEE WA RADADTAHOO FEE MAHWAA HUFRATIHEE FANQAMA'A BA'DAS TITAALATIHEE DHALEELAN FEE RIBAQI HIBAALATIHIL LATEE KAANA YUQADDIRU AN YARAANEE FEEHAA WA QAD KAADA AN YAHULLA BEE LAW LAA RAHMATUKA MAA HALLA BISAAHATIH

So when Thou saw, my God, (blessed art Thou and high exalted) the depravity of his secret thoughts and the ugliness of what he harboured, Thou threw him on his head into his own pitfall and dumped him into the hole of his own digging. So he was brought down low, after his overbearing, by the nooses of his own snare, wherein he had thought he would see me; and what came down upon his courtyard - had it not been for Thy mercy - was on the point of coming down upon me!

وَكَمْ مِنْ حَاسِدٍ قَدْ شَرِقَ بِي بِغُصَّتِهٖ، وَشَجِيَ مِنِّي بِغَيْظِهٖ، وَسَلَقَنِي بِحَدِّ لِسَانِهٖ، وَوَحَرَنِي بِقَرْفِ عُيُوبِهٖ، وَجَعَلَ عِرْضِي غَرَضاً لِمَرَامِيهِ، وَقَلَّدَنِي خِلَالًا لَمْ تَزَلْ فِيهِ، وَوَحَرَنِي بِكَيْدِهٖ، وَقَصَدَنِي بِمَكِيدَتِهٖ

WA KAM MIN HAASIDIN QAD SHARIQA BEE BIGHUSSATIHEE WA SHAJIYA MINNEE BIGHAYZIHEE WA SALAQANEE BIHADDI LISAANIHEE WA WAHARANEE BIQARFI U'YOOBIHEE WA JA'ALA I'RDEE GHARADAN LIMARAAMEEHI WA QALLADANEE KHILAALAN LAM TAZAL FEEHI WA WAHARANEE BIKAYDIHEE WA QASADANEE BIMAKEEDATIH

How many an evier has choked upon me in his agony, fumed over me in his rage, cut me with the edge of his tongue, showed malice toward me by accusing me of his own faults, made my good repute the target of his shots, collared me with his own constant defects, showed malice toward me with his trickery, and aimed at me with his tricks!

فَنَادَيْتُكَ يَا اِلٰهِي مُسْتَغِيثاً بِكَ، وَاثِقاً بِسُرْعَةِ اِجَابَتِكَ، عَالِماً اَنَّهٗ لَا يُضْطَهَدُ مَنْ اَوَى اِلَى ظِلِّ كَنَفِكَ، وَلَا يَفْزَعُ مَنْ لَجَاَ اِلَى مَعْقِلِ انْتِصَارِكَ، فَحَصَّنْتَنِي مِنْ بَاْسِهٖ بِقُدْرَتِكَ

FANAADAYTUKA YAA ILAAHEE MUSTAGHEETHAN BIKA WAATHIQAN BISUR'ATI IJAABATIKA A'ALIMAN ANNAHOO LAA YUDTAHADU MAN AWAA ILAA ZILLI KANAFIKA WA LAA YAFZA'U MAN LAJA'A ILAA MA'QILIN TISAARIKA FAHASSANTANEE MIN BA'SIHEE BIQUDRATIK

So I called upon Thee, my God, seeking aid from Thee, trusting in the speed of Thy response, knowing that he who seeks haven in the shadow of Thy wing will not be mistreated, and he who seeks asylum in the stronghold of Thy victory will not be frightened. So Thou fortified me against his severity through Thy power.

وَكَمْ مِنْ سَحَائِبِ مَكْرُوهٍ جَلَّيْتَهَا عَنِّي، وَسَحَائِبِ نِعَمٍ اَمْطَرْتَهَا عَلَيَّ، وَجَدَاوِلِ رَحْمَةٍ نَشَرْتَهَا، وَعَافِيَةٍ اَلْبَسْتَهَا، وَاَعْيُنِ اَحْدَاثٍ طَمَسْتَهَا، وَغَوَاشِي كُرُبَاتٍ كَشَفْتَهَا

WA KAM MIN SAHAA'IBI MAKROOHIN JALLAYTAHAA A'NNEE WA SAHAA'IBI NI'AMIN AMTARTAHAA A'LAYYA WA JADAAWILI RAHMATIN NASHARTAHAA WA A'AFIYATIN ALBASTAHAA WA A'YUNI AHDAATHIN TAMASTAHAA WA GHAWAASHEE KURUBAATIN KASHAFTAHAA

How many a cloud of detested things Thou hast dispelled from me, a cloud of favour Thou hast made rain down upon me, a stream of mercy Thou hast let flow, a well-being in which Thou hast clothed me, an eye of mishap Thou hast blinded, and a wrap of distress Thou hast removed!

وَكَمْ مِنْ ظَنٍّ حَسَنٍ حَقَّقْتَ، وَعَدَمٍ جَبَرْتَ، وَصَرْعَةٍ اَنْعَشْتَ، وَمَسْكَنَةٍ حَوَّلْتَ

WA KAM MIN ZANNIN HASANIN HAQQAQTA WA A'DAMIN JABARTA WA SAR'ATIN AN'ASHTA WA MASKANATIN HAWWALT

How many a good opinion Thou hast verified, a destitution Thou hast redressed, an infirmity Thou hast restored to health, and a misery Thou hast transformed!

كُلُّ ذٰلِكَ اِنْعَاماً وَتَطَوُّلًا مِنْكَ، وَفِي جَمِيعِهِ انْهِمَاكاً مِنِّي عَلَى مَعَاصِيكَ، لَمْ تَمْنَعْكَ اِسَاءَتِي عَنْ اِتْمَامِ اِحْسَانِكَ، وَلَا حَجَرَنِي ذٰلِكَ عَنِ ارْتِكَابِ مَسَاخِطِكَ، لَا تُسْاَلُ عَمَّا تَفْعَلُ

KULLU DHAALIKA IN'AAMAN WA TATAWWULAN MINKA WA FEE JAMEE'IHIN HIMAAKAN MINNEE A'LAA MA'AASEEKA LAM TAMNA'KA ISAA'ATEE A'N ITMAAMI IHSAANIKA WA LAA HAJARANEE DHAALIKA A'NIR TIKAABI MASAAKHITIKA LAA TUS'ALU A'MMAA TAF'AL

All of that was favour and graciousness from Thee, and in all of it I was occupied with acts of disobeying Thee. My evildoing did not hinder Thee from completing Thy beneficence, nor was I stopped from committing acts displeasing to Thee. Thou art not questioned as to what Thou dost!

وَلَقَدْ سُئِلْتَ فَاَعْطَيْتَ، وَلَمْ تُسْاَلْ فَابْتَدَاْتَ، وَاسْتُمِيحَ فَضْلُكَ فَمَا اَكْدَيْتَ، اَبَيْتَ يَا مَوْلَايَ اِلَّا اِحْسَاناً وَامْتِنَاناً وَتَطَوُّلًا وَاِنْعَاماً، وَاَبَيْتُ اِلَّا تَقَحُّماً لِحُرُمَاتِكَ، وَتَعَدِّياً لِحُدُودِكَ، وَغَفْلَةً عَنْ وَعِيدِكَ، فَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ اِلٰهِي مِنْ مُقْتَدِرٍ لَا يُغْلَبُ، وَذِي اَنَاةٍ لَا يَعْجَلُ

WA LAQAD SU'ILTA FA-A'TAYTA WA LAM TUS'AL FABTADA'TA WASTUMEEHA FADLUKA FAMAA AKDAYTA ABAYTA YAA MAWLAAYA ILLAA IHSAANAN WAMTINAANAN WA TATAWWULAN WA IN'AAMAN WA ABAYTU ILLAA TAQAHHUMAN LIHURUMAATIKA WA TA'ADDIYAN LIHUDOODIKA WA GHAFLATAN A'N WA'EEDIKA FALAKAL HAMDU ILAAHEE MIN MUQTADIRIN LAA YUGHLABU WA DHEE ANAATIN LAA YA'JAL

Thou wert asked, and Thou bestowed. Thou wert not asked, and Thou began. Thy bounty was requested, and Thou didst not skimp. Thou refused, my Master, everything but beneficence, kindness, graciousness, and favour, and I refused everything but plunging into what Thou hast made unlawful, transgressing Thy bounds, and paying no heed to Thy threat! So Thine is the praise, my God, the All-powerful who is not overcome, and the Possessor of patient waiting who does not hurry!

هٰذَا مَقَامُ مَنِ اعْتَرَفَ بِسُبُوغِ النِّعَمِ، وَقَابَلَهَا بِالتَّقْصِيرِ، وَشَهِدَ عَلَى نَفْسِهٖ بِالتَّضْيِيعِ

HAADHAA MAQAAMU MANI' TARAFA BISUBOOGHIN NI'AMI WA QAABALAHAA BIT TAQSEERI WA SHAHIDA A'LAA NAFSIHEE BIT TADYEE'

This is the station of one who confesses to lavishness of favours, counters them with shortcomings, and bears witness to his own negligence.

اللَّهُمَّ فَاِنِّي اَتَقَرَّبُ اِلَيْكَ بِالْمُحَمَّدِيَّةِ الرَّفِيعَةِ، وَالْعَلَوِيَّةِ الْبَيْضَاءِ، وَاَتَوَجَّهُ اِلَيْكَ بِهِمَا اَنْ تُعِيذَنِي مِنْ شَرِّ كَذَا وَكَذَا، فَاِنَّ ذٰلِكَ لَا يَضِيقُ عَلَيْكَ فِي وُجْدِكَ، وَلَا يَتَكَأَّدُكَ فِي قُدْرَتِكَ وَاَنْتَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

ALLAAHUMMA FA-INNEE ATAQARRABU ILAYKA BIL MUHAMMADIYYATIR RAFEE'ATI WAL A'LAWIYYATIL BAYDAA'I WA ATAWAJJAHU ILAYKA BIHIMAA AN TU'EEDHANEE MIN SHARRI KADHAA WA KADHAA FA-INNA DHAALIKA LAA YADEEQU A'LAYKA FEE WUJDIKA WA LAA YATAKA''ADUKA FEE QUDRATIKA WA ANTA A'LAA KULLI SHAY'IN QADEER

O God, so I seek nearness to Thee through the elevated rank of Muhammad and the radiant degree of 'Ali, and I turn to Thee through them so that Thou wilt give me refuge from the evil of [so and so], for that will not constrain Thee in Thy wealth, nor trouble Thee in Thy power, and Thou art powerful over everything!

فَهَبْ لِي يَا اِلٰهِي مِنْ رَحْمَتِكَ وَدَوَامِ تَوْفِيقِكَ مَا اَتَّخِذُهٗ سُلَّماً اَعْرُجُ بِهٖ اِلَى رِضْوَانِكَ، وَآمَنُ بِهٖ مِنْ عِقَابِكَ، يَا اَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ

FAHAB LEE YAA ILAAHEE MIN RAHMATIKA WA DAWAAMI TAWFEEQIKA MAA ATTAKHIDHUHOO SULLAMAN A'RUJU BIHEE ILAA RIDWAANIKA WA AAMANU BIHEE MIN I'QAABIKA YAA ARHAMAR RAAHIMEEN

So give me, my God, by Thy mercy and Thy lasting bestowal of success, that which I may take as a ladder with which to climb to Thy good pleasure and be secure from Thy punishment, O Most merciful of the merciful!