Sahifa Sajjadiya 51: Pleading and Humility

Text and Translation

اِلٰهِي اَحْمَدُكَ وَاَنْتَ لِلْحَمْدِ اَهْلٌ عَلَى حُسْنِ صَنِيعِكَ اِلَيَّ، وَسُبُوغِ نَعْمَائِكَ عَلَيَّ، وَجَزِيلِ عَطَائِكَ عِنْدِي، وَعَلَى مَا فَضَّلْتَنِي بِهٖ مِنْ رَحْمَتِكَ، وَاَسْبَغْتَ عَلَيَّ مِنْ نِعْمَتِكَ، فَقَدِ اصْطَنَعْتَ عِنْدِي مَا يَعْجِزُ عَنْهُ شُكْرِي

ILAAHEE AHMADUKA WA ANTA LIL HAMDI AHLUN A'LAA HUSNI SANEE'IKA ILAYYA WA SUBOOGHI NA'MAA'IKA A'LAYYA WA JAZEELI A'TAA'IKA I'NDEE WA A'LAA MAA FADDALTANEE BIHEE MIN RAHMATIKA WA ASBAGHTA A'LAYYA MIN NI'MATIKA FAQADIS TANA'TA I'NDEE MAA YA'JIZU A'NHU SHUKREE

My God, I praise Thee, - and Thou art worthy of praise - for Thy benefaction toward me, the lavishness of Thy favours toward me, and Thy plentiful bestowal upon me, and for showing bounty toward me through Thy mercy and lavishing Thy favour upon me. Thou hast done well toward me and I am incapable of thanking Thee.

وَلَوْ لَا اِحْسَانُكَ اِلَيَّ وَسُبُوغُ نَعْمَائِكَ عَلَيَّ مَا بَلَغْتُ اِحْرَازَ حَظِّي، وَلَا اِصْلَاحَ نَفْسِي، وَلٰكِنَّكَ ابْتَدَاْتَنِي بِالْاِحْسَانِ، وَرَزَقْتَنِي فِي اُمُورِي كُلِّهَا الْكِفَايَةَ، وَصَرَفْتَ عَنِّي جَهْدَ الْبَلَاءِ، وَمَنَعْتَ مِنِّي مَحْذُورَ الْقَضَاءِ

WA LAW LAA IHSAANUKA ILAYYA WA SUBOOGHU NA'MAA'IKA A'LAYYA MAA BALAGHTU IHRAAZA HAZZEE WA LAA ISLAAHA NAFSEE WA LAAKINNAKAB TADA'TANEE BIL IHSAANI WA RAZAQTANEE FEE UMOOREE KULLIHAL KIFAAYATA WA SARAFTA A'NNEE JAHDAL BALAA'I WA MANA'TA MINNEE MAHDHOORAL QADAA'

Were it not for Thy beneficence toward me and the lavishness of Thy favours upon me, I would not have reached the taking of my share nor would my soul have been set right, but Thou began with beneficence toward me, provided me sufficiency in all my affairs, turned away from me the toil of affliction, and held back from me the feared decree.

اِلٰهِي فَكَمْ مِنْ بَلَاءٍ جَاهِدٍ قَدْ صَرَفْتَ عَنِّي، وَكَمْ مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ سَابِغَةٍ اَقْرَرْتَ بِهَا عَيْنِي، وَكَمْ مِنْ صَنِيعَةٍ كَرِيمَةٍ لَكَ عِنْدِي

ILAAHEE FAKAM MIN BALAA'IN JAAHIDIN QAD SARAFTA A'NNEE WA KAM MIN NI'MATIN SAABIGHATIN AQRARTA BIHAA A'YNEE WA KAM MIN SANEE'ATIN KAREEMATIN LAKA I'NDEE

My God, how many a toilsome affliction which Thou hast turned away from me! How many a lavish favour with which Thou hast gladdened my eye! How many a generous benefaction of Thine which is present with me!

اَنْتَ الَّذِي اَجَبْتَ عِنْدَ الِاضْطِرَارِ دَعْوَتِي، وَاَقَلْتَ عِنْدَ الْعِثَارِ زَلَّتِي، وَاَخَذْتَ لِي مِنَ الْاَعْدَاءِ بِظُلَامَتِي

ANTAL LADHEE AJABTA I'NDAL IDTIRAARI DA'WATEE WA AQALTA I'NDAL I'THAARI ZALLATEE WA AKHADHTA LEE MINAL A'DAA'I BIZULAAMATEE

It is Thou who responded to my supplication at the time of distress, released me from my slip in stumbling, and took my enemies to task for doing wrong to me.

اِلٰهِي مَا وَجَدْتُكَ بَخِيلًا حِينَ سَاَلْتُكَ، وَلَا مُنْقَبِضاً حِينَ اَرَدْتُكَ، بَلْ وَجَدْتُكَ لِدُعَائِي سَامِعاً، وَلِمَطَالِبِي مُعْطِياً، وَوَجَدْتُ نُعْمَاكَ عَلَيَّ سَابِغَةً فِي كُلِّ شَاْنٍ مِنْ شَاْنِي وَكُلِّ زَمَانٍ مِنْ زَمَانِي، فَاَنْتَ عِنْدِي مَحْمُودٌ، وَصَنِيعُكَ لَدَيَّ مَبْرُورٌ

ILAAHEE MAA WAJADTUKA BAKHEELAN HEENA SA'ALTUKA WA LAA MUNQABIDAN HEENA ARADTUKA BAL WAJADTUKA LIDU'AA'EE SAAMI'AN WA LIMATAALIBEE MU'TIYAN WA WAJADTU NU'MAAKA A'LAYYA SAABIGHATAN FEE KULLI SHA'NIN MIN SHA'NEE WA KULLI ZAMAANIN MIN ZAMAANEE FA-ANTA I'NDEE MAHMOODUN WA SANEE'UKA LADAYYA MABROOR

My God, I did not find Thee a miser when I asked of Thee nor a withholder when I desired from Thee. No, I found Thee a hearer of my supplication and a bestower of my requests; I found Thy favours toward me lavish in my every situation and in my every time. So Thou art praised by me and Thy benefaction honoured.

تَحْمَدُكَ نَفْسِي وَلِسَانِي وَعَقْلِي، حَمْداً يَبْلُغُ الْوَفَاءَ وَحَقِيقَةَ الشُّكْرِ، حَمْداً يَكُونُ مَبْلَغَ رِضَاكَ عَنِّي، فَنَجِّنِي مِنْ سُخْطِكَ

TAHMADUKA NAFSEE WA LISAANEE WA A'QLEE HAMDAN YABLUGHUL WAFAA'A WA HAQEEQATASH SHUKRI HAMDAN YAKOONU MABLAGHA RIDAAKA A'NNEE FANAJJINEE MIN SUKHTIK

My soul, my tongue, and my intelligence praise Thee, a praise that reaches fulfilment and the reality of thanksgiving, a praise that attains to Thy good pleasure with me - so deliver me from Thy displeasure!

يَا كَهْفِي حِينَ تُعْيِينِي الْمَذَاهِبُ وَيَا مُقِيلِي عَثْرَتِي، فَلَوْ لَا سَتْرُكَ عَوْرَتِي لَكُنْتُ مِنَ الْمَفْضُوحِينَ، وَيَا مُؤَيِّدِي بِالنَّصْرِ، فَلَوْ لَا نَصْرُكَ اِيَّايَ لَكُنْتُ مِنَ الْمَغْلُوبِينَ، وَيَا مَنْ وَضَعَتْ لَهُ الْمُلُوكُ نِيرَ الْمَذَلَّةِ عَلَى اَعْنَاقِهَا، فَهُمْ مِنْ سَطَوَاتِهٖ خَائِفُونَ، وَيَا اَهْلَ التَّقْوَى، وَيَا مَنْ لَهُ الْاَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَى، اَسْاَلُكَ اَنْ تَعْفُوَ عَنِّي، وَتَغْفِرَ لِي فَلَسْتُ بَرِيئاً فَاَعْتَذِرَ، وَلَا بِذِي قُوَّةٍ فَاَنْتَصِرَ، وَلَا مَفَرَّ لِي فَاَفِرَّ

YAA KAHFEE HEENA TU'YEENIL MADHAAHIBU WA YAA MUQEELEE A'THRATEE FALAW LAA SATRUKA A'WRATEE LAKUNTU MINAL MAFDOOHEENA WA YAA MU'AYYIDEE BIN NASRI FALAW LAA NASRUKA IYYAAYA LAKUNTU MINAL MAGHLOOBEENA WA YAA MAN WADA'AT LAHUL MULOOKU NEERAL MADHALLATI A'LAA A'NAAQIHAA FAHUM MIN SATAWAATIHEE KHAA'IFOONA WA YAA AHLAT TAQWAA WA YAA MAN LAHUL ASMAA'UL HUSNAA AS'ALUKA AN TA'FUWA A'NNEE WA TAGHFIRA LEE FALASTU BAREE'AN FA-A'TADHIRA WA LAA BIDHEE QUWWATIN FA-ANTASIRA WA LAA MAFARRA LEE FA-AFIRR

O my cave when the ways thwart me! O He who releases me from my stumble! Were it not for Thy covering my shameful defects, I would be one of the disgraced. O my confirmer through help! Were it not for Thy helping me, I would be one of the overcome! O He before whom kings place the yoke of lowliness around their necks, fearing His penalties! O worthy of reverent fear! O He to whom belong the names most beautiful! I ask Thee to pardon me and to forgive me, for I am not innocent that I should offer excuses, nor a possessor of strength that I should gain victory, nor have I any place of flight that I should flee!

وَاَسْتَقِيلُكَ عَثَرَاتِي، وَاَتَنَصَّلُ اِلَيْكَ مِنْ ذُنُوبِيَ الَّتِي قَدْ اَوْبَقَتْنِي، وَاَحَاطَتْ بِي فَاَهْلَكَتْنِي، مِنْهَا فَرَرْتُ اِلَيْكَ رَبِّ تَائِباً فَتُبْ عَلَيَّ، مُتَعَوِّذاً فَاَعِذْنِي، مُسْتَجِيراً فَلَا تَخْذُلْنِي، سَائِلًا فَلَا تَحْرِمْنِي مُعْتَصِماً فَلَا تُسْلِمْنِي، دَاعِياً فَلَا تَرُدَّنِي خَائِباً

WA ASTAQEELUKA A'THARAATEE WA ATANASSALU ILAYKA MIN DHUNOOBIYAL LATEE QAD AWBAQATNEE WA AHAATAT BEE FA-AHLAKATNEE MINHAA FARARTU ILAYKA RABBI TAA'IBAN FATUB A'LAYYA MUTA'AWWIDHAN FA-A'IDHNEE MUSTAJEERAN FALAA TAKHDHULNEE SAA'ILAN FALAA TAHRIMNEE MU'TASIMAN FALAA TUSLIMNEE DAA'IYAN FALAA TARUDDANEE KHAA'IBAA

I ask Thee to release me from my stumbles, and before Thee I disavow my sins, which have laid me waste, encompassed me, and destroyed me! I flee from them to Thee, my Lord, turning repentantly, so turn toward me, seeking refuge, so grant me refuge, asking sanctuary, so abandon me not, requesting, so deprive me not, holding fast, so leave me not, supplicating, so send me not back disappointed!

دَعَوْتُكَ يَا رَبِّ مِسْكِيناً، مُسْتَكِيناً، مُشْفِقاً، خَائِفاً، وَجِلًا، فَقِيراً، مُضْطَرّاً اِلَيْكَ

DA'AWTUKA YAA RABBI MISKEENAN MUSTAKEENAN MUSHFIQAN KHAA'IFAN WAJILAN FAQEERAN MUDTARRAN ILAYK

I have supplicated Thee, my Lord, as one miserable, abased, apprehensive, fearful, quaking, poor, driven to have recourse to Thee!

اَشْكُو اِلَيْكَ يَا اِلٰهِي ضَعْفَ نَفْسِي عَنِ الْمُسَارَعَةِ فِيمَا وَعَدْتَهٗ اَوْلِيَاءَكَ، وَالْمُجَانَبَةِ عَمَّا حَذَّرْتَهٗ اَعْدَاءَكَ، وَكَثْرَةَ هُمُومِي، وَوَسْوَسَةَ نَفْسِي

ASHKOO ILAYKA YAA ILAAHEE DA'FA NAFSEE A'NIL MUSAARA'ATI FEEMAA WA'ADTAHOO AWLIYAA'AKA WAL MUJAANABATI A'MMAA HADHDHARTAHOO A'DAA'AKA WA KATHRATA HUMOOMEE WA WASWASATA NAFSEE

I complain to Thee, my God, of my soul - which is too weak to hurry to that which Thou hast promised Thy friends or to avoid that against which Thou hast cautioned Thy enemies - and of the multitude of my concerns, and of my soul's confusing thoughts.

اِلٰهِي لَمْ تَفْضَحْنِي بِسَرِيرَتِي، وَلَمْ تُهْلِكْنِي بِجَرِيرَتِي، اَدْعُوكَ فَتُجِيبُنِي وَاِنْ كُنْتُ بَطِيئاً حِينَ تَدْعُونِي، وَاَسْاَلُكَ كُلَّمَا شِئْتُ مِنْ حَوَائِجِي، وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنْتُ وَضَعْتُ عِنْدَكَ سِرِّي، فَلَا اَدْعُو سِوَاكَ، وَلَا اَرْجُو غَيْرَكَ

ILAAHEE LAM TAFDAHNEE BISAREERATEE WA LAM TUHLIKNEE BIJAREERATEE AD'OOKA FATUJEEBUNEE WA IN KUNTU BATEE'AN HEENA TAD'OONEE WA AS'ALUKA KULLAMAA SHI'TU MIN HAWAA'IJEE WA HAYTHU MAA KUNTU WADA'TU I'NDAKA SIRREE FALAA AD'OO SIWAAKA WA LAA ARJOO GHAYRAK

My God, Thou hast not disgraced me through my secret thoughts or destroyed me because of my misdeeds! I call upon Thee, and Thou respondest, even if I am slow when Thou callest upon me. I ask Thee everything I want of my needs, and I deposit with Thee my secret wherever I may be. I supplicate no one besides Thee, and I hope for no one other than Thee.

لَبَّيْكَ لَبَّيْكَ، تَسْمَعُ مَنْ شَكَا اِلَيْكَ، وَتَلْقَى مَنْ تَوَكَّلَ عَلَيْكَ، وَتُخَلِّصُ مَنِ اعْتَصَمَ بِكَ، وَتُفَرِّجُ عَمَّنْ لَاذَ بِكَ

LABBAYKA LABBAYKA TASMA'U MAN SHAKAA ILAYKA WA TALQAA MAN TAWAKKALA A'LAYKA WA TUKHALLISU MANI' TASAMA BIKA WA TUFARRIJU A'MMAN LAADHA BIK

At Thy service! At Thy service! Thou hearest him who complains to Thee! Thou receivest him who has confidence in Thee! Thou savest him who holds fast to Thee! Thou givest relief to him who seeks shelter in Thee!

اِلٰهِي فَلَا تَحْرِمْنِي خَيْرَ الْآخِرَةِ وَالْاُولَى لِقِلَّةِ شُكْرِي، وَاغْفِرْ لِي مَا تَعْلَمُ مِنْ ذُنُوبِي

ILAAHEE FALAA TAHRIMNEE KHAYRAL AAKHIRATI WAL OOLAA LIQILLATI SHUKREE WAGHFIR LEE MAA TA'LAMU MIN DHUNOOBEE

My God, so deprive me not of the good of the last world and the first because of the paucity of my thanksgiving and forgive me the sins of mine which Thou knowest!

اِنْ تُعَذِّبْ فَاَنَا الظَّالِمُ الْمُفَرِّطُ الْمُضَيِّعُ الْآثِمُ الْمُقَصِّرُ الْمُضَجِّعُ الْمُغْفِلُ حَظَّ نَفْسِي، وَاِنْ تَغْفِرْ فَاَنْتَ اَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ

IN TU'ADHDHIB FA-ANAZ ZAALIMUL MUFARRITUL MUDAYYI'UL AATHIMUL MUQASSIRUL MUDAJJI'UL MUGHFILU HAZZA NAFSEE WA IN TAGHFIR FA-ANTA ARHAMUR RAAHIMEEN

If Thou chastisest, I am the wrongdoer, the neglecter, the negligent, the sinner, the derelict, the sluggard, the heedless of the share of my soul! And if Thou forgivest - Thou art the Most Merciful of the merciful!