Du ā 22 At the time of Hardship in the Sahīfa with two Translations

Du ā 22 At the time of Hardship in the Sahīfa with two Translations

2 Translation by Dr. William C. Chittick His Supplication in Hardship, Effort, and Difficult Affairs 1. O God, You have charged me concerning myself with that which belongs more to You than to me. Your power over it and over me is greater than my power, so give me in myself what will make You pleased with me and take for Yourself Your good pleasure in my self's well being! 2. O God, I have no endurance for effort, no patience in affliction, no strength to bear poverty. So forbid me not my provision, And entrust me not to Your creatures, but take care of my need alone and Yourself attend to sufficing me! 3. Look upon me and look after me in all my affairs, for if You entrust me to myself, I will be incapable before myself and fail to undertake that in which my best interest lies. If You entrust me to Your creatures, they will frown upon me, and if You make me resort to my kinsfolk, they will refuse to Translation by Ahmad Ali Muhani One of his prayers in Hardships and Difficulties 1. O Lord, You have required the performance of that over which You have more power than I of my soul. Your authority over it and over me is stronger than mine. Therefore, let me have with me that from my soul which would please You. Take from my soul what would satisfy You in peace and safety. 2. O Lord, I have no strength for toil, nor patience in time of trial, nor power to bear poverty. Therefore, do not deprive me of my sustenance. Do not cause me to rely upon Your creatures. Nay, let Yourself satisfy my need. Undertake to provide for me. 3. Watch over me in all my affairs. For verily if You entrust me to my ego, I shall be humiliated by it and shall fail to perform that wherein lies its good. If You make me over to the care of Your creatures, they will frown at me. If You do consign me to my kindred they will disappoint me. Text of the Du ā in Arabic و ك ان م ن د ع ائ ه ع ل ي ه الس ل م ع ن د الش د ة و ا ل ه د و ت ع س ر ا ل م ور 1( الل ه م إ ن ك ك ل ف ت ن ي م ن ن ف س ي م ا أ ن ت أ م ل ك ب ه م ن ي و ق د ر ت ك ع ل ي ه و ع ل ي أ غ ل ب م ن ق د ر ت ي ف أ ع ط ن ي م ن ن ف س ي م ا ي ر ض يك ع ن ي و خ ذ ل ن ف س ك ر ض اه ا م ن ن ف س ي ف ي ع اف ي ة 2( الل ه م ل ا ط اق ة ل ي ب ال ج ه د و ل ا ص ب ر ل ي ع ل ى ال ب ل اء و ل ا ق و ة ل ي ع ل ى ال ف ق ر ف ل ا ت ح ظ ر ع ل ي ر ز ق ي و ل ا ت ك ل ن ي إ ل ى خ ل ق ك ب ل ت ف ر د ب ح اج ت ي و ت و ل ك ف اي ت ي 3( و ان ظ ر إ ل ي و ان ظ ر ل ي ف ي ج م يع أ م ور ي ف إ ن ك إ ن و ك ل ت ن ي إ ل ى ن ف س ي ع ج ز ت ع ن ه ا و ل م أ ق م م ا ف يه م ص ل ح ت ه ا و إ ن و ك ل ت ن ي إ ل ى خ ل ق ك ت ج ه م ون ي و إ ن

3 give to me; If they give, they will give little and in bad temper, making me feel long obliged and blaming me much. 4. So through Your bounty, O God, free me from need, through Your mightiness, lift me up, through Your boundless plenty, open my hand, and with that which is with You, suffice me! 5. O God, bless Muhammad and his Household, rid me of envy, encircle me against sins, make me abstain from things unlawful, give me not the boldness of disobedient acts, assign me love for that which is with You and satisfaction with that which comes to me from You, bless me in that which You provide me, that which You confer upon me, and that through which You favour me, And make me in all my states safeguarded, watched, covered, defended, given refuge, and granted sanctuary! 6. O God, bless Muhammad and his Household and let me accomplish everything If they give anything to me at all, they will give little, reluctantly, and will reproach me long and will often disparage me. 4. Therefore, with Your bounty, O Lord, make me Independent. With Your glory, make me prosperous. With Your abundance, make me rich. Supply my need from what is with You. 5. O Lord bless Muhammad and his Al (family). Deliver me from envy. Restrain me from Sins. Check me from doing things forbidden. Do not let me be encouraged in disobedience. Let my longings be with You and my satisfaction in what comes to me from You. Bless me in what sustenance You have given me, in what You have conferred upon me and in what You have favoured me with. Let me be, in all my circumstances, preserved, guarded, defended, covered, protected, sheltered and secure. 6. O Lord bless Muhammad and his Al (family). Help me to discharge all You have أ ل ج أ ت ن ي إ ل ى ق ر اب ت ي ح ر م ون ي و إ ن أ ع ط و ا أ ع ط و ا ق ل يل ا ن ك دا و م ن وا ع ل ي ط و يل ا و ذ م وا ك ث ريا 4( ف ب ف ض ل ك الل ه م ف أ غ ن ن ي و ب ع ظ م ت ك ف ان ع ش ن ي و ب س ع ت ك ف اب س ط ي د ي و ب م ا ع ن د ك ف اك ف ن ي 5( الل ه م ص ل ع ل ى م ح م د و آل ه و خ ل ص ن ي م ن ال ح س د و اح ص ر ن ي ع ن الذ ن وب و و ر ع ن ي ع ن ال م ح ار م و ل ا ت ج ر ئ ن ي ع ل ى ال م ع اص ي و اج ع ل ه و اي ع ن د ك و ر ض اي ف يم ا ي ر د ع ل ي م ن ك و ب ار ك ل ي ف يم ا ر ز ق ت ن ي و ف يم ا خ و ل ت ن ي و ف يم ا أ ن ع م ت ب ه ع ل ي و اج ع ل ن ي ف ي ك ل ح ال ات ي م ح ف وظا م ك ل وءا م س ت ورا م م ن وعا م ع اذ ا م ج ارا 6( الل ه م ص ل ع ل ى م ح م د

4 which You have enjoined upon me or made obligatory for me toward You, in one of the ways of Your obedience, or toward one of Your creatures, though my body be too frail for that, my strength too feeble, my power not able to reach it, and my possessions and what my hand owns not encompass it and whether I have remembered it or forgotten it. 7. It, my Lord, is among that which You have counted against me while I have been heedless of it in myself. Let me perform it through Your plentiful giving and the abundance which is with You - for You are Boundless, Generous so that nothing of it may remain against me, lest You would wish to settle accounts for it from my good deeds, Or to compound my evil deeds on the day I meet You, my Lord! 8. O God, bless Muhammad and his Household and provide me with desire to serve You for the sake of my state in the hereafter, such that I know the truthfulness of that [desire] in my heart, be dominated by renunciation while in this imposed upon me and what You have required me to do for Yourself by way of duty due unto You or for the benefit of any one of Your creatures. If my body be too weak for it, my strength be too small for it, my power fail to attain it, And my property and possessions fail to suffice for it, whether I remember it or have for gotten it, 7. It be from among that which You have reckoned against me and I have no remembrance of it in my consciousness, then enable me to discharge it with Your magnificent bounty and abundance of what is with You. Verily ample means are with You. You are generous. May there not remain with me anything whereby You may desire to deduct from my good deeds, Or multiply my evil ones on the day I meet You, O my Sustainer! 8. O Lord bless Muhammad and his Al (family) and favour me with a liking to serve You for my (good) hereafter, till I feel its truth in my heart, till piety prevails over me in this world, و آل ه و اق ض ع ن ي ك ل م ا أ ل ز م ت ن يه و ف ر ض ت ه ع ل ي ل ك ف ي و ج ه م ن و ج وه ط اع ت ك أ و ل خ ل ق م ن خ ل ق ك و إ ن ض ع ف ع ن ذ ل ك ب د ن ي و و ه ن ت ع ن ه ق و ت ي و ل م ت ن ل ه م ق د ر ت ي و ل م ي س ع ه م ال ي و ل ا ذ ات ي د ي ذ ك ر ت ه أ و ن س يت ه 7( ه و ي ا ر ب م م ا ق د أ ح ص ي ت ه ع ل ي و أ غ ف ل ت ه أ ن ا م ن ن ف س ي ف أ د ه ع ن ي م ن ج ز يل ع ط ي ت ك و ك ث ري م ا ع ن د ك ف إ ن ك و اس ع ك ر يم ح ت ى ل ا ي ب ق ى ع ل ي ش ي ء م ن ه ت ر يد أ ن ت ق اص ن ي ب ه م ن ح س ن ات ي أ و ت ض اع ف ب ه م ن س ي ئ ات ي ي و م أ ل ق اك ي ا ر ب 8( الل ه م ص ل ع ل ى م ح م د و آل ه و ار ز ق ن ي الر غ ب ة ف ي ال ع م ل ل ك ل آخ ر ت ي ح ت ى أ ع ر ف ص د ق ذ ل ك م ن ق ل ب ي و ح ت ى ي ك ون ال غ ال ب

5 world, Do good deeds with yearning and remain secure from evil deeds in fright and fear! And give me a light whereby I may walk among the people, be guided in the shadows and seek illumination in doubt and uncertainty! 9. O God, bless Muhammad and his Household and provide me with fear of the threatened gloom and yearning for the promised reward, such that I may find the pleasure of that for which I supplicate You and the sorrow of that from which I seek sanctuary in You! 10. O God, You know what will set my affairs right in this world and the next, so be ever gracious toward my needs! 11. O God, bless Muhammad and Muhammad s Household and provide me with what is Your right when I fall short in thanking You for that through which You have favoured me in ease and difficulty, health and Till I do good deeds willingly and remain safe from evil on account of dread and terror. Favour me with a light, with which I may walk among people, obtain guidance in darkness and enlighten myself in doubt and uncertainties. 9. O Lord, bless Muhammad and his Āl (family). Give me dread of the threatened punishment and longing for the promised reward till I actually get a foretaste of the pleasure of what I pray to You for and of the pain wherefrom I seek Your protection. 10. O Lord, verily, You know what is proper for me, in the affairs of this world and the next. Therefore grant the fulfilment of my needs. 11. O Lord bless Muhammad and his Āl (family). Favour me with what is just. When I fail to thank You for what You did confer on me in prosperity, poverty, sickness and health till I feel the comfort of approbation, ع ل ي الز ه د ف ي د ن ي اي و ح ت ى أ ع م ل ال ح س ن ات ش و قا و آم ن م ن الس ي ئ ات ف ر قا و خ و فا و ه ب ل ي ن ورا أ م ش ي ب ه ف ي الن اس و أ ه ت د ي ب ه ف ي الظ ل م ات و أ س ت ض يء ب ه م ن الش ك و الش ب ه ات 9( الل ه م ص ل ع ل ى م ح م د و آل ه و ار ز ق ن ي خ و ف غ م ال و ع يد و ش و ق ث و اب ال م و ع ود ح ت ى أ ج د ل ذ ة م ا أ د ع وك ل ه و ك أ ب ة م ا أ س ت ج ري ب ك م ن ه 10( الل ه م ق د ت ع ل م م ا ي ص ل ح ن ي م ن أ م ر د ن ي اي و آخ ر ت ي ف ك ن ب ح و ائ ج ي ح ف ي ا 11( الل ه م ص ل ع ل ى م ح م د و آل م ح م د و ار ز ق ن ي ال ح ق ع ن د ت ق ص ري ي ف ي الش ك ر ل ك ب م ا أ ن ع م ت ع ل ي ف ي ال ي س ر و ال ع س ر و الص ح ة

6 sickness, such that I may come to know in myself repose in satisfaction, and serenity of soul in that which You have made incumbent upon me in whatever states may occur: Fear and security, satisfaction and displeasure, loss and gain! 12. O God, bless Muhammad and his Household and provide me with a breast safe from envy, such that I envy none of Your creatures and in anything of Your bounty and such that I see none of Your favours toward any of Your creatures in religion or this world, well-being or reverential fear, plenty or ease, without hoping for myself better than it through, And from You alone, who have no associate! 13. O God, bless Muhammad and his Household and provide me in this world and the next with caution against offenses and wariness against slips in the state of satisfaction and wrath, such that I may remain indifferent toward that which enters upon me from the two states, work And satisfaction of my conscience in my soul with what is due unto You in all things that happen in time of: Fear, Peace, Pleasure, Anger, Loss and gain. 12. O Lord bless Muhammad and his Al (family). Favour me with freedom of my breast from envy, till I envy none of Your creatures for anything of Your bounty, till I see none of Your favours on any of Your creatures in any matter here or hereafter, of welfare or piety, prosperity or comfort but expect for myself better than these through You and from You. You are One, having no Partner. 13. O Lord bless Muhammad and his Al (family). Give me security from faults. (Give me) safety from errors, in this world and hereafter, in case of satisfaction and displeasure. Till I be in respect to whatever happens unto me thereby in an even state of mind - working in obedience to You. Preferring و الس ق م ح ت ى أ ت ع ر ف م ن ن ف س ي ر و ح الر ض ا و ط م أ ن ين ة الن ف س م ن ي ب م ا ي ج ب ل ك ف يم ا ي ح د ث ف ي ح ال ال خ و ف و ال أ م ن و الر ض ا و الس خ ط و الض ر و الن ف ع 12( الل ه م ص ل ع ل ى م ح م د و آل ه و ار ز ق ن ي س ل ام ة الص د ر م ن ال ح س د ح ت ى ل ا أ ح س د أ ح دا م ن خ ل ق ك ع ل ى ش ي ء م ن ف ض ل ك و ح ت ى ل ا أ ر ى ن ع م ة م ن ن ع م ك ع ل ى أ ح د م ن خ ل ق ك ف ي د ين أ و د ن ي ا أ و ع اف ي ة أ و ت ق و ى أ و س ع ة أ و ر خ اء إ ل ا ر ج و ت ل ن ف س ي أ ف ض ل ذ ل ك ب ك و م ن ك و ح د ك ل ا ش ر يك ل ك 13( الل ه م ص ل ع ل ى م ح م د و آل ه و ار ز ق ن ي الت ح ف ظ م ن ال خ ط اي ا و ال اح ت ر اس م ن الز ل ل ف ي الد ن ي ا و ال آخ ر ة ف ي ح ال الر ض ا و ال غ ض ب ح ت ى أ ك ون ب م ا ي ر د ع ل ي

7 toward Your obedience, and prefer it and Your good pleasure over all else in both friends and enemies. Then my enemy may stay secure from my wrongdoing and injustice and my friend may despair of my inclination and the bent of my affection. 14. Make me one of those who supplicate You with sincerity in ease with the supplication of those who supplicate You with sincerity in distress! Glorious, Verily You are Praiseworthy. Your approbation to everything else in dealing with friends and enemies, Till my enemy be safe from my oppression and tyranny. And my friend give up all hope of my partiality and of debasement of my passions. 14. Let me be of those who invoke You sincerely, in prosperity, as do the afflicted in time of their supplication. Verily You are praiseworthy and great. م ن ه م ا ب م ن ز ل ة س و اء ع ام ل ا ب ط اع ت ك م ؤ ث را ل ر ض ا ك ع ل ى م ا س و اه م ا ف ي ال أ و ل ي اء و ال أ ع د اء ح ت ى ي أ م ن ع د و ي م ن ظ ل م ي و ج و ر ي و ي ي أ س و ل ي ي م ن م ي ل ي و ان ح ط اط ه و اي 14( و اج ع ل ن ي م م ن ي د ع وك م خ ل صا ف ي الر خ اء د ع اء ال م خ ل ص ني ال م ض ط ر ين ل ك ف ي الد ع اء إ ن ك ح م يد م ج يد.