In the Night Prayer
(32) وَ كَانَ مِنْ دُعَائِهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ بَعْدَ الْفَرَاغِ مِنْ صَلَاةِ اللَّيْلِ لِنَفْسِهِ فِي الِاعْتِرَافِ بِالذَّنْبِ
His Supplication for himself in Confessing Sins after Finishing the Night Prayer
اللَّهُمَّ يَا ذَا الْمُلْكِ الْمُتَأَبِّدِ بِالْخُلُودِ
O God, O Possessor of kingdom perpetual in everlastingness,
وَ السُّلْطَانِ الْمُمْتَنِعِ بِغَيْرِ جُنُودٍ وَ لَا أَعْوَانٍ .
authority invincible without armies or helpers,
وَ الْعِزِّ الْبَاقِي عَلَى مَرِّ الدُّهُورِ وَ خَوَالِي الْأَعْوَامِ وَ مَوَاضِي الْأَزمَانِ وَ الْأَيَّامِ
might abiding through aeons past, years gone by, times and days elapsed!
عَزَّ سُلْطَانُكَ عِزّاً لَا حَدَّ لَهُ بِأَوَّلِيَّةٍ ، وَ لَا مُنْتَهَى لَهُ بِآخِرِيَّةٍ
Thy authority is mighty with a might that knows no bound by being firstnor utmost end by being last!
وَ اسْتَعْلَى مُلْكُكَ عَلُوّاً سَقَطَتِ الْأَشْيَاءُ دُونَ بُلُوغِ أَمَدِهِ
Thy kingdom towers high with a towering before which all things fall down without reaching its term;
وَ لَا يَبْلُغُ أَدْنَى مَا اسْتَأْثَرْتَ بِهِ مِنْ ذَلِكَ أَقْصَى نَعْتِ النَّاعِتِينَ .
the least of it which Thou hast kept to Thyself is not reachedby the furthest description of the describers!
ضَلَّتْ فِيكَ الصِّفَاتُ ، وَ تَفَسَّخَتْ دُونَكَ النُّعُوتُ ، وَ حَارَتْ فِي كِبْرِيَائِكَ لَطَائِفُ الْأَوْهَامِ
Attributes go astray in Thee, descriptions fall apart below Thee, the subtlest of imaginations are bewilderedby Thy magnificence!
كَذَلِكَ أَنْتَ اللَّهُ الْأَوَّلُ فِي أَوَّلِيَّتِكَ ، وَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ أَنْتَ دَائِمٌ لَا تَزُولُ
So art Thou: God, the First in Thy firstness, and so art Thou everlastingly. Thou dost not pass away.
وَ أَنَا الْعَبْدُ الضَّعِيفُ عَمَلًا ، الْجَسِيمُ أَمَلًا ، خَرَجَتْ مِنْ يَدِي أَسْبَابُ الْوُصُلَاتِ إِلَّا مَا وَصَلَهُ رَحْمَتُكَ ، وَ تَقَطَّعَتْ عَنِّي عِصَمُ الْآمَالِ إِلَّا مَا أَنَا مُعْتَصِمٌ بِهِ مِنْ عَفْوِكَ
But I am the slave, feeble in works, immense in hopes. The tying links are outside my hand, except what is tied by Thy mercy; the bonds of hopes have been cut away from me, except the pardon to which I hold fast.
قَلَّ عِنْدِي مَا أَعْتَدُّ بِهِ مِنْ طَاعَتِكَ ، و كَثُرَ عَلَيَّ مَا أَبُوءُ بِهِ مِنْ مَعْصِيَتِكَ وَ لَنْ يَضِيقَ عَلَيْكَ عَفْوٌ عَنْ عَبْدِكَ وَ إِنْ أَسَاءَ ، فَاعْفُ عَنِّي .
Little on my part is the obedience toward Thee upon which I count, and great against me the disobedience toward Thee to which I have reverted. But pardoning Thy slave will not constrain Thee, even if he be bad, so pardon me!
اللَّهُمَّ وَ قَدْ أَشْرَفَ عَلَى خَفَايَا الْأَعْمَالِ عِلْمُكَ ، وَ انْكَشَفَ كُلُّ مَسْتُورٍ دُونَ خُبْرِكَ ، وَ لَا تَنْطَوِي عَنْكَ دَقَائِقُ الْأُمُورِ ، وَ لَا تَعْزُبُ عَنْكَ غَيِّبَاتُ السَّرَائِرِ
O God, Thy knowledge watches over hidden works, every covered thing is exposed before Thy awareness, the intricacies of things are not concealed from Thee, and unseen mysteries slip not away from Thee.
وَ قَدِ اسْتَحْوَذَ عَلَيَّ عَدُوُّكَ الَّذِي اسْتَنْظَرَكَ لِغَوَايَتِي فَأَنْظَرْتَهُ ، وَ اسْتَمْهَلَكَ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ لِإِضْلَالِي فَأَمْهَلْتَهُ .
But over me Thy enemy has gained mastery: He asked a delay from Thee to lead me astray, and Thou gavest him the delay! He asked a respite from Thee until the Day of Doom to misguide me, and Thou gavest him the respite!
فَأَوْقَعَنِي وَ قَدْ هَرَبْتُ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ صَغَائِرِ ذُنُوبٍ مُوبِقَةٍ ، وَ كَبَائِرِ أَعْمَالٍ مُرْدِيَةٍ حَتَّى إِذَا قَارَفْتُ مَعْصِيَتَكَ ، وَ اسْتَوْجَبْتُ بِسُوءِ سَعْيِي سَخْطَتَكَ ، فَتَلَ عَنِّي عِذَارَ غَدْرِهِ ، وَ تَلَقَّانِي بِكَلِمَةِ كُفْرِهِ ، وَ تَوَلَّى الْبَرَاءَةَ مِنِّي ، وَ أَدْبَرَ مُوَلِّياً عَنِّي ، فَأَصْحَرَنِي لِغَضَبِكَ فَرِيداً ، وَ أَخْرَجَنِي إِلَى فِنَاءِ نَقِمَتِكَ طَرِيداً .
So he threw me down, though I had fled to Thee fromsmall, ruinous sinsand great, deadly works, until, when I had yielded to disobeying Theeand merited Thy anger through my bad efforts, he turned the bridle of his treachery away from me, met me with the word of his ingratitude, undertook to be quit of me, turned his back to flee from me, threw me to the desert of Thy wrath alone, and sent me as an outcast in to the courtyard of Thy vengeance.
لَا شَفِيعٌ يَشْفَعُ لِي إِلَيْكَ ، وَ لَا خَفِيرٌ يُؤْمِنُنِي عَلَيْكَ ، وَ لَا حِصْنٌ يَحْجُبُنِي عَنْكَ ، وَ لَا مَلَاذٌ أَلْجَأُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْكَ .
There is no intercessor to intercede for me with Thee, no protector to make me feel secure against Thee, no fortress to veil me from Thee, no shelter in which to seek asylum apart from Thee!
فَهَذَا مَقَامُ الْعَائِذِ بِكَ ، وَ مَحَلُّ الْمُعْتَرِفِ لَكَ ، فَلَا يَضِيقَنَّ عَنِّي فَضْلُكَ ، وَ لَا يَقْصُرَنَّ دُونِي عَفْوُكَ ، وَ لَا أَكُنْ أَخْيَبَ عِبَادِكَ التَّائِبِينَ ، وَ لَا أَقْنَطَ وُفُودِكَ الْآمِلِينَ ، وَ اغْفِرْ لِي ، إِنَّكَ خَيْرُ الْغَافِرِينَ .
This is the station of him who takes refuge with Thee, the place of the confessor to Thee: Let not Thy bounty be too narrow for me, let not Thy pardon fall short of me! Let me not be the most disappointedof Thy repentant servants, nor the most despairingof those who come to Thee with expectations! Forgive me, surely Thou art the best of the forgivers!
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ أَمَرْتَنِي فَتَرَكْتُ ، وَ نَهَيْتَنِي فَرَكِبْتُ ، وَ سَوَّلَ لِيَ الْخَطَاءَ خَاطِرُ السُّوءِ فَفَرَّطْتُ .
O God, Thou commanded me, and I refrained, Thou prohibited me, and I committed. evil thoughts tempted me to offend, and I was negligent.
وَ لَا أَسْتَشْهِدُ عَلَى صِيَامِي نَهَاراً ، وَ لَا أَسْتَجِيرُ بِتَهَجُّدِي لَيْلًا ، وَ لَا تُثْنِي عَلَيَّ بِإِحْيَائِهَا سُنَّةٌ حَاشَا فُرُوضِكَ الَّتِي مَنْ ضَيَّعَهَا هَلَكَ .
I cannot call upon daytime to witness my fasting, nor can I seek sanctuary in night because of my vigil; no Sunna praises me for keeping it alive, only Thy obligations, he who neglects which has perished.
وَ لَسْتُ أَتَوَسَّلُ إِلَيْكَ بِفَضْلِ نَافِلَةٍ مَعَ كَثِيرِ مَا أَغْفَلْتُ مِنْ وَظَائِفِ فُرُوضِكَ ، وَ تَعَدَّيْتُ عَنْ مَقَامَاتِ حُدُودِكَ إِلَى حُرُمَاتٍ انْتَهَكْتُهَا ، وَ كَبَائِرِ ذُنُوبٍ اجْتَرَحْتُهَا ، كَانَتْ عَافِيَتُكَ لِي مِنْ فَضَائِحِهَا سِتْراً .
I cannot seek access to Thee through the excellence of a supererogatory work, given the many duties of Thy obligationsof which I have been heedlessand the stations of Thy bounds which I have transgressed, thereby violating sacred things and committing great sins, though Thou hast given me safety from their disgraces as a covering.
وَ هَذَا مَقَامُ مَنِ اسْتَحْيَا لِنَفْسِهِ مِنْكَ ، وَ سَخِطَ عَلَيْهَا ، وَ رَضِيَ عَنْكَ ، فَتَلَقَّاكَ بِنَفْسٍ خَاشِعَةٍ ، وَ رَقَبَةٍ خَاضِعَةٍ ، وَ ظَهْرٍ مُثْقَلٍ مِنَ الْخَطَايَا وَاقِفاً بَيْنَ الرَّغْبَةِ إِلَيْكَ وَ الرَّهْبَةِ مِنْكَ .
This is the station of him who isashamed of himself before Thee, angry with himself, and satisfied with Thee. He meets Thee with a humble soul, a neck bent down, a back heavy with offenses, hesitating between longing for Thee and fear of Thee.
وَ أَنْتَ أَوْلَى مَنْ رَجَاهُ ، وَ أَحَقُّ مَنْ خَشِيَهُ وَ اتَّقَاهُ ، فَأَعْطِنِي يَا رَبِّ مَا رَجَوْتُ ، وَ آمِنِّي مَا حَذِرْتُ ، وَ عُدْ عَلَيَّ بِعَائِدَةِ رَحْمَتِكَ ، إِنَّكَ أَكْرَمُ الْمَسْئُولِينَ .
Thou art the most worthy of those in whom he might hope, the most deserving for him to dread and fear. So give me, my Lord, what I hope for, make me secure against what frightens me, and act kindly toward me with the kindly act of mercy! Surely Thou art the most generousof those from whom are asked!
اللَّهُمَّ وَ إِذْ سَتَرْتَنِي بِعَفْوِكَ ، وَ تَغَمَّدْتَنِي بِفَضْلِكَ فِي دَارِ الْفَنَاءِ بِحَضْرَةِ الْأَكْفَاءِ ، فَأَجِرْنِي مِنْ فَضِيحَاتِ دَارِ الْبَقَاءِ عِنْدَ مَوَاقِفِ الْأَشْهَادِ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ ، وَ الرُّسُلِ الْمُكَرَّمِينَ ، وَ الشُّهَدَاءِ وَ الصَّالِحِينَ ، مِنْ جَارٍ كُنْتُ أُكَاتِمُهُ سَيِّئَاتِي ، وَ مِنْ ذِي رَحِمٍ كُنْتُ أَحْتَشِمُ مِنْهُ فِي سَرِيرَاتِي .
O God, since Thou hast covered me with Thy pardonand shielded me with Thy bountyin the abode of annihilation and the presence of equals, grant me sanctuary from the disgraces of the Abode of Subsistenceat the standing places of the Witnesses(the angels brought nigh, the messengers honoured, the martyrs, the righteous)before the neighbour from whom I have hidden my evil deedsand the womb relative before whom I feel ashamed in my secret thoughts!
لَمْ أَثِقْ بِهِمْ رَبِّ فِي السِّتْرِ عَلَيَّ ، وَ وَثِقْتُ بِكَ رَبِّ فِي الْمَغْفِرَةِ لِي ، وَ أَنْتَ أَوْلَى مَنْ وُثِقَ بِهِ ، وَ أَعْطَى مَنْ رُغِبَ إِلَيْهِ ، وَ أَرْأَفُ مَنِ اسْتُرْحِمَ ، فَارْحَمْنِي .
I trust them not, my Lord, to cover me over, but I trust Thee, my Lord, to forgive me! Thou art the most worthy of those in whom confidence is had, the most giving of those who are besought, and the most clement of those from whom mercy is asked. So have mercy upon me!
اللَّهُمَّ وَ أَنْتَ حَدَرْتَنِي مَاءً مَهِيناً مِنْ صُلْبٍ مُتَضَايِقِ الْعِظَامِ ، حَرِجِ الْمَسَالِكِ إِلَى رَحِمٍ ضَيِّقَةٍ سَتَرْتَهَا بِالْحُجُبِ ، تُصَرِّفُنِي حَالًا عَنْ حَالٍ حَتَّى انْتَهَيْتَ بِي إِلَى تَمَامِ الصُّورَةِ ، وَ أَثْبَتَّ فِيَّ الْجَوَارِحَ كَمَا نَعَتَّ فِي كِتَابِكَ نُطْفَةً ثُمَّ عَلَقَةً ثُمَّ مُضْغَةً ثُمَّ عَظْماً ثُمَّ كَسَوْتَ الْعِظَامَ لَحْماً ، ثُمَّ أَنْشَأْتَنِي خَلْقاً آخَرَ كَمَا شِئْتَ .
O God, Thou caused me to descend as mean water from loins of narrow bones and tight passages in to a constricted womb which Thou hadst covered with veils; Thou turned me about from state to stateuntil Thou tookest me to the completion of the formand fixed within me the bodily parts, as Thou hast described in Thy Book: a drop, then a clot, then a tissue, then bones, then Thou garmented the bones with flesh, then Thou produced me as another creatureas Thou willed.
حَتَّى إِذَا احْتَجْتُ إِلَى رِزْقِكَ ، وَ لَمْ أَسْتَغْنِ عَنْ غِيَاثِ فَضْلِكَ ، جَعَلْتَ لِي قُوتاً مِنْ فَضْلِ طَعَامٍ وَ شَرَابٍ أَجْرَيْتَهُ لِأَمَتِكَ الَّتِي أَسْكَنْتَنِي جَوْفَهَا ، وَ أَوْدَعْتَنِي قَرَارَ رَحِمِهَا .
Then, when I needed Thy provision, and could not do without the aid of Thy bounty, Thou appointed for me a nourishment from the bounty of the food and drink which Thou bestowed upon Thy handmaidin whose belly Thou gavest me to restand in the lodging of whose womb Thou deposited me.
وَ لَوْ تَكِلُنِي يَا رَبِّ فِي تِلْكَ الْحَالَاتِ إِلَى حَوْلِي ، أَوْ تَضْطَرُّنِي إِلَى قُوَّتِي لَكَانَ الْحَوْلُ عَنِّي مُعْتَزِلًا ، وَ لَكَانَتِ الْقُوَّةُ مِنِّي بَعِيدَةً .
Hadst Thou entrusted me in those states, my Lord, to my own forceor driven me to have recourse to my own strength, force would have been removed from meand strength taken far away.
فَغَذَوْتَنِي بِفَضْلِكَ غِذَاءَ الْبَرِّ اللَّطِيفِ ، تَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ بِي تَطَوُّلًا عَلَيَّ إِلَى غَايَتِي هَذِهِ ، لَا أَعْدَمُ بِرَّكَ ، وَ لَا يُبْطِئُ بِي حُسْنُ صَنِيعِكَ ، وَ لَا تَتَأَكَّدُ مَعَ ذَلِكَ ثِقَتِي فَأَتَفَرَّغَ لِمَا هُوَ أَحْظَى لِي عِنْدَكَ .
So Thou hast fed me through Thy bounty with the food of the Good, the Gentle; Thou hast done that for me in graciousness toward meup to this my present point. I do not lack Thy goodness, nor does Thy benefaction keep me waiting. Yet with all that, my trust has not become firm enoughthat I might free myselffor that which is more favoured by Thee.
قَدْ مَلَكَ الشَّيْطَانُ عِنَانِي فِي سُوءِ الظَّنِّ وَ ضَعْفِ الْيَقِينِ ، فَأَنَا أَشْكُو سُوءَ مُجَاوَرَتِهِ لِي ، وَ طَاعَةَ نَفْسِي لَهُ ، وَ أَسْتَعْصِمُكَ مِنْ مَلَكَتِهِ ، وَ أَتَضَرَّعُ إِلَيْكَ فِي صَرْفِ كَيْدِهِ عَنِّي .
Satan has taken possession of my reins through my distrust and frail certainty. I complain of his evil neighbourhood with meand my soul's obedience toward him! I ask Thee to preserve me against his domination, and I plead with Thee to turn his trickery away from me!
وَ أَسْأَلُكَ فِي أَنْ تُسَهِّلَ إِلَى رِزْقِي سَبِيلًا ، فَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ عَلَى ابْتِدَائِكَ بِالنِّعَمِ الْجِسَامِ ، وَ إِلْهَامِكَ الشُّكْرَ عَلَى الْإِحْسَانِ وَ الْإِنْعَامِ ، فَصَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ ، وَ سَهِّلْ عَلَيَّ رِزْقِي ، وَ أَنْ تُقَنِّعَنِي بِتَقْدِيرِكَ لِي ، وَ أَنْ تُرْضِيَنِي بِحِصَّتِي فِيمَا قَسَمْتَ لِي ، وَ أَنْ تَجْعَلَ مَا ذَهَبَ مِنْ جِسْمِي وَ عُمُرِي فِي سَبِيلِ طَاعَتِكَ ، إِنَّكَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ .
I ask Thee to make the path to my provision easy, since to Thee belongs praise for Thy beginning with immense favoursand Thy inspiring gratitudefor beneficence and bestowing favour! Bless Muhammad and his Household, and make the way to my provision easy for me![I ask Thee] to make me content with Thy ordainment for me, to make me satisfied with my lotin that which Thou hast apportioned for meand to place what has gone of my body and my life-span in to the path of Thy obedience! Surely Thou art the Best of providers!
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ نَارٍ تَغَلَّظْتَ بِهَا عَلَى مَنْ عَصَاكَ ، وَ تَوَعَّدْتَ بِهَا مَنْ صَدَفَ عَنْ رِضَاكَ ، وَ مِنْ نَارٍ نُورُهَا ظُلْمَةٌ ، وَ هَيِّنُهَا أَلِيمٌ ، وَ بَعِيدُهَا قَرِيبٌ ، وَ مِنْ نَارٍ يَأْكُلُ بَعْضَهَا بَعْضٌ ، وَ يَصُولُ بَعْضُهَا عَلَى بَعْضٍ .
O God, I seek refuge in Thee from the Fire through which Thou art harsh toward him who disobeys Theeand by which Thou hast threatened him who turns away from Thy good pleasure; from the Firewhose light is darkness, whose ease is pain, and whose far is near; from the Fireparts of which devour partsand parts of which leap upon parts;
وَ مِنْ نَارٍ تَذَرُ الْعِظَامَ رَمِيماً ، وَ تَسقِي أَهْلَهَا حَمِيماً ، وَ مِنْ نَارٍ لَا تُبْقِي عَلَى مَنْ تَضَرَّعَ إِلَيْهَا ، وَ لَا تَرْحَمُ مَنِ اسْتَعْطَفَهَا ، وَ لَا تَقْدِرُ عَلَى التَّخْفِيفِ عَمَّنْ خَشَعَ لَهَا وَ اسْتَسْلَمَ إِلَيْهَا تَلْقَى سُكَّانَهَا بِأَحَرِّ مَا لَدَيْهَا مِنْ أَلِيمِ النَّكَالِ وَ شَدِيدِ الْوَبَالِ
from the Fire whichleaves bones decayedand lets its people drink boiling water; from the Fire which'does not spare him who pleads to it,'6has no mercy on him who seeks sympathy from it, and has no power to relieve him who humbles himself before itand yields himself to it; it meets its inhabitants with the hottest that it possesses: painful punishment and intense noxiousness.
وَ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَقَارِبِهَا الْفَاغِرَةِ أَفْوَاهُهَا ، وَ حَيَّاتِهَا الصَّالِقَةِ بِأَنْيَابِهَا ، وَ شَرَابِهَا الَّذِي يُقَطِّعُ أَمْعَاءَ وَ أَفْئِدَةَ سُكَّانِهَا ، وَ يَنْزِعُ قُلُوبَهُمْ ، وَ أَسْتَهْدِيكَ لِمَا بَاعَدَ مِنْهَا ، وَ أَخَّرَ عَنْهَا .
I seek refuge in Thee from its gaping-jawed scorpions, its scraping-toothed serpents, and its drinks, which tear apart the intestines and hearts of its inhabitantsand root out their marrows. I ask guidance from Thee to that which will keep far from it and make it retreat!
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ ، وَ أَجِرْنِي مِنْهَا بِفَضْلِ رَحْمَتِكَ ، وَ أَقِلْنِي عَثَرَاتِي بِحُسْنِ إِقَالَتِكَ ، وَ لَا تَخْذُلْنِي يَا خَيْرَ الْمُجِيرِينَ .
O God, bless Muhammad and his Household, grant me sanctuary from it through the bounty of Thy mercy, release me from my stumbles through Thy good releasing, and abandon me not, O Best of the sanctuary-granters!
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ تَقِي الْكَرِيهَةَ ، وَ تُعْطِي الْحَسَنَةَ ، وَ تَفْعَلُ مَا تُرِيدُ ، وَ أَنْتَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ .
O God, Thou protectest from the disliked, givest the good, dost what Thou wilt, and Thou art powerful over everything.
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ ، إِذَا ذُكِرَ الْأَبْرَارُ ، وَ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ ، مَا اخْتَلَفَ اللَّيْلُ وَ النَّهَارُ ، صَلَاةً لَا يَنْقَطِعُ مَدَدُهَا ، وَ لَا يُحْصَى عَدَدُهَا ، صَلَاةً تَشْحَنُ الْهَوَاءَ ، وَ تَمْلَأُ الْأَرْضَ وَ السَّمَاءَ .
O God, bless Muhammad and his Householdwhen the pious are mentionedand bless Muhammad and his Household as long as night and day come and go with a blessing whose replenishment is never cut offand whose number cannot be counted, a blessing that will fill up the airand crowd the earth and the heaven!
صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى يَرْضَى ، وَ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ بَعْدَ الرِّضَا ، صَلَاةً لَا حَدَّ لَهَا وَ لَا مُنْتَهَى ، يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ .
God bless him until he is well pleasedand God bless him and his Household after good pleasure with a blessing that has neither bound nor utmost limit! O Most Merciful of the merciful!