Supplication in Asking for the Best (33)

وَ كَانَ ، مِنْ دُعَائِهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فِي الِاسْتِخَارَةِ
His Supplication in Asking for the Best
Translated by William Chittick

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِيِّ أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ ،

O God, I ask from Thee the best in Thy knowledge,

فَصَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ ،

so bless Muhammad and his Household

وَ اقْضِ لِي بِالْخِيَرَةِ

and decree for me the best!

وَ أَلْهِمْنَا مَعْرِفَةَ الِاخْتِيَارِ ، وَ اجْعَلْ ذَلِكَ ذَرِيعَةً إِلَى

Inspire us with knowledge to chose the best and make that a means to

الرِّضَا بِمَا قَضَيْتَ لَنَا

being pleased with what Thou hast decreed for us

وَ التَّسْلِيمِ لِمَا حَكَمْتَ

and submitting to what Thou hast decided!

فَأَزِحْ عَنَّا رَيْبَ الِارْتِيَابِ ،

Banish from us the doubt of misgiving

وَ أَيِّدْنَا بِيَقِينِ الْمُخْلِصِينَ .

and confirm us with the certainty of the sincere!

وَ لَا تَسُمْنَا عَجْزَ الْمَعْرِفَةِ عَمَّا تَخَيَّرْتَ

Visit us not with incapacity to know what Thou hast chosen,

فَنَغْمِطَ قَدْرَكَ ، وَ نَكْرَهَ مَوْضِعَ رِضَاكَ ،

lest we despise Thy measuring out, dislike the place of Thy good pleasure,

وَ نَجْنَحَ إِلَى الَّتِي هِيَ أَبْعَدُ مِنْ حُسْنِ الْعَاقِبَةِ ،

and incline toward that which is further from good outcome

وَ أَقْرَبُ إِلَى ضِدِّ الْعَافِيَةِ ،

and nearer to the opposite of well-being!

حَبِّبْ إِلَيْنَا مَا نَكْرَهُ مِنْ قَضَائِكَ ،

Make us love what we dislike in Thy decree

وَ سَهِّلْ عَلَيْنَا مَا نَسْتَصْعِبُ مِنْ حُكْمِكَ

and make easy for us what we find difficult in Thy decision!

وَ أَلْهِمْنَا الِانْقِيَادَ لِمَا أَوْرَدْتَ عَلَيْنَا مِنْ مَشِيَّتِكَ

- Inspire us to yield to that which Thou bringest upon us by Thy will,

حَتَّى لَا نُحِبَّ تَأْخِيرَ مَا عَجَّلْتَ ،

lest we love the delay of what Thou hast hastened

وَ لَا تَعْجِيلَ مَا أَخَّرْتَ ،

and the hastening of what Thou hast delayed,

وَ لَا نَكْرَهَ مَا أَحْبَبْتَ ، وَ لَا نَتَخَيَّرَ مَا كَرِهْتَ .

dislike what Thou lovest, and choose what Thou dislikest!

وَ اخْتِمْ لَنَا بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْمَدُ عَاقِبَةً ،

Seal us with that which is most praised in outcome

وَ أَكْرَمُ مَصِيراً ،

and most generous in issue!

إِنَّكَ تُفِيدُ الْكَرِيمَةَ ، وَ تُعْطِي الْجَسِيمَةَ ،

Surely Thou givest generous gain, bestowest the immense,

وَ تَفْعَلُ مَا تُرِيدُ ، وَ أَنْتَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ قَدِيرٌ .

dost what Thou wilt, and Thou art powerful over everything.