Supplication on the Day of Fast-Breaking and on Friday (46)

وَ كَانَ مِنْ دُعَائِهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فِي يَوْمِ الْفِطْرِ إِذَا انْصَرَفَ مِنْ صَلَاتِهِ قَامَ قَائِماً ثُمَّ اسْتَقْبَلَ الْقِبْلَةَ ، وَ فِي يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ ،
When he finished his prayer, he would stand in place, face the qibla
Translated by William Chittick

يَا مَنْ يَرْحَمُ مَنْ لَا يَرْحَمُهُ الْعِبَادُ

O He who has mercy upon him toward whom the servants show no mercy!

وَ يَا مَنْ يَقْبَلُ مَنْ لَا تَقْبَلُهُ الْبِلَادُ

O He who accepts him whom the cities will not accept!

وَ يَا مَنْ لَا يَحْتَقِرُ أَهْلَ الْحَاجَةِ إِلَيْهِ

O He who looks not down upon those who have need of Him!

وَ يَا مَنْ لَا يُخَيِّبُ الْمُلِحِّينَ عَلَيْهِ .

O He who disappoints not those who implore Him!

وَ يَا مَنْ لَا يَجْبَهُ بِالرَّدِّ أَهْلَ الدَّالَّةِ عَلَيْهِ

O He who slaps not the brow of the people of boldness toward Him with rejection!

وَ يَا مَنْ يَجْتَبِي صَغِيرَ مَا يُتْحَفُ بِهِ ،

O He who collects the little that is given to Him

وَ يَشْكُرُ يَسِيرَ مَا يُعْمَلُ لَهُ .

and shows gratitude for the paltry that is done for Him!

وَ يَا مَنْ يَشْكُرُ عَلَى الْقَلِيلِ وَ يُجَازِي بِالْجَلِيلِ

O He who shows gratitude for the small and rewards with the great!

وَ يَا مَنْ يَدْنُو إِلَى مَنْ دَنَا مِنْهُ .

O He who comes close to him who comes close to Him!

وَ يَا مَنْ يَدْعُو إِلَى نَفْسِهِ مَنْ أَدْبَرَ عَنْهُ .

O He who invites to Himself him who turns his back on Him!

وَ يَا مَنْ لَا يُغَيِّرُ النِّعْمَةَ ،

O He who changes not favour

وَ لَا يُبَادِرُ بِالنَّقِمَةِ .

and rushes not to vengeance!

وَ يَا مَنْ يُثْمِرُ الْحَسَنَةَ حَتَّى يُنْمِيَهَا ،

O He who causes the good deed to bear fruit so that He may make it grow,

وَ يَتَجَاوَزُ عَنِ السَّيِّئَةِ حَتَّى يُعَفِّيَهَا .

and overlooks the evil deed so that He may efface it!

انْصَرَفَتِ الْآمَالُ دُونَ مَدَى كَرَمِكَ بِالْحَاجَاتِ ،

Hopes turn back with needs fulfilled short of the extent of Thy generosity,

وَ امْتَلَأَتْ بِفَيْضِ جُودِكَ أَوْعِيَةُ الطَّلِبَاتِ ،

the cups of requests fill up with the overflow of Thy munificence,

وَ تَفَسَّخَتْ دُونَ بُلُوغِ نَعْتِكَ الصِّفَاتُ ،

and attributes fall apart without reaching Thy description.

فَلَكَ الْعُلُوُّ الْأَعْلَى

For to Thee belongs the highest highness

فَوْقَ كُلِّ عَالٍ ،

above everything high,

وَ الْجَلَالُ الْأَمْجَدُ

and the most glorious majesty

فَوْقَ كُلِّ جَلَالٍ .

beyond every majesty!

كُلُّ جَلِيلٍ عِنْدَكَ صَغِيرٌ ،

Everything majestic before Thee is small,

وَ كُلُّ شَرِيفٍ فِي جَنْبِ شَرَفِكَ حَقِيرٌ ،

everything eminent beside Thy eminence vile!

خَابَ الْوَافِدُونَ عَلَى غَيْرِكَ ،

Those who reach other than Thee are disappointed,

وَ خَسِرَ الْمُتَعَرِّضُونَ إِلَّا لَكَ ،

those who present themselves to other than Thee have lost,

وَ ضَاعَ الْمُلِمُّونَ إِلَّا بِكَ ،

those who stay with other than Thee have perished,

وَ أَجْدَبَ الْمُنْتَجِعُونَ إِلَّا مَنِ انْتَجَعَ فَضْلَكَ

and those who retreat - except those who retreat to Thy bounty - are desolate!

بَابُكَ مَفْتُوحٌ لِلرَّاغِبِينَ ،

Thy door is open to the beseechers,

وَ جُودُكَ مُبَاحٌ لِلسَّائِلِينَ ،

Thy munificence free to the askers,

وَ إِغَاثَتُكَ قَرِيبَةٌ مِنَ الْمُسْتَغِيثِينَ .

Thy help near to the help-seekers!

لَا يَخِيبُ مِنْكَ الْآمِلُونَ ،

The expectant are not disappointed by Thee,

وَ لَا يَيْأَسُ مِنْ عَطَائِكَ الْمُتَعَرِّضُونَ ،

those who present themselves despair not of Thy bestowal,

وَ لا يَشْقَى بِنَقِمَتِكَ الْمُسْتَغْفِرُونَ .

the forgiveness-seekers become not wretched through Thy vengeance!

رِزْقُكَ مَبْسُوطٌ لِمَنْ عَصَاكَ ،

Thy provision is spread among those who disobey Thee,

وَ حِلْمُكَ مُعْتَرِضٌ لِمَنْ نَاوَاكَ ،

Thy clemency presents itself to those hostile toward Thee,

عَادَتُكَ الْإِحْسَانُ إِلَى الْمُسِيئِينَ ،

Thy habit is beneficence toward the evildoers,

وَ سُنَّتُكَ الْإِبْقَاءُ عَلَى الْمُعْتَدِينَ

and Thy wont is to spare the transgressors,

حَتَّى لَقَدْ غَرَّتْهُمْ أَنَاتُكَ عَنِ الرُّجُوعِ ،

so much so that Thy lack of haste deludes them from returning,

وَ صَدَّهُمْ إِمْهَالُكَ عَنِ النُّزُوعِ .

and Thy disregard bars them from desisting!

وَ إِنَّمَا تَأَنَّيْتَ بِهِمْ لِيَفِيئُوا إِلَى أَمْرِكَ ،

Thou actest without haste toward them so that they will come back to Thy command

وَ أَمْهَلْتَهُمْ ثِقَةً بِدَوَامِ مُلْكِكَ ،

and Thou disregardest them confident in the permanence of Thy kingdom,

فَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْ أَهْلِ السَّعَادَةِ خَتَمْتَ لَهُ بِهَا ،

so Thou sealest him who is worthy of it with felicity,

وَ مَنْ كَانَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الشَّقَاوَةِ خَذَلْتَهُ لَهَا .

and Thou abandonest him who is worthy of it to wretchedness!

كُلُّهُمْ صَائِرُونَ ، إِلَى حُكْمِكَ ،

All of them come home to Thy decree,

وَ أَمُورُهُمْ آئِلَةٌ إِلَى أَمْرِكَ ،

their affairs revert to Thy command;

لَمْ يَهِنْ عَلَى طُولِ مُدَّتِهِمْ سُلْطَانُكَ ،

Thy authority grows not feeble through their drawn out term,

وَ لَمْ يَدْحَضْ لِتَرْكِ مُعَاجَلَتِهِمْ بُرْهَانُكَ .

Thy proof is not refuted by the failure to hurry after them.

حُجَّتُكَ قَائِمَةٌ لَا تُدْحَضُ ،

Thy argument is established, never refuted,

وَ سُلْطَانُكَ ثَابِتٌ لَا يَزُولُ ،

Thy authority fixed, never removed.

فَالْوَيْلُ الدَّائِمُ

Permanent woe belongs

لِمَنْ جَنَحَ عَنْكَ ،

to him who inclines away from Thee,

وَ الْخَيْبَةُ الْخَاذِلَةُ

forsaking disappointment

لِمَنْ خَابَ مِنْكَ ،

to him who is disappointed by Thee,

وَ الشَّقَاءُ الْأَشْقَى

and the most wretched wretchedness

لِمَنِ اغْتَرَّ بِكَ .

to him who is deluded about Thee!

مَا أَكْثَرَ تَصَرُّفَهُ فِي عَذَابِكَ ،

How much he will move about in Thy chastisement!

وَ مَا أَطْوَلَ تَرَدُّدَهُ فِي عِقَابِكَ ،

How long he will frequent Thy punishment!

وَ مَا أَبْعَدَ غَايَتَهُ مِنَ الْفَرَجِ ،

How far his utmost end from relief!

وَ مَا أَقْنَطَهُ مِنْ سُهُولَةِ الْمَخْرَجِ

How he will despair of an easy exit!

عَدْلًا مِنْ قَضَائِكَ لَا تَجُورُ فِيهِ ،

[All of this] as justice from Thy decree Thou art not unjust in it!

وَ إِنْصَافاً مِنْ حُكْمِكَ لَا تَحِيفُ عَلَيْهِ .

and equity from Thy judgement Thou dost not act wrongfully against him!

فَقَدْ ظَاهَرْتَ الْحُجَجَ ،

Thou supported the arguments,

وَ أَبْلَيْتَ الْأَعْذَارَ ،

tested the excuses,

وَ قَدْ تَقَدَّمْتَ بِالْوَعِيدِ ،

began with threats,

وَ تَلَطَّفْتَ فِي التَّرْغِيبِ ،

showed gentleness with encouragement,

وَ ضَرَبْتَ الْأَمْثَالَ ،

struck similitudes,

وَ أَطَلْتَ الْإِمْهَالَ ،

made long the respite,

وَ أَخَّرْتَ وَ أَنْتَ مُسْتَطِيعٌ لِلمُعَاجَلَةِ ،

delayed, while Thou art able to hurry, and acted without haste,

وَ تَأَنَّيْتَ وَ أَنْتَ مَلِي‏ءٌ بِالْمُبَادَرَةِ

while Thou art full of quick accomplishment!

لَمْ تَكُنْ أَنَاتُكَ عَجْزاً ،

Not because of incapacity is Thy slowness,

وَ لَا إِمْهَالُكَ وَهْناً ،

feebleness Thy giving respite,

وَ لَا إِمْسَاكُكَ غَفْلَةً ،

heedlessness Thy showing restraint,

وَ لَا انْتِظَارُكَ مُدَارَاةً ،

dissemblance Thy waiting!

بَلْ لِتَكُونَ حُجَّتُكَ أَبْلَغَ ،

But that Thy argument be more conclusive,

وَ كَرَمُكَ أَكْمَلَ ،

Thy generosity more perfect,

وَ إِحْسَانُكَ أَوْفَى ،

Thy beneficence more exhaustive,

وَ نِعْمَتُكَ أَتَمَّ ،

Thy favour more complete!

كُلُّ ذَلِكَ كَانَ وَ لَمْ تَزَلْ ، وَ هُوَ كَائِنٌ وَ لَا تَزَالُ .

All of this has been and always was, is and ever will be.

حُجَّتُكَ أَجَلُّ مِنْ أَنْ تُوصَفَ بِكُلِّهَا ،

Thy argument is greater than that its totality be described,

وَ مَجْدُكَ أَرْفَعُ مِنْ أَنْ يُحَدَّ بِكُنْهِهِ ،

Thy glory more elevated than that it be limited in its core,

وَ نِعْمَتُكَ أَكْثَرُ مِنْ أَنْ تُحْصَى بِأَسْرِهَا ،

Thy favour more abundant than that its entirety be counted,

وَ إِحْسَانُكَ أَكْثَرُ مِنْ أَنْ تُشْكَرَ عَلَى أَقَلِّهِ

Thy beneficence more abundant than that thanks be given for its least amount!

وَ قَدْ قَصَّرَ بِيَ السُّكُوتُ عَنْ تَحْمِيدِكَ ،

Speechlessness has made me fall short of praising Thee,

وَ فَهَّهَنِيَ الْإِمْسَاكُ عَنْ تَمْجِيدِكَ ،

restraint has made me powerless to glorify Thee,

وَ قُصَارَايَ الْإِقْرَارُ بِالْحُسُورِ ،

and the most I can do is admit to inability,

لَا رَغْبَةً يَا إِلَهِي بَلْ عَجْزاً .

not out of desire, my God, but out of incapacity.

فَهَا أَنَا ذَا أَؤُمُّكَ بِالْوِفَادَةِ ،

So here I am: I repair to Thee by coming forward,

وَ أَسْأَلُكَ حُسْنَ الرِّفَادَةِ ،

and I ask from Thee good support

فَصَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ ،

So bless Muhammad and his Household,

وَ اسْمَعْ نَجْوَايَ ،

hear my whispered words,

وَ اسْتَجِبْ دُعَائِي ،

grant my supplication,

وَ لَا تَخْتِمْ يَوْمِي بِخَيْبَتِي ،

seal not my day with disappointment,

وَ لَا تَجْبَهْنِي بِالرَّدِّ فِي مَسْأَلَتِي ،

slap not my brow by rejecting my request,

وَ أَكْرِمْ مِنْ عِنْدِكَ مُنْصَرَفِي ، وَ إِلَيْكَ مُنْقَلَبِي ،

and make noble my coming from Thee and my going back to Thee!

إِنَّكَ غَيْرُ ضَائِقٍ بِمَا تُرِيدُ ، وَ لَا عَاجِزٍ عَمَّا تُسْأَلُ ،

Surely Thou art not constrained by what Thou desirest, nor incapable of what Thou art asked!

وَ أَنْتَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ قَدِيرٌ ،

Thou art powerful over everything,

وَ لَا حَوْلَ وَ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ .

and 'There is no force and no strength save in God, the All-high, the All-mighty!