Text:Forty-ninth Supplication of al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya

49) His Supplication in Repelling the Trickery of Enemies and Driving away their Severity	(49) وَ كَانَ مِنْ دُعَائِهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فِي دِفَاعِ كَيْدِ الْأَعْدَاءِ ، وَ رَدِّ بَأْسِهِمْ
In the Name of Allah, the All-beneficent, the All-merciful.	بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحيمِ
1- My God, Thou guided me but I diverted myself,	1. إِلَهِي هَدَيْتَنِي فَلَهَوْتُ ،
Thou admonished me but my heart became hardened,	وَ وَعَظْتَ فَقَسَوْتُ ،
Thou tried me graciously but I disobeyed.	وَ أَبْلَيْتَ الْجَمِيلَ فَعَصَيْتُ ،
Then, when Thou caused me to know it, I came to know that from which Thou hadst turned [me] away,	ثُمَّ عَرَفْتُ مَا أَصْدَرْتَ إِذْ عَرَّفْتَنِيهِ ،
so I prayed forgiveness and Thou released,	فَاسْتَغْفَرْتُ فَأَقَلْتَ ،
and I returned and Thou covered over.	فَعُدْتُ فَسَتَرْتَ ،
So Thine, my God, is the praise!	فَلَكَ إِلَهِي الْحَمْدُ .
2- I plunged into the valleys of destruction	2. تَقَحَّمْتُ أَوْدِيَةَ الْهَلَاكِ ،
and settled in the ravines of ruin,	وَ حَلَلْتُ شِعَابَ تَلَفٍ ،
exposing myself to Thy chastisements	تَعَرَّضْتُ فِيهَا لِسَطَوَاتِكَ
and the descent of Thy punishments!	وَ بِحُلُولِهَا عُقُوبَاتِكَ .
3- My mediation with Thee is the profession of Unity,	3. وَ وَسِيلَتِي إِلَيْكَ التَّوْحِيدُ ،
my way of coming to Thee that I associate nothing with Thee,	وَ ذَرِيعَتِي أَنِّي لَمْ أُشْرِكْ بِكَ شَيْئاً ،
nor do I take along with Thee a god;	وَ لَمْ أَتَّخِذْ مَعَكَ إِلَهاً ،
I have fled to Thee with my soul -	وَ قَدْ فَرَرْتُ إِلَيْكَ بِنَفْسِي ،
in Thee is the place of flight	وَ إِلَيْكَ مَفَرُّ الْمُسي‏ءِ ،
for the evildoer, the place of escape for him who has squandered the share of his soul and seeks asylum.	وَ مَفْزَعُ الْمُضَيِّعِ لِحَظِّ نَفْسِهِ الْمُلْتَجِئِ .
4- How many an enemy has unsheathed the sword of his enmity toward me,	4. فَكَمْ مِنْ عَدُوٍّ انْتَضَى عَلَيَّ سَيْفَ عَدَاوَتِهِ ،
honed the cutting edge of his knife for me,	وَ شَحَذَ لِي ظُبَةَ مُدْيَتِهِ ،
sharpened the tip of his blade for me,	وَ أَرْهَفَ لِي شَبَا حَدِّهِ ،
mixed his killing potions for me,	وَ دَافَ لِي قَوَاتِلَ سُمُومِهِ ،
pointed toward me his straight-flying arrows,	وَ سَدَّدَ نَحْوِي صَوَائِبَ سِهَامِهِ ،
not allowed the eye of his watchfulness to sleep toward me,	وَ لَمْ تَنَمْ عَنِّي عَيْنُ حِرَاسَتِهِ ،
and secretly thought of visiting me with something hateful	وَ أَضْمَرَ أَنْ يَسُومَنِي الْمَكْرُوهَ ،
and making me gulp down the bitter water of his bile!	وَ يُجَرِّعَنِي زُعَاقَ مَرَارَتِهِ .
5- So Thou looked my God, at	5. فَنَظَرْتَ يَا إِلَهِي إِلَى
my weakness in bearing oppressive burdens,	ضَعْفِي عَنِ احْتِمَالِ الْفَوَادِحِ ،
my inability to gain victory over him who aims to war against me,	وَ عَجْزِي عَنِ الِانْتِصَارِ مِمَّنْ قَصَدَنِي بِمُحَارَبَتِهِ ،
and my being alone before the great numbers of him who is hostile toward me	وَ وَحْدَتِي فِي كَثِيرِ عَدَدِ مَنْ نَاوَانِي ،
and lies in wait for me with an affliction	وَ أَرْصَدَ لِي بِالْبَلَاءِ
about which I have not thought.	فِيمَا لَمْ أُعْمِلْ فِيهِ فِكْرِي .
6- Thou set out at once to help me and Thou braced up my back!	6. فَابْتَدَأْتَنِي بِنَصْرِكَ ، وَ شَدَدْتَ أَزْرِي بِقُوَّتِكَ ،
Thou blunted for me his blade,	ثُمَّ فَلَلْتَ لِي حَدَّهُ ،
made him, after a great multitude, solitary,	وَ صَيَّرْتَهُ مِنْ بَعْدِ جَمْعٍ عَدِيدٍ وَحْدَهُ ،
raised up my heel over him,	وَ أَعْلَيْتَ كَعْبِي عَلَيْهِ ،
and turned back upon him what he had pointed straight.	وَ جَعَلْتَ مَا سَدَّدَهُ مَرْدُوداً عَلَيْهِ ،
So Thou sent him back, his rage not calmed,	فَرَدَدْتَهُ لَمْ يَشْفِ غَيْظَهُ ،
his burning thirst not quenched!	وَ لَمْ يَسْكُنْ غَلِيلُهُ ،
Biting his fingers, he turned his back in flight, his columns having been of no use.	قَدْ عَضَّ عَلَى شَوَاهُ وَ أَدْبَرَ مُوَلِّياً قَدْ أَخْلَفَتْ سَرَايَاهُ .
7- How many an oppressor has oppressed me with his tricks,	7. وَ كَمْ مِنْ بَاغٍ بَغَانِي بِمَكَايِدِهِ ،
set up for me the net of his snares,	وَ نَصَبَ لِي شَرَكَ مَصَايِدِهِ ،
appointed over me the inspection of his regard,	وَكَّلَ بِي تَفَقُّدَ رِعَايَتِهِ ،
and lay in ambush for me, the lying in ambush of a predator for its game,	وَ أَضْبَأَ إِلَيَّ إِضْبَاءَ السَّبُعِ لِطَرِيدَتِهِ
waiting to take advantage of its prey,	انْتِظَاراً لِانْتِهَازِ الْفُرْصَةِ لِفَرِيسَتِهِ ،
while he showed me the smile of the flatterer	وَ هُوَ يُظْهِرُ لِي بَشَاشَةَ الْمَلَقِ ،
and looked at me with the intensity of fury!	وَ يَنْظُرُنِي عَلَى شِدَّةِ الْحَنَقِ .
8- So when Thou saw, my God,	8. فَلَمَّا رَأَيْتَ يَا إِلَهِي
(blessed art Thou and high exalted)	تَبَاركْتَ وَ تَعَالَيْتَ
the depravity of his secret thoughts and the ugliness of what he harboured,	دَغَلَ سَرِيرَتِهِ ، وَ قُبْحَ مَا انْطَوَى عَلَيهِ ،
Thou threw him on his head into his own pitfall	أَرْكَسْتَهُ لِأُمِّ رَأْسِهِ فِي زُبْيَتِهِ ،
and dumped him into the hole of his own digging.	وَ رَدَدْتَهُ فِي مَهْوَى حُفْرَتِهِ ،
So he was brought down low, after his overbearing, by the nooses of his own snare,	فَانْقَمَعَ بَعْدَ اسْتِطَالَتِهِ ذَلِيلًا فِي رِبَقِ حِبَالَتِهِ
wherein he had thought he would see me;	الَّتِي كَانَ يُقَدِّرُ أَنْ يَرَانِي فِيهَا ،
and what came down upon his courtyard	وَ قَدْ كَادَ أَنْ يَحُلَّ بِي
- had it not been for Thy mercy - was on the point of coming down upon me!	لَوْ لَا رَحْمَتُكَ مَا حَلَّ بِسَاحَتِهِ .
9- How many an evier has choked upon me in his agony,	9. وَ كَمْ مِنْ حَاسِدٍ قَدْ شَرِقَ بِي بِغُصَّتِهِ ،
fumed over me in his rage,	وَ شَجِيَ مِنِّي بِغَيْظِهِ ،
cut me with the edge of his tongue,	وَ سَلَقَنِي بِحَدِّ لِسَانِهِ ،
showed malice toward me by accusing me of his own faults,	وَ وَحَرَنِي بِقَرْفِ عُيُوبِهِ ،
made my good repute the target of his shots,	وَ جَعَلَ عِرْضِي غَرَضاً لِمَرَامِيهِ ،
collared me with his own constant defects,	وَ قَلَّدَنِي خِلَالًا لَمْ تَزَلْ فِيهِ ،
showed malice toward me with his trickery, and aimed at me with his tricks!	وَ وَحَرَنِي بِكَيْدِهِ ، وَ قَصَدَنِي بِمَكِيدَتِهِ .
10- So I called upon Thee, my God, seeking aid from Thee,	10. فَنَادَيْتُكَ يَا إِلَهِي مُسْتَغِيثاً بِكَ ،
trusting in the speed of Thy response,	وَاثِقاً بِسُرْعَةِ إِجَابَتِكَ ،
knowing that he who seeks haven in the shadow of Thy wing	عَالِماً أَنَّهُ لَا يُضْطَهَدُ مَنْ أَوَى إِلَى ظِلِّ كَنَفِكَ ،
will not be mistreated, and he who seeks asylum in the stronghold of Thy victory will not be frightened.	وَ لَا يَفْزَعُ مَنْ لَجَأَ إِلَى مَعْقِلِ انْتِصَارِكَ ،
So Thou fortified me against his severity through Thy power.	فَحَصَّنْتَنِي مِنْ بَأْسِهِ بِقُدْرَتِكَ .
11- How many a cloud of detested things Thou hast dispelled from me,	11. وَ كَمْ مِنْ سَحَائِبِ مَكْرُوهٍ جَلَّيْتَهَا عَنِّي ،
a cloud of favour Thou hast made rain down upon me,	وَ سَحَائِبِ نِعَمٍ أَمْطَرْتَهَا عَلَيَّ ،
a stream of mercy Thou hast let flow,	وَ جَدَاوِلِ رَحْمَةٍ نَشَرْتَهَا ،
a well-being in which Thou hast clothed me,	وَ عَافِيَةٍ أَلْبَسْتَهَا ،
an eye of mishap Thou hast blinded,	وَ أَعْيُنِ أَحْدَاثٍ طَمَسْتَهَا ،
and a wrap of distress Thou hast removed!	وَ غَوَاشِي كُرُبَاتٍ كَشَفْتَهَا .
12- How many a good opinion Thou hast verified,	12. وَ كَمْ مِنْ ظَنٍّ حَسَنٍ حَقَّقْتَ ،
a destitution Thou hast redressed,	وَ عَدَمٍ جَبَرْتَ ،
an infirmity Thou hast restored to health,	وَ صَرْعَةٍ أَنْعَشْتَ ،
and a misery Thou hast transformed!	وَ مَسْكَنَةٍ حَوَّلْتَ .
13- All of that was favour and graciousness from Thee,	13. كُلُّ ذَلِكَ إِنْعَاماً وَ تَطَوُّلًا مِنْكَ ،
and in all of it I was occupied with acts of disobeying Thee.	وَ فِي جَمِيعِهِ انْهِمَاكاً مِنِّي عَلَى مَعَاصِيكَ ،
My evildoing did not hinder Thee from completing Thy beneficence,	لَمْ تَمْنَعْكَ إِسَاءَتِي عَنْ إِتْمَامِ إِحْسَانِكَ ،
nor was I stopped from committing acts displeasing to Thee.	وَ لَا حَجَرَنِي ذَلِكَ عَنِ ارْتِكَابِ مَسَاخِطِكَ ،
Thou art not questioned as to what Thou dost!	لَا تُسْأَلُ عَمَّا تَفْعَلُ .
14- Thou wert asked, and Thou bestowed.	14. وَ لَقَدْ سُئِلْتَ فَأَعْطَيْتَ ،
Thou wert not asked, and Thou began.	وَ لَمْ تُسْأَلْ فَابْتَدَأْتَ ،
Thy bounty was requested, and Thou didst not skimp.	وَ اسْتُمِيحَ فَضْلُكَ فَمَا أَكْدَيْتَ ،
Thou refused, my Master, everything but	أَبَيْتَ يَا مَوْلَايَ إِلَّا
beneficence, kindness, graciousness, and favour,	إِحْسَاناً وَ امْتِنَاناً وَ تَطَوُّلًا وَ إِنْعَاماً ،
and I refused everything but plunging into what Thou hast made unlawful,	وَ أَبَيْتُ إِلَّا تَقَحُّماً لِحُرُمَاتِكَ ،
transgressing Thy bounds,	وَ تَعَدِّياً لِحُدُودِكَ ،
and paying no heed to Thy threat!	وَ غَفْلَةً عَنْ وَعِيدِكَ ،
So Thine is the praise, my God,	فَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ إِلَهِي
the All-powerful who is not overcome,	مِنْ مُقْتَدِرٍ لَا يُغْلَبُ ،
and the Possessor of patient waiting who does not hurry!	وَ ذِي أَنَاةٍ لَا يَعْجَلُ .
15- This is the station of one who confesses to lavishness of favours,	15. هَذَا مَقَامُ مَنِ اعْتَرَفَ بِسُبُوغِ النِّعَمِ ،
counters them with shortcomings,	وَ قَابَلَهَا بِالتَّقْصِيرِ ،
and bears witness to his own negligence.	وَ شَهِدَ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ بِالتَّضْيِيعِ .
16- O God, so I seek nearness to Thee through the elevated rank of Muhammad	16. اللَّهُمَّ فَإِنِّي أَتَقَرَّبُ إِلَيْكَ بِالْمُحَمَّدِيَّةِ الرَّفِيعَةِ ،
and the radiant degree of 'Ali,	وَ الْعَلَوِيَّةِ الْبَيْضَاءِ ،
and I turn to Thee through them	وَ أَتَوَجَّهُ إِلَيْكَ بِهِمَا
so that Thou wilt give me refuge from the evil of [so and so],	أَنْ تُعِيذَنِي مِنْ شَرِّ كَذَا وَ كَذَا ،
for that will not constrain Thee in Thy wealth,	فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ لَا يَضِيقُ عَلَيْكَ فِي وُجْدِكَ ،
nor trouble Thee in Thy power,	وَ لَا يَتَكَأَّدُكَ فِي قُدْرَتِكَ
and Thou art powerful over everything!	وَ أَنْتَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ قَدِيرٌ
17- So give me, my God, by Thy mercy and Thy lasting bestowal of success,	17. فَهَبْ لِي يَا إِلَهِي مِنْ رَحْمَتِكَ وَ دَوَامِ تَوْفِيقِكَ
that which I may take as a ladder	مَا أَتَّخِذُهُ سُلَّماً
with which to climb to Thy good pleasure	أَعْرُجُ بِهِ إِلَى رِضْوَانِكَ ،
and be secure from Thy punishment, O Most merciful of the merciful!	وَ آمَنُ بِهِ مِنْ عِقَابِكَ ، يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ .