Supplication in Bidding Farewell to the Month of Ramadan (45)

His Supplication in Bidding Farewell to the Month of Ramadan
Translated by William C. Chittick

     اللَّهُمَّ يَا مَنْ لَا يَرْغَبُ فِي الْجَزَاءِ

 O God, O He who desires no repayment!

     وَ يَا مَنْ لَا يَنْدَمُ عَلَى الْعَطَاءِ

 O He who shows no remorse at bestowal!

     وَ يَا مَنْ لَا يُكَافِئُ عَبْدَهُ عَلَى السَّوَاءِ

 O He who rewards not His servant tit for tat!

     مِنَّتُكَ ابْتِدَاءٌ ،

 Thy kindness is a new beginning,

    وَ عَفْوُكَ تَفَضُّلٌ ،

Thy pardon gratuitous bounty,

    وَ عُقُوبَتُكَ عَدْلٌ ، وَ قَضَاؤُكَ خِيَرَةٌ

Thy punishment justice, Thy decree a choice for the best!

     إِنْ أَعْطَيْتَ لَمْ تَشُبْ عَطَاءَكَ بِمَنٍّ ،

 If Thou bestowest, Thou stainest not Thy bestowal with obligation,

    وَ إِنْ مَنَعْتَ لَمْ يَكُنْ مَنْعُكَ تَعَدِّياً

and if Thou withholdest, Thou withholdest not in transgression.

     تَشْكُرُ مَنْ شَكَرَكَ وَ أَنْتَ أَلْهَمْتَهُ شُكْرَكَ

 Thou showest gratitude to him who thanks Thee, while Thou hast inspired him to thank Thee.

     وَ تُكَافِئُ مَنْ حَمِدَكَ وَ أَنْتَ عَلَّمْتَهُ حَمْدَكَ

 Thou rewardest him who praises Thee, while though Thou hast taught him Thy praise.

     تَسْتُرُ عَلَى مَنْ لَوْ شِئْتَ فَضَحْتَهُ ،

 Thou coverest him whom, if Thou willed, Thou wouldst expose,

    وَ تَجُودُ عَلَى مَنْ لَوْ شِئْتَ مَنَعْتَهُ ،

and Thou art generous toward him from whom, if Thou willed,Thou wouldst withhold.

    وَ كِلَاهُمَا أَهْلٌ مِنْكَ لِلْفَضِيحَةِ وَ الْمَنْعِ

Both are worthy of Thy exposure and withholding,

    غَيْرَ أَنَّكَ بَنَيْتَ أَفْعَالَكَ عَلَى التَّفَضُّلِ ،

but Thou hast founded Thy acts upon gratuitous bounty,

    وَ أَجْرَيْتَ قُدْرَتَكَ عَلَى التَّجَاوُزِ

channelled Thy power into forbearance,

     وَ تَلَقَّيْتَ مَنْ عَصَاكَ بِالْحِلْمِ ،

 received him who disobeyed Thee with clemency,

    وَ أَمْهَلْتَ مَنْ قَصَدَ لِنَفْسِهِ بِالظُّلْمِ ،

and disregarded him who intended wrongdoing against himself.

    تَسْتَنْظِرُهُمْ بِأَنَاتِكَ إِلَى الْإِنَابَةِ ،

Thou awaitest their turning back without haste

    وَ تَتْرُكُ مُعَاجَلَتَهُمْ إِلَى التَّوْبَةِ

and refrainest from rushing them toward repentance,

    لِكَيْلَا يَهْلِكَ عَلَيْكَ هَالِكُهُمْ ،

so that the perisher among them may not perish because of Thee

    وَ لَا يَشْقَى بِنِعْمَتِكَ شَقِيُّهُمْ

and the wretched may not be wretched through Thy favour,

    إِلَّا عَنْ طُولِ الْإِعْذَارِ إِلَيْهِ ،

but only after Thy prolonged excusing him

    وَ بَعْدَ تَرَادُفِ الْحُجَّةِ عَلَيْهِ ،

and successive arguments against him,

    كَرَماً مِنْ عَفْوِكَ يَا كَرِيمُ ،

as an act of generosity through Thy pardon, O Generous,

    وَ عَائِدَةً مِنْ عَطْفِكَ يَا حَلِيمُ .

and an act of kindliness through Thy tenderness, O Clement!

     أَنْتَ الَّذِي فَتَحْتَ لِعِبَادِكَ بَاباً إِلَى عَفْوِكَ ،

 It is Thou who hast opened for Thy servants a door to Thy pardon,

    وَ سَمَّيْتَهُ التَّوْبَةَ ،

which Thou hast named 'repentance'.

    وَ جَعَلْتَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ الْبَابِ

Thou hast placed upon that door

    دَلِيلًا مِنْ وَحْيِكَ

a pointer from Thy revelation,

    لِئَلَّا يَضِلُّوا عَنْهُ ،

lest they stray from it:

    فَقُلْتَ تَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ

Thou hast said (blessed are Thy names),

    تُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ تَوْبَةً نَصُوحاً

Repent toward God with unswerving repentance!

    عَسَى رَبُّكُمْ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ عَنْكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ

It may be that Thy Lord will acquit of your evil deeds

    وَ يُدْخِلَكُمْ جَنَاتٍ

and will admit you into gardens

    تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ

beneath which rivers flow,

     يَوْمَ لَا يُخْزِي اللَّهُ النَّبِيَّ

 upon the day when God will not degrade the Prophet

    وَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ ،

and those who have faith along with him,

    نُورُهُمْ يَسْعَى بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَ بِأَيْمَانِهِمْ ،

their light running before them and on their right hands,

    يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا أَتْمِمْ لَنَا نُورَنَا ، وَ اغْفِرْ لَنَا ،

and they say: 'Our Lord, complete for us our light, and forgive us!

    إِنَّكَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ قَدِيرٌ

Surely Thou art powerful over everything.'

    فَمَا عُذْرُ مَنْ أَغْفَلَ دُخُولَ ذَلِكَ الْمَنْزِلِ

What is the excuse of him who remains heedless of entering that house

    بَعْدَ فَتْحِ الْبَابِ

after the opening of the door

    وَ إِقَامَةِ الدَّلِيلِ

and the setting up of the pointer?

     وَ أَنْتَ الَّذِي زِدْتَ فِي السَّوْمِ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ لِعِبَادِكَ ،

 It is Thou who hast raised the price against Thyself to the advantage of Thy servants,

    تُرِيدُ رِبْحَهُمْ فِي مُتَاجَرَتِهِمْ لَكَ ،

desiring their profit in their trade with Thee,

    وَ فَوْزَهُمْ بِالْوِفَادَةِ عَلَيْكَ ،

their triumph through reaching Thee,

    وَ الزِّيَادَةِ مِنْكَ ،

and their increase on account of Thee,

    فَقُلْتَ تَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَ تَعَالَيْتَ

for Thou hast said (blessed is Thy Name and high art Thou exalted),

    مَنْ جَاءَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ عَشْرُ أَمْثَالِهَا ،

Whoso brings a good deed shall have ten the like of it, and whoso brings an evil deed

    وَ مَنْ جَاءَ بِالسَّيِّئَةِ فَلَا يُجْزَى إِلَّا مِثْلَهَا

shall only be recompensed the like of it.

     وَ قُلْتَ مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ يُنْفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ

 Thou hast said, The likeness of those who expend their wealth in the way of God

    كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنْبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ

is as the likeness of a grain of corn that sprouts seven ears,

    فِي كُلِّ سُنْبُلَةٍ مِائَةُ حَبَّةٍ ،

in every ear a hundred grains;

    وَ اللَّهُ يُضَاعِفُ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ ،

so God multiplies unto whom He wills.

    وَ قُلْتَ مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يُقْرِضُ اللَّهَ قَرْضاً حَسَناً

Thou hast said, Who is he that will lend to God a good loan,

    فَيُضَاعِفَهُ لَهُ أَضْعَافاً كَثِيرَةً

and He will multiply it for him manifold?

    وَ مَا أَنْزَلْتَ مِنْ نَظَائِرِهِنَّ فِي الْقُرْآنِ

And Thou hast sent down in the Qur'an

    مِنْ تَضَاعِيفِ الْحَسَنَاتِ

similar verses on the multiplying of good deeds.

     وَ أَنْتَ الَّذِي دَلَلْتَهُمْ

 It is Thou who hast pointed them

    بِقَوْلِكَ مِنْ غَيْبِكَ

through Thy speech from Thy Unseen

    وَ تَرْغِيبِكَ الَّذِي فِيهِ حَظُّهُمْ عَلَى مَا

and Thy encouragement in which lies their good fortune toward that which

    لَوْ سَتَرْتَهُ عَنْهُمْ لَمْ تُدْرِكْهُ أَبْصَارُهُمْ ،

 hadst Thou covered it from them

    وَ لَمْ تَعِهِ أَسْمَاعُهُمْ ،

their eyes would not have perceived,

    وَ لَمْ تَلْحَقْهُ أَوْهَامُهُمْ ،

their ears would not have heard,

    فَقُلْتَ اذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ ،

and their imaginations would not have grasped, for Thou hast said, Remember Me

    وَ اشْكُرُوا لِي وَ لَا تَكْفُرُونِ ،

and I will remember you be thankful to Me, and be you not thankless towards Me!

    وَ قُلْتَ لَئِنْ شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ ،

Thou hast said, If you are thankful, surely I will increase you,

    وَ لَئِنْ كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِي لَشَدِيدٌ

but if you are thankless, My chastisement is surely terrible;

     وَ قُلْتَ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ ،

 And Thou hast said, Supplicate Me and I will respond to you,

    إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِي

surely those who wax too proud to worship Me

    سَيَدْخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ دَاخِرِينَ ،

shall enter Gehenna utterly abject.

    فَسَمَّيْتَ دُعَاءَكَ عِبَادَةً ،

Hence Thou hast named supplicating Thee 'worship'

    وَ تَرْكَهُ اسْتِكْبَاراً ،

and refraining from it 'waxing proud',

    وَ تَوَعَّدْتَ عَلَى تَرْكِهِ

and Thou hast threatened that the refraining from it

    دُخُولَ جَهَنَّمَ دَاخِرِينَ

would yield entrance into Gehenna in utter abjection.

     فَذَكَرُوكَ بِمَنِّكَ ،

 So they remember Thee for Thy kindness,

    وَ شَكَرُوكَ بِفَضْلِكَ ،

they thank Thee for Thy bounty,

    وَ دَعَوْكَ بِأَمْرِكَ ،

they supplicate Thee by Thy command,

    وَ تَصَدَّقُوا لَكَ طَلَباً لِمَزِيدِكَ ،

and they donate for Thee in order to seek Thy increase;

    وَ فِيهَا كَانَتْ نَجَاتُهُمْ مِنْ غَضَبِكَ ،

in all this lies their deliverance from Thy wrath

    وَ فَوْزُهُمْ بِرِضَاكَ

and their triumph through Thy good pleasure.

     وَ لَوْ دَلَّ مَخْلُوقٌ مَخْلُوقاً مِنْ نَفْسِهِ

 Were any creature himself to direct another creature

    عَلَى مِثْلِ الَّذِي دَلَلْتَ عَلَيْهِ عِبَادَكَ مِنْكَ

to the like of that to which Thou Thyself hast directed Thy servants,

    كَانَ مَوْصُوفاً بِالْإِحْسَانِ ،

he would be described by beneficence,

    وَ مَنْعُوتاً بِالِامْتِنَانِ ،

qualified by kindness,

    وَ مَحْمُوداً بِكُلِّ لِسَانٍ ،

and praised by every tongue.

    فَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ

So to Thee belongs praise

    مَا وُجِدَ فِي حَمْدِكَ مَذْهَبٌ ،

as long as there is found a way to praise Thee

    وَ مَا بَقِيَ لِلْحَمْدِ لَفْظٌ تُحْمَدُ بِهِ ،

and as long as there remains for praising words by which Thou may be praised

    وَ مَعْنًى يَنْصَرِفُ إِلَيْهِ

and meanings which may be spent in praise!

     يَا مَنْ تَحَمَّدَ إِلَى عِبَادِهِ بِالْإِحْسَانِ وَ الْفَضْلِ ،

 O He who shows Himself praiseworthy to His servants through beneficence and bounty,

    وَ غَمَرَهُمْ بِالْمَنِّ وَ الطَّوْلِ ،

flooding them with kindness and graciousness!

    مَا أَفْشَى فِينَا نِعْمَتَكَ ،

How much Thy favour has been spread about among us,

    وَ أَسْبَغَ عَلَيْنَا مِنَّتَكَ ،

Thy kindness lavished upon us,

    وَ أَخَصَّنَا بِبِرِّكَ

and Thy goodness singled out for us!

     هَدَيْتَنَا لِدِينِكَ الَّذِي اصْطَفَيْتَ ،

 Thou hast guided us to Thy religion which Thou hast chosen,

    وَ مِلَّتِكَ الَّتِي ارْتَضَيْتَ ،

Thy creed with which Thou art pleased,

    وَ سَبِيلِكَ الَّذِي سَهَّلْتَ ،

and Thy path which Thou hast made smooth,

    وَ بَصَّرْتَنَا الزُّلْفَةَ لَدَيْكَ ،

and Thou hast shown us proximity to Thee

    وَ الْوُصُولَ إِلَى كَرَامَتِكَ

and arrival at Thy generosity!

     اللَّهُمَّ وَ أَنْتَ جَعَلْتَ مِنْ صَفَايَا تِلْكَ الْوَظَائِفِ ،

 O God, among the choicest of those duties

    وَ خَصَائِصِ تِلْكَ الْفُرُوضِ

and the most special of those obligations

    شَهْرَ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي اخْتَصَصْتَهُ مِنْ سَائِرِ الشُّهُورِ ،

Thou hast appointed the month of Ramadan, which Thou hast singled out from other months,

    وَ تَخَيَّرْتَهُ مِنْ جَمِيعِ الْأَزْمِنَةِ وَ الدُّهُورِ ،

chosen from among all periods and eras,

    وَ آثَرْتَهُ عَلَى كُلِّ أَوْقَاتِ السَّنَةِ

and preferred over all times of the year

    بِمَا أَنْزَلْتَ فِيهِ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ وَ النُّورِ ،

through the Qur'an and the Light which Thou sent down within it,

    وَ ضَاعَفْتَ فِيهِ مِنَ الْإِيمَانِ ،

the faith which Thou multiplied by means of it,

    وَ فَرَضْتَ فِيهِ مِنَ الصِّيَامِ ،

the fasting which Thou obligated therein,

    وَ رَغَّبْتَ فِيهِ مِنَ الْقِيَامِ ،

the standing in prayer which Thou encouraged at its time,

    وَ أَجْلَلْتَ فِيهِ مِنْ لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ الَّتِي هِيَ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ

and the Night of Decree which Thou magnified therein, the night which is better than a thousand months.

     ثُمَّ آثَرْتَنَا بِهِ عَلَى سَائِرِ الْأُمَمِ ،

 Through it Thou hast preferred us over the other communities

    وَ اصْطَفَيْتَنَا بِفَضْلِهِ دُونَ أَهْلِ الْمِلَلِ ،

and through its excellence Thou hast chosen us to the exclusion of the people of the creeds.

    فَصُمْنَا بِأَمْرِكَ نَهَارَهُ ،

We fasted by Thy command in its daylight,

    وَ قُمْنَا بِعَوْنِكَ لَيْلَهُ ،

we stood in prayer with Thy help in its night,

    مُتَعَرِّضِينَ بِصِيَامِهِ وَ قِيَامِهِ لِمَا عَرَّضْتَنَا لَهُ مِنْ رَحْمَتِكَ ،

presenting ourselves by its fasting and its standing to the mercy which Thou hast held up before us,

    وَ تَسَبَّبْنَا إِلَيْهِ مِنْ مَثُوبَتِكَ ،

and we found through it the means to Thy reward.

    وَ أَنْتَ الْمَلِي‏ءُ بِمَا رُغِبَ فِيهِ إِلَيْكَ ،

And Thou art full of what is sought from Thee,

    الْجَوَادُ بِمَا سُئِلْتَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ ،

munificent with what is asked of Thy bounty,

    الْقَرِيبُ إِلَى مَنْ حَاوَلَ قُرْبَكَ

and near to him who strives for Thy nearness.

     وَ قَدْ أَقَامَ فِينَا هَذَا الشَّهْرُ مُقَامَ حَمْدٍ ،

 This month stood among us in a standing place of praise,

    وَ صَحِبَنَا صُحْبَةَ مَبْرُورٍ ،

accompanied us with the companionship of one approved,

    وَ أَرْبَحَنَا أَفْضَلَ أَرْبَاحِ الْعَالَمِينَ ،

and profited us with the most excellent profit of the world's creatures.

    ثُمَّ قَدْ فَارَقَنَا عِنْدَ تَمَامِ وَقْتِهِ ،

Then it parted from us at the completion of its time,

    وَ انْقِطَاعِ مُدَّتِهِ ، وَ وَفَاءِ عَدَدِهِ

the end of its term, and the fulfilment of its number.

     فَنَحْنُ مُوَدِّعُوهُ وِدَاعَ مَنْ عَزَّ فِرَاقُهُ عَلَيْنَا ،

 So we bid farewell to it with the farewell of one whose parting pains us,

    وَ غَمَّنَا وَ أَوْحَشَنَا انْصِرَافُهُ عَنَّا ،

whose leaving fills us with gloom and loneliness,

    وَ لَزِمَنَا لَهُ الذِّمَامُ الْمَحْفُوظُ ،

and to whom we have come to owe a safeguarded claim,

    وَ الْحُرْمَةُ الْمَرْعِيَّةُ ،

an observed inviolability,

    وَ الْحَقُّ الْمَقْضِيُّ ،

and a discharged right.

    فَنَحْنُ قَائِلُونَ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ

We say: Peace be upon thee,

    يَا شَهْرَ اللَّهِ الْأَكْبَرَ ، وَ يَا عِيدَ أَوْلِيَائِهِ

O greatest month of God! O festival of His friends!

     السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا أَكْرَمَ مَصْحُوبٍ مِنَ الْأَوْقَاتِ ،

 Peace be upon thee, O most noble of accompanying times!

    وَ يَا خَيْرَ شَهْرٍ فِي الْأَيَّامِ وَ السَّاعَاتِ

O best of months in days and hours!

     السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ شَهْرٍ قَرُبَتْ فِيهِ الْآمَالُ ،

 Peace be upon thee, month in which expectations come near

    وَ نُشِرَتْ فِيهِ الْأَعْمَالُ

and good works are scattered about!

     السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ قَرِينٍ جَلَّ قَدْرُهُ مَوْجُوداً ،

 Peace be upon thee, Comrade who is great in worth when found

    وَ أَفْجَعَ فَقْدُهُ مَفْقُوداً ،

and who torments through absence when lost,

    وَ مَرْجُوٍّ آلَمَ فِرَاقُهُ

anticipated friend whose parting gives pain!

     السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ أَلِيفٍ آنَسَ مُقْبِلًا فَسَرَّ ،

 Peace be upon thee, familiar who brought comfort in coming, thus making happy,

    وَ أَوْحَشَ مُنْقَضِياً فَمَضَّ

who left loneliness in going, thus giving anguish!

     السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ مُجَاوِرٍ

Peace be upon thee, neighbour

    رَقَّتْ فِيهِ الْقُلُوبُ ،

in whom hearts became tender

    وَ قَلَّتْ فِيهِ الذُّنُوبُ

and sins became few!

     السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ نَاصِرٍ

 Peace be upon thee, helper

    أَعَانَ عَلَى الشَّيْطَانِ ،

who aided against Satan,

    وَ صَاحِبٍ سَهَّلَ سُبُلَ الْإِحْسَانِ

Companion who made easy the paths of good-doing!

     السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ مَا أَكْثَرَ عُتَقَاءَ اللَّهِ فِيكَ ،

 Peace be upon thee - How many became freedmen of God within thee!

    وَ مَا أَسْعَدَ مَنْ رَعَى حُرْمَتَكَ بِكَ

How happy those who observed the respect due to thee!

     السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ مَا كَانَ أَمْحَاكَ لِلذُّنُوبِ ،

 Peace be upon thee - How many the sins thou erased!

    وَ أَسْتَرَكَ لِأَنْوَاعِ الْعُيُوبِ

How many the kinds of faults thou covered over!

     السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ مَا كَانَ أَطْوَلَكَ عَلَى الْمُجْرِمِينَ ،

 Peace be upon thee - How drawn out wert thou for the sinners!

    وَ أَهْيَبَكَ فِي صُدُورِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

How awesome wert thou in the hearts of the faithful!

     السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ شَهْرٍ لَا تُنَافِسُهُ الْأَيَّامُ

 Peace be upon thee, month with which no days compete!

     السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ شَهْرٍ هُوَ مِنْ كُلِّ أَمْرٍ سَلَامٌ

 Peace be upon thee, month which is peace in all affairs!

     السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ غَيْرَ كَرِيهِ الْمُصَاحَبَةِ ،

 Peace be upon thee, thou whose companionship is not disliked,

    وَ لَا ذَمِيمِ الْمُلَابَسَةِ

thou whose friendly mixing is not blamed!

     السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ كَمَا وَفَدْتَ عَلَيْنَا بِالْبَرَكَاتِ ،

 Peace be upon thee, just as thou hast entered upon us with blessings

    وَ غَسَلْتَ عَنَّا دَنَسَ الْخَطِيئَاتِ

and cleansed us of the defilement of offenses!

     السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ غَيْرَ مُوَدَّعٍ بَرَماً

 Peace be upon thee - Thou art not bid farewell in annoyance

    وَ لَا مَتْرُوكٍ صِيَامُهُ سَأَماً

nor is thy fasting left in weariness!

     السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ مَطْلُوبٍ قَبْلَ وَقْتِهِ ،

 Peace be upon thee, object of seeking before thy time,

    وَ مَحْزُونٍ عَلَيْهِ قَبْلَ فَوْتِهِ

object of sorrow before thy passing!

     السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ كَمْ مِنْ سُوءٍ صُرِفَ بِكَ عَنَّا ،

 Peace be upon thee - How much evil was turned away from us through thee!

    وَ كَمْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ أُفِيضَ بِكَ عَلَيْنَا

How much good flowed upon us because of thee!

     السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ وَ عَلَى لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ

 Peace be upon thee and upon the Night of Decree

    الَّتِي هِيَ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ

which is better than a thousand months!

     السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ مَا كَانَ أَحْرَصَنَا بِالْأَمْسِ عَلَيْكَ ،

 Peace be upon thee - How much we craved thee yesterday!

    وَ أَشَدَّ شَوْقَنَا غَداً إِلَيْكَ

How intensely we shall yearn for thee tomorrow!

     السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ

 Peace be upon thee

    وَ عَلَى فَضْلِكَ الَّذِي حُرِمْنَاهُ ،

and upon thy bounty which has now been made unlawful to us

    وَ عَلَى مَاضٍ مِنْ بَرَكَاتِكَ سُلِبْنَاهُ

and upon thy blessings gone by which have now been stripped away from us!

     اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا أَهْلُ هَذَا الشَّهْرِ

 O God, we are the people of this month.

    الَّذِي شَرَّفْتَنَا بِهِ ،

Through it Thou hast ennobled us

    وَ وَفَّقْتَنَا بِمَنِّكَ لَهُ

and given us success because of Thy kindness,

    حِينَ جَهِلَ الْأَشْقِيَاءُ وَقْتَهُ ،

while the wretched are ignorant of its time

    وَ حُرِمُوا لِشَقَائِهِمْ فَضْلَهُ

Made unlawful to them is its bounty because of their wretchedness.

     أَنْتَ وَلِيُّ مَا آثَرْتَنَا بِهِ مِنْ مَعْرِفَتِهِ ،

 Thou art the patron of the knowledge of it by which Thou hast preferred us,

    وَ هَدَيْتَنَا لَهُ مِنْ سُنَّتِهِ ،

and its prescribed practices to which Thou hast guided us.

    وَ قَدْ تَوَلَّيْنَا بِتَوْفِيقِكَ

We have undertaken, through Thy giving success,

    صِيَامَهُ وَ قِيَامَهُ عَلَى تَقْصِيرٍ ،

its fasting and its standing in prayer, but with shortcomings,

    وَ أَدَّيْنَا فِيهِ قَلِيلًا مِنْ كَثِيرٍ

and we have performed little of much.

     اللَّهُمَّ فَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ

 O God, so to Thee belongs praise,

    إِقْرَاراً بِالْإِسَاءَةِ ،

in admission of evil doing

    وَ اعْتِرَافاً بِالْإِضَاعَةِ ،

and confession of negligence,

    وَ لَكَ مِنْ قُلُوبِنَا عَقْدُ النَّدَمِ ،

and to Thee belongs remorse firmly knitted in our hearts

    وَ مِنْ أَلْسِنَتِنَا صِدْقُ الِاعْتِذَارِ ،

and seeking of pardon sincerely uttered by our tongues.

    فَأْجُرْنَا عَلَى مَا أَصَابَنَا فِيهِ مِنَ التَّفْرِيطِ

Reward us, in spite of the neglect that befell us in this month,

    أَجْراً نَسْتَدْرِكُ بِهِ الْفَضْلَ الْمَرْغُوبَ فِيهِ ،

with a reward through which we may reach the bounty desired from it

    وَ نَعْتَاضُ بِهِ مِنْ أَنْوَاعِ الذُّخْرِ الْمَحْرُوصِ عَلَيْهِ

and win the varieties of its craved stores!

     وَ أَوْجِبْ لَنَا عُذْرَكَ

 Make incumbent upon us Thy pardon

    عَلَى مَا قَصَّرْنَا فِيهِ مِنْ حَقِّكَ ،

for our falling short of Thy right in this month

    وَ ابْلُغْ بِأَعْمَارِنَا مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِينَا

and make our lives which lie before us

    مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ الْمُقْبِلِ ،

reach the coming month of Ramadan!

    فَإِذَا بَلَّغْتَنَاهُ

Once Thou hast made us reach it,

    فَأَعِنِّا عَلَى تَنَاوُلِ مَا أَنْتَ أَهْلُهُ مِنَ الْعِبَادَةِ ،

help us perform the worship of which Thou art worthy,

    وَ أَدِّنَا إِلَى الْقِيَامِ بِمَا يَسْتَحِقُّهُ مِنَ الطَّاعَةِ ،

cause us to undertake the obedience which Thou deservest,

    وَ أَجْرِ لَنَا مِنْ صَالِحِ الْعَمَلِ مَا يَكُونُ دَرَكاً لِحَقِّكَ

and grant us righteous works that we may fulfil Thy right

    فِي الشَّهْرَيْنِ مِنْ شُهُورِ الدَّهْرِ

in these two months of the months of time.

    اللَّهُمَّ وَ مَا أَلْمَمْنَا بِهِ فِي شَهْرِنَا هَذَا مِنْ لَمَمٍ أَوْ إِثْمٍ ،

 O God, as for the small and large sins which we have committed in this our month,

    أَوْ وَاقَعْنَا فِيهِ مِنْ ذَنْبٍ ،

the misdeeds into which we have fallen,

    وَ اكْتَسَبْنَا فِيهِ مِنْ خَطِيئَةٍ

and the offenses which we have earned

    عَلَى تَعَمُّدٍ مِنَّا ، أَوْ عَلَى نِسْيَانٍ

purposefully or in forgetfulness,

    ظَلَمْنَا فِيهِ أَنْفُسَنَا ، أَوِ انْتَهَكْنَا بِهِ حُرْمَةً مِنْ غَيْرِنَا ،

wronging ourselves thereby or violating the respect due to others,

    فَصَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ ،

bless Muhammad and his Household,

    وَ اسْتُرْنَا بِسِتْرِكَ ،

cover us over with Thy covering,

    وَ اعْفُ عَنَّا بِعَفْوِكَ ،

pardon us through Thy pardoning,

    وَ لَا تَنْصِبْنَا فِيهِ لِأَعْيُنِ الشَّامِتِينَ ،

place us not before the eyes of the gloaters because of that,

    وَ لَا تَبْسُطْ عَلَيْنَا فِيهِ أَلْسُنَ الطَّاعِنِينَ ،

stretch not toward us the tongues of the defamers,

    وَ اسْتَعْمِلْنَا بِمَا يَكُونُ حِطَّةً وَ كَفَّارَةً

and employ us in that which will alleviate and expiate

    لِمَا أَنْكَرْتَ مِنَّا فِيهِ بِرَأْفَتِكَ الَّتِي لَا تَنْفَدُ ،

whatever Thou disapprovest from us within it through Thy clemency which does not run out,

    وَ فَضْلِكَ الَّذِي لَا يَنْقُصُ

and Thy bounty which does not diminish!

     اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ ،

 O God, bless Muhammad and his Household,

    وَ اجْبُرْ مُصِيبَتَنَا بِشَهْرِنَا ،

redress our being afflicted by our month,

    وَ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِي يَوْمِ عِيدِنَا وَ فِطْرِنَا ،

bless us in this day of our festival and our fast-breaking,

    وَ اجْعَلْهُ مِنْ خَيْرِ يَوْمٍ مَرَّ عَلَيْنَا

make it one of the best of days that have passed over us,

    أَجْلَبِهِ لِعَفْوٍ ،

the greatest in attracting Thy pardon,

    وَ أَمْحَاهُ لِذَنْبٍ ،

and the most effacing toward sins,

    وَ اغْفِرْ لَنَا مَا خَفِيَ مِنْ ذُنُوبِنَا وَ مَا عَلَنَ

and forgive us our sins, both the concealed and the public!

     اللَّهُمَّ اسْلَخْنَا بِانْسِلَاخِ هَذَا الشَّهْرِ مِنْ خَطَايَانَا ،

 O God, with the passing of this month make us pass forth from our offenses,

    وَ أَخْرِجْنَا بِخُرُوجِهِ مِنْ سَيِّئَاتِنَا ،

with its departure make us depart from our evil deeds,

    وَ اجْعَلْنَا مِنْ أَسْعَدِ أَهْلِهِ بِهِ ،

and appoint us thereby among its most felicitous people,

    وَ أَجْزَلِهِمْ قِسْماً فِيهِ ،

the most plentiful of them in portion,

    وَ أَوْفَرِهِمْ حَظّاً مِنْهُ

and the fullest of them in share!

     اللَّهُمَّ وَ مَنْ رَعَى هَذَا الشَّهْرَ حَقَّ رِعَايَتِهِ ،

 O God, when any person observes this month as it should be observed,

    وَ حَفِظَ حُرْمَتَهُ حَقَّ حِفْظِهَا ،

safeguards its inviolability as it should be safeguarded,

    وَ قَامَ بِحُدُودِهِ حَقَّ قِيَامِهَا ،

attends to its bounds as they should be attended to,

    وَ اتَّقَى ذُنُوبَهُ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهَا ،

fears its misdeeds as they should be feared,

    أَوْ تَقَرَّبَ إِلَيْكَ بِقُرْبَةٍ

or seeks nearness to Thee with any act of nearness-seeking

    أَوْجَبَتْ رِضَاكَ لَهُ ،

which makes incumbent upon him Thy good pleasure

    وَ عَطَفَتْ رَحْمَتَكَ عَلَيْهِ ،

and bends toward him Thy mercy,

    فَهَبْ لَنَا مِثْلَهُ مِنْ وُجْدِكَ ،

give to us the like [of that] from Thy wealth

    وَ أَعْطِنَا أَضْعَافَهُ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ ،

and bestow it upon us in multiples through Thy bounty,

    فَإِنَّ فَضْلَكَ لَا يَغِيضُ ،

for Thy bounty does not diminish,

    وَ إِنَّ خَزَائِنَكَ لَا تَنْقُصُ بَلْ تَفِيضُ ،

Thy treasuries do not decrease but overflow,

    وَ إِنَّ مَعَادِنَ إِحْسَانِكَ لَا تَفْنَى ،

the mines of Thy beneficence are not exhausted,

    وَ إِنَّ عَطَاءَكَ لَلْعَطَاءُ الْمُهَنَّا

and Thy bestowal is the bestowal full of delight!

     اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ ،

 O God, bless Muhammad and his Household

    وَ اكْتُبْ لَنَا مِثْلَ أُجُورِ مَنْ صَامَهُ ،

and write for us the like of the wages of him who fasted in it

    أَوْ تَعَبَّدَ لَكَ فِيهِ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ

or worshipped Thee within it until the Day of Resurrection!

     اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَتُوبُ إِلَيْكَ فِي يَوْمِ فِطْرِنَا

 O God, we repent to Thee in our day of fast-breaking,

    الَّذِي جَعَلْتَهُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

which Thou hast appointed for the faithful

    عِيداً وَ سُرُوراً ،

a festival and a joy

    وَ لِأَهْلِ مِلَّتِكَ مَجْمَعاً وَ مُحْتَشَداً

and for the people of Thy creed a time of assembly and gathering,

    مِنْ كُلِّ ذَنْبٍ أَذْنَبْنَاهُ ،

from every misdeed we did,

    أَوْ سُوءٍ أَسْلَفْنَاهُ ،

ill work we sent ahead,

    أَوْ خَاطِرِ شَرٍّ أَضْمَرْنَاهُ ،

or evil thought we secretly conceived,

    تَوْبَةَ مَنْ لَا يَنْطَوِي عَلَى رُجُوعٍ إِلَى ذَنْبٍ ،

the repentance of one who does not harbour a return to sin

    وَ لَا يَعُودُ بَعْدَهَا فِي خَطِيئَةٍ ،

and who afterwards will not go back to offense,

    تَوْبَةً نَصُوحاً خَلَصَتْ مِنَ الشَّكِّ وَ الِارْتِيَابِ ،

an unswerving repentance rid of doubt and wavering.

    فَتَقَبَّلْهَا مِنَّا ، وَ ارْضَ عَنَّا ،

So accept it from us, be pleased with us,

    وَ ثَبِّتْنَا عَلَيْهَا

and fix us within it!

     اللَّهُمَّ ارْزُقْنَا خَوْفَ عِقَابِ الْوَعِيدِ ،

 O God, provide us with fear of the threatened punishment

    وَ شَوْقَ ثَوَابِ الْمَوْعُودِ

and yearning for the promised reward,

    حَتَّى نَجِدَ لَذَّةَ مَا نَدْعُوكَ بِهِ ،

so that we may find the pleasure of that for which we supplicate Thee

    وَ كَأْبَةَ مَا نَسْتَجِيرُكَ مِنْهُ

and the sorrow of that from which we seek sanctuary in Thee!

     وَ اجْعَلْنَا عِنْدَكَ مِنَ التَّوَّابِينَ

 And place us with Thee among the repenters,

    الَّذِينَ أَوْجَبْتَ لَهُمْ مَحَبَّتَكَ ،

those upon whom Thou hast made Thy love obligatory

    وَ قَبِلْتَ مِنْهُمْ مُرَاجَعَةَ طَاعَتِكَ ،

and from whom Thou hast accepted the return to obeying Thee!

    يَا أَعْدَلَ الْعَادِلِينَ

O Most Just of the just!

     اللَّهُمَّ تَجَاوَزْ عَنْ آبَائِنَا وَ أُمَّهَاتِنَا

 O God, show forbearance toward our fathers and our mothers

    وَ أَهْلِ دِينِنَا جَمِيعاً

and all the people of our religion,

    مَنْ سَلَفَ مِنْهُمْ وَ مَنْ غَبَرَ

those who have gone and those who will pass by,

    إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ

until the Day of Resurrection!

     اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ نَبِيِّنَا وَ آلِهِ

 O God, bless our prophet Muhammad and his Household,

    كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى مَلَائِكَتِكَ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ ،

as Thou hast blessed Thy angels brought nigh,

    وَ صَلِّ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ

bless him and his Household,

    كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى أَنْبِيَائِكَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ ،

as Thou hast blessed Thy prophets sent out,

    وَ صَلِّ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ

bless him and his Household,

    كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى عِبَادِكَ الصَّالِحِينَ ،

as Thou hast blessed Thy righteous servants

    وَ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ ،

 and better than that, O Lord of the worlds!

    صَلَاةً تَبْلُغُنَا بَرَكَتُهَا ،

a blessing whose benediction will reach us,

    وَ يَنَالُنَا نَفْعُهَا ،

whose benefit will attain to us,

    وَ يُسْتَجَابُ لَهَا دُعَاؤُنَا ،

and through which our supplication may be granted!

    إِنَّكَ أَكْرَمُ مَنْ رُغِبَ إِلَيْهِ ،

Thou art the most generous of those who are beseeched,

    وَ أَكْفَى مَنْ تُوُكِّلَ عَلَيْهِ ،

the most sufficient of those in whom confidence is had,

    وَ أَعْطَى مَنْ سُئِلَ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ ،

the most bestowing of those from whom bounty is asked,

    وَ أَنْتَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ قَدِيرٌ

and Thou art powerful over everything!