Supplication upon Completing a Reading of the Quran (42)

وَ كَانَ مِنْ دُعَائِهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ عِنْدَ خَتْمِ الْقُرْآنِ
His Supplication upon Completing a Reading of the Quran
Translated by William Chittick

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ أَعَنْتَنِي عَلَى خَتْمِ كِتَابِكَ

O God, Thou hast helped me complete Thy Book,

الَّذِي أَنْزَلْتَهُ نُوراً ،

which Thou sent down as a light1

وَ جَعَلْتَهُ مُهَيْمِناً عَلَى كُلِّ كِتَابٍ أَنْزَلْتَهُ ،

and appointed as a guardian over every book Thou hast sent down,

وَ فَضَّلْتَهُ عَلَى كُلِّ حَدِيثٍ قَصَصْتَهُ .

preferring it over every narrative which Thou hast recounted,

وَ فُرْقَاناً فَرَقْتَ بِهِ

a separator, through which Thou hast separated

بَيْنَ حَلَالِكَ وَ حَرَامِكَ ،

Thy lawful from Thy unlawful,

وَ قُرْآناً أَعْرَبْتَ بِهِ عَنْ شَرَائِعِ أَحْكَامِكَ

a Qur'an, through which Thou hast made plain the approaches to Thy ordinances,

وَ كِتَاباً فَصَّلْتَهُ لِعِبَادِكَ تَفْصِيلًا ،

a book, which Thou hast distinguished very distinctly for Thy servants,

وَ وَحْياً أَنْزَلْتَهُ

a revelation, which Thou hast sent down,

عَلَى نَبِيِّكَ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَوَاتُكَ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ تَنْزِيلًا .

a sending down, upon Thy prophet Muhammad Thy blessings be upon him and his Household.

وَ جَعَلْتَهُ

Thou appointed it

نُوراً نَهْتَدِي

a light through following which we may be guided

مِنْ ظُلَمِ الضَّلَالَةِ وَ الْجَهَالَةِ بِاتِّبَاعِهِ ،

from the shadows of error and ignorance,

وَ شِفَاءً لِمَنْ أَنْصَتَ

a healing for him who turns ear toward hearing it

بِفَهَمِ التَّصْدِيقِ إِلَى اسْتِمَاعِهِ ،

with the understanding of attestation,

وَ مِيزَانَ قِسْطٍ لَا يَحِيفُ عَنِ الْحَقِّ لِسَانُهُ ،

a just balance whose tongue does not incline away from truth,

وَ نُورَ هُدًى لَا يَطْفَأُ عَنِ الشَّاهِدِينَ بُرْهَانُهُ ،

a light of guidance whose proof is not extinguished before the witnesses,

وَ عَلَمَ نَجَاةٍ

and a guidepost of deliverance, so that

لَا يَضِلُّ مَنْ أَمَّ قَصْدَ سُنَّتِهِ ،

he who repairs straightway to its prescription will not go astray

وَ لا تَنَالُ أَيْدِي الْهَلَكَاتِ

and he who clings to its preservation's handhold

مَنْ تَعَلَّقَ بِعُرْوَةِ عِصْمَتِهِ .

will not be touched by the hands of disasters.

اللَّهُمَّ

O God,

فَإِذْ أَفَدْتَنَا الْمَعُونَةَ عَلَى تِلَاوَتِهِ ،

since Thou hast given us help to recite it

وَ سَهَّلْتَ جَوَاسِيَ أَلْسِنَتِنَا بِحُسْنِ عِبَارَتِهِ ،

and made smooth the roughness of our tongues through the beauty of its expression,

فَاجْعَلْنَا مِمَّنْ يَرْعَاهُ حَقَّ رِعَايَتِهِ ،

place us among those who observe it as it should be observed,

وَ يَدِينُ لَكَ بِاعْتِقَادِ التَّسْلِيمِ

serve Thee by adhering in submission

لِمُحْكَمِ آيَاتِهِ ،

to the firm text of its verses,

وَ يَفْزَعُ إِلَى الْإِقْرَارِ بِمُتَشَابِهِهِ ،

and seek refuge in admitting both its ambiguous parts

وَ مُوضَحَاتِ بَيِّنَاتِهِ .

and the elucidations of its clear signs!

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ أَنْزَلْتَهُ عَلَى نَبِيِّكَ مُحَمَّدٍ

O God, Thou sent it down upon Thy prophet Muhammad

صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ مُجْمَلًا ،

(God bless him and his household) in summary form,

وَ أَلْهَمْتَهُ عِلْمَ عَجَائِبِهِ مُكَمَّلًا ،

Thou inspired him with the science of its wonders to complement it,

وَ وَرَّثْتَنَا عِلْمَهُ مُفَسَّراً ،

Thou made us the heirs of its knowledge as interpreters,

وَ فَضَّلْتَنَا عَلَى مَنْ جَهِلَ عِلْمَهُ ،

Thou made us to surpass him who is ignorant of its knowledge,

وَ قَوَّيْتَنَا عَلَيْهِ

and Thou gave us strength over it

لِتَرْفَعَنَا فَوْقَ مَنْ لَمْ يُطِقْ حَمْلَهُ .

to raise us above those not able to carry it.

اللَّهُمَّ فَكَمَا جَعَلْتَ قُلُوبَنَا لَهُ حَمَلَةً ،

O God, just as Thou hast appointed our hearts as its carriers

وَ عَرَّفْتَنَا بِرَحْمَتِكَ شَرَفَهُ وَ فَضْلَهُ ،

and made known to us through Thy mercy its nobility and excellence,

فَصَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ الْخَطِيبِ بِهِ ،

so also bless Muhammad, its preacher,

وَ عَلَى آلِهِ الْخُزَّانِ لَهُ ،

and his Household, its guardians,

وَ اجْعَلْنَا مِمَّنْ يَعْتَرِفُ بِأَنَّهُ مِنْ عِنْدِكَ

and place us among those who confess that it has come from Thee,

حَتَّى لَا يُعَارِضَنَا الشَّكُّ فِي تَصْدِيقِهِ ،

lest doubt about attesting to it assail us,

وَ لَا يَخْتَلِجَنَا الزَّيْغُ عَنْ قَصْدِ طَرِيقِهِ .

or deviation from its straightforward path shake us!

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ ،

O God, bless Muhammad and his Household

وَ اجْعَلْنَا مِمَّنْ يَعْتَصِمُ بِحَبْلِهِ ،

and make us one of those who hold fast to its cord,

وَ يَأْوِي مِنَ الْمُتَشَابِهَاتِ إِلَى حِرْزِ مَعْقِلِهِ ،

seek haven from its ambiguities in its fortified stronghold,

وَ يَسْكُنُ فِي ظِلِّ جَنَاحِهِ ،

rest in the shadow of its wing,

وَ يَهْتَدِي بِضَوْءِ صَبَاحِهِ ،

find guidance in the brightness of its morning,

وَ يَقْتَدِي بِتَبَلُّجِ أَسْفَارِهِ ،

follow the shining of its disclosure,

وَ يَسْتَصْبِحُ بِمِصْبَاحِهِ ،

acquire light from its lamp,

وَ لَا يَلْتَمِسُ الْهُدَى فِي غَيْرِهِ .

and beg not guidance from any other!

اللَّهُمَّ وَ كَمَا نَصَبْتَ بِهِ مُحَمَّداً

O God, just as through it Thou hast set up Muhammad

عَلَماً لِلدَّلَالَةِ عَلَيْكَ ،

as a guidepost to point to Thee

وَ أَنْهَجْتَ بِآلِهِ سُبُلَ الرِّضَا إِلَيْكَ ،

and through his Household Thou hast made clear Thy good pleasure's roads to Thee,

فَصَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ ،

so also bless Muhammad and his Household

وَ اجْعَلِ الْقُرْآنَ وَسِيلَةً لَنَا إِلَى أَشْرَفِ مَنَازِلِ الْكَرَامَةِ ،

and make the Qur'an our mediation to the noblest stations of Thy honour,

وَ سُلَّماً نَعْرُجُ فِيهِ إِلَى مَحَلِّ السَّلَامَةِ ،

a ladder by which we may climb to the place of safety,

وَ سَبَباً نُجْزَى بِهِ

a cause for our being repaid

النَّجَاةَ فِي عَرْصَةِ الْقِيَامَةِ ،

with deliverance at the Plain of Resurrection,

وَ ذَرِيعَةً نَقْدَمُ بِهَا

and a means whereby we may reach

عَلَى نَعِيمِ دَارِ الْمُقَامَةِ .

the bliss of the House of Permanence!

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ ،

O God, bless Muhammad and his Household,

وَ احْطُطْ بِالْقُرْآنِ عَنَّا ثِقْلَ الْأَوْزَارِ ،

lessen for us through the Qur'an the weight of heavy sins,

وَ هَبْ لَنَا حُسْنَ شَمَائِلِ الْأَبْرَارِ ،

give to us the excellent qualities of the pious,

وَ اقْفُ بِنَا آثَارَ الَّذِينَ قَامُوا لَكَ بِهِ

and make us follow the tracks of those who stood before Thee

آنَاءَ اللَّيْلِ وَ أَطْرَافَ النَّهَارِ

in the watches of the night and the ends of the day,

حَتَّى تُطَهِّرَنَا مِنْ كُلِّ دَنَسٍ بِتَطْهِيرِهِ ،

such that Thou purifiest us from every defilement through its purification

وَ تَقْفُوَ بِنَا آثَارَ الَّذِينَ اسْتَضَاءُوا بِنُورِهِ ،

and makest us to follow the tracks of those who have taken illumination from its light

وَ لَمْ يُلْهِهِمُ الْأَمَلُ عَنِ الْعَمَلِ

and whom expectation has not distracted from works,

فَيَقْطَعَهُمْ بِخُدَعِ غُرُورِهِ .

cutting them off through its delusions' deceptions!

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ ،

O God, bless Muhammad and his Household

وَ اجْعَلِ الْقُرْآنَ لَنَا

and appoint the Qur'an

فِي ظُلَمِ اللَّيَالِي مُونِساً ،

for us an intimate in the shadows of nights

وَ مِنْ نَزَغَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ وَ خَطَرَاتِ الْوَسَاوِسِ حَارِساً ،

and a guardian against the instigations of Satan and confusing thoughts,

وَ لِأَقْدَامِنَا عَنْ نَقْلِهَا إِلَى الْمَعَاصِي حَابِساً ،

for our feet an obstruction from passing to acts of disobedience,

وَ لِأَلْسِنَتِنَا عَنِ الْخَوْضِ فِي الْبَاطِلِ مِنْ غَيْرِ مَا آفَةٍ مُخْرِساً ،

for our tongues a silencer without blight preventing a plunge into falsehood,

وَ لِجَوَارِحِنَا عَنِ اقْتِرَافِ الْآثَامِ زَاجِراً ،

for our limbs a restrainer from committing sins,

وَ لِمَا طَوَتِ الْغَفْلَةُ عَنَّا مِنْ تَصَفُّحِ الِاعْتِبَارِ نَاشِراً ،

and for the scrutiny of heedfulness rolled up in heedlessness an unroller,

حَتَّى تُوصِلَ إِلَى قُلُوبِنَا فَهْمَ عَجَائِبِهِ ،

such that Thou attachest to our hearts the understanding of the Qur'an's wonders

وَ زَوَاجِرَ أَمْثَالِهِ

and its restraining similitudes

الَّتِي ضَعُفَتِ الْجِبَالُ الرَّوَاسِي عَلَى صَلَابَتِهَا

which immovable mountains in all their solidity

عَنِ احْتِمَالِهِ .

were too weak to carry!

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ ،

O God, bless Muhammad and his Household

وَ أَدِمْ بِالْقُرْآنِ صَلَاحَ ظَاهِرِنَا ،

and through the Qur'an make permanent the rightness of our outward selves,

وَ احْجُبْ بِهِ خَطَرَاتِ الْوَسَاوِسِ

veil the ideas of confusing thoughts

عَنْ صِحَّةِ ضَمَائِرِنَا ،

from the soundness of our innermost minds,

وَ اغْسِلْ بِهِ دَرَنَ قُلُوبِنَا وَ عَلَائِقَ أَوْزَارِنَا ،

wash away the dirt of our hearts and the ties of our heavy sins,

وَ اجْمَعْ بِهِ مُنْتَشَرَ أُمُورِنَا ،

gather our scattered affairs,

وَ أَرْوِ بِهِ فِي مَوْقِفِ الْعَرْضِ عَلَيْكَ ظَمَأَ هَوَاجِرِنَا ،

quench the thirst of our burning heat in the standing place of the presentation to Thee,

وَ اكْسُنَا بِهِ حُلَلَ الْأَمَانِ

and clothe us in the robes of security

يَوْمَ الْفَزَعِ الْأَكْبَرِ فِي نُشُورِنَا .

on the Day of the Greatest Terror at our uprising!

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ ،

O God, bless Muhammad and his Household

وَ اجْبُرْ بِالْقُرْآنِ خَلَّتَنَا مِنْ عَدَمِ الْإِمْلَاقِ ،

and through the Qur'an redress our lack - our destitution in poverty -

وَ سُقْ إِلَيْنَا بِهِ رَغَدَ الْعَيْشِ

drive toward us the comforts of life

وَ خِصْبَ سَعَةِ الْأَرْزَاقِ ،

and an abundance of plentiful provisions,

وَ جَنِّبْنَا بِهِ الضَّرَائِبَ الْمَذْمُومَةَ وَ مَدَانِيَ الْأَخْلَاقِ ،

turn aside blameworthy character traits and base moral qualities,

وَ اعْصِمْنَا بِهِ مِنْ هُوَّةِ الْكُفْرِ وَ دَوَاعِي النِّفَاقِ

and preserve us from the pit of unbelief and the motives for hypocrisy,

حَتَّى يَكُونَ لَنَا فِي الْقِيَامَةِ

such that the Qur'an may be for us at the resurrection a leader

إِلَى رِضْوَانِكَ وَ جِنَانِكَ قَائِداً ،

to Thy good pleasure and Thy gardens,

وَ لَنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا عَنْ سُخْطِكَ وَ تَعَدِّي حُدُودِكَ ذَائِداً ،

for us in this world a protector against Thy displeasure and transgressing Thy bounds

وَ لِمَا عِنْدَكَ

and for what is with Thee a witness

بِتَحْلِيلِ حَلَالِهِ وَ تَحْرِيمِ حَرَامِهِ شَاهِداً .

by its declaring lawful the lawful and its declaring unlawful the unlawful!

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ ،

O God, bless Muhammad and his Household

وَ هَوِّنْ بِالْقُرْآنِ عِنْدَ الْمَوْتِ عَلَى أَنْفُسِنَا

and through the Qur'an make easy for our souls at death

كَرْبَ السِّيَاقِ ،

the distress of the driving,

وَ جَهْدَ الْأَنِينِ ،

the effort of the moaning,

وَ تَرَادُفَ الْحَشَارِجِ إِذَا بَلَغَتِ النُّفُوسُ التَّرَاقِيَ ،

and the succession of the rattling, when souls reach the throats

وَ قِيلَ مَنْ رَاقٍ

and it is said, 'Where is the enchanter?';

وَ تَجَلَّى مَلَكُ الْمَوْتِ لِقَبْضِهَا مِنْ حُجُبِ الْغُيُوبِ ،

when the angel of death discloses himself to seize them from behind the veils of unseen things,

وَ رَمَاهَا عَنْ قَوْسِ الْمَنَايَا بِأَسْهُمِ وَحْشَةِ الْفِرَاقِ ،

letting loose at them from the bow of destinies the arrows of the terror of lonesome separation,

وَ دَافَ لَهَا مِنْ ذُعَافِ الْمَوْتِ

and mixing for them from sudden death

كَأْساً مَسْمُومَةَ الْمَذَاقِ ،

a cup poisoned to the taste;

وَ دَنَا مِنَّا إِلَى الْآخِرَةِ رَحِيلٌ وَ انْطِلَاقٌ ،

and when departure and release for the hereafter come close to us,

وَ صَارَتِ الْأَعْمَالُ قَلَائِدَ فِي الْأَعْنَاقِ ،

works become collars around the necks,

وَ كَانَتِ الْقُبُورُ هِيَ الْمَأْوَى

and the graves become the haven

إِلَى مِيقَاتِ يَوْمِ التَّلَاقِ .

until the appointed time of the Day of Encounter!

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ ،

O God, bless Muhammad and his Household,

وَ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِي حُلُولِ دَارِ الْبِلَى ،

make blessed for us the arrival at the house of decay

وَ طُولِ الْمُقَامَةِ بَيْنَ أَطْبَاقِ الثَّرَى ،

and the drawn out residence between the layers of the earth,

وَ اجْعَلِ الْقُبُورَ بَعْدَ فِرَاقِ الدُّنْيَا خَيْرَ مَنَازِلِنَا ،

appoint the graves, after separation from this world, the best of our waystations,

وَ افْسَحْ لَنَا بِرَحْمَتِكَ فِي ضِيقِ مَلَاحِدِنَا ،

make roomy for us through Thy mercy the narrowness of our tombs,

وَ لَا تَفْضَحْنَا فِي حَاضِرِي الْقِيَامَةِ

and disgrace us not among those present at the Resurrection

بِمُوبِقَاتِ آثَامِنَا .

through our ruinous sins!

وَ ارْحَمْ بِالْقُرْآنِ

Through the Qur'an have mercy

فِي مَوْقِفِ الْعَرْضِ عَلَيْكَ ذُلَّ مَقَامِنَا ،

upon the lowliness of our station at the standing place of presentation to Thee,

وَ ثَبِّتْ بِهِ عِنْدَ اضْطِرَابِ جِسْرِ جَهَنَّمَ

make firm the slips of our feet during the shaking of the bridge across hell

يَوْمَ الْمَجَازِ عَلَيْهَا زَلَلَ أَقْدَامِنَا ،

on the day of passage over it,

وَ نَوِّرْ بِهِ قَبْلَ الْبَعْثِ سُدَفَ قُبُورِنَا ،

illuminate the darkness of our graves before the Uprising,

وَ نَجِّنَا بِهِ مِنْ كُلِّ كَرْبٍ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ

and deliver us from every distress on the Day of Resurrection

وَ شَدَائِدِ أَهْوَالِ يَوْمِ الطَّامَّةِ

and from the hardships of terrors on the Day of Disaster!

وَ بَيِّضْ وُجُوهَنَا

Whiten our faces

يَوْمَ تَسْوَدُّ وُجُوهُ الظَّلَمَةِ

on the day when the faces of wrongdoers are blackened

فِي يَوْمِ الْحَسْرَةِ وَ النَّدَامَةِ ،

during the Day of Regret and Remorse,

وَ اجْعَلْ لَنَا فِي صُدُورِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وُدّاً ،

appoint love for us in the breasts of the faithful,

وَ لَا تَجْعَلِ الْحَيَاةَ عَلَيْنَا نَكَداً .

and make not life for us troublesome!

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ عَبْدِكَ وَ رَسُولِكَ

O God, bless Muhammad, Thy servant and Thy messenger,

كَمَا بَلَّغَ رِسَالَتَكَ ،

just as He delivered Thy message,

وَ صَدَعَ بِأَمْرِكَ ،

executed Thy command,

وَ نَصَحَ لِعِبَادِكَ .

and counselled Thy servants!

اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ نَبِيَّنَا

O God, on the Day of Resurrection make our Prophet

صَلَوَاتُكَ عَلَيْهِ وَ عَلَى آلِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ

Thy blessings be upon him and his Household

أَقْرَبَ الْنَّبِيِّينَ مِنْكَ مَجْلِساً ،

the nearest of the prophets to Thee in seat,

وَ أَمْكَنَهُمْ مِنْكَ شَفَاعَةً ،

the ablest of them before Thee with intercession,

وَ أَجَلَّهُمْ عِنْدَكَ قَدْراً ،

the greatest of them with Thee in measure,

وَ أَوْجَهَهُمْ عِنْدَكَ جَاهاً .

and the most eminent of them with Thee in rank!

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ ،

O God, bless Muhammad and the Household of Muhammad,

وَ شَرِّفْ بُنْيَانَهُ ، وَ عَظِّمْ بُرْهَانَهُ ،

ennoble his edifice, magnify his proof,

وَ ثَقِّلْ مِيزَانَهُ ، وَ تَقَبَّلْ شَفَاعَتَهُ ،

make weighty his balance, accept his intercession,

وَ قَرِّبْ وَسِيلَتَهُ ،

bring near his mediation,

وَ بَيِّضْ وَجْهَهُ ، وَ أَتِمَّ نُورَهُ ، وَ ارْفَعْ دَرَجَتَهُ

whiten his face, complete his light, and raise his degree!

وَ أَحْيِنَا عَلَى سُنَّتِهِ ،

Make us live according to his Sunna,

وَ تَوَفَّنَا عَلَى مِلَّتِهِ

make us die in his creed,

وَ خُذْ بِنَا مِنْهَاجَهُ ، وَ اسْلُكْ بِنَا سَبِيلَهُ ،

take us on his road, make us travel his path,

وَ اجْعَلْنَا مِنْ أَهْلِ طَاعَتِهِ ،

place us among the people who obey him,

وَ احْشُرْنَا فِي زُمْرَتِهِ ، وَ أَوْرِدْنَا حَوْضَهُ ، وَ اسْقِنَا بِكَأْسِهِ

muster us in his band, lead us to up his pool, and give us to drink of his cup!

وَ صَلِّ اللَّهُمَّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ ،

And bless Muhammad and his Household,

صَلَاةً تُبَلِّغُهُ بِهَا

with a blessing through which Thou wilt take him

أَفْضَلَ مَا يَأْمُلُ مِنْ خَيْرِكَ وَ فَضْلِكَ وَ كَرَامَتِكَ ،

to the most excellent of Thy good, Thy bounty, and Thy generosity for which he hopes!

إِنَّكَ ذُو رَحْمَةٍ وَاسِعَةٍ ، وَ فَضْلٍ كَرِيمٍ .

Thou art Possessor of boundless mercy and generous bounty.

اللَّهُمَّ اجْزِهِ بِمَا بَلَّغَ مِنْ رِسَالَاتِكَ ،

O God, repay him for Thy messages which he delivered,

وَ أَدَّى مِنْ آيَاتِكَ ،

Thy signs which he passed on,

وَ نَصَحَ لِعِبَادِكَ ،

the good counsel he gave to Thy servants,

وَ جَاهَدَ فِي سَبِيلِكَ ،

and the struggle he undertook in Thy way,

أَفْضَلَ مَا جَزَيْتَ أَحَداً مِنْ مَلَائِكَتِكَ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ ،

with the best Thou hast repaid any of Thy angels brought nigh

وَ أَنْبِيَائِكَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ الْمُصْطَفَيْنَ ،

and Thy prophets sent out and chosen!

وَ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْهِ وَ عَلَى آلِهِ الطَّيِّبِينَ الطَّاهِرِينَ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَ بَرَكَاتُهُ .

And upon him and his Household, the good, the pure, be peace, God's mercy, and His blessings!