Imam Zein Al Abideens supplication in confession and in seeking repentance towards Allah

In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Imam Zein Al-Abideen's supplication on confession and seeking repentance to Allah, the Most High

Wa kaana min dua'aa-ihee 'alay-his-salaamu feelia'-tiraafi wat'alabit-taw-bati ilaala-laahee taa'alaa

دُعَائِهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فِي الِاعْتِرَافِ وَ طَلَبِ التَّوْبَةِ إِلَى اللَّهِ تَعَالَى

O Allah, Three traits have prevented me from asking You and one trait has urged me on: I am prevented by a command You have commanded to which I have reacted slowly, a prohibition You have prohibited toward which I have hastened, and a favor through which You have favored for which I have not expressed sufficient gratitude. I am urged to ask You by Your gratuitous bounty bestowed upon he who turns his face toward You and seeks your refugee driven by his great expectations, since all Your beneficence is gratuitous bounty and each of Your favors is preceded by nothing!

Al-laahum-ma in-nahoo yah'-jubunee 'am-mas-alatika khilaalun thalaath wa tah'-doonee 'alay-haa khal-latoo-waah'idah yah'-jubunee am-run amar-ta bihee faab-t'aa-tu 'an-h wa nah-yun-nahay-tanée 'an-hoo faas-raa'-tu ilay-h wa nia'-matun an-a'm-ta bihaa 'alay-ya fa-qas'-s'ar-tu fee shuk-rihaa wa yah'-doonee 'alaa mas-alatika tafaz''-z''uluka 'alaa man aq-bala biwaj-hihee ilay-k wa wafada bih'us-ni z'an-niheee ilay-k id' jaméeu' ih'-saanika tafaz''-z''ul wa id' kul-lu nia'mika ab-tidaaa-.

أَللَّهُمَّ إنَّهُ يَحْجُبُنِي عَنْ مَسْأَلَتِكَ خِلاَلٌ ثَلاثٌ وَتَحْدُونِي عَلَيْهَا خَلَّةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ، يَحْجُبُنِي أَمْرٌ أَمَرْتَ بِهِ فَأَبْطَأتُ عَنْهُ، وَنَهْيٌ نَهَيْتَنِي عَنْهُ فَأَسْرَعْتُ إلَيْهِ، وَنِعْمَةٌ أَنْعَمْتَ بِهَا عَلَيَّ فَقَصَّـرْتُ فِي شُكْرِهَـا. وَيَحْدُونِي عَلَى مَسْأَلَتِكَ تَفَضُّلُكَ عَلَى مَنْ أَقْبَلَ بِوَجْهِهِ إلَيْكَ، وَوَفَدَ بِحُسْنِ ظَنِّـهِ إلَيْكَ، إذْ جَمِيعُ إحْسَانِكَ تَفَضُّلٌ، وَإذْ كُلُّ نِعَمِكَ ابْتِدَاءٌ.

So here I am, my Lord, Standing at the gate of Your might, The way the lowly, the surrendered, stands invoking You in my shame, The way the destitute, the pitiful, invokes admitting to You that at the time of Your beneficence I surrendered not, save through abstaining from disobedience toward You, and in none of my states was I ever without Your Kindness.

Fahá aná dhá yaaa ilaahee wáaqifum-bíbábi 'iz-zika wqoofal-mus-tas-límid'-d'alíl wa sáa-iluka 'alaal-h'ayáa-i min-nee soo-áalal-báaa-isil-mu'eel muqir-rul-laka bin-nee lam as-tas-lim waq-ta ih'-sáanika il-láa bil-íq-láaí' 'an í's'-yáaník wa lam ákhlu fil-h'aaláati kul-líhaa miní am-tináaník.

فَهَا أَنَا ذَا يَا إلهِيْ وَاقِفٌ بِبَابِ عِزِّكَ وُقُوفَ الْمُسْتَسْلِمِ الذَّلِيْل، وَسَائِلُكَ عَلَى الْحَيَاءِ مِنّي سُؤَالَ الْبَائِسِ الْمُعِيْلِ. مُقـرٌّ لَكَ بِأَنّي لَمْ أَسْتَسْلِمْ وَقْتَ إحْسَانِـكَ إِلَّا بِالْإِقْلَاعِ عَنْ عِصْيَانِكَ، وَلَمْ أَخْلُ فِي الْحَالاتِ كُلِّهَا مِنِ امْتِنَانِكَ.

Will it profit me, my Lord, To admit to You the evil of what I have earned? Will it save me from You to confess the ugliness of what I have committed? Or will You impose upon me in this status of mine Your displeasure? Will Your abhorrence hold fast to me in the time of my supplication?

Fahal yanfau'nee yaaa ilaaheee iq-raaree 'indaka bísóoo-í mak-tasab-t? wahal yunjéenee minka aa'-tiráafee laka biqabééhí mar-takab-t? am aw-jab-ta lee fee maqáamee had'áa sukh-t'ak? am lazimanée fee waq-ti du'áaa-ée maqtuk?

فَهَلْ يَنْفَعُنِي يَا إلهِي إقْرَارِي عِنْدَكَ بِسُوءِ مَا اكْتَسَبْتُ؟ وَهَلْ يُنْجِيْنِي مِنْكَ اعْتِرَافِي لَكَ بِقَبِيْحِ مَا ارْتَكَبْتُ؟ أَمْ أَوْجَبْتَ لِي فِي مَقَامِي هَذَا سُخْطَكَ؟ أَمْ لَزِمَنِي فِي وَقْتِ دُعَائِي مَقْتُكَ؟

Glory be to You! I do not despair of You, for You have opened the door of repentance toward Yourself. Rather, I say the words of a lowly servant who has wronged himself and underestimated his Lord's inviolability, [The servant] whose sins are dreadful and great, whose days have parted and fled, until the time in which he sees that the term of his works expired, and the limit of his lifetime has been reached, and knows with certainty that he has no escape from You, and no place to flee from You. He turns back to You, and makes his repentance toward You sincere, Stands before You with a pure and purified heart, then supplicates You with a feeble, quiet voice. He is bowed before You, bent, His head lowered in humility, His legs shaking in fear, His tears pouring on his cheeks.

Sub-h'áanak! láa ay-asu minka waqad fatahá-ta lee báabat-taw-bati ilay-k bal aqóólu maqáalal-'ab-did'-d'alíli az'-z'aalimí linaf-síh al-mus-takhif-fí bih'ur-mati rab-bíh al-lad'ée 'az'umat dhunóóbuhoo fajal-lat- wa ad-barat ay-yáamuhoo fawal-lat- h'at-táaa idh'áa ráaa mud-datal-'amali qadí anqaz'at- wa gháayatal-'umuri qadí antahat wa ay-qana an-nahoo láa mah'éés'a lahoo mínk wa láa mah-raba lahoo 'ank talaq-qáaka bil-ínáabah wa ákhlas'a lakat-taw-bah faqaama ilay-ka biqal-bín t'áahirin-naqéé thum-ma dáa'áaka bis'aw-tín h'áaa-ílin khaféé qad t-tat'áa-t'aa laka fan-h'anáa wa nak-kasa ráa-sahoo faanthanáa qad ar-'ashat khash-yatuhoo rij-láyh wa ghar-raqat d-dumóóu'hoo khad-dáayh.

سُبْحَانَكَ! لاَ أَيْأَسُ مِنْكَ وَقَدْ فَتَحْتَ لِيَ بَابَ التَّوْبَةِ إلَيْكَ، بَلْ أَقُولُ مَقَالَ الْعَبْدِ الذَّلِيلِ الظَّالِمِ لِنَفْسِهِ الْمُسْتَخِفِّ بِحُرْمَةِ رَبِّهِ الَّذِي عَظُمَتْ ذُنُوبُهُ فَجَلَّتْ وَأَدْبَرَتْ أَيّامُهُ فَوَلَّتْ حَتَّى إذَا رَأى مُدَّةَ الْعَمَلِ قَدِ انْقَضَتْ وَغَايَةَ الْعُمُرِ قَدِ انْتَهَتْ، وَأَيْقَنَ أَنَّهُ لا مَحيصَ لَهُ مِنْكَ، وَلاَ مَهْرَبَ لَهُ عَنْكَ تَلَقَّاكَ بِالانَابَةِ، وَأَخْلَصَ لَكَ التَّوْبَةَ، فَقَامَ إلَيْكَ بِقَلْبِ طَاهِر نَقِيٍّ ثُمَّ دَعَاكَ بِصَوْت حَائِل خَفِيٍّ، قَدْ تَطَأطَأَ لَكَ فَانْحَنى، وَنَكَّسَ رَأسَهُ فَانْثَنَى، قَدْ أَرْعَشَتْ خَشْيَتُهُ رِجْلَيْهِ، وَغَرَّقَتْ دُمُوعُهُ خَدَّيْهِ.

He supplicates You: O Most Merciful of the merciful! O Most Merciful of those toward Whom seekers of mercy keep on turning! O Most Tender of those around Whom run the seekers of forgiveness! O He Whose pardon is greater than His vengeance! O He Whose good pleasure is more abundant than His anger! O He Whose creatures praise His forgiveness of sins by good deeds! O He Who has accustomed His servants to the acceptance of their repeated turning! O He Who seeks to reform their corruption through repentance! O He Who is pleased with the ease of their acts! O He Who recompenses, with the much, their little! O He Who has made Himself accountable to them to respond to supplication! O He Who pledged Himself by His gratuitous bounty to give them excellent repayment!

Yad-'úwka bí-yáaa ar-h'amar-ráah'iméén wa yaaa ar-h'ama maní antáabahul-mus-tar-h'imóón wa yaaa aa'-t'afa man at'áafa bíhíl-mus-tagh-firóón wa yaa man 'af-wuhóoo ak-tharu min-naqímatíh wa yaa mar-rídh'áahóoo aw-faru min sakhát'íh wa yaa man tah'am-mada iláa khal-qíhee bíh'us-nít-tajáawuz wa yaa man 'aw-wada 'íbáadahoo qabóólal-ínáabah wa yaa maní as-tas'-lah'a fáasidahum bít-taw-bah wa yaa mar-radh'éea mín fí'líhím bíl-yaséér wa yaa man káafáa qáléélahum bíl-kathéér wa yaa man z'amina lahum íjáabatád-du'áaa-í wa yaa maw-wáa'adahum 'aláa naf-síheé bítáfaz''-z''ulíhee h'us-nal-jazaáa-í.

يَدْعُوكَ بِيَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ وَيَا أَرْحَمَ مَنِ انْتَابَهُ الْمُسْتَرْحِمُونَ، وَيَا أَعْطَفَ مَنْ أَطَافَ بِهِ الْمُسْتَغْفِرُونَ، وَيَا مَنْ عَفْوُهُ أَكْثَرُ مِنْ نِقْمَتِهِ، وَيَا مَنْ رِضَاهُ أَوْفَرُ مِنْ سَخَطِهِ، وَيَا مَنْ تَحَمَّدَ إِلَى خَلْقِهِ بِحُسْنِ التَّجَاوُزِ، وَيَا مَنْ عَوَّدَ عِبَادَهُ قَبُولَ الإِنَابَةِ، وَيَا مَنِ اسْتَصْلَحَ فَاسِدَهُمْ بِالتَّوْبَةِ وَيَا مَنْ رَضِيَ مِنْ فِعْلِهِمْ بِالْيَسِيرِ، وَيَا مَنْ كَافى قَلِيلَهُمْ بِالْكَثِيرِ، وَيَا مَنْ ضَمِنَ لَهُمْ إِجَابَةَ الدُّعَاءِ، وَيَا مَنْ وَعَدَهُمْ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ بِتَفَضُّلِهِ حُسْنَ الْجَزَاءِ.

I am not the most disobedient of those who have disobeyed You, and whom You have forgiven, Nor am I the most blameworthy to offer excuses which You have accepted, Nor am I the most wrongful of those who have repented to You, and to whom You have returned I repent to You in this my status, the repentance of one remorseful over what preceded from him hastily, Apprehensive of what has gathered around him, Pure in shame for that into which he has fallen, Knowing that pardoning great sins is nothing great for You, Overlooking enormous misdeeds is not difficult for You, Putting up with indecent crimes does not trouble You, and the most beloved of Your servants to You is he who refrains from arrogance before You, Pulls aside from persistence, and holds fast to praying forgiveness! I am clear before You of arrogance, I seek refuge in You from persistence, I pray forgiveness from You for shortcomings, I seek help from You in incapacity!

Máaa anáa bí-á's'aa man 'as'áaka fághafar-ta lah wa máaa anáa bíl-wámí maní aa'-tád'aráa íláyka faqabíl-ta mín-h wa máaa anáa biz'-lámí man táaba íláyka fau't-ta 'alay-h atóóbu íláyka fee maqáamee háa-d'aa taw-bata náadimín 'aláa máa fárát'a mín-h mush-fiqím-mím-máj-tama'á 'aláyh kháalis'il-h'ayáa-í mím-máa waqáa' feéh 'áalimín bí-an-nal-'af-wa 'áníd'-d'ambíl-'az'éémí láa yata'áaz'amúk wa an-nat-tájáawuza 'áníl-íthmíl-jaléélí láa yas-tas'-íbúk wa an-na ah'-timáalál-jináayáatíl-fáah'isháti láa yatakáa-adúk wa an-na ah'ab-ba 'íbáadiká íláyká man tarakáálís-tík-báará 'aláyk wa jáanabal-ís'-ráar wa lázímálís-tígh-fáar wa anáa ab-ra-u íláyká mín an as-tak-bír wa á'óódhú bíká mín án us'ír was-tagh-fírúká limáa qas'-s'ar-tú feéh wa as-táe'énú bíká 'aláa máa 'áajaz-tú 'an-h.

مَا أَنَا بِأَعْصَى مَنْ عَصَاكَ فَغَفَرْتَ لَهُ، وَمَا أَنَا بِأَلْوَمِ مَنِ اعْتَذَرَ إِلَيْكَ فَقَبِلْتَ مِنْهُ، وَمَا أَنَا بِأَظْلَمِ مَنْ تَابَ إِلَيْكَ فَعُدْتَ عَلَيْهِ، أَتُوبُ إِلَيْكَ فِي مَقَامِي هَذَا تَوْبَةَ نَادِم عَلَى مَا فَرَطَ مِنْهُ مُشْفِق مِمَّا اجْتَمَعَ عَلَيْهِ خَالِصِ الْحَيَاءِ مِمَّا وَقَعَ فِيْهِ، عَالِم بِأَنَّ الْعَفْوَ عَنِ الذَّنْبِ الْعَظِيمِ لاَ يَتَعـاظَمُكَ، وَأَنَّ التَّجَـاوُزَ عَنِ الإِثْمِ الْجَلِيْلِ لا يَسْتَصْعِبُكَ، وَأَنَّ احْتِمَالَ الْجنايَاتِ الْفَـاحِشَةِ لا يَتَكَأَّدُكَ، وَأَنَّ أَحَبَّ عِبَادِكَ إِلَيْكَ مَنْ تَرَكَ الإِسْتِكْبَارَ عَلَيْكَ، وَجَانَبَ الْإِصْرَارَ، وَلَزِمَ الْإِسْتِغْفَارَ. وَأَنَا أَبْرَأُ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ أَنْ أَسْتَكْبِرَ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ أَنْ أُصِرَّ. وَأَسْتَغْفِرُكَ لِمَا قَصَّرْتُ فِيهِ، وَأَسْتَعِينُ بِكَ عَلَى مَا عَجَزْتُ عَنْهُ.

O Allah, Bless Muhammad and his Household, Dispense with what is incumbent upon me toward You, Release me from what I merit from You, and grant me sanctuary from what the evildoers fear, For You are full of pardon, the hoped-for source of forgiveness, well known for Your forbearance. My need has no object but You, My sin no forgiver other than You - could that be possible? I have no fear for myself except from You; You are worthy of reverential fear, and worthy to forgive!

Al-láahum-ma s'al-li 'aláa muh'am-madíw-wa áalíh wa hab lee máa yájíbu 'alay-ya lák wa 'áafinéé mím-máaa as-tawjíbuhóo mínk wa ájíí-rnee mím-máa yakháafuhóoo ahlúl-ísáaa-ah fa in-naka maléé-um-bíl-'af-w mar-jóó-wú líl-magh-firah máa'-róófum-bít-tajáawuz láysa líh'áajatee mat'-labún síwáak wa láa lídhambéé gháafirún gháy-ruk h'áasháak wa láaa ákháafu 'aláa naf-séeé il-láaa íí-yáak in-naka ahlút-taq-wáa wa ahlúl-magh-fírah.

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّد وَآلِهِ وَهَبْ لِي مَا يَجبُ عَلَيَّ لَكَ، وَعَافِنِي مِمَّا أَسْتَوْجِبُهُ مِنْكَ، وَأَجِرْنِي مِمَّا يَخَافُهُ أَهْلُ الْإِسَاءَةِ فَإِنَّكَ مَلِيءٌ بِالْعَفْوِ، مَرْجُوٌّ لِلْمَغْفِرَةِ، مَعْرُوفٌ بِالتَّجَاوُزِ، لَيْسَ لِحَاجَتِي مَطْلَبٌ سِوَاكَ، وَلَا لِذَنْبِي غَافِرٌ غَيْرُكَ، حَاشَاكَ وَلَا أَخَافُ عَلَى نَفْسِي إِلَّا إِيَّاكَ إِنَّكَ أَهْلُ التَّقْوَى وَأَهْلُ الْمَغْفِرَةِ.

Bless Muhammad and his Household, Grant my need, Answer my request favorably, Forgive my sin, and give me security from fear for myself! You are powerful over everything, and that is easy for You. Amen, O Lord of the Worlds!