دهتنيstruck me الرزاياcalamities سيديmy Master وألمَّand befell بِيupon me
دهتني الرزايا سيدي وألمَّ بِي
بلاءٌan affliction عفىeffaced رسميmy trace وآدand burdened احتمالياmy endurance
بلاءٌ عفى رسمي وآد احتماليا
Calamities have struck me, my Master, and there has befallen me
My lord, troubles have afflicted me and brought me pain
An affliction that effaced my trace and overtaxed my endurance.
A test whose course exceeded my endurance
وماand not أناI فيin شكوايmy complaint ماwhat لاnot أطيقهI can bear it
وما أنا في شكواي ما لا أطيقه
غضوبangry علىat الأقدارfate's decrees أوor لستI am not راضياcontent
غضوب على الأقدار أو لست راضيا
In complaining of what I cannot bear, I am not
Yet I do not complain of what I cannot bear
Angry at the decrees of fate, or lacking contentment.
Or grow angry at fate, or remain uncontent
رضيتI accepted بماwith what تقضيYou decree وآمنتand I believed أنهthat it
رضيت بما تقضي وآمنت أنه
قضاؤكYour decree عدلjustice أيany ماthat which كنتYou were قاضباdecreeing (unclear spelling)
قضاؤك عدل أي ما كنت قاضبا
I accept what You decree, and believe that
I accept what is ordained and believe
Your decree is just, whatever You decree.
That your decree is just, whatever the judge may be
ولكنbut قصارىthe utmost العبدthe servant شكوىa complaint يبثهاhe pours it out
ولكن قصارى العبد شكوى يبثها
إليكto You ودمعand tears يستهلstream forth الماقياthe eyes' corners
إليك ودمع يستهل الماقيا
But all a servant can do is pour out a complaint
But a slave's utmost is a complaint he voices
To You, and tears streaming from the corners of his eyes;
And tears that start to flow for the remainder of life
وتمزيقهand his tearing apart فيin ظلمةthe darkness الليلof night قلبهhis heart
وتمزيقه في ظلمة الليل قلبه
وترجيعهand his repeating غوثاهhelp! غوثاهhelp! فانياfading away
وترجيعه غوثاه غوثاه فانيا
And tear his heart apart in the darkness of night,
And his heart torn in the darkness of night
And repeat, 'Help! Help!' as he fades away.
Crying for aid, crying "help me, I'm perishing!"
فأسرso let flow خفيhidden اللطفgrace بيthrough me فيin خصائصيmy particular qualities
فأسر خفي اللطف بي في خصائصي
وذراتand the particles أطواريof my stages وحاليand my condition وحاجياand my need
وذرات أطواري وحالي وحاجيا
So let hidden grace flow through me, through my particular qualities,
So gently hide your kindness toward me in my attributes
And the particles of my changing states, my condition, and my need.
And the states of my being, condition and needs
فلطفكfor Your grace بيtoward me فيin عالمthe realm الذرof primordial particles شاهدa witness
فلطفك بي في عالم الذر شاهد
للطفكto Your grace فيin أطوارthe stages كونيof my existence وشانياand my state
للطفك في أطوار كوني وشانيا
For Your grace toward me in the realm of primordial particles bears witness
For your kindness to me in the world of particles is witness
To Your grace through the stages of my existence and my state.
To your kindness in the states of my existence and my affair
ولطفكand Your grace بالمضطرto the distressed أوحىswifter إغاثةin relief
ولطفك بالمضطر أوحى إغاثة
وأسرعand quicker إدراكاًin reaching خفياًsecretly وبادياand openly
وأسرع إدراكاً خفياً وباديا
And Your grace to the distressed is swiftest in relief,
And your kindness to one in distress inspired deliverance
And quickest to reach him, in secret and openly.
Quicker to perceive, hidden and obvious
ولطفكand Your grace بالمضطرto the distressed منfrom حيثthe quarter of ضرهhis suffering
ولطفك بالمضطر من حيث ضره
إذاwhen كانit is تمحيصاًpurification كلطفكlike Your grace كافياًsufficing
إذا كان تمحيصاً كلطفك كافياً
And Your grace to the distressed through his very suffering,
And your kindness to the distressed because of his distress
When it is purification, is like Your grace in sparing him.
If it were to examine, would suffice as your kindness
وماand not سريانthe flowing اللطفof grace إلاexcept لحكمةfor wisdom
وما سريان اللطف إلا لحكمة
بمهماby whatever means اقتضتit requires ايرادهits conveyance كانit is سارياflowing
بمهما اقتضت ايراده كان ساريا
And grace flows only for a wise purpose;
And the flow of kindness is only for wisdom
It flows in whatever way that wisdom requires it to come.
However requiring its motivating, it flows
فإنthen if يكit is ماwhat أبليتYou inflicted منكfrom You محبةlove
فإن يك ما أبليت منك محبة
فطوبىthen blessedness وبشرىand glad tidings ليfor me رضيتI accepted مقامياmy station
فطوبى وبشرى لي رضيت مقاميا
If what You have tried me with is love from You,
So if my affliction from You is out of love
Then blessedness and glad tidings are mine; I accept my station.
Joy and glad tidings to me, I'm content with my station
علىthough أننيthat I عنconcerning حملbearing مثقالthe weight ذرةof an atom
على أنني عن حمل مثقال ذرة
بلاءًaffliction بعجزيto my helplessness شاهدbearing witness وافتقارياand my need
بلاءً بعجزي شاهد وافتقاريا
Though, as for bearing an atom's weight
Though in my weakness I'm witness I cannot bear
Of affliction, I bear witness to my helplessness and need.
The slightest atom of test, and my incapacity
وإنand if يكit is ابلاساًdespair فإنيthen indeed I عائذseek refuge
وإن يك ابلاساً فإني عائذ
بوجهكin Your countenance أنlest أشقىI be wretched عليكbefore You الهياmy God
بوجهك أن أشقى عليك الهيا
And if it is despair, I seek refuge
But if it is tribulation, I take refuge
In Your countenance, lest I be wretched before You, my God.
In your countenance, lest I suffer, my God
أعوذI seek refuge بماby what عاذتsought refuge بهin it الرسلthe messengers منكfrom You فيamid
أعوذ بما عاذت به الرسل منك في
بلائكYour trial منfrom أنthat لاnot تردYou avert بلائياmy affliction
بلائك من أن لا ترد بلائيا
I seek refuge by what the messengers sought refuge in, from You amid
I seek refuge in what the messengers took refuge
Your trials, lest You fail to turn away my affliction.
From you in your tribulation, that you not return my test
بظهرin the shelter of اسمthe name الذاتthe Essence عذتI sought refuge وكونهand its being
بظهر اسم الذات عذت وكونه
بفرديةthrough uniqueness التخصيصof designation للجمعthe whole حاوياencompassing
بفردية التخصيص للجمع حاويا
In the shelter of the Name of the Essence I sought refuge, and in its
I seek refuge in the essence of praise, Fatiha of the Book
Encompassing all through its unique designation.
And the five Names, hasten my deliverance
وباسمكand by Your name ربLord العالمينof the worlds ومنand whoever يعذseeks refuge
وباسمك رب العالمين ومن يعذ
معاذيmy refuge يوقis protected المردياتdestroying dangers الهوادياleading to ruin
معاذي يوق المرديات الهواديا
And by Your name, Lord of the Worlds; whoever seeks
And prepare for us from our affair, guidance with them
The refuge I seek is shielded from dangers that lead to ruin.
And save us from tremendous distress, our lives
وماand no عاذsought refuge بالرحمنin the All-Merciful ابلسdespairing عائذseeker of refuge
وما عاذ بالرحمن ابلس عائذ
فابلسهthen He made him despair منهof Him ولوeven if عاشhe lived عاصياdisobedient
فابلسه منه ولو عاش عاصيا
No despairing seeker has sought refuge in the All-Merciful,
And purify my heart through them and place within wisdom
Only to be left despairing by Him, even if he lived in sin.
And light and beneficial knowledge from you, a guide
وماand never سبحتglorified باسمin the name of الرحيمthe Merciful وعوذتand invoked protection
وما سبحت باسم الرحيم وعوذت
لسانa tongue باخلاصwith sincerity فلمthen did not تلفfind كافياsufficient
لسان باخلاص فلم تلف كافيا
Never has praise been offered in the name of the Merciful, nor refuge invoked,
And facilitate livelihood through them from all quarters
By a sincere tongue, without finding You sufficient.
And leave no hardship in life that wears out
ولاnor اعتصمتheld fast نفسيmy soul وعاذتand sought refuge حقيقةtruly
ولا اعتصمت نفسي وعاذت حقيقة
بماin the Sovereign (first part) لكSovereign (completion) يومthe Day الدينof Judgment إلاexcept كفانياHe sufficed me
بما لك يوم الدين إلا كفانيا
Nor has my soul truly held fast and sought refuge
And with them drive back enemies from me though I'm no hero
In the Sovereign of Judgment Day, without His sufficing me.
To drive back foes
الهيmy God بسرby the mystery of الحمدPraise فاتحةthe Opening الكتاthe Book (first part)
الهي بسر الحمد فاتحة الكتا
بBook (completion) والخمسةand the five الأسماءNames عجلhasten خلاصياmy deliverance
ب والخمسة الأسماء عجل خلاصيا
My God, by the mystery of Praise, the Opening of the Book,
And unleash upon them wrath from you leaving
And the five Names, hasten my deliverance.
Through the ages in the wilderness none remaining
وهيىءand prepare لناfor us منin أمرناour affairs رشداًright guidance بهاthrough it
وهيىء لنا من أمرنا رشداً بها
ونجand save منfrom الكربdistress العظيمgreat حياتناour lives
ونج من الكرب العظيم حياتنا
And through it, prepare right guidance for us in our affairs,
And hasten upon them from you a stern avenging
And save our lives from the great distress.
That rips apart their livers and veins bursting
وطهرand purify بهاthrough it قلبيmy heart وأودعهand place in it حكمةwisdom
وطهر بها قلبي وأودعه حكمة
ونوراًand light وعلماًand knowledge نافعاًbeneficial منكfrom You هادياguiding
ونوراً وعلماً نافعاً منك هاديا
And through it, purify my heart and place within it wisdom,
And do not abandon the oppressed among them humbled
And light, and beneficial knowledge from You that guides.
Hands outstretched to you in complaint
ويسرand make easy بهاthrough it الأرزاقprovisions منfrom كلevery وجهةdirection
ويسر بها الأرزاق من كل وجهة
ولاand do not تبقleave عسراًhardship فيin المعيشةlivelihood كالياafflicting (unclear form)
ولا تبق عسراً في المعيشة كاليا
And through it, make provision easy from every direction,
Those are their efforts against truth, anguish
And leave no hardship in my livelihood to afflict me.
So O Breaker, break those who strove and strove
وردand repel بهاthrough it الأعداءthe enemies عنيfrom me وفلهمand rout them
ورد بها الأعداء عني وفلهم
فلستfor I am not جليداًstrong أنto أردI repel الأعادياthe enemies
فلست جليداً أن أرد الأعاديا
And through it, repel my enemies from me and rout them,
And do not make me despair of affairs I've known
For I am not strong enough to repel my enemies.
Though my tongue stays silent, mentioning none
وسلطand unleash عليهمupon them غضبةa wrath منكfrom You لاnot تذرit leaves
وسلط عليهم غضبة منك لا تذر
علىthroughout الدهرtime منهمof them فيon البسيطةthe earth باقياanyone remaining
على الدهر منهم في البسيطة باقيا
And unleash upon them a wrath from You that leaves
I'm hopeful after making my means to you
For all time, none of them remaining on the earth.
Your Supreme Name, the fulfillment of my hope
وعجلand hasten عليهمupon them منكfrom You صمصامa keen sword نقمةof vengeance
وعجل عليهم منك صمصام نقمة
تحزبهYou sever with it أكبادهمtheir livers والتراقياand the collarbones
تحزبه أكبادهم والتراقيا
And hasten upon them from You a keen sword of vengeance,
And bestow blessings and peace as you will
With which You sever their livers and collarbones.
Upon Muhammad sent as guide for creation
ولاand do not تلقcast بالمظلومthe wronged man فيهمamong them مذللاًhumiliated
ولا تلق بالمظلوم فيهم مذللاً
وقدand already مدhe stretched out بالشكوىin complaint إليكto You الأيادياthe hands
وقد مد بالشكوى إليك الأياديا
And do not leave the wronged man humiliated among them,
A prayer I gain good through its blessing
When he has stretched his hands to You in complaint.
Opening gates of heaven to my supplication
وتلكand those مساعيهمtheir endeavors علىagainst الحقtruth غصةa choking grief
وتلك مساعيهم على الحق غصة
فياso O قاصمShatterer اقصمshatter منwhoever سعىstrove والمساعياand the endeavors
فيا قاصم اقصم من سعى والمساعيا
Those efforts of theirs against truth are a choking grief;
And purification of People of the House, and make
So, O Shatterer, shatter those who strive and their strivings.
Felicity the seal for me and best outcome of my quest
ولاand do not تيؤسنيmake me despair منof شئونmatters علمتهاYou know them
ولا تيؤسني من شئون علمتها
وإنand even if سكتتfell silent عنabout ذكرهنmentioning them لسانياmy tongue
وإن سكتت عن ذكرهن لسانيا
And do not make me despair of matters You know,
Even if my tongue has kept silent about mentioning them.
وإنيand indeed I لراجsurely hoping بعدafter كونthe being وسيلتيmy means of approach
وإني لراج بعد كون وسيلتي
إليكto You اسمكYour name الأعلىthe Most High تمامthe fulfillment رجائياof my hope
إليك اسمك الأعلى تمام رجائيا
And I surely hope, now that my means of approach
To You is Your Most High Name, for the fulfillment of my hope.
وصلand bless وسلمand grant peace حسبaccording to ماwhat ترتضيYou approve علىupon
وصل وسلم حسب ما ترتضي على
محمدMuhammad المبعوثthe one sent للخلقto creation هادياas a guide
محمد المبعوث للخلق هاديا
And send blessings and peace, as You approve, upon
Muhammad, sent to creation as a guide,
صلاةa blessing أنالI attain الخيرgoodness منfrom بركاتهاits blessings
صلاة أنال الخير من بركاتها
تفتحit opens أبوابthe gates السماof heaven لدعائياfor my supplication
تفتح أبواب السما لدعائيا
A blessing through whose benedictions I attain good,
That opens the gates of heaven to my supplication,
واطهارand the pure ones أهلthe people of البيتthe House والصحبand the Companions واجand make (first part)
واطهار أهل البيت والصحب واج
علmake (completion) السعادةhappiness ختماًa final seal ليfor me وأسنىand the loftiest مرامياmy aspiration
عل السعادة ختماً لي وأسنى مراميا
And upon the pure ones of the Household and the Companions; and
Make happiness my final seal and my loftiest aspiration.
Partial English translation: 56 of 66 Arabic lines translated.