DAILY RECITATION FROM :

"DALAA-ILUTL-KHAY-RAT" of Abu 'Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Sulayman al-Jazuli r.a. May Allah Reward & Bless his soul.
يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ صَلُّواْ عَلَيۡهِ وَسَلِّمُواْ تَسۡلِيمًا
"... O ye who believe! Ask blessings on him and salute him with a worthy salutation." (QUR'AN:AL-AHZAB:33:56)

"O Allah, I believed in Muhammad but did not see him; do not deprive me in the Gardens of his vision. Bestow his company upon me and cause me to die in his religion. Let me drink from his pool a quenching, pleasant, delightful drink after which we shall never thirst again. You are powerful over everything. O Allah, convey to the soul of Muhammad my greetings and peace. O Allah, as I believed in Muhammad but did not see him, do not deprive me in the Gardens of his vision."

O Allah! I make the intention to invoke blessings on the Prophet, may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him, in compliance with Your Order and as an attestation of the Prophet sent by You, our master Muhammad, may Your blessings and peace be upon him; in his love and in my yearning for him and with the respect due to him as he merits it. Accept it from me by Your Grace and Kindness and remove the veil of negligence from my heart and make me among one of Your righteous servants.

A-MEEN! YA ROB-BAL 'AA-LA-MEEN !
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Monday, September 22, 2008

BIDDING FAREWELL TO RAMADHAN

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دُعائِهِ وِداعِ شَهْرِ رَمَضانَ

His Supplication Bidding Farewell to the Month of Ramadan

Du’a attributed to Imam Zayn-al-Abidin, Ali bin Hussein bin Ali (a.s.)

- great grandson of the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.from
"al-Sahifah al-Kamilah al-Sajjadiyah"
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بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

أَللّهُمَّ يا مَنْ لا يَرْغَبُ فِي الْجَزاءِ

1. O Allah,
O He who desires no repayment!

وَيَا مَنْ لا يَنْدَمُ عَلَى الْعَطاء

2. O He who shows no remorse at bestowal!

وَيا مَنْ لا يُكافِئُ عَبْدَهُ عَلَى السَّواءِ

3. O He who rewards not His servant
tit for tat!

مِنَّتُكَ ابْتِداءٌ، وَعَفْوُكَ تَفَضُّلٌ،
وَعُقُوبَتُكَ عَدْلٌ
وَقَضاؤُكَ خِيَرَةٌ

4. Thy kindness is a new beginning,
Thy pardon gratuitous bounty,
181
Thy punishment justice,
Thy decree a choice for the best!

إِنْ أَعْطَيْتَ لَمْ تَشُبْ عَطاءَكَ بِمَنٍّ
وَإِنْ مَنعْتَ لَمْ يَكُنْ مَنْعُكَ تَعَدِّياً

5. If Thou bestowest,
Thou stainest not Thy bestowal with obligation,
and if Thou withholdest,
Thou withholdest not in transgression.

تَشْكُرُ مَنْ شكَرَكَ وَأَنْتَ أَلْهَمْتَهُ شُكْرَكَ

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

وَتُكافِئُ مَنْ حَمِدَكَ وَأَنْتَ عَلَّمْتَهُ حَمْدَكَ

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

وَتَسْتُرُ عَلى مَنْ لَوْ شِئْتَ فَضَحْتَهُ
وَتَجُودُ عَلى مَنْ لَوْ شِئْتَ مَنَعْتَهُ
وَكِلاهُما أَهْلٌ مِنْكَ لِلْفَضيحَةِ وَالْمَنْعِ
غَيْرَ أَنَّكَ بَنَيْتَ أَفَعالَكَ عَلَى التَّفَضّلِ
وَأَجْرَيْتَ قُدْرَتَكَ عَلَى التَّجاوُزِ
وَتَلَقَّيْتَ مَنْ عَصاكَ بِالْحِلْمِ

8. Thou coverest him whom,
if Thou willed,
Thou wouldst expose,
and Thou art generous toward him from whom,
if Thou willed,
Thou wouldst withhold.
Both are worthy of Thy exposure and withholding,
but Thou hast founded Thy acts upon gratuitous bounty,
channelled Thy power into forbearance,

وَأَمْهَلْتَ مَنْ قَصَدَ لِنَفْسِهِ بِالظُّلْمِ
تَستَنْظِرُهُمْ بِأَناتِكَ إِلَى الاْ نابَةِ
وتَتْرُكُ مُعاجَلَتَهُمْ إِلَى التَّوْبَةِ
لِكَيْلا يَهْلِكَ عَلَيْكَ هالِكُهُمْ
وَلا يَشْقى بِنِعْمَتِكَ شَقِيُّهُمْ
إِلاّ عَنْ طُولِ الاْ عْذارِ إِلَيْهِ
وَبَعْدَ تَرادُفِ الْحُجَّةِ
عَلَيْهِ كَرَماً مِن عَفْوِكَ يا كَريم
وَعائِدَةً مِنْ عَطْفِكَ يا حَليم

9. received him who disobeyed Thee with clemency,
and disregarded him who intended wrongdoing against himself.
Thou awaitest their turning back without haste
and refrainest from rushing them toward repentance,
so that the perisher among them may not perish
because of Thee
and the wretched may not be wretched through
Thy favour,
but only after Thy prolonged excusing him
and successive arguments against him,
as an act of generosity through Thy pardon, O Generous,
and an act of kindliness through Thy tenderness, O Clement!

أَنْتَ الَّذي فَتَحْتَ لِعِبادِكَ باباً إِلى
عَفْوِكَ وَسَمَّيْتَهُ التَّوْبَةَ
وَجَعَلْتَ عَلى ذلِكَ الْبابِ دَليلاً
مِنْ وَحْيِكَ لِئَلاّ يَضِلُّوا عَنْهُ
فَقُلْتَ تَبارَكَ اسْمُكَ
تُوبُوا إِلَى اللّهِ تَوْبَةً نَصُوحاً
عَسى رَبُّكُمْ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ عَنْكُمْ سَيِّئاتِكُمْ وَيُدْخِلَكُمْ
جَنّات تَجْري مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الاْ نْهارُ

10. It is Thou who hast opened for Thy servants
a door to Thy pardon,
which Thou hast named 'repentance'.
Thou hast placed upon that door
a pointer from Thy revelation,
lest they stray from it:
Thou hast said (blessed are Thy names),
Repent toward Allah with unswerving repentance!
It may be that Thy Lord will acquit of your evil deeds
and will admit you into gardens
beneath which rivers flow,

يَوْمَ لا يُخْزِي اللّهُ النَّبِىَّ وَالَّذين آمَنُوا
مَعَهُ نُورُهُمْ يَسْعى بَيْنَ أَيْديهِمْ وَبِأَيْمانِهِمْ
يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنا أَتْمِمْ لَنا نُورَنا
وَاغْفِرْ لَنا إِنَّكَ عَلى كُلِّ شَىْء قَديرٌ
فَما عُذْرُ مَنْ أَغْفَلَ دُخُولَ ذلِكَ الْمَنْزِلِ
بَعْدَ فَتْحِ الْبابِ
وَإِقامَةِ الدَّليلِ؟

11. upon the day when Allah will not degrade the Prophet
and those who have faith along with him,
their light running before them
and on their right hands,
and they say:
'Our Lord, complete for us our light, and forgive us!
Surely Thou art powerful over everything.'
182
What is the excuse
of him who remains heedless of entering that house
after the opening of the door
and the setting up of the pointer?

وَأَنْتَ الَّذي زِدْتَ فِي السَّوْمِ عَلى نَفْسِكَ لِعِبادِك
تُريدُ رِبْحَهُمْ في مُتاجَرَتِهمْ لَكَ
وَفَوْزَهُمْ بِالْوِفادَةِ عَلَيْكَ وَالزِّيادَةِ
مِنْكَ، فَقُلْتَ تَبارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعالَيْتَ
مَنْ جاءَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ عَشْرُ أَمْثالِها وَمَنْ
جاءَ بِالسَّيِّئَةِ فَلا يُجْزى إِلاّ مِثْلَها

12. It is Thou who hast raised the price against Thyself
to the advantage of Thy servants,
desiring their profit in their trade with Thee,
their triumph through reaching Thee,
and their increase on account of Thee,
for Thou hast said
(blessed is Thy Name and high art Thou exalted),
Whoso brings a good deed
shall have ten the like of it,
and whoso brings an evil deed
shall only be recompensed the like of it.
183

وَقُلْت: (مَثَلُ الَّذينَ يُنْفِقُونَ أَمْوالَهُمْ
في سَبيلِ اللّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّة أَنْبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنابِلَ
في كُلِّ سُنْبُلَة ماِئَةُ حَبَّة
وَاللّهُ يُضاعِفُ لِمَنْ يَشاءُ )
وَقُلْتَ: (مَنْ ذَا الَّذي يُقْرِضُ اللّهَ قَرْضاً حَسَناً
فَيُضاعِفَهُ لَهُ أَضْعافاً كَثيرَةً).
وَما أَنْزَلْتَ مِن نَظائِرِهِنَّ فِي الْقُرْآنِ مِنْ تَضاعِيفِ الْحَسَناتِ

13. Thou hast said,
The likeness of those who expend their wealth
in the way of Allah
is as the likeness of a grain of corn
that sprouts seven ears,
in every ear a hundred grains;
so God multiplies unto whom He wills.
184
Thou hast said,
Who is he that will lend to Allah a good loan,
and He will multiply it for him manifold?
185
And Thou hast sent down in the Qur'an
similar verses on the multiplying of good deeds.

وَأَنْتَ الَّذي دَلَلْتَهُمْ بِقَوْلِكَ مِنْ غَيْبِكَ
وَتَرْغيبِكَ الَّذي فيهِ حَظُّهُمْ عَلى
ما لَوْ سَتَرْتَهُ عَنْهُمْ لَمْ تُدْرِكْهُ أَبْصارُهُمْ
وَلَمْ تَعِهِ أَسْماعُهُمْ
وَلَمْ تَلْحَقْهُ أَوْهامُهُمْ
فَقُلْتَ: اذْكُرُوني أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لي وَلا تَكْفُرُونِ
وَقُلْتَ: لَئِنْ شَكَرْتُمْ لاَ زيدَنَّكُمْ وَلَئِنْ كَفَرْتُمْ
إِنَّ عَذابي لَشَديدٌ

14. It is Thou who hast pointed them
through Thy speech from Thy Unseen
and Thy encouragement in which lies their good fortune
toward that which
- hadst Thou covered it from them -
their eyes would not have perceived,
their ears would not have heard,
and their imaginations would not have grasped,
for Thou hast said,
Remember Me
and I will remember you
be thankful to Me,
and be you not thankless towards Me!
186
Thou hast said,
If you are thankful,
surely I will increase you,
but if you are thankless,
My chastisement is surely terrible;
187

وَقُلْتَ: ادْعُوني أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ إِنَّ الَّذينَ
يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبادَتي سَيَدْخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ داخِرينَ
فَسَمَّيْتَ دُعاءَكَ عِبادَةً
وَتَرْكَهُ اسْتِكْباراًوَتَوَعَّدْتَ عَلى تَرْكِهِ دُخُولَ جَهَنَّمَ داخِرينَ

15. And Thou hast said,
Supplicate Me
and I will respond to you,
surely those who wax too proud to worship Me
shall enter Gehenna utterly abject.
188
Hence Thou hast named supplicating Thee 'worship'
and refraining from it 'waxing proud',
and Thou hast threatened that the refraining from it
would yield entrance into Gehenna in utter abjection.

فَذَكَرُوكَ بِمَنِّكَ
وَشَكَرُوكَ بِفَضْلِكَ
وَدَعَوْكَ بِأَمْرِكَ وَتَصَدَّقُوا
لَكَ طَلَباً لِمَزيدِكَ وَفيها كانَتْ نَجاتُهُمْ مِنْ
غَضَبِكَ وَفَوْزُهُمْ بِرِضاكَ

16. So they remember Thee for Thy kindness,
they thank Thee for Thy bounty,
they supplicate Thee by Thy command,
and they donate for Thee
in order to seek Thy increase;
in all this lies their deliverance from Thy wrath
and their triumph through Thy good pleasure.

وَلَوْ دَلَّ مَخْلُوقٌ مَخْلُوقاً مِنْ نَفْسِهِ عَلى مِثْلِ الَّذي دَلَلْتَ عَلَيْهِ عِبادَكَ مِنْكَ
كانَ مَوْصُوفاً بِالاْ حْسانِ وَمَنْعُوتاً بِالاْ مْتِنانِ وَمَحْمُوداً بِكُلِّ لِسان
فَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ ما وُجِدَ في حَمْدِكَ مَذْهَبٌ وَما بَقِي لِلْحَمْدِ لَفْظٌ تُحْمَدُ بِهِ وَمَعْنىً يَنْصَرِفُ إِلَيْهِ

17. Were any creature himself to direct another creature
to the like of that to which
Thou Thyself hast directed Thy servants,
he would be described by beneficence,
qualified by kindness,
and praised by every tongue.
So to Thee belongs praise
as long as there is found a way to praise Thee
and as long as there remains for praising
words by which Thou may be praised
and meanings which may be spent in praise!

يا مَنْ تَحَمَّدَ إِلى عِبادِهِ بِالاْ حْسانِ وَالْفَضْل وَغَمَرَهُمْ بِالْمَنِّ
وَالطّوْل ِما أَفْشى فينا نِعْمَتَكَ؟ وَأَسْبَغَ عَلَيْنا مِنَّتَكَ؟ وَأَخَصَّنا بِبِرِّكَ؟

18. O He who shows Himself praiseworthy to His servants
through beneficence and bounty,
flooding them with kindness and graciousness!
How much Thy favour has been spread about among us,
Thy kindness lavished upon us,
and Thy goodness singled out for us!

هَدَيْتَنا لِدينِكَ الَّذي اصْطَفَيْتَ وَمِلَّتِكَ الَّتِي ارْتَضَيْتَ
وَسَبيلِكَ الَّذي سَهَّلْتَ وَبَصَّرْتَنَا الزُّلْفَةَ لَدَيْكَ وَالْوُصُولَ إِلى كَرامَتِكَ

19. Thou hast guided us to
Thy religion which Thou hast chosen,
Thy creed with which Thou art pleasd,
and Thy path which Thou hast made smooth,
and Thou hast shown us proximity to Thee
and arrival at Thy generosity!

أَللّهُمَّ وَأَنْتَ جَعَلْتَ مِنْ صَفايا تِلْكَ الْوَظائِفِ وَخَصائِصِ تِلْكَ الْفُرُوضِ
شَهْرَ رَمَضانَ الَّذِي اخْتَصَصْتَهُ مِنْ سائِرِ الشُّهُورِ وَتَخَيَّرْتَهُ
مِنْ جَميعِ الاْزْمِنَةِ وَالدُّهُورِ وَآثَرْتَهُ عَلى كُلِّ أَوْقاتِ السَّنَةِ بِما أَنْزَلْتَ
فيهِ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ وَالنُّورِ وَضاعَفْتَ فيهِ مِنَ الاْيمانِ وَفَرَضْتَ فيهِ
مِنَ الصِّيامِ وَرَغَّبْتَ فيهِ مِنَ الْقِيامِ وَأَجْلَلْتَ فيهِ مِنْ لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ
الَّتي هِىَ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْر

20. O Allah,
among the choicest of those duties
and the most special of those obligations
Thou hast appointed the month of Ramadan,
which Thou hast singled out from other months,
chosen from among all periods and eras,
and preferred over all times of the year
through the Qur'an and the Light
which Thou sent down within it,
the faith
which Thou multiplied by means of it,
the fasting
which Thou obligated therein,
the standing in prayer
which Thou encouraged at its time,
and the Night of Decree
which Thou magnified therein,
the night which is better than a thousand months.
189

ثُمَّ آثَرْتَنا بِهِ عَلى سائِرِ الاْ مَمِ
وَاصْطَفَيْتَنا بِفَضْلِهِ دُونَ أَهْلِ الْمِلَلِ فَصُمْنا بِأَمْرِكَ
نَهارَهُ وَقُمْنا بِعَوْنِكَ لَيْلَهُ مُتَعَرِّضينَ بِصِيامِهِ
وَقِيامِهِ لِما عَرَّضْتَنا لَهُ مِنْ رَحْمَتِكَ وَتَسَبَّبْنا إِلَيْهِ
مِنْ مَثُوْبَتِك وَأَنْتَ الْمَليءُ بِما رُغِبَ فيهِ إِلَيْكَ الْجَوادُ
بِما سُئِلْتَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْقَريبُ إِلى مَنْ حاوَلَ قُرْبَكَ

21. Through it Thou hast preferred us
over the other communities
and through its excellence Thou hast chosen us
to the exclusion of the people of the creeds.
We fasted by Thy command in its daylight,
we stood in prayer with Thy help in its night,
presenting ourselves by its fasting and its standing
to the mercy which Thou hast held up before us,
and we found through it the means to Thy reward.
And Thou art full of what is sought from Thee,
munificent with what is asked of Thy bounty,
and near to him who strives for Thy nearness.

وَقَدْ أَقامَ فينا هذَا الشَّهْرُ مَقامَ حَمْد وَصَحِبَنا
صُحْبَةَ مَبْرُور وَأَرْبَحَنا أَفْضَلَ أَرْباحِ الْعالَمينَ
ثُمَّ قَدْ فارَقَنا عِنْدَ تَمامِ وَقْتِهِ وَانْقِطاعِ مُدَّتِهِوَ وَفاءِ عَدَدِهِ

22. This month stood among us
in a standing place of praise,
accompanied us
with the companionship of one approved,
and profited us
with the most excellent profit of the world's creatures.
Then it parted from us at the completion of its time,
the end of its term,
and the fulfilment of its number.

فَنَحْنُ مُوَدِّعُوهُ وَداعَ مَنْ عَزَّ فِراقُهُ عَلَيْنا
وَغَمَّنا وَأَوْحَشَنَا انْصِرافهُ عَنّا
وَلَزِمَنا لَهُ الذِّمامُ الْمَحْفُوظُ
وَالْحُرْمَةُ الْمَرْعِيَّهُّ
وَالْحَقُّ الْمَقْضِىُّ
فَنَحْنُ قائِلُونَ:
أَلسَّلامُ عَليْكَ يا شَهْرَ اللّهِ الاْكْبَرَ
وَ يا عيدَ أَوْلِيائِهِ

23. So we bid farewell to it with the farewell of one
whose parting pains us,
whose leaving fills us with gloom and loneliness,
and to whom we have come to owe
a safeguarded claim,
an observed inviolability,
and a discharged right.
We say:
Peace be upon thee,
O greatest month of Allah!
O festival of His friends!

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يا أَكْرَمَ مَصْحُوب مِنَ الاْ وْقاتِ وَيا خَيْرَ شَهْر فِي الاْ يّامِ وَالسّاعاتِ

24. Peace be upon thee,
O most noble of accompanying times!
O best of months in days and hours!

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ شَهْر قَرُبَتْ فيهِ الامالُ وَنُشِرَتْ فيهِ الاْ عْمالُ

25. Peace be upon thee,
month in which
expectations come near
and good works are scattered about!

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ قَرين جَلَّ قَدْرُهُ مَوْجُوداً وَأَفْجَعَ فَقْدُهُ مَفْقُوداً، وَمَرْجُوٍّ آلَمَ فِراقُهُ

26. Peace be upon thee,
comrade
who is great in worth when found
and who torments through absence when lost,
anticipated friend
whose parting gives pain!

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ أَليف آنَسَ مُقْبِلاً فَسَرَّ وَأَوْحَشَ مُنْقَضِياً فَمَضَّ

27. Peace be upon thee,
familiar
who brought comfort in coming,
thus making happy,
who left loneliness in going,
thus giving anguish!

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ مُجاوِر رَقَّتْ فيهِ الْقُلُوبُ وَقَلَّتْ فيهِ الذُّنُوبُ

28. Peace be upon thee,
neighbour in whom
hearts became tender
and sins became few!

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ مِن ناصِر أَعانَ عَلَى الشَّيْطانِ وَصاحِب سَهَّلَ سُبُلَ الاْحْسانِ

29. Peace be upon thee,
helper
who aided against Satan,
companion
who made easy the paths of good-doing!

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ ما أَكْثَرَ عُتَقاءَ اللّهِ فيكَ وَما أَسْعَدَ مَنْ رَعى حُرْمَتَكَ بِكَ

30. Peace be upon thee -
How many became freedmen of Allah within thee!
How happy those who observed the respect due to thee!

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ ما كانَ أَمْحاكَ لِلذُّنُوبِ وَأَسْتَرَكَ لاِ نْواعِ الْعُيُوبِ

31. Peace be upon thee -
How many the sins thou erased!
How many the kinds of faults thou covered over!

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ ما كانَ أَطْوَلَكَ عَلَى الْمُجْرِمينَ وَأَهْيَبَكَ في صُدُورِ الْمُؤْمِنينَ

32. Peace be upon thee -
How drawn out wert thou for the sinners!
How awesome wert thou in the hearts of the faithful!

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ شَهْر لا تُنافِسُهُ الاْ يّامُ

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

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ شَهْر هُوَ مِنْ كُلِّ أَمْر سَلامُ

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

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ غَيْرَ كَرِيهِ الْمُصاحَبَةِ
وَلا ذَميمِ الْمُلابَسَةِ

35. Peace be upon thee,
thou whose companionship is not disliked,
thou whose friendly mixing is not blamed!

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ كَما وَفَدْتَ عَلَيْنا بِالْبَرَكاتِ وَغَسَلْتَ عَنّا دَنَسَ الْخَطيئاتِ

36. Peace be upon thee,
just as thou hast entered upon us with blessings
and cleansed us of the defilement of offenses!

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ غَيْرَ مُوَدَّع بَرَماً وَلا مَتْرُوك صِيامُهُ سَأَماً

37. Peace be upon thee -
Thou art not bid farewell in annoyance
nor is thy fasting left in weariness!

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ مَطْلُوب قَبْلَ وَقْتِهِ وَمَحْزُون عَلَيْهِ قَبْلَ فَوْتِهِ

38. Peace be upon thee,
object of seeking before thy time,
object of sorrow before thy passing!

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ كَمْ مِنْ سُوء صُرِفَ بِكَ عَنّا وَكَمْ مِنْ خَيْر أُفيضَ بِكَ عَلَيْنا

39. Peace be upon thee -
How much evil was turned away from us through thee!
How much good flowed upon us because of thee!

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ وَعَلى لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ الَّتي هِىَ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْر

40. Peace be upon thee
and upon the Night of Decree
which is better than a thousand months!
190

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ ما كانَ أَحْرَصَنا بِالاْمْسِ عَلَيْكَ وَأَشَدَّ شَوْقَنا غَداً إِلَيْكَ

41. Peace be upon thee -
How much we craved thee yesterday!
How intensely we shall yearn for thee tomorrow!

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ وَعَلى فَضْلِكَ الَّذي حُرِمْناهُ وَعَلى ماض مِنْ بَرَكاتِكَ سُلِبْناهُ

42. Peace be upon thee
and upon thy bounty
which has now been made unlawful to us
and upon thy blessings gone by
which have now been stripped away from us!

أَللّهُمَّ إِنّا أَهْلُ هذَا الشَّهْرِ الَّذي شَرَّفْتَنا بِهِ
وَوَفَّقْتَنا بِمَنِّكَ لَهُ حينَ جَهِلَ الاْشْقِياءُ وَقْتَهُ وَحُرِمُوا لِشَقائِهِمْ فَضْلَهُ

43. O Allah,
we are the people of this month.
Through it Thou hast ennobled us
and given us success
because of Thy kindness,
while the wretched are ignorant of its time.
Made unlawful to them is its bounty
because of their wretchedness.

وَأَنْتَ وَلِىُّ ما آثَرْتَنا بِهِ مِنْ مَعْرِفَتِهِ وَهَدَيْتَنا لَهُ
مِنْ سُنَّتِهِ وَقَدْ تَوَلَّيْنا بِتَوْفيقِكَ صِيامَهُ
وَقِيامَهُ عَلى تَقْصيروَأَدَّيْنا فيهِ قَليلاً مِنْ كَثير

44. Thou art the patron
of the knowledge of it by which Thou hast preferred us,
and its prescribed practices to which Thou hast guided us.
We have undertaken, through Thy giving success,
its fasting and its standing in prayer,
but with shortcomings,
and we have performed little of much.

أَللّهُمَّ فَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ إِقْراراً بِالاْساءَةِ وَاعْتِرافاً
بِالاْ ضاعَةِ وَلَكَ مِنْ قُلُوبِنا عَقْدُ النَّدَمِ وَمِنْ أَلْسِنَتِنا
صِدْقُ الاْ عْتِذارِ فَأْجُرْنا عَلى ما أصابَنا فيهِ
مِنَ التَّفْريطِ أجْراً نَسْتَدْرِكُ بِهِ الْفَضْلَ الْمَرْغُوبَ
فيهِ وَنَعْتاضُ بِهِ مِنْ أَنْواعِ الذُّخْرِ الْمَحْرُوصِ عَلَيْهِ

45. OAllah,
so to Thee belongs praise,
in admission of evil doing
and confession of negligence,
and to Thee belongs
remorse firmly knitted in our hearts
and seeking of pardon sincerely uttered by our tongues.
Reward us,
in spite of the neglect that befell us in this month,
with a reward through which
we may reach the bounty desired from it
and win the varieties of its craved stores!

وَأَوْجِبْ لَنا عُذْرَكَ عَلى ماقَصَّرْنا فيهِ
مِنْ حَقِّكَ وَابْلُغْ بِأَعْمارِنا ما بَيْنَ أَيْدينا
مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضانَ الْمُقْبِلِ فَإِذا بَلَّغْتَناهُ
فَأَعِنّا عَلى تَناوُلِ ما أَنْتَ أَهْلُهُ مِنَ الْعِبادَةِ وَأَدِّنا
إِلَى الْقِيامِ بِما يَسْتَحِقُّهُ مِنَ الطَّاعَةِ وَ أَجْرِلَنا
مِنْ صالِحِ الْعَمَلِ ما يَكونُ دَرَكاً
لِحَقِّكَ فِي الشَّهْرَيْنِ مِنْ شُهُورِ الدَّهْرِ

46. Make incumbent upon us Thy pardon
for our falling short of Thy right in this month
and make our lives which lie before us
reach the coming month of Ramadan!
Once Thou hast made us reach it,
help us perform the worship of which Thou art worthy,
cause us to undertake the obedience which Thou deservest,
and grant us righteous works
that we may fulfil Thy right
in these two months of the months of time.
191

أَللّهُمَّ وَما أَلْمَمْنا بِهِ في شَهْرِنا هذا مِنْ لَمَم
أَوْ إِثْم أَوْ واقَعْنا فيهِ مِنْ ذَنْب وَاكْتَسَبْنا
فيهِ مِنْ خَطيئَة عَلى تَعَمُّد مِنّا أَوْ عَلى نِسْيان
ظَلَمْنا فيهِ أَنْفُسَنا أَوِ انْتَهَكْنا بِهِ حُرْمَةً مِنْ غَيْرِنا
فَصَلِّ عَلى مُحَمَّد وَآلِهِ وَاسْتُرْنا بِسِتْرِكَ وَاعْفُ عَنّا
بِعَفْوِكَ وَلا تَنْصِبْنا فيهِ لاِ عْيُنِ الشّامِتينَ وَلا تَبْسُطْ
عَلَيْنا فيهِ أَلْسُنَ الطّاعِنينَ وَاسْتَعْمِلْنا
بِما يَكُونُ حِطَّةً وَكَفّارَةً
لِما أَنَكَرْتَ مِنّا فيهِ
برَأْفَتِكَ الَّتي لا تَنْفَدُ وَفَضْلِكَ الَّذي لا يَنْقُصُ

47. O Allah,
as for the small and large sins
which we have committed in this our month,
the misdeeds into which we have fallen,
and the offenses which we have earned
purposefully or in forgetfulness,
wronging ourselves thereby
or violating the respect due to others,
bless Muhammad and his Household,
cover us over with Thy covering,
pardon us through Thy pardoning,
place us not before the eyes of the gloaters because of that,
stretch not toward us the tongues of the defamers,
and employ us in that which will alleviate and expiate
whatever Thou disapprovest from us within it
through Thy clemency which does not run out,
and Thy bounty which does not diminish!

أَللّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلى مُحَمَّد وَآلِهِ
وَاجْبُرْ مُصيبَتَنا بِشَهْرِنا
وَبارِكْ لَنا في يَوْمِ عيدِنا
وَفِطْرِنا وَاجْعَلْهُ مِنْ خَيْرِ
يَوْم مَرَّ عَلَيْنا أَجْلَبِهِ لِعَفْو
وَأَمْحاهُ لِذَنْب وَاغْفِرْ لَنا
ماخَفِىَ مِنْ ذُنُوبِنا وَما عَلَنَ

48. O Allah,
bless Muhammad and his Household,
redress our being afflicted by our month,
192
bless us in this day of our festival and our fast-breaking,
make it one of the best of days that have passed over us,
the greatest in attracting Thy pardon,
and the most effacing toward sins,
and forgive us our sins,
both the concealed and the public!

أَللّهُمَّ اسْلَخْنا بِانْسِلاخِ هذَا الشَّهْرِ مِنْ خَطايانا
وَأَخْرِجْنا بِخُرُوجِهِ مِنْ سَيِّئاتِنا وَاجْعَلْنا مِنْ أَسْعَدِ
أَهْلِهِ بِهِ وَأَجْزَلِهِمْ قِسْماً فيهِ وَأَوْفَرِهِمْ حَظّاً مِنْهُ

49. O Allah,
with the passing of this month
make us pass forth from our offenses,
with its departure
make us depart from our evil deeds,
and appoint us thereby among its most felicitous people,
the most plentiful of them in portion,
and the fullest of them in share!

أَللّهُمَّ وَمَنْ رَعى حَقَّ هذَا الشَّهْرِ حَقَّ رِعايَتِهِ
وَحَفِظَ حُرْمَتَهُ حَقَّ حِفْظِها
وَقامَ بِحُدُودِهِ حَقَّ قِيامِها
وَاتَّقى ذُنُوبَهُ حَقَّ تُقاتِها
أَوْ تَقَرَّبَ إِلَيْكَ بِقُرْبَة أَوْجَبَتْ رِضاكَ لَهُ
وَعَطَفَتْ رَحْمَتَكَ عَلَيْهِ
فَهَبْ لَنا مِثْلَهُ مِنْ وُجْدِكَ
وَأَعْطِنا أَضْعافَهُ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ
فَإِنَّ فَضْلَكَ لايَغيضُ
وَإِنَّ خَزائِنَكَ لا تَنْقُصُ بَلْ تَفيضُ
وَإِنَّ مَعادِنَ إِحْسانِكَ لاتَفْنى
وَإِنَّ عَطاءَكَ لَلْعَطاءُ الْمُهَنّا

50. OAlllah,
when any person observes this month as it should be observed,
safeguards its inviolability as it should be safeguarded,
attends to its bounds as they should be attended to,
fears its misdeeds as they should be feared,
or seeks nearness to Thee with any act of nearness-seeking
which makes incumbent upon him Thy good pleasure
and bends toward him Thy mercy,
give to us the like [of that]
193 from Thy wealth
and bestow it upon us in multiples through Thy bounty,
for Thy bounty does not diminish,
Thy treasuries do not decrease but overflow,
the mines of Thy beneficence are not exhausted,
and Thy bestowal is the bestowal full of delight!

أَللّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلى مُحَمَّد وَآلِهِ وَاكْتُبْ لَنا مِثْلَ
أُجُورِ مَنْ صامَهُ أَوْ تَعَبَّدَ لَكَ
فيْهِ إِلى يَوْمِ الْقِيامَةِ

51. O Allah,
bless Muhammad and his Household
and write for us the like of the wages
of him who fasted in it
or worshipped Thee within it
until the Day of Resurrection!

أَللّهُمَّ إِنّا نَتُوبُ إِلَيْكَ في يَوْمِ فِطْرِنَا
الَّذي جَعَلْتَهُ لِلْمُؤْمِنينَ عيداً وَسُرُورا
وَلاِ هْلِ مِلَّتِكَ مَجْمَعاً وَمُحْتَشَداً مِنْ كُلِّ ذَنْب أَذْنَبْناهُ
أَوْ سُوء أَسْلَفْناهُ أَوْ خاطِرِ شَرٍّ أَضْمَرْناهُ تَوْبَةَ
مَنْ لايَنْطَوي عَلى رُجُوع إِلى ذَنْب وَلا يَعُودُ بَعْدَها
في خَطيئَة تَوْبَةً نَصُوحاً خَلَصَتْ مِنَ الشَّكِّ
وَالاْ رْتِيابِ فَتَقَبَّلْها مِنّا
وَارْضَ عَنّا
وَثَبِّتْنا عَلَيْها

52. O Allah,
we repent to Thee in our day of fast-breaking,
which Thou hast appointed
for the faithful
a festival and a joy
and for the people of Thy creed
a time of assembly and gathering,
from every misdeed we did,
ill work we sent ahead,
or evil thought we secretly conceived,
the repentance of one who does not harbour a return to sin
and who afterwards will not go back to offense,
an unswerving repentance rid of doubt and wavering.
So accept it from us,
be pleased with us,
and fix us within it!

أَللّهُمَّ ارْزُقْنا خَوْفَ عِقابِ الْوَعيدِ
وَشَوْقَ ثَوابِ الْمَوْعُودِ حَتّى نَجِدَ لَذَّةَ
ما نَدْعُوكَ بِهِ وَكَأْبَةَ ما نَسْتَجيرُكَ مِنْهُ

53. O Allah,
provide us with fear of the threatened punishment
and yearning for the promised reward, so that we may find
the pleasure of that for which we supplicate Thee
and the sorrow of that from which we seek sanctuary in Thee!

وَاجْعَلْنا عِنْدَكَ مِنَ التَّوّابين َالَّذينَ أَوْجَبْتَ لَهُمْ
مَحَبَّتَكَ وَقَبِلْتَ مِنْهُمْ مُراجَعَةَ طاعَتِك َيا أَعْدَلَ الْعادِلينَ

54. And place us with Thee among the repenters,
those upon whom Thou hast made Thy love obligatory
and from whom Thou hast accepted
the return to obeying Thee!
194
O Most Just of the just!

أَللّهُمَّ تَجاوَزْ عَنْ آبائِنا وَأُمَّهاتِناوَأهْلِ دينِنا جَميعاً
مَنْ سَلَفَ مِنْهُمْ وَمَنْ غَبَرَ إِلى يَوْمِ الْقِيامَةِ

55. O Allah,
show forbearance toward our fathers and our mothers
and all the people of our religion,
those who have gone and those who will pass by,
until the Day of Resurrection!

أَللّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلى مُحَمَّد نَبِيِّنا وَآلِهِ كَما صَلَّيْتَ
عَلى مَلائِكَتِكَ الْمُقَرَّبينَ وَصَلِّ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ
كَما صَلَّيْتَ عَلى أَنْبِيائِكَ الْمُرْسَلينَ وَصَلِّ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ
كَما صَلَّيْتَ عَلى عِبادِكَ الصّالِحينَ وَأَفْضَل مِنْ ذلِكَ
يا رَبَّ الْعالَمينَ صَلاةً تَبْلُغُنا بَرَكَتُها وَيَنالُنا نَفْعُها
وَيُسْتَجابُ لَها دُعاؤُنا
إِنَّكَ أَكْرَمُ مَنْ رُغِبَ إِلَيْهِ وَأَكْفى مَنْ تُوُ كِّلَ عَلَيْه
وَأَعْطى مَنْ سُئِلَ مِنْ فَضْلِه ِ
وَأَنْتَ عَلى كُلِّ شَىْء قَديرٌ

56. O Allah,
bless our prophet Muhammad and his Household,
as Thou hast blessed Thy angels brought nigh,
bless him and his Household,
as Thou hast blessed Thy prophets sent out,
bless him and his Household,
as Thou hast blessed Thy righteous servants
- and better than that, O Lord of the worlds! -
a blessing whose benediction will reach us,
whose benefit will attain to us,
and through which our supplication may be granted!
Thou art the most generous of those who are beseeched,
the most sufficient of those in whom confidence is had,
the most bestowing of those from whom bounty is asked,
and Thou art powerful over everything!
195

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Footnotes:
180. Qur'an: 23:61.
181. In other words, Thou art kind without the servants having done anything to deserve it. Cf. 12.3.
182. Qur'an: 66:8.
183. Qur'an: 6:160.
184. Qur'an: 2:261.
185. Qur'an: 2:245.
186. Qur'an: 2:152.
187. Qur'an: 14:7.
188. Qur'an: 40:60.
189. Qur'an: 97: 3
190. Qur'an: 97:3.
191. That is, the Ramadan of the year that has just passed and that of the coming year.
192. That is, we have been afflicted by the hardship of having to fast. This interpretation follows Sayyid ''Alikhan's reading; the Persian translators interpret the sentence to mean: 'our being afflicted by grief at the passing of our month', a reading which Sayyid ''Alikhan rejects.
193. i.e., that good pleasure and mercy.
194. Allusion to Qur'anic verses such as Truly God loves the repenters (2:222) and God is He who accepts repentance from His servants (9:104; cf. 42:25).
195. Qur'an: 3:26
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Monday, September 1, 2008

REFLECTION ON THE FIRST DAY OF RAMADHAN.

وَمَآ أَرۡسَلۡنَـٰكَ إِلَّا رَحۡمَةً۬ لِّلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ

We sent thee not (O Muhammad!), but

as a mercy for all creatures.

(Qur'an: Anbiya': 21: 107)



Al-Hamdulillaah! Today, I was informed of the daily supplication in the Holy Month of Ramadān, attributed to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) and his household progeny (a.s.), who represent the perfect manifestations of the All-Merciful - as "RaHmatan lil-'Aalameen" [Mercy for the worlds], in their sincere prayer to the All-Merciful Lord to accept for the ummah, in just a Du'a from amongst many. This one is succinct, yet encompassing and very profound indeed. (Each aspect -herewith I have numbered - could be, and have been elaborated in books, as lessons for us to learn and emulate, as it examplify their noble akhlaq and the selfless concern for the well-being of others).


I too love to follow them in their ways, may Allaah s.w.t. be pleased, and invoke with the same supplication, in this blessed month of Ramadhan:


بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ



ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى هَدَٮٰنَا لِهَـٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لِنَہۡتَدِىَ


لَوۡلَآ أَنۡ هَدَٮٰنَا ٱللَّهُ‌ۖ


Al-Hamdulil-laah hil-ladzii hadaa-naa li-haa-dzaa, wa-maa kun-naa li-nah-ta diya, lau-laa an- ha-daa-nAllaah



"Praise be to Allah, Who hath guided us to this (felicity):

never could we have found guidance,

had it not been for the guidance of Allah



اللّهُـمَّ صَلِّ عَلـى مُحمَّـدٍ وَعَلـى أَزْواجِـهِ وَذُرِّيَّـتِه



كَمـا صَلَّيْـتَ عَلـى آلِ إبْراهـيم



وَبارِكْ عَلـى مُحمَّـدٍ وَعَلـى أَزْواجِـهِ وَذُرِّيَّـتِه



كَمـا بارِكْتَ عَلـى آلِ إبْراهـيم



إِنَّكَ حَمـيدٌ مَجـيد



Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa-'ala az-wajihi wa-dzur-riy-yatihi kama sallayta 'ala aali Ibraheem, wabarik 'ala Muhammad, wa-'ala az-wajihi wadzur-riy-yatih, kama barakta 'ala aali Ibraheem. innaka Hameedun Majeed.


‘O Allah, send Your prayers (salutations) upon Muhammad and upon the wives and descendants of Muhammad, just as You have sent prayers (salutations) upon the family of Ibraheem, and send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the wives and descendants of Muhammad, just as You sent blessings upon the family of Ibraheem. Verily, You are full of praise and majesty.’




أَللٌّهُمَّ أَدْخِلْ عَلى أَهلِ القُبُورِ السُّرُورَ



ALLAA-HUM-MA- AD-KHIL- ‘ALAA- AHLIL-QU-BOO-RIS-SUROO-R


[1] O Allāh, Instil Happiness in the Spirits of the Inhabitants of the Grave





أَللٌّهُمَّ أَغْنِ كُلَّ فَقِيْرٍ


ALLAA-HUM-MA- AGH-NI- KUL-LA- FAQEE-R


[2] O Allāh, Enrich Every Indigent (Poor One)


أَللٌّهُمَّ أَشْبِعْ كُلَّ جَائِعٍ


ALLAAH-HUM-MA- ASH-BI’-KUL-LA JAA-I’


[3] O Allāh, Satisfy Every Hungry Person.





أَللٌّهُمَّ اكْسُ كُلَّ عُرْيَانٍ

ALLAAH-HUM-MAK-SU- KUL-LA- ‘UR-YAA-N



[4] O Allāh, Clothe Every Unclothed One



أَللٌّهُمَّ اقْضِ دَيْنَ كُلِّ مَدِيْنٍ


ALLAAH-HUM-MAQ-DwI- DAY-NA- KUL-LA MA-DEE-N


[5] O Allāh, Facilitate the Payment of Every Indebted One



أَللٌّهُمَّ فَرِّجْ عَنْ كُلِّ مَكْرُوْبٍ


ALLAAH-HUM-MA- FAR-RIJ- ‘AN-KUL-LA- MAK-ROO-B



[6] O Allāh, Relieve Every Deeply Anguished One



أَللٌّهُمَّ رُدَّ كُلَّ غَرِيْبٍ


ALLAAH-HUM-MA- RUD-DA- KUL-LA GHA-REE-B


[7] O Allāh, Return Every Stranger.



أَللٌّهُمَّ فُكَّ كُلَّ أَسِيْرٍ


ALLAAH-HUM-MA -FUK-KA- KUL-LA- ASEE-R



[8] O Allāh, Free Every Captive



أَللَّهُمَّ أَصْلِحْ كُلَّ فَاسِدٍ مِنْ أُمُورِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ


ALLAAH-HUM-MA-ASw-LIH-KUL-LA- FAA-SIDIN- MIN- ‘UMOO-RIL-MUS-LI-MEEN

[9] O Allāh, Reform Every Uneven Affair of the Muslims



أَللٌّهُمَّ اشْفِ كُلَّ مَرِيْضٍ


ALLAAH-HUM-MASH-FI- KUL-LA- MA-REEDw



[10] O Allāh, Cure Every Sick Person



أَللٌّهُمَّ سُدَّ فَقْرَنَا بِغِنَاكَ


ALLAAH-HUM-MA- SUD-DA FAQ-RONAA BI-GHI-NAA-K

[11] O Allāh, Fill Our Poverty With Your Richness ('Ghaniyy' means 'One Who has no Need' i.e. Needless)



أَللٌّهُمَّ غَيِّرْ سُوْء حَالنَا بَحُسْنِ حَالِكَ


ALLAAH-HUM-MA-GHAY-YIR SUU-A- HAA-LANAA-BI-HUS-NI HAA-LIK


[12] O Allāh, Change Our Unpleasant State Into Your Beautiful State




أَللٌّهُمَّ اقْضِ عَنَّا الدَّيْنَ


ALLAAH-HUM-MAQ-DwI- ‘AN-NAAD-DAYN

[13] O Allāh, Facilitate the Payment of Our Debt


وَأَغْنِنَا مِنَ الْفَقْرِ


WA-AGH-NI-NAA- MINAL- FAQR

[14] And Enrich us (i.e. as one who without need) from poverty





إِنَّكَ عَلَى كَلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْرٍ


IN-NAKA- ‘ALAA KUL-LI-SHAY-IN-QO-DEER


[15] Surely You Are All-Powerful Over Everything




Allaahumma Salli 'alaa Sayyidinaa Muhammadin


Wa Aa-lihee Wa-itraa-ti-hee be- 'Adadi Kulli


Ma'- loo-mil-lak,


Astagh-firullaah hal-ladzi


Laa- ilaa-ha il-laa huwal Hayyul Qayyoomu


Wa- Atoo-bu- ilaih.


Yaa Hayyu Yaa Qayyoom





O Allaah, bestow Your Choicest Blessings upon our Master Muhammad and upon his extended family and his progeny according to the number of all things known to You.


I seek the forgiveness of the One but for whom there is no (other) God but He,


The Truly and Perfectly Alive and The Self Sustained!


and I turn to Him with repentance.


O The Truly and Perfectly Alive !


O The Self Sustained!



Aa-meena Ya Rob-bal-'Aa-la-meen!





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