وَتَحْدُونِي عَلَيْهَا خَلَّةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ

wa-taḥdūnī ‘alayhā khallatun wāḥidah

Yet one quality drives me toward it.

يَحْجُبُنِي أَمْرٌ أَمَرْتَ بِهِ فَأَبْطَأْتُ عَنْهُ

yaḥjubunī amrun amarta bihi fa-abṭa’tu ‘anhu

I am held back by a command You ordered, yet I delayed.

وَنَهْيٌ نَهَيْتَنِي عَنْهُ فَأَسْرَعْتُ إِلَيْهِ

wa-nahyun nahaytanī ‘anhu fa-asra‘tu ilayhi

And a prohibition You forbade me, yet I hastened toward it.

وَنِعْمَةٌ أَنْعَمْتَ بِهَا عَلَيَّ فَقَصَّرْتُ فِي شُكْرِهَا

wa-ni‘matun an‘amta bihā ‘alayya fa-qaṣṣartu fī shukrihā

And a blessing You bestowed upon me, yet I fell short in thanking it.

وَيَحْدُونِي عَلَى مَسْأَلَتِكَ تَفَضُّلُكَ عَلَى مَنْ أَقْبَلَ بِوَجْهِهِ إِلَيْكَ

wa-yaḥdūnī ‘alā mas’alatika tafaḍḍuluka ‘alā man aqbala bi-wajhihi ilayk

But what drives me to ask You is Your grace upon those who turn their faces toward You.

وَوَفَدَ بِحُسْنِ ظَنِّهِ إِلَيْكَ

wa-wafada bi-ḥusni ẓannihi ilayk

And approach You with good expectation.

إِذْ جَمِيعُ إِحْسَانِكَ تَفَضُّلٌ، وَإِذْ كُلُّ نِعَمِكَ ابْتِدَاءٌ

idh jamī‘u iḥsānika tafaḍḍul, wa-idh kullu ni‘amika ibtida’

For all of Your kindness is grace, and all of Your blessings are without cause.

فَهَا أَنَا ذَا يَا إِلَهِي وَاقِفٌ بِبَابِ عِزِّكَ وُقُوفَ الْمُسْتَسْلِمِ الذَّلِيلِ

fahā anā dhā yā ilāhī wāqifun bi-bābi ‘izzika wuqūfa al-mustaslimi al-dhalīl

So here I am, my God, standing at the door of Your might like a submissive, humbled one.

وَسَائِلُكَ عَلَى الْحَيَاءِ مِنِّي سُؤَالَ الْبَائِسِ الْمُعِيلِ

wa-sā’iluka ‘alā al-ḥayā’i minnī su’āla al-bā’isi al-mu‘īl

And asking You in shame, like the needy, destitute beggar.

مُقِرٌّ لَكَ بِأَنِّي لَمْ أَسْتَسْلِمْ وَقْتَ إِحْسَانِكَ إِلَّا بِالِاقْلَاعِ عَنْ عِصْيَانِكَ

muqirrul laka bi-annī lam astaslim waqt iḥsānika illā bil-iqlā‘i ‘an ‘iṣyānika

Confessing that I did not submit during Your kindness, except by abandoning disobedience to You.

وَلَمْ أَخْلُ فِي الْحَالَاتِ كُلِّهَا مِنِ امْتِنَانِكَ

wa-lam akhlu fī al-ḥālāt kullihā min imtinānika

And in all states, I was never without Your favor.

فَهَلْ يَنْفَعُنِي يَا إِلَهِي إِقْرَارِي عِنْدَكَ بِسُوءِ مَا اكْتَسَبْتُ؟

fahal yanfa‘unī yā ilāhī iq’rārī ‘indaka bisū’i mā ik’tasabt

So will my confession before You of the evil I have earned benefit me?

أَمْ أَوْجَبْتَ لِي فِي مَقَامِي هَذَا سُخْطَكَ؟

am awjabta lī fī maqāmī hādhā sukhṭak

Or have You decreed upon me in this state Your anger?

أَمْ لَزِمَنِي فِي وَقْتِ دُعَائِي مَقْتُكَ؟

am lazimanī fī waqt du‘ā’ī maqtuk

Or does Your wrath cling to me when I supplicate?

سُبْحَانَكَ! لَا أَيْأَسُ مِنْكَ وَقَدْ فَتَحْتَ لِيَ بَابَ التَّوْبَةِ إِلَيْكَ

subḥānaka! lā ay’asu minka wa-qad fataḥta lī bāba al-tawbati ilayk

Glory be to You! I will never despair of You, for You have opened for me the door of repentance toward You.

بَلْ أَقُولُ مَقَالَ الْعَبْدِ الذَّلِيلِ الظَّالِمِ لِنَفْسِهِ الْمُسْتَخِفِّ بِحُرْمَةِ رَبِّهِ

bal aqūlu maqāla al-‘abdi al-dhalīli al-ẓālimi linafsihi al-mustakhiffi bi-ḥurmati rabbihi

Rather, I say the words of a lowly servant who has wronged himself, who belittled the sanctity of his Lord.

الَّذِي عَظُمَتْ ذُنُوبُهُ فَجَلَّتْ وَأَدْبَرَتْ أَيَّامُهُ فَوَلَّتْ

alladhī ‘aẓumat dhunūbuhu fa-jallat wa-adbarat ayyāmuhu fa-wallat

The one whose sins have become great and immense, and whose days have passed and gone.

حَتَّى إِذَا رَأى مُدَّةَ الْعَمَلِ قَدِ انْقَضَتْ

ḥattā idhā ra’ā muddata al-‘amali qad inqaḍat

Until he sees the time for deeds has ended.

وَغَايَةَ الْعُمُرِ قَدِ انْتَهَتْ

wa-ghāyata al-‘umuri qad intahat

And the limit of his lifespan has finished.

وَأَيْقَنَ أَنَّهُ لَا مَحِيصَ لَهُ مِنْكَ وَلاَ مَهْرَبَ لَهُ عَنْكَ

wa-ayqana annahu lā maḥīṣa lahu minka wa-lā mahraba lahu ‘anka

And he is certain that there is no escape for him from You, and no refuge away from You.

تَلَقَّاكَ بِالإنَابَةِ وَأَخْلَصَ لَكَ التَّوْبَةَ

talaqqāka bi-l-inābah wa-akhlaṣa laka al-tawbata

He comes to meet You with turning (back), and offers You sincere repentance.

فَقَامَ إِلَيْكَ بِقَلْبٍ طَاهِرٍ نَقِيٍّ

faqāma ilayka bi-qalbin ṭāhirin naqiyy

So he stands before You with a pure, clean heart.

ثُمَّ دَعَاكَ بِصَوْتٍ حَائِلٍ خَفِيٍّ

thumma daʿāka bi-ṣawtin ḥāʾilin khafiyyin

Then he calls upon You with a faint, hidden voice.

قَدْ تَطَأْطَأَ لَكَ فَانْحَنَى، وَنَكَّسَ رَأْسَهُ فَانْثَنَى

qad taṭāṭa’a laka fa-inḥanā, wa-nakkasa ra’sahu fa-inthanā

He has bowed down to You and bent low, lowering his head and folding himself.

قَدْ أَرْعَشَتْ خَشْيَتُهُ رِجْلَيْهِ، وَغَرَّقَتْ دُمُوعُهُ خَدَّيْهِ

qad ar‘ashat khashyatuhu rijlayh, wa-gharraqat dumū‘uhu khaddayh

His fear has made his legs tremble, and his tears have flooded his cheeks.

يَدْعُوكَ بِيَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ

yad‘ūka biyā arḥama al-rāḥimīn

Calling upon You: “O Most Merciful of the merciful.”

وَيَا أَرْحَمَ مَنِ انْتَابَهُ الْمُسْتَرْحِمُونَ

wa-yā arḥama mani intābahu al-mustarḥimūn

And O most merciful to whom those seeking mercy turn.

وَيَا أَعْطَفَ مَنْ أَطَافَ بِهِ الْمُسْتَغْفِرُونَ

wa-yā a‘ṭafa man aṭāfa bihi al-mustaghfirūn

And O most compassionate to whom the seekers of forgiveness gather.

وَيَا مَنْ عَفْوُهُ أَكْثَرُ مِنْ نِقْمَتِهِ

wa-yā man ‘afwuhu aktharu min niqmatih

And O He whose pardon is greater than His punishment.

وَيَا مَنْ رِضَاهُ أَوْفَرُ مِنْ سَخَطِهِ

wa-yā man riḍāhu awfaru min sakhaṭih

And O He whose pleasure is more abundant than His wrath.

وَيَا مَنْ تَحَمَّدَ إِلَى خَلْقِهِ بِحُسْنِ التَّجاوُزِ

wa-yā man taḥammada ilā khalqihi bi-ḥusni al-tajāwuz

And O He who shows gratitude to His creation through gracious forbearance.

وَيَا مَنْ عَوَّدَ عِبادَهُ قَبُولَ الإنَابَةِ ،

wa-yā man a'w-wada i'baadahoo qaboolal-inaabah

O He who has accustomed His servants to the acceptance of their repeated turning!

وَيَا مَنِ اسْتَصْلَحَ فَاسِدَهُمْ بِالتَّوْبَةِ

wa-yā man istaṣlaḥa fāsidahum bit-tawbah

O He who reformed their corruption through repentance.

وَيَا مَنْ رَضِيَ مِنْ فِعْلِهِمْ بِالْيَسيرِ

wa-yā man raḍiya min fiʿlihim bil-yasīr

O He who was satisfied from their deeds with little.

وَيَا مَنْ كَافى قَلِيْلَهُمْ بِالْكَثِيرِ

wa-yā man kāfā qalīlahum bil-kathīr

O He who rewarded their little with much.

وَيَا مَنْ ضَمِنَ لَهُمْ إجَابَةَ الدُّعاءِ

wa-yā man ḍamina lahum ijābata ad-duʿāʾ

O He who guaranteed for them the answering of prayer.

وَيَا مَنْ وَعَدَهُمْ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ بِتَفَضُّلِهِ حُسْنَ الْجَزاءِ

wa-yā man waʿadahum ʿalā nafsihi bita-faḍḍulihi ḥusna al-jazāʾ

O He who promised them, by His grace, a good reward.

مَا أَنَا بِأَعْصَى مَنْ عَصَاكَ فَغَفَرْتَ لَهُ

mā anā bi-aʿṣā man ʿaṣāka faghafarta lahu

I am not more disobedient than one You forgave.

وَمَا أَنَا بِأَلْوَمِ مَنِ اعْتَذَرَ إلَيْكَ فَقَبِلْتَ مِنْهُ

wa-mā anā bi-alwama mani iʿtadhara ilayka faqabilta minhu

Nor am I more blameworthy than one You accepted.

وَمَا أَنَا بِأَظْلَمِ مَنْ تَابَ إلَيْكَ فَعُدْتَ عَلَيْهِ

wa-mā anā bi-aẓlama man tāba ilayka faʿudta ʿalayhi

Nor am I more unjust than one You forgave after repentance.

أَتُوبُ إلَيْكَ فِي مَقَامِي هَذَا تَوْبَةَ نَادِم

atūbu ilayka fī maqāmī hādhā tawbata nādim

I repent to You now with the repentance of one regretful.

عَلَى مَا فَرَطَ مِنْهُ مُشْفِق مِمَّا اجْتَمَعَ عَلَيْهِ

ʿalā mā faraṭa minhu mushfiq mimmā ijtamaʿa ʿalayh

For what has been neglected, fearful of what has gathered.

خَالِصِ الْحَيَاءِ مِمَّا وَقَعَ فِيْهِ

khāliṣi al-ḥayāʾi mimmā waqaʿa fīhi

With pure shame for what has occurred.

عَالِم بِأَنَّ الْعَفْوَ عَنِ الذَّنْبِ الْعَظِيمِ لاَ يَتَعَاظَمُكَ

ʿālim bi-anna al-ʿafwa ʿani adh-dhanbi al-ʿaẓīm lā yataʿāẓamuka

Knowing that pardoning the great sin does not overwhelm You.

وَأَنَّ التَّجَاوُزَ عَنِ الإثْمِ الْجَلِيْلِ لا يَسْتَصْعِبُكَ

wa-anna at-tajāwuza ʿani al-ithmi al-jalīl lā yastaṣʿibuka

And that overlooking the grave offense is not difficult for You.

وَأَنَّ احْتِمَالَ الْجنَايَاتِ الْفَـاحِشَةِ لا يَتَكَأَّدُكَ

wa-anna iḥtimāla al-janāyāti al-fāḥishati lā yatakaʾaduka

And that bearing the outrageous crimes does not burden You.

وَأَنَّ أَحَبَّ عِبَادِكَ إلَيْكَ مَنْ تَرَكَ الاسْتِكْبَارَ عَلَيْكَ

wa-anna aḥabba ʿibādika ilayka man taraka al-istkibāra ʿalayk

And that Your most beloved servants are those who abandon arrogance.

وَجَانَبَ الإِصْرَارَ، وَلَزِمَ الاسْتِغْفَارَ

wa-jānaba al-iṣrār wa-lazima al-istighfār

And avoid persistence, and cling to seeking forgiveness

وَأَنَا أَبْرَأُ إلَيْكَ مِنْ أَنْ أَسْتَكْبِرَ

wa-anā abraʾu ilayka min an astakbira

And I disavow before You from arrogance

وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ أَنْ أصِـرَّ

wa-aʿūdhu bika min an aṣirra

And I seek refuge in You from persistence in sin

وَأَسْتَغْفِرُكَ لِمَا قَصَّرْتُ فِيهِ

wa-astaghfiruka limā qaṣṣartu fīhi

And I ask forgiveness for my shortcomings

وَأَسْتَعِينُ بِكَ عَلَى مَا عَجَزْتُ عَنْهُ

wa-astaʿīnu bika ʿalā mā ʿajaztu ʿanhu

And I seek help from You in what I cannot do

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّد وَآلِهِ

allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā muḥammadin wa-ālihi

O Allah, bless Muhammad and his family

وَهَبْ لِي مَا يَجبُ عَلَيَّ لَكَ

wa-hab lī mā yajibu ʿalayya lak

And grant me what I owe to You

وَعَافِنِي مِمَّا أَسْتَوْجِبُهُ مِنْكَ

wa-ʿāfinī mimmā astawjibuhu minka

And pardon me from what I deserve from You

وَأجِرْنِي مِمَّا يَخَافُهُ أَهْلُ الإساءَةِ

wa-ajirnī mimmā yakhāfuhu ahlu al-isāʾah

And protect me from what the people of evil fear

فَإنَّكَ مَلِيءٌ بِالْعَفْوِ، مَرْجُوٌّ لِلْمَغْفِرَةِ

fa-innaka malīʾun bil-ʿafwi marjūwun lil-maghfirah

For You are full of pardon, hoped for forgiveness

مَعْرُوفٌ بِالتَّجَاوُزِ

maʿrūfun bit-tajāwuz

Well-known for overlooking faults

لَيْسَ لِحَاجَتِي مَطْلَبٌ سِوَاكَ

laysa li-ḥājatī maṭlabun siwāk

There is no one else to seek for my need

وَلا لِذَنْبِي غَافِرٌ غَيْرُكَ، حاشَاكَ

wa-lā lidhanbī ghāfirun ghayruka ḥāshāk

And none forgives my sin except You—far be it from others

وَلاَ أَخَافُ عَلَى نَفْسِي إلاّ إيَّاكَ

wa-lā akhāfu ʿalā nafsī illā iyyāk

And I fear none for my soul except You

إنَّكَ أَهْلُ التَّقْوَى وَأَهْلُ الْمَغْفِرَةِ

innaka ahlu at-taqwā wa-ahlu al-maghfirah

Indeed, You are worthy of piety and forgiveness

صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّد وَآلِ مُحَمَّد

ṣalli ʿalā muḥammadin wa-āli muḥammad

Send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad

وَاقْض حَاجَتِي وَأَنْجِحْ طَلِبَتِي

wa-qḍi ḥājātī wa-anjih ṭalibatī

Fulfill my need and grant my request success

وَاغْفِرْ ذَنْبِي، وَآمِنْ خَوْفَ نَفْسِي

wa-ghfir dhanbī wa-āmin khawfa nafsī

Forgive my sin, and grant safety to my soul’s fear

إنَّكَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْء قَدِيرٌ

innaka ʿalā kulli shayʾin qadīr

Indeed, You are powerful over all things

وَذلِكَ عَلَيْكَ يَسِيرٌ آمِينَ رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ

wa-dhālika ʿalayka yasīrun āmīn rabba al-ʿālamīn

And that is easy for You—Amen, Lord of the worlds