Dua al-Kumayl
Dua al-Kumayl, is a well-known Supplication attributed to Kumayl ibn Ziyad, a companion of Imam Ali (peace be upon him). Imam Ali is said to have taught this dua to Kumayl, and through him, it has become a staple in the devotional life of the Muslims, particularly recited on Thursday nights.
This dua is profound in its expression of a deep sense of remorse and asks for forgiveness, mercy, and guidance from Allah. It is rich in theological concepts, including God’s omnipotence, the human condition, sinfulness, and divine forgiveness. The supplication emphasizes the relationship between the Creator and the creation, highlighting human frailty and divine transcendence.
Key references to Dua al-Kumayl can be found in the following Shia Islamic texts:
- Kitab al-Misbah by Sheikh Tusi: One of the earliest comprehensive Shia books on prayers and supplications, which includes Dua al-Kumayl. Sheikh Tusi (995-1067 CE), a prominent Shia scholar, compiled this book that remains a primary source for Shia rituals and practices.
- Misbah al-Mutahajjid by Sheikh Tusi: Another significant work by Sheikh Tusi that serves as a manual for Shia devotional life, including prayers and supplications for various times and occasions.
The merits of reciting this supplication have been emphasized by scholars. May these acts of worship bring blessings and forgiveness to the believers who engage in them on Friday night.
"O Kumayl! The duration of our companionship and service has led me to elevate you with such blessings and honours. Then he said, 'Write,' and dictated the supplication to me.
Based on the writings and documents mentioned by Seyed Ibn Tawus in the book Iqbal al-A'mal, confirmed by Allama Majlisi, the best time to recite Dua Kumayl is on the night of the middle of Sha'ban and Friday nights.
The Arabic text and its translation are as follows:
اللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّى أَسْأَلُكَ بِرَحْمَتِكَ الَّتِى وَسِعَتْ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ، وَبِقُوَّتِكَ الَّتِى قَهَرْتَ بِها كُلَّ شَىْءٍ، وَخَضَعَ لَها كُلُّ شَىْءٍ، وَذَلَّ لَها كُلُّ شَىْءٍ، وَبِجَبَرُوتِكَ الَّتِى غَلَبْتَ بِها كُلَّ شَىْءٍ، وَبِعِزَّتِكَ الَّتِى لَايَقُومُ لَها شَىْءٌ، وَ بِعَظَمَتِكَ الَّتِى مَلَأَتْ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ، وَ بِسُلْطانِكَ الَّذِى عَلَا كُلَّ شَىْءٍ، وَ بِوَجْهِكَ الْباقِى بَعْدَ فَنَاءِ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ، وَبِأَسْمَائِكَ الَّتِى مَلَأَتْ أَرْكَانَ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ، وَبِعِلْمِكَ الَّذِى أَحَاطَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ، وَبِنُورِ وَجْهِكَ الَّذِى أَضَاءَ لَهُ كُلُّ شَىْءٍ؛ يَا نُورُ يَا قُدُّوسُ، يَا أَوَّلَ الْأَوَّلِينَ، وَيَا آخِرَ الْآخِرِينَ
O Allah, I ask You by Your mercy, which embraces all things; And by Your strength, through which You dominates all things, And toward which all things are humble And before which all things are lowly; And by Your invincibility through which You overwhelms all things, And by Your might, which nothing can resist; And by Your tremendousness, which has filled all things; by Your force, which towers over all things; And by Your face, which subsists after the annihilation of all things, And by Your Names, which have filled the foundations of all things; And by Your knowledge, which encompasses all things; And by the light of Your face, through which all things are illumined! O Light! O All-holy!
O First of those who are first And O Last of those who are last!
اللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِىَ الذُّنُوبَ الَّتِى تَهْتِكُ الْعِصَمَ . اللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِىَ الذُّنُوبَ الَّتِى تُنْزِلُ النِّقَمَ . اللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِىَ الذُّنُوبَ الَّتِى تُغَيِّرُ النِّعَمَ . اللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِىَ الذُّنُوبَ الَّتِى تَحْبِسُ الدُّعَاءَ . اللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِىَ الذُّنُوبَ الَّتِى تُنْزِلُ الْبَلَاءَ؛ اللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِى كُلَّ ذَنْبٍ أَذْنَبْتُهُ، وَكُلَّ خَطِيئَةٍ أَخْطَأْتُها .
O Allah, forgive me those sins which tear apart safeguards! O Allah, forgive me those sins which draw down adversities! O Allah, forgive me those sins which alter blessings! O Allah forgive me those sins which hold back supplication! O Allah forgive me those sins which cut down the hopes! O Allah, forgive me those sins which draw down tribulation! O Allah, forgive me every sin I have committed and every mistake I have made!
اللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّى أَتَقَرَّبُ إِلَيْكَ بِذِكْرِكَ، وَأَسْتَشْفِعُ بِكَ إِلَىٰ نَفْسِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ بِجُودِكَ أَنْ تُدْنِيَنِى مِنْ قُرْبِكَ، وَأَنْ تُوزِعَنِى شُكْرَكَ، وَأَنْ تُلْهِمَنِى ذِكْرَكَ . اللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّى أَسْأَلُكَ سُؤَالَ خَاضِعٍ مُتَذَلِّلٍ خَاشِعٍ، أَنْ تُسامِحَنِى وَتَرْحَمَنِى، وَتَجْعَلَنِى بِقَسْمِكَ رَاضِياً قانِعاً، وَفِى جَمِيعِ الْأَحْوَالِ مُتَواضِعاً؛
O Allah, verily I seek nearness to You through remembrance of You, And I seek intercession from You with Yourself, And I ask You through Your munificence to bring me near to Your proximity, And to provide me with gratitude toward You And to inspire me with Your remembrance. O Allah, verily I ask You with the asking of a submissive, abased and lowly man to show me forbearance, to have mercy on me And to make me satisfied and content with Your appointment and [make me] humble in every state.
اللّٰهُمَّ وَأَسْأَلُكَ سُؤَالَ مَنِ اشْتَدَّتْ فَاقَتُهُ، وَأَنْزَلَ بِكَ عِنْدَ الشَّدائِدِ حَاجَتَهُ، وَعَظُمَ فِيَما عِنْدَكَ رَغْبَتُهُ . اللّٰهُمَّ عَظُمَ سُلْطَانُكَ، وَعَلَا مَكَانُكَ، وَخَفِىَ مَكْرُكَ، وَظَهَرَ أَمْرُكَ، وَغَلَبَ قَهْرُكَ، وَجَرَتْ قُدْرَتُكَ، وَلَا يُمْكِنُ الْفِرارُ مِنْ حُكُومَتِكَ؛
O Allah, I ask You the question of one whose indigence is extreme, And who has stated to You in difficulties his need And whose desire for what is with You has become great. O Allah, Your force is tremendous, Your place is lofty, And Your plan is hidden, Your command is manifest, And Your domination is overwhelming, Your power is unhindered And escape from Your governance is impossible.
اللّٰهُمَّ لَاأَجِدُ لِذُنُوبِى غَافِراً، وَلَا لِقَبائِحِى سَاتِراً، وَلَا لِشَىْءٍ مِنْ عَمَلِىَ الْقَبِيحِ بِالْحَسَنِ مُبَدِّلاً غَيْرَكَ، لَاإِلٰهَ إِلّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِى، وَتَجَرَّأْتُ بِجَهْلِى، وَسَكَنْتُ إِلَىٰ قَدِيمِ ذِكْرِكَ لِى وَمَنِّكَ عَلَىَّ
O Allah, I find no forgiver of my sins, Nor concealer of my ugly acts Nor transformer of any of my ugly acts into good acts but You There is no god but You! Glory be to You, and Thine is the praise! I have wronged myself, And I have been audacious in my ignorance. And I have depended upon Your ancient remembrance of me and Your favour toward me.
اللّٰهُمَّ مَوْلَاىَ كَمْ مِنْ قَبِيحٍ سَتَرْتَهُ، وَكَمْ مِنْ فَادِحٍ مِنَ الْبَلَاءِ أَقَلْتَهُ ، وَكَمْ مِنْ عِثَارٍ وَقَيْتَهُ، وَكَمْ مِنْ مَكْرُوهٍ دَفَعْتَهُ، وَكَمْ مِنْ ثَنَاءٍ جَمِيلٍ لَسْتُ أَهْلاً لَهُ نَشَرْتَهُ؛
O Allah! O my Protector! How many ugly things You hast concealed! How many burdensome tribulations You hast abolished! And how many stumbles You hast prevented! And how many ordeals You hast repelled! And how much beautiful praise, for which I was unworthy, You hast spread abroad!
اللّٰهُمَّ عَظُمَ بَلَائِى، وَأَفْرَطَ بِى سُوءُ حالِى، وَقَصُرَتْ بِى أَعْمالِى، وَقَعَدَتْ بِى أَغْلالِى، وَحَبَسَنِى عَنْ نَفْعِى بُعْدُ أَمَلِى، وَخَدَعَتْنِى الدُّنْيا بِغُرُورِها، وَنَفْسِى بِجِنايَتِها وَمِطالِى ، يَا سَيِّدِى فَأَسْأَلُكَ بِعِزَّتِكَ أَنْ لَايَحْجُبَ عَنْكَ دُعائِى سُوءُ عَمَلِى وَفِعالِى، وَلَا تَفْضَحْنِى بِخَفِيِّ مَا اطَّلَعْتَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ سِرِّى، وَلَا تُعاجِلْنِى بِالْعُقُوبَةِ عَلىٰ مَا عَمِلْتُهُ فِى خَلَواتِى مِنْ سُوءِ فِعْلِى وَ إِساءَتِى، وَدَوامِ تَفْرِيطِى وَجَهالَتِى، وَكَثْرَةِ شَهَواتِى وَغَفْلَتِى؛
O Allah, my tribulation is tremendous, And my bad state is excessive, And my acts are inadequate, And my fetters have tied me down, And my far-fetched hopes have held me back from my gain. And this world with its delusions, my own soul with its offences and my delay have deceived me. O my Master! So I ask You by Your might not to let my evil works and acts veil my supplication from You, And not to disgrace me through the hidden things You knowest of my secrets. And not to hasten me to punishment for what I have done in private: My evil acts in secrecy and my misdeeds. And my continuous negligence and my ignorance. And my manifold passions and my forgetfulness.
وَ كُنِ اللّٰهُمَّ بِعِزَّتِكَ لِى فِى كُلِّ الْأَحْوالِ رَؤُوفاً، وَعَلَىَّ فِى جَمِيعِ الْأُمُورِ عَطُوفاً، إِلٰهِى وَرَبِّى مَنْ لِى غَيْرُكَ، أَسْأَلُهُ كَشْفَ ضُرِّى، وَالنَّظَرَ فِى أَمْرِى؛
And by Your might, O Allah, be kind to me in all states. And be gracious to me in all affairs! My God and my Lord! Have I any but You from whom to ask removal of my affliction and regard for my affairs!
إِلٰهِى وَمَوْلاىَ أَجْرَيْتَ عَلَىَّ حُكْماً اتَّبَعْتُ فِيهِ هَوىٰ نَفْسِى، وَلَمْ أَحْتَرِسْ فِيهِ مِنْ تَزْيِينِ عَدُوِّى، فَغَرَّنِى بِمَا أَهْوىٰ وَأَسْعَدَهُ عَلَىٰ ذٰلِكَ الْقَضاءُ، فَتَجاوَزْتُ بِما جَرىٰ عَلَىَّ مِنْ ذٰلِكَ بَعْضَ حُدُودِكَ ، وَخالَفْتُ بَعْضَ أَوامِرِكَ، فَلَكَ الحَمْدُ عَلَىَّ فِى جَمِيعِ ذٰلِكَ؛ وَلَا حُجَّةَ لِى فِيما جَرىٰ عَلَىَّ فِيهِ قَضَاؤُكَ، وَأَلْزَمَنِى حُكْمُكَ وَبَلٰاؤُكَ،
My God and my Master, You have imposed upon me a decree that I followed, driven by my own desires. I did not guard myself against the deception of my enemy, so he enticed me with what I desired, and fate aided him in this. Consequently, I overstepped some of Your boundaries and disobeyed some of Your commands. So, all praise is due to You for all of this, and I have no argument against what Your decree has brought upon me. Your judgment and test have bound me.
وَقَدْ أَتَيْتُكَ يَا إِلٰهِى بَعْدَ تَقْصِيرِى وَ إِسْرافِى عَلىٰ نَفْسِى، مُعْتَذِراً نادِماً مُنْكَسِراً مُسْتَقِيلاً مُسْتَغْفِراً مُنِيباً مُقِرّاً مُذْعِناً مُعْتَرِفاً، لَاأَجِدُ مَفَرّاً مِمَّا كَانَ مِنِّى وَلَا مَفْزَعاً أَتَوَجَّهُ إِلَيْهِ فِى أَمْرِى، غَيْرَ قَبُو لِكَ عُذْرِى وَ إِدْخالِكَ إِيَّاىَ فِى سَعَةِ رَحْمَتِكَ . اللّٰهُمَّ فَاقْبَلْ عُذْرِى، وَارْحَمْ شِدَّةَ ضُرِّى، وَفُكَّنِى مِنْ شَدِّ وَثاقِى؛
And now I have come to You, my God, after my shortcomings and my excessive wrongdoings against myself, apologizing, remorseful, broken-hearted, seeking forgiveness, repenting, confessing, submitting, and acknowledging. I find no escape from what I have done, nor a refuge to which I can turn in my matters, except for Your acceptance of my apology and Your inclusion of me in the vastness of Your mercy. O Allah, accept my apology, have mercy on my severe affliction, and release me from the tight constraints I am in.
يَا رَبِّ ارْحَمْ ضَعْفَ بَدَنِى، وَرِقَّةَ جِلْدِى، وَدِقَّةَ عَظْمِى، يَا مَنْ بَدَأَ خَلْقِى وَذِكْرِى وَتَرْبِيَتِى وَبِرِّى وَتَغْذِيَتِى،
هَبْنِى لِابْتِداءِ كَرَمِكَ وَسالِفِ بِرِّكَ بِى
My Lord, have mercy upon the weakness of my body, the thinness of my skin and the frailty of my bones. O You who gave rise to my creation, to the remembrance of me, to the nurture of me, to goodness toward me and to nourishment on me, Bestow upon me for the sake of Your having given rise [to me] with generosity and Your previous goodness to me!
يَا إِلٰهِى وَسَيِّدِى وَرَبِّى، أَتُراكَ مُعَذِّبِى بِنَارِكَ بَعْدَ تَوْحِيدِكَ، وَبَعْدَ مَا انْطَوىٰ عَلَيْهِ قَلْبِى مِنْ مَعْرِفَتِكَ، وَلَهِجَ بِهِ لِسَانِى مِنْ ذِكْرِكَ، وَاعْتَقَدَهُ ضَمِيرِى مِنْ حُبِّكَ، وَبَعْدَ صِدْقِ اعْتِرافِى وَدُعَائِى خَاضِعاً لِرُبُوبِيَّتِكَ؛ هَيْهاتَ أَنْتَ أَكْرَمُ مِنْ أَنْ تُضَيِّعَ مَنْ رَبَّيْتَهُ، أَوْ تُبَعِّدَ [تُبْعِدَ] مَنْ أَدْنَيْتَهُ، أَوْ تُشَرِّدَ مَنْ آوَيْتَهُ، أَوْ تُسَلِّمَ إِلَى الْبَلَاءِ مَنْ كَفَيْتَهُ وَرَحِمْتَهُ،
O Allah, my Master and my Lord! Canst You see Yourself tormenting me with Your fire after I have professed Your Unity. And after the knowledge of You my heart has embraced, And the remembrance of You my tongue has constantly mentioned. And the love of You to which my mind has clung, And after the sincerity of my confession and my supplication, humble before Your lordship? Far be it from You! You art more generous than that You should squander him whom You hast nurtured, Or banish him whom You hast brought nigh, Or drive away him whom You hast given an abode, Or submit to tribulation him whom You hast spared and shown mercy.
وَلَيْتَ شِعْرِى يَا سَيِّدِى وَ إِلٰهِى وَمَوْلاىَ، أَتُسَلِّطُ النَّارَ عَلَىٰ وُجُوهٍ خَرَّتْ لِعَظَمَتِكَ سَاجِدَةً، وَعَلَىٰ أَلْسُنٍ نَطَقَتْ بِتَوْحِيدِكَ صَادِقَةً، وَبِشُكْرِكَ مَادِحَةً، وَعَلَىٰ قُلُوبٍ اعْتَرَفَتْ بِإِلٰهِيَّتِكَ مُحَقِّقَةً؛ وَعَلَىٰ ضَمَائِرَ حَوَتْ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ بِكَ حَتَّىٰ صَارَتْ خَاشِعَةً، وَعَلَىٰ جَوارِحَ سَعَتْ إِلَىٰ أَوْطانِ تَعَبُّدِكَ طَائِعَةً، وَ أَشارَتْ بِاسْتِغْفارِكَ مُذْعِنَةً،
Would that I knew, My Master, My God and my Protector, whether You will give the Fire dominion over faces fallen down prostrate before Your Tremendousness, And over tongues voicing sincerely the profession of Your Unity and giving thanks to You in praise, And over hearts acknowledging Your Divinity through verification, And over minds encompassing knowledge of You until they have become humble. And over bodily members speeding to the places of Your worship in obedience and beckoning for Your forgiveness in submission.
مَا هَكَذَا الظَّنُّ بِكَ، وَلَا أُخْبِرْنا بِفَضْلِكَ عَنْكَ يَا كَرِيمُ، يَا رَبِّ وَأَنْتَ تَعْلَمُ ضَعْفِى عَنْ قَلِيلٍ مِنْ بَلاءِ الدُّنْيا وَعُقُوباتِها، وَمَا يَجْرِى فِيها مِنَ الْمَكَارِهِ عَلَىٰ أَهْلِها، عَلىٰ أَنَّ ذٰلِكَ بَلاءٌ وَمَكْرُوهٌ قَلِيلٌ مَكْثُهُ، يَسِيرٌ بَقاؤُهُ، قَصِيرٌ مُدَّتُهُ؛ فَكَيْفَ احْتِمالِى لِبَلاءِ الْآخِرَةِ وَجَلِيلِ وُقُوعِ الْمَكَارِهِ فِيها ؟ وَهُوَ بَلاءٌ تَطُولُ مُدَّتُهُ، وَيَدُومُ مَقامُهُ، وَلَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْ أَهْلِهِ، لِأَنَّهُ لَايَكُونُ إِلّا عَنْ غَضَبِكَ وَانْتِقامِكَ وَسَخَطِكَ، وَهٰذا ما لَاتَقُومُ لَهُ السَّماواتُ وَالْأَرْضُ، يَا سَيِّدِى فَكَيْفَ لِى وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ الضَّعِيفُ الذَّلِيلُ الْحَقِيرُ الْمِسْكِينُ الْمُسْتَكِينُ؛
Such is not my expectation of You, nor what I have been told of Your grace, O All-Generosity. O my Lord, You know my weakness in enduring even a little of the trials and punishments of this world and what its inhabitants face of hardships. These are trials and distresses that are short-lived, brief in duration, and transient in existence. How then can I bear the trials of the Hereafter and the enormity of the hardships therein? They are trials whose duration is long, their stay is everlasting, and they are not alleviated for their inhabitants, for they stem from Your wrath, vengeance, and anger, and this is something that neither the heavens nor the earth can withstand. O my Master, how can I, Your weak, humble, insignificant, and miserable servant, endure it?
يا إِلٰهِى وَرَبِّى وَسَيِّدِى وَمَوْلاىَ، لِأَيِّ الْأُمُورِ إِلَيْكَ أَشْكُو، وَ لِمَا مِنْها أَضِجُّ وَأَبْكِى، لِأَلِيمِ الْعَذابِ وَشِدَّتِهِ، أَمْ لِطُولِ الْبَلَاءِ وَمُدَّتِهِ . فَلَئِنْ صَيَّرْتَنِى لِلْعُقُوبَاتِ مَعَ أَعْدائِكَ، وَجَمَعْتَ بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَ أَهْلِ بَلَائِكَ، وَفَرَّقْتَ بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَ أَحِبَّائِكَ وَأَوْلِيائِكَ، فَهَبْنِى يَا إِلٰهِى وَسَيِّدِى وَمَوْلاىَ وَرَبِّى، صَبَرْتُ عَلَىٰ عَذابِكَ، فَكَيْفَ أَصْبِرُ عَلَىٰ فِراقِكَ، وَهَبْنِى صَبَرْتُ عَلىٰ حَرِّ نَارِكَ، فَكَيْفَ أَصْبِرُ عَنِ النَّظَرِ إِلَىٰ كَرامَتِكَ ؟ أَمْ كَيْفَ أَسْكُنُ فِى النَّارِ وَرَجائِى عَفْوُكَ؟
My God! My Lord! My Master! My Protector! What should I complain to You about? For what should I lament and weep? Is it for the pain and severity of Your chastisement? Or for the duration and intensity of tribulation? If You subject me to the punishments reserved for Your enemies, gather me among those who face Your trials, and separate me from Your friends and saints, then, my God, my Master, my Protector, my Lord, even if I can endure Your chastisement, how can I endure separation from You? And even if I can bear the heat of Your fire, how can I withstand not gazing upon Your generosity? How can I dwell in the Fire when my hope rests in Your pardon?
فَبِعِزَّتِكَ يَا سَيِّدِى وَمَوْلاىَ أُقْسِمُ صَادِقاً، لَئِنْ تَرَكْتَنِى نَاطِقاً لَأَضِجَّنَّ إِلَيْكَ بَيْنَ أَهْلِها ضَجِيجَ الْآمِلِينَ، وَلَأَصْرُخَنَّ إِلَيْكَ صُراخَ الْمُسْتَصْرِخِينَ، وَلَأَبْكِيَنَّ عَلَيْكَ بُكَاءَ الْفَاقِدِينَ، وَلَأُنادِيَنَّكَ أَيْنَ كُنْتَ يَا وَلِىَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، يَا غَايَةَ آمالِ الْعارِفِينَ، يَا غِياثَ الْمُسْتَغِيثِينَ، يَا حَبِيبَ قُلُوبِ الصَّادِقِينَ، وَيَا إِلٰهَ الْعالَمِينَ؛
So by Your might, my Master and my protector, I swear sincerely, that if You leave me to speak, I will lament to You from the midst of the Fire's inhabitants with lamentation of the hopeful; I will cry to You with the cry of those crying for help; I will weep to You with the weeping of the bereft; And I will call out to You, Where are You, O Helper of the believers, O ultimate hope of the knowers? O rescuer of those who seek aid? O beloved of the hearts of the truthful? O God of all the worlds?
أَفَتُراكَ سُبْحَانَكَ يَا إِلٰهِى وَبِحَمْدِكَ تَسْمَعُ فِيها صَوْتَ عَبْدٍ مُسْلِمٍ سُجِنَ فِيها بِمُخالَفَتِهِ، وَذاقَ طَعْمَ عَذابِها بِمَعْصِيَتِهِ، وَحُبِسَ بَيْنَ أَطْباقِها بِجُرْمِهِ وَجَرِيرَتِهِ، وَهُوَ يَضِجُّ إِلَيْكَ ضَجِيجَ مُؤَمِّلٍ لِرَحْمَتِكَ، وَيُنادِيكَ بِلِسانِ أَهْلِ تَوْحِيدِكَ، وَيَتَوَسَّلُ إِلَيْكَ بِرُبُوبِيَّتِكَ ؟ يَا مَوْلاىَ فَكَيْفَ يَبْقىٰ فِى الْعَذابِ وَهُوَ يَرْجُو مَا سَلَفَ مِنْ حِلْمِكَ ؟ أَمْ كَيْفَ تُؤْلِمُهُ النَّارُ وَهُوَ يَأْمُلُ فَضْلَكَ وَرَحْمَتَكَ ؟
So, do You see, glory be to You, my God, and all praise be to You, that You would hear in it the voice of a Muslim servant who is imprisoned there for his disobedience, tasting the flavour of its punishment due to his sin, and confined within its layers because of his offense and crime, while he cries out to You with the cry of one hopeful for Your mercy, and calls to You with the language of those who profess Your oneness, and entreats You by Your lordship? My Master, how can he remain in torment while he hopes for Your previous forbearance? Or how can the fire cause him pain while he expects Your grace and mercy?
!أَمْ كَيْفَ يُحْرِقُهُ لَهِيبُها وَأَنْتَ تَسْمَعُ صَوْتَهُ وَتَرىٰ مَكانَهُ ؟ أَمْ كَيْفَ يَشْتَمِلُ عَلَيْهِ زَفِيرُها وَأَنْتَ تَعْلَمُ ضَعْفَهُ ؟ أَمْ كَيْفَ يَتَقَلْقَلُ بَيْنَ أَطْباقِها وَأَنْتَ تَعْلَمُ صِدْقَهُ ؟ أَمْ كَيْفَ تَزْجُرُهُ زَبانِيَتُها وَهُوَ يُنادِيكَ يَا رَبَّهُ ؟ أَمْ كَيْفَ يَرْجُو فَضْلَكَ فِى عِتْقِهِ مِنْها فَتَتْرُكُهُ فِيها،
Or how can its flames burn him while You hear his voice and see his place? Or how can its roaring encompass him while You know his weakness? Or how can he be tossed about between its layers while You know his sincerity? Or how can its keepers torment him while he calls out to You, "O Lord"? Or how can he hope for Your grace in freeing him from it, yet You leave him in it?
هَيْهاتَ ما ذٰلِكَ الظَّنُ بِكَ، وَلَا الْمَعْرُوفُ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ، وَلَا مُشْبِهٌ لِمَا عَامَلْتَ بِهِ الْمُوَحِّدِينَ مِنْ بِرِّكَ وَ إِحْسانِكَ؛ فَبِالْيَقِينِ أَقْطَعُ، لَوْلَا مَا حَكَمْتَ بِهِ مِنْ تَعْذِيبِ جَاحِدِيكَ، وَقَضَيْتَ بِهِ مِنْ إِخْلادِ مُعانِدِيكَ، لَجَعَلْتَ النَّارَ كُلَّها بَرْداً وَسَلاماً، وَمَا كانَ لِأَحَدٍ فِيها مَقَرّاً وَلَا مُقاماً، لَكِنَّكَ تَقَدَّسَتْ أَسْماؤُكَ أَقْسَمْتَ أَنْ تَمْلَأَها مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَ، مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ، وَأَنْ تُخَلِّدَ فِيهَا الْمُعانِدِينَ، وَأَنْتَ جَلَّ ثَناؤُكَ قُلْتَ مُبْتَدِئاً، وَتَطَوَّلْتَ بِالْإِنْعامِ مُتَكَرِّماً،
﴿أَفَمَنْ كَانَ مُؤْمِناً كَمَنْ كَانَ فَاسِقاً لَا يَسْتَوُونَ﴾
Far be it! Such is not what is expected of You, nor what is known of Your grace, nor does it resemble Your treatment of those who have professed Your oneness with Your kindness and beneficence. Therefore, I am certain that, were it not for the judgment You have decreed to punish Your deniers and the decision You have made to eternally torment Your enemies, You would have made the entire fire cool and peaceful, and no one would have had a place or abode in it. But Your names are sanctified, and You have sworn to fill it with the disbelievers, from among the jinn and all mankind, and to eternally keep the stubborn therein. And You, whose praise is exalted, have said in the beginning and graciously bestowed by Your generosity: "Is he who is a believer like him who is an evildoer? They are not equal."
إِلٰهِى وَسَيِّدِى، فَأَسْأَلُكَ بِالْقُدْرَةِ الَّتِى قَدَّرْتَها، وَبِالْقَضِيَّةِ الَّتِى حَتَمْتَها وَحَكَمْتَها، وَغَلَبْتَ مَنْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرَيْتَها، أَنْ تَهَبَ لِى فِى هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةِ وَفِى هَذِهِ السَّاعَةِ، كُلَّ جُرْمٍ أَجْرَمْتُهُ، وَكُلَّ ذَنْبٍ أَذْنَبْتُهُ، وَكُلَّ قَبِيحٍ أَسْرَرْتُهُ، وَكُلَّ جَهْلٍ عَمِلْتُهُ، كَتَمْتُهُ أَوْ أَعْلَنْتُهُ، أَخْفَيْتُهُ أَوْ أَظْهَرْتُهُ، وَكُلَّ سَيِّئَةٍ أَمَرْتَ بِإِثْباتِهَا الْكِرامَ الْكاتِبِينَ؛
My God and my Master, I ask You by Your power, which You have ordained, and by the decree which You have decided and imposed, and have triumphed over whomsoever it was executed upon, to grant me in this night and in this hour, every sin I have committed, every wrong I have perpetrated, every ugly thing I have concealed, and every ignorant act I have done, whether I have hidden it or revealed it, whether I have kept it secret or made it known, and every sin that You have ordered the noble writers to record.
الَّذِينَ وَكَّلْتَهُمْ بِحِفْظِ مَا يَكُونُ مِنِّى، وَجَعَلْتَهُمْ شُهُوداً عَلَىَّ مَعَ جَوارِحِى، وَكُنْتَ أَنْتَ الرَّقِيبَ عَلَىَّ مِنْ وَرائِهِمْ، وَالشَّاهِدَ لِما خَفِىَ عَنْهُمْ، وَبِرَحْمَتِكَ أَخْفَيْتَهُ، وَبِفَضْلِكَ سَتَرْتَهُ، وَأَنْ تُوَفِّرَ حَظِّى، مِنْ كُلِّ خَيْرٍ أَنْزَلْتَهُ، أَوْ إِحْسَانٍ فَضَّلْتَه، أَوْ بِرٍّ نَشَرْتَهُ، أَوْ رِزْقٍ بَسَطْتَهُ ، أَوْ ذَنْبٍ تَغْفِرُهُ، أَوْ خَطَاً تَسْتُرُهُ، يَا رَبِّ يَا رَبِّ يَا رَبِّ؛
Those whom You appointed to keep track of what comes from me, and made them witnesses against me along with my limbs, while You were the observer over me from behind them, and the witness of what was hidden from them. And by Your mercy, You concealed it, and by Your grace, You veiled it. And I ask You to grant me a share of every good that You have sent down, or kindness You have bestowed, or goodness You have spread, or sustenance You have expanded, or sin You forgive, or error You cover.
O My Lord, O My Lord, O My Lord.
!يَا إِلٰهِى وَسَيِّدِى وَمَوْلاىَ وَمالِكَ رِقِّى، يَا مَنْ بِيَدِهِ نَاصِيَتِى، يَا عَلِيماً بِضُرِّى وَمَسْكَنَتِى، يَا خَبِيراً بِفَقْرِى وَفاقَتِى، يَا رَبِّ يَا رَبِّ يَا رَبِّ، أَسْأَلُكَ بِحَقِّكَ وَقُدْسِكَ وَأَعْظَمِ صِفاتِكَ وَأَسْمائِكَ، أَنْ تَجْعَلَ أَوْقاتِى مِنَ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهارِ بِذِكْرِكَ مَعْمُورَةً، وَبِخِدْمَتِكَ مَوْصُولَةً؛ وَأَعْمالِى عِنْدَكَ مَقْبُولَةً، حَتَّىٰ تَكُونَ أَعْمالِى وَأَوْرادِى كُلُّها وِرْداً وَاحِداً، وَحالِى فِى خِدْمَتِكَ سَرْمَداً .
O my God, my Master, my Lord, and the Owner of my freedom! O You in whose hand is my forelock, O All-Knowing of my harm and my poverty, O All-Aware of my need and my destitution, O Lord, O Lord, O Lord, I ask You by Your truth, Your sanctity, and Your greatest attributes and names, to make my times of night and day filled with Your remembrance and connected to Your service. May my deeds be accepted by You, so that my works and devotions become one continuous devotion, and my state in Your service is everlasting.
يَا مَنْ إِلَيْهِ شَكَوْتُ أَحْوالِى، يَا رَبِّ يَا رَبِّ يَا رَبِّ، قَوِّ عَلىٰ خِدْمَتِكَ جَوارِحِى، وَاشْدُدْ عَلَى الْعَزِيمَةِ جَوانِحِى، وَهَبْ لِىَ الْجِدَّ فِى خَشْيَتِكَ، وَالدَّوامَ فِى الاتِّصالِ بِخِدْمَتِكَ، حَتّىٰ أَسْرَحَ إِلَيْكَ فِى مَيادِينِ السَّابِقِينَ؛ وَأُسْرِعَ إِلَيْكَ فِى البَارِزِينَ، وَأَشْتاقَ إِلىٰ قُرْبِكَ فِى الْمُشْتاقِينَ، وَأَدْنُوَ مِنْكَ دُنُوَّ الْمُخْلِصِينَ، وَأَخافَكَ مَخافَةَ الْمُوقِنِينَ، وَأَجْتَمِعَ فِى جِوارِكَ مَعَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
O You to whom I complain of my conditions, O Lord, O Lord, O Lord, strengthen my limbs for Your service, and reinforce my determination, and grant me earnestness in Your fear and continuity in my connection to Your service, so that I may swiftly move towards You in the fields of the forerunners, and hasten towards You among those who hasten, and yearn for Your closeness among those who yearn, and draw near to You with the sincerity of the sincere, and fear You with the fear of the certain, and gather in Your proximity with the believers.
اللّٰهُمَّ وَمَنْ أَرادَنِى بِسُوءٍ فَأَرِدْهُ، وَمَنْ كادَنِى فَكِدْهُ، وَاجْعَلْنِى مِنْ أَحْسَنِ عَبِيدِكَ نَصِيباً عِنْدَكَ، وَأَقْرَبِهِمْ مَنْزِلَةً مِنْكَ، وَأَخَصِّهِمْ زُلْفَةً لَدَيْكَ، فَإِنَّهُ لَايُنالُ ذٰلِكَ إِلّا بِفَضْلِكَ، وَجُدْ لِى بِجُودِكَ، وَاعْطِفْ عَلَىَّ بِمَجْدِكَ؛ وَاحْفَظْنِى بِرَحْمَتِكَ، وَاجْعَلْ لِسانِى بِذِكْرِكَ لَهِجاً، وَقَلْبِى بِحُبِّكَ مُتَيَّماً، وَمُنَّ عَلَىَّ بِحُسْنِ إِجابَتِكَ، وَأَقِلْنِى عَثْرَتِى، وَاغْفِرْ زَلَّتِى، فَإِنَّكَ قَضَيْتَ عَلىٰ عِبادِكَ بِعِبادَتِكَ، وَأَمَرْتَهُمْ بِدُعائِكَ، وَضَمِنْتَ لَهُمُ الْإِجابَةَ،
O Allah, whoever wishes me harm, wish him harm, and whoever plots against me, plot against him. Make me one of Your best servants in Your presence, the nearest to You in rank, and the most privileged in proximity to You. For none can attain this except by Your grace. Bestow upon me Your generosity and honour me with Your glory. Preserve me with Your mercy, make my tongue fluent in Your remembrance, and my heart passionate in Your love. Grant me the grace of a favourable response, lift me from my mistakes, and forgive my slips. For You have decreed worship upon Your servants, commanded them to supplicate, and guaranteed them a response.
فَإِلَيْكَ يارَبِّ نَصَبْتُ وَجْهِى، وَ إِلَيْكَ يَا رَبِّ مَدَدْتُ يَدِى، فَبِعِزَّتِكَ اسْتَجِبْ لِى دُعائِى، وَبَلِّغْنِى مُناىَ، وَلَا تَقْطَعْ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ رَجائِى، وَاكْفِنِى شَرَّ الْجِنِّ وَالْإِنْسِ مِنْ أَعْدائِى؛
To You, my Lord, I have directed my face, and to You, my Lord, I have extended my hands. By Your majesty, answer my prayer, fulfil my wishes, and do not cut off my hope in Your grace. Protect me from the evil of jinn and human enemies.
يَا سَرِيعَ الرِّضا، اغْفِرْ لِمَنْ لَايَمْلِكُ إِلّا الدُّعاءَ، فَإِنَّكَ فَعَّالٌ لِما تَشَاءُ، يَا مَنِ اسْمُهُ دَوَاءٌ، وَذِكْرُهُ شِفاءٌ، وَطَاعَتُهُ غِنىً، ارْحَمْ مَنْ رَأْسُ مالِهِ الرَّجاءُ، وَسِلاحُهُ الْبُكَاءُ، يَا سَابِغَ النِّعَمِ، يَا دَافِعَ النِّقَمِ، يَا نُورَ الْمُسْتَوْحِشِينَ فِى الظُّلَمِ، يَا عَالِماً لَايُعَلَّمُ، صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، وَافْعَلْ بِى مَا أَنْتَ أَهْلُهُ، وَصَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلىٰ رَسُو لِهِ وَالْأَئِمَّةِ الْمَيامِينَ مِنْ آلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ تَسْلِيماً كَثِيراً.
O You who is swift in satisfaction, forgive one who possesses nothing but supplication. For You are the doer of what You will, O You whose name is a remedy, whose remembrance is a cure, and whose obedience is wealth. Have mercy on one whose only capital is hope and whose weapon is tears. O You who showers blessings, repels calamities, light of those who are alone in the darkness, and knower of all that is taught, send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, and do with me what befits You. Allah's blessings be upon His Messenger and the righteous Imams from his family. Peace be upon them abundantly.
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