# Sahifa Sajjadiyya 12: His Supplication in Confession and in Seeking Repentance Toward God

- **Arabic title:** دُعَاؤُهُ فِي الِاعْتِرَافِ و طَلَبِ التَوبَةِ الى الله تعالى
- **Type:** Dua
- **Categories:** [Forgiveness](https://duasonline.org/category/forgiveness.md), [Sahifa Sajjadiyya](https://duasonline.org/category/sahifa-sajjadiyya.md)
- **Recitation:** none yet
- **Web page:** https://duasonline.org/dua/sahifa-sajjadiya-dua-12

## Preface

Imam Zayn al-Abidin (a) son of Imam Husayn ibn Ali (a)'s supplication - 12 His Supplication in Confession and in Seeking Repentance toward God

## Source

Arabic text, translation and transliteration from [duas.org](https://www.duas.org/mobile/sahifasajjadia-dua12-confession-repentance.html).

## Text

Each line gives the Arabic, then the transliteration in italics, then the English.

1. اَللَّهُمَّ إِنَّهُ يَحْجُبُنِي عَنْ مَسْأَلَتِكَ خِلَالٌ ثَلَاثٌ\
   *Allāhumma innahu yaḥjubunī ‘an mas’alatika khilālun thalāth*\
   O Allah, three things hold me back from asking You.

2. وَتَحْدُونِي عَلَيْهَا خَلَّةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ\
   *Wa-taḥdūnī ‘alayhā khallatun wāḥidah*\
   Yet one quality drives me toward it.

3. 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.

4. وَنَهْيٌ نَهَيْتَنِي عَنْهُ فَأَسْرَعْتُ إِلَيْهِ\
   *Wa-nahyun nahaytanī ‘anhu fa-asra‘tu ilayhi*\
   And a prohibition You forbade me, yet I hastened toward it.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. وَوَفَدَ بِحُسْنِ ظَنِّهِ إِلَيْكَ\
   *Wa-wafada bi-ḥusni ẓannihi ilayk*\
   And approach You with good expectation.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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?

14. 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?

15. أَمْ لَزِمَنِي فِي وَقْتِ دُعَائِي مَقْتُكَ؟\
   *Am lazimanī fī waqt du‘ā’ī maqtuk*\
   Or does Your wrath cling to me when I supplicate?

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. وَغَايَةَ الْعُمُرِ قَدِ انْتَهَتْ\
   *Wa-ghāyata al-‘umuri qad intahat*\
   And the limit of his lifespan has finished.

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. فَقَامَ إِلَيْكَ بِقَلْبٍ طَاهِرٍ نَقِيٍّ\
   *Faqāma ilayka bi-qalbin ṭāhirin naqiyy*\
   So he stands before You with a pure, clean heart.

24. ثُمَّ دَعَاكَ بِصَوْتٍ حَائِلٍ خَفِيٍّ\
   *Thumma daʿāka bi-ṣawtin ḥāʾilin khafiyyin*\
   Then he calls upon You with a faint, hidden voice.

25. 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.

26. 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.

27. يَدْعُوكَ بِيَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ\
   *Yad‘ūka biyā arḥama al-rāḥimīn*\
   Calling upon You: “O Most Merciful of the merciful.”

28. وَيَا أَرْحَمَ مَنِ انْتَابَهُ الْمُسْتَرْحِمُونَ\
   *Wa-yā arḥama mani intābahu al-mustarḥimūn*\
   And O most merciful to whom those seeking mercy turn.

29. 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.

30. وَيَا مَنْ عَفْوُهُ أَكْثَرُ مِنْ نِقْمَتِهِ\
   *Wa-yā man ‘afwuhu aktharu min niqmatih*\
   And O He whose pardon is greater than His punishment.

31. وَيَا مَنْ رِضَاهُ أَوْفَرُ مِنْ سَخَطِهِ\
   *Wa-yā man riḍāhu awfaru min sakhaṭih*\
   And O He whose pleasure is more abundant than His wrath.

32. 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.

33. وَيَا مَنْ عَوَّدَ عِبادَهُ قَبُولَ الإنَابَةِ ،\
   *wa yaa man a'w-wada i'baadahoo qaboolal-inaabah*\
   O He who has accustomed His servants to the acceptance of their repeated turning!

34. وَيَا مَنِ اسْتَصْلَحَ فَاسِدَهُمْ بِالتَّوْبَةِ\
   *Wa-yā man istaṣlaḥa fāsidahum bit-tawbah*\
   O He who reformed their corruption through repentance

35. وَيَا مَنْ رَضِيَ مِنْ فِعْلِهِمْ بِالْيَسيرِ\
   *Wa-yā man raḍiya min fiʿlihim bil-yasīr*\
   O He who was satisfied from their deeds with little

36. وَيَا مَنْ كَافى قَلِيْلَهُمْ بِالْكَثِيرِ\
   *Wa-yā man kāfā qalīlahum bil-kathīr*\
   O He who rewarded their little with much

37. وَيَا مَنْ ضَمِنَ لَهُمْ إجَابَةَ الدُّعاءِ\
   *Wa-yā man ḍamina lahum ijābata ad-duʿāʾ*\
   O He who guaranteed for them the answering of prayer

38. 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

39. مَا أَنَا بِأَعْصَى مَنْ عَصَاكَ فَغَفَرْتَ لَهُ\
   *Mā anā bi-aʿṣā man ʿaṣāka faghafarta lahu*\
   I am not more disobedient than one You forgave

40. 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

41. 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

42. 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

43. 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

44. خَالِصِ الْحَيَاءِ مِمَّا وَقَعَ فِيْهِ\
   *Khāliṣi al-ḥayāʾi mimmā waqaʿa fīhi*\
   With pure shame for what has occurred

45. 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

46. 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

47. 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

48. 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

49. وَجَانَبَ الإِصْرَارَ، وَلَزِمَ الاسْتِغْفَارَ\
   *Wa-jānaba al-iṣrār wa-lazima al-istighfār*\
   And avoid persistence, and cling to seeking forgiveness

50. وَأَنَا أَبْرَأُ إلَيْكَ مِنْ أَنْ أَسْتَكْبِرَ\
   *Wa-anā abraʾu ilayka min an astakbira*\
   And I disavow before You from arrogance

51. وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ أَنْ أصِـرَّ\
   *Wa-aʿūdhu bika min an aṣirra*\
   And I seek refuge in You from persistence in sin

52. وَأَسْتَغْفِرُكَ لِمَا قَصَّرْتُ فِيهِ\
   *Wa-astaghfiruka limā qaṣṣartu fīhi*\
   And I ask forgiveness for my shortcomings

53. وَأَسْتَعِينُ بِكَ عَلَى مَا عَجَزْتُ عَنْهُ\
   *Wa-astaʿīnu bika ʿalā mā ʿajaztu ʿanhu*\
   And I seek help from You in what I cannot do

54. اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّد وَآلِهِ\
   *Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā Muḥammadin wa-ālihi*\
   O Allah, bless Muhammad and his family

55. وَهَبْ لِي مَا يَجبُ عَلَيَّ لَكَ\
   *Wa-hab lī mā yajibu ʿalayya lak*\
   And grant me what I owe to You

56. وَعَافِنِي مِمَّا أَسْتَوْجِبُهُ مِنْكَ\
   *Wa-ʿāfinī mimmā astawjibuhu minka*\
   And pardon me from what I deserve from You

57. وَأجِرْنِي مِمَّا يَخَافُهُ أَهْلُ الإساءَةِ\
   *Wa-ajirnī mimmā yakhāfuhu ahlu al-isāʾah*\
   And protect me from what the people of evil fear

58. فَإنَّكَ مَلِيءٌ بِالْعَفْوِ، مَرْجُوٌّ لِلْمَغْفِرَةِ\
   *Fa-innaka malīʾun bil-ʿafwi marjūwun lil-maghfirah*\
   For You are full of pardon, hoped for forgiveness

59. مَعْرُوفٌ بِالتَّجَاوُزِ\
   *Maʿrūfun bit-tajāwuz*\
   Well-known for overlooking faults

60. لَيْسَ لِحَاجَتِي مَطْلَبٌ سِوَاكَ\
   *Laysa li-ḥājatī maṭlabun siwāk*\
   There is no one else to seek for my need

61. وَلا لِذَنْبِي غَافِرٌ غَيْرُكَ، حاشَاكَ\
   *Wa-lā lidhanbī ghāfirun ghayruka ḥāshāk*\
   And none forgives my sin except You—far be it from others

62. وَلاَ أَخَافُ عَلَى نَفْسِي إلاّ إيَّاكَ\
   *Wa-lā akhāfu ʿalā nafsī illā iyyāk*\
   And I fear none for my soul except You

63. إنَّكَ أَهْلُ التَّقْوَى وَأَهْلُ الْمَغْفِرَةِ\
   *Innaka ahlu at-taqwā wa-ahlu al-maghfirah*\
   Indeed, You are worthy of piety and forgiveness

64. صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّد وَآلِ مُحَمَّد\
   *Ṣalli ʿalā Muḥammadin wa-āli Muḥammad*\
   Send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad

65. وَاقْض حَاجَتِي وَأَنْجِحْ طَلِبَتِي\
   *Wa-qḍi ḥājātī wa-anjih ṭalibatī*\
   Fulfill my need and grant my request success

66. وَاغْفِرْ ذَنْبِي، وَآمِنْ خَوْفَ نَفْسِي\
   *Wa-ghfir dhanbī wa-āmin khawfa nafsī*\
   Forgive my sin, and grant safety to my soul’s fear

67. إنَّكَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْء قَدِيرٌ\
   *Innaka ʿalā kulli shayʾin qadīr*\
   Indeed, You are powerful over all things

68. 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

## Related

- [Sahifa Sajjadiyya 16: In Asking Release From Sins and Seeking Pardon](https://duasonline.org/dua/sahifa-sajjadiya-dua-16.md)
- [Sahifa Sajjadiyya 31: For Repentance (Tawba)](https://duasonline.org/dua/sahifa-sajjadiya-dua-31.md)
- [Sahifa Sajjadiyya 34: When He Was Afflicted or Saw Someone Afflicted With the Disgrace of Sin](https://duasonline.org/dua/sahifa-sajjadiya-dua-34.md)
- [Sahifa Sajjadiyya 38: In Asking Pardon](https://duasonline.org/dua/sahifa-sajjadiya-dua-38.md)