The Whispered Prayer of the Beseechers

I apologise profusely for not putting up anything yesterday for in my haste to run an urgent errand down in KL, I forgot to lug along my notebook, that trustworthy companion and repository of thought and views.

As we contemplate the wonders of creation, let us not forget that beneath the joys of existence lurk the sorrows of regrets. The fallen leaves of sin and the withered flowers of good deeds leaving the naked tree of our selves to the mercy of the elements through the cold nights and frosty days of winter. In our gloom, only Allah the Almighty is our true Friend; the only Benefactor who can shower us the spiritual warmth and emotional; the one True and Eternal Companion who can blanket us from the cold of loneliness and the chill of despondency. This is how Saidina Ali (a.s) confronted adversity, a beautiful prayer to beseech the Mercy of Allah, whisper it after the tahajjud prayers in the silence of the night and bathe in its transformational effect:

In the Name of God, the All-merciful,the All-compassionate


My God,
though my stores for travelling to Thee are few,
my confidence in Thee has given me a good opinion.
Though my sin has made me fear Thy punishment,
my hope has let me feel secure from Thy vengeance.
Though my misdeed has exposed me to Thy penalty,
my excellent trust has apprised me of Thy reward.
Though heedlessness has put to sleep my readiness to meet Thee,
knowledge has awakened me to Thy generosity and boons.
Though excessive disobedience and rebellion have estranged me from Thee,
the glad tidings of forgiveness and good pleasure have made me feel intimate with Thee.

I ask Thee by the splendours of Thy face
and the lights of Thy holiness,
and I implore Thee by the tenderness of Thy mercy
and the gentleness of Thy goodness,
to verify my opinion in expecting
Thy great generosityand Thy beautiful favour,
through nearness to Thee,
proximity with Thee,
and enjoyment of gazing upon Thee!

Here am I,
addressing myself to the breezes
of Thy freshness and tenderness,
having recourse to the rain
of Thy generosity and gentleness,
fleeing from Thy displeasure to Thy good pleasure
and from Thee to Thee
hoping for the best of what is with Thee,
relying upon Thy gifts,
utterly poor toward Thy guarding!

2
My God,
Thy bounty which Thou hast begun - complete it!
Thy generosity which Thou hast given me - strip it not away!
Thy cover over me through Thy clemency - tear it not away!
My ugly acts which Thou hast come to know - forgive them!

3
My God,
I seek intercession from Thee with Thee,
and I seek sanctuary in Thee from Thee!
I have come to Thee
craving Thy beneficence,
desiring Thy kindness,
seeking water from the deluge of Thy graciousness,
begging rain from the clouds of Thy bounty,
requesting Thy good pleasure,
going straight to Thy side,
arriving at the watering-place of Thy support,
seeking exalted good things from Thy quarter,
reaching for the presence of Thy beauty,
wanting Thy face,
knocking at Thy door,
abasing myself before Thy mightiness and majesty!

So act toward me with the forgiveness and mercy
of which Thou art worthy!
Act not toward me with the chastisement and vengeance
of which I am worthy!By Thy mercy,
O Most Merciful of the merciful!

from: Sahifa al-Kamilah