Hirz-e-Imam Moosa al-Kazim (a.s.)

Text and Translation

Ali ibn Yaqteen has reported that when Imam Moosa ibn Ja’far (a.s.) was with some of his relatives, he was informed about the decisions that Moosa ibn al-Mahdi, the brother of Haroon the Abbasid ruler, had made about him. He asked his relatives, “What do you think?” They said, “We think that it is better for you to avoid him and hide yourself since no one can be immune from his wickedness.” Imam al-Kazim (a.s.) smiled and quoted this poetic verse as example:

زَعَمَتْ سَخِيْنَةُ اَنْ سَتَغْلِبُ رَبِّهَا

ZA-A-MAT SAKHEENATO AN SATAGHLEBO RABBAHAA

The eaters of the hot, mean meals (i.e. Quraysh) have claimed that they will overcome their Lord.

فَلَيُغْلَبَنَّ مُغَالِبُ الْغَلَّابِ

FALAYUGHLABANNA MOGHAALEBUL GHALLAABE.

Verily, the overcomer of all combatants shall most surely win.

He (a.s.) then raised his hands towards the sky and said this supplicatory prayer:

اِلٰهِىْ كَمْ مِنْ عَدُوٍّ شَحَذَ لِىْ ظُبَةَ مِدْيَتِهٖ

ELAAHEE KAM MIN A’DUWWIN SHAHAZA LEE ZOBATA MIDYATEHI

My Allah! How many an enemy has sharpened the blade of his dagger for me,

وَ اَرْهَفَ لِىْ شَبَا حَدِّهٖ

WA ARHAFA LEE SHABAA HADDEHI

honed for me the sharpness of its blade,

وَدَافَ لِىْ قَوَاتِلَ سُمُوْمِهٖ

WA DAAFA LEE QAWAATELA SOMOOMEHI

prepared for me the deadly poisons of his venom,

وَ لَمْ تَنَمْ عَنِّىْ عَيْنُ حِرَاسَتِهٖ

WA LAM TANAM A’NNEE A’YNO HERAASATEHI

while the eye of his vigilance never slept [in watching] me!

فَلَمَّا رَاَيْتَ ضَعْفِىْ عَنِ احْتِمَالِ الْفَوَادِحِ

FALAMMAA RA-AYTA ZA’FEE A’NEH TEMAALIL FAWAADEHE

But when You saw my weakness to bear devastating calamities,

وَ عَجْزِىْ عَنْ مُلِمَّاتِ الْجَوَاۤئِحِ

WA A’JZEE A’N MOLIMMAATIL JAWAAA-EHE

and my helplessness against overwhelming disasters,

صَرَفْتَ ذٰلِكَ عَنِّىْ بِحَوْلِكَ وَ قُوَّتِكَ

SARAFTA ZAALEKA A’NNEE BE-HAWLEKA WA QUWWATEKA

You turned that away from me by Your power and Your strength,

لَا بِحَوْلٍ مِنِّىْ وَلَا قُوَّةٍ

LAA BE-HAWLIM MINNEE WA LAA QUWWATIN

not by any power or strength of my own.

فَاَلْقَيْتَهٗ فِى الْحَفِيْرِ الَّذِى احْتَفَرَهٗ لِىْ

FA-ALQAYTAHU FIL HAFEERIL LAZIH TAFARAHU LEE

Then You cast him into the pit that he dug out for me—

خَاۤئِبًا مِمَّاۤ اَمَّلَهٗ فِى الدُّنْيَا

KHAAA-EBAM MIMMAAA AMMALAHU FID-DUNYAA

disappointed in what he had hoped for in this world,

مُتَبَاعِدًا مِمَّا رَجَاهُ فِى الْاٰخِرَةِ

MOTABAA-E’DAM MIMMAA RAJAAHO FIL AAKHERATE

and distanced from what he had desired for the Hereafter.

فَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ عَلٰى ذٰلِكَ

FALAKAL HAMDO A’LAA ZAALEKA

So to You belongs all praise for that,

قَدْرَ اسْتِحْقَاقِكَ سَيِّدِىْ

QADRAS TEHQAAQEKA SAYYEDEE

to the measure of Your worthiness, O my Master!

اَللّٰهُمَّ فَخُذْهُ بِعِزَّتِكَ

ALLAAHUMMA FAKHUZHO BE-I’ZZATEKA

O Allah! So seize him with Your might,

وَ افْلُلْ حَدَّهٗ عَنِّىْ بِقُدْرَتِكَ

WAF LUL HADDAHU A’NNEE BE-QUDRATEKA

blunt his edge against me with Your power,

وَ اجْعَلْ لَهٗ شُغْلًا فِيْمَا يَلِيْهِ

WAJ A’L LAHU SHUGHLAN FEEMAA YALEEHE

and make him preoccupied with his own affairs,

وَ عَجْزًا عَمَّا يُنَاوِيْهِ

WA A’JZAN A’MMAA YONAAWEEHE

and render him helpless against the one he opposes.

اَللّٰهُمَّ وَاَعْدِنِىْ عَلَيْهِ عَدْوًى حَاضِرَةً

ALLAAHUMMA WA AA’DENEE A’LAYHE A’DWAN HAAZERATAN

O Allah! Grant me an immediate victory over him,

تَكُوْنُ مِنْ غَيْظِىْ شِفَاۤءً

TAKOONU MIN GHAYZEE SHEFAAA-AW

such that it becomes a healing for my rage,

وَّ مِنْ حَنَقِىْ عَلَيْهِ وَقَاۤءً

WA MIN HANAQEE A’LAYHE WAQAAA-AW

and a shield against my fury toward him.

وَّ صِلِ اللّٰهُمَّ دُعَاۤئِىْ بِالْاِجَابَةِ

WA SELIL LAAHUMMA DO-A’AAA-EE BIL-EJAABATE

And connect, O Allah, my supplication with Your acceptance,

وَ انْظِمْ شِكَايَتِىْ بِالتَّغْيِيْرِ

WAN ZIM SHEKAAYATEE BIT-TAGHYEERE

and orchestrate my complaint into a definitive change [of my condition].

وَ عَرِّفْهُ عَمَّا قَلِيْلٍ مَاۤ اَوْعَدْتَ الظَّالِمِيْنَ

WA A’RRIFHO A’MMAA QALEELIM MAAA AW-A’DTAZ ZAALEMEENA

Make him recognize, in a short while, what You have promised to the oppressors,

وَ عَرِّفْنِىْ مَا وَعَدْتَ فِىْۤ اِجَابَةِ الْمُضْطَرِّيْنَ

WA A’RRIFNEE MAA WA-A’DTA FEEE EJAABATIL MUZTARREENA

and make me witness what You have promised in responding to the distressed.