Imam Ali (a.s.)'s Whispered Prayer - Munajat Manzoom

Text and Translation

MUNAJAT MANZOOM - Poetic Whispered Prayer

This whispered prayer is quoted from al-Saheefah al-Alawiyyah.

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ.

BISMIL LAAHIR RAHMAANIR RAHEEM.

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

لَكَ الْحَمْدُ یَا ذَا الْجُوْدِ وَالْمَجْدِ وَالْعُلٰی

LAKAL HAMDO YAA ZAL JOODE WAL MAJDE WAL O’LAA

To You be all praise; O Lord of magnanimity, glory, and elevation!

تَبَارَکْتَ تُعْطِیْ مَا تَشَآءُ وَتَمْنَعُ

TABAARAKTA TO’TEE MAA TASHAA-O WA TAMNA-O’

Blessed be You; You favor or ban whomever You wish.

اِلٰهِیْ وَخَلَّاقِیْ وَخِرْزِیْ وَمَوْئِلِیْ

ELAAHEE WA KHALLAQEE WA KHIRZEE WA MAW-ELEE

O my God! My Creator, my Shelter, and my Refuge!

اِلَیْكَ لَدَی الْاِعْسَارِ وَالْیُسْرَ اَفْزَعُ

ELAYKA LADAL E-A’SAARE WAL YUSRA AFZA-O’

To You do I resort in hardships and in joys.

اِلٰهِیْ لَئِنْ جَلَّتْ وَحَمَّتْ خَطِیْئَتِیْ

ELAAHEE LA-IN JALLAT WA HAMMAT KHATEE-ATEE

O my God! Even if my sin is too grave and too big,

فَعَفْوُكَ عَنْ ذَنْبِیْ اَجَلَّ وَاَوْسَعُ

FA-A’FWOKA A’N ZANBEE AJALLA WA AWSA-O’

Your pardoning my sin is still greater and vaster.

اِلٰهِیْ لَئِنْ اَعْطَیْتَ نَفْسِیْ سُؤْلَهَا

ELAAHEE LA-IN A-A’TAYTA NAFSEE SOA-LAHAA.

O my God! If I have given my soul all that it asked for,

فَهَا اَنَا فِی رَوْضِ النَّدَامَۃِ اَرْتَعُ

FAHAA ANAA FEE RAWZIN NADAAMATE ARTA-O’.

here I am now turning over and over on the land of remorse.

اِلٰهِیْ تَرٰی حَالِیْ وَفَقْرِیْ وَفَاقَتِیْ

ELAAHEE TARAA HAALEE WA FAQREE WA FAAQATEE

O my God! You can see my manner, my neediness, and my poverty,

وَاَنْتَ مُنَاجَاتِیْ الْخَفِیَّۃَ تَسْمَعُ

WA ANTA MONAAJAATIL KHAFIYYATA TASMA-O’

and You hear my secret whispered prayer.

اِلٰهِیْ فَلَا تَقْطَعْ رَجَائِیْ وَلَا تُزِغْ

ELAAHEE FALAA TAQ-TA’ RAJAA-EE WA LAA TOZIGH

O my God! Then (please) do not disappoint me and do not cause

فُؤَادِیْ فَلِیْ فِیْ سَیْبِ جُوْدِكَ مَطْمَعٌ

FO-AADEE FALEE FEE SAYBE JOODEKA MAT-MA-U’N

my heart to turn away, for I long for Your vast magnanimity.

اِلٰهِیْ لَئِنْ خَیَّبْتَنِیْ اَوْ طَرَدْ تَنِیْ

ELAAHEE LA-IN KHAYYABTANEE AW TARAD-TANEE

O my God! If You disappoint me or throw me out,

فَمَنْ ذَا الَّذِیْ اَرْجُوْا وَمَنْ ذَا اُشَفِّعُ

FAMAN ZAL LAZEE ARJOO WA MAN ZAA O-SHAFFE-O’

then for whom will I hope and whose intercession will I seek before You?

اِلٰهِیْ اَجِرْنِیْ مِنْ عَذَابِكَ اِنَّنِیْ

ELAAHEE AJIRNEE MIN A’ZAABEKA INNANEE

O my God! Please redeem me from Your torture,

اَسِیْرٌ ذَلِیْلٌ خَائِفٌ لَكَ اَخْضَعُ

ASEERUN ZALEELUN KHAA-EFUN LAKA AKHZA-O’

for I am imprisoned, humble, and to You do I submit.

اِلٰهِیْ فَآنِسْنِیْ بِتَلْقِیْنِ حُجَّتِیْ

ELAAHEE FA-AANISNEE BE-TALQEENE HUJJATEE

O my God! Delight me by helping me submit my argument,

اِذَا كَانَ لِیْ فِیْ الْقَبْرِ مَثْوًی وَمَضْجَعُ

EZAA KAANA LEE FIL QABRE MASWAN WA MAZ-JA-O’

when I shall be lodged in my grave.

اِلٰهِیْ لَئِنْ عَذَّبْتَنِیْ اَلْفَ حِجَّۃٍ

ELAAHEE LA-IN A’ZZABTANEE ALFA HIJJATIN

O my God! If You chastise me for one thousand years,

فَحَبْلُ رَجَائِیْ مِنْكَ لَا یَتَقَطَّعُ

FA-HABLO RAJAA-EE MINKA LAA YATAQATTA-O’

the rope of my hope in You will never be cut off.

اِلٰهِیْ اَذِقْنِیْ طَعْمَ عَفْوِكَ یَوْمَ لَا

ELAAHEE AZIQNEE TA’MA A’FWEKA YAWMA LAA

O my God, please make me taste the flavor of Your pardon on that Day

بَنُوْنَ وَلَا مَالٌ هُنَالِكَ یَنْفَعُ

BANOONA WA LAA MAALUN HONAALEKA YANFA-O’

when neither sons nor wealth will benefit anyone there,

اِلٰهِیْ اِذَا لَمْ تَرْعَنِیْ كُنْتُ ضَآئِعًا

ELAAHEE IZAA LAM TAR-A’NEE KUNTO ZAAA-E-A’N

O my God! If You do not guard me, I shall certainly be lost,

وَاِنْ كُنْتَ تَرْعَانِیْ فَلَسْتُ اُضَیَّعُ

WA IN KUNTA TAR-A’ANEE FA-LASTO OZAYYA-O’

but if You guard me, I shall never be lost.

اِلٰهِیْ اِذَا لَمْ تَعْفُ عَنْ غَیْرِ مُحْسِنٍ

ELAAHEE EZAA LAM TA’FO A’N GHAYRE MOHSENIN

O my God! If You forgive none but the doer of good deeds,

فَمَنْ لِمُسِیْٓءٍ بِالْهَوٰی یَتَمَتَّعُ

FAMAN LE-MOSEEE-IN BIL-HAWAA YATAMATTA-O’

then who shall care for the wrongdoers who plunge in their fancies?

اِلٰهِیْ لَئِنْ فَرَّطْتُ فِیْ طَلَبِ التُّقٰی

ELAAHEE LA-IN FARRAT-TO FEE TALABIT TOQAA

O my God! If I have been negligent in the seeking of piety,

فَهَا اَنَا اِثْرَ الْعَفْوِ اَقْفُوْا وَاَتْبَعُ

FAHAA ANAA ISRAL A’FWE AQ-FOO WA AT-BA-O’

here I am now tracking the traces of Your pardon.

اِلٰهِیْ لَئِنْ اَخْطَأْتُ جَہْلًا فَطَالَمَا

ELAAHEE LA-IN AKH-TAATO JAHLAN FA-TAALAMAA

O my God! If I have erred out of ignorance, and so gone too far,

رَجَوْتُكَ حَتّٰی قِیْلَ مَا هُوَ یَجْزَعُ

RAJAWTOKA HATTAA QEELA MAA HOWA YAJZA-O’

I have kept hoping in You until it was said: how he never gives up!

اِلٰهِیْ ذُنُوْبِیْ بَذَّتِ الطَّوْدَ وَاعْتَلَتْ

ELAAHEE ZONOOBEE BAZZATIT TAWDA WA’ TALAT

O my God! Although my sins have been higher than mountains,

وَصَفْحُكَ عَنْ ذَنْبِیْ اَجَلُّ وَاَرْفَعُ

WA SAFHOKA A’N ZANBEE AJALLO WA ARFA-O’

Your pardon is still higher and more elevated.

اِلٰهِیْ یُنَجِّیْ ذِکْرُ طَوْلِكَ لَوْعَتِیْ

ELAAHEE YONAJJEE ZIKRO TAWLEKA LAW-A’TEE

O my God! As I remember Your power, my agonies are abated,

وَذِکْرُ الْخَطَایَا الْعَیْنَ مِنِّیْ یُدَمِّعُ

WA ZIKRUL KHATAAYAL A’YNA MINNEE YODAMME-O’

and as I remember my sins, my eyes shed tears.

اِلٰهِیْ اَقِلْنِیْ عَثْرَتِیْ وَامْحُ حَوْبَتِیْ

ELAAHEE AQILNEE A’SRATEE WAM-HO HAWBATEE

O my God! Please overlook my slips and erase my wrongdoing,

فَاِنِّیْ مُقِرٌّ خَآئِفٌ مُتَضَرِّعُ

FA-INNEE MOQIRRUN KHAAA-EFUN MOTAZARRE-O’

for I confess them, fearful and humble.

اِلٰهِیْ اَنِلْنِیْ مِنْكَ رَوْحًا وَرَاحَۃً

ELAAHEE ANILNEE MINKA RAWHAN WA RAAHATAN

O my God! Grant me rest and relax from You,

فَلَسْتُ سِوٰی اَبْوَابِ فَضْلِكَ اَقْرَعُ

FA-LASTO SEWAA ABWAABE FAZLEKA AQRA-O’

for I knock no door save the doors of Your favor.

اِلٰهِي لَئِنْ اَقْصَيْتَنِيْ اَوْ اَهَنْتَنِيْ

ELAAHEE LA-IN AQSAYTANEE AW AHANTANEE

O my God! If You expel me or insult me,

فَمَا حِیْلَتِیْ یَا رَبِّ اَمْ كَیْفَ اَصْنَعُ

FAMAA HEELATEE YAA RABBE AM KAYFA ASNA-O’

which method shall I then take and what shall I do?

اِلٰهِیْ حَلِیْفُ الْحُبِّ فِیْ اللَّیْلِ سَاهِرٌ

ELAAHEE HALEEFUL HUBBE FIL LAYLE SAAHERUN

O my God! The true lover (of You) is staying up at night,

یُنَاجِیْ وَیَدْعُوْا وَالْمُغَفَّلُ یَہْجَعُ

YONAAJEE WA YAD-O’O WAL MOGHAFFALO YAHJA-O’

calling at You and praying to You, while the unmindful is asleep!

اِلٰهِیْ وَہٰذَا الْخَلْقُ مَا بَیْنَ نَائِمٍ

ELAAHEE WA HAAZAL KHALQO MAA BAYNA NAA-EMIN

O my God! These beings are either sleeping

وَمُنْتَبِہٍ فِیْ لَیْلَۃٍ یَتَضَرَّعُ

WA MUNTABEHIN FEE LAYLATIN YATAZARRA-O’

or vigilant at night, beseeching You.

وَكُلُّهُمْ یَرْجُوْ نَوَالَكَ رَاجِیًا

WA KULLOHUM YARJOO NAWAALAKA RAAJEYAN

Yet, all are hoping for Your rewards, wishing

لِرَحْمَتِكَ الْعُظْمٰی وَفِی الْخُلْدِ یَطْمَعُ

LE-RAHMATEKAL U’ZMAA WA FIL KHULDE YAT-MA-O’

for Your Grandest Mercy, and desiring for Eternity.

اِلٰهِیْ یُمَنِّیْنِیْ رَجَائِیْ سَلَامَۃً

ELAAHEE YOMANNEENEE RAJAA-EE SALAAMATAN

O my God! My hope for You makes me feel safe,

وَقُبْحُ خَطِٓیْئَاتِیْ عَلَیَّ تُشَنِّعُ

WA QUBHO KHATEE-AATEE A’LAYYA TOSHANNE-O’

but the vice of my wrongdoings is reproaching me.

اِلٰهِیْ فَاِنْ تَعْفُوْا فَعَفْوُكَ مُنْقِذِیْ

ELAAHEE FA-IN TA’FOO FA-A’FWOKA MUNQEZEE

O my God! If you pardon me, then You shall have saved me;

وَاِلَّا فَبِالذَّنْبِ الْمُدَمِّرِ اُصْرَعُ

WA ILLAA FA-BIZ ZANBIL MODAMMERE USRA-O’

otherwise, I will be the prey of my offensive sins.

اِلٰهِیْ بِحَقِّ الْهَاشِمِیِّ مُحَمَّدٍ

ELAAHEE BEHAQQIL HAASHEMIYYE MOHAMMADIN

O my God! (I beseech You) in the name of Muhammad, the Hashemite

وَحُرْمَۃِ اَطْهَارٍهُمْ لَكَ خُضَّعُ

WA HURMATE ATHAARIN HUM LAKA KHUZZA-O’

and in the name of the sanctity of those Pure Ones who always submit to You.

اِلٰهِیْ بِحَقِّ الْمُصْطَفٰی وَابْنِ عَمِّہٖ

ELAAHEE BEHAQQIL MUSTAFAA WAB NE A’MMEHI

O my God! (I beseech You) in the name of the Chosen Prophet, his cousin,

وَحُرْمَۃِ اَبْرَارٍ هُمْ لَكَ خُشَّعُ

WA HURMATE ABRAARIN HUM LAKA KHUS-SHA-O’

and the sanctity of the Pious Ones who are fearful of You.

اِلٰهِیْ فَاَنْشِرْنِیْ عَلٰی دِیْنِ اَحْمَدٍ

ELAAHEE FA-ANSHIRNEE A’LAA DEENE AHMADIN

O my God! Raise me (on the Day of Resurrection) upon the religion of Ahmad,

مُنِیْبًا تَقِیًّا قَانِتًا لَكَ اَخْضَعُ

MONEEBAN TAQIYYAN QAANETAN LAKA AKHZA-O’

penitent, pious, obedient and humble before You.

وَلَا تَحْرِمْنِیْ یَا اِلٰهِیْ وَسَیَّدِیْ

WA LAA TAHRIMNEE YAA ELAAHEE WA SAYYADEE

And deprive me not, O my God and Master,

شَفَاعَتَهُ الْكُبْرٰی فَذَاكَ الْمُشَفَّعُ

SHA-FAA-A’TAHUL KUBRAA FAZAAKAL MOSHAFFA-O’

of his (i.e. Muhammad) great intercession, for he is the true interceder.

وَصَلِّ عَلَیْهِمْ مَا دَعَاكَ مُوَحِّدٌ

WA SALLE A’LAYHIM MAA DA-A’AKA MOWAHHEDUN

send blessings to them as long as one believing in Your Oneness prays to You.

وَنَاجَاكَ اَخْیَارٌ بِبَابِكَ رُكَعُ

WA NAAJAAKA AKHYAARUN BE-BAABEKA RUKKA-O’

and as long as pious people, kneeling down at Your door, implore You.

Three Magnificent Supplicatory Words

These words are reported to have been said by our master, Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) in the form of whispered prayer (Munajat):

اِلٰهِیْ كَفٰى بِیْ عِزًّا اَنْ اَكُوْنَ لَكَ عَبْدًا

ELAAHEE KAFAA BEE I’ZZAN AN AKOONA LAKA A’BDAN

My Allah, it is honor enough for me that I am a servant to You,

وَكَفٰى بِیْ فَخْرًا اَنْ تَكُوْنَ لِیْ رَبًّا

WA KAFAA BEE FAKHRAN AN TAKOONA LEE RABBAN

and it is pride enough for me that You are my Lord.

اَنْتَ كَمَاۤ اُحِبُّ فَاجْعَلْنِیْ كَمَا تُحِبُّ

ANTA KAMAAA OHIBBO FAJ-A’LNEE KAMAA TOHIBBO.

You are exactly as I love, so make me exactly as You love.