O Allah,

three traits have prevented me from asking Thee and one trait has urged me on:

I am prevented by

a command Thou hast commanded

to which I have reacted slowly,

a prohibition Thou hast prohibited

toward which I have hastened,

and a favor through which Thou hast favored

for which I have not expressed sufficient gratitude.

I am urged to ask Thee

by Thy gratuitous bounty bestowed upon he who

turns his face toward Thee

and seeks your refugee driven by his great expectations,

since all Thy beneficence is gratuitous bounty

and each of Thy favors is preceded by nothing!

So here I am, my Lord,

standing at the gate of Thy might,

the way the lowly, the surrendered, stands

invoking Thee in my shame,

the way the destitute, the pitiful, invokes

admitting to Thee that at the time of Thy beneficence I surrendered not, save through abstaining from disobedience toward Thee,

and in none of my states was I ever without Thy Kindness.

Will it profit me, my Lord,

to admit to Thee the evil of what I have earned?

Will it save me from Thee

to confess the ugliness of what I have committed?

Or wilt Thou impose upon me in this status of mine Thy displeasure? Will Thy abhorrence hold fast to me in the time of my supplication?

Glory be to Thee!

I do not despair of Thee,

for Thou hast opened the door of repentance toward Thyself.

Rather, I say the words of a lowly servant

who has wronged himself

and underestimated his Lord's inviolability,

[The servant] whose sins are dreadful and great,

whose days have parted and fled,

until the time in which he sees that the term of his works expired

and the limit of his lifetime has been reached

and knows with certainty that he has no escape from Thee,

and no place to flee from Thee.

He turns back to Thee,

and makes his repentance toward Thee sincere,

stands before Thee with a pure and purified heart,

then supplicates Thee with a feeble, quiet voice.

He is bowed before Thee, bent,

his head lowered in humility,

his legs shaking in fear,

his tears pouring on his cheeks.

He supplicates Thee:

O Most Merciful of the merciful!

O Most Merciful of those toward Whom seekers of mercy keep on turning!

O Tenderest of those around Whom run the seekers of forgiveness!

O He Whose pardon is greater than His vengeance!

O He Whose good pleasure is more abundant than His anger!

O He Whose creatures praise His forgiveness of sins by good deeds!

O He Who has accustomed His servants to the acceptance of their repeated turning!

O He Who seeks to reform their corruption through repentance!

O He Who is pleased with the ease of their acts!

O He Who recompenses, with the much, their little!

O He Who has made Himself accountable to them to respond to supplication!

O He Who pledged Himself by His gratuitous bounty to give them excellent repayment!

I am not the most disobedient of those who have disobeyed Thee, and whom Thou hast forgiven,

nor am I the most blameworthy to offer excuses which Thou hast accepted, 

nor am I the most wrongful of those who have repented to Thee, and to whom Thou hast returned

I repent to Thee in this my status, 

the repentance of one remorseful over what preceded from him hastily, apprehensive of what has gathered around him,

pure in shame for that into which he has fallen,

knowing that pardoning great sins is nothing great for Thee,

overlooking enormous misdeeds is not difficult for Thee,

putting up with indecent crimes does not trouble Thee,

and the most beloved of Thy servants to  Thee

is he who refrains from arrogance before Thee,

pulls aside from persistence, and holds fast to praying forgiveness!

I am clear before Thee of arrogance,

I seek refuge in Thee from persistence,

I pray forgiveness from Thee for shortcomings,

I seek help from Thee in incapacity!

O Allah,

bless Muhammad and his Household,

dispense with what is incumbent upon me toward Thee,

release me from what I merit from Thee,

and grant me sanctuary from what the evildoers fear,

for Thou art full of pardon, the hoped-for source of forgiveness, well known for Thy forbearance.

My need has no object but Thee,

my sin no forgiver other than Thee

 - could that be possible?

I have no fear for myself except from Thee;

Thou art worthy of reverential fear, and worthy to forgive!

Bless Muhammad and his Household,

grant my need,

answer my request favorably,

forgive my sin,

and give me security from fear for myself!

Thou art powerful over everything,

and that is easy for Thee.

Amen, O Lord of the Worlds!

Transliteration

WA KAANA MIN DUA'AA-IHEE A'LAY-HIS-SALAAMU FEELIA'-TIRAAFI WAT'ALABIT-TAW-BATI ILAAL-LAAHEE TAA'ALAA

AL-LAAHUM-MA IN-NAHOO YAH'-JUBUNEE A'M-MAS-ALATIKA KHILAALUN THALAATH WA TAH'-DOONEE A'LAY-HAA KHAL-LATOO-WAAH'IDAH

YAH'-JUBUNEE

AM-RUN AMAR-TA BIHEE FAAB-T'AA-TU A'N-H

WA NAH-YUN-NAHAY-TANEE A'N-HOO FAAS-RAA'-TU ILAY-H

WA NIA'-MATUN AN-A'M-TA BIHAA A'LAY-YA FAQAS'-S'AR-TU FEE SHUK-RIHAA

WA YAH'-DOONEE A'LAA MAS-ALATIKA TAFAZ''-Z''ULUKA A'LAA MAN

AQ-BALA BIWAJ-HIHEEE ILAY-K

WA WAFADA BIH'US-NI Z'AN-NIHEEE ILAY-K

ID' JAMEEU' IH'-SAANIKA TAFAZ''-Z''UL

WA ID' KUL-LU NIA'MIKA AB-TIDAAA-

FAHAAA ANA D'AA YAAA ILAAHEE

WAAQIFUM-BIBAABI I'Z-ZIKA WQOOFAL-MUS-TAS-LIMID'-D'ALEEL

WA SAAA-ILUKA A'LAAL-H'AYAAA-I MIN-NEE SOO-AALAL-BAAA-ISIL-MUE'EL

MUQIR-RUL-LAKA BIN-NEE

LAM AS-TAS-LIM WAQ-TA IH'-SAANIKA IL-LAA BIL-IQ-LAAI' A'N I'S'-YAANIK

WA LAM AKH-LU FIL-H'AALAATI KUL-LIHAA MINI AM-TINAANIK

FAHAL YANFAU'NEE YAAA ILAAHEEE IQ-RAAREE I'NDAKA BISOOO-I MAK-TASAB-TU ?

WAHAL YUNJEENEE MINKA AA'-TIRAAFEE LAKA BIQABEEHEE MAR-TAKAB-TU?

AM AW-JAB-TA LEE FEE MAQAAMEE HAD'AA SUKH-T'AKA?

AM LAZIMANEE FEE WAQ-TI DUA'AA-EE MAQ-TUKA?

SUB-H'AANAKA

LAAA AY-ASU MINKA WAQAD FATAH'-TA LEE BAABAT-TAW-BATI ILAY-K

BAL AQOOLU MAQAALAL-A'B-DID'-D'ALEELI

AZ'-Z'AALIMI LINAF-SIH

AL-MUS-TAKHIF-FI BIH'UR-MATI RAB-BIH

AL-LAD'EE A'Z'UMAT D'UNOOBUHOO FAJAL-LAT-

WA AD-BARAT AY-YAAMUHOO FAWAL-LAT-

H'AT-TAAA ID'AA RAAA

MUD-DATAL-A'MALI QADI ANQAZ''AT-

WA GHAAYATAL-U'MURI QADI ANTAHAT

WA AY-QANA AN-NAHOO

LAA MAH'EES'A LAHOO MINK

WA LAA MAH-RABA LAHOO A'NK

TALAQ-QAAKA BIL-INAABAH

WA AKH-LAS'A LAKAT-TAW-BAH

FAQAAMA ILAY-KA BIQAL-BIN T'AAHIRIN-NAQEE

THUM-MA DAA'AKA BIS'AW-TIN H'AAA-ILIN KHAFEE

QAD T-TAT'AA-T'AA LAKA FAN-H'ANAA

WA NAK-KASA RAA-SAHOO FAANTHANAA

QAD SR-A'SHAT KHASH-YATUHOO RIJ-LAY-H

WA GHAR-RAQAT D-DUMOOU'HOO KHAD-DAY-H

YAD-U'WKA BEEAAA AR-H'AMAR-RAAH'IMEEN

WA YAAA AR-H'AMA MANI ANTAABAHUL-MUS-TAR-H'IMOON

WA YAAA AA'-T'AFA MAN AT'AAFA BIHIL-MUS-TAGH-FIROON

WA YAA MAN A'F-WUHOOO AK-THARU MIN-NAQIMATIH

WA YAA MAR-RIZ''AAHOOO AW-FARU MIN SAKHAT'IH

WA YAA MAN TAH'AM-MADA ILAA KHAL-QIHEE BIH'US-NIT-TAJAAWUZ

WA YAA MAN A'W-WADA I'BAADAHOO QABOOLAL-INAABAH

WA YAA MANI AS-TAS'-LAH'A FAASIDAHUM BIT-TAW-BAH

WA YAA MAR-RAZ''EEA MIN FIA'-LIHIM BIL-YASEER

WA YAA MAN KAAFAA QALEELAHUM BIL-KATHEER

WA YAA MAN Z''AMINA LAHUM IJAABATAD-DUA'AA-I

WA YAA MAW-WAA'DAHUM A'LAA NAF-SIHEE BITAFAZ''-Z''ULIHEE H'US-NAL-JAZAAA-I

MAAA ANA BIA'-S'AA MAN A'S'AAKA FAGHAFAR-TA LAH

WA MAAA ANA BIL-WAMI MANI AA'-TAD'ARA ILAY-KA FAQABIL-TA MIN-H

WA MAAA ANA BIZ'-LAMI MAN TAABA ILAY-KA FAU'T-TA A'LAY-H

ATOOBU ILAY-KA FEE MAQAAMEE HAD'AA TAW-BATA

NAADIMIN A'LAA MAA FARAT'A MIN-H

MUSH-FIQIM-MIM-MAJ-TAMAA' A'LAY-H

KHAALIS'IL-H'AYAAA-I MIM-MAA WAQAA' FEEH

A'ALIMIN

BIAN-NAL-A'F-WA A'NID'-D'AMBIL-A'Z'EEMI LAA YATAA'AZ'AMUK

WA AN-NAT-TAJAAWUZA A'NIL-ITH-MIL-JALEELI LAA YAS-TAS'-I'BUK

WA AN-NA AH'-TIMAALAL-JINAAYAATIL-FAAH'ISHATI LAA YATAKAA-ADUK

WA AN-NA AH'AB-BA I'BAADIKA ILAY-KA MAN

TARAKALIS-TIK-BAARA A'LAY-K

WA JAANABAL-IS'-RAAR

WA LAZIMALIS-TIGH-FAAR

WA ANA AB-RA-U ILAY-KA MIN SN SS-TAK-BIR

WA SU'WD'U BIKA MIN SN US'IR

WAS-TAGH-FIRUKA LIMAA QAS'-S'AR-TU FEEH

WA AS-TAE'ENU BIKA A'LAA MAA A'JAZ-TU A'N-H

AL-LAAHUM-MA S'AL-LI A'LAA MUH'AM-MADIW-WA AAALIH

WA HAB LEE MAA YAJIBU A'LAY-YA LAK

WA A'AFINEE MIM-MAAA AS-TAW-JIBUHOO MINK

WA AJIR-NEE MIM-MAA YAKHAAFUHOOO AH-LUL-ISAAA-AH

FA IN-NAKA MALEE-UM-BIL-A'F-W

MAR-JOO-WU LIL-MAGH-FIRAH

MAA'-ROOFUM-BIT-TAJAAWZ

LAY-SA LIH'AAJATEE MAT'-LABUN SIWAAK

WA LAA LID'AMBEE GHAAFIRUN GHAY-RUK

H'AASHAAK

WA LAAA AKHAAFU A'LAA NAF-SEEE IL-LAAA EE-YAAK

IN-NAKA AH-LUT-TAQ-WAA WA AH-LUL-MAGH-FIRAH

S'AL-LI A'LAA MUH'AM-MADIW-WAAALI MUH'AM-MAD

WA AQ-Z''I H'AAJATEE

WA ANJIH' T'ALIBATEE

WAGH-FIR D'AMBEE

WA AAAMIN KHAW-FA NAF-SEE

IN-NAKA A'LAA KUL-LI SHAY-IN QADEER

WA D'ALIKA A'LAY-KA YASEER

AAAMEENA RAB-BAL-A'ALAMEEN

Translation to Arabic

دُعَائِهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فِي الِاعْتِرَافِ وَ طَلَبِ التَّوْبَةِ إِلَى اللَّهِ تَعَالَى
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

أَللَّهُمَّ إنَّهُ يَحْجُبُنِي عَنْ مَسْأَلَتِكَ خِلاَلٌ ثَلاثٌ وَتَحْدُونِي عَلَيْهَا خَلَّةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ، يَحْجُبُنِي أَمْرٌ أَمَرْتَ بِهِ فَأَبْطَأتُ عَنْهُ، وَنَهْيٌ نَهَيْتَنِي عَنْهُ فَأَسْرَعْتُ إلَيْهِ، وَنِعْمَةٌ أَنْعَمْتَ بِهَا عَلَيَّ فَقَصَّـرْتُ فِي شُكْرِهَـا.

وَيَحْدُونِي عَلَى مَسْأَلَتِكَ تَفَضُّلُكَ عَلَى مَنْ أَقْبَلَ بِوَجْهِهِ إلَيْكَ، وَوَفَدَ بِحُسْنِ ظَنِّـهِ إلَيْكَ، إذْ جَمِيعُ إحْسَانِكَ تَفَضُّلٌ، وَإذْ كُلُّ نِعَمِكَ ابْتِدَاءٌ.

فَهَا أَنَا ذَا يَا إلهِيْ وَاقِفٌ بِبَابِ عِزِّكَ وُقُوفَ المُسْتَسْلِمِ الذَّلِيْل، وَسَائِلُكَ عَلَى الْحَيَاءِ مِنّي سُؤَالَ الْبَائِسِ الْمُعِيْلِ.

مُقـرٌّ لَكَ بأَنّي لَمْ أَسْتَسْلِمْ وَقْتَ إحْسَانِـكَ إلاَّ بِالاِقْلاَعِ عَنْ عِصْيَانِكَ، وَلَمْ أَخْلُ فِي الْحَالاتِ كُلِّهَا مِنِ امْتِنَانِكَ.

فَهَلْ يَنْفَعُنِي يَا إلهِي إقْرَارِي عِنْدَكَ بِسُوءِ مَا اكْتَسَبْتُ؟ وَهَلْ يُنْجِيْنِي مِنْكَ اعْتِرَافِي لَكَ بِقَبِيْحِ مَا ارْتَكَبْتُ؟ أَمْ أَوْجَبْتَ لِي فِي مَقَامِي هَذَا سُخْطَكَ؟ أَمْ لَزِمَنِي فِي وَقْتِ دُعَائِي مَقْتُكَ؟

سُبْحَانَكَ! لاَ أَيْأَسُ مِنْكَ وَقَدْ فَتَحْتَ لِيَ بَابَ التَّوْبَةِ إلَيْكَ، بَلْ أَقُولُ مَقَالَ الْعَبْدِ الذَّلِيلِ الظَّالِمِ لِنَفْسِهِ الْمُسْتَخِفِّ بِحُرْمَةِ رَبِّهِ الَّذِي عَظُمَتْ ذُنُوبُهُ فَجَلَّتْ وَأَدْبَرَتْ أَيّامُهُ فَوَلَّتْ حَتَّى إذَا رَأى مُدَّةَ الْعَمَلِ قَدِ انْقَضَتْ وَغَايَةَ الْعُمُرِ قَدِ انْتَهَتْ، وَأَيْقَنَ أَنَّهُ لا مَحيصَ لَهُ مِنْكَ، وَلاَ مَهْرَبَ لَهُ عَنْكَ تَلَقَّاكَ بِالانَابَةِ،

وَأَخْلَصَ لَكَ التَّوْبَةَ، فَقَامَ إلَيْكَ بِقَلْبِ طَاهِر نَقِيٍّ ثُمَّ دَعَاكَ بِصَوْت حَائِل خَفِيٍّ، قَدْ تَطَأطَأَ لَكَ فَانْحَنى، وَنَكَّسَ رَأسَهُ فَانْثَنَى، قَدْ أَرْعَشَتْ خَشْيَتُهُ رِجْلَيْهِ، وَغَرَّقَتْ دُمُوعُهُ خَدَّيْهِ، يَدْعُوكَ بِيَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ وَيَا أَرْحَمَ مَنِ انْتَابَهُ الْمُسْتَرْحِمُونَ،

وَيَا أَعْطَفَ مَنْ أَطَافَ بِهِ الْمُسْتَغْفِرُونَ،

وَيَا مَنْ عَفْوُهُ أكْثَرُ مِنْ نِقْمَتِهِ، وَيَا مَنْ رِضَاهُ أَوْفَرُ مِنْ سَخَطِهِ،

وَيَا مَنْ تَحَمَّدَ إلَى خَلْقِهِ بِحُسْنِ التَّجاوُزِ، وَيَا مَنْ عَوَّدَ عِبادَهُ قَبُولَ الانَابَةِ،

وَيَا مَنِ اسْتَصْلَحَ فَاسِدَهُمْ بِالتَّوْبَةِ وَيَا مَنْ رَضِيَ مِنْ فِعْلِهِمْ بِالْيَسيرِ،

وَيَا مَنْ كَافى قَلِيْلَهُمْ بِالْكَثِيرِ، وَيَا مَنْ ضَمِنَ لَهُمْ إجَابَةَ الدُّعاءِ،

وَيَا مَنْ وَعَدَهُمْ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ بِتَفَضُّلِهِ حُسْنَ الْجَزاءِ،

مَا أَنَا بِأَعْصَى مَنْ عَصَاكَ فَغَفَرْتَ لَهُ،

وَمَا أَنَا بِأَلْوَمِ مَنِ اعْتَذَرَ إلَيْكَ فَقَبِلْتَ مِنْهُ،

وَمَا أَنَا بِأَظْلَمِ مَنْ تَابَ إلَيْكَ فَعُدْتَ عَلَيْهِ،

أَتُوبُ إلَيْكَ فِي مَقَامِي هَذَا تَوْبَةَ نَادِم عَلَى مَا فَرَطَ مِنْهُ مُشْفِق مِمَّا اجْتَمَعَ عَلَيْهِ خَالِصِ الْحَيَاءِ مِمَّا وَقَعَ فِيْهِ، عَالِم بِأَنَّ الْعَفْوَ عَنِ الذَّنْبِ الْعَظِيمِ لاَ يَتَعـاظَمُكَ، وَأَنَّ التَّجَـاوُزَ عَنِ الاثْمِ الْجَلِيْلِ لا يَسْتَصْعِبُكَ، وَأَنَّ احْتِمَالَ الْجنَايَاتِ الْفَـاحِشَةِ لا يَتَكَأَّدُكَ، وَأَنَّ أَحَبَّ عِبَادِكَ إلَيْكَ مَنْ تَرَكَ الاسْتِكْبَارَ عَلَيْكَ، وَجَانَبَ الاِصْرَارَ، وَلَزِمَ الاسْتِغْفَارَ.

وَأَنَا أَبْرَأُ إلَيْكَ مِنْ أَنْ أَسْتَكْبِرَ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ أَنْ أصِـرَّ.

وَأَسْتَغْفِرُكَ لِمَا قَصَّرْتُ فِيهِ، وَأَسْتَعِينُ بِكَ عَلَى مَا عَجَزْتُ عَنْهُ.

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّد وَآلِهِ وَهَبْ لِي مَا يَجبُ عَلَيَّ لَكَ، وَعَافِنِي مِمَّا أَسْتَوْجِبُهُ مِنْكَ، وَأجِرْنِي مِمَّا يَخَافُهُ أَهْلُ الاساءَةِ فَإنَّكَ مَلِيءٌ بِالْعَفْوِ، مَرْجُوٌّ لِلْمَغْفِرَةِ، مَعْرُوفٌ بِالتَّجَاوُزِ، لَيْسَ لِحَاجَتِي مَطْلَبٌ سِوَاكَ، وَلا لِذَنْبِي غَافِرٌ غَيْرُكَ، حَاشَاكَ وَلاَ أَخَافُ عَلَى نَفْسِي إلاّ إيَّاكَ إنَّكَ أَهْلُ التَّقْوَى وَأَهْلُ الْمَغْفِرَةِ.

صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّد وَآلِ مُحَمَّد، وَاقْض حَاجَتِي وَأَنْجِحْ طَلِبَتِي، وَاغْفِرْ ذَنْبِي، وَآمِنْ خَوْفَ نَفْسِيْ إنَّكَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْء قَدِيرٌ وَذلِكَ عَلَيْكَ يَسِيرٌ آمِينَ رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ.