RABBA-L ’IBĀDI (LORD OF HIS SERVANTS!)
A comprehensive supplication composed by Shaykh-al-Islam Ibrahim Niasse (RA) during a visit to his birth-town of Taybah Niassene, Senegal.
Translated by: Imām Fakhruddin Owaisi
Note that the first letters of each line form the blessed Qur’anic verse (23:29):
رَبِّ أََنْزِلْنِي مُنْزَلًا مُبَارَكًا وَأَنْتَ خَيْرُ الْمُنْزِلِينَ
Rabbi Anzilnī munzalān mubārakān, WA Anta khayri-l munzilīn
“O my Lord! Settle me in a blessed abode, for You are the best of Settlers”
رَبَّ الْعِبَادِ غَافِرَ الذُّنُوبِ = وَ قَابِلَ التَّوْبِ لِتَقْبَلْ تَوْبِي
Rabba-l ʿIbādi ghāfira-dh dhunūbi = wa qābila-t tawbi li-taqbal tawbī
Lord of (His) Servants! O Forgiver of Sins!
O Acceptor of Repentance! Please accept my repentance!
بِطَيْبَ جِئْتُكَ إلَهِي تَائِبَا = وَ طَالِبًا وَ خَاضِعًا وَ آئِبَا
Bi-Tayba ji’tuka ilāhī tā’ibā = wa tāliban wa khāḍiʿan wa ā’ibā
In Taybah O my Lord, I come to You repentant…
And seeking (Your mercy), in submission, returning (to You)!
بِمَنْزِلٍ مُبَارَكٍ تُنْزِلُنِي = وَانْفَعْ هُنَا جَمِيعَ مَنْ قَصَدَنِي
Bi-manzilin mubārakin tunzilunī = wa-nfaʿ hunā jamīʿa man qaṣadanī
So make me settle in a blessed abode…
And make all those who visit me here benefit (from me)!
أَجْرِ فُيُوضَ الْعِلْمِ وَالْأَرْزَاقِ = لِزُمْرَتِي وَ هَذِّبَنْ أَخْلَاقِي
Ajri fuyūḍa-l ʿilmi wa-l arzāqi = li-zumratī wa haddhiban akhlāqī
Make the floods of knowledge & sustenance overflow…
To my faction…and beautify our conduct!
نَالَتْهُمُ الْأَسْوَاءُ قَاسُوا الْمِحَنَا = فَدَارِكَنَّهُمْ وَ أَكْثِرْ مِنَنَا
Nālat-humu-l aswā’u qāsū-l miḥanā = fa-dārikannahum wa akthir minnanā
For they’ve been afflicted with hardships & have suffered trials
So assist them (O Lord) and multiply Your Graces (upon them)!
زَلَّتْ لِبَعْضٍ مِنْهُمُ الْأَقْدَامُ = فَلْتَسْمَحَنْ لَهُمْ فَفِيكَ هَامُوا
Zallat li-baʿḍin min-humu-l aqdāmu = fal-tasmaḥan lahum fa-fīka hāmū
And while some of them have slipped (in their words or actions)
Pardon them, for they are indeed lost in Your love!
لَيِّنْ لَهُمْ مَنْ لَيَّنَ الْحَدِيدَا = لِمَنْ أَرَدْتَ وَارْفَعِ الْقُيُودَا
Layyin lahum man layyana-l ḥadīdā = li-man aradta wa-rfaʿi-l quyūdā
Soften for them (their trials) O who softened the iron (for Prophet Dawud)
And remove their chains & shackles (of tribulation)!
نَرَاهُمُ فِي الْبَسْطِ وَالرَخَّاءِ = أُولِي دِيَانَةٍ مَعَ الْآلَاءِ
Narāhumu fī-l basṭi wa-r rakhā’ī = ulī diyānatin maʿa-l ālā’ī
May I see them in profusion & prosperity…
A People of True Faith, with an abundance of (Your) blessings!
يُمْنًا وَ صِحَّةً وَ بَذْلًا زَائِدَا = سُقْهَا لِأَحْبَابِي وَ أَبْقَي عَابِدَا
Yumnan wa ṣiḥḥatan wa badhlān zā’idā = suqhā li-aḥbābī wa abqā ʿābidā
Good fortune, Good health & much charity…
Grant it all to my beloveds (O Lord), as I remain in Your worship!
مِنْ طَيْبَةٍ أُسْدِي إلَى الظَّوَاهِرِ = وَ أَنْتَ تَدْرِي بَاطِنِي وَ ظَاهِرِي
Min Taybatin usdī ila-ẓ ẓawāhiri = wa anta tadrī bāṭinī wa ẓāhirī
From Taybah, I extend (my prayer) to all cities…
And You’re aware of my inward & outward (state)!
نَالَ الْمُنَى مَنْ قَدْ أَتَانِي أَوَّلًا = وَ آخِرًا يَا آخِرًا يَا أَوَّلَا
Nāla-l munā man qad atānī awwalā = wa ākhiran yā Ākhirān yā Awwalā
Indeed, whosoever comes to me shall attain his desire…
Whether they come first or last…O Last One & O First One!
زَالَ عَنِ الْأَحْبَابِ كُلُّ ضَيْرِ = وَ قَدْ أَتَاهُمْ مِنْكَ كُلُّ خَيْرِ
Zāla ʿani-l aḥbābi kullu ḍayri = wa qad atāhum minka kullu khayri
May all harm be removed from my beloveds!
And may all good come to them from You!
لَا ضَرَّهُمْ تَنَافُسٌ فِي الْفَانِي= إذْ كُلُّ مَا يَرَوْنَ حِينًا فَانِي
Lā ḍarrahum tanāfusun fī-l fānī = idh kullu mā yarawna ḥīnān fānī
May they not be harmed by competing for the perishable (Dunya)
And may they see it all as completely perishable & annihilated!
أَيِّدْهُمُ إذْ قَلَّ كُفْؤُ نِعَمِ = وَ نَجِّنَا مِنْ غَضَبٍ وَ نِقَمِ
Ayyid-humu idh qalla kuf’u niʿami = wa najjinā min ghaḍabin wa niqami
Aid them as they struggle to find sustenance…
And protect us from (Your) wrath & punishment!
مُصَدِّقِينَ مُتَصَدِّقِينَ = وَ صَائِمِينَ الدَّهْرَ حَافِظِينَا
Muṣaddiqīna mutaṣaddiqīna = wa ṣā’imīna-d dahra ḥāfiẓīnā
Make them true believers & truly charitable ones…
Those who regularly fast & observe all the prohibitions!
بَاعُوا النُّفُوسَ ثَمَّ وَالْأَمْوَالَا = كَالْمُؤْمِنِينَ حَبَّذَا أَحْوَالَا
Bāʿu-n nufūsa thamma wa-l amwālā = ka-l mu’minīna ḥabbadhā aḥwālā
Indeed they’ve sold their souls & their possession (to You)
Like True believers! How praiseworthy are their states!
أَجِبْ أَيَا رَبِّ بِسِرِّ الذَّاتِ = وَ سِرِّ الْأَسْمَاءِ أَوِ الصِّفَاتِ
Ajib ayā Rabbi bi-sirri-dh dhāti = wa sirri-l asmā’i awi-ṣ ṣifāti
Answer O my Lord, by the secret of Your Divine Essence…
And the secret of Your Sacred Names & Attributes!
رَبِّ أَيَا رَبِّ فَتَمِّمْ فِعْلَا = مَا قَدْ قَصَدْتُ أَيْ تُرِيهِمْ نَيْلَا
Rabbi ayā Rabbi fa-tammim fiʿlā = mā qad qaṣadtu ay turīhum naylā
Lord O my Lord, fulfill what I’ve asked for…
And make them see the attainment of it!
كَمَا أَجَبْتَ كُلَّ عَبْدٍ سَأَلَا = فِيمَا مَضَي فَحَقِّقَنَّ الْأَمَلَا
Kamā ajabta kulla ʿabdin sa’alā = fīmā maḍā fa-ḥaqqiqanna-l amalā
As You’ve answered every servant who prayed before (me)…
So fully fulfil my supplications as well!
أَنْتَ الَّذِي تَرْزُقُ مَنْ تَشَاءُ = مَتَى تَشَا كَمَا تَشَا مَا شَاءُوا
Anta-l-ladhī tarzuqu man tashā’u = matā tashā kamā tashā mā shā’ū
For You’re the One who provides for who You want…
When You want, as You want, what they want!
وَ أَنْتَ أَكْرَمُ وَ أَنْتَ أَرْحَمُ = وَ أَنْتَ أَجْوَدُ وَ أَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ
Wa anta Akramu wa anta Arḥamu = wa anta Ajwadu wa anta Aʿlamu
And You’re even more Generous and even more Merciful…
And You’re even more Bountiful & more Knowledgeable (of our needs)
أَنْتَ الْغَنِيُّ الْقَادِرُ الْمُرِيدُ = وَ لَا يَكُونُ غَيْرَ مَا تُرِيدُ
Anta-l Ghaniyyu-l Qādiru-l-
Murīdu = wa lā yakūnu ghayra mā turīdu
You’re the Independent One, the all-Capable, the One who wills (all)
And nothing takes place except what You will!
نَظَرَ لُطْفٍ ثُمَّ عَطْفٍ كَافِي = إذْ أَنَّكَ الْحَيُّ الْوَدُودُ الْكَافِي
Naẓrata luṭfin thumma ʿaṭfin kāfī = idh annaka-l Ḥayyu-l Wadūdu-l Kāfī
We seek (from You) a glance of compassion & kindness that suffices …
As You’re the ever-Living, the most Loving, the Sufficer of all!
تُقَلِّبُ الْأَعْيَانَ بِالْأَعْيَانِ = فَلْتَرْفَعِ الْأَقْوَامَ فِي أَزْمَانِي
Tuqallibu-l aʿyāna bi-l aʿyāni = fal-tarfaʿi-l aqwāma fī azmānī
For You can replace one essence with another!
So raise our peoples in my era (by changing their essence)!
خِرْ لِيَ صَحْبًا فُضَلَا وَ خِرْ لِي = مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ خَيْرَهُ وَ كُنْ لِي
Khir liya ṣaḥbān fuḍalā wa khir lī = min kulli shay’in khayrahu wa kun lī
Select for me the best of companions…
And select for me the best of everything & be for me (always)
يَا رَبِّ بِالْهَادِي وَ صَحْبِ الْهَادِي = فَلْتَكْفِ صَحْبِي كُلَّ شَرٍّ غَادِ
Yā Rabbi bi-l Hādī wa ṣaḥbi-l Hādī = fal-takfi ṣaḥbī kulla sharrin ghādī
O my Lord, for the sake of the Guide (SAW) & his Companions…
Protect my companions from every forthcoming evil!
رَبَّ الْأَمِينِ أَعْطِ بِالْأَمِينِ = كُلَّ مَطَالِبِي لِكُلِّ حِينِ
Rabba-l Amīni aʿṭi bi-l Amīni = kulla maṭālibī li-kulli ḥīni
Lord of the Trustworthy One (SAW)! Grant for the sake of Trustworthy One…
All my requests, now and always!
أَعْطِ الْعُبَيْدَ بُغْيَةً وَ عَجِّلَا = لِي بِالْإِجَابَةِ أُحِبُّ الْعَجَلَا
Aʿṭi-l ʿubayda bughyatan wa ʿajjilā = lī bi-l ijābati uḥibbu-l ʿajalā
Grant this slave his wishes & respond to him quickly…
For indeed I love a quick response!
لِمَا تَعَوَّدْتُ أَرَانِي نِلْتُ = كُلَّ الْمَطَالِبِ وَ إِنِّي فُزْتُ
Limā taʿawwadtu arānī niltu = kulla-l maṭālibi wa innī fuztu
Because I am accustomed to attaining all my wishes (from You)
Truly, I’ve (always) been successful (in attaining my wishes)!
مَا قَطُّ أُبْتُ خَائِبًا مِنْ رَبِّي = بَلْ كُلَّمَا أُبْتُ شَكَرْتُ أَوْبِي
وَالْمَوَاطِنِ
Mā qatṭu ubtu khā’ibān min Rabbī = bal kullamā ubtu shakartu awbī
For never once did I return from my Lord disappointed…
Instead, I returned every time in gratitude (to Him)!
نِعَمَهُ فِي ظَاهِرٍ وَ بَاطِنِ = أَسْبَغَ لِي فِي الْغَيْبِ
Niʿamahu fī ẓāhirin wa bāṭini = asbagha lī fī-l ghaybi wa-l mawāṭini
Indeed, He showered His apparent & hidden favours upon me
And He showered them privately and publicly!
زَالَ تَكَدُّرِي وَ ذَاكَ أَعْظَمُ = مَوْهِبَةٍ وَهَبَهَا مَنْ يُكْرِمُ
Zāla takaddurī wa dhāka aʿẓamu = mawhibatin wahabahā man yukrimu
And He removed my displeasure (at all hurtful matters)…
And that indeed is the greatest gift the Generous Bestower can grant!
لَدَى حَوَالَيْ طَيْبَةٍ فَلْتَطْرُدَا = كُلَّ الشُّرُورِ أَبَدًا وَ سَرْمَدَا
Ladā ḥawālay Taybatin fal-taṭrudā = kulla-sh shurūri abadān wa sarmadā
Ward off all evil from around (my town) Taybah…
Now and Forever (O my Lord)!
يَا رَبِّ صَلِّيَنْ عَلَى الْمُخْتَارِ = وَ آلِهِ وَ صَحْبِهِ الْأَخْيَارِ
Yā Rabbi ṣalliyan ʿala-l Mukhtāri = wa ālihī wa ṣaḥbihi-l akhyāri
O my Lord! Send Your blessings upon the Chosen One
And His righteous Family & Companions!
نِعْمَ الشَّفِيعُ الْمُصْطَفَى وَنِعْمَا = لِيَ الْوَسِيلَةُ أَزَالَ الْغَمَّا
Niʿma-sh shafīʿu-l Muṣṭafā wa niʿmā = liya-l wasīlatu azāla-l ghammā
Indeed, the most excellent intercessor is the Chosen One (SAW)!
And the most excellent intermediary is he, the remover of all my worries!
ﷺ
- آمين -
Translated by: Imām Fakhruddin Owaisi
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