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 العِبَادِ 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!
بِطَيْبَةَ جِئْتُكَ إِلَهِي تَائِبًا = وَ طَالِبًا وَ خَاضِعًا وَ آئِبًا
Bi-Taybata ji’tuka ilāhī tā’iban = 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 العِلْمِ 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 المِحَنَا = 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 الحَدِيدَا = لِمَنْ أَرَدْتَ وَارْفَعِ القُيُودَا
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 البَسْطِ وَالرَّخَاءِ = 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 زَائِدًا = سُقْهَا لِأَحْبَابِي وَ أَبْقِ عَابِدًا
Yumnan wa ṣiḥḥatan wa badhlan zā’idā = suqhā li-aḥbābī wa abqa ʿābidā
Good fortune, Good health & much charity… Grant it all to my beloveds (O Lord), as I remain in Your worship!
مِنْ طَيْبَةَ أُسْدِي إِلَى 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 المُنَى مَنْ قَدْ أَتَانِي أَوَّلًا = وَ آخِرًا يَا آخِرًا يَا أَوَّلًا
Nāla-l-munā man qad atānī awwalā = wa ākhiran yā Ākhiru 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 الفَانِي = إِذْ كُلُّ مَا يَرَوْنَ حِينًا فَانِي
Lā ḍarrahum tanāfusun fī-l-fānī = idh kullu mā yarawna ḥīnan fānī
May they not be harmed by competing for the perishable (Dunya); And may they see it all as completely perishable & annihilated!
أَيِّدْهُمُ إِذْ 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 ثُمَّ وَالْأَمْوَالَا = كَالمُؤْمِنِينَ حَبَّذَا أَحْوَالَا
Bāʿu-n-nufūsa thumma 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 تُرِيَهُمُ 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 مَضَى 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 الغَنِيُّ القَادِرُ المُرِيدُ = 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!
نَظْرَةَ لُطْفٍ ثُمَّ عَطْفٍ كَافِي = إِذْ أَنَّكَ الحَيُّ الوَدُودُ الكَافِي
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 لِي صَحْبًا فُضَلَا وَ خِرْ لِي = مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ خَيْرَهُ وَ كُنْ لِي
Khir lī ṣaḥban fuḍalā’a 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 بِالهَادِي وَ صَحْبِ الهَادِي = 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 العُبَيْدَ بُغْيَةً وَ عَجِّلَا = لِي بِالْإِجَابَةِ أُحِبُّ العَجَلَا
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 المَطَالِبِ 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
Mā qatṭu ubtu khā’iban 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 الغَيْبِ وَالمَوَاطِنِ
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 طَيْبَةَ فَلْتَطْرُدَا = كُلَّ الشُّرُورِ أَبَدًا وَ سَرْمَدَا
Ladā ḥawālay Taybata fal-taṭrudā = kulla-sh-shurūri abadan wa sarmadā
Ward off all evil from around (my town) Taybah… Now and Forever (O my Lord)!
يَا رَبِّ صَلِّ عَلَى المُخْتَارِ = وَ آلِهِ وَ صَحْبِهِ الْأَخْيَارِ
Yā Rabbi ṣalli 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 المُصْطَفَى وَ نِعْمَا = لِيَ الوَسِيلَةُ أَزَالَ الغَمَّا
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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