BB00274: Du’a’a’l-Huzn

Prayer of Sorrow—Recite it in times of grief, that ye may be preserved:

In the Name of God, the Single, the Relied-Upon, the Mighty!

I know not, O my God, through what sin Thou hast removed me from Thy nearness and cast me prostrate in the dust before Thee. I know not, O my Beloved, through what fault Thou hast made me to be subjugated in the hands of the oppressors. I know not, O my Desire, through what rebellion Thou hast caused me to be overcome in the hands of the transgressors.

How is it, O my God, that Thou dost not look upon me with a near gaze, after Thou didst call me victorious? How is it, O my Desire, that Thou hast not made me triumphant over them, after Thou didst make me praiseworthy? How is it, O Beloved of my essence, that Thou hast not made me to prevail over them, after Thou didst decree for me a goodly promise? How is it, O Thou Who art feared, that Thou hast not made me sovereign over them, after Thy promise was fulfilled and Thy Cause drew nigh from every direction?

I know not why, O Thou Who art desired, Thou hast not made me powerful in the earth after Thou didst say “We have made thee powerful”—and who is more truthful in speech than God? How, O my God, can I despair of Thy mercy when Thou art powerful over all things? And how can I not lose hope when I perceive no fragrance of Thy victory, though Thou dost encompass all things?

At this moment, O my God, witness my station before Thee—I have been wronged on earth. Alas, alas, O my God, for what hath been decreed and what shall be decreed! Alas, alas, O my Desire, for what hath passed and what shall pass! Alas, alas, O my Master, for what hath transpired and what shall transpire!

The eyes have overflowed with weeping, O my Lord! Hearts have been constricted by tribulation, O my Master! The senses have been overwhelmed, O my Support! Souls have been obliterated, O my Relied-Upon! Hearts have been darkened, O my God! The earth, despite its vastness, hath become strait for all!

How knowest Thou not, O my God, how to be patient with what Thou dost witness and see, and why dost Thou not help one who was full of hope? How knowest Thou not, O Beloved of those who hope, how to witness without helping one who was a pillar of support? How knowest Thou not, O Lord of the mystics, how not to destroy Thine enemy after the earth hath been filled with tyranny and transgression? How knowest Thou not, O Sovereign of the worlds, how not to give the oppressed dominion over the oppressors, after they have earned naught but denial and unbelief? How knowest Thou not, O Shelter of the righteous, how not to help Thy loved ones after Thine enemies have encompassed them from every direction and they find none but Thee as helper?

How knowest Thou not, O Trusted One of the secure, how to be patient with what Thou hast witnessed and not help these weak ones after Thou didst say “God will help you through His Command”—verily He was the Manifest One? How knowest Thou not, O God of the worlds, how to forbear and not seize them when Thou art most severe in might and most severe in exemplary punishment? How knowest Thou not, O our God, how to be patient and not judge, when Thou art most severe in seizure and most severe in conquest?

We praise Thee, O my God, for what Thou hast ordained and wilt ordain. Verily, Thou art witness over all things. And we thank Thee, O my God, for all that Thou hast caused to come to pass. Verily, Thou hast been all-seeing towards us. How is it, O my God, that Thou dost not seize these infidels who have earned naught but unbelief and heedlessness? How is it, O Thou Who art feared, that Thou dost not prevail over these transgressors who have wrought naught but injustice and rebellion?

Send down, O my God, from Thy presence, one possessed of severe might and tremendous power. Send down, O my God, from Thy presence a sovereign upon the earth until no trace of the unbelievers remaineth. Send down, O my God, a king upon the earth, then aid him with Thy hosts and with the like thereof. Verily, Thou art powerful over whatsoever Thou willest.

I know not, O Beloved of the worlds, how it is that Thou dost not seize these people after they have slain Thy chosen ones and have shown no fear of Thy might. I know not, O Helper of those who help, how it is that Thou hast not manifested Thy wrath after corruption hath appeared on land and sea, and the hands of men have wrought naught but tyranny and heedlessness. I know not how Thou dost forbear and hast not sent from Thy presence an avenger to overcome these people and slay them with a slaying the like of which hath never been.

I beseech Thee, O my God, by every drop of blood shed in Thy path, to manifest such and such, and to send from Thy presence one possessed of severe might and tremendous power and swift command. Verily, Thou art seeing all things. Nothing in the heavens or on earth can frustrate Thee, and Thou art powerful over whatsoever Thou willest.

I beseech Thee by the right of the Bayan and its people and Him Whom Thou shalt make manifest on the Day of Resurrection, that Thou send blessings upon the Bayan and those who have believed in it, then upon Him Whom Thou shalt make manifest in truth, then—O radiant One, O exalting One! Verily, nothing can escape Thee, neither before nor after, and Thou dost aid whomsoever Thou willest with the hosts of the heavens and earth. Verily, Thou art encompassing all that Thou willest.

I know not, O Lord, dost Thou love to help Thine enemy and forsake Thy loved ones? Or dost Thou wish to forbear until they earn sin? Or dost Thou wish to destroy Thy chosen ones on earth at the hands of Thine enemies until none remaineth to remember Thee? Or dost Thou wish to look upon him who is weak yet steadfast? Teach me, O my God, by Thy truth, what Thou lovest, for Thou art what Thou art. Verily, Thou bestowest knowledge upon whomsoever Thou willest among Thy creation, and Thou art the Hearing, the Answering.