Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn, peace be upon him

In the Name of God, the All-merciful,

the All-compassionate

1 My God,

who can have tasted the sweetness of Thy love,

then wanted another in place of Thee?

Who can have become intimate with Thy nearness,

then sought removal from Thee?

2 My God, place us with him

whom Thou hast

chosen for Thy nearness and Thy friendship,

purified through Thy affection and Thy love,

given yearning for the meeting with Thee,

made pleased with Thy decree,

granted gazing upon Thy face,

shown the favour of Thy good pleasure,

given refuge from separation from Thee and Thy loathing,

settled in a sure sitting place in Thy neighbourhood,

singled out for true knowledge of Thee,

made worthy for worship of Thee,

whose heart Thou hast captivated with Thy will,

whom Thou hast picked for contemplating Thee,

whose look Thou hast made empty for Thee,

whose breast Thou hast freed for Thy love,

whom Thou hast made

desirous of what is with Thee,

inspired with Thy remembrance,

allotted thanksgiving to Thee,

occupied with obeying Thee,

turned into one of Thy righteous creatures,

chosen for whispered prayer to Thee,

and from whom Thou hast cut off all things

which cut him off from Thee!

3 O God,

place us among those

whose habit is rejoicing in Thee and yearning for Thee,

whose time is spent in sighing and moaning!

Their foreheads are bowed down before Thy mightiness,

their eyes wakeful in Thy service,

their tears flowing in dread of Thee,

their hearts fixed upon Thy love,

their cores shaken with awe of Thee.

O He

the lights of whose holiness

induce wonder in the eyes of His lovers,

the glories of whose face

arouse the longing of the hearts of His knowers!

O Furthest Wish of the hearts of the yearners!

O Utmost Limit of the hopes of the lovers!

I ask from Thee love for Thee,

love for those who love Thee,

love for every work which will join me to Thy nearness,

and that Thou makest Thyself more beloved to me

than anything other than Thee

and makest

my love for Thee

lead to Thy good pleasure,

and my yearning for Thee

protect against disobeying Thee!

Oblige me by allowing me to gaze upon Thee,

gaze upon me with the eye of affection and tenderness,

turn not Thy face away from me,

and make me one of the people of happiness with Thee

and favoured position!

O Responder,

O Most Merciful of the merciful!