The Mahdi Times November 2011 | Page 52

distress, and (giving me) well-being in body and soundness in religion.  Were all the world's inhabitants, both the ancients and the later folk, to assist me in attempting to mention Thy blessing, I would not be able, nor would they, to do so. Holy art Thou and high exalted, a generous, mighty, merciful Lord.  Thy bounties cannot be reckoned, nor Thy praise accomplished, nor Thy blessings repaid. Bless Muhammad and the household of Muhammad, complete Thy blessings upon us and aid us in Thy obedience. Glory be to Thee! There is no god but Thou.  O God, truly Thou hearest the destitute, removest the evil, succourest the afflicted, healest the sick, enrichest the poor, mendest the broken, hast mercy upon the young and helpest the old. There is no Support other than Thee and none powerful over Thee. And Thou art the Sublime, the Great.  O Freer of the prisoner in irons! O Provider of the infant child O Protection of the frightened refugee! O He who has no associate and no assistant! Bless Muhammad and the household of Muhammad, and give me this evening the best of what Thou hast given to and bestowed upon any of Thy servants, whether a blessing Thou assignest, a bounty Thou renewest, a trial Thou avertest, an affliction Thou removest, a prayer Thou hearest, a good deed Thou acceptest or an evil deed Thou overlookest. Truly Thou art gracious, Aware of what Thou wilt, and Powerful over all things!  O God, truly Thou art the nearest of those who are called, the swiftest of those who answer, the most generous of those who pardon, the most openhanded of those who give and the most hearing of those who are asked of. O Merciful and Compassionate in this world and the next! Like Thee none is asked of; and other than Thee none is hoped for. I prayed to Thee and Thou answered me, I asked of Thee and Thou gavest to me, I set Thee as my quest and Thou hadst mercy upon me, I depended upon Thee and Thou delivered me, I took refuge with Thee and Thou sufficed me, O God, so bless Muhammad, Thy servant, messenger and prophet, and his good and pure household, all of them. And complete Thy blessings upon us, gladden us with Thy gift and inscribe us as those who thank Thee and remember Thy bounties. Amen, amen, O Lord of all beings! O God, O He who owned and then was all-powerful, was all-powerful and then subjected, was disobeyed and then veiled (the sin of disobedience), and was prayed forgiveness and then forgave.  O Goal of yearning seekers and utmost Wish of the hopeful! O He who "encompasses everything in knowledge" (LXV,12) and embraces those who seek pardon in tenderness, mercy and clemency! O God, truly we turn towards Thee this evening, which Thou honored and glorified through Muhammad, Thy prophet and messenger, the elect of Thy creation, the faithful guardian of Thy-revelation which bears good tidings and warning and which is the light-giving lamp which Thou gavest to those who surrender (al-muslimin) and appointed as a mercy to the world's inhabitants.  O God, so bless Muhammad and the household of Muhammad, just as Muhammad is worthy of that from Thee, O Sublime! So bless him and his elect, good and pure household, all of them, and encompass us in Thy pardon, for to Thee cry voices in diverse languages. So appoint for us a share this evening, O God, of every good which Thou dividest among Thy servants, every light by which Thou guidest, every mercy which Thou spreadest, every blessing which Thou sendest down, every wellbeing with which Thou clothest and every provision which Thou outspreadest. O Most merciful of the merciful!  O God, transform us now into men successful, triumphant, pious, and prosperous. Set us not among those who despair, empty us not of Thy mercy, deprive us not of that bounty of Thine for which we hope, and set us not among those deprived of Thy mercy, nor those who despair of the bounty of Thy gift for which we hope. Reject us not with the disappointed, nor those driven from Thy door.  O Most Magnanimous of the most magnanimous ! O Most Generous of the most generous! Toward Thee we have turned having sure faith, repairing to and bound for Thy Sacred House. So help is with our holy rites, perfect for us our pilgrimage, pardon us, and give us well-being, for we have extended toward Thee our hands and they are branded with the abasement of confession. O God, so give us this evening what we have asked of Thee and suffice us in that in which we have prayed Thee to suffice us, for there is none to suffice us apart from Thee and we have no lord other than Thee.  Put into effect concerning us is Thy decision, encompassing us is Thy knowledge and just for us is Thy decree. Decree for us the good and place us among the people of the good! O God make encumbent upon us through Thy magnanimity the mightiest wage, the most generous treasure and the lastingness of ease. Forgive us our sins, all of them, destroy us not with those who perish, and turn not Thy tenderness and mercy away from us, O Most Merciful of the merciful! O God, place us in this hour among those who ask of Thee and to whom Thou givest, who thank Thee and whom Thou increasest, who turn to Thee in repentance and whom Thou acceptest and who renounce all of their sins before Thee and whom Thou forgivest, O Lord of majesty and splendor!  O God, purify us, show us the right way and accept our entreaty. O Best of those from whom is asked!