Supplication of the Holy Month of Sha'ban

 (Munajat-e-Shabanyeh)1

The supplication of the Holy Month of Sha' ban-the famous (Munajat-e-Shabanyeh) narrated by the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (A.S.) and other Sinless Imams of Prophet (S.A.W.)'s Ahlul-Bait, is one of the most precious mystic supplication. Imam Khomeini (R.A.) the most perfect gnostic of our times, in his repeated speeches have emphasized the special spiritual importance of this precious supplication. Those who are blessed with Divine grace of keeping themselves continuously engaged in supplications and God's remembrance loves this supplication a lot, and because of this supplication eagerly await for the arrival of the Holy Month of Shaban.

This supplication contains vest sublime themes especially the etiquettes and manners of servanthood; the manners of how to face the God- Almighty; how to beseech Him; how to tell him about heart's secrets; how to open tongue for offering apologies and how to remain hopeful. Also, in these supplications the meanings of interpretation of God's Countenance (Laqa), God's Witnessing (Shahood) God's Nearness, (Qurb) have been described in a delicate manner, which do not leave any doubt or confusion for those wayfarers, who are still double minded, and who do not want to believe. Regarding self-awareness which is preliminary for God's learning (Marefat), this supplication contains most meaningful and surprising points.

Since, the recital of this supplication, especially, during the Holy Month of Shaban as well as throughout the year for the wayfarers of spiritual migration have been strongly recommended I feel it appropriate to present its English translation for the utilization of dear readers.

"In the Name of God the Beneficent the Merciful.

"Oh God! Send salutation upon Muhammad and His Holy Progeny and since, I beseech You (please) grant my prayer; whenever I cry; please listen to my cry; whenever I supplicate You please pay attention towards my condition; Because, I have taken refuge in You, am standing before Thy Threshold in a state of grief entangled with hardships shedding tears, while still remaining hopeful of Your mercy and compassion. Thou are Knowledgeable about my heart; is aware of my needs, knows thoroughly about myself and there is nothing hidden from You as far as my affairs of this world and next worlds are concerned.

"And whatever I bring upon my tongue to speak about my needs as well as regarding my being hopeful in Thee for my eternal salvation- Thou know every thing about it. Oh my Master! Thou will governs all the hidden and apparent affairs of my life till its very last breath; whatever profit or loss reaches to me, it is from Thee and not from other than Thee. Oh God! If Thou deprive me than who else is there to provide my sustenance? If Thou make me abject then who else is there to support me? Oh God!! I take refuge in Thee from Thy wrath and the severity of punishment. Oh God! If I don t deserve to receive Your blessing - Thou possessess the decency of bestowing forgiveness upon me with Thy infinite mercy and compassion.

"Oh God! As though I am standing before Thy sacred threshold; my good faith and trust in Thee has already spreaded the shadow of mercy upon my head; whatever was befitting from Thy magnanimity and benevolence, Thou have done with me accordingly; forgiveness and blessing has surrounded my entire existence. Oh God! If Thou pardon me who else is more befitting than Thee.

"And In case my death is near and my deeds did not earn Thy nearness, Then I will present my admittance of sins as a means to receive Thy-forgiveness. 0 God! I do admit that I have oppressed my self, then woe be upon the self, if you do not bestow forgiveness upon him. Oh God! Thy beneficence and merci surrounded me throughout my living; therefore, do not deprive me from Thy grace in my dying. Oh God! how can I be disappointed from receiving Thy Favors, after death, because during my entire life I have not seen any thing from Thee except compassion?

"Oh God! Be my guardian and supervisor over my affairs the way it is befitting of Thee (not what I deserve) pay attention with Thy benevolence and merci towards me - a sinner who has been overtaken completely by his ignorance. Oh God! Indeed thou have covered all my sins in this world; I need their cover up in the Hereafter much more than the covering of this world; because, Thou were kind and did not expose them to any one of your descent servants; therefore, on the Day of Judgment do not insult and expose me in front of all the humanity.

"Oh God! Thy mercy and compassion have increased my hopes, because Thy forgiveness is for better than my deeds. Oh God! On the Day when Thou will issue the final verdict for Thy servants, make me happy with Thou countenance. Oh God! I beseech Thou for forgiveness like some one who really is in need of acceptance of his repentance, therefore, accept my excuse, oh Beneficent! Who is besought by the sinners for atonement. Oh my Master! Do not turn down my request; do not deprive me from remaining hopeful of Your forgiveness; through the grace of Thy magnanimity do not cut off any hope and desire.

"Oh God! If thou had the intention of seeing me despised, would never blessed me with Thy guidance; if Thou had intended seeing me contemptible, would not have blessed me with health and happiness. Oh God! I can never believe it that Thou will turn down my request for which I have spent an entire life beseeching Thee for its grant. Oh God! Thou are the only one worthy of praise and adoration - the eternal and continuous praise always increasing and never ending, only if it could receive Thy pleasure and acceptance.

"Oh God! if Thou will remonstrate me for my offenses I will seek refuge in Thy forgiveness; if Thou will take me to task against my sins I will take Thee to task for Thy forgiveness; if Thou will send me to Hell I will inform its inmates that I loved Thee. Oh God! if my deeds are insignificant, but as compared to them my hope and desire in Thy magnanimity and benevolence is too much. Oh God! How can I return deprived and disappointed from Thy magnanimous kingdom, while remaining quite hopeful about Thy compassion and merci, that thou will be kind to me, and would include me among the rescued ones.

"Oh God! I have spend my entire life in ignorance, negligence, and forgetfulness from Thee; wasted my youth drunken into passions being ignorant of Thee. Oh God! I did not awake, because of being too proud to receive Thy forgiveness, and in this manner I followed the path of Your wrath and rage. Oh God! I am your humble servant and son of your servant who is now standing before Thee, pleading for Thy mercy and compassion as a means of my salvation.

"Oh God! I am your servant who has came to Thy threshold as ashamed and apologetic; I seek forgiveness and pardon for all my sins and transgressions, which were committed by me due to my lack of modesty from Thy presence, because bestowing for giveness is the characteristic of Thy magnanimity. Oh God! I do not have the power of relinquishing sins except that Thou awaken me with love and kindness. Or, if thou desire that I should become the way Thou want me to be; must be thankful to Thee for spreading Thy compassion and cleansing and purifying my heart from the filthiness of negligence.

1. Added by [Ti].  

Self Building; Ayatullah Ibrahim Amini