RABBA-L ’IBĀD (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.

 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 -


Isma'eel Bakare

Smilebak Global Emporium | Pristine Sufism Books

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