The Whispered Prayer of the Utterly Poor


In the Name of God, the All-merciful,
the All-compassionate

1

My God,
          nothing will
                    mend my fracture but Thy gentleness and loving care,
                    free me of my poverty but Thy affection and beneficence,
                    still my fright but Thy security,
                    exalt my abasement but Thy sovereignty,
                    take me to my hope but Thy bounty,
                    remedy my lack but Thy graciousness,
                    accomplish my need other than Thou,
                    relieve my distress other than Thy mercy,
                    remove my injury other than Thy clemency,
                    cool my burning thirst but reaching Thee,
                    quench my ardour but meeting Thee,
                    damp my yearning but gazing upon Thy face,
                    settle my settling place without closeness to Thee,
                    allay my worry but Thy repose,
                    cure my illness but Thy medicine,
                    eliminate my grief but Thy nearness,
                    heal my wound but Thy forgiveness,
                    remove the rust on my heart but Thy pardon,
                    banish the confusing thoughts from my breast but
                                                                      Thy command!

2

O Utmost Hope of the hopers!
          O Ultimate Demand of the askers!
          O Furthest Request of the requesters!
          O Highest Desire of the desirers!
          O Patron of the righteous!
          O Security of the fearful!
          O Responder to the supplication of the distressed!
          O Storehouse of the destitute!
          O Treasure of the pitiful!
          O Help of the help-seekers!
          O Accomplisher of the needs of the poor and the miserable!
          O Most Generous of the most generous!
                    O Most Merciful of the merciful!
          To Thee is my humble subjection and request,
                    to Thee my pleading and imploring!
          I ask Thee
                    to let me attain
                              the repose of Thy good pleasure,
                    and to make constant toward me
                              the favours of Thy kindness!
          Here am I,
                    standing before the gate of Thy generosity,
                    opening myself up to the breezes of Thy goodness,
                    holding fast to Thy strong cord,
                    clinging to Thy firm handle!

3

My God,
          have mercy upon Thy lowly slave
                    of silent tongue and few good works,
          obligate him through Thy plentiful graciousness,
                    shelter him under Thy plenteous shade!
          O Generous, O Beautiful,
                    O Most Merciful of the merciful!