O God,
I showed sincerity by cutting myself off from everything but Thee.

I approached Thee with my whole self.

I averted my face from everyone who needs Thy support.

I ceased to ask from any who cannot do without Thy bounty.

I saw that the needy who seeks from the needy
is foolish in his opinion,
and misguided in his intellect.

How many people have I seen, my God,
who sought exaltation through other than Thee
and were abased,
who wanted wealth from someone else
and became poor,
who tried to rise high
and fell down low!

Observing the likes of them
corrects a prudent man;
his taking heed
gives him success;
his choosing the best
guides him to the path of right.

So Thou, my Master,
art the object of my asking
to the exclusion of all those who are asked
and the patron of my need
to the exclusion of all those from whom requests are made.

Thou art singled out for my call before all who are called;
none is associated with Thee in my hope,
none comes along with Thee in my supplication,
nor does any join with Thee within it,
for to Thee is my appeal.

To Thee, my God, belongs
the Unity of number,
the property of eternal power,
the excellence of force and strength,
the degree of sublimity and elevation.

Everyone other than Thee is
the object of compassion in his lifetime,
overcome in his affair,
overwhelmed in his situation,
diverse in states,
constantly changing in attributes.

So Thou art high exalted
above likenesses and opposites,
proudly magnified
beyond similitudes and rivals!
Glory be to Thee!
There is no God but Thou.

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Sahifa Sajjadiyya, Supplication 28