Supplication for Parents

O God,
          bless Muhammad, Thy slave and Thy messenger,
                    and his Household, the pure,
          and single them out for the best of Thy blessings, Thy mercy,
                    Thy benedictions, and Thy peace!

And single out my parents, O God,
          for honour with Thee and blessings from Thee,
          O Most Merciful of the merciful!


O God,
          bless Muhammad and his Household,
          teach me through inspiration
                    knowledge of everything incumbent upon me toward them,
          and gather within me
                    knowledge of all that completely!
          Then make me act in accordance
                    with what Thou hast inspired me
          and give me the success to put into practice
                    the knowledge Thou hast shown to me,
          lest I fail to act
                    according to something Thou hast taught me
          or my limbs feel too heavy to perform
                     that with which Thou hast inspired me!

O God,
           bless Muhammad and his Household,
                    as Thou hast ennobled us through him,
          and bless Muhammad and his Household,
                    as Thou hast made incumbent upon us
                     rights toward the creatures because of him!

O God,
          fill me with awe of my parents,
                    the awe one has toward a tyrannical sovereign,
          and let me be devoted to them,
                     with the devotion of a compassionate mother!
          Make my obedience and devotion to them
                     more gladdening to my eyes
                              than sleep to the drowsy
                     and more refreshing to my breast
                              than drink to the thirsty,
                    so that I may prefer their inclination
                              to my inclination,
                     set their satisfaction
                              before my satisfaction,
                    make much of their devotion to me
                               though it be little,
                     and make little of my devotion to them
                              though it be great.

O God,
           lower before them my voice,
           make agreeable to them my words,
           make mild before them my temper,
           make tender toward them my heart,
           and turn me into their kind companion,
                     their loving friend!

O God,
          thank them for my upbringing,
           reward them for honouring me,
           and guard them as they guarded me in my infancy!

O God,
           and whatever harm has touched them from me,
          detested thing has reached them from me,
                     or right of theirs which has been neglected by me,
           allow it to alleviate their sins,
                     raise them in their degrees,
                     and add to their good deeds!
           O He who changes evil deeds into manifold good deeds!

O God,
           whatever word through which they have transgressed against me,
           act through which they have been immoderate with me,
           right of mine which they have left neglected,
                     or obligation toward me in which they have fallen short,
           I grant it to them
                     and bestow it upon them,
           and I beseech Thee
                     to remove from them its ill consequence,
           for I do not accuse them concerning myself,
                     find them slow in their devotion toward me,
                     or dislike the way they have attended to my affairs, my Lord!

           They have rights against me which are more incumbent,
                     precedence in beneficence toward me that is greater,
                     and kindness toward me that is mightier
           than that I should settle accounts with justice
                     or repay them with equivalents.
          Where then, my God, would be their long occupation
                     with bringing me up?
           Where the hardship of their toil
                     in taking care of me?
          Where the stinting of themselves
                     to provide me with plenty?

           What an idea!
           I can never discharge their right against me,
                     fulfil my obligations toward them,
                     or accomplish the duty of serving them.
           So bless Muhammad and his Household
                     and help me, O Best of those whose help we seek!
                     Give me success, O Most Guiding of those whom we beseech!
           Place me not among the people of disrespect to fathers and mothers
                     on the day when every soul will be repaid
                               for what it has earned,
                               they shall not be wronged.

O God,
          bless Muhammad, his Household, and his progeny
          and single out my parents for the best
                    which Thou hast singled out
                    for the fathers and mothers of Thy faithful servants,
          O Most Merciful of the merciful!

O God,
          let me not forget to remember them after my ritual prayers,
                    at every time throughout my night,
                    and in each of the hours of my day!

O God,
          bless Muhammad and his Household,
          forgive me through my supplication for my parents,
          forgive them through their devotion toward me
                    with unfailing forgiveness,
          be well pleased with them through my intercession for them
                    with resolute good pleasure,
          and make them reach through Thy generosity
                    the abodes of safety!

O God,
           if Thy forgiveness reaches them first,
                     make them my intercessors,
           and if Thy forgiveness reaches me first,
                     make me their intercessors,
          so that we may gather together through Thy gentleness
                     in the house of Thy generosity
                     and the place of Thy forgiveness and mercy!
           Verily Thou art Possessor of abounding bounty
                     and ancient kindness,
           and Thou art the Most Merciful of the merciful!

by Imam Ali Zaynal Abidin (AS)
taken from : Sahifa Al-Kamilah Supplication 24