Duaa Al-Nudba is one of the most famous supplications which has been narrated that its recitation is recommended on the four 'eids. The word Nudba in Arabic means calling, wailing, and mourning. This supplication was named so because it includes calling and asking Imam al-Mahdi (as) for help, lamenting on his occultation, and wailing on his absence.
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحيمِ
bismi allahi alrrahmani alrraheemi
O Allah, I beseech Thee with Thy Name;
اَلْحَمْدُ للهِ رَبِّ الْعالَمينَ
al-ḥamdu lillāhi rabbi al-ʿālamīn
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.
وَ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلى سَيِّدِنا مُحَمَّدٍ
wa ṣalla allāhu ʿalā sayyidinā muḥammadin
And blessings of Allah and peace be on our Chief Muhammad,
نَبِيِّهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ سَلَّمَ تَسْليماً
nabiyyihi wa ālihi wa sallama taslīman
His Prophet, and on his children.
اَللّـهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ عَلى ما جَرى بِهِ قَضاؤكَ في اَوْلِيائِكَ
fa sharatū laka dhālika wa ʿalimta minhum al-wafāʾa bihi faqabilthum wa qarrabtahum
Thy overreaching authority made known their identity; and equipped them with sincerity and perfection stood surety for them and communicated intimately with them,
wa akram min iʿtamadta-hu, qaddamta-hu ʿala anbiya-ika
surpassed in generosity and liberality while bestowing high-mindedness and beneficence upon him (whom Thou took in confidence and relied upon); made him leader-in-chief of (all) thy Prophets,
وَ بَعَثْتَهُ اِلَى الثَّقَلَيْنِ مِنْ عِبادِكَ
wa baʿathtahu ila al-thaqlayn min ʿibadika
and sent him to the troubled world of men and jinn, among Thy servants,
falammā inqaḍat ayyāmuhu aqāma waliyyahu ʿalīyya ibn abi ṭālib ṣalawātuka ʿal
So Thou certainly did not let his hard work go waste, and gave authority to his successor, Ali ibne Abi Taalib, (Thy blessings be on them both, and on this children), a guide.
'iḏ kāna huwa al-munḏira wa li-kulli qawmin hādin, faqāla wa al-mal'u 'amāmah.'
At the time when he was made a warner and a guide for every people, said he (the Holy Prophet), their Guide, in a public meeting overflowing with people;
مَنْ كُنْتُ مَوْلاهُ فَعَلِيٌّ مَوْلاهُ
man kuntum mawlahu fa'alayyun mawlahu
Of Whomsoever I am the Mawlaa (Lord, Master) Ali is his Mawlaa.
allāhumma wāli man wālahu, wa ʿādi man ʿādahu, wa anṣur man naṣarahu, wa akhḏul man kh
O Allah! be a friend of him who is a friend of him, be an enemy of him who is an enemy of him, help that man who helps him, forsake that man who forsakes him
wa shiyaʿatuka ʿala manābir min nūr mubyaḍḍatun wujoohuhum ḥawli fi al-jannati wa hum jirā
your friends and followers shall speak with authority, command respect and hold the torch of good manners and refinements, their faces will be all around me in the eternal land of peace and bliss (Paradise), in my close company.
وَ لَوْلا اَنْتَ يا عَلِيُّ لَمْ يُعْرَفِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ بَعْدي
wa lawla anta ya ʿaliyyu lam yuʿraf al-muʾminun baʿdi
Were it not you O Ali, the faithfuls would not know the truth after me.
wa lammā qaḍā naḥbahu wa qatalahu ashqā al-ākhirīn yatbaʿu ashqā al-awwaliyn
while he was carrying out the important mission. Killed him a malicious criminal, a contemporary, serving the interest and following the doctrine of earlier impudent villians.
lam yomtathal amru rasooli allahi sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi filhadeena ba'dal hadeen
An unparalleled and outlandish approach was applied to the directions of the Messenger of Allah, (Blessings of Allah be on him and on his children), concerning the Guides (Imaams), one after the other.
وَ الاُْمَّةُ مُصِرَّةٌ عَلى مَقْتِهِ
wa al-ummah musirratun ʿala maqtih
The narrow-minded obstinate ummah did not care for and had ill-feelings towards him.
fa-qutila man qutila, wa-subiya man subiya, wa-uqṣiya man uqṣiya
Some were slain, some were held prisoners, some were sent to distant foreign lands, and they met face to face (when came upon) their destiny (martyrdom).
'idh kānatil-arḍu lillāhi yūrisuhā man yashā'u min 'ibādihi wal-'āqibatu lilmuttaqīn
since the earth belongs to Allah, and He gives it for an inheritance to whom He wants from among His servants, and the (good) end is for the God-fearing wise;
faʿala al-aṭāʾibi min ahl bayti muḥammadin wa ʿaliyyin ṣallā allāhu ʿalayhimā wa āli
So be purified and refined by making known and remembering the choicest children of Muhammad and Ali, blessings of Allah be on them both, and on their children.
The heartbroken, in tears, make their hearts bleed, together with them, the deeply moved perceptive men of letters describe their wisdom and liberality,
wa limithlihim faltadhriʿifid-dumuʿu, wa liyasrukhis-saarikhūn, wa yadhijjadh-dhaajjūn, wa yaaʾij
as they themselves used to do, eyes of sensitive and thoughtful people are full of overflowing tears, their voices choked up with emotion; they cry out to protest against the injustice done, they call up dumb and insensate souls to stir and take notice.
It is disheartening to know that you are attending to and watching over the disorder and confusion, and I, in the thick of violent turmoil, am far away, unable to give report of injustice.
بِنَفْسي اَنْتَ مِنْ مُغَيَّبٍ لَمْ يَخْلُ مِنّا
bi-nafsi anta min mughayyabin lam yakhlu minna
I eagerly long for you who is out of sight, but has not forsaken us.
بِنَفْسي اَنْتَ مِنْ نازِحٍ ما نَزَحَ ( يَنْزِحُ ) عَنّا
bi-nafsi anta min nazihin ma nazaha (yanzihu) 'anna
I eagerly long for you who has departed and is invisible, but is not far from us.
bi nafsi anta umniyyatu sha'iqin yatamannaa, min mu'minin wa mu'minatin dhakaran fahanna
I eagerly long for you who inspires love and deep affection, and the faithful men and women take delight in your memorable glory. So we are excited with a longing desire.
بِنَفْسي اَنْتَ مِنْ عَقيدِ عِزٍّ لايُسامى
bi-nafsi ʾanta min ʿaqidi ʿizzin la yusammá
I eagerly long for you who is worthy of acceptance and lawful driving force of belief and conviction, never weary or annoyed.
بِنَفْسي اَنْتَ مِنْ اَثيلِ مَجْدٍ لا يُجارى
bi-nafsi anta min athīli majdin lā yujārī
I eagerly long for you who is the root of praise and distinction, never can be uprooted.
بِنَفْسي اَنْتَ مِنْ تِلادِ نِعَمٍ لا تُضاهى
binafsi anta min tiladi niʿamin la tudhahiya
I eagerly long for you who is always tender, gentle and comforting, never makes one's affairs worse instead of better.
بِنَفْسي اَنْتَ مِنْ نَصيفِ شَرَفٍ لا يُساوى
bi-nafsi anta min naseefi sharafin la yusawwi
I eagerly long for you who is just and equitable beyond a trace of doubt, does not take severe action until misbehaviour trespasses the limit.
Groups of cheerful willing disciplined helpers, in great numbers, gathering around you to carry out one work after the other! You fulfilling (every promise) and giving joy, heart and confidence (to the faithfuls);
allāhumma anta kaššāfu al-kurabi wal-balwā, wa ilayka astaʿdī faʿindaka al-ʿadwā
O my Allah! Thou disperses the clouds of sorrows and hardships. Unto Thee we turn to ask for help against the enemy; for Thou (alone) helps and guides.
wa anta rabbu al-akhirati wa al-dunya (al-ula), fa'ghith ya ghitha al-mustaghithin, 'ubaydaka al-mubtila
Thou (alone) puts into good order affairs of this world and shall make better the Hereafter. So come to help! O He Who is called to help the helpless, Thy servants, surrounded by calamities.
wa barriḍ ghaleelahu yā man ʿalā al-ʿarshi astawā, wa man ilayhi al-rujʿu wal-muntahā
and satisfy his Love (for the faithfuls) and dislike (for the sinners). O He Who, from the Arsh directs and controls all creation, and unto Him is the return, final and ultimate.
wa aqamthahu lana qiwaman wa ma'adhan, wa ja'althu lil-mu'mineena minna imaman
who was created as a refuge and asylum for us, established as a foundation and spring of truthfulness for us, and was made the Leader-Guide of the faithfuls.
wa ajʿal mustaqarruhu lana mustaqarran wa muqaman, wa atmim niʿmataka bi taqdimika iyyahu imamanā
O Lord! Very Kindly, make his headquarters our place of domicile and dwelling abode, and fulfill Thy promise by returning him to us as our Leader Guide, so that he takes us to the eternal land of peace and bliss,
wa ʿalayhi afḍala wa akmal wa atmama wa adwama wa akthara wa awfara
superior, whole, conclusive, staying, numerous, and full,
ما صَلَّيْتَ عَلى اَحَدٍ مِنْ اَصْفِيائِكَ وَ خِيَرَتِكَ مِنْ خَلْقِكَ
mā ṣallayta ʿalā aḥadin min asfiyāʾika wa khīyaratika min khalqik.
not ever bestowed (even) on any of Thy sincerely attached and pious friends from among Thy creation.
وَ صَلِّ عَلَيْهِ صَلاةً لا غايَةَ لِعَدَدِها وَ لا نِهايَةَ لِمَدَدِها وَ لا نَفادَ لاَِمَدِها
wa ṣallī ʿalayhi ṣalātan lā ghāyata liʿadadihā wa lā nihāyata limadadihā wa lā nafā
Bless him with blessings, (that) cannot be counted in numbers, cannot be proximated in space of time, cannot be consumed in terms of having nothing remaining.
allāhumma wa aqim bihi al-ḥaqq wa adhiḍ bihi al-bāṭil wa adil bihi awliyā'aka wa adhil bhi a'd
Let us be friends with his ancestors. Give us courage to disperse those who oppose and try to prevent him, and make them stay in their shame and disgrace for ever.
wa aʿinna ʿala taʾdiyat-i ḥuqūq-ihi ilayhi, wa al-ijtihād-i fī ṭaʿāt-ihi
Help us to discharge the duties made incumbent upon us by him, and make every effort to obey him, keep from that which is declared unlawful by him, rely upon him to get his approval.
wa amnun ʿalayna bi riḍāhu, wa hab lana raʾfatuhu wa raḥmatuhu wa duʿāʾahu wa khayrah
Let us be with him when he makes peace, and frees mankind from fear, gives currency to love are kindness, brings bliss and happiness, spreads good and virtue,
Turn the eyes of Thy mercy upon us, to bring to fullness Thy kind favours, and after that do not ever let them disappear in the name of Thy generosity,