The Poem that made Imam Ahmad Cry.

‎إذا ما قال لي ربي أما استحييت تعصيني

If my Lord asks me, “Have you shyness in disobeying me?

‎وتخفي الذنب عن خلقي وبالعصيان تأتيني

You conceal your sins from my creation – and with sins you come to me.”

‎فكيف أجيبُ يا ويحي ومن ذا سوف يحميني؟

So how will I answer? O woe to me – and who shall protect me?

‎أسُلي النفس بالآمالِ من حينٍ الى حيني

I keep averting my soul with thoughts of hope – from time to time.

‎وأنسى ما وراءُ الموت ماذا بعد تكفيني

And I forget what is to come after death – and what is to come after I am shrouded.

‎كأني قد ضّمنتُ العيش ليس الموت يأتيني

As if I am guaranteed life (eternally) – and that death will not come to me.

‎وجائت سكرة الموتُ الشديدة من سيحميني

And when the severe stupor of death overtakes me – who will protect me?

‎نظرتُ الى الوُجوهِ أليـس منُهم من سيفدينـــي

I looked at the faces; is there not from amongst them who will ransom me?

‎سأسأل ما الذي قدمت في دنياي ينجيني

I will be asked regarding what I have prepared in my life to save me (on the Day of Judgement).

‎فكيف إجابتي من بعد ما فرطت في ديني

Then how will I answer – after I have neglected my religion.

‎ويا ويحي ألــــم أسمع كلام الله يدعوني

Woe to me! Did I not hear the Speech of Allāh inviting me?

‎ألــــم أسمع لما قد جاء في قاف ويسِ

Did I not hear what came in (the chapters of) Qāf and Yā-Sīn?

‎ألـــم أسمع بيوم الحشر يوم الجمع و الديني

Did I not hear about the Day of Gathering, the Day of Assemble and the Day of Judgement?

‎ألـــم أسمع مُنادي الموت يدعوني يناديني

Did I not hear the crier of death inviting me, calling me?

‎فيا ربــــاه عبدُ تــائبُ من ذا سيؤويني

So O my Lord, a slave (turning to you) I have repented – so who then shall shelter me?

‎سوى رب غفور واسعُ للحقِ يهديني

Except a Lord extensive in forgiveness – to the truth He will guide me.

‎أتيتُ إليكَ فارحمني وثقــّـل في موازيني

I have come to you (in repentance) so have mercy on me, and make heavy my scales (with good deeds).

‎وخفَفَ في جزائي أنتَ أرجـى من يجازيني

And lighten my account – You are the best of who will bring me to account.

“`‎[مناقب الامام أحمد صفحة ٢٠٥]”`