Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Manifestations of the All-Merciful O Allāh, Relieve Every Deeply Anguished One أَللٌّهُمَّ فَرِّجْ عَنْ كُلِّ مَكْرُوْبٍ Meaning of ‘Makrūb’ Makrūb is an object noun whose origin is the verbal noun ‘ karb ’ meaning ‘deep anguish.’ ‘Allāmah Tabātabā’ī in his al-Mīzān quotes Rāghib Isfahānī, the famous lexicographer of Qur’ānic words, as saying[^1]: الْكَرْبُ الغَمُّ الشَّدِيْدُ.
“Karb means deep anguish.” The word Karbalā’, for example, is a composition of ‘intense grief’ ( karb ) and ‘trial’ ( balā’ ) Therefore, in short, ‘ makrūb ’ is one who suffers deep sorrow and anguish. The Source of Anguish In this verse we are humbly asking Allāh (swt) to lift the state of deep anguish from all ‘the deeply anguished and sorrowful.’ And whosoever seeks the relief of the anguished also seeks the elimination of the causes that create anguish.
We should, however, realize that the sources of anguish vary with different people and different circumstances.
Those who enjoy the proximity of Allāh, despite having no grief for loss of the world and its pleasures: أَلاَ إِنَّ أَوْلِيَآءَ اللٌّهِ لاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ “Surely, the friends of Allāh neither fear nor grieve.” [Holy Qur’ān, 10:62] experience deep anguish for the disbelievers due to the consequences they would have to face in future: فَلاَ تَذْهَبْ نَفْسُكَ عَلَيْهِمْ حَسَرَاتٍ “…And therefore do not consume yourself for them due to grief [of their unbelief]…” [Holy Qur’ān, 35:8] Āyatullāh Khumaynī in his well-known Forty Traditions ( Chehl Hadith ) says: “…whoever perceives the greatness and glory of the Lord to a greater extent and knows the sacred station of God Almighty more than others, suffers more and is tormented to a greater extent by the sins of the creatures and their offences against the Lord’s sanctity.
Also, one who has a greater love and compassion for the creatures of God is tormented to a greater extent by their crooked and wretched condition and ways. And, of course, the Seal of the Prophets (s) was more perfect in all these stations and higher than all the prophets and the awliyā’ (those near to God) in respect of his degree of excellence and perfection. Hence, his torment and suffering was greater than that of any one of them…” Sometimes the source of grief is different.