Hawzah News Agency - Imam Zain al-Abidin, peace be upon him, addresses Almighty God in the following way:

«اللَّهُمَّ ... أَلْبِسْنِی زِینَةَ الْمُتَّقِینَ، فِی ... اسْتِقْلَالِ الْخَیرِ وَ إِنْ کثُرَ مِنْ قَوْلِی وَ فِعْلِی، وَ اسْتِکثَارِ الشَّرِّ وَ إِنْ قَلَّ مِنْ قَوْلِی وَ فِعْلِی.»

"O Lord! … Clothe me in the adornment of the pious by enabling me to consider my good deeds, whether in speech or action, as insignificant, no matter how abundant they may be, and to regard the evil in my speech and actions as significant, even if it is small." (Sahifah Sajjadiyyah, Supplication. no 20)

Explanation:

One of the pitfalls that can destroy all of a person’s spiritual assets and halt, or even reverse, their progress on the path of servitude to God is when one perceives their good deeds as grand, while trivializing their faults and errors.

If we recognize the entire universe as the presence of God and see ourselves as constantly in His sight, and if we acknowledge that God is the owner of all that we have, we will never fall into this destructive trap.

Imam Musa al-Kadhim, peace be upon him, advised one of his sons:

«یَا بُنَیَّ عَلَیْکَ بِالْجِدِّ لاَ تُخْرِجَنَّ نَفْسَکَ مِنْ حَدِّ اَلتَّقْصِیرِ فِی عِبَادَةِ اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ طَاعَتِهِ فَإِنَّ اَللَّهَ لاَ یُعْبَدُ حَقَّ عِبَادَتِهِ.»

"My son! Be diligent and strive hard, and do not consider yourself free from falling short in worship and obedience to Almighty God, for God is not worshipped as He deserves to be." (Wasa'il as-Shia, v. 1, p. 95)

It is for this reason that Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, instructed us in the following manner:

«أَکْثِرْ مِنْ أَنْ تَقُولَ ... لاَ تُخْرِجْنِی مِنَ اَلتَّقْصِیرِ.»

"Frequently say: O Lord! Enable me to always consider myself at fault (in Your presence)."

When asked about the meaning of the phrase "Enable me to always consider myself at fault" the Imam explained:

«کُلُّ عَمَلٍ تُرِیدُ بِهِ اَللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَکُنْ فِیهِ مُقَصِّراً عِنْدَ نَفْسِکَ فَإِنَّ اَلنَّاسَ کُلَّهُمْ فِی أَعْمَالِهِم فِیمَا بَیْنَهُمْ وَ بَیْنَ اَللَّهِ مُقَصِّرُونَ.»

"Whatever deed you perform for the sake of Almighty God, consider yourself deficient in its performance, for all people are deficient in their deeds before God." (Usul al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 73)

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