Philemon

From Paul, the prisoner for the sake of Al-Masih Isa, and from brother Timothy, to Philemon, our beloved partner in the work,

to sister Apphia, and to Archippus, who struggles with us, and to the jama'a in your house.

Grace and peace be upon you from our Rabb, Al-Malik Al-Rahman, and from our mawla Isa Al-Masih:

I praise and thank my Rabb always when I remember you in my dua'.

I heard of your trust in our mawla Isa and the love you have for all the holy believers.

My dua' is that the sharing of your trust with others will be effective in the knowledge of all the baraka you have obtained by your belonging to Al-Masih.

I am filled with abundant happiness and consolation because of your love, my brother, because you have cheered the hearts of the holy people.

I have boldness in the name of Al-Masih, which authorizes me to command you to do what is fitting.

But for the sake of love, I prefer to beg of you. I, Paul, am an old man and also a prisoner now for the sake of Al-Masih Isa.

I beg you regarding Onesimus, my son in faith, who has become a believer though me while I am in prison.

He was not useful to you previously, but now, he is really useful to you and to me.

I am sending him again to you. It is as if I am sending my own child.

I would have loved for him to stay with me to serve me on your behalf while I am a prisoner for the sake of the good news.

But I did not want to do anything without your approval. That way, your goodness will be voluntary and not obligatory.

Maybe his being parted from you for a while is the reason that you can welcome him back forever,

not as a slave any more, but better than a slave, as a beloved brother. He is one of the most beloved brothers to me. He ought to be even more so to you, because he is a brother in the flesh and in our mawla.

If you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me.

If he has been unjust or is in debt to you, charge that to me.

I, Paul, write this with my own penmanship: I will pay you back. Pardon me for reminding you that you owe me your life!

Brother, I ask you for help in honor of our mawla: Cheer me by our belonging to Al-Masih.

I write this to you, confident of your obedience, knowing that you will do more than I am asking you.

At the same time, prepare me a place for you to host me, because I hope by the grace of Allah to return to you in answer to your dua' prayers.

Epaphrus greets you. He is imprisoned with me for the sake of Al-Masih Isa.

Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke also greet you. They are my partners in the work.

May the grace of our mawla Isa Al-Masih be with all of your spirits.