A
Noble Didactic Poem
(Manzuma)
Shaykh
'Abd al-Qadir (may Allah well be pleased with him)
is also the author of this noble didactic poem (manzuma)
|
In
the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the All-Compassionate |
Bismi'llahi
'r-Rahman 'rRahim |
I have begun with the affirmation
of God's Oneness,
invoking His Name.
I shall end with the praiseworthy remembrance,
in very fine style.
|
shara'tu bi-tawhidi 'l-Ilahi
mubasmila
sa-akhtimu bi'dh-dhikri
'l-hamidi mujammila
|
I bear
witness that Allah-there is no lord but He-
transcends the comprehension of our minds,
utterly and completely, |
wa ashhadu
anna 'llaha la rabba ghairu-hu
tanazzaha 'an hasri 'l-'uquli takammula |
and that
He sent among us Ahmad,
committed to the Truth,
a Prophet who came into being
and has now passed away. |
wa arsala fi-na Ahmada 'l-haqqi
qayyada
Nabiyyan bi-hi qama 'l-wujudu
wa qad khala
|
He taught
us everything that is unquestionably good,
and showed us tolerance and knowledge and fidelity. |
fa-'allama-na
min kulli khairin mu'ayyadin
wa azhara fi-na 'l-hilma wa 'l-'ilma wa 'l-wala |
O seeker
of glory and treasure and exaltation
from Allah, you must therefore appeal to Him
by His Names Most High. |
fa-ya
taliban 'izzan wa kanzan wa rif'atan
mina 'llahi fa-'d'u-hu bi-Asma'i-hi 'l-'ula |
You must
say with contrition,
after purification and sacrifice:
"I beseech You, O Allah, to grant immediate help, |
fa-qul
bi'nkisarin ba'da tuhrin wa qurbatin
fa-as'alu-ka 'llahumma nasran mu'ajjala |
as You
see fit, O Merciful One, by the mercy that
embraces, and treat me, O Compassionate One,
most handsomely. |
bi-haqqi-ka
ya Rahmanu bi'r-rahmati 'llati
ahatat fa-kun li ya Rahimu mujammila |
O Sovereign
Most Holy, sanctify my innermost being,
and keep my existence safe, O Source of Peace,
from tribulation. |
wa ya
Malikun Quddusu qaddis sarirati
wa sallim wujudi ya Salamu mina 'l-bala |
O Guardian,
grant me a guaranteed security,
and a beautiful protective screen, O Protector. |
wa ya
Mu'minun hab li amanan muhaqqaqa
wa sitran jamilan ya Muhaiminu musbila |
Almighty
One, relieve my nature of abasement,
and shield me
with Your might, O All-Compelling One,
from every difficult dilemma. |
'Azizun
azil 'an nafsiya 'dh-dhulla wa 'hmi-ni
bi-'izzi-ka ya Jabbaru min kulli mu'dila |
Subdue
all the foes, O Majestic One,
and provide me, O Creator,
with a refuge from evil.
|
wa da'
jumlata 'l-a'da'i ya Mutakabbirun
wa ya Khaliqun khudh li 'ani 'sh-sharri ma'zila |
O Maker
of benefits, increase the flow of benefit,
which You bestowed on us,
O Shaper, at the outset. |
wa ya
Bari'a 'n-na'ma'i zid faida ni'matin
fadta 'alai-na ya Musawwiru awwala |
I
have pinned my hope on You,
O All-Forgiving One,
so accept my repentance.
By Your prevailing force, O All-Prevailing One,
make my devil suffer disappointment. |
rajawtu-ka ya Ghaffaru fa-'qbal li-tawbati
bi-qahri-ka ya Qahharu shaitaniya 'khdhula |
As befits
You, O Ever-Giving One,
in knowledge and wisdom,
and for the sake of provision, O Provider,
make things easy for me. |
bi-haqqi-ka
ya Wahhabu 'ilman wa hikmatan
wa li'r-rizqi ya Razzaqu kun li musahhila |
By opening,
O Opener, enlighten my perception,
and by knowledge, O All-Knowing One,
endow me with gracious favor. |
wa bi'l-fathi
ya Fattahu nawwir basirati
wa bi'l-'ilmi nil-ni ya 'Alimu tafaddula |
O Constrictor,
constrict the heart
of every deviant,
and O Expander, expand me
with Your lofty secrets. |
wa ya
Qabidu 'qbid qalba kulli mu'anidin
wa ya Basitu 'bsut-ni bi-asrari-ka 'l-'ula |
O Reducer,
reduce the worth
of every hypocrite,
and O Exalter, exalt me
and charge me with Your Spirit. |
wa ya
Khafidu 'khfid qadra kulli munafiqin
wa ya Rafi'u 'rfa'-ni bi-Ruhi-ka athqila |
I beg
You for glory, O Glorifier,
for those who deserve it.
O Abaser, abase the wrongdoers
to teach them a lesson. |
sa'altu-ka
'izzan ya Mu'izzu li-ahli-hi
Mudhillun fa-dhilla 'z-zalimina munakkila |
Your knowledge
is sufficient,
O All-Hearing One, so be
Attentive to my state,
improving and accepting. |
fa-'ilmu-ka
kafin ya Sami'u fa-kun idhan
Basiran bi-hali muslihan mutaqabbila |
O Arbitrator,
Just and Gracious
to His creatures,
All-Aware of that which is concealed
and what is evident! |
fa-ya
Hakamun 'Adlun Latifun bi-khalqi-hi
Khabirun bi-ma yakhfa wa ma huwa mujtala |
Your forbearance
is my object,
O Forbearing One, and my support.
You are Sublime,
and exalted is the splendor of Your generosity. |
fa-hilmu-ka
qasdi ya Halimu wa 'umdati
wa Anta 'Azimun 'uzmu judi-ka qad 'ala |
Forgiver
and Pardoner of every sinner,
One who appreciates His friends
and establishes connection. |
Ghafurun
wa Sattarun 'ala kulli mudhnibin
Shakurun 'ala ahbabi-hi wa muwassila |
One who
is All-High,
and has raised the station of His friend.
Great, Bountiful in goodness
and Munificent in generosity. |
'Aliyyun
wa qad a'la maqama habibi-hi
Kabirun Kathiru 'l-khairi wa 'l-judi Mujzila |
A Preserver,
for nothing escapes His knowledge;
a Sustainer, Director of all creation,
the highest and the lowest. |
Hafizun
fa-la shai'un yafutu li-'ilmi-hi
Muqitun Naqibu 'l-khalqi a'la wa asfala |
Your judgment
is enough for me,
O Reckoner, so take control of me,
and You are Majestic, so drive my grief away. |
fa-hukmu-ka
hasbi ya Hasibu tawalla-ni
wa Anta Jalilun kun li-ghammi munakkila |
My God,
You are Noble,
so ennoble my talents,
and cause my enemy, O Ever-Watchful One,
to crash down on the rocks. |
Ilahi
Karimun Anta fa-akrim mawahibi
wa kun li-'aduwwi ya Raqibu mujandila |
I have
appealed to You, O Patron,
Ever-Responsive to those who plead,
Sempiternal Source of gifts
and Bountiful Source of generosity in abundance. |
da'awtu-ka
ya Mawla Mujiban li-man da'a
Qadima 'l-'ataya wa Wasi'a 'l-judi fi 'l-mala |
My God,
All-Wise are You,
so determine my traits of character,
and may Your love, O Ever-Loving One,
descend upon me steadily. |
Ilahi
Hakimun Anta fa-'hkum mashahidi
fa-wuddu-ka 'indi ya Wadudu tanazzala |
Magnificent
[are You], so grant me splendor,
happiness and mutual affection,
and, O Dispatcher,
dispatch the victory of my army at high speed. |
Majidun
fa-hab li 'l-majda wa 's-sa'da wa 'l-wila
wa ya Ba'ithu 'b'ath nasra jaishi muharwila |
[You are]
Witness to all things,
so improve my traits of character,
and grant me real access to the truth
of spiritual experiences. |
Shahidun
'ala 'l-ashya'i tayyib mashahidi
wa haqqiq li haqqa 'l-mawaridi manhala |
My God,
a Trustee are You,
so satisfy my needs
and fulfill them,
since the Strong is responsible. |
Ilahi
Wakilun Anta fa-'qdi hawa'iji
wa yakfi idha kana 'l-Qawiyyu muwakkala |
[You
are] Firm, so make firm the weakness
of my power and my strength.
Help, O Protecting Friend,
a servant who has piously appealed to You. |
Matinun fa-mattin da'fa
hawli wa quwwati
aghith ya Wali 'abdan da'a-ka
tabattula
|
I have
praised You, affirming Your Oneness,
O Praiseworthy Patron
and Reckoner and Rectifier
of the errors of humanity. |
hamadtu-ka ya Mawla Hamidan
muwahhidan
wa Muhsiya zillati 'l-wara wa Mu'addila
|
My God,
You are the Initiator
of opening for me, and guidance,
Restorer of everything in the universe,
whether it is obvious or withdrawn. |
Ilahi Mubdi'a 'l-fatha li
Anta wa 'l-huda
Mu'idun li-ma fi 'l-kawni in bada aw khala
|
I have
asked You, O Giver of Life,
to grant me a happy life.
Cause the enemies of my religion,
O Cause of Death, to die immediately. |
sa'altu-ka
ya Muhyi hayatan hani'atan
amit ya Mumitu a'da'a dini mu'ajjila |
O
Ever-Living, revive the corpse of my heart
with Your remembrance that is
sempiternal, and be the Sustainer
of my innermost being, providing access. |
wa
ya Hayyu ahyi maita qalbi bi-dhikri-ka 'l-
qadimi fa-kun Qayyuma sirri muwassila |
O Source
of the lights,
bring my joy into being,
and, O Splendor of the lights,
be supportive of me. |
wa ya
Wajida 'l-anwari awjid masarrati
wa ya Majida 'l-anwari kun li mu'awwila |
O Unique
One-
there is no existence but His-
and O Eternal One,
by Whom existence is raised high. |
wa ya Wahidun ma thamma
illa wujudu-hu
wa ya Samadun qama 'l-wujudu
bi-hi 'ala
|
O Powerful
Lord of compelling force,
destroy our enemy,
and Omnipotent One,
decree affliction for our enviers. |
wa ya
Qadirun Dha 'l-batshi ahlik 'aduwwa-na
wa Muqtadirun qaddir li-hussadi-na 'l-bala |
Send forward
to my innermost being,
O Advancer, and protect me
graciously from harm, O Postponer,
Lord of Exaltation. |
wa qaddim
li-sirri ya Muqaddimu 'afi-ni
mina 'd-durri fadlan ya Mu'akhkhiru Dhu 'l-'ula |
Grant
us the good things first, O First,
and let me die, O Last,
as one affirming Your Uniqueness. |
wa asbiq
la-na 'l-khairati Awwala awwalan
wa ya Akhiru 'khtim li amutu muhallila |
O Outwardly
Apparent,
show me Your stores of knowledge that
are in the inside of the mystery of the unseen,
O Inwardly Concealed, benevolently. |
wa ya
Zahiru 'zhir li ma'arifa-ka 'llati
bi-batini ghaibi 'l-ghaibi ya Batinan wala |
O Manager,
entrust our business
to every sincere adviser,
and, O Most Exalted One,
direct and improve his management. |
wa ya
Wali awli amra-na kulla nasihin
wa ya Muta'ali 'rshid wa aslih la-hu 'l-wala |
O Benign
One, O Lord of all creatures
and Giver of gifts,
and O Ever-Relenting One,
relent and accept our repentance. |
wa ya
Barru ya Rabba 'l-baraya wa Muhiba 'l-
'ataya wa ya Tawwabu tub wa taqabbala |
Taker
of Vengeance
on those who wrong themselves,
and likewise All-Pardoning are You,
so treat me with gracious kindness. |
wa Muntaqimun
min zalimiyya nufusi-him
wa ka-dhalika 'Afuwwun Anta fa-''tif tafaddula |
Gentle,
Kind to the servants,
and Supportive
of those who appeal,
O Master of Sovereignty, for refuge. |
'Atufun
Ra'ufun bi'l-'ibadi wa Mus'ifun
li-man qad da'a ya Malika 'l-mulki ma'qila |
Clothe
me, O Lord of Majesty, in majestic attire,
for Your Generosity and Honor never cease
to flow in torrents. |
fa-albis
la-na ya Dha 'l-Jalali jalalatan
fa-judu-ka wa 'l-ikramu ma zala muhtila |
O Just
One, establish my inner core
firmly in the truth,
and, O Gatherer, gather perfections
for me in abundance. |
wa ya
Muqsitu thabbit 'ala 'l-haqqi muhjati
wa ya Jami'u 'jma' li 'l-kamalati fi 'l-mala |
My God,
Self-Sufficient are You, so remove my poverty.
O Enricher, relieve my nature of the need
for what is lacking. |
Ilahi
Ghaniyyun Anta fa-'dhhab li-faqati
wa Mughni fa-'ghni faqra nafsi li-ma khala |
O Preventer,
prevent me from sinning,
and cure me
of the evil results
of what I have committed in affectation. |
wa ya
Mani'u 'mna'-ni mina 'dh-dhanbi fa-'shfi-ni
'ani 's-su'i mim-ma qad janaitu ta'ammula |
O Injurer,
subject our enviers to stern rebuke,
and, O Benefactor, grant us the benefit
of spiritual attainment. |
wa ya
Darru kun li'l-hasidina muwabbikhan
wa ya Nafi'u 'nfa'-ni bi-ruhin muhassala |
O Light-
You are the Light in everything that is apparent-
and O Guide,
cause the light in the heart to be ignited. |
wa ya
Nuru Anta 'n-Nuru fi kulli ma bada
wa ya Hadi kun li'n-nuri fi 'l-qalbi mush'ila |
Originator
of all creatures,
from the flow of Whose grace I hope to benefit,
while continuity remains with none but You. |
Badi'a
'l-baraya arju min faidi lutfi-hi
wa lam yabqa illa Anta Baqin la-hu 'l-wila |
O Inheritor,
make me an heir to Your knowledge,
and grant me right direction,
O Director, in fine form. |
wa ya
Warithu 'j'al-ni li-'ilmi-ka warithan
wa rushdan anil-ni ya Rashidu tajammula |
[You are]
Ever-Patient and Ever-Pardoning,
so assist my dedication
to patience,
and grant me discreet discrimination. |
Saburun
wa Sattarun fa-waffiq 'azimati
'ala 's-sabri wa 'j'al li 'khtiyaran muzammila |
I have
appealed to You, my Master,
by Your Most Beautiful Names,
and by Your Most Glorious Signs
I have humbly petitioned You. |
bi-Asma'i-ka
'l-Husna da'awtu-ka Sayyidi
wa Ayati-ka 'l-'Uzma 'btahaltu tawassula |
I therefore
beseech You, O Allah, my Lord,
by their grace,
to favor us by perfecting perfection
for us from You. |
fa-as'alu-ka
'llahumma Rabbi bi-fadli-ha
fa-hayyi' la-na min-ka 'l-kamala mukammila |
Receive
my request with good pleasure
from You, and protect me
from the disasters of a time
in which I shall become transformed. |
wa qabil
raja'i bi'r-rida 'an-ka wa 'kfi-ni
surufa zamanin sirtu fi-hi muhawwala |
Help me,
cure me of the sickness
of my lower self, and guide me
to what is best, and correct
what has been disordered by my mind. |
aghith
wa 'shfi-ni min da'i nafsi wa 'hdi-ni
ila 'l-khairi wa 'slih ma bi-'aqli takhallala |
My God,
have mercy
on my parents and my brethren,
and let them invoke these Names
in eloquent supplication. |
Ilahi
fa-'rham walidayya wa ikhwati
wa min hadhihi 'l-Asma'i yad'u murattila |
I am the
Qadiri, the Hasani, 'Abd al-Qadir,
called Muhyi 'd-Din [Reviver of the Religion]
in the loftiest family tree. |
ana 'l-Qadiriyyu
'l-Hasaniyyu 'Abdu 'l-Qadiri
du'itu bi-Muhyi 'd-Dini fi dawhati 'l-'ula |
So pray
that my beloved forefather, Muhammad,
may enjoy the sweetest peace in all existence,
and something more perfect still, |
fa-salli
'ala jaddi 'l-habibi Muhammadin
bi-ahla salamin fi 'l-wujudi wa akmala |
together with the family
and Companions,
acknowledging them all.
Then comes the praise of Allah,
both finally and first of all.
|
ma'a 'l-ali wa 'l-ashabi
jam'an mu'ayyadan
wa ba'du fa-hamdu 'llahi khatman wa awwala.
|