1. The trust you bear well worthy of acclaim
A dove's neck-ring, overt and covert the same

2. You trafficked with souls under your command
So profit by gain not loss in this trade's name

3. They gave you a trust secured right well
So heed a surety not lightly misclaimed

4. Know too what great price this trust's worth
No surety excuses if trust be disclaimed

5. Grant it, rewards gained, yours the meed
Betray it, theirs the loss, the shame yours indeed

6. You stand 'twixt spoils and deliverance
Walk the path your wisdom as soundest decreed

7. Weigh if safety by doing it
Or safety by leaving it, is surer at need

8. If you can, preserving its rights intact
Blessed your hands, richest profit their deed

9. If helpless, in safety still profit lies
Safer the further from danger agreed

10. If with power, you yet let it lapse
Yours the blame for default, the loss pre-decreed

11. The imamate's office exalted stands
For more sincerity from pride it is freed

12. Seek it not out of pomp and elation
Lest the Compeller one day cast you in Saqar's bleed

13. Let sincerity alone be the ground it stands on
Not to be idol of man's worship and creed

14. Wise hearts know how to be means to wise ends
He misses nor thought nor word however freed

15. Can the Withholder of guile him betray?
Wrong and right to Him evenly stand and succeed

16. Beguilement consistent with honesty profits
Deem you it 'scapes the Knower of all human deed?

17. Work of hearts and of bodies He comprehends all
In His knowledge of essences utterly fused and joined at need

18. Leave your passions, your Lord's nature keep
Sincere in purity, clean of evil and greed

19. Cleanse your heart of its blots
Of evil traits and foul, murky misdeed

20. Uphold religion's pillar, bearing the weight
Borne before you by the Knowing of wisdom and meed

21. Whenever the people gather for prayer
If you're deemed most worthy of those there, take heed

22. Lead the prayers but presume no airs
Fulfill communal duty, seek its reward as your need

23. Yet you've lawful incumbent roles
Prescribed, like the moon's phases, take heed

24. Namely heed the declining sun always
And prayer's first times, essences creed

25. Most beloved of God's servants is he
Who watches the sun's loss, we have this on best authority

26. Prayer's first times are times of increase grace
Midmost times, His pardon and mercy at end succeed

27. Save only darkness, night's last hours
Noonday's heat, on hot days, no need

28. Some choose to wait for a group to gather
Others to speak what wisdom they find at their need

29. When the group is fully assembled
Begin with Allahu akbar, this wisdom gives heed

30. And beware if arrogating leadership
To lead when the people recite and take no heed

31. Though if meaning's not corrupted thereby
Since you lack transmitter standing, it may still succeed

32. And if meaning's not injured thereby
Blame remains, for abuse cannot be excused at need

33. Yet some, if changed verses of mercy
To opposite, or Tawhid distorted misdeed

34. Some, if Tawhid inverted to shirk
Or reversed, in this ruling find creed

35. Mistakes resembling affect the meaning
Some say if Tawhid distorted, they impede

36. Likewise omissions, mispronounced letters
Since distorted meanings ensue, take heed

37. And ignorance of true sound of letters
Prayers' correctness injured if imam takes no heed

38. And imamate of one speech-marred
If no letter through ignorance he misread

39. Save one lisping, if essentials intact
Enabling prayer's basics, this may still succeed

40. One altering a letter, if
Due to defect, or nature, no misdeed

41. But the famous hadith of Bilal
Cannot be sanctioned, it was falsely decreed

42. And incumbent is slow, measured recital
Or whatever the Book has commanded, take heed

43. To sometimes lighten pillars, do not neglect
Yet avoid hastening that souls' restfulness impede

44. Not to mention Mu'adh's rebuke
From God's Messenger for stretching out surahs at need

45. People's states being various
Let the imam consider the states that succeed

46. And ensure the rows straightened, by his own hand
Or another's, like the best man did, at need

47. If one comes after the opening lines
His imamate ends, no cause thence to proceed

48. And turn to the right if retiring for need
Save open spaces, the imam may take heed

49. Let the most qualified be selected
The next if absent, the knowledgeable take heed

50. For the imamate's an exalted rank
So the most pious is most fit to succeed

51. In delegating charge, let his thoughts run
To benefit, however command may impede

52. And pray earnestly, comprehending all
Not restricting to those there, take heed

53. So extend to the guardian your prayer
Save enemies, the guardian profits at need

54. His rank requires that he be
Suitor at the door of Good for its meed

55. And closest hope of honor's gift
Lies with who depends, confessing his need

56. Consider well with the Generous, judgments
Follow assumptions of those seeking succor at need

57. When the inmost thoughts sincerely turn to Him
They return with His mercy, the wish granted with speed

58. None turns in true devotion with desire or fear
But is disappointed in that hope, takes no heed

59. So let your purpose in prayers be this
Clear cause of linkage, for thee and all human seed

60. Tend your Lord's spirit in them, and quickening breath
If you saw a dead man, they are equal at need

61. Their life: sincerity, presence, humble awe,
Heart's surrender to God, from all else freed

62. Outward parts sheer means, so if the heart be pure
The outward amends, the matter's crux lies at need

63. And motions and stillnesses are for hearts
The nexus of meaning, to them give heed

64. So in this station, bind fast your heart
Caprice can trick us, our states ebb and succeed

65. The heart is God's house, therein His light
The Generous regards it, not the forms at need

66. So purify your heart in witnessing station
Give Him no half, or half, of your life's deed

67. Make your station in prayers and elsewhere too
A servant of goodness who merits reward at need

68. And remembering God, know His measure
Between fear and hope, thought's pendulum swinging with speed

69. Feeling awe under Majesty, reverence
Fear, no regard for traces or breed

70. Count not yourself the same in every place
To Him you're the needy, in profit and loss, at need

71. The essence of this matter's utter need
Sheer servanthood, purified by loss of all seed

72. So be a servant of beneficence ever
And you will attain expansive breast and noble steed