بدئي بسم اللّه فيه البركه

وحمده يمن لكل حرمه

My beginning, in God's name, contains blessing.

And praising Him brings good fortune to every sanctity.

فالبدء بالذكر العظيم الميمنه

ومن دواعي القطع فهو آمنه

Beginning with the mighty remembrance brings auspiciousness,

And safeguards against causes of interruption.

اسألك اللهم ان تصلي

على محمد امام الرسل

I ask You, O God, to send blessings

Upon Muhammad, leader of the messengers,

مع السلام وعلى الصحابة

والآل والعترة والقرابة

Together with peace, and upon the Companions,

The family, the progeny, and the kindred,

والتابعين هم اهل الطاعة

والاوليا والقطب والجماعة

And the Followers, those people of obedience,

And the saints, the spiritual Pole, and the community.

وبعد فالعبد الذليل الكسل

المذنب العاصي الخؤوف الوجل

Now, the humble, indolent servant,

The sinful, disobedient, fearful, trembling one,

ناسخ برد هذه المنظومة

دامت عليه النعم العظيمة

The copyist of this poem's mantle—

May great blessings endure upon him—

عن له في مدلهم عرضا

ولهلاك نفسه تعرضا

Had a thought amid a dark, sudden ordeal,

When exposed to his own destruction:

وذاك امراضٌ وحمى بارده

وعلل قد اشمتت حواسده

Illnesses and a cold fever,

And ailments that made his enviers rejoice.

ان يلتجى منه لسكان حلب

من قد حمونا من هلاك وعطب

To seek refuge from them with Aleppo's inhabitants,

Those who have protected us from destruction and ruin,

مثل نبي او شهيد او ولي

او عالم او عارف مكمّل

Such as a prophet, martyr, or saint,

A scholar, or a perfected knower of God,

مراجعا تراجم الاعيان

من التواريخ مع الامعان

Reviewing the biographies of eminent people

In histories, with careful attention,

وما أفاده المؤرخونا

من حالهم وشأنهم تعيينا

And what the historians have conveyed

Concerning their conditions and affairs specifically,

وما لهم من اثر شريف

يؤثر عنهم ظاهر التشريف

And whatever noble trace they possess,

Transmitted from them, manifestly honored.

فقد أبانوا شرف الاقوام

ونبّهوا عليه باهتمام

They have revealed these people's nobility

And drawn attention to it diligently,

وذكروا قبورهم مفضّله

في كل تربة وكل منزله

And mentioned their distinguished graves

In every burial ground and every abode,

عسى ينال بهم المراد

ويكتفي الصعاب والشداد

Hoping through them to attain his desire

And be spared hardships and severities.

فيعرف الناس لهم اقدارا

وانهم كانوا بها اقمارا

Thus people may recognize their worth,

And that they were moons within this city,

وانهم كانوا نجوماً للهدى

بهم هدى اللّه العظيم من هدى

And that they were stars of guidance;

Through them mighty God guided those He guided.

وأن كلّا منهم ذو همه

في كشف كل معضل ونقمه

And each of them possessed spiritual resolve

To dispel every difficulty and affliction.

وان ذكرت أجنبيا عنهم

ولا يليق ان يعد منهم

If I mention someone unrelated to them,

Who ought not to be counted among them,

فانما اذكره استطرادا

كابن ومنسوب بهم قد سادا

I mention him only incidentally,

Like a son or affiliate ennobled through them.

وقد جعلت هذه الخريده

ليوم عرضي عدة عديده

I have made this pearl of a poem

A manifold provision for my day of presentation.

وأسال اللّه دوام العافيه

والعفو والصفح وحسن حاليه

I ask God for lasting well-being,

Pardon, forgiveness, and a good condition.

فإنني بلغت آخر العمر

والوقت قد حان وجائني النذر

For I have reached life's final stretch;

The time has come, and warnings have reached me.

والظن بالكريم حسن الخاتمه

والفوز يوم الفصل والمحاكمه

My hope in the Generous One is a good ending,

And triumph on Judgment Day, the day of trial.

واشهد اللّه بأني اشهد

ان لا اله غيره فيعبد

I call God to witness that I testify

There is no deity besides Him to be worshipped,

وان خير خلقه محمدا

نبيه وعبده نور الهدى

And that Muhammad, the best of His creation,

Is His prophet and servant, the light of guidance.

وآن ان اشرع في المقصود

معتصما بالواحد المعبود

Now it is time to begin the intended subject,

Holding fast to the One who is worshipped.

لحلب جامعها الكبير

فيه النبي العظم الشهير

Aleppo has its Great Mosque;

Within it is the renowned, mighty prophet.

وهو النبي زكريا الكافلُ

وقيل ذا يحيى الحصور الكامل

He is the prophet Zakariya, the guardian;

Some say it is Yahya, chaste and perfected.

وفي بزا ابلوقيا النبي

ضريحه منور جلي

In Baza is the prophet Abluqiya;

His tomb is luminous and manifest,

في مسجد تظله المهابه

وكاين بداخل البوابه

In a mosque overshadowed by reverence,

Situated inside the gateway.

نعمان وشمعون وبنقوس يقال

بانهم من انبياء ذي الجلال

Nu‘man, Sham‘un, and Banqus, it is said,

Are among the prophets of the Lord of Majesty.

وقال ناس ان شمعون دفين

في مسجد في حارة السواسين

Some people say Sham‘un lies buried

In a mosque in the al-Sawasin quarter.

وقيل بنقوس غدا مرموسا

في الجامع الكبير من بنقوسا

And Banqus, it is said, lies interred

In Banqusa's great congregational mosque.

وقيل نعمان لدى النسيمي

والكل ضعفه من المعلوم

Some place Nu‘man beside al-Nasimi;

The weakness of all these accounts is known.

وخارج البلدة في صحن المقام

مقام ابراهيم حياه السلام

Outside the town, in the shrine's courtyard—

Ibrahim's shrine, may peace greet him—

دفن فيه شارح المفصل

مفصل الزمخشري الاكمل

Is buried the commentator on al-Mufassal,

The excellent al-Zamakhshari's al-Mufassal.

وهو الامام العالم ابن الصايغ

محقق في كل علم نابغ

He is the learned imam Ibn al-Sa’igh,

A discerning investigator, outstanding in every science.

وفيه قبر العالم الجليل

قاضيهم الشهير بالخليلي

There also lies the grave of the eminent scholar,

Their judge, renowned as al-Khalili.

وابن العمادي بقربه مقيم

الشيخ ابراهيم ذي المجد القديم

Ibn al-‘Imadi rests beside him:

Shaykh Ibrahim, possessor of longstanding glory.

كذلك الحداد والنوري

وابن مظفر هو الوردي

Likewise al-Haddad and al-Nuri,

And Ibn Muzaffar, who is al-Wardi.

واحمد الطيبي ثوى هناكا

وصار جاراً لهم كذاكا

Ahmad al-Tibi rests there,

And thus became their neighbor.

والشيخ ابراهيم نجل الشحنة

معهم وكلهم في الجنة

And Shaykh Ibrahim, son of al-Shihna,

Is with them; may all be in Paradise.

مدرس الفردوس وهو البكري

بينهم لقد ثوى في قبر

The teacher at al-Firdaws, al-Bakri,

Has rested among them in a grave.

وابن الدغيم الحنبلي مثواه

معهم يرحمه مولاه

Ibn al-Dughaym al-Hanbali's resting place

Is with them; may his Lord have mercy on him.

تحت المقام الغارُ فالشيخ ونس

فيه منصور الولي ذو النفس

Below the shrine is the cave: Shaykh Wanas

Is there, and Mansur, the saint of spiritual breath.

ثم ابن نذر صاحب الكواكبي

قبلي المقام يا له من صاحب

Then Ibn Nadhr, companion of al-Kawakibi,

South of the shrine—what a companion!

كذا العمادي الصغير ذو الشان

بالقرب منه وهو عبد الرحمن

Likewise the younger al-‘Imadi, the distinguished one,

Nearby; he is ‘Abd al-Rahman.

والراشدي الحسين باهي النور

في الصالحين آخر القبور

And al-Rashidi, al-Husayn, radiant with light,

In al-Salihin, at the last of the graves.

بالقرب منهم مرقد الحجازي

قتيل اهل البغي والمجازي

Near them is al-Hijazi's resting place,

Slain by people of rebellion and transgression.

ويومه لكربلا يوازي

واللّه من سعى به يجازي

His day parallels Karbala,

And God will requite whoever plotted against him.

وشيخ والدي الكبير الشان

عمر افندي القادري الجيلاني

And my father's greatly distinguished shaykh,

‘Umar Efendi al-Qadiri al-Jilani.

بالقرب منه مرقد الغزالي

لا صاحب الإحيا فع مقالي

Near him is al-Ghazali's resting place,

Not the author of the Ihya’; understand my words.

وشيخنا عمر افندي الاوشر

له مقام بينهم منور

Our shaykh ‘Umar Efendi al-Awshar

Has a luminous shrine among them.

كذا الدليواتي الصغير قد ثوى

في الكرم قرب الصالحين وانزوى

Likewise the younger al-Dilyawati rests

In the vineyard near al-Salihin, in seclusion.

بقربه مثوى الولي ياسين

كم سمعوه الليل يتلو يس

Beside him is the saint Yasin's abode;

How often they heard him reciting Ya-Sin at night!

جانبه الولي شيخ النغله

بالنون والغين رواه جمله

Beside him is the saint, Shaykh al-Naghla;

Several transmitted it with nun and ghayn.

واحمد الكوفي بقربه ثوى

والخيشبي محمد هنا انزوى

Ahmad al-Kufi rests beside him,

And Muhammad al-Khayshabi withdrew here.

والصالحين العك فيها مستقر

كان كثير الاجتماع بالخضر

Al-‘Akk resides in al-Salihin;

He often met with al-Khidr.

واحمد الكعكي قريب منه

وكان ذا حال رووه عنه

Ahmad al-Ka‘ki is near him;

He possessed a spiritual state, as they related.

غربي المقام فبنو الفنصاوي

وفرعنهم يس معهم ثاوي

West of the shrine are the al-Fansawi family,

And their descendant Yasin rests with them.

هنا وحسب اللّه ذو المأثر

والابن والحفيد عبد القادر

Here is Hasb Allah, possessor of noble deeds,

And the son and grandson, ‘Abd al-Qadir.

وكان هذا فاضلا اديبا

محاضراً مسامرا اريبا

This man was learned and literary,

An eloquent lecturer and witty evening companion.

وخارج المقام نحو الشرق

ضريح إخلاص إمام الصدق

Outside the shrine, toward the east,

Is the tomb of Ikhlas, imam of sincerity.

نجاره واصله صديقي

وكان شيخ القوم في الطريق

His lineage and origin were Siddiqi;

He was the community's shaykh on the Path.

لأجله عمرت التكيه

فسميت لذاك خلاصيه

For his sake the lodge was built,

And hence it was called Khalasiyya.

وشيخه شاه ولي الجليل

جار له جانبه نزيل

His shaykh, the eminent Shah Wali,

Is his neighbor, resting beside him.

اما خليفة الولى اخلاص

محمد البخشي فخاص الخاص

As for the saint Ikhlas's successor,

Muhammad al-Bakhshi, he was the elect of the elect.

اول آخذ من البخشيه

عنه الطريق وهي خلوتيه

The first of the Bakhshiyya to receive

The Path from him—it is Khalwati.

كان وعاء جامع العلوم

يجول في النطوق والمفهوم

He was a vessel encompassing the sciences,

Ranging through explicit and implied meanings,

حبرا مدققا وفي الحديث

خاتمة الحفاظ في التحديث

A meticulous learned man, and in hadith

The last of the great hadith masters.

وكان قد حج ومات في الحرم

دفن في الحجون موفور الحرم

He performed the pilgrimage and died in the Sanctuary;

He was buried in al-Hajun, richly honored.

ثم ابنه الجهبذ عبد الله

في الصالحين ذو مقام زاهي

Then his brilliant son, ‘Abd Allah,

Has a splendid shrine in al-Salihin.

ثم ابنه الحبر ابو الإخلاص

الحسن المعدود في الخواص

Then his learned son Abu al-Ikhlas,

Al-Hasan, counted among the elect.

كان هماما عالما مؤلفا

على مراضي ربه منعكفا

He was resolute, a scholar and author,

Devoted to what pleased his Lord.

له تآليف غدت عديده

لكل من طالعها مفيده

His writings became numerous,

Useful to everyone who read them.

والشيخ اسحق وإبراهيم

كلاهما بقربه مقيم

And Shaykh Ishaq and Ibrahim

Both rest beside him.

والمرشد الكامل عبد الرحمن

تجاه إخلاص عليه الرضوان

And the perfected guide ‘Abd al-Rahman

Faces Ikhlas; may divine pleasure be upon him.

هذا الذي كان أقام والدي

خليفة مكانه للوارد

He was the one who appointed my father

As successor in his place for the spiritual influx,

على مؤاده من الحق ورد

وقد سرى السر وللّه المدد

According to the influx received from the Truth.

The secret flowed; assistance belongs to God.

وحررت اجازة الخلافه

وكان ختمه له اضافه

The authorization of succession was written,

And his seal was added to it.

ونجله الصادق شيخ بركه

وسالك في المرشدين مسلكه

His truthful son, Shaykh Baraka,

Walked his course among the spiritual guides.

ضريحه بقرب قبر والده

ونال من طارفه وتالده

His tomb is near his father's grave;

He inherited his newly acquired and longstanding gifts.

وكان في حياته طلبني

من والدي اراد يستخلفني

During his lifetime he requested me

From my father, wishing to appoint me successor

مكانه للاقتدا بوالده

وما جرى مع ابي في وارده

In his place, following his father's example,

And what occurred with my father in his influx.

وكاد ان يعطيني الخلافه

فأصدر القضا لنا خلافه

He nearly granted me the succession,

But destiny decreed otherwise for us,

لعارض اوقع بعد الوحشه

بينهما وغشذه من غشّه

Because an incident later caused estrangement

Between them, and someone deceived him [text unclear].

وبعد ذا اختار لها عليا

ولم تطل مدته مليا

After this, he chose ‘Ali for it;

His tenure did not last long.

وهو العبسي حفيد العطار

وكان صالحاً حميد الاطوار

He was al-‘Absi, al-‘Attar's grandson,

Righteous and commendable in his ways.

ضريحه ما بينهم في المقبره

حف جميعهم عظيم المغفره

His tomb is among them in the cemetery;

May the Great Forgiver encompass them all.

وكلّهم من عنصر البخشيه

الا عليّا فهو في العبسيه

All were of the Bakhshiyya stock,

Except ‘Ali, who belonged to the ‘Absiyya.

وقبر سيدي محمد غازي

منهم قريب ولهم موازي

And my master Muhammad Ghazi's grave

Is near them, their equal.

أما وحيد دهره ايوب

الخلوتي فمرشد منيب

As for Ayyub, unique in his age,

The Khalwati, he was a penitent guide.

مقامه في الناس يونسيّ

بكثرة الاخوان اوحديّ

His standing among people was Yunus-like,

Unmatched in the abundance of his brethren.

كان إماما مرشدا مسلكا

قد راق مشربا وطاب مسلكا

He was an imam, guide, and trainer,

Of refined spiritual taste and excellent conduct.

له كلام حكم كابن عطا

واللّه كم تكشف عن قلب غطا

He had wise sayings like Ibn ‘Ata’;

By God, how many veils they lifted from hearts!

ومات بالشام ومرج الدحداح

مقامه يرحمه اللّه الفتاح

He died in Damascus; Marj al-Dahdah

Holds his shrine; may God the Opener show him mercy.

والخلوتيّ احمد العسالي

له مقام في الطريق عالي

The Khalwati Ahmad al-‘Assali

Has an exalted station on the Path.

له تكية وفيها مدفون

من خارج الشام تجاه القابون

He has a lodge and is buried within it,

Outside Damascus, facing al-Qabun.

وذو كرامات بها قد شهرا

وورده السامي له سر سرى

He became renowned for miraculous graces;

His exalted litany possessed a flowing secret.

وذكر ايوب مع العسالي

في هؤلاء السادة الاعالي

Mentioning Ayyub together with al-‘Assali

Among these exalted masters,

ولم يكونا معهم في التربه

لكن لهم جمعية المحبه

Though they were not with them in the burial ground,

Is because love united them,

وكون كل منهما فخلوتي

معاصر إخلاص شيخ الجملة

And each of them was a Khalwati,

Contemporary with Ikhlas, shaykh of them all.

ثم شمالي السادة البخشيه

ضريح شيخ كامل المزيه

Then north of the Bakhshiyya masters

Is the tomb of a shaykh of perfected excellence.

لم ادر ما اسمه وما شهرته

لكن تبركا به ذكرته

I do not know his name or renown,

But mentioned him to seek his blessing.

والشيخ احمد الفتى الغزاوي

في قبره بالقرب منهم ثاوي

Shaykh Ahmad, the noble al-Ghazzawi,

Rests in his grave near them.

وعند رأس الصالحين قبله

القادرية الكرام جمله

At the southern head of al-Salihin

Are the noble Qadiriyya together.

معهم العرضي ابو المواهب

وهو الفتى الشهير بالمناقب

With them is al-‘Urdi, Abu al-Mawahib,

The man renowned for virtues.

كذا ابن النور الولي الزاهد

من الكرام السادة الاماجد

Likewise Ibn al-Nur, the ascetic saint,

Among the noble, illustrious masters.

وعمر العرضي وعبد الوهاب

بشرحه الشفا بخير قد آب

And ‘Umar al-‘Urdi and ‘Abd al-Wahhab,

Who returned with good through his commentary on al-Shifa’.

قد ثويا وجملة العرضيين

خلف المقام بالرضى محبورين

The two rest there, with all the al-‘Urdi family,

Behind the shrine, gladdened by divine pleasure.

والحنبليّ العبد للرحمن

في قبّة رفيعة الاركان

The Hanbali ‘Abd al-Rahman

Is in a dome with lofty supports.

ونجله الجهبذ عبد اللّه

جانبه وهو من الأنباه

His brilliant son, ‘Abd Allah,

Is beside him, among the distinguished

في العلم والحديث والتفسير

وفي الفرايض وفي التحرير

In learning, hadith, and exegesis,

Inheritance law and scholarly exposition.

ومن شمال أول القبور

قبر محمد الهمام الغوري

Northward, among the first graves,

Is the grave of noble Muhammad al-Ghuri.

من قبة الصوت قريباً شهدا

ثلاثة عز غزاة سعدا

Near Qubbat al-Sawt are martyrs:

Three honored, fortunate warriors.

اجدهم يدعى بابراهيما

كان شجاعا بطلا وسيما

One of them is called Ibrahim;

He was courageous, heroic, and handsome.

وقبر سيدي سعيد واقع

قبل المقام مثل بدر ساطع

My master Sa‘id's grave stands

South of the shrine, like a shining full moon.

ومن شمال سعد الأنصاري

تأتيهما جماعة الزوار

And to the north is Sa‘d al-Ansari;

Groups of visitors come to them both.

ومشهد الدكة من شماله

كم استظل الناس في ظلاله

The shrine of al-Dakka lies north of him;

How many sheltered beneath its shade!

من شيعة النبي فيه جمله

من سادة الاشراف والاجله

There is a company of the Prophet's followers,

Noble descendants and eminent masters.

وان تيمم مرقد السفيري

فيا له في الخير من سفير

If you head toward al-Safiri's resting place,

What an ambassador of goodness he is!

كان وليّا بدلا وعالما

وقد يرى له الخضر مكالما

He was a saint, an abdal, and a scholar;

Al-Khidr might be seen conversing with him.

فعنده المحقّق اليزديّ

من شيخه علي القوشجي

Beside him is the investigator al-Yazdi,

From his shaykh ‘Ali al-Qushji.

ثم أويس بك صالح تقيّ

في الباب من مقامه محميّ

Then Uways Bey, righteous and devout,

Protected at the entrance of his shrine.

والخانتومان الفقيه الحنفي

محمد ضريحه لا يختفي

And the Khantuman Hanafi jurist,

Muhammad—his tomb is not hidden.

ومن شماله ابنه محمد

العالم الحبر الفقيه السيد

North of him is his son Muhammad,

The scholar, learned jurist, and master.

كان تقيّا فرضيّا حاسبا

على قراءة الشفا مواظبا

He was devout, skilled in inheritance and calculation,

Constantly reading al-Shifa’.

شرع في كتابة كالحاشيه

عليه لو تمت لكانت كافيه

He began writing something like a gloss

Upon it; completed, it would have sufficed.

فجعنا به الزمان العادي

اساءنا واشمت الاعادي

Hostile time bereaved us of him,

Grieving us and delighting our enemies.

بين السفيري وبين الشعله

كلاهما حلّا عقيب النقله

Between al-Safiri and al-Shu‘la

They both settled after their departure.

وتمم الشعلة شعلة القبس

جلّلها النور ومن شاء اقتبس

Complete al-Shu‘la, the flame of the firebrand;

Light enveloped it; whoever wished drew from it.

فيها ضريح الحمصي احمد

ركن الطريق القادري المسند

Within it is Ahmad al-Himsi's tomb,

Pillar of the Qadiri Path, transmitter of traditions.

ازاءه وارثه الخانيّ

قاسم ذو المشاهد الوليّ

Opposite him is his heir al-Khani,

Qasim, the saint of spiritual visions.

الف سفر السير والسلوك

فالحق المملوك بالملوك

He authored the book of Journeying and Wayfaring,

Joining the bondsman to kings.

جانبه وارثه الشكعاوي

محمد عنه الطريق راوي

Beside him is his heir al-Shak‘awi,

Muhammad, who transmitted the Path from him.

حذاءه عبد الرحيم الناشد

اذا حدى للقوم قام القاعد

Opposite him is ‘Abd al-Rahim, the chanter;

When he sang to the company, the seated rose.

بجنبه الخليفة المداري

نعم المربي كان والمداري

Beside him is the successor al-Madari;

An excellent trainer and considerate companion.

بقربه فالاصغري محمد

كم سالك وكم مريد مرشد

Near him is Muhammad al-Asghari;

How many travelers and seekers he guided!

وقربه وارثه المواهبي

الشيخ صالح مفيد الطالب

Nearby is his heir al-Mawahibi,

Shaykh Salih, benefactor of the seeker.

ونجله الشيخ محمد غدا

خليفة له على نهج الهدى

His son, Shaykh Muhammad, became

His successor upon guidance's course.

حاز مقام العلم والطريق

ورتبة الارشاد والتحقيق

He attained the station of learning and the Path,

And the rank of guidance and realization.

من بعده صار ختام الخلفا

ولده الفاضل شمس الإصطفا

After him, the last of the successors was

His virtuous son, the sun of election,

الشيخ اسماعيل ذو الآداب

معظم السنة والكتاب

Shaykh Isma‘il, possessed of refined manners,

Revering the Sunna and the Book.

وهو قريبٌ من ضريح والده

وشرب الأعذب من موارده

He is near his father's tomb,

And drank the sweetest from his springs.

وكلهّم خلائفٌ اماجد

من بعد واحد يقوم واحد

All of them are illustrious successors;

After one, another rises.

وبإزاء الشيخ اسماعيلا

اخوه احمدي غدا نزيلا

Opposite Shaykh Isma‘il,

His brother Ahmadi came to rest.

والحلويّ احمد الخطيب

معهم وقبره قريب

Ahmad al-Halawi, the preacher,

Is with them, his grave nearby.

ونجله محمد في التربه

وهي التي جمعت الأحبّه

His son Muhammad is in the burial ground,

Which gathered these beloved ones.

ومعه ابنه هو المحمود

مباركٌ وحاله مشهود

With him is his son, Mahmud,

Blessed, his spiritual state witnessed.

وقربهم عليّ المحبوب

وفي طريقهم هو النقيب

Near them is ‘Ali, the beloved;

He is the superintendent in their order.

كذاك عبد القادر الاسكندري

حاديهم بحسن صوت أشعري

Likewise ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Iskandari,

Their chanter, with a fine, poetic voice.

والشيخ أحمد الفتى البصيري

يعرفُ عند بعضهم بالنوري

And Shaykh Ahmad, the noble al-Basiri,

Known to some as al-Nuri.

والحافظ المجود القاوجي

وقربه العجي بذاك العجي

And al-Qawji, the accomplished Quran reciter,

And nearby al-‘Ajji, known by that name.

اما اسمه فانه محمد

والعجي فيه لقب مجرد

His name is Muhammad;

Al-‘Ajji is merely his sobriquet.

وقبلة فالعالم العلامه

والرحلة المحقق الفهامه

Southward is the scholar, the great savant,

Sought by travelers, discerning and perceptive,

بحر الذكا محمد العقاد

في كل علم ذهنه وقاد

A sea of intelligence: Muhammad al-‘Aqqad;

In every science his mind blazes.

وولداه الحبر عبد الله

وصنوه طه من الأنباه

His two sons: the learned ‘Abd Allah,

And his brother Taha, among the distinguished.

ونجل عبد الله عبد الوهاب

يقرء للسبعة بين الطلاب

And ‘Abd Allah's son, ‘Abd al-Wahhab,

Teaching the seven readings among students.

جانبه فعمر الخفّاف

حبر همام كلّه الطاف

Beside him is ‘Umar al-Khaffaf,

A noble scholar, all graciousness.

والشيخ عبد الله بالعطائي

شهرته بالقرب غير تائي

Shaykh ‘Abd Allah, known as al-‘Ata’i,

Is nearby, not distant.

بجنبه الشيخ عطاء اللّه

والده وهو من الأشباه

Beside him is Shaykh ‘Ata’ Allah,

His father, among their peers.

ثم هنا المحدث الشرابي

عبد الكريم رحلة الطلاب

Then here is the hadith scholar al-Sharabi,

‘Abd al-Karim, whom students journeyed to meet.

ثم ابنه الشيخ محمد صفا

قلبا وفضلا وأخوه مصطفى

Then his son, Shaykh Muhammad, pure

In heart and excellence, and his brother Mustafa.

ومعهم احمد مع عبد الغني

والأخ عبد الله ذو قدر سني

With them are Ahmad and ‘Abd al-Ghani,

And their brother ‘Abd Allah, of lofty worth.

قد شربوا وهم شرابيونا

شرابهم وهم مقربونا

They drank, being the Sharabis,

Their draught, and were brought near.

والشيخ طه العالم الجبريني

كان إماما في علوم الدين

Shaykh Taha, the scholar al-Jibrini,

Was an imam in religious sciences.

والزاهد الهندي علي ههنا

كان معمرا تقيا محسنا

The Indian ascetic ‘Ali is here;

He was long-lived, devout, and beneficent.

وعمر العلّاف مجذوب لهيف

معهم وهو على الروح خفيف

‘Umar al-‘Allaf, an ardent ecstatic,

Is with them, light upon the spirit.

واقصد ويمم تربة الجاكيري

أبي محمد شريف النور

Seek and head toward al-Jakiri's burial ground,

Abu Muhammad, of noble light.

ففي الطريق للشهيدين اشتهر

قبر عن اليمين للعين ظهر

On the road to the two martyrs is renowned

A grave appearing on the right to the eye.

والشيخ جاكير عليه قبه

رفيعة البنا بارض رحبه

Over Shaykh Jakir is a dome,

Loftily built on spacious ground.

وخارج القبة عجان الحديد

محمد ذو مدد عال مديد

Outside the dome is the kneader of iron,

Muhammad, of lofty, far-reaching spiritual aid.

والتربة التي بباب النيرب

فيها ابو العظام شيخ انجب

The burial ground at Bab al-Nayrab

Contains Abu al-‘Izam, an outstanding shaykh.

والشيخ فتيانٌ قريب منه

وكم كرامة رووها عنه

Shaykh Fityan is near him;

How many miraculous graces they related of him!

بقربه فالشيخ ابراهيمُ

المكتبي الحنفي معلوم

Near him is Shaykh Ibrahim,

Al-Maktabi, the well-known Hanafi.

والشيخ صالحٌ هو السلطاني

ضريحه منهم هناك داني

Shaykh Salih, al-Sultani,

Has his tomb near them there.

محلول زنار عظيم الهمه

بالقرب منه وعليه الرحمه

Mahlul Zunnar, of great spiritual resolve,

Is nearby; may mercy be upon him.

وابن زوين وهو عبد المعطي

جار لهم ما بينهم في الوسط

Ibn Zuwayn, ‘Abd al-Mu‘ti,

Is their neighbor, in their midst.

والشيخ حيدر له في الزاويه

قبر منير في رياض زاهيه

Shaykh Haydar has in the lodge

A luminous grave amid splendid gardens.

وجاره الشيخ الأويسي مصطفى

والعجمي محمد بلا خفا

His neighbor is Shaykh Mustafa al-Uwaysi,

And Muhammad al-‘Ajami, plainly known.

كذا سعيد الزاهدي البادنجكي

القادري منجمع ذو نسك

Likewise Sa‘id al-Zahidi al-Badinjaki,

The Qadiri, withdrawn and devout.

وجام التوبة فيه مرقد

للمعصراني الهمام الاوحد

The Mosque of Repentance contains a resting place

For al-Ma‘sarani, noble and unmatched.

ومسجد في حارة الصفصافه

مبارك حفت به اللطافه

A mosque in the al-Safsafa quarter

Is blessed, surrounded by graciousness.

فيه الولي زكريا دفنا

لزائريه كل خير ضمنا

There the saint Zakariya was buried,

Guaranteeing every good for his visitors.

في مسجد بالقرب من دار الغنم

محمد الكوجك محبوب الشيم

In a mosque near Dar al-Ghanam

Is Muhammad al-Kujuk, beloved for his character.

ومنه للصحرا هناك الترمذي

فاكحل بذاك الترب طرفك القذي

From there toward the open country is al-Tirmidhi;

Anoint your dust-troubled eye with that soil.

كذاك عبد الله والشيخ ططر

كل همام ذو مقام معتبر

Likewise ‘Abd Allah and Shaykh Tatar,

Each noble, possessing a respected station.

ثم اشتمل شرقا الى البلاط

فانه حل بذا الرباط

Then turn east toward al-Balat;

He settled in this lodge.

بقربه البنا العقيلي احمد

الشاذلي وابنه محمد

Near him is the builder Ahmad al-‘Uqayli,

The Shadhili, and his son Muhammad.

جانبه هرون دده كزر دده

على دده كذا واتيماز دده

Beside him are Harun Dede and Kazar Dede,

‘Ali Dede likewise, and Atimaz Dede.

فانهم من صلحاء الاتراك

كل ضريحه قريب من ذاك

They are among the righteous Turks;

Each tomb is close to the others.

قربهم الحداد وابن رستم

مؤدب الاطفال شيخ اكرم

Near them are al-Haddad and Ibn Rustam,

The children's teacher, a most generous shaykh.

بالقرب منه البكره جي قاسم

وكان فاضلا من الاكارم

Near him is Qasim al-Bakraji;

He was learned, among the noble.

كذا قداد الشيخ والشيخ المدد

هما رفاعيان من أهل المدد

Likewise Shaykh Qaddad and Shaykh al-Madad;

Both are Rifa‘is, people of spiritual aid.

كذا القصيري الفقيه احمد

منهم قريب المعيّ أوحد

Likewise the jurist Ahmad al-Qusayri,

Near them, brilliant and unique.

والمكتبيّ الصالح التقيّ

هنا وكان شيخه البكريُ

And al-Maktabi, righteous and devout,

Is here; his shaykh was al-Bakri,

المصطفى المبجل الصديقي

الخلوتيّ عمدة الطريق

The revered Mustafa, the Siddiqi,

The Khalwati, mainstay of the Path.

كذا ابو خيران شيخ قد صفا

من كدر النفس فسمي مصطفى

Likewise Abu Khayran, a shaykh purified

Of the soul's turbidity, hence named Mustafa.

وذو الكمال الحسن الخرمنده

شيخ مهاب للكروب عده

And al-Hasan al-Kharmanda, possessed of perfection,

An awe-inspiring shaykh, a resource against distress.

ثالثهم زناره محلول

قصير قد باعه طويل

The third has his belt loosened,

Short in stature, long in reach,

ذو همة والاسم عبد القادر

ادركتهم والسر فيهم ظاهر

Possessed of resolve; his name is ‘Abd al-Qadir.

I knew them; the secret was manifest in them.

وخذ الى مقابر الحجاج

نحو الهمام البدر في الدياجي

Go to the al-Hajjaj cemetery,

Toward the noble full moon amid darkness,

شيخ الحديث الحسن الشيوفي

الحبر ذي التاليف والتصنيف

The hadith shaykh al-Hasan al-Shuyufi,

The learned man of writing and authorship.

قد كان شيخ عصره في الشهبا

والعلما كانوا نجوما شهبا

He was his age's shaykh in al-Shahba’;

The scholars were brilliant shooting stars.

وجاره محمد الزمار

العالم الوليّ نعم الجار

His neighbor is Muhammad al-Zammar,

The scholar and saint—an excellent neighbor.

كان سلوكه بنهج السنه

وكل معروف وخير سنه

His conduct followed the Sunna;

He established every kindness and good.

والشيخ نعسان الولي المعتقد

ذو النفس العالي ومن جد وجد

Shaykh Na‘san, the revered saint,

Had lofty spiritual breath; whoever strives attains.

بالقرب منه الالمعي الجذبه

محمد الصادق في المحبه

Nearby is the brilliant ecstatic,

Muhammad, sincere in love.

كذا ابنه صالح التقيّ

ونجله الآن هو المفتيّ

Likewise his devout son Salih;

His son is now the mufti.

بقربه العلامة العطار

عليّ الحبر له الفخار

Nearby is the savant al-‘Attar,

‘Ali, the scholar, possessed of glory.

كان ابا حنيفة الثاني له

في كل فرع مشكل تفقّه

He was a second Abu Hanifa, possessing

Understanding of every difficult legal branch.

وكان في كل العلوم فايقا

ومن علوم القوم كان ذائقا

He excelled in all the sciences,

And tasted the knowledge of the spiritual company.

ونجله محمد الشريف

يلمع حلاحل غطريف

His noble son Muhammad

Shines, a great and noble lord.

له لسان في الطريق عالي

دان له فيه ذوو المعالي

His voice was exalted on the Path;

Those of high standing submitted to him therein.

والشيخ عبد القادر البنقوسي

قد خاض في النفيس والمنفوس

Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Banqusi

Plumbed the precious and the treasured.

اخوه مصادق اديب فاضل

كذا ابوه كامل الفضائل

His brother Musadiq was literary and learned;

Likewise his father, complete in virtues.

كذا الامين الصالح النعساني

منهم قريب وقبره داني

Likewise righteous al-Amin al-Na‘sani

Is near them, his grave close.

وكلهم ثووا بتلك البقعة

وبالتقى نالوا كمال الرفعة

All rested in that spot;

Through piety they attained perfect elevation.

وقرلق ظاهرها الشيخ التقي

الشيخ يوسف الشريف القرلقي

At Qarluq, outside it, is the devout shaykh,

Shaykh Yusuf, the noble al-Qarluqi.

وجدّه لامه عبد اللطيف

القادري وهو ذو قدر منيف

His maternal grandfather, ‘Abd al-Latif,

The Qadiri, was of exalted worth.

وقربه مصطلم موله

الشيخ مصطفى الطويل الاكرم

Nearby is the overwhelmed, enraptured one,

Shaykh Mustafa al-Tawil, most noble.

والشيخ نصري الادلبي الفاضل

يعد بين السادة الافاضل

The learned Shaykh Nasri al-Idlibi

Is counted among the distinguished masters.

والشيخ مصطفى هو العمقي

الحافظ المجود التقيّ

Shaykh Mustafa is al-‘Amqi,

The devout, accomplished Quran reciter,

معهم وانزل الى العرابي

فعنهد مجتمع الأقراب

With them; descend toward al-‘Urabi.

Beside him is a gathering of relatives.

هناك خير الله الصياديّ

وبالرفاعي ظهره قوي

There is Khayr Allah al-Sayyadi;

Through al-Rifa‘i his support was strong.

ونجله محمد الممجد

كذا علي صنوه المؤيد

And his glorified son Muhammad,

Likewise his supported brother ‘Ali.

وابن ابنه فخير الله

والكل منهم خير ذو جاه

His grandson is Khayr Allah;

Each of them is good and influential.

وسائر الأهل وكل الطائفه

كانها حول العرابي طايفه

All the family and the whole company

Seem to circle around al-‘Urabi.

وقربهم فأحمد البنت ثوى

وذاك مجذوب على السر احتوى

Near them rests Ahmad al-Bint,

An ecstatic who embraced the secret.

ثم اشتمل نحو قبور البخت

وزرهم تفز بحسن البخت

Then turn toward the graves of al-Bakht;

Visit them and attain good fortune.

هنالك الناشد عبد القادر

خليفة السعد ابي المفاخر

There is the chanter ‘Abd al-Qadir,

Successor of al-Sa‘d, father of glories.

وحوله اولاده والاحفاد

زكت اصولهم فنعم الاولاد

Around him are his children and grandchildren;

Their roots were pure—excellent offspring!

كذا الطوير وهو مجذوب لهيف

عليّ اطوار على الروح خفيف

Likewise al-Tuwayr, an ardent ecstatic,

‘Ali, changing states, light upon the spirit.

والجبل الأبيض مظهر الصفا

مثوى ابي بكر المولي ابن وفا

The White Mountain, manifestation of purity,

Is the abode of Abu Bakr al-Mawli Ibn Wafa.

فيه تكيّةٌ علاها النور

وليس في الدنيا لها نظير

There is a lodge crowned with light,

Without equal in this world.

بشرف القطب الذي قد حلها

قد عرف الناس جميعا قدرها

Through the honor of the Pole who dwelt there,

Everyone recognized its worth.

وكان ذا جذب وكشف خارق

قد شاع في الغرب وفي المشارق

He possessed ecstasy and extraordinary unveiling,

Renowned in the west and the east.

وكان في اطواره معتقدا

وكشفه الصادق لم يكن سدى

He was revered in his states;

His truthful unveiling was not vain.

قصده مشايخ الاسلام

واكثر الايمة الاعلام

Shaykhs of Islam sought him,

As did most of the eminent imams.

واعتقدوه وبه تبركوا

ومنهج الاداب معه سلكوا

They believed in him and sought his blessing,

And followed the way of proper conduct with him.

وزاره القضاة والحكام

ورؤساء الوقت والاعوام

Judges and governors visited him,

And leaders of the time and successive years.

مدحه استاذنا عبد الغني

العارف المعروف بالفضل السني

Our teacher ‘Abd al-Ghani praised him,

The knower renowned for lofty excellence,

منوها بقدره بقافيه

كانت له عن كل مدح كافيه

Extolling his worth in a rhymed poem

That sufficed him instead of every other praise.

وقبره في قبة الايوان

امامه القارىء ذو الاتقان

His grave is in the iwan's dome;

Before him lies the accomplished reciter,

وارثه بالعهد والاسرار

وكان شهما عالي المقدار

His heir in the covenant and secrets,

A noble man of exalted worth.

قد قام في مقامه وصانا

طريقه وارشد الاخوانا

He stood in his station and preserved

His Path, and guided the brethren.

يأمرهم بالعرف مذ ابانا

سلوكهم واظهر الاحسانا

He commanded them to goodness, revealing

Their wayfaring and manifesting beneficence.

من قبل كانوا يأكلون الكلسا

فقصدهم بأن يهينوا النفسا

Previously they used to eat lime,

Intending thereby to humble the self.

ويشربون القهوة البنية

وما لهم بالماء من أمنيه

They drank brown coffee,

And had no desire for water.

فدلهم على طريق الحق

واطلقوا لحاهم من حلق

He directed them toward the true Path;

They let their beards grow instead of shaving.

ولازموا الصلاة والصياما

وخالفوا الشكوك والاوهاما

They adhered to prayer and fasting,

And opposed doubts and delusions.

ثم أقام أود التكيه

من كل ما به لها مزيه

Then he straightened the lodge's crookedness

Through everything that gave it distinction.

ومات عن بلوغ سن عاليه

اثابه الله الجنان العاليه

He died having reached an advanced age;

May God reward him with lofty gardens.

ثم اتى مشايخ وخلفا

واتفق الراي بهم واختلفا

Then came shaykhs and successors;

Opinions agreed and differed concerning them.

وبعضهم ناز في الخلافة

فنازعوه ورأوا خلافه

Some contended over the succession;

Others disputed them and disagreed.

وظهر الحق وقر الامر

على خليفة له اقروا

Truth appeared, and the matter settled

Upon a successor whom they acknowledged.

وبعد آل الامر الموفائي

حسين دده ذي الفضل والبهاء

Afterward authority passed to al-Muwafa’i,

Husayn Dede, of excellence and splendor.

ومصطفى دده اقام بعده

على البساط في سنين عده

Mustafa Dede took his place afterward

Upon the carpet for several years.

والطيب الدرويش كان أوحد

في المكرمات واسمه محمد

The kindly dervish was unmatched

In noble deeds; his name was Muhammad.

ومدفن الجميع في التكيه

جباهم الرحمن بالتحيه

All are buried in the lodge;

May the Merciful greet them with salutation.

والشيخ فارس ففي بابلى

في ظاهر الشهباء مستقّلا

Shaykh Faris is in Babilla,

Outside al-Shahba’, standing apart.

بقربه قد دفن الشيخ الخضر

وقبره في قبة لقد شهر

Near him Shaykh al-Khidr was buried;

His grave is in a renowned dome.

والشيخ شداد وشيخ السعله

زائره يحظى ببرء العله

And Shaykh Shaddad and Shaykh al-Sa‘la;

His visitor gains healing from illness.

والأسدي وكلهم اماجد

ثم الطويل قبره مشاهد

And al-Asadi; all are illustrious.

Then al-Tawil, whose grave is visible.

والشيخ يبرق الرفيع القدر

وهو براق عند من لا يدري

Shaykh Yabraq, of exalted worth,

Is called Barraq by those who do not know.

رباطه فيه مغار المرضى

يعرض حالهم مناما عرضا

His lodge contains the cave of the sick;

Their condition is presented in dreams.

يبيت فيه الزمن العليل

يأتيه ليلا هاتف دليل

The chronically ill spends the night there;

At night a guiding unseen voice comes to him,

يقول يا هذا دواك في كذا

فافعل لما قلت يزل عند الاذى

Saying, 'You, your remedy is such-and-such;

Do as I say, and the harm will leave you.'

بالقرب من رباطه قد دفنا

من أمه فخر النسا وارتهنا

Near his lodge he was buried;

His mother, Fakhr al-Nisa’, laid him there.

ذكره بن الحنبلي في سفره

في العلما منوها بقدره

Ibn al-Hanbali mentioned him in his book

Among scholars, extolling his worth.

ثم علي بابا بقربه دفن

كان رزينا راجحا اذا وزن

Then ‘Ali Baba was buried near him;

He was steady, weighty when weighed.

والشيخ باكير منور جلي

مبارك خليفة البابا علي

Shaykh Bakir, luminous and manifest,

Was the blessed successor of Baba ‘Ali.

والكامل المشهور بابا بيرم

دفن في مقامه المعظم

The perfected, renowned Baba Bayram

Was buried in his honored shrine.

وقربه الاخلاف والأنساب

وكلّهم الى التراب آبوا

Near him are successors and relatives;

All returned to the dust.

وآف بابا في الجبل المعظم

شيخ همام خلوتي اكرم

Af Baba is on the honored mountain,

A noble Khalwati shaykh, most generous.

والشيخ مقصود قريب الميداني

قبره كهف لكل ولهان

Shaykh Maqsud is near al-Maydani;

His grave is a refuge for every yearning soul.

قطن فيه شيخنا الترابي

وبالخصوص جاء من عنتاب

Our shaykh al-Turabi dwelt there,

Coming expressly from ‘Ayntab.

طالع هناك خلوة سنيّه

وبعدها رجع بالامنيه

There he undertook a lofty retreat,

After which he returned with his wish.

وبعد ذا عاد إلى الشهباء

فاصبحت مخضلة الارجاء

Then he returned to al-Shahba’,

And its regions became lush.

وعمرت له بها التكيه

وأظهر الطريقة العليّه

A lodge was built for him there,

And he manifested the exalted order.

وائن العنان نحو جب النور

واخلص النية في الحضور

Turn the reins toward Jubb al-Nur,

And purify your intention in attending.

وزر ضريح القادري الانجقي

علي الشيخ المسلّك التقي

Visit the tomb of al-Qadiri al-Anjaqi,

‘Ali, the devout shaykh who trained seekers.

قد كان شيخي في الصبا أقراني

فقهاً ونحواً كاشفاً عن روني

He was my shaykh in youth, teaching me

Jurisprudence and grammar, clearing away my tarnish.

جانبه محمد خليفته

وابن محمد وطابت نيته

Beside him is Muhammad, his successor,

And Muhammad's son, of good intention.

شمالهم عبد اللطيف الاخضر

ونجله طه التقيّ الأنور

North of them is ‘Abd al-Latif al-Akhdar,

And his son Taha, devout and luminous.

والشيخ صالحٌ ابو الكارات

مستغرقُ الأطوار والحالات

Shaykh Salih, Abu al-Karat,

Was immersed in spiritual states and conditions.

والشيخ يحي وهو الطباخ

للزائرين عنده مناخ

Shaykh Yahya is al-Tabbakh;

Visitors have a stopping place with him.

بقربهم محمد الملثم

الاحمدي البدوي الاكرم

Near them is Muhammad al-Mulaththam,

The most noble Ahmadi Badawi.

والشيخ يس التقي المكتبي

ما بينهم ضريحه لا تختبي

Shaykh Yasin, the devout al-Maktabi,

Has his tomb among them, not hidden.

وشارح الحرز المسمى بعمر

الارمنازي المتقن السبع الغرر

And the commentator on al-Hirz, named ‘Umar,

Al-Armanazi, master of the splendid seven readings.

والعبد للوهاب نجل عمد

شاركه بفضله وعلمه

‘Abd al-Wahhab, son of ‘Amd,

Shared in his excellence and learning.

ونجله محمود كان مثله

ثم اعتراه بعد هذا وله

His son Mahmud was like him;

Then, afterward, rapture overtook him.

محمد احمد عبد الوهاب

اولاد محمود وكل اواب

Muhammad, Ahmad, and ‘Abd al-Wahhab

Are Mahmud's sons, each returning to God.

بالقرب منهم يوسف الشرابي

الحافظ المتقن للكتاب

Near them is Yusuf al-Sharabi,

The memorizer, accomplished in the Book.

بالقرب منه مصطفى القضماني

كان من الناس البلا يعاني

Near him is Mustafa al-Qudmani,

Who suffered affliction from people.

وصائم الدهر الفقير الصوفي

الشيخ ابراهيم ذو المعروف

And the lifelong faster, the poor Sufi,

Shaykh Ibrahim, possessed of kindness.

ومن هنا المجانب الغربيّ

نحو ضريح أحمد المصري

From here, take the western side

Toward Ahmad al-Misri's tomb.

وهو التقي الفاضل العلامه

ملازم للدرس والامامه

He is devout, learned, a great scholar,

Constant in teaching and leading prayer,

محافظ الوقت بجامع الشرف

كل بفضله اقر واعترف

Keeping the prayer times at Jami‘ al-Sharaf.

Everyone acknowledged and recognized his excellence.

بقربه ضريح جدي عمرا

بزينة الدنيا غدا مشتهرا

Near him is my grandfather ‘Umar's tomb,

Renowned as 'Adornment of the World.'

وانما شهرته بالزينه

لمنحة منحها مكينه

His fame as 'Adornment' arose

From a firmly established gift bestowed upon him.

قيل رأى الصديق وهو نائم

تفل في فيه فعاد هائم

It is said he saw al-Siddiq asleep;

He spat into his mouth, and he became enraptured.

وهجر الاتراب والأقرانا

وفي قليل حفظ القرآنا

He abandoned companions and peers,

And soon memorized the Quran.

وكان قبلا بطلا شجاعا

في الحرب بالكثير لن يراعا

Previously he was a courageous hero,

Unfrightened by great numbers in battle.

فرده الله اليه ردا

وصار للخدمة مستعدا

God brought him back to Himself,

And he became ready for service.

وقد فني بربه واستنى

واختار ما يبقى على ما يفنى

He was annihilated in his Lord and enlightened,

Choosing what endures over what perishes.

فجمع المحاسن الفريده

مع المزايا الجملة العديده

He gathered unique beauties

Together with numerous collective distinctions.

كان كثير الدرس والتلاوه

بلحنه المشهور بالطلاوه

He studied and recited much,

With his melody renowned for sweetness.

جمع بين العلم والقرآن

بالسبعة الوجوه بالاتقان

He united learning and Quranic recitation,

Mastering its seven readings,

وبين حسن الصوت والاداء

اذا تلا الكتاب بالغناء

With beauty of voice and performance

When he recited the Book melodiously,

منفردا بصوته الداوودي

وصحة الالفاظ والتجويد

Unique in his David-like voice,

Correct pronunciation and precise recitation.

اذا رقي المنبر يبدي العبره

او قام في المحراب ترخى العبره

When he ascended the pulpit, he offered admonition;

When he stood in the prayer niche, tears flowed.

ونظم الشعر وألف الخطب

وكتب الخط وفاق في الأدب

He composed poetry and sermons,

Practiced calligraphy, and excelled in literature.

وأجمع الناس على توقيره

وان لا يوجد من نظيره

Everyone agreed to honor him,

And that no equal of his could be found.

طلب للامامة الكبرى فما

أجاب واستعفى وعنها احجما

He was sought for the highest imamate, but

Did not accept, requested exemption, and declined.

طلبه السلطان محمود القديم

عليهما رحمة ذي العرش الكريم

The earlier Sultan Mahmud requested him;

May the Lord of the noble Throne show both mercy.

جانبه محمد اخوه

وهو جليل قدره نبيه

Beside him is his brother Muhammad,

Of eminent, distinguished worth.

شماله الوالد ملصقٌ به

محمد ووجهه لطهره

North of him, adjoining him, is my father,

Muhammad, his face toward his back.

اتته منقادة الخلافه

فجر فيها فاخرا أعطافه

The succession came to him submissively;

He proudly trailed his robes within it.

بالامر من استاذنا الرفاعي

للشيخ خير اللّه رحب الباع

By command from our teacher al-Rifa‘i

To Shaykh Khayr Allah, of expansive reach.

فجاءه بسرعة وخلفه

وقلبه اللّه عليه عطفه

He came swiftly, and appointed him successor;

God inclined his heart affectionately toward him.

وعاد مملوءاً بحال ومدد

وكثرت اخوانه فوق العدد

He returned filled with spiritual state and aid;

His brethren multiplied beyond counting.

حصّل في صباه فضلا واضحا

وطرفا من العلوم صالحا

In youth he attained evident excellence

And a sound portion of the sciences,

ملازما تلاوة القرآن

على انفراد ومع الإخوان

Constantly reciting the Quran,

Alone and with the brethren.

في كل يوم يقصدون الزاويه

بهمة قصد الثواب عاليه

Each day they went to the lodge

With lofty resolve, seeking reward.

ويطعم الطعام في يوم الأحد

للفقرا وكل وارد ورد

He served food on Sundays

To the poor and every arriving visitor.

جانبه اخوه عبد القادر

وكان ذا فضل وعلم باهر

Beside him is his brother ‘Abd al-Qadir,

Possessed of excellence and brilliant learning.

مات وأمه بيوم واحد

بالطعن والآسف غير واحد

He and his mother died on one day

Through plague; more than one mourned.

وصنوه محمود شمس السعدا

جانبه جاز مقام الشهدا

His brother Mahmud, sun of the fortunate,

Is beside him, attaining the martyrs' station.

ومات يافعا زمان والده

فكان قصم ظهره وساعده

He died young during his father's lifetime,

Breaking his back and supporting arm.

والعم عبد الله نعم العبد

غربا ومن ذوي التقى يعد

My uncle ‘Abd Allah—an excellent servant—

Is westward, counted among the devout.

والاخوان احمد وعمر

وكان عنهما الكمال يؤثر

And the two brothers Ahmad and ‘Umar;

Perfection was related of them,

حقا وكل حافظ خطيب

من اسهم الفضل له نصيب

Truly; each a Quran memorizer and preacher,

Possessing a share in excellence's portions.

وجدّنا من جهة الامومة

عقيل الصغير ذو الأرومه

Our maternal grandfather

Was ‘Aqil the Younger, of noble lineage,

من ولد الشيخ عقيل المنبجي

ضريحه شمالهم قربا يجيى

A descendant of Shaykh ‘Aqil al-Manbiji.

His tomb lies close, north of them.

قبلته جدتنا المصانه

من ولد الجيد تدعى النانه

South of him is our protected grandmother,

Of al-Jayyid's descendants, called al-Nana.

بالقرب منهم قبر عبد اغبر

صاحب اطمار ولكن انور

Near them is a dusty servant's grave,

Clad in rags, yet radiant.

كنا نسميه بشيخ النور

ادركته فكان ذا حضور

We called him Shaykh al-Nur;

I knew him, possessed of spiritual presence.

وكلهم قد احتووا في المقبره

حف جميعهم عظيم المغفرة

All were gathered in the cemetery;

May the Great Forgiver encompass them all.

والشيخ خير الله منهم قبله

كوردي من الأكارم الاجلّه

Shaykh Khayr Allah lies south of them,

A Kurd among the noble and eminent.

واصعد الى مقابر الهزازه

فيها اطار الهمداني بازه

Ascend to the al-Hazzaza cemeteries;

There al-Hamdani launched his falcon.

وهو الشريف المرتضى عليّ

عريق اصل طاهر زكيّ

He is the noble al-Murtada ‘Ali,

Of ancient, pure, unblemished origin,

وعاء علم واعظ مؤثر

عزيز حلم عنه هذا يؤثر

A vessel of learning, an affecting preacher,

Of rare forbearance, as transmitted of him.

كان له في جامع الذكي

مجلس وعظ مرهب الكمي

He held in the Mosque of al-Dhaki

A preaching assembly that awed the warrior,

يفسر القرآن والتنزيلا

ويشرح التوراية والانجيلا

Explaining the Quran and Revelation,

And expounding the Torah and Gospel,

في محفل مزدحم مشهود

في درسه قد أسلم اليهودي

In a crowded, well-attended gathering.

In his lesson a Jewish man embraced Islam.

اخلاقه على الوفى مطبوعه

مدفنه في قبة مرفوعه

His character was stamped with faithfulness;

His burial place is in a lofty dome.

شماله القطب الوليّ العجمي

والمدني ضريحه كالعلم

North of him is the Pole, the saint al-‘Ajami,

And al-Madani, whose tomb is a landmark.

والارمنازي ذي الشيخ ابراهيم

من فضله في وقته معلوم

And al-Armanazi, Shaykh Ibrahim,

Known in his time for his excellence.

قد جمع القرآن بالوجوه

سبعية باحسن التوجيه

He mastered the Quran's readings,

The seven, with excellent exposition.

في بيته سبع من القراء

عدّوا من البنات والابناء

In his household were seven reciters,

Counted among daughters and sons.

والشيخ بكران بباب القبه

كان عزيزاً طوره في الجذبه

Shaykh Bakran is at the dome's entrance;

His condition in ecstasy was extraordinary.

ومن شمال تربة العقيلي

عثمان ذي الرفعة والتبجيل

North of the al-‘Uqayli burial ground

Is ‘Uthman, of elevation and honor.

كذا محمد وعبد الرحمن

نجلاه والكل سموا في القران

Likewise Muhammad and ‘Abd al-Rahman,

His two sons; all excelled in the Quran.

وابن ابنه محمد قد حصلا

من كل علم طرفا مكملا

His grandson Muhammad acquired

A perfected portion of every science.

وشيخنا العلّامة المحقق

والجهبذ الفهامة المدقق

And our shaykh, the discerning savant,

The brilliant, perceptive, meticulous scholar,

المغربي قاسم من قبله

ضريحه وكان شيخ الجمله

Qasim al-Maghribi—south of him

Is his tomb; he was everyone's shaykh.

وفي الطريق مدفن المحبي

قد صار بابه امام الجب

On the road is al-Muhibbi's burial place;

Its entrance came to face the well.

فيه دفين وفيه حفر جاوي

المصطفى كل كمال حاوي

He lies there, and there lies Hirf Jawi,

Mustafa, encompassing every perfection.

والسهر وردي الصغير يحيى

وحوله اتباعه في الدنيا

The younger Suhrawardi, Yahya,

Has around him his earthly followers.

وقبره في القرب من باب الفرج

الى الشمال ليس فيه من عوج

His grave is close to Bab al-Faraj,

Northward, without any turn.

وتربة الكوردي جبريل الهمام

عند الخراسان وذا حبرٌ إمام

The burial ground of noble Jibril al-Kurdi

Is by al-Khurasan; he was a learned imam.

بالقرب منه فالولي القانت

الشيخ عبد الله يدعى الصامت

Near him is the obedient saint,

Shaykh ‘Abd Allah, called al-Samit.

وقبر نينو فهو في العباره

عليه من اطواره إشاره

Ninu's grave is in al-‘Abbara,

Bearing a sign of his spiritual states.

كذا انا عنوا المبارك الولي

هنا وهذا كان ذا فضل جلي

Likewise Ana ‘Anu, the blessed saint,

Is here, a man of evident excellence.

وقربه فالمغربي عمر

ابوه مع اخوته ستذكر

Near him is ‘Umar al-Maghribi;

His father and brothers will be mentioned.

والاشرفي من شمال التربه

منفردا جاور فيها ربّه

Al-Ashrafi is north of the burial ground,

Alone there, neighboring his Lord.

كان خطيبا حسن الشمائل

وفاضلا يعدّ في الافاضل

He was a preacher of fine character,

A learned man among the distinguished,

عن الحرام والرشا منكفا

وقصة المسجد ليس تخفى

Abstaining from forbidden things and bribes;

The mosque's story is not hidden.

كذا الحجازي الثاني عبد الله

فهو من الأفاضل الانباه

Likewise the second al-Hijazi, ‘Abd Allah,

Among the distinguished and eminent.

كذا الطرابلسي مفتي الشهبا

محمد له الكمال يحيى

Likewise al-Tarabulsi, mufti of al-Shahba’,

Muhammad, whom perfection enlivens.

ومصطفى ابنه ثوى هناكا

وفي العلوم احرز اشتراكا

His son Mustafa rests there,

Having gained participation in the sciences.

وقربهم يوسف أفندي الشامي

الحنفي المفتي للأنام

Near them is Yusuf Efendi al-Shami,

The Hanafi, mufti to the people.

والقمري الفاضل عبد الحي

جاورهم في مرقد بهي

The learned al-Qamari, ‘Abd al-Hayy,

Neighbors them in a splendid resting place.

والفاضل المحترم الريحاوي

بستانه المنتزهات حاوي

The respected scholar al-Rihawi,

Whose garden encompasses places of recreation.

والشيخ محمود الفقيه الطيبي

حل هنا في منزل رحيب

Shaykh Mahmud, the jurist al-Tibi,

Settled here in a spacious dwelling.

والمولوية ففيها البابا

احمد قد جاور البابا

In the Mawlawiyya is Baba

Ahmad, who came to neighbor Baba.

وشيخها ابو علي مصطفى

من الكرام الغر ارباب الصفا

Its shaykh, Abu ‘Ali Mustafa,

Is among the radiant nobles, masters of purity.

تركيّ اصل ذائق طريف

وفي الموسيقى له تشنيف

Turkish in origin, refined in spiritual taste;

In music he had ear-delighting skill.

وقبّة شيخ سراج الدين

بجانب النهر عن اليمين

Shaykh Siraj al-Din's dome

Is beside the river, on the right.

قبليها زاوية الاطماني

نيرة قديمة المباني

South of it is al-Itmani's lodge,

Luminous, its buildings ancient.

دفن فيها الشيخ يا يزيد

من الكرام الاوليا معدود

Shaykh Bayazid was buried there,

Counted among the noble saints.

بالقرب منه المرشد الخبازي

ساد المعاصرين بامتياز

Near him is the guide al-Khabbazi,

Distinguished above his contemporaries.

خارجها جماعة اجلا

من عصرهم بذكرهم تحلى

Outside it is an eminent company

Whose remembrance adorned their age,

مثل اللطيفي ومثل الزلزلي

ومثل سعد الدين نسل الكمل

Like al-Latifi and al-Zalzali,

And Sa‘d al-Din, offspring of the perfected.

قربهم الشياح سعدى نير

وغيرهم كل عزيز خير

Near them is al-Shayyah, radiant Sa‘di,

And others, each precious and good.

قبيلهم فصاحب العزم الاسد

هو سري الدين يدعى بالأسد

South of them is the resolute lion:

Sari al-Din, called al-Asad.

دفن في زاوية منيره

راس الزقاق عندهم شهيره

He was buried in a luminous lodge

At the alley's head, renowned among them.

وعند قبره الشريف الأمجد

المغربي الشاذليُ احمد

At his grave is the illustrious sharif,

Ahmad al-Maghribi al-Shadhili,

فرع ابن بشيش زكي النفس

من حاز اسراراص بفيض قدسي

A descendant of Ibn Bashish, pure of soul,

Who gained secrets through a holy effusion.

بقربه العالم نجل الحصني

من بالتقى حل اجل حصن

Nearby is the learned son of al-Hisni,

Who through piety entered the noblest fortress.

والشيخ دوغان ففي المشارقه

زاوية دفن فيها شارقه

Shaykh Dughan is in al-Mashariqa,

In a lodge where his radiance was buried.

بالقرب منه فابو السباع

الشيخ اسماعيل رحب الباع

Nearby is Abu al-Siba‘,

Shaykh Isma‘il, of expansive reach.

وخذ على القبلة للسنيبله

فيها ايمةٌ سموا في المنزله

Go southward toward al-Sunaybila;

Within it are imams of lofty station,

مثل الهمام ابن علي القزويني

وكان ركنا في علوم الدين

Like the noble Ibn ‘Ali al-Qazwini,

A pillar in religious sciences.

بالقرب منه العارف الرباني

محمد الشهير بالصورآني

Near him is the godly knower,

Muhammad, renowned as al-Surani,

وغيرهم من الفحول العلما

من فاخر العصر بهم شهب السما

And other mighty scholars,

Through whom the age rivaled heaven's meteors.

وخذ الى مقبرة الشيخ ثعلب

وزر ضرائحها اليها تنسب

Go to Shaykh Tha‘lab's cemetery;

Visit its tombs, associated with it,

مثل فقيه اليشبكية الهمام

الفاضل الكامل الشيخ الامام

Such as the noble jurist of al-Yashbakiyya,

The learned, perfected shaykh and imam,

وابن اويس الهمداني الفاضل

الشيخ ابراهيم ذي الفضائل

And the learned Ibn Uways al-Hamdani,

Shaykh Ibrahim, possessor of virtues,

وغيره من الرجال الكمل

وكان شيخ بالتقى تسربل

And other perfected men.

He was a shaykh clothed in piety.

وخذ الى الشرق ففي الطريق

شيخ همام عارف صديقي

Go eastward; along the road

Is a noble, knowing Siddiqi shaykh.

وهو كما قد حققوه الشيخ كليب

ليس الكليماتي فذا شكٌ وريب

As they established, he is Shaykh Kulayb,

Not al-Kalimati; that is doubt and uncertainty.

وهو من اجداد طه زاده

كذا رواه البعض بالإفاده

He is among Taha Zada's ancestors;

Some related this as useful information.

بالقرب منه العارف الريحاوي

قد كان من كل العلوم حاوي

Near him is the knower al-Rihawi,

Who encompassed all the sciences.

بقربه محمد الهبراوي

ابوه والجد هناك ثاوي

Nearby is Muhammad al-Habrawi;

His father and grandfather rest there.

بالقرب منه الفاضل السرميني

محمد من جهة اليمين

Near him is the learned al-Sarmini,

Muhammad, on the right-hand side.

جانبه فملا موسى الكوردي

حبر مبارك بعيد العهد

Beside him is Mulla Musa al-Kurdi,

A blessed scholar of an earlier age.

كذا سوادٌ فاضل همام

بالخير والتقى له اهتمام

Likewise Sawad, learned and noble,

Concerned with goodness and piety.

قد ثويا في تربة تنمى لأو

لاد الملوك هكذا لنا رووا

The two rest in a burial ground attributed to the chil—

—dren of kings; thus they related to us.

وتربة العلواني اورطه تبه

الحسن الفاضل طابت تربه

Al-‘Alwani's burial ground is Orta Tepe:

The learned al-Hasan—may his soil be fragrant.

واقصد حمى ابى النمير الارحبا

حامي حمى الشهباء قطبا انجبا

Seek Abu al-Numayr's spacious sanctuary,

Protector of al-Shahba’, an outstanding Pole.

فعند قبره تجاب الدعوه

وعنده تنال كلّ حظوه

At his grave prayers are answered,

And there every favor is attained.

كان له في وقته التصرف

في حلب الشهبا بهذا يعرف

In his time he possessed spiritual governance;

In Aleppo al-Shahba’ he was known for this.

بالقرب منه الشيخ عبد الوهاب

الازهري الشاذلي الأواب

Near him is Shaykh ‘Abd al-Wahhab,

Al-Azhari al-Shadhili, ever returning to God.

وهو الذي احي الطريق الشاذلي

في حلب وجاء بالفضائل

He revived the Shadhili Path

In Aleppo and brought virtues.

رحمه الله اقام والدي

فيه خليفة مع التعاهد

May God show him mercy; he appointed my father

Its successor, with continued oversight.

له كرامات رووها علنا

اذ جاء نباشٌ يسل الكفنا

They publicly related his miraculous graces:

A grave robber came to pull out the shroud

ليلة دفنه ونحا الطابقا

فقام في نبوته مسابقا

On his burial night, approaching the slab;

He rose suddenly, outstripping him.

أوما اليه فدعاه ميتا

كذا سمعناه صحيحا مثبتا

He gestured toward him and left him dead;

Thus we heard it, soundly established.

بالقرب منه المصطفى الكوراني

في كل علم كامل المعاني

Nearby is Mustafa al-Kurani,

Complete in understanding every science.

جانبه الدرديري عبد القادر

الشافعي خلاصة الاكابر

Beside him is al-Dardiri, ‘Abd al-Qadir,

The Shafi‘i, quintessence of the eminent.

ومن ابوه زكريا الحافظ

محمد على التقى محافظ

And he whose father was Zakariya the memorizer,

Muhammad, steadfast in piety,

يتلو الكتاب الليل والنهارا

ويقرىء الصغار والكبارا

Reciting the Book night and day,

Teaching the young and the old.

نهاره يقضيه وهو صائم

وفي الليالي ساجد وقائم

He spent his daytime fasting,

And his nights prostrating and standing in prayer.

وهو قريب من ابي النمير

وكان شيخا مظهرا للخير

He is near Abu al-Numayr;

He was a shaykh manifesting goodness.

ومن هنا فخذ الى الفردوس

فيه الفراديسي علي ذو الكيس

From here, go to al-Firdaws;

There is ‘Ali al-Far adisi, possessed of intelligence,

من عصبة النبي والذريّه

اعظم بهذا الانتما مزيّه

Of the Prophet's kin and progeny.

How great a distinction this affiliation is!

ومعه جماعة اجلّ

زرهم ومن انوارهم تملّا

With him is an eminent company;

Visit them and fill yourself with their lights.

بقربه الشيخ الشريف الزمن

زائره من كل خوف يأمن

Nearby is the infirm sharif shaykh;

His visitor is safe from every fear.

بقربه مبن مشرف عبد الله

شيخ جليل ومنيب اواه

Nearby is Ibn Musharrif, ‘Abd Allah,

An eminent, penitent, sighing shaykh.

ووسط الطريق لا عن بعد

مصطبة فيها الحسين السعدي

In the middle of the road, not far away,

Is a platform containing al-Husayn al-Sa‘di.

وقبره حوى ابنه من بعده

عبد الكريم وولي عهده

His grave afterward contained his son,

‘Abd al-Karim, heir to his station.

ونجل سلطان خليل حل في

مقبرة للمرعشي الاحنفي

Sultan's son Khalil settled in

The cemetery of al-Mar‘ashi, the Hanafi.

وهو تلميذ الامام الاسجي

العالم الحبر السري النهج

He was a pupil of Imam al-Asji,

The learned scholar of noble course.

وولده الشحنة فتح الدين

شمس سماء الفضل واليقين

His son al-Shihna, Fath al-Din,

Was the sun of excellence and certainty's sky.

مقبرة المنقار فيها تربته

عليهم من الرحيم رحمته

His burial place is in al-Minq ar cemetery;

May the Merciful's mercy be upon them.

هذا الذي اليه علمي وصلا

من خارج البلدة علما مجملا

This is what my knowledge has reached

Outside the town, in a general account.

ولم يزل في ظاهر الشهباء

اكابرٌ مطويةُ الاسماء

Outside al-Shahba’ there still remain

Great men whose names are folded away.

لان بعد العهد يدرس الاثر

سبحان من بالموت خلقه قهر

For distance in time effaces traces;

Glory to Him who subdued His creatures through death.

وان ظفرت بعد ذا باسم احد

معين اضفته الى العدد

If afterward I discover someone's name,

Specifically, I will add it to the number.

والآن اثني عليهم عناني

لداخل البلدة من سكان

Now I turn my reins toward them,

The inhabitants within the town,

ذوي التقى والعزم والعزايم

ساداتنا الاماجد الاكارم

Possessed of piety, resolve, and determination,

Our illustrious, noble masters.

من المقام ان ترم نزولا

فشيخنا الشيخ علي شاتيلا

If you wish to descend from the shrine,

There is our shaykh, Shaykh ‘Ali Shatila,

في تربة على شمال النازل

ومعه اكارم افاضل

In a burial ground left of the descending traveler,

With noble, distinguished companions.

وجدث في جامع الطواشي

عليه من مهابة غواثي

There is a grave in Jami‘ al-Tawashi,

Covered with mantles of reverence.

وحوله جماعة افاخر

من الكرام وبهم نفاخر

Around it is a distinguished company

Of noble men in whom we take pride.

وجامع القصيلة المنايري

حل به وهو من الاكابر

In Jami‘ al-Qasila, al-Manayiri

Settled, one of the great men.

وخذ شمالا نحو باب القعله

وسر في مرقد باهي الطلعة

Go north toward the citadel gate,

And proceed to a radiant resting place:

السيد الغوث الشهير الاعظم

وحوله كل مقام اعظم

The greatest, renowned master, the spiritual succor,

Surrounded by supremely honored shrines.

وقبة من حولها مشاهد

في بقعة شريفة المعاهد

A dome is surrounded by sacred sites

In a place of noble sanctuaries.

وهذه البقعة من خير البقاع

لأن فيها شهدا بلا نزاع

This spot is among the best of places,

For it contains martyrs, without dispute.

في باب دار العدل من شرق نزل

درويس نير الضريح والمحل

At Dar al-‘Adl's gate, eastward, settled

Darwish, whose tomb and abode are luminous.

ومن قريب حارة البستان

مثوى بلال وهو ذو برهان

Near the al-Bustan quarter

Is Bilal's resting place, possessed of a sign.

وخذ الى تكية الترابي

شيخي واستاذي من الشباب

Go to al-Turabi's lodge,

My shaykh and teacher since youth,

محمد بلدته اوقات

اشياخه اكارمٌ سادات

Muhammad, whose town was Awqat;

His shaykhs were noble masters.

وكان من عنصر زين العابدين

شريف اصل من كرام هادين

He was of Zayn al-‘Abidin's stock,

Of noble origin, from generous guides.

كتب لي اجازة نقشيه

وخلوتيّة مع النوريه

He wrote me a Naqshbandi authorization,

And a Khalwati one, together with the Nuriyya.

اقامني خليفة من بعده

مقامه وعمني برفده

He appointed me successor after him

In his station, encompassing me with his bounty,

ثم لمن أقيمه مقامي

من والدي ومن ذوي ارحام

Then those whom I appoint in my place,

Of my children and relatives.

بشرني بكل خير آتي

وطول عمر وصفا اوقات

He promised me every coming good,

Long life and untroubled times.

وكل ما عاينته قد ظهرا

كالشمس في النهار من غير سرا

Everything I witnessed became manifest,

Like the sun by day, without concealment.

وكان ذا كشف صحيح خارق

مع تصرف بعزم صادق

He possessed true, extraordinary unveiling,

And spiritual governance with sincere resolve.

اخبرني بموته وعينه

فكان ما وقته وبينه

He told me of his death and specified it;

It occurred at the time he fixed and explained.

فرحمة الله تعم مرقده

ما كان أسماء وأعلى مدده

May God's mercy encompass his resting place;

How lofty he was, how exalted his aid!

ثم ابو بكر الخريزاتي ثوى

بقربه في مسجد به انزوى

Then Abu Bakr al-Khurayzati rests

Nearby, in a mosque where he secluded himself.

والذهبي تجاه حمام الذهب

في الذاهبين قد تولى وذهب

Al-Dhahabi is opposite Hammam al-Dhahab;

Among the departed, he turned away and went.

ومن قريب جامع الرومي

قبر صفاء الدين شيخ الحي

Near Jami‘ al-Rumi

Is Safa’ al-Din's grave, shaykh of the quarter.

وقرب حمام بزا دفين

حبر جليل فضله مبين

Near Hammam Baza lies buried

An eminent scholar of evident excellence.

وباب قنسرين مثوى الاخيار

وفيه مرقد الخليل الطيار

Bab Qinnasrin is the abode of the righteous;

There lies Khalil al-Tayyar.

وقربه عبد الكريم الخافي

من سيره الظاهر غير خافي

Nearby is ‘Abd al-Karim al-Khafi,

Whose manifest conduct was not hidden.

دفن في زاوية شهيره

في السوق في المحلة المذكوره

He was buried in a renowned lodge

In the market, in the aforementioned quarter.

والكختلي ذو النسمات السافحه

بقرب حمام تسمّى الملاحه

Al-Kakhtali, of overflowing breaths,

Is near a bathhouse called al-Mallaha.

وفي الكريميّة ذات الشرف

لقد ثوى عبد الكريم الحنفي

In the honored Karimiyya

Rests ‘Abd al-Karim al-Hanafi.

وخذ الى زاوية الهلالي

فيها الهلالان هما المثالي

Go to al-Hilali's lodge;

There are the two Hilalis, exemplary men.

كذا ابو بكر بها مقيم

قبليّه فالشيخ ابراهيم

Abu Bakr likewise resides there;

South of him is Shaykh Ibrahim.

وجهة الغرب هناك موقد

ثوى به ابنه الفتى محمد

Westward there is a hearth;

His son, the noble Muhammad, rests there.

كانوا ذوي مراتب في الرشد

والخير والتقى وحفظ العهد

They possessed ranks of right guidance,

Goodness, piety, and keeping the covenant.

ثم الأريحاوي وهو موسى

في جامع غدا له سرموسا

Then al-Arihawi, who is Musa,

Lies interred in a mosque.

والشيخ عبد الله من خان مطاف

له مقام وسطٌ في الأطراف

Shaykh ‘Abd Allah, from Khan Mataf,

Has a shrine midway among the outskirts.

ومصطفى المجذوب وهو الطاهري

في المدفن القبلي فيه محتوى

Mustafa the ecstatic, al-Tahiri,

Is contained in the southern burial place.

وهو من صلب الافندي عمر

وكشفه قبل مماته ظهر

He was the son of ‘Umar Efendi;

His unveiling appeared before his death.

والشيخ صالح سليل الجيلي

من داخل المدفن في مقيل

Shaykh Salih, descendant of al-Jili,

Rests inside the burial place.

والشيخ طه قبره في المدرسه

مدرسة الاكراد يسقى أكؤسه

Shaykh Taha's grave is in the school,

The Kurdish school; may he drink its cups.

ومن له ينمى فطه زاده

وفي حماه دفنوا اولاده

The one associated with it is Taha Zada;

His children were buried in his sanctuary.

وخذ الى مدرسة الكواكبي

حمى ابي يحيى رفيع الجانب

Go to al-Kawakibi's school,

Sanctuary of Abu Yahya, of lofty standing.

ومعه الكواكبي محمد

الاردبي خرقة ومسند

With him is Muhammad al-Kawakibi,

Ardabili in cloak and transmission.

جانبه المولى ابو السعود

مفتي الانام كوكب السعود

Beside him is the master Abu al-Su‘ud,

Mufti to the people, star of good fortune.

ومعهم في ذا المقام علما

من قومهم ايمة في ذا الحما

With them in this shrine are scholars,

Imams of their people in this sanctuary.

وقد غدت مقبرة الذريه

وكلهم كواكب دريه

It became the descendants' cemetery;

All are radiant stars.

والكيزواني شيخه علوان

الحموي عليهم الرضوان

Al-Kizwani's shaykh was ‘Alwan

Al-Hamawi; may divine pleasure be upon them.

في قلعة الشريف داخل المقام

له محل في الطريق ومقام

In Qal‘at al-Sharif, inside the shrine,

He has a place and station on the Path.

وفي الشعيبية فالغضابري

شعيب الولي ذو المآثر

In al-Shu‘aybiyya is al-Ghadabari,

Shu‘ayb, the saint of noble deeds.

سوق الجديد فيه قبر نير

وهو قديم من قديم يذكر

Suq al-Jadid contains a luminous grave,

Ancient, remembered from long ago.

والشيخ معروف بسوق الضرب

كان شجاعا باسلا في الحرب

Shaykh Ma‘ruf is in Suq al-Darb;

He was courageous and valiant in battle.

واليشبكيّ قرب دار العدل

في اليشبكية وريف الظل

Al-Yashbaki is near Dar al-‘Adl,

In al-Yashbakiyya, luxuriant in shade.

والأسدي علي مفتي الشهبا

وكان شهما في المعالي ندبا

‘Ali al-Asadi, mufti of al-Shahba’,

Was noble, generous in lofty pursuits.

وكان في العلم إمام الكل

وبارعاً مبرزاً في الفضل

In learning he was everyone's imam,

Brilliant and outstanding in excellence.

في الأسدية له قبر شهير

ومعه ابنه محمد المنير

In al-Asadiyya he has a renowned grave,

With his luminous son Muhammad.

جانبه اصلان دده الولّ

ذو شهرة وكشفه جليّ

Beside him is Aslan Dede, the saint,

Renowned, his unveiling manifest.

وفي الصلاحيّة شيخ امجد

من الكرام واسمه محمد

In al-Salahiyya is an illustrious shaykh,

Among the noble; his name is Muhammad.

بالقرب منه الشيخ عبد الرحمن

على الطريق شيخه الشيخ اصلان

Near him is Shaykh ‘Abd al-Rahman;

His shaykh on the Path was Shaykh Aslan.

معظم المقام في الجيران

لكل قاص يرتجى ودان

His shrine is honored among the neighbors,

Sought by everyone far and near.

ومعه شخصان مدفونان

في الأشرفية رفيعا شان

Two persons are buried with him

In al-Ashrafiyya, both of lofty standing.

واقصد مقام السيد الكيالي

عبد الجواد ذي الجنان العالي

Seek the shrine of the master al-Kayyali,

‘Abd al-Jawad, of lofty heart,

ابن الرفاعي صحيح النسب

قاصده لكم نجى من عطب

A descendant of al-Rifa‘i, of sound lineage.

How many who sought him escaped ruin!

طار بجنحين بعلم ومدد

له مقامان صلاح ورشد

He flew on two wings: learning and spiritual aid;

He possessed two stations: righteousness and guidance.

جانبه اولاده نزول

علي واسحق واسماعيل

Beside him his sons have settled:

‘Ali, Ishaq, and Isma‘il.

فالشيخ اسماعيل ذو أحوال

له كرامات وكشف عالي

Shaykh Isma‘il possessed spiritual states,

Miraculous graces and lofty unveiling,

صاحب تصريف وحال خارق

وهيبة عليه لم تفارق

Spiritual governance and an extraordinary state;

An awe that never left him.

ثم عليّ ذو كمال ووقار

يميل في فخاره للاعتبار

Then ‘Ali, possessed of perfection and dignity,

Inclining in his glory toward reflection.

جرى على يديه اسنى منقبه

حاز بها في الناس أعلى مرتبه

Through his hands occurred a splendid virtue,

Through which he gained the highest rank among people.

وصنوه اسحق وفي كيله

وبين اهل الفضل جرّ ذيله

His brother Ishaq fulfilled his measure,

Trailing his robe among the people of excellence.

قرّاء حصة من العلوم

فنالها بطبعه السليم

He studied a share of the sciences,

Attaining it through his sound disposition.

طائفة شريفة مباركه

وفي المعالي أبوا المشاركه

A noble, blessed company,

Refusing rivals in lofty qualities.

وان تيمم مرقد البيلوني

الشيخ فتح الله ذي اليقين

If you seek al-Bayluni's resting place,

Shaykh Fath Allah, possessed of certainty,

فقبره ضمن الزقاق الضيق

بقرب جب اسد الله التقي

His grave is within the narrow alley,

Near the well of devout Asad Allah.

على الطريق قبله الحمام

الشيخ عبد الله في المقام

Along the road, south of the bathhouse,

Is Shaykh ‘Abd Allah in the shrine,

الجاوري وشيخنا المواهبي

يقوم اني مرر له بالواجب

Al-Jawri; and our shaykh al-Mawahibi

Performs his due wherever he passes [text unclear].

والشيخ زين في زقاق الفرن

والشيخ فتحي ثويا في أمن

Shaykh Zayn is in Zuqaq al-Furn,

And Shaykh Fathi; both rest securely.

والبكفلوني منهما قريب

في مسجد كالنجم لا يغيب

Al-Bakfaluni is near them,

In a mosque, like a star that never sets.

ومعه الشيخ ابو بكر مقيم

مثواهما صار بجنّات النعيم

Shaykh Abu Bakr resides with him;

Their abode became the gardens of bliss.

والصالحيه الرباط المعمور

بالذكر حلها العنيزي المشهور

Al-Salihiyya, the lodge thriving

With remembrance, housed the renowned al-‘Unayzi.

والشيخ بدران من الشمال

وهو من القوم ذوي الكمال

Shaykh Badran is northward,

One of the company possessed of perfection.

وللسمرقندي قرب الدولك

قبرٌ منير وهو فيه منسلك

Al-Samarqandi has, near al-Dawlak,

A luminous grave in which he is laid.

والقرمانية فيها المغربي

محمد التقيّ زاكي النسب

In al-Qaramaniyya is al-Maghribi,

Muhammad, devout and pure of lineage.

كذا اخوه ذو الكرامات حسن

جامع بحسيتا بتربة سكن

Likewise his brother Hasan, of miraculous graces,

Settled in a burial ground at Jami‘ Bahsita.

والشيخ سيتا قرب باب الفرج

ضريحه في مسجد في المدرج

Shaykh Sita is near Bab al-Faraj;

His tomb is in a mosque on the stairway.

وان تشرق فضريح القاموس

شيخ جليل في مقام مأنوس

If you go east, there is al-Qamus's tomb,

An eminent shaykh in a welcoming shrine.

وفي الزقاق من شمال المحكمه

قبر القدوري الحنفي له سمه

In the alley north of the court

Is al-Quduri the Hanafi's marked grave,

في مسجد مبارك معمّر

بالصلوات مشرق منور

In a blessed, flourishing mosque,

Radiant and illuminated by prayers.

وعد الى القبلة للبعاج

الشيخ عبد الهل كهف الراجي

Return southward toward al-Ba‘‘aj,

Shaykh ‘Abd Allah, refuge of the hopeful.

بقربه زاوية المنصوري

القادري الأزهري المشهور

Nearby is al-Mansuri's lodge,

The renowned Qadiri Azhari.

جاوره ابن اخته خليفته

عمرُ من طاب وطابت نيّته

His nephew and successor neighbors him:

‘Umar, good himself and good in intention.

ثم الدلوياتي ابو بكر الولي

بقربه وكشفه الكشف الجلي

Then the saint Abu Bakr al-Dalwayati

Is nearby, his unveiling manifest.

وقبر شيخ قد ثوى في المحمه

قبر قديم ذو وقار وسمه

The grave of a shaykh resting in al-Mahamma

Is ancient, possessed of dignity and distinction.

لدا الحسامية دار خربه

دفن فيها عارف ذو رتبه

By al-Husamiyya is a ruined house,

Containing a knower of spiritual rank.

قيل اسمه محمد كمال

له على جيرانه افضال

His name, they say, was Muhammad Kamal;

He bestowed favors upon his neighbors.

وفرجٌ شيخ من النوريّه

مثواه تحت القلة السنيّة

Faraj, a shaykh of the Nuriyya,

Rests beneath the lofty dome,

في مسجد يعرف بالإيناس

والان صار مسكنا للناس

In a mosque called al-Inas,

Now become a dwelling for people.

شرقيّه استاذُنا النسيمي

ممتزجُ المشرب بالتنسيم

East of it is our teacher al-Nasimi,

Whose spiritual draught mingles with gentle breezes.

في داخل الرباط تحت العتبه

وكان ذا مكانة ورتبه

Inside the lodge, beneath the threshold,

He possessed standing and rank.

داخله فمصطفى ذو الرحله

ذكر فيها اولياء جمله

Within it is Mustafa, author of the journey,

In which he mentioned many saints.

ومعهم ابو الصفا قد دفنا

كل بساحة النسيمي سكنا

With them Abu al-Safa was buried;

All settled in al-Nasimi's precinct.

والنقشبندي احمد الشهير

من خارج وقبره منير

The renowned Naqshbandi Ahmad

Is outside, his grave luminous.

كذا النجيب رجل مبارك

وفي طريقهم لهم قد شارك

Likewise al-Najib, a blessed man,

Who shared with them in their Path.

ومسجد احياه اسماعيل

الحكمدار الحازم النبيل

A mosque revived by Isma‘il,

The resolute, noble governor,

ففيه زين العابدين آوى

والذاهبين الأولين ساوى

Sheltered Zayn al-‘Abidin,

Who joined the earlier departed.

وتربة الجبيل مثوى الساده

وروضة الانوار والشهاده

Al-Jubayl's burial ground is the masters' abode,

A garden of lights and martyrdom.

كالنعلبندي حوله اولاده

والكل منهم ظاهر امداده

Like al-Na‘lbandi, surrounded by his sons;

Each one's spiritual aid is manifest.

بقربه العلامة النحرير

الحسن المدرس الشهير

Nearby is the consummate savant,

Al-Hasan, the renowned teacher.

كان له الرسوخ في العلوم

ورتبة المنطوق والمفهوم

He possessed firm grounding in the sciences,

And rank in explicit and implied meaning.

وكان مفتي حلب العواصم

بورع فيه وزهد قائم

He was mufti of Aleppo al-‘Awasim,

Established in scrupulousness and asceticism.

جانبه محمود وهو المرعشي

من قلبه علما وإيماناً حشي

Beside him is Mahmud al-Mar‘ashi,

Whose heart was filled with knowledge and faith.

اعلا الجبيل مهبط الأملاك

فيه ثوى محمود الانطاكي

Al-Jubayl's summit, descent-place of angels,

Contains Mahmud al-Antaki.

ومعه العالم ذو التحقيق

محمد الفائز بالتوفيق

With him is the discerning scholar,

Muhammad, favored with divine success.

وكان قد فوّض امر الفتوى

في حلب كذاك له يروى

The office of issuing legal opinions was entrusted

To him in Aleppo, as related.

وجهة القبلة فالنوريّه

اكابرٌ اجلةٌ صوفيّه

Southward are the Nuriyya,

Great, eminent Sufis.

أوّل آت منهم بالبسط

من نحو اخلاط بهذا الربط

The first of them to come with expansion

From around Akhlat to these lodges

محمد وكان شيخا ماجدا

مكتفيا بربه وزاهدا

Was Muhammad, a glorious shaykh,

Content with his Lord and ascetic.

وبعده خلفه محمود

شيخ تقي صالح رشيد

After him his successor was Mahmud,

A devout, righteous, rightly guided shaykh.

وبعده احمد ذو الكرامه

خليفة اقامه مقامه

After him was Ahmad, of miraculous grace,

A successor appointed in his station.

وبعده الشيخ المربي الناصح

خليفة القوم محمد صالح

After him was the caring, advising shaykh,

The community's successor, Muhammad Salih.

ثم ختام المرشدين مصطفى

عرف بالخوجا وكان ذا صفا

Then the last of the guides, Mustafa,

Known as al-Khuja, possessed of purity,

مفنّنا الاقه رضيه

عالي جناب ونفسه زكيه

Versatile, of pleasing manners,

Of lofty standing and pure soul.

وبعده خادمه شريف

خليفةٌ ومجده طريف

After him his attendant Sharif

Became successor, his glory newly attained.

وفي الجبيل قبور قديمه

وشهدا اخبارهم معلومه

In al-Jubayl are ancient graves,

And martyrs whose accounts are known,

مجاهدون في سبيل الله

بهم نفاخر وبهم نباهي

Strivers in God's path,

Through whom we take pride and boast.

وكلهم طوتهم الاراضي

وقد مضوا والله عنهم راضي

The earth enfolded them all;

They passed away, God pleased with them.

في باب غربي الجبيل قبر

له مهابة سمت وسر

At al-Jubayl's western gate is a grave,

Possessed of reverence, bearing, and secret.

محمد الغول كذا سمعنا

ممن باخبار الكريم يعنى

Muhammad al-Ghul, thus we heard

From those concerned with this noble man's accounts.

ومسجد منها اليها يسلك

من قبلة فيه ثوى شاهين بك

A mosque is reached from there,

Southward; within it rests Shahin Bey.

ومسجد من جهة المشرق ثان

بقربه قد دفن الشيخ بلبان

Another mosque is toward the east;

Near it Shaykh Balban was buried.

ومسجد فيه ابو ذر الهمام

ومعه اعزة عز كرام

A mosque contains noble Abu Dharr,

With mighty, honored, noble companions.

ودرج القسطل قرب السوق

فيه مغار كامل الشروق

The steps of al-Qastal are near the market;

There is a cave filled with radiance.

فيه ضريح رجل قديم

قد حل فيه وهو كالرقيم

Within it is an ancient man's tomb;

He settled there, like al-Raqim.

والعارف الهندي عبد القادر

هو بكلتاوية مجاور

The Indian knower ‘Abd al-Qadir

Resides at al-Kiltawiyya.

والمستدامية فيها شيخان

من الاكابر الفحول الاعيان

In al-Mustadamiyya are two shaykhs,

Among the great, mighty, eminent men:

شيخ جمال الدين والشيخ كما

ل الدين حلّا وهنا مثواهما

Shaykh Jamal al-Din and Shaykh Kama—

—l al-Din; they settled here, their resting place.

معهما جماعة في المرقد

اجدائهم في المشكلات تقصد

With them is a company in the burial place;

Their assistance is sought in difficulties.

في حرم الجامع في البياضه

شخص هنا جثته مرتاضه

Within the mosque precinct at al-Bayyada

Is a man whose body here was disciplined.

يروى لنا عمن رأى في الرؤيا

بان هذا الجركيّ يحيى

We are told by one who saw in a dream

That this is Yahya al-Jarkasi.

في منزل مالكه الدباغ

قبر عليه من وقار داغ

In a house owned by al-Dabbagh

Is a grave bearing dignity's mark.

وهو محمد دعي بالكوفي

اكرم بصوفي صفا فصوفي

He is Muhammad, called al-Kufi;

How noble a Sufi, purified and made pure!

بالقرب من باب الحديد مرقد

في مسجد لزركبي احمد

Near Bab al-Hadid is a resting place

In a mosque, for Ahmad al-Zarkabi.

في جامع الحموي ضريح النوري

محمد مستوجب التوقير

In Jami‘ al-Hamawi is al-Nuri's tomb,

Muhammad, deserving reverence.

وهو من النورية الاكابر

له مكارم وسر ظاهر

He is among the great Nuriyya,

Possessed of noble deeds and a manifest secret.

وفي الطريق عند جب القبّه

قبر جليل وعليه الهيبه

On the road by Jubb al-Qubba

Is an eminent grave, covered with awe.

ولسليمان الشهير جامع

فيه ضرايح سناها ساطع

The renowned Sulayman has a mosque

Containing tombs of radiant brilliance.

فالقرامانيان قربه انجلا

قبراهما وفي الطريق جملا

The two Qaramanis' graves appeared nearby,

Beautifying the Path.

هما محمد الولي النير

وعمر الشهم الجليل الأنور

They are Muhammad, the luminous saint,

And ‘Umar, noble, eminent, and radiant.

بالقرب منهما ضريح ذو قدم

من قبل بعثة النبي المحترم

Near them is an ancient tomb,

From before the revered Prophet's mission.

دليل هذا قبره منحرف

لجهة الشرق وليس يعرف

Its proof is that the grave inclines

Toward the east; its occupant is unknown.

ووصفوه انه شيخ الكبب

يقبلها نذرا لتفريج الكرب

They described him as Shaykh al-Kibab,

Accepting kibbeh as vows to relieve distress.

يضعها الناذر فوق قبره

فتختفي وذا قبول نذره

The person making the vow places it on his grave;

It disappears, signifying acceptance of the vow.

وفي المشاطية قبر السعد

وهو اليماني الوفي العهد

In al-Mashatiyya is al-Sa‘d's grave,

The Yemeni, faithful to his covenant,

شيخ شهير مرشد ذو قدر

مغيث من في ظله يستذري

A renowned guide of high standing,

Helping whoever seeks shelter in his shade.

والعجمي الشيخ ابراهيم

في الصحن من جامعها مقيم

Shaykh Ibrahim al-‘Ajami

Resides in its mosque's courtyard.

رايته في النوم من سنينا

عديدة اظنّها خمسينا

I saw him in sleep many years

Ago—I think fifty—

في موضع الصندوق وهو واقف

ووجهه يزهو كبرق خاطف

Standing where the tomb-chest is,

His face shining like flashing lightning.

جبهته لينة طريّه

لمستها بيدي الغويه

His forehead was soft and fresh;

I touched it with my erring hand.

وعند اوجقر جق مدفون ولي

يدعى سراج الدين ذو نور جلي

At Ujqur Jiq a saint is buried,

Called Siraj al-Din, of manifest light.

والموصلي في جامع المصلّى

بالسر والامداد قد تحلّى

Al-Mawsili is in Jami‘ al-Musalla,

Adorned with the secret and spiritual aid.

في محلة الأبراج فالابراجي

غوثٌ وليّ عون كل راجي

In the al-Abraj quarter is al-Abraji,

A saintly succor, help of every hopeful one.

والعالم العلّامة الحدادي

الحنفي بركة العباد

The learned savant al-Haddadi,

The Hanafi, blessing of God's servants,

وهو الامام شارح القدوري

وعمدة المذهب في التحرير

Is the imam who commented on al-Quduri,

And the school's mainstay in scholarly exposition.

ضريحه في جامع الحدادين

يجاب عنده دعاء الداعين

His tomb is in Jami‘ al-Haddadin;

There the supplicants' prayers are answered.

وكم رأوا فيه الامام الغالب

على امام الشرق والمغارب

How often they saw in him the prevailing imam

Over the imam of east and west.

ثم المغاوري على الطريق

منه بعيدٌ في شمالي السوق

Then al-Maghawiri is on the road,

Far from him, north of the market.

وجهة العريان جامع به

القاسم النجار ذو النور البهي

Toward al-‘Uryan is a mosque containing

Al-Qasim al-Najjar, of splendid light.

كذا الحريرون قد اقاموا

به وهم اعزة كرام

The Hariris likewise settled

There, honored and noble.

بالقرب منهم الفتى العريان

العبد للباقي له برهان

Near them is the man al-‘Uryan,

‘Abd al-Baqi, possessed of a sign.

وقربه فتربة الشريف

نعته الجميع بالتشريف

Nearby is al-Sharif's burial ground;

Everyone described him with honor.

مشحونةٌ بالعلماء الساده

والشهداء والغزاة القاده

It is filled with learned masters,

Martyrs, warriors, and leaders.

شهرتها الآن قبور الغربا

تعظيمهم عند المرور وجبا

It is now known as the Strangers' Graves;

Honoring them when passing is obligatory.

وقربهم محمد الغريب

من قبلة مقامه رحيب

Near them is Muhammad al-Gharib;

Southward, his shrine is spacious.

وفي زقاق السيدا شباك

لقبّة فيها الفتى الفتاك

In Zuqaq al-Sayda is a window

Of a dome containing the formidable man,

يقال عيسى البطل الجماهري

ذو العزم في الحروب والمآثر

Called ‘Isa, the hero al-Jamahiri,

Resolute in wars and noble deeds.

غربيّه على الطريق السالك

زاويةٌ للقنبري الناسك

West of it, on the traveled road,

Is the lodge of the ascetic al-Qanbari.

دفن فيها معه شيخان

من الكرام الغرّ صالحان

Two shaykhs were buried there with him,

Righteous men among the radiant nobles.

وفي رحاب جامع الميداني

المصطفى الملقي عالي الشان

In Jami‘ al-Maydani's precincts

Is Mustafa al-Mulqi, of lofty standing.

ومعه فالشيخ عبد الله

وسادةٌ من جلة الأشباه

With him is Shaykh ‘Abd Allah,

And masters among the eminent peers.

ومن شمال الجامع المذكور

الى الزقاق السالك المعمور

North of the aforementioned mosque,

Toward the traveled, inhabited alley,

في رأسه الشيخ حسين الفتال

شيخٌ همام وهو فيه قد قال

At its head is Shaykh Husayn al-Fattal,

A noble shaykh who dwelt there.

شماله فالشيخ عبد الله

راس الطريق في رباط زاهي

North of him is Shaykh ‘Abd Allah,

At the road's head, in a splendid lodge.

وشرف الدين ففي المعظم

من غربه ايضا فشيخ اكرم

Sharaf al-Din is in al-Mu‘azzam;

West of it likewise is a noble shaykh.

والحرمي في بردميك لقد ثوى

بخيره أعلى المقامات حوى

Al-Harami rests in Bardamik;

Through his goodness he attained the highest stations.

وخذ إلى محلة الاكراد

فقبر عبد الله فيها بادي

Go to the Kurdish quarter;

‘Abd Allah's grave is visible there.

وهو لنا جار ونعم الجار

له مقام زانه الانوار

He is our neighbor—an excellent neighbor—

With a shrine adorned by lights.

والشيخ صالح له في الساجه

في مسجد قبرٌ رحيب الساحه

Shaykh Salih has in al-Saja,

In a mosque, a spacious grave.

ومعه اجلّة في الصحن

من خارج فزرهم تستغني

With him are eminent men in the courtyard

Outside; visit them and gain sufficiency.

وفي رباط السادة السعديّه

ضريح شيخ كامل المزيه

In the lodge of the Sa‘diyya masters

Is the tomb of a shaykh of perfected excellence,

الاكمل الشهم الهمام الفرد

ومعه عبد الرحيم السعدي

Most perfect, noble, resolute, unique,

With ‘Abd al-Rahim al-Sa‘di.

وجامع الجديدة المشهور

فيه ضرايح علاها النور

The renowned Mosque of al-Judayda

Contains tombs crowned with light.

منهم محمدٌ ابو الحسين

وذاك سعديٌّ بغير مين

Among them is Muhammad Abu al-Husayn,

A Sa‘di, without falsehood.

غربيّه بنقوس في الاخبار

عدّ ومعدود من التجار

West of him is Banqus, in the accounts

Mentioned and counted among merchants.

وجامع الزكي بقربه اشتهر

قبر خليفة له الزكي عمر

Near the Mosque of al-Zaki became renowned

The grave of his successor, virtuous ‘Umar.

وعند قوم فهو البعاج

وليس في ذا لهم احتجاج

Some consider him al-Ba‘‘aj,

But they have no proof for this.

هذا الذي تحريره تيسّر

اما الذي قد فاتني فاكثر

This is what I could set down;

What escaped me is far more,

لأنّ الاستقصاء غير ممكن

وانني بذا مقر مذعن

For exhaustive inquiry is impossible,

And I acknowledge and admit this.

فانما الشهباء اسلاميّه

قديمةٌ في الأعصار الخليّه

Al-Shahba’ is an Islamic city,

Ancient through bygone ages.

اطرفها مشحونة بالساده

كذاك من دخلها زياده

Its outskirts are filled with masters,

Besides those who entered it.

وانما تقادم الاعصار

لم يبق من عين ولا آثار

The passing of ages

Left neither persons nor traces.

وعادة اللّه بهذا جاريه

فليتعظ ذوو العقول الواعيه

God's customary way thus proceeds;

Let those of mindful reason take warning.

فيا اولى الابصار هل من مذكر

ويا اولى الغفلة هل من معتبر

O people of insight, will anyone remember?

O heedless people, will anyone take heed?

فكلّ مخلوق عليها فان

واللّه يبقى ابد الازمان

Every creature upon it perishes,

While God remains through endless ages.

مفني الانام بفناء الدنيا

وهو معيدٌ خلقهم في الأخرى

He ends mankind when this world ends,

And recreates them in the next.

يخرجهم للعرض والحساب

الى نعيم او الى عذاب

He brings them forth for presentation and reckoning,

To bliss or to punishment.

سبحانه ربٌّ كريمٌ قادر

احكامه فالعقل فيها حائر

Glory to Him, a generous, powerful Lord;

Reason is bewildered by His decrees.

نسأله بوجهه الكريم

رؤيته في جنّة النعيم

We ask Him by His noble face

To behold Him in the garden of bliss.

وارجع الآن الى الآثار

فانها جليلة المقدار

Now I return to the relics,

For they are of immense worth.

فابتدي بمصحف شريف

معظم القدر بخط كوفي

I begin with a noble Quran manuscript,

Of honored worth, in Kufic script,

بقلم المغيرة بن شعبه

يقال من فاز بصدق الصحبه

Written by al-Mughira ibn Shu‘ba,

It is said, who attained true companionship.

وشعرة من شعر النبي

جليلة بقدرها السني

And a hair from the Prophet's hair,

Great in its exalted worth.

قد وضعا لدى ابي الحصور

شيخ النبيين عظيم النور

The two were placed beside the chaste one's father,

Elder of the prophets, of mighty light.

هو النبي زكريا السيد

في الانبيا له مقام امجد

He is the master, the prophet Zakariya,

Of illustrious station among the prophets.

في المرقد الشريف نحو القبله

من الاكاليل عليها ظله

In the noble resting place, toward the qibla,

A canopy of crowns shades it,

من القماش المذهب الابريم

قد طرزّوها بالطراز المعلم

Made of gilded silken fabric,

Embroidered with figured ornament.

ولم تزل محجوبة عن النظر

شوقا وتعظيما لسيد البشر

It remains veiled from sight,

To inspire longing and honor mankind's master,

الا باوقات تكون في السنه

شريفة عند الاله حسنه

Except at certain times during the year,

Noble and pleasing before God:

اول جمعة تكون في رجب

وبعد عشرين وسبع تحتسب

The first Friday in Rajab,

And the twenty-seventh is counted

منه وفي نهار نصف شعبان

ويوم عشرين وسبع رمضان

Of that month, and mid-Sha‘ban's day,

And the twenty-seventh of Ramadan,

وليلة المولد في ربيع

فانها تبرز للجميع

And the birthday night in Rabi‘,

When it is displayed to everyone.

يرفعها على يديه الحافظ

واعين الناس لها تلاحظ

The custodian raises it in his hands,

And people's eyes gaze upon it.

حجابها زجاجها الشفاف

والعطر والطيب لها تضاف

Its veil is transparent glass;

Perfume and fragrance are added to it.

ويقف الحافظ في باب المقام

يجهر بدأ بالصلوة والسلام

The custodian stands at the shrine's entrance,

Beginning aloud with blessings and peace

على رسول اللّه صاحب الأثر

ومن له معجزة شقّ القمر

Upon God's Messenger, owner of the relic,

Whose miracle was the splitting of the moon.

ويعلن الجميع بالصلوة

عليه جهرة وتسليمات

Everyone proclaims blessings

Upon him aloud, and salutations.

فيهرع الزوار للتقبيل

واللمس بالتعظيم والتبجيل

Visitors hurry to kiss

And touch, with reverence and honor.

ويكثر الجمع والازدحام

ما بين باك دمعه انسجام

The gathering and crowding increase,

Some weeping, their tears streaming,

او فرح بانه قد لمسا

آثار نوره ومنه اقتبسا

Others rejoicing that they have touched

The traces of his light and drawn from it.

ثم اذا انتهوا من الزياره

يرخي عليها الحافظ الستاره

When they finish their visit,

The custodian lowers the curtain over it.

ومنذ يبديها إلى ان تخفى

نور الصلاة ابداً لا يطفى

From its unveiling until it is hidden,

The light of blessings never goes out.

والحمد لله ولي النعمه

أن خصّني فضلا بهذه الخدمه

Praise be to God, giver of grace,

Who favored me with this service.

وانني محمدٌ أبو الوفا

واللّه ربي وهو حسبي وكفى

I am Muhammad Abu al-Wafa;

God is my Lord, my sufficiency, and enough.

وفي الكريميّة آثار قدم

يمين طه ذي المقام والقدم

In al-Karimiyya is the imprint of a foot,

Taha's right foot, of high station and precedence,

في حجر انواره مبينه

سرقه شخص من المدينه

In a stone whose lights are evident.

A person stole it from Medina,

وساقه القضاء للشهباء

لحكمة عظيمة الأنباء

And destiny led him to al-Shahba’,

For a wisdom of momentous import.

وكان قد رأى الفقيه الحنفى

عبد الكريم صاحب الفضل الوفي

The Hanafi jurist had seen—

‘Abd al-Karim, of abundant excellence—

في نومه المبعوث بالرساله

وعرف الشيخ بتلك الحاله

In his sleep, the one sent with the message;

He informed the shaykh of that circumstance,

وعين الشخص وعين الحجر

فحيث ذاك الشخص بالجامع مر

Identifying the person and the stone.

When that person passed the mosque

في غده يحمله على جمل

فبرك البعير بالحمل ومل

The next day, carrying it on a camel,

The camel knelt under the load and wearied.

فبادر الشيخ وحول الحجر

وحلّ بالسارق انواع العبر

The shaykh hastened and moved the stone;

Various admonitory calamities befell the thief.

ووضع الحجر في القبيليّه

كذا سمعنا هذه القضيّه

He placed the stone in the southern section;

Thus we heard this account.

جامع بنقوسا فكف المصطفى

عليه نور فوق نور رفرفا

In Jami‘ Banqusa is the Chosen One's palm-print,

Above it light upon light fluttered.

من يده اليسرى وان كانت يمين

وذا اعتقاد كل ذي عقل ودين

From his left hand, though it is a right hand;

This is every reasonable believer's conviction.

مؤثر في حجر شريف

لاجل هذا خص بالتشريف

Imprinted upon a noble stone,

For this reason especially honored.

يقال انه شراه كوردي

من المدينة بأغلا نقد

It is said a Kurd bought it

From Medina for a very high price.

مرادُه ينقله لبلده

وهي داغستان اصل مولده

He intended to take it to his country,

Dagestan, the place of his birth,

تبركا يكون فيه حرز

لساكنيها وله فعزّ

Seeking blessing, that it might be a protection

For its inhabitants, and honor for him.

ومن هناك شاله على جمل

نقله البعير من غير ملل

From there he carried it upon a camel;

The camel transported it without tiring.

وقد اتى للبلدة السهباء

وصل بانقوسا بلا عناء

He came to the city al-Shahba’,

Reaching Banqusa without difficulty.

وحيث صار في حدود الجامع

وكان بلقعا من البلاقع

When he reached the mosque's boundaries,

It was a barren tract among barren tracts,

في ساحة واسعة الفناء

وليس من عين ولا من ماء

In a broad, spacious clearing,

With neither spring nor water.

فبرك الحامل بالمحمول

لسان حاله هنا مقيلي

The bearer knelt with its burden;

Its condition said, 'Here is my resting place.'

حينئذْ شادوا بناء الجامع

اهل المبرات ذوو الصنايع

Then they erected the mosque's building,

People of charity and skilled workmanship.

ووضعوه في جدار القبله

يا ليتني انال منه قبله

They placed it in the qibla wall;

Would that I might obtain a kiss from it!

سمعت هذا من اناس عده

بذا عليهم لا علي العهده

I heard this from several people;

Responsibility for it is theirs, not mine.

وبقعة في جامع الاطروش

مشرقة بنورها المرشوش

A spot in Jami‘ al-Atrush

Is radiant with its sprinkled light,

من قبلة في جهة للشرق

سناؤها يضىء مثل البرق

Southward, toward the east;

Its brilliance shines like lightning.

رؤي فيها سيد الوجود

محمد صاحب فيض الجود

There the master of existence was seen,

Muhammad, possessor of overflowing generosity.

وحوله الداربزون معقوذ

تكرمة لذي المقام المحمود

Around it a railing was installed,

Honoring him of the praised station.

وقدم الخليل في المقام

لم تمحه قدما يد الأنام

Ibrahim's footprint is in the shrine;

Human hands have not erased it through time.

في حجر من وطئه تاثر

فهو مبارك جليل انور

His tread left its impression in a stone,

Blessed, eminent, and luminous.

والحجر الاسود في المحراب

شرقه صار بالاقتراب

The black stone in the prayer niche

Is close to its eastern side.

كان الخليل كلما جاء المقام

يسند ظهره بالتزام

Whenever Ibrahim came to the shrine,

He regularly leaned his back against it.

والجرن في مقام ابراهيما

في جامع القلعة قد أقيما

The basin in Ibrahim's shrine

Was installed in the citadel mosque.

وكان فيه يحلب المواشي

فيهرع الناس من الحواشي

He used to milk livestock into it;

People hurried from the surrounding districts

له ليتماروا من الألبان

وكان يدعى بابي الضيفان

To him, to obtain supplies of milk.

He was called the Father of Guests.

بالقرب منه فمقام الخضر

وقيل الياس بباب النصر

Nearby is al-Khidr's shrine;

Some say Ilyas is at Bab al-Nasr.

ومسجد الغوث به قيل حجر

من جهة القبلة نير الأثر

In the Mosque of al-Ghawth, they say, is a stone

On the qibla side, of luminous trace,

مكتب بالقلم الكوفي

خط الإمام المرتضي علي

Inscribed in Kufic lettering,

The handwriting of Imam al-Murtada ‘Ali.

والأموي فيه كما قيل حجر

اسود معه آخر قد استقر

In the Umayyad mosque, it is said, is a stone,

Black, with another settled beside it,

في حايط القبلة من اعلاه

غربا وفي الرأس غدا بناه

High in the qibla wall,

Westward; its building arose for the head.

في يوم عاشوراء كلّ موسم

يقطر منه قطرةٌ من الدم

On ‘Ashura’, every year,

A drop of blood drips from it.

لأنهم بالرأس يوم مروا

من حلب وكان فيهم شمر

For when they passed with the head

Through Aleppo, Shimr was among them.

فوضعوا الرأس على ذاك الحجر

فخص بالتشريف من ذاك الاثر

They placed the head upon that stone,

And it was honored by that trace.

وجعلوا الدرابزين تحته

في الأرض للصون عن الوطئى له

They placed a railing beneath it

On the ground, to protect it from trampling.

والحجر الذي عليه يرقى

الى الحجازية نعم المرقى

The stone on which one ascends

To al-Hijaziyya—an excellent ascent—

من لبهج الاحجار منظرا حجر

مسند ظهر مظهر العدل عمر

Is among the loveliest stones to behold,

A backrest for ‘Umar, manifester of justice,

ابن الفتى عبد العزيز الأموي

اذا كان ناظر البنا كما روي

Son of noble ‘Abd al-‘Aziz, the Umayyad,

When he oversaw construction, as related,

في الجامع الكبير ايام الهشام

وعنده يعطي الاجور بالتمام

In the Great Mosque during Hisham's days,

Paying wages there in full.

فعمّه منه جزيل البركه

مجربٌ لنجح كل حركه

From him abundant blessing encompassed it;

It is tried for success in every undertaking.

والبدوي أحمد القطب المكين

مقامه في حارة الدلالين

Ahmad al-Badawi, the firmly established Pole,

Has his shrine in the brokers' quarter.

والقرقلاري فمقام الأربعين

ينمى لهم وهو بهم ركن ركين

Al-Qirqlari is the shrine of the Forty,

Attributed to them, a firm pillar through them.

وهو رباطٌ من شمال القلعه

اشياخه السبق حازوا الرفعه

It is a lodge north of the citadel;

Its shaykhs attained precedence and elevation.

ايضا واربعون زيل العقبه

مقامهم هيبته مرجبّه

There are also forty below al-‘Aqaba;

Their shrine's awe is venerated.

باب المقام فيه اربعونا

ايضا اقروا بهم العيونا

Bab al-Maqam likewise contains forty;

Through them eyes found delight.

وكل باب اعظم في البلده

موكل بهم اهالي النوبه

Every principal gate of the town

Is entrusted to the people of the spiritual watch.

وخارج المقام محرابان

لنجح من يدعوا مجريان

Outside the shrine are two prayer niches,

Tried for the success of those who pray.

وداخل الفردوس قبتان

رفيعتا البنا عظيمتان

Inside al-Firdaws are two domes,

Loftily built and magnificent.

وفيهما شخصان مدفونان

من الكرام السادة الأعيان

Within them two persons are buried,

Among the noble, eminent masters.

فان فتحت الباب عن احديهما

أغلق في الحال وهذا دائما

If you open the door of one,

It closes immediately, always.

والثاي ان اغلقته تفتحا

حالا وهذا ظاهر قد وضحا

If you close the other, it opens

At once; this is evident and clear.

وهذه كرامة لا تخلوا

عن حكمة بالغة لا تجل

This miraculous grace is not devoid

Of profound wisdom that is not manifest.

كذا سمعنا من صديق قطنا

عندهما وهو صدق عندنا

Thus we heard from a friend who lived

Beside them, whom we consider truthful.

فهذه القبور والآثار

بحسب الوسع لها الذكار

These are the graves and relics,

Mentioned according to my capacity.

فنسأل الله بأن ينفعنا

بحبهم ومعهم يحشرنا

We ask God to benefit us

Through loving them, and resurrect us with them,

تحت لواء المصطفى في الحشر

في زمرة المحجلين الغر

Under the Chosen One's banner at the resurrection,

Among those with radiant faces and limbs,

والانبيا والاوليا والصلحا

ومن لهم عن الذنوب صفحا

The prophets, saints, and righteous,

And those whose sins He has pardoned,

ونظرا لوجهه الكريم

والشرب من رحيقه المختوم

And grant sight of His noble face,

And drinking of His sealed nectar.

يا ربنا استجب لنا الدعاء

وارحم به الاموات والاحياء

Our Lord, answer our prayer,

And through it show mercy to dead and living.

يا ربنا واغفر لوالدي

وارحمهما وكن بنا حفيّا

Our Lord, forgive my parents,

Show them mercy, and be gracious to us.

وهب لنا يا ربّ من ازواجنا

قرّة أعين وذرياتنا

Grant us, our Lord, from our spouses

And offspring, delight of the eyes.

وافضل الصلوة والسلام

واعظم الاجلال والاكرام

The finest blessings and peace,

And the greatest reverence and honor,

على الرسول سيد الخليفه

محمد من أوضح الطريقه

Upon the Messenger, master of creation,

Muhammad, who made the way clear,

والآل والاصحاب والازواج

ما شق فجرٌ عن ظلام داجي

His family, companions, and wives,

Whenever dawn cleaves the deep darkness,

والتابعين الغر والايمه

اربعةٌ فهم هداة الأمه

The radiant Followers and the imams,

Four, who are guides of the community,

والاولياء حيهم والميت

كذا على اقطاب اهل البيت

The saints, living and dead,

Likewise the Poles of the Prophet's household,

وكل قطب ثم آل النوبه

وصاحب الوقت عظيم الهيبه

Every Pole, then the people of the watch,

And the master of the age, of mighty awe.

الى هنا قد تمت الارجوزه

على قلوب الادبا عزيزه

Here the rajaz poem is completed,

Precious to literary hearts.

خريدةٌ ميمونةٌ محجبه

لكل ناظر لها محبّبه

A blessed, veiled maiden,

Beloved by everyone who beholds her.

عدتها خوداً زكا سناها

تاريخها خير وفا انشاها

Its count is 'a maiden whose brilliance flourished';

Its date: 'Khayr Wafa composed it.'