كلُّ وقتٍ له من القَومِ شيخٌ

كلُّ وقتٍ له من القَومِ شيخٌ

هو في الأَولِياءِ شيخُ الزَّمانِ

هو في الأَولِياءِ شيخُ الزَّمانِ

Every age has, among the spiritual folk, a sheikh.

Every age has a shaykh from among the folk.

Among the saints, he is the sheikh of the age.

Among the saints, he is the shaykh of the age.

يفهَمُ الحُكمَ يفهَمُ السِّرَّ يُبْدي

يفهَمُ الحُكمَ يفهَمُ السِّرَّ يُبْدي

للمُحِبِّينَ المعَانِي

للمُحِبِّينَ المعَانِي

He understands wisdom, fathoms the mystery, and reveals

He understands judgment, understands the secret, and reveals

the meanings to those who love.

The meanings to the lovers.

يأخُذُ الأَمرَ من مَقامِ التَّلَقِّي

يأخُذُ الأَمرَ من مَقامِ التَّلَقِّي

بالتَّدَلِّي على انْتِساقِ التَّدَانِي

بالتَّدَلِّي على انْتِساقِ التَّدَانِي

He receives the command from the station of reception,

He receives the command from the station of reception,

through descent along the ordered stages of nearness.

Through descent, along the ordered course of drawing near.

يَجْتلي الكَأسَ في حَديقَةِ قربٍ

يَجْتلي الكَأسَ في حَديقَةِ قربٍ

خمرَ روحٍ لا خمرَ بيضِ القَنَانِي

خمرَ روحٍ لا خمرَ بيضِ القَنَانِي

He clearly beholds the cup in a garden of proximity:

He beholds the cup in a garden of nearness—

wine of the spirit, not wine from white flasks.

Wine of the spirit, not wine from white bottles.

يجذِبُ السَّالِكينَ للهِ جذْباً

يجذِبُ السَّالِكينَ للهِ جذْباً

نَبَوِيًّا بخالِصِ السَّرَيَانِ

نَبَوِيًّا بخالِصِ السَّرَيَانِ

He draws the wayfarers to God with a pull

He draws the wayfarers to God with a pull,

prophetic in its pure, all-pervading flow.

Prophetic, with pure permeation.

هَيِّنٌ ليِّنٌ على الخالِصِ القلْ

هَيِّنٌ ليِّنٌ على الخالِصِ القلْ

بَ وصَعْباً على أَخي البُهْتانِ

بَ وصَعْباً على أَخي البُهْتانِ

Gentle and tender toward one whose heart is pure

Gentle and tender toward the pure of heart,

in Him, yet stern toward the brother of slander.

And stern toward slander's brother.

إن بَدا ظاهِراً أَقامَ ظُهوراً

إن بَدا ظاهِراً أَقامَ ظُهوراً

منه يُجْلى مَقامُهُ للعَيَانِ

منه يُجْلى مَقامُهُ للعَيَانِ

If he appears openly, he establishes a manifestation

If he appears openly, he establishes a manifestation

through which his station becomes clear to beholders.

Through which his station is unveiled to sight.

وإذا ما اخْتَفى تجلَّتْ عَلَيْهِ

وإذا ما اخْتَفى تجلَّتْ عَلَيْهِ

سُبُحاتٌ وَضَّاحَةُ اللَّمَعَانِ

سُبُحاتٌ وَضَّاحَةُ اللَّمَعَانِ

And whenever he conceals himself, there shine upon him

And whenever he hides, there shine upon him

radiant splendors, brilliant in their gleam.

Splendors of dazzling radiance.

تَغْرِفُ العينُ من مَعانيهِ نوراً

تَغْرِفُ العينُ من مَعانيهِ نوراً

فيه ضمنَ السُّكوتِ كلُّ البَيَانِ

فيه ضمنَ السُّكوتِ كلُّ البَيَانِ

The eye draws light from his meanings;

The eye scoops light from his meanings;

within him, silence encompasses all expression.

In it, amid silence, lies all eloquence.

منه تَدنو القُلُوبُ إن طهَّرَتْها

منه تَدنو القُلُوبُ إن طهَّرَتْها

نفحَةٌ من دَسائِسِ الشَّيْطَانِ

نفحَةٌ من دَسائِسِ الشَّيْطَانِ

Hearts draw near to him when a breath has cleansed them

Hearts draw near to him if they are purified

of Satan’s insidious whisperings.

By a breath that clears away Satan's intrigues.

والقُلوبُ التي اعْتَراها ظلامٌ

والقُلوبُ التي اعْتَراها ظلامٌ

فهي عنه بعيدَةُ الإِذْعَانِ

فهي عنه بعيدَةُ الإِذْعَانِ

But hearts overtaken by darkness

And the hearts that darkness has overtaken—

remain far from him, devoid of submission.

They are far from yielding to him.

من يُرى للشَّيْطانِ فيهِ نَصيبٌ

من يُرى للشَّيْطانِ فيهِ نَصيبٌ

فهو مَبْعودُ دولَةِ الدَّيَّانِ

فهو مَبْعودُ دولَةِ الدَّيَّانِ

Whoever sees Satan as having a share in him

He in whom Satan is seen to have a share

is banished from the favor of the Judge.

Is kept far from the dominion of the Requiter.

والَّذي رُشَّ فيه بالغيبِ نورٌ

والَّذي رُشَّ فيه بالغيبِ نورٌ

فهو مَلْحوظُ ذلك الإِنسَانِ

فهو مَلْحوظُ ذلك الإِنسَانِ

But one whom the Unseen has sprinkled with light

And he in whom light has been sprinkled in the unseen

is that human being marked by divine regard.

Is watched over by that man.

إنَّ ذاكَ الإِنسانَ إنْسانُ عينِ ال

إنَّ ذاكَ الإِنسانَ إنْسانُ عينِ ال

نَّاسِ في العَصْرِ مظهَرُ الإِحسَانِ

نَّاسِ في العَصْرِ مظهَرُ الإِحسَانِ

Indeed, that human being is the pupil of the eye of all

Indeed, that man is the pupil of the eye of the

people in the age—a manifestation of beneficence.

People of the age, the manifestation of excellence.

مُفردُ الجمعِ جامِعُ الفَرْقِ والجَمْ

مُفردُ الجمعِ جامِعُ الفَرْقِ والجَمْ

عِ على نهجِ حِكمَةِ الفُرْقَانِ

عِ على نهجِ حِكمَةِ الفُرْقَانِ

The singular one of the many, uniting distinction and union,

The unique one of union, joining separation and union,

upon the path of the Furqan’s wisdom.

Along the path of the wisdom of the Criterion.

مُغْرِبُ الطَّوْرِ مُعْرِبُ الطُّورِ معنَى

مُغْرِبُ الطَّوْرِ مُعْرِبُ الطُّورِ معنَى

شكلِ أُسْلوبِ سيرَةِ العَدْنَانِي

شكلِ أُسْلوبِ سيرَةِ العَدْنَانِي

Wonder-worker of Sinai, expounder of Sinai in meaning;

Wondrous in manner, expounding the Mount—the meaning

in form, manner, and conduct, the Adnanite’s.

Of the form and style of the Adnanite's way.

خادِمُ الشُّرْعِ ناظِمُ الأَصلِ بالفَرْ

خادِمُ الشُّرْعِ ناظِمُ الأَصلِ بالفَرْ

عِ ومِضْمارِ نُقطَةِ الأَلوَانِ

عِ ومِضْمارِ نُقطَةِ الأَلوَانِ

Servant of sacred law, joining the root to the bran—

Servant of the sacred law, weaving the root with the branch

—ch, and the arena of the point of all colors.

And the arena of the point of colors.

مُفْرِغُ الحُكمِ من طَريقِ الإِفاضا

مُفْرِغُ الحُكمِ من طَريقِ الإِفاضا

تِ بحُكمِ النُّصوصِ في الأَكْوَانِ

تِ بحُكمِ النُّصوصِ في الأَكْوَانِ

Pouring forth wisdom by way of effu—

Pouring forth judgment by way of outpourings,

—sions, through the rule of sincere counsel throughout creation.

By the authority of the texts, throughout the worlds.

ناشِرُ الطَيِّ معدِنُ الرَّيِّ فَيَّا

ناشِرُ الطَيِّ معدِنُ الرَّيِّ فَيَّا

ضُ مَعانِ السَّماءِ للخُلاَّنِ

ضُ مَعانِ السَّماءِ للخُلاَّنِ

Unfolder of the folded, wellspring of quenching, lavishly over—

Unfolder of the folded, source of refreshment, pouring forth

—flowing with heaven’s meanings for intimate friends.

Heaven's meanings for dear companions.

نائِبُ المُصْطَفى ووارِثُ سِرِّ ال

نائِبُ المُصْطَفى ووارِثُ سِرِّ ال

حالِ عنهُ وواحِدُ الأَعْيَانِ

حالِ عنهُ وواحِدُ الأَعْيَانِ

Deputy of the Chosen One, heir to the secret of the spiritual

Deputy of the Chosen One and heir to the secret of the

state from him, unique among the eminent ones.

Spiritual state received from him, and peerless among the eminent.

أَحمدُ اللهِ إنَّني اليومَ هذا ال

أَحمدُ اللهِ إنَّني اليومَ هذا ال

شَّيخُ والواحِدُ الرَّصينُ المَبانِي

شَّيخُ والواحِدُ الرَّصينُ المَبانِي

I praise God that today I am this

I praise God: indeed, today I am this

sheikh—the unique one, firm in his foundations.

Shaykh and the unique one, solid in structure.

ها هو الوقتُ في الحَقيقَةِ وَقْتي

ها هو الوقتُ في الحَقيقَةِ وَقْتي

يا بَني العصرِ والزَّمانُ زَمَانِي

يا بَني العصرِ والزَّمانُ زَمَانِي

Behold, in truth this time is my time;

Behold, this time is truly my time.

O sons of the age, the era is mine.

O sons of the age—and the age is my age.

أَفرَغَ المُصْطَفى عليَّ شُؤُناً

أَفرَغَ المُصْطَفى عليَّ شُؤُناً

أَيَّدَتْ لي شأْني برَغْمِ الشَّاني

أَيَّدَتْ لي شأْني برَغْمِ الشَّاني

The Chosen One poured spiritual graces upon me

The Chosen One poured upon me spiritual workings

that confirmed my standing despite the detractor.

That strengthened my standing, despite the hater.

خذْ بُنَيَّ العُقودَ من نَظْمِ سِلْكي

خذْ بُنَيَّ العُقودَ من نَظْمِ سِلْكي

وارْوِ عنِّي حَقائِقَ العِرْفَانِ

وارْوِ عنِّي حَقائِقَ العِرْفَانِ

Take, my son, the necklaces strung upon my thread,

Take, my little son, the necklaces strung on my thread,

and transmit from me the truths of gnosis.

And relate from me the truths of gnosis.

أَنا روحُ الرَّسولِ قامَتْ بأَمْري

أَنا روحُ الرَّسولِ قامَتْ بأَمْري

والرِّفاعِيُّ مُتْقِناً رَبَّاني

والرِّفاعِيُّ مُتْقِناً رَبَّاني

I am the Messenger’s spirit; it rose at my command;

As for me, the Messenger's spirit has taken charge of my affairs,

he and al-Rifa‘i—two consummate masters—raised me.

And al-Rifa‘i nurtured me with mastery.

وجَلَتْني يدُ العِنايَةِ بدراً

وجَلَتْني يدُ العِنايَةِ بدراً

قد تعالى مَرْقاهُ عن كيوَانِ

قد تعالى مَرْقاهُ عن كيوَانِ

The hand of providence disclosed me as a full moon,

And the hand of providence unveiled me as a full moon

whose ascent indeed rose beyond Saturn.

Whose ascent has risen above Kaywan (Saturn).

لا تَخَفْ صَدْمَةَ الزَّمانِ بحالٍ

لا تَخَفْ صَدْمَةَ الزَّمانِ بحالٍ

أَنْتَ ما زِلْتَ في مَقامِ الأَمَانِ

أَنْتَ ما زِلْتَ في مَقامِ الأَمَانِ

Fear no blow of time while I am present;

Do not fear time's blow in any circumstance;

you still abide in the station of safety.

You are still in the station of safety.

واطْرَحِ الكائِناتِ طَرْحَ لَبيبٍ

واطْرَحِ الكائِناتِ طَرْحَ لَبيبٍ

فارِغٍ من مَطارِحِ الأَذْهَانِ

فارِغٍ من مَطارِحِ الأَذْهَانِ

Cast created things aside with a wise man’s casting,

And cast aside created things as a discerning man does,

emptied of the mind’s conjectures;

Free from the mind's preoccupations,

راجِعٍ للشُؤُنِ في اللهِ داعٍ

راجِعٍ للشُؤُنِ في اللهِ داعٍ

لحِماهُ ناءٍ عن الأَوْطَانِ

لحِماهُ ناءٍ عن الأَوْطَانِ

referring every affair back to God, a caller

Returning to the workings in God, calling

to His sanctuary, far from all homelands;

To His sanctuary, far from homelands;

مُسْتَقيمٌ على صِراطٍ قَويمٍ

مُسْتَقيمٌ على صِراطٍ قَويمٍ

وِفْقَ أَمْرِ النَّبِيِّ والقُرْآنِ

وِفْقَ أَمْرِ النَّبِيِّ والقُرْآنِ

upright upon a straight path,

Steadfast upon a straight path,

in accord with the Prophet’s command and the Qur’an.

In accordance with the command of the Prophet and the Qur'an.

هذه سيرَةُ الإِمامِ الرِّفاعِي

هذه سيرَةُ الإِمامِ الرِّفاعِي

عَلَمِ القومِ صاحِبِ البُرْهَانِ

عَلَمِ القومِ صاحِبِ البُرْهَانِ

This is the way of Imam al-Rifa‘i,

This is the way of Imam al-Rifa‘i,

standard of the spiritual folk, possessor of the proof.

The banner of the folk, possessor of the proof.

عن جَنابِ النَّبِيِّ جاءتْ فخُذْها

عن جَنابِ النَّبِيِّ جاءتْ فخُذْها

بأَمانٍ من طارِقِ الحَدَثَانِ

بأَمانٍ من طارِقِ الحَدَثَانِ

It came from the Prophet’s august presence, so take it

It came from the Prophet's august presence, so take it

in safety from the sudden assaults of time.

Safe from the night-visitor of time's vicissitudes.