بدأت ببسم الله في نظم ذا العقد — Mufti Fathallah

بَدَأتُ بِبِسمِ اللَّه في نَظمِ ذا العقدِ

وَأَحمَدُ ربّي اللّه في أَبلَغِ الحَمدِ

I began with 'In the name of God' in weaving this necklace of verse.

And I praise my Lord, God, with the fullest praise.

وَصَلّيتُ آلافاً بِدونِ نِهايَةٍ

وَسَلَّمت آلافاً تُصان عَنِ الحدِّ

I invoked blessings thousands of times, without end,

And offered thousands of salutations, beyond all bounds,

عَلى المُصطَفى المُختارِ أَشرَفِ مُرسلٍ

وَخَيرِ نَبِيٍّ قامَ بِالحقِّ وَالرّشدِ

Upon the Chosen, the Elect, the noblest messenger,

And the best prophet, who upheld truth and right guidance.

كَذاكَ عَلى الآلِ الكِرامِ وَصَحبهِ

أُولي الفَضلِ وَالإِخلاصِ في العَزمِ وَالقصدِ

Likewise upon his noble family and his companions,

Possessors of virtue and sincerity in resolve and purpose.

وَبَعد فَنَدعو اللَّهَ جَلّ جَلالهُ

بِأَقصى خُضوعِ القَلبِ في غايَةِ الجدِّ

Now, we call upon God—exalted is His majesty—

With the heart's deepest submission and utmost earnestness.

وَنَدعوكَ مَولانا بِأَسمائك الّتي

بِأيٍّ بِه تُدعى تُجيب بِلا رَدِّ

We call upon You, our Master, by Your names,

By whichever You are invoked, You answer without rejection.

بِذاتِكَ يا مَن ذاتُهُ قَد تَقَدَّسَت

وَجَلَّت عَنِ التَحديدِ وَالشّكل والنِّدِّ

By Your essence, O You whose essence is sanctified,

And exalted beyond limitation, form, and rival;

كَذا عَن مُشيرٍ أَو وزيرٍ يُعينهُ

وَعَن وَالد وَالأُمّ ثمّ عَنِ الوُلْدِ

Likewise beyond an adviser or minister to assist Him,

Beyond father and mother, and beyond offspring;

كَذا عَن شَريكٍ في الصّفاتِ وَذاتِهِ

وَأَفعالِهِ يا مَن تَنَزّهَ عَن ضدِّ

Likewise beyond any partner in His attributes and essence,

And His deeds, O You who are free of any opposite;

كَذلكَ عَن مِثلٍ وَشبهٍ وَإِنهُ

تَعالى هُوَ المَعروفُ بِالأَحَدِ الفردِ

Likewise beyond any equal or likeness; indeed,

Exalted is He, known as the One, the Unique.

كَذا بِصِفاتِ اللَّهِ جَلَّ كَمالُها

بِكتبِ إلَه العَرشِ أَنزَلَها تَهدي

Likewise by God's attributes, exalted in their perfection,

By the books the God of the Throne sent down to guide;

بِتوراةِ موسى بِالزّبورِ وَبعدهُ

بِإِنجيلِ عيسى مَن تَكَلَّمَ في المَهدِ

By the Torah of Moses, by the Psalms, and thereafter

By the Gospel of Jesus, who spoke in the cradle;

بِقُرآنِ طهَ خاتم الأنبياءِ مَنْ

لَهُ اللَّه مَولانا حَباهُ لِوا الحَمدِ

By the Qur'an of Ta-Ha, seal of the prophets, to whom

God, our Master, bestowed the banner of praise;

وَما فيهِ مِن حَرفٍ وَآيٍ وسورةٍ

وَحكمٍ كَإِدغام وَقصرٍ ومن مدِّ

And by every letter, verse, and surah within it,

And every rule, such as assimilation, shortening, and lengthening;

بِفاتِحة مِنهُ تُسمّى بِلا اِمترا

بِأُمّ كتابِ اللَّهِ ذي الجودِ وَالرفدِ

By its Opening, called without doubt

The Mother of God's Book, God of generosity and bounty;

بِما بَعدها هاتيكَ أَطولُ سورَة

بِآلٍ لعمرانٍ ذَوي الفَضلِ وَالمجدِ

By what follows it, that longest surah,

By the family of Imran, endowed with virtue and glory;

كَذا بِالنّسا ربّي بِمائِدَةٍ أَتت

لِعبدكَ عيسى ربِّ أَكرمهُ مِن عبدِ

Likewise by the Women, my Lord, by a Table that came

To Your servant Jesus—Lord, how noble a servant!

بِسورةِ أَنعامٍ بِأَعرافِها كَذا

بِسورَةِ أَنفال لَها الذّكر مِن بَعدِ

By the surah of Cattle, likewise by its Heights,

By the surah of Spoils, mentioned thereafter;

كَذلِكَ مَولانا بِسورَةِ تَوبةٍ

بِيونسَ مَن أَنجَيتَ مِن غَرقٍ يُردي

Likewise, our Master, by the surah of Repentance,

By Jonah, whom You saved from deadly drowning;

بِسورَةِ هودٍ ثمَّ سورَةِ يوسُفٍ

وَما بَعدها يا ربِّ مِن سورَةِ الرّعدِ

By the surah of Hud, then the surah of Joseph,

And what follows it, Lord: the surah of Thunder;

بِسورَة إِبراهيم بِالحِجر بَعدها

وَبِالنَّحلِ بِالإِيحاء ربِّ لَها تهدي

By the surah of Abraham, by Al-Hijr thereafter,

And by the Bees, Lord, whom You guide through revelation;

بِسورَةِ إِسراء بِكَهفٍ بِمَريم

بِطَه كَذا بِالأَنبِياءِ أُولي المَجدِ

By the surah of the Night Journey, by the Cave, by Mary,

By Ta-Ha, likewise by the Prophets, possessors of glory;

وَبِالحجّ ثمّ المُؤمِنينَ وأَفلحوا

وَبِالنورِ وَالفُرقانِ للغيّ من رشدِ

And by the Pilgrimage, then the Believers, who prospered,

And by the Light and the Criterion distinguishing guidance from error;

وَبِالشّعراءِ بِالنّملِ بِالقصصِ الّتي

لَها أَنزَلَ الرّحمنُ جلّ عَنِ الندِّ

And by the Poets, by the Ants, by the Stories,

Which the All-Merciful revealed, exalted above any rival;

وَيا رَبّنا بِالعَنكَبوتِ بِرومِها

بِسورَةِ لُقمان الحَكيم أَخي الزّهدِ

O our Lord, by the Spider, by its Romans,

By the surah of wise Luqman, a man of abstinence;

كَذلكَ مَولانا بِسورَةِ سَجدَة

بِسورَةِ أَحزاب صَددتَ عَنِ القَصدِ

Likewise, our Master, by the surah of Prostration,

By the surah of the Confederates, whom You turned from their purpose;

كَذا بِسَبا ربّي بِسورَةِ فاطِر

بِياسين بِالصافّاتِ جَلّت عَنِ العدِّ

Likewise by Sheba, my Lord, by the surah of the Originator,

By Ya-Sin, by those ranged in ranks, beyond all counting;

بِصَ بِتَنزيل إِلهي بِغافِر

بِفُصِّلت الآيات يا ربّ يا مُبدي

By Sad, by Revelation, my God, by the Forgiver,

By 'The verses are explained,' Lord, O Originator;

بِحَم عَينٍ ثمّ سينٍ فَقافها

بِزُخرفها حم يا ربّ مِن بعدِ

By Ha-Mim, Ayn, then Sin, then its Qaf,

By its Adornments, Ha-Mim, Lord, thereafter;

كَذا بِدخان ثمّ جاثِيةٍ كَذا

بِسورَةِ أَحقافٍ لِعادٍ أولي البعدِ

Likewise by Smoke, then Kneeling, likewise

By the surah of the Sand Dunes, of Ad, those cast far away;

بِسورَةِ خَيرِ الخَلقِ طرّاً محمّدٍ

عَلَيهِ صَلاةُ اللَّهِ تَهمي بِلا حَدِّ

By the surah of Muhammad, the best of all creation,

Upon whom God's blessings pour without limit;

بِفَتحٍ مُبينٍ فيهِ رَبِّ مَنحتَه

وَبِالحُجراتِ السالِماتِ مِنَ الهدِّ

By a clear victory You granted him therein, Lord,

And by the Chambers, unharmed by demolition;

بِقافٍ كَذا بِالذارِياتِ بِطورِها

بِنَجمٍ وَبِالنّجم الخَلائِقُ تَستَهدي

By Qaf, likewise by the Scatterers, by its Mount,

By the Star—and by the stars creatures find their way;

وَبِالقَمرِ الزّاهي لِطهَ شَقَقتهُ

دَليلاً عَلى الإِرسالِ قَمعاً لذي جحدِ

And by the radiant moon You split for Ta-Ha,

As proof of his mission, to subdue the denier;

إِلَهي وَبِالرّحمنِ جَلَّ جَلالهُ

بِواقِعَةٍ مِن هَولِها الشّيب للوُلْدِ

My God, by the All-Merciful—exalted is His majesty—

By the Inevitable Event, whose terror turns children's hair gray;

كَذا بِحَديد بِالمُجادِلةِ الّتي

لَها سَمعَ اللّه المَقالَ وَما تُبدي

Likewise by Iron, by the woman who pleaded,

Whose words and what she revealed God heard;

بِسورَةِ حَشر في القِيامَةِ لِلوَرى

وَفيهِ بِنا أَسرع إِلى جنَّةِ الخُلدِ

By the surah of Gathering, mankind's gathering at the Resurrection,

And then hasten us to the Garden of eternity;

كَذا بِاِمتِحانِ المُؤمِناتِ بِهِجرةٍ

وَبِالصفِّ في حينِ القِتالِ مَعَ الجدِّ

Likewise by the testing of believing women upon migration,

And by the battle ranks, fighting with earnestness;

وَبِالجُمعَةِ الفُضلى كَذاكَ بِسورةٍ

بِها ذِكرُ أَصحابِ النّفاقِ ذَوي الطردِ

And by the excellent Friday, likewise by a surah

Mentioning the hypocrites, those cast away;

كَذلِكَ يا ربّ الوَرى بِتَغابنٍ

بِسورَةِ تَطليق بِهِ الحلّ للعَقْدِ

Likewise, O Lord of mankind, by Mutual Loss,

By the surah of Divorce, through which the bond is dissolved;

بِسورَةِ تَحريمٍ بِملك بِنونِها

وَبالحاقّة الكبرى مشيِّبةِ الفودِ

By the surah of Prohibition, by Sovereignty, by its Nun,

And by the great Reality, turning the temples gray;

وَيا رَبّنا يا ذا العُلى بِمَعارِجٍ

بِسورَةِ نوحٍ صانِع الفُلكِ وَالمبدي

O our Lord, O Possessor of sublimity, by the Ascending Ways,

By the surah of Noah, builder of the ark and its originator;

بِسورَةِ جِنٍّ آمنوا بِمُحمَّدٍ

وَقَد سَمِعوا القُرآنَ يَهدي إِلى الرّشدِ

By the surah of the jinn who believed in Muhammad,

Having heard the Qur'an guiding toward righteousness;

بِمُزَّمِّل ربّي بِمدَّثِّرٍ عَلا

كَذا بِقِيامِ الخَلقِ للَّه ذي الجَدِّ

By the Enshrouded, my Lord, by the Cloaked One, exalted,

Likewise by creation's rising before God, Possessor of majesty;

وَيا ربِّ بِالإِنسانِ بِالمُرسَلات بل

وَبِالنّبأ الفاشي عَنِ البعثِ لِلخلدِ

Lord, by Man, by Those Sent Forth, indeed,

And by the widespread Tidings of resurrection into eternity;

وَبِالنّازِعاتِ الروحَ مِن كلِّ جُثَّةٍ

وَمِن كلِّ ذي نَفسٍ وَمِن كلِّ ذي كبدِ

And by those wrenching the soul from every body,

From every being with a soul, and every creature with a liver;

كَذا بِعَبس يا ربِّ ثمَّ بِسورَةٍ

بِها يُذكرُ التّكوير يا وَاهب الرّفدِ

Likewise by 'He frowned,' Lord, then by a surah

In which the Folding Up is mentioned, O Giver of bounty;

وَبِاِنفَطَرت ثمّ المُطفّف كيله

وَويل لهُ وَيل وَيا غايَةَ البُعْدِ

And by 'It split apart,' then the one who gives short measure,

And woe to him, woe—how far he is cast away!

كَذا بِاِنشِقاقٍ لِلسّما بِغَمامِها

كَذا بِبروجٍ ثَمَّ مَعلومَةِ العَدِّ

Likewise by the sky's splitting amid its clouds,

Likewise by the constellations there, known in number;

وَبِالطّارِقِ البادي مِنَ النّجمِ في الدّجى

بِسورَةِ سَبِّحْ نزّه اللَّه عن نِدِّ

And by the Night Visitor, the star appearing in darkness,

By the surah 'Glorify!'—declare God free of any rival;

بِغاشِيَةٍ بِالفَجرِ بِالبَلدِ الّذي

لَهُ فَتحَ المختار بِالباتِرِ الهِندي

By the Overwhelming Event, by Dawn, by the City

Which the Chosen One conquered with the sharp Indian sword;

وَبِالشّمسِ ثمّ اللّيل يا رَبِّ بِالضّحى

كَذا بِاِنشِراحِ الصّدرِ لِلمُصطَفى الفردِ

And by the Sun, then Night, Lord, by Morning Brightness,

Likewise by the opening of the breast of the unique Chosen One;

وَبِالتينِ ثمّ اِقرَأ بقدرٍ بِلَم يَكُن

بِزلزلة في النّفخ فاطرة الكبدِ

And by the Fig, then 'Read!', by Decree, by 'Was not,'

By the earthquake at the trumpet-blast, rending the liver;

وَبالعادِياتِ المورِياتِ لِقدحِها

بِقارِعة رَبِّ اِحمِ مِن هَولِها المُردي

And by the charging steeds, striking sparks with their blows;

By the Striking Calamity—Lord, shield us from its deadly terror;

وَبِالعَصرِ ربّي بِالتّكاثُرِ قَبلَها

بِويلٍ لكلِّ الهامِزينَ مَعَ الطردِ

And by Time, my Lord, by Rivalry in Increase preceding it,

By 'Woe to every slanderer,' with banishment;

بِفيلٍ لَقَد أَهلَكت يا رَبِّ أَهلَهُ

كَذا بِقُريشٍ مَن حَوَوا أَشرَفَ المَجدِ

By the Elephant—Lord, You destroyed its people—

Likewise by Quraysh, who attained the noblest glory;

كَذلِكَ بِالماعونِ بِالكَوثَرِ الّذي

لأحمَد قَد أَعطيت في جَنّةِ الخُلدِ

Likewise by Small Kindnesses, by Abundance, which

You gave Ahmad in the Garden of eternity;

كَذاكَ بِقُل يا أَيّها الكافرونَ بَل

وَبِالنّصرِ لِلمُختارِ يا مُنجِزَ الوعدِ

Likewise by 'Say: O unbelievers,' indeed,

And by victory for the Chosen One, O Fulfiller of the promise;

بِتَبَّتْ وَبِالإِخلاصِ بِالفَلق

يَسلّ عَلى الظّلماءِ عاضِبهُ الهِندي

By 'Perish,' by Sincerity, by Daybreak,

Drawing its sharp Indian sword against the darkness;

وَبِالنّاسِ وَهيَ الختم رَبِّ وآخرٌ

لِقُرآنِك المَبدوءِ يا رَبِّ بِالحَمدِ

And by Mankind, which is the ending, Lord, and the last

Of Your Qur'an, begun, Lord, with praise;

بِعَرشِكَ بِالكرسي بِلَوحٍ حَفِظتهُ

وَبِالقَلَمِ المُحصي لِما نُخفي أَو نُبدي

By Your Throne, by the Footstool, by a Tablet You preserved,

And by the Pen recording what we conceal or reveal;

بِجبريلَ يا رَبّي بِميكالَ بِالّذي

بِأَيديهِ نَفخُ الصورِ لِلبعثِ يا مُبدي

By Gabriel, my Lord, by Michael, by him

In whose hands is the trumpet-blast for resurrection, O Originator;

بِمَن يِقبِضُ الأَرواحَ ربِّ جَميعَها

بِمَن يَحمِلونَ العَرشَ صينوا عَنِ الكدِّ

By him who takes all souls, Lord,

By those bearing the Throne, spared all weariness;

كَذلِكَ ربّي بِالمَلائِكِ كلِّهم

أُولئِكَ جندُ اللَّهِ هُم أَكبَر الجُندِ

Likewise, my Lord, by all the angels:

They are God's army, the greatest army;

كَذا بِالسّمواتِ العُلى بِبُروجِها

بِأَنجُمِها بِالخُنَّس الغرّ من بَعْدِ

Likewise by the lofty heavens, by their constellations,

By their stars, then by the bright retreating stars;

كَذاكَ إِلَهي بِالمَنازِلِ كلّها

كَذاكَ بِما تَحوي مِنَ اليُمنِ وَالسّعدِ

Likewise, my God, by all the celestial stations,

Likewise by the blessing and good fortune they contain;

بِمَكّةِ يا ربّي وَبِالحَرمِ الّذي

إِلَهي بِهِ سادَ الحِجاز عَلى نجدِ

By Mecca, my Lord, and by the Sanctuary

Through which, my God, the Hijaz surpassed Najd;

وَيا رَبِّ بِالبيتِ الحَرامِ وَزَمزم

كَذا بِمقامٍ لِلخَليل أَبي الرفدِ

Lord, by the Sacred House and Zamzam,

Likewise by the station of the Friend, father of bounty;

وَبِالرّكنِ ثمّ الحِجْر بِالحَجَر الّذي

غَدا مِن خَطايا النّاسِ ربِّ بمسودِّ

And by the Corner, then the Hijr, by the Stone that

Became blackened, Lord, by people's sins;

بِطيبة قَد طابَت بِمَن أَرشَد الوَرى

بِرَوضَتِها الفَيحاء مِن جنَّةِ الخُلدِ

By Taybah, made fragrant by him who guided mankind,

By its spacious garden, from the Garden of eternity;

كَذا بِبقيعٍ حلَّ فيهِ أَكابِر

كَرام صَناديد ضَوارٍ مِنَ الأُسْدِ

Likewise by Baqi, where great men rest:

Noble champions, fierce lions;

كَذلكَ بِالقُدسِ الشّريفِ وَما حَوى

وَأَرضٍ بِه قدّست مَعلومة الحدِّ

Likewise by noble Jerusalem and what it contains,

And the land sanctified through it, whose bounds are known;

وَبِالأَرضين السّبعِ يا ربِّ كلّها

بِكلِّ الّذي تَحوي مِنَ العُلْو والوَهْدِ

And by all seven earths, Lord,

By all they contain of heights and hollows;

بِما ضَمَّ مِنها مِن نَبيٍّ وَمُرسَلٍ

بِبُقعَة خَيرِ الخَلقِ فاخِرة اللّحدِ

By the prophets and messengers their lands enfold,

By the resting place of creation's best, whose tomb is glorious;

وَبِالمَسجِدِ الأَقصى بِمَسجِد طيبَةٍ

وَبِالمَسجِدِ المَكيّ مُجتمع الوفدِ

And by the Farthest Mosque, by Taybah's mosque,

And by the Meccan Mosque, where delegations gather;

بِكلِّ نَبيّ قَد بَعَثتَ وَمُرسَلٍ

إِلَهي لَقَد أَرسلتَهُ بالهُدى يَهدي

By every prophet You raised and every messenger

You sent, my God, with guidance to guide;

بِآدَم يا رَبِّ بِإدريس بَعدَهُ

بِهودٍ أَخي عادٍ أُولي الطّردِ والبُعْدِ

By Adam, Lord, by Idris after him,

By Hud, brother of Ad, those banished and cast far away;

بِذي الكِفْل يا ربّي بِأَيّوبَ مَن غَدا

عَلى الضُّرِّ ربَي بِالصّبورِ وَبالجلدِ

By Dhu al-Kifl, my Lord, by Job, who remained

Patient and steadfast, my Lord, amid affliction;

كَذا بِشُعيبٍ ثمَّ لوطٍ بِصالحٍ

بِداودَ مَنْ بِالأمرِ قدّر في السردِ

Likewise by Shuayb, then Lot, by Salih,

By David, who at Your command proportioned the links of mail;

كَذا بِسُليمان لَه الرّيحُ سُخّرت

بِإلياسَ يا ربّي بِهارونَ ذي المَجدِ

Likewise by Solomon, for whom the wind was subjected,

By Elijah, my Lord, by Aaron, possessor of glory;

بِيَحيى بِذي المِحرابِ وَالِده كذا

بِيونسَ مَنْ أَنجيت مَن غرقٍ مُردي

By John, likewise by his father, master of the prayer niche,

By Jonah, whom You saved from deadly drowning;

بِإِسحاقَ يا ربّي بِيَعقوب نَجلِهِ

رَددتَ عَلَيه يوسفاً أَحسنَ الرّدِّ

By Isaac, my Lord, by his son Jacob,

To whom You restored Joseph with the finest restoration;

بِيوسفَ يا ربّي وَبالْيَسَع كذا

بِمن قلت عنهُ إِنَّهُ صادِقُ الوَعدِ

By Joseph, my Lord, and likewise by Elisha,

By him of whom You said that he was true to his promise;

وَذَلكَ إِسماعيلُ رَبِّ فديتَهُ

أَمرتَ أَباه أَنْ بِذِبْحٍ لَه يفدي

That is Ishmael, Lord, whom You ransomed:

You commanded his father to ransom him with a sacrifice;

بِيوشَع ثمَّ الخضرِ بليا بأرميا

بِشعْيا بِشمعونٍ بحزقيلَ في العَدِّ

By Joshua, then Al-Khidr Bilya, by Jeremiah,

By Isaiah, by Simon, by Ezekiel in this enumeration;

بِحَنظلةٍ ربّي بشيثٍ بخالدٍ

هو اِبن سنانٍ ثمّ لقمانَ ذي الزّهدِ

By Hanzalah, my Lord, by Seth, by Khalid,

Who is the son of Sinan, then Luqman, a man of abstinence;

بِأُمٍّ لِموسى يا إلَهي بمَريمٍ

بِإِسكَندرَ المشهورِ والواضعِ السدِّ

By the mother of Moses, my God, by Mary,

By the renowned Alexander, builder of the barrier;

كَذلكَ بِالأَسباطِ ربِّ جميعهم

بِجرجيس مَن قَد قامَ في قَومِهِ يَهدي

Likewise by all the Tribes, Lord,

By Jirjis, who arose among his people to guide;

بِمَن قَد تَسمّى دانيال بِلا اِمتِرا

بِمُمْلٍ لتوراةٍ عُزيرٍ أخي الجدِّ

By him named Daniel, without doubt,

By Ezra, who dictated the Torah, a man of earnestness;

بِنوحٍ بِعيسى ثمّ موسى بجَدّه

خليلِك يا رَحمن أكرمْهُ من جَدِّ

By Noah, by Jesus, then Moses, by his forefather,

Your Friend, O All-Merciful—how noble a forefather!

بِأَفضَلِهم طرّاً حبيبك أَحمدٍ

أَجلِّ رَسولٍ جاءَ بِالحقِّ وَالرّشدِ

By the best of them all, Your beloved Ahmad,

The most exalted messenger, who brought truth and right guidance;

وَأَيَّد ركنَ الحقّ ربّ وَشادهُ

وَعادَ عَلى رُكنِ الضّلالةِ بِالهدِّ

He strengthened and raised the pillar of truth, Lord,

And brought demolition upon the pillar of error;

بِمِلَّتهِ الغرّا الّتي قَد نَصرتها

إِلَهي بِسيفِ الحقِّ سلّ مِنَ الغمدِ

By his radiant faith, which You supported,

My God, with the sword of truth drawn from its sheath;

بِأَزواجِهِ خَير النّساء وإنّه

لعائشة قَد كانَ مِن زائدي الوُدِّ

By his wives, the best of women; indeed,

For Aishah he bore abundant love;

بِفاطمة الزّهراءِ سيّدة النّسا

كَذلكَ بِالباقي لِطَه من الوُلْدِ

By Fatimah the Radiant, mistress of women,

Likewise by the rest of Ta-Ha's children;

بِسبطيهِ يا ربّي بِأَصهارِهِ كذا

بعمّيه عباسٍ وحمزة ذي المجدِ

By his two grandsons, my Lord, likewise by his relations through marriage,

By his two uncles, Abbas and Hamzah, possessor of glory;

إِلَهي بِكلِّ الآلِ آلِ مُحمّدٍ

كَذا بِإِمامِ الصّحب ذي الفضلِ والرِّفدِ

My God, by all the family, the family of Muhammad,

Likewise by the leader of the Companions, possessor of virtue and bounty;

خَليفتهِ الصّدّيق صدّق قَوله

وَشافَههُ الكفّارُ بِالرّدِّ والصّدِّ

His successor, Al-Siddiq, who affirmed his words,

While the unbelievers confronted him with rejection and obstruction;

كَذلكَ بِالفاروقِ راقِعِ ثوبهِ

وَلَيسَ لَهُ ثَوب سِواهُ مِنَ الزّهدِ

Likewise by Al-Faruq, who patched his garment,

And had no other garment, through abstinence;

كَذا بِشَهيدِ الدارِ عثمانَ من غدا

بِجَمعِ كِتابِ اللَّه بِالعلمِ الفردِ

Likewise by Uthman, martyred in his house, who became

Peerless in learning through compiling God's Book;

وَبِالأنزعِ الكَرّار حَيدرة الوَغى

عَليٍّ أَبي السبطَينِ مفترسِ الأُسْدِ

And by the bald-templed, ever-charging Haydarah of battle,

Ali, father of the two grandsons, devourer of lions;

وَبِالستّةِ الباقينَ مِن عَشرَةٍ لَهُم

لَقَد بَشَّر المُختار في جنَّةِ الخُلدِ

And by the six remaining of the ten, to whom

The Chosen One gave glad tidings of the Garden of eternity;

كَذاكَ بِأنصارٍ بكل مهاجرٍ

بِأَصحابِ بَدرٍ مَن حووا غاية السّعدِ

Likewise by the Helpers, by every Emigrant,

By the companions of Badr, who attained the utmost felicity;

بِمَن حَضَروا يا ربّنا أُحُداً وَهُم

لِنُصرَةِ دينِ اللَّهِ مِن مُخلِصي القَصدِ

By those who attended Uhud, our Lord, and were

Sincere in their purpose of supporting God's religion;

بِمَن بَيعةَ الرّضوان قَد كانَ حاضراً

وَأَلزمَ عَقد البيعِ ناهيكَ من عَقدِ

By those present at the Pledge of Ridwan,

Who made binding the covenant of allegiance—what a covenant!

كَذاكَ بِكلِّ الصّحبِ ثمّ بتابعٍ

وَتابعه مِمَّن عَلى نولِهم يسدي

Likewise by all the Companions, then by a Follower,

And his follower, among those laying the warp upon their loom;

وَبِالعُلَماءِ العامِلين جميعِهِم

فَقَد نَصروا شَرعَ النّبيِّ مع الجدِّ

And by all the scholars who acted upon their knowledge,

For they upheld the Prophet's law with earnestness;

بِكلِّ إِمامٍ ربِّ مجتهدٍ غدا

يَستَنبطُ الأَحكامَ يبذل للجهدِ

By every imam, Lord, who strove through legal reasoning,

Deriving rulings and exerting effort;

بِنعمانَ ثمَّ الشَّافِعيِّ بِمالكٍ

بِأَحمد مَنْ حازوا القَبول بِلا جحدِ

By Numan, then Al-Shafii, by Malik,

By Ahmad, those who attained acceptance without denial;

بِكلِّ وَليٍّ منكَ رَبِّ مقرّبٍ

بِكلّ شَهيدٍ رَبِّ أَحييت في اللَّحْدِ

By every saint You brought near, Lord,

By every martyr You made alive in the grave, Lord;

كَذلِكَ بِالأَقطابِ رَبِّ جَميعهم

بِأَربابِ أَحوالٍ وَفَوْا لَكَ بِالعهدِ

Likewise by all the spiritual Poles, Lord,

By masters of spiritual states who kept their covenant with You;

كَذلِكَ بِالأنجابِ بِالبُدَلا كذا

إلَهيَ بِالأَوتادِ يا مولِيَ الرفدِ

Likewise by the noble saints, likewise by the substitute saints,

My God, by the spiritual Pegs, O Giver of bounty;

كَذاكَ بِأَهلِ الجَذبِ رَبِّ جذبتَهُمْ

وَجُدتَ عَلَيهم ربِّ بِالحبِّ والودِّ

Likewise by those drawn to You, Lord, whom You drew,

And upon whom You bestowed love and affection, Lord;

بِكلِّ تَقيٍّ يا إلَهي وصالحٍ

بِكلِّ سَعيدٍ مِنك قد فاز بالسّعدِ

By every godfearing and righteous person, my God,

By every fortunate one who attained felicity from You;

بِكلِّ مُطيعٍ يا إِلَهي وعابدٍ

يُديم قِيامَ اللّيل وَهْوَ أَخو السُّهْدِ

By every obedient one and worshipper, my God,

Who continually stands in night prayer, a companion of sleeplessness;

بِأَصحابِ كَهفٍ ربِّ قَد لَبِثوا بِهِ

ثَلاث مئينٍ ثمَّ تِسعاً لَدى العدِّ

By the companions of the Cave, Lord, who remained there

Three hundred, then nine, in the count;

وَنَرجوكَ مَولانا بِكلِّ الّذي بِهِ

إِلَيكَ تَوسُّلنا إِلَهي بِذا العِقْدِ

We beseech You, our Master, by all through which

We seek approach to You, my God, in this necklace of verse,

بِأَن تَنصرَ الإِسلام ربِّ وأهلهُ

وَسلطانَنا المحمودَ في ألْسُنِ الحمدِ

To grant victory to Islam, Lord, and its people,

And our sultan, praised upon the tongues of praise;

هوَ ابنُ الملوكِ الغرِّ في الدَّهرِ قَد غَدَوْا

ملوكَ ملوكِ الأرض طرّاً بلا نِدِّ

He is the son of illustrious kings who through the ages became

Kings over all the kings of the earth, without equal;

هُمُ آل عُثمانَ الّذين تَوارَثوا

لملكِهِم جدّاً إلهيَ عن جَدِّ

They are the House of Uthman, who inherited

Their kingdom, my God, forefather from forefather;

وَإِنَّ المُولَّى الآن منهم أجلُّهم

فَأَتحِفْهُ بِالنّصرِ العَزيزِ على الضِّدِّ

Indeed, the one now appointed among them is their most exalted:

Grant him mighty victory over the adversary;

خَليفة رَبِّ العالَمين وظلّه

أَدِمْه علينا الدهرَ ربِّ بممتدِّ

The deputy of the Lord of the worlds, and His shadow—

Keep him over us, Lord, for an unbroken age;

وَأَيِّده يا ربَّ السّماءِ ومدَّه

بِجندٍ مِنَ الأملاكِ في أحسنِ المدِّ

Strengthen him, O Lord of heaven, and reinforce him

With an army of angels, with the finest reinforcement;

وَهَبْه عَلى الأَعداءِ يا خيرَ ناصرٍ

مَدى الدَّهرِ يا مَولايَ نَصراً بذا الجندِ

Grant him against the enemies, O best Helper,

Throughout all time, my Master, victory through this army;

وَأَتحفهُ بِالفَتحِ المُبينِ تَفضّلاً

وَجَلّل بِنيلِ النّصرِ ما حازَ من بندِ

Graciously bestow clear conquest upon him,

And clothe every banner he holds in attained victory;

وَجَمِّله يا مَولايَ منكَ بِهَيبةٍ

وَبِالعِزّ ثمَّ الحِلم والعدلِ والرّشْدِ

Adorn him, my Master, with awe from You,

And with might, then forbearance, justice, and right guidance;

وَمُنَّ عَلَيهِ يا إلَهي بِسَطوةٍ

تُهَدُّ بِها في الغابِ رعباً قُوى الأُسْدِ

Grant him, my God, an overwhelming power

By which the strength of lions in the forest is shattered with terror;

وَأَيِّدْ إِلَه العَرشِ ربِّ جيوشَه

وَظفِّرهُمُ بِالضِّدِّ يا قابلَ القصدِ

Support his armies, Lord, God of the Throne,

And give them victory over the adversary, O Accepter of our purpose;

وَمَكِّنْ إِلَهي في العُداة رِماحَهم

وَأَسيافَهم سُلَّتْ مِنَ الجفنِ وَالغمدِ

Lodge their spears in the enemies, my God,

And their swords, drawn from scabbard and sheath;

وَأَهلِكْ عداةَ الدّين مِن كلِّ كافرٍ

وَطاغٍ وباغٍ يا إلَهي ومُرْتدِّ

Destroy the enemies of the faith: every unbeliever,

Tyrant, aggressor, my God, and apostate;

كَذا يا شَديد البطشِ خرِّبْ دِيارهم

وَوالِ عليها القهرَ بالهدمِ والهَدِّ

Likewise, O You of mighty force, ruin their dwellings,

And visit relentless conquest upon them through demolition and destruction;

وَأَطفِئ إلَهَ العرشِ نارَ حُروبِهم

وَدامَت عَلى الإِطفاء عادمة الوقْدِ

Extinguish the fire of their wars, God of the Throne,

And may it remain extinguished, lacking all fuel;

وَما عَقَدوا مِن رايَةٍ لِحروبهِم

فَصيِّر لهُ التّنكيس فذلكة العَقْدِ

Whatever banner they have fastened for their wars,

Make its upending the final outcome of that fastening;

وَأَقدامَهمْ زَلزِل وَأَرجِف قُلوبَهم

وَصَيِّر لَها الإِرجافَ فيها الرّدى يُجدي

Shake their feet and make their hearts tremble,

And make that trembling yield death within them;

وَآجالَهم قَصِّرْ وَأَفْنِ رجالَهم

إِلَهي لَهم أَهلِكْ إِلهي لَهم أَرْدي

Shorten their lifespans and annihilate their men;

My God, bring them destruction; my God, bring them death;

وَآمالهم خيِّبْ وَلِلسوءِ حالَهم

فغيِّرْ ويتِّم ما يحوزونَ مِن وُلدِ

Frustrate their hopes, and let their condition worsen;

Transform it, and orphan all the children they have;

وَآراءَهم شَتِّتْ وَرَمِّل نساءَهم

ليَلْبَسْنَ مسودَّ المَلابس والبُردِ

Scatter their counsels and widow their women,

So that they wear blackened clothes and cloaks;

وَشملَهُم بَدِّدْ وَفرِّق جُموعَهم

وَمِنهم فَمزِّق للتجلّد والجلدِ

Disperse their unity and scatter their gatherings,

And tear away their fortitude and endurance;

وَصيِّرهُمُ لِلمُسلِمينَ غَنيمةً

فَذلكَ مَعروفٌ وَأَنتَ لهُ المُسْدِي

Make them spoils for the Muslims:

That is a kindness, and You are its bestower;

وَيا ربِّ يا قهّارُ ذا البطشِ فَاِنتَقمْ

إِلَهي مِنَ الأَعدا وَذا غاية القَصدِ

Lord, O All-Subduer, Possessor of force, take vengeance,

My God, upon the enemies: this is the utmost aim;

وَفَرِّج كُروبَ المُسلِمين وَهمَّهم

وَأَحوالَهم أَصلِحْ إِلى الخَيرِ والرّشدِ

Relieve the Muslims' afflictions and their anxiety,

And set their affairs right toward goodness and right guidance;

إِلَهي اِشْف مَرضى المُسلِمينَ جَميعهم

فَأَنتَ لَهم تَشفي إِلَهي بلا حجدِ

My God, heal all the sick among the Muslims,

For You heal them, my God, undeniably;

تَقبّل إلَهَ العرشِ مِنّا دُعاءَنا

وَمَأمولنا أَنْ لا يقابلَ بِالردِّ

Accept our prayer from us, God of the Throne,

And our hope is that it not be met with rejection;

وَنَرجوكَ يا أَللّهُ عَفواً وَتَوبةً

وَفوزاً إِلَه العَرشِ في جنَّةِ الخلدِ

We beseech You, O God, for pardon and repentance,

And triumph, God of the Throne, in the Garden of eternity;

وَحُسنَ خِتامٍ يا إِلَهي تَفضُّلاً

عَلى خَيرِ رُسلِ اللَّهِ حَقّاً بلا جحدِ

And a good ending, my God, through Your grace—

Upon the best of God's messengers, truly and undeniably,

مُحمَّدٍ المَبعوث لِلخلقِ كلِّهم

وَماحي ظلام الشِّركِ بِالآيِ وَالهِندي

Muhammad, sent to all creation,

Who effaces the darkness of idolatry with verses and the Indian sword;

كَذاكَ عَلى الآلِ الكرامِ وَصحبِهِ

أُولي العِلم ثمّ الفَضلِ وَالجودِ وَالرفدِ

Likewise upon his noble family and his companions,

Possessors of knowledge, virtue, generosity, and bounty;

مَدى الدَّهرِ ما هبَّت نَسيمٌ مِنَ الصَّبا

وَما فاحَ طيبُ المِسكِ وَالرندِ وَالندِّ

Throughout all time, as long as a breeze blows from the east,

And as long as musk, laurel, and compound incense give forth fragrance;

وَما الفَتحُ بِاِسمِ اللَّهِ قَد كانَ بادِئاً

وَفي نَظمِ هَذا العِقد يختم بالحمدِ

And as the opening began in God's name,

The weaving of this necklace closes with praise.