أَيُّهاO you المُسْتَحلِفُone who demands an oath اللَّيْلَthe night أَفِقْawaken
أَيُّها المُسْتَحلِفُ اللَّيْلَ أَفِقْ
إِنَّindeed ركبَthe caravan اللَّيْلِof the night بالسَّيرِon its journey عَدَاsped
إِنَّ ركبَ اللَّيْلِ بالسَّيرِ عَدَا
O you who adjure the night, awaken!
O you who have sworn by the night to arise,
Indeed, the caravan of night has sped along its journey.
The caravan of night is heading off with travel
قمْrise ولاand do not تغفلْbe heedless خُمولاًin lethargy كَسَلاًin laziness
قمْ ولا تغفلْ خُمولاً كَسَلاً
لنwill never يُساويequal يَقِظاًa wakeful person منone who رقَدَاslept
لن يُساوي يَقِظاً من رقَدَا
Rise; do not be heedless through lethargy and sloth.
Rise and do not be lazy or tired
One who sleeps will never equal one who is awake.
The one who is awake will not equal the one who slept
ودعِand leave الأمرَthe matter إلىto اللهِGod وكنْand be
ودعِ الأمرَ إلى اللهِ وكنْ
عبدَهُHis servant فيat بابِهِHis door طولَthroughout المَدَىthe span of time
عبدَهُ في بابِهِ طولَ المَدَى
Leave the matter to God, and be
And leave the matter to God and be
His servant at His door for all time.
His servant forever
سلِّمِentrust الأَمرَthe matter لهto Him متَّكِلاًrelying upon Him
سلِّمِ الأَمرَ له متَّكِلاً
لاdo not تخفْfear فيin الكونِthe universe دَهراًever أَحَدَاanyone
لا تخفْ في الكونِ دَهراً أَحَدَا
Entrust the matter to Him, relying upon Him.
Entrust the matter to Him, relying
Never fear anyone in the universe, at any time.
Do not fear anyone in existence forever
واصْرِفِand turn الوجهَthe face لهtoward Him عِزًّاseeking honor بهthrough Him
واصْرِفِ الوجهَ له عِزًّا به
واتَّخِذْand take سِرًّاsecretly لهfor Him جلَّexalted is He يَدَاa hand
واتَّخِذْ سِرًّا له جلَّ يَدَا
And turn your face toward Him, finding honor through Him.
And turn your face to Him with honor in Him
And secretly take a hand for Him—exalted is He.
And take as an intimate secret for Him the Majestic
وعنand from الأَغيارِall others كنbe منجَمِعاًwithdrawn
وعن الأَغيارِ كن منجَمِعاً
وإِلىand toward الجبَّارِthe All-Compelling صِرْbecome مُنْفرِداalone
وإِلى الجبَّارِ صِرْ مُنْفرِدا
And withdraw yourself from all others,
And from strangers be withdrawn
and turn, alone, to the All-Compelling.
And to the Compeller go solitary
وإِذاand if شطَّcarried far بكwith you السَّيرُthe journey فقمْthen rise
وإِذا شطَّ بك السَّيرُ فقمْ
فيin دُجىthe darkness اللَّيْلِof night وحِلَّand undo الرَّصَدَاthe guarding spell
في دُجى اللَّيْلِ وحِلَّ الرَّصَدَا
And if the journey carries you far, rise
And if the travel excites you then stand
in the darkness of night, and undo the guarding spell.
In the darkness of night and unfurl observing
والتمِسْand seek فيin بحرِthe sea قلبِof the heart المُصْطَفىof the Chosen One
والتمِسْ في بحرِ قلبِ المُصْطَفى
أَحمدِAhmad الأَكوانِof all worlds طَهَTaha المَدَدَاsustaining aid
أَحمدِ الأَكوانِ طَهَ المَدَدَا
And seek within the sea of the Chosen One's heart—
And seek in the sea of the heart of Mustafa
Ahmad of all worlds, Taha—sustaining aid.
Ahmad the universes, Ta Ha the helper
سِرُّthe secret هذاof this الكَوْنِuniverse مِضْمارُthe arena العَماof the primordial Cloud
سِرُّ هذا الكَوْنِ مِضْمارُ العَما
نقطَةُthe point الأسلوبِof the pattern رُوحُthe spirit السُّعَدَاof the blessed
نقطَةُ الأسلوبِ رُوحُ السُّعَدَا
The secret of this universe, the arena of the primordial Cloud,
The secret of this universe is the racetrack of hopes
the point of the pattern, the spirit of the blessed;
The point of eloquence, the soul of good fortune
لُجَّةُthe depth البحرof the sea الإِلهِيِّdivine الَّذيwhose
لُجَّةُ البحر الإِلهِيِّ الَّذي
موجُهُits wave ضمنَwithin العَماthe primordial Cloud ماnever جَمَدَاcongealed
موجُهُ ضمنَ العَما ما جَمَدَا
the depth of the divine sea, whose
The deep sea of divinity which
wave within the Cloud has never congealed;
Its waves within hopes whatever solidified
بارِزُmanifest السِّرِّthe secret وطَمْطامُand the boundless sea الرِّضاof contentment
بارِزُ السِّرِّ وطَمْطامُ الرِّضا
نورُthe light عينِof the eye الطَّمسِof effacement فيَّاضُoverflowing with النَّدَاbounty
نورُ عينِ الطَّمسِ فيَّاضُ النَّدَا
the secret made manifest, the boundless sea of contentment;
Emerging of the secret and the wishes of acceptance
the light of the eye of effacement, overflowing with bounty;
The light of the eye of the sun, overflowing of bounty
كوكَبُthe star القُدْسِof holiness الَّذيwhich فيin طالِعِthe ascendant of الthe
كوكَبُ القُدْسِ الَّذي في طالِعِ ال
غَيْبِunseen قِدْماًof old بالعُلومِwith the sciences اتَّقَدَاblazed
غَيْبِ قِدْماً بالعُلومِ اتَّقَدَا
the star of holiness, which in the ascendant of the
The star of sanctity which in the rising of
unseen blazed of old with knowledge;
The unseen, stepped with knowledge enlightened
كعبَةُthe Kaaba الأَرْواحِof spirits حِصنُthe fortress الفتْحِof spiritual opening مَنْthe one whom
كعبَةُ الأَرْواحِ حِصنُ الفتْحِ مَنْ
قَدْindeed براهُfashioned him اللهُGod غوثاًas succor سَنَدَاas support
قَدْ براهُ اللهُ غوثاً سَنَدَا
the Kaaba of spirits, the fortress of spiritual opening—the one whom
The Kaaba of spirits, fortress of opening, the one
God has fashioned as succor and support.
God made a helper, a pillar
هوhe بينَamong المُرْسَلينَthe messengers المُرْتجىthe one hoped for
هو بينَ المُرْسَلينَ المُرْتجى
والإِمامُand the Imam المُجْتَبىthe chosen والمُقْتَدىand the one followed
والإِمامُ المُجْتَبى والمُقْتَدى
He is the one hoped for among the messengers,
He among the messengers is hoped for
the chosen Imam and the one to be followed.
And the Imam chosen, and the guided
هوhe بابُthe gate اللهِof God صَمْصامُthe keen sword الوَحاof swift action
هو بابُ اللهِ صَمْصامُ الوَحا
هوhe فُرقانُthe criterion التَّجَلِّيof divine manifestation للهُدَىfor guidance
هو فُرقانُ التَّجَلِّي للهُدَى
He is God's gate, the keen sword of swift action.
He is the door of God, holder of revelation
He is the criterion of divine manifestation for guidance.
He is the Criterion of manifestation for guidance
هوhe منthe one who قدindeed قامَarose طَمساًin effacement حامِداًpraising
هو من قد قامَ طَمساً حامِداً
وشُهوداًand in witnessing وبُروزاًand in emergence أَحمَدَاAhmad
وشُهوداً وبُروزاً أَحمَدَا
He is the one who arose in effacement, praising,
He is the one who stood obscuring and ecstatic
and in witnessing and emergence, as Ahmad.
And witnessed and emerged praising
كوكَبٌa star بُرجِin the constellation of علمِthe knowledge اللهِof God ماnever
كوكَبٌ بُرجِ علمِ اللهِ ما
حُطَّتِwere brought low الأَبراجُthe constellations إِلاَّexcept that صَعِداhe ascended
حُطَّتِ الأَبراجُ إِلاَّ صَعِدا
A star in the constellation of God's knowledge: never
A star in the constellation of God’s knowledge not
were the constellations brought low without his ascending.
Did the constellations rise except climbing
سيفُa sword أَمرٍof command فيin غِمادِthe scabbard الحُكْمِof judgment منfrom
سيفُ أَمرٍ في غِمادِ الحُكْمِ من
قبلِbefore هذاthis القَبْلِ'before' قِدْماًof old أُغْمدَاwas sheathed
قبلِ هذا القَبْلِ قِدْماً أُغْمدَا
A sword of command in the scabbard of judgment, from
The sword of command in the sheath of wisdom, before
before this very 'before,' sheathed of old.
This foretime stepped sheathed
كلُّeveryone منwhom يوجِدُهُhe brings into being ماnever فُقِداwas lost
كلُّ من يوجِدُهُ ما فُقِدا
والَّذيand the one whom يُفقدُهُhe causes to be lost ماnever وُجِدَاexisted
والَّذي يُفقدُهُ ما وُجِدَا
Whoever he brings into being is never lost,
All who find him what was missed
and whoever he causes to be lost has never existed.
And the one who misses him what was found
ركبُthe caravan أَهْلِof the people اللهِof God للهِtoward God علىupon
ركبُ أَهْلِ اللهِ للهِ على
إِثْرِهِhis trail المَبْرورُblessed طوْراًin its turn وفَدَاcame as a delegation
إِثْرِهِ المَبْرورُ طوْراً وفَدَا
The caravan of God's people, bound for God, upon
The riding of God’s people to God after
his trail, has come, blessed, in its turn.
Him the righteous passed time and ransomed
شُهَداءُthe witnesses اللهِof God منfrom أُمَّتِهِhis community
شُهَداءُ اللهِ من أُمَّتِهِ
وكذاand likewise الأَبدالُthe Abdal بلindeed والسُّعَداand the blessed
وكذا الأَبدالُ بل والسُّعَدا
God's witnesses are from his community,
The martyrs of God among His nation
and likewise the Abdal—indeed, the blessed too.
And so the substitutes, rather the fortunate
قدindeed نظَمْناwe strung عَسْجَدَthe gold المدحِof praise بهfor him
قد نظَمْنا عَسْجَدَ المدحِ به
فاحتَقَرْناso we disdained فيin العُقودِthe necklaces العَسْجَدَاthe gold
فاحتَقَرْنا في العُقودِ العَسْجَدَا
Indeed, we have strung the gold of praise for him,
We have strung the necklace of praise of him
and thus disdained the gold in necklaces.
Thus we considered worthless the necklaces
كلُّeveryone منwho أَذعَنَsubmitted بالدِّينِin religion لهto him
كلُّ من أَذعَنَ بالدِّينِ له
عَرَفَrecognized اللهَGod إِلهاًas a deity صَمَدَاon whom all depend
عَرَفَ اللهَ إِلهاً صَمَدَا
Everyone who submitted to him in religion
All who profess the religion to him
recognized God as the Deity on whom all depend.
Knew God a Lord Eternal
بحرُهُhis sea فيin شَطَحاتِthe ecstatic outpourings الغَيْبِof the unseen بالwith the
بحرُهُ في شَطَحاتِ الغَيْبِ بال
مَدَدِaid الفعَّالِefficacious دهراًthroughout time أَزْبَدَاfoamed
مَدَدِ الفعَّالِ دهراً أَزْبَدَا
His sea, amid the ecstatic outpourings of the unseen, with the
His sea in the digressions of the unseen without
efficacious aid, has foamed throughout time.
Help of the Doer forever overflowed
بأَبيmy father be his ransom كمhow many حلَّhe untied أَمراًa matter مُبْرَماًfirmly knotted
بأَبي كم حلَّ أَمراً مُبْرَماً
وبرُوحيand my soul be his ransom كمhow many نِظامٍa necklace عَقَدَاhe strung
وبرُوحي كم نِظامٍ عَقَدَا
My father be his ransom—how many firmly knotted matters he untied!
By my father how many decisive matters resolved
And my soul be his ransom—how many necklaces he strung!
And by my soul how many systems knotted
وببدرٍand at Badr ضاءَhe shone كالبدرِlike the full moon وقدand already
وببدرٍ ضاءَ كالبدرِ وقد
جفَلَتْfled in fright أَصحابُهُhis companions فانْفَرَدَاso he stood alone
جفَلَتْ أَصحابُهُ فانْفَرَدَا
And at Badr he shone like the full moon, though
And by a full moon that shone like the full moon when
his companions had fled, leaving him alone.
His companions frowned so he solitary emerged
قامَhe stood تحتَbeneath العَجِّthe din والحربُand war لهاit had
قامَ تحتَ العَجِّ والحربُ لها
ضجَّةٌan uproar صعبَdifficult قِيادٍto rein أَسَدَاa lion
ضجَّةٌ صعبَ قِيادٍ أَسَدَا
He stood beneath the din, while war had
He stood under harassment and war which for it
a roar—a lion hard to rein.
Is clamor, leading lions difficult
وجَلاand he unveiled فيin البِيدِthe deserts شمساًa sun أَثبَتَتْthat fixed
وجَلا في البِيدِ شمساً أَثبَتَتْ
بعُيونِin the eyes القَوْمِof the people منهof him مَشْهَدَاa vision
بعُيونِ القَوْمِ منه مَشْهَدَا
And in the deserts he unveiled a sun that fixed
He shone among the white flashes of swords suns that set
a vision of him in the people's eyes.
In the eyes of the people from him a scene
ردَّhe turned back أَبصارَهُمُtheir gazes خاسِئَةًhumbled
ردَّ أَبصارَهُمُ خاسِئَةً
مثلماjust as ماتُواthey died بغيْظٍof rage كَمَدَاin grief
مثلما ماتُوا بغيْظٍ كَمَدَا
He turned their gazes back, humbled,
He returned their sights humiliated
as though they had died of rage and grief.
As if they died of rage suppressed
وأَعادَand restored الرَّوعُthe terror منfrom فرسانِهِhis horsemen
وأَعادَ الرَّوعُ من فرسانِهِ
أَمْنَpeace قلبٍof heart وأَزالَand dispelled النَّكَدَاdistress
أَمْنَ قلبٍ وأَزالَ النَّكَدَا
And the terror from his horsemen restored
And the panic among his horsemen
peace of heart and swept away distress.
Returned security to the heart and removed sorrow
فتَداعَوْاthen they called one another حينَwhen رُدُّواthey were driven back خَجَلاًin shame
فتَداعَوْا حينَ رُدُّوا خَجَلاً
مذْsince رَأَوْاthey saw منهin him هِزَبْراًa mighty lion أَسَدَاa lion
مذْ رَأَوْا منه هِزَبْراً أَسَدَا
Then they called to one another when driven back in shame,
So they called out when returned ashamed
since they saw in him a mighty lion—a lion.
When they saw from him roaring lion
أَخذَhe won over القَوْمَthe people بخُلْقٍwith character حسَنٍgood
أَخذَ القَوْمَ بخُلْقٍ حسَنٍ
وبعفْوٍand with pardon شامِلٍall-embracing عمَّاfor what بَدَاhad appeared
وبعفْوٍ شامِلٍ عمَّا بَدَا
He won over the people with good character
He took the people with good character
and all-embracing pardon for what had occurred.
And with inclusive pardon for what appeared
وتجَلَّىand he shone forth بينهُمْamong them مُبْتَسِماًsmiling
وتجَلَّى بينهُمْ مُبْتَسِماً
منهfrom him ثغرٌa mouth مُسْتَميحٌseeking a gift بَرَدَاof hail
منه ثغرٌ مُسْتَميحٌ بَرَدَا
And he shone among them, smiling,
And he appeared among them smiling
his mouth seeking a gift of hail.
From him a cheerful mouth soothing cold
شكرَhe thanked اللهَGod تعالىMost High راضِياًcontent
شكرَ اللهَ تعالى راضِياً
رَيِّضَdisciplined الأَفْكارِin thought فيماconcerning what وَجَدَاhe encountered
رَيِّضَ الأَفْكارِ فيما وَجَدَا
He thanked God Most High, content,
Thanking God the Exalted, satisfied
disciplined in thought about what he encountered.
Contenting thoughts in what he found
وأَعادَand he turned الخُسْرَloss نصراًinto victory قاهِراًsubduing
وأَعادَ الخُسْرَ نصراً قاهِراً
بمعاليthrough the heights of بأْسِهِhis valor حِزْبَthe host العِدَىof enemies
بمعالي بأْسِهِ حِزْبَ العِدَى
And he turned loss into victory, subduing
And returned loss a conquest overwhelming
the enemy host through the heights of his valor.
With the heights of his might the party of enemies
هوhe مَوْعودٌwas promised منby اللهِGod بنَصْwith victory (first fragment)
هو مَوْعودٌ من اللهِ بنَصْ
رٍvictory (final fragment) قديمٍof old فقُضِيso was fulfilled ماwhat وُعِدَاwas promised
رٍ قديمٍ فقُضِي ما وُعِدَا
He was promised by God a
He is promised by God with victory, the ancient
victory of old; so what was promised was fulfilled.
Promise fulfilled what was promised
وأَقامَand he established الحقَّtruth فيamong الخَلْقِcreation كماjust as
وأَقامَ الحقَّ في الخَلْقِ كما
أَوهَنَhe weakened الباطِلَfalsehood حتَّىuntil أَقْعَدَاhe laid it low
أَوهَنَ الباطِلَ حتَّى أَقْعَدَا
And he established truth among creation, just as
And established the truth among people as
he weakened falsehood until he laid it low.
He weakened falsehood until seated
قالتِsaid الأَعْداءُthe enemies عنdespite رَغمٍreluctance بهِمْwithin them
قالتِ الأَعْداءُ عن رَغمٍ بهِمْ
ماnot رأَيْناwe have seen منهthan him أَقوىstronger جَلَدَاin fortitude
ما رأَيْنا منه أَقوى جَلَدَا
The enemies said, despite their reluctance,
The enemies said against their will about him
'We have seen none stronger in fortitude than him.'
We did not see anyone of stronger resilience
نعَتوهُthey described him بالأَمينِas the Trustworthy المُرْتَضىthe Approved
نعَتوهُ بالأَمينِ المُرْتَضى
وتَعامَوْاand they feigned blindness عنto عُلاهُhis eminence حَسَدَاout of envy
وتَعامَوْا عن عُلاهُ حَسَدَا
They called him the Trustworthy, the Approved,
They attributed to him the Trustworthy Chosen One
yet blinded themselves to his eminence out of envy.
And ignored his superiority out of envy
كيفَhow يُشقيcan make wretched حاسِدٌan envier فيin زعمِهِhis imagining
كيفَ يُشقي حاسِدٌ في زعمِهِ
منone whom لهfor him اللهُGod تعالىMost High أَسْعَدَاhas made happy
من له اللهُ تعالى أَسْعَدَا
How can an envier, in his imagining, make wretched
How does a jealous one in his allegation
one whom God Most High has made happy?
Harm he who God has made fortunate?
سيِّدٌa master لولاهُwere it not for him خَلاَّقُthe Creator الوَرَىof all beings
سيِّدٌ لولاهُ خَلاَّقُ الوَرَى
مثلماjust as يَرْضىHe desires لهfor Him ماnot عُبِدَاwas worshipped
مثلما يَرْضى له ما عُبِدَا
A master without whom the Creator of all beings
A master, without whom the creation of the world
would not have been worshipped as He desires.
Would not be as He wills to be worshipped
فعَليهِso upon him كلَّevery آنٍmoment أَبداًforever
فعَليهِ كلَّ آنٍ أَبداً
صلَواتُthe blessings اللهِof God رَبِّيmy Lord سَرْمَدَاeternally
صلَواتُ اللهِ رَبِّي سَرْمَدَا
So upon him, at every moment, forever,
Upon him, at every instant, forever
be the blessings of God, my Lord, eternally.
Are the prayers of God my Lord eternally