Qaṣīda al-Burda
قصيدة البردة
Poem of the Mantle
Written by Imām Būsīrī (d. 696 AH/1295 CE)
Introduction
Imām Abū 'Abdallāh Muhammad ibn Sa'īd al-Būsīrī was an Egyptian poet who wrote under the patronage of the vizier Ibn Hinna. His magnum opus is the present work, the Qaṣīda al-Burda (Poem of the Mantle). It is entirely in praise of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, who cured the poet of paralysis by appearing to him in a dream and wrapping him in a mantle. It is a well-known and beloved classical poem, perhaps being the most recited poem in history.
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| The Qaṣīda on the walls of al-Būsīrī's shrine |
The Burda is divided into 10 chapters and 160 verses. Interspersing the verses is the refrain, “My Master, descend peace and blessings continuously and eternally on Your Beloved, the Best of All Creation” (Arabic: مولاي صلي و سلم دائما أبدا على حبيبك خير الخلق كلهم). Each verse ends with the Arabic letter mīm, a style called mīmīya.
The translation used here is from Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad's "The Mantle Adorned".
The Story behind the Burdah
The first account regarding the circumstances of the poem's composition is recorded by the historian Muḥammad b. Shākir b. Aḥmad b. ʿAbd al-Raḥmān al-Kutubī (d. 764 AH/1363 CE) in Fawāt al-Wafayāt, narrating from al-Būsīrī as follows:
I had composed a number of praise poems for the Prophet, including one that was suggested to me by my friend Zayn al-Dīn Yʿaqūb b. al-Zubayr. Some time after that, I was stricken by fālij (stroke), an illness that paralyzed half of my body. I thought that I would compose this poem, and so I made supplications to the Prophet Muḥammad to intercede for me and (and ask God to) cure me. I repeatedly sang the poem, wept, prayed, and asked for intercession. Then I slept and in my dream, I saw the Prophet. He wiped my face with his blessed hands and covered me in his mantle (burdah). Then I woke up and found I was able to walk; so I got up and left my house. I had told no one about what had happened.
I encountered a Ṣūfī (faqīr) on my way and he said to me: “I want you to give me the poem in which you praise the Prophet.”
I said: “Which one?”
So he said: ”The one that you composed during your sickness.”
Then he recited the first verse and said: “I swear by God that I heard it in a dream last night being sung in the presence of the Prophet Muḥammad. I saw the Prophet was pleased with it and covered the person who sang it with his cloak.”
So I recited the poem to him and he memorized it and related his vision to others. [1]
Audio recitals
Chorus
مَوْلايَ صَلِّ وَسَلِّـمْ دَائِمـاً أَبـَـدًا
عَلى حَبِيْبِـكَ خَيْــرِ الْخَلْقِ كُلِّهِـمِ
مُحَمَّدٌ سَـيِّدُ الْكَــوْنَيْنِ وَالثَّقَلَـيْنِ
وَالْفَرِيْقَـيْنِ مِنْ عُـرْبٍ وَّمِنْ عَجَـمِ
عَلى حَبِيْبِـكَ خَيْــرِ الْخَلْقِ كُلِّهِـمِ
مُحَمَّدٌ سَـيِّدُ الْكَــوْنَيْنِ وَالثَّقَلَـيْنِ
وَالْفَرِيْقَـيْنِ مِنْ عُـرْبٍ وَّمِنْ عَجَـمِ
Mawla ya salli wa sallim daa'iman, abadann
'ala habeebika khayri khalqi kullihimi.
O Lord, send Your peace and blessings for always and forever upon Your Beloved, the Best of the Whole Creation!
Section I - The Love of the Prophet
أَمِنْ تَـذَكُّرِ جِيْرَانٍم بِـذِيْ سَـلَمِ
مَزَجْتَ دَمْعـاً جَرٰى مِنْ مُّقْلَةٍم بِدَمِ
Is it from remembering past neighbours at Dhu Salam that you mingle with blood tears shed from your eyes?
أَمْ هَبَّـتِ الرِّيْحُ مِنْ تِلْقَآءِ كَاظِمَـةٍ
وَأَوْمَضَ الْبَرْقُ فِي الظَّلْماءِ مِنْ إِضَمِ
Or has the wind blown from before Kazima and the lightning flashed from Idam's dark?
فَمَا لِعَيْنَيْكَ إنْ قُلْتَ اكْفُفَا هَمَتَــا
وَمَا لِقَلْبِكَ إنْ قُلْتَ اسْتَفِقْ يَهِـمِ
What ails your eyes, that when you bid them cease they weep still more? What ails your heart that when you bid it wake it wanders?
أيَحْسَـبُ الصَّبُّ أنَّ الْحُبَّ مُنْكَتِـمٌ
مَا بَيْنَ مُنْسَــجِمٍ مِّنْهُ وَمُضْطَـرِمِ
Reckons the lovelorn man that his love may be concealed, when a torrent’s in one part of him, and in the other, a conflagration?
لَوْلاَ الْهَوٰى لَمْ تُرِقْ دَمْعاً عَلىٰ طَلِلِ
وَلاَ أَرِقْتَ لِـذِكْرِ الْبَـانِ وَالْعَلَـمِ
But for passion, you wouldn’t weep at an abandoned camp, nor lie awake at night recalling the willow and the mount.
فَكَيْفَ تُنْكِـرُ حُبًّام بَعْدَمَا شَـهِدَتْ
بِهِ عَلَيْـكَ عُدُوْلُ الدَّمْعِ وَالسَّـقَمِ
So how can you deny your love, when witnesses of tears and sickness have testified to it against you?
وَأَثْبَتَ الْوَجْدُ خَطَّيْ عَبْرَةٍ وَّضَـنًى
مِّثْلَ الْبَهَـارِ عَلىٰ خَدَّيْكَ وَالْعَنَـمِ
Lovesick passion has written upon your cheeks two tear-lines like yellow spice and red anam fruit.
نَعَمْ سَرٰى طَيْفُ مَنْ أَهْوٰى فَـأَرَّقَنِي
وَالْحُبُّ يَعْتَـرِضُ اللَّـذَّاتِ بِالأَلَـمِ
Yes! My loved one’s spirit haunted me, and denied me sleep. For love ever obstructs pleasures with pain.
يَا لائِمِيْ فِي الْهَوٰى الْعُذْرِيِّ مَعْذِرَةً
مِّنِّي إِلَيْكَ وَلَوْ أنْصَفْـتَ لَمْ تَلُـمِ
You who blame me for this chaste love: I seek your pardon! Yet had you judged fairly, you would not have blamed me at all.
عَدَتْكَ حَالِيْ لاَ سِـرِّي بِمُسْـتَتِرٍ
عَنِ الْوُشَـاةِ وَلاَ دَائِي بِمُنْحَسِـمِ
May you be spared my state! I cannot hide my secret from my detractors; my sickness will not leave me.
مَحَّضْتَنِي النُّصْحَ لكِنْ لَسْتُ أسْمَعُهُ
إِنَّ الْمُحِبَّ عَنِ الْعُذَّالِ فِيْ صَمَمِ
You offer me sincere advice, but I hear it not. Verily, a lover is deaf to all his reproachers.
اِنِّي اتَّهَمْتُ نَصِيْحَ الشَّيْبِ فِيْ عَذَلٍ
وَالشَّيْبُ أَبْعَدُ فِيْ نُصْحٍ عَنِ التُّهَمِ
I suspect the counsel even of my own grey hairs; although their advice is far indeed from deception.
Section II - Restraining lust and carnal desires
فَاِنَّ أمَّارَتِيْ بِالسُّوْءِ مـَا اتَّعَظَتْ
مِنْ جَهْلِهَا بِنَذَيْرِ الشَّيْبِ وَالْهَـرَمِ
Thanks to its foolishness, my ill-urging ego has paid no heed to the warner: white hair and decrepitude.
وَلاَ أعَدَّتْ مِنَ الْفِعْلِ الْجَمِيْلِ قِرَى
ضَيْفٍ أَلَمَّ بِرَأسِـيْ غَيْرَ مُحْتَشِـمِ
Neither has it prepared fair deeds in hospitable welcome for a guest who has taken up residence on my head.
لَوْ كُنْتُ أَعْلَـمُ أنِّي مَـا أُوَقِّرُهُ
كَتَمْتُ سِـرَّا بَـدَا لِيْ مِنْهُ بِالْكَتَمِ
Had I understood, I would not have honoured it: I would have used katam-dye to hide what it disclosed.
مَنْ لِّيْ بِرَدِّ جِمَــاحٍ مِّنْ غَوَايتِهَــا
كَمَا يُرَدُّ جِماَحُ الْخَيْــلِ بِاللُّـجُمِ
Who will help me curb a bolting rebel’s wilfulness in the way that a rebel stallion may be curbed with reins?
فَلاَ تَرُمْ بِالْمَعَاصِيْ كَسْـرَ شَـهْوَتِهَا
اِنَّ الطَّعَـامَ يُقَوِّي شَــهْوَةَ النَّهِمِ
Think not to break unlawful whims by satisfying them. Food only increases a glutton’s desires.
وَالنَّفْسُ كَالطِّفْلِ إِنْ تُهْمِلْهُ شَبَّ عَلَى
حُبِّ الرَّضَاعِ وَإِِِنْ تَفْطِمْهُ يَنْفَطِــمِ
The ego’s like a child: neglect it, and it will grow still suckling; only if you wean it will it be weaned.
فَاصْرِفْ هَوَاهَــا وَحَاذِرْ أَنْ تُوَلِّيَهُ
إِنَّ الْهَوٰى مَـا تَـوَلَّى يُصْمِ أَوْ يَصِمِ
Frustrate its whim; be wary of giving it power, for whims pollute or pervert whatever they control.
وَرَاعِهَـا وَهْيَ فِي الأَعْمَالِ سَـائِمَةٌ
وَإِنْ هِيَ اسْتَحْلَتِ الْمَرْعٰى فَلاَ تُسِـمِ
Guard it as it grazes in the pasture of deeds. And should it find the grazing sweet, let it not roam.
كَـمْ حَسَّــنَتْ لَـذَّةً لِلْمَرْءِ قَاتِلَةً
مِنْ حَيْثُ لَمْ يَدْرِ أَنَّ السُّمَّ فِيْ الدَّسَـمِ
Many a delight has it approved which proves murderous, for some do not know that the fat contains a poison.
وَاخْشَ الدَّسَائِسَ مِنْ جُوْعٍ وَّمِنْ شِبَعٍ
فَرُبَّ مَخْمَصَةٍ شَـــرٌّ مِنَ التُّـخَمِ
Fear the insidious snares of hunger and of satiety, for being hungry is sometimes worse than having gorged.
وَاسْتَفْرِغِ الدَّمْعَ مِنْ عَيْنٍ قَـدِ امْتَلأَتْ
مِنَ الْمَحَـارِمِ وَالْزَمْ حِمْيَـةَ النَّـدَمِ
Empty out the tears from an eye that has stuffed itself with forbidden delights; hold hard to a diet of penitence,
وَخالِفِ النَّفْسَ وَالشَّيْطَانَ وَاعْصِهِـمَا
وَإِنْ هُمَـا مَحَّضَـاكَ النُّصْحَ فَاتَّهِـمِ
Disobey the ego and the devil; dispute with them; suspect them both even when they offer you true counsel.
وَلاَ تُطِعْ مِنْهُمَا خَصْمًا وَّلاَ حَكَمًــا
فَأَنْتَ تَعْرِفُ كَيْـدَ الْخَصْمِ وَالْحَكَـمِ
Of the twain, obey neither as a plaintiff or an arbiter. Well you know the plaintiff’s and the arbiter’s ploy.
أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ مِنْ قَوْلٍم بِلاَ عَمَـلٍ
لَقَدْ نَسَبْتُ بِهِ نَسْلاً لِّذِيْ عُقُــمِ
I ask God’s pardon for words not followed by deeds, for by them did I attribute progeny to a sterile man
أمَرْتُكَ الْخَيْرَ لكِنْ مَّا ائْتَمَرْتُ بِــهِ
وَمَا اسْـتَقَمْتُ فَمَا قَوْلِي لَكَ اسْتَقِمِ
I commend goodness to you while not conforming myself. Being crooked, of what use is my command to be straight?
وَلاَ تَزَوَّدْتُّ قَبْلَ الْمَوْتِ نَافِلَــةً
وَلَمْ أُصَلِّ سِوٰى فَرَضٍ وَّلَمْ أَصُمِ
No optional devotions have I accumulated, ready for my demise; nor have I fasted, nor prayed, more than the minimum required.
Section III - Praise of the Prophet
ظَلَمْتُ سُـنَّةَ مَنْ أَحْيَــا الظِّلاَمَ إِلىٰ
أَنِ اشْـتَكَتْ قَدَمَــاهُ الضُّرَّ مِنْ وَرَمِ
I’ve wronged the Sunnah of him who revived the black nights, praying until his feet complained of painful swelling. [2]
وَشَدَّ مِنْ سَغَبٍ أحْشَــاءَهُ وَطَـوٰى
تَحْتَ الْحِجَارَةِ كَشْــحاً مُّتْرَفَ الأَدَمِ
Over his belly and soft skin he placed a stone, tightening a belt over it to lessen the hunger pangs. [3]
وَرَاوَدَتْــهُ الْجِبَالُ الشُّـمُّ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ
عَنْ نَّفْسِـهِ فَـأَرَاهَا أيَّمَـــا شَمَمِ
High mountains sought to tempt him by turning to gold, but he showed them lofty height upon height!
وَأَكَّــدَتْ زُهْدَهُ فِيْهَا ضَرُوْرَتُــهُ
إِنَّ الضَّرُوْرَةَ لاَ تَعْــدُوْ عَلىَ الْعِصَمِ
His constraint through poverty only confirmed his detachment from them. A need such as his shall not lead to transgression.
وَکَيْفَ تَدْعُوْا اِلیَ الدُّنْيَا ضَرُوْرَةُ مَنْ
لَوْلاَهُ لَمْ تَخْرُجِ الدُّنْيَا مِنَ الْعَدَمِ
How could poverty tempt him to worldliness when but for him the world not have been brought from the void?
مُحَمَّدٌ سَـيِّدُ الْكَــوْنَيْنِ وَالثَّقَلَـيْنِ
وَالْفَرِيْقَـيْنِ مِنْ عُـرْبٍ وَّمِنْ عَجَـمِ
Muhammad is the master of both worlds, both kinds, and both companies: Arabs and non-Arabs.
نَبِيُّنَـا الآمِرُ النَّــاهِيْ فَلاَ أَحَــدٌ
أبَـرُّ فِيْ قَــوْلِ لاَ مِنْـهُ وَلاَ نَعَـمِ
Our Prophet, who commands and forbids – there is none more faithful to his word, whether Yes or No.
هُوَ الْحَبِيْبُ الَّــذِيْ تُرْجٰى شَـفَاعَتُهُ
لِكُــلِّ هَوْلٍ مِّنَ الأَهْـوَالِ مُقْتَحَمِ
He is the loved one whose intercession is hoped for, victor against every terror and calamity.
دَعَـا اِلىٰ اللهِ فَالْمُسْـتَمْسِـكُوْنَ بِـهِ
مُسْتَمْسِـكُوْنَ بِحَبْـلٍ غَيْرِ مُنْفَصِـمِ
To God was his call, and those who hold fast to him hold fast to a rope that shall never break.
فَــاقَ النَّبِيِّيْنَ فِيْ خَلْـقٍ وَفِيْ خُلُـقٍ
وَلَمْ يُـدَانُوهُ فِيْ عِلْــمٍ وَّلاَ كَـرَمِ
In his form and his qualities he excelled the other prophets. Their knowledge and nobility did not rival his own.
وَكُــلُّهُمْ مِّنْ رَّسُـوْلِ اللهِ مُلْتَمِـسٌ
غَرْفَا مِّنَ الْبَحْرِ أَوْ رَشْفاً مِّنَ الدِّيَـمِ
Each of them seeks something of God’s messenger – handfuls from the sea, or drops of the drizzle.
وَوَاقِفُـوْنَ لَدَيـْـهِ عنْـدَ حَدِّهِــمِ
مِنْ نُّقْطَةِ الْعلْمِ أَوْ مِنْ شَكْلَةِ الْحِكَـمِ
Before him do they stand, respecting their limits; dots to his knowledge, or vowel-signs to his wisdom.
فَهْوَ الَّـِذيْ تَمَّ مَعْنَــاهُ وَصُوْرَتُهُ
ثُمَّ اصْطَفَـاهُ حَبِيْباًم بَارِيءُ النَّسَــمِ
He it is whose meaning and form reached perfection. Then the Maker of Souls chose him as His beloved.
مُنَـزَّهٌ عَـنْ شَـرِيْكٍ فِيْ مَحَاسِــنِهِ
فَجَـوْهَرُ الْحُسْـنِ فِيْهِ غَيْرُ مُنْقَسِـمِ
Too exalted is his beauty to have a rival. In him is the undivided essence of all beauty.
دَعْ مَــا ادَّعَتْهُ النَّصَارٰى فِيْ نَبِيِّهِـمِ
وَاحْكُمْ بِمَا شِئْتَ مَدْحاً فِيْهِ وَاحْتَكِـمِ
Set aside the claim the Christians made for their prophet. Then compose what praises of him you wish, and do so well. [4]
وَانْسُبْ اِلىٰ ذَاتِهِ مَا شِئْتَ مِنْ شَـرَفٍ
وَانْسُبْ اِلىٰ قَدْرِهِ مَا شِئْتَ مِنْ عِظَـمِ
To his essence assign whatever you will of honour. To his stature assign what greatness you will.
فَـاِنَّ فَضْلَ رَسُــوْلِ اللهِ لَيْـسَ لَهُ
حَـدٌّ فَيُعْـرِبَ عنْـهُ نَـاطِقٌ بِفَمِ
For the merit of God’s messenger knows no bounds that might be voiced by the mouths of men.
لَوْ نَـاسَـبَتْ قَـدْرَهُ آيـَاتُهُ عِظَمـاً
أَحْيَـا اسْمُهُ حِيْنَ يُـدْعَى دَارِسَ الرِّمَمِ
If his miracles stood in proportion to his greatness, the very mention of his name would revive dry bones
لَمْ يَمْتَحِنَّــا بِمَـا تَعْيَـا الْعُقُوْلُ بِـهِ
حِرْصًـا عَلَيْنَـا فَلَمْ نَرْتَـبْ وَلَمْ نَهِمِ
He did not try us with things that baffle the mind – such was his concern for us – so we neither doubted nor strayed.
أَعْيَ الْوَرٰى فَهْمُ مَعْنَــاهُ فَلَيْسَ يُرٰى
فِي الْقُرْبِ وَالْبُعْـدِ فِيْهِ غَـيْرُ مُنْفَحِمِ
Understanding his meaning exhausts the human mind. Near and far, all were seen to be dumbstruck.
كَـالشَّمْسِِ تَظْهَرُ لِلْعَيْنَيْنِِ مِنْم بُــعُدٍ
صَغِيْرَةً وَتُكِـلُّ الطَّـرْفَ مِنْ أَمَـمِ
He is like the sun; to the eye at a distance it seems small, but when near, it dazzles the sight.
وَكَيْفَ يُــدْرِكُ فِي الدُّنْيـَـا حَقِيْقَتَهُ
قَــوْمٌ نِّيَــامٌ تَسَلَّوْا عَنْهُ بِـالْحُلُمِ
How can his reality be grasped in this world by people who are asleep, distracted from him by dreams?
فَمَبْلَغُ الْعِــلْمِ فِيْهِ أَنَّــهُ بَشَــرٌ
وَأَنَّــهُ خَيْرُ خَلْـقِ اللهِ كُـــلِّهِمِ
The most we know of him is that he is a mortal man, and that he is the best of all God’s creation.
وَكُـلُّ آيٍ أَتَى الرُّسْـلُ الْكِـرَامُ بِهَا
فَــإِِنَّمَـا اتَّصَلَتْ مِنْ نُّوْرِهِ بِهِــمِ
Every miracle which the noble messengers brought was theirs by virtue of his light alone.
فَـإِِنَّهُ شَمْـسُ فَضْلٍ هُـمْ كَـوَاكِبُهَا
يُظْهِرْنَ أَنْـَوارَهَا لِلنَّــاسِ فِي الظُّلَمِ
For he is the sun of virtue, and they are its planets. Amid the shadows, they display its rays to humanity.
حَتّٰی اِذَا طَلَعَتْ فِی الْکَوْنِ عَمَّ هُدَا
هَا الْعٰلَمِيْنَ وَ اَحْيَتْ سَائِرَ اْلأَُمَمِ
How noble the qualities of a prophet adorned by such traits! How full is his beauty! How gifted with smiling joy!
أَكْــرِمْ بِخَلْـقِ نَبِيٍّ زَانَــهُ خُلُـقٌ
بِالْحُسْـنِ مُشْـتَمِلٌم بِالْبِشْـرِ مُتَّسِـمِ
As a flower in delicacy, as the full moon in honour, like the sea in bounty, as persistent as time itself.
كَالزَّهْرِ فِيْ تَرَفٍ وَّالْبَـدْرِ فِيْ شَـرَفٍ
وَالْبَحْرِ فِيْ كَــرَمٍ وَّالـدَّهْرِ فِيْ هِمَمِ
Such is his splendour that even alone in his glory, superb courtiers and guards seem to stand around him.
كَـــأَنَّمَا اللُّؤْلُؤُ الْمَكْنُوْنُ فِيْ صَدَفٍ
مِنْ مَّعْــدِنِيْ مَنْطِـقٍ مِّنْهُ وَمُبْتَسَـمِ
From the rich mine of his speech and his smile hidden pearls seemed to sparkle from their shell.
لا طِيْبَ يَعْــدِلُ تُرْبـًا ضَمَّ أعْظُمَهُ
طُوْبٰى لِمُنْتَشِـقٍ مِّنْـــهُ وَمُـلْتَثِـمِ
No perfume can rival the earth that holds his bones. Blessed are they that breathe its fragrance, or kiss it!
Section IV - The Birth of the Prophet
أَبـَـانَ مَوْلِدُهُ عَنْ طِيْــبِ عُنْصُرِهِ
يَـــا طِيْبَ مُبْتَـدَإٍ مِّنْهُ وَمُخْتَتَـمِ
His birth revealed the purity of his ancestry. How fine his origin, how pure his final end!
يَــوْمٌ تَفَرَّسَ فِيْــهِ الْفُرْسُ أَنَّهُـمُ
قَــدْ أُنْـذِرُوْا بِِحُلُوْلِ الْبُؤْسِ وَالنِّقَمِ
That day the Persians sensed that they had been warned of the descent of defeats and retribution.
وَبـَاتَ إِِيْوَانُ كِسْـرٰى وَهْوَ مُنْصَدِعٌ
كَشَـمْلِ أَصْحَابِ كِسْـرٰى غَيْرَ مُلْتَئِمِ
By night the Arch of Kisra split assunder. Likewise his horde, never to be restored. [5]
وَالنَّارُ خَـامِدَةُ اْلأَنْفَـاسِ مِنْ أَسَـفٍ
عَلَيْهِ وَالنَّهْرُ سَـاهِي الْعَيْنِ مِنْ سَـدَمِ
The sacred fire breathed its last from sorrow. Out of anxiety the Euphrates lost its way.
وَسَـاءَ سَـاوَةَ أَنْ غَاضَتْ بُحَيْرَتُهَـا
وَرُدَّ وَارِدُهَـا بِــالْغَيْظِ حِيْنَ ظَـمِيْ
Sāwah endured the drying of its lake. The thirsty who sought water there returned in rage.
كَــأَنَّ بِالنَّـارِ مَا بِالْمَـاءِ مِنْ بَلَـلٍ
حُزْنـاً وَّبِـالْمَاءِ مَا بِـالنَّارِ مِنْ ضَـرَمِ
As though fire itself, from, grief, was as wet as water; while water blazed like fire.
وَالْجِنُّ تَهْتِفُ وَاْلأَنْــوَارُ سَــاطِعَةٌ
وَالْحَـقُّ يُظْهَـرُ مِنْ مَّعْنىً وَّمِنْ كَـلِمِ
Jinn called out. Lights shone, dazzling. Truth was made manifest in word and in fact.
عَمُوْا وَصَمُّوْا فَــإِِعْلاَنُ الْبَشَـائِرِ لَمْ
تُسْمَعْ وَبـَــارِقَةُ اْلإِِنْذَارِ لَمْ تُشَـمِ
Blind and deaf were they, so the good news announced went unheard, while the lightningflash of warning went unseen.
مِنْم بَعْـدِ مَا أَخْبَرَ الأَقْوَامَ كَــاهِنُهُمْ
بِــأَنَّ دِينَـهُـمُ الْمُعْـوَجَّ لَمْ يَقُـمِ
This even though the diviners had advised their people that their crooked religion could no longer stand.
وَبَعْـدَ مَا عَايَنُوْا فِي الأُفُقِِ مِنْ شُـهُبٍ
مُنْقَضَّةٍ وَّفْـقَ مَـا فِي الأرْضِ مِنْ صَنَمِ
And even though their eyes beheld on the horizon great meteors falling, as idols toppled on earth.
حَتّٰى غَـدَا عَنْ طَـرِيْقِ الْوَحْيِ مُنْهَزِمٌ
مِنَ الشَّـيَاطِيْنِ يَقْفُُوْا إِِثْـرَ مُنْهَـزِمِ
Until, sent flying from revelation’s road, demons fled after those who were overthrown.
كَـأَنَّهُمْ هَرَبـَـا أَبْطَــالُ أبْرَهَـةٍ
أَوْ عَسْكَرٌ بِـالْحَصٰى مِنْ رَّاحَتَيْـهِ رُمِيْ
Fleeing like the champions of Abraha; or like a host pelted with pebbles from His hand. [6]
نَبْذًام بِهِ بَعْـدَ تَسْـبِيْحٍم بِبَـطْنِهِمَــا
نَبْـذَ الْمُسَبِّحِ مِنْ أَحْشَــاءِ مُلْتَقِـمِ
They sang glory in his hand, and then were cast like the praising Jonah, cast from the whale’s belly.
Section V - The Prophet's Call to Islam
جَاءَتْ لِِـدَعْوَتِهِ الأَشْـجَارُ سَـاجِدَةً
تَمْشِِـي إِِلَيْهِ عَلىٰ سَـاقٍم بِــلاَ قَدَمِ
Trees came prostrate to heed his call, their trunks walking to him though they had no feet.
كَـأَنَّمَا سَـطَرَتْ سَـطْرًا لِمَا كَتَبَتْ
فُرُوْعُهَـا مِنْ بَـدِيْعِ الْخَطِّ فِي اللَّـقَمِ
It was as though their branches were writing lines as they came along, with the finest calligraphy!
مِثْلَ الْغَمَــامَةِ أَنَّى سَـارَ سَــائِرَةً
تَقِيْـهِ حَرَّ وَطِيْـسٍ لِّلْهَجِــيْرِ حَمِيْ
And like the cloud, how it moved about, to protect him from the midday heat, red-hot!
اَقْسَمْتُ بِالْقَمَرِ الْمُنْشَقِّ إِِنَّ لَهُ
مِنْ قَلْبِهِ نِسْبَةً مَبْرُوْرَةَ الْقَسَمِ
By the moon split in twain, truly it has, I swear by an oath that is true, a link with his heart.
وَمَا حَوَى الْغَــارُ مِنْ خَيْرٍ وَّمِنْ كَرَمِ
وَكُــلُّ طَرْفٍ مِّنَ الْكُفَّارِ عَنْهُ عَمِيْ
And by the goodness and nobility embraced by the cave when every unbelieving eye was too blind to see him.
فَالصِّدْقُ فِي الْغَـارِ وَالصِّدِّيْقُ لَمْ يَرِمَـا
وَهُمْ يَقُوْلُوْنَ مَـا بِالْغَــارِ مِنْ أَرِمِ
They were saying that none drew breath in the cave, while Belief in the cave, and the Believer, did not waver.
ظَنُّوا الْحَمَــامَ وَظَنُّوا الْعَنْكَبُوْتَ عَلىٰ
خَــيْرِ الْبَرِيَّـةِ لَمْ تَنْسُـجْ وَلَمْ تَحُمِ
Imagining that for the Best of Creation, the spider had woven no web, and that the dove had found no perch.
وِقَـايَةُ اللهِ أَغْنَتْ عَنْ مُّضَـاعَفَةٍ
مِنَ الدُّرُوْعِ وَعَنْ عَــالٍ مِّنَ الأُطُمِ
God’s guardianship made extra armour needless, neither did they need lofty castles.
مَا سَـامَنِي الدَّهْرُ ضَيْماً وَّاسْتَجَرْتُ بِهِ
إِِلا وَنِـلْتُ جِـوَاراً مِّنْهُ لَمْ يُـضَمِ
Never does this age oppress me, but that I seek his protection. His protection do I find – and the oppression is no more.
وَلا الْتَمَسْـتُ غِنَى الدَّارَيْنِ مِنْ يَّـدِهِ
إِِلا اسْتَلَمْتُ النَّدٰى مِنْ خَيْرِ مُسْـتَلَمِ
Never do I seek from his hand the goods of both worlds without gaining my share from the best of all givers!
لا تُنْكِــرِ الْوَحْيَ مِنْ رُؤْيَـاهُ إِِنَّ لَهُ
قَلْباً اِذَا نَــامَتِ الْعَيْنَـانِ لَمْ يَنَـمِ
Deny not the revelation in his dream-visions, for his was a heart which slept not, though his eye slept.
وَذَاكَ حِيْنَ بُلُــوْغٍ مِّنْ نُّبُوَّتِــــهِ
فَلَيْسَ يُنْـكَرُ فِيْهِ حـَالُ مُحْتَلِــمِ
Thus it was at the outset of his Prophethood; so when adult, his dream-visions are not gainsaid.
تَبَــارَكَ اللهُ مَـا وَحْيٌم بِمُكْتَسَـبٍ
وَلا نَــِبيٌّ عَلي غَيْــبٍم بِمُتَّهَـمِ
Blessed is God! Revelation is not acquired. Nor is a prophet to be accused when he speaks of hidden things.
كَــمْ أبْرَأَتْ وَصِبـاًم بِاللَّمْسِ رَاحَتُهُ
وَأَطْلَقَتْ أَرِبــاً مِّنْ رِّبْــقَةِ اللَّمَمِ
How many patients were healed by his hand’s touch! How many madmen did he release from their chains!
وَأَحْيَتِ السَّــنَةَ الشَّــهْبَاءَ دَعْوَتُهُ
حَتيّٰ حَكَتْ غُرَّةً فِي الأَعْصُرِ الدُّهُـمِ
A time of drought was given new life by his call. After dull ages – a blaze of light!
بِعَارِضٍ جَادَ أَوْ خِلْتَ الْبِطَـاحَ بِهَــا
سَـيْبٌ مِّنَ الْيَمِّ أوْ سَـيْلٌ مِّنَ الْعَرِمِ
All by a rain-giving cloud. Or you would think the valleys were thus engulfed by the sea, or by a flood of Arim’s dam water.
Section VI - The Qurʾān
دَعْنِيْ وَوَصْفِيَ آيـَــاتٍ لَّه ظَهَرَتْ
ظَهُوْرَ نَـارِ الْقِرٰى لَيْـلاً عَلى عَـلَمِ
Leave me to describe his signs, which appeared like a hospitable fire lit by night on a hilltop.
فَالــدُّرُّ يَزْدَادُ حُسْـناً وَهْوَ مُنْتَظِمُ
وَلَيْسَ يَـنْقُصُ قَــدْراً غَيْرَ مُنْتَظِمِ
Pearls glow more brightly when on a string, yet are no less precious when they are separate.
فَمَــا تَطَـاوُلُ آمــالِ الْمَدِيْحِ إِِلَى
مَـا فِيْـهِ مِنْ كَرَمِ الأخْلاَقِ وَالشِّيَمِ
The praise-giver reaches high, but cannot reach the noble qualities and graces which he displays.
آيـَـاتُ حَقٍّ مِّنَ الرَّحْمٰنِ مُحْدَثَــةٌ
قَــدِيمَةٌ صِفَةُ الْمَوْصُـوْفِ بِالْقِـدَمِ
Though they are renewed, signs of truth from the Merciful precede time itself; their quality is that of Him who is eternal.
لَمْ تَقْتَرِنْ بِزَمَــانٍ وَهْيَ تُخْبِرُنـَـا
عَنِ الْمَعَـــادِ وَعَنْ عـادٍ وَّعَنْ إِِرَمِ
Unlinked to time, they give us news of Judgement-Day, of Ād and Iram.
دَامَتْ لَدَيْنـَا فَفَاقَتْ كُــلَّ مُعْجِزَةٍ
مِنَ النَّبِيِّيْنَ إِِذْ جَــاءَتْ وَلَمْ تَـدُمِ
Constantly with us, above every miracle of prophets of old, which came and went.
مُحَكَّـمَاتٌ فَمَــا تُبْقِيْنَ مِنْ شُـبَهٍ
لِــذِيْ شِـقَاقٍ وَّمَا تَبْغِيْنَ مِنْ حِكَمِ
Clear and strong, these signs leave no doubt to be stirred up by the mischevious, and need no arbiter.
مَا حُوْرِبَتْ قَطُّ إِلا عَــادَ مِنْ حَرَبٍ
أَعْـدَى الأَعَـادِيْ اِلَيْهَا مُلْقِيَ السَّلَمِ
Whenever attacked, the most bitter of their foes return from the fray begging to submit.
رَدَّتْ بَلاغَتُهَــا دَعْوى مُعَارِضِهَـا
رَدَّ الْغَيُورِ يَـدَ الْجــانِيْ عَنِ الْحُرَمِ
Their eloquence routs their enemy’s claims, as a zealous man protects his wife from an assailant.
لَهَا مَعَــانٍ كَمَوْجِ الْبَحْرِ فِيْ مَـدَدٍ
وَفَـوْقَ جَوْهَرِه فِي الْحُسْـنِ وَالْقِيَمِ
Meanings they have like the wide sea’s waves, their beauty and worth more precious than the ocean’s treasures.
فَمَـا تُـعَدُّ وَلا تُحْـصٰى عَجَائِبُهَـا
وَلا تُسَـامُ عَلى الإِكْثـَـارِ بِالسَّأَمِ
Their marvels stand beyond count and reckoning. None grows tired of them, however oftrepeated.
قَرَّتْ بِهَـا عَيْنُ قَارِيْهَا فَقُلْتُ لَــهُ
لَقَـدْ ظَفَـرْتَ بِحَبْـلِ اللهِ فَـاعْتَصِمِ
They delighted the soul and senses of one that recited them. So I told him: ‘Yours is God’s rope – so hold on tight!’
إِِنْ تَتْلُهَا خِيْفَةً مِنْ حَرِّ نَارِ لَظي
أَطْفَأْتَ حَرَّ لَظی مِنْ وِّرْدِهَا الشَّبَمِ
If you recite them in fear of a blazing Fire, their wellsprings shall extinguish that fire and heat.
كَــأَنَّهَا الْحَوْضُ تَبْيَضُّ الْوُجُوهُ بِـهِ
مِنَ الْعُصَاةِ وَقَــدْ جَاؤُوْهُ كَالْحِمَـمِ
Like the pool of Paradise they make sinners’ faces shine, though they had come to it as black as
charcoal.
وَكَـالصِّرَاطِ وَكَـالْمِيْزَانِ مَعْدِلَــةً
فَالْقِسْطُ مِنْ غَيْرِهَا فِيْ النَّـاسِ لَمْ يَقُمِ
Like the Bridge over Hell, and the Balance of Right. Justice made by another shall not be true among mankind.
لا تَعْجَبَنْ لِّحَسُـوْدٍ رَّاحَ يُنْكِرُهَــا
تَجَاهُلاً وَّهُـوَ عَـْينُ الْحَـاذِقِ الْفَهِمِ
Be not amazed at an envier who denies them, pretending unawareness though he has a deep understanding.
قَدْ تُنْكِرُ الْعَيْنُ ضَوْءَ الشَّمْسِ مِنْ رَّمَدٍ
وَيُنْكِرُ الْفَمُ طَعْمَ الْمَـاءِ مِنْ سَــقَمِ
A sick eye may deny the light of the sun; a sick tongue may even abhor the taste of water.
Section VII - The Night of Ascension (’Isrā’ wal-Mi‘rāj)
يَـا خَيْرَ مَنْ يَّمَّمَ الْعَـافُوْنَ سَـاحَتَهُ
سَعْيـًـا وَّفَوْقَ مُتُوْنِ الأَيْنُقِ الرُّسُـمِ
O best of those whose courtyard is sought by the needy; they run, or ride the backs of tireless camels.
وَمَنْ هُــوَ الآيـَةُ الْكُبْرَى لِمُعْتَبِـرٍ
وَمَنْ هُـوَ النِّعْمَــةُ الْعُظْمٰى لِمُغْتَنِمِ
O greatest sign for those who seek to learn! O greatest grace for those who seek to gain!
سَرَيْتَ مِنْ حَـرَمٍ لَّيْــلاً إِِلىٰ حَرَمِ
كَمَا سَـرَى الْبَدْرُ فِيْ دَاجٍ مِّنَ الظُّلَمِ
You rose by night from sanctuary to sanctuary, as the full moon travels through the firmament of dark. [7]
وَبِتَّ تَرْقٰى إِِلىٰ أَنْ نِلْـتَ مَنْزِلَــةً
مِنْ قَابَ قَوْسَـيْنِ لَمْ تُدْرَكْ وَلََْم تُـرَمِ
And through the night you rose until you gained a stage of Two Bows’ Length hitherto never reached or hoped for.
وقَـدَّمَتْكَ جَمِيْعُ الأنْبِيَـاءِ بِهَـــا
وَالرُّسْـلِ تَقْدِيْمَ مَخْـدُوْمٍ عَلىٰ خَـدَمِ
There all of the Prophets gave you precedence. The Messengers too, as servants give way to their master.
وَأَنْتَ تَخْتَرِقُ السَّــبْعَ الطِّبَاقَ بِهِمْ
فِيْ مَوْكِبٍ كُنْتَ فِيْـهِ صَاحِبَ الْعَـلَمِ
You broached the seven-tiered skies, with them behind you, in a procession where you were the standard bearer!
حَتىّٰ إِِذَا لَمْ تَدَعْ شَــأْوًا لِّمُسْــتَبِقٍ
مِنَ الـــدُّنُوِّ وَلا مَرْقىً لِّمُسْــتَنِمِ
Until your closeness left no space for others on the quest; nor summit for others to attain.
خَفَضْتَ كُــلَّ مَقَامٍم بِالإِِضَـافَةِ إِِذْ
نُوْدِيْتَ بِالـرَّفْعِ مِثْلَ الْمُفْرَدِ الْعَــلَمِ
All other ranks lay beneath you in conjunction, when see! you are addressed directly, your noun alone His object.
كَيْمَا تَفُوْزَ بِوَصْــلٍ أيِّ مُسْــتَتِرِ
عَنِ الْعُيُــوْنِ وَسِـــرٍّ أيِّ مُكْتَتِمِ
All this that you should triumph through Arrival. Hidden from sight – how hidden a secret!
فَحُزْتَ كُــلَّ فَخَارٍ غَيْرَ مُشْـتَرَكٍ
وَجُزْتَ كُــلَّ مَقَــامٍ غَيْرَ مُزْدَحَمِ
Unrivalled were the proud honours you received. None other was with you as you gained each degree.
وَجَـلَّ مِقْـدَارُ مَـا وُلِّيْتَ مِنْ رُّتَبٍ
وَعَزَّ إِِدْرَاكُ مَــا أُوْلِيْتَ مِنْ نِّعَــمِ
How glorious, the precious ranks you were granted! How hard to list the graces you received!
بُشْـرٰى لَنَا مَعْشَـرَ الإِِسْـلامِ إِِنَّ لَنَا
مِنَ الْعِنَايَـةِ رُكْنــاً غَيْرَ مُنْهَــدِمِ
Good news for us, people of Islam! For we possess a pillar of God’s care that shall not be overthrown.
لَمَّـا دَعَى الله دَاعِيْنـَـا لِطَــاعَتِهِ
بِـأَكْرَمِ الرُّسْلِ كُنَّـا أَكْـرَمَ الأُمَـمِ
When God, our Summoner, called us to serve Him through the noblest of Messengers, we became the noblest of nations.
Section VIII - The Prophet's Jihad
رَاعَتْ قُلُوْبَ الْعِـدَا أَنْبـَــاءُ بِعْثَتِهِ
كَنَبْـأَةٍ أَجْفَلَتْ غُفْــلاً مِّنَ الْغَنَـمِ
News that he was sent, made foemen quake, just as a lion’s roar shakes heedless sheep
مَـا زَالَ يَلْقَــاهُمُ فِيْ كُـلِّ مُعْتَرَكٍ
حَتىّٰ حَكَوْا بِالْقَنَـا لَحْمَا عَلىٰ وَضَـمِ
On every battlefield he did not shy to meet them, until lances made them seem like flesh upon a butcher’s block.
وَدُّوْا الْفِرَارَ فَكَــادُوْا يَغْبِطُوْنَ بِـهِ
أَشْـلاءَ شَـالَتْ مَعَ الْعُقْبَـانِ وَالرَّخَمِ
They longed to run away, almost jealous of the carrion borne away by hawks and vultures.
تَمْضِي اللَّيـَالِيْ وَلا يَدْرُوْنَ عِدَّتَهَـا
مَا لَمْ تَكُنْ مِّنْ لَيـَالِي الأُشْهُرِ الْحُـرُمِ
The nights kept passing, but they forgot how many, apart from the nights of the Sacrosanct Months.
كَـأنَّمَا الدِّيْنُ ضَيْفٌ حَلَّ سَـاحَتَهُمْ
بِكُــلِّ قَرْمٍ اِلىٰ لَحْمِ الْعِــدَا قَـرِمِ
As though Religion were a guest come upon their gate, met by voracious foes hungry for their flesh.
يَجُـرُّ بَحْـرَ خَمِيْسٍ فَوْقَ سَــابِحَةٍ
يَـرْمِيْ بِمَوْجٍ مِّنَ الأَبْطَــالِ مُلْتَـطِمِ
A sea-like host riding swift steeds, casting forth a wave of surging heroes.
مِنْ كُــلِّ مُنْـتَدِبٍ للهِ مُحْتَسِـبٍ
يَسْـطُوْ بِمُسْـتَأْصِلٍ لِّلْكُفْرِ مُصْطَـلِمِ
Volunteers for God, hoping for His reward, heroic and bold in uprooting disbelief.
حَتىّٰ غَدَتْ مِلَّةُ الإِِسْلامِ وَهْيَ بِهِـمْ
مِنْم بَعْــدِ غُرْبَتِهَا مَوْصُوْلَةَ الرَّحِـمِ
Until the Religion of Islām became, through them, as one flesh, having once been exiled and apart.
مَكْفُوْلَـةً أَبَـداً مِّنْهُـمْ بِـخَيْرِ أَبٍ
وَخَيْرِ بَعْـلٍ فَــلَمْ تَيْتَـمْ وَلَمْ تَئِـمِ
Shielded for all time from evildoers by the best of fathers and husbands, so that no longer were they orphans or widows.
هُمُ الْجِبَـالُ فَسَـلْ عَنْهُمْ مُّصَادِمَهُمْ
مَــاذَا لَقِيْ مِنْهُمْ فِيْ كُـلِّ مُصْطَدَمِ
Mountains were they! Ask those who collided with them what they saw in them on every field of honour.
وَسَـلْ حُنَيْناً وَسَـلْ بَدْراً وَسَلْ أُحُدًا
فُصُـوْلُ حَتْفٍ لَّهُمْ أَدْهٰى مِنَ الْوَخَمِ
Ask Huneyn. Ask Badr. Ask Uhud. Fateful seasons, against evil worse than plague
اَلْمُصْدِرِي الْبِيْضِ حُمْراًم بَعْدَ مَا وَرَدَتْ
مِنَ الْعِــدَا كُلَّ مُسْوَدٍّ مِّنَ اللِّمَـمِ
White swords shone red after their encounter with the black heads of the foemen.
وَالْكَاتِبِيْنَ بِسُــمْرِ الْخَطِّ مَا تَرَكَتْ
أقْــلامُهُمْ حَرْفَ جِسْمٍ غَيْرَ مُنْعَجِمِ
Like scribes whose pens, tracing with brown ink, left no body devoid of points and vowels.
شَـاكِي السِّـلاحِ لَهُمْ سِيْماَ تُمَيِّزُهُمْ
وَالْوَرْدُ يَمْتَـازُ بِالسِّيْماَ عَنِ السَّـلَمِ
In shining armour, theirs was a sign which set them apart, just as a rosebush may be distinguished from an acacia.
تُهْدِي إِِلَيْـكَ رِيَاحُ النَّصْرِ نَشْـرَهُمُ
فتَحْسِبُ الزَّهْرَ فِي الأَكْمَامِ كُلَّ كَمِیْ
Winds of victory honour you with their perfume. You’d think them blooms ripe to come from the spathe.
كَــأَنَّهُمْ فِيْ ظُهُوْرِ الْخَيْلِ نَبْتُ رُبـاً
مِنْ شَـدَّةِ الْحَزْمِ لا مِنْ شِـدَّةِ الْحُزُمِ
In the saddle they were as flowers on a hilltop, their strength from resolve, not from strap and stirrup.
طَارَتْ قُلُوْبُ الْعِدَا مِنْم بَأْسِـهِمْ فَرَقاً
فَمَـا تُـفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ الْبَهْـمِ وَالْبُهَـمِ
Their boldness put their enemies’ hearts to flight, until you could not tell herd from host.
وَمَنْ تَـكُنْم بِرَسُـوْلِ اللهِ نُصْرَتُـه
إِنْ تَلْقَهُ الأُسْـدُ فِيْ آجَــامِهَا تَجِمِ
Lions in their abode stand humbled and dazed by him whose victory comes through God’s Messenger.
وَلَنْ تَــرٰى مِنْ وَّلِيٍّ غَيْرَ مُنْتَصِـرٍ
بِــهِ وَلا مِنْ عَــدُوٍّ غَيْرَ مُنْقَصِمِ
You shall see no saint that is not helped through him, and no foe that is not overwhelmed.
أَحَــلَّ أُمَّتَـهُ فِيْ حِِـرْزِ مِلَّتِــهِ
كَاللَّيْثِ حَلَّ مَعَ الأشْـبَالِ فِيْ أَجَمِ
The stronghold of his faith is where he set his people, like a lion which places its cubs in the safest place.
كَـمْ جَدَّلَتْ كَـلِمَاتُ اللهِ مِنْ جَدَلٍ
فِيْهِ وَكَـمْ خَصَّمَ الْبُرْهَانُ مِنْ خَصِمِ
How often have God’s words felled those who oppose him, and how many a debater has been defeated by His Proof!
كَفَــاكَ بِـالْعَلَمِ فِيْ الأُمِّيِّ مُعْجَزَةً
فِيْ الْجَاهِـلِيَّةِ وَالتَّــأْدِيْبَ فِي الْيُتُمِ
Erudition in an unlettered one is miracle enough, in an Age of Ignorance, as is knowledge in an orphan.
Section IX - Seeking Allah's Forgiveness and the Prophet's Intercession
خَدَمْتُهُ بِمَدِيْــحٍ أَسْــتَقِيلُ بِـهِ
ذُنُوْبَ عُمْرٍ مَّضٰى فِي الشِّعْرِ وَالْخِدَمِ
By this eulogy have I served him, hoping to be redeemed from the sins of a life of odes and patronage.
إِذْ قَـلَّدَانِيَ مَا تُخْشٰـى عَـَواقِبُـهُ
كَــأَنَّنِيْ بِهِــمَا هَدْيٌ مِّنَ النَّعَمِ
That life yoked me with collars of ominous portent as though I were a ritual lamb destined for slaughter.
أَطَعْتُ غَيَّ الصِّبَا فِي الْحَالَتَيْنِ وَمَــا
حَصَلْتُ إِِلا عَلىٰ الآثَـامِ وَالنَّـدَمِ
In both did I obey the wild folly of youth, but reaped nothing but sins and sorrow.
فَيـَا خَسَــارَةَ نَفْسٍ فِيْ تِجَارَتِهَـا
لَمْ تَشْتَرِ الدِّيْنَ بِـالدُّنْيَا وَلَمْ تَسُـمِ
Such a loss to my soul was the deal that it struck! It didn’t buy (or even seek to buy!) the next world at this world’s price.
وَمَنْ يَّبِــعْ آجِـلاً مِّنْهُ بِـعَاجِلِـهِ
يَبِنْ لَّـهُ الْغَبْنُ فِيْ بَيْـعٍ وَّفِيْ سَـلَمِ
Those who sell their property for short-term gain shall be deceived in their deals and in their dealings.
إِِنْ آتِ ذَنْبـاً فَمَــا عَهْدِي بِمُنْتَقِضٍ
مِنَ النَّبِيِّ وَلا حَبْـلِي بِمُنْصَـــرِمِ
Yet despite my sin, my pledge with the Prophet is unbroken, and the cord which binds me to him has not been cut.
فَـــإِنَّ لِيْ ذِمَّةً مِّنْــهُ بِتَسْـمِيَتِيْ
مُحَمَّداً وَّهُوَ أَوْفَى الْخَلْقِ بِــالذِّمَمِ
By him I have a safe-conduct, having been named Muhammad, he who is most faithful in safe-conduct.
إِِنْ لَّمْ يَكُـنْ فِيْ مَعَـادِي آخِذاً بِيَدِيْ
فَضْلاً وَّإِلا فَقُــلْ يَــا زَلَّةَ الْقَدَمِ
In the afterlife, if he takes not my hand kindly, then my feet will slip: alas for such misfortune!
حَاشَــاهُ أَنْ يَّحْرِمَ الرَّاجِي مَكَارِمَهُ
أَوْ يَرْجِعَ الْجَــارُ مِنْهُ غَيْرَ مُحْـتَرَمِ
Far be it from him to deprive the hopeful of his gifts. Or that a neighbour seeking safety should return without being honoured.
وَمُنْذُ أَلْزَمْتُ أفْكَـــارِيْ مَدَائِحَهُ
وَجَدْتُّـهُ لِخَلاصِيْ خَــيْرَ مُلْتَـزِمِ
Ever since I devoted my thoughts to praising him I have found him to be the best assurance of my salvation.
وَلَنْ يَّفُوْتَ الْغِنٰى مِنْهُ يَــداً تَرِبَتْ
إِِنَّ الْحَيَـا يُنْبِتُ الأَزْهَارَ فِي الأَكَـمِ
His wealth will not ignore a dusty hand. Showers bring flowers to arid hilltops.
وَلَمْ أُرِدْ زَهْرَةَ الدُّنْيـَا الَّتِي اقْتَطَفَتْ
يَــدَا زُهَيْرٍم بِمَـا أثْنٰى عَلى هَـرِمِ
And yet I crave not the worldly flowers which the hand of Zuheyr once picked by praising Herem. [8]
Section X - Seeking the Prophet's Intercession and Allah's Mercy
يَـا أَكْرَمَ الْخَلْقِ مَا لِي مَنْ أَلُوْذُ بِه
سِـوَاكَ عِنْـدَ حُلُوْلِ الْحَادِثِ الْعَمَمِ
Most noble of messengers! To whom but you shall I turn, when the General Calamity befalls? [9]
وَلَنْ يَّضِيْقَ رَسُـوْلَ اللهِ جَاهُكَ بِيْ
إِذَا الْكَرِيْمُ تَجَلَّى بِــاسْمِ مُنْتَقِـمِ
God’s Messenger! Your merit shall not shrink on my account when the Generous God appears with the name Avenger.
فَإِنَّ مِنْ جُوْدِكَ الدُّنْيَا وَضَرَّتَهَا
وَمِنْ عُلُوْمِكَ عِلْمُ اللَّوْحِ وَالْقَلَمِ
For this world and the next are from your bounty; and knowledge of Pen and Tablet are of what you know.
يَا نَفْـسُ لا تَقْنَطِي مِنْ زَلَّةٍ عَظُمَتْ
إِِنَّ الْكَبَـائِرَ فِي الْغُفْرَانِ كَـاللَّمَـمِ
O soul! Despair not of a major fault! Great sins resemble little ones, in God’s forgiveness.
لَعَـلَّ رَحْمَةَ رَبِّيْ حِيْنَ يَقْسِــمُهَا
تَأْتِيْ عَلى حَسَبِ الْعِصْياَنِ فِي الْقِسَمِ
It may be, when my Lord distributes His mercy, that it will come in proportion equal to our sins.
يَا رَبِّ وَاجْعَلْ رَجَائِيْ غَيْرَ مُنْعَكِسٍ
لَدَيْـكَ وَاجْعَلْ حِسَابِيْ غَيْرَ مُنْخَرِمِ
O my Lord! Let not my hope in You be overthrown, nor let my credit with You be void of worth.
وَالْطُفْ بِعَبْدِكَ فِي الدَّارَيْنِ إِِنَّ لَـهُ
صَبْراً مَّتٰى تَـدْعُهُ الأَهْـوَالُ يَنْهَزِمِ
Deal kindly with Your slave in both the worlds, for when terrors call to him, his patience is weak.
وَائْذَنْ لِّسُحْبِ صَلاةٍ مِّنْكَ دَائِمَةٍ
عَـلَى النَّبِيِّ بِمُنْهَــلٍّ وَّمُنْسَـجِمِ
From You, let a cloud of constant blessings rain upon the prophet, forever coming down.
مَا رَنَّحَتْ عَذَبَاتِ الْبَانِ رِيْحُ صَبَـا
وَأَطْرَبَ الْعِيْسَ حَادِي الْعِيْسِ بِالنَّغَمِ
For as long as the east wind stirs the willow-branches, and camel drivers rejoice their grey steeds with song.
فغنها و هي لك الفداء
ان غناء الابل الحداء
Sing to them and you shall be recompensed, indeed singing to the camels is (known as) al-Hudā.
[1] Muḥammad b. Shākir b. Aḥmad b. ʿAbd al-Raḥmān al-Kutubī, Fawāt al-Wafayāt [2/346], Shaykh Ali Muhammad Mu'wad, Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 2000
[2] al-Mughirah ibn Shu’bah reported: The Prophet ﷺ would pray until his feet were swollen. It was said, “Why do you do this when Allāh has forgiven your past and future sins?” The Prophet said, “Shall I not be a grateful servant?” [Sahih Muslim 2819]
[3] Jabir reported: We went to the Prophet ﷺ and said, "Here is a rock appearing across the trench." He said, "I am coming down." Then he got up, and a stone was tied to his belly for we had not eaten anything for three days. [Sahih al-Bukhari 4101]
[4] Shaykh Khalid al-Azhari explained the meaning as the following:
[5] The "Arch of Kisra", i.e. Tāq Kasrā is the only surviving structure from the great Sassanian city of Ctesiphon.
[6] Abraha was an Axumite general who eventually acceded to the throne of the Himyarite Kingdom. He was the leader of the "People of the Elephant" who attempted to invade and destroy Makkah in the year the Prophet ﷺ was born. Their defeat is mentioned in Sūrah al-Fīl.
[7] The two sanctuaries are al-Masjid al-Ḥarām and al-Masjid al-Aqsā.
[8] Zuheyr was a pre-Islamic poet and the ruler Herem was his patron.
[9] Meaning, "O the noblest of creation, I do not have anyone except you ﷺ to seek refuge in from the extensive terror of the Day of Judgement." As authentic hadiths in Bukhari [3092], Muslim [287], and elsewhere affirm, all of creation will go from one prophet to another, each of whom is busy with themselves - out of their absolute awe of Allāh - who will tell them to go to another prophet. Finally, all of creation will go to our Beloved Messenger, seeking respite from the tremendous tribulation and distress of that Day. The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ will answer their call, affirming that this is from what Allāh granted him. He will turn to Allāh seeking respite for creation, and this will be granted.
Footnotes
[1] Muḥammad b. Shākir b. Aḥmad b. ʿAbd al-Raḥmān al-Kutubī, Fawāt al-Wafayāt [2/346], Shaykh Ali Muhammad Mu'wad, Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 2000
[2] al-Mughirah ibn Shu’bah reported: The Prophet ﷺ would pray until his feet were swollen. It was said, “Why do you do this when Allāh has forgiven your past and future sins?” The Prophet said, “Shall I not be a grateful servant?” [Sahih Muslim 2819]
[3] Jabir reported: We went to the Prophet ﷺ and said, "Here is a rock appearing across the trench." He said, "I am coming down." Then he got up, and a stone was tied to his belly for we had not eaten anything for three days. [Sahih al-Bukhari 4101]
[4] Shaykh Khalid al-Azhari explained the meaning as the following:
Leave what the Christians said about Jesus the son of Mary, peace be upon him - that he is the son of Allāh, the Sublime and Exalted. Our Prophet ﷺ would totally prohibit any thing like this, such that he ﷺ said, لا تطروني كما اطرت النصاري عيسي (Do not praise me exceedingly, like the Christians exceeded in their praise for Jesus) i.e. لا تصفوني بذلك (Do not ascribe me with that).
Apart from this, ascribe to him ﷺ whatever you wish of perfect qualities, befitting the loftiness of his stature. And argue with whoever you will, from amongst the adversaries, in proving his excellence. And revere his noble person and the loftiness of his august stature with whatever you wish of eminence. Whatever honour and eminence you intend, you will find an immeasurable opening, as indeed the distinction of the Messenger ﷺ knows no bounds that one could attempt to articulate with the tongue.
[5] The "Arch of Kisra", i.e. Tāq Kasrā is the only surviving structure from the great Sassanian city of Ctesiphon.
[6] Abraha was an Axumite general who eventually acceded to the throne of the Himyarite Kingdom. He was the leader of the "People of the Elephant" who attempted to invade and destroy Makkah in the year the Prophet ﷺ was born. Their defeat is mentioned in Sūrah al-Fīl.
[7] The two sanctuaries are al-Masjid al-Ḥarām and al-Masjid al-Aqsā.
[8] Zuheyr was a pre-Islamic poet and the ruler Herem was his patron.
[9] Meaning, "O the noblest of creation, I do not have anyone except you ﷺ to seek refuge in from the extensive terror of the Day of Judgement." As authentic hadiths in Bukhari [3092], Muslim [287], and elsewhere affirm, all of creation will go from one prophet to another, each of whom is busy with themselves - out of their absolute awe of Allāh - who will tell them to go to another prophet. Finally, all of creation will go to our Beloved Messenger, seeking respite from the tremendous tribulation and distress of that Day. The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ will answer their call, affirming that this is from what Allāh granted him. He will turn to Allāh seeking respite for creation, and this will be granted.
