The knower of God [1] is the one who sees the Real [2] in everything, and sees everything…

The knower of God [1] is the one who sees the Real [2] in everything, and sees everything from the Real [3].

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. And may Allah bless our master and lord Muhammad, his family, and his companions and grant them abundant peace. This is the station of the master, the lord Abu al-Hasan Muhammad al-Mu'ta... Praise be to Allah, who illuminated the cosmos with the appearance of the Muhammadan lordship, whose light shone in the horizon of the higher and lower worlds and spread. And praise be to Allah, who created his Ahmadite essence ¹ from the purity of His most holy light, and his light continued to be transmitted from a pure loin to a pure womb until it reached the loin of his pure father 'Abdullah, where it was perfected and manifested. And praise be to Allah, who chose his pure element from the best of elements, selected his noble lineage from the most honorable bonds, and chose his high lineage from the most elevated house that rose among the Banu Lu'ayy, Ghalib, and Mudar. And praise be to Allah, who honored his two pure parents with His honor and distinguished them with the manifestation of his sublime countenance, which is the most splendid of sights and the most beautiful of forms. And praise be to Allah, who raised his rank in the heaven of high stations, honored his mention in the highest assembly ², and preferred him over all other prophets, messengers, angels, and humans. And praise be to Allah, who magnified his birth over all other births and chose for him wet nurses, caretakers, and guardians to protect him from unforeseen events in settled life and travel. And praise be to Allah, who made knowledge of his parents, grandparents, grandmothers, uncles, aunts, and foster brothers, as well as his children, wives, and concubines, a means to be acquired and stored for the Day of Return. So, O Allah, bless him and his family, the masters of the desert and settled life, and his noble companions, praised in the verses and chapters, with a blessing that illuminates our hearts, hearing, and sight, protects our tongues, thoughts, and ideas, and brings upon us the fragrant breezes of his Muhammadan blessing in the evenings and mornings, making it a protective amulet for us, by which we seek refuge from the heat of a fire that extinguishes and the torment of Saqar ³, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. * Peace be upon the best of creation, Ahmad, the messenger of God, who came guiding to goodness. * And I praise him with blessings, for indeed they elevate one's station in every witnessing. * He is the supreme master; to him belong glory and sublimity; to him belong the highest goal and all lordship. * To him belong the ranks of excellence and beauty together; a sound statement free from restricted speech. * For from his light all lights scattered, and from his beautiful essence abundant happiness. * His beauty adorned with experience, as it is expertise; O how beautiful are his attributes, and how sweet the source. * His excellences are too great in station and number; likening them is an injustice, like seeking multiplicity. * He came to us while the night of disbelief had drawn its veils, and how many tribulations were attributed to the hand of an aggressor. * He tore apart the veils of darkness, and suns of guidance shone, good for those who seek guidance. * The guidance of success shone from every side, and the nose of disbelief was cut off in spite of envy. * He carried out the command of Allah in every state, as a messenger, rising in virtue to the highest station. * So, O Lord, by the guide to You and his companions, the noble ones of all people, a unified statement: * Forgive my slip, O Lord, for I am a wanderer; Your favor is sought, and one like me strives. * And bless the best of creation, Ahmad, and his companions, the banners, the people of night prayer. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of Muhammad, the pearl of the worlds, the gift of the Most Merciful, the master of angels, humans, and jinn, from whose light Allah created the human world and the spiritual temple, wondrous in craftsmanship and perfection, firm in foundation and structure, and in them He gathered from the wonders of His handiwork and the marvels of His creations that dazzle the eyes and bewilder minds. He raised their supreme structure through the mission of His messengers and prophets, the noble and eminent ones, adding beauty to their beauty and perfection to their perfection through the appearance of His beloved, the chosen of the chosen among His servants, praised in the Torah, the Gospel, the Psalms, and the Criterion ⁴. Thus, by his mission, the foundation of that world was strengthened, and with his brick, that building was completed. The example of what Allah perfected through the progeny of the chosen ones and what He sealed with the mission of the prophets is like a man who built a house, beautifying its construction with a brick of gold and another of silver. When the house was completed, the onlookers looked at it, and the wise and great reflected on its condition, saying: 'How beautiful, how lovely, how splendid, how lofty, and how perfect is this house, except that there is a place for a brick; if it were placed, nothing like it would be seen in it, enhancing its beauty, illuminating its radiance, and completing its perfection.' That great brick of immense significance, by which the beauty of the building and the loftiness of the pillars were completed, and the blossoms of branches and times rejoiced at its appearance, is the brick of the Chosen One ⁵, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, the possessor of proofs and evidence, the locus of pardon, forbearance, and forgiveness, the season of joys, happiness, and congratulations. So, O Allah, bless him and his family, the beautiful full moons, and his companions, the brave lions, with a blessing that seals for us with the seal of happiness and faith, clothes us with garments of contentment and pleasure, grants us among Your beloved the rank of success and faith, and settles us with those upon whom You have bestowed favor in the highest paradises and spacious gardens, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the adornment of the tribe, the group, and the clan, the master of Banu Hashim, 'Abd Manaf, and Qusayy, who informed about the manner of his origin from light and the state of his transmission from the world of concealment to manifestation, saying: 'We—Abu Bakr, 'Umar, 'Uthman, and 'Ali—were lights to the right of the Throne, glorifying Allah Almighty two thousand years before He created Adam. When He created Adam, peace be upon him, He placed us in his noble back. He continued to transfer us from the backs of the pure, blessed, and noble ones until He placed me in the back of 'Abdullah, placed Abu Bakr in the back of Abu Quhafa, placed 'Umar in the back of al-Khattab, placed 'Uthman in the back of 'Affan, and placed 'Ali in the back of Abu Talib, with glad tidings of piety and honor. Then Allah looked to the earth with a look and chose me as a prophet and chose for me companions. He made Abu Bakr the Truthful, made 'Umar the Distinguisher, chose 'Uthman, possessor of two lights, as a son-in-law, and chose 'Ali as a successor. Whoever insults my companions has insulted me; whoever insults me has insulted Allah Almighty; and whoever insults Allah Almighty will be thrown on his face into the Fire. I came from marriage, not from fornication, from the time of Adam.'

Upon him be peace, until (7) that my father was born, and nothing of the fornication of the pre-Islamic period touched me. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the best of those whose rank Allah has raised and honored, and the most excellent of those whose jewel He brought forth from the treasuries of the unseen and manifested His treasure, who said: "Indeed, Allah created me and Ali as two lights before the Throne, glorifying and sanctifying Allah two thousand years before He created Adam. When He created Adam, He placed us in his loins, then transferred us from pure loins and clean wombs to pure loins and clean wombs, no defect affecting us, until He placed us in the loins of Abraham, peace be upon him. Then He transferred us likewise in pure loins and clean wombs, no defect affecting us, until He placed us in the loins of Abd al-Muttalib. Then the light split from Abd al-Muttalib into three: two-thirds in Abdullah and one-third in Abu Talib. So I came from the back of Abdullah and Ali came from the back of Abu Talib. Then the light gathered from me, Ali, and Fatima, may Allah be pleased with them (8), and from it came Hasan and Husayn; they are two lights from the light of the Lord of Might." So bless him, O Allah, and his family with a blessing that grants us in both abodes care and honor, and by which we become among those moved by the caller of longing to see his noble station, and stirred by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the pole of the unique lordship, the ascending star of prophethood, the crown of the pure and most glorious message, whom You made the first of the prophets in creation to show them the straight and most guided path, and the last of them in mission to complete for them the laws and perfect for them the landmarks of the established religion. His mission was announced in Your clear Book by Your saying: {And when Jesus, son of Mary, said, "O Children of Israel, indeed I am the messenger of Allah to you, confirming what came before me of the Torah and bringing good tidings of a messenger to come after me, whose name is Ahmad."} ⁶ O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the choicest of Your honored chosen ones, the elite of Your pure intelligent ones, and the model of Your righteous saints, whom You honored with Your prophethood and created from water and clay, and honored thereby above all the prophets and messengers (9), and singled him out with the universality of the message to all creatures altogether, and said concerning him: {And We have not sent you except comprehensively to mankind as a bearer of good tidings and a warner.} ⁷ {And We have not sent you except as a mercy to the worlds.} ⁸ O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the best of those to whom You granted in the enclosures of Your holiness vast dignity and lofty station, and the most honored of those whose face You brightened among Your prophets and bestowed upon him surpassing beauty and exquisite comeliness, and the most mighty of those whom You employed in Your kingdom and gave him supported sovereignty and swift victory, whose light You transferred from pure loins to clean wombs, so he was good in origin and pure in branches. The arch of Kisra ⁹ trembled at his birth, its structure collapsed greatly and fell in ruins. You honored his birth above all births and made it for the believers a joy and for the lovers a spring. You granted him intercession for the sinners of his community and made each of them hearing to his words and obedient to his command. You chose him for them in this world as a messenger and in the Hereafter as a merciful one and an intercessor. You commanded him to manifest his honor over them (10), so You said to him in Your clear Book: {Say, "O mankind, indeed I am the messenger of Allah to you all."} ¹⁰ O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the lamp of lights, the treasure of secrets, the adornment of the chosen messengers, whose prophethood was announced by monks and rabbis, and whose mission was foretold by soothsayers and people of insight and discernment. The darkness of the nights and all regions were illuminated at his birth, and Persia was extinguished by his light, and the lake of Sawah ¹¹ dried up when the flashes of awe and dignity appeared to it. You sealed with him the prophets and completed with him the chosen messengers. You revealed upon him in Your clear Book, as an honor to him and his pure companions: {Muhammad is the messenger of Allah; and those with him are severe against the disbelievers.} ¹² So bless him, O Allah, and his pious and noble family, and his companions, the swords of conquest and victory, with a blessing that clothes us among the praisers with the robe of honor and pride, and gives us to drink from (11) his supply a cup pure of nectar and wine, and grants us through it his great intercession in this abode and in that abode, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the beauty of the age and time, the master of the children of Adam and Adnan, about whose awaited mission it is narrated from Amir ibn Rabi'ah that he said: I heard Zayd ibn Amr ibn Nufayl say: I am awaiting a prophet from the children of Ishmael, from the Banu Abd al-Muttalib, and I do not think I will reach him, but I believe in him and affirm him, and I bear witness that he is a prophet. If my life is prolonged, convey to him my greetings. I will tell you his description so that he will not be hidden from you. I said: Come on. He said: He is a man neither short nor tall, neither with much hair nor little, with a redness in his eyes that never leaves, the seal of prophethood between his shoulders, his name is Ahmad, and this town is his birthplace and mission place—meaning Mecca. Then his people will expel him from it, hating what he brings, until he migrates to Yathrib ¹³, and his affair will prevail. Beware of delaying from him, for I have traveled all the lands (12) seeking the religion of Abraham, peace be upon him, and everyone I asked from the Jews, Christians, and Magians said: Has no prophet remained other than him? Amir ibn Rabi'ah said: When I embraced Islam, I informed the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and he invoked mercy upon him and said: "I saw him dragging a burden in the gardens [of Paradise]." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the strength of spirit and body, the best of those who bow and prostrate, about whose mission it is narrated from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri from his father that he said: I heard Abu Malik ibn Sinan say: I came to the Banu Abd al-Ashhal one day to converse among them, and we were at that time in a truce with the tribe. I heard Yusha' al-Yahudi say: The emergence of a prophet called Ahmad, who will come out from the Haram ¹⁴, is imminent. Khalifah ibn Tha'labah al-Ash'ali said to him, as if mocking him: What is his description? He said: A man neither tall nor short, with redness in his eyes, he rides a donkey and wears a cloak, his sword on his shoulder, and this town is his place of migration—meaning Medina. He said: I returned to my people (13) the Banu Qurayzah and found a group of them discussing the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Al-Zubayr ibn Balta said to them: The red star has risen, which only rises for the emergence and appearance of a prophet, and none remains but Ahmad, and this is his place of migration. Abu Sa'id al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him, said: When the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, arrived

Upon him be peace, the city informed him of this news, so he, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: "If al-Zubayr ibn Balta and Warwa ibn the leaders of the Jews had embraced Islam, all the Jews would have embraced Islam; they are only followers, but they are people of envy." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad. Good tidings have encompassed the earth and the sky, for the face by which we are given drink when drought occurs. Traces [of his fragrance] have become fragrant from his goodness, and Tayyiba ¹⁵ in which the light is intensely connected to the Throne. Long, wide, lofty in rank and status; through him glory rises and boasts spread far. Purity of ancestors and goodness of elements; indeed, his origin, branch, and clan are pure. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it rose in the horizon of felicity and shone, his light belittled the light of the sun and the moon and the brightness of the morning. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it rose in the horizon of felicity and shone, his light surpassed the light of Jupiter and Venus and the beauty of radiant faces. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it rose in the horizon of felicity and shone, the universes were illuminated by his chosen light ¹⁶, and the clouds of worries and sorrows dispersed. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it rose in the horizon of felicity and shone, the worlds rejoiced at the appearance of his prophetic glad tidings and became in bliss, joy, and delight. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it rose in the horizon of felicity and shone, the face of time rejoiced at the light of his blessed forehead, and spirits and bodies rejoiced in him. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it rose in the horizon of felicity and shone, the seals of the prophets and the sura of the opening ¹⁷ were adorned with the brilliant lights of his lofty essence. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it rose in the horizon of felicity and shone, the east wind gave glad tidings of his arrival, and the people of righteousness and success were delighted at his birth. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it rose in the horizon of felicity and shone, the gardens of the kingdom and the dominion were perfumed with the fragrance of his scent, and the flowers of the hills and valleys diffused fragrance. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it rose in the horizon of felicity and shone, the regions were inhabited by his blessing, and the spirits enraptured by the remembrance of their Lord in the evening and morning rejoiced at his name. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it rose in the horizon of felicity and shone, the souls turning to their Lord were revived by him, and through his remembrance they became in tranquility, stillness, and ease. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it rose in the horizon of felicity and shone, the spirits inhaled the breezes of his pure fragrance and came flying to him without wings. So bless him, O Allah, and his family with a blessing that guides us by it to the path of right guidance and righteousness, and makes clear to us the landmarks of good and clarifies them clearly, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose radiant star when it rose in the horizon of honor and perfection, the people of proximity and union ¹⁸ rejoiced in him. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose most famous star when it rose in the horizon of virtues and qualities, the people of effusion and bestowal rejoiced in him. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose red star when it rose in the horizon of magnification and veneration, the prophets and messengers rejoiced in him. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose purest star when it rose in the horizon of reliance on Allah and trust, the people of humility, supplication, and entreaty rejoiced in him. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose most brilliant star when it rose in the horizon of gifts and favors, the people of divine care and masters of spiritual states rejoiced in him. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose most luminous star when it rose in the horizon of arrival and connection, the poles ¹⁹, pegs ²⁰, and substitutes ²¹ rejoiced in him. So bless him, O Allah, and his family, the necklaces of pearls, and his noble heroic companions, with a blessing that protects us by it in words and deeds, and preserves us by it from the afflictions of deviation and the causes of misguidance, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it rose in the horizon of universal sainthood and arbitration, the people of contentment, delegation, and submission rejoiced in him. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it rose in the horizon of conversation and speech, the people of study, teaching, and instruction rejoiced in him.

And of the unseen ²² in the beauty of the Essence ²³, the people of high aspirations and ascension to the highest ranks rejoiced in it. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it rose on the horizon of gifts and bestowals and blessings, the people of spiritual openings ²⁴ and secrets and manifestations rejoiced in him. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it rose on the horizon of favor and affections and effusions, the people of spiritual draughts ²⁵ and tastes and ecstatic utterances ²⁶ rejoiced in him. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it rose on the horizon of supplication and means and desires, the people of seclusions ²⁷ and unveilings ²⁸ and answer to prayers rejoiced in him. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it rose on the horizon of guidance and uprightness, the people of great miracles and supernatural gifts ²⁹ rejoiced in him. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it rose on the horizon of sincerity and certainty, the people of goodness and righteousness and religion rejoiced in him. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it rose on the horizon of witnessing ³⁰ and direct vision ³¹, the people of divine realities and inspired knowledge ³² and the dawns of gnosis ³³ rejoiced in him. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it rose on the horizon of awe and dignity, the people of majesty and veneration and pride rejoiced in him. So bless him, O Allah, and his family with a blessing by which You make us reach the watering-places of the free ³⁴, and suffice us against the evil of the evil ones and the plot of the wicked, by Your favor and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it rose on the horizon of prophethood and messengership, the people of spirits described with right guidance and indication rejoiced in him. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it rose on the horizon of prophethood and messengership, the people of spirits safe from the malady of error and ignorance rejoiced in him. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it rose on the horizon of prophethood and messengership, the people of spirits preserved from the onslaughts of heedlessness and idleness rejoiced in him. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it rose on the horizon of prophethood and messengership, the people of spirits that indicate Allah with sincerity of servitude and truthfulness of speech rejoiced in him. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it rose on the horizon of prophethood and messengership, the people of spirits swimming in the seas of veneration and majesty rejoiced in him. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it rose on the horizon of prophethood and messengership, the people of spirits distinguished by his rank until that became for them a mark and a sign rejoiced in him. So bless him, O Allah, and his family with a blessing by which You grant us the station of uprightness, and settle us in the abode of honor and permanence, and gather us with those upon whom You have bestowed favor in the paradises of gardens and the plains of the Resurrection, by Your favor and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it rose on the horizon of felicity and happiness, the worlds rejoiced in him and said: Welcome to the blessed beloved in origin and birth. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it rose on the horizon of pride and glory, the spiritual souls ³⁵ rejoiced in him and said: Welcome to the possessor of devotion and worship. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it rose on the horizon of might and care, the persons of the hermitages of light ³⁶ rejoiced in him and said: Welcome to the source of the secret and sainthood ³⁷. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it rose on the horizon of proximity and nearness, the angels of the highest tablet ³⁸ rejoiced in him and said: Welcome to the key to the doors of contentment and good pleasure. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it rose on the horizon of might and honor, the bearers of the Throne ³⁹ rejoiced in him and said: Welcome to the bridegroom of the pavilions and chambers. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it rose on the horizon of election and particularity, the inhabitants of the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary ⁴⁰ rejoiced in him and said: Welcome to the possessor of sublime gifts and holy secrets. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it rose on the horizon of glad tidings and fortunes, the servants of the veils and canopies ⁴¹ rejoiced in him and said: Welcome to the possessor of the tied banner and the visited pool ⁴². O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it rose on the horizon of delight and joy, the companions of the Divine Presence ⁴³ rejoiced in him and said: Welcome to the crown of splendor and light. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it rose on the horizon of felicity and blessings, the worlds of the secret ⁴⁴ rejoiced in him and said: Welcome to the possessor of miracles and wonders.

O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it rose in the horizon of inspirations and receptions ⁴⁵, the brides of the divine manifestations ⁴⁶ rejoiced in him and said: "Welcome and welcome to the locus of the jewels of revelation and the Mount of Theophanies ⁴⁷." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it rose in the horizon of modesty and faith, the higher and lower spirits ⁴⁸ rejoiced in him and said: "Welcome and welcome to the source of grace, generosity, and beneficence." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it rose in the horizon of success and triumph, the masters of ocular unveilings ⁴⁹ rejoiced in him and said: "Welcome and welcome to the path of right guidance and righteousness." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it rose in the horizon of portents ⁵⁰ and the knowledge of the unseen, the people of disposal in the sovereign kingdom ⁵¹ rejoiced in him and said: "Welcome and welcome to the possessor of the Great Intercession ⁵² and the beloved chosen one." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it rose in the horizon of gnoses and spiritual gifts ⁵³ of the Eternal ⁵⁴, the masters of gnostic allusions ⁵⁵ rejoiced in him and said: "Welcome and welcome to the possessor of prophetic wisdoms and the merciful subtleties ⁵⁶." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it rose in the horizon of magnification and majesty, the chiefs of the cherubim ⁵⁷ rejoiced in him and said: "Welcome and welcome to the Seal of Prophethood and Messengership ⁵⁸." So bless him, O Allah, and his family with a blessing by which You remove from our hearts the whisperings of error and misguidance, and make us thereby among those who have inherited the path of goodness with wisdoms and authenticity, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it shone in the womb of his free and protected mother ⁵⁹, the dwellers of the deserts and wildernesses ⁶⁰ rejoiced in him and said: "Welcome and welcome to the hidden pearl in the consciences of the concealed unseen." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it shone and settled in the womb of his pure and virtuous mother, his herald called out in the expanses of the kingdom and the dominion ⁶¹: "Perfume the chambers of the holy presences ⁶² for the orator of the Divine Presence ⁶³ and the chief of the prophetic state." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it shone in the womb of his purified, clean, chaste, and pious mother, his herald called out on the carpet of might and omnipotence ⁶⁴: "Prepare the thrones of the lofty stations and the pulpits of the high degrees for the bride of the Muhammadan state and the sultan of the Ahmadine kingdom ⁶⁵." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it shone and settled in the womb of his mother, fragrant in bosom and skirts, pure in branches and roots, his herald called out from the minaret of conquest and entry ⁶⁶: "Spread out the chambers of proximity and union for the Seal of Prophethood and Messengership and the master of every prophet and messenger." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it shone and settled in the womb of his mother, the precious pearl and the pure breath, his herald called out in the regions of the earths and the heavens: "Spread out the abodes of blessings and felicities for the security of this world and the Hereafter and the lamp of existent beings ⁶⁷." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose star when it shone and settled in the womb of his mother, great in worth and station, chosen from the loins of nobility and the beautiful wombs, his herald called out in the highest paradises and the palaces of gardens: "O houris ⁶⁸, O youths ⁶⁹, O notables, O dignitaries, prepare yourselves for the service of the master of the realms, humans, and jinn, and the manifestation of the jewels of revelation and the sciences of the Qur'an." So bless him, O Allah, and his family, the beautiful full moons, and his companions, the brave lions, with a blessing by which You realize us with the realities of faith, support us with the subtleties of sciences and gnosis, protect us from the plots of the soul and the temptations of Satan, and preserve us from the afflictions of passion and the causes of misery and abandonment, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. ❖ What is the high star but the Chosen One ⁷⁰? ❖ From whose light the lights appeared to us ❖ And whoever ascends seeking the Dominant, ascending ❖ And whom the Omnipotent chose for His love ❖ And who is the one by whose mention existence is fragrant ❖ And by the light of whose praise secrets are exalted ❖ And who is the one for whom the veils of sublimity were lifted ❖ So he called out, and I wish: You are my chosen one ❖ And who is the one who attained high stations in elevation ❖ And by the spread of whose praise the regions are exalted ❖ And who is the one upon whom, as an honor, prayed ❖ The Lord of heaven, the One, the Subduer ❖ That is the beloved Hashimite Muhammad ❖ That is the one from whose light are the moons ❖ O reciter, seek refuge in praising his station ❖ For he is the one by whom sins are erased O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the spirit of spiritual spirits and the manifestation of the rising lights of the Transcendent ⁷¹ and the delight of the sciences of the Tablet's secrets ⁷², whose when You willed to create his chosen essence ⁷³ and his pure Muhammadan breath, You manifested Yourself to the purity of Your Most Holy Light, stored in the innermost secrets of Your most precious unseen, and with Your specific divine light ⁷⁴, a manifestation whose true reality the understandings of the elite cannot grasp, and the masters of particularity and specification are too weak to express its quiddity. So You took from it a handful and said to it: "Be My beloved Muhammad, the most eminent of creatures and the element of existent beings." So he was the first effect that issued from the Divine Power, and appeared in the eternal priority, and overflowed with the secret of the Lordly wisdom and the light of the Eternal mercy ⁷⁵ upon the Muhammadan formation and the perfect Ahmadine form, observed with the eye of specification in the Holy Presence. So his light, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, is the origin of lights, his secret is the father of secrets, his spirit is the father of spirits, and his form is the father of forms. So the rising of lights in all worlds is according to their proximity to his light, the outpouring of secrets according to their proximity to his secret, the nobility of spirits according to their proximity to his spirit, and the elevation of forms according to their proximity to his form. And he continued to be transferred from a pure loin to a pure womb until he reached the loin of his father 'Abdullah, and he remained thus for several years, and his light, may Allah bless him and grant him peace,

It gleams between his eyes and shines upon his forehead and the tips of his eyebrows, until permission was given for that light to emerge from him into the womb of Āminah in the month of Rajab, on the night of Friday, by a command, a caller calling: "Behold! The concealed light from him is the Messenger of Allah (ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam); it settles in the womb of Āminah bint Wahb, and therein his creation is completed, and he emerges to mankind as a bearer of glad tidings and a warner." When she conceived him (ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam), wonders appeared for her pregnancy, and marvels were found for his bringing into existence. They mentioned that when his pure drop (nuṭfatuhu al-zakiyyah) and his Muḥammadan pearl (durratuhu al-muḥammadiyyah) settled in the shell (ṣadafah) of his mother Āminah al-Qurashiyyah, a call was made in the celestial kingdom (al-malakūt) and the world of omnipotence (ʿālam al-jabarūt): "Perfume the gatherings of the most supreme sanctity (al-quds al-asnā), fumigate the directions of the highest honor (al-sharaf al-aʿlā), and spread the prayer carpets (sajjādāt al-ʿibādāt) in the rows of al-Ṣafā for the Sufis of the angels brought near (al-malāʾikah al-muqarrabīn), the people of truth and loyalty, for the concealed light (al-nūr al-maknūn) has transferred to the womb of Āminah, possessor of dazzling intellect and protected glory. Allah, the Near, the Responsive, has singled her out with this chosen master, the Beloved, because she is the most excellent of her people in lineage, the most noble and purest in origin and branch, and the most wholesome." When she gave birth to him in the month of Allah, Rabīʿ al-Awwal, on the twelfth night having passed of it, on Monday, and he covered with his praiseworthy light (nūrihi al-ḥamdī) every light that appeared and shone, and with his Aḥmadī support (madadihi al-aḥmadī) every support that strengthened and became renowned, and with his chosen secret (sirrihi al-muṣṭafawī) every secret that spread and diffused. So he was the caliph by original right (al-khalīfah bi-al-aṣālah), the locus of veneration and majesty, the seal of prophethood and messengership, and he attained the supreme lordship (al-siyādah al-ʿuẓmā) in both abodes and the most exalted proximity (al-qurb al-asnā) in the station of "two bow-lengths or nearer" (qāba qawsayn). And that will be seen with the eye by whomever Allah honors with His love on the Day of Resurrection and settles in His vicinity, the abode of triumph and generosity. So send blessings, O Allah, upon him and upon his family, a blessing by which You guide us along the paths of right guidance and safety, clothe us with the garment of obedience and uprightness, and make it for us in this world and the Hereafter a emblem and sign among the lovers, by Your bounty and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master and lord Muḥammad and upon the family of our master Muḥammad, the essence of the human creation, the seed of its origin, the substance of the support of divine secrets, the fountain of its bounty, the foundation of the prophetic tree, the rope of its connection—when You willed to transfer his Muḥammadan light (nūrahu al-muḥammadī), deposited in the treasuries of lofty loins (al-aṣlāb al-rafīʿah), and his Aḥmadī essence (jawharahu al-aḥmadī) to the womb of his pure mother Āminah, You manifested Yourself to him with eternal perfection and everlasting might. So signs appeared for the transfer of his prophetic light, and all creatures rejoiced at the manifestation of his chosen secret (sirrihi al-muṣṭafawī), and a call was made in all the earths and heavens, the enclosures of sanctity and all the regions and directions: "O Throne (ʿarsh), veil yourself with dignity! O Footstool (kursī), arm yourself with glory! O Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary (sidrat al-muntahā), rejoice in the lights and shine with awe and the perfection of secrets! O Gardens of Eden (jinnāna ʿadnin), adorn yourselves with carpets, cushions, and garlands of flowers! O Maidens of the Palaces (ḥūra al-quṣūr), ascend, dance, sing, tear the veils, and cast off restraint! O angels of Allah, form ranks, gird yourselves with the Throne, and surround it when the light of the master of the pious and the adornment of the chosen messengers shines! O Riḍwān, open the gates of the gardens, adorn the maidens (al-ḥūr) and the youths (al-wildān), and release the censers of perfume and the fragrance of the worlds, for the concealed light (al-nūr al-maknūn), the protected secret (al-sirr al-maṣūn), the stored jewel (al-jawhar al-makhzūn), latent in the treasuries of eternal power and the hidden repositories of secrets, in this night separates from ʿAbdullāh and transfers to the womb of noble, pure Āminah, wherein it settles and his creation is completed, fully manifest, emerging to mankind as a perfect human (basharan sawiyyan). And that is in the month of Rajab, on the night of Friday." At that time, Āminah was given of light, beauty, splendor, chastity, and perfection such that she was called the mistress of her people. And there remained no house or place that night except that light entered it, and no beast of Quraysh except that it spoke that night, saying: "She has conceived the Messenger of Allah (ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam), by the Lord of the Kaʿbah, and he is the security of the world and the lamp of its people." So send blessings, O Allah, upon him and upon his family, a blessing by which we become among those who hold fast to his Muḥammadan favor, cling to its rope, and attain, through the blessing of blessing upon him, the highest lofty ranks, and succeed in its connection, by Your bounty and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master and lord Muḥammad and upon the family of our master Muḥammad, the essence of the celestial tree, the full moon of the message, whose light is clear in earth and heaven—from the indication of Āminah's conception with the light of his sublime, most exalted secret is that every beast belonging to Quraysh spoke that night and said: "She has conceived Muḥammad (ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam), by the Lord of the Kaʿbah." And there remained no soothsayer (kāhinah) of Quraysh nor in any tribe of the Arabs except that she was veiled from her companion, and the knowledge of soothsaying was withdrawn from them. And there remained no throne of any king of the kings of the world except that it became inverted, and every king became mute, unable to speak that day. And the wild beasts of the east passed to the wild beasts of the west with glad tidings, and likewise the people of the seas, some giving glad tidings to others. And for him, in every month of his months, there is a call in the earth and a call in the heaven: "Rejoice, for the time has come for Abū al-Qāsim (ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam)!"

That he should come out to the earth blessed and auspicious. He remained in his mother's womb for a full nine months, not complaining of pain, wind, colic, or what women with child experience. His father died while he was in his mother's womb, so the angels said: "Our God and Master, Your Prophet remains here an orphan." Allah Almighty said to them: "I am his protector, guardian, and helper." So bless his birth, for his birth is blessed and auspicious; through it Allah has opened all the gates of heaven. So, O Allah, send blessings upon him and upon his noble, learned family and his esteemed, generous Companions, a blessing by which You repel from us the adversities of evils and hardships, and make it for our outward and inward ailments a cure and remedy, by Your bounty and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. * Allah made our guide beloved to Him * Through a birth by which we attained success. * The spring of the heart arrived in spring * And bequeathed to us happiness and prosperity. * Aminah gave birth to him pure, * Kohl-eyed, his light filled the open space. * To my sight, the crown of light from him * Surpasses the morning in fragrance and pride. * She gave birth to him while lights were leaving * And the scent of his fragrance wafted above musk. * And around Aminah, the most sincere care * Were beautiful houris witnessing the opening. * And Gabriel the Trustworthy came to her * Spreading his wings over her newborn. * And he steadied her heart by wiping it, as a favor * From the intense terror she found rest. * Over her the star descended openly * So that she might heal wounds by meeting him. * Ask the intercessors about what she saw * Of signs as clear as the sun. * And on the night of the Guide's birth, * The palace of Kisra ⁷⁶ trembled in fear and fell. * Its battlements collapsed, so they said: * "The noblest has departed from Kisra today." * And the water of a lake receded therein * And a visitor witnessed its destruction. * And the fire of Persia ⁷⁷ lasted a thousand years * Without being extinguished, but it was quenched. * They had an idol that was misguidance * And its extinction became permissible for them. * And that is evidence for the existence of Taha ⁷⁸ * Or for his existence, the most worthy of righteousness. * The Messenger of Allah, the sea of generosity, traces his lineage * When he extends bounty to the knowers. The Messenger of Allah enriches the poverty of a servant * Who remains prostrate at his exalted door. Upon him and his family and all his Companions * Be peace, as long as the bird sings. O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master and lord Muhammad and upon the family of our master Muhammad, the rising of blessing and security, the servants of joy, happiness, and congratulations. When You willed to create him in the womb of his mother Aminah, of noble rank and status, You commanded that night Ridwan ⁷⁹, the keeper of Paradise, to open Firdaws ⁸⁰, and a caller proclaimed in the heavens and the earth: "Indeed, the hidden, treasured light from which this guiding Prophet will come settles in his mother's womb this night." When he settled in the womb of his mother Aminah, she felt secure from hidden fears. Then the purity of her light appeared, and her joy and happiness were complete. The womb enfolded her fetus, and his light shone from her forehead. In the first month of her pregnancy, the palace of Kisra shook; in the second, the worlds were filled with glad tidings; in the third, the Lake of Sawah ⁸¹ sank; in the fourth, the Valley of Samawah ⁸² dried up; in the fifth, the Lake of Tiberias ⁸³ fell; in the sixth, his father Abdullah died by hidden secrets; in the seventh, the fires were extinguished, and Kisra was humiliated and despised; in the eighth, the idols were overturned and turned on their faces; and in the ninth, the crown fell from Kisra's head, and his distress became great. He asked the soothsayers and monks about that, and it was said to him: "The birth of the master of Adam and Adnan ⁸⁴ has come; he is the Prophet sent at the end of time, sent with proof and evidence, described in the Torah, Gospel, Psalms, and the Criterion ⁸⁵, who will make his religion prevail over all religions." So, O Allah, send blessings upon him and upon his noble, eminent family and his Companions, the explainers of guidance and gnosis, a blessing by which You treat us with pardon and forgiveness, and by which You settle us in the highest paradises and spacious gardens, and grant abundant peace. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds. O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master and lord Muhammad and upon the family of our master Muhammad, the fortress of security and refuge of adherence, the lamp of prophethood calling creatures to the Garden of Bliss and the Abode of Peace. When Aminah, the trustworthy, supported by the light of success and inspiration, conceived him, she said: "I used to hear voices and inform my husband Abdullah of that, and he would say to me, 'Keep your secret.' Until nine months passed, and I did not inform anyone of my people except his grandfather Abd al-Muttalib ⁸⁶, the noble leader." O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master and lord Muhammad and upon the family of our master Muhammad, the imam of noble messengers and the best of those through whom the chiefs are traced and by whom the banners are followed. When his mother Aminah, pure in garment and veil, conceived him, she said: "A visitor came to me while I was between wakefulness and sleep, and said to me: 'I perceive that you have conceived the master of this nation and its Prophet, of high rank and station, and the result of that is that a light will emerge with him that will fill the palaces of Busra ⁸⁷ in the land of Syria.'" O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master and lord Muhammad and upon the family of our master Muhammad, the best of those who came later and earlier, the most compassionate of those who connect in Allah and show mercy. When his mother Aminah conceived him, she said: "In the first month, I saw a tall man who said: 'Rejoice, for you have conceived the master of the messengers.' I said: 'Who are you?' He said: 'His father Adam.'" O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master and lord Muhammad and upon the family of our master Muhammad, the cry of the distressed and the seeker of help, the infallible, truthful in speech and discourse. When his mother Aminah conceived him, she said: "A visitor came to me in the second month and said: 'Rejoice, for you have conceived the master of the first and the last.' I said: 'Who are you?' He said: 'His father Seth.'" O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master and lord Muhammad and upon the family of our master Muhammad, the sustenance of body and soul, the possessor of great character and praised name. When his mother Aminah conceived him, she said: "A visitor came to me in the third month and said: 'Rejoice, for you have conceived the noble Prophet.' I said: 'Who are you?' He said: 'His father Noah.'"

O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the precious jewel of beauty, the light of insight for the people of knowledge and teaching. When his mother Amina conceived him, she said: 'A visitor came to me in the fourth month and said: Rejoice, for you have conceived the noble master and the chaste prophet.' I said: 'Who are you?' He said: 'His father Idris.' O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the secret of existence, the key to the treasuries of generosity and munificence. When his mother Amina conceived him, she said: 'A visitor came to me in the fifth month and said: Rejoice, for you have conceived the bearer of the knotted banner ⁸⁸ and the watered pool ⁸⁹.' I said to him: 'Who are you?' He said: 'I am his brother Hud.' O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the possessor of sublime rank and the lofty, abundant station. When his mother Amina conceived him, she said: 'A visitor came to me in the sixth month and said: Rejoice, for you have conceived the essence of noble honor and the possessor of the crown and diadem.' I said to him: 'Who are you?' He said: 'His father Isma'il.' O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the best of those from whose wine the lovers have drunk cups, and the most excellent of those through whom the face of time smiled after it had been frowning. When his mother Amina conceived him, she said: 'A visitor came to me in the seventh month and said: Rejoice, for you have conceived the one through whom Allah will repel harm and misery from his community, and through whose noble name tablets and scrolls are adorned.' I said to him: 'Who are you?' He said: 'His brother Musa.' O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the best of those who have taken Your remembrance as a companion and intimate, and the most excellent of those whom You have chosen as a preacher and companion for the carpet of Your presence. When his mother Amina conceived him, she said: 'A visitor came to me in the ninth month and said: Rejoice, for you have conceived Muhammad, the best of those whose spirit Allah has sanctified and whom He has chosen as a caliph and leader for His sovereign kingdom.' I said to him: 'Who are you?' He said: 'His brother Isa.' So bless him, O Allah, and all of them, with a blessing that adorns us with precious pearls from his praises, and purifies us from the hidden defects of our intrigues, faults, and deceptions, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. You have never ceased to be hidden in the consciences of existence; no period of messengers passed but the mothers and fathers were given glad tidings of you by their prophets. The ages boast of you and rise high, and after them there is highness. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the musk of the seal ⁹⁰ and the center of the necklace of order. When his mother Amina, pure in bosom and womb, conceived him, she saw in a dream a speaker saying to her: 'Rejoice, for you have conceived the master of mankind, our master Muhammad, upon him be the best of blessings and the purest of peace.' O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the firm pillar of religion and the radiant star of light. When his mother Amina, of ancient lineage, conceived him, she saw in a dream a speaker saying to her: 'Rejoice, for you have conceived the light of insight for the people of sainthood and verification, and the path of the people of guidance and success.' O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the spirit of the body of the two worlds ⁹¹ and the eye of life of the two abodes ⁹². When his mother Amina, the orphan of the two necklaces ⁹³, conceived him, she saw in a dream a speaker saying to her: 'Rejoice, for you have conceived the master of the two weighty ones ⁹⁴ and the bride of the kingdom, the possessor of the two apparent lineages.' O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the elite of the noble chiefs and the beauty of nights and days. When his mother Amina, lofty in rank and station, conceived him, she saw in a dream a speaker saying to her: 'Rejoice for the lamp of darkness and the imam of Tayyiba ⁹⁵ and the Sanctuary ⁹⁶.' O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the locus of fame and manifestation, and the book of inscribed revelation. When his mother Amina, fortunate in her ascendants and months, conceived him, she saw in a dream a speaker saying to her: 'Rejoice, for you have conceived the possessor of the patient heart and the grateful tongue.' O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the festival of joy and delight, and the ultimate goal and desire. When his mother Amina, possessor of glory and praise, conceived him, she saw in a dream a speaker saying to her: 'Rejoice, for you have conceived the lamp of prophethood, clear in light and radiance, and the station of established might, firm in foundation and structure.' O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the caller to success ⁹⁷ and the white blaze of radiant faces. When his mother Amina, adorned with the sash of success and prosperity, conceived him, she saw in a dream a speaker saying to her: 'Rejoice, for you have conceived the spirit of spirits and the exemplar of the people of goodness and righteousness.' O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the possessor of the high and lofty station, and the apparent noble essence. When his mother, possessor of the pure heart, conceived him, she saw in a dream a speaker saying to her: 'Rejoice, for you have conceived the imam of the people of good fortune and recognition, and the care of the people of wisdom and disposition.' O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the path of guidance and facilitation, and the tongue of the people of allusions and interpretation. When his mother, of renowned lineage, conceived him, she saw in a dream a speaker saying to her: 'Rejoice, for you have conceived the bringer of glad tidings and the warner, and the source of supply for the people of unveiling and illumination.' O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the treasure of secrets and the excellent gifts, and the locus of openings and radiant lights. When his mother Amina, possessor of beautiful attributes and surpassing virtues, conceived him, she saw in a dream a speaker saying to her: 'Rejoice, for you have conceived the possessor of conclusive proofs, dazzling flashes, clear signs, and miraculous wonders.' O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the possessor of magnificent gifts and pleasing beautiful deeds. When his mother Amina, the free, venerated, and noble lady, conceived him, she saw in a dream a speaker saying to her: 'Rejoice, for you have conceived the possessor of the abundant station, the lofty degree, the means ⁹⁸, and the excellence.'

The conclusive proofs ⁹⁹, the brilliant evidences ¹⁰⁰, the bestowed subtleties ¹⁰¹, and the excellent sciences ¹⁰², with which when his mother Amina ¹⁰³, the pure lady, became pregnant, she saw in a dream a speaker saying to her: "Rejoice, for you have conceived the glory of this world and the honor of the Hereafter, and the possessor of widespread virtues and successive miracles ¹⁰⁴." So, O Allah, send blessings and peace upon him and upon his family, a blessing by which You rectify our outward and inward states, and by which You awaken our languid aspirations to serve his noble station, through Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. (52) * Muhammad is the best of all worlds entirely, * And the first in excellence, and he is the last of them. * The manifestation of Allah ¹⁰⁵ which has shone forth * Upon His creation, hidden though its appearance is from error. * And he whom Allah gave glad tidings to mankind that he is * Their bringer of glad tidings by His leave and their warner. * And he by whose light the fire of Persia was extinguished, * And its throne and couch were shaken. * And he of whose virtue the Torah of Moses spoke, * And his Gospel and Psalms came with him. * Upon you be the peace of Allah, O you by whom * The entire earth was honored and its joy continued. * Upon you be the peace of Allah, O you to whom * The jinn submitted and their affairs yielded. * And upon you be the best of the family and the progeny ¹⁰⁶, by whom * The frontiers of every land became secure. O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master and lord Muhammad and upon the family of our master Muhammad, the perfect model of prophethood and the noble crown of the message ¹⁰⁷, the most excellent, with whom when his mother became pregnant and entered the first month, the face of time rejoiced at his blessed forehead and beamed. O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master and lord Muhammad and upon the family of our master Muhammad, the light of divine opening ¹⁰⁸ and the essence of merciful succor ¹⁰⁹, with whom when his mother became pregnant in the second month, the worlds rejoiced at him and said: "Welcome to the possessor of the revealed Book and the seven oft-repeated verses ¹¹⁰." O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master and lord Muhammad and upon the family of our master Muhammad, the fortress of safety that saves from the afflictions of events, and the best of every caller to good and motivator, with whom when his mother became pregnant in the third month, the devils were prevented from eavesdropping ¹¹¹ and every knot-tier and blower ¹¹² was nullified. O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master Muhammad and upon the family of our master Muhammad, the sea of abundant sciences of benefits and advantages, and the lamp of sainthood ¹¹³ with wholesome sources and streams, with whom when (54) his mother became pregnant in the fourth month, necks stretched to see his illuminated bride and rising crescent. O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master and lord Muhammad and upon the family of our master Muhammad, the delight of assemblies and gatherings, and the sultan of the kingdom of fragrant garments and clothes, with whom when his mother became pregnant and entered the fifth month, the earth shone with his Muhammadan light and the darknesses and glooms cleared. O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master and lord Muhammad and upon the family of our master Muhammad, the talisman of the guardian and protector, and the blessing of the sower and planter, with whom when his mother became pregnant and entered the sixth month, the fires were extinguished, the archway ¹¹⁴ collapsed, and the kingdom of Chosroes ¹¹⁵ and Persia scattered. O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master and lord Muhammad and upon the family of our master Muhammad, the clear path of religion and the comprehensive book of mothers ¹¹⁶, with whom when his mother became pregnant and entered the seventh month, the rising signs of blessing and glad tidings shone upon the hearts of (55) the lovers, and all obstacles and hindrances ceased. O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master and lord Muhammad and upon the family of our master Muhammad, the gold of mines and the sweet, fresh watering-place of those who come, with whom when his mother became pregnant and entered the eighth month, the earth was purified by his blessing from the filth of the polytheists, and the dwellings and storehouses were inhabited. O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master and lord Muhammad and upon the family of our master Muhammad, the lightning of radiant beauty and the conclusive proof of truth, with whom when his mother became pregnant and entered the ninth month, the houris ¹¹⁷ sang of him and removed the veils and face-covers from their faces. O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master and lord Muhammad and upon the family of our master Muhammad, the rising stars of guidance, a blessing by which You send upon us the downpours of His overwhelming mercies, and by which You protect us from temporal events and storms, and by which You make us among those who hasten to obey You at all times. And the swift ones (56) by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master and lord Muhammad and upon the family of our master Muhammad, the unique jewel of beauty, with whom when his mother became pregnant, the glad tidings of good shone upon her blessed face, and she said: "Welcome to the master of kings and kingdoms, and of free men and slaves." O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master and lord Muhammad and upon the family of our master Muhammad, the embroidery of the most glorious robe of glory, with whom when his mother became pregnant, the glad tidings of acceptance shone upon her most luminous face, and the worlds of her secret said: "Welcome to the purest and most purified, and the greatest infallible." O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master and lord Muhammad and upon the family of our master Muhammad, the eye of the succor of the strong secret ¹¹⁸, with whom when his mother became pregnant, the glad tidings of happiness shone upon her radiant face, and the worlds of her secret said: "Welcome to the intimate friend and saint, and the beloved chosen one." (57) O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master and lord Muhammad and upon the family of our master Muhammad, the model of the righteous and pious, with whom when his mother became pregnant, the glad tidings of lordship shone upon her bright and luminous face, and the worlds of her secret said: "Welcome to the seal of the prophets and the master of the chosen ones." O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master and lord Muhammad and upon the family of our master Muhammad, the most famous banner of prophethood, with whom when his mother became pregnant, the glad tidings of glory shone upon her exalted and radiant face, and the worlds of her secret said: "Welcome to the possessor of the yellow staff ¹¹⁹, and the master of the black and the red." O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master and lord Muhammad and upon the family of our master Muhammad, the book of revelation with exquisite wording and meaning, with whom when his mother became pregnant, the glad tidings of victory shone upon her beautiful and most sublime face, and the worlds of her secret said: "Welcome to the possessor of the most beautiful word and the bride of the station of 'two bow-lengths or nearer' ¹²⁰." (58) O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master and lord Muhammad and upon the family of our master Muhammad, the sweetest and most delightful watering-place, with whom when his mother became pregnant, the glad tidings of prophethood shone upon her face from the enclosures of holiness, and the worlds of her secret said: "Welcome to the orator of the palaces of intimacy, and the knower of..."

Witnessing and Sense. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, of great deeds and virtues, who, when his mother conceived him, the glad tidings of the message shone on her face from every side, and the worlds of her secret said: "Welcome and ease to the Gatherer and the Successor, the Sultan of the high kingdom of ranks and stations." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the tongue of sciences, the lofty one of hearts from their ignorance, who, when his mother conceived him, the glad tidings of contentment and pleasure shone on the lines of her face, and the chiefs of the noble angels stood in rows marveling at her pregnancy and seizing the blessing of her pure branch and origin. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the rain of the worlds and the remover of their drought, who, when his mother conceived him, the glad tidings of proximity and nearness shone on her pure assembly and gathering, and the rising stars of joys shone upon her illuminated lands and her abode, and the chiefs of the sinners interceded through her progeny and clung to her hem. So bless him, O Allah, and his family, a blessing by which we seize the blessing of its goodness and virtue, and by which we become among those who hold fast to his firmest handhold and cling to his rope, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. * Muhammad is the best of those sent and trusted, * Who was a light at the leg of the Throne in pre-eternity. * For his sake the Merciful created His chosen one, * And he continued thereafter among the righteous, moving, * Extracted from the loins of the most noble until * The place of blessing for faith is secure, * The purest of them in character, the highest in aspiration, * He brought the highest of creation in rank and the most open-hearted, * She saw wonders with the Chosen One when she conceived, * For the believers and the most faithful to what he promised, * He glorifies Allah in veneration as has come, * The father of creation, were it not for the light, he would not have existed. * He bequeaths from his sons, the father to the son, * The best of wombs and the purest in height and generosity, * Greater is the one who gave birth to the most generous of people in hand, * The most fulfilling of covenants, the most guided to rectitude, * The most excellent of those who prayed and prostrated. * So she did not find a pregnancy like what she had known. Likewise, when she gave birth to him prostrating, she ascended, She said: "I saw the palaces of Syria shining," As she saw the stars of the heavens drawing near, And the fire of Persia after a thousand years had extinguished. And the arch of Kisra before his birth Shook, its parts trembling in fear, As in Mecca also a wonder appeared, And the jinn were prevented because of his birth. So now, whenever a listener ascends to hear, He finds a shooting star from the horizons watching him. And water decreased because of him, from every land Of the place of polytheism, it was driven away. O night of the secure birth, its omen, You clothed the month of Rabi' in high robes, Your radiance diminished the light of the blazing sun, And they remained forever new in their beauty. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the full moon of protected beauties, and the treasury of the secrets of hidden sciences, who, when his mother Amina the blessed conceived him, on that day all the idols of the world became inverted and sorrowful, their devils were oppressed, driven away, and cheated, and the throne of Iblis, the enemy of Allah, became inverted from you, and the angel commanded over it placed it in the lid of the seas and covered it with the lid of the seas for forty days, so a black one escaped, burning, fleeing until he came to Mount Abu Qubays, and he cried out a cry and a wail, and the devils gathered to him and said: "O their master, what has befallen you?" The accursed one said: "Woe to you, you are destroyed this time with a destruction like which you have never been destroyed." They said: "What is the story?" Iblis, may Allah curse him, said: "This is Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Abd al-Muttalib, sent with the cutting sword after which there is no life; he changes the idols and abolishes the worship of al-Lat and al-Uzza, and we do not come to any place in the world except we find in it the mention of Oneness, and this community for which Allah cursed me and made me an accursed devil, and that they manifest Oneness and Eternity, they do not associate anything with Allah, and there will come from this prophet and his community what grieves my heart and heats my eye. So the son of the near and the refuge." His ifrits said to him: "Be comforted and be content, for Allah Almighty created Adam upon seven layers; for each layer there is a divided portion, and six layers have passed, and they were stronger than these and more numerous."

Wealth and children, so we took them in full, and we must inevitably be equal from the seventh heaven ¹²¹. Then Iblis ¹²² said: "How can you overpower them while they possess beautiful traits: faith in God, commanding good, and forbidding evil?" The ifrits ¹²³ said to him: "O their master, we approach the scholar through his knowledge, the ignorant through his ignorance, the worldly through his worldliness, the ascetic through his asceticism, and the hypocrite through his hypocrisy, and we corrupt their religious resolve." Iblis said: "Indeed, they cling to God alone." The ifrits said: "If they cling to God alone, we will sow among them misguided and misguiding desires, and we will adorn for this community stinginess and injustice, for they will inevitably perish by them." At that, Iblis laughed and said: "Now you have delighted my eye and pleased my soul, O misguided and accursed ones." O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the pole ¹²⁴ of sovereignty, clear in proof and evidence, the mountain of glory, great in rank and station, the one whose mother, when she conceived him, and the accursed Iblis witnessed what God granted him of gifts of grace and favor, he let out a great cry heard by humans and jinn, and ascended above Abu Qubays ¹²⁵, and the devils gathered to him from every place, saying: "What has befallen you, O Azazil ¹²⁶, wrapped in garments of disgrace and humiliation, drowned in the sea of misguidance and transgression?" He said: "Tonight, Muhammad has been conceived, the banner of faith, the possessor of clear signs, mentioned in the Torah, the Gospel, the Psalms, and the Criterion ¹²⁷; he will change religions and erase the traces of the worshippers of idols and statues." O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the master of the pious, the adornment of the chosen messengers, the one whose mother, when she conceived him, and the accursed Iblis witnessed what God granted him of openings and secrets, high status and lofty rank, he let out a groan heard by the people of villages and cities, and fled in panic through deserts and valleys, saying: "Where is salvation?" and threw himself into the abysses of destruction and the depths of the seas. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the unique pearl of the necklace, the noble of tribe, companions, and family, the one whose mother, when she conceived him, and the accursed Iblis witnessed what God granted him of glorification and veneration, victory, triumph, and prosperity, he was struck with a blow that severed his jugular vein and joints, and made him forget the schemes of planning and deceit, and he fled with his vile self to the depths of valleys and the peaks of mountains. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the master of prophets and messengers, the sea of generosity overflowing with gifts of grace and bounty, the one whose mother, when she conceived him, and the accursed Iblis witnessed what God granted him of beauty and comeliness, and ranks of honor, nobility, and perfection, he gasped a gasp that melted his body and left him in dissolution and decay, and his color changed due to the successive earthquakes and terrors that befell him. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the master of the free and the patrons, the succor of the worlds, beautiful in qualities and deeds, the one whose mother, when she conceived him, and Iblis witnessed what God granted him of merits and traits, and good conduct in words and deeds, he trembled with a tremor that increased his sorrow and prolonged it, and griefs, sorrows, and fears poured upon him, and he was afflicted with what he was afflicted of horrifying matters and incurable disease. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the pole of majesty and beauty, the light of insight of the people of intimacy and boldness, the one whose mother, when she conceived him, and the accursed Iblis witnessed what God granted him of goodness and favor, and success in pleasing his Lord by attaining the goal and achieving hopes, he made a leap that made him a laughingstock for women and men, youths and elders, adults and children, and through it the signs of disgrace, calamity, punishment, distance, rejection, and despair of the mercy of his Lord, the Great, the Exalted, appeared upon him. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the mercy for the needy and dependents, the imam of the poles ¹²⁸, the pegs ¹²⁹, and the substitutes ¹³⁰, the one whose mother, when she conceived him, and the accursed Iblis witnessed what God granted him of continuous goodness, beautiful gifts, and eternal happiness for his community in the present and the future, he raged with a rage that cast himself into the corners of neglect, and exposed himself to the wrath of his Lord, the Possessor of Might and Majesty, and disavowed the intercession of Muhammad, may God bless him and grant him peace, the seal of the prophets and the master of the messengers. So bless him, O God, and his family, the full moons of perfection, and his companions, the noble heroes, a blessing by which You save us from the pitfalls of error and misguidance, and deliver us from the assaults of time and the dominance of men, and suffice us against what concerns us of the trial of the grave and the terrors of the Day of Presentation and Questioning, by Your favor and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, the one whose mother, when she conceived him, the accursed Iblis grieved, and his suspicions worsened, and his sorrows multiplied. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, the one whose mother, when she conceived him, the blameworthy Iblis grieved, so his eyes wept and his eyelids became heavy. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, the one whose mother, when she conceived him, the hypocritical Iblis grieved, so his tents collapsed and his order became disordered. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, the one whose mother, when she conceived him, the deceitful Iblis grieved, so his face and heart blackened, and his grief and distress intensified. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, the one whose mother, when she conceived him, the treacherous Iblis grieved, so his faults appeared and his calamities became great. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, the one whose mother, when she conceived him, the lying Iblis grieved, so his states changed and his hopes were disappointed. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, the one whose mother, when she conceived him, the misguided Iblis grieved, so his devil was humiliated and his tyranny vanished. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, the one whose mother, when she conceived him, the erring Iblis grieved, so his palace cracked and his authority became weak. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, the one whose mother, when she conceived him, the rebellious Iblis grieved, so his council dispersed and his security diminished.

O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother the envious Iblis ¹³¹ grieved, his dominion scattered and his orb drowned. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother the accursed Iblis grieved, his kind became ugly, his conjectures ¹³² and guesses ¹³³ multiplied. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad (71) Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother the unjust Iblis grieved, his head was crushed and his sense cut off. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother the disobedient Iblis grieved, his sorrows strengthened and his abandonment became manifest. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother the ill-omened Iblis grieved, every aspirant ¹³⁴ disavowed his company and every party regretted knowing him. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother the treacherous Iblis grieved, he drank the poison of abasement and humiliation, and donned the garments of disgrace and curse. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother the deceitful Iblis (72) grieved, the signs of falsehood appeared in his base actions and endeavors, and the results of his particulars and universals were invalidated by the claim of falsehoods. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother the wretched Iblis grieved, his regrets and agonies intensified, and his breaths and sighs rose up. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother the soothsayer Iblis grieved, his misery and enmity were in turmoil, his call was veiled and his intercession rejected. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother the accursed Iblis grieved, and his mind became foolishness ¹³⁵, swimming in the valleys of abominations and vices, bellowing like a bull and crying out in deserts, assemblies, and tribes, striving for his own destruction (73) without heeding the admonition of any advisor or the words of any speaker, throwing dust on his head and calling for woe and ruin in gatherings and assemblies, tearing his veil and exposing his shame in markets, taverns, and dunghills, walking behind young girls, boys, ignoramuses, and women, doing as they do due to the baseness of his nature, the ugliness of his deeds, the abundance of his ignorance, and the vileness of his actions, seeking company with every solitary being and shunning every sociable one, befriending the people of deviation, error, and falsehood—this is not the act of the virtuous and intelligent, nor the description of the noble and excellent. So perdition and ruin be upon him! How ugly is he, an unjust ignorant one, a knowledgeable one feigning ignorance, a fool not heedless! And sufficient for his disgrace, distance, punishment, and expulsion is what our Lord said in His clear Book: "Then get out of it, for indeed you are accursed ¹³⁶. And indeed, upon you is My curse until the Day of Recompense." ¹³⁷ O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother the accursed Iblis grieved, he cut his girdle ¹³⁸, tore his loincloth, plucked his eyelashes, burned (74) his nails, alienated his visitors, extinguished his fire, cast off the cloak of modesty from his face, abandoned his restraint in frivolity, halted his donkey at the pass of humiliation and loss, and unleashed his tongue to utter obscenity, foulness, and ugly expressions. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother the accursed Iblis grieved, his hopes became inverted, his banner reversed, his love severed, his fortune failed, his covenant broken, his rejection increased, his support diminished, his hatred intensified, his followers became wretched, his army defeated, his effort exhausted, he thundered and lightened but his strength was stunned, and his fire-stick did not produce a spark. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother the accursed Iblis grieved, his night and day darkened, his life and stability became turbid, his flight and escape strengthened. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad (75) and to the family of our master Muhammad Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother the accursed Iblis grieved, his weeping and wailing increased, his companion and friend fled from him, his neighbor and guest abandoned him, his spouse and intimate ¹³⁹ left him, his trace and guide effaced, his resting place and midday halt became evil, his clan and tribe disavowed him, and he became wavering between that, neither with these nor with those. "And whoever Allah leaves astray, you will never find for him a way." ¹⁴⁰ So he is neither killed—for in death there is rest—nor is he granted favor to be freed. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother the accursed Iblis grieved, he began to wander in the valleys of distance and expulsion, and the deceptions of disbelief and denial, unable to distinguish between abandonment and rejection, nor between desolation and loss, nor knowing the place of nearness from distance. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother the accursed Iblis (76) grieved, he fled to Palestine and China, the light of faith and certainty left his heart, and he looked with his superficial eye in his book taken with the left and with the right, and read: "And indeed, upon you is the curse until the Day of Recompense." ¹⁴¹ So his envy, enmity, ignorance, and stupidity increased, and he sought respite by saying: "Then give me respite until the Day they are resurrected." ¹⁴² How far is this accursed one from the rank of the obedient and compliant, and how close is he to the station of the expelled and banished! Upon him be the curse of Allah, the angels, and all people.

O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother Iblis grieved, and his hopes became reversed and his banners inverted. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother the accursed Iblis failed, and his markets became diminished and his helpers imprisoned. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad (77) Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother the accursed Iblis lost, and his landmarks became obliterated and his shameful deeds ill-omened. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother the accursed Iblis weakened, and his trade became stagnant and his conditions corrupt. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother the accursed Iblis wept, and his armies became defeated and his vanguards deprived. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother the accursed Iblis was terrified, and his traces became effaced and his fires extinguished. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother the accursed Iblis cried out, and his supporters became overpowered and his parties (tribes) repelled (expelled). O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad (78) and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother the accursed Iblis retreated, and his thoughts became scattered and his waters sunk. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother the accursed Iblis was confounded, and his arguments became weak and his houses ruined. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother the accursed Iblis fled, and his limbs became severed and his guards prevented. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother the accursed Iblis bolted, and his doors became closed and his promises rejected. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother the accursed Iblis was thunderstruck, and his traps became empty and his sorrows successive. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother the accursed Iblis was repelled, and his covenants became broken (79) and his morals contracted. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother the accursed Iblis fell, and his swords became blunted and his soldiers forsaken. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother the accursed Iblis became angry, and his assemblies became abandoned and his registers cut off. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother the accursed Iblis regretted, and his spacious places became deserted and his followers exhausted. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother the accursed Iblis (80) became wrathful, and his battalions became expelled and his tricks lost. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother the accursed Iblis turned away, and his sayings became rejected and his idols cut off. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother the accursed Iblis disdained, and his whisperings became repelled and his questions abhorred. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother the accursed Iblis became stagnant, and his transaction became losing and his dwellings perishing. So bless him, O Allah, and his family, possessors of dazzling miracles, and his family and pure progeny, and his victorious companions, a blessing by which You have mercy on our decayed bones, and suffice us thereby from the worry of this world (81) and the torment of the Hereafter, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother the accursed Iblis went astray, and he began to choke on his saliva and disown his party. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother Iblis, the head of the misguiders, went astray, and he shaved, let down, rent his garments, and tore. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother Iblis, the head of disbelief, went astray, and his life became troubled and his rashness increased. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother Iblis, the head of the deceivers, went astray, and he shunned his children and abandoned his soldiers. (82) O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother Iblis, the head of the deluded, went astray, and he cast down his weapon and folded his wing. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother Iblis, the head of the expelled, went astray, and he disowned himself and his call, and regretted his deprivation and misery. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother Iblis, the head of the abhorred, went astray, and he began to flee from his family and neighbors, and weep over his rebellion and disobedience. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother Iblis, the head of the wretched, went astray, and he became blamed, repelled, prevented from the news of the heavens, and overpowered. (83) O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother Iblis, the head of the arrogant, went astray, and he began to throw dust on his head and flee from his own kind. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother Iblis, the head of the self-admirers, went astray, and he began to seek death and seek refuge from life. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose conception by his mother Iblis, the head of the misleaders, went astray, and his covenants became broken and his thrones scattered.

O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose mother's conception Iblis ¹⁴³, the head of the tyrants, became confused and began to fold up his snares and deny his proofs. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose mother's conception Iblis, the head of the rebels, became confused and began to scatter his gatherings and block his paths. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose mother's conception Iblis, the head of the defiant, became confused and began to revile his base desires and demolish his churches. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose mother's conception Iblis, the head of the arrogant, became confused and began to slap his cheek and deny his delegation. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose mother's conception Iblis, the head of the forsaken, became confused and began to rebuke himself and conceal his senses. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose mother's conception Iblis, the head of the deprived, became confused and began to hide from his loved ones and fear disgrace for the rest of his existence. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose mother's conception Iblis, the head of the criminals, became confused and began to regret what he had sought from his prolonged respite and the disappointment of his hope that became apparent to him. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose mother's conception Iblis, the head of the arrogant, became confused and his faults were exposed and his stars eclipsed. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose mother's conception Iblis, the head of the accursed, became confused and his purity became false and his battalions fled. So bless, O Allah, this noble Prophet, whose radiant countenance You made towering over the heads of devils, whose tolerant law abrogated all other laws, and whose lofty rank is exalted above all prophets and messengers. And grant him abundant peace forever. And praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds. * Muhammad is the master of masters from Mudar ¹⁴⁴, the secret of the prophets, reviver of religion, generous. * Justice is his conduct, virtue his nature, awe precedes him, and victory serves him. * He established the path of truth with the sword, balanced, easy of purpose, guiding whoever seeks him. * Whenever the pillar of polytheism reached its peak in deviation, the Messenger of Allah stood to demolish it. * At his birth, idols fell prostrate on their heads, and their criminal tasted disgrace. * The paths of monotheism became clear, and disbelief lamented its sin with woe. * If any eavesdropper ¹⁴⁵ tries to steal hearing, the stars of the horizons watch and stone him. * The earth rejoices in the light of the son of Amina ¹⁴⁶, and justice's arrows pierce the gaps of tyranny. * Indeed, the son of Abd Manaf ¹⁴⁷, from his majesty, is a sun for the horizon of guidance, and the prophets are his stars. * He returned majesty as a unique generosity, and the unique generosity is the most merciful of speech. * The light of guidance, the jewel of monotheism, the full moon of the sky of glory; describing him with the moon wrongs him. * From the light of the Possessor of the Throne ¹⁴⁸ is his meaning and form, and the spreading of light from a light that embodies him. * No eye has seen his like, nor ear heard like Ahmad ¹⁴⁹; where is the one who knows him? * So proclaim your command, O son of the noble of Mudar, for you have been sent to rub the nose of polytheism in the dust. * To you belongs beautiful remembrance, and from you every name of great generosity is the greatest. * Upon you from me be Allah's most complete blessings, O generous one whose favors encompass both worlds. * They emit fragrance and musk from the flow of a cloud at forenoon, and remembrance begins and ends with it. * As long as the wind sways the branches of the arák tree ¹⁵⁰, and as long as the bees hover over the meadows of gardens. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the treasure of the rich and the poor, the clear banner of guidance, religion, and path. When his pure and blessed sperm, his beautiful Muhammadan pearl, settled in the shell of his mother Amina the Qurayshite, a call was made in the world of dominion and the enclosures of omnipotence: "Perfume the gatherings of supreme intimacy, incense the directions of highest honor, and spread the prayer rugs of worship in the rows of purity for the Sufi ¹⁵¹ angels brought near, the people of truth and loyalty, for the hidden light has moved into the womb of Amina, possessor of radiant beauty and protected glory, whom the Near and Responsive ¹⁵² singled out for this chosen beloved Prophet, because she was the best of her people in lineage, the most noble, the purest in origin and branch, and the most pleasant." And it was revealed that night in heaven and its expanses, and the earths and their regions, that the hidden light from which the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is formed and comes into being would settle that night in the womb of his mother Amina. So blessed, then blessed, is she! That day, the idols of the world were overturned, and the disgrace of the people of polytheism and misguidance was reversed. In that year, Quraysh was in severe drought and great hardship, but the earth greened, the trees bore fruit, and good came to them from every side. Allah permitted the women of the world in that year to bear males, as an honor to him (peace be upon him). That year was called the Year of Victory and Joy. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the spirit of inspired souls and the imam of the noble guided ones. Among the signs of his mother Amina's conception of him is what is narrated from Hassan ibn Thabit ¹⁵³ (may Allah be pleased with him): "I was a young boy of seven or eight, understanding everything I heard, when I heard a Jew calling out loudly from a fortress in Yathrib ¹⁵⁴ until people gathered to him. They said, 'Woe to you, what is wrong with you?' He said, 'Tonight the star of Ahmad ¹⁵⁵ has risen, by which he was born.'" Hassan was the poet of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and was sixty years old. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the model of eminent imams, the full moon of clear light in darkness. Among the signs of his mother Amina's conception of him is that she said: "When I became pregnant with Muhammad, I was told, 'You are pregnant with the master of this community. When you give birth to him, say: I seek protection for him with the One ¹⁵⁶ from the evil of every envier. Then name him Muhammad, for his name in the Torah is Hamid ¹⁵⁷ and in the Gospel is Ahmad ¹⁵⁸. And hang this amulet on him.'" She said, "I awoke, and at my head was a sheet of gold inscribed with this text."

I seek protection for him by the One ¹⁵⁹ from the evil of every envier and every excessive creation, whether standing or sitting, deviating from the path, striving in corruption, whether a blower ¹⁶⁰ or a knot-tier ¹⁶¹, and every rebellious jinn ¹⁶² that lies in ambush at the sources of water. I forbid them from him with the higher hand ¹⁶³ and the palm that does not see—God's hand is above their hands, and God's veil is before their enemies. They do not approach him by night or day, nor in sitting or standing, throughout the nights and days. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the locus of spirit and thought, the essence of noble qualities, of beautiful praise and remembrance, from whose mother Amina's pregnancy with him it is narrated that he said: "I was in her womb, and she became heavier than any woman carries, until she complained to her companions of the heaviness she felt. Then she saw in a dream that what was in her womb was a light. She said: 'I followed the light with my eyes, and the light followed my gaze until it illuminated the east and west of the earth.' Then she gave birth to me. When I grew up, He made me hate idols and made me hate poetry." O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the lamp of the worlds, the master of angels, humans, and jinn, from whose perfect honor and care, and the manifestation of his glory and the brilliance of his signs, it is narrated that on the morning of his birth, a Jewish man who sold perfume in Mecca—may God increase it in honor—stood before a group of Quraysh, among them their chiefs 'Utba ibn Rabi'a, Shayba ibn Rabi'a, and others, and said to them: "Tonight a child has been born among you." They said: "We do not know of any." They said: "No child has been born among us." The Jew said: "If you are mistaken, then it is in Ta'if or Palestine." So they stood up and dispersed, amazed at the Jew's words. When they returned to their homes, they inquired and were told: "Yes, a son has been born to 'Abdullah ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib among us." They all came and went out to the Jew and informed him of that, and that a child had been born among them. The Jew said: "Show him to me." So they went to Amina, the mother of the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, and said to her: "Bring out your son whom you have given birth to." She brought him out. When the Jew saw him and looked at the seal ¹⁶⁴, he fell down in a swoon. The disbelievers of Quraysh were amazed at that. When he recovered from his swoon, he said: "Are you rejoicing in him, O assembly of Quraysh? By God, he will certainly strike you with a blow whose news will reach the east and the west. By God, prophethood has departed from the Children of Israel." Among them were Hisham ibn al-Mughira, Hisham ibn 'Umar, 'Ubayda ibn al-Harith, a group from Banu 'Abd Manaf, and a group from Quraysh. When they heard that from him, they withdrew privately. Some of them said to others: "Be truthful with one another, and let none of you conceal anything from another." Waraqa ¹⁶⁵ said to them: "By God, you know that your people are not upon a religion, and they have missed the right path and abandoned the religion of Abraham, peace be upon him. What stone do you circumambulate that neither hears nor sees? O people, seek religion for yourselves." So they set out traveling through the land, asking about the Hanifiyya ¹⁶⁶, and part of their story was mentioned. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the mine of truth and correctness, the essence of manifest honor in lineage and ancestry, from whose perfect honor and care, and the manifestation of his glory and his guardianship, it is narrated that there was a Jew among Banu 'Abd al-Ashhal named Yusha', and there was no other Jew among them. He was in his hermitage, and they would come to him and talk in his presence. He often said: "After death there is resurrection, Paradise, and Hellfire." They would laugh at him and say: "There is nothing after death." He would refute that to them. One day at dawn he called out to them from the hermitage, and they found it strange and gathered around him, saying: "What is the matter with you?" He said: "This is the star of Ahmad ¹⁶⁷ that has risen. This is a star that rises only with prophethood, and there remains no prophet except Ahmad, may God bless him and grant him peace." They began to laugh, and he kept saying to them: "By God, the confirmation of our words and the verification of our Book tells you that after death there is Paradise and Hellfire. They are only the people of idols." When the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, arrived, all of Banu 'Abd al-Ashhal believed in him except him. When Banu 'Abd al-Ashhal embraced Islam, they said to him: "Leave our homes and our neighborhood." So he left and kept moving from one town to another until he died upon his Judaism during the time of 'Umar ibn al-Khattab. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the master of the great and noble, the jewel of beauty extracted from pure loins and elegant wombs, from whose perfect honor and care, and the manifestation of his glory and his guardianship, it is narrated from 'A'isha that a Jewish man used to trade in Mecca. On the night the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, was born, he said: "O assembly of Quraysh, tonight a child has been born among you." They said: "By God, we do not know of it." He said: "God is greater. If you have missed it, no matter. Look and remember what I say."

To you: Tonight, the prophet of this community was born among you, between his shoulders is a mark containing closely set hairs like the mane of a horse. He will not nurse for two nights, because a demon ¹⁶⁸ from the jinn put his finger in his mouth and prevented him from nursing. The people then dispersed from their gathering, marveling at his words and speech. When they reached their homes, each group informed their families, and they said: 'A boy has been born to Abdullah ibn Abd al-Muttalib, and they named him Muhammad.' When the people met, they came to the Jew and told him the news. He said: 'Take me to see him.' So they brought him until they entered upon Amina and brought the child out to him, and they uncovered his back for him. He saw that mark, and the Jew fell down in a faint. When he regained consciousness, they said to him: 'What is the matter with you?' He said: 'By Allah, prophethood has departed from the Children of Israel.' Among that group at that time were Hisham ibn al-Mughira, al-Walid ibn al-Mughira, Musafir ibn Abi Umayr, Ubayda ibn al-Harith, and Utba ibn Rabi'a, a youth above the age of puberty, among a group from Banu Abd Manaf. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the beloved of the Exalted Lord, the sultan of the magnificent and honored kingdom. From the perfection of his honor and care, and the manifestation of his pride and authority, it is narrated that he was born in Mecca—may Allah honor it—in the house that belonged to Muhammad ibn Yusuf, the brother of al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf. It is also said he was born in the valley of Banu Hashim. He—peace and blessings be upon him—was born in a house in the alley known as the Alley of the Birthplace. The house was, during the emigration of the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—in the possession of Aqil ibn Abi Talib, then in the hands of his children. Then Muhammad ibn Yusuf al-Thaqafi, the brother of al-Hajjaj, bought that house from the children of Aqil and incorporated the room into a house he built, calling it al-Bayda' ¹⁶⁹, known as the House of Ibn Yusuf. The room remained in the house until al-Khayzuran ¹⁷⁰, the mother of al-Hadi and Harun al-Rashid, performed the pilgrimage. She then had the room extracted and turned it into a mosque opening onto the Alley of the Birthplace, where people pray hoping for its blessing—peace and blessings be upon him. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the best of those who stood for You in supererogatory and obligatory prayers, the most excellent of those whose love has encompassed all and part. From the perfection of his honor and care, and the manifestation of his pride and authority, it is narrated that when he—peace and blessings be upon him—was born, his uncle Abu Talib handed him over to some women to cover him with a cooking pot ¹⁷¹. That was the custom of Quraysh when a child was born among them: they would hand him over to women who would cover him with a cooking pot. They did that with him. When morning came, they arrived and found the pot had split in two over him, and he was lying with his eyes open, his gaze fixed toward the sky. His uncle said to her: 'Guard him, for I hope he will attain good.' On the seventh day, Abd al-Muttalib sacrificed an animal for him and invited Quraysh for him. When they had eaten, they said: 'O Abd al-Muttalib, what do you think of this son of yours, for whose sake you have honored us—what have you named him?' He said: 'I named him Muhammad.' They said: 'Why have you turned away from the names of his family?' He said: 'I desired that Allah—mighty and majestic—would praise him in heaven and His creatures on earth.' O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the best of those whose praise and commendation tongues delight in, the most excellent of those whose blessing and supplication benefit visitors. From the perfection of his honor and care, and the manifestation of his pride and authority, it is narrated from his mother Amina that when she gave birth to him, she sent to his grandfather Abd al-Muttalib to give him the good news. When the bearer of good news came to him while he was sitting in the Hijr ¹⁷² and told him that Amina had given birth to a boy, he was extremely delighted. He stood up along with those with him and entered upon her. She informed him of everything she had seen, what was said to her, and what she was commanded to do. Then Abd al-Muttalib took him and brought him into the Kaaba. He stood supplicating Allah and thanking Him for what He had given him, and he began to recite: * Praise be to Allah who has given me * This pure and virtuous boy * He has excelled in the cradle over other boys * I seek protection for him by the House of the Pillars * So that he may reach the age of youth * Until I see him attaining eloquence * I seek protection for him from the evil of every enemy * From an envier with restless eyes * Of determination, but without two eyes * Until I see him upon the building * You are the one named in the Furqan ¹⁷³ * In established books of repeated verses * Ahmad of Mecca * And of lofty status O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the best of those whose garments the great lovers have clung to, and whose souls of lovers have disappeared in the lights of his majesty and beauty. From the perfection of his honor and care, and the manifestation of his pride and authority, it is narrated that his grandfather Abd al-Muttalib observed from him wondrous secrets and strange portents on the night of his birth. He said: 'On that night when he—peace and blessings be upon him—was born, I was in the Kaaba repairing something in it.'

Il s'effondra. Puis, quand la nuit fut à moitié écoulée, voici que la Maison Sacrée (al-Bayt al-Ḥarām) s'inclina sur ses quatre côtés, et il tomba prosterné auprès de la Station d'Abraham (Maqām Ibrāhīm), sur lui la paix, tel un homme en prosternation. Puis il se redressa debout, tandis que j'entendais de lui un takbīr (Takbīr) prodigieux, s'écriant : « Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar, Seigneur de Muḥammad l'Élu ! Maintenant, mon Seigneur m'a purifié des souillures des associateurs et de l'ardeur de l'ignorance (al-Jāhiliyya). » Et je regardai toutes les idoles : elles tremblaient comme tremble un vêtement. Et je regardai la plus grande idole, Hubal : elle était tombée sur sa face. Et j'entendis un héraut qui proclamait : « Certes, Āmina a enfanté Muḥammad — qu'Allāh prie sur lui et le salue — et les nuées de la miséricorde ont été déversées sur lui. Voici le bassin du Paradis (Ṭasht al-Firdaws) qui a été descendu pour qu'il y soit lavé une seconde fois. » Il dit : Lorsque je vis cela dans la Maison et les idoles, mon esprit s'en alla, au point que je ne savais plus ce que je disais. Je me mis à me frotter les yeux, puis à dire : « Je suis certes endormi », puis à dire : « Non, je suis certes éveillé. » Alors je sortis, voulant me rendre à la maison d'Āmina. Lorsque je fus sorti par la porte, voici que Ṣafā s'allongeait, et voici que Marwa faisait de même, s'agitant (102). Et je m'écriai de chaque endroit : « Ô chef de Quraysh, qu'as-tu, tel un homme craintif et apeuré, ou bien ensorcelé ? » Mais je ne trouvai aucune réponse. Mon seul souci était la maison d'Āmina, pour voir son fils Muḥammad. Et voici que tous les oiseaux affluaient vers elle, et voici que toutes les montagnes de La Mecque surplombaient sa demeure, et voici qu'un nuage blanc se tenait au-dessus de sa chambre. Lorsque je vis cela, je fus stupéfait, au point de ne plus savoir ce que je disais. Puis je me frottai les yeux et dis : « Je suis certes endormi », puis je sus que j'étais éveillé. Lorsque j'arrivai à la demeure d'Āmina, je ne pus entrer à cause de l'intensité de l'effusion du musc et de l'éclat de la lumière. Je fis un effort sur moi-même jusqu'à m'approcher de la porte, et je regardai : voici qu'Āmina avait fermé la porte sur elle-même, comme si elle ne portait aucune trace d'accouchement ni de lochies. Je poussai la porte d'une poussée violente et appelai Āmina. Elle me répondit d'une voix faible. Je lui dis : « Malheur à toi ! Hâte-toi vers moi et ouvre la porte, avant que ma raison ne se fende sur moi ! » Elle ouvrit rapidement la porte, et je l'examinai attentivement (103). La première chose que mon regard saisit sur son visage, à l'endroit où se trouvait la lumière de Muḥammad — qu'Allāh prie sur lui et le salue —, je ne vis plus la trace de la lumière qui était sur son visage. Je portai la main à ma parure pour la déchirer et dis : « Ô secours ! Suis-je endormi ou éveillé ? » Elle dit : « Éveillé. Qu'as-tu, tel un homme craintif et apeuré, ou bien ensorcelé ? » Je dis : « Non, mais j'ai passé toute ma nuit dans la crainte et l'effroi. Pourquoi ne vois-je pas la lumière que je voyais sur ton visage, rayonnante entre tes yeux ? » Elle dit : « Je l'ai déposée. » Je lui dis : « Comment l'as-tu déposée, alors que je ne vois sur toi aucune trace de lochies ni d'accouchement ? Et je ne remarque rien d'étrange dans ton état, si ce n'est la lumière qui était entre tes yeux, rayonnante : je ne la vois plus. » Elle dit : « Je l'ai déposé de la manière la plus parfaite et la plus aisée, et il m'a été ordonné de le nommer Muḥammad. Et ces oiseaux, sur ma chambre, me demandent de le leur remettre pour qu'ils le portent à leurs nids, et ce nuage me demande de même. » Je lui dis : « Donne-le-moi, que je le voie (104). » Elle me dit : « Il a été placé une barrière entre toi et lui, et tu ne le verras pas cette nuit, car un interlocuteur m'a dit au moment où je l'ai enfanté — il était comme une tige d'argent et comme un palmier élancé et élevé — : "Ô Āmina, prends garde de montrer ce garçon à quiconque parmi les créatures d'Allāh, fils d'Adam, jusqu'à ce que trois jours se soient écoulés depuis sa naissance." » Je dégainai mon épée et lui dis : « Tu vas me le montrer, ou je te tuerai, ou bien je commencerai par moi-même. » Lorsqu'elle vit ma détermination, elle me dit : « À toi de décider, et ce que tu veux. » Je lui dis : « Et où est-il ? » Elle dit : « Il est dans cette maison, enveloppé dans un noble vêtement blanc, plus blanc que le lait, sous une étoffe verte. » Lorsque je voulus entrer dans la maison pour voir mon fils, voici qu'un homme, de l'intérieur de la maison — je n'avais jamais vu parmi les hommes quelqu'un de plus terrifiant que lui — dégaina son épée et me dit : « Où veux-tu aller ? Que ta mère te perde ! » Je dis : « Je veux entrer dans la maison. » Il dit : « Et que veux-tu faire de lui ? » Je dis : « Voir mon fils Muḥammad. » Il dit : « Retourne en arrière ! Il n'y a aucun moyen pour toi, ni pour aucun fils d'Adam, de le voir (105) jusqu'à ce que la visite des anges soit achevée. » Je sortis, effrayé et pressé, pour informer un proche de cela, mais Allāh retint ma langue, et je ne pus prononcer cette seule parole pendant sept jours et leurs nuits. Puis, après trois jours, je vins à lui et le regardai : je le trouvai circoncis et le nombril coupé. Je me réjouis de lui d'une grande joie, et son état m'émerveilla. Je dis : « Ce fils mien aura une grande importance. » Et il eut la plus grande importance — que les prières et les salutations d'Allāh soient sur lui et sur sa famille. Ô Allāh, prie et salue notre seigneur et maître Muḥammad, et sur la famille de notre seigneur Muḥammad, le meilleur de ceux vers qui les mondes se dirigent par la bride de la guidance, et le plus excellent de ceux que les visiteurs prennent pour but et désirent ce qui est auprès de lui — celui dont la perfection de la noblesse et de la sollicitude, et la manifestation de la gloire et de l'autorité, est telle qu'il a été rapporté de Kaʿb ibn Mālik qu'il a dit : « Des anciens de mon peuple m'ont raconté qu'ils étaient sortis avec ʿAmmār et ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib — à cette époque, ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib était encore vivant à La Mecque — et avec eux un homme des Juifs de Taymāʾ, qui les avait accompagnés pour le commerce, voulant se rendre à La Mecque et au Yémen. Il regarda ʿAbd (106) al-Muṭṭalib et dit : "Nous trouvons dans notre Livre, qui n'a pas été altéré, que de la descendance de celui-ci sortira un prophète qui nous tuera, nous et son peuple." » Il dit : « Il revint. » Et lorsque vint la nuit où le Messager d'Allāh — qu'Allāh prie sur lui et le salue — naquit, un docteur (Ḥabr) qui se trouvait à La Mecque dit : « Cette nuit, dans votre pays, naîtra le prophète qui est décrit comme devant magnifier Moïse et Aaron et tuer leur communauté. Si vous le manquez, alors annoncez-le aux gens d'at-Ṭāʾif et aux gens d'Ayla. » Il naquit à la fin de cette nuit-là. Le docteur sortit jusqu'à...

He entered the Hijr ¹⁷⁴ and said: "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and that Moses is true, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Qaf ¹⁷⁵ is for Moses, and I believe in him." Then he lost sight of him and could not find him. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad, and to the family of our master Muhammad, the best of those whom You have made an imam ¹⁷⁶ for Your righteous servants, and the most excellent of those to whom You have granted a high rank and station in the highest paradises. From the perfection of his honor and care, and the manifestation of his pride and authority, it is narrated from (107) Shifa bint 'Awf ¹⁷⁷ that she said: "When he, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was born and fell into my hands, he cried out, and the space between the east and west became illuminated for me until I saw the palaces of Byzantium. Then I clothed him and wrapped him up, and soon I was overcome by darkness, terror, and shivering. Then I spat to my right and looked, not knowing what it was, and I heard a caller saying: 'Where has he been taken?' He said: 'To the west.' Then it cleared from me for a while, then terror and shivering returned to me, and I looked to my left but saw nothing, and I heard a caller saying: 'Where has he been taken?' He said: 'To the east, and he will never return.'" He said: "This story never left my mind until Allah sent His Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and I was among the first people to embrace Islam." She said: "Then I heard a caller from among the jinn on Mount Abu Qubays ¹⁷⁸ saying: O inhabitants of al-Batha ¹⁷⁹, do not err, and distinguish the matter by a decisive action. O Banu Zahra ¹⁸⁰, from your secret (108) in the remaining time and at the assembly, one of you, so bring forth for it, among those who have passed or those who remain, one like the best of them, whose fetus is like the pious Prophet." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad, and to the family of our master Muhammad, the center of the necklace of prophets and messengers, and the master of humans, jinn, and all creation. From the perfection of his honor and care, and the manifestation of his pride and authority, it is narrated from his mother Amina that she said: "When six months of my pregnancy had passed, his father 'Abdullah died, and a visitor came to me in a dream, kicked me with his foot, and said to me: 'O Amina, rejoice, for you have conceived the best of all worlds. When you give birth to him, name him Muhammad and keep your affair secret.'" Then she said: "When the time of my delivery came, I experienced what women experience in labor, and none of my people knew about me, and I was alone in the house while 'Abd al-Muttalib (109) was performing his circumambulation. Then I heard a great crash and a tremendous matter that terrified me. Then I saw as if the wing of a white bird had wiped my heart, and the terror and all the pain I felt left me. So I extended the palms of supplication to Him from whom no secret is hidden, and behold, there was the compassionate sister, the wife of Pharaoh, Asiya. Then I saw a light that illuminated the place, and behold, it was Mary, daughter of 'Imran. Then I beheld faces like full moons, and behold, a group of houris. The matter intensified for me, and I heard the crash every hour, more terrifying and greater than before. Then the Knower of the unseen and the witnessed helped me to facilitate the birth, so I gave birth to the beloved Muhammad, leaning on his hands, gazing up to the sky. Asiya bent over him, Mary hastened to him, the houris kissed his feet. Jibril descended to the house, Mika'il surrounded him, Israfil came to serve him. They hid him from sight, and paraded him through all regions. They immersed him in Paradise in all the rivers. They wrote (110) his name on the leaves of the trees. Then they returned with the favor upon the two worlds in the blink of an eye. Asiya took him to apply kohl to him, but found him already kohl-rimmed with the light of guidance. Mary wanted to cut his umbilical cord, but found it already cut, and harm had been removed from him. The houris brought various kinds of perfume, with which they perfumed the qualities of this beloved. Three angels hastened to his blessed countenance: with one was a basin of red gold, with the second a ewer of jewel, and with the third a handkerchief of green sundus ¹⁸¹. They washed the face of the beloved with the water of the ewer, and brought out from the cloth the seal of confirmation, which had brilliance and luster, and they sealed with it the back of this compassionate prophet. Thus his good fortune and success were completed, and it was said to his mother Amina: 'Do not call anyone from the worlds to look at Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, the truthful and trustworthy, until his time with the visit of the near-stationed angels is completed.' So bless him, O Allah, and his most noble family (111) and his Companions, the protectors of this world and religion, with a blessing by which You make us among Your protected saints and the people of Your special care, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. The breeze wafted fragrance to existence when it brought us a bringer of glad tidings and a warner. He came with the birth of Ahmad, the guide to guidance, bringing us joy and delight. When the face of the beloved appeared, all regions shone and spoke in gratitude. The arch of Kisra ¹⁸² split openly, and Kisra was broken among the people.

The idols fell down at his birth, and the soothsayers were shattered by his roar. The fire of the Magi was extinguished in humility, and the cloud's protection became a rain-bringer. How many signs appeared in his pregnancy that were not hidden, and increased in manifestation over time. Amina saw him swimming in prostration ¹⁸³ at birth, pointing to the sky. She said: 'I saw wonders at his delivery, at which the possessor of beauty would be exhausted.' The signs of Ahmad ¹⁸⁴ cannot be limited by any describer, even if he dictated and lived for ages. Glad tidings to you, O nation of the Chosen One ¹⁸⁵, of Paradise and silk on the Day of Resurrection. You have been truly favored by the most noble messenger, the best of creation, manifest and present. May Allah, my Lord, bless him always, as long as the world endures, and increase abundantly. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad, and to the family of our master Muhammad, the best of those for whom You expanded the breast with the light of guidance, and whom You favored above all other prophets with pride, who was born on Monday, the twelfth night of the month of Rabi' al-Awwal ¹⁸⁶ in the Year of the Elephant ¹⁸⁷, so the universes rejoiced at his noble arrival and majestic birth. On the first night thereof, Amina obtained joy and happiness; on the second night, she was given glad tidings of attaining the goal and desire; on the third night, it was said to her: 'You have conceived one who will fulfill our praise and gratitude'; on the fourth night, she heard the angels' glorification openly; on the fifth night, she saw in her dream al-Khalil ¹⁸⁸, who said to her: 'Rejoice in this majestic prophet, possessor of light and splendor'; on the sixth night, joy and happiness continued without ceasing or weakening; on the seventh night, Allah formed for him what was, and completed for him fortune and status (in the margin: 'This is not from the author's words, but from the master of eloquence'); on the eighth night, the angels circled Amina's house when her delivery drew near; on the ninth night, her fortune and wealth appeared; on the tenth night, fatigue and hardship left her; on the eleventh night, the angels clamored to their Creator with praise and commendation; on the twelfth night, the beloved Mustafa ¹⁸⁹ was born, so the house shone and became pure, and at his delivery he fell prostrate to the Most High, raising his finger to the high heavens like one supplicating and imploring, without him; and his fragrance and scent filled the universe; the angels clamored with takbir ¹⁹⁰ and tahlil ¹⁹¹; the universe shone with the light of his beautiful face. She said: 'I saw a white cloud descending upon me, hiding him from me, and a speaker saying: 'Parade him through the Easts and Wests of the earth, pass him over all the seas, over the wild beasts in their deserts, and over the jinn in their solitudes; present him to every spiritual being, male and female, that they may know him by his name, attributes, description, and form, and know that he is called therein al-Mahi ¹⁹², for nothing of polytheism remains but is erased in his time; parade him over the births of the prophets that the effects of his grace may encompass them.' Then the cloud cleared from him, and behold, he was wrapped in a garment of white wool, under which was a green silk cloth. And he said: 'Conceal him from the eyes of people, and give him the creation of Adam, the knowledge of Seth, the courage of Noah, the friendship of Abraham, the tongue of Ishmael ¹⁹³, the satisfaction of Isaac, the eloquence of Salih, the wisdom of Lot, the glad tidings of Jacob, the strength of Moses, the patience of Job, the obedience of Jonah, the jihad of Joshua, the voice of David, the love of Daniel, the loyalty of Elijah, the command of Solomon, the wisdom of Luqman, the infallibility of John, the asceticism of Jesus; and immerse him in the character of the prophets and messengers.' And behold, he had grasped a green silk cloth folded tightly, from which water gushed forth. And behold, a speaker said: 'Bravo, bravo! Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, has grasped the whole world, so no creature of its inhabitants remains but has entered his grasp.' She said: 'Then I looked at him, and behold, he was like the full moon, and his scent rose like the most fragrant musk. And behold, three persons: in the hand of one was a silver ewer, in the hand of the second a basin of green emerald, and in the hand of the third a white silk cloth. He spread it and brought out from it a ring that dazzled the eyes of beholders. He washed him from that ewer seven times, then sealed between his shoulders with the ring, wrapped him in the silk cloth, then carried him and placed him between his wings for a while, then returned him to me. Then he said in his ear—Ridwan ¹⁹⁴, the keeper of Paradise: 'Rejoice, O Muhammad, for no prophet's knowledge remains but you have been given it. So you are the most knowledgeable of them, the bravest of heart.' Glory be to Him who made this noble prophet the sultan of the prophets, spread his mention, raised his rank among the inhabitants of the highest assembly, extinguished fires by his guardianship, illuminated the palaces of Busra ¹⁹⁵, caused the idols and statues to fall, and shook the arch of Kisra ¹⁹⁶. He is the possessor of the Praiseworthy Station ¹⁹⁷ and the Great Intercession ¹⁹⁸; through him Allah honored existence and made him a mercy to all beings, in this world and the next. So bless him, O Allah, and his family, a blessing that You make a treasure for us with You, preserve us by it secretly and openly, and magnify for us thereby reward and recompense in both abodes, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. For the month of Rabi', its eye remains great; therein the Merciful brought forth a full moon in a night.

He appeared, and the light of beauty shone from above his forehead, illuminating the earth, the plains, and the rugged terrain. Gabriel proclaimed the glad tidings, announcing to the people of the earth: 'Good news has come to you.' His mother gave birth to him while he was prostrating, and he filled the realms with the fragrance of his scent. How much did he fill the surroundings of his mother's house, magnifying him in secret and thanking him openly! Gabriel carried him east and west, bewildering the mind, intellect, and thought. The angels escorted him, surrounding him, filling the land as they filled the sea. Would that every moment of time were a birthday for the best of creation in rank and the most noble in pride! O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad ¹⁹⁹, the elite of the Banu Ka'b and Banu Lu'ayy, the best of those who resolved upon love of him and folded their hearts around it. His mother saw on the night of his birth a group descending from heaven with three banners: they planted a banner on the back of the Ka'ba, a banner on the roof of her house, and a banner on the Bayt al-Maqdis ²⁰⁰. The stars drew near until they said they would fall upon me. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the pole of success, the caller from the pulpits of humanity, the model of the righteous, the reciter of the Furqan al-Farq ²⁰¹ in the sanctuaries of divinity. His mother saw on the day of his birth the gates of heaven opened and filled with light, and many birds gathered around her house, their beaks of emerald and their wings of ruby. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master and lord Muhammad, the best of those whose dawn shone in the horizon of lordship and who declared ²⁰², the most knowledgeable of those whose secret realm roamed in the gardens of divine knowledge and grazed. His mother said: 'When the pangs of childbirth seized me while I was alone in the house, suddenly a white bird wiped its wing over my belly, and what I was experiencing ceased, and my child came out without blood or pain.' This is spring, bringing joy, marked for the sake of Taha ²⁰³, who clings to Allah, the best of mankind, the beloved of Allah, our intercessor, a rain and a succor, to whom belong beneficence and generosity. On Monday, the lights of the beloved appeared from Mecca, and the darknesses were truly dispelled by him. The universe became joyful and delighted. Amina said on the day of his birth: 'Name him Ahmad, for the Generous Creator has thus inscribed in His tablet of power the name of the Beloved.' At my delivery, I saw birds hovering around me, and a bird came and spread its wings over my heart, and the sickness and pain left me. I did not experience any pain from my pregnancy like the women whom illness destroys. He fell to the ground prostrating to Allah, his Creator, like a wise person who seizes the reward. The idols of Mecca fell at his birth, and the fire was extinguished openly while it was blazing. Iblis ²⁰⁴ fled when his army was defeated by the arrows of Allah. No one has attained the pride of the Chosen Prophet, to whom belong proof and wisdom. May Allah bless him, the God of the Throne, as long as the sun rises and the crescent of lightning smiles. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master and lord Muhammad, the perfect moon of prophethood, the orator of the pulpits of felicity ²⁰⁵, the most pure and exalted. From the perfection of His care for him with his Lord, and the loftiness of his rank and the honor of his station, it is narrated from the imams of Islam, the discerning scholars, that the night of his noble birth and the appearance of his subtle essence is superior to the Night of Power ²⁰⁶, which is better than a thousand months. This is because the night of the birth is the night of his appearance, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, while the Night of Power was given to him. What is honored by the appearance of his essence is superior to what is honored by what was given to him, and there is no dispute about that. Thus, the night of the birth is superior in this regard. Also, the Night of Power is honored by the descent of angels therein, while the night of the birth is honored by his appearance, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, therein. The one by whom the night of the birth is honored is superior to the one by whom the Night of Power is honored, according to the most correct and approved opinion. Therefore, the night of the birth is superior, because the Night of Power involved preference for the community of Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, while the night of the birth involved superiority over all existent things through him, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Thus, the night of the birth is more comprehensive ²⁰⁷ in this regard, making it more noble and excellent. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad, the light of insight.

The people of openings ²⁰⁸ and divine speech ²⁰⁹, and the tongue of the people of intimate conversation ²¹⁰ and teaching, whose immense rank and lofty station are such that it is narrated that Abu Lahab was seen after his death in a dream, and it was said to him: "What is your state?" He said: "In the Fire, except that it is lightened for me every Monday night from my finger, and that is because I freed Thuwayba when she gave me the glad tidings of the birth of the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, and because she nursed him." If this is Abu Lahab, the disbeliever whom the Quran condemned, who was rewarded for his joy on the night of his birth (peace be upon him), then what of the Muslim monotheist from his community who rejoices at his birth and expends whatever he can in love for him (may blessings and peace be upon him)? By my life, his reward from the Generous God will be that He will admit him, by His abundant grace, into the Garden of Bliss. (123) ♦ If this disbeliever, condemned, with "Perish his hands" ²¹¹ and in Hell eternally, ♦ It is reported that on Monday he always has relief from torment for joy at Ahmad ²¹², ♦ Then what do you think of the servant whose life was joyful with Ahmad and who died a monotheist? What a month this is, how noble in existence, how abundant in honor are its nights in felicity, and how noble are the dawns of its days, as if they were pearls in necklaces. God created in it this blessed and fortunate Prophet, who is the dearest of the dear and the noblest of births. He made his birth a spring for nearness ²¹³ and made it for the lovers a noble station and a lofty rank. His days are days of joy and happiness, blessings and delight, in which the breezes of divine gifts blow, the showers of mercy are sought, the glad tidings of good come to the lovers morning and evening, the gifts of secrets pour down, the abundant blessings descend, the shining lights appear, and the states of the people of attraction ²¹⁴ and ecstatic utterances ²¹⁵ become pleasant. In it, good deeds and acts of devotion are praised, hands are raised, and supplications are answered. How could it not be, when God has adorned its dawn with the birth of the Master of Mankind, illuminated its face with the appearance of the Imam of the Noble Messengers, and manifested its excellence through the birth of the Imam of Taybah and the Sacred House ²¹⁶? Upon him be the best of prayers and the purest of peace. What a master, how great is his birth, how noble his season, how sweet his source! It is said that his birth is a protection for whoever venerates it in that year, and an immediate glad tiding of attaining one's goal and desire. The people of Islam have never ceased to celebrate and pay attention to the month of his birth (may blessings and peace be upon him), holding feasts, giving various charities during its nights, manifesting joy and happiness, increasing in good deeds, and attending to the recitation of the praises of his noble birth. They manifest from its blessings every great virtue and immense good. May God have mercy on a person who takes the nights of his blessed birth month as festivals ²¹⁷, continues his noble days with praise, eulogy, and chanting, immerses his thoughts in longing, love, and affection, and makes the remembrance of his Prophet nourishment, sustenance, provision, and supply. So bless him, O God, and his family, a blessing that will be for us in this world a refuge, a pillar, and a support, and in the Hereafter a covering and a love, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. Peace like musk fragrant upon the full moon, Taha ²¹⁸ the Beloved. O welcome, O spring, you have brought Taha the intercessor, And you have stirred my aching heart with longing for Taha the Beloved. You have reminded my sick heart of the birth of Taha the Majestic, And my tears flow down my cheek whenever I remember the Beloved. Every year it returns, renewing the covenants of felicity ²¹⁹ With the birth of the Secret of Existence, the life of hearts, the Beloved. He heals the wounded heart with eloquent, clear speech And a beautiful, radiant face, the physician of hearts, the Beloved. So by God, O you who have pigeons, when you stand atop the hills, Pause with reverence and repeat the mention of the Beloved. Say to the flowers of the valleys, when they begin to bloom, "Pass by the most beautiful of the beautiful and kiss the hand of the Beloved." Say to the evening breeze, when it blows at dawn, And softens, becomes pleasant, and fragrant, coming with the scent of the Beloved. My prayers upon the Chosen One ²²⁰ and his noble family, And his upright Companions and the followers of Taha the Beloved. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the Imam of bells and pegs ²²¹, the builder of valleys and hills, who, when his mother gave birth to him, came out from her right side as an honor to him, and did not come out through the usual way. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the possessor of the perfect, most brilliant secret, and the beautiful, moon-like face, who, when his mother gave birth to him, came out like a luminous ruby, and his fragrance wafted like the scent of the most fragrant musk. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the delight of the eyes of the near ones ²²², the leader of the caravan of prophets and messengers, whose mother said when she gave birth to him: "There entered ²²³ upon me white women, none of whom I knew, and they brought me a bowl filled with water and said to me, 'Drink,' so I drank, and my face shone with light upon light. Then they gave me glad tidings and congratulated me on the Master of the First and the Last." O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the means of those who seek means ²²⁴, the best of Your honored servants, whose mother said when she gave birth to him: "I saw a white cloud coming from the sky until it covered him and hid him from me. Then I heard a caller calling: 'Take him around the easts and wests of the earth, present him to every spiritual being from the jinn, humans, and angels, give him the distinction of Adam, the friendship of Abraham, the tongue of Ishmael, and immerse him in the character of the prophets.'" O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the elixir of the inner selves of the sincere, the emblem of the elite individuals who rely on God, whose grandfather Abd al-Muttalib ²²⁵ said: "On the night of his birth, I was circumambulating the Kaaba, and it swayed and fell prostrate, saying: 'God is greatest, Muhammad is born, and my Lord has purified me from the impurities of the polytheists.'" O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the sea of generosity, the best of those who led his community on the path of guidance, whose grandfather Abd al-Muttalib said: "I heard a speaker saying: 'Indeed, Aminah has given birth to Muhammad, and the clouds of mercy have poured down upon him.' So I came to her house and called out: 'O Aminah, open the door.' She opened it, and musk was wafting. I said: 'What is the news?' She said: 'Muhammad is born.'" O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the refuge of Islam, the best of those mentioned in the scriptures and whose lofty rank the landmarks have proclaimed, whose grandfather Abd al-Muttalib said: "I was sitting at the Kaaba, and the idols fell on their faces. I heard a voice from the Kaaba: 'The Chosen One of the worlds has been born.' Then I saw the Kaaba leaping and rejoicing, and it said: 'O Abd al-Muttalib, go to Aminah, for she has given birth to the best of creation.' So I went and found her sitting, and the house was filled with light. I said: 'O Aminah, what is this?' She said: 'I have given birth to the light of the worlds.'"

Al-Muttalib ²²⁶ said to his mother when she gave birth to him: "Let me look at him." She said: "He is in the house." He said: (130) When I wanted to enter upon him, a man came out with a sword and said: "Wait until the visit of the noble angels ²²⁷ is over." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the best of those whom wombs have carried and whose name the scrolls have rejoiced in and the pens have written, who was born in the tenth hour of the night of Monday, the twelfth night of Rabi' al-Awwal ²²⁸, in the year three hundred and seventy-three and four hundred and four thousand ²²⁹ from the descent of Adam, peace be upon him. O Allah, bless him and his family, the moons of darkness, and his Companions, crowned with the crowns of might and reverence, a blessing by which we may attain from Your pleasure and his pleasure the utmost goal and desire, and which may unite us with him in the abode of eternity and peace, by Your favor and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. * The night of the birth that was for the religion (131) a joy on its day and adornment * And the glad tidings of the invisible callers ²³⁰ followed that the Chosen One ²³¹ was born, and true felicity came * And the peers of Kisra ²³² called out to one another, and were it not for a protection from You, the building would not have collapsed * And every house of fire ²³³ became, in it, a terror from its extinguishing and affliction * And the eyes of the Persians wept; was it for their fires that they were extinguished? * A birth that was, in the vanguards of unbelief, a calamity upon them and a plague * So congratulations to us, the ants of merit ²³⁴, which Hawwa' ²³⁵ honored by it * For Hawwa' that she carried Ahmad ²³⁶ or that she gave birth to him * On the day when the daughter of Wahb ²³⁷ attained, by giving birth to him, a glory that women had not attained * And she brought to her people something better than what (132) Mary the Virgin had carried before * The angels scented him ²³⁸ when she gave birth to him, and healed us by her saying: "Healing" * Raising his head, and in that raising there was an indication to every sovereignty * Gazing with his eye at the sky, and the aim of an eye whose affair is loftiness and exaltation * And the bright stars descended towards him, and the regions were illuminated by their light * And the palaces of Caesar ²³⁹ in Syria trembled, seen from his house in al-Batha' ²⁴⁰ O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, who, when his mother placed his fresh branch, the midwives rejoiced at him and said with cheerfulness and welcome. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad (133) who, when his mother placed the string of his arranged pearls, the midwives rejoiced at him and said: "Welcome and ease to the companion of the presence of the One, the Self-Subsisting ²⁴¹." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, who, when his mother placed his beloved bride, the midwives rejoiced at him and said: "Welcome and ease to the key of the treasuries of the unseen ²⁴²." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, who, when his mother placed his close bride, the midwives rejoiced at him and said: "Welcome and ease to the one of refined character." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, who, when his mother placed his protected bride, the midwives rejoiced at him and said: "Love and honor, this is the possessor of the known station ²⁴³." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad (134) and to the family of our master Muhammad, who, when his mother placed his adorned bride, the midwives rejoiced at him and said: "Joy and delight, this is the light of the eye's blackness ²⁴⁴." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, who, when his mother placed his noble bride, the midwives rejoiced at him and said with glad tidings and joy: "This is the possessor of the turban and the staff ²⁴⁵." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, who, when his mother placed his surpassing jewel, the midwives rejoiced at him and said: "A table and a blessing, this is the refuge of all creatures." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, who, when his mother placed his radiant star, the midwives rejoiced at him and said: "Dignity and sanctity, this is the possessor of the banner and the crown." (135) O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, who, when his mother placed his lofty jewel, the midwives rejoiced at him and said: "Secret and wisdom, this is the possessor of perfect beauty and wondrous comeliness." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, who, when his mother placed his majestic bride, the midwives rejoiced at him and said: "Grace and mercy, this is the one foretold in the Torah and the Gospel ²⁴⁶." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, who, when his mother placed his most beautiful bride, the midwives rejoiced at him and said: "Might and fortune, this is the beloved chosen one and the perfect messenger." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, who, when his mother placed his honored bride, the midwives rejoiced at him and said: "Honor and pride (136): this is the chosen prophet and the secret of the revealed revelation, this is the most excellent master, this is the purest and most exemplary, this is our master, the Messenger of Allah." So bless him, O Allah, and his family, possessors of high rank and dignity, and his Companions, who loved those who loved him and opposed those who opposed him, and who sought forgiveness from the sea of his generosity and the flood of his bounty, and grant abundant and exalted peace. And praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, who, when his mother placed his unique jewel, the midwives rejoiced at him and said: "This is the star of guidance and the blessed one of auspicious guardianship." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, who, when his mother placed his precious jewel, the midwives rejoiced

by him and they said: This is the sun of sainthood ²⁴⁷ and the best companion and intimate. (137) O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, who, when his mother placed his subtle jewel ²⁴⁸, the midwives rejoiced at him and said: This is the crown of divine care ²⁴⁹ and the moon of pure beauty. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, who, when his mother placed his purest jewel, the midwives rejoiced at him and said: This is the cave of protection ²⁵⁰ and the fortress of security and the firmest handhold ²⁵¹. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, who, when his mother placed his radiant jewel, the midwives rejoiced at him and said: This is the key of knowledge ²⁵² and the isthmus ²⁵³ of the comprehensive sciences. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, who, when his mother placed his most exalted jewel, the midwives rejoiced at him and said: This is the talisman ²⁵⁴ of protection and the possessor of the Ahmadian ²⁵⁵ presence. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, who, when his mother placed his red ruby, the midwives rejoiced at him and said: This is the station of the ultimate end ²⁵⁶ and the father of the pure virgin Batul ²⁵⁷. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, who, when his mother placed his green emerald, the midwives rejoiced at him and said: This is the treasure of sufficiency ²⁵⁸ and the possessor of the radiant day and the bright night. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, who, when his mother placed his lofty tree, the midwives rejoiced at him and looked at him, and behold, he was kohl-eyed ²⁵⁹, anointed, raising his gaze to the sky. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, who, when his mother placed his pure body (139) ²⁶⁰, the breaths ²⁶¹ looked at him, and behold, there was a white brocade stretched between heaven and earth, and behold, a speaker said to her: Conceal him from the eyes of people. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, who, when his mother placed his prostrating jewel, she was commanded to hang upon him this amulet: I seek protection for him by the One, from the evil of every envier, in every land of covenant, and every excessive servant, who roams without a guide, for he is the servant of the Majestic, the Glorious, until I see him having come to the witnessed stations ²⁶². Section: O Allah, upon him and upon his noble, glorious family and his companions, perfect in honor and praises, a prayer that will make us drink from his pure springs the sweetest of drinks, and will convey us through it from the good of this world and the Hereafter to the utmost security and the highest goals, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. The horizons shone at his birth and the glad tidings of the invisible callers ²⁶³ connected in the dawn and the child. The palace of Chosroes ²⁶⁴ collapsed from its foundations (140) and fell, its corners broken, bloodied. The fire of Persia was not lit, nor extinguished, for a thousand years, and the river of the people did not flow. The idols fell at his mission, and the blazing meteors ²⁶⁵ arose, shooting the jinn with flames. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the fortress of secure protection, the possessor of eloquent speech and concise words, who, when his mother placed him and looked at his beautiful face and precious appearance, said: So blessed be Allah, the best of creators, as if he were a silver branch or the neck of a statue dipped in ruby water and pure gold. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the nourishment of spirit and body, the best of those whose love dwells in the heart and settles, who, when his mother placed him and looked at his handsome face, said: Beautiful with a tooth ²⁶⁶, yes, and grace. Praise be to Allah who favored me with his birth and brought him forth (141) from my womb pure, purified, clean, illuminated, and removed from me by his blessing worry and sorrow. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, possessor of the comely face and the smiling mouth, who, when his mother placed him and looked at his noble form, said: A great one has come and a magnificent station. This, by Allah, is the garden of fragrant breezes, the scent of musk and the breeze, and the moon of beauty in whose Muhammadan beauty the heart of the lover disappears and wanders. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, possessor of the exalted station and great rank, who, when his mother placed him and looked at his kohl-lined eye and his rosy, smooth cheek, said: A beautiful face and abundant good. This, by Allah, is the shade of prophethood, the shady, and the water of life, sweet and refreshing. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad (142), the place of blessing and grace, the best of those who clarified the path of guidance and followed it, who, when his mother placed him and looked at his blessed countenance, said: A banner, a kingdom, a sultan, and a dominion. This, by Allah, is the fortress of security that saves from ruin and destruction, and the beloved of the Lord, successful in stillness and motion. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the branch of the freshest tree of glory and the moon of the most radiant sphere of prophethood, who, when his mother placed him and looked at the white blaze of his moonlike forehead and the overflowing of his radiant blessing, said: A most dazzling secret and a most luminous embroidery. This, by Allah, is the treasurer of the greatest divine secret ²⁶⁷. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the sword of truth that subdues and the light of prophethood that shines, who, when his mother placed him and looked at his shining star and surpassing beauty, said: A radiant dawn and a conclusive proof. This, by Allah, is the isthmus of the comprehensive secret (143) and the abundant rain of generosity. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the pole ²² of beauty and the white blaze of bright faces, who, when his mother placed him and looked at his temple surrounded by righteousness and success, said: Beauty in the morning, and a rose in bloom. This, by Allah, is the herald of success and the treasure of wealth and profits. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, possessor

The proof and evidence, the adornment of the clan and tribe, whose mother, when she gave birth to him and looked upon his great stature and his intelligent, noble mind, said: 'An ancient glory and a deep-rooted honor; this, by Allah, is the cure for the ailing heart, the support of the manifest truth, and an excellent leader and guarantor for his community.' O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, whose mother, when she gave birth to him and looked upon his noble station ²⁶⁸ and abundant goodness, said: 'An ancient might and a sincere love; this, by Allah, is the clear path of religion and the straight path of Allah.' O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the possessor of the overflowing pool ²⁶⁹ and the tied banner ²⁷⁰, whose mother, when she gave birth to him and looked upon his witnessed station and extended might, said: 'An existing good and an intended gift; this, by Allah, is the secret of existence and the key to the doors of generosity and munificence.' O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the eye of eyes ²⁷¹ and the masterpiece of grace and favor, whose mother, when she gave birth to him and looked upon his beautiful virtues and his great merits of rank and station, said: 'A spirit and a fragrant breeze ²⁷², a garden and divine pleasure; this, by Allah, is the essence of all beings and the best of the sons of Ma'd ²⁷³ and 'Adnan ²⁷⁴.' O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the beloved of the Lord, the obedient, and the cure for the pained heart, whose mother, when she gave birth to him and looked upon his wondrous beauty and lofty station, said: 'An impregnable fortress and a swift rain, a spring in spring; this, by Allah, is the sword of swift victory and the mercy for the noble and the lowly.' So bless him, O Allah, and his family, a blessing by which You deliver us from every terrifying distress and dreadful matter, and by which You protect us from panic and hunger, for it is an evil companion, and by which You seal for us with the seal of faith, and make it for us with You the greatest means and the nearest intercessor, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. This is a spring that has come, marked with glad tidings, for the sake of Taha ²⁷⁵, who holds fast to Allah. The best of mankind, the beloved of Allah, our intercessor, a succor and a rain, to whom belong beneficence and generosity. On Monday, the lights of the Beloved appeared from Mecca, and the darknesses were dispelled by him. The cosmos became joyful and delighted, and the earth, the House ²⁷⁶, and the Sanctuary ²⁷⁷ take pride in him. Amina ²⁷⁸ says on the day of his birth: 'Joy has come to us, and grace and blessings. Name him Ahmad ²⁷⁹, for the Generous Creator has thus named him before, as the pen runs. In the tablet of His power, the name of the Beloved has been inscribed: Muhammad, the chosen one of the Creator, to whom belong the trusts. And when I gave birth, I saw birds hovering around me, and they had come to the House, kissing it. And a bird came to me, spreading its wings over my heart, so sickness and pain left me. I did not experience from his pregnancy any pain like the women whom illness destroys. And he fell upon the ground prostrating to Allah, his Creator, like a wise person who seizes the reward. The idols of Mecca fell at his birth, and Ahmad extinguished the fire ²⁸⁰ openly while it was blazing. And Iblis ²⁸¹ fled in terror, and his army was defeated by Allah's arrows. No one has attained the glory of the Chosen Prophet among mankind; to him belong the proof and wisdom. What can I say about my connection to the Messenger, when the One God, the Judge, has praised him? May the God of the Throne bless him as long as the sun rises and the lightning's smile gleams.' O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose birth day the rising stars of happiness announced his appearance, and the landmarks of the cosmos rejoiced in his light. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose birth day the days became adorned in his splendid garments, and the months took pride in his sublime forehead. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose birth day the eye of divine care guarded him and the angels of the Merciful kept him company. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose birth day the brides of the lovers prepared to meet him, and the great ones among the near ones yearned to see his countenance. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose birth day the banners of glory fluttered over the throne of his kingdom, and the worlds of the secret were arranged in the jewels of his string. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose birth day the wings of divine pleasure came to him, and the consciences of hearts found peace in his remembrance and yearned for him. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose birth day the cushions of gnosis were spread for his bride, and the secrets of the knowers flowed from the wine of his cups. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose birth day the seas of generosity overflowed from his right hand, and the lights of guidance shone upon his forehead. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose birth day the spiritual souls circled his cradle, and the masters of luminous intellects became enraptured in his ecstasy. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose birth day the heavenly voices announced his great rank, and the great poets extolled his praise and lofty glory. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose birth day the Throne ²⁸² trembled with joy, the Footstool ²⁸³ shone in wonder, and the jinn were prevented from heaven, saying: 'Indeed, we found it filled with strong guards and shooting stars ²⁸⁴.' O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose birth day the angels clamored with glorification in desire and awe, and the states of every lover were stirred, so they began to seize his blessing and seek a means and a cause for his pleasure.

So bless him, O Allah, and his family with a blessing that grants us beneficial knowledge and good manners, and raises us thereby among Your righteous saints to high ranks and degrees, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. * The Beloved was born, his cheek rosy, * And light in his cheeks blazed. * Born was he crowned with honor and contentment, * The manifest one of noble character, the generous master ²⁸⁵. * Gabriel came then to his mother * In the form of a bird, with angels witnessing. * With his wing he kept wiping her belly, * Until the Hashimite Prophet Muhammad appeared. * The angels of heaven all said: * "The Beloved is born, and none like him is ever born." * O lovers, be enraptured by his beauty, * This is the sublime, unique beauty. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose birth day no hidden thing in the cosmos remained but appeared through the manifestation of his signs and was adorned with the secret of Your care. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose birth day no creature on the face of the earth remained but submitted to his obedience and entered under his command and authority. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad ²⁸⁶ and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose birth day no enclosure in the dominion and the spiritual realm remained but was illuminated by the light of his majesty and yearned for the manifestation of his message. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose birth day no gift in the treasuries of mercy remained but was offered to the height of his excellence and bestowed upon the glory of his sovereignty. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose birth day the Throne was veiled with dignity, the Footstool was armored with pride, and the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary rejoiced in the lights of his awe. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose birth day Ridwan ²⁸⁷ opened the gates of Paradise, the houris and the immortal youths adorned themselves, and the censers of perfume were released, scenting the worlds, due to his great station. So bless him, O Allah, and his family, crowned with the crown of his glory and loyalty, and his companions, who follow his conduct and path of guidance, with a blessing that guards us with the eye of His care and enters us into his fortress and shelter of protection, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the lamp of lights, on whose birth day the darkness of polytheism vanished with his appearance, and worries and sorrows disappeared. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose birth day the nights rejoiced in his radiant face, and the centuries and ages took pride in him. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the light of eyes, on whose birth day the people of the deserts and cities, and the inhabitants of villages and towns ²⁸⁸ rejoiced at his birth. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the elite of the righteous, on whose birth day the branches bore fruit and became good through his blessing. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the opening of remembrances, on whose birth day hearts shone with his light and the darkness of others was dispelled from them. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the pure one, on whose birth day the gardens of holiness were perfumed with his fragrance and the regions were scented with his aroma. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the delight of the chosen, on whose birth day the worlds were illuminated by him, and the suns and moons were put to shame by the light of his countenance. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad ²⁸⁹ and to the family of our master Muhammad, the intercessor for harms, on whose birth day the speaking and mute beings were shown mercy through his blessing, and the people of the wilderness and deserts rejoiced in him. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the eraser of sins, on whose birth day the angels prepared to visit him, and the inhabitants of islands and seas longed to see him. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the lofty in pride, on whose birth day the bright stars hung low for him, and the suns of his guidance shone upon the highlands and lowlands. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the model of the free, on whose birth day the seas of generosity overflowed upon creatures, and the treasuries of abundant gifts and bestowals were opened. ²⁹⁰ O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the essence of great honor, rank, and status, on whose birth day the angels circumambulated him in all regions, immersed him in Paradise in all rivers, and wrote his noble name on the bosoms of the houris and all trees. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the master of the Emigrants and Helpers, on whose birth day Asiya took him to apply kohl to his eyes, but found him already kohled with the light of guidance and secrets; and Mary wanted to cut his umbilical cord, but found it already cut, and harm and others had left him; and she sought a name for him from Your name, and You inspired his grandfather to name him Muhammad, so he is the Praised One and Ahmad the Praiser, the Chosen One. So bless him, O Allah, and his noble, pure family, and his excellent, discerning companions, with a blessing that illuminates in our hearts the lamps of lights ²⁹¹, and thereby settles us in the stations of the happy righteous, and shows us mercy in this abode and in that abode, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds.

God split from His name an honor for him, and honored by it is the one who remembers him. So he is Muhammad ²⁹², whose praises are sublime, and Ahmad ²⁹³, praising and thanking God. Mahmud ²⁹⁴, whose conduct among creation is praised, the Dominant ²⁹⁵, possessing a tranquility that moves with him. Taha ²⁹⁶, the generous one with God his Creator, his heights are pure as his virtues are good. Purified, pure, his lineage is pure from illicit unions, as his elements are good. Blessed, the world became good through his birth, and the fragrances of the Garden of Refuge perfumed it. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the master of the last and the first, the source of generosity, kindness, and virtues. When he was born, the breeze of his birth blew throughout all the worlds, and the monks and priests inhaled his pure fragrance. There was a monk named Isa from the people of Sham at the pass of al-Zahran ²⁹⁷, who used to say: 'Soon a child will be born among you, O people of Mecca, to whom the Arabs will submit and who will rule the non-Arabs; this is his time.' He would ask about every child born in Mecca. On the morning of the day he was born (peace and blessings be upon him), Abd al-Muttalib went out until he came to Isa and called out to him. Isa said to him: 'Be his father, for that child has been born whom I used to tell you about on Monday.' He said: 'A son was born to me tonight at dawn.' He said: 'Muhammad.' He said: 'By God, I used to wish that among you, people of this house, there would be three characteristics by which we know him, and they have come to pass: his star rose last night, he was born on Monday, and his name is Muhammad.' His birth was at dawn, and it was three stars that the moon descends upon, and it is the birth of the prophets. It corresponded to the solar month of Nisan, which is the sign of Aries ²⁹⁸. On the night he was born (peace and blessings be upon him), he said: 'O Quraysh, was a child born among you tonight?' They said: 'We do not know.' He said: 'Tonight the prophet of this final community was born; between his shoulders is a mark with clustered hairs like a horse's mane.' They went out with the Jew until they brought him to his mother and said: 'Bring out your son for us.' She brought him out, and they uncovered his back, and he saw that mark, and he fell down in a faint. When he recovered, they said: 'Woe to you, what is the matter with you?' He said: 'By God, prophethood has departed from the Children of Israel.' Section: O God, bless him and his noble family, the means ²⁹⁹, sent with proofs and evidences, a blessing by which You adorn us with the noblest characteristics and bestow upon us the highest gifts and most complete virtues, and grant abundant and exalted peace. And praise be to God, Lord of the worlds. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad ³⁰⁰, Your chosen prophet and Your beloved followed. When he was born, the breeze of his birth blew throughout all regions, and they gained from his light honor and nobility, and the life of the lovers became radiant and pure, falsehood perished and disappeared, and the lamp of faith appeared and never hid. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, possessor of the highest station, great status, and the most beautiful word. When he was born, the breeze of his birth blew in the land of Persia and extinguished the fires. The first to inhale it was Salman ³⁰¹, who came quickly to faith, traversing stages and riders until he attained the vision of the Master of the Worlds and affirmed the Oneness of the Merciful. He received from the Merciful what he wished, his effort was not in vain, and he was not weary, and he attained from the Chosen One (peace and blessings be upon him) his saying: 'Salman is from us.' Other than You in existence is not named nor called * When Your supreme beauty manifested to my heart Neither 'Alwa nor Labna ³⁰² O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the elite of the noble, the adornment of the distinguished messengers. When he was born, the breeze of his birth blew in the land of Rum ³⁰³, and the one with a cold inhaled it, and the one shown mercy was shown mercy through him. The first to inhale it, without doubt or suspicion, was the master of Rum, Suhayb ³⁰⁴. He came, reins surrendered, to Islam and attained the vision of the Master of Mankind and achieved through his companionship all purpose and desire. No lightning flashed nor khuzam ³⁰⁵ fragrance spread * But love's passion stirred in me O breeze of their abode, bring me news * You have brought me from them a greeting O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the light of sight and the center of the pearl necklace. When the breeze of his birth blew in the land of Yemen, the first to inhale it was Uways al-Qarani ³⁰⁶ in secret and public. He devoted himself to the Chosen One without price ³⁰⁷ and believed in him from afar, and the trusted Messenger praised him with his saying: 'I feel the breath of the Merciful from the direction of Yemen.' This beautiful description was not enough for him until he issued a decree for him to attain his goal, with the saying of the Chosen One, Master of Mankind, to Ali and Umar (may God be pleased with them): 'O Ali, O Umar, when you see Uways, greet him and ask him to seek forgiveness for you, for he will intercede for the likes of Rabi'a and Mudar ³⁰⁸.' This is a breath of love * More fragrant than pure musk For the one with a cold, its sweetness * Has never been experienced I am a slave to a Beloved * Who is free in His slave I am mad with His love * Bewildered and perplexed Always hoping for union * Perhaps I will attain union Thus did the Master of the Two Worlds * Proclaim and give glad tidings O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the sapling of the growing tree of glory, possessor of high rank ³⁰⁹ and sublime honor. When the breeze of his birth blew over the land of Abyssinia and circulated, the first to inhale it was Bilal ³¹⁰. The care of divine guidance and affirmation drew him to faith, so he proclaimed the call to prayer and became a herald for the religion of Islam, spreading the banners and standards for the Chosen One. The Prophet of Tihama ³¹¹ honored him with sublime praise, saying: 'O Bilal, you spread my banners through remembrance and elevate my rank and standing. For that reason, you will enter Paradise and I will hear the sound of your footsteps before me.' A servant called by his Lord to His proximity * Openly, so he revealed a secret that had been given to him No wonder he tore his garment in pieces * Showing joy for what he was given Indeed, the lover who claims union with the one * He loves, yet refuses, his claim is false Stand in the stance of a humble servant, perhaps he * Will be pleased and lift the veils so you may see Him And if you ask and say: Who is this who * Complains at Your doors of his affliction? ³¹² Then say: The poor one seeking refuge in Your pardon * Hopes for Your pleasure to attain his own pleasure O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the first of the prophets

In obedience and compliance, and the most of them in veneration and exaltation, and the most specific in proximity and union, and the highest in pride and perfection—he who, when he was born, the fragrant breeze of his birthplace wafted through the land of Yemen, the fragrance of 'Amir ³¹³. So he was guided to Islam after the worship of idols, and was honored with kissing the feet of the Master of Mankind ³¹⁴, and died in his love, the death of the noble. His story bewilders minds and understandings. For he had a daughter afflicted with paralysis and leprosy, and she was bedridden, unable to rise or stand. 'Amir would set up the idol before him and place his daughter in front of it, saying to it: 'This is my sick daughter; cure her, and if she has any remedy with you, heal her and grant her well-being.' He persisted in this for years, never asking the idol for any need that it would fulfill. When the breezes of divine care blew with success ³¹⁵ and guidance, he said to his wife: 'How long shall we worship this deaf, mute stone, which neither speaks nor utters? I do not think we are on a straight path.' His wife said to him: 'Take us on a path; perhaps we may see a guide to the religion of truth. For these Wests and Easts must have a Creator God.' While he was on the roof of his house, secluded with his idol in his delusion, he saw a light that covered the horizons and filled existence with radiance and illumination. Then Allah unveiled the eye of his insight, that he might awaken from the sleep of heedlessness, and he saw the angels lined up and surrounding the House ³¹⁶, beyond the mountains, still, and the earth, desolate, and the trees swaying, and joys perfected. He heard a caller calling: 'The guiding Prophet has been born.' Then he looked at the idol, and behold, it was overturned, covered with humiliation and reversal. He said to his wife: 'What is the news?' Then he gazed at the idol and heard it say: 'Indeed, the great Prophet has appeared and has been born—he by whom the cosmos is honored and boasts. He is the awaited Prophet, to whom the trees speak and for whom the moon splits ³¹⁷.' She said to him: 'Ask him what is the name of this newborn by whom Allah has honored existence.' He said: 'O speaker who speaks through the tongue of the flinty stone, by Him who made you speak as He made the skins speak on the witnessed Day ³¹⁸, what is the name of this newborn?' It said: 'His name is Muhammad, the Chosen One, between Zamzam and al-Safa ³¹⁹; his land is Tihama ³²⁰; between his shoulders is a mole; a cloud shades him.' He said to his wife: 'Take us out in search of him, that we may be guided to the truth through him.' Now his sick daughter was lying asleep at the bottom of the house, and suddenly she was standing with him on the roof. He said to her: 'Where is the pain you used to feel and the sickness you used to endure?' She said: 'O father, while I was sleeping in the sweetness of my dreams, I saw a light before me and a person who came to me. I said: "What is this light I see, and the person whose light and brilliance shone upon me?" He said: "This is the light of the Master of the sons of 'Adnan ³²¹, by whose birth the worlds are perfumed." I said: "Tell me his name." He said: "His name is Muhammad and Ahmad ³²²; through him, the afflicted is shown mercy and the sinner is forgiven ³²³." I said: "What is his religion?" He said: "A Hanif ³²⁴, Lordly." I said: "What is his lineage?" He said: "Qurayshi, 'Adnani." I said: "Whom does he worship?" He said: "The Dominant, the Unique." I said: "Who are you, O spiritual speaker?" He said: "I am one of the angels who give glad tidings of his beauty, both far and near." I said: "Does he not see what I am suffering from pain?" He said: "Seek intercession through his rank, for his Lord, the Near, has said in His Merciful address: 'I have deposited in him My secret and My proof. So whoever calls upon Me through him, I will respond, and I will certainly intercede for him on the Day of Resurrection among those who disobeyed Me.' So I stretched out my hand and fingers, and called upon Allah through his rank, as He made me see and guided me. Then I passed it over my body and frame, and I woke up healthy and strong, as you see me. And I knew that I had been healed by his light, as the Master of the Worlds appeared to me, and through his rank, all the pain and sorrows I complained of left me.'" 'Amir said to his wife: 'Indeed, this newborn has a secret and a news. We have heard and seen wonders from his signs. I will surely traverse valleys and hills in his love, and I will strive in seeking to see him.' So they set out earnestly, heading towards Mecca, until they arrived there and presented themselves. Then they asked about the house of Amina ³²⁵ and knocked on her door. She hastened to answer. They said to her: 'Show us this newborn by whom Allah has illuminated existence and honored fathers and grandfathers.' She said: 'I will not bring him out to you, for I fear for him from the Jews.' They said: 'We have left our homelands in his love, followed our faith, and abandoned our religions, so that we may see the beauty of this Beloved, who disappoints not those who seek him.' She said: 'If you must see him, then wait and be patient a little, and do not hasten.' Then she disappeared for a while and said to them: 'Enter.' When they entered the house, they saw the lights of the Beloved and were amazed. They exclaimed 'Allahu Akbar' and 'La ilaha illa Allah'. Then he uncovered his face, and the light of his radiance shone and illuminated, and a pillar of light rose from his face to the sky. They gasped and cried out, almost fainting. Then they kissed his feet, prostrated themselves before him, and embraced Islam at his hands. Then she ³²⁶ said to them: 'Hasten, for his grandfather 'Abd al-Muttalib ³²⁷ entrusted me with the trust to hide him from the eyes of people and to keep his affair secret.' So they left the Beloved, with fire and flame of longing in their hearts. Then 'Amir placed his hand on his heart, having lost his mind and intellect. Then he cried out and said: 'Take me back to the house of Amina, and ask her to show me his beauty a second time.' So they returned to the house. When he saw him, he rushed to him and fell upon his feet. Then he gave a gasp and died, and Allah hastened his soul to His Paradise. So there appeared upon him...

The states of the passionate lovers and the attributes of the truthful believers, through a vision from the realm of the worlds ³²⁸, with might and beauty, and He lightened for his community, by his blessing, the heavy burdens of sins, and perfumed the regions with his birth, so they became fragrant right and left. Section: O Allah, bless him and his family with a blessing that grants us, through it, might and acceptance among Your beloved ones, and honors our abode with You in state and attainment, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. (170) * O birth of the Chosen One ³²⁹, you have attained acceptance * By his mention, the yearning one reaches hopes * O claimant of love, while he is bewildered by it * And in his passion, he has forsaken family and abodes * Die in his love if you adore him * The Master of hearts, yearning, or else not * For the she-camels love him passionately and seek him * Longingly, and ask for his favors and bounty * Do you not see them, when the domes of Qiba ³³⁰ appear * The camel drivers unload their heavy burdens from them * By his right, O my God, grant us generously * Pardon and forgiveness, honor and veneration * For we have sought refuge at the door of the Generous, and whoever * Seeks refuge in Him, He welcomes him with acceptance * He is the Prophet through whom faces were illuminated * And in him, you have opposed the blamers and critics * May the God of the Throne bless him, and then * His family and Companions, forever and ever O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad (171) and to the family of our master Muhammad, the best of those to whom creatures have turned for refuge and intercession, and whose community has been guided by his guidance and followed his Sunnah; he whose star of good fortune You caused to rise in the worlds, so it rose, and the lightning flashes of his birth shone in the horizons, so they gleamed, and the moons of his manifestation spread in existence, so they glittered and shone, and cut off the hopes of the disbelievers regarding their aim concerning him, so they were severed, and You humbled their kings for his might, so they became lowly before his awe and submitted; thus humankind, by his arrival, became familiar and elevated, and the jinn were prevented from eavesdropping on heaven by his birth, and the foreheads of the angels in the celestial spheres prostrated and bowed for his appearance; and Amina the Trustworthy ³³¹ attained what she attained of honor on the day of his birth, and she gave birth to his noble essence, and Halima the Gentle ³³² was honored by his fosterage and nursed him. Section: O Allah, bless him and his family with a blessing through which we become among those whom You have honored with noble (172) character traits, and in whom all kinds of good are gathered, and through whom the landmarks of the horizons have shone, and by whose guidance the traces of misguidance have been cut off, and grant him abundant and exalted peace. And praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds. Muhammad is the master of mankind, and his * Enemies have submitted to us Mercy came to us through his birth * And it has been extended through him, never ceasing Through him, a spring ³³³ came, his qualities * And since he came to us, our evils have been repelled None like him among all creatures * Has any pregnant woman borne or given birth In the world, without him, through his birth * The earth shone and the heaven blazed Rain and relief descend through him * And from his radiance, lightning has flashed O birth of the Chosen One, you have gathered for us * All kinds of joy planted in the heart O spring for us through his birth (173) * Times of intimacy with good have been raised Would that you were perpetual forever * For our enemies have been suppressed by you O Master of the Messengers, take my hand * For my tears have flowed from my sins And intercede for us on the Day of Return, O my hope * When the flame of beauty has scorched May Allah bless you as long as an eye stays awake * And as long as it has not slept in its slumber O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the treasure of esoteric sciences ³³⁴, the hidden gifts, the possessor of sublime states and pure, virtuous character; he who, from the perfection of his honor and care, and the manifestation of his pride and sainthood, it is narrated from Ibn Abbas ³³⁵, may Allah be pleased with them both, that he was asked: "Did the birds and clouds desire to nurse the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace?" He said: "Yes, and all of Allah's creation except humans (174) — because when his pure essence was paraded over all the regions of the earth, its east and west, and all the layers of the heavens, and returned to his mother Amina the Trustworthy, the precious pearl of beauties, a caller called out from Allah, Mighty and Majestic: 'O company of creatures, this is Muhammad ibn Abdullah. Blessed is the breast that nurses him, blessed is the hand that fosters him, and blessed is the house that shelters him.' The birds said: 'We are more deserving of nursing him.' The jinn said: 'We are more deserving of nursing him.' The wind said: 'We are more deserving of nursing him.' The clouds said: 'We are more deserving of nursing him, for we are the ones subjugated between heaven and earth; we carry him so that he may see the world and its corners, and we know the location of every tree with good fruit, and we feed him from it, and we know the location of every cool spring, and we give him to drink from it, and we nourish him thereafter with rainwater for two complete years.' Then a caller called out from Allah, Mighty and Majestic: 'Stop! For Allah has placed his nursing at the hands of humans, and its course is at the hand of Halima bint Abi Dhu'ayb al-Sa'diyya.'" (175) O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, pure in lineage and kind; when his mother Amina, pure in nature and soul, gave birth to him, his caller called out in the enclosures of holiness ³³⁶ and the world of witnessing and sense: "O company of creatures, come to the nursing of the Imam of the near-station angels and the master of jinn and humans." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, distinguished by miracles and wonders; when his mother, abundant in blessings and benedictions, gave birth to him, his caller called out in the regions of the earths and heavens, and all the climes and directions: "O company of creatures, come to the possessor of clear signs, glad tidings, and marks, clear proofs, lofty ranks, and stations." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, crowned with the crown of dignity and tranquility; when his trustworthy mother gave birth to him, his caller called out (176) in the corners of Mecca and Medina, the villages, cities, and fortified fortresses: "O company of creatures, come to the nursing of the possessor of the high degree and the lofty, firm station." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, supported by conclusive proofs and pure lights, and the cities of intelligent sciences: "O company of creatures, come to the nursing of the possessor of truthful sayings and divinely bestowed religious sciences." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, perfect in beauties and attributes; when his mother Amina, adorned with the sash of modesty and chastity, gave birth to him, his caller called out in the processions of the righteous and the elevated places ³³⁷, and the witnessing places of the people of justice and fairness: "O company of creatures, come to the nursing of the master of nobles and the light extracted from pure loins and graceful wombs." (177)

O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, the faithful to pledges and covenants. When his mother Amina, noble in fathers and forefathers, gave birth to him, a herald called out in the stages of ascension and elevation: "O assembly of creatures, come to the suckling of the master of existence, the key to the treasuries of generosity and munificence." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, the clear in religion and path. When his mother Amina, pure in nature and temperament, gave birth to him, a herald called out in the world of individuals and pairs, and the manifestations of joy and delight: "O assembly of creatures, come to the suckling of the possessor of the banner and crown, the rod and the Ascension." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, sent with gentleness and ease. When his mother Amina, of lofty rank and great station, gave birth to him, a herald called out in the assemblies of those with orientations and leadership, and the councils of those with allusions and expressions: "O assembly of creatures, come to the suckling of the bringer of glad tidings and warner, the star of the illuminating lamp." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, infallible in the beginning and the end. When his mother Amina, perfect in beauty and splendor, gave birth to him, a herald called out in the gardens of supreme might and the precincts of the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary: "O assembly of creatures, come to the suckling of the star of Suha ³³⁸ and the lamp of prophethood and the secret of those of understanding." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, the brought near, the beloved. When his mother Amina, pure in skirts and collars, gave birth to him, a herald called out in the unseen of identities and all hearts and the cycles encompassing the treasuries of the unseen: "O assembly of creatures, come to the suckling of the treasure of the sought secret and the eraser of errors and sins." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, thanked in the sources and resources. When his mother Amina, exalted in glories and praises, gave birth to him, a herald called out in the interiors of prayer niches and mosques, and the fronts of processions and spectacles: "O assembly of creatures, come to the suckling of the spirit of the speaking and the inanimate, and the master of every born and parent." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the pole of sovereignty, the forbearing, the oft-returning, and the mountain of glory, without peer or likeness. When his mother Amina, great in rank and status, gave birth to him, a herald called out in the trees, stones, and all waters: "O assembly of creatures, come to the suckling of our master Muhammad ibn Abdullah, the Prophet of Mercy, the patron of grace, preferred by Allah's preference." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the imam of imams and notables, the best of the sons of Ma'add and Adnan. When his mother, pure in skirts and sleeves, gave birth to him, a herald called out in the depths of the Throne, the highest 'Illiyin ³³⁹, and the paradises of gardens: "O assembly of creatures, favored by the birth of the Beloved of the All-Merciful, come to his suckling, for Allah has gifted you this gift from the bestowals of grace and favor, sealed with the seal of contentment and good pleasure, its side surrounded by the fragrant breezes of spirit and basil. Appreciate its worth, and you will be freed from the Fire and win the pleasure of your Master, the King, the Judge." Section: O Allah, bless this Prophet of great rank and station, given glad tidings of pardon and forgiveness, sent as a mercy to humans and jinn and all worlds, a blessing that will cause us to descend to the stations of the elite notables, protect us from the afflictions of the soul and the causes of misery and abandonment, and make us among those who watch You and fear You in secret and in public, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the best of those whose heart Allah molded and imprinted upon goodness, and the most excellent of those whom Allah chose for prophethood and messengerhood and upon whom He disclosed all unseen things. When his mother gave birth to him, a herald called out in all worlds: "O assembly of creatures, this is Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Abd al-Muttalib ibn Hashim. Blessed is the breast that suckled him." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the lamp of darkness, the sustenance of spirits and bodies. When his mother Amina gave birth to him, the secluded maidens of the tents and the daughters of Eve and Adam, peace be upon him, vied for his suckling, saying: "We are more worthy of the care of the master of mankind and the imam of Tayba ³⁴⁰ and the Sanctuary." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad, possessor of the thanked endeavor and the supported, victorious army. When his mother gave birth to him, the servants of the veils and curtains, and the angels of the spheres and the Frequent House ³⁴¹ vied for his suckling, saying: "We are more worthy of the care of the crown of beauty and light, the treasurer of the hidden divine knowledge." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the locus of obedience and piety, the festival of joys and delights. When his mother gave birth to him, troops of wild beasts and birds, and the inhabitants of islands and seas vied for his suckling, saying: "We are more worthy of the care of the blessed beloved, the bearer of the banner of praise on the Day of Resurrection and Reckoning." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the path of right guidance and success, the mine of pardon and forbearance. When his mother gave birth to him, the worlds of spirits and bodies, and the possessors of beauty and those of goodness and righteousness vied for his suckling, saying: "We are more worthy of the care of the master of the beautiful, the white spot of bright faces." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the halo of rising full moons, the best of those whose mention delights mouths and ears. When his mother gave birth to him, the midwives and wet nurses, and the brides of chambers and alcoves vied for his suckling, saying: "We are more worthy of the care of the imam of mosques and hermitages, the orator of gatherings and congregations." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the best of those who performed supererogatory and obligatory acts, the most generous of the generous whose intercession is hoped for on the Day of Reckoning and Presentation. When his mother gave birth to him, the birds hastened to his care, saying: "To us, we will take care of him and carry him to our nests, give him to drink from the water of our pools, and feed him from the good things of the earth." O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the eye of divine mercies, the breeze of holy effusions. When his mother gave birth to him, the wind, the cloud, and the angels crowded for his care. The wind and the cloud said: "We will take care of him and carry him to the east and west, and give him to drink from the water of the clouds and the rain." The angels said: "We will take care of him and carry him to the heavens and the Throne, and give him to drink from the rivers of Paradise and the Salsabil ³⁴²."

And we carry him to the east of the earth and its west, and we raise him with the best upbringing. And the angels said: We are more deserving of his upbringing and his protection. So I said to them: Desist, for I have entrusted the nursing of this newborn to the hands of Halimah al-Sa'diyyah ³⁴³. So bless him, O Allah, and his Family, with a blessing that will lead us to the watering places of the people of the secret ³⁴⁴ and speciality ³⁴⁵, and gift us with the gifts of Your unseen secrets and the endowments of Your ladunni ³⁴⁶ sciences (185), by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our Master and Patron Muhammad and to the Family of our Master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose mother, when she gave birth to him and nursed him with her blessed milk, the great ones magnified him and the slaves and kings submitted to his sovereignty. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our Master and Patron Muhammad and to the Family of our Master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose mother, when she gave birth to him and nursed him with her auspicious milk, the eyes of felicity watched over him and the keys of 'Be! and it is' ³⁴⁷ were placed in his hand. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our Master and Patron Muhammad and to the Family of our Master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose mother, when she gave birth to him and nursed him with her fortunate milk, the worlds rejoiced in the light of his radiant forehead and the valleys and hills shone with his blessing. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our Master and Patron Muhammad (186) and to the Family of our Master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose mother, when she gave birth to him and nursed him with her beneficial milk, his fame spread in the worlds of spirits and his brilliant star shone on the horizon of high stations. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our Master and Patron Muhammad and to the Family of our Master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose mother, when she gave birth to him and nursed him with her pure milk, the worlds were perfumed with the fragrance of his scent and the elements were honored by his noble lineage. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our Master and Patron Muhammad and to the Family of our Master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose mother, when she gave birth to him and nursed him with her sufficient milk, the creatures were guided by his guidance and were healed by his healing antidote. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our Master and Patron Muhammad and to the Family of our Master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose mother, when she gave birth to him and nursed him with her spiritual milk, the angels of the spheres felt shy out of awe of him and were bewildered by the beauties (187) of his solitary beauty. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our Master and Patron Muhammad and to the Family of our Master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose mother, when she gave birth to him and nursed him with her luminous milk, he hastened with acceptance and satisfaction, and the glad tidings of joy and congratulations shone upon him. So bless him, O Allah, and his Family, with a blessing that will extend to us with his lordly support and give us to drink from the overflow of his merciful bestowal, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our Master and Patron Muhammad and to the Family of our Master Muhammad, Your beloved, the enwrapped in the garments of prophethood and the covered one ³⁴⁸, and Your Messenger sent with the easy hanifiyyah ³⁴⁹ and the facilitated religion, whose perfect honor and care, and the manifestation of his pride and sainthood, is such that it is narrated from Fatimah bint 'Abd Allah, the mother of 'Amr ibn al-'As, that she said: I witnessed Aminah bint Wahb al-Zuhriyyah when she gave birth (188) to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, at night. When she delivered him, a light came out of her that illuminated the house we were in, so that I saw nothing but light. Then we heard a caller from the jinn calling out on the mountain of al-Hajun ³⁵⁰, saying: "I swear, no woman has ever given birth to a child for the people, nor has any woman given birth to one like the Zuhriyyah ³⁵¹ gave birth to, a woman of pride, one who is free from the baseness of the tribes, noble." O what a lady, a Zuhriyyah, a descendant of Munaf ³⁵², a Qurayshi, a Meccan, sweet of breath and garments, rosy of cheeks and temples, noble of lineage and descent, generous of fathers and grandfathers, abundant in blessings and felicities, the light of prophethood shining on her radiant forehead, the secret of the message being taken from the brightness of her moon-like face, the flower of sainthood being plucked from the gardens of her most fragrant orchard, the perfume of chastity emanating from the collar of her purest shirt. For her jewel (189) was molded from the mine of splendor and perfection, cast in the mold of beauty and loveliness, clothed in the garments of awe and majesty, adorned with necklaces of veneration and exaltation, decorated with the greatest virtues and the noblest qualities, and her womb was made a vessel for the treasury of the preserved secret and a city for the jewels of the hidden knowledge. She was singled out among the women of her people for giving birth to the Master of the noble Messengers, and honored above all her gender for delivering the Imam of Taybah ³⁵³ and the Sacred Sanctuary, our Master, our Prophet, and our Patron Muhammad, peace be upon him. So may Allah bless him and his noble and honorable Family, and his eminent and illustrious Companions, as long as a dove coos in the thicket and a yearning lover cries out, his liver torn by passion and infatuation, and grant him abundant peace. And praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds. * O daughter of Wahb, you have been granted virtues, * And you have let down the trains of pride, so drag them. * Congratulations to you that you are the mother of the best of messengers, * Who sealed the message and is the last warner (190), * The best of all creation and its protector * On the Day of Reckoning from the greatest punishment. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our Master and Patron Muhammad and to the Family of our Master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth the winds of joy blew upon his loved ones and the breezes of happiness and delight came. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our Master and Patron Muhammad and to the Family of our Master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth the worlds vied to attend his 'aqiqah ³⁵⁴ and prepared to serve his victorious sultanate. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our Master and Patron Muhammad and to the Family of our Master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth the glad tidings of good appeared to the attendees of his presence and the souls and breasts were expanded. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our Master and Patron Muhammad and to the Family of our Master Muhammad (191), Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth the Throne-like spirits circumambulated his Ka'bah ³⁵⁵ and the servants of the veils and curtains sought blessing through him. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our Master and Patron Muhammad and to the Family of our Master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth perfume spread its fragrances and the censers of aloeswood and incense were released.

O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth the lily came strutting in its garments, and the narcissus sprinkled upon his swaddling clothes the perfume of its pressed rose. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth the inhabitants of the seven heavens hastened to visit him, and the angels of the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary ³⁵⁶ and the Frequented House ³⁵⁷. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth the regions were illuminated by his light, and the foremost of days and ages rejoiced at his countenance. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth the tongues of praisers proclaimed his worth, and his fame spread through towns, cities, islands, and seas. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth the stars lit their lamps for him, the Pleiades surrounded him, and the full moons were illuminated by him. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth his herald called out in the deserts and settled lands, and tables of gifts and chairs of musk and camphor were prepared for his visitors. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth the sun of his virtues shone upon his nurses, so they began to trail their robes in garments of splendor and light. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth the hidden treasures of the universe unveiled their lights for him, and the veiled ones ³⁵⁸ removed their face-coverings. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth the great lovers ³⁵⁹ strummed their strings upon hearing him, and the inhabitants of the paradises and the brides of the palaces sang in his praise. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth the hands of the masters of spiritual ecstasies ³⁶⁰ clapped, and the crowns of the people of fame and manifestation swayed in the breeze of his repose. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth the jewels of his virtue were spread upon the people of his most exalted carpet, and the reward multiplied and the recompense increased. So bless him, O Allah, and his family, with a blessing that carries us upon the shoulder of love and piety, and secures us from the Great Terror ³⁶¹ on the Day of Resurrection and Rising, and enters us under his ample shade and his unfurled banner, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth the spiritual spirits ³⁶² and the breaths created from the gleaming lights of the Glorified ³⁶³ came to attend his blessed, known season, and to witness his essence guarded by the lights of infallible prophethood, because they recognized him on the day of "Am I not your Lord?" ³⁶⁴ in the delineation of the Preserved Tablet ³⁶⁵, and inhaled the fragrance of his Ahmadine ³⁶⁶ love in the breezes of the fragrant rose, and tasted the sweetness of his Ahmadine ³⁶⁶ remembrance in the delight of their consumed nourishment, and drank the wine of his Mustafan ³⁶⁷ secret in the flasks of the hidden mystery, and observed his most exalted light in the enclosure of "And there is nothing with us except for Him, knowledge stands" ³⁶⁸. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth the Jibra'ilian ³⁶⁹, Mika'ilian ³⁷⁰, and Israfilian ³⁷¹ spirits came hastening to him from the presence of the One, the Self-Subsisting, to seek the blessing of his blessed, inscribed form, and to pledge allegiance to his sovereignty supported by disposal and the commanded order, seated upon the throne of the Lordly kingdom, obeyed and served, and to witness what Allah granted him of the lights of His Self-disclosures, the attributes of His divine perfections, and the proofs of his prophetic miracles, with which Allah distinguished him until the moon spoke to him in the cradle of His belovedness, and the bright stars hung down for him. When they witnessed what Allah honored him with of clear signs and what He gifted him with of noble gifts and miracles, the angel of the Greatest Veil ³⁷² and the Chief of the Most Magnificent Carpet ³⁷³ called out to them in the tongue of the Most Ancient Oneness ³⁷⁴: "This is a guarded secret, a stored knowledge, a concealed book, which none touch except the purified ³⁷⁵, sealed with the seal of prophethood and messages, stamped with the stamp of 'Stop when it is limited for you, O masters of self-disclosures and ascents!' So how can you plunge into a sea at whose shore the prophets stopped? That is a secret too subtle for minds, a knowledge that intellects, imaginations, and fancies cannot grasp. And why not? For I have chosen him for Myself, created him from the purity of My Spirit, and illuminated with him the gardens of My Holiness and the pavilions of My Intimacy, and said to him: 'My beloved, your house is My Ipseity, your reality is the secret of My Reality, your heart is the house of My knowledge. So you are the very 'He' ³⁷⁶, and 'He' is none but I. My beloved, I am the intended for you, I am for you; rather, you are the intended for Me, you are for Me, for you. My beloved, you are a point around which the circle of existence revolves. So you are the worshiper from it and the worshiped, the intended from it and the purpose. You are the light, you are the manifestation. You are to My beauty and adornment like the eye to the human, and the human to the eye.' And they recited: O spirit of the spirit of spirit and the greatest repose, O solace of the trees for the burning liver, O ultimate hope, O goal of wishes, Your speech, how sweet it is to me, and how bitter! O Ka'ba of realization, O direction of prayer of purity, O 'Arafat of the lover and the radiant countenance, We have come to you, we have left you in the kingdom of our essence, Dispose of this world entirely, along with the next. For without you we would not be, and without me you would not be, So you were, but the reality does not know. Thus by might and wealth we mean you, And by the poor and poverty we mean you. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth the sky let down its tresses and rejoiced at his surpassing beauty and the light of his most radiant comeliness. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth the earth took pride.

With the light of his countenance, and adorned with the garments of its light and the luster of its green silk ³⁷⁷. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth the horizons shone with the fragrant breezes of his pure breaths and were perfumed with the scent of his most fragrant musk ³⁷⁸. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth the flowers of the valleys blossomed with the wafts of his prophetic character, and the eyes of the beholders were bewildered by the splendor of his countenance and the beauty of his radiant face. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth the testimonies of his states proclaimed that he is the Greatest Veil ³⁷⁹ of Allah and His All-Encompassing Supreme Secret ³⁸⁰. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth his basil ³⁸¹ spread fragrance in the gardens of existence, so every intimate ³⁸² rejoiced and was delighted by the manifestation of his countenance. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth the nightingales of the masters of spiritual states ³⁸³ were stirred, so they danced and sang, and offered their souls to his carpet of lights. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth the spirits of the lovers attended him, seizing the blessing of his secrets and drawing from the abundance of his overflowing succor ³⁸⁴. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth the dawn rent its garment and cast off its veil, saying: 'This is the one I was waiting to rise before me and to witness the radiance of his most pure countenance.' O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth a herald called out in the regions of the heavens and the earths: 'O company of cherubim ³⁸⁵ and the angels brought near, and the prophets and messengers, and all the believing servants of Allah, come forth to attend the festival of the Master of the Black and the Red ³⁸⁶.' So bless him, O Allah, and his family with a blessing by which You bestow upon us the vision of his moon-like face and give us to drink from the sea of his sweet, abundant Salsabil ³⁸⁷ by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. The tongue of his state says to us—and the word of truth is sweet to the listener—'My face, the time, and the month of my birth are spring in spring in spring.' O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth the worlds rejoiced in him and began to borrow from the light of his radiance. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth the worlds rejoiced in him and began to turn about in the abundant blessings of his favors. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth the worlds rejoiced in him and began to find solace in the spirit of meeting him. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth the worlds rejoiced in him and began to seek healing through the antidote of his remedy. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth the worlds rejoiced in him and began to seek intercession through his attributes and names. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth the worlds rejoiced in his remembrance and began to utter his remembrance and praise. So bless him, O Allah, and his family with a blessing by which You cause us to descend to the stations of Your beloved and chosen ones, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth his auspicious bird ³⁸⁸ gave glad tidings of blessing and prosperity. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth the inhabitants of the earths and the heavens rejoiced in him. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth the banners of success and happiness fluttered over his head. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth the paths of devotion and worship were made clear through him. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth the domes of contentment and good pleasure were erected over him. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth the pavilion of might and security was pitched over him. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth the eyes of the lovers and brethren were comforted by him. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth the angel Ridwan ³⁸⁹ of the gardens hastened to serve him. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth Allah clothed him with the shirt of prophethood and messengership. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, on whose seventh day of birth Allah destroyed through him the houses of polytheism and misguidance.

O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whom on the seventh day of his birth Allah crowned with the crown of might and honor. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whom on the seventh day of his birth Allah established his structure upon the foundations of guidance and uprightness. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whom on the seventh day of his birth Allah girded with the sword of might and victory. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whom on the seventh day of his birth Allah adorned with the sash of the people of divine care and pride. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whom on the seventh day of his birth Allah granted the gifts of sciences and wisdoms. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whom on the seventh day of his birth Allah presented with the treasures of the people of virtue and generosity. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whom on the seventh day of his birth Allah seated upon the throne of sovereignty and dominion. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whom on the seventh day of his birth Allah adorned his noble qualities with praiseworthy traits and commendable deeds. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whom on the seventh day of his birth Allah clothed in the garment of honor and its beauty. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whom on the seventh day of his birth Allah illuminated and clarified the path of guidance through him. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whom on the seventh day of his birth Allah led to the sources of the noble messengers. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whom on the seventh day of his birth Allah made a focal point for emulation and following. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whom on the seventh day of his birth Allah revived through him the landmarks of religion and the foundations of Islam. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whom on the seventh day of his birth Allah erased through him the traces of lusts and desires. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whom on the seventh day of his birth Allah adorned him with the garments of piety and righteousness. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whom on the seventh day of his birth Allah illuminated through him the gardens of sanctity and paradise. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whom on the seventh day of his birth Allah subdued through him the worshippers of idols and statues. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whom on the seventh day of his birth Allah made known through him the Ahmadian community. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whom on the seventh day of his birth Allah strengthened through him the arm of the Ahmadian community. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whom on the seventh day of his birth He displayed his bride upon the throne of ancient glory. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whom on the seventh day of his birth Allah adorned him with necklaces of noble honor. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whom on the seventh day of his birth Allah carried him in the litter of lordship and preference. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whom on the seventh day of his birth Allah regarded him with the eye of veneration and glorification. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whom on the seventh day of his birth Allah settled through him the steward of omnipotence. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whom on the seventh day of his birth Allah disclosed to him the treasures of sovereignty and the dominion of the heavens. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whom on the seventh day of his birth Allah honored the servants through his emergence. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whom on the seventh day of his birth Allah placed the keys of the unseen in his grasp. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whom on the seventh day of his birth Allah illuminated the face of time with his radiant forehead. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whom on the seventh day of his birth Allah made creatures happy through the perfection of his gaze. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whom on the seventh day of his birth Allah filled hearts with love for him. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whom on the seventh day of his birth Allah supported the believers through following his sunnah. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whom on the seventh day of his birth Allah spread for him cushions of the secret and sainthood.

He on whose seventh day of birth God placed the cushion of might and care. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, he on whose seventh day of birth God adorned him with the eye of kindness and protection. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, he on whose seventh day of birth God refreshed him with the breeze of preservation and guardianship. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, he on whose seventh day of birth God disciplined him with the disciplines of servitude. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, he on whose seventh day of birth God created him with the character of lordship. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, he on whose seventh day of birth God named him with His noble names. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, he on whose seventh day of birth God poured upon him the magnificent robes of His good pleasure. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, he on whose seventh day of birth God suckled him with the milk of revelation and inspiration. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, he on whose seventh day of birth God carried him on the shoulder of piety and reverence. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, he on whose seventh day of birth God chose him, selected him, and raised him with the best upbringing. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, he on whose seventh day of birth God took care of him, sheltered him, and granted him the station of the secret and special intimacy. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, he on whose seventh day of birth God placed the reins of high excellences in his hands. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, he on whose seventh day of birth God decreed the support of forgiveness for whoever enters his secure sanctuary and affiliates with him. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, he on whose seventh day of birth God succored all creation through him. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, he on whose seventh day of birth God had mercy on creatures through him from the Throne to the dust. So bless him, O God, and his family with a blessing by which You open for us the doors of acceptance and glad tidings, and make it for us a means before him by which we benefit in this world and the next, by Your favor and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. ❖ They decreed, and hear my speech: by Muhammad, a truthful Messenger who does not speak from desire. ❖ His excellence appeared among the prophets from ancient times; if they advance some, in excellence he outstrips. ❖ God decreed that no rider among the messengers can catch up, nor any one of them can overtake Ahmad. ❖ We read authentic traditions that on him the banner of praise will flutter at the Gathering. ❖ The angels and messengers stand beneath him, and those around him are arrayed, encircling, and surrounding. ❖ We are certain that God has not created his like in the past, nor will he be created in the future. ❖ Say the truth: do you know any resembling Ahmad? Then hasten and say: No, no, for you speak truth. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, he on whose seventh day of birth the dawn rent its garment in joy at seeing him. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, he on whose seventh day of birth the morning removed its veil to behold the beauty of his pearl. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, he on whose seventh day of birth the night's raven was driven away to gain a glimpse of him. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, he on whose seventh day of birth the day lit its lamp to borrow from the lights of his countenance. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, he on whose seventh day of birth the Throne unveiled its face to be revived by the secret of his call. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, he on whose seventh day of birth the Pen opened its mouth to draw from the oceans of his wisdom. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, he on whose seventh day of birth the Tablet presented its pearl to correct what it had inscribed on its page. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, he on whose seventh day of birth the Footstool expanded its circle to bring down the downpour of his mercy. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, he on whose seventh day of birth the green carpet laid its garment for him to acquire from him the perfection of his loftiness. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, he on whose seventh day of birth the rose opened its buds for him to inhale the fragrant breezes of his breath. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, he on whose seventh day of birth the clove scattered its fragrant scents upon him to obtain the zephyrs of his aroma. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, he on whose seventh day of birth ambergris gifted its fragrance to his companion to attain the affections of his compassion.

He on the seventh day of his birth, spread jasmine ³⁹⁰ over his good cloak to attain the perfection of his desire. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, who on the seventh day of his birth (220) spread narcissus ³⁹¹ over his luminous coverings to be clothed with the blessing of his session. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, who on the seventh day of his birth, laid chamomile ³⁹² as his lofty cushions to hear his prophetic speech and delight in the sweetness of his discourse. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, who on the seventh day of his birth, awakened the iris ³⁹³ from its drowsy eye to witness his beauty and the splendor of his forelock. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, who on the seventh day of his birth, spread basil ³⁹⁴ as his fine silk and humbled himself to his high rank. So bless him, O Allah, and his family with a blessing by which You realize us with the realities of his lineage (221) and make us thereby in his fortified fortress and sanctuary, and sanctify our souls in his illuminated places and precious soil, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. Bless, O Lord, him whose light ❖ was manifest to the prophets before existence. O Messenger of Allah, O treasure of wealth ❖ You are, by Allah, the source of all generosity. The turtledove sang and warbled upon a branch ❖ And the garden branches bowed in prostration. The dew of the shade watered the woven brocade ❖ Stringing a pearl necklace over the rosebud cheeks. And when the rain hesitated with moisture ❖ It drew the sword of lightning from the clouds of the pillar. The blossoms of chamomile smiled ❖ And the twilight split from the fire of aversion. Likewise the narcissus swayed ❖ Upon stalks that bent like slender forms. And in the head of jasmine ignited (222) a fire of gray hair from which there is no denial. And the eglantine ³⁹⁵ also acquired a breeze from zephyrs that descended from highlands. And silver coins ³⁹⁶ arranged around gold, and they were witnesses. And the rose donned redness in shame from the fragrance of the neighbors of Sal' ³⁹⁷ and Zurud ³⁹⁸. How could the rose not be ashamed of them, while their love splits the heart of the hard stone? I have not seen light in the lowland rise ascending in the air, shining like a pillar. It manifested in a spring of mercy, and through it happiness appeared in the universe. The night of infatuation and blindness cleared on Monday, despite the envier. And the strong, approved religion became the abrogator of the religion of Christians and Jews. And it appeared among us clearly, manifestly, vexing, O truth, the people of denial (223). The idols fell at his birth, and the palaces of Syria were seen from afar. And Sawa ³⁹⁹ perished in rage over the diminishment of what was hidden from arrival. And for Kisra ⁴⁰⁰, his fire was extinguished, so their kingdom donned the garment of extinction. And you see the jinn in a horizon calling out, and the rays of light encompassed existence. The soothsayers of Najran ⁴⁰¹ informed of him, and Bahira ⁴⁰² informed the loving uncle. And the prophets informed their peoples of him from the era of 'Ad ⁴⁰³ and Thamud ⁴⁰⁴. A mercy shaded him in the deserts, and a cloud from the heat and high places. And at the top of the cave, a spider wove a curtain, inspired despite the spiteful. And a dove stood over him, and the people of vexation died in rage. So the truthful friend, the Siddiq ⁴⁰⁵, in (224) yes, without end or limit. Their eyes were blinded; they said, 'Has anything happened? There is no group in this cave.' So he traveled until he approached Taybah ⁴⁰⁶; the Ansar ⁴⁰⁷ came seeking happiness. And Abu Ayyub ⁴⁰⁸ among them rejoiced, and Abu Talhah ⁴⁰⁹ and the noble lions. And Salman ⁴¹⁰ came seeking signs he knew and promises. Through his call, he became a free Muslim, following him in bowing and prostration. When success penetrates the heart, a person is guided to good and leads. And to him the Companions migrated, and in Taybah the beloved found rest. Since the Chosen One ascended with his Companions, The burdens of vexation descended upon disbelief. So they sought refuge with the Mustafa ⁴¹¹ from them, Asking him with closeness and earnestness (225). And the peace of Allah envelops the fragrant Loftiest grave on the Day of Visitation. And upon the noble, chosen family, And upon the Companions and followers, lions. O Allah, I ask You by the sanctity of this great season, the magnificent gathering, and the noble birth Which You have made for the believers a witnessed assembly, for the lovers a lush garden and extended shade, For the devotees a delightful audition and praiseworthy arrival, for the rememberers a palatable drink and a visited pool, For those who seek intercession an open door and existing good, and by the right of the glad tidings and joys You manifested therein, And the wafts of good and blessings You sent down therein, and by the sanctity of this auspicious, blessed, fortunate newborn, Our master, our prophet, and our lord Muhammad, the Chosen, the Elect, the Praiser, the Praised, Through whom You honored existence, established covenants, fulfilled contracts, and opened with his birth (226) the treasuries of generosity and bounty; the valleys and highlands shone with the light of his countenance; Through his hands You manifested the glad tidings of blessing and happiness; through his branch You purified the fathers and grandfathers; Through his blessing You delivered the imprisoned from the prison of separation and aversion; Through his appearance You fulfilled hopes and guaranteed the desired goal. So bless him, O Allah, and his family, fragrant in breath and arrival, and his Companions, Who supported his religion with swords, lances, and shields, and grant me, O Allah, a thought constantly absent in him and present, Make my tongue constantly engaged in praising him while standing and sitting, Provide me in his service with a thankworthy effort and an accepted, unrejected righteous deed, And grant his intercession for me, my fathers, my spouses, my offspring, and my brothers, And bestow upon me Your pleasure and his pleasure at the visitation and arrival to You, And quench my heart from the Salsabil ⁴¹² of his Muhammadan Kawthar ⁴¹³ and his delicious, visited pool (227), And gather me with him on the Day of Resurrection in the highest paradises and the Garden of Eternity, And make me Mosaic ⁴¹⁴ in heart, Christ-like ⁴¹⁵ in love, Muhammadan ⁴¹⁶ in secret and proximity, Ahmadi ⁴¹⁷ in support and drink, Absorbed in the outward and inward in the stations of wayfaring and attraction, And increase me, O Allah, in love and faith in him, and renew for me upon hearing his praises longing and ecstasy, And remove between me and him the veil of concealment until I see him with direct vision and sight, And benefit me through service to his Muhammadan station secretly and openly, And shine upon me from his prophetic light and the flashes of his Mustafan ⁴¹⁸ secret what will be for me among the lovers a proof and evidence, By Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds.

How blessed is the birth of Ṭāhā ⁴¹⁹, the Chosen One, the seed of spirits, the essence of forms. How blessed is the birth of glory and exaltation, which shone on the horizon of heaven like the moon. Mary the Virgin attended it, along with ladies whose status dazzles wherever they are. And Āmina ⁴²⁰, the radiant, saw in the delivery of Ṭāhā miracles and lessons. She saw banners of conquest and guidance, and stars like scattered pearls. The messengers ⁴²¹ gave her glad tidings in a dream that she had conceived the Chosen One, the best of mankind. God honored existence with him, from whom a spring ⁴²² arose and became renowned. And a spring in a spring has come, in a spring whose light adorned the trees. (In the margin: The light is other than the first light; the flower.) His face, the month, and the bounty that diffused in its April the fragrance of flowers. He spread the light through it what He spread, and folded the light through it what He folded. So he is the light of light from His lights; every light in existence has appeared. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muḥammad and to the family of our master Muḥammad, the best of the sons of ʿAbd Manāf ⁴²³ and Quṣayy ⁴²⁴, and the most excellent of those whom the lover praises in every land and tribe. From the perfection of his honor, care, manifest glory, and sanctity, it is narrated from al-ʿAbbās ibn ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib ⁴²⁵, may God be pleased with him, that he gazed intently at him and the Prophet ﷺ said to him: “Do you have any need?” He said: “When Ḥalīma ⁴²⁶ took you up at forty days old, I saw you addressing the moon and it addressing you in a language I did not understand.” So he said to him: “O uncle, the swaddling band pinched me on my right side, and I wanted to cry, but the moon said: ‘Do not cry; if a drop of your tears fell on the earth, God would turn the green earth over the barren.’” So al-ʿAbbās clapped and said: “Shall I tell you more, O uncle?” He said: “Yes.” He said: “The swaddling band pinched me on my left side, and I intended to cry, but the moon said: ‘Do not cry, O beloved of God; if a drop of your tears fell on the earth, it would not split open from green until the Day of Resurrection.’ So I remained silent out of compassion for my community.” So al-ʿAbbās clapped and said: “Did you know that at forty days old?” He said: “O uncle,” he said: “Yes,” he said: “By Him in whose hand is my soul, God created one hundred thousand prophets and twenty-four thousand prophets; none of them knew he was a prophet until he reached his prime at forty years, except Jesus, for when he came out of his mother’s womb, he said: ‘Indeed, I am the servant of God; He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet.’ ⁴²⁷ And your nephew—shall I tell you more, O uncle?” He said: “Yes.” He said: “When I was born on Monday, God created seven mountains in the seven heavens and filled them with angels, whom none can count but God, glorifying and sanctifying Him until the Day of Resurrection, and He made the reward of their glorification and sanctification for a servant in whose presence I am mentioned and who then sends blessings upon me.” O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muḥammad and to the family of our master Muḥammad, possessor of the lofty and magnificent rank, the high and great station. When his mother Āmina, the chaste and noble, of praiseworthy deeds and upright states, gave birth to him, a caller proclaimed in the highest dominion and the manifestations of the most manifest mystery: “O company of creatures and inhabitants of the seven paths, who will take charge of this unique pearl, for which there is no equal or value in the world of spirits and bodies?” The birds said: “We will take charge of him and gain his all-encompassing blessing.” The wild beasts said: “We are more deserving of that, to attain his honor and veneration.” But the tongue of divine power, the wise, said to them: “God has decreed in the precedents of His eternal will that the nursing of His noble Prophet be at the hand of Ḥalīma the Clement, possessor of beautiful attributes and the radiant, comely forehead.” So bless him, O God, and his family, a blessing by which You purify us from blameworthy attributes, and pour upon us the maidens of his esoteric sciences ⁴²⁸ and the gifts of his immense secrets, and make us thereby among those who treat their Lord with sincerity of intention and firmness of resolve, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muḥammad and to the family of our master Muḥammad, the rising star of felicity and good fortune, the fountain of generosity and munificence. When his mother gave birth to him, the auspicious blessings shone upon him, and his essence was chosen from the noblest fathers and grandfathers. When she wanted to nurse him with fragrant garments and robes, she said to her: “Take good care of him, for if he lives, he will have a status above every parent and child.” Ḥalīma said to her: “What could his status be, when he is an orphan with no father to live under his care and extended shadow?” His mother Āmina said: “O daughter of Abū Dhuʾayb ⁴²⁹, this is a secret by which you will boast over the daughters of the Banū Saʿd ⁴³⁰ and your standing among them will be magnified and you will become eminent. For when I conceived him, I did not feel any weight as women do in their wombs, and the mountains, valleys, and plateaus shone at his birth. Then when he descended from me to the ground, he supported himself with his hand, so his face did not touch the dust, by the power of his Lord, the King, the Worshipped. We placed a cooking pot over him, but it split into two pieces, and he began looking at the women with his eyes, openly prostrating to his Lord. While I was pregnant with him, I found near my head a book in which it was written: ‘You will give birth to a son; name him Muḥammad, for his name is Aḥmad ⁴³¹. Beware of the Jews for him.’ When Ḥalīma took him, ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib heard her saying: 'O Lord, this traveling rider, Muḥammad, return him with good fortune, and save him from every deceitful, adulterous one, and from a hell that lies in wait in the scorching heat. I see him as my honor and supporter, and the Lord of every highland and lowland. Keep him away from the path of the immoral, the despairing one whose heart is not pure, and from the night-prowler, the envier, and the sorcerer, and the master of the living and the companion.' O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muḥammad and to the family of our master Muḥammad, the lamp of gnostic sciences ⁴³² and spiritual gifts ⁴³³, the pure of character, gentle in manner and affection. When Āmina, adorned with the jewels of chastity and modesty in all scenes and stations, gave birth to him, the Arabs said to his grandfather ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib: “How did you name your son?” He said: “I named him Muḥammad.” They said to him: “Why did you deviate from our names and the names of his fathers, grandfathers, and ancestors?” He said: “Thus his mother Āmina informed me from what she saw; it was said to her: ‘When you give birth, name him Muḥammad.’” They said to him: “If you seek a wet nurse for him, what prevents you from that, when today you are his guardian after his father? Even though his father has passed, you are his successor, and he will not be lost as long as you are for him.” He said: “By God, I cannot bear to be separated from him, but I will look for what is suitable for him.” He said: “Then the women vied to nurse him and desired his proximity, each one hoping for him and aspiring to him. They all entered upon Āmina and offered themselves to her, but she refused and said to them: ‘His affair is with his grandfather ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib; whoever he chooses for him, I will not object to his decision.’ One night, while Āmina was in her bed and the Messenger of God ﷺ was beside her—he would not sleep at night except a little, and the rest of the time he would stretch his hands toward heaven, moving his tongue and lips, his eyes fixed on heaven like one supplicating to his Lord, and his light ﷺ would overpower the lamp—

When a caller called out to Amina, whose voice she heard but whose person she did not see, saying: ❖ O virtuous and noble Amina ❖ O exalted and great one ❖ Neither daughter of blame nor of a base man ❖ You shall nurse the one of refined character (in the margin: perhaps it is al-Sakinah ⁴³⁴) ❖ For among the Banu Sa'd with Halimah Amina stretched herself upon hearing the caller and awaited what she had been promised. Whenever a woman came to nurse the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, she turned her away, awaiting the promise she had been given and the name that had been named for her. When a woman from Quraysh whom she did not know came, she would ask her about her name and tribe. If she did not hear the name she had been promised nor the lineage she had heard, she turned her away and awaited what she had heard from the caller. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the sun of prophethood and sainthood ⁴³⁵, the path of rectitude and guidance. When the perfect Amina of noble lineage gave birth to him and placed him in the laps of security and care, the cradles of honor and attention, and the houses of nobility and protection, the worlds of spiritual spirits ⁴³⁶ and the templates of luminous beings ⁴³⁷, the forms of human creatures ⁴³⁸ and the brides of solitary manifestations ⁴³⁹, and the appearances of merciful visions ⁴⁴⁰ vied for his guardianship. The worlds of spiritual spirits and the templates of luminous beings said: "We will take charge of him in the core of our hearts against the rebellious jinn and humans and the nocturnal visitations of satanic states." For he is the spirit of our spirits, the edifice of our forms, the festival of our joys, the breeze of our blooming flowers, the inscription of our tablets, the key to our hidden sciences, the field of our heart's thoughts, the aim of our sights, the delight of our ages, the result of our remembrances, the encompassing of our cycles, the eye of our essences, and the crown of our sovereign kingdom. The forms of human creatures, the elements of corporeal bodies, the people of ocular unveilings ⁴⁴¹, the flashes of lordly inspirations, and the breezes of the eternal divine presence said: "We will take charge of him, for he is the moon of our heavens, the lamp of our sweetness, the sultan of our kingdoms, the unique pearl of our lineages, the ultimate goal of our perception, the lote tree of our utmost boundary, the garden of our desire, the inscribed book of our secret, the unfolded scroll of our glory, the frequented house of our virtue, the blazing sea of our generosity, the station of our circumambulation, the Kaaba of our accepted pilgrimage, the clear and well-known path of our guidance, the banner of our praise, supported and victorious, our master, our prophet, our lord, and our intercessor on the Day of Resurrection and Gathering, the end of our realities, the subtlety of our intricacies, and the manifest yet hidden conscience of our consciences. How could it not be so, when Allah made his noble clay from our clay, his lofty tree the element of our elements, his subtle essence the choicest of our essences, and his pure and chaste self the ruby of our shells, as evidenced by His words: 'There has certainly come to you a Messenger from among yourselves' ⁴⁴²?" Through his honor we are honored, for without the intermediary, the mediated would be lost, as it is said. At that point, a caller from the Holy Presence ⁴⁴³ and the companion of the stations of purity ⁴⁴⁴ in the unseen of ipseities ⁴⁴⁵, the barzakhs ⁴⁴⁶ of universals and particulars, and the groups of higher and lower beings called out: "O all existents, wonders of creation, and marvels of manufacture! Verily Allah has written in the guarded tablet of the secret and the stored book of knowledge that the nursing of this Muhammadan jewel ⁴⁴⁷ and the pure Ahmadian soul ⁴⁴⁸ shall be at the hands of Halimah al-Sa'diyyah, the pearl of radiant virtues, the noble of character, clad in the robes of eternal happiness and the abundant blessings of perpetual grace, surrounded by Mustafawian ⁴⁴⁹ blessings and auspiciousness, crowned with the crown of prophetic lights and the gifts of hidden secrets, upon whose forehead is written the luster of her beauty and the splendor of her perfection, and the witness of her state. Blessed are you, O Halimah, then blessed are you, O Halimah, for nursing the best of creation and taking charge of the possessor of clear signs and divine sciences, Muhammad, the beloved, the intimate, the chosen, the elect, created from the pure light of Oneness and Unicity. 'This is Our gift, so bestow or withhold without account' ⁴⁵⁰. And may it be wholesome and pleasant for you, O unique pearl, O mistress of Banu Sa'd. Be of good cheer and comfort your eyes, for you have attained the precious honor, the lofty station, and the continuous good by nursing the master of the free and the patrons, serving him, taking charge of him, fulfilling his due right, and raising him. You have performed an obligatory duty, a towering glory, and a vast prestige among the daughters of Eve and Adam, a special distinction that Allah has granted you among those who come after and those who have passed before.

That is the bounty of Allah which He gives to whom He wills, and Allah is the possessor of great bounty. ⁴⁵¹ The messenger of pre-eternity ⁴⁵² came to awaken you, and the law of the secret ⁴⁵³ rouses you and inspires you, and the spirit of the command ⁴⁵⁴ speaks to you and addresses you, and the herald of good guides you and inspires you, and the precedents of felicity ⁴⁵⁵ lead you from distant regions to the illumined and pure spot where the Chosen One ⁴⁵⁶ was born, and his time there was pleasant and pure. So she came seeking worldly blessing and otherworldly benefits, with women who were looking for wet nurses, watching for a life of ease and the loftiest benefits, and mentioning their desire in assemblies and gatherings, and displaying it in streets and thoroughfares, at a time when wet nurses were heedless, drought was severe, rain was withheld, and farms were idle. They pursued this until they fulfilled their desire for what they sought, and reached the goal that the heart intended and desired. Not one of them remained but his shining star and his radiant bride were presented to her, yet they did not know the reality of his affair nor what Allah had specially given him of the lights of his prophethood and the perfection of his secret. That was only because of what intervened between them and him: the talisman of deprivation ⁴⁵⁷, the veil of illusion, the overwhelming prevalence of heedlessness over hearts, and lack of understanding. So each of them took an infant and quickly returned to her family. None remained but Halima al-Sa‘diyya, she of beautiful character and pleasing qualities, awaiting relief from her Lord, inhaling the wafts of the secrets of prophethood shining upon her heart, and observing what the voices from the unseen ⁴⁵⁸ had heralded to her in her sleep and what they had indicated to her of blessedness and blessings, unlike the women of her people. Had those women known what Allah had stored for her of nursing the master of the messengers and fostering the beloved of the Lord of the worlds, they would have fought over him with swords and cannons, and would have done to themselves what Cain did to his brother Abel, or like the women who cut their hands when they saw the beauty of Joseph, which is half of his beauty and a part of his lofty comeliness and the splendor of his perfection, and said, "God forbid! This is no human; this is none other than a noble angel." But the matter is tied to precedents and included in the category of His words: "And He decreed for the precedent." ⁴⁵⁹ When she understood the signs and remembered what she had heard from the voices from the unseen in clear expressions, she arose for what had preceded of the precedents of felicity, and followed what had been traced for her in pre-eternity by the pen of will. The will of spiritual love drew her to meet his grandfather ‘Abd al-Muttalib, possessor of lofty glories and sublime aspirations. So he brought her to his pure and holy mother, and she spoke with her about his nursing and fostering, and about taking care of his affairs and protecting him. She assisted her in that, and she set out. She asked her for what she had seen of the glad tidings there. So she asked her to see the beloved and witness his countenance, and she desired what Allah had granted him of His unseen openings and the secret of His wisdom. When she saw him and witnessed what appeared upon him of clear signs and proofs, glad tidings of good and manifest portents, pleasant breezes and fragrant scents, she said: "Allahu akbar! This is the beloved to whom Allah has brought me, honored me with his sight, and favored me with his service and the perfection of his love." She yearned for him, was moved, inclined to him, welcomed him cheerfully, and said: "With love and honor, blessing and safety! Continuous favors and noble, sublime gifts!" She drew near to him and found him wrapped in garments of Mustafan ⁴⁶⁰ quality and lofty prophetic robes, from whose collars wafted the fragrance of pure musk, the breeze of clove, rose, aloeswood, and ambergris. Beneath him was a green silk cloth, rolled in a white woolen wrap, as if he were a silver branch or a moon whose light had split the cosmos and illuminated his Tunis ⁴⁶¹ with angels of proximity, while he lay on his back, his heart and body turned toward his Lord, slumbering from the descent of jewels of revelation upon his heart, delighting in what his Lord had specially given him of His friendship and nearness. She feared to wake him because of the beauty and loveliness she saw, and was too shy to startle him because of the awe and majesty that overwhelmed her. So she placed her hand on his noble chest and his illumined, pure heart. He smiled, laughing at what he witnessed of the signs of proximity and union, and what he beheld of attaining the goal and reaching hopes. He opened his eyes, ringed with the light of majesty and beauty, kohled with the collyrium of splendor and perfection, and looked at her with a look of joyful delight. From his noble eyes issued a pillar of light that pierced the veils and curtains; the stars and moons were eclipsed by its radiance. It ascended until it entered the clouds of the heavens, covering the horizons and all directions. She began to look at him with the look of a lover at his beloved, yearning for him as the absent yearns for his near one. She bent over him out of intense passion, and the state of love caused her to press him to her chest and kiss him between his eyes. She gave him her blessed right breast, and it flowed with as much milk as he wished; her heart was relieved of the distress it had been in and became calm. Then she turned him, as is the custom of wet nurses, to her left breast, but he refused absolutely, because he knew that he had a partner in nursing, his brother and companion in the station and in seeking pasture. That was only because Allah had inspired him with justice and fairness, and had gathered in him all kinds of noble qualities and praiseworthy traits. That is among the characteristics of people of perfection, virtue, modesty, chivalry, and generosity. When she had nursed him with what sustains bodies, according to the course

The custom suckled from him what sustains spirits according to the precedents of felicity, so it became good. ²⁴⁶ She was rewarded for what she did, and great was the recompense for the good she performed. She gave physical sustenance, so she was given spiritual sustenance, so that the recompense might be of the same kind as the deed, though the types differ, and the second type, which is the recompense, is superior to the first. Thus she attained perfect honor and care, and her merit came to be recited in assemblies on the tongues of the people of justice and narration, carried by registers and transmitters, and transmitted by trustworthy authorities from trustworthy authorities. What a lady! The light of prophethood shone upon her crown, the great lovers clung to her door, the secrets of the message were inscribed on her garments and the borders of her brocade, the fragrant breezes of blessings sought from her regions and valleys, and she excelled over her peers and all her offspring by suckling the Master of Existences. It was said to her in her deep sleep: 'Rejoice, O you who suckled the radiant light, the blazing star, and the cleaving dawn.' Section: O Allah, bless his family, the shining full moons, and his Companions, the comprehensive mothers ²⁴⁷, with a blessing that bestows upon us the noblest proximities and the highest benefits, and preserves our tongues from uttering obscenity and indecency in assemblies, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. ❖ O radiant night whose lamp shone, ❖ Yours is the perfect honor as long as the world lasts, ❖ By the birth of the best of prophets, Muhammad, ❖ And the Seal of Allah's Messengers, of lofty rank, ❖ The most honored of people in status, the most abundant in worth, ❖ The greatest in character, the most beautiful in appearance, ❖ The purest in soul, the farthest in reach, ❖ The strongest in might, the most excellent in care, ❖ The most faithful in covenant, pledge, and nature, ❖ The most balanced in intellect, the most grateful in endeavor. ❖ He was a light glorifying at the Leg of the Throne, ❖ For the Owner of dominion, the Creator of things, ❖ While Adam was between the Kaf and the Nun ⁴⁶², not yet existent, ❖ And for the sake of that light, He made him alive. ❖ He kept transferring through the purest lineages ²⁴⁸ ❖ To the purest house, whose height in loftiness is beyond reach. ❖ At his birth, wonders appeared, ❖ My sight falls short of describing the beauty of the world. ❖ At once he pointed, prostrating to his God, ❖ So Allah inspired him with guidance and right direction. ❖ The angels circumambulated with him in the high realm, ❖ And the gardens became fragrant with his scent. All the prophets saw him and then called upon him, and each welcomed him after greeting. And what Halima attained of high rank occurred. O her bliss when she suckled Ahmad with her breast! Her son was not satisfied with her milk, but from the moment the best of mankind touched it, he sucked it as if it were honey. When she came seeking a suckling, she was delayed, but he came to her due to the exhaustion that had befallen her. When she returned with the Chosen One, her hardship vanished, and all the riders appeared walking from that moment. She was honored that if she gave a drop, she returned with her udder full for the milker ²⁴⁹. They were surrounded at once by the blessings of his abundant favors, which increased everyone who dwelt in the clan. Their pasture became fertile, though their year had folded them up with widespread drought. That is but a part of his miracles; who can count the pebbles? Counting them is exhausting. So the purest, most fragrant, and continuous peace be upon the best of Allah's creation, of lofty rank. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad, and to the family of our master Muhammad, the best of hopes, the best of joy and congratulations, the source of divine sciences and subtle meanings, about whom his foster-mother Halima al-Sa'diyya said: When I mounted my she-donkey (in the margin: i.e., the donkey) and loosened the reins for travel, my heart expanded to carry his Muhammadan bride and my innermost being. I praised Allah for what He granted me of gifts of honor and nobility and bestowed upon me, and I thanked Him for what He specially favored me with: the guardianship of the possessor of the Seven Oft-Repeated ⁴⁶³, the manifestation of the secret of the Furqanic revelation, and the divine, lordly knowledge. I asked Him to help me with what He had immersed me in: his noble love, which consumed me. When I took him in my arms, my love ²⁵⁰ and faith multiplied, and I made his spiritual form the pasture of my soul and the delight of my eyes. So my time and season became pleasant, and I was honored over the women of my clan and neighbors. Then I bid farewell to his pure mother, pure in bosom and honor, beautiful in form and character, of whom no equal has been found among noble women in generality and comprehensiveness. Then I kissed him and embraced him with the embrace of a lover for his beloved, my heart rejoicing and yearning for him. I walked with him gently, spoke to him softly, and placed him in my innermost heart in a noble station. His noble mother endured the heat of separation, her heart in intense passion, flame, and burning. She began to quench the fire of yearning with tears of the eyes, and to console the soul with the good news of nearness on the day of meeting. She called out with the tongue of her state and the hint of her indication in her speech: 'O Owner, O Creator, O Opener of doors and locks, O Facilitator of means and provisions, O Reliever of distress and suffocation, unite me with him, O Lord of the worlds, and bring me close to him, O Most Merciful of the merciful.'

And between me and my beloved Muhammad, may God bless him and grant him peace ⁴⁶⁴, in the shortest time, and do not burden me with the pain of separation from him that is unbearable. Then I turned away from him after farewell, while my heart, due to separation from him, was in severe pains and agonies, yearning like a bereaved mother, weeping like a helpless one, and in utmost grief reciting and chanting the secrets of her world, turning around like a bewildered, distracted lover bidding farewell to the elite of peers, the master of ʿĀdim ⁴⁶⁵ and ʿAdnān ⁴⁶⁶, while her state of tongue recited and spoke the words of one parting from beloved ones and brothers: ❖ I bid you farewell and entrust you to my heart ❖ And I pour tears like pearls ❖ If we were given the choice, we would not have parted ❖ But there is no choice with time So I parted from him, the glass of my chest shattered, bewildered in my great affair, the morning of my dawn clouded over due to the loss of my finder, the Lord of my lap, the blessing of my life, the sight of my full moon, and the witness of my excuse stood over what was disclosed of my hidden secret. The gifts of my reward became great with the complete profit of my trade, the fragrance of my scent wafted with the sweetness of my remembrance, the breeze of the Spirit ⁴⁶⁷ blew from the treasuries of mercies with the support of my victory, and my ranks of pride rose above the women of my time. In the face of kindness, I deemed great sorrows insignificant, and I said: 'Perhaps He who returned Joseph to Jacob will bestow upon me the meeting of the beloved, the loved one.' And the unseen witnessed, calling out: 'Patience, O daughter of Wahb ⁴⁶⁸, patience; God will grant ease after hardship. You do not know; perhaps God will bring about something after that.' So she bade farewell to the mounts while remembering the most noble of beloveds, saying: 'How can I forget you, when my soul was created from the same kind as your soul, and it is your ransom?' His wet nurse said: When I placed him before me and set out crossing the deserts, I looked at my she-donkey, and it had prostrated towards the Kaaba three prostrations, then raised its head to the sky in gratitude for what God had bestowed upon it of abundant blessings. Then it walked until it overtook the people's mounts, while they marveled at it, and the women said: 'Is this your she-donkey that you came with us on?' They said: 'It indeed has a great matter and a magnificent status.' And I said: 'It is indeed the same.' I heard my she-donkey saying: 'By God, I have a matter, then a matter. God resurrected me after my death, revived me after my passing, restored my fatness after my leanness, taught me after my ignorance, relieved me after my worry and severe terror.' And it advanced ahead of the people, for the true precedence is with advancement. It is narrated: 'O women of Banu Saʿd ⁴⁶⁹, you were indeed in heedlessness and distance, in desolation and loss, in sorrow and expulsion. Do you know who is on my back? Whom God has given dominion over what is in my secret? Whom God has informed of what is in my secret? And He healed me after my harm, enriched me through him after my hardship, freed me from the noose of my captivity, released me from my prison and oppression, upon the back of the best of prophets, the master of messengers, the most excellent of the first and the last, and the beloved of the Lord of the worlds.' Oh, what a prophet! How noble he is before God, how great his rank with God! Since he is the life of existences, the elixir of creatures, the master of masters, the she-donkey obtained from carrying him and being in his company such goodness and blessings as no other animal obtained. For she became strong enough to bear the burdens of prophethood and messengerhood, to travel with the howdah of veneration and majesty, with the owner of the crown and turban, the bride shaded by clouds. How excellent a prophet! How great his blessing, how mighty his sanctity! His wet nurse Ḥalīma ⁴⁷⁰ the gentle said: We were on our journey until, when we dismounted under a withered tree, it turned green instantly. And when we were in a dark house, his face illuminated it like a blazing lamp, so that his light overcame the light of the lamp. I said to my husband: 'Do you see what I see?' He said to me: 'Did I not tell you that this is a blessed soul? Be silent and conceal your affair. For from the night this boy was born, news has been standing on its feet; neither the life of the day nor the sleep of the night is pleasant for us.' When I brought him to my home, and my gathering and assembly became pleasant with him, the horizons rejoiced in him, the sources of tastes became mixed with love for him, the gardens of lovers became fragrant with the breezes of his breaths, great sorrows were dispelled by his countenance, the spiritual armies of souls became united and paired through him, and the results of benefits and the breaking of customs were included in the folds of his signs. Abundance, prosperity, affection, brotherhood, generosity, and munificence increased. Hearts cheered, calamities were repelled, grass turned green, time became good, the place was honored, worries and sorrows vanished, bodies rested, eyes were comforted, glad tidings of blessing and security appeared, and goodness and sustenance increased upon us until neighbors and brothers envied us for it. When the rain ceased from us, the people of the village said: 'O Ḥalīma, this child with you has light on his face. If you were to take him with us so that we might seek rain through him, it would be better for us.' So I brought him out for them, and they took him, carried him on their hands, and went out to the outskirts of the town. They prayed through him, and behold, the clouds brought rain, so the rains poured down, the trees bore fruit, the flowers blossomed, the birds sang, the wild beasts of the deserts and plains rejoiced, the driver of the pairs hummed, the worlds of bodies stirred, the nightingales of joy danced on the pulpits of branches, rejoicing at the appearance of the morning star, the pole of beauty, the crown of the people of sainthood and righteousness. Oh, what a blessing that descended upon the home of Ḥalīma al-Saʿdiyya! What a rank she attained by nursing this blessed, pure, Muḥammadan soul! What a sign by which she became known among the people of the secret and speciality! What a gift with which she was honored above the tribes and assemblies! What a robe bestowed upon her from the treasuries of the celestial secrets and the merciful gifts! What a favor whose secret appeared in the pavilions of intimacy and all the holy presences! What a miracle she achieved by taking charge of our master Muḥammad, may God bless him and grant him peace, the best of creation! So bless him, O God, and his family, the branches of the blessed, pure tree, and his Companions, possessors of lofty morals and pleasing states, a blessing by which You feed us from the tables of his hidden secrets and honor us with the precious gifts of his bestowed subtleties, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. O secret: Ḥalīma, nurse this beginning, This one who in his beauty remains unique, This one without whom there would be no piety Desired, nor would the lover wander in ecstasy. When he appears, O Ḥalīma, rejoice In closeness; after today you will not encounter rejection. Yours is the felicity of nursing him, and he is the one From whose face the moon of beauty has not exceeded. When you see the sun of his face's countenance, And see a cheek that has become fragrant like silk and roses, And see a mouth studded with silver, And see a meaning unique among the meanings of beauty, Say to your husband: 'Fear not; this is the one Through whom you will attain your every desire.' O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muḥammad and to the family of our master Muḥammad, whose wet nurse, when she saw his most luminous face, said: 'God is greatest; by God, this is the master of the black and the red.' O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muḥammad and to the family of our master Muḥammad, whose wet nurse, when she saw his most radiant face, said: 'God is greatest; by God, this is the flood of gifts and the most abundant sea of generosity.' O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muḥammad and to the family of our master Muḥammad, whose wet nurse, when she saw

His wet nurse saw his beautiful face and said: Allahu Akbar ⁴⁷¹, by Allah, this is the possessor of the highest station and the vast presence. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, whose wet nurse, when she saw his beloved face, said: Allahu Akbar, by Allah, this is the hand of generosity and the rain of abundant giving. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, whose wet nurse, when she saw his radiant face, said: Allahu Akbar, by Allah, this is the garden of fragrant breezes and the musk of fragrant garments. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, whose wet nurse, when she saw his luminous face, said: Allahu Akbar, by Allah, this is the support of prophethood and the best of delightful love. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, whose wet nurse, when she saw his pure face, said: Allahu Akbar, by Allah, this is the abode of piety and the pillar of the upright religion. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, whose wet nurse, when she saw his clean face, said: Allahu Akbar, by Allah, this is the essence of honor and the mercy for the strong and the weak. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, whose wet nurse, when she saw his moon-like face, said: Allahu Akbar, by Allah, this is the greatest veil of Allah and the manifestation of His most radiant secret. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, whose wet nurse, when she saw his resplendent face, said: Allahu Akbar, by Allah, this is the lamp of guidance and the tender shoot of the most flourishing tree of glory. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, whose wet nurse, when she saw his adorned face, said: Allahu Akbar, by Allah, this is the delight of the paths and the comfort of the eye. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, whose wet nurse, when she saw his most fortunate face, said: Allahu Akbar, by Allah, this is the succor of the worlds and the pole of the most glorious sovereignty. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, whose wet nurse, when she saw his spiritual form, said: Allahu Akbar, by Allah, this is the foremost of the age and the era, and the moon of the most radiant beauty. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, whose mother, when she saw his arched eyebrow, said: Allahu Akbar, by Allah, these are the stations of guidance and the clear, manifest path of truth. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, whose mother, when she saw his rosy cheek, said: Allahu Akbar, this is the vicegerent of Allah on His earth and His well-tempered sword. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, whose wet nurse, when she saw his beautiful forehead, said: Allahu Akbar, by Allah, this is the possessor of the highest station and the most beautiful word. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, whose wet nurse, when she saw his Muhammadan traits, said: Allahu Akbar, by Allah, this is the guardian of the secret of the unseen and the glory of the Ahmadian ⁴⁷² state. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, whose wet nurse, when she saw him laugh and smile in her face, said: Allahu Akbar, this is the advent of joy and happiness and the removal of misery and grief. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, whose wet nurse, when she saw him and his longing penetrated the depths of her heart and was inscribed, said: Allahu Akbar, by Allah, this is the best towards whom hearts yearn and in whom the attributes of glory and generosity are perfected. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, whose wet nurse, when she saw him and his love settled in the core of her heart and dwelt, said: Allahu Akbar, by Allah, this is the might of eternity, the life of the spirit, and the sustenance of the body. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, whose wet nurse, when she saw him and his love became firmly established in her heart and took hold, said: Allahu Akbar, by Allah, this is the best to whom the seeker of refuge clings and holds fast. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, whose wet nurse, when she saw him greet her with veneration and exaltation, said: Allahu Akbar, this is a sign of victory and acceptance, and one of the best kinds of omens. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, whose wet nurse, when she saw him greet her with cheerfulness and welcome, said: Allahu Akbar, this is the herald of joy and the desire of every lover and beloved. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, whose wet nurse, when she saw him and embraced him to her chest, said: Allahu Akbar, by Allah, this is the best through whom one seeks intercession with Allah in important matters. So bless him, O Allah, and his family, a blessing by which You admit us into his impregnable and most fortified fortress, and by which You bring us to the vast ocean of his overflowing generosity, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. Indeed, Halima ⁴⁷³ attained with the Hashimite ⁴⁷⁴ a station high in the pinnacle of might and glory. Her livestock increased and her pasture flourished, and this good fortune encompassed all the Banu Sa'd ⁴⁷⁵.

O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the best of those who acted in the divine kingdom and exercised authority, and the most majestic of those who inhaled the breezes of divine mercies and breathed them in. From the perfection of his honor, care, and great station with Allah and his closeness, it is narrated that when Allah Most High wanted to have him nursed among the Banu Sa'd, a great hardship befell the people. The people of Hijaz were in a year of drought and severe famine, and the people of Yamama, Bahrain, and Tihama were all under drought and famine; they were deprived of rain, the land became dry and barren, blessings diminished, and pastures dried up—except for Mecca, which became fertile and lush by the blessing of Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Every distress was removed from them, and the Arabs came to them from every place with goods, and they enjoyed great abundance by his blessing, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the best of those whose love fills hearts, and the most generous of those whose companionship men boast. His wet nurse ⁴⁷⁶ Halima al-Sa'diyya spoke about herself, saying: "In that year when Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was born, we were in great hardship. We were a household of the poorest people, in severe poverty, hardship, and affliction. I was a woman who roamed the deserts and mountains seeking plants and grass. I would find what my sisters who went out with me found, or even less. I would be content, patient, and say: 'I praise our Lord who has sent this hardship and trial upon me.' She said: 'While I was in that state, one day we went out to the plain of Mecca, and I would not pass by any plant or grass without it reaching out to me joyfully. I remained in that state for days. Then I gave birth to a child one night, and I had not tasted anything for seven days. I would writhe like a snake from hardship and hunger, sometimes fainting from its severity.'" O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad ⁴⁷⁷ and to the family of our master Muhammad, the best of those whose building was honored above all prophets and messengers and raised, and the most excellent of those through whose blessing servants were honored and benefited. His wet nurse Halima said: "While I was sleeping one night, a visitor came to me, carried me, and threw me into a river with water intensely white, whiter than milk, sweeter than honey, and more fragrant than pure musk. He said: 'Drink and drink much of this water, and your milk will increase.' She said: 'I drank a lot. Then he said to me: 'Do you know me?' I said: 'No.' He said: 'I am al-Hamd ⁴⁷⁸, whom you used to praise Allah for your poverty, affliction, and all your states and in all your affairs. But go to the plain of Mecca, for there you will find ample provision, and you will attain the shining light and the crescent moon ⁴⁷⁹. Keep your matter secret.' Then one day I went out as usual with the women, and they came to a narrow valley with greenery and plants. They began to gather and eat ⁴⁸⁰, and they heard a caller calling to them from the narrow valley, saying: 'I call, O women of the tribe, from the women of Banu Sa'd, The secret of the caravan to Mecca, towards the unique moon. Whoever among you nurses him will not be afflicted with toil, A bright-faced, noble father and grandfather. If he settles in your valley, you will be safe from hardship. So hasten to be blessed by what has come of the promise.' Halima said: 'Then the voice ceased from us, and we were terrified by that. So we returned to the tribe frightened by what we heard from that caller. I told my husband about that and what I heard from the caller. He said to me: 'Perhaps you should go to Mecca, and perhaps Allah will grant us that blessed, auspicious, fortunate child. Keep your matter as secret as you can.'" O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the possessor of the kohl-rimmed eye and beautiful face, and the best of those whose love dwells in the depths of the heart and resides. His wet nurse Halima said: "I was in straitened circumstances before nursing him. Then one came to me ⁴⁸¹ while I was between sleeping and waking. He said to me: 'O Halima, you must go to the plain of Mecca, for there you will find ample provision, and you will be blessed with the shining light and the radiant moon, the blessed countenance, the messenger of the plain, the Tihami, the Madani, the best of those who walked on earth. So do not miss your chance, O Halima, for he is the most blessed child for you. If you nurse him, good things will come to you, blessings will increase for you, the women of your people will envy you for him, and your people will rejoice in him. You will attain from his blessings. When he comes to you, guard what is in your hands and rejoice in what has come to you.' Then he left me and went away after striking his hand on my chest. Then he said to me: 'Go, may Allah grant you provision and cause milk to flow for you.' She said: 'I woke up unable to carry my breasts; they were like two great water skins gushing milk and dripping like a full waterskin. I had revived and grown fat.'"

And I filled my breasts with milk, and I became possessed of fat, flesh, and milk, and with that I was clothed in beauty and comeliness. And the women of my people fell short in comeliness and beauty, while I was in abundance and they were in hardship (270) of the time and in straitness of living, both men and women. And I would look at their bellies clinging to their backs, their colors changed, and their faces yellowed without cause or illness, due to the severity of hardship, harm, and hunger. And when a woman wept, the tear would scarcely come out of her eyes from the severity of dryness and the straitness of the time, until the Arabs were all but perishing. She said: And the women and men gathered around me, marveling and bewildered at what appeared to them from me, and they said: O daughter of Abu Dhu'ayb, indeed you have a great matter. Your affair, its beginning and its end, was hidden from us. Yesterday you left us, your body emaciated, dry, weak, more afflicted and greater in hardship than us, yet you have become well-watered, plump, full of milk, and you have increased in fat and flesh, and been clothed in beauty and comeliness, as if you in this your time are a son of the daughters of kings. So from where did you get this which you have been given in a single night? For if one of us were to treat herself by eating meat, clarified butter (271), milk, and honey for a whole year, she would not attain what you have attained. She said: And I had concealed my affair from them, so they departed from me, marveling at what had appeared to them from me. And there remained no man, child, slave, or maid-servant but looked at me and marveled at me for what God had given me of strength, fat, abundance of milk, and largeness of belly. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the best of those whose mention tongues and lips delight in, and the best of those whose rank is raised in the highest paradises and whose abode is honored. From the perfection of his dazzling signs and his noble, splendid virtues is what has been narrated: that his wet nurse Halimah said: I concealed my secret from the people and what appeared to them of my great matter. We had not remained long when a caller called out to the Banu Sa'd, making heard both their farthest and nearest, saying: O company of Banu Sa'd, and O company of Banu Bakr, the distresses have been cleared from you, and blessings have poured down upon you, and you have risen above all creatures through the suckling (272) of the newborn whose mention is in the earth and the heavens. He is in the Sanctuary, vaunting over the nations, and the darknesses are dispelled by his light. Blessed is the breast that suckled him, and blessed is the lap that cared for him, and blessed is the house that contains him. He is the sun of the day and the lamp of the earth and heaven, a blessing descending upon you and good reaching you. He does not alight in a place nor descend upon a people but that blessings alight among them and distresses are cleared from them. Great of signs, mighty of miracles. By him your women will become eminent and your wealth will increase. So hasten to him, O women of Banu Sa'd. When the people heard that from the speech of the caller, what they heard terrified them. And the people prepared their women and agreed to set out for Mecca, all hastening eagerly, hoping that they might attain what they had heard from the callers. Whoever had strength carried his wife on his camel, she-camel, swift mount, or horse, and they set out in groups, one after another. A man paid no heed to his relative nor to his beloved. And there remained no woman in Banu Sa'd who was suckling or whose suckling had ceased but set out for Mecca (273) with her husband, racing, each seeking to be the foremost. Halimah said: And we were a poor household, so we had no camel, horse, or swift mount, as we had reached a state of the vicissitudes of time, drought of the lands, straitness of livelihood, and death of livestock, and we were on the verge of destruction, had not God overtaken us with the blessing of Muhammad, may God bless him and grant him peace. And there remained to us a she-donkey whose harm had reached its limit; if it walked, what was in its belly would slosh from the severity of its weakness. Its fat had melted, its flesh had gone, its skin had burned, and its ribs had appeared from the extent of its emaciation. So I said to my companion al-Harith: Will you not carry me on this she-donkey so that I may go with the people, and do not delay, for they have preceded us in travel. And if we are prevented from it, it will surely be a grief in our hearts as long as time remains. Al-Harith said: By God, O Halimah, you will carry the she-donkey, and it will not carry you. Or how will you catch up with the people when they have hastened with the camels, loosened the reins on the swift mounts, released the bridles of the horses, urged the mounts vigorously, and driven them swiftly? So where will you catch up with them while you are on this emaciated she-donkey? (274) Indeed, it is unable to move its hoof on the ground, so how can you ride it, you and this child of yours? This is an impossibility that does not enter the imagination. If it were possible for you to bear and ride, we would have caught up with the people and had what they have and been responsible for what they are responsible for. So I said to him: Go with us on it, for God will not return us disappointed. Perhaps we will attain what we hope for as its outcome. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the best of those whose souls yearn and long to see, and whose complaint is established at his illuminated tomb and groans. From the blessing of his pure and holy breath, and the honor of his flourishing and abundant tree, is what has been narrated: that his wet nurse Halimah said: When I wanted to set out with the people, and they had preceded me, al-Harith made the she-donkey step for me, despite its weakness and emaciation. So I rode it with my child, and it crept like the creeping of ants, as if it were pulling its legs out of mud. Al-Harith said to me: Indeed, if you were to return, O Halimah...

"More beautiful and better for you! Do you wish to make me a pastime, a mockery, and a laughingstock for the Banū Saʿd?" So I said to him: "Go with us, for I am hopeful that (275) they will envy you for what is to come to you." And while we were thus, and he was commanding me to return and refusing, suddenly there came upon us from a mountain pass between two hills a man like a towering palm tree in height, with a gleaming, gilded spear in his hand. He approached the she-donkey, struck her on her belly, and said to her: "Proceed with the wet nurse of the Trustworthy One (al-Amīn), the foster mother of the Master of the Messengers, the Beloved of the Lord of the Worlds, the Seal of the Prophets, the Lamp of the Day of Judgment, the Intercessor for the Sinners, and the Master of the First and the Last." And he said: "Proceed, O Ḥalīmah, for Allah has favored you over all your people, since Allah has singled you out for the Most Noble of the Messengers. For Allah, Mighty and Majestic, has commanded me that we should take charge of you and repel from you every rebellious devil, every tyrant, and every obstinate oppressor." Then he disappeared from me. So the she-donkey set out with me like lightning, racing the swift horses and camels. I said to my husband: "Do you not see what I see and hear what I hear?" He said: "I have seen nothing and heard nothing, except that I have become uncertain of my state, as if I were asleep and then awoke. This is a matter whose trace is hidden from us, and I hope that its outcome will be to good." It was but a short while until we caught up with the people (276), and we left them behind us. She (the she-donkey) vied with the horses and camels, and began to overtake them one by one until she reached the front of them. The people approached the Sanctuary (al-Ḥaram) and saw it like a bride displayed in her splendor, radiance, lights, adornment, meadows, and the mountains had blossomed, the trees had leafed out, and the waters had gushed forth, by the blessing of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. So the water descended, the vegetation became green, and they rested for the remainder of their day and night. When morning came, they entered Mecca swiftly, hastening toward what they had been promised, not knowing the people's eagerness except that each one of them, when he found an infant, thought it was him. The women entered, searching the wet nurses, and taking whomever they found. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muḥammad, and to the family of our master Muḥammad, the encompassing ocean of prophethood, the best of those whom the imams invoke in assemblies and gatherings, he from whose blessed and auspicious forehead's blessing, and from whose jewel extracted from the protected recesses of the unseen, it is narrated (277) that his wet nurse Ḥalīmah said: When we reached the Sanctuary and the wet nurses entered Mecca, and the people came out to receive them, his mother Āminah said to his grandfather ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib: "Will you not go out with the people to look for a wet nurse for your son? Blessed is she whom Allah has chosen for him. Were it not for my fear of disgrace from Quraysh, I would never have consented to give him up at all." When ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib left Āminah, He heard a caller saying: * "Indeed, the son of Āminah, the gentle one, Muḥammad, * is the best of mankind and the chosen of the Chosen One. * He has no wet nurse other than the gentle one (al-Ḥalīmah) * Excellent is the trustworthy one over the righteous. * And she is free from every shameful fault * and pure in garments and burdens. * Do not entrust him to other than her, for it is * a matter and a decree that has come from the Almighty (Jabbār)." So Āminah was delighted by that, and she was among the purest women of her people, the most chaste in gaze, and the most modest in private parts. For that reason, Allah, Mighty and Majestic, chose her (278) for His Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. When the women entered upon her, they would ask about his names. If she did not hear the description, she would say: "My son is an orphan, despised, for a child is blessed by his father." When the women heard that he was an orphan, they would turn away from him and leave him. Likewise, ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib would say: "The one I have is an orphan boy, except that he is beautiful and noble. So which of you will nurse him?" When they would hasten to him and ask, "Is he your son?" he would say, "No, but he is with me in the position of a son, and he is an orphan from his father." When they heard that, they turned away, left him, and sought other wet nurses, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muḥammad, and to the family of our master Muḥammad, the best of those to whom sinners seek refuge in his impregnable fortress and sanctuary, and the most excellent of those to whom the needy cling by his fringes and enter under his tent poles, he from whose Muḥammadan care and perfect Aḥmadian sainthood, It is narrated that his wet nurse Ḥalīmah al-Saʿdiyyah said: When I approached my husband and said to him, "I am entering Mecca (279)..."

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1. Ahmadite essence : Refers to the primordial spiritual reality of the Prophet Muhammad, often called the 'Ahmadite reality' or 'Ahmadite light' (al-haqiqa al-Ahmadiyya), which is considered the first creation and source of all existence.
2. highest assembly : Al-mala' al-a'la: The highest celestial assembly of angels and spiritual beings, often mentioned in Sufi and Islamic cosmology.
3. Saqar : One of the names of Hell in the Quran, referring to a specific level or type of torment.
4. Criterion : Al-Furqan: A name for the Quran, meaning 'the Criterion' that distinguishes truth from falsehood.
5. Chosen One : Al-Mustafa: An epithet of the Prophet Muhammad, meaning 'the Chosen One'.
6. Surah As-Saff 61:6 : Quranic verse about Jesus foretelling the coming of Ahmad.
7. Surah Saba' 34:28 : Quranic verse stating Muhammad is sent to all mankind.
8. Surah Al-Anbiya' 21:107 : Quranic verse stating Muhammad is a mercy to the worlds.
9. Kisra : Title of the Sassanid Persian emperor.
10. Surah Al-A'raf 7:158 : Quranic verse where Muhammad is commanded to declare his universal message.
11. Sawah : A lake in Persia that dried up at the birth of Muhammad.
12. Surah Al-Fath 48:29 : Quranic verse describing Muhammad and his companions.
13. Yathrib : Pre-Islamic name of Medina.
14. Haram : The sacred sanctuary in Mecca.
15. Tayyiba : A name for Medina, meaning 'the good/pure city'.
16. al-Mustafawi : Derived from 'al-Mustafa' (the Chosen One), a title of Prophet Muhammad.
17. sura of the opening : Refers to Surat al-Fatiha, the opening chapter of the Quran.
18. people of proximity and union : Refers to those who have attained nearness to God and spiritual union with Him.
19. poles : In Sufism, the highest ranking saints (aqtab) who are the spiritual axis of their time.
20. pegs : In Sufi hierarchy, saints (awtad) who are like 'pegs' holding the spiritual world.
21. substitutes : In Sufism, saints (abdal) who are 'substitutes' or 'alternates' in the spiritual hierarchy.
22. al-ghayba : Spiritual absence or hiddenness; a state where the mystic is absorbed in contemplation of the Divine, oblivious to the world.
23. jamāl al-dhāt : The beauty of the Divine Essence; a Sufi concept referring to the intrinsic beauty of God.
24. ahl al-futūḥāt : People of spiritual openings; Sufis who have received divine illuminations and unveilings.
25. al-mashārib : Spiritual draughts or tastes; the experiential knowledge of divine realities.
26. al-shaṭaḥāt : Ecstatic utterances; paradoxical sayings uttered by Sufis in states of spiritual intoxication.
27. al-khalawāt : Spiritual seclusions; retreats for meditation and worship.
28. al-jalawāt : Unveilings; manifestations of divine truths to the heart.
29. al-karāma : Supernatural gifts or miracles granted to saints (awliyā').
30. al-mushāhada : Spiritual witnessing; direct vision of divine realities.
31. al-ʿiyān : Direct vision; seeing with the eye of the heart.
32. al-ʿulūm al-ladunniyya : Divinely inspired knowledge; knowledge granted directly by God without intermediary.
33. al-ʿirfān : Gnosis; mystical knowledge of God.
34. al-aḥrār : The free ones; spiritually liberated souls.
35. al-arwāḥ al-rūḥāniyya : Spiritual souls; angelic or pure spirits.
36. ṣawāmiʿ al-nūr : Hermitages of light; places of spiritual retreat illuminated by divine light.
37. al-wilāya : Sainthood; the state of being a friend of God (walī).
38. al-ṣafīḥ al-aʿlā : The highest tablet; the Preserved Tablet (al-lawḥ al-maḥfūẓ) in heaven.
39. ḥamalat al-ʿarsh : Bearers of the Throne; angels who carry the Throne of God.
40. sidrat al-muntahā : The Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary; a tree in the seventh heaven marking the limit of angelic knowledge.
41. khuddām al-ḥujub wa al-surādiqāt : Servants of the veils and canopies; angels attending the divine veils and pavilions.
42. al-ḥawḍ al-mawrūd : The visited pool; the celestial pool of Kawthar from which the Prophet's community will drink on Judgment Day.
43. julasāʾ al-ḥaḍra al-ʿindiyya : Companions of the Divine Presence; those who are in intimate proximity to God.
44. ʿawālim al-sirr : Worlds of the secret; hidden spiritual realms.
45. talqiyāt : Receptions: spiritual inspirations or teachings received directly from God.
46. al-maẓāhir al-lāhūtiyya : Divine manifestations: theophanies or appearances of divine attributes in creation.
47. ṭūr al-tajalliyāt : Mount of Theophanies: a reference to the place of divine self-disclosure, akin to Mount Sinai.
48. al-arwāḥ al-ʿulwiyya wa al-sufliyya : Higher and lower spirits: celestial and terrestrial spirits, or angels and human souls.
49. arbāb al-kushūfāt al-ʿiyāniyya : Masters of ocular unveilings: those who have direct spiritual vision or unveiling of realities.
50. irhāṣāt : Portents: miraculous events preceding prophethood, indicating his coming.
51. ahl al-taṣarruf fī al-mamlaka al-sulṭāniyya : People of disposal in the sovereign kingdom: those with spiritual authority to act in the divine realm.
52. al-shafāʿa al-kubrā : The Great Intercession: Muhammad's intercession on the Day of Judgment for all believers.
53. al-maʿārif wa al-ʿawārif : Gnoses and spiritual gifts: divine knowledge and bestowed spiritual states.
54. al-ṣamadāniyya : Eternal: attribute of God as the Self-Sufficient, Eternal Refuge.
55. arbāb al-ishārāt al-ʿirfāniyya : Masters of gnostic allusions: those who understand symbolic references in spiritual knowledge.
56. al-laṭāʾif al-raḥmāniyya : Merciful subtleties: delicate spiritual graces from the All-Merciful.
57. al-karūbiyyūn : Cherubim: a high rank of angels, often associated with nearness to God.
58. khātam al-nubuwwa wa al-risāla : Seal of Prophethood and Messengership: Muhammad as the final prophet and messenger.
59. ummihi al-ḥurra al-maṣūna : His free and protected mother: Āmina, Muhammad's mother, described as free and safeguarded.
60. ʿummār al-barārī wa al-qifār : Dwellers of the deserts and wildernesses: possibly angels or spiritual beings inhabiting desolate places.
61. al-mulk wa al-malakūt : Kingdom and dominion: the physical and spiritual realms of sovereignty.
62. maqāṣīr al-ḥaḍāʾir al-qudsiyya : Chambers of the holy presences: inner sanctuaries of divine proximity.
63. khaṭīb al-ḥaḍra al-ʿindiyya : Orator of the Divine Presence: Muhammad as the speaker in God's presence.
64. bisāṭ al-ʿizz wa al-jabarūt : Carpet of might and omnipotence: the realm of divine power and majesty.
65. al-dawla al-muḥammadiyya wa al-mamlaka al-aḥmadiyya : Muhammadan state and Ahmadine kingdom: the spiritual dominion of Muhammad.
66. maʾdhanat al-fatḥ wa al-dukhūl : Minaret of conquest and entry: a symbol of spiritual victory and access.
67. sirāj al-makūnāt : Lamp of existent beings: Muhammad as the illuminating light for all creation.
68. ḥūr : Houris: beautiful companions in paradise.
69. wildān : Youths: immortal youths serving in paradise.
70. al-mukhtār : The Chosen One: a title of Prophet Muhammad.
71. al-subūḥiyya : Transcendent: attribute of God as absolutely transcendent.
72. ʿulūm al-asrār al-lawḥiyya : Sciences of the Tablet's secrets: knowledge from the Preserved Tablet.
73. jawharatuhu al-muṣṭafawiyya : His chosen essence: the primordial substance of Muhammad.
74. al-nūr al-lāhūtī al-khāṣṣ : Specific divine light: a particular manifestation of God's light.
75. al-raḥma al-ṣamadāniyya : Eternal mercy: mercy from the Eternal, Self-Sufficient God.
76. Kisra : Title of the Sassanid Persian emperor.
77. fire of Persia : The Zoroastrian sacred fire that was said to have been extinguished at the Prophet's birth.
78. Taha : One of the names of the Prophet Muhammad, from the Quranic chapter Taha.
79. Ridwan : The angel keeper of Paradise.
80. Firdaws : The highest level of Paradise.
81. Lake of Sawah : A lake in Persia that reportedly dried up at the Prophet's birth.
82. Valley of Samawah : A valley in Iraq that dried up.
83. Lake of Tiberias : The Sea of Galilee, which reportedly receded.
84. Adnan : Ancestor of the Prophet Muhammad, from the line of Ishmael.
85. Criterion : Al-Furqan, a name for the Quran.
86. Abd al-Muttalib : The grandfather of the Prophet Muhammad.
87. Busra : A city in Syria (modern Bosra).
88. al-liwā' al-ma‘qūd : The knotted banner: a reference to the Prophet Muhammad's banner in Islamic eschatology, symbolizing his leadership and authority.
89. al-ḥawḍ al-mawrūd : The watered pool: the celestial pool (al-Kawthar) in Paradise from which the Prophet's community will drink on the Day of Judgment.
90. misk al-khitām : Musk of the seal: a metaphor for the Prophet as the final and most excellent of prophets, like the precious seal of a letter.
91. al-kawnayn : The two worlds: this world and the Hereafter, or the physical and spiritual realms.
92. al-dārayn : The two abodes: this world and the Hereafter.
93. yatīmat al-‘iqdayn : Orphan of the two necklaces: a poetic description of Amina, meaning she was unique and precious, like a solitary pearl between two necklaces.
94. al-thaqalayn : The two weighty ones: humans and jinn, or the Qur'an and the Prophet's household (Ahl al-Bayt).
95. Ṭayyiba : Tayyiba: a name for Medina, meaning 'the good' or 'the pure'.
96. al-Ḥaram : The Sanctuary: the Sacred Mosque in Mecca, or the entire sacred precinct.
97. al-falāḥ : Success: a term used in the call to prayer (adhan), meaning ultimate success in this life and the Hereafter.
98. al-wasīla : The means: a high rank in Paradise granted to the Prophet Muhammad, which believers ask for in the supplication after the call to prayer.
99. barāhīn qāṭiʿa : Conclusive proofs; certain evidences that admit no doubt.
100. dalāʾil bāhira : Brilliant evidences; clear and manifest proofs.
101. laṭāʾif wahbiyya : Bestowed subtleties; divine gifts of spiritual insight and grace.
102. ʿulūm fākhira : Excellent sciences; noble and precious knowledge.
103. Āmina : The mother of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.
104. karāʾim mutawātira : Successive miracles; miracles reported by numerous chains of transmission.
105. fanāʾ Allāh : The manifestation of Allah; a Sufi term for the annihilation of the self in divine presence.
106. ʿitra : Progeny; the family of the Prophet, especially his descendants.
107. tāj al-risāla : Crown of the message; a title for the Prophet as the pinnacle of prophethood.
108. nūr al-fatḥ al-rabbānī : Light of divine opening; spiritual illumination from the Lord.
109. ʿunṣur al-madad al-raḥmānī : Essence of merciful succor; the source of divine assistance.
110. sabʿ al-mathānī : The seven oft-repeated verses; a reference to Surah Al-Fatiha.
111. istirāq al-samʿ : Eavesdropping; the practice of devils stealing information from heaven.
112. ʿāqid wa nāfith : Knot-tier and blower; practitioners of black magic who tie knots and blow on them.
113. wilāya : Sainthood; spiritual authority and closeness to God.
114. īwān : Archway; the great hall of the Persian palace of Kisra.
115. Kisrā : Chosroes; the title of the Sassanid Persian emperor.
116. kitāb al-ummahāt al-jawāmiʿ : Comprehensive book of mothers; possibly a reference to the Quran as the mother of books.
117. ḥūr ʿīn : Houris; beautiful maidens of paradise.
118. sirr qawī : Strong secret; a Sufi term for a powerful spiritual mystery.
119. qaḍīb aṣfar : Yellow staff; a reference to the staff of Prophet Muhammad.
120. qāba qawsayn aw adnā : Two bow-lengths or nearer; a Quranic phrase (53:9) describing the Prophet's proximity to God during the Ascension.
121. al-ṭabaq al-sābiʿ : The seventh heaven, the highest level of paradise or the celestial sphere in Islamic cosmology.
122. Iblīs : The personal name of Satan in Islam, the jinn who refused to bow to Adam and was cursed by God.
123. ʿifrīt : A powerful and cunning type of jinn, often associated with evil and rebellion.
124. quṭb : In Sufism, the spiritual pole or axis, the highest ranking saint in a given time.
125. Abū Qubays : A mountain in Mecca, near the Kaaba, associated with Islamic tradition.
126. ʿAzāzīl : Another name for Iblis before his fall, often identified with the angel who refused to bow to Adam.
127. al-Furqān : A name for the Quran, meaning 'the Criterion' between right and wrong.
128. al-aqṭāb : Plural of quṭb, the highest ranking saints in the Sufi hierarchy.
129. al-awtād : Literally 'pegs', in Sufism, a rank of saints who uphold the spiritual world.
130. al-abdāl : Literally 'substitutes', in Sufism, a rank of saints who replace each other in the spiritual hierarchy.
131. Iblīs : The proper name of Satan in Islam, derived from Greek diabolos; often used interchangeably with Shayṭān.
132. takhmin : Conjecture, illusion, or suspicion; a form of uncertain knowledge.
133. hads : Strong conjecture or guess; a type of probable opinion.
134. murīd : A disciple or aspirant in Sufism; one who seeks spiritual guidance from a shaykh.
135. sakhāfa : Foolishness or weakness of intellect; a state of mental lightness.
136. rajīm : Accursed, stoned, or driven away; often used to describe Satan as pelted with stones or cursed.
137. Qur'an 38:77-78 : Reference to the verse: 'Then get out of it, for indeed you are accursed. And indeed, upon you is My curse until the Day of Recompense.'
138. zunnār : A girdle or belt worn by non-Muslims (especially Zoroastrians and Christians) as a distinctive mark; cutting it symbolizes abandonment of status.
139. ḥalīl : Spouse or intimate partner; can refer to both husband and wife.
140. Qur'an 4:88 : Reference to the verse: 'And whoever Allah leaves astray, you will never find for him a way.'
141. Qur'an 38:78 : Reference to the verse: 'And indeed, upon you is My curse until the Day of Recompense.'
142. Qur'an 7:14 : Reference to Iblis's request: 'Then give me respite until the Day they are resurrected.'
143. Iblis : The name of Satan in Islam, the chief of the jinn who refused to prostrate to Adam.
144. Mudar : A prominent tribe of Quraysh, the Prophet's lineage.
145. eavesdropper : Refers to jinn or devils who try to eavesdrop on heavenly conversations; they are pelted with stars.
146. Amina : The mother of Prophet Muhammad.
147. Abd Manaf : An ancestor of Prophet Muhammad, from the Quraysh tribe.
148. Possessor of the Throne : A title for Allah, referring to His sovereignty.
149. Ahmad : Another name of Prophet Muhammad, meaning 'most praiseworthy'.
150. arák tree : A tree native to Arabia, often used for toothbrushes (miswak).
151. Sufi : A term for Islamic mystics; here used metaphorically for angels engaged in worship.
152. Near and Responsive : Attributes of Allah: Al-Qarib (the Near) and Al-Mujib (the Responsive).
153. Hassan ibn Thabit : A companion of the Prophet and his renowned poet.
154. Yathrib : The former name of Medina, the city of the Prophet.
155. star of Ahmad : A celestial sign believed to herald the birth of Prophet Muhammad.
156. the One : Al-Wahid, a name of Allah meaning 'the One'.
157. Hamid : A name meaning 'praiseworthy', corresponding to Muhammad.
158. Ahmad : Another name of the Prophet, meaning 'most praiseworthy'.
159. al-Wāḥid : The One, a name of God denoting His uniqueness and oneness.
160. nāfith : One who blows, referring to a practitioner of sorcery who blows knots to cast spells.
161. ʿāqid : One who ties knots, referring to a sorcerer who ties knots as part of spell-casting.
162. jinn mārid : A rebellious or powerful jinn, often associated with evil or disobedience.
163. al-yad al-ʿulyā : The higher hand, a phrase indicating superiority and power, often used in Islamic texts to refer to God's hand being above all.
164. al-khātam : The seal of prophethood, a physical mark between the shoulders of the Prophet Muhammad, believed to be a sign of his prophethood.
165. Waraqa : Waraqa ibn Nawfal, a Christian scholar and relative of Khadija, who recognized Muhammad as a prophet.
166. al-Ḥanīfiyya : The monotheistic religion of Abraham, considered the original pure faith before later deviations.
167. Aḥmad : Another name of the Prophet Muhammad, meaning 'most praiseworthy'.
168. عِفْرِيت : A powerful, rebellious jinn or demon.
169. الْبَيْضَاء : Literally 'the White'; name of a house built by Muhammad ibn Yusuf.
170. الْخَيْزُرَان : Al-Khayzuran, mother of the Abbasid caliphs al-Hadi and Harun al-Rashid.
171. بِرْمَة : A cooking pot made of stone or clay.
172. الْحِجْر : The semi-circular wall adjacent to the Kaaba, also known as Hijr Ismail.
173. الْفُرْقَان : Al-Furqan, a name for the Quran meaning 'the Criterion'.
174. al-Hijr : A sacred enclosure in the Kaaba, also known as the Hijr Ismail, where the Prophet is said to have prayed.
175. Qaf : A letter of the Arabic alphabet; here it may refer to a specific attribute or station of Prophet Moses.
176. imam : A leader, especially in prayer; here meaning a spiritual leader for the righteous.
177. Shifa bint 'Awf : A woman from the tribe of Quraysh who was present at the birth of the Prophet Muhammad.
178. Mount Abu Qubays : A mountain in Mecca, near the Kaaba, associated with various Islamic traditions.
179. al-Batha : The valley of Mecca, often referring to the area around the Kaaba.
180. Banu Zahra : A clan of Quraysh, the tribe of the Prophet Muhammad; here referring to the family of Amina.
181. sundus : A fine green silk fabric, often associated with Paradise.
182. Kisra : The title of the Sassanid Persian emperor; here referring to the arch of the palace of Kisra which is said to have cracked at the Prophet's birth.
183. sājid : Prostrating; a position of worship in Islam, touching the forehead to the ground.
184. Aḥmad : Another name of Prophet Muhammad, meaning 'most praiseworthy'.
185. al-Mukhtār : The Chosen One, a title of Prophet Muhammad.
186. Rabīʿ al-Awwal : The third month of the Islamic lunar calendar, the month of the Prophet's birth.
187. ʿĀm al-Fīl : Year of the Elephant, approximately 570 CE, when Abraha's elephant army attacked Mecca.
188. al-Khalīl : The Friend (of Allah), a title of Prophet Abraham.
189. al-Muṣṭafā : The Chosen One, a title of Prophet Muhammad.
190. takbīr : Saying 'Allāhu Akbar' (Allah is the Greatest).
191. tahlīl : Saying 'Lā ilāha illā Allāh' (There is no god but Allah).
192. al-Māḥī : The Eraser, a name of Prophet Muhammad meaning he erases polytheism.
193. Ismāʿīl : Ishmael, son of Abraham, considered an ancestor of Prophet Muhammad.
194. Riḍwān : The angel keeper of Paradise.
195. Buṣrā : A city in Syria, associated with a prophecy of the Prophet's advent.
196. Kisrā : Title of the Sassanid Persian emperor; his arch shook at the Prophet's birth.
197. al-Maqām al-Maḥmūd : The Praiseworthy Station, a high rank of intercession granted to Prophet Muhammad on Judgment Day.
198. al-Shafāʿa al-Kubrā : The Great Intercession, the Prophet's intercession for all humanity on Judgment Day.
199. Sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam : Arabic phrase meaning 'May Allah bless him and grant him peace,' used after mentioning the Prophet Muhammad.
200. Bayt al-Maqdis : Arabic for Jerusalem, specifically the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
201. Furqan al-Farq : A term referring to the Quran (al-Furqan) and the distinction (al-farq) between truth and falsehood.
202. Sada'a : Arabic verb meaning 'to declare openly' or 'to proclaim,' often used in the context of the Prophet's public preaching.
203. Taha : One of the names of the Prophet Muhammad, derived from the Arabic letters Ta and Ha, which appear at the beginning of Surah Taha in the Quran.
204. Iblis : The name of Satan in Islam, a jinn who refused to bow to Adam and was cursed by Allah.
205. Sa'ada : Arabic for 'felicity' or 'happiness,' often used in Sufi contexts to denote spiritual bliss.
206. Laylat al-Qadr : The Night of Power, a night in Ramadan when the Quran was first revealed, considered better than a thousand months.
207. A'amm : Arabic for 'more general' or 'more comprehensive,' indicating a broader scope of blessing.
208. ahl al-futūḥāt : People of openings: a Sufi term referring to those who have received divine unveilings and spiritual openings.
209. al-taklīm : Divine speech: the state of being addressed directly by God, as in the case of prophets.
210. al-muḥādathah : Intimate conversation: a Sufi term for direct spiritual communication with God or the Prophet.
211. tabbat yadāh : Perish his hands: reference to Quran 111:1, condemning Abu Lahab.
212. Aḥmad : Another name of the Prophet Muhammad, meaning 'most praiseworthy'.
213. rabīʿan : Spring: a pun on the month of Rabi' al-Awwal, the month of the Prophet's birth, and the season of spring, symbolizing renewal and nearness.
214. ahl al-jadhabāt : People of attraction: Sufi term for those who are spiritually drawn to God.
215. al-shaṭaḥāt : Ecstatic utterances: paradoxical or ecstatic sayings of Sufis, often considered a sign of spiritual intoxication.
216. Ṭaybah wa al-bayt al-ḥarām : Taybah (Medina) and the Sacred House (Kaaba in Mecca).
217. aʿyādan : Festivals: referring to the celebration of the Prophet's birthday (Mawlid).
218. Ṭāhā : One of the names of the Prophet Muhammad, from Quran 20:1.
219. ʿuhūd al-suʿūd : Covenants of felicity: the spiritual commitments made by believers to celebrate the Prophet's birth.
220. al-Muṣṭafā : The Chosen One: a title of the Prophet Muhammad.
221. al-ajrās wa al-awtād : Bells and pegs: symbolic terms; bells may refer to spiritual callers, pegs to saints who stabilize the earth.
222. al-muqarrabīn : The near ones: those brought near to God, often referring to angels or high-ranking saints.
223. dakhalat : Entered: the text says 'dakhalat' (feminine plural), referring to the women who visited Aminah.
224. wasīlat al-mutawassilīn : The means of those who seek means: the Prophet as an intermediary in supplication.
225. ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib : The grandfather of the Prophet Muhammad.
226. Al-Muttalib : Al-Muttalib ibn Abd Manaf, the grandfather of the Prophet Muhammad.
227. noble angels : Refers to angels who came to honor the newborn Prophet.
228. Rabi' al-Awwal : The third month of the Islamic lunar calendar, the month of the Prophet's birth.
229. year three hundred and seventy-three and four hundred and four thousand : A symbolic or exaggerated date indicating the time from Adam's descent, not a historical date.
230. invisible callers : Refers to spiritual beings or angels who announced the Prophet's birth.
231. Chosen One : Al-Mustafa, an epithet of the Prophet Muhammad.
232. Kisra : Title of the Sassanid Persian emperor.
233. house of fire : Refers to Zoroastrian fire temples, which were said to have been extinguished at the Prophet's birth.
234. ants of merit : A metaphorical expression for humble beings who receive honor.
235. Hawwa' : Eve, the mother of humanity.
236. Ahmad : Another name of the Prophet Muhammad, meaning 'most praiseworthy'.
237. daughter of Wahb : Aminah bint Wahb, the mother of the Prophet Muhammad.
238. scented him : Refers to the angels perfuming the newborn Prophet.
239. Caesar : Title of the Byzantine emperor.
240. al-Batha' : A valley in Mecca, also a name for Mecca itself.
241. Self-Subsisting : Al-Qayyum, one of the names of Allah.
242. treasuries of the unseen : Refers to divine knowledge and mysteries.
243. known station : Al-Maqam al-Mahmud, the Praiseworthy Station, a rank granted to the Prophet on the Day of Judgment.
244. light of the eye's blackness : An Arabic idiom meaning 'apple of the eye', i.e., most beloved.
245. turban and the staff : Symbols of authority and prophethood.
246. Torah and the Gospel : The scriptures revealed to Moses and Jesus, which foretold the coming of Muhammad.
247. wilāya : Sainthood or spiritual authority, often used in Sufism to denote the state of being a saint (walī).
248. jawhar : Jewel or essence; here metaphorically refers to the Prophet's luminous essence or body.
249. tāj al-‘ināya : Crown of divine care or providence.
250. kahf al-ḥimāya : Cave of protection; a metaphor for refuge.
251. al-‘urwa al-wuthqā : The firmest handhold; a Qur'anic phrase (2:256) meaning the most reliable bond.
252. miftāḥ al-dirāya : Key of knowledge or understanding.
253. barzakh : Isthmus or barrier; in Sufism, an intermediate realm or a being that connects the spiritual and material worlds.
254. ḥirz : Talisman or protective amulet.
255. al-janāb al-aḥmad : The Ahmadian presence; Ahmad is one of the Prophet's names, meaning 'most praiseworthy'.
256. darajat al-nihāya : Station of the ultimate end; the highest spiritual rank.
257. al-batūl : The virgin; a title of Fatima, the Prophet's daughter, meaning 'the chaste' or 'the pure'.
258. kanz al-kifāya : Treasure of sufficiency; divine provision.
259. kaḥīl : Having kohl applied to the eyes; a sign of beauty.
260. al-anfās : The breaths; possibly referring to the midwives or the breaths of angels.
261. al-mashāhid : The witnessed stations; spiritual realms or places of divine manifestation.
262. al-hawātif : Invisible callers or voices from the unseen.
263. Kisrā : Chosroes; title of the Sassanid Persian emperor.
264. thawāqib al-shuhub : Blazing meteors; refers to the stars used to repel jinn, as mentioned in the Qur'an (67:5).
265. ḥasanun bi-sann : Beautiful with a tooth; a phrase indicating a beautiful smile.
266. sirr al-lāhūtiyya : The secret of divinity; a Sufi term for the divine essence.
267. quṭb : Pole or axis; in Sufism, the highest spiritual authority of an age.
268. mashhadihi al-karīm : His noble station; refers to the Prophet's spiritual rank or the place of his birth.
269. al-ḥawḍ al-mawrūd : The overflowing pool; the celestial pool of the Prophet Muhammad in Paradise, from which his followers will drink.
270. al-liwā' al-maʿqūd : The tied banner; the Prophet's banner of praise, tied to indicate his leadership on the Day of Resurrection.
271. ʿayn al-aʿyān : The eye of eyes; a superlative expression meaning the most excellent or the quintessence.
272. rūḥ wa rayḥān : Spirit and fragrant breeze; a phrase from the Quran (56:89) indicating divine favor and bliss.
273. Maʿd : Ancestor of the northern Arab tribes, from whom the Prophet descends.
274. ʿAdnān : Ancestor of the Adnanite Arabs, including the Prophet Muhammad.
275. Ṭāhā : One of the names of the Prophet Muhammad, from the Quranic chapter Taha (20:1).
276. al-Bayt : The Kaaba in Mecca, the sacred House of Allah.
277. al-Ḥaram : The Sacred Mosque in Mecca, the sanctuary surrounding the Kaaba.
278. Āmina : The mother of the Prophet Muhammad.
279. Aḥmad : Another name of the Prophet Muhammad, meaning 'most praiseworthy'.
280. al-nār : The fire; refers to the Zoroastrian sacred fire in Persia, which was extinguished at the Prophet's birth.
281. Iblīs : Satan, the devil.
282. al-ʿArsh : The Throne of Allah, the greatest of all created things.
283. al-Kursī : The Footstool of Allah, mentioned in the Quran (2:255), often interpreted as a vast creation encompassing the heavens and earth.
284. shuhub : Shooting stars; meteors used to drive away eavesdropping jinn, as mentioned in the Quran (72:8-9).
285. al-sayyid : A title of honor meaning 'master' or 'lord', often used for the Prophet Muhammad.
286. Ridwan : The angel guardian of Paradise.
287. al-akwān : The worlds or realms of existence.
288. al-amṣār : Major cities or metropolises, often referring to the early Islamic garrison cities.
289. Shāfiʿ al-aḍrār : The intercessor for harms, a title of the Prophet Muhammad.
290. al-ghizār : Abundant or plentiful, describing the generous gifts.
291. maṣābīḥ al-anwār : Lamps of lights, a metaphor for spiritual illumination.
292. Muhammad : The praised one; the Prophet's name derived from the root ḥ-m-d, meaning praise.
293. Ahmad : Another name of the Prophet meaning 'more praiseworthy' or 'one who praises God'.
294. Mahmud : A name meaning 'praised' or 'commendable'.
295. Muhaymin : One of God's names meaning 'the Dominant' or 'the Guardian'; here applied to the Prophet as a title.
296. Taha : One of the Prophet's names, from the Arabic letters Ṭā' and Hā', often interpreted as 'O pure one' or 'O guide'.
297. al-Zahran : A location near Mecca, possibly a mountain pass.
298. Aries : The astrological sign corresponding to the month of Nisan (April).
299. al-wasa'il : Means of approach; here referring to the Prophet and his family as means to draw near to God.
300. Muhammad : The praised one; the Prophet's name.
301. Salman : Salman al-Farisi, a Persian companion of the Prophet who traveled to meet him.
302. 'Alwa wa la Labna : Two place names or types of trees; the line is a poetic fragment.
303. Rum : The Byzantine or Roman Empire, often referring to Anatolia.
304. Suhayb : Suhayb al-Rumi, a companion of the Prophet originally from Byzantium.
305. khuzam : A fragrant plant, lavender or similar.
306. Uways al-Qarani : A famous ascetic from Yemen who believed in the Prophet without meeting him.
307. thaman : Price or value; he devoted himself without seeking material gain.
308. Rabi'a wa Mudar : Two large Arab tribal groups, meaning a great multitude.
309. al-qadr : Rank, status, or divine decree.
310. Bilal : Bilal ibn Rabah, the first muezzin of Islam, originally from Abyssinia.
311. Tihama : The coastal region of Arabia including Mecca and Jeddah.
312. balwah : Affliction, trial, or calamity.
313. ʿĀmir : A companion of the Prophet Muhammad, known for his intense love and devotion; his full name is ʿĀmir ibn ʿAbd Allāh al-Yamānī.
314. Sayyid al-Anām : Master of Mankind, a title for the Prophet Muhammad.
315. tawfīq : Divine success or facilitation granted by Allah.
316. al-Bayt : The Kaaba in Mecca, the sacred house of Allah.
317. shaqq al-qamar : The splitting of the moon, a miracle attributed to the Prophet Muhammad.
318. al-yawm al-mashhūd : The witnessed Day, referring to the Day of Judgment.
319. Zamzam wa al-Ṣafā : Zamzam is the sacred well in Mecca; al-Ṣafā is a hill near the Kaaba, both associated with the rites of Hajj.
320. Tihāma : A region in western Arabia, including Mecca.
321. ʿAdnān : Ancestor of the Prophet Muhammad, from whom the Adnanite Arabs descend.
322. Muḥammad wa Aḥmad : Two names of the Prophet; Muhammad means 'the praised one', Ahmad means 'more praiseworthy'.
323. yuʿfā ʿan al-jānī : The sinner is forgiven; a reference to the Prophet's intercession.
324. Ḥanīf : A monotheist inclined to the pure religion of Abraham, before the advent of Islam.
325. Āmina : The mother of the Prophet Muhammad.
326. qālat : She said; the subject is Amina, the Prophet's mother.
327. ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib : The grandfather of the Prophet Muhammad, who raised him after his parents' death.
328. malā' al-akwān : The realm of the worlds; a Sufi term referring to the spiritual domain encompassing all created beings.
329. al-Muṣṭafā : The Chosen One; an epithet of the Prophet Muhammad.
330. Qibā : A place near Medina where the Prophet Muhammad built the first mosque; here used poetically.
331. Āmina al-Amīna : Amina the Trustworthy; the mother of the Prophet Muhammad.
332. Ḥalīma al-Ḥalīma : Halima the Gentle; the foster mother of the Prophet Muhammad from the tribe of Sa'd.
333. rabīʿ : Spring; a metaphor for the Prophet's arrival bringing renewal and joy.
334. al-ʿulūm al-laduniyya : Esoteric or divine sciences; knowledge directly bestowed by God.
335. Ibn ʿAbbās : Abdullah ibn Abbas, a cousin of the Prophet and a renowned early scholar of Islam.
336. ḥaẓā'ir al-quds : Enclosures of holiness; a Sufi term for the highest spiritual realms.
337. al-aʿrāf : The elevated places; a term from the Quran (7:46) referring to a barrier between Paradise and Hell, but here used metaphorically for high spiritual stations.
338. Suha : A faint star in the constellation Ursa Major, used metaphorically for something hidden or subtle.
339. 'Illiyin : The highest station in Paradise, mentioned in the Quran (83:18-19).
340. Tayba : A name for Medina, meaning 'good' or 'pleasant'.
341. Frequent House : Al-Bayt al-Ma'mur, the celestial Kaaba in the heavens, visited by angels.
342. Salsabil : A spring in Paradise mentioned in the Quran (76:18).
343. Halimah al-Sa'diyyah : The wet nurse of the Prophet Muhammad, from the tribe of Banu Sa'd.
344. sirr : Secret; in Sufism, refers to the innermost spiritual mystery or the divine secret.
345. khususiyyah : Speciality; a Sufi term for the particular spiritual station or closeness to God granted to saints.
346. ladunni : Divine, God-given knowledge; knowledge from the divine presence, as in 'ilm ladunni.
347. Kun fayakun : Arabic phrase meaning 'Be, and it is'; refers to God's creative command.
348. al-muzzammil wa al-muddaththir : Titles of the Prophet Muhammad from Surahs al-Muzzammil and al-Muddaththir, meaning 'the enwrapped' and 'the covered one'.
349. hanifiyyah : The primordial monotheistic religion, often associated with the religion of Abraham.
350. Jabal al-Hajun : A mountain in Mecca, near the cemetery of al-Ma'la.
351. Zuhriyyah : A woman from the tribe of Zuhrah, a branch of Quraysh; Aminah bint Wahb was from this tribe.
352. Munaf : A place or ancestor; unclear, possibly a reference to a lineage.
353. Taybah : One of the names of Medina, meaning 'the good' or 'the pleasant'.
354. aqiqah : The Islamic tradition of sacrificing an animal on the seventh day after a child's birth.
355. Ka'bah : The sacred cube-shaped building in Mecca; here used metaphorically for the Prophet's presence.
356. Sidrat al-Muntaha : The Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary, a celestial tree in the seventh heaven marking the limit of angelic knowledge.
357. al-Bayt al-Ma'mur : The Frequented House, a celestial counterpart of the Ka'ba in the seventh heaven, visited by angels.
358. dhawat al-khudur : Veiled ones, referring to women or celestial beings kept in seclusion.
359. akabir al-muhibbin : Great lovers, referring to advanced spiritual devotees or saints.
360. arbab al-mawajid : Masters of spiritual ecstasies, Sufi term for those experiencing divine rapture.
361. al-faza' al-akbar : The Great Terror, a reference to the Day of Judgment's supreme fear.
362. al-arwah al-ruhiyya : Spiritual spirits, a term for subtle spiritual entities or souls.
363. al-anwar al-subuhiyya : Glorified lights, lights attributed to God's attribute of Glory (Subuh).
364. Alastu bi-Rabbikum : The primordial covenant (Qur'an 7:172) where God asked souls 'Am I not your Lord?'
365. Lawh al-Hifz : The Preserved Tablet, the celestial tablet containing all divine decrees.
366. Ahmadi : Pertaining to Ahmad, one of Prophet Muhammad's names, meaning 'most praiseworthy'.
367. Mustafawi : Pertaining to Mustafa, 'the Chosen One', a title of Prophet Muhammad.
368. Wa ma bina illa lahu taqam ta'lam : An obscure phrase, possibly a misquotation or mystical expression; meaning unclear.
369. Jibra'iliyya : Pertaining to the angel Jibra'il (Gabriel).
370. Mika'iliyya : Pertaining to the angel Mika'il (Michael).
371. Israfiliyya : Pertaining to the angel Israfil (Raphael), who blows the trumpet.
372. Malak al-Hijab al-A'zam : Angel of the Greatest Veil, a high-ranking angel guarding divine secrets.
373. Shawash al-Bisat al-Afkham : Chief of the Most Magnificent Carpet, a title for a high angelic being.
374. al-Ahadiyya al-Aqdam : The Most Ancient Oneness, a Sufi term for the primordial divine unity.
375. al-mutahharun : The purified, referring to angels or those spiritually pure (Qur'an 56:79).
376. Huwa : He, a divine name referring to God's transcendent essence.
377. sundus : A fine, green silk brocade; often used in descriptions of Paradise.
378. adfār : Intensely fragrant musk; a metaphor for the Prophet's blessed scent.
379. ḥijāb Allāh al-aʿẓam : The Greatest Veil of Allah; a Sufi term indicating the Prophet as the supreme intermediary between God and creation.
380. sirruhu al-jāmiʿ al-akbar : His All-Encompassing Supreme Secret; refers to the Prophet as the comprehensive manifestation of divine attributes.
381. rayḥāna : Basil; a fragrant herb, symbolizing the Prophet's pleasing aroma and spiritual fragrance.
382. muqarrab : One brought near; a term for a saint or angel close to God.
383. arbāb al-aḥwāl : Masters of spiritual states; Sufi adepts who experience divine states (aḥwāl).
384. madd : Spiritual succor or support; a flow of divine grace.
385. karūbiyyūn : Cherubim; a high rank of angels.
386. sayyid al-aswad wa al-aḥmar : Master of the Black and the Red; a phrase meaning master of all humanity, encompassing all races.
387. salsabīl : A spring in Paradise; also a metaphor for spiritual refreshment.
388. ṭāʾiruhu al-maymūn : His auspicious bird; a reference to the practice of augury, here indicating good fortune.
389. Riḍwān : The guardian angel of Paradise.
390. yāsamīn : Jasmine; a fragrant flower symbolizing beauty and purity.
391. narjis : Narcissus; a flower often associated with beauty and humility.
392. uqḥuwān : Chamomile; a flower with medicinal and aromatic properties.
393. sūsan : Iris; a flower symbolizing royalty and wisdom.
394. rayḥān : Basil; a fragrant herb often used in Islamic symbolism for blessing.
395. nisrīn : Eglantine or sweetbriar; a type of wild rose.
396. danānīr lil-lujayn : Silver coins; metaphor for dew drops or white flowers.
397. Sal‘ : A place near Medina, possibly a mountain or valley.
398. Zurud : A place name, possibly a valley or region.
399. Sāwah : A lake in Persia that dried up or a town; associated with the birth of the Prophet.
400. Kisrā : Title of the Sassanid Persian emperor; here referring to the extinguishing of the Zoroastrian sacred fire.
401. Najrān : A region in Yemen; its soothsayers predicted the coming of a prophet.
402. Baḥīrā : A Christian monk who recognized the Prophet Muhammad as a child.
403. ‘Ād : An ancient Arabian tribe mentioned in the Quran, known for their arrogance.
404. Thamūd : An ancient Arabian tribe mentioned in the Quran, destroyed for their disbelief.
405. Ṣiddīq : The 'Truthful'; epithet of Abu Bakr, the first Caliph.
406. Ṭaybah : Another name for Medina, meaning 'good' or 'pleasant'.
407. Anṣār : The 'Helpers'; the inhabitants of Medina who supported the Prophet after his migration.
408. Abū Ayyūb : Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, a companion who hosted the Prophet in Medina.
409. Abū Ṭalḥah : A companion known for his generosity and bravery.
410. Salmān : Salman al-Farsi, a Persian companion who sought the Prophet.
411. Muṣṭafā : The 'Chosen One'; an epithet of the Prophet Muhammad.
412. Salsabīl : A spring in Paradise mentioned in the Quran (76:18).
413. Kawthar : A river in Paradise given to the Prophet Muhammad (Quran 108:1).
414. Mūsawī : Mosaic; relating to Prophet Moses, symbolizing steadfastness.
415. ‘Īsawī : Christ-like; relating to Prophet Jesus, symbolizing mercy and love.
416. Muḥammadī : Muhammadan; relating to the Prophet Muhammad, symbolizing the final prophetic station.
417. Aḥmadī : Ahmadi; relating to the name Ahmad, another name of the Prophet, symbolizing praise.
418. Muṣṭafawī : Mustafan; relating to the epithet Mustafa, meaning 'chosen'.
419. Ṭāhā : One of the names of the Prophet Muhammad, derived from the Arabic letters Ṭā and Hā, often interpreted as 'O pure one' or 'O guide'.
420. Āmina : The mother of the Prophet Muhammad, known for her piety and the miraculous signs accompanying his birth.
421. messengers : Refers to angels or prophets who conveyed the glad tidings of the Prophet's birth to Āmina in a dream.
422. spring : A metaphor for the Prophet's advent as a source of spiritual life and renewal, often associated with the season of spring.
423. ʿAbd Manāf : An ancestor of the Prophet Muhammad from the Quraysh tribe, a prominent figure in pre-Islamic Mecca.
424. Quṣayy : An ancestor of the Prophet Muhammad, known for uniting the Quraysh tribe and establishing control over Mecca.
425. al-ʿAbbās ibn ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib : The uncle of the Prophet Muhammad, a companion who embraced Islam later and is known for narrating traditions about the Prophet's childhood.
426. Ḥalīma : Ḥalīma al-Saʿdiyya, the wet nurse of the Prophet Muhammad, who took care of him during his infancy in the desert.
427. Indeed, I am the servant of God... : Qur'anic verse 19:30, spoken by Jesus as an infant, affirming his prophethood.
428. esoteric sciences : Refers to divine or mystical knowledge (al-ʿulūm al-ladunniyya) granted directly by God to the saints and prophets.
429. Abū Dhuʾayb : The father of Ḥalīma al-Saʿdiyya, indicating her lineage from the Banū Saʿd tribe.
430. Banū Saʿd : A tribe of the Hawāzin confederation, known for providing wet nurses to the Quraysh, including the Prophet Muhammad.
431. Aḥmad : Another name of the Prophet Muhammad, meaning 'most praiseworthy', mentioned in the Qur'an (61:6) as a prophecy by Jesus.
432. gnostic sciences : Spiritual knowledge (maʿārif) acquired through divine illumination and mystical experience.
433. spiritual gifts : Divine favors or graces (ʿawārif) bestowed upon the Prophet and his followers.
434. السكينة : Al-Sakinah: A divine tranquility or peace, often associated with the presence of God.
435. الولاية : Wilayah: Sainthood or spiritual authority, often used in Sufi contexts.
436. عوالم الأرواح الروحانية : Spiritual worlds of spirits: Refers to the realm of pure spirits or angels.
437. هياكل الأشخاص النورانية : Templates of luminous beings: Refers to the archetypal forms of light, possibly angelic or spiritual entities.
438. صور الخلائق الإنسانية : Forms of human creatures: Refers to the physical forms of human beings.
439. عرائس المظاهر الفردانية : Brides of solitary manifestations: A Sufi term for the highest spiritual realities or theophanies.
440. ظهور المشاهد الرحمانية : Appearances of merciful visions: Refers to the manifestations of God's mercy.
441. الكشوفات العيانية : Ocular unveilings: Direct spiritual visions or unveilings of hidden realities.
442. لَقَدْ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ : Quran 9:128: 'There has certainly come to you a Messenger from among yourselves.'
443. الحضرة القدسية : The Holy Presence: Refers to the divine presence or the presence of God.
444. المقامات الإصفائية : Stations of purity: Spiritual stations in Sufism characterized by purity.
445. غيب الهويات : Unseen of ipseities: The hidden realm of divine essences or identities.
446. برازخ : Barzakhs: Intermediary realms or isthmuses between the physical and spiritual worlds.
447. الجوهرة المحمدية : The Muhammadan jewel: A term for the spiritual essence of Prophet Muhammad.
448. النسمة الطاهرة الأحمدية : The pure Ahmadian soul: Refers to the soul of Prophet Muhammad, Ahmad being another name.
449. المصطفوية : Mustafawian: Pertaining to al-Mustafa, 'the Chosen One,' a title of Prophet Muhammad.
450. هَذَا عَطَاؤُنَا فَامْنُنْ أَوْ أَمْسِكْ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ : Quran 38:39: 'This is Our gift, so bestow or withhold without account.'
451. āya : Quranic verse 57:21, often cited to express divine favor.
452. barīd al-azal : The messenger of pre-eternity; a Sufi term for a spiritual envoy from the timeless realm.
453. nāmūs al-sirr : The law of the secret; refers to the divine law or principle governing hidden mysteries.
454. rūḥ al-amr : The spirit of the command; a Qur'anic phrase (17:85) referring to a divine spirit or the essence of the divine command.
455. sawābiq al-sa‘āda : Precedents of felicity; predestined blessings or divine favors decreed from eternity.
456. al-Muṣṭafā : The Chosen One; a title of the Prophet Muhammad.
457. ṭalsam al-ḥirmān : Talisman of deprivation; a metaphorical barrier preventing spiritual insight.
458. hawātif : Voices from the unseen; angelic or spiritual voices that communicate divine messages.
459. wa qaḍā li-l-sābiq : And He decreed for the precedent; a reference to divine decree and predestination.
460. Muṣṭafawiyya : Pertaining to al-Muṣṭafā (the Prophet Muhammad); of Mustafan quality.
461. Tūnis : Tunis; here used metaphorically for the Prophet's place or state, possibly referring to his city or spiritual abode.
462. Kaf and Nun : Reference to the Arabic letters ك and ن, which form the imperative 'Kun' (Be), by which God creates.
463. Seven Oft-Repeated : Refers to Sura al-Fatiha, the opening chapter of the Quran, which consists of seven verses and is often recited.
464. ṣallā llāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam : A formula of blessing and peace invoked upon the Prophet Muhammad, meaning 'may God bless him and grant him peace'.
465. ʿĀdim : An ancient ancestor of the Prophet Muhammad, often considered a progenitor of the Arab tribes.
466. ʿAdnān : A legendary ancestor of the northern Arab tribes, from whom the Prophet Muhammad's lineage is traced.
467. al-Rūḥ : The Spirit, often referring to the Archangel Gabriel or a divine spiritual force in Islamic mysticism.
468. bint Wahb : Daughter of Wahb, referring to Āmina bint Wahb, the mother of the Prophet Muhammad.
469. Banū Saʿd : The tribe of Banu Sa'd, a branch of the Hawazin tribe, to which the Prophet's wet nurse Ḥalīma belonged.
470. Ḥalīma : Ḥalīma al-Saʿdiyya, the wet nurse of the Prophet Muhammad, known for her role in his early childhood.
471. Allahu Akbar : Arabic phrase meaning 'Allah is the Greatest', used as an expression of awe and praise.
472. Ahmadian : Derived from Ahmad, another name of the Prophet Muhammad, meaning 'most praiseworthy'.
473. Halima : Halima bint Abi Dhu'ayb, the wet nurse of the Prophet Muhammad from the tribe of Banu Sa'd.
474. Hashimite : Belonging to the Banu Hashim clan of the Quraysh tribe, the clan of the Prophet Muhammad.
475. Banu Sa'd : The tribe of Banu Sa'd ibn Bakr, to which Halima belonged, known for their eloquence and hospitality.
476. murḍiʿatuhu : His wet nurse, referring to Halima al-Sa'diyya, who nursed the Prophet Muhammad in his infancy.
477. ṣallā llāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam : May Allah bless him and grant him peace; a formula of respect uttered after mentioning the Prophet Muhammad.
478. al-Ḥamd : Literally 'the Praise'; here personified as a being representing the act of praising Allah, possibly an angel or a spiritual entity.
479. al-hilāl al-badr : The crescent moon and the full moon; metaphors for the Prophet Muhammad, indicating his luminous and blessed nature.
480. yaʾkulna : They eat; in context, the women are gathering and eating plants or herbs.
481. atānī ātin : A visitor came to me; likely an angel or a spiritual being in a dream or vision.