The dhikr [1] of the heart is the secret of the soul, and the dhikr of the tongue is the…

The dhikr [1] of the heart is the secret of the soul, and the dhikr of the tongue is the key to the heart. So when the dhikr of the heart is established, the dhikr of the tongue becomes a veil [2] for it, and the dhikr of the heart is the essence of the dhikr of the tongue.

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. And may Allah bless our master Muhammad and his family. Praise be to Allah, who made Muhammadan love the emblem of the awtad ¹, aqtab ², ajras ³, and abdāl ⁴; and occupation with praising the noble traits of Ahmad's ⁵ lordship the result of words and deeds; and exalting his noble rank in the assemblies of the rememberers the gain of the great and the mighty among men; and delight in hearing his noble qualities and miracles the sustenance of the constitution of the people of intimacy and boldness; and abundance of blessings and peace upon him elevates to the highest ranks and stations of nearness and connection; and immersion in the compositions of praises of his beautiful attributes consoles hearts and removes from them most of the distress, grief, worries, and terrors; and longing to see his blessed landmarks and his illuminated, lush, unique garden bestows abundant gifts and secrets that cannot be measured by any limit or example; and seeking intercession through him and seeking means through his station pours forth oceans of grace, generosity, kindness, and favor; and it prompts the testimony ⁶ in moments of bewilderment and secures from the greatest terror on the day of presentation and questioning. This is because when I completed the composition of our book called Dhakhīrat al-Muḥtāj ⁷, and the refinement of its brilliant prayers of exquisite beauty and delight, and its supplications, means, and entreaties that herald good fortune, blessing, and success in eternal happiness and entry into Paradise for whoever is hopeful and desirous of its favor, I concluded that by seeking aid and assistance from the owner of the banner and crown, the lofty station, the high ascent and miʿrāj ⁸, the eye of divine mercy, the cloud of abundant good, the mine of grace and generosity, the sea of kindness with crashing waves, and asking for intercession for myself, my parents, my children, my wives and spouses, my family, neighbors, relatives, loved ones, and brothers in Allah, and all believing men and women, Muslim men and women, the living among them and the dead, and whoever has a connection to us and is enrolled in our path and integrated. O Allah, O swift in relief, O rescuer of the drowning from the crisis of distress and hardship, O who makes ships run upon the surging flood, have mercy on us, O our Master, with Your pardon, and take care of us with Your hidden kindness, and pull us out from the mires of destruction, and bring us to the watering places of Your purity, and open the doors of Your generosity in our faces, and accept us despite the crookedness in us, and sanctify our souls when we die in Your Paradise with those whom You have blessed from among the prophets, the truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous, and grant us enjoyment of Your pleasure, and lodge us in its lofty chambers and its gardens with pleasant breeze and fragrance, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. ❖ More beneficial in the meanings of describing the people of high rank is a glance, ❖ And more delightful in the garden of praising them is a glance, ❖ And prolonged when I compose the descriptions of Ahmad, ❖ And his noble companions, and encompassed the description, ❖ And arranged virtues from their noble traits, ❖ And recorded in their highest level the books and scrolls, ❖ Those are qualities whose mention and description of their traits, ❖ Increases my love to double its double, ❖ By them the soil of the plain of Taybah ⁹ is sweetened, ❖ By them the glory of its abode is exalted, ❖ By them its fragrance spread and its breeze wafted, ❖ By them its soil surpassed the light of the hills in fragrance, ❖ They established the highest and revived its traces, ❖ So the pride of highness became upon them a standing endowment, ❖ Stations in which my sickness and ailment were cured, ❖ Oh how sweet life is with them and how pure! ❖ O best of Allah's creation, be for me a means, ❖ For I have taken no support besides You, nor a refuge, ❖ My intercessor, O best of mankind, are praises, ❖ Which I string as pearls and compose as gems, ❖ When those who hope for intercession from You come, ❖ And I race them one day, I present them in a row, ❖ Perhaps by praising the Hashimite ¹⁰ and his companions, ❖ The Merciful will grant me from His bounty a kindness, ❖ Upon them be the peace of Allah as long as a cooing dove, ❖ In a garden of beauty with a curtain spread. And I present before that brilliant, majestic, excellent, blessed, abundant prayers in praise of him, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and the honor of his praise, and preferring his love over every beloved, so that for its reader, with complete love and attainment of high ranks, it may be a guarantor and sponsor, containing authentic transmitted hadiths, and good, pure, lofty reports, concerning his hearing, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, the praises of the Companions for him during his migration to his illuminated, pure city and his arrival in its ambergris-scented, musk-scented land, and their exaltation of his rank when they would chant that and spread it before him, magnifying his illuminated, radiant countenance and his Muhammadan, Mustafawian ¹¹ lordship, and he would hear that from them and listen to it with his ears, his limbs, and the worlds of his heart's secrets, and sometimes he would say with them, and sometimes he would urge them to that and say to them: 'This is stronger than the arrow against the hearts of the disbelievers, those with hard hearts and evil deeds.' So I say, and from Allah I hope to achieve the goal and attain the desired: a great opening, a beautiful praise, an abundant noble praise, and a Muhammadan love that heals the sick and quenches the thirst, and delightful listening.

He stirs the hearts of those yearning to praise the possessor of the kohl-rimmed eye and the smooth cheek, my master and lord Muhammad ibn Abdullah, the root of noble honor and ancient glory, the pole of sovereignty, praised by the tongue of the Oneness in the Torah, the Gospel, and the decisive Revelation. Section (4) O Allah, bless him and his family with a blessing that has no peer or likeness, bestowing its fragrant breezes upon his illuminated tomb at dawn and dusk, and be for us in this world and the Hereafter a protection by whose Muhammadan blessing we fortify ourselves and seek shade under its ample shadow, 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 sovereignty, the clear path and way, the mountain of glory, noble in clan and tribe, the desire of the people of spiritual will, praised in the Torah, the Criterion, and the Gospel, the lamp of sciences and benefit, preferred over the Prophet, the Speaker to God, and the Friend of God, the locus of devotion and worship, named the possessor of the banner, crown, and diadem, blessed in origin and birth, the intercessor and guarantor for his community. Section O Allah, bless him and his family with a blessing that multiplies for us the little, ennobles through it the lowly and abased, brightens our faces with its light among the praisers, and makes it for us the noblest means and guide to Paradise, 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 master of the pious, the opening of remembrances, the treasure of gifts ¹² and secrets, the delight of thoughts and reflections, the pole of sovereignty, blessed in tomb and visitation, the bride of the divine presences, lofty in rank and status, a blessing of a servant praising his sovereignty in secret and public, praising him with what he loved of the audition that was mentioned before him when he migrated from Mecca to Medina and settled there, and life became pleasant for him and his abode delightful, and Allah made the people and neighbors happy with his arrival, and he began building his mosque surrounded by radiances and lights, in the place where his noble she-camel, exalted in glory and pride, knelt, adorned with the adornment of secluded ladies and virgin brides, the place of Banu 'Afra' near the house of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari of Banu al-Najjar, the maternal uncles of his father, the glorious, virtuous, and excellent ones. So the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, from the Emigrants and Helpers, carried the bricks on their shoulders for construction, rejoicing at the arrival of the Master of masters and the Ornament of the chosen messengers, while he carried with them, his face beaming like a piece of the moon or a radiant dawn, or a morning whose light shone upon the highlands and lowlands. 'Ammar said to him: "O Messenger of Allah, you are the light for sight and insight, the spirit for the body, the sustenance, the treasure, the store, the pride, the banner, the might, and the victory. The pebbles glorified in your palm, and water gushed from between your fingers ¹³ like pouring rain. I carry for you and for myself, and I bear hardships and dangers for you, and I ransom you with my father and mother, and I spend wealth and lifetimes in your love." So he, peace and blessings be upon him, said to him: "Will not the rebellious group kill you, O 'Ammar?" or as he said, according to differing narrations in the six authentic books of chains and reports. And they would say and chant, and in the sea of his Muhammadan love they would wander and swim, and in the gardens of his beauty they would express love and praise. Among that is: This beauty, not the beauty of Khaybar * This is more pious and manifest from our Lord And the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, also dug the trench while saying and chanting, reciting and versifying, and the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, listened and sometimes said with them, while his spirit roamed in the highest dominion, his heart attached to the service of the Sovereign Lord, and the worlds of his secret heard what the pens of the divine will transmitted from the pages of the Supreme Tablet, and his lights witnessed what was inscribed on the margins of the embroidery of glory, the mantle of the Most Majestic: "Muhammad is My servant and Messenger; I transferred him from one sanctuary to another, from a venerated station to a noble, honored station." Among what was said before him in that station by the noble elite and the pure, noble Companions: We are those who pledged allegiance to Muhammad * For jihad as long as we live forever And they raised it with one beautiful voice, alternating between these ¹⁴ and those, and he, peace and blessings be upon him, admired that and answered them with his saying: "O Allah, there is no good but the good of the Hereafter, so honor the Helpers and the Emigrants." In these words of lofty rank and glory, and the truthful reports and narrations, there is a strong proof for the people of audition who preserve the Muhammadan Sunna and following, if it is with its conditions of time, place, brothers, and distance from innovations, women, and people of innovation and deceit. And he, peace and blessings be upon him, heard the camel-driver driving and chanting: By Allah, without Allah we would not have been guided Nor would we have given charity nor prayed Indeed the enemies have transgressed against us So make firm our feet if we meet them And send down tranquility upon us Whatever trial they desire, we refuse And it is narrated from him, peace and blessings be upon him, that he was asked about poetry and said: "Its good is like good speech, and its bad is like bad speech." Meaning, what contains wisdom and benefit is good, and what contains satire, abandonment, and descriptions that are inappropriate is bad. And he, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Indeed, some poetry is wisdom." And it is narrated: "Indeed, some eloquence is magic." And indeed, some eloquence is magic. And he, peace and blessings be upon him, listened to poetry, long odes, and short pieces, and approved of that, and the story of Ka'b ibn Zuhayr in that regard is well-known. And when he, peace and blessings be upon him, entered Mecca ¹⁵ in the year of the conquest, and 'Abdullah ibn Rawaha was before him chanting: Leave, O sons of disbelievers, from his path And all good is in his Messenger O Lord, I believe in his saying And the truth is all that he brought Today we strike you for its revelation A strike that removes the heads from their resting place And makes the friend forget his friend So 'Umar ibn al-Khattab said: "O Ibn Rawaha, do you recite poetry?" or said: "Do you express love in the sanctuary of Allah and before the Messenger of Allah?" So he, peace and blessings be upon him, said to him: "Leave him, O 'Umar, for it is more piercing to their hearts than arrows." Or as he, peace and blessings be upon him, said. And he, peace and blessings be upon him, said that because they were the most knowledgeable of people about poetry, the strongest, and the most understanding of its meanings and purposes. And Ibn Rawaha said nothing but what was true, so they struck them, by Allah, for His revelation until they returned to Islam and entered it willingly or unwillingly. And he, peace and blessings be upon him, would set up a pulpit for Hassan in the mosque to respond to those who satirized the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and sometimes he said to him: "Spread, Allah supports you with the Holy Spirit," and sometimes he said to him: "Spread, and Gabriel is with you, O defender of His Messenger." And it is narrated that Hassan was reciting one day in the mosque during the caliphate of 'Umar, and he turned to him and intended...

On his authority that he disliked that, so he said to him: "By Allah, you have said it"—or he said: "you recited it in the presence of one who is better than you," meaning the Prophet ﷺ. It is narrated that al-Nābigha al-Ja‘dī ¹⁶, when he recited his well-known poem before the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said: "We have reached the heaven with our glory and praise, / And we hope for a manifestation above that," He said: "To where, O Abā Laylā?" He said: "To Paradise, O Messenger of Allah." Then he recited to him: "There is no good in forbearance if it has no / Impulses that protect its purity from being clouded, / And there is no good in a matter if it has no / Forbearing one who, when he initiates the matter, brings it to conclusion." So the Prophet ﷺ said to him: "You have done well; may Allah not break your teeth." The man lived one hundred and thirty years without a tooth falling out, by the blessing of his supplication. From this, the imams took their saying to the reciter: "You have done well," and praising him and supplicating for him when he fulfills [the conditions] thus. In the hadith of Muslim and others, on the authority of ‘Amr ibn al-Sharīd from his father, he said: "The Prophet ﷺ seated me behind him one day and said to me: 'Do you know'—or he said: 'Do you memorize any of the poetry of Umayya ibn Abī al-Ṣalt ¹⁷?' I said: 'Yes.' He said: 'Go ahead,' meaning recite. So I recited a verse to him, and he said: 'Go ahead,' meaning recite. So I recited, and he said: 'Go ahead,' until I recited one hundred verses to him. Then he ﷺ said: 'He was close to becoming Muslim.'" In some hadiths: "His poetry is the flower of his heart." It is narrated that a man recited these verses before the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: "She came, and her two cheeks shone like the wormwood plant; / She turned away, and I said to her, while my heart was in a blaze: / Is there any sin upon me, woe to you both, if I fall in love?" So the Prophet ﷺ said: "No sin, no sin." It is narrated that the Abyssinians were dancing in his mosque ﷺ, and he said to ‘Ā’isha ¹⁸: "And the best of those by whom the opening is blessed and the conclusion is enjoyed," [meaning] those upon whom the imams of the path ¹⁹ from his community, the great distinguished scholars, and the righteous predecessors ²⁰ who follow his Sunnah, emulate his guidance and his way in words, deeds, and all rulings, have agreed regarding listening to poems, fragments, and odes that encourage love of Allah and obedience to Him, just as he ﷺ listened to them, delighted in their mention, and approved of them for his noble, righteous, and honorable companions, and they were recited in his presence, and he said to their reciter: "May Allah bless the Holy Spirit ²¹ for what it has inspired to His Messenger," and other such sayings of his ﷺ, especially those that indicate asceticism, fear, desire for the Hereafter, piety towards Allah, wisdom, and that alert one to rising up to Allah, increase hope and determination in action, and remind of the vicissitudes of time and the events of days. The imams said: It is good for the seeker ²² to listen to such [poetry], and they recommended it for the ascetics and worshippers, because it helps them and lightens the burden of the seriousness and effort they endure in their path, and they made it obligatory for the gnostics ²³ because of the understandings they gain from it and the knowledge and unveilings ²⁴ that occur to them through it by way of revelation and inspiration. As for that which includes mention of eyes, cheeks, figures, and description of wine and pure drink, it is forbidden for the beginner and the seeker, but not for the gnostic of the sciences of realities ²⁵ and the meanings of speech, because he has in it a wondrous understanding and a strange secret, unlike others among the people of beginnings and the common folk. For this reason, when a reciter recited before al-Asmar ²⁶, the Imam Abū Muḥammad ‘Abd Allāh ibn Manṣūr, the saying of the poet: "If I had a helper with wine to help me, / I would not wait for the breaking of the fast to drink wine. / Wine is a wondrous thing, you are its drinker, / So drink, even if wine burdens you with sins. / O you who blame me for pure amber wine, / Take Paradise and let me dwell in the Fire." A jurist was present and said: "It is not permissible to recite these verses." Then al-Asmar said to the reciter: "Recite; this is a veiled man." I say: Both spoke truthfully. As for the jurist, he spoke according to what his intellect grasped and what he knew of the apparent jurisprudence and what is suitable for the beginner—that is his understanding, and no one may exceed his capacity. As for Imam al-Asmar, his understanding of the poetry in his saying "If I had" etc. is that its meaning is that the lover ²⁷ is absorbed in spiritual drink at all times, not restricted to a specific time, just as the fasting person finds drink only at the time of breaking the fast; and that the one with regular litanies ²⁸ has specific times, and the obligatory acts have specific times for their performance, while the lover is absorbed throughout the night and the ends of the day. As Abū Muḥammad ‘Abd Allāh al-Murta‘ish ²⁹ said: Aḥmad ibn ‘Alī ibn Ja‘far said: I was sitting with al-Murta‘ish, and a man said to him: "O my master, the night has grown long and the air is pleasant." Al-Murta‘ish looked at him and was silent for a while, then said to the man: "I do not know what you are saying, except that I heard one of the singers ³⁰ on one of these nights saying: "I do not know if my night has grown long or not; / How can one know that who is absorbed? / If I were free to consider the length of my night / And to watch the stars, I would be a shepherd. / Truly, lovers have from the length of night / An occupation of passion and agitation." He said: Then everyone present wept, and they took that as evidence of the fullness of all his times. It is related that something similar happened to al-Sarī ³¹ with the Imam, and he recited the same verses to him. The one absorbed in times considers the whole world as one time; he has no rest except in meeting his Master. Others among those who are oriented [toward Allah] are those who fill the times and wait for moments of solitude and the coming of night to find spaciousness, as al-Fuḍayl ³² and others did—those who used to stand in prayer at night and pray the morning prayer with the ablution of the night prayer for forty years, making the day between them and people and the night for Allah. As for these [gnostics], they have absorbed their times, like the one who takes precautions in times, and they recited: "If you shun me while you are my treasure / And the object of my complaint, what shall I do? / My day is the day of people, but when night appears, / The beds stir me towards you. / I spend my day in talk and hopes, / While night gathers us and sorrow unites us." The truly absorbed one is absent from things while observing them, because intimacy with Allah and love in Him have overcome him, so for him everything is a listening [to divine signs]. As Imam Abū Muḥammad Ṭāhir al-Maqdisī ³³ said: "Life is only pleasant for one who treads the carpet of intimacy, ascends the throne of holiness, and is veiled by intimacy, then becomes absent from witnessing them through contemplation of holiness, without how or where." And they recited: "I watch the stars, but I have no knowledge / Of counting the stars beside the darkness."

How can a youth sleep who does not sleep when A captive is led by desire to him, And nothing remains of him but his name, Sleep has departed from his eye, So the captive becomes a slain of passion, He is called a lover, and that's it, And what prevails over him, despite this concealment and secrecy ³⁴ and hiding of passion, is that he flees from places where suspicion arises due to the manifestation of his passion, love, and affection, and he speaks with the common folk, not with the adept masters of the station. It is related from one of the veracious that he was devoted solely to knowledge and action, reading various sciences, absorbed in that, thinking it was the ultimate state. One day he went out as usual and heard a singer say: When the twenty of Sha'ban have passed, Continue your drinking night and day, And do not drink from small cups, For time has become narrow for the small. The man set off immediately, fleeing with himself until he reached Mecca, where he remained as a neighbor until he died. For such a person, listening is appropriate. This can even happen in speech uttered by common folk, where one understands this strange matter and wondrous attribute, as happened to the vizier who one day rode in his carriage in great splendor. The eyes of onlookers gazed at him, eager, saying, "Who is this?" A woman of the verifiers, whom God willed to benefit through her, heard them and said, "O people, how long will you say 'Who is this?' This is a man who has fallen from God's sight, so God has tested him with what you see." He heard her and was greatly admonished, wept, and sought forgiveness from the vizierate. He then left for Mecca and resided there as a neighbor until he met God Almighty. Among the strange things that happened ³⁵ to al-Shibli in his intoxication was that he entered one day upon al-Junayd while he was in his house with his wife, her head uncovered. When she saw him, she wanted to cover herself and her head, but al-Junayd said to her, "No matter." When al-Shibli reached al-Junayd, he clapped his head and recited: They tormented me with union, though union is sweet, They accused me, and my sin is So submission is due at meeting, They cast me with aversion, and aversion is hard, My excessive love for them, and that is no sin, What is the recompense for one who loves but is not loved? Al-Junayd was stirred by this and said, "That's it, O Abu Bakr, that's it, O Abu Bakr," twice, and struck the ground with his foot, causing al-Shibli to fall unconscious to the ground. It is related that he heard a man saying, "The good are ten gardens," so he cried out and said, "Then how about the evil?" And from some of them, he said: "I gathered one night with al-Shibli, and he heard a singer say..." so he cried out and experienced ecstasy. A man said to him, "What is wrong with you, O Abu Bakr, that you experience ecstasy among the group?" So he began to recite: I have two intoxications, while the cup-companions have one, A thing I am singled out for among them alone. And he used to say: "The sincere seeker has no pause, the knower has no attachment, the lover has no rest, the truthful has no claim, the fearful has no stability, and creatures have no escape from God." He was asked about listening, and he said: "Its outward is a trial, its inward is a lesson. Whoever knows the allusion, listening to the expression is permissible for him; otherwise, he has invited trial and exposed himself to affliction." Then know that the folk have in listening ³⁶ a matter that the firm mountains cannot bear, as it is related that Abu Muhammad Jahm al-Daqqi was at a listening session, and a state overcame him. He seized a tree and uprooted it from its roots in his intoxication. The story was conveyed to Abu Bakr al-Daqqi, and they were brought together at an invitation. Abu Bakr was weak-sighted, so he said to them, "When he approaches me, inform me of him." Jahm was in his agitation. When he reached Abu Bakr, it was said to him, "There he is." So he seized him by his foot, and Jahm could not move at all. He then came to his senses and said to him, "Repentance, O Shaykh!" So he released him, and he knew that he was stronger in state. Whoever is like this, what a good station it is. The author of Mukhtasar al-‘Alamiyya and al-Maqdisi related from Mus‘ab al-Zubayri, who said: "I attended the gathering of Malik, may God be pleased with him, and Abu Mus‘ab al-Zuhri, the author of the Mukhtasar in fiqh, asked him about listening. He said: 'I do not know, except that the people of knowledge in our land do not disapprove of it, nor do they abstain from it, and none disapproves of it except a stupid ignoramus or an Iraqi ascetic of coarse nature.'" I say: This is supported by the Companions' recitation of poetry in the presence of the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, and his listening to it, and the hadith of the Abyssinians when they were dancing in his mosque, may God bless him and grant him peace, and he said to ‘A’isha: "Would you like to see them?" She said, "Yes." So he stood at the door, saying, "Play, O Banu Arfada," and "Take it on a heedless one," and he said to her, "Enough," then again, until she said, "Yes," and he said to her, "Go." ³⁷ As for the Iraqis who declared it forbidden, indeed they agreed on it only if its aforementioned conditions are not met. But if its conditions are met, they unanimously agree that it is permissible. And those who agreed on its permissibility also only do so when it is free from harmful afflictions that prevent it. I say: Its affirmation is strengthened by the presence of youths and the proximity of women. It was said to the Imam of the sect: "Why is it that a person is calm until, when he hears listening or poetry, he becomes agitated?" He said: "When God Almighty addressed the atoms at the time of their emergence from Adam's back, that sweetness remained in them. So when they hear speech, it draws them to the first address," or as he said, with variations in wording. Dhu al-Nun al-Misri said: "Listening is a true influx that stirs hearts toward the Truth. Whoever listens to it with truth becomes realized; whoever listens to it with sin becomes a heretic and departs from the station." How excellent is the saying of the author of al-Mabahith, where he said at the beginning of the chapter on the classification of listening: The Iraqis declare it forbidden, Except the Hijazis, who permit it. And for the Shaykh there is a face of art, For they made it a pillar of the path. It is only permitted for ascetics, And its recommendation is evident to the shaykhs. It is like forbidden for the common folk, According to the shaykhs, the elite, the eminent. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad ³⁸, Your beloved, pure in origin and lineage, Your chosen one, fragrant in sleeves and collars, the star of Your prophethood, perfect in light and radiance, the prophet of Your mercy, healing hearts from the disease of ignorance and hypocrisy, the messenger of Your unseen, piercing with his resolve the subtle veils, canopies, and seven heavens, from whom is related concerning the adornment of listening, sweet in flavors and tastes, attracting the breezes of good deeds and moving spirits and bodies to the presence of our Master, the King, the Creator, the Opener through the secret of His wisdom of what was difficult for seekers among the subtle veils and great morals, and what its arts contain of delightful melodies and beautiful voices that entice the people of states, ecstasies, passions, and longings, and its beauties that bestow upon the listener the noblest natures and noble morals, and its blessings that lead to the annihilation of souls, bearing difficult matters, and undertaking hardships, that he said: "Everything has an adornment, and the adornment of the Qur'an is a beautiful voice." And he said: "Indeed, a beautiful voice is among the blessings God has bestowed upon His servants."

Or he said about his companion, as the narrators and the expert masters have reported about him, and he said: 'Allah has not permitted anything as He has permitted a prophet to chant the Quran beautifully.' David (peace be upon our Prophet and upon him) used to have humans, jinn, birds, and wild beasts listen to his recitation of the Psalms due to the beauty of his voice. The Prophet (peace be upon him) listened for a long time to Salim, the freed slave of Abu Hudhayfa, who had a beautiful voice, and said: 'Praise be to Allah who has placed among my community someone like this,' or as he said. He also listened to Abu Musa and said: 'He has been given a flute from the flutes of the family of David.' Abu Musa said: 'O Messenger of Allah, if I had known that you were listening, I would have embellished it for you beautifully.' Some of the shaykhs of the sect said: 'Three things, when found, one takes delight in them, and we have lost them: a beautiful face with modesty, a beautiful voice with piety, and beautiful brotherhood with loyalty.' They said: 'They are only combined in a truthful one, a saint, or a righteous one.' It is narrated from the Shaykh of Shaykhs, Abu Madyan (may Allah be pleased with him), that when he settled in Bijaya, he spoke one day in his gathering with wondrous words until birds came and hovered around him, or he said 'inclining towards him.' The shaykh was moved and recited: "The pain of the sick and the fear of demands / To take from the pure serenity a portion And the morning of a wanderer and the fullness of a diver / And the fall of a straight one without a physician And the longing of a yearning one and the sigh of a passionate one / From desire, until the stranger became humbled It came upon a heart stirred by calamities / It intended and settled in the heart of a beloved He conceals a passion that does not fear love" The gathering was stirred, and they cried out, and the birds likewise. One of the birds kept flapping its wings until it fell dead, and a man from those present died. The author of 'The Virtues of the Righteous' mentioned that its composer was Dhu al-Nun al-Misri (may Allah be pleased with him). Among the wonders of a beautiful voice is that a small child calms down to it, and a camel carrying a heavy load endures the fatigue of travel and the hardship of burden, but it becomes easy for it through singing until it covers a long distance without feeling anything. One of the strangest things narrated from Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn Dawud al-Daqqi is that he said: 'I was in the desert and came upon a tribe of Arabs. A man among them hosted me, and I saw a black boy chained there. I saw many dead camels in the courtyard. When the boy saw me, he said: "O my master, intercede for me with my master, for he is generous and will not refuse you, and you are honored by my master." When food was served, I said to the host: "Your food is forbidden to me until you release the boy." He said: "This boy has ruined my wealth and impoverished me." I asked: "What did he do?" He said: "He has a beautiful voice. He loaded these camels with heavy loads alone, and they covered three days' journey in one day. When he unloaded them, they all died as you see. But I have given him to you for your honor with me." So he stood and released him. In the morning, I wanted to hear his voice and asked him. He ordered the boy to sing to a camel that was a water-carrier at a well, which was hobbled. He sang to it, and it broke the hobble and ran away, cutting the ropes with which it was hobbled. I never thought I had heard a sweeter voice. I fell on my face until his master gestured for him to be silent. They recited: "If you deny that voices have benefit and use, Look at the camels, which are coarser in nature than you, They incline to the song of the singers and cut through the deserts." It is narrated that he spent a night until morning on this verse: "O Lord, return the heart of the sorrowful one / Who has no substitute for his beloved." And the people stood with him weeping. It is narrated from al-Shibli that he was often overcome by ecstasy, shouting, and weeping. One day he was in his circle and began to weep without speaking. When his weeping prolonged, a man said to him: 'O Abu Bakr, what is all this weeping?' He began to say: "When she reproaches him or they reproach him / Gratitude for my deed and promise of my misdeeds O you whose time is anger and wrath / Have you not done well one day in my life?" It is narrated that he was often seized by ecstatic states and spiritual intoxications, and would shout at times when he heard what stirred his heart or agitated his mind. One day he heard a man saying: 'O Allah, O Generous One,' and he shouted and groaned, saying: 'How can I describe my Lord with generosity when a creature says in his weakness and frailty in his form: "He is accustomed to open-handedness, so much so that if / I called him to close his hand, his fingers would not respond. You see him, when you come to him, beaming / As if you are giving him what you are asking. He is the sea; from whichever side you come to him / Its deep is generosity, and its shore is bounty." Then he wept and said: 'O Generous One, for You created those limbs and extended those aspirations, then after that You bestowed upon some people independence from them and from what is in their hands. For the truly generous is the One who gives without limit, while they give from a limited source, and Your giving is unlimited,' or he said: 'It has no limit or attribute. O Generous One, You surpass every generous one, and through You every generous one is generous.' Then know that listening has valid conditions and known established states. The Imam of the sect said: 'Its conditions must consider time, place, brothers, distance from events, and proximity to forgetfulness, and this is more emphatic than anything else.' It is narrated from the Imam of the sect that he was with a group of companions when a young outsider joined them and ended up in their midst. The matter became serious for the group, and they did not know what to do. The Imam stood up, gave him his cloak, and said: 'Go and bring the group the value of this cloak in something to eat.' When he left them, he called him and said: 'Take the cloak for yourself and go, guided aright.' They said to him: 'Why did you favor him with your cloak, O Imam?' He said: 'I wanted this night to be pure for you, so I bought it with my cloak, and it is cheap for that.' Abu Muhammad Ja'far ibn Nasir said: 'Mercy descends upon the poor at three occasions: at listening, for they only listen to the truth and only stand up from ecstasy; at eating food, for they only eat out of need; and at the pursuit of knowledge, for they only mention the attributes of the saints.' When this description mentioned by Abu Muhammad is found, there is no dispute that this listening is permissible, for this listening is what the predecessors in the early period practiced. It was only forbidden by those who forbade it when they saw the change in states due to the change in its conditions and the alteration of its aspects. They said: 'Whoever encounters it by chance, it is a blessing and honor for him; whoever seeks it, he only seeks temptation. Whoever knows the sign of the Beloved hears His call from near and sees nothing as far from Him.' Abu Ali al-Daqqaq used to say: 'Listening is natural except when based on law, a breach except when based on truth, and a temptation except when based on a lesson. Every listening that does not meet its conditions, its practitioner is feared from it; rather, he is exposed to it. Listening is never free from two descriptions: either it is based on the outward aspects of knowledge and law, and its practitioner should be knowledgeable in the principles, names, and attributes; otherwise, he falls into negation.'

and anthropomorphism, and types of blasphemies, and the audition of the masters of states ³⁹—its condition is that its practitioner be annihilated ⁴⁰ from human attributes, subsisting through the truth of lordship, devoid of selfish interests for the sake of the manifestation of the rulings of reality. Whoever is of this description is the saved one. And because of the many pitfalls and obstacles of audition, they considered it in their rulings a dubious matter that should not be undertaken except out of necessity. Whoever encounters it with its conditions, it is an excellent gain. And the sign of the truthful one ⁴¹ is that he finds God in everything and intercedes with Him in everything. I wander in my ecstasy in the existence of my finding ecstasy ⁴², and He makes me witness in my witness at the return. And He makes me hear the hearings from every hearing-place, by His making me hear in every hearing a hearing. He whispers with kinds of whispering a songstress, who sang with melodies of a fish every tune. And He inhales me the breaths of the fragrance of my breathing, by Him the breezes of perfume in every breath. Scents from the spirits of sweet basil, whose repose gives rest to my spirit in my morning and my afternoon. And in every taste I tasted every flavor, so for me is every pleasure of pleasures in every pleasure. There the secret appears while it is hidden, and its disclosure conceals it in every concealment. And the elite ⁴³ were asked: "Why does a person move upon hearing poems and verses and find what he does not find upon hearing the Qur'an?" He said: "The Qur'an cannot be moved by anyone due to its intensity and the strength of its overwhelming power, because it is the speech of the Majestic and His description." And Abu Muhammad Ruwaym ⁴⁴ was asked about the existence ⁴⁵ of the Sufis and their ecstasy ⁴⁶ in audition. He said: "They witness meanings that are hidden from others, so they come to them, and they delight in that joyfully. Then the veil falls, and that joy turns into weeping. Among them are those who burn their clothes, among them those who weep, among them those who shout—each according to his capacity. Among them are those whose spirit perishes and never returns to them; among them are those who lose their mind and become insane; among them are those who remain bewildered; and among them are those who recover at times and become sober, but are drunk most of the time. These are the most rational of the insane." And Abu 'Uthman al-Hiri ⁴⁷ said: "Audition is of three kinds: The first is for the beginning seekers ⁴⁸—they thereby invoke noble states, but they are feared to face temptation and hypocrisy. The second is for the truthful ones—they seek increase in their states and listen to what suits their times. The third is for the people of uprightness among the knowers ⁴⁹—these do not choose against God in what comes to their hearts of motion and stillness. Thus, this is the majority of audition." And some of the learned knowers said: "As for the first description, its people are in danger and exposed to harm, unless God overtakes them with His grace and kindness, and rescues them from selfish interests to rights through their annihilation from their attributes and their subsistence through their Lord. As for the second, it is permissible for them if the states remain sound for them and they are purified from the thoughts of the ego and the glances of passion, and the audition meets the aforementioned conditions of time, place, and brethren, and distance from events—rather, their proximity to those of their kind from whom pitfalls are not safe. As for the third group, they are on the path of salvation as long as they adhere to rights and conditions. Whoever is upon audition with truth, then all the people are upon his description, for audition is like a king, and people follow his religion and intention; they are religious according to what he is upon—whether justice or injustice, oppression or immorality. And the common people in all parts of his kingdom follow him. Similarly, if in audition there is one who is truthful, then all are upon his creed and follow his doctrine. If he is still, they are still; if he moves, they move. In any case, audition is upon the truthful one, and they are not deprived of its benefit nor denied its blessings." "And since audition can be by nature, by state, or by truth, they were cautious of it and deemed flight obligatory except for one who is by truth or by state with its conditions. And they forbade it for the one of nature until he sheds the impurities of his soul, purifies himself from the offense of his heedlessness, breaks free from the shackles of his desires, and repents from his thoughts and slips. Then he joins the great ones and boards their ship, for he is safe from its harm." I say: What the elite answered earlier regarding the lack of ecstasy upon hearing the Qur'an, unlike other poems and verses, applies only to the common people. As for the elite, they have in it understandings and types of knowledge that they do not have in poetry or other things. How many have died upon hearing it, fallen unconscious, and never recovered, and it was the cause of their departure. It is narrated that the Imam of the sect ⁵⁰ entered upon his master al-Sari ⁵¹ and found a man unconscious with him. He asked: "What is the cause?" He said: "Yesterday he heard a verse and fell unconscious, and he remains in that state." He said to him: "Recite to him." So he recited a verse to him, and the man regained consciousness. Al-Sari was amazed and asked: "How did you know that?" He said: "Jacob, peace be upon him, lost his sight because of Joseph, and God restored it to him through his shirt." He approved of that. And it is narrated that al-Shibli ⁵² was approached by a young man who said: "O Abu Bakr, why do you say 'Allah, Allah' and not say 'There is no god but Allah,' since that is the Sunnah and the way of your master?" He said: "O my son, no harm. There I deny it." The young man said: "I wanted a closer answer than this." He said: "O my son, I feared being seized in the desolation of

The poor man said: "I wanted a closer answer than that." So he said to him: "O my son, Allah Almighty says: 'Say: Allah, then leave them to play in their vain discourse.'" The young man cried out and fell to the ground. They shook him, and he was dead—may Allah have mercy on him. They carried him to the powerful Sultan ⁵³, claiming that al-Shibli ⁵⁴ was responsible for his blood. The Sultan spoke to him about that, and he said: "I did not kill him; rather, it was his own soul that yearned, softened, was called, and responded." The Sultan cried out and fell unconscious, then said: "Release him; he is not guilty." O You whom we called but who does not answer, He came, and the generous, spacious virtues called. Gifts were distributed to the people of sincerity, And the Owner desired a share in the bestowals. That is only because you drank pure [water] For them, while your drink in the path is mixed. Alas for you, claiming their states, Far from it! They were truthful, and you are a liar. They stayed awake while you slept; in the hearts and entrails Is a flame that melts the livers. They departed, while the smile of tears appears Whenever the frown of the darkness lengthens. They washed the blackness of their skin with tears That pour down, their clouds heavy and descending. Their night was turned into a bright day When hearts were illuminated by the Beloved. They surrendered, so their wars became peace, and how many Battles they had over their souls! They rained upon the branches of youth in the garden of proximity, So the north wind of desires and the south wind blew. Is there any helper in weeping with lamentation That would answer me in its mourning, and I would answer? Regret for what has passed of heedlessness While the arrows of the causes of death strike. Be a refuge with the righteous and their rank, For veils will be removed in the end. If you are not among them, then oppose them, for Often the ally is tended to, and the plundered is saved. Accompany them, perhaps you may inhale a breeze, For the winds of the spirits of hearts blow. My brothers—may Allah grant you the knowledge of insight and realization, light and vision, discernment and unveiling and success, love and ecstasy and rapture and intention and affirmation, opening and inspiration and support and success—know that when the people ⁵⁵ had purified their innermost secrets, illuminated their inner visions, and the dense veils and curtains were rent for them, they looked with the eye of reflection into the secrets of the unseen and the hidden things of consciences, and the subtle sciences of divine knowledge ⁵⁶ and the delicate allusions. Their spirits soared with what came to them of the lights of those enclosures, and their bodies trembled with joy at what they heard of the event of nearness and proximity in a station that the inhabitants of the highest heaven and the angels of the spheres were incapable of reaching. That earned them lordly states, flashes of lightning, attractions, gleams of openings, and glad tidings. So they became an utmost limit in loftiness of aspiration and a final end in the spectacles of sainthood. They preserved good manners with Allah in everything, witnessed Him in everything, and heard Him in everything. That bequeathed them knowledge of everything and realization of everything. They adhered to humility and poverty, repentance and seeking forgiveness, seeking refuge in Him and necessity, seeking His aid and victory, and contemplating His creations with the eye of reflection and consideration. Whenever they failed in good manners with Him in anything, they returned from it to Him, fearing that He might strip them of the garments of honor and pride He had clothed them with, and He boasted of them among the attendees of the Divine Presence and the great chosen elite, and spread their fame in the highest assembly, and placed them in the stations of the near and righteous. So they took returning to Him as a fortress, repentance as security, and patience as a door. They do not pass beyond it, thanking, recounting His blessings, and remembering His favors, especially when they recover from their intoxication, awaken from their ecstatic utterances, following the Sunna and the Book, and pursuing the path of truth and correctness, following the example of what our Master mentioned in His Book about His interlocutor Moses, peace be upon him, in His words: "When he recovered, he said: 'Glory be to You! I repent to You, and I am the first of the believers.' He said: 'O Moses, I have chosen you over the people with My messages and My speech; so take what I have given you and be among the thankful.'" ⁵⁷ And even though the station of prophethood is unattainable, every inheritor has according to his inheritance from wisdom and knowledge according to his measure, not the measure of the prophets. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "The scholars are the inheritors of the prophets." ⁵⁸ For they have in this utmost sincerity and purity, perfection of love, truthfulness and loyalty, disappearance of turbidity and variegation, and firmness of foot in the station of might and consolidation due to much adornment, continuous ascent and descent, and the gleams of the glad tidings of prophetic vicegerency in giving, withholding, dismissal, and appointment. So they are in that between agitation and life: when lights manifest to their hearts, they are agitated; when they are veiled from them, they live, oscillating between the light of Beauty and Majesty, and between compulsion and Bedouin-like behavior in what comes to them of states. If the light of Majesty manifests upon their hearts, they are compelled; if the light of Beauty manifests upon their hearts, they worship. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said regarding the second description: "If my son ⁵⁹ were to die under my banner, and if Moses, peace be upon him, were alive, he would have no choice but to follow me. I am the master of the children of Adam, and I do not boast." And when it was said to him, peace and blessings be upon him, "Blessed is he who believes in you and sees you," he said: "Yes, blessed is he who believes in me and sees me; then blessed, blessed is he who believes in me and does not see me." ⁶⁰ Shaykh Abu Muhammad, my master Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani ⁶¹, said regarding that: "My foot is on the neck of every saint." And our master Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said regarding the first meaning: "I am only the son of a woman who eats meat and drinks cool water." In another narration: "I am the son of a woman from Quraysh." And it is narrated: "A man from Quraysh." And he, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "If I and Jesus were to be delayed by what our hands have earned, Allah would punish us with a punishment He has not inflicted on anyone in the worlds." ⁶² In summary, the people are of two types in their joy: the common and the special. The common rejoice in obedience to Allah, in what they have been granted by Allah, and in the favor of Allah with which they have been honored. The special rejoice in Allah, not in anything else. Our Master, Exalted is He, said regarding the joy of the common: "Say: 'In the bounty of Allah and His mercy—in that let them rejoice.'" ⁶³ And regarding the joy of the special: "Say: 'Allah, then leave them to play in their vain discourse.'" ⁶⁴ And Allah revealed to David, peace be upon him: "Say to the truthful: let them rejoice in Me and delight in My remembrance." All hearts seek the sweetness of Your union, And every eye watches for Your beautiful face. The speech of all existence is traced back to You, So every ear has a delightful word from You. For every meaning from You there is a tasting intellect, And for every taste, a pleasant drink. The spirits departed in You and left Their composition, and for You the subtle essences are a vehicle. The intellect of intellects is Your love, until it released A fetter for other than You, attributed in Your existence. When the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, came to the People of the Bench ⁶⁵ with Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him...

May God be pleased with them. He found them reciting poetry among themselves, and when they saw him, they stopped out of reverence for him. When he had settled down sitting with them, he said: 'Is there anyone among you who can recite some poetry for us?' They said: 'Yes, O Messenger of God.' So one of them recited: 'Every morning and every dawn, my eyes weep with tears of longing. The serpent of passion has stung my liver, so there is no physician nor enchanter for it, Except the Beloved with whom I am infatuated, for in Him is my remedy and my antidote.' ⁶⁶ The Prophet ⁶⁷ experienced ecstasy ⁶⁸ until his cloak fell from his body, and he gave it to the People of the Suffah ⁶⁹, who were forty men, and he cut it into forty pieces. And the story of the daughters of al-Najjar ⁷⁰ when they entered upon the Messenger of God ⁶⁷ and beat the tambourines and sang the poem of Ka'b ibn Zuhayr ⁷¹ beginning with 'Su'ad has departed' etc., and the Prophet ⁶⁷ experienced ecstasy ⁶⁸, and his ecstasy increased until the cloak fell from his shoulders, and he threw it to them. Then al-'Abbas ⁷² bought it from them for four hundred dinars, and it remained with him for blessing from the Messenger of God ⁶⁷. 'If you are listening to his speech, then listen with the heart before the ear. Meet the hearing, and you will witness every meaning, and hear in your witnessing every art. Whoever hopes for you with true ecstasy ⁶⁸ has no need for the singer's words. He has from his own essence an ancient delight and a perpetual intoxication without a wine-jar. So leave me from the love poetry of Qays Layla ⁷³ and from the verses of the beautiful poetry of Bashn ⁷⁴. In My signs is every subtle meaning, so if you hear from Me, you hear about Me. I have a passion that distracts from poems, and I have a delight that suffices without strings. My ecstasy ⁶⁸ is not cut off, but wherever my Beloved is, you will find me. If you do not grasp the meaning and know the hidden aspects of what I say, then do not blame me. Whoever attends the audition ⁷⁵ without a heart and does not delight, let him not blame the singer. And if you, O blamer, are ignorant of my affair, then leave off blaming and let me be. I sing the name of a Beloved I do not conceal, and if you have called a thousand names, that is what I mean.' ⁷⁶ 'My wine, if I drink, is the purity of my love, and I am not satisfied if You are not pleased with me. My provision, if I set out, is my good opinion of You, bliss, no, nor the gardens of Eden.' My brothers, may God grant you success in audition ⁷⁵, the opening of the openings of initiation, the station of love and longing and spirit and comfort, the lightning of the flashes of opening and joy and expansion and relief, the mark of the people of goodness and guidance and righteousness and success, the blessing of the birds of the unseen, the basil of the book of eternity, the murmuring of the lovers and the beautiful secrets, the interpreter of those who speak of the unseen and those who conceal their secrets for fear of fame and exposure, the tongue of those who speak in Hebrew and Syriac, and the drunkenness of those who are intoxicated with the wine of Muhammadan love when they witnessed Him in the assemblies of remembrance, so they danced and clapped and cast off restraint, and the obligation and burden were lifted from them, and the blowing of the breezes of openings and inspirations and receptions and glad tidings that come to them from the presence of their Lord in the evening and morning, and the expression of those who are filled with the ink of prophetic support and the secret of the Chosen One ⁷⁷, not by the rotation of joys among the drinking companions and the drinking of cups of wine, and the swooning of those who experienced ecstasy ⁶⁸ and trembled and cried out and concealed and revealed, and their spirits and bodies vibrated, and each one drinks according to the measure of his state and his inheritance from the light of the prophetic presence and the secret of the Chosen Mastery ⁷⁷ and his ascent in the ranks of divine care and special favor ⁷⁸, and his arrival from the spring of divine mercy and the splendor of cosmic creations and the beauty of radiant faces. So glory be to Him who drew their spirits with the subtleties of intimacy and endearment, and moved their bodies with the breezes of ecstatic utterances ⁷⁹ and states, and bestowed upon them the love of the Master of men, the sea of virtue and generosity and munificence and giving, my Master and my Lord, the Messenger of God ⁶⁷. 'The gazelles of the sanctuary, if they turn, they shine; if they turn away, then turning away does not avail. If they are displeased, that displeasure is honey; if they are haughty, that is my feast. If they judge my death, it is just; if they snatch my heart, I say it is their property. If they are great and I remain humble before them, they see me as their slave, so my blood they deem lawful. If they cut off and I join them in devotion, they own it and go and come. Their turning to their lover is success; in it lies success. For my heart, through it, is spirit and repose; through it I hope for union when they turn away. If they are mighty, my endearment is not removed; I do not cut off, even if they permit my cutting.' 'He chose them for His nearness and selected them, and protected them from the temptation of Satan. He called them to His door and gave them to drink from cups of the wine of gnosis ⁸⁰. And He rewarded them with a garden and bliss, and palaces and houris and boys. But they do not see this as bliss, nor their longing for beautiful houris. Their only aim is the manifestation of the Beloved, to see Him there with the eye of certainty. And He calls to them: 'My servants, come, that you may attain security and beneficence.' With this bliss they are proudly elated and boast of it over all beings.' My brothers: audition ⁷⁵ moves the firm mountains, softens the hard hearts, and bestows high aspirations, and bequeaths righteous deeds and pleasing, contented states, and gathers aspirations toward God and brings them to the pure springs of love, and pours down clouds of blessing and benedictions in the assemblies of those who love each other for God's sake, and elevates to the lofty ranks of happiness. To it incline the hearts of the saints ⁸¹ and the righteous, and by it the states of the rememberers and the firmly established pegs ⁸² become good, and by it the conduct of the guided guides and the solitary ones ⁸³ secluded in the corners of mosques, the obscure, becomes excellent, and by it the states of the ascetics and worshippers ⁸⁴ are rectified, and the drinking-places of the acting scholars become sweet, and by it the spirits of the longing ones fly to meet their Lord, and the tears of the humble and submissive flow, and by it the ranks of the veracious ⁸⁵ rise, and the stations of those who fear their Lord and are humble are elevated, and by it the nightingales of those experiencing ecstasy ⁶⁸ are stirred, and the inspirations of those who are attached to God and obedient become strong, and by it the spirituality of the longing ones is drawn to the presence of nearness, and the doors of satisfaction and acceptance are opened in the faces of the noble, the foremost, those hastening to good deeds, and by it the works of the people of sincerity and certainty grow, and the faith of those who hope for God's forgiveness and are desirous multiplies, and by it the people of righteousness love one another and the spirits of those who love each other for God's sake and are connected radiate. So glory be to Him who united their hearts in His love, so they became grazing in the ripe meadow of His love, and their unseen in the witnessing of His beauty, so they became bewildered in the joints of His perfections, and enraptured by His love, and obedient in avoiding His prohibitions and fulfilling His commands, and listening to His sublime address. 'For God are a people who obeyed Him and intended none other than Him when they regarded the cosmos with lessons. They adhered to ecstasy ⁶⁸ and longing and remembrances as their sustenance, and traveling by night in the early mornings. They hastened to the pleasure of their Lord and strove toward the path to Him with the striving of one who follows the command.'

And they believed and stood firm as they were commanded, and struggled and refrained from what distances them. Gardens of Eden ⁸⁶ for them, therein they desire whatever they wish; for them from Allah is that which nothing equals. And they found sweet their time in fasting and vigil at His door, and they found easy every rough thing, in a seat of truth between meadows and flowers ⁸⁷. A listening ⁸⁸; its surrender and the triumph of vision. My brothers: The listening ⁸⁸ diffuses fragrant breezes of joys, and shines with gleams of delights, and relieves great distresses, and builds through acceptance of acts of devotion, and aids in avoiding distractions and fulfilling commands, and bestows surrender and entrustment in all states, and reliance under the currents of decrees, and contentment with destinies. My brothers: In the listening ⁸⁸ is the rest of the seekers ⁸⁹, the rectitude of the guides ⁹⁰, the pride of the reliant ones ⁹¹, the fame of the striving ones ⁹², and the unveiling of the secrets of those who play, by the way of the folk of the scholars who act ⁹³, and the delighted guided ones, and action according to the Sunna and the Book, and avoidance of the licentious mockers of religion and the erring corrupters. Glory be to Him who made it draw near the path of journeying for the wayfarers ⁹⁴, and arrival to Allah for the devotees, and knowledge of Allah for the rememberers, and perfection of grace for the thankful. So it became, for its people, the feast of the beloved ones, the solace of the attracted ones ⁹⁵, the variegation of the overcome ones, the joy of the distressed ones, the security of the sought ones, the means of the veiled ones, and the glad tiding of the joyful ones at meeting their Lord, and inscribed in the register of felicity. Upon you be seriousness and self-annihilation, be truthful and affirm, for all is from Him. Oppose the ego in its desires, and place the ego in the station of abasement and yearning and humiliation. Die through the subjugation of spiritual journeying ⁹⁶ that you may live, fulfilling all aspirations. Unify the Real ⁹⁷ apart from other than Him, for there is no second to Allah at all. Do not follow your desire, but follow the proofs of the time and the moment. Never say anything about Him, but understand the meanings of the people of meanings ⁹⁸. Be patient with death at every time, until you see the odd in the even. This is the discourse of spiritual journeying ⁹⁶, so be truthful, and do not accompany the people of forms ⁹⁹. Beware, beware of negligence, perhaps you may ascend to direct vision. My brothers: The listening ⁸⁸ is the lightning of lights, the spring of secrets, the character of the elect, the garment of the pure, the adornment of the good, the garden of the pious, the blessing of times and ages, the mark of the people of glory and pride, the ornament of the people of serenity and dignity, the gain of the masters of realities and the great luminaries. Glory be to Him who made it a reminder for those of insight and discernment, and a heavenly dominion for the people of reflection and consideration. So for the people of absence ¹⁰⁰ in it is a field and thoughts, and for the people of presence ¹⁰¹ is glory and pride, and for the people of allusion ¹⁰² are signs and reports, and for the masters of lordly states ¹⁰³ is might and victory, and for the people of eternal care ¹⁰⁴ are fragrant breezes and remembrances, and for the people of ecstatic utterances ¹⁰⁵ and attractions ⁹⁵ are blowing zephyrs of merciful effusions from the presence of the Sovereign, the All-Forgiving, and for various secrets that suffice over the melodies of strings and the cooing of birds on the pulpits of trees, and for the one immersed in the seas of divine love, a call to cast off the veil ¹⁰⁶ and tear the curtains. May Allah be pleased with them and please them, and raise their station in this abode and in that abode, and make them intercessors among His servants, through whose blessing rains pour down, and by whose glance major sins and burdens are forgiven. Amen, amen, amen, and praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds. They are the poor ones ¹⁰⁷; from them emanates fragrance and remembrance, so spend and listen to them in distress and experience. Through their remembrance the heart raves with ecstasy ¹⁰⁸, and from them the worlds acquire perfume. When love whispers to them, you see them sway in the darkness with joy and intoxication. And if they give thanks, they have a wondrous state that bewilders their state, mind and thought. They shunned the world and found rest, and they spent their lives in patience. On their cheeks they wrote to Him with their tears letters that are not read. And they rolled up the reins of the worlds in pride and wonder at their state and glory. When they stay awake, you see them in the darknesses, prolonging humility before Him openly. And if they sleep, a Beloved entrusts them with the secrets of hearts to Him. A Beloved, whenever they sought to meet Him, He manifested to hearts and lifted the veil. So leave them, O blamer, do not blame them, for their cupbearer surely knows them. They are the poor ones ¹⁰⁷, and the Real ⁹⁷ saw them truly; they are the princes, if you realize the matter. My brothers: The listening ⁸⁸ carries the yearnings of the lovers to the meadows of the kingdom and the dominion, and the voices of the beloved ones to the treasuries of mercy and omnipotence, and the weeping of the enamored ones to the presence of desire and awe, for the outpouring of the divine light upon their hearts, and the human love upon the cups of their drink. And it carries the people of attractions ⁹⁵ and divine influxes ¹⁰⁹ and ecstatic utterances ¹⁰⁵ and holy impulses to the luminous stations and spiritual abodes, that they may see their Beloved with the eye of certainty, and witness Him in the collective barzakhs ¹¹⁰ without how or where. Glory be to Him whose love filled every eye from them, and whose vision sufficed them from the eye of every eye, and preserved them from the harm of every spy and evil eye, and healed them from every harm and evil eye, and sufficed them from every precious ruby and emerald and eye, until they saw Him in every eye, and heard Him with every limb and eye, and He is not absent from them for a blink or a twinkling of an eye. * O desire of the heart, O my goal * O ultimate aim, O my aspiration * O rest of the spirit, O my life * O light of my eye, O my illumination * You are the one who encompasses every being * without beginning or end * You were before every cosmos * without earth or sky * Without veil or cloud * without space or air * Without throne, without carpet * without fire, without water * Exalted above modality in existence * and in witnessing and in radiance * And above standing and sitting * and above descending or ascending * You appeared in all, not hidden * yet You are more hidden than the hidden * In everything I see You truly * without dispute or argument * So wherever You are from me * like two bow-lengths, not distant * And from right and from left * and from front and from behind ¹¹¹ * O pure one, about whom the breezes of morning and evening told me My brothers: The listening ⁸⁸ is the king of basils, the gift of princes, kings, and sultans, the mercy of the poor, the weak, and the needy, the intoxication of the attracted ones ⁹⁵ and the people of strings and exquisite melodies and tunes, the delight of thoughts and reflections, the splendor of assemblies, gatherings, and councils, the amber of carnation of the masters of ecstatic states ¹¹² and utterances, and the musk of Darin, the breeze of the juniper of Najd and Tihama which, when known, calms the states of the intoxicated with the wine of divine love and awakens the drunkards of the bewildered and the mad, and the star of guidance that drives away with the meteors of its lights the rebellious devils.

Humans, jinn, and devils; and the antidote of healing that cures, through its treatment, both outward and inward ailments at all times and seasons; and the herald of good who recites, with the birds of his passion, the Psalms of ecstasy in the throats of the rememberers, and dances on the branches of diverse kinds; and the support of the book of pardon that erases the traces of evil deeds through hearing it and makes the scales heavy. Glory be to Him who made its people populate the mosques with their roaring in the darkness of night like lions of the dens, and they supplicate and seek intercession for the community of our master Muhammad, may God bless him and grant him peace, by rubbing their cheeks on the dust in the depths of the prayer niches and between the columns. ❖ Thus the saints became mighty, so they guided ❖ And they pointed to the path, so they guided (44) ❖ They are for mankind a cloud and rain ❖ And they are for hearts coolness and shade ❖ They abandoned creation for His pleasure and roamed ❖ The folk have no intimate among creatures ❖ And they joined fasting with prayer, so whenever ❖ The one who toils tires of his toil, they do not tire ❖ They thought they were many, but when ❖ They sought in the wilderness of the earth, they were few ❖ They are those by whom affliction is repelled from creation ❖ And they are among its people wherever they settle My brothers: spiritual audition ¹¹³ is the mark of the saints, the garden of the elite, the life of the pure, the light of the insight of the intelligent, the sustenance of the erring knowers, and the practice of the noble pious, because through it their spirits have a field in the gardens of the kingdom and the higher dominion, and their hearts have an ascent to the stations of proximity and glorification and sanctification before the King, the Master, and a frenzy, pride, ecstatic utterance ¹¹⁴, and attraction ¹¹⁵ in the enclosures of intimacy and the presences of the most manifest secret, and separation, wine, might, favor, and drink from the fullest cup, from the fountain of the elite and election and the sweetest delightful source of love. Glory be to Him who made in it for its people a lordly breeze that yearns spirits to the abode, and a holy gift that moves bodies toward the enclosures of the dominion and the highest world, and a merciful bounty that elevates the truthful and the verifiers to the station of two bow-lengths or nearer ¹¹⁶, and an eternal gift that calls with the tongue of its state: if you have not tasted the meaning of the wine of passion, leave us. How excellent is the saying of the poet: ❖ Say to him who forbids ecstasy to its people: ❖ If you have not tasted the meaning of the wine of passion, leave us (45) ❖ Do you not see the caged bird, O youth? ❖ When it remembers its homelands, it yearns for the abode ❖ So cheer with its chirping what is in its heart ❖ Then the limbs tremble with sensation and meaning Thus the spirits of lovers, O youth, are moved by yearnings for the highest world. They are compelled to patience while yearning—can one who witnesses the meaning be patient? O driver of the lovers, arise and sing while standing, and murmur to us the name of the Beloved and refresh us. Grant us success in what we claim, for when our yearnings overcome, we may shout. Guard our secret in our intoxication from our envier, and if your eyes see something, forgive us. For when we are intoxicated and our minds are pure, and the wine of passion permeates us, we become unveiled. So do not blame the drunkard in his intoxication, for obligation is lifted from us in our intoxication. My brothers: spiritual audition brings near the arrival to God, and folds the distances of the journey for the masters of attraction and those desiring ecstatic utterances, in what brings them near to God, and makes beloved the path of conduct and discipline for the elite who are refreshed by the spirit of God, and strengthens the yearning of lovers and beloved ones in obedience to God, and the pegs ¹¹⁷ who are infatuated with the remembrance of God, and stirs the passion of the passionate lovers of God, and the bells ¹¹⁸ who are immersed in the beauty of God, and aids the devout who persevere in obedience and the solitaries ¹¹⁹ who stand at the limits of God, and gives glad tidings to the happy ones who yearn for God, and the trustworthy ones who attain God's good pleasure. Glory be to Him who made its people travelers and attracted, immersed and annihilated, and the passionate beloved ones. The traveler is carried by God through His pure grace to the witnessing of His proximity, and the attracted one is carried by God through the gifts of His generosity to the presence of His intimacy and love, and the immersed one has no restriction, and the one annihilated in His essence is from Him to Him. The beloved one is not ruled by destinies nor overcome by the shining lights emanating from the presence of the Possessor of Might and Majesty; rather, he is constantly receiving in every station, and descending in every intention and aim, and receiving the audition of the address from the Master, the All-Knowing King, and manifesting what God has granted him to the people of yearning, ecstasy, and passion, and ruling with complete disposal over the elite and common people, while maintaining good manners with God from beginning to end, and constant watchfulness over Him and standing, fulfilling His rights with utmost uprightness. For all of them have disappeared and God is in the seas of eternity, and they have become immersed in the witnessing of divinity and the perfection of being beloved. ﴿No soul knows what joy is hidden for them as a reward for what they used to do﴾ ﴿The Great Terror will not grieve them, and the angels will receive them: This is your day which you were promised﴾ ﴿And your station which you used to incline towards﴾ ﴿Enter Paradise, you and your spouses, rejoicing﴾ the verse. The time has become pure for your intimate conversation, and the season has become pleasant for your appointed time. By God, how long you have stayed awake in the darkness of nights and called upon your Master in the depths of seclusions, and fasted in the heat of noons and subdued your souls from desires, and wept with tears of regret for lack of uprightness, and struck with whips of fear the blaming soul, so that it might cease from false claims and incline to safety. You forgot the pleasure of the strings of lutes by eating worms, and dyed their diverse colors with tears of eyelids, and replaced their beautiful sounds with remembrance of the trial of the grave, the questioning, the terror of the gathering and scattering, the path and the balance, and you guarded the tongue from engaging in causes of misery and abandonment, and you were sincere with God in secret and public, and dealt with Him with pure intentions and perfect faith. This bequeathed to you the station of proximity and nearness, and protection from egoistic whims and the whisperings of Satan, and knowledge of God through witnessing and vision, not through proof and evidence, and raised your aspirations to what you yearned for of the pleasure of your Master, the King, the Judge, and arrival to Him and roaming in His merciful dominion with spirits and minds, so that you might see that with the eyes of your insight with a vision of verification and certainty, and inspiration, success, and gnosis. So He folded for you the distances of the journey to the abodes of proximity and approach, and you confirm what was inscribed for you in the clear revelation from the speech of our Master, the Bestower King: ﴿On the day We fold the heaven like the folding of a scroll for the records﴾. And I said concerning the meaning of this verse, by way of allusion, in what befits this meaning of beautiful words and precise expression, so that it may become clear to the traveler what benefits him in the path of his journey to his Lord, and to the attracted one what he may rely upon in his secret and his whispered prayer, after his return from his effacement to his sobriety, and from his absence to his presence, and from his presence to what was inscribed on the tablet of his secret and the unfolded scroll. So I say: (48) The heaven of intellects was closed, so God opened it with the secret of His wisdom for His saints, and placed in it lamps by which they guide themselves to the loftiness of the seeker in the stations of proximity and his ascent, and by which they witness what God has graciously bestowed of the gifts of secrets and openings upon His favorites and pious ones. Thus the influxes of their lordly states, the agitations of their yearnings and their eternal ecstatic utterances, and the subtleties of their sciences and their gnostic realities are strengthened. When the Truth wills their return to their senses and the places of their intimacy, He folds the spheres of the heaven of their intellects and the pages of the results of their transmitted knowledge, and reminds them with His words: ﴿On the day We fold the heaven﴾ the verse.

How shall We fold the heaven of the perceptions of the intellects of the lovers, and the scrolls of the transmissions of the states of those who are drawn [towards Us] (al-majdhūbīn), the utterly bewildered (al-wālihīn), so that they may awaken from their intoxication and their effacement, and their ecstatic utterances (shaṭaḥātihim) and their divine attractions (jadhabātihim), and return to their life and their sobriety, and then behold Me in the lights of My self-disclosures (tajalliyātihim) and the ascents of their spiritual elevations (maʿārij tarqiyātihim) and their descents (tadalliyātihim), and the continuous draughts of the cups of their wine, and the stations of their nearness and proximity, and the state of their servanthood, their disquietude, and their agitation? Then their death and their life become manifest, and their manifestation and their return and their stillness, and their movements, and their fasting and their cries, and their spirits, and their essences, and their questioning, and their supplications, and their intimacy, and their solitude, and their presence, and their absence, and their expansion, and their contraction, and their utter bewilderment in witnessing Me and their immersion in Me. They hear, and through Me they see, and from Me they receive the concealed knowledge (al-ʿilm al-maknūn) (49), and the guarded secret (al-sirr al-maṣūn), and the wisdom of the secret of "Be, and it is" (kun fa-yakūn), and the penetration of the command before the meeting of the Kāf and the Nūn. And they awaken from their effacement, and upon their faces are the rays of My lights, and upon the precious breaths of theirs are the fragrant breezes of My remembrances, and upon the circulation of their thoughts in My dominion (malakūtī) are the wafting scents of My secrets. For I am the very eye of their life and the spirit of their essences and the continuous draught of their cups and the mover of their ecstatic utterances and their divine attractions. So blessed are they, then blessed are they, then blessed are they, and a fair resort. *"As We began the first creation"* (Qur’an 21:104) — that is, in the origination and determination, and the beauty of the form and the perfection of the fashioning, and the purity of the innermost secret and the opening of the inner sight and the illumination, and the delegation of the affair to his Lord and the abandonment of choice and personal management. *"We shall repeat it"* — returning him to his state so that he may witness what We have honored him with, of the high station in the rank of lordship and precedence, and what We have disclosed to him of the unseen secrets and the gifts which the tongue of the people of allusion and expression tires from enumerating. Or you may say: *"As We began the first creation"* — We specified his two eyes in individuation, and made his foot firm in the station of rootedness and empowerment, and clothed him with the robes of ecstatic utterances and divine attractions and variegation (al-talwīn). *"We shall repeat it"* — returning him to the world of his sensory perception, which is encompassed by sincerity and certainty, and the abodes of his intimacy, which are populated with the lights of guidance and success and the manifest victory (al-fatḥ al-mubīn), so that he may inform of what We have stored up for him in the treasuries of Our unseen dominion (khazā’in ghuyūbinā al-malakūtiyya), and what We have granted him of the subtle graces of Our knowledge of the realm of divine power (maʿārifinā al-jabarūtiyya). And he sees it with the eye of his inner sight, a vision of unveiling and direct witnessing, and of verification and certainty. Or you may say: *"As We began the first creation"* — We manifested him (50) in the loci of manifestation, and purified him from the defilement of otherness and the accidents of ambiguities, and cleansed him from the vain fancies of the soul and the subtle defects. *"We shall repeat it"* — returning him to the station of inspirations and receptions, and the gleams of lights and self-disclosures, and the gifts of the sciences of the divine presence (al-ʿulūm al-ladunniyya) and the descents, and the stations of glad tidings and signs and the announcement of unseen things and spiritual refreshments. And that is because the spiritual, luminous spirits, when they become stripped of the attributes of contingency, and are characterized by the character traits of Lordship, and are clothed with the garment of being beloved, and are immersed in the radiant lights of the All-Holy (al-subūḥiyya), and the flashing gleams of the Most Sacred (al-quddūsiyya), are returned to their spiritual world, and their luminous element, and their holy state, and their eternal station (al-maqām al-ṣamadānī), and they witness what is inscribed in the Preserved Tablet (al-lawḥ al-maḥfūẓ) of the secrets of meanings and the principles of structures, and they announce what they have seen, and they proclaim what they have heard of the revelation of inspiration, and the hearing of the address from the presence of their Lord, the All-Knowing King (al-malik al-ʿallām), and they receive the sciences of the One (al-wāḥidiyya) and the Unique (al-aḥadiyya) and the secrets of the companions of the presence of nearness (al-ḥaḍra al-ʿindiyya). Or you may say: *"As We began the first creation"* — We concealed him in the oceans of Our beauty and majesty, and We made him utterly bewildered in the witnessing of the lights of Our Essence and the attributes of Our perfection, and We detached him from his own purpose in Our love, and We drew him towards Us and gathered his totality upon Us, so that he might be from Us to him and from him to Us. *"We shall repeat it"* — by the secret of Our solicitude and the light of Our guidance, so that he may revive by Our spirit, and delight in Our union, and stroll (51) in the gardens of Our holiness and the pavilions of Our intimacy, and hear Our Most Holy Speech and the subtle graces of Our Most Precious Address. *"A promise binding upon Us"* — We promised it to the elect of Our beloved ones and Our noble ones, and the great ones of Our saints, and the very essences of Our chosen ones. *"Indeed, We are ever doers"* — by Our power, when We singled him out in Our prior knowledge by Our will, and We bestowed him as a gift upon the people of Our love and felicity, and We honored through him the elite of the elite among Our servants, and We illumined through him the hearts of the people of Our secret and Our affection, and We ennobled through him the circle of Our poles (aqṭābinā) and Our stakes (awtādinā). For they are the companions of Our presence, and the loci of the stars of Our victory, and We have extended to them the hand of disposal in Our kingdom, and We have made them vicegerents in Our earth, and We have crowned them with the crown of Our might and Our sovereignty. * Far be it that a youth who clings to them should fail * Far be it that a door of good should be closed against him * It is the right of a man who seeks refuge in them and traces his lineage * To their court, that he be provided with every bounty * By them I swear—sufficient is the oath by them! * And I am the youth who, without the oath, is more truthful * Their followers on the Day of Resurrection, to their Lord * Shall not be terrified, shall not drown, shall not be burned * And when the heart of a man is purified in love for them * And revolves around them with a clarified wine of affection * And he has been effaced from his own self and existence * By their tongue, concerning them, there he speaks * So may God, in the preservation of hearts, through them, perhaps * From their treasure, in times of need, may expenditure be made * For their bounty is abundant, immense, and vast * And other than it, if it exists, is scanty and narrow * Their desire has not overcome them beyond the [divine] purpose * And I am the guarantor—and what I say is verified * O joy for their lover, when there is unveiled * To his direct vision this absolute beauty!

My brothers: al-samā‘ ¹²⁰ is the humming of the men of the unseen ¹²¹, the monks of the cloisters of light, the murmuring of the inhabitants of the highest tablet ¹²² and the much-frequented house ¹²³, the lightning flash of the luminous ones of the encompassing cycles and the servants of the veils and curtains, the wine of the lords of states ¹²⁴ and ecstatic attractions ¹²⁵ and the people of absence and presence ¹²⁶, the fragrance of the gnosis of the people of intimacy and boldness ¹²⁷ and the noble ones who were spoken to on Mount Sinai ¹²⁸, and the light of insight of those whom God has chosen for His presence and favored with His gaze and said to them: “Do whatever you wish, for I have forgiven you” ¹²⁹. And I boast of you to the angels of disposal ¹³⁰ entrusted with the keys of the treasuries of the unseen and the hidden secret, and I seat you upon the thrones of care, and I fan you with the fans of proximity and nearness, and I carry you on the shoulder of reverence and piety, and I elevate you in the stations of the secret and sainthood ¹³¹, and the ranks of might and finality, and I accept your righteous deeds and your praiseworthy striving, and I clarify through you the path of rectitude and guidance, and I make you intercessors for the people of offense stained with major sins and misdeeds and immorality, and I spread out for you the book of My inscribed revelation, that you may read: “And We have written in the Psalms ¹³² after the Reminder ¹³³ that the earth shall be inherited by My righteous servants” ¹³⁴—that is, those who guide to Me, who direct My servants, the sincere ones whose states I have rectified, whose deeds I have accepted, whose words I have approved, and whom I have chosen for Myself before creation and manifestation, and with whom I have adorned the enclosures of My holiness and the pavilions of My intimacy, and I have permitted them the abode of My generosity, and I have lodged them in its lofty mansions and palaces. “Indeed in this is a message for a people who are worshippers” ¹³⁵—that is, attainment of the goal of My greatest good pleasure, My abundant and renowned gift, the outpouring of My most copious secret, deliverance from the trial of the questioning and the grave, the multiplication of reward in the abode of generosity and the increase of wages. Or you may say: “And We have written in the Psalms after the Reminder” ¹³⁶—that is, We have written in the opening pages of the Psalms and the scroll of the parchment of splendor and light that the earth—that is, the earth of hearts illuminated by the lights of unveilings and the subtleties of the hidden secret—shall be inherited by My righteous servants, that is, those by whom I have adorned the brightest days and ages, and with whose precious breaths I have perfumed the pavilions of expansion, joy, and delight, and whose mention I have made renowned in the enclosures of holiness and the places of fame and manifestation, and with whom I have boasted to the inhabitants of the highest tablet and the servants of the veils and curtains, and whose spirits I have lodged in the longed-for spectacle and the much-frequented house, and to whom I have granted in the gardens the ladies of the pavilions and the brides of the palaces, and whom I have honored with My good pleasure and served with the youths and the houris. Or you may say: “And We have written in the Psalms after the Reminder that the earth”—meaning the earth of unveilings, determinations, inspirations, and receptions—“shall be inherited by My righteous servants” ¹³⁷—those for whom they have appeared in the loci of theophanies, whose spirits have ascended to the stations of ascents and descents, and who have been spoken to in the station of “two bow-lengths or nearer” ¹³⁸ and greeted with the best of greetings, and who have been informed of the secrets of the unseen and the meanings of the names and attributes and the sciences of the rational and transmitted, and whose intellects have been snatched away by the lights of ecstatic utterances ¹³⁹ and attractions, and upon whom peace has been pronounced with acceptance and satisfaction, and upon whom have been bestowed the garments of obedience and acts of devotion. Or you may say: “shall be inherited by My righteous servants” ¹⁴⁰—they are the people of His knowledge, His love, His longing, His ecstasy, His passion, and His infatuation; His love has permeated their innermost and outer selves and the essence of their consciences and the apertures of their hearts; their insights have been illumined by His light, their innermost beings have been purified by the permeation of His secret in them and its manifestation; they see none other than Him in existence, and they worship none but Him. “Those are the ones whom God has guided, so follow their guidance” ¹⁴¹. “Indeed in this is a message for a people who are worshippers” ¹⁴²—they worshipped God with sincerity and affirmation, with the light of opening, insight, and verification, out of love for Him and compliance with what He took from them in pre-eternity of faith in Him and the firm covenant, not for entering Paradise nor for fear of Hell, nor for seeking power, status, or pride, nor for facilitating matters or fulfilling needs and desires; rather, His love occupied them from their own love, His knowledge from their own knowledge, His ecstatic utterances and attractions from their own, His will from their own will, His proximity from their own proximity, His obedience from their own obedience, His remembrance from their own remembrance, His disposal from their own disposal, His secret from their own secret, His might from their own might, His pride from their own pride, because they are luminous spirits delighting in the visions of lordship, and spiritual bodies moving in the station of proximity and belovedness. God has added them to Himself, raised their rank in the enclosures of His holiness, and lodged them in the meadows of His gnoses and favors and the pavilions of His intimacy. They are those who have cut themselves off entirely to Him and sufficed with Him over all else of the worlds and all creation. “Upon them are blessings from their Lord and mercy, and it is they who are the guided” ¹⁴³. Or you may say: “Indeed in this is a message for a people who are worshippers” ¹⁴⁴—they have, by God, kindled the lamps of their hearts with the light of His love in the darkness, and illuminated the candles of their understandings with the oil of hope in His pardon and mercy, and raised their hands with the grace of poverty and neediness to Him and supplication, and they spent the night whispering to Him in the black darkness with sincerity of intention and presence of mind. “Verily, the friends of God—no fear shall be upon them, nor shall they grieve” ¹⁴⁵.

And to our master, the father, the learned, the righteous, the pious, the pure, the sincere advisor, Abu 'Abd Allah, my master Muhammad, surnamed al-Salih, these verses in meaning: Whoever is saved and becomes saved is none other than one who spends the night standing in darkness, with poverty, lowliness, humility, and dire need for his Lord. So stretch out your hand toward your Lord at night, and worry will depart from His creatures, hoping. For God, my Lord, is forbearing and generous; whoever hopes for His bounty will not be disappointed ¹⁴⁶. Or you say: {Indeed in this is a message for a worshipping people} ¹⁴⁷. They bowed in the prayer niches of belovedness, and gathered in the mosques of lordship and awe, and performed the duties of servitude, and acknowledged the right of lordship. Then the attractions of divine states and the radiances of transcendent lights snatched them away to the stations of the secret and speciality. Their food is glorification and declaration of God's oneness, and their drink is humility, lowliness, and supplication to their Master, the Majestic King. They treat the sick with their medicine, and support the weak through their blessing. They magnify their Master, honor Him, and remember Him morning and evening. {Those are the party of God. Indeed, the party of God are the successful} ¹⁴⁸. Or you say: {Indeed in this is a message for a worshipping people}. They worship God with pure intention and fulfill the duty of His right most perfectly. They watch over Him in all their affairs and witness Him in every scene and station. They praise and thank Him for what He has bestowed upon them of gifts of openings, high status, and elevated rank. They seek blessing through His name and rely on Him when ascending the ranks of proximity and receiving the sciences of revelation and inspiration. They extol Him with complete praise and laud Him when the veil is lifted, the address is heard, and the pens screech, with the execution of command and the decree of judgments. So they are worshippers, ascetics, pious, strivers, successful, supported, saints, God-fearing, guides ¹⁴⁹, learned, practicing, rightly guided, noble, generous, righteous, successful, patient, hopeful of reward, sincere advisors. They became pure, so the drink became pure for them. They worshipped God as He should be worshipped, so the veils were rent for them, and the hidden secrets of consciences and the secrets of the Preserved Tablet were unveiled for them. They followed the path of the Muhammadan Law until they attained the desired object and the treasure of the sought-after secret. {Those are whom God has guided, and those are the people of understanding} ¹⁵⁰. The scent of their love wafts with the east wind, and every heart has inclined to their melody. Their breaths have become fragrant, and often the tongue was silent about them, then it became eloquent. A people who, when they alight in a barren, desolate valley, it becomes fragrant with perfume and lush. And when the bitter sea appears to a drinker from among them, it returns sweeter than wine. Love learned in their passion a school, so for that their love became my school. They found my heart a dwelling for their passion, so for that they camped in the heart and prolonged. A people who have a tidings and a state that necessitates the honor of majesty, if you ask about the tidings. Through them, the sickness of the sick is removed, when he becomes affectionate toward their presence. They repay their evildoer with beautiful deeds and pardon a servant who has sinned against them. They are the saints of God truly among creation, and to them it will be said tomorrow openly: "Welcome!" My brothers: Listening ¹⁵¹ revives dead hearts, opens the treasuries of the unseen, bestows the subtleties of gifted knowledge, splits the sealed core of the hidden, expresses what is concealed in consciences, clarifies the meanings of the difficulties of the Preserved Tablet, and conveys the hopes of lovers to the presence of proximity and the stations of the sought-after secret. My brothers: Listening in itself is a wondrous thing; its mention becomes sweet in the ears of listeners and pleases. It enraptures the lover in the seas of its meanings and makes him absent. He finds consolation in it from the mention of Su'da and Buthayna and the love of friend and relative. In it for lovers is a wondrous secret, a near opening, a lush garden, and a fruitful, fertile pasture. It brings the beloved near to the lover, helps him against the blamer, the slanderer, and the watcher, and elevates him to the stations of closeness and proximity. It reminds him of the discourses of love, encouragement, and warning, and grants him the fullest share and portion of the gifts of good things and the flashes of opening and joys. My brothers: Listening, according to the masters of melodies, the people of crafts, and the skilled musicians, is a thriving market and a thing approved in the meanings of lovers, not stagnant. The virtuous and glorious adorn themselves with it, the animate and inanimate are moved by it, the resident and visitor, the one departing and arriving obtain its blessing. The lightning flashes of its lights snatch away the minds of the masters of ecstatic utterances and ecstatics. And if melodies make what is not delightful delightful, and make what is distant and strange in minds and unfamiliar rejoice at their beautiful sound, then what about what is already delightful from their exquisite words and the harmonious, superior compositions of their poetic gems? God Almighty has placed for that in souls a strange effect through song, and a wondrous influence in reviving human and animal spirits, because through it they attain the goal and achieve desires, especially when accompanied by the mention of the Beloved of lovers and the Bride of the angels brought near, my master and lord, the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, and honor and generosity, and glory and greatness. How excellent is the saying of one who said: ❖ The beauty of the voice in creation is an adornment, by which the melody of the adorned ode is narrated. ❖ Whoever is not moved by listening in its sweetness, that one is blind of heart, blind of imagination. ❖ The camels cry out to the driver playfully, and suckle in their desert without restriction. ❖ And for God in spirits, when they rejoice at melody, is a secret for creation not revealed. ❖ And every person who criticizes listening, he is in his blindness, not seeing. ❖ The people of intelligence are the people of the Hijaz, and all of them saw it as permissible among them, not disapproved. ❖ And the people of Sufism yearned for it out of desire, to stir a longing whose fire has not been kindled. ❖ And the Messenger of God said: "Adorn the Qur'an with your voices." ❖ And the Psalms of David the prophet adorned his psalms with their melodies in every script. ❖ And in Paradise, Israfil makes his people hear, and what is heard consoles them from every sight. ❖ So you are enamored with listening and its beauty; sufficient for me is following the noble son of Ja'far. My brothers: Listening is the flute of spiritual souls, the lightning flash of the attractions of divine states and transcendent lights, the breezes of holy breaths and eternal secrets. That is because when Adam, peace be upon him, was brought forth by the hand of eternal power and the divine gaze, he remained a lifeless form, fallen in his human clay. "When God willed the entry of the spirit into him, He inspired the angels to form a circle of remembrance with the most beautiful, delightful voices and wondrous, flowing languages. The spirits would yearn and hasten, and they would cause his pure, good body to tremble while he stood glorifying God, and he did not awaken from his stupor until he found himself in Paradise." The hadith ¹⁵².

From that origin, the spirits remain yearning for the presence of remembrance with beautiful voices, because that inclination in them comes from that place. So whenever they hear beautiful voices in the remembrance of God, they yearn, fly, become restless, and long for the stations of proximity and nearness, according to their immersion and what God has deposited in them of that lordly subtlety ¹⁵³ upon which the covenant was taken on the day of "Am I not" ¹⁵⁴ from that sovereign presence. My brothers: Know that hearts are vessels, remembrances are stoppers, melodies are drinks, and voices are beauty. The melodies carry from the songs to the vessels. Were it not for the purity of the vessels, the meanings would not be clear; and were it not for the soundness of the meanings, the repetitions would not be pleasant. When the drinks reach their vessels, if they are pure, they purify and refine them; if they are turbid, they corrupt and expose them. Some have said concerning this meaning: * What can the cupbearer do when he goes around * to his companions with the permitted wine? * One has increased its purity by his description * while another has increased its corruption ¹⁵⁵ * Our hearts are vessels; whenever * the vessel is good, what enters it is good. * No rose grows like other plants, * nor does musk spread like the smell of onions. * If colocynth were constantly watered with honey, * colocynth would only produce colocynth. And I have said concerning this meaning by way of a healing allusion and a sufficient, noble advice for those who wish to drink from the pure springs of the path ¹⁵⁶ and to act according to the Sunna and the Book, and to preserve the fulfillment of complete covenants. My brothers: Know that sincerity with God purifies the vessels, preserves the structures, clarifies the meanings, has mercy on the sinner, benefits the captive, elevates to the stations of proximity and nearness, protects from the whisperings of Satan, guides to the path of good, extinguishes the burning passion of the yearning lover, and brings upon the disciple ¹⁵⁷ the gleams of openings ¹⁵⁸, inspirations, and diverse teachings. It makes him independent of melodious tunes, beautiful voices, the strumming of the lute, the flute, the kawtar ¹⁵⁹, and the resonances of the repetitions. My brothers: Souls seek arrival before preserving the principles, and attaining openings and gifts before opening the door of contentment and acceptance. My brothers: Souls love miracles before achieving uprightness, and breaking habits before correcting beliefs, and realizing the knowledge of the rational, transmitted, and spiritual, and of prevention and giving before the removal of the veil, and of disposing in the kingdom and the dominion ¹⁶⁰ before purifying one's sustenance and preserving one's times, and of seeing what is above the Throne ¹⁶¹ and beneath the depths before killing the soul with the sword of asceticism and chastity, acceptance of truth and fairness, and burying it in the earth of sincerity, devotion, and obscurity. When the servant's sincerity in love of his Master is sound, * the meaning of beauty shines for him and reveals itself. It annihilates him from his attributes and descriptions * and in the union ¹⁶² in the eye of reality ¹⁶³ it preserves him. It clothes him with the crown of gnosis and guidance * and familiarizes him with proximity to Him and brings him near. My brothers: The soul is earthly, changing like the color of a snake in its earthly soil; the spirit is spiritual, yearning for its holy, Throne-like stations. When it is safe from the calamities of the soul and its deadly poisons, it crosses the seven obstacles ¹⁶⁴ and ascends to its noble, excellent abodes. My brothers: Rule before you are ruled and Satan plays with you; visit before you are visited and become deluded by knowing brothers and kissing hands. My brothers: Reckon yourselves before you are reckoned, and restrain yourselves before you stand before God and are reproached for what you have neglected of God's rights and are punished. My brothers: Beware of the afflictions that come to you on the path of journeying to God, and do not be deluded by the ecstatic utterances ¹⁶⁵ and attractions that occur to you upon hearing melodic voices and instruments. My brothers: Treat your souls with repentance and seeking forgiveness, not with listening to odes and poems. Treat your outward and inward with extending the hand of supplication before your Lord ¹⁶⁶ with humility and need, and seeking refuge in Him in the darkness of night and the times of dawn, not with drinking wine, casting off restraint, tearing veils, loving the rich and those of status, prestige, and pride, sitting with drinking companions and youths, and avoiding the virtuous and scholars of the path and the great masters. My brothers: You have abandoned night prayer, daytime fasting, recitation of the Quran, and perseverance in litanies ¹⁶⁷ and subtle remembrances, and you have found sweet drinks and good fruits delightful. And you have forgotten what you will be called to account for regarding greed, insolence, and bearing sins and burdens. You have inclined to the world, its adornment, its desires, and its pleasures, and have not awakened from the sleep of heedlessness and the causes of delusion. My brothers: You admire the spreading of tables, jokes, sitting on carpets, relaxation, preparing to visit the farthest mosques, and dwelling in the ribat ¹⁶⁸, but you are unaware of the corruption that enters your deeds, which are mixed with baseness and bad company. You have forgotten what you will be punished for due to lack of care in eating and drinking, and in being scrupulous and cautious therein. The competition for worldly things has distracted you, occupying you from examining your states and deeds, and you have not paid attention to what will come to you on the Day of Reckoning of disgrace, calamity, punishment, and the lashing of whips. My brothers: ¹⁶⁹ If you admire the season of spring, its flourishing gardens, its blossoming flowers, its flowing waters, beautiful clothes, health of body, and lasting well-being, then appreciate the value of this blessing and weep over the sins and offenses you have committed in past days. Be ascetic in this lowly world and look at it with a disdainful eye. My brothers: Wearing clothes of fame before preserving etiquette with God cuts off manifestation. Rushing to lofty matters before mastering their principles and establishing their rules is haste and a soulful desire that brings disgrace to its possessor on the Day of Resurrection and Gathering. My brothers: Every listener whose heart is attached to the world, his effort is blameworthy and his deed is unthanked. Every rememberer who reflects on the work of the Hereafter and seeks from his Lord pardon and forgiveness, his army is victorious and the army of his Satan is defeated and broken. Every ecstatic one ¹⁷⁰ whose deed is mixed with hypocrisy and show, and seeks the world through religion, he is deprived and chained in the fetters of his desires, subdued. Every boastful one who loves leadership, fame, and manifestation is cut off from the path of the people of goodness and righteousness, and has no share in the register of the people of love and piety. Where are the people of hearts and secrets? * Where are the people of illumination and lights? Who are you to know a people * from whose radiance the moons shine?

They are the suns of guidance and the people of unveiling ¹⁷¹ and detachment ¹⁷² from all decrees. (65) How many people have delved into false claims, pretending to be among the righteous! They proclaimed the unity of existence ¹⁷³ and said, "Everything is the Creator God." Woe to a people who have no supporter; he who is not among the helpers ¹⁷⁴ has failed. What person says, "I believe in God," yet is content with the words of the wicked? And you see them spouting lies, which they have fabricated in verse and poetry. They have made the head an ornament for food, expanding therein the ornament of thoughts. One of them says, "I am the Truth ¹⁷⁵, and all is I, a unity without denial." And they have become in garments of falsehood and confusion, hatred, humiliation, and deceit. They bring upon people a calamity through their speech, while they are like predatory black beasts, following their whims, arrogance, error, and manifest humiliation and brokenness. They claim to have melted away their desires and annihilated themselves from all states ¹⁷⁶, and they have become in character like a garden whose flowers the hand of rain has opened. But when one of them you think is something, from his desire he becomes like a tyrant, loud-voiced, clamorous in insolence, screaming, and stubborn in flight. They belittle knowledge, while they are in their ignorance like donkeys in knowledge, and they venerate youths who approach them with musical instruments, singing with lute and drum. My brothers: Listening ¹⁷⁷ is a paradise for one who buries his deeds in the land of obscurity, and a paradise for one who desires closeness to his Lord and arrival ¹⁷⁸, and a protection for one who guards his tongue from backbiting, slander, and meddling, and an insight for one whose heart God has illuminated with the lights of knowledge and action and the secrets of the rational and transmitted ¹⁷⁹, and a treasure for one who acts according to what he has comprehended and adopts the school of the saints ¹⁸⁰ and the great masters ¹⁸¹, and a path for one who desires the Hereafter and strives for it with due striving (66) and establishes his building on the foundations of the Muhammadan Law ¹⁸² and the preservation of the branches and the roots ¹⁸³, and a means for one who frequently sends blessings upon the Beloved of lovers, my Master and Lord, the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, and a key to attaining the goal and achieving the request. My brothers: When the love of God takes hold of your hearts, you become intoxicated and agitated without wine, and you dance and sway without ecstasy or rapture, without weeping, groaning, fainting, or tearing of garments. And you turn entirely to God and cry out in claim without shame, especially when you are sincere in your deeds for God and have set down your burdens at His door, and entrusted your affairs to Him in travel and stay, and you have been patient, sought reward, and striven for God with true striving until the landmarks became clear to you, your innermost became pure, your insights shone, your inner and outer selves were purified, and your spirits and forms gathered in a seat of truth before your Lord, the All-Knowing King. * There is nothing for the servant but God * So arise and be truthful with God * Leave the worlds and journey * From other than God to God * Beware of others and witness * All things are from God * Adhere to etiquette and leave * The state of creation to God * Thus is one who is a servant * Entrust the affair to God * You will never fear evil * If you rely on God (67) * Nor any opposition or rejection * If you turn to God My brothers: Courage is patience for an hour, and the fear of God is the best provision and merchandise for the disciple ¹⁸⁴ and wayfarer ¹⁸⁵. So be patient to cross these seven obstacles ¹⁸⁶ with the mounts of watchfulness ¹⁸⁷, and strive for God with true striving to reach the highest degrees and the loftiest stations, and to win the pleasure of your Lord and attain the breaking of habits ¹⁸⁸, so that merits and miracles ¹⁸⁹ are attributed to you. My brothers: The S of listening ¹⁹⁰ is the S of felicities, its M is the M of glories, its A is the A of benefits, and its 'Ayn is the 'Ayn of divine care and acts of worship. So whoever desires its presence should guard against the obstacles that prevent him from reaching the path of truthfulness with God in the beginning and the returns ¹⁹¹, because attraction without a truthful state with God blinds the insights and exposes the secrets, and for a worldly purpose it extinguishes the light of the lamps of consciences, and hinders the wayfarer from reaching God and journeying, and hypocrisy and showmanship veil the disciple from joining the stations of the people of goodness, righteousness, true discernment ¹⁹², and signs, and seeking status in hearts prevents the acceptance of good deeds and leads to sins, evil actions, and major sins, and to win the hearts of the common people and win them over with false claims darkens the heart and alienates loved ones and relatives. So beware, my brothers, of (68) these blameworthy and evil actions, and raise your aspirations to the pleasure of your Lord, and turn to Him with sincerity in good deeds and truthfulness of intention; He will set right your deeds, forgive your sins, and grant you what you seek of the highest degrees and lofty ranks. * When the servant is purified from the filth of sins * And becomes clear through truthfulness of resolve what was turbid * And turns, not inclining to any but his Beloved * And rolls up his sleeves with the arm of divine success * And removes from his innermost the attachment to other-than-Him * And becomes absent from worlds, creation, and people * And clings to the thresholds of the noble ones and their door * Whoever is raised in those vast spaces becomes fragrant * That is the one whom his Beloved brings near * And shows him His beauty without doubt * And when the full moon of His witnessing shines * He becomes with Him at the highest station and summit My brothers: When you turn your hearts to God until you arrive, and when you turn entirely to Him until you take refuge in His mighty presence and are ascribed to Him, and when you reflect on His dominion and sovereignty until you see with the eye of your insights into His worlds and take heed, and when you renounce the fleeting embellishments of this world and its familiar things until you draw near to His highest carpet and become close, and when you obey His commands and prohibitions and remain upright until you command and forbid, and when you seek refuge in Him and supplicate before Him in the darkness of night and rub your cheeks until your prayers are answered and accepted, and when you grieve over what you have committed of sins and repent until your states are reformed and you become leaders among people and are honored, and when you become intoxicated with the wine (69) of divine love until you conceal and reveal, tear your garments and shout, and when you witness the lights of His majesty and beauty until you perish, vanish, and gaze upon the attributes of His perfections and are immersed, then how can you attain the description of the states of the men who worshipped God as He should be worshipped and spent their lives in His obedience, so He brought them near, chose them for His service, gave them refuge in His presence, drew them to His court, and honored them with His vision and regard? How excellent are such men, whom the states of listening and its beautiful, wondrous sounds, its exquisite melodies, its delightful tunes, its superior recitations, and its pleasing, goodly verses move! How excellent is what Imam al-Bakri ¹⁹³ said when he recited concerning this meaning: * The ear did not hear reports from the string ¹⁹⁴ * But the string conveyed the sweetest news

And the return, if it resounds that the ardent lover ¹⁹⁵ and his tears rush forth, then they resemble a downpour of rain. That is not a rapture of amusement, but a rapture of wisdom that made the eye witness by the trace ¹⁹⁶. So wonderful are these sounds that stir the states of those immersed in the love of God, the bewildered, and melodies that incline to them the hearts of the yearning seekers of secrets and the concealers, and a humming that awakens the resolve of those heedless of obedience to God and the neglectful, and burns the hearts of the enraptured wayfarers ¹⁹⁷, and the twang of strings that makes the spirits of the worshippers long for their Lord and strengthens the ecstasies ¹⁹⁸ of the ascetic devotees, and the tunes of remembrances that soften the natures of hard hearts and unite those who love each other for God's sake and are connected, and the intoxication of attractions that shake the forms and stir the disquiet of the yearnings of the solitary ones secluded in the corners of retreats, the wakeful, and the sweetness of supplications that perfume the mouths of those desiring pardon and forgiveness for God's servants, the intercessors, and the delight of intimate conversation that makes one forget the vanities of the passing world and erases their traces from the hearts of the lovers seeking the pleasure of their Lord, the knowers ¹⁹⁹. Ah, for a moment when the night has let down its veils, I spend in love a desire that fulfills the wish. So wonderful is a glance that encompasses all mankind, with a garment and greenery, and a pleasure without other, and purity and a life safe from every worry and distress. And the night of the lovers ²⁰⁰ has been illumined by the light of that moon, and the wine of union has been protected by the sound of the string stretching high. And the expanse of our night extended from evening until dawn. What a blessed night, whose only flaw is its shortness! And the cloud spread its cloak over the regions and unfolded. And neither the jurist nor 'Umar is safe. And melodies, and the world is a house of pilgrimage and 'Umra ²⁰¹. And every ardent lover is infatuated with the love of the nights of the Presence ²⁰². And the cup of our intimacy overflowed, and its flood increased and pearls. And the tree is a ripe branch, low-hanging with fruits. And the reciter of the folk became, from his words, a delight of hearing and sight, folding existence, and we see only that which the people and forms have manifested. And with us are beloved ones who drag the trains of ink, reciting to us the words of those who passed away long ago. And every beautiful word that issues from the heart of a knower, we recite in their presence of passion any of the Surahs ²⁰³. So by Him Who has distinguished us with bounty among mankind, indeed, whoever denies us has committed a grave sin. And everyone who knows us meets with wishes and success. So excellent are they, men with illuminated spirits, purified bodies, and hearts that roam in the dominion of the heavens and the earths and all the Presences ²⁰⁴. If you saw how generous they are with tears, how gentle with sighs, how intense their humility from fear of God and regrets, how abundant their sorrow for what they missed of acts of obedience and nearness, how beautiful their utterance of what comes to them from the Presence of their Lord of inspirations, receptions, and divine descents ²⁰⁵ and good words—in that is evidence of the perfection of their passion and the abundance of their love for their Lord and their longing. They cannot sleep in their beds ²⁰⁶ from the delight of intimacy with Him and the intensity of desire for His love and proximity. {No soul knows what joy is kept hidden for them as a reward for what they used to do} ²⁰⁷. So where are you, my companion, from the rubbing of their faces in the dust and the smearing of their cheeks in supplication before their Lord, the King, the Bestower? If you saw their eyes weeping, you would see in them the blood of their hearts flowing. God knows the reality of their secrets, for He stirred them with His longing and passion and gave them to drink from the wine of His love and the cups of His taste, until they did not sleep on their prepared beds like the idle, nor recline on their cushioned pillows like those heedless of obedience to their Lord, the neglectful. And they recited: My daytime is the daytime of people, until when night appears, the beds shake me towards You. I spend my daytime in conversation and wishes, and the night gathers us for sorrow. I say: In sum, this is the path of the principles of the folk ²⁰⁸; I have urged following it and warned the disciple ²⁰⁹ against what may confront him of its obstacles and hindrances, and against following the people of base desires and corrupt opinions and what they have plunged into of its trials and disturbances. And with this beneficial reminder I have mentioned the people of my love, and my own soul is more deserving of advice. And I have explained in it what leads to the way of the people of right guidance, righteousness, and the ideal path. And I have let loose the reins in that, though I am not worthy of it. And I have included in it what is incumbent upon the servant of truthfulness with God, sincerity, and repentance ²¹⁰ obligatory upon the common and the elite, and what saves the disciple on the day when realities become true and secrets are tested and forelocks are seized, following the practice of the righteous predecessors and adhering to their straight path and clear methodology. And with all this, the mercy of God is wider and more comprehensive, and His bounty is more beneficial, inclusive, and complete. Indeed, one attains from the Generous Lord by sheer election, and it does not depend on repentance, truthfulness, or sincerity, as has been narrated from the interpreter of the verifiers ²¹¹ and the seal of the learned scholars, the saints and the chosen ones, the truthful, Shaykh al-Hafiz Abu Nu'aym al-Isbahani, from Shaykh Yusuf ibn al-Husayn al-Razi (may God be pleased with him) that he said: A certain person confronted me regarding a statement and said to me: 'You will not attain your goal through your action unless you repent.' So I replied: 'If repentance were to knock at my door, I would not permit it to enter, on the basis that I would be saved by it from my Lord. And if truthfulness and sincerity were two slaves, I would sell them out of my disdain for them, because if I am with God in the knowledge of the unseen ²¹² fortunate and accepted, I will not be held back by committing sins and offenses; and if I am with Him wretched and forsaken, my repentance, sincerity, and truthfulness will not make me fortunate. Indeed, God created me as a human without any action, and there was no intercessor for me to Him, and He guided me to His religion which He chose for Himself, saying: {And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers} ²¹³. So relying on His bounty and generosity is more appropriate for me, if I am free and rational, than relying on my defective actions ²¹⁴ and my flawed attributes, because comparing His bounty and generosity with our actions stems from lack of knowledge of the Generous, the Beneficent.' Then I say, by way of supplication and entreaty and raising the complaint to Him in Whose hands are the treasures of faults and the keys of locks, and seeking intercession to God through the standing of him to whom journeys are directed and through whose blessing of prayer upon him goals and hopes are attained—my master and lord, the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace.

My God: no righteousness of one who is righteous benefits You, nor any deed of one who succeeds, nor the heaviness of a scale of one whose scale is heavy, nor any service of one who serves and advises sincerely, nor any composition of one who composes, interprets, and explains. Nor do the crimes of those who commit sins and offenses harm You. Rather, You are utterly independent of others, and transcendent above opposites, rivals, and all forms of originatedness. To You are raised needs in secret and whispered prayer, and by You are hardships removed and afflictions lifted. I have sought intercession with You, O my Master, through the rank of Your Beloved, our Master and Patron Muhammad ²¹⁵—may God bless him and grant him peace—to whom matters are directed and complaints are raised, that You may bestow upon me out of Your pure generosity and bounty, and grant me what I have asked and beyond what I have asked from the gifts of Your munificence and grace. For You have said—and Your word is truth—"Call upon Me, I will respond to you" ²¹⁶. And here I stand at Your noble door, having spread my hand to draw down the flow of Your generosity and the flood of Your abundant favor. So meet me, O my Master, with Your pardon and Your great beneficence, and do not return them empty of Your mercy and forgiveness, O Forbearing, O Generous, O Compassionate, O Merciful, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Most Generous of the generous, O Lord of the worlds. At Your door, O God, O Lord, O Eternal ²¹⁷, I have stood, so aid me with Your kindness and support. And do not drive away the lowly servant, for he relies upon You, O God of creation, in his affair. Would it be fitting, O my Master, to turn back a hopeful one who has come to Your door, O God, O our Lord? By Your truth, no one whose desire is You has ever failed, so how could I, when I have sought support from the strong pillar ²¹⁸? I have sought intercession, and O help, through the Chosen One ²¹⁹ by whom You guided the paths of happiness and right guidance, for the fulfillment of my hopes, the relief of my distress, the rectification of my states—for Your bounty is limitless—and for mercy upon my companions, forgiveness of their sins, and honoring them and those who follow them forever. Beautiful and excellent praise, splendid and noble eulogy, and Muhammadan love that yearns souls toward his magnificent station, quenches bodies with the emotions of his mercies and the rain of his abundant favor, and illumines hearts with the perfection of faith, love, and the great opening ²²⁰. O God, bless and grant peace to our Master and Patron Muhammad and to the family of our Master Muhammad, with the blessing of a longing servant who praises him with beautiful praise and extols his supreme station with God and his magnificent rank, and asks God by his rank to treat him with His hidden kindness in residence and travel. O God, bless and grant peace to our Master and Patron Muhammad and to the family of our Master Muhammad, with the blessing of a tasting servant who praises him with noble praise and extols his magnificent virtues and his ancient honor, and asks God by his rank to quench his heart from his delightful pool and his sweet, flowing Kawthar ²²¹. O God, bless and grant peace to our Master and Patron Muhammad and to the family of our Master Muhammad, with the blessing of a praising servant who praises him with abundant praise and extols his surpassing beauties and his ancient glory, and asks God by his rank to bestow upon him sublime gifts and pour upon him the rain of His abundant favor. O God, bless and grant peace to our Master and Patron Muhammad and to the family of our Master Muhammad, with the blessing of a sincere servant who praises him morning and evening, and extols him as his Lord extolled him in the Torah and the Gospel, and asks God by his rank to place him in the shelter of His most protective care and His shady shade. O God, bless and grant peace to our Master and Patron Muhammad and to the family of our Master Muhammad, with the blessing of a loving servant who praises him as his Lord praised him in the clear Revelation, and extols his noble qualities among every group and tribe, and asks God by his rank to crown him with the crown of His sainthood ²²² and gird him with the polished sword of His care. Section: O God, upon him and his family send blessings that ennoble the lowly among us, heal the sick among us, and protect us through their blessing in morning, evening, and midday rest, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. The Messenger of God is the most honored of those to whom came from the Lord a revelation through Gabriel. And Israfil ²²³—how sweet a friend he is to him—the gifts of the Intimate and the Majestic. Three years of intimacy to strengthen him for a revelation whose content was weighty. The noble one of God, of pure lineage, to whom the ancient lineage ends. Through him branches have grown long in high qualities, just as roots have risen through his eminence. He has from Khindif ²²⁴ a lofty house, and from Mudar ²²⁵ an ancient glory. The core of their core is Taha ²²⁶, the beloved, their master and their long-lasting pride. Through him Adnan ²²⁷ became noble and elevated, and distinction was given to him over the Arabs in length. And it is their right that the Messenger of God is from them, through closeness that the Majestic King singled out for him. So his creation was perfected, then He chose him as a beloved, who has no equal ever. The most eminent of messengers in rank, and the greatest of those who possess intellect. His realities transcend all limits, and intellects are bewildered by his realities. The word of the Chosen One is like revelation, true—so the word of God is Ahmad's ²²⁸ word. The tongue of God is Ahmad among creation; the evidence has pointed to the meaning. O God, bless and grant peace to our Master and Patron Muhammad and to the family of our Master Muhammad, with the blessing of a lover who praises him as his Lord praised him in His clear Book, and asks God by his rank to illumine his heart with the light of faith and make him among His sincere and certain servants. O God, bless and grant peace to our Master and Patron Muhammad and to the family of our Master Muhammad, with the blessing of a truthful servant who praises him as his Lord praised him in the clear Book, saying: "The Trustworthy Spirit ²²⁹ brought it down upon your heart, that you may be among the warners, in a clear Arabic tongue" ²³⁰. And he asks God by his rank to purify him from every blameworthy attribute and quench his heart from the wine of His love, delightful and pure. O God, bless and grant peace to our Master and Patron Muhammad and to the family of our Master Muhammad, with the blessing of a desiring servant who praises him as his Lord praised him in His sublime and most exalted Book, and His concise, elegant, and meaningful address, saying: "Ta Ha ²³¹. We have not sent down the Quran upon you to cause you distress, but only as a reminder for those who fear [God]—a revelation from Him who created the earth and the high heavens, the Most Merciful, established upon the Throne. To Him belongs what is in the heavens and what is on the earth and what is between them and what is beneath the soil. And if you speak aloud—then indeed, He knows the secret and what is [even] more hidden. God—there is no deity except Him. To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names" ²³². And he asks God by his rank to seal his days with success, happiness, blessing, prosperity, and a good, pleasant, and most agreeable life.

O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad ⁷⁹, a blessing of a servant who praises him with what his Lord praised him in His eternal, preexistent Book and His luminous, immense discourse, by His saying: {Yā Sīn. By the Wise Qur’an, indeed you are among the messengers, on a straight path, a revelation of the Almighty, the Merciful.} And he asks Allah by his rank to bestow upon him entry into the Garden of Bliss and the vision of His noble Face. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant who praises him with what his Lord praised him in the decisive verses of His Wise Book and His majestic, magnificent discourse, by His saying: {And We have given you the seven oft-repeated verses and the Great Qur’an.} And he asks Allah by his rank to grant him His angelic support and to pour upon him the ocean of His all-encompassing generosity. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant who praises him with what his Lord praised him in His beautiful, comely Book and His sweet, ever-flowing discourse of Tasnīm ²³³, by His saying: {Nūn. By the pen and what they inscribe, you are not, by the grace of your Lord, a madman. And indeed for you is a reward never-ending. And indeed you are of a great moral character.} And he asks Allah by his rank to guide him along the paths of salvation and to lead him on the straight path of His religion. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad ⁸⁰, a blessing of a servant who praises him with what his Lord praised him in His Book, which contains the jewels of wisdom and the subtleties of knowledge that have rendered the eloquent incapable and bewildered the mind of the skilled and discerning, by His saying: {Ḥā Mīm. ʿAyn Sīn Qāf. Thus does Allah, the Almighty, the Wise, reveal to you and to those before you. To Him belongs what is in the heavens and what is on the earth, and He is the Most High, the Magnificent.} And he asks Allah by his rank to treat him with His subtle kindness and to forgive his recent and past sin. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant who praises him with what his Lord praised him in His Book, which heals with its light the ailment of the sick and ailing, by His saying: {Indeed, there has come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. Grievous to him is your suffering; he is concerned for you, and to the believers he is kind and merciful.} And he asks Allah by his rank to grant him his intercession at the trial of the grave and the questioning, the setting up of the Balance, the Bridge, and the terror of that great standing. So bless him, O Allah, and his family, a blessing by which You enrich the poor and destitute among us, protect the traveler and the resident among us, and forgive us for what we have hidden from the eyes of people and confessed to You in the darkness of the pitch-black night, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. ⁸¹ When I mention the praises of the glory of Muhammad, and when I recite verses of pride in his highness, the birds of the grove of longing and ecstasy sing out. For the mention of the traits of the Hāshimī ²³⁴ Muhammad, the hearts of lovers incline and lean. And every lover, if he knows the mention of his love, sways as the tender branch sways. And there appear upon him at that time witnesses, for every vessel exudes what it contains. When the fire of love lies hidden in the heart, its flint sparks joyfully at remembrance. Indeed, declare openly in his love with your affection, for no lover is one who merely shows ecstasy. And the fragrance of musk and ambergris spreads and wafts. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant who praises him with what his Lord praised him in His inscribed Book, and what He showed him on the Night of the Ascension ²³⁵ within the veils of radiance and light, and showed him in all the encompassing spheres and the Much-Frequented House ²³⁶. And he asks Allah by his rank to make him among those who are absent in him and present, and to give him to drink from his fullest cup of his purest support, from which whoever drinks will never thirst for the duration of ages and times. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant who praises him with what his Lord praised him of praiseworthy praise, and he asks Allah by his rank that You meet him with pardon and forgiveness on the Day of Resurrection and Reckoning, and bestow upon him entry into the high Garden of chambers and palaces, and lodge him ⁸² in its abodes surrounded by splendor and light, and grant him therein what no eye has seen, no ear has heard, nor has it occurred to the heart of any human of everlasting bliss, and youths, and houris. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant who praises him with what his Lord praised him of blessed and accepted praise, and he asks Allah by his rank to magnify for him the reward and recompense, and be pleased with him with a pleasure after which there is no displeasure, and make his days joined with joy and happiness, and purify him from the embellishments of this world and its pleasures which Allah the Exalted has condemned by His saying: {And the life of this world is nothing but the enjoyment of delusion.} So bless him, O Allah, and his family, a blessing that carries us on the shoulder of love and piety, and makes it for us before You as accepted endeavor and stored-up work, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. Ṭāhā ²³⁷ is the bride of holiness, the key to purity; from the knowledge of the unseen, how many a mystery he has unveiled! The opening of hearts to comprehend the secrets of guidance, until he elucidated a lexicon of subtleties. Allah made his heart sovereign, and over His servants he was empowered to enlighten hearts. Glory be to Him who made hearts His soldiers, so that bodies obey Him in what He knows. Allah sent him to us as a mercy, so he was more merciful to us than we are to ourselves. Allah praised him in His revelation, and by his life He swore in His remembrance. Upon him, his noble family, and his Companions, bless and grant peace, as the Majestic One blessed and granted peace. ⁸³ O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant who praises him with beautiful praise, and asks Allah by his rank to purify his innermost being and cleanse him from every blameworthy attribute and ugly deed. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant who praises him with explicit praise, and asks Allah by his rank to bestow upon him access to his chamber and to take his soul between his noble pulpit, the lattice, and the tomb. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant who praises him with goodly praise, and asks Allah by his rank to protect him from the deceit of time and to raise

from him the accidents of worry, grief, and sadness. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant who praises him with wondrous praise and asks Allah by his rank ²³⁸ to drown him in His love and grant him the fullest share and portion of His good pleasure. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant who praises him with lofty praise and asks Allah by his rank to honor him with the vision of His Essence ²³⁹ and to purify him in the beauties of His wondrous beauty. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant who praises him with surpassing praise and asks Allah by his rank to bestow upon him the gifts of His divine knowledge ²⁴⁰ and to unveil to him the subtleties of the unseen secrets and the disclosures of spiritual realities. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant who praises him with adorned praise and asks Allah by his rank to make him more beloved to Him than his own self, wealth, family, children, and the light of his eyes. Section: O Allah, upon him and his family send blessings that purify us from every deficiency and defect, and remove from our hearts the darkness of estrangement, poverty, and separation, and immerse us in the attributes of his Ahmadine perfections ²⁴¹ until there is no separation or whereness, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. Muhammad is the Chosen One from the best of Adnan ²⁴², Perfect in creation, beauty, and beneficence. Glory be to Him who split the dawn from his mouth At a beautiful, sublime, spiritual smile. Glory be to Him who made his saliva a sweet spring, In it is healing and it quenches the thirsty. Glory be to Him who ripened beneficence from his hand, As if it and its fragrance are flowers of a garden. Glory be to Him who singled him out with beauty uniquely, So he was in his beauty the greatest sultan. Perfect in creation, his like has never been known, As if he were an angel in human form. His equal has never been among Arabs or non-Arabs, Nor have two eyes seen his like, by Allah. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant who praises him with the tongue of everything Allah created in His dominion and kingdom ²⁴³ and asks Allah by his rank to draw him to His presence and to purify him in the gardens of His mercy and His majesty. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant who praises him with the tongue of everything Allah created above His Throne and beneath His Bahamut ²⁴⁴, and asks Allah by his rank to annihilate him in the witnessing of His Essence and to immerse his thought in the attributes of His perfections and the beauty of His descriptions. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant who praises him with the tongue of everything Allah created in the enclosures of His holiness and the rays of His majesty and grandeur, and asks Allah by his rank to purify his innermost being and illuminate his heart with the lights of His desire and awe. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant who praises him with the tongue of everything Allah created within His spheres and the circumference of His cycles, and asks Allah by his rank to clothe him in the garments of piety and to shine upon his heart the gleams of His lights. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant who praises him with the tongue of everything Allah created on the surface of His earth, and asks Allah by his rank to accept his intercession for him and to give him to drink from His delicious Kawthar ²⁴⁵ and His Basin. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant who praises him with the tongue of everything Allah created in His islands and seas, and asks Allah by his rank to spread over him the cloak of His covering and to place him in His strong fortress and His protection. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant who praises him with the tongue of everything Allah created in His Paradise and His Fire, and asks Allah by his rank to honor him with His vision and to raise his station among His beloved, His chosen ones, and His righteous. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant who praises him with the tongue of everything Allah created in its east and west, and asks Allah by his rank to bring him near to Him with the nearness of the beloved and to make him among the people of His friendship and His party. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant who praises him with the tongue of everyone who worshipped Allah on His earth and in His heaven, and asks Allah by his rank to protect him from the obstacles that prevent reaching Allah in his beginning and his end. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant who praises him with the tongue of everyone who remembered Allah in his seclusions and his gatherings, and asks Allah by his rank to guard him from the calamities of the soul and to protect him from the promptings of Satan and his plots and assaults. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant who praises him with the tongue of everyone who humbled himself to Allah in his bowing, prostration, and prayers, and asks Allah by his rank to hasten for him the good he asked for and to bestow upon him the acceptance of his desire and the answering of his supplications. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant who praises him with the tongue of everything Allah created of jinn and humans, and asks Allah by his rank to spread his fame in the highest assembly and to exalt his rank in the enclosures of His holiness. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant who praises him with the best praise in his morning and evening, and asks Allah by his rank to bestow upon him from the robes of His good pleasure that which makes him proud over his peers and his kind. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant who praises him with the most excellent praise in his movements and his stillness, and asks Allah by his rank to forgive his sins and to make the scale of his good deeds outweigh with righteous works. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant who praises him with the most beautiful praise in his night and day, and asks Allah by his rank to bestow upon him the honor of visiting him and to rub his cheek in his pure soil and the courtyards of his abodes.

He praises Him with the most exalted praise in his coming and going, and asks Allah by his rank ²⁴⁶ to perfume his breaths with the fragrant breezes of blessings upon him and the scented winds of his remembrances. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him with the most complete praise in his station and his journeys, and asks Allah by his rank to treat him with every kindness in all his fluctuations and all his states. So bless him, O Allah, and his family with a blessing that delivers us by it from the torment of the grave and the trial of its questioning, and the regrets of the Standing ²⁴⁷ and its earthquakes and terrors, by Your favor and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. (89) Numerous transmissions from trustworthy sources have come * That you are, in the radiant one, unique in attributes. Verses of beauty recited to the beholder * In your face, unable to bear steadfastness. Allah took charge of protecting you from any partner * In describing your beauty, adorned in all directions. Insights turned longingly * Towards your essence, apart from all other essences. Hearts covenanted in attraction * To you, hoping for the sweetness of your proximity. Branches swayed in a garden of flowers * At your remembrance, O illuminator of blooming things. Wild beasts all sought your friendship * And never ceased to flee from others. The light of your face manifested in darkness * So the night departed without turning back. The spirits of creatures were quenched from you * As gardens are watered by the Euphrates. Blessed is He who granted you every good * And gave from you the supplies of gifts. You bestow upon the lowly and the high * And are good to the base and the noble. You reward a praiser from start to finish * And raise him despite the enemies. You call out in destruction and it answers inevitably * And hasten with relief and salvation. You befriend whoever is close to you, even a little * And help him against all tyrants. Your highest love befriends my heart * I understood by it a speaker among the guides. The perfection of your beauty cannot be enumerated * For that is beyond sand and plants. Blessings upon you follow continuously forever * And upon your family and companions of high rank. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, as the mercy of the near and the far, the light of insight of the shaykh ²⁴⁸ and the murid ²⁴⁹, the goal of the will of those who cut themselves off to Allah and to abstraction ²⁵⁰, the master of kings and lords, freemen and slaves, the ruby of poetry and prose (90) and the verse of the poem, with the blessing of a servant who loves amorous verse about him and hymns, and amplification and exaggeration in praising him in the complete, the abundant, the long, and the extended meters ²⁵¹, and infatuation with his remembrance and persistence in it in assemblies, gatherings, and intimate retreats of solitude, and weeping upon hearing his hadith ²⁵², and yearning and groaning, so that his longing multiplies thereby and increases, and he asks Allah by his rank to bestow upon him the vision of his blessed face and the hearing of his delightful, beneficial speech. So bless him, O Allah, and his family with a blessing that fills our hearts with the burning pangs of his Muhammadan longing and his firm love, and write us thereby in the register of those whom You have granted success in following his sunna ²⁵³ and emulating his righteous deed and sound saying, by Your favor and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. Tears wrote lines upon my cheek * Every passion for the one I love is little. So excuse me if I weep from * Passion, for I have no way to consolation. Indeed my tears are a witness for me of love * A proof, and my sorrow is long. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who greatly longs to praise his Muhammadan traits and the attributes of his Ahmadine perfections. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who greatly longs to praise the hearing of his (91) approved states and his sacred hadiths. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who greatly longs to hear praise of his Mustafan ²⁵⁴ characteristics and his prophetic miracles. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who greatly longs to hear praise of his hopeful epistles and his fearful epistles. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who greatly longs to hear praise of his angelic descents ²⁵⁵ and his omnipotent gifts ²⁵⁶. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who greatly longs to hear praise of his pure sayings and his lofty deeds. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who greatly longs to hear praise of his unseen sciences and the lights of his heart's unveilings. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad (92) with the blessing of a servant who greatly longs to hear praise of his inherent qualities and the risings of his felicitous moons. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who greatly longs to hear praise of his Muhammadan generosities and the grant of his bestowed openings ²⁵⁷. So bless him, O Allah, and his family with a blessing that creates us by it with his sensory and spiritual character traits, and gathers us by it in the group of the people of his delightful love and his pure, immaculate party, 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, with the blessing of a servant who praises him with love and longing, and asks Allah by his rank to give him to drink from the cup of his affection and make him among those immersed in his love and tasting. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him with yearning for his vision and longing, and asks Allah by his rank to remove from him the obstacles of temporal events and relieve him of constriction and restriction. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him with intention and sincerity, and asks Allah (93) by his rank to grant him success in acting by the Book and the Sunna and provide him with good manners towards him in both states of silence and speech. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him with ecstasy, infatuation, and passionate love, and asks Allah by his rank to make his spirit roam in the highest expanse ²⁵⁸ and the two presences of gathering and separation ²⁵⁹.

O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him with sincere faith and truthful speech, and asks Allah by his rank ²⁶⁰ to guide him on the path of right guidance and make him among those who outstrip others in the arena of divine success ²⁶¹. So bless him, O Allah, and his family with a blessing that suffices us thereby from the worry of provision and the fear of creation, and delivers us thereby from the ailment of headache, pleurisy, migraine, and hernia ²⁶², by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. * The master of messengers, the pole ²⁶³ of high stations, * from the tower of felicity in Jerusalem, a star. * Possessor of the sublime station of tawhid ²⁶⁴ * of the Majestic, and no station compares to it. * The light of existence, the locus of divine names, * in it for the gnostics ²⁶⁵ is a quest for unveiling ²⁶⁶. * Possessor of virtue and lofty favors * to the prophets and mankind, he bestows virtue. * Owner of beauty and perfection, unique * in essence, in his wondrous beloved form. * The descent of revelation and realities from the Possessor * of the Throne, a heart that is turned thereby. * The choicest of beings, the first of Allah's creation, * his light was, and he was sought ²⁶⁷. * The treasure of the knowledge of the unseen from the world of the Unseen * came to him, and in it is a quest for unveiling. * The pole of the secret of existence, the ultimate goal, * his heart never slept, but it watched. * Allah witnessed him awake and asleep, * so he desires arrival and fears. * His face is the sun, and he is a luminous moon, * his light for eyes was blazing. * He gathered beauty like a garden of flowers, * nay, from the garden, Ahmad's face is more wondrous. * Whoever saw him spontaneously, while he was alone, * his mind would go in every direction. * At his sight, all intellects * fear, retreat from him, and are overcome. * How can beauty be perceived by intellects * that is veiled by majesty from the Majestic? * The bravest of people, the highest of people in rank, * the purest of people in origin, and he is most noble. * The most manifest of people in lineage and root, * and among the noble, he was most distinguished. * The veils of the elite ²⁶⁸ all, and Taha ²⁶⁹ * the master of the elite, was never veiled. * Allah honored his sight with witnessing * his Lord, and that is the noblest quest. * Thus does the Beloved choose a beloved, * and befriend his beloved and draw near. And blessings, then peace, upon him * and upon his family and those who accompanied him. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him with good opinion and beautiful belief, and asks Allah by his rank to grant him the stations of the truthful ²⁷⁰ and adorn him with the ornament of the poles ²⁷¹ and the pegs ²⁷². O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him with the core of his innermost being and heart, and asks Allah by his rank to grant him the supreme truthfulness ²⁷³ and bestow upon him the rank of the bells ²⁷⁴ and the solitaries ²⁷⁵. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him with the tongue of desire and affection, and asks Allah by his rank to guide him on the path of salvation and lead him on the way of the people of goodness and right guidance. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him with the way of earnestness and striving, and asks Allah by his rank to make him among the people of His love and to cause His love to flow in his heart as souls flow in bodies. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him in seasons and festivals, and asks Allah by his rank to look upon him with the eye of His care and to restrain from him the hand of the people of deviation and corruption. So bless him, O Allah, and his noble, high-ranking family, and his ascetic, worshiping companions, with a blessing by which You have mercy on us, our spouses, children, fathers, and grandfathers, and make it for us a treasure with You that we find on the Day of Gathering and Summoning ²⁷⁶, 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, with the blessing of a servant who praises him with tranquility and dignity, and asks Allah by his rank to make him among His pious beloved and His chosen righteous ones. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him in secret and in public, and asks Allah by his rank to place him in His most secure protection and suffice him against the evil of the wicked and the plot of the immoral. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him in the evening and at dawn, and asks Allah by his rank to heal his apparent and hidden ailments and remove from him the accidents of sicknesses and harms. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him in villages and cities, and asks Allah by his rank to bestow upon him His magnificent gifts and purify him from the impurities of vanities and others. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him in the hours of the night and the ends of the day, and asks Allah by his rank to supply him with His lordly openings ²⁷⁷ and abundant gifts. So bless him, O Allah, and his noble, righteous family, and his pure, discerning companions, with a blessing by which You remove from us the accidents of worries and sorrows, and have mercy on us through its blessing 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, with the blessing of a servant who praises him in his night and day, and asks Allah by his rank to look upon him with His subtle kindness and protect him in his travel and residence. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him with his thoughts and ideas, and asks Allah by his rank to place him in His strong fortress and the enclosure of His protective circles. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him in his coming and going, and asks Allah by his rank to facilitate his affairs and grant him pardon and well-being in what He has decreed for him of His judgment and the variations of His destinies.

O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him with his odes and poems, and asks Allah by his rank ²⁷⁸ to admit him into His secure sanctuary and let down over him the curtains of His veils. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him with the vibrations of his melodies and strings, and asks Allah by his rank to supply him with his Muhammadan aid ²⁷⁹ and pour upon him the gifts of his secrets. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him in his forms and states, and asks Allah by his rank to pardon him and forgive him his past and future (98) sins and burdens. So bless him, O Allah, and his family with a blessing by which one may be among those who have gained the blessing of invoking blessings upon him in his days and nights and the hours of his dawns, and upon whom the breezes of divine mercies have blown, so that the shining lights of his radiance have appeared on his face, and You have forgiven his sins, expiated his consequences, fulfilled his needs and all his desires, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. Indeed, declare openly your love and affection for him, for he is not a lover who shows only ecstasy ²⁸⁰. And stand up at the mention of the Prophet in humility, for in his hand the pebbles became glorifying ²⁸¹. When the praises of the sea of those of lowliness are mentioned, I see every soul willingly offering service. How then with the mention of him whose sea of glory has overflowed, and every eminent one swims therein? A Prophet, the banner of praise is his shade on the Day of Gathering, and every Prophet beneath it does not depart. His love captivated humans, angels, and jinn, so each has an intense longing for him. Welcome, then, to a people who, when Ahmad is mentioned, are seen swaying at the hearing. So be delighted with the mention of the Hashimite Muhammad, and roam in the arena of ecstasy and wander freely. For life is only with the Beloved and his remembrance; leave every misguided one who rushes away from the truth. Upon him be the peace of Allah as long as distance kindles for him the fire of longing that scorches the innermost parts. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him with his mouth and tongue, and asks Allah by his rank to manifest upon him the evidences of His favor and grace. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad (99) with the blessing of a servant who praises him with his eloquence and clarity, and asks Allah by his rank to guard his tongue from idle talk and its delirium. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him with his exquisite expression and explanation, and asks Allah by his rank to pardon him and forgive him before the soul departs from his body. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him with the rubies of his rhymed prose and the unique pearls of his gold, and asks Allah by his rank to repel from him the calamities of his soul and the whisperings of his Satan. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him with the structures of his rhyming endings and the arts of his mastery, and asks Allah by his rank to crown him with the crown of His might and clothe him in the garments of His pleasure. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him with his eyelids and lashes, and asks Allah by his rank to pardon him and forgive him for his past sins and disobedience. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him with his heart and innermost being, and asks Allah by his rank to honor him with his vision ²⁸² and to delight him in the paradises of His gardens. (100) O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him with his love and sincere faith, and asks Allah by his rank to seal him with the two words of the testimony ²⁸³ and make him among the people of his party and his register. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him with his palm and fingers, and asks Allah by his rank to save him from the terror of the standing ²⁸⁴ and its disgrace and humiliation. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him with his ecstasy and bewilderment, and asks Allah by his rank to place him in His secure protection and fortress of safety. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him with his passion and solace, and asks Allah by his rank to quench his heart with the nectar of His love and feed him from the tables of His bounty and beneficence. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him in secret and in public, and asks Allah by his rank to illuminate his heart with the lights of His sciences and the gifts of His gnosis. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad (101) with the blessing of a servant who praises him with the sciences of His revelation and the Criterion ²⁸⁵, and asks Allah by his rank to make him among those who constantly remember Him in all his times and moments. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him with all his limbs and pillars, and asks Allah by his rank to cause him to die in his pure burial place and homeland. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him among his family and neighbors, and asks Allah by his rank to accept that from him and place his good deed in his scale. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him with the vibration of his string and melodies, and asks Allah by his rank to bestow upon him his visitation and to delight his sight in the meadows of the valley of al-‘Aqiq ²⁸⁶ and its fragrant trees. So bless him, O Allah, and his family with a blessing by which You relieve the one who prays of his greatest worries and sorrows.

And through it ²⁸⁷ You repel from him the plot of the accursed Satan and his helpers, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. And a maiden ²⁸⁸ whose love has captivated my heart, * my mind bewildered, distracted, and infatuated. When she appears one day and I behold her face, * I sway as the branches of the tall tree sway. A girl as if beauty itself, and her beauty * shines to my eye, and is the very pupil of the eye. I console myself in her love, though times * have passed over me, and many a time. By my honor, if she does not grant me union, it is humiliation, * and any other than her is deprivation to my heart. My humiliation through her is honor, my poverty through her is wealth, * I sway with her as if I am drunk. My passion for her is a spring whose water is sweet, * by which my heart, among the familiar places, is intoxicated. O for love of those who are distant, yet they * dwell in my heart, my innermost parts, and my soul. They traveled with her for whom my vital spirit melted, * so my tears after the mounts are a flood. It is as if my heart is not mine, and it has inclined * to her, so I am jealous of my own heart. For her, lamentation is rightful; alas, she has resolved * upon separation, and thereby increased my sorrows. I have a love for her that endures, but it has * no permanence, and from her there is no solace forever. When she is mentioned, the mention of her * and her news spreads fragrance and basil in the cosmos. Through her, the forms of exquisite beauty are adorned, * and she has drawn over them her train and sleeves. And every station where her story is recited * is thereby exalted among high stations and adorned. She poured forth her bounty in existence, as if * she is a cloud, from which rain is hoped and expected. She has a dwelling in the valley of Nu'man ²⁸⁹, a fertile spring, * so leave every other dwelling when Nu'man is mentioned. She became distant, so my heart melted with longing for her nearness, * and companions and friends lamented my state. How strange that time should grant a meeting, * though it is treacherous in the covenant of loved ones. But from it I have understood a sign, * by which my heart, after yearning, is refreshed. And how, when after her there came at midday * Sulayma ²⁹⁰, and sorrows departed from my heart. And before her, the breeze came as a herald, * O for love, how gracious are the breezes! So the garden of my abode is radiant with her beauty, * and the face of my time is joyful with gladness. Am I, O Allah, dreaming in sleep, * seeing her phantom, or is my eye awake? O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad ²⁹¹, the blessing of a servant who praises him with the rhymes of his prose and his paragraphs, and asks Allah by his rank to save him from the trial of the grave, the terror of the standing, and its regrets. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the blessing of a servant who praises him with his fragments and his muwashshahat ²⁹², and asks Allah by his rank to protect him in his night, his day, his mornings, and his evenings. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the blessing of a servant who praises him with the pentameters, hexameters, and heptameters of poetry, and asks Allah by his rank to expiate his evil deeds and his major liabilities. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the blessing of a servant who praises him with the twenty-four meters ²⁹³, and the composition of their rhymes and prose, and asks Allah by his rank to benefit the reciter through their reading and hearing. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the blessing of a servant who praises him with the five principles ²⁹⁴ named al-Dhayl, al-Zaydan, al-Ma'iyya, al-Mazmum, and al-Ghariba al-Hariza, and asks Allah by his rank to benefit him with their reward and make them for him among the stored-up deeds. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the blessing of a servant who praises him with the six branches of al-Dhayl, which are named Raml al-Dhayl, 'Iraq al-'Arab, 'Iraq al-'Ajam, Mukhabbab al-Dhayl, Rasd al-Dhayl, and Istihlal al-Dhayl, and asks Allah by his rank to protect his heart from envy in the vanities of the fleeting world, from inclining to its desires, and from leaning. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the blessing of a servant who praises him with the six branches of al-Zaydan, which are named al-Hijaz al-Kabir, al-Hijaz al-Sharqi, al-'Ushshaq, al-Hisar, al-Isbahani, and al-Zawrakand, and asks Allah by his rank to fulfill his hope and bring him to his station surrounded by blessing, felicity, and good fortune. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the blessing of a servant who praises him with what branched from al-Ma'iyya of the four branches, which are al-Sama' bi-Raml al-Maya, Inqilab al-Raml, al-Husayni, and al-Rasd, and asks Allah by his rank to gather him with him in the abode of honor and bliss and the Garden of Eternity. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the blessing of a servant who praises him with what branched from al-Marzum of the three branches named Ghariba al-Husna and Hamdan, and asks Allah by his rank to protect him from lying and treachery in word and deed and slips of the tongue. Section: O Allah, bless him and his family with a blessing by which You purify from us the heart and the innermost soul, and protect us by its blessing from the afflictions of passion and the incitements of Satan, and give us thereby wealth that no eye has seen nor ear has heard, of chambers, palaces, houris, and servant boys, 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 blessing of a servant who praises his Muhammadan qualities with al-Tawil, al-Madid, and al-Basit ²⁹⁵, and asks Allah by his rank to illuminate his heart with the lights of divine gifts and encompassing knowledge. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the blessing of a servant who praises his Muhammadan conduct with al-Wafir, al-Kamil, and al-Hazaj, and asks Allah by his rank to remove his worries and griefs and relieve him from the crises of distress and difficulty. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the blessing of a servant who praises his Mustafawi ²⁹⁶ character with al-Rajaz, al-Ramal, and al-Sari', and asks Allah by his rank to regard him with His hidden kindness and place him in His secure protection and mighty fortress. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the blessing of a servant who praises his Ahmadi ²⁹⁷ characteristics with al-Munsarih, al-Khafif, al-Mudari', al-Muqtadab, al-Mujtathth, and al-Mutaqarib, and asks Allah by his rank to give him to drink from the wine of His love and quench him from His sweet pool of springs and watering places.

So bless him, O Allah, and his family with a blessing that fulfills for us through it all needs and desires, and saves us through it from falling into the pits of ruin, destruction, and calamities, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. * Whoever tastes the sweetness of Your love knows What the enamored one encounters in Your passion. * O full moon of Dhī Salam ²⁹⁸, if Your beauty appears, None remains safe from burning anguish. * He weeps tears of blood like embers when he comes To Wādī al-ʿAqīq ²⁹⁹; how many a lovesick one has wept for You! * The resurrection of the passionate arises when he comes To that station where You are encamped. * He casts off restraint and cries out from the intensity of yearning: Allāhu Akbar! This is the Greatest Beloved! * Can I conceal passion while its fire Blazes with longing between my ribs? * The love of the Guide, the Beloved, the Chosen One, By his life, by his life, cannot be hidden. * If I miss the title of his Companions, Then explaining his attributes is my gain. * I unveil brides ³⁰⁰ from his description for his lovers, With jewels of praise that are strung together. * From his description: the sublime character, and its source Is the Qur’an, and he inspires to noble deeds. * Allah has praised the Chosen Beloved; What can anyone else say, when he is silenced? * The full moon of prophethood, its sun in Ṭaybah ³⁰¹, Its radiance encompasses all of Hijaz. * Blessed is he who becomes the companion of Muḥammad, For whom blessings flow from the hand of Ṭāhā ³⁰². * Allah looks upon him with an eye of care And pours forth oceans of gifts, honoring him. * O you who love him, seek him, and follow him, All of you, send blessings and peace upon him. (107) O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master and lord Muḥammad and upon the family of our master Muḥammad, the blessing of a servant who praises him with his odes and the products of his mind, and asks Allah by his rank to immerse him in his love and the sweetness of his remembrance. O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master and lord Muḥammad and upon the family of our master Muḥammad, the blessing of a servant who praises him in verse and prose, and asks Allah by his rank to quench his heart from the overflowing of his Muḥammadan ³⁰³ support and the perpetual wine of his secret. O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master and lord Muḥammad and upon the family of our master Muḥammad, the blessing of a servant who praises him in his time and age, and asks Allah by his rank to spread for him the carpets of His pleasure upon his arrival before Him and his descent into his grave. O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master and lord Muḥammad and upon the family of our master Muḥammad, the blessing of a servant who praises him with his anthems and the pearls of his poetry, and asks Allah by his rank to crown him with the crown of His care and to clothe him in the garments of His might and glory. O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master and lord Muḥammad and upon the family of our master Muḥammad (108) the blessing of a servant who praises him in secret and in public, and asks Allah by his rank to calm for him the fury of temporal calamities and the storms of His wrath. O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master and lord Muḥammad and upon the family of our master Muḥammad, the blessing of a servant who praises him throughout his life and age, and asks Allah by his rank to protect him from the whisperings of the accursed Satan and the plots of his treachery. O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master and lord Muḥammad and upon the family of our master Muḥammad, the blessing of a servant who praises him in all his times and his era, and asks Allah by his rank to suffice him against the evil of his envier and to turn his plot back upon his own throat. O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master and lord Muḥammad and upon the family of our master Muḥammad, the blessing of a servant who praises him for the perfection of his honor and the loftiness of his rank, and asks Allah by his rank to steer his ship upon the surface of safety on land and sea. O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master and lord Muḥammad and upon the family of our master Muḥammad, the blessing of a servant who praises him in both states of wealth and poverty, and asks Allah by his rank to grant him contentment with what He has decreed for him and to make his tongue flow with His praise and gratitude. So bless him, O Allah, and his family with a blessing that enables us through it to obey him and comply with his command, and that protects us through it from the punishment of Hell, the cold of zamharīr ³⁰⁴, and its heat, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. (109) O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master and lord Muḥammad and upon the family of our master Muḥammad, the blessing of a servant who praises him with his scrolls and his pens, and asks Allah by his rank to place him under His most secure protection and to spread over him the cloak of His concealment and the banner of His signs. O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master and lord Muḥammad and upon the family of our master Muḥammad, the blessing of a servant who praises him in his sitting and standing, and asks Allah by his rank to favor him with the vision of his blessed face in his wakefulness and his sleep. O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master and lord Muḥammad and upon the family of our master Muḥammad, the blessing of a servant who praises him with his chants and the sweetness of his speech, and asks Allah by his rank to make him among those whose gardens have flourished through his watering and the downpour of his clouds. O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master and lord Muḥammad and upon the family of our master Muḥammad, the blessing of a servant who praises him with his longing and passion, and asks Allah by his rank to make him among those who comply with his commands and judgments. O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master and lord Muḥammad and upon the family of our master Muḥammad, the blessing of a servant who praises him with his flesh, blood, and bones, and asks Allah by his rank to make him among those led by the reins of longing to his pure precinct and station. O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our master and lord Muḥammad and upon the family of our master Muḥammad (110) the blessing of a servant who praises him for the duration of his nights and days, and asks Allah by his rank to pour upon him the abundance of His gifts and the overflowing of His favors. So bless him, O Allah, and his family with a blessing whose blessing the one who prays it finds in its beginning and its end, and through which he seeks healing from his apparent and hidden ailments and all his sicknesses, 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 Muḥammad and upon the family of our master Muḥammad, the blessing of a servant who praises him with his letters and his limbs, and asks Allah by his rank to save him from the trial of the Standing ³⁰⁵ and its earthquakes and terrors.

O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him with his tongue and speech, and asks Allah by his rank ³⁰⁶ to make him among the attendants ³⁰⁷ of His House, its retinue, and its dependents. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him through his symbols ³⁰⁸ and the outcomes of his forms, and asks Allah by his rank to grant him success in his movements, his stillness, and all his states. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him through his eloquence and the brilliance of his opening ³⁰⁹, and asks Allah by his rank to make him among the preservers of his hadith ³¹⁰ and the great ones among his men. (111) O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him for the beauty of his conduct and the excellence of his qualities, and asks Allah by his rank to make his praise the profit of his trade and his capital. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him for what Allah has placed in his heart of veneration and exaltation of him, and asks Allah by his rank to delight his sight in his radiant beauty and the appearance of his crescent ³¹¹. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him for what his Lord has favored him over all His prophets and messengers, and asks Allah by his rank to bestow upon him the gifts of His secret and to pour upon him the abundance of His generosity and favor. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him for what Allah has granted of the secret in his right hand ³¹², his state, and his dal ³¹³, and asks Allah by his rank to immerse him in the contemplation of His Essence and the attributes of His perfection. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him for what his Lord has specially given him of response in his supplication and entreaty, and asks Allah by his rank to accept from him what He has adorned him with (112) of his radiant praises and strings of pearls. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him in his mornings and evenings, and asks Allah by his rank to bestow upon him the visitation of his illuminated tomb and his union. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him in his station and his journey, and asks Allah by his rank to favor him with the attainment of his goal and the fulfillment of his hopes. So bless him, O Allah, and his family, with a blessing by which You honor us with the vision of his essence and his subtle form, and by which You give us to drink from the wine of Muhammadan love and the cups of its flow, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. When I remember the Beloved, my mind is distracted, and I become lost in thought. The remembrance of the Beloved of hearts enraptures me; oh how sweet is the Beloved when mentioned! He is the one whose abode is in hearts, and his love is like a shadow in the secret. Al-Mustafa ³¹⁴ who illuminated the light of guidance; the sea of guidance burst forth from his tongue. From his face, his Creator, the Majestic, revealed the sun of forenoon, which made the moon clear. He has singled him out with beauty uniquely, so he remains the pole ³¹⁵ of perfection, renowned. Glory be to Him who exalts him with majesty; how many a beholder has returned from him dazzled! His form has been perfected in completeness; it has surpassed all beauty in the world. Taha ³¹⁶, the bringer of glad tidings, the warner, the treasure of guidance; he led the jinn and humans to his guidance. (113) May Allah bless him as long as a turtledove coos, stirring thoughts. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him with his limbs and heart, and asks Allah by his rank to make him among the people of contemplation and proximity. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him with ecstatic utterances ³¹⁷ and attraction ³¹⁸, and asks Allah by his rank to protect him from the accidents of deficiency and deprivation. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him with longing and love, and asks Allah by his rank to give him to drink from the nectar of his affection and to offer him the cup of wine and drink. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him in the tongue of Arabs and non-Arabs, and asks Allah by his rank to preserve him from the disease of ostentation, seeking reputation, and self-admiration. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises him in the tongue of the people of the East and the West, and asks Allah by his rank to relieve him from the greatest of hardships and distress. So bless him, O Allah, and his family, with a blessing by which You secure us (114) from terror and fear, and by which You remove from us every dreadful matter and calamity, and by which You forgive us what we have committed of sins, errors, and the greatest of offenses, 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, with the blessing of a servant who praises the lamp of splendor and light, and asks Allah by his rank to illuminate his insight with the lights of unveilings and to tear for him the veils of screens and coverings. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises the delight of assemblies and hearts, and asks Allah by his rank to reveal to him the hidden secrets and obscure matters.

O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the blessing of a servant who praises the imam of the people of obedience and righteousness, and asks Allah by his rank ³¹⁹ to grant him success in righteous deeds and praiseworthy striving. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the blessing of a servant who praises the feast of joy and happiness, and asks Allah by his rank to make his tongue gush forth with springs of wisdom and to make him understand all languages and the speech of birds. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad (115), the blessing of a servant who praises the foremost of days and ages, and asks Allah by his rank to elevate him in the stations of sainthood ³²⁰ and to protect him in the states of absence and presence. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the blessing of a servant who praises the possessor of a grateful tongue and a patient body, and asks Allah by his rank to crown him with the crown of divine care and to make him among the people of fame and manifestation. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the blessing of a servant who praises the master of the angels brought near and the treasurers of the Frequented House ³²¹, and asks Allah by his rank to ease for him the agonies of death, the questioning of the two angels, and the pressure of the graves. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the blessing of a servant who praises the possessor of the unfurled banner of praise, and asks Allah by his rank to guard his tongue from error and to protect him from lying, backbiting, slander, and immorality. So bless him, O Allah, and his family with a blessing whose blessing we find on the Day of Resurrection and Reckoning, and by which You lodge us in the highest chambers and palaces in the abode of Your honor, and give us thereby what no eye has seen, no ear has heard, of everlasting bliss, and young boys and beautiful maidens, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. The rank of the Messenger of Allah, Ahmad, is my support when I have no helper in calamities (116). A pious, generous, refined prophet, a bringer of good tidings and a warner to all the worlds. When he is mentioned, hearts are at ease, souls are delighted, and breasts are expanded. How can any good be compared to him who trod the earth, while every measure falls short of his highness? Every noble one is humble before him, and every great one of the two towns ³²² is insignificant. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the blessing of a servant who praises his most radiant beauty and his most luminous countenance. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the blessing of a servant who praises his most luminous heart and his most pure body. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the blessing of a servant who praises his most flourishing branch and his moon-like forehead. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the blessing of a servant who praises his most black-and-white eye and his most noble eyebrow. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the blessing of a servant who praises his most pious imam and his most renowned sultan. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the blessing of a servant who praises his greatest secret and his red sulfur ³²³. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the blessing of a servant who praises his most fragrant musk and his most abundant portion. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the blessing of a servant who praises his most fragrant gardens and his most momentous rank. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the blessing of a servant who praises his most glorious lineage and his most manifest proof. (117) So bless him, O Allah, and his family with a blessing by which You gather us under the shade of his green banner, and forgive us thereby our sins, past and future, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. ❖ He has a face that surpasses the full moon in beauty, and a neck like the forenoon, radiant and shining. ❖ And a mouth from which the nectar of saliva became a sea with teeth like jewels. ❖ His forehead is like dawn or like the sun, and over it hangs the night of locks. ❖ And like the morning star is his ear, when it shines among the thirsty. ❖ And on his cheeks is a rose that is ever plucked by eyes that have respectful gazes. ❖ Upon him and his family be my greeting, and upon his companions and followers, the great. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the blessing of a servant who praises his beautiful pearl and his immense gift. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the blessing of a servant who praises his great station and his lofty rank. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the blessing of a servant who praises his noble character and his upright conduct. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the blessing of a servant who praises his ancient care and his abundant gifts. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the blessing of a servant who praises his forbearing self and his sound tastes. So bless him, O Allah, and his family with a blessing by which You purify our hearts from blameworthy deeds and protect our tongues from (118) lying, backbiting, and slander, 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 blessing of a servant who praises his pure essence and his manifest signs.

O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his excellent qualities and abundant secrets. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his manifest virtues and abundant gifts. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his fragrant breaths and radiant beauties. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his successive merits and his far-reaching, yet limited, traces. So bless him, O Allah, and his family with a blessing by which the clouds of His merciful rains pour down, and by which You grant us the gifts of His present blessings, and by which You manifest upon us his excellences in this world and 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, with the blessing of a servant who praises his essential qualities and his holy characteristics. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his lordly states and his self-subsisting ³²⁴ words. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his ocular unveilings ³²⁵ and the perceptions of the spiritualizations of his spirit. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his Furqanic ³²⁶ descents and the gnostic gifts of his solitary ³²⁷ gnoses. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his sublime virtues and growing gifts. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his fulfilling covenants and pure doctrines. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his sufficient sciences and healing traditions. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his pure blessings and spreading secrets. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his radiant glories and high stations. Section: O Allah, bless him and his family with a blessing by which You forgive us the sins we have committed in past days, and by which You purify us in the paradises of gardens and their splendid palaces and delightful orchards and flowing waters, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. ❖ He is the Chosen One ³²⁸ sent as a mercy to mankind ❖ And from his creation the Qur'an has been exalted in greatness ❖ Blessed is He who praised him by Himself ❖ And from that in the Revelation is "Nun" and the Pen ³²⁹ ❖ He is the treasure containing knowledge, ease, purity ❖ And the light of guidance, forbearance, wisdom, and judgment ❖ Allah entrusted the prophecies to his heart ❖ So he was a trustee for the prophets, sealing them ³³⁰ ❖ And the Merciful created none like Muhammad ❖ Beautiful, majestic in virtues and character ❖ A beloved in whom perfect beauty is depicted ❖ And in his form the realities are inscribed ❖ His inward is the secret of God and His unseen ❖ And his outward is the authority of the Throne and blessings ❖ Were it not for the inward secrets in him, nothing would appear ❖ And were it not for the outward manifestation of the secret from him, nothing would be hidden ❖ The treasuries of the names of the Dominant ³³¹ are his spirit ❖ For which He subjugated spirits in sanctity and breath ❖ Upon him be Allah's blessing and peace ❖ And upon his family and companions, possessors of virtue and resolve O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his surpassing religion and excellent path. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his yearning intellect and tasting thought. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his eager sight and the rose of his cleaving heart. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his shining light and distinguishing law. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his extraordinary elixir and brilliant secret. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his preceding light and fragrant scent. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his lofty branch and the harmonious string of pearls of his prophethood. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises the fluttering banner of his glory and the overflowing sea of his generosity. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his truthful report and his heart attached to Allah, the Trusting. So bless him, O Allah, and his family with a blessing by which You cut off from us distractions and attachments, and by which You remove from us obstacles and impediments, and by which You suffice us against the evil of every stubborn tyrant and night-visitor, and every rebellious oppressor who deviates from religion, 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, with the blessing of a servant who praises his inviolable sanctuary and his most high and exalted station. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his most luminous secret and his lofty, supreme rank.

He praises his lofty tree ³³² and his brilliant, infallible pearl ³³³. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his obedient soul and the swift answer to his supplications. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his wondrous attributes and his exalted, lofty station. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his dazzling proofs and decisive arguments. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his beneficial benefits and comprehensive wisdoms. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad (122) with the blessing of a servant who praises his clear path ³³⁴ and his lofty aspiration. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his subduing exhortations and the luminous lights of his signs. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his humble limbs and his submissive breaths. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his ripe gardens and his protective fortresses. So bless him, O Allah, and his family with a blessing that admits us thereby into the vast circle of his forbearance and folds up for us thereby, on the path of reaching him, the distant stretches of spiritual wayfaring ³³⁵, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. Be ecstatic ³³⁶ when the breeze blows from the sanctuary, And if you wish to live happily, die of passion ³³⁷. For in its blowing there are hopes for those who inhale, How many by passion have the lovers fallen! The slain of passion is truly a martyr, his beloved, And every slain one therein declares love openly. O you who slay me with love, by Allah, indeed I Am obedient to the decrees of passion, submissive. The slain of passion, in the law of Truth, is just To his beloved, and killing in love is common. I imagine myself that I am at his door A captive, poor, in love, making peace. A lowly guide, bewildered, distraught, My beloved and my old age beneath his sandals I place. I melt at the mention of them from his majesty, You almost see me that I am shedding my soul. I picture him until I am as if his companion, And I am hopeful for the very presence of witnesses ³³⁸. And I see from him and hear what fills me, So my eyes are healed with desires and ears. Upon him be Allah's blessings and His peace, And upon his family, companions, and whoever follows. (123) O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his regions and seeks his rains. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his remembrances and purifies his thoughts. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his secrets and magnifies his worth. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his reports and follows his traces. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his states ³³⁹ and borrows his lights. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his eras and venerates his helpers. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his lands and seeks his neighborhood. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his abode and accepts his wall. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his lighthouse and magnifies his shrine. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his in-laws and honors his visitors. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his pride and ennobles his lineage. (124) So bless him, O Allah, and his family with a blessing by which You forgive the praiser his sins and burdens, and by which You manifest in this world and the Hereafter, among the praisers, his honor and pride, 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, with the blessing of a servant who praises his seasons and inhales his breezes. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his smiles and revives his rites. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his noble qualities and witnesses his landmarks. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his worlds and attracts his gains. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his elements and ennobles his bonds. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his manifestations and obeys his commands. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his inner and outer aspects, and thanks his sources and origins. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his flashes and glad tidings, and affirms his proofs and signs. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his kinship and clans, and revives his rituals and rites. (125) O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant who praises his public and private aspects, and mentions his unveilings and insights. So bless him, O Allah, and his family with a blessing by which he becomes among those whom You have made happy through blessing upon him, his first and last, and who has acquired love for him in both abodes and made it his treasures and stores, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. May Allah water the sides of al-Huzn ³⁴⁰ and Khajir ³⁴¹ With rains of tears sent by my eyes, And a garden in the sides of al-Musalla ³⁴² whose covenant Is mixed with the fragrance of incense. And a beloved resting place in al-Aqiq ³⁴³, its meadows Are shades and lush pastures for nomad and resident. Abodes that Allah has gifted with glory and elevation, So for their sake all senses are esteemed. Abodes whose courtyard Allah has honored, So that its soil is opened by imams of insights. Why would they not surpass the two bears ³⁴⁴ in rank And rise above all shining stars? In them is the Messenger of Allah, the most generous noble, And the best of messengers from the most excellent of communities. And the greatest of those whose proofs of glory stand From all creation in every circle. And the chosen one of the Lord of the Throne, the Glorious, who With the sole of his foot ³⁴⁵ the highest pulpits boast. And he from whom the veils of Majesty were lifted for his eye, So he saw what baffled all beholders. And he whose station eludes the grasp of intellects, Though it is a secret coursing through manifestations. And how can one hope to attain one who is hidden In the holiness of His Majesty, dazzling, how dazzling!

And if He ³⁴⁶ disappears from existence and emerges, his emergence in all is one of the veils ³⁴⁷. By His right, He never appeared in His essence ³⁴⁸ to the eyes of a people, nor to the inner visions ³⁴⁹. But a flash of His light appeared, and whoever sees His light, how could he incline to a powerful one? And this—were it not for God, he would not be in it, lest His manifestation be the thrones of circles ³⁵⁰. He is the First ³⁵¹, specifically attributed to the Truth ³⁵²; other manifestations have shone for us from Him. He is the Opener ³⁵³, the banner of whose perfection is unfurled; He is the Seal ³⁵⁴, encompassing all glories. Exalted are the layers of glory without dispute, and the tent of seriousness has settled without arrogance. Sufficient honor, O Seal of the Messengers ³⁵⁵, in loftiness—its cheeks obliterate all eye-sockets. The cities have risen through you in glory and sovereignty, which the reach of all Caesars falls short of. The Most High has been guided by you to the hem of its majesty, ransomed from it by the cutting swords. And you sent rains of gifts, watering the meadows of guidance with the flood of pouring clouds. So the garden of truth blossomed after its dryness, and its sides surpass every blooming thing. O God, bless and grant peace to our master Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the prayer of a praising servant who proclaims his high and noble rank and asks by his station for guidance and success to the right opinion and righteous action. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the prayer of a servant who has striven in his service sincerely, calling out his exalted and lofty remembrance and asking by his blessing for protection and deliverance from evils and afflictions in pastures and playgrounds. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the prayer of a servant who strives in His pleasure successfully, praising his lofty station and asking by his station for restraint from outward and inward sins and the infallibility of the inner and outer parts. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the prayer of a servant whose thought roams morning and evening in the meadows of his meanings, praising his invincible side and asking by his station for pardon and forgiveness for his sins on the day when realities are realized and faults and scandals appear. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the prayer of a servant infatuated with his longing, revealing it, praising his beautiful form and asking by his station for safety from afflictions and victory with the greatest pleasure and the profitable trade. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the prayer of a servant swimming in the sea of his love, praising the rain of his abundant gift and asking by his station for pardon, well-being, and security from the temptation of the self and desire and the assault of the envious, the enemy, and the spiteful. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the prayer of a servant whose heart inclines to visit him, leaning, praising the swift aid of his victory and asking by his station to follow his praiseworthy Sunnah and to pursue his straight ways and clear path. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the prayer of a servant yearning, hiding his passion while the light of longing shines on his face, praising his form that is obedient to the command of his Lord, and asking by his station that He forgive his sins, accept his deeds, and make his scale heavy with good deeds. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the prayer of a servant desiring to see his face, with the musk of love emanating from his folds, praising his heart that comprehends the address of his All-Hearing Lord, and asking by his station for protection from every blameworthy attribute and purity from all vices and abominations. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the prayer of a servant whom passion has consumed, and his eye drips with the blood of yearning, praising his interceding Imam and asking by his station for the attainment of wishes and success with the most abundant gifts and the noblest grants. So bless him, O God, and his family, a blessing that renews for us through it, in praising his noble traits, the intellects, and preserves our deeds from the afflictions of Satan, desire, and the greatest of inner parts, 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 Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the prayer of a servant whose thought is immersed in his love, annihilated, praising his Muhammadan luminous temple and asking by his station for the attainment of wishes and the achievement of purpose and aspirations. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the prayer of a servant longing to see him, submissive, praising his prophetic spiritual bride and asking by his station for ascension to the highest ranks and stations of proximity and nearness. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the prayer of a sinful, offending servant, praising his sultan supported by the Mighty Quran and the Seven Oft-Repeated [verses] and asking by his station for success with the pleasure of his Lord upon entering his grave and sitting on the carpet of joy, happiness, and congratulations. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the prayer of a servant whose ecstasy is intoxicated, solitary, praising his Mustafawi ³⁵⁶ merciful carpet and asking by his station for aid and supply from the flood of his abundant gifts and the perfection of his gracious bestowal. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the prayer of a servant whose love is gnostic and passionate, praising his Perfect Man ³⁵⁷, the Meccan, Medinan, Adnani ³⁵⁸, and asking by his station that his Lord turn to him with the crown of His lordly care and clothe him in the garments of His good-pleasure glory. So bless him, O God, and his family, a blessing that supplies us with the supply of his Ahmadī ³⁵⁹ merciful secret, and anoints the eyes of our inner visions with the kohl of his direct witnessing, and loosens our tongues with the subtle divine wisdoms and secrets of meanings, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. My two friends, leave me from other-than-Him ³⁶⁰, and bring your wine and give me to drink, among roses, pomegranate blossoms, and myrtle, in gardens that smile with chamomile. And sing to me of 'Izza, Su'ad, Salma, and Zaynab. And mention to me the story of Layla, or else, when you come there, mention me. O my two friends, at al-Abīraq ³⁶¹, al-Ghawr ³⁶², then Najd ³⁶³, then Falflaghān ³⁶⁴.

Carry my story to her and say: He has melted with longing, so hasten to draw near. You left him, yet you are with him—the sound of my strings and the sound of al-Mathani ³⁶⁵. From you comes that which manifests in a garment more beneficial than what follows. And when he yearns for you with a heart pure from the blemishes of contingent beings ³⁶⁶, it is only the one you love who longs for you, and this veil is the very essence of vision ³⁶⁷. A wondrous praise, a strange style, and a Muhammadan love ³⁶⁸ by whose remembrance the lover finds solace and delight, and a Mustafan beauty ³⁶⁹ in whose descriptions of perfections the lover perishes and disappears. Then know that spiritual love dominates its possessor, just as the spirit dominates the body and disposes it in every way. This flows among the people of this world in their love as it flows among the people of the Hereafter: those plunge into a sea of passion, while these swim in a sea of light. The blind and the seeing are not equal, but each is subdued in his love, following the pleasure of his beloved. As is related of one of them: He was speaking with his beloved, who directed him in his coming and going while she acted coquettishly toward him. She said to him, "You are not a true lover." He replied, "My lady, by the love between me and you, I am truthful. If you told me to die in this place, you would see me only dead." She said to him, by way of jest, "If you are truthful, then die." The man said, after saying, "O God, if You know that I am truthful in my love, then forgive me, have mercy on me, gather me with my beloved, and take me to You this very hour," and he fell to the ground. They thought he had fainted, so they moved him, and behold, he was dead. The woman stood up lamenting him, saying, "By God, I knew you were truthful, but I only wanted to act coquettishly with you by my words." Al-Shibli ³⁷⁰ was asked about love, and he said: "Love is a cup that has a heat; when it settles in the senses, it kills; when it becomes established in souls, it dissolves." And he recited: Indeed, love for the Merciful intoxicates me— Have you ever seen a lover who is not drunk? It is related of him that he once said, "How much people need a drunkenness!" I said, "Master, what drunkenness?" He said, "One that annihilates them from observing themselves, their actions, and their states." And he recited: And they think me alive, though I am dead, And some, in separation, weep over others. He used to say: "The people love You for Your blessings, but I love You for Your trials. Whoever is in God, his loss is compensated by God." It is related that love's fire in hearts forever burns the secrets of its possessor. Therefore, you never see a lover still or silent, nor does the blame of the reproacher avail against him; rather, it increases its blaze, and its possessor cares for nothing. It is related that Shaykh Abu Hamza al-Baghdadi al-Bazzaz ³⁷¹ heard a man from his companions blaming one of his brothers for manifesting his ecstasy ³⁷² and the predominance of the state ³⁷³ over him in a gathering that contained some opponents. He said to him, "Stop, my brother, for overwhelming ecstasy removes discernment and makes all places one place and all entities one entity. There is no blame on one whose ecstasy overcomes him and compels him to that." Then Ibn al-Rumi ³⁷⁴ said—and he excelled: So leave off blaming the lover, for it is An evil remedy for one pained by separation. Do not extinguish grief with blame, for it is Like the wind that incites fire to burn. Among the signs of love is that the lover loves everyone who loves his beloved, even if they have not done him good, nor has he seen them or known them except through love for his beloved. Among the signs of the lover is his ardent desire for everything that brings him near to God—in word, deed, and state—and his constant vigilance and observance of that in his movements and stillness, like a child infatuated with something, or like Majnun Layla ³⁷⁵: he weeps only for her, yearns only for her, and finds sweet in the love of his beloved every torment, finding it sweeter than honey. Thus, affliction is with him, and the more affliction increases, the more love increases. It is related of Sayyidi Ibrahim al-Tazi ³⁷⁶ that he used to recite: My soul refuses but to be enamored of whom it loves, So your blame perishes with souls and what it loves. The humiliation of passion is dear, and its bitter taste Is sweeter than manna and quail. Its torment for the patient lover is the very essence of his bliss, And the reproachers' fire in seeking forgetfulness is affliction. Whoever does not find in spirit, in love for His love, His passion is false and his infatuation a claim. He is not free who is enslaved by passion; To God belong the worlds, so choose for yourself what you will. Love is only love of the Possessor of bounty and wealth, His angels, the prophets, and the pious. O God, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the essence of the tree of love whose root is firmly planted in the heaven of hearts and whose branch towers in the treasuries of the unseen; whose light pierces the pavilions of the Throne and the Footstool and the densities of the hidden treasure; whose secret is manifest in the loci of holy manifestation and the inscriptions of the lines of the Preserved Tablet; whose breeze of the fragrance of its flowers stirs the motives of yearning in the wayfarer and the attracted; whose wine's essence heals with its drink the sick, the afflicted, and the bewitched; whose lineage's pillar the shaykh, the disciple, and the attributed cling to; whose garden's meadows the yearning one, the beloved, and the loved one delight in its shade; whose state's arrival revives the annihilated and makes the overcome cry out; whose bird of fortune stirs with its warbling the passion of the seeker and the sought. How many a lover has had his mind stripped away, so that he no longer distinguishes between the cup and the drink; it has removed from him moral responsibility, so that he no longer differentiates between the obligatory, the sunna, and the recommended; and he has swum in the seas of her Muhammadan beauty until he attained the goal and achieved the desired. So bless him, O God, and his family, a blessing by which You forgive us the greatest of sins and offenses, deliver us from the accidents of deficiency and deprivation, and admit us thereby to the Muhammadan garden of love, wherein neither weariness touches us nor fatigue touches it, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. ❖ Welcome, O beloved of hearts ❖ And ultimate desire, secret of the unseen ❖ His fragrance wafted to us in the morning breeze ❖ So the scent of the north wind is like the south ❖ He came to us after a long absence ❖ So every heart is joyful at the meeting ❖ I swear by God, he has relieved ❖ By his vast grace, our distress ❖ And after his kindness, I fear not ❖ What I have done of all sins ❖ Nor do I fear exposure after the meeting ❖ For the light of covering has purified all faults ❖ O thousand welcomes, then greetings ❖ O greetings, O pure one of this rising ❖ My whole time has become joy ❖ And peace is secure after those wars ❖ The rain of my joys has begun to pour ❖ With every expansion and delight descending ❖ This is our gift, then its news ❖ Is the rising of the regions of east and west ❖ The age of separation excelled until came ❖ A time of union, ruling as obligatory ❖ My soul rejoiced in its beloveds ❖ And after distance, it repents from every distance

O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the essence of love whose secret permeates spirits and souls, the lofty in station and rank, whose bride is manifest upon the throne of sovereignty in the presence of the Holy King, the adornment of intimacy and companionship, whose name is inscribed on the pages of preceding hearts and the lines of scrolls, the sweet in taste and drink, and the quencher of the thirst of the ecstatic ones ³⁷⁷ through the supply of the divine secret ³⁷⁸ and the wine of cups, the pure in origin and lineage, before whose awe necks and heads have bowed in veneration, the blessed in place and soil, by whose watering the gardens of hearts and the blossoms of plantings have flourished, the means of means for the people of obedience and devotion, whose precious hadiths perfume the circles of the rememberers and the assemblies of lessons, the inheritor of the states of the masters of ecstatic utterances ³⁷⁹ and attraction ³⁸⁰, who makes the vicissitudes of time and the frowning face of the age laugh with the glad tidings of his felicity, the reliever of great hardships and distress, the savior of those who seek refuge in him from evils, calamities, and occurrences of harm and misery. So bless him, O Allah, and his family with a blessing that illuminates for us our resting places and graves, and through which we become among those whom You have forgiven by Your generosity and to whom You have said at the time of departure to You: "Welcome, wholesome, you have slept the sleep of a bride," by Your favor and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. We are seated in the presence of God, and cups have been passed around us with effusion. What a presence, whose pure fragrance perfumes souls! Allah has manifested its light in the heaven of glory, a light before which the suns fade. It is unveiled in the witnessing of intimacy, with the robes of beauty like a bride. By the manifestation of Your beauty, fortune has been established, and the ill omens of time have vanished. By oath, if the lands of the grave were to strut, the buried dead would be revived. The intellect of the prudent is bewildered by it, and how could it not be, when its beauty is holy? Its tears are unrestrained, while our heart is imprisoned in its love. Its abode is radiant, and whoever is there finds the dwelling familiar. In it, gardens have blossomed with nearness, and plantings have flourished with hopes. May we never cease to be in its abode, and may every favor be guarded by its generosity. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant whose heart Allah has filled with love for the Imam of Medina and the Sanctuary ³⁸¹, so the influx of his longing surged and he was led to praise him without rein. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant whose heart Allah has filled with love for the master of mankind, so he made his praise his emblem and garment, and was enriched by it without need for food, drink, or nourishment. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant whose heart Allah has filled with love for the bride of the Abode of Peace ³⁸², so he began to praise him until the mirror of his secret was illuminated with the light of opening ³⁸³ and inspiration. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant whose heart Allah has filled with love for the descendant of the noble heavens ³⁸⁴, so he continued to repeat his praise night and day until he became elevated in rank and station. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant whose heart Allah has filled with love for the adornment of the veil ³⁸⁵ and the lamp of darkness, so he became renowned for his praise until he was known among the people of longing and passion. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant whose heart Allah has filled with love for the completing brick ³⁸⁶ and the musk of the seal ³⁸⁷, so he occupied his times with his praise until the signs of goodness appeared upon him and he became a model for the elite and the common. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant whose heart Allah has filled with love for the master of the eminent leaders, so he cast off restraint in his praise and became devoted to it in wakefulness and sleep. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant whose heart Allah has filled with love for the comfort of the lover and the life of the soul of the infatuated one, so his praise became his constant utterance and his habit until his merit became great and his aspiration rose among the people of piety and respect. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant whose heart Allah has filled with love for the one for whom the spider wove and the cloud shaded ³⁸⁸, so he became immersed in his praise until his spirit was united with his spirit in a seat of truth before his Lord, the All-Knowing King. So, O Allah, bless him and his family, the houses of majesty and veneration, and his Companions, the lions of battle who protect the sanctuary of Islam with their cutting swords, a blessing by which You give us to drink from the pure wine of his love, and by which You heal our limbs from apparent and hidden ailments and all pains, 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, a blessing of a servant whose heart Allah has filled with love for the Seal of the Prophets and the Master of the Messengers, so Allah granted him success in praising him and purified him from the afflictions of the ego, desire, and the claims of the people of deviation and misguidance. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant whose heart Allah has filled with love for the adornment of the Companions and the Family, so he became absent in his praise until his spirituality was refreshed and he became among the people of intimacy and boldness. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant whose heart Allah has filled with love for the master of women and men, so he persisted in his praise until he became a place of visitation that caravans seek and to which journeys are made. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant whose heart Allah has filled with love for the master of kings, subjects, free men, and clients, so he began to cry out in his praise until his character was purified and he became perfect in virtues and qualities. So, O Allah, upon him and his family, the necklaces of the Family, and his Companions, the knights of battle and the noble heroes, a blessing that makes every subtlety gentle for us in the present and the future, and pours upon us through its blessing the oceans of generosity and bestowal, and protects us through it from the afflictions of temporal earthquakes and terrible horrors.

And from the trial of the Antichrist ³⁸⁹, 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, a blessing of a servant whose heart Allah has filled with love for the necklace of the family ³⁹⁰ and the center of the string ³⁹¹ and the adornment of qualities, the remover from hearts the loneliness of separation and loss, the mine of virtues and excellences, the vast in giving and bestowal, the perfect in beauties and traits, whose bird ³⁹² heralds joy, blessing, and good fortune, so his aspiration turned to praising his noble self, and he became among the people of ardent love, intense longing, and ecstasy. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant whose heart Allah has filled with love for the descendant of the heavens ³⁹³, clad in the robes of lordship and glory, the lighthouse of guides, bright of cheeks and face, the refuge of the barefoot, moderate in stature and height, the sanctuary of sinners, who grants protection through his intercession ³⁹⁴ in nearness and distance. So he exalted in his sublime praise until his rank rose among the praisers, and he attained from his desire the utmost wish and aim, and was granted from his Lord contentment, so he was given of good things what no eye has seen nor ear has heard in the abode of honor and eternity. So bless him, O Allah, and his family, a blessing without end or limit, without exhaustion of its virtue or count, by which You lead us to the paths of the righteous and guided, and fulfill for us what You promised us of pure love and perfect faith in him on the day of "Am I not" ³⁹⁵ when You took the covenant from us, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. My passion for the one I love has exceeded all bounds, so what can I hide and what can I reveal? I am in a state that does not please my blamers; my passion is my adversary, and my patience does not drive me. Here I am, the infatuated, bewildered one who bore the burdens of love while still in the cradle, and grew up in love with you, O Salm ³⁹⁶, infatuated with your remembrance, turning neither to Da'd nor Hind ³⁹⁷. Has not the time come, O sun of beauty whose light's excellence has appeared on the horizon of Sind ³⁹⁸, for you to rescue a sorrowful one, to rescue one struck by the assault of love, languishing from the assault of longing and ecstasy? This is so, and the heart has not turned away from love, nor has this turned it from aversion in affection. So go easy, my blamers, for the honor of my quest, even if it torments me with delay and aversion. I am content with what pleases it in every state, and my gratitude to it is my gratitude, and my praise to it is my praise. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant whose heart Allah has filled with His precious and most high love, so the blessing of praising him appeared until he became mentioned among the lovers in the station of "two bow-lengths or nearer" ³⁹⁹. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant whose heart Allah has filled with His exquisite love in secret and meaning, so his breaths became sweet with his praise, and he became illuminated in presence and place. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant whose heart Allah has filled with His surpassing love in essence and structure, so he took his praise as the sustenance of his constitution, and sufficed with it from eating and drinking, and became independent. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant whose heart Allah has filled with love for his illuminated and most beautiful essence, so he became enraptured in praising his Ahmad-like ⁴⁰⁰ qualities and the descriptions of his majestic perfections, until his states became righteous, his conduct became good, and he attained through its blessing the pure, clear drink and the pleasant, abundant life. So bless him, O Allah, and his family, a blessing by which one becomes among those whose bird of love danced in the grove of his conscience and sang, and attained thereby what he hoped of His pleasure in both worlds and wished for, 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, a blessing of a servant whose heart Allah has filled with his noble Muhammadan love, so he spent his life in accumulating the jewels of his prophetic praises and exaltation of his high and lofty rank, so thereby his aspiration rose, his fame increased, and he became among the people of sainthood and disposal ⁴⁰¹, complete fortune, fame, and recognition, giving charity to the people of goodness, the orphan, the widow, the poor, and the weak, and avoiding places of evil and gatherings of the misguided, idle, and procrastinators, asking from his Lord success in the pleasure of His beloved, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and the vision of his illuminated and pure face. So bless him, O Allah, and his family, a blessing that makes us secure in places of astonishment and fear, and by which You ward off from us the hand of every oppressor who wrongs us in his judgment and acts unjustly, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. ❖ At Your door, my master, the servant stood ❖ And that, by your love, is the best of employments ❖ Hoping to meet from you kindness ❖ For You are Merciful, Benevolent, Compassionate ❖ So I did not despair, though my patience was exhausted ❖ And I did not leave, though the standing was long ❖ If the rain-laden clouds are slow ❖ The dripping will receive from You all at once ❖ So alas for what I have missed of ❖ Meeting You, for I am the fearful, the regretful ❖ When the departure to You draws near, my heart ❖ Flies, and its carrier I do not know ❖ It has become accustomed to Your most sublime remembrance as a companion ❖ So the familiar journey from You made it forget ❖ O, but for Taha ⁴⁰², the heart is not ❖ And thousands do not suffice us without him ❖ The palm trunk ⁴⁰³ refused to be patient without him ❖ Until the noble guide embraced it ❖ And the crescent moon spoke to him while it was a child ❖ So the Gentle King subjected it to him ❖ He is the eraser of the gatherings of Kāwashakā ⁴⁰⁴ ❖ Swords rose above necks for him ❖ He is the guide, He guided us from error ❖ And we were before, lean ones who guided us ❖ He is the chosen one from Mudar and Fihr ⁴⁰⁵ ❖ His lofty rank is above all creatures ❖ He is the beloved in public and secret ❖ The hearts of believers are vessels for him ❖ He is the witnessed, Muhammad, and he will come at the Gathering ❖ And all the prophets will circle around him ❖ He is the accepted on a great day ❖ And all the worlds are in rows for him ❖ He is the described in the ancient books ❖ Gardens whose fruits are sweet belong to him ❖ He is the dispeller of the cloud of distress from us ❖ By a fortress whose safety makes the fearful secure ❖ He enriches the poor whose prayer is sublime ❖ So he enriches, and wealth from him is abundant ❖ Upon him and his family be the purest peace ❖ That adorns the ear of its listener. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant whose heart Allah has filled with love for the master of the great ones, so he took pride in his praise in the forefront of assemblies and pulpits. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a blessing of a servant whose heart Allah has filled with love for the master of the great ones, so he took pride in his praise in the forefront of assemblies and pulpits.

May God fill his heart with love for the Master of the First and the Last ⁴⁰⁶, so that through praising him he attained the rank of supreme veracity ⁴⁰⁷ and the highest honors. O God, bless and grant peace to our Master and Lord Muhammad and to the family of our Master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant whose heart God has filled with love for the Possessor of Praiseworthy Qualities ⁴⁰⁸ and noble deeds, so that his inner sight was illumined and he became a knower ⁴⁰⁹ of the rulings of the inward and outward. O God, bless and grant peace to our Master and Lord Muhammad and to the family of our Master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant whose heart God has filled with love for the Exemplar of the Eminent and the Famous ⁴¹⁰, so that he produced in his praise what dazzles minds and confounds thoughts and reflections. O God, bless and grant peace to our Master and Lord Muhammad and to the family of our Master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant whose heart God has filled with love for the Bride of the Witnessed and the Multitudes ⁴¹¹, so that he excelled in his praise with what delights the scrolls of registers and notebooks. O God, bless and grant peace to our Master and Lord Muhammad and to the family of our Master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant whose heart God has filled with love for the Bride of the Witnessed and the Manifestations ⁴¹², so that he refined his praise with what makes souls delight in hearing it and eyes take pleasure in its beauties. Section: O God, upon him and his family, a blessing whose full reward pens and inkwells fall short of encompassing, and whose blessings encompass the small and the great, the people of the deserts and the cities, 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 Muhammad and to the family of our Master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant whose heart God has filled with love for the Master of Kings and Nobles ⁴¹³, so that he praised him with what befits his station of noble character and beautiful attributes, (145) the blessing of a servant whose heart God has filled with love for the Master of the People of Justice and Equity ⁴¹⁴, so that he praised him with what his Lord praised him in the Family of Imran, Women, Contracts, and the Heights ⁴¹⁵. O God, bless and grant peace to our Master and Lord Muhammad and to the family of our Master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant whose heart God has filled with love for the Master of the People of Asceticism and Chastity ⁴¹⁶, so that he praised him with what his Lord praised him in the Ta-Sins, Ha-Mims, and the Sand Dunes ⁴¹⁷. O God, bless and grant peace to our Master and Lord Muhammad and to the family of our Master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant whose heart God has filled with love for the Master of the Sons of Hashim and Abd Manaf ⁴¹⁸, so that he praised him with what his Lord praised him of tenderness and compassion for His servants and the preparation of the sanctuaries. So bless, O God, him and his family, a blessing by which You heal our breasts from the disease of rancor, envy, discord, and disagreement, and by which You unite our hearts in obedience to You and love for You to the utmost harmony and concord, 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 Muhammad and to the family of our Master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant whose heart God has filled with his sweet and delightful praise, so that he continued repeating it until he became among the praisers of high rank and station. O God, bless and grant peace to our Master and Lord Muhammad and to the family of our Master Muhammad, (146) the blessing of a servant whose heart God has filled with his pleasant, sweet, and most delightful praise, so that he persisted in that until his soul was purified from human follies and he acted according to the requirements of the Sunna and the Book. O God, bless and grant peace to our Master and Lord Muhammad and to the family of our Master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant whose heart God has filled with his praise, sweet in taste and drink, so that he strove in it with utmost effort until he ascended to the stations of happiness and the station of proximity and nearness. O God, bless and grant peace to our Master and Lord Muhammad and to the family of our Master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant whose heart God has filled with his exquisite praise, speech and response, so that he became skilled in it until he obtained from his Lord nearness and a goodly return. O God, bless and grant peace to our Master and Lord Muhammad and to the family of our Master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant whose heart God has filled with his praise in the time of middle age, old age, and youth, so that he diversified in the wonders of his sciences until he won the ultimate goal of the pleasure of his Lord, the King, the Bestower. So bless, O God, him and his family, a blessing by which the doors are opened for us, by which necks are freed from us, and by which You save us from the terror of the standing, the scrutiny of the presentation, and the reckoning, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. (147) O God, bless and grant peace to our Master and Lord Muhammad and to the family of our Master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant whose heart God has filled with his sublime and wondrous praise, so that his spirituality was imbued with his spirituality and he became with him among the people of proximity and nearness. O God, bless and grant peace to our Master and Lord Muhammad and to the family of our Master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant whose heart God has filled with his praise, exquisite in style and composition, so that he began and repeated until he obtained thereby from the love of his Lord the fullest share and portion. O God, bless and grant peace to our Master and Lord Muhammad and to the family of our Master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant whose heart God has filled with his praise, whose love penetrates the core of the heart of the far and near, so that he strove in seeking it until he thereby attained in Paradise the high degree and the spacious abode. O God, bless and grant peace to our Master and Lord Muhammad and to the family of our Master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant whose heart God has filled with the praise of the Possessor of the Crown, the Banner, and the Staff ⁴¹⁹, so that he consoled himself with it from the companionship of the companion, the friend, the intimate, and the beloved. O God, bless and grant peace to our Master and Lord Muhammad and to the family of our Master Muhammad, with the blessing of a servant whose heart God has filled with the praise of the Rider of the Mule and the Swift Steed ⁴²⁰, so that due to the intensity of his longing for him, when he heard his mention, he would shudder as a bird shudders and sway as a moist branch sways. (148) So bless, O God, him and his family, a blessing by which You suffice us against the evil of the slanderer, the envious, and the watcher, and by which You protect us from the heat of the blazing fire and its great, intense, and flaming fuel, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. O delight of the eye, how I watch for the signs of affection in the outcomes. How often I spend the night watching for the meeting, while my eye keeps company with the horizon and the stars. Tears flow upon my cheeks like the flow of rain on the plains. The trembling of one made to tremble by swords, and tears in the heart like the trembling of fear of rejection. Have you come from the abode of the beloved? O breeze of the morning, tell me, so that the heart rejoices in the sought-after. May the mouth be satisfied with kissing you, as if he had never been absent. Who has seen, who has seen a beloved while longing from me for you is overwhelming? O delight of the eye, where is my glory, while the heart is melting in passion for you? O delight of the eye, where is my heart, while thought is absent in striving for you? O delight of the eye, where is my thought, while the people are gone in lamentation for you? O delight of the eye, where are my people, while the secret is companion to the pleasure from you? O delight of the eye, where is my secret, O my portion of gifts? O delight of the eye, O my beloved, O my cure from hunger? (149) O delight of the eye, O my refuge, when I am bewildered among the paths. O delight of the eye, O my guide, O my remedy from defects. O delight of the eye, O my healing, O my salvation from calamities. O delight of the eye, O my life, O my helper against hardships. O delight of the eye, O my protector, upon the people of virtue and merits. O greatest in rank and high qualities, since he began, he manifested wondrous miracles. O most generous of creation, Muhammad, the source of congratulations, has brought the obligatory and the desirable. He is exalted in rank above the prophets, that is among the highest stations. You are the chosen for every seeker, You are the redeemer with every soul, approved from every garden of the right. You are the one who gathers every meaning from the sublime and pure attributes. You are adorned with every description, and whoever hopes in You is not disappointed. You are our constant hope, and upon You be the purest blessings continuously, and upon all the family and every companion. O delight of the eye, how I watch, as the singing driver recited, precious sublime prophetic praises.

And sublime benefits of Mustafawian ⁴²¹ prayers, and gifts of kingdomly ⁴²² and holy secrets, which proclaim the nobility of the best of creation and the excellence of the possessor of the tolerant Sharia ⁴²³ and the pure, innocent, and clean community. So bless him, O Allah, and his family with a blessing by which You enroll us in the register of the people of his Muhammadan love, and grant us through its blessing pure and wholesome states and righteous, accepted, and pleasing deeds, 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 (150) with the blessing of a servant who praises the sciences of his essence and seeks the increase of his blessings. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and patron Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad with the blessing of a servant who praises the attributes of his perfections and seeks the evidences of his favor and the proofs of his indication. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and patron Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad with the blessing of a servant who praises the secrets of his descents ⁴²⁴ and seeks the understandings of his teachings and the lights of his self-disclosures ⁴²⁵. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and patron Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad with the blessing of a servant who praises the brilliant lights of his blessings and seeks the gifts of his connections and the answer to his supplications. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and patron Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad with the blessing of a servant who praises the witnessing-places of his presences ⁴²⁶ and seeks the visitation of his illuminated tomb and the sight of his chambers. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and patron Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad with the blessing of a servant who praises his stations and seeks the shining lights of his miracles and the brilliant signs of his wonders. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and patron Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad with the blessing of a servant who praises the fragrant breezes of his breaths and seeks the tenderness of his compassion and the affections of his mercies. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and patron Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad with the blessing of a servant who praises the paths of his guidance and seeks the protection of his guardianship and the might of his care. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and patron Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad with the blessing of a servant who praises the universality of his message and seeks to join his exalted side and to enter under his guarantee. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and patron Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad with the blessing of a servant who praises the truthfulness of his trust and seeks the impregnable fortress and the safeguard of his preservation. So bless him, O Allah, and his family with a blessing by which You adorn us with the sash of his guidance and his religion, and protect us (151) thereby from the stumbles of the tongue and its deceit and treachery, 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 with the blessing of a servant whose heart Allah has filled with love for him, coupled with sincerity of intention and pure faith, so that he praises him with his limbs, his innermost parts, and all his organs, and asks Allah by his rank to protect him from the temptation of women and the rebellious among humans and jinn. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and patron Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad with the blessing of a servant whose heart Allah has filled with love for him, great in worth and station, so that he praises him throughout months, ages, times, and eras, and asks Allah by his rank to cause him to die in his pure precinct ⁴²⁷ along with his beloved ones, his relatives, and his companions, the noble chiefs. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and patron Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad with the blessing of a servant whose heart Allah has filled with love for him, which leads to the stations of proximity and nearness, so that he praises him among his family, relatives, beloved ones, and neighbors, and asks Allah by his rank to illuminate his inner sight with the light of unveiling ⁴²⁸ and to remove from the mirror of his secret the coverings of ignorance and rust ⁴²⁹. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and patron Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad (152) with the blessing of a servant whose heart Allah has filled with love for him, the noble support and title, so that he praises him with the jewels of his beautiful and exquisite praises, and asks Allah by his rank to bring him near to Him in proximity and to clothe him in the garments of good pleasure and satisfaction. So bless him, O Allah, and his family with a blessing by which You have mercy on the far and the near among us, and by which You free the wrongdoer, the disobedient, and the sinner among us, and by which You give us in the Abode of Honor ⁴³⁰ what no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and has never occurred to a human heart, of chambers, palaces, houris, and servant boys, 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 with the blessing of a servant whose heart Allah has filled with love for him, the sweetest of character, the most manifest of secrets, and the most exalted of praises, so that he praises him with what his Lord praised him in the Highest Assembly ⁴³¹ in His saying: "Indeed, Allah and His angels bless the Prophet" ⁴³², and in the Lower Assembly ⁴³³ with His saying: "O you who have believed, bless him and grant him peace" ⁴³⁴, because he is the Beloved of the Lord and more worthy of the believers, and in the surrounding cycles ⁴³⁵ with His saying: "Indeed, those who pledge allegiance to you, they are only pledging allegiance to Allah" ⁴³⁶, and in the simple forms ⁴³⁷ with His saying: "O you who have believed, do not enter the houses of the Prophet unless permission is given to you" ⁴³⁸, and He manifested his nobility and lineage with His saying: "There has certainly come to you a Messenger (153) from among yourselves; grievous to him is what you suffer; he is concerned for you and to the believers is kind and merciful" ⁴³⁹, and He raised his rank and station with His saying: "O Prophet, indeed We have sent you as a witness, a bearer of good tidings, and a warner, and one who invites to Allah by His permission and a luminous lamp. And give good tidings to the believers that they will have from Allah great bounty" ⁴⁴⁰, and He made known his position and favor with His saying:

And what it has informed of his inexhaustible virtues, which transcend the value of nights and ages, and do not come to an end with the passing of days, times, and centuries. We have learned from this that his qualities cannot be grasped by rational or transmitted analogies ⁴⁴¹, nor his questions by subsidiary or fundamental sciences. The utmost knowledge concerning him is what the pens of volition ⁴⁴² have inscribed on the pages of intellects, and what the precedents of felicity ⁴⁴³ have determined in the essences of the intelligible and the transmitted. How can his noble traits be measured, when his Master has praised him in His Mighty Book, saying: "Nun. By the pen and what they inscribe, you are not, by the grace of your Lord, a madman. And indeed, for you is a reward never ending. And indeed, you are of a great moral character." ⁴⁴⁴ And He swore by his message and praised it, saying: "Ya Sin. By the Wise Quran, indeed you are among the messengers, on a straight path. The revelation of the Mighty, the Merciful." ⁴⁴⁵ What a master, whose Master praised him in His Wise Book with His eternal, pre-eternal speech, in His saying: "Ha Mim. Ain Sin Qaf. Thus does Allah, the Mighty, the Wise, reveal to you and to those before you." ⁴⁴⁶ "Say, 'If the sea were ink for the words of my Lord, the sea would be exhausted before the words of my Lord were exhausted, even if We brought the like of it as a supplement.'" ⁴⁴⁷ So there remained no sura ⁴⁴⁸ but informed of his high rank and chosenness, nor any verse but testified to his closeness to his Master and his elect status, nor any forms or letters but contained the elevation of his station and the nobility of his lineage, nor any exquisite words or transcendent meanings but proclaimed his belovedness and the sincerity of his servitude, nor any spirits or bodies but yearned for his visitation and longed for his vision, nor any thoughts or intellects but became lost in witnessing his beauty, kissing the hem of his illuminated carpet, and kissing his dust. So, O Allah, bless him and his family with a blessing by which You write us in the register of the people of his love, and by which You gather us with his pure group and his noble, righteous companions, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. Malih al-Hayy ⁴⁴⁹, will the veil be lifted for a lover who has no turning away from you? Malih al-Hayy, here is my heart sorrowful; Malih al-Hayy, a cloud has stirred me. Malih al-Hayy, here is my body emaciated; Malih al-Hayy, here is my heart melted. Malih al-Hayy, my patience is hard to come by without you; Malih al-Hayy, in you pain has become sweet. Malih al-Hayy, how often a servant has called at your door: is there for your servant an answer? Malih al-Hayy, from you aversion has become sweet; Malih al-Hayy, from you reproach has become sweet. Malih al-Hayy, where is my heart from me? For with you it is constantly turning. Malih al-Hayy, your love is my capital, and I have no gain in other than it. Malih al-Hayy, you are the full moon, but from minds you are not veiled. Malih al-Hayy, Gabriel came to you; for Gabriel, aspirations are deemed good. Malih al-Hayy, your light has manifested, and the angels of heaven have received from it. Malih al-Hayy, you have triumphed through the manifestation with what you desire, and address has made you forget. Malih al-Hayy, with Allah alone you have secluded yourself, and your station has become vast. Malih al-Hayy, wild beasts came to you willingly, they saluted and became fearful. Malih al-Hayy, how much patience you have exhausted when the banners and domes appeared. Malih al-Hayy, how much fragrance you have shown from a pure dust, wondrous from it. Malih al-Hayy, the flowers narrate from you a scent, and by it the hills have become fragrant. Malih al-Hayy, I have no alternative from you, nor any power, even if youth has perished. Malih al-Hayy, you have filled my heart, and from love of other than you my heart is ruined. Upon you and to you be salutations, reciting, and nations who responded to you. So glory be to Him who praised His beloved, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, as He willed and how He willed, and extolled him as He willed and how He willed. There is nothing greater, more magnificent, or more sublime than His praise of him, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. For He said in the decisive ⁴⁵⁰ of His Wise Book: "And indeed, you are of a great moral character." And the praisers have never ceased praising him since he emerged into existence until now, and no one has reached even a tenth of a tenth of his praise, each attaining what he finds of his capacity and measure, and what his natural talent has produced, his disposition has impelled, and his love has generated. And they have failed, apologized, become weary, and fallen short. Among that is what the author of al-Mawahib ⁴⁵¹, may Allah have mercy on him, mentioned: that he said, "Shaykh 'Umar ibn al-Farid al-Sa'di ⁴⁵², may Allah have mercy on him, saw in a dream, and it was said to him, 'Why did you not praise the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace?' So he said: 'I see every praise of the Prophet as falling short, even if the praiser multiplies and increases. When Allah praises him with what is worthy of him, then what is the measure of what people can praise? Other than him, despite the variety of his describers in describing him, time passes away while in him there is what cannot be described. Other than him, the hand of no one reaching out has attained glory except that what is in him is greater. Nor have those who aim in speech attained a praise, even if truthful, except that what is in him is more excellent.' Other than him, say what you will about him, for you are believed; love decrees and virtues testify. Other than him, I seek to praise the Chosen One, but my shortcoming prevents me from attaining those merits. Who will help me count pebbles and stars? Who will help me encompass the sea, while the sea is swelling?' Shaykh Badr al-Din al-Zarkashi ⁴⁵³ said: "For this reason, the great poets of the past, such as Abu Tammam ⁴⁵⁴, al-Buhturi ⁴⁵⁵, and Ibn al-Rumi ⁴⁵⁶, did not attempt to praise him, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. His praise was among the most difficult things they attempted, for meanings fall short of his station, descriptions fall short of describing him, and every exaggeration regarding him is a shortcoming. So the field of poetry becomes narrow for the eloquent. And for the verifier, when you consider all the praises that contain exaggeration relative to the one for whom they are intended, you find them crashing in his case, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. So much so that the poets relied on his attributes, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and aimed at his praises. Al-Busiri ⁴⁵⁷, may Allah have mercy on him, indicated this by his saying: 'Leave what the Christians claim about their prophet, and judge as you wish in praise of him, and arbitrate. Attribute to his essence whatever honor you wish, and attribute to his stature whatever greatness you wish. For the virtue of the Messenger of Allah has no limit that a speaker with a mouth could express.' And it has also been said in the same meaning: 'When I seek to praise the Chosen One out of passion for him, my mind becomes dull out of awe for his station. So spend nights with wakeful eyes, downcast, in a love sweeter than the pleasure of sleep.'

When God, exalted be His majesty, says in His speech "Kind, Merciful" ⁴⁵⁸, who can rival the Revelation, which is miraculous for its opponent in its dissemination and order? It has been said that Ibn al-Khatib ⁴⁵⁹ was seen in a dream and asked, "What did God do with you?" He replied, "He forgave me because of these two verses: 'O chosen one before the creation of Adam, when the world's locks were not yet opened; can a creature praise you after the Creator has praised your character?'" ⁴⁶⁰ Another said: "Who can resist or suffice to praise one whom God has praised in the Qur'an, with praise and exaltation from the All-Merciful? No predecessor or successor among us can ever fulfill the measure of that station." All this arises from love. Then know that love of God and love of His Messenger (peace be upon him) is a seizure ⁴⁶¹ by God of the heart of the one He loves, through what He reveals of His beauty and the sanctity of His majestic perfection. The wine of love is the blending of attributes with attributes, character with character, lights with lights, names with names, descriptions with descriptions, and actions with actions. The vision expands therein for whom God wills. The Imam ⁴⁶² (may God be pleased with him) was asked about love and said: "Love is a seizure by God of His servant's heart from everything other than Him. So you see the soul inclining to obedience, the intellect fortified by knowledge of Him, the spirit taken into His presence, and the secret immersed in contemplation of Him. The servant seeks increase and increases, and opens up to the sweet delight of intimate conversation with Him. He is clothed in the state of proximity on the carpet of nearness, and touches the virgins of realities and the matrons of sciences. For this reason they said: 'The friends of God are brides.'" Some said: "I have known love. So what is the wine of love, the cup of love, the cupbearer, the tasting, the drinking, the quenching, the intoxication, and the sobriety?" It was said to him: "The wine is the radiant light from the beauty of the Beloved. The cup is the gentleness that conveys that to the mouths of hearts. The cupbearer is the specially appointed greatest one ⁴⁶³ and the righteous among His servants, who knows the measures and interests of His beloved ones. Whoever has that beauty unveiled to him and enjoys it for a moment or two, then the veil is drawn over him, is the taster and the yearning one. Whoever has that continuously for an hour or two is the drinker in truth. Whoever has the matter continue and the wine persist until his veins and joints are filled with the stored lights of God, that is the quenching. Sometimes he becomes absent from the sensory and the intellectual, not knowing what he says or what is said to him; that is intoxication. Drinking is the watering of the heart, limbs, and veins from this wine until they become still. Drinking is by gradual training after training and refinement. So each is given to drink according to his capacity. Among them are those who are given to drink without intermediary, and God Himself undertakes that. Among them are those who are given to drink through intermediaries, such as angels, scholars, and the great ones among the near ones. Among them are those who become intoxicated by witnessing the cup without having tasted anything yet. So what do you think after tasting, after drinking, after quenching, and after intoxication with the drink? Then sobriety also after that, according to various measures, just as intoxication is likewise. So he attains from a wine—how sweet it is! Blessed is the one who drinks from it and persists, and is not cut off from it. We ask God for His bounty. That is the bounty of God; He gives it to whom He wills, and God is the possessor of great bounty. A group of lovers may gather and be given to drink from a single cup, or from many cups. One may be given to drink from a cup or from cups. The drinks may differ according to the number of cups, or the drink may differ from a single cup even if a great multitude of lovers drink from it. Cups may be passed around among them, and states may differ with them. They return to remembrance and obedience, and are not veiled from the attributes despite the crowding of destinies. That is the time of their sobriety, the expansion of their vision, and the increase of their knowledge. They are guided by the stars of knowledge and the moon of tawhid ⁴⁶⁴ in their night, and by the suns of gnosis they seek illumination: 'Those are the party of God. Indeed, the party of God are the successful.' ⁴⁶⁵ And coffee ⁴⁶⁶ bequeaths strength to the intellect—how strange! The husk is the origin and element. Whenever a group intends to prevent its drinking, you see its command rises, strengthens, and prevails. More strange than it is the saying of one whose opinion is misguided: 'Nay, he knows the plain truth and denies it.' The senses struggle against it while God is witness, so he claims that it intoxicates the intellect. Behold! Who sees one who denies the sun its light and claims it is darker than the darkness of night? How many a scholar, a learned practitioner, has a passion for it that words cannot describe. Its benefit is realized, especially for one who slackens in serious worship. He becomes active without weariness, and perhaps through partaking of it, the light shines for him. That is only because its origin is a youth ⁴⁶⁷ who is mentioned among creation with the attributes of God. His follower in it drinks it—what noble masters! Their sciences spread among people. They are lamps, except that the light of their beauty is more manifest than the sun at noon. Is there after this any word for a critic, except that it is slander and nonsense? What I have said about it, if it has no forbidden accompaniments, then if it occurs [it is permissible]. This, by God's life, is the essence of his saying; by it the truth, with sincerity, is more honored and victorious. O God, I ask You, O God, O God, O God, O All-Merciful, O Compassionate, O Loving, O Kind, O Forbearing, O All-Hearing, O All-Knowing, O Near, O Answerer, O Wise, O Benefactor, O Beauteous, O Bountiful, O Bestower, O Generous, O First, O Last, O Manifest, O Hidden, O High, O Great, O Watcher, O Swift, O Glorious, O Finder, O All-Powerful, by the sanctity of Your beloved, our master and lord Muhammad (peace be upon him), whom You made his love a mercy for servants and his praise a fragrant basil whose scent spreads in all valleys and hills, a sweet refreshing pool visited by the resident and the nomad, a lush garden in whose shade the goer and comer delight, a shining lamp by which the traveler is guided to the path of righteousness and rectitude—make me, O my Lord, among those who follow his path, revive his sunna, and take his love as their constant habit and custom, finding it a provision for the Day of Gathering and Summoning, and his praises as their emblem and garment by which they are known among the praisers on the Day when realities are realized and witnesses stand. Blend his love with my flesh and blood, and establish him in me as the pupil in the eye and the spirit in the body. Grant me a portion through him, protect me by his secret from the afflictions of passion and the whisperings of Satan, renew faith in my heart through that, and make me perfect in trust and belief in him. Bring me near to him as the beloved are brought near, and bestow upon me the vision of him, which is the trade, profit, sustenance, provision, delight, refuge, support, reliance, secret, effusion, aid, supply, cup, wine, love, passion, longing, affection, expansion, joy, happiness, paradise, bliss, and success through the pleasure of our Lord, the Generous King. Honor me, O God, in Your love with the stations of the people of absorption and realization of the true Ipsity ⁴⁶⁸, whose secrets You have unveiled by Your saying 'Allah', whose hearts You have unveiled by Your saying 'Ahad' ⁴⁶⁹, and whose souls You have unveiled by the rest of the sura ⁴⁷⁰. So the indication of the Truth to them was...

A chamber ⁴⁷¹ reserved for them, through absorption ⁴⁷² and realization ⁴⁷³ in the true identity ⁴⁷⁴, due to their complete loss of human forms ⁴⁷⁵, their absence from their own existence, sensation, and cosmic attributes. Thus they attained the ultimate of tawḥīd ⁴⁷⁶, the station of intimacy ⁴⁷⁷ and singling out ⁴⁷⁸. And in the love of your Beloved, our master Muḥammad (may God bless him and grant him peace), through the stations of his noble Companions and his virtuous, eminent, and illustrious Family—those who, when asked about their love for him (peace be upon him), said: “By God, he was more beloved to us than our wealth, our children, our fathers, our mothers, than cold water to the thirsty, and than light to the sight after blindness.” O God, grant me from him what You granted them of the gifts of good pleasure ⁴⁷⁹, satisfaction ⁴⁸⁰, eternal happiness, forgiveness, death upon the two words of the testimony ⁴⁸¹, and the attainment of safety and security. And make my prayer upon him a connection between me and him ⁴⁸², perpetual as long as our Master, the King, the Judge, endures, and do not make it a separation from him through accidents of deprivation and deficiency. And mention me by it in his presence, in his assembly with his noble, eminent Companions. And show me its light in my inner and outer being, its secret in my movements and stillness, and in all my fluctuations in my states and manifestations. And make the rays of its suns shine in my identity ⁴⁷⁴, the core of my heart, my insight, and my sight. And manifest upon me its blessing in my state, wealth, resources, and outcomes. And have mercy through it on my children, fathers, grandfathers, relatives, loved ones, and kin. And do not disgrace me on the day You test my states before You and reveal my secrets, by Your bounty and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. ❖ The cure is that your imagination lose what it found ⁴⁸³ ❖ And when you attain Him, what have you lost? ❖ After your union, there is no goal for the lovesick ❖ Whoever seeks the Beloved gains what he sought. ❖ I asked You to remove the veils of distance ❖ To mend what is between me and You of barriers. ❖ I am between east and west ❖ The spirit unfolds me, and the body folds me. ❖ O dweller of my heart, you are its commander ❖ And from the commander comes desire seeking aid. ❖ I and my camel have camped at the door of Your love ❖ And with the crown of Your longing, love has seated itself. ❖ O First, O Last, O Manifest, O Hidden ❖ I am among those who cannot describe You. ❖ O Successor, O Gatherer, O Effacer ❖ O Seal, O Opener of the door of right guidance. ❖ O Hidden of the malakūt ⁴⁸⁴ and jabarūt ⁴⁸⁵, O ❖ Essence of pure ones, treasure of the secrets of the Eternal ⁴⁸⁶. ❖ Neither between nāsūt ⁴⁸⁷ nor lāhūt ⁴⁸⁸ have You ❖ Shown a distinction—how can distinction be relied upon? ❖ O wisdom of nāsūt ⁴⁸⁷ at His manifestation ❖ O source of lāhūt ⁴⁸⁸, more quenching than one who drinks. O all of the universals of particulars of what * The Omnipotent began from the worlds unto eternity ⁴⁸⁹. O beginning of the sight of the Majestic without beginning * O end of the sight of the Beautiful without end. O ascent of spirits when they rise to * His Most Beautiful Names, drawing near to the Most Glorious. Where is the one to whom the Eternal said to his spirit: * “I sent you before the sending of the body”? You are the one to whom the Generous said, by His grace: * “He poured the flood of a deluge upon the people of crookedness.” Where is the one to whom the Bountiful said, by His bounty: * “If you were to give for all time, your bounty would not be exhausted”? May God, whose majesty is exalted, bless you * And the Family and Companions, who are the support. Muhammadan ⁴⁹⁰ and Aḥmadī ⁴⁹¹ motives of longings, and ancient, eternal precedents of happiness, and Meccan and Medinan fragrant breezes, and shining lights of prophetic, chosen love, and precious prayers to which the ears of the people of sincere love and approved states incline, and growing blessings whose brides are manifested in the station of the Spirit of Spirits ⁴⁹² of the Throne ⁴⁹³ and the Sultan of the worlds of the carpet ⁴⁹⁴—my Master and Lord, the Messenger of God (may God bless him and grant him peace), and upon his Family. O God, bless and grant peace to our Master and Lord Muḥammad and to the Family of our Master Muḥammad, the adornment of adornments, the pride of Truth that dispels from hearts the darkness of ignorance and doubt, and the adornment that has taken in the heart the place of light for sight and blackness for the eye. O God, bless and grant peace to our Master and Lord Muḥammad and to the Family of our Master Muḥammad, the spirit of the two weighty ones ⁴⁹⁵, the bride of the two kingdoms, the grandfather of al-Ḥasan and al-Ḥusayn ⁴⁹⁶, who has taken in the heart the place of the spirit in the body, and the tent of his love between the innards and the kidneys. O God, bless and grant peace to our Master and Lord Muḥammad and to the Family of our Master Muḥammad, the gift of grace and favor, the possessor of the kohl-lined eye and the beautiful face, who has taken in the heart the place of rest for the soul and sustenance for the body. O God, bless and grant peace to our Master and Lord Muḥammad and to the Family of our Master Muḥammad, the possessor of obligations and traditions, the most perfect of those who conveyed what he brought of the jewels of revelation and upon whom he entrusted, who has taken in the heart the place of mercy for servants and construction for the homeland. O God, bless and grant peace to our Master and Lord Muḥammad and to the Family of our Master Muḥammad, the best of those through whom time and season are blessed, the most noble of those whose love dwells in the core of the heart and resides, who has taken in the heart the place of security for fear and safety from sudden calamities of worries and trials. So bless him, O God, and his Family, a blessing by which what is manifest and hidden in us is set right, and by which You protect us from terrifying horrors and all afflictions and trials, by Your bounty and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. O strangers of the sanctuary, whose love * In the innards dwells, You are the goal and the wish * If I speak of the homeland ⁴⁹⁷. Since you dwelt in my vital core * I have no dwelling but you. You are the light of my eye * And my life for all time. I am a slave at your door * Offering soul and body. I am a guardian of love * And entrusted with affection. For union and kindness * Few are the physicians with favors. How often have you kept your covenant * Your love is a pillar. All that you do * Is among the most beautiful of traditions. The slave's rope is your grace * So lead him by the rope. None has led me except the one * In the sanctuary of Ṭaybah ⁴⁹⁸, the garden of Eden. Aḥmad al-Muṣṭafā ⁴⁹⁹, who * Clarified the obligatory and the sunnah. His lineage is praise, his grandfather * Possessed blessedness from Yemen. The best of the chosen ones acquired * From Sayf ibn Dhī Yazan ⁵⁰⁰. And by him were given glad tidings to all creatures * Everyone who had been a soothsayer. And his light appeared upon * Every forefather to whom he was linked. And truth and guidance rose high * And disbelief reaped trials. And upon him be peace as long as * Emotion and sorrow stir. O God, bless and grant peace to our Master and Lord Muḥammad and to the Family of our Master Muḥammad, the good deeds of nights and days, the elite of the virtuous and the noble, illustrious ones, who has taken in the heart the place of...

of attaining the sought and reaching the people of ecstasy and passionate love. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad ⁵⁰¹, the Imam of Medina and the Sacred Sanctuary, the lamp of sainthood whose light is clear in darkness, who has taken in the heart the place of sustenance for the hungry and quenching for the thirsty. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the beacon of guides and the subduer of tyrants, oppressors, and enemies, who has taken in the heart the place of beneficence for the weak, the poor, and the needy. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the master of those who have passed and those who are to come, the brilliant one of miracles, marvels, and signs, who has taken in the heart the place of pardon and forgiveness for the people of sins, enormities, and transgressions. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the master of jinn, angels, and humans, the best of those whose fame has spread and become widespread in the world of existence, who has taken in the heart the place of recovery for the sick and healing from harm. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the mine of forbearance, generosity, and pride, the most excellent of those who have passed in bygone centuries and ages, who has taken in the heart the place of the light of morning for the traveler in darkness and the light of the moon. 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, the owner of the green battalion and the unfurled banner ⁵⁰², who has taken in the heart the place of proximity to the homes of beloved ones and union with the forsaken. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the emblem of fame and manifestation, the garden of fragrant breezes and flowers, who has taken in the heart the place of victory for the vanquished and assistance for the oppressed. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the crown of beauty and light, the delight of the great and the leaders, who has taken in the heart the place of favor for the favored and righteous, and sovereignty for the victorious king. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the foremost of days and ages, the bride of paradises and palaces, who has taken in the heart the place of medicine for the sick and mending for the broken. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the possessor of the exalted station, abundant generosity, and immense giving, who has taken in the heart the place of release for the obstructed and healing for the ailing. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved announced in the Torah and the Gospel ⁵⁰³, Your chosen one distinguished with complete honor and immense worth, who has taken in the heart the place of wealth for the poor and honor for the lowly. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, the leader and guarantor for his community, Your chosen one who revives the dead hearts with the rain of his beneficial generosity and the encompassing of his moist bounty, who has taken in the heart the place of protection for the neighbor and a gift for the guest. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the possessor of the guarded secret and the stored knowledge, the pole of prophethood and messengership, and the rising of auspicious fortune, who has taken in the heart the place of relief for the distressed and release for the imprisoned. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the matter of matters and the fulfiller of needs and affairs, who has taken in the heart the place of ease for the constrained and joy for the sorrowful. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the model for the wayfarer and the attracted ⁵⁰⁴, the support of the poor and the affiliated, who has taken in the heart the place of succor for the distressed and relief from anguish for the grieved. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the physician of states and hearts, the eraser of crimes, misdeeds, and sins, who has taken in the heart the place of treatment for the afflicted and victory for the vanquished. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the generous of family and clans, the truthful in insight and indications, who has taken in the heart the place of hospitality for guests and cheerfulness for visitors. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the musk of collars and locks of hair, the abundant tresses and flowing hair, who has taken in the heart the place of a beacon for the traveler and a guide for the perplexed. O Allah, 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 clients, the seal of the prophets and messengers, who has taken in the heart the place of repentance for the remorseful and guidance for the astray. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the mercy for those who ask and for families, the noble of virtues and qualities, who has taken in the heart the place of a gift for the arriving and rest for the condition. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the essence of honor and noble traits, the master of Arabs and non-Arabs, who has taken in the heart the place of dots in writing for the reader and adornment for translations. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad. So bless him, O Allah, and his family, a blessing by which You protect from us blood and sacred things, and by which You grant us refuge from disgraceful duties and all burdens, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. O beloved ones, by their beauty they have robbed me, and by the favors of their generosity they have possessed me.

They drew me near with their kindness to their sanctuary ⁵⁰⁵, and found me broken by them, so they mended me. They made me stand in the garden of the valley of their sanctuary; O joy of a place where they made me stand! They said, 'Be consoled by their love.' I said, 'No! I am enamored with you, so do not turn me away.' O people of the sanctuary and dwellers of Najd ⁵⁰⁶, I am your slave, will you not have mercy on me? I have been standing at the door for a long time, and they found me deficient, so forgive me. I came to them submissive and a lowly slave, seeking refuge, perhaps they will accept me. When I fulfilled my pledge to them while my heart was in ruins, they looked at me with a glance and revived me. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the key to the doors of divine pleasure and acceptance, the ascension of those who seek nearness and union, who has attained in the horizon of mastery a station that no prophet or messenger has attained. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the spring of abundant goodness, the possessor of clear truth and perfect religion, who has attained in the abode of honor a station that no one pleasing or accepted has attained. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the imam of battlefields and mosques, the ecstasy of the masters of spiritual states and ecstasies, who has attained in the enclosures of holiness a station that no ascetic or worshiper has attained. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the watering-place of those who come and go, the Kaaba ⁵⁰⁷ of the visitor and the seeker, who has attained in the pavilions of intimacy a station that no rememberer or striver has attained. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the adornment of dwellings and places of worship, the illuminator of processions and gatherings, who has attained in the station of nearness a station that no one bowing or prostrating has attained. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the offspring of the noble and excellent, the elite of the great and eminent, who has attained in the seat of truth a station that no scholar or practitioner has attained. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the joy of armies and hosts, the fragrance of assemblies and gatherings, who has attained on the carpet of might a station that no intimate or attainer has attained. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the opening of openings, the builder of hearts and bosoms, who has attained in the ranks of sainthood a station that no saint or righteous person has attained. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the means of every seal and opener, the blessing of every giver and bestower, who has attained in the ascents of guidance a station that no caller to Allah or advisor has attained. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the musk pouch of fragrant collars, the perfume box of fragrant breezes, who has attained in the paths of divine care a station that no wanderer in the valleys of love or swimmer has attained. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the perpetual cup of drunk love, the treasurer of the secrets of prophethood and the essence of the veiled, who has attained in the ranks of high stations a station that no lover or beloved has attained. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the beloved of hearts, the key to the treasuries of the unseen, who has attained in the places of blessings a station that no traveler or attracted one has attained. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the owner of the mule and the swift steed, the turban and the staff, who has attained in the abode of felicity a station that no distant or near one has attained. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the call of the penitent servant, the tongue of the caller and the answerer, who has attained in the processions of mercy a station that no intelligent or noble one has attained. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the mercy for the distant and the near, the reliever of the sorrows of the sad and the troubled, who has attained in the ships of compassion a station that no chosen one or beloved has attained. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the fresh branch of the tree of glory, the amulet of the charmer and the good, who has attained in the stations of special favor a station that no preacher or orator has attained. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the gift of every accepted one and intercessor, the security of every fearful and terrified one, who has attained in the towers of blessedness a station that no humble or reverent one has attained. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the reminder of every speaker and listener, the cry of every hopeful and aspirant, who has attained in the heights of generosity a station that no compiler of the secrets of benefits or collector has attained. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the root of noble honor, the pillar of lofty lineage and ancient glory, who has attained in the ascents of veracity a station that no spirit, no intimate, and no friend has attained. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the enricher of the noble, the clear path and way, who has attained in the rising places of witnessing a station that no companion or substitute has attained. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the sword of the distinguishing religion, the true dawn of prophethood, who has attained in the sources of belovedness a station that no predecessor or successor has attained. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the wisdom

The silent and the speaking, and the longing of the passionate lover and the lover who has alighted in the encompassing cycles ⁵⁰⁸ a station that no sincere or truthful one has ever attained. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the breeze of the fragrant rose of love, the possessor of the moon-like face and the graceful stature, who has alighted in the flashing lights of the simple ⁵⁰⁹ a station that no intimate friend or companion has ever attained. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the best companion in places of bewilderment and the dearest friend, more beloved to souls than father, son, and full brother, who has alighted in the understandings of the subtle meanings ⁵¹⁰ a station that no hadith ⁵¹¹ or ancient ⁵¹² has ever attained. So bless him, O Allah, and his family (181) a blessing by which You delight our eyes in the beauty of his elegant face, and give us to drink from the flowing spring of his sweetest source and the Salsabil ⁵¹³ of his pure Kawthar ⁵¹⁴, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. O merciful, gentle Master ❖ Turn me to what pleases You, for I am a slave Torment my heart, for it is my rest ❖ In You, and how sweet is the torment of the lover O sweet torment, what pleasure ❖ Has followed the quenching of the fire's disease Indeed, coquetry is a paradise for the youth ❖ He enters it through the gate of patience and constriction Who cannot bear patience with a beloved ❖ Has not reached the fragrant garden of union Let the lover not hasten his desire ❖ For every lover is worthy of patience How many nights has the lover been kept awake by sickness and passion ❖ And shed tears like flowing molten As his eyelids dried from the taste of sleep ❖ His eyes found solace in pouring carnelian ⁵¹⁵ And how many slain have died of love ❖ And been joined to the slain in the valley of 'Aqiq ⁵¹⁶ When he saw the abode of the Beloved, he folded ❖ In the sea of that light, like the folding of a drowning one His color turned yellow, he bent and swayed ❖ From what he saw, weeping and sobbing He tore his collars from ecstasy ❖ And tore his heart like tearing a garment If he dies of ecstasy after this, then ❖ He has not fulfilled the heart's rights—is there anyone who will wake? Our Beloved, may our souls be sacrificed for him, And wealth and children, O possessor of intellect, This is the Beloved of Allah, the sea of fidelity, The eye of purity, the light of guidance and the path, The treasure of wealth, the spirit of day and splendor, His face captivates people with its brilliance. From his smiling mouth, a bewildered lover At the sweet speech, the eye of the delicate one. The jewel of humanity flowed in it, The chains of saliva like the flow of pure wine. And the stature is a branch of the willow when it bends In his sweet, graceful gait (182) And the comfort, comforts from it spread To creation from Taha ⁵¹⁷ with generosity and abundance. The suns of joy shone from his face, For Allah, he gave glad tidings to the one with a radiant face. The purest of people in lineage and branch, and who Is like the Messenger of Allah, the noble one? May the Lord of the Most High bless him As long as his fragrant scent wafts in the breeze. Fragrant breezes of musk and ambergris, And necklaces of emerald and jewel, And a source of honey, Salsabil, and Kawthar, And the light of jasmine, narcissus, rose, and flowers, And radiant blessings upon which the luster of beauty has appeared, And brides of praises being escorted to the station of the Master of prophets, saints, and the closest angels, and all of humanity. So bless him, O Allah, and his family, as long as a desirous one rejoices in what he has, attaining his goal and fulfilling his wish. And a speaker said: Muhammad is a human, not like humans, Rather, he is like a ruby among stones. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the delight of thoughts and minds, the light of insight and sight, who has alighted in the heart a station whose rank has transcended the perceptions of intellects and the capacity of humans. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the secret of the openings of verses and chapters, and the gathering of divine truths and forms, who has alighted in the heart a station whose description is too exalted for the knowledge of the knowers (183) of the elite who gaze with the lights of unveilings on the tablets of decree and destiny. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the master of the desert and city dwellers, and the antimony of the eyes of the people of ecstasy, passion, and sleeplessness, who has alighted in the heart a station whose understanding is too subtle for the thoughts of the intelligent and the verifiers who gaze at the results of sciences with sound taste and correct insight. 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 pardoned and forgave, and the most generous of those who strove in Your path and proclaimed Your religion openly, who has alighted in the heart a station whose greatness is immense in the sight of the monks of the cloisters of light and the solitaries who acknowledge the rights of divinity and call upon their Lord in the darkness of night and at the times of dawn. So bless him, O Allah, and his family, a blessing by which I may be among those known for love of him among the lovers and renowned, and acquire the treasure of gifts from the alchemy of his secret and store it, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. Why this preoccupation with travel and journeying? * You are the witness of the news and the report. I listen only to what You convey in words * And I see nothing but what You reveal to the sight. If You strike, then the unseen of the unseen is its companion * The secret of deification in the morning and evening. And if You appear, then a tablet You inscribe * From the letters of the Essence, various types of light. By Him who shone to souls from the mound * I inhaled from a fragrant, perfumed scent (184) Were it not for You, You would show my eye every vision * A new secret, exalted above the example of humans. They would not have hastened on lean, swift she-camels * Red of source towards the House and the Stone. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for You, no secrets would have overflowed, nor lights, nor would veils and curtains have been rent. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for You, no suns or moons would have shone, nor would spheres and cycles have been illuminated. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for You, no springs or rivers would have flowed, nor would basil and flowers have spread their fragrance. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for You, no clouds or rains would have poured, nor would branches and trees have ripened. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for You, no camel drivers or birds would have sung, nor would masters and nobles have been honored. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for You, no times or ages would have boasted, nor would villages or cities have been opened. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for You, no pages or lines would have rejoiced, nor would regions or quarters have taken pride. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for You, no voices or remembrances would have risen, nor would litanies have been recited at evening and dawn. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for You, no riders or visitors would have been blessed, nor would mournings or sins have been forgiven. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for You, no odes or poems would have been recited, nor would melodies or strings have been sweetened. (185) My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for You, no forms or states would have varied, nor would needs or desires have been fulfilled. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for You, no chains of transmission or reports would have been authenticated in honor to be drunk, nor would monks or rabbis have been enamored with their mention. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for You, no means or destinies would have been elevated, nor would worries, sorrows, or troubles have been removed. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for You, no stations or monasteries would have been mentioned, nor would they have migrated to Tayyiba ⁵¹⁸, the good.

Righteous and chosen ones. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for you, no lover would be bewildered in love for blessed Taba ⁵¹⁹ and tear open the veils, nor would a lover cry out, remove the mask, and cast off the veil. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for you, the illuminated Medina would not be honored above all other places and regions, nor would its inhabitant enjoy a pleasant life or find a good abode and resting place. May Allah bless you and your noble, pure family, and your chosen, righteous companions, with a blessing that crowns us with the crown of awe and dignity, clothes us among the lovers with the garments of honor, glory, and pride, and makes us among those who attain Allah's pleasure in this abode and the next. And we send abundant and cherished greetings. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds. ❖ Do you see, does the eye behold this bringer of glad tidings? ❖ Do you see me from afar those lands? ❖ I give him my soul joyfully ❖ And offer my cheek and eye in apology (186) ❖ And I send greetings from near me ❖ And sufficient for me is that rank and pride ❖ And I write my longing with the water of tears ❖ In simple form when words are brief ❖ And I ransom with what long sustenance ❖ In Taba those short nights ❖ Do you see, will I converse there with the Messenger ❖ Openly as we hope or secretly? ❖ And I know that at his door ❖ I stood and kissed that wall ❖ And what shall I say when all people ❖ Are intoxicated there, like me, bewildered? ❖ And I chant: O intercessor of sinners ❖ Grant refuge to one who seeks refuge at your sanctuary ❖ And be my intercessor on the day when no intercessor ❖ Other than you can release captives from hardships O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the fragrant garden of beauties, the rain cloud of abundant good, who has taken in the heart the place of the soul in the body and the pupil for the beholder. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the moon of the sphere of shining prophethood, the essence of pure glory and honor, who has taken in the heart the place of the gift for the seeker and the fulfillment of need for the vigilant. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the conquering sword of the Law, the dazzling eye of beauty, who has taken in the heart the place of recitation for the rememberer and alertness for the skillful. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad (187) the alchemy ⁵²⁰ of the flourishing heart, the lean horse of the night patrol, who has taken in the heart the place of attaining the desired and forgiveness for the powerful. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the title of the inward and outward, the master of the first and the last, who has taken in the heart the place of the gathering of beauties and all kinds of virtues and glories. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the eye of the most eminent of the famous, the model of the virtuous and the great, who has taken in the heart the place of sitting on the throne and delivering sermons from the pulpits. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the bride of the divine presences and manifestations, the delight of the eyes of the desert dwellers and city folk, who has taken in the heart the place of solace for the respondent and recreation for thoughts. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the star of guidance that travels, the intimacy of the fugitive and the averse, who has taken in the heart the place of sufficiency for the patient and provision for the traveler. So bless him, O Allah, and his family with a blessing that, through its outpouring, waters from us the incoming and outgoing, and through it shows mercy to the one among us who is incapable of fulfilling his duties and falls short, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. (188) O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the sea of generosity and giving, the noble of qualities and traits, who has taken in the heart the place of kindness to the heedless and expenditure on widows and dependents. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the point of equilibrium, the imam of the station of nearness and connection, who has taken in the heart the place of testimony at the approach of death and the prompting of the proof at the trial of the grave and the questioning. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the axis ⁵²¹ of majesty and beauty, the robe of loyalty and perfection, who has taken in the heart the place of opening for the people of guidance and care for the people of proximity and union. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the adornment of name and omen, the generous of tribe, companions, and family, who has taken in the heart the place of solitude for the people of seclusion and retreat for the people of intimacy and boldness. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the locus of glorification and veneration, of chivalry, generosity, kindness, and favor, who has taken in the heart the place of vigilance for the pleasure of the great and exalted Lord, and the attainment of the desired in the present and the future. (189) So bless him, O Allah, and his family with a blessing that repels from us the greatest of calamities and terrors, suffices us against the evil of the wicked and the tyranny of the people of deviation and misguidance, and makes us among those upon whom You bestow Your pleasure and the pleasure of Your Messenger, and open before them the doors of joy and acceptance, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for you, no doors or locks would have been opened, no spoils or booty would have been made lawful. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for you, no souls or wealth would have been expended, no meeting places or ruins would have been beloved. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for you, no states or conditions would have stripped themselves in the field of longing, nor would veins or joints have burned with the fires of love.

My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for you, no words would be pure, no good deeds accepted, and no actions [valid]. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for you, no youths or children would thrive, nor would the burdens of sins be lightened for their people. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for you, no symbols or forms would be opened, nor would signs or parables be understood. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for you, no forbidden or lawful would be clarified, nor would error or misguidance be dispelled. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for you, no distresses or terrors would be relieved, nor would worries, griefs, or fears depart. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for you, no cups or goblets would circulate, nor would men and women sway in the breeze of love. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for you, no leagues or miles would be traversed in journeying, nor would mounts and loads yearn to reach Taybah ⁵²². May Allah bless you and your family, singled out for sublime glory and lofty ranks, and your Companions, who have won the race in the pleasure of the Most High Lord, a blessing by which we are saved from evil end and the trial of the Antichrist, and by which we are spared the torment of humiliation and shackling with chains and fetters, and grant abundant and exalted peace. And praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds. Mustafa ⁵²³—his light is the radiance of the sun, and through him the crescent attains high stations. Since he came to us, the light of poetry shone, and guidance reached us without delay. He called us to that by which he honored us, and we rose through it to the heights of veneration. Through him, souls became clear, guided after their blindness and false error. We have trodden the path of success, and were it not for Ahmad ⁵²⁴, our course would be one of ruin. Whoever is the best of all creation, his follower ascends the stages of perfection. Whoever surpasses all creatures in glory by mounting the peaks of the highest excellence, He was chosen, and he was clothed in the garments of revelation, and given the banner of prophethood. And he was shown wonders that none before had seen, With dazzling miracles and signs. O Protector of mankind from a calamity that grieves us, You are the defender of the lands, O pearl of the universe, Before him, the chosen one among messengers, He was granted, supported with majesty, And he saved us through his unseen and veiling. And you are prepared for terrors. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the rising of blessed fortune and the new season of good, who has taken in the heart a place in which no king, master, free person, or slave has shared with him. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the extended shadow of prophethood, and the substance of increased good, who has taken in the heart a place that none of the masters of manifest breaths and praiseworthy description has rivaled. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the support of the shaykh and the disciple, and the light of insight for the intelligent and the dull, who has taken in the heart a place that none of the people of perfect faith and tawhid ⁵²⁵ has equaled. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the gnosis of the gnostics among the people of intimacy and solitude, and the Kaaba ⁵²⁶ of circumambulation for the people of detachment and abstraction, who has taken in the heart a place that none of the people of immersion in Allah's beauty, ecstasy, and firm love has attained. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the poem's theme, and the unique pearl of the string of arranged prophethood, who has taken in the heart a place whose bond of connection is never severed nor perishes. So bless him, O Allah, and his family, a blessing without limit, end, or boundary, whose repetition continues with the succession of days and nights and increases, 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 fountain of miracles and wonders, and the station that, by his rank, erases the sins of those with transgressions and crimes, who has taken in the heart the place of a good vision for the sleeper and praiseworthy rest for the one who stands. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the blessing of incantations and amulets, and the best of whom assemblies boast and turbans revolve around, who has taken in the heart the place of quenching for the thirsty and breaking the fast for the fasting. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, noble of clan and tribes, and master of the later and earlier generations, who has taken in the heart the place of charity for the beggar and the address for letters. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the granter of aspirations, pure in character and traits, who has taken in the heart the place of victory for the speaker of truth, and healing for chronic illness. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the means of means, and mercy for the deprived and the beggar, who has taken in the heart the place of pouring rain in times of drought, and the removal of the feared, great, and terrible matter. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the pole of sovereignty that reaches, and the tongue of truth that decides, who has taken in the heart the place of fame for the obscure and care for the perfect saint. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the season of good that accepts, and the downpour of abundant mercies, who has taken in the heart the place of purification for the just and wealth for the generous giver. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the building of hearts and dwellings, and the fortress of refuge from terrors and earthquakes, who has taken in the heart the place of joy for the entrant and kindness for the alighting guest. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the descendant

The most excellent and noble ones, and the fountain of virtues and bounties ⁵²⁷, who occupied in the heart the station of devotion and worship for the Excellent, and the performance of prayers at their times and their following with supererogatory acts. 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 camels and she-camels yearn to visit, and by whose rank distresses and calamities are removed, who occupied in the heart the station of adorning the unadorned and relieving the destitute debtor and the procrastinating debtor. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the clear path of truth with evident proofs, and the truthful tongue that utters the remembrance of his Lord in the mornings and evenings, who occupied in the heart the station of the return of the absent one from his long journey, and the reunion of his family with fathers, sons, and spouses. Chapter: O Allah, bless him and his family with a blessing by which You remove from us the greatest of grave matters, and suffice us thereby from the evil of every tyrant, aggressor, and assailant, and an enemy who envies us for what You have bestowed upon us and slanders us in assemblies and tribes, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. My longing for You is carried by the breeze, I offer it as love morning and evening. O breeze, if you come to the abode of my beloved, alight there and convey complete greetings. And recite the greeting from a lovesick, sorrowful, ill one. The agate of tears from his eyelids disgraces him out of longing for you, if only I could find a way. Long has he spent the night complaining of his distress, and patience in his heart is little. May they ransom him from the captivity of distance with a tenderness that revives a heart there that is sick. He complains of sleepless eyes from the pain of love, so the night becomes long for the ill. If lightning flashes or a gleam shines, you see the heart carried towards you. Be gentle with my tormented heart, for because of you the lover has become humiliated. Be generous to one who spends the night complaining of your abandonment, and who is fettered from union with you. He seeks nearness and union with your tribe; the humiliation of love has increased his importunity. And love has been established in his heart, whose fruits have been made easy to pick. He found nothing but confusion among people, bewildered, some intoxicated, some terrified. Whenever the dove coos in a thicket, I yearn for a beautiful moon there. He possesses beauty and loveliness; his light encompasses all worlds completely. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for you, no proofs or evidences would have been established for the Law, nor would litanies and evidences be recited in gatherings of remembrance. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for you, no supplications or means would be answered, nor would greetings and messages be sent to noble Medina. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for you, no character or qualities would be praised, nor would the breezes of the south wind be inhaled from the side of Ghawr ⁵²⁸ or the north winds. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for the fragrance of your sweet perfume, no flowers or meadows would be fragrant, nor would swords and scabbards be girded for jihad against the disbelievers. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for you, no assemblies or tribes would be honored, nor would blood, sanctities, or spouses be protected. So bless, O Allah, him and his family with a blessing that bestows upon us the breezes of its blessing in the mornings and evenings, and encompasses us with its beautiful kindness in the later and earlier times, and grant abundant and exalted peace, and praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds. He is the sign of Allah that has incapacitated minds from comprehending its true meaning. Were it not for him, neither darkness nor light would have been created at all, nor would time have been divided into seasons. Were it not for him, the shining stars would not have been set, nor would the king of stoning ⁵²⁹ have been entrusted with them. Were it not for him, the seven heavens would not have been created, nor the earth as a vast expanse for servants. Were it not for him, the sky would not have given its provision to creation as drink and food. Were it not for him, neither bliss nor misery would have been created at all, nor would there have been origins for branches. Were it not for him, Paradise would not have been created nor would it exist; were it not for him, the Blaze would not have been made a resting place. Were it not for him, the clouds would not have brought rain at all, nor would the seas have flowed as torrents. Were it not for him, no branches would have grown on the hills at all, nor would the breeze have trailed its trains. Were it not for him, no springs of flowers would have bloomed, nor would the sword have become polished. Were it not for him, we would not yearn to see Medina; were it not for him, the lover would not have loved the ruins. 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 attained the pleasure of his Lord and succeeded, and the most noble who won the race on the carpet of the near ones ⁵³⁰ and gained, who occupied in the heart the station of the lover's turning towards noble Mecca and his journey with longing to Tihama and the land of Hijaz. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the locus of fulfillment of covenants and promises, and the possessor of brilliant miracles that have reached the level of mass transmission and inimitability, who occupied in the heart the station of solving problems for the noble and enigmas, and facilitating difficulties through abbreviation and conciseness. 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 ascended to the presence of his Lord, piercing the seven heavens and passing beyond, and the most excellent who attained the secrets of prophethood and messengership in reality, not metaphorically, who occupied in the heart the station of glad tidings to the servant of deliverance from the terror of the Gathering, the Scale, the passage over the Bridge, and crossing, and entry into Paradise and attainment of its everlasting bliss and winning the ultimate success. So bless, O Allah, him and his family with a blessing by which we become among those honored by love for him over their peers and distinguished, and saved from the trial of the grave and the questioning, and cross the Bridge like a flashing lightning and pass, 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 who have passed and who are to come, and the crown of prophethood and messengership, brilliant in noble traits and miracles, who occupied in the heart the station of spiritual ascent for the wayfarer and the abode in the most noble stations and highest degrees. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the ascension of spiritual elevations and descents, and the isthmus ⁵³¹ that encompasses the meanings of universals and particulars, who occupied in the heart the station of forgiveness for the offender and his glad tidings of the dropping of liabilities and erasure of evil deeds.

O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the spirit of essences ⁵³² and the solace of those who are cut off in seclusions and gatherings, who has taken in the heart the place of quenching for the thirsty and sustenance for the hungry, cut off in the deadly deserts and the plains of wilderness. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the ornament of ornaments, perfect in virtues and attributes, the delight of the eye, abundant in gifts and blessings, who has taken in the heart the place of bringing joy through acceptance to the striving, self-reckoning servant and rewarding him with the most abundant gifts. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the imam of the sincere and certain, the best of guided guides, and the honored servants of Allah, who has taken in the heart the place of the descent of the guarded secret and the coming down of tranquility in the hearts of the chosen believers. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the mercy for the weak and the poor, the possessor of lofty rank and established station, who has taken in the heart the place of security for the one who fears an evil reckoning and receiving the book in the right hand. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the support of the arriving leaders and the light of insight of the firmly rooted pegs ⁵³³, who has taken in the heart the place of the descent of the inspiration of revelation upon the hearts of the saints and the righteous, and the people of divine openings and the acting scholars. So bless him, O Allah, and his family, the perfect nobles, and his companions, the venerable arrivals, a blessing by which we become among those who are ecstatic with the wine of Your encompassing love, wrapped in the garments of Your hidden pleasure, infatuated with Your remembrance, absent in the beauty of Your essence, bewildered, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. He is the Beloved, the Master, the Light, the like of whom there is no messenger in the worlds. The light of guidance, the pole ⁵³⁴ of all worlds, the succor of intellects, has adorned them as a crown. Possessor of dazzling miracles in truth, not subject to enumeration or explanation. No messenger before him came with such, nor was there a friend like the Beloved. The palm trunk yearned for him in longing when he called it, and it came to him hastily. From his veins the scent of roses diffused, and he will pour forth rivers of modesty. He who made the beasts speak when they passed by him, carried in his saddle. He who made the Sacred House ⁵³⁵ magnify Allah for his sake, and raised the takbir ⁵³⁶ and tahlil ⁵³⁷. He is the chosen one of the Lord, who from non-existence transferred his light to his father, a transmission. He is the jewel of the messengers from the crown of the Most High, possessing glories by tribe and clan. He is the point of the unseen ⁵³⁸ that indicated what desire could not indicate. He is the gift of the cosmos that unified the might of the night journey beyond the end of Gabriel ⁵³⁹. He is the troop of holiness from whose orb the stars and the righteous were clothed in setting. He is the beginning of the messengers, announced to us by the clearest of the Criterion ⁵⁴⁰ and the Revelation. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the treasurer of the secrets of the unseen, truthful in discernment and visions, the physician of states and hearts, beneficial in amulets and incantations, who has taken in the heart the place of ascension for the wayfarer in the stations of proximity and the highest degree. 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 trod the path of good and walked, the most generous of those who enslaved servants with his kindness and ruled, who has taken in the heart the place of the full moon in the horizon of the sky and the sun in the midst of the celestial sphere. 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 heard the address from his Lord and acted upon what he understood, the most majestic of those who submitted to the Yemeni corner ⁵⁴¹ and kissed the Black Stone ⁵⁴² and circumambulated the House and ran, who has taken in the heart the place of standing at Arafat ⁵⁴³ for the pilgrims, and attending the two sermons, and answering supplications. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the bride of pulpits and gatherings, the best of those by whose rank distresses are dispelled and slips are pardoned, who has taken in the heart the place of the house at Mina ⁵⁴⁴ for the pilgrim in ihram, and shaving, and sacrificing, and stoning the pillars. 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 sought victory through You in all his affairs and asked for help, the most generous of those who looked into Your dominion with the eye of reflection and took heed, who has taken in the heart the place of circumambulation of the House for the circumambulator, and touching the corner, and kissing the Stone. So bless him, O Allah, and his family, a blessing by which we become among those who are marked by love for him among the praisers and become famous, and who have adorned his own neck with the necklace of service to his noble station and made it known, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for you, no pilgrim would have performed Hajj or Umrah, nor would any pilgrim have said Labbayk ⁵⁴⁵, or shaved, or sacrificed. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for you, no circumambulator would have circumambulated the House and kissed the Stone, nor would any runner have run between Safa and Marwa ⁵⁴⁶ and stoned the pillars and departed. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for you, no one would have arrived at those honored places or departed, nor would anyone have stood in their illuminated stations or appeared. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for you, no one would have traveled to those pure regions or emigrated, nor would anyone have stayed in their blessed abodes or resided. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for you, no eye of a longing one would have slept towards those happy lands or stayed awake, nor would the phantom of their image have visited him at all times or occurred. So bless him, O Allah, and his family, a blessing whose fragrance wafts in the gardens of sovereignty and dominion and spreads, and by which among Your beloved ones in the abode of bliss is given what no eye has seen, no ear has heard, nor has it occurred to any human heart, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. Were it not for you, no suns of guidance would have been created at all, nor would the shooting star have been made a guide. Were it not for you, no radiant light would have arisen, nor would Allah have sent a messenger. Were it not for you, the Reckoner would not have left a mustard seed; were it not for you, the Scribe would not have forgotten a wick. Were it not for you, our Lord would not pardon and forgive; were it not for you, the hopeful would not attain his request. O hope of the outcast, O patron of giving, O best of hosts whose descent is not to be sought. Have mercy on the humiliation of one fearful of his Lord, and accept the supplication of one who comes to you as a refugee. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, a mercy for the noble and the lowly, a rain of bounty pouring and a cloud of good that brings spring, who has taken in the heart...

From the heart, the place of incantation for the sick and the antidote for the poisoned. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, possessor of exalted status and lofty rank, the pillar of the weaned and the suckling infant, who occupies in the heart the place of a gift for the one who arrives and the opening of the door of acceptance for the obedient. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the impregnable fortress of security and the swift sword of victory, who occupies in the heart the place of solace for the beholder in the growth of the earth and the inhalation of the breezes of its flowers in winter and spring. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, the intercessor whose intercession is accepted, the best of those through whose status one seeks help in repelling calamities and the most terrible of affairs, who occupies in the heart the place of comfort for the sorrowful through strolling in the valleys of the light of the plains and the flow of water in the pipes of golden branches and the belts of wondrous craftsmanship. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the master of kings and sultans, the mercy for the weak and the poor, who occupies in the heart the place of the lover sitting on the thrones of proximity among the lovers and gazing upon the delightful meadows and gardens of basil. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the garden of fragrant breezes, ripe with fruits and seedlings, the comfort of souls that revives with the scent of his fragrance the dead hearts and spirits, who occupies in the heart the place of looking at the delightful inscriptions on the pages of notebooks and the adornment of scrolls. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the pure fountain of arrival and the sufficient provision of love, who occupies in the heart the place of certainty in expressions for the eloquent and the composition of paronomasia in rhymed prose and speech. 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 luminosity pierced the veils and screens, the most majestic of those whose appearance subdued the people of polytheism, divination arrows, and idols, who occupies in the heart the place of obtaining the results of sciences for the scholar and acquiring treasures of books. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the exemplar of the people of righteousness and success, the source of pardon, generosity, and forbearance, who occupies in the heart the place of the white blaze on radiant faces and the relief of the traveler's soul with the light of dawn and the morning breeze. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the means of opening and commencement, the best of those who openly declared the compassionate one's passion and divulged it, who occupies in the heart the place of rest for the ill and relief, the preservation of capital for the merchant and the attainment of profits. So bless him, O Allah, and his family, a blessing by which we become among those who set out for Taybah the Good and departed, and arrived at those blessed precincts, and thus unloaded at its courtyard the heavy burdens of their great sins and found rest, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for you, souls would not be pleased near Taybah the Good, nor spirits, nor would bodies and forms be blessed by dwelling in its places. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for you, no dawn would have broken for the people of happiness, nor morning, nor would guidance, right direction, or righteousness have appeared. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for you, no scrolls or tablets would have been read in the offices of goodness, nor would the flowers of hills and valleys have been fragrant with sweet scents. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for you, no festivals or joys would have been celebrated in the seasons of Islam, nor would there have been abundant spoils and profits in the markets of the lovers. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for you, the people of faith would not have attained expansion and relief, nor would there have been clarity and manifestation for the world of religion. May Allah bless you and your noble, beautiful family, and your Companions who ascended the ranks of sainthood and righteousness, a blessing that guides us thereby to the path of success and prosperity, and watches over us with the eye of kindness, pardon, and forbearance, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. The gazelles of the tribe, if they incline and succeed, then their inclination is success for their lover. And if they turn away, how sweet is their turning away, for in it lies success. And if they are haughty coquettishly, that to me is a means by which I hope for union when they turn away. And if they snatch my heart, I say, 'A kingdom, and in it a king, and they go and come.' And if they decree my death, it is just, for they see me as their slave, and they have long deemed my blood lawful. And if they cut off, I have for them a side of connection, so I do not cut off, even if they permit my cutting. For their cutting returns with all good, for after the drizzle comes the abundant rain. And if they tread, and cheeks are laid down for them, lands for the masters are deemed lawful. And if they frown, I smile; and if they turn away, then for the lowly slave there is relief. And if they perfect, then imperfection is my attribute; I am the ugly slave, and they are beautiful. And if they look at me, majesty melts me, and my mind is swept away. No one can bear to see the beloved, like the sun when it appears unveiled. It has returned, having set and disappeared, until its radiance adorned it. I saw the lovers of him intoxicated; when they mention the beloved, they weep and wail. And if they describe the beloved to them, they abandon the world and divulge secrets. Their beloved is the Beloved of Allah truly, so excuse them if they sing sorrowfully and cry out. O Mustafa, O ruby of my heart, O you through whom the heart is mended! A stranger in the land, captive of sins, let your pardon be pleasing. Upon you and to you be my submission, and your companions, the radiant, bright ones. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the Imam of the known station, the treasurer of the hidden secret of divinity, who occupies in the heart the place of treatment for the wounded and cold water for the feverish. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the result of the spoken and the understood, the mark of the famous and the designated, who occupies in the heart the place of suckling for the infant and the milk for the child.

For the weaned child, and innocence for the accused. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master and lord Muhammad, the rose of love that is smelled and the inscription of the sealed book of the secret ⁵⁴⁷, who has taken in the heart the place of the gift for the deprived and the victory for the oppressed and wronged. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master and lord Muhammad (208) the seed of creation and formation, and the presence of witnessing and specification ⁵⁴⁸, who has taken in the heart the place of firmness for the people of sainthood ⁵⁴⁹ in the station of might and empowerment. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master and lord Muhammad, the robe of the people of destruction and variegation ⁵⁵⁰ and the eloquent tongue of the people of clarity and explanation, who has taken in the heart the place of disposal and general permission for the people of litanies ⁵⁵¹ and instruction. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master and lord Muhammad, the adornment of the forelock and the forehead, and the delicious wine of love and its flowing river ⁵⁵², who has taken in the heart the place of the penetration of insight for the people of unveilings ⁵⁵³ and clear victory. So bless him, O Allah, and his sincere and certain family, and his chosen, intimate, and loving companions, a blessing by which we become among Your chosen, beloved, and loving ones, and the elite of Your saints, the guided guides, 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 and lord Muhammad, the spirit of the spirits of the people of meanings ⁵⁵⁴, and the foundation of the principles of realities and structures, who has taken in the heart the place of union for the forsaken and forgiveness for the offender. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master and lord Muhammad, the mercy for the far and the near, and the festival of joy, happiness, and congratulations (209) who has taken in the heart the place of attaining the goal and fulfilling the need for the supplicant. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master and lord Muhammad, the leader ⁵⁵⁵ of the spiritual and physical world, and the translucent and luminous body, who has taken in the heart the place of support for those who seek the solitary secret ⁵⁵⁶ and the sovereign kingdom. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master and lord Muhammad, the delight of gatherings and rows, and the prayer niche ⁵⁵⁷ of the spirits of the people of fasting and seclusion, who has taken in the heart the place of recompense for the doer of good and the performer of kindness. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master and lord Muhammad, the paradise of visitors and guests, and the Arafat ⁵⁵⁸ of the masters of gnosis ⁵⁵⁹ and standing ⁵⁶⁰, who has taken in the heart the place of response to the supplicant when he humbly implores Him and raises his hands. 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 who bowed and prostrated, and the most majestic of those who bent in the prayer niches of fear and worshipped, who has taken in the heart the place of obedience to parents and their tenderness toward the child. 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 who affirmed the Oneness of his One, Eternal Lord, and the most merciful through whom mercy is shown to servants and lands, who has taken in the heart the place of the servant's fulfillment of his promise to his Lord and his truthfulness in the covenant he made with Him to do good and to bind. (210) So bless him, O Allah, and his family, a blessing by which the heart and the eternal abode are illuminated in us, and by which there flow upon us from the treasuries of Your gifts the maidens of the secret ⁵⁶¹ and the supply ⁵⁶², by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for you, no secret or supply would have flowed upon the lovers, nor would the paths of guidance and right conduct have become clear. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for you, no devout worshiper would have prayed at night in the mosques of goodness or worshipped, nor would an eye have closed from fear of Allah or stayed awake. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for you, no caravan would have set out for Taybah the Good ⁵⁶³ or arrived, nor would a lover have intended its blessed sanctuary or aimed for it. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for you, no hadith about the virtues of the illuminated Medina would have been authentic or transmitted, nor would a devil have fled from its blessed regions or strayed. So bless him, O Allah, and his family, a blessing by which we become among those who seek refuge in Your mighty pillar and rely on it, and enter under the shelter of Your protection and sleep in Your dense shade and rest, and grant him abundant peace forever, and praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds. If the lizard turns yellow, your image is not found; and if it is obtained for him, what has he lost? (211) After your union, there is no goal for the infatuated; whoever seeks the Beloved has attained what he sought. I am the one who has dismounted his saddle at the door of your love, and in the courtyards of your longing and love he has aimed. O First, O Last, O Manifest, O Hidden, illuminate for Your description beyond number. O Final Prophet ⁵⁶⁴, O Gatherer ⁵⁶⁵, O Eraser ⁵⁶⁶, O Seal ⁵⁶⁷, O Opener of the door of right guidance. O Hidden of the Malakut ⁵⁶⁸ and the Jabarut ⁵⁶⁹, O Essence of purity, O Treasure of the secrets of the Eternal. Until he said: You are the one of whom the All-Encompassing said to His light: 'I created you first on the day of Sunday.' You are the one of whom the Eternal said to His spirit: 'I sent you forth before the sending of the body.' You are the one of whom the Generous said to His bounty: 'He poured the flood of the deluge upon the people of crookedness.' You are the one of whom the Bountiful said to His generosity: 'If you were to give for the length of time, you would give without depletion.' May Allah, whose majesty is exalted, bless you, and the family and companions, who are the support. Jewels of excellent and beautiful praises, and pieces of flowers and basil, and subtle sciences and gifts of grace and favor, and breezes of mercies that blow their fragrances from the presence of our generous Lord, the King, the Judge, and fragrant blessings whose scent emanates from the station of the Master of the Worlds, and the bride of the paradises of the gardens, our master Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, the best of the sons of Ma'd ⁵⁷⁰ and Adnan ⁵⁷¹. 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 praise and eulogy tongues utter, and by whose attributes and names the masters of assemblies seek blessing, who, if the people of love were to search the heart of the lover for him, they would find his beloved name written (212) with the pen of power upon his form and the perceptions of his understanding and the ascents of his elevation and exaltation.

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 righteousness and religion the worlds follow, and before whom the greatest of the near ones ⁵⁷² vie to kiss the hem of his carpet and his right hand; he whose illuminated name, if the people of longing and yearning were to search the temple of desire in the beauty of his essence, they would find inscribed upon the crescent of his brow, the pages of his face, and the forelock of his forehead. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the life of souls and hearts, the mountain of generosity of high rank and degree, who occupies in the heart the place of joy for the sorrowful and of hastening to bring him happiness and attain relief. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the best of those before whom mounts bow in night travel and journeying, and the greatest of those whose intercession is sought for the relief of crises and the removal of distress and hardship; he who occupies in the heart the place of success for whoever follows the path of guidance and pursues it. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the dawn of prophethood, clear in light and radiance, and the sword of truth cutting down the backs of the obstinate with dazzling proofs and arguments; he who occupies in the heart the place of the disciple's ⁵⁷³ uprightness on the path of truth, safe from deviation and crookedness. So bless him, O Allah, and his family with a blessing by which we become among those whose faces shine with the smile of goodness and rejoice, and who persist in blessing him, so that You make for them from every worry in which they find relief and a way out, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for you, no one would have emerged into existence nor come forth, nor would any soul have ascended to the layers of the seven heavens nor ascended. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for you, no worry would have departed nor been relieved, nor would anyone have walked upon the face of the earth nor moved. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for you, the face of the Sharia ⁵⁷⁴ would not have shone nor rejoiced, nor would anyone have followed the path of truth nor pursued it. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for you, no caravan would have traveled to Tayyiba the good ⁵⁷⁵ nor journeyed by night, nor would breasts have expanded at the sight of its many landmarks of meanings and radiance. May Allah bless you and your family with a blessing by which we become among those who wove their yarn upon the stations of piety and wove, and whose Lord met them with forgiveness, so they took up the highest abode and loftiest rank in the paradises of gardens, and grant abundant and precious 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, the best of those whose souls of lovers roam in the gardens of his remembrances and return, and the greatest of the yearning ones cry out with the ecstasies of his love and reveal; he who occupies in the heart the place of quenching the thirst of the parched heart with the drink of evening and morning draughts. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the comfort of the soul and the healing of the wounded heart; he who occupies in the heart the place of attaining the desired for whoever seeks gifts and openings ⁵⁷⁶. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the blessing of the openings of texts and commentaries, the flower of gardens and the branch of the tree of glory that is watered; he who occupies in the heart the place of visiting the beloved at the time of dawn and the fragrance of the rose of his love when it wafts. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the possessor of the praised name and the gatekeeper of the presence of the open door of Allah; he who occupies in the heart the place of the incantation for the sting and the medicine for the wounded. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the possessor of great character and a forgiving heart, and the pole ⁵⁷⁷ of sainthood guiding Allah's servants with sincere counsel; he who occupies in the heart the place of the rising of the lights of the sun of guidance upon the hearts of lovers and returns. So bless him, O Allah, and his family with a blessing whose radiant glad tidings shine upon our faces and appear, and whose luminous secrets rise in the hidden of our identity and return, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for you, the hearts of lovers would have no inclination toward Tayyiba nor any leaning, nor yearning, nor longing, nor ardent desire for those places and courtyards. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for you, eyes would have no gaze upon those blessed sights nor any aspiration, nor would tears of eyelids flow from the intensity of longing for them nor pour. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for you, there would have appeared in those blessed regions no blessings nor openings, nor would there be in their illuminated places at every time a fragrance diffusing and wafting. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for you, no lights would shine upon those walls and appear, nor would a lover weep in their arenas from excess of ardent love and lament. May Allah bless you and your family with a blessing by which our body and soul are revived, and by which we become among those who acknowledge your virtue and affirm the gifts of your beneficence and travel, and grant abundant and precious peace. And praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds. * I am in your protection, my goal will not fail * I have come, my Lord, to your protection, the descent * I am in your protection, so be my intercessor * On the day when the close friend finds no close friend as a guarantor * I am in your protection when the bridge's ⁵⁷⁸ * Steep passes lengthen and the standing is long * I am in your protection when I stumble with a slip * And I hope your forbearance to be a resting place * I am in your protection when the scales tip * And the light one becomes heavy from standing * I am in your protection when the angels line up * From every direction, thousands of miles * I am in your protection when the hellfire is kindled * And when denial is fettered and chained * I am in your protection, so do not torture my body * With fire, O full moon of guidance, O perfect one * I am in your protection when the scrolls are verified * And when the noble angels are just witnesses * I am in your protection when secrets are searched * And when the transgressor is regretful and humiliated * I am in your protection, so be with me as a companion * And when I meet in the graves what terrifies * I am in your protection when the hellfire is adorned * And when the beautiful ones hasten to you entering

I am in Your protection when I ask for a means ⁵⁷⁹, and the ropes of my Lord are His command that is done. I am in Your protection, so by Your favor be a rescuer from what I fear, for Your action is nothing but beautiful. I am in Your protection, for my life has passed in vain, and I have spent my times in passion and frivolity. You are the Answerer to whoever calls upon You, and my rope at Your door remains connected in supplication. You are the Intercessor ⁵⁸⁰ for all major sins; in Your protection I hope, even if I have ignorantly disobeyed. You are the Foremost in intercession, exalted; You are the Preferred, and what follows is preference. 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 possessed the servants through his generosity and kindness, and the most eloquent of those who addressed the pulpits ⁵⁸¹ with the deterrents of his admonitions and the sciences of his eloquence—he whose name, if the people of ecstasy and passion were to search the temple ⁵⁸² of the one praying upon him with love, they would find his exalted name mixed with his flesh and blood, and written upon his lips and tongue. 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 and companionship men boast of, and the needy cling to the hem of his forbearance and the veils of his Kaaba ⁵⁸³—he whose name, if the people of desire and longing were to search the temple of the one extolling his rank and lofty station, they would find his honored name inscribed on his forehead, the lines of his brow, and the sides of his beard. 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 appearance and festive season the beloved rejoice in, and the masters of lovers vie in praising his virtues with long poetry and its meter—he whose name, if the people of sound tastes were to search the temple of the one constant in obedience and service to him, they would find his honored name soaked on the crown of his head, the tip of his nose, his tuft of hair, and his neck. 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 and affection natures are molded upon, and yearning souls desire to be near and close to him—he whose name, if the people of bewilderment and absorption were to search the temple of the one absent in his praise, following his Sunnah ⁵⁸⁴ and his party, they would find his honored name present on his shoulder, back, belly, and the tablet of his heart. 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 lineage is honored by belonging to his tribe and clan, and the heart of the enamored finds solace in his remembrance in both states of contraction and expansion ⁵⁸⁵—he whose name, if the people of intention and sincerity were to search the temple of the one enamored with love for him and love for his family and his grandson ⁵⁸⁶, they would find his purified name inscribed on his upper arms, palms, and the hidden parts of his armpits. 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 visitors are blessed by standing at his door and seek the blessing of his supplication, and the virtuous aspire to the gifts of his openings ⁵⁸⁷ and the treasures of his giving—he whose name, if the people of fairness and followers of truth were to search the temple of the one yearning to see him and meet him, they would find his beloved, famous, and well-known name mentioned in the unseen of his identity and the core of his innermost parts. 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 intelligence and brilliance minds are bewildered by, and the community is shown mercy through his supplication in the darkness of night and his weeping—he whose name, if the people of love were to search the temple of the one desiring connection and union with him, they would find his Muhammadan name written on his chest, side, and all his limbs. So bless him, O Allah, and his family, a blessing by which the tables of His favors and bounties descend upon us, and by which You treat us with the antidote of his beneficial medicine and healing, 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 hearts are purified from every deficiency and defect—he whose name, if the temples of spiritual souls were searched, would be found written upon them with tears of the eyes and the light of the black of the eye. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, who removes from hearts the darkness of desolation, loss, and separation—he whose name, if the temples of luminous persons were searched, would be found written upon them with water of green emerald, pure gold, and silver. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose side is protected from obscenity, betrayal, and falsehood—he whose name, if the temples of lordly bodies were searched, would be found as an amulet for them against severed matters and the striking of the evil eye. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, whose light belittles the light of the lesser bear and the two bears ⁵⁸⁸—he whose name, if you were to search the temples of the human creation, would be found as a protection for them from the assault of aggressors, tyrants, rebels, and every spy and eye. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, Your beloved, perfect in creation and in both realms ⁵⁸⁹—he whose name, if you were to search the temples of corporeal forms and individual realities, you would find his luminous name in them snatching the eyes of lovers with the flashes of splendor, beauty, and adornment. So bless him, O Allah, and his family, a blessing by which You show mercy to our family, loved ones, children, and parents, and by which You remove from us what has burdened our backs of sins, liabilities, and debt, by Your favor and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. Between the length of love's nights and their shortness, I have become perplexed in coming and going. I bid farewell to those who entrusted the fire of passion folded in my innermost, and left my tears flowing in torrents. Their mounts traveled away from me, taking, as they journeyed, the reins of hearing and sight. And I spent the night, whose sides never whitened, as a victim of longing, a companion of ecstasy and sleeplessness. I almost melted from the excess of what I felt, were it not for hope and the heart's comfort in thoughts. When the driver urged them toward the Sanctuary, my heart flew to it, but my body did not. I called out when they departed and disappointed my hope: 'My longing increases after them, and my heart is in sparks. Would that they had carried me in their saddles, so that I might fulfill there my utmost desire.' And at the winding of the ruins of Idam ⁵⁹⁰, I say among the drivers, broken: 'I adjure you by Allah, O driver of the caravan, stop for a breath at the bend and at Qiba ⁵⁹¹, which my eyes see. And turn toward Taybah ⁵⁹² and graze in its pastures, for I have there a moon more radiant than the moon: Muhammad, Ahmad, the Praised One, whose praised traces in glory are well-known. For his sake were the world and its counterpart ⁵⁹³—a blessing for the one who benefits, a reminder for the one who reflects. The most majestic of those upon whom the sun of morning has risen among creation, from desert dwellers and settled folk. And the most honorable of all creation, the ultimate in highness, of those chosen by the Lord of the Throne from Mudar ⁵⁹⁴.'

The Pole ⁵⁹⁵ of the prophets and messengers all together; without him, the Creator would not have created the father of mankind ⁵⁹⁶. So the earth donned garments from his traces, and the hills brought forth blossoms of flowers. And Allah magnified him among us and honored him, and singled him out with perfect beauty and conduct. In the hearts of the people of verification ⁵⁹⁷ is his love, and it became a treasure for them—what a treasure! O my master, O Messenger of Allah, O my hope, through you I have triumphed, and you are the best of helpers. Upon you be the most pure blessings of Allah, eternally, filling space and numbering the stars and trees, and upon the family, companions, and followers, as long as the doves of the gardens sing in the evenings and mornings. 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 words and deeds the guides follow, and the most beloved whose qualities and traits the ears delight in praising. If the masters of hearts ⁵⁹⁸ were to search for the states of the one yearning for his nearness and union, they would find his noble name fixed in the circulation of their thought and the passing fancies of their imagination. 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 illuminated precincts and ruins hearts yearn for, and whose great character and beautiful states the people of noble qualities emulate. If the masters of spiritual meanings ⁵⁹⁹ were to test the burning passions of the lover for him and the stations of his rank ⁶⁰⁰ in the lands of his love and journeys, they would say: 'This one is excused,' and they would submit to whatever issues from him in his state of sobriety and annihilation ⁶⁰¹ and the changing of his states and forms. 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 souls and wealth are spent in visiting his illuminated places and hills, and whose noble dwellings, gardens, and shades bring rest to yearning spirits. If the masters of fragrances ⁶⁰² were to inhale the scent of his breeze, they would lose their senses and wander in the lights of his virtues and the splendor of his beauty. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the flower of the gardens of pouring love, the possessor of surpassing beauty and captivating comeliness. If the masters of spiritual states ⁶⁰³ were to taste a drop from the flow of his secret ⁶⁰⁴ emanating from the presence of the Sovereign, the King, the Judge, they would fly with the wing of longing to see al-Baqi' ⁶⁰⁵, the living quarter of al-Aqiq ⁶⁰⁶, and the fragrant trees. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the foremost of the age and time, the protection of the seeker of refuge, and the fortress of security and safety. If the masters of unveilings ⁶⁰⁷ were to see what Allah has granted to those who stand at his door, and the lofty building and pillars, they would bring clouds upon their cheeks and leave everything that distracts them from those blessed places and homelands. O Allah, bless and grant peace to our master and lord Muhammad and to the family of our master Muhammad, the descendant of pure lineages, pure in creation and character, the clear lighthouse of guides in darkness. If the masters of openings and gifts ⁶⁰⁸ knew what is attained by those who seek refuge at his mighty threshold of goodness and honor, they would emigrate to him with wealth and children and pitch their tents in his spacious courtyard and his majestic, honored station. 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 established the pillar of religion and raised it, and built its columns and tents upon the foundations of piety. If the people of guidance and righteousness knew what the masters of facing ⁶⁰⁹ his illuminated shrine and greeting him have obtained, they would devote themselves to kissing his exalted wall and prolong embracing and clinging to it. So bless him, O Allah, and his family, a blessing that increases the lover's longing to see his lofty carpet and his passion, and by which he is given a high rank among the lovers in the highest paradises and the abode of permanence. By Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. Soothe him with its fragrance and the scent of the sandy plains and the quarter of Tihama ⁶¹⁰, and convey to the Prophet a greeting, for how sweet is a greeting given out of love. The eye swore that sleep would not blame it, and the flowing of tears would lighten, until it sees the chamber of the Messenger and complains: O Prophet of guidance, to you is my passion. O orator of mankind, O gatherer of virtue, O qibla ⁶¹¹ of guidance and imam. The wasted one of passion has melted for you; separation shoots arrows into his innermost. Every year he seeks union with you; perhaps this year will be his year. Blessed is he who visits the grave of the best prophet and prolongs embracing and clinging to it. For he is a succor, a refuge, and a sanctuary, a bringer of good news and an intercessor on the Day of Resurrection. Opener, seal, luminous lamp, he illuminated the darkness and dispelled its gloom. The best of creation, the most beautiful of people in character, Allah adorned him—how intense his modesty! He put the sun to shame at forenoon, and the moon borrowed his light and perfection at night. He never said 'no,' and would show a smile with 'yes,' and he was generous in bestowing favors. Arise and visit his grave, and head for his sanctuary with a bright face, good conduct, and repentance. Rub your cheek in the dust and purify it with tears of remorse, erasing sins. The best of creation—a soil honored by containing the fragrance of the Chosen One and his bones. And in his noble grave, he is alive; whoever greets him, he returns the greeting. O my master, O Messenger of Allah, without you, al-Aqiq and the fragrant trees would not be mentioned, nor would ecstasy be known in those honored places and passionate love. O my master, O Messenger of Allah, without you, no yearning one would long for those dear precincts of people and neighbors, nor would a lover be infatuated with their love throughout the ages and times. O my master, O Messenger of Allah, without you, no lover would mention the quarter of Tihama and Najd, nor would he flirt by mentioning the youths of Banu Abi Dhu'ayb and Banu Sa'd. O my master, O Messenger of Allah, without you, the arrival of longing would not stir towards Taybah ⁶¹² and the Sacred House, nor would a worshiper bow in the honored mosque and behind the Station ⁶¹³. O my master, O Messenger of Allah, without you, the place of prayer and the landmark would not be mentioned, nor would supplication be made between the Corner and the Multazam ⁶¹⁴. O my master, O Messenger of Allah, without you, no poet would be inflamed by mentioning Kazimah and Idam, nor would he be enamored with the quarter of Sal' and the neighbors of Dhi Salam. O my master, O Messenger of Allah, without you, those landmarks and hills would not be known, nor would anyone seek blessing from the mosque of Namirah and Quba'. O my master, O Messenger of Allah, without you, al-Baqi' and Taybah would not be honored, nor would yearning and longing increase for Mima and the passionate love. O my master, O Messenger of Allah, without you, the valley bend and the winding sand dune would not be mentioned, nor would al-Khayf and the curved place be known.

And the passionate attachment to them and the desire. My master, O Messenger of Allah, were it not for you, the sweet water and the lightning ⁶¹⁵ would not be mentioned, nor would the dawn of love shine upon the inhabitants of those goodly gardens, nor would a lightning flash gleam. May Allah bless you and your family as long as a sun rises and a night falls, and as long as rain pours, and grant you abundant and exalted peace. And praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds. (226) Patience, O brother of anguish and longing, Perhaps you will attain the joy of meeting. I watch the stars of union in the horizon of separation, For determination traverses the distance of horizons. The full moons of Sal' ⁶¹⁶ in the tents have veiled themselves, Yet they may appear to a yearning lover. Nay, they are gazelles, and hearts are pastures For them; how often have they fled from lovers! They fled coquettishly from a lover; their beauty Indeed, coquetry stirs longing. How many lovers have they slain, and how many passionate ones have they captivated In the two sandy tracts ⁶¹⁷, the abodes of lightning flashes. They have shed the blood of tear ducts in the hollow of the eye ⁶¹⁸; How many tears have been poured in the eye socket! Their survival among us has annihilated the traces of lovers, These absolute kings of beauty. How many a lover at the threshold of their doors Lies cast down at the steps in destitution! The seekers have not aimed at any like their abodes; They are the Ka'ba ⁶¹⁹ of pilgrims and wayfarers. They have laden the mounts in the deserts and hills Toward their dwellings with ecstasy and necks outstretched. Their goal is none but the Chosen Beloved, The light of existence and the elect of the Creator. He revives the traces of virtue after their effacement; By that he revives noble moral qualities. O master of the two worlds ⁶²⁰, O most faithful of mankind To the covenant, the promise, the bonds, and the pledge! I stand at the gates of your praise, Seeking to stop the minds of the skilled. I unveil the brides of your description for your lover, And with the string of its jewel I have tightened my belt. May Allah, whose majesty is exalted, bless you, And the family and companions, the best of comrades. Its author—may Allah brighten his face among the lovers and grant him safety through the visitation of the Seal of the Prophets and the Imam of the Messengers, my master the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and his good and pure family and his noble and honored companions—said: When I reached this noble station and offered therein of entreaties (227) befitting his exalted and lofty station, the motive of longing and the intensity of its violent wind moved me to depict the likeness of his verdant garden and his illuminated, pure, and clean station, so that I might delight my sight in its beauties and find repose at its sight through the spirit of its gentle, fragrant breeze. How excellent is the saying of one who said: O abode of the best of messengers, and by whom Guidance for mankind came, distinguished by signs! For your sake I have burning passion and yearning, And a longing with blazing embers. I have a vow: if I fill my eyes With those courtyards and walls, I will surely rub my treasured gray hair among them With much kissing and sipping. Were it not for obstacles and enemies, I would visit it, Forever, even if dragged on the cheeks. But I will send from my abundant greeting To the dweller of that house and chambers, A fragrance more pungent than fragrant musk, Enveloping him at evening and dawn. Every Muslim must direct the reins of all longing towards it, and his heart must be present there at all times, and he must make his love and passion in its precincts, and his ecstasy and raving in its courtyards, and inhale the breezes of its fragrance at every dawn, and bring to mind the beauties of its description, and let his eye roam over those landmarks and hills, and imagine himself as if in al-Baqi' ⁶²¹, Uhud ⁶²², Sal', and Quba' ⁶²³, and picture his soul as if standing before him with head bowed, blessing and greeting him, and offering to his exalted carpet fragrant greetings, mercies, gifts of divine pleasure, and blessings, and to his two companions (228) and ministers, his two friends and comrades, and mention all his family there with beautiful praise and all his companions, and seek from them the best outcomes, and pray for them with righteous supplication. This is the state of lovers who are absent from those landmarks in their bodies, but present in those places with their hearts and souls, absorbed in the vision of his radiant countenance, directing their gaze into the gardens of his flowery garden. To this a certain lover alluded in his words: The abode of the Beloved is most worthy of your love; O son of the noble, you must frequent it. And when you intend a visit, upon the eyelids You will remain, if you alight in Tayba ⁶²⁴, And we, from joy at its remembrance, And you will graze in the shade of its hills. The abode of beauty—our thoughts are captivated by it, and that which Has stolen the minds of lovers is its adornment. Do not think pure musk equals its dust; Far be it! Where is musk compared to its dust? It is good; if you seek perfuming, O youth, Then persist in kissing its dust at all hours. It is honored by the migration of the best of those who trod the earth, And the most eminent in rank; so how do you see it? All cities, when mentioned, are like letters In the name of al-Madina ⁶²⁵; its abode is not empty. Far be it that Jerusalem, though near to it, Or Mecca, should be called its equal. The only difference is that Tayba has a light That, whenever it appears, dispels darkness. All have affirmed that the best of lands is that Which contains the person of the Chosen One and encompasses him. (229) Excellent indeed! They have spoken truth; by its inhabitant it is exalted, For the soul, when pure, purifies its abode. By this a goodly excellence has appeared; It has shone, and all virtue lies in its abode. So much so that it has been singled out for a garden of Paradise; Allah has honored it with it and bestowed it. Between the Prophet's grave and his pulpit —May Allah greet its traces and water them— The guide to its beauties: is there any lover Enamored, miserly, stingy with its distance? I fear for one who expects to be between them, For my heart would remain pained, crying "Alas!" How can I fulfill the praise of one Whom Allah said to, "And sufficient is your rank"? "Indeed, those who pledge allegiance to you, they are only Pledging allegiance to Allah," as He says. This is the glory; have you heard its like? Ah! For his noble upbringing, ah! Bless him and greet him, for by that You guide souls to their guidance and goal. This is the description of the noble, exalted, and lofty garden—upon its inhabitant be the best of prayers and the purest of peace. (230)

Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. The greeting of a yearning servant, whom longing and passion have consumed, so his tears have fallen. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. The greeting of a loving servant, far from home, whom the mounts have left behind, so his sighs have risen. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. The greeting of a devoted servant, whom intense longing and bewilderment have stirred, so his embers have flared. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. The greeting of a praising servant, who hopes through your favor that his slips be pardoned and his regrets vanish. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. A greeting that puts to shame the fragrance of clove and ambergris of Shihr ⁶²⁶ in its wafts. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. A pure, blessed greeting whose breezes perfume the realms of dominion and the celestial kingdom ⁶²⁷. Peace like the scent of musk or the fragrance of aloeswood, upon him who transcended all peers in beauty. Peace upon the highest of creation in rank, and the best of them, the caller to the path of right guidance. Blessings and peace be upon you, O my master, O Messenger of Allah. Blessings and peace be upon you, O my master, O Prophet of Allah. Blessings and peace be upon you, O my master, O Beloved of Allah. Blessings and peace be upon you, O greatest of creation in station with Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. May Allah increase you in loftiness and elevation, and clothe you in the most splendid robe and garment of honor ⁶²⁸. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. May Allah increase you in fame and renown, and make you a fortress and protection for those who seek refuge in you. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. May Allah increase you in favor and aspiration, and grant you a high standing and sanctity. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. May Allah increase you in secret knowledge and wisdom, and bestow upon you abundant fortune and portion. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. May Allah increase you in abundant goodness and grace, and grant you compassion, tenderness, and mercy. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. May Allah increase you in might and care, and present you with secret protection and guardianship. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. May Allah increase you in dominion and authority, and make you a safeguard and shield for those who seek refuge in you. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. May Allah increase you in intimate friendship and love, and grant you a high station and nearness. Blessings and peace be upon you, O my master, O Messenger of Allah. Blessings and peace be upon you, O my master, O Chosen One of Allah. Blessings and peace be upon you, O my master, O Confidant of Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. May Allah grant you gift and veneration, and increase you in light, radiance, and beauty. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. May Allah grant you honor and perfection, and increase you in obedience and compliance. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. May Allah grant you praise and gratitude, and increase you in sublimity and glory. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. May Allah through you rectify the states of the wayfarers ⁶²⁹ and the ecstatic ones ⁶³⁰, and through you calm the bewilderment of the distraught and the overwhelmed, and through you relieve the sorrows of the grieved and the distressed, and make you the comfort of bodies and the delight of eyes. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. May Allah through you rescue the drowning, and through you clarify the path, and grant protection to whoever seeks refuge with you from the heat of blazing fire and the blaze of conflagration, and through you preserve your community from the plots of Satan and the causes of misery and abandonment. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. May Allah through you protect the lost, and through you satisfy the hungry, and through you honor the wrongdoer and the obedient, and preserve whoever clings to you from the overwhelming of debt, the oppression of men, and the deceit of time. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. May Allah through you benefit the visitor and guide the perplexed, and through you purify hearts from the grief of natural disposition and inner secrets, and secure whoever follows you from the afflictions of passion and the accidents of stripping and deficiency. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. May Allah through you expand the breast and forgive the burden and magnify the reward, and protect whoever holds fast to your firm handhold from the accidents of disbelief, transgression, and disobedience. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. May Allah through you ease hardship, and through you secure from terror, and through you purify life, and through you grant understanding to the inexperienced, and through love of you awaken the sleeper of innate disposition and the drowsy eye. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. May Allah through you strengthen faith, and through you purify the heart, and through you rectify the limbs and organs, and honor your rank above all other prophets and messengers and the eminent chosen ones ⁶³¹. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. May Allah through you make your rank renowned in the highest assembly ⁶³², and single you out with the perfection of blessedness, blessing, and the most manifest secret, and give your community to drink from the delicious, sweetest nectar of your Kawthar ⁶³³, and make you among the prophets lofty in station, high in rank and dignity. Peace be upon you, O sun of the midday. Peace be upon you, O pure of innermost secret. Peace be upon you, O light of opening and insight. Peace be upon you, O my master and lord, Messenger of Allah. Peace be upon you, O master of the messengers and their elite, O best of guides. Peace be upon you, O Ahmad ⁶³⁴, the praised one before the Divine in every assembly. Peace be upon you, O you who came calling humanity to the path of right guidance. Peace be upon you, O you who ascended above the heaven to the utmost point of ascent. Peace be upon you, O you who mounted the back of Buraq ⁶³⁵ and attained every desire. Peace be upon you, O chosen one of the Merciful before all creation. Peace be upon you, O mercy that came to people from a Generous, Bountiful One. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O companion of the Divine Presence of nearness. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O sphere of the auspicious constellations. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O pure of gatherings and assemblies. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O source of sciences and holy secrets. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O possessor of manifest lights and divine gifts. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O possessor of sublime treasures and bestowed favors.

Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O possessor of pure morals and pleasing states ⁶³⁶. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O possessor of the Meccan openings ⁶³⁷ and pure knowledges. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O possessor of the Mustafawi ⁶³⁸ lordship and the Mawlawi ⁶³⁹ perfections. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O possessor of the Muhammadan ⁶⁴⁰ sovereignty and the Ahmadi ⁶⁴¹ kingdom. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O possessor of the Throne-like ⁶⁴² aspiration and the earth-like ⁶⁴³ beauties. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O possessor of the religious affiliation and the Tayyibi ⁶⁴⁴ essence. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O possessor of the Malakut ⁶⁴⁵ subtleties and the Rahmut ⁶⁴⁶ supports. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O possessor of the Azamut ⁶⁴⁷ majesty and the Ragbut ⁶⁴⁸ means. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O possessor of pure qualities and obedient, pious breaths, O my master, O my lord, Messenger of Allah. Peace be upon you, O you by whom Allah sealed prophethood and messengership. Peace be upon you, O you whom your Lord regarded with the eye of glorification and majesty. Peace be upon you, O you by whom Allah made His religion prevail over all religions and through whom He obliterated the religion of the disbelievers and ignorance. O my master, O my lord, Muhammad son of Abdullah, may Allah bless you and your family, O my master, O Messenger of Allah. Peace, like the fragrance of musk or even more fragrant, upon him whose soul yearns for remembrance. And may He send blessings whose fragrance surpasses the flower upon the Chosen One, the Guide, the Intercessor, the Preferred, Muhammad the Elect from the House of Hashim, to whom belongs the banner of praise on the Day of Gathering, opened for him are the dazzling miracles as proofs that he was sent with the truth, advising. So send blessings upon him, then send blessings and peace, that perhaps the pleasure of the Merciful, O companions, may grant. For no creature is higher in rank than him among mankind; who else besides him is praised in remembrance? To him belongs the highest honor, to him belongs glory and exaltation, to him belongs the loftiest goal, through him victory is gained. Beautiful in attributes, in creation and character, he is the most radiant, forgiving and pardoning. Generous, majestic, compassionate, humble, I see a path to the truth, and he followed it, successful. Upon him be peace, ever renewed, for all time or as long as the lightning flashes. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O my master, O Messenger of Allah. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O excellent Beloved. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O excellent Reckoner. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O excellent Near One. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O excellent Answerer. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O excellent Orator. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O excellent Intelligent One. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O excellent Physician. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O sea of generosity and munificence. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O suppressor of rebels and enemies. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O rescuer of creatures from perils and destruction. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O my master, O Messenger of Allah. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O noble of nature. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O beautiful of deed. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O noble of origin and branch. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O presence of separation and union ⁶⁴⁹. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O clear of love and law. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O locus of blessing, auspiciousness, and benefit. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O my master, O Messenger of Allah. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O gentle of side. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O high of stations. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O delight of assemblies and writings. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O lofty of degrees and ranks. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O bride of presences and processions. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O brilliant of miracles and virtues. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O majestic of glories and lineages. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O pure of paths and schools. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O mercy to the distant and the near. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O master of non-Arabs and Arabs. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O orator of mosques and prayer niches. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O star of good deeds and experiences. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O sweet of tastes and drinks. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O sultan of the easts and wests. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O my master, O Messenger of Allah. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O Imam of Tayba ⁶⁵⁰ and the Sanctuary. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O possessor of the procession and the banner. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O pure of character and traits. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O source of knowledge, forbearance, and wisdom. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O locus of grace, generosity, and munificence. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O possessor of lofty rank and honored station. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, O you who attained every glory without sharing and every station without crowding. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings, His good pleasure and His greetings, O my master, O Messenger of Allah. Peace be upon the best of creation in character, and the most generous of them in soul, heart, and glory.

Peace be upon the chosen one from the House of Hashim ⁶⁵¹, when they select for glory the most glorious of the glorious. Peace be upon him whose heart God purified, and thus He brought forth the expansion of the breast ⁶⁵² within it and infused it. Peace be upon him whom God extended by His name, and thus He established him as a fixed line upon the Throne ⁶⁵³. Peace be upon him whom God singled out with sublimity, and raised for him a seat above the heavens. Peace be upon him who led all the messengers ⁶⁵⁴, and thus became an imam ⁶⁵⁵ and master of the prophets. Peace be upon him who was the opener of their virtue, but by the virtue of the Seal ⁶⁵⁶ he became unique. Peace upon this Messenger, and we have no capacity for a noble salutation with which he began. Peace upon this Merciful One, and mercy that greets him with basil ⁶⁵⁷ in meaning and assembly. Peace upon him who returns our greeting, a body that has been clothed with light embodied. Peace be upon you, and the mercy of God and His blessings, O my master, O Messenger of God. Peace be upon you, and the mercy of God and His blessings, O chosen one of God from His creation. Peace be upon you, and the mercy of God and His blessings, O blessing of God from His creation. Peace be upon you, and the mercy of God and His blessings, O mercy of God bestowed upon creation. Peace be upon you, and the mercy of God and His blessings, O Prophet of God sent with guidance and the religion of truth. Peace be upon you, and the mercy of God and His blessings, O friend of God described with love, sincerity, and truthfulness. Peace be upon you, and the mercy of God and His blessings, O chosen one of God, sweet in character and speech. Peace be upon you, and the mercy of God and His blessings, O elite of God, the last in resurrection and the first in creation. Peace be upon you, and the mercy of God and His blessings, O trustee of God, commanding obedience, ease, and gentleness. Peace be upon you, and the mercy of God and His blessings, O beloved of God, whose vision intercedes for the hearts of the people of longing and love. Peace be upon you, and the mercy of God and His blessings, O intimate friend of God, who in the arena of the near ones has won the prize of divine care and precedence. Peace be upon you, and the mercy of God and His blessings, and His good pleasure and greetings, O imam of the God-fearing and leader of the distinguished ones ⁶⁵⁸, O my master, O interlocutor of God ⁶⁵⁹. Peace be upon you, and the mercy of God and His blessings, O intercessor for the disobedient and sinners, and seal of the prophets and messengers. Peace be upon you, and the mercy of God and His blessings, O my master, O Prophet of God. Peace be upon you, and the mercy of God and His blessings, O mercy to the worlds and grace of God upon all creatures, O our master Muhammad son of Abdullah. Blessings and peace be upon you, O my master, O Messenger of God. May God bless you and your pure, immaculate family, and your noble, perfect companions, and the poles ⁶⁶⁰ and those who have attained union, and grant abundant and precious peace. And praise be to God, Lord of the worlds. Peace, as the calyx splits from the flower, peace upon the pure one dwelling in purity until the Gathering. Peace upon him whom God our Lord blessed and commanded us to do so in the Remembrance ⁶⁶¹. Peace upon the best of mankind, Muhammad, my intercessor tomorrow before the Dominant ⁶⁶², the Lord of command. Peace upon him whom I never cease to love, by the power of God, as long as my life remains. Peace upon him whom I thank God for guiding me to love him—a grace for which my gratitude falls short. Peace upon him through whom God saved His creation from the blindness of misguidance and unbelief. Peace upon him who brought light and guidance, and supported with the manifest, glorious signs. Peace upon him who brought the revelation shining brightly, from which darkness was dispelled as from dawn. Peace upon him whose command God manifested through His sublime Criterion ⁶⁶³ when it was in the breast. Peace upon him—if you hold fast to his sunna ⁶⁶⁴ and the revelation as a refuge, you will be eased towards ease. Peace upon him who split the moon as a sign. Peace upon him who gave the entire army to drink. Peace upon him who, when he poured his ablution water, water was seen flowing from between his fingers. Peace upon him who, with the eye of Tabuk ⁶⁶⁵, caused it to gush forth at the end of time. Peace upon him whose brilliant virtue is exalted, and his great signs beyond count and enumeration. Peace upon the full moon. Peace upon his companions, the luminous stars. Peace upon the best of the Companions after him, who was his companion in life and death, Abu Bakr ⁶⁶⁶. Peace upon al-Faruq ⁶⁶⁷, possessor of knowledge and guidance. Peace upon his successor in virtue, Abu Umar ⁶⁶⁸. Peace upon the cousin of the Prophet, Ali, father of the two grandsons ⁶⁶⁹, the learned scholar. Peace upon Sa'd ⁶⁷⁰, and specifically upon Tayyib ⁶⁷¹. Peace upon him whom he called his disciple, and the doer of the deed at Badr ⁶⁷². Peace upon the two scholars, 'Awf ⁶⁷³ and the pious one. Peace upon the trustworthy son of Jarrah ⁶⁷⁴, brother of knowledge and patience. Peace upon her who was a mother to every believer, and sufficient is the daughter of al-Siddiq ⁶⁷⁵ as mentioned in the Remembrance. Peace upon the family of the Prophet, and what has come upon their abode is the flood of glory. Peace upon all the Companions and those who follow them in excellence and piety, they are still in the path. Peace upon them whenever a Muslim yearns for the Prophet of guidance, or is reminded of him. O my master, O Messenger of God, you are the life of hearts and souls. O my master, O Messenger of God, you are the sustenance of bodies and forms. O my master, O Messenger of God, you are the door and the key. O my master, O Messenger of God, you are the niche and the lamp ⁶⁷⁶. O my master, O Messenger of God, you are the cup and the wine. O my master, O Messenger of God, you are rest and repose. O my master, O Messenger of God, you are goodness and success. O my master, O Messenger of God, you are right guidance and prosperity. O my master, O Messenger of God, you are generosity and righteousness. O my master, O Messenger of God, you are the spoils and profit. O my master, O Messenger of God, you are victory and weapon. O my master, O Messenger of God, you are the means and the wing. O my master, O Messenger of God, you are might and care. O my master, O Messenger of God, you are the secret and the sainthood. O my master, O Messenger of God, you are the beginning and the end. O my master, O Messenger of God, you are the provision and sufficiency. O my master, O Messenger of God, you are the fortress and protection. O my master, O Messenger of God, you are the refuge and shelter. O my master, O Messenger of God, you are the house and the shrine. O my master, O Messenger of God, you are the pole and the axis. O my master, O Messenger of God, you are the abode and the settlement. O my master, O Messenger of God, you are honor and glory. O my master, O Messenger of God, you are awe and dignity. O my master, O Messenger of God, you are succor and victory. O my master, O Messenger of God, you are the spirit and the body. O my master, O Messenger of God, you are the pillar and the support.

My master, O Messenger of Allah, you are the provision and the number ⁶⁷⁷. My master, O Messenger of Allah, you are the succor, the rain, and the reinforcement ⁶⁷⁸. My master, O Messenger of Allah, you are the sufficiency and the pleasant, abundant life. My master, O Messenger of Allah, you are the eternal glory and the everlasting bliss forever. My master, O Messenger of Allah, you are the core and the heart. My master, O Messenger of Allah, you are the longing and the love. My master, O Messenger of Allah, you are the sleep and the wakefulness. My master, O Messenger of Allah, you are the sword and the belt ⁶⁷⁹. My master, O Messenger of Allah, you are the pilgrimage and the struggle ⁶⁸⁰. My master, O Messenger of Allah, you are the righteousness and the guidance. My master, O Messenger of Allah, you are the civilization and the lands. My master, O Messenger of Allah, you are the desires, the ultimate goal, and the final aim. My master, O Messenger of Allah, you are the sun and the moon. My master, O Messenger of Allah, you are the rose and the blossom. My master, O Messenger of Allah, you are the garden and the tree. My master, O Messenger of Allah, you are the musk and the ambergris. My master, O Messenger of Allah, you are the Salsabil ⁶⁸¹ and the Kawthar ⁶⁸². My master, O Messenger of Allah, you are the one to whom Allah gave the Wasila ⁶⁸³, the excellence, and the lofty rank, and preferred you over all the angels, jinn, and humans. My master, O Messenger of Allah, you are the one whom Allah crowned with the crown of dignity and tranquility, and gave you the high station and the firm position, and singled you out for the Great Intercession ⁶⁸⁴ at the Bridge ⁶⁸⁵ and the Balance ⁶⁸⁶, and through you gave rest to the servants from the terror of the Standing ⁶⁸⁷ and the Gathering ⁶⁸⁸. So intercede for me, for my parents, for my children, for my brothers, and for my loved ones on the day when no friend will avail nor any ransom be accepted. * You are the rain of Allah in the eye of the report ⁶⁸⁹, O tongue of hearing, O light of sight. * You are the spirit of the spirit in human form, you are the truth of the truth in its realization. * You are the meaning of the command in the decree of destiny, you are the secret of the secret in its manifestation. * You are the secret of the intellect in the overflowing of forms, you are the creation of Allah in its fashioning. * Everything from you in the unseen appeared, hidden in everything, manifest. * You are the encompassing and you are the summary, O book whose expansion has folded it. * The knowledge of the angels is the verification of the report, the knowledge of the names on the scroll of the Most High. * The perfume of the intellects is the incapacitation of thoughts, your comprehensive definition is a preventing definition. * You are in an impregnable cycle within a cycle, the result of results, but it is negated. * In impossible things, their gathering will not be considered, O opposite in opposition to its contrary. * By the non-existence of a thing, a definition in indefinite terms, your like is negated in its affirmation. * By your name, the rememberer in the living remembered, your highest attribute took charge and drew near. * Your spread parchment is inscribed therein, O Book of Allah, O Tablet of desire ⁶⁹⁰. * From the Book of Allah, the key of the chapters, by your hidden name, whoever recites will be blamed. * Every root has branches and fruit, your collected root in its rooting. * By the perception of the shining at dawn, and upon you be Allah's blessings as long as the night traveler journeys. Succor, succor, O my master, O Messenger of Allah. Succor, succor, O my master, O Beloved of Allah. Succor, succor, O Messenger of Allah, for you are the hearing and the sight. Succor, succor, O Messenger of Allah, for you are the glance and the gaze. Succor, succor, O Messenger of Allah, for you are the roaming and the thought. Succor, succor, O Messenger of Allah, for you are the slumber and the vigil. Succor, succor, O Messenger of Allah, for you are the provision and the journey. Succor, succor, O Messenger of Allah, for you are the conquest and the victory. Succor, succor, O Messenger of Allah, for you are the speech and the report. Succor, succor, O Messenger of Allah, for you are the support and the trace. Succor, succor, O Messenger of Allah, for you are the fertility and the rain. Succor, succor, O Messenger of Allah, for you are the spoils and the desire. Succor, succor, O Messenger of Allah, for you are the intimate conversation in the places of goodness and the attraction of the wafts of mercy at dawn. Succor, succor, O Messenger of Allah, for I am a praiser and describer of your noble qualities. Succor, succor, O Messenger of Allah, for I am determined and devoted to your pure love. Succor, succor, O Messenger of Allah, for I am awaiting your meeting, so favor me with the vision of your blessed face, quench my heart from the flood of your beneficial succor, and supply me with the gifts of divine gifts, the subtleties of graces, and the bestowals of gnosis, and bring near to me the arrival to you, and fold between me and you the distance of separation and the far distances, and help me in that, and secure me from the afflictions of temporal events, the trials of the age, and all fears. O Allah, immerse me in the beauty of his Muhammadan essence, and let him intercede for me, O my Lord, by his rank with You. By Your remembrance, O best of creation, I delight, and by his accepted rank I seek refuge. I have no escape from You in every state, for You are the protector and rescuer of the drowning. Intercession, intercession, O my master, O Messenger of Allah, for you are the physician and the cure. Intercession, intercession, O my master, O Messenger of Allah, for you are the nature and the temperament. Intercession, intercession, O my master, O Messenger of Allah, for you are the light and the lamp. Intercession, intercession, O my master, O Messenger of Allah, for you are the path and the way. Intercession, intercession, O my master, O Messenger of Allah, for you are the ladder to the heights of the supreme veracity and the Ascension ⁶⁹¹. Intercession, intercession, O my master, O Messenger of Allah, for you are the embroidery of the robe of prophethood and messengership and the brocade. Intercession, intercession, O my master, O Messenger of Allah, by your fragrance the breaths of the lovers and the beloved have become fragrant, for you are the sweetest perfume, the pure musk, and the aroma. Intercession, intercession, O my master, O Messenger of Allah, by your light the hearts of the knowers have been illuminated and the innermost secrets of the near ones have shone, for you are the light and the radiance. Intercession, intercession, O my master, O Messenger of Allah, by the secret of your care the locked doors of hearts have been opened, so bestow upon me the near opening and suffice me the evil of what concerns me, O Swift in opening and relief. Intercession, intercession, O my master, O Messenger of Allah, for you are the mercy of the strong and the weak, the lowly and the noble, and Allah has extended your hand with mercy in His kingdom, so have mercy on a stranger in the West ⁶⁹² who hopes for your bounty, O sea of vast generosity, great shore, and splendor. Intercession, intercession, O my master, O Messenger of Allah, for I have sought your mercy, attracted your dew, and praised you in the meter of al-Wafir, al-Kamil, as-Sari', and al-Hazaj ⁶⁹³. Intercession, intercession, O my master, O Messenger of Allah, for here I am extending my hand to you and seeking intercession through your rank to Allah, so grant me your pleasure, increase my gift among the lovers, and accept me despite any crookedness in me. Intercession, intercession, O my master, O Messenger of Allah, for I have sought intercession through your rank to Allah that He may fulfill my hopes, answer my request, and suffice me the evil of what concerns me from the crises of distress and hardship. Intercession, intercession, O my master, O Messenger of Allah, for I have sought intercession through your rank to Allah that He may turn to me in repentance, seal me with a happy end, and free the honor of my old age, me and my family, my brothers, and my loved ones from a blazing fire and its intense heat and blaze. Intercession, intercession, O my master, O Messenger of Allah. For I have sought intercession through your rank to Allah that He may forgive me, have mercy on me, and appoint for me among the highest paradises a station of lofty ranks and degrees. Intercession, O Muhammad. Intercession, O my master, O Messenger of Allah. Intercession, O Ahmad. Intercession, O my master, O Beloved of Allah. Intercession, O possessor of the crown and the turban. Intercession, O possessor of the mole and the mark. Intercession, O you who led his community on the path of safety and security. Intercession, O you whom Allah has made intercessor for all sinners and spread his banners over all the prophets and messengers. Intercession, O you who will take in his hand the banner of praise and say, 'I am for it' when the great ones of the messengers shrink from it and the greatest terror intensifies on the Day of Resurrection. Intercession, O our master Muhammad, son of Abdullah.

O Allah, make him intercede for me, O my Master, and by his rank with You. They see in the beauty of Muhammad a radiance; light is only from the beauty of Muhammad. Follow the path of Muhammad, you will be guided by it; guidance is only in the path of Muhammad. Adhere to the praise of Muhammad out of love, you will succeed; success is only in the praise of Muhammad. Recount the qualities of Muhammad, you will take pride in him; pride is only in the qualities of Muhammad. Seek by the rank of Muhammad what you desire; never has one who calls by the rank of Muhammad failed ²⁵⁶. Rise to the grave of Muhammad, you will be blessed by it; blessed is he who draws near to the grave of Muhammad. Attribute to the essence of Muhammad whatever honor you wish; the secret of secrets is Muhammad. Mention the attributes of Muhammad in competition; the right of competition is in the attributes of Muhammad. Seek the tomb of Muhammad and his sandals; you will succeed if you kiss the tomb of Muhammad. Know the station of Muhammad, you will increase in love for him; how exalted is the station of Muhammad. Enjoy the remembrance of Muhammad; the heart of the sorrowful has no sorrow in the remembrance of Muhammad. Turn the eye of the innermost heart to the face of Muhammad; the intention of the face of Muhammad revives insights. Be sincere in love for the family of Muhammad, you will see the eye of guidance in love for the family of Muhammad. I am the servant of Muhammad and his slave; sufficient for me is to be called the servant of Muhammad. Blessed be the love of Muhammad, O our Lord; we fear no terror in the love of Muhammad. I have submitted my face to Him who created the sky and brought the heights, and the earth is the Lord of Muhammad. I have stood at the door in humble stance, beseeching, seeking intercession through Muhammad. I am abundant in sin, I have no stratagem; I have presented before me the praise of Muhammad. May God bless him as long as a hand embroiders the pages with the praise of Muhammad, And his family, companions, and his wives, and whoever one day belongs to the family of Muhammad. Intercession, O Muhammad, I am straitened and have fled to you. Intercession, O Muhammad, how can I be deprived while I am devoted to your praise and hopeful for what is with you? Intercession, O Muhammad, far be it that my hope be disappointed while I rely on you. Intercession, O Muhammad ²⁵⁷, how can I fear when I have stood at your door and knelt my mount between your hands? Intercession, O Muhammad, for I am seeking refuge in your sacred precinct and rubbing my protected gray hair in the places of your feet. Muhammad, who attained the wishes by his night journey for his community, Muhammad. Muhammad, who became an intercessor for the people of the supreme standing, Muhammad. Muhammad, owner of the lofty chambers in the highest eternity, our Master, Muhammad. Muhammad, who extended favors upon me, and I have none but Muhammad. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my soul and my rest. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my profit and my trade. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my hope and my desire. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my request and my wish. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my connection and my union. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my treasure and my wisdom. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my extension and my point. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my form and my image. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my origin and my resurrection. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my religion and my creed. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my path and my lineage. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my shrine and my direction. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my expanse and my delight. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my imam and my model. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my pride and my boast. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my house and my migration. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my thought and my vision. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my wandering and my roaming. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my lighthouse and my qibla ⁶⁹⁴. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my intimacy and my solitude. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my gift and my grant. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my might and my elevation ²⁵⁸. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my wall and my protection. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my secret and my innermost. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my opening and my insight. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my pillar and my support. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my weapon and my equipment. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my arrival and my fragrance. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my garden and my tree. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my guidance and my conduct. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my rank and my sanctity. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my covenant and my protection. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my refuge and my infallibility. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my circumambulation and my Kaaba ⁶⁹⁵. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my Hajj and my Umra ⁶⁹⁶. Muhammad, his religion is my circumambulation and my Kaaba, and my Hajj and my Umra are the station of Muhammad. Muhammad, his love is my drink and my fragrance, and my sobriety and my annihilation are in the carpet of Muhammad. Muhammad, his secret is my life and my soul, and my ease and my rest are the union of Muhammad. Muhammad, his beauty is my passion and my burning, and my longing and my love are in the beauty of Muhammad. Muhammad, his light is my presence and my absence, and my secret and my thought are in the abodes of Muhammad. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my love and my affection. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my cup and my wine. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my companion and my presence. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my passion and my burning. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my weeping and my tear. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my dawn and my countenance. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my crown and my robe of honor. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my beauty and my splendor. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my heart and my soul. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my state and my complaint. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my garment and my clothing. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my era and my state. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my delight and my attainment. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my book and my sunna ⁶⁹⁷. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my bliss and my paradise. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my favor and my grace. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my proof and my argument. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my guide and my path. Muhammad, his remembrance is my speech and my utterance, and my pride and my joy are the praise of Muhammad ²⁵⁹. Muhammad, his rank is my banner and my fame, and my might and my elevation are the precinct of Muhammad. Muhammad, his love is my wish and my desire, and my union and my proximity are in the witnessing of Muhammad. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my strength and my structure. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my wish and my desire. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my station and my journey. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are the pupil of my eye and my sight. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are the healing of my heart and my ailment. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are the physician of my disease and my illness. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are the intercessor for my sin and my slip. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are the remedy for my poverty and my need. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my feast and my joy. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my generosity and my piety. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my succor and my cry. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my intercessor and my means. Muhammad, his face is my witnessing and my vision, and my intimacy and my boldness are the manifestation of Muhammad. Muhammad, his abode is my garden and my tree, and my spirit and my basil are the tomb of Muhammad. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my necklace and my wealth. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my state and my outcome. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my knowledge and my understanding. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my lot and my share. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my obligation and my supererogation. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my generosity and my giving. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my tablet and my transmission. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my hearing and my intellect. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my neck and my necklace. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my drink and my taste. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my west and my east. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my directions and my horizon. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my rain cloud and my downpour. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my gathering and my separation.

Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my yearning and longing. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my passion and longing. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my guidance and inspiration. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my shade and my refuge. Muhammad, his shade is my sanctuary and my sanctity ❖ and my fortress and my haven, the banner of Muhammad. Muhammad, his rank is my succor and my victory ❖ and my aid in battle, the sword of Muhammad. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my speech and my words. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my ecstasy and my rapture. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my prose and my poetry. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my security and my reverence. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my trust and my hope. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my mercy and my healing. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my life and my annihilation. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my antidote and my cure. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my quench and my satiation. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my fertility and my prosperity. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my qibla ⁶⁹⁸ and my supplication. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my foundation and my building. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my spring and my winter. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my wealth and my riches. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my good and my growth. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my treasure and my alchemy. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my discernment and my intelligence. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my emancipation and my ransom. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my sublimity and my ascent. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my banner and my standard. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my sky and my height. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my glory and my praise. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my place and my abode. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my amber and my pride. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my cave and my refuge. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my community and my sanctuary. Muhammad, is there among people but Muhammad? Muhammad is the origin of all, so ask to know. Muhammad, lofty in rank; were it not for Muhammad, there would be no great throne adorned with jewels. Muhammad, the light of God; were it not for Muhammad, God's Throne would not have been created, revered. Muhammad, the secret of secrets; were it not for Muhammad, there would be no dark night enfolded. Muhammad, high in station; were it not for Muhammad, the light of the sun would not rise over mankind. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my musk and my perfume. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my fast and my feast. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my region and my territory. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my flow and my region. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my secret and my public. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my time and my age. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my light and my flower. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my fragrance and my scent. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my sun and my moon. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my praise and my remembrance. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my reward and my recompense. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my radiance and my dawn. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my quarter and my Egypt. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my conquest and my victory. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my glory and my pride. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my booty and my treasure. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my veil and my covering. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my certainty and my patience. Muhammad, his face is my crescent and my countenance ❖ and my honor and my pride in the high stations of Muhammad. Muhammad, when I look, the focus of my gaze; and my speech, when I speak, is the mention of Muhammad. Muhammad, his praise is my hearing and my intoxication ❖ and my pride and my passion in extolling Muhammad. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my absence and my presence. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my delight and my joy. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my splendor and my light. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my eloquence and my manifestation. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my west and my palaces. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my obedience and my piety. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my breeze and my fragrance. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my season and my custom. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my essence and my description. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my forearm and my palm. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my protection and my kindness. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my insight and my unveiling. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my tenderness and my affection. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my humility and my fear. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my mosque and my seclusion. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my striving and my standing. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my sign and my proof. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my eloquence and my tongue. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my rhetoric and my clarity. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my intellect and my heart. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my spirit and my basil. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my success and my good pleasure. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my pardon and my forgiveness. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my generosity and my beneficence. Muhammad, the owner of my heart is Muhammad ❖ and nothing dwells in my innermost except Muhammad. Muhammad, the delight of my eyes, my treasure; Muhammad, my provision, my wish is Muhammad. Muhammad, he has captivated my mind and my core; and nothing has stolen my intellect except Muhammad. Muhammad, his face is a luminous moon; and the sun of the forenoon is none but Muhammad. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my book and my title. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my palm and my balance. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my safety and my security. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my era and my time. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my leader and my rein. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my spirit and my body. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my piety and my asceticism. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my generosity and my bounty. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my hope and my intention. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my path and my guidance. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my litany and my daily recitation. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my love and my affection. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my carnation and my rose. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my honey and my nectar. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my gratitude and my praise. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my effort and my diligence. Muhammad, he has not been absent from the eye of my heart; and nothing crosses my mind except Muhammad. Muhammad, he has rent the garment of patience from me; and nothing has entered my faculties except Muhammad. Muhammad, he has illuminated my heart; and nothing has granted light except Muhammad. Muhammad, I have no succor other than him; and nothing is hoped for tomorrow except Muhammad. Muhammad, he quenches my thirst with a basin; and nothing quenches thirst except Muhammad. Muhammad, he cures my ailment; and nothing heals sickness except Muhammad. Muhammad, in him is my remedy; and nothing gives the cure except Muhammad. Muhammad, he relieves my burning thirst; and nothing brings healing except Muhammad. Muhammad, he extinguishes my flame; and nothing quells the blaze except Muhammad. Muhammad, he protects my honor; and nothing repels harm except Muhammad. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my degree and my union. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my chain and my connection. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my answer and my speech. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my nature and my traits. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my ornament and my perfection. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my awe and my majesty. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my splendor and my beauty. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my shade and my shadows. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my aspiration and my attainment. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my quest and my request. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my apparition and my imagination. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my nectar and my pure drink. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my light and my opening. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my quiddity and my explanation. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my exhortation and my counsel. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my pardon and my forgiveness. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my generosity and my bounty. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my life and my existence. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my mirror and my witnessing. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my covenant and my pledges. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my degree and my ascent. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my watering place and my arrival.

Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my sect (ṭā'ifatī) and my delegations (wufūdī). Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my ascendant (ṭāli'ī) and my fortunes (su'ūdī). Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my hopes (āmālī) and my intentions (quṣūdī). Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my battalion (katībatī) and my banners (bunūdī). Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my gathering (lamṭī) and my provisions (zurūdī). Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my paradise (jannatī) and my coolness (burūdī). Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my paradise (jannatī) and my eternity (khulūdī). Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my succor (ghiyāthī) and my rain (ghaythī). Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my rage (ghayzatī) and my lion (laythī). Muhammad is the one who protects my honor (dhimārī) ❖ And none repelled harm except Muhammad. Muhammad is the one who mended my brokenness (inkisārī) ❖ And there is no faithfulness in it except Muhammad. Muhammad is the one who enriched my poverty (iftiqārī) ❖ And there is no wealth in it except Muhammad. Muhammad is the one who extended the hands (al-ayādī) ❖ Upon me, and I have none except Muhammad. Muhammad is the one in whom are the wishes (al-amānī) ❖ And there are no desires (al-munā) in it except Muhammad. Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my desire (raghbatī) and my eagerness (hirṣī). Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my legal opinion (fatwāya) and my text (naṣṣī). Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my self (nafsī) and my soul (nafsī). Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my recitation (qirā'atī) and my lesson (darsī). (264) Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my day (yawmī) and my yesterday (amsī). Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my Syria (shāmī) and my Jerusalem (qudsī). Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my fame (ṣaytī) and my sense (ḥissī). Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my seclusion (khalwatī) and my intimacy (unsī). Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my Opening (fātiḥatī) and my law (shar'ī). Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my repentance (tawbatī) and my return (rujū'ī). Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my humility (tawāḍu'ī) and my submission (khuḍū'ī). Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my fear (khashyatī) and my reverence (khushū'ī). Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my covenants (ma'āhidī) and my abodes (rubū'ī). Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my wakefulness (saharī) and my sleep (hujū'ī). Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my love (ḥubbī) and my passion (wulū'ī). Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my joy (ṭarabī) and my natures (ṭubū'ī). Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my righteousness (ṣalāḥī) and my success (falāḥī). Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my salvation (najātī) and my triumph (najāḥī). Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my seal (khatmī) and my beginning (iftitāḥī). Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my rest (rāḥatī) and my comfort (irtiyāḥī). Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my feather (rīshī) and my wing (janāḥī). Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my morning (ghuduwwī) and my evening (rawāḥī). Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my strength (qūtī) and my provision (zādī). Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my solitude ('uzlatī) and my isolation (infirādī). Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my support (madadī) and my reinforcement (imdādī). Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my love (ḥubbī) and my affection (widādī). Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my intention (niyyatī) and my belief (i'tiqādī). Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my pillar (ruknī) and my reliance (i'timādī). Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my sword (sayfī) and my scabbard (nijādī). Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my need (ḥājatī) and my desire (murādī). Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my pilgrimage (ḥijjī) and my struggle (jihādī). Muhammad, Muhammad, you are my equipment ('uddatī) and my preparedness (isti'dādī). Muhammad, you are my master (sayyidī) and my support (sanādī) ❖ And my intercessor (shafī'ī) on the Day of Summoning (yawma al-tanādī) is Muhammad. Muhammad is the one who attained the high qualities (al-ma'ālī) ❖ And none attained sublimity (al-'ulā) except Muhammad. Muhammad is the one who knew the hidden things (al-khafāyā) ❖ And what is in the Tablet (al-lawḥ) is narrated from Muhammad. Muhammad, with elongated eyes (ashkal), aquiline nose (aqnā), for the sake of (li-arjī) ❖ Kohl-eyed (kaḥīl al-ṭarf), our master (mawlānā) Muhammad. Muhammad, his face is like the sun in beauty (ḥusnan) ❖ And the full moon (badr al-timm) is shamed by Muhammad. Muhammad is the one upon whom appears ❖ The beauty of the Lord (jamāl al-rabb)—how exalted is Muhammad! Muhammad attained specification (takhṣīṣan) and nearness (qurban) ❖ And was called for honor (al-karāmah): "O Muhammad." Muhammad, from him the Throne ('arsh) gained ❖ Light (ḍiyā'), and all beauty (al-ḥusn ajma'a) is from Muhammad. (265) Muhammad, through humility (al-tawāḍu') his rank was exalted ❖ And no humble one (mutawāḍi') is likened to Muhammad. Muhammad, all morals (al-akhlāq) were perfected ❖ And they excelled in noble traits (al-makārim) from Muhammad. Muhammad, he gladdened the world (al-dunyā) with joy (surūran) ❖ So there is no loss (ghubn) while in the world there is Muhammad. Muhammad, here my sins (dhunūbī) have destroyed me ❖ And I have no refuge (malja') except Muhammad. Muhammad, I have entered your protection (ḥimāka), be for me ❖ And grant me intercession (al-shafā'ah), O Muhammad. Muhammad, a thousand thousand greetings (alfu alfi min salāmin) ❖ From the Lord (al-mawlā) upon you, O Muhammad. Muhammad, the mercy of the Most Merciful (raḥmat al-raḥmān) pours continuously ❖ Upon you and the Companions (al-ṣaḥābah), O Muhammad. Muhammad, Muhammad, the light of every light (nūru kulli nūrin) ۞ And every light from his light shone (sata'a). Muhammad, Muhammad, the essence of every generosity ('unṣuru kulli karam) ۞ And every generosity from his bounty flowed (naba'a). Muhammad, Muhammad, the pillar of every honor ('amūdu kulli sharaf) ۞ And every honor from his lineage rose (irtafa'a). Muhammad, Muhammad, the garment of every perfection (ḥullatu kulli kamāl) ۞ And every perfection in his essence gathered (ijtama'a). Muhammad, Muhammad, the splendor of every beauty (bahjatu kulli jamāl) ۞ And every beauty to his surpassing beauty submitted (khada'a). Muhammad, Muhammad, the blaze of every age (ghurratu kulli 'aṣr) ۞ And every age with him, his light shone and blazed (lama'a). Muhammad, Muhammad, the delight of every beholder (nuzhatu kulli nāẓir) ۞ And every beholder in the garden of his virtues was raised (rufi'a). Muhammad, Muhammad, the joy of every listener (ṭarabu kulli sāmi') ۞ And every listener at his mention removed the veil and cast it off (khala'a). Muhammad, Muhammad, the secret of every saint (sirru kulli walī) ۞ And every saint from the breast of his realities sucked and nursed (maṣṣa wa raḍi'a). Muhammad, Muhammad, the lamp of every lover (sirāju kulli muḥibb) ۞ And every lover by him was illumined with light, so it flowed and burst forth (jarā wa ṣada'a). Muhammad, Muhammad, the life of every mortal (ḥayātu kulli fān) ۞ And every mortal returned to the world of his sense and came back (raja'a). Muhammad, Muhammad, the companion of every lonely one (unsu kulli mustawḥish) ۞ And every lonely one by his mention isolated himself in his seclusions and cut himself off (inqaṭa'a). Muhammad, Muhammad, the desire of every yearning one (raghbatu kulli shā'iq) ۞ And every yearning one, when he is mentioned, yearns for his praise and listens (istama'a). Muhammad, Muhammad, the maddened one of every lover (haymānu kulli ṣabb) ۞ And every lover at his vision, his madness calmed and he slept (haja'a). Muhammad, Muhammad, the blessing of every prophet (barakatu kulli nabī) ۞ And every prophet to his dazzling miracles submitted and humbled (khada'a wa khana'a). (266) Muhammad, Muhammad, the Ka'bah of every visitor (ka'batu kulli zā'ir) ۞ And every visitor by kissing his soil sought blessing and benefited (intafa'a). Muhammad, Muhammad, the insight of every scholar (baṣīratu kulli 'ālim) ۞ And every scholar by his light, the darkness of his ignorance was unveiled and dispersed (inqasha'a). Muhammad, Muhammad, the model of every guided one (qidwatu kulli muhtad) ۞ And every guided one by his conduct was deterred from his lusts and refrained (irtada'a). Muhammad, Muhammad, the means of every penitent (wasīlatu kulli tā'ib) ۞ And every penitent by him retreated from his sins and was subdued (inqama'a). Muhammad, Muhammad, the foundation of every religion (asāsu kulli dīn) ۞ And every religion by him, its law was established and expanded (ittasa'a). Muhammad, Muhammad, the path of every wayfarer (minhāju kulli sālik) ۞ And every wayfarer by him followed in his beginning and commenced (shara'a). Muhammad, Muhammad, the rank of every successful one (darajatu kulli fā'iz) ۞ And every successful one by him crossed over the bridges of fear and traversed (qaṭa'a). Muhammad, Muhammad, the sweetness of every rememberer (ḥalāwatu kulli dhākir) ۞ And every rememberer by him found the sweetness of faith in his heart and humbled himself (khasha'a). Muhammad, Muhammad, the generosity of every grace (jūdu kulli faḍl) ۞ And every grace from the sky of his blessing poured and dripped (saḥḥa wa hama'a). Muhammad, Muhammad, the direction of every aimer (wajhatu kulli hādif) ۞ And every aimer by him, his light shone in the sky of high stations and radiated (sha'sha'a). Muhammad, Muhammad, the security of every fearful one (amānu kulli khā'if) ۞ And every fearful one was saved when he sought intercession by his rank and pleaded (istashfa'a). Muhammad is the one who led the prayer as imam (imāman) * With all creation—how exalted is Muhammad! Muhammad has tended the Gardens of Eden (jannāti 'adnin) * And the maidens of Paradise (ḥūr al-'ayn) draw near to Muhammad. Muhammad, the delight of the two eyes (nuzhat al-'aynayn) in what * He tended on the Night of the Journey (laylat al-isrā): Muhammad. Muhammad has seen his Lord truly (ḥaqqan) * With the eyes of his head openly (jahran): Muhammad. Muhammad is the one whom Moses (Mūsā) approved * As an intermediary (wasīṭan), and glory (al-bahā) exalts Muhammad. Muhammad is the one upon whom appears * The beauty of the Lord (jamāl al-rabb)—how exalted is Muhammad! Muhammad is the one who attained the wishes (al-amānī) * Through his Night Journey (misrāhu) for my community (li-ummatī): Muhammad. Muhammad is the one who will become an intercessor (shafī'an) * For the people of the Supreme Standing (ahl al-mawqif al-a'lā): Muhammad. Muhammad, the possessor of the lofty chambers (ṣāḥib al-ghuraf al-'awālī) * So the most precious of eternity (aghlā al-khuld) is our master (mawlānā) Muhammad. Muhammad, the gardens (al-jinān) have been prepared for him * Adorned (muzakhrafatan) for our master (mawlānā) Muhammad. Muhammad is the one who clothes the beautiful maidens (al-jawārī al-ḥisān) * With light (ḍiyā') from his countenance (maḥyāhu): Muhammad. (267) Muhammad is the means (wasīlatu) of every prophet (kulli nabī) * And every prophet acknowledged his lordship (bi-siyādatihi) and confessed (i'tarafa). Muhammad is the support (madadu) of every saint (kulli walī) * And every saint from the vast sea of his generosity (baḥri karamihi al-khiḍammi) drank and scooped (shariba wa ightarafa). Muhammad is the love (wuddu) of every chosen one (kulli ṣafī) * And every chosen one by him took refuge in the presence of nearness (ḥaḍrat al-qurb) and united (i'talafa). Muhammad is the light of the intellect (nūru 'aqli) of every intelligent one (kulli dhakī) * And every intelligent one from the gardens of his knowledge (riyāḍi ma'ārifihi) gathered and plucked (janā wa iqtaṭafa). Muhammad is the jurisprudence (fiqhu) of every pure one (kulli zakī) * And every pure one by him turned away from the abysses of misguidance (mahāwī al-ḍalālah) and deviated (inḥarafa). Muhammad is the wine (khamru) of every enraptured one (kulli majdhūb) * And every enraptured one from the cups of his wine (ku'ūsi mudāmihi) sucked and sipped (maṣṣa wa irtashafa). Muhammad is the desire (raghbatu) of every perfect one (kulli kāmil) * And every perfect, rewarded one (muṯwabin) with his love (bi-maḥabbatihi) was encompassed and joined (ishtamala wa iltaḥaqa). Muhammad is the passion (gharāmu) of every lover (kulli 'āshiq) * And every lover by him, his bird trilled in the cages of consciences (aqfāṣ al-ḍamā'ir) and called out (hatafa). Muhammad is the conduct (sīratu) of every gnostic (kulli 'ārif) * And every gnostic with the ornaments of his Aḥmadī lineage (ḥuliyy nisbatihi al-aḥmadīyyah) was adorned and characterized (tazayyana wa ittaṣafa). Muhammad is the love (maḥabbatu) of every infatuated one (kulli wālih) * And every infatuated one in the light of his beauty (nūri jamālihi), his mind wandered and was snatched (tāha 'aqluhu wa ikhtatafa). Muhammad is the protection (wiqāyatu) of every fearful one (kulli khā'if) * And every fearful one by him was delivered from the places of destruction (mawāṭin al-halakah) and perdition (al-talafi). Muhammad is the delight of the eye (qurratu 'ayni) of every worshiper (kulli 'ābid) * And every worshiper by him inclined in the mosques of goodness (masājidi al-khayri) and secluded himself (i'takafa). Muhammad is the exhortation (maw'iẓatu) of every humble one (kulli khāshi') * And every humble one by him, his heart softened to the remembrance of God (dhikri Allāhi) and turned (in'aṭafa). Muhammad is the cheerfulness (bashāshatu) of every lover (kulli muḥibb) * And every lover by him, his eye poured and moistened from longing (al-shawqi) and dripped (wakafa). Muhammad is the innermost secret (sarīratu) of every pious one (kulli taqī) * And every pious one fell short when the limits of the laws (al-sharā'i') were set for him and he stopped (waqafa). Muhammad is the aid (ghawthu) of every distressed one (kulli malhūf) * And every distressed one by him sought intercession to his Lord (tawassala ilā mawlāhu), so by him his terror (hawluhu) departed (inṣarafa).

Muhammad—to whom Gabriel came, then Michael—Muhammad. Muhammad, whose innermost was filled, and they sealed upon the shoulders of Muhammad. Muhammad, who filled his innermost with lights that endure upon Muhammad. Muhammad, whom He purified and inspired, and the trunk yearned, drawing near to Muhammad. Muhammad—the gazelle came to him complaining, and the rocks called out: O Muhammad. Muhammad, whom the treasures of the earth solicited, but their rejecter is Muhammad. Muhammad—his army is the angels, marching behind the Chosen Guide, Muhammad. Muhammad—on the day of Badr, angels came to him, fighting alongside Muhammad. Muhammad—tranquility dwelt in him, in his hour of hardship, pleasing Muhammad. The Beloved, the Beloved, Muhammad, the Beloved of lovers. May God bless you, as He magnified your rank and raised your mention in the highest assembly. The Beloved, the Beloved, Muhammad, the Beloved of lovers. May God bless you, as He expanded your breast and poured forth from the lights of knowledge and gnosis your sea. The Beloved, the Beloved, Muhammad, the Beloved of lovers. May God bless you, as He perfumed your fragrance and made your full moon shine in the heaven of prophetic lordship. The Beloved, the Beloved, Muhammad, the Beloved of lovers. May God bless you, as He multiplied your gratitude and increased your patience in His obedience, with His pleasure. The Beloved, the Beloved, Muhammad, the Beloved of lovers. May God bless you, as He doubled your reward and supported your victory with conquest and empowerment. The Beloved, the Beloved, Muhammad, the Beloved of lovers. May God bless you, as He strengthened your command and manifested your pride over all the prophets and messengers. The Beloved, the Beloved, Muhammad, the Beloved of lovers. May God bless you, as He beautified your form and character, clarified your paths, and made your ways clear. The Beloved, the Beloved, the Beloved, Muhammad, the Beloved of lovers. May God bless you, as He praised your noble qualities and honored your virtues in the assemblies of the near ones. The Beloved, the Beloved, the Beloved, Muhammad, the Beloved of lovers. May God bless you, as He raised your means and poured forth your springs with the sources of good, and answered your petitioner. O Beloved of God, you are the sought; your love is obligatory—what an excellent way. O Beloved of God, praise of you has become sweet to me, and that is most delightful to me. O Beloved of God, my longing for you increases, and my heart is agitated by it. O Beloved of God, by you is a beauty that is not granted to others. O Beloved of God, you have tasked me with such passion in my innermost that my mind departs. O Beloved of God, you have made me love your most precious, beautiful, and wondrous face. O Beloved of God, you have made mortals happy; you are a gilded crown of Kawthar ⁶⁹⁹. O Beloved of God, O Pole ⁷⁰⁰ of intellect, you are a gray falcon among the messengers. O Beloved of God, before the before, in the world of spirits, you were the star. O Beloved of God, O full moon of the night journey, for whom in the dominion is the death of the procession. O Beloved of God, when the sweetest drink became permissible for me, when it drew near. O Beloved of God, when the high ones ⁷⁰¹ alighted in the Holy Presence—and that is more fitting. And may God bless you always, and upon your family and companions who loved. My Master, O Messenger of God, May God bless you, as He made your lights shine and poured your secrets into the hearts of lovers. My Master, O Messenger of God, May God bless you, as He spread your news and illuminated your moons in the sky of high stations. My Master, O Messenger of God, May God bless you, as He breathed your fragrant breezes and granted your supporters victory and aid. My Master, O Messenger of God, May God bless you, as He protected your lands and made your regions beloved in the hearts of the ardent lovers. My Master, O Messenger of God, May God bless you, as He raised your beacon upon the stations of piety and concealed your thoughts in the beauty of the Divine Essence. My Master, O Messenger of God, May God bless you, as He made your remembrance sweet in mouths and diffused your flowers in the gardens of the kingdom and the dominion. My Master, O Messenger of God, May God bless you, as He benefited your visitors through you, interceded you for the disobedient and sinners, and made your neighborhood safe from fears. O you whose aim is in the East and the Hijaz, my longing for that station increases. Who will grant me a visit to that grave wherein is guidance, right conduct, and monotheism? And I see a station from which he knew the highest, and to which ended all glorification and exaltation. The full moon of prophethood, his light is complete, while the moon's light wanes and increases. By his light the whole world was illuminated, and by him the witnessed scene shines. By him the West and the East brightened, and by him generosity flows upon existence. By praising him I have entered the sanctuary of divine pleasure, and by him I rise above mortals and dominate. May God bless him as long as rain pours down, eternally, and as long as the swaying branches bend the meadows. My Master, O Messenger of God, May God bless you to the extent of what God gave you in the station of two bow-lengths ⁷⁰² of joy and delight. My Master, O Messenger of God, May God bless you to the extent of what God granted you in both abodes of splendor and light. My Master, O Messenger of God, May God bless you to the extent of what God gave you in the highest paradises of immortal youths and houris. My Master, O Messenger of God, May God bless you to the extent of what God bestowed upon you in the highest 'Illiyin ⁷⁰³ of chambers and palaces. My Master, O Messenger of God, May God bless you to the extent of what God gave you among the angels of obedience and piety. My Master, O Messenger of God, May God bless you to the extent of what God gave you among the prophets of beauty and comeliness. My Master, O Messenger of God, May God bless you to the extent of what God bestowed upon you among the messengers of honor and perfection. My Master, O Messenger of God, May God bless you to the extent of what God gave you among the near angels of majesty and veneration. My Master, O Messenger of God, May God bless you to the extent of what God granted you among the saints and righteous of lordship and honor. My Master, O Messenger of God, May God bless you to the extent of what God gave you among the chosen elite of sciences and gifts. My Master, O Messenger of God, May God bless you to the extent of what God gave you among the truthful and pious of glories and virtues. My Master, O Messenger of God, May God bless you to the extent of what God bestowed upon you among the pure nobles of pardon and beneficence. My Master, O Messenger of God, May God bless you to the extent of what God granted you among the free lovers of contentment and good pleasure. My Master, O Messenger of God, May God bless you to the extent of what God gave you among the chosen leaders of secrets and the sciences of the Quran. My Master, O Messenger of God, May God bless you and your noble and eminent family, and your companions, stars of guidance and gnosis, with a blessing that brightens our faces with the lights of modesty and faith, and clothes us among the praisers with robes of pardon, overlooking, and forgiveness. And grant abundant peace forever. And praise be to God, Lord of the worlds. My beloved, the light of your face has manifested, and for every passionate lover, there is no solace. Can a love-stricken, enraptured one be consoled for you? For one like you, O my beloved, is not forgotten. And there is nothing among all things except that, in its life, you were more precious. And you responded to no call except that, O Muhammad, you were sweeter to it. And when you ascended to the highest stations, the celestial hosts sang to you: Welcome and ease. And they opened all the doors for you, and your rank was above all, highest. You delighted their hearts and settled in them, and the vision of you was like kohl to them. You captivated your father Adam in the womb, and among his children you were the most exalted. Upon you and your family be my greetings, and upon companions who guided paths and ways. My Master, O Messenger of God, You are my soul and my revival; you are my sustenance and my livelihood. My Master, O Messenger of God,

You are my drink and my love, you are my cure and my medicine. My master, O Messenger of Allah. You are my core and my essence, you are my Lord and my goal. My master, O Messenger of Allah. You are my union and my closeness, you are my succor and my pole ⁷⁰⁴. My master, O Messenger of Allah. You are my delegation and my mount, you are my ecstasy ⁷⁰⁵ and my attraction ⁷⁰⁶. My master, O Messenger of Allah. You are my remembrance and my litany ⁷⁰⁷, you are my trade and my gain. My master, O Messenger of Allah. You are the sanctuary of my terror and the refuge of my fear. My master, O Messenger of Allah. You are the one who calms my panic and relieves my distress. My master, O Messenger of Allah. You are the mender of my break and the concealer of my fault. You are my beloved, and from You love arose in my conscience. My master, O Messenger of Allah. You are my secret, and from You the secret spread within my innermost being. My master, O Messenger of Allah. Quench the flame of my passion with Your glance, for the sigh of separation has burned my liver and my core. My master, O Messenger of Allah. Bestow upon me the vision of Your face, for that is the ultimate goal of my desire and what has arisen. My master, O Messenger of Allah. My hopes are not disappointed, and far be it that my hopes in You should be disappointed. Intercession, O my master, O Messenger of Allah. Intercession, O my master, O beloved of Allah. Intercession, O my master, O Prophet of Allah. Intercession, O my master, O chosen one of Allah. I am in Your protection and sanctuary, O master of the first and the last. I am in Your protection and sanctuary, O leader of the white-blazed ones ⁷⁰⁸. I am in Your protection and sanctuary, O strong fortress of security. I am in Your protection and sanctuary, O mighty wall of honor. I am in Your protection and sanctuary, O seal of the prophets and messengers. For I have entered Your secure refuge and clung to the hem of Your strong, firm forbearance, and I have hoped for Your intercession for myself, my parents, my spouses, my offspring, my brothers, and my loved ones among the believing servants of Allah on the day when truths become manifest, creatures are resurrected, and people stand before the Lord of the worlds. Intercession, O best of prophets and messengers. Intercession, O best of the approved and accepted. Intercession, O best of intercessors and virtuous ones. Intercession, O best of the near and the connected. Intercession, O best of the majestic and perfect. Intercession, O best of the pious and the active. Intercession, O best of the pure and the just. Intercession, O sea of generosity pouring down with good things. Intercession, O You who does not turn away a petitioner nor disappoint a hope in Your presence. Be an intercessor for me, O my master, O Messenger of Allah, for You are the spirit and the body. Be an intercessor for me, O my master, O Messenger of Allah, for You are the pillar and the support. Be an intercessor for me, O my master, O Messenger of Allah, for Your rank is the provision and the number, and from Your care comes the breath and the supply. O Allah, make him intercede for me, O my Master, by his rank with You. * O Messenger of Allah, succor and supply! * You are the father, the uncle, and the son. * O Messenger of Allah, I have no support * other than Your love, and what an excellent support! * O Messenger of Allah, a people have loved, * so for You I have stood by what they loved. * O Messenger of Allah, is there a glance * that quickly mends the heart and the body? * O Messenger of Allah, is there an attraction * that draws the heart to the bare path? * O Messenger of Allah, is there a turn * that turns the servant to the ways of guidance? * O Messenger of Allah, is there a breath * from You and from the One, the Eternal? * O Messenger of Allah, be an intercessor for me, * You are, by Allah, an intercessor who is not refused. * O Messenger of Allah, do You hear me? * Yes, by my Lord, You hear the word and the reply. * I am by Allah and by the face of which * the Lord of the Throne said: "Prostrate to him," so he prostrated. * The master of messengers, the seal of prophets, * the possessor of the prostration and the lion-like speech. * The origin of the beginning of existence, nay, its end, * the proof of Allah over everyone. * The mercy of Allah with which He encompassed * every creature throughout eternity. * The chosen one of Allah from all creation, * for he is the essence, and creation is foam. * He whom Allah singled out with what * counting fails, so it cannot be counted. * All that is in the prophets of honor * was gathered in him after it had been scattered. * And indeed he was given additional honor * and special distinctions by whose meaning he was unique. * Who is there for the Day of Assembly but Ahmad? * On the day when no father avails a son. * O dispeller of black distress, come to my aid! * Distress has never seen You but fled. O noble-faced one, O best of mankind, * You are, after Allah, the excellent support. O great in rank and virtue, O * most generous of creation, to You is the recourse. My praise I have offered to You, * so reward me with acceptance and supply. And ask the Most Merciful for me, from His bounty, * forgiveness, good pleasure, and abundant provision. By it, through the rank of the Chosen One, keep me away * from every hardship, trial, and adversity. And fulfill my need, and rectify my deed, * and end my life with good when it expires. And likewise the family and companions, those * who have drawn near to us and those far away. And the blessings of Allah, with His peace, * upon the Messenger of Allah, without end. Succor, succor, O Messenger of Allah! Succor, succor, O treasure of the secret of Allah! Succor, succor, O cloud of mercies! Succor, succor, O source of good things! Succor, succor, O reliever of distresses! Succor, succor, O dispeller of darknesses! Succor, succor, O my wall and my fortress! Succor, succor, O my protection and my security! Succor, succor, O my shield and my armor! Succor, succor, O my bliss and my paradise! Succor, succor, O my spirit and my rest! Succor, succor, O my generosity and my ease! Succor, succor, O my cup and my wine! Succor, succor, O my religion and my innate nature! Succor, succor, O my loftiness and my elevation! Succor, succor, O my height and my Kaaba ⁷⁰⁹! Succor, succor, O my prayer and my direction of prayer! Succor, succor, O my dignity and my awe! Succor, succor, O my hope and my desire! Succor, succor, O my treasure and my store! Succor, succor, O my booty and my reward! Succor, succor, O my time and my age! Succor, succor, O my victory and my triumph! Succor, succor, O my glory and my pride! Succor, succor, O my secret and my public! Succor, succor, O my spring and my flower! Succor, succor, O my fragrance and my perfume! Succor, succor, O my sun and my moon! Succor, succor, O light of my eye and my sight! Succor, succor, O my musk and my ambergris! Succor, succor, O my Salsabil ⁷¹⁰ and my Kawthar ⁷¹¹! Succor, succor, O my insight and my light! Succor, succor, O my joy and my delight! Succor, succor, O my love and my longing! Succor, succor, O my state and my taste! Succor, succor, O my infatuation and my passion! Succor, succor, O my backer and my emancipation! Succor, succor, O my sobriety and my obliteration ⁷¹²! Succor, succor, O my ecstasy and my exultation! Succor, succor, O my beloved, O Messenger of Allah! O my annihilation ⁷¹³ and my consolation entirely, To You belongs all that is besides my love, take it! There is no need in anything other than my love. O other, step aside like this! My union with my Beloved is rest, So what distracts me from Him is harm. When I am absent from the other through Him who Is my Beloved, I am realized then. There is no living one among the living after Him whose Soul splits from my love, it has become intense. Everything besides my love is perishing, So the life of all is my love—how excellent! O my Beloved, my existence, and He who By His fulfillment took my heart, You are to me spirit, life, and desire, And life, drink, and nourishment. Succor, succor, O my supererogatory and my obligatory! Succor, succor, O my all and my part! Succor, succor, O my share and my portion! Succor, succor, O my amulet and my protection!

Succor, succor, O my silence and my speech! Succor, succor, O my rain-cloud and my downpour! Succor, succor, O my pearls and my necklace! Succor, succor, O my shield and my garment! Succor, succor, O my overflow and my expanse! Succor, succor, O my resolve and my control! Succor, succor, O my passion and my ecstasy! Succor, succor, O my tenderness and my love! Succor, succor, O my means and my litany! Succor, succor, O my guidance and my rectitude! Succor, succor, O my time and my fortune! Succor, succor, O my desire and my aim! Succor, succor, O my bewilderment and my passion! Succor, succor, O my intoxication and my wine! Succor, succor, O my yearning and my longing! Succor, succor, O my remedy and my antidote! Succor, succor, O my sash and my belt! Succor, succor, O my covenant and my pledge! Succor, succor, O my veil and my canopy! Succor, succor, O my audition and my taste! You are the origin of existence; the cosmos, from Throne to carpet, is from You—how pure You are! Were it not for Your station, there would be no cosmos, nor would its non-existence endure without You. O my object of desire, my victory, my refuge, I have no helper hoped for besides You. I have no rest, nor sleep that I enjoy, until I see You. Succor, succor, O my pride and my fragrance! Succor, succor, O my remembrance and my utterance! Succor, succor, O my beauty and my delight! Succor, succor, O light of my heart and my soul! Succor, succor, O my form and my session! Succor, succor, O my embroidery and my garment! Succor, succor, O my quarter and my abode! Succor, succor, O my army and my encampment! Succor, succor, O my gardens and my pleasure! Succor, succor, O my facing and my direction! Succor, succor, O my intimacy and my solitude! Succor, succor, O my epithet and my patronymic! Succor, succor, O my truth and my portion! Succor, succor, O my table and my blessing! Succor, succor, O my purchase and my aspiration! Succor, succor, O my struggle and my service! Succor, succor, O my secret and my wisdom! Succor, succor, O my sanctuary and my sanctity! Succor, succor, O my tenderness and my mercy! Succor, succor, O my occupation and my craft! Succor, succor, O my thought and my roaming! Succor, succor, O my kingdom and my state! Succor, succor, O my care and my might! Succor, succor, O my imam and my model! Succor, succor, O my tongue and my sermon! Succor, succor, O my provision and my equipment! Succor, succor, O my journey and my emigration! Succor, succor, O my witnessing and my vision! Succor, succor, O Messenger of God! Succor, succor, O my master Muhammad son of Abdullah! I have sought the outpouring of Your bounty and mercy, and I have interceded through Your station with God. My beloved, the cure of my sickness is in meeting You; be gracious with the meeting—my soul be Your ransom! You are the goal; in You is the healing of my heart, and I have no healing in other than You. At Your door I have placed the treasure of my gray hair, and I have rubbed my cheeks in Your dust. I have confined my hope to Your most high door, that perhaps, O my beloved, I may see You. By Your grace, O Messenger of God, be for me, for grace is what Your hands have wrought. O Messenger of God, Your praise suffices me, and a little of my addressing You suffices You. O Messenger of God, Your love is my capital from this world, and I have seen nothing else. O Messenger of God, my stratagem has failed, and I have no device but praising You. O Messenger of God, my vastness has become straitened, and I have no refuge but Your sanctuary. O Messenger of God, in You is the wealth of my poverty; when I am in need, give me Your wealth. Succor, succor, O my wakefulness and my sleep! Succor, succor, O my journey and my station! Succor, succor, O my speech and my words! Succor, succor, O my greeting and my peace! Succor, succor, O my prose and my verse! Succor, succor, O my witnessing and my station! Succor, succor, O my affair and my concern! Succor, succor, O my musk and my seal! Succor, succor, O healer of my harm and my pains! Succor, succor, O ultimate goal of my intent and my desire! Succor, succor, O my tablet and my pen! Succor, succor, O my giving and my generosity! Succor, succor, O my element and my origin! Succor, succor, O my tribe and my family! Succor, succor, O my knowledge and my understanding! Succor, succor, O my imagination and my fancy! Succor, succor, O my activity and my resolve! Succor, succor, O my signature and my judgment! Succor, succor, O Prophet of Mercy, the caller to God! Succor, succor, O bestower of wisdom, O my master, O Messenger of God! Succor, succor, O my dawn and my morning! Succor, succor, O my niche and my lamp! Succor, succor, O my door and my key! Succor, succor, O my success and my prosperity! Succor, succor, O my banner and my weapon! Succor, succor, O my pardon and my forgiveness! Succor, succor, O my feather and my wing! Succor, succor, O my morning and my evening! Succor, succor, O substance of divine succors, O my master, O Messenger of God! Succor, succor, O element of the gifts of divine knowledge, O my master, O great in rank with God! Succor, succor, O my possessor and my master! Succor, succor, O my helper and my supporter! Succor, succor, O my crescent and my festival! Succor, succor, O my necklace and my collar! Succor, succor, O my striving and my length! Succor, succor, O my mosque and my retreat! Succor, succor, O my truth and my justice! Succor, succor, O my testimony and my confession! Succor, succor, O my abode and my destruction! Succor, succor, O my master, O Messenger of God! Succor, succor, O most noble of creation with God! Succor, succor, O my Nile and my Euphrates! Succor, succor, O my support and my narrators! Succor, succor, O my paths and my salvation! Succor, succor, O my height and my degrees! Succor, succor, O my pilgrimage and my Arafat! Succor, succor, O my deeds and my good works! Succor, succor, O my gifts and my breaths! Succor, succor, O my attraction and my ecstatic utterances! Succor, succor, O my miracles and my wonders! Succor, succor, O my ascension and my stations! Succor, succor, O my master, O Messenger of God! Succor, succor, O most merciful of God's creation! O Messenger of God, how often have You relieved distress for a distressed, humiliated one who called upon You! O Messenger of God, how often have You bestowed favor and enriched the poor when he came to You! O Messenger of God, how often have You fulfilled a need and needs for a poor one who hoped in You! O Messenger of God, You have never neglected a servant, obedient or disobedient, who disobeyed You. O Messenger of God, You have honored a servant, a lover, a supplicant, ever giving him Your gift. O Messenger of God, You have never disappointed a purpose, nor repelled a hand hoping for Your generosity. O Messenger of God, whom do I hope for and whose pleasure, if I do not hope, O my hope, for Your pleasure? O Messenger of God, whom do I follow and whose guidance, if I do not follow, O my master, Your guidance? O Messenger of God, You enriched Ka'b, and he saw nothing but Your pardon when he came to You. O Messenger of God, O sun of congratulations, bestow joy upon one who has concerned himself with You. O Messenger of God, adorn me with glad tidings, and untie my heart from Your adornment. Succor, succor, O my present and my absent! Succor, succor, O my limit and my quiddity! Succor, succor, O my garden and my enclosure! Succor, succor, O my medicine and my bandage! Succor, succor, O my building and my foundation! Succor, succor, O my source and my analogy!

Assistance, assistance, O my moments and my breaths! Assistance, assistance, O my indication and my acquisition! Assistance, assistance, O my master, O Messenger of Allah ⁷¹⁴, for my separation and waiting have been prolonged. Assistance, assistance, O my master, O Beloved of Allah ⁷¹⁵, for my patience and endurance have grown scarce. Assistance, assistance, O my master, O Prophet of Allah, for I have unveiled my veil for you and cast off my modesty. Assistance, assistance, O my master, O Prophet of Allah, for You are my healing, my mercy, and the remover of my sorrows and troubles. Assistance, assistance, O Seal of the Prophets and Messengers! Assistance, assistance, O Pride of the mind and heart! Assistance, assistance, O Tongue of the state and speech! Assistance, assistance, O Sea of the secret and bestowal! Assistance, assistance, O Gardens of Majesty and Beauty! Assistance, assistance, O Crown of glory and perfection! Assistance, assistance, O Master of the free and the clients! Assistance, assistance, O Pure of words and deeds! Assistance, assistance, O Ornament of traits and qualities! Assistance, assistance, O Honored of companions and family! Assistance, assistance, O my master, O Messenger of Allah! Assistance, assistance, O my master, O Friend of Allah ⁷¹⁶! Assistance, assistance, O Ornament of the forelock and brow! Assistance, assistance, O Rank of might and establishment! Assistance, assistance, O Lamp of sainthood and religion! Assistance, assistance, O Banner of guidance and certainty! Assistance, assistance, O Opener of remembrance and instruction ⁷¹⁷! Assistance, assistance, O Garment of perfection and variegation! Assistance, assistance, O Presence of witnessing and specification! Assistance, assistance, O Firm pillar of care! Assistance, assistance, O Foot of established might! Assistance, assistance, O Light of clear victory! Assistance, assistance, O Book of manifest revelation! Assistance, assistance, O Shades of aiding love! Assistance, assistance, O Talisman of secure safety! Assistance, assistance, O Fortress of strong protection! Assistance, assistance, O Army of hidden victory! Assistance, assistance, O Joy of the sorrowful heart! Assistance, assistance, O my master, O Messenger of Allah! Assistance, assistance, O my master, O Confidant of Allah ⁷¹⁸! Assistance, assistance, O Imam of the God-fearing! Assistance, assistance, O Leader of the white-browed ⁷¹⁹! Assistance, assistance, O Sanctuary of the terrified! Assistance, assistance, O Succor of the distressed! Assistance, assistance, O Cry of the seekers of aid! Assistance, assistance, O Reliever of the anguish of the afflicted! Assistance, assistance, O Dispeller of the sorrows of the despairing! Assistance, assistance, O You through whom the desire of the desirous and the supplication of the petitioners are answered, O my master, O Messenger of Allah! Assistance, assistance, O Delight of the beholders! Assistance, assistance, O Adornment of the righteous! Assistance, assistance, O Emblem of those who have attained! Assistance, assistance, O Refuge of the fearful! Assistance, assistance, O Lamp of the knowers! Assistance, assistance, O Model of the workers ⁷²⁰! Assistance, assistance, O Treasure of the hopeful! Assistance, assistance, O Object of desire of the humble individuals ⁷²¹! Assistance, assistance, O Center of the firmly rooted pegs ⁷²²! Assistance, assistance, O Protector of the believers! Assistance, assistance, O Mercy of the oppressed! Assistance, assistance, O Beloved of the lovers! Assistance, assistance, O Intercessor of the sinners! Assistance, assistance, O Imam of the angels brought near! Assistance, assistance, O Seal of the Prophets and Messengers, O my master, O Messenger of Allah! O Messenger of Allah, your rank is exalted and weighty, and above the messengers your highness soared. O Messenger of Allah, you stood as an imam with them, with the angels when they stood behind you. O Messenger of Allah, you were a unique guardian, and your ascent reached the distance of two bows ⁷²³. O Messenger of Allah, you attained the aspirations, and every wish vanishes in your desire. O Messenger of Allah, you surpassed all when you journeyed by night ⁷²⁴, and especially the Lord chose you. O Messenger of Allah, you have no peer; over all creation the Lord selected you. O Messenger of Allah, intercede for us, be an intercessor, before the Generous Lord, for He is pleased with you. Upon you and to you be my greeting, and to companions and all who follow you. Assistance, assistance, O my master, O Messenger of Allah! Allah has clothed you in the garments of loyalty and perfection and magnified you in the eyes, a great magnification. Assistance, assistance, O my master, O Friend of Allah ⁷²⁵! Allah has made your secret the keys to locks and appointed you as ruler over the treasuries of His unseen, a decisive appointment. Assistance, assistance, O my master, O Interlocutor of Allah ⁷²⁶! Allah has raised your rank above all the free and the clients, and granted you among the prophets and messengers a complete honor and exaltation. Assistance, assistance, O my master, O Beloved of Allah! Allah has elevated your station on the carpet of intimacy and boldness, and bestowed upon you among His beloved ones an abundant portion and a great reward. Assistance, assistance, O my master, O Confidant of Allah! Allah has advanced you in the processions of intercession and supplication, and said to you: 'Ask and you shall be given, intercede and your intercession shall be accepted.' Thus you increased thereby over all the chosen honored ones in proximity, glory, lordship, and honor. Assistance, assistance, O my master, O Chosen One of Allah ⁷²⁷! Allah has singled you out for the lofty degree and the exalted station, and said concerning you: {And if, when they wronged themselves, they had come to you and asked forgiveness of Allah and the Messenger had asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah Accepting of repentance and Merciful} ⁷²⁸. O Allah, make him intercede for us, O my Master, by his rank with You. Assistance, assistance, O Prophet of Mercy! Assistance, assistance, O Intercessor of the Community! Assistance, assistance, O Remover of distress! Assistance, assistance, O Dispeller of darkness! Assistance, assistance, O Lofty of aspiration! Assistance, assistance, O Abundant of portion! Assistance, assistance, O Talisman of infallibility! Assistance, assistance, O Truthful of service! Assistance, assistance, O Source of wisdom! Assistance, assistance, O Bestower of blessing! Assistance, assistance, O Pure of fragrance! Assistance, assistance, O Protector of the covenant! Assistance, assistance, O Great of sanctity! Assistance, assistance, O Imam of the two qiblas ⁷²⁹! Assistance, assistance, O Light of the black of the two eyes! Assistance, assistance, O Unique pearl of the two necklaces ⁷³⁰! Assistance, assistance, O Spring of life of the two abodes! Assistance, assistance, O Spirit of the body of the two worlds! Assistance, assistance, O Father of Ibrahim, Father of Tahir, Father of Qasim, and Grandfather of the two shining moons, our master Hasan and our master Husayn! Assistance, assistance, O my beloved, O Messenger of Allah! Assistance, assistance, O Moon of radiant beauty! Assistance, assistance, O Garden of fragrant blossoms! Assistance, assistance, O Reminder of the heedless and negligent! Assistance, assistance, O Flood of gifts of the divine secret! Assistance, assistance, O Tongue of Truth commanding and forbidding! Assistance, assistance, O Sea of generosity without end! Assistance, assistance, O my beloved, O Messenger of Allah! Assistance, assistance, O Pride of the supported kingdom!

Assistance, assistance, O Sword of Truth, the well-tempered ⁷³¹! Assistance, assistance, O Master of the well-prepared Religion ⁷³²! Assistance, assistance, O Chosen One of the honored lineage ⁷³³! Assistance, assistance, O my Master and my Liege, Muhammad! Assistance, assistance, O Source of Assistance ⁷³⁴! Assistance, assistance, O Spirit of the Body ⁷³⁵! Assistance, assistance, O Glory of Eternity! Assistance, assistance, O Pillar of the Trusted Religion! Assistance, assistance, O Sea of Generosity that neither diminishes by giving nor runs out! Assistance, assistance, O my Master, O Messenger of Allah! The lover loses your image only when he finds it; and if he attains you, what has he lost? After your union, there is no goal for the infatuated; whoever seeks the Beloved gains what he sought. I have asked you to lift the veils of distance so I may see you, and between you and me there is no barrier. Truly, there is no east or west; the spirit unfolds me and the body folds me up. ²⁸⁷ O Dweller in my heart, you are its commander; and from the commander, the subjects seek assistance. I am one who has laid down his baggage at the door of your love, and in the courtyard of your longing and affection, he has sat down. O Spirit of the Holy Truth, O Body of Purity ⁷³⁶, may the One, the Unique, the Eternal pray upon you! Assistance, assistance, O Line of Light written upon the treasuries of Mercy ⁷³⁷! Assistance, assistance, O Sea of Generosity flowing forth from the basins of Omnipotence ⁷³⁸! Assistance, assistance, O Flower of Fragrances diffusing in the gardens of Dominion and the Kingdom ⁷³⁹! Assistance, assistance, O Form of the Secret inscribed upon the mantles of Majesty and Grandeur ⁷⁴⁰! Assistance, assistance, O Tongue of Response that opens the means of desire and awe ⁷⁴¹! Assistance, assistance, O Perfect in Beauties, described with the noblest praises and beautiful attributes! Assistance, assistance, O my Master, O Messenger of Allah! Assistance, assistance, O Tablet of Revelation ⁷⁴² that suckles with the jewels of the Revelation and the Sciences of the Essence ⁷⁴³! Assistance, assistance, O Secret of Existence that encompasses the meanings of the Names and Attributes ⁷⁴⁴! Assistance, assistance, O Rising Place of the Sun of Prophecies and Messages! Assistance, assistance, O Sultan of the Kingdom, arrayed in the robes of Divine Care and Perfections! Assistance, assistance, O Secret of 'Be' ⁷⁴⁵ deposited in the openings of verses and chapters! Assistance, assistance, O Pole of Cycles ⁷⁴⁶ encompassing the worlds of spirits and forms! Assistance, assistance, O Garden of Fragrances, sweet-smelling in bloom and flower! Assistance, assistance, O he whom Allah created from the light of His beauty and made him like a ruby among stones! Assistance, assistance, O my Beloved, O Messenger of Allah! Assistance, assistance, O Concordance of the Secret written upon the palm of the people of sainthood and disposal ⁷⁴⁷! Assistance, assistance, O Subtlety of Remembrance that leads to the station of fame and definition ⁷⁴⁸! Assistance, assistance, O Light of Victory shining upon the faces of the people of Divine Care and Honor! Assistance, assistance, O Veil of Protection that saves whoever seeks refuge in it in places of bewilderment and fear! Assistance, assistance, O Lamp of Lights by which light is sought in the Easts and Wests! Assistance, assistance, O Treasure of Secrets whose assistance overflows upon the hearts of the people of states and attractions ⁷⁴⁹! Assistance, assistance, O Chosen One of the Pure, whose name is blessed in mosques and offices! Assistance, assistance, O Exemplar of the Righteous, whose mention is proclaimed in shrines and processions! Assistance, assistance, O Element of the Good and Pride of the sons of Lu'ayy and Ghalib ⁷⁵⁰! Assistance, assistance, O my Master, O Messenger of Allah! By your right, O Muhammad, we have not seen your like among all the worlds! Like you, O Muhammad, we have not heard of a great one among the ancients! In your love, O Muhammad, every heart and intellect of all the believers is immersed! Your beauty, O Muhammad, has captivated us, even the just among all! Your majesty, O Muhammad, and the clouds, the tongue of every describer falls short! By your saliva, O Muhammad, is the cure of illness and sustenance if you bestow it upon us! By your right, O Muhammad, you are a sea of generosity that never runs out through the ages! ²⁸⁹ And from between the fingers in the deserts, I would ransom you, flowing sweet and abundant! Your religion, O Muhammad, is the best religion, and your rank is above all the messengers! Your party, O Muhammad, is the best party, for they were the best of people, victorious! By your guidance, O Muhammad, when they said, they were the last and the foremost! May Allah reward you with the best reward given to a prophet intercessor for the sinners! O you whose station is great, by which the hope of the fearful is placed! And all the poor have come to your court, and they have become joyful with gifts! So purify, O Messenger of Allah, my heart from slips and fill it with certainty! Upon you and your family, peace, described as the flowers of the meadows and jasmine! Assistance, assistance, O Sea of Gnosticism ⁷⁵¹ gushing forth from the spring of contentment and submission! Assistance, assistance, O Sweet Spring of Gifts, the fresh source and Tasnim ⁷⁵²! Assistance, assistance, O Sultan of the Most Excellent, seated upon the throne of Majesty and Veneration! Assistance, assistance, O Bride of Assemblies, advanced in the processions of Glory and Exaltation! Assistance, assistance, O Adornment of the Name written upon the gates of Paradise and its lofty chambers! Assistance, assistance, O Mine of Forbearance, saving his community from the hooks of the Path and the darkness of the Abyss! Assistance, assistance, O City of Knowledge ⁷⁵³, leading whoever holds fast to his Sunnah to the Garden of Pleasure and its radiant palaces! Assistance, assistance, O Ease of Giving, overflowing with the gifts of generosity and beneficence! Assistance, assistance, O Vast in Grace, whose mercy encompasses the far and the near! Assistance, assistance, O my Master, O Messenger of Allah! Assistance, assistance, O House of Glory, by whose fragrant breezes the breaths of lovers are perfumed! ²⁹⁰ Assistance, assistance, O Place of Affection, in whose beautiful essence the minds of the enamored are lost! Assistance, assistance, O Unique Jewel, before whose descriptions of perfections the tongues of praisers fall short! Assistance, assistance, O Unique Pearl, whose noble qualities and dazzling miracles have covered the horizons! Assistance, assistance, O Rising Star of Fortune, who filled the universe with the radiance of his lights and the secret of his openings! Assistance, assistance, O Vast in Bounty, who populated the worlds with his blessings and increasing benedictions! Assistance, assistance, O Path of Realities, erasing the darkness of polytheism with the proofs of his signs! Assistance, assistance, O Remover of Veils, drawing the souls of lovers with the subtleties of his allusions! Assistance, assistance, O Ta Ha ⁷⁵⁴, who folds the sciences of the prophets and messengers in the meanings of his wisdoms and the subtleties of his expressions!

Assistance, assistance, O Ya-Sin ⁷⁵⁵! The secret is His secret in the particulars of the world and its universals. Assistance, assistance, O Alif-Lam-Mim-Sad ⁷⁵⁶! The Reviver of dead hearts through the generosity of His breaths and the essence of His zephyrs. Assistance, assistance, O Kaf-Ha-Ya-Ayn-Sad ⁷⁵⁷! The All-Encompassing in existence through the gifts of His beneficence and the sweetness of His mercies. Assistance, assistance, O Ta-Sin-Mim ⁷⁵⁸! The Chosen for sovereignty before being brought into existence and inserted into the wombs of mothers. Assistance, assistance, O Ta-Sin ⁷⁵⁹! The One at whom the eyes of thoughts are bewildered in His descents and the flashes of His signs. Assistance, assistance, O Ha-Mim-Ayn-Sin-Qaf ⁷⁶⁰! The Fulfiller of the hopes of the desirous through His means and the answering of His supplications. Assistance, assistance, O Ha-Mim ⁷⁶¹ of mercy, Alif-Lam-Ra ⁷⁶² of the King, and Alif-Lam ⁷⁶³ of eternity, the one (291) to whom God gave the banner of praise and made him an intercessor for all His creatures. How many favors does Prophet Muhammad have * That made the righteous their abode of ornaments. God magnified his affair and exalted him * And prepared him as a pivot for righteous deeds. God honored his rank and loved him * And brought him as the very essence of wealth, magnifying him. O Lord, we seek intercession through him * So suffice us, O our Lord, against the evil ones. And accept our intrusion at his doors * As long as we are Your servant, we fear no disgrace. Anchored by a mooring, he traced its letters, for * Before praise, he hoped for a journey through it. O breath of the Merciful, grant me mercy * And spread over the sinner veils through it. I seek refuge in the shelter of the Messenger and his shade * How noble is that shade, never to be outshone. I have no favor upon you for my praise * Except that love stirred my thoughts. If I had fulfilled the conditions of love * And been truthful in my claim, I would have come to the abode. Poetry does not benefit me in praising you, my master * Even if the face of the earth were my lines. Then blessings upon him equal to pebbles * And the filling of plains and valleys. And yes, upon his family and all his tribe * And his companions, wives, and in-laws. As long as the fragrant flower's breeze blows * And lessens at its branches when it flies. Assistance, assistance, O Muhammad! Assistance, assistance, O Ahmad! Assistance, assistance, O Abdullah! Assistance, assistance, O Beloved of God! Assistance, assistance, O Chosen of God! Assistance, assistance, O Remembrance of God! Assistance, assistance, O Sword of God! Assistance, assistance, O Party of God! Assistance, assistance, O Seal of the Prophets! Assistance, assistance, O Seal of the Messengers! Assistance, assistance, O Prophet of Mercy! Assistance, assistance, O Prophet of Repentance! Assistance, assistance, O Elected One! Assistance, assistance, O Chosen One! (292) Assistance, assistance, O Mustafa! Assistance, assistance, O Mukhtar! Assistance, assistance, O Abu al-Qasim! Assistance, assistance, O Abu al-Tahir! Assistance, assistance, O Abu al-Tayyib! Assistance, assistance, O Abu Ibrahim! Assistance, assistance, O Intercessor! Assistance, assistance, O One whose intercession is accepted! Assistance, assistance, O Master of the Worlds! Assistance, assistance, O Intimate Friend of the Merciful! Assistance, assistance, O Spirit of Truth! Assistance, assistance, O Holy Spirit! Assistance, assistance, O Key of Mercy! Assistance, assistance, O Key of Paradise! Assistance, assistance, O Banner of Faith! Assistance, assistance, O Banner of Certainty! Assistance, assistance, O Guide to Good Deeds! Assistance, assistance, O Corrector of Good Deeds! Assistance, assistance, O Pardoner of Slips! Assistance, assistance, O Forgiver of Mistakes! Assistance, assistance, O Possessor of the Crown! Assistance, assistance, O Possessor of the Ascension! Assistance, assistance, O Possessor of the Staff! Assistance, assistance, O Rider of the Noble Steed! Assistance, assistance, O Felicity of God! Assistance, assistance, O Felicity of Creation! Assistance, assistance, O Orator of Nations! Assistance, assistance, O Banner of Guidance! Assistance, assistance, O Remover of Distress! Assistance, assistance, O Exalted in Ranks! Assistance, assistance, O Glory of the Arabs! Assistance, assistance, O Bringer of Relief! Assistance, assistance, O Noble in Outcome! O my master, O Messenger of God! Succor, succor, O my master, O Messenger of God! Succor, succor, O my master, O Beloved of God! (293) Succor, succor, O Master of Masters! Succor, succor, O Intercessor of Servants! Succor, succor, O Elite of the Pure and the Valiant! Succor, succor, O Noble of Fathers and Grandfathers! Succor, succor, O Adornment of the Innermost and the Heart! Succor, succor, O Kaaba of Bells and Pegs! Succor, succor, O Migration of Worshippers and Ascetics! Succor, succor, O Qibla of the Elite and the Solitaries! Succor, succor, O Source of Assistance and Supply! Succor, succor, O One whose love is my soul, my rest, and increases every day! Succor, succor, O One whose remembrance is my comfort in life, my provision after death, and on the day when witnesses stand! Intercession, O my master, O Messenger of God! O God, make him intercede for me, O my Master, by his rank with You. Assistance, assistance, O my master, O Messenger of God, for my longing and yearning for You have grown long. Assistance, assistance, O my master, O Messenger of God, for the serpent of Your love has stung my liver, and You are the physician and the healer. Assistance, assistance, O my master, O Messenger of God, my patience has failed, and the flood of my longing has surged; is there any meeting? Assistance, assistance, O my master, O Messenger of God, the fever of Your love has permeated the worlds of my secret, and You are the director and the cupbearer. Assistance, assistance, O my master, O Messenger of God (294), I am imprisoned in the West from journeying to You, so release my shackles from the captivity of separation and undo my bonds. Assistance, assistance, O my master, O Messenger of God, I am the one striving for Your pleasure, devoted to Your praise and eulogy, and in the beauties of Your perfections, the floods of my love and longing have multiplied. Assistance, assistance, O my master, O Messenger of God, I am the one annihilated in Your love, revived by meeting You, so have mercy on me with union, and extinguish my burning and conflagration with Your visitation. Assistance, assistance, O my master, O Messenger of God, for my enamored heart always watches You, and my sleeping eye wishes to see You, and in the vision of Your radiant face is my cure and antidote.

My maternal uncle, in your beauty, is a perfect beauty ⁷⁶⁴. Neither Qabas ⁷⁶⁵ nor Jamil ⁷⁶⁶ tended to it. You, O stranger of the tribe, have possessed my heart. O, have mercy on one among you who is slain! To you, from you, my yearning and I quench; whether you are pleased or angry, I do not incline. Lawful upon the 'Aqiq ⁷⁶⁷ is the 'Aqiq of my tears, flowing from a contented cheek. It is not love of tents that made my tears flow, but love of the one who dwells in them. Weeping over tents is of no avail when they are distant, with no way to reach them. Nor has the one in the tents captured my heart, but the one who is guarantor for her and through her. The Messenger of Allah ⁷⁶⁸ is the highest of people in rank; there is none like him in the worlds. A perfect Imam ⁷⁶⁹, just, pure, merciful, chosen, faithful, a trustee. Kind, pure, good, holy, great, selected, effacing, a friend. A Messenger, chosen, a guide, mighty, abundant; we see his cheek smooth. O, would that time might be generous one day to heal the one who is ill from visiting him. In Taybah ⁷⁷⁰ is his abode, and the grave is my prison; when will the departure be hastened to him? Shall one depart whose passions surround him and whose sin is heavy upon his shoulders? He has passed forty and has not ceased, for gray hair forbids him, yet he still persists. He has lost his youth, for it has passed; what excuse have I for a matter that does not relent? It is death, the destroyer of every living thing, a creditor for whom no guarantor can stand. O wonder! We see the days passing without deeds; this is a great loss. I have raised my affair to the Messenger of Allah; he is the key and the ample shade. Perhaps Allah will grant me my request when I call out, "O what an excellent Messenger!" I have written: a sinner, disobedient, evil-doer, broken-hearted, contemptible, abased. He has alighted at your open door, hoping for your pleasure; your sanctuary is his resting place. O my master of the two weighty ones ⁷⁷¹, may Allah bless you as long as the afternoon breeze blows. And upon you, with your close kin, be blessings that illuminate love as long as the nightingale sings. Aid, aid, O my fortress and my refuge! Aid, aid, O my rank and my glory! Aid, aid, O my wealth and my treasure! Aid, aid, O my adornment and my embroidery! Aid, aid, O my sign and my symbol! Aid, aid, O my happiness and my success! Aid, aid, O my point and my beginning! Aid, aid, O my goal and my end! Aid, aid, O my secret and my sainthood! Aid, aid, O my pride and my care! Aid, aid, O my cave and my protection! Aid, aid, O my 'Umrah ⁷⁷² and my sufficiency! Aid, aid, O my wall and my safeguard! Aid, aid, O my master, O Messenger of Allah, for I have made your greatest veil the wall of my limbs, and the honor of your most magnificent rank the garment of my innermost being, and the majesty of your most noble name a blessing for my endings and beginnings, and the paths of your most upright religion the motives of my longings and my inspirations, and the burning pangs of your most enduring love the cause of my chants and my praises, and the service of your revered station the sources of my secrets and my fragrant breezes, and the precious gems of your prophetic praises the dawns of my glad tidings and my gifts, and the compassionate mercies of your chosen one the shining lights of my illuminations and my flashes, and the fragrant breaths of your Muhammadan ⁷⁷³ effusions the perfume of my garments and my scents, and the gardens of your Ahmad ⁷⁷⁴ openings the flowers of my hills and my plains, and the gifts of your divine ⁷⁷⁵ sciences the alchemy of my treasures and the secret of my keys, and the luminous countenance of your essence the delight of my eyes and my glances, and the lofty blessings upon you the blessing of my trades and my profits, and the manifestations of your holy theophanies the garden of my pastures and my playgrounds, and the subtlety of your approved means the direction of my breezes and my fertilizing winds. And I have asked You for pardon, forgiveness, and remission, and I have hoped from You for overlooking my major sins and great abominations, and that tomorrow among the servants You will not spread the scroll of my intrigues and the publication of my scandals. And I have passed your noble hand over my breaths, my thoughts, my faith, my inner and outer, my benefits and interests, and over my wealth, my family, my children, my neighbors, my relatives, my clan, my friends, my brothers, and all believing men and women, Muslim men and women, the living among them and the dead. And praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and to our master the father, may Allah sanctify his secret ⁷⁷⁶, in his noble hand, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. * You passed a hand in which pebbles swam * And gave the army pure water to drink * Over my livelihood and my afterlife and my neighbors * You scattered me, my inner and my outer * And my town, my brothers, and my neighbors * And you accompanied me from absent and present * And you counted them with what—how great it is!— * Of excuse for every deceiver and traitor * A noble hand whose secret traveled * None like it to mend a breaking breaker * Every describer has failed in describing it * And every praiser, whether poet or prose writer * A hand by which might is restrained; how often has it restrained * From a foolish company, a hand of dazzling generosity * Blessedness comes from touching silk; its touch * Is even more splendid in the eyes of the beholder * A hand whose bounty never ceases to flow * Upon people, both righteous and wicked * A hand from which generosity flows beyond * What every overflowing sea pours forth * A generous hand; its Creator * Quenches people, both coming and going * When the measure touched its palm * It became sufficient for a thousand of the army * A majestic hand; no hand compares to it * And every hand is lowly before its lofty glory * By its great rank I hope * For dwelling in the abode of eternity with my clansmen * And a life pleasing and pure * From the unlawful, the sustenance of every loser * And repentance from all that I have committed * Of minor and major sins * How many has it freed from the captivity of perdition by its raising * And a rebel from rebellion and despair * Allah honored it and exalted its rank * Among hands; none can deny this * How many an ailment has vanished by it, burning * Its cure from the skilled physician * And how many has Allah protected by it from a distressed * One, terrified of heart and impatient * And how many an unbeliever has been cut off by it * So he became like yesterday that has passed ⁷⁷⁷

By it I sought refuge and protection, having no other helper if it fails. Sufficient is the hand of the Chosen One ⁷⁷⁸ as a shield and a fortress against every crushing calamity. Oh, what a hand! How great it is! No like it has been extended to any deterrent thing. Would that I could kiss it with my lips, for it is the cure and the desire of my heart. It is my means, by which I ask for what I need from the radiant bounty of my Lord. My Lord, by its rank, answer what I desire and grant me beauty in my inner and outer being. And bless, O Lord, its owner, as long as the fragrance of a blooming garden spreads, And clouds pour down, and by his name the mouth of one who remembers in the depths of the night overflows, And a traveler returns to his homeland, and the soul delights in a fragrant scent, And no preacher ascends the pulpit preaching separation to those present who hear him, And he spends the night reciting, while remembrance follows in this world, and a bird wails on a blossoming branch. O Allah, O He to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, O He in whose hand are expansion and contraction, elevation and abasement, O Allah, O Sovereign, O Judge, O Compassionate, O Merciful, O Tender, O Benefactor, O Forbearing, O Vast in mercy and forgiveness, O Great in dominion and authority, O He whom no concern distracts from another, and no tongue can describe the essence of His majesty and glory, O He whose wonders have bewildered minds and whose stars have adorned the sky, O He whose decrees are effective in His creation, while all beings have failed to fulfill His due, O Possessor of generosity whose treasures are not depleted by giving, and O Abundant in blessings whose beauties never cease over the passage of time, O He who singles out whom He wills with what He wills from the gifts of His favor and grace, and deals with every servant according to his sincere intention and pure faith, and rewards every lover for his service, and meets him with His pardon and beneficence. I ask You, O my Master, by the rank of our master Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, the bridegroom of the throne of the greatest dominion, the head of its court, the orator of the carpet of radiant might, and the model of its notables, and by the right of his supreme favor that encompassed all existent things, and his lofty beauties that dazzled all created beings, and by his brilliant signs that testified to his superiority over the inhabitants of the earths and heavens, that You bless him and his family, his companions, and his household, and that You purify my outer and inner being with the elixir of his love, polish the mirror of my heart with the lights of his knowledge, clothe me in the garment of his beauty and the majesty of his awe, drown all my worlds in the sea of his blessings and the witnessing of his grace, delight my sight in the beauty of his exalted essence and the comeliness of his countenance, fill my innermost being with his noble love and pure affection, pour out the cups of my wine from his Muhammadan wine and repose, illuminate my insight with the gifts of his openings and the lights of his guidance, make the lamp of my heart shine from the sun of his reality and the light of his law, erase all my misgivings and thoughts with the coolness of his pardon and the water of his nearness, grant me a divine breath by which I may express myself in the pavilions of his intimacy and the carpet of his presence, make my tongue utter the jewels of his remembrances and the secrets of his wisdom, mark me with his prophetic mark, guide me by his guidance and conduct, cast upon me from his adornment that which will make my face rejoice among the elite of His servants and handmaidens and the attendants of His Kaaba, open, O Allah, my locks with the keys of his blessing, rain upon me the clouds of his mercy, give me to drink from the spring of the fountain of his life, feed me from the tables of his grace, crown me with the crown of His care, guard me with the might of His protection, admit me into his fortified fortress, make me in his invincible shelter and the shade of His protection, cause me to live, O Allah, upon his sunna, take me when I die upon his creed, carry me to his holy Ahmadine presence upon the shoulder of his pure Muhammadan law, make me know him with certainty in every station and path, single me out, O Allah, in love and veneration for him, just as You singled him out in beauty and perfection, bestow upon me from the garment of his honor that which delights the eye, annihilate me in the sea of his love until there is no between, no where, no trace, no eye, connect me to him with a true connection that suffers no languor or separation, grant me in his love a firm certainty that no doubt or falsehood can approach, single me out with a merciful glance from him that removes the impurities of every defect and blemish, honor me, O Allah, with his love, and make it for me with You a protection, a safeguard, a deliverance, and a treasure in both worlds. Amen, amen, and praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds. The flow of Your secret in existence is wondrous, and upon it the veils of souls are a covering. He who removes the screens of his self will encounter beauty with no veil upon it. How long the delay from happiness, when the titles of its majestic beauty have been perfected? The tents of noble deeds were pitched by its spirit by the hand of the Most High, and the ropes were extended, Where sovereignty, felicity, and sainthood have had their doors opened for its seeker, And stations that are a holy garden, wherein is union with peerless companions, And subtlety, loftiness, vicegerency, and beauties with which the beloved are blessed. Its cups have circulated among its lovers amidst passion, and the goblets were passed around, From a holy, unseen wine, whose qualities are the tents of all beings.

Rejoice and be immersed in the eternal wine ⁷⁷⁹ that has settled, so that its Lord holds no reckoning for the lovers. She has cast off the dignity of our cheek ⁷⁸⁰ in her love; our spirits have been stripped and the intellects have found rest. In Your proximity is a light whose brilliance is the engraving of passion ⁷⁸¹; you see otherness ⁷⁸² vanishing from its face. She has the blazing fires of the unseen as realities, and she has the affinities of hearts as a book. From beauty and Hind ⁷⁸³ and Su‘ād ⁷⁸³, Salmā of passion ⁷⁸³ and Zaynab ⁷⁸³ and Rabāb ⁷⁸³. And a dust-heap ⁷⁸⁴ that is intercessory, luminous, ‘ashqī ⁷⁸⁵, solar, and a cloud. Its rending ⁷⁸⁶, its seducer ⁷⁸⁷, its angel ⁷⁸⁸; its sultan is the plunderer of our intellects. If you wish to unfold an inner matter of her affair, time falls short and speech about it becomes lengthy. So Lādam ⁷⁸⁹ is a name of her yearning, and Muhammad ⁷⁸⁹ are her names, and her effuser is al-Wahhāb ⁷⁹⁰. Full moons overflowed, their eyes gushing, and the flood overwhelmed the worlds with its surge. O Allah, advance me to Your lordly presence with the reins of success and guidance, adorn me with the ornament of righteousness and sainthood, grant me from You the greatest good pleasure in the beginning and the end, and observe me with the eye of Your care and protection in all my states, as You observed the people of the secret ⁷⁹¹ and solicitude. Make this book of mine purely for Your noble face, safe from the blights of ostentation and self-admiration, and the defects of blameworthy action, surrounded by blessing and benedictions, attracting the breezes of Your abundant goodness, founded on the bases of sincere intention and truthfulness, proceeding on the path of Your straight path, regarded with the eye of acceptance, approval, and good pleasure, adorned with the gifts of the secret ⁷⁹¹ and the bestowals of grace and favor, bestowed upon its reader and listener with pardon, mercy, and forgiveness. And favor me, O Allah, with the completion of its reward, the extension of the worlds of my secret ⁷⁹¹ from the sea of its secret ⁷⁹¹, and the honor of my mention in the highest assembly through the honor of Your mention and the fragrance of my horizons with the wafts of its breezes and the sweetness of its diffusion. Protect my climes with the talisman of its protection and the majesty of its worth, and ward off from us the cold of the vicissitudes of time with the sword of its victory and the deterrents of its might. Make it, O Allah, a key to the treasuries of the unseen, a cure for the diseases of hearts, a cause for the relief of anxieties and sorrows and great afflictions, an impregnable refuge from the accidents of calamities and the onslaughts of misfortunes, a fortified amulet from the sudden attacks of obstacles and the defects of loss and deprivation, an accepted means for attaining the goal and achieving the desired. Make it, O Allah, a sweet basil wherever it settles in the lands, a universal mercy for all servants, a wholesome watering-place where those who come and those who seek are honored in its basins, a comprehensive blessing from which the masters of litanies and daily prayers benefit, a lordly influx whose secret ⁷⁹¹ flows through all the lovers as souls flow through bodies, an overflowing sea whose streams of supply flow upon the listeners with the gifts of the secret ⁷⁹¹ and the imparting. Make it, O Allah, gardens in whose shade the ascetics and worshippers find rest, an orchard whose fruits are plucked by the bell-ringers and the tent-pegs ⁷⁹², a Muṣṭafawī ⁷⁹³ wine that stirs the people of longing and affection, a lordly state that stirs the elite of the poles ⁷⁹⁴ and the solitary ones ⁷⁹⁵, a prophetic companion that the people of seclusion and solitude constantly recite with its radiant blessings, a divine herald for the loving brothers with the best and more, and the attainment of the desired. Make, O Allah, the proofs of its supplications cutting swords for the defeat of the people of deviation and obstinacy, overwhelming arguments for the armies of the people of oppression and corruption, the sunnas ⁷⁹⁶ of its blessings a beneficial alchemy for the people of sincere intention and beautiful belief, a treasure they will find on the day when secrets are disclosed and witnesses arise, a special intercession for us, our children, our relatives, our loved ones, and all our fathers and forefathers, by Your grace and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. * O Lord, You are the Master, to You is my refuge, all creation, and You are the Lord of servants. Yours is the command of mortals, and You are the Illuminator of the cosmos, the Absolute in bringing into existence. You are the Protector of the sanctuary, You are the Hoped-for, the One called upon for every distant calamity. O Beloved of hearts, You are my refuge, O Spring of souls, You are my support. You are my fortress, You are my treasure, my store, You are my request, my desire, my goal. You are my pillar when lineage fails among the tribe, and You are my abundance and my provision. You are my lion ⁷⁹⁷ and my bow ⁷⁹⁸ when the people of swords and armies oppress. You are my request, You are the wish of my soul, beyond all wishes, and You are my reliance. O Physician of hearts, heal my heart, and give it to drink of what You have given the people of love. You are my sufficiency, my proof, my backer, and my helper against every aggressor and enemy. Pardon, by Your grace, a wicked servant for what he has committed, which is beyond count. And pardon his offspring, his elders, all of them, and his children along with his forefathers. Set his face toward a straight religion, and make him among the stations of the solitary ones ⁷⁹⁵. Bestow upon him what You bestowed upon the Chosen One ⁷⁹⁹, and bring his secret ⁷⁹¹ to the best watering-place for those who come. O Ancient of goodness, O He who has a thousand guides ⁸⁰⁰, and O Sufficiency for every seeker. O He who singled out a chosen one from among servants with the qualities of felicities and opposites. Our Lord, O Generous One, grant bounty and grace, and protect us from the pasture of those far away. Make Yourself known to us in every state with what protects us with complete favors, with a bliss in which there is no reproach upon us, and with righteousness of hearts and bodies, and deliverance from every disgrace and trial, and purity from all afflictions. Spare us the evil of every sudden misfortune that seeks us, and every army led, and an envious one who strives against us, and a friend who revels in You from the evil of a return. Spare us the evil of every tyranny and tyrant, and famines that wear out the faces of lands, along with those who belong to us, and all the people of love, and family, and children. And upon the Chosen Messenger ⁷⁹⁹ be blessings and peace that waft musk and flow, and upon his family and his righteous companions and the followers, the people of guidance. O Allah, I ask You, O my Master, by Your great and greatest name, and the majesty of Your ancient and most magnificent glory, and the light of Your beautiful and most noble face, and by Your name with which, when You are called, You answer, and when You are asked, You give, and by every name that is Yours, which You have mentioned in Your Book, or taught to any of Your poles ⁷⁹⁴, or inspired to any of Your elect and beloved, or taught to the very notables of Your knowers ⁸⁰¹ who stand at Your door, or inscribed upon the mantles of Your majesty and the pavilions of Your veil, and by Your light with which You filled the pillars of Your Throne, and by Your wisdom with which You raised Your heavens and spread out the carpet of Your earth, and by Your majesty and beauty with which the gardens of Your kingdom and dominion delight, and with which You adorned the treasuries of Your mercy and Your omnipotence, and by Your greatness with which You subdued every great one, so they humbled before the majesty of Your awe, and by Your dazzling power with which You have power over all Your creation, and by the might of Your lordship to which everything submits, entering under the circle of Your decree and fearing Your severity, and by Your mercy which encompasses everything, so it acknowledges the greatness of Your divinity and the completion of Your favor, and by Your self-disclosure which appeared to the mountain, so it became crushed from fear of You, and by Your wisdom with which You perfected everything, so it witnessed the wonder of Your craftsmanship and humbled in reverence for Your might, and by the light which You sent down upon the heart of Your beloved, our master Muḥammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, so that he became a Mount ⁸⁰² for Your gracious self-disclosures and a locus for the lights of Your eternal glories and a site for the jewels of Your merciful descents, that You make our hearts loci for the rising of Your lights, our breasts a place for the flow of Your secrets, our tongues a source for the subtle forms of Your remembrance, and that You make flow

By our hands ⁸⁰³ from the gifts of Your wisdom, the highest secrets benefit and the elite and common are guided thereby. And that You benefit through this book whoever writes it, reads it, hears it, or strives to obtain it with complete benefit, and remove through it from him all afflictions, calamities, and illnesses, and expiate through it all sins, errors, and transgressions. And make it for its reader a beacon for guidance, a light by which to avoid the pitfalls of ruin, and guide him to the path of rectitude and guidance, a sweet and wholesome spring from which whoever drinks will never thirst, a secure sanctuary where whoever seeks refuge fears neither the vicissitudes of time nor the assault of enemies, an impregnable fortress whose veil is never breached, eternally and forever. And seal for us, O Allah, with its blessings with a seal of felicity, cause us to die upon the two words of success and testimony ⁸⁰⁴, make us among the people of the right hand and happiness, and write for us from Your bounty with the hand of Your pardon a writ of salvation, raise us through it to the highest ranks, fulfill through it all our needs, illuminate through it our faces and the faces of our fathers, mothers, spouses, offspring, brothers, and loved ones on the day when the scrolls are spread before You, O Lord of the earths and heavens. O Allah, we beseech You through the severance of our means to You and the manifestation of our lowliness and poverty before You, for that is the ultimate need and extreme necessity, and You are the Merciful to the poor, the Mender of broken hearts, the Refuge of the weak, the Answerer of the distressed ⁸⁰⁵, the Succorer of those who seek help, the Reliever of the anguish of the afflicted. We have asked You with the asking of sinful wrongdoers, called upon You with the call of the distressed and desirous, and cried out to You with the cry of the fearful who seek intercession. So grant us intercession, O Allah, for ourselves, our brothers, loved ones, companions, and those who have a right upon us. Expand for obedience our breasts and their breasts, subjugate for worship our limbs and their limbs, facilitate for acceptance our affairs and their affairs, awaken for righteous deeds our aspirations and their aspirations, direct for doing good our hearts and their hearts, and bestow complete repentance upon us and upon them and upon every poor one desirous of it and in need of it. Teach us and them the realities of its knowledge and instruction, establish us firmly in its means, and perfect it for us and them with haste, blessing, and steadfastness upon it until the last breath of the breaths of this world and after it and with it, a perfect completion. And be with us and them kind and merciful, O He who created creation and has never ceased to be a generous Master to them, compassionate and forbearing. And make us and them taste the sweetness of its coolness that will settle in our hearts forever and never perish eternally. And send down upon our hearts and their hearts from the blessing of heaven what will cling to them as realities cling to names, and be for them in illumination and obedience like water. And make, O Allah, piety our provision, trust in You our reliance, dependence on You our support, and to Your mighty pillar our leaning, in You our love and affection ⁸⁰⁶, with You our holding fast, and for You our striving. Protect from sudden doubts our belief, quench from the basin of Your Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, our hearts and livers, grant security from fear and hunger to our neighbors and lands, break with the sword of Your might our enemies and enviers, have mercy in this world and the Hereafter on our parents, loved ones, and children, pardon us, our brothers, those who wronged us, those we wronged, and every sinful Muslim, those who are and those who will be. Amen, amen, amen, by Your bounty and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. * By my soul, the full moon of his light is never eclipsed * A perfect beauty, Joseph attained a portion of it * He is the unique, sanctified jewel, his station * With the letter of highness among people is known * He is the universal intellect, exalted is his essence * He transcends definition, yet he is the definer * The rhymes of praisers are bewildered in describing him * And they fall short, for in his heights there is what cannot be described * The eye of the Divine praised him, and it originated * All meanings, before which they halt * Their ultimate ends are shortcomings, and what can * People say? Even if they excelled, they would be unjust * And who can rival revelation concerning him? His praise * Is more sublime, higher, and nobler than what is said * If it is said he is like the moon in beauty, his beauty * Is greater, and his body is purer than flowers * If it is said he is like the slender branch, his stature * Is peerless, with a balanced, delicate form * If it is said he is like the sun in light and elevation * The sun of forenoon is honored by his light * If it is said all glory is folded in his robes * Then in the order of glory, he is the composer * If it is said he is the secret of existence, spirit and essence * Without him, no world nor existence is known * So Ahmad is a garden gathering all beauties * And the flower of beauty is plucked and gathered from him ⁸⁰⁷ * And Ahmad is the axis of all worlds * And the fill of the carpet of existence, from which it turns away * And Ahmad is the name of the messengers and their best * And the highest of them in truth and most knowing of Allah * And Ahmad is the mirror of witnessing, and indeed he * Is the form of the Merciful, how can he be qualified? * The majesty of his beauty manifested to my heart * My inner sight was shattered, and no eye blinks * So the spirit of union and its fragrance revived me * And gave life to my heart after it was about to perish * So I no longer fear the separation of distance * He gave me to drink from the cup of union the pure wine of his love * So I witnessed the light of the cup pouring into the secret

Upon my empty thought poured forth gifts of praise, countless and beyond measure. Yet the flood of praise is from the flood of His love, so praise never ends nor does the flood weaken. I raised the banner of praisers among them all, and traversed seas before which they halted. I brought forth pearls of praise, pearls which the shining stars long to behold. I wove on the loom of resolve like His example, as my loom is just in the arena of the sword. So say to him who forbids and denies their journey: this is a station beyond what you know. Hold fast to the requirements of the Shari'a ⁸⁰⁸ and you will be guided, for you are not charged with the ladunni science ⁸⁰⁹. How can he who relies on the outward of his knowledge compare with him who draws from the very eye of Reality? By knowledge one grasps meanings and their taste, and by light the secrets of realities are unveiled. So submit to the people of love and be safe, and leave them, for they have drunk a wine that captivates the mind. Aged, sealed with its seal, no other wine in the wine-court is like it. Through it they were ecstatic with longing, cried out, and declared the written secret in the heart, and they were tender. Through it their forms danced and became subtle; by the secret of love their spirits became subtle. A cup-companion of their wine invited me to drink, so who would abstain from their drink? And am I not from the people of love? If they call, I answer and do not lag behind. I circumambulated as they circumambulated the Ka'ba ⁸¹⁰ of their union, and on the 'Arafat ⁸¹¹ of their nearness I have a standing. I vanished as they vanished in the state of their witnessing, and the Lote-tree of the utmost boundary ⁸¹² is my abode. I became good as they became good through the love of their Beloved, and I was gifted with the secrets of gnoses. Stars shone in the sky of my treasure, whose radiance almost snatches away the sight. A treasure for the needy, it manifested and became known by the fragrant scent of its praised one. Through it I gathered the scattered parts of praise, and the tongue of eulogy continues to dictate and compose. The slanderer found fault with it, saying, 'It is long'—the speech of an envious one trembling with falsehoods. I said to him, 'Good news for you! For it is my virtues; if it is long, you are just.' It gave me to drink from a cup of its pure wine, with no headache nor does the mind become intoxicated. We descended with it to the Abode of Bliss, which is adorned with the praises of the most noble of mankind. I brought it as a gift, but it is his qualities and some of what is described of him. And we have prepared nothing but the gifts of his bounty, and every perfection draws from his seas. It was confirmed by a promise that came of intercession for his praiser, and His promise is not broken. Ahmad ⁸¹³ is the most faithful of creation in promise and covenant, and the most merciful and kind of all God's creatures. Upon him be the purest greeting from the Merciful, and the most sublime blessing whose measure cannot be defined. And upon his family, wives, and Companions, as long as the nightingales of longing call out with his praises. O Allah, I ask You, my Master, by the Magnified and Great, and by the majesty of his exalted and magnificent rank, and by the beauty of his luminous and comely face, and by the secret of his creation praised in Your eternal speech, and by the honor of his pure and purified lineage, and by what You have specially granted him of high degrees, lofty station, and abundant perfect virtue, and by the perfections with which You have chosen him above all Your creation and selected him to manifest Your upright religion and establish the beacon of Your straight path, that You send blessings upon him and upon his family, a blessing perfumed with the fragrance of his diffusion, radiant with the honor of his remembrance; and that You open my heart, O Allah, with the keys of his secret, and perfume the gardens of my lofty aspirations with the breezes of his flower, and illuminate the eyes of my insight with the shining of his full moon; and make me witness, O Allah, the brides of Your knowledge through the mediation of his remembrance; and grant me the subtleties of Your wisdom through the kindness of his piety; and manifest upon me the evidences of Your favor through the praises of my gratitude to him, so that I may be able, on the carpet of courtesy before You, to fulfill Your right and his right; and harness my limbs with the rein of success to obey Your command and his command, and avoid Your prohibition and his prohibition; and awaken my aspiration to observe the limits; and adorn me with the sash of obedience so that I may fully keep Your covenants and pledges for his preservation and observance; and plant in my heart the light of knowledge of You and knowledge of him, so that I may know You and know him with a complete, sublime, glorious, sufficient, lofty, unveiling, visionary, gifted, lordly knowledge, not through proof and demonstration but through witnessing and direct vision; and bring us near and connect us with the nearness of the beloved ones; and purify us in the gardens of good pleasure and satisfaction; and honor us with the vision of Your face and his face; and do not afflict us with the accidents of withdrawal and deficiency, O Most Generous of the generous, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. O Allah, preserve for us what You have bestowed, and do not unveil what You have concealed; look upon us with the eye of Your kindness, and do not deprive us of what You have granted; pardon us, have mercy on us, and grant us success through what You have given us of beautiful patience for what You have decreed and judged; illuminate our insights with the light of opening; grant us in what You have destined and willed; take us by the forelocks to goodness; mention us among those You have mentioned; grant us, O Allah, the knowledge of the fearful, the repentance of the contrite, the sincerity of the certain, the gratitude of the patient, the repentance of the truthful, the rank of the gnostics, the fervor of the enraptured, the generosity of the rememberers, the favor of the righteous, the care of the beloved, the stations of the brought-near, the states of the attracted, the paths of the wayfarers, the adornment of the devout, the aspiration of the attainers, the chastity of the ascetics, the station of the firmly rooted, the love of the truthful, the certainty of the trustful, the infallibility of the reliant; and favor us, O Allah, with what You have favored them with of gifts of secret and generosity; and specially grant us what You have specially granted them of gifts of guidance and uprightness; and gather us with them in the abode of Your mercy; and resurrect us with them in the plains of the Resurrection, by Your bounty and generosity, O Most Merciful of the merciful, O Lord of the worlds. Humility of hearts and at prostration is for You, O my Master, without denial. And by You, O Friend ⁸¹⁴, nothing equals You in the firmness of covenants. And by Your Throne ⁸¹⁵ crowned with light, to Your great and glorious Throne ⁸¹⁶. And by what was under Your Throne truly before the creation of the heavens and the sound of thunder. That was when You were as You have never ceased to be, a God known by Your Oneness. And by the love of the Messenger, the best of creatures, the possessor of the crown and the tied banner. And by the secret of perfection from Your most exalted light, the noble spirit of existence upon You. And by the light of beauty from his father's face, it is the illuminator of darkness and the full moon of good fortune. Bestow upon a servant who offered him praise out of love, a neighbor to him in the Abode of Eternity. And give him to drink the wine of Your friends, so that he may reap what the people of witnessing have reaped. And grant him the vision of bliss with the foremost of the generous on the Day of Increase. And make this treasure a treasure that manifests in his praiseworthy station. And accept it by Your favor, and compensate its deficiency with perfection on the Day of Arrival. And grant attainment through it by Your generosity, and give to drink of the Beloved's drink every seeker. And blessings upon the Prophet, my refuge, in its protection, the Loving on the Day of Threat. And may Allah bless our master Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets, the Imam of the Messengers, the Leader of the white-blazed ones, and his family and Companions, the good and pure, and his wives, the pure, purified, sanctified, illuminated ladies, the Mothers of the Believers, and his noble, blessed, honored descendants, a perpetual blessing that renews over the passage of years with the permanence of his lofty glory and honor.

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1. awtād : Literally 'pegs'; in Sufism, a category of saints who are the 'pegs' of the earth, often four in number, who uphold the spiritual world.
2. aqṭāb : Plural of quṭb, meaning 'pole' or 'axis'; the highest rank in the Sufi hierarchy of saints, considered the spiritual axis of the age.
3. ajrās : Plural of jaras, meaning 'bell'; in Sufi terminology, a rank of saints who are like bells, perhaps indicating those who call others to God.
4. abdāl : Plural of badal, meaning 'substitute'; a rank of saints who are substitutes or replacements, often said to be forty in number.
5. Aḥmad : One of the names of the Prophet Muhammad, meaning 'most praiseworthy'.
6. shahādah : The Islamic declaration of faith: 'There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah'.
7. Dhakhīrat al-Muḥtāj : Title of a book by the author, meaning 'The Treasure of the Needy'.
8. miʿrāj : The Prophet Muhammad's ascension to heaven.
9. Ṭaybah : Another name for Medina, meaning 'the good' or 'the pleasant'.
10. Hāshimite : Referring to the Prophet Muhammad, who belonged to the Banu Hashim clan of the Quraysh tribe.
11. Muṣṭafawian : Derived from al-Muṣṭafā, 'the Chosen One', a title of the Prophet Muhammad.
12. kanz al-mawāhib : Treasure of gifts; a Sufi epithet for the Prophet Muhammad as the source of spiritual gifts.
13. aṣābi‘ika : Your fingers; refers to the miracle of water flowing from the Prophet's fingers.
14. hā’ulā’i : These; refers to alternating groups of Companions chanting.
15. ‘ām al-qaḍiyya : Year of the conquest; refers to the conquest of Mecca in 8 AH.
16. al-Nābigha al-Ja‘dī : A famous pre-Islamic and early Islamic poet (d. ca. 63 AH/683 CE), known for his panegyric poetry.
17. Umayya ibn Abī al-Ṣalt : A pre-Islamic poet (d. ca. 5 AH/626 CE) who was a contemporary of the Prophet and known for his monotheistic themes.
18. ‘Ā’isha : ‘Ā’isha bint Abī Bakr, the wife of the Prophet Muhammad, known for her knowledge and narration of hadith.
19. imams of the path : Spiritual guides or masters in Sufism who lead seekers on the path to Allah.
20. righteous predecessors : The early generations of Muslims, including the Companions and their followers, considered exemplary in piety.
21. Holy Spirit : Here referring to the angel Gabriel (Jibrīl) who brought revelation to the Prophet.
22. seeker : A person on the spiritual path (sālik) striving for nearness to Allah.
23. gnostics : Those who have direct experiential knowledge of divine realities (‘ārifūn).
24. unveilings : Spiritual disclosures or illuminations (kashf) granted to advanced mystics.
25. sciences of realities : Esoteric knowledge of divine truths and spiritual states.
26. al-Asmar : A nickname for Imam Abū Muḥammad ‘Abd Allāh ibn Manṣūr, a Sufi master.
27. lover : The spiritual lover of God (muḥibb), deeply absorbed in divine love.
28. litanies : Regular devotional recitations (awrād) practiced by Sufis.
29. al-Murta‘ish : Abū Muḥammad ‘Abd Allāh al-Murta‘ish, a Sufi saint from Nishapur (d. 328 AH/940 CE).
30. singers : Here, spiritual poets or reciters (qawwālūn) who perform devotional poetry.
31. al-Sarī : Al-Sarī al-Saqaṭī (d. 253 AH/867 CE), a renowned early Sufi from Baghdad.
32. al-Fuḍayl : Al-Fuḍayl ibn ‘Iyāḍ (d. 187 AH/803 CE), a famous ascetic and early Sufi.
33. Ṭāhir al-Maqdisī : A Sufi scholar from Jerusalem, known for his spiritual insights.
34. al-tastir wa al-katm : Concealment and secrecy; refers to the Sufi practice of hiding one's spiritual states from others to avoid ostentation.
35. al-Shibli : Abu Bakr al-Shibli (d. 945 CE), a famous Sufi master known for his ecstatic states and sayings.
36. al-sama‘ : Spiritual listening or audition; a Sufi practice involving listening to music, poetry, or chanting to induce ecstatic states.
37. Banu Arfada : A tribe of Abyssinians; refers to a hadith where the Prophet allowed them to perform a spear dance in the mosque.
38. al-salat wa al-salam : Blessings and peace; formulaic invocation upon the Prophet Muhammad.
39. arbāb al-aḥwāl : Masters of spiritual states; Sufis who have attained particular spiritual conditions (aḥwāl).
40. fāniyan : Annihilated; refers to fanā', the Sufi concept of annihilation of the self in God.
41. al-ṣādiq : The truthful one; a sincere seeker or saint who has achieved spiritual truth.
42. tawājud : Finding ecstasy; a deliberate effort to induce spiritual ecstasy, as opposed to spontaneous wajd.
43. al-khawāṣṣ : The elite; spiritually advanced Sufis distinguished from the common people ('awāmm).
44. Abū Muḥammad Ruwaym : Abu Muhammad Ruwaym ibn Ahmad al-Baghdadi (d. 912), a prominent early Sufi.
45. wujūd : Existence; in Sufism, often refers to spiritual finding or the state of being in God's presence.
46. wajd : Ecstasy; a spontaneous spiritual state of intense joy or love.
47. Abū 'Uthmān al-Ḥīrī : Abu 'Uthman Sa'id ibn Isma'il al-Hiri (d. 910), a Sufi master from Nishapur.
48. murīdīn : Seekers or disciples; beginners on the Sufi path.
49. al-'ārifīn : Knowers; those who have attained ma'rifa (gnosis or direct knowledge of God).
50. Imām al-ṭā'ifa : Imam of the sect; refers to Junayd al-Baghdadi (d. 910), a leading early Sufi.
51. al-Sarī : Al-Sari al-Saqati (d. 867), a Sufi master and uncle of Junayd.
52. al-Shiblī : Abu Bakr al-Shibli (d. 946), a famous Sufi known for ecstatic utterances.
53. al-sulṭān al-muqtadir : The powerful Sultan; likely referring to a historical Abbasid caliph or ruler.
54. al-Shiblī : Abu Bakr al-Shibli (d. 945 CE), a famous Sufi master from Baghdad.
55. al-qawm : The people; a term often used by Sufis to refer to the spiritual elite or the folk of the path.
56. al-ʿulūm al-laduniyya : Divine or inspired knowledge granted directly by God, without intermediary.
57. Qur'an 7:143-144 : The verses recounting Moses' recovery after his request to see God and God's response.
58. al-ʿulamāʾ warathat al-anbiyāʾ : A hadith: 'The scholars are the inheritors of the prophets.'
59. ibnī : My son; possibly referring to al-Hasan or al-Husayn, or metaphorically to a follower.
60. ḥadīth : A hadith about the blessedness of believing without seeing the Prophet.
61. ʿAbd al-Qādir al-Jīlānī : A renowned Sufi saint and founder of the Qadiriyya order (1077-1166 CE).
62. ḥadīth : A hadith emphasizing the humility and accountability of prophets.
63. Qur'an 10:58 : The verse: 'Say: In the bounty of Allah and His mercy—in that let them rejoice.'
64. Qur'an 6:91 : The verse: 'Say: Allah, then leave them to play in their vain discourse.'
65. ahl al-ṣuffa : The People of the Bench; poor companions of the Prophet who lived in the mosque in Medina.
66. Verse from a poem expressing love and longing for the Beloved (God or the Prophet).
67. ṣallā llāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam : Arabic phrase meaning 'may God bless him and grant him peace,' used after mentioning the Prophet Muhammad.
68. tawājud : Spiritual ecstasy or intense emotional state in Sufi practice, often induced by dhikr or sama'.
69. Ahl al-Ṣuffa : The People of the Bench; poor companions of the Prophet who lived in the mosque's portico.
70. Banāt al-Najjār : Daughters of al-Najjar, a family from Medina known for their hospitality to the Prophet.
71. Kaʿb ibn Zuhayr : A poet who composed the famous poem 'Banat Su'ad' praising the Prophet.
72. al-ʿAbbās : Al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib, the Prophet's uncle.
73. Qays Laylā : Qays ibn al-Mulawwah, known as Majnun Layla, a famous poet of unrequited love.
74. Bashn : Possibly a reference to a poet or a place; unclear.
75. samāʿ : Sufi practice of listening to music or poetry for spiritual ecstasy.
76. Poem emphasizing inner spiritual audition over external poetry.
77. al-Muṣṭafawī : Relating to al-Mustafa, 'the Chosen One,' a title of the Prophet Muhammad.
78. Reference to degrees of divine favor and special closeness to the Prophet.
79. shaṭaḥāt : Ecstatic utterances in Sufism, often paradoxical or seemingly blasphemous.
80. ʿirfān : Gnosis; mystical knowledge of God.
81. awliyāʾ : Saints; friends of God.
82. awtād : Pegs; a high rank of saints believed to uphold the spiritual world.
83. afrād : Singular ones; a rank of saints who are spiritually independent.
84. Ascetics and worshippers; those devoted to piety and devotion.
85. ṣiddīqīn : Veracious ones; those who are truthful and sincere in faith.
86. jannāti ʿadnin : Gardens of Eden: the highest level of Paradise in Islamic eschatology, often associated with eternal bliss and divine presence.
87. maqʿadi ṣidqin bayna l-rawḍi wa l-zahari : A seat of truth between meadows and flowers: a metaphorical description of a spiritual station of truth and beauty in the afterlife.
88. al-samāʿ : Spiritual listening or audition: a Sufi practice involving listening to music, poetry, or chanting to induce ecstatic states and draw closer to God.
89. murīdīn : Seekers: disciples or novices in Sufism who are under the guidance of a spiritual master.
90. murshidīn : Guides: spiritual masters or teachers who guide disciples on the Sufi path.
91. muʿtamidīn : Reliant ones: those who rely completely on God, trusting in His will and providence.
92. mujtahidīn : Striving ones: those who exert great effort in spiritual practices and self-discipline.
93. ʿulamāʾ al-ʿāmilīn : Scholars who act: learned individuals who put their knowledge into practice, embodying their teachings.
94. sālikīn : Wayfarers: travelers on the spiritual path toward God in Sufism.
95. majdhūbīn : Attracted ones: those who are spiritually drawn or pulled toward God, often experiencing ecstatic states.
96. al-sulūk : Spiritual journeying: the disciplined path of spiritual development in Sufism, involving self-purification and progression through stations.
97. al-ḥaqq : The Real: a name for God, emphasizing His absolute reality and truth.
98. ahl al-maʿānī : People of meanings: Sufis who understand the inner, esoteric meanings of religious texts and realities.
99. ahl al-mabānī : People of forms: those who focus on external forms and literal interpretations, as opposed to inner meanings.
100. ahl al-ghayba : People of absence: Sufis in a state of spiritual absorption where they are absent from awareness of the material world.
101. ahl al-ḥuḍūr : People of presence: Sufis who maintain awareness of God while engaged in the world.
102. ahl al-ishāra : People of allusion: those who communicate spiritual truths through symbolic or allusive language.
103. arbāb al-aḥwāl al-rabbāniyya : Masters of lordly states: Sufis who experience spiritual states (aḥwāl) granted by God.
104. ahl al-ʿināya al-ṣamadāniyya : People of eternal care: those who are under God's special, eternal care and attention.
105. shaṭaḥāt : Ecstatic utterances: paradoxical or seemingly blasphemous statements made by Sufis in states of spiritual ecstasy, expressing union with God.
106. khalʿ al-ʿidhār : Casting off the veil: a metaphor for abandoning social conventions and restraints in the pursuit of divine love.
107. al-fuqarāʾ : The poor ones: a term for Sufis, emphasizing their spiritual poverty and dependence on God.
108. wajd : Ecstasy: a state of intense spiritual emotion and joy experienced in Sufi practice.
109. wāridāt ilāhiyya : Divine influxes: spiritual inspirations or illuminations that come directly from God to the heart.
110. barāzikh jamʿiyya : Collective barzakhs: intermediate realms or states between the material and spiritual worlds, where multiple realities converge.
111. kāba qawsayn : Two bow-lengths: a Quranic reference (53:9) describing the proximity of the Prophet Muhammad to God during the Mi'raj, used here to symbolize intimate closeness.
112. mawājid : Ecstatic states: spiritual states of intense emotion and awareness in Sufism, often associated with listening to music or poetry.
113. samā‘ : Spiritual audition or listening to music, poetry, or chanting as a means of attaining spiritual ecstasy in Sufism.
114. shaṭḥ : Ecstatic utterance, often paradoxical or seemingly blasphemous, uttered by a Sufi in a state of spiritual intoxication.
115. jadhb : Spiritual attraction; a state where the seeker is drawn towards God by divine grace without personal effort.
116. qāba qawsayn aw adnā : A Quranic phrase (53:9) referring to the Prophet Muhammad's proximity to God during the Mi‘raj; used here to denote the highest spiritual station.
117. awtād : Literally 'pegs'; in Sufism, refers to the highest-ranking saints who are considered the spiritual pillars of the world.
118. ajrās : Literally 'bells'; a term for saints who are deeply immersed in the beauty of God, ringing with divine love.
119. afrād : Solitaries; a class of saints who are unique and stand alone in their spiritual station.
120. al-samā‘ : Spiritual audition or listening to music or poetry with a mystical intent, often associated with Sufi practices.
121. rijāl al-ghayb : The 'men of the unseen' or hidden saints, spiritual beings who are concealed from ordinary perception.
122. al-ṣafīḥ al-a‘lā : The 'highest tablet' or the Preserved Tablet (al-lawḥ al-maḥfūẓ) in Islamic cosmology.
123. al-bayt al-ma‘mūr : The 'much-frequented house,' a celestial counterpart of the Kaaba in the heavens, visited by angels.
124. aḥwāl : Spiritual states or conditions granted by God to the mystic, often transient.
125. majādhīb : Those who are spiritually attracted or drawn to God, often experiencing ecstatic states.
126. ghayba wa ḥuḍūr : Spiritual 'absence' (from creation) and 'presence' (with God), key concepts in Sufi psychology.
127. uns wa idlāl : Intimacy with God and a sense of boldness or familiarity in His presence.
128. al-mukallamūn ‘alā jabal al-Ṭūr : Those spoken to on Mount Sinai, referring to prophets like Moses, but here applied to saints.
129. Qur’an 39:53 (paraphrased) : A divine address of forgiveness, though the exact wording is not a direct Qur’anic verse.
130. malā’ikat al-taṣrīf : Angels entrusted with the disposal or management of cosmic affairs.
131. wilāya : Sainthood or spiritual authority, a central concept in Sufism.
132. al-Zabūr : The Psalms, often understood as the scripture of David, but here interpreted esoterically.
133. al-dhikr : The Reminder, often referring to the Qur’an or the Preserved Tablet.
134. Qur’an 21:105 : A verse promising the earth to righteous servants.
135. Qur’an 21:106 : A verse stating that this is a message for worshippers.
136. Qur’an 21:105 : Repeated for emphasis.
137. Qur’an 21:105 : Repeated with esoteric interpretation.
138. qāba qawsayn aw adnā : A Qur’anic phrase (53:9) describing the Prophet’s proximity to God during the Mi‘raj.
139. shaṭaḥāt : Ecstatic utterances or paradoxical sayings of Sufis, often considered inspired.
140. Qur’an 21:105 : Repeated with further esoteric interpretation.
141. Qur’an 6:90 : A verse instructing to follow the guidance of the prophets.
142. Qur’an 21:106 : Repeated.
143. Qur’an 2:157 : A verse promising blessings and mercy to the guided.
144. Qur’an 21:106 : Repeated.
145. Qur’an 10:62 : A verse assuring the friends of God of no fear or grief.
146. al-Salih : Arabic: 'the righteous'. A title or surname for the person addressed.
147. Qur'an 34:28 : Qur'anic verse: 'Indeed in this is a message for a worshipping people.'
148. Qur'an 58:22 : Qur'anic verse: 'Those are the party of God. Indeed, the party of God are the successful.'
149. guides : Arabic: 'murshidun', spiritual guides in Sufism.
150. Qur'an 39:18 : Qur'anic verse: 'Those are whom God has guided, and those are the people of understanding.'
151. listening : Arabic: 'al-sama''. A Sufi practice of listening to music or poetry for spiritual ecstasy.
152. hadith : A prophetic tradition; here referring to a narration about Adam's creation.
153. al-latīfa al-rabbāniyya : The lordly subtlety; a spiritual essence or faculty bestowed by God, often associated with the primordial covenant.
154. yawm 'alastu : The day of 'Am I not your Lord?' (Quran 7:172), referring to the primordial covenant between God and humanity.
155. mukhabbala : Corrupted or spoiled; here, a person whose presence spoils the wine (spiritual state) of others.
156. al-ṭarīqa al-ṣāfiya : The pure path; refers to the Sufi path of spiritual purification.
157. murīd : Disciple or seeker on the Sufi path.
158. al-futūḥāt : Openings; spiritual illuminations or divine gifts granted to the seeker.
159. al-kawtarī : A musical instrument; possibly a type of stringed instrument.
160. al-mulk wa al-malakūt : The kingdom and the dominion; the physical and spiritual realms.
161. al-'arsh : The Throne of God; symbol of divine sovereignty.
162. al-jam' : Union; a state of spiritual unification with the divine.
163. 'ayn al-ḥaqīqa : The eye of reality; the essential truth or divine essence.
164. al-'aqabāt al-sab' : The seven obstacles; stages or stations of spiritual purification.
165. al-shaṭaḥāt : Ecstatic utterances; paradoxical or ecstatic sayings of Sufis.
166. bayna yaday mawlākum : Before your Lord; in the presence of God.
167. al-aḥzāb : Litanies; regular devotional prayers or recitations.
168. al-ribāṭ : A Sufi lodge or hospice; a place for spiritual retreat.
169. ikhwānī : My brothers; a term of address used by the author.
170. mutawājid : One who experiences ecstasy (wajd); a state of spiritual rapture.
171. tajallī : Unveiling or manifestation of divine attributes; a Sufi term for the disclosure of God's beauty or majesty to the heart.
172. takhallī : Detachment or purification; the process of emptying oneself from worldly attachments and vices.
173. waḥdat al-wujūd : Unity of existence; a controversial Sufi doctrine associated with Ibn Arabi, asserting that all existence is a manifestation of God.
174. anṣār : Helpers; originally the Medinan supporters of the Prophet Muhammad; here used metaphorically for spiritual supporters.
175. anā al-ḥaqq : I am the Truth; a famous utterance of the Sufi martyr al-Hallaj, considered blasphemous by many orthodox scholars.
176. aṭwār : Stages or states; in Sufism, the various spiritual stations (maqāmāt) and states (aḥwāl) on the path.
177. samāʿ : Listening; a Sufi practice of listening to music, poetry, or chanting to induce spiritual ecstasy.
178. wuṣūl : Arrival; the Sufi goal of reaching God or spiritual perfection.
179. al-maʿqūl wa al-manqūl : The rational and the transmitted; referring to intellectual knowledge and scriptural knowledge.
180. awliyāʾ : Saints or friends of God; those who have attained closeness to God.
181. fuḥūl : Masters or great scholars; literally 'stallions,' used metaphorically for eminent authorities.
182. sharīʿa muḥammadiyya : Muhammadan Law; the Islamic legal and ethical system based on the Quran and Sunnah.
183. furūʿ wa uṣūl : Branches and roots; in Islamic jurisprudence, uṣūl are the foundational principles, furūʿ are the derived rulings.
184. murīd : Disciple; a seeker on the Sufi path who submits to a spiritual guide.
185. sālik : Wayfarer; a traveler on the spiritual path.
186. ʿaqabāt sabʿ : Seven obstacles; possibly referring to the seven stages of the soul or seven valleys in Sufi literature.
187. murāqabāt : Watchfulness; a Sufi practice of constant awareness of God.
188. kharq al-ʿawāʾid : Breaking of habits; a term for miracles or supernatural acts that break the natural order.
189. karāmāt : Miracles or wonders; extraordinary acts performed by saints as a sign of divine favor.
190. samāʿ : Listening; the letters S, M, A, and 'Ayn are used to spell the word samāʿ in Arabic.
191. al-badʾ wa al-iʿādāt : The beginning and the returns; possibly referring to the start and repetition of spiritual practices.
192. firāsa : Discernment; spiritual insight or intuition, often considered a gift from God.
193. al-Imām al-Bakrī : Imam al-Bakri; a reference to a Sufi saint or scholar, possibly Abu Bakr al-Bakri or another figure.
194. watr : String; here referring to the string of a musical instrument, such as a lute or violin.
195. ṣabb : Ardent lover, one deeply in love, often used in Sufi poetry for the lover of God.
196. athar : Trace or effect; here refers to the visible signs of divine wisdom or spiritual states.
197. majdhūbūn sālikūn : Enraptured wayfarers; Sufis who are both attracted (majdhūb) by divine grace and traversing the path (sālik).
198. mawājid : Ecstasies or spiritual states; plural of wajd, a state of intense spiritual emotion.
199. ʿārifīn : Knowers; those who have gnosis (maʿrifa) of God.
200. layl al-dulā : Night of the lovers; dulā is a term for lovers or those in a state of love.
201. ḥajj wa ʿumr : Major and minor pilgrimage to Mecca; here used metaphorically for spiritual journey.
202. ḥaḍar : Presence; refers to the divine presence or spiritual station.
203. suwar : Chapters of the Quran; here used metaphorically for verses of love.
204. ḥaḍarāt : Presences; spiritual realms or stations in Sufi cosmology.
205. tanazzulāt ʿindiyya : Divine descents; spiritual inspirations or revelations from God.
206. maḍājiʿihim : Their beds; refers to the inability to sleep due to spiritual longing.
207. Quran 32:17 : Quranic verse about hidden rewards for the righteous.
208. al-qawm : The folk; a term for the Sufi community or spiritual elite.
209. murīd : Disciple; a seeker on the Sufi path.
210. tawba : Repentance; turning back to God.
211. turjumān al-muḥaqqiqīn : Interpreter of the verifiers; a title for a leading Sufi scholar.
212. ʿilm al-ghayb : Knowledge of the unseen; divine foreknowledge.
213. Quran 3:85 : Quranic verse on the exclusivity of Islam.
214. madkhūla : Defective; actions that are flawed or impure.
215. Muhammad : The Prophet of Islam, considered the final messenger in Islam.
216. Quran 40:60 : A verse from the Quran: 'Call upon Me, I will respond to you.'
217. as-Samad : One of the names of God in Islam, meaning 'The Eternal, the Self-Sufficient.'
218. ar-ruknu al-qawiyy : Literally 'the strong pillar,' a metaphor for God's support.
219. al-Mustafa : An epithet of the Prophet Muhammad, meaning 'the Chosen One.'
220. al-fath al-jalil : Literally 'the great opening,' a Sufi term for spiritual illumination or divine unveiling.
221. Kawthar : A river in Paradise mentioned in the Quran, also the name of a sura.
222. wilaya : Sainthood or spiritual authority; in Sufism, the state of being a friend of God.
223. Israfil : The archangel who blows the trumpet on the Day of Resurrection.
224. Khindif : An ancestor of the Prophet Muhammad, part of his lineage.
225. Mudar : A major tribal group in Arabia, from which the Prophet's tribe Quraysh descends.
226. Taha : One of the names of the Prophet Muhammad, also the title of Sura 20 of the Quran.
227. Adnan : A legendary ancestor of the northern Arabs, including the Prophet Muhammad.
228. Ahmad : Another name of the Prophet Muhammad, meaning 'most praiseworthy.'
229. ar-Ruh al-Amin : The Trustworthy Spirit, a title for the angel Gabriel.
230. Quran 26:193-195 : Verses from the Quran describing the revelation of the Quran in Arabic.
231. Ta Ha : Letters that appear at the beginning of Sura 20 of the Quran, also a name of the Prophet.
232. Quran 20:1-8 : Verses from Sura Ta Ha.
233. Tasnīm : A spring in Paradise mentioned in the Qur'an (83:27), also used here to describe the sweetness of divine discourse.
234. Hāshimī : Belonging to the Banū Hāshim, the clan of the Prophet Muhammad.
235. Night of the Ascension : The Isra' and Mi'raj, the Prophet's night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and his ascension through the heavens.
236. Much-Frequented House : Al-Bayt al-Ma'mūr, a celestial counterpart of the Kaaba in the seventh heaven, visited by angels.
237. Ṭāhā : One of the names of the Prophet Muhammad, also the title of Surah 20 of the Qur'an.
238. jāh : Rank or station; refers to the high spiritual status of the Prophet Muhammad, used as a means of supplication.
239. ru'yat al-dhāt : Vision of the Essence; a Sufi concept of direct contemplation of God's essence.
240. al-ʿulūm al-ladunniyya : Divine knowledge; knowledge granted directly by God without intermediary.
241. al-kamālāt al-aḥmadiyya : Ahmadine perfections; perfections attributed to the Prophet Muhammad, whose name Ahmad means 'most praiseworthy'.
242. Adnān : Ancestor of the Prophet Muhammad; refers to the noble lineage of the Prophet.
243. mulk wa malakūt : Dominion and kingdom; in Islamic cosmology, mulk is the physical world and malakūt is the spiritual or angelic realm.
244. Bahamūt : A mythical creature in Islamic cosmology, often described as a giant fish or bull supporting the earth.
245. Kawthar : A river in Paradise promised to the Prophet Muhammad; also the name of a chapter in the Quran.
246. jāh : Rank or station; here refers to the Prophet Muhammad's intercessory rank before Allah.
247. al-mawqif : The Standing; the Day of Resurrection when all creatures stand before Allah for judgment.
248. shaykh : Spiritual master or guide in Sufism.
249. murīd : Disciple or seeker on the spiritual path under a shaykh.
250. tajrīd : Abstraction; a Sufi term for stripping away worldly attachments to focus solely on Allah.
251. al-kāmil, al-wāfir, al-ṭawīl, al-madīd : Names of Arabic poetic meters (baḥr) used in classical prosody.
252. ḥadīth : A saying or narration of the Prophet Muhammad.
253. sunna : The established practices and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad.
254. Muṣṭafawiyya : Pertaining to al-Muṣṭafā, an epithet of the Prophet meaning 'the Chosen One'.
255. tanazzulāt malakūtiyya : Angelic descents; spiritual states or revelations from the angelic realm (malakūt).
256. mawāhib jabariyya : Omnipotent gifts; divine bestowals from the realm of divine power (jabarūt).
257. futūḥāt wahbiyya : Bestowed openings; spiritual illuminations or insights granted by Allah.
258. al-bisāṭ al-aʿlā : The highest expanse; a Sufi term for the highest spiritual realm or divine presence.
259. ḥaḍratay al-jamʿ wa al-farq : The two presences of gathering and separation; Sufi concepts referring to states of union with and distinction from the Divine.
260. jāh : Rank or station; refers to the Prophet's high spiritual status and intercessory power.
261. ḥalbat al-tawfīq : The arena of divine success; a metaphor for the spiritual race towards God's favor.
262. al-ṣudāʿ, dhāt al-janb, al-shawṣa, al-fatq : Various ailments: headache, pleurisy, migraine, and hernia.
263. quṭb : Pole or axis; in Sufism, the highest spiritual authority of the age.
264. tawḥīd : The oneness of God; the central Islamic doctrine of monotheism.
265. ʿārifūn : Gnostics; those who have direct experiential knowledge of God.
266. kashf : Unveiling; spiritual disclosure or illumination.
267. nūruhu wa-huwa yuṭlab : Reference to the primordial light of Muhammad, which was sought by creation.
268. aṣfiyāʾ : The elite; chosen saints or purified souls.
269. Ṭāhā : One of the names of the Prophet Muhammad, from the Quranic chapter.
270. ṣiddīqūn : The truthful; a high rank of veracity and righteousness.
271. aqṭāb : Poles; plural of quṭb, the highest spiritual authorities.
272. awtād : Pegs; in Sufi hierarchy, saints who sustain the spiritual world.
273. al-ṣiddīqiyya al-ʿuẓmā : The supreme truthfulness; the highest degree of veracity.
274. ajrās : Bells; a term for a rank of saints, possibly referring to those who 'ring' with divine remembrance.
275. afrād : Solitaries; a rank of saints who are unique in their spiritual station.
276. yawm al-ḥashr wa al-tanād : The Day of Gathering and Summoning; the Day of Judgment.
277. futūḥāt rabbāniyya : Lordly openings; divine illuminations or spiritual conquests.
278. jāh : Rank or intercessory status; the honor and station of the Prophet Muhammad before Allah.
279. madad muḥammadī : Muhammadan spiritual support or assistance; a Sufi concept of receiving help through the Prophet's spiritual influence.
280. wajd : Ecstasy or intense spiritual emotion, often associated with Sufi states of love and longing.
281. al-ḥaṣbā' : Pebbles; reference to the miracle of the pebbles glorifying Allah in the Prophet's hand, as reported in hadith.
282. mushāhadah : Spiritual vision or witnessing; in Sufism, the direct contemplation of divine realities or the Prophet.
283. kalimatā al-shahādah : The two words of the testimony of faith: 'There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.'
284. hawl al-mawqif : The terror of the standing; refers to the Day of Resurrection when all souls stand before Allah for judgment.
285. al-furqān : The Criterion; a name for the Quran, which distinguishes truth from falsehood.
286. wādī al-‘aqīq : A valley near Medina, known for its beauty and associated with the Prophet's biography.
287. it : Refers to the prayer or blessing mentioned earlier in the text.
288. maiden : In Sufi poetry, the beloved often symbolizes divine beauty or the spiritual goal.
289. Nu'man : A valley near Mecca, often mentioned in Arabic poetry as a place of beauty.
290. Sulayma : A feminine name, often used in Arabic poetry as a beloved.
291. family of our master Muhammad : Refers to the Prophet Muhammad's family, including his descendants and companions.
292. muwashshahat : A genre of Arabic strophic poetry, often with a refrain.
293. twenty-four meters : Refers to the classical Arabic poetic meters (buhur) used in prosody.
294. five principles : Names of specific poetic forms or collections used in praise of the Prophet.
295. al-Tawil, al-Madid, al-Basit : Names of classical Arabic poetic meters.
296. Mustafawi : Derived from al-Mustafa, a title of the Prophet Muhammad meaning 'the Chosen One'.
297. Ahmadi : Derived from Ahmad, another name of the Prophet Muhammad.
298. Dhī Salam : A place name associated with the Prophet Muḥammad's beauty, often used in Sufi poetry.
299. Wādī al-ʿAqīq : A valley near Medina, associated with the Prophet's beloved presence.
300. brides : Metaphor for beautiful poetic descriptions or spiritual truths.
301. Ṭaybah : A name for Medina, meaning 'the good/pure one'.
302. Ṭāhā : A name of the Prophet Muḥammad, from the Qur'anic chapter Ṭā Hā.
303. Muḥammadan : Referring to the spiritual reality or essence of the Prophet Muḥammad.
304. zamharīr : An extreme cold mentioned in Islamic eschatology as part of Hell's punishment.
305. the Standing : The Day of Resurrection when all souls stand before Allah for judgment.
306. jāh : Rank or station; here referring to the Prophet Muhammad's high status with Allah.
307. sadana : Attendants or caretakers of a sacred place, such as the Kaaba.
308. rumūz : Symbols or allusions; esoteric signs.
309. istihlāl : Opening; the beginning of a speech or poem, often with rhetorical brilliance.
310. ḥadīth : The sayings and traditions of the Prophet Muhammad.
311. hilāl : Crescent moon; metaphor for the Prophet's beautiful face.
312. mayman : Right hand; symbol of blessing and power.
313. dāl : The letter dāl; possibly a reference to a mystical symbol or the Prophet's name.
314. al-Muṣṭafā : The Chosen One; an epithet of the Prophet Muhammad.
315. quṭb : Pole or axis; in Sufism, the highest spiritual authority.
316. Ṭāhā : One of the names of the Prophet Muhammad, from Surah Taha in the Quran.
317. shaṭaḥāt : Ecstatic utterances; paradoxical sayings of Sufis in a state of spiritual intoxication.
318. jadhb : Divine attraction; a state of being drawn towards God.
319. jāh : Rank or station; here refers to the Prophet Muhammad's intercessory rank before Allah.
320. wilāya : Sainthood or spiritual authority; the state of being a friend of Allah (walī).
321. al-Bayt al-Ma'mūr : The Frequented House; a celestial counterpart of the Kaaba in heaven, visited by angels.
322. al-qarītayn : The two towns; often interpreted as Mecca and Ta'if, or the two great cities of the world.
323. kibriyā' al-ahmar : Red sulfur; a term in alchemy and Sufism for the elixir or the highest spiritual state, symbolizing the Prophet's supreme secret.
324. ṣamadāniyya : Relating to al-Ṣamad, 'the Self-Sufficient' (a divine name); here describing words that partake of divine self-subsistence.
325. kushūfāt ʿiyāniyya : Unveilings or disclosures that are ocular, i.e., direct spiritual visions.
326. furqāniyya : Relating to al-Furqān, 'the Criterion' (a name of the Qur'an); here meaning descents of discernment or revelation.
327. fardāniyya : Relating to al-Fard, 'the Unique' (a divine name); solitary or unique gnoses.
328. al-Muṣṭafā : The Chosen One, a title of the Prophet Muhammad.
329. Nūn wa-l-Qalam : Reference to Qur'an 68:1, 'Nun. By the pen and what they inscribe.'
330. khatam : Seal; the Prophet Muhammad is the Seal of the Prophets.
331. al-Muhaymin : The Dominant, the Guardian, one of the names of God.
332. shajaratuhu al-shamma' : His lofty tree: a metaphor for the Prophet Muhammad's noble lineage or spiritual stature.
333. durratuhu al-bahiyya al-'asma' : His brilliant, infallible pearl: a metaphor for the Prophet's perfect and sinless essence.
334. mahajjatuhu al-nasi'a : His clear path: refers to the Prophet's way (Sunnah) or the straight path of Islam.
335. masa'iq al-suluk al-shasi'a : The distant stretches of spiritual wayfaring: refers to the long stages of the spiritual journey (suluk) towards God.
336. tawajad : Be ecstatic: a Sufi term for experiencing spiritual ecstasy or intense emotion.
337. mut jawā : Die of passion: a Sufi concept of dying to the self through intense love for the Divine.
338. a'yān al-maḥāḍir : The very presence of witnesses: a term in Sufi metaphysics referring to the fixed entities or archetypes in divine knowledge.
339. aṭwāruhu : His states: refers to the Prophet's spiritual states (ahwal) or stages (maqamat).
340. al-Ḥuzn : Al-Huzn: a place name, possibly a valley or area near Medina.
341. Khājir : Khajir: a place name, possibly a valley or area near Medina.
342. al-Muṣallā : Al-Musalla: a place near Medina where the Prophet used to pray.
343. al-ʿAqīq : Al-Aqiq: a valley near Medina.
344. al-farqadayn : The two bears: refers to the two stars in the constellation Ursa Major, used as a symbol of high rank.
345. bi-akhmaṣihi : With the sole of his foot: a reference to the Prophet's humility, as his feet would swell from long prayers.
346. Huwa : The Divine Essence or the Prophet Muhammad, depending on context; here likely the Divine.
347. Sitār : Veil; in Sufism, the veils that conceal the Divine from creation.
348. Kunh : Essence or true nature; the innermost reality of something.
349. Baṣā'ir : Inner visions or spiritual insights; the faculty of spiritual perception.
350. ‘Urūsh al-Dawā'ir : Thrones of circles; possibly referring to celestial spheres or levels of existence.
351. Al-Awwal : The First; one of the names of God, meaning the Eternal without beginning.
352. Al-Ḥaqq : The Truth; one of the names of God, also used for the ultimate reality.
353. Al-Fātiḥ : The Opener; one of the names of God, also a title of the Prophet Muhammad as the opener of guidance.
354. Al-Khātam : The Seal; referring to the Prophet Muhammad as the Seal of the Prophets.
355. Khātam al-Rusul : Seal of the Messengers; a title of Prophet Muhammad.
356. Muṣṭafawī : Pertaining to al-Muṣṭafā (the Chosen One), a title of Prophet Muhammad.
357. al-Insān al-Kāmil : The Perfect Man; a Sufi concept of the human archetype who perfectly manifests divine attributes.
358. ‘Adnānī : Descendant of ‘Adnān; referring to the Prophet's lineage.
359. Aḥmadī : Pertaining to Aḥmad, another name of Prophet Muhammad.
360. al-Siwā : Other-than-Him; in Sufi terminology, everything other than God.
361. al-Abīraq : A place name; possibly a location in Arabia.
362. al-Ghawr : The lowland; a region in Arabia.
363. Najd : A central region of Arabia.
364. Falflaghān : A place name; possibly a location in Arabia.
365. al-Mathani : Literally 'the oft-repeated'; refers to Surah al-Fatiha or the Quran as a whole, often symbolizing divine speech.
366. akwan : Plural of kawn; means 'contingent beings' or 'worlds', referring to created existence.
367. ayn al-ayan : Literally 'the eye of vision'; a Sufi term for the essence of divine manifestation or the reality of the Beloved.
368. Muhammadan love : Love centered on the Prophet Muhammad, seen as the perfect manifestation of divine love.
369. Mustafan beauty : Beauty related to al-Mustafa, 'the Chosen One', a title of the Prophet Muhammad.
370. Al-Shibli : Abu Bakr al-Shibli (d. 945 CE), a famous Sufi master from Baghdad, known for his ecstatic states.
371. Abu Hamza al-Baghdadi al-Bazzaz : A Sufi shaykh from Baghdad, known for his teachings on love and ecstasy.
372. wajd : Ecstasy or intense spiritual emotion experienced in the presence of the Divine.
373. hal : A spiritual state or condition granted by God, often transient and overwhelming.
374. Ibn al-Rumi : A famous Abbasid poet (d. 896 CE), known for his refined poetry.
375. Majnun Layla : The archetypal lover in Arabic literature, driven mad by his love for Layla.
376. Ibrahim al-Tazi : A Sufi saint and poet, known for his intense love poetry.
377. majdhūbīn : Those who are spiritually attracted or drawn to God, often in a state of ecstatic love.
378. al-sirr al-lāhūtī : The divine secret; a Sufi term referring to the innermost mystery of the divine essence.
379. arbāb al-shaṭaḥāt : Masters of ecstatic utterances; Sufis who experience overwhelming spiritual states and express them in paradoxical or ecstatic sayings.
380. al-jadhba : Spiritual attraction or ecstasy; a state of being drawn towards God.
381. al-Ḥaram : The Sacred Sanctuary in Mecca.
382. Dār al-Salām : The Abode of Peace; a name for Paradise.
383. al-fatḥ : Spiritual opening or illumination; a Sufi term for divine unveiling.
384. salīl al-sarawāt al-kirām : Descendant of the noble heavens; a reference to the Prophet Muhammad's noble lineage.
385. zayn al-lithām : Adornment of the veil; a poetic epithet for the Prophet Muhammad.
386. labinat al-tamām : The completing brick; a reference to a hadith where the Prophet is described as the final brick completing the building of prophethood.
387. misk al-khitām : The musk of the seal; a metaphor for the Prophet as the final and most excellent of prophets.
388. man nasajat ʿalayhi al-ʿankabūt wa ẓallalahu al-ghamām : The one for whom the spider wove and the cloud shaded; allusions to events during the Hijra (migration) when a spider web concealed the cave and a cloud provided shade.
389. al-Masīḥ al-Dajjāl : The False Messiah or Antichrist in Islamic eschatology, a deceiver who will appear before the Day of Judgment.
390. samṭ al-āl : Literally 'the necklace of the family,' a metaphor for the Prophet Muhammad's family (Ahl al-Bayt) as the central ornament.
391. wāsiṭat al-ʿiqd : The centerpiece of a necklace, referring to the Prophet Muhammad as the central figure of the family.
392. ṭā'iruhu : Literally 'his bird,' a metaphor for one's fortune or omen, often used in pre-Islamic and Islamic poetry.
393. salīl al-sarawāt : Descendant of the heavens, a poetic reference to the Prophet Muhammad's elevated spiritual lineage.
394. istighāthāt : Cries for help or intercession, often directed to the Prophet Muhammad in Sufi contexts.
395. yawm 'alastu : The Day of the Covenant (Qur'an 7:172), when Allah asked all souls 'Am I not your Lord?' and they affirmed.
396. yā salmu : A poetic address to a beloved, possibly a reference to the Prophet Muhammad or a symbolic figure.
397. Da'd wa Hind : Common names in classical Arabic poetry for beloved women, symbolizing worldly distractions.
398. ufq al-Sind : The horizon of Sind (a region in South Asia), used poetically to denote a distant or exotic place.
399. qāba qawsayn aw adnā : A Qur'anic phrase (53:9) describing the Prophet Muhammad's proximity to Allah during the Mi'raj (Ascension).
400. al-ahmadiyya : Relating to Ahmad, one of the Prophet Muhammad's names, meaning 'most praiseworthy.'
401. al-wilāya wa al-taṣrīf : Sainthood and spiritual authority, referring to the ability to act as a saint (wali) with divine permission.
402. Taha : One of the names of the Prophet Muhammad, derived from the Qur'anic chapter Taha (20:1).
403. jidhʿ al-nakhl : The palm trunk that is said to have wept when the Prophet Muhammad stopped leaning on it for sermons, a known hadith.
404. Kāwashakā : Possibly a reference to a place or group; unclear, but may be a poetic name for enemies or gatherings.
405. Mudar wa Fihr : Two prominent tribes of the Quraysh, the Prophet Muhammad's lineage.
406. Sayyid al-Awa'il wa al-Awakhir : Title of Prophet Muhammad, meaning 'Master of the First and the Last' (of creation or of prophets).
407. Siddiqiyya : Rank of veracity or truthfulness, often associated with Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, the highest level after prophethood.
408. Sahib al-Khisal al-Mahmuda : Possessor of Praiseworthy Qualities, referring to Prophet Muhammad.
409. 'Arif : A gnostic or knower of God, one with spiritual insight.
410. Qudwat al-A'yan wa al-Mashahir : Exemplar of the Eminent and the Famous, referring to Prophet Muhammad.
411. 'Arus al-Mashahid wa al-Jamahir : Bride of the Witnessed and the Multitudes, a poetic title for Prophet Muhammad.
412. 'Arus al-Mashahid wa al-Mazahir : Bride of the Witnessed and the Manifestations, a variant of the previous title.
413. Sayyid al-Muluk wa al-Ashraf : Master of Kings and Nobles, referring to Prophet Muhammad.
414. Sayyid Ahl al-'Adl wa al-Insaf : Master of the People of Justice and Equity, referring to Prophet Muhammad.
415. Al 'Imran, al-Nisa', al-'Uqud, al-A'raf : Names of Quranic chapters (Surahs) where Prophet Muhammad is praised.
416. Sayyid Ahl al-Zuhd wa al-'Afaf : Master of the People of Asceticism and Chastity, referring to Prophet Muhammad.
417. al-Tawasin, al-Hawamim, al-Ahqaf : Quranic chapters: Surahs beginning with Ta-Sin (e.g., al-Naml), Ha-Mim (e.g., al-Mu'min), and al-Ahqaf.
418. Sayyid Bani Hashim wa 'Abd Manaf : Master of the Sons of Hashim and Abd Manaf, referring to Prophet Muhammad's lineage.
419. Sahib al-Taj wa al-Liwa' wa al-Qadib : Possessor of the Crown, the Banner, and the Staff, symbolic titles for Prophet Muhammad.
420. Rakib al-Baghla wa al-Najib : Rider of the Mule and the Swift Steed, referring to Prophet Muhammad's mounts.
421. Mustafawian : Relating to al-Mustafa, 'the Chosen One', a title of the Prophet Muhammad.
422. kingdomly : Translation of 'malakūtiyya', referring to the spiritual or angelic realm (malakūt).
423. Sharia : Islamic divine law.
424. descents : Translation of 'tanazzulāt', referring to the descending of divine manifestations or spiritual states.
425. self-disclosures : Translation of 'tajalliyāt', divine self-manifestations or unveilings.
426. presences : Translation of 'ḥaḍarāt', spiritual presences or stations of divine manifestation.
427. pure precinct : Referring to the Prophet's mosque in Medina, where he is buried.
428. unveiling : Translation of 'al-fatḥ', spiritual opening or illumination.
429. rust : Translation of 'al-rān', a spiritual covering or rust on the heart due to sins.
430. Abode of Honor : Translation of 'dār al-karāma', a reference to Paradise.
431. Highest Assembly : Translation of 'al-mala' al-a'lā', the assembly of angels in heaven.
432. Indeed, Allah and His angels bless the Prophet : Quran 33:56.
433. Lower Assembly : Translation of 'al-mala' al-adnā', the assembly of believers on earth.
434. O you who have believed, bless him and grant him peace : Quran 33:56.
435. surrounding cycles : Translation of 'al-adwār al-muḥīṭa', possibly referring to spiritual realms or cycles of existence.
436. Indeed, those who pledge allegiance to you, they are only pledging allegiance to Allah : Quran 48:10.
437. simple forms : Translation of 'al-ashkāl al-basīṭa', possibly referring to basic forms of creation or spiritual states.
438. O you who have believed, do not enter the houses of the Prophet unless permission is given to you : Quran 33:53.
439. There has certainly come to you a Messenger... : Quran 9:128.
440. O Prophet, indeed We have sent you... : Quran 33:45-47.
441. قياسات عقلية ونقلية : Rational and transmitted analogies: methods of reasoning based on intellect (ʿaql) and transmitted texts (naql).
442. أقلام الإرادة : Pens of volition: a Sufi term referring to the divine will that inscribes knowledge in the intellects.
443. سوابق السعادة : Precedents of felicity: pre-eternal divine decrees of happiness or salvation.
444. سورة القلم : Surah al-Qalam (68:1-4): 'Nun. By the pen and what they inscribe, you are not, by the grace of your Lord, a madman. And indeed, for you is a reward never ending. And indeed, you are of a great moral character.'
445. سورة يس : Surah Ya Sin (36:1-5): 'Ya Sin. By the Wise Quran, indeed you are among the messengers, on a straight path. The revelation of the Mighty, the Merciful.'
446. سورة الشورى : Surah al-Shura (42:1-3): 'Ha Mim. Ain Sin Qaf. Thus does Allah, the Mighty, the Wise, reveal to you and to those before you.'
447. سورة الكهف : Surah al-Kahf (18:109): 'Say, "If the sea were ink for the words of my Lord, the sea would be exhausted before the words of my Lord were exhausted, even if We brought the like of it as a supplement."‘
448. سورة : Sura: a chapter of the Quran.
449. مليح الحي : Malih al-Hayy: a poetic epithet meaning 'the beautiful one of the tribe' or 'the fair one of the living,' often used in Sufi poetry to refer to the Prophet Muhammad.
450. محكم : Muhkam: decisive or clear verses of the Quran, as opposed to ambiguous (mutashabih).
451. المواهب : Al-Mawahib: likely referring to 'al-Mawahib al-Laduniyya' by al-Qastallani, a work on the Prophet's virtues.
452. عمر بن الفارض السعدي : 'Umar ibn al-Farid al-Sa'di: a famous Sufi poet (1181-1235 CE), known for his love poetry about the Prophet.
453. بدر الدين الزركشي : Badr al-Din al-Zarkashi (1344-1392 CE): a Shafi'i scholar and author of works on Quranic sciences.
454. أبو تمام : Abu Tammam (788-845 CE): a major Abbasid poet.
455. البحتري : Al-Buhturi (821-897 CE): a prominent Abbasid poet.
456. ابن الرومي : Ibn al-Rumi (836-896 CE): a renowned Abbasid poet.
457. البصيري : Al-Busiri (1211-1294 CE): a Sufi poet famous for his poem 'al-Burda' in praise of the Prophet.
458. Ra'ūf Raḥīm : Two of God's names meaning 'Kind' and 'Merciful', often paired in the Qur'an.
459. Ibn al-Khaṭīb : Probably referring to the famous Andalusian scholar and poet Lisān al-Dīn Ibn al-Khaṭīb (d. 776/1374).
460. al-Khallāq : An attribute of God meaning 'The Creator' or 'The Fashioner'.
461. akhadha : Literally 'seizure' or 'taking'; in Sufi terminology, a divine attraction that seizes the heart.
462. al-Imām : Likely referring to a Sufi master, possibly Junayd al-Baghdādī or another early authority.
463. al-mutawallī al-makhṣūṣ al-akbar : The specially appointed greatest one; possibly referring to the Prophet Muhammad or a spiritual pole (quṭb).
464. tawḥīd : The Islamic doctrine of the oneness of God.
465. Qur'an 58:22 : The verse is from Sūrat al-Mujādilah.
466. qahwa : Coffee; the text discusses its spiritual effects and permissibility.
467. fatā : Literally 'youth'; in Sufi context, often refers to a spiritual master or a figure like al-Khiḍr.
468. al-huwiyya al-ḥaqīqiyya : The true Ipsity or the real 'He-ness' of God.
469. Aḥad : The first verse of Sūrat al-Ikhlāṣ: 'Say: He is God, the One.'
470. bāqī al-sūra : The rest of Sūrat al-Ikhlāṣ: 'God, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent.'
471. bahw : A chamber or pavilion, often used in Sufi contexts to denote a spiritual station or abode.
472. istighrāq : Absorption or immersion in the contemplation of the Divine, a state of spiritual ecstasy.
473. taḥqīq : Realization or verification of spiritual truths through direct experience.
474. huwiyyah : Identity or essence, often referring to the divine identity or the true self.
475. rusūm bashariyyah : Human forms or traces, referring to the limitations of human attributes.
476. tawḥīd : The oneness of God; the central Islamic doctrine of monotheism.
477. uns : Intimacy or familiarity with God, a station of spiritual closeness.
478. tafrīd : Singling out God as the sole object of devotion, a stage of tawḥīd.
479. riḍā : Divine good pleasure or contentment; a state of acceptance of God's will.
480. riḍwān : Supreme satisfaction or approval from God, often associated with paradise.
481. kalimatā al-shahādah : The two testimonies of faith: 'There is no god but God, and Muḥammad is the Messenger of God.'
482. ṣilah baynī wa baynahu : A connection between the supplicant and the Prophet through blessings.
483. al-ṭibb an yafqida khayālaka mā wajad : A poetic line meaning the cure is to lose the imagination of what was found, i.e., to transcend mental constructs.
484. malakūt : The angelic or spiritual realm, the world of divine sovereignty.
485. jabarūt : The realm of divine power and might, higher than malakūt.
486. al-Ṣamad : The Eternal, the Self-Sufficient; a name of God meaning the one upon whom all depend.
487. nāsūt : The human or material realm, the world of physical existence.
488. lāhūt : The divine realm, the essence of God.
489. al-abad : Eternity without end; the everlasting future.
490. Muḥammadiyyah : Pertaining to the Prophet Muḥammad, often denoting his spiritual reality.
491. Aḥmadiyyah : Pertaining to the name Aḥmad, another name of the Prophet, emphasizing his praiseworthy qualities.
492. rūḥ al-arwāḥ : The Spirit of Spirits, a high spiritual station or the universal intellect.
493. ʿarshiyyah : Pertaining to the Throne of God, symbolizing divine sovereignty.
494. farshīyyah : Pertaining to the carpet or the lower world, as opposed to the Throne.
495. al-thaqalayn : The two weighty ones: humans and jinn, or the Quran and the Prophet's family.
496. al-Ḥasan wa al-Ḥusayn : The grandsons of the Prophet, sons of ʿAlī and Fāṭimah.
497. al-waṭan : Homeland; in Sufi poetry, often symbolizes the spiritual origin or divine presence.
498. Ṭaybah : A name for Medina, the city of the Prophet.
499. Aḥmad al-Muṣṭafā : Aḥmad the Chosen One, a reference to the Prophet Muḥammad.
500. Sayf ibn Dhī Yazan : A pre-Islamic Yemeni king, associated with the lineage of the Prophet's ancestors.
501. Āl : Family or household, often referring to the Prophet's family and descendants.
502. al-katībah al-khaḍrā' wa al-liwā' al-manshūr : The green battalion and the unfurled banner, symbolic of the Prophet's military leadership and victory.
503. al-Tawrāh wa al-Injīl : The Torah and the Gospel, scriptures revealed to Moses and Jesus respectively, which foretold the coming of Muhammad.
504. al-sālik wa al-majdhūb : The wayfarer (seeker on the spiritual path) and the attracted (one drawn by divine attraction), terms in Sufism.
505. ḥimā : Sanctuary; a protected or sacred precinct, often referring to the spiritual presence of the beloved or the divine.
506. Najd : A region in central Arabia; in Sufi poetry, often symbolizes the spiritual abode of the beloved.
507. Kaaba : The sacred cube-shaped building in Mecca, the focal point of Muslim prayer; used metaphorically as the spiritual center of devotion.
508. adwār : Cycles or spheres; in Sufi cosmology, refers to the cycles of spiritual descent and ascent, or the celestial spheres.
509. basīṭa : Simple; here refers to the simple lights or the undifferentiated level of divine manifestation.
510. laṭā'if al-ma'ānī al-daqīqa : Subtle meanings; in Sufism, refers to the inner, esoteric meanings of spiritual concepts.
511. ḥadīth : A saying or tradition of the Prophet Muhammad.
512. ʿatīq : Ancient; here may refer to an ancient scripture or a revered old text.
513. Salsabīl : A spring in Paradise mentioned in the Quran (76:18).
514. Kawthar : A river in Paradise given to the Prophet Muhammad, mentioned in Quran 108:1.
515. ʿaqīq : Carnelian; a red gemstone, often used metaphorically for tears of blood or intense emotion.
516. wādī al-ʿaqīq : The valley of 'Aqiq, a place near Medina associated with love poetry and longing.
517. Ṭāhā : One of the names of the Prophet Muhammad, derived from the Quranic chapter 20.
518. Ṭayyiba : A name for Medina, meaning 'the good' or 'the pure'.
519. Taba : A name for Medina, the city of the Prophet Muhammad, derived from its pure and good nature.
520. alchemy : Metaphorically, the transformative spiritual influence of the Prophet, turning the base heart into gold.
521. axis : In Sufi terminology, the spiritual pole or highest saint around whom the spiritual world revolves.
522. Taybah : A name for Medina, the city of the Prophet Muhammad.
523. Mustafa : An epithet of the Prophet Muhammad meaning 'the Chosen One'.
524. Ahmad : Another name of the Prophet Muhammad, meaning 'most praiseworthy'.
525. tawhid : The Islamic concept of the oneness and uniqueness of Allah.
526. Kaaba : The sacred cube-shaped building in Mecca, the direction of prayer for Muslims.
527. al-fawāḍil : Bounties or superabundant favors, often referring to divine gifts beyond what is necessary.
528. al-Ghawr : A lowland region in Arabia, often associated with the area around Mecca and the Tihama coastal plain.
529. malik al-rujūm : The king of stoning, a reference to the angels or forces appointed to manage the stars, possibly alluding to the shooting stars used to repel devils.
530. bisāṭ al-muqarrabīn : The carpet of the near ones, a Sufi term for the spiritual station of those brought near to God.
531. al-barzakh : The isthmus or intermediate realm between the physical and spiritual worlds, often used in Sufism to denote the Prophet's comprehensive station.
532. rūḥ al-dhāt : Spirit of essences; a Sufi term referring to the Prophet Muhammad as the spiritual reality from which all essences derive.
533. awtād : Pegs; in Sufism, a rank of saints who are the spiritual supports of the world.
534. quṭb : Pole or axis; the highest ranking saint in the Sufi hierarchy, often identified with the Prophet Muhammad.
535. al-bayt al-ḥarām : The Sacred House; the Kaaba in Mecca.
536. takbīr : The phrase 'Allāhu akbar' (Allah is the Greatest).
537. tahlīl : The phrase 'Lā ilāha illā Allāh' (There is no god but Allah).
538. nuqṭat al-ghayb : The point of the unseen; a Sufi concept referring to the primordial reality of the Prophet Muhammad.
539. Jibrīl : The angel Gabriel, who brought revelation to the prophets.
540. al-furqān : The Criterion; a name for the Quran.
541. al-rukn al-yamānī : The Yemeni Corner; the corner of the Kaaba facing Yemen.
542. al-ḥajar al-aswad : The Black Stone; a sacred stone set into the eastern corner of the Kaaba.
543. ʿArafāt : A plain east of Mecca where pilgrims stand on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah during Hajj.
544. Minā : A valley near Mecca where pilgrims perform rituals including stoning the pillars.
545. labbayk : The talbiyah; a phrase recited by pilgrims: 'Labbayk Allāhumma labbayk' (Here I am, O Allah, here I am).
546. al-Ṣafā wa al-Marwah : Two hills in Mecca between which pilgrims run during Hajj and Umrah.
547. al-sirr al-makhtum : The sealed secret; a Sufi term referring to the innermost divine mystery that is hidden and protected.
548. hadrat al-mushahadah wa al-ta'yin : The presence of witnessing and specification; a Sufi concept denoting the direct vision of divine realities and the determination of particular manifestations.
549. ahl al-wilayah : People of sainthood; those who have attained closeness to God and possess spiritual authority.
550. ahl al-takhrib wa al-talwin : People of destruction and variegation; a Sufi term for those who undergo spiritual annihilation and then experience diverse states and colors of divine manifestation.
551. awrad : Litanies; specific prayers or formulas recited regularly in Sufi practice.
552. kawtharuha al-ma'in : Its flowing river; reference to the celestial river Kawthar in Paradise, symbolizing abundant divine grace.
553. ahl al-kawashif : People of unveilings; Sufis who experience spiritual unveilings and direct disclosures of divine realities.
554. ahl al-ma'ani : People of meanings; those who comprehend the inner spiritual meanings behind outward forms.
555. ya'sub : Leader; literally 'leader of the bees,' used metaphorically for the chief or master.
556. al-sirr al-fardani : The solitary secret; a Sufi term for the unique divine secret bestowed upon the elite.
557. mihrab : Prayer niche; the niche in a mosque indicating the direction of prayer, here used metaphorically for the focal point of spiritual devotion.
558. Arafat : The plain near Mecca where pilgrims stand on the Day of Arafah; here used metaphorically for a place of spiritual gathering and recognition.
559. arbab al-ma'arif : Masters of gnosis; those who possess direct experiential knowledge of God.
560. wujud : Standing; the act of standing in prayer or in the presence of God, also a Sufi term for existential awareness.
561. hur al-sirr : Maidens of the secret; a metaphorical expression for pure spiritual realities or divine mysteries.
562. al-madad : Supply; spiritual assistance or influx from God.
563. Taybah al-Tayyibah : The Good Taybah; a name for Medina, meaning 'the good and pure.'
564. al-'aqib : The Final Prophet; one of the names of Prophet Muhammad, meaning the last prophet.
565. al-hashir : The Gatherer; a name of the Prophet, indicating he will be the first to be resurrected and gather people.
566. al-mahi : The Eraser; a name of the Prophet, meaning he erases disbelief.
567. al-khatim : The Seal; the Prophet as the seal of the prophets.
568. al-malakut : The realm of dominion; the invisible spiritual world of angels and divine power.
569. al-jabarut : The realm of omnipotence; the highest spiritual realm of divine majesty and power.
570. Ma'd : An ancient Arab tribe, considered an ancestor of the Prophet Muhammad.
571. Adnan : A legendary ancestor of the northern Arabs, from whom the Prophet Muhammad descends.
572. muqarrabūn : Those brought near to God, a high rank of saints or angels.
573. murīd : A disciple or seeker on the spiritual path in Sufism.
574. Sharī‘a : Islamic divine law.
575. Ṭayyiba : A name for Medina, meaning 'the good'.
576. futūḥ : Spiritual openings or illuminations granted by God.
577. quṭb : The spiritual pole or axis, the highest saint in the Sufi hierarchy.
578. ṣirāṭ : The bridge over hell in the afterlife.
579. wasīlah : A means or intermediary to approach God, often through a prophet or saint.
580. al-mushaffa‘ : The one granted intercession; here referring to the Prophet Muhammad as the intercessor for major sins.
581. arbāb al-manābir : Masters of the pulpits; i.e., preachers or orators.
582. haykal : Temple or form; here metaphorically referring to the physical or spiritual body of the devotee.
583. Ka‘bah : The sacred cube-shaped building in Mecca; here used metaphorically for the Prophet's sanctuary or presence.
584. Sunnah : The prophetic tradition; the practices and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad.
585. qabḍ wa basṭ : Contraction and expansion; Sufi terms for spiritual states of constriction and openness.
586. sibṭ : Grandson; specifically referring to Hasan and Husayn, the Prophet's grandsons.
587. futūḥāt : Openings; spiritual illuminations or divine gifts.
588. al-suhā wa al-farqadayn : The lesser bear (Polaris) and the two bears (Ursa Minor and Major); stars used for navigation.
589. al-nash’atayn : The two realms; this world and the afterlife.
590. Iḍam : A place name; possibly a valley or location near Medina.
591. Qibā : A place near Medina; Quba is the mosque built by the Prophet.
592. Ṭaybah : One of the names of Medina, meaning 'the good' or 'the pleasant'.
593. ḍarratuhā : Its counterpart; here referring to the afterlife or the opposite of the world.
594. Muḍar : A tribe of Quraysh; the Prophet Muhammad belonged to this tribe.
595. Quṭb : Spiritual pole or axis; in Sufism, the highest ranking saint who is the spiritual center of the universe.
596. Abā al-Bashar : Father of mankind, i.e., Adam (peace be upon him).
597. Dhawi al-Taḥqīq : People of verification; those who have attained spiritual realization and certainty.
598. Arbāb al-Qulūb : Masters of hearts; spiritual adepts who have purified their hearts.
599. Arbāb al-Maʿānī : Masters of spiritual meanings; those who understand the inner realities.
600. Maqām : Spiritual station or rank on the path to God.
601. Ṣaḥw wa Maḥw : Sobriety and annihilation; states of spiritual consciousness and self-effacement in God.
602. Arbāb al-Nawāfiḥ : Masters of fragrances; those who perceive spiritual scents.
603. Arbāb al-Aḥwāl : Masters of spiritual states; those who experience transient divine influences.
604. Sirr : Secret; the innermost spiritual mystery or divine effusion.
605. al-Baqīʿ : The cemetery of Medina where many companions and saints are buried.
606. al-ʿAqīq : A valley near Medina known for its beauty.
607. Arbāb al-Kawāshif : Masters of unveilings; those who have spiritual visions and insights.
608. Arbāb al-Futūḥāt wa al-Mawāhib : Masters of openings and gifts; those who receive divine illuminations and graces.
609. Arbāb al-Muwājahah : Masters of facing; those who are granted the honor of directly facing the Prophet's grave.
610. Tihāmah : The coastal region of Arabia including Mecca and parts of Yemen.
611. Qiblah : Direction of prayer towards the Kaaba in Mecca.
612. Ṭaybah : One of the names of Medina, meaning 'the good' or 'the fragrant'.
613. Maqām : The Station of Abraham; the place where Abraham stood while building the Kaaba.
614. al-Multazam : The area between the Black Stone and the door of the Kaaba where supplications are made.
615. al-ʿadhīb wa-bāriq : Al-ʿadhīb (sweet water) and Bāriq (lightning) are place names associated with the Prophet's biography, often mentioned in love poetry for the Prophet.
616. Salʿ : A mountain near Medina, often mentioned in poetry as a symbol of the beloved's abode.
617. al-abraqayn : The two sandy tracts; a place name associated with the Prophet's migration or beloved's dwelling.
618. ḥājir : The hollow of the eye socket; a poetic term for the place where tears gather.
619. Kaʿba : The sacred house in Mecca, direction of prayer; here used metaphorically for the beloved's abode as a pilgrimage site.
620. al-kawnayn : The two worlds: this world and the Hereafter.
621. al-Baqīʿ : The cemetery in Medina where many companions and family of the Prophet are buried.
622. Uḥud : A mountain near Medina, site of the Battle of Uhud.
623. Qubāʾ : A suburb of Medina, site of the first mosque built by the Prophet.
624. Ṭayba : A name for Medina, meaning 'good' or 'pleasant'.
625. al-Madīna : Medina, the city of the Prophet.
626. Shihr : A region in Yemen known for producing high-quality ambergris.
627. Mulk and Malakut : Mulk refers to the physical, visible world; Malakut refers to the spiritual, invisible realm of sovereignty.
628. Khil'ah : A robe of honor bestowed by a ruler as a mark of distinction.
629. Salikin : Spiritual wayfarers on the path of Sufism.
630. Majdhubin : Those spiritually attracted or drawn by divine love, often in an ecstatic state.
631. Sarawat al-A'yan : The eminent chosen ones, referring to the highest-ranking prophets and saints.
632. Mala' al-A'la : The highest celestial assembly of angels and spirits.
633. Kawthar : A river in Paradise granted to the Prophet Muhammad, also a symbol of abundant spiritual blessings.
634. Ahmad : Another name of the Prophet Muhammad, meaning 'most praiseworthy'.
635. Buraq : The mythical steed that carried the Prophet Muhammad during the Night Journey (Isra and Mi'raj).
636. aḥwāl : Spiritual states or conditions experienced by the mystic, often transient and divinely bestowed.
637. al-futūḥāt al-makkiyya : The Meccan Openings, a major work by Ibn Arabi, but here referring to spiritual illuminations associated with Mecca.
638. al-Muṣṭafawiyya : Pertaining to al-Muṣṭafā, 'the Chosen One,' a title of the Prophet Muhammad.
639. al-Mawlawiyya : Pertaining to Mawlānā, 'our master,' often referring to Rumi or the Prophet.
640. al-Muḥammadiyya : Pertaining to Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam.
641. al-Aḥmadiyya : Pertaining to Aḥmad, another name of the Prophet Muhammad.
642. al-ʿarshiyya : Pertaining to the Throne (al-ʿarsh), symbolizing divine sovereignty.
643. al-farshiyya : Pertaining to the earth (al-farsh), symbolizing humility or earthly manifestation.
644. al-Ṭayyibiyya : Pertaining to Ṭayyiba, a name for Medina, or meaning 'good/pure'.
645. al-Malakūt : The celestial or angelic realm, the world of divine sovereignty.
646. al-Raḥmūtiyya : Pertaining to al-Raḥmān, 'the Merciful,' one of Allah's names.
647. al-ʿAẓamūtiyya : Pertaining to al-ʿAẓīm, 'the Magnificent,' one of Allah's names.
648. al-Raghbūtiyya : Pertaining to desire or longing (raghba) towards Allah.
649. al-farq wa al-jamʿ : Sufi terms: separation (between creature and Creator) and union (with the Divine).
650. Ṭayba : A name for Medina, the city of the Prophet.
651. Āl Hāshim : The family of Hashim, the Prophet Muhammad's clan.
652. sharḥ al-ṣadr : Expansion of the breast; a spiritual opening and enlightenment granted by God.
653. al-‘Arsh : The Throne of God, the highest created entity.
654. al-rusul : Messengers; prophets who were given a new law or scripture.
655. imām : Leader; here referring to the Prophet Muhammad as the leader of all prophets.
656. al-khatm : The Seal; referring to the Prophet Muhammad as the Seal of the Prophets.
657. al-rayḥān : Basil; a fragrant plant, symbolizing honor and mercy.
658. al-ghurr al-muḥajjalīn : Those distinguished by marks of brightness on their limbs from ablution; a reference to the Prophet's followers on the Day of Judgment.
659. Kalīm Allāh : The interlocutor of God; a title of Prophet Moses, here applied to Muhammad in a spiritual sense.
660. al-aqṭāb : The poles; highest-ranking saints in Sufi hierarchy.
661. al-dhikr : The Remembrance; often refers to the Quran.
662. al-muhaymin : The Dominant; one of God's names, meaning the Watcher over all.
663. al-furqān : The Criterion; a name for the Quran.
664. sunna : The prophetic tradition; the sayings, actions, and approvals of the Prophet Muhammad.
665. ‘ayn Tabūk : The spring of Tabuk; a miracle where water flowed from the Prophet's fingers during the expedition of Tabuk.
666. Abū Bakr : The first Caliph and close companion of the Prophet.
667. al-Fārūq : The Distinguisher; title of Umar ibn al-Khattab, the second Caliph.
668. Abū ‘Umar : Umar ibn al-Khattab, the second Caliph.
669. al-sibṭayn : The two grandsons; Hasan and Husayn, the Prophet's grandsons.
670. Sa‘d : Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, a prominent companion.
671. Ṭayyib : The good one; possibly referring to a companion known for his goodness.
672. Badr : The Battle of Badr, the first major battle in Islam.
673. ‘Awf : Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf, a wealthy companion known for his generosity.
674. ibn Jarrāḥ : Abu Ubayda ibn al-Jarrah, a trusted companion.
675. ibnat al-Ṣiddīq : Daughter of al-Siddiq; Aisha, the Prophet's wife and daughter of Abu Bakr.
676. al-mishkāt wa al-miṣbāḥ : The niche and the lamp; a Quranic metaphor for divine light (Quran 24:35).
677. al-‘udda wa al-‘adad : The provision and the number: meaning the one who suffices and is sufficient in all matters.
678. al-ghawth wa al-ghayth wa al-madad : The succor, the rain, and the reinforcement: terms for divine aid and support.
679. as-sayf wa an-najād : The sword and the belt: symbols of strength and readiness.
680. al-ḥajj wa al-jihād : The pilgrimage and the struggle: two major acts of worship in Islam.
681. as-Salsabīl : A spring in Paradise mentioned in the Quran (76:18).
682. al-Kawthar : A river in Paradise given to the Prophet Muhammad.
683. al-Wasīla : The highest rank in Paradise, reserved for the Prophet Muhammad.
684. ash-Shafā‘a al-Kubrā : The Great Intercession: the Prophet's intercession on the Day of Judgment for all mankind.
685. aṣ-Ṣirāṭ : The bridge over Hell that all must cross on Judgment Day.
686. al-Mīzān : The scale that weighs deeds on Judgment Day.
687. al-Mawqif : The standing before God on Judgment Day.
688. al-Maḥshar : The gathering place for all creatures on Judgment Day.
689. ‘ayn al-khabar : The eye of the report: a Sufi term meaning the essence of the divine message.
690. Lawḥ al-Hawā : The Tablet of Desire: a mystical reference to the Preserved Tablet.
691. al-Mi‘rāj : The Ascension of the Prophet Muhammad to heaven.
692. al-Maghrib : The West: here possibly referring to the Maghreb region.
693. al-Wāfir, al-Kāmil, as-Sarī‘, al-Hazaj : Names of Arabic poetic meters.
694. qibla : The direction of prayer towards Mecca, symbolizing spiritual orientation.
695. Kaaba : The sacred cube-shaped building in Mecca, the focal point of Muslim prayer and pilgrimage.
696. Hajj and Umra : The major and minor pilgrimages to Mecca, respectively.
697. sunna : The practices and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, considered a model for Muslims.
698. qibla : The direction of prayer towards the Kaaba in Mecca, symbolizing spiritual orientation.
699. Kawthar : A river in Paradise granted to the Prophet Muhammad, also the name of Sura 108 in the Quran.
700. Pole (Qutb) : In Sufism, the spiritual axis or highest saint of a given time, often considered the intermediary between God and creation.
701. high ones (ulaak) : Refers to the highest angels or spiritual beings in the celestial realm.
702. two bow-lengths (qaba qawsayn) : A reference to the Prophet's proximity to God during the Mi'raj (Ascension), mentioned in Quran 53:9.
703. 'Illiyin : The highest station in Paradise, mentioned in Quran 83:18-19, often associated with the record of the righteous.
704. quṭb : In Sufism, the 'pole' or 'axis' around whom the spiritual world revolves; the highest ranking saint of the age.
705. shaṭḥa : Ecstatic utterance or theophanic locution, often paradoxical, uttered by a Sufi in a state of spiritual intoxication.
706. jadhb : Divine attraction; a state where the seeker is drawn towards God without personal effort.
707. ḥizb : A litany or regularly recited prayer, often composed by a Sufi master.
708. al-ghurr al-muḥajjalūn : A description of the Prophet's followers on the Day of Judgment, distinguished by the brightness of their limbs from ablution.
709. Kaʿba : The sacred cube-shaped building in Mecca, direction of prayer for Muslims; here used metaphorically for the Prophet as spiritual focal point.
710. Salsabīl : A spring in Paradise mentioned in the Quran (76:18).
711. Kawthar : A river in Paradise given to the Prophet Muhammad, also the name of a Quranic chapter.
712. maḥw : Spiritual obliteration or effacement of the self in the divine presence.
713. fanāʾ : Annihilation of the ego in the divine; a key Sufi concept of passing away from self and living in God.
714. Rasul Allah : Messenger of Allah, referring to Prophet Muhammad.
715. Habib Allah : Beloved of Allah, a title of Prophet Muhammad.
716. Wali Allah : Friend of Allah, a title for a saint or prophet.
717. Fatihat al-dhikr wa al-talqin : The opener of remembrance and instruction; a Sufi term for the spiritual guide.
718. Najiyy Allah : Confidant of Allah, one who speaks intimately with God.
719. Al-ghurr al-muhajjalin : The white-browed ones, referring to the Prophet's companions who will have radiant limbs on the Day of Judgment.
720. Al-'amilin : The workers, those who act upon their knowledge.
721. Al-afrad al-khashi'in : The humble individuals; in Sufism, the 'afrad' are solitary saints.
722. Al-awtad al-rasikhin : The firmly rooted pegs; in Sufi cosmology, 'awtad' are the four or seven saints who uphold the spiritual world.
723. Qaba qawsayn : The distance of two bows; a reference to the Prophet's ascension (Mi'raj) where he approached Allah's presence.
724. Sarayta : You journeyed by night; referring to the Isra' (night journey) of the Prophet.
725. Khalil Allah : Friend of Allah, a title of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham).
726. Kalim Allah : Interlocutor of Allah, a title of Prophet Musa (Moses).
727. Safi Allah : Chosen One of Allah, a title of Prophet Muhammad.
728. Quran 4:64 : A verse from the Quran emphasizing seeking forgiveness through the Prophet.
729. Imam al-qiblatayn : Imam of the two qiblas; the Prophet prayed towards both Jerusalem and Mecca.
730. Yatimat al-'iqdayn : Unique pearl of the two necklaces; a metaphor for the Prophet's unique status in both worlds.
731. al-muhannad : The well-tempered sword, a metaphor for the Prophet Muhammad's decisive truth.
732. al-mumahhad : The well-prepared or established religion, referring to Islam.
733. al-nasab al-mumajjad : The honored lineage, referring to the Prophet's noble ancestry.
734. ‘ayn al-madad : The very source or essence of spiritual assistance.
735. rūḥ al-jasad : The spirit of the body, a Sufi term for the Prophet as the spiritual essence of creation.
736. rūḥ quds al-ḥaqq : The Spirit of the Holy Truth, a title for the Prophet as the manifestation of divine holiness.
737. satr al-nūr : The line of light, a reference to the Prophet's primordial light inscribed in the divine treasury.
738. ḥiyāḍ al-jabarūt : The basins of Omnipotence, a Sufi term for the realm of divine power.
739. al-mulk wa al-malakūt : Dominion and the Kingdom, two of the spiritual realms in Islamic cosmology.
740. al-kibriyā’ wa al-‘aẓamūt : Majesty and Grandeur, attributes of God.
741. lisān al-ijābah : The tongue of response, a title for the Prophet as the one through whom prayers are answered.
742. lawḥ al-waḥy : The Tablet of Revelation, referring to the Preserved Tablet or the Prophet's heart as receiver of revelation.
743. ‘ulūm al-dhāt : The Sciences of the Essence, esoteric knowledge of God's essence.
744. al-asmā’ wa al-ṣifāt : The Names and Attributes of God.
745. sirr al-kun : The secret of 'Be', referring to the creative command 'Kun' (Be) in the Quran.
746. quṭb al-adwār : The Pole of Cycles, a Sufi term for the highest spiritual authority in each era.
747. ahl al-wilāyah wa al-taṣrīf : The people of sainthood and disposal, referring to saints who have spiritual authority.
748. maqām al-shuhrah wa al-ta‘rīf : The station of fame and definition, a high spiritual station.
749. arbāb al-aḥwāl wa al-majādhib : The people of states and attractions, Sufi terms for those experiencing spiritual states and divine attraction.
750. Banī Lu’ayy wa Ghālib : Two tribes from the Prophet's lineage, emphasizing his noble ancestry.
751. al-ma‘ārif : Gnosticism or spiritual knowledge, often used in Sufism.
752. Tasnīm : A spring in Paradise mentioned in the Quran (83:27), symbolizing the highest spiritual drink.
753. madīnat al-‘ilm : City of Knowledge, a title for the Prophet Muhammad, based on a hadith: 'I am the city of knowledge, and Ali is its gate.'
754. Ṭā Hā : One of the Quranic letters opening Surah 20, often interpreted as a name or attribute of the Prophet.
755. Yā Sīn : One of the mysterious letters (muqatta'at) at the beginning of Quranic chapters, often interpreted as a name of the Prophet Muhammad.
756. Alif-Lām-Mīm-Ṣād : Another set of mysterious letters, appearing at the start of Surah al-A'raf.
757. Kāf-Hā-Yā-ʿAyn-Ṣād : Mysterious letters from Surah Maryam.
758. Ṭā-Sīn-Mīm : Mysterious letters from Surah al-Shu'ara' and al-Qasas.
759. Ṭā-Sīn : Mysterious letters from Surah al-Naml.
760. Ḥā-Mīm-ʿAyn-Sīn-Qāf : Mysterious letters from Surah al-Shura.
761. Ḥā-Mīm : Mysterious letters opening several Quranic chapters (Surahs 40-46).
762. Alif-Lām-Rā : Mysterious letters opening Surahs Yunus, Hud, Yusuf, Ibrahim, and al-Hijr.
763. Alif-Lām : Mysterious letters opening Surahs al-Baqara, Al 'Imran, al-Ankabut, al-Rum, Luqman, and al-Sajda.
764. mutamm : A perfect beauty; a term for someone who completes beauty.
765. Qabas : A proper name; possibly referring to a person known for beauty.
766. Jamil : A proper name meaning 'beautiful'; possibly a reference to a famous beauty.
767. al-'Aqiq : A valley near Medina; also a type of agate stone.
768. Rasul Allah : The Messenger of Allah, i.e., Prophet Muhammad.
769. Imam : Leader; here referring to Prophet Muhammad as the spiritual leader.
770. Taybah : One of the names of Medina, meaning 'good' or 'pleasant'.
771. al-thaqalayn : The two weighty things: humans and jinn, or the Quran and the Prophet's family.
772. 'Umrah : The lesser pilgrimage to Mecca.
773. Muhammadiyyah : Pertaining to Prophet Muhammad.
774. Ahmadiyyah : Pertaining to Ahmad, another name of Prophet Muhammad.
775. ladunniyyah : Divine knowledge granted directly by God.
776. qaddasa Allahu sirrahu : May Allah sanctify his secret; a phrase used for saints, meaning may Allah keep his inner state pure.
777. ka-amsi al-dabir : Like yesterday that has passed; meaning completely gone and forgotten.
778. al-Mustafa : The Chosen One, a title of the Prophet Muhammad.
779. mudāma : Eternal wine; a Sufi term for divine love or spiritual intoxication.
780. ʿidhār : Cheek; metaphor for the human ego or dignity that is stripped away in love.
781. naqsh al-hawā : Engraving of passion; the imprint of divine love on the soul.
782. al-siwā : Otherness; everything other than God.
783. Hind, Suʿād, Salmā, Zaynab, Rabāb : Names of beloved women in classical Arabic poetry, used here as symbols of divine beauty.
784. turība : Dust-heap; a humble place or state, possibly referring to the human condition.
785. ʿashqī : Pertaining to passionate love (ʿishq); a Sufi term for intense divine love.
786. hattāk : Rending; one who tears veils, a quality of divine love.
787. fattāk : Seducer; one who entices, a quality of divine attraction.
788. malāk : Angel; a spiritual being or quality.
789. Lādam, Muḥammad : Lādam: possibly a name for the Beloved; Muḥammad: the Prophet, whose names are many.
790. al-Wahhāb : The Bestower; one of God's names.
791. sirr : Secret; the innermost spiritual mystery or divine secret.
792. ajrās, awtād : Bell-ringers and tent-pegs; possibly referring to spiritual stations or types of devotees.
793. Muṣṭafawī : Pertaining to al-Muṣṭafā (the Chosen One), i.e., the Prophet Muhammad.
794. aqṭāb : Poles; the highest saints in the Sufi hierarchy.
795. afrād : Solitary ones; a rank of saints.
796. sharāʾiq : Sunna; plural of sharīqa, meaning a path or way, here referring to blessings.
797. sabʿ : Lion; a metaphor for strength and protection.
798. ḥanī : Bow; a metaphor for support or weapon.
799. Muṣṭafā : The Chosen One; a title of the Prophet Muhammad.
800. alf ḍill : A thousand guides; possibly meaning countless ways of guidance.
801. ʿurafāʾ : Knowers; Sufi gnostics who have direct knowledge of God.
802. ṭūr : Mount; allusion to Mount Sinai, where God revealed Himself to Moses.
803. عَلَى أَيْدِينَا : Lit. 'by our hands'; a phrase indicating agency or means, often used in supplication.
804. كَلِمَتَيِ الْفَوْزِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ : The two words of success and testimony: likely referring to the Shahada (testimony of faith) and the declaration of success in the afterlife.
805. مُجِيبُ دَعْوَةِ الْمُضْطَرِّينَ : The Answerer of the prayer of the distressed; a divine attribute emphasizing God's responsiveness to those in dire need.
806. وِدَادُنَا : Our affection; a term denoting deep, sincere love, often used in Sufi contexts for divine or prophetic love.
807. أَحْمَدُ : Ahmad: one of the names of the Prophet Muhammad, meaning 'most praiseworthy'.
808. Shari'a : The divine law of Islam, based on the Qur'an and Sunnah.
809. ladunni science : Divine or esoteric knowledge granted directly by God, often associated with Sufi gnosis.
810. Ka'ba : The sacred cube-shaped building in Mecca, the focal point of Muslim prayer and pilgrimage.
811. 'Arafat : A plain near Mecca where pilgrims stand in prayer during the Hajj, symbolizing spiritual proximity.
812. Lote-tree of the utmost boundary : Sidrat al-Muntaha, a celestial tree marking the boundary of creation, mentioned in the Qur'an (53:14).
813. Ahmad : One of the names of the Prophet Muhammad, meaning 'most praiseworthy'.
814. Friend : Reference to Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), known as Khalilullah (Friend of God).
815. Throne : The Kursi (Footstool) of God, mentioned in Qur'an 2:255.
816. Throne : The 'Arsh (Throne) of God, the greatest of His creations.