Harful Alif · حَرْفُ الأَلِفِ

أَلِمَّا عَلَى الْبَحْرِ الْمُحِيطِ وَتَتْرُكَا
سَوَاقِيَ لاَ تُجْدِي ظَمَاءً لِمَنْ شَكَا

Alimmā ‘ala al-baḥri al-muḥīṭi wa-tatrukā
Sawāqiya lā tujdī ẓamā’an li-man shakā

Draw near to the Encompassing Ocean and leave behind the small streams that do not quench the thirst of one who complains.

فَأَعْنِي حَبِيبَ اللّٰهِ طَـــهَ مُحَمَّــــدًا
أَبَا الْقَاسِمِ الْـهَـادِي لِمَنْ قَدْ تَنَسَّكَــا

Fa-a‘nī ḥabība Allāhi Ṭāhā Muḥammadan
Abā al-Qāsimi al-Hādī li-man qad tanas-sakā

I mean the Beloved of Allah, Taha, Muhammad; Abul Qasim, the Guide for whoever has devoted himself to worship.

أَمِينَ إِلَـــهِ الْعَرْشِ مَرْكَزَ سِرِّهِ
بِهِ هَامَ قَلْبُ الْعَبْــدِ حَتَّى تَهَتَّكَـا

Amīna ilāhi al-‘arshi markaza sirrihi
Bihi hāma qalbu al-‘abdi ḥattā tahat-takā

The Trustworthy one of the Lord of the Throne, the center of His secret; in him, the heart of the servant wandered until its veils were torn.

فَمَلَّكْتُهُ ذَاتِــــي وَنَفْسِي وَرُوحَهَا
وَأَهْلِي وَأَوْلاَدِي وَمَنْ بِي تَمَسَّكَا

Fa-mal-laktuhu dhātī wa-nafsī wa-rūḥahā
Wa-ahlī wa-awlādī wa-man bī tamas-sakā

I have given him ownership of my essence, my self, and its soul; my family, my children, and whoever holds fast to me.

وَلَسْتُ أَرَى فِي الْكَـــــوْنِ شَيْئًا أُحِبُّــهُ
سِوَى الْمُصْطَفَى الْمَحْمُودِ فِيكَ وَعِنْدَكَا

Wa-lastu arā fī al-kawni shay’an uḥibbuhu
Siwā al-Muṣṭafa al-Maḥmūdi fīka wa-‘indaka

I do not see anything in the universe that I love besides the Chosen, the Praiseworthy—in You [O God] and with You.

فَوَقْتٌ مَضَى فِي غَيْرِ إِنْشَاءِ مَدْحِهِ
وَتَذْكَارِهِ لَمْ أَحْجُهُ الدَّهْرَ مُدْرَكَـــا

Fa-waqtun maḍā fī ghayri inshā’i madḥihi
Wa-tadhkārihi lam aḥjuhu al-dahra mudrakā

Any time spent in something other than composing his praise and his remembrance, I do not count as having lived at all.

عَلَيْـــــهِ صَـــلاَةُ اللّٰهِ ثُـــمَّ سَلاَمُــهُ
تُضِيءُ لَنَا الظَّلْمَى وَتَرْفَعُ مُشْتَكَى

‘Alayhi ṣalātu Allāhi thumma salāmuhu
Tuḍī’u lanā al-ẓalmā wa-tarfa‘u mushtakā

Upon him be the prayer of Allah and then His peace; may it illuminate the darkness for us and lift our complaints.

عَلَيْــــهِ صَــلاَةُ اللّٰهِ ثُــمَّ سَلاَمُــهُ
تُزَحْزِحُ أَعْدَائِي وَبُؤْسِيَ وَالْبُكَا

‘Alayhi ṣalātu Allāhi thumma salāmuhu
Tuzāḥ-ziḥu a‘dā’ī wa-bu’sī wal-bukā

Upon him be the prayer of Allah and then His peace; may it remove my enemies, my misery, and my weeping.

عَلَيْــهِ صَــلاَةُ اللّٰهِ ثُـــمَّ سَلاَمُــهُ
وَتُعْلِي عَلَى كُلِّ الْمُلُوكِ عُبَيْدَكَا

‘Alayhi ṣalātu Allāhi thumma salāmuhu
Wa-tu‘lī ‘alā kulli al-mulūki ‘ubaydakā

Upon him be the prayer of Allah and then His peace; may it raise your little servant above all kings.

عَلَيْـــهِ صَــلاَةُ اللّٰهِ ثُــمَّ سَلاَمُــهُ
تُنِيلُ الْمُنَى وَلْتُعْطِ لِلْعَبْــدِ سِرَّكَا

‘Alayka ṣalātu Allāhi thumma salāmuhu
Tunīlu al-munā wal-tu‘ṭi lil-‘abdi sirrakā

Upon him be the prayer of Allah and then His peace; may it grant all desires, and give to the servant Your secret.

عَلَيْـــهِ صَـــلاَةُ اللّٰهِ ثُمَّ سَلاَمُــهُ
تُمَلِّكُنِي التَّكْوِينَ وَالْأَمْرَ أَمْرَكَـا

‘Alayka ṣalātu Allāhi thumma salāmuhu
Tumal-likunī al-takwīna wal-amra amrakā

Upon him be the prayer of Allah and then His peace; may it grant me mastery over the cosmos—though the command is Your command.

عَلَيْهِ صَـــلاَةُ اللّٰهِ ثُـمَّ سَلاَمُــهُ
تُوَرِّثُنِي مَن فَاتَ مِمَّنْ تَمَلَّكَــا

‘Alayhi ṣalātu Allāhi thumma salāmuhu
Tuwar-rithunī man fāta mim-man tamal-lakā

Upon him be the prayer of Allah and then His peace; may it make me the heir of those of the past who attained mastery.

عَلَيْهِ مَعَ الْآلِ الْكِرَامِ وَصَحْبِهِ
صَلاَةٌ وَتَسْلِيمٌ وَأَنْحُو لِنَحْوِكَا

‘Alayhi ma‘a al-āli al-kirāmi wa-ṣaḥbihi
Ṣalātun wa-taslīmun wa-anḥū li-naḥwikā

Upon him, along with the noble family and his companions, be prayer and peace; and I turn toward your direction.