# Harful Kaaf · حَرْفُ الْكَافِ

From [Ad-Dawaawiinu s-Sitta · الدواوين الست](https://qasaaid.zayfir.app/app/qasaaid/691f292bc02b144934a4ec1f) by [Sheikh Ibrahim Nyass](https://qasaaid.zayfir.app/app/authors/69172463686829cc1d041df5)

**1.** كَأَنِّي لَــدَى خَيْرِ الْأَنَــامِ وَقَدْ مَلَــكْ / فُؤَادِي وَذَاتِي أَبْتَغِي حَضْرَةَ الْمَلِكْ

_Ka-annī lada khayri al-anāmi wa-qad malak / Fu’ādī wa-dhātī abtaghī ḥaḍrata al-Malik_

It is as if I am in the presence of the Best of Mankind, who has taken possession of my heart and my essence, while I seek the Presence of the [Divine] King.

**2.** أُجَاوِرُهُ فِي رَوْضَــةِ الْخُلْدِ مَادِحًــا / خَلاَئِقَهُ وَسْطَ الْحَجِيجِ وَمَنْ نَسَــكْ

_Ujāwiruhu fī rawḍati al-khuldi mādiḥan / Khalā’iqahu wasṭa al-ḥajīji wa-man nasak_

I reside near him in the Garden of Eternity, praising his character amidst the pilgrims and those performing rites.

**3.** أُحَــاوِرُهُ بِالشِّعْــــــرِ أَغْـــدُو مُسَلِّمًــا / عَلَى أَحْمَدٍ أَشْكُو شُؤُونِي إِلَى الْمَلِــكْ

_Uḥāwiruhu bish-shi‘ri aghdū musalliman / ‘Alā Aḥmada ashkū shu’ūnī ila al-Malik_

I converse with him through poetry, rising to greet him; I greet Ahmad while complaining of my affairs to the King.

**4.** نَبِيَّ الْـهُـدَى غَيْثَ الْوَرَى خَيْرَ مُرْسَلٍ / فَسَلْ خَالِقِي تَخْلِيصَ قَلْبِي مِنَ الْحُلَكْ

_Nabiyya al-hudā ghaytha al-warā khayra mursalin / Fasal khāliqī takhlīṣa qalbī mina al-ḥulak_

O Prophet of Guidance, rain of the creation, best of Messengers! Ask my Creator to rescue my heart from the darkness.

**5.** طَرِيــدَ جِنَايَـــاتٍ أَتَيْــــتُ مُلَطَّخًـــا / وَأَسْتَغْفِـــــرُ اللّٰهَ الْعَلِيــمَ لِمَـــا دَرَكْ

_Ṭarīda jināyātin ataytu mulaṭṭakhan / Wa-astaghfiru Allāha al-‘Alīma limā darak_

An exile of crimes, I have come stained; and I seek forgiveness from Allah, the Knower, for what has occurred.

**6.** فَيَا رَبِّ فَاغْفِرْ لِي وَتُبْ وَاسْتُرَنْ وَهَبْ / هِدَايَــةَ عَبْــــــدٍ بَــــدِّلِ السُّـــوءَ يَا مَلِــكْ

_Fa-yā rabbi faghfir lī wa-tub was-turan wa-hab / Hidāyata ‘abdin baddili al-sū’a yā Malik_

O my Lord! Forgive me, accept my repentance, cover me, and grant guidance to a servant—change the evil [within me], O King!

**7.** وَتَمْحُو بِيَ الْأَضْلاَلَ وَالشِّرْكَ سَالِكًا / سَبِيلَ رَسُــــولِ اللّٰهِ لاَ أَخْتَشِــي دَرَكْ

_Wa-tamḥū biya al-aḍlāla wal-shirka sālikan / Sabīla Rasūli Allāhi lā akhtashī darak_

Erase through me the misguidance and polytheism, as I walk the path of the Messenger of Allah, fearing no pursuit.

**8.** وَتُخْرِجُ سِينًــا بَعْـــدَ دَالٍ مِــنْ أَرْضِنَـــا / وَبَاءٍ ، وَحَارِبْ ، مَنْ تُحَارِبْ فَقَدْ هَلَكْ

_Wa-tukhriju Sīnan ba‘da Dālin min arḍinā / Wa-Bā’in, wa-ḥārib man tuḥārib faqad halak_

And remove the "S" after the "D" from our land [D-S, likely referring to colonial or antagonistic figures], and "B" [B-R-Y, likely a local antagonist]; fight whoever You fight, for they are surely destroyed.

**9.** فَأَنْتَ الَّــذِي دَمَّرْتَ نَمْرُوذَ جَاعِـــلاً / خَلِيلاً خَلِيلاً فَاعْتَلَى فَوْقَ مَـــنْ مَلَكْ

_Fa-anta al-ladhī dammarta Namrūdha jā‘ilan / Khalīlan khalīlan fa-’talā fawqa man malak_

For You are the One who destroyed Nimrod, making [Ibrahim] a beloved friend who rose above all who possessed power.

**10.** وَأَغْرَقْتَ فِي الْقُلْزُومِ فِرْعَوْنَ إِذْ طَغَى / وَكَلَّمْتَ مُوسَى فَاسْتَنَارَ بِـــهِ الْفَلَـــــكْ

_Wa-aghraqta fī al-Qulzūmi Fir‘awna idh ṭaghā / Wa-kallamta Mūsā fastanāra bihi al-falak_

And You drowned Pharaoh in the Red Sea when he transgressed; and You spoke to Moses, through whom the celestial sphere became illuminated.

**11.** وَأَخْزَيْتَ أَعْدَاءَ الْمَسِيحِ وَقَدْ عَـــلاَ / بِإِذْنِكَ هَاتِيـــكَ السَّمَـــاءَ مَعَ الْحُبُــكْ

_Wa-akhzayta a‘dā’a al-Masīḥi wa-qad ‘alā / Bi-idhnika hātīka al-samā’a ma‘a al-ḥubuk_

And You disgraced the enemies of the Messiah (‘Isa), as he ascended by Your permission to that heaven with its orbits.

**12.** وَأَخْزَيْتَ فِهْرًا يَــوْمَ بَدْرٍ وَخَنْـــدَقٍ / وَفَتْحٍ وَأَعْلَيْتَ الَّذِي مَنْسَكِي نَسَــكْ

_Wa-akhzayta Fihran yawma Badrin wa-khandaqin / Wa-fatḥin wa-a‘layta al-ladhī mansakī nasak_

And You disgraced the Fihr (Quraysh) on the day of Badr and the Trench and the Conquest; and You elevated the one through whom my rites are performed.

**13.** خَلَــــتْ سُنَّــــةُ اللّٰهِ الْجَلِيـــلِ جَلاَلُــهُ / وَلَسْتَ تَــرَى تَبْدِيلَهَــا إِذْ هُوَ الْمَلِكْ

_Khalat sunnatu Allāhi al-jalīli jalāluhu / Wa-lasta tarā tabdīlahā idh huwa al-Malik_

The Sunnah of Allah, the Majestic, has passed; and you shall find no change in it, for He is the King.

**14.** وَأَهْلِكْ كَبِيرَ الْقَوْمِ بِالرُّومِ وَاكْفِنَــا / مَكَائِــدَهُ كَـادَ الشَّرِيعَــةَ وَالنُّسُـــكْ

_Wa-ahlik kabīra al-qawmi bir-Rūmi wak-finā / Makā’idahu kāda al-sharī‘ata wal-nusuk_

Destroy the great one among the people in Rome [or colonial powers] and protect us from his plots; he plotted against the Sharia and the rites.

**15.** وَأَهْلِكْ عَدُوِّي أَخْزِهِ وَامْحُ ذِكْرَهُ / أَمِتْهُ سَرِيعًا بَعْــدَ أَنْ سِتْرُهُ هُتِــكْ

_Wa-ahlik ‘aduwwī akhzihi wam-ḥu dhikrahu / Amit-hu sarī‘an ba‘da an sitruhu hutik_

Destroy my enemy, disgrace him, and erase his mention; cause him to die quickly after his cover has been torn.

**16.** تُحَـــارِبُ مَدَّاحَ الرَّسُولِ خَدِيمَـــــهُ / لَعَمْرِي لَكَ الْوَيْلاَتُ وَيْلُ الَّذِي مَعَكْ

_Tuḥāribu maddāḥa al-Rasūli khadīmahu / La-‘amrī laka al-waylātu waylu al-ladhī ma‘ak_

You fight the praiser of the Messenger, his servant? By my life, woe to you and woe to the ones with you!

**17.** فَــإِنَّ رَسُـــولَ اللّٰهِ حَامِـــي ذِمَـــــارِهِ / وَهُو مُصْطَفَى مِنْ نُورِهِ الْعَرْشُ وَالْفَلَكْ

_Fa-inna Rasūla Allāhi ḥāmī dhimārihi / Wa-huwa Muṣṭafā min nūrihi al-‘arshu wal-falak_

For the Messenger of Allah is the protector of his honor; he is the Chosen One, from whose light the Throne and the spheres were made.

**18.** وَأَشْهَـــــدُ أَنَّ اللّٰهَ لاَ رَبَّ غَيْـــرُهُ / فَلَيْـــسَ لَـــهُ كُفْؤٌ بِبَـــرٍّ وَلاَ فُلُـــكْ

_Wa-ash-hadu anna Allāha lā rabba ghayruhu / Falaysa lahu kuff’un bi-barrin wa-lā fuluk_

I bear witness that Allah—there is no Lord but He; He has no equal on land or in ships.

**19.** وَأَنَّ رَسُولَ اللّٰهِ أَحْمَـــدَ نَاصِـــحٌ / فَقَدْ بَلَّغَ الْهَــادِي الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ الْمَلَكْ

_Wa-anna Rasūla Allāhi Aḥmada nāṣiḥun / Faqad ballagha al-Hādī al-ladhī anzala al-Malak_

And that the Messenger of Allah, Ahmad, is a sincere counselor; the Guide has conveyed what the Angel sent down.

**20.** وَجَاهَــدَ خَيْرُ النَّاسِ أَدَّى أَمَانَــةً / وَمَهَّدَ دِينًا وَاضِحًا عِنْدَ مَنْ مَسَكْ

_Wa-jāhada khayru al-nāsi addā amānatan / Wa-mahhada dīnan wāḍiḥan ‘inda man masak_

The best of mankind struggled and fulfilled the trust; he paved a clear religion for whoever holds fast.

**21.** وَهَلْ أَبْصَرَتْ عَيْنَــاكَ يَوْمًا كَهَدْيِـهِ / أَتَحْسِبُ دِينًا غَيْرَ مَا الْمُصْطَفَى سَلَكْ

_Wa-hal abṣarat ‘aynāka yawman ka-hadyihi / A-taḥsibu dīnan ghayra mā al-Muṣṭafā salak_

Have your eyes ever seen anything like his guidance? Do you think there is any religion other than that which the Chosen One walked?

**22.** دَعُونِي مِنَ التَّثْلِيثِ وَالشِّرْكِ وَاعْبُدُوا / إِلَـهًــا بَــرَا لاَ لاَ شَرِيكَ لِمَـــنْ مَلَــكْ

_Da‘ūnī mina al-tathlīthi wal-shirki wa‘budū / Ilāhan barā lā lā sharīka liman malak_

Leave me from the Trinity and polytheism, and worship a God who created—no, there is no partner for the One who possesses all.

**23.** فَلَبَّيْـــكَ مَوْلاَنَــا لَكَ الْحَمْـــــدُ كُلُّــهُ / لَكَ الْمُلْكُ وَالنَّعْمَا جَمِيعًا وَذَاكَ لَكْ

_Fa-labbayka mawlānā laka al-ḥamdu kulluhu / Laka al-mulku wal-na‘mā jamī‘an wa-dhāka lak_

Here I am, O our Master! To You belongs all praise; to You belongs the sovereignty and all blessings—that is Yours.

**24.** وَخَيْرُ رَسُولٍ خَيرُ مَنْ وَطِئَ الثَّرَى / مُحَمَّدٌ الْهَــادِي إِمَامِي لَــدَى الْحُلَـــكْ

_Wa-khayru Rasūlin khayru man waṭi’a al-tharā / Muḥammadun al-Hādī imāmī lada al-ḥulak_

The best Messenger is the best who ever trod the earth; Muhammad the Guide, my Imam in times of darkness.

**25.** أَيَـا سَيِّــــدِي نَجْـــلَ الْعَوَاتِــكِ أَحْمَدًا / فَكُــنْ لِي شَفِيعًا لاَ يَرَى مَأْثَمِي مَلَكْ

_Ayā sayyidī najla al-‘awātiki Aḥmadā / Fakun lī shafī‘an lā yarā ma’thamī malak_

O my Master, son of the noble women, Ahmad! Be an intercessor for me so that no angel sees my sin.

**26.** وَأَنتَ شَفِيــــــعُ الْخَلْـــقِ أَنْتَ مُحَمَّــدٌ / لِوَا الْحَمْدِ فِي كَفَّيْكَ يَا خَيْرَ مَنْ نَسَـــكْ

_Wa-anta shafī‘u al-khalqi anta Muḥammadun / Liwā al-ḥamdi fī kaffayka yā khayra man nasak_

You are the intercessor of creation, you are Muhammad; the Banner of Praise is in your hands, O best of those who perform rites.

**27.** وَكُنْ لِي شَفِيعًا فِي حَيَاتِي وَسِيلَتِي / فَإِنِّيَ تَيْـــــمٌ بِالْكَبَائِـــــرِ قَـــدْ هَلَــكْ

_Wakun lī shafī‘an fī ḥayātī wasīlatī / Fa-inniya taymun bil-kabā’iri qad halak_

Be an intercessor for me in my life, my means [of approach]; for I am a captive who has perished through major sins.

**28.** عَلَى أَنَّنِي إِنْ جَلَّ جُرْمِي فَإِنَّنِـــي / أُحِبُّكَ بَلْ حَتَّى أُحِـبُّ الَّذِي مَعَــكْ

_‘Alā annanī in jalla jurmī fa-innanī / Uḥibbuka bal ḥattā uḥibbu al-ladhī ma‘ak_

Even though my crime is great, I love you; indeed, I even love those who are with you.

**29.** وَذِكْـــرُ سَجَايَـــاكَ الْكَرِيمَـــةِ مَنْطِقِــي / أَرَى لِيَ ذِكْرَ الْمُصْطَفَى الْحَجَّ وَالنُّسُـكْ

_Wa-dhikru sajāyāka al-karīmati manṭiqī / Arā liya dhikra al-Muṣṭafā al-ḥajja wal-nusuk_

Mentioning your noble traits is my speech; I see the mention of the Chosen One as my Hajj and my rites.

**30.** تَجَرَّدْتُ مِــــنْ أَلْبَاسِ حُـــبِّ سِوَائِــهِ / أَرَى حُجَّتِي حُبَّ الْأَمِينِ لَدَى الْمَلِــكْ

_Tajarradtu min albāsi ḥubbi siwā’ihi / Arā ḥujjatī ḥubba al-Amīni lada al-Malik_

I have stripped myself of the garments of loving any besides him; I see my proof as the love of the Trustworthy One before the King.

**31.** أَطُوفُ وَقَلْبِي بِالْحَبِيـــــــبِ مُعَلَّـــقٌ / وَأَسْعَى كَأَنِّي خَلْفَ أَحْمَدَ فِي نُسُــكْ

_Aṭūfu wa-qalbī bil-ḥabībi mu‘allaqun / Wa-as‘ā ka-annī khalfa Aḥmada fī nusuk_

I perform Tawaf while my heart is attached to the Beloved; and I run (Sa‘y) as if I am behind Ahmad in the rites.

**32.** بِخَيْفِ مِنًى وَالْمَشْعَرِ الْفَخْمِ مَطْلَبِي / سُلُوكُ طَرِيقٍ كَــانَ أَحْمَدُ قَـدْ سَلَكْ

_Bi-khayfi Minan wal-mash‘ari al-fakhmi maṭlabī / Sulūku ṭarīqin kāna Aḥmadu qad salak_

At the Khayf of Mina and the Magnificent Station (Mash‘ar), my quest is to walk the path that Ahmad had walked.

**33.** أَجِي عَرَفَـــاتٍ كَانَ فِيهَـــا مُحَمَّــــدٌ / يَرُوحُ وَيَغْــدُو ضَاحِيًا يَعْبُــدُ الْمَلِكْ

_Ajī ‘Arafātin kāna fīhā Muḥammadun / Yarūḥu wa-yaghdu ḍāḥiyan ya‘budu al-Malik_

I come to Arafat where Muhammad used to be, going and coming in the forenoon, worshipping the King.

**34.** وَإِنَّ مُـــرَادِي وَالسَّفَاهَةُ كَاسْمِهَـــا / أَمُرُّ بِهَــا حَسْبِي لِــذَا أَرْكَبُ الْفُلُـكْ

_Wa-inna murādī wal-safāhatu kasmihā / Amurru bi-hā ḥasbī lidhā arkabu al-fuluk_

And indeed my desire—and "foolishness" is like its name [likely referring to a place or trial]—I pass through it, sufficient for me, thus I board the ship.

**35.** لِـــذَاكَ أَرَى خَيْـــرَ الْبِلاَدِ جَمِيعِهَــا / مَدِينَةَ خَيْرِ النَّاسِ قَلْبِي بِهَــا مُلِـــكْ

_Lidhāka arā khayra al-bilādi jamī‘ihā / Madīnata khayri al-nāsi qalbī bi-hā mulik_

Therefore, I see the best of all lands as the city of the best of mankind; my heart is possessed by her.

**36.** تَــرَى مَرْقَدَ الْهَادِي وَتُلْفِي رُبُوعَهُ / رُبُوعًا لَهُ أَمْسَى خَدِيمًا بِهَا الْمَلَـــكْ

_Tarā marqada al-Hādī wa-tulfī rubū‘ahu / Rubū‘an lahu amsā khadīman bi-hā al-malak_

You see the resting place of the Guide and find his dwellings; dwellings where the Angel has become a servant.

**37.** عَلَيْــــــهِ صَــــلاَةُ اللّٰهِ ثُـــمَّ سَلاَمُــهُ / فَتُنْقِذُنِي مِنْ كُلِّ ضِيقٍ وَمِنْ ضَنَــكْ

_‘Alayhi ṣalātu Allāhi thumma salāmuhu / Fa-tunqidhunī min kulli ḍīqin wa-min ḍanak_

Upon him be the prayer of Allah and then His peace; may it rescue me from every narrowness and distress.

**38.** عَلَيْـــــهِ صَــــلاَةُ اللّٰهِ ثُــــمَّ سَلاَمُــهُ / فَيُشْكَرُ سَعْيِي عِنْدَ طَــهَ وَمَنْ مَلَــكْ

_‘Alayhi ṣalātu Allāhi thumma salāmuhu / Fa-yush-karu sa‘yī ‘inda Ṭāhā wa-man malak_

Upon him be the prayer of Allah and then His peace; may my effort be appreciated by Taha and the One who possesses all.

**39.** عَلَيْــــهِ صَــــلاَةُ اللّٰهِ ثُـــمَّ سَلاَمُــهُ / فَتَقْضِي شُؤُونِي كُلَّهَا مَالِكَ الْمُلُـــكْ

_‘Alayhi ṣalātu Allāhi thumma salāmuhu / Fa-taqḍī shu’ūnī kullahā Māliku al-Muluk_

Upon him be the prayer of Allah and then His peace; may You fulfill all my affairs, O Owner of the Sovereignty.

**40.** عَلَيْـــهِ صَــــلاَةُ اللّٰهِ ثُــــمَّ سَلاَمُـــهُ / وَآلٍ وَأَصْحَابٍ هُــدَاةً لَنَـــا تَرَكْ

_‘Alayhi ṣalātu Allāhi thumma salāmuhu / Wa-ālin wa-asḥābin hudātan lanā tarak_

Upon him be the prayer of Allah and then His peace; and upon the family and companions, the guides whom he left for us.

Source: https://qasaaid.zayfir.app/app/qasaaid/691f292bc02b144934a4ec1f/book/69af5e49ac75299f9a62926a/chapter/69af5e59ac75299f9a6292d8