Harful Alif · حَرْفُ الْأَلِف

أَمَوْلاَيَ يَا خَيْرَ الْبَرِيَّةِ خَيْـرَ مَــنْ
بِهِ يُهْتَدَى أَوْ يُقْتَدَى بَهْجَةَ الزَّمَــنْ

A-mawlāya yā khayra-l bariyyati khayra man
bihi yuhtadā aw yuqtadā bahjata-z zaman

O my master, O best of creation, the best of those through whom one is guided or followed, the joy of the age.

أَتَيْـــتَ لَنَــا يَا رَحْمَـــةَ اللّٰهِ شَافِعًــا
لِكُلِّ الْبَرَايَـا مُفْـــرَدًا مَلْجَــأً طَبَــنْ

Atayta lanā yā raḥmata-llāhi shāfiʿan
li-kulli-l barāyā mufradan malja-an ṭaban

You came to us, O mercy of Allah, as an intercessor for all creatures, unique, a refuge, and a protector.

فَإِنَّكَ خَتْمُ الرُّسْلِ بَلْ جِئْتَ نَاسِخًــا
لِمَا شَرَعُوا يَا كَامِلَ السِّرِّ وَالْعَلَــنْ

Fa-innaka khatmu-r rusli bal ji’ta nāsikhan
li-mā sharaʿū yā kāmila-s sirri wa-l ʿalan

For you are the Seal of the Messengers; rather, you came abrogating what they legislated, O perfect in secret and in public.

كِتَابُكَ خَيْــــرٌ وَهْـــوَ دِينُــكَ مِثْلُــهُ
وَأُمَّتُكَ الْفُضْلَى بِكُمْ فِي ذُرَى الْقُنَنْ

Kitābuka khayrun wa huwa dīnuka mithluhu
wa ummatuka-l fuḍlā bikum fī dhurā-l qunan

Your book is the best and your religion is like it, and your nation is the most virtuous through you, at the peaks of the summits.

فَمَا نَبْتَغِـــي خَيْـــرُ الْعِبَـــادِ مُحَمَّــدٌ
وَلَمْ يُلْفَ مَعْبُودٌ سِوَى خَالِقِ الْمِنَــنْ

Fa-mā nabtaghī khayru-l ʿibādi Muḥammadun
wa lam yulfa maʿbūdun siwā khāliqi-l minan

We seek nothing but the best of servants, Muhammad, and no deity is found except the Creator of blessings.

قَدْ أَبْصَــــرَهُ بِالنُّـــورِ وَالْعِلْـــمِ وَالْهُــدَى
ذَوُو الْفَوْزِ إِذْ يُعْمِي الضَّلاَلُ ذَوِي الْوَسَنْ

Qad abṣarahu bi-n nūri wa-l ʿilmi wa-l hudā
dhawū-l fawzi idh yuʿmī-ḍ ḍalālu dhawī-l wasan

The successful ones perceived him with light, knowledge, and guidance, while misguidance blinds those who are somnolent.

تَنَوَّرْتُهُ عَبْدًا لَــــدَى الْحَـــقِّ سَيِّــدًا
لِسَادَاتِ هَـــذَا الْخَلْـقِ آدَمُ ثُمَّ مَــنْ

Tanawwartuhu ʿabdan ladā-l ḥaqqi sayyidan
li-sādāti hādhā-l khalqi Ādamu thumma man

I perceived him as a servant before the Truth and a master to the masters of this creation, Adam and those who followed.

بِــهِ آدَمٌ نَــالَ الْخِلاَفَـــــــةَ كَعْبَــــــةً
لَهُ سَجَدَ الْأَمْلاَكُ فِي الْخُلْدِ إِذْ سَكَــنْ

Bihi Ādamun nāla-l khilāfata kaʿbatan
lahu sajada-l amlāku fī-l khuldi idh sakan

Through him, Adam attained the vicegerency as a focal point; the angels prostrated to him in eternity when he dwelt there.

بِـــهِ طَفِئَتْ نَــارُ الْخَلِيلِ وَقَدْ غَدَتْ
رِيَاضَ جِنَانٍ مِنْحَــةٌ تُفْقِــدُ الْمِنَـــنْ

Bihi ṭafi’at nāru-l khalīli wa qad ghadat
riyāḍa jinānin minḥatun tufqidu-l minan

Through him, the fire of the Friend (Ibrahim) was extinguished and became gardens of paradise, a gift that makes one forget other favors.

بِــهِ فَلَــقَ الْبَحْــــرَ الْكَلِيــمُ وَأُغْرِقَــتْ
جُنُودُ الْعِدَى فِي غَايَـةِ الْخِزْيِ وَالْوَهَنْ

Bihi falaqa-l baḥra-l kalīmu wa ughriqat
junūdu-l ʿidā fī ghāyati-l khizyi wa-l wahan

Through him, the Speaker (Musa) parted the sea, and the armies of the enemies were drowned in the ultimate disgrace and weakness.

بِــهِ يُوسُفٌ نَــالَ الْعَلاَءَ وَقَدْ شُفِــي
بِــهِ عَيْنُ يَعْقُوبَ الصَّفِيِّ مَتَى حَزِنْ

Bihi Yūsufun nāla-l ʿalā’a wa qad shufī
bihi ʿaynu Yaʿqūba-ṣ ṣafiyyi matā ḥazin

Through him, Yusuf attained high status, and through him, the eye of the pure Ya’qub was healed whenever he grieved.

بِــهِ اهْتَزَّ بَيْتُ اللّٰهِ إِذْ طَــافَ آمِنًا
بِــهِ وَتَلاَ الذِّكْرَ الْحَكِيمَ وَقَدْ أَذِنْ

Bihi-htazza baytu-llāhi idh ṭāfa āminan
bihi wa talā-dh dhikra-l ḥakīma wa qad adhin

Through him, the House of Allah trembled with joy when he circumambulated it safely, reciting the Wise Remembrance as permitted.

بِــهِ ازْدَانَ أَقْطَارُ الْبَسِيطَـــةِ لَمْ تَجِــدْ
سِوَى نُورِهِ ظَرْفَ الْمَكَانَاتِ وَالزَّمَــنْ

Bihi-zdāna aqṭāru-l basīṭati lam tajid
siwā nūrihi ẓarfa-l makānāti wa-z zaman

Through him, the regions of the earth were adorned; you find nothing but his light as the container of all places and times.

بِــهِ وَإِلَيْهِ الدَّهْـــــرَ سَيْــرِي فَإِنَّنِــي
أَسِيرٌ أَسِيرُ الْيَوْمَ فِي الْقَيْدِ وَالْوَهَــــنْ

Bihi wa ilayhi-d dahra sayrī fa-innanī
asīrun asīru-l yawma fī-l qaydi wa-l wahan

Through him and towards him is my journey throughout time, for I am a captive walking today in chains and weakness.

عَلَى أَنَّ مِنْ حُــبِّ الْأَمِينِ وَذِكْرِهِ
أُرَجِّي غِيَاثًا بِالْتِفَـــــاتٍ لَنَــا يَعِــنْ

ʿAlā anna min ḥubbi-l amīni wa dhikrihi
urajjī ghiyāthan bi-l tifātin lanā yaʿin

Yet, from the love of the Trustworthy one and his remembrance, I hope for aid through a glance towards us that appears.

مَتَى جِئْتَنَــا ضَـــاءَ الْبَرِيَّــةُ بَعْدَمَــا
تَرَاكَمَ لَيْلُ الْجَهْلِ وَالْجَهْلُ قَدْ ظَعَــنْ

Matā ji’tanā ḍā’a-l bariyyatu baʿdamā
tarakama laylu-l jahli wa-l jahlu qad ẓaʿan

When you came to us, the creation shone after the night of ignorance had accumulated and ignorance departed.

وَقَدْ قُــــدْتَ خَلْقًــا لِلسَّعَـــادَةِ بَعْدَمَــا
قَدِ اسْتَوْجَبُوا شَرَّ الْمَآبِ مَدَى الزَّمَـنْ

Wa qad qudta khalqan li-s saʿādati baʿdamā
qadi-stawjabū sharra-l ma’ābi madā-z zaman

And you have led creation to happiness after they had deserved the worst of returns throughout time.

أَجِرْنِي مِــنَ النِّيرَانِ مَا بِيَ طَاقَــةٌ
بِرُؤْيَــةِ نِيرَانٍ فَجِسْمِـــيَ قَدْ وَهَــنْ

Ajirnī mina-n nīrāni mā bi-ya ṭāqatun
bi-ru’yati nīrānin fa-jismī qad wahan

Protect me from the fires, for I have no strength to look upon fires, as my body has weakened.

كَــذَا لِيَ أَحْبَابٌ أَجِرْهُـــــمْ وَهَبْتُهُــمْ
لَكَ الدَّهْرَ خَيْرَ النَّاسِ فَلْيَسْعَدُوا كَمَـنْ

Kadhā lī aḥbābun ajirhum wa habtuhum
laka-d dahra khayra-n nāsi fal-yasʿadū kaman

Likewise, I have loved ones, protect them; I have gifted them to you for all time, O best of people, so let them be happy as those.

حَبَــوْا لِيَ إِحْسَانًا كَثِيـــرًا وَإِنَّنِــي
فَقِيــرٌ وَقِيرٌ كَيْفَ أَجْزِيهِمُ الْحَسَــنْ

Ḥabaw liya iḥsānan kathīran wa innanī
faqīrun waqīrun kayfa ajzīhimu-l ḥasan

They bestowed much kindness upon me, and I am poor and burdened; how can I repay them with good?

فَلِــي وَلَهُمْ يَكْفِــــي التَّعَلُّـــقُ دَائِمًــا
بِذَيْلِ شَفِيعِ الْخَلْقِ مَنْ أَحْسَنَ السَّنَـنْ

Fa-lī wa lahum yakfī-t taʿalluqu dā’iman
bi-dhayli shafīʿi-l khalqi man aḥsana-s sunan

For me and for them, it suffices to always cling to the hem of the intercessor of creation, who perfected the ways.

وَأَرْجُــو بِــهِ سِتْرًا وَعَفْوًا وَتَوْبَـةً
وَهَدْيًـا وَتَوْفِيقًا لِظَهْرِي وَمَا بَطَـنْ

Wa arjū bihi sitran wa ʿafwan wa tawbatan
wa hadyan wa tawfīqan li-ẓahrī wa mā baṭan

And I hope through him for a covering, forgiveness, and repentance, and guidance and success for what is manifest and what is hidden.

وَتَحْلُو حَيَاتِي مَا حَيِيتُ وَبَعْدَهَــا
سَيَحْلُو مَمَاتِي لاَ أَرَى بَعْـدَهُ فِتَــنْ

Wa taḥlū ḥayātī mā ḥayītu wa baʿdahā
sayahlū mamātī lā arā baʿdahu fitan

And my life shall be sweet as long as I live, and after it, my death shall be sweet; I shall see no trials after it.

بَلْ أَلْقَى رَسُولَ اللّٰهِ أُلْفِـــي مَدَائِحِـي
لَدَيْهِ وَيُعْلِينِي إِلَى الْمَنْصِبِ الْحَسَنْ

Bal alqā Rasūla-llāhi ulfī madā’iḥī
ladayhi wa yuʿlīnī ila-l manṣibi-l ḥasan

Rather, I shall meet the Messenger of Allah and find my praises with him, and he shall raise me to the beautiful station.

عَلَيْــــــهِ صَـــلاَةُ اللّٰهِ ثُـــمَّ سَلاَمُـــــهُ
وَيَحْفَظُ لِي دِينِي وَقَوْمِي كَذَا الْوَطَنْ

ʿAlayhi ṣalātu-llāhi thumma salāmuhu
wa yaḥfaẓu lī dīnī wa qawmī kadhā-l waṭan

Upon him be the blessings of Allah then His peace, and may he preserve for me my religion, my people, and the homeland.

عَلَيْــــــهِ صَــــــلاَةُ اللّٰهِ ثُـــمَّ سَلاَمُــهُ
وَيَقْبَلُنِي طَـــهَ الْأَمِيــنُ وَيَشْفَعَـــــنْ

ʿAlayhi ṣalātu-llāhi thumma salāmuhu
wa yaqbalunī Ṭāhā-l amīnu wa yashfaʿan

Upon him be the blessings of Allah then His peace, and may Taha the Trustworthy accept me and intercede.

فَلاِبْنِ زُهَيْــرٍ قَـــدْ أَجَـــزْتَ بِبُــرْدَةٍ
أَجِزْنِي بِبُرْدٍ وَاقْبَلِ الْمَـــدْحَ وَاقْبَلَــنْ

Fa-li-bni Zuhayrin qad ajazta bi-burdatin
ajirnī bi-burdin wa-qbali-l madḥa wa-qbalan

For to the son of Zuhayr you granted a mantle; grant me a mantle and accept the praise, accept it indeed.

تَذَكَّــرْتُ لاَ أَنِّـــي نَسِيـــتُ مُحَمَّـــدًا
يُــرَتِّلُ ذِكْــرَ اللّٰهِ فِي السِّـرِّ كَالْعَلَــنْ

Tadhakkartu lā annī nasītu Muḥammadan
yurattilu dhikra-llāhi fī-s sirri ka-l ʿalan

I remembered, not that I ever forgot Muhammad, reciting the remembrance of Allah in secret as in public.

تَذَكَّــــرْتُ وَهَّـــــابَ الْأُلُــــوفِ مُحَمَّــدًا
وَمُخْزِي ذَوِي الْكُفْرَانِ بِالْبَأْسِ وَالْمِحَنْ

Tadhakkartu wahhāba-l ulūfi Muḥammadan
wa mukhzī dhawī-l kufrāni bi-l ba’si wa-l miḥan

I remembered the giver of thousands, Muhammad, and the shamer of the disbelievers through might and trials.

تَذَكَّــرْتُ أَبْهَــى النَّــاسِ طَـــهَ مُحَمَّدًا
جَمِيلاً جَلِيــلاً لاَ يُعَــــابُ وَلاَ يُـــزَنْ

Tadhakkartu abhā-n nāsi Ṭāhā Muḥammadan
jamīlan jalīlan lā yuʿābu wa lā yuzan

I remembered the most radiant of people, Taha Muhammad, beautiful and majestic, without fault or blemish.

كَأَنِّــي بِــهِ فِي حَالَــةِ الْبَسْــطِ بَاسِطًا
أَيَادٍ لَهَــا حَارَ الْجَمِيعُ وَقَـــدْ قَـــرَنْ

Ka-annī bihi fī ḥālati-l basṭi bāsiṭan
ayādin lahā ḥāra-l jamīʿu wa qad qaran

It is as if I see him in a state of joy, extending hands at which everyone is bewildered and joined.

كَأَنِّــي بِـــهِ وَهْوَ الرَّسُـــولُ لِخَالِقِــي
يُبِينُ الْهُــدَى سُبْلَ الْمَعَالِي لِمَنْ فَطَنْ

Ka-annī bihi wa huwa-r rasūlu li-khāliqī
yubīnu-l hudā subla-l maʿālī li-man faṭan

It is as if I see him, and he is the Messenger to my Creator, clarifying guidance and the paths of excellence for those who are wise.

كَـأَنِّي بِنَفْسِــي وَالظِّبَــــــاءُ تَكَاثَــرَتْ
عَلَيَّ أُرَجِّي الْفَضْلَ لاَ أَخْتَشِي غَبَــنْ

Ka-annī bi-nafsī wa-ẓ ẓibā’u takātharat
ʿalayya urajjī-l faḍla lā akhtashī ghaban

It is as if I see myself when the gazelles (cares) have multiplied against me, hoping for favor and not fearing any loss.

أُرَجِّــي غِنَى الدَّارَيْنِ وَالْعِلْمَ وَالْهُـدَى
مُبَارَكَ نَسْلٍ طُولَ دَهْـــرٍ عَلَى سُنَــنْ

Urajjī ghinā-d dārayni wa-l ʿilma wa-l hudā
mubāraka naslin ṭūla dahrin ʿalā sunan

I hope for the wealth of the two abodes, knowledge, and guidance, and a blessed progeny throughout time upon the traditions.

عَلَيْـــــكَ صَـــــلاَةُ اللّٰهِ ثُـــمَّ سَلاَمُــهُ
فَلَمْ أَتَّخِذْ تُرْسًـــا سِــوَاكَ وَلاَ مِجَــنْ

ʿAlayka ṣalātu-llāhi thumma salāmuhu
fa-lam attakhidh tursan siwāka walā mijan

Upon you be the blessings of Allah then His peace, for I have taken no shield other than you, nor any protection.

عَلَيْــــــكَ صَـــــلاَةُ اللّٰهِ ثُـــمَّ سَلاَمُــهُ
فَلَوْلاَكَ لاَ أَبْكِي عَلَى الدُّورِ وَالدِّمَـــنْ

ʿAlayka ṣalātu-llāhi thumma salāmuhu
fa-lawlāka lā abkī ʿalā-d dūri wa-d diman

Upon you be the blessings of Allah then His peace; were it not for you, I would not weep over dwellings or ruins.

عَلَيْـــــــكَ صَـــــلاَةُ اللّٰهِ ثُـــمَّ سَلاَمُــهُ
وَآلٍ وَصَحْبٍ أَحْرَزُوا الْفَوْزَ وَالْمِنَنْ

ʿAlayka ṣalātu-llāhi thumma salāmuhu
wa ālin wa ṣaḥbin aḥrazū-l fawza wa-l minan

Upon him be the blessings of Allah then His peace, and upon the Family and Companions who achieved victory and blessings.