Harfud Dwaad · حَرْفُ الضَّاد

ضِيَاءٌ مِنَ الْهَادِي الْبَرِيَّةِ مُصْطَفَى
خِيَارِهِــمُ إِذْ أَنَّ رَبِّي قَدِ اصْطَفَــى

Ḍiyā’un mina-l hādi-l bariyyati muṣṭafā
khiyārihim idh anna rabbī qadi-ṣṭafā

A light from the Guide of creation, the Chosen one, the best among them, for my Lord has indeed chosen him.

حَبَــاهُ وَأَعْطَـــــاهُ الْمَقَــامَ كَأَنَّــهُ
مُرَادُ مُرِيدِ الْكَائِنَاتِ وَمُصْطَفَــى

Ḥabāhu wa aʿṭāhu-l maqāma ka-annahu
murādu murīdi-l kā’ināti wa muṣṭafā

He (God) endowed him and gave him the Station as if he were the desire of the Willer of all beings and his selected one.

تَوَجَّهْتُ مِنْ أَهْلِي بِكَوْلَخَ سَائِــرًا
إِلَيْهِ وَلِي حُبٌّ رَسُوخٌ وَلِي اقْتِفَا

Tawaj-jahtu min ahlī bi-Kawlakha sā’irā
ilayhi wa liy ḥubbun rasūkhun wa liy iqtifā

I turned away from my family in Kaolack, journeying toward him with a deep-rooted love and a commitment to follow him.

بِيُوفٍ بِلاَسْبَلْمَاسَ بِالْغَرْبِ طَائِرًا
إِلَيْهِ بِشَوْقٍ قَـــــدْ دَهَانِــيَ مُدْنِفَــا

Bi-Yūfin bi-Lāsbālmāsa bi-l gharbi ṭā’irā
ilayhi bi-shawqin qad dahāniya mudnifā

Through Yeumbeul, Las Palmas, in the West, flying toward him with a longing that has left me exhausted and ailing.

بِبَحْـــرَا بِأَجْيَــــادٍ بِأَوَّلِ مَسْجِــدٍ
بِمَوْلِدِ أَوْفَـــى الْعَالَمِيـــنَ تَعَفُّفَــا

Bi-Baḥrā bi-Ajyādin bi-aw-wali masjidi
bi-mawlidi awfa-l ʿālamīna taʿaffufā

At Baḥrā, at Ajyad, at the First Mosque (Quba), at the birthplace of the most fulfilling of the worlds in chastity.

بِمَكَّةَ بِالرُّكْنِ الْعَظِيــــمِ بِزَمْــزَمٍ
أَسِيرُ مَعَ الْأَبْرَارِ قَلْبِي تَصَوَّفَــا

Bi-Makkata bi-r rukni-l ʿaẓīmi bi-Zamzami
asīru maʿa-l abrāri qalbī taṣaw-wafā

In Mecca, at the Great Corner, at Zamzam, I journey with the righteous, my heart having become devoted (Sufi).

فَذِكْرَكَ أَتْلُــو عِنْــــدَ بَيْتِــكَ أَرْتَجِــي
مَسِيرِي إِلَى الْهَادِي وَهَمِّي قَدِ انْتَفَى

Fa-dhikraka atlū ʿinda baytika artajī
masīrī ila-l hādī wa hammi qadi-ntafā

I recite your remembrance at Your House, hoping for my journey toward the Guide, and my worry has vanished.

أَلاَ يَا رَسُولَ اللّٰهِ جُـدْ لِي بِــزَوْرَةٍ
تُزِيلُ بِهَــا كَرْبِي فَقَلْبِـــي تَخَوَّفَــا

Alā yā rasūla-llāhi jud liy bi-zawratin
tuzīlu bihā karbī fa-qalbī takhaw-wafā

O Messenger of Allah, grant me a visit through which you remove my distress, for my heart has become fearful.

إِذَا قَبِلَ الْمَأْمُــــونُ أَنِّي خَدِيمُــهُ
تَبَدَّدَ خَوْفِي إِنَّنِي مُدْمِـــنُ الْجَفَــا

Idhā qabila-l ma’mūnu annī khadīmuhu
tabad-dada khawfī innanī mudminu-l jafā

If the Trusted one accepts that I am his servant, my fear will dissipate; for I am one addicted to distance (seeking closeness).

حَبِيبِي حَبِيبُ اللّٰهِ وَهْــوَ خَلِيلُــهُ
وَأَدْرَكْتُهُ رُوحًا كَلِيمًا وَمُقْتَفَى

Ḥabībī ḥabību-llāhi wa huwa khalīluhu
wa adraktuhu rūḥan kalīman wa muqtafā

My beloved is the Beloved of Allah and His Close Friend; I perceived him as a spirit, a speaker (like Moses), and a model.

شَكُورًا حَلِيمًا مُسْتَغَاثًا وَمَلْجَأً
رَؤُوفًا رَحِيمًا خَيْرَ مَنْ قَدْ تَحَنَّفَا

Shakūran ḥalīman mustaghāthan wa malja’ā
ra’ūfan raḥīman khayra man qad taḥannafā

Grateful, clement, a source of help and a refuge, kind, merciful, the best of those who followed the primordial faith.

وَأَوَّلُ كُــــلِّ الْمُسْلِمِيـــنَ حَقِيقَــةً
وَأَوَّلُ مَنْ عَادَى الشَّرِيكَ وَعَنَّفَا

Wa aw-walu kulli-l muslimīna ḥaqīqatan
wa aw-walu man ʿādā-sh sharīka wa ʿannafā

He is the first of all Muslims in reality, and the first who opposed the associate (shirk) and was firm against it.

بَلَى قَالَ فِي الْمِيثَاقِ أَوَّلَ بُرْهَةٍ
وَقَالَتْهُ كُلُّ الرُّسْلِ كُلٌّ لَهُ اقْتَفَى

Balā qāla fī-l mīthāqi aw-wala burhatin
wa qālat-hu kullu-r rusli kullun lahu-qtafā

Indeed, he said "Yes" (Bala) in the Covenant at the first moment; and all the Messengers said it, each following him.

فَأَضْحَى إِمَامَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ فَتِلْكَهُمْ
وَذَلِــكَ مَمْدُوحِي سَمَا وَتَشَرَّفَا

Fa-aḍḥā imāma-l mursalīna fa-tilkahum
wa dhālika mamdūḥī samā wa tashar-rafā

So he became the Imam of the Messengers; and that is my praised one, who rose and was honored.

لَهُ الْآيُ تَبْقَى آخِرَ الدَّهْرِ هَلْ تَــرَى
مِنَ الْآيِ مَا يَبْقَى كَآيَـــاءِ مُصْطَفَـى

Lahu-l āyu tabqā ākhira-d dahri hal tarā
mina-l āyi mā yabqā ka-āyā’i muṣṭafā

To him belong the Signs (verses) that remain until the end of time; do you see any signs that remain like the signs of the Chosen one?

فَذَا الذِّكْرُ هَــذَا الرُّعْـــبُ يَتْلُوهُ سَرْمَدًا
وَكَيْفَ تَرَى جَمْعَ الْحَجِيجِ عَلَى الصَّفَا

Fa-dhā-dh dhikru hadhā-r ruʿbu yatlūhu sarmadā
wa kayfa tarā jamʿa-l ḥajīji ʿala-ṣ ṣafā

This Remembrance (Qur'an) and this awe accompany it eternally; and how do you see the gathering of pilgrims at Safa?

دَلاَئِــــــلُ لاَ تُلْفَــى لِغَيْــرِ نَبِيِّنَــا
بِخَلْقٍ وَخُلْقٍ عِنْدَهُ بَرِحَ الْخَفَـــا

Dalā’ilu lā tulfā li-ghayri nabiyyinā
bi-khalqin wa khulqin ʿindahu bariḥa-l khafā

Proofs that are not found for anyone but our Prophet; in form and character, through him the hidden became manifest.

دَلاَئِلُ كَالشَّمْسِ الْمُنِيرَةِ مَا اخْتَفَــتْ
سِوَى عِنْدَ أَعْمَى مَا لِدَاءٍ لَــهُ شِفَــا

Dalā’ilu ka-sh shamsi-l munīrati mā-khtafat
siwā ʿinda aʿmā mā li-dā’in lahu shifā

Proofs like the shining sun that have not vanished, except to a blind person for whose disease there is no cure.

أَرُونِي كَأَمْثَالِ الْعَتِيقِ وَمَنْ غَــدَا
سِرَاجًا لِسُكَّانِ الْعُلاَ مَـــنْ تَخَلَّفَــا

Arūnī ka-amthāli-l ʿatīqi wa man ghadā
sirājan li-sukkāni-l ʿulā man takhal-lafā

Show me anyone like the "Ancient" (Abu Bakr) and the one who became a lamp for the inhabitants of the heights (Umar).

فَهَلْ عَبْقَرِيٌّ كَالسِّرَاجِ وَهَلْ تَرَى
لِعُثْمَانَ شَكْلاً ذَاكُـــــمُ ذَيْنِكُــمْ قَفَــا

Fa-hal ʿabqariyyun ka-s sirāji wa hal tarā
li-ʿUthmāna shaklan dhākum dhaynikum qafā

Is there any genius like the "Lamp" (Umar)? And do you see any likeness to Uthman? These followed his footsteps.

وَمَنْ كَأَمِيــــرِ الْمُؤْمِنِيـــنَ وَصِنْــوِهِ
عَلِىٍّ أَبِي السِّبْطَيْنِ ذِي الْقُرْبِ وَالْوَفَــا

Wa man ka-amīri-l mu’minīna wa ṣinwihi
ʿAliyyin abī-s sibṭayni dhi-l qurbā wa-l wafā

And who is like the Commander of the Faithful and his kinsman, Ali, the father of the two grandsons, of proximity and loyalty?

دَلاَئِلُ أَضْحَتْ مُقْنِعَاتٍ وَأَبْهَــرَتْ
لَهَا انْقَادَ قِسِّيسٌ وَأَسْلَمَ مَنْ جَفَـــا

Dalā’ilu aḍḥat muqniʿātin wa abharat
lahā-nqāda qissīsun wa aslama man jafā

Proofs that became convincing and dazzled; to them, priests submitted and those who were distant embraced Islam.

وَذَا الدِّينُ قَدْ عَمَّ الْبَسِيطَــــةَ وَاعْتَلَـى
عَلَى الدَّيْرِ رَغْمًا مِنْ خُصُومٍ وَمَنْ نَفَى

Wa dhā-d dīnu qad ʿamma-l basīṭata wa-ʿtalā
ʿala-d dayri raghman min khuṣūmin wa man nafā

This religion has encompassed the earth and risen above the monastery, despite the opponents and those who denied it.

وَهَلْ قُوتُ رُوحٍ كَالصَّلاَةِ وَهَلْ تَرَى
نَظِيرًا لِطُهْرٍ أَوْ صِيَــــامٍ لِمَــنْ صَفَــا

Wa hal qūtu rūḥin ka-ṣ ṣalāti wa hal tarā
naẓīran li-ṭuhrin aw ṣiyāmin liman ṣafā

Is there any nourishment for the spirit like prayer? And do you see any peer to purity or fasting for those who are pure?

عَلَيْــــــكَ بِهَـــا فَلْتَرْكَعَـــنَّ تَوَاضُعًــا
لِرَبِّي تَرَى التَّمْكِينَ وَالْقُرْبَ وَالصَّفَا

ʿAlayka bihā faltarkaʿanna tawāḍuʿā
li-rabbī tarā-t tamkīna wa-l qurba wa-ṣ ṣafā

Cling to it (prayer), and prostrate in humility to my Lord; you shall see empowerment, proximity, and clarity.

وَمَنْ ذَاقَ طَعْمَ الذِّكْرِ وَالصَّوْمِ فَانِيًا
فَقَدْ ذَاقَ سِرَّ الْمُصْطَفَيْـــنَ وَأُتْحِفَــا

Wa man dhāqa ṭaʿma-dh dhikri wa-ṣ ṣawmi fāniyā
fa-qad dhāqa sirra-l muṣṭafayna wa ut-ḥifā

And whoever tastes the flavor of Remembrance and fasting in annihilation, has tasted the secret of the Chosen ones and been gifted.

بِــهِ وَإِلَيْــهِ مِنْــهُ فِيـــهِ مَجَالُــهُ
بِذَاكَ يَنَالُ الْقُدْسَ أَنْقَى وَأَنْظَفَـا

Bihi wa ilayhi minhu fīhi majāluhu
bi-dhāka yanālu-l qudsa anqā wa anẓafā

Through Him, to Him, from Him, in Him is his field; through that, he attains the most pure and clean sanctity.

هُنَاكَ تَـــــرَاهُ أَوْ يَـــرَاكَ فَلاَ تَكُــنْ
وَصَهْ وَيْكَ لاَ تَنْطِقْ حَذَارِ قِفَنْ قِفَا

Hunāka tarāhu aw yarāka falā takun
wa ṣah wayka lā tanṭiq ḥadhāri qifan qifā

There you see Him or He sees you, so do not be (distracted); be silent, woe to you, do not speak, beware, stand still!

وَكَسَّرَ أَصْنَامًــا كَمِثْـــلِ خَلِيلِــهِ
وَأَمْسَتْ بِطَــهَ النَّارُ بَرْدًا مُشَرَّفَا

Wa kas-sara aṣnāman ka-mithli khalīlihi
wa amsat bi-Ṭāhā-n nāru bardan mushar-rafā

He shattered idols like his forefather the Friend (Abraham); and through Taha, the fire became a cool honor.

وَأَحْيَى كَعِيسَى بَعْضَ مَوْتَى لِقَوْمِهِ
وَبِالْمَسِّ نَالَ الْأَسْقَمُونَ كَــذَا الشِّفَا

Wa aḥyā ka-ʿĪsā baʿḍa mawtā li-qawmihi
wa bi-l massi nāla-l asqamūna kadhā-sh shifā

He gave life, like Jesus, to some of the dead among his people; and through his touch, the ailing attained healing.

لِمُوسَى مِيَاهٌ مِنْ رُخَـــامٍ تَفَجَّــرَتْ
وَمِنْ كَفِّ خَيْرِ الْخَلْقِ سَالَ وَنَيَّفَا

Li-Mūsā miyāhun min rukhāmin tafaj-jarat
wa min kaffi khayri-l khalqi sāla wa nay-yafā

For Moses, waters gushed from marble; but from the palm of the best of creation, it flowed even more.

وَقَدْ فَلَقَ الْبَحْـــــرَ الْكَلِيــمُ وَإِنَّــهُ
لَهُ انْشَقَّ بَدْرٌ إِذْ دَعَاهُمْ إِلَى الْوَفَــا

Wa qad falaqa-l baḥra-l kalīmu wa innahu
lahu-nshaqqa badrun idh daʿāhum ila-l wafā

The Speaker (Moses) split the sea, and indeed, for him (the Prophet), the moon split when he called them to loyalty.

سُلَيْمَانُ مَلْكٌ سَخَّرَ الْجِــــنَّ بَيْنَمَــا
قَدِ اسْتَخْدَمَ الْهَادِي مَلاَئِكَ مَنْ كَفَى

Sulaymānu malkun sakh-khara-l jinna baynamā
qadi-stakhdama-l hādī malā’ika man kafā

Solomon was a king who subjected the jinn, while the Guide employed the angels of the One who Suffices.

وَأَسْرَى بِــهِ اللّٰهُ الْجَلِيـــــلُ جَلاَلُــهُ
إِلَى الْقُدْسِ لِلْعُلْوِي الْعَلِي مُتَصَرِّفَــا

Wa asrā bihi-llāhu-l jalīlu jalāluhu
ila-l qudsi li-l ʿulwiyyi-l ʿaliyyi mutaṣar-rifā

The Illustrious Lord—majestic is His glory—took him by night to Jerusalem, to the highest Elevation, as a manager.

وَإِنِّي لَهُ أَسْــــرِي وَأُسْرِي بِسِــرِّهِ
لَدَى الْحَضْــــرَةِ الْعَلْيَا أُرَى مُتَعَكِّفَــا

Wa innī lahu asrī wa usrī bi-sirrihi
ladā ḥaḍrati-l ʿulyā urā mutaʿak-kifā

And I journey toward him, and I journey through his secret; in the high Presence, I am seen devotedly staying.

عَلَيْــــهِ صَـــلاَةُ اللّٰهِ ثُــمَّ سَلاَمُـهُ
يُقَرِّبُنِي الدَّيَّانُ ، عَنِّــيَ قَدْ عَفَــا

ʿAlayhi ṣalātu-llāhi thumma salāmuhu
yuqarribunī-d dayyānu ʿannī qad ʿafā

Upon him be the blessings of Allah and then His peace; the Judge brings me near, and He has pardoned me.

عَلَيْــهِ صَـــــــلاَةُ اللّٰهِ ثُـــمَّ سَلاَمُــهُ
أَرَى الْهُودَ قَدْ وَلَّوْا بِذُلٍّ إِلَى اخْتِفَــا

ʿAlayhi ṣalātu-llāhi thumma salāmuhu
ara-l hūda qad wal-law bi-dhullin ila-khtifā

Upon him be the blessings of Allah and then His peace; I see the Jews have turned away in humiliation into hiding.

عَلَيْــــــهِ صَــــلاَةُ اللّٰهِ ثُــمَّ سَلاَمُــهُ
وَمِنْ وَالِدِي شَيْخًا وَأَصْلاً وَمُقْتَفَى

ʿAlayhi ṣalātu-llāhi thumma salāmuhu
wa min wālidī shaykhan wa aṣlan wa muqtafā

Upon him be the blessings of Allah and then His peace; and from my father, as a Shaykh, an origin, and a model.

عَلَيْــهِ صَـــلاَةُ اللّٰهِ ثُـــمَّ سَلاَمُــهُ
وَآلٍ وَأَصْحَابٍ وَكُلِّ الَّذِي قَفَا

ʿAlayhi ṣalātu-llāhi thumma salāmuhu
wa ālin wa aṣḥābin wa kulli-l ladhī qafā

Upon him be the blessings of Allah and then His peace; and upon the Family, the Companions, and everyone who followed.

بِذَا الْقَـــدْرِ وَالْمِقْدَارِ مَــا قَالَ قَائِــلٌ
ضِيَاءٌ مِنَ الْهَادِي الْبَرِيَّةِ مُصْطَفَــى

Bi-dhā-l qadri wa-l miqdāri mā qāla qā’ilun
Ḍiyā’un mina-l hādi-l bariyyati muṣṭafā

By this status and stature, as long as a speaker says: A light from the Guide of creation, the Chosen one.