Ruuhul Adab · روح الادب

يَقُولُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ نَجْلُ الْحَاجِ
عَبْدِ الإِلَـٰهِ بَـدْرِنَا الْوَهَّـاجِ

Yaqūlu Ibrāhīmu najlu al-Ḥāji
‘Abdi al-Ilāhi badrinā al-wahhājī

Says Ibrahim, the son of Hajj Abd al-llah, our blazing full moon!

مِنْ بَعْدِ بِسْــمِ اللّٰهِ ثُــمَّ الْحَمْــدِ
لِلّٰهِ ذِي الطَّوْلِ الْعَظِيمِ الْمَجْدِ

Min ba‘di Bismi Allāhi thumma al-ḥamdi
lillāhi dhī al-ṭawli al-‘aẓīmi al-majdi

After invoking the name of Allah, then praise is due to Allah, Generous and Grand in Majesty

نَصِيحَةٌ مِنِّي إِلَى إِخْوَانِي
فَلْتُمْسِكُوا طَرِيقَةَ التِّجَانِي

Naṣīḥatun minnī ilā ikhwānī
faltumsikū ṭarīqata al-Tijānī

A sincere advice from me to our brethren, Adhere to the Tijani Path

طَرِيقَ مَحْضِ الْفَضْلِ وَالرِّضْوَانِ
أُسِّـــــسَ بِالسُّنَّـــــــةِ وَالْفُرْقَـــــانِ

Ṭarīqa maḥḍi al-faḍli wal-riḍwāni
ussisat bis-sunnati wal-furqāni

A path of pure grace and favor, Founded upon the Sunnah and the Criterion

وَلاَزِمُوا لاَزِمَ ذِي الطَّرِيقِ
بِذَا يُنَـالُ الرِّبْـــحُ بِالتَّحْقِيــقِ

Wa-lāzimū lāzima dhī al-ṭarīqi
bidhā yunālu al-ribḥu bit-taḥqīqi

And adhere to what is obligatory in the Path, By that you will obtain profit without doubt

فَلَسْتَ فِي أَخْذِ الطَّرِيقِ تَرْبَحُ
إِلاَّ إِذَا كُنْــتَ دَوَامًــا تُصْلِــحُ

Falas-ta fī akh-dhi al-ṭarīqi tarbaḥu
illā idhā kunta dawāman tuṣliḥu

But you will not, by taking the Path, profit, Except that you always act honorably

مُكَمِّلاً شُرُوطَهُ الْـمُقَرَّرَهْ
مُكَابِدًا آدَابَــهُ الْـمُعْتَبَــرَهْ

Mukammilan shurūṭahu al-muqarrarah
mukābidan ādābahu al-mu‘tabarah

Perfectly observing its established conditions, Embodying its demonstrated etiquettes

مُعَظِّمًـــا لِأَهْلِـــــهِ جَمِيعًــــــا
لاَ سِيَّمَا الْـخَاصَّةُ كُنْ مُطِيعًا

Mu‘aẓ-ẓiman li-ahlihi jamī‘an
lā siyyamā al-khāṣ-ṣatu kun muṭī‘an

Honoring all of its people, Especially its elite, whom you should obey

إِذَا شَرَعْتَ فِي ادِّكَارِ الْوِرْدِ
فَـــلاَزِمِ الْأَدَبَ قَــدْرَ الْـحَــدِّ

Idhā shara‘ta fī-dikāri al-wirdi
falāzimi al-adaba qadra al-ḥaddi

When you prepare to perform the litany, Observe its decorum as much as possible

تَأَدُّبٌ فِي ظَاهِرٍ وَبَاطِنِ
بِهِ يُرَقَّى الْـمَرْءُ لِلْمَوَاطِنِ

Ta’ad-dubun fī ẓāhirin wa-bāṭini
bihi yuraqqā al-mar’u lil-mawāṭini

Observing discipline outwardly and inwardly, By that a man is raised to lofty places

وَاسْتَحْضِرَنَّ شَيْخَكَ الْـمُرَبِّي
كَذَاكَ شَيْخَـــهُ بِـــدُونِ رَيْــبِ

Was-taḥ-ḍiranna shaykhaka al-murabbī
kadhāka shaykhahu bidūni raybi

And envision your Shaykh who trains you, As well as his Shaykh without doubt

وَلاَزِمِ الْحُضُورَ وَالسُّكُونَا
كَـذَاكَ خُلْـــوَةً تُعِيــنُ حِينَــا

Wa-lāzimi al-ḥuḍūra was-sukūnā
kadhalika khulwatan tu‘īnu ḥīnā

Observe presence of heart and tranquility, Likewise, seclusion will assist one quickly

وَاطْلُبْ مُرَبِّيًا خَبِيرًا نَاصِحًا
كَامِلَ عِرْفَـانٍ إِمَامًا صَالِحًـا

Waṭ-lub murabbiyan khabīran nāṣiḥan
kāmila ‘irfānin imāman ṣāliḥan

Seek an experienced teacher, with sound advice, Perfect in knowledge of God, a pious Imam

مَلِّكْـــهُ نَفْسَــكَ فَــلاَ تُدَبِّــرِ
وَكُنْ كَمَيِّتٍ ، دَوَامًا تُخْبِرْ

Mallik-hu naf-saka falā tudabbir
wa-kun ka-mayyitin, dawāman tukhbir

Submit yourself to him and do not try to direct yourself, Be like the dead body always and you will be informed

وَلاَ تُخَالِفْــهُ وَلَــوْ بَـانَ فَسَــا
دُ رَأْيِهِ ، فَكُنْ دَوَامًا ذَا ائْتِسَا

Wa-lā tukhālif-hu wa-law bāna fasādu
ra’yihi, fakun dawāman dhā-tisā

And do not disobey him, even if the error of his opinion becomes clear, instead always be a follower

فَخَطَــــأٌ لِلشَّيْــخِ أَقْـــوَمُ وَأَلْـ
ـيَقُ مِنَ الْـمُرِيدِ عِنْدَ مَنْ عَقَلْ

Fakha-ṭa’un lish-shaykhi aq-wamu wa-al-
yaqu minal-murīdi ‘inda man ‘aqal

For the mistake of the Shaykh is more upright and more certain than the adept, according to those who reason

لاَ تَلْتَفِتْ لِغَيْرِهِ فِـــي الْعَالَــمِ
وَكُنْ كَمَا لَوْ كُنْتَ دُونَ عَالَـمِ

Lā taltafit li-ghayrihi fī al-‘ālami
wa-kun kamā law kunta dūna ‘ālami

And do not incline to anyone else in the world, Be (with him) as if the world did not exist

فَلَيْسَ لِلْـمُرِيدِ غَيْرُ ذَا الْوَلِي
مَعَ الرَّسُولِ ثُمَّ مَوْلاَهُ الْعَلِي

Falaysa lil-murīdi ghayru dhā al-walī
ma‘a al-Rasūli thumma mawlāhu al-‘Aliyy

And there is nothing for the adept except this Saint, Along with the Messenger, then his Exalted Lord

مَا دَامَ غَيْرُهُمْ بِقَلْــبٍ لاَ يَنَـالْ
مَعْرِفَةُ الْـمَوْلَى أَقُولُ بِارْتِجَالْ

Mā dāma ghayruhum bi-qalbin lā yanāl
ma‘rifata al-mawlā aqūlu bi-rtijāl

As long as other than them remain in his heart, he will not attain Knowledge of the Lord, I say with all certainty

وَكُنْ مَعَ الشَّيْخِ دَوَامًا تَرْبَحُ
وَكُـنْ مُحِبًّا وَامِقًـــا فَتُفْلِـــحُ

Wa-kun ma‘a al-shaykhi dawāman tarbaḥu
wa-kun muḥibban wāmiqan fatuf-liḥu

Be with the Shaykh always and you will prosper, And be mutually loving and you will succeed

بِقَدْرِ مَـا تُحِبُّـــهُ تَنَـــالُ
أَمْدَادَهُ فَالْقَوْمُ هَذَا قَالُوا

Bi-qadri mā tuḥibbuhu tanālu
imdādahu fal-qawmu hādhā qālū

In proportion to your love for him, you will attain his spiritual assistance, as the people of this path have stated.

أَنْفِقْ طَرِيفًا تَالِـدًا فِــي طَلَـبِ
رِضَاهُ ، بَادِرْ إِنْ أَشَارَ تُصِبِ

Anfiq ṭarīfan tālidan fī ṭalabi
riḍāhu bādir in ashāra tuṣibi

Spend what you have inherited and earned in seeking his pleasure; hasten to his signals and you will hit the mark.

وَأَرْضِ شَيْخَكَ وَلَوْ أَبْكَاكَا
لَكِنَّـــهُ لِلْخَيْــرِ قَـــدْ هَدَاكَــا

Wa-arḍi shaykhaka wa-law abkāka
lakinnahu lil-khayri qad hadākā

Satisfy your Shaykh even if he should make you cry, because verily he has guided you toward the good.

وَاحْرِصْ عَلَى الْأَوْقَاتِ أَيَّ حِرْصٍ
وَاحْذَرْ مِنْ أَنْ تُبْلَـــى بَــلاَءَ نَقْــصِ

Waḥ-riṣ ‘ala al-awqāti ayya ḥirṣi
waḥ-dhar min an tublā balā’a naq-ṣi

Covet your time with the utmost covetousness; be warned that you might be afflicted with the trial of decline.

إِذَا رَأَيْـــتَ مَظْهَــــرَ الْـجَمَـــالِ
لاَ تَطْغَ وَارْضَ مَظْهَرَ الْـجَلاَلِ

Idhā ra’ayta maẓ-hara al-jamāli
lā taṭ-gha war-ḍa maẓ-hara al-jalāli

When you see the manifestation of Beauty, do not exceed limits; and be satisfied with the manifestation of Glory.

فَكُلُّ ذَا أَمْـرُ الْإِلَـــٰهِ يُسْــدَى
قَدْ جَلَّ أَنْ يُعْتَبَ فِيمَا أَسْدَى

Fa-kullu dhā amru al-ilāhi yusdā
qad jalla an yu‘taba fīmā asdā

For all of that is what has been enacted by the Decree of God, who is far too exalted to be blamed for what He has enacted.

لاَ تَتَأَلَّـمَـــنْ إِذَا رَأَيْتَـــا
إِذَايَةَ الْـخَلْقِ لِـذَا خُلِقْتَــا

Lā tata’allaman idhā ra’ayta
idhāyata al-khalqi lidhā khuliqtā

Do not feel injury when you experience the abuse of creation; for that purpose were you created.

أَجْرَى الْأَذَى مِنْهُمْ لِئَلاَّ تَرْكَنَا
إِلَيْهِــــمُ بَــلْ لِلْإِلَــٰهِ فَارْكَنَـــا

Ajra al-adhā minhum li-allā tarkana
ilayhimu bal lil-ilāhi far-kanā

He caused harm to flow from them so that you would not depend on them; rather, rely only upon God.

وَإِنْ بُلِيــتَ بِاشْتِــدَادٍ وَشُــرُورْ
فَاصْبِرْ سَيَأْتِيْكَ انْفِرَاجٌ وَسُرُورْ

Wa-in bulīta bish-tidādin wa-shurūr
faṣ-bir sa-ya’tīka infirājun wa-surūr

If you are afflicted with difficulty and disasters, be patient; relief and happiness will surely follow.

فَكُلُّ لَيْـــلٍ بَعْـــدَهُ نَهَــارُ
وَكُلُّ عُـسْرٍ بَعْدَهُ يَسَـارُ

Fa-kullu laylin ba‘dahu nahāru
wa-kullu ‘usrin ba‘dahu yasāru

For every night is followed by day, and every difficulty is followed by ease.

بَلْ كُلُّ عُـسْـــرٍ بَعْــدَهُ يُـسْــرَانِ
كَمَا أَتَـى عَــنْ أَحْمَــدَ الْعَدْنَانِــي

Bal kullu ‘usrin ba‘dahu yusrāni
kamā atā ‘an Aḥmada al-‘Adnāni

Nay! After every difficulty is double the ease, as has come down from Ahmad, the Adnani (the Prophet).

إِذَا عَلِمْتَ ذَا تَكُونُ رَاضِيَا
حُكْمَ الْلإِلَـٰهِ كُلَّ وَقْتٍ بَاقِيَا

Idhā ‘alimta dhā takūnu rāḍiyā
ḥukma al-ilāhi kulla waqtin bāqiyā

When you have understood that, you will be satisfied with the Divine Decree at all times thereafter.

إِذَا طَلَبْتَ مَطْلَبًــا عَدِمْتَــهُ
فَضَيْرَهُ يَدْرِي وَمَا دَرَيْتَهُ

Idhā ṭalabta maṭ-laban ‘adimtahu
fa-ḍayrahu yadrī wa-mā daraytahu

If you seek an objective which you are then deprived of, He knows its harm while you perceive it not.

يَدْفَعُ مَا يَضُـرُّ لُطْفًا مِنْهُ لاَ
تُتَّهِمَـــنْ إِلَـٰـهَنَــــا فَتُخْــذُلاَ

Yad-fa‘u mā yaḍurru luṭ-fan minhu lā
tatta-himan ilāhanā fatukh-dhalā

He wards off what harms you as a mercy from Him; do not question our God or you will be deprived.

لَوْ يَعْلَمُ الْإِنْسَانُ مَا الرَّحْمَنُ
يَلْقَى الشُّرُورَ ضَاحِكًا إِنْسَانُ

Law ya‘lamu al-insānu mā al-Raḥmānu
yalqa al-shurūra ḍāḥikan insānu

Were the human being to really know what the Most Merciful is, he would meet adversity as a smiling man.

لاَ تَطْلُبِ الْعِزَّ لَدَى الْـخَلْقِ بِلاَ
تَعَـزُّزٍ عِنْــدَ الْـمَلِيـــكِ ، لاَ وَلاَ

Lā taṭlubi al-‘izza lada al-khalqi bilā
ta‘azzuzin ‘inda al-Malīki lā wa-lā

Do not seek to be honored among the creation without seeking to be honored with the King; nay, do not!

لاَ تَفْرَحَنْ بِأَنْعُــمٍ أُنْعِمْتَــا
وَافْرَحْ بِمَنْ أَنْعَـمَ إِنْ عَقَلْتَـا

Lā taf-raḥan bi-an‘umin un‘imta
waf-raḥ bi-man an‘ama in ‘aqaltā

Do not become elated by any blessing bestowed upon you; instead, be happy with the Bestower if you are intelligent.

فَكُـــلُّ نِعْمَــةٍ تَــزُولُ دُونَ مَــنْ
أَسْدَى فَذَاكَ الْبَاقِي فِي كُلِّ زَمَنْ

Fa-kullu ni‘matin tazūlu dūna man
asdā fa-dhāka al-bāqī fī kulli zaman

For every blessing will vanish except the One who bestows it; Verily He perpetuates at all times.

لاَ تَحْقِــــــــرَنَّ مُسْلِمًــا لاَ تَذْكُــرَا
عَيْبَ امْرِئٍ وَالْعَيْبُ مِنْكَ قَدْ يُرَى

Lā taḥ-qiranna musliman lā tadh-kurā
‘ayba imri’in wal-‘aybu minka qad yurā

Do not despise any Muslim and do not mention the defects of anyone, when defects can be seen in you.

فَرُبَّ ذِي طِمْرَيْنِ أَغْبَرَ وَلَوْ
أَقْسَمَ بِالْـمَوْلَى أَبَرَّ قَـدْ رَوَوْا

Fa-rubba dhī ṭimrayni agh-bara wa-law
aq-sama bil-mawlā abarra qad rawaw

For how many a man with tattered robes and disheveled hair, if he appealed to the Lord, He would fulfill his request.

لاَ تَـضُرَنَّ مُسْلِمًا وَلَوْ ظَهَرْ
ضُرٌّ عَلَـى يَدَيْهِ دَأْبًــا فَاغْتَفِـرْ

Lā taḍur-ranna musliman wa-law ẓahar
ḍurrun ‘ala yadayhi da’ban fagh-tafir

Do not ever harm a Muslim, even if harm appears consistently from his hands; instead, try to forgive.

فَــإِنَّ ذَا الْـخَلْقَ عِبَادُ اللّٰهِ
فَلاَ تَـضُرْ أَخِي عِبَادَ اللّٰهِ

Fa-inna dhā al-khalqa ‘ibādu Allāhi
falā taḍur akhī ‘ibāda Allāhi

Because verily all of this creation are the slaves of God; so do not harm, O my brother, the slaves of God.

وَلَسْتَ تَرْضَى مَنْ يَضُرُّ عَبْدَكَا
وَإِنْ أَسَـــــا فَاتَّقِيَـــــنَّ رَبَّكَـــــا

Wa-lasta tar-ḍā man yaḍurru ‘abdaka
wa-in asā fatta-qiyanna rabbakā

For you would not be pleased with one who harms your servant even if he did wrong, so fear your Lord.

وَلاَزِمِ الْحُزْنَ وَذِكْـــرَ الْمَــوْتِ
لاَ تَنْسَـــهُ كَــذَا سُــــؤَالَ الْمَيْــتِ

Wa-lāzimi al-ḥuzna wa-dhikra al-mawti
lā tansa-hu kadhā su’āla al-mayti

Perpetuate in sadness and the remembrance of death; do not forget it, nor the questioning of the deceased.

لَا بُدَّ أَنْ تُقَدِّمَ التَّعَلُّمَا
فَكُنْ لِشِرْعَةِ الْإِلَهِ مُحْكِمَا

Lā budda an tuqaddima al-ta‘alluma
fakun li-shir‘ati al-ilāhi muḥ-kimā

It is imperative that you first and foremost seek knowledge, so that you may be firm in the Law of God.

فَالْعِلْمُ عُمْرِي هُوَ إِمَامُ الْعَمَلِ
كَمَا أَتَى عَنْ طَهَ خَيْرِ الرُّسُلِ

Fal-‘ilmu ‘umrī huwa imāmu al-‘amali
kamā atā ‘an Ṭāhā khayri al-rusuli

Knowledge, I swear by my life, is the leader of all action, just as has come down from Taha, the Best of Messengers.

حَصِّلْ عُلُومًا أَرْبَعًا ذَا السَّالِكْ
أَوَّلُهَا عِرْفَانُ رَبٍّ مَالِكْ

Ḥaṣ-ṣil ‘ulūman arba‘an dhā al-sālik
awwalu-hā ‘irfānu rabbin mālik

Seek four types of knowledge, O traveler on the Path! The first is the Gnosis of the Majestic Lord.

وَالثَّانِ أَنْ تَعْرِفَ مَا يُعَلَّقُ
عَلَى الْعِبَادَاتِ فَذَا تَحَقُّقُ

Wath-thāni an ta‘rifa mā yu‘allaqu
‘ala al-‘ibādāti fa-dhā taḥaq-ququ

The second is that you should know what relates to the acts of worship; of that be certain.

ثَالِثُهَا عِرْفَانُ حَالِ النَّفْسِ
مِنْ غَدْرِهَا وَكَيْدِهَا وَالدَّسِّ

Thālithu-hā ‘irfānu ḥāli al-naf-si
min ghad-rihā wa-kaydihā wad-dassi

The third is the knowledge of the state of the soul; its treachery, its plots, and its intrigues.

لِلنَّفْسِ عَيْبٌ لِلْفُؤَادِ عَيْبٌ
لِلرُّوحِ عَيْبٌ لَيْسَ فِيهِ رَيْبٌ

Lin-nafsi ‘aybun lil-fu’ādi ‘aybu
lir-rūḥi ‘aybun laysa fīhi raybu

The soul has defects, the heart has defects, and the spirit has defects; in this there is no doubt.

فَالْأَدَبَ الْأَدَبَ يَا ذَا السَّالِكْ
فَإِنَّهُ الْبَابُ لِكُلِّ سَالِكْ

Fal-adaba al-adaba yā dhā al-sālik
fa-innahu al-bābu li-kulli sālik

Then good morals! Good morals, O traveler! Verily it is the door for every traveler.

وَلْتَكُ خَاشِعًا أَخَا تَوَاضُعِ
فَلَسْتَ بِالْوَضِيعِ فِي التَّخَاضُعِ

Wal-taku khāshi‘an akhā tawāḍu‘i
falasta bil-waḍī‘i fī al-takhāḍu‘i

And be submissive, a man full of humility, for you will not, by humility, be abased.

فَالْعِلْمُ وَالْغِنَى وَخِصْبٌ قَدْ أَتَتْ
وَحَرَكَاتُ الْخَفْضِ فِيهِنَّ رَسَتْ

Fal-‘ilmu wal-ghinā wa-khiṣbun qad atat
wa-ḥarakātu al-khafḍi fī-hinna rasat

Because 'ilm (knowledge), ghinā' (wealth), and khisb (fertility) have all come having lowered vowels firmly established in them.

وَالْجَهْلُ وَالْفَقْرُ وَجَدْبٌ قَدْ أَتَتْ
وَحَرَكَاتُ الرَّفْعِ فِيهِنَّ رَسَتْ

Wal-jahlu wal-faqru wa-jadbun qad atat
wa-ḥarakātu al-raf‘i fī-hinna rasat

While jahl (ignorance), faqr (poverty), and sterility (jadb) have all come having raised vowels firmly established in them.

فَذِي إِشَارَةٌ إِذَا عَقَلْتَا
رَائِقَةٌ فَلْتَدْرِ مَا أُلْهِمْتَا

Fa-dhī ishāratun idhā ‘aqalta
rā’iqatun fal-tadri mā ul-himtā

Here you have, if you would ponder, an indication that is clear, so recognize what you have been inspired with.

لَا يَسْكُنُ السَّيْلُ عَلَى الْأَجْبَالِ
وَلَا عَلَى الْأَشْجَارِ فِي تَهْمَالِ

Lā yaskunu al-saylu ‘ala al-ajbāli
wa-lā ‘ala al-ashjāri fī tahmāli

Flood waters do not rest upon the tops of mountains, nor on the tops of trees when there is a deluge.

لَا تَرْضَ عَنْ نَفْسِكَ لَا تَرْجُ وَلَا
تَخْشَ سِوَى الْمَوْلَى سِوَاهُ أَهْمِلَا

Lā tarḍa ‘an naf-sika lā tarju wa-lā
takh-sha siwā al-mawlā siwā-hu ahmilā

Do not be pleased with yourself and do not hope in nor fear other than your Lord; rather disregard other than Him.

لَا تَتَكَبَّرْ يَا أَخِي لَا تَحْسُدَا
وَلَا تُرَاءٍ بَلْ إِلَهَكَ اقْصِدَا

Lā tatakabbar yā akhī lā taḥsudā
wa-lā turā’i bal ilāhaka iq-ṣidā

Do not be haughty, O my brother! and do not be envious nor show off; nay, seek only your God.

وَالْكِبْرُ إِمَّا بِعُلُومٍ أَوْ نَسَبْ
أَوْ زُمَرٍ أَوْ فِعْلِ طَاعَةٍ نَشَبْ

Wal-kibru immā bi-‘ulūmin aw nasab
aw zumarin aw fi‘li ṭā‘atin nashab

Arrogance is either because of knowledge, lineage, partisanship, acts of obedience, or wealth.

مَعْصِيَةٌ تُورِثُ ذُلًّا خَيْرُ
وَطَاعَةٌ تُورِثُ كِبْرًا شَرُّ

Ma‘ṣiyatun tūrithu dhullan khayru
wa-ṭā‘atun tūrithu kibran sharru

A sin which leads to humility is good, while obedience which leads to arrogance is evil.

فَلَسْتَ تَخْلُصُ مِنَ الْآفَاتِ
إِلَّا بِشَيْخٍ عَارِفٍ تُوَاتِي

Falasta takh-luṣu minal-āfāti
illā bi-shaykhin ‘ārifin tuwātī

You will never be free of blameworthy characteristics except by keeping company with a Gnostic Shaykh.

فَلْتُمْسِكَنْ بِعِصَمِ الْمَشَايِخِ
إِذَا أَرَدْتَ نَيْلَ عِزٍّ شَامِخِ

Fal-tumsikan bi-‘iṣami al-mashāyikhi
idhā aradta nayla ‘izzin shāmikhi

So, hold fast to the protection of the Shaykhs if you wish to attain high honor.

خَيْرُ شُيُوخِ الدَّهْرِ بِالْإِطْلَاقِ
إِمَامُنَا التِّجَانِ ذُو الْأَخْلَاقِ

Khayru shuyūkhi al-dahri bil-iṭlāqi
imāmunā al-Tijāni dhū al-akhlāqi

The best Shaykh of all times without question is our Imam al-Tijani, possessor of excellent conduct.

بَرْزَخُ كُلِّ عَارِفٍ وَأُسُّ
لَهُمْ وَيَنْبُوعٌ وَهْوَ شَمْسٌ

Bar-zakhu kulli ‘ārifin wa-ussu
lahum wa-yanbū‘un wa-huwa shamsu

The intermediary of every gnostic and the origin of all of them, their drinking well, and he is their sun.

وَخَيْرُ كُلِّ الطُّرْقِ بِالْإِجْمَاعِ
طَرِيقُهُ أَيْضًا بِلَا نِزَاعِ

Wa-khayru kulli al-ṭuruqi bil-ijmā‘i
ṭarīquhu ayḍan bilā nizā‘i

The best of all paths, by consensus, is also his path without dispute.

وَيَسْتَحِيلُ جَمْعُهَا بِأُخْرَى
أَخْسِرْ بِقَائِلِهِ فِي الْأُخْرَى

Wa-yastaḥīlu jam‘uhā bi-ukhrā
akh-sir bi-qā’ili-hi fī al-ukhrā

It is impossible to combine it with another; the one who says different will lose in the next abode.

كَذَبَ وَافْتَرَى عَلَى الْإِلَهِ
جَلَّ إِنِّي أَقُولُ إِنَّ ذَا الْوِرْدَ بَجَلْ

Kadhabba waf-tarā ‘ala al-ilāhi
jalla innī aqūlu inna dhā al-wirda bajal

He lies and invents against God, the Exalted; Verily I say that this litany is the greatest.

وَلَازِمَنْ أَذْكَارَ هَذَا الْوِرْدِ
إِذًا لَعَمْرِي لِلْوُصُولِ تَهْدِي

Wa-lāziman adhkāra hādhā al-wirdi
idhan la-‘amrī lil-wuṣūli tahdī

Adhere to the remembrances of this litany; you will then—I swear by my life—be guided to the Arrival.

حِزْبَ التَّضَرُّعِ صَلَاةَ الْفَاتِحِ
كَذَاكَ اللَّهُمَّ عَلَيْكَ فَاتِحْ

Ḥizba al-taḍarru‘i ṣalāta al-fātiḥi
kadhalika Allāhumma ‘alayka fātiḥ

The Invocation of Humble Entreaty, Salāt al-Fatihi, likewise, Allahumma 'alayka al-Fatih.

وَغَيْرَ ذِي مِمَّا حَوَى الرِّجَالُ
رِجَالُ ذِي الطَّرِيقِ إِنْ أَنَالُوا

Wa-ghayra dhī mimmā ḥawa al-rijālu
rijālu dhī al-ṭarīqi in anālū

Among other things which the men possess, the men of this path with their permission.

لَكِنَّ سِرَّهُمْ بِجِدٍّ قَدْ يُنَالْ
لَا بِالْهُوَيْنَا وَمُدَارَاةِ الرِّجَالْ

Lakinnā sirrahum bi-jiddin qad yunāl
lā bil-huwaynā wa-mudārāti al-rijāl

However their secrets are attained through diligence, not through laxity nor through trying to deceive its people.

بَلْ بِالْتِزَامِ مَا أَتَوْا لُزُومَا
وَبِاتِّبَاعِ قَوْلِهِمْ مَلْزُومَا

Bal bil-tizāmi mā ataw luzūmā
wa-bi-ttibā‘i qawlihim malzūmā

Nay! Only by adhering to what is given with complete loyalty and by following their sayings fully and obediently.

لَا تَخْتَرَنْ تَحَادُثَ الْأَقْرَانِ
عَنِ الْجُلُوسِ عِنْدَهُ يَا فَانِي

Lā takh-taran taḥādutha al-aqrāni
‘ani al-julūsi ‘indahu yā fānī

Do not prefer the vain speech of your peers to sitting with him, O annihilated one!

إِذًا فَلَا تَطْمَعْ بِنَيْلِ الْأَسْرَارْ
فَالسِّرُّ لَا يُنَالُ عِنْدَ الْإِجْهَارْ

Idhan falā taṭma‘ bi-nayli al-asrār
fas-sirru lā yunālu ‘inda al-ij-hār

In that case you will have no chance at attaining the secrets, for the secrets are not found in what is spoken loudly.

لَكِنْ إِذَا لَازَمْتَهُ فِي الْغَالِبِ
فَقَدْ تَفُوزُ مِنْهُ بِالْمَطَالِبِ

Lakin idhā lāzamtahu fī al-ghālibi
fa-qad tafūzu minhu bil-maṭālibi

Instead, when you have accompanied him most of the time, you will have attained from him what you seek.

وَقَدْ تَفُوزُ مِنْهُ بِالْعَدْوَى وَهِي
ثَابِتَةٌ عِنْدَ الرِّجَالِ انْتَبِهْ

Wa-qad tafūzu minhu bil-‘adwā wa-hiy
thābitatun ‘inda al-rijāli intabih

And you will have succeeded by way of infection, and that is well established among the men, so take heed.

مَنْ لَمْ يَنَلْ مَعْرِفَةَ الرَّحْمَانِ
أَعْمَارُهُ ضَاعَتْ مَدَى الْأَزْمَانِ

Man lam yanāl ma‘rifata al-Raḥmāni
a‘māruhu ḍā‘at madā al-azmāni

Whoever does not attain experiential knowledge of the Most Merciful, all of his life has been wasted, despite its length of time.

خَلَقْتُ ذَا الْخَلْقَ لِيَعْبُدُونِي
يَعْنِي بِيَعْبُدُونِ يَعْرِفُونِي

Khalaqtu dhā al-khalqa li-ya‘budūnī
ya‘nī bi-ya‘budūnī ya‘rifūnī

I created this creation so that they should worship Me; He means, by "worship Me," that they should know Me.

لَا تَأْلُ جُهْدَكَ بِنَيْلِ الْعِرْفَانِ
إِذًا تَرَى عَجِيبَ قُرْبِ الرَّحْمَانْ

Lā ta’lu juhdaka bi-nayli al-‘irfāni
idhan tarā ‘ajība qur-bi al-Raḥmān

Do not lower your ambition from attaining knowledge of God; you will then realize the astonishing proximity of the Most Merciful.

يَظْهَرُ مِنْ شَيْءٍ عَلَى شَيْءٍ لَدَى
شَيْءٍ وَقَبْلَهُ وَبَعْدُ سَرْمَدَا

Yaẓ-haru min shay’in ‘ala shay’in lada
shay’in wa-qablahu wa-ba‘du sarmadā

He manifests in everything, upon everything, and by everything, before it and after it, for all eternity.

وَإِنْ رَغِبْتَ فِي ازْدِيَادِ الْإِيمَانِ
فَتُبْ نَصُوحًا أَرْدِفَنْهَا إِحْسَانْ

Wa-in raghibta fī-zdiyādi al-īmāni
fa-tub naṣūḥan ardif-nahā iḥsān

If you seek to increase your belief, then repent sincerely and follow it by charity.

لَا تُبْغِضَنَّ مُسْلِمًا لَا تَغْضَبْ
إِلَّا لِهَتْكِ شِرْعَةِ الْمُهَذَّبِ

Lā tub-ghiḍanna musliman lā tagh-ḍab
illā li-hat-ki shir‘ati al-muhadh-dhabi

Do not hate any Muslim and do not become angry except to correct a manifest violation of the Sacred Law.

لَازِمْ قِيَامَ اللَّيْلِ جُوعَ مِعْدَهْ
أَكْلَ الْحَلَالِ الصَّرْفِ أَيْضًا عُدَّهْ

Lāzim qiyāma al-layli jū‘a mi‘dah
akla al-ḥalāli al-ṣar-fi ayḍan ‘uddah

Persevere in the performance of the night prayer, keep an empty stomach; eating what is purely lawful is also among these things.

وَنَاصِحِ الْإِخْوَانَ وَاصْمُتْ صَاحِبِ
أَهْلَ الْمُرُوءَةِ مِنَ الْأَقَارِبِ

Wa-nāṣiḥi al-ikhwāna wa-ṣmut ṣāḥibi
ahla al-murū’ati minal-aqāribi

Sincerely advise the brethren and keep silence and accompany people of chivalry among kinfolk.

وَالْمَرْءُ فِي دِينِ قَرِينِهِ الْحَمِيمْ
إِنْ صَالِحًا فَصَالِحٌ وَإِنْ بَهِيمْ

Wal-mar’u fī dīni qarīni-hi al-ḥamīmi
in ṣāliḥan fa-ṣāliḥun wa-in bahīm

A man is in the religion of his close friend; if righteous, then he will also be righteous, even if he is brutish.

تَذَكُّرُ الْمِيزَانِ نَشْرِ الصُّحُفِ
مَا فِي الْجَحِيمِ مِنْ دَوَامِ الْأَسَفِ

Tadhakkuru al-mīzāni nash-ri al-ṣuḥufi
mā fī al-jaḥīmi min dawāmi al-asafi

Remember the scales, the gathering, the scrolls, and what is in Hell of perpetual sorrow.

وَفِي الْجِنَانِ مِنْ حِسَانِ الْحُورِ
مَعَ الْجَوَارِ مَعْ حِسَانِ الدُّورِ

Wa-fī al-jināni min ḥisāni al-ḥūri
ma‘a al-jawāri ma‘a ḥisāni al-dūri

And what is in the Gardens of beautiful maidens along with goodly neighbors and beautiful dwellings.

وَدُمْ عَلَى مُكَفِّرَاتِ الذَّنْبِ
أَكَدُهَا صَلَاةُ هَذَا الْقُطْبِ

Wa-dum ‘ala mukaffirāti al-dhanbi
akaduhā ṣalātu hādhā al-quṭbi

And persevere in performing the wipers of sins; the most effective of which is the benediction of this Pole.

مِنْهَا الْمُسَبَّعَاتُ صُبْحًا وَمَسَا
حِكايَةُ الْأَذَانِ أَيْضًا ذَا ائْتِسَا

Minhā al-musabba‘ātu ṣub-ḥan wa-masā
ḥikāyata al-adhāni ayḍan dhā-ttisā

Among them is the Musabb'at day and night, and reciting the call to prayer in imitation of the mu'adhdhin.

أَنْوَاعُ أَذْكَارٍ أَتَتْ فِي الْمَذْهَبِ
صَلَاتُنَا عَلَى الرَّفِيعِ الْمَنْصِبِ

Anwā‘u adhkārin atat fī al-madh-habi
ṣalātunā ‘ala al-rafī‘i al-manṣibi

Various types of remembrances have come down in this school of thought; our sending blessings upon the dignified, exalted one.

صَلَاةُ تَسْبِيحٍ وَتَسْبِيحٌ كَذَا
تَدَبُّرُ الْقُرْآنِ رَاعِ الْمَأْخَذَا

Ṣalātu tasbīḥin wa-tasbīḥun kadhā
tadabburu al-qur’āni rā‘i al-ma’khadhā

The Prayer of Glorification, as well as glorification itself, and contemplating the Qur'an; observe these as great undertakings.

وَرَكْعَتَانِ خُفْيَةً نَقْلُ الْخُطَى
إِلَى الْمَسَاجِدِ يُكَفَّرُ الْخَطَا

Wa-rak‘atāni khufyatan naqlu al-khuṭā
ila al-masājidi yukaffaru al-khaṭā

Also two cycles of prayer in secret, and taking steps toward the mosques; these eradicate mistakes.

كَذَاكَ إِسْبَاغُ الْوُضُوءِ وَقُدِ
أَعْمَى كَذَا قَضَاءُ حَاجَةٍ زِدِ

Kadhāka isbāghu al-wuḍū’i wa-qudi
a‘mā kadhā qaḍā’u ḥājatin zidī

Likewise performing the ablution well, leading the blind man, and fulfilling a need are all included.

وَعَدُّ مَوْجِ الْبَحْرِ فِكْرَةً مُصَا
فَحَةُ الْإِخْوَانِ فَخُــذْ مُقْتَنِصَــا

Wa-‘addu mawji al-baḥri fikratun muṣā-
faḥatu al-ikhwāni fakhudh muqtaniṣā

Counting the waves of the ocean, deep contemplation, and shaking the hands of the brethren; avail yourself of these.

تَعْمِيرُ شَخْصٍ رَمَضَانَ صَوْمُهُ
وَقَائِمٌ فِيهِ يُمَحَّى جُرْمُهُ

Ta‘mīru shakhṣin ramaḍāna ṣawmuhu
wa-qā’imun fīhi yumḥā jurmuhu

A person's filling up Ramadan with fasting and standing in prayer eradicates their sins.

حَجٌّ وَعُمْرَةٌ وَسِرُّ صَدَقَهْ
مِنْ حِلِّ مَالٍ نِعْمَ تِلْكَ الصَّدَقَهْ

Ḥajjun wa-‘umratun wa-sirru ṣadaqah
min ḥilli mālin ni‘ma tilka al-ṣadaqah

Hajj, Umrah, and secret charity; the best charity being from lawful wealth—how excellent is such charity!

تَعْلِيمُ صِبْيَةٍ صَلَاةُ الصَّفِّ
فَكُلُّ ذَاكَ ذَكَرُوا فِي الصُّحْفِ

Ta‘līmu ṣib-yatin ṣalātu al-ṣaffi
fakullu dhāka dhakarū fī al-ṣuḥfi

Teaching children and praying in straight rows; all of that has been mentioned in the books.

وَهَاكَ آفَاتٍ تُقَسِّي الْقَلْبَا
حُبُّ الرِّيَاسَةِ أَشَدُّ عَيْبَا

Wa-hāka āfātin tuqassī al-qalba
ḥubbu al-riyāsati ashaddu ‘aybā

And here are the blemishes which harden the heart: love of leadership is the greatest of all defects.

مَزْحٌ وَغِيبَةٌ جَلِيسُ السُّوءِ
فُحْشٌ نَمِيمَةٌ وَنَفْسُ سُوءِ

Maz-ḥun wa-ghībatun jalīsu al-sū’i
fuḥ-shun namīmatun wa-naf-su sū’i

Making fun of others, backbiting, sitting with evil people, obscene behavior, slander, and an evil ego.

كَذَا هَوَى النَّفْسِ فَلَا تَتَّبِعِ
وَفِي الدُّنَا ازْهَدْ بِلَا تَتَبُّعِ

Kadhā hawa al-naf-si falā tattabi‘i
wa-fī al-dunā-zhad bilā tatab-bu‘i

Likewise the passions of the ego, so do not follow them; and in worldly things show restraint without constant pursuit.

كُنْ حِلْسَ بَيْتٍ وَاعْتَزِلْ كُلَّ الْوَرَى
لَا تَسْتَطِبْ أَقَاوِلاً وَلَا مِرَا

Kun ḥilsa baytin wa-‘tazil kulla al-warā
lā tasta-ṭib aqāwilan walā mirā

Be one attached to the house and withdraw from the people; do not enjoy vain speech nor disputation.

وَغُضَّ طَرْفاً عَنْ عُيُوبِ النَّاسِ
وَلْتَغْفَلَنْ عَنْهُمْ بِكُلِّ بَاسِ

Wa-ghuḍ-ḍa ṭar-fan ‘an ‘uyūbi al-nāsi
wal-tagh-falan ‘anhum bi-kulli bāsi

Lower your gaze from the defects of people and be unmindful of them in every difficulty.

تَصَدَّقِ الْمَالَ لِوَجْهِ اللهِ
زُرْ قَبْرَ مُسْلِمٍ بِلَا تَنَاهِ

Taṣad-daqi al-māla li-waj-hi Allāhi
zur qab-ra muslimin bilā tanāhī

Give your wealth in charity for the sake of God; visit the graves of Muslims without any limit.

لَا تَحْلِفَنْ إِلَّا إِذَا قَيَّدْتَا
عَلَى الْمَشِيئَةِ مَتَى حَلَفْتَا

Lā taḥ-lifan illā idhā qayyadtā
‘ala al-mashī’ati matā ḥalaftā

Do not ever swear by God unless you limit yourself to the Divine Will (In Shā’ Allāh) whenever you have sworn.

قَدِ انْتَهَتْ نَصِيحَةُ الْإِخْوَانِ
عَلَى اخْتِصَارٍ مِثْلَ أَهْلِ الْآنِ

Qadi-ntahat naṣīḥatu al-ikhwāni
‘ala-khtiṣārin mithla ahli al-āni

This advice to the brethren has been completed by way of summary, as is the way of the people of today.

فِي عَامِ الْإِثْنَيْنِ وَالْأَرْبَعِينَا
بَعْدَ ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ مَئِينَا

Fī ‘āmi al-ithnayni wal-arba‘īnā
ba‘da thalātha ‘ashrata ma’īnā

In the year [13]42 after thirteen hundred [1923-1924 CE].

سَمَّيْتُ ذَا النَّظْمَ بِرُوحِ الْأَدَبِ
لِمَا حَوَى مِنْ حِكَمٍ وَأَدَبِ

Sammaytu dhā al-naẓ-ma bi-Rūḥi al-Adabi
limā ḥawā min ḥikamin wa-adabi

I have named this poem "The Spirit of Good Morals" for what it contains of wisdom and etiquette.

مُعْتَذِراً عِنْدَ ذَوِي الْأَلْبَابِ
وَمُنْشِداً قَوْلَ فَتَى الْأَنْدَابِ

Mu‘tadhiran ‘inda dhawī al-albābi
wa-munshidan qawla fatā al-andābi

Seeking to excuse myself among the intelligent ones, and reciting the speech of a lamenting young man.

وَلِبَنِي إِحْدَى وَعِشْرِينَ سَنَهْ
مَعْذِرَةٌ مَقْبُولَةٌ مُسْتَحْسَنَهْ

Wa-libanī iḥdā wa-‘ishrīna sanah
ma‘dhiratun maqbūlatun mustaḥ-sanah

Being only twenty-one years old is a reason for an acceptable and good excuse.

فَانْفَعْ بِذَا النَّظْمِ جَمِيعَ الْمُؤْمِنِين
يَا رَبَّنَا بِجَاهِ خَيْرِ الْمُرْسَلِينْ

Fan-fa‘ bidhā al-naẓ-mi jamī‘a al-mu’minīn
yā rabbanā bi-jāhi khayri al-mursalīn

Benefit by this poem all of the believers, O our Lord, by the status of the Best of Messengers.

وَاجْعَلْهُ خَالِصاً لِوَجْهِكَ الْكَرِيم
يَا رَبِّ يَا لَطِيفُ رَحْمَنُ رَحِيمْ

Waj-‘al-hu khāliṣan li-waj-hika al-karīm
yā rabbi yā Laṭīfu Raḥmānu Raḥīm

And make it exclusively for Your noble sake, O Lord, O Gentle One, Beneficent, Merciful!

وَلَا يَغُرَّنَّكَ بِحِفْظِ النَّظْمِ
كَوْنِي صَغِيراً فِي بِلَادِ الْعَجْمِ

Walā yaghur-rannaka bi-ḥif-ẓi al-naẓ-mi
kawnī ṣaghīran fī bilādi al-‘ajmi

Do not be prevented from memorizing this poem by my being a young man from the land of non-Arabs.

فَاللهُ يَخْتَصُّ بِفَضْلٍ مَنْ يُرِيد
وَاللهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ وَالْمُرِيدْ

Fal-Lāhu yakhtaṣ-ṣu bi-faḍ-lin man yurīd
wal-Lāhu dhū al-faḍ-li al-‘aẓīmi wal-murīd

For God chooses for His grace whom He will, and God is the Possessor of tremendous grace and the Willer.

قَدْ قَالَ فِي هَذَا الْمَجَالِ الْأَمْجَدُ
خَدِيمُ طَهَ الْمَالِكِيُّ أَحْمَدُ

Qad qāla fī hādhā al-majāli al-amjad
khadīmu Ṭāhā al-Mālikīyyu Aḥmad

Regarding this, the illustrious servant of Taha, the Maliki, Ahmad [al-Tijani or Ahmad Bamba] has said:

فَلَيْسَ يُكْسِبُ سَوَادُ الْجِسْمِ
بَلَادَةَ الْفَتَى وَسُوءَ الْفَهْمِ

Falaysa yuksibu sawādu al-jismi
balādata al-fatā wa-sū’a al-fah-mi

A black body does not acquire for the youth silliness or bad understanding.

يَا رَبِّ يَا رَبِّ بِجَاهِ الْهَادِي
فَكُفَّ عَنَّا كُلَّ شَرِّ عَادِي

Yā rabbi yā rabbi bi-jāhi al-Hādī
fakuf-fa ‘annā kulla shar-ri ‘ādī

My Lord! My Lord! By the merit of the Guide, ward off from us all the evil of my enemy.

مُنَّ عَلَيْنَا بِكَمَالِ الْعِرْفَان
وَكُلِّ مَرْغُوبٍ بِخَيْرِ عَدْنَانْ

Munna ‘alaynā bi-kamāli al-‘irfāni
wa-kulli mar-ghūbin bi-khayri ‘Adnān

Bless us with complete gnosis and every desire, by the Best of Adnan (the Prophet ﷺ).

فَاسْتُرْ عُيُوبَنَا بِسِتْرِكَ الْجَمِيل
وَاقْهَرْ عَدُوَّنَا بِقَهْرِكَ الْجَلِيلْ

Fas-tur ‘uyūbanā bi-sit-rika al-jamīl
waq-har ‘aduwwanā bi-qah-rika al-jalīl

Cover our faults with Your beautiful veil and overpower our enemies with Your Exalted force.

وَالْحَمْدُ للهِ الَّذِي قَدْ أَوْلَى
تَيْسِيرَ نَظْمِي فَهْوَ نِعْمَ الْمَوْلَى

Wal-ḥamdu lil-Lāhi al-ladhī qad awlā
taysīra naẓ-mī fahuwa ni‘ma al-mawlā

All praise is to God who has rendered easy my poem, and He is the best Guardian.

ثُمَّ الصَّلَاةُ مَعَ تَسْلِيمِ السَّلَام
عَلَى النَّبِيِّ الْمُصْطَفَى خَيْرِ الْأَنَامْ

Thumma al-ṣalātu ma‘a taslīmi al-salām
‘ala al-nabīyyi al-Muṣṭafā khayri al-anām

Thereafter blessings along with choice salutations upon the Prophet, the Chosen One, the Best of mankind.

عَلَيْهِ وَالْآلِ وَصَحْبٍ أَبْرَار
مَا فَازَ بِالْعِرْفَانِ كُلُّ صَبَّارْ

‘Alayhi wal-āli wa-ṣaḥ-bin abrār
mā fāza bil-‘irfāni kullu ṣabbār

Upon him and his righteous family and companions, as long as the constantly patient ones obtain gnosis.