Ibn Arabi Prayers for Every Night and Day

أَوْرَادُ الْيَوْمِ وَاللَّيْلَةِ

Ibn Arabi Prayers for Every Night and Day (Seven Days of the Heart)

Vocalized Arabic with transliteration and English translation

About this reading text

This document contains the complete fourteen-prayer cycle from Sunday night through Saturday daytime, together with the preface and closing text in the separate supplied copy. Each short reading unit presents the vocalized Arabic, its Roman transliteration, and an independent modern English translation, in that order. The three parts of each unit are kept together for reading and comparison.

The Arabic base is the section Awrād al-usbūʿ in Maḥmūd Maḥmūd al-Ghurāb’s al-Ṭarīq ilā Allāh taʿālā al-Shaykh wa-l-murīd, 1411 AH / 1991, printed pages 173–193. The preface and closing text come from the separate 40-page Awrād al-yawm wa-l-layla .  

Vowels, case endings, punctuation and the English translation have been prepared for this document. Minor spelling and grammatical forms are regularized. Substantive readings adopted from the second copy are noted; the conjectural repair [ʿayn] in the Tuesday night prayer is explicitly marked. Difficult syntax and metaphysical expressions are explained where a reading is tentative. This is an editorial reading of the supplied sources, not a certified critical edition.

The source edition’s textual notes are translated into English as footnotes and distinguished from the new editorial notes. The bracketed report at the end of Tuesday night is retained as printed. The separate prayer al-Dawr al-aʿlā, which begins after this cycle in al-Ghurāb’s book, falls outside this work.

Scholarly edition

For the published critical Arabic edition, see Prayers for the Week The Seven Days of the Heart, prepared by Pablo Beneito and Stephen Hirtenstein, Anqa Publishing, 2021, ISBN 9781905937653. The publisher describes an Arabic text based on early manuscripts, with vowels, transliteration and translation. This document’s English is independently composed; a full collation with the Anqa edition has not been made.

Anqa edition details Publisher’s account of the text

Reading and pronunciation key

Read down the page in groups of three paragraphs. Line breaks divide the prayers into manageable phrases and do not reproduce the source’s printed lineation. Sentences may continue into the next group. In the traditional daily reckoning, the named night precedes the named daytime: Sunday night begins on Saturday evening.

The transliteration is a guide to the written words, not a complete notation of connected recitation. It retains grammatical endings and consistently writes the article al-. Before a sun letter, assimilate its l in speech: al-raḥmān is pronounced ar-raḥmān, and al-shams is ash-shams. Initial vowels of hamzat al-waṣl are shown for separate reading where needed; they drop when joining words. Thus bismi Allāhi al-raḥmāni al-raḥīmi is read continuously as bismi llāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīm when pausing at the end.

Long vowels ā ī ū are held longer than a i u; ay and aw are diphthongs. Doubled consonants are held. At a normal pause, final short case vowels and -un or -in are generally dropped; -an normally becomes -ā, while tāʾ marbūṭa is normally pronounced -ah. These conventions do not encode Qurʾānic tajwīd, melodic phrasing or every sound change across word boundaries.

Symbol

Sound

th dh sh

th in thin th in this sh in ship

kh gh

The rough kh of Scottish loch; gh is its voiced counterpart.

ḥ ʿ ʾ

ḥ is a breathy throat sound; ʿ is ʿayn, a voiced throat sound; ʾ is the glottal stop, as in the break in uh-oh.

ṣ ḍ ṭ ẓ

Emphatic counterparts of s, d, t and dh, with a deeper, backed quality.

q j

q is a deep k made at the back of the mouth; j is the j of judge.

Recurring terms

Al-Ḥaqq is rendered “the Real” or “truth” according to context; wujūd is “existence” or “Being”; shuhūd is “witnessing”; and tajallī is divine “self-disclosure”. Aḥadiyya is “undivided Oneness”, while wāḥidiyya is “all-embracing Unity”. Fanāʾ is “passing away” or effacement of self, and baqāʾ is “abiding”. These choices help preserve the distinctions and deliberate paradoxes of the prayers. “Red Sulphur” in the preface and colophon is an honorific associated with rarity and spiritual transformation.

 

الْمُقَدِّمَةُ  

al-muqaddimatu al-wāridatu fī al-nuskhati al-mustaqillati

Preface

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ.

bismi Allāhi al-raḥmāni al-raḥīmi.

In the name of God, the All-Merciful, the Ever-Merciful.

قَالَ الشَّيْخُ الْأَكْبَرُ وَالْكِبْرِيتُ الْأَحْمَرُ وَالنُّورُ الْأَزْهَرُ،

qāla al-shaykhu al-ʾakbaru wa-al-kibrītu al-ʾaḥmaru wa-al-nūru al-ʾazharu,

The Greatest Master, the Red Sulphur and the Radiant Light, said:

سَيِّدِي الشَّيْخُ مُحْيِي الدِّينِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ الْمَغْرِبِيُّ الْأَنْدَلُسِيُّ،

sayyidī al-shaykhu muḥyī al-dīni muḥammadu bnu ʿaliyyi bni ʾaḥmada al-maghribiyyu al-ʾandalusiyyu,

our master, Shaykh Muḥyī al-Dīn Muḥammad ibn ʿAlī ibn Aḥmad, the Maghribī and Andalusian;

نَفَعَنَا اللَّهُ بِعُلُومِهِ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ بِمُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ.

nafaʿanā Allāhu biʿulūmihi fī al-dunyā wa-al-ʾākhirati bimuḥammadin waʾālihi.

may God benefit us through his knowledge in this life and the next, through Muḥammad and his family.

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ عَلَىٰ حُسْنِ تَوْفِيقِهِ، وَأَسْأَلُهُ الْهِدَايَةَ إِلَىٰ سُلُوكِ طَرِيقِهِ،

al-ḥamdu li-llāhi ʿalā ḥusni tawfīqihi, waʾasʾaluhu al-hidāyata ʾilā sulūki ṭarīqihi,

Praise belongs to God for His gracious guidance. I ask Him to guide me in following His path,

وَإِلْهَامًا عَلَىٰ تَحْقِيقِهِ، وَقَلْبًا مُوقِنًا إِلَىٰ تَصْدِيقِهِ،

waʾilhāman ʿalā taḥqīqihi, waqalban mūqinan ʾilā taṣdīqihi,

to inspire me to realize it, and to grant me a heart certain in affirming His truth;

وَعَقْلًا نُورَانِيًّا بِعِنَايَةِ تَسْبِيقِهِ، وَرُوحًا رُوحَانِيًّا إِلَىٰ تَشْرِيفِهِ،

waʿaqlan nūrāniyyan biʿināyati tasbīqihi, warūḥan rūḥāniyyan ʾilā tashrīfihi,

an intellect filled with light through His prior care, and a spiritual soul receptive to His ennobling grace;

وَنَفْسًا مُطْمَئِنَّةً مِنَ الْجَهْلِ، وَفَهْمًا لَامِعًا بِإِلْمَاعِ الْفِكْرِ وَبَرِيقِهِ،

wanafsan muṭmaʾinnatan mina al-jahli, wafahman lāmiʿan biʾilmāʿi al-fikri wabarīqihi,

a self at peace, free of ignorance, and an understanding radiant with the flashes and brilliance of thought;

وَسِرًّا أَزْهَرَ بِسَلْسَبِيلِ الْفَتْحِ وَرَحِيقِهِ،

wasirran ʾazhara bisalsabīli al-fatḥi waraḥīqihi,

an innermost heart shining with the flowing spring and pure nectar of spiritual opening;

وَلِسَانًا مُنْبَسِطًا بِبِسَاطِ الْبَسْطِ وَتَرْوِيقِهِ،

walisānan munbasiṭan bibisāṭi al-basṭi watarwīqihi,

a tongue made free upon the expanse of spiritual openness and its clarity;

وَفِكْرًا رَائِقًا عَنْ زُخْرُفِ الْفَانِي وَتَزْوِيقِهِ،

wafikran rāʾiqan ʿan zukhrufi al-fānī watazwīqihi,

a mind cleared of the adornments and embellishments of what passes away;

وَبَصِيرَةً نَافِذَةً فِي سِرِّ الْوُجُودِ فِي تَغْرِيبِ الْكَوْنِ وَتَشْرِيقِهِ،

wabaṣīratan nāfidhatan fī sirri al-wujūdi fī taghrībi al-kawni watashrīqihi,

an insight that penetrates the secret of existence, throughout creation's west and east;

وَحَوَاسًّا سَالِمَةً بِمَجَارِي الرُّوحِ وَتَطْرِيقِهِ،

waḥawāssan sālimatan bimajārī al-rūḥi wataṭrīqihi,

sound senses through the courses of the spirit and the paths it opens;

وَفِطْرَةً طَاهِرَةً مِنْ زُكَامِ النَّقْصِ وَتَطْبِيقِهِ،

wafiṭratan ṭāhiratan min zukāmi al-naqṣi wataṭbīqihi,

an original nature cleansed of the congestion and constriction of deficiency;

وَوَقْتًا مُسَاعِدًا لِجَمْعِهِ وَتَفْرِيقِهِ،

wawaqtan musāʿidan lijamʿihi watafrīqihi,

and a present moment that serves His gathering and differentiating.

وَصَلَاةً وَسَلَامًا عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ وَفَرِيقِهِ،

waṣalātan wasalāman ʿalā muḥammadin waʾālihi wafarīqihi,

And blessings and peace upon Muḥammad, his family and his companions,

وَالْخُلَفَاءِ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ وَالتَّابِعِينَ سُلُوكَ طَرِيقِهِ، وَسَلَّمَ تَسْلِيمًا.

wa-al-khulafāʾi min baʿdihi wa-al-tābiʿīna sulūka ṭarīqihi, wasallama taslīman.

upon the successors after him and those who follow his path. May God grant him abundant peace.

أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنَّ الْمُرَادَ هُوَ اللَّهُ فِي الْوُجُودِ وَالشُّهُودِ،

ʾammā baʿdu, faʾinna al-murāda huwa Allāhu fī al-wujūdi wa-al-shuhūdi,

To proceed: God is the One sought in existence and in witnessing.

وَهُوَ الْمَقْصُودُ، وَلَا إِنْكَارَ وَلَا جُحُودَ، وَهُوَ حَسْبِي وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ.

wahuwa al-maqṣūdu, walā ʾinkāra walā juḥūda, wahuwa ḥasbī waniʿma al-wakīlu.

He is the goal, beyond denial or rejection. He is sufficient for me, and how worthy He is of trust.

وِرْدُ لَيْلَةِ الْأَحَدِ

wirdu laylati al-ʾaḥadi

Sunday night prayer

Al-Ghurāb pages 173–174

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ.

bismi Allāhi al-raḥmāni al-raḥīmi.

In the name of God, the All-Merciful, the Ever-Merciful.

إِلَٰهِي¹ أَنْتَ الْمُحِيطُ بِغَيْبِ كُلِّ شَاهِدٍ، وَالْمُسْتَوْلِي عَلَىٰ بَاطِنِ كُلِّ ظَاهِرٍ.

ʾilāhī ʾanta al-muḥīṭu bighaybi kulli shāhidin, wa-al-mustawlī ʿalā bāṭini kulli ẓāhirin.

My God, You encompass the unseen depth of everything visible and hold dominion over the inward reality of all that appears.

أَسْأَلُكَ بِنُورِ وَجْهِكَ الَّذِي سَجَدَتْ لَهُ الْجِبَاهُ² وَعَنَتْ لَهُ الْوُجُوهُ،

ʾasʾaluka binūri wajhika al-ladhī sajadat lahu al-jibāhu waʿanat lahu al-wujūhu,

I ask You by the light of Your Face, before which foreheads prostrate and faces bow,

وَبِنُورِكَ الَّذِي شَخَصَتْ لَهُ الْأَبْصَارُ، أَنْ تَهْدِيَنِي إِلَىٰ صِرَاطِكَ الْخَاصِّ،

wabinūrika al-ladhī shakhaṣat lahu al-ʾabṣāru, ʾan tahdiyanī ʾilā ṣirāṭika al-khāṣṣi,

and by Your light upon which eyes gaze intently, to guide me to Your special path:

هِدَايَةً تَصْرِفُ بِهَا وَجْهِي إِلَيْكَ³ عَمَّنْ سِوَاكَ.

hidāyatan taṣrifu bihā wajhī ʾilayka ʿamman siwāka.

a guidance through which You turn my face towards You, away from all besides You.

يَا مَنْ هُوَ الْهُوَ الْمُطْلَقُ، وَأَنَا الْهُوَ الْمُقَيَّدُ، يَا مَنْ لَا هُوَ⁴ إِلَّا هُوَ.

yā man huwa al-huwa al-muṭlaqu, waʾanā al-huwa al-muqayyadu, yā man lā huwa ʾillā huwa.

O You who are the unrestricted He, while I am a restricted he; O You beside whom there is no He but He.

إِلَٰهِي شَأْنُكَ قَهْرُ الْأَعْدَاءِ، وَقَمْعُ الْجَبَّارِينَ.

ʾilāhī shaʾnuka qahru al-ʾaʿdāʾi, waqamʿu al-jabbārīna.

My God, it is Your way to subdue enemies and bring tyrants low.

أَسْأَلُكَ مَدَدًا مِنْ عِزَّةِ أَسْمَائِكَ الْقَهْرِيَّةِ⁵ يَمْنَعُنِي مِنْ كُلِّ مَنْ أَرَادَنِي بِسُوءٍ،

ʾasʾaluka madadan min ʿizzati ʾasmāʾika al-qahriyyati yamnaʿunī min kulli man ʾarādanī bisūʾin,

I ask You for help from the might of Your all-subduing Names, to protect me from everyone who intends me harm,

حَتَّىٰ أَكُفَّ بِهِ أَكُفَّ الْبَاغِينَ، وَأَقْطَعَ بِهِ دَابِرَ الظَّالِمِينَ.

ḥattā ʾakuffa bihi ʾakuffa al-bāghīna, waʾaqṭaʿa bihi dābira al-ẓālimīna.

so that through it I may restrain the hands of aggressors and cut off the power of those who do wrong.

وَمَلِّكْنِي نَفْسِي مِلْكًا يُقَدِّسُنِي عَنْ كُلِّ خُلُقٍ شَيْنٍ،

wamalliknī nafsī milkan yuqaddisunī ʿan kulli khuluqin shaynin,

Grant me mastery of myself that purifies me of every disgraceful trait.

وَاهْدِنِي إِلَيْكَ يَا هَادِي، إِلَيْكَ رَجْعُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَأَنْتَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ مُحِيطٌ.

wa-ihdinī ʾilayka yā hādī, ʾilayka rajʿu kulli shayʾin waʾanta bikulli shayʾin muḥīṭun.

Guide me to You, O Guide. To You everything returns, and You encompass all things.

وَهُوَ الْقَاهِرُ فَوْقَ عِبَادِهِ وَهُوَ اللَّطِيفُ الْخَبِيرُ.

wahuwa al-qāhiru fawqa ʿibādihi wahuwa al-laṭīfu al-khabīru.

He is the Subduer above His servants, the Subtle, the All-Aware.

إِلَٰهِي أَنْتَ الْقَائِمُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ نَفْسٍ، وَالْقَيُّومُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ مَعْنًى وَحِسٍّ.

ʾilāhī ʾanta al-qāʾimu ʿalā kulli nafsin, wa-al-qayyūmu ʿalā kulli maʿnan waḥissin.

My God, You watch over every soul and sustain all that is intelligible and all that is sensed.

قَدَرْتَ فَقَهَرْتَ، وَعَلِمْتَ فَقَدَّرْتَ، فَلَكَ الْقُدْرَةُ وَالْقَهْرُ، وَبِيَدِكَ الْخَلْقُ وَالْأَمْرُ.

qadarta faqaharta, waʿalimta faqaddarta, falaka al-qudratu wa-al-qahru, wabiyadika al-khalqu wa-al-ʾamru.

You wield power and subdue; You know and determine. Power and mastery are Yours; creation and command are in Your hand.

أَنْتَ مَعَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قُرْبَ الْقُرْبِ وَمَوْلَاهُ، وَبِالْإِحَاطَةِ مُدَبِّرُهُ وَهُدَاهُ.

ʾanta maʿa kulli shayʾin qurba al-qurbi wamawlāhu, wabi-al-ʾiḥāṭati mudabbiruhu wahudāhu.

You are with everything in the very nearness of nearness, its Lord, encompassing it as its Director and its guidance.

إِلَٰهِي⁶ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِدَادًا مِنْ أَسْمَائِكَ الْقَهْرِيَّةِ،

ʾilāhī ʾinnī ʾasʾaluka midādan min ʾasmāʾika al-qahriyyati,

My God, I ask You for an outpouring from Your all-subduing Names,

تُقَوِّي بِهَا قُوَايَ الْقَلْبِيَّةَ وَالْقَالَبِيَّةَ،

tuqawwī bihā quwāya al-qalbiyyata wa-al-qālabiyyata,

through which You strengthen the powers of my heart and my bodily frame,

حَتَّىٰ لَا يَلْقَانِي صَاحِبُ قَلْبٍ إِلَّا انْقَلَبَ عَلَىٰ عَقِبِهِ مَقْهُورًا.

ḥattā lā yalqānī ṣāḥibu qalbin ʾillā inqalaba ʿalā ʿaqibihi maqhūran.

so that no possessor of a heart encounters me without turning back subdued.

وَأَسْأَلُكَ إِلَٰهِي لِسَانًا نَاطِقًا، وَقَوْلًا صَادِقًا، وَفَهْمًا لَائِقًا، وَسِرًّا ذَائِقًا⁷،

waʾasʾaluka ʾilāhī lisānan nāṭiqan, waqawlan ṣādiqan, wafahman lāʾiqan, wasirran dhāʾiqan,

I ask You, my God, for an articulate tongue, truthful speech, fitting understanding, and an inward heart that tastes spiritual reality;

وَقَلْبًا قَابِلًا، وَعَقْلًا عَاقِلًا، وَفِكْرًا مُشْرِقًا، وَشَوْقًا مُقْلِقًا،

waqalban qābilan, waʿaqlan ʿāqilan, wafikran mushriqan, washawqan muqliqan,

a receptive heart, a discerning intellect, luminous thought, and longing that leaves me restless;

وَطَرْفًا مُطْرِقًا، وَتَوْقًا مُحْرِقًا.

waṭarfan muṭriqan, watawqan muḥriqan.

a gaze lowered in humility, and yearning that burns within.

وَهَبْنِي يَدًا قَادِرَةً، وَقُوَّةً قَاهِرَةً، وَنَفْسًا مُطْمَئِنَّةً، وَجَوَارِحَ لِطَاعَتِكَ لَيِّنَةً،

wahabnī yadan qādiratan, waquwwatan qāhiratan, wanafsan muṭmaʾinnatan, wajawāriḥa liṭāʿatika layyinatan,

Grant me a capable hand, prevailing strength, a tranquil soul, and limbs readily obedient to You.

وَقَدِّسْنِي لِلْقُدُومِ عَلَيْكَ، وَارْزُقْنِي التَّقَدُّمَ إِلَيْكَ.

waqaddisnī li-l-qudūmi ʿalayka, wa-urzuqnī al-taqadduma ʾilayka.

Purify me for coming before You, and grant me progress towards You.

إِلَٰهِي هَبْ لِي قَلْبًا أُقْبِلُ بِهِ عَلَيْكَ بِفَقْرٍ،

ʾilāhī hab lī qalban ʾuqbilu bihi ʿalayka bifaqrin,

My God, grant me a heart with which I turn to You in utter need:

الْفَقْرُ يَقُودُهُ، وَالشَّوْقُ يَسُوقُهُ وَالتَّوْقُ رَفِيقُهُ⁸،

al-faqru yaqūduhu, wa-al-shawqu yasūquhu wa-al-tawqu rafīquhu,

need leading it, longing driving it onwards, and yearning accompanying it;

زَادُهُ الْخَوْفُ، وَرَفِيقُهُ الْقَلَقُ، وَقَصْدُهُ الْقُرْبُ وَالْقَبُولُ،

zāduhu al-khawfu, warafīquhu al-qalaqu, waqaṣduhu al-qurbu wa-al-qabūlu,

its provision is reverent fear, its companion is restlessness, and its aim is nearness and acceptance.

وَعِنْدَكَ زُلْفَىٰ الْقَاصِدِينَ، وَمُنْتَهَىٰ رَغْبَةِ الطَّالِبِينَ.

waʿindaka zulfā al-qāṣidīna, wamuntahā raghbati al-ṭālibīna.

With You lie the intimacy sought by those who turn towards You and the fulfilment of every seeker's desire.

إِلَٰهِي أَلْقِ عَلَيَّ السَّكِينَةَ وَالْوَقَارَ، وَجَنِّبْنِي الْعَظَمَةَ وَالِاسْتِكْبَارَ،

ʾilāhī ʾalqi ʿalayya al-sakīnata wa-al-waqāra, wajannibnī al-ʿaẓamata wa-al-istikbāra,

My God, bestow serenity and dignity upon me, and keep me from self-importance and arrogance.

وَأَقِمْنِي فِي مَقَامِ الْقَبُولِ بِالْإِنَابَةِ، وَقَابِلْ قَوْلِي بِالْإِجَابَةِ.

waʾaqimnī fī maqāmi al-qabūli bi-al-ʾinābati, waqābil qawlī bi-al-ʾijābati.

Establish me in acceptance through my returning to You, and meet my words with Your answer.

رَبِّ⁹ قَرِّبْنِي إِلَيْكَ قُرْبَ الْعَارِفِينَ، وَقَدِّسْنِي عَنْ عَلَائِقِ الطَّبْعِ،

rabbi qarribnī ʾilayka qurba al-ʿārifīna, waqaddisnī ʿan ʿalāʾiqi al-ṭabʿi,

My Lord, draw me near with the nearness of those who know You, and purify me of the attachments of my natural disposition.

وَأَزِلْ مِنِّي عَلَقَ دَمِ الدَّمِ لِأَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ،¹⁰

waʾazil minnī ʿalaqa dami al-dami liʾakūna mina al-mutaṭahhirīna,

Remove from me the clinging clot of blood within blood, that I may be among those who are purified.

وَصَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ.

waṣallā Allāhu ʿalā sayyidinā muḥammadin waʿalā ʾālihi waṣaḥbihi ʾajmaʿīna.

May God bless our master Muḥammad, his family and all his companions.

وِرْدُ يَوْمِ الْأَحَدِ

wirdu yawmi al-ʾaḥadi

Sunday daytime prayer

Al-Ghurāb pages 174–177

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ.

bismi Allāhi al-raḥmāni al-raḥīmi.

In the name of God, the All-Merciful, the Ever-Merciful.

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ فَاتِحِ الْوُجُودِ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ مُظْهِرِ كُلِّ مَوْجُودٍ،

bismi Allāhi fātiḥi al-wujūdi, wa-al-ḥamdu li-llāhi muẓhiri kulli mawjūdin,

In the name of God, who opens existence; praise belongs to God, who brings every existent into manifestation.

وَلَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ تَوْحِيدًا مُطْلَقًا، عَنْ كَشْفٍ وَشُهُودٍ،

walā ʾilāha ʾillā Allāhu tawḥīdan muṭlaqan, ʿan kashfin washuhūdin,

There is no god but God: an unrestricted affirmation of His unity, arising from unveiling and witnessing.

وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، مِنْهُ بَدَأَ الْأَمْرُ وَإِلَيْهِ يَعُودُ،

wa-Allāhu ʾakbaru, minhu badaʾa al-ʾamru waʾilayhi yaʿūdu,

God is greater. From Him the whole affair began, and to Him it returns.

وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ، مَا ثَمَّ سِوَاهُ فَيُشْهَدَ، وَلَا مَعَهُ غَيْرٌ مَعْبُودٌ،

wasubḥāna Allāhi, mā thamma siwāhu fayushhada, walā maʿahu ghayrun maʿbūdun,

Glory be to God. There is none besides Him to be witnessed, and no other worshipped alongside Him.

وَاحِدٌ أَحَدٌ عَلَىٰ مَا كَانَ عَلَيْهِ قَبْلَ حُدُوثِ الْحُدُودِ،

wāḥidun ʾaḥadun ʿalā mā kāna ʿalayhi qabla ḥudūthi al-ḥudūdi,

One, uniquely One, He remains as He was before limits came into being.

لَهُ فِي كُلِّ شَيْءٍ آيَةٌ تَدُلُّ عَلَىٰ أَنَّهُ وَاحِدٌ أَحَدٌ مَوْجُودٌ،

lahu fī kulli shayʾin ʾāyatun tadullu ʿalā ʾannahu wāḥidun ʾaḥadun mawjūdun,

In everything He has a sign declaring that He is One, uniquely One, truly existent.

سِرُّهُ مُنَزَّهٌ سِتْرُهُ عَنِ الْإِدْرَاكِ وَالنُّفُوذِ،¹¹

sirruhu munazzahun sitruhu ʿani al-ʾidrāki wa-al-nufūdhi,

His secret is veiled beyond the reach of apprehension or penetration.

وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ،

walā ḥawla walā quwwata ʾillā bi-Allāhi al-ʿaliyyi al-ʿaẓīmi,

There is no power to turn or act except through God, the Most High, the Magnificent:

كَنْزٌ اخْتَصَّنَا بِهِ مِنْ خَزَائِنِ الْغَيْبِ وَالْجُودِ،

kanzun ikhtaṣṣanā bihi min khazāʾini al-ghaybi wa-al-jūdi,

a treasure He has specially bestowed on us from the treasuries of the unseen and of generosity.

أَسْتَنْزِلُ بِهِ كُلَّ خَيْرٍ، وَأَدْفَعُ بِهِ كُلَّ شَرٍّ وَضَيْرٍ،

ʾastanzilu bihi kulla khayrin, waʾadfaʿu bihi kulla sharrin waḍayrin,

Through it I call down every good and ward off every evil and harm;

وَأَفْتُقُ بِهِ كُلَّ رَتْقٍ مَسْدُودٍ،

waʾaftuqu bihi kulla ratqin masdūdin,

through it I open everything closed and sealed.

وَإِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ، فِي كُلِّ أَمْرٍ نَزَلَ أَوْ هُوَ نَازِلٌ،

waʾinnā li-llāhi waʾinnā ʾilayhi rājiʿūna, fī kulli ʾamrin nazala ʾaw huwa nāzilun,

We belong to God, and to Him we return, in everything that has befallen us or will befall us,

وَفِي كُلِّ حَالٍ وَمَقَامٍ وَخَاطِرٍ وَوَارِدٍ، وَمَصْدَرٍ وَوُرُودٍ.

wafī kulli ḥālin wamaqāmin wakhāṭirin wawāridin, wamaṣdarin wawurūdin.

in every state and station, passing thought and incoming inspiration, departure and arrival.

وَاللَّهُ هُوَ الْمَرْجُوُّ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ، وَفِي كُلِّ شَيْءٍ هُوَ الْمَأْمُولُ وَالْمَقْصُودُ،

wa-Allāhu huwa al-marjuwwu likulli shayʾin, wafī kulli shayʾin huwa al-maʾmūlu wa-al-maqṣūdu,

God is the One in whom hope is placed for everything; in everything He is the hope and the goal.

وَالْإِلْهَامُ مِنْهُ، وَالْفَهْمُ عَنْهُ، وَالْمَوْجُودُ هُوَ وَلَا إِنْكَارَ وَلَا جُحُودَ.

wa-al-ʾilhāmu minhu, wa-al-fahmu ʿanhu, wa-al-mawjūdu huwa walā ʾinkāra walā juḥūda.

Inspiration comes from Him, understanding is received from Him, and He is the truly Existent, beyond denial or rejection.

إِذَا كَشَفَ فَلَا غَيْرَ، وَإِذَا سَتَرَ فَكُلٌّ غَيْرٌ، وَكُلُّ مَحْجُوبٍ مَعْبُودٌ،¹²

ʾidhā kashafa falā ghayra, waʾidhā satara fakullun ghayrun, wakullu maḥjūbin maʿbūdun,

When He unveils, there is no other; when He veils, everything appears other, and every veiled object becomes an object of worship.

بَاطِنٌ بِالْأَحَدِيَّةِ ظَاهِرٌ بِالْوَاحِدِيَّةِ،

bāṭinun bi-al-ʾaḥadiyyati ẓāhirun bi-al-wāḥidiyyati,

He is inwardly hidden in undivided Oneness and outwardly manifest in all-embracing Unity.

وَعَنْهُ وَبِهِ كَانَ كَوْنُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ، فَلَا شَيْءَ،

waʿanhu wabihi kāna kawnu kulli shayʾin, falā shayʾa,

From Him and through Him everything came to be; thus no thing has being of its own,

إِذِ الشَّيْءُ فِي الْحَقِيقَةِ مَعْدُومٌ مَفْقُودٌ،

ʾidhi al-shayʾu fī al-ḥaqīqati maʿdūmun mafqūdun,

for, in itself, a thing is truly nonexistent and absent.

فَهُوَ الْأَوَّلُ وَالْآخِرُ، وَالظَّاهِرُ وَالْبَاطِنُ، وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ،

fahuwa al-ʾawwalu wa-al-ʾākhiru, wa-al-ẓāhiru wa-al-bāṭinu, wahuwa bikulli shayʾin ʿalīmun,

He is the First and the Last, the Manifest and the Hidden; He knows all things,

قَبْلَ كَوْنِ الشَّيْءِ، وَبَعْدَ الْوُجُودِ.

qabla kawni al-shayʾi, wabaʿda al-wujūdi.

before a thing comes to be and after it exists.

لَهُ الْإِحَاطَةُ الْوَاسِعَةُ، وَالْحَقِيقَةُ الْجَامِعَةُ، وَالسِّرُّ الْقَائِمُ،

lahu al-ʾiḥāṭatu al-wāsiʿatu, wa-al-ḥaqīqatu al-jāmiʿatu, wa-al-sirru al-qāʾimu,

His are the all-embracing encompassment, the all-gathering reality, and the abiding secret;

وَالْمُلْكُ الدَّائِمُ، وَالْحُكْمُ اللَّازِمُ، أَهْلُ الثَّنَاءِ وَالْمَجْدِ،

wa-al-mulku al-dāʾimu, wa-al-ḥukmu al-lāzimu, ʾahlu al-thanāʾi wa-al-majdi,

the enduring sovereignty and the binding decree. He is worthy of praise and glory.

هُوَ كَمَا أَثْنَىٰ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِ، فَهُوَ الْحَامِدُ وَالْمَحْمُودُ،

huwa kamā ʾathnā ʿalā nafsihi, fahuwa al-ḥāmidu wa-al-maḥmūdu,

He is as He has praised Himself: the One who praises and the One who is praised.

أَحَدِيُّ الذَّاتِ، وَأَحَدِيُّ الْأَسْمَاءِ وَالصِّفَاتِ،

ʾaḥadiyyu al-dhāti, waʾaḥadiyyu al-ʾasmāʾi wa-al-ṣifāti,

His Essence is indivisibly one; His Names and Attributes are indivisibly one.

عَلِيمٌ بِالْكُلِّيَّاتِ وَالْجُزْئِيَّاتِ، مُحِيطٌ بِالْفَوْقِيَّاتِ وَالتَّحْتِيَّاتِ،

ʿalīmun bi-al-kulliyyāti wa-al-juzʾiyyāti, muḥīṭun bi-al-fawqiyyāti wa-al-taḥtiyyāti,

He knows universals and particulars, encompassing all that is above and all that is below.

وَلَهُ عَنَتِ الْوُجُوهُ مِنْ كُلِّ الْجِهَاتِ.

walahu ʿanati al-wujūhu min kulli al-jihāti.

From every direction, faces bow before Him.

إِلَٰهِي يَا مَنْ هُوَ الْمُحِيطُ الْجَامِعُ، وَيَا مَنْ لَا يَمْنَعُهُ مِنَ الْعَطَاءِ مَانِعٌ،

ʾilāhī yā man huwa al-muḥīṭu al-jāmiʿu, wayā man lā yamnaʿuhu mina al-ʿaṭāʾi māniʿun,

My God, You who encompass and gather all things; You whom nothing can prevent from giving;

يَا مَنْ لَا يَنْفَدُ مَا عِنْدَهُ، وَعَمَّ جَمِيعَ الْخَلَائِقِ¹³ جُودُهُ وَرِفْدُهُ،

yā man lā yanfadu mā ʿindahu, waʿamma jamīʿa al-khalāʾiqi jūduhu warifduhu,

You whose resources never run out, whose generosity and gifts embrace all creatures:

اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَغْلَاقَ¹⁴ هَٰذِهِ الْكُنُوزِ، وَاكْشِفْ لِي حَقَائِقَ هَٰذِهِ الرُّمُوزِ،

Allāhumma iftaḥ lī ʾaghlāqa hādhihi al-kunūzi, wa-ikshif lī ḥaqāʾiqa hādhihi al-rumūzi,

O God, open for me the locks of these treasures and unveil the realities of these symbols.

وَكُنْ أَنْتَ مُوَاجِهِي وَوِجْهَتِي، وَاحْجُبْنِي بِرُؤْيَتِكَ عَنْ رُؤْيَتِي،

wakun ʾanta muwājihī wawijhatī, wa-uḥjubnī biruʾyatika ʿan ruʾyatī,

Be the One who faces me and the direction I face; let seeing You conceal me from seeing myself.

وَامْحُ بِظُهُورِ تَجَلِّيكَ جَمِيعَ صِفَاتِي، حَتَّىٰ لَا يَكُونَ لِي وِجْهَةٌ إِلَّا إِلَيْكَ،

wa-umḥu biẓuhūri tajallīka jamīʿa ṣifātī, ḥattā lā yakūna lī wijhatun ʾillā ʾilayka,

Erase all my attributes through Your manifest self-disclosure, until I have no direction but towards You,

وَلَا يَقَعَ مِنِّي نَظَرٌ¹⁵ إِلَّا عَلَيْكَ.

walā yaqaʿa minnī naẓarun ʾillā ʿalayka.

and no gaze of mine falls upon anything but You.

وَانْظُرِ اللَّهُمَّ إِلَيَّ بِعَيْنِ الرَّحْمَةِ وَالْعِنَايَةِ، وَالْحِفْظِ وَالرِّعَايَةِ،

wa-unẓuri Allāhumma ʾilayya biʿayni al-raḥmati wa-al-ʿināyati, wa-al-ḥifẓi wa-al-riʿāyati,

Look upon me, O God, with the eye of mercy and care, protection and watchfulness,

وَالِاخْتِصَاصِ وَالْوَلَايَةِ، فِي كُلِّ شَيْءٍ،

wa-al-ikhtiṣāṣi wa-al-walāyati, fī kulli shayʾin,

and special favour and friendship, in everything,

حَتَّىٰ لَا يَحْجُبَنِي عَنْ رُؤْيَتِي لَكَ شَيْءٌ،

ḥattā lā yaḥjubanī ʿan ruʾyatī laka shayʾun,

so that nothing may veil me from seeing You,

وَأَكُونَ نَاظِرًا إِلَيْكَ بِمَا أَمْدَدْتَنِي بِهِ مِنْ نَظَرِكَ فِي كُلِّ شَيْءٍ.

waʾakūna nāẓiran ʾilayka bimā ʾamdadtanī bihi min naẓarika fī kulli shayʾin.

and I may behold You through the vision You have bestowed on me, Your vision present in everything.

وَاجْعَلْنِي خَاضِعًا لِتَجَلِّيكَ، أَهْلًا لِاخْتِصَاصِكَ وَتَوَلِّيكَ،

wa-ijʿalnī khāḍiʿan litajallīka, ʾahlan li-ikhtiṣāṣika watawallīka,

Make me humble before Your self-disclosure, worthy of Your special favour and Your care,

مَحَلَّ نَظَرِكَ مِنْ خَلْقِكَ، مُفِيضًا عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ عَطَائِكَ وَفَضْلِكَ،

maḥalla naẓarika min khalqika, mufīḍan ʿalayhim min ʿaṭāʾika wafaḍlika,

a focus of Your regard among Your creatures, pouring upon them from Your bounty and grace.

يَا مَنْ لَهُ الْغِنَى الْمُطْلَقُ، وَلِعَبْدِهِ الْفَقْرُ الْمُحَقَّقُ،

yā man lahu al-ghinā al-muṭlaqu, waliʿabdihi al-faqru al-muḥaqqaqu,

O You whose sufficiency is absolute, while Your servant's need is certain;

يَا غَنِيًّا عَنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ، وَكُلُّ شَيْءٍ مُفْتَقِرٌ إِلَيْهِ،

yā ghaniyyan ʿan kulli shayʾin, wakullu shayʾin muftaqirun ʾilayhi,

O You who need nothing, while everything needs You;

وَيَا مَنْ بِيَدِهِ أَمْرُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ، وَأَمْرُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ رَاجِعٌ إِلَيْهِ،

wayā man biyadihi ʾamru kulli shayʾin, waʾamru kulli shayʾin rājiʿun ʾilayhi,

You who hold the affair of everything in Your hand, and to whom every affair returns;

وَيَا مَنْ لَهُ الْوُجُودُ الْمُطْلَقُ فَلَا يَعْلَمُ مَا هُوَ إِلَّا هُوَ،

wayā man lahu al-wujūdu al-muṭlaqu falā yaʿlamu mā huwa ʾillā huwa,

You whose Being is unrestricted, so that none knows what He is but He,

وَلَا يُسْتَدَلُّ إِلَّا بِهِ عَلَيْهِ،

walā yustadallu ʾillā bihi ʿalayhi,

and He can be known through no proof except Himself;

وَيَا مُسَخِّرَ الْأَعْمَالِ الصَّالِحَةِ لِلْعَبْدِ لِيَعُودَ نَفْعُهَا عَلَيْهِ،

wayā musakhkhira al-ʾaʿmāli al-ṣāliḥati li-l-ʿabdi liyaʿūda nafʿuhā ʿalayhi,

You who make good deeds possible for the servant so that their benefit returns to him:

لَا مَقْصِدَ¹⁶ لِي غَيْرُكَ، وَلَا يَسَعُنِي إِلَّا جُودُكَ وَخَيْرُكَ،

lā maqṣida lī ghayruka, walā yasaʿunī ʾillā jūduka wakhayruka,

I have no goal but You, and nothing can contain me except Your generosity and goodness.

يَا جَوَادُ فَوْقَ الْمُرَادِ، يَا مُعْطِيَ النَّوَالِ قَبْلَ السُّؤَالِ،

yā jawādu fawqa al-murādi, yā muʿṭiya al-nawāli qabla al-suʾāli,

O Generous One beyond all desire, Giver of gifts before they are asked for;

يَا مَنْ وَقَفَ دُونَهُ قَدَمُ¹⁷ كُلِّ طَالِبٍ،

yā man waqafa dūnahu qadamu kulli ṭālibin,

You before whom the steps of every seeker come to a halt;

يَا مَنْ هُوَ عَلَىٰ أَمْرِهِ قَادِرٌ وَغَالِبٌ،

yā man huwa ʿalā ʾamrihi qādirun waghālibun,

You who have power and mastery over Your affair;

يَا مَنْ هُوَ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَاهِبٌ، وَإِذَا شَاءَ سَالِبٌ،

yā man huwa likulli shayʾin wāhibun, waʾidhā shāʾa sālibun,

You who bestow everything, and take it away when You will:

أَهُمُّ إِلَيْكَ بِالسُّؤَالِ، فَأَجِدُنِي عَبْدًا عَلَىٰ كُلِّ حَالٍ،

ʾahummu ʾilayka bi-al-suʾāli, faʾajidunī ʿabdan ʿalā kulli ḥālin,

I turn towards You to ask, and find myself a servant in every condition.

فَتَوَلَّنِي يَا مَوْلَايَ فَأَنْتَ أَوْلَىٰ بِي مِنِّي،

fatawallanī yā mawlāya faʾanta ʾawlā bī minnī,

Take care of me, my Lord, for You have a greater claim over me than I have over myself.

كَيْفَ أَقْصِدُكَ وَأَنْتَ وَرَاءَ الْقَصْدِ؟ أَمْ كَيْفَ أَطْلُبُكَ وَالطَّلَبُ عَيْنُ الْبُعْدِ؟

kayfa ʾaqṣiduka waʾanta warāʾa al-qaṣdi? ʾam kayfa ʾaṭlubuka wa-al-ṭalabu ʿaynu al-buʿdi?

How can I aim for You when You lie beyond intention? How can I seek You when seeking is itself distance?

أَيُطْلَبُ مَنْ هُوَ قَرِيبٌ حَاضِرٌ؟

ʾayuṭlabu man huwa qarībun ḥāḍirun?

Is One who is near and present to be sought?

أَمْ كَيْفَ¹⁸ يُقْصَدُ مَنِ الْقَاصِدُ فِيهِ تَائِهٌ وَحَائِرٌ؟

ʾam kayfa yuqṣadu mani al-qāṣidu fīhi tāʾihun waḥāʾirun?

How can One be made an object of intention when the intending person is already lost and bewildered in Him?

الطَّالِبُ¹⁹ لَا يَصِلُ إِلَيْكَ، وَالْقَاصِدُ لَا يَصْدُرُ²⁰ عَلَيْكَ،

al-ṭālibu lā yaṣilu ʾilayka, wa-al-qāṣidu lā yaṣduru ʿalayka,

The seeker does not reach You, and the one who aims for You does not arrive before You.

تَجَلِّيَاتُ ظَاهِرِكَ لَا تُلْحَقُ وَلَا تُدْرَكُ، وَرُمُوزُ أَسْرَارِكَ لَا تَنْحَلُّ وَلَا تَنْفَكُّ.

tajalliyātu ẓāhirika lā tulḥaqu walā tudraku, warumūzu ʾasrārika lā tanḥallu walā tanfakku.

The self-disclosures of Your manifest aspect cannot be overtaken or grasped; the symbols of Your secrets cannot be unravelled or unlocked.

أَيَعْلَمُ الْمَوْجُودُ كُنْهَ مَنْ أَوْجَدَهُ؟ أَمْ يَبْلُغُ الْعَبْدُ حَقِيقَةَ مَنِ اسْتَعْبَدَهُ؟

ʾayaʿlamu al-mawjūdu kunha man ʾawjadahu? ʾam yablughu al-ʿabdu ḥaqīqata mani istaʿbadahu?

Can an existent know the inmost nature of the One who gave it existence? Can a servant attain the reality of his Master?

الطَّلَبُ وَالْقَصْدُ وَالْقُرْبُ وَالْبُعْدُ صِفَاتُ الْعَبْدِ،

al-ṭalabu wa-al-qaṣdu wa-al-qurbu wa-al-buʿdu ṣifātu al-ʿabdi,

Seeking, intending, nearness and distance are attributes of the servant.

فَمَاذَا يَبْلُغُ الْعَبْدُ بِصِفَاتِهِ مَنْ هُوَ مُنَزَّهٌ مُتَعَالٍ فِي ذَاتِهِ؟

famādhā yablughu al-ʿabdu biṣifātihi man huwa munazzahun mutaʿālin fī dhātihi?

How then can the servant, through his attributes, reach the One whose Essence is beyond all limitation?

وَكُلُّ مَخْلُوقٍ مَحَلُّهُ الْعَجْزُ، فِي مَوْقِفِ الذُّلِّ عَلَىٰ بَابِ الْعِزِّ،

wakullu makhlūqin maḥalluhu al-ʿajzu, fī mawqifi al-dhulli ʿalā bābi al-ʿizzi,

Every creature stands helpless, in humility at the door of might,

عَنْ نَيْلِ إِدْرَاكِ هَٰذَا الْكَنْزِ.

ʿan nayli ʾidrāki hādhā al-kanzi.

unable to attain knowledge of this treasure.

كَيْفَ أَعْرِفُكَ وَأَنْتَ الْبَاطِنُ الَّذِي لَا تُعْرَفُ؟

kayfa ʾaʿrifuka waʾanta al-bāṭinu al-ladhī lā tuʿrafu?

How can I know You when You are the Hidden, who cannot be known?

وَكَيْفَ لَا أَعْرِفُكَ وَأَنْتَ الظَّاهِرُ الَّذِي إِلَيَّ فِي كُلِّ شَيْءٍ تَتَعَرَّفُ؟

wakayfa lā ʾaʿrifuka waʾanta al-ẓāhiru al-ladhī ʾilayya fī kulli shayʾin tataʿarrafu?

And how could I not know You when You are the Manifest, making Yourself known to me in everything?

كَيْفَ أُوَحِّدُكَ وَلَا وُجُودَ لِي فِي عَيْنِ الْأَحَدِيَّةِ؟

kayfa ʾuwaḥḥiduka walā wujūda lī fī ʿayni al-ʾaḥadiyyati?

How can I affirm Your unity when I have no existence within the very reality of undivided Oneness?

وَكَيْفَ لَا أُوَحِّدُكَ وَالتَّوْحِيدُ سِرُّ الْعُبُودِيَّةِ؟

wakayfa lā ʾuwaḥḥiduka wa-al-tawḥīdu sirru al-ʿubūdiyyati?

And how could I fail to affirm Your unity when this affirmation is the secret of servanthood?

سُبْحَانَكَ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، مَا وَحَّدَكَ مِنْ أَحَدٍ،

subḥānaka lā ʾilāha ʾillā ʾanta, mā waḥḥadaka min ʾaḥadin,

Glory be to You. There is no god but You. No one has truly affirmed Your unity,

إِذْ أَنْتَ كَمَا أَنْتَ فِي سَابِقِ الْأَزَلِ، وَلَاحِقِ الْأَبَدِ،

ʾidh ʾanta kamā ʾanta fī sābiqi al-ʾazali, walāḥiqi al-ʾabadi,

for You are as You are, in beginningless eternity and endless eternity.

فَعَلَى التَّحْقِيقِ مَا وَحَّدَكَ أَحَدٌ سِوَاكَ، وَفِي الْجُمْلَةِ مَا عَرَفَكَ إِلَّا إِيَّاكَ،

faʿalā al-taḥqīqi mā waḥḥadaka ʾaḥadun siwāka, wafī al-jumlati mā ʿarafaka ʾillā ʾiyyāka,

In truth, none has affirmed Your unity but You; altogether, none has known You except Your very Self.

بَطَنْتَ وَظَهَرْتَ، فَلَا عَنْكَ بَطَنْتَ، وَلَا لِغَيْرِكَ ظَهَرْتَ.²¹

baṭanta waẓaharta, falā ʿanka baṭanta, walā lighayrika ẓaharta.

You are hidden and manifest: You are not hidden from Yourself, nor manifest to an other than Yourself.

فَأَنْتَ أَنْتَ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، فَكَيْفَ بِهَٰذَا الشَّكْلِ يَنْحَلُّ؟²²

faʾanta ʾanta lā ʾilāha ʾillā ʾanta, fakayfa bihādhā al-shakli yanḥallu?

You are You; there is no god but You. How, then, can this difficulty be resolved?

هُوَ²³ الْأَوَّلُ آخِرٌ، وَالْآخِرُ أَوَّلٌ،

huwa al-ʾawwalu ʾākhirun, wa-al-ʾākhiru ʾawwalun,

He is the First who is Last, and the Last who is First.

فَيَا مَنْ أَبْهَمَ الْأَمْرَ، وَأَبْطَنَ السِّرَّ، وَأَوْقَعَ فِي الْحَيْرَةِ وَلَا حَيْرَةَ،

fayā man ʾabhama al-ʾamra, waʾabṭana al-sirra, waʾawqaʿa fī al-ḥayrati walā ḥayrata,

O You who make the affair elusive, conceal the secret, and cast us into bewilderment, though in You there is no bewilderment:

أَسْأَلُكَ اللَّهُمَّ كَشْفَ سِرِّ الْأَحَدِيَّةِ، وَتَحْقِيقَ الْعُبُودِيَّةِ،

ʾasʾaluka Allāhumma kashfa sirri al-ʾaḥadiyyati, wataḥqīqa al-ʿubūdiyyati,

I ask You, O God, to unveil the secret of undivided Oneness and to bring servanthood to realization,

وَالْقِيَامَ لِلرُّبُوبِيَّةِ بِمَا يَلِيقُ بِحَضْرَتِهَا الْعَلِيَّةِ،

wa-al-qiyāma li-l-rubūbiyyati bimā yalīqu biḥaḍratihā al-ʿaliyyati,

and to enable me to fulfil what Your lordship requires, as befits its lofty presence.

فَأَنَا مَوْجُودٌ بِكَ حَادِثٌ مَعْدُومٌ،

faʾanā mawjūdun bika ḥādithun maʿdūmun,

I exist through You: brought into being, yet nonexistent in myself.

وَأَنْتَ مَوْجُودٌ بَاقٍ حَيٌّ قَيُّومٌ قَدِيمٌ أَزَلِيٌّ عَالِمٌ مَعْلُومٌ،

waʾanta mawjūdun bāqin ḥayyun qayyūmun qadīmun ʾazaliyyun ʿālimun maʿlūmun,

You are Existent, Enduring, Living, Self-Subsisting, without beginning, eternal, Knowing and Known.

فَيَا مَنْ لَا يَعْلَمُ مَا هُوَ إِلَّا هُوَ.²⁴

fayā man lā yaʿlamu mā huwa ʾillā huwa.

O You of whom none knows what He is but He.

أَسْأَلُكَ اللَّهُمَّ الْهَرَبَ مِنِّي إِلَيْكَ، وَالْجَمْعَ بِجَمِيعِ مَجْمُوعِي عَلَيْكَ،

ʾasʾaluka Allāhumma al-haraba minnī ʾilayka, wa-al-jamʿa bijamīʿi majmūʿī ʿalayka,

I ask You, O God, for flight from myself to You, and the gathering of my whole being upon You,

حَتَّىٰ لَا يَكُونَ وُجُودِي حِجَابِي عَنْ شُهُودِي،

ḥattā lā yakūna wujūdī ḥijābī ʿan shuhūdī,

so that my own existence does not veil me from witnessing.

يَا مَقْصُودِي يَا مَعْبُودِي، مَا فَاتَنِي شَيْءٌ إِذَا أَنَا وَجَدْتُكَ،

yā maqṣūdī yā maʿbūdī, mā fātanī shayʾun ʾidhā ʾanā wajadtuka,

O my Goal, the One I worship: nothing escapes me when I find You;

وَلَا جَهِلْتُ شَيْئًا إِذَا أَنَا عَلِمْتُكَ، وَلَا فَقَدْتُ شَيْئًا إِذَا أَنَا شَهِدْتُكَ.²⁵

walā jahiltu shayʾan ʾidhā ʾanā ʿalimtuka, walā faqadtu shayʾan ʾidhā ʾanā shahidtuka.

Nothing remains unknown to me when I know You, and I lose nothing when I witness You.

فَنَائِي فِيكَ، وَبَقَائِي بِكَ، وَمَشْهُودِي أَنْتَ،

fanāʾī fīka, wabaqāʾī bika, wamashhūdī ʾanta,

My passing away is in You, my abiding is through You, and You are the One I witness.

إِلَٰهِي لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، كَمَا شَهِدْتَ وَكَمَا عَلِمْتَ وَكَمَا أَمَرْتَ،

ʾilāhī lā ʾilāha ʾillā ʾanta, kamā shahidta wakamā ʿalimta wakamā ʾamarta,

My God, there is no god but You, as You have witnessed, as You have known, and as You have commanded.

فَشُهُودِي عَيْنُ وُجُودِي، فَمَا شَهِدْتُ سِوَايَ فِي فَنَائِي وَبَقَائِي،²⁶

fashuhūdī ʿaynu wujūdī, famā shahidtu siwāya fī fanāʾī wabaqāʾī,

My witnessing is the very reality of my existence; in my passing away and abiding, I have witnessed none beyond this self.

وَالْإِشَارَةُ إِلَيَّ، وَالْحُكْمُ لِي وَعَلَيَّ وَالنِّسْبَةُ نِسْبَتِي²⁷،

wa-al-ʾishāratu ʾilayya, wa-al-ḥukmu lī waʿalayya wa-al-nisbatu nisbatī,

The indication points to me; the judgement is for me and upon me, and the relation is my relation.

وَكُلُّ ذَٰلِكَ مَرْتَبَتِي، وَالشَّأْنُ شَأْنِي، فِي الظُّهُورِ وَالْبُطُونِ،

wakullu dhālika martabatī, wa-al-shaʾnu shaʾnī, fī al-ẓuhūri wa-al-buṭūni,

All this is my station, and the affair is my affair, in manifestation and hiddenness,

وَسَرَيَانِ السِّرِّ الْمَصُونِ، هُوِيَّةٌ سَارِيَةٌ، مَظَاهِرُ بَادِيَةٌ،

wasarayāni al-sirri al-maṣūni, huwiyyatun sāriyatun, maẓāhiru bādiyatun,

and in the diffusion of the guarded secret: identity pervading all, forms of manifestation appearing;

وُجُودٌ وَعَدَمٌ، وَنُورٌ وَظُلَمٌ، لَوْحٌ وَقَلَمٌ، سَمْعٌ وَصَمَمٌ،

wujūdun waʿadamun, wanūrun waẓulamun, lawḥun waqalamun, samʿun waṣamamun,

existence and nonexistence, light and darknesses, tablet and pen, hearing and deafness;

جَهْلٌ وَعِلْمٌ، حَرْبٌ وَسِلْمٌ، صَمْتٌ وَنُطْقٌ، رَتْقٌ وَفَتْقٌ،

jahlun waʿilmun, ḥarbun wasilmun, ṣamtun wanuṭqun, ratqun wafatqun,

ignorance and knowledge, war and peace, silence and speech, closing and opening;

حَقِيقَةٌ وَحَقٌّ، غَيْبُوبِيَّةُ أَزَلٍ، دَيْمُومِيَّةُ أَبَدٍ،

ḥaqīqatun waḥaqqun, ghaybūbiyyatu ʾazalin, daymūmiyyatu ʾabadin,

reality and truth, the hiddenness of beginningless eternity, the permanence of endless eternity.

قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ، اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ،

qul huwa Allāhu ʾaḥadun, Allāhu al-ṣamadu,

Say: He is God, uniquely One; God, the eternally Self-Sufficient.

لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ، وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ.

lam yalid walam yūlad, walam yakun lahu kufuwan ʾaḥadun.

He neither begets nor is begotten, and no one is equal to Him.

وَصَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَى الْأَوَّلِ فِي الْإِيجَادِ وَالْوُجُودِ،

waṣallā Allāhu ʿalā al-ʾawwali fī al-ʾījādi wa-al-wujūdi,

May God bless the first in bringing into existence and in existence,

الْفَاتِحِ لِكُلِّ شَاهِدٍ حَضْرَتَيِ الشَّاهِدِ وَالْمَشْهُودِ،²⁸

al-fātiḥi likulli shāhidin ḥaḍratayi al-shāhidi wa-al-mashhūdi,

who opens to every witness the two presences of the witness and the witnessed;

السِّرِّ الْبَاطِنِ، وَالنُّورِ الظَّاهِرِ، عَيْنِ الْمَقْصُودِ،

al-sirri al-bāṭini, wa-al-nūri al-ẓāhiri, ʿayni al-maqṣūdi,

the hidden secret, the manifest light, the very reality of what is sought;

الْمُمَيَّزِ قَصَبَ السَّبْقِ فِي عَالَمِ الْخَلْقِ مِنَ الْمَخْصُوصِ وَالْمَبْعُوثِ²⁹،³⁰،

al-mumayyazi qaṣaba al-sabqi fī ʿālami al-khalqi mina al-makhṣūṣi wa-al-mabʿūthi,

distinguished by precedence in the created world among those specially chosen and sent;

الرُّوحِ الْأَقْدَسِ الْعَلِيِّ، وَالنُّورِ الْأَكْمَلِ الْبَهِيِّ،

al-rūḥi al-ʾaqdasi al-ʿaliyyi, wa-al-nūri al-ʾakmali al-bahiyyi,

the most holy, exalted spirit and the most complete, radiant light;

الْقَائِمِ بِكَمَالِ الْعُبُودِيَّةِ فِي حَضْرَةِ الْمَعْبُودِ،

al-qāʾimi bikamāli al-ʿubūdiyyati fī ḥaḍrati al-maʿbūdi,

who stands in perfect servanthood in the presence of the One worshipped.

الَّذِي مَنْ أُفِيضَ عَلَىٰ رُوحِهِ مِنْ حَضْرَةِ رُوحَانِيَّتِهِ،³¹

al-ladhī man ʾufīḍa ʿalā rūḥihi min ḥaḍrati rūḥāniyyatihi,

He is the one from whose spiritual presence an outpouring comes upon a receptive spirit,

وَاتَّصَلَتْ بِمِشْكَاةِ قَلْبِهِ أَشِعَّةُ نُورَانِيَّتِهِ،

wa-ittaṣalat bimishkāti qalbihi ʾashiʿʿatu nūrāniyyatihi,

and whose rays of light reach the niche of a receptive heart:

فَهُوَ الرَّسُولُ الْمُقَرَّبُ وَالْوَلِيُّ الْمَسْعُودُ³²،

fahuwa al-rasūlu al-muqarrabu wa-al-waliyyu al-masʿūdu,

the messenger brought near and the friend of God blessed with felicity.

وَعَلَىٰ آلِهِ وَأَصْحَابِهِ، خَزَائِنِ أَسْرَارِهِ، وَمَعَادِنِ³³ أَنْوَارِهِ،

waʿalā ʾālihi waʾaṣḥābihi, khazāʾini ʾasrārihi, wamaʿādini ʾanwārihi,

And blessings upon his family and companions, treasuries of his secrets and sources of his lights,

كُنُوزِ الْحَقَائِقِ، هُدَاةِ الْخَلَائِقِ، نُجُومِ الْهُدَىٰ لِمَنِ اقْتَدَىٰ،

kunūzi al-ḥaqāʾiqi, hudāti al-khalāʾiqi, nujūmi al-hudā limani iqtadā,

treasures of realities, guides of creation, stars of guidance for those who follow.

وَسَلَّمَ تَسْلِيمًا كَثِيرًا إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ³⁴،

wasallama taslīman kathīran ʾilā yawmi al-dīni,

May God grant him abundant peace until the Day of Judgement.

وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ،

wasubḥāna Allāhi wamā ʾanā mina al-mushrikīna,

Glory be to God; I am not among those who associate partners with Him.

وَحَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ، وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ.

waḥasbunā Allāhu waniʿma al-wakīlu, walā ḥawla walā quwwata ʾillā bi-Allāhi al-ʿaliyyi al-ʿaẓīmi.

God is sufficient for us, and how worthy He is of trust. There is no power to turn or act except through God, the Most High, the Magnificent.

وِرْدُ لَيْلَةِ الِاثْنَيْنِ

wirdu laylati al-ithnayni

Monday night prayer

Al-Ghurāb pages 177–178

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ.

bismi Allāhi al-raḥmāni al-raḥīmi.

In the name of God, the All-Merciful, the Ever-Merciful.

إِلَٰهِي وَسِعَ عِلْمُكَ كُلَّ مَعْلُومٍ، وَأَحَاطَتْ خِبْرَتُكَ بَاطِنَ كُلِّ مَفْهُومٍ،

ʾilāhī wasiʿa ʿilmuka kulla maʿlūmin, waʾaḥāṭat khibratuka bāṭina kulli mafhūmin,

My God, Your knowledge embraces everything known, and Your awareness encompasses the inward reality of everything understood.

وَتَقَدَّسْتَ فِي عُلَاكَ عَنْ كُلِّ مَذْمُومٍ،

wataqaddasta fī ʿulāka ʿan kulli madhmūmin,

In Your loftiness You are far beyond all that is blameworthy.

تَسَامَتْ إِلَيْكَ الْهِمَمُ، وَصَعِدَ إِلَيْكَ الْكَلِمُ،

tasāmat ʾilayka al-himamu, waṣaʿida ʾilayka al-kalimu,

Aspirations rise towards You, and words ascend to You.

أَنْتَ الْمُتَعَالِي فِي سُمُوِّكَ، فَأَقْرَبُ مَعَارِجِنَا إِلَيْكَ التَّنَزُّلُ،

ʾanta al-mutaʿālī fī sumuwwika, faʾaqrabu maʿārijinā ʾilayka al-tanazzulu,

You transcend all in Your sublimity, so our nearest ascent to You is through lowering ourselves.

وَأَنْتَ الْمُتَعَزِّزُ فِي عُلُوِّكَ، فَأَشْرَفُ أَخْلَاقِنَا إِلَيْكَ التَّذَلُّلُ،

waʾanta al-mutaʿazzizu fī ʿuluwwika, faʾashrafu ʾakhlāqinā ʾilayka al-tadhallulu,

You are mighty in Your exaltation, so our noblest disposition towards You is humility.

ظَهَرْتَ فِي كُلِّ بَاطِنٍ وَظَاهِرٍ، وَدُمْتَ بَعْدَ كُلِّ أَوَّلٍ وَآخِرٍ،

ẓaharta fī kulli bāṭinin waẓāhirin, wadumta baʿda kulli ʾawwalin waʾākhirin,

You are manifest in everything hidden and apparent, and You endure beyond every first and last.

سُبْحَانَكَ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ،

subḥānaka lā ʾilāha ʾillā ʾanta,

Glory be to You. There is no god but You.

سَجَدَتْ لِعَظَمَتِكَ الْجِبَاهُ، وَتَنَعَّمَتْ بِذِكْرِكَ الشِّفَاهُ،

sajadat liʿaẓamatika al-jibāhu, watanaʿʿamat bidhikrika al-shifāhu,

Foreheads prostrate before Your majesty, and lips delight in remembering You.

أَسْأَلُكَ بِاسْمِكَ الْعَظِيمِ الَّذِي إِلَيْهِ سُمُوُّ كُلِّ مُتَرَقٍّ،

ʾasʾaluka bi-ismika al-ʿaẓīmi al-ladhī ʾilayhi sumuwwu kulli mutaraqqin,

I ask You by Your mighty Name, towards which everyone who rises ascends,

وَمِنْهُ قَبُولُ كُلِّ مُتَلَقٍّ،

waminhu qabūlu kulli mutalaqqin,

and from which everyone who receives gains acceptance,

سِرًّا تَطْلُبُنِي فِيهِ الْهِمَمُ الْعَلِيَّةُ، وَتَنْقَادُ إِلَيَّ فِيهِ الْأَنْفُسُ الْأَبِيَّةُ،

sirran taṭlubunī fīhi al-himamu al-ʿaliyyatu, watanqādu ʾilayya fīhi al-ʾanfusu al-ʾabiyyatu,

for an inward secret through which lofty aspirations seek me and proud souls yield to me.

وَأَسْأَلُكَ رَبِّي أَنْ تَجْعَلَ سُلَّمِي إِلَيْكَ التَّنَزُّلَ،

waʾasʾaluka rabbī ʾan tajʿala sullamī ʾilayka al-tanazzula,

I ask You, my Lord, to make lowering myself the ladder by which I ascend to You,

وَمِعْرَاجِي إِلَيْكَ التَّخَضُّعَ وَالتَّذَلُّلَ،

wamiʿrājī ʾilayka al-takhaḍḍuʿa wa-al-tadhallula,

and submission and humility my way of ascent.

وَاكْنُفْنِي بِغَاشِيَةٍ مِنْ نُورِكَ، تَكْشِفُ لِي بِهَا كُلَّ مَسْتُورٍ،

wa-uknufnī bighāshiyatin min nūrika, takshifu lī bihā kulla mastūrin,

Enfold me in a covering of Your light through which You unveil to me everything concealed,

كَمَا وَسِعْتَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ رَحْمَةً وَعِلْمًا، لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ يَا حَيُّ يَا قَيُّومُ.³⁵

kamā wasiʿta kulla shayʾin raḥmatan waʿilman, lā ʾilāha ʾillā ʾanta yā ḥayyu yā qayyūmu.

just as You embrace all things in mercy and knowledge. There is no god but You, O Living, Self-Subsisting One.

رَبِّ رَبِّنِي بِلَطِيفِ رُبُوبِيَّتِكَ، تَرْبِيَةَ مُفْتَقِرٍ إِلَيْكَ، لَا يَسْتَغْنِي عَنْكَ أَبَدًا،

rabbi rabbinī bilaṭīfi rubūbiyyatika, tarbiyata muftaqirin ʾilayka, lā yastaghnī ʿanka ʾabadan,

My Lord, nurture me through the subtle care of Your lordship, as one who needs You and can never do without You.

وَرَاقِبْنِي بِعَيْنِ عِنَايَتِكَ، بِمُرَاقَبَةٍ تَحْفَظُنِي عَنْ كُلِّ طَارِقٍ،

warāqibnī biʿayni ʿināyatika, bimurāqabatin taḥfaẓunī ʿan kulli ṭāriqin,

Watch over me with the eye of Your care, with a watchfulness that protects me from every intruder

يَطْرُقُنِي بِأَمْرٍ يَسُوءُنِي فِي نَفْسِي، أَوْ يُكَدِّرُ عَلَيَّ وَقْتِي وَحِسِّي،

yaṭruqunī biʾamrin yasūʾunī fī nafsī, ʾaw yukaddiru ʿalayya waqtī waḥissī,

who comes with something that harms my soul or clouds my present moment and my perception,

أَوْ يَكْتُبُ³⁶ فِي لَوْحِ إِرَادَتِي خَطَّ حَظٍّ مِنَ الْحُظُوظِ،

ʾaw yaktubu fī lawḥi ʾirādatī khaṭṭa ḥaẓẓin mina al-ḥuẓūẓi,

or writes a trace of self-interest on the tablet of my will.

وَارْزُقْنِي رَاحَةَ الْأُنْسِ بِكَ، وَرَقِّنِي إِلَىٰ مَقَامِ الْقُرْبِ مِنْكَ،

wa-urzuqnī rāḥata al-ʾunsi bika, waraqqinī ʾilā maqāmi al-qurbi minka,

Grant me the ease of intimacy with You, and raise me to the station of nearness to You.

وَرَوِّحْ رُوحِي بِذِكْرِكَ، وَرَدِّنِي بِرِدَاءِ التَّوْحِيدِ وَالرِّضْوَانِ³⁷،

warawwiḥ rūḥī bidhikrika, waraddinī biridāʾi al-tawḥīdi wa-al-riḍwāni,

Refresh my spirit through remembering You, and clothe me in the mantle of unity and divine pleasure.

وَرَدِّدْنِي بَيْنَ رَغَبٍ فِيكَ وَرَهَبٍ مِنْكَ³⁸، وَأَوْرِدْنِي مَوَارِدَ الْقَبُولِ،

waraddidnī bayna raghabin fīka warahabin minka, waʾawridnī mawārida al-qabūli,

Let me move between desire for You and awe of You, and bring me to the springs of acceptance.

وَهَبْ لِي رَحْمَةً مِنْكَ تَلُمُّ بِهَا شَعَثِي، وَتُكْمِلُ بِهَا نَقْصِي،

wahab lī raḥmatan minka talummu bihā shaʿathī, watukmilu bihā naqṣī,

Bestow on me a mercy from You that gathers my scattered being and makes good my deficiencies,

وَتُقَوِّمُ عِوَجِي، وَتَرُدُّ شَارِدِي، وَتَهْدِي حَائِرِي،

watuqawwimu ʿiwajī, wataruddu shāridī, watahdī ḥāʾirī,

straightens what is crooked in me, brings back what has strayed, and guides what is bewildered.

فَإِنَّكَ رَبُّ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَمُرَبِّيهِ، رَحِمْتَ الذَّوَاتِ، وَرَفَعْتَ الدَّرَجَاتِ،

faʾinnaka rabbu kulli shayʾin wamurabbīhi, raḥimta al-dhawāti, warafaʿta al-darajāti,

You are the Lord and nurturer of everything. You have shown mercy to all beings and raised their degrees.

فَإِنَّ قُرْبَكَ رَوْحُ الْأَرْوَاحِ، وَعُنْوَانُ الْفَلَاحِ، وَرَاحَةُ كُلِّ مُرْتَاحٍ،

faʾinna qurbaka rawḥu al-ʾarwāḥi, waʿunwānu al-falāḥi, warāḥatu kulli murtāḥin,

Your nearness is refreshment for spirits, the sign of true fulfilment, and the ease of everyone at rest.

تَبَارَكْتَ رَبَّ الْأَرْبَابِ، وَمُعْتِقَ الرِّقَابِ، وَكَاشِفَ الْعَذَابِ،

tabārakta rabba al-ʾarbābi, wamuʿtiqa al-riqābi, wakāshifa al-ʿadhābi,

Blessed are You, Lord of lords, Liberator of those in bondage, Remover of suffering.

وَسِعْتَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ رَحْمَةً وَعِلْمًا، وَغَفَرْتَ الذُّنُوبَ حَنَانًا وَحِلْمًا،

wasiʿta kulla shayʾin raḥmatan waʿilman, waghafarta al-dhunūba ḥanānan waḥilman,

You embrace everything in mercy and knowledge, and forgive sins with tenderness and forbearance.

وَأَنْتَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ، الْحَلِيمُ الْعَلِيمُ، الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ،

waʾanta al-ghafūru al-raḥīmu, al-ḥalīmu al-ʿalīmu, al-ʿaliyyu al-ʿaẓīmu,

You are the Forgiving, the Merciful, the Forbearing, the All-Knowing, the Most High, the Magnificent.

وَصَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ،

waṣallā Allāhu ʿalā sayyidinā muḥammadin waʿalā ʾālihi waṣaḥbihi ʾajmaʿīna,

May God bless our master Muḥammad, his family and all his companions.

وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ.

wa-al-ḥamdu li-llāhi rabbi al-ʿālamīna.

Praise belongs to God, Lord of all worlds.

وِرْدُ يَوْمِ الِاثْنَيْنِ

wirdu yawmi al-ithnayni

Monday daytime prayer

Al-Ghurāb pages 178–180

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ.

bismi Allāhi al-raḥmāni al-raḥīmi.

In the name of God, the All-Merciful, the Ever-Merciful.

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ النُّورَ وَالْهُدَىٰ، وَالْأَدَبَ فِي الِاقْتِدَا،

Allāhumma ʾinnī ʾasʾaluka al-nūra wa-al-hudā, wa-al-ʾadaba fī al-iqtidā,

O God, I ask You for light and guidance, and the proper courtesy of following the prophetic example.

وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ نَفْسِي، وَمِنْ شَرِّ كُلِّ قَاطِعٍ يَقْطَعُنِي عَنْكَ،

waʾaʿūdhu bika min sharri nafsī, wamin sharri kulli qāṭiʿin yaqṭaʿunī ʿanka,

I seek refuge in You from the evil of my own self and of everything that cuts me off from You.

لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، قَدِّسْ نَفْسِي مِنَ الشُّبُهَاتِ، وَالْأَخْلَاقِ السَّيِّئَاتِ،

lā ʾilāha ʾillā ʾanta, qaddis nafsī mina al-shubuhāti, wa-al-ʾakhlāqi al-sayyiʾāti,

There is no god but You. Purify my soul of doubts and doubtful things, and of harmful traits,

وَالْحُظُوظِ وَالْغَفَلَاتِ، وَالْقُيُودِ الْمُعَقَّدَاتِ³⁹،

wa-al-ḥuẓūẓi wa-al-ghafalāti, wa-al-quyūdi al-muʿaqqadāti,

self-serving desires, heedlessness, and tightly knotted bonds.

وَاجْعَلْنِي عَبْدًا مُطِيعًا لَكَ فِي جَمِيعِ الْحَالَاتِ،

wa-ijʿalnī ʿabdan muṭīʿan laka fī jamīʿi al-ḥālāti,

Make me a servant obedient to You in every condition.

يَا عَلِيمُ عَلِّمْنِي مِنْ عِلْمِكَ، يَا حَكِيمُ أَيِّدْنِي بِحُكْمِكَ،

yā ʿalīmu ʿallimnī min ʿilmika, yā ḥakīmu ʾayyidnī biḥukmika,

O All-Knowing One, teach me from Your knowledge. O Wise One, strengthen me through Your judgement.

يَا سَمِيعُ أَسْمِعْنِي مِنْكَ، يَا بَصِيرُ بَصِّرْنِي فِي آلَائِكَ،

yā samīʿu ʾasmiʿnī minka, yā baṣīru baṣṣirnī fī ʾālāʾika,

O All-Hearing One, let me hear from You. O All-Seeing One, give me insight into Your blessings.

يَا خَبِيرُ فَهِّمْنِي عَنْكَ، يَا حَيُّ أَحْيِنِي بِذِكْرِكَ،

yā khabīru fahhimnī ʿanka, yā ḥayyu ʾaḥyinī bidhikrika,

O All-Aware One, grant me understanding of what comes from You. O Living One, enliven me through remembering You.

يَا مُرِيدُ خَلِّصْ إِرَادَتِي بِقُدْرَتِكَ وَعَظَمَتِكَ⁴⁰، إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ،

yā murīdu khalliṣ ʾirādatī biqudratika waʿaẓamatika, ʾinnaka ʿalā kulli shayʾin qadīrun,

O Willing One, purify my will through Your power and majesty. You have power over all things.

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ بِاللَّاهُوتِ ذِي التَّدْبِيرِ، وَالنَّاسُوتِ ذِي التَّسْخِيرِ،

Allāhumma ʾinnī ʾasʾaluka bi-al-lāhūti dhī al-tadbīri, wa-al-nāsūti dhī al-taskhīri,

O God, I ask You by divinity with its governance, by humanity made subject to divine service,

وَالْعَقْلِ ذِي التَّأْثِيرِ، الْمُحِيطِ بِالْكُلِّ وَالْجُمْلَةِ وَالتَّفْصِيلِ فِي التَّصْوِيرِ وَالتَّقْدِيرِ،

wa-al-ʿaqli dhī al-taʾthīri, al-muḥīṭi bi-al-kulli wa-al-jumlati wa-al-tafṣīli fī al-taṣwīri wa-al-taqdīri,

and by the intellect with its influence, encompassing the whole, the totality and the detail in giving form and determining measure.

إِلَٰهِي أَسْأَلُكَ بِذَاتِكَ الَّتِي لَا تُدْرَكُ وَلَا تُتْرَكُ،

ʾilāhī ʾasʾaluka bidhātika al-latī lā tudraku walā tutraku,

My God, I ask You by Your Essence, which cannot be grasped and cannot be abandoned;

وَبِأَحَدِيَّتِكَ الَّتِي مَنْ تَوَهَّمَ فِيهَا الْمَعِيَّةَ فَقَدْ أَشْرَكَ،

wabiʾaḥadiyyatika al-latī man tawahhama fīhā al-maʿiyyata faqad ʾashraka,

by Your undivided Oneness, within which imagining another alongside You is to associate a partner with You;

وَبِإِحَاطَتِكَ الَّتِي مَنْ ظَنَّ فِي أَزَلِيَّتِهَا غَيْرًا فَقَدْ أَفَكَ،

wabiʾiḥāṭatika al-latī man ẓanna fī ʾazaliyyatihā ghayran faqad ʾafaka,

and by Your encompassment, whose beginningless eternity admits no other: whoever supposes one has turned from truth

وَمِنْ نِظَامِ الْإِخْلَاصِ فَقَدِ انْفَكَّ،

wamin niẓāmi al-ʾikhlāṣi faqadi infakka,

and broken free of the order of sincere devotion.

يَا مَنْ سُلِبَ عَنْهُ تَنْزِيهًا مَا لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي قِدَمِهِ،

yā man suliba ʿanhu tanzīhan mā lam yakun fī qidamihi,

O You from whom everything absent from Your beginninglessness is denied, in affirmation of Your transcendence;

يَا مَنْ قَدَرَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ بِإِحَاطَتِهِ وَعَظَمَتِهِ،

yā man qadara ʿalā kulli shayʾin biʾiḥāṭatihi waʿaẓamatihi,

You whose encompassment and majesty give You power over everything;

يَا مَنْ أَبْرَزَ نُورَ وُجُودِهِ⁴¹ مِنْ ظُلْمَةِ عَدَمِهِ،

yā man ʾabraza nūra wujūdihi min ẓulmati ʿadamihi,

You who bring forth the light of each thing's existence from the darkness of its nonexistence;

يَا مَنْ صَوَّرَ أَشْخَاصَ الْأَفْلَاكِ بِمَا أَوْدَعَهُ مِنْ عِلْمِهِ فِي قَلَمِهِ،

yā man ṣawwara ʾashkhāṣa al-ʾaflāki bimā ʾawdaʿahu min ʿilmihi fī qalamihi,

You who shape the forms of the celestial spheres through the knowledge You have placed in Your Pen;

يَا مَنْ صَرَّفَ أَحْكَامَهُ بِأَسْرَارِ حِكَمِهِ،

yā man ṣarrafa ʾaḥkāmahu biʾasrāri ḥikamihi,

You who direct Your decrees through the secrets of Your wisdom:

أُنَادِيكَ اسْتِغَاثَةَ بَعِيدٍ لِقَرِيبٍ، وَأَطْلُبُكَ طَلَبَ مُحِبٍّ لِحَبِيبٍ،

ʾunādīka istighāthata baʿīdin liqarībin, waʾaṭlubuka ṭalaba muḥibbin liḥabībin,

I call to You as one far away appeals to One who is near, and seek You as a lover seeks the beloved.

وَأَسْأَلُكَ سُؤَالَ مُضْطَرٍّ لِمُجِيبٍ،

waʾasʾaluka suʾāla muḍṭarrin limujībin,

I ask You as one in desperate need asks the One who answers.

أَسْأَلُكَ اللَّهُمَّ رَفْعَ حِجَابِ الْغَيْبِ، وَحَلَّ عِقَالِ الْوَهْمِ وَالرَّيْبِ،

ʾasʾaluka Allāhumma rafʿa ḥijābi al-ghaybi, waḥalla ʿiqāli al-wahmi wa-al-raybi,

I ask You, O God, to lift the veil of the unseen and loosen the fetters of imagining and doubt.

اللَّهُمَّ أَحْيِنِي بِكَ حَيَاةً طَيِّبَةً⁴²،

Allāhumma ʾaḥyinī bika ḥayātan ṭayyibatan,

O God, give me, through You, a wholesome life.

وَعَلِّمْنِي مِنْكَ⁴³ عِلْمًا مُحِيطًا بِأَسْرَارِ الْمَعْلُومَاتِ،

waʿallimnī minka ʿilman muḥīṭan biʾasrāri al-maʿlūmāti,

Teach me from Yourself a knowledge encompassing the secrets of all that can be known.

وَافْتَحْ لِي بِقُدْرَتِكَ كَنْزَ الْجَنَّةِ وَالْعَرْشِ وَالذَّاتِ،

wa-iftaḥ lī biqudratika kanza al-jannati wa-al-ʿarshi wa-al-dhāti,

Open for me, through Your power, the treasure of the Garden, the Throne and the Essence.

وَامْحَقْنِي تَحْتَ أَنْوَارِ الصِّفَاتِ، وَخَلِّصْنِي بِمِنَّتِكَ مِنْ جَمِيعِ الْقُيُودِ الْمُقْعِدَاتِ،

wa-imḥaqnī taḥta ʾanwāri al-ṣifāti, wakhalliṣnī biminnatika min jamīʿi al-quyūdi al-muqʿidāti,

Efface me beneath the lights of the Attributes, and free me by Your grace from every bond that holds me back.

سُبْحَانَكَ تَنْزِيهًا، سُبُّوحٌ تَنَزَّهَ عَنْ سِمَاتِ الْحُدُوثِ، وَصِفَاتِ النَّقْصِ،

subḥānaka tanzīhan, subbūḥun tanazzaha ʿan simāti al-ḥudūthi, waṣifāti al-naqṣi,

Glory be to You in absolute transcendence: All-Glorious, beyond the marks of coming into being and the attributes of deficiency;

قُدُّوسٌ تَطَهَّرَ مِنْ أَسْبَابِ⁴⁴ الذَّمِّ، وَمُوجِبَاتِ الرَّفْضِ،

quddūsun taṭahhara min ʾasbābi al-dhammi, wamūjibāti al-rafḍi,

All-Holy, free of every ground for blame and every cause for rejection.

سُبْحَانَكَ أَعْجَزْتَ كُلَّ طَالِبٍ عَنِ الْوُصُولِ إِلَيْكَ إِلَّا بِكَ،

subḥānaka ʾaʿjazta kulla ṭālibin ʿani al-wuṣūli ʾilayka ʾillā bika,

Glory be to You. You leave every seeker unable to reach You except through You.

سُبْحَانَكَ لَا يَعْلَمُ مَنْ أَنْتَ سِوَاكَ، سُبْحَانَكَ مَا أَقْرَبَكَ مَعَ تَرَفُّعِ عُلَاكَ،

subḥānaka lā yaʿlamu man ʾanta siwāka, subḥānaka mā ʾaqrabaka maʿa taraffuʿi ʿulāka,

Glory be to You. None knows who You are but You. How near You are, despite Your transcendent loftiness.

اللَّهُمَّ أَلْبِسْنِي سُبْحَةَ⁴⁵ الْحَمْدِ، وَرَدِّنِي بِرِدَاءِ الْعِزِّ،

Allāhumma ʾalbisnī subḥata al-ḥamdi, waraddinī biridāʾi al-ʿizzi,

O God, clothe me in the splendour of praise and wrap me in the mantle of might.

وَتَوِّجْنِي بِتَاجِ الْجَلَالِ وَالْمَجْدِ، وَجَرِّدْنِي عَنْ صِفَاتِ ذَوَاتِ الْهَزْلِ وَالْجِدِّ،

watawwijnī bitāji al-jalāli wa-al-majdi, wajarridnī ʿan ṣifāti dhawāti al-hazli wa-al-jiddi,

Crown me with majesty and glory, and strip me of the attributes of beings caught in frivolity and earnestness.

وَخَلِّصْنِي مِنْ قُيُودِ الْعَدِّ وَالْحَدِّ،

wakhalliṣnī min quyūdi al-ʿaddi wa-al-ḥaddi,

Free me from the constraints of number and limitation,

وَمُبَاشَرَةِ الْخِلَافِ وَالنَّقْصِ وَالضِّدِّ، بِمَنِّكَ.

wamubāsharati al-khilāfi wa-al-naqṣi wa-al-ḍiddi, bimannika.

and from contact with disagreement, deficiency and opposition, through Your gracious gift.

إِلَٰهِي عَدَمِي بِكَ عَيْنُ الْوُجُودِ، وَوُجُودِي⁴⁶ مَعَكَ عَيْنُ الْعَدَمِ،

ʾilāhī ʿadamī bika ʿaynu al-wujūdi, wawujūdī maʿaka ʿaynu al-ʿadami,

My God, my nonexistence through You is true existence; my imagined existence alongside You is true nonexistence.

فَأَبْدِلْنِي مَكَانَ تَوَهُّمِ وُجُودِي مَعَكَ تَحْقِيقَ عَدَمِي بِكَ،

faʾabdilnī makāna tawahhumi wujūdī maʿaka taḥqīqa ʿadamī bika,

Exchange my imagined existence alongside You for the realization of my nonexistence through You.

وَاجْمَعْ شَمْلِي بِاسْتِهْلَاكِي فِيكَ،

wa-ijmaʿ shamlī bi-istihlākī fīka,

Gather my scattered being through my complete absorption in You.

لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ تَنَزَّهْتَ عَنِ الْمَثِيلِ، لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ تَعَالَيْتَ عَنِ النَّظِيرِ،

lā ʾilāha ʾillā ʾanta tanazzahta ʿani al-mathīli, lā ʾilāha ʾillā ʾanta taʿālayta ʿani al-naẓīri,

There is no god but You: You are beyond any likeness. There is no god but You: You transcend any equal.

لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ اسْتَغْنَيْتَ⁴⁷ عَنِ الْوَزِيرِ وَالْمُشِيرِ،

lā ʾilāha ʾillā ʾanta istaghnayta ʿani al-wazīri wa-al-mushīri,

There is no god but You: You have no need of minister or counsellor.

لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ يَا أَحَدُ يَا صَمَدُ،

lā ʾilāha ʾillā ʾanta yā ʾaḥadu yā ṣamadu,

There is no god but You, O uniquely One, eternally Self-Sufficient.

لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ بِكَ الْوُجُودُ، وَلَكَ السُّجُودُ، وَأَنْتَ الْحَقُّ الْمَعْبُودُ،

lā ʾilāha ʾillā ʾanta bika al-wujūdu, walaka al-sujūdu, waʾanta al-ḥaqqu al-maʿbūdu,

There is no god but You. Through You is existence; to You is prostration; You are the Real, the One worshipped.

أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنِّي⁴⁸، وَأَسْأَلُكَ زَوَالِي عَنِّي،

ʾaʿūdhu bika minnī, waʾasʾaluka zawālī ʿannī,

I seek refuge in You from myself, and ask You that I may pass away from myself.

وَأَسْتَغْفِرُكَ مِنْ بَقِيَّةٍ تُبْعِدُ وَتُدْنِي، وَتُسَمِّي وَتُكَنِّي،

waʾastaghfiruka min baqiyyatin tubʿidu watudnī, watusammī watukannī,

I ask Your forgiveness for any residue of self that sets distance and nearness, names things and assigns them designations.

أَنْتَ الْوَاضِعُ الرَّافِعُ، وَالْمُبْدِعُ وَالْقَاطِعُ، وَالْمُفَرِّقُ وَالْجَامِعُ،

ʾanta al-wāḍiʿu al-rāfiʿu, wa-al-mubdiʿu wa-al-qāṭiʿu, wa-al-mufarriqu wa-al-jāmiʿu,

You are the One who lowers and raises, originates and severs, separates and gathers.

يَا وَاضِعُ، يَا رَافِعُ، يَا مُبْدِعُ، يَا قَاطِعُ، يَا مُفَرِّقُ يَا جَامِعُ،

yā wāḍiʿu, yā rāfiʿu, yā mubdiʿu, yā qāṭiʿu, yā mufarriqu yā jāmiʿu,

O Lowerer, O Raiser, O Originator, O Severer, O Separator, O Gatherer.

الْعِيَاذَ الْعِيَاذَ، الْغِيَاثَ الْغِيَاثَ، يَا عِيَاذِي، يَا غِيَاثِي،

al-ʿiyādha al-ʿiyādha, al-ghiyātha al-ghiyātha, yā ʿiyādhī, yā ghiyāthī,

Refuge, refuge! Help, help! O my Refuge, O my Help!

النَّجَاةَ النَّجَاةَ، الْمَلَاذَ الْمَلَاذَ، يَا مَنْ بِهِ نَجَاتِي وَمَلَاذِي،

al-najāta al-najāta, al-malādha al-malādha, yā man bihi najātī wamalādhī,

Deliverance, deliverance! Shelter, shelter! O You through whom are my deliverance and shelter.

أَسْأَلُكَ اللَّهُمَّ فِيمَا سَأَلْتُكَ، وَأَتَوَسَّلُ إِلَيْكَ فِي قَبُولِ ذَٰلِكَ بِمُقَدِّمَةِ الْوُجُودِ الْأَوَّلِ،

ʾasʾaluka Allāhumma fīmā saʾaltuka, waʾatawassalu ʾilayka fī qabūli dhālika bimuqaddimati al-wujūdi al-ʾawwali,

For all I have asked, O God, I appeal to You for acceptance through the foremost of primordial existence,

وَالنُّورِ الْأَكْمَلِ، وَرُوحِ الْحَيَاةِ الْأَفْضَلِ، وَبِسِمَاتِ الرَّحْمَةِ الْأَزَلِ⁴⁹،⁵⁰،

wa-al-nūri al-ʾakmali, warūḥi al-ḥayāti al-ʾafḍali, wabisimāti al-raḥmati al-ʾazali,

the most complete light, the noblest spirit of life, and the signs of beginningless mercy;

وَسَمَاءِ الْخُلُقِ الْأَجَلِّ، السَّابِقِ بِالرُّوحِ وَالْفَضْلِ،

wasamāʾi al-khuluqi al-ʾajalli, al-sābiqi bi-al-rūḥi wa-al-faḍli,

the heaven of most sublime character, foremost in spirit and grace;

الْخَاتِمِ بِالصُّورَةِ وَالْبَعْثِ، وَالنُّورِ بِالْهِدَايَةِ وَالْبَيَانِ،

al-khātimi bi-al-ṣūrati wa-al-baʿthi, wa-al-nūri bi-al-hidāyati wa-al-bayāni,

the seal in bodily form and mission, the light through guidance and clarification;

وَالرَّحْمَةِ بِالْعِلْمِ وَالتَّمْكِينِ وَالْأَمَانِ،

wa-al-raḥmati bi-al-ʿilmi wa-al-tamkīni wa-al-ʾamāni,

the mercy through knowledge, firm establishment and security:

مُحَمَّدٍ الْمُصْطَفَىٰ، وَالرَّسُولِ الْمُجْتَبَىٰ، وَالصَّفِيِّ الْمُرْتَضَىٰ، وَالنَّبِيِّ الْمُقْتَدَىٰ⁵¹،

muḥammadin al-muṣṭafā, wa-al-rasūli al-mujtabā, wa-al-ṣafiyyi al-murtaḍā, wa-al-nabiyyi al-muqtadā,

Muḥammad the Chosen, the elect Messenger, the approved intimate, the Prophet whose example is followed.

صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَىٰ آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ وَسَلَّمَ تَسْلِيمًا كَثِيرًا إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ،

ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi waʿalā ʾālihi waṣaḥbihi wasallama taslīman kathīran ʾilā yawmi al-dīni,

May God bless him, his family and companions, and grant him abundant peace until the Day of Judgement.

وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ.

wa-al-ḥamdu li-llāhi rabbi al-ʿālamīna.

Praise belongs to God, Lord of all worlds.

وِرْدُ لَيْلَةِ الثُّلَاثَاءِ

wirdu laylati al-thulāthāʾi

Tuesday night prayer

Al-Ghurāb pages 180–181

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ.

bismi Allāhi al-raḥmāni al-raḥīmi.

In the name of God, the All-Merciful, the Ever-Merciful.

إِلَٰهِي أَنْتَ الشَّدِيدُ الْبَطْشِ، الْأَلِيمُ الْأَخْذِ، الْعَظِيمُ الْقَهْرِ،

ʾilāhī ʾanta al-shadīdu al-baṭshi, al-ʾalīmu al-ʾakhdhi, al-ʿaẓīmu al-qahri,

My God, Your grasp is severe, Your taking is painful, and Your mastery is immense.

الْمُتَعَالِي عَنِ الْأَضْدَادِ وَالْأَنْدَادِ، الْمُنَزَّهُ عَنِ الصَّاحِبَةِ وَالْأَوْلَادِ،

al-mutaʿālī ʿani al-ʾaḍdādi wa-al-ʾandādi, al-munazzahu ʿani al-ṣāḥibati wa-al-ʾawlādi,

You transcend opposites and equals, and are beyond having a consort or children.

شَأْنُكَ قَهْرُ الْأَعْدَاءِ وَقَمْعُ الْجَبَّارِينَ،

shaʾnuka qahru al-ʾaʿdāʾi waqamʿu al-jabbārīna,

It is Your way to subdue enemies and bring tyrants low.

تَمْكُرُ بِمَنْ تَشَاءُ وَأَنْتَ خَيْرُ الْمَاكِرِينَ،

tamkuru biman tashāʾu waʾanta khayru al-mākirīna,

You outwit whomever You will, and none can surpass Your devising.

أَسْأَلُكَ بِاسْمِكَ الَّذِي أَخَذْتَ بِهِ النَّوَاصِيَ، وَأَخْرَجْتَ بِهِ مِنَ الصَّيَاصِي،

ʾasʾaluka bi-ismika al-ladhī ʾakhadhta bihi al-nawāṣiya, waʾakhrajta bihi mina al-ṣayāṣī,

I ask You by Your Name through which You seized forelocks and brought people out of their fortresses,

وَقَذَفْتَ بِهِ الرُّعْبَ فِي قُلُوبِ الْأَعْدَاءِ، وَأَشْقَيْتَ بِهِ أَهْلَ الشَّقَاءِ،

waqadhafta bihi al-ruʿba fī qulūbi al-ʾaʿdāʾi, waʾashqayta bihi ʾahla al-shaqāʾi,

cast terror into the hearts of enemies, and brought misery upon the people of misery,

أَنْ تُمِدَّنِي بِرَقِيقَةٍ مِنْ رَقَائِقِ اسْمِكَ الشَّدِيدِ،

ʾan tumiddanī biraqīqatin min raqāʾiqi ismika al-shadīdi,

to sustain me with a subtle thread from the subtleties of Your Name, the Severe,

تَسْرِي فِي قُوَايَ الْكُلِّيَّةِ وَالْجُزْئِيَّةِ، حَتَّىٰ أَتَمَكَّنَ مِنْ فِعْلِ مَا أُرِيدُ،

tasrī fī quwāya al-kulliyyati wa-al-juzʾiyyati, ḥattā ʾatamakkana min fiʿli mā ʾurīdu,

flowing through my universal and particular powers, so that I am able to do what I intend.

فَلَا يَصِلَ إِلَيَّ ظُلْمُ ظَالِمٍ بِسُوءٍ، وَلَا يَسْطُوَ عَلَيَّ مُتَكَبِّرٌ بِجَوْرٍ،

falā yaṣila ʾilayya ẓulmu ẓālimin bisūʾin, walā yasṭuwa ʿalayya mutakabbirun bijawrin,

Let no wrongdoer's injustice reach me with harm, and no arrogant person assault me unjustly.

وَاجْعَلْ غَضَبِي لَكَ وَفِيكَ، مَقْرُونًا بِفَضْلِكَ لِنَفْسِكَ،

wa-ijʿal ghaḍabī laka wafīka, maqrūnan bifaḍlika linafsika,

Let my anger be for You and in You, joined to Your grace and devoted to You alone.

وَاطْمِسْ عَلَىٰ وُجُوهِ أَعْدَائِي، وَامْسَخْهُمْ عَلَىٰ مَكَانَتِهِمْ، وَاشْدُدْ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ،

wa-iṭmis ʿalā wujūhi ʾaʿdāʾī, wa-imsakhhum ʿalā makānatihim, wa-ushdud ʿalā qulūbihim,

Efface the faces of my enemies, transform them where they stand, and harden their hearts.

وَاضْرِبْ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهُمْ بِسُورٍ لَهُ بَابٌ بَاطِنُهُ فِيهِ الرَّحْمَةُ،

wa-iḍrib baynī wabaynahum bisūrin lahu bābun bāṭinuhu fīhi al-raḥmatu,

Set between me and them a wall with a gate, within which lies mercy,

وَظَاهِرُهُ مِنْ قِبَلِهِ الْعَذَابُ،

waẓāhiruhu min qibalihi al-ʿadhābu,

while outside, facing them, lies punishment.

إِنَّكَ شَدِيدُ الْبَطْشِ، أَلِيمُ الْأَخْذِ، عَظِيمُ الْعِقَابِ،

ʾinnaka shadīdu al-baṭshi, ʾalīmu al-ʾakhdhi, ʿaẓīmu al-ʿiqābi,

Your grasp is severe, Your taking painful, and Your punishment tremendous.

وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَخْذُ رَبِّكَ إِذَا أَخَذَ الْقُرَىٰ وَهِيَ ظَالِمَةٌ، إِنَّ أَخْذَهُ أَلِيمٌ شَدِيدٌ.

wakadhālika ʾakhdhu rabbika ʾidhā ʾakhadha al-qurā wahiya ẓālimatun, ʾinna ʾakhdhahu ʾalīmun shadīdun.

Such is your Lord's taking when He takes towns in their wrongdoing. His taking is indeed painful and severe.

رَبِّ أَغْنِنِي بِكَ عَمَّنْ سِوَاكَ، غَنَاءً يُغْنِينِي غَايَةَ الْغِنَىٰ،

rabbi ʾaghninī bika ʿamman siwāka, ghanāʾan yughnīnī ghāyata al-ghinā,

My Lord, make me sufficient through You, free of need for any other, with the fullest sufficiency,

عَنْ كُلِّ حَظٍّ يَدْعُونِي إِلَىٰ ظَاهِرِ كُلِّ خَلْقٍ أَوْ بَاطِنِ أَمْرٍ،

ʿan kulli ḥaẓẓin yadʿūnī ʾilā ẓāhiri kulli khalqin ʾaw bāṭini ʾamrin,

free of every self-serving desire that calls me towards the outward form of a creature or the inward side of an affair.

وَبَلِّغْنِي غَايَةَ تَيْسِيرِي، وَارْفَعْنِي إِلَىٰ سِدْرَةِ مُنْتَهَايَ،

waballighnī ghāyata taysīrī, wa-irfaʿnī ʾilā sidrati muntahāya,

Bring me to the furthest point of the ease appointed for me, and raise me to the lote-tree of my utmost limit.

وَأَشْهِدْنِي كَوْنَ الْوُجُودِ دَوْرِيًّا، وَالسَّيْرَ كَوْرِيًّا،

waʾashhidnī kawna al-wujūdi dawriyyan, wa-al-sayra kawriyyan,

Let me witness existence as cyclical and the journey as circling back,

حَتَّىٰ أُعَايِنَ سِرَّ التَّنْزِيلِ إِلَى النِّهَايَاتِ، وَالْعَوْدِ إِلَى الْبِدَايَاتِ،

ḥattā ʾuʿāyina sirra al-tanzīli ʾilā al-nihāyāti, wa-al-ʿawdi ʾilā al-bidāyāti,

until I see the secret of descent to the furthest ends and return to the beginnings;

حَتَّىٰ يَنْقَطِعَ الْكَلَامُ، وَتَسْكُنَ حَرَكَةُ اللَّامِ،

ḥattā yanqaṭiʿa al-kalāmu, wataskuna ḥarakatu al-lāmi,

until speech ceases and the movement of the letter lām comes to rest,

وَتُمْحَىٰ عَنِّي نُقْطَةُ الْغَيْنِ، وَيَعُودَ الْوَاحِدُ إِلَى الِاثْنَيْنِ،⁵²

watumḥā ʿannī nuqṭatu al-ghayni, wayaʿūda al-wāḥidu ʾilā al-ithnayni,

the dot of ghayn is effaced from me, and the one returns to the two.

إِلَٰهِي يَسِّرْ عَلَيَّ بِالسِّرِّ الَّذِي يَسَّرْتَهُ عَلَىٰ كَثِيرٍ مِنْ أَوْلِيَائِكَ،

ʾilāhī yassir ʿalayya bi-al-sirri al-ladhī yassartahu ʿalā kathīrin min ʾawliyāʾika,

My God, grant me ease through the secret by which You have brought ease to many of Your friends,

تَيْسِيرًا يُعْجِمُ [عَيْنَ] عَنَائِي،⁵³

taysīran yuʿjimu [ʿayna] ʿanāʾī,

an ease that places a transforming dot upon the ʿayn of my suffering.

وَأَيِّدْنِي فِي ذَٰلِكَ كُلِّهِ بِنُورٍ شَعْشَعَانِيٍّ،

waʾayyidnī fī dhālika kullihi binūrin shaʿshaʿāniyyin,

Strengthen me in all this with a dazzling light

يَخْطَفُ بَصَرَ كُلِّ حَاسِدٍ مِنَ الْجِنِّ وَالْإِنْسِ،

yakhṭafu baṣara kulli ḥāsidin mina al-jinni wa-al-ʾinsi,

that overwhelms the sight of every envious one among jinn and humankind.

وَهَبْ لِي مَلَكَةَ الْغَلَبَةِ لِكُلِّ مَقَامٍ،

wahab lī malakata al-ghalabati likulli maqāmin,

Grant me the capacity to prevail in every station.

وَأَغْنِنِي عَمَّنْ سِوَاكَ، غَنَاءً يُثْبِتُ فَقْرِي إِلَيْكَ،

waʾaghninī ʿamman siwāka, ghanāʾan yuthbitu faqrī ʾilayka,

Make me free of need for any other than You, with a sufficiency that confirms my need for You.

إِنَّكَ الْغَنِيُّ الْحَمِيدُ، الْوَلِيُّ الْمَجِيدُ، الْكَرِيمُ الرَّشِيدُ،

ʾinnaka al-ghaniyyu al-ḥamīdu, al-waliyyu al-majīdu, al-karīmu al-rashīdu,

You are the Self-Sufficient, the Praiseworthy, the Protecting Friend, the Glorious, the Generous, the Guide to rightness.

وَصَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ.

waṣallā Allāhu ʿalā sayyidinā muḥammadin waʾālihi waṣaḥbihi ʾajmaʿīna.

May God bless our master Muḥammad, his family and all his companions.

[قَالَ الشَّيْخُ تَغَمَّدَهُ اللَّهُ بِغُفْرَانِهِ، وَأَسْكَنَهُ أَعْلَىٰ غُرَفِ جِنَانِهِ:

[qāla al-shaykhu taghammadahu Allāhu bighufrānihi, waʾaskanahu ʾaʿlā ghurafi jinānihi:

[The shaykh said—may God enfold him in forgiveness and lodge him in the highest chambers of His gardens:

ظَهَرَ عَلَيَّ شَيْخَانِ مَهِيبَانِ فِي الْخَلْوَةِ فِي جَبَلِ الْفَتْحِ سَنَةَ عَشْرٍ وَسِتِّمِائَةٍ.

ẓahara ʿalayya shaykhāni mahībāni fī al-khalwati fī jabali al-fatḥi sanata ʿashrin wasittimiāʾatin.

Two awe-inspiring shaykhs appeared to me during retreat on the Mountain of Conquest in the year six hundred and ten.

فَقَالَ أَحَدُهُمَا: ارْوِ عَنِّي إِلَىٰ كُلِّ طَالِبٍ صَادِقٍ، وَإِلَىٰ كُلِّ مُرِيدٍ مُوَافِقٍ.]

faqāla ʾaḥaduhumā: irwi ʿannī ʾilā kulli ṭālibin ṣādiqin, waʾilā kulli murīdin muwāfiqin.]

One of them said: Transmit from me to every sincere seeker and every disciple in harmony with the path.]

وِرْدُ يَوْمِ الثُّلَاثَاءِ

wirdu yawmi al-thulāthāʾi

Tuesday daytime prayer

Al-Ghurāb pages 181–182

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ.

bismi Allāhi al-raḥmāni al-raḥīmi.

In the name of God, the All-Merciful, the Ever-Merciful.

رَبِّ أَدْخِلْنِي فِي لُجَّةِ بَحْرِ أَحَدِيَّتِكَ، وَطَمْطَامِ يَمِّ وَاحِدِيَّتِكَ،

rabbi ʾadkhilnī fī lujjati baḥri ʾaḥadiyyatika, waṭamṭāmi yammi wāḥidiyyatika,

My Lord, bring me into the depths of the ocean of Your undivided Oneness and the vast sea of Your all-embracing Unity.

وَقَوِّنِي بِقُوَّةِ سَطْوَةِ سُلْطَانِ فَرْدَانِيَّتِكَ،

waqawwinī biquwwati saṭwati sulṭāni fardāniyyatika,

Strengthen me through the overwhelming power of the sovereignty of Your utter Singularity,

حَتَّىٰ أَخْرُجَ إِلَىٰ فَضَاءِ سَعَةِ رَحْمَتِكَ،

ḥattā ʾakhruja ʾilā faḍāʾi saʿati raḥmatika,

until I emerge into the open expanse of Your mercy,

وَفِي وَجْهِي لَمَعَانُ بَرْقِ الْقُرْبِ مِنْ آثَارِ رَحْمَتِكَ،

wafī wajhī lamaʿānu barqi al-qurbi min ʾāthāri raḥmatika,

my face shining with the lightning of nearness, a trace of Your mercy;

مَهَابًا بِهَيْبَتِكَ، عَزِيزًا بِعِزَّتِكَ، مُعَانًا بِعِنَايَتِكَ،

mahāban bihaybatika, ʿazīzan biʿizzatika, muʿānan biʿināyatika,

held in awe through Your awe, made mighty through Your might, supported by Your care,

مُبَجَّلًا مُكَرَّمًا بِتَعْلِيمِكَ وَتَزْكِيَتِكَ⁵⁴،

mubajjalan mukarraman bitaʿlīmika watazkiyatika,

revered and honoured through Your teaching and purification.

وَأَلْبِسْنِي خِلَعَ الْعِزَّةِ وَالْقَبُولِ، وَسَهِّلْ لِي مَنَاهِجَ الْوَصْلَةِ وَالْوُصُولِ،

waʾalbisnī khilaʿa al-ʿizzati wa-al-qabūli, wasahhil lī manāhija al-waṣlati wa-al-wuṣūli,

Clothe me in robes of might and acceptance, and make the paths of connection and arrival easy for me.

وَتَوِّجْنِي بِتَاجِ الْكَرَامَةِ وَالْوَقَارِ،

watawwijnī bitāji al-karāmati wa-al-waqāri,

Crown me with honour and dignity.

وَأَلِّفْ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ أَحْبَابِكَ فِي دَارِ الدُّنْيَا وَدَارِ الْقَرَارِ،

waʾallif baynī wabayna ʾaḥbābika fī dāri al-dunyā wadāri al-qarāri,

Unite me in affection with those You love, in this world and the lasting home.

وَارْزُقْنِي بِنُورِ اسْمِكَ سَطْوَةً وَهَيْبَةً حَتَّىٰ تَنْقَادَ إِلَيَّ الْقُلُوبُ وَالْأَرْوَاحُ،

wa-urzuqnī binūri ismika saṭwatan wahaybatan ḥattā tanqāda ʾilayya al-qulūbu wa-al-ʾarwāḥu,

Grant me, through the light of Your Name, power and awe so that hearts and spirits yield to me,

وَتَخْضَعَ لَدَيَّ النُّفُوسُ وَالْأَشْبَاحُ،

watakhḍaʿa ladayya al-nufūsu wa-al-ʾashbāḥu,

and souls and bodily forms humble themselves before me.

يَا مَنْ ذَلَّتْ لَهُ رِقَابُ الْجَبَابِرَةِ، وَخَضَعَتْ لَدَيْهِ أَعْنَاقُ الْأَكَاسِرَةِ⁵⁵،

yā man dhallat lahu riqābu al-jabābirati, wakhaḍaʿat ladayhi ʾaʿnāqu al-ʾakāsirati,

O You before whom tyrants bow their necks and emperors lower their heads:

لَا مَلْجَأَ وَلَا مَنْجَا مِنْكَ إِلَّا إِلَيْكَ،

lā maljaʾa walā manjā minka ʾillā ʾilayka,

there is no refuge or deliverance from You except in You.

وَلَا إِعَانَةَ إِلَّا بِكَ، وَلَا اتِّكَالَ إِلَّا عَلَيْكَ،

walā ʾiʿānata ʾillā bika, walā ittikāla ʾillā ʿalayka,

No help comes except through You; no trust rests except upon You.

ادْفَعْ عَنِّي كَيْدَ الْحَاسِدِينَ، وَظُلُمَاتِ شَرِّ الْمُعَانِدِينَ،

idfaʿ ʿannī kayda al-ḥāsidīna, waẓulumāti sharri al-muʿānidīna,

Ward off from me the schemes of the envious and the dark evil of the hostile.

وَاحْمِنِي تَحْتَ سُرَادِقَاتِ عِزَّتِكَ⁵⁶ يَا أَكْرَمَ الْأَكْرَمِينَ.

wa-iḥminī taḥta surādiqāti ʿizzatika yā ʾakrama al-ʾakramīna.

Protect me beneath the canopies of Your might, O Most Generous of the generous.

إِلَٰهِي أَيِّدْ ظَاهِرِي فِي تَحْصِيلِ مَرَاضِيكَ،

ʾilāhī ʾayyid ẓāhirī fī taḥṣīli marāḍīka,

My God, strengthen my outward being in accomplishing what pleases You.

وَنَوِّرْ قَلْبِي وَسِرِّي لِلِاطِّلَاعِ عَلَىٰ مَنَاهِجِ مَسَاعِيكَ،

wanawwir qalbī wasirrī li-l-iṭṭilāʿi ʿalā manāhiji masāʿīka,

Illuminate my heart and innermost secret, that I may perceive the paths of Your workings.

إِلَٰهِي وَسَيِّدِي كَيْفَ أَصْدُرُ عَنْ بَابِكَ بِخَيْبَةٍ مِنْكَ وَقَدْ وَرَدْتُهُ عَلَىٰ ثِقَةٍ بِكَ،

ʾilāhī wasayyidī kayfa ʾaṣduru ʿan bābika bikhaybatin minka waqad waradtuhu ʿalā thiqatin bika,

My God and Master, how could I leave Your door disappointed, when I have come to it trusting in You?

وَكَيْفَ تُؤْيِسُنِي مِنْ عَطَائِكَ، وَقَدْ أَمَرْتَنِي بِدُعَائِكَ،

wakayfa tuʾyisunī min ʿaṭāʾika, waqad ʾamartanī biduʿāʾika,

How could You make me despair of Your gift, when You have commanded me to call upon You?

وَهَا أَنَا عَبْدُكَ مُقْبِلٌ عَلَيْكَ، مُلْتَجِئٌ إِلَيْكَ،

wahā ʾanā ʿabduka muqbilun ʿalayka, multajiʾun ʾilayka,

Here I am, Your servant, turning towards You and seeking refuge in You.

بَاعِدْ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ أَعْدَائِكَ كَمَا بَاعَدْتَ بَيْنَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ،

bāʿid baynī wabayna ʾaʿdāʾika kamā bāʿadta bayna al-mashriqi wa-al-maghribi,

Set me as far from Your enemies as You have set east from west.

وَاخْطَفْ أَبْصَارَهُمْ، وَزَلْزِلْ أَقْدَامَهُمْ، وَادْفَعْ عَنِّي شَرَّهُمْ وَضَرَرَهُمْ⁵⁷،

wa-ikhṭaf ʾabṣārahum, wazalzil ʾaqdāmahum, wa-idfaʿ ʿannī sharrahum waḍararahum,

Dazzle their sight, shake their footing, and ward off their evil and harm from me.

وَأَشْغِلْهُمْ⁵⁸ عَنِّي بِنُورِ قُدْسِكَ، وَجَلَالِ مَجْدِكَ،

waʾashghilhum ʿannī binūri qudsika, wajalāli majdika,

Turn their attention away from me through the light of Your holiness and the majesty of Your glory.

فَإِنَّكَ أَنْتَ اللَّهُ الْمُعْطِي جَلَائِلَ النِّعَمِ،

faʾinnaka ʾanta Allāhu al-muʿṭī jalāʾila al-niʿami,

You are God, the Giver of great blessings,

الْمُبَجِّلُ الْمُكْرِمُ لِمَنْ نَاجَاكَ بِلَطَائِفِ الرَّأْفَةِ وَالرَّحْمَةِ،

al-mubajjilu al-mukrimu liman nājāka bilaṭāʾifi al-raʾfati wa-al-raḥmati,

who honours and ennobles those who speak intimately with You through the subtleties of tenderness and mercy.

يَا حَيُّ يَا قَيُّومُ يَا كَاشِفَ أَسْرَارِ الْمَعَارِفِ وَالْعُلُومِ⁵⁹،

yā ḥayyu yā qayyūmu yā kāshifa ʾasrāri al-maʿārifi wa-al-ʿulūmi,

O Living One, O Self-Subsisting One, Unveiler of the secrets of spiritual recognition and knowledge.

وَصَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ،

waṣallā Allāhu ʿalā sayyidinā muḥammadin waʿalā ʾālihi waṣaḥbihi ʾajmaʿīna,

May God bless our master Muḥammad, his family and all his companions.

وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ.

wa-al-ḥamdu li-llāhi rabbi al-ʿālamīna.

Praise belongs to God, Lord of all worlds.

وِرْدُ لَيْلَةِ الْأَرْبِعَاءِ

wirdu laylati al-ʾarbiʿāʾi

Wednesday night prayer

Al-Ghurāb pages 182–183

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ.

bismi Allāhi al-raḥmāni al-raḥīmi.

In the name of God, the All-Merciful, the Ever-Merciful.

إِلَٰهِي اسْمُكَ سَيِّدُ الْأَسْمَاءِ، وَبِيَدِكَ مَلَكُوتُ الْأَرْضِ وَالسَّمَاءِ،

ʾilāhī ismuka sayyidu al-ʾasmāʾi, wabiyadika malakūtu al-ʾarḍi wa-al-samāʾi,

My God, Your Name is the master of all names, and in Your hand is the sovereignty of earth and heaven.

أَنْتَ الْقَائِمُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ، وَعَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ، ثَبَتَ لَكَ الْغِنَىٰ،

ʾanta al-qāʾimu bikulli shayʾin, waʿalā kulli shayʾin, thabata laka al-ghinā,

You sustain everything and watch over everything. Self-sufficiency belongs to You alone.

وَافْتَقَرَ إِلَىٰ فَيْضِ جُودِكَ الْأَقْدَسِ كُلُّ مَا سِوَاكَ الْـ«هُوَ»⁶⁰ وَالْـ«أَنَا»،

wa-iftaqara ʾilā fayḍi jūdika al-ʾaqdasi kullu mā siwāka al-«huwa» wa-al-«ʾanā»,

Everything besides You needs the most holy outpouring of Your generosity: both the “he” and the “I”.

أَسْأَلُكَ بِاسْمِكَ الَّذِي جَمَعْتَ بِهِ بَيْنَ الْمُتَقَابِلَاتِ وَمُتَفَرِّقَاتِ الْخَلْقِ وَالْأَمْرِ،

ʾasʾaluka bi-ismika al-ladhī jamaʿta bihi bayna al-mutaqābilāti wamutafarriqāti al-khalqi wa-al-ʾamri,

I ask You by Your Name through which You unite opposites and the scattered elements of creation and command,

وَأَقَمْتَ بِهِ غَيْبَ كُلِّ ظَاهِرٍ، وَأَظْهَرْتَ بِهِ شَهَادَةَ كُلِّ غَيْبٍ،

waʾaqamta bihi ghayba kulli ẓāhirin, waʾaẓharta bihi shahādata kulli ghaybin,

establish the unseen depth of everything manifest, and make visible the witnessing of everything unseen,

أَنْ تَهَبَ لِي صَمَدَانِيَّةً أُسْكِنُ بِهَا مُتَحَرِّكَ قُدْرَتِكَ،

ʾan tahaba lī ṣamadāniyyatan ʾuskinu bihā mutaḥarrika qudratika,

to grant me a share in Your self-sufficiency, through which I may still what Your power sets in motion,

حَتَّىٰ يَتَحَرَّكَ فِيَّ كُلُّ سَاكِنٍ، وَيَسْكُنَ فِيَّ كُلُّ مُتَحَرِّكٍ،

ḥattā yataḥarraka fiyya kullu sākinin, wayaskuna fiyya kullu mutaḥarrikin,

until everything still within me moves, and everything moving within me comes to rest.

فَأَجِدَنِي قِبْلَةَ كُلِّ مُتَوَجِّهٍ، وَجَامِعَ شَتَاتِ كُلِّ مُتَفَرِّقٍ،

faʾajidanī qiblata kulli mutawajjihin, wajāmiʿa shatāti kulli mutafarriqin,

Then may I find myself the direction of every turning and the gathering point of all that is scattered,

مِنْ حَيْثُ اسْمُكَ الَّذِي تَوَجَّهَتْ إِلَيْهِ وِجْهَتِي،

min ḥaythu ismuka al-ladhī tawajjahat ʾilayhi wijhatī,

through Your Name towards which my whole orientation has turned,

وَاضْمَحَلَّتْ عِنْدَهُ إِرَادَتِي وَكَلِمَتِي،

wa-iḍmaḥallat ʿindahu ʾirādatī wakalimatī,

before which my will and my word have faded away.

فَيَقْتَبِسَ كُلٌّ مِنِّي هُدًى تَامًّا مِنْ إِمَامَةِ الْفَرْدِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْمُصْطَفَىٰ،

fayaqtabisa kullun minnī hudan tāmman min ʾimāmati al-fardi muḥammadin al-muṣṭafā,

May everyone draw from me complete guidance, received from the leadership of the singular one, Muḥammad the Chosen,

صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، الَّذِي لَوْلَاهُ لَمْ تَثْبُتْ إِبَانَةُ الْقَبَسِ لِمُوسَىٰ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ،

ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wasallama, al-ladhī lawlāhu lam tathbut ʾibānatu al-qabasi limūsā ʿalayhi al-salāmu,

God bless him and grant him peace, without whom the firebrand's illumination would not have become manifest to Moses, peace be upon him.

يَا مَنْ هُوَ هُوَ هُوَ يَا هُوَ وَلَا أَنَا،

yā man huwa huwa huwa yā huwa walā ʾanā,

O You who are He, He, He; O He, with no “I”.

أَسْأَلُكَ بِكُلِّ اسْمٍ هُوَ لَكَ⁶¹ اسْتَمَدَّ مِنْ أَلِفِ الْغَيْبِ الْمُحِيطِ بِحَقِيقَةِ كُلِّ مَشْهُودٍ،

ʾasʾaluka bikulli ismin huwa laka istamadda min ʾalifi al-ghaybi al-muḥīṭi biḥaqīqati kulli mashhūdin,

I ask You by every Name of Yours that draws from the alif of the unseen, encompassing the reality of everything witnessed,

أَنْ تُشْهِدَنِي وَحْدَةَ كُلِّ مُتَكَثِّرٍ فِي بَاطِنِ كُلِّ حَقٍّ،

ʾan tushhidanī waḥdata kulli mutakaththirin fī bāṭini kulli ḥaqqin,

to let me witness the unity of everything multiple within the inward depth of every truth,

وَكَثْرَةَ كُلِّ مُوَحَّدٍ فِي ظَاهِرِ كُلِّ حَقِيقَةٍ،

wakathrata kulli muwaḥḥadin fī ẓāhiri kulli ḥaqīqatin,

and the multiplicity of everything unified within the outward appearance of every reality;

ثُمَّ وَحْدَةَ الظَّاهِرِ وَالْبَاطِنِ،

thumma waḥdata al-ẓāhiri wa-al-bāṭini,

then the unity of the outward and the inward,

حَتَّىٰ لَا يَخْفَىٰ عَلَيَّ غَيْبُ ظَاهِرٍ، وَلَا يَغِيبَ عَنِّي خَفِيُّ بَاطِنٍ،

ḥattā lā yakhfā ʿalayya ghaybu ẓāhirin, walā yaghība ʿannī khafiyyu bāṭinin,

until no unseen depth of a manifest thing is hidden from me, and no inward secret is absent from me.

وَأَشْهِدْنِي الْكُلَّ يَا مَنْ بِيَدِهِ مَلَكُوتُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ أَنْتَ، أَنْتَ،

waʾashhidnī al-kulla yā man biyadihi malakūtu kulli shayʾin ʾanta, ʾanta,

Let me witness the whole, O You in whose hand is the sovereignty of everything: You, You.

قُلِ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ ذَرْهُمْ فِي خَوْضِهِمْ يَلْعَبُونَ،

quli Allāhu thumma dharhum fī khawḍihim yalʿabūna,

Say “God”, then leave them to play in their empty disputation.

الٓمٓ، اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ،⁶²

Alif Lām Mīm, Allāhu lā ʾilāha ʾillā huwa al-ḥayyu al-qayyūmu,

Alif, Lām, Mīm. God: there is no god but He, the Living, the Self-Subsisting.

سَيِّدِي أَنْتَ السَّلَامُ، أَنْتَ سَنَدِي، سَوَاءٌ عِنْدَكَ سِرِّي وَجَهْرِي،

sayyidī ʾanta al-salāmu, ʾanta sanadī, sawāʾun ʿindaka sirrī wajahrī,

My Master, You are Peace; You are my support. My inward secret and outward speech are alike to You.

تَسْمَعُ نِدَائِي وَتُجِيبُ دُعَائِي،

tasmaʿu nidāʾī watujību duʿāʾī,

You hear my call and answer my prayer.

مَحَوْتَ بِنُورِكَ ظُلْمَتِي، وَأَحْيَيْتَ بِرُوحِكَ مَيْتَتِي،

maḥawta binūrika ẓulmatī, waʾaḥyayta birūḥika maytatī,

You have erased my darkness through Your light and brought my lifelessness to life through Your spirit.

فَأَنْتَ رَبِّي، بِيَدِكَ سَمْعِي وَبَصَرِي وَقَلْبِي،

faʾanta rabbī, biyadika samʿī wabaṣarī waqalbī,

You are my Lord. My hearing, sight and heart are in Your hand.

مَلَكْتَ جَمِيعِي، وَشَرَّفْتَ وَضِيعِي، وَأَعْلَيْتَ قَدْرِي، وَرَفَعْتَ ذِكْرِي،

malakta jamīʿī, washarrafta waḍīʿī, waʾaʿlayta qadrī, warafaʿta dhikrī,

You possess all of me, have ennobled what was lowly, raised my standing and elevated my remembrance.

تَبَارَكْتَ نُورَ الْأَنْوَارِ، وَكَاشِفَ الْأَسْرَارِ، وَوَاهِبَ الْأَعْمَارِ، وَمُسْبِلَ الْأَسْتَارِ،

tabārakta nūra al-ʾanwāri, wakāshifa al-ʾasrāri, wawāhiba al-ʾaʿmāri, wamusbila al-ʾastāri,

Blessed are You, Light of lights, Unveiler of secrets, Giver of lifespans, Drawer of protective veils.

تَنَزَّهْتَ فِي سُمُوِّ جَلَالِكَ عَنْ سِمَاتِ الْمُحْدَثَاتِ،

tanazzahta fī sumuwwi jalālika ʿan simāti al-muḥdathāti,

In Your sublime majesty You are beyond the marks of things brought into being.

وَعَلَتْ رُتْبَةُ كَمَالِكَ عَنِ التَّطَرُّقِ إِلَيْهَا بِالنَّقَائِصِ وَالْآفَاتِ وَالشَّهَوَاتِ،

waʿalat rutbatu kamālika ʿani al-taṭarruqi ʾilayhā bi-al-naqāʾiṣi wa-al-ʾāfāti wa-al-shahawāti,

The rank of Your perfection is too high for deficiencies, afflictions or desires to approach it.

وَأَنَارَتْ بِشُهُودِ ذَاتِكَ الْأَرَضُونَ وَالسَّمَٰوَاتُ،

waʾanārat bishuhūdi dhātika al-ʾaraḍūna wa-al-samāwātu,

The earths and heavens shine through witnessing Your Essence.

لَكَ الْمَجْدُ الْأَرْفَعُ، وَالْجَنَّاتُ الْأَوْسَعُ، وَالْعِزُّ الْأَمْنَعُ،

laka al-majdu al-ʾarfaʿu, wa-al-jannātu al-ʾawsaʿu, wa-al-ʿizzu al-ʾamnaʿu,

Yours are the loftiest glory, the widest gardens, and the most invincible might.

سُبُّوحٌ قُدُّوسٌ رَبُّ الْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالرُّوحِ،

subbūḥun quddūsun rabbu al-malāʾikati wa-al-rūḥi,

All-Glorious, All-Holy, Lord of the angels and the Spirit;

مُنَوِّرُ الصَّيَاصِي الْمُظْلِمَةِ، وَالْجَوَاهِرِ الْمُدْلَهِمَّةِ،

munawwiru al-ṣayāṣī al-muẓlimati, wa-al-jawāhiri al-mudlahimmati,

Illuminator of dark fortresses and deeply obscured substances;

وَمُنْقِذُ الْغَرْقَىٰ مِنْ بَحْرِ الْهَيُولَا،

wamunqidhu al-gharqā min baḥri al-hayūlā,

Rescuer of those drowning in the sea of primordial matter.

أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ، وَحَاسِدٍ إِذَا ارْتَقَبَ،

ʾaʿūdhu bika min ghāsiqin ʾidhā waqaba, waḥāsidin ʾidhā irtaqaba,

I seek refuge in You from darkness as it falls and from an envious person lying in wait.

مَلِيكِي أُنَادِيكَ وَأُنَاجِيكَ مُنَاجَاةَ عَبْدٍ كَسِيرٍ،

malīkī ʾunādīka waʾunājīka munājāta ʿabdin kasīrin,

My Sovereign, I call to You and speak intimately with You as a broken-hearted servant,

يَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ تَسْمَعُ وَيَعْتَقِدُ⁶³ أَنَّكَ تُجِيبُ،

yaʿlamu ʾannaka tasmaʿu wayaʿtaqidu ʾannaka tujību,

knowing that You hear and believing that You answer,

وَاقِفٌ بِبَابِكَ وَقْفَةَ مُضْطَرٍّ لَا يَجِدُ مِنْ دُونِكَ وَكِيلًا،

wāqifun bibābika waqfata muḍṭarrin lā yajidu min dūnika wakīlan,

standing at Your door in desperate need, finding no one besides You to entrust with his affairs.

أَسْأَلُكَ بِالِاسْمِ الَّذِي أَفَضْتَ بِهِ الْخَيْرَاتِ، وَأَنْزَلْتَ بِهِ الْبَرَكَاتِ،

ʾasʾaluka bi-al-ismi al-ladhī ʾafaḍta bihi al-khayrāti, waʾanzalta bihi al-barakāti,

I ask You by the Name through which You pour forth good things and send down blessings,

وَمَنَحْتَ بِهِ أَهْلَ الشُّكْرِ الزِّيَادَاتِ، وَأَخْرَجْتَ بِهِ مِنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ،

wamanaḥta bihi ʾahla al-shukri al-ziyādāti, waʾakhrajta bihi mina al-ẓulumāti,

give increase to the grateful and bring people out of darkness,

وَنَسَخْتَ بِهِ أَهْلَ الشِّرْكِ وَالدِّيَانَاتِ،⁶⁴

wanasakhta bihi ʾahla al-shirki wa-al-diyānāti,

and supersede the ways of those who associate partners with You and the earlier religious dispensations,

أَنْ تُفِيضَ عَلَيَّ مِنْ مَلَابِسِ أَنْوَارِكَ،

ʾan tufīḍa ʿalayya min malābisi ʾanwārika,

to pour upon me garments of Your lights

مَا تَرُدُّ بِهِ عَنِّي أَبْصَارَ الْأَعَادِي خَاسِرَةً، وَأَيْدِيَهُمْ قَاصِرَةً،

mā taruddu bihi ʿannī ʾabṣāra al-ʾaʿādī khāsiratan, waʾaydiyahum qāṣiratan,

through which You turn my enemies' eyes away defeated, and keep their hands from reaching me.

وَاجْعَلْ حَظِّي مِنْكَ إِشْرَاقًا يَجْلُو لِي كُلَّ أَمْرٍ خَفِيٍّ،

wa-ijʿal ḥaẓẓī minka ʾishrāqan yajlū lī kulla ʾamrin khafiyyin,

Let my portion from You be an illumination that makes every hidden matter clear to me,

وَيَكْشِفُ لِي عَنْ كُلِّ سِرٍّ عَلِيٍّ، وَيُحْرِقُ كُلَّ شَيْطَانٍ غَوِيٍّ،

wayakshifu lī ʿan kulli sirrin ʿaliyyin, wayuḥriqu kulla shayṭānin ghawiyyin,

unveils every lofty secret, and burns away every wayward devil.

يَا نُورَ النُّورِ يَا كَاشِفَ كُلِّ مَسْتُورٍ،

yā nūra al-nūri yā kāshifa kulli mastūrin,

O Light of light, Unveiler of everything concealed:

إِلَيْكَ تَرْجِعُ الْأُمُورُ وَبِكَ تُدْفَعُ الشُّرُورُ، يَا رَبُّ يَا رَحِيمُ يَا غَفُورُ،

ʾilayka tarjiʿu al-ʾumūru wabika tudfaʿu al-shurūru, yā rabbu yā raḥīmu yā ghafūru,

to You all affairs return, and through You evils are warded off. O Lord, O Merciful, O Forgiving One.

وَصَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ وَسَلَّمَ تَسْلِيمًا كَثِيرًا إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ،

waṣallā Allāhu ʿalā sayyidinā muḥammadin waʿalā ʾālihi waṣaḥbihi wasallama taslīman kathīran ʾilā yawmi al-dīni,

May God bless our master Muḥammad, his family and companions, and grant him abundant peace until the Day of Judgement.

وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ.

wa-al-ḥamdu li-llāhi rabbi al-ʿālamīna.

Praise belongs to God, Lord of all worlds.

وِرْدُ يَوْمِ الْأَرْبِعَاءِ

wirdu yawmi al-ʾarbiʿāʾi

Wednesday daytime prayer

Al-Ghurāb pages 183–184

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ.

bismi Allāhi al-raḥmāni al-raḥīmi.

In the name of God, the All-Merciful, the Ever-Merciful.

رَبِّ أَكْرِمْنِي بِشُهُودِ أَنْوَارِ قُدْسِكَ، وَأَيِّدْنِي بِظُهُورِ سَطْوَةِ سُلْطَانِ أُنْسِكَ،

rabbi ʾakrimnī bishuhūdi ʾanwāri qudsika, waʾayyidnī biẓuhūri saṭwati sulṭāni ʾunsika,

My Lord, honour me with witnessing the lights of Your holiness; strengthen me through the manifest power of the sovereignty of intimacy with You.

حَتَّىٰ أَتَقَلَّبَ فِي سُبُحَاتِ مَعَارِفِ أَسْمَائِكَ،

ḥattā ʾataqallaba fī subuḥāti maʿārifi ʾasmāʾika,

Let me move through the splendours of knowing Your Names,

تَقَلُّبًا يُطْلِعُنِي عَلَىٰ أَسْرَارِ ذَرَّاتِ وُجُودِي فِي عَالَمِ شُهُودِي،

taqalluban yuṭliʿunī ʿalā ʾasrāri dharrāti wujūdī fī ʿālami shuhūdī,

in a movement that reveals to me the secrets of every particle of my existence within the world I witness,

لِأُشَاهِدَ بِهَا مَا أَوْدَعْتَهُ فِي عَوَالِمِ الْمُلْكِ وَالْمَلَكُوتِ،

liʾushāhida bihā mā ʾawdaʿtahu fī ʿawālimi al-mulki wa-al-malakūti,

so that through them I may witness what You have placed in the worlds of outward dominion and inward sovereignty,

وَأُعَايِنَ قُدْسَكَ فِي سَرَيَانِ سِرِّ قُدْرَتِكَ فِي شَوَاهِدِ اللَّاهُوتِ وَالنَّاسُوتِ،

waʾuʿāyina qudsaka fī sarayāni sirri qudratika fī shawāhidi al-lāhūti wa-al-nāsūti,

and behold Your holiness in the flow of Your power's secret through the manifestations of divinity and humanity.

وَعَرِّفْنِي مَعْرِفَةً تَامَّةً، وَحِكْمَةً عَامَّةً،

waʿarrifnī maʿrifatan tāmmatan, waḥikmatan ʿāmmatan,

Grant me complete knowledge and all-embracing wisdom,

حَتَّىٰ لَا يَبْقَىٰ مَعْلُومٌ إِلَّا وَأَطَّلِعُ عَلَىٰ رَقَائِقِ دَقَائِقِهِ⁶⁵ الْمُنْبَسِطَةِ فِي الْمَوْجُودَاتِ،

ḥattā lā yabqā maʿlūmun ʾillā waʾaṭṭaliʿu ʿalā raqāʾiqi daqāʾiqihi al-munbasiṭati fī al-mawjūdāti,

so that nothing known remains whose finest subtleties, spread throughout existence, I have not perceived.

وَأَدْفَعُ بِهَا ظُلْمَةَ الْأَكْوَانِ الْمَانِعَةَ عَنْ إِدْرَاكِ حَقَائِقِ الْآيَاتِ،

waʾadfaʿu bihā ẓulmata al-ʾakwāni al-māniʿata ʿan ʾidrāki ḥaqāʾiqi al-ʾāyāti,

Through them may I dispel the darkness of created things that obstructs perception of the realities of Your signs,

وَأَتَصَرَّفُ بِهَا فِي الْقُلُوبِ وَالْأَرْوَاحِ، بِمُهَيِّجَاتِ الْمَحَبَّةِ وَالْوِدَادِ وَالرُّشْدِ وَالرَّشَادِ،

waʾataṣarrafu bihā fī al-qulūbi wa-al-ʾarwāḥi, bimuhayyijāti al-maḥabbati wa-al-widādi wa-al-rushdi wa-al-rashādi,

and act upon hearts and spirits by awakening love, affection, maturity and right guidance.

إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْمُحِبُّ الْمَحْبُوبُ، وَالطَّالِبُ الْمَطْلُوبُ،

ʾinnaka ʾanta al-muḥibbu al-maḥbūbu, wa-al-ṭālibu al-maṭlūbu,

You are the Lover and the Beloved, the Seeker and the Sought.

يَا مُقَلِّبَ الْقُلُوبِ، وَيَا كَاشِفَ الْكُرُوبِ،

yā muqalliba al-qulūbi, wayā kāshifa al-kurūbi,

O Turner of hearts, Remover of distress:

وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ، وَسَتَّارُ الْعُيُوبِ، غَفَّارُ الذُّنُوبِ،

waʾanta ʿallāmu al-ghuyūbi, wasattāru al-ʿuyūbi, ghaffāru al-dhunūbi,

You know all unseen things, conceal faults, and forgive sins again and again.

يَا مَنْ لَمْ يَزَلْ غَفَّارًا، وَيَا مَنْ لَمْ يَزَلْ سَتَّارًا،

yā man lam yazal ghaffāran, wayā man lam yazal sattāran,

O You who have always been Forgiving, who have always concealed faults;

يَا غَفَّارُ، يَا سَتَّارُ، يَا حَفِيظُ، يَا وَاقِي، يَا دَافِعُ، يَا مُحْسِنُ،

yā ghaffāru, yā sattāru, yā ḥafīẓu, yā wāqī, yā dāfiʿu, yā muḥsinu,

O Forgiver, O Concealer, O Preserver, O Protector, O Defender, O Benefactor;

يَا عَطُوفُ، يَا رَؤُوفُ، يَا عَزِيزُ، يَا سَلَامُ،

yā ʿaṭūfu, yā raʾūfu, yā ʿazīzu, yā salāmu,

O Tender One, O Compassionate One, O Mighty One, O Peace:

اغْفِرْ لِي وَاسْتُرْنِي وَاحْفَظْنِي وَقِنِي وَادْفَعْ عَنِّي وَأَحْسِنْ إِلَيَّ،

ighfir lī wa-usturnī wa-iḥfaẓnī waqinī wa-idfaʿ ʿannī waʾaḥsin ʾilayya,

forgive me, cover my faults, preserve me, protect me, defend me and be gracious to me.

وَتَعَطَّفْ عَلَيَّ، وَارْأَفْ بِي، وَأَعِزَّنِي وَسَلِّمْنِي،

wataʿaṭṭaf ʿalayya, wa-irʾaf bī, waʾaʿizzanī wasallimnī,

Be tender and compassionate towards me, strengthen me and grant me safety.

وَلَا تُؤَاخِذْنِي بِقَبِيحِ فِعَالِي، وَلَا تُجَازِنِي بِسُوءِ أَعْمَالِي،

walā tuʾākhidhnī biqabīḥi fiʿālī, walā tujāzinī bisūʾi ʾaʿmālī,

Do not take me to task for my ugly conduct, or repay me according to my bad deeds.

وَتَدَارَكْنِي عَاجِلًا بِلُطْفِكَ التَّامِّ، وَخَالِصِ رَحْمَتِكَ الْعَامِّ،

watadāraknī ʿājilan biluṭfika al-tāmmi, wakhāliṣi raḥmatika al-ʿāmmi,

Come swiftly to my aid with Your perfect gentleness and the all-embracing purity of Your mercy.

وَلَا تُحْوِجْنِي إِلَىٰ أَحَدٍ سِوَاكَ، وَعَافِنِي وَاعْفُ عَنِّي،

walā tuḥwijnī ʾilā ʾaḥadin siwāka, waʿāfinī wa-uʿfu ʿannī,

Do not make me need anyone besides You. Grant me wellbeing and pardon me.

وَأَصْلِحْ لِي شَأْنِي كُلَّهُ،

waʾaṣliḥ lī shaʾnī kullahu,

Set right all my affairs.

لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ، وَأَنْتَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ،

lā ʾilāha ʾillā ʾanta subḥānaka ʾinnī kuntu mina al-ẓālimīna, waʾanta ʾarḥamu al-rāḥimīna,

There is no god but You. Glory be to You. I have been among those who do wrong, and You are the most merciful of the merciful.

وَصَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ،

waṣallā Allāhu ʿalā sayyidinā muḥammadin waʿalā ʾālihi waṣaḥbihi ʾajmaʿīna,

May God bless our master Muḥammad, his family and all his companions.

وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ.

wa-al-ḥamdu li-llāhi rabbi al-ʿālamīna.

Praise belongs to God, Lord of all worlds.

وِرْدُ لَيْلَةِ الْخَمِيسِ

wirdu laylati al-khamīsi

Thursday night prayer

Al-Ghurāb pages 184–185

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ.

bismi Allāhi al-raḥmāni al-raḥīmi.

In the name of God, the All-Merciful, the Ever-Merciful.

سَيِّدِي أَنْتَ مُسَبِّبُ الْأَسْبَابِ وَمُرَتِّبُهَا، وَمُصَرِّفُ الْقُلُوبِ وَمُقَلِّبُهَا،

sayyidī ʾanta musabbibu al-ʾasbābi wamurattibuhā, wamuṣarrifu al-qulūbi wamuqallibuhā,

My Master, You bring causes into being and arrange them; You direct hearts and turn them.

أَسْأَلُكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ الَّتِي اقْتَضَتْ تَرْتِيبَ الْأَسْبَابِ الْأُوَلِ، وَتَأْثِيرَ الْأَعْلَىٰ فِي الْأَسْفَلِ،

ʾasʾaluka bi-al-ḥikmati al-latī iqtaḍat tartība al-ʾasbābi al-ʾuwali, wataʾthīra al-ʾaʿlā fī al-ʾasfali,

I ask You by the wisdom that ordained the ordering of the first causes and the influence of the higher upon the lower,

أَنْ تُشْهِدَنِي تَرْتِيبَ الْأَسْبَابِ صُعُودًا وَنُزُولًا،

ʾan tushhidanī tartība al-ʾasbābi ṣuʿūdan wanuzūlan,

to let me witness the order of causes in ascent and descent,

حَتَّىٰ أَشْهَدَ الْبَاطِنَ مِنْهَا بِشُهُودِ الظَّاهِرِ، وَالْأَوَّلَ فِي عَيْنِ الْآخِرِ،

ḥattā ʾashhada al-bāṭina minhā bishuhūdi al-ẓāhiri, wa-al-ʾawwala fī ʿayni al-ʾākhiri,

until I witness their inward reality through their outward appearance, and the first within the very last.

وَأَلْحَظَ حِكْمَةَ التَّرْتِيبِ بِشُهُودِ الْمُرَتِّبِ،

waʾalḥaẓa ḥikmata al-tartībi bishuhūdi al-murattibi,

Let me perceive the wisdom of the ordering by witnessing the One who orders,

وَسَبَبَ⁶⁶ الْأَسْبَابِ مَسْبُوقًا بِالْمُسَبِّبِ، فَلَا أُحْجَبَ عَنِ الْعَيْنِ بِالْغَيْنِ،

wasababa al-ʾasbābi masbūqan bi-al-musabbibi, falā ʾuḥjaba ʿani al-ʿayni bi-al-ghayni,

and see the cause of causes preceded by the One who causes, so that the ghayn of veiling does not conceal the ʿayn of reality from me.

إِلَٰهِي أَلْقِ إِلَيَّ مِفْتَاحَ الْإِذْنِ الَّذِي هُوَ كَهْفُ الْمَعَارِفِ وَالْعَارِفِينَ،

ʾilāhī ʾalqi ʾilayya miftāḥa al-ʾidhni al-ladhī huwa kahfu al-maʿārifi wa-al-ʿārifīna,

My God, give me the key of permission, the refuge of spiritual knowledge and those who know You,

حَتَّىٰ أَنْطَلِقَ فِي كُلِّ بِدَايَةٍ بِاسْمِكَ الْبَدِيعِ،

ḥattā ʾanṭaliqa fī kulli bidāyatin bi-ismika al-badīʿi,

so that at every beginning I may set forth by Your Name, the Incomparable Originator,

الَّذِي افْتَتَحْتَ بِهِ كُلَّ رَقِيمٍ مَسْطُورٍ،

al-ladhī iftataḥta bihi kulla raqīmin masṭūrin,

with which You have opened every inscribed tablet.

يَا مَنْ لِسُمُوِّ أَسْمَائِهِ يَنْخَفِضُ كُلُّ مُتَعَالٍ،

yā man lisumuwwi ʾasmāʾihi yankhafiḍu kullu mutaʿālin,

O You before whose sublime Names everyone who exalts himself is brought low;

وَكُلٌّ بِكَ، وَأَنْتَ بِلَا نَحْنُ، أَنْتَ مُبْدِعُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَبَارِيهِ،

wakullun bika, waʾanta bilā naḥnu, ʾanta mubdiʿu kulli shayʾin wabārīhi,

all exist through You, while You are without any “we”. You originate and fashion everything.

فَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ يَا رَبُّ⁶⁷ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ بِدَايَةٍ،

falaka al-ḥamdu yā rabbu ʿalā kulli bidāyatin,

Praise belongs to You, O Lord, at every beginning,

وَلَكَ الشُّكْرُ يَا بَاقِي عَلَىٰ كُلِّ نِهَايَةٍ،

walaka al-shukru yā bāqī ʿalā kulli nihāyatin,

and gratitude belongs to You, O Enduring One, at every ending.

أَنْتَ الْبَاعِثُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ خَيْرٍ وَغَايَةٍ، بَاطِنُ الْبَوَاطِنِ،

ʾanta al-bāʿithu ʿalā kulli khayrin waghāyatin, bāṭinu al-bawāṭini,

You impel us towards every good and goal, the Inward of all inward depths,

بَالِغُ غَايَاتِ الْأُمُورِ، بَاسِطُ الرِّزْقِ لِلْعَالَمِينَ،

bālighu ghāyāti al-ʾumūri, bāsiṭu al-rizqi li-l-ʿālamīna,

who brings affairs to their ends and spreads provision throughout the worlds.

بَارِكِ اللَّهُمَّ لِي وَعَلَيَّ فِي الْآخِرِينَ،

bāriki Allāhumma lī waʿalayya fī al-ʾākhirīna,

O God, grant blessing for me and upon me among later generations,

كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ وَإِبْرَاهِيمَ،

kamā bārakta ʿalā muḥammadin waʾālihi ʾajmaʿīna waʾibrāhīma,

as You blessed Muḥammad, all his family, and Abraham.

إِنَّهُ مِنْكَ وَإِلَيْكَ،

ʾinnahu minka waʾilayka,

It is from You and returns to You.

إِنَّهُ مِنْ سُلَيْمَانَ وَإِنَّهُ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ،

ʾinnahu min sulaymāna waʾinnahu bismi Allāhi al-raḥmāni al-raḥīmi,

It is from Solomon, and it is: “In the name of God, the All-Merciful, the Ever-Merciful.”

يَا بَدِيعَ السَّمَٰوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ،

yā badīʿa al-samāwāti wa-al-ʾarḍi,

O incomparable Originator of the heavens and the earth:

وَإِذَا قَضَىٰ أَمْرًا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُونُ،

waʾidhā qaḍā ʾamran faʾinnamā yaqūlu lahu kun fayakūnu,

when He decrees a thing, He only says to it “Be”, and it is.

إِلَٰهِي أَنْتَ الثَّابِتُ قَبْلَ كُلِّ ثَابِتٍ، وَالْبَاقِي بَعْدَ كُلِّ نَاطِقٍ وَصَامِتٍ،

ʾilāhī ʾanta al-thābitu qabla kulli thābitin, wa-al-bāqī baʿda kulli nāṭiqin waṣāmitin,

My God, You are established before all that is established, and endure after everything that speaks or remains silent.

لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، وَلَا مَوْجُودَ سِوَاكَ،

lā ʾilāha ʾillā ʾanta, walā mawjūda siwāka,

There is no god but You, and none truly existent besides You.

لَكَ الْكِبْرِيَاءُ وَالْجَبَرُوتُ، وَالْعَظَمَةُ وَالْمَلَكُوتُ،

laka al-kibriyāʾu wa-al-jabarūtu, wa-al-ʿaẓamatu wa-al-malakūtu,

Yours are supreme greatness and irresistible power, majesty and sovereignty.

تَقْهَرُ الْجَبَّارِينَ، وَتُبِيدُ كَيْدَ الظَّالِمِينَ،

taqharu al-jabbārīna, watubīdu kayda al-ẓālimīna,

You subdue tyrants and destroy the schemes of wrongdoers,

وَتُبَدِّدُ شَمْلَ الْمُلْحِدِينَ، وَتُذِلُّ رِقَابَ الْمُتَكَبِّرِينَ،

watubaddidu shamla al-mulḥidīna, watudhillu riqāba al-mutakabbirīna,

scatter those who turn away from truth, and humble the necks of the arrogant.

أَسْأَلُكَ يَا غَالِبَ كُلِّ غَالِبٍ، يَا مُدْرِكَ كُلِّ هَارِبٍ،

ʾasʾaluka yā ghāliba kulli ghālibin, yā mudrika kulli hāribin,

I ask You, O Conqueror of every conqueror, O Overtaker of every fugitive:

رَدِّنِي بِرِدَاءِ كِبْرِيَائِكَ، وَإِزَارِ عَظَمَتِكَ، وَسُرَادِقَاتِ هَيْبَتِكَ،

raddinī biridāʾi kibriyāʾika, waʾizāri ʿaẓamatika, wasurādiqāti haybatika,

clothe me in the mantle of Your greatness, the garment of Your majesty, and the canopies of Your awe.

وَبِمَا وَرَاءَ ذَٰلِكَ كُلِّهِ، بِمَا لَا يَعْلَمُهُ إِلَّا أَنْتَ،

wabimā warāʾa dhālika kullihi, bimā lā yaʿlamuhu ʾillā ʾanta,

I ask by what lies beyond all this, by what none knows but You,

أَنْ تَكْسُوَنِي هَيْبَةً مِنْ هَيْبَتِكَ، تَخْضَعُ لَهَا الْقُلُوبُ، وَتَخْشَعُ لَهَا الْأَبْصَارُ،

ʾan taksuwanī haybatan min haybatika, takhḍaʿu lahā al-qulūbu, watakhshaʿu lahā al-ʾabṣāru,

that You clothe me in an awe from Your awe, before which hearts submit and eyes lower in humility.

وَمَلِّكْنِي نَاصِيَةَ كُلِّ جَبَّارٍ عَنِيدٍ، وَشَيْطَانٍ مَرِيدٍ، نَاصِيَتُهُ بِيَدِكَ،

wamalliknī nāṣiyata kulli jabbārin ʿanīdin, washayṭānin marīdin, nāṣiyatuhu biyadika,

Give me mastery over the forelock of every obstinate tyrant and rebellious devil whose forelock is in Your hand.

وَأَبْقِ عَلَيَّ ذُلَّ الْعُبُودِيَّةِ فِي ذَٰلِكَ كُلِّهِ،

waʾabqi ʿalayya dhulla al-ʿubūdiyyati fī dhālika kullihi,

Throughout all this, preserve in me the humility of servanthood.

وَاعْصِمْنِي مِنَ الْخَطَايَا⁶⁸ وَالزَّلَلِ، وَأَيِّدْنِي فِي الْقَوْلِ وَالْعَمَلِ،

wa-iʿṣimnī mina al-khaṭāyā wa-al-zalali, waʾayyidnī fī al-qawli wa-al-ʿamali,

Protect me from sins and slips, and strengthen me in speech and action.

أَنْتَ أَنْتَ مُثَبِّتُ الْقُلُوبِ، وَكَاشِفُ الْكُرُوبِ، لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ،

ʾanta ʾanta muthabbitu al-qulūbi, wakāshifu al-kurūbi, lā ʾilāha ʾillā ʾanta,

You, You are the One who makes hearts firm and removes distress. There is no god but You.

وَصَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ،

waṣallā Allāhu ʿalā sayyidinā muḥammadin waʿalā ʾālihi ʾajmaʿīna,

May God bless our master Muḥammad and all his family,

وَسَلَّمَ تَسْلِيمًا كَثِيرًا إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ.

wasallama taslīman kathīran ʾilā yawmi al-dīni, wa-al-ḥamdu li-llāhi rabbi al-ʿālamīna.

and grant him abundant peace until the Day of Judgement. Praise belongs to God, Lord of all worlds.

وِرْدُ يَوْمِ الْخَمِيسِ

wirdu yawmi al-khamīsi

Thursday daytime prayer

Al-Ghurāb pages 185–188

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ.

bismi Allāhi al-raḥmāni al-raḥīmi.

In the name of God, the All-Merciful, the Ever-Merciful.

إِلَٰهِي أَنْتَ الْقَائِمُ بِذَاتِكَ، وَالْمُحِيطُ بِصِفَاتِكَ، وَالْمُتَجَلِّي بِأَسْمَائِكَ،

ʾilāhī ʾanta al-qāʾimu bidhātika, wa-al-muḥīṭu biṣifātika, wa-al-mutajallī biʾasmāʾika,

My God, You subsist through Your Essence, encompass through Your Attributes, and disclose Yourself through Your Names.

وَالظَّاهِرُ بِأَفْعَالِكَ، وَالْبَاطِنُ بِمَا لَا يَعْلَمُهُ إِلَّا أَنْتَ،

wa-al-ẓāhiru biʾafʿālika, wa-al-bāṭinu bimā lā yaʿlamuhu ʾillā ʾanta,

You are manifest through Your acts and hidden through what none knows but You.

تَوَحَّدْتَ فِي جَلَالِكَ، فَأَنْتَ الْوَاحِدُ الْأَحَدُ،

tawaḥḥadta fī jalālika, faʾanta al-wāḥidu al-ʾaḥadu,

You stand alone in Your majesty: the One, the uniquely One.

وَتَفَرَّدْتَ بِالْبَقَاءِ فِي الْأَزَلِ وَالْأَبَدِ،

watafarradta bi-al-baqāʾi fī al-ʾazali wa-al-ʾabadi,

You alone endure in beginningless and endless eternity.

أَنْتَ أَنْتَ اللَّهُ الْمُتَفَرِّدُ بِالْوَحْدَانِيَّةِ فِي إِيَّاكَ،

ʾanta ʾanta Allāhu al-mutafarridu bi-al-waḥdāniyyati fī ʾiyyāka,

You, You are God, uniquely possessing oneness in Your very Self.

لَا مَعَكَ غَيْرُكَ وَلَا فِيكَ سِوَاكَ،

lā maʿaka ghayruka walā fīka siwāka,

There is no other alongside You and none besides You within You.

أَسْأَلُكَ اللَّهُمَّ الْفَنَاءَ فِي بَقَائِكَ، وَالْبَقَاءَ بِكَ لَا مَعَكَ، لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ.

ʾasʾaluka Allāhumma al-fanāʾa fī baqāʾika, wa-al-baqāʾa bika lā maʿaka, lā ʾilāha ʾillā ʾanta.

O God, I ask to pass away in Your abiding and to abide through You, with no existence alongside You. There is no god but You.

إِلَٰهِي غَيِّبْنِي فِي حُضُورِكَ، وَأَفْنِنِي فِي وُجُودِكَ، وَاسْتَهْلِكْنِي فِي شُهُودِكَ،

ʾilāhī ghayyibnī fī ḥuḍūrika, waʾafninī fī wujūdika, wa-istahliknī fī shuhūdika,

My God, make me absent from myself in Your presence, efface me in Your Being, and absorb me completely in witnessing You.

وَاقْطَعْ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ الْقَوَاطِعِ الَّتِي تَقْطَعُ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكَ⁶⁹،

wa-iqṭaʿ baynī wabayna al-qawāṭiʿi al-latī taqṭaʿu baynī wabaynaka,

Cut me off from the obstacles that cut me off from You.

وَأَشْغِلْنِي فِي الشُّغْلِ بِكَ عَنْ كُلِّ شَاغِلٍ يَشْغَلُنِي عَنْكَ، لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ.

waʾashghilnī fī al-shughli bika ʿan kulli shāghilin yashghalunī ʿanka, lā ʾilāha ʾillā ʾanta.

Absorb me in attention to You, away from every distraction that turns me from You. There is no god but You.

إِلَٰهِي أَنْتَ الْمَوْجُودُ الْحَقُّ، وَأَنَا الْمَعْدُومُ الْأَصْلُ،

ʾilāhī ʾanta al-mawjūdu al-ḥaqqu, waʾanā al-maʿdūmu al-ʾaṣlu,

My God, You are the truly Existent, while my root is nonexistence.

بَقَاؤُكَ بِالذَّاتِ وَبَقَائِي بِالْعَرَضِ،

baqāʾuka bi-al-dhāti wabaqāʾī bi-al-ʿaraḍi,

Your abiding belongs to Your Essence; mine is contingent.

إِلَٰهِي فَجُدْ بِوُجُودِكَ الْحَقِّ عَلَىٰ عَدَمِي الْأَصْلِ،

ʾilāhī fajud biwujūdika al-ḥaqqi ʿalā ʿadamī al-ʾaṣli,

My God, bestow Your true Being upon my original nonexistence,

حَتَّىٰ أَكُونَ كَمَا كُنْتُ حَيْثُ لَمْ أَكُنْ،

ḥattā ʾakūna kamā kuntu ḥaythu lam ʾakun,

so that I may be as I was when I was not,

وَأَنْتَ كَمَا أَنْتَ حَيْثُ لَمْ تَزَلْ، لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ،

waʾanta kamā ʾanta ḥaythu lam tazal, lā ʾilāha ʾillā ʾanta,

while You remain as You are, never ceasing to be. There is no god but You.

إِلَٰهِي أَنْتَ الْفَعَّالُ لِمَا تُرِيدُ، وَأَنَا عَبْدٌ لَكَ مِنْ بَعْضِ الْعَبِيدِ،

ʾilāhī ʾanta al-faʿʿālu limā turīdu, waʾanā ʿabdun laka min baʿḍi al-ʿabīdi,

My God, You do whatever You will, and I am but one servant among Your servants.

إِلَٰهِي أَرَدْتَنِي وَأَرَدْتَ مِنِّي، فَأَنَا الْمُرَادُ وَأَنْتَ الْمُرِيدُ،

ʾilāhī ʾaradtanī waʾaradta minnī, faʾanā al-murādu waʾanta al-murīdu,

My God, You have willed me and willed something from me; I am the one willed, and You are the One who wills.

فَكُنْ أَنْتَ مُرَادَكَ مِنِّي، حَتَّىٰ تَكُونَ أَنْتَ الْمُرَادَ وَأَنَا الْمُرِيدُ،

fakun ʾanta murādaka minnī, ḥattā takūna ʾanta al-murāda waʾanā al-murīdu,

Be Yourself what You desire from me, so that You become the One desired and I the one who desires.

لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ،

lā ʾilāha ʾillā ʾanta,

There is no god but You.

إِلَٰهِي أَنْتَ الْبَاطِنُ فِي كُلِّ غَيْبٍ، وَالظَّاهِرُ فِي كُلِّ عَيْنٍ،

ʾilāhī ʾanta al-bāṭinu fī kulli ghaybin, wa-al-ẓāhiru fī kulli ʿaynin,

My God, You are the Hidden in every unseen depth and the Manifest in every concrete thing,

وَالْمَسْمُوعُ فِي كُلِّ خَبَرِ صِدْقٍ وَمَيْنٍ،

wa-al-masmūʿu fī kulli khabari ṣidqin wamaynin,

the One heard in every report, whether true or false,

وَالْمَعْلُومُ فِي مَرْتَبَةِ الْوَاحِدِ وَالِاثْنَيْنِ،

wa-al-maʿlūmu fī martabati al-wāḥidi wa-al-ithnayni,

and the One known at the level of the one and the two.

تَسَمَّيْتَ بِأَسْمَاءِ النُّزُولِ فَاحْتَجَبْتَ عَنْ لَوَاحِظِ الْعُيُونِ،

tasammayta biʾasmāʾi al-nuzūli fa-iḥtajabta ʿan lawāḥiẓi al-ʿuyūni,

You took on the Names of descent and so became veiled from the glances of eyes,

وَاخْتَفَيْتَ عَنْ مَدَارِكِ الْعُقُولِ،

wa-ikhtafayta ʿan madāriki al-ʿuqūli,

hidden from the apprehension of intellects.

إِلَٰهِي تَجَلَّيْتَ بِخَصَائِصِ تَجَلِّيَاتِ الصِّفَاتِ، فَتَنَوَّعَتْ مَرَاتِبُ الْمَوْجُودَاتِ،

ʾilāhī tajallayta bikhaṣāʾiṣi tajalliyāti al-ṣifāti, fatanawwaʿat marātibu al-mawjūdāti,

My God, You disclosed Yourself through the particular self-disclosures of the Attributes, and the levels of existent things became diverse.

وَتَسَمَّيْتَ فِي كُلِّ مَرْتَبَةٍ بِحَقَائِقِ الْمُسَمَّيَاتِ،

watasammayta fī kulli martabatin biḥaqāʾiqi al-musammayāti,

At every level You were named according to the realities of the things named.

وَنَصَبْتَ شَوَاهِدَ الْعُقُولِ عَلَىٰ دَقَائِقِ حَقَائِقِ غُيُوبِ الْمَعْلُومَاتِ،

wanaṣabta shawāhida al-ʿuqūli ʿalā daqāʾiqi ḥaqāʾiqi ghuyūbi al-maʿlūmāti,

You established signs for intellects pointing to the fine realities hidden within what is known.

وَأَطْلَقْتَ سَوَابِقَ الْأَرْوَاحِ فِي مَيَادِينِ الْمَعَارِفِ الْإِلَٰهِيَّةِ،

waʾaṭlaqta sawābiqa al-ʾarwāḥi fī mayādīni al-maʿārifi al-ʾilāhiyyati,

You released the swift steeds of spirits into the fields of divine knowledge,

فَحَارَتْ ثُمَّ تَاهَتْ فِي إِشَارَاتِ لَطَائِفِهَا السَّرَيَانِيَّةِ،

faḥārat thumma tāhat fī ʾishārāti laṭāʾifihā al-sarayāniyyati,

and they grew bewildered, then lost themselves in the signs of its pervasive subtleties.

فَلَمَّا غَيَّبْتَهَا عَنِ الْكُلِّيَّةِ وَالْجُزْئِيَّةِ، وَنَقَلْتَهَا عَنِ الْإِنِّيَّةِ وَالْأَيْنِيَّةِ،

falammā ghayyabtahā ʿani al-kulliyyati wa-al-juzʾiyyati, wanaqaltahā ʿani al-ʾinniyyati wa-al-ʾayniyyati,

Then, when You drew them away from universality and particularity, beyond selfhood and location,

وَسَلَبْتَهَا عَنِ الْكَمِّيَّةِ وَالْمَاهِيَّةِ،

wasalabtahā ʿani al-kammiyyati wa-al-māhiyyati,

and stripped them of quantity and quiddity,

وَتَعَرَّفْتَ لَهَا فِي مَعَارِفِ التَّنْكِيرِ بِالْمَعَارِفِ الذَّاتِيَّةِ،

wataʿarrafta lahā fī maʿārifi al-tankīri bi-al-maʿārifi al-dhātiyyati,

and made Yourself known through knowledge of the Essence within a knowing that undoes all identification,

وَحَرَّرْتَهَا بِمُطَالَعَاتِ الرُّبُوبِيَّةِ فِي الْمَوَاقِفِ الْإِلَٰهِيَّةِ،

waḥarrartahā bimuṭālaʿāti al-rubūbiyyati fī al-mawāqifi al-ʾilāhiyyati,

and freed them through contemplations of lordship at the divine stopping places,

وَأَسْقَطْتَ عَنْهَا الْبَيْنَ، عِنْدَ رَفْعِ حِجَابِ الْغَيْنِ،

waʾasqaṭta ʿanhā al-bayna, ʿinda rafʿi ḥijābi al-ghayni,

and removed separation from them by lifting the veil of obscuration,

فَانْتَظَمَتْ بِانْتِظَامِ الْقَدِيمِ فِي سِلْكِ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ.

fa-intaẓamat bi-intiẓāmi al-qadīmi fī silki bismi Allāhi al-raḥmāni al-raḥīmi.

they were strung by the ordering of the Beginningless upon the thread of “In the name of God, the All-Merciful, the Ever-Merciful”.

إِلَٰهِي إِلَٰهِي كَمْ أُنَادِيكَ فِي النَّادِي، وَأَنْتَ الْمُنَادِي لِلنَّادِي،

ʾilāhī ʾilāhī kam ʾunādīka fī al-nādī, waʾanta al-munādī li-l-nādī,

My God, my God, how often I call to You in the gathering, while You are the One calling the gathering.

وَكَمْ أُنَاجِيكَ بِمُنَاجَاةِ الْمُنَاجِي، وَأَنْتَ الْمُنَاجِي لِلنَّاجِي،

wakam ʾunājīka bimunājāti al-munājī, waʾanta al-munājī li-l-nājī,

How often I speak intimately with You as one who confides, while You are the One who confides in the person delivered.

إِلَٰهِي إِذَا كَانَ الْوَصْلُ عَيْنَ الْقَطْعِ، وَالْقُرْبُ نَفْسَ الْبُعْدِ،

ʾilāhī ʾidhā kāna al-waṣlu ʿayna al-qaṭʿi, wa-al-qurbu nafsa al-buʿdi,

My God, if union is itself separation, and nearness itself distance,

وَالْعِلْمُ مَوْضِعَ الْجَهْلِ، وَالْمَعْرِفَةُ مُسْتَقَرَّ التَّنْكِيرِ،

wa-al-ʿilmu mawḍiʿa al-jahli, wa-al-maʿrifatu mustaqarra al-tankīri,

knowledge the place of not-knowing, and recognition the resting place of unrecognition,

فَكَيْفَ الْقَصْدُ؟ وَمِنْ أَيْنَ السَّبِيلُ؟

fakayfa al-qaṣdu? wamin ʾayna al-sabīlu?

how is intention possible? Where can a path be found?

إِلَٰهِي أَنْتَ الْمَطْلُوبُ وَرَاءَ كُلِّ قَاصِدٍ، وَالْإِقْرَارُ فِي عَيْنِ الْجَاحِدِ،

ʾilāhī ʾanta al-maṭlūbu warāʾa kulli qāṣidin, wa-al-ʾiqrāru fī ʿayni al-jāḥidi,

My God, You are the Sought beyond every seeker, affirmation within the very denier,

وَقُرْبُ الْقُرْبِ فِي الْفَرْقِ الْمُتَبَاعِدِ،

waqurbu al-qurbi fī al-farqi al-mutabāʿidi,

and the nearness of nearness within widely separated distinctions.

وَقَدِ اسْتَوْلَى الْوَهْمُ عَلَى الْفَهْمِ، فَمَنِ الْمُسْعِدُ وَمَنِ الْمُسَاعِدُ؟⁷⁰

waqadi istawlā al-wahmu ʿalā al-fahmi, famani al-musʿidu wamani al-musāʿidu?

Imagining has taken control of understanding: who brings felicity, and who gives help?

الْحُسْنُ يَقُولُ: إِيَّاكَ، أَطْلِقْهُ،⁷¹

al-ḥusnu yaqūlu: ʾiyyāka, ʾaṭliqhu,

Beauty says: “You alone”—utter it without restriction.

وَالْقُبْحُ يُنَادِي: الَّذِي أَحْسَنَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ خَلَقَهُ،

wa-al-qubḥu yunādī: al-ladhī ʾaḥsana kulla shayʾin khalaqahu,

Ugliness calls out: “He who made beautiful everything He created.”

فَالْأَوَّلُ غَايَةٌ يَقِفُ عِنْدَهَا السَّيْرُ،

fa-al-ʾawwalu ghāyatun yaqifu ʿindahā al-sayru,

The first is an end at which the journey comes to rest;

وَالثَّانِي حِجَابٌ بِحُكْمِ تَوَهُّمِ الْغَيْرِ،

wa-al-thānī ḥijābun biḥukmi tawahhumi al-ghayri,

the second is a veil insofar as an other is imagined.

إِلَٰهِي مَتَىٰ يَتَخَلَّصُ الْعَقْلُ مِنْ عِقَالِ الْعَوَائِقِ،

ʾilāhī matā yatakhallaṣu al-ʿaqlu min ʿiqāli al-ʿawāʾiqi,

My God, when will the intellect escape the fetters of impediments,

وَتَلْحَظُ لَوَاحِظُ الْفِكْرِ مَحَاسِنَ الْحُسْنَىٰ مِنْ أَعْيُنِ الْحَقَائِقِ،

watalḥaẓu lawāḥiẓu al-fikri maḥāsina al-ḥusnā min ʾaʿyuni al-ḥaqāʾiqi,

and the glances of thought perceive supreme beauty within the very essences of realities?

وَيَنْفَكُّ الْفَهْمُ عَنْ أَصْلِ الْإِفْكِ،

wayanfakku al-fahmu ʿan ʾaṣli al-ʾifki,

When will understanding be freed from the root of falsehood,

وَيَنْحَلُّ⁷² الْوَهْمُ عَنْ أَوْحَالِ حِبَالِ أَشْرَاكِ الشِّرْكِ،

wayanḥallu al-wahmu ʿan ʾawḥāli ḥibāli ʾashrāki al-shirki,

and imagining loosen itself from the mire of the ropes and snares of associating others with You?

وَيَنْجُو التَّصَوُّرُ مِنْ فَرَقِ فِرَاقِ الْفَرْقِ،

wayanjū al-taṣawwuru min faraqi firāqi al-farqi,

When will conception escape the fear born of separation and differentiation,

وَتَتَجَرَّدُ النَّفْسُ النَّفِيسَةُ مِنْ خَلَقِ تَخَلُّقَاتِ الْخَلْقِ؟

watatajarradu al-nafsu al-nafīsatu min khalaqi takhalluqāti al-khalqi?

and the precious soul strip off the worn garment of creaturely habits?

إِلَٰهِي أَنْتَ لَا تَنْفَعُكَ الطَّاعَاتُ، وَلَا تَضُرُّكَ الْمَعَاصِي،

ʾilāhī ʾanta lā tanfaʿuka al-ṭāʿātu, walā taḍurruka al-maʿāṣī,

My God, acts of obedience do not benefit You, and sins do not harm You.

وَبِيَدِكَ قَهْرُ سُلْطَانِ مَلَكُوتِ الْقُلُوبِ وَالنَّوَاصِي،

wabiyadika qahru sulṭāni malakūti al-qulūbi wa-al-nawāṣī,

In Your hand lies the irresistible authority over hearts and forelocks.

وَإِلَيْكَ يَرْجِعُ الْأَمْرُ كُلُّهُ، فَلَا نِسْبَةَ لِلطَّائِعِ وَالْعَاصِي،

waʾilayka yarjiʿu al-ʾamru kulluhu, falā nisbata li-l-ṭāʾiʿi wa-al-ʿāṣī,

The whole affair returns to You, so neither the obedient nor the disobedient has an independent claim.

إِلَٰهِي أَنْتَ لَا يَشْغَلُكَ شَأْنٌ عَنْ شَأْنٍ،

ʾilāhī ʾanta lā yashghaluka shaʾnun ʿan shaʾnin,

My God, no affair distracts You from another.

إِلَٰهِي أَنْتَ لَا يَحْصُرُكَ الْوُجُوبُ، وَلَا يَحُدُّكَ الْإِمْكَانُ،

ʾilāhī ʾanta lā yaḥṣuruka al-wujūbu, walā yaḥudduka al-ʾimkānu,

My God, necessity does not confine You, and possibility does not limit You.

وَلَا يَحْجُبُكَ الْإِبْهَامُ وَلَا يُوَضِّحُكَ الْبَيَانُ،

walā yaḥjubuka al-ʾibhāmu walā yuwaḍḍiḥuka al-bayānu,

Obscurity does not veil You, and explanation does not make You plain.

إِلَٰهِي أَنْتَ لَا يُرَجِّحُكَ الدَّلِيلُ، وَلَا يُحَقِّقُكَ الْبُرْهَانُ،

ʾilāhī ʾanta lā yurajjiḥuka al-dalīlu, walā yuḥaqqiquka al-burhānu,

My God, evidence does not make You more probable, nor does demonstration establish Your reality.

إِلَٰهِي أَنْتَ الْأَبَدُ وَالْأَزَلُ فِي حَقِّكَ سِيَّانِ،

ʾilāhī ʾanta al-ʾabadu wa-al-ʾazalu fī ḥaqqika siyyāni,

My God, endless and beginningless eternity are the same in relation to You.

إِلَٰهِي مَا أَنْتَ وَمَا أَنَا؟ وَمَا هُوَ؟ وَمَا هِيَ؟

ʾilāhī mā ʾanta wamā ʾanā? wamā huwa? wamā hiya?

My God, what are You, and what am I? What is “he”, and what is “she”?

إِلَٰهِي أَفِي الْكَثْرَةِ أَطْلُبُكَ أَمْ فِي الْوَحْدَةِ؟

ʾilāhī ʾafī al-kathrati ʾaṭlubuka ʾam fī al-waḥdati?

My God, should I seek You in multiplicity or in unity?

وَبِالْأَمَدِ أَنْتَظِرُ فَرَجَكَ أَمْ بِالْمُدَّةِ؟

wabi-al-ʾamadi ʾantaẓiru farajaka ʾam bi-al-muddati?

Should I await Your relief by a fixed term or through the passage of time?

وَلَا عُدَّةَ لِعَبْدٍ دُونَكَ وَلَا عُمْدَةَ،

walā ʿuddata liʿabdin dūnaka walā ʿumdata,

A servant has neither provision nor support apart from You.

إِلَٰهِي بَقَائِي بِكَ فِي فَنَائِي عَنِّي؟ أَمْ فِيكَ؟ أَمْ بِكَ؟

ʾilāhī baqāʾī bika fī fanāʾī ʿannī? ʾam fīka? ʾam bika?

My God, is my abiding through You in my passing away from myself, or in You, or through You?

وَفَنَائِي كَذَٰلِكَ مُحَقَّقٌ بِكَ، أَمْ مُتَوَهَّمٌ بِي،

wafanāʾī kadhālika muḥaqqaqun bika, ʾam mutawahhamun bī,

And is my passing away truly realized through You, or imagined by me,

أَمْ بِالْعَكْسِ، أَمْ هُوَ أَمْرٌ مُشْتَرَكٌ؟ وَكَذَٰلِكَ بَقَائِي فِيكَ،

ʾam bi-al-ʿaksi, ʾam huwa ʾamrun mushtarakun? wakadhālika baqāʾī fīka,

or is it the reverse, or something shared? The same question concerns my abiding in You.

إِلَٰهِي سُكُونِي خَرَسٌ يُوجِبُ الصَّمَمَ، وَكَلَامِي صَمَمٌ يُوجِبُ الْبَكَمَ،

ʾilāhī sukūnī kharasun yūjibu al-ṣamama, wakalāmī ṣamamun yūjibu al-bakama,

My God, my stillness is muteness that entails deafness, and my speech is deafness that entails muteness.

وَالْحَيْرَةُ فِي كُلٍّ وَلَا حَيْرَةَ،

wa-al-ḥayratu fī kullin walā ḥayrata,

Bewilderment is in everything, yet there is no bewilderment.

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ حَسْبِيَ اللَّهُ، بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَبِاللَّهِ،

bismi Allāhi ḥasbiya Allāhu, bismi Allāhi wabi-Allāhi,

In the name of God: God is sufficient for me. In the name of God, and through God.

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ، بِسْمِ اللَّهِ سَأَلْتُ مِنَ اللَّهِ،

bismi Allāhi tawakkaltu ʿalā Allāhi, bismi Allāhi saʾaltu mina Allāhi,

In the name of God: I place my trust in God. In the name of God: I ask from God.

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ،

bismi Allāhi walā ḥawla walā quwwata ʾillā bi-Allāhi al-ʿaliyyi al-ʿaẓīmi,

In the name of God: there is no power to turn or act except through God, the Most High, the Magnificent.

رَبَّنَا عَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ الْمَصِيرُ.

rabbanā ʿalayka tawakkalnā waʾilayka ʾanabnā waʾilayka al-maṣīru.

Our Lord, in You we trust, to You we return in repentance, and to You is our final destination.

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ سِرِّ⁷³ أَمْرِكَ وَعَظِيمِ قَدْرِكَ⁷⁴ وَإِحَاطَةِ عِلْمِكَ،

Allāhumma ʾinnī ʾasʾaluka min sirri ʾamrika waʿaẓīmi qadrika waʾiḥāṭati ʿilmika,

O God, I ask You from the secret of Your command, the greatness of Your rank and the encompassment of Your knowledge,

وَخَصَائِصِ إِرَادَتِكَ، وَتَأْثِيرِ قُدْرَتِكَ،

wakhaṣāʾiṣi ʾirādatika, wataʾthīri qudratika,

the particular workings of Your will and the effectiveness of Your power,

وَنُفُوذِ سَمْعِكَ وَبَصَرِكَ، وَقَيُّومِيَّةِ حَيَاتِكَ،

wanufūdhi samʿika wabaṣarika, waqayyūmiyyati ḥayātika,

the penetration of Your hearing and sight, the self-subsistence of Your life,

وَوُجُوبِ ذَاتِكَ وَصِفَاتِكَ،

wawujūbi dhātika waṣifātika,

and the necessary Being of Your Essence and Attributes.

يَا اللَّهُ، يَا اللَّهُ، يَا اللَّهُ⁷⁵،

yā Allāhu, yā Allāhu, yā Allāhu,

O God, O God, O God.

يَا أَوَّلُ يَا آخِرُ، يَا ظَاهِرُ يَا بَاطِنُ، يَا نُورُ يَا حَقُّ، يَا مُبِينُ،

yā ʾawwalu yā ʾākhiru, yā ẓāhiru yā bāṭinu, yā nūru yā ḥaqqu, yā mubīnu,

O First, O Last, O Manifest, O Hidden, O Light, O Real, O Clear Revealer.

اللَّهُمَّ خَصِّصْ سِرِّي بِأَسْرَارِ وَحْدَانِيَّتِكَ،

Allāhumma khaṣṣiṣ sirrī biʾasrāri waḥdāniyyatika,

O God, distinguish my innermost heart with the secrets of Your oneness.

وَقَدِّسْ رُوحِي بِقُدْسِيَّةِ تَجَلِّيَاتِ صِفَاتِكَ،

waqaddis rūḥī biqudsiyyati tajalliyāti ṣifātika,

Sanctify my spirit through the holiness of Your Attributes' self-disclosures.

وَطَهِّرْ قَلْبِي بِطَهَارَةِ مَعَارِفِ إِلَٰهِيَّتِكَ،

waṭahhir qalbī biṭahārati maʿārifi ʾilāhiyyatika,

Purify my heart through the purity of knowing Your divinity.

اللَّهُمَّ وَعَلِّمْ عَقْلِي مِنْ عُلُومِ لَدُنِّيَّتِكَ،

Allāhumma waʿallim ʿaqlī min ʿulūmi ladunniyyatika,

O God, teach my intellect from the knowledge that comes directly from Your presence.

وَخَلِّقْ نَفْسِي بِأَخْلَاقِ رُبُوبِيَّتِكَ،

wakhalliq nafsī biʾakhlāqi rubūbiyyatika,

Form my soul through the qualities of Your lordship.

وَأَيِّدْ حِسِّي بِمَدَدِ أَنْوَارِ حَضَرَاتِ نُورَانِيَّتِكَ،

waʾayyid ḥissī bimadadi ʾanwāri ḥaḍarāti nūrāniyyatika,

Strengthen my senses through the influx of lights from the presences of Your luminosity.

وَخَلِّصْ خُلَاصَةَ جَوَاهِرِ جِسْمَانِيَّتِي مِنْ قُيُودِ الطَّبْعِ وَكَثَافَةِ الْحِسِّ،

wakhalliṣ khulāṣata jawāhiri jismāniyyatī min quyūdi al-ṭabʿi wakathāfati al-ḥissi,

Free the pure essence of my bodily substances from the bonds of nature and the density of sensation,

وَحَصْرِ الْمَكَانِ وَالْكَوْنِ،

waḥaṣri al-makāni wa-al-kawni,

and from confinement within place and created existence.

اللَّهُمَّ وَانْقُلْنِي مِنْ دَرَكَاتِ خَلْقِي وَخُلُقِي إِلَىٰ دَرَجَاتِ حَقِّكَ وَحَقِيقَتِكَ،

Allāhumma wa-unqulnī min darakāti khalqī wakhuluqī ʾilā darajāti ḥaqqika waḥaqīqatika,

O God, raise me from the lower levels of my created form and character to the degrees of Your truth and reality.

أَنْتَ وَلِيِّي وَمَوْلَايَ، وَبِكَ مَمَاتِي وَمَحْيَايَ،

ʾanta waliyyī wamawlāya, wabika mamātī wamaḥyāya,

You are my Protecting Friend and Master; through You are my death and my life.

إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ،

ʾiyyāka naʿbudu waʾiyyāka nastaʿīnu,

You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.

انْظُرِ اللَّهُمَّ إِلَيَّ نَظْرَةً تَنْظِمُ بِهَا جَمِيعَ أَطْوَارِي،

unẓuri Allāhumma ʾilayya naẓratan tanẓimu bihā jamīʿa ʾaṭwārī,

Look upon me, O God, with a gaze that brings all my stages into order,

وَتُطَهِّرُ بِهَا سَرِيرَةَ أَسْرَارِي،

watuṭahhiru bihā sarīrata ʾasrārī,

purifies the innermost depth of my secrets,

وَتَرْفَعُ بِهَا فِي الْمَلَإِ الْأَعْلَىٰ عَلَيَّ أَرْوَاحَ أَفْكَارِي⁷⁶،

watarfaʿu bihā fī al-malaʾi al-ʾaʿlā ʿalayya ʾarwāḥa ʾafkārī,

raises the spirits of my thoughts above me into the highest assembly,

وَتُقَوِّي بِهَا مِدَادَ أَنْوَارِي،

watuqawwī bihā midāda ʾanwārī,

and strengthens the flow of my lights.

اللَّهُمَّ غَيِّبْنِي عَنْ جَمِيعِ خَلْقِكَ، وَاجْمَعْنِي عَلَيْكَ بِحَقِّكَ،

Allāhumma ghayyibnī ʿan jamīʿi khalqika, wa-ijmaʿnī ʿalayka biḥaqqika,

O God, draw me away from awareness of all Your creation, and gather me upon You through Your truth.

وَاحْفَظْنِي بِشُهُودِ تَصَرُّفَاتِ أَمْرِكَ فِي عَوَالِمِ فَرْقِكَ،

wa-iḥfaẓnī bishuhūdi taṣarrufāti ʾamrika fī ʿawālimi farqika,

Preserve me through witnessing the workings of Your command in the worlds of Your differentiation.

اللَّهُمَّ بِكَ تَوَسَّلْتُ، وَإِلَيْكَ تَوَجَّهْتُ، وَمِنْكَ سَأَلْتُ،

Allāhumma bika tawassaltu, waʾilayka tawajjahtu, waminka saʾaltu,

O God, through You I seek access, towards You I turn, and from You I ask.

وَفِيكَ لَا فِي شَيْءٍ سِوَاكَ رَغِبْتُ،

wafīka lā fī shayʾin siwāka raghibtu,

My desire is for You, for nothing besides You.

لَا أَسْأَلُكَ سِوَاكَ، وَلَا أَطْلُبُ مِنْكَ إِلَّا إِيَّاكَ،

lā ʾasʾaluka siwāka, walā ʾaṭlubu minka ʾillā ʾiyyāka,

I ask You for nothing but You, and seek from You only Yourself.

اللَّهُمَّ أَتَوَسَّلُ إِلَيْكَ فِي قَبُولِ ذَٰلِكَ بِالْوَسِيلَةِ الْعُظْمَىٰ، وَالْفَضِيلَةِ الْكُبْرَىٰ،

Allāhumma ʾatawassalu ʾilayka fī qabūli dhālika bi-al-wasīlati al-ʿuẓmā, wa-al-faḍīlati al-kubrā,

O God, I seek Your acceptance through the greatest means of approach and the highest virtue,

وَالْحَبِيبِ الْأَدْنَىٰ، وَالْوَلِيِّ الْمَوْلَىٰ،

wa-al-ḥabībi al-ʾadnā, wa-al-waliyyi al-mawlā,

the beloved brought nearest, the friend and master,

مُحَمَّدٍ الْمُصْطَفَىٰ، وَالصَّفِيِّ الْمُرْتَضَىٰ، وَالنَّبِيِّ الْمُجْتَبَىٰ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ،

muḥammadin al-muṣṭafā, wa-al-ṣafiyyi al-murtaḍā, wa-al-nabiyyi al-mujtabā ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wasallama,

Muḥammad the Chosen, the approved intimate and elect Prophet, God bless him and grant him peace.

وَبِهِ أَسْأَلُكَ أَنْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلَيْهِ صَلَاةً أَبَدِيَّةً دَيْمُومِيَّةً⁷⁷ قَيُّومِيَّةً إِلَٰهِيَّةً رَبَّانِيَّةً،

wabihi ʾasʾaluka ʾan tuṣalliya ʿalayhi ṣalātan ʾabadiyyatan daymūmiyyatan qayyūmiyyatan ʾilāhiyyatan rabbāniyyatan,

Through him I ask You to bless him with an endless, everlasting blessing, sustained by You, divine and lordly,

بِحَيْثُ تُشْهِدُنِي فِي ذَٰلِكَ عَيْنَ كَمَالِهِ،

biḥaythu tushhidunī fī dhālika ʿayna kamālihi,

so that in it You let me witness the very reality of his perfection,

وَتَسْتَهْلِكُنِي فِي عَيْنِ مَعَارِفِ ذَاتِهِ،

watastahlikunī fī ʿayni maʿārifi dhātihi,

and absorb me completely in the very knowledge of his essential reality.

وَعَلَىٰ آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ كَذَٰلِكَ، فَأَنْتَ وَلِيُّ ذَٰلِكَ،

waʿalā ʾālihi waṣaḥbihi kadhālika, faʾanta waliyyu dhālika,

And bless his family and companions likewise, for You are the One who can grant this.

وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ.

walā ḥawla walā quwwata ʾillā bi-Allāhi al-ʿaliyyi al-ʿaẓīmi, wa-al-ḥamdu li-llāhi rabbi al-ʿālamīna.

There is no power to turn or act except through God, the Most High, the Magnificent. Praise belongs to God, Lord of all worlds.

وِرْدُ لَيْلَةِ الْجُمُعَةِ

wirdu laylati al-jumuʿati

Friday night prayer

Al-Ghurāb pages 188–189

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ.

bismi Allāhi al-raḥmāni al-raḥīmi.

In the name of God, the All-Merciful, the Ever-Merciful.

إِلَٰهِي كُلُّ الْآبَاءِ الْعُلْوِيَّةِ عَبِيدُكَ، وَأَنْتَ الرَّبُّ عَلَى الْإِطْلَاقِ،⁷⁸

ʾilāhī kullu al-ʾābāʾi al-ʿulwiyyati ʿabīduka, waʾanta al-rabbu ʿalā al-ʾiṭlāqi,

My God, all the heavenly fathers are Your servants, and You are Lord without restriction.

جَمَعْتَ بَيْنَ الْمُتَقَابِلَاتِ، وَكُنْتَ الْجَلِيلَ الْجَمِيلَ،

jamaʿta bayna al-mutaqābilāti, wakunta al-jalīla al-jamīla,

You unite opposites; You are the Majestic and the Beautiful.

لَا غَايَةَ لِابْتِهَاجِكَ بِذَاتِكَ، إِذْ لَا غَايَةَ لِشُهُودِكَ مِنْكَ،

lā ghāyata li-ibtihājika bidhātika, ʾidh lā ghāyata lishuhūdika minka,

Your delight in Your Essence has no limit, for Your witnessing of Yourself is limitless.

أَنْتَ أَجَلُّ مِنْ شُهُودِنَا، وَأَكْمَلُ وَأَعْلَىٰ مِمَّا نَصِفُكَ بِهِ وَأَجَلُّ،

ʾanta ʾajallu min shuhūdinā, waʾakmalu waʾaʿlā mimmā naṣifuka bihi waʾajallu,

You are more majestic than our witnessing, more perfect, higher and more sublime than any description we give You.

تَعَالَيْتَ فِي جَلَالِكَ عَنْ سِمَاتِ الْمُحْدَثَاتِ،

taʿālayta fī jalālika ʿan simāti al-muḥdathāti,

In Your majesty You transcend the marks of created things.

وَتَقَدَّسَ جَمَالُكَ الْعَلِيُّ عَنْ مُوَاقَعَةِ الْمُيُولِ إِلَى⁷⁹ الشَّهَوَاتِ،

wataqaddasa jamāluka al-ʿaliyyu ʿan muwāqaʿati al-muyūli ʾilā al-shahawāti,

Your exalted beauty is free of involvement in inclinations towards desires.

أَسْأَلُكَ بِالسِّرِّ الَّذِي جَمَعْتَ بِهِ بَيْنَ الْمُتَقَابِلَاتِ،

ʾasʾaluka bi-al-sirri al-ladhī jamaʿta bihi bayna al-mutaqābilāti,

I ask You by the secret through which You unite opposites,

أَنْ تَجْمَعَ عَلَيَّ مُتَفَرِّقَ أَمْرِي، جَمْعًا يُشْهِدُنِي وَحْدَةَ وُجُودِكَ،

ʾan tajmaʿa ʿalayya mutafarriqa ʾamrī, jamʿan yushhidunī waḥdata wujūdika,

to gather together my scattered affairs in a gathering that lets me witness the unity of Your Being.

وَاكْسُنِي حُلَّةَ جَمَالِكَ، وَتَوِّجْنِي بِتَاجِ جَلَالِكَ،

wa-uksunī ḥullata jamālika, watawwijnī bitāji jalālika,

Clothe me in the robe of Your beauty and crown me with Your majesty,

حَتَّىٰ تَخْضَعَ لَهُ النُّفُوسُ الْبَشَرِيَّةُ، وَتَنْقَادَ إِلَيَّ الْقُلُوبُ الْأَبِيَّةُ،

ḥattā takhḍaʿa lahu al-nufūsu al-bashariyyatu, watanqāda ʾilayya al-qulūbu al-ʾabiyyatu,

so that human souls submit before it, proud hearts yield to me,

وَتَنْبَسِطَ إِلَيَّ الْأَسْرَارُ الْقُدْسِيَّةُ،

watanbasiṭa ʾilayya al-ʾasrāru al-qudsiyyatu,

and holy secrets open themselves to me.

وَأَعْلِ قَدْرِي عِنْدَكَ عُلُوًّا يَنْخَفِضُ لِي بِهِ كُلُّ مُتَعَالٍ،

waʾaʿli qadrī ʿindaka ʿuluwwan yankhafiḍu lī bihi kullu mutaʿālin,

Raise my standing with You so that everyone who exalts himself lowers himself before me,

وَيَذِلُّ لِي بِهِ كُلُّ عَزِيزٍ، وَخُذْ بِنَاصِيَتِي إِلَيْكَ،

wayadhillu lī bihi kullu ʿazīzin, wakhudh bināṣiyatī ʾilayka,

and everyone mighty becomes humble before me. Take me by my forelock towards You.

وَمَلِّكْنِي نَاصِيَةَ كُلِّ ذِي رُوحٍ نَاصِيَتُهُ بِيَدِكَ،

wamalliknī nāṣiyata kulli dhī rūḥin nāṣiyatuhu biyadika,

Give me mastery over every living being whose forelock is in Your hand.

وَاجْعَلْ لِي لِسَانَ صِدْقٍ فِي خَلْقِكَ وَأَمْرِكَ،

wa-ijʿal lī lisāna ṣidqin fī khalqika waʾamrika,

Grant me a truthful voice and honourable remembrance within Your creation and command.

وَامْلَأْنِي مِنْكَ، وَاحْفَظْنِي⁸⁰ فِي بَرِّكَ وَبَحْرِكَ،

wa-imlaʾnī minka, wa-iḥfaẓnī fī barrika wabaḥrika,

Fill me from Yourself, and preserve me on Your land and in Your sea.

وَأَخْرِجْنِي مِنْ قَرْيَةِ الطَّبْعِ الظَّالِمِ أَهْلُهَا، وَأَعْتِقْنِي مِنْ رِقِّ الْأَكْوَانِ،

waʾakhrijnī min qaryati al-ṭabʿi al-ẓālimi ʾahluhā, waʾaʿtiqnī min riqqi al-ʾakwāni,

Bring me out of the town of natural disposition whose inhabitants do wrong, and free me from slavery to created things.

وَاجْعَلْ لِي مِنْكَ بُرْهَانًا يُورِثُ أَمَانًا،

wa-ijʿal lī minka burhānan yūrithu ʾamānan,

Grant me a proof from You that gives rise to security,

وَلَا تَجْعَلْ لِغَيْرِكَ عَلَيَّ سُلْطَانًا،

walā tajʿal lighayrika ʿalayya sulṭānan,

and let no other than You have authority over me.

وَاجْعَلْ غَنَائِي فِي الْفَقْرِ إِلَيْكَ عَنْ كُلِّ مَطْلُوبٍ،

wa-ijʿal ghanāʾī fī al-faqri ʾilayka ʿan kulli maṭlūbin,

Let my need for You be my freedom from needing anything else I might seek.

وَاصْحَبْنِي بِغَنَائِكَ⁸¹ عَنْ كُلِّ مَرْغُوبٍ،

wa-iṣḥabnī bighanāʾika ʿan kulli marghūbin,

Accompany me with Your sufficiency beyond every object of desire.

أَنْتَ وِجْهَتِي وَجَاهِي، وَإِلَيْكَ الْمَرْجِعُ وَالتَّنَاهِي،

ʾanta wijhatī wajāhī, waʾilayka al-marjiʿu wa-al-tanāhī,

You are my direction and my standing; to You are the return and the ultimate end.

تَجْبُرُ الْكَسِيرَ، وَتَكْسِرُ الْجَبَّارِينَ،

tajburu al-kasīra, wataksiru al-jabbārīna,

You mend the broken and break the tyrannical;

وَتَجْبُرُ الْخَائِفِينَ، وَتُخِيفُ الظَّالِمِينَ،

watajburu al-khāʾifīna, watukhīfu al-ẓālimīna,

You restore those who fear and strike fear into wrongdoers.

لَكَ الْمَجْدُ الْأَرْفَعُ، وَالتَّجَلِّي الْأَجْمَعُ، وَالْحِجَابُ الْأَمْنَعُ،

laka al-majdu al-ʾarfaʿu, wa-al-tajallī al-ʾajmaʿu, wa-al-ḥijābu al-ʾamnaʿu,

Yours are the loftiest glory, the most all-embracing self-disclosure, and the most impenetrable veil.

سُبْحَانَكَ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، أَنْتَ حَسْبِي وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ،

subḥānaka lā ʾilāha ʾillā ʾanta, ʾanta ḥasbī waniʿma al-wakīlu,

Glory be to You. There is no god but You. You are sufficient for me, and how worthy You are of trust.

وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَخْذُ رَبِّكَ إِذَا أَخَذَ الْقُرَىٰ وَهِيَ ظَالِمَةٌ إِنَّ أَخْذَهُ أَلِيمٌ شَدِيدٌ،

wakadhālika ʾakhdhu rabbika ʾidhā ʾakhadha al-qurā wahiya ẓālimatun ʾinna ʾakhdhahu ʾalīmun shadīdun,

Such is your Lord's taking when He takes towns in their wrongdoing. His taking is indeed painful and severe.

فَانْتَقَمْنَا مِنَ الَّذِينَ أَجْرَمُوا وَكَانَ حَقًّا عَلَيْنَا نَصْرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ،

fa-intaqamnā mina al-ladhīna ʾajramū wakāna ḥaqqan ʿalaynā naṣru al-muʾminīna,

We exacted retribution from those who committed wrongdoing; helping the believers was a duty We had taken upon Ourselves.

اللَّهُمَّ يَا خَالِقَ الْمَخْلُوقَاتِ، وَمُحْيِيَ الْأَمْوَاتِ، وَجَامِعَ الشَّتَاتِ،

Allāhumma yā khāliqa al-makhlūqāti, wamuḥyiya al-ʾamwāti, wajāmiʿa al-shatāti,

O God, Creator of creatures, Giver of life to the dead, Gatherer of all that is scattered,

وَمُفِيضَ الْأَنْوَارِ عَلَى الذَّوَاتِ،

wamufīḍa al-ʾanwāri ʿalā al-dhawāti,

who pours lights upon all beings:

لَكَ الْمُلْكُ الْأَوْسَعُ، وَالْجَنَابُ الْأَرْفَعُ،

laka al-mulku al-ʾawsaʿu, wa-al-janābu al-ʾarfaʿu,

Yours is the widest dominion and the loftiest presence.

الْأَرْبَابُ عَبِيدُكَ، وَالْمُلُوكُ خَدَمُكَ، وَالْأَغْنِيَاءُ فُقَرَاؤُكَ،

al-ʾarbābu ʿabīduka, wa-al-mulūku khadamuka, wa-al-ʾaghniyāʾu fuqarāʾuka,

Lords are Your servants, kings Your attendants, and the wealthy stand in need before You.

وَأَنْتَ الْغَنِيُّ بِذَاتِكَ عَمَّنْ سِوَاكَ،

waʾanta al-ghaniyyu bidhātika ʿamman siwāka,

Through Your Essence, You are free of need for all besides You.

أَسْأَلُكَ بِاسْمِكَ الَّذِي خَلَقْتَ بِهِ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ فَقَدَّرْتَهُ تَقْدِيرًا،

ʾasʾaluka bi-ismika al-ladhī khalaqta bihi kulla shayʾin faqaddartahu taqdīran,

I ask You by Your Name through which You created everything and determined it with precise measure,

وَمَنَحْتَ بِهِ مَنْ شِئْتَ جَنَّةً وَحَرِيرًا، وَخِلَافَةً وَمُلْكًا كَبِيرًا،

wamanaḥta bihi man shiʾta jannatan waḥarīran, wakhilāfatan wamulkan kabīran,

and granted whomever You willed a garden, silk, vicegerency and a great kingdom,

أَنْ تُذْهِبَ حِرْصِي، وَتُكْمِلَ نَقْصِي، وَأَنْ تُفِيضَ عَلَيَّ مِنْ مَلَابِسِ نَعْمَائِكَ،

ʾan tudhhiba ḥirṣī, watukmila naqṣī, waʾan tufīḍa ʿalayya min malābisi naʿmāʾika,

to remove my grasping, make good my deficiencies, and pour upon me the garments of Your blessings.

وَأَنْ تُعَلِّمَنِي مِنْ أَسْمَائِكَ مَا يَصْلُحُ لِلْإِذْنِ وَالْإِلْقَاءِ،

waʾan tuʿallimanī min ʾasmāʾika mā yaṣluḥu li-l-ʾidhni wa-al-ʾilqāʾi,

Teach me from Your Names what befits divine permission and the imparting of inspiration.

وَامْلَأْ بَاطِنِي خَشْيَةً وَرَحْمَةً، وَظَاهِرِي هَيْبَةً وَعَظَمَةً،

wa-imlaʾ bāṭinī khashyatan waraḥmatan, waẓāhirī haybatan waʿaẓamatan,

Fill my inward being with reverent fear and mercy, and my outward being with awe and dignity,

حَتَّىٰ تَخَافَنِي قُلُوبُ الْأَعْدَاءِ، وَتَرْتَاحَ إِلَيَّ أَرْوَاحُ الْأَوْلِيَاءِ،

ḥattā takhāfanī qulūbu al-ʾaʿdāʾi, watartāḥa ʾilayya ʾarwāḥu al-ʾawliyāʾi,

so that enemies' hearts fear me and the spirits of Your friends find ease with me.

يَخَافُونَ رَبَّهُمْ مِنْ فَوْقِهِمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ،

yakhāfūna rabbahum min fawqihim wayafʿalūna mā yuʾmarūna,

They fear their Lord above them and do what they are commanded.

رَبِّ هَبْ لِي اسْتِعْدَادًا كَامِلًا لِقَبُولِ فَيْضِكَ الْأَقْدَسِ لِأَخْلُفَكَ فِي بِلَادِكَ،

rabbi hab lī istiʿdādan kāmilan liqabūli fayḍika al-ʾaqdasi liʾakhlufaka fī bilādika,

My Lord, grant me complete readiness to receive Your most holy outpouring, that I may act as Your representative in Your lands,

وَأَدْفَعَ بِهِ سَخَطَكَ عَنْ عِبَادِكَ،

waʾadfaʿa bihi sakhaṭaka ʿan ʿibādika,

and through it avert Your displeasure from Your servants.

فَإِنَّكَ تَسْتَخْلِفُ مَنْ تَشَاءُ وَأَنْتَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ، وَأَنْتَ الْخَبِيرُ الْبَصِيرُ،

faʾinnaka tastakhlifu man tashāʾu waʾanta ʿalā kulli shayʾin qadīrun, waʾanta al-khabīru al-baṣīru,

You appoint whomever You will as representative. You have power over all things; You are the All-Aware, the All-Seeing.

وَصَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ وَسَلَّمَ،

waṣallā Allāhu ʿalā sayyidinā muḥammadin waʿalā ʾālihi waṣaḥbihi wasallama,

May God bless our master Muḥammad, his family and companions, and grant him peace.

وَهُوَ حَسْبِي وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ.

wahuwa ḥasbī waniʿma al-wakīlu.

He is sufficient for me, and how worthy He is of trust.

وِرْدُ يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ

wirdu yawmi al-jumuʿati

Friday daytime prayer

Al-Ghurāb pages 189–190

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ.

bismi Allāhi al-raḥmāni al-raḥīmi.

In the name of God, the All-Merciful, the Ever-Merciful.

رَبِّ رَقِّنِي فِي مَدَارِجِ الْمَعَارِفِ، وَقَلِّبْنِي فِي أَطْوَارِ أَسْرَارِ الْحَقَائِقِ،

rabbi raqqinī fī madāriji al-maʿārifi, waqallibnī fī ʾaṭwāri ʾasrāri al-ḥaqāʾiqi,

My Lord, raise me through the degrees of spiritual knowledge, and move me through the unfolding secrets of realities.

وَاحْجُبْنِي فِي سُرَادِقَاتِ حِفْظِكَ، وَمَكْنُونِ سِرِّكَ،

wa-uḥjubnī fī surādiqāti ḥifẓika, wamaknūni sirrika,

Shelter me within the canopies of Your protection and the concealment of Your secret,

عَنْ وُرُودِ الْخَوَاطِرِ الَّتِي لَا تَلِيقُ بِسُبُحَاتِ جَلَالِكَ،

ʿan wurūdi al-khawāṭiri al-latī lā talīqu bisubuḥāti jalālika,

from the arrival of thoughts unworthy of the splendours of Your majesty.

رَبِّ أَقِمْنِي بِكَ فِي كُلِّ شَأْنٍ، وَأَشْهِدْنِي لُطْفَكَ فِي كُلِّ قَاصٍ وَدَانٍ،

rabbi ʾaqimnī bika fī kulli shaʾnin, waʾashhidnī luṭfaka fī kulli qāṣin wadānin,

My Lord, establish me through You in every affair, and let me witness Your subtle care in everything far and near.

وَافْتَحْ عَيْنَ بَصِيرَتِي فِي فَضَاءِ سَاحَةِ التَّوْحِيدِ،

wa-iftaḥ ʿayna baṣīratī fī faḍāʾi sāḥati al-tawḥīdi,

Open the eye of my insight within the open expanse of unity,

لِأَشْهَدَ قِيَامَ الْكُلِّ بِكَ، شُهُودًا يَقْطَعُ نَظَرِي عَنْ كُلِّ مَوْجُودٍ،

liʾashhada qiyāma al-kulli bika, shuhūdan yaqṭaʿu naẓarī ʿan kulli mawjūdin,

that I may witness all things subsisting through You, with a witnessing that frees my gaze from every created existent,

يَا ذَا الْفَضْلِ وَالْجُودِ،

yā dhā al-faḍli wa-al-jūdi,

O Possessor of grace and generosity.

رَبِّ أَفِضْ عَلَيَّ مِنْ بِحَارِ تَجْرِيدِ أَلِفِ الذَّاتِ الْأَقْدَسِ،

rabbi ʾafiḍ ʿalayya min biḥāri tajrīdi ʾalifi al-dhāti al-ʾaqdasi,

My Lord, pour upon me from the oceans of the unconditioned alif of the most holy Essence

مَا يَقْطَعُ عَنِّي كُلَّ عَلَاقَةٍ تُعْجِمُ عَلَيَّ إِدْرَاكِي،

mā yaqṭaʿu ʿannī kulla ʿalāqatin tuʿjimu ʿalayya ʾidrākī,

that which cuts away every attachment that obscures my perception

وَتُغْلِقُ دُونِي بَابَ مَطْلَبِي،

watughliqu dūnī bāba maṭlabī,

and closes the door to what I seek.

وَأَسْبِلْ⁸² عَلَيَّ مِنْ هَيُولَىٰ نُقْطَتِهَا الْكُلِّيَّةِ الْبَارِزَةِ مِنْ مَلَكُوتِ غَيْبِ ذَاتِكَ،

waʾasbil ʿalayya min hayūlā nuqṭatihā al-kulliyyati al-bārizati min malakūti ghaybi dhātika,

Let descend upon me, from the primordial matter of its universal point emerging from the sovereignty of Your unseen Essence,

مَا أُمِدُّ بِهِ حُرُوفَ الْأَكْوَانِ، مَحْفُوظًا فِي ذَٰلِكَ مِنَ النَّقْصِ وَالشَّيْنِ،

mā ʾumiddu bihi ḥurūfa al-ʾakwāni, maḥfūẓan fī dhālika mina al-naqṣi wa-al-shayni,

that with which I may sustain the letters of created existence, preserved in this from deficiency and blemish.

يَا مَنْ وَسِعَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ رَحْمَةً وَعِلْمًا يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ،

yā man wasiʿa kulla shayʾin raḥmatan waʿilman yā rabba al-ʿālamīna,

O You who embrace all things in mercy and knowledge, Lord of all worlds.

رَبِّ طَهِّرْنِي ظَاهِرًا وَبَاطِنًا مِنْ لَوْثِ الْأَغْيَارِ، وَالْوُقُوفِ عَلَى الْأَطْوَارِ،

rabbi ṭahhirnī ẓāhiran wabāṭinan min lawthi al-ʾaghyāri, wa-al-wuqūfi ʿalā al-ʾaṭwāri,

My Lord, purify me outwardly and inwardly from the stain of otherness and from stopping at passing stages,

بِفَيْضٍ مِنْ طَهُورِ قُدْسِكَ،

bifayḍin min ṭahūri qudsika,

through an outpouring of the purifying water of Your holiness.

وَغَيِّبْنِي عَنْهُمْ بِشُهُودِ بَوَارِقِ أُنْسِكَ،

waghayyibnī ʿanhum bishuhūdi bawāriqi ʾunsika,

Draw me away from them through witnessing the flashes of intimacy with You.

وَأَطْلِعْنِي عَلَىٰ حَقَائِقِ الْأَشْيَاءِ، وَدَقَائِقِ الْأَشْكَالِ،

waʾaṭliʿnī ʿalā ḥaqāʾiqi al-ʾashyāʾi, wadaqāʾiqi al-ʾashkāli,

Reveal to me the realities of things and the subtleties of forms.

وَأَسْمِعْنِي نُطْقَ الْأَكْوَانِ بِصَرِيحِ تَوْحِيدِكَ فِي الْعَوَالِمِ كُلِّهَا،

waʾasmiʿnī nuṭqa al-ʾakwāni biṣarīḥi tawḥīdika fī al-ʿawālimi kullihā,

Let me hear created things plainly proclaiming Your unity throughout all worlds.

وَقَابِلْ مِرْآتِي بِتَجَلٍّ تَامٍّ مِنْ جَوَاهِرِ أَسْمَاءِ جَلَالِكَ وَقَهْرِكَ،

waqābil mirʾātī bitajallin tāmmin min jawāhiri ʾasmāʾi jalālika waqahrika,

Meet the mirror of my being with a complete self-disclosure from the essences of Your Names of majesty and subduing power,

فَلَا يَقَعَ عَلَيَّ بَصَرُ جَبَّارٍ مِنَ الْإِنْسِ وَالْجِنِّ،

falā yaqaʿa ʿalayya baṣaru jabbārin mina al-ʾinsi wa-al-jinni,

so that no tyrant among humankind or jinn looks upon me

إِلَّا انْعَكَسَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ شُعَاعِ ذَٰلِكَ الْجَوْهَرِ مَا يُحْرِقُ نَفْسَهُ الْأَمَّارَةَ بِالسُّوءِ،

ʾillā inʿakasa ʿalayhi min shuʿāʿi dhālika al-jawhari mā yuḥriqu nafsahu al-ʾammārata bi-al-sūʾi,

without a reflected ray of that essence returning upon him to burn away the self that commands him to evil,

وَيَرُدُّهُ ذَلِيلًا، وَيَنْقَلِبُ عَنِّي بَصَرُهُ خَاسِئًا كَلِيلًا،

wayarudduhu dhalīlan, wayanqalibu ʿannī baṣaruhu khāsiʾan kalīlan,

leaving him humbled and turning his gaze away from me, repelled and exhausted.

يَا مَنْ عَنَتْ لَهُ الْوُجُوهُ، وَخَضَعَتْ لَهُ الرِّقَابُ، يَا رَبَّ الْأَرْبَابِ،

yā man ʿanat lahu al-wujūhu, wakhaḍaʿat lahu al-riqābu, yā rabba al-ʾarbābi,

O You before whom faces bow and necks submit, Lord of lords.

رَبِّ وَأَبْعِدْنِي عَنِ الْقَوَاطِعِ الَّتِي تَقْطَعُنِي عَنْ حَضَرَاتِ قُرْبِكَ،

rabbi waʾabʿidnī ʿani al-qawāṭiʿi al-latī taqṭaʿunī ʿan ḥaḍarāti qurbika,

My Lord, keep me far from obstacles that cut me off from the presences of Your nearness.

وَأَلْبِسْنِي مَا يَلِيقُ بِصِفَاتِي⁸³ بِغَلَبَةِ أَنْوَارِ صِفَاتِكَ،

waʾalbisnī mā yalīqu biṣifātī bighalabati ʾanwāri ṣifātika,

Clothe me in what befits my attributes through the prevailing lights of Your Attributes.

وَأَزِحْ ظُلَمَ طَبْعِي وَبَشَرِيَّتِي بِتَجَلِّي بَارِقَةٍ مِنْ بَوَارِقِ أَنْوَارِ ذَاتِكَ،

waʾaziḥ ẓulama ṭabʿī wabashariyyatī bitajallī bāriqatin min bawāriqi ʾanwāri dhātika,

Dispel the darknesses of my natural disposition and humanity through the disclosure of a single flash from the lights of Your Essence.

وَامْدُدْنِي بِقُوَّةٍ مَلَكِيَّةٍ،

wa-umdudnī biquwwatin malakiyyatin,

Sustain me with an angelic strength

أَقْهَرُ بِهَا مَا اسْتَوْلَىٰ عَلَيَّ مِنَ الطَّبَائِعِ الدَّنِيَّةِ، وَالْأَخْلَاقِ الرَّدِيَّةِ،

ʾaqharu bihā mā istawlā ʿalayya mina al-ṭabāʾiʿi al-daniyyati, wa-al-ʾakhlāqi al-radiyyati,

through which I may subdue the low impulses and harmful traits that have gained control over me.

وَامْحُ مِنْ لَوْحِ فِكْرِي أَشْكَالَ الْأَكْوَانِ،

wa-umḥu min lawḥi fikrī ʾashkāla al-ʾakwāni,

Erase the forms of created things from the tablet of my thought,

وَأَثْبِتْ فِيهِ بِيَدِ عِنَايَتِكَ سِرَّ حِرْزِ قُرْبِكَ السَّابِقِ الْمَكْنُونِ بَيْنَ الْكَافِ وَالنُّونِ،

waʾathbit fīhi biyadi ʿināyatika sirra ḥirzi qurbika al-sābiqi al-maknūni bayna al-kāfi wa-al-nūni,

and inscribe there, with the hand of Your care, the secret of the protection of Your prior nearness, hidden between kāf and nūn.

إِنَّمَا أَمْرُهُ إِذَا أَرَادَ شَيْئًا أَنْ يَقُولَ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُونُ،

ʾinnamā ʾamruhu ʾidhā ʾarāda shayʾan ʾan yaqūla lahu kun fayakūnu,

When He wills a thing, His command is only to say to it “Be”, and it is.

فَسُبْحَانَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ مَلَكُوتُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ⁸⁴،

fasubḥāna al-ladhī biyadihi malakūtu kulli shayʾin waʾilayhi turjaʿūna,

Glory be to Him in whose hand is the sovereignty of everything, and to whom you are returned.

يَا نُورُ يَا مُعْطِيَ الْكُلِّ مِنْ فَيْضِهِ الْمِدْرَارِ،

yā nūru yā muʿṭiya al-kulli min fayḍihi al-midrāri,

O Light, Giver to all from His abundant outpouring;

يَا صَمَدُ يَا قُدُّوسُ، يَا قَهَّارُ⁸⁵ يَا حَفِيظُ يَا لَطِيفُ، يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ،

yā ṣamadu yā quddūsu, yā qahhāru yā ḥafīẓu yā laṭīfu, yā rabba al-ʿālamīna,

O Self-Sufficient, O All-Holy, O All-Subduing, O Preserver, O Subtle One, Lord of all worlds.

وَصَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ،

waṣallā Allāhu ʿalā sayyidinā muḥammadin waʿalā ʾālihi waṣaḥbihi ʾajmaʿīna,

May God bless our master Muḥammad, his family and all his companions.

وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ.

wa-al-ḥamdu li-llāhi rabbi al-ʿālamīna.

Praise belongs to God, Lord of all worlds.

وِرْدُ لَيْلَةِ السَّبْتِ

wirdu laylati al-sabti

Saturday night prayer

Al-Ghurāb pages 190–192

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ.

bismi Allāhi al-raḥmāni al-raḥīmi.

In the name of God, the All-Merciful, the Ever-Merciful.

سَيِّدِي، دَامَ بَقَاؤُكَ، وَنَفَذَ فِي الْخَلْقِ قَضَاؤُكَ،

sayyidī, dāma baqāʾuka, wanafadha fī al-khalqi qaḍāʾuka,

My Master, Your abiding endures, and Your decree takes effect throughout creation.

تَقَدَّسْتَ فِي عُلُوِّكَ، وَتَعَالَيْتَ فِي قُدْسِكَ،

taqaddasta fī ʿuluwwika, wataʿālayta fī qudsika,

You are holy in Your loftiness and exalted in Your holiness.

لَا يَؤُودُكَ حِفْظُ كَوْنٍ، وَلَا يَخْفَىٰ عَنْكَ كَشْفُ عَيْنٍ،

lā yaʾūduka ḥifẓu kawnin, walā yakhfā ʿanka kashfu ʿaynin,

Preserving a world does not weary You, and the disclosure of any entity is never hidden from You.

تَدْعُو مَنْ تَشَاءُ إِلَيْكَ، وَتَدُلُّ بِكَ عَلَيْكَ،

tadʿū man tashāʾu ʾilayka, watadullu bika ʿalayka,

You call whomever You will to Yourself, and point to Yourself through Yourself.

فَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ⁸⁶ الدَّائِمُ، وَالدَّوَامُ الْأَمْجَدُ،

falaka al-ḥamdu al-dāʾimu, wa-al-dawāmu al-ʾamjadu,

Yours are unceasing praise and most glorious permanence.

أَسْأَلُكَ وَقْتًا صَافِيًا بِمَا تُرِيدُ، بِمُعَامَلَةٍ لَائِقَةٍ، تَكُونُ غَايَتُهَا قُرْبَكَ،

ʾasʾaluka waqtan ṣāfiyan bimā turīdu, bimuʿāmalatin lāʾiqatin, takūnu ghāyatuhā qurbaka,

I ask You for a present moment made clear by what You will, with fitting conduct whose goal is nearness to You.

وَأَيِّدْنِي بِسُلُوكِ مِنْهَاجِ الْأَعْمَالِ فِي الظَّاهِرِ وَالْبَاطِنِ،

waʾayyidnī bisulūki minhāji al-ʾaʿmāli fī al-ẓāhiri wa-al-bāṭini,

Strengthen me to follow the path of right action outwardly and inwardly,

حَتَّىٰ تَصِيرَ نَتَائِجُ الْأَعْمَالِ مَوْقُوفَةً عَلَىٰ رِضْوَانِكَ،

ḥattā taṣīra natāʾiju al-ʾaʿmāli mawqūfatan ʿalā riḍwānika,

until the fruits of my actions are wholly dependent upon Your pleasure.

وَهَبْ لِي سِرًّا زَاهِرًا يَكْشِفُ لِي عَنْ حَقَائِقِ الْأَعْمَالِ،

wahab lī sirran zāhiran yakshifu lī ʿan ḥaqāʾiqi al-ʾaʿmāli,

Grant me a radiant inward secret that unveils the realities of actions to me.

وَاخْصُصْنِي بِحِكْمَةٍ مَعَهَا حُكْمٌ، وَإِشَارَةٍ يَصْحَبُهَا فَهْمٌ،

wa-ukhṣuṣnī biḥikmatin maʿahā ḥukmun, waʾishāratin yaṣḥabuhā fahmun,

Distinguish me with wisdom accompanied by sound judgement, and an indication accompanied by understanding.

إِنَّكَ وَلِيُّ مَنْ تَوَلَّاكَ، وَمُجِيبُ مَنْ دَعَاكَ،

ʾinnaka waliyyu man tawallāka, wamujību man daʿāka,

You are the Protecting Friend of whoever takes You as friend, and You answer whoever calls upon You.

إِلَٰهِي أَدِمْ بَقَاءَ نَعْمَائِكَ عَلَيَّ، وَمُشَاهَدَتَكَ لَدَيَّ،

ʾilāhī ʾadim baqāʾa naʿmāʾika ʿalayya, wamushāhadataka ladayya,

My God, make Your blessings upon me endure, and let witnessing You remain with me.

وَأَشْهِدْنِي ذَاتِي مِنْ حَيْثُ أَنْتَ، لَا مِنْ حَيْثُ هِيَ، حَتَّىٰ أَكُونَ بِكَ وَلَا أَنَا،

waʾashhidnī dhātī min ḥaythu ʾanta, lā min ḥaythu hiya, ḥattā ʾakūna bika walā ʾanā,

Let me witness my own essence from the standpoint of You, rather than itself, until I am through You, with no separate “I”.

وَهَبْ لِي مِنْ لَدُنْكَ عِلْمًا، حَتَّىٰ تَنْقَادَ إِلَيَّ فِيهِ كُلُّ رُوحٍ عَالِمَةٍ،

wahab lī min ladunka ʿilman, ḥattā tanqāda ʾilayya fīhi kullu rūḥin ʿālimatin,

Grant me knowledge directly from Your presence, through which every knowing spirit yields to me.

إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْعَلِيمُ الْعَلَّامُ،

ʾinnaka ʾanta al-ʿalīmu al-ʿallāmu,

You are the All-Knowing, whose knowledge is complete.

تَبَارَكَ اسْمُ رَبِّكَ ذِي الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ،

tabāraka ismu rabbika dhī al-jalāli wa-al-ʾikrāmi,

Blessed is the Name of your Lord, Possessor of majesty and generosity.

وَعِنْدَهُ مَفَاتِحُ الْغَيْبِ لَا يَعْلَمُهَا إِلَّا هُوَ، وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ⁸⁷،

waʿindahu mafātiḥu al-ghaybi lā yaʿlamuhā ʾillā huwa, wayaʿlamu mā fī al-barri wa-al-baḥri,

With Him are the keys of the unseen: none knows them but He. He knows all that is on land and in the sea.

رَبِّ أَفِضْ عَلَيَّ شُعَاعًا مِنْ نُورِكَ يَكْشِفُ لِي عَنْ كُلِّ مَسْتُورٍ فِيَّ،

rabbi ʾafiḍ ʿalayya shuʿāʿan min nūrika yakshifu lī ʿan kulli mastūrin fiyya,

My Lord, pour upon me a ray of Your light that reveals to me everything hidden within me,

حَتَّىٰ أُشَاهِدَ وُجُودِي كَامِلًا، مِنْ حَيْثُ أَنْتَ لَا مِنْ حَيْثُ أَنَا،

ḥattā ʾushāhida wujūdī kāmilan, min ḥaythu ʾanta lā min ḥaythu ʾanā,

until I witness my existence fully, from the standpoint of You rather than my separate self.

فَأَتَقَرَّبَ إِلَيْكَ بِمَحْوِ صِفَتِي مِنِّي،

faʾataqarraba ʾilayka bimaḥwi ṣifatī minnī,

Then may I draw near to You by erasing my own attribute from myself,

كَمَا تَقَرَّبْتَ إِلَيَّ بِإِفَاضَةِ نُورِكَ عَلَيَّ،

kamā taqarrabta ʾilayya biʾifāḍati nūrika ʿalayya,

as You have drawn near to me by pouring Your light upon me.

رَبِّ الْإِمْكَانُ صِفَتِي، وَالْعَدَمُ مَادَّتِي، وَالْفَقْرُ مُقَوِّمِي،

rabbi al-ʾimkānu ṣifatī, wa-al-ʿadamu māddatī, wa-al-faqru muqawwimī,

My Lord, possibility is my attribute, nonexistence my substance, and need what constitutes me.

وَوُجُودُكَ عِلَّتِي⁸⁸، وَقُدْرَتُكَ فَاعِلِي، وَأَنْتَ غَايَتِي،

wawujūduka ʿillatī, waqudratuka fāʿilī, waʾanta ghāyatī,

Your Being is my cause, Your power the agent that brings me about, and You are my goal.

حَسْبِي مِنْكَ عِلْمُكَ بِجَهْلِي، أَنْتَ كَمَا أَعْلَمُ، وَفَوْقَ مَا أَعْلَمُ،

ḥasbī minka ʿilmuka bijahlī, ʾanta kamā ʾaʿlamu, wafawqa mā ʾaʿlamu,

Your knowledge of my ignorance is enough for me. You are as I know, and beyond all I know.

وَأَنْتَ مَعَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ، وَلَيْسَ مَعَكَ شَيْءٌ،

waʾanta maʿa kulli shayʾin, walaysa maʿaka shayʾun,

You are with everything, while nothing is alongside You.

قَدَّرْتَ الْمَنَازِلَ لِلسَّيْرِ، وَرَتَّبْتَ الْمَرَاتِبَ لِلنَّفْعِ وَالضَّرِّ،

qaddarta al-manāzila li-l-sayri, warattabta al-marātiba li-l-nafʿi wa-al-ḍarri,

You determined the stages of the journey and arranged the degrees of benefit and harm.

وَأَبَنْتَ مَنَاهِجَ الْخَيْرِ، فَنَحْنُ فِي ذَٰلِكَ كُلِّهِ بِكَ، وَأَنْتَ بِلَا نَحْنُ،

waʾabanta manāhija al-khayri, fanaḥnu fī dhālika kullihi bika, waʾanta bilā naḥnu,

You made the paths of goodness clear. In all this we are through You, while You are without any “we”.

فَأَنْتَ الْخَيْرُ الْمَحْضُ، وَالْجُودُ الصِّرْفُ، وَالْكَمَالُ الْمُطْلَقُ،

faʾanta al-khayru al-maḥḍu, wa-al-jūdu al-ṣirfu, wa-al-kamālu al-muṭlaqu,

You are pure goodness, unalloyed generosity, and unrestricted perfection.

أَسْأَلُكَ بِاسْمِكَ الَّذِي أَفَضْتَ بِهِ النُّورَ⁸⁹ عَلَى الْقَبُولِ وَالْقَوَابِلِ،

ʾasʾaluka bi-ismika al-ladhī ʾafaḍta bihi al-nūra ʿalā al-qabūli wa-al-qawābili,

I ask You by Your Name through which You poured light upon receptivity and all receptive forms,

وَمَحَوْتَ بِهِ ظُلَمَ الْغَوَاسِقِ،

wamaḥawta bihi ẓulama al-ghawāsiqi,

and erased the darknesses of the deepest night,

أَنْ تَمْلَأَ وُجُودِي نُورًا مِنْ نُورِكَ،

ʾan tamlaʾa wujūdī nūran min nūrika,

to fill my existence with a light from Your light,

الَّذِي هُوَ مَادَّةُ كُلِّ نُورٍ، وَغَايَةُ كُلِّ مَطْلُوبٍ،

al-ladhī huwa māddatu kulli nūrin, waghāyatu kulli maṭlūbin,

which is the source of every light and the goal of everything sought,

حَتَّىٰ لَا يَخْفَىٰ عَلَيَّ شَيْءٌ مِمَّا أَوْدَعْتَ فِي ذَرَّاتِ وُجُودِي،

ḥattā lā yakhfā ʿalayya shayʾun mimmā ʾawdaʿta fī dharrāti wujūdī,

so that nothing You have placed within the particles of my existence remains hidden from me.

وَهَبْ لِي لِسَانَ صِدْقٍ مُعَبِّرًا عَنْ شُهُودِ حَقٍّ،

wahab lī lisāna ṣidqin muʿabbiran ʿan shuhūdi ḥaqqin,

Grant me a truthful tongue expressing a true witnessing.

وَاخْصُصْنِي مِنْ جَوَامِعِ الْكَلِمِ بِمَا يَحْصُلُ بِهِ الْإِبَانَةُ وَالْبَلَاغَةُ،

wa-ukhṣuṣnī min jawāmiʿi al-kalimi bimā yaḥṣulu bihi al-ʾibānatu wa-al-balāghatu,

Distinguish me with concise, comprehensive speech that conveys meaning clearly and eloquently.

وَاعْصِمْنِي فِي كُلِّ كَلِمَةٍ مِنْ دَعْوَىٰ مَا لَيْسَ لِي بِحَقٍّ،

wa-iʿṣimnī fī kulli kalimatin min daʿwā mā laysa lī biḥaqqin,

Protect me in every word from claiming what is not truly mine.

وَاجْعَلْنِي عَلَىٰ بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَا وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِي،

wa-ijʿalnī ʿalā baṣīratin ʾanā wamani ittabaʿanī,

Grant clear insight to me and to those who follow me.

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ قَوْلٍ يُوجِبُ حَيْرَةً،

Allāhumma ʾinnī ʾaʿūdhu bika min qawlin yūjibu ḥayratan,

O God, I seek refuge in You from speech that brings bewilderment,

أَوْ يُعْقِبُ فِتْنَةً، أَوْ يُوهِمُ شُبْهَةً،

ʾaw yuʿqibu fitnatan, ʾaw yūhimu shubhatan,

leads to discord, or creates a misleading doubt.

مِنْكَ تُتَلَقَّى الْكَلِمُ، وَعَنْكَ يُؤْخَذُ الْحُكْمُ،

minka tutalaqqā al-kalimu, waʿanka yuʾkhadhu al-ḥukmu,

Words are received from You, and judgement is taken from You.

أَنْتَ مُمْسِكُ السَّمَاءِ، وَمُعَلِّمُ الْأَسْمَاءِ،

ʾanta mumsiku al-samāʾi, wamuʿallimu al-ʾasmāʾi,

You uphold the heaven and teach the Names.

لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ الْوَاحِدُ الْأَحَدُ الْفَرْدُ الصَّمَدُ،

lā ʾilāha ʾillā ʾanta al-wāḥidu al-ʾaḥadu al-fardu al-ṣamadu,

There is no god but You, the One, the uniquely One, the Singular, the eternally Self-Sufficient,

الَّذِي لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ،

al-ladhī lam yalid walam yūlad walam yakun lahu kufuwan ʾaḥadun,

who neither begets nor is begotten, and to whom no one is equal.

وَصَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ،

waṣallā Allāhu ʿalā sayyidinā muḥammadin waʿalā ʾālihi waṣaḥbihi ʾajmaʿīna,

May God bless our master Muḥammad, his family and all his companions.

وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ.

wa-al-ḥamdu li-llāhi rabbi al-ʿālamīna.

Praise belongs to God, Lord of all worlds.

وِرْدُ يَوْمِ السَّبْتِ

wirdu yawmi al-sabti

Saturday daytime prayer

Al-Ghurāb pages 192–193

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ.

bismi Allāhi al-raḥmāni al-raḥīmi.

In the name of God, the All-Merciful, the Ever-Merciful.

وَمَنْ يَعْتَصِمْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدْ هُدِيَ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ،

waman yaʿtaṣim bi-Allāhi faqad hudiya ʾilā ṣirāṭin mustaqīmin,

Whoever holds fast to God has been guided to a straight path.

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَحَلَّنِي حِمَىٰ لُطْفِ اللَّهِ،

al-ḥamdu li-llāhi al-ladhī ʾaḥallanī ḥimā luṭfi Allāhi,

Praise belongs to God, who has brought me into the sanctuary of His subtle kindness.

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَدْخَلَنِي⁹⁰ جَنَّةَ رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ،

al-ḥamdu li-llāhi al-ladhī ʾadkhalanī jannata raḥmati Allāhi,

Praise belongs to God, who has brought me into the garden of His mercy,

الَّذِي أَجْلَسَنِي فِي مَقَامِ مَحَبَّةِ اللَّهِ،

al-ladhī ʾajlasanī fī maqāmi maḥabbati Allāhi,

who has seated me at the station of love for God.

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَذَاقَنِي مِنْ مَوَائِدِ مَدَدِ اللَّهِ،

al-ḥamdu li-llāhi al-ladhī ʾadhāqanī min mawāʾidi madadi Allāhi,

Praise belongs to God, who has given me a taste from the tables of His sustaining gifts.

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي وَهَبَ لِي⁹¹ لَطَافَةَ الْإِضَافَةِ لِاصْطِفَاءِ اللَّهِ،

al-ḥamdu li-llāhi al-ladhī wahaba lī laṭāfata al-ʾiḍāfati li-iṣṭifāʾi Allāhi,

Praise belongs to God, who has granted me the subtle grace of being related to His choosing.

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي سَقَانِي مِنْ مَوَارِدِ وَارِدِ وَفَاءِ اللَّهِ،

al-ḥamdu li-llāhi al-ladhī saqānī min mawāridi wāridi wafāʾi Allāhi,

Praise belongs to God, who has given me drink from the springs of His incoming faithfulness.

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي كَسَانِي حُلَلَ صِدْقِ الْعُبُودِيَّةِ لِلَّهِ،

al-ḥamdu li-llāhi al-ladhī kasānī ḥulala ṣidqi al-ʿubūdiyyati li-llāhi,

Praise belongs to God, who has clothed me in the robes of sincere servanthood to Him.

كُلُّ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَىٰ مَا فَرَّطْتُ فِي جَنْبِ اللَّهِ، وَضَيَّعْتُ مِنْ حُقُوقِ اللَّهِ،

kullu dhālika ʿalā mā farraṭtu fī janbi Allāhi, waḍayyaʿtu min ḥuqūqi Allāhi,

All this, despite my neglect of what is due to God and my failure to fulfil His rights.

فَذَٰلِكَ الْفَضْلُ مِنَ اللَّهِ، وَمَنْ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ.

fadhālika al-faḍlu mina Allāhi, waman yaghfiru al-dhunūba ʾillā Allāhu.

This is grace from God. Who forgives sins but God?

إِلَٰهِي إِنْعَامُكَ عَلَيَّ بِالْإِيجَادِ مِنْ غَيْرِ جِهَادٍ وَلَا اجْتِهَادٍ،

ʾilāhī ʾinʿāmuka ʿalayya bi-al-ʾījādi min ghayri jihādin walā ijtihādin,

My God, You granted me existence without any struggle or effort on my part;

جَرُؤَتْ⁹²،⁹³ مَطَامِعِي مِنْ كَرَمِكَ عَلَىٰ بُلُوغِ الْمُرَادِ،

jaruʾat maṭāmiʿī min karamika ʿalā bulūghi al-murādi,

through Your generosity, my hopes have grown bold enough to seek fulfilment of my desire,

مِنْ غَيْرِ اسْتِحْقَاقٍ لِي وَلَا اسْتِعْدَادٍ،

min ghayri istiḥqāqin lī walā istiʿdādin,

without any entitlement or readiness of my own.

أَسْأَلُكَ بِوَاحِدِ الْآحَادِ، وَمَشْهُودِ الْإِشْهَادِ،

ʾasʾaluka biwāḥidi al-ʾāḥādi, wamashhūdi al-ʾishhādi,

I ask You by the One of all ones, and the Witnessed of all witnessing,

سَلَامَةَ مِنَحِ الْوِدَادِ، مِنْ مِحْنَةِ الْبِعَادِ،

salāmata minaḥi al-widādi, min miḥnati al-biʿādi,

to keep the gifts of loving closeness safe from the trial of separation;

وَمَحْوَ ظُلْمَةِ الْعِنَادِ، بِنُورِ شَمْسِ الرَّشَادِ،

wamaḥwa ẓulmati al-ʿinādi, binūri shamsi al-rashādi,

to erase the darkness of obstinacy through the light of the sun of right guidance;

وَفَتْحَ أَبْوَابِ السَّدَادِ، بِأَيْدِي مَدَدِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَطِيفٌ بِالْعِبَادِ،

wafatḥa ʾabwābi al-sadādi, biʾaydī madadi ʾinna Allāha laṭīfun bi-al-ʿibādi,

and to open the doors of rightness through the helping hands of “God is indeed gentle with His servants”.

رَبِّ أَسْأَلُكَ فَنَاءَ أَيْنِيَّةِ وُجُودِي، وَبَقَاءَ أُمْنِيَّةِ شُهُودِي،⁹⁴

rabbi ʾasʾaluka fanāʾa ʾayniyyati wujūdī, wabaqāʾa ʾumniyyati shuhūdī,

My Lord, I ask You that the “where” of my existence may pass away, while the aspiration of my witnessing abides;

وَفِرَاقَ بَيْنِيَّةِ شَاهِدِي وَمَشْهُودِي، بِجَمْعِ عَيْنِيَّةِ مَوْجُودِي لِوُجُودِي،

wafirāqa bayniyyati shāhidī wamashhūdī, bijamʿi ʿayniyyati mawjūdī liwujūdī,

that the separation between my witness and what I witness may depart, through gathering the very identity of my existent self into my existence.

سَيِّدِي، سَلِّمْ عُبُودِيَّتِي بِحَقِّكَ مِنْ عَمَىٰ عَمَاءِ وَهْمِ رُؤْيَةِ الْأَغْيَارِ،

sayyidī, sallim ʿubūdiyyatī biḥaqqika min ʿamā ʿamāʾi wahmi ruʾyati al-ʾaghyāri,

My Master, preserve my servanthood through Your truth from the blinding obscurity of imagining that I see independent others.

وَأَلْحِقْ بِي كَلِمَتَكَ السَّابِقَةَ لِلْمُصْطَفَيْنَ الْأَخْيَارِ،

waʾalḥiq bī kalimataka al-sābiqata li-l-muṣṭafayna al-ʾakhyāri,

Let Your prior word to the chosen and the good reach me also.

وَاغْلِبْ عَلَىٰ أَمْرِي بِاخْتِيَارِكَ فِي جَمِيعِ الْأَطْوَارِ وَالْأَوْطَارِ،

wa-ighlib ʿalā ʾamrī bi-ikhtiyārika fī jamīʿi al-ʾaṭwāri wa-al-ʾawṭāri,

Let Your choosing prevail over my affairs in every stage and every desire.

وَانْصُرْنِي بِالتَّوْحِيدِ وَالِاسْتِوَاءِ فِي الْحَرَكَةِ وَالِاسْتِقْرَارِ،

wa-unṣurnī bi-al-tawḥīdi wa-al-istiwāʾi fī al-ḥarakati wa-al-istiqrāri,

Support me through the realization of unity and through balance in movement and repose.

حَبِيبِي أَسْأَلُكَ سَرِيعَ الْوِصَالِ، وَبَدِيعَ الْجَمَالِ،

ḥabībī ʾasʾaluka sarīʿa al-wiṣāli, wabadīʿa al-jamāli,

My Beloved, I ask You for swift reunion and wondrous beauty,

وَمَنِيعَ الْجَلَالِ، وَرَفِيعَ الْكَمَالِ، فِي كُلِّ حَالٍ وَمَآلٍ،

wamanīʿa al-jalāli, warafīʿa al-kamāli, fī kulli ḥālin wamaʾālin,

invincible majesty and lofty perfection, in every state and final outcome.

يَا مَنْ هُوَ هُوَ⁹⁵ يَا هُوَ وَيَا مَنْ لَيْسَ إِلَّا هُوَ،

yā man huwa huwa yā huwa wayā man laysa ʾillā huwa,

O You who are He, He; O He, O You beside whom there is none but He.

أَسْأَلُكَ اللَّهُمَّ بِالْغَيْبِ الْأَطْلَسِ، بِالْعَيْنِ الْأَقْدَسِ،

ʾasʾaluka Allāhumma bi-al-ghaybi al-ʾaṭlasi, bi-al-ʿayni al-ʾaqdasi,

I ask You, O God, by the unmarked unseen, by the most holy Essence,

فِي اللَّيْلِ إِذَا عَسْعَسَ، وَالصُّبْحِ إِذَا تَنَفَّسَ،

fī al-layli ʾidhā ʿasʿasa, wa-al-ṣubḥi ʾidhā tanaffasa,

in the night as it draws on, and the dawn as it breathes:

إِنَّهُ لَقَوْلُ رَسُولٍ كَرِيمٍ،

ʾinnahu laqawlu rasūlin karīmin,

it is indeed the word of a noble messenger,

ذِي قُوَّةٍ عِنْدَ ذِي الْعَرْشِ مَكِينٍ، مُطَاعٍ ثَمَّ أَمِينٍ،

dhī quwwatin ʿinda dhī al-ʿarshi makīnin, muṭāʿin thamma ʾamīnin,

endowed with power, firmly placed with the Lord of the Throne, obeyed there and trustworthy;

بِلِسَانٍ عَرَبِيٍّ مُبِينٍ، وَإِنَّهُ لَتَنْزِيلُ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ،

bilisānin ʿarabiyyin mubīnin, waʾinnahu latanzīlu rabbi al-ʿālamīna,

in a clear Arabic tongue; it is indeed a revelation from the Lord of all worlds.

حُكْمَ⁹⁶ مُحْكِمِ الْأَمْرِ بِرُوحِهِ الْمَكْنُونِ فِي صِيَغِ التَّبْيِينِ، بِصُنْعِ التَّمْكِينِ،⁹⁷

ḥukma muḥkimi al-ʾamri birūḥihi al-maknūni fī ṣiyaghi al-tabyīni, biṣunʿi al-tamkīni,

I ask for the judgement of the One who orders all affairs, through His hidden spirit expressed in forms of clarification and the work of firm establishment.

وَأَسْأَلُكَ اللَّهُمَّ حَمْلَ ذَٰلِكَ لِذَاتِي عَلَىٰ يَدِ نَسِيمِ حَيَاتِي،

waʾasʾaluka Allāhumma ḥamla dhālika lidhātī ʿalā yadi nasīmi ḥayātī,

I ask You, O God, that this may be carried to my own being upon the hand of the breeze of my life,

بِأَرْوَاحِ تَحِيَّاتِي، فِي صَلَوَاتِكَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ، وَتَسْلِيمَاتِكَ الدَّائِمَاتِ،

biʾarwāḥi taḥiyyātī, fī ṣalawātika al-ṭayyibāti, wataslīmātika al-dāʾimāti,

through the spirits of my salutations, within Your pure blessings and Your enduring gifts of peace,

عَلَىٰ وَسِيلَةِ حُصُولِ الْمَطَالِبِ، وَوُصْلَةِ وُصُولِ الْحَبَائِبِ،

ʿalā wasīlati ḥuṣūli al-maṭālibi, wawuṣlati wuṣūli al-ḥabāʾibi,

upon him who is the means by which requests are fulfilled and the bond through which the beloved are reached,

وَعَلَىٰ كُلِّ مَنْسُوبٍ إِلَيْهِ فِي كُلِّ الْمَرَاتِبِ،

waʿalā kulli mansūbin ʾilayhi fī kulli al-marātibi,

and upon everyone related to him at every level.

إِلَٰهَ الْحَقِّ الْمُبِينِ، وَاجْعَلْنَا مِنْ خَوَاصِّهِمْ آمِينَ،

ʾilāha al-ḥaqqi al-mubīni, wa-ijʿalnā min khawāṣṣihim ʾāmīna,

O God of manifest truth, make us among their intimates. Amen.

وَصَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ،

waṣallā Allāhu ʿalā sayyidinā muḥammadin waʿalā ʾālihi waṣaḥbihi ʾajmaʿīna,

May God bless our master Muḥammad, his family and all his companions.

وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ،

wa-al-ḥamdu li-llāhi rabbi al-ʿālamīna,

Praise belongs to God, Lord of all worlds.

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّكَ رَبِّ الْعِزَّةِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ،

subḥāna rabbika rabbi al-ʿizzati ʿammā yaṣifūna,

Glory be to your Lord, Lord of might, beyond what they ascribe to Him.

وَسَلَامٌ عَلَى الْمُرْسَلِينَ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ.

wasalāmun ʿalā al-mursalīna, wa-al-ḥamdu li-llāhi rabbi al-ʿālamīna.

Peace be upon the messengers, and praise belongs to God, Lord of all worlds.

الْخَاتِمَةُ الْوَارِدَةُ فِي النُّسْخَةِ الْمُسْتَقِلَّةِ

al-khātimatu al-wāridatu fī al-nuskhati al-mustaqillati

Closing text in the separate copy

Separate copy page 40

وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَىٰ خَاتَمِ النَّبِيِّينَ.

wa-al-ḥamdu li-llāhi rabbi al-ʿālamīna, wa-al-ṣalātu wa-al-salāmu ʿalā khātami al-nabiyyīna.

Praise belongs to God, Lord of all worlds; blessings and peace upon the Seal of the Prophets.

تَمَّتْ أَوْرَادُ الْأَيَّامِ السَّبْعَةِ وَاللَّيَالِي السَّبْعَةِ لِلشَّيْخِ الْأَكْبَرِ وَالْكِبْرِيتِ الْأَحْمَرِ،

tammat ʾawrādu al-ʾayyāmi al-sabʿati wa-al-layālī al-sabʿati li-l-shaykhi al-ʾakbari wa-al-kibrīti al-ʾaḥmari,

Here end the prayers of the seven days and seven nights of the Greatest Master and the Red Sulphur,

الْقُطْبِ الشَّهِيرِ مَوْلَانَا مُحْيِي الدِّينِ ابْنِ الْعَرَبِيِّ،

al-quṭbi al-shahīri mawlānā muḥyī al-dīni ibni al-ʿarabiyyi,

the renowned spiritual pole, our master Muḥyī al-Dīn Ibn al-ʿArabī.

قَدَّسَ اللَّهُ سِرَّهُ وَنَوَّرَ ضَرِيحَهُ، وَنَفَعَنَا بِمَدَدِهِ وَعُلُومِهِ، آمِينَ.

qaddasa Allāhu sirrahu wanawwara ḍarīḥahu, wanafaʿanā bimadadihi waʿulūmihi, ʾāmīna.

May God sanctify his secret, illuminate his tomb, and benefit us through his spiritual support and knowledge. Amen.

وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ.

wa-al-ḥamdu li-llāhi rabbi al-ʿālamīna.

Praise belongs to God, Lord of all worlds.

1. Source p. 173, note 3. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads Allāhumma, “O God.”

2. Source p. 173, note 4. Al-Ghurāb: these words are an addition in one copy.

3. Source p. 173, note 5. Al-Ghurāb: an addition in one copy.

4. Source p. 173, note 6. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads ilāh, “god,” in place of huwa, “He.”

5. Source p. 173, note 7. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads ʿizzatika, “Your might.”

6. Source p. 173, note 8. Al-Ghurāb: ilāhī, “my God,” is an addition in one copy.

7. Source p. 174, note 1. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads fāʾiqan, “surpassing.”

8. Source p. 174, note 2. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads, “with the poverty of poverty, longing leading it and yearning driving it onwards.”

9. Source p. 174, note 3. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads ilāhī, “my God.”

10. Editorial note: the unusual repetition dam al-dam, literally “the blood of blood,” is retained. The English preserves its bodily imagery within the surrounding request for purification; its precise intended force is uncertain.

11. Editorial note: the printed clause is syntactically compressed. The vocalization and English understand His secret as screened beyond apprehension. The consonantal reading is retained; the exact relation between “secret,” “transcendent” and “veil” remains uncertain.

12. Reading note: this paradox belongs to the prayer's account of divine reality and its veiling in forms. “Other” describes how things appear under that veil. The line is descriptive within that metaphysical argument; it is not phrased as an instruction to worship created objects.

13. Source p. 175, note 1. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads al-barāyā, “created beings.”

14. Source p. 175, note 2. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads khazāʾin, “treasuries.”

15. Source p. 175, note 3. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reverses the word order to naẓarun minnī, “a gaze of mine.”

16. Source p. 175, note 4. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads maljaʾ, “refuge.”

17. Source p. 175, note 5. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads ʿamal, “deed.”

18. Source p. 176, note 1. Al-Ghurāb: an addition in one copy.

19. Source p. 176, note 2. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads al-ṭalab, “seeking.”

20. Source p. 176, note 3. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads al-qaṣdu lā yaṣduqu, “the intention is not true.”

21. Source p. 176, note 4. Al-Ghurāb identifies this intimate prayer in Kitāb al-Masāʾil, question 95.

22. Editorial note: shakl is understood here as a difficulty or problem, giving “How can this difficulty be resolved?” The compressed wording allows uncertainty in its construction.

23. Source p. 176, note 5. Al-Ghurāb: an addition in one copy.

24. Source p. 176, note 6. Al-Ghurāb: another copy adds, “and He is indicated only through Himself.”

25. Source p. 176, note 7. Al-Ghurāb refers to Ibn ʿAṭāʾ Allāh al-Iskandarī's intimate prayer: “What has someone found who has lost You? What has someone lost who has found You?”

26. Reading note: the first person in this passage belongs to the prayer's paradox of witnessing and selfhood. The English preserves that paradox without replacing it with an unqualified identity between the ordinary individual self and God.

27. Source p. 176, note 8. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads wa-al-nasabu nasabī, “and the lineage is my lineage.”

28. Editorial reading: ḥaḍratayi al-shāhidi wa-al-mashhūdi, “the two presences of witness and witnessed,” follows the clear reading on page 8 of the separate copy. The extra wāw after ḥaḍratay in al-Ghurāb, p. 177, is omitted here.

29. Editorial reading: al-mabʿūth, “the one sent,” is adopted from page 9 of the separate copy. Al-Ghurāb, p. 177, prints al-maʿbūd, “the one worshipped.” The reading adopted here is therefore a documented change from the base edition.

30. Editorial note: the printed phrase al-mumayyaz qaṣab al-sabq is grammatically irregular. The English takes it as a description of distinction through precedence. The vocalization supplies a tentative construction, not a verified critical reading.

31. Editorial note: the relative construction and pronoun references in this sentence are difficult. The English understands the outpouring upon a soul as coming through the Prophet's spiritual presence. This interpretation is tentative; the Arabic wording is retained.

32. Source p. 177, note 1. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads, “the exalted one, the honoured Prophet, the friend brought near and blessed.”

33. Source p. 177, note 2. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads wa-maṭlaʿ, “and the rising place.”

34. Source p. 177, note 3. Al-Ghurāb: an addition in one copy.

35. Source p. 178, note 1. Al-Ghurāb: one copy adds the Throne Verse, Qurʾān 2:255.

36. Source p. 178, note 2. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads yuthbitu, “establishes.”

37. Source p. 178, note 3. Al-Ghurāb: “and good pleasure” is absent from some copies.

38. Source p. 178, note 4. Al-Ghurāb: absent from some copies.

39. Source p. 178, note 5. Al-Ghurāb: absent from some copies.

40. Source p. 179, note 1. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads bi-minnatika wa-qudratika, “through Your favour and power.”

41. Source p. 179, note 2. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads “every thing.” He explains that the pronoun in wujūdihi, “its existence,” refers to “every thing” in the preceding clause.

42. Source p. 179, note 3. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads wājiba, “necessary.”

43. Source p. 179, note 4. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads min ladunka, “from Your presence.”

44. Source p. 179, note 5. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads ashbāh, “likenesses.”

45. Source p. 179, note 6. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads jubba, “robe.”

46. Source p. 179, note 7. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads wa-baqāʾī, “and my abiding.”

47. Source p. 179, note 8. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads taqaddasat, “has become holy.”

48. Editorial correction: aʿūdhu bika minnī, “I seek refuge in You from myself,” follows page 14 of the separate copy. Al-Ghurāb, p. 180, prints aʿūdhuka bika minnī, with an additional kāf.

49. Source p. 180, note 1. Al-Ghurāb: omitted in one copy.

50. Editorial note: bi-simāti al-raḥmati al-azal is read as “by the signs of beginningless mercy.” The printed phrase is compressed, and both its vocalization and syntax remain open to question.

51. Source p. 180, note 2. Al-Ghurāb: omitted in one copy.

52. Reading note: the letter imagery is retained. Removing the dot from ghayn (

    غ

    ) gives ʿayn (

    ع

    ). No single explanation of the lām or of “one” becoming “two” is asserted here.

53. Editorial conjecture: the bracketed ʿayn replaces ghaym, “cloud,” printed in al-Ghurāb, p. 181. The separate copy also has ghaym. Dotting the letter ʿayn in ʿanāʾ, “suffering,” yields the consonants of ghināʾ, “sufficiency” or “richness,” with a change of vowels. This makes sense of the verb yuʿjimu, “adds a dot,” but remains a conjectural repair and should not be treated as an established manuscript reading.

54. Source p. 181, note 1. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads, “through Your honouring, ennobling, teaching and nurturing.”

55. Source p. 181, note 2. Al-Ghurāb: another copy adds wa-al-farāʿina, “and the pharaohs.”

56. Source p. 181, note 3. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads ḥifẓika, “Your protection.”

57. Source p. 182, note 1. Al-Ghurāb: an addition in one copy.

58. Source p. 182, note 2. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads wa-ṣrifhum, “and turn them away.”

59. Source p. 182, note 3. Al-Ghurāb: one copy adds, “Protect me by the majesty of Your holiness and glory. You are God; there is no god but You alone, without partner. I bear witness that Muḥammad is Your servant, Your prophet, Your messenger and Your chosen one.”

60. Source p. 182, note 4. Al-Ghurāb explains that this refers to all creatures: the absent one, “the he,” and the present one, “the I.”

61. Source p. 182, note 5. Al-Ghurāb: an addition in one copy.

62. Reading note: these are the separate Qurʾānic letter names Alif Lām Mīm, followed by Qurʾān 3:2. They are recited as letter names, not as a single word. The transliteration does not encode the specialist rules or lengths of Qurʾānic recitation.

63. Source p. 183, note 1. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads wa-yaṭmaʿu, “and aspires.”

64. Translation note: the Arabic literally speaks of superseding “the people of polytheism and religions.” The English takes “people” as referring to their religious ways and understands the religions here as earlier dispensations. These are interpretive clarifications of the compressed wording.

65. Source p. 184, note 1. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads daqāʾiqa ḥaqāʾiqihi, “the subtleties of its realities.”

66. Source p. 184, note 2. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads wa-musabbib, “and the Causer.”

67. Source p. 184, note 3. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads yā bārī, “O Originator.”

68. Source p. 185, note 1. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads al-zaygh, “deviation.”

69. Source p. 185, note 2. Al-Ghurāb: an addition in one copy.

70. Source p. 186, note 1. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads, “Who is the one who sends far away, and who is the one who remains distant?”

71. Editorial note: “Beauty says: ‘You alone’—utter it without restriction” is a tentative reading of al-ḥusnu yaqūlu iyyāka aṭliqhu. The clause is elliptical and its punctuation is editorial. Other syntactic interpretations remain possible.

72. Source p. 186, note 2. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads yataḥallalu, “becomes disentangled.”

73. Source p. 187, note 1. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads bi-sirri, “by the secret of.”

74. Source p. 187, note 2. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads qudratika, “Your power.”

75. Source p. 187, note 3. Al-Ghurāb: one copy adds another yā Allāh, “O God.”

76. Source p. 187, note 4. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads adhkārī, “my remembrances.”

77. Source p. 188, note 1. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads sarmadiyya, “everlasting.”

78. Reading note: “the heavenly fathers” translates a cosmological expression for higher generative principles. The prayer immediately places them among God's servants; it does not speak of parentage of God.

79. Source p. 188, note 2. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads al-mayli ilayhi, “inclining towards it.”

80. Source p. 188, note 3. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads, “and carry me in safety.”

81. Source p. 188, note 4. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads bi-ʿināyatika, “through Your care.”

82. Source p. 189, note 1. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads wa-asbigh, “and bestow abundantly.”

83. Source p. 190, note 1. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads, “Strip me of those attributes of mine that are unbefitting.”

84. Source p. 190, note 2. Al-Ghurāb: absent from one copy.

85. Source p. 190, note 3. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads, “O Protector, O Tender One, O Most Kind.”

86. Source p. 190, note 4. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads al-majd, “glory.”

87. Source p. 190, note 5. Al-Ghurāb: an addition in one copy.

88. Source p. 191, unnumbered note. Al-Ghurāb's critical note, translated here, concerns the sentence “Your Being is my cause” and, in the quotations, the expression “Cause of causes.” It is the editor's comment on the prayer, not part of the prayer itself.

    “This sentence contradicts what the Shaykh expressly states in his books. In al-Futūḥāt, vol. 1, p. 262, he says: ‘The clearest indication of God's unity is His being the cause of the world's existence. Yet revealed law has not authorized applying this expression to Him, so we do not apply it to Him or call upon Him by it.’

    “In vol. 2, p. 122, he says: ‘Do you not see how those who judge by reason have made the world's Originator the Cause of causes? Causality contradicts self-subsisting sustenance.’

    “In vol. 4, p. 54, he says: ‘In my view, the world itself is cause and effect. I do not say that the Real is its cause, as some speculative thinkers do. That is the height of ignorance of the matter: whoever says this has known neither existence nor who the Existent is.’

    “In vol. 4, p. 373, he says: ‘For the people of the religious community, the Real cannot properly be a cause of us, for He was when I was not. Why, then, weary yourself? Only someone ignorant of the proofs speaks of a cause.’

    “In vol. 1, p. 261, he says: ‘A cause demands its effect by its very nature.’ Accordingly, in Kitāb al-Tajalliyāt, disclosure 57, ‘The Disclosure of Causality,’ he says: ‘I saw al-Ḥallāj in this disclosure and asked him, “Ḥallāj, do you consider causality applicable to Him?” I indicated whom I meant. He smiled and said, “You mean the words, ‘O Cause of causes, O Ancient One who has never ceased to be’?” I said, “Yes.” He said, “That is an ignorant person's statement. Know that God creates causes and is not a cause. How could One who was when there was nothing accept causality? He brought things into being from no thing, and now He is as He was when there was nothing—glorious and exalted is He. If He were a cause, He would be bound in a relation; if He were bound in a relation, perfection would not belong to Him. Far exalted is He above what the wrongdoers say.” I said, “This is how I know Him.” He replied, “This is how He should be known. Remain steadfast.”’”

    The volume and page references above are reproduced from al-Ghurāb's note; the separate works have not been independently collated for this document.

89. Source p. 191, note 1. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads al-khayrāt, “good things.”

90. Source p. 192, note 1. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads anzilnī, “cause me to dwell.”

91. Source p. 192, note 2. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads wa-habnī, “and grant me.”

92. Source p. 192, note 3. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads wa-jarat, “and flowed” or “and proceeded.”

93. Editorial note: jaruʾat is vocalized as “grew bold,” with regularized hamza spelling. Al-Ghurāb records wa-jarat, “and flowed” or “and proceeded,” as an alternative.

94. Reading note: the paired terms play on sound: ayniyya, “where-ness”; umniyya, “aspiration”; bayniyya, “betweenness”; and ʿayniyya, “identity” or “the very reality.” The supplied reading umniyya is retained.

95. Source p. 193, note 1. Al-Ghurāb: another copy reads huwa huwa, “He is He.”

96. Source p. 193, note 2. Al-Ghurāb explains that this expression is the accusative object of asʾaluka, “I ask You,” earlier in the prayer.

97. Translation note: “I ask You” is repeated in English to connect this request across the intervening invocations, following al-Ghurāb's grammatical explanation. Muḥkim al-amr is read as “the One who orders all affairs.”