Natural Mystic

Shushtari

Natural, Natural, ay, by God, Natural
Natural, Natural, ay By God, Natural

 

A poor man like me, with a begging bag around my neck
My heart is free of any care
And I like people who are light-hearted
Such is the natural, he is liked by every natural
Natural, Natural, ay, by God, Natural

 

First thing in the morning, when I go out to work
I open my mouth and stretch out my hand
And for me, if I saw my granddad, who is not natural
For me, leaving him be, is only natural
Natural, Natural, ay, by God, Natural

 

I cover my body with needle and thread
of rough wool, which, for me, is a lot
“Who is that guy?” the people ask, bewildered
Still I’m just natural, loved by every Natural
Natural, Natural, ay, by God, Natural

 

My head is shaved and I walk around dazed
I beg in the market or at the mansions
Barefoot, walking the earth, saying: “Give for God’s sake,
some natural bread, to a natural man.”
Natural, Natural, ay, by God, Natural

 

I might sit down and not want to talk
I might lie on the earth as my bed
I graze on the earth’s grass, living well
The Natural one is loved by every Natural
Natural, Natural, ay, by God, Natural

 

I have a begging bag and a sea-shell
And a pot hung on the end of a stick
And my head is polished like a guitar
I walk naturally, naturally used to poverty
Natural, Natural, ay, by God, Natural

 

And when I stop at a town or market, I see the people come up to me
like brothers, their speech is well-intended
You see the Natural welcoming the Natural
Natural, Natural, ay, by God, Natural

 

I don’t fake anything, and I have no rule
I don’t crave food or clothes
and this position, is what every hypocrite needs
A natural poor man, loved by every natural
Natural, Natural, ay, by God, Natural

 

I know no jugde nor ruler
that’s more noble and natural for me
that’s how the high levels are described
A natural heart, in this state it is natural
Natural, Natural, ay, by God, Natural

 

Apart from these deeds, things are incomplete
Whoever humbles himself before a vizier or Sultan
Is arrogant and confused
His garment is natural, and by God, he is natural
Natural, Natural, ay, by God, Natural

 

Tearing the two sleeves, by this I mean, resurrection
Casting the two worlds from my heart
And I take off my two shoes to arrive at the Presence
Abandoning the unnatural is, for me, natural
Natural, Natural, ay, by God, Natural

 

I have a sitting mat that is pure like my heart
and a presence of intimacy with which I polish my cup
and a bunch of bags, a faqīr murabbī*
Natural, Natural, ay, by God, Natural
Natural, Natural, ay, by God, Natural

 

*A poor man (Sufi) who trains others.

 

Original:

 

Bob Marley

Lyrics:

There’s a natural mystic
Blowing through the air
If you listen carefully now you will hear
This could be the first trumpet
Might as well be the last
Many more will have to suffer
Many more will have to die
Don’t ask me why

 

Things are not the way they used to be
I won’t tell no lie
One and all got to face reality now

 

Though I try to find the answer
To all the questions they ask
Though I know it’s impossible
To go living through the past
Don’t tell no lie

 

There’s a natural mystic
Blowing through the air
Can’t keep them down
If you listen carefully now you will hear
Such a natural mystic
Blowing through the air

 

This could be the first trumpet
Might as well be the last
Many more will have to suffer
Many more will have to die
Don’t ask me why

There’s a natural mystic
Blowing through the air
I won’t tell no lie
If you listen carefully now, you will hear
There’s a natural mystic
Blowing through the air

 

Lyrics:

Old Twinkling Lee
Can’t see the right roads when the streets are paved
The old slave mill, might grind slow
But it grinds fine… yeah

[Verse 1]
African Herbsman, why linger on?
Just concentrate cuz heaven lives on
Retired slaveman, will look with a scorn
With a transplanted heart

[Bridge – Bob Marley and the Wailers]

[The Wailers]
Yes how quick we have to part
Yes how quick we have to part

[Bob]
The remembrance… of today… is the sad feeling of tomorrow…

[The Wailers]
Yes how quick we have to part

[Bob]
Oh, oh yeah

[Verse 2]
African Herbsman, seize your time
I’m taking illusion on the edge of my mind
I’m taking losers down through my life
Down through my life, yeah

[Bridge – Bob Marley and the Wailers]

[The Wailers]
Yes how quick we have to part
Yes how quick we have to part

[Bob]
Did they part? Yes they part!
In remembrance of today…

[The Wailers]
Yes how quick we have to part

[Repeat Verse 1]

[Bridge – Bob Marley and the Wailers]

[The Wailers]
Yes how quick we have to part
Yes how quick we have to part

[Bob]
In remembrance, of today, brings sad feelings of tomorrow

[The Wailers]
Yes how quick we have to part

[Bob]
Believe me oh, oh lord I praise

African Herbsman
African Herbsman
African, African Herbsman

Chuang Tzu

 

The flowing of the stream does nothing, but follows its nature
The perfect man does the same with regard to virtue
He does nothing to cultivate it, but all is affected by its presence
He is like the height of Heaven: natural
or the solidity of the Earth
or the brightness of sun and moon—all-natural
There is no need to cultivate this.

 

What is meant by ‘the True Man?’ The True men of old did not reject (the views of) the few; they did not seek to accomplish (their ends) like heroes (before others); they did not lay plans to attain those ends. Being such, though they might make mistakes, they had no occasion for repentance; though they might succeed, they had no self-complacency. Being such, they could ascend the loftiest heights without fear; they could pass through water without being made wet by it; they could go into fire without being burnt; so it was that by their knowledge they ascended to and reached the Tâo.

The True men of old did not dream when they slept, had no anxiety when they awoke, and did not care that their food should be pleasant. Their breathing came deep and silently. The breathing of the true man comes (even) from his heels, while men generally breathe (only) from their throats. When men are defeated in argument, their words come from their gullets as if they were vomiting. Where lusts and desires are deep, the springs of the Heavenly are shallow.

The True men of old knew nothing of the love of life or of the hatred of death. Entrance into life occasioned them no joy; the exit from it awakened no resistance. Composedly they went and came. They did not forget what their beginning bad been, and they did not inquire into what their end would be. They accepted (their life) and rejoiced in it; they forgot (all fear of death), and returned (to their state before life). Thus there was in them what is called the want of any mind to resist the Tâo, and of all attempts by means of the Human to assist the Heavenly. Such were they who are called the True men.

Being such, their minds were free from all thought; their demeanour was still and unmoved; their foreheads beamed simplicity. Whatever coldness came from them was like that of autumn; whatever warmth came from them was like that of spring. Their joy and anger assimilated to what we see in the four seasons. They did in regard to all things what was suitable, and no one could know how far their action would go.

One Love

 

 

Ibn al-Fāriḍ

Translation:

As for my way in love, I have no way
If I neglect my love for a day, then I have left my sect
And if the thought of other than you occurs to me
Inadvertantly, I would consider it as my apostasy
You govern my life as you will,
so do what you will with me, for I have ever only desired you….

 

Original:

عن مذهبي في الحب مالي مذهب                وان ملت يوما عنه فارقت ملتي
وان خطرت لي في سواك ارادة             علي خاطري سهوا , قضيت بردتي
لك الحكم في أمري فما شئت            فأصنعي فلم تك الا فيك لا عنك رغبتي

Unknown Authors

Various positions have those who love from (mere) passion
But I have a unique place, in which I dwell alone.

 

Original:

مذاهب شتى للمحبّين في الهوى            و لي مدهب فرد أعيش به وحدي

 

Our expressions our many,
and your beauty is one
And it is to your beauty
that all of them allude

 

Original:

عباراتنا  شتّى و حسنك واحد      و كلّ إلى ذاك الجمال يشير

Rumi

The sect of Love is different from all other religions
 For lovers, their sect and religion is simply God

 

Original:

ملت عشق از همه دین‌ها جداست
 عاشقان را ملت و مذهب خداست

 

Wisdom is bewildered by the religion of love
Although it knows all other religions

 

Original:

خرد نداند و حیران شود ز مذهب عشق
اگر چه واقف باشد ز جمله مذهب‌ها

 

Bob Marley

Lyrics:

One Love! One Heart!
Let’s get together and feel all right.
Hear the children cryin’ (One Love!);
Hear the children cryin’ (One Heart!),
Sayin’: give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right;
Sayin’: let’s get together and feel all right. Wo wo-wo wo-wo!Let them all pass all their dirty remarks (One Love!);
There is one question I’d really love to ask (One Heart!):
Is there a place for the hopeless sinner,
Who has hurt all mankind just to save his own beliefs?

One Love! What about the one heart? One Heart!
What about – ? Let’s get together and feel all right
As it was in the beginning (One Love!);
So shall it be in the end (One Heart!),
All right!
Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right;
Let’s get together and feel all right.
One more thing!

Let’s get together to fight this Holy Armagiddyon (One Love!),
So when the Man comes there will be no, no doom (One Song!).
Have pity on those whose chances grows t’inner;
There ain’t no hiding place from the Father of Creation.

Sayin’: One Love! What about the One Heart? (One Heart!)
What about the – ? Let’s get together and feel all right.
I’m pleadin’ to mankind! (One Love!);
Oh, Lord! (One Heart) Wo-ooh!

Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right;
Let’s get together and feel all right.
Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right;
Let’s get together and feel all right.

I looked and all I saw was you…

 

Translation:

If the meaning of your speech is not for me, then I don’t know
For my heart will not be cured and my liver’s fire will not be quenched
I looked and I didn’t see any one but you whom I love
If not for you, love would not be sweet for those who love
So when thought unveils you in the retreat of satisfaction
and it disappears, the people say my passions have led me astray
By your life, the lover has not gone astray nor has he erred*
But when they generalized, they made the fatwa miss its mark
If they had seen the meaning of your beauty
just as I saw, with the eye of the heart, they wouldn’t deny the claim
I dropped all shame in your love and
whoever is shameless in love enjoys the pillow talk
I tore the robes of dignity to shreds, exposing myself to you
and so distress becomes sweet in your love
There is no complaint in love even if one’s insides are torn up
and shame on the lovers who complain of your love

 

 

*Paraphrase of Qur’an 53:2

 

 

Original:

إِذا لم يكنْ مَعْنى حديثك لي يُدْرَى             فلا مُهْجْتيِ تُشْفىَ ولا كَبدي تُروَى
نَظرتُ فلم أنْظر سِواكَ أحبُّهُ                  ولَولاكَ ما طَاَب الهَوى لِلَّذي يَهوى
ولَّما اجْتلاَك الفكرُ في خَلوة الرّضا           وغيّبت قال الناس ضَلت بي الاهْوا
لَعمرُك ما ضَلَّ المحبُّ وَما غَوى                ولكَّنهمْ لمَّا عمُوا أخطئوا الفتوى
ولو شَهدوا معنى جمَالِكَ مثْلما              شهدْتُ بعينِ القلبِ ما أنكروا الدَّعوى
خلعت عِذاري في هَواك وَمنْ يكنْ             خليعَ عِذارِ في الهوى سَرَّهُ النجوى
وَمزقتُ أثواب الوقارِ تَهتكا                         عليكَ وطابت في محَبتكَ الْبلوَى
فما في الهْوى شكوىَ ولو مُزِّق الحَشَا         وَعارٌ على العُشاق في حُبِّكَ الشَّكوى

 

 

 

 

Hafiz

The pupil of my eye sees naught but your face
My bewildered heart recalls none but you

مردم دیده ما جز به رخت ناظر نیست
دل سرگشته ما غیر تو را ذاکر نیست

 

In the gangster’s world there is no thought or opinion of self
In this religion, seeing or thinking of yourself is infidelity

 

فکر خود و رای خود در عالم رندی نیست
کفر است در این مذهب خودبینی و خودرایی

 

 

Ibn ‘Arabi-My Beloved

Although not a poem in Arabic, this moving account of Divine “pillow talk” or munājāt (intimate discourses) by Ibn ‘Arabi was beautifully translated by Henri Corbin in poetic form (and modified by me to better correspond to the Arabic).

 

 

Translation:

Listen, O dearly beloved!
I am the sought essence in the cosmos
I am the centre of the circle and its circumference,
I am the compound and the simple
I am the command descending between Heaven and Earth,
I have only created perceptions for you so that by them, you might perceive Me
So if you perceive Me, you perceive yourself.
But you cannot perceive Me through yourself.
It is through My Eyes that you see Me and yourself,
Through your eyes you cannot see Me.


Dearly beloved!
How often I call you and you don’t hear!
How often I show myself to you and you don’t see!
How often I’ve become fragrance and you don’t smell Me,
And tasty food, a but you don’t taste Me!

 

What’s with you that you don’t feel me in the things you touch?
Or sense Me in sweet scents?
Why don’t you see Me? Why don’t you hear Me?
Why? Why? Why?
For you My delights surpass all other delights,
And the pleasure I bring you surpasses all other pleasures.
For you I am lovelier to all loveliness
I am Beauty/beautiful, I am Grace/gracious

 

Dearly beloved!
Love Me, and not other than Me
long for me, concern yourself with me
Don’t worry about anything other than me
Hug me, Kiss me!
Where could you find union like mine?
All that you seek is in it
And I want you for you
but you, you flee from me!

 

Dearly beloved!
You cannot treat Me fairly,
For if you approach Me,
It is because I have approached you.
I am nearer to you than yourself,
Than your soul, than your breath.
Who among creatures
Would treat you as I do?

 

I am jealous of you, over you,
I don’t like to see you with others
Not even with yourself.
Be Mine, be with Me
I will be with you
as you are with Me
while you are not even aware
be for Me as you are in Me,
Though you are not even aware of it.

 

Dearly beloved!
Let us go toward Union.
And if we find the road
That leads to separation,
We will destroy separation.

 

Come! Let us go hand in hand.
Let us enter the presence of the Real.
Let It be our judge
And imprint Its seal upon our union
For ever.

 

From: Henri Corbin. Creative Sufism ‘Alone with the Alone: Creative Imagination in the Sufism of Ibn Arabi, p. 174-75 (modified based on the Arabic original below)

 

Original:

!اسمع يا حبيبي
انا العين المقصودة في الكون
انا نقطة الدائرة ومحيطها
انا مركبها وبسيطها
انا الامر المنزل بين السماء والارض و السماء
ما خلفت لك الادراكات الا لتدركني بها
فاذا ادركتني ادركت نفسك
لا تطمع ان تدركني بادراكك نفسك
بعيني تراني ونفسك
لابعين نفسك تراني
!حبيبي
كم اناديك فلا تسمع؟
كم اتراءى لك فلا تبصر ؟
كم اندرج لك فى الروائح فلا تشم ؟
وفي الطعوم فلا تطعم لى ذوقا؟
ما لك لاتلمسني فى الملموسات ؟
ما لك لاتدركني فى المشمومات ؟
ما لك لاتبصرنى؟
ما لك لاتسمعني؟
ما لك مالك مالك ؟
انا الذ لك من كل ملذوذ
أنا اشهي لك من كل مشتهى
انا احسن لك من كل حسن
انا الجميل
انا المليح
! حبيبي
حبني لا تحب غيري
اعشقني هم في
لا تهم في سواي
ضمّني قبّلني
ما تجد وصولا مثلي
كل يريدك له
وانا اريدك لك
وانت تفر مني
يا حبيبي
ما تنصفني
ان تقربت اليّ
تقربت اليك اضعاف ما تقربت به اليّ
انا اقرب اليك من نفسك و نسفك
من يفعل معك ذلك غيري من المخلوقين
حبيبي
اغار عليك منك
لا احب ان اراك عند الغير
ولاعندك
كن عندى بي
اكن عندك
كما انت عندي
وانت لاتشعر
حبيبي
الوصال الوصال
!تعال
يدي و يدك
ندخل على الحق تعالى
…ليحكم بيننا حكم الابد

 

‘Iraqi and Shushtari—The Wealth of Poverty

‘Iraqi

laylamajnunpersianmin

 

Translation:

I have seen that the lane of piety stretches out,
far, far into the distance;
My dearest friends, can you not show me then
the way of the madman?
Bring me a glass of Magian wine
that I may drink deep
for I have given up all thought
of ascetic piety;
or if the pure wine has all been downed
bring me the cloudy dregs
for thick residue lights up the heart
and illuminates the eyes.
Tuppence for the Sufi meeting house!
I flee the company of the righteous;
fill up a row of glasses with wine
and bring me the first.
I have no rules or regulations,
nor heart nor religion –
only I remain, and you, sitting in the corner
and the wealth of Poverty.
All fear of God, all self-denial I deny;
bring wine, nothing but wine
for in all sincerity I repent
my worship which is but hypocrisy.
Yes, bring me wine, for I have renounced all renunciation
and all my vaunted self-righteousness
seems to me but swagger and self-display.
Now for a time let my proof be wine
against the sorrow of Time
for only in drunkenness can one be free
of the hour’s grief.
Once I am thoroughly drunk, what difference
if I end up in a church or in Mecca?
Once I’ve abandoned myself, what matter
if I win Union – or separation?
I’ve been to the gambling house and seen
that the losers there are pure;
I’ve been to the monastery and have found
no one but hypocrites.
Now I’ve broken my repentance, at least
do not break our covenant:
at least welcome this broken heart and say
“How are you? Where have you been?”
I’ve been to Mecca, to circle the Kaaba
but they refused me entrance
saying “Off with you!  What merit have you earned
outside, that we should admit you within?”
Then, last night, I knocked
at the tavern door;
from within came a voice: “‘Iraqi! Come in!
for you are one of the chosen!”

 

from the introduction to Divine Flashes
translation by William Chittick and Peter Wilson

 

squarekuficmosque

 

Original:
پسرا، ره قلندر سزد ار به من نمایی
که دراز و دور دیدم ره زهد و پارسایی
پسرا، می مغانه دهی ار حریف مایی
که نماند بیش ما را سر زهد و پارسایی
قدحی می مغانه به من آر، تا بنوشم
که دگر نماند ما را سر توبهٔ ریایی
می صاف اگر نباشد، به من آر درد تیره
که ز درد تیره یابد دل و دیده روشنایی
کم خانقه گرفتم، سر مصلحی ندارم
قدح شراب پر کن، به من آر، چند پایی؟
نه ره و نه رسم دارم، نه دل و نه دین، نه دنیی
منم و حریف و کنجی و نوای بی‌نوایی
نیم اهل زهد و توبه به من آر ساغر می
که به صدق توبه کردم ز عبادت ریایی
تو مرا شراب در ده، که ز زهد تو به کردم
ز صلاح چون ندیدم جز لاف و خودنمایی
ز غم زمانه ما را برهان ز می زمانی
که نیافت جز به می کس ز غم زمان رهایی
چو ز باده مست گشتم، چه کلیسیا، چه کعبه؟
چو به ترک خود بگفتم، چه وصال و چه جدایی؟
به قمارخانه رفتم همه پاکباز دیدم
چو به صومعه رسیدم همه یافتم دغایی
چو شکست توبهٔ من، مشکن تو عهد، باری
به من شکسته دل گو که: چگونه‌ای؟ کجایی؟
به طواف کعبه رفتم به حرم رهم ندادند
که برون در چه کردی، که درون خانه آیی؟
در دیر می‌زدم من، ز درون صدا بر آمدکه: درآی،
ای عراقی، که تو خود حریف مایی

 

 

Shushtari

 

Translation:

We come to you in poverty, not riches, for you are the generous one.

You accustomed us to every grace, may your grace endure.

These poor disheveled souls of yours are drenched
in your love, because it is the utmost of desires.

There is no one in richness like you
and in poverty there are none like us.

We see you manifest in everything; nothing is ours.

I hid your name out of jealousy. Look at me, lost on a mountain trail and a slope.

Since you are always with me,
I have no need to carry provisions: I am rich.

For you, you are the truth, there is no other
and I – would that I knew – who am I?

From Alvarez, L.M. Abū al-Ḥasan al-Shushtarī: Songs of Love and Devotion, (New York, Paulist Press, 2009), p. 69

 

 

Original:
أتيناك بالفقر لا بالغنى    وأنت الذي لم تزل محسنّا
وعوّدتنا كلّ فضل عسى      يدوم الذي منك عوّدتنا
مسا كينك الشعث قد موهوا      بحبك إذ هو أقصى المنى
فما في الغنى واحد مثلكم      و في الفقر لا عصبة مثلنا
رأيناك في كلّ أمر بدا      وليس من الأمر شيء لنا
سترت اسمكم غيرة ها أنا      أموه بالشعب والمنحنى
إذا كنت في كلّ حال معي      فعن حمل زادي أنا في غنى
فأنتم هم الحق لا غيركم      فياليت شعري أنا من أنا

O you present in my heart…

benyousefmadrasa

dalailkhayratmaghribi

Translation:

O you present in my heart, thinking of you makes me sweet
If no one ever visits my eye, then my heart will take its place for me
I am not gone, but my body is vanishing from wasting away
So no blamer found me, and no chaperone/rival saw me
Had the era known about me, people would have come to me
Nothing remains but passion, ask it about me, and it will answer for me

 

8-khalili-leiden_mss-1138-fol-44b-45a_sandal

 

Orignal:

يَا حاضِراً في فُؤادي ** بِالفكرِ فِيكمْ أطيبُ
إِنْ لمْ يزُرْ شخصُ عيني ** فالقلبُ عِندي ينُوبُ
مَا غِبتُ لَكِنَّ جِسْمي ** من النُّحول يذوبُ
فَلمْ يَجدْني عذولٌ ** وَلاَ رآنِي رَقِيبُ
وَلوْ دَرَى الدَّهْرُ ** عَنِّي جَاءت إِلىَّ شعُوبُ
لَمْ يَبْقَ غَيْرُ غَرامٍ ** فَسَلهُ عَنِّي يِجُيبُ

 

alhambrawall

Original:

Hey you hiding in my heart

I am happy when you’re near

You, my life, my joy and art

Who’s the image, who’s the mirror?

kullushayhalik

Du’a Nasiri الدعاء الناصري

Du’a Nāṣiri

 

Translation:

O You to Whose mercy one flees!
You in Whom the one in need and distress seeks refuge!
O Master, You Whose pardon is near!
O You Who help all who call on Him!
There is nothing more majestic than Your immense power
and nothing mightier than the might of Your force.
Kings are humbled to the might of Your domain
 and You lower or elevate whomever You wish.
The entire affair returns to You,
and the release or conclusion of all matters is in Your hand.
We have presented our affair before You,
and we complain to You of our weakness.
Have mercy on us, O You Who know our weakness
and continue to be merciful.
Look at what we have experienced from people!
Our state among them is as You see.
Our troops are few and our wealth is little.
Our power has declined among groups.
They have weakened our solidarity and strength
 and diminished our numbers and our preparation.
O You Whose kingdom cannot be pillaged,
give us shelter by Your rank which is never overcome!
O Succour of the poor, we trust in You!
O Cave of the weak, we rely on You!
You are the One on Whom We call to remove our adversities,
and You are the One we hope will dispel our sorrows.
You have such concern for us that we cannot hope
for protection which comes through any other door.
We rush to the door of Your bounty
and You honour the one You enrich by Your gift.
You are the One Who guides when we are misguided.
You are the One who pardons when we slip.
You have full knowledge of all You have created
and encompassing compassion, mercy and forbearance.
There is no one in existence more lowly than we are
nor poorer and more in need of what You have than us.
O you of vast kindness! O You Whose good encompasses all mankind,
and no other is called on!
O Saviour of the drowning! O Compassionate!
O rescuer of the lost! O Gracious Bestower!
Words are lacking, O Hearing, O Answerer!
The cure is difficult, O Swift! O Near!
To you, our Lord, we have stretched out our hands
 and from You, our Lord, we hope for kindness.
Be kind to us in what You decree
and let us be pleased with what pleases You.
O Allah, change the state of hardship
for ease and help us with the wind of victory.
Give us victory over the aggressors
and contain the evil among those who asked for it.
Overpower our enemy, O Mighty, with a force
which disorders them and crushes them.
Overturn what they desire and make their efforts fail,
defeat their armies and unsettle their resolve.
O Allah, hasten Your revenge among them
 They cannot stand before Your power.
O Lord, O Lord, Our protection is by Your love,
and by the might of Your help.
Be for us and do not be against us.
Do not leave us to ourselves for a single instant.
We have no power of defence
nor have we any device to bring about our benefit.
We do not aim for other than Your noble door,
we do not hope for other than Your encompassing bounty.
Thoughts only hope for Your blessing
by the simple fact that you say ‘Be” and it is
O Lord, O Lord, arrival is by You
 to what You have and seeking the means is by You!
O Lord, You are our high pillar of support!
O Lord, You are our impregnable fortress.
O Lord, O Lord, give us security
when we travel and when we remain.
O Lord, preserve our crops and herds,
and preserve our trade and make our numbers more!
Make our land a land of the religion
 and a repose for the needy and the poor.
Give us force among the lands as well as respect,
impregnability and a polity.
Appoint it its might from the protected secret,
and grant it protection by the beautiful veiling.
By sad, qaf and nun,
place a thousand veils in front of it.
By the rank of the light of Your noble Face
and the rank of the secret of Your immense kingdom,
And the rank of ‘la ilaha illa’llah’
and the rank of the Best of Creation, O our Lord,
And the rank of that by which the Prophets prayed to You
and the rank of that by which the Saints pray to you,
And the rank of the power of the Qutb and the Awtad
and the rank of the Jaras and Afrad,
And the rank of the Akhyar and the rank of Nujaba’
 and the rank of the Abdal and the rank of the Nuqaba’,
And the rank of every one worshipping and doing dhikr
and the rank of everyone praising and giving thanks,
And the rank of everyone whose worth You elevated
both those who are concealed and those whose renown has spread,
And the ranks of the established ayats of the Book
and the rank of the Greatest Supreme Name,
O Lord, O Lord, make us stand as fuqara’
before You, weak and lowly.
We call to You with the supplication of the one
who calls on a noble Lord who does not turn aside those who call.
Accept our supplication with Your pure grace,
with the acceptance of someone who sets aside the fair reckoning.
Bestow on us the favour of the Generous,
and show us the kindness of the Forbearing.
O Merciful, extend Your mercy over us
and spread Your blessing over us, O Generous.
Choose for us in all our words
and select for us in all our actions.
O Lord, make it our habit to cling and devote ourselves
to the resplendent Sunna.
Confine our manifold desires to You
and grant us full and complete gnosis.
Combine both knowledge and action for us,
and direct our hopes to the Abiding Abode.
O Lord, make us follow the road of the fortunate
and make our seal the Seal of the martyrs, O Lord!
Make our sons virtuous and righteous,
scholars with action and people of good counsel.
O God, remedy the situation of the people
and, O God, make the reunification easy.
O Lord, grant Your clear victory to the one
who takes charge and empowers the religion,
And help him, O You Who are forbearing, and help his party
and fill his heart with what will make him pleasing to you.
O Lord, help our Muhammadan religion
and make it end mighty as it began.
Preserve it, O Lord, through the preservation of the scholars,
and raise the minaret of its light to heaven.
Pardon, grant well-being, make up for our deficiency
and forgive our sins and the sins of every Muslim, O our Lord.
O Lord, bless the Chosen one
with your perfect prayer of blessing.
Your prayer is that which grants success in his affair
 as befits his lofty worth.
Then bless his noble family and glorious Companions
and those who have followed them.
Praise belongs to Allah by whose praise
 those with an aim completely fulfil that aim.

-Translation by Aisha Bewley from http://www.bogvaerker.dk/NasiriDua.pdf

 

Original:

يَـــا مَـــنْ إلَـــى رَحْـمَـتِـهِ الْـمَـفَـرُّ        ومَـــنْ إلَــيْــهِ يَـلْـجَــأُ الْـمُـضَّـطَـرُ
وَيَــا قَـرِيــبَ الْـعَـفْـوِ يَـــا مَـــوْلاَهُ      وَيَـــا مُـجِـيـبَ كُـــلِّ مَـــن دَعَــــاهُ
بِـكَ اسْتَغَثْـنَـا يَــا مُغِـيـثَ الضُّعَـفَـا      فَحَسْـبُـنَـا يَـــا رَبِّ أَنـــت وَكَــفَــى
فَــلاَ أَجَــلَّ مِـــن عـظـيـم قُـدْرَتِــكْ      وَلاَ أَعَــزَّ مِــنْ عَـزِيــزِ سَـطْـوَتِـكْ
لـعــز مُـلْـكِـكَ الْـمُـلُــوكُ تَـخْـضَــعُ      تَخْفِـضُ قـدر مَـن تَـشَـاءُ وَتَـرْفَـعُ
وَالأَمْـــــــرُ كُـــلُّــــهُ إلَـــيْــــك رَدُّهُ      وَبِــيَــدَيْـــكَ حَـــلُّــــهُ وَعَــــقْــــدُهُ
ونـحـن قــد رفعـنـا أَمْـرَنَــا إلـيــك      وَقَــــدْ شَـكَـوْنَــا ضَـعْـفَـنَـا إلَــيْــكَ
فَارْحَمْنَـا يَـا مَـن لاَ يَــزَالُ عَالِـمًـا      بـحـالــنــا وَلاَ يَــــــزَالُ رَاحِـــمـــاً
وَانْظُرْ إلَى مَـا مَسْنَـا مـن الْـوَرَى      فَحَالُـنَـا مِــن بَيْنِـهِـمْ كَـمَــا تَـــرَى
قـــد قـــل وفـرنــا و قـــل جـمـنــا      وانحـط مـا بيـن الجـمـوع قـدرنـا
واستضعـفـونـا شــــدة وشــوكــة      وستـنـقـصـونـا عـــــدة وعــــــدة
وَنَـحْـنُ يَــا مَــن مُلْـكُـهُ لاَ يُسْـلَـبُ      لُـذْنَــا بِـجَـاهِـكَ الَّـــذِي لاَ يُـغْـلَــبُ
إلَـيْـكَ يَــا غَــوْثَ الذَّلِـيـلِ نَسْـتَـنِـدْ      عَلَيْـكَ يَـا كَهْـفَ الضَّعِيـفِ نَعْتَـمِـدْ
مِـنـكَ الْعِنَـايَـةُ الْـتِــي لاَ نَـرْتَـجِـي      حِمَـايَـةً مِــنْ غَـيْـرِ بَابِـهَـا تَـجِــي
أَنـــتَ الَّـــذِي تَـهْــدِي إذَا ضَلََـلْـنَـا      أَنـــتَ الَّــــذِي تَـعْـفُــو إذَا زَلَـلْـنَــا
يَا وَاسِـعَ الإحْسَـانِ يَـا مَـنْ خَيْـرُهُ      عَــمَّ الْــوَرَى وَلاَ يُـنَــادَى غَـيْــرُهُ
وَسِـعْـتَ كُــلَّ مَـــا خَـلَـقْـتَ عِـلْـمًـا      وَرَأْفَــــــةً وَرَحْـــمَـــةً وَحِــلْــمًـــا
وَقَـــــدْ مَــدَدْنَـــا رَبَّــنَـــا الأَكُــفَّـــا      وَمِـنــكَ رَبَّـنَــا رَجَــوْنَــا الـلُّـطْـفَـا
فَــأَبْــدِلِ الـلَّـهُــمَّ حَــــالَ الْـعُــسْــرِ      بِالْيُـسْـرِ وَامْـدُدْنَـا بِـرِيـحِ النَّـصْـرِ
وَاَجْعَـلْ لَنَـا عَـلَـى الْبُـغَـاةِ الْغَلَـبَـهْ      وَاقْصُرْ أَذَى الشَّرِّ عَلَى مَنْ طَلَبَـهْ
وَاَنْصُـرْ حِمَـانَـا يَــا قَــوِيُّ نَـصْـرا      وَاقْـهَـرْ عِـدَانَـا يَــا عَـزِيـزُ قَـهْــرا
وَاعْكِسْ مُرَادَهُـمْ وَخَيِّـبْ سَعْيَهُـمْ      وَاهْـزِمْ جُمُوعَهُـمْ وَأَفْسِـدْ رَأْيَـهُـمْ
وَعَـجِّــل الـلَّـهُـمَّ فِـيـهِــمْ نِـقْـمَـتَـكْ      فَـإنَّـهُــمْ لاَ يُـعْــجِــزُونَ قُــدْرَتَـــكْ
وَكُــــنْ لَــنَــا وَلاَ تَــكُــنْ عَـلَـيْـنَــا      وَلاَ تَـكِــلْــنَــا طَـــرْفَــــةً إلَــيْـــنَـــا
يَـــا رَبِّ يَـــا رَبِّ بِــــكَ الـتَّـوَسُــلُ      لِــمَــا لَــدَيْــكَ وَبِـــــكَ الـتَّــوَصُّــلُ
يَـــا رَبِّ أَنــــتَ رُكْـنُـنَــا الـرَّفِـيــعُ      يَـــا رَبِّ أَنـــتَ حِصْـنُـنَـا الْـمَـنِـيـعُ
يَـــا رَبِّ يَــــا رَبِّ أَنِـلْـنَــا الأَمْــنَــا      إذَا ارْتَــحَــلْــنَـــا وَإذَا أَقَـــمْـــنَــــا
وَاَجْـعَـلْ بِـصَـادٍ وَبِـقَـافٍ وَبِـنُــونْ      أَلْفَـي حِجَـابٍ مِـن وَرَائِـنَـا تَـكُـونْ
بِــــــجَــــــاهِ لاَ إلَـــــــــــــهَ إلاّ اللهُ      وَجَــاهِ خَـيْــرِ الْـخَـلْـقِ يَـــا رَبّـــاهُ
وَجَـــاهِ مَـــا بِـــهِ دَعَـــاكَ الأَنـبِـيَـا      وَجَــاهِ مَـــا بِـــهِ دَعَـــاكَ الأَوْلِـيَــا
وَجَــاهِ كُـــلِّ مَـــن رَفَـعْــتَ قَـــدْرَهُ      مِـمَّـن سَـتَـرْتَ أَوْ أَشَـعْـتَ ذِكْـــرَهُ
وَجَـــاهِ آيَـــاتِ الْـكِـتَـابِ الْمُـحْـكَـمِ      وَجَــاهِ الاسْــمِ الأَعْـظَــمِ الْمُـعَـظَّـمِ
رَبِّ دَعَـوْنَـاكَ دُعَــاءَ مَـــن دَعَـــا      رَبًّــا كَرِيـمـاً لاَ يَــرُدُّ مَــن سَـعَــى
فَاقْبَـلْ دُعَـاءَنَـا بِمَـحْـضِ الْفَـضْـلِ      قُبُـولَ مَــنْ أَلْـقَـى حِـسَـابَ الْـعَـدْلِ
وَامْـنُــنْ عَـلَـيْـنَـا مِــنَّــةَ الْـكَـرِيــمِ      وَاعْـطِـفْ عَلَيْـنَـا عِطْـفَـةَ الْحَـلِـيـمِ
وَانشُـرْ عَلَيْنَـا يَـا رَحِـيـمُ رَحْمَـتَـكْ      وَابْسُـطْ عَلَيْـنَـا يَــا كَـرِيـمُ نِعْمَـتَـكْ
وَخِــرْ لَـنَـا فِـــى سَـائِــرِ الأَقْـــوَالِ      وَاخْتَـرْ لَـنَـا فِــي سَـائِـرِ الأَحْــوَالِ
وَاجْمَـعْ لَنَـا مَـا بَيْـنَ عِلْـمٍ وَعَـمَـلْ      وَاصْرِفْ إلى دَارِ الْبَقَا مِنَّـا الأَمَـلْ
وَانْهَـجْ بِنَـا يَـا رَبِّ نَهْـجَ السُّـعَـدَا      وَاخْتِـمْ لَنَـا يَـا رَبِّ خَـتْـمَ الشُّـهَـدَا
وَأَصْـلِــح الـلَّـهُــمَّ حَــــالَ الأَهْــــلِ      وَيَـسِّــرْ الـلَّـهُـمَّ جَــمْــعَ الـشَّـمْــلِ
وَاقْـضِ لَنَـا أَغْرَاضَـنَـا الْمُخْتَلِـفَـهْ      فِـيــكَ وَعَـرِّفْـنَـا تَـمَــامَ الْمَـعْـرِفَـهْ
يَـا رَبِّ وَانصُـرْ دِينَـنَـا الْمُحَـمَّـدِي      وَاجْـعَـلْ خِـتَـامَ عِــزِّهِ كَـمَـا بُـــدِي
وَاعْفُ وَعَافِ وَاكْفِ وَاغْفِرْ ذَنْبَنَا      وَذَنْـــبَ كُـــلِّ مُـسْـلِـمٍ يَــــا رَبَّــنَــا
وَصَــلِّ يَـــا رَبِّ عَـلَــى الْمُـخْـتَـارِ      صَــلاَتَـــكَ الْـكَـامِــلَــةَ الْــمِــقْــدَارِ
صَــلاَتَــكَ الَّــتِــي تَــفِــي بِــقَــدْرِهِ      كَــمَــا يَـلِـيــقُ بِـارْتِـفَــاعِ ذِكْـــــرِهِ
ثُـــمَّ عَـلَــى الآلِ الْـكِــرَامِ وَعَـلَــى      أَتْبَـاعِـهِ الْـغُــرِّ وَمَـــن لَـهُــمْ تَـــلاَ
وَالْـحَــمْــدُ للهِ الَّـــــذِي بِــحَــمْــدِهِ      يَبْـلُـغُ ذُو الْـقَـصْـدِ تَـمَــامَ قَـصْــدِهِ

 

 

 

 

Hizb al-Nasr

 


Translation, Transliteration and Original:

حزب النصر
Hizb al-Nasr

اللهم بسطوة جبروت قهرك، وبسرعة إغاثة نصرك، وبغيرتك لانتهاك حرماتك، وحمايتك لمن احتمى بآياتك،
Allahumma bisatwati jabarouti qahrika, wa bisorati ighathati nasrika, wa bighayratika li ntihaki horumaika, wa himayatika liman ihtama bi ayatik.
O Allah, by the force of the absolute power with which You triumph, and the quickness of Your succour when You aid to victory, and Your jealousy at the violation of things You have made sacrosanct, and by Your protection of him who seeks safety in Your verses:

 

نسألك يا الله يا سميع يا قريب يا مجيب يا سريع يا منتقم يا شديد البطش يا جبار يا قهار يا من لا يعجزه قهر الجبابرة ولا يعظم عليه هلاك المتمردة من الملوك والأكاسرة أن تجعل كيد من كادنا في نحره ومكر من مكر بنا عائدا عليه، وحفرة من حفر لنا واقعا فيها ومن نصب لنا شبكة الخداع، اجعلها ياسيدي مساقا إليها ومصادا فيها وأسيرا لديها،
Nas’aloka ya Allah,ya Samee’o,ya Qareebo, ya Saree’o, ya Montaqimo, ya Shadeeda l-batshi, ya Jabbaro, ya Qahhar, ya man la yo’jizohu qahro l-jababirati mina l-molooki wa l-akasirah, an taj’ala kayda man kadana fi nahrihi, wa makra man mkara bina ‘a’idan ‘alayhi, wa hofrata man hafara lana waqi’an fiha, wa man nasaba lana shabakata l-khida’i j’alho ya sayyidi mosaqan fiha, wa mosadan fiha, wa ‘aseeran ladayha.
I ask You, O Allah, O All-near, O All-hearing, O All-answering, O Ever-swift, O Vengeful, O Mighty of Assault: O Compeller, O Invincible, O You who are undeterred by the might of tyrants, and to whom the destruction of rebellious traitors, of kings and caesars, is very easy: make the trap of him who sets one for me cut his own throat; the plot of him who plots against me return against him; and make him who digs a pit for me fall in it himself; And he who spreads a web of treachery for me, make him, My Lord, driven to it and caught in it.

 

اللهم بحق كهيعص اكفنا هم العدا ولقهم الردا واجعلهم لكل حبيب فدا. وسلط عليهم عاجل النقمة في اليوم والغدا.
Allahomma bihaqqi Kaf ha ya ‘ayn sad ikfina hamma l-ida. Wa laqqihimo r-rada. Wa j’alhom likolli habibin fida. Wa sallit ‘alayhim ‘ajila n-naqmati fi l-yawmi wa l-ghada.
O Allah, by the right of Kaf Ha Ya ‘Ayn Sad relieve us of the worry of enemies, let them meet with death, make them the ransom of every beloved, and loose upon them a speedy vengeance, day and night.

 

اللهم بدد شملهم. اللهم فرق جمعهم. اللهم أقلل عددهم. اللهم فل حدهم. اللهم اجعل الدائرة عليهم. اللهم وأوصل العذاب إليهم. اللهم أخرجهم عن دائرة الحلم. واسلبهم مدد الإمهال. وغل أيديهم وأرجلهم واشدد على قلوبهم ولا تبلغهم الآمال.
Allahomma baddid shamlahom. Allahomma farriq jam’ahom. Allahomma aqlil adadahom. Allahomma folla haddahom. Allahomma j’ali d-da’irata ‘alayhim. Allahomma awsili l-athaba ilayhim. Allahomma akhrijhom min da’irati l-hilm. Wa slobhom madada l-imhal. Wa gholla aydeehim wa arjolohom, wa shdod ‘ala qoloobihim, wa la toballighohomo l-a’amal.
O Allah, scatter their company; O Allah shatter their unity; O Allah, lessen their number; O Allah, blunt their edge; O Allah, turn fate against them; O Allah, unleash torment upon them; O Allah, banish them from the circle of clemency, and strip them of the benefit of postponement, and fetter their hands and feet, and blind their hearts, and give them no hope.

اللهم مزقهم كل ممزق مزقته لأعدائك انتصارا لأنبيائك ورسلك وأوليائك
Allahomma mazzikhom kolla momazzaqin mazzaqtaho li ‘a’daaika n-tisaran li anbiya’ika wa rosolika wa awliya’k.
O Allah, rend them utterly to pieces, as You have rent Your enemies, to win the day for Your prophets, messengers and You beloved ones.

اللهم انتصر لنا انتصارك لأحبابك على أعدائك (3)
Allahomma n-tassir lana n-tisaraka li ahbabika ‘ala a’daa’ik. (3)
O Allah, give us the victory You give to those You love over Your enemies. (3)

(اللهم لا تمكن الأعداء فينا ولا تسلطهم علينا بذنوبنا (3
Allahomma la tomakkini l-a’daa’a fina, wa la tosallithom ‘alayna bi-thonoobina (3)
O Allah, do not let Your enemies defeat us, nor give them power over us because of our sins. (3)

حم، حم، حم، حم، حم، حم، حم
Ha Mim, Ha Mim, Ha Mim, Ha Mim, Ha Mim, Ha Mim, Ha Mim,
Ha Mim, Ha Mim, Ha Mim, Ha Mim, Ha Mim, Ha Mim, Ha Mim,

حم الأمر وجاء النصر فعلينا لا ينصرون
Homma l-amro wa ja’a n-nasro fa ‘alayna la yonsaroon.
The matter be done; the victory come; against us they shall not be helped.

حمعسق حمايتنا مما نخاف.
Hamim ‘Ayn Sin Qaf himayatona mimma nakhaf.
Ha Mim ‘Ayn Sin Qaf is our protection from what we fear.

اللهم قنا شر الأسواء ولاتجعلنا محلا للبلواء. اللهم أعطنا أمل الرجاء وفوق الأمل.
Allahomma qina sharra l-aswa’i, wa la taj’alna mahallan lil balwa. Allahomma a’tina amala r-raja’i wa fawqa l-amal.
O Allah, shield us from the evil of iniquities, and make us not a place of tribulation. O Allah, give us cause to hope, and more than hope.

يا هو يا هو يا هو
Ya hoo. Ya hoo. Ya hoo
O You, O You, O You,

يا من بفضله لفضله نسألك العجل العجل. إلهي، الإجابة الإجابة.
Ya man bifadhlihi lifadhlihi, nas’aloka l-‘ajala l-‘ajal. Ilahi l-‘ijabata l-ijabah.


O You from whose favor we ask of His favor that it be fast, fast, fast. O my God, An answer, An answer.

يا من أجاب نوحا في قومه، يا من نصر إبراهيم على أعدائه، يا من رد يوسف على يعقوب. يا من كشف ضر أيوب. يا من أجاب دعوة زكريا. يا من قبل تسبيح يونس بن متى.
Ya man ajaba Nouhan fi qawmih, ya man nasara Ibrahim ‘ala a’daa’ih, ya man radda Yousofa ‘ala Ya’qoob, ya man kashafa dhorra Ayyoub, ya man ajaba da’wata Zakariyya, ya man qabila tasbeeha Younosa bni Matta.
O You who answered Noah about his people. O You who made Abraham triumphant over his foes. O You who reunited Joseph with Jacob. O You who lifted the affliction of Job. O You who answered the prayer of Zachariah. O You who accepted the praises of Jonah son of Amittai.

نسألك بأسرار هذه الدعوات أن تقبل ما به دعوناك، وأن تعطينا ما سألناك. أنجز لنا وعدك الذي وعدته لعبادك المؤمنين.
Nas’aloka bi-asrari hathihi d-da’awat an taqbala ma bihi da’awnak, wa an to’tiyana ma sa’alnak Anjiz lana wa’daka l-athi wa’adtaho li ‘ibadika l-mo’mineen.
O Allah, by the secrets of those supplications, beseech You to accept our supplications, and give us what we have asked, and keep Your promise You have given Your believing servants.

لا إله إلا أنت سبحانك إني كنت من الظالمين.
La ilaha illa anta, sobhanaka, inni konto mina dhalimeen.
“There is no god but You. Exalted is Your perfection; verily I was of the wrongdoers”

انقطعت آمالنا وعزتك إلا منك، وخاب رجاؤنا وحقل إلا فيك.
Inqata’at aamalona, wa izzatoka, illa mink. Wa khaba raja’ona, wa haqqoka, illa feek.
Our wishes come to nothing- I swear by Your might- except from You; and our hopes are dashed- I swear by Your right- except in You.

إن أبطأت غارة الأرحام وابتعدت، فأقرب الشيء منا غارة الله.
In abta’at gharato l-arahami wa bta’adat, fa aqrabo sh-shay’i minna gharato l-Lah.
If the rescue raid of kinsmen be slow and far off, the nearest thing to us is the rescue raid of Allah.

يا غارة الله جدي السير مسرعة في حل عقدتنا.
Ya gharata l-Lahi, jiddi s-sayra mosri’atan li halli ‘oqadatina.
O raid of Allah, fly with haste to end our plight.

يا غارة الله عدت العادون وجاروا ورجون الله مجيرا.
Ya gharata l-Lahi, ‘adati l-‘adoon wa jarou, wa rajawna l-Laha mojeera.
O raid of Allah, wrongdoers have assailed us and transgressed; and Allah we seek as protector.

وكفى بالله وليا وكفى بالله نصيرا.
Wa kafa bi l-Lahi waliyan wa kafa bi l-Lahi naseera.
And Allah suffices as friend; and Allah suffices as helper.

وحسبنا الله ونعم الوكيل
Wa hasbona l-Laho wa ni’ma l-wakeel.
“Allah suffices us and is best to rely on”

ولا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله العلي العظيم
Wa la hawla wa la qowata illa bi l-Lahi l-Aliyyi l-Adheem.
“There is no power or strength except through Allah, the High, the All-great”

سلام على نوح في العالمين
Salamon ‘ala Nouhin fi l-‘alameen.
Peace be with Noah among people.

استجب لنا آمين.
Istajib lana, ameen.
Answer us. Ameen.

فقطع دابر القوم الذين ظلموا والحمد لله رب العالمين
Fa qoti’a dabiro l-qawmi l-latheen dhalamoo, wa l-hamdo li-Lahi rabbi l-‘alameen.
“the wrongdoing folk were extirpated, and praise be to Allah Lord of the Worlds”

وصلى الله على سيدنا محمد وعلى آله وصحبه وسلم.
Wa salla l-Laho ‘ala sayyidina Mohammadin wa ‘ala aalihi wa sahbihi wa sallam.
Allah bless our liegelord Mohammad, and his folk and Companions, and truly give them peace.

from: http://webspace.webring.com/people/vm/mutmainaa/victory_dua.html

 

 

My glance at the Beloved’s face…

poemred

Translation:
My glance at the face of the beloved is bliss
and separation from she whom I love is agony to me
I am he who has not been pitied as a lover
until, worn out, I became a mercy for the lovers
O planter of the basil around our tents
Don’t plant the basil for you are not staying
Not all who taste love know love
Not all who drink wine are drinking buddies
Not all who seek happiness attain it
Not all who read the book understand it
My wealth is but a tongue that when I speak I wrong myself
And God knows, I am indeed wronged

 

Original:

نظرى الى وجه الحبيب نعيم
وفراق من أهوى على عظيم

أنا الذي كنت لم أرحــم عـاشــقآ
حتى بليت فصرت بالعاشقين رحيـم
يازارع الـريــحان حـول خيـامـــــنـا
لاتـزرع الريــحـان  لـــست تـقيـــم
ماكل من ذاق الهوى عرف هوئى
ولا كلّ من شرب الـمُـدام  نديــــم
ولاكل من طلب السعادة  نالــها
ولاكل من قـرأ الكـتـاب  فـهـيـــــــم
مالي لسان أن أقول:ظـلـمـتـني
واللـــّــه يـعلم. أنـنـّي مــظـــلـــــوم

 

 

‘Afīf al-dīn Tilimsānī and son

abulabbasalmursi

The disciple of Ibn ‘Arabi, ‘Afīf al-din Tilimsānī (d. 1291), and his son (known as al-Shab al-Ẓarīf, “The Elegant Youth” ) are known and loved for their poetry, some of which is still sung today.  Here I present one poem from the father, and a more famous poem by the son with special thanks to K.M. for help with the translations.

 

‘Afīf al-Dīn al-Tilimsānī

Translation:

Don’t be fooled by the fineness of her cheek
For the sword slays by the fineness of its blade
Leave the eyelids, for their drowsiness has become
a point in the straightened spear of her stature
My sleep, like a gazelle, is constantly fleeing from me
For he unites his opposite with his exile
Frailty flowed into my body from her coldness
And I loved it because it is from her
The enviers were amazed, having seen my drunkenness without limit
while my heart endured the punishment of her limits*
Be easy, for doesn’t the flapping of her sash
resemble my heart or the flame of her cheek?
This is a connection, that were my heart to attain it, ablaze
I would forgive her in its burning
My thanks to my patience with her, for when she betrayed me
I saw betrayal as faithfulness to her promise
My weeping from distance and being crushed
Is a pearl in my hands, not in her necklace
Who can be fair to me in nearness?
for my near one has spurned me, so who then can rescue me from her distance?
O ban tree of the valley, and O its leaves, weep for your branch
since I weep for her loss
you are sad and sad am I—both of us
Today, one who has been pardoned laments his love
My state is like yours, and the neighbor, with his hand on the water
knows its heat from its cold.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Original:

لاَ تُخْدَعَنَّ بِرِقَّةٍ فِي خَدِّهِ                 فَالسَّيْفُ قَتَّالٌ بِرِقْةِ حَدِّهِ
وَدَعِ الجُفُونَ فَإِنَّمَا وَسْنَانُهَا             أَضْحَى سِنَاناً فِي مُثَقَّفِ قَدِّهِ
ظَبْيٌّ حَكَى نَوْمِي دَوَامُ نَفَارِهِ            عَنِّى فَواصَلَ ضِدَّهُ مَعَ صَدِّهِ
وَسَرَى إِلى جِسْمِي الضَّنَا مِن خَصرِهِ               فَهَوِيتُ ذَاكَ لإِنَّهُ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ
عَجِبَ الحَسُودُ وَقَدْ رَأَى سُكْرِي بِلاَ                حَدٍّ وقَلْبِي فِي عُقُوبَةِ حَدِّهِ
خَفِّضْ عَلَيْكَ أَلَيْسَ خَفْقُ وِشَاحِهِ              يَحْكِي فُؤَادِي أَوْ تَلَهُّبُ خَدِّهِ
هِيَ نِسْبَةٌ لَوْ أَنَّ قَلْبِيَ نَالَهَا                   مُتَوَقِّداً لَعَذَرْتُهُ فِي وَقْدِهِ
شُكْرِي لِصَبْرِي عَنْهُ إِذْ هُوَ خَانَنِي             وَرَأَى الخِيَانَةَ كَالْوَفَاءِ بِعَهْدِهِ
ولَمْدَمَعِي بُعْداً وَسَحْقاً إِنَّهُ                دُرٌّ لَدَيَّ ولَمْ يَكُنْ فِي عِقْدِهِ
مَنْ مُنْصِفِي مِنْ قُرْبِهِ فَلَقَدْ أَبَى            قُرْبِي وَمَنْ ذَا مُنْقِذِي مِنْ بُعْدِهِ
يا بَانَةَ الوَادِي وَيَا وَرْقَاءَهُ              نُوحِي لِغُصنِكِ إِذْ أَنُوحُ لِفَقْدِهِ
أَنْتِ الحَزِينَةُ والحَزِينُ أَنَا كِلاَنَا                  اليَوْمَ مَعْذُورٌ يَنُوحُ بِوَجْدِهِ
حَالِي كَحَالِكِ وَالمُجَاوِرُ كَفُّهُ               لِلمَاءِ يَعْرِفُ حَرَّهُ مِنْ بَرْدِهِ

 

al-Shāb al-Ẓarīf (the son)

Translation:

Don’t hide what love does to you
Express your love—for we are all lovers
[Your] love would have stayed hidden if not for your tears
streaming and your heart pounding
Perhaps he to whom you complain of love will help you
in bearing it, for lovers are kind companions
Don’t fret, for you are not the first to fall in love
[many] cheeks and pupils have bravely faced [the tears]
So be patient in separation from the beloved for perhaps
union will return, and love has its ways
How many nights my pupils spent awake in search of union
while my thoughts crowded around me
O Lord, those whom I love are far from me
and separation has become intimate with these dear friends
My fortune with them blackened when
the burning from the fire of love began
The Arabs, I saw that the surest promise with them
is that no promise with them is ever sure
On their she-camels and in their troops is a display
in which there is constant fleeing and hypocrisy
Whenever he remains aloof, those riding behind him attack
his waist with eyes like belts
The eyes gaze at him as he lowers his in silence
for if he looks back, then they all drop, blinking in shame.
 muhammadrasuluLlahkufic

 

Original:

لا تُخْفِ ما صَنَعَتْ بِكَ الأَشْواقُ
وَاشْرَحْ هَواكَ فَكُلُّنَا عُشَّاقُ
قَدْ كَانَ يُخْفي الحُبَّ لَوْلَا دَمْعُكَ ال
جَارِي وَلَوْلا قَلْبُكَ الخَفَّاقُ
فَعَسى يُعينُكَ مَنْ شَكَوْتَ لَهُ الهَوى
في حَمْلِهِ فالعَاشِقُون رِفَاقُ
لا تَجْزَعَنَّ فَلَسْتَ أَوّلَ مُغْرَمٍ
فَتَكَتْ بِهِ الوَجْنَاتُ وَالأَحْدَاقُ
وَاصْبِرْ عَلى هَجْرِ الحَبِيبِ فَرُبَّما
عَادَ الوِصَالُ ولِلْهَوى أَخْلاقُ
كَمْ لَيْلَةٍ أَسْهَرْتُ أَحْداقي بِهَا
مُلْقىً ولِلأَفْكَارِ بِي إِحْدَاقُ
يا رَبِّ قَدْ بَعُدَ الَّذين أُحِبُّهُمْ
عَنِّي وَقَدْ أَلِفَ الرّفاقَ فِراقُ
وَاِسْوَدَّ حَظِّي عِنْدَهُم لَمَّا سَرى
فيهِ بِنَارِ صَبابتِي إِحْرَاقُ
عُرْبٌ رَأَيْتُ أَصَحَّ ميثاقٍ لَهُمْ
أَنْ لا يَصِحَّ لَدَيْهِمُ مِيثَاقُ
وَعَلى النّياقِ وفي الأَكلَّةِ مَعْرِضٌ
فِيهِ نِفارٌ دائمٌ وَنِفاقُ
مَا نَاءَ إِلّا حَارَبَتْ أَرْدافُهُ
خَصْراً عَليهِ مِنَ العُيونِ نِطَاقُ
تَرْنُو العُيونُ إِليه في إطْراقِهِ
فَإِذَا رَنَا فَلِكُلِّها إِطْرَاقُ

 

IMG_20130318_0004 - Copy

 

 

 

 

Me/not Me


huwayudrikalabsar

Shah Niyaz Barelvi

A lover without news I am
I am not I, yet I am I
A Knower with art I am
I am not I, nay I am I

 

Burning of the heart and liver I am
Restless in seclusion I am
knowledgeable of all cures I am
I am not I, nay I am I

 

The loveliness and beauty of Truth I am
the glory and majesty of Truth I am
its dignity and rank and splendour I am
I am not I, nay I am I

 

A sufi with purity I am
without Him and with God I am
the people of the heart and glance I am
I am not I, nay I am I

 

Jesus of Mary I am
Ahmad the Hashimi I am
‘Ali, the lion of the brave, I am
I am not I, nay I am I

 

His secret and need I am
His burning and melting I am
the one who walks on his head I am
I am not I, nay I am I

 

waws wedding

Original:

عاشق بى خبرمنم
من نمنم، نمن منم
عارف باهنرمنم
من نمنم، نمن منم

 

سوز دل و جگر منم
وحشة پرده در منم
 دانش بخية گر منم
من نمنم، نمن منم

 

حسن و جمال حق منم
عز و  جلال حق منم
حشمة و جا و فر منم
من نمنم، نمن منم

 

صوفي با صفاء
بي خودى و با خدا
اهل دل و نظر منم
من نمنم، نمن منم
عسى مريمي منم
احمد هاشمي
هيدر شر نار منم
من نمنم، نمن منم

 

راز و نياز خود منم
سوز و گداز خود منم
كرد قدم به سر منم
من نمنم، نمن منم

 

Ali-in-Squared-Kufic-Calligraphy-600x574

Dancing_dervishes

 

Unknown

Translation:

O master, say that I am I, I am not I, nay I am I
He is my soul inside my body, I am not I, nay I am I
light fire of love, let burn reason’s rule
the darkness of night has become the light of day
I am not I, nay I am I
I am the arrow, I’m the bow, I am old and I am young
This is me, and that is me
I am not I, nay I am I
I’m His appearance and his hiddenness
I am the diamond of his necklace
I am the the storehouse of his treasure
I am not I, nay I am I
I am His white falcon, I am the shadow of his willow
I am His road of hope
I am not I, nay I am I
I am the soul, I am the breath
I am the bird, I am the cage
I am the thief, I am also the police
I am not I, nay I am I
I am his water camel, I am a worshipper of his cup
I am the force of his arrow,
I am not I, nay I am I
My camel got drunk on wine and became frail
with a howl it broke free
I am not I, nay I am I
I am the Sun, I am the moon, I am the sea, I am the pearl
I am the nectar, I am also the sugar
I am not I, nay I am I
I am the earth and heaven, I am the pole and the harbour
I am both Ka’aba and the wine in the cup,
I am not I, nay I am I
I am the instrument, I am the Voice, I am the saint
I am the king, I am God
I am not I, nay I am I
He said, “I am Shams ad-Din, possessor of both infidelity and faith”
I am not I, nay I am I…

 

 

 

 

marocarchyellow

Shushtari

After extinction I came out, and I
Eternal now am, though not as I
And who am I, O I, but I?
خرجت في حين بعد الفنا
ومن هنا بقيت بلا أنا
ومن أنا يا أنا إلا أنا

 

trans. by  Martin Lings from Sufi Poems: A Mediaeval Anthology

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