Poem: Praise Be to God, the Sublime
By Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi:
Praise be to God, the Sublime, who remains,
All perish except the countenance of the Everlasting One.
It is said upon parting of the soul, who can save?
Oh, how I wish to know if there is anyone who can save.
God alone knows, this cannot be; who can return
The cup of death, or is He the one pouring it out?
He is the savior when the feet turn to see it,
On the Day of Judgment, they will all be entwined with the feet.
Indeed, the virtues stem from my nature and my character,
For I have embraced mankind generously with my morals.
If I had all that treasures encompass,
It would not fulfill what I am owed from provisions.
I have been created upon the morals of our Creator,
And the matter lies between the one who receives and the Giver.
Provision seeks us as we seek it,
And this is a guide to purity in roots.
I never imagined that it would be this way,
Until I learned within myself that I am the protector.
For no one governs us but ourselves,
In justice and injustice, for I am loyal to the Eye of Healing.
A management of knowledge in detail about our creation,
So often we see this according to the laws of agreement.
I have longed for my essence to witness it,
Yearning for its image like that of a longing seeker.
Winds of closeness have blown upon me from afar,
From its fragrance, I have inhaled the breaths of lovers.
I have been inspired by its notions,
That it is the representative of exploring horizons.
I am but a submissive servant who humbly submits to me,
During the supplication of deep longing and cries.
Do not consider me proud for being in it,
For I am the Lord of crowns and adornments.
He possesses knowledge about my essence that no one knows,
Except for Him who has tasted and imbibed its delights.
He gazes at me when the reflections fail to recognize me,
Eyes with insight, deprived of other pupils.
He shows mercy to those who call out to Him,
Without compulsion or judgment for compassion.
Indeed, the compassionate has judgments that differ,
The judgment of the Merciful for what it entails of release.
What precedes Him is not a description or attribute,
Nor does it enter contracts or covenants.
Poem: We are the Party of God
By Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi:
We are the Party of God; who joins us,
Our foundation is seriousness; our jest is in light-heartedness.
I bear witness to the secrets of His lovers,
Whoever desires it, I bear witness to them.
When blindness befalls you among us,
Inquire about us from those who know us well.
That is God, Almighty in His majesty,
He grants secrets to whom He wills through us.
Our places are men who have called out,
The leaves proclaiming them amidst the groves of the sacred.
We hurled the sparks of the universe into it,
Thus we threw them with the sparks of oblivion.
And we advanced to the gathering, did we hear
The people responding to the whispers of desire?
O My servants, have you seen what I see?
O My servants, are you with us, or are we one?
The people fell silent and said: Our Lord,
You are our Master, and we are your followers.
O Servants of God, heed me, indeed,
I am the spirit of your Master, the guardian of your peace.
I am the one who erases the secrets of your hearts,
I am the treasure, but what treasure am I?
I am Gabriel; this is my wisdom,
So read it to unveil what we have kept hidden.
I have come with monotheism to guide you,
So acquire yourselves for our sake.
Take from me something wondrous,
You will find the secret publicly revealed.
Differentiate the states within yourselves,
Do not be like an impostor that doomed us.
The waking state of the servant seems intoxicated,
The world of command is evident to him, so be mindful.
Just as erasure is a claim if it appears,
In his countenance, the signs of bliss are delineated.
Say to the determined one in his states,
You have chosen the truth, so you are the sanctuary.
It is not reverence; it is not fear; it is
Etiquette that is articulated by sweet fruits.
Her condition is on the edges without weeping,
The presence of the effort is without burden.
And the companion of intimacy has a cheerful face,
If he bends towards a beloved one, he will be near.
He guides creation and reveals his form,
Grateful; listen if I have permission.
The master of constraint is a stranger, solitary,
If he sees expansion upon him, he feels sadness.
And the friend of expansion hides jealousy,
His effect is clear, and he displays the gifts.
You do not see him throughout time except smiling,
Witnessing the beauty that has come to us.
The one of aspiration in his ascent,
He is walking while he has dispelled the fog.
The one of monotheism is blind and mute,
He did not say, “I am,” nor did he say, “I am.”
O slaves of the self, what is this blindness?
You continually worship the idol.
You presented the apparent states from your condition,
We have nothing from you except what is hidden.
So acquire knowledge from your actions,
A knowledge of the dawn; drink it as milk.
And emerge from the death of your own selves,
To observe the truth in union with you.
And see what has emerged in others,
You will find it within yourselves, firmly held.
Prayer: O Lord, Knower of Affairs
By Ibn Alawi Al-Haddad:
O Lord, O Knower of affairs,
To You, I have turned my hopes.
Bestow upon us Your acceptance,
And rectify our condition.
O Lord, O Lord of Lords,
Your servant is at Your door,
He has faced all avenues.
Returning after he has inclined,
O Expanse of Generosity, Your bounty;
The good comes from You and with You,
More than what Your servant has implored.
So, extend Your mercy to our state,
O Creator of all beings,
And expander of all goodness.
I ask You to cast a veil.
Over the disgrace and transgressions,
O You who sees the secrets of my heart,
My sufficiency is in Your knowledge,
So erase my sins with Your pardon,
And mend my intentions and actions.
My Lord, upon You is my reliance,
As to You is my standing.
Truthfully, my greatest desire
Is Your eternal pleasure.
My Lord, I ask You for forgiveness,
And I never despair of You.
O Owner of the Kingdom, O Guardian,
I complain to You and weep
From the curse of my oppression and slander,
Of my foul actions and neglect
And the desire for idle talk,
And the love of this despicable worldly life,
Filled with barren evils,
In it are permanent calamities,
And filled with ailments and labors.
Woe to my wayward soul,
From the righteous path,
It has turned away,
And seeks prestige and wealth.
O Lord, You have overwhelmed me,
And with security, You have captured me,
And in fortunes, You have restrained me,
And bound me with the chains of despair.
Indeed, I have implored You, my Lord,
For the healing of my heart,
And the unraveling of my anguish,
So look upon me as sorrow departs.
O Lord, O Bestower of Safety,
Shower us with blessings,
For nothing is hidden from You,
In detailing and in summarizing.
O Lord, Your servant is at Your door,
Fearing Your painful punishment,
And longing for Your reward.
And the rain of Your mercy pours down,
And he has come to You with his excuses,
His humility and his poverty;
So defeat his hardship with Your ease,
By Your perfect generosity and favors.
Bestow on him the repentance
That cleanses him from every fault,
And safeguard him from every evil,
For all that has stood in his way.
For You are the Master of the masters,
The One who is unique in perfection,
And great in exaltation and superiority.
You are above all parables,
Your generosity and grace are in demand,
And Your might and power are feared.
And Your remembrance and gratitude are constant,
And Your praise and glorification are due.
O Lord, You are my supporter,
Grant me all good,
And make Your gardens my destination.
And seal our days with faith,
And throughout all states,
Let us witness the removal of error,
From the words of Muhammad,
The guide who leads the way,
Thanks be to God for the blessings,
From Him that are endless,
We praise Him, secretly and openly,
In the mornings and the evenings.
From the Poem: Supplication
By Mikhail Naimy:
In a dark night, with a furious sky, and a solemn earth.
Thoughts race, restless in the mind,
While the heart rustles with lush, wet desires,
Shadows flicker in the eyes, bartering for humanity.
In the ears, a tumult of prayers and revelries,
Sobs of the elders, and the wails of children,
Along with the rumbling of volcanoes,
And the roar of many oceans.
On the lips, the murmuration of letters, syllables, and words,
Dispersing and converging, soft, timid praises of Your holy name,
O You who are exalted above all names and praises.