English translation produced with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence – your suggestions and comments are welcome at: allforbaye@gmail.com
Mine qablihâ tibta fî zalâli wa fî…
Before it (creation), you were pure in the shadows and in…
Musstaw da’ine hayssu yukhssaful waraqu
A place of deposit (Paradise) where leaves were sewn.
Suma habatta bilâ dalâ bacharune
Then you descended to earth, not as an ordinary human,
Anta walâ mudkhatune wa lâ halaqu
You were neither an embryo (mudgha) nor a blood clot (alaq).
Mutahârane tarkabu safîna wa qad
Purified, you embarked on the Ark (the prophetic light in Noah),
Al jama nassrane wa ahlahu haraqu
While the Flood silenced the idol Nasr and its people were drowned.
Wa (u) radta nâral khalîli muktatamane
Like the intimate friend (Abraham), you entered the blazing fire,
Tajûlu fîhâ wa lassta tahtariqû
You moved within it without ever burning.
Tunqalu mine sâlibine ilâ rahimine
Transferred from (pure) loins to (merciful) wombs,
Izâ madâ alamune badâ tabakhû
Each time a world passed, your light appeared.
Hatâ ahtawâ baytakal muhayminu mine
Until the Abode of the Protector (Ka‘ba) surrounded you,
Khindifine alyâ’â tahtahâ natuqu
Among the Khindifs (clan of Quraysh), and there the children proclaimed.
Wa anta lamâ wulidta ashraqatil ar…du
And when you were born, the earth lit up…
Wa dâ’ate bi nurîkal ufuqu
And the horizons shone with your light.
Fa nahnu fi zâlika diyâ’i wa fi nûri
And we are in that brightness and in that light,
Wa subuli rachâdi nahtariqû
And by the paths of right guidance, we advance.
Allahuma inâ nass’aluka bi jâhi mamdu’ine indaka wal mâdîhi
O Allah, we ask You by the glorious rank before You of the Praised One (the Prophet) and by his greatness,
Ane tahzimi hazana mine zâlika nûri wa diyâyi
That You erase our sorrows with this light and this clarity,
Wa ane tahdiyanâ ilâ sabîli rachâd
And that You guide us to the path of righteousness.
Yâ Mustafâ mine qabli nachhati Âdamine
O Chosen One (al-Mustafa), even before the creation of Adam,
Wal kawnu lam tuftahu lahul akhlâqu
When the universe had not yet its gates nor its laws opened.
Ayarûmune mahlûkhune sanâ’a ka bahda mâ
Could a creature possibly reach your splendor after
Assnâ alâ akhlaqikal khalâqu
The Creator Himself praised your moral qualities?
Salâtul Fâtihi (1)
Prayer of the Opener (as-Salât al-Fâtih).
Matâ yabdu fil dâjil bahîmi jabinûhu
When, in the dense darkness, his luminous forehead shines,
Yalu missla misbâhil dujal mutawaqidi
It shines like a burning lamp in the darkness.
Fa mane kâna aw mane zâ yakûnu ka Ahmadine
Who has ever been, or who will ever be, like Ahmad?
Nizâ mane li haqqîn aw nakâlane li mulhidi
A standard for truth and a punishment for the disbeliever.
Aharu aleyhi bi nubuwatil khâtimune
Noble, upon him is the Seal of Prophethood,
Mina lâhi burhânune yalûhu wa yachhadu
A proof from God, radiant and witnessed.
Wa dama ilâhu issma nabîyi ilâ issmihî
God has linked the Prophet’s Name to His own Name,
Izâ qâla fil khamssine mu’azinu achhadu
Each time the muezzin proclaims five times: « I bear witness! »
Wa chuqa lahu mine issmihi li yujilahû
And He (Allah) has drawn (a part) of His Name to honor him,
Fa zul archi Mahmûdune wa hâzâ Muhammadune
Thus, the One of the Throne is Mahmûd (The Praised) and this one is Muhammad.
Tahdî bihi nâqatu admâ’u muhtajirane
Through him, the thirsty she-camel finds its way,
Bil burdi kal badri jalâ laylata zulami
And with his mantle, like the full moon, he illuminates the dark night.
Wa fî atâ fîhi aw assnâ i burdatihî
And in his Burda (mantle), there are gifts and praises,
Mâ yahlami Lâhu mine khayrine wa mine karamine
Of which God made a repository of goodness and generosity.
Ina Rassûla lassayfune yusstadâ’u bihi
The Messenger is a sword with which protection is sought,
Muhanadune minssiyu fi Lâhi masslûlu
An Indian blade, drawn in the path of God.
Wa abyadu yusstassqal hamâmu bi wajhihî
His luminous face through which rain is implored,
Simâlu yatâma issmatune lil âramili
He is the refuge of orphans and the protection of widows.
Yalûzu bihi hulaku mine âli hâchimine
The descendants of Hâshim take refuge in him,
Fahume indahû fi nihmatine wa fawâdili
And with him they find grace and favors.
Munazahune ane charîkine fi mahâssinihî
He is free from any equal in his qualities,
Fa jawharu hussni fîhi khayru munqassimi
For the essence of beauty in him is indivisible.
Da’mâ da’athu nassâra fi Nabiyihimû
Leave what the Christians claimed of their Prophet,
Wahkume bimâ chita madhane fîhi wahtakimi
And judge him yourself: praise him as you wish, and rule your pen!
Wanssub ilâ zâtihî mâ chita mine charafine
Attribute to his person (the Prophet ﷺ) all the honor you wish,
Wanssub ilâ qadrihi mâ chita mine izami
And attribute to his rank all the greatness you wish.
Fa ina fadla Rassûla Lâhi layssa lahû
For the merit of the Messenger of Allah has no limits,
Hadune fa yuhribu anhu nâtiqune bifami
No boundary can contain it, and no tongue can describe it.
Law nâ sabate qadrahu ayâtuhu izamane
If his immense signs had not attested to his value,
Ahyâ assmuhu hîna yud’a dârissa rimami
His name alone, when invoked, would give life to dry bones.
Lam yamtahinâ bimâ tahyal uqûlu bihi
He did not test us with what our minds could not grasp,
Hirssane alaynâ falam nartab wa lam nahimi
Out of solicitude for us, so we neither doubted nor wavered.
Ahyal warâ fahmu mahnâhu falayssa yurâ
His understanding eludes creation, for he is not perceived,
Lil qurbi wal buhdi fîhi khayru munfahimi
Whether near or far, he is not fully comprehended.
Ka chamssi tazharu lil aynayni mine bûhdine
Like the sun that appears to the eyes from a distance,
Sakhîratane wa tukilu tarfa mine amami
Small, yet it dazzles the eye up close.
Wa kayfa yudriku fi dunyâ haqqiqatahû
And how, in this world, could his reality be grasped,
Qawmune niyamune tassalaw anhu bil ulumi
By sleeping people who content themselves with superficial knowledge about him?
Fa mablahul ilmi fîhi anahu bacharune
The culmination of knowledge about him is that he is a human,
Wa anahu khayru khalqi Lâhi kullihimî
And that he is the best of all of God’s creation.
Mane zâ lazi ma sâ’aqate
Who is it that was not preceded,
Wa mane lahul hussnâ faqate
And who possesses beauty alone?
Muhammadune hâdi lazî
Muhammad is the guide,
Aleyhi Jibrîlu habate
Upon whom Gabriel descended.
Muhammadune bacharune lâ kal bachar
Muhammad is a human, but not like other humans;
Bal huwa kal yaqûti baynal hajar
Rather, he is like a ruby among stones.
Allahuma salli ane mane fâtihati li bâdi’i yijâdil barhatul isstikhlâl
O Allah, send prayers upon the one who is the opener of the beginning of existence, the proof of pre-eminence,
Wa mane khâtimiyatu barhatul muhtami wal kamâl
And the one who is the seal of the proof of the conclusion and perfection.
Allahuma salli alâ Seydina Muhammadine bahri anwârika
O Allah, send prayers upon our Master Muhammad, the ocean of Your lights,
Wa mahdine assrârika
The mine of Your secrets,
Wa lissâni hujatika
The tongue of Your proof,
Wa urûssil mamlakatika
The bridegroom of Your kingdom,
Wa imâmil hadratika
The leader of Your presence,
Wa tirâzil mulkika
The adornment of Your dominion,
Wa khazâ’i rahmatika
The treasurer of Your mercy,
Wa tarîqi chariatika al mutalazî bi tawhîdika
The path of Your law, who takes pleasure in Your oneness,
Inssâni aynil wujûd wa sababi fi kulli mawjûd
The pupil of the eye of existence and the cause of all that exists,
Ayni ayâni khalqika mutaqadimi mine nûri diyâ’ika.
The most eminent of Your creation, who preceded from the light of Your radiance.
Sallâtane tadhu bi dawâmika wa tabkha bi bakhâ’ika
A prayer that lasts with Your permanence and remains with Your eternity,
Sallâtane lâ muntaha alâ dûna ilmika
A prayer that has no end, except within Your knowledge,
Sallâtane turdîka wa turdî
A prayer that pleases You and pleases him,
Wa tardâ bihâ anâ wa ane wâlidîna azwâjinâ zuriyatinâ
And through which You are pleased with us, our parents, our spouses, and our descendants,
Yâ Rabbal alâmine
O Lord of the worlds.
Li sâdatune mine izihime
I have masters from whose honor,
Aqdâmuhume fawqal jibâ
Their feet are above the foreheads.
Ine lam akun minhume falî
If I am not one of them, then I have,
Bil hubbihime ize wajâ
Through my love for them, a high station.
Fa bi jâhihime wa bi izihime
So by their rank and by their honor,
Tayib lanâ ichal hayâ
Make our lives pleasant,
Waqtiblanâ bil khayriyâ
And decree good for us,
Mane lâ lanâ Rabbune siwâ
O You, besides whom we have no other Lord.
Tahni atû Rabbî î – Bi madhatî chafîhî
The greetings of my Lord—with the praise of His intercessor—
Bi mantaqil badî î – Abhi bihâ mu’amalî
With elegant speech—I beautify my hopes with it.
Yâ Rabbanâ salli alâ
O our Lord, send prayers upon
Khayril anâmi mane alâ
The best of mankind, who ascended
Alâ samâwatil ulâ
Above the highest heavens,
Bi izni Rabbihil alî
By the permission of his Lord, the Most High.
Ahlan bi chahri mawlidî
Welcome to the month of my birth,
Chahril ûlâ wa sûdadî
The month of loftiness and sovereignty,
Chahril Nabîyi Ahmadî
The month of the Prophet Ahmad,
Chahril Rabî’il awalî
The month of Rabi’ al-Awwal.
Qad qussabi Rabbî i
My Lord has apportioned to me,
Ize kanakâ Rabbî i
Since you are my Lord,
Lil ardi wa chafî î
For the earth and my intercessor,
Bi kulli qatbine muhdalî
With every guiding pole star.
Ahlan bi chahril farahî
Welcome to the month of joy,
Chahri zahâbil tarahî
The month of the passing of sorrow,
Wal fahrinâ wal marâhî
And of our pride and happiness,
Chahri Nabîyil afdalî
The month of the most excellent Prophet.
Chahri falahî wa surûr
The month of success and delight,
Chahri bihî sâda duhûr
The month by which all ages became sovereign,
Muchawahine bayna chuhûr
Distinguished among the months,
Mutawajine mukallalî
Crowned and garlanded.
Ahlan bi chahril fâtihî
Welcome to the month of the Opener,
Ihlâ wa kawnil fâtihi
Welcome to the being of the Opener,
Mane khussa bil fawâtihî
The one who was specified with the openings,
Wa haza khatmal milalî
And has the seal of all religions.
Ahlan bi chahri khâtimi
Welcome to the month of the Seal,
Chahril Nabîyil qâssimi
The month of the Prophet who distributes,
Wa fâtihi wa khâtimi
The opener and the seal,
Wa âkhirine wa awâlî
The last and the first.
Ahlan bi chahril nâssiri
Welcome to the month of the Helper,
Lil haqqi chahril âmiri
Of the truth, the month of the Commander,
Bil urfi chahril zâhiri
Of righteousness, the month of the Manifest,
Bi kulli wassfine akmâlî
With every most perfect attribute.
Ahlan bi chahril Hâdî
Welcome to the month of the Guide,
Li mane hâji rachâdî
For whoever seeks my guidance,
Wa qâ’idine wa âdî
A leader and a guide,
Ilâ tarîqil amssalî
To the most exemplary path.
Ahlan bi chahril Sayyidî
Welcome to the month of the Master,
Li ahmarine wa asswadî
Of the red and the black (all of humanity),
Mane haza sabqane sûdadî
The one who holds precedence in sovereignty,
Yawma ihtizâri Russulî
On the Day when the Messengers are gathered.
Wa qad kafâhâ kullahâ
And he has sufficed for them all,
Abâ ahâ wa kallahâ
He refused and left it all,
Bi qawlihî ana lahâ
With his saying, « I am for it, »
Inda ichtidâdil wajalî
When the dread intensifies.
Fa yâ lahâ mine khuttâ
Oh, what a plan!
Jawabuhû fi hutâte
His answer is in the plan,
Mine Rabbihil sal tuhta
From his Lord, « Ask, you shall be given, »
Wachfah ladaynâ tuqbalî
« Intercede with Us, you will be accepted. »
Ahlan bi chahri Mustafâ
Welcome to the month of the Chosen One,
Safwati kulli Mustafâ
The elite of all chosen ones,
Wa khayri abdine qad safâ
And the best servant who was purified,
Mine malakine aw murssalî
From any angel or messenger.
Wa chahri khayril khalqi
And the month of the best of creation,
Chahri jâmîlil khalqî
The month of the most beautiful of creation,
Chahri azîmi qulqi
The month of the greatest character,
Fil muhkamil munazalî
In the clear revelation.
Chahri lazî assarahû
The month of the one who was taken on a night journey,
ilâhuhû wahtarahû
His God chose him,
Mine hubihi khayarahû
From His love, He selected him,
Inda inqidâ’il ajalî
At the end of time.
Ahlan bi layli assnî achar
Welcome to the twelfth night,
Fîhi wa yawmihi aqare
In it and on its sterile day,
Wa tîbi zâlika sahar
And the goodness of that dawn,
Wa nûru ûfqihil jalî
And the light of its clear horizon.
Ahlan bi kulli ma zahar
Welcome to all that appeared,
Mine qârikhine yuhyî fikar
From a reciter who revives thoughts,
Fîhi karâfhîhi bassar
In it, his vision is clear,
Ilâ maqâmihil alî
To his high station.
Wa mâ râ’athu mine ajab
And what she saw of wonder,
Aminatune hîna nassab
Amina, when she gave birth,
Sabâbane suma aqtarabe
A youth then approached,
Bi sajdatil mubtahilî
With the prostration of a supplicant.
Kamâ tadalâ zuhur
As the appearances hung low,
Kamâ tarâ’al qassru
As the palace was seen,
Fîhi wa halla kassru
In it, the breaking was resolved,
Bi sanamil mujadalî
With the peak of the debater.
Wa qâdatil bihâru
And the seas were led,
Wa jâfatil anhâru
And the rivers dried up,
Mine ahlihi wa nâru
From his people, and the fire
Qad tufi’âte mine khajalî
Was extinguished out of shyness.
Wa jinuhume fi nakadi
And their jinn were in distress,
Li ramyihâ bil rassadi
For its shooting with the watchers,
Wa azlihâ ane maq’adi
And its removal from the seat,
Mine ajli khayri russuli
For the sake of the best of messengers.
Wa ranatil cheytâni
And Satan wailed,
Jarâ azîmu châni
A matter of great importance occurred,
Mine awdahi burhâni
From the clearest proof,
Li izmi mâ bihi abtulî
For the greatness with which he was tested.
Qad mana zû ifdâli
The bestower of favors has granted,
Bi afdalil rijâli
To the best of men,
Bi afdalil layâlî
In the best of nights,
Bil baladil mufadalî
In the favored land (Mecca).
Ahlan bi yawmine îdî
Welcome to a day of celebration,
Ma missluhû mine îdî
There is no celebration like it,
Qad halla fî mawludî
It has occurred on my birthday,
Fîhi mahalla zuhalî
In it is the place of my removal.
Wa sâbi’i wiladâ
And the seventh of the birth,
wa mâ atâhu sâda
And what the masters brought him,
Mine wafqi mâ arâdahu
In accordance with what He willed,
ilâhuhû fil azalî
His God, in eternity.
Ahlan bi yawmil sumi
Welcome to the day of the name,
Muhammadane khayra issmi
Muhammad, the best of names,
Ramzane limâhna issmi
A symbol for our name,
Mine jadihî li yanjalî
From his grandfather, to be clear.
Bi hamdil awalîna
With the praise of the first ones,
Lahul wa âkhirîna
To him and the last ones,
Fa kâna zâ yaqîna
And this was a certainty,
Minal karîmil muffadalî (2)
From the Generous, the Favored (x2).
Ahlan bi yawmine issnaïni
Welcome to Monday.
Mawlidi sâni issnaïni
The birth of the second of two.
Mabhassi sirril kawni
The discussion of the secret of the universe.
Maqdamihil mubajalî
His revered arrival.
Akrim bi chahri ajamî
Honor the foreign month.
Ibrîla chahril karami
April, the month of generosity.
Akrim bi ardil aramî
Honor the land of the sanctuary.
Mawlidil khayril murssalî (2)
The birth of the best of messengers (x2).
Akrim bi yawmine sârâ
Honor the day that became…
Ishrîna wasstanârâ
…twenty and was illuminated.
Li mane hawal faqârâ
For the one who held the poor,
Wal qufratane mine manzilî
And the desolation from my home.
Akrim bi chahri nîssâne
Honor the month of Nisan (April).
Mawlîdi khayri inssâne
The birth of the best of humans.
Qudwati ahli ihssâne
The model for the people of excellence,
Wa kâmilil mukammalî
And the perfect, the perfected.
Qad manatil la’âli
The pearls have bestowed,
Fi idatil layâli
In the number of the nights,
Bi zînatil ma’âlî
With the ornament of high stations,
Kal jawharil mufassalî
Like a detailed jewel.
Tahni atû Rabbî î
Congratulations from my Lord,
Bi madhatî chafîhî
With the praise of His intercessor,
Bi mantaqil badî î
With wonderful speech,
Abhi bihâ mu’amalî
I beautify my hopes with it.
Abqi bihâl jam’a bihî
Keep the gathering with him,
Yawmane wa nayla qurbihî
Today and the attainment of his closeness,
Wa fadla hubbi Rabbihî
And the virtue of the love of his Lord,
Wa mane ridâhu amalî
And whose pleasure is my hope.
Wal qatmalî bil hussnâ
And complete for me with the best,
Wal jam’alî fil hussnâ
And gather for me in the best,
Ladal maqâril assnâ
At the highest station,
Ma’a rafîqil afdalî
With the best companion.
Wa kune lanâ waliyâ
And be for us a guardian,
Wa nâssirane hafîyâ
And a welcoming helper,
Lâ naqtachî khawîyâ
We do not fear the empty,
Bi jâhi abdikal alî
By the rank of Your high servant.
Salla wa salâmane ilâhi
Prayers and peace, my God,
Aleyhi afdala sallâ
Upon him, the best of prayers,
Mâ dâma kawnuhu ilâhu
As long as his being is God,
Mine abadine li azalî
From eternity to eternity.
Wa âlihi wa sahbihî
And his family and his companions,
Wa zawjihî wa hizbihi
And his spouse and his party,
Wa kulli âlil hubihî
And all the people of his love,
Ma’a salâmine akmâlî
With the most perfect peace.
Bi jâhihime yâ ilâhi ikhfirlanâ zimihâ
By their rank, O my God, forgive us our burdens,
Wa assma likhâri bihâ wa lilazî hadarahu
And listen to its good, and to the one who was present,
Wa umahumu bi khafîya lutfi wakfihimû
And their mother with hidden kindness, and stop them,
Nawâ’iba dâhri mâ afâtihi kadira
The calamities of time, what of its pests are able,
Ajib duâ’hume wa ajil bi lazî talabû
Answer their prayers and hasten what they have requested,
Bi jâhi Ahmada mâ’h asshâbihi khiyara – Salâtul Fâtihi
By the rank of Ahmad with his best companions — Salât al-Fâtih.