AN INTRODUCTION TO 'ILM AL-AKHLAQ

STORY OF ANIMAL IN THE FARM

This write-up by Ustaz Zhulkeflee Hj Ismail (PERGAS) was adapted from his lecture notes as an introduction to lesson on 'Ilm-alAkhlaq (Islamic Science on human disposition), and from his article included/published in one issue of the "Muslim Reader" an MCAS (Muslim Converts Association of Singapore) quarterly magazine in the 1990’s.

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http://zhulkeflee-archive.blogspot.com/2008/04/story-of-animals-in-farm.html

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بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

الحمدلله الملك الحكيم الجواد الكريم العزيز الرحيم
الذي خلق الانسان في احسن تقويم
و فطر السموات بقدرته و دبر الأمور بحكمته
و ما خلق الجن والانس الا لعبادته
والصلاة والسلام على سيد المرسلين
وعلى أله الأبرار الطيبين الطاهرين
وسلم وعظم الى يوم الدين

-------------------- (THE STORY IS A SATIRE/FICTIONAL) --------------------

ANY RESEMBLANCE TO ANY PERSON OR PERSONS, DEAD OR ALIVE,

IS PURELY COINCIDENTAL

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The night in the farm, the serenity was disturbed by the barking and howling of the dogs. Many other animals were aroused from their sleep. Irritated by the noise, they began to complain amongst themselves and criticise the dogs.

Cow: "O, what a racket. These dogs simply are very inconsiderate. Don't they know that we have to be up at dawn to give our milk? A good rest is crucial to our (milk) production. We always try to give more. Moo..ore...! Moo..ore...!"

Sheep: ''They are not only inconsiderate; they also display certain arrogance. They will always display a fierce and threatening nature to everyone. If the milkman comes, they will bark. In fact, whosoever comes; whether our master's neighbour, the postman, the handyman, the salesman, they will bark. When they are told to hush-up, they will still continue to bark and roll their tongues, baring their fangs threateningly. You noticed how they always intimidate us sheep. They scare the wits out of us with the tone of their language. We always try to remind them to tone down their language when we say plee..ee..ase..! plee..ee..ase..!''

Cockerel: ''Not only are they arrogant, they are also ostentatious and like to show off. When they bark at the master, you see how they wag their tails, as though telling the master, '' Look at me! Look at me!'' What?! They think they are the only ones working for our master. They imagine themselves as favourites of the master. Even in answering the nature's call, they must do it at specific places. They would sniff the place and meticulously choose the spot. The lamp post, lah! The tyre, lah! The fire hydrant, lah! And just look at how they do it. Must do it with style, with one leg up! Acrobatic or what?! Show off!"

All these were heard by a young puppy who then ran to the leader of the pack. Panting, the puppy informed the leader of what was said. The leader of the dog summoned all under him and delivered a short lecture.

Leader of the dogs: '' Do not be alarmed, do not get angry, and do not react unnecessarily! What has been said by a non-dog concerning us dogs is only from their misunderstanding of our nature. You see, non-dogs can never understand dogs. But you dogs must understand your own nature and try to live according to your nature. Let me respond to their accusation and explain for you all to understand! We have been created for a job, an important job on this farm i.e. to guard and protect the property of our master. To be a guard, you need to display ferocity so that it can be deterrent. How can a guard be known to be a sissy? So, it is not being arrogant, but is part of our discipline as members of the security force. As for barking at night, well... we, as experts in our field, know jolly well that burglars usually come out at night. Disadvantaged by poor lighting, we need to make sure that our presence is felt. Thus the barking! Not that we are inconsiderate to others, but rather, it is part of our job. As to the accusation that we are ostentatious, even choosing specific places to nature's call! Well, it is a strategy. Our number is small, but the area to guard is so wide. We have to make our presence felt, even in our absence. Unfortunately they misunderstand this as being ostentatious!

So you see! We ought to understand our nature and try to live according to our nature. If you can do that... Al-hamdulillah! Be thankful and grateful to Allah for having created you dogs. Don't you know that there are worse creatures than us?''

There was a stunned silence.

An old owl that was perched upon the barn was attentively listening to their conversation. She was always an avid listener to gossip, especially to pass her time at night. She could not stem her ''kay-poh-istic'' (from Hokkien – a Chinese dialect - word “kay-poh” meaning ‘busybody’) tendencies and blurted out: ''wHoo..! wHoo..!''


Owl: ''wHoo..! wHoo..!''

Whereupon, one of the dogs echoed her and asked: ''Whoo...f? Whoo...f?''

Leader of the dogs: '' Look at our neighbours, the swine! At least we dogs have a dignified job. But they, I don't know why they were created. All they seem to be doing is eating, sleeping, and wallowing in the mud and filth! As regards eating, they don't seem to have any discrimination! They are such dirty creatures; they enjoy covering themselves with mud and filth! Eeee!... Even in the Qur'an it is stated that man is forbidden from eating the flesh of swine. And when you look at the numbers of piglets born each time, it is as though mating seems to be their favourite preoccupation! Perhaps we can say, they do nothing except eat, play in the filth, sleep and sex!''

Unfortunately, one piglet was not asleep but heard what was said. It ran to the leader of the swine, to complain about the GHIBBAH (back biting) of the dogs. It created a stir amongst the pigs who began to shout ''Ooii..nk! Ooii...nk!'' as though trying to remind them that it is bad to back bite others. The chief swine pacified them and delivered a lecture to them.

Leader of the swine: '' Be calm! Don't overreact! Non-pigs can never understand pigs. But you pigs must realise that there is nothing wrong in trying to live according to your nature. We ought to be thankful to Allah for having created us pigs. Let me respond and put into perspective our behaviour. It is not true when they assume that we have no job. We do have a job on this farm. A rather difficult job which only we pigs can perform. We are the walking environment supervisors and our job is to clean up the place of all rotting things. We are perhaps the last in the food chain. To do this job, we must not have any discrimination in eating. So, when we are doing our job efficiently, they accuse us of being gluttons. They say we are dirty and quote the Qur'an. It is true that in the Qur'an, Allah tells Man that our flesh is forbidden for them. But we have never told Man to eat us! We are supposed to be the last in the food chain and were created to function as such. Germs and bacteria or whatever which usually cause illness in Man, cannot harm us, but sustain us. So if Man wants to consider us as their food, they are taking a big risk. They are the one who place themselves as the lowest in the food chain. Therefore whatever harm may befall him for consuming us is his fault. As to covering ourselves with mud and filth, well, it is because we are not as fortunate as the dogs. Dogs were created with nice fur. Some amongst them are so vain as to enter into beauty contests because of this. But we, we are just trying to be modest. Though we are created relatively naked, at least we have the decency to cover ourselves, even with mud because that is the only material available for us. We are not vain but rather we are being modest. If they think that mud is dirty, well, in the Qur'an it is stated that Allah does not lay a burden greater than what we can bear! And between using mud and being naked, we'd rather not be naked. In fact we are grateful to Allah that we have mud.

When they criticise us regarding our reproductive efficiency, calling us ''sexists!''....."Sexual!"... They never consider the nature of our job. No other animals can do what we are doing. We can't import people from Hong Kong to do our job! But we must ensure that there is no labour shortage. The best solution is to produce our own labourers.

So you swine understand this! We were created with a specific nature and are expected by our Creator to function according to our nature. If we are doing it, Alhamdulillah! Be grateful that Allah has created you as pigs, because there are worse creatures than us.''

The old owl was there again, as curious as ever. Gossip being her mainstay, she would not be satisfied without knowing who the leader of the pigs was referring to. Seeing that the pigs are a bunch of dullards, she began to draw their attention by flapping her wings and suggested to them the question, ''wHoo..! wHoo..! wHoo..!''

Thus encouraged, one of the pigs asked,'' Oi..nk! Ooii..nk! Chief! Tell us who is it?''

The leader of the swine then said, '' Humans!''

On being asked why she came to that conclusion, she remarked:

'' You see, amongst us animals, there is none that behave like humans. But amongst human beings, there are many that behave like beasts!''

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REFLECT:

Is this last statement true? Does man know the nature and live according to his nature as human beings should? Isn't it common for people to describe other people derogatorily as, "you despicable animal!" or "you beast!" etc. although he is referring to another human. So, human can become something else other than what he is supposed to be i.e. inhuman rather than being humane. He needs nurturing and cannot merely rely on his nature, because man has been granted limited freewill and choice to develop. Since obviously man cannot hope to know his own nature unless this is taught to him. Thus who can best teach man about his nature and the best way of behaviour except his creator? Thus Islam as ad-Deen (a total system of guidance or all encompassing way of life) must also be viewed from this perspective i.e. its laws are all it conformity with man's nature, to develop him to become a truly Muslim personality – the pure and honourable Adamic[1] disposition. Therefore, consider what Allah says in the Qur'an:

لَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ فِىٓ أَحۡسَنِ تَقۡوِيمٍ۬

ثُمَّ رَدَدۡنَـٰهُ أَسۡفَلَ سَـٰفِلِينَ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ

ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ

فَلَهُمۡ أَجۡرٌ غَيۡرُ مَمۡنُونٍ۬

''Verily, We create man in the best conformation: thereafter we reduce him to the lowest of the low: except those who attain to faith and do righteous deeds; theirs will be a reward unending.”

(Qur'an: At-Tin: 95: 4-6)

In the education of a Muslim, the three aspects of development viz: Imaan (Conviction/ Faith), 'Amal (Practise) and Ihsan (righteous conduct) - ultimately are to transform that person into a being with certain traits. This is because Islam views Man as potentially good, but not yet perfect in his goodness. He is susceptible to change (although given his good, pure, and innocent beginning). With Imaan, he becomes equipped with certainty and conviction thereby motivating him in life. The detail subject to pursue being ''Al- Aqaa'iid.'' With 'Amal, he becomes concerned with manifesting what he believes by doing what is correct. The detail subject to pursue being ''Fiqh''. And with Ihsan, he learns that in his inner being lies a potential which must be kept pure and made to grow according to the pattern accorded by his Creator, to unlock and channel the various innate powers in him thereby to become as perfect a human as he can be. The detail subject for this is ''Ilmu-Akhlaq'' which I have chosen the translation ''the science of human disposition''. Its methodology or approach of inculcation of the knowledge, organizational and technique for attainment of spiritual states etc., may vary accordingly and is also sometimes referred to as, '' ’ilmul-Tasawwuf [2]’’ (what some refer to it as “Sufism”) and ''Irfan''.

NOT MERELY ETIQUETTE

Although in ''Ilmu-Akhlaq'', there are elements of behaviour being taught, it would be wrong to assume that it is like lessons on etiquette, manners etc. as generally understood. You may be able to teach a person how to behave and yet his behaviour can at best be temporary and therefore ''artificial", motivated by a factor which is impermanent. For example, students may appear well behaved in the presence of a teacher, but once the teacher is not there, they go back to misbehaving. Whereas, ''Ilmu- Akhlaq'' seeks to instil and mould a behaviour which is at the same time his nature, sustained and developed throughout his entire life. Perhaps the expression to make it ''second nature to him'' may give you the idea.


HOW IS ''KHULUQ'' OR NATURAL (DISPOSITION) DEVELOPED?

''Khuluq'' i.e. disposition is that faculty (''Malakah'') of the ''Self'' (''Nafs'') which is the source of all activities that Man performs spontaneously without thinking about them. ''Malakah'' or certain faculty comes into existence through exercise and repetitive practice and is not easily destroyed. A particular disposition (''malakah'') may appear in human beings because of one of the following reasons:

[1] NATURAL AND PHYSICAL MAKE UP

It is observed that some people arte patient while others are touchy and nervous. Some are easily disturbed and saddened while others show greater resilience and resistance.

[2]HABIT

Habit is formed because of continual repetition of certain acts and leads to the formation of a disposition.

[3] PRACTICE AND CONSCIOUS EFFORT

Practice and conscious effort if continued long enough will eventually lead to the formation of a disposition.


MAN’S ABILITY TO CHANGE & DEVELOP FOR THE BETTER

وَنَفۡسٍ۬ وَمَا سَوَّٮٰهَا فَأَلۡهَمَهَا فُجُورَهَا وَتَقۡوَٮٰهَا

قَدۡ أَفۡلَحَ مَن زَكَّٮٰهَا وَقَدۡ خَابَ مَن دَسَّٮٰهَا

“By the Nafs (Self or Soul of man), and the proportion and order given to it; and its enlightenment as to its wrong and its right; ― truly he succeeds that purifies it, and he fails that corrupts it!”

(Qur’an: as-Shams: 91: 7-10)

وَلَقَدۡ كَرَّمۡنَا بَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ وَحَمَلۡنَـٰهُمۡ فِى ٱلۡبَرِّ وَٱلۡبَحۡرِ وَرَزَقۡنَـٰهُم

مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ وَفَضَّلۡنَـٰهُمۡ عَلَىٰ ڪَثِيرٍ۬ مِّمَّنۡ خَلَقۡنَا تَفۡضِيلا

“Verily we have honoured the children of Adam. We carry them on the land and the sea, and have made provision of good things for them, and have preferred them above many of those whom We created with a marked preferment.”

(Qur’an: al-Isra’: 17: 70)

لَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ فِى كَبَدٍ أَيَحۡسَبُ أَن لَّن يَقۡدِرَ عَلَيۡهِ أَحَدٌ۬ يَقُولُ أَهۡلَكۡتُ مَالاً۬ لُّبَدًا أَيَحۡسَبُ أَن لَّمۡ يَرَهُ ۥۤ أَحَدٌ أَلَمۡ

نَجۡعَل لَّهُ ۥ عَيۡنَيۡنِ وَلِسَانً۬ا وَشَفَتَيۡنِ وَهَدَيۡنَـٰهُ ٱلنَّجۡدَيۡنِ فَلَا ٱقۡتَحَمَ ٱلۡعَقَبَةَ وَمَآ أَدۡرَٮٰكَ مَا ٱلۡعَقَبَةُ فَكُّ رَقَبَةٍ أَوۡ إِطۡعَـٰمٌ۬

فِى يَوۡمٍ۬ ذِى مَسۡغَبَةٍ۬ يَتِيمً۬ا ذَا مَقۡرَبَةٍ أَوۡ مِسۡكِينً۬ا ذَا مَتۡرَبَةٍ۬ ثُمَّ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ

بِٱلۡمَرۡحَمَةِ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ أَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلۡمَيۡمَنَةِ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا هُمۡ أَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلۡمَشۡـَٔمَةِ عَلَيۡہِمۡ نَارٌ۬ مُّؤۡصَدَةُۢ

“Verily We have created Man into toil and struggle. Thinketh he, that none hath power over him? He may say (boastfully): "Wealth have I squandered in abundance!" Thinketh he that none beholdeth him? Have we not made for him a pair of eyes? ― And a tongue and a pair of lips? ― And shown him the two highways? But he hath made no haste on the path that is steep. And what will explain to thee, the path that is steep? (It is:) freeing the bondman; Or the giving of food in a day of privation. To the orphan with claims of relationship, or to the indigent (down) in the dust. Then will he be of those who believe, and enjoin patience, (constancy, and self-restraint), and enjoin deeds of kindness and compassion. Such are the Companions of the Right Hand. But those who reject Our Signs, they are the (unhappy) companions of the Left Hand. On them will be Fire Vaulted over (all round).”

(Qur’an: al-Balad: 90: 4-20)

إِنَّا خَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ أَمۡشَاجٍ۬ نَّبۡتَلِيهِ

فَجَعَلۡنَـٰهُ سَمِيعَۢا بَصِيرًا

إِنَّا هَدَيۡنَـٰهُ ٱلسَّبِيلَ إِمَّا شَاكِرً۬ا وَإِمَّا كَفُورًا

“Verily We created Man from a drop of mingled sperm, in order to try him: so We gave him (the gifts), of Hearing and Sight. We showed him the Way: whether he be grateful or ungrateful (rests on his will).”

(Qur’an: al-Insan: 76:2-3)

فَأَقِمۡ وَجۡهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفً۬ا فِطۡرَتَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّتِى فَطَرَ ٱلنَّاسَ عَلَيۡہَا

لَا تَبۡدِيلَ لِخَلۡقِ ٱللَّهِ ذَٲلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلۡقَيِّمُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَڪۡثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ

“So set thou thy face steadily and truly to the faith: (establish) Allah's handiwork according to the pattern on which He has made mankind: no change (let there be) in the work (wrought) by Allah: that is the standard Religion: but most among mankind understand not.”

(Qur’an: Rum: 30: 30)

وَلَقَدۡ ذَرَأۡنَا لِجَهَنَّمَ ڪَثِيرً۬ا مِّنَ ٱلۡجِنِّ وَٱلۡإِنسِ لَهُمۡ قُلُوبٌ۬ لَّا يَفۡقَهُونَ بِہَا

وَلَهُمۡ أَعۡيُنٌ۬ لَّا يُبۡصِرُونَ بِہَا وَلَهُمۡ ءَاذَانٌ۬ لَّا يَسۡمَعُونَ بِہَآ

أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ كَٱلۡأَنۡعَـٰمِ بَلۡ هُمۡ أَضَلُّ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡغَـٰفِلُونَ

“Many are the Jinns and men We have made for Hell: they have hearts wherewith they understand not, eyes wherewith they see not, and ears wherewith they hear not. They are like cattle nay more misguided: for they are heedless (of warning).”

(Qur’an: al-A’raf: 7:179)

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوۡمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُواْ مَا بِأَنفُسِہِمۡ

“Verily never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change it themselves (with their own souls).”

(Qur’an: ar-Ra’d: 13: 11)

صِبۡغَةَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَنۡ أَحۡسَنُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ صِبۡغَةً۬ وَنَحۡنُ لَهُ ۥ عَـٰبِدُونَ

“Say: Our life takes its colour from Allah! And who could give a better colour (to life) than Allah? And it is He (alone) Whom we worship.”

(Qur’an: al-Baqarah: 2: 138)

WHAT IS THE BEST MODEL?

Muslims, who bear witness that Muhammad s.a.w is the Messenger of Allah. We regard him as our teacher, guide and leader. Muhammad s.a.w. was sent as a mercy for mankind and Allah referred to him as the best exemplar:

لَّقَدۡ كَانَ لَكُمۡ فِى رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ أُسۡوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ۬
لِّمَن كَانَ يَرۡجُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلۡيَوۡمَ ٱلۡأَخِرَ وَذَكَرَ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرً۬ا

''Verily, in the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad) you have a good example for everyone who looks forward (with hopes and awes) to Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah unceasingly''.

(Qur'an: Al Ahzab: 33:21)

Allah SWT, our Creator, has provided for us the way. Islam being the code for living, the guidance. As to how we should follow this, it is not merely the superficial adherence to its laws alone. Rather, being Muslims requires us to emulate Muhammad s.a.w. for he epitomises the perfect man, who submitted and obeyed Allah. Thereby Allah educated him and moulded his life and adorned it with exalted character. This is what Man should become, when he devotes himself as a servant of Allah. Although physically Man shares certain similarities with animals, he is destined to become the noblest of all of Allah's creatures. It is not something farfetched nor an idealist dream, but a reality which has been demonstrated in the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w, a man perfected by God.

وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ۬

"And thou (Muhammad) standest on an exalted standard of character."

(Qur’an: al-Qalam 68:4)

Thus the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w himself said:

إِنَّمَا بُعِثْتُ لِأُتَمِّمَ مَكَارِمَ اْلأَخْلاَقِ

"Verily I have not been raised (as a Prophet) except to perfect the noble
nature (akhlaq) of mankind''. (Hadith)

أَدَّبَنِيْ رَبِّي فَأَحْسَنَ تَأْدِبِيْ

“My Lord educated me, and made my education most excellent.)”

(Hadith)

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‘ILM AKHLAQ / TSAWWUF / IRFAN

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(Science of human Disposition/ Sufism)

------------------------
Purpose / Objective
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· Development of Righteous Personality
· Purification/perfection of the Self

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What is involved?
------------------------

· Reforming the Self (Nafs)
· Best behaviour in relationship with Allah,
within oneself, and with others.
· (Gnostic) Knowledge of Self and of Allah

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What is the Effect?

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· Development of Most noble personality traits
Founded on Love of Allah, of all His prophets [Nabiyyin]
especially the Seal of Prophethood Muhammad s.a.w.,
his Household [Ahl al-bayt] and loyal Companions [Sahabi],
In fellowship with the Truthful [siddiqqin],
the Witnesses & martyrs [shuhada] and the
Righteous servants of Allah [Solihin];
Striving to purify the Self (Nafs) and
adorning it with the Exalted Moral traits
of Our Beloved Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.
(The Perfected Man – “Insan Kaamil”)

وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلرَّسُولَ فَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ مَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنۡعَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيۡہِم

مِّنَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ وَٱلصِّدِّيقِينَ وَٱلشُّہَدَآءِ وَٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ‌ۚ

وَحَسُنَ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ رَفِيقً۬ا ذَٲلِكَ ٱلۡفَضۡلُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ عَلِيمً۬ا

“All who obey Allah and the Messenger are in the company of those on whom is the Grace of Allah― of the Prophets (who teach) the sincere (lovers of Truth), the witnesses (who testify), and the Righteous (who do good): ah! How a beautiful fellowship! Such is the Bounty from Allah: and sufficient is it that Allah knoweth all.”

(Qur’an: an-Nisa’: 4: 69-70)

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DU’A MAKARIM AL-AKHLAQ

- extracted (a portion) from the supplication of
the great-grandson of the Prophet s.a.w.,
Imam ‘Ali ibn Husayn ibn ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib,
Zein-al ‘Abidin (a.s.):

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اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَّآلِهِ
وَبَلِّغْ بِإِيمَانِي أَكْمَلَ الإِيمَانِ
وَاجْعَلْ يَقِينِي أَفْضَلَ الْيَقِينِ
وَانتَهِ بِنِيَّتِي إِلَى أَحْسَنِ النِّيَّاتِ
وَبِعَمَلِي إِلَى أَحْسَنِ الأَعْمَاِل

O Allah, bless Muhammad and his Household,

cause my faith to reach the most perfect faith,

make my certainty the most excellent certainty,

and take my intention to the best of intentions

and my works to the best of works!

وَاكْفِنِي مَا يَشْغَلُنِي الإِهْتِمَامُ بِهِ
وَاسْتَعْمِلْنِي بِمَا تَسْألُنِي غَداً عَنْهُ
وَاسْتَفْرِغْ أَيَّامِي فِيمَا خَلَقْتَنِي لَهُ
وَاغْنِنِي وَأَوْسِعْ عَلَيَّ فِي رِزْقِكَ
وَلا تَفْتِنِّي بِالنَّظَرِ
وَأَعِزَّنِي وَلا تَبْتَلِيَنِّي بِالْكِبْرِ
وَعَبِّدْنِي لَكَ وَلا تُفْسِدْ عِبِادَتِي بِالعُجْبِ
وَأَجْرِ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى يَدَيَّ الْخَيْرَ وَلا تَمْحَقْهُ بِالْمَنِّ
وَهَبْ لِي مَعَاِلي الأَخْلاَقِ
وَاعْصِمْنِي مِنَ الْفَخْرِ

spare me the concerns which distract me,

employ me in that about which Thou wilt ask me tomorrow,

and let me pass my days in that for which Thou hast created me!

Free me from need, expand Thy provision toward me,

and tempt me not with ingratitude (النَّظَر )!

Exalt me and afflict me not with pride (الْكِبْرِ )!

Make me worship Thee and

corrupt not my worship with self-admiration (العُجْبِ )!

Let good flow out from my hands upon the people and

efface it not by my making them feel obliged (الْمَنِّ )!

Give me the (مَعَاِلي الأَخْلاَقِ ) highest moral traits

and preserve me from vainglory (الْفَخْرِ )!

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَّآلِهِ
كَأَفْضَلِ مَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى أَحَدٍ مِّنْ خَلْقِكَ قَبْلَهُ
وَأَنتَ مُصَلٍّ عَلى أَحَدٍ بَعْدَهُ
وَآتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَّفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً
وَقِنِي بِرَحْمَتِكَ عَذَابَ النَّارِ
إِنَّكَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْء قَدِيرٌ، وَهُوَ عَلَيْكَ يَسِيرٌ

O Allah, and bless Muhammad and his Household

the best Thou hast blessed any of Thy creatures

before him and wilt bless any of them after him,

and give to us in this World good,

and in the next world good,

and protect me through Thy mercy

from the chastisement of the Fire!

Verily You (Allah)! Have power

over all things,

and for You (to grant upon us)

is easy.

آمين Aa-meen!

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Compiled by: Ustaz Zhulkeflee Bin Haji Ismail (Singapore).

PERGAS

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Footnotes:

[1] As opposed to: materialistic, animalistic, demonic and even to be distinguished as higher than the angelic disposition – because even angels were commanded to bow down to Adam a.s.: وَإِذۡ قُلۡنَا لِلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةِ ٱسۡجُدُواْ لِأَدَمَ فَسَجَدُوٓاْ “”And behold We said to the angels: "Bow down to Adam"; and they bowed down:”(Q:Baqarah:2:34)

[2] One scholar succinctly describes “Tasawwuf” as “the practice of Islam at the level of IHSAN” – where IHSAN is understood to mean (as explained by our Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. as) ...”... that you worship [serve or devote yourself to] Allah as though you see Him, if not, then He sees you.” –Hadith reported by Muslim. Adepts of “tasawwuf” are called “mutasawwifin” whereas for “Irfan” the appellation “ ’aarifin” is used.

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BIDDING FAREWELL TO RAMADHAN

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دُعائِهِ وِداعِ شَهْرِ رَمَضانَ

His Supplication Bidding Farewell to the Month of Ramadan

Du’a attributed to Imam Zayn-al-Abidin, Ali bin Hussein bin Ali (a.s.)

- great grandson of the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.from

"al-Sahifah al-Kamilah al-Sajjadiyah"

http://www.al-islam.org/sahifa/dua45.html

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بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

أَللّهُمَّ يا مَنْ لا يَرْغَبُ فِي الْجَزاءِ

1. O Allah,
O He who desires no repayment!

وَيَا مَنْ لا يَنْدَمُ عَلَى الْعَطاء

2. O He who shows no remorse at bestowal!

وَيا مَنْ لا يُكافِئُ عَبْدَهُ عَلَى السَّواءِ

3. O He who rewards not His servant
tit for tat!

مِنَّتُكَ ابْتِداءٌ، وَعَفْوُكَ تَفَضُّلٌ،

وَعُقُوبَتُكَ عَدْلٌ
وَقَضاؤُكَ خِيَرَةٌ

4. Thy kindness is a new beginning,
Thy pardon gratuitous bounty,181
Thy punishment justice,
Thy decree a choice for the best!

إِنْ أَعْطَيْتَ لَمْ تَشُبْ عَطاءَكَ بِمَنٍّ
وَإِنْ مَنعْتَ لَمْ يَكُنْ مَنْعُكَ تَعَدِّياً

5. If Thou bestowest,
Thou stainest not Thy bestowal with obligation,
and if Thou withholdest,
Thou withholdest not in transgression.

تَشْكُرُ مَنْ شكَرَكَ وَأَنْتَ أَلْهَمْتَهُ شُكْرَكَ

6. Thou showest gratitude to him who thanks Thee,
while Thou hast inspired him to thank Thee.

وَتُكافِئُ مَنْ حَمِدَكَ وَأَنْتَ عَلَّمْتَهُ حَمْدَكَ

7. Thou rewardest him who praises Thee,
while though Thou hast taught him Thy praise.

وَتَسْتُرُ عَلى مَنْ لَوْ شِئْتَ فَضَحْتَهُ
وَتَجُودُ عَلى مَنْ لَوْ شِئْتَ مَنَعْتَهُ
وَكِلاهُما أَهْلٌ مِنْكَ لِلْفَضيحَةِ وَالْمَنْعِ
غَيْرَ أَنَّكَ بَنَيْتَ أَفَعالَكَ عَلَى التَّفَضّلِ
وَأَجْرَيْتَ قُدْرَتَكَ عَلَى التَّجاوُزِ
وَتَلَقَّيْتَ مَنْ عَصاكَ بِالْحِلْمِ

8. Thou coverest him whom,
if Thou willed,
Thou wouldst expose,
and Thou art generous toward him from whom,
if Thou willed,
Thou wouldst withhold.
Both are worthy of Thy exposure and withholding,
but Thou hast founded Thy acts upon gratuitous bounty,
channelled Thy power into forbearance,

وَأَمْهَلْتَ مَنْ قَصَدَ لِنَفْسِهِ بِالظُّلْمِ
تَستَنْظِرُهُمْ بِأَناتِكَ إِلَى الاْ نابَةِ
وتَتْرُكُ مُعاجَلَتَهُمْ إِلَى التَّوْبَةِ
لِكَيْلا يَهْلِكَ عَلَيْكَ هالِكُهُمْ
وَلا يَشْقى بِنِعْمَتِكَ شَقِيُّهُمْ
إِلاّ عَنْ طُولِ الاْ عْذارِ إِلَيْهِ
وَبَعْدَ تَرادُفِ الْحُجَّةِ

عَلَيْهِ كَرَماً مِن عَفْوِكَ يا كَريم
وَعائِدَةً مِنْ عَطْفِكَ يا حَليم

9. received him who disobeyed Thee with clemency,
and disregarded him who intended wrongdoing against himself.
Thou awaitest their turning back without haste
and refrainest from rushing them toward repentance,
so that the perisher among them may not perish
because of Thee
and the wretched may not be wretched through
Thy favour,
but only after Thy prolonged excusing him
and successive arguments against him,
as an act of generosity through Thy pardon, O Generous,
and an act of kindliness through Thy tenderness, O Clement!

أَنْتَ الَّذي فَتَحْتَ لِعِبادِكَ باباً إِلى
عَفْوِكَ وَسَمَّيْتَهُ التَّوْبَةَ
وَجَعَلْتَ عَلى ذلِكَ الْبابِ دَليلاً
مِنْ وَحْيِكَ لِئَلاّ يَضِلُّوا عَنْهُ
فَقُلْتَ تَبارَكَ اسْمُكَ

تُوبُوا إِلَى اللّهِ تَوْبَةً نَصُوحاً
عَسى رَبُّكُمْ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ عَنْكُمْ سَيِّئاتِكُمْ وَيُدْخِلَكُمْ
جَنّات تَجْري مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الاْ نْهارُ

10. It is Thou who hast opened for Thy servants
a door to Thy pardon,
which Thou hast named 'repentance'.
Thou hast placed upon that door
a pointer from Thy revelation,
lest they stray from it:
Thou hast said (blessed are Thy names),
Repent toward Allah with unswerving repentance!
It may be that Thy Lord will acquit of your evil deeds
and will admit you into gardens
beneath which rivers flow,

يَوْمَ لا يُخْزِي اللّهُ النَّبِىَّ وَالَّذين آمَنُوا
مَعَهُ نُورُهُمْ يَسْعى بَيْنَ أَيْديهِمْ وَبِأَيْمانِهِمْ
يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنا أَتْمِمْ لَنا نُورَنا
وَاغْفِرْ لَنا إِنَّكَ عَلى كُلِّ شَىْء قَديرٌ
فَما عُذْرُ مَنْ أَغْفَلَ دُخُولَ ذلِكَ الْمَنْزِلِ
بَعْدَ فَتْحِ الْبابِ
وَإِقامَةِ الدَّليلِ؟

11. upon the day when Allah will not degrade the Prophet
and those who have faith along with him,
their light running before them
and on their right hands,
and they say:
'Our Lord, complete for us our light, and forgive us!
Surely Thou art powerful over everything.'182
What is the excuse
of him who remains heedless of entering that house
after the opening of the door
and the setting up of the pointer?

وَأَنْتَ الَّذي زِدْتَ فِي السَّوْمِ عَلى نَفْسِكَ لِعِبادِك
تُريدُ رِبْحَهُمْ في مُتاجَرَتِهمْ لَكَ
وَفَوْزَهُمْ بِالْوِفادَةِ عَلَيْكَ وَالزِّيادَةِ
مِنْكَ، فَقُلْتَ تَبارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعالَيْتَ
مَنْ جاءَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ عَشْرُ أَمْثالِها وَمَنْ
جاءَ بِالسَّيِّئَةِ فَلا يُجْزى إِلاّ مِثْلَها

12. It is Thou who hast raised the price against Thyself
to the advantage of Thy servants,
desiring their profit in their trade with Thee,
their triumph through reaching Thee,
and their increase on account of Thee,
for Thou hast said
(blessed is Thy Name and high art Thou exalted),
Whoso brings a good deed
shall have ten the like of it,
and whoso brings an evil deed
shall only be recompensed the like of it.183

وَقُلْت: (مَثَلُ الَّذينَ يُنْفِقُونَ أَمْوالَهُمْ
في سَبيلِ اللّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّة أَنْبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنابِلَ
في كُلِّ سُنْبُلَة ماِئَةُ حَبَّة
وَاللّهُ يُضاعِفُ لِمَنْ يَشاءُ )
وَقُلْتَ: (مَنْ ذَا الَّذي يُقْرِضُ اللّهَ قَرْضاً حَسَناً
فَيُضاعِفَهُ لَهُ أَضْعافاً كَثيرَةً).
وَما أَنْزَلْتَ مِن نَظائِرِهِنَّ فِي الْقُرْآنِ مِنْ تَضاعِيفِ الْحَسَناتِ

13. Thou hast said,
The likeness of those who expend their wealth
in the way of Allah
is as the likeness of a grain of corn
that sprouts seven ears,
in every ear a hundred grains;
so God multiplies unto whom He wills.184
Thou hast said,
Who is he that will lend to Allah a good loan,
and He will multiply it for him manifold?185
And Thou hast sent down in the Qur'an
similar verses on the multiplying of good deeds.

وَأَنْتَ الَّذي دَلَلْتَهُمْ بِقَوْلِكَ مِنْ غَيْبِكَ
وَتَرْغيبِكَ الَّذي فيهِ حَظُّهُمْ عَلى
ما لَوْ سَتَرْتَهُ عَنْهُمْ لَمْ تُدْرِكْهُ أَبْصارُهُمْ
وَلَمْ تَعِهِ أَسْماعُهُمْ
وَلَمْ تَلْحَقْهُ أَوْهامُهُمْ
فَقُلْتَ: اذْكُرُوني أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لي وَلا تَكْفُرُونِ
وَقُلْتَ: لَئِنْ شَكَرْتُمْ لاَ زيدَنَّكُمْ وَلَئِنْ كَفَرْتُمْ
إِنَّ عَذابي لَشَديدٌ

14. It is Thou who hast pointed them
through Thy speech from Thy Unseen
and Thy encouragement in which lies their good fortune
toward that which
- hadst Thou covered it from them -
their eyes would not have perceived,
their ears would not have heard,
and their imaginations would not have grasped,
for Thou hast said,
Remember Me
and I will remember you
be thankful to Me,
and be you not thankless towards Me!186
Thou hast said,
If you are thankful,
surely I will increase you,
but if you are thankless,
My chastisement is surely terrible;187

وَقُلْتَ: ادْعُوني أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ إِنَّ الَّذينَ
يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبادَتي سَيَدْخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ داخِرينَ
فَسَمَّيْتَ دُعاءَكَ عِبادَةً
وَتَرْكَهُ اسْتِكْباراًوَتَوَعَّدْتَ عَلى تَرْكِهِ دُخُولَ جَهَنَّمَ داخِرينَ

15. And Thou hast said,
Supplicate Me
and I will respond to you,
surely those who wax too proud to worship Me
shall enter Gehenna utterly abject.188
Hence Thou hast named supplicating Thee 'worship'
and refraining from it 'waxing proud',
and Thou hast threatened that the refraining from it
would yield entrance into Gehenna in utter abjection.

فَذَكَرُوكَ بِمَنِّكَ
وَشَكَرُوكَ بِفَضْلِكَ
وَدَعَوْكَ بِأَمْرِكَ وَتَصَدَّقُوا

لَكَ طَلَباً لِمَزيدِكَ وَفيها كانَتْ نَجاتُهُمْ مِنْ

غَضَبِكَ وَفَوْزُهُمْ بِرِضاكَ

16. So they remember Thee for Thy kindness,
they thank Thee for Thy bounty,
they supplicate Thee by Thy command,
and they donate for Thee
in order to seek Thy increase;
in all this lies their deliverance from Thy wrath
and their triumph through Thy good pleasure.

وَلَوْ دَلَّ مَخْلُوقٌ مَخْلُوقاً مِنْ نَفْسِهِ عَلى مِثْلِ الَّذي دَلَلْتَ عَلَيْهِ عِبادَكَ مِنْكَ
كانَ مَوْصُوفاً بِالاْ حْسانِ وَمَنْعُوتاً بِالاْ مْتِنانِ وَمَحْمُوداً بِكُلِّ لِسان
فَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ ما وُجِدَ في حَمْدِكَ مَذْهَبٌ وَما بَقِي لِلْحَمْدِ لَفْظٌ تُحْمَدُ بِهِ وَمَعْنىً يَنْصَرِفُ إِلَيْهِ

17. Were any creature himself to direct another creature
to the like of that to which
Thou Thyself hast directed Thy servants,
he would be described by beneficence,
qualified by kindness,
and praised by every tongue.
So to Thee belongs praise
as long as there is found a way to praise Thee
and as long as there remains for praising
words by which Thou may be praised
and meanings which may be spent in praise!

يا مَنْ تَحَمَّدَ إِلى عِبادِهِ بِالاْ حْسانِ وَالْفَضْل وَغَمَرَهُمْ بِالْمَنِّ

وَالطّوْل ِما أَفْشى فينا نِعْمَتَكَ؟ وَأَسْبَغَ عَلَيْنا مِنَّتَكَ؟ وَأَخَصَّنا بِبِرِّكَ؟

18. O He who shows Himself praiseworthy to His servants
through beneficence and bounty,
flooding them with kindness and graciousness!
How much Thy favour has been spread about among us,
Thy kindness lavished upon us,
and Thy goodness singled out for us!

هَدَيْتَنا لِدينِكَ الَّذي اصْطَفَيْتَ وَمِلَّتِكَ الَّتِي ارْتَضَيْتَ

وَسَبيلِكَ الَّذي سَهَّلْتَ وَبَصَّرْتَنَا الزُّلْفَةَ لَدَيْكَ وَالْوُصُولَ إِلى كَرامَتِكَ

19. Thou hast guided us to
Thy religion which Thou hast chosen,
Thy creed with which Thou art pleasd,
and Thy path which Thou hast made smooth,
and Thou hast shown us proximity to Thee
and arrival at Thy generosity!

أَللّهُمَّ وَأَنْتَ جَعَلْتَ مِنْ صَفايا تِلْكَ الْوَظائِفِ وَخَصائِصِ تِلْكَ الْفُرُوضِ
شَهْرَ رَمَضانَ الَّذِي اخْتَصَصْتَهُ مِنْ سائِرِ الشُّهُورِ وَتَخَيَّرْتَهُ

مِنْ جَميعِ الاْزْمِنَةِ وَالدُّهُورِ وَآثَرْتَهُ عَلى كُلِّ أَوْقاتِ السَّنَةِ بِما أَنْزَلْتَ

فيهِ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ وَالنُّورِ وَضاعَفْتَ فيهِ مِنَ الاْيمانِ وَفَرَضْتَ فيهِ

مِنَ الصِّيامِ وَرَغَّبْتَ فيهِ مِنَ الْقِيامِ وَأَجْلَلْتَ فيهِ مِنْ لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ

الَّتي هِىَ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْر

20. O Allah,
among the choicest of those duties
and the most special of those obligations
Thou hast appointed the month of Ramadan,
which Thou hast singled out from other months,
chosen from among all periods and eras,
and preferred over all times of the year
through the Qur'an and the Light
which Thou sent down within it,
the faith
which Thou multiplied by means of it,
the fasting
which Thou obligated therein,
the standing in prayer
which Thou encouraged at its time,
and the Night of Decree
which Thou magnified therein,
the night which is better than a thousand months.189

ثُمَّ آثَرْتَنا بِهِ عَلى سائِرِ الاْ مَمِ
وَاصْطَفَيْتَنا بِفَضْلِهِ دُونَ أَهْلِ الْمِلَلِ فَصُمْنا بِأَمْرِكَ

نَهارَهُ وَقُمْنا بِعَوْنِكَ لَيْلَهُ مُتَعَرِّضينَ بِصِيامِهِ

وَقِيامِهِ لِما عَرَّضْتَنا لَهُ مِنْ رَحْمَتِكَ وَتَسَبَّبْنا إِلَيْهِ

مِنْ مَثُوْبَتِك وَأَنْتَ الْمَليءُ بِما رُغِبَ فيهِ إِلَيْكَ الْجَوادُ

بِما سُئِلْتَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْقَريبُ إِلى مَنْ حاوَلَ قُرْبَكَ

21. Through it Thou hast preferred us
over the other communities
and through its excellence Thou hast chosen us
to the exclusion of the people of the creeds.
We fasted by Thy command in its daylight,
we stood in prayer with Thy help in its night,
presenting ourselves by its fasting and its standing
to the mercy which Thou hast held up before us,
and we found through it the means to Thy reward.
And Thou art full of what is sought from Thee,
munificent with what is asked of Thy bounty,
and near to him who strives for Thy nearness.

وَقَدْ أَقامَ فينا هذَا الشَّهْرُ مَقامَ حَمْد وَصَحِبَنا

صُحْبَةَ مَبْرُور وَأَرْبَحَنا أَفْضَلَ أَرْباحِ الْعالَمينَ
ثُمَّ قَدْ فارَقَنا عِنْدَ تَمامِ وَقْتِهِ وَانْقِطاعِ مُدَّتِهِوَ وَفاءِ عَدَدِهِ

22. This month stood among us
in a standing place of praise,
accompanied us
with the companionship of one approved,
and profited us
with the most excellent profit of the world's creatures.
Then it parted from us at the completion of its time,
the end of its term,
and the fulfilment of its number.

فَنَحْنُ مُوَدِّعُوهُ وَداعَ مَنْ عَزَّ فِراقُهُ عَلَيْنا
وَغَمَّنا وَأَوْحَشَنَا انْصِرافهُ عَنّا
وَلَزِمَنا لَهُ الذِّمامُ الْمَحْفُوظُ
وَالْحُرْمَةُ الْمَرْعِيَّهُّ
وَالْحَقُّ الْمَقْضِىُّ
فَنَحْنُ قائِلُونَ:
أَلسَّلامُ عَليْكَ يا شَهْرَ اللّهِ الاْكْبَرَ
وَ يا عيدَ أَوْلِيائِهِ

23. So we bid farewell to it with the farewell of one
whose parting pains us,
whose leaving fills us with gloom and loneliness,
and to whom we have come to owe
a safeguarded claim,
an observed inviolability,
and a discharged right.
We say:
Peace be upon thee,
O greatest month of Allah!
O festival of His friends!

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يا أَكْرَمَ مَصْحُوب مِنَ الاْ وْقاتِ وَيا خَيْرَ شَهْر فِي الاْ يّامِ وَالسّاعاتِ

24. Peace be upon thee,
O most noble of accompanying times!
O best of months in days and hours!

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ شَهْر قَرُبَتْ فيهِ الامالُ وَنُشِرَتْ فيهِ الاْ عْمالُ

25. Peace be upon thee,
month in which
expectations come near
and good works are scattered about!

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ قَرين جَلَّ قَدْرُهُ مَوْجُوداً وَأَفْجَعَ فَقْدُهُ مَفْقُوداً، وَمَرْجُوٍّ آلَمَ فِراقُهُ

26. Peace be upon thee,
comrade
who is great in worth when found
and who torments through absence when lost,
anticipated friend
whose parting gives pain!

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ أَليف آنَسَ مُقْبِلاً فَسَرَّ وَأَوْحَشَ مُنْقَضِياً فَمَضَّ

27. Peace be upon thee,
familiar
who brought comfort in coming,
thus making happy,
who left loneliness in going,
thus giving anguish!

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ مُجاوِر رَقَّتْ فيهِ الْقُلُوبُ وَقَلَّتْ فيهِ الذُّنُوبُ

28. Peace be upon thee,
neighbour in whom
hearts became tender
and sins became few!

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ مِن ناصِر أَعانَ عَلَى الشَّيْطانِ وَصاحِب سَهَّلَ سُبُلَ الاْحْسانِ

29. Peace be upon thee,
helper
who aided against Satan,
companion
who made easy the paths of good-doing!

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ ما أَكْثَرَ عُتَقاءَ اللّهِ فيكَ وَما أَسْعَدَ مَنْ رَعى حُرْمَتَكَ بِكَ

30. Peace be upon thee -
How many became freedmen of Allah within thee!
How happy those who observed the respect due to thee!

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ ما كانَ أَمْحاكَ لِلذُّنُوبِ وَأَسْتَرَكَ لاِ نْواعِ الْعُيُوبِ

31. Peace be upon thee -
How many the sins thou erased!
How many the kinds of faults thou covered over!

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ ما كانَ أَطْوَلَكَ عَلَى الْمُجْرِمينَ وَأَهْيَبَكَ في صُدُورِ الْمُؤْمِنينَ

32. Peace be upon thee -
How drawn out wert thou for the sinners!
How awesome wert thou in the hearts of the faithful!

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ شَهْر لا تُنافِسُهُ الاْ يّامُ

33. Peace be upon thee,
month with which no days compete!

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ شَهْر هُوَ مِنْ كُلِّ أَمْر سَلامُ

34. Peace be upon thee,
month which is peace in all affairs!

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ غَيْرَ كَرِيهِ الْمُصاحَبَةِ
وَلا ذَميمِ الْمُلابَسَةِ

35. Peace be upon thee,
thou whose companionship is not disliked,
thou whose friendly mixing is not blamed!

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ كَما وَفَدْتَ عَلَيْنا بِالْبَرَكاتِ وَغَسَلْتَ عَنّا دَنَسَ الْخَطيئاتِ

36. Peace be upon thee,
just as thou hast entered upon us with blessings
and cleansed us of the defilement of offenses!

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ غَيْرَ مُوَدَّع بَرَماً وَلا مَتْرُوك صِيامُهُ سَأَماً

37. Peace be upon thee -
Thou art not bid farewell in annoyance
nor is thy fasting left in weariness!

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ مَطْلُوب قَبْلَ وَقْتِهِ وَمَحْزُون عَلَيْهِ قَبْلَ فَوْتِهِ

38. Peace be upon thee,
object of seeking before thy time,
object of sorrow before thy passing!

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ كَمْ مِنْ سُوء صُرِفَ بِكَ عَنّا وَكَمْ مِنْ خَيْر أُفيضَ بِكَ عَلَيْنا

39. Peace be upon thee -
How much evil was turned away from us through thee!
How much good flowed upon us because of thee!

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ وَعَلى لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ الَّتي هِىَ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْر

40. Peace be upon thee
and upon the Night of Decree
which is better than a thousand months!190

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ ما كانَ أَحْرَصَنا بِالاْمْسِ عَلَيْكَ وَأَشَدَّ شَوْقَنا غَداً إِلَيْكَ

41. Peace be upon thee -
How much we craved thee yesterday!
How intensely we shall yearn for thee tomorrow!

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ وَعَلى فَضْلِكَ الَّذي حُرِمْناهُ وَعَلى ماض مِنْ بَرَكاتِكَ سُلِبْناهُ

42. Peace be upon thee
and upon thy bounty
which has now been made unlawful to us
and upon thy blessings gone by
which have now been stripped away from us!

أَللّهُمَّ إِنّا أَهْلُ هذَا الشَّهْرِ الَّذي شَرَّفْتَنا بِهِ
وَوَفَّقْتَنا بِمَنِّكَ لَهُ حينَ جَهِلَ الاْشْقِياءُ وَقْتَهُ وَحُرِمُوا لِشَقائِهِمْ فَضْلَهُ

43. O Allah,
we are the people of this month.
Through it Thou hast ennobled us
and given us success
because of Thy kindness,
while the wretched are ignorant of its time.
Made unlawful to them is its bounty
because of their wretchedness.

وَأَنْتَ وَلِىُّ ما آثَرْتَنا بِهِ مِنْ مَعْرِفَتِهِ وَهَدَيْتَنا لَهُ

مِنْ سُنَّتِهِ وَقَدْ تَوَلَّيْنا بِتَوْفيقِكَ صِيامَهُ

وَقِيامَهُ عَلى تَقْصيروَأَدَّيْنا فيهِ قَليلاً مِنْ كَثير

44. Thou art the patron
of the knowledge of it by which Thou hast preferred us,
and its prescribed practices to which Thou hast guided us.
We have undertaken, through Thy giving success,
its fasting and its standing in prayer,
but with shortcomings,
and we have performed little of much.

أَللّهُمَّ فَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ إِقْراراً بِالاْساءَةِ وَاعْتِرافاً

بِالاْ ضاعَةِ وَلَكَ مِنْ قُلُوبِنا عَقْدُ النَّدَمِ وَمِنْ أَلْسِنَتِنا

صِدْقُ الاْ عْتِذارِ فَأْجُرْنا عَلى ما أصابَنا فيهِ

مِنَ التَّفْريطِ أجْراً نَسْتَدْرِكُ بِهِ الْفَضْلَ الْمَرْغُوبَ

فيهِ وَنَعْتاضُ بِهِ مِنْ أَنْواعِ الذُّخْرِ الْمَحْرُوصِ عَلَيْهِ

45. OAllah,
so to Thee belongs praise,
in admission of evil doing
and confession of negligence,
and to Thee belongs
remorse firmly knitted in our hearts
and seeking of pardon sincerely uttered by our tongues.
Reward us,
in spite of the neglect that befell us in this month,
with a reward through which
we may reach the bounty desired from it
and win the varieties of its craved stores!

وَأَوْجِبْ لَنا عُذْرَكَ عَلى ماقَصَّرْنا فيهِ

مِنْ حَقِّكَ وَابْلُغْ بِأَعْمارِنا ما بَيْنَ أَيْدينا

مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضانَ الْمُقْبِلِ فَإِذا بَلَّغْتَناهُ

فَأَعِنّا عَلى تَناوُلِ ما أَنْتَ أَهْلُهُ مِنَ الْعِبادَةِ وَأَدِّنا

إِلَى الْقِيامِ بِما يَسْتَحِقُّهُ مِنَ الطَّاعَةِ وَ أَجْرِلَنا

مِنْ صالِحِ الْعَمَلِ ما يَكونُ دَرَكاً

لِحَقِّكَ فِي الشَّهْرَيْنِ مِنْ شُهُورِ الدَّهْرِ

46. Make incumbent upon us Thy pardon
for our falling short of Thy right in this month
and make our lives which lie before us
reach the coming month of Ramadan!
Once Thou hast made us reach it,
help us perform the worship of which Thou art worthy,
cause us to undertake the obedience which Thou deservest,
and grant us righteous works
that we may fulfil Thy right
in these two months of the months of time.191

أَللّهُمَّ وَما أَلْمَمْنا بِهِ في شَهْرِنا هذا مِنْ لَمَم

أَوْ إِثْم أَوْ واقَعْنا فيهِ مِنْ ذَنْب وَاكْتَسَبْنا
فيهِ مِنْ خَطيئَة عَلى تَعَمُّد مِنّا أَوْ عَلى نِسْيان

ظَلَمْنا فيهِ أَنْفُسَنا أَوِ انْتَهَكْنا بِهِ حُرْمَةً مِنْ غَيْرِنا

فَصَلِّ عَلى مُحَمَّد وَآلِهِ وَاسْتُرْنا بِسِتْرِكَ وَاعْفُ عَنّا

بِعَفْوِكَ وَلا تَنْصِبْنا فيهِ لاِ عْيُنِ الشّامِتينَ وَلا تَبْسُطْ

عَلَيْنا فيهِ أَلْسُنَ الطّاعِنينَ وَاسْتَعْمِلْنا

بِما يَكُونُ حِطَّةً وَكَفّارَةً
لِما أَنَكَرْتَ مِنّا فيهِ
برَأْفَتِكَ الَّتي لا تَنْفَدُ وَفَضْلِكَ الَّذي لا يَنْقُصُ

47. O Allah,
as for the small and large sins
which we have committed in this our month,
the misdeeds into which we have fallen,
and the offenses which we have earned
purposefully or in forgetfulness,
wronging ourselves thereby
or violating the respect due to others,
bless Muhammad and his Household,
cover us over with Thy covering,
pardon us through Thy pardoning,
place us not before the eyes of the gloaters because of that,
stretch not toward us the tongues of the defamers,
and employ us in that which will alleviate and expiate
whatever Thou disapprovest from us within it
through Thy clemency which does not run out,
and Thy bounty which does not diminish!

أَللّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلى مُحَمَّد وَآلِهِ

وَاجْبُرْ مُصيبَتَنا بِشَهْرِنا

وَبارِكْ لَنا في يَوْمِ عيدِنا

وَفِطْرِنا وَاجْعَلْهُ مِنْ خَيْرِ

يَوْم مَرَّ عَلَيْنا أَجْلَبِهِ لِعَفْو

وَأَمْحاهُ لِذَنْب وَاغْفِرْ لَنا

ماخَفِىَ مِنْ ذُنُوبِنا وَما عَلَنَ

48. O Allah,
bless Muhammad and his Household,
redress our being afflicted by our month,192
bless us in this day of our festival and our fast-breaking,
make it one of the best of days that have passed over us,
the greatest in attracting Thy pardon,
and the most effacing toward sins,
and forgive us our sins,
both the concealed and the public!

أَللّهُمَّ اسْلَخْنا بِانْسِلاخِ هذَا الشَّهْرِ مِنْ خَطايانا

وَأَخْرِجْنا بِخُرُوجِهِ مِنْ سَيِّئاتِنا وَاجْعَلْنا مِنْ أَسْعَدِ

أَهْلِهِ بِهِ وَأَجْزَلِهِمْ قِسْماً فيهِ وَأَوْفَرِهِمْ حَظّاً مِنْهُ

49. O Allah,
with the passing of this month
make us pass forth from our offenses,
with its departure
make us depart from our evil deeds,
and appoint us thereby among its most felicitous people,
the most plentiful of them in portion,
and the fullest of them in share!

أَللّهُمَّ وَمَنْ رَعى حَقَّ هذَا الشَّهْرِ حَقَّ رِعايَتِهِ
وَحَفِظَ حُرْمَتَهُ حَقَّ حِفْظِها
وَقامَ بِحُدُودِهِ حَقَّ قِيامِها
وَاتَّقى ذُنُوبَهُ حَقَّ تُقاتِها
أَوْ تَقَرَّبَ إِلَيْكَ بِقُرْبَة أَوْجَبَتْ رِضاكَ لَهُ
وَعَطَفَتْ رَحْمَتَكَ عَلَيْهِ
فَهَبْ لَنا مِثْلَهُ مِنْ وُجْدِكَ
وَأَعْطِنا أَضْعافَهُ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ
فَإِنَّ فَضْلَكَ لايَغيضُ
وَإِنَّ خَزائِنَكَ لا تَنْقُصُ بَلْ تَفيضُ
وَإِنَّ مَعادِنَ إِحْسانِكَ لاتَفْنى
وَإِنَّ عَطاءَكَ لَلْعَطاءُ الْمُهَنّا

50. OAlllah,
when any person observes this month as it should be observed,
safeguards its inviolability as it should be safeguarded,
attends to its bounds as they should be attended to,
fears its misdeeds as they should be feared,
or seeks nearness to Thee with any act of nearness-seeking
which makes incumbent upon him Thy good pleasure
and bends toward him Thy mercy,
give to us the like [of that]193 from Thy wealth
and bestow it upon us in multiples through Thy bounty,
for Thy bounty does not diminish,
Thy treasuries do not decrease but overflow,
the mines of Thy beneficence are not exhausted,
and Thy bestowal is the bestowal full of delight!

أَللّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلى مُحَمَّد وَآلِهِ وَاكْتُبْ لَنا مِثْلَ

أُجُورِ مَنْ صامَهُ أَوْ تَعَبَّدَ لَكَ

فيْهِ إِلى يَوْمِ الْقِيامَةِ

51. O Allah,
bless Muhammad and his Household
and write for us the like of the wages
of him who fasted in it
or worshipped Thee within it
until the Day of Resurrection!

أَللّهُمَّ إِنّا نَتُوبُ إِلَيْكَ في يَوْمِ فِطْرِنَا

الَّذي جَعَلْتَهُ لِلْمُؤْمِنينَ عيداً وَسُرُورا

وَلاِ هْلِ مِلَّتِكَ مَجْمَعاً وَمُحْتَشَداً مِنْ كُلِّ ذَنْب أَذْنَبْناهُ

أَوْ سُوء أَسْلَفْناهُ أَوْ خاطِرِ شَرٍّ أَضْمَرْناهُ تَوْبَةَ

مَنْ لايَنْطَوي عَلى رُجُوع إِلى ذَنْب وَلا يَعُودُ بَعْدَها

في خَطيئَة تَوْبَةً نَصُوحاً خَلَصَتْ مِنَ الشَّكِّ

وَالاْ رْتِيابِ فَتَقَبَّلْها مِنّا

وَارْضَ عَنّا

وَثَبِّتْنا عَلَيْها

52. O Allah,
we repent to Thee in our day of fast-breaking,
which Thou hast appointed
for the faithful
a festival and a joy
and for the people of Thy creed
a time of assembly and gathering,
from every misdeed we did,
ill work we sent ahead,
or evil thought we secretly conceived,
the repentance of one who does not harbour a return to sin
and who afterwards will not go back to offense,
an unswerving repentance rid of doubt and wavering.
So accept it from us,
be pleased with us,
and fix us within it!

أَللّهُمَّ ارْزُقْنا خَوْفَ عِقابِ الْوَعيدِ

وَشَوْقَ ثَوابِ الْمَوْعُودِ حَتّى نَجِدَ لَذَّةَ

ما نَدْعُوكَ بِهِ وَكَأْبَةَ ما نَسْتَجيرُكَ مِنْهُ

53. O Allah,
provide us with fear of the threatened punishment
and yearning for the promised reward, so that we may find
the pleasure of that for which we supplicate Thee
and the sorrow of that from which we seek sanctuary in Thee!

وَاجْعَلْنا عِنْدَكَ مِنَ التَّوّابين َالَّذينَ أَوْجَبْتَ لَهُمْ

مَحَبَّتَكَ وَقَبِلْتَ مِنْهُمْ مُراجَعَةَ طاعَتِك َيا أَعْدَلَ الْعادِلينَ

54. And place us with Thee among the repenters,
those upon whom Thou hast made Thy love obligatory
and from whom Thou hast accepted
the return to obeying Thee!194
O Most Just of the just!

أَللّهُمَّ تَجاوَزْ عَنْ آبائِنا وَأُمَّهاتِناوَأهْلِ دينِنا جَميعاً

مَنْ سَلَفَ مِنْهُمْ وَمَنْ غَبَرَ إِلى يَوْمِ الْقِيامَةِ

55. O Allah,
show forbearance toward our fathers and our mothers
and all the people of our religion,
those who have gone and those who will pass by,
until the Day of Resurrection!

أَللّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلى مُحَمَّد نَبِيِّنا وَآلِهِ كَما صَلَّيْتَ

عَلى مَلائِكَتِكَ الْمُقَرَّبينَ وَصَلِّ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ

كَما صَلَّيْتَ عَلى أَنْبِيائِكَ الْمُرْسَلينَ وَصَلِّ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ

كَما صَلَّيْتَ عَلى عِبادِكَ الصّالِحينَ وَأَفْضَل مِنْ ذلِكَ
يا رَبَّ الْعالَمينَ صَلاةً تَبْلُغُنا بَرَكَتُها وَيَنالُنا نَفْعُها

وَيُسْتَجابُ لَها دُعاؤُنا

إِنَّكَ أَكْرَمُ مَنْ رُغِبَ إِلَيْهِ وَأَكْفى مَنْ تُوُ كِّلَ عَلَيْه

وَأَعْطى مَنْ سُئِلَ مِنْ فَضْلِه ِ

وَأَنْتَ عَلى كُلِّ شَىْء قَديرٌ

56. O Allah,
bless our prophet Muhammad and his Household,
as Thou hast blessed Thy angels brought nigh,
bless him and his Household,
as Thou hast blessed Thy prophets sent out,
bless him and his Household,
as Thou hast blessed Thy righteous servants
- and better than that, O Lord of the worlds! -
a blessing whose benediction will reach us,
whose benefit will attain to us,
and through which our supplication may be granted!
Thou art the most generous of those who are beseeched,
the most sufficient of those in whom confidence is had,
the most bestowing of those from whom bounty is asked,
and Thou art powerful over everything!195

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Footnotes:

180. Qur'an: 23:61.

181. In other words, Thou art kind without the servants having done anything to deserve it. Cf. 12.3.

182. Qur'an: 66:8.

183. Qur'an: 6:160.

184. Qur'an: 2:261.

185. Qur'an: 2:245.

186. Qur'an: 2:152.

187. Qur'an: 14:7.

188. Qur'an: 40:60.

189. Qur'an: 97: 3

190. Qur'an: 97:3.

191. That is, the Ramadan of the year that has just passed and that of the coming year.

192. That is, we have been afflicted by the hardship of having to fast. This interpretation follows Sayyid ''Alikhan's reading; the Persian translators interpret the sentence to mean: 'our being afflicted by grief at the passing of our month', a reading which Sayyid ''Alikhan rejects.

193. i.e., that good pleasure and mercy.

194. Allusion to Qur'anic verses such as Truly God loves the repenters (2:222) and God is He who accepts repentance from His servants (9:104; cf. 42:25).

195. Qur'an: 3:26

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