SĪDĪ MUHAMMAD FAL'S POEM ON SULŪK (WAYFARING)

Author: Sīdī Muḥammad Fāl ibn Bāba ibn Aḥmad Bīb ibn ‘Uthmān al-‘Alawī (Brother of the Author of Munyat al-Murīd)

Translated by: Sīdī Tālūt Dawood 

نظم سيدي محمد فال في السلوك

１- إِعْلَمْ بِأَنَّ ذِكْرَ هَذَا الوِرْدِ = نَهْجٌ إِلَى الوُصُولِ عَيْنًا يَهْدِي

1- Know that invoking this litany,

Is a method that truly guides to arrival,

２- بَلِ الـمَدَارُ عِنْدَهُمْ عَلَيْهِ فِي = تَصْفِيَةِ النَّفْسِ بِلَا تَوَقُّفِ

2- Indeed, with them, it is the axis of,

Purification of the soul, undoubtedly,

３- وَهَذِهِ الطَّرِيقَةُ سَيْرُهَا بِالقَلْبِ = وَالتَّمَسُّكِ بِالكِتَابِ وَالسُّنَّةِ

3- And this path, its wayfaring is with the heart,

And through adhering to the Book and the Sunnah,

４- وَشَرْطُهُ الحُضُورُ وَاسْتِحْضَارُ = قُدْوَتِنَا أَوْ تَنْقَضِي الأَذْكَارُ

4- Its condition is presence and bringing to mind,

Our exemplar, otherwise, the remembrances are cut off,

５- وَأَنْتَ حَيْثُمَا اعْتَقَدْتَهُ مَعَكْ = عَلَى الدَّوَامِ تَقْفُ نَهْجَ مَنْ سَلَكْ

5- As long as you believe that he is with you,

Always, you are following the way of those who wayfared,

６- إِنَّ الحُضُورَ هُوَ رُوحُ العَمَلِ = بِغَيْرِ مَا تَقُولُ لَا تَشْتَغِلِ

6- Indeed, presence is the spirit of all acts,

Do not busy yourself with anything other than what you are saying,

７- جَارِيَةٌ مَيْتَةٌ مَنْ أَهْدَا = هَا لِأَمِيرٍ بِئْسَ مَا قَدْ أَسْدَى

7- A dead slave girl whoever gifts her,

To a ruler, ugly is what he conferred,

８- وَفِي الحُضُورِ فِي الصَّلَاةِ اجْتَهِدِ = لَا سِيَّمَا فَاتِحَةً فِيهَا اجْهَدِ

8- For presence in prayer endeavor,

Especially to the Fātiḥah, give effort,

９- وَالقَلْبُ إِنْ بِالشَّيْخِ كَانَ عُمِّرَا = فَقَدْرُ نَفْعِ ذَاكَ لَنْ يُقَدَّرَا

9- The heart, if it is, by the Shaykh, inhabited,

The amount of benefit from that cannot be calculated,

１０- مَنْ صَحَّ إِذْنًا وَالطَّرِيقُ ذُو غَرَرْ = بِيَدِهِ يُؤْخَذُ حَيْثُمَا عَثَرْ

10- Whoever’s permission is sound, whereas the path is full of dangers,

By the hand will he be taken whenever he stumbles,

１１- وَصِحَّةُ الإِسْنَادِ قَدْ تُعَيِّنُ = وَلَيْسَ بِالسَّوَاءِ مَنْ يُلَقِّنُ

11- The authenticity of chain has been necessitated,

And without it, one cannot transmit (the litany),

１２- ثُمَّ صَلَاةُ الفَاتِحِ الَّذِي قَدَرْ = عَلَيْهِ مِنْهَا بِدَوَامِهِ اسْتَمَرْ

12- Thereafter Ṣalāh al-Fātiḥ in an amount,

That he perpetuates upon without interruption,

１３- أَوْ دُمْ عَلَى الثَّلَاثَةِ الأَوْقَاتِ = كُلٌّ بِخَمْسِمِئَةٍ قَدْ تَأْتِي

13- Or, persist upon, at the three times,

Five hundred in each, which has been related,

１４- وَلْغَيْرُ لَا تَنْظُرْ إِلَيْهِ وَذَرِ = فَالفَتْحُ يَدْنُو قَدْرَ قَطْعِ النَّظَرِ

14- Do not look towards anyone else and leave (everyone else),

For the speed of approach of the illumination corresponds to fixing your gaze,

１５- وَالفِكْرَ مِنْكَ ذُمَّ أَنْ يَجُولَا = فِي اللَّغْوِ وَاجْتَنِبْ بِهِ الفُضُولَا

15- It is blameworthy for your thoughts to dwell,

On vain speech, and preserve it from spying,

１６- لَا تَدْخُلُ الأَمْلَاكُ حَيْثُ الكَلْبُ = يَكُونُ فِي البَيْتِ كَذَاكَ القَلْبُ

16- Angels do not enter where a dog,

Is in the house, likewise your heart,

１７- لِلذِّكْرِ حَيْثُ كَانَ فَارِغًا مُلِي = نُورًا وَإِلَّا فَهُوَ ظَرْفُ المُشْغِلِ

17- With remembrance, if it is free, it is filled,

With light. Otherwise, it is an occupied container,

１８- ارْتَعْهُ فِي مَرْعَى شُهُودِ الـمِنَّهْ = مُحَسِّنًا بِذِي الجَلَالِ ظَنَّهْ

18- Let it graze in the pasture of witnessing blessings,

And having an excellent belief about the Owner of Majesty,

１９- وَجَدِّدَنْ حُسْنَ ظَنٍّ كُلَّمَا = تَجَدَّدَتْ حَالٌ لَهُ لَا تَسْأَمَا

19- Renew your excellent belief each time,

A new stat occurs to it, do not give up,

２０- أُسُّ طَرِيقِ شَيْخِنَا الـمُقَوَّمِ = هُوَ التُّقَى وَفَرَحٌ بِالـمُنْعِمِ

20- The foundation of the path of our esteemed Shaykh,

Is conscious fear of God and happiness with the Benefactor,

２１- صُحْبَةُ مَنْ لَيْسَ لَهُ تَعَلَّقُ = بِشَيْخِنَا تَقْطَعُ أَو تُعَوِّقُ

21- The companionship of one who does not have any connection,

To our Shaykh cuts one off or hinders him,

２２- فَالتَزِمِ العُزْلَةَ عَنْهُمُ فَقَطْ = وَلَوْ تَكُونُ عِنْدَنَا لَـمْ تَشْتَرَطْ

22- So, adhere to reclusion from them even,

If, according to us, that has not been stipulated,

２３- لَا سِيَّمَا إِنْ كَانَتِ الجَمَاعَهْ = كَثِيرَةً لَـمْ تَجْتَمِعْ لِطَاعَهْ

23- Especially if the gathering is such,

That it does not often gather for obedience,

２４- فَاجْعَلْهُمُ مِثْلَ السَّنَا يُجْتَنَبُ = وَهْوَ لِأَجْلِ عِلَّةٍ قَدْ يُشْرَبُ

24- Treat them as lightning which is avoided,

That is due to an illness that may be transmitted,

２５- وَلْتَكُ دَأْبًا لِلْإِلَهِ شَاكِرَا = وَإِنْ تَكُنْ لَمْ تَرَ نَفْعًا ظَاهِرَا

25- Be a thankful worker for God,

Even if you have not seen manifest benefit,

２６- فَالنَّفْعُ حَتْمٌ لَازِمٌ فَإِنْ ظَهَرْ = فَهُوَ وَإِلَّا فَضَمِيرٌ اسْتَتَرْ

26- For, benefit is necessary and inevitable, so if it is manifest,

Then that is good, and if not, then it is a hidden matter,

２７- وَقَدْ يَكُونُ بَعْضُهُ بِالعَدْوَى = وَهِيَ فِي بَعْضٍ تَكُونُ أَقْوَى

27- It may be that some of it manifests through enmity,

And that, in some cases, is stronger,

２８- قَدْرُ الـمَحَبَّةِ يَكُونُ النَّفْعُ = وَكَمْ يَجِيءُ إِثْرَ خَفْضٍ رَفْعُ

28- Commensurate with ones love is his benefit,

And how many times does elevation come after abasement,

２９- وَرُبَّمَا غَرِقَ فِي التَّيَّارِ = مَنْ يَأْمَلُ النَّضْحَ لِفَيْضٍ جَارِ

29- Many times he is drowned in the stream,

Who hopes to quench his thirst with a moving flood,

３０- وَرُبَّ بَالِغِ الـمَقَامِ يُنْعَمُ = عَلَيْهِ بِالحِجَابِ وَهْوَ أَسْلَمُ

30- And many a person that reaches a station is blessed,

By being veiled, and that is a safer situation,

３１- وَشَيْخُنَا الـمَحْجُوبُ مِمَّنْ صَحِبَهْ = يُعْطَى لِفَضْلِهِ ثَوَابُ المَرْتَبَهْ

31- And our Shaykh, the veiled among those who accompanied him,

Is granted, on behalf of his merit, the reward of the degree,

３２- غَيْرُ الإِلَهِ القَلْبَ مِنْهُ طَهِّرِ = مَا فِيهِ مِنْ نَفْعٍ وَلَا مِنْ ضَرَرِ

32- From other than God purify your heart,

Neither benefit nor harm is found in them,

３３- مِنْهُ رَجَاكَ اقْطَعْ وَلَا تُدَبِّرِ = وَسَلِّمِ الأُمُورَ لِلْـمُقَدِّرِ

33- From other than Him sever all your hopes, and do not self-direct,

And surrender to all affairs to the One who decrees everything,

３４- مَنْ كَانَ لِلْـمُرَادِ مِنْهُ صَارِفْ = مَعَ مُرَادِ الحَقِّ فَهْوَ العَارِفْ

34- Whoever subjects his own will,

To the will of the Real, he is a knower,

３５- مَا قَامَ غَيْرُكَ بِهِ عَنْكَ فَلَا = تَقُمْ لِنَفْسِكَ بِهِ فَتُخْذَلَا

35- If someone else has taken care of something for you,

Do not take care of it on your own behalf, or you will be deserted,

３６- وَإِنْ فَعَلْتَ طَاعَةً فَاعْتَقِدِ = ذَلِكَ فَضْلُ رَبِّنَا فَلْتَحْمَدِ

36- And if you perform any act of obedience, then believe,

That it is the grace of our Lord, and render thanks and praise,

３７- إِذْ فِعْلُهُ تَفَضُّلًا قَدْ نَسَبَهْ = لَكَ لِتَغْتَبِطْ بِمَا قَدْ وَهَبَهْ

37- Since, His act has been attributed, through His grace,

To you, so that you may delight in that which you have been granted,

３８- وَلَا تَعْتَمِدْ إِلَّا عَلَى فَضْلِ رَبِّنَا = لِـمَا فِيكَ مِنْ عَـجْزٍ وَلَمْ تَكُ نَافِعَا

38- Do not depend except on the grace of our Lord,

Because, in you is incapacity, and you cannot benefit,

３９- وَلْتَطْلُبِ العَيْنَ وَلَا تَبْغِ الأَثَرْ = فَـخَلِّ عَنْكَ مَا العِيَانُ كَالـخَبَرْ

39- And you must seek the source and do not follow the effect,

Rid yourself of that, direct witnessing is not like (hearing) reports,

４０- طَرِيقُ شَيْخِنَا لَهَا أَحْكَامُ = تُخَصُّهَا يَعْرِفُهَا الإِمَامُ

40- The Path of our Shaykh has rulings,

Specific to it which the Imam knows,

４１- فَهْمُهَا كَرَامَةٌ فَصَدِّقُوا = كَلَامَ رَبِّنَا عَلَا (وَيَخْلُقُ ...)

41- Understanding them is an ennoblement so, affirm,

The words of our Exalted Lord (And He creates …),

４２- وَفَيْضُهَا بِحَسَبِ الـمَتْبُوعِ = لَا تَابِعٍ مَخْفُوضٍ أَوْ مَرْفُوعِ

42- Its outpouring is commensurate with the one that is followed,

Not with the follower, no matter how high or low (his station),

４３- وَسَيْرُهَا بِالقَلْبِ لَا بِالبَدَنِ = إِذْ ذَا عَلَى ذَاكَ صَلَاحُهُ بُنِي

43- Its wayfaring is with the heart and not with the body,

Since the latter’s rectification is built upon the former,

４４- وَالشَّيْخُ قَدْ أَخَذَ بِالأَصْحَابِ = أَيْدِيهِمُ فَوَقَفُوا بِالبَابِ

44- The Shaykh has taken his companions,

By their hands so they stood by the door,

４５- وَلِفَيَافٍ لَا يَجُوبُ بِهَا سِوَى = عُمْرٍ طَوِيلٍ بِـمَشَقَّةٍ طُوَى

45- The desert is not traversed except,

With a long time and passing through hardships,

４６- حِزْبُ التَّضَرُّعِ وَالابْتِهَالِ = يُرْقَى بِهِ لِـمَنْهَجِ الكَمَالِ

46- Ḥizb al-Taḍarri‘ wa al-Ibtihāl,

One is raised by it to the perfected path,

４７- كَذَا دُعَا "اللَّهُمَّ" بَعْدَهُ "عَلَيْكَ = مُعَوَّلِي" عَلَيْهِ فَاشْدُدَنْ يَدَيْكَ

47- Likewise the supplication of “Allāhumma” after which is “‘alayka,

Mu‘awwalī” upon it fasten your hands,

４８- وَلِيَعْلَمِ الـمَجْذُوبُ إِنْ لَمْ يَسْلُكَا = أَنْ لَـمْ يَكُنْ جُذَيْلُهَا الـمُحَكَّكَا

48- And the enraptured must know that if he does not travel the path,

That he does not have its trusted support,

４９- وَقَدْ يَكُونُ لِلْوُصُولِ قَدْ عَرَجْ = وَلَيْسَ مِنْ رُعُونَةِ النَّفْسِ خَرَجْ

49- It may be that one has been elevated to arrival,

Without having overcome the folly of the ego.

Author: Sīdī Muḥammad Fāl ibn Bāba ibn Aḥmad Bīb ibn ‘Uthmān al-‘Alawī (Brother of the Author of Munyat al-Murīd)

Translated by: Sīdī Tālūt Dawood 

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