Calas ol Al-Wird al-Latif INTRODUCTION from Hadramawt. To say ‘Alaw7 is to say Husayni in lineage,” Ash‘arl in ‘agida, Shafi' in figh,’ and Ghazali in behavior.” As with other illustrious ‘Alawis, God made him known despite I= ABDALLAH AL-HADDAD is a well-known Alawi scholar his wish to remain in obscurity. Yer the Imam once said to some of his close disciples that what they saw as fame was in fact not so, for had he really wished for fame and requested it from God, he would have easily eclipsed all other scholars and saints on the face of the earth Imam al-Haddad was born in Tarim, Yemen, in 1044 AH, and by the time he was about thirty years of age, had already acquired the reputation of being the foremost scholar and saint of his time. His main litany was al-Wird al-Kabir, which he recited twice daily, after Dawn (Fajr) and Sunset (Maghrib) Prayers. Also his were the Ratib, Hizb al-Fath, and Hizb al-Nasr. Hizb al-Fath is concerned with purifying the heart by getting rid of the rust covering it, then acquiring virtues and practicing them to the full, hence its name: “The Litany of the Opening.” Hizb al-Nasr, “The Litany of Victory,” was designed for protection against outward and inward enemies.Al-Wird al-Kabir being rather lengthy, the Imam composed a shorter version. In this, as in his books and spiritual instruction, the Imam foresaw the time when people would have neither the time nor the will to do all that was required. Al-Wird al-Latif ‘was therefore made for us, in this rsTH century Hijra. It is short, taking no more than fifteen minutes to complete, once one has become familiar with it, and is to be recited after Fajr and Maghrib. If this is not possible, it is to be recited once before and once after midday, whenever time is available. This present work is intended to help the English speaker familiarize himself with the meanings of the various prophetic invocations of the wird and some of their merits and benefits, in a format geared toward recitation. The transliteration is meant to be the nearest possible rendering of the actual vocal recitation. ‘A word like Nabiyyan, for instance, when it comes at the end of a sentence, is pronounced Nabiyyd, so this is how it has been transliterated. Arabic differs from other languages in its being the language of the Quran, the language that God chose to make worthy of conveying His revelation, Revelation is eternal knowledge of reality expressed inhuman language. Its vehicle requires exceptional precision, depth, subtlety, and malleability to render it adequate for the purpose. Furthermore, the manner in which God and, to a lesser extent, His Messenger # use the language is of an altogether different order from its other usages. A single verse of the Quran will have many superimposed layers of meaning. It may be used for protection from various inward and ‘outward perils, for curing certain illnesses, for increasing certain kinds of provision, for baraka [blessings], and for the recompense promised for the recitation of each of its letters. Knowing this, Muslims all over the world have always recited both the Quran and the Prophetic invocations in their original Arabic, even when unable to understand the language, in order to make sure that they lose none of the secrets and baraka, much of Which are lost in translation.However, prayer is not limited to specific times or occasions; it is a constant communion with God. Whenever we leave our house or cross the street, we ask God for protection. When hungry we ask Him to feed us and when worried to reassure us. This kind of spontaneous prayer should not be subject to constraints of language or even style. The Companions of the Prophet # felt entirely free to address their petitions to God in their own words, or in the case of a bedouin, in his local dialect, despite having memorized the Prophet’s words and making frequent use ‘of them. ‘As with all litanies of Imam al-Haddad, al-Wird al-Latif is made up of nothing but the prayers of the Prophet # and the formulas that he instructed his community to recite mornings and evenings. It is, therefore, strictly in conformity with the sunna, and once it is well rehearsed and becomes a habit, one can rest assured that he or she is following the Prophetic instructions as to what invocations he should use to begin and end his day. 1, The ‘Alawi lineage is the most authentic of all sharfian lineages. Each ‘Alawi knows precisely who his ancestors were, up to Imam Husayn, the Prophet's grandson. 2, Imam Aba’l-Hasan al-Ash‘art formulated the creed of Ab! al-Sunna 1wa'l-Jama‘a, and his formulation remains, together with Imam Aba Mansi al-Maturid’s, that of the great majority of Muslims today. 3. Soon after the arrival of their ancestor, Imim Ahmad ibn ‘Isa, from Iraq to Hadramawt, the ‘Alawis adopted the Shafit madhhab in all matters of jurisprudence. They are most insistent on the importance of acquiring a solid foundation in figh, for women and men. 4. When they saw Imam al-Ghazal's Iya’ Ulm al-Din, (Revival of the Religious Sciences), the ‘Alawis found that the shaykh had made 4 full exposition of everything they wished to teach. They therefore adopted the Iya’ as their main teaching book in matters of tasawwuf, ‘which, in their view, is the practice of Shara with the utmost sincerity and the purification of the heart from all its ailments.u ARABIC & TRANSLATION sisal. at f Jo sO Keatii ictata, (3) DAE AKG LE In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Compassionate. Say: He, Allab, is One. Allah is the eternally Besought. He has not be- gotten, nor been begotten, and equal to Him there is nome, (112) 5Q Ein SAS (oy GBs O54 eo Ose ht Oa Inthe Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Compassionate. Say: take refuge with the Lord of the daybreak; from the evil of what He bas created; from the evil of darkness when it gathers; from the evil of the women who blow on knots; and from the evil of an cenvier when be envies. (113) Leet AOSD GI AS SOLE OG OG 58 (be) Ssnaie In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Compassionate. Say: take refuge with the Lord of men; the King of men; the God of men; from the evil of the withdrawing whisperer; who whispers in Breese esac hams)BSD OM SGA 55 (b) Ooieeds My Lordt I seek Your protection against the insinuations of the devils and | seek your protection against their approaching ime. (23:97-98) sap tie se GASB Ela al BBE OP goon SMEG What, did you think that We created you in vain, and that to Us you should not be returned? But Exalted is Allab, the King, the Real, there is no god but He, the Lord of the Throne, the Gener- ous. And whosoever calls upon another god with Allab, of which he has no proof, his reckoning is with his Lord: the disbelievers never succeed. And say: My Lord! Forgive and have mercy, for You are the Most Merciful (23:11 5-118) op Sine GELS : ote Os est nko Oastag So glorify Allab when evening comes upon you and when morning comes upon you. To Him belongs all praise in the heavens and the earth, [Glorify Him] in the evenings and high noon. He brings forth the living from the dead, and He brings forth the dead from the living, and He revives the earth after itis dead; even so you shall be brought forth. (30:17-19)ae (ide) ee SMA ell gt ays gi Tseek Allahs protection, Who isthe Hearer the Knower, from the repudiate Devil AIG. SpE NGS KERTH Siisatlite Saag Otis Nboscoluies Had We sent down this Qur'an upon a mountain, you would bave seen it humbled, split asunder out of the fear of Allah. And those examples, We strike them for people that they may reflect. He is Allah; there is no god but He. He is the Knower of the unseen and the visible; He isthe All-Merciful the Compassionate, He is Allab; there is no god but He. He is the King, the Holy, the Peace, the Faithful, the Sovereign, the Eminent, the Compeller, the Proud. Transcendent is Allab beyond what they associate. He is Allah, the Creator, the Fashioner, the Shaper. To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names. All that isin the heavens and the earth magnifies Him. He is the August, the Wise. (59:21-24) Peace be upon Noah among all beings. This is how We recompense those who excel, he was one of Our believing slaves. (37:79-81) 0(be) GE US y ott di OUR 541 I take refuge in the complete words of Allah from the evil in what He has created, Be PO NL PM Ea al ae (be) lal In the Name of Allah, with Whose Name nothing on earth or in heaven can harm. He is the Hearer, the Knower. cal Fp (D0) 5554 Uo gas Ses Yes oh Rant y © Allah! As Morning comes upon me I dwell in Your favour, well-being, and protection, so complete Your favour upon me, Your well-being and Your protection, in this world and the next! aM ae a ces Riot se a OT Ja SME 5h olay Vaiss yay dr lath aa (Le!) ey © Allah! As morning comes upon me, 1 bear witness before You and before the Carriers of Your Throne, and Your angels, and all Your creation, that You are Allah, that there is no god but You, Alone, with no partners, and that Muhammad is Your slave and messenger. (ID) yp py as Big Le galt 5 SL Praise and thanks be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, with a praise that is adequate to His favours and equal to His increase. (a (3 (4(DDE) Le ee ay Wea | believe in Allah the Formidable, and I denounce the idols and the sorcerers, and I hold fast to the firmest handhold, that which does not break, and Allah is Hearer and Knower. he ale Joo tag b Pedy by dines a6 (D8) Vey Tam content with Allah as Lord, with Islam as religion, and with our master Muhammad, may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him, as Prophet and Messenger. (ee) pan pay 5 MSG abe a MAVEN LS 7 Allah is my sufficiency; there is no god but He. On Him do I relys, He is the Formidable Lord of the Throne. (126) phe ag dh 2 OL ye Lost vs O Allah! Bless our master Muhammad, his Family and Compan- ions, and give them peace. HBS Sh Babs ZWEI Jad as 0 Allah! I ask You for sudden good and seek Your protection from sudden evil. (0 x yh e ves yes. g © Allah! You are my Lord, there is no god but You, You created me and I am Your slave, uphold your pledge and promise as well as can; [seek Your protection against the evil that I have done; acknowledge Your favours upon me and I acknowledge my sin, o forgive me, for none forgives sin except You.* al pall sed Legos clay Gele or (© Allah! You are my Lord, there is no god but You, upon You do Irely, and You ate the Lord of the Throne, the Formidable. Dj oeaSie ( % daa ‘What Allah wishes happens, what He does not does not; there is neither power nor ability save by Allah, the High, the Formidable. Is JY ces pia # ere KLGl Sag oie Peal os [know thar Allah has power overall things and that Allah encom ‘passes all things in His knowledge. 8 SG ee hE IN (a6 ptt ble Ye O Allah! I seek Your protection from the evil of my soul and the evil of every creature on earth You have taken by the forehead; my Lord is on a straight path. Poa ets ‘ replat (as Pee Ne oy GL at # PBL y WY SY © Living! © Sustainer! I call upon Your merey for suecour, and from Your chastisement | seek refuge! Make good all my affairs and do not entrust me to myself or any of Your creation for the blink of an eye.Seely «Sally sail oe ch 35) « By le A 3561 5 MSE 85 SiN yy SI, Jat SA yh O Allah! I seek Your protection from sorrow and grief, and I seck Your protection from incapacity and sloth, and I seek Your pro- tection from cowardice and avarice, and I seek Your protection from the stress of debts and the tyranny of men, ais Goldy sp Motu sty, & aly ah ATL J og * hy © Alllaht I ask of You pardon, well-being, and constant safety in my religion, wordly life, family, and possessions. # SED YG he ll © Allah! Cover my shameful things and assuage my fears PDI AA BBS pot SENSI olay 55, O Allah! Protect me from [the evil that comes from] in front of me, from behind my back, my right, my left, and from above me and I take refuge in Your Greatness from unexpected harm from below © Allah! You created me and You guide me, and You provide me with food and You provide me with drink, and You cause me to die and You give me life. (6 (a7 (a8 (29 (GeS92 Es PENS es php Je Eel oF ty le Me Jo5 ploy Al ale * Shi ‘We have risen this morning on the original pattern of Islam, on the Word of Sincerity, on the religion of our Prophet Muhammad, may Allah bless him and his family and grant them peace, and on the confession of Ibrahim, who was upright, a Muslim, and not an idolator. poi El Hy pay iy tly cal oy of (pall ly #2 3 di) O Allah! You made us live this morning and You made us live this evening. You make us alive and You make us die, and to You is. the arising, [In the evening: *... and to You is the final end.’] CN Jog) 9 celta by cl cal tet aca (ln i, Morning has risen upon us and sovereignty is all Allah’s, and all praises and thanks belong to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. [In the Allab’s.. Evening has fallen upon us and sovereignty is all Hay AB i pay LBS cg as ILL Js (alll ba etl 3 b,43) O Allah! I ask You the good of this day, its openings, victories, lights, blessings, and right-guidance. (In the evening replace ‘day with ‘night."] (1 (32 (33 G4Papell BA eh Beg a bg ppl he (alin oo se gay) SE © Allah! I ask of You the good of this day and the best of what is in it, and I seek Your protection against the evil of this day and the worst of what isin it. [In the evening replace ‘day’ with ‘night."] vs las Wiha atau 5 oi she yy cel bah (Alo a 5,35) ab go ova O Allah! Whatever favours I, or any of Your creatures, received this morning, they come only from You; You have no associates, so Yours are the praises and Yours are the thanks for them al. [In the evening replace ‘this morning’ with ‘tonight.’] (5p Rh) any lg ‘Transcendent is Allah and by His praises! (Sy Ble) oadingy eal il 5 ‘Transcendent is Allah the Formidable and by His praises! Hip Bh) NG; CI YAY, cal WL GL ‘Transcendent is Allah, all praise belongs to Allah, there is no deity other than Allah, Allah is Greater. Bey AG ll OA Vea SIAL be gy HER) eS And to be added inthe morning: There is no god but Allah alone, with no partners, His is sovereignty, His is all praise, and He is powerful over all hings (36 (7 G8 G9 (40