Tags

,

A beautiful poem I recently discovered written by the great Yemeni Sayid, Sufi and Shaykh Imam Abdullah Al-Haddad’s short qaseeda ‘Qad Kafani ‘Ilmu Rabbi’, which I’ve translated as ‘My Lord’s Knowledge Has Sufficed Me’.

Here are two beautiful renditions. The first has both Arabic and English translation, and is sung by Labbayk.

This one is especially haunting, sung by Shaykh Abdul-Hakeem Murad, also known as T.J. Winters of Cambridge University.

–

Below is an English translation, mostly from here [pdf – Arabic-English translation] which I have amended and edited slightly. Aspects from this translation as well.

–

Qad Kafani ‘Ilmu Rabbi – My Lord’s Knowledge Has Sufficed Me

My Lord’s knowledge has sufficed me
from asking or choosing

For my supplication and my neediness
attest to my poverty.

By this secret I supplicate
in times of ease and in times of difficulty

I am a slave whose pride
is in his poverty and obligation

O my Lord, my King
You know of my state.

And with what has overwhelmed my heart
of distress and preoccupations.

Acknowledge me with a kindness
from You, O Lord of Lords!

O countenance of Generosity! Save me!
before I exhaust my patience.

My Lord’s knowledge has sufficed me
from asking or choosing

O the Swift in sending aid! Grant me aid
from you which will reach me quickly!

Defeating all difficulty
and it will bring all that I hope for

O the One who is Near! O the One Who Answers!
O the All-Knowing! O the All-Hearing!

I acknowledge my incapacity,
my lack of power and my brokenness

My Lord’s knowledge has sufficed me
from asking or choosing

And here I stand at Your door,
so have mercy, my Lord on my standing

And I reside in the valley of generosity,
So, make my retreat here abiding.

With a good opinion (of My Lord) which is binding,
For He is my Friend and Ally.

And He is my Intimate and One Who is with me,
throughout the day and throughout the night.

My Lord’s knowledge has sufficed me
from asking or choosing

There is a need in my soul! O Lord!
So fulfil it, for You are the best of those who fulfil!

And comfort my heart and my soul
from the burning fire inside me.

With pleasure and happiness
and with what You are pleased with

And make joy and expansion my state
my disposition and that which I’m enveloped with.

My Lord’s knowledge has sufficed me
from asking or choosing.

Qad Kafani 'Ilmu Rabbi

Pic from here.