Preface

From the dawn of Islam until today the tradition of composing na'at (poetry in praise of the Prophet ﷺ) has continued unbroken. As long as true longing keeps arising in hearts, as long as the manifestations of real love keep being granted, as long as the undying wealth of inner burning keeps warming hearts, as long as the grace of Madinah's love keeps spreading and the heart's attachment and devotion to the Master of both worlds ﷺ remains, the songs of his heart-stricken lovers will keep sweetening the ears. Indeed, even in Paradise, in the luminous gatherings of these pure-natured lovers, the voices of rapturous, ecstasy-stirring na'at will continue to rise. And why should it not be so, when:

The shade of "And We exalted for you your remembrance" is over you;Your word prevails, your remembrance is raised high.

Moreover, this golden chain cannot be confined to any region, language, time or place. Rather, in every corner of the world wherever the servants of Madinah live, the enchantment of the blessed melodies of na'at, in regional, national and international languages, keeps making hearts captive to Madinah; and the luminous drizzle of the songs of the lovers of the Messenger keeps the field of hearts green, setting humanity on the road to the summit of perfection.

This chain of na'at of ours is not indebted to human beings; rather, it is part of the order of divine power. That is why in every age suns and moons, each greater than the last, have risen in majesty on the horizon of na'at, and until the Day of Gathering its colours and splendours will only increase. Its radiance can never fade, because the na'at of the beloved Messenger ﷺ is the litany (wazifa) of life, the wealth of

existence, the peace of the heart, the means of forgiveness, the cure for the wounds of the soul, and the most effective means of washing away the stain of sin.

It is an evergreen garden in which the souls are perfumed by the fragrance of the choicest flowers of many kinds, and their scent keeps spreading through the whole universe. In every direction there is nothing but spring: on one branch shine the splendours of Hassan, on another sing the songs of Busiri; on one side Rumi and Jami, Iraqi, Qudsi and Sa'di shed their light, while on another Mazhar Jan-e-Janan, Kafi, Raza and Asi shine forth. In short, in every direction one sees nothing but rapture and nothing but light.

There are wondrous delights and matchless joys; a heavenly intoxication of ecstasy and rapture has fallen over everything, and from all four sides voices are rising:

Rejoice, O Love, our sweet madness,O physician of all our ailments!

By settling him in our hearts we have triumphed;We are in his refuge, and his shade is over us.

The collection of poetry before you is a successful attempt at freshly adorning this same garden. It is the fruit of the thought of that true lover and godly scholar whom the Bountiful Source has blessed so abundantly with lofty qualities and perfections that a whole volume would be needed to describe them.

In brief, that personality of praiseworthy attributes is a meeting of the two seas of outward and inward knowledge, a knower of the secrets of the Shari'ah and an initiate into the mysteries of the path (tariqa), of gnosis (ma'rifa) and of reality (haqiqa); an embodiment of piety and purity, and one accustomed to following the Sunnah and holding to resolve (azimat). In his appearance and conduct, morals and character, states and ways, humility and modesty,

in everything he is a living, speaking image of his beloved.

He is the one whom the world knows and recognises by the blessed name of Huzur, the spiritual guide of the path (pir-e-tariqat), the boundless ocean of knowledge and gnosis, the debater of the Ahl al-Sunnah, the champion of Sunnism, Bahr-ul-Irfan Allama Mufti Al-Hajj Al-Shah Afaque Ahmad Mujaddidi Sahib Qibla, founder and Shaykh al-Hadith of Al-Jamiatul Ahmadia, Kannauj.

The present collection is a beautiful portrait reflecting his midnight heart-cries and the songs of his aching heart. According to the arrival and outpouring of various spiritual states (ahwal) and stations (maqamat), it is adorned and embellished with many-coloured flowers of devotion and love, of crying out for help and seeking aid, of the grief of separation and parting, and of the delight of union and nearness.

Since describing the qualities and beauties of Huzur Bahr-ul-Irfan's poetry and the loftiness of his thoughts and imagination is beyond the capacity of someone as resourceless as me, I am not offering any commentary on his poetry. Rather, I have ventured to write even these few broken sentences at the command of the honoured son of my master, Hazrat Maulana Ahmad Saeed Mujaddidi Sahib. May the All-Powerful Lord accept them and make them an expiation for my sins and a means of my salvation. Amin, by the honour of His trusted Beloved ﷺ.

Muhammad Asif Raza Afaqi Mujaddidi5 Dhul-Hijjah 1434 AH

11 October 2013Blessed Friday

A Supplication

By Your grace keep me ever victorious, everywhere;Keep me joyful every moment with blessings in both worlds.

May the faith, belief and Sunni way of all of us remain safe;With the light of the Sunnahs keep our souls and hearts radiant.

May we always walk on the way of Ahmad Raza;O my Master, keep me far from all false sects.

May the hem of my spiritual guide (murshid) always remain in my hand;Keep us filled with grace, mercy and divine radiance.

Settle the greatness of the Leader of the worlds in every vein of mine;Keep me drenched and intoxicated with love of the Master.

Lest this helpless, powerless one be caught in the snare,Keep my self (nafs) and Satan subdued and overpowered.

May I remain a caller to the religion and a spreader of its knowledge;O Lord, keep me accepted and approved everywhere.

Me and my parents, my children and all my friends,Keep them safe and forgiven from every fault and every sin.

May my character be better, may my qualities be good;O Lord, keep my heart overwhelmed with Your love.

Grant Afaq alms from the grace of Sirhind;Fill his grave with light and keep his heart full.

Recite Blessings Together

There gleams the pure Dome: recite blessings (salli 'ala) together;Bow down your heads, every one: recite blessings together.

The capital of the Hashimite Messenger has come, O people;Now, becoming courtesy embodied, recite blessings together.

Where are you, O thirsty ones? Come, come, come this way;There comes the Cupbearer of Kawthar: recite blessings together.

He is mercy embodied; he will give alms, filling and filling;Plead with tears: recite blessings together.

O sinners, Madinah alone is the means of forgiveness;He is the conqueror of the Last Day: recite blessings together.

Be it Arab or non-Arab, Afaq, all are his springtimes;He is the root of all, that Leader: recite blessings together.

...............We are your beggars

Joy, friends! We have come again to the city of Taybah;How many hopes and longings we have brought with us!

What do we ignorant ones know of the etiquette of Madinah, O Master?

We Are Your Beggars, Come to Your Door for Alms

Forgive the faults of your servants, O Messenger of Allah;The culprits of your court have come to your feet.

We have wandered aimlessly for ages, O Prophet of Allah;Give us shelter now; we have come into your hem.

We have brought the gift of our lives for Madinah;Lift the veil a little, O resident of the Green Dome.

Bearing a longing to behold you, we people of India have come;May we sing your songs as long as we remain in the world.

We have brought this desire: that our last breath leave us at your name;Grant one drop of generosity to thirsty-lipped Afaq.

Your being has set rivers of grace flowing.

Note: Hazrat wrote both these na'ats while he was ill in Makkah.

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Madinah Has Come to Mind

It is a most luminous hour: Madinah has come to mind;The peace of the heart, the rest of the soul, tranquillity has come to mind.

He in whom every gift of Allah is complete, O people,That treasure of beauty and love from head to foot has come to mind.

The one whose remembrance makes the flowers of knowing the Truth bloom:That breast, centre of the radiance of light, has come to mind.

Mind and heart are perfumed: what a spring of fragrance has come!The beloved perspiration of the holy Prophet has come to mind.

The month in which Allah's mercies rained down joyously on all,The month in which the Prophet came, has come to mind.

We too have drunk such cups from the Moon of TaybahThat again and again, Afaq, that drinking comes to mind.

I Found the Awareness of Love, I Found Life's Purpose

How fortunate I am to have been given the cup of love!My life was in vain, my existence was restless.

Becoming your captive, I found peace morning and evening;Love has granted heights to my thought and imagination.

I was given a vast order of the world of knowledge and practice;Every cruelty gave me fresh courage.

Our resolve always kept us swift of pace;Madinah, may I be sacrificed for your kindness!

Every moment of my life has been made joyful;This, Afaq, is the grace of love for the Master upon you:

Heads were offered to me, I reached the roof of honour....................................

Intercessor of the Last Day

Cause of peace to heart and soul: Intercessor of the Last Day, Intercessor of the Last Day;For whom all things dry and wet are ready to give their lives: Intercessor of the Last Day, Intercessor of the Last Day.

He is the splendour of the world's gathering; he is most merciful, he is most compassionate;He by whom both worlds are illumined: Intercessor of the Last Day, Intercessor of the Last Day.

He is the secret of Allah, the king of guidance; he is the very sign of the Lord Most High;Highest of all, leader of all: Intercessor of the Last Day, Intercessor of the Last Day.

He is a mine of faithfulness, the soul of modesty, distinct from all in every excellence;Comprising all, above all: Intercessor of the Last Day, Intercessor of the Last Day.

The provision of love is his radiant face: Intercessor of the Last Day, Intercessor;Worthy of love, surpassing in beauty; all are longing and yearning for him.

The perfect manifestation of the beauty of pre-eternity: Intercessor of the Last Day, Intercessor of the Last Day;Be his alone, gaze at him, obey him, and ask of him.

Helper of all, supporter of all: Intercessor of the Last Day, Intercessor of the Last Day;This world is his, the Hereafter is his; everything you have, Afaq, is his.

His favour is upon everyone: Intercessor of the Last Day, Intercessor of the Last Day.֍֍֍֍

Mustafa Came and Light Came

Mustafa came and light came;Knowledge, gnosis and awareness came.

Had he not been, nothing would have been;With his coming, life came.

Abstinence and piety, worship and character,Love and affection gained their sweetness.

Through him gardens and deserts are fragrant;The moon and stars gained their charm.

May I be sacrificed for him: to people who were strayingCame mastery of religion and the world.

Guardian of the Sanctuary, may I be sacrificed for you;From you the servants learned true servanthood.

O Messenger of Allah, come to our aid;How hard a moment has now come!

Your Ummah became the best of nations;From you came the cry, "My Ummah!"

Whoever found you, O soul of the world,Found light, and betterment came to him.

"May your Afaq remain yours alone":This prayer has come to my lips every moment.

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They Take His Name Alone

Granted, we remained pledged to grief, but grief for Madinah;How fortunate we are: what journeys to Madinah we were given!

How could people like us have borne the burden of lifeHad we not been granted these splendours of Madinah?

They alone are at peace everywhere who have been grantedThis sigh and this burning of the heart for Madinah.

With every breath they take his name alone;Wondrous, O people, are the human beings of Madinah.

They are free of every grief, joyful every moment,In whose hearts are the sigh and the effect of Madinah.

If you want success in both worlds, Afaq,Hand over this life and heart to Madinah.

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The Love of Taybah

What a fine madness we gained from the love of Taybah!We found safety from every grief and peace from our worries.

We live at ease and laugh at every pain;We have gained that inner burning of love for the King of Batha.

An abundance of splendours: every vein became radiant;What all I have gained by the grace of love, how can I tell?

If you have eyes, then see: they seem like suns;That is how we have found the specks of dust of Madinah.

He is the beloved of both worlds, the chief of the children of Adam;We have found the ranks of Muhammad beyond every limit.

If he listens to me, Afaq, that is his generosity; otherwiseIn everything of yours I have found only a wretched state.

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Spread Your Eyes Upon the Path

There is great hope that the Master will grace us with his coming;Spread your eyes upon the path: it is the hour of his coming.

Let your tears flow in his remembrance; call out from the heart;This is the best way to be summoned from Madinah.

Settle in your heart his lovely beauty, his handsome face;It is a very easy way to receive grace for ever.

Burn your life and heart to ashes in love;O lovers, we have no need to sit as ascetics before a fire.

Every rank, every stage, every excellence is from him alone;Following him alone is the way to earn the wealth of the Hereafter.

Ask the eye of the heart about the greatness of the Beloved's place of manifestation:The very soil of his threshold is the centre of the radiance of light.

Give this message, Afaq: as long as you remain in the world,Strive to efface yourself in love of the Prophet.

How Long Until the Stains on the Heart's Hem Are Washed Away?

How long until we set out for the court of the Intercessor of the Gathering?The eyes are restless and lightless, the heart is longing.

O moon and sun, tell me: how long until we meet him?Ask not the state of my hem; it has been torn to shreds,

Which even the tailor of the world could not stitch; how long now?Darkness has spread, the lamps of the Sunnah have gone out;

Who knows how long until the gardens of light bloom?Now let there be generosity upon us, O Mercy to the worlds;

How long will the lovers burn in the fire of separation?Why despair, O Afaq? The world will see

How long the enemies of the King of Messengers will go on thriving.֍֍֍֍

O Soul of the World!

O soul of the world, come: this breast is restless;Your song is on my lips and Madinah is in my heart.

From a life-giving smile, what a fine voice came:"In love of Madinah, to die is truly to live."

O revellers, come this way; let us go to Madinah;It is the season of springtimes, the month for drinking.

I am in the path of the storm and the shore is far;For Allah's sake, be generous: there is only me and my boat.

If you grant it now, it is your kindness to your servant;I know neither the etiquette nor the manner of receiving.

Now spread your shade over those raised in tenderness;It is the scorching heat of the Gathering, and the sweat is intense.

Afaq, it is your good fortune if he is generous to you;Where in the world is a Majnun of Madinah like you?

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A Hundred Welcomes

A hundred welcomes! We too shall go to the city of Taybah;We shall make the dust of the Beloved's door our kohl.

At every single step we shall prostrate in thanks;With the light of the Prophet our hearts and souls will shine.

Hold fast to the hem of reason: this is the land of the Beloved;Then, O madness, we shall embrace you to our heart some other time.

Tears in our eyes, praise on our lips, the burning of love in our hearts:Thus shall we tell him the story of our grief.

It is the resting place of the beloved of the Lord of the Throne;It is the city of courtesy: we shall go to Taybah on our heads.

He is the Master of the universe; everything is his;Just ask for a drop, and see: he will set rivers flowing.

His presence is the court of mercy; there weShall weep and wipe away every stain of sin and fault.

May we keep coming to his sanctuary all our lives;By his generosity we shall make a stir in the world.

From Sirhind, Madinah is very near;Afaq, on this road we shall walk and lead others.

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His Face Is a Morning of Spring

His face is a morning of spring, his glance the water of life;His ambergris-scented tresses the provision of love; boundless beauty is his glance.

Mercy to the worlds, light embodied, pride of Adam, king of both worlds;His gift fills hem after hem; his glance is grace upon all.

By his generosity orchards bear fruit, by his generosity flowers bloom;The whole world exists for his sake; the soul of the garden is his glance.

By his light the world is bright, by his breath the desert is a garden;He is the manifest light, the king of the age; the mercy of Allah is his glance.

Trees and stones recite the declaration of faith; all things dry and wet love him;Sun and moon are his radiance; the illumination of the world is his glance.

Splendour of the world, soul of the garden; houris and youths of Paradise are devoted to him;Through him the gathering of creation is lit; a blazing candle is his glance.

Afaq has an affiliation (nisbat) with him through whom the dust gained its nobility;His sign is nourishment for the soul; the cupbearer of gnosis is his glance.

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Though a Thousand Griefs Come

Though a thousand griefs come, still there is no sorrow;In the eye of love, even this is no affliction.

My Beloved, if you would only smile,Then there is no thought of any pain at all.

To whom but you should I give this life and heart of mine?Before your beauty there is no other beauty.

Union with you is the ascension of my life;After Allah, there is no perfection but you.

A thousand delights are sacrificed, a thousand pleasures given up;There is no union greater than union with you.

Let a thousand storms come, let there be a thousand tempests;Still your lamps shall never decline.

Beautiful habits, lofty and exalted qualities:Your servants have no equal anywhere.

Whoever fell from your sight could never rise again;Whomever you raised up shall never decline.

Serve the King of Batha, O Afaq;There is no elevation, no state like it.

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The Heart's Longing

We have reached Madinah: the heart's longing is fulfilled;The heart had no quest but the Prophet ﷺ.

Love him alone, die for him alone, gaze at him alone:This is ever the voice and speech of the heart.

One loved Layla, another loved Salma;For another, Shirin remained the moon-faced darling of the heart.

By granting me the good fortune of love for the Beloved of the Truth,How well my Lord has saved the honour of my heart!

Ask not the reverence of love for the Beloved of Allah:We listened to the heart's tale of love in a state of ablution.

Come, Let Us Recite Na'at Together

Come, let us recite together the na'at of the Master of Taybah;Let us tell the whole world about the Master of Taybah.

He is the greatest of givers, he is the greatest of masters;Let us show everyone the greatness and loftiness of the Master of Taybah.

Distributor of blessings, guide of the Ummah, owner of Paradise: he is everything;See what gifts are upon everyone from the Master of Taybah.

He is the manifestation of Allah's beauty, the darling of the whole world;Houris and angels pray devotedly for the Master of Taybah.

By the Lord's gift, mercy to the worlds, light embodied, pride of Adam:What can we say of what kind of being is the Master of Taybah?

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The Spring of the Garden Has Come

Splendour has come to the garden; the spring of the garden has come;Muhammad Mustafa, the light of Allah, the soul of the world, has come.

He alone is the purpose and the fruit of this and that;As the means of knowing Allah, he came as Allah's sign.

He is the one human being of whom one may say, "He has no like";He came as honour itself, greatness itself, peace and security itself.

By Allah's grace, we sinners have found the hem;The refuge of the helpless, the mercy of both worlds, has come.

World conquest and world rule are alms from his door;The sultan of every world, the soul of the gardens of Paradise, has come.

The perfection of divine beauty, the loveliness of a beautiful face,The majesty of the Hand of Allah, the sign of the Signless One, has come.

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An Appeal to the Prophet ﷺ

By Allah's grace we stayed cheerful in every grief;Taking his name, we have come out of the waves of calamity.

We appeal to you, O Prophet ﷺ: take notice of us now;We are now weary of oppression and cruelty.

We have suffered such wounds from our own people, O Prophet,That we are no longer at ease even with the faithful.

Unbelievers and polytheists torment us in India;One day we shall tell the tale of our grief to Mustafa.

For Allah's sake, show generosity to the wretched state of the Muslims:This is our appeal to the King of Guidance.

It will be your generosity if you forgive us and have mercy on us;We are ashamed and remorseful for our faults.

Allah has granted us an enlightened mind and heart;We are blessed with grace from Hazrat Ahmad Raza.

I have received the alms of the master of Sirhind;We do not fear the cruel people of the world.

One day, Afaq, the state will surely change;We shall regain our lost glory by his gift.

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Your Being

The splendour of the world's gathering is your being;The fruit of all this and that is your being.

You are the confidant of the secrets of the All-Glorious;The revealer of hidden mysteries is your being.

You are the bloom of tulip and rose, O Prophet;The spring of the garden is your being.

Had you not been, beloved, none of this would have been;The soul of the world of existence is your being.

Oceans of knowledge and gnosis flowed forth;The clear sign of right guidance is your being.

Through you the secrets of "Be, and it is" were opened;All-aware and keeper of secrets is your being.

You became the support of the unsupported;The tongue of the voiceless is your being.

Be it greatness and wealth, or knowledge and refinement,Without doubt the giver of them all is your being.

What power has creation to comprehend you?Where is it, and where is your being!

The world will remember you for ever;Eternal life is your being.

Have mercy, O my caller to mercy;The mercy of the Lord of the worlds is your being.

Afaq too awaits your kindness;Spreading its shade over all is your being.

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