How should I begin other than with the name of Allah,
The All-Merciful, the Most-Merciful? He is the Great.

I ask Allah for blessings upon the one by whom we achieved our desire –
The Warner and the Bringer of Good News.

And be pleased, our Lord, with his family and companions,
And the followers – you are the Helper who gives Victory.

A source of immense good has appeared to humanity
In the emergence of the Great Shaykh of Instruction.

He is the one who indicates the way to God, the High.
He has shed light on the Way – he is the illuminator.

Allah has honoured a people by guidance.
Moreover, through the Shaykh, the All-Powerful has opened hearts.

The fact that Allah guides men through other men –
That is the rare elixir.

As-Sufi, ad-Darqawi, the one who knows
The meanings of the secrets, he is the expert.

Ibn al-Habib gave him a drink from a drink of secrets;
He then gave to the others – he is the commander.

The Murid who has Adab in the Hadra and the Dhikr –
He is the genuine Faqir.

When the Shaykh comes you see him
Drawing in his outstretched feet. Is that not striking?

His favour is by Allah, then by you
Who has made his difficulties easy.

You have written great works for Islam,
And you have clarified and made simple what is correct in it.

You began by teaching Tawhid to the Murid.
What a great inspiration!

You made the second subject Love of Allah and Love of our Messenger,
The pure one and the best bringer of news.

You have spread this love among a people
Who have become accustomed to it. They are the people of Birr.

And you made ‘Amal the best possible seal
May the All-Seeing seal the Deen for the slaves.

And you have filled zawiyyas everywhere
In Europe, in Africa – what an excellent achievement!

And in Asia, America and Australia,
You are, by Allah, our Shaykh and the one to ask for counsel.

This is your overflowing gift. And every day
the kuffar pronounce the word of Tawhid.

Allah has opened the hearts of many slaves,
Women and men, all fuqara.

O Shaykh of the Path! You have made good fortune
Reach my heart with affection, and I am proud.

I have thanked Allah, as He has permitted me
To see your illuminating face.

I ask Allah to bless us with a return,
For you are the rains that fall.

By you our land came alive, and other lands too.
We seek light in you, for you are lights.

May Allah have mercy upon our Shaykh, Ibn al-Habib,
And may He reward you for us with an abundant reward.

And cover with mercy and pleasure
Our Shaykh, Al-Fayturi – as You are well able.

Blessings be upon the Prophet, the honoured one,
And upon his family and excellent companions

Praise be to the God, He is the High,
The best Protector, the best Helper.

I have achieved my aim by completing these verses,
The number of which is my age – and I am the faqir.