SUFI SUPPLICATIONS: SUPPLICATORY POEM ON BASMALLAH BY SHEU BULALA

BASMALLAH PRAYER ACROSTIC

By: Shaykh Jamiu Bulala (Alfa Offa)

Translation & Commentary by: Ustadh Shittu Olanipekun

Culled from the series;

Who is ShaykhBulala VII: Annotated Translation Of His Poem On Bismillah

“The piece is the original manuscript of Shaykh (Jamiu Bulala), written in his handwriting.

Though the Shaykh did not give a title for this Poem(Qasidah), but the composition suggests that it was composed with the chronological arrangement of the alphabets of Bismillah Ar-Rahman Ar-Rahim.."

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Bismillahi ar-Rahmān ar-Rahīm

In the name of Allah, the Most-Gracious, the Most-Merciful

بِأَسْرَارِ بِسْمِ اللهِ نَوِّرْ قُلُوبَنَا *** وَأَجْلِبْ لَنَا رِزْقًا حَلاَلاً مُطَيِّبَا

1. Bi asrār bismillahi nawwir qulūbanā *** wa ajlib lanā rizqān halālān mutayyibān

1. By the secret of Bismillah, illuminate our hearts, and give us a legitimate and purified sustenance.

سميع بصير يا بديع وهب لنا *** علوما بأسرار أسامى العواليا

2. Samī’un Basīrun Yā Badī’u wa hab lanā *** ‘ulūmān bi-asrār asāmī-l ‘awāliyyā

2. The all-Hearing, the all-Seeing, O the Originator! Bestow on us knowledge by the secret of the exalted names.

مليك مجيد يا مبين بين لنا *** علوما بيانا والمعان ونحوها

3.Malīkun Majīdun Yā Mubīnu bayyin lanā *** ‘ulūmān bayānān wa-l ma’āni wa nah’wihā

3. The King, the Glorious, O the one who makes things clear, make clear for us all knowledge together with their meaning.

إلها قديرا فاتحا وهو ربنا *** وبالعلم وافتح لنا حيث ما كنا

4. Ilāhān Qadīrān Fātihān wah’wa Rabbunā *** wa bi-l ‘ilmi wa’ftah lanā haythu mā kunā

4. He is Allah, the Omnipotent, the Opener and He is our Lord. Open for us the gate of knowledge wherever we are.

لطيف شكور ياغني فأغننا **** فتاح رزاق ياجواد وجدلنا

5. Latīfun Shakūrun Ya Ghanīyu fa-aghninā *** Fatāhun Razāqun Yā Jawādu wa jud-lanā

5. The Kind, the Grateful, (Appreciative) the Independent enrich us, the Opener, the Provider, the Generous, be charitable to us.

لطيف خبير يارشيد فأهدنا *** والطف بنا في كل عسر وهب لنا

6. Latīfun Khabīrun Yā Rashīdu fa ah’dinā *** wa’l-tuf binā fī kulli ‘usrin wa hablanā

6. The Kind, the all-Aware, the Guide, guide us, be kind to us by facilitating all difficulties and give us all our needs.

هداك صراط مستقيم وسربنا *** من حضرة الفنا إلى حضرة البقا

7. Hudāka sirātun mustaqīmun wa sir’binā *** min hadratil fanā ilā hadratil baqā

7. Your guidance is a right path and take us from Divine presence of annihilation to Divine presence of abiding.

أنت الله يارحمان يارازق الورا *** أجلب لنا رزقا من الغيب مسرعا

8. Anta-llahu Yā Rahmānu Ya Rāziqu l warā *** ajlib lanā rizqān minal ghaybi musri’ān

8. You are Allah, O the Beneficent, the Provider for the whole world, quickly provide for us a provision from unexpected side.

لبست بأنوار الجلالة ذاتكا *** ولا عين في المخلوق ذاتك يدركا

9. Labasta bi-anwāril jalālati dhātakā *** walā ‘ayna fī-l makhlūqi dhātaka yudrikā

9. You cover Your Essence with the light of majesty, so that the eye of your creation can not grasp Your Essence.

رحيم كريم ياميسر واهدنا *** وفي حضرة القدس الرفيع أجلنا

10. Rahīmun Karīmun Yā Muyasir wah’dinā *** wa fī hadratil qudsi r-rafī‘I ajillanā

10. The Merciful, the Generous, the One who makes things easy guide us, and cause us to land at the divine presence of exalted holiness.

حفيظ حكيم وياعليم بسرنا *** وتلهمنا علم شريعة أحمدا

11. Hafīzun Hakeemun wa Ya ‘Aleemu bi-sirrinaa *** wa tul’himnaa ‘ilma sharī‘at ahmadā

11. The Protector, the All-Wise, the One who knows our secret, teach us the Divine of Prophet Muhammad.

Shaykh Hassan Dem & Shaykh Jamiu Bulala (at Offa, Kwara state, Nigeria)

معيد بكل مايفوت من الورا *** فأعدلنا علم حقيقة أوليا

12. Mu‘īdun bi-kulli maa yafūtu minal minā l warā *** fa a‘id-lanā ‘ilma haqīqati awliyā

12. The Restorer who restores missing things, restore to us the knowledge of reality(esoteric knowledge) of the friends of Allah.

أمرك بين الكاف والنون هب لنا **** كنزا كبيرا وهو من حيث كائنا

13. Amruka baynal kāfi wa nūni hab lanā *** kanzān kabīrān wah’wa min haythu kā’inā

13. Your command is between Kaf and Nun, bestow on us a great treasury wherever it is.

نورنا بأنوار الجلالة والبها *** وأطمس عيون الظالمين بأسرها

14. Nawwir’nā bi-anwāril jalālati wal bahā *** wa atmis ‘uyūna z-zālimīna bi-asrihā

14. Illuminate us with the light of Majesty and glory, and completely blind the eyes of wrong doers.

أسأل منك النصرياه على العدا *** فأخرب ديار المعتدين جميعها

15. As-alu minka n-nasrayāhu ‘alā l ‘idā *** fa-akhrib diyāral mu’utadīna jamī’ahā

15. I ask for your help over the enemy and totally dilapidate the house of the assaulters.

لين لى قلوب الناس أحمرا وأسودا *** بأسرار إسم الله أهيا شراهيا

16. Layyin lī qulūba n-nāsi ah’marā wa aswadān *** bi-asrāri ismi-llahi ahyā sharāhiyā

16. Subject to me the hearts of people both black and white, by the mystery of Allah's great name...

رقيب شديد البطش أهلك حسادنا *** بسيفك واقتل ياقهار عدونا

17. Raqībun shadīdul batshi ah’lik husādanā *** bi-sayfika wa’qtul Yā Qahāru ‘aduwwanā

17. The Watcher, the severe in punishment, destroy our enviers, O the Overwhelming, kill our enemy with your sword.

حنان منان ياحفيظ فأحمنا *** وشتت جموع الحاسدين مبددا

18. Hanānun Manānun Yā Hafīzun fa-ah’minā *** wa shatit jumuu’al hāsidīna mubaddadān

18. The Tender one, the Bountiful, the Guardian and utterly disperse the enviers.

ياحي ياقيوم يارافع السما *** بلغنا إلى أعلى المقام وجدلنا

19. Yā Hayyu Yā Qayūmu Yā Rāfi’a s-samā *** balighnā ilā a’alā l maqāmu wa jud-lanā

19. The Ever-living, the Self-subsisting, O the raiser of heaven, take us to the high station and be generous to us.

مذل بقهر العز ذلل عدونا *** مميت امتهم بالجيوش من الوبا

20. Mudhilu bi-qah’ril ‘izzi dhalil ‘aduwwanā *** mumītu m-tihamu bil-juyūshi mināl wabā

20. The Abaser, humiliate our enemy by your irresistible power, the life taker, take their lives by epidemic.

COMMENTS

On the authority of Shaykh Khidir, the youngest son of Shaykh Jami'u Bulala, I am directed to give an annotated translation of one of his works for the benefit of his admirers.

The piece is the original manuscript of Shaykh written in his handwriting, for to take pen and express one's idea in writing is one of the rare gifts bestowed by Allah to some of His favourites. To some extent, the Shaykh was spiritually inspired into writing.

Though the Shaykh did not give a title for this poem(Qasidah), but the composition suggests that it was composed with the chronological arrangement of the alphabets of Bismillah Ar-Rahman Ar-Rahim. Contrary to the popular notion that the verse has 19 number of alphabets, the madi(elongation) on the mim of Ar-Rahaman depicts it has 20. This was taken note of by him. The date of its composition is also not given, but some of his loyalists opined that it was written in the late 70's.

The poem have both moral and spiritual impacts as deduced from its meanings. At the beginning, the Shaykh supplicated with some of the selected attributes of Allah for His blessing. The poem is overwhelmed with spiritual undertones. The Shaykh primarily composed it for supplication. Certain Sufi themes were detected in the odes like Illumination of the hearts, divine presence, fana, baqa, Allah's great name etc (watch out for the expatiation of these in my book).

Suffice it to say that writing poem of this nature is not peculiar to Shaykh Jami'u alone. A careful exposition of works of Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse, Shaykh Abubakr Atiq, Shaykh Gibrim Ad-Daghari, Shaykh Rabiu Adebayo follow the same pattern.

However, poets may bring up argument that the work did not follow thorough ode scrutiny, nevertheless, adequate perusal will reveals that the man was divinely inspired to write. This to some certain extent suggests that Shaykh was a learned man who contributed his quota to knowledge.

***PS

May Allah have mercy on Shaykh Jami'u for affording us this and may Allah reward his children for granting permission for its publication. My appreciation goes to my friend, Mallam Gidado AbdulRasheed who assisted me in the translation. For more on the spiritual usage of the poem, contact me personally or any staunch loyalist/cleric affiliated to Shaykh Jami'u Bulala.

My subsequent series will be on his karamat(miracles). Watch out also for my book (Who is Shaykh Bulala: Alfa Offa)!!!

Translation & Commentary by: Ustadh Shittu Olanipekun

Culled from the series;

Who is ShaykhBulala VII: Annotated Translation Of His Poem On Bismillah

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Sayidat Rabiat Adawiyat (RA) - (by Sayyid Ahmad Bello As-Suufi Harazimi)

A Practical Guide on the Wird (Litany) of the Tariqah Faydah Tijaniyyah (The Adherent's Handbook)....by Sayyidah Bilqees Bolajoko Grillo at-Tijani

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7. A Brief Biography of the Shaykh al-Islam Ibrahim Niasse (Compiled by Sayyidah Bilqis Grillo)

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