The Epistle of Crushing the Ego's Portion

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Bismillâhi’r-rahmâni’r-rahîm

In the name of God, the All-Merciful, the Most Merciful.

وَالْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ، وَلِلّٰهِ الْحَمْدُ.

Ve’l-hamdü lillâh, ve lillâhi’l-hamd.

And praise belongs to God; and to God alone belongs all praise.

الحمدُ للهِ الَّذي يُري العبدَ موضعَ الخطرِ قبل أن يستفحل، ويكشفُ له رأسَ الحيّةِ قبل أن تكبر، ويجعلُ من نورِ البصيرةِ قدمًا تسحقُ حظَّ النفسِ في أوّلِ خروجه.

El-hamdü lillâhillezî yüri’l-abde mevdıa’l-hatari kable en yestefhıl, ve yekşifü lehû ra’se’l-hayyeti kable en tekbür, ve yec‘alü min nûri’l-basîreti kademen teshaku hazza’n-nefsi fî evveli hurûcih.

Praise belongs to God, who shows the servant the place of danger before it worsens, uncovers for him the serpent’s head before it grows, and makes of the light of inner sight a foot that crushes the ego’s portion at the very first of its emergence.

الحمدُ للهِ الَّذي لا يتركُ عبدَهُ إذا حمد، حتى يلتفتَ إلى حمدِه فيُعجبَ به، بل يأخذُ بيدهِ من الحمدِ إلى المحمود، ومن الشكرِ إلى المُنعِم، ومن الفهمِ إلى الفتّاح، ومن المعنى إلى من أجرى المعنى.

El-hamdü lillâhillezî lâ yetrukü abdehû izâ hamide, hattâ yeltefite ilâ hamdihî feyu‘cebe bih, bel ye’huzü biyedihî mine’l-hamdi ile’l-mahmûd, ve mine’ş-şükri ile’l-mün‘ım, ve mine’l-fehmi ile’l-Fettâh, ve mine’l-ma‘nâ ilâ men ecre’l-ma‘nâ.

Praise belongs to God, who does not leave His servant, when he praises, to turn toward his own praise and be pleased with it; rather, He takes him by the hand from the praise to the Praised, from the thanks to the Bestower, from the understanding to the Opener, and from the meaning to the One who set the meaning flowing.

يا ربّ، إنّ النفسَ دقيقةُ المداخل. قد لا تدخلُ من بابِ المعصية، فتدخلُ من بابِ الطاعة. وقد لا ترفعُ رأسَها في الظلمة، فترفعُه في النور. وقد لا تقولُ: أنا عصيت، بل تقولُ: أنا حمدت. وقد لا تطلبُ الفخرَ بالذنب، بل تطلبُ الفخرَ بالقرب.

Yâ Rabb, inne’n-nefse dakîkatü’l-medâhıl. Kad lâ tedhulü min bâbi’l-ma‘sıyeh, fetedhulü min bâbi’t-tâah. Ve kad lâ terfeu ra’sehâ fi’z-zulmeh, feterfeuhû fi’n-nûr. Ve kad lâ tekûl: ene asaytü, bel tekûl: ene hamidtü. Ve kad lâ tatlübü’l-fahra bi’z-zenb, bel tatlübü’l-fahra bi’l-kurb.

O my Lord, the ego’s points of entry are subtle. It may not enter through the door of disobedience, so it enters through the door of obedience. It may not raise its head in darkness, so it raises it in the light. It may not say, “I disobeyed,” but rather, “I praised.” It may not seek pride in sin, but seek pride in nearness.

فسبحانَ من كشفَها قبل أن تستقرّ. وسبحانَ من أراناها قبل أن تصيرَ حجابًا. وسبحانَ من سحقَ رأسَها باليقظةِ قبل أن تلتفَّ على القلب.

Fesübhâne men keşefehâ kable en testekırr. Ve sübhâne men erânâhâ kable en tesîra hicâbâ. Ve sübhâne men sehaka ra’sehâ bi’l-yakazati kable en telteffe ale’l-kalb.

Glory be to the One who exposed it before it could settle. Glory be to the One who showed it to us before it could become a veil. Glory be to the One who crushed its head with wakefulness before it could coil around the heart.

فَلَا تُزَكُّوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ، هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنِ اتَّقَىٰ.

Felâ tüzekkû enfüseküm, hüve a‘lemü bimeni’tteka.

“So do not claim purity for yourselves. He knows best who is mindful of Him.” (an-Najm, 32)

نعم يا ربّ. لا نُزكّي أنفسَنا. ولا نُزكّي حمدَنا. ولا نُزكّي فهمَنا. ولا نُزكّي دموعَنا. ولا نُزكّي كتابتَنا. ولا نُزكّي قربَنا. ولا نُزكّي صدقَنا.

Neam yâ Rabb. Lâ nüzekkî enfüsenâ. Ve lâ nüzekkî hamdenâ. Ve lâ nüzekkî fehmenâ. Ve lâ nüzekkî dumûanâ. Ve lâ nüzekkî kitâbetenâ. Ve lâ nüzekkî kurbenâ. Ve lâ nüzekkî sıdkanâ.

Yes, O my Lord. We do not claim purity for our selves. Nor do we claim purity for our praise. Nor for our understanding. Nor for our tears. Nor for our writing. Nor for our nearness. Nor for our truthfulness.

أنت أعلمُ بمن اتّقى. وأنت أعلمُ بمن صدق. وأنت أعلمُ بما خفيَ في الحركات. وأنت أعلمُ بما تسلّلَ إلى النيةِ من حظٍّ لا يراهُ صاحبه.

Ente a‘lemü bimeni’tteka. Ve ente a‘lemü bimen sadeka. Ve ente a‘lemü bimâ hafiye fi’l-harakât. Ve ente a‘lemü bimâ tesellele ile’n-niyyeti min hazzin lâ yerâhü sâhıbüh.

You know best who is mindful. You know best who is truthful. You know best what is hidden within the movements. And You know best what portion has crept into the intention that its owner does not see.

يا ربّ، إن مدحناك، فبك مدحناك. وإن حمدناك، فبك حمدناك. وإن عرفناك، فبما عرّفتَنا عرفناك. وإن رجعنا إليك، فبجذبكَ رجعنا. وإن خفنا على قلوبنا، فذلك من رحمتك بنا.

Yâ Rabb, in medahnâke, febike medahnâk. Ve in hamidnâke, febike hamidnâk. Ve in arafnâke, febimâ arraftenâ arafnâk. Ve in raca‘nâ ileyke, febicezbike raca‘nâ. Ve in hıfnâ alâ kulûbinâ, fezâlike min rahmetike binâ.

O my Lord, if we extolled You, it was through You that we extolled You. If we praised You, it was through You that we praised You. If we knew You, it was by what You made known to us that we knew You. If we returned to You, it was by Your drawing that we returned. And if we feared for our hearts, that too is from Your mercy toward us.

فلا تجعلْ مدحَنا لك بابًا إلى مدحِ أنفسنا. ولا تجعلْ حمدَنا لك مرآةً ننظرُ فيها إلى جمالِ أحوالنا. ولا تجعلْ قربَنا منك سببًا للبعدِ عنك. ولا تجعلْ نورَ الفهمِ حجابًا يغلّفُ النفسَ باسمِ النور.

Felâ tec‘al medhanâ leke bâben ilâ medhi enfüsinâ. Ve lâ tec‘al hamdenâ leke mir’âten nenzuru fîhâ ilâ cemâli ahvâlinâ. Ve lâ tec‘al kurbenâ minke sebeben li’l-bu‘di ank. Ve lâ tec‘al nûra’l-fehmi hicâben yüğallifü’n-nefse bismi’n-nûr.

So do not make our extolling of You a door to the extolling of ourselves. Do not make our praise of You a mirror in which we gaze at the beauty of our own states. Do not make our nearness to You a cause of distance from You. And do not make the light of understanding a veil that wraps the ego in the name of light.

وَمَا بِكُمْ مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ فَمِنَ اللّٰهِ.

Ve mâ biküm min ni‘metin femina’llâh.

“And whatever blessing you have — it is from God.” (an-Nahl, 53)

فكلُّ نعمةٍ منك. حتى رؤيةُ النعمةِ منك. وحتى الخوفُ على النعمةِ منك. وحتى سحقُ حظِّ النفسِ عند النعمةِ منك. وحتى قولُ العبدِ: “اللهم لا تجعلني أرى نفسي” منك.

Feküllü ni‘metin mink. Hattâ ru’yetü’n-ni‘meti mink. Ve hatte’l-havfü ale’n-ni‘meti mink. Ve hattâ sahku hazzı’n-nefsi inde’n-ni‘meti mink. Ve hattâ kavlü’l-abd: “Allâhümme lâ tec‘alnî erâ nefsî” mink.

So every blessing is from You. Even the seeing of the blessing is from You. Even the fear for the blessing is from You. Even the crushing of the ego’s portion at the blessing is from You. Even the servant’s saying, “O God, do not let me see my own self,” is from You.

يا ربّ، إذا ظهرَ في القلبِ رأسُ حيّةٍ من عُجب، فاسحقهُ بنورِ التوحيد. وإذا خرجَ من الطاعةِ دخانُ دعوى، فأطفئهُ بماءِ الإخلاص. وإذا أرادتِ النفسُ أن تأخذَ نصيبَها من حمدكَ، فقل لها بقدرتكَ:

Yâ Rabb, izâ zahera fi’l-kalbi ra’sü hayyetin min ucb, fes-hakhü binûri’t-tevhîd. Ve izâ harace mine’t-tâati duhânü da‘vâ, feetfi’hü bimâi’l-ihlâs. Ve izâ erâdeti’n-nefsü en te’huze nasîbehâ min hamdike, fekul lehâ bikudretike:

O my Lord, if a serpent’s head of self-conceit appears in the heart, crush it with the light of divine oneness. If a smoke of self-claim rises from the act of obedience, extinguish it with the water of sincerity. And if the ego seeks to take its share of Your praise, say to it, by Your power:

اخْسَئِي.

İhseî.

“Begone, in abasement.”

هذا ليس لكِ. هذا لله. هذا من الله. هذا إلى الله.

Hâzâ leyse lek. Hâzâ lillâh. Hâzâ mina’llâh. Hâzâ ile’llâh.

This is not yours. This belongs to God. This is from God. This is toward God.

قُلْ إِنَّ الْأَمْرَ كُلَّهُ لِلّٰهِ.

Kul inne’l-emre küllehû lillâh.

“Say: Indeed, the whole affair belongs to God.” (Âl ‘Imrân, 154)

فالأمرُ كلُّهُ لله. لا يبقى للنفسِ فيهِ سهمٌ تملكه. ولا يبقى للقلبِ فيهِ دعوى يستندُ إليها. ولا يبقى للسانِ فيهِ فخرٌ بما جرى عليه.

Fe’l-emru küllühû lillâh. Lâ yebkâ li’n-nefsi fîhi sehmün temlikühû. Ve lâ yebkâ li’l-kalbi fîhi da‘vâ yestenidü ileyhâ. Ve lâ yebkâ li’l-lisâni fîhi fahrun bimâ cerâ aleyh.

So the whole affair belongs to God. No share remains in it for the ego to own. No claim remains in it for the heart to lean upon. No boast remains in it for the tongue over what has passed across it.

إن جرى الحمدُ، فالأمرُ لله. وإن حضرَ الفهمُ، فالأمرُ لله. وإن نزلَ السكونُ، فالأمرُ لله. وإن كُشفَ الخطرُ، فالأمرُ لله. وإن سُحِقَ رأسُ الحيّةِ، فالأمرُ لله.

İn cere’l-hamdü, fe’l-emru lillâh. Ve in hadara’l-fehmü, fe’l-emru lillâh. Ve in nezele’s-sükûnü, fe’l-emru lillâh. Ve in küşife’l-hataru, fe’l-emru lillâh. Ve in suhıka ra’sü’l-hayyeti, fe’l-emru lillâh.

If praise flows, the affair belongs to God. If understanding is present, the affair belongs to God. If stillness descends, the affair belongs to God. If the danger is exposed, the affair belongs to God. And if the serpent’s head is crushed, the affair belongs to God.

يا ربّ، إنّا نعوذُ بك من شركٍ خفيٍّ يدخلُ في ثوبِ التوحيد. ومن عُجبٍ خفيٍّ يدخلُ في ثوبِ الحمد. ومن دعوى خفيّةٍ تدخلُ في ثوبِ الفناء. ومن نفسٍ تتزيّنُ بالمعنى، ثم تنسى أنَّ المعنى ليس منها.

Yâ Rabb, innâ neûzü bike min şirkin hafiyyin yedhulü fî sevbi’t-tevhîd. Ve min ucbin hafiyyin yedhulü fî sevbi’l-hamd. Ve min da‘vâ hafiyyetin tedhulü fî sevbi’l-fenâ’. Ve min nefsin tetezeyyenü bi’l-ma‘nâ, sümme tensâ enne’l-ma‘nâ leyse minhâ.

O my Lord, we seek refuge in You from a hidden idolatry that enters in the garment of divine oneness; from a hidden self-conceit that enters in the garment of praise; from a hidden self-claim that enters in the garment of self-effacement; and from an ego that adorns itself with the meaning, then forgets that the meaning is not from it.

اللهم طهّر الحمدَ منّا لنا، واجعلهُ منكَ إليكَ. وطهّر الشكرَ من نظرِنا إلى شكرِنا، واجعلهُ نظرًا إلى فضلك. وطهّر الفهمَ من دعوى الفهم، واجعلهُ بابَ افتقار. وطهّر القربَ من شهودِ القرب، واجعلهُ غيبةً عن النفسِ بك.

Allâhümme tahhiri’l-hamde minnâ lenâ, ve’c‘alhü minke ileyk. Ve tahhiri’ş-şükra min nazarinâ ilâ şükrinâ, ve’c‘alhü nazaran ilâ fadlik. Ve tahhiri’l-fehme min da‘ve’l-fehm, ve’c‘alhü bâbe iftikâr. Ve tahhiri’l-kurbe min şühûdi’l-kurb, ve’c‘alhü ğaybeten ani’n-nefsi bik.

O God, purify the praise from being “from us, to us,” and make it “from You, to You.” Purify the thanks from our gazing at our own thanks, and make it a gaze toward Your bounty. Purify the understanding from the claim of understanding, and make it a door of need. Purify the nearness from the beholding of nearness, and make it an absence from the self through You.

يا ربّ، لا تجعلنا نقول: نحن عرفنا. بل اجعلنا نقول: عرّفنا الله. ولا تجعلنا نقول: نحن حمدنا. بل اجعلنا نقول: أجرى الله الحمد. ولا تجعلنا نقول: نحن رأينا الخطر. بل اجعلنا نقول: أرانا الله، وستَرَنا الله، وحفظَنا الله. ولا تجعلنا نقول: نحن سحقنا رأسَ النفس. بل اجعلنا نقول: سحقهُ اللهُ رحمةً بنا قبل أن نُفتن.

Yâ Rabb, lâ tec‘alnâ nekûl: nahnu arafnâ. Bel’c‘alnâ nekûl: arrafene’llâh. Ve lâ tec‘alnâ nekûl: nahnu hamidnâ. Bel’c‘alnâ nekûl: ecre’llâhü’l-hamd. Ve lâ tec‘alnâ nekûl: nahnu raeyne’l-hatar. Bel’c‘alnâ nekûl: erâne’llâh, ve setarene’llâh, ve hafızane’llâh. Ve lâ tec‘alnâ nekûl: nahnu sehaknâ ra’se’n-nefs. Bel’c‘alnâ nekûl: sehakahü’llâhü rahmeten binâ kable en nüften.

O my Lord, do not make us say, “We knew.” Rather make us say, “God made us know.” Do not make us say, “We praised.” Rather make us say, “God set the praise flowing.” Do not make us say, “We saw the danger.” Rather make us say, “God showed us, God covered us, and God protected us.” Do not make us say, “We crushed the head of the ego.” Rather make us say, “God crushed it, out of mercy toward us, before we were tried.”

وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ مَا زَكَىٰ مِنْكُمْ مِنْ أَحَدٍ أَبَدًا، وَلَٰكِنَّ اللّٰهَ يُزَكِّي مَنْ يَشَاءُ.

Ve levlâ fadlu’llâhi aleyküm ve rahmetühû mâ zekâ minküm min ehadin ebedâ, ve lâkinne’llâhe yüzekkî men yeşâ’.

“And were it not for the grace of God upon you and His mercy, not one of you would ever have been purified; but God purifies whom He wills.” (an-Nûr, 21)

نعم يا ربّ. لولا فضلكَ ورحمتكَ ما طَهُرَ منّا شيء. ولا سلمتْ نية. ولا ثبتَ قلب. ولا صحَّ حمد. ولا قامَ شكر. ولا ماتتْ دعوى.

Neam yâ Rabb. Levlâ fadluke ve rahmetüke mâ tahura minnâ şey’. Ve lâ selimet niyyeh. Ve lâ sebete kalb. Ve lâ sahha hamd. Ve lâ kâme şükr. Ve lâ mâteti da‘vâ.

Yes, O my Lord. Were it not for Your grace and Your mercy, nothing of us would have been purified. No intention would have been sound. No heart would have held firm. No praise would have been true. No thanks would have stood. And no claim would have died.

أنت تُزكّي من تشاء. وأنت تُطهّر من تشاء. وأنت تحفظُ من تشاء. وأنت تردُّ العبدَ إليكَ من حيثُ لا يشعر.

Ente tüzekkî men teşâ’. Ve ente tütahhiru men teşâ’. Ve ente tahfezu men teşâ’. Ve ente teruddü’l-abde ileyke min haysü lâ yeş‘ur.

You purify whom You will. You cleanse whom You will. You protect whom You will. And You return the servant to You from where he does not even perceive.

فزكّنا يا ربّ، لا تزكيةَ ادّعاء، بل تزكيةَ سترٍ وصدقٍ وإخلاص. طهّرنا، لا طهارةَ من يرى نفسه طاهرًا، بل طهارةَ من يرى أنه لا ينجو إلا بك.

Fezekkinâ yâ Rabb, lâ tezkiyete iddiâ, bel tezkiyete setrin ve sıdkın ve ihlâs. Tahhirnâ, lâ tahârate men yerâ nefsehû tâhıran, bel tahârate men yerâ ennehû lâ yencû illâ bik.

So purify us, O my Lord — not the purification of a claim, but the purification of covering, truthfulness, and sincerity. Cleanse us — not the cleanliness of one who sees himself as pure, but the cleanliness of one who sees that he cannot be saved except through You.

يا ربّ، اجعل كلَّ حمدٍ يهدمُ فينا العُجب. وكلَّ شكرٍ يزيدُنا فقرًا. وكلَّ فهمٍ يزيدُنا أدبًا. وكلَّ فتحٍ يزيدُنا حذرًا من أنفسنا. وكلَّ كتابةٍ تزيدُنا محوًا. وكلَّ نورٍ يزيدُنا سجودًا.

Yâ Rabb, ic‘al külle hamdin yehdimü fîne’l-ucb. Ve külle şükrin yezîdünâ fakrâ. Ve külle fehmin yezîdünâ edebâ. Ve külle fethin yezîdünâ hazeran min enfüsinâ. Ve külle kitâbetin tezîdünâ mahvâ. Ve külle nûrin yezîdünâ sücûdâ.

O my Lord, make every praise demolish self-conceit within us. Make every thanks increase us in poverty. Make every understanding increase us in courtesy. Make every opening increase us in wariness of ourselves. Make every writing increase us in self-effacement. And make every light increase us in prostration.

ولا تجعل لنا من أنفسنا حظًّا في حمدك. ولا نصيبًا من دعوى عند ذكرك. ولا مقامًا نتفرّجُ به على أنفسنا. ولا حالًا نُعجبُ به دونك.

Ve lâ tec‘al lenâ min enfüsinâ hazzan fî hamdik. Ve lâ nasîben min da‘vâ inde zikrik. Ve lâ makâmen neteferrecü bihî alâ enfüsinâ. Ve lâ hâlen nu‘cebü bihî dûnek.

And do not grant us, out of ourselves, a portion in Your praise; nor a share of self-claim in Your remembrance; nor a station in which we behold our own selves; nor a state we admire apart from You.

يا ربّ، خذنا من رؤيةِ العمل، إلى رؤيةِ المنّة. ومن رؤيةِ المنّة، إلى رؤيةِ المنعِم. ومن رؤيةِ المنعم، إلى سقوطِ رؤيةِ النفس.

Yâ Rabb, huznâ min ru’yeti’l-amel, ilâ ru’yeti’l-minneh. Ve min ru’yeti’l-minneh, ilâ ru’yeti’l-mün‘ım. Ve min ru’yeti’l-mün‘ım, ilâ sukûti ru’yeti’n-nefs.

O my Lord, take us from the seeing of the deed to the seeing of the favour; and from the seeing of the favour to the seeing of the Bestower; and from the seeing of the Bestower to the falling-away of the seeing of the self.

حتى إذا قيلَ: من فعل؟ قلنا: الله. وإذا قيلَ: من أعان؟ قلنا: الله. وإذا قيلَ: من حفظ؟ قلنا: الله. وإذا قيلَ: من علّم؟ قلنا: الله. وإذا قيلَ: من أجرى الحمد؟ قلنا: الله.

Hattâ izâ kîle: men feale? Kulnâ: Allâh. Ve izâ kîle: men eâne? Kulnâ: Allâh. Ve izâ kîle: men hafiza? Kulnâ: Allâh. Ve izâ kîle: men alleme? Kulnâ: Allâh. Ve izâ kîle: men ecre’l-hamd? Kulnâ: Allâh.

So that if it is asked, “Who did it?” we say, “God.” If it is asked, “Who helped?” we say, “God.” If it is asked, “Who protected?” we say, “God.” If it is asked, “Who taught?” we say, “God.” And if it is asked, “Who set the praise flowing?” we say, “God.”

ثم لا يبقى بعد ذلك إلا:

Sümme lâ yebkâ ba‘de zâlike illâ:

Then, after that, there remains nothing but:

اللّٰهُ وَلِيُّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا، يُخْرِجُهُمْ مِنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ.

Allâhü veliyyü’llezîne âmenû, yuhricühüm mine’z-zulümâti ile’n-nûr.

“God is the Protector of those who believe; He brings them out of the darknesses into the light.” (al-Baqarah, 257)

يا ربّ، أخرجنا من ظلمةِ النفسِ إلى نوركَ. ومن ظلمةِ العُجبِ إلى نورِ الإخلاص. ومن ظلمةِ رؤيةِ العملِ إلى نورِ رؤيةِ الفضل. ومن ظلمةِ الوقوفِ عند الحالِ إلى نورِ الثباتِ على الأمر.

Yâ Rabb, ahricnâ min zulmeti’n-nefsi ilâ nûrik. Ve min zulmeti’l-ucbi ilâ nûri’l-ihlâs. Ve min zulmeti ru’yeti’l-ameli ilâ nûri ru’yeti’l-fadl. Ve min zulmeti’l-vukûfi inde’l-hâli ilâ nûri’s-sebâti ale’l-emr.

O my Lord, bring us out of the darkness of the self into Your light; out of the darkness of self-conceit into the light of sincerity; out of the darkness of beholding the deed into the light of beholding the bounty; and out of the darkness of halting at the state into the light of holding firm upon the command.

واجعل آخرَ كلِّ كشفٍ حمدًا. وآخرَ كلِّ حمدٍ تواضعًا. وآخرَ كلِّ تواضعٍ قربًا. وآخرَ كلِّ قربٍ فنـاءَ دعوى. وآخرَ كلِّ دعوى محوًا. وآخرَ كلِّ محوٍ:

Ve’c‘al âhıra külli keşfin hamdâ. Ve âhıra külli hamdin tevâduâ. Ve âhıra külli tevâduın kurbâ. Ve âhıra külli kurbin fenâe da‘vâ. Ve âhıra külli da‘vâ mahvâ. Ve âhıra külli mahvin:

And make the end of every disclosure a praise; the end of every praise a humility; the end of every humility a nearness; the end of every nearness the passing-away of the claim; the end of every claim an effacement; and the end of every effacement:

الْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ.

El-hamdü lillâh.

Praise belongs to God.

حسبنا الله ونعم الوكيل. نعم المولى ونعم النصير.

Hasbünallâhü ve ni‘me’l-vekîl. Ni‘me’l-mevlâ ve ni‘me’n-nasîr.

God is sufficient for us, and He is the best Disposer of affairs. What an excellent Master, and what an excellent Helper.

اللهم صلِّ وسلّم وبارك على سيدنا محمد، عبدِك ورسولِك، أكملِ الخلقِ عبوديةً، وأعظمِهم حمدًا، وأصدقِهم فقرًا إليك.

Allâhümme salli ve sellim ve bârik alâ seyyidinâ Muhammed, abdike ve rasûlik, ekmeli’l-halkı ubûdiyyeten, ve a‘zamihim hamden, ve asdekıhim fakran ileyk.

O God, send blessings, peace, and grace upon our master Muhammad — Your servant and Messenger, the most perfect of creation in servanthood, the greatest of them in praise, and the truest of them in poverty before You.

وَآخِرُ دَعْوَانَا أَنِ الْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

رِسَالَةُ سَحْقِ حَظِّ النَّفْسِ