Al-Uqud al-Durriyya - Ibn Abd al-Hadi - (الكتاب/590)

Al-Uqud al-DurriyyaIbn Abd al-Hadi

He is the touchstone by which Allah’s servants are distinguished—some confirmed as noble and honoured, others exposed as disappointed and base.
If you wish to measure people against that standard, mention him with praise and watch their expressions (1):
you will see the deviant grow gloomy and constricted, while the God-fearing beam with joy.
To love him is a blessing won by the fortunate; to hate him is a scourge that brands the wretched.
So praise belongs to Allah—O people of praise—our Creator, who has poured upon us, among all creation, countless favours.
He has healed hearts of every sickness, and His bounty has encompassed both those who fulfil their duty and those who wrong.
How many a distress has He lifted from us by His grace! How often has He aided, pardoned (2), and shown mercy!
Do not place your hopes in anyone but Him to remove calamity, lest guidance leave you and beneficence be severed.
Busy yourself with none besides Him, that you may attain piety, triumph, and honour.
Love Him and strive in His obedience, for striving in anything else begets only regret.

Completed with the praise of Allah, His help, and His gracious enabling. May abundant blessings and peace be upon our master Muhammad, his family, and his Companions (3).

(1) MS F reads “al-shayma” or “al-shahma.” (2) MS F reads “afa.” (3) In MS F the colophon states: “tammat bi-hamdi Allah wa-husni tawfiqihi, bi-mannihi wa-karamihi. wa-l-hamdu li-Allahi Rabbi l-ʿalamin, wa-salla … wa-sahbihi ajmaʿin” (“Completed with the praise of Allah and His gracious success, through His favor and generosity. Praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and blessings … upon all His Companions”). With this the copies F and D come to an end. MS K then adds a poem by Abu Hafs ʿUmar ibn al-Wardi in praise of the Prophet, opening: qalbun kawahu al-bayn hatta andhaja, ma zala fi bahr al-gharam muljaljajan (“A heart scorched by separation until it roasted … ever tossing in the sea of passion”). This poem is unrelated to the book. After it the copyist wrote: “waqaʿa al-faragh al-tam min nuskhat al-kitab al-mustatab …” (“The complete writing of this esteemed book has now been finished …”).

وهو المحكّ الذي بان العبادُ به ... إما كرامًا وإما خُيّبًا لُؤما فإن أردتَ معايير العباد به ... عَرّض بذكراه مدحًا وانظر السيما (١) ترى الغويّ حزينًا ثم منقبضًا ... وتنظر المتقي قد سُرّ مبتسمًا فحبّه نعمة فاز السعيدُ بها ... وبغضه نقمة بها الشقيْ وُسِما فالحمد لله، أهل الحمد، خالقنا ... كم قد أفاض علينا في الورى نِعَما عافى القلوبَ من الأسقام أجمعها ... وعمَّ بالجود مَن وفّى ومَن ظَلَما كم أفرجت كربة عنَّا بمِنّته ... وكم أعان وكم عفا (٢) وكم رحما لا ترتجى غيره في رفع نازلةٍ ... يبقى الهدى عنك والإحسان منصرمًا ولا تكن بسواه عنه مشتغلًا ... لكي تنال التُّقى والفوزَ والكرما وكن محبًّا له ساعٍ بطاعته ... فالسعي في غير هذا يورِثُ النَّدَما تمت بحمد الله وعونه وحسن توفيقه. وصلى الله على سيدنا محمد وآله وصحبه وسلم تسليمًا كثيرًا (٣).

(١) (ف): «الشيما» أو «الشهما». (٢) (ف): «عافا». (٣) العبارة في (ف): «تمت بحمد الله وحسن توفيقه، بمنه وكرمه. والحمد لله رب العالمين، وصلى .... وصحبه أجمعين». وبه انتهت نسخة (ف، د). وبعده في (ك) قصيدة لأبي حفص عمر بن الوردي في مدح النبي ﷺ مطلعها: قلبٌ كواه البين حتى أنضجا ... ما زال في بحر الغرام ملجلجا ولا علاقة لها بالكتاب. وبعدها قال ناسخها: «وقع الفراغ التام من نسخة الكتاب المستطاب ... ».