From the Diwan of Imam Shafi’i

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الحمد لله رب العالمين و صلى الله على سيدنا محمد و على آله و صحبه و سلم أما بعد

From the Diwan of Imam Shafi’i

Someone suggested that we periodically post selections from the diwan of our beloved Imam Muhammad ibn Idris Ash-Shafi’i. All posts of this nature will be titled “From the Diwan”.

قال الإمام الشافعي رضي الله تعالى عنه و نفعنا به آمين

كيف الوصول إلى سعاد و دونها

قلل الجبال و دونهن حتوف

و الرجل حافية و لا لي مركب

و الكف صفر و الطريق مخوف

Imam Shafi’i, may Allah, Most High, be pleased with him and benefit us through him – ameen – says,

How, unto Su’ad’s presence, when before her

Rise mountains, and before them, graves are near?

For my foot is bare, and no vessel have I,

My palm is empty, and the path one of fear.

Note

Post-Islamic Arabic poets often use love for a woman – Su’ad, in this case – as a metaphor for love for the Divine.

References

Ash-Shafi’i, Muhammad ibn Idris. Diwan Ash-Shafi’i. Compilation and commentary by Aziza Al-Alim. n.l.: Dar Al-Haytham, 1419/1998.

Allah the Exalted knows best and He alone gives success.

Moustafa Elqabbany
Metro Vancouver, Canada