The names of our master, ‘Abd al- Qadir al-Gilani
(may Allah sanctify his innermost being);
also called the Plea for Help [al-Isti’ana].
(may Allah sanctify his innermost being);
also called the Plea for Help [al-Isti’ana].
In the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the All-Compassionate.
Bismi’llahi ’r-Rahmani ’r-Rahim.
ya Sultana ’l-’arifin.
O crown of the masters of reality!
ya taja ’l-muhaqqiqin.
O cupbearer of the spirit!
ya saqiya ’l-humayya.
O beautiful of countenance!
ya jamila ’l-muhayya.
O blessing of humanity!
ya barakata ’l-anam.
O lamplight of the darkness!
ya misbaha ’z-zalam.
O sun without setting!
ya shamsu bi-la afl.
O pearl without equal!
ya durru bi-la mithl.
O full moon without freckles!
ya badru bi-la kalaf.
O ocean without an edge!
ya bahru bi-la taraf.
O Gray Falcon!
ya Bazu ’l-Ashhab.
O reliever of sorrows!
ya farija ’l-kurab.
O Helper Supreme!
ya Ghawthu ’l-A’zam.
O abundant source of
kindness and generosity!
ya wasi’a ’l-lutfi wa ’l-karam.
O treasury of the realities!
ya kanza ’l-haqa’iq.
O mine of the subtleties!
ya ma’dina ’d-daqa’iq.
O means of order and progress!
ya wasita ’s-silki wa ’s-suluk.
O master of kingship and the kings!
ya sahiba ’l-mulki wa ’l-muluk.
O sun of suns!
ya shamsa ’sh-shumus.
O flower of the souls!
ya zahrata ’n-nufus.
O blower of the fragrant breeze!
ya hawiya ’n-nasim.
O reviver of the decayed!
ya muhyiya ’r-ramim.
O lofty of aspiration!
ya ‘aliya ’l-hamim.
O law of the nations!
ya namusa ’l-umam.
O proof of the ardent lovers!
ya hujjata ’l-’ashiqin.
O scion of the family of Ta-Ha and Ya-Sin.
ya Sulalata ali Ta-Ha wa Ya-Sin.
O Sultan of those who reach their goal!
ya Sultana ’l-wasilin.
O heir of the Selected Prophet!
ya waritha ’n-Nabiyyi ’l-Mukhtar.
O vault of the mysteries!
ya khizanata ’l-asrar.
O displayer of the Beauty of Allah!
ya mubdiya Jamali ’llah.
O deputy of Allah’s Messenger!
ya na’iba Rasuli ’llah.
O heart of the Chosen!
ya kabida ’l-Mustafa.
O master of fidelity!
ya sahiba ’l-wafa.
O secret of the Preferred!
ya sirra ’l-Mujtaba.
O light of the Approved!
ya nur al-Murtada.
O consolation of the eyes!
ya qurrata ’l-’uyun.
O possessor of the blessed face!
ya dha ’l-wajhi ’l-maimun.
O sound in spiritual states!
ya saliha ’l-ahwal.
O truthful in utterances!
ya sadiqa ’l-aqwal.
O unsheathed sword of Allah!
ya saifa ’llahi ’l-maslul.
O fruit of the purely devoted lady [Fatima]!
ya thamarata ’l-batul.
O sympathizer with the people!
ya rahima ’n-nas.
O remover of injury!
ya mudhhiba ’l-bas.
O opener of treasures!
ya mufattiha ’l-kunuz.
O source of secret signs!
ya ma’dina ’r-rumuz.
O Ka’ba of those who reach their destination!
ya Ka’bata ’l-wasilin.
O means of connection for the seekers!
ya wasilata ’t-talibin.
O shedder of luxuriant rain!
ya mukhjila ’l-matar.
O benefactor of the human being!
ya muhsina ’l-bashar.
O strength of the weak!
ya quwwata ’d-du’afa’.
O refuge of the strangers!
ya malja’a ’l-ghuraba’.
O leader of the devout!
ya imama ’l-muttaqin.
O best of the worshipful servants!
ya safwata ’l-’abidin.
O strong one of the pillars!
ya qawiyya ’l-arkan.
O beloved friend of the All-Merciful!
ya habiba ’r-Rahman.
O revealer of the Eternally Pre-existent Speech!
ya mujliya ’l-Kalami ’l-Qadim.
O healing of the ailments of the sick!
ya shifa’a asqami ’s-saqim.
O most righteous of the righteous!
ya atqa ’l-atqiya’.
O purest of the pure!
ya asfa ’l-asfiya’.
O kindled Fire of Allah!
ya Nara ’llahi ’l-muqada.
O life of the hearts!
ya hayata ’l-af’ida.
O Shaikh of all!
ya Shaikha ’l-kull.
O guide of the ways!
ya dalila ’s-subul.
O chieftain of the loved ones!
ya naqiba ’l-mahbubin.
O destination of the spiritual travelers!
ya maqsuda ’s-salikin.
O noble on both sides [of the family]!
ya karima ’t-tarafain.
O pillar of both parties!
ya ‘umdata ’l-fariqain.
O judge of the judges!
ya qadiya ’l-qudat.
O opener of the doors that are locked!
ya fatiha ’l-mughlaqat.
O sufficient supplier of important provisions!
ya kafiya ’l-muhimmat.
O wall surrounding all things!
ya ha’ita ’l-ashya’.
O light of the council!
ya nura ’l-mala’.
O fulfillment of hope when the work is done!
ya muntaha ’l-amali hina yanqati’u ’l-’amal.
O chief of the chiefs!
ya sayyida ’s-sadat.
O source of felicity!
ya manba’a ’s-sa’adat.
O light of the heavens and the earths!
ya diya’a ’s-samawati wa ’l-aradin.
O dictionary of the preachers!
ya qamusa ’l-wa’izin.
O eye of humankind!
ya ‘aina ’l-wara.
O guide of those who travel by night!
ya qudwata ’s-sura.
O abundance of benefits!
ya jamma ’l-fawa’id.
O relief in adversities!
ya farajan fi ’sh-shada’id.
O ocean of the Sacred Law!
ya bahra ’sh-Shari’a.
O Sultan of the Spiritual Path!
ya Sultana ’t-Tariqa.
O proof of Reality!
ya burhana ’l—Haqiqa.
O interpreter of the knowledge of experience!
ya tarjumana ’l-Ma’rifa.
O discloser of secrets!
ya kashifa ’l-asrar.
O forgiver of transgressions!
ya ghafira ’l-awzar.
O model of the saints!
ya tiraza ’l-awliya’.
O support of the poor!
ya ‘aduda ’l-fuqara’.
O master of splendid spiritual states!
ya dha ’l-ahwali ’l-’azima.
O master of compassionate qualities!
ya dha ’l-awsafi ’r-rahima.
O master of the clear religion!
ya dha ’l-millati ’l-jaliyya.
O master of the Hanbali school [of Islamic law]!
ya dha ’l-madhhabi ’l-Hanbaliyya.
O leader of the leaders!
ya imama ’l-a’imma.
O remover of distress!
ya kashifa ’l-ghumma.
O solver of difficult problems!
ya fatiha ’l-mushkilat.
O welcome guest of the Lord of the Gardens [of Paradise]!
ya maqbulu Rabbi ’l-Jannat.
O boon companion of the All-Merciful!
ya jalisa ’r-Rahman.
O famous native of Jilan!
ya mashhuran mina ’l-Jilan.
O Emperor!
ya Shah.
O secret of my God!
ya sirra Ilahi.
O virtuous one!
ya ‘afif.
O noble one!
ya sharif.
O dutifully devoted one!
ya taqi.
O pure one!
ya naqi.
O champion of the Truth!
ya Siddiq.
O ardently beloved!
ya Ma’shuq.
O Cardinal Pole of the cardinal poles!
ya Qutba ’l-aqtab.
O uniquely beloved!
ya farda ’l-ahbab.
O my master!
ya sayyidi
O my support!
ya sanadi.
O my patron!
ya mawlaya.
O my strength!
ya quwwati.
O my helper!
ya ghawthi.
O my aid!
ya ghiyathi.
O my assistant!
ya ‘awni.
O my comfort!
ya rahati.
O satisfier of my needs!
ya qadiya hajati.
O dispeller of my sorrow!
ya farija karbati.
O my radiance!
ya diya’i.
O my hope!
ya raja’i.
O my remedy!
ya shifa’i.
O Sultan Muhyi ’d-Din ‘Abd al-Qadir!
ya Sultanu Muhyi ’d-Dini ‘Abdi ’l-Qadir.
O light of the innermost beings!
ya nura ’s-sara’ir.
O possessor of power!
ya sahiba ’l-qudra.
O bestower of glory!
ya qahiba ’l-’azama.
O He whose secret is manifest in this world and the Hereafter!
ya man zahara sirru-hu fi ’d-dunya wa ’l-akhira.
O king of the age!
ya malika ’z-zaman.
O He who carries out the commandment of Allah!
ya man yuqimu bi-amri ’llah.
O inheritor of the Book of Allah!
ya waritha Kitabi ’llah.
O inheritor of the Messenger of Allah!
ya waritha Rasuli ’llah.
O Cardinal Pole of the cardinal poles!
ya Qutba ’l-aqtab.
O presence of Shaikh ‘Abd al-Qadir
ya hadrata ’sh-Shaikh ‘Abdi ’l-Qadir
(may Allah sanctify his innermost being and illuminate his mausoleum)! (qaddasa ’llahu sirra-hu wa nawwir dariha-h).
O secret of secrets!
ya sirra ’l-asrar.
O Ka’ba of the righteous!
ya Ka’bata ’l-abrar.
O Shaikh of every Cardinal Pole and Helper!
ya Shaikha kulli Qutbin wa Ghawth.
O witness of all beings at a glance!
ya shahida ’l-akwani bi-nazra.
O observer of the Throne through his knowledge!
ya mubsira ’l-’Arshi bi-’ilmi-h.
O traveler to the east and the west with a single step!
ya baligha ’l-gharbi wa ’sh-sharqi bi-khatwa.
O Cardinal Pole of the angels, the human race and the jinn!
ya Qutba ’l-mala’ikati wa ’l-insi wa ’l-jinn.
O Cardinal Pole of the land and the sea!
ya Qutba ’l-barri wa ’l-bahr.
O Cardinal Pole of the east and the west!
ya Qutba ’l-mashriqi wa ’l-maghrib.
O Cardinal Pole of the heavens and the earths!
ya Qutba ’s-samawati wa ’l-aradin.
O Cardinal Pole of the Throne and the Pedestal,
ya Qutba ’l-’Arshi wa ’l-Kursiyyi
and of the Tablet and the Pen!
wa ’l-Lawhi wa ’l-Qalam.
O master of aspiration and of intercession!
ya sahiba ’l-himma wa ’sh-shafa’a.
O He who reaches his disciple when the appeal for help is made, ya man yablughu li-muridi-hi ‘inda ’l-istighatha:
even if he is [far away] in the east!
wa law kana fi ’l-mashriq.
Your horse is saddled and your sword is unsheathed;
farasu-ka masrujatun wa saifu-ka maslulun
your spear is raised and your bow is strung;
wa rumhu-ka mansubun wa qawsu-ka mawturun
your arrow is on target and your mount is ready to ride!
wa sahmu-ka sa’ibun wa rikabu-ka ‘al.
O master of generosity and noble grace!
ya Sahiba ’l-judi wa ’l-karam.
O master of the fine traits of character and aspirations!
ya sahiba ’l-akhlaqi ’l-hasanati wa ’l-himam.
O master of dispensation in this world,
ya sahiba ’t-tasarrufi fi ’d-dunya
and in his grave, by Allah’s leave!
wa fi qabri-hi bi-idhni ’llah.
O master of the foot raised over the neck of every saint of Allah!
ya sahiba ’l-qadami ’l-’ali ‘ala raqabati kulli waliyyin li’llah.
O Supreme Helper, help me in all my states,
ya Ghawthu ’l-A’zamu aghith-ni fi kulli ahwali
and support me in all my hopes, and direct me in your path,
wa ’nsur-ni fi kulli amali wa taqallab-ni fi tariqi-ka
in honor of your forefather Muhammad
bi-hurmati jaddi-ka Muhammadin
(Allah bless him and give him peace),
(salla ’llahu ‘alai-hi wa sallam)
and through his intercession,
his spirit and his innermost being.
wa bi-shifa’ati-hi wa ruhi-hi wa sirri-h.
May Allah bless our master Muhammad and his family
wa salla ’llahu ‘ala sayyidi-na Muhammadin wa ‘ala ali-hi
and his Companions, and may He grant them peace.
wa sahbi-hi wa sallam.
There is no power nor any strength
wa la hawla wa la quwwata
except with Allah, the All-High, the Almighty.
illa bi’llahi ’l-’Aliyyi ’l-’Azim.
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