THE LUSTROUS
The Great Scholar Imam Ahmad al-Dardir
(d. 1201 AH)
Translated by Mostafa Azzam
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
1 Says the hopeful of the Omnipotent's mercy,
2 I.e. Ahmad who is known as "Dardir":
3 Praise Allah, the High, the One,
4 The Omniscient, the Singular, the Independent, the Magnanimous,
5 And the best prayer and salutation
6 For the choice, noble prophet,
7 And his pure family and companions—
8 Especially his companion in the cave.
9 This is a splendid creed,
10 Which I have named "The Lustrous Pearl":
11 Fine, small in size,
12 Though tremendous in information.
13 It suffices you if you wish to be sufficed,
14 For it contains the cream of the science.
15 From Allah I hope for acceptance of [my] action
16 And benefit from it, then forgiveness of [my] slipping.
17 The categories of logical ruling, without exception,
18 Are necessity, impossibility,
19 Then possibility, the third of the categories—
20 So understand; may you be granted the delight of understanding.
21 Legally necessary for someone accountable
22 Is knowing Allah, the High, so know [that]:
23 I.e., [that] one know the necessary and the impossible,
24 Along with what is possible regarding Him, how high is He!
25 And likewise regarding Allah's messengers,
26 To them the Divine's greeting.
27 The logically necessary is that which intrinsically does not admit of
28 Negation, so beseech [Allah].
29 The impossible is everything that intrinsically does not admit of
30 Affirmation—the opposite of the first.
31 Every matter admitting of negation
32 And affirmation is obviously possible.
33 Then know that this universe—
34 I.e., all besides Allah, the High, the Knowing—
35 Is without doubt originated, dependent;
36 For change applies to it.
37 Its origination means its existence after non-existence.
38 The opposite of it is what is called "ancientness."
39 Know that being characterized by existence
40 Is of the necessities of the One, the Worshipped;
41 For it is plain that every effect
42 Guides to a cause, so take note.
43 That is called an essential attribute.
44 Then following it are five negative:
45 They are intrinsic ancientness, permanence,
46 His self-subsistence—may you attain piety—
47 Different from all else, singularity
48 In entity, His high attributes,
49 And action: so effecting is for none but
50 The One, the Overpowering;
51 Whoever asserts nature or necessitation,
52 Then that is disbelief according to the people of this religion;
53 And whoever asserts God-given force,
54 Then he is an innovator, so pay no attention.
55 Were He not characterized by them, it would imply
56 His origination, which is impossible—so be steadfast;
57 For it entails actual infinity
58 Or circularity, which is obviously impossible.
59 So He is the Majestic, the Beautiful, the Master,
60 The Pure, the Holy, the High Lord,
61 Transcendent beyond incarnation, direction,
62 Joining, separation, and misjudgment.
63 Then the substances, which are seven to the observer,
64 I.e. His knowledge encompassing everything,
65 His life, ability, will
66 (Everything that is, He has willed it,
67 Even if He has ordered its opposite.
68 Thus willing differs from ordering, so throw away vain arguing.
69 Thus you have learnt four categories
70 Amongst created things, so guard [this] position),
71 His speeech, hearing, and sight;
72 Thus He is the God Who does with choice.
73 Necessary is the connection of those attributes,
74 Necessarily, constantly—all but life.
75 Knowledge and lofty speech
76 Are definitely connected to all the categories.
77 Ability and will are connected
78 To all potentials, o pious brother.
79 And know that His hearing and sight
80 To every existent known.
81 All of them are intrinsically beginningless,
82 Because they are not separate from the entity.
83 Then speech is not with letters
84 And is not with sequence, as is familiar [speech].
85 Impossible is the opposite of the aforementioned
86 High attributes—so know;
87 For were He not characterized
88 By them, He would have been known for the others;
89 And to whomever other ones apply
90 Is the one that has reached the utmost of need.
91 Whereas the One, the Worshipped does not need
92 Another—how majestic is the Independent, the Powerful!
93 Possible regarding Him are: causing existence
94 And refraining [from causing existence], causing ruin and causing felicity;
95 And whoever asserts that doing the advantageous is necessary
96 For God has shown poor manners.
97 And have conviction, my brother, in the vision of God
98 In the everlasting Garden, without limitation;
99 For its occurrence is logically possible,
100 And textual evidence has definitely come regarding it.
101 Attribute all the messengers with loyalty,
102 Truthfulness, conveyance, and cleverness.
103 Their opposites are impossible for them.
104 Possible regarding them are things like eating.
105 Their being sent is a grace and mercy
106 To the worlds—how majestic is the Grantor of Favors!
107 Mandatory is belief in: the reckoning,
108 The gathering, punishment, reward,
109 The resurrection, the bridge, the balance,
110 The pond, the fires, the gardens,
111 The jinns, the angels, then the prophets,
112 The houris, the youths, then the saints,
113 And every ruling that has come from the Bringer of Good News
114 That has become as if granted.
115 Included in the Word of Islam
116 Are all the rulings that just passed.
117 So invoke it much, with etiquette:
118 You will ascend with this invocation the highest ranks.
119 And make fear outweigh hope,
120 And go to your Master without veering.
121 Renew repentance for sins,
122 And do not despair of the mercy of the Forgiver.
123 Be for His favors so grateful,
124 And be through His trial so patient;
125 For every matter is by destiny and decree,
126 And every decreed matter is inevitable.
127 So be to Him submissive so as to be safe,
128 And follow the way of the learned worshippers.
129 Purify the heart of the others
130 Through striving, standing [in prayer] in the late night,
131 Reflection, and constant invocation,
132 While avoiding all sins
133 And being watchful of Allah in [all your] circumstances,
134 That you may ascend to the marks of perfection.
135 And say with humiliation, "My lord, do not cut me off
136 From You with anything that cuts, and do not ban me
137 From Your luminous mystery which rids of blindness.
138 And close with good, O Merciful of the merciful."
139 Praise Allah for completion,
140 And the greatest favor and salutation
141 For the Hashimi and final prophet,
142 And his most generous folk and companions.
