Qasida of the Khalwa
by Sidi Ahmed al-’Alawi al-Mustaghanimi

Seeker of Allah heed this teaching we recount;
If you grasp my words by them you will reach Allah.

Hold fast, O seeker to the “wine of unity”.
If you desire more forget all otherness;

Then chant the Great Name, fold up the world take riches,
And wade the Timeless Sea for ‘tis the sea of God.

And wade the sea of lights and meanings and secrets;
Then wipe away these worlds, your heart will reach its aim.

Pass away in the King, you’ll know His witnessing…
Know! All existence is from light of Allah.

This realm, the unseen world, and the divine presence…
Each is His attribute and He is the essence.

Hide from the attributes be lost in His essence;
These evanescent accidents end with Allah.

Unto Him is the end, from Him does all begin,
Now He has appeared, and all through His beauty is.

The world’s His mirror and displays His attributes…
Peace be upon Muhammad, the light of His essence.

Al-‘Alawi passes onto you these honored words,
Whereby love mad minds vanish in Allah Himself.

Chorus:

Allah, Allah,

Allah, Allah,

Our Lord Allah,

Allah, Allah Allah,

Exalted Allah.