Since getting older, I have a newfound appreciation for how Islam is practised in Singapore. While a younger me might have been been confused at what was being recited in between tarawih prayers at the mosque and read along after it got familiar to my ears, I now actually know what I’m reciting and understand why all those women around me were crying so fervently many moons ago.
Qasidah “Ya Tawwab Tub Alaina” or “Qad Kafani Ilmu Rabbi”
This is widely recited during the break after the 8th rakaat or at the end of tarawih prayers. The qasidah “Ya Tawwab Tub Alaina” is attributed to Habib Abdullah bin Alawi al-Haddad, a luminary from the land of Tarim, a place from which many of our Islamic practices here in Singapore are informed by. However, only the chorus is sung and then it’s mashed with another qasidah titled “Qad Kafani Ilmu Rabbi”.
This is what you probably would have heard these past nights:
يا تواب تب علينا ۲
وارحمنا وانظر إلينا ۲
Yâ Tawwâb Tub ‘alainâ 2x
Warhamnâ wandhur ilainâ 2x
O The One Who Accepts Repentance, accept our repentance 2x
Have mercy on us and please gaze upon us 2x
قد گفانی علم ربی ، من سؤالی واختباري
فدعائی وابتهالی ، شاهد لی بافتقاری
Qod kafânî ‘ilmu robbî min su-âlî wakhtiyârî
Fadu’â-î wabtihâlî syâhidun lî biftiqôrî
My Lord’s knowledge has sufficed me from asking or choosing,
For my prayer and my agonising supplication is a witness to my poverty (intense need).
CHORUS
فلهذا السر ادعوا ، فی يساری وعساری
انا عبد صار فخری ، ضمن فقری واضطراری
Falihâdzâs-sirri ad’û fî yasârî wa ‘asârî
Ana ‘abdun shôro fakhrî dlimna faqrî wadlthirôrî
For this secret (reason) I make supplication in times of ease and times of difficulty
I am a slave whose pride is in his poverty and obligation.
CHORUS
ياإلهی ومليکی أنت تعلم گيف حالی
وبما قد حل قلبی ، من هموم واشتغالی
Yâ ilâhî wa malîkî Anta ta’lam kaifa hâlî
Wa bimâ qod halla qolbî min humûmin wasytighôlî
O my Lord and my King, You know my state.
And what has settled in my heart of agonies and preoccupations.
CHORUS
فتدارکنی بلطف ، منك يامولی الموالی
ياگريم الوجه غثنی قبل أن يفنی اصطباری
Fatadâroknî biluthfin minka yâ mawlâl mawâlî
Yâ karîmal wajhi ghitsnî qobla an yafnâ -shthibârî
Save me with a gentleness from You, O Lord of Lords.
Oh save me, Most Generous before I run out of patience (with myself).
CHORUS
ياسريع الغوث غوثا ، منك يدرکنی سريعا
يهزم العسر ويأتی ، بالذی أرجو جميعا
Yâ sarî’al ghoutsi ghoutsan minka yudriknî sarî’ân
Yahzimul ‘usro wa ya,tî billadzî arjû jamî’ân
O One who is swift in sending aid, I ask for aid that will arrive to me swiftly
It will defeat all difficulty and it will bring all that I hope for
CHORUS
Pronouncements by the Bilal and the Corresponding Replies
Bilal says:
|
صَلُّوْا سُنَّةَ التَّرَاوِيْحِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ جَامِعَةَ رَحِمَكُمُ اللهُ |
Sollu sunnatan tarawih, raka’ataini ja’miah, rahimakumullah
Pray the Tarawih prayer, 2 rakaat, in congregation, may Allah have mercy upon you all.
Congregation responds:
| رَحِمَكُمُ الل |
Rahimakumullah
May Allah have mercy upon you all.
Bilal says:
| اَللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ |
Allahumma solli ala Sayyidina Muhammad
O Allah, send peace & blessings upon Sayyidina Muhammad.
Congregation responds:
| اَللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ عَلَيْهِ |
Allahumma solli wa sallim alaih
O Allah, send peace and blessings upon him (Sayyidina Muhammad sallallahu alahi wasallam).
Bilal says:
| فَضْلًا مِنَ اللهِ وَنِعْمَةْ |
Fadlam-minAllahi wa ni’mah
Grace is from Allah, and bounties too
Congregation responds:
| وَمَغْفِرَةً وَرحمَةْ |
And forgiveness and mercy too.
Al-Khalifatul awwal, Sayyidunna Abu Bakar as-Siddiq, radhiAllahu anhu
The First Caliph, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr as-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him
| رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ ونفعنا به في الدين والدنيا والاخرة |
RadhiAllahu anhu, wanafa’na bi hi fi-deeni wad-dunya wal-akhirah
May Allah be pleased with him and we benefit from him in our religion, our worldly life and our Afterlife.
The Bilal will repeat this for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Caliphs: Sayyidina Umar ibn Khattab, Sayyidina Uthman bin Affan and Sayyidina Ali bin Abi Talib, and for each Caliph, the response from the congregants is the same.
Supplications
Baarikilla humma lana fi shahri Ramadan
Bless us, O Allah, in the month of Ramadan
Allahumma innaka afuwwun tuhibbul afwa fa’fu anna
O Allah, You love to forgive, so forgive us
May this grant clarity to some of us inshaAllah. May Allah bless these days and nights of Ramadan and grant us tawfiq to perform our fasting and prayers and recitation of the Qur’an and other ibadah with perfection and love. Only 3 weeks left! May we make the most of it inshaAllah.
Ameera Begum
Ameera is the Editor of Muzlimbuzz.sg, a chronic reader and a news junkie.