مُقَدِّمَة

And make us followers of his guidance and their guidance.

Kí O sì sọ wá di àwọn tí ń tẹ̀lé ìtọ́sọ́nà rẹ̀ àti tiwọn.

And benefit us through love for him and love for all of them.

Kí O sì jẹ́ kí a rí àǹfààní nípasẹ̀ ìfẹ́ sí i àti ìfẹ́ sí gbogbo wọn.

Indeed, You are capable of all things and worthy of answering.

Nítòótọ́, O ní agbára lórí ohun gbogbo, O sì yẹ láti dáhùn.

And after this, it has occurred in some literary gatherings, whose winds have stagnated in this age and whose lamps have dimmed,

Lẹ́yìn èyí, ó ti ṣẹlẹ̀ ní àwọn àpéjọ òǹkọ̀wé kan, tí afẹ́fẹ́ wọn ti dákẹ́ ní ìgbà yìí tí àwọn àtùpà wọn sì ti rẹ̀,

The mention of the Maqamat that were innovated by Badi' al-Zaman and the scholar of Hamadhan, may Allah the Exalted have mercy on him.

Ìrántí àwọn Makamat tí Badi' Saman àti ọ̀mọ̀wé Hamasan ṣẹ̀dá, kí Ọlọ́hun Ọ̀gá-ògo ṣàánú fún un.

He attributed their origin to Abu al-Fath al-Iskandari and their narration to Isa ibn Hisham.

Ó ṣe àfihàn pé wọ́n ti ọwọ́ Abu Fatihi omo ilu Iskandari wá, tí Isa ọmọ Hisham sì ròyìn wọn.

Both of them are unknown, not recognized, and indefinite, not defined!

Àwọn méjèèjì jẹ́ aláìmọ̀, a kò mọ̀ wọ́n, wọ́n sì jẹ́ aláìdámọ̀, a kò lè sọ pàtàkì wọn!

Then he pointed, whose indication is a ruling and whose obedience is a gain,

Lẹ́yìn náà, ó nawọ́ sí, ẹni tí ìfihàn rẹ̀ jẹ́ òfin tí ìgbọ́ràn sí rẹ̀ sì jẹ́ èrè,

To create Maqamat in which I follow the style of al-Badi', even if the limping one cannot reach the stride of the strong.

Láti ṣẹ̀dá Makamat tí mo ń tẹ̀lé ọ̀nà Badi' nínú, bí ó tilẹ̀ jẹ́ pé ẹni tí ń rọ́ kò lè bá alágbára.

So I reminded him of what was said about those who combined two words or composed a verse or two.

Nígbà náà ni mo rán an létí ohun tí a sọ nípa àwọn tí ó so ọ̀rọ̀ méjì pọ̀ tàbí tí ó ṣe àfiwé ẹsẹ kan tàbí méjì.