1. The passionates yearn for it
And the patient pour out what they have of patience
١. شجونٌ نحوَها العشاقُ فاؤا
وصبّ ما لهُ في الصبرِ راء
2. And companions, if they are deluded by blaming the likes of me
Then many a companion goes astray through sin
٢. وصحبٌ إن غروا بملام مثلي
فربَّ أصاحبٍ بالإثم باؤا
3. And an eye whose tears in love are pure
As if my eyes' tears were a stream of rainwater
٣. وعينٌ دمعها في الحبِّ طهرٌ
كأن دموع عيني بيرُ حاء
4. A flashing light that has no "h" or "m"
It has from my youth an "m" and an "h"
٤. ولاحٍ ما لهُ هاء وميمٌ
له من صبوتي ميم وهاء
5. And the like of me who didn't fall in love with it straying
Is sought but not to its tranquility guided
٥. ومثلي ما لعشقتهِ هدوّ
يرامُ ولا لسلوتهِ اهتداء
6. As if love runs cycles in my heart
So where is the end, there is the beginning
٦. كأن الحبَّ دائرةٌ بقلبي
فحيثُ الانتهاء الابتداء
7. They carried off my soul, departing with a heart
That loved and did good in whatever they did wrong
٧. بروحي جيرة رحلوا بقلبٍ
أحبَّ وأحسنوا فيما أساؤا
8. My days of life and the nights
Were boys that were, and maidens
٨. بهم أيامُ عيشي والليالي
هي الغلمانُ كانت والإماء
9. The spring of their beauty turned away
So the shedding of my eyelids' leaves came, winter
٩. تولى من جمالهم ربيعٌ
فجاء بنوء أجفاني الشتاء
10. And a human poured my youth into the cup of my eye
So strange! And from his mouth into it water
١٠. وبثَّ صبابتي إنسان عيني
فيا عجباً وفي الفم منه ماء
11. Intimate, from my tears, is on my cheek
A friend - if they came near or went far, same
١١. على خدي حميم من دموعي
صديق إن دنوا ونأوا سواء
12. So I cry in sorrow where there is separation
And I cry in joy where there is meeting
١٢. فأبكي حسرةً حيثُ التَّنائي
وأبكي فرحةً حيثُ اللقاء
13. As if my crying for me is an answering servant
So my relief - if that - is but crying
١٣. كأن بكايَ لي عبدٌ مجيبٌ
فما فرجي إذاً إلاَّ البكاء
14. By God's eye an eye He has disappointed
Discontent and loved ones and bliss
١٤. بعين الله عينٌ قد جفاها
كرَاهَا والأحبةُ والهناء
15. For a thought of him running in every valley
As if its pining in it is fresh
١٥. لفكرته سرىً في كل وادٍ
كأنَّ حنينهُ فيها حداء
16. It kindled his passions - when will it be seen
Domes upon domes as brilliance sparkled
١٦. ذكتْ أشواقه فمتى تراها
قباب قبا كما لمعت ذُكاء
17. Where the horizon rises, his place of emergence
And where the prophecy and eminence shone
١٧. بحيثُ الأفقُ يشرِقُ مطلعاه
وحيث سنا النبوَّةِ والسناء
18. And the door of Muhammad the hoped for is watered
For its seeker success or attainment
١٨. وبابُ محمدِ المرجوِّ يروَى
لقاصدِه نجاحٌ أو نجاء
19. The destitute like me take refuge in his status
From ugly work and aspiration
١٩. تلوذ بجاهِه الفقراء مثلي
من العملِ الرديّ والاملياء
20. So indeed a finder finds a profitable trade
While a seeker finds a gift
٢٠. فأما واجدٌ فروَى رباحٌ
وإمَّا مقتر فروى عطاء
21. For us is a pillar from the hoped for, with him
Tomorrow, tomorrow - loyalty will help him
٢١. لنا سند من الرجوى لديه
غداة غد يعننه الوفاء
22. And the rebels anticipate an interceding
Responder before the call takes place
٢٢. وترتقبُ العصاةُ ندَى شفيعٍ
مجابٍ قبل ما وقع النداء
23. Allah's peace morning and evening
Upon his resting place and the slow clouds
٢٣. سلام الله إصباحاً وممسى
على مثواه والسحب البطاء
24. As the clouds were over him a shade
Upon him now they pour whatever they will
٢٤. كما كان الغمامُ عليه ظلاًّ
عليهِ الآنَ يسفحُ ما يشاء
25. Oh, excellent among the messengers a healer
Of hearts it healed for passion an illness
٢٥. ألا يا حبَّذا في الرسل شافي
قلوبٍ شفَّها للعشقِ داء
26. So for it the clouds of gifts unleashed are sent
And when the virtues of the one with the broad forehead are studied
٢٦. فمرسلة لها سحبُ العوافي
يعفى الداءُ بادره الدواء
27. About them the earth and heaven speak
So this star and that star bear witness
٢٧. ومن انتقبت مناقبُ أبطحيٍّ
وعنها الأرضُ تفصحُ والسماء
28. And from his hands a moisture and water flow
Upon a leg trees flourished and stood
٢٨. فيشهد نجمُ تلك ونجمُ هذي
ويجري من يديهِ ندىً وماء
29. The battles of victory and the thirsty thronged
So in life for us, through his sacrifice, a leg
٢٩. على ساق سعتْ شجرةٌ وقامت
حروبُ النصرِ وازدَحمَ الظماء
30. And in the next, for us, the sated pool
And in the Magians' fire, for us a guide
٣٠. ففي الدنيا لنا بجداه ساق
وفي الأخرى لنا الحوضُ الرواء
31. For themselves through it, and for it extinguishing
And in captivity, his companions pride
٣١. وفي نارِ المجوسِ لنا دليل
لأنفسهم بها ولها انطفاء
32. Calling: No blame upon an unveiled dawn!
So say to the atheists - shun them -
٣٢. وفي الأسرَى وصحبته فخار
ينادي ما على صبح غطاء
33. Hellfire! We are of you innocent!
That my father and his father and my honor
٣٣. فقلْ للملحدِين تنقلوها
جحيماً إننا منكم براء
34. Are, from you, to Muhammad's honor, protected
And that Muhammad is a beloved companion
٣٤. وأن أبي ووالدَهُ وعرضي
لعرضِ محمدٍ منكم وقاء
35. And Hellfire his shoe's ransom
A prophet the tidings of whom are graced
٣٥. وأن محمداً لحبيب أنس
وجنهمو لنعليه فداء
36. With the sun's beauty - dawn reveals it
And where is the sun to him in brilliance? And were it not
٣٦. نبيّ تجمل الأنباء عنه
جمالَ الشمسِ يجلوها الضحاء
37. For his brilliance, splendor would not have touched it
As if the full moon - humility made it yellow
٣٧. وأين الشمس منه سناً ولولا
سناه لما ألمَّ بها بهاء
38. For him, and the sun - modesty colored it red
A secret in the letters' pronunciation is a secret
٣٨. كأنَّ البدرَ صفرهُ خشوعٌ
له والشمسَ ضرَّجها حياء
39. For his eloquence, and for the "d" hiding
Have you not seen that it sat in pride
٣٩. سريّ في حروف اللفظ سرّ
لمنطقه وللضادِ اختباء
40. And stood in service of the pronouncing "d"
The excellence of his birth brings good fortune
٤٠. ألمْ ترَ أنها جلست لفخر
وقامت خدمة للضاد ظاء
41. By it Bani Sa'd forever illuminated
For his mission a fire for the customary
٤١. يولد فضل مولدِهِ سعوداً
بنو سعدٍ بها أبداً وضاء
42. And for the guided, a light they seek
So best that the fortunate delight in it
٤٢. لمبعثه على العادين نار
وللهادين نور يستضاء
43. And affliction the wretched contain
It drags on the ground the train of humility
٤٣. فخيرٌ ينعم السعداء فيه
وبأسٌ تحتويهِ الأشقياء
44. And sets up in his noble deeds prominence
And writes with the swords one day's terror
٤٤. يجرُّ على الثرى ذيل اتِّضاع
وينصب في مكارمه الثراء
45. Lines whose letters have no invective
In praise, three lines for harm
٤٥. ويكتب بالنصال غداة روع
سطوراً ما لأحرفها هجاء
46. A striker, or stabber, or shooter
So what a brother you are, of courage and devotion
٤٦. ممدحة ثلاثتها لضرّ
ضرَابٌ أو طعانٌ أو رماء
47. The enemies' necks bow, and the loyalists'
Arrows of prayer for him, and arrows of opinion
٤٧. فيا لك من أخي صول ونسكٍ
تقرّ له العدى والأولياء
48. For them in every battle illumination
The army leader knows what his knights did
٤٨. سهام دعاً له وسهامُ رأيٍ
لها في كل معركةٍ مضاء
49. And does not know what the prayer did
And generosity, after forbearance, enough for me
٤٩. درى ذو الجيش ما صنعت ظباه
وما يدريه ما صنع الدعاء
50. Shyness - if your nature is shyness
So excellent the fortress if wars rise
٥٠. وقال الجود بعد الحلم حسبي
حياءً إن شيمتك الحياء
51. And excellent the axis if praise spins
And excellent the aid if warring parties turn
٥١. فنعمَ الحصنُ إن طلعت خطوبٌ
ونعم القطبُ إن دارَ الثناء
52. And excellent the helper if hopes spin
And excellent the Chosen One from a people whose
٥٢. ونعمَ الغوث إن دهياء دارت
ونعم العونُ إن دارَ الرجاء
53. Stars for them are matched
Eminence of ancestors precedes and ancient glory
٥٣. ونعمَ المصطفى من معشر مّا
نجومُ النيراتِ لهمْ كفاء
54. Upon Sa'd al-Su'ud - for him affection
I wove garments of praise and described for him
٥٤. تقدم سؤددٍ وقديم مجدٍ
على سعد السعودِ لهُ حباء
55. And Adam after them is clay and water
So were it not for the eloquent in praise of him
٥٥. ضفت حلل الثنا وصفت لديه
وآدمُ بعدَها طينٌ وماء
56. The house of poetry would collapse, no building
And were it not for him, pilgrims would not have flooded
٥٦. فلولا معربُ الأمداحِ فيه
هوى بيتُ القريضِ ولا بناء
57. And crowded the House, the vastness confined
So if a praise is recited for him during Pilgrimage
٥٧. ولولاه لما حجَّت وعجَّت
وفودُ البيتِ ضاقَ بها الفضاء
58. Prophets before have recited it
Prepare for me, O Hope, a time of nearness
٥٨. فإن يتلىْ له في الحجّ حمدٌ
فقدماً قد تلته الأنبياء
59. In its meadow, prepare for me, O Hope
And the kissing of pebbles from its blessed soil
٥٩. أعدْ لي يا رجاءُ زمانَ قرب
بروضته أعد لي يا رجاء
60. As if its fragrance in my soul hoarfrost
And the complaint of a hardship relieved, as it was
٦٠. ولثم حصىً لتربتِهِ ذكيّ
كأنَّ شذاه في نفسي كباء
61. Of those which hardships extend
And a soul whose sin is like the Nile extending
٦١. وشكوى كربة فرِجتْ وكانتْ
من اللاّتي يمدّ بها العناء
62. And the promises of its repentance have no loyalty
Yearning, whenever promised something good
٦٢. ونفس ذنبها كالنيلِ مدّا
وما لوعود توبتها وفاء
63. Say "s" and "w" then "f"
But her love and her witnessing
٦٣. مشوَّقة متى وُعدَتْ بخير
تقل سينٌ وواوٌ ثم فاء
64. Are the best protectors from the fires
May Allah purify, O most righteous of creations
٦٤. ولكن حبها وشهادتاها
من النيرانِ نعمَ الأكفياء
65. Through your love, our beliefs' purity
And the intercessor save us from Hellfire
٦٥. صفيَّ الله يا أزكى البرايا
بحبك من عقائدنا الصفاء
66. So no wonder we have for him loyalty
Upon you from the angels at every time
٦٦. ويعتقنا المشفّع من جحيم
فلا عجبٌ له منا الولاء
67. A prayer in Gardens being fulfilled
And praises upon the earth's tongues
٦٧. عليك من الملائك كلَّ وقتٍ
صلاة في الجنان لها أداء
68. In their horizons rising and careful selection
When it concludes, it repeats - so every reciter
٦٨. وأمداح بألسنة الورى في
مطالعها ارتقاءٌ وانتقاء
69. To him has a pause, and a beginning
٦٩. إذا ختمت تعاد فكل تال
له وقفٌ عليها وابتداء