1. My friend Samiri, does the questioner sleep while the lightning of the two dawn stars keeps vigil?
The swords tear the hearts of the maidens, while my heart flutters with those same swords.

2. The pages of revelation flutter in the throngs, folded in perpetual withdrawal and unfolding.
A dripping rain cloud thunders in the horizons, its skirts trailing long across the margins.

3. With sobbing and wailing set off by the scolding of ostriches, their tears copiously streaming.
Wake, Samiri, we ask the lightning for its drink, for a quarter quenching the thirst that parches me.

4. You recalled a blessed time now passed, and he who sorrows is captive when remembering what is no more.
Stolen moments from the watchman’s eye, an orchard that withered, a stream run dry.

5. My life’s joy has departed, and whatever pleases you of life’s pleasures is so brief.
And I bear from the wounds of passion what no conscience can deny.

6. I have opened my deepest being to the Master of Love, though not all who glimpse passion have patience.
Otherwise, why do my tears stream, and tears of longing almost never dry?

7. O lifetime, love’s venerable pillar, why do you not revive withered youth?
The passions of youth are no excuse; the passions of old age have no apology.

8. All passion is disgrace when paired with white hair, all flirtation in old age is delusion.
Keep away from passion’s harbingers when your hair greys, let reason deter and warn you.

9. Vicissitudes conveyed me from one life stage to another bent with age and white hair, while life for the young is so fleeting.
My life expires without reaching its shore, a modest fate if you but look.

10. The morn of my life was wasted in passion and vanity, an abode needing piety.
I spent the jewel of my life in the rapture of passion, my gains are futile delusions.

11. Do I play around now that the caller calls to the inevitable end, though long the procrastination?
Glorified is He who gains reason and grey hair, so one is a gentle guide, the other a messenger!

12. Shall I abandon my soul to passion after this, soaring like a donkey controlled by al-Jareer?
And revere evil within it though it can incline to good, with the prohibiting guardian so jealous?

13. And even if I reconcile myself to passion’s theatre, it is lethal poison and wickedness.
Satan circles offering his evil ploys, and my soul complies with whatever he wants.

14. So I am not left to vanity without my stand, and my fate looked down on me and took charge.
The reckoning will halt my slumber of frivolity, undoing the rope of misery and taking flight.

15. My death and my ignorance led me astray, the world my guide though so deceitful.
Vain hopes, delusions, and trappings of falsehood, a mirage shimmering on the barren plains.

16. Its sum is through toil and hardship, a watcher to lose and scatter.
So it is not wise to gather concerns to gather it, the cycle of loss will keep turning.

17. We will leave it reluctantly, though so beloved, and many a beloved is ruinous to the soul.
Wondrous is the soul’s inclination for the evanescent, which transforms its bitterness to sweetness.

18. Its haste toward ignorance is tranquil trust, though the reckoner of deeds sees and is knowing.
When will we be rid of the throngs of death? Can we cross without the path of the departed?

19. Is fanciful hope a heedless self-deceiver about death? Or is the day of judgement so near?
Do I frolic when I see a funeral bier, with hands pointing at me – you are next?

20. You will embark on that steep voyage when your time comes, heading where the ancients have gone before.
Our winding sheets are pure white while the ruins of the perished whirl about in dust.

21. Woe to me! Why don’t I heed my demise? Is there no warner in death, no lesson in dirges?
No weeping around me, no wailing lament? No fierce raid by the mighty chieftain ‘Amr

22. Who fought for his tribe, and the heavens still fight? He prevents me from them in protection and veil.
But yes, they will envelop me when the time comes, and no ally or kinsman can avail.

23. And one day take me suddenly, with huge sins and crimes recorded in the Book.
I see ordeals grow severe and souls stingy to adorn what is so fleeting.

24. Those are the fruits of ignorance, and ignorance is a gloomy, sickly pasture.
Were the soul to attempt to pull away from evil, its inborn temper would wrestle it down.

25. So hopes fling it into bitter depths until the deniers and questioners meet it.
Its heedlessness discourages it, that snipper of lifetimes, fashioner of forms.

26. The inborn tendency of the wicked soul is that whenever the lights of insight do not protect it,
Its innate flaws plunge it into pits of deviations – traits inspired within it.

27. Take hold of God’s commandments and patience, for only the steadfast sincere succeeds.
Hold to God’s Book, sufficient as an evident guide upon the path.

28. None who take the Qur’an as their guide are misled, nor disappointed are those who follow its course.
Grasp it in ease and hardship, and purify the blemishes, for it is purity.

29. Combat Satan and the self with it, and you will prevail, for it suffices as defender and helper.
Dedicate yourself sincerely to piety, for the Knower of hidden polytheism is watching above you.

30. Persevere in good works however you can, and leave prohibitions of the affair, for they are wickedness.
Incline where truth and honesty incline, preceding to where virtue flows.

31. Be sincere in utmost caution, for by it deeds thrive and senses shine.
And hold to the Quran in public and in secret, for every soul has moments of neglect and slackness.

32. And strip for sincerity in consciousness of God, for above you the Knower of hidden polytheism is watching.
Persevere in good works however you can, and leave prohibitions of the affair, for they are wickedness.

33. Incline where truth and honesty incline, preceding to where virtue flows.
Be sincere in utmost caution, for by it deeds thrive and senses shine.

34. And hold to the Quran in public and in secret, for every soul has moments of neglect and slackness.
And strip for sincerity in consciousness of God, for above you the Knower of hidden polytheism is watching.

35. Do not hoard good deeds in ignorance of their purpose while you need knowledge so direly.
O seeker of God, approach Him through His path, else you deserve deprivation.

36. You have no footing there if the road is not guided, and none before you in ignorant conduct succeeded.
Knowledge is only what you sought thereby devotion – else it is a momentous mistake you bear.

37. So how many bear knowledge yet would stray if they knew their safekeeping from what ensues!
And how many have strayed in ample learning, throngs gone astray.

38. His knowledge is an ocean, yet his face turns to falsehood, misguidance though so seeing.
While simple folk succeed by God’s grace though their learning in all eyes seems meagre.

39. Such are the fortunes of God’s will, divided by the decree of ancient knowledge revolving.
God’s choosing in shedding his light is not by human deed or affairs imposed.

40. Hidden wisdom underlies the outward decrees – mysteries a secret self concealed.
I wish for Zayd’s guidance but his knowledge is little and his straying so great.

41. While ‘Amr strays despite expansive learning.
That proves God inspirits souls beyond our fathoming, veiling them in subtle kindness.

42. Their outward shells are ignorance, yet inwardly the essence of being is humble.
Over them is the dust of deep delusion, but beneath the dust they are spheres.

43. Freed of imagination’s trappings, the feathers of guidance and intuition cloak them.
God’s breezes stir them toward Him, and the lights of certainty gently blow.

44. They leave one station for the next, almost borne off by fervent longing.
They mount God’s steeds until they reach Him, unique in both worlds, never halting.

45. They regained the river’s waters gently peaceful, and had no reserve even for meeting.
Familiar with the meadow of hope, humble, while fear sighs deeply within.

46. They washed away the rules of destiny and fate therein, and knew the Qur’an wherever it turned.
They sacrificed themselves for God sincerely as He decreed, and perished therein virtuously.

47. They are people who fear their Lord, and their innermost beings hourly turned about.
God’s spirit never deserted them, nor did mercy and kindness depart.

48. Their brothers are the people of Nakhla after them, and followers until the resurrection.
The wellspring of peace upon them continually draws newcomers and first-comers.

49. May their God admit them to the Abode of Peace, blessing, joy, and bliss!
They are the community chosen, the best nation, as verses of the Book refer.

50. They are the people whose appearance with the truth remains as long as the sky turns.
Upon the heights of propriety they encamped, though nations crookedly turned and bands strayed.

51. Repulsion and dissenters broke away from them, extremist mobs set to pillage and plunder.
They espied paths other than guidance and swarmed to them, miserable their aberration and estrangement!

52. Innovation and trappings they upheld busily, for reason feels no shock.
Their passions bolstered them into perdition, as the captive is carried off.

53. Innovation is joy to souls whose passions turn about however they spin.
Delightful preliminaries they relished and extracted, with no reasoning’s essence.

54. Whatever they fancied of pretended nectar was lethal poison seeping in the cup.
They know the ways of speech yet not what truths lie beyond, with none to extinguish their burning.

55. Not all eloquence guides aright, nor does the loudest water gushing.
Not every figment of thought is reality, nor every notion enlightenment.

56. Not all sight proves, nor every intellect discerning.
Not all knowledge is true, nor all deemed learning worthy of truth.

57. But God grants light to wisdom, which leads with success wherever it leads.
God’s guidance is fortune, and fortunes are allotments that shift to the ancient knowledge revolving.

58. God’s choosing whom to shed light is not by human deed, nor affair to impose.
Hidden in the decrees is wisdom, mysteries a secret self concealed.

59. You sheathed it from the Mother of the Faithful and her party, while the party of God is engulfed in inferno.
The blood of believers spills defending true guidance, and Ibn Sakhara’s horses stampede through the land.

60. And Ibn ‘Abbas is disobeyed there, though his appearance is disheveled, hearing singing and poetry.
Over the lances the scriptures raised high! Calling for the Book’s judgment, no ally,

61. The deceit of ‘Umar, when its cords withered, and the seas of the misguided almost ebbed away,
Abu Hasan, leave him be, the rule of a sinner whose treacheries boil!

62. Abu Hasan, come forward for you are guided, seeing through the delusions of the misguided.
Abu Hasan, do not cede authority while empowered by the Almighty.

63. Abu Hasan, forget not Ohod and the Trench, the caravan raids beforehand and the throngs.
Abu Hasan, where are the exalted fallen at your absence, though you are his brother, and Ghadir still flows!

64. Abu Hasan, they did not lend you skulls relentlessly, though pecked through by the pommels.
So you split them when you decreed your Lord’s judgement, and they were rendered humiliated and nude.

65. Woe that the sword of Muhammad’s House should gain repute shedding the blood of the righteous!
Heads sold in markets defending truth, while the sword leaned toward the purest souls working corruption.

66. O Commander of the Faithful, your choice servants and Koran reciters underneath the blades severed!
O Commander of the Faithful, you followed a disheveled rebel, most wretched ingrate.

67. Twenty thousand believers true with hearts lit by certainty’s light.
With crescents they ended lives in worship, leaving saintly traces.

68. Dark lions before the throngs by night, their Evangels midmost in their breasts inscribed.
Among them Hurqus, Zayd, Uwais, with veterans of Badr in their ranks.

69. And of the Fealty of the Pleasure a remainder, their hands still moist with its nectar.
You massacred them without offense on the Day of Fast-Breaking. So how could the killing of the two grandsons be palatable?

70. Woe for the blood of the faithful spilled defending guidance, a rancor smoldering until the Day of Resurrection.
We escaped its sedition in the faith by Muhammad’s guidance, thus we follow the Prophet’s path.

71. Our insight comes from our Lord. When matters confuse the dissenters,
Our creed is the religion’s firm bond, and whatever deviates spawns strife and vain illusion.

72. Yet there are men judging God – proof against those who portray the judgment of men!
With evidence from their Lord and insight: a multitude and its emir ignored.

73. They censured you despite your excuse, not blaming those who had reasons not to attend.
Though you see true guidance best, many stray though seeming so discerning.

74. Does sincere belief require their blood be shed, when you best judge its laws?
You left them prey for beasts, their faith their shrouds, though overlaid with wounds from the arrows.

75. Their scriptures steeped in their blood, the inscribed leaves of fate visible.
You should have guarded the blood of he who was Muhammad’s cousin, protecting what was sacrosanct.

76. You should have guarded them as the remainder, helping where the vicissitudes of time cycle.
You forget the Day of Dar when its kingdom was first established, so sinners ruled and reigned.

77. And the day Jibal Naqitha cracked and crumbled, with Talha and dead branches of the ‘Emar.
And wars shaking Damascus whose battles were kindled against the multitudes of the misguided.

78. The misguided there took refuge in the deceit of that snipped nose, and alas, the shortcoming succeeded!
Such are the havocs of horrors whose violent storms resurged until the chaos weakened and subsided.

79. The victims of the river vanished in its turbulence while you are martyr and instigator.
You cry, “Hand me the skulls!” as they presented them amidst raging fires.

80. By Him besides whom no judgement exists over his creation, nor any conscience He misses!
They did not lend you the skulls, though you split them open out of reverence, with the pommels hacking through.

81. So you split them when you decreed the judgement of their Lord without exception, and they were rendered humiliated and nude.
What pity that the sword of Muhammad’s House should gain repute shedding the blood of the righteous!

82. They sold the heads of Damascus in righteousness, while the sword leaned toward the purest souls working corruption.
O Commander of the Faithful, if your choices and Koran-readers are underneath the blades severed,

83. O Commander of the Faithful, you followed a disheveled rebel, most wretched ingrate.
Believers true at heart numbered twenty thousand, the light of certainty upon their faces beaming.

84. With crescents they ended lives busy in worship, leaving saintly traces in righteous deeds.
Dark lions before the throngs by night, their Evangels midmost in their breasts inscribed.

85. Among them Hurqus, Zayd, Uwais, and the veterans of Badr in their ranks.
And of the Fealty of the Pleasure a remainder, their hands still moist with its nectar.

86. You consumed them without offense on the Day of Fast-Breaking. So how could the slaying of the Prophet's two grandsons suit you?
So much sedition in the faith! Its smoke has risen and continues smoldering until the Day of Resurrection.

87. We were saved by Muhammad's guidance to follow the Prophet's path.
Our insight is derived from our Lord. When matters confuse the dissenters,

88. Our creed is the religion's firm bond, and whatever deviates spawns strife and vain illusion.
Yet there are men judging God - proof against those who portray the judgement of men!

89. With a proof from their Lord and insight: a multitude and its emir ignored.
They faulted you though excusing, not blaming those whose reasons absolved them from attendance.

90. Though you see true guidance best, stumbling is frequent even for the discerning.
Does sincere faith require their blood be shed, when you know best its lawful limits?

91. You left them as prey for beasts, their faith their shrouds though pierced through with arrowheads.
Their scriptures soaked in their blood, the inscribed leaves of fate visible upon them.

92. You should have been defender of the Prophet's cousin, guarding what was sacrosanct.
You should have kept them the saved remainder, where the cycles of time revolve and pivot.

93. You forget the Day of Dar when its kingdom first stood, so the wicked