1. My homeland shone radiantly, so it reminded me of Nejd,
And passionate longing and ecstasy were aroused in me,

2. A lightning bolt saw the chill of the clouds inattentively,
So it stretched out a hand with news that conveyed the chill.

3. It smiled in my Bahriniya, though it was frowning,
So it neither joined nor made a promise.

4. And it wooed her while she was abstaining,
So it craved her harshly and threatened her with thunder.

5. So it dragged her by the palm of oppression, and she became
Submissive, unable to resist its authority.

6. So her red wrap was undone by the twilight of dawn,
And the necklace was removed from her neck by force.

7. May Allah give you, from lightning that seemed
Like the hand of a wakeful drunkard that sparked flint.

8. It learned the traits of dew from its inhabitants,
So it left the areas of the sanctuary—a meadow that glistened.

9. And it crowned its plants with trinkets of rubies,
And sealed its flowers—the bud of magnolias.

10. How quickly they became playful for the breeze!
For they laughed flowers and blushed roses.

11. A land we were accustomed to in its sanctuaries and youth
That time in it is scarcely accustomed to youth.

12. When the breeze is stirred up in its plains,
It takes from it euphorbia, scammony, and purslane.

13. So how much passionate love is in its blossoming meadows,
Which, when its ground is aroused, grow fervent.

14. When the soul feels it, it promises passion,
And when the eye winks at it, it promises to gaze.

15. And what free lover, when the innocent discourse of love urges him,
Does it not turn into a slave?

16. And what weakened one can describe the tenderness of lovers
When the knowledge of youth stirs him, bending.

17. And it soothed my heart, so it keeps the promise,
And few watch over the promise as days go by.

18. It remains patient even if only embers are left
When the course of youth flares up, it flares a fire.

19. It pants when passion rages wrathfully
Charging through the lands of patience—it had a grudge against them.

20. And I used to be skin before worries took away
My slenderness and uprooted flesh and skin.

21. Shall I be negligent of the right of love while tears bear witness
And registration occurred after the oath was carried out?

22. Its jewel was scattered in the wake of burdens,
So, by Allah, blessed are the eyes that saw the unmatched pearl.

23. It flowed as the gray hair of a cheek that turned white,
And the misery of parting made it run quickly.

24. I let my tears flow after the traveling one,
In order to bring him back, but he refused and intended otherwise.

25. And I said to my heart, “Fly to him with my missive,”
So it became a pigeon in traveling with it as a guide.

26.
The day we parted, I stole determination,

27. So it broke free and did not curb a pace or friendship.
And I lined my eyelids with the dust of his path,

28. Then it resulted in tears and bequeathed gazing.
By Allah, how much I rave with passion and insomnia,

29. And how much I complain with anguish in my love or happiness!
And it is nothing but longing—its ambush flared up

30. Then it confused a soul that did not intend to meet it halfway.

31. And I have nothing but the traveling group journeyed broken down
And worked in the sand of the sanctuary— chiseling and smoothing.

32. And armies of patience, separation, and torment mobilized against me,
So patience was the weakest of their troops.

33. And I got up, determined to bid farewell,
But destiny barred me from my course with resistance.

34. Delicate wares that its flaws appeared to buyers,
And its claim was not heeded, so it deserved rejection.

35. The caravan of Taybah left me suffering,
Is it not time for the suffering supplicant to be ransomed?

36. Left behind like a flock whose wing was stricken
And flew but could not journey or travel.

37.
I called to you, O caravan of the Hejaz, though

38. The land was diminished for you however far the plain stretched.
And pasture gathered for you, and the plains submitted,

39. And you did not lack a shady, shaded, flowery retreat.
When you remedy the home with Taybah

40. And come by the sacred grave and tomb,
And perceive a light from the side of Muhammed

41. That remedies hearts overcome with weeping and sealed eyes,
Then shed tears from afar in that sanctuary

42. And soil your cheek with it and cloak it in dust.
And say, “O Messenger of Allah, your servant's steps faltered,

43. And he became detached from his loved ones,
And after the length of separation, he cannot do

44. Anything but moan or recite a poem in eulogy.”
O succor of mankind, save him in your mercy,

45. For your generosity did not fail, and your palm did not withhold.
May Allah protect people through you from misery

46. And house them in the shade of security outstretched.
Your religion protected the life of this world and endowed you with consent,

47. And crowned you supreme and clothed you in praise.
And it purified your heart when it chose it

48. So it clothed it in light and expanded it with integrity.
It called you so you did not deviate; it guided you so you did not go astray;

49. It quenched your thirst so you were not thirsty; it shaded you so you did not burn.
You preceded, chosen; you remained, appointed.

50. So your loftiness encompassed past and future.
And the essence of this universe is you; whenever

51. It recycles, you are the purpose in it and whatever is manifested.
Or is it anything but an appearance which you are its secret

52. So the guided may be distinct from the misguided in creation?
So from the world of secrets your essence arises

53. With glimpses of light that illuminated for the Mount, so it bowed down.
And in the world of senses you took residence

54. To heal whoever seeks healing and guide whoever seeks guidance.
Were you not for disseminating guidance

55. From Allah—similar to creation in form but not in limit—
With what might one deficient in praise praise you

56. When Allah did not cease to praise and laud you?
With what might one passionate to be saved reward you

57. After you made him inhabit gardens instead of Hellfire forever?
May the prayers of Allah be upon you, O Best Messenger,

58. And most generous guide who clarified truth and integrity.
May the prayers of Allah be upon you, O Most Merciful of the merciful,

59. O most compassionate of those who are praised for the tenderness of their hearts.
May the prayers of Allah be upon you, O Remover of Blindness,

60. When the night of doubt set in and was pitch black.
Oh, how I see myself inactive, withheld,

61. While my life passed and my burden piled up.
My time was spent in “perhaps” and “maybe”,

62. So no intention progressed, and no passion subsided.
It is the sword of a coward—whenever its blade was whet,

63. It retreated after resolve and grasped the scabbard.
If only I know, will I see myself as an exporter

64. Leading thin camels and walking stick-legs?

65. A babe for the kind milk of sincerity, swaddled
In a small wrapper, whose corners make up its cradle,

66. So the caravans would be guided by my passions if they depart
And the riders would be challenged by my poems if they are challenged,

67.
Until I lay down my belongings in your burial ground, which

68. We did not see anyone equal, vying against it.
And my worries would be extinguished in those springs,

69. And separation would be considered nearness, after complaining of remoteness.
With your birth, existence trembled, and palaces

70. In Bushra shone, illuminating the mountain and valley.
And from its terror, the idols fell down afraid

71. And from its horror, the palace of the Persian emperor collapsed.
The valley overflowed for it and greeted its glory

72. With homes for the Persian fire that the kindling had destroyed.
Allah kept for it a night in which guidance emerged

73. In the land from its horizons—the blessed moon.
And it lent a kingdom that established its right among us

74. Indeed, it attained glorious success and glory.
It established on the shore of the Gulf a ship

75. That makes whoever boards it have a life of ease.
The gathering clouds were generous there with successors—

76. Their achievements cannot be limited or counted.
Ali, Othman, and Ya'qub—may Allah be pleased with that grandson, father, and grandfather—

77. Protected and craved in the distress and assistance of battle,
So they were pouring aid and lions.

78. And by Allah, what a successor they left behind
Who inherited from them the command, bequest, and covenant.

79. Whenever he desires hardship, he entices with his glance
The chests of lofty mountains and polished domes.

80. So how many transgressors he subdued, how many lost ones he guided,
How much wisdom he concealed, and how much blessing he brought out!

81. O Father of Salim, through you the religion of God became lofty.
O Father of Salim, through you the shade of security extended.

82. So remain in the cause of Allah under protection
Sufficient for you to drag the necklace and skirt hem.

83. And I have composed for you the upshot of a thought—
If consulted for prose, it would be smooth rows.