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This circumcision, though they call it purity

هذا الختان وقد دعوه طهورا

1. This circumcision, though they call it purity
Has brought you joy, as time strips off its dress

١. هَذا الخِتانُ وَقَدْ دَعَوهُ طُهُوراً
ة خَلَعَ الزَّمَانَ بِهِ عَلَيكَ سُرُوراً

2. A joy that honours you before all others
And through it good spreads in the end

٢. فَرَحٌ يَخُصُّكَ بِالكَرامَةِ أوَّلاً
وَبَهَا يَعُمُ الخّيِرِينَ أخِيراً

3. And in the dwellings, from its beauty a radiance
Like those descending - have you felt the bliss?

٣. وَعَلَى المَنَازِلِ مِنْ بَهَاهُ بَشَاشَةٌ
كَالنَّازِلِينَ فَهَلْ وَجَدْتَ شُعُوراً

4. You've hidden it, obeying the words of the truthful one
"Hide the circumcision" - you took no advisor

٤. أخْفَيْتَهُ تَبَعاُ لِقَولَةِ صَادِقِ
اُخْفُوا الخِتَانَ وَمَا اتّخَذتَ مُشِيراً

5. So its virtues increased through its concealment
Like musk - the more hidden, the more its scent expands

٥. فَزَكَتْ مَحَاسِنُهُ عَلَى إخفَائِهِ
كَالْمِسكِ زَادَ مَعَ الخَفَاءِ ظُهوراً

6. For the like of it, from all you care for
A notion, as you yourself were most prudent

٦. وَلِمِثلِهِ مِنْ كُلّ مَا تُعنَى بِهِ
خَطَرٌ كَمَا قَدْ كُنتَ أنْتَ خَطِيراً

7. Wondrously, it conquered the soul of the brave
Who saw it as easy, it made him bend

٧. عَجَبَاً لَهُ مِنْ مَعْرَكٍ خَضَعَتْ بِهِ
نَفْسُ الشَّجِيعِ وَقَدْ رَأتْهُ يَسِيرَا

8. The wombs mentioned it the day they gave birth
So they swayed between sharpness and calm

٨. ذَكَرَتْ به الأرحَامُ يَومَ وِلاَدِهَا
فَغَدَتْ تَجَاذَبُ حِدَّةً وفُتُورَا

9. Its time, if prolonged, seems but a minute
And nearly in thought reaches months

٩. وَزَمَانُهُ إنْ طَالَ كَانَ دَقِيقَةً
وَيَكَادُ يَبلُغُ فِي الخَيَالِ شُهُورَا

10. What did the adorner do? How gently
His palms held its crescent in the orbit of splendor

١٠. ما لِلمُزَيِّنِ فيهِ كَيْفَ تَنَاوَلَتْ
كَفَّاهُ فِي فَلَكِ البَهَاء بُدُورَا

11. Taking but a part, if measured against the like
The kings' realms after would be petty

١١. أخَذَتْ بِجُزْءٍ لَو يُقاسُ بِمِثلِهِ
مُلكُ القَيَاصِرِ كَانَ بَعْدُ قَصِيرَا

12. Its structure seemed to every one of their eyes
The people of East and West, a light

١٢. وَيَعُدُّ هَيكَلُهُ لِكُلّ عُيونِهِمْ
أهلُ المَشارِقِ والمَغَارِبِ نُورَا

13. Why did you not fear, apart from that, sharp troubles
That would kindle flames against you from all sides?

١٣. أفَلاَ اتَّقَى مِنْ دُونِ ذَاكَ ثَوَاقِباُ
تُذْكِي عَلَيهِ مِنَ الجِهَاتِ سعِيرَا

14. Had it not been for the Friend, he would have prevented its taking
A war that would make the infant grey-haired

١٤. لَولاَ الخَلِيل لَعَاقَهُ عَنْ أخْذِهِ
حَرْبٌ يَشِيبُ لَهُ الوَلِيدُ صَغِيرَا

15. But Solomon, protected by His name
Preceded the call to battle with ease

١٥. لَكِنْ سُلَيمَانُ المُعّوَّذُ بِاسْمِهِ
سَبَقَ النِّداء إلى النِّزَالِ سَرِيرَا

16. So he slipped through the thickets and then removed them
And softened what had been harsh before

١٦. فَتَخَلَّلَ الأوجَال ثُمَّ أزَاحَهَا
وَألان مَا قَدْ كَانَ قَبْلُ عَسِيرَا

17. And for him in that sphere, Muhammad sufficed
So he unveiled the face of salvation

١٧. وَكَفَاهُ فِي ذَاكَ المَجَالِ مُحَمَّدٌ
فَأمَاطَ عَنْ وَجْهِ الخَلاصِ سُتُورَا

18. He invoked the Praised One, and found a response
And after him, Ismail a helper

١٨. وَدَعَوا بِمَحْمُودٍ فَجَدَّ إجَابَةً
وَتَلاَهُ إسمَاعِيلٌ بَعْدُ نَصِيرَا

19. So they cooperated, he and his brother's children
That they might in the end be victorious

١٩. فَتَظَاهَرُوا بِبَنِي شَقِيقِِ أبِيهِمُ
حَتَّى يَكُونُوا فِي المَآلِ ظَهِيرَا

20. And according to their desire, they accomplished purposes
Which souls had yearned for through the ages

٢٠. وَقَضُوا عَلَى وَفْقِ المُرَاد مَآرِباً
كَانَتْ تَتُوقُ لَهَا النُّفُوسُ دُهُورَا

21. You have fulfilled what was Allah's right with you
If not, who then could be thankful?

٢١. وَقَضيتَ مَا لِلَّه عِندَكَ حَقَّهُ
إنْ لَمْ تَكُنْهُ فمنْ يكون شكورَا

22. So your kindness connected the womb, gave it
The highest place in the gardens on high

٢٢. فَوَصَلَتْ رَحْمَكَ رأفَةً وَأقَمْتَها
أعلَى مَقَامٍ فِي الجِنَانِ كَبِيراً

23. And for it, you added in the Being of God
Nations, pouring gifts on them generously

٢٣. وَأضَفْتَ فِي ذَاتِ الإلَهِ لِهَذِهِ
أمَماً أفَضْتَ لَهَا النَّوَالَ نَمِيرَا

24. You spent, to perfect the clothing of their company
Wealth kings would find hard to amass

٢٤. فَبَذَلْتَ فِي تَحسِينِ بِزَّةِ جَمعِهِمْ
مَالاً يَعِزُّ عَلَى المُلُوكِ غَزِيرَا

25. And in conveying your good to existence
You filled the graves with joy

٢٥. وَبَلَغَتْ فِي إبلاَغِ خَيرِك لِلوَرَى
حَتَّى مَلأتَ مِنَ السُّرُورِ قُبُورَا

26. That is courage, not the recklessness of an aggressor
Who hopes for acquittal when vengeance seeks him

٢٦. فلأنتَ أشْجَعْ مِنْ رأته كَريَهةً
وَإذا حَلَفتُ فَلاَ أقُولُ فُجُورَا

27. Who else contends against himself, and turns him
From the ugly to the beautiful, zealously?

٢٧. منْ ذَا يُجَادِلُ نَفْسَه فَيَرُدُهَا
نَحْوَ المَلِيح عَنِ القَبيحِ غَيُورَا

28. That happened when rocks were still damp
And now it is found in scripture's lines

٢٨. قَدْ كَانَ ذَلِكَ وَالحِجَارَةُ رَطْبَةٌ
وَالآنْ يُوجَدُ فِي الكِتاب سُطُورَا

29. Until you came, renewing deeds
Long perished through time's length

٢٩. حَتَّى بُعِثْتَ مُجَدّداً لِمَآثِرٍ
لَبِثَتْ عَلَى طُولِ الزَّمان دُثُورَا

30. You revived them, and did what makes one forget
Eras, and multiply rewards in the Return

٣٠. أحْيَيتَهَا وَفَعَلْتَ ما تُنسِي بِهِ
أجَلاً ويُكْثِرُ فِي المَعَادِ أجُورَا

31. That courage - not an attacker's recklessness
Who calls for it, when justice would punish, absolution

٣١. تِلْكَ الشَّجَاعَةُ لاَ جَرَاءَةُ فَاتِكٍ
يَدْعُو لهَا عِنْدَ القِصَاصِ ثُبُورَا

32. So profit, o son of Hussein, and we all
Find, through your profit, a meadow and pool

٣٢. فَارْبَحْ إذنْ يا ابنَ الحُسَينِ وكلُّنا
يَلقَى بِرِبحِكَ رَوضَةً وَغَدِيرَا

33. It is the object of desire - the loving took his share
And the hater, deprived, passed the night blind

٣٣. فَهْوَ المُنَى أخَذَ الوَدُودُ بِحَظِّهِ
مِنهُ وَبَاتَ بِهِ الحَسُودُ ضَرِيرَا

34. The hand of destiny waved when the face
Of the openings appeared, heralding you

٣٤. بَعَثَتْ يَدُ الإقبَالِ لَمَّا أنْ بَدَا
وَجْهُ الفُتُوحِ بِهِ إليَكَ بَشِيرَا

35. After your blessed day, how much bounty
Will it reap from this planting, how excellent?

٣٥. كَمْ بعد يْومِكَ ذا المُبارَكِ مِنْ جَنَى
تَجنِيهِ مِنْ هَذا الغِرَاسِ نَضِيرَا

36. Now when they have attained mansions
Cut for them since birth - how wondrous!

٣٦. فَالآنَ حِينَ تَوَصَّلُوا لِمَنَازِلٍ
قَطَعُوا لَهَا مُنذُ الوِلادَِ وُعُورَا

37. The plans of rule reached out to them
And for them it prepared position and throne

٣٧. وَتَطَاوَلَتْ خِطَطُ الإمَارَةِ نَحوَهُمْ
وَلَهُمْ أعِدَّتْ رُتبَةً وَسَرِيرَا

38. The horses, their ears attuned, seeking for them
The direction of advancement, galloping

٣٨. فَالخَيلُ مُصِيخَةً لَهُمْ آذَانُهَا
تَبغِي لَهُمْ جِهَةَ النَّجَاحِ عُبُورَا

39. They rejoiced at this fortune in their bounding
With joy, and tightened to bear burdens

٣٩. فَرِحَتْ لهذا النُّوبُ فِي أشطَانِهَا
فَرَحاً وَشَدَّتْ لِلظُّهُورِ ظُهُورَا

40. The crowns were bound for them
And through them the absence will boast for ages

٤٠. وَمَعَاقِدُ التِّيجَانِ قَدْ عُقِدَتْ لَهُمْ
وَبَهِمْ تُفَاخِرُ غَيْبَةً وَشُهُورَا

41. The drums quicken for their appearance
When the caller is alarmed and sounds reveille

٤١. وَمِنَ الطُّبُولِ تَحَفُّزُّ لِبُرُوزِهِمْ
إذْ يَفْزَعُ الدَّاعِي لِذَاكَ نَفِيرَا

42. The pocket-drums anticipate their march
Until they move with perfect rhythm

٤٢. وَمِنْ البُنُودِ تَطَلُّعٌ لِمَسِيرِهِمُ
حَتَّى تَسِيرَ مَعَ التَّمَامِ نُسُورَا

43. Today the omens of their good fortune emerged
Tomorrow you will see them at the head of ranks

٤٣. فَاليَومَ قد صَدَرَتْ بشائرُ سَعدِهِمْ
وَغَداً تَرَاهُمْ فِي الصُّفُوفِ صُدُورَا

44. Glories you alone shouldered
False is the rival - can he be called a peer?

٤٤. أعبَاءُ مَجدٍ أنتَ وَحدَكَ حُزتَهُمْ
كَذَبَ المُنازِعُ هَل يَعُدُّ نَظِيرَا

45. Through them you slept a groom's sleep
And through them you turned the realm about

٤٥. بِهِمُ أنَمْتَ المُلكَ نَومَةَ مُعرِسٍ
وَبَهِمْ أدَرْتَ عَلَى الإيَالَةِ سُورَا

46. Through them is rising for your command
They prevented violations from benefiting detractors

٤٦. وَبِهِمْ لأمرِكَ نَهْضَةٌ وَلِصَونِهِمْ
مَنَعُوا النَّواهِي أنْ تُفِيدَ نَقِيرَا

47. What of them? Test with each one
He is a thousand, or more, abundant

٤٧. مَا فَردُهُمْ مَهْمَا اخْتَبَرْتَ بِواحِدٍ
بَلْ هُوَ ألفٌ أوْ يَزيدُ كَثِيرَا

48. Each pouring affection on his brother
And awe and kindness to their parents

٤٨. كُلٌّ يَفِيضُ عَلَى أخِيهِ تَحَنُّنَا
وَلِوالِدَيْهِ مَهَابَةً وَبُرُورَا

49. Nature imprinted them as their generous father
Whose nobility the clouds would deem paltry

٤٩. طُبِعُوا كَمَا طُبِعَ الكَرِيمُ أبُوهُمُ
كَرَمَاً يُعَدُّ لَهُ الغَمَامُ حَقِيرَا

50. A politics that drew in the cords of its charm
The hearts of the ungrateful, from ingratitude

٥٠. وَسِياسَةً جَذَبَتْ حَبَائِلُ لُطْفِهَا
قَلبَ الكَفورِ عنْ أنْ يكونَ كَفُورَا

51. O masters, the outrunners of affection appeared
So the eulogist hurried to you as envoy

٥١. يَا سَيِّدَا طَلَعَتْ طَلاَئِعُ وُدّهِ
فَسَعَى لَهَا دَاعِي المَدِيحِ سَفِيرَا

52. These are the makings of a heart I gift to you
That poured its devotion out to you sincerely

٥٢. هَذِي بُنَيَّةُ خَاطِرٍ أهدَيْتُهَا
شَرَحَتْ إلَيكَ مِنَ الوِدَادِ ضَمِيرَا

53. May it succeed, and its day shorten with talk
And be, in the thick darkness, a lamp

٥٣. تُحْظَى فَيَقْصُرُ يَومُهَا لِحَدِيثِهَا
وَتَكُونُ فِي غَلَسِ الظَّلاَمِ سَمِيرَا

54. You've favored it with gowns woven from its threads
Yet it fears that if you look, you will disdain

٥٤. قَصَرْتَ عَلَيْكَ مَلاَبِساً مِنْ غَزْلِهَا
لَكِنْ تَخَافُ إذَا نَظَرْتَ قُصُورَا

55. Though perhaps some lovesick fool aspires to it
Muttering nonsense, roaring in the shadows

٥٥. وَلَرُبَّ بَعْضِ شُويَعِرٍ يَرْنُو لَهَا
شَزَرَاً وَيُكْثِرُ فِي الخَلاءِ زَئِيرَا

56. Envying, doubting the truth of its message
Of love for you - though it carries no shame

٥٦. حَسَداً يُشَكِّكُ فِي تَحَقُقِِ حَملِهَا
مِنْ حُبّ ذَاتِكَ مَا يُحَمِّلُ عِيرَا

57. Babbling confusedly the range of its purposes
No insight, when will he finally see?

٥٧. وَيَظَلُّ يَخْبِطُ فِي مَدَى أغرَاضِهَا
لاَ عَنْ هُدىً وَمَتَى يَكُونُ بَصِيرَا

58. Had he once glimpsed his misguidance
I'd replace his roar with a groan

٥٨. وَلَوِ اسْتَبَانَ مِنَ الضَّآلَةِ مَرَّةً
لَمَنَحْتُهُ عِوَضَ الزَّئِيرِ زَفِيرَا

59. But I left his talk, reassured
By knowing you discern truth fully

٥٩. لَكِنْ تَركْتُ حَدِيثَهُ وَأرَاحَنِي
عِلْمِي بِكَوْنِكَ بِالصَّحِيحِ خَبِيرَا

60. For your assay discerns flawlessly
Between guidance and blindness, no falsehood

٦٠. فَمِحَكُّ نَقْدِكَ ليس يبقى دونهُ
بَينَ الهِدَايَةِ والضَّلالَةِ زُورَا

61. So to you praise, and to all of you
And through you all, what the sun of day warms

٦١. فَلَكَ الهَنَا وَلِكُلِّكُمْ وَلَنَا بِكُمْ
مَا صَافَحَتْ شَمْسُ النَّهارِ ثَبِيرَا