بحمد الله من أَلهَم

وعنا قد أزال الهمّْ

With praise to God, who inspired,

and lifted sorrow from us,

ومنهُ زادنا فضلاً

وبالتوفيق قد أنعمْ

and increased us in His bounty,

and blessed us with success,

بدأنا رحلةً كانت

على الدنيا بها يُختمْ

we began a journey

that would bring worldly life to its close.

وقد فزنا بما نهوى

وأدركنا الثواب الجَمّْ

We attained what we desired

and gained abundant reward,

مع الإخوان والأحبا

بِ أهل المسلَك الأقومْ

with the brethren and beloved ones,

people of the most upright path.

فسرنا من دمشق الشا

مِ سير المُعرب المُعجمْ

So we set out from Damascus of al-Sham,

as Arabic speakers and foreign speakers travel,

إلى القدس الشريف القد

رِ ذاتِ المنظرِ الأفخمْ

toward Jerusalem, noble in rank,

a city of the most majestic sights.

وزرنا الأنبيا والأو

لِيا مَن جاهُهُم يُخدمْ

We visited the prophets and saints,

whose standing commands service.

وباسم الله سافرنا

وعُدنا باسمهِ الأعظمْ

In God's name we traveled,

and returned in His greatest name.

وجاوزنا على خيرٍ

وحزنا أشرف المَقدمْ

We passed onward in good fortune

and gained the noblest welcome.

وقد كان الربيع الغض

ضُ فينا ضاحكَ المبسمْ

Tender spring

smiled among us with laughing lips.

وأزهار الروابي قد

أهاجت شوق مَن يشتمّْ

The flowers of the hills

stirred the longing of those who smelled them.

ومن ينظرْ إليها يُب

صرُ الدِّينارَ والدرهمْ

Whoever looked upon them

saw dinars and dirhams.

وعُرفَ الطيبِ من بعدٍ

على تلك النواحي نمّْ

The fragrance of perfume, from afar,

revealed those regions.

ودُرُّ الغيث منظومٌ

لأثوابِ الرُّبا نَمنَمْ

The strung pearls of rain

embroidered the garments of the hills.

وقد سرنا على استقلا

لنا بالغير لا نأتمّْ

We traveled on our own,

following no one else.

متى أرضاً أردناها

نزلنا مرجها الأنعمْ

Whenever we desired a land,

we lodged in its gentlest meadow.

ومعنا ما له نحتا

جُ مِن لبسٍ ومن مَطعمْ

With us was all we needed

of clothing and food.

ولمّا أن قصدنا السَّيْ

رَ لا نلوي ولا نسأمْ

When we resolved to journey,

we neither turned aside nor wearied.

وللأصحاب ودّعنا

وأهلَ البيت والمحرمْ

We bade farewell to our companions,

our household, and our close kin.

وصلينا صلاة الصّبْ

حِ وسط الجامع الأقدمْ

We offered the dawn prayer

within the oldest congregational mosque,

مجاورُ دارنا الأمويّْ

بقومٍ شملهم يُنظمْ

the Umayyad, beside our home,

among a people gathered together.

وزرنا الراسَ من يحيى

لأنواعِ الدُعا نلزمْ

We visited the head of Yahya,

persisting in every kind of supplication.

وزرنا الوالد المرحو

مَ مع مَن عنده يُرحمْ

We visited our late father

and those beside him who receive mercy.

وفي باب الصغير الكل

لِ زُرناهم كما تَعلمْ

At Bab al-Saghir, all

were visited by us, as you know.

وقد زرنا اَرسلان ال

وَليَّ الكاملَ الضيغمْ

We visited Arslan,

the perfect saint, the lion,

ومن في قبره ممَّن

بهم ذاك الحِما مُفعمْ

and those in his tomb,

who fill that sanctuary.

وزرنا مسجد الأقصا

بِ فيه كمْ شهيد كمْ

We visited the Mosque of al-Aqsab;

how many martyrs, how many, are there!

وزرنا الشيخ محي الدي

ن من قلبي به مُغرمْ

We visited Shaykh Muhyi al-Din,

with whom my heart is enamored,

وأقواماً حوى قاسيو

ن منهم جانباً أعظمْ

and people whom Qasioun embraced,

a very great portion of them.

وخصّصنا الذي ندري

وعمّمنا قبوراً ثمّْ

We singled out those we knew,

then made a general visitation of graves.

وقميني لقد زرنا

وشيخاً معه توأمْ

We visited Qamini

and a shaykh paired with him:

وذاك الشيخ محمود ال

لَذي ذكري له أَلزمْ

that shaykh, Mahmud,

whose remembrance I hold fast to.

وباقي من حواهُ السفحُ

من قاسيون واستلزمْ

And the rest whom the slope embraced,

of Qasioun, holding them close,

إلى أن جئت داريا

بقومي والهوى خيمّْ

until I came to Darayya

with my companions, while love pitched its tent.

وزرنا من بداريا

ومن أشياخها المُعظمْ

We visited those in Darayya,

including its honored shaykhs,

وأمواتاً وأحياءً

ومن ربِّي بهم أعلمْ

the dead and the living,

and those whom my Lord knows best.

وبتنا بين أقوامٍ

بهم من جاءهم يَغنمْ

We spent the night among people

through whom their visitors gain.

إلى أنْ سعسعاً جئنا

وفيها شملنا ملتمّْ

Then we came to Sa'sa',

our company gathered there.

وبالخان الذي فيهِ

نزلنا زادنا نَطعمْ

At the inn in which

we lodged, we ate our provisions.

وبتنا ثم أصبحنا

على الخيل التي تُلجَمْ

We spent the night, then at morning

mounted horses fitted with bridles,

نسيرُ إلى قنيطرةٍ

من النقّار لم تسلمْ

traveling toward Quneitra,

which was not spared by the quarrelsome.

وجئنا خانها حتى

لقد بتنا بها نُكرمْ

We reached its inn, and there

spent the night receiving honor.

وجئنا جسر يعقوبٍ

وكان الليل قد أظلمْ

We came to Jacob's Bridge,

when night had grown dark.

وفوق النهر حطَّينا

عمود الخيمة المُحكمْ

Above the river we set down

the firmly secured tent pole,

على ذاك الربيع الطّل

قِ إذ تلك النواحي عَمّْ

upon that cheerful spring growth

which had spread throughout those regions.

وقد بتنا به حتى

تجلّى الصبحُ واستحكمْ

We spent the night there until

dawn appeared and grew strong.

بجُبٍّ يوسفيٍّ قد

نما شوقٌ لنا قد تمّْ

At a well of Yusuf

our longing grew and came to fulfillment.

ومنه الماء أخرجنا

لذيذاً طعمه في الفمْ

From it we drew water,

sweet-tasting in the mouth.

ونحو المَنية الأقوا

م ساروا بالقضا المُبرمْ

Toward al-Minya, the company

traveled under irrevocable decree.

بها بتنا على روضٍ

تسامى مدحُه عن ذمّْ

There we spent the night upon a meadow

whose praise rose beyond reproach.

وفيها بركةٌ لكن

لها ماءٌ هو الأوخمْ

There was a pool there, but

its water was most unhealthy.

وأصبحنا إلى وادي

عيونُ تِجارِهم في همّْ

At morning we headed for the valley of

their Merchants' Springs, in distress.

وأوفيناهُ بعد العص

رِ نَلقى وجهه أقَّمْ

We reached it after the afternoon,

finding its face barren.

وقالوا شيخه أضحى

من الأعدا مُراق الدمّْ

They said its shaykh had become

one whose blood enemies had spilled.

فلم ننزل به حتى

ذهبنا للفلا نَقحمْ

We did not lodge there, but

went plunging into the open country.

وفي ناعورةٍ بتنا

بأعلى ذلك المقسمْ

At Na'ura we spent the night,

atop that tract of land.

وأصبحنا إلى جيني

نَ ينمو شوقنا فاعلمْ

At morning we headed toward Jenin,

our longing growing—know this.

وقد جاءت تلاقينا

مجاذيبٌ كموج اليمّْ

There came to meet us

ecstatic devotees like the sea's waves.

وقد ضِفنا وكيلاً للشْ

شَريف الحاكم الأحكمْ

We were guests of an agent of

the sharif, the wisest ruler.

وبتناها ثلاثاً من

ليالٍ عيشها نَغنمْ

We stayed there for three

nights, enjoying the life they offered.

وسرنا بعدها حتى

أتينا يَعْبداً ننضمّْ

Then we traveled until

we came together at Ya'bad.

وضِفنا مصلح السامي

ويسمو من له يمَّمْ

We were guests of the exalted Muslih;

whoever sought him rose in stature.

وبتنا عنده والفج

رُ بالأنوار قد أعلمْ

We stayed with him, while dawn

announced itself with lights.

إلى أنْ بُرقةً جئنا

ومن أنجَدْ بنا أتهَمْ

Then we came to Burqa,

and those who went upland with us descended to lowland.

وفي نابُلْسَ قد حطَّت

بنا الخيلُ التي تُكرمْ

At Nablus there halted

with us the honored horses.

وفيها لم نزل نسمو

وربِّي فضله عممّْ

There we continued to rise,

and my Lord spread His bounty.

عَلِي أغا نزلنا في

حِماهُ ذلك الأكرمْ

With Ali Agha we lodged in

his protection, that most generous man.

وكم عنده في حَض

رةٍ أوقاتُها تُغنمْ

How often, with him, in a

gathering whose hours were treasured!

وبتنا خمسة الأيا

مِ لم نحزن ولم نهتمّْ

We stayed five days,

neither grieving nor worrying.

وحفَّتنا مسراتٌ

وشاهدنا بُدورَ التَّمّْ

Joys surrounded us,

and we beheld full moons.

وسافرنا لجمَّاعي

نَ ذات الرونقِ الأجسمْ

We traveled to Jamma'in,

possessed of the greatest splendor,

ديار بني قدامة أه

لُ فضلٍ كلّهم أشهمْ

the lands of Banu Qudama,

people of virtue, all most noble-hearted.

وجئنا عينَ يبرودٍ

فتحنا جفنها المُنضمّْ

We came to the spring of Yabrud

and opened its closed eyelid.

وأقبلنا على القدس الش

شريفِ الواضح الأقومْ

We approached noble Jerusalem,

clear and most upright.

وقد وافت تلاقِينا

كرامٌ نارُهم تُضرمْ

There came to meet us

generous people whose fire was kindled.

وحطَّينا بسلطاني

يَةٍ علياء تجلو الغمّْ

We lodged in a lofty Sultaniyya,

which dispelled sorrow.

وجاءتنا كبارٌ مِن

أهالي ذلك المَيسمْ

Great men came to us from

the people of that distinguished place.

وجئنا الصخرة الغرَّا

وذاك المشهد الأضخمْ

We came to the radiant Rock

and that most imposing shrine.

وزرنا المسجد الأقصى

ونوراً للنُّهى أفحمْ

We visited al-Aqsa Mosque

and a light that left intellects speechless.

وكم من مشهدٍ فيه

لعامِي يُغفر المأثمْ

How many shrines it contains,

where a common person's sin is forgiven!

وزرنا عينَ سلوانٍ

يحاكي ماؤها زمزمْ

We visited the spring of Silwan,

whose water resembles Zamzam.

وداود النبِي زرنا

وفزنا بابنه الأفهمْ

We visited the prophet Dawud,

and gained his most discerning son:

سليمانُ النبِي صلّى

عليهِ من له عظَّمْ

the prophet Sulayman—may He bless him,

He who magnified him.

وفوق الطور زرنا العا

مِيَّ العالم الأعلمْ

Above the Mount we visited al-'Ami,

the most learned scholar.

وجسمانيةً فزنا

بها بالقبرِ مِن مريمْ

At Gethsemane we were favored

with Mary's tomb.

وسرنا للنبِي موسى

ومَن ربِّي له كلَّمْ

We traveled to the prophet Musa,

to whom my Lord spoke.

وبتنا ليلةً فيه

بصَحبٍ جارُهم يُكرمْ

We stayed a night there

with companions whose neighbor is honored.

وقد سرنا إلى حبرو

نَ وهْي الداءُ والمرهمْ

We traveled to Hebron,

both the malady and the balm.

وقد زرنا خليل الل

هِ إبراهيمهُ الملهمْ

We visited God's Friend,

His inspired Ibrahim,

وإسحاقاً ويعقوباً

ويوسف ذا البَها المفهمْ

and Ishaq and Ya'qub,

and Yusuf, possessed of illuminating splendor.

وكلٌّ في قبالتِهِ

له أهلٌ لدى معلمْ

Opposite each of them

is his family at a marked place.

وأنوار شهدناها

مزيلاتٍ لما أظلمْ

We beheld lights

that dispelled whatever was dark.

وفي ياقين قد زرنا

أهالي مسجدٍ يُهدمْ

At Yaqin we visited

the people of a mosque being demolished.

ومن كَفْر البِريك القب

رَ لوطٌ فيه لم يعدمْ

At Kafr al-Birik, the tomb

in which Lot was not absent,

وغار الأنبيا فيهِ

وإبراهيمُ مِن أدهمْ

and the prophets' cave there,

and Ibrahim ibn Adham.

وكم قُطبٍ وصدِّيقٍ

ومن يفهم ولا يفهمْ

How many a spiritual pole and saintly truthful one,

and those who understand and do not understand!

وكم شيخٍ ومجذوبٍ

تبرّكنا بهم نهتمّْ

How many a shaykh and ecstatic devotee

we sought blessings through, with devoted care!

وقد زرنا لعيسى مَو

لِداً أضحى ببيتِ اللّحمْ

We visited the birthplace of Isa,

which lay in Bethlehem.

وقد عدنا لبيت المقد

سِ الباهي السنا الأغنمْ

We returned to Jerusalem,

radiant in splendor, richest in reward.

وودعناهُ إذ ذقنا

فراقاً طعمه علقمْ

We bade it farewell, tasting

parting as bitter as colocynth.

وسرنا بعد ذا يسمو

لنا في البيرة المَقدمْ

After that we traveled, gaining

an honored welcome at al-Bira.

وجئنا سنجِلاً بتنا

بها والليل قد أعتمْ

We came to Sinjil and stayed

there, with night grown dark.

ونابلساً أتيناها

لنا رزقٌ بها يُقسمْ

We reached Nablus,

where sustenance was allotted to us.

وقد بتنا ثلاثاً من

ليالٍ ما بها نُرغمْ

We stayed for three

nights, without being humbled there.

وقد جئنا قباطيةً

وأجلى أمرنا المُبهمْ

We came to Qabatiya,

and our obscure affairs became clear.

وجنيناً بها يومي

نِ كنَّا والأسى يهزمْ

At Jenin, for two days

we stayed, while sorrow was defeated.

ويوماً ثالثاً فيه

لقينا السيِّدَ المكرمْ

On a third day, there

we met the honored sayyid,

شريفاً كاملاً يحيى

به الجود الذي يعدم

a perfect sharif, through whom

generosity, otherwise absent, lives.

وودَّعناه حتى في

عيون تجارهم تنعمْ

We bade him farewell, until at

their Merchants' Springs there was ease.

وبتنا ثم أصبحنا

نرى بالمنية المغنمْ

We spent the night; then, at morning,

saw our reward at al-Minya.

لدى الخان الذي فيها

وبتنا لا نرى مَعزمْ

At the inn there,

we stayed the night, finding no resolve.

وجئنا سعسعاً من بَع

دِ هذا شوقنا هيّمْ

After that we came to Sa'sa',

our longing driven to distraction.

إلى وادي دمشق الشا

م ذات الجانب الأسلمْ

Toward the valley of Damascus of al-Sham,

whose side is safest,

وبتنا ثم أصبحنا

نرى طفل السرى يُفطمْ

we stayed the night; then, at morning,

saw the infant of night-travel being weaned.

فأقبلنا على الأخوا

ن منا الشوق لا يُكتمْ

We turned toward the brethren,

our longing impossible to conceal.

فلاقونا بترحيبٍ

وعنهم حالهم ترجمْ

They met us with welcome,

their state speaking on their behalf.

ووافينا لأهلينا

وربِّي بالعلا كرَّمْ

We reached our families,

and my Lord honored us with elevation.

وزاد الله إنعاماً

علينا لم يزل أدومْ

God increased His blessings

upon us, ever more enduring.

ونلنا فضلهُ أرِّخ

برحلةِ قُدْسه الأكرمْ

We gained His grace—record the date

with 'the journey to His most honored holy city.'

وصلى الله مولانا

على طه وقد سلَّمْ

May God, our Master, bless

Taha, and grant him peace,

وكل الآل والأصحا

ب مَن أوصافهم تُرقمْ

and all the family and companions,

whose qualities are set down,

ويوماً ثالثاً فيهِ

لقينا السيِّد المكرمْ

and on a third day, there

we met the honored sayyid.