أمسعود جاء السعد والخير واليسر

أمسعود جاء السعد والخير واليسر

وولّت جيوش النحس ليس لها ذكرُ

وولّت جيوش النحس ليس لها ذكرُ

O Mas'ud, good fortune, goodness, and ease have come.

O Mas'oud, felicity, goodness, and ease have arrived,

The armies of ill fortune have retreated, leaving no trace.

And the armies of misfortune have turned back, leaving no trace behind.

ليالي صدودٍ وانقطاعٍ وجفوةٍ

ليالي صدودٍ وانقطاعٍ وجفوةٍ

وهجران ساداتٍ فلا ذكرَ الهجر

وهجران ساداتٍ فلا ذكرَ الهجر

Nights of rejection, estrangement, and coldness,

Nights of avoidance, severance, and estrangement,

And separation from masters—let separation be mentioned no more.

And the abandonment of masters—let there be no mention of such abandonment.

فأيامها أضحت قتاماً ودجنةً

فأيامها أضحت قتاماً ودجنةً

ليالي لا نجم يضيء ولا بدر

ليالي لا نجم يضيء ولا بدر

Their days became dust-darkness and gloom:

For their days became as gloom and pitch darkness,

Nights with no shining star and no full moon.

Nights wherein no star shines, nor any full moon.

فراشي فيها حشوه الهم والضنى

فراشي فيها حشوه الهم والضنى

فلا التذ لي جنب ولا التذ لي ظهر

فلا التذ لي جنب ولا التذ لي ظهر

My bed in them was stuffed with sorrow and wasting sickness;

My bedding within them was stuffed with anxiety and wasting away,

Neither my side nor my back found comfort.

So neither my side nor my back found any comfort.

ليالي أنادي والفؤاد متيّم

ليالي أنادي والفؤاد متيّم

ونار الجوى تشوي لما قد حوى الصدر

ونار الجوى تشوي لما قد حوى الصدر

Nights when I called out, my heart enslaved by love,

Nights when I call out while my heart is enslaved by love,

And longing's fire scorched what the breast contained.

And the fire of burning passion roasts what my chest contains.

أمولاي طال الهجر وانقطع الصبر

أمولاي طال الهجر وانقطع الصبر

أمولاي هذا الليل هل بعده فجر

أمولاي هذا الليل هل بعده فجر

O my master, separation has lasted long, and patience is exhausted.

O my Master, the separation has dragged on and patience has snapped,

O my master, does a dawn follow this night?

O my Master, this night—is there a dawn to follow it?

أغث يا مغيث المستغيثين والهاً

أغث يا مغيث المستغيثين والهاً

ألمّ به من بعد أحبابه الضر

ألمّ به من بعد أحبابه الضر

Rescue, O rescuer of those seeking rescue, a love-distraught man:

Succor me, O Succor of those who seek aid, a man distracted by love,

Suffering has befallen him through separation from his beloved ones.

Upon whom harm has descended after being parted from his loved ones.

أسائل كل الخلق هل من مخبّر

أسائل كل الخلق هل من مخبّر

يحدّثني عنكم فينعشني الخبر

يحدّثني عنكم فينعشني الخبر

I ask all creation: is there anyone to bring news,

I ask all of creation: is there any informant,

To tell me of you, so that the news revives me?

Who can speak to me of you, so that the news might revive me?

إلى أن دعتني همة الشيخ من مدى

إلى أن دعتني همة الشيخ من مدى

بعيد ألا فادن فعندي لك الذخر

بعيد ألا فادن فعندي لك الذخر

Until the sheikh's spiritual resolve called me from a distance

Until the high resolve of the Sheikh called me from a far distance:

Far away: 'Come near: with me is treasure for you.'

"Come close, for I possess a treasure stored for you."

فشمّرت عن ذيلي الإطار وطار بي

فشمّرت عن ذيلي الإطار وطار بي

جناح اشتياقٍ ليس يخشى له كسر

جناح اشتياقٍ ليس يخشى له كسر

So I tucked up the girdle about my hem, and I was borne aloft

So I tucked up the train of my robe, and I was borne aloft by

By a wing of longing that feared no breaking.

A wing of yearning that fears no fracture.

وما بعدت عن ذا المحب تهامةٌ

وما بعدت عن ذا المحب تهامةٌ

ولم يثنه سهل هناك ولا وعر

ولم يثنه سهل هناك ولا وعر

Tihama was not far from this lover,

And Tihama was not too distant for this lover,

And neither level ground nor rough terrain there deterred him.

Nor did any easy plain or rugged terrain turn him back there.

إلى أن أنخنا بالبطاح ركابنا

إلى أن أنخنا بالبطاح ركابنا

وحطت بها رحلي وتم لها البشر

وحطت بها رحلي وتم لها البشر

Until we made our mounts kneel in the broad valleys,

Until we made our mounts kneel at the open valley,

And there they set down my baggage, their joy complete.

And there I set down my saddle, and joy was made complete.

بطاح بها البيت المعظّم قبلةٌ

بطاح بها البيت المعظّم قبلةٌ

فلا فخر إلا فوقه ذلك الفخر

فلا فخر إلا فوقه ذلك الفخر

Valleys where the revered House is the direction of prayer:

A valley containing the Exalted House as a Qibla;

No glory exists but that glory surpasses it.

So there is no glory except that which rises above that glory.

بطاح بها الصيد الحلال محرمٌ

بطاح بها الصيد الحلال محرمٌ

ومن حلها حاشاه يبقى له وزر

ومن حلها حاشاه يبقى له وزر

Valleys where otherwise lawful game is forbidden,

A valley where lawful game is forbidden to hunt,

And whoever alights there—far be it that any sin remain upon him.

And whoever violates it—far be it from him—bears a heavy burden.

أتاني مربي العارفين بنفسه

أتاني مربي العارفين بنفسه

ولا عجبٌ فالشأن أضحى له أمر

ولا عجبٌ فالشأن أضحى له أمر

The nurturer of those who know God came to me himself;

The Educator of the Knowers came to me in person,

No wonder: the affair had become his to command.

And it is no wonder, for the affair has become his command.

وقال فإني منذ أعداد حجة

وقال فإني منذ أعداد حجة

لمنتظر لقياك يا أيها البدر

لمنتظر لقياك يا أيها البدر

And he said: 'For a number of years now

He said, "Indeed, for many a pilgrimage season,

I have awaited meeting you, O full moon.

I have been waiting to meet you, O full moon.

فأنت بنيي مذ ألست بربكم

فأنت بنيي مذ ألست بربكم

وذا الوقت حقاً ضمّه اللوح والسطر

وذا الوقت حقاً ضمّه اللوح والسطر

You have been my little son since “Am I not your Lord?”

For you are my son since the day of 'Am I not your Lord?';

And this moment was truly contained in the Tablet and the written line.

And this very moment was truly encompassed by the Tablet and the Pen.

وجدّك قد أعطاك من قدم لنا

وجدّك قد أعطاك من قدم لنا

ذخيرتكم فينا ويا حبذا الذخر

ذخيرتكم فينا ويا حبذا الذخر

Your grandfather gave you to us long ago;

And your Grandfather gave you, from ancient times, to us

Your treasure lies with us—how excellent a treasure!'

As your stored treasure among us—and what an excellent treasure it is!"

فقبّلت من أقدامه وبساطه

فقبّلت من أقدامه وبساطه

وقال لك البشرى بذا قضي الأمر

وقال لك البشرى بذا قضي الأمر

So I kissed his feet and his carpet.

So I kissed his feet and his carpet,

He said: 'Glad tidings to you: with this, the matter is settled.'

And he said, "Glad tidings to you; with this, the matter is decreed."

وألقى على صفري باكسير سرّه

وألقى على صفري باكسير سرّه

فقيل له هذا هو الذهب التبر

فقيل له هذا هو الذهب التبر

He cast the elixir of his secret upon my brass,

He cast the elixir of his secret upon my copper,

And it was said of it: 'This is gold, pure native gold.'

And it was said to him, "This is now pure, unminted gold."

وأعني به شيخ الأنام وشيخ من

وأعني به شيخ الأنام وشيخ من

له عمة في عذبة وله الصدر

له عمة في عذبة وله الصدر

I mean by him the master of mankind, the master of anyone

I mean by him the Sheikh of all people, and the Sheikh of those

Who wears a turban with a trailing end and holds precedence.

Who possess a turban with a tail, and who possess precedence.

عياذي ملاذي عمدتي ثم عدّتي

عياذي ملاذي عمدتي ثم عدّتي

وكهفي إذا أبدى نواجذه الدهر

وكهفي إذا أبدى نواجذه الدهر

My refuge, my sanctuary, my support, and then my resource,

My refuge, my sanctuary, my pillar, and my equipment,

And my shelter when time bares its molars.

And my cave of safety when Time bares its molars.

غياثي من أيدي العداة ومنقذي

غياثي من أيدي العداة ومنقذي

منيري مجيري عندما غمّني الغمر

منيري مجيري عندما غمّني الغمر

My deliverance from the hands of enemies, my rescuer,

My relief from the hands of enemies, and my savior;

My illuminator, my protector when the flood overwhelmed me,

My illuminator, my protector when the calamity overwhelms me.

ومحبي رفاتي بعد أن كنت رمة

ومحبي رفاتي بعد أن كنت رمة

وأكسبني عمراً لعمري هو العمر

وأكسبني عمراً لعمري هو العمر

And [reviver] of my remains, after I had been a decaying corpse.

The one who gave life to my remains after I was but dust,

He granted me a life that, by my life, is life indeed.

And gained for me a life that, by my life, is the true life.

محمدٌ الفاسي له من محمد

محمدٌ الفاسي له من محمد

صفيّ الإله الحال والشيم الغرّ

صفيّ الإله الحال والشيم الغرّ

Muhammad al-Fasi has, from Muhammad,

Muhammad al-Fasi: he has from Muhammad,

God's chosen one, the spiritual state and radiant traits.

The Chosen of God, his spiritual states and noble traits.

بفرض وتعصيب غدا أرثه له

بفرض وتعصيب غدا أرثه له

هو البدر بين الأوليا وهم الزهر

هو البدر بين الأوليا وهم الزهر

By fixed share and residuary right, that inheritance became his.

By fixed share and by residuary inheritance, he became his heir;

He is the full moon among the saints, and they are the stars.

He is the full moon among the saints, while they are but stars.

شمائله تغنيك إن رمت شاهدا

شمائله تغنيك إن رمت شاهدا

هي الروض لكن شق اكمامه القطر

هي الروض لكن شق اكمامه القطر

His qualities suffice you if you seek a witness:

His qualities suffice you if you seek a witness;

They are a garden, but rain has burst its calyces open.

They are a garden, but the rain has opened its blossoms.

تضوّع طيبا كلّ زهر بنشره

تضوّع طيبا كلّ زهر بنشره

فما المسك ما الكافور ما الند ما العطر

فما المسك ما الكافور ما الند ما العطر

Every blossom exhales perfume through his fragrance;

Every flower wafts its perfume abroad,

What are musk, camphor, aloeswood incense, or perfume?

So what is musk, what is camphor, what is ambergris, what is perfume compared to him?

وما حاتم قل لي وما حلم أحنف

وما حاتم قل لي وما حلم أحنف

وما زهد ابراهيم أدهم ما الصبر

وما زهد ابراهيم أدهم ما الصبر

And what is Hatim—tell me—and what is Ahnaf's forbearance?

And tell me, what is Hatim? And what is the forbearance of Ahnaf?

And what is Ibrahim Adham's asceticism? What is patience?

And what is the asceticism of Ibrahim Adham? What is patience itself?

صفوحٌ يغض الطرف عن كلّ زلةٍ

صفوحٌ يغض الطرف عن كلّ زلةٍ

لهيبته ذلّ الغضنفر والنمر

لهيبته ذلّ الغضنفر والنمر

Forgiving, he lowers his gaze from every fault;

Forgiving, he lowers his gaze from every slip;

Before his majesty, the lion and the tiger submit.

Before his majesty, the lion and the leopard humble themselves.

هشوشٌ بشوشٌ يلقى بالرحب قاصداً

هشوشٌ بشوشٌ يلقى بالرحب قاصداً

وعن مثل حب المزن تلقاه يفترّ

وعن مثل حب المزن تلقاه يفترّ

Cheerful and smiling, he welcomes a visitor warmly;

Jovial and smiling, he meets the seeker with welcome,

You find his smile revealing the likeness of raindrops.

And you find him beaming like the hail of rain clouds.

فلا غضبٌ حاشا بأن يستفزه

فلا غضبٌ حاشا بأن يستفزه

ولا حدّة كلا ولا عنده ضرّ

ولا حدّة كلا ولا عنده ضرّ

No anger—far be it—can provoke him,

No anger—God forbid—can provoke him,

Nor harshness—no—nor is there harm with him.

Nor sharpness, nay, nor is there any harm in him.

لنا منه صدرٌ ما تكدّره الدلا

لنا منه صدرٌ ما تكدّره الدلا

ووجه طليق لا يزايله البشر

ووجه طليق لا يزايله البشر

For us, his breast is never muddied by buckets,

We have in him a heart that water-buckets cannot muddy,

And his open face is never forsaken by gladness.

And an open countenance that joy never leaves.

ذليلٌ لأهل الفقر لا عن مهانةٍ

ذليلٌ لأهل الفقر لا عن مهانةٍ

عزيزٌ ولا تيه لديه ولا كبر

عزيزٌ ولا تيه لديه ولا كبر

Humble toward the people of poverty, but not from abasement;

Humble to the people of spiritual poverty, not out of abasement,

Mighty, yet without conceit or pride.

Mighty, yet possessing no haughtiness or pride.

وما زهرة الدنيا بشء له يُرى

وما زهرة الدنيا بشء له يُرى

وليس لها يوما بمجلسه نشر

وليس لها يوما بمجلسه نشر

He sees the world's splendor as nothing,

The flower of this world is seen as nothing by him,

Nor is it ever aired in his assembly.

And it has no fragrance whatsoever in his gathering.

حريصٌ على هدي الخلائق جاهد

حريصٌ على هدي الخلائق جاهد

رحيمٌ بهم برٌ خبير له القدر

رحيمٌ بهم برٌ خبير له القدر

Eager to guide creation, striving diligently,

Eager for the guidance of creatures, striving,

Compassionate toward them, benevolent, discerning, and possessed of high standing.

Merciful to them, righteous, aware, possessed of power.

كساه رسول اللّه ثوب خلافةٍ

كساه رسول اللّه ثوب خلافةٍ

له الحكم والتصريف والنهي والأمر

له الحكم والتصريف والنهي والأمر

God's Messenger clothed him in a robe of succession;

The Messenger of God clothed him in the robe of vicegerency;

His are judgment, governance, prohibition, and command.

To him belongs judgment, disposal, prohibition, and command.

وقيل له إن شئت قل قدمي علا

وقيل له إن شئت قل قدمي علا

على كلّ ذي فضل أحاط به العصر

على كلّ ذي فضل أحاط به العصر

And he was told: 'If you wish, say: my foot has risen

And it was said to him, "If you wish, say: My foot is high

Above every possessor of excellence encompassed by this age.'

Above every possessor of virtue whom the age encompasses."

فذلك فضلُ اللّه يؤتيه من يشا

فذلك فضلُ اللّه يؤتيه من يشا

وليس على ذي الفضل حصرٌ ولا حجر

وليس على ذي الفضل حصرٌ ولا حجر

That is God's bounty: He grants it to whomever He wills.

That is the bounty of God; He gives it to whom He wills,

The possessor of bounty faces neither restriction nor prohibition.

And for the possessor of bounty, there is no restriction or confinement.

وذا وأبيك الفخر لا فخر من غدا

وذا وأبيك الفخر لا فخر من غدا

وقد ملك الدنيا وساعده النصر

وقد ملك الدنيا وساعده النصر

This, by your father, is glory—not the glory of one

This, by your father, is true glory—not the glory of one who becomes

Who possesses the world and is aided by victory.

A king of the world while victory aids him.

وهذا كمالٌ كلّ عن وصف كنهه

وهذا كمالٌ كلّ عن وصف كنهه

فمن يدّعي هذا فهذا هو السر

فمن يدّعي هذا فهذا هو السر

This is perfection whose essence description fails to grasp;

This is a perfection whose essence tongues fall short of describing;

Whoever lays claim to this—this is the secret.

So whoever claims this—this is the secret.

أبو حسنٍ لو قد رآه أحبّه

أبو حسنٍ لو قد رآه أحبّه

وقال له أنت الخليفة يا بحر

وقال له أنت الخليفة يا بحر

Abu Hasan, had he seen him, would have loved him

If Abu'l-Hasan had seen him, he would have loved him

And said to him: 'You are the successor, O ocean.'

And said to him, "You are the Vicegerent, O Ocean!"

وما كل شهم يدعى السبق صادق

وما كل شهم يدعى السبق صادق

إذا سيق للميدان بان له الخسر

إذا سيق للميدان بان له الخسر

Not every bold man claiming precedence tells the truth;

Not every gallant man who claims precedence is truthful

When brought to the arena, his defeat becomes plain.

When driven to the battlefield, his loss becomes apparent.

وعند تجلّي النقع يظهر من علا

وعند تجلّي النقع يظهر من علا

على ظهر جردبل ومن تحته حمر

على ظهر جردبل ومن تحته حمر

When the dust clears, it becomes plain who is mounted

And when the dust of battle clears, it appears who is high

On sleek steeds, and who has donkeys beneath him instead.

Upon the back of a strong steed, and who is upon a donkey.

وما كل من يعلو الجواد بفارس

وما كل من يعلو الجواد بفارس

إذا ثار نقع الحرب والجو مغبر

إذا ثار نقع الحرب والجو مغبر

Not everyone who mounts a steed is a knight

Not everyone who mounts a horse is a knight

When battle's dust rises and the air grows dusty,

When the dust of war rises and the air is choked with grey.

فيحمي ذماراً يوم لاذوا حفيظةٍ

فيحمي ذماراً يوم لاذوا حفيظةٍ

وكل حماة الحي من خوفهم فرّوا

وكل حماة الحي من خوفهم فرّوا

To defend what is sacred, out of honor, when others seek shelter,

Protecting the sanctuary on a day they seek refuge in zealotry,

And all the tribe's defenders flee in fear.

While all the protectors of the tribe have fled from fear.

ونادى ضعيف الحي من ذا يغيثني

ونادى ضعيف الحي من ذا يغيثني

أما من غيور خانني الصبر والدهر

أما من غيور خانني الصبر والدهر

The tribe's weak one cries: 'Who will rescue me?

And the weak of the tribe call out, "Who will save me?

Is there no zealous protector? Patience and time have betrayed me!'

Is there no jealous warrior? Patience and Time have betrayed me."

وما كلّ سيف ذو الفقار بحدّه

وما كلّ سيف ذو الفقار بحدّه

ولا كل كرارٍ عليا إذا كروا

ولا كل كرارٍ عليا إذا كروا

Not every sword is Dhul-Fiqar in sharpness,

Not every sword is Dhu'l-Faqar in its sharpness,

Nor every charging warrior Ali when they charge.

Nor is every attacker 'Ali when they charge.

وما كلّ طير طار في الجو فاتكاً

وما كلّ طير طار في الجو فاتكاً

وما كل صياح إذا صرصر الصقر

وما كل صياح إذا صرصر الصقر

Not every bird flying in the air is a deadly hunter,

Not every bird that flies in the sky is a raptor,

Nor every screamer a falcon when it shrieks.

Nor is every screamer, when he shrieks, a falcon.

وما كل من يسمى بشيخ كمثله

وما كل من يسمى بشيخ كمثله

وما كل من يدعى بعمروٍ إذا عمرو

وما كل من يدعى بعمروٍ إذا عمرو

Not everyone called a sheikh is like him,

Not everyone named "Sheikh" is like him,

Nor is everyone called Amr therefore Amr.

Just as not everyone called 'Amr is truly 'Amr.

وذا مثلٌ للمدعين ومن يكن

وذا مثلٌ للمدعين ومن يكن

على قدم صدق طبيبا له خبر

على قدم صدق طبيبا له خبر

This is a parable for pretenders; whoever is

This is a parable for the pretenders; but whoever is

Firmly grounded in truth is an experienced physician.

Upon a footing of truth, the physician has news of him.

فلا شيخ إلا من يخلّص هالكاً

فلا شيخ إلا من يخلّص هالكاً

غريقاً ينادي قد أحاط بي المكر

غريقاً ينادي قد أحاط بي المكر

There is no sheikh except one who saves a perishing man,

For there is no Sheikh except the one who saves a perishing man,

A drowning man crying: 'The snare has surrounded me!'

A drowning man calling out, "The plot has surrounded me!"

ولا تسألن عن ذي المشائخ غير من

ولا تسألن عن ذي المشائخ غير من

له خبرةٌ فاقت وما هو مغترّ

له خبرةٌ فاقت وما هو مغترّ

Do not ask about these sheikhs anyone except one

And do not ask about these Sheikhs except for one who

Whose experience surpasses others, and who is not deceived;

Possesses experience that excels, and who is not deluded.

تصفّح أحوال الرجال مجربّا

تصفّح أحوال الرجال مجربّا

وفي كل مصر بل وقطر له أمر

وفي كل مصر بل وقطر له أمر

An experienced man who has examined the states of men,

Examine the states of men as one who tests them,

And has standing in every city, indeed every land.

For in every city, nay every land, He has a command.

فانعم بمصرٍ ربّت الشيخ يافعا

فانعم بمصرٍ ربّت الشيخ يافعا

وأكرم بقطر طار منه له ذكر

وأكرم بقطر طار منه له ذكر

How excellent the city that raised the sheikh as a youth!

So blessed be a city that raised the Sheikh as a youth,

How noble the land from which his fame took flight!

And how noble is a land from which his renown took flight!

فمكّة ذي خير البلاد فديتها

فمكّة ذي خير البلاد فديتها

فما طاولتها الشمس يوما ولا النسر

فما طاولتها الشمس يوما ولا النسر

This Mecca is the finest of lands—may I be its ransom;

Mecca is this land, the best of lands—may I be its ransom;

Neither the sun nor the eagle has ever rivaled its height.

Neither the sun nor Sirius has ever rivaled it in height.

بها كعبتان كعبة طاف حولها

بها كعبتان كعبة طاف حولها

حجيج الملا بل ذاك عندهم الظفر

حجيج الملا بل ذاك عندهم الظفر

It holds two Kaabas: a Kaaba around which have circled

Within it are two Kaabas: a Kaaba around which

The pilgrims of the throng—indeed, that is their triumph;

The pilgrims of the masses circle—indeed, that for them is triumph.

وكعبة حجّاج الجناب الذي سما

وكعبة حجّاج الجناب الذي سما

وجلّ فلا ركنٌ لديه ولا حجر

وجلّ فلا ركنٌ لديه ولا حجر

And a Kaaba for pilgrims to the Presence that has risen

And a Kaaba for the pilgrims of the Divine Presence that has soared

And become exalted: it has neither corner nor stone.

And become majestic; it has neither physical corner nor stone.

وشتّان ما بين الحجيجين عندنا

وشتّان ما بين الحجيجين عندنا

فهذا له ملك وهذا له أجر

فهذا له ملك وهذا له أجر

How far apart the two pilgrim companies are to us!

And what a difference between the two pilgrimages in our view:

One has a kingdom, the other a reward.

For this one has sovereignty, while that one has a reward.

عجبتُ لباغي السير للجانب الذي

عجبتُ لباغي السير للجانب الذي

نقدّس ممّا لا يجدّ له السير

نقدّس ممّا لا يجدّ له السير

I marvel at one who seeks to journey toward that side

I marveled at one who seeks to journey to the side that

Which we sanctify, yet does not pursue the journey to it

We sanctify, yet he does not make his journey earnest,

ويلقي إليه نفسه بفنائه

ويلقي إليه نفسه بفنائه

بصدقٍ تساوى عنده السر والجهر

بصدقٍ تساوى عنده السر والجهر

And cast himself toward it, in its courtyard,

And cast his soul into its courtyard

With sincerity, inward secrecy and outward speech alike to him.

With a sincerity wherein the secret and the public are equal.

فيلقى مناخ الجود والفضل واسعا

فيلقى مناخ الجود والفضل واسعا

ويلقى فراتا طاب نهلا فما القطر

ويلقى فراتا طاب نهلا فما القطر

Then he would find a spacious resting-place of bounty and grace,

Then he would meet a resting place of generosity and vast grace,

And sweet water, delightful to drink—what are mere raindrops beside it?

And he would meet a sweet Euphrates—how good a drink! What is rain compared to it?

ويلقى رياضا أزهرت بمعارفٍ

ويلقى رياضا أزهرت بمعارفٍ

فيا حبذا المرأى ويا حبذا الزهر

فيا حبذا المرأى ويا حبذا الزهر

And gardens blooming with spiritual insights:

And he would meet gardens blooming with spiritual knowledge;

How lovely the sight, how lovely the blossoms!

Oh, how lovely is the sight! And how lovely are the flowers!

ويلقى جنانا فوق فردوسها العلى

ويلقى جنانا فوق فردوسها العلى

وما لجنان الخلد ان عبّقت نشر

وما لجنان الخلد ان عبّقت نشر

And gardens with the heights above their Paradise;

And he would meet gardens higher than the Highest Paradise;

The gardens of eternity, however fragrant, have no scent to match.

The Gardens of Eternity possess no fragrance if this scent wafts.

ويشرب كأساً صرفة من مدامةٍ

ويشرب كأساً صرفة من مدامةٍ

فيا حبذا كاس ويا حبذا خمر

فيا حبذا كاس ويا حبذا خمر

And he drinks a cup of pure, unmixed wine:

And he would drink a pure cup of ancient wine;

How excellent a cup, how excellent a wine!

Oh, how lovely is the cup! And oh, how lovely is the wine!

فلا غول فيها لا ولا عنها نزفة

فلا غول فيها لا ولا عنها نزفة

وليس لها برد وليس لها حرّ

وليس لها برد وليس لها حرّ

There is no harm in it—no—nor loss of sense from it.

There is no headache in it, nor any depletion of mind,

It has neither cold nor heat.

And it possesses neither cold nor heat.

ولا هو بعد المزج أصفر فاقع

ولا هو بعد المزج أصفر فاقع

ولا هو قبل المزج قانٍ ومحمر

ولا هو قبل المزج قانٍ ومحمر

After mixing, it is not a vivid yellow,

It is not, after mixing, a bright yellow,

Nor before mixing is it deep red and reddened.

Nor is it, before mixing, deep red or crimson.

معتّقة من قبل كسرى مصونة

معتّقة من قبل كسرى مصونة

وما ضمّها دنّ ولا نالها عصر

وما ضمّها دنّ ولا نالها عصر

Aged since before Kisra, guarded,

Aged since before Chosroes, carefully guarded;

No cask has contained it, nor has pressing touched it.

No earthen jar contained it, nor did any press squeeze it.

ولا شانها زقّ ولا سار سائر

ولا شانها زقّ ولا سار سائر

بأجمالها كلا ولا نالها تجر

بأجمالها كلا ولا نالها تجر

No wineskin has tainted it, nor has any traveler journeyed

No wineskin marred it, nor did any traveler journey

With its camel-loads—no—nor has commerce touched it.

With camels carrying it, nay, nor did merchants obtain it.

فلو نظر الأملاك ختم إنائها

فلو نظر الأملاك ختم إنائها

تخلّوا عن الأملاك طوعا ولا قهر

تخلّوا عن الأملاك طوعا ولا قهر

If kings looked upon the seal of its vessel,

If the kings were to look upon the seal of its vessel,

They would freely renounce their possessions, not under compulsion.

They would abandon their kingdoms willingly, without coercion.

ولو شمّت الأعلام في الدرس ريحها

ولو شمّت الأعلام في الدرس ريحها

لما طاش عن صوب الصواب لها فكر

لما طاش عن صوب الصواب لها فكر

If learned authorities smelled its scent in their lessons,

And if the scholars in their study circles smelled its scent,

No thought of theirs would stray from the course of rightness.

Their thinking would never stray from the path of correctness.

فيا بعدهم عنها ويا بئس ما رضوا

فيا بعدهم عنها ويا بئس ما رضوا

فقد صدّهم قصدٌ وسيرّهم وزر

فقد صدّهم قصدٌ وسيرّهم وزر

How far they are from it! How wretched what they have accepted!

Oh, how far they are from it! And how miserable is what they settled for!

An aim has turned them away, and sin has driven them on.

For a lowly intention blocked them, and a heavy burden directed them.

هي العلم كلّ العلم والمركز الذي

هي العلم كلّ العلم والمركز الذي

به كلّ علمٍ كلّ حينٍ له دور

به كلّ علمٍ كلّ حينٍ له دور

It is knowledge, all knowledge, and the center

It is Knowledge—all Knowledge—and the Center around which

Around which every science revolves at every moment.

Every knowledge, at every moment, revolves.

فلا عالم إلاّ خبيرٌ بشربيها

فلا عالم إلاّ خبيرٌ بشربيها

ولا جاهلٌ إلا جهولٌ بها غرّ

ولا جاهلٌ إلا جهولٌ بها غرّ

No scholar exists except one versed in drinking it;

There is no scholar except one expert in drinking it,

No ignorant man but one unknowing of it and deluded.

And there is no ignoramus except one ignorant of it, deceived.

ولا غبن في الدنيا ولا من رزيئةٍ

ولا غبن في الدنيا ولا من رزيئةٍ

سوى رجل عن نيلها حظّه نزر

سوى رجل عن نيلها حظّه نزر

There is no deprivation in the world, no calamity,

There is no fraud in the world, nor any calamity,

Except a man whose share of attaining it is scant.

Except for a man whose share of obtaining it is scant.

ولا خسر في الدنيا ولا هو خاسرٌ

ولا خسر في الدنيا ولا هو خاسرٌ

سوى والهٍ والكفّ من كأسها صفر

سوى والهٍ والكفّ من كأسها صفر

No loss exists in the world, nor any loser,

And there is no loss in the world, nor is anyone a loser,

Except a lovesick one whose palm is empty of its cup.

Except a distracted one whose palm is empty of its cup.

إذا زمزم الحادي بذكر صفاتها

إذا زمزم الحادي بذكر صفاتها

وصرح ما كنّى ونادى نأى الصبر

وصرح ما كنّى ونادى نأى الصبر

When the camel-driver murmurs of its qualities

When the camel-driver trills the mention of its attributes,

And speaks plainly, not in hints, and cries out, patience departs.

And declares clearly what he hinted at, and calls out, "Patience has fled!"

وقال اسقني خمراً وقل لي هي الخمر

وقال اسقني خمراً وقل لي هي الخمر

ولا تسقني سرّا إذا أمكن الجهر

ولا تسقني سرّا إذا أمكن الجهر

He says: 'Give me wine to drink, and tell me it is wine;

And says: "Pour me wine, and tell me: 'This is the Wine!'"

Do not give me drink secretly when openness is possible.

And do not serve me in secret if it is possible to do so openly.

وصرّح بمن تهوى ودعني من الكنى

وصرّح بمن تهوى ودعني من الكنى

فلا خير في اللذات من دونها ستر

فلا خير في اللذات من دونها ستر

Name plainly whom you love, and spare me veiled names;

And declare clearly whom you love, and leave me be with hints;

Pleasures have no worth with a veil before them.'

For there is no good in pleasures if a curtain hides them.

نرى سائقيها كيف هامت عقولهم

نرى سائقيها كيف هامت عقولهم

ونازلهم بسطٌ وخامرهم سكر

ونازلهم بسطٌ وخامرهم سكر

We see its bearers: how their minds have wandered!

We see those who drive it—how their minds wander,

Exhilaration descends upon them, and intoxication pervades them.

While spiritual expansion descends upon them and intoxication infuses them.

وتاهوا فلم يدروا من التيه من هم

وتاهوا فلم يدروا من التيه من هم

وشمس الضحى من تحت أقدامهم عفر

وشمس الضحى من تحت أقدامهم عفر

They lose themselves, not knowing, in their bewilderment, who they are;

They wandered in ecstasy, and in their wandering knew not who they were,

The morning sun is dust beneath their feet.

While the morning sun was but dust beneath their feet.

وقالوا فمن يرجى من الكون غيرنا

وقالوا فمن يرجى من الكون غيرنا

فنحن ملوك الأرض لا البيض والحمر

فنحن ملوك الأرض لا البيض والحمر

They say: 'Who in existence is to be hoped in besides us?

And they said: "Who is to be hoped for in the universe other than us?

We are kings of the earth, not the white and the red.'

For we are the kings of the earth, not the white kings nor the red."

تميد بهم كاسٌ بها قد تولّهوا

تميد بهم كاسٌ بها قد تولّهوا

فليس لهم عرفٌ وليس لهم نكر

فليس لهم عرفٌ وليس لهم نكر

A cup sways them; through it they are love-distraught.

A cup sways them with which they have become enraptured,

They have neither recognition nor denial;

So they have no conventional knowledge nor any denial.

حيارى فلا يدرون أين توجّهوا

حيارى فلا يدرون أين توجّهوا

فليس لهم ذكرٌ وليس لهم فكر

فليس لهم ذكرٌ وليس لهم فكر

Bewildered, they do not know where they have turned.

Bewildered, they know not where they have turned,

They have neither recollection nor thought.

For they have no remembrance and no thought.

فيطربهم برقٌ تألّق بالحمى

فيطربهم برقٌ تألّق بالحمى

ويرقصهم رعد بسلعٍ له أزر

ويرقصهم رعد بسلعٍ له أزر

Lightning flashing in the sanctuary enraptures them;

The lightning flashing at the sanctuary stirs their joy,

Mighty thunder at Sal' makes them dance.

And the thunder at Sal' makes them dance, tightening its belt.

ويسكرهم طيب النسيم إذا سرى

ويسكرهم طيب النسيم إذا سرى

تظنّ بهم سحرا وليس بهم سحر

تظنّ بهم سحرا وليس بهم سحر

The fragrance of the breeze intoxicates them when it passes;

The perfume of the breeze intoxicates them when it travels;

You think them bewitched, yet no spell is upon them.

You would think them under a spell, yet there is no magic in them.

وتبكيهم ورق الحمائم في الدجى

وتبكيهم ورق الحمائم في الدجى

إذا ما بكت من ليس يدري لها وكر

إذا ما بكت من ليس يدري لها وكر

Gray doves in the darkness make them weep

The cooing of doves in the darkness makes them weep,

When one weeps whose nest none knows.

When a bird weeps not knowing where its nest lies.

بحزنٍ وتلحين تجاوبتا بما

بحزنٍ وتلحين تجاوبتا بما

تذوب له الأكباد والجلمد الصخر

تذوب له الأكباد والجلمد الصخر

In sorrow and melody, the two answer each other with what

With sorrow and melody, the two respond with that

Makes livers and hard, rocky stone melt.

Which melts the livers and the solid rock.

وتسبيهم غزلان رامة إن بدت

وتسبيهم غزلان رامة إن بدت

وأحداقها بيض وقاماتها سمر

وأحداقها بيض وقاماتها سمر

The gazelles of Rama captivate them when they appear;

And the gazelles of Ramah captivate them when they appear,

Their eyes are bright swords, their figures brown spears.

With their white-and-black eyes and their slender, tawny forms.

وفي شمّها حقا بذلنا نفوسنا

وفي شمّها حقا بذلنا نفوسنا

فهان علينا كلّ شيء له قدر

فهان علينا كلّ شيء له قدر

Truly, to breathe its fragrance we have offered our souls,

In smelling it, truly, we sacrificed our very souls,

And everything held precious became cheap to us.

So every valuable thing became cheap to us.

وملنا عن الأوطان والأهل جملة

وملنا عن الأوطان والأهل جملة

فلا قاصرات الطرف تثني ولا القصر

فلا قاصرات الطرف تثني ولا القصر

We turned wholly from homelands and family;

We turned away from homelands and family entirely;

Neither maidens with downcast eyes nor palaces turn us back,

Neither modest maidens nor palaces could hold us back.

ولا عن أصيحاب الذوائب من غدت

ولا عن أصيحاب الذوائب من غدت

ملاعبهم منى الترائب والنحر

ملاعبهم منى الترائب والنحر

Nor [are we held back by] little companions with tresses, whose

Nor the little companions of the side-locks, whose playgrounds

Playgrounds were [my] breastbones and throat.

Were but the desires of the chest and the embrace.

هجرنا لها الأحبا والصحب كلهم

هجرنا لها الأحبا والصحب كلهم

فما عاقنا زيدٌ ولا راقنا بكر

فما عاقنا زيدٌ ولا راقنا بكر

For its sake we left all beloved ones and companions;

For its sake, we abandoned all loved ones and companions;

Neither Zayd hindered us nor Bakr pleased us.

So Zayd did not hinder us, nor did Bakr please us.

ولا ردّنا عنها العوادي ولا العدا

ولا ردّنا عنها العوادي ولا العدا

ولا هالنا قفرٌ ولا راعنا بحر

ولا هالنا قفرٌ ولا راعنا بحر

Neither calamities nor enemies turned us away from it;

The misfortunes of time did not turn us back, nor the enemies,

No wilderness terrified us, no sea alarmed us.

Nor did the wasteland terrify us, nor did the sea startle us.

وفيها حلا لي الذلّ من بعد عزة

وفيها حلا لي الذلّ من بعد عزة

فيا حبذا هذا ولو بدءهمرّ

فيا حبذا هذا ولو بدءهمرّ

Through it, humility became sweet to me after honor:

In it, humility became sweet to me after pride;

How delightful this is, even if its beginning is bitter!

Oh, how lovely is this! Even if its beginning is bitter.

وذلك من فضل الإله ومنّه

وذلك من فضل الإله ومنّه

عليّ فما للفضل عدّ ولا حصر

عليّ فما للفضل عدّ ولا حصر

That is from God's bounty and His favor

And that is from the grace of God and His favor

Upon me: bounty admits neither counting nor confinement.

Upon me; for His grace has no number and no limit.

وقد أنعم الوهّاب فضلا بشربها

وقد أنعم الوهّاب فضلا بشربها

فللّه حمد دائمٌ وله الشكر

فللّه حمد دائمٌ وله الشكر

The Bestower graciously blessed me with drinking it;

The Bestower has granted the blessing of drinking it;

To God belongs unceasing praise, and to Him thanks.

So to God belongs eternal praise, and to Him belongs thanks.

فقل لملوك الأرض أنتم وشأنكم

فقل لملوك الأرض أنتم وشأنكم

فقسمتكم ضئزى وقسمتنا كثر

فقسمتكم ضئزى وقسمتنا كثر

Tell the kings of earth: 'You and your own affairs!

So say to the kings of the earth: "You have your affairs,

Your portion is deficient, and ours abundant.

But your division is meager, while our share is abundant."

خذ الدينا والأخرى أباغيهما معاً

خذ الدينا والأخرى أباغيهما معاً

وهات لنا كأسا فهذا لنا وفر

وهات لنا كأسا فهذا لنا وفر

Take this world and the next, O seeker of both together,

Take the world and the Hereafter, O seeker of them both,

And bring us a cup: this is abundance for us.'

But bring us a cup, for this is our wealth.

جزى اللّه عنّا شيخنا خير ما جوى

جزى اللّه عنّا شيخنا خير ما جوى

به هادياً فالأجر منه هو الأجر

به هادياً فالأجر منه هو الأجر

May God reward our sheikh for us with the best He has granted

May God reward our Sheikh on our behalf with the best reward

A guide; reward from Him is true reward.

Given to a guide; for the reward comes from Him.

أمولاي إني عبد نعمائك التي

أمولاي إني عبد نعمائك التي

بها صار لي كنزٌ وفارقني الفقر

بها صار لي كنزٌ وفارقني الفقر

O my master, I am the servant of your favors, through which

O my Master, I am the slave of your favors,

I gained a treasure, and poverty departed from me.

Through which I gained a treasure and poverty departed from me.

وصرت مليكاً بعد ما كنت سوقة

وصرت مليكاً بعد ما كنت سوقة

وساعدني سعد فحصباؤنا درّ

وساعدني سعد فحصباؤنا درّ

I became a king after having been a commoner;

I became a king after I was a common subject,

Good fortune aided me, and our pebbles are pearls.

And felicity aided me, so our pebbles became pearls.

أمولاي إني عبد بابك واقف

أمولاي إني عبد بابك واقف

لفيضك محتاجٌ لجودك مضطر

لفيضك محتاجٌ لجودك مضطر

O my master, I am a slave standing at your gate,

O my Master, I am a slave standing at your door,

In need of your outpouring, compelled to seek your bounty.

In need of your overflow, compelled by your generosity.

فمر أمر مولى للعبيد فإنني

فمر أمر مولى للعبيد فإنني

أنا العبدذاك العبد لا الخادم الحرّ

أنا العبدذاك العبد لا الخادم الحرّ

Command as a master commands slaves, for I—

So command the command of a master to his slaves, for I am

I am the slave, that slave, not the free attendant.

I am that slave—that very slave—not a free servant.

هنيئاً لنا يا معشر الصحب إننا

هنيئاً لنا يا معشر الصحب إننا

لنا حصنُ أمن ليس يطرقه ذعر

لنا حصنُ أمن ليس يطرقه ذعر

Good fortune to us, O company of companions! Truly,

Congratulations to us, O company of companions! For truly,

We have a fortress of safety that no terror visits.

We possess a fortress of security that panic cannot breach.

فنحن بضوء الشمس والغير في دجى

فنحن بضوء الشمس والغير في دجى

وأعينهم عميٌ وآذانهم وقر

وأعينهم عميٌ وآذانهم وقر

We dwell in sunlight, while others are in darkness;

We are in the light of the sun, while others are in darkness;

Their eyes are blind, their ears stopped.

Their eyes are blind and their ears are deaf.

ولا غرو في هذا وقد قال ربّنا

ولا غرو في هذا وقد قال ربّنا

تراهم عيون ينظرون ولا بصر

تراهم عيون ينظرون ولا بصر

There is no wonder in this, for our Lord has said:

There is no wonder in this, for our Lord has said:

You see them—eyes looking, yet without sight.

"You see them looking at you, yet they do not see."

وغيم السما مهما سما هان أمره

وغيم السما مهما سما هان أمره

فليس يرى إلا لمن ساعد القدر

فليس يرى إلا لمن ساعد القدر

Heaven's cloud, however high it rises, is a slight thing;

The clouds of the sky, however high they rise, their matter is trivial,

It is seen only by one whom destiny has favored.

But they are not seen except by those whom Destiny aids.

ألا فاعلموا شكرا لمن جاد بالذي

ألا فاعلموا شكرا لمن جاد بالذي

هدانا ومن نعمائه عمّنا اليسر

هدانا ومن نعمائه عمّنا اليسر

Take heed, then, in gratitude to Him who generously bestowed that

Now know gratitude to the One who generously gave that

Which guided us; through His favors, ease has encompassed us.

Which guided us, and from whose blessings ease has encompassed us.

وصلّوا على خير الورى خير مرسل

وصلّوا على خير الورى خير مرسل

وروح هداة الخلق حقاً وهم ذرّ

وروح هداة الخلق حقاً وهم ذرّ

Bless the best of creation, the finest messenger,

And send prayers upon the best of mankind, the best Messenger,

Truly the spirit of creation's guides while they were motes.

The spirit of the guides of creation, in truth, while they are but atoms.

عليه صلاة اللّه ما قال قائل

عليه صلاة اللّه ما قال قائل

أمسعود جاء السعد والخير واليسر

أمسعود جاء السعد والخير واليسر

God's blessing upon him whenever a speaker says:

Upon him be the prayers of God as long as a speaker says:

O Mas'ud, good fortune, goodness, and ease have come.

"O Mas'oud, felicity, goodness, and ease have arrived."