هذهthese ياO صاحِfriend أوقاتُtimes الهناbliss
هذه يا صاحِ أوقاتُ الهنا
وبلوغand the attainment النفسthe soul أقصىthe utmost الأَملِhope
وبلوغ النفس أقصى الأَملِ
These, my friend, are times of bliss,
These are, O companion, the times of bliss,
and of the soul attaining its utmost hope.
And the soul reaching the utmost of hopes.
جَمَعَتْthey gathered منfrom كلِّevery شيءٍthing أحسناthe finest
جَمَعَتْ من كلِّ شيءٍ أحسنا
لذَّةًa delight فيin غيرهاother than them لمdid not تكمُلِreach perfection
لذَّةً في غيرها لم تكمُلِ
They have gathered the finest of everything,
It has gathered from everything the best,
a delight never perfected at other times.
A pleasure not complete in other things.
فخذاso take, you two منfrom عيشناour life صفوَتَهُits purest part
فخذا من عيشنا صفوَتَهُ
بكؤوسِwith cups الرَّاحwine والسَّاقيand the cupbearer مليحhandsome
بكؤوسِ الرَّاح والسَّاقي مليح
So take, you two, the purest of our life,
So take from our life its finest sips,
with cups of wine and a handsome cupbearer,
With cups of comfort and a graceful pourer.
بينamid روضٍa garden آخذٍtaking on زينَتهits adornment
بين روضٍ آخذٍ زينَته
ولسانِand the tongue البَمِّthe bass string والزِّيرand the treble string فصيحْeloquent
ولسانِ البَمِّ والزِّير فصيحْ
amid a garden putting on its adornment,
In a garden taking its adornments,
and the tongue of bass and treble strings is eloquent.
And the bamboos' whisper and the palm’s rustle clear.
ضَرَّجَstained red الوَردُthe rose بهاin it وجنَتَهits cheek
ضَرَّجَ الوَردُ بها وجنَتَه
والشَّقيقُand the anemone الغضّtender إذat ذاكthat moment جريحْwounded
والشَّقيقُ الغضّ إذ ذاك جريحْ
The rose has stained its cheek red there,
The roses drenched it with their hue and nest,
and the tender anemone is then wounded.
While the pale anemones then were torn.
تحسبُyou think النرجسَthe narcissi فيهاin it أعيُناeyes
تحسبُ النرجسَ فيها أعيُنا
شاخصاتstaring نحوناtoward us بالمقَلِwith the pupils
شاخصات نحونا بالمقَلِ
You would think the narcissi there were eyes,
You’d think the narcissi in it were eyes
staring toward us with their pupils.
Staring at us with the gaze of love.
مالleaned غصنُa bough البانthe bān tree تيهاًproudly وانثنىand bent
مال غصنُ البان تيهاً وانثنى
فيin هواهاlove for it مَيَلانَthe swaying الثمِلِof the drunkard
في هواها مَيَلانَ الثمِلِ
The bān bough leaned proudly and bent,
The banana branch bent in its passion,
in love with it, swaying like a drunkard.
In its love leaning like the bending drunk.
مرْبَعٌa spring retreat للَّهْوfor revelry منْذُsince انتظماit took shape
مرْبَعٌ للَّهْو منْذُ انتظما
أطْرَبَdelighted الأَنْفُسَthe souls فيin رَوْحrefreshment وراحْand wine
أطْرَبَ الأَنْفُسَ في رَوْح وراحْ
A spring retreat for revelry that, since it took shape,
A square for joy since it was composed
has delighted souls with refreshment and wine.
That delighted souls in spirit and comfort.
ماnever بكاهwept over it القطرthe rain إلاَّexcept that ابتسماit smiled
ما بكاه القطر إلاَّ ابتسما
لبكاهُat its weeping بثغورwith mouths منof أقاحْdaisies
لبكاهُ بثغور من أقاحْ
Whenever the rain wept over it, it smiled
Only the rain drops smiled when they wept,
at that weeping with mouths of daisies.
For their weeping came from laughing cheeks.
وَشَدَتْand sang فيin الدَّوحthe spreading trees وَرقاءa gray dove الحمىthe preserve
وَشَدَتْ في الدَّوح وَرقاء الحمى
ماno علىupon الوَرقاءthe gray dove فيin الشَّدوsinging جناحْblame
ما على الوَرقاء في الشَّدو جناحْ
The preserve's gray dove sang among the spreading trees;
The tent stakes tightened the fever’s leaves
there is no blame on the dove for singing.
In the whirling; the leaves have no wings in passion.
مغرمٌa lover ليسthere is not لهfor him عنهwithout it غنىindependence
مغرمٌ ليس له عنه غنى
حينwhen يُمليhe recites رجزاًrajaz verse فيin زَجَلringing song
حين يُملي رجزاً في زَجَل
A lover cannot do without it
An infatuated one has no substitute for it
when he recites rajaz verse in ringing song.
When he composes folk ballads and versified prose.
وَلَقدand indeed أصغىhe listened إليهاto her أذناًan ear
وَلَقد أصغى إليها أذناً
فشَجَتْso she saddened قلبَthe heart الخليthe carefree one دونَrather than المَليthe full-hearted one
فشَجَتْ قلبَ الخلي دونَ المَلي
And indeed he lent her an ear,
And indeed the ear listened to it
and she saddened the carefree heart, rather than the heart already full.
For it stirred the heart of the boon companions and the intimate friends.
زادَناgave us more لحنthe melody الأَغانيof songs طَرَباًrapture
زادَنا لحن الأَغاني طَرَباً
خبراًtidings يطرِبُناthat delight us عَنْfrom وَتَرِa string
خبراً يطرِبُنا عَنْ وَتَرِ
The melody of songs increased our rapture:
The tunes of songs increased our rapture
tidings from a string that delight us.
With news that delights us from the musical strings.
والأَمانيand wishes بلغَتْناbrought us أرَباًa desired end
والأَماني بلغَتْنا أرَباً
فَقَضَيْناهاso we fulfilled them إذَنْthen بالوطرِwith desire satisfied
فَقَضَيْناها إذَنْ بالوطرِ
And wishes brought us what we desired,
And hopes took us to the highest place,
so we fulfilled them, then, to our heart's content.
So we fulfilled them by plucking the strings.
ونَظَرناand we looked فقَضَيْناso we experienced عجباًwonder
ونَظَرنا فقَضَيْنا عجباً
تطلعrises الشَّمسthe sun بكفّin the palm القمرِof the moon
تطلع الشَّمس بكفّ القمرِ
We looked and were utterly astonished:
And we looked and so we marveled
the sun rises in the palm of the moon.
At the sun rising in the palm of the moon.
فيon ليالٍnights أظْفَرتناgave us success بالمنىin attaining wishes
في ليالٍ أظْفَرتنا بالمنى
وكؤوسِand cups الرَّاحof wine فيهاin them تنجليshine forth
وكؤوسِ الرَّاح فيها تنجلي
On nights that granted us our wishes,
On nights that granted us what we wished,
cups of wine shine forth within them.
And cups of wine wherein clarity is seen.
تُذْهِبdispel الهمَّcare وتنفيand banish الحزناsorrow
تُذْهِب الهمَّ وتنفي الحزنا
بنشاطٍwith vigor مُطْلَقٍfreed منfrom كَسَلِsloth
بنشاطٍ مُطْلَقٍ من كَسَلِ
They dispel care and banish sorrow,
They dispel worries and banish sorrow
with a vigor freed from sloth.
With complete vitality without laziness.
بحياةby the life of الطاسthe bowl والكاسand the cup عليكْI charge you
بحياة الطاس والكاس عليكْ
نَزِّهrid المجلسَthe gathering منof كلِّevery ثقيلْtiresome person
نَزِّه المجلسَ من كلِّ ثقيلْ
By the life of the bowl and the cup, I charge you:
With the life of merriment and the cup it’s upon you
rid the gathering of every tiresome guest.
To delight the gathering from all that is burdensome.
وتحكَّمand take command إنَّماonly الأَمرُthe matter إليكrests with you
وتحكَّم إنَّما الأَمرُ إليك
ولكَand yours is الحكمُthe ruling ومنand of هذاthis القبيلْkind
ولكَ الحكمُ ومن هذا القبيلْ
Take command: the matter rests with you alone,
For the command is only up to you,
yours is the ruling, and everything of that kind.
And the judgement is yours and the like.
كيفhow لاnot والكأسand the cup تسقىis served منfrom يديكْyour two hands
كيف لا والكأس تسقى من يديكْ
ماno علىagainst المحسنthe benefactor فيهاin this منany سبيلْground for blame
ما على المحسن فيها من سبيلْ
How could it be otherwise, when the cup is served by your hands?
How not when the cup is sipped by your hand
No blame can fall on the benefactor in this.
No blame is upon the benevolent regarding it.
ولكَand for you اللهGod حفيظاًa guardian ولناand for us
ولكَ الله حفيظاً ولنا
حيثماwherever كنتَyou are وماand whatever شئتَyou wish افعلِdo
حيثما كنتَ وما شئتَ افعلِ
May God be a guardian to you and to us;
And may God protect you and for us,
wherever you are, do whatever you wish.
Wherever you are and do what you wish!
واجرِand enforce حكمَthe rule الحبّof love فيناupon us وبناand through us
واجرِ حكمَ الحبّ فينا وبنا
أنْتَyou مرضيٌّare approved وإنْand even if لمdo not تَعْدِلِact justly
أنْتَ مرضيٌّ وإنْ لم تَعْدِلِ
And enforce love's rule upon us and through us;
And pass the ruling of love among us and on us,
you please us, even if you are unjust.
You are pleasing even if you do not equate.
حبذاhow fine مجلِسُناour gathering منas مجلسِa gathering
حبذا مجلِسُنا من مجلسِ
جامعٌgathering together كلَّevery غريبٍrare thing وعجيبand wondrous thing
جامعٌ كلَّ غريبٍ وعجيب
How fine a gathering is ours,
How excellent is our gathering over a gathering
bringing together everything rare and wondrous:
That gathers every stranger and wondrous thing!
نغمُmelodies العودِof the oud وشعرand poetry الأخرسof al-Akhras
نغمُ العودِ وشعر الأخرس
ومحبٌand a lover مستهامٌlove-crazed وحبيبand a beloved
ومحبٌ مستهامٌ وحبيب
the melodies of the oud and the poetry of al-Akhras,
The lute’s melody and the mute man’s poetry
a love-crazed lover and a beloved.
And an impassioned lover and a beloved one.
يتعاطونthey pass around حياةَlife الأنفسِof souls
يتعاطون حياةَ الأنفسِ
فيin بديعexquisite اللفظwording والمعنىand meaning الغريبwondrous
في بديع اللفظ والمعنى الغريب
They pass around the life of souls
They experience the life of souls
in exquisite wording and wondrous meaning.
In the outstanding wording and the strange meaning.
بابليّBabylonian السحرin magic معسولhoney-sweet الجنىin fruit
بابليّ السحر معسول الجنى
أينwhere هذاis this مشتيارِgatherer العسَلِof honey
أين هذا مشتيارِ العسَلِ
Babylonian in its magic, honey-sweet in its fruit—
My confidant of sorcery and ripened love,
where is this, O gatherer of honey?
Where is he who extracts this honey?
وإذاand when مرَّpasses نسيمٌa breeze بينناamong us
وإذا مرَّ نسيمٌ بيننا
قلتُI say هذاthis ويحكمwoe to you all منfrom غَزَليmy love-poetry
قلتُ هذا ويحكم من غَزَلي
And whenever a breeze passes among us,
And if a breeze passed between us,
I say, 'This, woe to you, is from my love-poetry.'
I would say this, and woe to you from my writhing love!
آهُah ممَّنfor one who ساءنيvexed me فيin نُسْكِهِhis piety
آهُ ممَّن ساءني في نُسْكِهِ
ويَرانيand he sees me حاملاًbearing عِبءَthe burden الذُّنوبof sins
ويَراني حاملاً عِبءَ الذُّنوب
Ah, for one who vexed me in his piety,
Oh from the one who was unfaithful in his devotion,
and sees me bearing the burden of sins.
And sees me bearing the burden of sins.
قدindeed عَرَفناwe recognized زَيْفَهhis falseness فيin سبكهhis casting
قد عَرَفنا زَيْفَه في سبكه
فإذاand behold كلُّall مزاياهhis merits عيوبْfaults
فإذا كلُّ مزاياه عيوبْ
We have recognized his falseness in his casting,
We recognized the falsity in his pouring,
and behold, all his merits are faults.
For then all his qualities were but flaws.
قالhe said ليto me تُبْتُI repented وذاand this منamong إفكهhis lies
قال لي تُبْتُ وذا من إفكه
أناI لاno واللهby God لاnot أرضىconsent أتوبْto repent
أنا لا والله لا أرضى أتوبْ
He told me, 'I have repented'—and that is one of his lies.
He said to me: Repent! And that is from his slander,
As for me—no, by God, I refuse to repent
I do not, by God, accept to repent
عنof مليحٍa handsome one صَرَّحَتْspoke plainly عنهabout him الكنىthe bynames
عن مليحٍ صَرَّحَتْ عنه الكنى
توبةrepentance فيin حبّهlove for him لمwas not تُقْبَلِaccepted
توبة في حبّه لم تُقْبَلِ
of a handsome one whom the bynames have plainly revealed.
From a graceful one whose hints were uncovered.
Repentance from loving him has not been accepted.
Repentance of his love was not accepted.
وإذاand when ساءَdoes ill غيورٌa jealous man أحْسَناhe does good
وإذا ساءَ غيورٌ أحْسَنا
بحميّاwith the headiness of رشفاتِsips القبلِkisses
بحميّا رشفاتِ القبلِ
When a jealous man does ill, he does good
And if an envious one acted well
with the headiness of sips of kisses.
With kisses of union from the lips.
أتْرُكِshall I forsake المغبَقَthe evening draught والمصطَبحاand the morning draught
أتْرُكِ المغبَقَ والمصطَبحا
زَمنَin the season الوردِof roses وأيَّامَand the days الرَّبيعْof spring
زَمنَ الوردِ وأيَّامَ الرَّبيعْ
Am I to forsake the evening and morning draughts
Should I leave the immersed and the vigilant
in the season of roses and the days of spring,
The time of roses and the days of spring?
بعدَafter أنْthat أغدوI become بهاthrough it منشرحاًcheerful
بعدَ أنْ أغدو بها منشرحاً
كيفhow أصغيcan I listen لعذوليto my reproacher وأطيعْand obey
كيف أصغي لعذولي وأطيعْ
after I have grown cheerful through them?
After I start it illuminated and serene
How can I heed my reproacher and obey?
How can I comply to the chaste and virtuous?
إنْif أطعI obey فيin تركهاabandoning it منwhoever نصحاadvised
إنْ أطع في تركها من نصحا
فلقَدْthen indeed جئتI have come لعمريby my life بشنيعْwith a shameful deed
فلقَدْ جئت لعمري بشنيعْ
If I obey whoever advises me to abandon it,
If I obey who advised to leave it
then, by my life, I will have done something shameful.
I would have come for my life with disgrace!
فأدِرْهاso pass it round وانتَهبand snatch ليfor me زمناًa span of time
فأدِرْها وانتَهب لي زمناً
بحلولwith the entry of الشمسِthe sun برجthe sign الحملِof Aries
بحلول الشمسِ برج الحملِ
So pass it round, and snatch me a span of time
So entertain it and seize for me a time
as the sun enters the sign of Aries.
At the sun's entry into Aries.
وأرخنيand give me ease إنَّماonly ألقىI encounter العناhardship
وأرخني إنَّما ألقى العنا
منfrom خليلٍa friend مغرمenamored بالعذلِof reproach
من خليلٍ مغرم بالعذلِ
And let me be at ease: I suffer distress only
And set me free, I only cast off
from a friend enamored of reproach.
From a beloved immersed in flirtation.
أجْتليI behold الكاساتِthe cups تَهويdescending أنجماas stars
أجْتلي الكاساتِ تَهوي أنجما
ولهاand they have فيناamong us طلوعٌa rising ومغيبْand a setting
ولها فينا طلوعٌ ومغيبْ
I behold the cups descending like stars,
Bring forth the cups appearing like stars
and they have their rising and setting among us.
Which have for us a rising and setting.
وأرىand I see أوقاتهاtheir hours مغتنماًan opportunity
وأرى أوقاتها مغتنماً
وإليهاand to them رحتُI went ألهوI revel وأطيبْand grow merry
وإليها رحتُ ألهو وأطيبْ
I see their hours as an opportunity to seize,
And I see its times as opportunities
and to them I turn, to revel and grow merry.
And to it I went to amuse myself and feel at ease.
لمdid not أُضِعْهاI waste them فرصةًas an opportunity لاnot سيماthe like of
لم أُضِعْها فرصةً لا سيما
فيat ختانِthe circumcision الغُرِّthe illustrious أبناءِsons النقيبْthe naqib
في ختانِ الغُرِّ أبناءِ النقيبْ
I let no chance of them slip, especially
I did not miss it, especially
at the circumcision of the naqib's illustrious sons—
During the circumcision of the elite sons of the chief.
عَلَويّAlid الأصلِin lineage عُلويّlofty الثناin praise
عَلَويّ الأصلِ عُلويّ الثنا
سيّدlord الساداتof lords مولاناour master عليAli
سيّد السادات مولانا علي
Alid in lineage, lofty in praise,
The highest in origin, highest in glory,
lord of lords, our master Ali,
Our master Ali, the master of masters.
الرفيعُexalted القدرِin rank والعاليand lofty البناin stature
الرفيعُ القدرِ والعالي البنا
مستهلّpouring forth الوبلheavy rain عذبsweet المنهلِthe watering-place
مستهلّ الوبل عذب المنهلِ
exalted in rank and lofty in stature,
The eminent and the highest edifice,
pouring forth abundant rain, a sweet source of water.
The pure spring and sweet place to drink.
ابنُson بازِthe falcon اللهof God عبدAbd (servant) القادرal-Qadir (the Powerful)
ابنُ بازِ الله عبد القادر
عَلَمbanner الشرقِof the East وسلطانُand sultan الرّجالْof men
عَلَم الشرقِ وسلطانُ الرّجالْ
Son of God's Falcon, Abd al-Qadir,
Son of the miracle of God, Abd al-Qadir,
the banner of the East and sultan of men.
The symbol of the East and the sultan of men.
لمnever يزالواhave ceased to be طاهراًpure منfrom طاهرِa pure one
لم يزالوا طاهراً من طاهرِ
فَهُمُso they are الطهْرُpurity علىin أحسنِthe finest حالstate
فَهُمُ الطهْرُ على أحسنِ حال
They have ever been pure, descended from the pure;
They have always been pure from the pure,
they are purity itself in its finest state.
For they are the purity in the best state.
وهُمُand they فيat كلّevery وقتtime حاضرpresent
وهُمُ في كلّ وقت حاضر
فيin جمالٍbeauty مستفاضٍabundant وجلالْand majesty
في جمالٍ مستفاضٍ وجلالْ
And at every moment they are present
And they are, at all times, present
in abundant beauty and majesty.
With perfect beauty and majesty.
يلْحظونَthey behold السَّعدgood fortune يَغْشونthey enter السَّناradiance
يلْحظونَ السَّعد يَغْشون السَّنا
يَلْبَسونthey wear الفخرَpride أسنىthe most radiant الحُلَلِrobes
يَلْبَسون الفخرَ أسنى الحُلَلِ
They behold good fortune and enter radiance;
They perceive good fortune and it covers them,
they wear pride as the most radiant of robes.
They wear pride - the finest of garments.
لهمfor them التشبيهُthe comparison فيin هذيthis الدُّناworld
لهم التشبيهُ في هذي الدُّنا
ملَّةُthe faith الإسلامof Islam بينَamong المللِfaiths
ملَّةُ الإسلام بينَ المللِ
Their likeness in this world
For them is the comparison in this life
is the faith of Islam among the faiths.
To the nation of Islam among religions.
لأُوَيقاتِfor brief moments زمانٍof a season الاعتدالof temperateness
لأُوَيقاتِ زمانٍ الاعتدال
قدْindeed تَحَرَّيْتُمyou carefully sought وماand how أحراكُمُworthy you are
قدْ تَحَرَّيْتُم وما أحراكُمُ
For brief hours of the temperate season
For the times of an equitable era
you have searched carefully—and how worthy you are!—
You were inspired, so what inspired you?
لختانfor the circumcision النُّجبِof the noble ones البيضِpure الفعالin deeds
لختان النُّجبِ البيضِ الفعال
الميامينِthe blessed ones وماand how أدراكُمُdiscerning you are
الميامينِ وما أدراكُمُ
for the circumcision of the noble ones, pure of deed,
For the elite’s circumcision, the righteous whites,
the blessed ones—and how discerning you are!
The auspicious stars – and what do you know of them?
فلَقَدso indeed أرَّخهhe dated it العَبدُthe servant فقالand he said
فلَقَد أرَّخه العَبدُ فقال
آلَO family بيتof the house المصطفىof al-Mustafa بشراكمُglad tidings to you
آلَ بيت المصطفى بشراكمُ
The servant has indeed dated it and said:
Indeed the servant dated it and said:
O family of the house of al-Mustafa, glad tidings to you
O Family of the Chosen One I give you good tidings!
بختانٍon a circumcision فيin سرورٍjoy وهَناand bliss
بختانٍ في سرورٍ وهَنا
دائمٍlasting بالوصلِin union لَمْdid not يَنْفَصلbreak apart
دائمٍ بالوصلِ لَمْ يَنْفَصل
on a circumcision amid joy and bliss,
With a circumcision in joy and bliss
lasting in union, never broken.
Everlasting in union that did not separate.
وبحمدِand with praise of اللهGod قدindeed نلناwe attained المنىour wishes
وبحمدِ الله قد نلنا المنى
وظفرناand we gained منكُمfrom you بالأَملِthe hoped-for fulfillment
وظفرنا منكُم بالأَملِ
And, praise be to God, we have attained our wishes,
And by God’s praise we attained what we wished
and through you we have realized our hope.
And were granted our hopes through you.
Sol 6.1