أَفْنَيْتُ في السَّعْيِ عُمْرِي غَيْرَ مُرْتَفِقِ

أَفْنَيْتُ في السَّعْيِ عُمْرِي غَيْرَ مُرْتَفِقِ

وَالصَّبْرُ زَادُ الْمُنَى.. وَالنَّفْسُ في الرَّمَقِ

وَالصَّبْرُ زَادُ الْمُنَى.. وَالنَّفْسُ في الرَّمَقِ

I have spent my life in striving, without finding ease.

All my life I have toiled without rest

And patience is hope's provision, while the soul is at its last breath.

Patience is the provision for death, and my soul is at its last gasp

أَسْعَى إِلَيْكَ وَخَيْلِي في الدُّرُوبِ كَبَتْ

أَسْعَى إِلَيْكَ وَخَيْلِي في الدُّرُوبِ كَبَتْ

مِنْ زَحْمَةِ الْهَمِّ لا مِنْ زَحْمَةِ الطُّرُقِ

مِنْ زَحْمَةِ الْهَمِّ لا مِنْ زَحْمَةِ الطُّرُقِ

I strive toward you, and my horses have stumbled on the paths,

I hasten to you, though my steed is exhausted in the paths

From the crush of worry, not the crowding of roads.

Not from the crush of roads, but from the crush of cares

شَوْقِي يَحُثُّ وَآثامي تَكِيدُ لَهَا

شَوْقِي يَحُثُّ وَآثامي تَكِيدُ لَهَا

وَالدَّرْبُ أَطْوَلُ مِنْ  أنْفاسِ مُسْتَبِقِ

وَالدَّرْبُ أَطْوَلُ مِنْ أنْفاسِ مُسْتَبِقِ

My longing urges them on, while my sins plot against them,

My passion urges me on, though my sins plot against me

And the path is longer than a racer's breath.

The way is longer than the breaths of one racing

وَبَيْنَ مَدِّ الْخُطَى وَالْجَزْرِ قَافِيَةٌ

وَبَيْنَ مَدِّ الْخُطَى وَالْجَزْرِ قَافِيَةٌ

تَغْدُو بِمَدْحِكَ بَيْنَ الْغَوْصِ والغَرَقِ

تَغْدُو بِمَدْحِكَ بَيْنَ الْغَوْصِ والغَرَقِ

And between the flow of footsteps and their ebb, a rhyme

Between the flow and ebb of my pace is a rhyme

Goes forth in your praise, between diving and drowning.

Rising at dawn with your praise between diving and drowning

آنَسْتُ نُورًا.. وَقَوْمِي يَصْطَلُونَ هَوىً

آنَسْتُ نُورًا.. وَقَوْمِي يَصْطَلُونَ هَوىً

في ظُلْمَةِ الْجَهْلِ في مُسْتَنْقَعِ النَّزَقِ

في ظُلْمَةِ الْجَهْلِ في مُسْتَنْقَعِ النَّزَقِ

I discerned a light, while my people basked in passion,

I glimpsed a light while my people crave

In the darkness of ignorance, in the mire of recklessness.

Delusions in the darkness of ignorance, in the swamp of misery

ظلمٌ وجَهْلٌ وتضليلٌ ومَفْسَدَةٌ

ظلمٌ وجَهْلٌ وتضليلٌ ومَفْسَدَةٌ

والحقُّ أَشْرَدُ مِنْ نوْمٍ لِذِي أَرَقِ

والحقُّ أَشْرَدُ مِنْ نوْمٍ لِذِي أَرَقِ

Injustice, ignorance, deception, and corruption,

Oppression, ignorance, deception, corruption

And truth is more elusive than sleep to one with insomnia.

While truth is more perplexed than one plagued with insomnia

آنسْتُ نُورَكَ والنيرانُ مُحْرِقَةٌ

آنسْتُ نُورَكَ والنيرانُ مُحْرِقَةٌ

مَنْ يَصْطَلِي بِهَوَى الأَحْزَابِ والفِرَقِ

مَنْ يَصْطَلِي بِهَوَى الأَحْزَابِ والفِرَقِ

I discerned your light, while the fires were scorching

I caught your light in the wing of darkness, a shelter

Whoever basks in the passions of parties and sects.

For the lost, and deliverance for the anxious

كلٌّ يَرَى رَأْيَهُ دِينًا وَيُعْجِزُهُ

كلٌّ يَرَى رَأْيَهُ دِينًا وَيُعْجِزُهُ

أَنْ يُبْصِرَ الْحَقَّ دِينًا وَهْوَ في الأُفُقِ

أَنْ يُبْصِرَ الْحَقَّ دِينًا وَهْوَ في الأُفُقِ

Each sees his opinion as religion, yet cannot

Everyone views their opinion as religion, and it defeats them

See truth as religion, though it is on the horizon.

To discern the truth as religion, while still limited

مُذْ كانتِ الأرضُ والنيرانُ مُوقَدَةٌ

مُذْ كانتِ الأرضُ والنيرانُ مُوقَدَةٌ

ومَنْ يَلُذْ بِسِوَى الرَّحْمَنِ يَحْتَرِقِ

ومَنْ يَلُذْ بِسِوَى الرَّحْمَنِ يَحْتَرِقِ

Since the earth came to be, the fires have been alight,

Since the earth and fires were kindled

And whoever seeks refuge in any but the Most Merciful burns.

And none finds comfort except in the Merciful without being scorched

آنستُ نوركَ في جُنْحِ الظلامِ صُوىً

آنستُ نوركَ في جُنْحِ الظلامِ صُوىً

لِلْحَائرينَ وَمَنْجَاةً لذِي فَرَقِ

لِلْحَائرينَ وَمَنْجَاةً لذِي فَرَقِ

I discerned your light under cover of darkness: waymarks

I glimpsed your light in the gloom, a refuge

For the bewildered, and a refuge for the fearful.

For the confused, and escape for the divided

فَجِئْتُ مُقْتَبِسًا للناسِ مِنْكَ هُدىً

فَجِئْتُ مُقْتَبِسًا للناسِ مِنْكَ هُدىً

مِنْ آخرِ "الشَّرْحِ" أَوْ مِنْ أَوَّلِ "العَلَقِ"

مِنْ آخرِ "الشَّرْحِ" أَوْ مِنْ أَوَّلِ "العَلَقِ"

So I came, drawing guidance from you for the people,

So I came bearing your guidance to people

From the close of al-Sharh or the opening of al-‘Alaq.

From the end of “The Opening” or the start of “The Clots”

يَا سَيِّدَ الخَلْقِ يَا رُوحَ الْحَيَاةِ وَيَا

يَا سَيِّدَ الخَلْقِ يَا رُوحَ الْحَيَاةِ وَيَا

غَيْثَ القُلُوبِ وَطِبَّ الحَائِرِ القَلِقِ

غَيْثَ القُلُوبِ وَطِبَّ الحَائِرِ القَلِقِ

O master of creation, O spirit of life, and O

O master of creation, O spirit of life, O

Rain for hearts, and remedy for the bewildered and anxious.

Solace of hearts, and remedy for the troubled insomniac

يا جَنَّةَ اللهِ في أرضِ الشَّقَاءِ، وَيَا

يا جَنَّةَ اللهِ في أرضِ الشَّقَاءِ، وَيَا

شمسَ الدُّنَا، وسَنَا المِشْكَاةِ في النَّفَقِ

شمسَ الدُّنَا، وسَنَا المِشْكَاةِ في النَّفَقِ

O God's paradise in the land of misery, and O

O God’s paradise on earth of misery, O

Sun of the worlds, and radiance of the lamp-niche in the tunnel.

Sun of the world, and star of the lamp in the dark

يا نسْمَةَ الْحُبِّ، يا بُشْرَى الوُجودِ، وَيَا

يا نسْمَةَ الْحُبِّ، يا بُشْرَى الوُجودِ، وَيَا

ماءَ الحياةِ ونَبْعَ العَرْفِ والعَبَقِ

ماءَ الحياةِ ونَبْعَ العَرْفِ والعَبَقِ

O breeze of love, O glad tidings of existence, and O

O breeze of love, O good news of existence, O

Water of life, and spring of sweet scent and fragrance.

Water of life, wellspring of cognizance and scent

لَـمْ يَنْأَ قَوْمٌ عنِ الإسلامِ فَاجَتَمَعُوا

لَـمْ يَنْأَ قَوْمٌ عنِ الإسلامِ فَاجَتَمَعُوا

إلاَّ تَمَزَّقَ ثَوْبٌ خِيطَ مِنْ مِزَقِ

إلاَّ تَمَزَّقَ ثَوْبٌ خِيطَ مِنْ مِزَقِ

No people have turned away from Islam and then united

No people shunned Islam and congregated

Without a garment sewn from shreds being torn apart.

Except a woven robe was ripped from the seams

ولاَ أضَاعَ هُدَاكَ النَّاسُ واصْطَنَعُوا

ولاَ أضَاعَ هُدَاكَ النَّاسُ واصْطَنَعُوا

هَدْيًا فَأَفْلَحَ مَنْ بالدِّينِ لَـمْ يَثِقِ

هَدْيًا فَأَفْلَحَ مَنْ بالدِّينِ لَـمْ يَثِقِ

Nor have people squandered your guidance and devised

Nor did people lose your guidance and contrive

Guidance by which anyone who did not trust in religion prospered.

Another, except those who did not rely on religion succeeded

يَا طِبَّ كُلِّ عَلِيلٍ بِالقُرَانِ شَفَى

يَا طِبَّ كُلِّ عَلِيلٍ بِالقُرَانِ شَفَى

أَهْلَ الْهُمُومِ ودَاوَى كُلَّ ذِي حُرَقِ

أَهْلَ الْهُمُومِ ودَاوَى كُلَّ ذِي حُرَقِ

O remedy for every sufferer, who through the Qur'an healed

O cure for every ailment with the Quran, healing

Those burdened with cares, and treated everyone in burning anguish.

The anguished, and remedying all with burns

يَا رَحْمةَ اللهِ هُبِّي.. وابْعَثِي سَبَبًا

يَا رَحْمةَ اللهِ هُبِّي.. وابْعَثِي سَبَبًا

يَنْجُو بأُمَّتِنَا مِنْ لُجَّةِ الْغَرَقِ

يَنْجُو بأُمَّتِنَا مِنْ لُجَّةِ الْغَرَقِ

O mercy of God, arise, and send forth a means

O God’s mercy, bestow upon me and send a cause

That brings our community safely out of the depths of drowning.

Through which my nation may be saved from the swamp of drowning

إنْ جِئْتُ في هَرَمِ الدُّنْيَا فَلِي أَمَلٌ

إنْ جِئْتُ في هَرَمِ الدُّنْيَا فَلِي أَمَلٌ

أَرَاهُ بَعْدَ غُرُوبِ الشَّمْسِ في الشّفَقِ

أَرَاهُ بَعْدَ غُرُوبِ الشَّمْسِ في الشّفَقِ

If I have come in the world's old age, I have a hope:

If in the sunset of life, I still have hope

I see it after sunset, in the afterglow.

I see it after the sunset glow in the horizon

يَا سَيِّدَ الرُّسْلِ لي في المدْحِ مَفْخَرَةٌ

يَا سَيِّدَ الرُّسْلِ لي في المدْحِ مَفْخَرَةٌ

وإنْ تَقَاصَرَ شِعْرِي عَنْ ذُرَى الوَمَقِ

وإنْ تَقَاصَرَ شِعْرِي عَنْ ذُرَى الوَمَقِ

O master of messengers, I take pride in praise,

O master of messengers, I pride myself in praise of you

Even if my poetry falls short of love's heights.

Though my poetry falls short of the full magnificence

هَذِي قَوافٍ كَنَبْضِ القَلْبِ مُتْعَبَةٌ

هَذِي قَوافٍ كَنَبْضِ القَلْبِ مُتْعَبَةٌ

شَوْقًا إِلَيْكَ تُنَاجِي النُّورَ في الغَسَقِ

شَوْقًا إِلَيْكَ تُنَاجِي النُّورَ في الغَسَقِ

These rhymes are weary, like the beating of the heart,

These rhymes throb like a heart, wearied

With longing for you, whispering to the light at dusk.

With longing for you, conversing with the light in the darkness

ظَمْأَى لِوِرْدِكَ.. إنْ مَا خِفْتُ كَبْوَتَهَا

ظَمْأَى لِوِرْدِكَ.. إنْ مَا خِفْتُ كَبْوَتَهَا

أَعَذْتُهُنَّ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ وَالفَلَقِ

أَعَذْتُهُنَّ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ وَالفَلَقِ

Thirsty for your waters—if ever I feared their stumbling,

Thirsty for your affection, if I fear their extent

I sought protection for them with the Lord of humankind and daybreak.

I blame the Lord of mankind and daybreak

أَرْسَلْتُهَا رَائِدًا لي في الطَّرِيقِ إِلَى

أَرْسَلْتُهَا رَائِدًا لي في الطَّرِيقِ إِلَى

لُقْيَاكَ يَا بَلْسَمًا يَشْفِي فُؤَادَ  شَقِي

لُقْيَاكَ يَا بَلْسَمًا يَشْفِي فُؤَادَ شَقِي

I sent them as my scout on the road to

I sent them as my envoy on the path to

Meeting you, O balm that heals a sufferer's heart.

Meeting you, O balm that heals the heart of the miserable

صَلَّى عَلَيْكَ إِلَهُ الكَوْنِ مَا رُفِعَتْ

صَلَّى عَلَيْكَ إِلَهُ الكَوْنِ مَا رُفِعَتْ

كَفٌّ إلَيْهِ وَمَا بُلَّ الثَّرَى وَسُقِي

كَفٌّ إلَيْهِ وَمَا بُلَّ الثَّرَى وَسُقِي

May the God of the universe bless you as long as there is raised

The God of the universe blessed you as long as

A palm to Him, and as long as the earth is moistened and watered;

A palm was raised to Him and the soil was moistened

مَا قِيلَ شِعْرٌ، وَمَا أَوْعَتْهُ مِنْ أُذُنٍ

مَا قِيلَ شِعْرٌ، وَمَا أَوْعَتْهُ مِنْ أُذُنٍ

أَوْ أَثَّرَتْ قُبْلَةُ الأَقْلاَمِ في الوَرَقِ

أَوْ أَثَّرَتْ قُبْلَةُ الأَقْلاَمِ في الوَرَقِ

As long as poetry is spoken, and any ear retains it,

It is said poetry, and what an ear can contain

Or the kiss of pens leaves its mark on paper.

Or what a kiss of the pen on paper can affect