هَلْ رَأَيْتَ الْحُرُوفَ تَبْكِي خُشُوعَا

هَلْ رَأَيْتَ الْحُرُوفَ تَبْكِي خُشُوعَا

أَوْ رَأَيْتَ الْقَرِيضَ يَحْنُو خُضُوعَا

أَوْ رَأَيْتَ الْقَرِيضَ يَحْنُو خُضُوعَا

Have you ever seen the letters weeping in reverence,

Have you seen letters weep in reverence,

Or seen poetry bow its head in submission?

or seen verse bow in submission?

أَوْ سِبَاقاً بَيْنَ الْحُرُوفِ لِتَلْقَى

أَوْ سِبَاقاً بَيْنَ الْحُرُوفِ لِتَلْقَى

أَوْجَ مَجْدٍ وَعِزَّةٍ لَنْ يَضِيعَا

أَوْجَ مَجْدٍ وَعِزَّةٍ لَنْ يَضِيعَا

Or letters racing one another to attain

Or a race among the letters to attain

Aspects of glory and might that shall never be lost?

the summit of glory and honor that will never be lost?

فِي رِحَابِ الْحَبِيبِ سَعْدُ الْقَوَافِي

فِي رِحَابِ الْحَبِيبِ سَعْدُ الْقَوَافِي

وَصِفَاتِ الْحَبِيبِ لَنْ تَسْتَطِيعَا

وَصِفَاتِ الْحَبِيبِ لَنْ تَسْتَطِيعَا

In the Beloved’s precincts, blessed are the rhymes,

In the Beloved's precincts lies the joy of rhymes,

Yet the Beloved’s attributes they can never encompass.

yet they can never express the Beloved's qualities.

لَيْتَ شِعْرِي كَيْفَ الْقُلُوبُ قِفَارٌ؛

لَيْتَ شِعْرِي كَيْفَ الْقُلُوبُ قِفَارٌ؛

وَبِذِكْرِ الرسُولِ تَغْدُو رَبِيعَا؟!

وَبِذِكْرِ الرسُولِ تَغْدُو رَبِيعَا؟!

Would that I knew: how can hearts remain barren

I wonder how hearts can be barren wastes,

When, at the Messenger’s mention, they turn to spring?!

yet through remembrance of the Messenger become spring!

فَصَلَاةٌ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ شَذَاهَا

فَصَلَاةٌ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ شَذَاهَا

يَكْسِبُ النَّفْسَ رِفْعَةً وَخُشُوعَا

يَكْسِبُ النَّفْسَ رِفْعَةً وَخُشُوعَا

My blessing upon the Prophet—its fragrance

So a blessing upon the Prophet—its fragrance

Brings the soul loftiness and humble reverence.

bestows elevation and reverence upon the soul.

وَسَلامٌ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صَدَاهُ

وَسَلامٌ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صَدَاهُ

يَجْعَلُ الرُّوحَ كَالشُّمُوسِ طُلُوعَا

يَجْعَلُ الرُّوحَ كَالشُّمُوسِ طُلُوعَا

And my greeting of peace upon the Prophet—its echo

And peace upon the Prophet—its echo

Makes the spirit rise like the sun.

makes the spirit rise like suns.

يَا رَسُولَ الْهُدَى! إِلَيْكَ قَرِيضِي

يَا رَسُولَ الْهُدَى! إِلَيْكَ قَرِيضِي

مُقْبِلاً شَوْقاً مَادِحاً وَشَــفِيعَا

مُقْبِلاً شَوْقاً مَادِحاً وَشَــفِيعَا

O Messenger of guidance, to you comes my verse,

O Messenger of guidance! To you my verse

Advancing in longing, praising and interceding.

comes with longing, praising and interceding.

كُلُّ حَرْفٍ بِمَوْضِعٍ كَاللَّآلِي

كُلُّ حَرْفٍ بِمَوْضِعٍ كَاللَّآلِي

وَسْطَ عِقْدٍ قَدْ رُصِّعَتْ تَرْصِيعَا

وَسْطَ عِقْدٍ قَدْ رُصِّعَتْ تَرْصِيعَا

Every letter in its place is like a pearl

Each letter, in its place, is like a pearl

Within a necklace I have richly inlaid.

within a necklace, richly inlaid.

فَبُحُورُ الْقَرِيضِ تَرْوِي قُلُوباً

فَبُحُورُ الْقَرِيضِ تَرْوِي قُلُوباً

قَاحِلاً أَرْضُهَا فَصَارَتْ مَرِيعَا

قَاحِلاً أَرْضُهَا فَصَارَتْ مَرِيعَا

The seas of verse give drink to hearts

So the seas of verse water hearts

Whose soil was parched, until they flourished.

whose soil was barren, and so became lush.

كَانَتِ الْأَرْضُ غَابَةً وَظَلَاماً

كَانَتِ الْأَرْضُ غَابَةً وَظَلَاماً

قَدْ مَحَا الظُّلْمُ وَجْهَهَا وَالضُّلُوعَا

قَدْ مَحَا الظُّلْمُ وَجْهَهَا وَالضُّلُوعَا

The earth was wilderness and darkness;

The earth was a jungle and darkness;

Oppression had effaced its face and even its ribs.

injustice had effaced its face and its ribs.

فَرُؤُوسُ الطُّغَاةِ فِي الْجَوْرِ هَامُوا

فَرُؤُوسُ الطُّغَاةِ فِي الْجَوْرِ هَامُوا

وَضَعِيفُ الْوَرَى يَهِيمُ رَكُوعَا

وَضَعِيفُ الْوَرَى يَهِيمُ رَكُوعَا

The heads of tyrants ranged far in injustice,

So the tyrants' chiefs were enamored of oppression,

While the weak among creation wandered, bowed low.

and the weak among humankind wander, bowed low.

يُزْرَعُ الظُّلْمُ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ وَيَجْنِي

يُزْرَعُ الظُّلْمُ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ وَيَجْنِي

كُلُّ حَيٍّ مِنَ الْحَصَادِ وَجِيعَا

كُلُّ حَيٍّ مِنَ الْحَصَادِ وَجِيعَا

Each day oppression is sown, bending

Injustice is sown each day, and reaped

Every living soul beneath its painful harvest.

by every living soul—a harvest of pain.

فَأَتَاهُمْ مِنَ الرَّحِيمِ ضِيَاءٌ

فَأَتَاهُمْ مِنَ الرَّحِيمِ ضِيَاءٌ

كَصَبَاحٍ يُزِيلُ لَيْلاً فَظِيعَا

كَصَبَاحٍ يُزِيلُ لَيْلاً فَظِيعَا

Then radiance came to him from the Most Merciful,

So a light came to them from the Merciful,

Like morning dispersing a dreadful night.

like a morning that dispels a dreadful night.

أُمِرَ «اقْرَأْ» وَامْحُ الضَّلالَ مُنِيراً

أُمِرَ «اقْرَأْ» وَامْحُ الضَّلالَ مُنِيراً

ظُلْمَةَ الْعَقْلِ، وَالرَّشَادَ أَذِيعَا

ظُلْمَةَ الْعَقْلِ، وَالرَّشَادَ أَذِيعَا

He was commanded, “Read!”—the dispelling of error illumining

He was commanded: 'Read!' And erase error, illuminating

The darkness of minds, while right guidance was spread.

the darkness of the mind, and proclaim right guidance.

وَازْرَعِ الطُّهْرَ فِي قُلُوبٍ يَبَابٍ

وَازْرَعِ الطُّهْرَ فِي قُلُوبٍ يَبَابٍ

وَارْوِهَا بِالْإِيمَانِ طِبّاً نَجِيعَا

وَارْوِهَا بِالْإِيمَانِ طِبّاً نَجِيعَا

And sow purity in desolate hearts,

And sow purity in desolate hearts,

And water them with faith, an efficacious cure.

and water them with faith, an efficacious remedy.

فَرَوَى الدُّنْيَا رَحْمَةً وَطَهُوراً

فَرَوَى الدُّنْيَا رَحْمَةً وَطَهُوراً

وَكَسَاها بِالْعَدْلِ ثَوْباً بَدِيعَا

وَكَسَاها بِالْعَدْلِ ثَوْباً بَدِيعَا

Thus he watered the world with mercy and purity,

So he watered the world with mercy and cleansing,

And clothed it in justice, a wondrous robe.

and clothed it in justice, an exquisite robe.

وَجَرَى الْخَيْرُ أَنْهُراً لِيُرَوِّي

وَجَرَى الْخَيْرُ أَنْهُراً لِيُرَوِّي

كُلَّ قَلْبٍ لِلْحَقِّ كَانَ سَمِيعَا

كُلَّ قَلْبٍ لِلْحَقِّ كَانَ سَمِيعَا

Goodness flowed as rivers, to give drink

And goodness flowed as rivers to water

To every heart that would listen to truth.

every heart that was attentive to the truth.

كَيْفَ يَرْضَى الْكَفُورُ نُوراً تَبَدَّى؟!

كَيْفَ يَرْضَى الْكَفُورُ نُوراً تَبَدَّى؟!

فَأَرَادُوا أَنْ يُطْفِئُوهُ سَرِيعَا

فَأَرَادُوا أَنْ يُطْفِئُوهُ سَرِيعَا

How could the unbeliever accept a light unveiled?!

How could the ungrateful unbeliever accept a light that shone forth?

So they sought to extinguish it at once.

So they wanted to extinguish it swiftly.

عَذَّبُوا الْـمُؤْمِنِينَ كَيْ يَفْتِنُوهُمْ

عَذَّبُوا الْـمُؤْمِنِينَ كَيْ يَفْتِنُوهُمْ

وَأَحَالُوا الْإِيمَانَ جُرْماً مُرِيعَا

وَأَحَالُوا الْإِيمَانَ جُرْماً مُرِيعَا

They tortured the believers, seeking to turn them away,

They tortured the believers to turn them from faith,

And made faith into a horrifying crime.

and made faith a terrifying crime.

فَشَكَا ضَعْفَهُ لِرَبٍّ رَحِيمٍ

فَشَكَا ضَعْفَهُ لِرَبٍّ رَحِيمٍ

فَدَعَاهُ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ قَرِيعَا

فَدَعَاهُ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ قَرِيعَا

Then he complained of his weakness to a merciful Lord,

So he lamented his weakness to a merciful Lord,

Who called him to heaven, peerlessly honored.

so He summoned him to heaven as an eminent leader.

وَحَبَاهُ، أَسْرَى بِهِ فَتَسَامَى

وَحَبَاهُ، أَسْرَى بِهِ فَتَسَامَى

وَإِمَاماً بِالرُّسْلِ صَلَّى جَمِيعَا

وَإِمَاماً بِالرُّسْلِ صَلَّى جَمِيعَا

He favored him and took him by night; he rose sublime,

And He favored him, took him on a night journey, and he rose aloft,

And, as imam, led all the messengers in prayer.

and, as imam, he prayed with all the messengers.

وَصِحَابُ النَّبِيِّ كَالتِّبْرِ يَصْفُو

وَصِحَابُ النَّبِيِّ كَالتِّبْرِ يَصْفُو

بِثَبَاتٍ صَارَ النَّقَاءُ لَـمُوعَا

بِثَبَاتٍ صَارَ النَّقَاءُ لَـمُوعَا

The Prophet’s companions are like refined gold,

And the Prophet's companions are like unworked gold growing pure;

Whose steadfastness made purity itself shine.

through steadfastness, purity became radiant.

وَرَسُولُ الْهُدَى شَفِيقٌ عَلِيهِمْ

وَرَسُولُ الْهُدَى شَفِيقٌ عَلِيهِمْ

يَرْحَمُ الْحَيَّ وَالْجَمَادَ وَدِيعَا

يَرْحَمُ الْحَيَّ وَالْجَمَادَ وَدِيعَا

The Messenger of guidance is compassionate toward them,

And the Messenger of guidance is compassionate toward them,

Merciful to living and lifeless things alike, gentle and kind.

gently showing mercy to the living and the inanimate.

مَلَأ الْكَوْنَ رَحْمَةً فَرَجَاهُ

مَلَأ الْكَوْنَ رَحْمَةً فَرَجَاهُ

جَمَلٌ نُصْرَةً وَيَهْمِي دُمُوعَا

جَمَلٌ نُصْرَةً وَيَهْمِي دُمُوعَا

He filled the universe with mercy; for his aid

He filled the universe with mercy, so he was implored

A camel pleaded, its tears streaming down.

by a camel for help, as it rained tears.

كَيْفَ لِلْجِذْعِ أَنْ يَحِنَّ اشْتِيَاقاً

كَيْفَ لِلْجِذْعِ أَنْ يَحِنَّ اشْتِيَاقاً

وَقُلُوبٌ كَالصَّخْرِ سَدّاً مَنِيعَا؟!

وَقُلُوبٌ كَالصَّخْرِ سَدّاً مَنِيعَا؟!

How can the tree trunk yearn with longing,

How can a tree trunk yearn with longing,

While hearts like stone stand an impregnable wall?!

while hearts are like rock, an impregnable barrier?

وَأَذَلَّ اللهُ الْكَفُورَ وَأَعْلَى

وَأَذَلَّ اللهُ الْكَفُورَ وَأَعْلَى

كِلْمَةَ الْحَقِّ فَاسْتَجَابُوا جُمُوعَا

كِلْمَةَ الْحَقِّ فَاسْتَجَابُوا جُمُوعَا

God abased the unbeliever and exalted

And God humbled the ungrateful unbeliever and raised high

The word of truth; then multitudes answered.

the word of truth; so they responded in throngs.

وَأَتَيْنَا بَعْدَ الْقُرُونِ نُلَبِّي

وَأَتَيْنَا بَعْدَ الْقُرُونِ نُلَبِّي

نَشْهَدُ الْحَقَّ نَسْتَضِيءُ تَبِيعَا

نَشْهَدُ الْحَقَّ نَسْتَضِيءُ تَبِيعَا

And we came after the centuries, answering the call,

And we came centuries later, answering the call,

Bearing witness to truth, answering gladly as followers.

bearing witness to the truth, seeking light as followers.

يَا نَبِيَّ الْهُدَى عَلَيْكَ صَلَاةٌ

يَا نَبِيَّ الْهُدَى عَلَيْكَ صَلَاةٌ

وَسَلامٌ مَا هَلَّ فَجْرٌ طُلُوعَا

وَسَلامٌ مَا هَلَّ فَجْرٌ طُلُوعَا

O Prophet of guidance, blessings upon you,

O Prophet of guidance, upon you be blessings

And peace, whenever dawn breaks and rises.

and peace, for as long as dawn breaks forth.

يَا إِمَامَ التُّقَى وَهَادِي الْحَيَارَى

يَا إِمَامَ التُّقَى وَهَادِي الْحَيَارَى

كُنْ لِحِبٍّ صَلَّى عَلَيْكَ شَفِيعَا

كُنْ لِحِبٍّ صَلَّى عَلَيْكَ شَفِيعَا

O imam of piety and guide of the bewildered,

O imam of piety and guide of the bewildered,

Intercede for one who loves you and invokes blessings upon you.

be an intercessor for a lover who invoked blessings upon you;

يَتَأَسَّى بِنُورِ هَدْيِكَ حُبّاً

يَتَأَسَّى بِنُورِ هَدْيِكَ حُبّاً

فَاسْقِهِ مِنْ يَدَيْكَ مَاءً نَقِيعَا

فَاسْقِهِ مِنْ يَدَيْكَ مَاءً نَقِيعَا

Lovingly he follows the light of your guidance;

he follows the light of your guidance out of love,

So give him, from your hands, a draught of pure water.

so give him thirst-quenching water from your hands.