لمن كل مطواع العنان كريم

يخف على متن الفلاة كريم

Whose is each noble steed, obedient to the rein,

a noble steed that skims across the desert's back?

طمر طموح الطرف أجرد سابح

جموح خفيف الساعدين جموم

A spirited horse, lofty-eyed, sleek-coated, swimming along,

Headstrong, light in both forelegs, full of fresh vigor;

يظل يباري في الأصائل ظله

ويعد ولدي الظلماء وظليم

He keeps racing his shadow in the late afternoons,

And runs through darkness like an ostrich [text uncertain].

وهو جاء فتلاء المرافق جسرة

شمردلة عيطاء ذات وسوم

And a headstrong she-camel, strong-elbowed and sturdy [text uncertain],

Tall, long-necked, bearing brands;

وكوماً أدماء لجلابيب أولعت

بطيّ بساط الأرض طيّ أديم

And a high-humped, tawny-coated camel, intent

On folding the earth's carpet as leather is folded.

عليهن نشوى هزة وارتياحة

ولا راح تجلوها أكف نديم

Upon them ride travelers intoxicated with thrill and delight,

Though no wine is brought forth by a drinking-companion's hands.

تهزهم الذكرى كما هز ناضرا

من الأيك لدن العطف مرّ نسيم

Remembrance sways them as a fresh bough is swayed,

From the grove, supple of branch, by a passing breeze.

يؤمون حيث الصبح يتلع جيده

ويلوى سواد الليل عطف هزيم

They head toward where dawn raises its neck,

And night's blackness bends its flank in flight.

يرومون أرجاء الحمى زارها الجيا

بكل جميم الودق غير ذميم

They seek the sanctuary's outskirts, visited by rain [reading uncertain],

With every rain-cloud lavish in showers, never mean.

فيا نعم ركب البر والبشر والندى

نعمتم ودمتم في ظلال نعيم

How excellent a caravan of goodness, cheer, and generosity!

May you be blessed and remain beneath the shades of bliss!

أروني فتى سبط الخلائق ينتمي

إلى حسب في الماجدين صميم

Show me a youth of gentle character, descended

From lineage deeply rooted among the noble.

تحنّ إلى العافي حمامة صدره

ويحنو على العاني حنوّ حميم

The dove of his breast yearns toward the supplicant,

And he bends toward the captive with a close friend's tenderness.

أحمله نحو الحيّ ما خف حمله

تحية صب للغرام غريم

I would charge him to carry toward the encampment a light burden:

A greeting from a lovesick man, debtor to passion.

سلاماً كما مرّت على الروض شمأل

فعادت بر الرند ذات شميم

A salutation like a north wind passing over the meadow,

Then returning from the laurel country with fragrance [text uncertain].

وأشكو إليه ما تكنّ جوانح

أقام بهن الشوق سوق هموم

And I would tell him what my ribs conceal:

Longing has established within them a market of cares.

عساه إذا اجتاز الغميم إلى الحمى

يقص على أهليه بعض غموم

Perhaps, when he passes through al-Ghamim to the sanctuary,

He will tell its people some of my sorrows.

وفي كلكم مرتاد خير فبلغوا

لبانة محزون الفواد كليم

In every one of you is a seeker of good; so convey

The plea of a wounded man with a sorrowful heart.

وقولوا تركناه مقيماً وقلبه

وقد زُمت الأظعان غير مقيم

And say: We left him staying behind, though his heart,

When the camel-litters were readied, would not stay.

يسارق في إثر الركائب نظرة

يردّدها والنفس رهن وجوم

He steals a glance after the riding-camels,

Repeating it, his soul held captive by silent distress.

ويكتم وجداً كاد يبدو كمينه

بدمع على سر الضمير غوم

And he conceals a passion whose hidden force nearly shows,

With tears that shroud his heart's secret.

وتعرض ذكراكم فيرفض جفنه

فيعرض والآماق ذات كلوم

The thought of you appears, and his eyelid spills tears;

He turns away, his inner eye-corners wounded.

يكف شؤن الدمع خيفة شانئ

يُلم بقول في الملام أليم

He checks the fountains of his tears for fear of a foe

Who might assail him with a painful word of reproach.

ويا حادييها خفضا السير وارفقا

يسيراً فبعض الرفق غير ملوم

O you two camel-drivers, slow your pace and be gentle

A little; some gentleness deserves no blame.

غداً تذر البيداء والسير والسرى

دراها من الأنضا منهب سهوم

Tomorrow the desert, journeying, and night travel will leave

Their humps wasted away, a prey to withering [text uncertain].

رويد كما فاستبقياهن تبلغا

بهنّ حطيم البيت غير حطيم

Easy, you two! Spare them, and you will reach

Upon them the House's Hatim, without being broken.

إلى أن تحطا عند طيبة رحلها

فيا طيب مثوى للنزيل كريم

Until you set down their saddle at Taybah:

What a lovely resting-place for a noble guest!

لدى خير من تزجى له أرحبية

تشد عرى إرقالها برسيم

Beside the best to whom an Arhabi she-camel is driven,

Binding the bonds of her rushing gait with a brisk trot.

أجلّ الورى المبعوث في خير أمة

بخير هدى من فرع خير أروم

The noblest of humankind, sent among the best community,

With the best guidance, a scion of the finest roots;

نبيّ هدى اللَه العباد بهديه

لتوحيده من بعد غيّ حُلُوم

A prophet through whose guidance God led His servants

To affirm His oneness, after their minds had strayed.

أطل على ليل من الشرك ضارب

رواقيه غربيب الرداء بهيم

He rose over a night of idolatry that spread

Its awnings, pitch-black in cloak, utterly dark.

فما زال حتى ضا مشرق ومغرب

بنور جلا الآفاق منه عميم

He persevered until east and west shone

With an all-embracing light from him that brightened the horizons.

وأوضح نهج الحق من بعد ما عفت

معالم آيات له ورسوم

And he made the path of truth clear, after there had faded

The landmarks of its signs and its traces.

ويا صاحبي ودّي وللودذمة

وعهدي بذاك الود غير ذميم

O my two companions in affection—for affection has its covenant—

My pledge to that affection is beyond reproach.

وهذا كتاب اللَه جلّ ثناؤه

يفيض بمدح في علاه عظيم

And this is God's Book—exalted be His praise—

Overflowing with great praise of his high rank.

نبيّ كريم للعفاة مؤمّل

رؤف بحال المؤمنين رحيم

A noble prophet, hoped for by seekers of bounty,

Tender toward believers' condition, merciful.

يلوذ بحقويه العفاة إذا دجا

ظلام ملمّ أو ملم ظلوم

Seekers of bounty shelter at his sides whenever there deepens

The gloom of calamity, or a cruel assailant comes.

به يغفر اللَه الذنوب ويرتجي

شفاعته في الحشر كل أنيم

Through him God forgives sins; hope is placed

In his intercession at the Gathering, by every living creature.

وتزدحم الآمال حوليه عوذا

بباب كفيل بالنجاح زعيم

And hopes crowd around him, seeking refuge

At a door that guarantees success, a surety;

كما ازدحمت هوج الركائب ورّدا

بذي شبم عذب النطاف جموم

As headstrong riding-camels crowd, coming to drink,

At cool water, sweet in its drops, abundant.

يحف به غض من النبت نوره

يرف رفيف البرق بين غيوم

Tender plants surround it, their blossoms

Shimmering like lightning among clouds.

تعهده صوب العهاد بأوطف

من المزن محلول الوكاء سجوم

The showers of recurring rains tend it with a shaggy mass

Of raincloud, its waterskin's cord untied, pouring freely.

فعاد كما نمنمت خدّ حبيرة

من الخزأ وحبرت خط رقيم

It becomes like the embroidered face of a patterned cloth

Of silk, and the embellished lettering of a scroll.

يوافيه مولاها بشعث ضوامر

سواغب يبدين الكلالة هيم

Their owner reaches it with disheveled, lean she-camels,

Hungry, showing exhaustion, parched with thirst.

فيصدرها شكرى البطون روية

بوادن قد أوعين ثقل جسوم

Then he leads them away, their bellies full, their thirst quenched,

Plump, bearing the weight of well-filled bodies.

وشق له البدر المنير كصدره

ومن إسمه ذي الحمد وسم وسيم

For him the shining full moon was split, as was his breast,

And from His praiseworthy name a fair name was bestowed.

وحلاه من أسمائه وصفاته

ويسمو عن التشبيه وصف قديم

He adorned him with His names and attributes,

Yet a pre-eternal attribute rises beyond comparison:

بحق مبين مؤمن ومهيمن

رؤف رحيم بالعباد كريم

With 'True,' 'Manifest,' 'Giver of Security,' and 'Guardian,'

'Tender,' 'Merciful,' and 'Generous' toward His servants.

وأسرى به والليل مرخ سدوله

سرى خير حب للحبيب مروم

He bore him by night while night let fall its curtains,

On a night-journey of the best beloved, sought by the Beloved.

من البيت للبيت المقدّس قادماً

إلى بيته المعمور خير قدوم

From the House to the Holy House, proceeding

To His Frequented House, with the finest arrival;

إلى الرفرف الأعلى بحيث تفاخرت

خطا كل مرفوع المكان عظيم

To the highest Rafraf, where there vied in pride

The steps of every great one exalted in station.

فأوحى بما أوحى إلى خير حافظ

لمستودع الأسرار غير نموم

Then He revealed what He revealed to the finest keeper

Of entrusted secrets, no tale-bearer;

قمين بتبليغ الرسالة قائم

باعباء ذاك الخطب غير جهوم

Worthy to convey the message, undertaking

The burdens of that mighty task, without a scowl.

له المعجزات الغرّ يقصر دونها

سنى وسناء نيرات نجوم

His are radiant miracles, before which fall short

The brightness and splendor of shining stars.

أتى بكتاب اللَه يتلوه داعياً

لاقوم دين بالنجاة زعيم

He brought God's Book, reciting it and calling

To the straightest faith, which guarantees salvation.

كتاب مبين يمحق الريب محكم

تقاصر عنه قول كل حكيم

A clear, firmly established Book that wipes away doubt,

Before which every sage's speech falls short.

تحدّى به في الأنس والجن معلما

فلم يبد غير العجز كل عليم

With it he openly challenged humankind and jinn,

Yet every learned one displayed nothing but inability.

إليك رسول اللَه خدمة مدحة

وحسبي عُلا إن اسم باسم خديم

To you, Messenger of God, I offer a panegyric in service;

Honor enough for me if I am called a servant.

لك الخير يا نفس افقهي الأمر وانظري

ولا تحطمي في القول حطم هشيم

Blessings on you, my soul: understand the matter and reflect,

And do not rush headlong in speech like the crushing of dry brushwood.

بأي كمال رمت أن تترفعي

لخدمته قد رمت نيل عظيم

By what perfection have you sought to rise

To his service? You have sought a mighty attainment.

أأنسيت ما قدّمت من كل سيء

لهوت به في حادث وقديم

Have you forgotten all the evil you committed,

With which you amused yourself recently and long ago?

ومعصية الرحمن في طاعة الهوى

بكل مقام كان غير قويم

And disobedience to the Merciful in obedience to desire,

In every situation that was not upright?

وضيعت طول العمر في غير طائل

وطوّلت بالتقصير حبل هموم

You wasted your whole life on what was fruitless,

And through neglect stretched long the rope of cares.

وسوّدت وجهي بالمعاصي وقد بدا

به من بياض الشيب وشي رقوم

You blackened my face with sins, though there appeared

Upon it the patterned embroidery of white, graying hair.

خُطاك إلى نحو الخطايا سريعة

وسعيك للطاعات سعي سقيم

Your steps toward sins are swift,

But your striving for obedience is the striving of the infirm.

نعم لك فيما قد تمنيت وجهه

فقد لذت فيما رمته بكريم

Yes, there is a sound ground for what you have wished [reading uncertain],

For, in what you sought, you took refuge with a generous one.

كريم لو امتار الجهام بنانه

لسال بفيض الودق غير جهوم

Generous—were a rainless cloud to seek provisions from his fingers,

It would stream with overflowing rain, no longer barren.

كريم يرى أن لا تردّيد امرئ

تمدّ له الا بخير مروم

Generous, he holds that no man's hand should be sent back,

When stretched toward him, except with the good it seeks.