عُبَيْرُك يَاقُدْس عِطْر الْفَنَن

عُبَيْرُك يَاقُدْس عِطْر الْفَنَن

أَيّا زَهْرَة فَوْق غُصْن الْزَّمَن

أَيّا زَهْرَة فَوْق غُصْن الْزَّمَن

Your fragrance, O Jerusalem, is the perfume of the bough.

Your fragrance, O Jerusalem, is the scent of arts

Your scent, O Jerusalem, is the fragrance of the bough,

O blossom upon the branch of time.

O flower above the branch of time

O blooming flower upon the branch of time,

أَرَيْجُك يَعْبَق مِنْه الْوُجُود

أَرَيْجُك يَعْبَق مِنْه الْوُجُود

وَيَنْهَل أَسْرَار تِلْك الْدِّمَن

وَيَنْهَل أَسْرَار تِلْك الْدِّمَن

All existence is fragrant with your scent,

Your aroma permeates existence

Your aroma fills existence with sweet perfume,

and drinks deeply of the secrets of those ruined dwellings.

And the secrets of that treasure are obtained

Drawing deep from the secrets of ancient ruins.

قَصِيْدَة شِعْر رَوَاهَا الْزَّمَان

قَصِيْدَة شِعْر رَوَاهَا الْزَّمَان

بِقَافِيَة الْدَّهْر خَلَف الْوَكْن

بِقَافِيَة الْدَّهْر خَلَف الْوَكْن

A poem recounted by time,

A poem of poetry told by time

A poem of verse narrated by the ages,

with the rhyme of the ages, behind the nests.

In the rhyme of fate behind the fold

In the rhyme of eternity, sheltered and secure.

وَرَنَّمَهَا نَغْمَة حُلُّوْة

وَرَنَّمَهَا نَغْمَة حُلُّوْة

بِهَا الْعِشْق كَم لِخَيَال فِتَن؟

بِهَا الْعِشْق كَم لِخَيَال فِتَن؟

And it sang it as a sweet melody:

And sang in a sweet melody

Time chanted it, a melody so sweet,

within it is love—how many enchantments for the imagination!

With it, how many imaginations has love seduced?

Where love holds charms that captivate the mind.

يُغْنِي بِهَا بَلْبَل فِي الْهَزِيِع

يُغْنِي بِهَا بَلْبَل فِي الْهَزِيِع

فَيُوْقِظ فِي الْنَّفْس غَافِي الْشَّجَن

فَيُوْقِظ فِي الْنَّفْس غَافِي الْشَّجَن

A nightingale sings it in the watches of the night,

A nightingale sings it in the bushes

A nightingale sings it in the deep of night,

awakening sorrow asleep within the soul.

Awakening the dormant passion in the soul

Waking within the soul a slumbering grief.

بَشَامِخ أَسْوَارِك الْعَالِيَات

بَشَامِخ أَسْوَارِك الْعَالِيَات

تُحَاط قلْاع الْهَدْى مِن وَهَن

تُحَاط قلْاع الْهَدْى مِن وَهَن

By the lofty heights of your towering walls,

With your towering walls

By your towering ramparts, high and proud,

the fortresses of guidance are guarded against weakness.

The fort of guidance is protected from weakness

The citadels of guidance are guarded from decay.

وَمَن قُبَّة الْصَّخْرَة الْمُغْتَدِى

وَمَن قُبَّة الْصَّخْرَة الْمُغْتَدِى

لِرِحْلَة اسْرَاء حَابِي الْمِنَن

لِرِحْلَة اسْرَاء حَابِي الْمِنَن

And from the Dome of the Rock was the departure

And from the Dome of the Rock

And from the Dome of the Rock, he set forth,

for the night journey of the Bestower of graces,

For the journey of Isra, the Bringer of Bounties

On a Night Journey, graced by the Giver of Boons.

بِعَبْد لَه قَد دَعَاه الْحَنِيْن

بِعَبْد لَه قَد دَعَاه الْحَنِيْن

الَي رَحْلِه الْعَالَم الْمُقْتَرِن

الَي رَحْلِه الْعَالَم الْمُقْتَرِن

with a servant of His whom longing had called

To a servant of His who yearning called him

A servant called by longing deep and true,

to His abode in the interconnected world.

To his footing paired with the world

To journey through the realms, entwined and vast.

غَدَاة الَيْه دَعَاه الْحَبِيْب

غَدَاة الَيْه دَعَاه الْحَبِيْب

لَأَرْض الْخَلِيْل فَقَاد الْرَّسَن

لَأَرْض الْخَلِيْل فَقَاد الْرَّسَن

On the morning the Beloved called him to Him,

In the morning, the Beloved called him

When the Beloved called him to His side,

to the land of al-Khalil, he took the reins.

To the land of Hebron, so he led the horse

To the land of the Friend, he held the reins.

بِلَيْلَة اسَرَائِه لِلْسَّمَاء

بِلَيْلَة اسَرَائِه لِلْسَّمَاء

وَمَعْرَاجِه فَوْق أَعْلَى الْفَنَن

وَمَعْرَاجِه فَوْق أَعْلَى الْفَنَن

On the night of his journey to heaven,

On the night of his ascension to the sky

On the night of his ascension to the skies,

and his ascent above the highest bough,

And his ascension above the highest of heights

Rising above the highest boughs of heaven.

بِسِدْرَة اشْرَاقِة الْمُنْتَهَى

بِسِدْرَة اشْرَاقِة الْمُنْتَهَى

بِمَقْدَمِه بِالْأَمَان اقْتَرَن

بِمَقْدَمِه بِالْأَمَان اقْتَرَن

at the radiant Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary,

At the Lote Tree of the extreme end

By the Lote Tree of the Limit, radiant and bright,

his arrival was attended by safety.

At his arrival, he was paired with safety

Where his arrival was joined with peace and grace.

وَعَاد الَي مَكَة فِي الْصَّبَاح

وَعَاد الَي مَكَة فِي الْصَّبَاح

وَوَحْي الْسَّمَاء بسَمْع يَرِن

وَوَحْي الْسَّمَاء بسَمْع يَرِن

He returned to Mecca in the morning,

And he returned to Mecca in the morning

Then he returned to Mecca at the dawn,

with heaven's revelation ringing in his hearing.

And the revelation of heaven rang in his hearing

With heaven's revelation ringing in his ears.

رَأى عَجَبا فِي مَجَال الْعَلِي

رَأى عَجَبا فِي مَجَال الْعَلِي

وَمَاضَم مِن سُرَّه وَالْعَلَن

وَمَاضَم مِن سُرَّه وَالْعَلَن

He saw wonders in the realm of the Most High,

He saw wonder in the high domain

He witnessed wonders in the Realm on High,

and all it held, hidden and revealed.

And whatever was concealed of his secrets and the manifest

Encompassing the secret and the seen.

رَأْى ادَم الْخَلْق فِي أَفْقَه

رَأْى ادَم الْخَلْق فِي أَفْقَه

وَمُوَسَى وَعِيْسَى ثَوَى فِي بَدَن

وَمُوَسَى وَعِيْسَى ثَوَى فِي بَدَن

He saw Adam, of humankind, on his horizon,

He saw Adam, the creation in his horizon

He saw Adam, father of creation, in his view,

and Moses and Jesus, dwelling in bodily form.

And Moses and Jesus residing in a body

And Moses, and Jesus embodied there.

وَكَلِمَه رَبَّه فِي عُلَاه

وَكَلِمَه رَبَّه فِي عُلَاه

وَفِي الْنُّوْر زُج لَاعَلَى فَنَن

وَفِي الْنُّوْر زُج لَاعَلَى فَنَن

His Lord spoke to him in His heights,

And he spoke to his Lord in His highness

His Lord addressed him in the Heights Sublime,

and into the light he was thrust, to the highest bough.

And in the Light, a merging, no higher arts

Cast into light, atop the highest peak.

نبي الْهَدْى خَاتَم الْمُرْسَلِيْن

نبي الْهَدْى خَاتَم الْمُرْسَلِيْن

وَهَادِم اّلَهَة مِن وَثَن

وَهَادِم اّلَهَة مِن وَثَن

Prophet of guidance, seal of the messengers,

The Prophet of guidance, seal of the Messengers

The Prophet of Guidance, Seal of Messengers,

and destroyer of idol-gods.

And demolisher of idols from idolatry

Shatterer of idols and false gods.

إلى مَسْجِد جِئْت مِن مَسْجِد

إلى مَسْجِد جِئْت مِن مَسْجِد

وَجِبْرِيْل يَحْدُو بِرّاقا حَرَن

وَجِبْرِيْل يَحْدُو بِرّاقا حَرَن

From a mosque you came to a mosque,

To a mosque I came from a mosque

From Sacred Mosque to Farthest Mosque you came,

while Gabriel urged on Buraq, who had balked.

And Gabriel trotting with Burāq swift

While Gabriel urged the Buraq, momentarily still.

فَقَال لَه مَه رُوَيْدَا بُرَاق

فَقَال لَه مَه رُوَيْدَا بُرَاق

فَأَنْت حَمَلَت نَبِي الْزَّمَن

فَأَنْت حَمَلَت نَبِي الْزَّمَن

He said to him, "Stop! Gently, Buraq—

So he said to him: wait, O Burāq

He said, "Be gentle, Buraq, take heed,"

for you have carried the Prophet of the age."

For you carried the Prophet of time

"For you bear the Prophet of the Age."

وَأَنْت لَه مُرَكَّب لِلْثَّرِى

وَأَنْت لَه مُرَكَّب لِلْثَّرِى

بِلَيْل سِرّى فِي عُرُوْق الْدِّمَن

بِلَيْل سِرّى فِي عُرُوْق الْدِّمَن

And you were his mount across the earth;

And you are for him a mount to the earth

"You are his steed ascending from the earth,"

by night he traveled through the veins of ruined dwellings.

In a secret night in the veins of time

"On a night journeying through the veins of time."

عَلَى مُد أُفُق جُنَاح لَه

عَلَى مُد أُفُق جُنَاح لَه

سفينته دُوْن كُل الْسُّفُن

سفينته دُوْن كُل الْسُّفُن

Across a horizon's span was his wing,

On the expanse of his horizon a wing for him

With wings that span the stretching of the view,

his vessel, unlike every other vessel.

His ship beyond all ships

A vessel unlike any other ship.

وَأَنِّى ترى سُفُن لْلْفَضَاء

وَأَنِّى ترى سُفُن لْلْفَضَاء

لِغَيْر الْنَّبِي لَانَّس وَجُن؟

لِغَيْر الْنَّبِي لَانَّس وَجُن؟

And how could you see vessels for space

And where do you see ships for space

How could one compare the vessels of the void,

for anyone but the Prophet, human or jinn?

Except for the Prophet, no human or Jinn?

Made for men or Jinn, to the Prophet's steed?

وَإن تَك كَانَت فَلَيْسَت لِخَيْر

وَإن تَك كَانَت فَلَيْسَت لِخَيْر

كرِحِلْتِه بَل لِجَلْب الْمِحَن

كرِحِلْتِه بَل لِجَلْب الْمِحَن

And even if such vessels existed, they were not for good

And if there were any, they are not for good

If such exist, they bring no blessed good,

like his journey, but to bring afflictions.

Like his footing, but to bring tribulations

Like his journey did—but only bring distress.

عناية رَب الْوَرَى حَوْلَه

عناية رَب الْوَرَى حَوْلَه

وَمِن فَوْقِه مَابَدَا أَو بَطْن

وَمِن فَوْقِه مَابَدَا أَو بَطْن

The care of the Lord of creation surrounded him,

The care of the Lord of the worlds around him

The care of the Lord of Worlds embraced him there,

and was above him, in what appeared or lay hidden.

And above him, openly or secretly

Shielding him from what was seen and unseen.

تَذَكَّرْت يَا قُدْس اسَرَاءَه

تَذَكَّرْت يَا قُدْس اسَرَاءَه

وَإذ قَاسى شَدِيْد الْأَحَن

وَإذ قَاسى شَدِيْد الْأَحَن

I remembered, O Jerusalem, his night journey,

I remembered, O Jerusalem, his ascension

I remembered, O Jerusalem, his Night Journey,

and when he endured bitter rancor,

And when he suffered severe distress

And the bitter trials he endured with patience.

وَحِيْن تَحَدَّاه قَوْم لَه

وَحِيْن تَحَدَّاه قَوْم لَه

أَبَر لَه وَوَقَاه الْأَفِن

أَبَر لَه وَوَقَاه الْأَفِن

and when his own people challenged him.

And when a people of his challenged him

When his own people rose to challenge him,

He kept faith with him and shielded him from folly.

He prevailed for him and protected the helpless

God vindicated him and saved him from their scorn.

وَاذ أنت لِي يَاقُدْس لِي قَد ذكَرْت

وَاذ أنت لِي يَاقُدْس لِي قَد ذكَرْت

هَمِّي الْدَّمْع مِن مُهْجَتِي وَالْحَزَن

هَمِّي الْدَّمْع مِن مُهْجَتِي وَالْحَزَن

And when you, Jerusalem, reminded me,

And when you, O Jerusalem, you reminded me

And now, O Jerusalem, you bring to mind for me,

tears and sorrow flowed from my heart.

My tears from my agony and sorrow overflowed

The flowing tears of my soul and deep despair.

أَبَيْت الْسَّلَام يَغَار عَلَيْه

أَبَيْت الْسَّلَام يَغَار عَلَيْه

وَيُهْدَم مِن صَرْحِه المغتبن؟

وَيُهْدَم مِن صَرْحِه المغتبن؟

Is the House of Peace to be raided,

Do you refuse peace envying it

Is the House of Peace now an object of envy,

and its wronged edifice partly demolished?

And from its fortress the wronged are demolished?

Its structure cheated, broken, and destroyed?

وَيُحَرِّم مِنَه ذوو قُرْبِه

وَيُحَرِّم مِنَه ذوو قُرْبِه

وَرَايات إسْلَامَه تُؤْتَفن؟

وَرَايات إسْلَامَه تُؤْتَفن؟

And those closest to it barred from it,

And those near to it are forbidden from it

Are its own people forbidden from its grounds,

and the banners of its Islam brought low?

And the banners of its Islam folded?

And the banners of its faith wrapped in shrouds?

وَيُخْرِس صَوْت حَمَام الهدى

وَيُخْرِس صَوْت حَمَام الهدى

فَيَا بِئْس بَاغ لَحَق غَبَن!

فَيَا بِئْس بَاغ لَحَق غَبَن!

And the voice of the doves of guidance silenced?

And the voice of the doves of guidance muted

Is the voice of the dove of guidance silenced?

How vile the aggressor who defrauds justice!

So miserable is the garden that was wronged!

Woe to the tyrant who deals in unjust theft!

اذَا عَاد شَعْب فِلِسْطِيْنِه

اذَا عَاد شَعْب فِلِسْطِيْنِه

لِغَزَّته أَو أَرِيْحَا سَكَن

لِغَزَّته أَو أَرِيْحَا سَكَن

If the people of Palestine return

When the people of its Palestine return to it

If Palestine's people should return one day,

to Gaza, or settle in Jericho,

To its glory or Jericho they settle

To dwell in Gaza or in Jericho again,

فَفِي الْقُدْس رُوْح لِجِسْم ثَوَى

فَفِي الْقُدْس رُوْح لِجِسْم ثَوَى

وَهَل دَوَّن رُوْح يَعِيْش الْبَدَن؟

وَهَل دَوَّن رُوْح يَعِيْش الْبَدَن؟

in Jerusalem lies the soul of a body at rest;

In Jerusalem there is a soul for the body that resides

Yet Jerusalem remains the soul within the form;

and can the body live without a soul?

And can a soul live without a body?

And can a body live without its soul?

أَيَا قُدْس يَامَوَطِن الْخَالِدِيْن

أَيَا قُدْس يَامَوَطِن الْخَالِدِيْن

مُضى عَنْك قَيْصَر وَالْغَرْب جَن

مُضى عَنْك قَيْصَر وَالْغَرْب جَن

O Jerusalem, O homeland of the immortals,

O Jerusalem, O homeland of the eternal

O Jerusalem, homeland of the deathless ones,

Caesar has passed from you, and the West has gone mad.

Caesar and the West have passed from you

Caesar has passed from you; the West went mad.

وَعُيِّن ابْن ايُّوْب فَاضَت أُسّى

وَعُيِّن ابْن ايُّوْب فَاضَت أُسّى

غَدَاة رَأْى فِيْك مَجْدَا دُفِن

غَدَاة رَأْى فِيْك مَجْدَا دُفِن

And Ibn Ayyub's eye overflowed with sorrow

And the son of Ayyoub's eyes overflowed with sorrow

The Son of Ayyub watched, tears flowing in grief,

on the morning he saw glory buried within you.

When at dawn he saw in you a vanished glory

When he saw your glory buried in the dust.

وَقَد كَان حَرَّر أَرْض الْخُلُوْد

وَقَد كَان حَرَّر أَرْض الْخُلُوْد

وَرِيَتْشَارْد قَلْب الْأُسِّى قَد وَهَن

وَرِيَتْشَارْد قَلْب الْأُسِّى قَد وَهَن

He had indeed liberated the land of immortality,

And he had liberated the land of eternity

Yet he it was who freed the eternal land,

and Richard's sorrowing heart had grown weak.

And Richard, the heart of the most sorrowful weakened

While Richard, the Lionheart, grew weak and frail.

وَقَد ذرَف الْدَّمْع مِنْه دَمَا

وَقَد ذرَف الْدَّمْع مِنْه دَمَا

عَلَي أنه لَم يَجِدْهَا وَطَن

عَلَي أنه لَم يَجِدْهَا وَطَن

He had shed tears of blood

And he shed bloodied tears

He wept tears that fell like drops of blood,

because he had not found it a homeland,

That he did not find it a homeland

That he could not claim this place as home.

إذا دَقَّت الْقُدُس أَجْرَاسُهَا

إذا دَقَّت الْقُدُس أَجْرَاسُهَا

وَصَوْت الْأَذان لَهَا قَد حَضَن

وَصَوْت الْأَذان لَهَا قَد حَضَن

when Jerusalem rang its bells

When Jerusalem rings its bells

When Jerusalem tolls her ancient bells,

and the sound of the call to prayer embraced her.

And the call to prayer for it is embraced

And the call to prayer embraces her skies,

وَوَدَعَهَا تَارِكَا حُزْنِهَا

وَوَدَعَهَا تَارِكَا حُزْنِهَا

وَعَار الْهَزِيمَة مِنْه احْتَجَن

وَعَار الْهَزِيمَة مِنْه احْتَجَن

He bade her farewell, leaving her sorrow behind,

And he left it forsaking its sorrow

He bade farewell, leaving her sorrow there,

and kept the shame of defeat for himself.

And the disgrace of defeat from it withdrew

Carrying away the shame of his defeat.