شجونٌ نحوَها العشاقُ فاؤا

شجونٌ نحوَها العشاقُ فاؤا

وصبّ ما لهُ في الصبرِ راء

وصبّ ما لهُ في الصبرِ راء

Sorrows to which lovers have returned,

The passionates yearn for it

And a lovesick man whose patience, ṣabr, lacks its rāʾ.

And the patient pour out what they have of patience

وصحبٌ إن غروا بملام مثلي

وصحبٌ إن غروا بملام مثلي

فربَّ أصاحبٍ بالإثم باؤا

فربَّ أصاحبٍ بالإثم باؤا

And companions, if they are drawn to blaming one like me—

And companions, if they are deluded by blaming the likes of me

For many companions have returned laden with sin.

Then many a companion goes astray through sin

وعينٌ دمعها في الحبِّ طهرٌ

وعينٌ دمعها في الحبِّ طهرٌ

كأن دموع عيني بيرُ حاء

كأن دموع عيني بيرُ حاء

And an eye whose tears in love are purification,

And an eye whose tears in love are pure

As though my eye's tears were Biʾr Ḥāʾ.

As if my eyes' tears were a stream of rainwater

ولاحٍ ما لهُ هاء وميمٌ

ولاحٍ ما لهُ هاء وميمٌ

له من صبوتي ميم وهاء

له من صبوتي ميم وهاء

And a reproacher with no hāʾ and mīm—no concern—

A flashing light that has no "h" or "m"

Has from my passion mīm and hāʾ: 'Enough!'

It has from my youth an "m" and an "h"

ومثلي ما لعشقتهِ هدوّ

ومثلي ما لعشقتهِ هدوّ

يرامُ ولا لسلوتهِ اهتداء

يرامُ ولا لسلوتهِ اهتداء

And for one like me, no stillness in his passion

And the like of me who didn't fall in love with it straying

Can be hoped for, nor any way to forget.

Is sought but not to its tranquility guided

كأن الحبَّ دائرةٌ بقلبي

كأن الحبَّ دائرةٌ بقلبي

فحيثُ الانتهاء الابتداء

فحيثُ الانتهاء الابتداء

As though love were a circle in my heart,

As if love runs cycles in my heart

So wherever it ends, it begins.

So where is the end, there is the beginning

بروحي جيرة رحلوا بقلبٍ

بروحي جيرة رحلوا بقلبٍ

أحبَّ وأحسنوا فيما أساؤا

أحبَّ وأحسنوا فيما أساؤا

My soul's ransom for neighbors who departed with a heart

They carried off my soul, departing with a heart

That loved them; they did good in the wrong they did.

That loved and did good in whatever they did wrong

بهم أيامُ عيشي والليالي

بهم أيامُ عيشي والليالي

هي الغلمانُ كانت والإماء

هي الغلمانُ كانت والإماء

Through them, my days of life and my nights

My days of life and the nights

Were the slave boys and the slave girls.

Were boys that were, and maidens

تولى من جمالهم ربيعٌ

تولى من جمالهم ربيعٌ

فجاء بنوء أجفاني الشتاء

فجاء بنوء أجفاني الشتاء

A springtime of their beauty passed away,

The spring of their beauty turned away

So winter came with the rain of my eyelids.

So the shedding of my eyelids' leaves came, winter

وبثَّ صبابتي إنسان عيني

وبثَّ صبابتي إنسان عيني

فيا عجباً وفي الفم منه ماء

فيا عجباً وفي الفم منه ماء

The pupil of my eye disclosed my yearning,

And a human poured my youth into the cup of my eye

How strange, with water from it in the mouth!

So strange! And from his mouth into it water

على خدي حميم من دموعي

على خدي حميم من دموعي

صديق إن دنوا ونأوا سواء

صديق إن دنوا ونأوا سواء

On my cheek is a warm companion from my tears,

Intimate, from my tears, is on my cheek

A friend alike when they draw near or go afar.

A friend - if they came near or went far, same

فأبكي حسرةً حيثُ التَّنائي

فأبكي حسرةً حيثُ التَّنائي

وأبكي فرحةً حيثُ اللقاء

وأبكي فرحةً حيثُ اللقاء

I weep in sorrow when we are parted,

So I cry in sorrow where there is separation

And weep for joy when we meet.

And I cry in joy where there is meeting

كأن بكايَ لي عبدٌ مجيبٌ

كأن بكايَ لي عبدٌ مجيبٌ

فما فرجي إذاً إلاَّ البكاء

فما فرجي إذاً إلاَّ البكاء

As though my weeping were an obedient slave,

As if my crying for me is an answering servant

So my only relief, then, is weeping.

So my relief - if that - is but crying

بعين الله عينٌ قد جفاها

بعين الله عينٌ قد جفاها

كرَاهَا والأحبةُ والهناء

كرَاهَا والأحبةُ والهناء

Under God's watchful eye is an eye forsaken

By God's eye an eye He has disappointed

By its sleep, the loved ones, and happiness.

Discontent and loved ones and bliss

لفكرته سرىً في كل وادٍ

لفكرته سرىً في كل وادٍ

كأنَّ حنينهُ فيها حداء

كأنَّ حنينهُ فيها حداء

His thought journeys by night through every valley,

For a thought of him running in every valley

As though his yearning there were a camel-driver's chant.

As if its pining in it is fresh

ذكتْ أشواقه فمتى تراها

ذكتْ أشواقه فمتى تراها

قباب قبا كما لمعت ذُكاء

قباب قبا كما لمعت ذُكاء

His longings blaze—when will you behold them,

It kindled his passions - when will it be seen

The domes of Qubāʾ, shining as Dhukāʾ, the sun, shone?

Domes upon domes as brilliance sparkled

بحيثُ الأفقُ يشرِقُ مطلعاه

بحيثُ الأفقُ يشرِقُ مطلعاه

وحيث سنا النبوَّةِ والسناء

وحيث سنا النبوَّةِ والسناء

Where the horizon shines at both its rising points,

Where the horizon rises, his place of emergence

And where are prophecy's radiance and exalted glory.

And where the prophecy and eminence shone

وبابُ محمدِ المرجوِّ يروَى

وبابُ محمدِ المرجوِّ يروَى

لقاصدِه نجاحٌ أو نجاء

لقاصدِه نجاحٌ أو نجاء

At the gate of Muhammad, in whom we hope, is narrated

And the door of Muhammad the hoped for is watered

For its seeker, success or deliverance.

For its seeker success or attainment

تلوذ بجاهِه الفقراء مثلي

تلوذ بجاهِه الفقراء مثلي

من العملِ الرديّ والاملياء

من العملِ الرديّ والاملياء

The poor, like me, take refuge in his standing

The destitute like me take refuge in his status

From vile deeds, and so do the wealthy.

From ugly work and aspiration

فأما واجدٌ فروَى رباحٌ

فأما واجدٌ فروَى رباحٌ

وإمَّا مقتر فروى عطاء

وإمَّا مقتر فروى عطاء

For the man of means, Rabāḥ—'Gain'—narrates;

So indeed a finder finds a profitable trade

And for the needy, ʿAṭāʾ—'Giving'—narrates.

While a seeker finds a gift

لنا سند من الرجوى لديه

لنا سند من الرجوى لديه

غداة غد يعننه الوفاء

غداة غد يعننه الوفاء

We have with him a chain of hope,

For us is a pillar from the hoped for, with him

At tomorrow's dawn, fulfillment will give it a heading.

Tomorrow, tomorrow - loyalty will help him

وترتقبُ العصاةُ ندَى شفيعٍ

وترتقبُ العصاةُ ندَى شفيعٍ

مجابٍ قبل ما وقع النداء

مجابٍ قبل ما وقع النداء

And sinners await the bounty of an intercessor

And the rebels anticipate an interceding

Answered even before the call is uttered.

Responder before the call takes place

سلام الله إصباحاً وممسى

سلام الله إصباحاً وممسى

على مثواه والسحب البطاء

على مثواه والسحب البطاء

God's peace, at morning and evening,

Allah's peace morning and evening

Upon his resting place, with slow-moving clouds.

Upon his resting place and the slow clouds

كما كان الغمامُ عليه ظلاًّ

كما كان الغمامُ عليه ظلاًّ

عليهِ الآنَ يسفحُ ما يشاء

عليهِ الآنَ يسفحُ ما يشاء

As the cloud once shaded him,

As the clouds were over him a shade

Now it pours upon him whatever it wishes.

Upon him now they pour whatever they will

ألا يا حبَّذا في الرسل شافي

ألا يا حبَّذا في الرسل شافي

قلوبٍ شفَّها للعشقِ داء

قلوبٍ شفَّها للعشقِ داء

Ah, how excellent among messengers is the healer

Oh, excellent among the messengers a healer

Of hearts wasted by love's disease.

Of hearts it healed for passion an illness

فمرسلة لها سحبُ العوافي

فمرسلة لها سحبُ العوافي

يعفى الداءُ بادره الدواء

يعفى الداءُ بادره الدواء

For them the clouds of well-being are sent;

So for it the clouds of gifts unleashed are sent

The illness is effaced; the remedy hastened to it.

And when the virtues of the one with the broad forehead are studied

ومن انتقبت مناقبُ أبطحيٍّ

ومن انتقبت مناقبُ أبطحيٍّ

وعنها الأرضُ تفصحُ والسماء

وعنها الأرضُ تفصحُ والسماء

And the man of al-Abṭaḥ whose virtues have veiled themselves,

About them the earth and heaven speak

Yet earth and heaven proclaim them.

So this star and that star bear witness

فيشهد نجمُ تلك ونجمُ هذي

فيشهد نجمُ تلك ونجمُ هذي

ويجري من يديهِ ندىً وماء

ويجري من يديهِ ندىً وماء

Earth's herbs and heaven's stars bear witness,

And from his hands a moisture and water flow

And bounty and water flow from his hands.

Upon a leg trees flourished and stood

على ساق سعتْ شجرةٌ وقامت

على ساق سعتْ شجرةٌ وقامت

حروبُ النصرِ وازدَحمَ الظماء

حروبُ النصرِ وازدَحمَ الظماء

A tree ran upon a leg, and there arose

The battles of victory and the thirsty thronged

Wars of victory, while the thirsty thronged.

So in life for us, through his sacrifice, a leg

ففي الدنيا لنا بجداه ساق

ففي الدنيا لنا بجداه ساق

وفي الأخرى لنا الحوضُ الرواء

وفي الأخرى لنا الحوضُ الرواء

In this world, through his bounty, we have a cupbearer,

And in the next, for us, the sated pool

And in the next, the thirst-quenching Pool.

And in the Magians' fire, for us a guide

وفي نارِ المجوسِ لنا دليل

وفي نارِ المجوسِ لنا دليل

لأنفسهم بها ولها انطفاء

لأنفسهم بها ولها انطفاء

In the Magians' fire we have a sign:

For themselves through it, and for it extinguishing

Their souls within it, and the fire itself, are extinguished.

And in captivity, his companions pride

وفي الأسرَى وصحبته فخار

وفي الأسرَى وصحبته فخار

ينادي ما على صبح غطاء

ينادي ما على صبح غطاء

In the captives and his companionship there is glory,

Calling: No blame upon an unveiled dawn!

Proclaiming: no veil covers the dawn.

So say to the atheists - shun them -

فقلْ للملحدِين تنقلوها

فقلْ للملحدِين تنقلوها

جحيماً إننا منكم براء

جحيماً إننا منكم براء

Tell the unbelievers: roam through it,

Hellfire! We are of you innocent!

A hellfire! We are free of you.

That my father and his father and my honor

وأن أبي ووالدَهُ وعرضي

وأن أبي ووالدَهُ وعرضي

لعرضِ محمدٍ منكم وقاء

لعرضِ محمدٍ منكم وقاء

And my father, his father, and my honor

Are, from you, to Muhammad's honor, protected

Are a shield for Muhammad's honor against you.

And that Muhammad is a beloved companion

وأن محمداً لحبيب أنس

وأن محمداً لحبيب أنس

وجنهمو لنعليه فداء

وجنهمو لنعليه فداء

And Muhammad is indeed beloved of humankind;

And Hellfire his shoe's ransom

Their jinn are ransom for his two sandals.

A prophet the tidings of whom are graced

نبيّ تجمل الأنباء عنه

نبيّ تجمل الأنباء عنه

جمالَ الشمسِ يجلوها الضحاء

جمالَ الشمسِ يجلوها الضحاء

A prophet: tidings of him shine with beauty,

With the sun's beauty - dawn reveals it

Like the beauty of the sun unveiled by forenoon.

And where is the sun to him in brilliance? And were it not

وأين الشمس منه سناً ولولا

وأين الشمس منه سناً ولولا

سناه لما ألمَّ بها بهاء

سناه لما ألمَّ بها بهاء

What is the sun beside him in radiance? Were it not

For his brilliance, splendor would not have touched it

For his light, no splendor would have touched it.

As if the full moon - humility made it yellow

كأنَّ البدرَ صفرهُ خشوعٌ

كأنَّ البدرَ صفرهُ خشوعٌ

له والشمسَ ضرَّجها حياء

له والشمسَ ضرَّجها حياء

As though reverence had made the full moon pale

For him, and the sun - modesty colored it red

Before him, and modesty had reddened the sun.

A secret in the letters' pronunciation is a secret

سريّ في حروف اللفظ سرّ

سريّ في حروف اللفظ سرّ

لمنطقه وللضادِ اختباء

لمنطقه وللضادِ اختباء

A noble one: a secret lies in the letters of speech

For his eloquence, and for the "d" hiding

For his utterance, while the ḍād lies hidden.

Have you not seen that it sat in pride

ألمْ ترَ أنها جلست لفخر

ألمْ ترَ أنها جلست لفخر

وقامت خدمة للضاد ظاء

وقامت خدمة للضاد ظاء

Have you not seen it sit in pride,

And stood in service of the pronouncing "d"

And a ẓāʾ stand in service to the ḍād?

The excellence of his birth brings good fortune

يولد فضل مولدِهِ سعوداً

يولد فضل مولدِهِ سعوداً

بنو سعدٍ بها أبداً وضاء

بنو سعدٍ بها أبداً وضاء

The excellence of his birth begets good fortune;

By it Bani Sa'd forever illuminated

Through it Banū Saʿd are forever radiant.

For his mission a fire for the customary

لمبعثه على العادين نار

لمبعثه على العادين نار

وللهادين نور يستضاء

وللهادين نور يستضاء

His mission is fire against aggressors,

And for the guided, a light they seek

And light for guides to draw illumination from.

So best that the fortunate delight in it

فخيرٌ ينعم السعداء فيه

فخيرٌ ينعم السعداء فيه

وبأسٌ تحتويهِ الأشقياء

وبأسٌ تحتويهِ الأشقياء

A blessing in which the fortunate delight,

And affliction the wretched contain

And martial might that the wretched bear.

It drags on the ground the train of humility

يجرُّ على الثرى ذيل اتِّضاع

يجرُّ على الثرى ذيل اتِّضاع

وينصب في مكارمه الثراء

وينصب في مكارمه الثراء

He trails upon the dust a hem of humility,

And sets up in his noble deeds prominence

And raises wealth amid his noble deeds.

And writes with the swords one day's terror

ويكتب بالنصال غداة روع

ويكتب بالنصال غداة روع

سطوراً ما لأحرفها هجاء

سطوراً ما لأحرفها هجاء

With blades he writes, on a morning of terror,

Lines whose letters have no invective

Lines whose letters have no spelling.

In praise, three lines for harm

ممدحة ثلاثتها لضرّ

ممدحة ثلاثتها لضرّ

ضرَابٌ أو طعانٌ أو رماء

ضرَابٌ أو طعانٌ أو رماء

A praiseworthy feat, whose three forms bring harm:

A striker, or stabber, or shooter

Striking, thrusting, or shooting.

So what a brother you are, of courage and devotion

فيا لك من أخي صول ونسكٍ

فيا لك من أخي صول ونسكٍ

تقرّ له العدى والأولياء

تقرّ له العدى والأولياء

How splendid you are, a man of valor and devotion,

The enemies' necks bow, and the loyalists'

Acknowledged by enemies and friends alike.

Arrows of prayer for him, and arrows of opinion

سهام دعاً له وسهامُ رأيٍ

سهام دعاً له وسهامُ رأيٍ

لها في كل معركةٍ مضاء

لها في كل معركةٍ مضاء

He has arrows of prayer and arrows of judgment,

For them in every battle illumination

With piercing force in every battle.

The army leader knows what his knights did

درى ذو الجيش ما صنعت ظباه

درى ذو الجيش ما صنعت ظباه

وما يدريه ما صنع الدعاء

وما يدريه ما صنع الدعاء

The army's master knew what his blades had done,

And does not know what the prayer did

But what tells him what prayer accomplished?

And generosity, after forbearance, enough for me

وقال الجود بعد الحلم حسبي

وقال الجود بعد الحلم حسبي

حياءً إن شيمتك الحياء

حياءً إن شيمتك الحياء

After forbearance, generosity said, 'Enough for me!'

Shyness - if your nature is shyness

In modesty—for modesty is your nature.

So excellent the fortress if wars rise

فنعمَ الحصنُ إن طلعت خطوبٌ

فنعمَ الحصنُ إن طلعت خطوبٌ

ونعم القطبُ إن دارَ الثناء

ونعم القطبُ إن دارَ الثناء

How fine a fortress when calamities arise!

And excellent the axis if praise spins

How fine a pole when praise revolves!

And excellent the aid if warring parties turn

ونعمَ الغوث إن دهياء دارت

ونعمَ الغوث إن دهياء دارت

ونعم العونُ إن دارَ الرجاء

ونعم العونُ إن دارَ الرجاء

How fine a refuge when dire disaster comes round!

And excellent the helper if hopes spin

How fine a helper when hope comes round!

And excellent the Chosen One from a people whose

ونعمَ المصطفى من معشر مّا

ونعمَ المصطفى من معشر مّا

نجومُ النيراتِ لهمْ كفاء

نجومُ النيراتِ لهمْ كفاء

How fine the chosen one from a company that no

Stars for them are matched

Stars among the luminaries can equal!

Eminence of ancestors precedes and ancient glory

تقدم سؤددٍ وقديم مجدٍ

تقدم سؤددٍ وقديم مجدٍ

على سعد السعودِ لهُ حباء

على سعد السعودِ لهُ حباء

Precedence in lordship and ancient glory

Upon Sa'd al-Su'ud - for him affection

Are his gifts above Saʿd al-Suʿūd.

I wove garments of praise and described for him

ضفت حلل الثنا وصفت لديه

ضفت حلل الثنا وصفت لديه

وآدمُ بعدَها طينٌ وماء

وآدمُ بعدَها طينٌ وماء

Robes of praise were ample and pure for him,

And Adam after them is clay and water

While Adam, even afterward, was clay and water.

So were it not for the eloquent in praise of him

فلولا معربُ الأمداحِ فيه

فلولا معربُ الأمداحِ فيه

هوى بيتُ القريضِ ولا بناء

هوى بيتُ القريضِ ولا بناء

But for one who voices praises of him,

The house of poetry would collapse, no building

The house of poetry would fall, with no building left.

And were it not for him, pilgrims would not have flooded

ولولاه لما حجَّت وعجَّت

ولولاه لما حجَّت وعجَّت

وفودُ البيتِ ضاقَ بها الفضاء

وفودُ البيتِ ضاقَ بها الفضاء

And but for him, there would be no pilgrimage or clamor

And crowded the House, the vastness confined

Of delegations to the House, so many that space grew cramped.

So if a praise is recited for him during Pilgrimage

فإن يتلىْ له في الحجّ حمدٌ

فإن يتلىْ له في الحجّ حمدٌ

فقدماً قد تلته الأنبياء

فقدماً قد تلته الأنبياء

If praise is recited for him in the pilgrimage,

Prophets before have recited it

The prophets recited it long ago.

Prepare for me, O Hope, a time of nearness

أعدْ لي يا رجاءُ زمانَ قرب

أعدْ لي يا رجاءُ زمانَ قرب

بروضته أعد لي يا رجاء

بروضته أعد لي يا رجاء

Restore to me, O Hope, a time of nearness

In its meadow, prepare for me, O Hope

In his garden; restore it to me, O Hope!

And the kissing of pebbles from its blessed soil

ولثم حصىً لتربتِهِ ذكيّ

ولثم حصىً لتربتِهِ ذكيّ

كأنَّ شذاه في نفسي كباء

كأنَّ شذاه في نفسي كباء

And fragrant kisses on pebbles of his grave's earth,

As if its fragrance in my soul hoarfrost

As though their scent were incense in my soul.

And the complaint of a hardship relieved, as it was

وشكوى كربة فرِجتْ وكانتْ

وشكوى كربة فرِجتْ وكانتْ

من اللاّتي يمدّ بها العناء

من اللاّتي يمدّ بها العناء

And the complaint of a distress that was relieved, though it was

Of those which hardships extend

One of those by which suffering is prolonged.

And a soul whose sin is like the Nile extending

ونفس ذنبها كالنيلِ مدّا

ونفس ذنبها كالنيلِ مدّا

وما لوعود توبتها وفاء

وما لوعود توبتها وفاء

And a soul whose sin swells like the Nile,

And the promises of its repentance have no loyalty

Whose promises of repentance go unfulfilled.

Yearning, whenever promised something good

مشوَّقة متى وُعدَتْ بخير

مشوَّقة متى وُعدَتْ بخير

تقل سينٌ وواوٌ ثم فاء

تقل سينٌ وواوٌ ثم فاء

Yearning, whenever it is promised good,

Say "s" and "w" then "f"

It says: sīn, wāw, then fāʾ—'I will.'

But her love and her witnessing

ولكن حبها وشهادتاها

ولكن حبها وشهادتاها

من النيرانِ نعمَ الأكفياء

من النيرانِ نعمَ الأكفياء

Yet its love and its two professions of faith

Are the best protectors from the fires

Are excellent safeguards against the flames.

May Allah purify, O most righteous of creations

صفيَّ الله يا أزكى البرايا

صفيَّ الله يا أزكى البرايا

بحبك من عقائدنا الصفاء

بحبك من عقائدنا الصفاء

God's chosen one, O purest of creation,

Through your love, our beliefs' purity

Through love of you our beliefs have purity.

And the intercessor save us from Hellfire

ويعتقنا المشفّع من جحيم

ويعتقنا المشفّع من جحيم

فلا عجبٌ له منا الولاء

فلا عجبٌ له منا الولاء

The intercessor whose plea is accepted frees us from hell,

So no wonder we have for him loyalty

So our allegiance to him is no wonder.

Upon you from the angels at every time

عليك من الملائك كلَّ وقتٍ

عليك من الملائك كلَّ وقتٍ

صلاة في الجنان لها أداء

صلاة في الجنان لها أداء

Upon you, from the angels, at every moment,

A prayer in Gardens being fulfilled

Are blessings offered in the gardens of Paradise.

And praises upon the earth's tongues

وأمداح بألسنة الورى في

وأمداح بألسنة الورى في

مطالعها ارتقاءٌ وانتقاء

مطالعها ارتقاءٌ وانتقاء

And praises on the tongues of humankind,

In their horizons rising and careful selection

In whose openings are elevation and refinement.

When it concludes, it repeats - so every reciter

إذا ختمت تعاد فكل تال

إذا ختمت تعاد فكل تال

له وقفٌ عليها وابتداء

له وقفٌ عليها وابتداء

Whenever completed, they are repeated; every reciter

To him has a pause, and a beginning

Has a pause in them and a fresh beginning.