1. يا فؤادي غلبتني عِصيانا

    فأطِعْني فقد عصيتَ زمانا

    O my heart, you have overcome me through defiance.

    So obey me, for you have long disobeyed.

  2. يا فؤادي أما تَحنُّ إلى طُوْ

    بَى إذا الريحُ هَبَّت الأغصانا

    O my heart, do you not yearn for Ṭūbā,

    when the wind sways its branches?

  3. مَثِّلِ الأولياءَ في جنّة الخلْ

    دِ إذا ما تقابلوا إخوانا

    Picture the saints in the Garden of Eternity,

    when they meet face to face as brothers.

  4. قد تعالَوْا على أسِرَّة دُرٍّ

    لابسينَ الحريرَ والأرجوانا

    They sit aloft on couches of pearl,

    clad in silk and purple.

  5. وعليهم تيجانُهم والأكالي

    لُ تباهي بحُسنها التيجانا

    Their crowns are upon them, and the wreaths

    rival the crowns in beauty.

  6. يتعاطَوْنَها سُلافاً شَمولاً

    في جِنانٍ مجاورَاتٍ جِنانا

    They pass it round—pure, first-pressed wine—

    in gardens adjoining gardens.

  7. يتلقّاهمُ بقولٍ حَفيٍّ

    مرحباً مرحباً بكم رُكبانا

    He welcomes them with kindly words:

    'Welcome, welcome to you, riders!'

  8. وتجلَّتْ عن وجههِ حُجُبُ النو

    ر فسبحانَ وجهِه سبحانا

    And the veils of light drew away from his face,

    so glory to his face, all glory!

  9. واستفادوا بشاشةً وسروراً

    ينفيانِ الشرورَ والأحزانا

    And they gained cheerfulness and joy,

    which banish evils and sorrows.

  10. ثم آبوا فاستقبلَتْهُم حِسانٌ

    من بناتِ النعيم فُقْن الحسانا

    Then they returned, and beautiful women welcomed them,

    from among the daughters of bliss, surpassing all beauties,

  11. بوجوهٍ مثل المصابيح لا يَعْ

    رِفْنَ إلا الظلالَ والأكنانا

    with faces like lamps, who know nothing

    but shade and sheltered retreats,

  12. مُرْسلاتٍ على الروادِف منهنْ

    نَ فُروعاً تمج مِسكاً وبانا

    letting fall over their buttocks

    locks that exude musk and bān fragrance.

  13. لو رأى البدرُ بعضَهُنَّ أو الشمْ

    سُ لَذلَّا لوجهها واستكانا

    If the full moon or the sun saw one of them,

    both would bow before her face and submit.

  14. فتلقَّينهم بأهلاً وسهلاً

    رافعات إليهمُ الريحانا

    Then they welcomed them with 'Welcome, be at ease!'

    holding basil up to them.

  15. كُنَّ بالأولياء مُفتتناتٍ

    ثم زِيدوا نوراً فزِدْنَ افتِتانا

    They were enthralled by the saints,

    then the men were given more light, and the women grew more enthralled.

  16. فتراهُنَّ مقبلاتٍ عليهم

    بابتهاجٍ قد عَصْفروا الألوانا

    So you see them approaching the men,

    in delight, the men's complexions safflower-dyed,

  17. راشفات أفواهَهُمْ رشَفَك الما

    ءَ إذا ما شرِبْتَهُ ظمآنا

    sipping at their mouths as you sip water,

    when you drink it thirsty,

  18. قائلاتٍ عيلَ التصبُّرُ عنكم

    فانزلوا آن أنْ نراكُمْ وحانا

    saying, 'Our patience away from you is spent.

    So dismount; it is time for us to see you—the time has come!'

  19. فَثنوا أرجُلَ النزولِ وحلُّوا

    في المقاصير لابسينَ أمانا

    So they bent their legs to dismount, and settled

    in private chambers, clothed in safety.

  20. تارةً بعضُهم يزورون بعضاً

    ويزورونَ ربَّهم أحيانا

    At times they visit one another,

    and sometimes they visit their Lord.

  21. ثم يَخْلُون بعد ذلك بالحُوْ

    رِ إذا ما تشوَّقوا الأوطانا

    Then, after that, they are alone with the houris,

    when they yearn for their homes.

  22. فهمُ الدهر في سرورٍ جديدٍ

    ليس يخلونَ من سرورٍ أوانا

    So they are forever in fresh joy,

    never without joy for a moment.