نُورُthe light الْهَوَىof love فِيin ظَلاَمِthe darkness الْبَيْنِof separation هَادِينَاour guide
نُورُ الْهَوَى فِي ظَلاَمِ الْبَيْنِ هَادِينَا
فَمَاso what لَنَاfor us وَلِتَزْوِيرِand with the deceit of الْمُرَائِينَاthe hypocrites
فَمَا لَنَا وَلِتَزْوِيرِ الْمُرَائِينَا
The light of love is our guide in the darkness of separation.
The light of passion in the darkness of separation guides us,
The light of love in the darkness of separation guides us, so what business have we with the deceptions of hypocrites?
So what have we to do with the deceit of hypocrites?
So why care for the pretensions of the hypocrites?
Reproach attempts to make us forget our beloveds, but may nothing ever make us forget those we love.
يُحَاوِلُtries الْعَذْلُreproach يُسْلِينَاto make us forget أَحِبَّتَنَاour beloveds
يُحَاوِلُ الْعَذْلُ يُسْلِينَا أَحِبَّتَنَا
لاَmay not كَانَthere be شَيْءٌanything مِنَfrom الأَحْبَابِthe beloveds يُسْلِينَاto make us forget
لاَ كَانَ شَيْءٌ مِنَ الأَحْبَابِ يُسْلِينَا
Reproach tries to make us forget our beloveds.
Reason tries to console us for our loved ones,
I beseech you by God, leave us alone with our passion, O you who has come to strike us with the arrows of blame.
May nothing ever make us forget our beloveds!
But nothing can console us like our loved ones.
We have taken solemn covenants with our beloveds, that we shall forever despise those who cast blame.
نَاشَدْتُكَI adjure you اللهَby God دَعْنَاleave us وَصَبَابَتَنَاand our ardent longing
نَاشَدْتُكَ اللهَ دَعْنَا وَصَبَابَتَنَا
يَاO مَنْyou who غَدَاhave begun بِنِبَالِwith the arrows of اللَّوْمِblame يَصْمِينَاto slay us
يَا مَنْ غَدَا بِنِبَالِ اللَّوْمِ يَصْمِينَا
I adjure you by God: leave us with our ardent longing,
I implore you by God, leave us to our youth,
We are the most tender-hearted of God's servants, so do not blame us, for blame brings about our ruin.
O you who have begun to slay us with arrows of blame!
O you who assail us with the arrows of blame!
And do not reprimand a lovesick soul for wasting away, for emaciation is the finest trait of lovers.
إِنَّاindeed, we أَخَذْنَاhave taken عُهُوداًpledges مِنْfrom أَحِبَّتِنَاour beloveds
إِنَّا أَخَذْنَا عُهُوداً مِنْ أَحِبَّتِنَا
أَنْthat لاَnot نَزَالُwe cease لِأَهْلِtoward the people of اللَّوْمِblame قَالِينَاbeing averse
أَنْ لاَ نَزَالُ لِأَهْلِ اللَّوْمِ قَالِينَا
We have taken pledges from our beloveds:
We have pledged to our loved ones
We, the fellowship of lovers, possess souls that long grieve over what once briefly brought us joy.
That we never cease detesting those who blame.
That we will not remain submissive to the blamers.
May my soul be a ransom—though ransom is futile—for those whose love has turned my hair gray just past twenty.
إِنَّاindeed, we أَرَقُّthe tenderest of عِبَادِthe servants of اللهِGod أَفْئِدَةًin heart
إِنَّا أَرَقُّ عِبَادِ اللهِ أَفْئِدَةً
فَلاَso do not تَلُمْنَاblame us فَإِنَّfor indeed اللَّوْمَblame يُرْدِينَاdestroys us
فَلاَ تَلُمْنَا فَإِنَّ اللَّوْمَ يُرْدِينَا
We are the tenderest-hearted of God's servants.
We are the most tenderhearted of God's servants,
They are crescent moons; had your eyes seen their radiant beauty, you would have been struck with infatuation, imitating madmen.
So do not blame us, for blame destroys us.
So do not blame us, for blame ruins us,
You have gone to extremes in reproaching us, if only it were of use! But it only entices us further into wasting away and passion.
وَلاَand do not تُعَاتِبْreproach عَلىَfor فَرْطِthe excessive degree of الضَّنَىwasting sickness دَنِفاًa lovesick sufferer
وَلاَ تُعَاتِبْ عَلىَ فَرْطِ الضَّنَى دَنِفاً
إِنَّindeed الضَّنَىwasting sickness خَيْرُthe best of أَوْصَافِthe traits of الْمُحِبِّينَاthe lovers
إِنَّ الضَّنَى خَيْرُ أَوْصَافِ الْمُحِبِّينَا
And do not reproach a lovesick sufferer for his extreme wasting;
Nor rebuke us for the excess of love's agony,
Nothing benefits the heart-stricken, lovesick soul except the sublime traits of the Chosen One, the sun of the prophets.
For wasting sickness is the finest trait of lovers.
For agony is the best trait of lovers.
Muhammad, the finest of all of God's creation without exception; by my life, these traits cure us of our deepest sorrows.
إِنَّاindeed, we مَعَاشِرَthe company of أَهْلِthe people of الْحُبِّlove أَنْفُسَنَاour souls
إِنَّا مَعَاشِرَ أَهْلِ الْحُبِّ أَنْفُسَنَا
تَشْجَىgrieve طَويلاًfor a long time بِمَاover what سُرَّتْthey were gladdened بِهِby it حِينَاfor a while
تَشْجَى طَويلاً بِمَا سُرَّتْ بِهِ حِينَا
We, the company of lovers—our souls
We lovers are people whose souls
May God reward Abu Isa with the greatest recompense given to one who built a legacy of compiling and recording.
Grieve long over what delighted them for a while.
Long mourn for what delighted us before.
He gifted us with a book containing pearls so magnificent they spare us the need for precious gems.
نَفْسِيmy soul الْفِدَاءُthe ransom وَمَاand what يُجْدِيavails الْفِدَاءُthe ransom لِمَنْfor those who
نَفْسِي الْفِدَاءُ وَمَا يُجْدِي الْفِدَاءُ لِمَنْ
شَيَّبَنِيturned me gray حُبُّهُمْlove of them فِيin إِثْرِthe wake of عِشْرِينَاtwenty
شَيَّبَنِي حُبُّهُمْ فِي إِثْرِ عِشْرِينَا
My soul be a ransom—yet what good is ransom to those
My soul is ransom! But what avails a ransom for one
These are the noble traits of the best of messengers, the one for whom inanimate objects spoke in clear and eloquent articulation.
Whose love turned me gray just past twenty?
Whose love for them has turned my hair gray in my youth?
The palm trunk wept in yearning at his separation, and the desert lizard spoke to him, to the frustration of his enemies.
أَهِلَّةٌcrescent moons لَوْif رَأَتْhad seen عَيْنَاكَyour two eyes بَهْجَتَهُمْtheir splendor
أَهِلَّةٌ لَوْ رَأَتْ عَيْنَاكَ بَهْجَتَهُمْ
لَصِرْتَyou would surely become فِيin وَلَهٍbewildered longing تَحْكِيresembling الْمَجَانِينَاthe madmen
لَصِرْتَ فِي وَلَهٍ تَحْكِي الْمَجَانِينَا
Crescent moons—had your eyes seen their splendor,
If your eyes saw their splendor but once,
Sweet water gushed abundantly from his hand, and the camel complained to him of its exhaustion and toil.
You would be delirious with longing, resembling madmen.
You would rave madly like the insane.
And the wolf eloquently told the news of his mission in a detailed story that profoundly dazzles the mind.
بَالَغْتَyou have gone far فِيin عَدْلِنَاcorrecting us لَوْif only كَانَit were يَنْفَعُنَاhelping us
بَالَغْتَ فِي عَدْلِنَا لَوْ كَانَ يَنْفَعُنَا
لَكِنَّهُbut it بِالضَّنَىtoward wasting sickness وَالْوَجْدُand longing يُغْرِينَاincites us
لَكِنَّهُ بِالضَّنَى وَالْوَجْدُ يُغْرِينَا
You have gone far in correcting us—if only it could help us;
You have exceeded in blaming us; if only blaming avails!
How many virtues, whose number cannot be counted, appeared for the refuge of mankind, the savior of those who call out!
Yet it incites us to wasting sickness and longing.
But blaming drives us on to love and ecstasy.
May the God of the Throne bless him as long as the gray doves in the orchards continue to coo to us,
لاَnot يَنْفَعُbenefits الدَّنِفَthe lovesick sufferer الْمَفْؤُودَthe heart-stricken one شَيْءٌanything سِوَىexcept
لاَ يَنْفَعُ الدَّنِفَ الْمَفْؤُودَ شَيْءٌ سِوَى
شَمَائِلِthe traits of الْمُصْطَفَىthe Chosen One شَمْسِthe sun of النَّبِيئِينَاthe prophets
شَمَائِلِ الْمُصْطَفَى شَمْسِ النَّبِيئِينَا
Nothing helps the lovesick, heart-stricken sufferer except
Nothing avails the embittered critic but
And his family and all his companions, as long as the hand of intense passion plucks the hearts of lovers.
The traits of the Chosen One, the sun of the prophets,
The noble traits of Mustafa, the sun of prophets,
O Lord, by the Chosen Guide and his followers, forgive us and overlook our misdeeds,
مُحَمَّدٍMuhammad خَيْرِthe best of خَلْقِthe creation of اللهِGod قَاطِبَةًall together
مُحَمَّدٍ خَيْرِ خَلْقِ اللهِ قَاطِبَةً
فَهْيَfor they لَعَمْرِيby my life مِنَof الأَشْجَانِsorrows تُبْرِينَاcure us
فَهْيَ لَعَمْرِي مِنَ الأَشْجَانِ تُبْرِينَا
Muhammad, the best of all God's creation.
Muhammad, the best of all God's creation,
And our parents, our families, and our companions; we have extended the hands of humility, calling upon You,
For, by my life, they cure us of sorrows.
For he, by my life, frees us from sorrow.
Seeking the intercession of the best of all creation, seeking the rain of Your generosity, filled with hope.
جَزَىmay reward الإِلْهُGod أَبَاAbu (father of) عِيسَى'Isa بِأَفْضَلِwith the best of مَاwhat
جَزَى الإِلْهُ أَبَا عِيسَى بِأَفْضَلِ مَا
جَزَىHe rewarded الذِيone who شَادَbuilt up تَصْنِيفاًauthorship وَتَدْوِينَاand compilation
جَزَى الذِي شَادَ تَصْنِيفاً وَتَدْوِينَا
May God reward Abu 'Isa with the best that
May God reward Abu Isa with the best reward
Accept the intercession of Your Messenger for us on the Day of Gathering; perhaps he will clothe us in the silk of Paradise.
He has bestowed on one who fashioned writings and compilations.
For one who compiled and recorded this work,
And extend the life of our Sheikh, this valiant leader, who spends his evenings teaching us the traits of the best of messengers:
أَتْحَفَنَاhe gifted us بِكِتَابٍwith a book قَدْindeed حَوَىcontained دُرَراًpearls
أَتْحَفَنَا بِكِتَابٍ قَدْ حَوَى دُرَراً
جَلِيلَةًof great worth عَنْin place of نَفِيسِprecious الدُّرِّpearls تُغْنِينَاsuffice us
جَلِيلَةً عَنْ نَفِيسِ الدُّرِّ تُغْنِينَا
He gifted us a book that contains pearls
And presented us a book containing precious pearls
The full moon of the sciences and the lamp of the age, Abu al-Abbas, who has mastered excellence and refinement;
Of great worth, sparing us the need for precious pearls.
Sublime, that make rare gems unnecessary for us.
The sun of eminence, Ahmad ibn al-Hajj, whose constant habit is teaching the sciences and silencing adversaries.
هِيَthey are شَمَائِلُthe traits of خَيْرِthe best of الرُّسْلِthe messengers مَنْthe one who نَطَقَتْspoke
هِيَ شَمَائِلُ خَيْرِ الرُّسْلِ مَنْ نَطَقَتْ
لَهُto him الْجَمَادَاتُinanimate things إِفْصَاحاًplainly وَتَبْيِينَاand clearly
لَهُ الْجَمَادَاتُ إِفْصَاحاً وَتَبْيِينَا
They are the traits of the best of messengers, who was addressed
These are the traits of the best messenger, whose speech
Protect him from all whose calamities are feared, and may God have mercy upon the servant who says 'Amen'.
By inanimate things, plainly and clearly.
Made inanimate objects eloquent and clear.
وَحَنَّand moaned longingly مِنْfrom بَيْنِهِparting from him الْجِذْعُthe trunk وَكَلَّمَهُand spoke to him
وَحَنَّ مِنْ بَيْنِهِ الْجِذْعُ وَكَلَّمَهُ
ضَبُّthe lizard of الْفَلاَةِthe desert بِمَاwith what غَاظَenraged الْمُعَادِينَاthe adversaries
ضَبُّ الْفَلاَةِ بِمَا غَاظَ الْمُعَادِينَا
And the trunk moaned at parting from him, and he was addressed by
The tree trunk bent toward him and spoke to him
The desert lizard, with words that enraged his adversaries.
When the wolf of the wilderness raged against his foes.
وَفَاضَand poured forth مِنْfrom يَدِهِhis hand الْمَاءُthe water الزُّلاَلُclear and fresh وَقَدْand indeed
وَفَاضَ مِنْ يَدِهِ الْمَاءُ الزُّلاَلُ وَقَدْ
شَكَاcomplained الْبَعِيرُthe camel إِلَيْهِto him الْكَدَّof toil تَلْقِينَاby conveying it
شَكَا الْبَعِيرُ إِلَيْهِ الْكَدَّ تَلْقِينَا
And clear water poured from his hand, and indeed
Water flowed copiously from his hand, though
The camel complained to him of toil, making it known.
The camel had complained to him of exhaustion.
وَالذِّئْبُand the wolf أَفْصَحَspoke clearly عَنْof أَنْبَاءِthe tidings of بِعْثَتِهِhis mission
وَالذِّئْبُ أَفْصَحَ عَنْ أَنْبَاءِ بِعْثَتِهِ
فِيin قِصَّةٍa tale تُبْهِرُdazzles الأَلْبَابَthe minds تَعْيِينَاin its particulars
فِي قِصَّةٍ تُبْهِرُ الأَلْبَابَ تَعْيِينَا
And the wolf spoke plainly of the tidings of his mission,
The wolf eloquently told of the news of his mission
In a tale that, in its details, dazzles minds.
In a tale that dazzles minds and wears them out.
كَمْhow many مِنْof فَضَائِلَvirtues لاَnot يُحْصَىcan be counted تَعَدُّدُهَاtheir multitude
كَمْ مِنْ فَضَائِلَ لاَ يُحْصَى تَعَدُّدُهَا
بَدَتْwere manifest لِكَهْفِin the refuge of الْوَرَىhumankind غَوْثِthe succor of الْمُنَادِينَاthose who call out
بَدَتْ لِكَهْفِ الْوَرَى غَوْثِ الْمُنَادِينَا
How many virtues, whose multitude is beyond reckoning,
How many countless merits appeared
Were manifest in humankind's refuge, the succor of those who call!
To the cave of the world, aid of those crying out!
صَلَّىmay bless عَلَيْهِupon him إِلَهُthe God of الْعَرْشِthe Throne مَاas long as طَفِقَتْcontinue
صَلَّى عَلَيْهِ إِلَهُ الْعَرْشِ مَا طَفِقَتْ
وُرْقُgray الْحَمَائِمِthe doves فِيamong دَوْحٍspreading trees تُنَاغِينَاcoo to us
وُرْقُ الْحَمَائِمِ فِي دَوْحٍ تُنَاغِينَا
May the God of the Throne bless him for as long as
May the God of the Throne bless him whenever
Gray doves coo to us among spreading trees;
The leaves of doves rustle in the vale.
وَآلِهِand his family وَجَمِيعِand all of الصَّحْبِthe companions مَاas long as قَطَفَتْplucks
وَآلِهِ وَجَمِيعِ الصَّحْبِ مَا قَطَفَتْ
يَدُthe hand of الصَّبَابَةِardent longing أَلْبَابَthe minds of الْمُحِبِّينَاthe lovers
يَدُ الصَّبَابَةِ أَلْبَابَ الْمُحِبِّينَا
And his family and all his companions, for as long as
And his family, and all his companions, whenever
The hand of longing plucks the minds of lovers.
The hands of youth pluck minds of lovers.
يَاO رَبِّmy Lord بِالْمُصْطَفَىby the Chosen One الْهَادِيthe guide وَشِيعَتِهِand his followers
يَا رَبِّ بِالْمُصْطَفَى الْهَادِي وَشِيعَتِهِ
إِغْفِرْforgive لَنَاfor us وَتَجَاوَزْand pass عَنْover مَسَاوِينَاour misdeeds
إِغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَجَاوَزْ عَنْ مَسَاوِينَا
O my Lord, by the Chosen One, the guide, and his followers,
O Lord! By the Mustafa, the guide, and his followers
Forgive us and pass over our misdeeds,
Forgive us and overlook our sins!
وَوَالِدِينَاand our parents وَأَهْلِينَاand our families وَشِيعَتِنَاand our followers
وَوَالِدِينَا وَأَهْلِينَا وَشِيعَتِنَا
إِنَّاindeed, we مَدَدْنَاhave stretched out أَكُفَّthe palms of الذُّلِّhumility دَاعِينَاsupplicating
إِنَّا مَدَدْنَا أَكُفَّ الذُّلِّ دَاعِينَا
And forgive our parents, our families, and our followers.
And our parents, our families and our followers,
Indeed, we have stretched out humble palms, supplicating,
For we have extended the palms of humiliation beseeching you.
مُسْتَشْفِعِينَseeking intercession بِخَيْرِthrough the best of الْخَلْقِcreation قَاطِبَةُall of it
مُسْتَشْفِعِينَ بِخَيْرِ الْخَلْقِ قَاطِبَةُ
مُنْتَجِعِينَحَيَاseeking the life-giving rain of جَدْوَاكَYour bounty رَاجِينَاhoping
مُنْتَجِعِينَحَيَا جَدْوَاكَ رَاجِينَا
Seeking intercession through the best of all creation,
Seeking intercession through the best of creation universally,
Seeking the life-giving rain of Your bounty, hoping.
Seeking refuge in the sanctuary of your generosity,
شَفِّعْaccept the intercession of رَسُولَكَYour Messenger فِينَاfor us يَوْمَon the day of مَحْشَرِنَاour gathering
شَفِّعْ رَسُولَكَ فِينَا يَوْمَ مَحْشَرِنَا
عَسَاهُmay he مِنْwith سُنْدُسِthe fine silk of الْفِرْدَوْسِParadise يُكْسِينَاclothe us
عَسَاهُ مِنْ سُنْدُسِ الْفِرْدَوْسِ يُكْسِينَا
Accept Your Messenger's intercession for us on the day of our gathering;
Intercede, your Messenger, for us on the Day of Gathering,
May he clothe us in the fine silk of Paradise.
That he may clothe us in the silk of Paradise!
وَامْدُدْand prolong مَدَىthe lifespan of شَيْخِنَاour teacher هَذَاthis الْهُمَامِthe noble one الذِيwho
وَامْدُدْ مَدَى شَيْخِنَا هَذَا الْهُمَامِ الذِي
أَمْسَىhas come to شَمَائِلَthe traits of خَيْرِthe best of الرُّسْلِthe messengers يُقْرِينَاteaches us
أَمْسَى شَمَائِلَ خَيْرِ الرُّسْلِ يُقْرِينَا
And prolong the life of this noble teacher of ours, who
And extend the life of our Shaykh, this noble one, who
Has come to teach us the traits of the best of messengers:
Recites to us the traits of the best Messenger.
بَدْرُthe full moon of الْعُلُومِthe sciences وَمِصْبَاحُand the lamp of الزَّمَانِthe age أَبُوAbu (father of) الْal- (the)
بَدْرُ الْعُلُومِ وَمِصْبَاحُ الزَّمَانِ أَبُو الْ
عَبَّاسِ'Abbas مَنْone who حَازَattained إِبْدَاعاًoriginality وَتَحْسِينَاand refinement
عَبَّاسِ مَنْ حَازَ إِبْدَاعاً وَتَحْسِينَا
The full moon of the sciences and the lamp of the age, Abu al-
Full moon of knowledge, lamp of the age, Abu al-Abbas,
'Abbas, who attained originality and refinement.
Who has achieved such excellence and grace!
شَمْسٌa sun الْعُلاَof eminence أَحْمَدُAhmad بْنُson of الْحَاجِal-Hajj دَيْدَنُهُhis constant practice
شَمْسٌ الْعُلاَ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ الْحَاجِ دَيْدَنُهُ
دَرْسُthe study of الْعُلُومِthe sciences وَتَبْكِيتُand the silencing of الْمُنَاوِينَاthe adversaries
دَرْسُ الْعُلُومِ وَتَبْكِيتُ الْمُنَاوِينَا
The sun of eminence, Ahmad ibn al-Hajj, whose constant practice is
Sun of eminence, Ahmad Ibn al-Haj, Didda,
The study of the sciences and the silencing of adversaries.
Lesson of sciences and lament of the woeful!
وَاكْلَأْهُand guard him مِنْfrom كُلِّall مَاthat which تَخْشَىone fears غَوَائِلُهُits perils
وَاكْلَأْهُ مِنْ كُلِّ مَا تَخْشَى غَوَائِلُهُ
وَيَرْحَمُand may have mercy اللهُGod عَبْداًon a servant قَالَwho says آمِينَاAmen
وَيَرْحَمُ اللهُ عَبْداً قَالَ آمِينَا
And guard him from everything whose perils one fears,
And protect him from all feared misfortunes,
And may God have mercy on a servant who says, "Amen."
And may God have mercy on one who said "Amen!"
Partial English translation: 29 of 58 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1