قُلْsay لِلذيto the one who قدalready ملَكَنيhas possessed me مَلْكَهfull possession
قُلْ لِلذي قد ملَكَني مَلْكَه
وغَبَّطَand made enviable الجِسْمَthe body بالسّقامْthrough sickness
وغَبَّطَ الجِسْمَ بالسّقامْ
Say to him who has taken full possession of me,
And made the body enviable through sickness:
لوْلاwere it not that استَواbecame equal قربِيmy nearness فيكto you وبعديand my distance
لوْلا استَوا قربِي فيك وبعدي
قَدalready كانَwould have متُI died فيكْfor you منof الغرامpassionate love
قَد كانَ متُ فيكْ من الغرام
Were my nearness to you and my distance not equal,
I would already have died of passion for you.
ياO مَنyou whose سَرَىcoursed سِرُّa mystery فيthrough طِباعِيmy nature
يا مَن سَرَى سِرُّ في طِباعِي
أنْتَyou الْقَريبْthe near one مِنِّيto me الْبَعِيدthe distant one
أنْتَ الْقَريبْ مِنِّي الْبَعِيد
O you whose mystery has coursed through my nature,
You are near to me, yet far away.
منamong أعْجَبِthe strangest الأشْياءِthings وانتand you معِيwith me
من أعْجَبِ الأشْياءِ وانت معِي
وعِشْقِيand my passionate love فيكْfor you كُلَّevery يَومٍday يَزيدْincreases
وعِشْقِي فيكْ كُلَّ يَومٍ يَزيدْ
One of the strangest things: you are with me,
Yet my love for you increases every day.
وَأناand I بتهتَكِيin my abandon وانْطِباعِيand my natural disposition
وَأنا بتهتَكِي وانْطِباعِي
غَرامِيmy passion فِيكْfor you دائِمeverlasting جديدnew
غَرامِي فِيكْ دائِم جديد
And I, in my abandon and natural disposition—
My passion for you is forever new.
ولوْand if تَرانِيyou could see me وأناwhile I فيin هَتْكَهa state of abandon
ولوْ تَرانِي وأنا في هَتْكَه
ماemphatic particle بيْنَamong مُحِبِّينَكْyour lovers الهِيامlove-maddened
ما بيْنَ مُحِبِّينَكْ الهِيام
And if you could see me in my abandon,
Among your love-maddened lovers!
همْthey يَشْكُوcomplain بَعْدَكَyour distance وأنتَwhile you عِنديwith me
همْ يَشْكُو بَعْدَكَ وأنتَ عِندي
حاضِرpresent بِقَلْبِيin my heart علىat الدَّوامْall times
حاضِر بِقَلْبِي على الدَّوامْ
They complain of your distance, while you are with me,
Ever present in my heart.
ياO كَعْبَةَKaaba of الْحُسْنِbeauty ياO عِمادِيmy mainstay
يا كَعْبَةَ الْحُسْنِ يا عِمادِي
فَنائِيmy annihilation فِيكْin you غايةُthe utmost الثُّبُوتْpermanence
فَنائِي فِيكْ غايةُ الثُّبُوتْ
O Kaaba of beauty, O my mainstay,
My annihilation in you is the utmost permanence.
ياO كَنْزِيmy treasure ماwhat مَذْهَبthe path of اعْتقَادِيmy belief
يا كَنْزِي ما مَذْهَب اعْتقَادِي
ذِكْرُكْremembering you لِقَلْبيfor my heart أجَلُّthe noblest قُوتْsustenance
ذِكْرُكْ لِقَلْبي أجَلُّ قُوتْ
O my treasure, what is the path of my belief?
Remembering you is my heart's noblest sustenance.
أشْhow حالْmuch نَقُولI would say لَوْلاَwere it not for مَاemphatic particle
أشْ حالْ نَقُول لَوْلاَ مَا
الأعادِيthe enemies وإِنماbut rather نَلْزَمُI keep to السُّكوتsilence
الأعادِي وإِنما نَلْزَمُ السُّكوت
How much I would say, were it not for
The enemies! Instead, I keep silent.
وخَوْفيand my fear منَّكof you مَسَكْنيhas gripped me مَسْكَهa firm grip
وخَوْفي منَّك مَسَكْني مَسْكَه
فصِرْتُso I became كالْمُهْرِlike a colt باللّجامْby the bridle
فصِرْتُ كالْمُهْرِ باللّجامْ
And my fear of you has gripped me fast,
So I have become like a colt held by the bridle.
وإِنْand if تَعَدَّيْتُI overstep فيكَwith you حَدِّيmy limit
وإِنْ تَعَدَّيْتُ فيكَ حَدِّي
تَقْتُلْنِيkills me هَيْبَتكَyour awe-inspiring majesty دونَwithout حُسامa sword
تَقْتُلْنِي هَيْبَتكَ دونَ حُسام
And if I overstep my bounds with you,
Your awe-inspiring majesty kills me without a sword.
ياO شمسِsun ياO بَدْرِيmy full moon ياO حَياتِيmy life
يا شمسِ يا بَدْرِي يا حَياتِي
حُسَّاديthose who envy me فيكْover you فيamong الوَرَىmankind كَثِيرmany
حُسَّادي فيكْ في الوَرَى كَثِير
O sun, O my full moon, O my life,
Many among mankind envy me for you.
وكُلُّهُمand all of them يَشْتَهُواdesire مَماتِيmy death
وكُلُّهُم يَشْتَهُوا مَماتِي
وإِنَّماyet ذَاكَthat لَمhas not يَصِيرcome to pass
وإِنَّما ذَاكَ لَم يَصِير
And all of them desire my death,
Yet that has not come to pass.
إِحْييrevive رُسُومِيmy traces ومُدَّand prolong ذَاتِيmy being
إِحْيي رُسُومِي ومُدَّ ذَاتِي
واكتُبْand write لِعَبْدَكfor your servant بِذَاconcerning this ظَهِيرa decree
واكتُبْ لِعَبْدَك بِذَا ظَهِير
Revive my traces and prolong my being,
And write your servant a decree to this effect.
نَصُكَyour pronouncement لأهْلِto the people of الدَّعاوِيpretension صكَّهa blow
نَصُكَ لأهْلِ الدَّعاوِي صكَّه
يكُفُّواso they desist عنfrom جُمْلةِall الْمَلاَمreproach
يكُفُّوا عن جُمْلةِ الْمَلاَم
Your pronouncement is a blow to the pretenders,
So they desist from all reproach.
وأناand I بسَيْفِwith the sword of الثّنَاpraise بِيَدِّيin my hand
وأنا بسَيْفِ الثّنَا بِيَدِّي
نَضْرِبI strike رقابْthe necks of أهْلِthe people of الاتّهَامaccusation
نَضْرِب رقابْ أهْلِ الاتّهَام
And I, with the sword of praise in my hand,
Strike the necks of the accusers.
للنَّاسِpeople have فيin تحقِيقِهمtheir realization مَراتِبْranks
للنَّاسِ في تحقِيقِهم مَراتِبْ
وليْسَand there is no لِتَحْقيقِكَto your realization انْتَهاend
وليْسَ لِتَحْقيقِكَ انْتَها
People have ranks in their realization,
And your realization has no end.
تُورِيyou reveal بِعِلْمthrough knowledge of السُّفُرْthe books عَجائبwonders
تُورِي بِعِلْم السُّفُرْ عَجائب
يَكِلٌّfalls short عنof وصْفِهاdescribing them النُّهَاthe intellects
يَكِلٌّ عن وصْفِها النُّهَا
Through knowledge of the books, you reveal wonders
That intellects are powerless to describe.
وتَنْفِيand you negate مُمْكِنْthe contingent وتُبْقِيand preserve واجِبthe necessary
وتَنْفِي مُمْكِنْ وتُبْقِي واجِب
وجَاand came الزَّمانِtime بِيكْwith you كماas اشْتَهاit wished
وجَا الزَّمانِ بِيكْ كما اشْتَها
You negate the contingent and preserve the necessary,
And time has brought you forth just as it wished.
فَكِكْتَyou deciphered رَمْزَthe cipher of الْمُعمّىthe cryptogram فكَّهa full unravelling
فَكِكْتَ رَمْزَ الْمُعمّى فكَّه
وأظْهرْتَand you revealed مَعْنَىthe meaning of الألِفalif بِلاَمthrough lam
وأظْهرْتَ مَعْنَى الألِف بِلاَم
You have utterly unraveled the cryptogram's cipher,
And revealed the meaning of alif through lam.
وجاءتand came سَعَادُSu'ad أسْعَدتْshe brought happiness لِتُبْديto reveal
وجاءت سَعَادُ أسْعَدتْ لِتُبْدي
مِنْof حُسنِهاher beauty ماwhat حَوَىcontained اللِّثامthe face-veil
مِنْ حُسنِها ما حَوَى اللِّثام
And Su'ad came, bringing happiness, to reveal
Of her beauty what the face-veil had concealed.
ياO وارَثَinheritor of الْعِلْمِknowledge والسَّيادَهْand lordship
يا وارَثَ الْعِلْمِ والسَّيادَهْ
ياO مِنْyou who هُوَhe للْخَيْرdevoted to goodness كُلُّentire ذاتْbeing
يا مِنْ هُوَ للْخَيْر كُلُّ ذاتْ
O inheritor of knowledge and lordship,
O you whose whole being is devoted to goodness,
ظَهَرْتَyou appeared فيthrough تَخْصيصْthe particular choosing of الإرادَهthe will
ظَهَرْتَ في تَخْصيصْ الإرادَه
كالْغَيْثِlike rain والْخَلْقand creation كالْنَباتlike plants
كالْغَيْثِ والْخَلْق كالْنَبات
You appeared through the will's particular choice,
Like rain, while creation is like plants.
فأنْتَfor you هُوthe very one كميّةُmeasure of السَّعادَهhappiness
فأنْتَ هُو كميّةُ السَّعادَه
وأنْتَand you هُوthe very one أكْسِيرُelixir of الذَّواتessences
وأنْتَ هُو أكْسِيرُ الذَّوات
For you are the very measure of happiness,
And you are the very elixir of essences.
ومَنْand whoever حصَلobtained عِنْدهْin his possession مِنْكَfrom you مَسكهْa touch
ومَنْ حصَل عِنْدهْ مِنْكَ مَسكهْ
صارَcomes to يمْشِيwalk فيamong الْخْلَقِcreation كالْعَلامlike a great scholar
صارَ يمْشِي في الْخْلَقِ كالْعَلام
And whoever comes to possess a touch of you
Walks among creation like a great scholar,
ويَفْتَخِرْand takes pride بَينَهُمamong them ويَهْدِيand guides
ويَفْتَخِرْ بَينَهُم ويَهْدِي
مَنْwhomever شَاhe wishes إِلىto حفَرَةِthe pit of السَّلاَمpeace
مَنْ شَا إِلى حفَرَةِ السَّلاَم
And takes pride among them, and guides
Whomever he wishes to the pit of peace.
جَذَبْتyou drew كُلَّall الْوَرَىcreation بقلْبِكwith your heart
جَذَبْت كُلَّ الْوَرَى بقلْبِك
فأنْتَfor you مَغْناطِيسُthe magnet of النُّفُوسْsouls
فأنْتَ مَغْناطِيسُ النُّفُوسْ
You have drawn all creation with your heart,
For you are the magnet of souls.
وسُسْتَهُمand you governed them كُلّهُمall of them بِقُربِكْthrough your nearness
وسُسْتَهُم كُلّهُم بِقُربِكْ
كَذَاsuch هُوis he الوارِثُthe inheritor السَّؤوسskilled in governance
كَذَا هُو الوارِثُ السَّؤوس
And you have governed them all through your nearness:
Such is the heir, skilled in governance.
وكُلُّand everyone مَنْwho قدalready ظفِرwon بِحُبَّكyour love
وكُلُّ مَنْ قد ظفِر بِحُبَّك
ماnot يَشْتكِيcomplains ماas long as حَيِيhe lives ببُوسof misery
ما يَشْتكِي ما حَيِي ببُوس
And whoever has won your love
Never complains of misery as long as he lives.
وكُلُّand everyone مَنwho كانْhad بقلْبُهin his heart شَوْكَهa thorn
وكُلُّ مَن كانْ بقلْبُه شَوْكَه
مِنْكَfrom you أوْor عَتَبْreproach أوor عذَلcensure ولاَمْand blame
مِنْكَ أوْ عَتَبْ أو عذَل ولاَمْ
And anyone whose heart held a thorn
From you, or reproach, or censure and blame,
صارَcomes to يُخْفِيhide ذاكَthat العِتابْreproach ويُبْدِيand show
صارَ يُخْفِي ذاكَ العِتابْ ويُبْدِي
فيin حقَكَyour regard الوُدّaffection والزّمامand the reins
في حقَكَ الوُدّ والزّمام
Now conceals that reproach and shows
Toward you, affection and the reins of allegiance.
أناI غُلامْa servant عبْدa slave بْنson of سبْعينSab'in
أنا غُلامْ عبْد بْن سبْعين
ماas long as دامتِremains السَّبْعُseven فيamong الْعدَدْthe numbers
ما دامتِ السَّبْعُ في الْعدَدْ
I am a servant, a slave of Ibn Sab'in,
As long as seven remains among the numbers.
معْdespite أنْthe fact that لَسnot نَحْتَجْI need أهْناhere تبْيِينْexplanation
معْ أنْ لَس نَحْتَجْ أهْنا تبْيِينْ
ياAh قَدْalready فَهِمhas understood عنّىfrom me كُلُّevery أحدْperson
يا قَدْ فَهِم عنّى كُلُّ أحدْ
Though I need no explanation here—
Ah, everyone has already understood me.
أبداًforever ماwhenever هَبَّblows النَّسِيمthe breeze معَwith الحِينtime
أبداً ما هَبَّ النَّسِيم معَ الحِين
نقُلI say ونْوَصيِّهand charge it ونَجْتهِدْand strive
نقُل ونْوَصيِّه ونَجْتهِدْ
Forever, whenever the breeze blows with the passing hours,
I speak, charge it, and do my utmost:
باللهِby God إِنْif جِيْتَyou come to أرْضَthe land of مكهْMecca
باللهِ إِنْ جِيْتَ أرْضَ مكهْ
بلّغconvey إِلىto قُطْبِهاits Pole السَّلامْthe greeting of peace
بلّغ إِلى قُطْبِها السَّلامْ
By God, if you come to the land of Mecca,
Convey a greeting of peace to its Pole,
عاطِرْfragrant مُجَدَّدْrenewed كماjust as هُوَit is عِنْديwith me
عاطِرْ مُجَدَّدْ كما هُوَ عِنْدي
وَرُدْand bring back بعْدَafter السَّلامthe greeting سَلامa greeting
وَرُدْ بعْدَ السَّلام سَلام
Fragrant and renewed, just as it is with me,
And after that greeting, bring a greeting back.
Sol 6.1