بكعبة أنوار أنخت مطيتي

بكعبة أنوار أنخت مطيتي

وأنزلت حاجاتي لأحظى ببغيتي

وأنزلت حاجاتي لأحظى ببغيتي

At a Kaaba of lights I made my mount kneel,

With a Kaaba of lights I saddled my steed

And laid down my needs, that I might attain my desire.

And embarked to attain my wish

نحتت أوزاري وتقضى مآربي

نحتت أوزاري وتقضى مآربي

وتغفر حويتي وتقبل دعوتي

وتغفر حويتي وتقبل دعوتي

My burdens were pared away, and my aims are fulfilled;

I girded my loins and went about my goals

My sin [uncertain reading] is forgiven, and my prayer accepted.

That my sins may be forgiven and my prayers accepted

ويرفع مقداري وأكسى جلابيبا

ويرفع مقداري وأكسى جلابيبا

من العز في أوطانها دون حيلتي

من العز في أوطانها دون حيلتي

My standing is raised, and I am clothed in robes

And my status raised as I don my robes

Of honor in her homelands, without any stratagem of mine.

Of glory in their lands without my ruses

تدوم مع الفتح المؤزر نصره

تدوم مع الفتح المؤزر نصره

بتأييد رحماني وتمكين حجتي

بتأييد رحماني وتمكين حجتي

They endure with the opening whose victory is reinforced,

May victory endure with the triumphing opening

Through support from the All-Merciful and the firm establishment of my proof,

With the support of the Merciful and the authority of my proof

وإظهارها مع سؤدد ومهابة

وإظهارها مع سؤدد ومهابة

وإقبال نور الفهم من فوق رغبتي

وإقبال نور الفهم من فوق رغبتي

And its manifestation with eminence and awe,

And its manifestation with tranquility and reverence

And the coming of understanding's light from beyond my desire,

And the light of understanding descending from above my whims

وأنس بما تتبىء الحضائر منة

وأنس بما تتبىء الحضائر منة

معارفها في كل صبح وروحتي

معارفها في كل صبح وروحتي

And intimacy with what the sanctuaries disclose [uncertain verb], as a gift—

And intimacy with what the dwellings radiate

Their insights, at every dawn and on my evening journey.

Its wisdoms at every dawn and eve of mine

فلباني الحادي ببذل مهورها

فلباني الحادي ببذل مهورها

اختيارا فقلت لا علي بمهجتي

اختيارا فقلت لا علي بمهجتي

So the camel-driver answered me with the offering of their bride-prices,

So the guide offered me his treasures as a dowry

Willingly; I said, “No matter to me—even at the cost of my life's blood.”

I chose to say no though it delighted me

فلا لوم إن أبديت فيها تغاليا

فلا لوم إن أبديت فيها تغاليا

لأحيي حياة العارفين بنشأتي

لأحيي حياة العارفين بنشأتي

So there is no blame if I display excessive devotion to her,

So blame me not if I acted vain

To live the life of the mystic knowers in my own existence.

To revive the life of the knowing through my upbringing

فقال اذكرن شيئا سمحت ببذله

فقال اذكرن شيئا سمحت ببذله

فقلت اقترح شيئا فقال اسل وصلتي

فقلت اقترح شيئا فقال اسل وصلتي

He said, “Do name something you are willing to give.”

He said mention what you allowed taken as a gift

I said, “Propose something.” He said, “Forsake union with me.”

I said suggest what is meet, he said ask and you'll attain

فخرط القتاد قلت دونها إنما

فخرط القتاد قلت دونها إنما

مرادي مهر الوصل من دون فرقتي

مرادي مهر الوصل من دون فرقتي

Then I said, “Stripping the thorn-bush is easier than that; I only

He untied his purse, I said without her I only

Want the bride-price of union, without my separation.

Want the bride-price of union without our separation

تلطف على من أتلفته صبابة

تلطف على من أتلفته صبابة

وصار رقيقا دون آلاف حجتي

وصار رقيقا دون آلاف حجتي

Be gentle with one whom ardent longing has destroyed,

Be gentle with whom youth has corrupted

And who has become a bondsman without companions; my plea

And became soft without my thousands of proofs

تقوم له إن أنركته أحبة

تقوم له إن أنركته أحبة

وقالوا كذوب في الهوى دون مثبتي

وقالوا كذوب في الهوى دون مثبتي

Stands for him if loved ones deny him,

They will stand for him if loved ones slandered him

And say, ‘A liar in love,’ disregarding what vindicates me.”

And said lies in love without my evidence

فكم دهمتنا النائبات فصرنا في

فكم دهمتنا النائبات فصرنا في

زوايا خطوب لا تسام بلفتتي

زوايا خطوب لا تسام بلفتتي

So how often calamities have overwhelmed us, leaving us in

How often have we been attacked and ended up

Corners of ordeals not to be appraised by my glance.

In corners of misfortunes beyond my capacities

وكم قفصت أرواحنا إذ تغربت

وكم قفصت أرواحنا إذ تغربت

عن الوطن الأسنى بمربع وحشتي

عن الوطن الأسنى بمربع وحشتي

How often our spirits were caged when they went abroad

And how often have our souls been caged when

From the loftiest homeland, in the dwelling-place of my loneliness.

Our homelands were deserted with the squares of my loneliness

وركم من نبال أجدتنا سهامها

وركم من نبال أجدتنا سهامها

وصارت جسوم مثل حاجب جبهتي

وصارت جسوم مثل حاجب جبهتي

And how many arrows have benefited us with their shafts,

And how many arrows of enemies found us

And bodies became like the eyebrow on my forehead.

And became bodies like my frown

وكم طرحتنا مقلة الحرب بغتة

وكم طرحتنا مقلة الحرب بغتة

فصرنا أحاديثا بألسن سوقتي

فصرنا أحاديثا بألسن سوقتي

How often the eye of war has hurled us down suddenly,

And how many times did the calamity of war strike us suddenly

So we became tales on the tongues of my common folk.

And we became tales on the tongues of my markets

وكم أسلمتنا الحادثات وما رنت

وكم أسلمتنا الحادثات وما رنت

على من غدا مستنجدا بالأسنة

على من غدا مستنجدا بالأسنة

How often the vicissitudes have abandoned us, nor did they gaze

And how often did tribulations make us surrender without

Upon one who had become a seeker of aid through spearheads.

Crying for those who asked for help with tongues

وكم قد غزتنا الصافنات بمهمه

وكم قد غزتنا الصافنات بمهمه

على غفلة وكم رزينا بنكبة

على غفلة وكم رزينا بنكبة

How often the poised steeds have raided us in a trackless waste,

And how often were we ambushed negligently

Unawares; and how often we were stricken by calamity.

And how much did we suffer from tribulation

وكم صار ملذوذا عذاب عذابها

وكم صار ملذوذا عذاب عذابها

وكم فاوضتنا القارعات بسطوتي

وكم فاوضتنا القارعات بسطوتي

How often the pain of her torment has turned to delight,

And how enjoyable became the torment of its torment

And how often shattering calamities have parleyed with us over my might.

And how often did calamities bargain with my will

وكم لذغتنا في الطريق أفاعي

وكم لذغتنا في الطريق أفاعي

على حبها حتى رمتني أحبتي

على حبها حتى رمتني أحبتي

How often vipers have bitten us along the road

And how often on the path were we stung by snakes

For love of her, until my loved ones cast me aside.

For loving her until my beloved stoned me

وكم عبثت فينا الثعاليب تدين

وكم عبثت فينا الثعاليب تدين

أفاعل آساد لقمعي همتي

أفاعل آساد لقمعي همتي

How often foxes have toyed with us, condemning

And how often did cubs play with us pretending

The deeds of lions, to suppress my resolve.

To be lions to suppress my resolve

وكم سهرت منا الجفون وما لها

وكم سهرت منا الجفون وما لها

مذاق لطعم النوم في جنب طاعتي

مذاق لطعم النوم في جنب طاعتي

How often our eyelids have stayed awake, with no

And how our eyes stayed up without

Taste of sleep's savor alongside my obedience.

A taste for sleep next to obeying her

وما سمحت بالطيف لو كان واقعا

وما سمحت بالطيف لو كان واقعا

وصال جسوم ما له وجه صحتي

وصال جسوم ما له وجه صحتي

Nor did she grant a dream-visit, even if there were actual

And how it did not allow but phantom

Union of bodies; it offers no basis for my well-being.

Unions with no truthful essence

وكم كفكفت منا الدموع غوادقا

وكم كفكفت منا الدموع غوادقا

كأنبنا الظوفان من حر هجرتي

كأنبنا الظوفان من حر هجرتي

How often tears were wiped away from us, pouring in torrents,

And how it held back our tears like we are

As though the deluge were upon us from the burning of my estrangement.

The deluge with the heat of her estrangement

وكم أججت نيران شوقي كأنها

وكم أججت نيران شوقي كأنها

نيران خليل قد تبدت بلوعتي

نيران خليل قد تبدت بلوعتي

How often the fires of my longing were kindled, as though they were

And how it kindled the fires of my passion as if

The fires of the Friend, Abraham, revealed in my anguish.

They are the fires of Khalil that appeared with my agony

وكم عسعست أحزان شوقي كأنني

وكم عسعست أحزان شوقي كأنني

توضأت مع يعقوب في عين قصتي

توضأت مع يعقوب في عين قصتي

How often the sorrows of my longing have gathered like night, as though I

And how it stirred the sorrows of my fervor as if

Performed ablution with Jacob in the spring of my tale.

I did ablution with Jacob at the well of my story

وكم نحت لما أن تناء خيالها

وكم نحت لما أن تناء خيالها

كأني أنا موسى بميقات صعقتي

كأني أنا موسى بميقات صعقتي

How often I lamented when her phantom drew far away,

And how often for her imagination I sculpted

As though I myself were Moses at the appointed time of my collapse.

As if I am Moses receiving revelation at my fainting

وكم فتنت منا القلوب كأنني

وكم فتنت منا القلوب كأنني

أنا الطور حيث لم يقو بقوتي

أنا الطور حيث لم يقو بقوتي

How often our hearts were tried, as though I

And how often did it seduce our hearts as if

Myself were the Mount, when it could not stand firm with my strength.

I am the mount where none could stand my powers

وكم طردتنا من مناهل قربها

وكم طردتنا من مناهل قربها

خواطر لم تنبت على ساق هفوتي

خواطر لم تنبت على ساق هفوتي

How often we were driven from the watering-places of her nearness

And how often did passing thoughts expel us

By passing thoughts that did not sprout upon the stem of my lapse.

From the springs of her nearness without my oversight

وقالت أيبدو لالهم في جنب وصلنا

وقالت أيبدو لالهم في جنب وصلنا

كذبت لذا جاءت خواطر شقوتي

كذبت لذا جاءت خواطر شقوتي

And she said, “Does sorrow [unclear word] appear beside union with us?

She said does confusion appear next to our union

You have lied!” Thus came the thoughts of my misery.

You lie so passing thoughts of misfortune came

فبين أنا أغدو كآدم إذ غدا

فبين أنا أغدو كآدم إذ غدا

بمرتع أنس في مسالك جنتي

بمرتع أنس في مسالك جنتي

Then, while I went forth like Adam, when he went forth

So while I rise like Adam when he walked

In a meadow of intimacy along the paths of my paradise,

In the pasture of intimacy in the paths of my paradise

إذ بالقضا نادى ألم تدر أنني

إذ بالقضا نادى ألم تدر أنني

نهيتك فانزل أرض نفس وشهوتي

نهيتك فانزل أرض نفس وشهوتي

He called out by decree, “Did you not know that I

Behold destiny called "Did you not know that I

Forbade you? Descend to the land of the self and my desire.”

Forbade you so descend earth of lust and desires"

فأخرجنا من مرتع القدس حيث لا

فأخرجنا من مرتع القدس حيث لا

مدافع بل تنزيلنا عين رفعتي

مدافع بل تنزيلنا عين رفعتي

So he brought us out from the meadow of holiness, where no

So we were brought out from the sanctuary where no

One could resist; rather, our descent was my very elevation.

Defenses only our expulsion from the spring of my ascension

قد انبسطت فينا الشؤون وأخرجت

قد انبسطت فينا الشؤون وأخرجت

بإخراجنا كل الشؤون بحوبتي

بإخراجنا كل الشؤون بحوبتي

The affairs unfolded within us and brought forth,

The affairs stretched in us and brought out

Through our expulsion, all affairs, owing to my sin.

With our expulsion all the affairs in my grasp

وكم قد علتنا فاعلات فواعل

وكم قد علتنا فاعلات فواعل

لترتاض منا النفس في كسر سورتي

لترتاض منا النفس في كسر سورتي

How often the acting forces of agents have risen above us,

And how often did doers ennoble us

So that the soul within us might be trained through breaking my vehemence.

To shake the soul in breaking my authority

وكم أججت نار القضا بحروبنا

وكم أججت نار القضا بحروبنا

فأظلم منا الجو في جلب شبهتي

فأظلم منا الجو في جلب شبهتي

How often the fire of decree was kindled through our wars,

And how often did the fire of destiny ignite with our wars

And the air around us darkened as my doubt was brought in.

Darkening our sky in bringing my doubts

وكم منعت منا البنات ما نثن

وكم منعت منا البنات ما نثن

ي عنها حروف الدهر في كل رتبتي

ي عنها حروف الدهر في كل رتبتي

How often daughters were withheld from us; we do not turn

And how it denied what we construct

The letters of time away from them, at every rank of mine.

Though the eras' letters acquiesce in every arrangement of mine

وخضت مقامات تحار بوصفها

وخضت مقامات تحار بوصفها

لديها قضى العرفان دون هويتي

لديها قضى العرفان دون هويتي

And I traversed stations whose description bewilders you;

And it waded through stations that confuse description

Before them, gnosis came to an end, short of my identity.

For it fulfilled the creed of gnosis without my existence

وما برحت تسعى بظل حضائر

وما برحت تسعى بظل حضائر

معاطف أرواح بنعت رزيتي

معاطف أرواح بنعت رزيتي

And they have never ceased striving in the shade of sanctuaries—

And it never stopped roaming in the shadow of dwellings

The folds of spirits, bearing the mark of my affliction.

With mantles of spirits in describing my misery

تخوض بحارا لا تنال بحيلة

تخوض بحارا لا تنال بحيلة

على رغم من باءوا بخبث الطويتي

على رغم من باءوا بخبث الطويتي

They plunge into seas unattainable by stratagem,

Navigating seas that cannot be attained by ruse

Despite those who bore the malice of my inward intent [unclear form].

Despite those who perished in the evil of my twist

وقد أبدت الأقلام أسرار سالك

وقد أبدت الأقلام أسرار سالك

تبدت له في سيره دون خلوتي

تبدت له في سيره دون خلوتي

And the pens have revealed the secrets of a wayfarer

And the pens have shown the secrets of wayfarers

That appeared to him on his journey, apart from my retreat.

Revealed to them in their journey without my privacy

وثم أمور يدريها أهل ذوقنا

وثم أمور يدريها أهل ذوقنا

ومن لا له ذوق فينكر قولتي

ومن لا له ذوق فينكر قولتي

And there are matters known to those of our spiritual taste,

Then there are matters known to the people of our taste

And one who has no taste rejects my saying.

And whom tasteless denounces my saying

على كل حال فيهواها مقصر

على كل حال فيهواها مقصر

ظلوم جهول لا أراع بنكبتي

ظلوم جهول لا أراع بنكبتي

In every state, I fall short in love of her,

In any case in loving I was neglectful

Deeply unjust, deeply ignorant; I am not alarmed by my calamity.

Oppressive ignorant not heeding my setback

فشنف مسامعي بآداب وصلها

فشنف مسامعي بآداب وصلها

فقال استمع واثبت تنل كل وجهتي

فقال استمع واثبت تنل كل وجهتي

So he adorned my ears with the courtesies of union with her,

So he sharpened my hearing with etiquette of her union

Then he said, “Listen and stand firm; you will attain all I seek.”

And said listen, ascertain, you'll attain every destination of mine