زيارة قبر المصطفى غايةُ المُنى

زيارة قبر المصطفى غايةُ المُنى

لو اني بها قبل الممات أفوزُ

لو اني بها قبل الممات أفوزُ

Visiting the Chosen One's tomb is the utmost of wishes;

Visiting the Prophet's grave is the utmost wish

If only I could attain it before death!

If only I could attain it before death, I would succeed

زماني تقضَّى كلُّه في بطالةٍ

زماني تقضَّى كلُّه في بطالةٍ

ولهوٍ وسهوٍ ما أراهُ يجُوزُ

ولهوٍ وسهوٍ ما أراهُ يجُوزُ

My entire lifetime has passed in idleness,

All my life has passed in futility

And amusement and heedlessness I do not deem permissible.

In play and heedlessness, I see it bears no fruit

زخارف آمالٍ تحوزُ عُقُولنا

زخارف آمالٍ تحوزُ عُقُولنا

ولَسنا لإدراك المرامِ نجوزُ

ولَسنا لإدراك المرامِ نجوزُ

The glitter of hopes takes possession of our minds,

Vain hopes occupy our minds

Yet we do not advance toward attaining the goal.

And we cannot comprehend the goal

زيادة أطماع بها العمرُ ناقصُ

زيادة أطماع بها العمرُ ناقصُ

سواء بسيط يُشتهى ووجيزُ

سواء بسيط يُشتهى ووجيزُ

Desires increase, and through them life grows shorter;

Increasing desires thereby lessen life

A long life desired and a brief one are alike.

Be it little coveted or ample

زمامُ المعالي طوعٌ راحة أحمدٍ

زمامُ المعالي طوعٌ راحة أحمدٍ

وبين يديه حيثُ سارَ كُنُوزُ

وبين يديه حيثُ سارَ كُنُوزُ

The reins of lofty honors obey Ahmad's palm,

The reins of glory are in Ahmed's obedience

And treasures lay before him wherever he went.

And before him lay the treasures

رَبَت هِمَّةٌ منه على المالِ والغِنَى

رَبَت هِمَّةٌ منه على المالِ والغِنَى

فذَلَّت له الأملاكُ وهو عَزيزُ

فذَلَّت له الأملاكُ وهو عَزيزُ

His resolve rose above money and wealth,

Aspiration from him for wealth and riches

So kings were humbled before him, while he was exalted.

So the angels bowed and he was mighty

زعمتُ بمدحي فيه أن سيُجيرني

زعمتُ بمدحي فيه أن سيُجيرني

جنيتُ وبي عما يليق نشوزُ

جنيتُ وبي عما يليق نشوزُ

I supposed that, through my praise of him, he would shelter me;

I claimed in praising him he would save me

I have sinned, and harbor defiance of what is fitting.

I reaped and in me lay no refusal

زللتُ ولكنِّي رجعتُ إلى الهُدى

زللتُ ولكنِّي رجعتُ إلى الهُدى

وقد وَضَحت لقلبِ منهُ رُموزُ

وقد وَضَحت لقلبِ منهُ رُموزُ

I stumbled, but I returned to right guidance,

I erred but returned to guidance

And signs of it have become clear to the heart.

And the symbols to my heart from him grew clear

زَوى عنِّيَ اللَّذاتِ ضَعفٌ وشَيبةٌ

زَوى عنِّيَ اللَّذاتِ ضَعفٌ وشَيبةٌ

فطلَّقتُ بِنتَ الدَّنِّ وهي عَجُوُز

فطلَّقتُ بِنتَ الدَّنِّ وهي عَجُوُز

Frailty and gray hair have kept pleasures from me,

Weakness and old age averted me from pleasures

So I divorced the daughter of the wine-jar, old woman that she was.

So I divorced the daughter of the lowly, now aged