1. قد زرت ستّ الغواني

    عتيم والناس رقد

    I have visited the lady of the beauties

    at nightfall, while people were asleep.

  2. وانقضت لي أماني

    من كل مطلب ومقصد

    And my wishes came to fulfillment,

    every desire and aim.

  3. وزال ما كنت عاني

    من شائب الوجد والصد

    And what I was suffering vanished:

    the taint of longing and rejection.

  4. وازداد صفو الجنان

    بقرب مايسة القد

    And the heart's serenity increased

    through nearness to her swaying figure.

  5. قد قرّت اعياني بملتقاها

    وبان عنها شهدها لقاها

    My eyes found solace upon meeting her.

    And meeting her revealed her honeyed sweetness.

  6. وزال لسعة باطني رقاها

    وطاب قرب التداني

    And her charms dispelled the sting within me.

    And the nearness of drawing close grew sweet.

  7. واشتفى كلّ معمد

    بوصل حسن المعاني

    And every love-stricken one was healed

    through union with the one of lovely qualities,

  8. قيانة الجعد الأسود

    وهتانة ما كماها

    adorned with black curly tresses.

    And this one has no equal

  9. في حسنها والجمال

    الشمس يزرى بهاها

    in her loveliness and beauty.

    The sun's splendor is dimmed

  10. بنورها والهلال

    سبحان من قد براها

    by her light—and the crescent's too.

    Glory be to Him who created her,

  11. ذي الكبريا والجلال

    ما إن لها قط ثاني

    the Possessor of grandeur and majesty!

    Never has she had an equal;

  12. جمالها جاوز الحدّ

    لها على كل الملاح سلطان

    her beauty has surpassed all bounds.

    She holds sway over all the beauties,

  13. وحسنها قد فاق حور رضوان

    ولا تكوّن كونها في الأكوان

    and her beauty has surpassed Ridwan's houris.

    Nor has a being like hers arisen in creation.

  14. فخرت جميع الحسان

    بالطرف والأنف والخد

    She outshone all the fair women

    with her gaze, her nose, and her cheek.

  15. حصنتها بالمثاني

    وقل هو اللَه الأوحد

    I protected her with the oft-repeated verses,

    and with 'Say: He is God, the Only One.'

  16. ليلى بسلمى الحقائق

    أضحى كضوء النهار

    My night, through Salma of the realities,

    has become like the light of day.

  17. كم في هواها خلائق

    هاموا بها في البراري

    How many people, for love of her,

    have wandered, infatuated with her, through the wilderness!

  18. تركوا جميع العلائق

    وأهلهم والذراري

    They left all attachments,

    and their families and children.

  19. من هم واصل وعاني

    من بعدها أمسى مسهد

    Among them are those united with her and those who suffer,

    grown sleepless through separation from her.

  20. أهل الشريعة بالنصوص يفتون

    وأهل الطريقة بالسلوك يحدون

    The people of sacred law issue rulings from the texts,

    and the people of the Path urge onward through spiritual wayfaring.

  21. وكلهم لا نحوها يعودون

    هي أصل كل المباني

    And none of them return toward her.

    She is the root of all structures;

  22. لها على الكلّ سؤدد

    قلبي بها يا أمّ هاني

    she has sovereignty over all.

    My heart, with her, O Umm Hani,

  23. راض وفي الكلّ يزهد

    سلبت سلمى فؤادي

    is content and renounces all else.

    Salma has stolen my heart

  24. وسبت جميع الخواطر

    رضيت لقائي أو بعادي

    and taken all my thoughts captive.

    Whether she is pleased with meeting me or with my absence,

  25. أنا لها الدوب شاكر

    مرادها هو مرادي

    I am always grateful to her.

    Her wish is my wish,

  26. في نهبها والأوامر

    شاتني أو لم تشاني

    in her plundering and commands.

    Whether she wants me or not,

  27. أنا لها عبد في اليد

    يا أهل العزائم والنهى والألباب

    I am her slave, held in her hand.

    O people of resolve, reason, and understanding,

  28. جمع الغنائم والعطا والأوهاب

    في اقتفا سنة عروس الأحباب

    gathering spoils, gifts, and bounties

    lies in following the practice of the bridegroom of the beloved:

  29. الهاشمي اليماني

    الحاشر الطاهر أحمد

    the Hashimite, the Yemeni,

    the Gatherer, the Pure, Ahmad.

  30. ومدحه جاء في القرآن

    تاج المفاخر محمد

    And his praise has come in the Qur'an—

    the crown of glories, Muhammad.