أهلُ المحبَّةِ بالمحبوبِ قد شغلوا

أهلُ المحبَّةِ بالمحبوبِ قد شغلوا

وفي محبَّتَهِ أرواحهُم بذَلوا

وفي محبَّتَهِ أرواحهُم بذَلوا

The people of love are wholly occupied with the Beloved;

The people of love have been absorbed in the Beloved.

and in loving Him, they gave their very souls.

And in love for Him they have offered up their souls.

وخرّبوا كلَّ ما يغنى وقد عمروا

وخرّبوا كلَّ ما يغنى وقد عمروا

ما كان يبقى فيا حسن الذي عملوا

ما كان يبقى فيا حسن الذي عملوا

They laid waste all that passes away, and built up

And they laid waste to all that enriches, and built up

what would endure—how beautiful was what they did!

What would endure—how beautiful was what they did!

لم تُلههم زينةُ الدنيا وزُخرُفُها

لم تُلههم زينةُ الدنيا وزُخرُفُها

ولا جناها ولا حليٌّ ولا حلَلُ

ولا جناها ولا حليٌّ ولا حلَلُ

Neither the splendor of this world nor its adornments distracted them,

The world's adornment and glitter did not distract them,

nor its harvest, nor jewels, nor robes.

Nor its fruits, nor jewelry, nor fine robes.

هاموا على الكون من وجدٍ ومن طربٍ

هاموا على الكون من وجدٍ ومن طربٍ

وما استقَلَّ بهم ربعٌ ولا طلَلُ

وما استقَلَّ بهم ربعٌ ولا طلَلُ

In ecstasy and rapture, they wandered beyond the created world;

They wandered across creation in ecstasy and rapture,

no dwelling and no ruined campsite could contain them.

And no dwelling or ruined campsite could hold them.

داعي التشوفِ ناداهم وأقلقهُم

داعي التشوفِ ناداهم وأقلقهُم

فكيفَ يهنو ونارُ الشوقِ تشتعلُ

فكيفَ يهنو ونارُ الشوقِ تشتعلُ

The caller of yearning summoned them and left them restless—

The herald of yearning called to them and made them restless.

how could they know ease while the fire of longing blazed?

How, then, can they rest while the fire of longing blazes?

من أوَّل الليل قد سارَت عزائمهُم

من أوَّل الليل قد سارَت عزائمهُم

وفي خيام حمى المحبوب قد نزلوا

وفي خيام حمى المحبوب قد نزلوا

From the beginning of the night, their firm resolves journeyed on,

From the start of night, their resolves had set forth,

until they alighted among the tents in the Beloved’s sacred precinct.

And in the tents of the Beloved's sanctuary they had lodged.

وافت لهم خلعُ التشريف يحملُها

وافت لهم خلعُ التشريف يحملُها

عرف النسيم الذي من نشره ثملوا

عرف النسيم الذي من نشره ثملوا

Robes of honor came to them, borne

Robes of honor arrived for them, borne

by the fragrant breath of the breeze, whose scent made them drunk.

By the breeze's fragrance, whose perfume made them drunk.

همُ الأحبَّةُ أدناهم لأنهمُ

همُ الأحبَّةُ أدناهم لأنهمُ

عن خدمَةِ الصمد المحبوب ما غفلوا

عن خدمَةِ الصمد المحبوب ما غفلوا

They are the beloved ones; He drew them near because

They are the beloved ones; He drew them near because they

they never neglected the service of the Beloved, the Everlasting Refuge.

Were never heedless of serving the Self-Sufficient Beloved.

سبحان من خصهُم بالقُربِ حين قضوا

سبحان من خصهُم بالقُربِ حين قضوا

في حبه وعلى مقصودهِم حصلوا

في حبه وعلى مقصودهِم حصلوا

Glory be to Him who singled them out for nearness when they gave themselves

Glory be to Him who favored them with nearness when they perished

in love of Him—and attained their heart’s desire.

In love for Him and attained their aim.