جالَستُ يَوماً أَباناً

جالَستُ يَوماً أَباناً

لا دَرَّ دَرُّ أَبانِ

لا دَرَّ دَرُّ أَبانِ

One day I sat with Aban—

One day I sat awhile

I sat one day in the company of Aban,

may Aban's bounty never flow!—

When the cool morning breeze did gently flow

May Aban be bereft of all blessing!

وَنَحنُ حُضرُ رِواقِ ال

وَنَحنُ حُضرُ رِواقِ ال

أَميرِ بِالنَهرَوانِ

أَميرِ بِالنَهرَوانِ

while we were present in the portico of the

In the courtyard of the prince by the river Nahrawan

While we were present within the portico

emir at Nahrawan.

Until it was time for the first call to prayer

Of the Emir at al-Nahrawan.

حَتّى إِذا ما صَلاةُ ال

حَتّى إِذا ما صَلاةُ ال

أُلى دَنَت لِأَوانِ

أُلى دَنَت لِأَوانِ

Until, when the prayer—the

Then Munthir, my mentor in righteousness and kindness

Until, when the prayer of the

first—drew near its appointed time,

Stood up to pray

First hour drew near its time,

فَقامَ مُنذِرُ رَبّي

فَقامَ مُنذِرُ رَبّي

بِالبِرِّ وَالإِحسانِ

بِالبِرِّ وَالإِحسانِ

my Lord's herald arose,

And with each utterance we responded

The herald of my Lord stood up

proclaiming righteousness and benevolence.

Until the call to prayer was complete

With righteousness and grace.

وَكُلَّما قالَ قُلنا

وَكُلَّما قالَ قُلنا

إِلى اِنقِضاءِ الأَذانِ

إِلى اِنقِضاءِ الأَذانِ

And whenever he spoke, we spoke,

Then he said "How can you bear witness to this

And whatever he recited, we repeated,

until the call to prayer was over.

Without seeing with your eyes?"

Until the Call to Prayer was complete.

فَقالَ كَيفَ شَهِدتُم

فَقالَ كَيفَ شَهِدتُم

بِذا بِغَيرِ عِيانِ

بِذا بِغَيرِ عِيانِ

Then he said, 'How did you bear witness

"I do not testify to this life until

Then he asked: "How did you bear witness

to this without seeing it firsthand?

My eyes see plainly"

To this, without the proof of sight?

لا أَشهَدُ الدَهرَ حَتّى

لا أَشهَدُ الدَهرَ حَتّى

تُعايِنَ العَينانِ

تُعايِنَ العَينانِ

I will never bear witness until

So I said "Glory be to my Lord"

I shall never bear witness, ever,

both eyes have seen.'

And he said "Glory to the one who prevents me"

Until my own two eyes can see."

فَقُلتُ سُبحانَ رَبّي

فَقُلتُ سُبحانَ رَبّي

فَقالَ سُبحانَ ماني

فَقالَ سُبحانَ ماني

Then I said, 'Glory be to my Lord!'

So I said "Jesus is a messenger"

So I said: "Glory be to my Lord!"

Then he said, 'Glory be to Mani!'

And he said "No, from Satan"

He replied: "Glory be to Mani!"

فَقُلتُ عيسى رَسولٌ

فَقُلتُ عيسى رَسولٌ

فَقالَ مِن شَيطانِ

فَقالَ مِن شَيطانِ

Then I said, 'Jesus is a messenger.'

So I said "Moses, deliverer

I said: "Jesus is a Messenger."

Then he said, 'From a devil.'

Of the protected and bountiful"

He said: "[He was sent] from a devil."

فَقُلتُ موسى نَجِيُّ ال

فَقُلتُ موسى نَجِيُّ ال

مُهَيمِنِ المَنّانِ

مُهَيمِنِ المَنّانِ

Then I said, 'Moses is the confidant of the

And he said "Your Lord has a body

I said: "Moses was the confidant of the

Guardian, the Bestower.'

With ears and tongue, doesn't he?"

Dominant One, the Bestower."

فَقالَ رَبُّكَ ذو مُق

فَقالَ رَبُّكَ ذو مُق

لَةٍ إِذَن وَلِسانِ

لَةٍ إِذَن وَلِسانِ

Then he said, 'Your Lord is possessed of

"Did He create Himself

He said: "Then does your Lord possess

an eyeball, then, and a tongue.

Or did someone else?" Then I stood up and left

An eyeball and a tongue?

أَنَفسُهُ خَلَقَتهُ

أَنَفسُهُ خَلَقَتهُ

أَم مَن فَقُمتُ مَكاني

أَم مَن فَقُمتُ مَكاني

Did his own self create him,

Saying "My Lord is full of mercy and forgiveness"

Did His own self create Him,

or who did?' So I rose where I was,

And I got up to drag my robe

Or who?" At this, I rose from my place.

وَقُلتُ رَبِّيَ ذو رَح

وَقُلتُ رَبِّيَ ذو رَح

مَةٍ وَذو غُفرانِ

مَةٍ وَذو غُفرانِ

and said, 'My Lord is possessed of

Away from one mocking the Quran

And said: "My Lord is the Possessor of Mercy,

mercy, and possessed of forgiveness.'

And the Possessor of Forgiveness."

وَقُمتُ أَسحَبُ ذَيلي

وَقُمتُ أَسحَبُ ذَيلي

عَن هازِلٍ بِالقُرانِ

عَن هازِلٍ بِالقُرانِ

And I rose, trailing my garment's hem,

Then I departed, dragging my robes behind me,

away from one who trifled with the Qur'an.

Away from a mocker of the Quran.