خَلَقْتَ الجَمَالَ لَنَا آيَةً

خَلَقْتَ الجَمَالَ لَنَا آيَةً

تَطُوفُ القُلوبُ بهَا وَ العَيُونْ

تَطُوفُ القُلوبُ بهَا وَ العَيُونْ

You created beauty as a sign for us,

You created beauty as a sign for us,

Around which hearts and eyes revolve.

Around which hearts and eyes circle.

وَأَبْدَعْتَ في الكَوْن مَا تَجْتَلي

وَأَبْدَعْتَ في الكَوْن مَا تَجْتَلي

عُيُونٌ وَمَا هُوَ سِرٌّ دَفِينْ

عُيُونٌ وَمَا هُوَ سِرٌّ دَفِينْ

And throughout creation You fashioned what eyes may behold,

And You fashioned in the universe what is beheld

And what remains a hidden secret.

By eyes, and what is a buried secret.

وَزيَّنْتَهُ ! يَا لَهَذا الجَمَالِ

وَزيَّنْتَهُ ! يَا لَهَذا الجَمَالِ

وَهذا الجَلاَلِ وهذا الحنين

وَهذا الجَلاَلِ وهذا الحنين

And You adorned it—oh, what beauty!

And You adorned it—oh, what beauty!

What majesty, and what yearning!

And what majesty, and what longing!

فَتَخْشَعُ في نُورِه أَضْلُعٌ

فَتَخْشَعُ في نُورِه أَضْلُعٌ

وتَخْفُقُ أَشْوَاقُهَا و الشُّجُونْ

وتَخْفُقُ أَشْوَاقُهَا و الشُّجُونْ

Breasts grow reverent in its light,

So ribs bow humbly in its light,

While their longings and sorrows throb.

And their yearnings and sorrows throb.

فهذي السَّمَاءُ وآفَاقُها

فهذي السَّمَاءُ وآفَاقُها

بُرُوجٌ تُزَيَّنُ للنَّاظِرينْ

بُرُوجٌ تُزَيَّنُ للنَّاظِرينْ

Here is the sky with all its horizons,

So here is the sky and its horizons:

Where constellations adorn themselves for those who gaze.

Constellations adorned for those who gaze.

فَكَمْ بَصَرٍ عَادَ مِنْهَا حَسْيراً

فَكَمْ بَصَرٍ عَادَ مِنْهَا حَسْيراً

عَلى خَشيَةٍ وَهُمُ مُشْفِقُونُ

عَلى خَشيَةٍ وَهُمُ مُشْفِقُونُ

How many a gaze returns from it exhausted,

How many a gaze has returned from it weary,

In awe, while they remain apprehensive.

In awe, while they are apprehensive.

وَ غَيْبٌ وراءَ وثوب الخيالِ

وَ غَيْبٌ وراءَ وثوب الخيالِ

عَصَيٌّ عَليْهِ و سَقفٌ مَتِينْ

عَصَيٌّ عَليْهِ و سَقفٌ مَتِينْ

And beyond imagination’s vault lies an unseen realm,

And an unseen realm beyond imagination's leap,

Inaccessible, beneath a securely guarded roof.

Inaccessible to it, and a sturdy roof.

فُطُفْ حَيْثُ شِئتَ فآيَاتُهَا

فُطُفْ حَيْثُ شِئتَ فآيَاتُهَا

جَلاَلُ المَدَى و جَلال القرونْ

جَلاَلُ المَدَى و جَلال القرونْ

Roam wherever you wish: its signs

So roam wherever you wish; its signs are

Are the majesty of boundless space and the majesty of the ages.

The majesty of the expanse and the majesty of the ages.

وهذي هي الأرضْ كَمْ جَنَّةٍ

وهذي هي الأرضْ كَمْ جَنَّةٍ

تَفَجَّرُ بين جَنَاها العُيُونْ

تَفَجَّرُ بين جَنَاها العُيُونْ

And here is the earth—how many gardens

And here is the earth—how many a garden

From amid whose fruits springs gush forth;

Where springs gush amid its fruits!

ورَوْضٍ تَنَفَّسَ عَنْهُ الصَّبَاحُ

ورَوْضٍ تَنَفَّسَ عَنْهُ الصَّبَاحُ

شَذاً من وُرُودٍ و مِنْ يَاسَمِينْ

شَذاً من وُرُودٍ و مِنْ يَاسَمِينْ

And meadows from which morning breathes,

And a meadow from which morning breathed

Fragrant with roses and jasmine;

The fragrance of roses and jasmine.

وطَيْرٍ كَأْنّ رَفيفَ جَنَاحَيْـ

وطَيْرٍ كَأْنّ رَفيفَ جَنَاحَيْـ

ـهِ رفُّ البكُورِ وهمْسُ الغُصُونْ

ـهِ رفُّ البكُورِ وهمْسُ الغُصُونْ

And a bird, as though the flutter of its wings

And a bird, as though the flutter of its wings

Were the rustle of dawn and the whisper of branches.

Were the flutter of early morning and the whisper of branches,

يُسَبِّح لله في مَوْكِبٍ

يُسَبِّح لله في مَوْكِبٍ

جَليلٍ وحَشْدٍ من الخاشِعِينْ

جَليلٍ وحَشْدٍ من الخاشِعِينْ

It glorifies God in a procession

Glorifying God in a procession,

Majestic—a throng of reverent worshippers.

Majestic, with a throng of the reverent.

وكَمْ مِن جِبالٍ تَشقُّ ذُرَاهَا

وكَمْ مِن جِبالٍ تَشقُّ ذُرَاهَا

عنانَ السَّماءِ و سَهْلٍ يَلينْ

عنانَ السَّماءِ و سَهْلٍ يَلينْ

And how many mountains whose peaks cleave

And how many mountains whose peaks pierce

The vault of heaven, beside plains that gently yield.

The heights of the sky, and plains that are gentle!

وَكَمْ أَبْحُرٍ غَيَّبَ الله فِيهَا

وَكَمْ أَبْحُرٍ غَيَّبَ الله فِيهَا

غُيُوباً وأَطْلَقَ فيها السَّفِينْ

غُيُوباً وأَطْلَقَ فيها السَّفِينْ

And how many seas in which God has hidden

And how many seas in which God has hidden

Mysteries, and upon which He launched the ships;

Mysteries, and let ships sail upon them!

وَنَهْرٍ .. تَدَفَّقُ أَمْواهُه

وَنَهْرٍ .. تَدَفَّقُ أَمْواهُه

يُرَوِّي الحَيَاةَ ويُغْني القُرونْ

يُرَوِّي الحَيَاةَ ويُغْني القُرونْ

And a river whose waves pour forth,

And a river whose waters pour forth,

Watering life and enriching generations.

Watering life and enriching the generations.

يُزَيِّنُها الله كَيْفَ يشاءُ

يُزَيِّنُها الله كَيْفَ يشاءُ

وَيَمْنَحُهَا عَبْقَرِيَّ الفُنُونْ

وَيَمْنَحُهَا عَبْقَرِيَّ الفُنُونْ

God adorns it however He wills

God adorns it as He wills,

And grants it the creative genius of the arts.

And grants it wondrous artistry.

وأنْشَأتَ مِنْ زِينَةٍ في الحياةِ

وأنْشَأتَ مِنْ زِينَةٍ في الحياةِ

لِتَبْلُوَ مِنَّا الهَوَى و اليَقِينْ

لِتَبْلُوَ مِنَّا الهَوَى و اليَقِينْ

From its adornment You created, within this life,

And You brought forth adornment in life

That You might test us concerning love and certainty,

To test in us desire and certainty,

وَتَبْلوَ مِنَّا خَبَايَا الصُّدُورِ

وَتَبْلوَ مِنَّا خَبَايَا الصُّدُورِ

ونَجْوَى القُلُوبِ و هَمْس الجُفُونْ

ونَجْوَى القُلُوبِ و هَمْس الجُفُونْ

And test the secrets hidden in our breasts,

And to test the secrets of our breasts,

The hearts’ private counsels and the eyelids’ intimations.

And the hearts' secret speech and the eyelids' whispers.

فَكَمْ زِينَةٍ سَعَّرَتْ فِتْنَةً

فَكَمْ زِينَةٍ سَعَّرَتْ فِتْنَةً

تلظَّتْ عَلَى شَهْوَةٍ أَو مُجُونْ

تلظَّتْ عَلَى شَهْوَةٍ أَو مُجُونْ

How often an adornment has kindled temptation,

How many an adornment has stoked temptation

Blazing into lust or wantonness;

That blazed with lust or debauchery!

وكمْ زِينَةٍ رفَّ فيها الجَمّالُ

وكمْ زِينَةٍ رفَّ فيها الجَمّالُ

يُطَهِّرُ أَشْوَاقَنا والحَنِين

يُطَهِّرُ أَشْوَاقَنا والحَنِين

And how often an adornment has had beauty flutter within it,

And how many an adornment in which beauty fluttered,

Purifying our longings and yearning.

Purifying our yearnings and longing!

فَزِينَةُ هذِي الحَيَاةِ رِيَاشٌ

فَزِينَةُ هذِي الحَيَاةِ رِيَاشٌ

وزهْوَةُ مَالٍ وَ شَوْقُ البَنِيْنْ

وزهْوَةُ مَالٍ وَ شَوْقُ البَنِيْنْ

The adornment of this worldly life is but plumage;

For the adornment of this life is finery,

Its splendor is wealth and the longing for sons.

And the splendor of wealth, and longing for sons.

يُبَدِّلُهَا النَّاسُ في سَعْيِهِمْ

يُبَدِّلُهَا النَّاسُ في سَعْيِهِمْ

شُكُورَ التُّقَى أو جُحُودَ الفُتُونْ

شُكُورَ التُّقَى أو جُحُودَ الفُتُونْ

People transform it through their striving

People, in their striving, turn it into

Into the gratitude of piety or the denial born of temptation.

Piety's gratitude or temptation's ingratitude.

فَكَمْ جَاهِلٍ ضَلَّ في غَيِّه

فَكَمْ جَاهِلٍ ضَلَّ في غَيِّه

فَظنَّ الجَمَالَ هَوَى المُعْتَدِينْ

فَظنَّ الجَمَالَ هَوَى المُعْتَدِينْ

How many an ignorant man has strayed in his delusion,

How many an ignorant person has strayed in his error,

Deeming beauty the passion of transgressors—

And so thought beauty the passion of transgressors,

وَلهْوَ الحَرَام عَلَى شَهْوَةٍ

وَلهْوَ الحَرَام عَلَى شَهْوَةٍ

تَوَاثَبُ بَيْنَ غَوَانٍ و عِينْ

تَوَاثَبُ بَيْنَ غَوَانٍ و عِينْ

Forbidden dalliance driven by lust,

And forbidden pleasure driven by lust

Leaping among beautiful and wide-eyed women.

That leaps among beauties and wide-eyed women!

رَفِيفُ الجَمَالِ نَوَالُ الحَلالِ

رَفِيفُ الجَمَالِ نَوَالُ الحَلالِ

وصِدْقُ الوَفَاءِ وعَهْدٌ أَمينْ

وصِدْقُ الوَفَاءِ وعَهْدٌ أَمينْ

The flutter of beauty is the gift of what is lawful,

The flutter of beauty is the bounty of the lawful,

The truth of fidelity and a trustworthy covenant.

And true fidelity, and a trustworthy pledge.

وأَجْمَلُ آيَاتِهِ أَنَّهُ

وأَجْمَلُ آيَاتِهِ أَنَّهُ

هُوَ الحَقُّ والطُّهْرُ أنّى يكُونْ

هُوَ الحَقُّ والطُّهْرُ أنّى يكُونْ

And loveliest among its signs is this:

And the fairest of its signs is that

That it should be truth and purity—

It is truth and purity, wherever it may be,

ونورٌ تَدفّقَ مِلءَ الوُجُودِ

ونورٌ تَدفّقَ مِلءَ الوُجُودِ

يُزيحُ الظّلاَمَ و يَنْفي الظّنُونْ

يُزيحُ الظّلاَمَ و يَنْفي الظّنُونْ

A light flooding the whole of existence,

And light that poured forth, filling all existence,

Sweeping away darkness and banishing suspicions;

Dispelling darkness and banishing doubts,

وَحُرِّيّةٌ أَطْلَقَتْ أَنْفُساً

وَحُرِّيّةٌ أَطْلَقَتْ أَنْفُساً

لِتَمْضِيَ في مَوْكِبِ العَابِدينْ

لِتَمْضِيَ في مَوْكِبِ العَابِدينْ

And freedom that has released souls

And freedom that set souls free

To proceed in the procession of worshippers.

To move onward in the procession of worshippers.

سَيَبْقَى الجَمالُ لَنَا آيَةً

سَيَبْقَى الجَمالُ لَنَا آيَةً

يَرَى اللّهَ في صِدْقِها العَالمونْ

يَرَى اللّهَ في صِدْقِها العَالمونْ

Beauty will remain a sign for us:

Beauty will remain a sign for us,

In its truth, those who know behold God.

Those who know see God in its truth.

ويَبْقى هَوَانَا هوى الصَّادقينَ

ويَبْقى هَوَانَا هوى الصَّادقينَ

فَمَا الحُبُّ إِلا هَوَى الصَّادقِينْ

فَمَا الحُبُّ إِلا هَوَى الصَّادقِينْ

And our love will remain the very love of the truthful,

And our passion will remain the passion of the truthful,

For love is nothing but the passion of the truthful.

For love is nothing but the passion of the truthful.

وَمَا الحُبُّ إلا زكيُّ الجَمَالِ

وَمَا الحُبُّ إلا زكيُّ الجَمَالِ

نَقِيُّ الفعَال وَ فَاءٌ وَ دينْ

نَقِيُّ الفعَال وَ فَاءٌ وَ دينْ

And love is nothing but beauty made pure:

And love is nothing but pure beauty,

Pure in deeds, loyal, faithful, and devout.

Purity of deeds, fidelity, and faith.

وَمَنْ عَرَفَ الحُبَّ للّـ

وَمَنْ عَرَفَ الحُبَّ للّـ

ـهِ عَلّمَهُ الحبُّ تَرْكَ المُجُونْ

ـهِ عَلّمَهُ الحبُّ تَرْكَ المُجُونْ

Whoever knows love for God

And whoever has known love for God,

Is taught by love to forsake wantonness.

Love has taught him to abandon debauchery.

ففي كُلِّ ناحِيَةٍ آيَةٌ

ففي كُلِّ ناحِيَةٍ آيَةٌ

مِنَ الحُسْنِ تُجْلَى و حَقٌّ يَبِينْ

مِنَ الحُسْنِ تُجْلَى و حَقٌّ يَبِينْ

For in every quarter there is a sign

For in every direction there is a sign

Of beauty made manifest—and a certain truth.

Of beauty unveiled, and a truth made clear,

تَدُلُّ عَلَى أَنَّكَ اللّـ

تَدُلُّ عَلَى أَنَّكَ اللّـ

ــه رَبُّ الخَلائِقِ و العَالمينْ

ــه رَبُّ الخَلائِقِ و العَالمينْ

It points to the truth that You are God,

Showing that You are God,

For He is Lord of all creation and all worlds.

Lord of all creatures and all worlds.

وَلَيْسَ يَرَاها سِوَى مُؤمِنٍ

وَلَيْسَ يَرَاها سِوَى مُؤمِنٍ

وَلَيْسَ يَرَاهَا سَوَى المتَّقين

وَلَيْسَ يَرَاهَا سَوَى المتَّقين

None beholds Him except a believer,

And none sees it but a believer,

And none perceives it except the God-fearing.

And none sees it but the God-fearing.

وأَنْتَ جَميلٌ تُحِبُّ الجَمالَ

وأَنْتَ جَميلٌ تُحِبُّ الجَمالَ

فَقُلْتَ لَنَا يا عِبَادِي اتَّقُونْ

فَقُلْتَ لَنَا يا عِبَادِي اتَّقُونْ

You are beautiful, and You love beauty;

And You are beautiful; You love beauty,

So You said to us: “O My servants, be mindful of Me.”

So You said to us, 'O My servants, fear Me.'