هَيهاتَ لا أَبتَغي عَن بابِكُم حِوَلا

هَيهاتَ لا أَبتَغي عَن بابِكُم حِوَلا

أَأَبتَغي حِوَلاً بِالغَبنِ حينَ خَلا

أَأَبتَغي حِوَلاً بِالغَبنِ حينَ خَلا

Far from it! I seek no departure from your door.

Alas! I do not seek favor from your door

Should I seek a departure at a loss, when empty stands

Shall I seek favor through deceit when alone?

مَغنى الغِنى فَإِذا زاوَلتُ عَقوَتَهُ

مَغنى الغِنى فَإِذا زاوَلتُ عَقوَتَهُ

وَجَدتُ كُلَّ مَحَلٍّ آهِلٍ طَلَلا

وَجَدتُ كُلَّ مَحَلٍّ آهِلٍ طَلَلا

wealth's abode? Whenever I seek out its precinct,

The richness of wealth, when I familiarized with its harm

I find every inhabited dwelling a ruin.

I found every place inhabited ruined

فَمَكَّنَ اللَهُ مِن صَدرٍ وَمِن عُنُقٍ

فَمَكَّنَ اللَهُ مِن صَدرٍ وَمِن عُنُقٍ

مِمَّن يُفارِقُهُ الأَغلالَ وَالعِلَلا

مِمَّن يُفارِقُهُ الأَغلالَ وَالعِلَلا

May God give mastery over the breast and neck

So God has enabled one whose chest and neck are free

of whoever leaves him to chains and ailments.

From shackles and diseases that bind

اللَهُ أَسلَكَنا مِن قَصدِهِ سُبُلاً

اللَهُ أَسلَكَنا مِن قَصدِهِ سُبُلاً

سَدَّت عَلى كُلِّ خَطبٍ رامَنا السُبُلا

سَدَّت عَلى كُلِّ خَطبٍ رامَنا السُبُلا

God, through seeking him, has led us along paths

God guided us to walk His straight path

that barred every route to calamities pursuing us.

Blocking for us every difficult affair, smoothing the roads

قَد كُنتُ ما لي سِوى عَتبي لَهُ شُغُلٌ

قَد كُنتُ ما لي سِوى عَتبي لَهُ شُغُلٌ

فَاليَومَ لَيسَ سِوى شُكري لَهُ شُغُلا

فَاليَومَ لَيسَ سِوى شُكري لَهُ شُغُلا

I once had no occupation but reproaching him;

I used to have no concern but complaining of Him

today my only occupation is thanking him.

Today I have no concern but thanking Him

ما كانَ عَن واقِعِ الأَطماعِ مُمتَنِعاً

ما كانَ عَن واقِعِ الأَطماعِ مُمتَنِعاً

قَد صارَ عِندي وَفي كَفَّيَّ قَد حَصَلا

قَد صارَ عِندي وَفي كَفَّيَّ قَد حَصَلا

What once resisted the onslaught of hopes

What was impossible to attain from ambitions

is now mine, secured in both my hands.

Is now in my hands, attained

دامَت لَكُم مِثلَ ما دامَت بِكُم نِعَمٌ

دامَت لَكُم مِثلَ ما دامَت بِكُم نِعَمٌ

أَمّا تَخَيُّلُ مَعنىً لِلمَزيدِ فَلا

أَمّا تَخَيُّلُ مَعنىً لِلمَزيدِ فَلا

May blessings endure for you as they have endured through you;

May blessings continue for you as they lasted with you

as for imagining any meaning for 'more'—no.

As for imagining more, that cannot be

خَلَّدتَ جودَكَ في أَهلي فَأَذكَرَني ال

خَلَّدتَ جودَكَ في أَهلي فَأَذكَرَني ال

دُنيا وَأَمَّنَني تَخليدُكَ الأَجَلا

دُنيا وَأَمَّنَني تَخليدُكَ الأَجَلا

You perpetuated your generosity among my family, making the

You immortalized your generosity among my family

world remember me; your immortalizing me secured me against death.

So the life mentioned me and your eternity gave me safety

أَمّا الوِلايَةُ فَالمَعروفُ خُطبَتُها

أَمّا الوِلايَةُ فَالمَعروفُ خُطبَتُها

وَلَستُ أَقبَلُها عَن بابِكُم بَدَلا

وَلَستُ أَقبَلُها عَن بابِكُم بَدَلا

As for office, beneficence is its address;

As for authority, its good deed is well-known

I do not accept it as a substitute for your door.

And I will not accept it from your door as a substitute

وِلايَةُ البابِ عَنها لَستَ تَعزِلُني

وِلايَةُ البابِ عَنها لَستَ تَعزِلُني

وَما سِواها فَمَن وُلِّي فَقَد عُزِلا

وَما سِواها فَمَن وُلِّي فَقَد عُزِلا

From service at your door you do not dismiss me;

The authority of the door, you do not distance me from it

in any other office, whoever is appointed has already been dismissed.

And anything other than it, he who is delegated has been dismissed

فَما تُكَلِّفُني صَبراً عَلى صَبِرٍ

فَما تُكَلِّفُني صَبراً عَلى صَبِرٍ

وَلا أُكَلِّفُها أَن تَسكُبَ العَسَلا

وَلا أُكَلِّفُها أَن تَسكُبَ العَسَلا

It does not require me to endure bitter aloe,

So do not burden me with patience upon patience

nor do I require it to pour out honey.

Nor burden it to pour honey

سِلاحُ حَربي مَعَ الأَيّامِ عَطَّلَهُ

سِلاحُ حَربي مَعَ الأَيّامِ عَطَّلَهُ

رَأيٌ مِنَ الرَأيِ حَليٌ يُشبِهُ العَطَلا

رَأيٌ مِنَ الرَأيِ حَليٌ يُشبِهُ العَطَلا

The weapon of my war against the days was laid aside by

My weapon for war, an opinion has disabled it

a judgment born of judgment—an ornament resembling bareness.

An opinion in opinion is an ornament resembling retirement

فَلا حَديثي بِنوناتٍ تُعَظِّمُني

فَلا حَديثي بِنوناتٍ تُعَظِّمُني

وَلا كِتابي إِلى قَومٍ بِمِن وَإِلى

وَلا كِتابي إِلى قَومٍ بِمِن وَإِلى

So no nūn-letters in my speech aggrandize me,

So my talk is not with glorifying polite phrases

nor do my letters to people bear 'from' and 'to'.

Nor my writing to people with "from" and "to"

وَلا حَصاةُ فُؤادي تَحتَ مَحملِها

وَلا حَصاةُ فُؤادي تَحتَ مَحملِها

مِن هَمِّ زَيدٍ وَعَمرٍو تَحمِلُ الجَبَلا

مِن هَمِّ زَيدٍ وَعَمرٍو تَحمِلُ الجَبَلا

Nor does my heart's pebble, beneath its burden

Nor is my heart's pebble under its burden

of worries over Zayd and Amr, carry a mountain.

From the worries of Zayd and Amr, bearing mountains

وَالبَحرُ لَو مَنَّ يَمَّمتُ التُرابَ وَلَم

وَالبَحرُ لَو مَنَّ يَمَّمتُ التُرابَ وَلَم

أَسَرَّهُ أَنَّ في كَفّي لَهُ بَلَلا

أَسَرَّهُ أَنَّ في كَفّي لَهُ بَلَلا

And if the sea flaunted its favors, I would resort to dust, and would not

And if the sea would grant, I would face the dust and not

delight it by having any of its moisture in my palm.

Conceal that my palm has wetness for it

أَقسَمتُ لَو قَذَفَت أَمواجُهُ دُرَراً

أَقسَمتُ لَو قَذَفَت أَمواجُهُ دُرَراً

وَلَو تَحَوَّلَ يَوماً مِلحُهُ عَسَلا

وَلَو تَحَوَّلَ يَوماً مِلحُهُ عَسَلا

I swore: were its waves to cast forth pearls,

I swear if its waves cast pearls

and were its salt one day to turn to honey,

And if its salt one day turned to honey

لَما مَدَدتُ إِلَيهِ راحَتي أَنَفاً

لَما مَدَدتُ إِلَيهِ راحَتي أَنَفاً

وَلا رَفَعتُ إِلَيهِ ناظِري كَسَلا

وَلا رَفَعتُ إِلَيهِ ناظِري كَسَلا

I would not extend my palm toward it, out of pride,

I would not stretch my palm to it haughtily

nor lift my gaze toward it, out of indolence.

Nor raise my gaze to it lazily

لَولا مَنازِلُ مَولانا وَأَنَّ بِها

لَولا مَنازِلُ مَولانا وَأَنَّ بِها

لِلَهِ إِذ يَنزِلُ العافي بِها نُزُلا

لِلَهِ إِذ يَنزِلُ العافي بِها نُزُلا

Were it not for our lord's dwellings, and that within them

If it were not for our Master's abodes that

there is hospitality for God's sake when a suppliant alights there,

When God descends well-being upon, it lodges

كانَت مَطامِعُ دُنيانا إِذا حَمَلَت

كانَت مَطامِعُ دُنيانا إِذا حَمَلَت

سِلاحَها تَتَّقيني فارِساً بَطَلا

سِلاحَها تَتَّقيني فارِساً بَطَلا

our world's desires, whenever they took up

Then our worldly ambitions, when they carried

their arms, would beware of me, a valiant horseman.

Their weapons, would avoid me as a brave hero

وَكُنتُ أُبطِئُ وَالآمالُ مومِضَةٌ

وَكُنتُ أُبطِئُ وَالآمالُ مومِضَةٌ

بِطءَ الجَبانِ إِذا ما اِستَشعَرَ الوَجَلا

بِطءَ الجَبانِ إِذا ما اِستَشعَرَ الوَجَلا

And I would delay, while hopes flashed,

And I would be slow while hopes are flashing

as slowly as a coward when he senses dread,

The slowness of a coward when he senses alarm

حَتّى يُقالَ أَما الإِنسانُ مِن عَجَلٍ

حَتّى يُقالَ أَما الإِنسانُ مِن عَجَلٍ

فَما لِهَذا إِلى الأَطماعِ ما عَجِلا

فَما لِهَذا إِلى الأَطماعِ ما عَجِلا

until it was said, 'Is not man made of haste?

Until it is said, "As for man, of haste

Why has this one not hurried toward desires?'

So why does this one not hasten to ambitions?"

وَلَم أُبَل حينَ يُنشي المُزنُ عارِضَهُ

وَلَم أُبَل حينَ يُنشي المُزنُ عارِضَهُ

أَعارِضاً مَطِلاً أَم عارِضاً هَطِلا

أَعارِضاً مَطِلاً أَم عارِضاً هَطِلا

And I cared not when the raincloud raised its cloud-bank,

And I did not stay up when misfortune furrowed its brows

whether a cloud delaying rain or a cloud pouring it down.

Furrowing prolonged brows or pouring brows

وَكُنتُ مِن أَنَفٍ في مُرتَقى زُحَلٍ

وَكُنتُ مِن أَنَفٍ في مُرتَقى زُحَلٍ

وَلَو حَكى الحَظُّ في إِبطائِهِ زُحَلا

وَلَو حَكى الحَظُّ في إِبطائِهِ زُحَلا

And in my pride I stood at Saturn's heights,

And I was from a self on the ascent of Saturn

even if fortune, in its slowness, resembled Saturn.

Even if fortune told in its tardiness Saturn's tale

اللَهُ أَغنى بِمَولانا وَنِعمَتِهِ

اللَهُ أَغنى بِمَولانا وَنِعمَتِهِ

عَنِ الكِرامِ فَلا تَذكُر لِيَ البُخَلا

عَنِ الكِرامِ فَلا تَذكُر لِيَ البُخَلا

God, through our lord and his bounty, has made me independent

God has enriched us with our Master and His bounty

of the generous; so do not mention the miserly to me.

From generosity so do not mention stinginess to me

مَواهِبٌ قَرَّ عَيناها فَلَيسَ لَنا

مَواهِبٌ قَرَّ عَيناها فَلَيسَ لَنا

سِوى التَفَكُّهِ في جَنّاتِها شُغُلا

سِوى التَفَكُّهِ في جَنّاتِها شُغُلا

Bounties whose two eyes are soothed; we have no occupation

Gifts that delighted his eyes so we have no duty

but taking delight in their gardens.

Except to indulge in its gardens, that occupies us

كَم جاءَ قَلبي بِحاجاتٍ مُفَضَّلَةٍ

كَم جاءَ قَلبي بِحاجاتٍ مُفَضَّلَةٍ

ثُمَّ اِنصَرَفتُ بِها في راحَتي جُمَلا

ثُمَّ اِنصَرَفتُ بِها في راحَتي جُمَلا

How often my heart came with cherished requests,

How my heart came with preferred needs

then I departed with them, in full, in my palm!

Then I left with them at ease, all together

وَخَفَّفَ اللَهُ عَن قَلبي بِما حَمَلَت

وَخَفَّفَ اللَهُ عَن قَلبي بِما حَمَلَت

مِنها يَمينِيَ مِن فَضلٍ وَإِن ثَقُلا

مِنها يَمينِيَ مِن فَضلٍ وَإِن ثَقُلا

And God lightened my heart through what

And God lightened from my heart what it carried

my right hand carried of those gifts, though they were heavy.

Of them in my right hand of grace though heavy

فَلا عَدِمتُ يَداً إِن جِئتُها بَذَلَت

فَلا عَدِمتُ يَداً إِن جِئتُها بَذَلَت

وَعُدتُ عَنها كَريمَ الوَجهِ ما بُذِلا

وَعُدتُ عَنها كَريمَ الوَجهِ ما بُذِلا

May I never lack a hand that gives when I come to it,

So I do not lack a hand if I came to it, it gave

and from which I return with my countenance honored, not surrendered.

And I returned from it, noble of face, nothing offered

أَعطى وَلَم يَعِدِ الجَدوى وَعَجَّلَها

أَعطى وَلَم يَعِدِ الجَدوى وَعَجَّلَها

وَأَينَ مَن وَعَدَ الجَدوى وَما مَطَلا

وَأَينَ مَن وَعَدَ الجَدوى وَما مَطَلا

He gave without promising bounty, and hastened it;

He gave and did not promise benefit and hastened it

and where is one who promises bounty and never delays?

And where is he who promised benefit but did not hasten?

يا مُشبِهَ المُعتَفي حاشا مَكارِمَهُ

يا مُشبِهَ المُعتَفي حاشا مَكارِمَهُ

وَما زَلَلتُ فَلا تُلحِق بِيَ الزَلَلا

وَما زَلَلتُ فَلا تُلحِق بِيَ الزَلَلا

O one resembling the suppliant—his noble deeds excepted!

O you who resemble the noble, far are his virtues

I have not erred, so do not charge me with error.

And I have not slipped so do not attribute slips to me

الناسُ يُعطونَ إِن أَعطَوا إِذا سُئِلوا

الناسُ يُعطونَ إِن أَعطَوا إِذا سُئِلوا

وَأَينَ أَينَ الَّذي يُعطي إِذا سُئِلا

وَأَينَ أَينَ الَّذي يُعطي إِذا سُئِلا

People give, if they give, when they are asked;

People give if they give when asked

and where—where—is the one who gives when asked?

And where, where is he who gives when not asked?

وَقَد مَلَأتَ أَمانَ المُعتَفينَ يَدي

وَقَد مَلَأتَ أَمانَ المُعتَفينَ يَدي

أَدنى الفَواضِلِ مِنهُ يَملَأُ الأَمَلا

أَدنى الفَواضِلِ مِنهُ يَملَأُ الأَمَلا

You have filled my hand, O refuge of suppliants;

You have filled the safety of the poor, my hands

the least of his bounties fills all hope.

The lowest of your virtues fills hopes

حَتّى خَلَقتَ إِباءً في خَلائِقِهِم

حَتّى خَلَقتَ إِباءً في خَلائِقِهِم

فَلا عَدِمناكَ مِن مُجدي غِنىً وَعُلا

فَلا عَدِمناكَ مِن مُجدي غِنىً وَعُلا

Till you created proud refusal in their natures;

To the extent you created refusal in their natures

may we never lack you, giver of wealth and eminence!

So we have not lacked you for enriching elevation

فَصِرتَ إِن قُلتَ خُذ ما أَنتَ تَسأَلُهُ

فَصِرتَ إِن قُلتَ خُذ ما أَنتَ تَسأَلُهُ

أَبى وَتَسأَلُهُ أَخذاً وَما قَبِلا

أَبى وَتَسأَلُهُ أَخذاً وَما قَبِلا

So you have come to this: if you say, 'Take,' the one you ask

You became, if you said take what you request

refuses; you ask him to take, yet he does not accept.

He refuses, and requests taking but does not accept

مِن ثَمَّ ما ساغَ لي إِن قُلتَ تُشبِهُهُ

مِن ثَمَّ ما ساغَ لي إِن قُلتَ تُشبِهُهُ

وَأَينَ شِبهُ ثَرىً مِن صَيِّبٍ هَطَلا

وَأَينَ شِبهُ ثَرىً مِن صَيِّبٍ هَطَلا

Hence it does not suit me if you say, 'You resemble him';

Therefore it did not befit me if I said you resemble him

and what likeness has earth to a pouring raincloud?

And where is the likeness of a torrential rain to a drizzle?

مَكارِمٌ رَحَلَت لِلناسِ قاصِدَةً

مَكارِمٌ رَحَلَت لِلناسِ قاصِدَةً

وَلَم يُكَلِّفهُمُ في قَصدِها الرِحَلا

وَلَم يُكَلِّفهُمُ في قَصدِها الرِحَلا

Acts of generosity journeyed out, heading toward people,

Virtues have set out to people with intention

and he did not require them to journey in seeking them.

And did not burden them in its pursuit with saddling

وَما تُزَفُّ لَهُ بِكراً عَقيلَتُهُ

وَما تُزَفُّ لَهُ بِكراً عَقيلَتُهُ

إِلّا أَفاضَ عَلَيها الحَليَ وَالحُلَلا

إِلّا أَفاضَ عَلَيها الحَليَ وَالحُلَلا

And never is his prized maiden led to him as a virgin bride

And he is not wedded a virgin bride of his

without his lavishing on her jewels and robes.

Except he pours upon her adornment and gowns

كَم أَنطَقَت يَدُهُ مِن لَهجَةٍ خَرِسَت

كَم أَنطَقَت يَدُهُ مِن لَهجَةٍ خَرِسَت

وَصَيَّرَت مِن وُلاةِ العِلمِ مَن جَهِلا

وَصَيَّرَت مِن وُلاةِ العِلمِ مَن جَهِلا

How many a silenced tongue his hand has made to speak,

How many mute tongues his hand has spoken

and placed among the masters of learning those who were ignorant!

And made scholars from the ignorant

وَعاوَدَ الشِعرُ مِنهُ جاهِلِيَّتَهُ

وَعاوَدَ الشِعرُ مِنهُ جاهِلِيَّتَهُ

حَتّى حَكى حَوكُ جُورٍ ما تَحوكُ فَلا

حَتّى حَكى حَوكُ جُورٍ ما تَحوكُ فَلا

And poetry, through him, revisited its pre-Islamic age,

And poetry regained its Ignorance from him

until the weaving of Jur imitated what deserts weave.

To the extent the looping of injustice does not loop

فَكَم تَعالى قِفا نَبكِ وَأَسيَرُ مِن

فَكَم تَعالى قِفا نَبكِ وَأَسيَرُ مِن

أَبياتِها فَوقَ أَلفاظِ الوَرى مَثَلا

أَبياتِها فَوقَ أَلفاظِ الوَرى مَثَلا

How high 'Halt, you two; let us weep,' and the most circulated of

So rise, heel, and prisoner from its verses

its verses rose above mankind's words, as a proverb!

Above the words of creation an example

فَالبَس بِما يُلبِسُ الدُنيا نَضارَتَها

فَالبَس بِما يُلبِسُ الدُنيا نَضارَتَها

هَذا الَّذي في طِرازِ الجودِ قَد عُمِلا

هَذا الَّذي في طِرازِ الجودِ قَد عُمِلا

So wear, for what clothes the world in its freshness,

Wear that which adorns the life its blossoming

this, fashioned in the embroidery of generosity.

This one who is tailored in the pattern of generosity

جِئناكَ نَركَبُ أَهوالاً نُسَرُّ بِها

جِئناكَ نَركَبُ أَهوالاً نُسَرُّ بِها

وَلَو رَكِبنا إِلى ما سَرَّكَ الأَسَلا

وَلَو رَكِبنا إِلى ما سَرَّكَ الأَسَلا

We came to you, riding through terrors that delighted us,

We came to you riding calamities we are delighted with

even had we ridden spearpoints toward what pleased you.

And if we rode to what delights you the smooth

بِالقَتلِ هَدَّدَنا فيها فُلانُ وَلَو

بِالقَتلِ هَدَّدَنا فيها فُلانُ وَلَو

كُنّا كُئوساً بِكَفَّيهِ لَما قَتَلا

كُنّا كُئوساً بِكَفَّيهِ لَما قَتَلا

So-and-so threatened us with death there; yet even if

So and so threatened us in it with killing, and if

we had been cups in his two hands, he would not have killed us.

We were skulls in his palms he would not have killed

فَصِرتُ لا أَتَوَقّى الظُهرَ مُفتَرِساً

فَصِرتُ لا أَتَوَقّى الظُهرَ مُفتَرِساً

وَنِمتُ لا أَتَوَقّى اللَيلَ مُحتَبِلا

وَنِمتُ لا أَتَوَقّى اللَيلَ مُحتَبِلا

So I no longer feared noon as a predator,

So I became not fearing the predator in the afternoon

and slept, not fearing night as a snare-setter.

And I sleep not fearing the lurking night

وجاء عارضُ ريحٍ ما أبهتُ له

وجاء عارضُ ريحٍ ما أبهتُ له

بل كدتُ أرشفُ منه عارضاً بَقِلا

بل كدتُ أرشفُ منه عارضاً بَقِلا

And a gust of wind came; I paid it no heed;

And there came the cheek of a wind I did not care for

rather, I almost sipped from it a cheek with budding down.

Rather, I almost sipped from it a sip of broth

لا أَتَّقي اِمرَأَةً في كَفِّهِ اِمرَأَةٌ

لا أَتَّقي اِمرَأَةً في كَفِّهِ اِمرَأَةٌ

لِلسَيفِ بَل رَجُلاً يَسطو بِهِ رَجُلا

لِلسَيفِ بَل رَجُلاً يَسطو بِهِ رَجُلا

I fear no woman with a woman in his hand

I do not fear a woman in his grip, a woman

for a sword, but a man who strikes a man with it.

For the sword, but a man who assaults with it a man

مَن كانَ يَعتادُ في أَدنى مَآرِبِهِ

مَن كانَ يَعتادُ في أَدنى مَآرِبِهِ

خَوضَ البِحارِ فَلا تَذكُر لَهُ الوَشَلا

خَوضَ البِحارِ فَلا تَذكُر لَهُ الوَشَلا

Whoever is accustomed, for the least of his purposes,

Whoever was accustomed in his slightest adventures

to wading seas—do not speak to him of a trickle.

To plunge into seas, do not mention to him fear

فَأَرخِصِ النَفسَ في ذِكرٍ يُخَلِّدُها

فَأَرخِصِ النَفسَ في ذِكرٍ يُخَلِّدُها

فَما أَرىالذِكرَ إِن غاَلَ النُفوسَ غَلا

فَما أَرىالذِكرَ إِن غاَلَ النُفوسَ غَلا

So hold life cheap for renown that makes it immortal;

So esteem the self in a mention that immortalizes it

I do not think renown too costly, even if it claims lives.

For I do not see that mention, if selves are valuable, as expensive

أَقبِل عَلى الحَمدِ بِالبِشرِ الكَريمِ تَجِد

أَقبِل عَلى الحَمدِ بِالبِشرِ الكَريمِ تَجِد

عُشباً إِذا البِشرُ أَرضى رَوضَهُ خَضِلا

عُشباً إِذا البِشرُ أَرضى رَوضَهُ خَضِلا

Meet praise with gracious cheer, and you will find

Come to praise with the generous good news, you will find

lush grass, when cheerfulness gladdens its meadow.

Grass, if the good news contents its meadow, green

قَد اِرتَبَطتُم فُؤاداً فيكُمُ جَذِلاً

قَد اِرتَبَطتُم فُؤاداً فيكُمُ جَذِلاً

أَطلَقتُموهُ لِساناً عَنكُمُ جَدِلا

أَطلَقتُموهُ لِساناً عَنكُمُ جَدِلا

You have bound a heart rejoicing in you;

You have bound me inwardly, in you a prisoner

you released it as a tongue arguing on your behalf.

You released outwardly from you an arguer