ومغرب الشمس ومشرق القمر — Almkazhon Singari

وَمَغرَبِ الشَمسِ وَمِشرِقِ القَمَر

وَكَوكَبِ الصُبحِ إِذا اللَيلُ دَبَر

By the sun's setting and the moon's rising,

and the morning star when night retreats,

وَالفَتقِ بَعدَ الرَتقِ وَالسُكونُ وَالت

تَحريكِ وَالمَقدورِ فيهِ وَالقَدَر

and the opening after closure, and stillness and

motion, and what is decreed therein, and destiny,

وَالخُنَّسِ الكُنَّسِ في أَفلاكِها

وَما ظَوى مِنها الضُحى وَما نَشَر

and the retreating stars, withdrawing in their orbits,

and what morning concealed of them and revealed,

وَالمَدِّ في العَيانِ لِلظِلِّ الَّذي

عَلى الصَفاءِ دونَهُ العَقلُ قَصَر

and the visible extension of the shadow which,

despite clarity, the intellect fell short of grasping,

وَسِرِّ إِعلانِ الهُدى في سَترِهِ

لَمّا بَدا وَكَشفُهُ لَمّا سَتَر

and the secret of revealing guidance within its concealment

when it appeared, and unveiling it when it concealed,

وَعودِ عيدِ العَهدِ في أُسبوعِهِ الد

دائِرِ في شُهورِهِ الَّتي شَهَر

and the covenant's feast returning within its week,

revolving through its months, which he made renowned,

وَالكَرَّةِ البَيضاءَ في رَجعَتِها الز

زَهراءِ وَالداعي إِلى شَيءٍ نُكُر

and the white return in its radiant

coming again, and the caller to something dreadful:

لَقَد شَهِدتُ عالَمَ الغَيبِ وَمَن

حَلَّ بِهِ مُشاهِداً عَلى النَظَر

I have indeed witnessed the unseen world, and whoever

dwelt therein, witnessing through direct vision.

لَم يَغوَ فيما قَد رَوى فُؤادُهُ

وَما رَآهُ عَنهُ ما زاغَ البَصَر

He did not stray in what his heart related,

nor did sight swerve from what it saw of him.

وَزارَني مَشاهِدَ الغَيبِ الَّذي

غَيَّبَني بي عَنهُ فيهِ إِذا حَضَر

He visited me amid the visions of the unseen,

hiding me, through myself, from him within him when present.

فَلاحٌ لي صُبحُ فَلاحي في دُجى الس

سَترِ بِنورِ وَجهِهِ قَبلَ السَحَر

Salvation for me: my salvation's dawn amid concealment's

darkness, through his face's light before daybreak.

وَراحَ بي مُؤَيِّداً بِجُندِهِ ال

خَميسِ يَومَ جُمعَةِ السَبتِ الأَغَر

He carried me onward, strengthening me with his

fivefold army, on the gathering-day of the radiant Sabbath.

مَراتِبٌ سَبعٌ وَفيها ضَربُها

مَنازِلٌ وَالهاءُ في الغَينِ نَفَر

Seven ranks; within them, their multiplication

forms stations, and ha within ghayn is a troop.

أَسماءُ حُجبٍ آيُ أَنوارِ السَما

شُموسُ أَفلاكِ الغَمامِ المُعتَصَر

Names of veils, signs of heaven's lights,

suns of the orbits of rain-wrung clouds;

مَشارِقٌ مَغارِبٌ أَقمارُها

أَهِلَّةٌ نُجومُ رَعدٍ لِلمَطَر

risings, settings, their moons,

crescents, stars, thunder for rain;

بُروقُها صَلاتُها زَكاتُها

صَومٌ وَحَجٌّ هِجرَةٌ لِمَن هَجَر

their lightning, their prayer, their almsgiving,

fasting and pilgrimage, migration for whoever migrates;

جِهادُها دُعاؤُها جِبالُها

وَالمُعصِراتُ وَالبِحارُ وَالنُهُر

their striving, their supplication, their mountains,

and rain-bearing clouds, and seas, and rivers;

رِياحُها سِحابُها صَواعِقٌ

لِيلٌ نَهارٌ بِالغَداةِ قَد سَفَر

their winds, their clouds, thunderbolts,

night, and day unveiled at morning;

عَشِيُّها غُدُوُّها آصالُها

سُبُلُها أَنعامُها فيها زُمَر

their evening, their early morning, their late afternoons,

their paths, their livestock, with companies among them;

دَوابُها إِبلُها وَنَحلُها

وَالطَيرُ في صَوامِعُ لا مِن مَدَر

their creatures, their camels, and their bees,

and birds in hermitages not made of clay;

بَيعُها بُيوتُها مَساجِدٌ

وَالنَخلُ وَالأَعنابُ رِزقٌ وَسَكَر

their churches, their houses—mosques,

and palms and grapes, provision and intoxicating drink;

رُمّانُها وَحُبُّها وَتينُها

زَشتونُها ظِلٌّ ظَليلٌ وَثَمَر

their pomegranates, their grain, and their figs,

their olives, dense shade, and fruit.

هُنَّ السَماواتُ العُلى لِسَبعِ أَر

ضَينَ بِهِنَّ ماءُ غاديها اِنهَمَر

They are the lofty heavens for seven

earths; through them their morning cloud's water poured down.

مُقَرَّبٌ بِهِ الكُروبِيُّ غَدا

مُرَوَّحاً مُقَدَّساً بَرّاً وَبَر

Through him the cherub became one brought near,

refreshed, sanctified, righteous, and doing good.

وَسائِحٌ مُستَمِعٌ وَلاحِقٌ

هُمُ المَقَرُّ لَفتىً بِهِم أَقَر

A wanderer, a listener, and one who follows:

they are the abode of a youth who rests with them.

عَديدُهُم بِضَربِ ما لِلغَينِ في ال

قافِ وَفي الياءِ وَفي الطاءِ اِنحَصَر

Their number is confined to multiplying ghayn's value by

qaf, and ya, and ta.

جَنّاتُ عَدنٍ فُتَّحَت أَبوابُها

لِمَن غَدَت أَركانُها لَهُ وَزَر

Gardens of Eden, their gates opened

for whoever finds refuge in their pillars.

فيها بِإِسلامي غَدَوتُ مُؤمِناً

وَصارَ مُستَودَعُ عِلمي مُستَقِر

Within them, through my submission, I became a believer,

and my knowledge's repository became a settled abode.

وَرُحتُ مُستَودِعَ أَسراري بِها

مُستَحفِظاً فازَ بِخُبَرِ المُختَبَر

I went, entrusting my secrets there,

as a keeper who gained knowledge of the tested.

وَرُحتُ بِالفُرقانِ وَالإيقانِ وَال

وِجدانِ مُستَحفِظَ خُبَرَ المُختَبَر

I went through discernment, certainty, and

inner finding, keeping knowledge of the tested.

مَعنى القَديمِ بِالحَديثِ مُشهَدٌ

لِناظِري مُغَيِّبٌ عَنِ الفِكَر

The Eternal's meaning is witnessed through the newly arisen,

present to my sight, hidden from thought,

فَمِنهُ ما عَنهُ غَدَوتُ سامِعاً

وَالعَينُ أَغنَتني بِهِ عَنِ الأَثَر

and from him comes what I came to hear of him;

direct vision through him spared me reliance on reports.

مُنفَرِداً مُنَزَّهاً مُجَرَّداً

عَنِ الأَسامي وَالصِفاتِ وَالصُوَر

Unique, transcendent, divested

of names, attributes, and forms:

لَم يَجرِ ما أَجرى عَلَيهِ لا وَلا

ساواهُ في الرُتبَةِ ما عِندَ صَدَر

what he set in motion did not act upon him—no;

nor did what issued forth equal him in rank.

جَلَّ عَنِ التَحويلِ وَالحُلولُ في ال

أَينِ وَعَن هَجرِ مَقالِ مَن هَجَر

He transcends alteration and indwelling in

place, and the idle speech of those who babble.

لَيسَ بِمَسبوقِ الوُجودِ جودُهُ

لِذاكَ لا يَنفَدُهُ مُرُّ الدَهَر

His generosity is not preceded by existence;

thus time's passage does not exhaust it.

شاءَ فَأَبدى لِلبَدا مَشيئَةً

فاطِرَةً بِأَمرِهِ أَصلَ الفِطَر

He willed, revealing for manifestation a will

that, by his command, originates the root of natures:

القَلَمُ الجاري الَّذي الَّذي مِدادُهُ

لِأَحرُفِ التَنزيلِ في اللَوحِ سَطَر

the flowing Pen, which—which—its ink

inscribed revelation's letters upon the Tablet.

وَحَلَّ مِن تَركيبِها بَسائِطاً

في قَبضِها البَسطُ لِأَرواحِ البَشَر

He dissolved their composition into simple elements;

within their contraction lies expansion for human spirits.

لَهُ بِهِم فِيَّ عَلَيَّ شاهِدٌ

غادَرَني في مَأَمَني عَلى حَذَر

Through them he has, within me, a witness against me,

leaving me wary within my place of safety.

وَمَكرُ فِكري في خَفِيِّ مَكرِهِ

مِن خاطِري فيهِ أَنا عَلى خَطَر

My thought's scheming lies within his hidden scheme;

through my passing thought, I stand in danger therein.

قَدَّرَهُم بِجودِهِم أَودِيَةً

قالَ مِنها كُلُّ وادٍ بِقَدَر

He measured them as valleys through their generosity;

he said: each valley among them has its measure.

فَاِحتَمَلَ الآخَرُ مِنها ماكِثاً

بِنَفعِهِ يَنفي عَنِ الناسِ الضَرَر

The other among them carried what remains,

whose benefit wards harm away from people.

أَهبَطَهُ مِن راحَةِ الظِلالِ في

دارِ العَنا اِختِيارُهُ عِندَ النَظَر

His choice, upon considering, brought him down from restful shade

into the abode of suffering.

مَلَّ السُكونَ فَغَدا مُحَرِّكاً

عَن عَلَمَي نَجدٍ إِلى غَورِ الغِيَر

He tired of stillness and became a mover,

from Najd's two landmarks into the depths of change.

لَو اِرتَضى الغَمامِ لَم يَبِت

مِن بَعدِ حَيِّ الإِنسِ في القَفرِ الوَعِر

Had he been content with the clouds, he would not have spent

the night beyond humanity's settlement in the rugged wilderness.

وَإِنَّما بِاللُطفِ إِذ عاوَدَهُ

مُذَكِّراً مِن بَعدِ نِسيانٍ ذَكَر

Only through gentleness, when it returned to him

as a reminder, did he remember after forgetting.

مِعراجُهُ في كَورِهِ وَدَورِهِ

إِخلاصُهُ وَبَرُّهُ لِكُلِّ بَر

His ascent through his cycle and revolution

is his sincerity and goodness toward every righteous one,

وَالصِدقُ وَالتَصديقُ وَالإِسلامُ وَال

إيمانُ وَالإِحسانُ مِن غَيرِ ضَجَر

and truthfulness, affirmation, submission, and

faith and beneficence, without weariness.

وَالزَبِدُ الرابي الجُفاءُ ذاهِباً

عَن مَذهَبِ الرُشدِ إِلى الغَيِّ نَفَر

The swelling foam, discarded and passing away,

fled the path of right guidance toward error.

أَورَدَهُ العَدلُ بِسوءِ ظَنِّهِ

مِنَ الرَدى ما صَدَّهُ عَنِ الصَدَر

Justice, through his evil suspicion, brought him

to destruction that barred his return.

هُدِيَ سَبيلَي رُشدِهِ وَغَيِّهِ

مُخَيَّراً فيما يَرى وَما يَذَر

He was shown the two paths of guidance and error,

free to choose what he considers and leaves.

حَتّى إِذا جازَ بِظُلمِ نَفسِهِ

قالَ عَلى الجَورِ إِلى العَدلِ جَبَر

Until, when he transgressed by wronging himself,

he spoke upon injustice; toward justice he compelled.

بِالظِلِّ ذي الثَلاثِ مَركوساً إِذا

عَلا بِهِ التَكريرُ في الدارِ اِنحَدَر

Cast down beneath the threefold shadow, when

repetition raised him in that abode, he descended.

بِالسَبعِ في السَبعينَ مَسلوكاً إِذا

أَخرَجَ مِن غَمٍّ أُعيدَ في أَشَر

Threaded through seven into seventy, whenever

brought out of anguish, he was returned to insolence.

أَدبَرَ وَاِستَكبَرَ ظُلماً فَإِلى

صِغارَةٍ آلَ صَغيراً إِذا كَبُر

He turned away and arrogantly wronged, then to

abasement returned, diminished whenever he grew great.

وَعَن مَواليهِ تَوَلّى وَلَدي

أَعطائَهُ أَكدى عَبوساً وَبَسَر

He turned away from his masters, and at

his giving he withheld, scowling and grimacing.

شَرى بِما اِستَحسَنَ عَوناً حامِلاً

لِوِزرِهِ فَضَلَّ وَخَسِر

With what he admired, he purchased a helper bearing

his burden, and went astray and lost.

عَلا بِتيهِ التيهِ عَن طاعَةِ مَو

لاهُ فَما أَخفَرَهُ تِلكَ الخَفَر

In wandering arrogance he rose above obedience to his

master—how treacherously those guards abandoned him!

بُدِّلَ بَعدَ العَزِّ ذُلّاً فَغَدا

مِن بَعدِ ما كانَ مُهاباً مُحتَقَر

After honor, humiliation replaced his state;

after being feared, he became despised.

أَسلَمَهُ المالُ إِلى مالِكَ في

قَعرِ جَحيمٍ نَحوَهُ تَرمي الشَرَر

Wealth surrendered him to Malik in

Hell's depths, where sparks are hurled toward him.

وَظَنَّ أَنَّ مالَهُ أَخلَدَهُ

فَكانَ ما ظَنَّ وَلَكِن في سَقَر

He thought his wealth had made him immortal;

what he thought came true—but in Saqar.

دارٌ مَتى دارَت بِحَيٍّ لَم يَجِد

مِنَ الرَدى عُمرَ المَدى عَنها مَفَر

An abode that, when it encompasses a living soul, leaves

no escape from destruction throughout all time.

فَحَرُّها مُستَعَرٌ بِبَردِها

وَبَردُها لِلأَبحُرِ السَبعِ سَجَر

Its heat is kindled by its cold,

and its cold sets the seven seas ablaze.

فيها الجَماداتُ مَذاباتٌ إِذا ال

تَفَّت بِها في ظِلِّ أَفنانِ الشَجَر

Within it solid things are melted when they

gather there beneath the shade of trees' branches.

مَحَلُّ مَن عَن طاعَةِ اللَهِ أَبى

مُستَكبِراً فَباءَ مِنها بِالصَغَر

The dwelling of whoever refused obedience to God

in arrogance, returning from it with abasement.

عُيونُها السَبعُ حَميمٌ ماؤُها

وَالظِلُّ ذو اليَحمومِ طاويها الأَشِر

Its seven springs have scalding water;

its shade is black smoke; its traveler is insolent.

جَهَنَّمٌ هاوِيَةٌ جَحيمُها

لِظىً سَعيرٌ زَمهَريرٌ وَسَقَر

Jahannam, the Abyss, its blazing Hell,

Laza, Sa'ir, Zamharir, and Saqar.

نَعوذُ بِالإِقرارِ مِن قَرارِها

وَشَرَّ تَقرينِ ذَويها في الزُبُر

Through acknowledgment we seek refuge from its depths

and the evil coupling of its people in iron masses.

حُميتُ إِلّا مِن حَمى أَنفاسِها

وَذاكَ ما أَلقاهُ مِن بَردٍ وَحَر

I was protected, except from its breath's fever;

that is the cold and heat I encounter.

جاوَرتُها بِذِلَّتي لِتَوبَتي

فَأَصبَحَت لي جَنَّةً ذاتَ خَضِر

I dwelt beside it in humility for my repentance;

it became for me a garden clothed in green.

أَنعَمُ فيها بِشَقاءِ أَهلِها

وَسَجرُها بِها لِحَرّي قَد أَقَر

I enjoy bliss therein through its people's misery;

its burning there has settled my own heat.

لِأَنَّني في حالَةِ الظاهِرِ وَال

باطِنِ لِمَشهَدِ بِالغَيبِ مُقِر

For, in the condition of the outward and

inward, I acknowledge a witnessing in the unseen.

رَأَيتُ في عَينِ اليَقينِ رُؤيَةً

عَن زَينش عَينَيَّ نَفَت شينَ العَوَر

Within certainty's very eye I saw a vision

that banished blindness's blemish from my eyes' adornment.

لَم يَطغَ فيها بَصَري مُجاوِزاً

عَن رُتَبي وَإِن تَناهى بي السَدَر

My sight did not transgress therein, exceeding

my stations, though bewilderment reached its utmost through me.

فَما رَأى ما قَد رَأَيتُ غَيرُ مَن

مِن وَحشَةِ الإِنسِ إِلى الجِنِّ فَر

None has seen what I saw except one who

fled humanity's estrangement toward the jinn,

وَصارَ جِنِّياً وَلِيّاً لِشَيا

طينِ سُلَيمانَ الأَلى غاصوا البَحَر

and became a jinn, an ally of Solomon's

demons, those who dived into the sea.

سَعى لِسَمعِ الِكرِ وَاِنقادَ إِلى

دَعوَةِ عَبدِ اللَهِ مِنهُم في نَفَر

He sought to hear remembrance and submitted to

the call of Abd Allah among a band of them.

أَبوهُم حَدّي وَهُم لي رَحِمٌ

موصولَةٌ بِالنارِ لَيسَت تَنبَتِر

Their father is my forefather; they are my kin,

a bond joined through fire, never severed.

عَدِمتُ أُنسَ الإِنسِ لِاِفتِخارِهِم

عَلى الصَفا النَيِّرِ بِالطينِ الكَدِر

I lost humanity's companionship because they boasted

of murky clay above the shining pure stone.

تَبّاً لِمَن أَصبَحَ في تَقصيرِهِ

عَنِ العُلى يَفخَرُ بِالعَظيمِ النَخِر

Perish whoever, falling short

of loftiness, boasts of crumbling bone!

هَيهاتَ أَن يَفهَمَني غَيرُ فَتىً

حَجَّ كَحَجّي وَبِعَمرَتي اِعتَمَر

Far be it that anyone understand me except a youth

who made pilgrimage like mine and performed my umrah.

وَالحَجُّ قَصدٌ ظاهِرٌ لِباطِنٍ

لَهُ مُعانٍ بِالرُسومِ تُعتَبَر

Pilgrimage is an outward intention toward an inward reality,

whose meanings are discerned through ritual forms.

يا حَبَّذا الحَجُّ الَّذي اِستَمتَعتُ بِال

عُمرَةِ فيهِ وَقَضَت نَفسي الوَطَر

How lovely the pilgrimage in which I enjoyed

umrah, and my soul fulfilled its desire!

وَحَبَّذا بِهِ وَضوئي لِأَدا

فَريضَةٍ جَلَّ عَلَيها المُصطَبَر

How lovely therein my ablution for performing

an obligation whose patient endurance is exalted!

وَالصَلَواتُ الخَمسُ في أَوقاتَها ال

خَمسَةُ عَونُ مَن صَبَر

The five prayers at their five

appointed times are the patient one's aid.

نِعمَ صَلاةٌ أَجزَلَت صَلاتِها

لِمَن عَلى قِيامِها الدَهرَ اِصطَبَر

Excellent is a prayer that lavishly bestowed its gifts

on whoever patiently maintained it throughout time.

لا يَفسَحُ التَقصيرُ فيها لِسِوى

مَن لَم يَنَل شَأوَ ذَوِيِّها لِلقَصَر

Shortcoming allows room therein only for

those whose limitations keep them from its people's attainment.

أَقَمتُها وَالغَيرُ ساهٍ لِلصَدى

بِسَمعِهِ عَن دَعوَةِ الحَقِّ وَقَر

I established it while another, heedless through echoes,

had ears deafened to the call of Truth.

وَمُذ شَهِجتُ الشَهرَ صِرتُ صائِمَ ال

دَهرِ وَإِفطارِيَ إِخراجُ الفِطَر

Since I witnessed the month, I became a faster for

all time; my breaking-fast is bringing forth natures,

مُستَشرِقُ الشَموسِ مِن أَيّامِهِ ال

غُرِّ وَأَقمارِ لَياليهِ الغُرَر

seeking the rising suns of its radiant

days and the moons of its luminous nights.

هَذيِ إِشاراتي اللَواتي اِستُغمِضَت

فَلا تُرى مِن غَيرِ بابِ مُعتَبَر

These are my allusions, deemed obscure;

they cannot be seen except through a discerning doorway.

كُلُّ لَبيبٍ عارِفٌ بِسِرِّها

وَإِنَّم يُنكِرُ مَعناها الغُمُر

Every discerning person knows their secret;

only the inexperienced deny their meaning.

طوبى لِمَن زارَ رِياضَ طيبَةٍ

تِلكَ البُيوتَ وَهوَ عارٌ مُتَّزِر

Blessed is whoever visited Tayba's gardens,

those houses, bare yet girded,

وَاِستَلَمَ الأَركانَ بِالتَسليمِ لِل

ثّاوي بِها وَفي الصَلاةِ ما قَصَر

and touched the corners in submission to

their resident, without falling short in prayer,

وَمَنَحَ الخُمسَ مِنَ النِصابِ مَن

آلَ إِلَيهِم فَتَزَكّى وَطَهُر

and granted a fifth of the assessed wealth to those

to whom he belonged, becoming purified and clean,

وَأَخرَجَ الخُمسَ وَفي هِجرَتِهِ

جاهَدَ مَن عَن طاعَةِ اللَهِ شَغَر

and brought forth the fifth, and in his migration

strove against whoever departed from obedience to God,

وَدانَ بِالتَوحيدِ في تَثليثِهِ

بِأَحَدٍ وَواحِدٍ وَما فَطَر

and professed unity within his threefold expression,

through the One, the Unique, and what he originated,

فَوَحَّدَ المَعنى وَقَدَّسَ اِسمَهُ ال

أَعلى وَلِلوَصفِ تَلا كَما أَمَر

and unified the meaning and sanctified his highest

name, reciting for description as he commanded,

وَعَرَفَ الأَيّامَ وَالذِكرى بِها

وَما تَجَلّى في ضُحاها وَاِعتَكَر

and knew the days and remembrance within them,

and what appeared in their morning brightness and darkened,

لِلشَيءِ تَعريفاً وَمِنهُ نِسبَةً

وَعَنهُ تَمييزاً بِهِ اِسماً شُهِر

as identification of a thing, attribution from it,

and distinction from it—a name made renowned through it.

كَهُوَ بَيانُ العَدلِ في تَكليفِهِ

فيهِ بَفَضلِ غمِرِ الكَونِ عَمَر

Like 'He': justice's exposition in his imposition of duties;

therein, through overflowing grace, he populated existence.

تَجلِياتٌ واؤُهُ عَبَرَتُها

وَهاؤُهُ جِهاتُها لِلمُعتَبِر

Manifestations: his waw is their passage,

and his ha their directions for the discerning.

لِم كَيفَ ما كَم أَينَ وَالخَمسُ لِمَن

بِالسِتِّ إِذ حادَ عَنِ الحَدِّ أَسَر

'Why,' 'how,' 'what,' 'how many,' 'where'—the five belong to whoever

bound with the six when he strayed beyond the limit.

حَمُ تَنزيلُ الكِتابِ رِقُّهُ ال

مَنشورُ في طَيِّ الدُجى الَّذي اِنتَشَر

Ha-Mim, the Book's revelation, its parchment

unrolled within the fold of darkness that spread.

إِسمٌ لِمَعنىً فِعلُهُ بِحَرفِهِ

مُبتَدِأي كَونِ الوَرى لَهُ خَبَر

A name for a meaning, its verb through its letter;

my beginning of creation is a predicate for him.

صِبَت إِذ اِستَصبى القُلوبَ نَحوَهُ

حَنيفَةٌ هادَ إِلَيها مَن نَصَر

She yearned as he drew hearts toward him:

an upright faith, toward which whoever helped turned.

وَفي لُؤَيٍّ لُويتُ أَنوارُهُ

مِن دارِ سابورَ فَقَرَّت في مُضَر

In Lu'ayy his lights were folded,

from Shapur's abode, then settled in Mudar.

بِها أَرِسطو في ذُرى أَفلاطونِهِ

بِنَجمِهِ لِلزاهِرِيينَ زَهَر

Through it Aristotle, upon his Plato's heights,

shone with his star for the Zahiriyyun.

وَفي قِبابِ الصينِ أَيُّ قُبَّةٍ

شَيَّدَها لِبَهمَنٍ مَنو شَهَر

And among China's domes, what a dome

Manuchehr raised for Bahman!

مُؤبَذُ نارِ قُدسِها المَعنى الَّذي

لِقَّبَهُ الحِكمَةِ بِالهِندِ اِعتَمَر

The mobad of its sacred fire—the meaning which

he named Wisdom and revered in India.

بُدّي الَّذي ما عَنهُ لي بُدٌّ وَيَز

داني الَّذي بِنارِهِ قَلبي اِستَعَر

My Buddha, whom I cannot do without, and my Yaz-

dan, whose fire set my heart aflame.

وَسائِلٍ عَن خِرقَتي فَإِنَّها

بِكرِيَّةٌ راجِعَةٌ إِلى عُمَر

To one asking about my patched robe: it is

Bakri, returning to Umar.

فيها بِعُثمانَ غَدَت وِلايَتي

لِحَيدَرٍ بَريئَةٌ مِنَ الهَذَر

Within it, through Uthman, my allegiance became

Haydar's, free of idle speech.

طَلحَتُها القَصدُ وَعَن حُدودِها

حَدَّ الزَبيرُ المُلحِدينَ وَزَبَر

Its Talha is intention; from its boundaries

al-Zubayr barred the deviators and rebuked them.

وَعَبدُها بِحُبِّهِ تَعَبُّدي

وَإِن قَلاهُ مَن عَنِ الحَقِّ اِنبَتَر

Its servant: through loving him comes my devotion,

though whoever is severed from Truth hates him.

وَسَعدُها فَوزُ سَعيدٍ لِأَبي

عُبَيدَةَ الأَمينَ والى وَنَصَر

Its Sa'd is Sa'id's triumph; to Abu

Ubayda the trustworthy he gave allegiance and aid.

وَرافِضٍ لِسِنَّتي بِجَهلِهِ

يَذُمُّ مِن لِسَعيِهِ اللَهُ شَكَر

One rejecting my practice through ignorance

condemns someone whose striving God acknowledged.

مُهاجِرُ المُهاجِرينَ خاذِلُ ال

أَنصارِ لِلعَدلِ عَلى الجورِ أَصَر

The deserter of the Emigrants, forsaking the

Helpers, persists in oppression against justice.

قَد أَلبَسَ الإِيمانَ ظُلماً ظاهِراً

بِقَطعِ ما بِوَصلِهِ اللَهُ أَمَر

He clothed faith in manifest wrongdoing

by severing what God commanded be joined.

فيها غَدَت مَسكَني مُسكِنَي

غَضى الزَضى وَالفَقرُ سَنّى لي الفِقَر

Within it my dwelling became my solace:

contentment's ghada embers; poverty adorned verses for me.

يا حُسنَها مِن خَرقَةٍ بِلِبسِها

خَرِقتُ ثَوبَ اللِبسِ عَنّى اِنحَسَر

How beautiful a patched robe! By wearing it

I tore the garment of confusion; it fell away from me.

وَأَصبَحَت طَريقَتي حَقيقَةً

سارَت بِها في فَرقِ الجَمعِ السِيَر

My path became a reality

through which journeys proceeded in union's differentiation.

أَلبَسَها مُحَمَّدٌ مُفَضِّلاً

وَهوَ إِلى مُحَمَّدٍ بِها أَسَر

Muhammad bestowed it as a favor,

and with it he journeyed to Muhammad.

جاءَ بِها جابِرُ عَن يَحيى وَفي

كَنكَرٍ أَلقى رَحلَها فَتىً هَجَر

Jabir brought it from Yahya, and in

Kankar a migrating youth set down its saddle.

وَفي اِقتِرابِ ساعَةِ الشَمسِ بِشَخ

صِ سينِها بِقَيسِها اِنشَقَّ القَمَر

As the sun's hour approached, in the person

of its Sin, through its Qays, the moon split.

وَقَبلَ فَصلِ الإِمتِزاجِ جاءَ جَبر

يلُ بِهاوَبَيتَ ياييلَ عَمَر

Before the separation of mingling, Gabri-

el brought it and inhabited Yayil's house.

وَمِن حِمى حامٍ إِلى دانٍ دَنَت

وَنَجلُ سَمعانَ بِها مِنهُ اِتَّزَر

From Ham's sanctuary it approached Dan,

and Sam'an's son girded himself with it from him.

دَحِيَّةٌ وَاللَيلُ مِن عَنعَنِها

عَن آدَمٍ إِلى الإِمامِ المُنتَظَر

Dihya; and the night belongs to its chain of transmission,

from Adam to the awaited Imam.

يا بِأَبي غُرابُها القاتِلُ وَال

مَقتولِ وَالقَبرُ الَّذي لَهُ اِحتَفَر

May my father ransom its raven, the killer and the

killed, and the grave he dug for him!

مَقَرُّها أَنجى المُقِرَّ مُهلِكاً

لِعُقَرَ الباغي الَّذي لَها عَقَر

Its abode saved the acknowledger, destroying

the wounded aggressor who had hamstrung it.

قَدّومُ إِبراهيمَ صاعُ يوسُفٍ

سارِقُهُ العَصا وَصَفراءَ البَقَر

Abraham's adze, Joseph's measuring cup,

its thief, the staff, and the yellow cow;

وَالهُدهُهُ المَرسَلُ وَالخاتَمُ وَالن

نَملَةُ وَالكالي لِمَن بِالكَهفِ قَر

the dispatched hoopoe, the seal, and the

ant, and the guardian of those settled in the cave.

ما هانَ مَن ماهانُ فيها شَيخُهُ

وَمِن بَني بَشّارَ وافَتهُ البُشَر

None was abased whose master therein was Mahan;

from Banu Bashshar glad tidings reached him.

فيها غَدا مَعروفاً وَكَم

فيها السَرِيُّ مُطلِقَ البالِ أَسَر

Within it he became Ma'ruf, and how often

Sari captured the carefree mind therein!

وَأَصبَحَ الجَنيدُ مِن جُنودِها

وَشِبلُهُ الشِبلِيُّ بِالنارِ اِختُبِر

Junayd became one of its soldiers;

his cub, al-Shibli, was tested through fire.

جِنانُها جَنّانُها أَخصَبَها

بِاِبنِ الخَصيبي فَزَها بِها الزَهَر

Its gardens: its gardener made them fertile

through Ibn al-Khasibi, and flowers flourished therein.

وَبِالوَلِيِّ مَن تَوالى قَومَها

أَخمَدَ مِن نارِ الضَلالِ ما اِستَعَر

Through the saint, whoever befriended its people

quenched the flames of error that blazed.

كُلُّ جِهاتِ قَصدِها واحِدَةٌ

لِخاطِرٍ فيها بِسُلطانٍ خَطَر

All directions of its purpose are one

for a thought that entered therein with authority.

حَيَّ عَلى تَصَوُّفٍ بِمِثلِهِ

فَليَطُلِ العُجبُ لِأَربابِ القِصَر

Come to Sufism! Through its like

let wonder grow long for those of limited stature.

حَيَّ عَلى مَورِدِ عَينٍ عَذَبَت

ما دونَها رَيٌّ وَلا عَنها صَدَر

Come to the watering-place of a sweetened spring:

short of it is no quenching, nor departure from it.

حَيَّ عَلى مَعرِفَتي لِأَنَّها

عَصا هَدىً تَلقَفُ ما الجَبتُ سَحَر

Come to my knowledge, for it is

a staff of guidance swallowing what false magic conjured.

فيها بِتَقليدي غَدَوتُ عارِفاً

بِمَضمَرِ المُظهَرِ في آيِ السُوَر

Within it, through my following, I came to know

the concealed within the manifest in the suras' signs.

تَبَصَّرَت لِمُبصِرٍ مَحَجَّتي

وَحُجَّتي عَبرَةُ مَن لَها اِعتَبَر

My clear path became visible to one who sees;

my proof is the lesson of whoever considers it.

لا مَفخَرٌ لِاِبنِ أَبٍ فيها وَلا اِب

نِ الأَبَوَينِ فَهيَ نِعمَ المُفتَخَر

No boast belongs therein to a son of one father, nor a son

of two parents: it is the finest object of pride.

لا يُستَطاعُ قَرعُ أَبكارٍ لَها

لِغَيرِ مَن بِنَفسِهِ القَصدَ مَهَر

None can breach its virgins

except whoever dowers the quest with his own self.

كُلُّ لَبيبٍ رامَ كَشَفَ سَترُها

بِحَدسِهِ أَصبَحَ مَفضوحَ الحَصَر

Every discerning person who sought to uncover its veil

by intuition had his limitations exposed.

لِأَنَّني كَفَرتُ أَعمالي فَأَو

رَدتُ سَراباً عِندَهُ اللَهُ حَضَر

For I concealed my deeds, and so

approached a mirage, where God was present.

وَإِذا رَأَيتُ الكَفرَ لِلإيمانِ إِتما

ماً غَدا المُؤمِنُ عِندي مَن كَفَر

When I saw disbelief as faith's comple-

tion, the believer to me became whoever disbelieved.

عَدلي عَنِ العَدلُ الَّذي صَيَّرَني

مُوالياً في الناسِ جَبّاراً قَهَر

My turning aside from justice, which made me

loyal among people—a tyrant conquered.

رَغِبتُ في النارِ فَرُحتُ زاهِداً

في جَنَّةٍ بِوَعدِها غَيري يُغَر

I desired the fire and became indifferent

to a garden whose promise deceives others.

أَمَنتُ طاغِيَ الماءِ في أَظَلَّةٍ

مِنها غَدَت أَلواحُ فُلكي وَالدُسُر

I was safe from the raging waters within coverings;

from them came my ark's planks and nails.

عَلى الخَليلِ ظاهِرٌ سَلامُها

لَمّا لِظاها بِمُعاديهِ اِستَعَر

Its peace is manifest upon the Friend

when its blaze flared against his enemy.

شَهِدتُ فيها ذَبحَهُ

وَما بِهِ في رُؤيَةِ الذَبحِ ظَفَر

Within it I witnessed his slaughter,

and what he attained through the vision of slaughter;

وَرُؤيَةِ الصَديقِ وَالإِخوَةِ وَال

جِبِّ وَمَن مِنهُم لَهُ فيهِ طَمَر

the truthful one's vision, the brothers, and the

well, and who among them cast him into it;

وَالوارِدُ المُدَلّي إِلَيهِ دَلوَهُ

حَتّى رَأى بَهاءَهُ الَّذي يَهَر

the water-seeker lowering his bucket to him,

until he saw his dazzling splendor;

وَالثَمَنَ البَخسَ الَّذي بيعَ بِهِ

وَلِم غَدا عَبداً وَلَم يَبرَحَ حُر

the paltry price for which he was sold,

and why he became a slave yet remained free;

وَمَن بِهِ هامَ وَما النِسوَةُ وَالأَي

دي الَّتي مِنهُنَّ مِرآهُ بَتَر

who was enamored of him, and the women, and the

hands his appearance caused them to cut;

وَقَمصُهُ وَالدَمُ وَالقَدُّ وَما

رُدَّ لِيَعقوبَ بِهِ نورُ البَصَر

his shirts, the blood, the tearing, and what

restored the light of sight to Jacob;

وَمِصرُ وَالأَبوابُ وَاِختِلافُها

وَمَن إِلى عَزيزِها فيها عَبَر

Egypt, its gates, and their differences,

and whoever passed therein to its governor;

وَما الَّذي أَسجَدَ يَعقوبَ العَلى

لِيوسُفٍ وَهوَ النَبِيُّ المُعتَبَر

what made exalted Jacob prostrate

before Joseph, though he was the esteemed prophet;

وَأُمُّ موسى إِذ رَمَت تابوتَهُ

وَرَدَّهُ وَعَينُها الَّتي أَقَر

Moses' mother when she cast his chest away,

his return, and her eye, which he soothed;

وَوَكزَهُ المِصرِيَّ وَالخَوفَ الَّذي

أَظهَرَ عَنهُ موتَهُ حالَةَ فَر

his striking the Egyptian, and the fear that

his death revealed in him when he fled;

وَمَدينٌ وَالظِلُّ إِذا آوى بِهِ

وَمَن إِلى اِستِنزالَهُ الرِزقَ اِبتَدَر

Midian, the shade where he took refuge,

and whoever hastened to bring down provision for him;

وَالأَجَلُ المَقضِيَّ وَالسِيَر وَما

آنَسَ فَوقَ الطورِ مِن عَليا الشَجَر

the fulfilled term, the journeys, and what

he perceived above the Mount from the lofty tree;

وَكَيدُ فِرعَونَ وَما السِحرَ الَّذي

جاءَ بِهِ وَمَن بِهِ البَحَر عَبَر

Pharaoh's scheming, and what magic

he brought, and whoever crossed the sea through him;

وَالتيهِ وَالغَمامِ وَالمَنُّ بِهِ

وَباطِنُ السَلوى وَأَعيَنُ الحَجَر

the wandering, the clouds, and manna therein,

the quails' inward meaning, and the stone's springs;

وَقُبَّةَ الزَمانِ وَالصَرحُ وَما

غَادَرَ في الصُندوقِ موسى مُدَّخَر

the pavilion of time, the lofty structure, and what

Moses left stored in the chest;

وَآيَةَ التابوتِ وَالأَلوحِ إِذ

جاءَت وَف الإِلقاءِ ما مِنها اِنكَسَر

the sign of the Ark and the tablets when

they came, and what broke when they were cast down;

وَالسامِرِيَّ وَخُوارُ عَجَلِه

وَنَسفُهُ في اليَمِّ لَمّا صارَ ذَر

the Samiri and his calf's lowing,

and its scattering into the sea after becoming dust;

وَقَتلُ داؤُدَ لِجالوتَ وَطا

لوتَ وَما النَهرُ الَّذي عَنهُ نَهَر

David's killing of Jalut, and Ta-

lut, and the river from which he forbade drinking;

وَما الَّذي أَوَّبَ مِن جِبالِهِ

وَالطَيرُ وَالعودُ وَكَم فيهِ وَتَر

what echoed back from his mountains,

the birds, the lute, and how many strings it held;

وَصاحِبُ المُلكِ الَّذي لا يَنبَغي

إِلّا لَهُ أَينَ ثَوى حالَةَ خَر

the possessor of the kingdom that befits

him alone—where he dwelt when he fell;

وَما الَّذي غادَرَهُ في طَلَبِ العَر

شِ وَقَد كانَ غَنِيّاً مُفتَقَر

what left him, in seeking the

throne, rich yet in need;

وَغَسلُ أَيّوبَ وَظَلَّ يونِسٍ

وَشَيخُ يَحيى إِذا شَكى وَهَنَ الكِبَر

Job's washing, and Jonah's shade,

Yahya's elder when he lamented age's weakness;

وَحَملُ عيسى وَصِيامُ أَمِّهِ

وَمِهدِهِ وَنُطقُهُ عِندَ الصِغَر

Jesus' conception and his mother's fasting,

his cradle and his speech in infancy;

وَباطِنُ الصَليبِ وَالمُلقى عَلى

ظاهِرِهِ بِالصلبِ لَمّا أَن كَفَر

the cross's inward meaning, and the one cast upon

its outward form in crucifixion when he disbelieved;

وَالكَهفُ وَالرَقيمُ وَالفِتيَةُ وَال

كالي وَما أَظهَرَ وَسَتَر

the cave, the inscription, the youths, and the

guardian, and what he revealed and concealed;

وَسَيرُ ذي القَرنَينِ وَاِتِّباعُهُ ال

أَسبابَ وَالسَدُّ المُشادِ وَالزُبُر

Dhu al-Qarnayn's journey and his following the

ways, the raised barrier, and the iron masses;

وَنورُ نارٍ بَيِّنٌ في مَحوِهِ الأَذى الَّ

ذي لا دَجَنٌ بِهِ بَهَر

a fire's light, clear in erasing the harm that

no darkness accompanied, shone dazzlingly;

وَمَن أَتى مِن طَورِ سيناءَ إِلى

جِبالِ ساعيرَ وَفي فارانَ قَر

who came from Mount Sinai to

Seir's mountains, and settled in Paran;

وَالصُحُفُ الأولى وَتَوراةُ الرِضى

موسى وَإِنجيلُ المَسيحِ وَالزُبُر

the first scriptures, and the Torah of the favored

Moses, the Messiah's Gospel, and the Psalms;

وَباطِنُ القُرآنِ وَالفُرقانِ وَالتَن

زيلُ وَالتَأويلُ سِرَّ مُستَسَر

the inward Quran, the Furqan, and reve-

lation, and interpretation—a secret kept concealed;

وَناسِخُ الآياتِ وَالمَنسوخُ وَالمُحكَ

مُ وَالمُشتَبَهاتُ بِأُخَر

the verses' abrogator, the abrogated, and the deci-

sive, and those resembling others;

وَأَحرُفُ النورِ الَّتي إِعجامُها

مُعَرَّبُ الحِكَم بِآخِرِ الزُمَر

the letters of light, whose pointing

is wisdom's expression at the companies' end;

وَلِم غَدَت أَسماءُ الاِسمِ دونَ ما اِختُ

صَّ بِهِ المَعنى إِماماً لِلسُوَر

why the name's names became, apart from what was

reserved to the meaning, a leader for the suras;

وَما غَدا في رَمَضانَ مُنزَلاً

وَما الَّذي أُنزِلَ قَبلُ في صَفَر

what was sent down in Ramadan,

and what had earlier been sent down in Safar;

وَكُلُّ أَيّامِ الكِتابِ لَمَعا

دِ الخُلُقِ مِثلَ القَمطَريرِ وَالعَسِر

all the Book's days for the return

of creation, like the grim day and the difficult;

وَيَومَ ضَربِ النونِ في الغَينِ وَما

يَعرُجُ فيهِ وَبِغَينِ ما حَصَر

the day of multiplying nun by ghayn, and what

ascends therein, and what he enclosed through ghayn;

وَما السَمَواتُ الَّتي تَعَدَّدَت

وَما لَها الفَطَر وَما لا يَنفَطِر

what the heavens are that became numerous,

what brings their splitting, and what does not split;

وَما طَوى السِجِلَّ بِالنَظرَةِ في اللَ

يلِ البَهيمِ مِن كِتابٍ مُنتَشِر

what folded the scroll with a glance in the

pitch-black night, from an unfolded book;

وَالسائِراتُ الدائِراتُ وَالأولى

عِندَ اِنفِطارِ ما حَواها تَنكَدِر

the moving, revolving ones, and the first ones

that darken when their encompassing sphere splits;

وَمَوقِفُ الأَعرافِ وَالقُرآنِ وَاللِ

واءِ وَالحَوضِ وَماؤُهُ الخَضِر

the station of the Heights, the Quran, the

banner, the pool, and its green water;

وَالمُؤمِنونَ وَالخُلودُ فيهِما

مِن أَجلِ إيمانٍ تَبَدّى فَكَفَر

the believers and everlasting dwelling in both,

because of faith that appeared, then was denied;

وَالقِسطُ وَالصِراطُ وَالميزانُ وَالن

ناكِبُ وَالنافِخُ إِثرَ مَن نَقَر

equity, the path, the balance, and the

one turning aside, and the blower following whoever sounded.

رَوَيتُ مِن زَيٍ ظاهِراً

رَأَيتُهُ فَصَدَّقَ الخَبَرُ الخَبَر

I related an outward aspect of a form

I saw, and report confirmed report.

عَدولُ قَومي شاهَدونَ مَشهَدي

إِن غابَ عَنهُ الفاسِقونَ لا ضَرَر

The upright of my people witnessed my vision;

if the disobedient missed it, there is no harm.

عَلى العَيانِ ما شَهِدتُ لَم يَكُن

وَهماً وَتَقليداً وَحَذَرَ مَن حَذَر

What I witnessed through direct vision was not

illusion, imitation, or the caution of the cautious.

وَكُلُّ ما رَوَيتُهُ شاهَدَهُ

آيُ كِتابٍ أَو حَديثٌ أَو أَثَر

Everything I related was witnessed by

a book's signs, a saying, or a transmitted account.

لَم أَلبِسِ الباطِلَِ بِالحَقِّ كَمَن

يُستاكُ بِالطيبِ وَفيهِ بَخَر

I did not clothe falsehood in truth like one

who cleans his teeth with perfume while foul-breathed.

وَما صَدَّني عَن صَوتِ داعيهِ الصَدى

وَلم يُؤَخِّر قَدَمي عَنهُ الخَوَر

No echo barred me from his caller's voice,

nor did weakness delay my steps toward him.

دَخَلتُ بابَ حَطَّةٍ في خُطَّةٍ

مَسجَدُ سَمعي وَفُؤادي وَالبَصَر

I entered the gate of remission within a precinct:

a sanctuary for my hearing, heart, and sight,

بِسُنَّةٍ لا تَقبَلُ النَسخَ وَآ

ياتِ كِتابش طَيُّها فِيَّ اِنتَشَر

through a practice admitting no abrogation, and

a book's signs, whose folded contents unfolded within me.

صِدقُ يَقيني خَصَّني بِعِلمِهِ

وَعَينِهِ وَحَقِّهِ لَمّا اِستَمَر

My certainty's truth singled me out through its knowledge,

its very essence, and its truth when it endured.

وَسائِلٍ أَجَبتُهُ إِن كُنتَ مَن

يَعرِفُ ما أَجنِحَةُ الرُسُلِ فَطِر

I answered one asking: if you are someone

who knows the messengers' wings, then discern [unclear];

أَو فَسِّرِ الإِسراءَ وَالحَرامَ وَالأَق

صى إِلى أَسِرَّةِ الخُلدِ

or explain the night journey, the Sacred, and the Far-

thest, toward the couches of eternity.

وَإِن عَرَفتَ المَوتَ مُت تَحيى بِهِ

وَاِمسِ لَهُ عَبداً بِهِ تُصبِحُ حُر

If you know death, die: through it you live;

be his slave at evening: through him you awaken free.

وَبِالنَعيمِ اِنعِم وَجانِبِ الشَقا

وَوَزرُ زَوّارِ القُبورِ لا تَزُر

Enjoy bliss and shun misery;

do not bear the burden of those visiting graves.

أَوِ اِفقَهِ الإِفراجَ وَالمِزاجَ وَالمِث

الَ وَالمِثلَ عَن الغِرِّ فَغِر

Or understand release, mixture, and the

image and likeness; then beguile the guileless [unclear].

أَو فُزتَ بِالعَدلِ وَبِالإِحسانِ بِالقُر

بى فَعَن قَصدِ السَبيلِ لا تَجُر

Or if you attained justice, beneficence, and

kinship, do not deviate from the straight course.

وَأَنَّهُ عَنِ الفَحشاءِ وَالمُنكَرِ وَالإِنك

ارِ وَالبَغيِ وَبِالمَعروفِ مُر

Forbid obscenity, wrongdoing, and deni-

al, and oppression; command what is right.

وَإِن تُرِد دارَ البَقاءِ بِسِوى

بَني نُمَيرَ الفازِينَ لا تَدُر

If you desire the abode of permanence, do not turn

to anyone but the triumphant Banu Numayr.

فَإِن غَدَوتَ رائِداً لِوِردِهِم

فَأَلُ إِلى الآلِ وَلِلبِرِّ فَبَر

If you become a scout for their watering-place,

return to the family, and act righteously for goodness.

لَو سَمِعَ السامِرُ بَعضَ فَضلِهِم

بِغَيرِهِم بَينَ البَرايا ما سَمَر

Had the evening storyteller heard some of their excellence,

he would discuss none other among humanity.

أَو شَعَرَ الشاعِرُ بِالمَجدِ الَّذي

خُصّوا بِهِ بِمَن عَداهُم ما شَعَر

Had the poet perceived the glory with which

they were singled out, he would sing of none besides them.

أَهلُ الوَفا وَالرِفقِ إِخوانُ الصَفا

وَالصِدقِ غَيثُ الجَدبِ أَرواحُ البَشَر

People of fidelity and gentleness, brothers of purity

and truth, rain in drought, humanity's spirits:

يا طالِبَ الرَيِّ إِلى آلهِمُ أ

لُ تَلقَ بَحراً بِالفُراتِ قَد زَخَر

O seeker of quenching, to their family

return: you will find a sea overflowing with sweet water.

وَكُن بِرَفضِ الشُحِّ مُستَنَّ السَخا

بِالنَفسِ تَلقَ فيهِ رِبحَ المُتَّجَر

Reject avarice and follow generosity's practice:

give your self, and find commerce's profit therein.

وَتَنثَني حِلّا بِأَحلى بَلَدٍ

حَرامُهُ لِناظِرِ العَيشِ أَقَر

You return, a lawful guest, to the sweetest land,

whose sacred precinct most delights life's eye.

وَمِل إِلى بابِهِمُ بِلا مِرا

وَمَن عَدا نَهجَ أَبي ذَرٍّ فَذَر

Turn to their door without disputation;

leave whoever departs from Abu Dharr's path.

وَبائِنٍ المَيلِ وَمِل عَن مَلَلٍ

وَاِصحَب إِلَيهِ بِالرَواحِ مَن بَكَر

Part from inclination, and turn away from weariness;

go toward him at evening with whoever went early.

وَاِرقَ إِلى سَطحِ سَطيحٍ تَجِدِ ال

جَنّاتِ وَالوَلَدانَ فيها وَالسُرُر

Ascend to Satih's roof: you will find the

gardens, the youths therein, and the couches.

وَخُض بِبَحرٍ لِبُحَيرا تَلقَ في

قَرارِهِ مِنَ اليَواقيتِ بِدَر

Wade into Bahira's sea; in

its depths you will find bags of rubies.

وَقِس عَلى قِسٍّ وَرُح مَواسِياً

أُوَيسَ بِالنَفسِ وَلِلَّهِ فَقِر

Measure yourself against Quss; go consoling

Uways with your self, and be poor before God,

مُعتَقِلاً رُمحَ عُقَيلٍ طالِباً

لِطالِبٍ وَجَعفَراً مِنَ البِحَر

bearing Uqayl's spear, seeking

Talib and Ja'far from the seas.

فَما قَضى لِلحَقِّ حَقّاً مَن قَضى

نَحباً بِحُبِّ غَيرِهِ وَالنَفسَ غَر

He has not paid Truth its due who met

death loving another and deceived the soul.

رَقَيتُ في الأَسبابِ حَتّى صِرتُ مِن

فَوقِ السَحابِ طِرتُ عَن كَونِ القَمَر

I climbed the ways until, from

above the clouds, I flew beyond the moon's realm.

وَجُبتُ بِالآفاقِ آفاقَ السَما

واتِ العُلى مُراجِعاً فيها النَظَر

I traversed the horizons, the horizons of the

lofty heavens, looking within them again.

فَفُتُّ مَن فيها رَأى تَفاوُتاً

وَهَل يَرى كيوانَ أَعشى ذو سَدَر

I surpassed whoever saw disparity therein;

can a dim-eyed, bewildered man see Kaywan?

يَظُنُّ بي الجامِدُ أَنّي جامِدٌ

وَلَو رَأى رَأى السَحابَ في المَمَر

The rigid one thinks me rigid;

had he seen, he would have seen passing clouds.

تُطرِبُ سَمعي نَغَماتُ مُسمِعي

وَناظِري يَرتَعُ في الرَوضِ النَضِر

My listener's melodies delight my hearing;

my gaze grazes in the fresh green meadow.

بِبِدرٍ بَدرٍ جَلِيَت غَياهِبُ الأَح

زانِ عَن عَيني وَمُرُّ العَيشِ قَر

Through a moon, a full moon, grief's darkness was cleared

from my eyes, and life's bitterness settled.

فَهَل إِلى قَصيدَتي مِن قاصِدٍ

فَنَظمُها بِكُلِّ مَعنىً قَد نُثِر

Is there anyone who would approach my ode?

Its verse strings together every scattered meaning.

ذاتُ بَيانٍ مُعَجَمٌ إِعرابُها

عَبَّرتَ فيها عَن تَصانيفِ العِبَر

It possesses exposition, yet its expression is obscure;

within it you expressed the classifications of lessons.

فَراسَتي فَريسَةٌ لِدَورَتي

في دَستَبَندي تَحتَ إِكليلِ الخُضُر

My discernment is prey to my revolving,

in my wristband beneath a crown of green.

فَاِعلُ عَلى أُرجوحَتي مُكَلَّلاً

تُصبِحُ في بَيضاءَ صيني مُبتَكِر

Rise upon my swing, crowned;

you will be early in my white China.

وَأَتِ بِيوتي مِن لَدى أَبوبِها

فَإِنَّها مَفتوحَةٌ لِمَن عَبَر

Enter my houses by their doors;

they are open to whoever passes through.

بِكُلِّ بَيتٍ شَدتُ قَصراً آهِلاً

بِقاصِراتٍ دونَها الطَرفُ قَصَر

In every verse I built an inhabited palace

with secluded maidens, before whom the gaze falls short.

وَفي فُراتي كُلُّ بِئرٍ عُطِّلَت

فيها اليَواقيتُ وَأَيتامُ الدُرَر

Within my Euphrates every well lies abandoned;

there are rubies and peerless pearls therein.

يَتيمَةُ الدَهرِ الَّتي كافِلُها

وَلِيُّ ذي الكِفلِ وَصاحِبُ الخِضِر

Time's orphan jewel, whose guardian

is Dhu al-Kifl's ally and al-Khidr's companion:

بِكرٌ عَلى الأَيّامِ لا يَقرَعُها

غَيرُ خَبيرٍ بِالَّذي لَها اِختَبَر

a virgin throughout the days, approached by none

except one versed in what was tested for her.

جَرَت مَعانيها الصِعابُ سَهلَةً

إِلى مَعانيها كَسَيلٍ مُنحَدِر

Its difficult meanings flowed easily

toward its meanings, like a descending torrent.

هَل شافِعٌ في زَمَني بِمِثلِها

فَإِنَّها وَتَرُ المَدى الَّذي غَبَر

Is there a second like it in my time?

It is the solitary one of all elapsed time.

إيرادُخها عِندَ اللَبيبِ ساخِرٌ

مِمَّن لِغافيها وَمَن فيها سَخَر

Its presentation, to the discerning, mocks

whoever overlooks it and whoever mocks it.

ظاهِرُها يَسُرُّ كُلَّ سامِحٍ

وَلَو وَعى باطِنَها كانَ أَسَر

Its outward form delights every generous one;

understanding its inward meaning would delight him more.

خِتامُها مِسكٌ فَهَل مُنافِسٌ

وَإِنَّما المَزكوُ يَجهَلُ العِطِر

Its seal is musk—is there a rival?

Only one with a blocked nose fails to know perfume.

أَبرَزتُها لِحَربِ مَن ناصَبَني

في نُصرَةِ الحَقِّ فَوَلّاني الدُبُر

I brought it forth to fight whoever opposed me

in aiding Truth, and he turned his back on me.

جَيشُ قَريضٍ ضَمُّهُ بِفَتحِ تَو

حيدِ العَلِيِّ رايَةَ الشِركِ كَسَر

An army of poetry, whose gathering, through the victory of

the Exalted's oneness, broke idolatry's banner.