بدرa full moon أَضاءَshone وَبَرقand lightning بِالعَقيقthrough al-Aqiq سَرىtraveled by night
بدر أَضاءَ وَبَرق بِالعَقيق سَرى
فسالso overflowed طرفكyour eye مِنfrom فرطthe excess of الهَوىlove وَجَرىand streamed
فسال طرفك مِن فرط الهَوى وَجَرى
A full moon shone, and lightning traveled through al-Aqiq;
The full moon shone and lightning flashed in 'Aqeeq,
so your eye overflowed from love's excess and streamed.
Your eyes overflowed with intense love.
ذكرتyou recalled وَالشوقwhile longing قَدalready هاجَتhad stirred بَلابلهits torments
ذكرت وَالشوق قَد هاجَت بَلابله
أَرضthe land of الغريal-Ghari وَنوراًand a light فيin الغريal-Ghari وَرىblazed
أَرض الغري وَنوراً في الغري وَرى
You recalled, while longing's torments had stirred,
I remembered you, and longing stirred within me,
the land of al-Ghari, and a light that blazed in al-Ghari.
I saw a land illuminated, and light spreading through the land.
وَشمتand you watched بَرقاًlightning حَكىtold عَنof أَرضthe land of كاظمةKazima
وَشمت بَرقاً حَكى عَن أَرض كاظمة
حَديثa tale of وَجدyearning وَعَنهاand about it قَدindeed رَوىrecounted خَبراtidings
حَديث وَجد وَعَنها قَد رَوى خَبرا
And you watched lightning tell of the land of Kazima
I sensed lightning relating news of a silent land -
a tale of yearning, and bring tidings of it.
A conversation of passion, telling a tale about it.
ماwhat بالails قَلبكyour heart يصغيit listens كُلماwhenever ذكرتyou recalled
ما بال قَلبك يصغي كُلما ذكرت
دارthe home of الحَبيبthe beloved وَيَصبوand yearns كُلماwhenever ذكراhe was mentioned
دار الحَبيب وَيَصبو كُلما ذكرا
What ails your heart, that it listens whenever you recall
Why does your heart listen whenever the abode of the beloved is mentioned?
the beloved's home, and longs whenever he is mentioned?
And melt whenever it is recalled?
ذاقَit tasted الغَرامpassionate love فَلاso not يَنفكceases ذاpossessed of شجنsorrow
ذاقَ الغَرام فَلا يَنفك ذا شجن
إِلىfor الوِصالunion وَمَنand whoever ذاقَtasted الغَرامpassionate love دَرىknows
إِلى الوِصال وَمَن ذاقَ الغَرام دَرى
It has tasted love, and never ceases to ache
One who has tasted love cannot be released from yearning
for union; whoever has tasted love knows.
For union - and one who has tasted love knows.
لِلّهto God, in praise دارa dwelling بِهاin it ريحthe breeze of القبولacceptance سَرىpassed
لِلّه دار بِها ريح القبول سَرى
وَطيبهاand its perfume وَشَذاهاand its fragrance فيamong الوَرىhumankind عطراboth perfumed
وَطيبها وَشَذاها في الوَرى عطرا
How wondrous a dwelling, where the breeze of acceptance passed!
God has a house in which the breeze of acceptance blows,
Its perfume and fragrance scented all mankind.
Its scent and aroma a fragrance in the world.
قَدindeed صَعدrose النورthe light فيthroughout أَرجائِهاits reaches وَعَلاand ascended
قَد صَعد النور في أَرجائِها وَعَلا
وَصيبand the downpour of الجودgenerosity فيهاwithin it صارbecame مُنحدراcascading downward
وَصيب الجود فيها صار مُنحدرا
Light rose throughout its reaches and soared,
Light has risen in its corners and mounted high,
and generosity's downpour came cascading down within it.
The downpour of generosity in it cascading down.
فَماso what are الجُمانpearls إِذاwhen حصباؤهاits pebbles انتَثَرَتscattered
فَما الجُمان إِذا حصباؤها انتَثَرَت
فَحققso ascertain الأَمرthe matter فيconcerning حَصبائِهاits pebbles لترىthat you may see
فَحقق الأَمر في حَصبائِها لترى
What are pearls, when its pebbles lie scattered?
So how can clouds, when their hail disperses,
So examine the nature of its pebbles, that you may see.
Verify the matter in their hail, for you to see?
وَماand what is العبيرperfume إِذاwhen ماan emphatic particle ريحهاits breeze حملتcarried
وَما العبير إِذا ما ريحها حملت
مِنsome of عطرهاits scent حينat the time إِذwhen مرتit passed بِهِwith it سحراbefore dawn
مِن عطرها حين إِذ مرت بِهِ سحرا
And what is perfume, when its breeze has carried
And how can perfume, when its breeze carries
some of its scent, passing with it before dawn?
Its fragrance, when it passes by at dawn?
تَلألأتit glittered وَأَضاءَتand shone كَالزجاجةlike the glass vessel إِذwhen
تَلألأت وَأَضاءَت كَالزجاجة إِذ
مصباحهاits lamp الفَردpeerless فيin مشكاتهاits niche ظَهَراappeared
مصباحها الفَرد في مشكاتها ظَهَرا
It glittered and shone like the glass vessel when
It shone and illuminated like a glass lamp
its peerless lamp appeared within its niche.
When its solitary light appeared clearly in its niche.
لَيتَwould that الهياجbattle's tumult يردdrives back الشوسthe fierce warriors شاردةfleeing
لَيتَ الهياج يرد الشوس شاردة
وَيحطمand crushes الصيدthe proud nobles بِالخطارwith the swaying spear إِنif خطراit swayed
وَيحطم الصيد بِالخطار إِن خطرا
Would that battle's tumult drive the fierce warriors fleeing,
I wish passion would return the wandering lightning,
and crush the proud with the swaying spear whenever it sways!
And shatter the prey with its sparks, if they flash.
يَسطوhe strikes fiercely بأبيضwith a white blade فيin إفرندهits damascened pattern شعلflames
يَسطو بأبيض في إفرنده شعل
يَذوبit melts مِنfrom حرهاtheir heat عِندَduring الوقاعthe clash حراburning hot
يَذوب مِن حرها عِندَ الوقاع حرا
He strikes with a white blade whose damascened pattern holds flames;
With a white flame in its stove it would seize
it melts from their heat in the clash, burning hot.
And melt from its heat when hitting the valleys.
أَضحتbecame قُلوبthe hearts of الأَعاديthe enemies غمدهits sheath وَغدَتand became
أَضحت قُلوب الأَعادي غمده وَغدَت
أَكبادهمtheir livers يَومon the day of بَدرBadr وَالقليبand the well قرىa feast
أَكبادهم يَوم بَدر وَالقليب قرى
The enemies' hearts became its sheath, and
The hearts of enemies have become its sheaths, and their
their livers, on the day of Badr and the well, its feast.
Livers on the day of Badr and Qalib became cisterns.
وَكَمand how often سقىhe gave to drink مِنهُfrom it عمراًAmr شربةa draught ملئتwas filled
وَكَم سقى مِنهُ عمراً شربة ملئت
لَماwhen أَلَمhe came عَلىupon راووقهاits wine-strainer سكراwith intoxication
لَما أَلَم عَلى راووقها سكرا
How often he gave Amr a draught from it, filled—
And how many long lives it gave to drink a draft
when he came upon its wine-strainer—with intoxication!
That intoxicated when it touched their skulls.
وَفيand among قريظةQurayza إِذاwhen كانواthey were ثَمانيةeight
وَفي قريظة إِذا كانوا ثَمانية
مِنof المِئاتthe hundreds عَلاrose over لباتهمtheir throats وَفَرىand slit
مِن المِئات عَلا لباتهم وَفَرى
And among Qurayza, when they numbered eight
And at Quraydhah, when they were only eight
hundreds, it rose over their throats and slit them.
Hundred, it attacked their encampment and fled.
وَنَحوand toward مرحبMarhab ذيpossessor of الحصنthe fortress المَنيعimpregnable وَذيand possessor of الthe
وَنَحو مرحب ذي الحصن المَنيع وَذي ال
عَزمresolve الأَبيunyielding بِماضيwith the keenness of حدهits edge نحراhe cut the throat
عَزم الأَبي بِماضي حده نحرا
And against Marhab, lord of the impregnable fortress and of
And towards Marhab of the impenetrable fortress, and he of
unyielding resolve, he cut his throat with its keen edge.
Resolute determination, whose limit was to slay.
ذووthose possessing الثديةthe little breast فيamong جَمعthe host of الخَوراجthe Kharijites قَدindeed
ذوو الثدية في جَمع الخَوراج قَد
أَبادhe annihilated إِذwhen دَمهمtheir blood فيat النهروانNahrawan جَرىflowed
أَباد إِذ دَمهم في النهروان جَرى
Those with the little breast, amid the Kharijites' host, he
The well-chested, among the mass of Kharijites
annihilated, as their blood flowed at Nahrawan.
It destroyed when their blood flowed in Nahrawan.
وَكَمand how many كماةarmored champions غدواbecame جزراًslaughtered prey لمرهفهfor his keen blade
وَكَم كماة غدوا جزراً لمرهفه
وَجحفلand a great army مثلlike موجa wave أَليمgrievous قَدindeed كسراhe shattered
وَجحفل مثل موج أَليم قَد كسرا
How many armored champions became slaughtered prey for his keen blade,
And how many clusters they became, due to its blade,
and many an army, like a grievous wave, he shattered!
And multitudes, like violent waves it shattered.
مؤيدaided ظاهرhe supported الدينthe faith القَويمupright وَلَمand did not
مؤيد ظاهر الدين القَويم وَلَم
يَزلcease لحزبfor the party of رسولthe Messenger of اللَهGod مُنتَصِراchampioning
يَزل لحزب رسول اللَه مُنتَصِرا
Aided, he upheld the upright faith, and has never
Its supporter was the rightly-guided Al-Mu'ayyad Al-Din,
ceased to champion the party of God's Messenger.
Who never ceased to give victory to the party of God's Messenger.
مِنfrom آلthe house of خندفKhindif ميمونblessed الجبينof brow وَمنand one who
مِن آل خندف ميمون الجبين وَمن
عَلىover أنوفthe noses of جيوشthe armies of الشركidolatry قَدindeed ظهراtriumphed
عَلى أنوف جيوش الشرك قَد ظهرا
Of Khindif's house, blessed of brow, and one who
From the family of Khandaf, auspicious of forehead, and he who
triumphed over the very noses of the armies of idolatry.
Appeared over the noses of the pagan armies.
أَبوfather of ترابdust أَميرCommander of المُؤمنينthe Faithful وَمَنand he who
أَبو تراب أَمير المُؤمنين وَمَن
بفضلهthrough his excellence سادتbecame preeminent الساداتthe lords وَالأَمراand the princes
بفضله سادت السادات وَالأَمرا
Abu Turab, Commander of the Faithful, and he
Father of Dust, Commander of the Faithful, and he by
through whose merit lords and princes became preeminent.
Whose merit the masters of masters ruled.
زوجhusband of البتولal-Batul, the chaste one نقيpure الأَصلof lineage قَدindeed سعدتwere blessed
زوج البتول نقي الأَصل قَد سعدت
بفيضby the bounty of راحتهhis palm العافونthe petitioners وَالفقراand the poor
بفيض راحته العافون وَالفقرا
The husband of al-Batul, pure of lineage; blessed were
Husband of the maiden, pure of origin - she was blessed
the petitioners and the poor by the bounty of his palm.
By the overflowing of his spirit of chastity and poverty.
بحرa sea of العُلومlearning عبابthe swelling flood of الفَضلexcellence معدنهits source
بحر العُلوم عباب الفَضل معدنه
يرويone drinks one's fill وَيصدرand departs مِنهُfrom it كُلماwhenever زخراit swelled
يروي وَيصدر مِنهُ كُلما زخرا
A sea of learning, excellence's swelling surge, its fountainhead;
Ocean of knowledge, its spring of virtue, mine of
one drinks one's fill and departs from it whenever it swells.
Wisdom - he narrates and flows from him whenever fresh.
أَخوbrother of الرَسولthe Messenger وَزيرa minister لستI am not أنكرهdenying him
أَخو الرَسول وَزير لست أنكره
وَبِالأَقاربand through kinsmen حَقاًtruly تسعدprosper الوزراthe ministers
وَبِالأَقارب حَقاً تسعد الوزرا
The Messenger's brother, a minister whom I do not disavow;
Brother of the Messenger and minister - I do not deny him,
and through kinsmen, truly, ministers prosper.
And ties of kinship rightly bring joy to ministry.
سَعتrose عَلىabove فلكthe sphere of الأَفلاكthe spheres رتبتهhis rank
سَعت عَلى فلك الأَفلاك رتبته
وَفضلهand his excellence ملأfilled الدُنياthe world بِغَيرwithout مراdispute
وَفضله ملأ الدُنيا بِغَير مرا
His rank rose above the sphere of spheres,
His rank encompassed the celestial spheres,
and his excellence filled the world beyond dispute.
And his superiority filled the world without pride.
السيدthe lord القرمthe noble chief مقدامthe bold leader of الجيوشthe armies إِذاwhen
السيد القرم مقدام الجيوش إِذا
حميgrew hot الوطيسthe furnace وَشبand flared الحَربwar وَاستعراand raged
حمي الوطيس وَشب الحَرب وَاستعرا
The lord, the noble chief, the bold leader of armies, when
Master of the army, bold in battle, when
the furnace grows hot and war flares and rages.
The conflict grew heated and war flared up.
لَيثthe lion of العَرينthe lair وَسَيفand the sword of السابقينthose first to advance إِلىinto
لَيث العَرين وَسَيف السابقين إِلى
نارthe fire of الهياجbattle ليرديto strike down كُلeveryone منwho كَفراdisbelieved
نار الهياج ليردي كُل من كَفرا
The lion of the lair, the sword of those first into
Lion of the den and sword of the early Muslims, to
the fire of battle, to strike down all who disbelieve.
The fire of passions, to fell all disbelievers.
حبرa learned scholar حَكيمwise كَأَنas though اللَهGod صورهHe fashioned him
حبر حَكيم كَأَن اللَه صوره
لطفاًin kindness وَأنشأهand created him مِنfrom فَضلهHis grace وَبراand goodness
لطفاً وَأنشأه مِن فَضله وَبرا
A learned sage, as though God had fashioned him
Wise scholar, as if God molded him
in kindness, and created him from His grace and goodness.
With kindness, and originated him from His bounty.
أَوor كانَhe was نوراًa light خَفياًhidden ثُمthen أَظهرهHe revealed him
أَو كانَ نوراً خَفياً ثُم أَظهره
حَتّىuntil تشكلhe took shape فيat أَوجthe zenith of العُلىglory قَمَراas a moon
حَتّى تشكل في أَوج العُلى قَمَرا
Or he was a hidden light, which He then revealed,
Or he was hidden light, then made manifest,
until it took shape as a moon at the zenith of glory.
Until he formed, at the zenith of highness, a moon.
ياO أَولthe first of الناسmankind إِسلاماًin embracing Islam وَأَعرقهمand most deeply rooted of them
يا أَول الناس إِسلاماً وَأَعرقهم
أَصلاًin ancestry وَأَطيبهمand purest of them فرعاin branch إِذاwhen نشراit spread
أَصلاً وَأَطيبهم فرعا إِذا نشرا
O first of mankind in Islam, and most deeply rooted
O foremost of people in Islam, of purest
in ancestry, and purest of branch when it spreads!
Origin, and most fragrant branch when it blossoms.
قَدindeed جاءَcame فيin النَصthe text وَالتَنزيلand Revelation مدحكمyour praise
قَد جاءَ في النَص وَالتَنزيل مدحكم
يتلىis recited عَلَيناto us إِذاwhen قاريthe reader of الكِتابthe Book قَراread
يتلى عَلَينا إِذا قاري الكِتاب قَرا
Your praise has come in the text and Revelation,
There has come in the definitive verse your praise -
recited to us whenever the reader of the Book reads.
Recited to us when the reciter of the Book reads.
تُؤتواyou give الزكاةthe obligatory alms وَأَنتُمwhile you are راكِعونbowing فَمنso whoever
تُؤتوا الزكاة وَأَنتُم راكِعون فَمن
رامَsought اللحوقto attain بساميthe lofty height of مجدكمyour glory حصراwas thwarted
رامَ اللحوق بسامي مجدكم حصرا
You give the alms while bowing; whoever
"Take charity while bowing," so one who hopes
sought to attain your lofty glory was thwarted.
To attain your towering glory restricts himself.
اللَهُGod طهركمpurified you مِنof كُلِّevery فاحشةindecency
اللَهُ طهركم مِن كُلِّ فاحشة
وَأذهبand removed الرجسdefilement عَنكُمfrom you أَينماwherever حضراit appeared
وَأذهب الرجس عَنكُم أَينما حضرا
God has purified you of every indecency
"God has purified you from all filth,
and removed defilement from you wherever it appeared.
And cleansed you of defilement, wherever you were."
طالَgrew long اشتياقيmy yearning إِلىfor قَبرa tomb حللتyou dwelt بِهin it
طالَ اشتياقي إِلى قَبر حللت بِه
إِذاwhen ضمit enclosed بَحراًa sea مِنof العرفانspiritual knowledge قَدindeed زخراhad swelled
إِذا ضم بَحراً مِن العرفان قَد زخرا
Long has my yearning been for the tomb where you dwell,
Prolonged has been my yearning for the grave in which you settled,
as it holds a sea of spiritual knowledge that has swelled.
When it contained an ocean overflowing with mystical knowledge.
أعللI soothe with hopes القَلبthe heart منfrom شهرa month إلىto سنةa year
أعلل القَلب من شهر إلى سنة
إِذاwhen أَتىcame رجبRajab وَأعدتهand I defer it again صفراto Safar
إِذا أَتى رجب وَأعدته صفرا
I soothe my heart with promises, from month to year;
My heart has become ill from Shawwal to Sha'ban,
when Rajab arrives, I put it off again until Safar.
Whenever Rajab comes and I prepare for Safar.
وَكُلَماand whenever قمتI rose دَهريmy fate عَنكَaway from you يقعدنيholds me back
وَكُلَما قمت دَهري عَنكَ يقعدني
وَإِنand if أَردتI intended مسيراًa journey قامَit rose معتَذِراmaking excuses
وَإِن أَردت مسيراً قامَ معتَذِرا
And whenever I rise, my fate holds me back from you;
And whenever I stand from your visit, worldly matters seat me,
and if I intend a journey, it rises with excuses.
And if I want to journey, excuses detain me.
لاmay not درflow دركyour milk ياO هَذاthis الزَمانTime فَقَدfor indeed
لا در درك يا هَذا الزَمان فَقَد
أَخرتنيyou delayed me وَدَليلwhile the guide of المدلجينnight-travelers سَرىtraveled by night
أَخرتني وَدَليل المدلجين سَرى
May your milk never flow, O Time, for
You have no insight, O times! For you have
you delayed me while the guide of night-travelers traveled by night.
Delayed me, though the guide of the guided traveled.
ماذاwhat harm عَلىto مَنone who أَتىcame فيamid العوجthe bent-necked camels منقطِعاdestitute
ماذا عَلى مَن أَتى في العوج منقطِعا
لَكنهُyet he بِالَّذيwith the one whom يَهواهhe loves قَدindeed ظفراattained
لَكنهُ بِالَّذي يَهواه قَد ظفرا
What harm to one who arrives amid bent-necked camels, destitute,
What of one who came crookedly, severed?
yet has reached the one he loves?
But he has attained what he loved, so he won.
هاbehold قَدindeed أَتيتكI came to you غبafter القَومthe others منكسراbroken
ها قَد أَتيتك غب القَوم منكسرا
وَمَنand whoever أَتاكُمcame to you كَسيراًbroken رَدwas sent back منجبراmended
وَمَن أَتاكُم كَسيراً رَد منجبرا
Here I have come to you after the others, broken;
And one who comes to you humiliated, you return dignified.
whoever comes to you broken is sent back restored.
I have abandoned my people, homeland, and dwelling places,
هَجَرتI forsook قَوميmy people وَأَوطانيand my homelands وَمُنتَجعيand my place of sustenance
هَجَرت قَومي وَأَوطاني وَمُنتَجعي
وَمَنand whoever يَرومseeks المَعاليhigh honors وَالعُلىand eminence صَبراendured
وَمَن يَروم المَعالي وَالعُلى صَبرا
I forsook my people, my homelands, and my place of sustenance;
And one who aspires to the sublime and lofty is patient.
whoever seeks distinction and high rank endures.
And I came to Baghdad, O Son of the North, from Mudar,
وَجئتand I came to بابلBabylon ياO ابنson of الشمthe proud nobles منof مضرMudar
وَجئت بابل يا ابن الشم من مضر
وَمَنand whoever أَرادَdesired نَوالاًa gift فَليجئlet him come مضراin need
وَمَن أَرادَ نَوالاً فَليجئ مضرا
I came to Babylon, O son of the proud nobles of Mudar;
For one who wants grace should come to Mudar.
whoever seeks a gift, let him come in need.
I pitched my tent, hopes, and what my soul sought,
حَططتI set down رحليmy saddle وَآماليand my hopes وَماand what طَلبتsought
حَططت رحلي وَآمالي وَما طَلبت
نَفسيmy soul وَماand what جالَstirred فيin ذكريmy memory وَماand what خطراcrossed my mind
نَفسي وَما جالَ في ذكري وَما خطرا
I set down my saddle, my hopes, and all that was sought
What came to my mind, what occurred to me, and what I imagined.
by my soul, all that stirred in my memory or crossed my mind.
And I stood in the radiant court, supplicating,
وَقُمتand I stood فيin الحَضرةthe sanctuary الفَيحاءspacious مُبتَهِلاًsupplicating
وَقُمت في الحَضرة الفَيحاء مُبتَهِلاً
وَصرتand I became مِنfrom نورِهاits light الوَضاحradiant مُنبَهِراdazzled
وَصرت مِن نورِها الوَضاح مُنبَهِرا
And I stood in the spacious sanctuary, supplicating,
And became, through its evident light, dazzled.
and was dazzled by its radiant light.
So by God's spirit, a grave from you I have not recited
فَروحso may He bring repose to اللَهGod قَبراًa tomb مِنكَof yours ماas long as تليتare recited
فَروح اللَه قَبراً مِنكَ ما تليت
آياتverses of حَقtruth وَماand as long as تالa reciter تَلاrecited وَقراand read
آيات حَق وَما تال تَلا وَقرا
May God bring repose to your tomb, as long as there are recited
Verses of truth, nor read a reading, and intoned.
verses of truth, and as long as a reciter recites and reads.
Partial English translation: 87 of 88 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1