قف بِالمَدائن يمناها وَيُسراها

قف بِالمَدائن يمناها وَيُسراها

وَسرح الطرف أَدناها وَأَقصاها

وَسرح الطرف أَدناها وَأَقصاها

Stop at al-Mada'in, on its right and its left,

Stand by its right side and left side

and let your gaze roam over its nearest and farthest reaches.

And let your eyes wander above it and below it

مَنازل نَزَلت غر السحاب بِها

مَنازل نَزَلت غر السحاب بِها

وَوابل الغَيث وافاها فَحَياها

وَوابل الغَيث وافاها فَحَياها

Dwellings where radiant clouds have descended,

Dwellings that descended from the clouds upon it

and rain's downpour has come to them and greeted them.

And rain showers watered it, giving it life

وَغد كَساها الحَيا مِن نسجه حللاً

وَغد كَساها الحَيا مِن نسجه حللاً

وَالوَرد بِالحُسن وَشاها وَحَلاها

وَالوَرد بِالحُسن وَشاها وَحَلاها

And [already] the rain clothed them in robes of its weaving,

And tomorrow the alive dressed it in garments

and roses embroidered and adorned them with beauty.

Woven by beauty, and roses crowned it and adorned it

تَنوع الحُسن في أَرجائِها فَلذا

تَنوع الحُسن في أَرجائِها فَلذا

قُلوبنا وَقُلوب الناس تَهواها

قُلوبنا وَقُلوب الناس تَهواها

Beauty takes many forms throughout their reaches; thus

Beauty has diversified in its corners, so

our hearts and the hearts of people love them.

Our hearts and people’s hearts fell in love with it

لَم أَترك الدار لَولا حب ساكنها

لَم أَترك الدار لَولا حب ساكنها

وَلَم أُفارق حَبيب القَلب لَولاها

وَلَم أُفارق حَبيب القَلب لَولاها

I would not have left home but for love of its dweller,

I would not have left the house were it not for loving its resident

nor parted from my heart's beloved but for them.

And I would not have parted from the beloved of my heart were it not for it

فانظر لقيصومها قَد مَد ساعده

فانظر لقيصومها قَد مَد ساعده

وَآسها ماد حَتّى طابَ رياها

وَآسها ماد حَتّى طابَ رياها

Look at its yarrow, which has stretched out its forearm,

So look to its Euphrates that extended its arm

and its myrtle swayed until its fragrance grew sweet.

And its myrtle that leaned until its winds blew fragrantly

وَالرند يَعبق في الأَقطار حينَ رَنت

وَالرند يَعبق في الأَقطار حينَ رَنت

كَتائب الشيح فاستغنى برؤياها

كَتائب الشيح فاستغنى برؤياها

And laurel wafts its scent through the regions, when

And basil smells fragrantly in all directions when

the ranks of wormwood gaze, and it is content to behold them.

The enthusiasts smelled it, so they became needless with seeing it

وَالنرجس الغَض يَرنو نَحوَ نَرجسها

وَالنرجس الغَض يَرنو نَحوَ نَرجسها

شزراً فَيَضرب أولاها بِأُخراها

شزراً فَيَضرب أولاها بِأُخراها

And fresh narcissus gazes toward its narcissus,

And the green narcissus stretches toward its narcissus

askance, striking the first against the last.

Playing, so it hits its beginning with its end

وَالأَرض تَهتز مِن حَيث الرَبيع فَلا

وَالأَرض تَهتز مِن حَيث الرَبيع فَلا

تَعجب فَربك بَعدَ المَوت أَحياها

تَعجب فَربك بَعدَ المَوت أَحياها

And the earth stirs wherever spring is; do not

And the land shakes from where spring is, so do not

marvel, for your Lord revived it after death.

Be surprised, for after death your Lord gives it life

وَنَهر دجلة يَجري في مَجرته

وَنَهر دجلة يَجري في مَجرته

شِعاره كانَ بسم اللَه مجراها

شِعاره كانَ بسم اللَه مجراها

And the Tigris flows along its channel;

And the Tigris river flows in its course

its watchword was: ‘In God's name is its course.’

Its motto has always been: In the name of God is its course

وَالجَو يضحك إِعجاباً بقدرة من

وَالجَو يضحك إِعجاباً بقدرة من

بناصع الحسن أنشاها وَسواها

بناصع الحسن أنشاها وَسواها

And the sky smiles in wonder at the power of Him

And the air laughs in awe at the power of Him

who created and fashioned them in radiant beauty.

Who created it and leveled it with the most beautiful creation

فروح القَلب في تلكَ المرابع إِن

فروح القَلب في تلكَ المرابع إِن

أَطعت نصحي وَلا تجنح لأشقاها

أَطعت نصحي وَلا تجنح لأشقاها

So refresh the heart in those spring meadows, if

So let your soul wander in these meadows if

you heed my advice; do not incline toward the most wretched of them.

You obey my advice and do not lean toward its woes

وَمرغ الخَد وَالعَينين مُعتَمداً

وَمرغ الخَد وَالعَينين مُعتَمداً

لقبر سلمان وَاترك عَنكَ سلماها

لقبر سلمان وَاترك عَنكَ سلماها

And rub your cheek and both eyes in the dust, making for

And wipe your cheek and eyes, heading

Salman's grave, and leave its Salma aside.

To Salman’s grave, and leave behind its peace

وَقف عَلى ذَلك القَبر المُنير فَكَم

وَقف عَلى ذَلك القَبر المُنير فَكَم

بِهِ تَوارَت عُلوم جل أَدناها

بِهِ تَوارَت عُلوم جل أَدناها

And stand beside that radiant grave—how many

And stand at that enlightened grave, for in it

fields of knowledge lie hidden there, the least of them sublime!

Many sciences were buried, the best of the low ones

ضَمت مِن الجَوهر المَكنون أَحسنه

ضَمت مِن الجَوهر المَكنون أَحسنه

وَمِن نجوم الهُدى وَالفَضل أَضواها

وَمِن نجوم الهُدى وَالفَضل أَضواها

It enfolded the finest of hidden jewels,

It collected the best of the hidden gems

and the brightest stars of guidance and excellence.

And the brightest stars of guidance and virtues

نال السَعادة وَالأَقطار مُظلمة

نال السَعادة وَالأَقطار مُظلمة

لَما تجبر كلب الفُرس كسراها

لَما تجبر كلب الفُرس كسراها

He attained felicity while the lands lay dark,

He attained happiness while the lands were dark

when the Persians' cur, their Khosrow, acted the tyrant.

When the Persian dog broke its authority

رقي معالم دين لا انتهاء لَها

رقي معالم دين لا انتهاء لَها

وَنالَ مِن صَهوات العز أَعلاها

وَنالَ مِن صَهوات العز أَعلاها

He ascended a faith's landmarks, which have no end,

He promoted the endless religion’s landmarks

and reached the highest of glory's saddles.

And attained the highest glories

حدا بِهِ الشوق حَتّى سار عَن وَطن

حدا بِهِ الشوق حَتّى سار عَن وَطن

وَعَن ديار بِأَرض الفُرس خلاها

وَعَن ديار بِأَرض الفُرس خلاها

Longing drove him onward until he left his homeland,

Yearning took him until he left his homeland

and the dwellings he abandoned in the land of Persia.

And the lands of Persia deserted it

وَلَم تَزَل واردات السعد تنقله

وَلَم تَزَل واردات السعد تنقله

حَتّى أَتى بَلد الهادي وَوافاها

حَتّى أَتى بَلد الهادي وَوافاها

And visitations of good fortune kept carrying him onward,

And imports of bliss kept moving him

until he reached the Guide's city and arrived there.

Until he came to the guiding country and attained it

وَفازَ بالشرف الأَعلى وَقَد ظفرت

وَفازَ بالشرف الأَعلى وَقَد ظفرت

يَداه بالكنز سقياها وَرعياها

يَداه بالكنز سقياها وَرعياها

And he won the highest honor, and indeed gained

And he won the highest honor and his hands were blessed

with his hands the treasure—may they be watered and tended!

With getting the treasure, watering it and shepherding it

أَزالَ عَنهُ العَنا وَالرق وَاِنفرجت

أَزالَ عَنهُ العَنا وَالرق وَاِنفرجت

عَنهُ الشَدائد وَانحلت شَظاياها

عَنهُ الشَدائد وَانحلت شَظاياها

He removed toil and bondage from him, and

He removed oppression and slavery from himself

the hardships cleared away from him, and their splinters came apart.

And hardships parted from him and its pieces disintegrated

وَفي بَيضة تبر دينه فَغَدا

وَفي بَيضة تبر دينه فَغَدا

حراً وَقَد كانَ يُدعى قَبل مَولاها

حراً وَقَد كانَ يُدعى قَبل مَولاها

And with an egg of raw gold his debt [was paid], so he became

And in the egg of his religion’s honesty he became

free, though he had formerly been called its bondsman.

A freeman, while before he was called its slave

وَأَثمر النَخل في عام فَلا عَجب

وَأَثمر النَخل في عام فَلا عَجب

في كَف من سبحت في الكَف حصباها

في كَف من سبحت في الكَف حصباها

And the palms bore fruit within a year; no wonder,

And the palm tree fruited in one year, so no wonder

at the hand of one whose pebbles sang God's praise within that palm.

In the palm of Him who glorified its pebbles in the palm

وَكَم لَهُ غرر أربت عَلى غرر الن

وَكَم لَهُ غرر أربت عَلى غرر الن

نُجوم فاذكر فَإِني لَستُ أَنساها

نُجوم فاذكر فَإِني لَستُ أَنساها

How many radiant deeds are his, surpassing the radiance of the

And how many gems he collected over the gems

stars! Recall them, for I do not forget them.

Of stars, so remember, for I do not forget it

إِذ قامَ في غَزوة الأَحزاب مُنتصباً

إِذ قامَ في غَزوة الأَحزاب مُنتصباً

لملة الحَق نور الدين يَرعاها

لملة الحَق نور الدين يَرعاها

When he stood upright in the Battle of the Confederates,

As he stood in the battle of Allies, standing

for the true creed, a light of religion guarding it.

For the religion of truth, the light of religion protecting it

كَفاه إِن قال خَير المُرسلين لَه

كَفاه إِن قال خَير المُرسلين لَه

سلمان مِنا فَخاراً بَل كَفى جاها

سلمان مِنا فَخاراً بَل كَفى جاها

Enough for him, if the best of the messengers said to him:

Saying the best of messengers said about him:

‘Salman is one of us’—enough for pride, indeed enough for prestige.

“Salman is one of us,” was enough of a pride, but sufficed as a source of help

يا سَيداً عَلق القَلب المشوق بِه

يا سَيداً عَلق القَلب المشوق بِه

حَتّى عَلاه مِن الأَشواق أَعلاها

حَتّى عَلاه مِن الأَشواق أَعلاها

O master to whom the yearning heart is attached,

My master whom the longing heart is hooked to

until the loftiest longings overwhelmed it,

To the extent that because of intense longing ascended above longings

أنوي إِليك شخوصاً وَالزَمان لَه

أنوي إِليك شخوصاً وَالزَمان لَه

قَواطع لَم أطق دَفعاً لأَدناها

قَواطع لَم أطق دَفعاً لأَدناها

I intend to journey to you, but time has

I intend to come visit you while time

hindrances, the least of which I could not ward off,

Has obstacles I have not the power to remove their low ones

حَتّى نَهضت نُهوض اللَيث مُنتهزاً

حَتّى نَهضت نُهوض اللَيث مُنتهزاً

لفرصة كانَ في النادي ترجاها

لفرصة كانَ في النادي ترجاها

until I rose as a lion rises, seizing

Until I made an effort like the lion’s, seizing

an opportunity he had hoped for in the gathering.

An opportunity as he had hoped to find in the club

وَجئت بابك يا كَهف العفاة مَتى

وَجئت بابك يا كَهف العفاة مَتى

حَلت بِناديه أَعطاها فَأَغناها

حَلت بِناديه أَعطاها فَأَغناها

And I came to your door, O refuge of petitioners: whenever

And I came to your door, O cave of the virtuous, whenever

they arrive in his assembly, he gives to them and enriches them.

He lodged in his club, gave him and made him needless

مُستمطراً بِكَ مَنسوباً إِليك كَما

مُستمطراً بِكَ مَنسوباً إِليك كَما

نسبت حَقاً إِلى خَير الوَرى طاها

نسبت حَقاً إِلى خَير الوَرى طاها

Seeking rain through you, linked to you, just as

Getting rain from you associated to you, just as the truthful

you were truly linked to the best of creation, Taha.

Associated others to the best of creatures rightfully

فاقبل بحقك تَقصيري وَكُن سَندي

فاقبل بحقك تَقصيري وَكُن سَندي

وَعدتي لأمور صرت أَخشاها

وَعدتي لأمور صرت أَخشاها

So, by your rightful standing, accept my shortcomings and be my support,

So accept my shortcoming by your right and be my support

and my resource for matters I have come to fear.

And my recourse for matters I started fearing

وَامدد بِفضلك أَطفالي وَكُن لَهُم

وَامدد بِفضلك أَطفالي وَكُن لَهُم

ذُخراً وَحصناً بِدنياها وَأخراها

ذُخراً وَحصناً بِدنياها وَأخراها

And sustain my children with your bounty, and be for them

And provide for my children with your favor and be

a treasure and a fortress in their world and their hereafter.

A stock and fortress for them in this world and the next

وَقَد سَأَلتك يا كنز الفَقير وَلَم

وَقَد سَأَلتك يا كنز الفَقير وَلَم

أَدر لغيرك يا مولى النَدى فاها

أَدر لغيرك يا مولى النَدى فاها

And I have asked you, O treasure of the poor, and have not

And I have asked you, O treasure of the poor, and do not know

turned its mouth toward anyone else, O lord of generosity.

Anyone other than you, O lord of bliss, worthy

وَخص رَبك أَعلى المُرسلين عَلي

وَخص رَبك أَعلى المُرسلين عَلي

برحمة وَصَلاة طابَ رياها

برحمة وَصَلاة طابَ رياها

And may your Lord favor the loftiest of messengers [in exalted rank],

And distinguish what your Lord distinguished above messengers

with mercy and blessings whose fragrance is sweet,

With mercy and peace and prayers of good fragrance

وَآله الغر وَالصحب الكِرام وَمَن

وَآله الغر وَالصحب الكِرام وَمَن

حَدوا الحُدود فَحدوا من تعداها

حَدوا الحُدود فَحدوا من تعداها

and his radiant family, the noble companions, and those

And his honored family and companions and whoever

who set the limits and punished whoever overstepped them.

Set limits so they set limits for those who transgress them