هَنيئاًbliss لِعَبدٍfor a servant طَيَّبَhas sweetened الحُبُّlove قَلْبَهُhis heart
هَنيئاً لِعَبدٍ طَيَّبَ الحُبُّ قَلْبَهُ
وقامَand arose لهُfor him منfrom سِرِّthe mystery of ذلكَthat حالُa spiritual state
وقامَ لهُ من سِرِّ ذلكَ حالُ
Blessed is the servant whose heart love has sweetened,
Blessed is the servant whose heart is purified by love,
and from that mystery a spiritual state has arisen for him.
And who stands upright through the secret of that state.
لَعَمْرُكَby your life ماnot كلُّall النِّساءِwomen وإنand even if مشَتْthey walk
لَعَمْرُكَ ما كلُّ النِّساءِ وإن مشَتْ
نساءٌwomen ولاnor كلُّall الرِّجالِmen رجَالُmen
نساءٌ ولا كلُّ الرِّجالِ رجَالُ
By your life, not all women, though they walk,
By your life - not all women, though they be women,
are truly women, nor are all men truly men.
Are actually women; nor all men, though they appear to be men.
همُthey القومُthe folk أَدْناهُمْhas drawn them near إليهto him حَبيبُهُمْtheir beloved
همُ القومُ أَدْناهُمْ إليه حَبيبُهُمْ
لمعناهfor his essence فيهِمْwithin them رَوْنَقٌradiance وظِلالُand shadows
لمعناه فيهِمْ رَوْنَقٌ وظِلالُ
They are the folk their beloved has drawn near to himself;
The people closest to him are those who love him;
his essence has radiance and shadows within them.
Among them he has charm and shade.
إذاif جِئتَyou come للواديto the valley رأَيتَyou see خِيامَهُمْtheir tents
إذا جِئتَ للوادي رأَيتَ خِيامَهُمْ
ولاحَand shone forth لأُسْلوبِfor the form of الجَمالِbeauty مِثَالُan image
ولاحَ لأُسْلوبِ الجَمالِ مِثَالُ
If you come to the valley, you will see their tents,
When you come to the valley you see their tents pitched,
and an image of beauty's form will shine forth.
And the ideal of beauty shines clearly.
يَئِنُّونَthey groan ليلاًby night منfrom صَميمِthe depths of قُلوبهِمْtheir hearts
يَئِنُّونَ ليلاً من صَميمِ قُلوبهِمْ
وللشَّوقِand longing has فيin طيِّthe folds of القُلُوبِthe hearts نِصَالُarrowheads
وللشَّوقِ في طيِّ القُلُوبِ نِصَالُ
They groan by night from the depths of their hearts,
At night they moan from the depths of their hearts,
and longing has arrowheads within the folds of their hearts.
And for yearning, in the folds of hearts, there are spears.
تَراهُمْyou see them علىon الأَعتابِthe thresholds باللَّهْفِin yearning خُضَّعاًhumbly bowed
تَراهُمْ على الأَعتابِ باللَّهْفِ خُضَّعاً
تُحَطُّare set down لهُمْfor them حولَaround الرِّحابِthe spacious courts رِحَالُsaddle-packs
تُحَطُّ لهُمْ حولَ الرِّحابِ رِحَالُ
You see them on the thresholds, bowed in yearning;
You see them humbled at the threshold, fervently,
saddle-packs are set down for them around the spacious courts.
While tents are pitched around dwellings for them.
خِفافٌswift إذاwhen يَدْعوهُمُcalls them الحِبُّthe beloved للهوَىto love
خِفافٌ إذا يَدْعوهُمُ الحِبُّ للهوَى
ولكنْbut لأَقوالِtoward the words of السِّوىothers فثِقَالُthen sluggish
ولكنْ لأَقوالِ السِّوى فثِقَالُ
Swift when the beloved calls them to love,
They are weightless when love calls them to passion,
but slow to heed the words of others.
But heavy-going for those who would censure.
فهُمْthus they ضمنَwithin أَبراجِthe constellations of النُّجومِthe stars نُجومُهاtheir stars
فهُمْ ضمنَ أَبراجِ النُّجومِ نُجومُها
وهُمْand they للجِبالِto the mountains الرَّاسِياتِfirmly rooted جِبَالُmountains
وهُمْ للجِبالِ الرَّاسِياتِ جِبَالُ
Thus they are the stars within the constellations of the stars,
Among the mansions of stars they are its stars,
and they are mountains to the firmly rooted mountains.
And they are mountains for steady mountains.
كمhow many فُرِّجتْhas been relieved فيهِمْthrough them عنfrom النَّاسِpeople كُربَةًa sorrow
كم فُرِّجتْ فيهِمْ عن النَّاسِ كُربَةً
وحلَّand was loosened بهِمْthrough them للعاشِقينَfor lovers عِقَالُa fetter
وحلَّ بهِمْ للعاشِقينَ عِقَالُ
How many a sorrow has been lifted from people through them,
Through them how many worries have been dispelled from people
and through them a fetter has been loosed for lovers.
And passionate love has chained them.
يَذوبونَthey melt إنْif طلَّتْappear خِيامُthe tents of حَبيبِهِمْtheir beloved
يَذوبونَ إنْ طلَّتْ خِيامُ حَبيبِهِمْ
وإنْand if لاحَappears منfrom تلكthose الخِيَامُthe tents خَيَالُa phantom
وإنْ لاحَ من تلك الخِيَامُ خَيَالُ
They melt if their beloved's tents come into view,
They melt when the tent of their beloved appears,
and if a phantom appears from those tents.
And a phantom casts shades from that tent.
ومنand among عَجَبٍwonders إنْif نَهْنَهَrestrains الشَّوقُlonging سلَّمواthey surrender
ومن عَجَبٍ إنْ نَهْنَهَ الشَّوقُ سلَّموا
خُشوعاًin humility وإنْand if سامَoppresses المُعارِضُthe adversary صَالواthey charge
خُشوعاً وإنْ سامَ المُعارِضُ صَالوا
And wondrously, if longing restrains them, they surrender
Small wonder if longing sighs and they surrender,
in humility; but if an adversary oppresses them, they charge.
Humbly; and if censured, they just carry on.
لهُمْthey have شيَمٌtraits قدسِيَّةٌsacred جلَّis exalted شأنُهاtheir worth
لهُمْ شيَمٌ قدسِيَّةٌ جلَّ شأنُها
وحالٌand a spiritual state ومنand from طَوْرِthe way of الرَّسولِthe Messenger خِصَالُqualities
وحالٌ ومن طَوْرِ الرَّسولِ خِصَالُ
They have sacred traits of exalted worth,
They have a sanctity and loftiness of manner,
and a spiritual state, and qualities from the Messenger's way.
And a state modeled on that of the Messenger.
دَعاهُمْcalled them مُلِحُّthe urgency of العِشقِpassion منfrom مُلكِthe dominion of ذاتِهِمْtheir selves
دَعاهُمْ مُلِحُّ العِشقِ من مُلكِ ذاتِهِمْ
فمالواso they inclined لداعيهِto its caller الكَريمِnoble وقالواand they said
فمالوا لداعيهِ الكَريمِ وقالوا
The urgency of passion called them from the dominion of their selves,
The urging of passionate love called them from their soul’s realm,
so they turned toward its noble caller and said:
So they inclined to its generous caller and said:
ولمَّاand when سَرَيْناwe journeyed by night والدَّياجيwhile the darkness طَموسَةٌwas all-obscuring
ولمَّا سَرَيْنا والدَّياجي طَموسَةٌ
وللطَّيرِand the birds had ماemphatic particle بينَamong الغُصونِthe branches زِجَالُsong
وللطَّيرِ ما بينَ الغُصونِ زِجَالُ
And when we journeyed by night, the darkness was all-obscuring,
"And we walked while the darkness was thickening
and birds sang among the branches,
And birds were twittering in the branches.
ورفَّand fluttered منfrom اللَّيلِthe night المُغَلْغَلِdeeply enfolding سَجْفُهُits curtain
ورفَّ من اللَّيلِ المُغَلْغَلِ سَجْفُهُ
وشوهِدَand was seen ماemphatic particle بينَbetween السُّجوفِthe curtains هِلالُa crescent
وشوهِدَ ما بينَ السُّجوفِ هِلالُ
and the curtain of the deeply enfolding night fluttered,
The mantle of the gloaming night fluttered open
and a crescent was seen between the curtains.
And the crescent could be seen between its folds.
جَثَوْناwe knelt انكِساراًin brokenness خاشِعينَhumbly لعِزِّهِbefore his might
جَثَوْنا انكِساراً خاشِعينَ لعِزِّهِ
بذُلٍّin lowliness وللحُبِّand love has العَزيزِmighty دَلالُcoquetry
بذُلٍّ وللحُبِّ العَزيزِ دَلالُ
We knelt in brokenness, humble before his might,
We fell bowed down in humility before His glory,
in lowliness; yet mighty love has its coyness.
Selflessly – and passionate love has its tokens.
وخاطَبَنيand addressed me منfrom أَيمنِthe right-hand side of الحَيِّthe camp قائلٌa speaker
وخاطَبَني من أَيمنِ الحَيِّ قائلٌ
يُقالُit is said بكُمْamong you مُضنًىa love-worn one فقلتُso I said يُقَالُit is said
يُقالُ بكُمْ مُضنًى فقلتُ يُقَالُ
And a speaker addressed me from the camp's right-hand side:
And someone addressed me from my right, saying:
'They say a love-worn one is among you.' I said, 'They do.'
“It is said you bear the pain.” I said: “It is said.”
فقالَthen he said علىagainst المُضْنىthe love-worn one يُصَالُan attack is made تهَجُّماًaggressively
فقالَ على المُضْنى يُصَالُ تهَجُّماً
بشرعِunder the law of الهَوَىlove مَعنًىinwardly فقلتُso I said يُصَالُan attack is made
بشرعِ الهَوَى مَعنًى فقلتُ يُصَالُ
He said, 'The love-worn one is fiercely assailed
He said: “For pain one shows endurance again and again
inwardly, under love's law.' I said, 'He is assailed.'
According to love’s law – a significance,” I said.
فقالَthen he said يُهَالُis terrified القلبُthe heart منهُof him إذاwhen رأَىit sees
فقالَ يُهَالُ القلبُ منهُ إذا رأَى
علامَةَa sign of هِجرانٍestrangement فقلتُso I said يُهَالُis terrified
علامَةَ هِجرانٍ فقلتُ يُهَالُ
He said, 'His heart is terrified when it sees
He said: “The heart wastes from it when it sees
a sign of estrangement.' I said, 'It is terrified.'
A sign of estrangement.” I said: “It wastes.”
فقالَthen he said يُخَالُis imagined الموتُdeath فيin وَجَناتِهِhis cheeks
فقالَ يُخَالُ الموتُ في وَجَناتِهِ
غَراماًfrom passion لمنfor the one whom يهْوىhe loves فقلتُso I said يُخَالُis imagined
غَراماً لمن يهْوى فقلتُ يُخَالُ
He said, 'Death seems to show upon his cheeks,
He said: “Death ravishes his cheeks out of love
from passion for the one he loves.' I said, 'So it seems.'
For the one he adores.” I said: “It ravishes.”
فقالَthen he said يُسَالُis made to flow الدَّمعُtears منfrom بحرِthe sea of جَفنِهِhis eyelid
فقالَ يُسَالُ الدَّمعُ من بحرِ جَفنِهِ
إذاwhen ماemphatic particle رأَىhe sees الواديthe valley فقلتُso I said يُسَالُis made to flow
إذا ما رأَى الوادي فقلتُ يُسَالُ
He said, 'Tears flow from the sea of his eyelid
He said: “Tears flow from the sea of his eyelids
when he sees the valley.' I said, 'They flow.'
When he sees the valley.” I said: “They flow.”
فقالَthen he said يُغَالُis ravaged الجسمُthe body منهof him تلهُّفاًin yearning
فقالَ يُغَالُ الجسمُ منه تلهُّفاً
لآرامِfor the gazelles of واديناour valley فقلتُso I said يَغَالُit ravages
لآرامِ وادينا فقلتُ يَغَالُ
He said, 'His body is ravaged by yearning
He said: “The body pines from ardently yearning
for the gazelles of our valley.' I said, 'It ravages him.'
For the peace of our valley.” I said: “It pines.”
فقالَthen he said يُحَالُis transformed الدَّمعُtears منهfrom him كماlike الدِّماblood
فقالَ يُحَالُ الدَّمعُ منه كما الدِّما
ويحفُرُand it carves أُخْدوداًa furrow فقلتُso I said يُحَالُis transformed
ويحفُرُ أُخْدوداً فقلتُ يُحَالُ
He said, 'His tears are transformed to resemble blood,
He said: “The tears change course from him like blood
and carve a furrow.' I said, 'They are transformed.'
And burrow channels.” I said: “They change course.”
فقالَthen he said يُنَالُis attained الوصلُunion إنْif كانَhe is هكذاlike this
فقالَ يُنَالُ الوصلُ إنْ كانَ هكذا
فبَشِّرْهُso give him glad tidings ياO هذاyou there فقلتُso I said يُنَالُis attained
فبَشِّرْهُ يا هذا فقلتُ يُنَالُ
He said, 'Union is attained if he is like this;
He said: “Reunion is attained if thus.
so give him glad tidings, you there!' I said, 'It is attained.'
So give him the glad tidings!” I said: “Attained.”
مُسَيْكِينُpoor little قلبيmy heart ذابَhas melted منfrom لوعَةِthe anguish of النَّوىseparation
مُسَيْكِينُ قلبي ذابَ من لوعَةِ النَّوى
ووالاهُand attended it in turn جمرٌembers لاهِبٌblazing وزُلالُand limpid water
ووالاهُ جمرٌ لاهِبٌ وزُلالُ
My poor little heart has melted from the anguish of separation,
My poor heart melted from the pain of passion
and blazing embers and limpid water have attended it in turn.
And burning embers enveloped it.
وبينيand between me وبينَand between البَيْنِseparation حربٌa war سِجالُهاits give-and-take
وبيني وبينَ البَيْنِ حربٌ سِجالُها
مُلِحٌّrelentless وفيهand within it ضجَّةٌclamor وقِتَالُand fighting
مُلِحٌّ وفيه ضجَّةٌ وقِتَالُ
And between me and separation is a war whose give-and-take
Between me and the one absent there is a war
is relentless, with clamor and combat within it.
Whose clashes are sharp – tumult and fighting!
وعَينيand my eye عَداهاhas passed it by النَّومُsleep لمhas not تأْلَفِgrown familiar with الكَرىslumber
وعَيني عَداها النَّومُ لم تأْلَفِ الكَرى
وعَزميand my resolve مَحاهُhas erased it ياO هُذَيْمُHudhaym زَوَالُdecline
وعَزمي مَحاهُ يا هُذَيْمُ زَوَالُ
And sleep has passed my eye by; it has not known slumber,
Sleep shunned my eye; it spurned settling down;
and decline has erased my resolve, O Hudhaym.
And my resolve, O Hudhaym, is declining!
تعلَّمَlearned منِّيfrom me رقَّةَthe tenderness of الشِّعرِpoetry فيin الهَوَىlove
تعلَّمَ منِّي رقَّةَ الشِّعرِ في الهَوَى
مُحِبٌّa lover ليَدريso he may know الشعرَpoetry كيفَhow يُقَالُis spoken
مُحِبٌّ ليَدري الشعرَ كيفَ يُقَالُ
From me was learned the tenderness of poetry in love,
A lover learned the delicacy of poetry in passion from me
by a lover, that he might know how poetry is spoken.
So he could know how poetry should be expressed.
جَمالُthe camels of غَراميmy passion للأَحِبَّةِfor the loved ones أَزْمَعَتْresolved to depart
جَمالُ غَرامي للأَحِبَّةِ أَزْمَعَتْ
فأَدْهَشَهاso it bewildered them بينَamid الطُّلولِthe ruins جَمالُbeauty
فأَدْهَشَها بينَ الطُّلولِ جَمالُ
The camels of my passion resolved to set out for the loved ones,
The beauty of my passion astonished the loved ones,
so beauty bewildered them amid the ruins.
And a beauty shone between the hills.
تِجارَةُthe commerce of شوْقيmy longing كلُّهاall of it الدِّينُfaith والهُدىand guidance
تِجارَةُ شوْقي كلُّها الدِّينُ والهُدى
وفيand in طيِّthe folds of زعْمِthe claim of العاذِلينَthe reproachers ضَلالُerror
وفي طيِّ زعْمِ العاذِلينَ ضَلالُ
All the commerce of my longing is faith and guidance,
All my trade is religion and guidance
and error lies within the folds of the reproachers' claim.
While according to the claims of censors it is error.
لهُمْthey have مثلُماjust as عنديI have منof الوجدِpassion والضَّنىand wasting sickness
لهُمْ مثلُما عندي من الوجدِ والضَّنى
كَلالٌexhaustion وعزمٌand a resolve فاتِرٌflagging ومَلالُand tedium
كَلالٌ وعزمٌ فاتِرٌ ومَلالُ
They have—as I have passion and wasting sickness—
Their ardour and longing are the same as mine;
exhaustion, a flagging resolve, and tedium.
Decline, weak resolve, and weariness.
وإنِّيand I شَهيدُthe martyr of الحُبِّlove فيin معْرَكِthe battlefield of النَّوىseparation
وإنِّي شَهيدُ الحُبِّ في معْرَكِ النَّوى
قَتيلٌslain علىdespite ضُعفيmy weakness الأَحِبَّةُthe loved ones صَالواthey assailed
قَتيلٌ على ضُعفي الأَحِبَّةُ صَالوا
And I am love's martyr on separation's battlefield,
And I am a martyr of love in the battle of passion,
slain: the loved ones assailed me despite my weakness.
My weakness made me a victim - the loved ones attacked!
إذاwhen قلتُI say ياO قوميmy people حَرامٌforbidden تأَوَّدواthey lean
إذا قلتُ يا قومي حَرامٌ تأَوَّدوا
بقتْليtoward killing me يَقولونَthey say اتَّئِدْbe calm فحَلالُfor it is lawful
بقتْلي يَقولونَ اتَّئِدْ فحَلالُ
When I say, 'O my people, it is forbidden,' they lean
If I say “It is forbidden!” they retort “Persevere -
toward killing me, saying, 'Be calm—it is lawful.'
It's permitted!” when they try to kill me.
وماand not كنتُI was أَدريI know قَتْلَthe killing of منone who دِينُهُhis creed الهَوَىlove
وما كنتُ أَدري قَتْلَ من دِينُهُ الهَوَى
حَلالٌlawful ولكنْbut قيلَit was said ذاكَthat يُقَالُit is said
حَلالٌ ولكنْ قيلَ ذاكَ يُقَالُ
I did not know that killing one whose creed is love
I did not know that killing someone whose religion is love
was lawful; yet that was said—so it is said.
Was permitted - but they said: “That's what is said!”
صَبَرْناwe endured رَضيناwe were content ماas long as حَييناwe live بحُكمِهِمْwith their decree
صَبَرْنا رَضينا ما حَيينا بحُكمِهِمْ
لهمtheirs كيفhowever شاءواthey wish عزَّةٌmight وجَلالُand majesty
لهم كيف شاءوا عزَّةٌ وجَلالُ
We have endured, content with their decree for as long as we live;
We are patient, content with their judgement;
theirs are might and majesty, however they wish.
However they wish, theirs are glory and majesty!
فإنْso if قَتَلواthey kill مِتْناwe die وطِبْناand we are content بأَمرِهِمْwith their command
فإنْ قَتَلوا مِتْنا وطِبْنا بأَمرِهِمْ
وإنْand if هُمْthey يُقيلوناgrant us reprieve هُناكَthere نُقَالُwe are reprieved
وإنْ هُمْ يُقيلونا هُناكَ نُقَالُ
So if they kill, we die, content with their command;
If they kill us, we'll happily die by their command;
and if they grant us reprieve, there we are reprieved.
And if they dismiss us, there we will be sent!
وماand not دينُناour creed إِلاَّexcept رِضاهِمْtheir pleasure وحبُّهُمْand love for them
وما دينُنا إِلاَّ رِضاهِمْ وحبُّهُمْ
وللحُبِّand love has ماemphatic particle بينَamong الصُّفوفِthe ranks رِجَالُmen
وللحُبِّ ما بينَ الصُّفوفِ رِجَالُ
And our creed is only their pleasure and love of them,
Our religion is only their good pleasure and their love;
and love has its men amid the ranks.
And for love between the ranks there are men!
Sol 6.1