رُحْ معَ الوِرْدَيْنِ إنِّي عاشِقُ

رُحْ معَ الوِرْدَيْنِ إنِّي عاشِقُ

لا تَرُعْني منكَ يا ذا الطَّارِقُ

لا تَرُعْني منكَ يا ذا الطَّارِقُ

Come with me, you two roses, for I am a lover.

Go with the two litanies, for I am a lover.

Do not frighten me away from you, O tressed one.

Do not make me fear you, O night visitor.

طَلَعَ الفَجْرُ ووَفَّى مُشْعِراً

طَلَعَ الفَجْرُ ووَفَّى مُشْعِراً

عنهُمُ والفجرُ فَجرٌ صادِقُ

عنهُمُ والفجرُ فَجرٌ صادِقُ

Dawn rose and swiftly kept faith

Dawn rose and came in fullness, bringing word

on their behalf—for dawn is a faithful dawn.

of them; and the dawn is a true dawn.

سَكَتَ اللَّيلُ وحَيَّاهُ الضُّحى

سَكَتَ اللَّيلُ وحَيَّاهُ الضُّحى

إنَّهُ فَتَّاقٌ رَتْقٍ ناطقُ

إنَّهُ فَتَّاقٌ رَتْقٍ ناطقُ

Night fell silent, and radiant morning greeted it.

Night fell silent, and morning light greeted it.

Indeed, it rends every seam and speaks aloud.

Indeed, it speaks, rending what was sealed.

أطْلَعَ الوامِقُ منهمْ طالِعاً

أطْلَعَ الوامِقُ منهمْ طالِعاً

خُذْ فُؤادي كَرَماً يا وامقُ

خُذْ فُؤادي كَرَماً يا وامقُ

The ardent lover brought forth from among them a radiant rising one.

The lover brought forth a rising star from among them.

Take my heart as a gift, O beloved.

Take my heart graciously, O lover.

إنَّ كَوْني فيهمُ في عَدَمٍ

إنَّ كَوْني فيهمُ في عَدَمٍ

كُلَّما ذَرَّ بكَوني شارقُ

كُلَّما ذَرَّ بكَوني شارقُ

My being among them lies in my very nonbeing

Indeed, my being among them is in nonbeing,

whenever a radiance dawns through my being.

whenever a rising light dawns within my being.

مُحْرِقُ الوجدِ ومِغْراقُ الدِّما

مُحْرِقُ الوجدِ ومِغْراقُ الدِّما

أبْطَلا الخَيرةَ كُلٌّ عائقُ

أبْطَلا الخَيرةَ كُلٌّ عائقُ

Burning with passion and drowning in blood,

The scorching force of longing and the deluge of blood

these two abolished free choice and every hindrance.

have annulled choice; each is a hindrance.

نَسَقُ الآلامِ بي من هجْرِهمْ

نَسَقُ الآلامِ بي من هجْرِهمْ

وهَواهُمْ هو فيَّ النَّاسقُ

وهَواهُمْ هو فيَّ النَّاسقُ

The pains of their abandonment were strung through me,

The train of pains within me comes from their estrangement,

and love of them is the master arranger’s art:

and love for them is what orders it within me.

عِلَّةٌ وا لَوعَتي مُزْمِنَةٌ

عِلَّةٌ وا لَوعَتي مُزْمِنَةٌ

وبها حارَ الطَّبيبُ الحاذقُ

وبها حارَ الطَّبيبُ الحاذقُ

a malady—alas!—and my anguish is chronic,

A sickness—alas, my anguish!—is chronic,

before which the discerning physician stands bewildered.

and it has bewildered the skilled physician.

وارِدُ الحَقِّ مُقيمٌ أبَداً

وارِدُ الحَقِّ مُقيمٌ أبَداً

وكَذا الباطِلُ شيءٌ زاهقُ

وكَذا الباطِلُ شيءٌ زاهقُ

An influx from the Real abides forever,

The influx of Truth abides forever,

while falsehood is a thing destined to perish.

and likewise, falsehood is a vanishing thing.

لَوْعَتي نارٌ وشَوقي باعثٌ

لَوْعَتي نارٌ وشَوقي باعثٌ

لِلَظاها والعَذولُ الغاسِقُ

لِلَظاها والعَذولُ الغاسِقُ

My anguish is my fire, and my longing the kindler

My anguish is fire, and my longing is a spur

of its blaze—and the censor is pitch-dark.

to its blaze; the reproacher is the dark one.

أفْرَطَ العاذِلُ بي من جَهْلِهِ

أفْرَطَ العاذِلُ بي من جَهْلِهِ

يَعرفُ الماءَ الزُّلالَ الذَّائقُ

يَعرفُ الماءَ الزُّلالَ الذَّائقُ

Through ignorance, the censor has gone too far against me;

The reproacher went too far with me through his ignorance;

the taster knows fresh, pure water.

the taster knows the clear, sweet water.

يا أُحَيْبابي إذا مَرَّ بكمْ

يا أُحَيْبابي إذا مَرَّ بكمْ

عاذلي رُدُّوهُ فهوَ الفاسقُ

عاذلي رُدُّوهُ فهوَ الفاسقُ

O my beloved ones, if my censor passes by you,

O my dear beloveds, if there passes your way

turn him away, for he is the transgressor.

my reproacher, send him back, for he is the transgressor.

آهُ والعهدِ الَّذي عِشْتُ به

آهُ والعهدِ الَّذي عِشْتُ به

أنا في الحُبِّ الأمينُ الصَّادقُ

أنا في الحُبِّ الأمينُ الصَّادقُ

Ah, by the covenant upon which I have lived—by it

Ah, by the covenant by which I have lived,

I am faithful and true in love.

I am the faithful, truthful one in love.

كُفَّ يَعْقوبي على يوسُفِهِ

كُفَّ يَعْقوبي على يوسُفِهِ

حُزُناً أينَ القَميصُ الفاتقُ

حُزُناً أينَ القَميصُ الفاتقُ

Jacob was wrapped in a shroud over his Joseph,

My Jacob was blinded over his Joseph

out of grief—where is the rent shirt?

with grief—where is the shirt that opens eyes?

أنْشَقُ الرِّيحَ وما من يوسُفٍ

أنْشَقُ الرِّيحَ وما من يوسُفٍ

طالَ بَثِّي حُزُناً يا ناشقُ

طالَ بَثِّي حُزُناً يا ناشقُ

I breathe in the wind, but no Joseph is there;

I inhale the scent, yet there is no Joseph;

my grief has lingered long, O inhaler of the scent.

my lament has long endured in grief, O you who inhale.

أخَذَتْني لَهْفَةٌ شرقيَّةٌ

أخَذَتْني لَهْفَةٌ شرقيَّةٌ

فانْطَوى اللَّيلُ ولاحَ البارقُ

فانْطَوى اللَّيلُ ولاحَ البارقُ

An eastern yearning seized me with longing;

An eastern yearning seized me;

the night folded away, and lightning flashed.

so night folded away, and lightning gleamed.

قلتُ يا ليلُ أوافينا الحِمى

قلتُ يا ليلُ أوافينا الحِمى

قالََ هذا منكَ ظَنٌّ زالقُ

قالََ هذا منكَ ظَنٌّ زالقُ

I said, “O night, have we reached the sanctuary?”

I said, “O night, have we reached the sanctuary?”

It said, “That is only a false fancy of yours.”

It said, “This is a mistaken surmise of yours.

طَلِّقِ النَّوْمَ لِتَحْظى بالمُنى

طَلِّقِ النَّوْمَ لِتَحْظى بالمُنى

قلتُ كُلِّي معَ نَومي طالقُ

قلتُ كُلِّي معَ نَومي طالقُ

“Divorce sleep, that you may attain your desires.”

Divorce sleep, that you may attain your desires.”

I said, “Everything, along with my sleep, is divorced.”

I said, “My whole self, with my sleep, is divorced.”

قالََ بُشرى هذه قيعانُهُمْ

قالََ بُشرى هذه قيعانُهُمْ

أنتَ للوَصْلِ بِحَقٍّ لائقُ

أنتَ للوَصْلِ بِحَقٍّ لائقُ

It said, “Glad tidings! These are their valley floors.

It said, “Good tidings! These are their plains.

By my truth, you are worthy of union.”

You are truly worthy of union.”

قُمتُ واللَّيلُ على غُصَّتِهِ

قُمتُ واللَّيلُ على غُصَّتِهِ

طارِقٌ والدَّمعُ مِنِّي طارقُ

طارِقٌ والدَّمعُ مِنِّي طارقُ

I rose while night still lay in its choking gloom,

I rose, and night, in its choking anguish,

a night visitor—and my tears, too, came knocking.

came knocking, and tears from me came knocking too.

وشَرِبْتُ الكأسَ من مَعْدِنهِ

وشَرِبْتُ الكأسَ من مَعْدِنهِ

مَشْرَبٌ زاكٍ وحانٌ رائقُ

مَشْرَبٌ زاكٍ وحانٌ رائقُ

I drank the cup directly from its fountain:

And I drank the cup from its source:

a pure draught, and a limpid tavern.

a pure draught, and a pleasing tavern.

ورأى رِثَّةَ ثَوْبي رِفْقَتي

ورأى رِثَّةَ ثَوْبي رِفْقَتي

عَجبوا هذا الرَّثيثُ السَّابقُ

عَجبوا هذا الرَّثيثُ السَّابقُ

My companions saw how ragged my garment was

And my companions saw the shabbiness of my garment;

and marveled: “Is this ragged man the former leader?”

they marveled: “This ragged one is the forerunner!”

ثمَّ قالوا إنَّ هذا المُخْتَفي

ثمَّ قالوا إنَّ هذا المُخْتَفي

شَمْسُهُ لاحَتْ فهذا سارقُ

شَمْسُهُ لاحَتْ فهذا سارقُ

Then they said, “Indeed, this is the hidden one—

Then they said, “Indeed, this hidden one—

his sun has shone, so this man is a thief.”

his sun has appeared, so this one is a thief.”

طَلَبوا الصَّاعَ ولكنْ أخْطأُوا

طَلَبوا الصَّاعَ ولكنْ أخْطأُوا

ثارَتِ العيسُ وطارَ السَّائقُ

ثارَتِ العيسُ وطارَ السَّائقُ

They sought the measuring cup, but they were mistaken;

They sought the measuring cup, but they were mistaken;

the camels surged, and the driver flew away.

the white camels sprang up, and the driver flew.

لم أكنْ أرْضَى بِمصرٍ مَوْطِناً

لم أكنْ أرْضَى بِمصرٍ مَوْطِناً

لِعَزيزي ومَقامي الفائقُ

لِعَزيزي ومَقامي الفائقُ

I could never accept Egypt as a homeland,

I was not content with Egypt as a dwelling

though it holds my mighty lord and my lofty station.

for my beloved; and my station is exalted.

جَمْعُ إغْراقٍ وطَوْرٌ جَامعٌ

جَمْعُ إغْراقٍ وطَوْرٌ جَامعٌ

وشَذًى سارٍ ومِسْكٌ عابقُ

وشَذًى سارٍ ومِسْكٌ عابقُ

A union of utter immersion, an all-embracing mode,

An engulfing union, and an all-embracing state,

a fragrance traveling abroad, and richly fragrant musk.

and a wafting fragrance, and redolent musk.

أنا للمُخْتارِ مُخْتارٌ ولي

أنا للمُخْتارِ مُخْتارٌ ولي

طارقٌ في كُلِّ أرضٍ طارقُ

طارقٌ في كُلِّ أرضٍ طارقُ

I am chosen for the Chosen One, his devoted friend,

I am chosen for the Chosen One, and I have

a night traveler journeying by night through every land.

a night visitor, knocking in every land.

سَتَرى المَغْرِبَ في مَشْرِقنا

سَتَرى المَغْرِبَ في مَشْرِقنا

يا لِجَمعٍ هو جَمْعٌ خارِقُ

يا لِجَمعٍ هو جَمْعٌ خارِقُ

You will see the West within our East—

You will see the West within our East.

oh, what a gathering, what a wondrous union!

Oh, what a union! It is an extraordinary union.

وفَروقٌ تَنْطَوي في غَوْرِنا

وفَروقٌ تَنْطَوي في غَوْرِنا

وعَجيبٌ فيهِ هذا الفارقُ

وعَجيبٌ فيهِ هذا الفارقُ

Distinctions fold themselves within our depths;

And distinctions fold away within our depths,

how wondrous within it is this distinction!

and wondrous within it is this distinction.

ويُعَزُّ الله فينا صادقاً

ويُعَزُّ الله فينا صادقاً

وبِنا يُخْزى اللَّئيمُ المارقُ

وبِنا يُخْزى اللَّئيمُ المارقُ

God exalts among us whoever is truthful,

And God is truly exalted within us,

and through us the vile renegade is disgraced.

and through us the base renegade is put to shame.

نَوْبَةُ الطُّهْرِ الكَريمِ المُصْطَفى

نَوْبَةُ الطُّهْرِ الكَريمِ المُصْطَفى

بَرَزَتْ وَهْناً وهذا السَّابقُ

بَرَزَتْ وَهْناً وهذا السَّابقُ

The advent of the pure, noble Chosen One

The turn of the pure, noble Chosen One

has appeared faintly—and this is the forerunner.

appeared late at night; and this is the forerunner.

فَتَوارى سابقٌ عن لاحِقٍ

فَتَوارى سابقٌ عن لاحِقٍ

وجَرى خَلْفَ السَّبوقِ اللاَّحقُ

وجَرى خَلْفَ السَّبوقِ اللاَّحقُ

A forerunner withdrew from one who followed,

So a forerunner hid from a follower,

while the follower raced behind the foremost.

and the follower ran behind the swift forerunner.

راحةُ المُخْتارِ لمَّا أن بَدَتْ

راحةُ المُخْتارِ لمَّا أن بَدَتْ

للفَتى المَعْشوقِ وهو العاشقُ

للفَتى المَعْشوقِ وهو العاشقُ

When the Chosen One’s palm appeared

When the Chosen One's palm appeared

to the beloved youth, who is himself the lover—

to the beloved youth, who is himself the lover,

نالَ مُذْ مُدَّتْ لهُ أمْدادَها

نالَ مُذْ مُدَّتْ لهُ أمْدادَها

ولِشأنِ الوَهْبِ غَيْباً سائقُ

ولِشأنِ الوَهْبِ غَيْباً سائقُ

he attained, once its sustaining gifts reached him,

he received its aid from the moment it was extended to him;

for the affair of bestowal has an unseen driver.

and for the matter of bestowal there is a driver in the unseen.

حِكَمٌ حارَ لها أهلُ النُّهى

حِكَمٌ حارَ لها أهلُ النُّهى

طِلْسمٌ بَحْتٌ وبحرٌ دافِقُ

طِلْسمٌ بَحْتٌ وبحرٌ دافِقُ

A decree before which the people of wisdom stood baffled:

Wisdoms that bewilder people of understanding:

a sheer enigma and a surging sea.

a pure talisman, and a surging sea.

تَنْجَلي الأنْوارُ في مَطْلَعِها

تَنْجَلي الأنْوارُ في مَطْلَعِها

فَلِذاً طَمْسٌ وهذا شارقُ

فَلِذاً طَمْسٌ وهذا شارقُ

The lights are unveiled at their place of rising;

The lights shine clear at their rising-place;

therefore one is effaced, while another shines forth.

so for this one is effacement, while this one shines.

وإذا الرَّحمنُ في حَضْرتهِ

وإذا الرَّحمنُ في حَضْرتهِ

خَطَّ خَطًّا فهوَ أمرٌ واثِقُ

خَطَّ خَطًّا فهوَ أمرٌ واثِقُ

And when the All-Merciful, in His presence,

And when the All-Merciful, in His presence,

traces a line, it is a decree made sure.

inscribes a line, it is a firm decree.

قُلْ لمنْ عارَضَهُ عن حَسَدٍ

قُلْ لمنْ عارَضَهُ عن حَسَدٍ

كيفَ تُظْمي من سَقاهُ الخالقُ

كيفَ تُظْمي من سَقاهُ الخالقُ

Say to whoever opposed Him out of envy:

Say to whoever opposed him out of envy:

How can one whom the Creator has given drink go blind?

“How can you make one whom the Creator has given drink go thirsty?”