1. تذاكرنَ ذِكرى أو تهيج اللواعجا

    فعالجنَ أشجانا يكاثرن عالجا

    They recalled a memory, or stirred burning longings;

    And grappled with sorrows that rival ʿAlij’s sands in number—

  2. ركابا سرت بين العذيب وبارقٍ

    نواييج في تلك الشعاب نواعجا

    Riding-camels that traveled between al-ʿUdhayb and Bariq,

    Swift she-camels, striding quickly through those mountain passes.

  3. تيممن من وادي الأراك منازلاً

    فيطوين آلا في الأراك سَجاسجاً

    They made for stopping-places in Wadi al-Arak,

    And crossed the shimmering mirage in al-Arak’s temperate air.

  4. لهن من الأشواق حادٍ فإن ونتّ

    حداة يرجعن الحنين أهازجا

    Longing is their camel-driver; and if they falter,

    Drivers echo yearning in lilting chants.

  5. ألا بأبي تلك الركابُ إذا سرَت

    هواديَ يملأن الفلاةَ هوادجا

    Ah, may my father ransom those riding-camels when they travel,

    Leading the way, filling the wilderness with howdahs.

  6. تراهمْ سواماً من سراهم فأصبحوا

    رسوماً على تلك الرسوم عوالجا

    You see them as roaming herds after their night journey; by morning they are

    Toiling silhouettes upon those traces of old camps.

  7. لهم في مِنى أسنى المنى ولدى الصفا

    يرجون من أهل الصفاء المناهجا

    In Mina they have the loftiest hopes; and beside al-Safa,

    They seek paths from the people of purity.

  8. سما بهمُ طوفٌ بيتٍ مطامحٍ

    أراهم قباباً للعلا ومعارجا

    Circling the House of lofty aspirations raised them high,

    Showing them domes of eminence and stairways of ascent.

  9. فأبدوا من الصدْعاتِ ما كان كامناً

    وأذروا دموعاً بل قلوباً مناشجا

    So they exposed the wounds that had lain hidden,

    And scattered tears—nay, sobbing hearts.

  10. ولما دنوا نودوا هنياً وأقبلوا

    إلى الركن من كل الفجاج أدراجا

    When they drew near, they were hailed, 'Joy to you!' and approached

    The Corner from every mountain pass, step by step.

  11. وقضوا بتقبيل الجدار ولثمهِ

    حقوقاً تقضى للنفوس حوايجا

    By kissing the wall and pressing their lips to it, they fulfilled

    Obligations through which the souls’ needs are met.

  12. إذا اعتنقوا تلك المعالم خلتَهم

    أساورَ في إيمانها ودَمَالجا

    When they embrace those landmarks, you would think them

    Bracelets upon their right hands, and armlets.

  13. فلله ركبٌ يمموا نحو مكةٍ

    لقد كرموا قصداً وجلوا مناسجا

    To God belong those riders who headed toward Mecca;

    They were truly noble in purpose and lofty in stature.

  14. أناخوا بأرجاءِ الرجاءِ وعرسوا

    فأصبح كلٌ مايز القدح فالجا

    They knelt their camels at hope’s bounds and rested for the night,

    And by morning every chooser of a lot-arrow was a winner.

  15. فبشرى لهم كم خولوا من كرامةٍ

    فكانت لما قد قدموه نتائجا

    Glad tidings for them! How many honors they were granted,

    And those were fruits of what they had offered before.

  16. يفتحِّ باباً للقبول وللرضا

    ووفدهم أضحى على الباب والجا

    He opens a door to acceptance and approval,

    And their delegation now enters through that door.

  17. تميّز أهلُ السبقِِ لكن غيرَهم

    غدا همجاً بين الخليقة هامجا

    The forerunners stand apart, but those other than them

    Become a rabble, wandering aimlessly among creation.

  18. أيلحقُ جلس للبيوتِ مداهمُ

    ولم يحظ في تلك المدارج دارجا

    Can one who sits at home attain their reach,

    Without ever being fortunate enough to walk those paths?

  19. ألا ليت شعري للضرورة هل أرى

    إلى الله والبيت المحجّبِ خارجا

    Ah, would that I knew, in my need, whether I shall be seen

    Setting out toward God and the veiled House.

  20. له الله من ذي كربةٍ ليس يُرتَجى

    لمرتحلٍ يوماً سوى الله فارجا

    God help him, a man in anguish; none is hoped for

    As a traveler’s reliever of distress, ever, save God.

  21. قد أسهمت شتى المسالك دونه

    فلا نهَج يلقى فيه لله ناهجاً

    The varied paths have cast their lots before him;

    So on no path does he meet one journeying toward God.

  22. يخوض بحارَ الذنب ليس يهابها

    ويصعق ذعراً أن يرى البحر هائجاً

    He plunges into seas of sin, unafraid of them,

    Yet is struck senseless with terror at seeing the sea raging.

  23. جبانٌ إذا عنّ الهدى وإذا الهوى

    يعنّ له كان الجريء المهرجا

    A coward when guidance appears; but when desire

    Appears to him, he becomes the bold troublemaker.

  24. يتيه ضلالاً في غيابه همه

    فلا حجر يهديه لرشدٍ ولا حجا

    He wanders astray in the dark depths of his care;

    No judgment guides him to right conduct, nor reason.

  25. فواحرَبا لاحَ الصباحُ لمبصرٍ

    وقلبي لم يبصرْ سوى الليل إذ سحا

    Alas, my anguish! Dawn has shone for one who sees,

    But my heart has seen only the night as it settled.

  26. لعل شفيعي أن يكون معاجلا

    لداءٍ ذنوبٍ بالشفاء معالجا

    Perhaps my intercessor will act swiftly,

    Treating the sickness of sins with healing.

  27. فيُنشقنَي بيتُ الإله نوافجاً

    ويعبَق لي قبرُ النبي نوافجا

    So God’s House may let me breathe the fragrance of musk-pods,

    And the Prophet’s tomb be fragrant for me with musk-pods.

  28. فمالي لآمالي سوى حُبَّ أحمدٍ

    وصلت له من قرب قلبي وشايجا

    I have nothing for my hopes but love of Ahmad;

    I have bound ties to him through my heart’s closeness.

  29. عليه سلام الله من ذي صبابةٍ

    حليف شجا يكنى من البعد ناشجا

    Upon him be God’s peace, from one full of ardent longing,

    An ally of sorrow, called 'the Sobber' through separation.

  30. ولو أنصفت أجفانه حق وجده

    سفكنَ دماءٍ للدموع موازجا

    And if his eyelids gave his passion its due,

    They would pour out blood mingling with tears.