1. Is there no death for the one longing from afar
Yearning for the day of return before it is due?

2. To meet loved ones again in this house
When he rises from the bed of rest

3. And comes upon springs in the wilderness, sated
By the watering of every hunter and freeman

4. And calls out on his day to the Intercessor of mankind
Tomorrow, my treasure, on the day all shall plead!

5. O my friend, my intercessor, my rescue,
My refuge, my defender, my pillar!

6. I came to bid farewell, for the time has come
For me to depart and prolong my isolation.

7. I complain of the weight of my sins upon my shoulders
And my travel from this lowly life with meager provision.

8. And I hope for your call, O noblest of mankind,
So I may attain this wish before I perish.

9. I fear not going astray outside of your shadow.
By my desire to attain this wish before I perish.

10. Rather it was my heedlessness, distraction and shortcoming
That turned me from what I knew was right guidance.

11. So I was deluded into evil, which is dire,
And I turned away from righteousness, which stands clear.

12. And I busied myself to my own detriment, so the time
For righteous action narrowed, and so did my guidance.

13. And I forgot what I had done, though it was
Recorded in the scrolls of witnessing.

14. And I grew stubborn, refusing to heed
The warner of old age, playing the fool.

15. My health has faded and I am free of occupation,
So together they have brought me to this fateful time.

16. I thought to make my way straight before the separation
Came, but how can the course be straightened now?

17. I have nothing left but to hope for God’s kindness
On the day I am returned, it is my only reliance.

18. And to await your intercession for my misdeeds,
God watches me closely for these wrongs!

19. My Lord’s forgiveness tomorrow and the status of my Prophet
Above my abundant sins – such is my belief!

20. Best of all people in nobility and best of all
In character, whether present or traveling afar

21. Chosen by God in the open country and summoner to Him,
Guide for His servants, the devoted worshipers.

22. Owner of miracles – among them speech to the savage beasts
Proclaiming belief openly and stones speaking aloud,

23. And the bursting of the earth under the throne
Of the Persian ruler the night of the birth.

24. And the damping of fires after they burned for a thousand
Pieces of evidence of their kindling.

25. And likewise, the sea dried so the water was declining
While around it the waters were intensifying.

26. And likewise the jinn turned back though they sought to hear,
Pelting the heavens with meteors.

27. And good tidings of him came in succession
Through the monks living in hills and valleys.

28. And likewise the Jewish scholars
And monks expressly mentioned him in every assembly.

29. And those fortunate among them continued in truth
While the wretched stubbornly persisted in their enmity.

30. Gabriel brought him revelation while alone
In the Cave of Hira in isolation.

31. He comprehended what was revealed and carried out
God’s command to people, guiding the devoted.

32. Summoning, guiding to God and to truth, removing
Idols and false gods and rivals.

33. And avoiding sins, tyranny, wrongdoing and burying
Baby girls alive and unbelief.

34. And being kind to them, keen for them, pardoning
The harm of enemies and adversaries.

35. So those who succeeded by the grace of early merit
From their Lord and the merit of struggle responded.

36. They came emigrating to him, emigrating from families, children.
Attaining through him every pinnacle of good,

37. Abandoning every wrong path and ruins.
Making fathers who opposed them an example

38. To please God even in harshest estrangement.
They adorned their religion with sacrificing themselves

39. For God with sharpened swords.
With him they established the pure faith,

40. With lofty pillars on the soundest foundation.
They divided their lives between utmost effort

41. And endless struggle night and day.
Far from the disgrace of passions, clad in piety,

42. Fleeting in pleasures but long in movement.
O Messenger of God, my love for you fills my heart

43. And my eyes yearn during the darkness of night.
My stratagem is not to distance myself through sins

44. For they make me fear separation.
Incapacity has taken me, and worse than it

45. Is my heedlessness of preparedness and my slumber.
How can I succeed while my heart is captive,

46. Bound with no liberator but guidance?
Perhaps a blast will take me to God

47. And my fetters and shackles will be torn.
Though I strayed bewildered by my shortcoming,

48. The Guiding Intercessor led me aright.
Peace be upon him – the fount of light in the garden

49. Has not ceased from the tears of the passionate!
Nor did he travel to the land of Mecca

50. Or sing the praises of beloved Tayba!