شمسٌ تسير مشارقاً ومغاربا

شمسٌ تسير مشارقاً ومغاربا

وتبُثُّ منها في الوجود غرائبا

وتبُثُّ منها في الوجود غرائبا

A sun journeys through the lands of east and west,

A sun travels eastward and westward,

scattering from itself wonders throughout existence.

And spreads from herself wonders throughout existence.

مُلئت بها الأبصار نوراً فاهتدى

مُلئت بها الأبصار نوراً فاهتدى

بسنائها مَن كان فيها راغبا

بسنائها مَن كان فيها راغبا

Eyes were filled by it with light, and were guided

Through her, eyes were filled with light; guidance came

by its radiance—whoever yearned for it.

By her radiance to whoever longed for her.

كستِ الأنامَ من الأمان جلاببا

كستِ الأنامَ من الأمان جلاببا

ومواهباً ومناقباً وعجائبا

ومواهباً ومناقباً وعجائبا

It clothed humankind in robes of safety,

She clothed humankind in robes of safety,

and in gifts, virtues, and wonders.

And in gifts, virtues, and wonders.

حلَّت بُروجَ السعد حتى أثَّرت

حلَّت بُروجَ السعد حتى أثَّرت

من دورِها في الكائنات مطالبا

من دورِها في الكائنات مطالبا

It alighted in fortune’s constellations until it awakened,

She entered the mansions of good fortune, until she influenced

through its revolutions, aspirations among created beings.

Through her orbit, the desires of created things.

تأثيرها في كل برجٍ ظاهرٌ

تأثيرها في كل برجٍ ظاهرٌ

وبكل برجٍ كان فيها آئبا

وبكل برجٍ كان فيها آئبا

Its influence appears in every constellation,

Her influence in every mansion is manifest,

and in every constellation it was forever returning.

And in every mansion that returned within her.

وحلولُها في قلب برجٍ واحدٍ

وحلولُها في قلب برجٍ واحدٍ

فلكٌ يسوق لها البروجَ جَنائبا

فلكٌ يسوق لها البروجَ جَنائبا

Yet it made its dwelling in the heart of one constellation alone,

And her dwelling in the heart of a single mansion

while an orbit drove the constellations around it like noble steeds.

Is a sphere leading the mansions to her as riderless mounts.

فاللَهُ شمسٌ حل في اثني عشرةٍ

فاللَهُ شمسٌ حل في اثني عشرةٍ

من رسله ملأوا الأنامَ رغائبا

من رسله ملأوا الأنامَ رغائبا

For God is a sun who dwelt among twelve

For God is a sun who dwelt in twelve

of His messengers, who filled humankind with long-desired gifts.

Of his apostles, who filled humankind with bounties.

كانوا به الأبراج في أحكامها

كانوا به الأبراج في أحكامها

كلٌّ له فعلٌ أتاه طالبا

كلٌّ له فعلٌ أتاه طالبا

Through Him they became constellations in their astrological influences;

Through him they were the mansions, with their decrees;

each had a deed he came eagerly to perform.

Each has a deed he performed as a seeker.

يعقوب زَبْدِي ذاق من هيرودُسٍ

يعقوب زَبْدِي ذاق من هيرودُسٍ

بالسيف في صهيونَ موتاً قاضبا

بالسيف في صهيونَ موتاً قاضبا

James, son of Zebedee, tasted at Herod’s hands

James of Zebedee tasted, at Herod's hands,

death by the sword in Zion—a cutting death.

A severing death by the sword in Zion.

قد صار مغناطيسهم فتحركوا

قد صار مغناطيسهم فتحركوا

منه به إذ كان فيهم جاذبا

منه به إذ كان فيهم جاذبا

He became their magnet, and so they were set in motion,

He became their magnet, so they moved

from Him and through Him, for He was among them, drawing them.

From him, through him, for he was an attracting force among them.

قد قام بطرسُ في الكنيسة ريِّساً

قد قام بطرسُ في الكنيسة ريِّساً

مذ مات مصلوباً بروما غالبا

مذ مات مصلوباً بروما غالبا

Peter rose as head of the Church

Peter stood as chief within the Church

after dying crucified in Rome, triumphant.

Since he died crucified in Rome, triumphant.

هذا اندراوسُ ذاق صلباً ذاوياً

هذا اندراوسُ ذاق صلباً ذاوياً

إذ سلَّمَ الأتراك ديناً صائبا

إذ سلَّمَ الأتراك ديناً صائبا

This Andrew tasted a withering cross

Here is Andrew, who tasted withering crucifixion,

when he entrusted the Turks with a true faith.

When he gave the Turks a true religion.

وكذاك يوحنَّا بأَفسُسَ إذ بها

وكذاك يوحنَّا بأَفسُسَ إذ بها

كان البشير ومات موتاً غائبا

كان البشير ومات موتاً غائبا

Likewise John in Ephesus, when there

And likewise John at Ephesus, for there

he was the Evangelist and died an unseen death.

He was the evangelist and died an unseen death.

قد مات توما الهندِ مسلوخاً بها

قد مات توما الهندِ مسلوخاً بها

إذ بشَّر الكفارَ كان الغالبا

إذ بشَّر الكفارَ كان الغالبا

Thomas died in India, flayed there,

Thomas of India died there, flayed,

when he preached to the unbelievers, yet remained victorious.

When he preached to the unbelievers, he was the victor.

يعقوب حَلْفا مات فوق صليبه

يعقوب حَلْفا مات فوق صليبه

ما كان في بُشراه يوماً كاذبا

ما كان في بُشراه يوماً كاذبا

James, son of Alphaeus, died upon his cross,

James of Alphaeus died upon his cross;

never false for a day to the gospel he proclaimed.

He was never false in his glad tidings.

فِيلِبُّس المنصورُ مات معلَّقاً

فِيلِبُّس المنصورُ مات معلَّقاً

وقضى بآسيّا قضاءً واجبا

وقضى بآسيّا قضاءً واجبا

Philip the Victorious died suspended,

Philip, granted victory, died hanging,

and in Asia met the fate ordained.

And in Asia met his inevitable end.

طوبى لِبَرْتُلْماوُسٍ في الهند إذ

طوبى لِبَرْتُلْماوُسٍ في الهند إذ

ذاق الصليب مبشِّراً ومحاربا

ذاق الصليب مبشِّراً ومحاربا

Blessed was Bartholomew in India when

Blessed is Bartholomew in India, when

he tasted the cross, preaching and contending.

He tasted the cross as preacher and fighter.

متَّى البشير مبشِّرٌ في فارسٍ

متَّى البشير مبشِّرٌ في فارسٍ

والنار قد مطرت عليه مصائبا

والنار قد مطرت عليه مصائبا

Matthew the Evangelist preached in Persia,

Matthew the evangelist is a preacher in Persia,

while fire rained afflictions upon him.

And fire has rained calamities upon him.

سِمعانُ ذاك القانويُّ مبشِّرٌ

سِمعانُ ذاك القانويُّ مبشِّرٌ

في الزِّنجِ مصلوباً فأمسى كاسِبا

في الزِّنجِ مصلوباً فأمسى كاسِبا

Simon the Canaanite preached

That Simon the Cananaean is a preacher

among the Zanj, was crucified, and thus won his prize.

Among the Zanj; crucified, he became a victor.

هذا يهوذا بشَّر السريانَ في

هذا يهوذا بشَّر السريانَ في

يومٍ رماه الموتُ سهماً صائبا

يومٍ رماه الموتُ سهماً صائبا

This was Judas, who preached to the Syrians, until

This Jude preached to the Syriac people on

one day death struck him with an unerring arrow.

A day when death shot him with an unerring arrow.

قد مات مَتِيَّا من الحَبَشِ الأُلى

قد مات مَتِيَّا من الحَبَشِ الأُلى

أعطاهمُ الإيمانَ موتاً خالبا

أعطاهمُ الإيمانَ موتاً خالبا

Matthias died among the Abyssinians of old,

Matthias died at the hands of the Abyssinians, whom

bestowing faith upon them through a captivating death.

He had given the faith—a death that snatched him away.

هذا جهادُ أُولي البشارة والتقى

هذا جهادُ أُولي البشارة والتقى

ملأوا النفوسَ من الحياة مواهبا

ملأوا النفوسَ من الحياة مواهبا

Such was the striving of the bearers of glad tidings and piety:

This is the struggle of those bearing glad tidings and piety;

they filled souls with the gifts of life.

They filled souls with gifts of life.

وجرى بهم ماءُ الحياة إلى الورى

وجرى بهم ماءُ الحياة إلى الورى

ما مات حيٌّ كان منهم شاربا

ما مات حيٌّ كان منهم شاربا

Through them the water of life flowed to humankind;

Through them the water of life flowed to humankind;

no living soul that drank from them ever died.

No living soul who drank from them has died.

جعلوا الإله نعيمَنا في ملكه

جعلوا الإله نعيمَنا في ملكه

ليس النعيم مآكلاً ومشاربا

ليس النعيم مآكلاً ومشاربا

They made God our bliss within His kingdom—

They made God our bliss in his kingdom;

bliss is neither food nor drink,

Bliss is not food and drink,

نفساً منزَّهةً وجسماً خارقاً

نفساً منزَّهةً وجسماً خارقاً

تسري لطافته وعقلاً ثاقبا

تسري لطافته وعقلاً ثاقبا

but a purified soul and a body transcending nature,

But a purified soul, an extraordinary body,

whose subtle essence flows, and an incisive mind.

Whose subtle nature flows, and a penetrating mind.

ركبوا جيادَ بِشارة الإيمان في

ركبوا جيادَ بِشارة الإيمان في

أرض الأنام مشارقاً ومغاربا

أرض الأنام مشارقاً ومغاربا

They mounted the steeds of the gospel of faith across

They mounted the steeds of faith's glad tidings in

the lands of humankind, east and west.

The land of humankind, eastward and westward.

لبِسوا الإلهَ بروح قدسٍ فانثنوا

لبِسوا الإلهَ بروح قدسٍ فانثنوا

متدجِّجين به قَناً وقواضبا

متدجِّجين به قَناً وقواضبا

They clothed themselves in God through a Holy Spirit, then turned again,

They clothed themselves in God through the Holy Spirit, and returned

armed in Him with lances and cutting swords.

Fully armed in him with spears and cutting swords.

صالوا وجالوا بطنَ كلِّ تنوفةٍ

صالوا وجالوا بطنَ كلِّ تنوفةٍ

يضحي بها الخِرِّيتُ غِمْراً نادبا

يضحي بها الخِرِّيتُ غِمْراً نادبا

They charged and ranged through the heart of every wilderness,

They charged and ranged through the heart of every wilderness

where the seasoned guide becomes a bewildered novice, lamenting.

Where the expert guide becomes a novice, lamenting.

فتقلدوا الروح القويَّ صوارماً

فتقلدوا الروح القويَّ صوارماً

وتدرَّعوا الأيدَ العليَّ مَلائبا

وتدرَّعوا الأيدَ العليَّ مَلائبا

They girded on the mighty Spirit as swords,

So they girded themselves with the mighty Spirit as swords,

and donned sublime strength as coats of mail.

And donned exalted might as coats of mail.

صدموا ملوكَ الأرض صدمةَ ثائرٍ

صدموا ملوكَ الأرض صدمةَ ثائرٍ

تركوا بها المثؤورَ شخصاً ذائبا

تركوا بها المثؤورَ شخصاً ذائبا

They struck the kings of earth with an avenger’s blow,

They struck the kings of earth with an avenger's blow;

leaving the inherited order staring aghast and melting away.

With it they left the target of vengeance a melting figure.

وسطوا ببأس ثلَّ ركنَ جهنمٍ

وسطوا ببأس ثلَّ ركنَ جهنمٍ

حتى غدا المنهوب فيهم ناهبا

حتى غدا المنهوب فيهم ناهبا

They assailed with might that toppled Hell’s pillar,

And they assailed with a might that shattered Hell's pillar,

until the one plundered among them became a plunderer.

Until, among them, the plundered became the plunderer.

صاحوا بأوثان الورى فتساقطت

صاحوا بأوثان الورى فتساقطت

واستأصلوا الدين الغشومَ الكاذبا

واستأصلوا الدين الغشومَ الكاذبا

They cried out against humankind’s idols, and down they fell;

They shouted at humankind's idols, and they fell,

they uprooted the oppressive, lying creed.

And uprooted the tyrannical, false religion.

برزوا ينادون الصفوفَ وحولَهم

برزوا ينادون الصفوفَ وحولَهم

من كل باغٍ زادَ كفراً عاصبا

من كل باغٍ زادَ كفراً عاصبا

They came forth calling the ranks to combat, while about them stood

They came forth calling to the ranks, surrounded

every aggressor, made fiercer by unbelief and mustered for war.

By every aggressor, grown in unbelief and massing in bands.

لبَّيكِ يا ثاراتِ آدمَ جدِّنا

لبَّيكِ يا ثاراتِ آدمَ جدِّنا

بنفوسنا نفدي الأسير التائبا

بنفوسنا نفدي الأسير التائبا

At your call, O vengeance for Adam, our forefather!

At your service, O vengeance for Adam, our forefather!

With our own souls we ransom the repentant captive.

With our souls we ransom the repentant captive.

قد عسكرت تلك العزائم عسكراً

قد عسكرت تلك العزائم عسكراً

وتكتَّبت رسلُ الإله كتائبا

وتكتَّبت رسلُ الإله كتائبا

Those resolves encamped as a mighty army,

Those resolves mustered as an army,

and God’s messengers arrayed themselves as battalions.

And God's apostles formed themselves into battalions.

فاندقَّ طودُ الكفر مندكّاً وقد

فاندقَّ طودُ الكفر مندكّاً وقد

فرَّ اللعينُ به فولَّى هاربا

فرَّ اللعينُ به فولَّى هاربا

Then unbelief’s towering mountain was pounded to dust—and indeed

Then unbelief's mountain was crushed, laid flat, and

the accursed one fled with it and turned away in flight.

The accursed one fled at this, turning away in flight.

مذ فَوَّقَت سهمَ العنادِ جنودُه

مذ فَوَّقَت سهمَ العنادِ جنودُه

رجمَتهمُ تلك البروجُ كواكبا

رجمَتهمُ تلك البروجُ كواكبا

When his troops had nocked the arrow of defiance,

When his armies nocked the arrow of defiance,

those constellations pelted them with stars.

Those mansions pelted them with stars.

فهمُ الصراطُ وما عداهم مهلكٌ

فهمُ الصراطُ وما عداهم مهلكٌ

يا سائرين مَهامِهاً وسَباسِبا

يا سائرين مَهامِهاً وسَباسِبا

They are the Path, and whatever lies apart from them leads to ruin—

For they are the path, and all beyond them is ruinous,

O travelers through its trackless deserts and wastes!

O you who travel trackless deserts and broad plains!

وهم الأمانُ وما عداهم خدعةٌ

وهم الأمانُ وما عداهم خدعةٌ

يا رائمين سلامةً وعواقبا

يا رائمين سلامةً وعواقبا

They are safety, and whatever lies apart from them is deception—

And they are safety, and all beyond them is deception,

O seekers of deliverance and final ends!

O you who seek safety and good outcomes!

وهم الحقيقُ وما عداهم بِدعةٌ

وهم الحقيقُ وما عداهم بِدعةٌ

يا طالبين أمانةً ومذاهبا

يا طالبين أمانةً ومذاهبا

They are the Truth, and whatever lies apart from them is innovation—

And they are the truth, and all beyond them is heresy,

O seekers of fidelity and paths!

O you who seek faith and doctrines!

وهم البحور تُفيضُ من تيّارها

وهم البحور تُفيضُ من تيّارها

للعالمين جواهراً وسحائبا

للعالمين جواهراً وسحائبا

They are oceans overflowing from their currents,

And they are the seas, pouring from their current

bearing jewels and clouds for all the worlds.

For the worlds, jewels and clouds.

وهم البدور تنير من أبراجها

وهم البدور تنير من أبراجها

في جنح ليل الكفر نوراً ثاقبا

في جنح ليل الكفر نوراً ثاقبا

They are full moons shedding light from their constellations,

And they are the full moons, shining from their mansions

a piercing radiance in unbelief’s dark night.

In the gloom of unbelief's night with piercing light.

شادوا وسادوا في الأنام فمنهمُ

شادوا وسادوا في الأنام فمنهمُ

ساد الملوكَ وآخرون مناقبا

ساد الملوكَ وآخرون مناقبا

They built high and held sway among humankind; among them

They built and ruled among humankind; among them

some ruled over kings, while others held mastery in virtues.

Some ruled over kings, while others excelled in virtues.

فتأرجت من ذكرهم أرجاؤُنا

فتأرجت من ذكرهم أرجاؤُنا

فكأن كلّاً كان مريم صاحبا

فكأن كلّاً كان مريم صاحبا

Our horizons grew fragrant with their remembrance,

So our surroundings grew fragrant at their mention,

as though each one had Mary as a companion—

So each seemed to have been a companion of Mary,

تلك التي بَرَزَ الإلهُ مُجدِّداً

تلك التي بَرَزَ الإلهُ مُجدِّداً

بوجودها هذا الوجودَ الذاهبا

بوجودها هذا الوجودَ الذاهبا

she through whom God appeared, renewing

She through whom God appeared, renewing

through her existence this vanishing world.

Through her being, this passing world.

قُم سل تَنل فُه قِه تَسُد جُد زِد تُصَن

قُم سل تَنل فُه قِه تَسُد جُد زِد تُصَن

عِه لِهْ تَعُد رُم سُم تُعَن عُد تائبا

عِه لِهْ تَعُد رُم سُم تُعَن عُد تائبا

Rise; ask, and you shall attain; utter it, guard it; rule, be generous, increase—and be preserved.

Rise, ask—you will receive; speak, guard—you will rule; be generous, increase—you will be protected.

Heed it, attend to it; promise, aspire, rise, be aided—then return repentant.

Take heed, follow—you will return; seek, request—you will be helped; return repentant.

لَبِّ التي نادت فكان يُجيبها

لَبِّ التي نادت فكان يُجيبها

في الضيق عبداً قد أتاها طالبا

في الضيق عبداً قد أتاها طالبا

She who called had answered the call, and answering her was—

Answer her who called; the one who answered her

in distress—a servant who had come to her seeking.

In distress was a servant who had come to her seeking.

لبَّيكِ مريمُ والزمانُ محاربي

لبَّيكِ مريمُ والزمانُ محاربي

مُلِئ الزمان تحارُباً وتجاربا

مُلِئ الزمان تحارُباً وتجاربا

At your service, Mary, while time wages war against me,

At your service, Mary, while time wages war on me;

for time is filled with warfare and trials.

Time is filled with warfare and trials.

لبيك مريم والزمانُ مخيِّبي

لبيك مريم والزمانُ مخيِّبي

لا رُدَّ كفٌّ من عطاك خائبا

لا رُدَّ كفٌّ من عطاك خائبا

At your service, Mary, while time thwarts me;

At your service, Mary, while time disappoints me;

do not send my hand back disappointed from your bounty.

May no hand be sent away disappointed from your bounty.

لبيك مريم والزمانُ مُعاتبي

لبيك مريم والزمانُ مُعاتبي

بُعداً لدهرٍ كان فيك معاتبا

بُعداً لدهرٍ كان فيك معاتبا

At your service, Mary, while time reproaches me;

At your service, Mary, while time reproaches me;

away with an age that reproached me concerning you.

Away with an age that reproached me over you!

لبيك يا من لا مَردَّ لأمرها

لبيك يا من لا مَردَّ لأمرها

يوماً ولا فيما تراهُ حاجبا

يوماً ولا فيما تراهُ حاجبا

At your service, O you whose command can never be gainsaid,

At your service, O you whose command cannot be resisted

ever, nor is any veil drawn over what you see.

Ever, nor any barrier to what you see fit.

إني عنِ استيفاءِ مدحِك قاصرٌ

إني عنِ استيفاءِ مدحِك قاصرٌ

لا تُلزميني في الثناء الواجبا

لا تُلزميني في الثناء الواجبا

I fall short of rendering your praise in full;

I fall short of rendering your praise in full;

do not bind me to the praise that is your due.

Do not demand of me what is owed in praise.