1. صلاة صلاة ليوم المعاد

    على أحمد المصطفى خير هاد

    Blessings, blessings for the Day of Return,

    upon Ahmad, the Chosen One, the finest guide.

  2. أيا سائقاً للمطايا وحاد

    إلى أهل مكة وشعب الجياد

    O driver of riding beasts and camel-chanter,

    to the people of Mecca and the ravine of al-Jiyad,

  3. وعرب ثور بعابل حور

    صفاه صفت نحو خير البلاد

    and the Arabs of Thawr, at ʿAbil Hur [reading unclear],

    its purity grew clear toward the finest lands.

  4. وأكرم عرب وربع صفا

    سقى اللَه عرب صوب العهاد

    And the noblest Arabs, and the quarter of Safa—

    may God water the Arabs with recurring downpours.

  5. فزمزم مطاياك وارفق بنا

    فبالشوق تعي تكاد تكاد

    So hum to your mounts and be gentle with us,

    for through longing you almost, almost understand.

  6. هي العامرية ليل البها

    وعين الوفا ثم وهي العماد

    She is the ʿAmiriyya, the night of splendor,

    and the fount of faithfulness; then she is the mainstay.

  7. فبشراي ان زرت ذاك الفنا

    وأدركت ونلت المراد

    How glad I would be if I visited that courtyard,

    and reached it and attained my desire.

  8. ولو أدنو لمحة مع ربي

    لشرب المدام ولثم سعاد

    And if only I might draw near for a moment, with my Lord,

    to drink the wine and kiss Suʿad.

  9. وبالخير عدت وأروى فتى

    بظبية عامر وشعب جياد

    And I returned with goodness, the most thirst-quenched youth,

    by the gazelle of ʿAmir and the ravine of Jiyad.

  10. وأيام مرت لنا بالحمى

    ليال وصال حسان جياد

    And days that passed for us in the sanctuary—

    nights of union, beautiful and fine.

  11. فكرر على سمعي ذكرهم

    فشوقي لهم مثل قدح الزناد

    Repeat their remembrance to my hearing,

    for my longing for them is like striking a fire-steel.

  12. وأتلو أحاديث ذكر البها

    على خاطري فهو يروي الفؤاد

    And I recite tales recalling splendor

    within my mind, for it quenches the heart.

  13. متيم بالصد هل نفحة

    فيا شعب عامر وشعب جياد

    Love-stricken by rejection—is there a breath of relief?

    O ravine of ʿAmir and ravine of Jiyad!

  14. هل توصلوا متيم مغرم

    نقي الهجر عنه لذيذ الرقاد

    Will you grant union to a lovesick, passionate lover,

    from whom estrangement has purged sweet slumber [reading unclear]?

  15. رعى اللَه وقتاً تقضى بهم

    وبالقرب فهم وكهل القياد

    May God cherish a time that passed with them,

    and in nearness, they—and a mature man at the reins [syntax unclear].

  16. متى وصلهم بل متى قربهم

    وحب جنت للبعد عند وخاد

    When will union with them come—rather, when their nearness?

    And love she gathered for separation, beside a swift traveler [syntax unclear].

  17. فيا سادتي أهل ودي ومن

    بهم أبلغ المبتغى والمراد

    O my masters, people of my affection, and those

    through whom I attain my aim and my desire,

  18. ويا من هم غياثي ثم ما

    تناسوا زمامي وعهد الوداد

    and O you who are my succor, and who have not

    neglected my reins and the covenant of affection:

  19. وسكنتم ورب السما مهجتي

    ومن مقلتي في محل السواد

    by the Lord of heaven, you have inhabited my heart,

    and my eye, where its blackness lies.

  20. إلهي سألت بخير الجزاء

    بأن يجزهم عنكم أجاد

    My God, I have asked for the finest recompense,

    that He reward them on your behalf—He has given generously.

  21. إذا فض فاه كمسك الختام

    عليكم سلام أحيبابي زاد

    When he opens his mouth, fragrant as sealing musk,

    peace upon you, my dear beloveds, ever increased.

  22. وجيران صفو ثووا سوحها

    وخلان عفو وحلم مفاد

    And neighbors of purity who dwelt in her precincts,

    and companions of pardon and bestowed forbearance.

  23. فيا كعبة القصد والمبتغى

    وحضرة رب كريم جواد

    O Kaaba, the aim and the desired goal,

    and presence of a noble, generous Lord!

  24. إذا ما تجلت وان أسفرت

    تفوقٍ البدور بوصف اجاد

    When she reveals herself, and when she shines forth,

    she surpasses the full moons in an exquisite description.

  25. فيا عاذلي هذه عزة

    يشرف قدري هواها التلاد

    O my reproacher, this is ʿAzza;

    my long-established love for her ennobles my standing.

  26. ويا لائمي هذه حبها

    يرقى مقامي لاعلا سداد

    And O my blamer, love for this woman

    raises my station to the highest rectitude.

  27. وبين المحبين شوقي لها

    مشاع ليس له من نفاد

    Among lovers, my longing for her

    is shared openly and has no end.

  28. فكم للمحبين ليلى بدت

    بوجه لها ونالوا المداد

    How often Layla appeared to lovers

    with a face of hers, and they received aid.

  29. تجلت لمن طاف في حسنها

    بديع لأنواع فضلا افاد

    She revealed herself to whoever circled within her beauty—

    wondrous, bestowing grace of many kinds.

  30. تجلت لكل القلوب التي

    ترقت وتلك البصائر عداد

    She revealed herself to all the hearts that

    rose higher, and those inward eyes, in their number.

  31. ترى في دارها الحمي ساكناً

    وثاو ديار حقون جياد

    You see someone dwelling in her house, the sanctuary,

    and one abiding in the dwellings of Haqun Jiyad [reading unclear].

  32. فهل لنا بالقرب منها وهل

    أيا غصن أوقاتنا من عواد

    Shall we be near her; and shall—

    O branch—our times ever return?

  33. تجافى جنةبي عن مضجعي

    إلى أن جفاني محل الرقاد

    My side drew away from my bed,

    until the place of slumber shunned me.

  34. ومسك حديث دواما معي

    يضوع إذا ما لزمت السواد

    And the musk of a tale is always with me,

    wafting whenever I cling to the darkness.

  35. فيا آل تلك تروا عودة

    إلى ذلك الربع ثم البلاد

    O people of that place, do you see a return

    to that quarter, then to those lands,

  36. لكيما أشاهد منها الذي

    أروم ويطف لهيب حداد

    so that I may behold from her what

    I desire, and may the blaze of mourning be quenched?

  37. مطهرة طهر اللَه ذي

    خصال لها من قديم أراد

    Purified: God purified this one,

    with qualities He willed for her from ancient times.

  38. كعوب تري غادة حرة

    حوى خير وصف بها الحسن زاد

    Full-bosomed: you see a freeborn, graceful maiden,

    beauty embraced the finest description and increased in her.

  39. على كل داع بها طائف

    تجلت بنور اذا الليل هاد

    To every supplicant there, circling her,

    she revealed herself in light when the night grew still.

  40. وان لها حجراً أسود

    كأنه الخال بخد سعاد

    And she has a Black Stone,

    like the beauty mark on Suʿad's cheek.

  41. فكم عابد تلقه في ذوي

    خشوع ونسك لرب العباد

    How many a worshipper you find among those possessing

    humility and devotion to the Lord of all servants!

  42. وكم منها فيض وامدادها

    وكم منها خير لخاضع مقاد

    And how much outpouring comes from her, and her aid!

    And how much good comes from her to a submissive, obedient soul!

  43. وكم عارف قد تعالى بها

    فخاراً كمالا وفخراً وساد

    And how many a gnostic has risen through her

    in glory, perfection, and honor, and become a master!

  44. وكم طائف بالبيت من طائف

    فمهما تمنى وفاد وساد

    And how many a circler of the House among the circlers!

    So whatever he wished, he journeyed and prevailed.

  45. لهيف الفؤاد وصاح بها

    اذا الليل جن به الشوق زاد

    Yearning of heart, he cried out there;

    when night enveloped him, his longing increased.

  46. وكم من جميل لدى ركنها

    من الخير ليس له من نفاد

    And how much beauty is beside her corner,

    goodness that never comes to an end!

  47. وكم ساجد راكع قائم

    أطار الكرى عنه ألف سهاد

    And how many prostrate, bowing, standing worshippers—

    a thousand sleepless nights drove drowsiness from him.

  48. وسر بجوف لها ملتزم

    حوى ما حوى من خصال فراد

    And a secret within her—the Multazam—

    contained all it contained of matchless qualities.

  49. وميزاب فيض الدعا مستجاب

    وزمزم ثم الحطيم النجاد

    And a waterspout of bounty, where supplication is answered,

    and Zamzam, then the Hatim, the heights.

  50. وكم واقد جاءه يبتغي

    رجاه ففاز بقصد وعاد

    And how many a burning soul came to it, seeking

    his hope, won his purpose, and returned.

  51. فكيف أزور وذا حيثما

    ينام الرقيب وواش العباد

    So how may I visit—and that, wherever

    the watcher and the servants' tale-bearer sleep?

  52. فانكر اذ ما أتاك فتى

    محب ينال الهدي والرشاد

    Then deny it whenever a young man comes to you,

    a lover attaining guidance and right conduct.

  53. له يبتغي زمرا زمزما

    ومن كل فج عميق السواد

    For him, he seeks Zamzam in throngs [syntax unclear],

    and from every deep pass in the darkness,

  54. يؤمونه من مكان بعيد

    لدرك مناه ونيل المراد

    they make for it from a distant place,

    to attain his wishes and gain the desired goal.

  55. يؤوبون بالقصر ثم المنى

    ويمضون في كل شعب وواد

    They return with the palace, then their wishes [reading unclear],

    and go onward through every ravine and valley.

  56. بها الرسل تأبى وكل فتى

    أغر حقيق وصافي الوداد

    There the messengers refuse [reading unclear], and every youth

    radiant, worthy, and pure in affection.

  57. فيا صاح ان كنت تبغي الهدى

    تمسك بحبل التقى خير زاد

    O friend, if you seek guidance,

    hold fast to the cord of piety, the finest provision.

  58. توسلت بالمصطفى أحمد

    شفيع الورى ذاك يوم التناد

    I made my plea through the Chosen One, Ahmad,

    intercessor for creation on that Day of Mutual Calling.

  59. رجوت شفاعته يوم ما

    اذا الناس تأنى فرادى فراد

    I hoped for his intercession on the day when

    people proceed slowly, singly, singly.

  60. بكيت بدمع غزير على

    ليال تفيض بغير سداد

    I wept copious tears over

    nights overflowing without uprightness.

  61. فإن جاء مثلي بقلب له

    منيب جلى ما به من سواد

    So if someone like me comes with a heart of his,

    repentant, he clears away whatever darkness it holds.

  62. به طيبة طاب ارجاؤها

    كمسك وترب يداوي الفؤاد

    Through him, Tayba's far reaches grew sweet,

    like musk, and its earth heals the heart.

  63. صفيٌّ وفيٌّ أبرٌّ على

    نداه يحاكي لسح عواد

    A chosen friend, faithful, most virtuous in

    his generosity, which rivals the downpour of recurring rains.

  64. هو الفائق المنتقى ذكره

    جلاء هو الغيث في كل واد

    He is the peerless, the elect; remembrance of him

    is purification; he is rain in every valley.

  65. فلى هاشم منحة منة

    وكم جاد مني بفضل وعاد

    So I, Hashim, have a gift, a favor,

    and how often he gave generously from me, with bounty, and returned [syntax unclear],

  66. من الأمجد المصطفى المنتقى

    نبي هدانا سبيل الرشاد

    from the most glorious, the Chosen One, the elect,

    a prophet who guided us along the path of right conduct.

  67. هو العروة الوثقى طه الذي

    بحشر شفيع ومنجى العباد

    He is the firmest handhold, Taha, who

    at the gathering is an intercessor and deliverer of the servants.

  68. له الحوض والكوثر المبتغى

    ورود ومحمود شرب العباد

    His are the Basin and al-Kawthar, sought for

    approach; the servants' drinking is praised.

  69. وقد خصه اللَه قدما بما

    يفوق وما ليس يعطى أراد

    Long ago, God singled him out with what

    surpasses all, and what is not bestowed, as He willed.

  70. صلاة صلاة على من علا

    إلى العرض يوم يناد المناد

    Blessings, blessings upon him who ascended

    to the Presentation, on the day the caller calls.

  71. شفيع ومنج لنا شافع

    مجير ومصلح عنا الفساد

    An intercessor, a deliverer, an advocate for us,

    a protector and one who remedies corruption for us.

  72. متى ما المربد لهم قد بدا

    نظاماً كدربكم فهو شاد

    Whenever the enclosure appeared to them [reading unclear],

    in ordered verse, like your path, he is a singer [syntax unclear].

  73. وآل وصحب همو سادتي

    وسمت النجاة وحزب الرشاد

    And his family and companions are my masters,

    the path of salvation and the company of right guidance.

  74. متى قال صب وزمزم وحاد

    وساق المطايا بظعن وحاد

    Whenever a lovesick lover speaks, hums, and chants,

    and drives the mounts in departure, chanting,

  75. وبرق بدالي نواحي سعاد

    يؤرق جسمي وينفي السهاد

    and lightning appeared to me in the regions of Suʿad,

    it keeps my body awake and banishes sleeplessness.