أرقتُ وقلبي عنك ليسَ يُفيقُ

أرقتُ وقلبي عنك ليسَ يُفيقُ

وأسعدتَ أعدائي وأنتَ صديقُ

وأسعدتَ أعدائي وأنتَ صديقُ

Sleepless I lie, and my heart cannot recover from you;

I lay sleepless, and my heart cannot recover from you;

you have made my enemies rejoice, though you are a friend.

And you have gladdened my enemies, though you are a friend.

وصدَّ الخيالُ الواصلي منكَ في الكرى

وصدَّ الخيالُ الواصلي منكَ في الكرى

بصدِّكَ عنِّي فالفؤادُ مَشوقُ

بصدِّكَ عنِّي فالفؤادُ مَشوقُ

The dream-visitant that came from you in sleep has been turned away

And your dream-image, once my visitor in sleep, turned away,

by your turning from me; and so the heart remains full of longing.

Because you shunned me; so my heart is filled with longing.

تَعلَّمَ منكَ الهجرَ لما هجَرْتَهُ

تَعلَّمَ منكَ الهجرَ لما هجَرْتَهُ

فليس له في مُقلتيَّ طريقُ

فليس له في مُقلتيَّ طريقُ

I learned estrangement from you when I forsook sleep;

It learned abandonment from you when you abandoned it,

and now sleep has no path into my eyes.

So it has no path into my eyes.

وتَأبَى عليَّ الصَّبرَ نفسٌ كئيبةٌ

وتَأبَى عليَّ الصَّبرَ نفسٌ كئيبةٌ

وقلبٌ بأصنافِ الهمومِ رفيقُ

وقلبٌ بأصنافِ الهمومِ رفيقُ

A sorrowing soul denies me patience,

And a sorrowful soul denies me patience,

and a heart keeps company with every kind of care.

And a heart companion to sorrows of every kind.

سُهادٌ ودمعٌ بالهمومِ تَوكَّلا

سُهادٌ ودمعٌ بالهمومِ تَوكَّلا

فذا مُوثَقٌ فيها وذاكَ طليقُ

فذا مُوثَقٌ فيها وذاكَ طليقُ

Sleeplessness and tears together undertook my cares:

Sleeplessness and tears have taken charge of my sorrows;

the one lies pent within them, while the other runs free.

So this one is bound within them, and that one is free.

رَشاً لو رآهُ البدرُ يُشرقُ وجهُهُ

رَشاً لو رآهُ البدرُ يُشرقُ وجهُهُ

لأظلمَ وجهُ البدرِ وهو شَريقُ

لأظلمَ وجهُ البدرِ وهو شَريقُ

A gazelle-like youth—if the full moon saw his radiant face,

A fawn: were the full moon to see his face aglow,

his face would surely eclipse the moon, radiant though it was.

The full moon's face would darken, radiant though it is.

دقيقُ فرندِ الحُسنِ أمَّا وشاحُهُ

دقيقُ فرندِ الحُسنِ أمَّا وشاحُهُ

فيَهْفو وأما حِجلُهُ فيضيقُ

فيَهْفو وأما حِجلُهُ فيضيقُ

Fine is the watered-steel pattern of his beauty; as for his sash,

Delicate in beauty's patterned sheen—as for his sash,

it flutters loose, while his anklet grows tight.

It flutters loose, while his anklet fits tight.

يغضُّ زمانَ الوصلِ لمّا تطلَّعتْ

يغضُّ زمانَ الوصلِ لمّا تطلَّعتْ

لوامعُ في رأسي لهنَّ بريقُ

لوامعُ في رأسي لهنَّ بريقُ

The season of union lowered its gaze when there appeared

He curtails the time of union, now that there have appeared

gleaming white hairs upon my head, flashing.

Gleams upon my head, with a radiance of their own.

سلامٌ على عهدِ الشبابِ الَّذي مضَى

سلامٌ على عهدِ الشبابِ الَّذي مضَى

إذ العيشُ غضٌّ والزمانُ أنيقُ

إذ العيشُ غضٌّ والزمانُ أنيقُ

Farewell to the days of youth now gone,

Peace upon the time of youth that has passed,

when life was fresh and time itself was fair;

When life was fresh and time was lovely.

وإذْ لبناتِ الخِدْرِ نحوي تطلُّعٌ

وإذْ لبناتِ الخِدْرِ نحوي تطلُّعٌ

كما لمعتْ بينَ الغمامِ بروقُ

كما لمعتْ بينَ الغمامِ بروقُ

when the daughters of curtained chambers gazed toward me,

And when the maidens of the inner chamber cast eager looks toward me,

like lightning flashing among the clouds;

Like lightning flashes gleaming amid the clouds.

عطابيلُ كالآرام أمّا وجوهُها

عطابيلُ كالآرام أمّا وجوهُها

فدُرٌّ ولكنَّ الخدودَ عَقيقُ

فدُرٌّ ولكنَّ الخدودَ عَقيقُ

full-bodied beauties like white gazelles—as for their faces,

Long-necked beauties like gazelles—as for their faces,

they were pearls, while their cheeks were carnelian.

They are pearls, but their cheeks are carnelian.

سَفَرْنَ قناعَ الحُسنِ عنها فأَشرقتْ

سَفَرْنَ قناعَ الحُسنِ عنها فأَشرقتْ

مصابيحُ أبوابِ السماءِ تَروقُ

مصابيحُ أبوابِ السماءِ تَروقُ

They lifted beauty's veil from themselves and shone forth,

They drew back beauty's veil from their faces, and there shone

lamps at heaven's gates, enchanting the eye.

Lamps of heaven's gates, delighting the eye.

أشِبْهَ نعاجِ الرَّملِ هل من بقيَّةٍ

أشِبْهَ نعاجِ الرَّملِ هل من بقيَّةٍ

ولو سببٌ من وصلكنَّ دَقيقُ

ولو سببٌ من وصلكنَّ دَقيقُ

They resembled oryx-cows of the dunes—is any remnant left,

O you like the does of the sands, is anything left,

even a slender cord of union with you?

Even a slender cord of union with you?

لقد بَتَّ حبلَ الوصلِ وهو وثيقُ

لقد بَتَّ حبلَ الوصلِ وهو وثيقُ

حُسامٌ منَ الهِجْرانِ ليسَ يَليقُ

حُسامٌ منَ الهِجْرانِ ليسَ يَليقُ

They severed the bond of union, firm though it was,

Indeed, the cord of union was severed, strong though it was,

with a sword of estrangement that ill befitted them.

By a sword of estrangement that spares nothing.

فلا نَيْلَ إلا أنْ أخالسَ لحظةً

فلا نَيْلَ إلا أنْ أخالسَ لحظةً

ولا وصلَ إلا أن ينمَّ شَهيقُ

ولا وصلَ إلا أن ينمَّ شَهيقُ

There is no attainment save that I steal a glance,

So I gain nothing but a glance I steal,

and no union save one betrayed by a sigh.

And no union, save a sigh that betrays me.

وأن تُبسَطَ الآمالُ في ساحةِ العُلا

وأن تُبسَطَ الآمالُ في ساحةِ العُلا

رجاءً يداوي الشوقَ وهو يشُوقُ

رجاءً يداوي الشوقَ وهو يشُوقُ

Or that hopes spread wide across the court of glory—

And that hopes be spread out in the courtyard of glory,

a hope that heals longing even as it awakens it.

In hope that heals longing even as it awakens it.

وإني لأُبدي للوُشاةِ تبسُّماً

وإني لأُبدي للوُشاةِ تبسُّماً

وإنسانُ عيني في الدموعِ غريقُ

وإنسانُ عيني في الدموعِ غريقُ

I show the slanderous talebearers a smile,

And I surely show the tale-bearers a smile,

while the pupil of my eye is drowned in tears.

While the pupil of my eye is drowned in tears.

ولي قَولةٌ في الناسِ لا أَبتغي بها

ولي قَولةٌ في الناسِ لا أَبتغي بها

منَ الناسِ إلا أن يقالَ صديقُ

منَ الناسِ إلا أن يقالَ صديقُ

I have one saying among the people, seeking by it

And I have a saying among people; by it I seek nothing

nothing from them but to be called a faithful friend.

From them but to be called a friend.

ألا تَشكرونَ اللَّهَ إذْ قامَ فيكمُ

ألا تَشكرونَ اللَّهَ إذْ قامَ فيكمُ

إمامُ هُدىً في المكرُماتِ عريقُ

إمامُ هُدىً في المكرُماتِ عريقُ

Will you not thank God, since there has arisen among you

Will you not thank God, since there has arisen among you

an imam of guidance, deep-rooted in noble deeds?

An imam of guidance, deep-rooted in noble deeds?

وأَحكمَ حكمَ اللَّهِ بينَ عبادهِ

وأَحكمَ حكمَ اللَّهِ بينَ عبادهِ

لسانٌ بآياتِ الكتابِ طَليقُ

لسانٌ بآياتِ الكتابِ طَليقُ

He establishes God's judgment among His servants

And God's judgment among His servants has been firmly upheld

with a tongue fluent in the verses of the Book.

By a tongue fluent in the verses of the Book.

خلافةُ عبدِ اللَّهِ حجٌّ عنِ الورَى

خلافةُ عبدِ اللَّهِ حجٌّ عنِ الورَى

فلا رَفَثٌ في عصرِها وفسوقُ

فلا رَفَثٌ في عصرِها وفسوقُ

The caliphate of Abd Allah is a pilgrimage on behalf of humankind:

The caliphate of Abd Allah is a pilgrimage on behalf of humankind;

in its age there is neither lewdness nor transgression.

So in its era there is neither lewdness nor impiety.

إمامُ هدىً أحيا لنا مهجةَ الهُدى

إمامُ هدىً أحيا لنا مهجةَ الهُدى

وقد جَشأتْ للموتِ فهيَ تفُوقُ

وقد جَشأتْ للموتِ فهيَ تفُوقُ

An imam of guidance, who revived for us the lifeblood of guidance,

An imam of guidance revived for us the soul of guidance,

while souls surged toward death for him, vying to outdo one another.

When it had risen toward death and was gasping its last.

حقيقٌ بما نالتْ يداهُ منَ العُلا

حقيقٌ بما نالتْ يداهُ منَ العُلا

وما نالَنا منها بهِ فحقيقُ

وما نالَنا منها بهِ فحقيقُ

Worthy is he of the heights his hands have attained;

He is worthy of the glory his hands have attained;

and what through him we have attained of them is likewise deserved.

And what of it has reached us through him is deserved.

يُدبِّرُ مُلكَ المَغْربين وإنَّهُ

يُدبِّرُ مُلكَ المَغْربين وإنَّهُ

بتدبيرِ مُلْكِ المشرقينِ خليقُ

بتدبيرِ مُلْكِ المشرقينِ خليقُ

He governs the realm of the two Wests,

He governs the realm of the two Wests, and indeed he

well fitted to govern the realm of the two Easts.

Is fit to govern the realm of the two Easts.

تجلَّتْ دياجي الحيفِ عن نورِ عدلهِ

تجلَّتْ دياجي الحيفِ عن نورِ عدلهِ

كما ذَرَّ في جنحِ الظَّلامِ شُروقُ

كما ذَرَّ في جنحِ الظَّلامِ شُروقُ

The deep darkness of injustice lifted before the light of his justice,

The dark nights of injustice have lifted from his justice's light,

as sunrise breaks within the wing of night.

As sunrise breaks within the wing of darkness.

وثقَّفَ سهمَ الدِّينِ بالعدلِ والتُّقَى

وثقَّفَ سهمَ الدِّينِ بالعدلِ والتُّقَى

فهذا لهُ نصلٌ وذلك فُوقُ

فهذا لهُ نصلٌ وذلك فُوقُ

He straightened religion's arrow with justice and piety:

And he straightened religion's arrow with justice and piety;

the one supplies its point, the other its nock.

So this is its arrowhead, and that its nock.

وأعلقَ أسبابَ الهُدى بضميرهِ

وأعلقَ أسبابَ الهُدى بضميرهِ

فليسَ لهُ إلا بهنَّ عُلوقُ

فليسَ لهُ إلا بهنَّ عُلوقُ

He fastened the cords of guidance to his conscience,

And he fastened guidance's cords to his conscience,

and has no attachment except to them.

So he has no attachment except to them.

وما عاقَهُ عنها عوائقُ ملكهِ

وما عاقَهُ عنها عوائقُ ملكهِ

وأمثالُه عن مِثلهنَّ تَعوقُ

وأمثالُه عن مِثلهنَّ تَعوقُ

The impediments of his kingship did not hinder him from them,

Nor did the obstacles of his kingship keep him from them,

though men like him are hindered from their like.

Though they hinder others like him from such things.

إذا فُتحتْ جنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ وأُزلفتْ

إذا فُتحتْ جنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ وأُزلفتْ

فأنتَ بها للأنبياءِ رَفيقُ

فأنتَ بها للأنبياءِ رَفيقُ

When the Gardens of Eden are opened and brought near,

When the gardens of Eden are opened and brought near,

you will be there, a companion to the prophets.

Then there you will be a companion to the prophets.

أَلا بِأبي من قلبه غير مشفِقُ

أَلا بِأبي من قلبه غير مشفِقُ

عليَّ ولي قلبٌ عليهِ شَفيقُ

عليَّ ولي قلبٌ عليهِ شَفيقُ

Ah, may my father ransom one whose heart feels no concern for me—

Ah, may my father be ransom for one whose heart has no pity

while I have a heart tenderly concerned for him.

For me, while my heart is tender toward him.

فلا نَيْلَ إلا أنْ أخالسَ لحظةً

فلا نَيْلَ إلا أنْ أخالسَ لحظةً

ولا وصلَ إلا أن ينمَّ شَهيقُ

ولا وصلَ إلا أن ينمَّ شَهيقُ

There is no attainment save that I steal a glance,

So I gain nothing but a glance I steal,

and no union save one betrayed by a sigh.

And no union, save a sigh that betrays me.

وأن تُبسَطَ الآمالُ في ساحةِ العُلا

وأن تُبسَطَ الآمالُ في ساحةِ العُلا

رجاءً يداوي الشوقَ وهو يشُوقُ

رجاءً يداوي الشوقَ وهو يشُوقُ

Or that hopes spread wide across the court of glory—

And that hopes be spread out in the courtyard of glory,

a hope that heals longing even as it awakens it.

In hope that heals longing even as it awakens it.

وإني لأُبدي للوُشاةِ تبسُّماً

وإني لأُبدي للوُشاةِ تبسُّماً

وإنسانُ عيني في الدموعِ غريقُ

وإنسانُ عيني في الدموعِ غريقُ

I show the slanderous talebearers a smile,

And I surely show the tale-bearers a smile,

while the pupil of my eye is drowned in tears.

While the pupil of my eye is drowned in tears.

ولي قَولةٌ في الناسِ لا أَبتغي بها

ولي قَولةٌ في الناسِ لا أَبتغي بها

منَ الناسِ إلا أن يقالَ صديقُ

منَ الناسِ إلا أن يقالَ صديقُ

I have one saying among the people, seeking by it

And I have a saying among people; by it I seek nothing

nothing from them but to be called a faithful friend.

From them but to be called a friend.

ألا تَشكرونَ اللَّهَ إذْ قامَ فيكمُ

ألا تَشكرونَ اللَّهَ إذْ قامَ فيكمُ

إمامُ هُدىً في المكرُماتِ عريقُ

إمامُ هُدىً في المكرُماتِ عريقُ

Will you not thank God, since there has arisen among you

Will you not thank God, since there has arisen among you

an imam of guidance, deep-rooted in noble deeds?

An imam of guidance, deep-rooted in noble deeds?

وأَحكمَ حكمَ اللَّهِ بينَ عبادهِ

وأَحكمَ حكمَ اللَّهِ بينَ عبادهِ

لسانٌ بآياتِ الكتابِ طَليقُ

لسانٌ بآياتِ الكتابِ طَليقُ

He establishes God's judgment among His servants

And God's judgment among His servants has been firmly upheld

with a tongue fluent in the verses of the Book.

By a tongue fluent in the verses of the Book.

خلافةُ عبدِ اللَّهِ حجٌّ عنِ الورَى

خلافةُ عبدِ اللَّهِ حجٌّ عنِ الورَى

فلا رَفَثٌ في عصرِها وفسوقُ

فلا رَفَثٌ في عصرِها وفسوقُ

The caliphate of Abd Allah is a pilgrimage on behalf of humankind:

The caliphate of Abd Allah is a pilgrimage on behalf of humankind;

in its age there is neither lewdness nor transgression.

So in its era there is neither lewdness nor impiety.

إمامُ هدىً أحيا لنا مهجةَ الهُدى

إمامُ هدىً أحيا لنا مهجةَ الهُدى

وقد جَشأتْ للموتِ فهيَ تفُوقُ

وقد جَشأتْ للموتِ فهيَ تفُوقُ

An imam of guidance, who revived for us the lifeblood of guidance,

An imam of guidance revived for us the soul of guidance,

while souls surged toward death for him, vying to outdo one another.

When it had risen toward death and was gasping its last.

حقيقٌ بما نالتْ يداهُ منَ العُلا

حقيقٌ بما نالتْ يداهُ منَ العُلا

وما نالَنا منها بهِ فحقيقُ

وما نالَنا منها بهِ فحقيقُ

Worthy is he of the heights his hands have attained;

He is worthy of the glory his hands have attained;

and what through him we have attained of them is likewise deserved.

And what of it has reached us through him is deserved.

يُدبِّرُ مُلكَ المَغْربين وإنَّهُ

يُدبِّرُ مُلكَ المَغْربين وإنَّهُ

بتدبيرِ مُلْكِ المشرقينِ خليقُ

بتدبيرِ مُلْكِ المشرقينِ خليقُ

He governs the realm of the two Wests,

He governs the realm of the two Wests, and indeed he

well fitted to govern the realm of the two Easts.

Is fit to govern the realm of the two Easts.

تجلَّتْ دياجي الحيفِ عن نورِ عدلهِ

تجلَّتْ دياجي الحيفِ عن نورِ عدلهِ

كما ذَرَّ في جنحِ الظَّلامِ شُروقُ

كما ذَرَّ في جنحِ الظَّلامِ شُروقُ

The deep darkness of injustice lifted before the light of his justice,

The dark nights of injustice have lifted from his justice's light,

as sunrise breaks within the wing of night.

As sunrise breaks within the wing of darkness.

وثقَّفَ سهمَ الدِّينِ بالعدلِ والتُّقَى

وثقَّفَ سهمَ الدِّينِ بالعدلِ والتُّقَى

فهذا لهُ نصلٌ وذلك فُوقُ

فهذا لهُ نصلٌ وذلك فُوقُ

He straightened religion's arrow with justice and piety:

And he straightened religion's arrow with justice and piety;

the one supplies its point, the other its nock.

So this is its arrowhead, and that its nock.

وأعلقَ أسبابَ الهُدى بضميرهِ

وأعلقَ أسبابَ الهُدى بضميرهِ

فليسَ لهُ إلا بهنَّ عُلوقُ

فليسَ لهُ إلا بهنَّ عُلوقُ

He fastened the cords of guidance to his conscience,

And he fastened guidance's cords to his conscience,

and has no attachment except to them.

So he has no attachment except to them.

وما عاقَهُ عنها عوائقُ ملكهِ

وما عاقَهُ عنها عوائقُ ملكهِ

وأمثالُه عن مِثلهنَّ تَعوقُ

وأمثالُه عن مِثلهنَّ تَعوقُ

The impediments of his kingship did not hinder him from them,

Nor did the obstacles of his kingship keep him from them,

though men like him are hindered from their like.

Though they hinder others like him from such things.

إذا فُتحتْ جنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ وأُزلفتْ

إذا فُتحتْ جنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ وأُزلفتْ

فأنتَ بها للأنبياءِ رَفيقُ

فأنتَ بها للأنبياءِ رَفيقُ

When the Gardens of Eden are opened and brought near,

When the gardens of Eden are opened and brought near,

you will be there, a companion to the prophets.

Then there you will be a companion to the prophets.

أَلا بِأبي من قلبه غير مشفِقُ

أَلا بِأبي من قلبه غير مشفِقُ

عليَّ ولي قلبٌ عليهِ شَفيقُ

عليَّ ولي قلبٌ عليهِ شَفيقُ

Ah, may my father ransom one whose heart feels no concern for me—

Ah, may my father be ransom for one whose heart has no pity

while I have a heart tenderly concerned for him.

For me, while my heart is tender toward him.