1. بلغت بأحمدَ أنفسٌ آمالها

    حمدت مبادئها به ومآلها

    Through Ahmad, souls attained their hopes.

    Through him, they praised their beginnings and their end.

  2. تاقت له فتزودت أوجالها

    واستصغرت في حبّه آجالها

    They yearned for him and took their fears as provisions.

    And in loving him, they deemed their lifespans small.

  3. لبست لما قد شفّها أسمالها

    ولباسها أسمالها أسمى لها

    They donned their rags because of what had worn them thin.

    And wearing their rags is loftier for them.

  4. تهوى الرياح جنوبها وشمالها

    ولذا تميل يمينها وشمالها

    They love the winds, their southerlies and northerlies.

    And so they sway to their right and their left.

  5. إن ضرّمَت نار البعاد خبالَها

    أسفاً فكم منح بذاك خبالها

    If the fire of separation kindles their madness,

    In sorrow—yet how many gifts their madness brings thereby!

  6. أو كان غيرَ سيرُها أشكالها

    جهداً فإن نحولها أشكى لها

    Or if their journey has changed their forms

    Through toil, their wasting is more grievous to them.

  7. الشوق قطّع بالنوى أوصالها

    فكأنه بعذابها أوصى لها

    Longing has torn their limbs apart through separation.

    So it is as though it had bequeathed them their torment.

  8. وكذا المعالى إن فتا أهوى لها

    يلقى المكارم راضياً أهوالها

    And likewise with lofty honors: if a youth aspires to them,

    He meets noble deeds, content to face their terrors.

  9. نور التشوق للديار جلا لها

    عن حجبها فرأت بذاك جلالها

    The light of longing for the abodes drew aside for them

    Their veils, and thereby they beheld their majesty.

  10. تلك المعالم إن خطبت جمالها

    فاخدم بأجواز القفار جمالها

    Those landmarks—if you woo their beauty,

    Then tend their camels in the depths of the wastelands.

  11. قد أطلعت بسما القلوب هلالها

    ولذاك تعملُ نحوها إهلالها

    They have made their crescent rise in the sky of hearts.

    And so you raise their cry of devotion toward them.

  12. يا فارس الدعوى أدّرك أبطالها

    لا تعلُ فيها والتزم إبطالها

    O knight of pretension, catch up with its champions.

    Do not exalt yourself in it, and commit to nullifying it.