إذا فاتني ظل الحمى ونعيمه — Ibn Alkhatib

إِذَا فَاتَنِي ظِلُّ الْحِمَى وَنَعِيمُهُ

كَفَانِي وَحَسْبِي أَنْ يَهُبّ نَسِيمُهُ

If the sanctuary's shade and its bliss elude me,

it is enough for me, and all I need, that its breeze should blow.

ويُقْنِعُنِي أَنِّي بِهِ مُتَكَيِّفٌ

فَزَمْزَمُهُ دَمْعِي وَجِسْمِي حَطِيمُهُ

And I am content to be attuned to it:

its Zamzam is my tears, and my body is its Hatim.

يَعُودُ فُؤَادِي ذِكْرُ مَنْ سَكَنَ الْغَضَا

فَيُقْعِدُهُ فَوْقَ الْغَضى وَيُقِمُهُ

The memory of those who dwelt among the ghada trees visits my heart,

then seats it on ghada embers and makes it rise.

وَلَمْ أَرَ شَيْئاً كَالنَّسِيمِ إِذَا سَرَى

شَفَى سُقمَ الْقَلْبِ الْمَشُوقِ نَسِيمُهُ

And I have seen nothing like the breeze when it passes:

its gentle breath heals the sickness of the yearning heart.

نُعَلِّلُ بالتَّذْكَارِ نَساً مَشُوقَةً

يُدِيرُ عَلَيْهَا كَأْسَهُ وَيُدِيمُهُ

We soothe a yearning soul with remembrance;

it plies her with its cup and keeps it flowing.

وَمَا هَاجَنِي بِالْغَورِ قَدٌّ مُرَنَّحٌ

وَلاَ شَاقَنِي مِنْ وَحْشِ وَجْرَةَ رِيمُهُ

No swaying figure in al-Ghawr has stirred me,

nor has a white gazelle among Wajra's wild creatures awakened my longing.

وَلاَ سَهِرَتْ عَيْنِي لِبَرْقِ ثَنِيَّةٍ

مِنَ الثَّغْرِ يَبْدُو مَوْهِناً فَيَشِيمُهُ

Nor has my eye kept vigil for an incisor's lightning,

gleaming from a mouth late at night, for my gaze to watch.

بَرَانِيَ شَوْقٌ لِلنَّبِيِّ مُحَمَّدٍ

يَسُومُ فُؤَادِي بَرْحُهُ مَا يَسُومُهُ

Longing for the Prophet Muhammad has wasted me away;

its anguish subjects my heart to all its torments.

أَلاَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ نَادَاكَ ضَارِعٌ

عَلَى الْبُعْدِ مَحْفُوظُ الْوِدَادِ سَلِيمُهُ

O Messenger of God, a supplicant has called to you,

from afar, his affection preserved and unblemished.

مَشُوقٌ إِذا مَا الَّليْلُ مَدَّ رِوَاقَهُ

تَهُمُّ بِهِ تَحْتَ الظَّلاَمِ هُمُومُهُ

A yearning man—when night spreads its canopy,

his cares assail him beneath the darkness.

إِذا مَا حَدِيثٌ عَنْكَ جَاءَتْ بِه الصَّبَا

شَجَاهُ منَ الشَّوْقِ الْحَثِيثِ قَدِيمُهُ

Whenever the east wind brings a tale of you,

his old, urgent longing moves him to sorrow.

وَتُقْرِبُهُ الآمَال مِنْكَ تَعَلُّلاً

وَيُبْعِدُهُ الْمِقْدَارُ عَمَّا يَرُومُهُ

Hopes bring him near you as a consolation,

but fate keeps him far from what he seeks.

بَرَاهُ الأَسَى إِلاَّ الرُّكُونُ إِلَى عَسَى

صَحِيحُ الْهَوَى مُضْنَى الْفُؤَادِ سَقِيمُهُ

Grief has worn him down, with only 'perhaps' to lean on.

His love is sound, his heart exhausted and ill.

تَدَارَكْهُ يَاغَوْثَ الْعِبَادِ بِرَحْمَةٍ

يُقَضِّيهِ دَيْنَ الْعَفْوِ مِنْهَا غَرِيمُهُ

Rescue him, O succor of God's servants, with a mercy

from which his debtor pays him the debt of pardon.

أَيجْهَرُ بِالشَّكْوَى وَأَنْتَ سَميعُهُ

أَيُعْلِنُ بالنَّجْوَى وَأَنْتَ عَلِيمُهُ

Must he cry his complaint aloud when you hear him?

Must he proclaim his whispered plea when you know him?

أَتُعْوِزُهُ السُّقْيَا وَأنْتَ غِيَاثُهُ

أَتُتْلِفُهُ الْبَلْوَى وَأَنْتَ رَحِيمُهُ

Can water fail him when you are his succor?

Can affliction destroy him when you are merciful to him?

وَقَدء بَثَّ مِنْكَ اللهُ فِي الْخَلْقِ رَحْمَةٌ

فَأُنْقِذَ عَانِيهِ وَأَثْرِي عَدِيمُهُ

And God has spread mercy from you among creation,

so its captive was rescued and its pauper enriched.

بِنُورِكَ نُورِ اللهِ قَدْ أَشْرَقَ الْهُدَى

فَأَقْمَارُهُ وَضَّاحَةٌ وَنُجُومُهُ

Through your light, God's light, guidance has shone forth,

so its moons and its stars are radiant.

لَكَ أنْهَلَّ فَضْلُ اللهِ بِاْلأَرَضِ سَاكِنَاً

فَأَنْوَاؤُهُ مُلْتَفَّةٌ وَغُيُومُهُ

For you, dwelling on earth, God's bounty poured down,

so its rainstorms and its clouds gather thickly.

وَمِنْ فَوْقِ أَطْبَاقِ الطِّبَاقِ بِكَ اقْتَدَى

خَلِيلُ الَّذِي أَوْطَاكَهَا وَكَلِيمُهُ

And above the tiers of the layered heavens, you were followed by

the Friend of Him who let you tread them, and His interlocutor.

لَكَ الْخُلُقُ الأَرْضَى الَّذِي بَانَ فَضْلُهُ

وَمَجْدُكَ فِي الذِّكْرِ الْعَظِيمِ عَظِيمُهُ

Yours is the most pleasing character, whose excellence is clear;

and the greatest part of your glory lies in the mighty Remembrance.

لَكَ الْمُعْجِزَاتُ الْغُرُّ يَبْهَرُ نُورُهَا

إِذَا ارْبَدَّ مِنْ جُنْحِ الظَّلاَمِ بَهِيمُهُ

Yours are radiant miracles whose light dazzles,

when the pitch-black gloom of darkness's wing deepens.

وَحَسْبُكَ مِنْ جِذْعٍ تَكَلَّمَ مُفْصِحاً

وَقَدْ دَمِيَتْ يَوْمَ الْفِرَاقِ كُلُومُهُ

And enough for you is a tree trunk that spoke plainly,

whose wounds bled on the day of parting.

وَبَدْرٍ بَدَا قِسْمَيْنِ فَالِقسْمُ ثَابِتٌ

مُقِيمٌ وَقَدْ أَهْوَى إِلَيْكَ قَسِيمُهُ

And a full moon appeared in two halves: one half stood fast,

remaining in place, while its other half swooped toward you.

وَذَلَّ لِمَسْرَاكَ الْبُراقُ كَرَامَةً

وَسَاعَدَ مِنْهُ وَخْذُهُ وَرَسِيمُهُ

And Buraq submitted to your night journey as an honor,

and its brisk gait and swift trot lent their aid.

وَمَنْ فَوْقِ أَطْبَاقِ السَّمَاءِ بِكَ اقْتَدَى

خَلِيلُ الَّذِي أَوْطَاكَهَا وَكَلِيمُهُ

And above the tiers of heaven, you were followed by

the Friend of Him who let you tread them, and His interlocutor.

وَمُعْجِزَةُ الْقُرْآنِ أَجْلَى فَإِنَّهُ

عَجَائِبُهُ لاَ تَنْقَضِي وَعُلُومُهُ

And the miracle of the Qur'an is clearer still, for

its wonders and its knowledge never end.

تَمَيَّزْتَ قَبْلَ الْقبْلِ بِالشِّيَمِ الْعُلَى

وَآدَمُ لَمْ يَدْرِ الْحَيَاةَ أدِيمُهُ

You were distinguished by lofty virtues before 'before' itself,

while Adam's skin had not yet known life,

إِذِ الْكَوْنُ لَمْ تَفْتُق يَدُ الأَمْرِ رَتْقَهُ

وَلَمْ تَمْتَزِجْ أَرْوَاحُهُ وَجُسُومُهُ

when the hand of the Command had not opened the universe's closed seam,

and its spirits and bodies had not mingled.

وَمَنْ نُورِكَ الْوَضَّاحِ فِي الْعَالَمِ اهْتَدَى

غَدَاةَ اقْتَدَى صَدِيقُهُ وَحَكِيمُهُ

And through your radiant light, within the world, were guided

its friend and its sage, when they followed your example.

عَلَيْكَ صَلاَةُ اللهِ يَاخَيْرَ مُرْسَلٍ

بِهِ بَانَ مِنْ نَهْجِ الرَّشَادِ قَوِيمُهُ

God's blessing be upon you, O best of messengers,

through whom the straight path of right guidance became clear.

وَيالَيْتَ أَنِّي فِي ضَريحِكِ مُلْحَدٌ

يَرفُّ بِتَكْرَارِ الْعِهَادِ جَمِيمُهُ

And would that I were buried in your tomb,

whose lush young growth stirs with recurring showers.

يُجَاوِر عَظْمِي تُربَكَ الْعَطِرَ الشَّذَى

فَيَعْطِرُ مِنْ مَاءِ الْحَيَاةِ رَمِيمُهُ

My bones would lie beside your sweet-scented soil,

and their crumbling remains grow fragrant with the water of life.

تَقَضَّى كَرِيمَ الْعُمْرِ فِي غَيْرِ طَائِلٍ

كَمَا بَدَّدَ الْوَفْرَ الْغَزِيرَ كَرِيمهُ

The precious portion of life has passed to no purpose,

as a generous owner scatters his abundant wealth.

فَآهٍ عَلَى نَفْسِي أُرَدّدُهَا أَسىً

لِوَخْطٍ أضَاءَتْ لَيْلَ فَوْدِي نُجُومُهُ

So 'ah for myself!' I repeat in sorrow,

for the gray flecks whose stars lit the night of my temple.

وَإِنْ كَانَ نَبْتُ الأَرْضِ مُرْتَهَنَ الذَّوَى

فَلَيْسَ سَوَاءً غَضُّهُ وَهَشِيمُهُ

And though the earth's plants are hostage to withering,

its tender growth and dry stubble are not the same.

جَفَانِيَ دَهْرِي وَاسْتَهَانَ بِحُرْمَتِي

فَدَهْرِيَ مَمْقُوتُ الذِّمَامِ ذَمِيمُهُ

My time has shunned me and scorned my dignity,

so my time's covenant is hateful and dishonorable.

وَفَرَّقَ مَا بَيْنِي وَيْنَ أَحِبَّتِي

فَأَنْكَادُهُ تَنْتَابُنِي وَغُمُومُهُ

And it has separated me from my loved ones,

so its hardships and sorrows assail me.

فَلَوْ كَانَ يُجْدِي الْعَتْبُ أَبْلَغْتُ عَتْبَهُ

وَلَوْ كَانَ يُغْنِي اللَّوْمُ كُنْتُ أَلُومُهُ

If reproach availed, I would press my reproach of it to the utmost;

and if blame availed, I would blame it.

وَلَوْ لَحَظَتْنِي مٍنْ جَنَابِكَ لَحْظَةٌ

لَمَا رَامَنِي عِنْدَ الْبَيَاتِ نُجُومُهُ

And if a glance from your presence had fallen on me,

its stars would not have aimed at me by night.

فَآوِ طَرِيداً عَائِذاً أَنْتَ كَهْفُهُ

وَذِكْرُكَ بِالْمَدْحِ الصَّرِيحِ رَقِيمُهُ

So shelter an outcast seeking refuge: you are his cave,

and mention of you in clear praise is his inscription.

رَعَى اللهُ عَهْداً فِي رِضَاكَ وَمَأْلَفاً

مُلُوكُ الْعُلَى تُعْنَى بِهِ وَتُقِيمُهُ

May God preserve a pledge for your good pleasure, and a gathering-place

that kings of lofty rank cherish and sustain.

وَحَيِّ بِوَادِي الْغَبْطِ دَاراً مَزُورَةً

تُوَالِي لِجَرَّاكَ النَّدَى وَتُدِيمُهُ

And greet a much-visited house in Wadi al-Ghabt,

continually bestowing bounty for your sake, and sustaining it.

رَحِيبَةُ ألْطَافٍ إِذَا الْوَفْدُ حَلَّهَا

تَكَنَّفَهُمْ غَمْرُ النَّوَالِ عَمِيمُهُ

Abounding in kindness: when a delegation lodges there,

an all-embracing flood of bounty surrounds them.

رَحِيبَةُ أَلطَافٍ إِذَا الْوَفْدُ حَلَّهَا

تَكَنَّفَهُمْ غَمْرُ النَّوَالِ عَمِيمُهُ

Abounding in kindness: when a delegation lodges there,

an all-embracing flood of bounty surrounds them.

تَوَسَّدَ مِنْهَا التُرْبَ أَيُّ خَلاَئِفٍ

بِهِمْ دِينُكَ الأَرْضَى اسْتَقَلَّتْ رُسُومُهُ

What caliphs have taken its soil for their pillow!

Through them, the rites of your most pleasing religion stood firm.

أَئِمَّةُ عَدْلٍ أَوْضَحُوا سُبُلَ الْهُدَى

وَسُحْبُ نَوَالٍ لاَ تَشِحُّ غُيُومُهُ

Leaders of justice who made the paths of guidance clear,

and clouds of bounty whose clouds never stint,

وَأُسْدُ جِهَادٍ أَذْعَنَتْ لِسُيُوفِهِمْ

جَلاَلِقَةُ الثَّغْرِ الْغَرِيبِ وَرُومُهُ

and lions of jihad, before whose swords submitted

the Galicians of the distant frontier, and its Romans.

فَلَوْلاَهُمْ يَاخَيْرَ مَنْ سَكَنَ الْحِمَى

لَرِيعَ حِمَاهُ وَاسْتُبِيحَ حَرِيمُهُ

But for them, O best of those who dwelt in the sanctuary,

its sanctuary would have been terrorized and its sacred precinct violated.

تَغَمَّدَهُمْ مِنْكَ الرِّضَا يَوْمَ تُقتَضَى

دُيُونُ مَقَامٍ لاَ تُضَامُ خُصُومُهُ

May your favor enfold them on the day of collecting

the debts of a tribunal whose litigants are never wronged.

وَأَنَّسَهُمْ وَالرَّوْعُ يُوحِشُ هَوْلُهُ

وَأَمَّنَهُمْ وَالْحَشْرُ تُذْكَى جَحِيمُهُ

And may it comfort them while terror's horror breeds desolation,

and grant them safety while the Gathering's hellfire is kindled.

أَبُو يُوسُفٍ مُفْنِي الْعِدَى نَاصِرُ الْهُدَى

وَيُوسُفُ مِطْعَانُ الْهِيَاجِ زَعِيمُهُ

Abu Yusuf, destroyer of foes, champion of guidance,

and Yusuf, battle's mighty lancer and leader,

وَعُثْمَانُ غَيْثُ الْجُودِ أَكْرَمُ وَاهِبٍ

إِذَا مَا الْغَمَامُ الْجَوْنُ ضَنَّتْ سُجُومُهُ

and Uthman, the rain of generosity, most noble giver,

whenever the dark cloud withholds its downpour.

وَعُلْيَا عَلِيِّ كَيْفَ يُجْحَد حَقُّهَا

أَنَجْحَدُ ضَوْءَ الصُّبْحِ رَاقَ وَسِيمُهُ

And Ali's lofty rank—how could its due be denied?

Do we deny the morning's light, whose beauty delights?

هُوَ الْعَلَمُ الأَعْلَى الَّذِي طَالَ فَخْرُهُ

هُوَ الْمَلِكُ الأَرْضَى الَّذِي طَابَ خيمُهُ

He is the loftiest standard, whose glory towers high;

he is the most pleasing king, whose nature is good.

لَقَدْ فَاءَ ظِلُّ اللهِ مِنْهُ عَلَى الْوَرَى

فَأَيَّمُهُ مَكْفِيَّةٌ وَيَتِيمُهُ

Indeed, through him God's shade has spread over humankind,

so its widow is provided for, and its orphan too.

وَجَدَّدَ مِنْهَا الْبِرَّ وَالْفَضْلَ مَجْدُهُ

وَلَوْلاَهُ كَانَتْ لاَ تَبِينُ رُسُومُهُ

And from it his glory renewed goodness and bounty;

but for him, its traces would not be visible.

وَأَوْرَثَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ سِرَّ خِلاَفَةٍ

نَمَاهُ مِنَ الْمَجْدِ الصُّرَاحِ صَمِيمُهُ

And he bequeathed to Ibrahim the secret of a caliphate;

the very core of unalloyed glory nurtured him.

إِذَا الأَمَلُ اسْتَسَقَى غَمَامَةَ رَحْمَةٍ

فَمِنْ كَفِّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ تَكْرَعُ هِيمُهُ

When hope seeks water from a cloud of mercy,

its thirsty camels drink deep from Ibrahim's palm.

وَكَمْ مِنْ رَجَاءٍ خَابَ نَظْمُ قِيَاسِهِ

فَأَنْتَجَ بِالْمَطْلُوبِ مِنْهُ عَقِيمُهُ

And how many a hope had the structure of its reasoning fail,

yet through him its barren logic yielded the desired result.

أَمَوْلاَيَ لاَحِظْهَا عَلَى الْبُعْدِ خِدْمَةً

لِوَالِدِكَ الأَرْضَى انْتَقَاهَا خَدِيمُهُ

O my lord, look upon it from afar as an offering of service,

chosen for your most pleasing father by his servant.

تَخَيَّرَهَا فِكْرِي فَرَاقَ نِظَامُهَا

كَمَا رَاقَ مِنْ دُرِّ النُّحُورِ نَظِيمُهُ

My thought chose it carefully, and its arrangement delights,

as strung pearls upon necks delight.

وَكَلْتُ بِهَا هَمِّي وَأَغْرَيْتُ هِمَّتِي

فَسَاعَدَهَا هَاءُ الرَّويِّ وَمِيمُهُ

I entrusted my concern to it and spurred my resolve,

so the rhyme's ha and mim helped it along.

حَلَلْتُ بِهِ مُسْتَنْصِراً بِجَنَابِهِ

وَعَاهَدْتُ نَفْسِي أَنَّنِي لاَ أَرِيمُهُ

I settled beside him, seeking help from his presence,

and pledged to myself that I would not leave him.

عَلَى قَبْرِهِ الزَّاكِي وَقَفْتُ مَطَامِعِي

فَمَنْ نَالَنِي بِالضَّيْمِ أَنْتَ خَصِيمُهُ

At his pure grave I fixed my hopes,

so whoever assails me with injustice has you for his adversary.