كان لي قلبٌ فلما ارتحل

كان لي قلبٌ فلما ارتحل

بقي الجسمُ محلّ العِلل

بقي الجسمُ محلّ العِلل

I had a heart; when it departed,

I had a heart; when it departed,

the body remained, an abode of maladies.

the body remained the seat of ailments.

كان بدراً طالعاً إذ أتى

كان بدراً طالعاً إذ أتى

مغرب التوحيد ثم أفل

مغرب التوحيد ثم أفل

It was a full moon rising when it came

It was a rising full moon when it reached

to the sunset-place of Oneness, and then it set.

the western horizon of divine oneness, then set.

زاده شوقاً إلى ربّه

زاده شوقاً إلى ربّه

صاحبُ الصعقة يومَ الجبل

صاحبُ الصعقة يومَ الجبل

Its longing for its Lord was increased

Its longing for its Lord was increased by

by the man of the thunderstroke on the day of the Mountain.

the one who swooned on the day of the mountain.

لم يزل يشكو الجوى والنوى

لم يزل يشكو الجوى والنوى

ليلةَ الإثنين حتى اتصل

ليلةَ الإثنين حتى اتصل

It never ceased lamenting passion’s fire and separation

It kept lamenting love’s anguish and separation

on Monday night, until it was joined.

on Monday night, until it attained union.

فدنا من حضرةٍ لم تزل

فدنا من حضرةٍ لم تزل

تهبُ الأرواحَ سرّ الأزلْ

تهبُ الأرواحَ سرّ الأزلْ

Then it drew near a Presence that has never ceased

So it drew near a Presence that has never ceased

bestowing on spirits the secret of pre-eternity.

to grant spirits the secret of beginningless eternity.

قرعَ الأبوابَ لمّا دنا

قرعَ الأبوابَ لمّا دنا

قيل من أنت فقال الحجل

قيل من أنت فقال الحجل

It knocked at the doors when it drew near.

It knocked upon the doors when it drew near.

It was asked, “Who are you?” It answered, “The partridge.”

It was asked, “Who are you?” It replied, “The partridge.”

قيل أهلاً سعة مرحباً

قيل أهلاً سعة مرحباً

فُتح البابُ فلما دخل

فُتح البابُ فلما دخل

It was told, “Welcome—ample room, and welcome!”

It was told, “Welcome! There is ample room—welcome!”

The door was opened, and when it entered,

The door was opened; when it entered,

خرَّ في حضرته ساجداً

خرَّ في حضرته ساجداً

وانمحى رسم البقا وانسجل

وانمحى رسم البقا وانسجل

it fell prostrate in His Presence.

it fell prostrate in His Presence,

The trace of remaining was effaced and flowed away.

and the trace of abiding existence was effaced and flowed away.

وشكا العهد فجاء النِدا

وشكا العهد فجاء النِدا

يا عبيدي زال وقتُ العمل

يا عبيدي زال وقتُ العمل

It complained of the covenant, and the call came:

And it lamented the covenant; then came the call:

“O My little servant, gone is the time for deeds.

“O My little servant, the time for action is over.

رأسك ارفع هذه حضرتي

رأسك ارفع هذه حضرتي

وأنا الحقُّ فلا تنتعل

وأنا الحقُّ فلا تنتعل

Raise your head: this is My Presence,

Raise your head: this is My Presence,

and I am the Real, so do not put on sandals.

and I am the Real, so do not put on sandals.

رأسك ارفع ما الذي تبتغي

رأسك ارفع ما الذي تبتغي

قلت مولاي حلولُ الأجل

قلت مولاي حلولُ الأجل

Raise your head. What is it you seek?”

Raise your head. What is it you seek?”

I said, “My Lord, the arrival of the appointed end.”

I said, “My Lord, the coming of the appointed end.”

قال سجني قال مت واعلمن

قال سجني قال مت واعلمن

أنّ في السجنِ بلوغَ الأمل

أنّ في السجنِ بلوغَ الأمل

He said, “My prison.” Then He said, “Die, and know for certain

He said, “My prison.” He said, “Die, and know well

that within the prison lies the fulfillment of hope.”

that in prison lies the fulfillment of hope.”

يا فؤادي قد وصلت له

يا فؤادي قد وصلت له

قل له قولَ حبيبٍ مُدِل

قل له قولَ حبيبٍ مُدِل

O my heart, you have reached Him;

O my heart, you have indeed reached Him;

speak to Him as a beloved bold in love’s favor:

say to Him the words of a beloved, bold in intimacy:

لولا ذاتي لم يصح استوى

لولا ذاتي لم يصح استوى

وبنوري صح ضربُ المثَل

وبنوري صح ضربُ المثَل

“Were it not for my essence, His establishment would not hold true,

“Were it not for my essence, ‘He established Himself’ would not hold true,

and by my light the likeness was rightly set forth.”

and by my light, the parable could rightly be set forth.”