زَمَنٌ بكلّ مسرّة وافاني

زَمَنٌ بكلّ مسرّة وافاني

أَكْرمْ به زمناً وأيّ زمانِ

أَكْرمْ به زمناً وأيّ زمانِ

A time came to me bearing every delight.

A time of every joy and pleasure,

How noble a time it is—and what a time!

Honor such a time, whatever time it may be,

لن أستطيع ثناءَه ولوَ أنّنِي

لن أستطيع ثناءَه ولوَ أنّنِي

أُعْطِيتُ في الإِطراء كلَّ لسان

أُعْطِيتُ في الإِطراء كلَّ لسان

I could never praise it enough, even if I

I cannot praise it enough even if

Were given every tongue for praise.

I were given every eloquent tongue for praise.

حيث الحبيب مُنَادِمٌ ومُوَاصِلٌ

حيث الحبيب مُنَادِمٌ ومُوَاصِلٌ

وبحيث يسمعني وحيث يراني

وبحيث يسمعني وحيث يراني

Where the beloved is a boon companion and keeps close,

Where the beloved is a companion and friend,

And where he hears me, and where he sees me.

Where he can hear me and where he can see me,

والشّمل منتظمُ الجواهر عقده

والشّمل منتظمُ الجواهر عقده

وصفا المودّة مُثمِرُ الأغصان

وصفا المودّة مُثمِرُ الأغصان

And reunion's necklace has its jewels well strung,

And the embrace has its gems in an orderly necklace,

And affection's purity bears fruit upon its branches.

And affection's branches fruitful with intimacy.

من بعد ما طحنت كلاكلُ جَوْرِه

من بعد ما طحنت كلاكلُ جَوْرِه

كَبِدي وأبلى مهجتي ورماني

كَبِدي وأبلى مهجتي ورماني

After the heavy breasts of its tyranny had crushed

After the worries of its tyranny ground

My liver, worn away my heart's core, and struck me,

My liver, and wasted my insides and my pomegranate (heart),

وتداولت بين الحشاء همومُه

وتداولت بين الحشاء همومُه

دُوَلاً تُشيب ذَوَائِبَ الوِلْدَانِ

دُوَلاً تُشيب ذَوَائِبَ الوِلْدَانِ

And its cares had taken turns within my entrails,

And his concerns circulated in my guts

In turns that made children's forelocks gray;

Going around to make the hair of the youths grey.

وتناضلت فوق الأسى وتزاحمت

وتناضلت فوق الأسى وتزاحمت

شِيَعُ الرّدى وطوئفُ الحِدْثان

شِيَعُ الرّدى وطوئفُ الحِدْثان

And over my grief there fought and jostled

And I struggled over anguish and the waves

The factions of death and the bands of calamity,

Of misery and torrents of calamities crowded,

بكتائبٍ سُودِ الدّروع كأَنّها

بكتائبٍ سُودِ الدّروع كأَنّها

لَيْلُ الْمِحَاقِ وأَوْجُهُ السّودان

لَيْلُ الْمِحَاقِ وأَوْجُهُ السّودان

With battalions in black armor, as though they were

With regiments black armored as though they were

The moonless night and the faces of Black people.

The night of annihilation and faces of the blacks.

جَعَلَتْ تجولُ بِأَضْلُعِي فحروبُها

جَعَلَتْ تجولُ بِأَضْلُعِي فحروبُها

ما مَرَّ عن نيرانها المَلَوَانِ

ما مَرَّ عن نيرانها المَلَوَانِ

They began roaming among my ribs; in their wars,

They began to roam my ribs so their wars

Day and night never escaped their fires.

Did not pass by their fires any refuge,

وجوانحي ميدانُها ومداسُها

وجوانحي ميدانُها ومداسُها

ومجالُ كلّ مهنَّدٍ وسِنان

ومجالُ كلّ مهنَّدٍ وسِنان

And my inner ribs were their field and trampling-ground,

And my wings are their battlefield and their threshing floor,

And the arena for every Indian-steel sword and spearhead.

And the domain of every eager and sharp sword.

وقُوَى الحشاءِ مغانمٌ لِكُمَاتِها

وقُوَى الحشاءِ مغانمٌ لِكُمَاتِها

قُسِمَتْ أحاداً بينها ومثاني

قُسِمَتْ أحاداً بينها ومثاني

And my entrails' powers were booty for their warriors,

And the powers of my heart are the booty for their darkness

Divided among them singly and in pairs.

Divided one by one between them and in pairs.

أفلا يَحِقُّ على الجفون يجرّحٌ

أفلا يَحِقُّ على الجفون يجرّحٌ

وعلى الفؤاد تجرّع الأشجان

وعلى الفؤاد تجرّع الأشجان

Is it not fitting that the eyelids be wounded,

Is it not right then for a wounder to wound my eyelids

And that the heart swallow sorrows,

And for me to drink the bitterness of sorrows?

وتسهّدٌ وتحنّنٌ وتأسّفٌ

وتسهّدٌ وتحنّنٌ وتأسّفٌ

وتصعّدٌ في سُلَّمِ الهَيَمان

وتصعّدٌ في سُلَّمِ الهَيَمان

Know sleeplessness, tender yearning, and regret,

And to become sleepless, and to grieve, and regret,

And climb the ladder of frenzied longing?

And to climb the ladder of anxieties?

وأَحِبّتي ما بين ناءٍ مُبْعَدٍ

وأَحِبّتي ما بين ناءٍ مُبْعَدٍ

وحميمِ آنٍ في التّراب مُهَان

وحميمِ آنٍ في التّراب مُهَان

And my loved ones range between those distant and banished,

My loved ones are between an absent companion

And a suffering dear friend, abased in the dust,

And an intimate now disgraced in the dust.

وحليفِ وِدِّ لا يفيق من الأسى

وحليفِ وِدِّ لا يفيق من الأسى

لذهاب خِلٍّ أو نُبُوِّ مكان

لذهاب خِلٍّ أو نُبُوِّ مكان

And a companion in affection who never recovers from sorrow

And a loyal affectionate friend who does not awaken

At a friend's loss or an inhospitable abode.

From grief over the loss of a comrade or place.

ومحلُّهم من بعد أُنْسٍ مُوحِشٌ

ومحلُّهم من بعد أُنْسٍ مُوحِشٌ

يَبكي ويُبكي كلَّ صَلْدِ جَنان

يَبكي ويُبكي كلَّ صَلْدِ جَنان

And their dwelling is desolate after companionship,

And their abode after intimacy is desolate

Weeping, and making every stony heart weep.

Weeping and making every solid garden weep.

يشكو حرارة ما يذوق وإنّما

يشكو حرارة ما يذوق وإنّما

يشكو فراقَ أئِمّةٍ أعيانِ

يشكو فراقَ أئِمّةٍ أعيانِ

It laments the burning of what it tastes, yet it only

Lamenting the heat of what it tastes though it only

Laments separation from distinguished imams.

Laments the loss of guiding nobles.

كانوا مصابيحَ الرّشاد لأهله

كانوا مصابيحَ الرّشاد لأهله

فتناثروا كلآلِئي الأجفان

فتناثروا كلآلِئي الأجفان

They were lamps of right guidance for its people,

They were the lanterns of guidance for its people

Then scattered like the pearls of the eyelids.

So they scattered like the jewels of my eyelids.

سّلَّ الزّمانُ غِرارَهم فأراشهم

سّلَّ الزّمانُ غِرارَهم فأراشهم

بأسِنِّةِ الأنكاد والأحزان

بأسِنِّةِ الأنكاد والأحزان

Time unsheathed their blades, then struck them

Time pulled its deception on them so it rained them

With the spearheads of misfortune and sorrow.

With the tongues of misfortunes and sorrows.

وكسا جسومَ القاطنين ملابسَ آلْ

وكسا جسومَ القاطنين ملابسَ آلْ

أسقام بعد نُعومةِ الأبدان

أسقام بعد نُعومةِ الأبدان

And clothed the dwellers' bodies in garments of

And it dressed the bodies of the inhabitants in the clothes of sickness and weakness

Sickness, after their bodies' softness.

After the softness of the bodies.

ولَكَمْ كَسَا مِنْ ذي اعتزاز ذِلّةَ آلْ

ولَكَمْ كَسَا مِنْ ذي اعتزاز ذِلّةَ آلْ

أكفان بعد رفاهة الأردان

أكفان بعد رفاهة الأردان

And how many proud men it clothed in the abasement of

And how much it clothed one of pride with the disgrace of shrouds

Shrouds, after the luxury of their sleeves.

After the prosperity of cushions!

وطوى محاسنَ مِنْ كِرَامٍ سَادَةٍ

وطوى محاسنَ مِنْ كِرَامٍ سَادَةٍ

وكرائِمٍ تُصْبِي الرشيدَ حِسانِ

وكرائِمٍ تُصْبِي الرشيدَ حِسانِ

And folded away the beauties of noble lords

And it folded the beauties of noble and generous ones,

And fair noble women who captivate the prudent,

And generous deeds that bring the right-minded joy.

بجنود طَعْنٍ بالحروب عليمةٍ

بجنود طَعْنٍ بالحروب عليمةٍ

وخبيرةٍ بِمَقَاتِلِ الإنسان

وخبيرةٍ بِمَقَاتِلِ الإنسان

With troops of piercing blows, versed in war

With spear-stabbing armies knowledgeable of wars

And expert in man's vulnerable spots.

And experienced in fighting mankind.

طاعونها لا يكتفي بِأَقَلَّ مِنْ

طاعونها لا يكتفي بِأَقَلَّ مِنْ

أَخْذِ النّفوس ولا يقول كفاني

أَخْذِ النّفوس ولا يقول كفاني

Their plague is not content with less than

Its plague is not content with anything less than

Taking souls, and never says, 'Enough for me.'

Taking souls and does not say "enough!"

حتى مَلَلْتُ من الحياة وطولِها

حتى مَلَلْتُ من الحياة وطولِها

ورأيتُ رَمسي فيها نَيْلُ أماني

ورأيتُ رَمسي فيها نَيْلُ أماني

Until I grew weary of life and its length,

Until I became weary of life and its length,

And saw my burial as the fulfillment of my wishes in life.

And I saw my footing in it attain wishes.

وحَسَدْتُ قُطَّانَ القبور وربّما

وحَسَدْتُ قُطَّانَ القبور وربّما

لذَّ الحِمَامُ لمُصْطَلي النّيران

لذَّ الحِمَامُ لمُصْطَلي النّيران

And envied the dwellers in graves; sometimes

And I envied the cotton vendor of graves and sometimes

Death is sweet to one scorched by fires.

The pigeon roosting on the pyres is tempting.

فإذا نسيمٌ قد تضوّع باسماً

فإذا نسيمٌ قد تضوّع باسماً

بالغرب هبَّ مُعَطِّرَ الأركان

بالغرب هبَّ مُعَطِّرَ الأركان

Then suddenly a breeze spread its fragrance, smiling,

When a breeze scented with a name blew

Blowing in the west and perfuming every quarter.

From the west, scenting the corners.

يُبْرِي آلسِّقَامَ شميمُه وبنشره

يُبْرِي آلسِّقَامَ شميمُه وبنشره

يُطْفي حرارةَ كِلّ صَبٍّ عَانِ

يُطْفي حرارةَ كِلّ صَبٍّ عَانِ

Its scent cures sickness, and with its fragrance

Its scent heals illnesses and by its diffusion

Quenches the heat of every captive lover.

It extinguishes the heat of every burning thirst.

يسري إلى نحو المشارق مُذْهِباً

يسري إلى نحو المشارق مُذْهِباً

عِلَلَ الصُّدور وغُلَّةَ الظّمآن

عِلَلَ الصُّدور وغُلَّةَ الظّمآن

It travels toward the east, dispelling

It moves toward the east erasing

Ailments of the breast and the thirsty one's burning thirst.

The diseases of breasts and the cloudiness of thirsts.

ناديتُه ماذا وَرَاءَكَ طِبْتَ مِنْ

ناديتُه ماذا وَرَاءَكَ طِبْتَ مِنْ

مُحْيِي النّفوس بنشرك الرّيّان

مُحْيِي النّفوس بنشرك الرّيّان

I called to it: What news is behind you? How sweet a

I called it, what is behind you, you are fragrant

Reviver of souls you are, with your lush fragrance!

With the scent that gives life to souls with your pleasant diffusion?

فأجابني إنّي هببتُ مُبَشِّراً

فأجابني إنّي هببتُ مُبَشِّراً

بقدوم من خضعت له الثَّقَلاَنِ

بقدوم من خضعت له الثَّقَلاَنِ

It answered me: I have blown to bring glad tidings

So it answered me saying I have come announcing

Of the coming of him to whom humans and jinn have submitted:

The arrival of one to whom the two burdens bowed down.

شمسَ الأيمّةِ طاهرٌ من نورِه

شمسَ الأيمّةِ طاهرٌ من نورِه

يُهْدى لرونق حسنه القَمَرَان

يُهْدى لرونق حسنه القَمَرَان

Tahir, sun of the imams, by whose light

The sun of leadership, pure in his light

The sun and moon are guided to his beauty's splendor;

Through which the two moons are guided by his beauty's brilliance.

شيخٌ حباه من الكمال إلاهُه

شيخٌ حباه من الكمال إلاهُه

ما لم تَرُقْ بنظيره العَيْنَان

ما لم تَرُقْ بنظيره العَيْنَان

A shaykh whose God endowed him with such perfection

A shaykh whom his God granted perfection

As no pair of eyes has ever delighted to behold its like.

The like of which no two eyes have ever risen to.

أجلى على تَرشيشَ ظلمةَ حزنها

أجلى على تَرشيشَ ظلمةَ حزنها

فبدت بوجهٍ مُشْرقٍ فتّان

فبدت بوجهٍ مُشْرقٍ فتّان

He dispelled from Tarshish the darkness of her sorrow,

He illuminated the darkness of its gloom

And she appeared with a radiant, enchanting face.

So it appeared with a radiant, captivating face.

وأباد جُنْدَ همومها بعساكر

وأباد جُنْدَ همومها بعساكر

من ضيغمٍ ضارٍ بكلّ لسان

من ضيغمٍ ضارٍ بكلّ لسان

And annihilated the army of her cares with troops

And he destroyed its regiments of worries with armies

From a lion fierce in every tongue.

Of harmful heat affecting every tongue.

أَخَذَتْ تُقَارِعُ كُلَّ شهمٍ ضَيْغَمٍ

أَخَذَتْ تُقَارِعُ كُلَّ شهمٍ ضَيْغَمٍ

حتّى استحال مُزَوِّدَ العِقْبَان

حتّى استحال مُزَوِّدَ العِقْبَان

They began to battle every valiant lion,

It began to battle each audacious heat

Until he became a provisioner of eagles.

Until the food of vultures turned barren.

ونفى لها بؤسَ السّقام فأصبحت

ونفى لها بؤسَ السّقام فأصبحت

خضراءَ بعد يبوسة الأفنان

خضراءَ بعد يبوسة الأفنان

And he drove from her the misery of sickness, so she grew

And he removed its misery of sickness so it became

Green, after the drying of her boughs.

Green after the withering of branches.

وتحوّلت دارَ النّعيم وطالما

وتحوّلت دارَ النّعيم وطالما

كانت مَجَالَ مصائبٍ وهوان

كانت مَجَالَ مصائبٍ وهوان

And she became an abode of bliss, though long

And it was transformed into the abode of bliss when

She had been the arena of afflictions and humiliation.

It had been the sphere of misfortunes and disgrace.

وتزخرفت حتى كأنّ قطينَها

وتزخرفت حتى كأنّ قطينَها

لم يُجرِ دَمْعَةَ حائرٍ ولهان

لم يُجرِ دَمْعَةَ حائرٍ ولهان

And she was adorned, as though her inhabitants

And it became adorned as though its mud

Had never shed a tear of bewildered longing.

Had never drawn the tear of a confused and despaired one.

وكأنّها لمّا ألمّ بدورها

وكأنّها لمّا ألمّ بدورها

إِرَمٌ تَبَدَّتْ أو قصورُ جِنان

إِرَمٌ تَبَدَّتْ أو قصورُ جِنان

And as though, when he alighted in her dwellings, she were

And as though no ruin had befallen its homes

Iram revealed, or palaces of paradise.

Or they were lofty palaces and gardens of Paradise.

وتباشرت لمّا رأته بأَسْرِها

وتباشرت لمّا رأته بأَسْرِها

بلسانِ حالٍ أو لسان بيان

بلسانِ حالٍ أو لسان بيان

And all of her rejoiced when she saw him,

And it exchanged greetings when it saw him in captivation

In the language of circumstance or articulate speech.

With the tongue of a state or the tongue of speech.

حتى رأيتُ بناءَها طَرَباً إلى

حتى رأيتُ بناءَها طَرَباً إلى

مرآه يهتزّ اهتزازَ غواني

مرآه يهتزّ اهتزازَ غواني

Until I saw her buildings, in rapture at

Until I saw its buildings inclining in rapture

His sight, swaying like lovely maidens;

To a mirror shaking with the trembling of branches.

وجوامعاً ومساجداً ومدارساً

وجوامعاً ومساجداً ومدارساً

تومي إلى التّسليم ذاتَ حَنان

تومي إلى التّسليم ذاتَ حَنان

And congregational mosques, mosques, and schools

And mosques and schools swaying

Gesturing a greeting with tenderness.

To peaceful surrender.

ودروسُها تختال في حُلَلِ البَهَا

ودروسُها تختال في حُلَلِ البَهَا

ولها بمقدمه البهِيّ تهَانِ

ولها بمقدمه البهِيّ تهَانِ

And her lessons parade in robes of splendor,

And its lessons swagger in clothes of splendor

With congratulations for her on his splendid arrival.

As it welcomes the magnificent arrival ceremoniously.

وتقول أهلاً يا حبيبُ ومرحباً

وتقول أهلاً يا حبيبُ ومرحباً

بك يا إمامَ مشايخِ العِرفانِ

بك يا إمامَ مشايخِ العِرفانِ

And she says: Welcome, beloved, and welcome

And it says "welcome, O beloved, and greetings to you

To you, O imam of the masters of spiritual knowledge!

O imam of the shaykhs of gnosis."

يا محييَ الإتقانِ بعد دروسه

يا محييَ الإتقانِ بعد دروسه

ومحلّيَ الأذهان بالإيقانِ

ومحلّيَ الأذهان بالإيقانِ

O reviver of mastery after its effacement,

"O reviver of excellence after its lessons

And adorner of minds with certainty,

And elucidator of minds with certainty."

ومُشَيِّداً ربع العلوم وقد هوى

ومُشَيِّداً ربع العلوم وقد هوى

فوق العروش أسافلُ الجدران

فوق العروش أسافلُ الجدران

And rebuilder of learning's abode, when there had fallen

"O builder of the quadrant of knowledge which desired

Upon its roofs the bases of the walls!

Above the celestial spheres below the ground."

يا ابْنَ الكِرَامِ ونخبةَ الفضلاءِ مِنْ

يا ابْنَ الكِرَامِ ونخبةَ الفضلاءِ مِنْ

أهل الخلافة من بني عدنان

أهل الخلافة من بني عدنان

O son of the noble, choicest of the virtuous among

"O son of nobles and elite of the virtuous

The caliphal house, of the descendants of Adnan!

Among the people of caliphate from the children of Adnan."

يا نَجْلَ صاحِبِ خًيْرِ مَنْ وَطِئَ الثّرى

يا نَجْلَ صاحِبِ خًيْرِ مَنْ وَطِئَ الثّرى

عُمَرٍ مُوشِّحِ راية الإيمان

عُمَرٍ مُوشِّحِ راية الإيمان

O scion of the companion of the best who ever trod the earth—

"O son of the companion with the best ever to tread upon earth,

Umar, who adorned the banner of faith,

Umar, standard bearer of faith."

ومُعِزَّ دينِ المصطفى بأَدِلَّةٍ

ومُعِزَّ دينِ المصطفى بأَدِلَّةٍ

وأسِنّةِ وأجلّةِ الفرسان

وأسِنّةِ وأجلّةِ الفرسان

And strengthened the Chosen One's religion with proofs,

"And strengthener of the religion of Mustafa with evidences

And spearheads and the foremost horsemen,

And the outstanding tongues and horsemen."

ومبينَ صدقِ وقوعِ ما يقضي به الْ

ومبينَ صدقِ وقوعِ ما يقضي به الْ

إرْهاصُ مثل تصدّع الإِيوان

إرْهاصُ مثل تصدّع الإِيوان

And demonstrated the true fulfillment of what was foretold by the

"And clarifier of the truth of what he decrees with hints

Portent, such as the splitting of the palace hall.

Like the cracking of pillars."

فأذاق كسرى كأسَ ذلٍّ قاتلٍ

فأذاق كسرى كأسَ ذلٍّ قاتلٍ

فكأنّه ما ذاق بنتَ دنان

فكأنّه ما ذاق بنتَ دنان

Thus he made Kisra taste the cup of deadly humiliation,

So he made Chosroes taste a deadly cup of disgrace

As though he had never tasted the daughter of wine-jars.

As though he never tasted the daughters of grapevines."

كم لي أُنَقّي في الأنام لعلّني

كم لي أُنَقّي في الأنام لعلّني

أُلْفِي فما أَلْفَيْتُ مثلك ثانِ

أُلْفِي فما أَلْفَيْتُ مثلك ثانِ

How long have I sifted among humankind, hoping I

"How I wish to thoroughly examine mankind that I may

Might find one—yet I found no other like you.

Find the like of you again."

ولكم سألتُ النّاسَ هل لك مُشْبِهٌ

ولكم سألتُ النّاسَ هل لك مُشْبِهٌ

فرأيتُهم ينفون كلَّ مُدَانِ

فرأيتُهم ينفون كلَّ مُدَانِ

And how often I asked people whether you had an equal,

"And how much I asked people, is there anyone similar to you?

And found them denying anyone came close.

But I saw them all refusing any rival."

مِنْ أَيْنَ نُلْفي مُشْبِهاً لك في الورى

مِنْ أَيْنَ نُلْفي مُشْبِهاً لك في الورى

وَهُمُ لذكرك ناكسو الأذقان

وَهُمُ لذكرك ناكسو الأذقان

Where could we find your like among mortals,

"From where do we find someone similar to you in existence

When they lower their chins at the mention of you?

While they bow their necks to the mention of you?"

وإذا برزتَ رميتَهم بمهابة

وإذا برزتَ رميتَهم بمهابة

تَذَرُ الشُّجَاعَ البَطْلَ مثلَ جَبَانِ

تَذَرُ الشُّجَاعَ البَطْلَ مثلَ جَبَانِ

And when you appear, you strike them with an awe

"And when you come out, you throw them into awe

That leaves the valiant hero like a coward.

That leaves the brave hero like a coward."

حتّى إذا ما الرُّعبُ زال رأيتَهم

حتّى إذا ما الرُّعبُ زال رأيتَهم

وجميعُهم مُثْنٍ بكلّ لسان

وجميعُهم مُثْنٍ بكلّ لسان

Then, once the terror has passed, you see them,

"Until when the terror passes, I see them

All of them praising you in every tongue.

And all of them commending you with every tongue."

قل لي بفضلك أيّ ذنبٍ جِئْتُه

قل لي بفضلك أيّ ذنبٍ جِئْتُه

حتّى أُجَرَّعَ غُصّةَ الهجران

حتّى أُجَرَّعَ غُصّةَ الهجران

Tell me, by your grace, what sin I committed

"Tell me, by your grace, what sin did I come to

To be made to swallow the choking bitterness of estrangement?

That made me drink the bitterness of estrangement?"

وترى فراقي مذهبا ومدامعي

وترى فراقي مذهبا ومدامعي

تبدو بذاك مُبَاحةَ السَّيَلان

تبدو بذاك مُبَاحةَ السَّيَلان

And you deem parting from me a course to follow, while my tears

"And you see my separation as purposeful and my tears

Seem thereby permitted to flow.

For that are seen by you as permitted to flow?"

ولأيّ شيء ما رأيتُ من الأسى

ولأيّ شيء ما رأيتُ من الأسى

بمغيب مطلَعِكَ العَلِيِّ الشان

بمغيب مطلَعِكَ العَلِيِّ الشان

And for what reason was the sorrow I suffered

"And for what reason have I not seen because of the grief

At the vanishing of your exalted dawn?

At your disappearance, O most noble and lofty?"

وتَركْتَنِي فوق البسيطة هائماً

وتَركْتَنِي فوق البسيطة هائماً

عاري الحياة لشدّة الهيمان

عاري الحياة لشدّة الهيمان

And you left me wandering upon the earth,

"And you left me wandering above the plain

Bereft of life through the intensity of longing,

Bare of life from the intensity of anxiety."

حتى رأيتُ من العذول تعذّراً

حتى رأيتُ من العذول تعذّراً

وترحّما من كلّ نَذْلٍ شَانِ

وترحّما من كلّ نَذْلٍ شَانِ

Until I found even the reproacher making excuses for me,

"Until I saw from chastity avoidance

And pity from every vile detractor.

And sympathy from every despicable companion."

أَحَسِبْتَ لي إلْفاً سِوَاك يروقني

أَحَسِبْتَ لي إلْفاً سِوَاك يروقني

وأرى السُّلُوَّ به عليك عراني

وأرى السُّلُوَّ به عليك عراني

Did you think I had a companion besides you to delight me,

"Did you reckon I have a beloved besides you who pleases me?

And that, through him, I found myself forgetting you?

And I see solace in him apart from you exposed?"

لا والذي أولاك رِقّي ليس في

لا والذي أولاك رِقّي ليس في

قلبي سواك وليس لي قلبان

قلبي سواك وليس لي قلبان

No—by Him who gave you my bondage—there is none in

"No, by He who gave you my companionship, there is

My heart but you, and I do not have two hearts.

No one in my heart besides you and I have no second heart."

ولئن أتيتُ جريمةً فَلأَنْتَ مَنْ

ولئن أتيتُ جريمةً فَلأَنْتَ مَنْ

يُولي المُسِيءَ سحائبَ الغُفْران

يُولي المُسِيءَ سحائبَ الغُفْران

And even if I committed a crime, you are the one

"And if I came with a crime, then you are the one

Who grants the wrongdoer clouds of forgiveness.

Who turns the wrongdoer to the clouds of forgiveness."

أَوَكَانَ هجرُك لا لذنب جِئْتُه

أَوَكَانَ هجرُك لا لذنب جِئْتُه

أَيَحِلُّ منكَ عذابُ غَيْرِ الجاني

أَيَحِلُّ منكَ عذابُ غَيْرِ الجاني

Or was your estrangement not for a sin I committed?

"Or was your estrangement not for a sin I came with?

May you lawfully torment one who did no wrong?

Is it permissible for punishment from you of the innocent?"

ولعلَّ وِدَّك حال حتّى إنّه

ولعلَّ وِدَّك حال حتّى إنّه

نسجتْ عليه عناكبُ النّسيان

نسجتْ عليه عناكبُ النّسيان

And perhaps your affection changed, so that

"Perhaps your affection changed until it was

The spiders of oblivion spun their webs over it.

Spun by the spiders of forgetfulness."

ومتى استحال وحسنُ عهدِك في الورى

ومتى استحال وحسنُ عهدِك في الورى

عالي الحصون ومُحْكَمُ البنيان

عالي الحصون ومُحْكَمُ البنيان

But when could it change, while your fair fidelity among mankind

"And when did your covenant in the world

Has towering fortresses and solid construction?

Become of lofty fortresses and solid construction?"

لم أَدْرِ ما سبب الصّدود وليتَني

لم أَدْرِ ما سبب الصّدود وليتَني

حصّلتُ منه على شِفَا خفقان

حصّلتُ منه على شِفَا خفقان

I did not know the cause of your aversion; if only I

"I do not know the reason for the estrangement, and would that

Had gained from it a cure for my heart's trembling.

I had extracted from it a cure for my fluttering heart."

لكنّ حرصي قَادَنِي لِلَطِيفَةٍ

لكنّ حرصي قَادَنِي لِلَطِيفَةٍ

فرأيتُ منه الأَمرَ شِبْهَ عِيَان

فرأيتُ منه الأَمرَ شِبْهَ عِيَان

But my eagerness led me to a subtle insight,

"But my eagerness led me to divination

So through it I saw the matter almost with my own eyes.

So I saw from it the matter as clear as daylight."

هي أنّ ما قد حُمَّ ليس بواقعٍ

هي أنّ ما قد حُمَّ ليس بواقعٍ

بمكانٍ أنْتَ به من القُطّان

بمكانٍ أنْتَ به من القُطّان

It is that whatever has been decreed cannot occur

"It is that what has been imagined is untrue

In a place where you are among the dwellers.

In a place where you are among the truthful."

فتركتَني كَيْمَا ترى المقضيَّ في

فتركتَني كَيْمَا ترى المقضيَّ في

حُلَلِ الوجود محقّق الإمكان

حُلَلِ الوجود محقّق الإمكان

So you left me, that you might see what was decreed

"So you left me to see what was destined

In the robes of existence, its possibility realized.

In the situations of existence, made real in potential."

والصّالحون لهم مَزِيدُ كرامةٍ

والصّالحون لهم مَزِيدُ كرامةٍ

فيهم تُعَاقُ عوائقُ الأزمان

فيهم تُعَاقُ عوائقُ الأزمان

And the righteous are granted an added grace;

"And the righteous have additional honor

In their presence, time's hindrances are themselves hindered.

In which obstacles of time are ineffective."

سيّما وقد شاهدتُ فيكَ عجيبةً

سيّما وقد شاهدتُ فيكَ عجيبةً

تقضي بأنّك قُرَّةُ الأعيان

تقضي بأنّك قُرَّةُ الأعيان

Especially since I witnessed in you a marvel

"Especially as I witnessed a wonder in you

Proving that you are the delight of the eyes.

Which proves you are the delight of the notables."

إنّي رأيت كواكبَ الأفلاك

إنّي رأيت كواكبَ الأفلاك

قد سارت لِنَحْوِكَ طالقاتِ عِنَان

قد سارت لِنَحْوِكَ طالقاتِ عِنَان

Indeed, I saw the stars of the celestial spheres

"I saw that the stars of the celestial spheres

Travel toward you with their reins let loose.

Moved unrestrained toward you."

عَلِمَتْ بأنّك زائرٌ لِسَرَايَةٍ

عَلِمَتْ بأنّك زائرٌ لِسَرَايَةٍ

فَتدَنَّيَتْ للغرب والمَيَلان

فَتدَنَّيَتْ للغرب والمَيَلان

They knew that you were visiting a palace,

"They knew you would visit a mansion

So they drew toward the west, inclining.

So they approached the west and declination."

فإنِ امْتَرَى ذو ومِرْيَةٍ فلعلّه

فإنِ امْتَرَى ذو ومِرْيَةٍ فلعلّه

لم يَدْرِ كيف مَطَالِعُ الوِجدان

لم يَدْرِ كيف مَطَالِعُ الوِجدان

If one possessed of doubt disputes this, perhaps he

"So if a doubter objects, perhaps

Does not know how inward perception dawns.

He does not know the horizons of hearts."

ولعلّه إذ كنتَ شمسَ معارفٍ

ولعلّه إذ كنتَ شمسَ معارفٍ

غَرَبَتْ عليه أَشِعَّةُ اللَمَعَان

غَرَبَتْ عليه أَشِعَّةُ اللَمَعَان

And perhaps, since you are a sun of spiritual knowledge,

"And perhaps since you were the sun of knowledge

The rays of brilliance have set beyond his sight.

Its rays were obscured to him."

وَالشمسُ تَبْهَرُ كلَّ مُقْلَةِ مُبْصِرٍ

وَالشمسُ تَبْهَرُ كلَّ مُقْلَةِ مُبْصِرٍ

عن دَرْكِها بزيادة الإمعان

عن دَرْكِها بزيادة الإمعان

And the sun dazzles the eye of every beholder,

"The sun dazzles the vision of every weak-eyed witness

Beyond apprehending it, however intently it gazes.

From perceiving it by intense staring."

ولأنْتَ أرْفَعُ منزِلاً بمراتبٍ

ولأنْتَ أرْفَعُ منزِلاً بمراتبٍ

من دونها البحران يلتقيان

من دونها البحران يلتقيان

And you are higher in station by many degrees,

"And you are far higher in rank and degrees

Below which the two seas meet.

Than it, though the two seas meet."

أَفَيستطيع بلوغَ مدحِك مادحٌ

أَفَيستطيع بلوغَ مدحِك مادحٌ

ويُجِيدُ فيكَ مبانياً ومعان

ويُجِيدُ فيكَ مبانياً ومعان

Can any praiser attain a praise worthy of you,

"Can one praising you master praising you

And excel in wording and meaning when speaking of you?

And excel in meanings and ideas about you?"

وأَجَلُّ مَدْحٍ أنت فوق أَجَلِّهِ

وأَجَلُّ مَدْحٍ أنت فوق أَجَلِّهِ

وأَجَلُّ قصر في القصور يعاني

وأَجَلُّ قصر في القصور يعاني

And you stand above the loftiest heights of the loftiest praise,

"The greatest praise is that you are above its greatest,

And even the greatest falls short, struggling in inadequacy.

And the greatest palace suffers in comparison."

لكنّ ما لا يُسْتَطَاعُ جميعُه

لكنّ ما لا يُسْتَطَاعُ جميعُه

فَيُجَاءُ منه بمُمْكِنِ الإتيان

فَيُجَاءُ منه بمُمْكِنِ الإتيان

Yet what cannot be achieved in its entirety

"But what cannot be fully attained,

Is offered in whatever measure can be achieved.

Let some of the feasible be attained."

والعَفْوُ عمّا قد جَنَيْتُ مُؤَمَّلٌ

والعَفْوُ عمّا قد جَنَيْتُ مُؤَمَّلٌ

حيثُ اجْترَأْتُ على عَلِّي مكان

حيثُ اجْترَأْتُ على عَلِّي مكان

And pardon for what I have committed is hoped for,

"And pardon what I have boldly done

Since I have dared approach one so lofty in station.

Where I encroached upon one of high position."

لا زال في حَرَمٍ يُلاذُ بِحِصْنِه

لا زال في حَرَمٍ يُلاذُ بِحِصْنِه

ما دام في حَرَمَيْهِمَا الحَرَمان

ما دام في حَرَمَيْهِمَا الحَرَمان

May he ever remain in a sanctuary whose fortress affords refuge,

"One remains in inviolable territory taking refuge

As long as the two holy sanctuaries stand within their precincts.

In its fortress as long as the sanctuaries are inviolate."