كَرُمَ الزّمان ولم يكن بكريمِ

كَرُمَ الزّمان ولم يكن بكريمِ

وصفا فكان على الصّفاء نديمِي

وصفا فكان على الصّفاء نديمِي

Time grew generous, though it had not been generous,

The time was generous though not generous

And grew serene, becoming my boon companion in serenity.

In description, so it was my companion in purity

وأفاض من نِعَمٍ عليّ سوابغاً

وأفاض من نِعَمٍ عليّ سوابغاً

للّه يشكرها فمي وصميمي

للّه يشكرها فمي وصميمي

And poured abundant blessings upon me,

And it overflowed with complete blessings upon me

For which my mouth and inmost heart give thanks to God.

For which my mouth and my deepest core thank Allah

عَظُمَتْ على الشعر البليغ وربّما

عَظُمَتْ على الشعر البليغ وربّما

عجز الثّناء عن الوفا بعظيم

عجز الثّناء عن الوفا بعظيم

They surpass eloquent poetry, and sometimes

It magnified eloquent poetry, and perhaps

Praise falls short of doing justice to something great.

Praise falls short of fairness with the greatest

وأجلُّها نظري إلى ابن حرازم

وأجلُّها نظري إلى ابن حرازم

وتمتّعي من وجهه بنعيم

وتمتّعي من وجهه بنعيم

And the greatest is my beholding Ibn Harazim,

The best of which, in my view, is looking upon the son of Harazm

And my enjoyment of bliss from his face,

And enjoying his face in bliss

وتلذّذي من خلقه بمحاسنٍ

وتلذّذي من خلقه بمحاسنٍ

وتنعُّمي من خلقه بنسيم

وتنعُّمي من خلقه بنسيم

And my delight in the beauties of his form,

And delighting in his nature with beauties

And my bliss in the breeze of his character,

And luxuriating in his making with a breeze

وتعرّفي من عَرْفِهِ بعوارف

وتعرّفي من عَرْفِهِ بعوارف

ومعارف ولطائف وفهوم

ومعارف ولطائف وفهوم

And my discovery, through his kindness, of gracious gifts,

And learning from his intellect wisdoms

And insights, subtleties, and understanding,

And cognizance, subtleties, and understandings

وتعزّزي بتذلّلي لجماله

وتعزّزي بتذلّلي لجماله

وتشرّفي من نعله المخدوم

وتشرّفي من نعله المخدوم

And my gaining dignity by humbling myself before his beauty,

And finding strength in my humility to his beauty

And the honor I gain from his sandal, which is served.

And gaining nobility from his honored slipper

ذاك الذي حَمَلَتْ خزائنُ سرّه

ذاك الذي حَمَلَتْ خزائنُ سرّه

ما لو بدا لارتاب كلُّ حليم

ما لو بدا لارتاب كلُّ حليم

He is the one whose secret's treasuries hold

That one whom the treasuries of his secret carried

What, if revealed, would make every sage doubt.

What if revealed, every reasonable one would doubt

وهو الذي مُنِحَ المعارفَ فارتقى

وهو الذي مُنِحَ المعارفَ فارتقى

منها لأَِرْفَعِ سرّها المكتوم

منها لأَِرْفَعِ سرّها المكتوم

And he is the one granted insights, who thus rose

And he to whom knowledges were granted, so he ascended

From them to their loftiest hidden secret.

Among them to the highest of his hidden secret

وهو الذي جُعِلت أسرَّةُ وجههِ

وهو الذي جُعِلت أسرَّةُ وجههِ

مرآةَ إسعادٍ وبُرْءَ سَقيم

مرآةَ إسعادٍ وبُرْءَ سَقيم

And he is the one whose facial lines were made

And he whose radiant face was made

A mirror of felicity and a cure for the sick.

A mirror of felicity and cure for the sick

وهو الذي نال الرّضى من ربّه

وهو الذي نال الرّضى من ربّه

وبنَيْلِهِ مَنْ شاء غير مَلومِ

وبنَيْلِهِ مَنْ شاء غير مَلومِ

And he is the one who attained his Lord's favor,

And he who gained pleasure from his Lord

And is blameless in bestowing it on whomever he wishes.

And by gaining it, who he willed was not blamed

وهو الذي أذن الرّسولُ بوصله

وهو الذي أذن الرّسولُ بوصله

وأمدّه من عنده بعلوم

وأمدّه من عنده بعلوم

And he is the one whose communion the Messenger permitted,

And he whom the Messenger permitted to be joined

And whom he supplied with knowledge from his own presence.

And supported him from his presence with knowledges

وهو الذي التجاني أودع سرّه

وهو الذي التجاني أودع سرّه

فيه وخصّ مقامه بعموم

فيه وخصّ مقامه بعموم

And he is the one: al-Tijani placed his secret

And he in whom the secrets were deposited

In him, and distinguished his station with all-embracing scope.

And his station was specialized with comprehensiveness

وهو الذي وهو الذي وهو الذي

وهو الذي وهو الذي وهو الذي

وهو الذي معناه غير مروم

وهو الذي معناه غير مروم

And he is the one, and he is the one, and he is the one,

And he, and he, and he, and he

And he is the one whose inward meaning is beyond reach.

Whose meaning is not conjectured

عظمت لديه مواهب أضحت لها

عظمت لديه مواهب أضحت لها

هِمَمُ الورى تسعى بكلّ سليم

هِمَمُ الورى تسعى بكلّ سليم

Great are the gifts he holds, toward which

His gifts became great, for which

Mankind's aspirations now hasten with every sound soul.

The aspirations of all people strove, every wholesome one

وَسَعَتْ محبّتُه إلى أرواحهم

وَسَعَتْ محبّتُه إلى أرواحهم

فهي الغِذاءُ لراحلٍ ومقيم

فهي الغِذاءُ لراحلٍ ومقيم

And his love hastened to their souls,

And his love expanded to their souls

So it is nourishment for traveler and dweller.

So it is nourishment for travelers and residents

يا سيّدي ولكم دَعَوْتُ لسيّدي

يا سيّدي ولكم دَعَوْتُ لسيّدي

حتى عرفتُك فاستَبَنْتُ رجومي

حتى عرفتُك فاستَبَنْتُ رجومي

O my master, how often I called for my master,

My master, how much I have prayed for my master

Until I knew you and recognized my blind guesses.

Until I knew you and my conjectures were clarified

وعلمتُ أني كنت أرقم في الهوا

وعلمتُ أني كنت أرقم في الهوا

وأسير خلفي والشّقاء نديمي

وأسير خلفي والشّقاء نديمي

And I learned that I had been writing in the air,

And I learned that I was imagining in passion

And walking behind myself, with misery my boon companion.

And traveling behind me while misery was my companion

يا مَوْئِلي وكفى بفضلك مَوْئِلاً

يا مَوْئِلي وكفى بفضلك مَوْئِلاً

وَمُؤَمَّلِي عند الْتِهابِ سَمومي

وَمُؤَمَّلِي عند الْتِهابِ سَمومي

O my refuge—your bounty is refuge enough—

My refuge, your favor is sufficient as a refuge

And my hope when my scorching wind blazes.

And my expectation in the fires of my poisons

هل أنتَ كاشفُ كُرْبتي فلقد سَطَتْ

هل أنتَ كاشفُ كُرْبتي فلقد سَطَتْ

وطَغَتْ عليّ وساوسي وهمومي

وطَغَتْ عليّ وساوسي وهمومي

Will you dispel my anguish? For they have assailed

Are you the remover of my worries? For they have prevailed

And overwhelmed me—my whispering doubts and cares.

And overwhelmed me, my suspicions and sorrows

هل أنت راحمُ شقوتي فَتُرِيحَنِي

هل أنت راحمُ شقوتي فَتُرِيحَنِي

فَخَيَارُ أهلِ اللّهِ خَيْرُ رحيم

فَخَيَارُ أهلِ اللّهِ خَيْرُ رحيم

Will you pity my misery and give me rest?

Are you the one who has mercy on my misfortune, so you comfort me?

For the choicest of God's people are the best in mercy.

For the best of Allah's people are the most merciful

هل مُنْقِذٌ مَنْ قد تحيَّرَ لم يجِدْ

هل مُنْقِذٌ مَنْ قد تحيَّرَ لم يجِدْ

من مُسْعِدٍ يٌجْلي الهمومَ زعيمِ

من مُسْعِدٍ يٌجْلي الهمومَ زعيمِ

Is there a rescuer for one bewildered, who has found

Are you the rescuer of one who has lost his way and found

No helper pledged to dispel his cares?

No one to make happy, removing sorrows, a leader?

فَارْحَمْ دموعاً قد رأتك عيونُها

فَارْحَمْ دموعاً قد رأتك عيونُها

فتكرّمت باللّؤْلُؤِ المنظوم

فتكرّمت باللّؤْلُؤِ المنظوم

So pity tears whose eyes have seen you,

So have mercy on tears whose eyes have seen you

And so lavished pearls strung together.

And you were generous with pearls, strung together

وجوانحاً جَعَلَتْك في سودائها

وجوانحاً جَعَلَتْك في سودائها

وقد اصطلت وتكلّمت بكلوم

وقد اصطلت وتكلّمت بكلوم

And inner ribs that have lodged you in their black core,

And breasts that have made you their core

And have been scorched, and spoken through wounds.

That have been kindled and speak with wounds

وجوارحاً هرعت إليك يقودها

وجوارحاً هرعت إليك يقودها

أَصْلٌ عظيمُ الشأن غير هضيم

أَصْلٌ عظيمُ الشأن غير هضيم

And limbs that rushed to you, led by

And limbs that have rushed to you, led

A root of mighty standing, not abased.

By a tremendous lineage, not easily consumed

وسرائراً ألْوانُها بَلِيَتْ لما

وسرائراً ألْوانُها بَلِيَتْ لما

وَجَدَتْ سوى شوقٍ إليك أليم

وَجَدَتْ سوى شوقٍ إليك أليم

And inner secrets whose colors faded when

And intimate thoughts whose colors have worn out because

They found something other than a painful yearning for you.

They found naught but painful passion for you

وَمُتَيَّماً لولا التذكّر لم يكن

وَمُتَيَّماً لولا التذكّر لم يكن

بِمُجَدَّدِ الأشواق غَيْرَ رميم

بِمُجَدَّدِ الأشواق غَيْرَ رميم

And a love-stricken one who, but for remembrance, would be,

And an infatuated one who, were it not for remembrance, would not be

With renewed longings, nothing but decayed remains.

With the renewal of longing other than feeble

لا تَقْطَعَنْ أملي وقد وَجَّهْتُه

لا تَقْطَعَنْ أملي وقد وَجَّهْتُه

يسعى إليك وأنت خَيْرُ كريم

يسعى إليك وأنت خَيْرُ كريم

Do not sever my hope, for I have sent it

Do not cut off my hope which I have directed

Hastening to you, and you are the best of the generous.

To strive toward you, and you are the most generous

وقدِ اتّخذتُك في الأنام وسيلةً

وقدِ اتّخذتُك في الأنام وسيلةً

وتَوَسُّلِي بِهُدَاكَ غَيْرُ فصيم

وتَوَسُّلِي بِهُدَاكَ غَيْرُ فصيم

And I have taken you, among humankind, as an intermediary;

And I have taken you as a means amongst people

And my seeking intercession through your guidance is unbroken.

And my begging through your guidance is not unperceptive

وجعلت حُبّي عند فضلك ذمَّةً

وجعلت حُبّي عند فضلك ذمَّةً

وتذمّما بِعُلاَك غيرَ ذميم

وتذمّما بِعُلاَك غيرَ ذميم

And I have made my love a pledge before your bounty,

And I have made my love with you a trust at your favor

And a blameless plea for protection through your exalted rank.

And a covenant with your loftiness, not despised

ورَجَوْتُ من ربّي بفضلك ما أنا

ورَجَوْتُ من ربّي بفضلك ما أنا

أصبحتُ من معناه غيرَ عديم

أصبحتُ من معناه غيرَ عديم

And through your bounty I hoped from my Lord for that

And I have hoped from my Lord through your favor what I

Whose inward meaning I now do not lack.

Have come to possess its meaning, not devoid

يا مُسْنَدي يا مقصدي يا سيّدي

يا مُسْنَدي يا مقصدي يا سيّدي

يا منجدي ومؤمّلي وحميمي

يا منجدي ومؤمّلي وحميمي

O my support, O my goal, O my master,

My support, my destination, my master

O my rescuer, my hope, and my intimate friend.

My aider, my expectation, my intimate

أنت الذي ربّي اصطفاك لِسِرِّه

أنت الذي ربّي اصطفاك لِسِرِّه

وحباك من فضلٍ عليكَ عميمِ

وحباك من فضلٍ عليكَ عميمِ

You are the one my Lord chose for His secret,

You whom my Lord chose for His secret

And bestowed upon you bounty that embraces you fully.

And interwove from a favor upon you, all-encompassing

فلك الهناءُ فأنت سلطان الورى

فلك الهناءُ فأنت سلطان الورى

وَلِيَ الهناءُ بأن تقولَ خديمي

وَلِيَ الهناءُ بأن تقولَ خديمي

So yours is felicity, for you are humankind's sovereign,

So for you is glory, for you are the sultan of all

And mine is felicity in your saying, 'My servant.'

And for me is glory, that you say "my servant"

ورسولُه أوْلاَكَ مَا اعْتَرَفَتْ بِه

ورسولُه أوْلاَكَ مَا اعْتَرَفَتْ بِه

لك أَهْلُ سِرِّ الله بالتّقديم

لك أَهْلُ سِرِّ الله بالتّقديم

And His Messenger bestowed on you what was acknowledged

And His Messenger made you inherit what

As yours by the people of God's secret, in granting you precedence.

The people of Allah's secret have confessed about you

فسَلاَمُ رَبِّكَ كلّما هبّت صَبَا

فسَلاَمُ رَبِّكَ كلّما هبّت صَبَا

يغشاك طيبُ مِزاجه المختوم

يغشاك طيبُ مِزاجه المختوم

So may your Lord's peace, whenever the east wind blows,

So the greeting of your Lord whenever the morning breeze stirs

Enfold you with the fragrance of its sealed blend.

Covers you in the fragrance of His sealed musk