يا صارِمَ اللَّحْظِ مَنْ أَغْرَاكَ بِالْمُهَجِ

يا صارِمَ اللَّحْظِ مَنْ أَغْرَاكَ بِالْمُهَجِ

حَتَّى فَتَكْتَ بِهَا ظُلْماً بِلا حَرَجِ

حَتَّى فَتَكْتَ بِهَا ظُلْماً بِلا حَرَجِ

O you of the sword-sharp glance, who set you upon souls,

O you with the piercing glance, who deceived you with tenderness

Until you slew them unjustly, without a qualm?

That you should oppress it unjustly without qualm?

ما زالَ يَخْدَعُ نَفْسِي وَهْيَ لاهِيَةٌ

ما زالَ يَخْدَعُ نَفْسِي وَهْيَ لاهِيَةٌ

حَتَّى أَصَابَ سَوادَ الْقَلْبِ بِالدَّعَجِ

حَتَّى أَصَابَ سَوادَ الْقَلْبِ بِالدَّعَجِ

It kept beguiling my soul while it was heedless,

My soul kept deluding me while it was heedless,

Until it struck the heart's dark core with its deep blackness—

Until the darkness took hold of the heart's kernel.

طَرْفٌ لَو أَنَّ الظُّبَا كَانَتْ كَلَحْظَتِهِ

طَرْفٌ لَو أَنَّ الظُّبَا كَانَتْ كَلَحْظَتِهِ

يَومَ الْكَرِيهَةِ مَا أَبْقَتْ عَلَى وَدَجِ

يَومَ الْكَرِيهَةِ مَا أَبْقَتْ عَلَى وَدَجِ

An eye: had sword edges been like its glance,

A glance, if gazelles were like his glance

On the day of battle, they would have spared no jugular vein.

On the day of trial, would leave no pasture untouched.

أَوْحَى إِلَى القَلْبِ فانْقَادَتْ أَزِمَّتُهُ

أَوْحَى إِلَى القَلْبِ فانْقَادَتْ أَزِمَّتُهُ

طَوْعاً إِلَيْهِ وَخلَّانِي وَلَمْ يَعُجِ

طَوْعاً إِلَيْهِ وَخلَّانِي وَلَمْ يَعُجِ

It whispered to the heart, and its reins yielded

He hinted to my heart and so it yielded to him,

Willingly to it; the heart left me and did not turn back.

Willingly, and left me perplexed, with no fuss.

فَكَيْفَ لِي بِتَلافِيهِ وَقَدْ عَلِقَتْ

فَكَيْفَ لِي بِتَلافِيهِ وَقَدْ عَلِقَتْ

بِهِ حَبائِلُ ذاكَ الشَّادِنِ الْغَنِجِ

بِهِ حَبائِلُ ذاكَ الشَّادِنِ الْغَنِجِ

How, then, can I recover it, now that it is caught

So how can I make it up with him when the ropes

In the snares of that coquettish fawn?

Of that slender-waisted one have got entwined?

كَادَتْ تُذِيبُ فُؤادِي نارُ لَوْعَتِهِ

كَادَتْ تُذِيبُ فُؤادِي نارُ لَوْعَتِهِ

لَوْ لَمْ أَكُنْ مِنْ مَسِيلِ الدَّمْعِ في لُجَجِ

لَوْ لَمْ أَكُنْ مِنْ مَسِيلِ الدَّمْعِ في لُجَجِ

The fire of longing for him would have all but melted my heart,

The fire of his suffering would have melted my heart

Had I not been in deep seas of streaming tears.

Had I not been pouring my tears freely in streams.

لَوْلا الْفَواتِنُ مِنْ غِزْلانِ كَاظِمَةٍ

لَوْلا الْفَواتِنُ مِنْ غِزْلانِ كَاظِمَةٍ

مَا كانَ لِلْحُبِّ سُلْطَانٌ عَلَى المُهَجِ

مَا كانَ لِلْحُبِّ سُلْطَانٌ عَلَى المُهَجِ

Were it not for the enchantresses among Kazimah's gazelles,

Were it not for the beauties of Kazima's twisting strands,

Love would have no dominion over souls.

Passion would have had no power over hearts.

فَهَلْ إِلَى صِلَةٍ مِنْ غَادِرٍ عِدَةٌ

فَهَلْ إِلَى صِلَةٍ مِنْ غَادِرٍ عِدَةٌ

تَشْفِي تَبارِيحَ قَلْبٍ بِالْفِراقِ شَجِ

تَشْفِي تَبارِيحَ قَلْبٍ بِالْفِراقِ شَجِ

Is there, then, from a faithless one, a promise of reunion

Is there any hope of union with a fair one

To heal the torments of a heart grieving at separation?

Who could heal the sickness in a heart parted?

أَبِيتُ أَرْعَى نُجُومَ اللَّيْلِ في ظُلَمٍ

أَبِيتُ أَرْعَى نُجُومَ اللَّيْلِ في ظُلَمٍ

يَخْشى الضَّلالَةَ فيها كُلُّ مُدَّلِجِ

يَخْشى الضَّلالَةَ فيها كُلُّ مُدَّلِجِ

I keep vigil, watching the stars of night in darkness

I spent the night tending the stars in the darkness

Where every traveler by night fears losing his way.

While each late night wanderer feared going astray.

كَأَنَّ أَنْجُمَهُ والجَوُّ مُعتَكِرٌ

كَأَنَّ أَنْجُمَهُ والجَوُّ مُعتَكِرٌ

غِيدٌ بِأَخْبِيَةٍ يَنْظُرْنَ مِنْ فُرَجِ

غِيدٌ بِأَخْبِيَةٍ يَنْظُرْنَ مِنْ فُرَجِ

Its stars, while the sky is murky, seem like

It was as if its stars and the atmosphere were clouded

Graceful maidens in tents, peering through openings.

With mysteries peering out through openings.

لَيْلٌ غَيَاهِبُهُ حَيْرَى وأَنْجُمُهُ

لَيْلٌ غَيَاهِبُهُ حَيْرَى وأَنْجُمُهُ

حَسْرَى وَساعاتُهُ فِي الطُّولِ كالْحِجَجِ

حَسْرَى وَساعاتُهُ فِي الطُّولِ كالْحِجَجِ

A night whose dark depths are bewildered, and whose stars

A night whose obscurities bewildered, whose stars

Are weary, and whose hours are as long as years.

Frustrated, and whose hours were protracted like arguments.

كَأَنَّما الصُّبْحُ خافَ اللَّيْلَ حِينَ رَأَى

كَأَنَّما الصُّبْحُ خافَ اللَّيْلَ حِينَ رَأَى

ظَلْمَاءَهُ ذاتَ أَسْدادٍ فَلَمْ يَلِجِ

ظَلْمَاءَهُ ذاتَ أَسْدادٍ فَلَمْ يَلِجِ

It is as though dawn feared the night when it saw

It was as if morning feared the night when it saw

Its barrier-filled darkness, and so did not enter.

Its darkness with impasses so did not emerge.

فَلَيْتَ مَنْ لامَنِي لانَتْ شَكِيمَتُهُ

فَلَيْتَ مَنْ لامَنِي لانَتْ شَكِيمَتُهُ

فَكَفَّ عَنِّي فُضُولَ الْمَنطِقِ السَّمِجِ

فَكَفَّ عَنِّي فُضُولَ الْمَنطِقِ السَّمِجِ

If only the one who blamed me would soften his stubborn temper,

Would that the one who blamed me, his glare abated

And spare me his needless, tiresome talk.

And he refrained from foolish talk coarse and rude!

يَظُنُّ بِي سَفَهاً أَنِّي عَلَى سَرَفٍ

يَظُنُّ بِي سَفَهاً أَنِّي عَلَى سَرَفٍ

وَلا يَكَادُ يَرَى ما فِيهِ مِنْ عِوَجِ

وَلا يَكَادُ يَرَى ما فِيهِ مِنْ عِوَجِ

He foolishly thinks that I am given to excess,

He reckons me crazy, that I'm frivolous,

Yet scarcely sees the crookedness within himself.

And can barely see the flaw that is in it.

فاعْدِلْ عَنِ اللَّوْمِ إِنْ كُنْتَ امْرَأً فَطِنَاً

فاعْدِلْ عَنِ اللَّوْمِ إِنْ كُنْتَ امْرَأً فَطِنَاً

فَاللَّوْمُ في الْحُبِّ مَعْدُودٌ مِنَ الْهَوَجِ

فَاللَّوْمُ في الْحُبِّ مَعْدُودٌ مِنَ الْهَوَجِ

Then turn away from blame, if you are a discerning man,

Spare me from blame if you're a prudent man,

For blame in love is reckoned foolishness.

For blame in love is accounted a transgression.

هَيْهَاتَ يَسْلُكُ لَوْمُ الْعَاذِلِينَ إِلَى

هَيْهَاتَ يَسْلُكُ لَوْمُ الْعَاذِلِينَ إِلَى

قَلْبٍ بِحُبِّ رسُولِ اللهِ مُمْتَزِجِ

قَلْبٍ بِحُبِّ رسُولِ اللهِ مُمْتَزِجِ

Never can the reproachers' blame find its way into

Never can the blame of critics reach

A heart suffused with love for the Messenger of God.

A heart commingled with the love of Allah's Emissary!

هُوَ النَّبِيُّ الَّذي لَوْلا هِدَايَتُهُ

هُوَ النَّبِيُّ الَّذي لَوْلا هِدَايَتُهُ

لَكانَ أَعْلَمُ مَنْ فِي الأَرْضِ كَالْهَمَجِ

لَكانَ أَعْلَمُ مَنْ فِي الأَرْضِ كَالْهَمَجِ

He is the Prophet without whose guidance

He is the Prophet but for whose guidance

The most learned on earth would have been like the rabble.

I would be the most ignorant man on earth.

أَنَا الَّذي بِتُّ مِنْ وَجْدِي بِرَوْضَتِهِ

أَنَا الَّذي بِتُّ مِنْ وَجْدِي بِرَوْضَتِهِ

أَحِنُّ َشْوقاً كَطَيْرِ الْبَانَةِ الْهَزِجِ

أَحِنُّ َشْوقاً كَطَيْرِ الْبَانَةِ الْهَزِجِ

I am he who, in my passion for his garden, spent the night

I am the one who, from desire for his meadow,

Pining with longing like the warbling bird of the ban tree.

Yearns more ardently than a moaning sandgrouse.

هَاجَتْ بِذِكْرَاهُ نَفْسِي فَاكْتَسَتْ وَلَهاً

هَاجَتْ بِذِكْرَاهُ نَفْسِي فَاكْتَسَتْ وَلَهاً

وَأَيُّ صَبٍّ بِذِكْرِ الشَّوْقِ لَمْ يَهِجِ

وَأَيُّ صَبٍّ بِذِكْرِ الشَّوْقِ لَمْ يَهِجِ

My soul stirred at his remembrance and clothed itself in frenzied longing;

My soul was aroused by his mention and gained new life,

And what ardent lover has not stirred at the mention of longing?

And which rapt youth is not aroused by recalling yearning?

فَمَا احْتِيَالِي وَنَفْسِي غَيْرُ صَابِرَةٍ

فَمَا احْتِيَالِي وَنَفْسِي غَيْرُ صَابِرَةٍ

عَلَى البُعَادِ وَهَمِّي غَيْرُ مُنْفَرِجِ

عَلَى البُعَادِ وَهَمِّي غَيْرُ مُنْفَرِجِ

So what recourse have I, when my soul cannot endure

What tricks when my soul lacks patience

Separation, and my sorrow finds no relief?

With separation and my cares lack solutions?

لا أَسْتَطِيعُ بَرَاحاً إِنْ هَمَمْتُ وَلا

لا أَسْتَطِيعُ بَرَاحاً إِنْ هَمَمْتُ وَلا

أَقْوَى عَلَى دَفْعِ مَا بِالنَّفْسِ مِنْ حِوَجِ

أَقْوَى عَلَى دَفْعِ مَا بِالنَّفْسِ مِنْ حِوَجِ

I cannot depart, even if I resolve to, nor

I cannot manage relief if I desire it

Have I the strength to resist the yearnings within my soul.

Or overcome what my soul has of needs.

لَوْ كانَ لِلْمَرْءِ حُكْمٌ فِي تَنَقُّلِهِ

لَوْ كانَ لِلْمَرْءِ حُكْمٌ فِي تَنَقُّلِهِ

مَا كانَ إِلَّا إِلَى مَغْنَاهُ مُنْعَرَجِي

مَا كانَ إِلَّا إِلَى مَغْنَاهُ مُنْعَرَجِي

Had a man control over his travels,

If a man had power over his movements

My path would turn nowhere but toward his abode.

He would go nowhere but to his place of joy.

فَهَلْ إِلَى صِلَةِ الآمَالِ مِنْ سَبَبٍ

فَهَلْ إِلَى صِلَةِ الآمَالِ مِنْ سَبَبٍ

أَمْ هَلْ إِلَى ضِيقَةِ الأَحْزَانِ مِنْ فَرَجِ

أَمْ هَلْ إِلَى ضِيقَةِ الأَحْزَانِ مِنْ فَرَجِ

Is there, then, any means of fulfilling hopes,

So is there a way to hoped for unions

Or any relief from the straits of sorrow?

Or a relief from the straits of sorrows?

يَا رَبِّ بِالْمُصْطَفَى هَبْ لِي وَإِنْ عَظُمَتْ

يَا رَبِّ بِالْمُصْطَفَى هَبْ لِي وَإِنْ عَظُمَتْ

جَرائِمِي رَحْمَةً تُغْنِي عَنِ الْحُجَجِ

جَرائِمِي رَحْمَةً تُغْنِي عَنِ الْحُجَجِ

O Lord, by the Chosen One, grant me—however grave

O Lord, by the Chosen One, grant me, though

My sins may be—a mercy that dispenses with arguments.

My sins be great, a mercy without need for proof,

وَلا تَكِلْنِي إِلَى نَفْسِي فَإِنَّ يَدِي

وَلا تَكِلْنِي إِلَى نَفْسِي فَإِنَّ يَدِي

مَغْلُولَةٌ وَصَباحِي غَيْرُ مُنْبَلِجِ

مَغْلُولَةٌ وَصَباحِي غَيْرُ مُنْبَلِجِ

And do not leave me to myself, for my hand

And do not abandon me to my soul, for my hands

Is shackled, and my morning has not broken.

Are tied and my dawn is not shining clear.

مَا لِي سِواكَ وَأَنْتَ الْمُسْتَعانُ إِذَا

مَا لِي سِواكَ وَأَنْتَ الْمُسْتَعانُ إِذَا

ضَاقَ الزِّحَامُ غَدَاةَ المَوقِفِ الْحَرِجِ

ضَاقَ الزِّحَامُ غَدَاةَ المَوقِفِ الْحَرِجِ

I have none but You, and You are the One sought for help when

I have none but You, and You are the Helper when

The crowd presses in on the morning of the dire assembly.

The throngs press close on the day of crowded horror.

لَمْ يَبْقَ لِي أَمَلٌ إِلَّا إِلَيْكَ فَلا

لَمْ يَبْقَ لِي أَمَلٌ إِلَّا إِلَيْكَ فَلا

تَقْطَعْ رَجَائِي فَقَدْ أَشْفَقْتُ مِنْ حَرَجِي

تَقْطَعْ رَجَائِي فَقَدْ أَشْفَقْتُ مِنْ حَرَجِي

No hope remains to me except in You, so do not

I have no hope left but in You, so do not

Cut off my hope, for I fear my straitened plight.

Cut off my hopes, for I fear my own distress.