وقفت على بحر الجزائر ليلة

وقفت على بحر الجزائر ليلة

وناجيته لو كان يسمعني البحر

وناجيته لو كان يسمعني البحر

One night I stood beside the sea of Algeria,

I stood by the sea of Algiers one night

I stood by the sea of Algiers one night, whispering confidences as if the sea could hear.

and confided in it—if only the sea could hear me.

And confided in it, as if the sea could hear me

I said: "O Sea, why do you rage against the land in anger, when the land has not sinned?"

فقلت له: يا بحرمالك هائجا

فقلت له: يا بحرمالك هائجا

على البر مغتاظا ولم يذنب البر

على البر مغتاظا ولم يذنب البر

So I said to it: O sea, why are you raging

I said: O sea, why are you raging

"Why do you spare no effort in shoving and clamor, slapping it with hands of waves until the rock softens?"

against the land in anger, when the land has done no wrong?

Against the land, angered, though the land is blameless

"Perhaps you are enraged because it is too accepting, bearing calamities with patience."

وما لك لا تألوه دفعا وضجة

وما لك لا تألوه دفعا وضجة

وصفعا بأيدي الموج رق له الصخر

وصفعا بأيدي الموج رق له الصخر

And why do you not spare it shoving and clamour,

Why do you not calm your surging and turmoil

"You ask: 'Why does the land remain, bearing burdens and insults that no rebuke can restrain?'"

and slaps from the waves' hands, till the rock pities it?

And lashing with the hands of waves that smooth the rock

"'Shameful deeds come and go upon it in succession, with no authority to forbid or command.'"

لعلك مغتاظ عليه لأنه

لعلك مغتاظ عليه لأنه

كثير الرضا في النائبات له صبر

كثير الرضا في النائبات له صبر

Perhaps you are angry with it because

Perhaps you are angry with it because

"'From the corruptors within its borders spread matters that make the face of Divine Law blush red.'"

it is so content amid calamities, endowed with patience.

It is very content with misfortunes, enduring them with patience

"'People pursue their diverse paths upon it; every mortal among them acting on their own whim.'"

تقول: لماذا يمكث البر حاملا

تقول: لماذا يمكث البر حاملا

عليه هنات لا ينهنهها زجر

عليه هنات لا ينهنهها زجر

You say: Why does the land remain, bearing

You say: Why does the land remain, bearing

"'Like a flock of sheep straying from the sanctuary, losing the straight path amidst the gathering dust.'"

upon it faults that no rebuke restrains?

Burdens upon it, unaffected by rebuke

"'They commit reprehensible acts upon it—transgressions carrying a heavy burden of sin.'"

تروح عليه الشائنات وتغتدى

تروح عليه الشائنات وتغتدى

تباعا ولا نهي عليه ولا أمر

تباعا ولا نهي عليه ولا أمر

Disgraceful deeds come upon it evening and morning,

Misfortunes keep occurring and transgressing upon it

"'Like their commerce in fraud, lies, and usury, though trading in such things was never permitted.'"

one after another, with neither prohibition nor command upon it.

One after another, with no prohibition or command

"'And their cultivation of tobacco which brings them harm, and their pressing of grapes into forbidden wine.'"

وتفشو من العاثين في جنباته

وتفشو من العاثين في جنباته

أمور لها وجه الشريعة يحمر

أمور لها وجه الشريعة يحمر

And from corrupters throughout its reaches spread

And the wrongdoers spread in its folds

"'Yet the land extends them ample provision in all this, encompassing them with dignity and benevolence.'"

deeds that make the face of the Sharia blush.

Matters that make the lawful blush

"'Stranger still is that it serves as a cradle for their living and a grave for their dead.'"

ويذهب سعي الناس فيه مذاهبا

ويذهب سعي الناس فيه مذاهبا

لكل ابن أنثى منهم فوقه أمر

لكل ابن أنثى منهم فوقه أمر

And people's efforts upon it go in many directions;

And people's efforts go in it to extremes

Gently now, O Sea; you have dampened its face with your scolding, so be kind to it and receive my thanks.

each son of woman among them has some business upon it.

For each son of womankind among them, his affair is above him

It is as if I see the jetty's head coming to offer you an excuse, if only excuses could reach your hearing.

كسرب من الأغنام أخطأت الحمى

كسرب من الأغنام أخطأت الحمى

فضلت سواء القصد والجو مغبر

فضلت سواء القصد والجو مغبر

Like a flock of sheep that missed the protected pasture,

Like a flock of sheep that missed the pen

Calling out: "O Sea, be compassionate and merciful to the land; perhaps it has been deceived by its inhabitants."

and strayed from the straight path, with the air full of dust.

Wandering equally in purpose and in dusty weather

"Perhaps it saw some good in them and thus harbored them; for what good is ever entirely free of evil?"

ويأتون أفعالا عليه ذميمة

ويأتون أفعالا عليه ذميمة

مخالفة، في فعلها يعظم الوزر

مخالفة، في فعلها يعظم الوزر

And they commit blameworthy deeds upon it,

And they commit upon it despicable deeds

"For it is true that goodness still flows upon its soil from them, even if it is scarce."

transgressions whose commission makes the burden of sin grow:

Violating, in doing them, a grievous sin

"And today a call for knowledge has risen upon it, championed by a noble band spreading the light."

كتجرهم بالغش والكذب والربا

كتجرهم بالغش والكذب والربا

وما كان مسموحا بها لهم التجر

وما كان مسموحا بها لهم التجر

such as their trading through fraud, lies, and usury,

Like their trading in deceit, lies, and usury

"Marching upon the path of the Quran, their guide, and taking pride in faith, their treasure."

though trading by such means was not permitted them;

And what was not lawful for them to trade

"Yet this land did not remain silent regarding the iniquity within, even if iniquity had become widespread."

وزرعهم للتبغ وهو لهم أذى

وزرعهم للتبغ وهو لهم أذى

وعصرهم للكرم وهو لهم خمر

وعصرهم للكرم وهو لهم خمر

and their planting tobacco, which harms them,

And their planting of tobacco, which harms them

"It sends a profound cry of protest to the people, repeated to ears that remain deaf."

and their pressing the vine, which yields them wine.

And their pressing of vines, which intoxicates them

"A warner of doom, speaking the truth plainly, crying out to Man that loss has conquered."

فيوسعهم في كل ذلك بسطة

فيوسعهم في كل ذلك بسطة

وتشملهم منه الكرامة والبر

وتشملهم منه الكرامة والبر

Yet it grants them ample room in all of this,

Yet it expands for them in all that its breadth

"Calamities that demand a glance from the intellect, yet the mind refuses to heed their call."

and its generosity and kindness embrace them.

And showers upon them bounty and kindness

"He flounders, lost in a sea of illusion, diving deep where the sea of delusion knows no bottom."

وأعجب من هذا وذلك أنه

وأعجب من هذا وذلك أنه

لأحيائهم مهد وأمواتهم قبر

لأحيائهم مهد وأمواتهم قبر

And stranger than this and that is that

More wondrous than this and that is that it

"He remains bewildered between misery and despair, like one seeking refuge in magic only to be betrayed by it."

it is a cradle for their living, and a grave for their dead.

Prepared for their livelihood and became their graves when dead

One who denies that inanimate objects speak said to me: "You have spun a tale the likes of which time has never told."

رويدك قد أنديت يا بحر وجهه

رويدك قد أنديت يا بحر وجهه

بتقريعه فارفق به ولك الشكر

بتقريعه فارفق به ولك الشكر

Easy now, O sea—you have moistened its face

Slow down, O sea, you have reproached its face

"It contradicts the consensus of mankind; perhaps it is merely drawn from your imaginative mind."

with your rebukes; be gentle with it, and my thanks are yours.

So be gentle with it, for which you have thanks

"For the movements of the land are but a collision of water and fire, producing cold and heat."

كأني (برأس المول) جاءك باسطا

كأني (برأس المول) جاءك باسطا

له العذر لو يفضى إلى سمعك العذر

له العذر لو يفضى إلى سمعك العذر

It is as though I see Ras al-Moul coming to you, setting forth

It is as if the land came to you extending

"And the movements of the sea are but undulations on its surface, governed by the ebb and flow of tides."

the land's excuse—if only that excuse could reach your hearing.

Explanations, if only its excuses would reach your hearing

I acknowledged his facts but said: "Pierce through appearances with insight, and the secret will be revealed."

يناديك كن يا بحر بالبر مشفقا

يناديك كن يا بحر بالبر مشفقا

رحيما لعل البر بالخلق مغتر

رحيما لعل البر بالخلق مغتر

It calls to you: O sea, be compassionate toward the land,

Calling you: O sea, be compassionate with the land

"Lend your ear to the silent speech of reality, for it lacks a voice to speak aloud."

merciful; perhaps the land is beguiled by humankind.

Merciful, perhaps the land is deluded by creation

"There you will see what you never saw before, and hear what the mind deems worthy of remembrance."

عساه رأى خيرا لهم فأقلهم

عساه رأى خيرا لهم فأقلهم

لذاك، وأي الخير فارقه الشر

لذاك، وأي الخير فارقه الشر

Perhaps it saw goodness in them and so bore them

It may have seen good for them, so led them

"Dazzling signs from the Unseen detailed across the cosmos, truths no book has ever fully gathered."

for that; and what good has ever been free of evil?

To that, and which good is devoid of evil?

"Renewed within the universe at every instant—what could pen and ink possibly recount?"

فقد صح أن الخير ما زال جاريا

فقد صح أن الخير ما زال جاريا

على أرضه منهم ولو أنه نزر

على أرضه منهم ولو أنه نزر

For it is certain that goodness still flows

For it is true that good continues flowing

"Mouths fail to preach these sermons to the nations of the world, for the universe itself publishes them."

from them upon its soil, even if it is scant.

Through its soil, even if it is little

I abandoned the futile attempt to count them all, returning to God in stunned silence, surrounded by awe.

وقامت عليه اليوم للعلم دعوة

وقامت عليه اليوم للعلم دعوة

تطوف بها للنشر طائفة غر

تطوف بها للنشر طائفة غر

And today a call to learning has arisen upon it,

And the call to knowledge has risen upon it today

Verily, this universe is the truest witness that God's perfection knows no bounds.

which a radiant band carries about to spread.

Spread by a group of young people

تسير على القرآن فهو لها هدى

تسير على القرآن فهو لها هدى

وتعتز بالإيمان فهو لها ذخر

وتعتز بالإيمان فهو لها ذخر

It follows the Quran, which is its guidance,

They follow the Quran, for it guides them

and draws strength from faith, which is its treasure.

And take pride in faith, for it enriches them

على أن هذا البر ما كان ساكنا

على أن هذا البر ما كان ساكنا

لما فيه من نكر وإن عمه النكر

لما فيه من نكر وإن عمه النكر

Yet this land has not remained still

However, this land was not tranquil

in the face of the evil within it, though evil has engulfed it.

Due to the ignorance in it, even if ignorance pervaded it

نداء احتجاج منه للخلق بالغ

نداء احتجاج منه للخلق بالغ

يعاد على الاستماع لكن بها وقر

يعاد على الاستماع لكن بها وقر

Its cry of protest reaches humankind,

A loud cry of protest from it to creation

repeated to their hearing, yet it is burdened with deafness.

Repeated for listening, but with calmness and dignity

ومنذر سوء بالحقيقة صادع

ومنذر سوء بالحقيقة صادع

ينادى على الإنسان قد غلب الخسر

ينادى على الإنسان قد غلب الخسر

And a warner of calamity, proclaiming the truth,

And a warner of evil in truth, blatant

calls out to humankind: Loss has prevailed.

Calling out to humankind that loss has prevailed

حوادث تستدعى من الفكر لفتة

حوادث تستدعى من الفكر لفتة

إليها فيستعصى لدعوتها الفكر

إليها فيستعصى لدعوتها الفكر

Events call for thought to turn

Events that require attention from the mind

toward them, but thought resists their call,

Yet the mind is resistant to their call

ويخبط في بحر من الوهم تائها

ويخبط في بحر من الوهم تائها

يغوص، وبحر الوهم ليس له قعر

يغوص، وبحر الوهم ليس له قعر

and flounders, lost, in a sea of illusion,

And flounders in a sea of delusion, lost

diving, while the sea of illusion has no bottom.

Diving, and the sea of delusion has no bottom

فيمكث بين البؤس واليأس حائرا

فيمكث بين البؤس واليأس حائرا

 كمستعصم بالسحر قد خانه السحر

كمستعصم بالسحر قد خانه السحر

So it remains bewildered between misery and despair,

So it remains between misery and despair, confused

like one seeking refuge in magic, whom magic has betrayed.

Like one held by sorcery that has betrayed him

ومستنكر نطق الجمادات قال لي

ومستنكر نطق الجمادات قال لي

رويت حديثا لم يعد مثله الدهر

رويت حديثا لم يعد مثله الدهر

And one who denied that lifeless things could speak said to me:

And refusing to believe the speech of inanimate things, it said to me

You have told a tale whose like the ages have never repeated,

I was told a story never told by time before

يخالف إجماع الورى ولعله

يخالف إجماع الورى ولعله

إليك من العقل الخيالي منجر

إليك من العقل الخيالي منجر

contradicting humanity's consensus; perhaps

It contradicts the consensus of creation, and maybe

it has drifted to you from the fanciful mind.

It reached you from fanciful reason, fabricated

فما حركات البر ألا تصادم

فما حركات البر ألا تصادم

بماء ونار منهما البرد والحر

بماء ونار منهما البرد والحر

For the land's movements are only collisions

The land's motions are but collisions

of water and fire, from which come cold and heat;

With water and fire, from which come cold and heat

وما حركات البحر ألا تماوج

وما حركات البحر ألا تماوج

على سطحه يقضى به المد والجزر

على سطحه يقضى به المد والجزر

and the sea's movements are only undulations

And the sea's motions are but surging

upon its surface, dictated by flood and ebb.

Upon its surface, ruled by ebb and flow

فصدقته فيها وقلت له اخترق

فصدقته فيها وقلت له اخترق

ظواهرها بالرأي يظهر لك السر

ظواهرها بالرأي يظهر لك السر

So I agreed with him about them and said to him: Pierce

I acknowledged this to be true, and said to it: Scrutinize

their outward forms with reflection, and the secret will appear to you.

Their outer forms with reason, the secret will become clear to you

وأرع لسان الحال سمعك منصتا

وأرع لسان الحال سمعك منصتا

فإن لسان الحال يعوزه الجهر

فإن لسان الحال يعوزه الجهر

And lend an attentive ear to the tongue of circumstance,

And heed the tongue of the situation, lending your hearing,

for the tongue of circumstance lacks audible speech.

For the tongue of the situation lacks loudness

هناك ترى ما لم تكن قبل رائيا

هناك ترى ما لم تكن قبل رائيا

وتسمع ما للعقل في ذكره ذكر

وتسمع ما للعقل في ذكره ذكر

There you will see what you had never seen before,

There you will see what you have not seen before

and hear things whose telling reminds the mind:

And hear what the mind cannot express in words

بواهر آيات من الغيب فصلت

بواهر آيات من الغيب فصلت

على الكون لم يجمع حقائقها سفر

على الكون لم يجمع حقائقها سفر

dazzling signs from the unseen, set forth

Clear signs from the unseen differentiated

throughout the universe; no book has gathered their truths,

Upon existence, which no book compiled completely

مجددة بالكون في كل لحظة

مجددة بالكون في كل لحظة

فماذا عسى تحصى اليراعة والحبر

فماذا عسى تحصى اليراعة والحبر

renewed in the universe at every moment.

Renewing through existence every instant

So what can reed pen and ink hope to count?

So what can vigilance and the pen encompass?

تعاصى على الأفواه نشر عظاتها

تعاصى على الأفواه نشر عظاتها

على أمم الدنيا فمنها لها النشر

على أمم الدنيا فمنها لها النشر

Spreading their admonitions has proved too hard for mouths

They confound tongues from spreading their wonders

to the world's peoples; so the signs themselves proclaim them.

To the nations of the world, but it is for them to spread

برئت من الإيغال في العد راجعا

برئت من الإيغال في العد راجعا

إلى الله مشدوها يحيط بي الذعر

إلى الله مشدوها يحيط بي الذعر

I gave up delving further into the count, returning

I refrain from delving into counting, returning

to God, dumbfounded, while terror surrounds me.

To God, overwhelmed, terror surrounding me

ألا إن هذا الكون أصدق شاهد

ألا إن هذا الكون أصدق شاهد

بأن كمال الله ليس له حصر

بأن كمال الله ليس له حصر

Behold, this universe is indeed the truest witness

Behold! This universe is the truest witness

that God's perfection has no limit.

That the perfection of God has no limit