خليلي رعاك الله هذي المعاهد — Mufti Fathallah

خَليلي رَعاكَ اللَّهُ هَذي المَعاهِدُ

فَحِيِّ بِها قَوماً عَلى الحُبِّ عاهدوا

My friend, may God watch over you: these are the familiar haunts.

So greet there a people who have pledged themselves to love.

وَعَرِّج بِهم تَشهَدْ شُموساً وَأَنجُماً

كَواكبَ أَقماراً لَها الحسنُ شاهِدُ

And visit them: you will behold suns and stars,

planets and moons, with beauty as their witness.

وَشاهِد لَهم فيها رَفيعَ مَطالِعٍ

مَشاهِدها في النّاسِ نِعمَ المَشاهِدُ

And behold there their lofty rising-places,

whose sights among mankind are the finest sights;

مَطالعَ فيها لِلشّموسِ شَواهدٌ

عَلى حُسنِها الأَسمى عَياناً تشاهدُ

rising-places where the suns have witnesses

to their supreme beauty, which you plainly behold.

وَعُج نَحوَ أَرضِ الشّامِ وَاِقصُد دِمَشقها

فَفيها لِطيبِ الأنسِ تِلكَ المَعاهدُ

And turn toward the land of al-Sham and seek its Damascus;

there are those haunts of delightful companionship.

وَتِلكَ بِلا رَيبٍ عَلى الحسنِ جَنّةٌ

تَسامَت قُصوراً وَالقُصورُ شَواهِدُ

And that, beyond doubt, is a paradise of beauty,

soaring in palaces, with the palaces as witnesses.

وَلَو كانَتِ الدّنيا جناناً فَجِلَّقٌ

لَفِردَوْسُها الأَعلى وما إِنْ معاندُ

Were the world entirely gardens, then Jilliq

would surely be its highest paradise, with none to dispute it.

وَمرَّ وَمِلْ بِمزَّتها الّتي

تَسيلُ صَفاءً بِالسّرورِ يعاضدُ

And pass by and turn toward its Mezzeh, which

flows with purity that joins hands with joy.

وَمِنها إِلى المنشارِ وَالرّبوَةِ الّتي

تُمَدُّ مِنَ الأَفراحِ فيها مَوائِدُ

And from there to al-Minshar and al-Rabwah, where

tables of gladness are spread.

تَرقّ نَسيماً مِنهُ يَشفي غَليلَه

عَليلُ هُمومِ الدّهرِ وَهيَ شَدائِدُ

Its breeze is gentle; through it he slakes his thirst—

the sufferer from time's cares, those grievous trials.

وَتَحلو مَعيناً راقَ مجرىً وَمَنظراً

يَسيلُ لُجَيناً وَهوَ لا شكَّ بارِدُ

Its running water is sweet, lovely in course and sight,

flowing as silver, undoubtedly cool.

تَسلسلَ جَرياً لا وصَفَّق سَلسلاً

تَمَوَّجَ بِلَّوْراً وَما هوَ جامِدُ

It runs in chains—no, it ripples, limpid and sweet;

it billows as crystal, though it is not solid.

يَسيلُ عَلى أَرضٍ تَمسَّك تُربُها

تَجوهَرَ منهُ إِذ يَسيلُ الجَلامِدُ

It flows across earth whose soil has become musk;

through it, as it flows, the boulders turn to jewels.

وَيَجري عَلى حَصباء درٍّ تودُّه

قَلائدَ مِن تَحتِ الثّغورِ الخَرائِدُ

It runs over pebbles of pearl, desired

as necklaces beneath the lips by secluded maidens.

وَأَنّى لِحورِ العِينِ مِنها قَلائِدٌ

تزينُ نُحورَ الحورِ تِلكَ القَلائِدُ

But how can the wide-eyed houris have necklaces from them?

Those necklaces adorn the houris' throats.

تَأَمَّل فَلِلأَنهارِ فيها مَقاسِمٌ

بِها لِاِنشِراحِ الصّدرِ تَحلو المَوارِدُ

Consider: the rivers there have branching channels,

whose watering-places are sweet, opening the heart.

هُنالِكَ لِلطّيرِ الغصونُ مَنابِرٌ

كَما أنّ بُسْطَ الزّهرِ فيها مَساجِدُ

There the branches are pulpits for the birds,

just as its carpets of flowers are mosques.

إِذا قامَ بِالأَطيارِ فيها خَطيبُها

فَمُنتَصِبٌ زهرٌ وَآخَرُ ساجِدُ

When their preacher rises among the birds there,

one flower stands upright, another prostrates itself.

هنالِكَ جَيشُ الغمِّ تُرمى رِقابهُ

وَأَسيافُ جَيشِ البسطِ فيهِ تُجاهِدُ

There the army of grief has its necks struck,

and the swords of joy's army wage battle against it.

وَمِنها لِقيسونَ فَذلكَ ما لَهُ

عَلى فَضلِهِ المَشهورِ في الدَّهرِ جاحِدُ

And from there to Qaysun, which has none

to deny its celebrated excellence in all time.

إِلى سَفحِهِ المَيمونِ مَسكَنُ عصبةٍ

بِهِم وَهمُ الساداتُ تَسمو الأماجدُ

At its blessed foot dwells a company

through whom the noble rise, for they are the masters.

كَراماتُهم تَبدو عَياناً وَجَهرةً

وَأَنوارُهُم جنحَ الظّلامِ تُشاهدُ

Their saintly wonders appear plainly and openly,

and their lights are seen under the wing of darkness.

وَمِنهُ لِأَرضِ الصالِحيَّةِ قاصداً

فَفي قُطبِها السّامي تُنالُ المَقاصِدُ

And from there, heading for the land of al-Salihiyyah,

for through its exalted spiritual pole, aims are attained.

هِيَ الرّوضَةُ الحَسناءُ تَزهو بِحُسنِها

بِها الصّفوُ بَسّامٌ بِها الأُنسُ خالِدُ

It is the lovely garden, radiant in its beauty;

there serenity smiles, and fellowship endures forever.

وَزُر قَبرَ مُحيي الدّينِ قُدّسَ سِرُّهُ

فَمَن زارَهُ تَلقاهُ مِنهُ الفَوائِدُ

And visit Muhyi al-Din's grave—may his secret be sanctified—

for benefits from him greet whoever visits him.

إِلى جَنّةِ الدّنيا وَجَبهَةِ حُسنِها

وَغُرَّتِها البيضاءِ وَالفَضل زائِدُ

To the world's paradise, the brow of its beauty,

and its white radiance, with excellence ever growing;

وَمُقلَتُها الحَورا وَشامَتُها الّتي

عَلى حُسنِها تُجبى إِلَيها المَحامِدُ

its wide, dark-pupiled eye, and its beauty mark, to which

praises are brought for its beauty.

هِيَ البَلدةُ الزّهراءُ جِلَّقٌ الّتي

بِها السّعدُ مَقرونٌ بِها الخَيرُ باجِدُ

It is the radiant city, Jilliq,

where good fortune is bound fast and goodness abides.

وَقَد شَهِدَ الأمصار قطعاً بِفَضلِها

وَمِن تِلكَ بَغداد وَمِصر وَآمِدُ

The cities have certainly borne witness to its excellence,

among them Baghdad, Misr, and Amid.

وَسِرْ وَاِئتِ مِن بابِ السّلامِ تَفاؤُلاً

بِذلكَ فَالإِعجابُ بِالفالِ وارِدُ

And go, entering by Bab al-Salam, taking a good omen

from it, for delight in good omens is well attested.

إِلى بابِ جيرونَ تَرى فيهِ صاعِداً

مِنَ الماءِ يَعلو لَيسَ يَحكيهِ صاعِدُ

To Bab Jayrun: there you see a rising jet

of water soaring, matched by nothing that ascends.

عَمودُ لُجينٍ بَعدَ حَدِّ صُعودِهِ

تَراهُ خُيوطاً وَهوَ لِلأَرضِ عائِدُ

A column of silver, once it reaches its utmost height,

you see as threads when it returns to earth.

وَمِنهُ لِدارِ الجودِ وَالمَجدِ وَالعُلى

بَناها عَلى العَلياءِ وَالعزِّ ماجِدُ

And from there to the house of generosity, glory, and high rank,

which a noble man built on loftiness and honor;

وَدار الهُدى وَالعِلم وَالفَضل وَالتّقى

بَناها عَلى العِرفانِ لِلحَمدِ حامِدُ

the house of guidance, learning, excellence, and piety,

which a praising man built on spiritual knowledge, for praise.

إِمامُ دِمَشق الشّام سُؤدُدُ أَهلِها

وَعالِمُها المَشهورُ وَالفَضلُ شاهِدُ

The imam of Damascus in al-Sham, the pride of its people,

its renowned scholar, with excellence bearing witness.

فَتَىً جامِعٌ كلَّ الفُنونِ فَفِكرُهُ

أَما اِعتَكَفت لِلحِفظِ فيهِ القَواعِدُ

A young man embracing every art; as for his mind,

have not the principles secluded themselves there for safekeeping?

أَلَستَ تَرى كلّ الأَفاضِلِ عِندَهُ

وَذا مُطرق صاغٍ وَآخرَ ساجِدُ

Do you not see all the learned gathered with him,

one lowering his gaze to listen, another prostrate?

حَديثٌ وَتَفسيرٌ وَفِقهُ أُصولِهِ

وَعِلمُ كِتابِ اللَّهِ ثمّ العَقائِدُ

Hadith, exegesis, and jurisprudence in its foundations,

knowledge of God's Book, and then the creeds;

وَصَرفٌ وَنحوٌ وَالبَيانُ وَآلَة

لِذلكَ ثمَّ المُلحقاتُ الزّوائِدُ

morphology, grammar, rhetoric, and the tools

for these, then the supplementary, additional disciplines.

إِمامٌ جَليلٌ حافِظٌ ثمّ مُتقِن

شَهيرٌ خَبيرٌ بَل بَصيرٌ وَناقِدُ

An august imam, a memorizer, and thoroughly accomplished,

renowned and expert—indeed, perceptive and discerning.

هُوَ الحَبرُ وَاِبنُ الحَبرِ وَالبَحر وَاِبنه

فَفي مِثلِهِ في الدّهرِ يَفخرُ والِدُ

He is the scholar and the scholar's son, the ocean and its son;

in one like him a father takes pride for all time.

هُوَ العالِمُ النّحريرُ وَالعارِفُ الّذي

نَحاهُ عَلى العِرفانِ ناحٍ وَقاصِدُ

He is the consummate scholar and the spiritual knower

whom seekers and aspirants approach for spiritual knowledge.

هُوَ الوَرِعُ النَّسّاكُ وَالعابِدُ الّذي

خَلا أَنّه يَحكيهِ ذا الآنَ عابِدُ

He is the scrupulous ascetic and the worshipper,

save that a worshipper now resembles him.

لَئِن ضَنَّ هَذا الدّهر في بَذلِ مِثلِهِ

أَما هوَ في ذا الدَّهرِ لا شَكَّ واحِدُ

Though this age be miserly in granting his like,

is he not, beyond doubt, unique in this age?

جَوادٌ كَريمٌ جَيْرِ وَالبحرُ كَفُّهُ

لَدى جُودِهِ في الدّهرِ تُنسى الأَجاوِدُ

Generous and noble—indeed, his palm is the sea;

before his generosity, the generous of all time are forgotten.

حَوَى حُسنَ أَخلاقٍ عَلى حُسنِ خِلقَة

تَدَفَّق مِنها الحُسن إِذ يَتزايَدُ

He unites beauty of character with beauty of form,

from which beauty pours forth, ever increasing.

تُلازِمُهُ التّقوى وَنعمَت مُلازِماً

يُعاضِدُها الإِخلاصُ نِعمَ المُعاضِدُ

Piety keeps his company—what an excellent companion!

Sincerity supports it—an excellent supporter.

فَلينٌ وَعَطفٌ ثمَّ عَطفٌ وَرَحمَةٌ

وَعَفوٌ وَحِلمٌ دونَ عَجزٍ يُعانِدُ

Gentleness and compassion, then compassion and mercy;

forgiveness and forbearance, without weakness to thwart them;

وَعَزمٌ وَحَزمٌ ثمَّ رأيٌ مُسدّد

وَما هُوَ عَن طرقِ الإِصابَةِ حائِدُ

resolve and firmness, and then sound judgment,

never straying from the paths of right decision;

وَصَدعٌ بِأَمرٍ ثمَّ إِزهاقُ باطِل

وَنَصرٌ لِحَقٍّ وهوَ في النَّصرِ جاهِدُ

proclaiming a command, then destroying falsehood,

supporting truth, striving hard in its support;

وَحَملٌ عَلى حُسنِ التّجَمُّلِ لِلأَسى

وَصَبرٌ لِصرفِ الدّهرِ ثمّ تَجالُدُ

bearing sorrow with graceful composure,

patience with time's reversals, and then steadfast endurance.

خِصالٌ حِسانٌ بَل طِباع غَرائِز

كَرائِم فيها قَد تَطيبُ المَحامِدُ

Fine qualities—rather, innate dispositions,

noble ones, in which praises find their sweetness.

حَديثُ سَجاياهُ صَحيحٌ لِذاتِهِ

وَشاهِدُهُ المَعروفُ وَالحسنُ عاضِدُ

The account of his character is sound in itself,

its witness is kindness, and beauty lends support.

تَعَوَّدَ فِعلَ الخَيرِ مِن وَقتِ مَهدِهِ

فَمِنهُ عَلى ما اِعتادَ تَجري العَوائِدُ

He has practiced good deeds since his cradle,

and favors flow from him according to his accustomed ways.

وَقَد حَسنت مِنهُ المَقاصِدُ وَالهَنا

لِمَن حَسنت في الدّهرِ منهُ المَقاصِدُ

His purposes have been good; and happiness

belongs to one whose purposes in life are good.

هوَ المُعرِبُ المنطيقُ سِحرُ بَيانِهِ

إِلى السّلبِ ثمَّ السّبيِ لِلعَقلِ قائِدُ

He is the eloquent, fluent speaker; the magic of his expression

leads to the mind's plundering, then its captivity.

فَصيحٌ بَليغ لا يُضاهَى بَلاغَةً

وَلَو أَنّ كلّ النّاسِ فيها تَساعَدوا

Eloquent and articulate, unmatched in eloquence,

even were all mankind to join forces in it.

تَجوهَر مِنهُ اللّفظُ أَحسنَ جَوهَرٍ

فَيا لَيتَهُ مِنهُ تَكونُ القَلائِدُ

His words have become jewels, the finest jewels;

would that necklaces might be made from them!

وَقَد طابَ لِلأَسماعِ منهُ شنوفُها

وَقَد بَهَرَ الأَلباب منهُ الفَرائِدُ

The earrings of his words have delighted the ears,

and his rare gems have dazzled minds.

فَيا أَيّها المَولى الفخيمُ وَمَن لَهُ

لَقَد بُنِيَتْ فَوقَ المَعالي المَقاعِدُ

O majestic master, you for whom

seats have indeed been built above the heights of honor!

وَيا طيِّباً صيتاً على حُسنِ سؤددٍ

لِأَدناهُ وَدَّت لَو تَطولُ الفَراقِدُ

O you of fine renown and noble eminence,

whose lowest height the Farqad stars long to reach!

فَلَو كانَ عِقداً زِينَ فيه عطارِدٌ

لَفاقَ عَلى شَمسِ النّهارِ عطارِدُ

If it were a necklace with Mercury set in it,

Mercury would outshine the sun of day.

لَكَ الفكرُ قَد أَهدى عَروساً جهازها

مِنَ الحبرِ مِسك جَيْرِ والورقِ كاغِدُ

Thought has presented you with a bride, whose trousseau

is musk from ink—indeed—and sheets of paper.

وَأَلبَسَها مِن دُرِّ مَدحِكَ جَوهَراً

وَما غَيرُهُ فيهِ تُحلّى القَصائِدُ

It has clothed her in jewels from the pearls of your praise,

for poems are adorned with nothing else.

فَيَرجو لَها مِنكَ القَبولَ تَفضُّلاً

وَإِنَّكَ لا يُثنيكَ عَنهُ الحَواسِدُ

So it hopes you will graciously accept her,

and surely the envious will not turn you away from that.

وَيوصيكَ فيها وَهيَ لا شَكّ بِنتُهُ

وَفي بِنتِهِ يوصي ولا بِدْعَ والِدُ

It commends her to your care—she is, beyond doubt, its daughter;

and a father entrusting his daughter is no strange thing.

وَدُمْ في ضَمانِ اللَّهِ يَرعاكَ حِفظُهُ

وَإِيّاك في كلّ الأُمورِ يُساعِدُ

Remain in God's safekeeping, watched over by His protection,

and may He assist you in every affair;

جَليلاً مَهيباً في العُيونِ مُعظَّماً

يذلُّ لَديكَ الدّهرَ جافٍ وَحاسِدُ

august, awe-inspiring, honored in all eyes,

with the harsh and envious humbled before you for all time,

مَدى الدّهر ما هبَّ النَّسيمُ مِنَ الصَّبا

وَما حَلَّ بِالأَغصانِ مِنهُ تمايِدُ

for all time, as long as the east wind's breeze blows,

and as long as it sets the branches swaying;

وَما الخِلُّ قَد نادى بِوَقتٍ خَليلَهُ

خَليلي رَعاكَ اللَّهُ هَذي المَعاهِدُ

and whenever a friend calls to his companion:

My friend, may God watch over you: these are the familiar haunts.