نضرتgrew radiant منكthrough you محياهاits countenance الحياهlife
نضرت منك محياها الحياه
ورأتand saw تعبيرthe fulfillment رؤياهاof its dream الحياهlife
ورأت تعبير رؤياها الحياه
Life's countenance grew radiant through you.
You gave life its vitality
And life saw the fulfillment of its dream.
And life saw the expression of its vision
الجهاتthe directions الستthe six نورa light يسطعshines
الجهات الست نور يسطع
منكfrom you والأقوامand the peoples جمعاall together تبعfollowers
منك والأقوام جمعا تبع
Across the six directions, a light shines
The six directions shine with light
From you, and all peoples follow.
From you, and all people follow
إنindeed فقرافيكpoverty in you ذخرthe treasure الكائناتof created beings
إن فقرافيك ذخر الكائنات
قدhas indeed تعالىrisen بكthrough you قدرthe worth الكائناتof created beings
قد تعالى بك قدر الكائنات
Indeed, poverty in you is creation's treasure.
Your poverty, the treasure of existence
Through you, the worth of creation has risen.
Is exalted by your existence's worth
أنتyou أشعلتyou kindled مصابيحthe lamps الحياهof life
أنت أشعلت مصابيح الحياه
وحبوتand you granted الناسpeople منfrom رقbondage نجاهdeliverance
وحبوت الناس من رق نجاه
You kindled the lamps of life,
You lit the lamps of life
And granted people deliverance from bondage.
And gifted people with the softness of rescue
صورthe forms الكونof the universe بدتappeared منfrom دونكاapart from you
صور الكون بدت من دونكا
فاقةdestitution تشكوlamenting وتشكوand lamenting الحلكاdarkness
فاقة تشكو وتشكو الحلكا
Without you, the forms of the universe appeared
Without you, images of the universe
Lamenting destitution and lamenting darkness.
Seem lacking, complaining and lamenting
نفسa breath منكfrom you أطارsent flying الشرراthe sparks
نفس منك أطار الشررا
فاستحالso became الطينclay منهthrough it بشراhuman
فاستحال الطين منه بشرا
A breath from you sent sparks flying,
A soul from you launched the sparks
And through it clay became human.
So that clay became from it human
وسمتand rose للنيرينtoward the two luminaries الذرةthe atom
وسمت للنيرين الذرة
وتجلتand revealed itself منfrom حشاهاits innermost depths القوةpower
وتجلت من حشاها القوة
And the atom rose toward the two luminaries,
And you gave the atoms of light
And power revealed itself from its depths.
And power was revealed from their hiddenness
منthan أبيmy father أنتyou وأميand my mother أقربcloser
من أبي أنت وأمي أقرب
مذsince رأىbeheld وجهكyour face طرفيmy gaze المعجبadmiring
مذ رأى وجهك طرفي المعجب
You are closer than my father and mother,
You are closer to me than my father and mother
Since my admiring gaze beheld your face.
Since my admiring eyes saw your face
عشقكlove for you النارthe fire بجسميin my body يضرمkindles
عشقك النار بجسمي يضرم
فليذبso let melt روحيmy soul منهfrom it ضرمa blaze
فليذب روحي منه ضرم
Love for you kindles fire in my body;
Your love kindles fire in my body
Let a blaze from it melt my soul.
So let my soul burn up in its flames
ومتاعيand my possession أنةa moan مثلlike الربابthe rabab
ومتاعي أنة مثل الرباب
إنهاit is المصباحthe lamp فيin بيتيmy house الخرابruined
إنها المصباح في بيتي الخراب
And my treasure is a moan like the rabab's.
And my wares are like a rebab
It is the lamp in my ruined house.
It is the lantern in my ruined house
كيفhow لاnot يبديreveal شجa grieving man أتراحهhis sorrows
كيف لا يبدي شج أتراحه
كيفhow لاnot يبديreveal زجاجglass راحهits wine
كيف لا يبدي زجاج راحه
How can a grieving man not reveal his sorrows?
How could it not express the pain of its wounds
How can glass not reveal its wine?
How could the glass of its winds not express
ضلstrayed عنfrom سرthe secret النبيof the Prophet المسلمthe Muslim
ضل عن سر النبي المسلم
موثناan idol-shrine قدhas صارbecome هذاthis الحرمsanctuary
موثنا قد صار هذا الحرم
The Muslim has strayed from the Prophet's secret.
The Muslim prophet has lost the secret of Islam
This sanctuary has become an idol-shrine.
Becoming an idolater, this sanctuary
كلهمevery one of them فيin قلبهhis heart يثوىdwells هبلHubal
كلهم في قلبه يثوى هبل
ومناةand Manat فيهin it والعزىand al-Uzza تحلtakes up residence
ومناة فيه والعزى تحل
Hubal dwells in each one's heart,
In his heart shelters nothing but nonsense
And Manat and al-Uzza take up residence there.
With Manat and Al-Uzza dwelling in it
شيخناour sheikh يفضلهsurpasses him البرهمنthe Brahmin
شيخنا يفضله البرهمن
سمناتSomnath رأسهhis head يستوطنinhabits
سمنات رأسه يستوطن
The Brahmin surpasses our sheikh.
Our Sheikh favors the Brahmin over the Arab
Somnath inhabits his head.
Making the oil of his head reside there
هجرhe forsook العربthe Arabs وفيand among العربthe Arabs عصمsafeguards
هجر العرب وفي العرب عصم
وأطالand prolonged النومsleep فيin حانthe tavern العجمof the non-Arabs
وأطال النوم في حان العجم
He forsook the Arabs, though among the Arabs are safeguards,
He abandoned the Arabs though protected by Arabs
And slept long in the non-Arabs' tavern.
And prolonged his sleep during the non-Arabs' singing
فتsapped بردthe cold العجمof the non-Arabs فيin أعضائهhis limbs
فت برد العجم في أعضائه
دمعهhis tears أبردcolder منthan صهبائهhis tawny wine
دمعه أبرد من صهبائه
The cold of the non-Arabs sapped his limbs.
So the non-Arabs' cold penetrated his limbs
His tears are colder than his tawny wine.
His tears colder than icy winds
هوhe كالكافرlike the unbeliever يخشىfears الأجلاthe appointed end
هو كالكافر يخشى الأجلا
صدرهhis breast منof قلبa heart حيliving قدhas خلاbeen emptied
صدره من قلب حي قد خلا
Like an unbeliever, he fears his appointed end.
He is like a disbeliever fearing death
His breast has been emptied of a living heart.
His chest empty of a living heart
داؤهhis illness كلevery طبيبphysician ماnot شفاhealed
داؤه كل طبيب ما شفا
فحملتso I carried النعشthe bier عندinto the presence of المصطفىal-Mustafa
فحملت النعش عند المصطفى
No physician has cured his illness,
His disease could not be cured by any doctor
So I carried the bier into al-Mustafa's presence.
So I carried the bier to Al-Mustafa
هالكاdying عرفتهI made known to him ماءthe water الحياهof life
هالكا عرفته ماء الحياه
ومنand from القرآنthe Qur'an أسرارthe secrets النجاهof deliverance
ومن القرآن أسرار النجاه
I made known to him, dying, the water of life,
I knew him as the water of life
And, from the Qur'an, the secrets of deliverance.
And the Quran's secrets of salvation
قلتI told عنof أحبابthe beloved ones نجدof Najd قصتيmy tale
قلت عن أحباب نجد قصتي
حدثتspoke عنof روضthe garden نجدof Najd نفحتيmy fragrant breath
حدثت عن روض نجد نفحتي
I told my tale of Najd's beloved ones.
I spoke of the story of Najd's loved ones
My fragrant breath spoke of Najd's garden.
I talked of Najd's meadow in my sighing
فأضاءso illuminated الحفلthe gathering منfrom لحنيmy melody أياهa radiance
فأضاء الحفل من لحني أياه
ودرىand learned قوميmy people أسرارthe secrets الحياهof life
ودرى قومي أسرار الحياه
Then a radiance from my melody lit up the gathering,
So my chant illuminated the gathering
And my people learned the secrets of life.
And my people knew the secrets of life
قيلit was said أهديwas bestowed سحرthe magic أورباof Europe لناon us
قيل أهدي سحر أوربا لنا
وبقانونand by the law الفرنجof the Franks افتتناwe were beguiled
وبقانون الفرنج افتتنا
It was said, 'Europe's magic was bestowed on us,
It was said "Give us Europe's magic"
And we were beguiled by the law of the Franks.'
"And let us be infatuated with the Franks' law"
واهبيmy benefactor عودoud: aloeswood or lute سليميSulaymi كرماgenerously
واهبي عود سليمي كرما
والأبوصيريand al-Busiri برداa mantle كرماgenerously
والأبوصيري بردا كرما
O my benefactor, who generously gave Sulaymi oud,
"And give us the nobility of Suleiman's lute"
And generously gave al-Busiri a mantle,
"And the coolness of Al-Buhturi's poem"
أهدguide للحقto the truth الذيthe one who قدhas أفكاbeen led astray
أهد للحق الذي قد أفكا
الذيwho يجهلdoes not know ماwhat قدhas ملكاpossessed
الذي يجهل ما قد ملكا
Guide to the truth the one who has been led astray,
Give to the truth that elucidated
Who does not know what he possesses.
What the ignorant did not know
أنif يكنis قلبيmy heart غوىhas strayed لاnot يبصرsees
أن يكن قلبي غوى لا يبصر
أوor سوىother than القرآنthe Qur'an لفظيmy speech يضمرconceals
أو سوى القرآن لفظي يضمر
If my heart has strayed, unable to see,
If my heart has gone astray, not seeing
Or my speech conceals anything other than the Qur'an,
Or my tongue conceals other than the Quran
أتتshe came; likely intended as 'you' ياO منyou whose نورهhis light صبحthe dawn العصورof the ages
أتت يا من نوره صبح العصور
أنتyou ياO عالمknower أسرارof the secrets الصدورof breasts
أنت يا عالم أسرار الصدور
You, whose light is the dawn of the ages,
You came, O you whose light is the dawn of eras
You, knower of the secrets of hearts,
You, O knower of the secrets of hearts
امكنmake accessible; reading uncertain أستارthe veils فكريof my thought وافضحنand surely expose
امكن أستار فكري وافضحن
طهرنsurely cleanse منof شوكتيmy thorn روضthe garden الزمنof time
طهرن من شوكتي روض الزمن
Lay open the veils of my thought and expose me.
Open the veils of my thoughts and expose them
Purge the garden of time of my thorn.
Purify my meadow's thorns in this age
وحياتيand my life اقطعcut short لأجلfor the sake of الأمةthe community
وحياتي اقطع لأجل الأمة
واكفينand surely shield شرىmy evil أهلthe people الملةof the faith
واكفين شرى أهل الملة
And cut short my life for the community's sake,
And cut off my life for the sake of the nation
And shield the people of the faith from my evil.
And suffice me from the evil of the faith
أبعدنsurely keep away عنfrom روضتيmy garden الغيثthe rain المريعthat brings lush growth
أبعدن عن روضتي الغيث المريع
واحرمنيand deprive me منof شآبيبthe showers الربيعof spring
واحرمني من شآبيب الربيع
Keep the rain that brings lush growth away from my garden,
Take from my meadow the torrential rain
And deny me the showers of spring.
And deprive me of spring's streams
جففdry up الراحthe wine بكرميin my vineyard عاجلاat once
جفف الراح بكرمي عاجلا
واملأنand surely fill واحيunclear word in the supplied text سماpoison قاتلاdeadly
واملأن واحي سما قاتلا
Dry up the wine in my vineyard at once,
Dry up the wind in my vineyard quickly
And fill my [unclear word] with deadly poison.
And fill my atmosphere with lethal poison
واخزينيand disgrace me يومon the day of حشرthe gathering الأممof the nations
واخزيني يوم حشر الأمم
واحرمنيand deny me منكfrom you لثمthe kissing القدمof the foot
واحرمني منك لثم القدم
And disgrace me on the day the nations are gathered,
And humiliate me on the Day of Gathering
And deny me the kissing of your foot.
And deprive me of kissing your foot
أوor أكنI have been أخلصتI sincerely offered نصحيmy counsel فيin البيانmy exposition
أو أكن أخلصت نصحي في البيان
ونظمتand I strung الدرpearls منfrom سرthe secret القرانof the Qur'an
ونظمت الدر من سر القران
Or, if I have offered sincere counsel in my exposition,
Or have I sincerely advised in my statements
And strung pearls from the Qur'an's secret,
And strung pearls from the Quran's secret
فدعاءthen a prayer منكfrom you أجرىmy reward وكفىand it suffices
فدعاء منك أجرى وكفى
بكthrough you كمhow many نالgained وضيعa lowly person شرفاhonor
بك كم نال وضيع شرفا
Then a prayer from you is my reward, and enough.
So your prayer flows and suffices
Through you, how many a lowly person has gained honor!
Through you how many lowly gained honor
اسألنsurely ask اللهGod ربLord العرشof the Throne ليfor me
اسألن الله رب العرش لي
يجعلنthat he surely make عشقيmy love قرينthe companion العملof action
يجعلن عشقي قرين العمل
Ask God, Lord of the Throne, on my behalf,
Ask God, Lord of the Throne for me
To make my love a companion to action.
To make my passion equal to action
ربO Lord قدindeed أنعمتyou blessed بالروحwith the soul الحزينsorrowing
رب قد أنعمت بالروح الحزين
ونصيباand a share شئتyou willed ليfor me منof علمknowledge دينof religion
ونصيبا شئت لي من علم دين
O Lord, you have blessed me with a sorrowing soul,
Lord, you have blessed me with a sorrowful soul
And willed for me a share in knowledge of religion.
And destined for me some share of religious knowledge
فاجعلنso surely make فيin الفعلaction حظيmy share أوفراmore abundant
فاجعلن في الفعل حظي أوفرا
واجعلنand surely make قطرthe raindrops ربيعيof my spring درراpearls
واجعلن قطر ربيعي دررا
So make my share in deeds more abundant,
So make my share in action greater
And turn the raindrops of my spring into pearls.
And make my spring's drops into pearls
أملa hope آخرanother فيin القلبthe heart أقامdwelt
أمل آخر في القلب أقام
مذحوىsince it acquired قلبيmy heart فيin الدنياthe world مقامa dwelling
مذحوى قلبي في الدنيا مقام
Another hope has taken up dwelling in my heart,
One last hope has stayed in my heart
Since my heart found a dwelling in this world.
Since my broken heart settled in this world
هوit فيin صدريmy breast كقلبيlike my heart نزلاlodged
هو في صدري كقلبي نزلا
شاهداwitnessing صبحthe dawn حياتيof my life الأولاthe first
شاهدا صبح حياتي الأولا
It lodged in my breast like my heart,
It is in my chest like my heart lodged
Witnessing the first dawn of my life.
Witnessing the dawn of my early life
أملa hope أذكيتI kindled منهfrom it لهبيmy flame
أمل أذكيت منه لهبي
مذsince شداsang باسمكwith your name أميmy mother وأبيand my father
مذ شدا باسمك أمي وأبي
A hope from which I kindled my flame,
A hope I kindled from it my blaze
Since my mother and father sang your name.
Since my mother and father invoked your name
كلماwhenever غيضwas diminished منيfrom me الزمنtime
كلما غيض مني الزمن
ودهانيand assailed me ريبهits vicissitudes والمحنand trials
ودهاني ريبه والمحن
Whenever time ebbed away from me,
Whenever time betrayed me
And its vicissitudes and trials assailed me,
And afflicted me with suspicion and tribulation
شبflared up فيin قلبيmy heart هذاthis الأملhope
شب في قلبي هذا الأمل
ونماand grew بالعتقwith aging فيهwithin it الثملintoxication
ونما بالعتق فيه الثمل
This hope flared up in my heart,
This hope ignited in my heart
And with age, intoxication grew within it.
And hope grew in it with emancipation
إنهindeed it is تحتbeneath ترابيmy dust جوهرa jewel
إنه تحت ترابي جوهر
كوكبa star فيin جنحthe darkness ليليof my night يسفرshines forth
كوكب في جنح ليلي يسفر
It is a jewel beneath my dust,
It is beneath my earth a essence
A star shining in the darkness of my night.
A planet unveiling in the night's wings
همتI was infatuated حيناfor a time بذواتwith women possessing الحورbeautifully contrasting eyes
همت حينا بذوات الحور
وتعشقتand I fell in love with ذواتwomen possessing الطررforelocks
وتعشقت ذوات الطرر
For a time I was infatuated with beautiful-eyed women,
I aspired for a time to the houri's company
And fell in love with women with forelocks.
And fell for the scintillating heavenly bodies
وعلىand over الراحwine صحبتI kept company with الغانيهthe beautiful woman
وعلى الراح صحبت الغانيه
حينwhen أطفأتI extinguished سراجthe lamp العافيهof well-being
حين أطفأت سراج العافيه
And over wine I kept company with the beauty,
And in intoxication I accompanied the singing girl
When I extinguished the lamp of well-being,
When she extinguished the lamp of decency
وأحاطتand surrounded بيدرىmy threshing floor نارthe fire البروقof lightning flashes
وأحاطت بيدرى نار البروق
وغزاand invaded قلبيmy heart قطاعthe robbers الطريقof the road
وغزا قلبي قطاع الطريق
And lightning's fire surrounded my threshing floor,
And lightning bolts surrounded my courtyard
And highway robbers invaded my heart.
And highway bandits invaded my heart
وبروحيand in my soul لمnot يزلcease to be هذاthis العقارelixir
وبروحي لم يزل هذا العقار
وبكيسيand in my purse لمnot يزلcease to be هذاthis الضارharmful thing
وبكيسي لم يزل هذا الضار
This elixir still remained in my soul,
And this spell did not leave my soul
And this harmful thing still remained in my purse.
And this harm did not leave my purse
لبسdonned الزنارthe zunnar belt عقليmy intellect الآزريAzar-like
لبس الزنار عقلي الآزري
وغزاand invaded روحيmy soul بالنقشwith images الفرىfabricated
وغزا روحي بالنقش الفرى
My Azar-like intellect donned the zunnar belt,
My mind wore the belt of the deviant
And invaded my soul with fabricated images.
And my soul was invaded by empty ostentation
فيin إسارthe captivity الشكof doubt أمضيتI spent سنينyears
في إسار الشك أمضيت سنين
وهوwhile it فيin رأسيmy head مقيمdwelling لاnot يبينdeparts
وهو في رأسي مقيم لا يبين
I spent years in the captivity of doubt,
In the shackles of doubt I spent years
While it dwelt in my head and would not depart.
And it resides in my head, settled, not leaving
أحرفاletters ماnot نلتI gained منof علمknowledge اليقينof certainty
أحرفا ما نلت من علم اليقين
ومنand concerning الحكمةwisdom فيin الريبdoubt رهينa prisoner
ومن الحكمة في الريب رهين
I gained not a letter of certain knowledge,
I did not attain letters of certitude's knowledge
And, concerning wisdom, remained a prisoner of doubt.
And in doubt, I am captive from wisdom
لمnot يلحgleam فيin ليلthe night عمريof my life نورa light حقof truth
لم يلح في ليل عمري نور حق
لمnot ينرهilluminate it ليليmy night شعاعa ray منof شفقtwilight
لم ينره ليلي شعاع من شفق
No light of truth gleamed in the night of my life.
No light of truth shone in the night of my life
No ray of twilight illuminated my night.
Its night was not illuminated by dawn's rays
وفؤاديand my heart مضمرharboring هذاthis الرجاءhope
وفؤادي مضمر هذا الرجاء
صدفa shell فيin قلبهits heart درa pearl أضاءshone
صدف في قلبه در أضاء
Yet my heart harbored this hope,
And my heart concealed this hope
A shell in whose heart a pearl shone.
A pearl shone in its shell
ثمthen منfrom عينيmy eyes دمعاas tears سجماstreamed
ثم من عيني دمعا سجما
وتجلىand revealed itself فيin فؤاديmy heart نغماas melody
وتجلى في فؤادي نغما
Then it streamed from my eyes as tears,
Then from my eye a repressed tear
And revealed itself in my heart as melody.
And a melody appeared in my heart
ياO منyou whom القلبthe heart سواهall but him أغفلاdisregarded
يا من القلب سواه أغفلا
إئذننsurely permit أذكرI mention هذاthis الأملاhope
إئذنن أذكر هذا الأملا
O you, beside whom the heart has disregarded all others,
O you besides whom the heart is heedless
Permit me to speak of this hope.
Permit me to remember this hope
سيرتيmy life-course ماnot ضاءshone فيهاin it العملaction
سيرتي ما ضاء فيها العمل
كيفhow مثليone like me مثلthe like of هذاthis يأملhopes for
كيف مثلي مثل هذا يأمل
No deed has shone in the course of my life;
My conduct never illuminated with deeds
How can one like me cherish such a hope?
How can one like me have such hope?
أناI منat إظهارهrevealing it فيin خجلshame
أنا من إظهاره في خجل
منكfrom you لطفkindness يسترcovers الجرأةaudacity ليfor me
منك لطف يستر الجرأة لي
I am ashamed to reveal it;
I am ashamed to reveal it
Your kindness veils my audacity.
From you, kindness conceals my audacity
ياO رحيماmerciful one بكthrough you للناسfor people مفازdeliverance
يا رحيما بك للناس مفاز
كلall ماthat أبغيهI seek it موتيmy death فيin الحجازthe Hijaz
كل ما أبغيه موتي في الحجاز
O merciful one, through you people find deliverance.
O Merciful, through you there is deliverance for people
All I desire is to die in the Hijaz.
All I want is to die in the Hejaz
هجرforsaking غيرall but اللهGod شأنthe way المسلمof the Muslim
هجر غير الله شأن المسلم
كيفhow ليfor me عيشliving ببيتin the house الصنمof an idol
كيف لي عيش ببيت الصنم
Forsaking all but God is the Muslim's way.
A Muslim should abandon what is not God
How could I live in an idol's house?
How can I live in the home of idols?
حسرةthe sorrow المسلمof the Muslim إنif حمis decreed المماتdeath
حسرة المسلم إن حم الممات
أنthat يكونshould be الديرthe monastery مثوىa resting place للرفاتfor the remains
أن يكون الدير مثوى للرفات
The Muslim's sorrow, when death is decreed,
The Muslim's sorrow if death befalls
Is that a monastery should become the resting place of his remains.
Is for his remains to lie in a monastery
ويلwoe to يوميmy today وهنيئاand joy لغديto my tomorrow
ويل يومي وهنيئا لغدي
إنif أقمI rise فيin ذاthis الحمىsanctuary منfrom لحديmy grave
إن أقم في ذا الحمى من لحدي
Woe to my today, and joy to my tomorrow,
Woe to me that day, and congratulations for tomorrow
If I rise from my grave within this sanctuary.
If I stay in this sanctuary after my burial
حبذاhow blessed أرضa land تراهاyou regard it موطناas a homeland
حبذا أرض تراها موطنا
حبذاhow blessed توبrepentance; likely intended as 'soil' تراهyou regard it مسكناas a dwelling
حبذا توب تراه مسكنا
Blessed is a land you regard as home.
Blessed is the land you see as homeland
Blessed is the soil you regard as a dwelling.
Blessed is the repentance you see as dwelling
دارthe home حبيof my love ومليكيand my sovereign والسكنand repose
دار حبي ومليكي والسكن
أيهاO العشاقlovers ذاthis نعمexcellent is الوطنthe homeland
أيها العشاق ذا نعم الوطن
The home of my love and my sovereign, and of repose.
The home of my love, my refuge and dwelling
O lovers, this is indeed a worthy homeland!
O lovers, what an excellent homeland!
كوكبيmy star أطلعهmake it rise بالسعدwith good fortune غداtomorrow
كوكبي أطلعه بالسعد غدا
فيin ظلالthe shade الدارof the abode هبgrant ليto me مرقداa resting place
في ظلال الدار هب لي مرقدا
Make my star rise auspiciously tomorrow.
My planet whose fortune will rise tomorrow
Grant me a resting place in the shade of that abode,
In the sanctuary's shadows, prepare me a grave
ليرىso that it may find الراحةrest قلبيmy heart القلقrestless
ليرى الراحة قلبي القلق
ويرىand it may find الهدأةstillness هذاthis الزئبقmercury
ويرى الهدأة هذا الزئبق
So that my restless heart may find repose,
So that my restless heart may find rest
And this mercury may find stillness.
And this mercury find tranquility
أيهاO الدهرTime انظرنsurely behold هذاthis السلامpeace
أيها الدهر انظرن هذا السلام
قدalready رأيتyou have seen البدءthe beginning فانظرso look ماwhat الختامthe ending is
قد رأيت البدء فانظر ما الختام
O Time, behold this peace.
O fate, look upon this peace
You have seen the beginning; now see what the ending is.
You saw the beginning, so look upon the conclusion
Sol 6.1