بَشير لقا الأَحبّة حينَ حَيّا

بَشير لقا الأَحبّة حينَ حَيّا

دَعا مَيت الهَوى العُذريِّ حَيّا

دَعا مَيت الهَوى العُذريِّ حَيّا

The herald of meeting loved ones, when he offered greetings,

Bashir met the loved ones when he greeted

called the one dead from chaste love back to life.

He revived the dead passion of the chaste with greetings

وَداعي البشر بِالأَحباب نادى

وَداعي البشر بِالأَحباب نادى

أَلا حَيّا عَلى الأَفراح حَيّا

أَلا حَيّا عَلى الأَفراح حَيّا

And the herald of gladness called to the loved ones:

And the caller of mankind called with the loved ones

“Come now, come to the festivities—come!”

Lo! Greetings upon joy! Greetings!

أَدارَ لَنا سلاف هَناً وَأُنسٍ

أَدارَ لَنا سلاف هَناً وَأُنسٍ

فَكَم أَحيا الهَنا داراً وَحيّا

فَكَم أَحيا الهَنا داراً وَحيّا

He passed us the choicest wine of happiness and fellowship;

He brought us a radiant gathering and companionship

how often happiness has revived a home and a neighborhood!

So he enlivened this gathering and home with greetings

وَساقي خندريس طلا النَدامى

وَساقي خندريس طلا النَدامى

لَنا قَمَر جَلا شَمس الحَميّا

لَنا قَمَر جَلا شَمس الحَميّا

And the cupbearer of aged wine, the companions’ fawn,

And the cupbearer of wine brought moons for the repentants

is a moon for us, unveiling the sun of strong wine.

He brought forth for us a shining moon, the sun of communion

وَبي أَحوى حَوى رقّ المُعَنّى

وَبي أَحوى حَوى رقّ المُعَنّى

بِمَعنى رقّةٍ وَسَنا مُحيّا

بِمَعنى رقّةٍ وَسَنا مُحيّا

I love a dark-lipped gazelle who holds the tormented lover in bondage,

And the one I love is infused with the softness of meaning

through the essence of tenderness and the radiance of a face.

With soft meaning and brilliant attributes

فَدَيتك أَيُّها الرَشأ المُفَدّى

فَدَيتك أَيُّها الرَشأ المُفَدّى

إِلى كَم أَنتَ تَهجُرُني مَليّا

إِلى كَم أَنتَ تَهجُرُني مَليّا

May I be your ransom, O fawn for whom lives are given!

I sacrifice myself for you, O my dear ransomed one

How long will you go on forsaking me?

To what extent do you shun me for long?

أَلي أَم لِلوشاة لظاك تصلي

أَلي أَم لِلوشاة لظاك تصلي

فَمَن أَولى بِجذوتها صِليّا

فَمَن أَولى بِجذوتها صِليّا

Does your blaze burn for me, or for the slanderers?

Is it to me or to the slanderers that your aversion prays?

Who, then, more deserves to burn in its embers?

So who is worthier of its embers, roasted?

وَما لِشَراب هَجرك عَلقَمياً

وَما لِشَراب هَجرك عَلقَمياً

وَكاس رِضاب ثَغرك سكَّريّا

وَكاس رِضاب ثَغرك سكَّريّا

And why is the drink of your abandonment bitter as colocynth,

What makes the wine of your estrangement bitter to me

while the cup of your mouth’s nectar is sweet as sugar?

And the cup of your mouth’s pleasure sealed shut?

وَعلمي أَنَّ قَدّك سَمهريٌّ

وَعلمي أَنَّ قَدّك سَمهريٌّ

فَما لسهام لَحظك مَشرفيّا

فَما لسهام لَحظك مَشرفيّا

And I know your figure is a Samhari spear;

And I know your stature is lofty

why, then, are your glance’s arrows Mashrafi swords?

So why do I see your glances debased?

وَعَهدي أَنَّ طرفك كسرويّ

وَعَهدي أَنَّ طرفك كسرويّ

فَما بالي أَراه حَيدريّا

فَما بالي أَراه حَيدريّا

And I had known your gaze as Khosrow-like;

And my pact is your glance is imperial

then why do I see it as Haydar-like?

So why do I see it plebeian?

وَكُنت إِخال خالك عَنبرياً

وَكُنت إِخال خالك عَنبرياً

فَما للثغر أَصبح جَوهَريّا

فَما للثغر أَصبح جَوهَريّا

And I used to think your beauty mark ambergris-like;

You were like your maternal uncle fragrant

why, then, has your mouth become jewel-like?

So why has your mouth become like gems?

فَهيّا يا ندامى الحيّ هَيّا

فَهيّا يا ندامى الحيّ هَيّا

إِلى حان وَأَلحان تهيّا

إِلى حان وَأَلحان تهيّا

Come, then, O drinking companions of the neighborhood—come!

So come O revelers of life! Come!

To a tavern and melodies made ready.

To a feast and melodies, be vitalized!

كَأَنّا بِالسُرور وَقَد تَدانى

كَأَنّا بِالسُرور وَقَد تَدانى

فَمثّل لِلنُهى بَشراً سَويّا

فَمثّل لِلنُهى بَشراً سَويّا

It is as though we behold joy, now drawing near,

It is as if joy has come close to us

appearing to our minds as a perfectly formed man.

So it represented the exemplar to debauchery

وَرقَّ وَراق ماء البشر فينا

وَرقَّ وَراق ماء البشر فينا

فَأَصبَح بَيننا طلقاً سَريّا

فَأَصبَح بَيننا طلقاً سَريّا

And the water of gladness grew delicate and clear within us,

And the water of people's faces shone among us

and became a freely flowing brook among us.

So it became clear drafts among us

وَردناه عَلى ظَمأ فَنِلنا

وَردناه عَلى ظَمأ فَنِلنا

بِريّا طيبه رِيّاً وَرَيّا

بِريّا طيبه رِيّاً وَرَيّا

We came to it thirsty, and gained

We quenched our thirst with it, and so we obtained

through its sweet scent both refreshment and fragrance.

Ample, good, abundant drink

فَلَو أَنّا هَززنا جذع لَهو

فَلَو أَنّا هَززنا جذع لَهو

عَلَينا ساقطت رُطباً جَنيّا

عَلَينا ساقطت رُطباً جَنيّا

And if we shook the trunk of mirth,

So if we shook the trunk of bliss

it would shower us with ripe, fresh dates.

Ripe fruit would have fallen upon us

وَأَغصان الرُبى أَشبَهنَ غيداً

وَأَغصان الرُبى أَشبَهنَ غيداً

أَزاهرها لَها اِنتَظَمَت حليّا

أَزاهرها لَها اِنتَظَمَت حليّا

And the branches on the hills resembled supple maidens;

And the branches of joy resembled garlands

their blossoms were strung into ornaments for them.

With flowers systematically arrayed as ornament

وَغَنّى طَيرها طَرَباً فَأَشجى

وَغَنّى طَيرها طَرَباً فَأَشجى

خَليّاً وَاِستهامَ بِنا شَجيّا

خَليّاً وَاِستهامَ بِنا شَجيّا

And their birds sang in rapture, stirring sorrow in

And its birds sang with musical delight

the carefree, and driving the sorrowful among us love-mad.

Privately inspiring us and openly rousing us

وَقَد نادى البدار بدار أُنس

وَقَد نادى البدار بدار أُنس

وَظلّ ظَلَّ ناديهِ نديّا

وَظلّ ظَلَّ ناديهِ نديّا

And the summons to hasten rang in a house of fellowship,

And the butler called to the abode of companionship

and the shade of its gathering place remained dewy.

And the echo of his call remained vociferous

صَفا وَقت الصَفاء لَنا وَلَولا

صَفا وَقت الصَفاء لَنا وَلَولا

لقا الأَحباب أَصبَحَ أَكدَريّا

لقا الأَحباب أَصبَحَ أَكدَريّا

The hour of serenity was clear for us; and were it not for

It purified the time of purity for us, and had it not been

meeting loved ones, it would have grown murky.

For meeting loved ones, it would have been gloomy

عنيت لِقاء أَحمَد مَن تَهادى

عنيت لِقاء أَحمَد مَن تَهادى

لَهُ حمدي فَطابَ شَذاً وَريّا

لَهُ حمدي فَطابَ شَذاً وَريّا

I mean meeting Ahmad, the one to whom was offered

I intended meeting Ahmad among those who tread to him

my praise, which grew sweet in scent and fragrance.

My praise of him was sweet smelling and ample

وَحيد أُولي النُهى شَرَفاً وَحلماً

وَحيد أُولي النُهى شَرَفاً وَحلماً

وَمَجداً قَد تَأثّل هاشِميّا

وَمَجداً قَد تَأثّل هاشِميّا

Peerless among the wise in honor and forbearance,

And Haydara who is qualified with glory and forbearance

and in firmly established Hashimi glory.

And glory which adorned itself Hashimi

أَخا حَزم لَهُ الهِمم العَوالي

أَخا حَزم لَهُ الهِمم العَوالي

وَعَزم دون غايَتِهِ الثريّا

وَعَزم دون غايَتِهِ الثريّا

A man of firmness, possessed of lofty aspirations,

My brother Hazm, his aspirations are lofty

and resolve below whose utmost reach lie the Pleiades.

And determination below his goal multitudinous

وَطَبع مِن نَسيم الرَوض أَذكى

وَطَبع مِن نَسيم الرَوض أَذكى

شَميماً وَهوَ أَنضر عَبقريّا

شَميماً وَهوَ أَنضر عَبقريّا

And a nature more fragrant than the garden breeze

And a disposition from the breeze of the meadow more sagacious

in scent, and more radiant in wondrous excellence.

A fragrance, while it is the greenest, most intelligent

وَلُطف شَمائل يُتلى ثَناها

وَلُطف شَمائل يُتلى ثَناها

فَيذكي طيب عُنصرها الذَكيّا

فَيذكي طيب عُنصرها الذَكيّا

And gracious traits whose praise is recited,

And manners whose merits are recited

thus intensifying the keen perfume of their essence.

So it kindles the goodly essence the most wise

وَأَخلاق مَكارمها اِستَطالَت

وَأَخلاق مَكارمها اِستَطالَت

فَأَنست حاتماً وَعَدت عَدِيّا

فَأَنست حاتماً وَعَدت عَدِيّا

And qualities of character whose nobility towered high,

And his perfect morals

eclipsing Hatim and surpassing Adi.

So they made Hatim forgetful and counted him redundant

وَأَوصاف مَحامدها تَوالَت

وَأَوصاف مَحامدها تَوالَت

فَكانَ مَقامها فينا عَليّا

فَكانَ مَقامها فينا عَليّا

And attributes whose praiseworthy qualities followed one another,

And the descriptions of his praise followed

so their standing among us was lofty.

So his position among us became most high

وَذو شِيَم لَها ما زالَ أَهلاً

وَذو شِيَم لَها ما زالَ أَهلاً

كَما أَمسى المناظر أَجنَبيّا

كَما أَمسى المناظر أَجنَبيّا

And endowed with virtues of which he has always been worthy,

And the one whose traits are still worthy

just as his rival has become a stranger to them.

As the sights have become unfamiliar

فَلو أَني لَها عانَيت عدّاً

فَلو أَني لَها عانَيت عدّاً

لأَعياني وَأَصبَح لي عَصيّا

لأَعياني وَأَصبَح لي عَصيّا

If I undertook the toil of counting them,

So if I enumerated his brilliance

the task would weary me and prove beyond my power.

My power would abandon me and become recalcitrant

فَها أَنا لا أُجيد سِوى التَهاني

فَها أَنا لا أُجيد سِوى التَهاني

فَعيشي لَم يَزَل رَغداً هَنيّا

فَعيشي لَم يَزَل رَغداً هَنيّا

So here I am, skilled only in offering congratulations;

So here I am, I know nothing but congratulations

for my life has ever been comfortable and pleasant.

Thus my life has remained comfortable and gratified

أَلا يا مَعشَر الأَحباب نَهلا

أَلا يا مَعشَر الأَحباب نَهلا

رِدوا كَأس المَسَرّة كَوثَريّا

رِدوا كَأس المَسَرّة كَوثَريّا

Come, O company of loved ones, take a first draught:

Lo, O group of loved ones, come drink

come to the cup of gladness, flowing like Kawthar.

Return the cup of joy like a rushing river

وَها عَنا العَناء وَهى فَهَل لا

وَها عَنا العَناء وَهى فَهَل لا

عرا مَن كانَ مِنهُ بِنا عريّا

عرا مَن كانَ مِنهُ بِنا عريّا

And behold, hardship has yielded and weakened; will it not

Ha! We are free of toil, so is there one who

befall one who, through us, was free of it?

Would blame he among us who was naked?

فَلَيسَ سِوى العَناء بِهِ جَديراً

فَلَيسَ سِوى العَناء بِهِ جَديراً

وَلَيسَ سِوى الهَناء بِنا حَريّا

وَلَيسَ سِوى الهَناء بِنا حَريّا

For nothing but hardship befits him,

For none deserves but toil

and nothing but happiness befits us.

And none deserves but joy strongly

وَإِنّا لا نَرى لِلناس ضَيماً

وَإِنّا لا نَرى لِلناس ضَيماً

فَلا يَخشَ الضَعيف بِنا قَويّا

فَلا يَخشَ الضَعيف بِنا قَويّا

Yet we do not countenance injustice toward people;

And we do not see wrong done to people

so under our protection the weak need not fear the strong.

So the weak should not fear us as strong

عَلى أَنا بِحَمد اللَه قَوم

عَلى أَنا بِحَمد اللَه قَوم

نَرى سنَن الهِداية أَحمَديّا

نَرى سنَن الهِداية أَحمَديّا

Yet we are, praise be to God, a people

Since we are, by the grace of God, a people

who regard the path of guidance as Ahmad’s.

Who see the ways of guidance Ahmadi

فَيا اِبن الأَكرَمين إِلَيكَ بكراً

فَيا اِبن الأَكرَمين إِلَيكَ بكراً

جَلَت لَك حُسنَها الأَسنى البَهيّا

جَلَت لَك حُسنَها الأَسنى البَهيّا

So, son of the noblest, to you comes a virgin,

So O son of the two most noble, unto you early

who has unveiled for you her most radiant, splendid beauty.

Your perfections shone, the most radiant

أَتَت بِقُدومك الباهي تهنّي

أَتَت بِقُدومك الباهي تهنّي

أَحبّتنا فَلَم تَكُ تَلقَ غيّا

أَحبّتنا فَلَم تَكُ تَلقَ غيّا

She came, on your splendid arrival, to congratulate

With your arrival the splendid, our loved ones congratulated

our loved ones, and encountered no misguidance.

So they did not remain uninformed

فَدُمت مَدى الزَمان عَزيز قَوم

فَدُمت مَدى الزَمان عَزيز قَوم

وَدامَ الضدّ مُبتَذلاً زَريّا

وَدامَ الضدّ مُبتَذلاً زَريّا

May you remain for all time the honored one of your people,

So may you eternally remain mighty of people

and may your adversary remain debased and contemptible.

And the opposite remain humiliated, disdained

وَلا زالَت شُموسك مُشرِقات

وَلا زالَت شُموسك مُشرِقات

وَلا بَرح الزَمان بِها مضيّا

وَلا بَرح الزَمان بِها مضيّا

May your suns never cease to shine,

And may your suns remain shining

and may time never cease to be bright with them,

And time with them not cease

مَدى الأَيّام ما حَيّا المَعالي

مَدى الأَيّام ما حَيّا المَعالي

بَشير لقا الأَحبّة حينَ حَيّا

بَشير لقا الأَحبّة حينَ حَيّا

through all the days, as long as lofty virtues are saluted by

The span of days, as long as glories live

the herald of meeting loved ones, when he offers greetings.

Bashir met the loved ones when he greeted