زَمَنٌ بكلّ مسرّة وافاني

أَكْرمْ به زمناً وأيّ زمانِ

A time of every joy and pleasure,

Honor such a time, whatever time it may be,

لن أستطيع ثناءَه ولوَ أنّنِي

أُعْطِيتُ في الإِطراء كلَّ لسان

I cannot praise it enough even if

I were given every eloquent tongue for praise.

حيث الحبيب مُنَادِمٌ ومُوَاصِلٌ

وبحيث يسمعني وحيث يراني

Where the beloved is a companion and friend,

Where he can hear me and where he can see me,

والشّمل منتظمُ الجواهر عقده

وصفا المودّة مُثمِرُ الأغصان

And the embrace has its gems in an orderly necklace,

And affection's branches fruitful with intimacy.

من بعد ما طحنت كلاكلُ جَوْرِه

كَبِدي وأبلى مهجتي ورماني

After the worries of its tyranny ground

My liver, and wasted my insides and my pomegranate (heart),

وتداولت بين الحشاء همومُه

دُوَلاً تُشيب ذَوَائِبَ الوِلْدَانِ

And his concerns circulated in my guts

Going around to make the hair of the youths grey.

وتناضلت فوق الأسى وتزاحمت

شِيَعُ الرّدى وطوئفُ الحِدْثان

And I struggled over anguish and the waves

Of misery and torrents of calamities crowded,

بكتائبٍ سُودِ الدّروع كأَنّها

لَيْلُ الْمِحَاقِ وأَوْجُهُ السّودان

With regiments black armored as though they were

The night of annihilation and faces of the blacks.

جَعَلَتْ تجولُ بِأَضْلُعِي فحروبُها

ما مَرَّ عن نيرانها المَلَوَانِ

They began to roam my ribs so their wars

Did not pass by their fires any refuge,

وجوانحي ميدانُها ومداسُها

ومجالُ كلّ مهنَّدٍ وسِنان

And my wings are their battlefield and their threshing floor,

And the domain of every eager and sharp sword.

وقُوَى الحشاءِ مغانمٌ لِكُمَاتِها

قُسِمَتْ أحاداً بينها ومثاني

And the powers of my heart are the booty for their darkness

Divided one by one between them and in pairs.

أفلا يَحِقُّ على الجفون يجرّحٌ

وعلى الفؤاد تجرّع الأشجان

Is it not right then for a wounder to wound my eyelids

And for me to drink the bitterness of sorrows?

وتسهّدٌ وتحنّنٌ وتأسّفٌ

وتصعّدٌ في سُلَّمِ الهَيَمان

And to become sleepless, and to grieve, and regret,

And to climb the ladder of anxieties?

وأَحِبّتي ما بين ناءٍ مُبْعَدٍ

وحميمِ آنٍ في التّراب مُهَان

My loved ones are between an absent companion

And an intimate now disgraced in the dust.

وحليفِ وِدِّ لا يفيق من الأسى

لذهاب خِلٍّ أو نُبُوِّ مكان

And a loyal affectionate friend who does not awaken

From grief over the loss of a comrade or place.

ومحلُّهم من بعد أُنْسٍ مُوحِشٌ

يَبكي ويُبكي كلَّ صَلْدِ جَنان

And their abode after intimacy is desolate

Weeping and making every solid garden weep.

يشكو حرارة ما يذوق وإنّما

يشكو فراقَ أئِمّةٍ أعيانِ

Lamenting the heat of what it tastes though it only

Laments the loss of guiding nobles.

كانوا مصابيحَ الرّشاد لأهله

فتناثروا كلآلِئي الأجفان

They were the lanterns of guidance for its people

So they scattered like the jewels of my eyelids.

سّلَّ الزّمانُ غِرارَهم فأراشهم

بأسِنِّةِ الأنكاد والأحزان

Time pulled its deception on them so it rained them

With the tongues of misfortunes and sorrows.

وكسا جسومَ القاطنين ملابسَ آلْ

أسقام بعد نُعومةِ الأبدان

And it dressed the bodies of the inhabitants in the clothes of sickness and weakness

After the softness of the bodies.

ولَكَمْ كَسَا مِنْ ذي اعتزاز ذِلّةَ آلْ

أكفان بعد رفاهة الأردان

And how much it clothed one of pride with the disgrace of shrouds

After the prosperity of cushions!

وطوى محاسنَ مِنْ كِرَامٍ سَادَةٍ

وكرائِمٍ تُصْبِي الرشيدَ حِسانِ

And it folded the beauties of noble and generous ones,

And generous deeds that bring the right-minded joy.

بجنود طَعْنٍ بالحروب عليمةٍ

وخبيرةٍ بِمَقَاتِلِ الإنسان

With spear-stabbing armies knowledgeable of wars

And experienced in fighting mankind.

طاعونها لا يكتفي بِأَقَلَّ مِنْ

أَخْذِ النّفوس ولا يقول كفاني

Its plague is not content with anything less than

Taking souls and does not say "enough!"

حتى مَلَلْتُ من الحياة وطولِها

ورأيتُ رَمسي فيها نَيْلُ أماني

Until I became weary of life and its length,

And I saw my footing in it attain wishes.

وحَسَدْتُ قُطَّانَ القبور وربّما

لذَّ الحِمَامُ لمُصْطَلي النّيران

And I envied the cotton vendor of graves and sometimes

The pigeon roosting on the pyres is tempting.

فإذا نسيمٌ قد تضوّع باسماً

بالغرب هبَّ مُعَطِّرَ الأركان

When a breeze scented with a name blew

From the west, scenting the corners.

يُبْرِي آلسِّقَامَ شميمُه وبنشره

يُطْفي حرارةَ كِلّ صَبٍّ عَانِ

Its scent heals illnesses and by its diffusion

It extinguishes the heat of every burning thirst.

يسري إلى نحو المشارق مُذْهِباً

عِلَلَ الصُّدور وغُلَّةَ الظّمآن

It moves toward the east erasing

The diseases of breasts and the cloudiness of thirsts.

ناديتُه ماذا وَرَاءَكَ طِبْتَ مِنْ

مُحْيِي النّفوس بنشرك الرّيّان

I called it, what is behind you, you are fragrant

With the scent that gives life to souls with your pleasant diffusion?

فأجابني إنّي هببتُ مُبَشِّراً

بقدوم من خضعت له الثَّقَلاَنِ

So it answered me saying I have come announcing

The arrival of one to whom the two burdens bowed down.

شمسَ الأيمّةِ طاهرٌ من نورِه

يُهْدى لرونق حسنه القَمَرَان

The sun of leadership, pure in his light

Through which the two moons are guided by his beauty's brilliance.

شيخٌ حباه من الكمال إلاهُه

ما لم تَرُقْ بنظيره العَيْنَان

A shaykh whom his God granted perfection

The like of which no two eyes have ever risen to.

أجلى على تَرشيشَ ظلمةَ حزنها

فبدت بوجهٍ مُشْرقٍ فتّان

He illuminated the darkness of its gloom

So it appeared with a radiant, captivating face.

وأباد جُنْدَ همومها بعساكر

من ضيغمٍ ضارٍ بكلّ لسان

And he destroyed its regiments of worries with armies

Of harmful heat affecting every tongue.

أَخَذَتْ تُقَارِعُ كُلَّ شهمٍ ضَيْغَمٍ

حتّى استحال مُزَوِّدَ العِقْبَان

It began to battle each audacious heat

Until the food of vultures turned barren.

ونفى لها بؤسَ السّقام فأصبحت

خضراءَ بعد يبوسة الأفنان

And he removed its misery of sickness so it became

Green after the withering of branches.

وتحوّلت دارَ النّعيم وطالما

كانت مَجَالَ مصائبٍ وهوان

And it was transformed into the abode of bliss when

It had been the sphere of misfortunes and disgrace.

وتزخرفت حتى كأنّ قطينَها

لم يُجرِ دَمْعَةَ حائرٍ ولهان

And it became adorned as though its mud

Had never drawn the tear of a confused and despaired one.

وكأنّها لمّا ألمّ بدورها

إِرَمٌ تَبَدَّتْ أو قصورُ جِنان

And as though no ruin had befallen its homes

Or they were lofty palaces and gardens of Paradise.

وتباشرت لمّا رأته بأَسْرِها

بلسانِ حالٍ أو لسان بيان

And it exchanged greetings when it saw him in captivation

With the tongue of a state or the tongue of speech.

حتى رأيتُ بناءَها طَرَباً إلى

مرآه يهتزّ اهتزازَ غواني

Until I saw its buildings inclining in rapture

To a mirror shaking with the trembling of branches.

وجوامعاً ومساجداً ومدارساً

تومي إلى التّسليم ذاتَ حَنان

And mosques and schools swaying

To peaceful surrender.

ودروسُها تختال في حُلَلِ البَهَا

ولها بمقدمه البهِيّ تهَانِ

And its lessons swagger in clothes of splendor

As it welcomes the magnificent arrival ceremoniously.

وتقول أهلاً يا حبيبُ ومرحباً

بك يا إمامَ مشايخِ العِرفانِ

And it says "welcome, O beloved, and greetings to you

O imam of the shaykhs of gnosis."

يا محييَ الإتقانِ بعد دروسه

ومحلّيَ الأذهان بالإيقانِ

"O reviver of excellence after its lessons

And elucidator of minds with certainty."

ومُشَيِّداً ربع العلوم وقد هوى

فوق العروش أسافلُ الجدران

"O builder of the quadrant of knowledge which desired

Above the celestial spheres below the ground."

يا ابْنَ الكِرَامِ ونخبةَ الفضلاءِ مِنْ

أهل الخلافة من بني عدنان

"O son of nobles and elite of the virtuous

Among the people of caliphate from the children of Adnan."

يا نَجْلَ صاحِبِ خًيْرِ مَنْ وَطِئَ الثّرى

عُمَرٍ مُوشِّحِ راية الإيمان

"O son of the companion with the best ever to tread upon earth,

Umar, standard bearer of faith."

ومُعِزَّ دينِ المصطفى بأَدِلَّةٍ

وأسِنّةِ وأجلّةِ الفرسان

"And strengthener of the religion of Mustafa with evidences

And the outstanding tongues and horsemen."

ومبينَ صدقِ وقوعِ ما يقضي به الْ

إرْهاصُ مثل تصدّع الإِيوان

"And clarifier of the truth of what he decrees with hints

Like the cracking of pillars."

فأذاق كسرى كأسَ ذلٍّ قاتلٍ

فكأنّه ما ذاق بنتَ دنان

So he made Chosroes taste a deadly cup of disgrace

As though he never tasted the daughters of grapevines."

كم لي أُنَقّي في الأنام لعلّني

أُلْفِي فما أَلْفَيْتُ مثلك ثانِ

"How I wish to thoroughly examine mankind that I may

Find the like of you again."

ولكم سألتُ النّاسَ هل لك مُشْبِهٌ

فرأيتُهم ينفون كلَّ مُدَانِ

"And how much I asked people, is there anyone similar to you?

But I saw them all refusing any rival."

مِنْ أَيْنَ نُلْفي مُشْبِهاً لك في الورى

وَهُمُ لذكرك ناكسو الأذقان

"From where do we find someone similar to you in existence

While they bow their necks to the mention of you?"

وإذا برزتَ رميتَهم بمهابة

تَذَرُ الشُّجَاعَ البَطْلَ مثلَ جَبَانِ

"And when you come out, you throw them into awe

That leaves the brave hero like a coward."

حتّى إذا ما الرُّعبُ زال رأيتَهم

وجميعُهم مُثْنٍ بكلّ لسان

"Until when the terror passes, I see them

And all of them commending you with every tongue."

قل لي بفضلك أيّ ذنبٍ جِئْتُه

حتّى أُجَرَّعَ غُصّةَ الهجران

"Tell me, by your grace, what sin did I come to

That made me drink the bitterness of estrangement?"

وترى فراقي مذهبا ومدامعي

تبدو بذاك مُبَاحةَ السَّيَلان

"And you see my separation as purposeful and my tears

For that are seen by you as permitted to flow?"

ولأيّ شيء ما رأيتُ من الأسى

بمغيب مطلَعِكَ العَلِيِّ الشان

"And for what reason have I not seen because of the grief

At your disappearance, O most noble and lofty?"

وتَركْتَنِي فوق البسيطة هائماً

عاري الحياة لشدّة الهيمان

"And you left me wandering above the plain

Bare of life from the intensity of anxiety."

حتى رأيتُ من العذول تعذّراً

وترحّما من كلّ نَذْلٍ شَانِ

"Until I saw from chastity avoidance

And sympathy from every despicable companion."

أَحَسِبْتَ لي إلْفاً سِوَاك يروقني

وأرى السُّلُوَّ به عليك عراني

"Did you reckon I have a beloved besides you who pleases me?

And I see solace in him apart from you exposed?"

لا والذي أولاك رِقّي ليس في

قلبي سواك وليس لي قلبان

"No, by He who gave you my companionship, there is

No one in my heart besides you and I have no second heart."

ولئن أتيتُ جريمةً فَلأَنْتَ مَنْ

يُولي المُسِيءَ سحائبَ الغُفْران

"And if I came with a crime, then you are the one

Who turns the wrongdoer to the clouds of forgiveness."

أَوَكَانَ هجرُك لا لذنب جِئْتُه

أَيَحِلُّ منكَ عذابُ غَيْرِ الجاني

"Or was your estrangement not for a sin I came with?

Is it permissible for punishment from you of the innocent?"

ولعلَّ وِدَّك حال حتّى إنّه

نسجتْ عليه عناكبُ النّسيان

"Perhaps your affection changed until it was

Spun by the spiders of forgetfulness."

ومتى استحال وحسنُ عهدِك في الورى

عالي الحصون ومُحْكَمُ البنيان

"And when did your covenant in the world

Become of lofty fortresses and solid construction?"

لم أَدْرِ ما سبب الصّدود وليتَني

حصّلتُ منه على شِفَا خفقان

"I do not know the reason for the estrangement, and would that

I had extracted from it a cure for my fluttering heart."

لكنّ حرصي قَادَنِي لِلَطِيفَةٍ

فرأيتُ منه الأَمرَ شِبْهَ عِيَان

"But my eagerness led me to divination

So I saw from it the matter as clear as daylight."

هي أنّ ما قد حُمَّ ليس بواقعٍ

بمكانٍ أنْتَ به من القُطّان

"It is that what has been imagined is untrue

In a place where you are among the truthful."

فتركتَني كَيْمَا ترى المقضيَّ في

حُلَلِ الوجود محقّق الإمكان

"So you left me to see what was destined

In the situations of existence, made real in potential."

والصّالحون لهم مَزِيدُ كرامةٍ

فيهم تُعَاقُ عوائقُ الأزمان

"And the righteous have additional honor

In which obstacles of time are ineffective."

سيّما وقد شاهدتُ فيكَ عجيبةً

تقضي بأنّك قُرَّةُ الأعيان

"Especially as I witnessed a wonder in you

Which proves you are the delight of the notables."

إنّي رأيت كواكبَ الأفلاك

قد سارت لِنَحْوِكَ طالقاتِ عِنَان

"I saw that the stars of the celestial spheres

Moved unrestrained toward you."

عَلِمَتْ بأنّك زائرٌ لِسَرَايَةٍ

فَتدَنَّيَتْ للغرب والمَيَلان

"They knew you would visit a mansion

So they approached the west and declination."

فإنِ امْتَرَى ذو ومِرْيَةٍ فلعلّه

لم يَدْرِ كيف مَطَالِعُ الوِجدان

"So if a doubter objects, perhaps

He does not know the horizons of hearts."

ولعلّه إذ كنتَ شمسَ معارفٍ

غَرَبَتْ عليه أَشِعَّةُ اللَمَعَان

"And perhaps since you were the sun of knowledge

Its rays were obscured to him."

وَالشمسُ تَبْهَرُ كلَّ مُقْلَةِ مُبْصِرٍ

عن دَرْكِها بزيادة الإمعان

"The sun dazzles the vision of every weak-eyed witness

From perceiving it by intense staring."

ولأنْتَ أرْفَعُ منزِلاً بمراتبٍ

من دونها البحران يلتقيان

"And you are far higher in rank and degrees

Than it, though the two seas meet."

أَفَيستطيع بلوغَ مدحِك مادحٌ

ويُجِيدُ فيكَ مبانياً ومعان

"Can one praising you master praising you

And excel in meanings and ideas about you?"

وأَجَلُّ مَدْحٍ أنت فوق أَجَلِّهِ

وأَجَلُّ قصر في القصور يعاني

"The greatest praise is that you are above its greatest,

And the greatest palace suffers in comparison."

لكنّ ما لا يُسْتَطَاعُ جميعُه

فَيُجَاءُ منه بمُمْكِنِ الإتيان

"But what cannot be fully attained,

Let some of the feasible be attained."

والعَفْوُ عمّا قد جَنَيْتُ مُؤَمَّلٌ

حيثُ اجْترَأْتُ على عَلِّي مكان

"And pardon what I have boldly done

Where I encroached upon one of high position."

لا زال في حَرَمٍ يُلاذُ بِحِصْنِه

ما دام في حَرَمَيْهِمَا الحَرَمان

"One remains in inviolable territory taking refuge

In its fortress as long as the sanctuaries are inviolate."