وَجّهِ العَزمَ بِجدٍّ وَاِلجُما

مِن جِيادِ العَزمِ أَسنى فَرسِ

Direct your resolve with determination and gather the reins

From the steeds of resolve, choose the finest horse

ثُمَّ سِرْ نَحوَ دِمشقٍ وَاِغنما

فُرصَةَ السَّيرِ بِوقتِ الغلسِ

Then set out towards Damascus and gain spoils

Seize the opportunity to travel at nightfall

بَلدَةٌ فَيحاء جَلَّت عَن مِثالْ

قَد حَوَت لُطفَ هَواءٍ وَمَعينْ

A splendid city surpassing any ideal

It encompasses pleasant air and springs

رَوضة غَنّاء تُكسى بِالجَمالْ

فَتَبدَّت قُرَّة لِلناظِرين

A melodious garden adorned with beauty

Appearing as a delight to beholders

جَنّة مِنها لِسانُ الحالِ قالْ

اِدخُلوها بِسلامٍ آمِنين

A paradise which the tongue of witness said

Enter it in peace and safety

وَجهُها بِالحُسنِ حقّاً وُسِما

وَبِثوبِ الأنسِ دامَت تكتسي

Its face is truly beautiful and refined

Remaining clothed in the garb of intimacy

ثَغرُها بِالبشرِ حُسناً بسما

لاِبتِهاجِ الرّوحِ ثمّ الأَنفسِ

Its lips smile beautifully bringing joy

First to the soul, then to the selves

قَد بَناها اللَّه داراً لِلسُّرورْ

فَاِزدَهَت تَسمو عَلى كلِّ البِلادْ

God built it as a home of happiness

Towering above all other cities

وَجَرت أَنهارُها تَحتَ القُصور

وَتَبَدَّت تَزدَري ذات العِمادْ

Its rivers flow beneath its palaces

Appearing to scorn all pillars

وَنُجوم الفَضلِ فيها وَالبدور

وَشُموس العِلمِ تَبدو بِالرّشادْ

Within it are the stars of virtue and mansions

And the suns of knowledge give guidance

وَلأَهلِ الفَضلِ بُرج وَسَما

لا تُضاهيها سَماء الخنَّسِ

To the people of merit it has towers and high regard

Its sky is unmatched by the heavens

يا رَعى اللَّه حِماها مِن حِمى

وَسَقاها بِالمُلثّ الأَقدسِ

O God, protect it from all violation

And water it with the most sacred nectar

فَإِلَيها اِدخل بِحُسنِ الأدَبِ

وَابْدُ لِلتّوفيدِ أَجلى مظهرِ

Enter it with the best etiquette

And show the most splendid appearance for visiting

زُرْ بِها كلَّ رَسولٍ وَنَبي

مِثلَ يَحيى الماجِدِ الفَخمِ السري

Visit in it every messenger and prophet

Like John the Majestic, the Revered, the Hidden

وَوَلِيٍّ سيّما اِبن العَربي

سَيّدي القطب وَشَيخي الأكبرِ

And saint, especially Son of the Arabs

My master, the Pole, and my greatest Shaykh

عارِف الدّهرِ الّذي قَد كرُما

وَالإِمام الحاتِمي الأَندَلُسي

The Knower of the times, so generous and noble

And the Imam Hatimi Al-Andalusi

مَنْ لَهُ اللَّه تَعالى أَكرَما

بِعلومٍ لَم تُنل بِالهَوَسِ

Whom Exalted God has so honored

With sciences unattainable to the passionate

ذاكَ مُحيي الدّين شَمسُ العارفينْ

وارِث المُختارِ طهَ المُصطفى

He is the Reviver of Religion, Sun of the Knowers

Inheritor of the Elect, Taha the Chosen One

عَلمُ الأَفرادِ فَرد العالَمينْ

بِالصّفا صُوفيَ حتّى أَنْ صَفا

The singular sage, the unique one of all worlds

With spiritual purity, so pure of soul

قُطب غَوثٍ في الوَرى وَالعالَمِين

وَبِهِ في الدّهرِ حقّاً وُصِفا

Qutb, the salvation of the world and all within it

And by him in this life, truly described

بَحرُ عِرفانٍ أَرانا حِكَما

هِيَ كالدّرِّ الثّمينِ الأَنفسِ

An ocean of mystic knowledge, he has shown wisdom

It is like the finest pearl, of greatest value

كَم لَنا مِنها عُقوداً نظما

نالَها مِن حَضراتِ القدسِ

How many necklaces of pearls we have composed from it

Obtained from the Presence of Holiness

كَالفُتوحاتِ الّتي قَد شهرَت

وَكَذا صاح فُصوص الحِكمِ

Like the openings that have become famous

And so the master of wisdom has exclaimed

وَعَنِ العِلم اللّدنُّي ظَهَرَت

بِتَجلّي اللَّه ربّي الحَكمِ

Knowledge of divine inspiration has appeared

Through manifestation of my Lord, the All-Wise

وَمِن الفَيضِ الإِلهي صَدَرت

مِن هِباتِ اللَّه مُولِي النِّعمِ

And from the divine effusion it has emanated

From the gifts of Allah, Granter of Bounties

يا لَها مِن كتب قَد أحكما

إِذ بِناها بالبديعِ الكيِّسِ

What well-composed books He has perfected

Since the Creator has built them with expertise

تِلكَ تَأليفُ إِمامٍ قُدِّما

طيّب النّفْسِ وَعالي النفسِ

Such is the compilation of a noble soul

Of excellent character and lofty spirit

كَم بِها لِلسرِّ صاحي مِن كُنوزْ

لِذَوي الأَوهامِ لَيسَت تُفتحُ

How many treasures within for the secret's manifestation

Which seem not to open for the delusional minds

كَم لِعلمِ الكَشفِ فيها مِن رُموزْ

لأُولي العِرفانِ قَد تَتّضِحُ

How many symbols of mystic knowledge exist

Which become clear for the gnostics

لَم تَكُن إِلّا لأهليها تَجوزْ

لَم يَكُن فيها سِواهُم يُفلِحُ

They were not permitted except for their intended

None but them could succeed in understanding

مَن يَرُمْ إِدراكها أَن يَعلَما

وَهوَ ذو الجَهلِ غَدا بِالأهوسِ

If one seeks to comprehend without aptitude or wisdom

He could not attain them, only the valley of the blind

لَم يَنَلها وَسِوى وادي العمى

لَم يَجُزْ في دَهرِهِ لَم يَجُسِ

He did not cross in his time, he did not perceive

Visit it, O Saad, who has visited it

زُرْهُ يا سَعد الّذي قَد زارَهُ

وَلَدى ساحَتِهِ حَطَّ الرّحالْ

And at its courtyard dismounted

And show etiquette that you may see its lights

وَتَأَدّب كَي تَرى أَنوارَهُ

مِن سَماءِ الفَيضِ تَبدو بِالجَمالْ

Appearing from the heavens of effusion with beauty

And draw from its light intimate secrets

وَاِقتَبِس مِن نورِهِ أَسرارهُ

وَاِطلبِ الإِمدادَ مِنهُ بِالكَمالْ

And seek empowerment from it in perfection

And ask from it, at the side of that sanctuary

وَاِرْجُهُ مِنهُ لَدى ذاكَ الحِمى

وَبِهِ لِلفَيضِ مِنه اِلتمسِ

And through it, for effusion from it, seek

Call out and rejoice that you have been granted

صاحِ وَاِستَبشر بِأَن تَحظى بِما

رُمتَهُ مِنهُ ولا تَستَيئسِ

That which you have aspired from it, do not despair

For it is the generosity of Hatimi, so noble

فَهوَ كَرْم حَاتمي الكرَمِ

وَهوَ أَنسى مَنْ أَبوهُ زائِدهْ

And it is more delightful than its fragrant scent

Everlasting in kindness, most generous

ديمَة المَعروفِ أَسخى الدّيمِ

شَأنُهُ أَنْ لم يُخيب قاصِده

Its way is to never disappoint one who comes

An ocean of mystic knowledge, overflowing with wisdom

بَحرُ عِرفانٍ مفيض الحِكَم

مَن أَتاهُ نالَ مِنهُ الفائِدَه

Whoever comes to it, gains benefit from it

Whoever comes to its shore gathers pearls

مَن أَتى ساحِلَهُ خدنَ ظَما

عادَ بِالريِّ الهنيِّ السلسِ

Returning with ease, comfort and delight

Filled with its bounty, not lacking what he intended

مالِئاً بُردَيهِ مِنهُ نِعما

بِالّذي في فِكرِهِ لم يَهْجُسِ

My master, my shaykh, my pillar of strength

O teacher, you are my refuge

سَيّدي شَيخي مَلاذي عُمدَتي

أَيّها الأُستاذُ أَنتَ المَلجأ

I am now afflicted with the most intense distress

In you I take refuge, as it has come upon me

قَد دَهَتني الآنَ أَدهى شدّة

لَكَ مِنها إِذ دَهَتني أَلجأُ

How much anxiety it has made obligatory for me

Its thoughts appear trampling me down

فَلَكَم لي أَوجَبَت مِن كربَة

خيلُها لي قَد تَبَدّت تَطأُ

Save me today from what threatens me

I am about to break from it, in desperate need

فَأَغِثني اليومَ ممّا دَهما

أَنا مِنهُ آيل للفَطَسِ

One who has relied on you, my master, will not be disappointed

And in the armor of security, he is clothed

لَم يَخِب مَنْ سيّدي فيكَ اِحتَمى

وَبِدِرعِ الأَمنِ أَضحى يَكتَسي

And upon you, may God rain His pleasure

Always pouring forth in harmony

وَعَليك اللَّه مِن رضوانِهِ

صَبَّ غَيثاً دائماً ينسجمُ

And may He extend to you the hand of His bounty

Everlasting, never to be severed

وَلَهُ والَت يَدا إِحسانِهِ

وَتَوالى عَنكَ لا يَنفَصِمُ

For the duration of time, for eternity

As long as rain pours from the clouds

مُدَّة الدّهرِ مَدى أَزمانِهِ

ما مِنَ السّحبِ تَفيض الديمُ

Ibn Fathallah has concluded a poem

Which contains joy for the souls

ما اِبنُ فَتحِ اللَّهِ نَظماً ختما

بِالّذي فيهِ سُرور الأَنفس

Neither has lightning shone nor has the sun from the sky

Grazed the narcissus eyes more beautifully

ما بَدا البَرقُ وَما شَمسُ السّما

قَد رَعَت منها عُيون النّرجِس