إلهي عَلَى كلِّ الأمورِ لَكَ الحَمْدُ
فلَيْسَ لِمَا أَوْلَيْتَ مِنْ نِعَمٍ حَدُّ
My God, all praise belongs to You
For the blessings You have bestowed, limitless
لَكَ الأَمرُ مِنْ قَبْل الزَّمانِ وبَعْدَهُ
وَما لكَ قَبْلٌ كالزَّمانِ وَلا بَعْدُ
Yours is the command before and after time
With neither past nor future for You
وحُكْمكَ ماضٍ في الخلائِقِ نَافِذٌ
إذا شئتَ أمراً ليس من كونِهِ بُدُّ
Your decree rules creation, prevailing
If You will a thing, it comes into being
تُضلُّ وتهدي منْ تشَاءُ منَ الوَرَى
وما بِيد الإِنْسَان غَيٌّ ولا رُشْدُ
You lead astray and guide whom You please
Humans have no control, only confusion or guidance
دَعُوا مَعْشَرَ الضُلَّالِ عَنَّا حديثكم
فلا خَطَأٌ مِنهُ يُجابُ وَلا عَمْدُ
Stay away, misguided flock, with your talk
For no excuse of theirs will be accepted or intended
فلو أنكم خَلْقٌ كَريمٌ مُسِخْتُم
بقَوْلِكُم لكن بمَنْ يُمْسَخُ القِرْدُ
If you were an honored race transformed
It would be the ape transformed, not the dignified
أتانَا حديثٌ ما كَرهْنَا بِمِثلِهِ
لكُمْ فِتْنَةً فيها لِمِثلِكُمُ حَصْدُ
Words came to us we disliked hearing
Temptation for the likes of you, with harvest for your kind
غَنِيتُمُ عَنِ التأْويلِ فيه بظاهرٍ
وَمَنْ تَرَكَ الصَّمْصامَ لم يُغْنِهِ الغِمْدُ
Satisfied with the apparent meaning, not interpretation
One who abandons the sword will not be helped by the scabbard
وَأَعْشَى ضياءُ الحقِّ ضَعْفَ عُقُولِكم
وشمسُ الضُّحَى تَعْشَى بها الأَعْيُنُ الرُّمْدُ
The light of truth blinded your weak minds
The dawn sun blinds bleary eyes
ولَنْ تُدْرِكُوا بالجَهْلِ رُشْداً وَإِنما
يُفَرِّقُ بَينَ الزَّيْفِ وَالجَيِّد النَّقْدُ
You will never attain guidance through ignorance
Only discernment distinguishes the genuine from the counterfeit
وُعِظْتُمْ فَزِدْتُمْ بالمواعِظِ قَسْوَةً
وَلَيسَ يُفيدُ القدحُ إِن أصلَدَ الزَّندُ
You were admonished but grew harder
A flask is useless when the clay is cracked
وما ليَّنَت نارُ الحجازِ قُلوبَكُم
وَقد ذابَ مِنْ حرٍّ بها الحَجَرُ الصَّلْدُ
The fire of Hijaz did not soften your hearts
Though from its heat even solid rock melted
وَما هِيَ إلا عينُ نَارِ جَهنَّمٍ
تَرَدَّدَ مِنْ أَنفاسِها الحرُّ وَالبَرْدُ
It was but a spark of Hell's fire
Bringing waves of heat and cold
أتَتْ بِشُوَاظٍ مُكْفَهِرٍّ نُحَاسُه
فلُوِّحَ منها للضُّحَى والدُّجَى جِلْدُ
It laid waste whatever it passed
Like a storm that cannot be repelled
فما اسْوَدَّ مِنْ لَيْلٍ غَدَا وَهو أبيَضٌ
وَما ابيضَّ مِنْ صُبْحٍ غَدا وَهْوَ مُسْوَدُّ
It hurled boulders skyward as if
In its depths it raged against the sky in anger or spite
تُدَمِّرُ ما تأتي عليه كعاصفٍ
من الرِّيحِ ما إنْ يُسْتَطَاعُ لهُ رَدُّ
The people of Busra saw it as if
It were Basra with the tides of flood and ebb
تَمُرُّ عَلَى الأرض الشديد اختلافُها
فَتُنْجِدُ غَوْراً أوْ يغورُ بها نَجْدُ
It lit the distant hillside for its people
With the undulating necks of camels, though night had darkened
وَتَرْمِي إلى الجوِّ الصُّخورَ كأنّما
بِبَاطِنِهَا غيظٌ على الجَوِّ أَوْ حِقْدُ
Signs pointed that the city was its destination
Its intent was clear, no doubt remained
وَتَخْشَى بيوتُ النارِ حَرَّ دُخانِها
وَيَزْدَادُ طُغياناً بها الفُرسُ والهِندُ
Fear and anguish alternately
Gripped the people as it came and went
فلو قَرُبَتْ مِنْ سَدِّ يأْجُوجَ بَعْدَمَا
بَنَى منه ذُو القَرْنَيْنِ دُكَّ بها السَّدُّ
When they sought refuge with the Chosen One
And stood in his precincts, command over people was severe
وَلَمَّا أَساءَ الناسُ جِيرةَ رَبِّهمْ
وَلَمْ يَرْعَهَا منهم رئيسٌ وَلا وَغْدُ
They came with an appeal that is never refused
None but him could drive back that terror
أَراهم مَقاماً ليسَ يُرْعَى لِجَارِهِ
ذِمَامٌ وَلَمْ يُحْفَظْ لِساكِنِهِ عَهْدُ
So the fire was extinguished before which people
Stood confused, unable to advance or retreat
مدينة نارٍ أُحْكِمَتْ شُرُفاتُهَا
وَأَبْراجُهَا والسُّورُ إذْ أُبْدِعَ الوَقْدُ
If after it another fire of turmoil occurs
That is no momentous event or return
وَقَدْ أبصرَتْها أَهْلُ بُصْرَى كأنما
هِيَ البَصْرَةُ الجارِي بها الجَزْرُ والمَدُّ
To God belongs the unseen and the manifest
How many wisdoms are hidden, how many revealed
أضاءتْ عَلَى بُعْدِ المَزَارِ لأهلِها
مِنَ الإِبِلِ الأعناقُ وَاللَّيْلُ مُرْبَدُّ
Long ago it protected the House from the one with the elephants
And when al-Hajjaj came it enabled the gift
أشارتْ إلى أنَّ المدينةَ قَصْدُها
قرائنُ منها ليسَ يَخْفَى بها القَصْدُ
To God belongs the secret that He ransomed
His friend's son with a sacrifice - though had they been given the choice they would not have ransomed
يَرُوحُ ويغْدُو كلُّ هَوْلٍ وَكُرْبَةٍ
على الناسِ منها إذْ تَرُوحُ وَإذ تَغْدُو
Do not reject that the inviolable sanctuary
And its dweller in his pride are need and asceticism
فلمَّا التَجَوْا للمصطفى وَتَحَرَّمُوا
بِسَاحَتِهِ والأمرُ بالناسِ مُشْتَدُّ
Much goodness has flowed from it to Taybah
Merely the juicy fruit and ripe dates
أَتَوْا بِشَفِيعٍ لا يُرَدُّ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ
بِخَلْقٍ سوَاهُ ذلك الهَوْلُ يَرْتَدُّ
If embellishments were removed by fire
That removal and loss did it no harm
فَأُطْفِئَتِ النارُ التي وَقَفَ الوَرَى
حَيَارَى لَدَيْهَا لم يُعيدوا ولم يُبْدُوا
For sometimes the beloved grows more precious
When armor is removed and pearls scattered
فإنْ حَدَثَتْ مِنْ بَعْدِهَا نارُ فِرْيَةٍ
فما ذلك الشيءُ الفَرِيُّ وَلا الإِدُّ
How much beauty was concealed by ornament
How many bodies were covered by clothing
فللَّهِ سِرُّ الكائناتِ وجَهْرُها
فكمْ حِكمٍ تَخْفَى وَكَمْ حِكَمٍ تَبْدُو
Most splendid are bare swords flashing
Their elegance is the exposed steel and edge
وَقِدماً حَمَى مِنْ صاحِبِ الفيلِ بَيْتَهُ
ولمَّا أَتى الحَجَّاجُ أَمْكَنَهُ الهَدُّ
These are but inducements to strengthen
Yearning for Islam or exalt fervor
وَللَّهِ سِرٌّ أنْ فَدَى ابنَ خَلِيلِهِ
بِذَبْحٍ وَلَوْ لَمْ يَفْدِهِ شُرِعَ الوَأْدُ
For a soil containing the trust and piety
Of Ahmad, with dew, merit - there lies the grave
فلا تنْكِرُوا أن يحْرَمَ الحَرَمُ الغِنَى
وَساكِنهُ مِنْ فَخْرِهِ الفَقْرُ وَالزُّهْدُ
Of a master never matched by womankind
Nor held in any lap, neither before nor since
وقدْ فُدِيَتْ مِنْ مالِهِ خيرُ أُمَّةٍ
وَلَو خُيِّروا في ذلكَ الأمرِ لَمْ يَفْدُوا
None ever walked in sandals or trod the earth
His equal in both worlds, nor ever his match
فَوا عَجَباً حتى البِقاعُ كَرِيمَةٌ
لها مثلُ ما للساكِنِ الجاهُ وَالرِّفْدُ
No noble line ever suckled one like him
Nor did destriers with docked tails return to him
فإنْ يَتَضَوَّع منه طِيبٌ بِطَيْبَةٍ
فما هو إِلَّا المَنْدلُ الرَّطْبُ وَالنَّدُّ
A learned, generous man whose knowledge has no superior
Nor is there glory to be sought beyond his glory
وَإنْ ذَهَبَتْ بالنارِ عنه زَخَارِفٌ
فما ضَرَّهُ منها ذَهابٌ وَلا فَقْدُ
A guiding prophet who guided with what God gave as mercy to us
Unattainable by our efforts or toil
أَلا رُبّما زادَ الحَبيبُ مَلاحَةً
إذَا شُقَّ عنه الدِّرْعُ وَانتَثَرَ العِقْدُ
He was given sight until he saw all mysteries
Past and future were equal to him
وكم سُتِرَتْ لِلْحُسْنِ بالحَلْيِ مِنْ حُلىً
وكم جَسَدٍ غَطَّى مَحَاسِنَهُ البُرْدُ
He saw what was behind him while facing forward
Awake and asleep were the same to him
وَأهْيَبُ ما يُلْقَى الحُسامُ مُجَرَّداً
وَرَوْنقُهُ أَنْ يظْهَرَ الصَّفْحُ وَالحدُّ
O night of ascension when God honored His servant
Granting him what no servant hopes for
وَما تلكَ لِلإِسْلامِ إِلَّا بَواعِثٌ
على أنْ يجِلَّ الشَّوْقُ أوْ يَعْظُمَ الوَجْدُ
Loyalty, promise, affection, proximity,
Neither far nor near, joining and no separation
إلى تُرْبَةٍ ضَمَّ الأَمانَةَ وَالتُّقَى
بها وَالنَّدَى وَالفضْلَ مِنْ أَحْمَدٍ لَحْدُ
He brought them clear proofs whose arguments shone
Like the sun, concealed by no denial
إلى سَيِّدٍ لم تأْتِ أُنْثَى بِمِثْلِهِ
وَلا ضَمَّ حِجْرٌ مِثْلُهُ لا وَلا مَهْدُ
A mention whose eloquent words match its meaning
Resembling rose water in its scent and roses
وَلَمْ يمشِ في نَعْلٍ وَلا وَطِئَ الثَّرَى
شَبِيهٌ لَهُ في العالَمِينَ وَلا ندُّ
Its verses are perfected and resemble one another
Both novice and master have a share
وَلَمْ تَخِدِ الكومُ العتاقُ بمثلِهِ
وَلا عَدَتِ الخَيْلُ المَسَوَّمَةُ الجُرْدُ
Though in it like stars there are abrogations
Its rising and setting are prosperity
عَلِيمٌ كريمُ الخِيمِ ما فوقَ عِلْمِهِ
وَلا مَجْدِهِ عِلْمٌ يُرَامُ وَلا مَجْدُ
If every idea falls short of its merit
No hand stretches to reach the brilliant stars
نبيُّ هُدىً أَهْدَى به اللَّهُ رَحْمَةً
لنا لَمْ يَنَلْهَا السَّعْيُ منَّا وَلا الْكَدُّ
When they were blind to it and blocked their hearing
He showed them swords flashing like lightning, horses thundering
وبَصَّرَهُ حتى رأى كلَّ غائبٍ
وصار سواءً عندهُ القُرْبُ وَالبُعْدُ
Those who did not incline gently toward truth
Were cloven by the sharp sword that slices smoothly
وحتى رأَى ما خَلْفَهُ وَهو مُقْبِلٌ
بِقَلْبٍ تساوَى عندهُ النَّومُ والسُّهْدُ
Trustworthy ones of Islam who if they promise, fulfill
If asked, guide, if sought, are found
فيا لَيْلَة أَسْرَى الإِلهُ بِعَبْدِهِ
لقد نالَ فيه ما يُؤَمّلهُ العَبْدُ
As for the abode of truth in them, it is
Their word, criticism, assault and promise
وفاءٌ وَلا وعْدٌ وَوُدٌّ ولا قِلىً
وقُرْبٌ ولا بُعْدٌ ووصْلٌ وَلا صَدُّ
When they arm, their coats of mail are
Hearts that inspire awe in the heat of their valor
وجاءهُم بالبيِّنَاتِ التي بَدَتْ
براهنها كالشَّمسِ لَمْ يُخْفِها الجَحْدُ
Every science and excellence in them arouses
Your admiration - both the gray hair and the youth
وذِكْرٍ حَكَى معْناه في الحُسْنِ لَفْظُهُ
ويُشْبِهُ ماءَ الورْدِ في طِيبِهِ الورْدُ
As for their sacrifice in their struggle
Themselves, wealth, loyalty, and praise
وقد أُحْكِمَتْ آياتُهُ وتشابَهَتْ
فَلِلْمُبْتَدِي وِرْدٌ وَلِلْمُنْتَهِي وِرْدُ
God bless the truthful one of the Prophet
Whose virtues cannot be fathomed or limited
وإنْ كانَ فيها كالنُّجومِ تَناسخٌ
فطالِعُهَا سَعْدٌ وغاربُها سعْدُ
If through his cloak's stitches he is glimpsed
The unique scholar's emblem shines alone
وَإنْ قَصُرتْ عَنْ شَأْوِهَا كلُّ فِكْرَةٍ
فَلَيْسَتْ يَدٌ للأنْجُمِ الزُّهْرِ تَمْتَدُّ
One who did not fear any critic's censure for God
Nor was wearied by justice, limits or law
فلمَّا عَمُوا عنها وصَمُّوا أَراهُم
سُيوفاً لها بَرْقٌ وَخَيْلاً لها رَعْدُ
Nor was concerned, for God, to kill his brother
Yes, thus for God - so let him be bold
وَمَنْ لَمْ يَلِنْ منهُ إلى الحَقِّ جانِبٌ
بِقَولٍ أَلانَتْ جَانِبَيهِ القَنا المُلْدُ
A war hero, the scholar, the forbearing, the wise
Ali, whose ancestry matches the Prophet's ancestry
وقد يُعْجِزُ الدَّاءُ الدَّواءَ مِن امرِئٍ
وَيَشْفِيهِ مِنْ داءٍ به الكيُّ والفَصْدُ
He who of the best of people was most virtuous through him
As Aaron was to Moses - that is your ancestry
فَغَالَبَهمْ قَوْمٌ كَأَنَّ سِلاحَهُمْ
نُيُوبٌ وَأظْفَارٌ لهُمْ فَهُمُ أُسْدُ
When the hand of calamity pinched his mantle
You imagined calamity had no weapon left
ثِقاتٌ مِنَ الإِسلامِ إنْ يَعِدُوا يَفُوا
وإنْ يُسْأَلُوا يُهْدُوا وإنْ يُقْصَدُوا يُجْدُوا
If its mouths were silent from his valor
They informed you, though silent, that their mouths were pearls
وَأَمَّا مَكانُ الصِّدقِ منهم فإنّه
مقالُهُم وَالطَّعْنُ والضَّرْبُ والوعدُ
His swords strike his opponents' cheeks while his sword
When you compare them, the lion and the rose are the same
إذا درَعُوا كانتْ عُيُونُ دُرُوعِهِم
قلوباً لها في الرَّوْعِ مِنْ بَأْسِهِمْ سَرْدُ
My love for you, House of the Prophet, is a friendship
Through which you captured my heart - it is yours
يَشُوقُكَ منهم كلُّ عِلْمٍ وَنَجْدَةٍ
تَحَلَّتْ بِكلٍّ مِنهُما الشِّيبُ وَالمُرْدُ
Though remembering your afflictions
Renews my anguish, however long ago
بهاليل أمَّا بَذْلُهُمْ فِي جِهادِهمْ
فأنْفُسُهُم وَالمالُ والنُّصْحُ وَالْحَمْدُ
A people opposed you and were prosperous
While you triumphed - their home is the world, yours is eternity
فللَّهِ صِدِّيقُ النبيِّ الَّذي لهُ
فضائلُ لمْ يُدْرَكْ بِعَدٍّ لها حَدُّ
Can you hope for love from the sons of Hind
When she suckled them on her hateful breast?
فإنْ يَتَخَلَّلْ بالعباءَةِ إنه
بذلك في خُلَّاتِهِ العَلَمُ الفَرْدُ
So the Merciful did not accept their excuses
They persist and do not desist
ومَنْ لَمْ يَخَفْ في اللَّهِ لَوْمَةَ لائِمٍ
وَلَمْ يُعْيِهِ قِسْطٌ يُقامُ وَلا حَدُّ
Messenger of God, convey my excuse
For in praising you my words soften and grow firm
وَلا راعَهُ في اللَّهِ قَتْلُ شَقِيقِهِ
ألا هكذا في اللَّهِ فلْيَكُن الجَلْدُ
If my words go astray toward others, lost
I will not persist in such speech or repeat it
ومنْ جَمَعَ القرآنَ فاجْتَمَعَتْ به
فضائلُ منهُ مِثْلَ مَا اجْتَمَعَ الزُّبْدُ
I inclined toward none but you, neither eye nor side
Except that pliancy and extension displeased me
وجَهَّزَ جَيشاً سار في وقت عُسْرَةٍ
تَعَذَّرَ مِنْ قوتٍ به الصَّاعُ والمُدُّ
Shall I distract my spirit from your garden
With folly and conceit - neither does folly or conceit sleep or slumber
وَمَنْ لَمْ يُعَفَّر كَرَّمَ اللَّهُ وَجْهَهُ
جَبينٌ لغيرِ اللَّهِ منه ولا خَدُّ
And foolishly call upon others, my masters, besides your House
When, if granted success, I am but their servant
فَتَى الحَربِ شَيخُ العِلْمِ وَالحِلْمِ وَالحِجَى
عَلِيُّ الذي جَدُّ النبيِّ لهُ جَدُّ
No companion praised by me pleased Hatim
Nor did Hind care for my love, or even insects
ومَن كانَ مِنْ خيرِ الأَنَامِ بِفَضلِهِ
كهارونَ مِن موسَى وذلِكُمُ الجَدُّ
No doe provoked my yearning in the valley of Wajrah
Nor did its fawns arouse my description, asleep in the meadows
إذا غَمَزَتْ كَفُّ الخطوبِ قَناتَهُ
تَوَهَّمْتَ أَنَّ الخَطْبَ ليس لهَ زَنْدُ
My fine maturation in Taybah - no plain
Restrained my tongue from you, neither gorge nor upland
وإنْ عَجَمَتْ أَفواهُها عُودَ بأْسِهِ
أَفادَتْكَ عِلْماً أنَّ أَفواهَها دُرْدُ
Grant me, Messenger of God, intimacy of love
Satisfying the eye and slaking the liver
يُوَرِّدُ خَدَّيْهِ الجِلادُ وسَيْفَهُ
فذَاكَ إذَا شَبَّهْتَهُ الأَسَدُ الوَرْدُ
I hope proximity to your noble court
Through gifts of carriages and retinues
وعِنْدِي لكمْ آل النبيِّ مَوَدَّةٌ
سَلَبْتُمْ بها قلبي وصارَ له عِنْدُ
Had I no confidence from you of winning on the promised day
No drink or food would please me even one day
عَلَى أنَّ تَذْكَارِي لِمَا قدْ أَصابكم
يُجَدِّدُ أَشجاني وإنْ قَدُمَ العَهْدُ
God bless you with the greetings of one who at dawn
And dusk comes to you with a delegation and retinue
فِدىً لكُم قَوْمٌ شَقُوا وَسَعِدْتُمُ
فدارُهُمُ الدُّنيا ودارُكم الخلدُ
Lasting as the breaths of life circulating
To you from God, greetings and reply
أَتَرجونَ مِن أَبناءِ هِند مَوَدَّةً
وَقَد أَرضَعتهُم دَرَّ بِغضَتِها هِندُ
فَلا قَبِلَ الرَّحْمنُ عُذْرَ عُداتِكم
فإنهم لا يَنْتَهُون وإنْ رُدُّوا
إليكَ رسولَ اللَّهِ عُذْرِي فإنَّني
بِحُبِّكَ في قَوْلِي ألِينُ وَأَشْتَدُّ
فإنْ ضاعَ قَوْلِي في سِوَاكَ ضلالَةً
فما أنَا بالماضي مِنَ القَوْلِ مُعْتَدُّ
وَمَا امْتَدَّ لِي طَرْفٌ ولا لانَ جَانِبٌ
لِغَيْرِكَ إلا ساءني اللِّينُ والمَدُّ
أأشْغَلُ عَنْ رَيْحَانَتَيْكَ قَرِيحَتِي
بِشيحٍ ورَنْدٍ لا نَما الشِّيحُ وَالرَّنْدُ
وأَدْعُو سِفاهاً غيرَ آلِكَ سادتي
وهلْ أنا إنْ وُفِّقتُ إِلَّا لهُمْ عَبْدُ
فلا راحَ مَعنِيّاً بِمَدْحِيَ حاتِمٌ
ولا عُنِيَتْ هند بِحبِّي ولا دَعْدُ
ولا هَيَّجَتْ شَوْقِي ظِباءٌ بِوَجْرَةٍ
ولا بَعَثَتْ وصْفِي نَقَانِقُها الرُّبْدُ
ويا طِيبَ تَشْبِيبي بِطَيْبَةَ لا ثَنَى
عِنانَ لِساني عنكَ غَوْرٌ ولا نَجْدُ
فَهَبْ لِي رسولَ اللَّهِ قُرْبَ مَوَدَّةٍ
تَقَرُّ بِهِ عَيْنٌ وتَرْوَى بِهِ كبدُ
وإني لأَرْجو أنْ يُقَرِّبَني إِلَى
جَنَابِكَ إرُقالُ الرَّكائِبِ والوخْدُ
وَلَولا وُثُوقِي منكَ بالفوزِ في غَدٍ
لما لذَّ لِي يَوْماً شَرابٌ ولا بَرْدُ
عَلَيْكَ صلاةُ اللَّهِ يُضْحِي بطيبَةٍ
لَدَيْكَ بها وفْدٌ ويُمْسِي بها وفْدُ
ودامَتْ كأَنْفَاسِ الوَرَى في تَرَدُّدٍ
عَلَيْكَ مِنَ اللَّهِ التَّحِيَّةُ والرَّدُّ
