إِذَا فَاتَنِي ظِلُّ الْحِمَى وَنَعِيمُهُ
كَفَانِي وَحَسْبِي أَنْ يَهُبّ نَسِيمُهُ
When the shade and comfort of ardour evade me,
It suffices me that its gentle breeze still blows.
ويُقْنِعُنِي أَنِّي بِهِ مُتَكَيِّفٌ
فَزَمْزَمُهُ دَمْعِي وَجِسْمِي حَطِيمُهُ
It satisfies me that I conform myself to it,
Its spring is my tears and my body its wreckage.
يَعُودُ فُؤَادِي ذِكْرُ مَنْ سَكَنَ الْغَضَا
فَيُقْعِدُهُ فَوْقَ الْغَضى وَيُقِمُهُ
The memory of she who dwelt in absence returns my heart,
Seating it atop the absence and erecting it.
وَلَمْ أَرَ شَيْئاً كَالنَّسِيمِ إِذَا سَرَى
شَفَى سُقمَ الْقَلْبِ الْمَشُوقِ نَسِيمُهُ
I have seen nothing like the breeze when it blows softly,
Healing the sickness of the enamoured heart with its breath.
نُعَلِّلُ بالتَّذْكَارِ نَساً مَشُوقَةً
يُدِيرُ عَلَيْهَا كَأْسَهُ وَيُدِيمُهُ
With the recollection we justify a beloved long absent,
Circling his goblet about her and prolonging it.
وَمَا هَاجَنِي بِالْغَورِ قَدٌّ مُرَنَّحٌ
وَلاَ شَاقَنِي مِنْ وَحْشِ وَجْرَةَ رِيمُهُ
Neither has hoary untrodden ground provoked me,
Nor the desolation of frightful wastes and their vast expanse.
وَلاَ سَهِرَتْ عَيْنِي لِبَرْقِ ثَنِيَّةٍ
مِنَ الثَّغْرِ يَبْدُو مَوْهِناً فَيَشِيمُهُ
Nor has my eye been sleepless due to a lightning flash
Emerging feeble from the horizon and vanishing.
بَرَانِيَ شَوْقٌ لِلنَّبِيِّ مُحَمَّدٍ
يَسُومُ فُؤَادِي بَرْحُهُ مَا يَسُومُهُ
Longing for the Prophet Muḥammad has afflicted me,
Roving perpetually in my breast whatever roves it.
أَلاَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ نَادَاكَ ضَارِعٌ
عَلَى الْبُعْدِ مَحْفُوظُ الْوِدَادِ سَلِيمُهُ
O Messenger of God! A beseecher calls you from afar
His devotion preserved despite the distance untainted.
مَشُوقٌ إِذا مَا الَّليْلُ مَدَّ رِوَاقَهُ
تَهُمُّ بِهِ تَحْتَ الظَّلاَمِ هُمُومُهُ
A longing one when night spreads its corridor
His worries secretly assail him beneath the darkness.
إِذا مَا حَدِيثٌ عَنْكَ جَاءَتْ بِه الصَّبَا
شَجَاهُ منَ الشَّوْقِ الْحَثِيثِ قَدِيمُهُ
When the morning breeze carries any talk of you
A chronic yearning since old is revived in him,
وَتُقْرِبُهُ الآمَال مِنْكَ تَعَلُّلاً
وَيُبْعِدُهُ الْمِقْدَارُ عَمَّا يَرُومُهُ
And though hopes bring him close to you as pretext
Destiny distances him from what he aspires.
بَرَاهُ الأَسَى إِلاَّ الرُّكُونُ إِلَى عَسَى
صَحِيحُ الْهَوَى مُضْنَى الْفُؤَادِ سَقِيمُهُ
Only resorting to “perhaps” consoles his grief
Wholehearted in passion, his inner self ailing.
تَدَارَكْهُ يَاغَوْثَ الْعِبَادِ بِرَحْمَةٍ
يُقَضِّيهِ دَيْنَ الْعَفْوِ مِنْهَا غَرِيمُهُ
Relieve him, O succourer of servants, with mercy
That acquits his debt of pardon, redeeming his crime!
أَيجْهَرُ بِالشَّكْوَى وَأَنْتَ سَميعُهُ
أَيُعْلِنُ بالنَّجْوَى وَأَنْتَ عَلِيمُهُ
Shall I proclaim my complaint while You hear it?
Shall I confide in a whisper while You know it?
أَتُعْوِزُهُ السُّقْيَا وَأنْتَ غِيَاثُهُ
أَتُتْلِفُهُ الْبَلْوَى وَأَنْتَ رَحِيمُهُ
Do You neglect while being his aid?
Do You torment while being Compassionate to him?
وَقَدء بَثَّ مِنْكَ اللهُ فِي الْخَلْقِ رَحْمَةٌ
فَأُنْقِذَ عَانِيهِ وَأَثْرِي عَدِيمُهُ
God made mercy flow through you to existence
So deliver those who call out and enrich the destitute!
بِنُورِكَ نُورِ اللهِ قَدْ أَشْرَقَ الْهُدَى
فَأَقْمَارُهُ وَضَّاحَةٌ وَنُجُومُهُ
With Your light − God’s light − guidance shone radiant
Its lucid moons gleaming and its stars glowing.
لَكَ أنْهَلَّ فَضْلُ اللهِ بِاْلأَرَضِ سَاكِنَاً
فَأَنْوَاؤُهُ مُلْتَفَّةٌ وَغُيُومُهُ
The favour of God has through you rained on Earth
Its springs clustered, its clouds abundantly pouring.
وَمِنْ فَوْقِ أَطْبَاقِ الطِّبَاقِ بِكَ اقْتَدَى
خَلِيلُ الَّذِي أَوْطَاكَهَا وَكَلِيمُهُ
And above the celestial spheres he conformed to You −
The Friend who trod them and Spoke to Him intimately.
لَكَ الْخُلُقُ الأَرْضَى الَّذِي بَانَ فَضْلُهُ
وَمَجْدُكَ فِي الذِّكْرِ الْعَظِيمِ عَظِيمُهُ
Among beings of clay is Yours the most splendid merit
And majestic in glorious mention is Your magnificence.
لَكَ الْمُعْجِزَاتُ الْغُرُّ يَبْهَرُ نُورُهَا
إِذَا ارْبَدَّ مِنْ جُنْحِ الظَّلاَمِ بَهِيمُهُ
Miracles dazzle with an effulgent light
When the darkness of calamities intensifies ominously.
وَحَسْبُكَ مِنْ جِذْعٍ تَكَلَّمَ مُفْصِحاً
وَقَدْ دَمِيَتْ يَوْمَ الْفِرَاقِ كُلُومُهُ
A palm tree sufficed You, speaking eloquently
Even when on the day of parting its foliage withered.
وَبَدْرٍ بَدَا قِسْمَيْنِ فَالِقسْمُ ثَابِتٌ
مُقِيمٌ وَقَدْ أَهْوَى إِلَيْكَ قَسِيمُهُ
A full moon appeared cleft in half so one part stood
Fixed, inhabited, while its counterpart plunged toward You.
وَذَلَّ لِمَسْرَاكَ الْبُراقُ كَرَامَةً
وَسَاعَدَ مِنْهُ وَخْذُهُ وَرَسِيمُهُ
And the Burāq knelt before Your Noble Ascension deferentially
Offering its thigh and back as Your mount.
وَمَنْ فَوْقِ أَطْبَاقِ السَّمَاءِ بِكَ اقْتَدَى
خَلِيلُ الَّذِي أَوْطَاكَهَا وَكَلِيمُهُ
And above the spheres of heaven did he model himself after You −
The Friend who threaded them and Spoke to Him intimately.
وَمُعْجِزَةُ الْقُرْآنِ أَجْلَى فَإِنَّهُ
عَجَائِبُهُ لاَ تَنْقَضِي وَعُلُومُهُ
Preeminent among them too is the miracle of Qur’ān
For endless are its marvels and sciences.
تَمَيَّزْتَ قَبْلَ الْقبْلِ بِالشِّيَمِ الْعُلَى
وَآدَمُ لَمْ يَدْرِ الْحَيَاةَ أدِيمُهُ
You have been distinguished since before all time
With the most exalted traits while Adam knew no permanence.
إِذِ الْكَوْنُ لَمْ تَفْتُق يَدُ الأَمْرِ رَتْقَهُ
وَلَمْ تَمْتَزِجْ أَرْوَاحُهُ وَجُسُومُهُ
When the universe had not yet unfolded at command’s hand
Nor its spirits been made distinct and bodies formed.
وَمَنْ نُورِكَ الْوَضَّاحِ فِي الْعَالَمِ اهْتَدَى
غَدَاةَ اقْتَدَى صَدِيقُهُ وَحَكِيمُهُ
And he who guided himself by Your splendid light
Became righteous after his truthful, judicious friend.
عَلَيْكَ صَلاَةُ اللهِ يَاخَيْرَ مُرْسَلٍ
بِهِ بَانَ مِنْ نَهْجِ الرَّشَادِ قَوِيمُهُ
God’s blessings upon You, O Best of Messengers!
Through him the path of right guidance grew firm.
وَيالَيْتَ أَنِّي فِي ضَريحِكِ مُلْحَدٌ
يَرفُّ بِتَكْرَارِ الْعِهَادِ جَمِيمُهُ
Would that I be buried in Your tomb laid down
Recurring pacts from the soul’s depth earnestly!
يُجَاوِر عَظْمِي تُربَكَ الْعَطِرَ الشَّذَى
فَيَعْطِرُ مِنْ مَاءِ الْحَيَاةِ رَمِيمُهُ
My bone will neighbour the earth of Your fragrant soil
Thereby perfuming me from the water of [eternal] life.
تَقَضَّى كَرِيمَ الْعُمْرِ فِي غَيْرِ طَائِلٍ
كَمَا بَدَّدَ الْوَفْرَ الْغَزِيرَ كَرِيمهُ
I spent my precious life wastefully to no avail
As one who squanders abundant wealth generously.
فَآهٍ عَلَى نَفْسِي أُرَدّدُهَا أَسىً
لِوَخْطٍ أضَاءَتْ لَيْلَ فَوْدِي نُجُومُهُ
Deep sighs do I repeat in regret at myself
For a tattoo marking the night of my heart with its stars.
وَإِنْ كَانَ نَبْتُ الأَرْضِ مُرْتَهَنَ الذَّوَى
فَلَيْسَ سَوَاءً غَضُّهُ وَهَشِيمُهُ
If verdure on Earth is moribund in decay
Then withered and luxuriant are not alike for it.
جَفَانِيَ دَهْرِي وَاسْتَهَانَ بِحُرْمَتِي
فَدَهْرِيَ مَمْقُوتُ الذِّمَامِ ذَمِيمُهُ
My days were harsh to me and slighted my dignity
So my age developed into one of base repute.
وَفَرَّقَ مَا بَيْنِي وَيْنَ أَحِبَّتِي
فَأَنْكَادُهُ تَنْتَابُنِي وَغُمُومُهُ
And it separated me from those I love
Thus I nearly collapse under its worries.
فَلَوْ كَانَ يُجْدِي الْعَتْبُ أَبْلَغْتُ عَتْبَهُ
وَلَوْ كَانَ يُغْنِي اللَّوْمُ كُنْتُ أَلُومُهُ
If censure were of benefit I would censure it,
If blame were useful I would blame it.
وَلَوْ لَحَظَتْنِي مٍنْ جَنَابِكَ لَحْظَةٌ
لَمَا رَامَنِي عِنْدَ الْبَيَاتِ نُجُومُهُ
And if I had seen You glance upon me a moment
Its stars would not have spited me at nightfall.
فَآوِ طَرِيداً عَائِذاً أَنْتَ كَهْفُهُ
وَذِكْرُكَ بِالْمَدْحِ الصَّرِيحِ رَقِيمُهُ
So shelter a refugee, Imploring You are his refuge,
And Your praise finitely flows refined from me.
رَعَى اللهُ عَهْداً فِي رِضَاكَ وَمَأْلَفاً
مُلُوكُ الْعُلَى تُعْنَى بِهِ وَتُقِيمُهُ
May God maintain a pact in Your satisfaction and friendship
The sovereigns on high vindicating and enacting it.
وَحَيِّ بِوَادِي الْغَبْطِ دَاراً مَزُورَةً
تُوَالِي لِجَرَّاكَ النَّدَى وَتُدِيمُهُ
And the throng hailing of a frequented house in blissful abode
The early morning dew perpetuating its freshness!
رَحِيبَةُ ألْطَافٍ إِذَا الْوَفْدُ حَلَّهَا
تَكَنَّفَهُمْ غَمْرُ النَّوَالِ عَمِيمُهُ
One which deputies of compassion embrace when they arrive
Enveloped in copious favour universally dispensing,
رَحِيبَةُ أَلطَافٍ إِذَا الْوَفْدُ حَلَّهَا
تَكَنَّفَهُمْ غَمْرُ النَّوَالِ عَمِيمُهُ
One the righteous successors have pillowed with its soil,
Through them Your terrestrial law upheld its pillars.
تَوَسَّدَ مِنْهَا التُرْبَ أَيُّ خَلاَئِفٍ
بِهِمْ دِينُكَ الأَرْضَى اسْتَقَلَّتْ رُسُومُهُ
Imāms of justice who elucidated the ways of truth
With clouds of favour that withhold nothing when they pour,
أَئِمَّةُ عَدْلٍ أَوْضَحُوا سُبُلَ الْهُدَى
وَسُحْبُ نَوَالٍ لاَ تَشِحُّ غُيُومُهُ
And lions unrelenting when the foreign borders’
Raiders of calamity clash with their swords.
وَأُسْدُ جِهَادٍ أَذْعَنَتْ لِسُيُوفِهِمْ
جَلاَلِقَةُ الثَّغْرِ الْغَرِيبِ وَرُومُهُ
For had it not been for them, O Best of Residents,
Its sanctuary would have collapsed and its harem desecrated.
فَلَوْلاَهُمْ يَاخَيْرَ مَنْ سَكَنَ الْحِمَى
لَرِيعَ حِمَاهُ وَاسْتُبِيحَ حَرِيمُهُ
On a day when warranted dues shall be requited,
The mantle of Divine satisfaction shall enshroud them −
تَغَمَّدَهُمْ مِنْكَ الرِّضَا يَوْمَ تُقتَضَى
دُيُونُ مَقَامٍ لاَ تُضَامُ خُصُومُهُ
A mantle that will give them comfort though terror horrifies others,
And safety though the Crowding terrifies with its Flame.
وَأَنَّسَهُمْ وَالرَّوْعُ يُوحِشُ هَوْلُهُ
وَأَمَّنَهُمْ وَالْحَشْرُ تُذْكَى جَحِيمُهُ
Abū Yūsuf − vanquisher of transgression, champion of guidance −
And Yūsuf, piercing rebellion’s tumult, overmastering it.
أَبُو يُوسُفٍ مُفْنِي الْعِدَى نَاصِرُ الْهُدَى
وَيُوسُفُ مِطْعَانُ الْهِيَاجِ زَعِيمُهُ
‘Uthmān − rain of munificence, most generous benefactor −
When clouds, however laden, are miserly with their downpour.
وَعُثْمَانُ غَيْثُ الْجُودِ أَكْرَمُ وَاهِبٍ
إِذَا مَا الْغَمَامُ الْجَوْنُ ضَنَّتْ سُجُومُهُ
And ‘Alī − how can his due be denied ? −
Shall we belie dawn’s radiance when it gleams beautifully?
وَعُلْيَا عَلِيِّ كَيْفَ يُجْحَد حَقُّهَا
أَنَجْحَدُ ضَوْءَ الصُّبْحِ رَاقَ وَسِيمُهُ
He is the elevated standard whose glory peaked,
The sovereign before whom the encampment thrived pleasantly.
هُوَ الْعَلَمُ الأَعْلَى الَّذِي طَالَ فَخْرُهُ
هُوَ الْمَلِكُ الأَرْضَى الَّذِي طَابَ خيمُهُ
Indeed through him God’s shade encompassed the land
So which substitute can match it or orphan resemble it?
لَقَدْ فَاءَ ظِلُّ اللهِ مِنْهُ عَلَى الْوَرَى
فَأَيَّمُهُ مَكْفِيَّةٌ وَيَتِيمُهُ
And were it not for him its sound principles
Would not have gained clarity nor its laws discernibility.
وَجَدَّدَ مِنْهَا الْبِرَّ وَالْفَضْلَ مَجْدُهُ
وَلَوْلاَهُ كَانَتْ لاَ تَبِينُ رُسُومُهُ
And he bequeathed to Ibrāhῑm the legacy of successorship
A legacy nurtured for him from splendid glory at its source.
وَأَوْرَثَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ سِرَّ خِلاَفَةٍ
نَمَاهُ مِنَ الْمَجْدِ الصُّرَاحِ صَمِيمُهُ
When hope seeks rain from a cloud of mercy
It is from Ibrāhῑm’s palm that its pouring gushes.
إِذَا الأَمَلُ اسْتَسَقَى غَمَامَةَ رَحْمَةٍ
فَمِنْ كَفِّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ تَكْرَعُ هِيمُهُ
And how many aspirations failed the system they envisaged
While through him unfruitful ones bore fruit copiously!
وَكَمْ مِنْ رَجَاءٍ خَابَ نَظْمُ قِيَاسِهِ
فَأَنْتَجَ بِالْمَطْلُوبِ مِنْهُ عَقِيمُهُ
My friends! Regard from afar services to his successor,
The choicest ones, culled for him by his aide.
أَمَوْلاَيَ لاَحِظْهَا عَلَى الْبُعْدِ خِدْمَةً
لِوَالِدِكَ الأَرْضَى انْتَقَاهَا خَدِيمُهُ
My mind selected them though their order was imperfect
Like the threading of the elegant pearl necklace undone.
تَخَيَّرَهَا فِكْرِي فَرَاقَ نِظَامُهَا
كَمَا رَاقَ مِنْ دُرِّ النُّحُورِ نَظِيمُهُ
To them I deputed my concerns and roused my resolve
With support from the “h” and “m” consonants.
وَكَلْتُ بِهَا هَمِّي وَأَغْرَيْتُ هِمَّتِي
فَسَاعَدَهَا هَاءُ الرَّويِّ وَمِيمُهُ
I gained access through it beseeching his Side,
And vowed to myself never to fail it.
حَلَلْتُ بِهِ مُسْتَنْصِراً بِجَنَابِهِ
وَعَاهَدْتُ نَفْسِي أَنَّنِي لاَ أَرِيمُهُ
Before his luminous tomb I halted my pursuits −
So whoever harms me, it is You who contends against him!
عَلَى قَبْرِهِ الزَّاكِي وَقَفْتُ مَطَامِعِي
فَمَنْ نَالَنِي بِالضَّيْمِ أَنْتَ خَصِيمُهُ
