خطرَت في شَمائِلٍ ونُعوتِ

نَفتِ العَقلَ في مَحلِّ الثُبوتِ

She appeared in attributes and qualities

That dazzled reason in its abode of certainty

وَتَجَلَّت تَميسُ في ثَوب حُسنٍ

حيكَ بالكبرياءِ والجَبَروتِ

And dawn manifested in a dress of beauty

Woven with pride and omnipotence

شاهدَ العَقلُ من وَميضِ سَناها

ما سَباهُ فظلَّ كالمَبهوتِ

Reason witnessed from the radiance of her splendor

What left it confounded and stunned

وَرآها قَد أَرخصَت كلَّ غالٍ

فَتَغالى في حُسنها المَنعوتِ

And saw that she made all things precious seem cheap

So the priceless beauty became yet more prized

رامَ ذو النُطق أَن يَفوهَ بِقَولٍ

فاِنثنى لم يَسَعه غير السكوتِ

The articulate one wished to utter some words

But recoiled, unable save to keep silent

إن تيمَّمتَ سَمتها فتجنَّب

يا أَخا العَزم عَن جَميع السموتِ

If you aspire to her lofty qualities then refrain

O brother of determination, from all ambitions

وإذا ما دَنوتَ قُربَ حِماها

فاِخلع النَعلَ خاضِعاً بقُنوتِ

And if you draw near the precincts of her protection

Remove your shoes submissively in prayer

واِحفظِ القَلبَ أَن يَبوحَ بسرٍّ

واِنتظِرها لوَقتِها المَوقوتِ

And keep your heart from revealing any secrets

And await her at her predestined time

وإذا أَصفَتِ الهَوى وأَدارَت

في صفا الدرِّ ذائبَ الياقوتِ

And if she turns affectionately and directs

Toward you in intimacy the melting ruby

فاِغتبِقها ولا تمِل لِسِواها

فهي تُغني المحبَّ عن كُلِّ قوتِ

Then cling to her and do not weary of her alone

For she will suffice the lover instead of all strength

لَو تَجَلّى منها على الكون كأسٌ

أَسكرَت كلَّ ناطِقٍ وَصَموتِ

If a cup were to appear from her to the universe

It would intoxicate all speakers and mutes

ولَعمري لَولا سَناها بِلَيلٍ

ما اِهتَدى مُدلجٌ إِلى الحانوتِ

And by my life if not for her splendor at night

No lost soul would find its way to the tavern

يا سُروري بها وقد وَلِهَ القل

بُ فأَلهت بِسِرِّها اللاهوتي

O my joy - reason has become infatuated with her

So her divine mystery has dazed the mortal mind

آنسَت وحشةَ الفؤادِ وجلَّت

عنه بالنور ظُلمَةَ الناسوتِ

She cheered the gloom of my heart and lit up

With her light, the darkness of worldly woes

قد رآها الكَليمُ نورَ هُداهُ

ثُمَّ كانَت سَكينَةَ التابوتِ

The Kalim saw her light guide his path

Then she was the tranquility of the Ark

أَمَّ طالوتُ حانَها فحبَتهُ

مُلكَ قَوم طالوا على طالوتِ

She loved Talut though he erred

Ruler of a people imposing on Talut

واِحتَساها داودُ صِرفاً فأَضحى

ظافِراً في الوَغى على جالوتِ

David discerned her influence so he emerged

Victorious in battle over Jalut

وأَضَلَّت عقولَ قَومٍ فَقالوا

هيَ سِحرٌ يُعزى إلى هاروتِ

And she clouded the minds of a people who said

She is sorcery traceable to Harut

وَطَغى من طَغى بِجَهلٍ عليها

فهدَتهُ للجِبتِ والطاغوتِ

But he who transgressed against her in ignorance

She guided away from idols and evil

وَنَفَته عَن مَشهد القُربِ منها

فَنَفاها بِعَقلهِ المَسبوتِ

And barred him from nearing the precincts of her proximity

So he rejected her with his misguided mind

زادَتِ العالِمَ الوَقورَ ثَباتاً

واِستخفَّت بالجاهِل المَمقوتِ

She increased the steadfast scholar in certainty

And thought little of the ignorant fool

كيفَ يَخفى عن العيون سَناها

وهوَ بادٍ في المُلك والمَلَكوتِ

How can her brilliance be hidden from eyes

When she is manifest in kingdom and heaven?

قل لِنَفسٍ قد نازَعَتكَ إِليها

إِن تَرومي بها الحَياةَ فَموتي

Say to the self that has tempted you to her

If you desire life through her, then you must die