أطل على البرية بالسلام

ولح باليمن يا شهرالصيام

I looked upon the wilderness with peace

Rise over creation with peace,

And the month of fasting rose in Yemen

And shine with auspicious blessing, O Month of Fasting,

وحل على بني الإسلام ضيفا

كريما بين رعي واحترام

It descended upon the children of Islam as a

And descend upon the children of Islam as a guest,

Noble guest, with care and respect

Noble and generous, amidst care and respect,

وعيدا باللطائف والهدايا

تعود عليهم في كل عام

A feast with bounties and gifts

As a feast full of kindnesses and gifts,

That return to them every year

That returns to them with every passing year.

ألم ينزل اليهم فيك قدما

كلام الله بورك من كلام؟

Did He not reveal to them in you formerly

Did not the Word of God descend within you,

The words of Allah, blessed speech?

To them of old? Blessed be that Speech.

نفحت المسلمين بمثل ورد

من القرآن مفتر الكمام

You breathed into the Muslims like rose petals

You breathed upon the Muslims like the scent of roses,

From the Qur'an, parting veils

From the Quran, with buds unfolding open,

هززت قلوبهم هز الروابي

وسقت لها الهدى سوق الغمام

You shook their hearts like shaking groves

You shook their hearts as the hills are shaken,

And brought them guidance like clouds’ trails

And drove guidance to them as clouds are driven.

فهم مهما قررت عينا

ببر الشيخ منهم والغلام

So they fast - the old and the young - whenever

So they, as long as you remained, found their eyes cooled,

You decree through the eye’s sight

By the piety of the elder among them and the youth,

وأمنت الخليقة وهي غرقى

تكابد كل دفع واصطدام

You carried for humanity, as it was drowning,

And creation felt secure, though it was drowning,

A branch of olives like the carrier pigeons’ flight

Enduring every repulsion and collision.

حملت لها من الزيتون غصنا

كما حملته سالفة الحمام

And facilitated accord for the lands

You bore for it a branch of olive,

Why then did they persist in their fight?

Just as the dove of ancient times once bore,

ويسرت التراضي للبرايا

فما لهم تمادوا في الخصام؟

You probed the sickness of their selves with healing

And you facilitated mutual contentment for all creatures,

But alas, your treatment did not cure their plight

So why have they persisted in their quarreling?

سبرت سقام أنفسهم علاجا

فما أجدى علاجك في السقام

You opened for them the gate of God

You probed the sickness of their souls as a cure,

But they barred it, persisting in their blight

But your cure was of no avail against the sickness.

فتحت لهم سماء الله بابا

فصدوا مخلدين إلى الرغام

So woe to you who call to good, but refuses

You opened the heaven of God for them as a door,

To answer your call other than the generous elite

But they turned away, clinging eternally to the dust.

فيا لك داعيا للخير يأبى

إجابة صوته غير الكرام

They spent your day with investigation

Oh, what a caller to goodness you are, whose voice refuses,

Fasting, and your night upright in their devout rite

To be answered by any but the noble ones.

لقد قطعوا نهارك بالتحري

لصومهم وليلك بالقيام

They fasted from doubt, not only their food

They spent your days in striving,

Or drink, as one may surmise

For their fast, and your nights in standing prayer.

وقد صاموا عن الشبهات لا عن

شرابهم فحسب أو الطعام

They refrained from transgression’s proximity

They fasted from doubtful matters, not merely from,

And desisted from committing vice

Their drink alone or their food.

فعفوا عن مقاربة التعدي

وكفوا عن مقارفة الأثام

They intended their fast for God, so they prospered

They abstained from approaching transgression,

And their seclusion was fragrant as incense light

And refrained from the committing of sins.

نووا لله صومهم فطابوا

وطاب خلوفهم طيب البشام

They are the ones whose fast is rewarded

They intended their fast for God, so they became pure,

Lifted by the angels in rapt delight

And the scent of their breath became as fragrant as the balsam tree.

أولائك صومهم بالأجر يحظى

وترفعه الملائك باهتمام

They saw the favors that lead to calamity

Those are the ones whose fasting wins the reward,

So chose the favors that have lasting might

And the angels raise it up with care.

رأوا نعم الفناء الى بلايا

تؤول فاثروا نعم الدوام

They fasted God’s month in piety to Him

They saw the pleasures of the transient world turning to calamities,

So He rewarded them with the home of peace

So they preferred the pleasures of eternity.

وصاموا شهر ربهم احتسابا

له فأثابهم دار السلام

He prepared for them therein abundant drink

They fasted the month of their Lord seeking His reward,

To admit them without mankind’s blight

So He rewarded them with the Abode of Peace.

أعد لهم بها (الريان) بابا

ليدخلهم به دون الأنام

So say to my oblivious brother today: rejoice

He prepared 'Al-Rayyan' therein as a gate for them,

For tomorrow you will praise the passing night

To enter through it, to the exclusion of all other people.

فقل لأخي الأوام اليوم أبشر

ستحمد في غد غب الأوام

You will drink it scintillating and pure

So say to the brother of thirst today: Rejoice,

A lasting pleasure without equal or peer

Tomorrow you will praise the outcome of this thirst.

ستسقاها مشعشعة وصرفا

مداما لذة لا كالمدام

No sorrow will hurt its drinkers

You will be given a drink, diluted and pure,

Nor will disgrace cling to those who draw near

A wine delicious, unlike the wine of earth.

فليس تضر شاربها بغول

وليس تجر شاربها لذام

It will come to you time and again

It harms not its drinker with madness,

With reverence and modesty, never fear

Nor does it drag its drinker toward blame.

يطاف عليك من وقت لوقت

بها بين احتفاء واحتشام

From each pitcher radiates its brilliance

It is circulated to you from time to time,

From each cup wafts its fragrance far and near

Amidst celebration and modest grace,

يشع بكل إبريق سناها

ويعبق طيبها من كل جام

Before you are the bounties of Paradise

Its brilliance shines from every pitcher,

Tents that are made for you in splendor and cheer

And its fragrance wafts from every goblet.

وبين يديك خيرات حسان

قصرن عليك في أبهى الخيام

So say what you wish of goodness, comfort

And before you are beautiful bounties,

And delight, give glad tidings and good cheer

Restricted to you in the most splendid tents.

فقل ما شئت في طيب وأنس

وتفكهه وبشر وابتسام

Speak of the great reward that remains

So say what you wish in comfort and companionship,

For those of ambition, valor and persevering tear

And jesting, joy, and smiling.

وقل ما شئت في أجر عظيم

يفوز به ذوو الهمم العظام

The stations of men there are diverse

And say what you wish of a great reward,

So choose nothing less than the highest sphere

Won by those of great and high ambitions.

مقامات الرجال هناك شتى

فلا تختر سوى أعلى مقام

If the ambitious dreamed the impossible

The stations of men there are various,

Nothing would be too hard for ambitious endear

So choose nothing but the highest station.

ولو هم الهمام بمستحيل

لما استعصى على هم الهمام

So raise your gaze above, you’ll find a palace

For if the resolute hero aimed for the impossible,

Like a star sparkling in the clouds appearing near

It would not resist the resolve of the hero.

فمد الطرف فوقك تلق قصرا

كمثل النجم يلمع في الغمام

It reigns over the fates, not the hills

So cast your gaze above you, and you will find a palace,

It glows with light, not stones and veneer

Like a star shining within the clouds,

على الأقدار علي لا الروابي

وبالأنوار حلي لا الرخام

So decide and yearn for it with passion

High in destiny, not merely high like hills,

Hopefully to it you will draw and adhere

And adorned with lights, not with marble.

فمل وانزع اليه هوى وسعيا

عساك إليه تحظى باستنام

And anticipate the Night of Power - seize

So lean and yearn toward it with passion and effort,

Its opportunity that you hold so dear

Perhaps you will attain rest therein.

وراقب ليلة القدر أغتناما

لفرصتها الجديرة باغتنام

For God has many gifts in it

And watch for the Night of Decree to seize it,

Magnificent bounties and favors sincere

For its opportunity is worthy of being seized.

فكم لله فيها من عطايا

عظيمات ومن منن جسام

The voluntary deeds are selected

For how many gifts God has therein,

Sacred, blessed are their winds that blow and veer

Great gifts, and massive favors.

مفضلة النوافل مصطفاة

مقدسة مباركة النسام

Its one night is better than a thousand months

It is preferred for voluntary deeds, chosen,

You are safe throughout until the break of dawn draws near

Sanctified, and blessed in its breezes.

وخير يومها من ألف شهر

وأمن كلها حتى التمام

God aims for a source therein

Its day is better than a thousand months,

Hopefully to it you will flow without fear

And it is all safety until its completion.

تيمم موردا لله فيها

عساك اليه تخلص في الزحام

And say to the soul: shame on you, do not slacken

Aim for a watering place for God therein,

Say to the eye: shame on you, do not sleep nor tire

Perhaps you will reach it through the crowd.

وقل للنفس ويحك لا تكلي

وقل للعين ويحك لا تنامي

Farewell, for Ramadan calls

And say to the soul: Woe to you, do not tire!

Above obligations, it rises most premiere

And say to the eye: Woe to you, do not sleep!

وداع إن أتى رمضان يدعو

به فوق النواميس النوامي

It says to the transgressor: desist

A caller, when Ramadan comes, calls out,

And to the righteous: come forth and persevere

In it, above the growing laws of nature,

يقول به لباغي الشر أقصر

وباغي الخير أقبل للأمام

So glad tidings to those who answer its call

He says in it to the seeker of evil: Desist!

For a downpour of mercy will flood without peer

And to the seeker of good: Come forward!

فبشرى للذي لباه بشرى

بهطال من الرحمات هامي

But woe to those who bar it - an outcast fate

So good tidings to the one who answers him, good tidings,

Awaits you, and shame and pain most severe

Of a pouring rain of mercies, flowing freely.

ويا من صد عنه شقيت حظا

وبؤت بكل خزي وانتقام

I see you followed misguidance in life

And O you who turned away from it, you have been wretched in luck,

Terrible discord, evil and drear

And have incurred all disgrace and vengeance.

أراك تبعت في الدنيا فئاما

خوالف بئسما هم من فئام

How many secretly break their fast

I see you have followed crowds in this world,

Without faith, violated pledges they tear

Laggards—and how evil a group they are.

وكم من مفطر في القوم سرا

عديم الدين منهتك الذمام

They hide their faces in the home’s corner

How many a person breaks the fast among the people secretly,

Devouring food with gluttony most clear

Devoid of religion, violating the sacred trust.

يواري وجهه في ركن بيت

ويزدرد المآكل بالتهام

Do they not know that Allah knows

He hides his face in the corner of a house,

The creeping of ants in darkness’ sphere?

And swallows food with gluttony.

ألم يعلم بأن الله يدري

دبيب النمل في جنح الظلام؟

He decreed as He willed regarding creation

Does he not know that God knows,

No injustice occurred in judgment severe

The crawling of ants in the covering of darkness?

قضى ما شاء في الخلق احتكاما

فلم يجحف بحق في احتكام

He perfected everything made by Him

He decreed what He willed in creation with judgment,

And proportioned all things - nothing left unclear

And was not unjust regarding any right in His judgment.

وأتقن كل شيء منه صنعا

وقدر كل شيء بانتظام

Man was not created complete

He perfected the making of everything He created,

Only to be left aimless without rein or steer

And measured all things with order.

فلم يستكمل الإنسان خلقا

ليتركه سدى طلق الزمام

So observe the fast of the generous - it accrues

He did not complete man's creation,

A bountiful reward - unlike the fast of those who leer

To leave him in vain, with loose reins.

فصم صوم الكرام يثبك أجرا

كريما لا تصم صوم اللئام

When Ramadan comes they fall

So fast the fast of the noble, He will reward you,

Upon their desires, passion’s slaves most dear

Generously; do not fast the fast of the base.

اذا ما جاءهم رمضان خروا

على شهواتهم صرعى غرام

Their fasting was cause for unity

When Ramadan comes to them, they fall down,

But opposing it brought division and spear

Upon their desires, victims of passion.

وكان صيامهم سبب اتحاد

فصار بخلفهم سبب انقسام

One group fasted a day before another

Their fasting used to be a cause of unity,

They remained in conflict and hostility most drear

But became, through their disagreement, a cause of division.

فرهط صام يوما قبل رهط

وظلوا في جدال واحتدام

They saw the days of their fast as long

So a group fasted a day before another group,

So they wasted them in play or sleep’s caressing snare

And they remained in argument and heat.

رأوا أيام صومهم طوالا

فأفنوها بلغو أو منام

The substance of their fast was thirst and hunger

They saw their fasting days as long,

They have nothing else that makes their fast sincere

So they wasted them in idle talk or sleep.

قوام صيامهم ظمأ وجوع

لهم ما غير ذلك من قوام

How many well-fed amongst them

The substance of their fasting is only thirst and hunger,

Moan beside the starving whose form ghosts appear

For them, there is no other substance but that.

وكم من طاعم ريان منهم

يئن بجنبه جوعان ظامي

Alas, the poor man's cries are lost to hunger

How many a well-fed, quenched one among them,

No protector amongst the throngs does he find near

While groaning at his side is a hungry, thirsty one.

فياويح الفقير يضيع جوعا

وليس له من الأقوام حامي

He circles the garbage, hoping for

So woe to the poor man, wasting away from hunger,

Bread crumbs or pieces of bone that he holds so dear

With no protector for him among the people.

يطوف على المزابل حيث يرجو

فتات الخبز أو قطع العظام

If not for hunger, he would not dig through trash

He roams the garbage dumps hoping to find,

Nor yearn for what filth and refuse appear

Crumbs of bread or pieces of bone.

ولولا الجوع لم ينبش قماما

ولم يشتق الى ما في القمام

He may roam the alleys begging

Were it not for hunger, he would not dig through trash,

Deprived of scraps by the masters of such sphere

And would not yearn for what is in the refuse.

وقد يطوى الأزقة مستميحا

فيحرمه الحطام ذوو الحطام

He may come to doors where they cower in fear

He may traverse the alleys begging,

Like ostriches, from him the children steer

But the owners of worldly trifles deny him a pittance.

وقد يأتي البيوت بها فتخشى

ذراريها وتجفل كالنعام

Given broth without bread

He may come to the houses, and there fear,

Or bread without broth - no mercy draws near

Their children, fleeing like startled ostriches.

وقد يعطى الإدام بلا رغيف

وقد يعطى الرغيف بلا ادام

Afflictions like arrows were shot and silenced

He might be given sauce without bread,

Lands like targets for arrows that veered

Or be given the bread without sauce.

مآس كالسهام رمت فأصمت

بلادا مثل أهداف السهام

And misery that leaves the guts

Tragedies like arrows, they shot and struck,

Shriveling in turmoil and fear

Lands that are like targets for the arrows.

وبؤس يترك الأحشاء منا

جوائش في اضطراب واضطرام

Come to charity, my people, come

And misery that leaves our insides,

Through charity, your highest goals draw near

Agitated in turmoil and burning.

تعالوا للندى قومي تعالوا

تنالوا بالندى أقصى المرام

Come aid the fallen and wounded

Come to generosity, my people, come,

Perhaps his wounds will begin to heal and clear

You will attain by generosity the utmost desire.

تعالوا نأس مطرحا جريحا

لعل لجرحه وشك التئام

Meet through charity one near dead

Come, let us heal a wounded one cast aside,

As if his place is the grave that appeared

Perhaps his wound is close to healing.

تلافوا بالندى حيا كميت

كأن محله بعض الرجام

Help the poor - a lion, not a lamb

Rescue with generosity a living one who is like the dead,

Shield yourselves from all calamities severe

As if his place is among the gravestones.

ألا فتدرعوا من كل بلوى

بإسعاف الفقير أسد لام

My brother in Islam, I make you my brother in faith

Oh, shield yourselves from every calamity,

Your fast therein is a pillar and tier

By aiding the poor with the strongest armor.

أخا الإسلام قد آخيت دينا

صيامك فيه رابعة الدعام

Ramadan has come, the most venerated month

O brother of Islam, you have fraternized with a religion,

Stand in it firmly pulling the reins to steer

In which your fasting is the fourth pillar.

أتى رمضان وهو أجل شهر

أقمه لكبح نفسك كاللجام

Vice spreads within it, so fasting's acceptance

Ramadan has come, and it is the most glorious month,

Hopes fade except with utmost care and fear

Establish it to curb your soul like a bridle.

تحام الفسق فيه فليس يرجى

قبول الصوم الا بالتحامي

When one of evil intends you evil

Avoid immorality in it, for there is no hope,

To ignite enmity and feud most drear

Of the fast's acceptance except by avoidance of sin.

اذا راماك ذو سوء بسوء

لإضرام العداء فلا ترام

Do not oppress the poor with rebuke

If a person of evil targets you with evil,

Nor oppress the lowly with accusations severe

To kindle enmity, do not target him back.

ولا تظلم فقيرا بانتهار

ولا تظلم حقيرا باتهام

I’ve seen the pain of people's contempt

Do not wrong a poor man by rebuking him,

Worse upon them than death - the fate most blear

And do not wrong a lowly man with accusation.

رأيت أذى احتقار الناس أقسى

عليهم من أذى الموت الزؤام

So be gentle to all people, kind

I have seen the pain of people's scorn as harsher,

Meek - do not be harsh and austere

Upon them than the pain of sudden death.

فكن هينا لكل الناس لينا

وديعا لا تكن صلب العرام

Meet every insult and slander

So be easy-going to all people, soft,

From tongues like unsheathed swords that shear

Gentle; do not be hard and fierce.

وقابل بالتجمل كل قذف

وطعن من لسان كالحسام

Grudges will be dispelled after a time

Meet with grace every insult,

Hearts will yearn for accord and draw near

And every stab from a tongue sharp as a sword.

ستنجاب الضغائن بعد حين

وتشتاق القلوب الى الوئام

How can a gathering tending enmity

Grudges will clear away after a while,

Inclined to malice, hope for love sincere?

And hearts will yearn for harmony.

وكيف يميل للهجران جمع

يهدد بالنوى أو الحمام؟

Be patient a moment, endure a little

For how can a group incline toward abandonment,

For all tribulations approach their end, 'tis clear

When threatened by separation or death?

تمهل برهة واصبر قليلا

فكل النائبات الى انهزام

The world is but a cradle of trials

Wait a moment and be patient a little,

For our souls, a field for endeavor most dear

For all calamities are destined for defeat.

وما الدنيا سوى مهد ابتلاء

لأنفسنا وميدان اقتحام

We believers are its archers

The world is nothing but a cradle of trial,

To noble goals, exalted tier

For our souls, and a field of storming battle.

ونحن المؤمنين بها رماة

الى قاص من الأهداف سامي

Our duty is seeking righteousness in it

And we, the believers in it, are archers,

Our aim is a good end - this vision we spear

Aiming at a distant, lofty target.

مهمتنا التماس البر فيها

وغايتنا بها حسن الختام

Our mission is to seek righteousness within it,

And our goal through it is a beautiful ending.