لو جئت نار الهدى من جانب الطور — Rusafi Al Balansi

لَو جِئتَ نارَ الهُدى مِن جانِبِ الطُورِ

قَبَستَ ما شِئتَ مِن عِلمٍ وَمِن نُورِ

If you came to the fire of guidance from the side of the Mount,

you would draw whatever knowledge and light you wished,

مِن كُلِّ زَهراءَ لَم تُرفَع ذُؤابَتُها

لَيلاً لِسارٍ وَلَم تُشبَب لِمَقرورِ

from every radiant flame whose crest was never raised

by night for a traveler, nor kindled for one chilled with cold.

فَيضِيَّةُ القَدحِ مِن نورِ النُبُوَّةِ أَو

نورِ الهِدايَةِ تَجلو ظُلمَةَ الزورِ

Its kindling wells from the light of prophecy, or

the light of guidance, dispelling falsehood's darkness.

ما زالَ يُقضِمُها التَقوى بِمَوقِدِها

صَوّامُ هاجِرَةٍ قَوّامُ دَيجورِ

At its hearth, he kept feeding it piety—

one who fasts through midday heat and prays through pitch-black night—

حَتّى أَضاءَت مِنَ الإيمانِ عَن قَبَسٍ

قَد كانَ تَحتَ رَمادِ الكُفرِ مَكفورِ

until it shone with faith, from a firebrand

that had lain concealed beneath the ashes of unbelief.

نورٌ طَوى اللَهُ زَندَ الكَونِ مِنهُ على

سِقطٍ إِلى زَمَنِ المَهدِيِّ مَذخورِ

A light: God folded creation's fire-stick around

a spark of it, stored until the Mahdi's time.

وَآيَةٌ كَإِياةِ الشَمسِ بَينَ يَدَي

غَزوٍ عَلى المَلِكِ القَيسِيِّ مَنذورِ

And a sign like the sun's radiance, heralding

a campaign vowed against the Qaysi king.

يا دارُ دارَ أَميرِ المُؤمِنينَ بِسَف

حِ الطَودِ طَودِ الهُدى بورِكتِ في الدُورِ

O dwelling, dwelling of the Commander of the Faithful, at the foot—

—of the mountain, mountain of guidance: blessed are you among dwellings!

ذاتَ العمادينِ مِن عِزٍّ وَمَملَكَةٍ

عَلى الأَساسينَ مِن قُدسٍ وَتَطهيرِ

Possessing the two pillars of might and sovereignty,

upon the two foundations of holiness and purification.

ما كانَ بانيكِ بِالواني الكَرامَةِ عَن

قَصرٍ عَلى مَجمَعِ البَحرَينِ مَقصُورِ

Your builder was not remiss in honoring

a palace set apart at the meeting of the two seas.

مَواطِئ مِن نَبِيٍّ طالَ ما وُصِلَت

فيها الخُطى بَينَ تَسبيحٍ وَتَكبيرِ

Places trodden by a prophet, where for so long

footsteps were joined in glorifying God and proclaiming His greatness;

حَيثُ اِستَقَلَّت بِهِ نَعلاهُ بورِكَتا

فَطَيَّبَت كُلَّ مَوطوءٍ وَمَعبورِ

where his two sandals bore him—blessed be they—

and so made every place trodden or crossed fragrant.

وَحَيثُ قامَت قَناةُ الدينِ تَرفُلُ في

لِواءِ نَصرٍ عَلى البَرَّينِ مَنشورِ

And where religion's spear-shaft stood, sweeping proudly in

a victory-banner unfurled over the two lands,

في كَفِّ مُنشَمِرِ البُردَينِ ذي وَرَعٍ

عَلى التُقى وَصَفاءِ النَفسِ مَفطورِ

in the hand of one with both cloaks tucked up, a man of piety,

formed by nature for godliness and purity of soul.

يَلقاكَ في حالِ غَيبٍ مِن سَريرَتِهِ

بِعالَمِ القُدسِ مَشهورٍ وَمَحضورِ

He meets you while his inmost soul is absent,

renowned and attended in the realm of holiness.

تَسَنَّمَ الفُلكَ مِن شِطِّ المَجازِ وَقَد

نُودينَ يا خَيرَ أَفلاكِ العُلا سيري

He mounted the ships from the shore of al-Majaz, when already

they were hailed: 'Sail, noblest spheres of the heights!'

فَسِرنَ يَحمِلنَ أَمرَ اللَهِ مِن مَلِكٍ

بِاللَهِ مُستَنصِرٍ في اللَهِ مَنصُورِ

So they sailed, bearing God's command from a king

who seeks victory through God and is victorious in God's cause.

يُومي لَهُ بِسُجودٍ كُلُّ مَحرَكَةٍ

مِنها وَيوليهِ حَمداً كُلُّ تَصديرِ

Their every movement gestures to him in prostration,

and every forward thrust offers him praise.

لَما تَسابَقنَ في بَحرِ الزُقاقِ بِهِ

تَرَكنَ شَطَّيهِ في شَكٍّ وَتَحييرِ

When they raced with him through the Sea of the Strait,

they left its two shores in doubt and bewilderment:

أَهزَّ مِن مَوجِهِ أَثناءَ مَسرورِ

أَم خاضَ مِن لُجِّهِ أَحشاءَ مَذعورِ

did he stir its waves, the flanks of one rejoicing,

or wade its depths, the entrails of one terrified?

كَأَنَّهُ سالِكٌ مِنهُ عَلى وَشَلٍ

في الأَرضِ مِن مُهَجِ الأَسيافِ مَقطورِ

As though he traveled across it upon a trickle

dripped on the earth from the lifeblood of swords,

مِنَ السُيوفِ الَّتي ذابَت لِسَطوَتِهِ

وَقَد رَمى نارَ هَيجاها بِتَسعيرِ

from swords that melted before his might,

when he stoked the fire of their battle.

ذو المُنشَآتِ الجَواري في أَجِرَّتِها

شَكلُ الغَدائِرِ في سَدلٍ وَتَضفيرِ

Lord of the lofty sailing ships, whose rigging

has the form of tresses, hanging loose or braided.

أَغرى المِياهَ وَأَنفاسَ الرِياحِ بِها

ما في سَجاياهُ مِن لينٍ وَتَعطيرِ

The waters and the breaths of wind were enticed toward them

by the gentleness and fragrance within his nature.

مِن كُلِّ عَذراءَ حُبلى في تَرائِبِها

رَدعان مِن عَنبَرٍ وَردٍ وَكافورِ

Each a pregnant virgin, upon whose breast

are two daubs of rose-colored ambergris and camphor.

تَخالُها بَينَ أَيدٍ مِن مَجاذِفِها

يَغرَقنَ في مِثلِ ماءِ الوَردِ مِن جُورِ

You would fancy her among hands—her oars—

plunging into something like rosewater from Jur.

وَرُبَّما خاضَتِ التَيّارَ طائِرَةً

بِمِثلِ أَجنِحَةِ الفُتخِ الكَواسيرِ

And sometimes she cleaves the current, flying

with wings like those of broad-winged, predatory eagles.

كَأَنَّما عَبَرَت تَختالُ عائِمَةً

في زاخِرٍ مِن نَدى يُمناهُ مَعصورِ

As though she passed, proudly gliding afloat,

through a swelling sea pressed from his right hand's bounty,

حَتّى رَمَت جَبَلَ الفَتحَينِ مِن كَثَبٍ

بِساطِعٍ مِن سَناهُ غَيرَ مَبهورِ

until, close by, she struck Jabal al-Fathayn

with a blaze of his radiance, never outshone.

لِلَّهِ ما جَبَلُ الفَتحَينِ مِن جَبَل

مُعَظَّمِ القَدرِ في الأَجبالِ مَذكورِ

By God, what a mountain is Jabal al-Fathayn!

Exalted in rank, renowned among mountains,

مِن شامِخِ الأَنفِ سَحنائِهِ طَلَسٌ

لَهُ مِنَ الغَيمِ جَيبٌ غَيرُ مَزرورِ

lofty-nosed and dusky of countenance,

with an unbuttoned collar made of cloud,

مُعَبِّراً بِذَراهُ عَن ذَرى مَلِكٍ

مُستَمطَرِ الكَفِّ وَالأَكنافِ مَمطورِ

its peaks speaking of the eminence of a king

whose palm is entreated for rain and whose environs are showered.

تُمسي النُجومُ عَلى إِكليلِ مَفرِقِهِ

في الجَوِّ حائِمَةً مِثلَ الدَنانيرِ

At evening the stars above the crown of its summit

hover in the sky like dinars.

وَرُبَّما مَسَحَتهُ مِن ذَوائِبِها

بِكُلِّ فَضلٍ عَلى فَودَيهِ مَجرورِ

And sometimes they caress it with their locks,

each trailing end drawn across its temples.

وَأَدرَدٍ مِن ثَناياهُ بِما أَخَذَت

مِنهُ مَعاجِمُ أَعوادِ الدَهاريرِ

And toothless in its incisors, through what was taken

from it by the testing rods of the long ages,

مُحَنَّكٌ حَلَبَ الأَيّامَ أَشطُرَها

وَساقَها سَوقَ حادي العِيرِ لِلعيرِ

seasoned, it has milked the days at every teat,

and driven them as a camel-driver drives the caravan.

مُقَيَّدُ الخَطوِ جَوّالُ الخَواطِرِ في

عَجيبِ أَمرَيهِ مِن ماضٍ وَمَنظورِ

Its steps are fettered, but its thoughts roam

the marvel of its two states: the past and the awaited.

قَد واصَلَ الصَمتَ وَالإِطراقَ مُفتَكِراً

بادي السَكينَةِ مُغفَرِّ الأَساريرِ

It has kept silence, head bowed in reflection,

outwardly serene, its features darkened,

كَأَنَّهُ مُكمَدٌ مِمّا تَعَبَّدَهُ

خَوفُ الوَعيدَينِ مِن دَكّ وَتَسييرِ

as though grief-stricken by what has enthralled it:

fear of the twin threats of crushing and being set in motion.

أَخلِق بِهِ وَجِبالُ الأَرضِ راجِفَةٌ

أَن يَطمَئِنَّ غَداً مِن كُلِّ مَحذورِ

How worthy it is, while earth's mountains tremble,

to rest secure tomorrow from every danger!

كَفاهُ فَضلاً أَنِ اِنتابَت مَواطِئَهُ

نَعلا مَليكٍ كَريمِ السَعيِ مَشكورِ

It is distinction enough that its paths were visited

by the sandals of a sovereign, noble in endeavor and praised,

مُستَنشِئاً بِهِما ريحَ الشَفاعَةِ مِن

ثَرى إِمامٍ بِأَقصى الغَربِ مَقبورِ

calling forth through them the breeze of intercession from

the soil of an imam buried in the farthest West.

ما اِنفَكَّ آمِلَ أَمرٍ مِنهُ بَينَ يَدَي

يَومِ القِيامَةِ مَحتومٍ وَمَقدورِ

It never ceased hoping for an event from him, before

Resurrection Day—an event inevitable and decreed—

حَتّى تَصَدّى مِنَ الدُنيا عَلى رَمَقٍ

يَستَنجِزُ الوَعدَ قَبلَ النَفخِ في الصورِ

until, with a last breath of this world, it stood expectant,

seeking the promise fulfilled before the Trumpet is blown,

مُستَقبِلَ الجانِبِ الغَربِيِّ مُرتَقِباً

كَأَنَّهُ بائِتٌ في جَوِّ أَسميرِ

facing westward, watching expectantly,

as though spending the night in Asmir's open country,

لِبارِقٍ مِن حُسامٍ سَلَّهُ قَدَرُ

بِالغَربِ مِن أُفُقِ البِيضِ المَشاهيرِ

for a flash from a sharp sword that Destiny unsheathed

in the West, from the horizon of renowned white blades.

إِذا تَأَلَّقَ قَيسِيّاً أَهابَ بِهِ

إِلى شَفا مِن مُضاعِ الدينِ مَوتورِ

When it flashes toward the Qaysi, the mountain calls it

to heal one whose faith lies neglected, unavenged.

مَلكٌ أَتى عِظَماً فَوقَ الزَمانِ فَما

يَمُرُّ فيهِ بِشَيءٍ غَيرِ مَحقورِ

A king whose greatness rose above time, so that

he encounters nothing in it that is not beneath him.

ما عَنَّ في الدينِ وَالدُنيا لَهُ أَرَبٌ

إِلا تَأَتّى لَهُ مِن غَيرِ تَعذيرِ

No desire in religion or worldly life arose for him

but came within his reach without impediment.

وَلا رَمى مِن أمانِيهِ إِلى غَرَضٍ

إِلا هَدى سَهمَهُ نُجحُ المَقاديرِ

Nor did he aim at a target among his hopes

but favorable decrees guided his arrow,

حَتّى كَأَنَّ لَهُ في كُلِّ آوِنَةٍ

سُلطانَ رِقٍّ عَلى الدُنيا وَتَسخيرِ

until it seemed he held, at every moment,

dominion to enslave and subdue the world.

مُمَيَّزُ الجَيشِ مُلتَفّاً مَواكِبُهُ

مِن كُلِّ مَثلولِ عَرشِ المُلكِ مَقهورِ

His army is distinguished, its squadrons gathered

from every vanquished ruler whose royal throne was toppled,

مِنَ الأُلى خَضَعوا قَسراً لَهُ وَعَنَوا

لِأَمرِهِ بَينَ مَنهِيٍّ وَمَأمورِ

from those who submitted to him by force and bowed

to his command, subject to prohibition and order,

مِن بَعدِ ما عانَدوا أَمراً فَما تَرَكوا

إِذ أَمكَنَ العَفوُ مَيسوراً لِمَعسورِ

after resisting a command; they did not forsake,

when pardon was possible, an easy course for a hard one.

بَقِيَّةُ الحَربِ فاتوها وَما بِهِمُ

في الضَربِ وَالطَعنِ سيماءٌ لِتَقصيرِ

War's remnant, they escaped it, bearing

no mark of failure in striking or thrusting.

لا يُنكِرُ القَومُ مِمّا في أَكُفِّهِمُ

بيضٍ مَفاليلَ أَو سُمرٍ مَكاسيرِ

The men do not disown what their hands hold:

notched white swords or broken brown lances.

إِذا صَدَعتَ بِأَمرِ اللَهِ مُجتَهِداً

ضَرَبتَ وَحدَك أَعناقَ الجَماهيرِ

When you strive to proclaim God's command,

you alone strike the necks of multitudes.

لا يَذهَلَنَّ لِتَقليلٍ أَخو سَبَبٍ

مِنَ الأُمورِ وَلا يَركَن لِتَكثيرِ

Let no man pursuing a cause be dismayed by fewness

in any affair, nor rely upon great numbers.

فَالبَحرُ قَد عادَ مِن ضَربِ العَصا يَبَساً

وَالأَرضُ قَد غَرِقَت مِن فَورِ تَنّورِ

For the sea became dry land at the stroke of a staff,

and the earth was flooded by an oven's overflow.

وَإِنَّما هُوَ سَيفُ اللَهِ قَلَّدَهُ

أَقوى الهُداةِ يَداً في دَفعِ مَحذورِ

He is none other than God's sword, girded on by

the strongest-handed of guides in warding off danger.

فَإِن يَكُن بِيَدِ المَهدِيِّ قائِمُهُ

فَمَوضِعُ الحَدِّ مِنهُ جَدُّ مَشهورِ

If its hilt is in the Mahdi's hand,

then the place of its edge is very well known.

وَالشَمسُ إِن ذَكَرَت موسى فَما نَسِيَت

فَتاهُ يُوشَعَ قَمّاعَ الجَبابيرِ

And if the sun remembered Moses, it did not forget

his attendant Joshua, crusher of tyrants.