سَلَبَتنا فَواتِكُ اللَفَتاتِ

سَلَبَتنا فَواتِكُ اللَفَتاتِ

إِذ سَبَقنا بِالخَيفِ كُلَّ فَتاةِ

إِذ سَبَقنا بِالخَيفِ كُلَّ فَتاةِ

Women with deadly glances robbed us,

Your glances have deprived us,

when we outstripped every maiden at al-Khayf.

When every maiden outstripped us in love.

فَجَهِلنا الهَوى وَلَم نَدرِ أَنَّ ال

فَجَهِلنا الهَوى وَلَم نَدرِ أَنَّ ال

أُسدَ تَغدو فَرائِسَ الغاداتِ

أُسدَ تَغدو فَرائِسَ الغاداتِ

We knew nothing of love, nor knew that

So we remained ignorant of passion, not knowing that

lions become the prey of graceful maidens.

The lion becomes the prey of the gazelles at daybreak,

بِجُفونٍ لَها فُتورُ ذَوي السِك

بِجُفونٍ لَها فُتورُ ذَوي السِك

رِ عَلى ضُعفِها وَفَتكُ الصُحاةِ

رِ عَلى ضُعفِها وَفَتكُ الصُحاةِ

With eyelids bearing the languor of the drunken,

With languorous eyelids over those weakened by drink

and, despite their weakness, the deadliness of the sober;

In their weakness, and the morning's deadly onslaught,

وَعُيونٍ في لَحظِهِنَّ سُكونٌ

وَعُيونٍ في لَحظِهِنَّ سُكونٌ

هُوَ في الفَتكِ أَسرَعُ الحَرَكاتِ

هُوَ في الفَتكِ أَسرَعُ الحَرَكاتِ

and eyes whose glances hold a stillness

And eyes in whose glances is a stillness

that is, in killing, the swiftest of movements.

Swifter in destruction than all movements.

قُل لِذاتِ الجَمالِ إِذ رُمتُ إِنجا

قُل لِذاتِ الجَمالِ إِذ رُمتُ إِنجا

زَ عِداتي فَأَصبَحَت مِن عِداتي

زَ عِداتي فَأَصبَحَت مِن عِداتي

Tell the beautiful one: when I sought fulfillment

Say to that beauty, since I aimed at success, my implements have become part of my implements.

of my promises, she became one of my foes.

O twin of the pipe, soft and flexible,

يا شَبيهَ القَناةِ قَدّاً وَلَيناً

يا شَبيهَ القَناةِ قَدّاً وَلَيناً

إِنَّ لَيلي في طولِ ظِلِّ القَناةِ

إِنَّ لَيلي في طولِ ظِلِّ القَناةِ

O you like a spear in stature and suppleness,

My night is as long as the shadow of the pipe

my night is as long as the spear's shadow,

After it had been short, through my union with you in the wasteland, resembling the claws of a cat.

بَعدَما كانَ مِن وِصالِكَ في الغَم

بَعدَما كانَ مِن وِصالِكَ في الغَم

ضِ قَصيراً شَبيهَ ظِفرِ القَطاةِ

ضِ قَصيراً شَبيهَ ظِفرِ القَطاةِ

after, through union with you, in slumber it had been

My home is between the Tigris and the Euphrates, not between the Tigris and Syria,

short, like a sandgrouse's claw.

And my roses are from the Spring of the Tigris and the Euphrates, not from the River Bi'r and al-Furat.

وَدِياري ما بَينَ دِجلَةَ وَالصَي

وَدِياري ما بَينَ دِجلَةَ وَالصَي

رَةِ لا بَينَ دِجلَةٍ وَالصَراةِ

رَةِ لا بَينَ دِجلَةٍ وَالصَراةِ

And my dwellings lie between Dijlah and al-Sayrah,

Among a people I am not to blame if I vent

not between Dijlah and al-Sarat.

My soul's anguish against them.

وَوُرودي مِن عَينِ دَجلَةَ وَالفِر

وَوُرودي مِن عَينِ دَجلَةَ وَالفِر

دَوسِ لا نَهرِ بِنَّةٍ وَالفُراةِ

دَوسِ لا نَهرِ بِنَّةٍ وَالفُراةِ

And I drink from the spring of Dajlah and al-Firdaws,

And my sipping the wine of your love, while my heart

not from the river Binnah and al-Furah.

Is safe from the vicissitudes of events.

بَينَ قَومٍ لَستُ المَلومَ إِذا أَذ

بَينَ قَومٍ لَستُ المَلومَ إِذا أَذ

هَبتُ نَفسي عَلَيهِم حَسَراتِ

هَبتُ نَفسي عَلَيهِم حَسَراتِ

Among a people for whom I am not to blame if I waste

I have no fear, with my sipping you, of death,

my soul away in sorrow for them.

For I have attained the fountain of life

وَاِرتِشافي مِن خَمرِ فيكِ وَقَلبي

وَاِرتِشافي مِن خَمرِ فيكِ وَقَلبي

آمِنٌ مِن طَوارِقِ الحادِثاتِ

آمِنٌ مِن طَوارِقِ الحادِثاتِ

And I sip the wine of your mouth, while my heart

From a mouth I had not sipped before

is safe from the sudden visitations of misfortune.

Its sides gathered in pearls in the folds.

لَستُ أَخشى مَع رَشفِ فيكِ مِنَ الحَت

لَستُ أَخشى مَع رَشفِ فيكِ مِنَ الحَت

فِ لِأَنّي وَرَدتُ عَينَ الحَياةِ

فِ لِأَنّي وَرَدتُ عَينَ الحَياةِ

I do not fear death while sipping your mouth,

I see none but you more deserving of my devotion

for I have come to drink at the spring of life.

Unless I refrain the best of all judges.

مِن فَمٍ ما رَشَفتُ قَبلَ ثَنايا

مِن فَمٍ ما رَشَفتُ قَبلَ ثَنايا

هُ جُماناً مُنَضَّداً في لِثاتِ

هُ جُماناً مُنَضَّداً في لِثاتِ

From a mouth whose front teeth I had never before tasted—

The noble youth, the refined sun of the faith,

pearls arrayed within the gums.

Lord of magnificent, dazzling merits.

لا أَرى غَيرَ فيكِ أَجدَرَ بِالتَق

لا أَرى غَيرَ فيكِ أَجدَرَ بِالتَق

بيلِ إِلّا أَكُفَّ قاضي القُضاةِ

بيلِ إِلّا أَكُفَّ قاضي القُضاةِ

I see nothing more deserving of kisses than your mouth,

A ruler whose view, when the matter grows complex,

except the palms of the chief judge:

Is a lamp in the darkness of complex issues.

ذي المَعالي فَتى المُهَذَّبِ شَمسُ ال

ذي المَعالي فَتى المُهَذَّبِ شَمسُ ال

دينِ رَبُّ المَناقِبِ الباهِراتِ

دينِ رَبُّ المَناقِبِ الباهِراتِ

possessor of high honors, son of al-Muhadhdhab, Shams

Of knowledge which, when the wave of doubt rises high,

al-Din, master of resplendent virtues;

Becomes for the adversary ships of salvation.

حاكِمٍ رَأيُهُ إِذا أُشكِلَ الأَم

حاكِمٍ رَأيُهُ إِذا أُشكِلَ الأَم

رُ سِراجٌ في ظُلمَةِ المُشكِلاتِ

رُ سِراجٌ في ظُلمَةِ المُشكِلاتِ

a judge whose judgment, when a matter grows obscure,

Had the darkness borrowed his refined morals,

is a lamp amid the darkness of perplexities.

It would have dispensed with lamps.

ذو عُلومٍ إِذا تَلاطَمَ مَوجُ ال

ذو عُلومٍ إِذا تَلاطَمَ مَوجُ ال

شَكِّ كانَت لِلخَصمِ سُفنَ النَجاةِ

شَكِّ كانَت لِلخَصمِ سُفنَ النَجاةِ

Master of disciplines that, when the waves

He combines with his excellent gift, bounty,

of doubt clash, become the litigant's ships of deliverance.

And beauty of character with beauties.

لَو أَعارَ الظَلامَ أَخلاقَهُ الغُر

لَو أَعارَ الظَلامَ أَخلاقَهُ الغُر

رَ لَأَغنَت بِهِ عَنِ النَيِّراتِ

رَ لَأَغنَت بِهِ عَنِ النَيِّراتِ

If he lent darkness his radiant virtues,

Whenever his outstanding virtues gathered,

through him they would spare it the need for luminaries.

His wealth scatters apart.

قَرَنَت كَفَّهُ الإِجادَةَ بِالجو

قَرَنَت كَفَّهُ الإِجادَةَ بِالجو

دِ وَحُسنَ الخِلالِ بِالحَسَناتِ

دِ وَحُسنَ الخِلالِ بِالحَسَناتِ

His hand joined excellence to generosity,

He has a meadow which, when the Pleiades rain,

and fine qualities to good deeds.

Displays delicate, flowery gardens.

كُلَّما جَمَّعَت شَمائِلُهُ الفَض

كُلَّما جَمَّعَت شَمائِلُهُ الفَض

لَ تَداعَت أَموالُهُ بِالشَتاتِ

لَ تَداعَت أَموالُهُ بِالشَتاتِ

Whenever his qualities gather virtue together,

With meanings that illuminate the darkness of the ink,

his riches call out for dispersal.

Resembling shining stars.

ذو يَراعٍ يُبدي إِذا أَمطَرَ الطَر

ذو يَراعٍ يُبدي إِذا أَمطَرَ الطَر

سُ رِياضاً أَنيقَةَ الزَهَراتِ

سُ رِياضاً أَنيقَةَ الزَهَراتِ

Master of a reed pen that, when it showers the page, reveals

The sweetness of his utterance told us

gardens with exquisite blossoms,

That the fountain of life is in the darkness.

بِمَعانٍ تُضيءُ في ظُلمَةِ الحِب

بِمَعانٍ تُضيءُ في ظُلمَةِ الحِب

رِ شَبيهَ الكَواكِبِ الزاهِراتِ

رِ شَبيهَ الكَواكِبِ الزاهِراتِ

with meanings that shine in the darkness of ink,

O you who are sent, in whom men believed

like radiant stars.

In the clear tokens of his overflowing favor.

أَخبَرَتنا عُذوبَةُ اللَفظِ مِنها

أَخبَرَتنا عُذوبَةُ اللَفظِ مِنها

أَنَّ عَينَ الحَياةِ في الظُلُماتِ

أَنَّ عَينَ الحَياةِ في الظُلُماتِ

The sweetness of their wording has told us

How many fasts you combined with vigils,

that the spring of life lies in darkness.

And prayers followed by prayers.

أَيُّها المُرسَلُ الَّذي آمَنَ النا

أَيُّها المُرسَلُ الَّذي آمَنَ النا

سُ بِآياتِ فَضلِهِ البَيِّناتِ

سُ بِآياتِ فَضلِهِ البَيِّناتِ

O messenger—the people have believed

And how much listening in which the Just King

in the manifest signs of his excellence!

Shared in its lasting, righteous works.

كَم صِيامٍ قَرَنتَهُ بِقِيامٍ

كَم صِيامٍ قَرَنتَهُ بِقِيامٍ

وَصَلاةٍ وَصَلتَها بِصِلاتِ

وَصَلاةٍ وَصَلتَها بِصِلاتِ

How many fasts you have paired with night vigils,

So you frequented the Sacred House and aimed

and prayers you have linked with gifts!

With arrows of rejection the hearts of enemies.

وَمَساعٍ قَد أُشرِكَ المَلِكُ الصا

وَمَساعٍ قَد أُشرِكَ المَلِكُ الصا

لِحُ في باقَياتِها الصالِحاتِ

لِحُ في باقَياتِها الصالِحاتِ

And endeavors that gave al-Malik

And how much delightful sin you denied yourself

al-Salih a share in their enduring good works.

On the day you declared yourself forbidden the eyes of the wicked.

فَقَصَدتَ البَيتَ الحَرامِ فَأَقصَد

فَقَصَدتَ البَيتَ الحَرامِ فَأَقصَد

تَ بِسَهمِ الرَدى قُلوبَ العُداةِ

تَ بِسَهمِ الرَدى قُلوبَ العُداةِ

You sought the Sacred House, and mortally struck

Then you performed the lâbik devotedly when you uttered lâbik,

the hearts of foes with death's arrow.

Responding to whoever called you to bounties.

وَلَكَم قَد حَرَمتَ في يَومِ أَحرَم

وَلَكَم قَد حَرَمتَ في يَومِ أَحرَم

تَ لَذيذَ الكَرى عُيونَ البُغاةِ

تَ لَذيذَ الكَرى عُيونَ البُغاةِ

And how often, on the day you entered ihram, you denied

And you went forth to circumambulate, extinguishing

the rebels' eyes sweet slumber!

The heat of worries with your steps.

ثُمَّ لَبَيتَ مُنعِماً حينَ لَبَّي

ثُمَّ لَبَيتَ مُنعِماً حينَ لَبَّي

تَ نِدا مَن دَعاكَ لِلمَكرُماتِ

تَ نِدا مَن دَعاكَ لِلمَكرُماتِ

Then you gave the pilgrim's response, bestowing favors, when you answered

And you touched the ancient corner,

the call of the one who summoned you to noble deeds.

So the hearts of enemies were resigned to distress.

وَتَقَدَّمتَ لِلطَوافِ فَأَطفَأ

وَتَقَدَّمتَ لِلطَوافِ فَأَطفَأ

تَ لَهيبَ الهُمومِ بِالخُطواتِ

تَ لَهيبَ الهُمومِ بِالخُطواتِ

And you advanced to circumambulate, and quenched

And you traversed the Abrahamic course,

the blaze of worries with your footsteps.

And how much you were rewarded in bounties the efforts of yearners.

وَاِستَلَمتَ الرُكنَ العَتيقَ فَأَسلَم

وَاِستَلَمتَ الرُكنَ العَتيقَ فَأَسلَم

تَ قُلوبَ العُداةِ لِلحَسَراتِ

تَ قُلوبَ العُداةِ لِلحَسَراتِ

And you touched the ancient Corner, and surrendered

And how long you shortened the time you shortened

the hearts of foes to bitter grief.

Fearful souls by fear.

وَسَعَيتَ السَعيَ الحَنيفَ وَكَم قَد

وَسَعَيتَ السَعيَ الحَنيفَ وَكَم قَد

جُزتَ في المَكرُماتِ سَعيَ السُعاةِ

جُزتَ في المَكرُماتِ سَعيَ السُعاةِ

And you performed the upright rite of sa'y; how often

And the soul's wish, at the descent in Minâ,

in noble deeds you surpassed the efforts of the strivers!

You attained, despite enemies and fault-finders.

وَلَكَم قَد قَصَرتَ ساعَةَ قَصَّر

وَلَكَم قَد قَصَرتَ ساعَةَ قَصَّر

تَ عَلى الخَوفِ أَنفُساً قاصِراتِ

تَ عَلى الخَوفِ أَنفُساً قاصِراتِ

And how often, when you clipped your hair,

And you pelted the pillars with pebbles into the midst of enemies

you confined deficient souls to fear!

When you pelted with pebbles.

وَمُنى النَفسِ في نُزولِ مِنىً نُل

وَمُنى النَفسِ في نُزولِ مِنىً نُل

تَ بِرُغمِ الأَعداءِ وَالشُمّاتِ

تَ بِرُغمِ الأَعداءِ وَالشُمّاتِ

And your soul's wishes, on arriving at Mina, you attained

And how much favor you bestowed when you descended

despite enemies and gloaters.

From ‘Arafât's abundance.

وَرَمَيتَ الجِمارَ في كَبِدِ الأَع

وَرَمَيتَ الجِمارَ في كَبِدِ الأَع

داءِ لَمّا رَمَيتَ بِالجَمَراتِ

داءِ لَمّا رَمَيتَ بِالجَمَراتِ

And you hurled pebbles into the livers of your foes

And you saw praise more lasting than wealth,

when you cast the ritual stones.

So you left it neglected among gifts.

وَلَكَم قَد أَفَضتَ مِن فَيضِ إِنعا

وَلَكَم قَد أَفَضتَ مِن فَيضِ إِنعا

مِكَ لَمّا أَفضَتَ مِن عَرَفاتِ

مِكَ لَمّا أَفضَتَ مِن عَرَفاتِ

And how often you poured forth from the flood of your favors

Good women are for good men by origin,

when you streamed down from Arafat!

And good men are for good women.

وَرَأَيتَ الثَناءَ أَبقى مِنَ الما

وَرَأَيتَ الثَناءَ أَبقى مِنَ الما

لِ فَغادَرتَهُ هَباً بِالهِباتِ

لِ فَغادَرتَهُ هَباً بِالهِباتِ

And you deemed praise more enduring than wealth,

Do not call us to fulfill your right with shame,

so, through gifts, you left it as dust.

O perfect in clarity and qualities.

إِنَّما الطَيِّباتُ لِلطَيِّبينَ ال

إِنَّما الطَيِّباتُ لِلطَيِّبينَ ال

أَصلِ وَالطَيِّبونَ لِلطَيِّباتِ

أَصلِ وَالطَيِّبونَ لِلطَيِّباتِ

Good things are only for those of good

If we strung the stars as necklaces for you,

stock, and the good are for good things.

We would not fulfill your obligatory rights.

لا تَسُمنا قَضاءَ حَقِّكَ بِالأَش

لا تَسُمنا قَضاءَ حَقِّكَ بِالأَش

عارِ يا كامِلَ الصَفا وَالصِفاتِ

عارِ يا كامِلَ الصَفا وَالصِفاتِ

Do not demand that we pay your due in

verse, O perfect in purity and qualities!

لَو نَظَمنا النُجومَ فيكَ عُقوداً

لَو نَظَمنا النُجومَ فيكَ عُقوداً

ما قَضَينا حُقوقَكَ الواجِباتِ

ما قَضَينا حُقوقَكَ الواجِباتِ

If we strung the stars into necklaces in your honor,

we would still not fulfill your rightful dues.