الَsaid (apparently truncated) لِيْto me: سِرْgo on، وَرَاحَand began يَعْدُوrunning أَمَامِيahead of me
الَ لِيْ: سِرْ، وَرَاحَ يَعْدُو أَمَامِي
فِيin دُرُوبٍpaths مِنَof السَّنَاradiance وَالظَّلاَمِand darkness
فِي دُرُوبٍ مِنَ السَّنَا وَالظَّلاَمِ
He said to me, “Go on,” and began running ahead of me
He said to me, "Come, let's walk ahead
Along paths of radiance and darkness.
Through roads of light and darkness intertwined,
يَقْطَعُcrosses البِيدَthe deserts، وَالنَّجُودَand the uplands سَعِيدًاhappily
يَقْطَعُ البِيدَ، وَالنَّجُودَ سَعِيدًا
بِخُطًىwith steps كَالأَصِيلِlike the sunset، حُمْرٍred دَوَامِunceasing
بِخُطًى كَالأَصِيلِ، حُمْرٍ دَوَامِ
He crosses the deserts and uplands happily,
Cutting through the desert and stars so glad
With steps red as the sunset, unceasing.
With strides like those of horses, steady in kind.
وَإِذَاand when اليَأْسُdespair وَالفُضُولُand curiosity والحبand love ينشطْbecome active (continued)
وَإِذَا اليَأْسُ وَالفُضُولُ والحب ينشطْ
نَthey (feminine plural suffix) بِقَلْبِيin my heart، وَيَسْتَثِرْنَand they arouse اهْتِمَامِيmy interest
نَ بِقَلْبِي، وَيَسْتَثِرْنَ اهْتِمَامِي
And when despair, curiosity, and love stirred to life
And when despair and lust and love awaken
In my heart and aroused my interest,
Deep in my heart, to steal all of my care,
فَتَمَلْمَلْتُso I grew restless، ثُمَّthen قُمْتُI rose، وَأَلْقَيْand cast (continued)
فَتَمَلْمَلْتُ، ثُمَّ قُمْتُ، وَأَلْقَيْ
تُI (past-tense suffix) إِلَيْهِto him طَوْعًاwillingly وَكَرْهًاand unwillingly زِمَامِيmy reins
تُ إِلَيْهِ طَوْعًا وَكَرْهًا زِمَامِي
I grew restless, then rose and cast
I wavered, then stood up and freely taken
My reins to him, willingly and unwillingly.
By him, surrendered to him my reins with flair.
قَالَhe said: فَارْجِعْthen go back إِنْif شِئْتَyou wish، إِنَّindeed طَرِيقِيmy path
قَالَ: فَارْجِعْ إِنْ شِئْتَ، إِنَّ طَرِيقِي
شَائِكٌthorny، أَوْor فَاصْبِرْthen be patient عَلَىwith أَحْكَامِيmy decrees
شَائِكٌ، أَوْ فَاصْبِرْ عَلَى أَحْكَامِي
He said, “Go back if you wish; my path
He said, "Turn back if you wish, for my way
Is thorny—or bear my decrees with patience.”
Is thorny, or be patient with my reigns."
قُلْتُI said: ذَكَّرْتَنِيyou reminded me بِصَاحِبِof the companion of مُوسَىMoses
قُلْتُ: ذَكَّرْتَنِي بِصَاحِبِ مُوسَى
يَاO صَدِيقِيmy friend، فَزِدْتَso you increased فِيكَfor you هُيَامِيmy passionate love
يَا صَدِيقِي، فَزِدْتَ فِيكَ هُيَامِي
I said, “You reminded me of Moses’ companion,
I said, "You remind me of Moses' friend, my dear,
O my friend, and deepened my passionate love for you.
And so in you has grown my ardent flame.
فَامْضِso go on أَنَّىwherever تَشَاءُyou wish، إِنِّيindeed I لَمَاضٍsurely going on
فَامْضِ أَنَّى تَشَاءُ، إِنِّي لَمَاضٍ
فَرَمَانِيthen he cast at me بِنَظْرَةٍa glance وَابْتِسَامِand a smile
فَرَمَانِي بِنَظْرَةٍ وَابْتِسَامِ
So go wherever you wish; I shall indeed go on.”
Go where you wish, I shall follow ahead
Then he cast me a glance and a smile.
Then he glanced at me with a smile instead.
وَمَضَيْنَاand we went on عَبْرَacross الوُجُودِexistence كَأَنَّاas though we
وَمَضَيْنَا عَبْرَ الوُجُودِ كَأَنَّا
فِيin سِبَاقٍa race عَاتٍfierce مَعَwith الأَيَّامِthe days
فِي سِبَاقٍ عَاتٍ مَعَ الأَيَّامِ
And we journeyed across existence, as though we were
And so we walked through existence as though
In a fierce race with the days.
In a grueling race against time we vie,
نَقْطِفُwe pluck الزَّهْرَthe flowers مِنْfrom حِسَانِbeautiful الرُّبَاthe hills غَضْfresh (continued)
نَقْطِفُ الزَّهْرَ مِنْ حِسَانِ الرُّبَا غَضْ
ضًاcompletion of 'fresh' وَنُلْقِيهِand we cast it فِيin دُرُوبِthe paths of الأَنَامِhumankind
ضًا وَنُلْقِيهِ فِي دُرُوبِ الأَنَامِ
We pluck fresh flowers from the lovely hills,
Plucking flowers from the meadows fresh in blow
And cast them on the paths of humankind.
And strewing them in the paths people walk by.
وَنُعِيدُand we bring back السَّنَاthe radiance مِنَfrom الأَنْجُمِthe stars الزُّهْthe bright (continued)
وَنُعِيدُ السَّنَا مِنَ الأَنْجُمِ الزُّهْ
رِcompletion of 'bright' وَلَوْand even if لَمْلَمَتْهُthey gathered it مِنْfrom أَلْفِa thousand عَامِyear
رِ وَلَوْ لَمْلَمَتْهُ مِنْ أَلْفِ عَامِ
And bring back the radiance from the shining stars,
Gathering stars though thousands of years have passed,
Even if they had gathered it a thousand years ago.
Should their light even slightly start to wane.
وَنَعِيشُand we live الحَيَاةَlife أَغْلَىmore precious مِنَthan الكَوْthe universe (continued)
وَنَعِيشُ الحَيَاةَ أَغْلَى مِنَ الكَوْ
نِcompletion of 'universe' وَأَحْلَىand sweeter مِنْthan شَائِقِalluring الأَحْلاَمِdreams
نِ وَأَحْلَى مِنْ شَائِقِ الأَحْلاَمِ
And we live life, more precious than the universe
Living life more precious than all that has amassed,
And sweeter than alluring dreams.
Sweeter than the longings of hearts in pain.
إِيهِgo on يَاO صَاحِبِيmy companion، لَقَدْindeed طَارَhas soared جَدِّيmy fortune
إِيهِ يَا صَاحِبِي، لَقَدْ طَارَ جَدِّي
أَيُّwhat نُعْمَىbliss هَذِيthis؟! وَأَيُّand what مُقَامِstation؟!
أَيُّ نُعْمَى هَذِي؟! وَأَيُّ مُقَامِ؟!
“Go on, my companion! My fortune has soared.
My friend! My spirit is flying so high!
What bliss is this! What a station!”
What bliss is this?! What station have I come nigh?
قَالَhe said مَهْلاًtake it slowly، وَانْظُرْand look هُنَاكَthere، فَأَبْصَرْthen saw (continued)
قَالَ مَهْلاً، وَانْظُرْ هُنَاكَ، فَأَبْصَرْ
تُI (past-tense suffix) بَعِيدًاin the distance حَقْلاًa field مِنَof الأَلْغَامِmines
تُ بَعِيدًا حَقْلاً مِنَ الأَلْغَامِ
He said, “Easy; look over there,” and I saw
Wait, look over there, he said. And I spied
In the distance a field of mines.
In the distance a field full of landmines.
فَتَشَاءَمْتُso I feared the worst بَعْدَafter فَأْلٍoptimism، وَشَبَّتْand flared up
فَتَشَاءَمْتُ بَعْدَ فَأْلٍ، وَشَبَّتْ
رَغَبَاتٌdesires مَكْبُوتَةٌsuppressed فِيin عِظَامِيmy bones
رَغَبَاتٌ مَكْبُوتَةٌ فِي عِظَامِي
Then I turned from hope to dread, and there flared
I grew uneasy, and desires I'd denied
Suppressed desires within my bones.
Began to kindle in my bones supine.
قَالَhe said: إِنْif شِئْتَyou wish أَنْto تَعُودَreturn، وَإِنْand if شِئْwish (continued)
قَالَ: إِنْ شِئْتَ أَنْ تَعُودَ، وَإِنْ شِئْ
تَyou (past-tense suffix) غَزَوْتَyou conquered الصِّعَابَthe hardships بِالأَقْدَامِon foot
تَ غَزَوْتَ الصِّعَابَ بِالأَقْدَامِ
He said, “If you wish, you may return; and if you wish,
He said, "If you wish, you can turn back; or you can tread
You may conquer the hardships on foot.”
Upon hardship with steps instead."
قُلْتُI said مَاذَاwhat مِنْfrom بَعْدِafter خَوْضِwading through الرَّزَايَاcalamities
قُلْتُ مَاذَا مِنْ بَعْدِ خَوْضِ الرَّزَايَا
قَالَhe said: مَاwhatever تَشْتَهِيyou desire مِنَof الإِكْرَامِhonor
قَالَ: مَا تَشْتَهِي مِنَ الإِكْرَامِ
I said, “What lies beyond wading through calamities?”
I said: After crossing such ordeals, what's ahead?
He said, “Whatever honor you desire.”
He said: Whatever glory you wish to be fed.
وَتَقَدَّمْتُand I advanced خَلْفَهُbehind him، وَهْوَwhile he يَمْضِيgoes on
وَتَقَدَّمْتُ خَلْفَهُ، وَهْوَ يَمْضِي
وَجِنَانُand the gardens of الْخُلُودِeternity أَمْسَتْbecame مَرَامِيmy goal
وَجِنَانُ الْخُلُودِ أَمْسَتْ مَرَامِي
And I advanced behind him as he went on,
I walked behind him, gardens of eternity
And the gardens of eternity became my goal.
Before me, my destination, my dream.
فَسَرَيْنَاso we journeyed by night مِنْfrom حَيْثُwhere لَمْdid not تَسْرِpass رِيحٌa wind
فَسَرَيْنَا مِنْ حَيْثُ لَمْ تَسْرِ رِيحٌ
فَرَقًاin fear مِنْof حَبَائِلِthe snares of الأَصْنَامِthe idols
فَرَقًا مِنْ حَبَائِلِ الأَصْنَامِ
So we journeyed by night where no wind had passed,
We strode where no winds ever dared to be,
For fear of the idols’ snares.
Parting seas of idols, or so it did seem.
فَإِذَاthen suddenly نَحْنُwe وَالرَّدَىand death فِيin الغَيَابَاthe dark depths (continued)
فَإِذَا نَحْنُ وَالرَّدَى فِي الغَيَابَا
تِcompletion of 'dark depths' فَأَدْنَىthen he brought close إِلَيَّto me كَأْسَa cup of حِمَامِdeath
تِ فَأَدْنَى إِلَيَّ كَأْسَ حِمَامِ
Then suddenly we were with death in the dark depths,
And here we are, in the far unknown,
And he brought a cup of death close to me.
He extends to me a goblet of wine, a worldly tone.
قُلْتُI said: وَيْلاَهُwoe is me، إِنَّindeed كَأْسَكَyour cup سُمٌّpoison
قُلْتُ: وَيْلاَهُ، إِنَّ كَأْسَكَ سُمٌّ
وَحَرَامٌand forbidden عَلَيَّto me رَشْفُsipping الْمُدَامِwine
وَحَرَامٌ عَلَيَّ رَشْفُ الْمُدَامِ
I said, “Woe is me! Your cup is poison,
I said: Alas! Your drink is venom, understand,
And sipping wine is forbidden to me.”
Forbidden to me is partaking of wine.
قَالَhe said: فَاجْرَعْthen gulp، فَقُلْتُso I said: سَمْعًاI obey وَأَزْمَعْand resolved (continued)
قَالَ: فَاجْرَعْ، فَقُلْتُ: سَمْعًا وَأَزْمَعْ
تُI (past-tense suffix) وَأَوْمَأْتُand I gestured لِلدُّنَاto the worlds بِالسَّلاَمِwith a farewell
تُ وَأَوْمَأْتُ لِلدُّنَا بِالسَّلاَمِ
He said, “Then drink it down.” I said, “I obey,” and made up
He said: Then drink up. I listened to his command,
My mind, and gestured farewell to the worlds.
And nodded farewell to worldly life.
فَإِذَاthen suddenly الكَأْسُthe cup فِيin يَدَيَّmy two hands حُطَامٌshards
فَإِذَا الكَأْسُ فِي يَدَيَّ حُطَامٌ
وَهْوَwhile he يَرْنُوgazes إِلَىat بَقَايَاthe remnants of الحُطَامِthe fragments
وَهْوَ يَرْنُو إِلَى بَقَايَا الحُطَامِ
And suddenly the cup lay in shards in my hands,
And in my hands the goblet shattered to pieces right there,
While he gazed at the remaining shards.
As he glanced at the fragments with nary a care.
ثُمَّthen وَلَّىhe turned away عَنْfrom نَاظِرَيَّmy eyes ضَحُوكًاlaughing
ثُمَّ وَلَّى عَنْ نَاظِرَيَّ ضَحُوكًا
رَاضِيَcontent القَلْبِthe heart، سَاحِرَenchanting الأَنْغَامِthe melodies
رَاضِيَ القَلْبِ، سَاحِرَ الأَنْغَامِ
Then he turned away from my sight, laughing,
Then he turned from me, laughing, nothing to fear,
Content at heart, with enchanting melodies.
A heart satisfied, enchanting to hear.
وَتَلاَشَىand he vanished، كَأَنَّمَاas though كَانَhe was حُلْمًاa dream
وَتَلاَشَى، كَأَنَّمَا كَانَ حُلْمًا
قَصَّhe recounted لِيto me قِصَّتِيmy story مَعَwith الإِسْلاَمِIslam.
قَصَّ لِي قِصَّتِي مَعَ الإِسْلاَمِ.
And vanished, as though he had been a dream
And he faded away, as though he was but a dream,
That told me my story with Islam.
That told me the story of my path in Islam.
Sol 6.1