أحبك حب هيمان بواد

شريد تطلب للماء صادي

I love you with the love of one thirst-crazed in a valley,

a wanderer seeking water, parched with thirst.

أحبك يا حبيب وأنت مني

بمنزلة السويدا من فؤاد

I love you, O beloved, and to me you are

as the innermost core is to a heart.

وقد أسكنت حبك في السويدا

كسكنى نور عيني في السواد

I have lodged your love in my heart's core,

as my eye's light dwells in its black pupil.

فأنت ضياء إنساني وقلبي

وأنت عماد روحي واعتمادي

You are the light of my eye's pupil and my heart,

and you are my soul's support and my reliance.

وأنت قوام جثماني ومعنى

وجوديّ المبين سنا رشادي

You are the sustenance of my body and the meaning

of my existence, revealing the radiance of my guidance.

اشاع الناس أن هواك شاني

نعم صدقوا وديني واعتقادي

People have spread word that loving you is my concern.

Yes, they spoke truth—and it is my religion and my belief.

ولو علموا بأنك عين قصدي

وغاية ما أرجّى من وداد

If they knew that you are the very essence of my aim,

and the utmost affection I hope for,

لقالوا إنني عبد لطه

وحسبي أن يكون لك استنادي

they would say that I am a slave of Taha.

It suffices me that my reliance rests on you.

وهل يخفى عليهم سر حب

به يحدو المطايا كل حادي

Can the secret of a love be hidden from them,

by which every camel-driver urges the mounts onward?

ولم لا يشعرون بحب صب

يهام شعره في كل وادي

Why do they not perceive the love of an ardent lover

whose poetry wanders through every valley?

أيخفى الطرس أسرادا حواها

وسر الطرس في العنوان بادي

Can the written page conceal the secrets it holds,

when the page's secret is manifest in its heading?

أيخفي الغيم لمع البرق فيه

أيخفى المسك تحمله البوادي

Can the cloud conceal the lightning's flash within it?

Can musk be hidden when the desert lands carry it?

فحبك شرعتي وثناك ذكرى

وذكرك مشربي وهواك زادي

Your love is my sacred law, and praise of you my remembrance;

remembering you is my drink, and your love my provisions.

ومدحك كعبتي ومطاف قلبي

ومشعر موقفي ومنى امتدادي

Praising you is my Kaaba and my heart's circling-place,

the sacred site of my standing and the Mina of my journey's reach,

وركن توسلي ومقام نسكي

وحجر تلطفي وصفا ودادي

the Corner of my entreaty and the Station of my rites,

the Stone of my gentle appeal and the Safa of my affection.

فلا عتب علي ولا جناح

فقد أصبحت مبتول الفؤاد

There is no reproach upon me, nor any sin,

for my heart has become wholly devoted.

ولا عجب إذا نادى لساني

بحب محمد في كل نادي

Nor is it strange if my tongue cries out

with love of Muhammad in every assembly.

ففيه محبتي وإليه أمري

ومن تطلبي وله اعتدادي

In him is my love, and to him belongs my affair;

from [him] is what I seek, and in him I take pride.

رسول جاءنا بكتاب حق

فأصلحنا به بعد الفساد

A messenger who came to us with a book of truth,

and through it set us right after corruption.

حبيب الحق تاج الرسل طه

إمام الخلق شمس ضحى الرشا

Beloved of the Truth, crown of the messengers, Taha,

leader of creation, sun of guidance's forenoon,

خصيب الرحل مخمود السجايا

مزيح المحل مشكور الأيادي

bountiful of abode, praised in character [uncertain reading],

dispeller of drought, thanked for his favors.

تسنم ذروة العلياء لما

دعاه لارتقا العليا المنادي

He ascended the summit of exaltation when

the caller summoned him to ascend the heights.

وسار على البراق إلى معال

تبواها على وفق المراد

He journeyed on Buraq to lofty stations

that he occupied in accordance with the desired purpose.

وقد رفعت له الحجب اعتناءه

ونادته الإشارات البوادي

The veils were lifted for him out of solicitude,

and the manifest signs called to him.

وداس بنعله البسط احتفاء

وأجلس فوق مرتفع المهاد

He trod the carpets with his sandal in honor,

and was seated above an elevated couch.

وكان كقاب أو أدنى اقترابا

على غيظ المغاشي والمعادي

His nearness was a bow's span, or nearer still,

to the fury of the deceiver [uncertain reading] and the enemy.

وشاهد وجه مولاه كفاحا

وأنبأه باسرار المعاد

He beheld his Lord's face directly,

and his Lord told him the secrets of the final return.

وناداه تقدم يا حبيبي

وزد قربا فسري فيك بادي

He called to him: “Come forward, My beloved,

and draw nearer, for My secret is manifest in you.

وقل يسمع وسل تعط الأماني

وقم واشفع تشفع في العباد

Speak, and you will be heard; ask, and your wishes will be granted.

Rise and intercede: your intercession for the servants will be accepted.”

دعانا فاتبعنا خير داع

هدانا للسعادة منه هادي

He called us, and we followed the best of callers;

a guide from him led us to felicity.

وأحيا ملة الإسلام لما

أقام رسومها بعد انهداد

He revived the faith of Islam when

he established its rites after their collapse.

وذلل ملك كسرى بعد عز

ومزّق فارسا تمزيق عاد

He humbled Kisra's kingdom after its might,

and tore Persia apart as Ad was torn apart.

وغور ماءهم بعد انفجار

وأخمد نارهم بعد اتقاد

He made their water sink after its gushing forth,

and extinguished their fire after its blazing.

وبدر الأفق شق من التداني

وجذع النخل حن من البعاد

The horizon's full moon split at his drawing near,

and the palm trunk yearned because of separation.

ووقته الغمامة حر شمس

وجاءته بقطر مستجا

The cloud protected him from the sun's heat,

and brought him welcome rain [uncertain reading].

وعين قتادة قد ردها إذ

هوت كيد ابن عفرا في الجهاد

He restored Qatada's eye when

it fell, like Ibn Afra's hand, in battle.

وشق خبيب أبراه بنفث

كرجل عتبك أو كفتى معاد

Khubayb's wound he healed with a breath,

as with Atbak's leg, or the youth Mu'ad [names uncertain].

وصدق قوله الحيوان حقا

وخاطبه النبات مع الجماد

The animals truly confirmed his speech,

and plants addressed him, together with inanimate things.

وفحل الغاب جاء إليه طوعا

وخاطبه وأذعن بانقياد

The forest's great lion came to him willingly,

addressed him, and submitted in obedience.

وضرع الشاة در له حليبا

ولم يك بعد حمل من سفاد

The ewe's udder flowed with milk for him,

though this followed no pregnancy from mating.

وفي يده العصا انقلبت حساما

وفيا سبحت حصبا الوهاد

In his hand the staff turned into a keen sword,

and in it the lowlands' pebbles glorified God.

ومنها أنبع الماء احتسابا

ليروي من ظماه كل صادي

From it he made water spring, seeking God's reward,

to relieve every thirsty one of his thirst.

وكم حلى بنفثته زعاها

كما وقى بها طعن الصعاد

How often he sweetened bitter water with his breath [uncertain reading],

just as with it he protected against spear thrusts.

وكم عافى بها داء عضالا

كما وهى بها حزب الأعادي

How often with it he cured incurable illness,

just as with it he weakened the enemies' host.

وكم أغنى بدعوته فقيراً

كما أغنى بها من كيد عادي

How often his prayer enriched a poor person,

just as it delivered people from an assailant's guile.

وكم روى الألوف بفضل ماء

كما كف الألوف بفضل زاد

How often he gave thousands drink with surplus water,

just as he satisfied thousands with surplus provisions.

إذا نظر الوفود إليه قالوا

أليت الأدام غيث الأيادي

When delegations looked at him, they said:

“O lion of humankind, rain-cloud of bounty!” [uncertain reading]

وإن صرخ الندا وأجاش نادوا

أقطب الحرب أو غوث المنادي

When the call cried out and roused the host, they called:

“O pivot of war, or succor of the caller!”

وإن جال الطغاة بدار حرب

ونادى الرمح حي على الجهاد

When tyrants roamed the abode of war,

and the spear called, “Come to battle!”

أقام البيض عنه إذا تداعوا

يوبخهم بألسنة حداد

he set bright swords forth on his behalf when they rallied,

rebuking them with sharp tongues.

أطالب شأو ذلك المجد أقصر

فما ترقى المعالي بالعناد

O seeker of the reach of that glory, desist!

The heights are not climbed through obstinacy.

ولا حسن اللآلىء في المثاني

ولا زين المواضي بالنجاد

Nor is the beauty of pearls in their doubled strands,

nor the adornment of keen blades in their baldrics.

ولاحظ الأقاصي كالأداني

ولا سكنى العوالي كالوهاد

Nor is the distant one's share like the near one's,

nor dwelling on the heights like dwelling in the lowlands.

ولا نور الأضاحي كالدياجي

ولا نور الأقاحي كالقتاد

Nor is the light of sunlit places like dark nights,

nor daisy blossoms like thorn-bushes.

ولا نشر البنفسج كالخزامى

ولا ماء الجداول كالغوادي

Nor is the scent of violets like lavender,

nor stream-water like the morning rains.

تلوذ بمجده العليا فتزهو

بأكرم مستزاد مستعادي

Exaltation seeks refuge in his glory and glories

in the noblest one, asked for more and sought anew,

وأروع مستجاش مستهاب

وأبدع مستزاد مستفاد

the most magnificent champion, summoned and held in awe,

the most wondrous giver, sought for increase and benefit.

هلال صباحة وسما سماح

ومعقل سؤدد وعلا طراد

A crescent of beauty, a heaven of generosity,

a stronghold of sovereignty and the heights of mounted combat.

يؤمّ صحابة أحنوا عليه

يفدوه ويالك من تفادي

He leads companions who tenderly incline toward him,

ransoming him—what self-sacrifice!

كأنهم نجوم حول بدر

جلت أنواره ليل الأعادي

They are like stars around a full moon

whose lights dispelled the enemies' night,

أو الآساد يقدمهم هزبر

شديد الباس رحب الكف هادي

or lions led by a mighty lion,

fierce in prowess, broad-handed, a guide.

حلفت لمن يرى أحصى علاه

وما أوتيه من فضل الجواد

I swore to whoever thinks he has counted his lofty qualities

and what the Generous One granted him of bounty,

إلية صادق بر محب

تظاهر أعتقاد واجتهاد

an oath of a truthful, upright lover,

whose conviction and striving reinforce each other,

بما في الكتب طرا من كلام

وما في اللوح من نور وصادي

by all the speech in all the books,

and by the light and Sad in the Tablet,

وما في الإسم من سر ابتداء

وما في الفعل من حال المعاد

by the secret of beginning in the Name,

and by the state of the final return in the Act,

وما في الحرف من منعى أنارت

به الألوان من بعد سواد

and by the meaning in the Letter—the colors shone

through it after blackness:

ولو أن الأرض والأفلاك طرا

صحائف قد أمدت باعتداد

if the earth and all the celestial spheres

were sheets supplied in number,

وجمع النبت أقلام وماء

السحائب والأراضي كالمدا

and all vegetation were pens, and the water

of clouds and earth were like ink,

وكل الخلق كتاب سراع

من المبدا إلى يوم التنادي

and all creation were swift scribes,

from the beginning to the Day of Calling,

لما نفدت معاني الله في من

حباه الله فخرا بازدياد

God's meanings would not be exhausted in one

whom God endowed with ever-increasing glory.

وكيف نعمه أوصاف شاد

وفضل الله خصذصه بصادي

How could a singer's descriptions encompass him [uncertain reading],

when God's grace singled him out with Sad [uncertain text]?

أيحصى الترب والحصبا بعد

أيحصى النبت أو قطر الغوادي

Can dust and pebbles be counted by counting?

Can vegetation or the drops of morning rain be counted?

أتنحصر البحار بكيل صاغ

أيحصى العد أعداد الجراد

Can the seas be contained by a measure [uncertain reading]?

Can counting enumerate the numbers of locusts?

أينضبط الوجود وما حواه

بباء أو بعين أو بصاد

Can existence and all it contains be encompassed

by Ba, or Ayn, or Sad?

محال أن تبوا بوصف سر

بداه الله نورا للرشاد

It is impossible to attain, by description, a mystery

that God manifested as a light for guidance.

ولكني طفيليّ وحسبي

مناخ مطيّتي بفنا جواد

But I am an uninvited guest, and it suffices me

that my mount rests in a generous one's courtyard,

وترداد بمدح جاء يدني

بإخلاص وحب واعتقاد

and that I repeat praise that brings me nearer,

with sincerity, love, and conviction.

فحقق فيك آمالي ووفّر

صلاة مدائحي وأنل مرادي

Fulfill my hopes in you, and increase

the blessings of my praises, and grant my desire.

فلست على سواك أرى اقتصارا

ولست إلى سواك أرى استنادي

I do not choose to confine myself to anyone but you,

nor do I see my reliance resting on anyone but you.

وحاشا أن يضلّل سعي مدح

تردّد بين مهدي وهادي

Far be it that the striving of praise should go astray

when repeated between the guided one and the guide.

فحسبي أن وصلت لباب عز

بذل وافتقار وانفراد

It suffices me that I reached the door of honor

with humility, need, and solitude.

ويكفي أن شكوت إلى كريم

قصور مطيتي ونفوذ زادي

It is enough that I complained to a generous one

of my mount's failings and the exhaustion of my provisions.

فيا الله يا مولى العطايا

ويا بابا في السماء بلا عماد

O God, O Lord of gifts,

and O gate in heaven, without pillars [uncertain reading],

بما في الذكر من كاف وهاء

ومن ياء ومن عين وصاد

by the Kaf and Ha in the Remembrance,

and by Ya, Ayn, and Sad,

وما في اللوح من قول قديم

تنزّه عن حدوث وانتقاد

and by the eternal speech in the Tablet,

transcending coming into being and criticism,

وما في العرش من معنى بديع

وما في الكون من خاف وبادي

and by the wondrous meaning in the Throne,

and by what is hidden and manifest in the cosmos,

وبالألف الممدد كل حرف

وبالأمين والهاء والمحادي

and by the Alif extending through every letter,

and by the Trustworthy One, Ha, and [unclear word],

أجرني من عذاب الدين واصلح

شؤوني واكفني شر المعاد

protect me from the torment of Judgment, and set right

my affairs, and spare me the evil of the final return.

ومن بعودة للحج وآمنن

بزورة طيبة خير البلاد

Grant me a return to the pilgrimage, and favor me

with a visit to Tayba, the best of lands.

ونوّرني بإيمان ويمن

ودبر مدتي بيد السراد

Illumine me with faith and good fortune,

and govern my lifetime with the hand of [unclear word].

وتوّجني بتاج العلم واجعل

مهاد البر والتقوى مهادي

Crown me with the crown of knowledge, and make

the resting-place of righteousness and piety my resting-place.

وكن لي في حياة ثم موت

وفي ظلم اللحود وفي معادي

Be there for me in life, then death,

in the darkness of the graves and at my final return.

وأيد ملك عبدك خير وال

أبي عمر والإمام المستجاد

Strengthen the rule of Your servant, the best ruler,

Abu Umar, and the excellent imam.

وأيده بفتح وانتصار

وعزّ في البلاد وفي العباد

Support him with victory and triumph,

and might throughout the lands and among the servants.

وصن برماحه العليا ومهد

بصارمه الحواضر والبوادي

Protect the heights with his spears, and pacify

the settled lands and deserts with his keen sword.

ووقفه وعامله بحسنى

وكن عونا له يوم التنادي

Grant him success [uncertain reading], and treat him graciously;

be his helper on the Day of Calling.

وسدد عبدك المسعود واسعد

بطلعته الروائح والغوادي

Guide Your servant Mas'ud aright, and gladden

the evening and morning travelers with his appearance.

ونوّله السعادة وآولته

بفضلك ما يرجى من مراد

Grant him happiness, and bestow on him

by Your grace what he hopes for of his desire.

وعامله بخير واعف عنه

وعاف علاه من شر الأعادي

Treat him with goodness, and pardon him;

protect his eminence from the enemies' evil.

ويسر أمره وأفض عليه

مواهب مؤذنات بازدياد

Ease his affair, and pour upon him

gifts heralding increase.

وجاز آبن الخلوف بما يرجى

من الفضل الجزيل المستزاد

Reward Ibn al-Khuluf with what is hoped for

of abundant, ever-increasing bounty.

وسامح ومالدي وجد بعفو

عن الأشياخ آباء الرشاد

Forgive my parents [uncertain reading], and lavish pardon

upon the sheikhs, the fathers of guidance.

وسرعبلهم بثوب الحلم واحرس

بني وإخوتي من كل عادي

Clothe them in the garment of forbearance, and guard

my sons and my brothers from every assailant.

وكن للمسمليمن وجد عليهم

بجود مستجاد مستعاد

Be there for the Muslims, and bestow upon them

generosity deemed excellent and sought anew.

وصل على نبيك ما استهلت

لضحك البرق أجفان الهوادي

Bless Your prophet as long as rain pours

from the leading clouds' eyelids at lightning's laughter.

ووال على الصحابة خبر سحب

تعم المؤمنين من العباد

Keep sending upon the Companions the bounty of clouds [uncertain reading],

encompassing the believers among the servants.