لشاهد الدمع بالتجريح تعديل

وما لجفني يحلو النوم تعسيل

The witness of tears is accredited through wounding.

No sweetening makes sleep pleasant to my eyelids.

وللهوى حاكم قاض علي قضى

وما به قد قضى والله مقبول

Love has a ruling judge who judged against me.

What he decreed, by God, is unacceptable.

قضى بسفك دمي في الحب محتكما

أما درى أنه عن ذاك مسؤول

He arbitrarily decreed my bloodshed in love.

Did he not know he must answer for that?

يا ليت لو صانه كيما اشاهده

وهل يصان دم في الحب مطلول

Would that he preserved it, so I might behold him!

But is blood shed unavenged in love preserved?

يا نفس ديني بدين الحب واجتنبي

ما زخرفته على السمع الأقاويل

O soul, profess love's religion, and avoid

What sayings have embellished for the ear.

ولازمي الصدق والإخلاص فيه تري

هديا به سفهت تلك الأباطيل

Keep to truth and sincerity therein; you will see

Guidance that exposes those falsehoods as folly.

فالحب بالصب أولى والغرام له

أهل تحاشيهم فيه التضالل

Love belongs most fittingly to the lover; passion has

People whom straying shuns therein.

رضوا وراضوا نفوسا لم تمل لسوى

معنى لإجماله في الحسن تفصيل

They consented and trained souls that inclined toward nothing but

A meaning whose compact beauty unfolds in detail.

هي النفوس النفيسات التي شرفت

أن تستنيب لما تدعو التخابيل

They are precious souls, too noble

To appoint a substitute for what delusions invite.

وارحمتاه لصب جسمه دنف

ودمعه مطلق والقلب مكبول

Alas, have mercy on a lover whose body is sick,

Whose tears run free while his heart is shackled.

لا يستطيع اصطبارا وهو في قلق

ولا يطيق سلواً وهو متبول

He cannot endure patiently, being troubled,

Nor bear forgetting, being love-stricken.

مشتّت البال لا يأوي لذي سكن

ولا يميل لرسم فيه تعطيل

Distracted, he finds no refuge with one at rest,

Nor inclines toward an abandoned dwelling.

كأنما قلبه بالنار منبعث

ودمعه الصب بالطوفان موصول

His heart seems stirred by fire,

And his pouring tears are joined to a flood.

ما تمسك الدمع جفناه التي انبجست

إلا كما يمسك الماء الغرابيل

His eyelids, which have burst forth, hold tears

Only as sieves hold water.

دمع شكوت له ناري فقال وما

أغني وأمري كما عاينت مهمول

I complained of my fire to tears, which said, 'What

Can I avail, when my condition, as you see, is neglected?'

يا أهل ودّي وأحبابي ومن بهم

طاب السماع ولذا القال والقيل

O people of my affection, my beloveds, through whom

Listening grew pleasant, and talk and report grew sweet!

أنتم حياتي وإيناسي ومطلبي

وأنتم القصد والمأمول والسول

You are my life, my companionship, my desire;

You are my purpose, my hope, my longing.

غبتم فغابت تماثيل الجمال ولو

لحتم لقمات بكم تلك التماثيل

You vanished, and beauty's images vanished; had

You appeared, those images would have arisen through you.

وكيف أكحل جفني بالمنام وما

مسافة البعد فيما بيننا ميل

How can I anoint my eyelids with sleep, when

The distance separating us is not a mile?

ميلوا بعطف على مضناكم وصلوا

حبل آتصالي فأنتم أغصن ميلوا

Bend kindly toward your wasted lover, and join

The cord of my union; you are boughs—bend!

يا بارقا من ثنيات العقيق أضا

كيما يحاكي ثغورا حشوها كول

O lightning flashing from the passes of al-ʿAqīq,

To imitate mouths filled with [unclear]!

لا تطمعن بأمر ليس تدركه

إن الثغور إليها ينتهي القيل

Do not aspire to something you cannot attain:

At those mouths, all speech reaches its limit.

حتام أكتم والأشواق تحبر عن

مطوبي سر له بالعقل تعقيل

How long shall I conceal, while longings disclose

A folded secret bound fast by reason?

شربت كاس الهوى صرفا فأسكرني

وكيف يصحو مع الإسكار مثمول

I drank love's cup unmixed, and it intoxicated me.

How can an intoxicated man sober amid intoxication?

وعاذل جاء يلحاني فقلت له

دعني وشأني فإني عنك مشغول

A reproacher came to blame me; I told him,

'Leave me to my affairs; I am occupied away from you.

عذبت قلبي بسجيل الملام فقل

وأحر قلب تلظت فيه سجيل

You tormented my heart with blame's baked-clay stones; say,

'Alas, a heart in which baked-clay stones blaze!'

بالله أقصر إذا ما رمت تعذلني

ولا تطل فحديث العذل مملول

By God, be brief if you intend to rebuke me,

And do not prolong it: reproachful talk is tiresome.

خفض فما دمعك المنهل من مقلي

ولا حشاك بنار الوجد مشعول

Lower your voice: those pouring tears are not from your eyes,

Nor are your entrails kindled with yearning's fire.

ولا تشبب بألحان الحجاز فما

حبل آدكارك بالمحبوب موصول

Do not sing love-verses to melodies of the Ḥijāz:

Your recollection's cord is not joined to the beloved.

وكيف أصغي لعذل والفؤاد شج

والسمع في صمم والعقل مذهول

How can I heed reproach, my heart being wounded,

My hearing deaf, and my mind bewildered?

فلا تثقل بلوم في الحبيب فلي

باللوم والحب تخفيف وتثقيل

Do not burden me with blame concerning the beloved; I have

Lightening and burdening through blame and love.

وليت عذلي فدعني وانعزل أبدا

فكل وال كما وليت معزول

You assumed charge of my rebuke; leave me and withdraw forever:

Every governor, like you in your office, is deposed.'

يا من يخرب قلبي وهو ساكنه

من ذا يخرب ربعا وهو مأهول

O you who ruin my heart while dwelling in it,

Who ruins a dwelling while it is inhabited?

هل عندنا ناضرك القتال معرفة

بأنني فيه بالأحياء مقتول

Does your murderous gaze among us know

That through it I am killed by being brought to life?

وهل لعنبر ذياك اللمى خبر

إن الدموع التي أجريتها لول

Does the amber of that dark lip know

That the tears you made flow are pearls?

أم للشغور شعور إنني دنف

أرعى الدياجي التي في عرضها طول

Or do the mouths perceive that I am sick,

Keeping watch through nights whose expanse is long?

لا تنصبن بإغراء العدا كبدي

واكسر جناح عذولي فهو معذول

Do not torment my heart by encouraging enemies;

Break my reproacher's wing: he himself deserves reproach.

ناشدتك الله يا بدر على فنن

له من الحسن تفريع وتأصيل

I implore you by God, O moon upon a bough

Whose beauty has branches and roots:

أأنت باق على الميثاق أم نقضت

عهودنا وأمحت تلك العهود

Do you remain faithful to the covenant, or have you broken

Our pledges, and those pledges been erased?

موضوع سهدي ودمعي إن أمرت به

يا ناظري فعلى عيني محمول

The matter of my sleeplessness and tears, if you command it,

O you who behold me, is borne upon my eyes.

علل بوعد ولا تبخل بطيف كرى

وخل عمري تقضيه التعاليل

Console me with a promise; do not begrudge a dream-visit,

And let consolations spend my lifetime.

ويلاه من ساحر الأجفان وجنته

في العين عدل والأحتناء سجيل

Alas for the enchanter of eyelids, whose cheek

Is justice to the eye; bending is baked clay [unclear].

إستخدمت عينيه الأرواح حين بدا

في منزل الجفن للأهداب تنزيل

His eyes employed souls when there appeared

A descent of lashes into the eyelid's dwelling.

أقسمت بالسحر من عينه حين رنا

أن المهند في جفنيه مسلول

I swore by his eye's magic when he gazed

That an Indian blade was drawn within his eyelids;

وبالضحى من محياه أو كدقي

إن القتيل بسيف اللحظ مقبول

And by the forenoon of his face, or [unclear],

That one slain by the glance's sword is accepted.

فهل لجرحي آس عند نظرته

وهل لميت الهوى في الخد تقبيل

Is there a healer for my wound when he looks?

Is there a kiss upon the cheek for love's dead?

غصن تمنطق بالسر البديع وقد

علته من ورد خديه أكاليل

A bough girdled with wondrous mystery, upon which

Garlands of his cheeks' roses have risen.

إمام حسن وفي محراب حاجبه

يا ما أضت من محياه قناديل

An imam of beauty; in his eyebrow's prayer-niche,

How many lamps shone from his face!

للآم سالفه في لوح وجنته

خط سعيد به للصب تعليل

The lām of his temple-lock, on his cheek's tablet,

Is a fortunate script that consoles the lover.

وللعذار حروف بالبهار سمت

في وجنتيه فمنقوط ومشكول

His down has letters rising amid blossoms

Upon his cheeks, dotted and vowelled.

لا غروا إن سلب الألباب ناضره

فإنه ناضره بالسحر مكحول

No wonder his gaze steals minds:

His gaze is anointed with magic.

شيب ثغر وفي ورديّ وجنته

تخطيط ىس وفي عينيه تكحيل

A mouth's silver whiteness; upon his rosy cheek

Is [unclear lettering], and his eyes are lined with kohl.

بديع شكل لصدغيه وعارضيه

توليد حسن وتتميم وتكميل

Wondrous shaping of his temples and cheek-down:

Beauty generated, completed, and perfected.

تجانس الحسن في تكوين صورته

فقده عاسل والثغر معسول

Beauty harmonized in the making of his form:

His stature is honeyed, his mouth honey-sweet.

وطابق الوصف فيه كنت هيأته

بالفرق مرتفع والفرع مسبول

The description matched him; [unclear] his form,

Raised at the hair-parting, with flowing locks.

مبلبل الصدغ قد فاحت عوارضه

لأن ريحانها المخضر مبلول

His temple-lock is dishevelled; his cheeks exhale fragrance,

For their green basil is wet.

ورق ماء الحيا في نار وجنته

لنه الورد بالشيم مجبول

Modesty's water grew delicate within his cheek's fire,

For the rose is fashioned from noble traits.

بدر عن الطرف ناء وهو منزله

لكن قلبي به واله مأهول

A moon distant from the eye, though it is his dwelling;

Yet my heart is enamoured and inhabited by him.

عي رشادا إذ ما همت فيه كما

رشدي إذ أرمت أن أسلوه تضليل

My incapacity is guidance when I wander in him, just as

My good sense, when I seek to forget him, is misguidance.

عذلت فيه وعذل الصب متضح

وعاشق الحب معذور ومعذول

I was reproached for him; reproaching the lover is evident,

And love's lover is both excused and reproached.

يا عاذلي إن مر العدل فيه حلا

لما أعيد وللتكرير تعسيل

O reproacher, bitter rebuke concerning him grows sweet

When repeated: repetition lends sweetness.

كرر على مسمعي ذكر الحبيب قلي

على العويل لفقد الذكر تعويل

Repeat the beloved's mention to my hearing; I have

Reliance on lamentation when that mention is lost.

ولا تقصر فإن القول أطيبه

عن الحبيب حديث فيه تطويل

Do not be brief: the sweetest speech

Concerning the beloved is a lengthy account.

بحق عينيه إلا عدت مبتدرا

لمعهد فيه للمحبول تمثيل

By his eyes, hasten back

To a dwelling where the ensnared one is represented.

ولا تخف صدّه إن عدت ثانية

فالعود أحمد والإقبال مأمول

Do not fear his rejection if you return again:

Returning is more praiseworthy, and welcome is hoped for.

فإن رأيت حبيبي واجتمعت به

فسله عن مستهام عاله الغول

If you see my beloved and meet him,

Ask him about an infatuated man whom a ghoul has assailed.

وإن رايت انيساطا فاستلم يدهُ

عني وسلم سلاما فيه تبجيل

If you see openness, take his hand

On my behalf, and offer a reverent greeting.

وإن رأيت انقباضا فاعد عن خبري

ولا تعرض ففي التعريض تنكيل

If you see reserve, turn away from my news;

Do not allude to it: allusion brings punishment.

واضرب عن الذكر صفحا وارجيه فعسى

يرثي لمن جسمه بالسقم مهزول

Set mention aside and give him time; perhaps

He will pity one whose body sickness has wasted.

ولا تكن آيسا من روح رحمته

فربما أعقب التعسير تسهيل

Do not despair of the breath of his mercy:

Ease may follow hardship.

أفديه من شاذن في طي ناظره

صيد ضوار لها من هديه غيل

I would ransom that gazelle, within whose gaze lie

Fierce hunters, with thickets in his bearing.

لا أختشي فيه من عذل يفنذني

فلحشا بعليل الشوق تعليل

I do not fear reproach that calls me foolish for him:

The breast finds consolation in lovesickness.

وكيف أخشى صروف الحادثات ولي

بمدح أحمد تنويه وتنويل

How could I fear fortune's turns, when I have

Honour and bounty through praising Aḥmad?

شخص هو الجوهر الفرد الذي جمعت

فيه المعاني فمفعول ومنقول

A person who is the indivisible substance in whom were gathered

All meanings, enacted and transmitted.

أزج أبلج ساجي اللحظ مبتسم

عن سلسبيل وعن مسك وعو لول

Fine-browed, radiant, tranquil-eyed, smiling

To reveal Salsabīl, musk, and pearls.

أغر أزهر أقنى الأنف قامته

فيها انعطاف وفي خديه تسهيل

Bright, luminous, aquiline-nosed; his stature

Has graceful bending, and his cheeks are smooth.

مبرؤ القول صافي القلب طاهره

لأنه بزلال الخلد مغسول

Faultless in speech, clear and pure of heart,

For it is washed with eternity's pure water.

مكمل الذات رحب الراحتين فتى

له فؤاد على الخيرات مجبول

Perfect in himself, open-handed, a noble youth

Whose heart is fashioned for good deeds.

أنشأه مولاه من نور وقدمه

كأنه غرة والخلق تحجيل

His Lord fashioned him from light and advanced him:

He is like a forehead's blaze, creation its white stockings.

متوج بلال المجد متشح

مؤزر بردا الفخر مشمول

Crowned with [unclear] of glory, mantled,

Girded and enveloped in pride's robe.

أوفى النبيين مبدا الرسل خاتمهم

أليس منه لهم بدء وتكميل

The fullest of prophets, the messengers' beginning and seal:

Do they not derive beginning and completion from him?

إن كان عيسى أعاد الميت منتعشا

فكم لطه حي ميت ومقتول

If Jesus restored the dead to vigorous life,

How many dead and slain came alive through Ṭāhā!

أو كان موسى أري الطوفان منغلقا

فقد أري البدر طه وهو مفصول

Or if Moses was shown the flood closed fast,

Ṭāhā was shown the moon divided.

أو قد جرى النيل في مصر ليوسف كم

بين الأصابع منه قد جرى نيل

Or if the Nile flowed in Egypt for Joseph, how many

Niles flowed from between his fingers!

أو كان داوود قد لان الحديد له

لكي تكون لنا منه سرابيل

Or if iron softened for David,

So that coats of mail might be made for us,

فالجلد عاد بكف المصطفى كرما

عضبا حديدا به للمهام تجويل

Leather generously became in the Chosen One's hand

A sharp iron blade, wielded for great undertakings.

أو عادت النار برد للخليل فكم

طفي بطه لهيب فيه تشعيل

Or if fire became coolness for the Friend, how many

Kindled flames were extinguished through Ṭāhā!

أو في السفين علا نوح فأحمد قد

علا على مرتقى عنه تنزيل

Or if Noah rose aboard the ship, Aḥmad

Rose to a height from which descent proceeds.

لم يؤت منهم رسول معجز أبدا

إلا أتاه بأزكى منه جبريل

No messenger among them ever received a miracle

But Gabriel brought him one purer than it.

وكلهم أصبحوا في بحره نقطا

أو زهر أفق له بالشمس تهليل

They all became dots within his ocean,

Or stars upon a horizon rejoicing in its sun.

وعنه يرون ما نالوه من شرف

بمجمل فيه للأرى تفاصيل

From him they recount the honour they attained,

In a whole containing details for [unclear].

فبالبراق له والحوض تقدمة

وباللواء له والتاج تفضيل

Through al-Burāq and the Pool he has precedence;

Through the banner and the crown he has distinction.

وبالشفاعة في المخلوق قاطبة

له مقام له بالحمد تأثيل

Through intercession for all creation,

He has a station firmly founded in praise.

علا ارتفاعا على كل العباد علا

وهل ترى فاضلا يعلوه مفضول

He rose in exaltation above all servants.

Have you seen a superior surpassed by an inferior?

به لآدم هب العفو وانتسبت

لشيته في سما العليا الأراجيل

Through him forgiveness was granted to Adam, and linked

To his mark in the highest heaven were the [unclear beings].

ونال إدريس في العليا به رتبا

كما لنوح به في الفلك تحويل

Through him Idrīs gained ranks in the heights,

As through him Noah was carried in the ark.

وفاز هود به من عاده وبدت

لصالح من صميم الصخر شمليل

Through him Hūd escaped his ʿĀd, and appeared

For Ṣāliḥ, from solid rock, a swift she-camel.

وصين لوط به من قومه وطفى

جمرا أعد لإبراهيم مشعول

Through him Lot was guarded from his people, and quenched

Were burning coals prepared for Abraham.

وللذبيح به فوز وتكرمة

كما لإسحاق من جدوال تحصيل

Through him the sacrificial son gained deliverance and honour,

As Isaac obtained bounty.

وقد شفي باسمه يعقول من ضرر

كما ليوسف من أيديه تنويل

By his name Jacob was healed of affliction,

As Joseph received gifts from his hands.

ونال الأسباط منه كل منقبة

بها لموسى كليم الله تكميل

The Tribes gained every excellence from him,

Through which Moses, God's interlocutor, attained completion.

وامتاز هارون بالقربان منه كما

به للقمان في القرآن تعديل

Aaron was distinguished through his offering, as

Through him Luqmān was commended in the Qur'an.

وللفتى يوشع في الأفق قد وقفت

شمس النهار لأمر فيه تعجيل

For the youth Joshua, upon the horizon stood

The daytime sun, for a matter requiring haste.

وملك الأرض ذو القرنين ثم به

للخضر إجمال ما تبدي التفاصيل

Dhū al-Qarnayn ruled the earth; then through him

Al-Khiḍr had the whole that details reveal.

وقد أنال شعيبا ما أراد كما

به لداود انطاعت سرابيل

He granted Shuʿayb what he wished, as

Through him coats of mail yielded to David.

وسخرت لسليمان الرياح به

والإنس والجن والعنقاء والفيل

Through him winds were subjected to Solomon,

And humans, jinn, the ʿAnqāʾ, and the elephant.

وقد أجيب به ذو الكفل حين دعا

لأنه بحلى معناه مكفول

Through him Dhū al-Kifl was answered when he prayed,

For he is safeguarded by his meaning's adornments.

وباسمه فاز ذو النون التقي ونجا

من بطن حوت له في البحر توغيل

By his name pious Dhū al-Nūn triumphed and escaped

A fish's belly, deep within the sea.

وباسمه طار إلياس وصار من ال

أملاك حيث جناح العز مسدول

By his name Ilyās flew and became one of the

Angels, where glory's wing is outspread.

وباسمه لاذ أيوب الرضا فشفى

من ضر جسم له في العظم تنخيل

By his name contented Job sought refuge and was healed

Of bodily affliction that sifted through his bones.

وباسمه اليسع البر التجى فنجا

وللعزيز بذاك الإسم تمثيل

By his name righteous al-Yasaʿ sought refuge and escaped;

For al-ʿAzīz, that name afforded representation.

وباسمه زكريا استغاث فلم

يرهب لنشر له في العضو تفصيل

By his name Zechariah sought help, and did not

Fear sawing that severed his limbs.

وكم ليحيى به في جنة صلة

وكم لعيسى به نسك وتبتيل

How many gifts had John through him in paradise!

How much worship and devotion had Jesus through him!

بسره افتتح العلياء خالقه

والكون في ظلم الإعدام مقفول

Through his mystery his Creator opened the heights,

While existence lay locked in nonexistence's darkness.

وكل ما صاغ من كون فعنه نشا

لأنه علة والكون معلول

Everything he fashioned of existence arose through him,

For he is the cause, and existence its effect.

وباسمه قرن الله اسمه فزكا

فضلا على كل خلق فيه تفضيل

God coupled his name with his own, and he increased

In excellence above all creatures, with distinction.

وخصّه بمعان ليس يحصرها

قول ولو كثرت فيه الأقاويل

He singled him out with meanings that cannot be encompassed

By speech, however numerous the sayings about him.

ضروب أوصافه جلت دوائرها

عن بسط قول ترويه الأفاعيل

The circles of his varied qualities transcend

The unfolding of speech recounted by deeds.

أقام للملة السمحاء سماء علا

لشهبها في بروج السعد تنقيل

For the gracious faith he raised a lofty heaven,

Its stars moving through auspicious constellations.

وشاد للدين أركانا فطاق بها

وفد له في يمين الله تقبيل

He built pillars for religion, and around them circled

A delegation kissing God's right hand.

عزت به ملة الإسلام حين حمى

عصابة الدين أن يغثا لها غول

Through him Islam's faith grew mighty when he protected

Religion's band from a ghoul's assault.

فأضحت السنة البيضاء ساحبة

ذيل أزدهاء له بالفخر تذبيل

The radiant Sunnah came to trail

A train of splendour, lowered in pride.

يا كم به بشر الكهان وارتقبوا

ظهور شكل له بالحسن تشكيل

How often diviners foretold him and awaited

The appearance of a form fashioned with beauty!

وكم بأوصافه الأصنام قد نطقت

كما به أنبأ الحر البهاليل

How often idols spoke of his qualities,

As noble chieftains announced him!

نارت بمولده الأكوان إذ خمدت

نارٌ لكسرى به الإشراك مشعول

The worlds shone at his birth when there died

Kisrā's fire, in which idolatry was kindled.

وانشق من خوفه الإيوان وارعظدت

فرائص الفرس إذ ناداهم زولوا

The palace split in fear of him, and trembled

The Persians' flanks when he called, 'Depart!'

وغاص إذ فاض ليل الرجس وانبجست

عين لها بشعاع النور تكحيل

It sank when defilement's night overflowed, and burst forth

A spring anointed with rays of light.

وماء ساوة لم ينضب سوى جزع

إذ لم يسل منه في بطائحه نيل

Sāwa's water dried up only from alarm,

As no Nile flowed from it through its lowlands.

وعاينت أمه بصرى ولاح لها

حليّ حق به للزور تعطيل

His mother beheld Buṣrā, and there appeared to her

Truth's adornment, through which falsehood was nullified.

لولاه لم تخلق الدنيا وسكانها

ولا المعاد ولا عدن وسجيل

Without him, the world and its inhabitants were not created,

Nor the return, nor Eden, nor baked clay.

بالعلم متزر بالحلم متشح

للحق مرتقب بالحق مشغول

Girded with knowledge, mantled in forbearance,

Watchful for truth, occupied with truth.

لو لم تصن حرم البطاح حرمته

ما رد أبرهة عنها ولا الفيل

Had his sanctity not guarded the valleys' sanctuary,

Abrahah would not have been repelled, nor the elephant.

جاءوا بكيد لهدم البيت افنقلوا

على الوجوه كعصف وهو مأكول

They came plotting to demolish the House and were overturned

Upon their faces, like eaten straw.

ترميهم صم أحجار مسومة

بالنار ترسلها طير أبابيل

Hard, marked stones pelted them,

Sent with fire by birds in flocks.

كلا ولو لم تمس الزاد راحته

لم يوف بالجيش مشروب ومأكول

Indeed, had his palm not touched the provisions,

Food and drink would not have sufficed for the army.

نعم ولو لم يحز خصل السباق لما

حدا بمسراه ميكال وجبريل

Yes, had he not won the race's prize,

Mīkāl and Gabriel would not have accompanied his night journey.

نعم ولو لم ينر في الأفق طالعه

ما كان بالزهر للأفاق إكليل

Yes, had his rising not illumined the horizon,

The horizons would have had no crown of stars.

على البراق إلى السبع الطباق علا

لمستوى فيه للمحبوب تحويل

Upon al-Burāq he rose through the seven layered heavens,

To a level where the beloved was conveyed.

وأم بالرسل والأملاك قاطبة

في مشهد فيه تكريم وتبجيل

He led all messengers and angels in prayer,

In a gathering of honour and reverence.

ونال سهم علا في المجد قرطسه

عن قاب قوسين ترحيب وتاهيل

He gained an arrow of loftiness, hitting glory's mark,

With welcome at two bow-lengths' distance.

دنا له فتدلى ثم خصصّه

برؤة لم ينلها قبل مقبول

He drew near and descended; then he was singled out

For a vision no favoured one had attained before.

وفي مقام الهنا والبسط دلله

وللحبيب كما قد قيل تدليل

In the station of happiness and openness, he was cherished:

The beloved, as has been said, is cherished.

وشاهد الله جهرا واصطفاه بما

لم يحوه قال أو يوفي به قيل

He beheld God openly, and was chosen for what

No speech encompassed or saying fully expressed.

حيث الحمى مرتع والورد منهمر

والشمل مجتمع الشمس تخييل

Where the sanctuary is pasture and roses pour down,

The company is united, and the sun is mere imagining.

أحيا الظلام بتنزيل يرتله

وللتهجد ترتيب وتنزيل

He enlivened darkness with revelation he chanted;

Night prayer has its ordering and arrangement.

وشد للصم كشحا ناعما وطوى

تحت الصفا باطنا ما فيه تحويل

He bound his tender waist against hard stones and folded

Beneath the stone an inward self that never changed.

ولو أراد كنوز الأرض لتفتحت

ولم يغيب منها عنه محصول

Had he desired earth's treasures, they would have opened,

And none of their yield would have been hidden from him.

لكنه جل قدرا أن يميل لما في

ه عن الحق تسويف وتسويل

But his rank was too exalted to incline toward that which

Contains delay from truth and enticing delusion.

مستيقظ القلب إن نامت محاجره

لم يعتريه إذا ما قام تغفيل

His heart remained awake though his eyes slept;

No heedlessness overtook him when he arose.

بلمسه الشاة درت وهي حائلة

فبالله من حليب فيه ترسيل

At his touch the ewe gave milk, though barren:

By God, what milk streamed forth!

والضب خاطبه بالصدق معترفا

وكان في نقطه لله تبتيل

The lizard addressed him, acknowledging truth,

And in its speech was devotion to God.

والفحل ذل له طوعا وكلمه

وكان فحلا له بالباس تفحيل

The male camel willingly submitted and spoke to him;

It had been a male formidable in strength.

ورد لحظ فديك كيف كان كما

أعاد شق خبيب وهو مفصول

He restored Fudayk's sight as it had been, just as

He restored Khubayb's severed part.

ورد كف ابن عفرا بعدما قطعت

بتفل ريق به للملح تعسيل

He restored Ibn ʿAfrā's hand after it was cut off,

With spittle whose saliva sweetened saltiness.

وأوقف الشمس يوم الأربعاء إلى

أن وفت العير ما قد صرف القيل

He stopped the sun on Wednesday until

The caravan arrived; speech had not been turned aside.

وأنقذ الجمل الشاكي عناه لما

أضر به جوع وتنقيل

He rescued the complaining camel from its hardship when

Hunger and repeated movement had harmed it.

والظل مال إليه حين غودر في السر

مضا وقد حاز عند القوم تقبيل

Shade bent toward him when he was left in the scorching

Heat, and he had received the people's reverent kisses.

والشمس أرجعها بعد المغيب كما

لبته لما دعا البيض البعاليل

He brought the sun back after sunset, as

Fair noble chieftains answered when he called.

والغدق لباه ما أن دعاه كما

لبته لما دعا البيض البعاليل

Abundant rain answered as soon as he called, as

Fair noble chieftains answered when he called.

والجذع حن له إذ غاب عنه كما

حنت لتلحين شاديها المثاكيل

The trunk yearned for him when he left it, as

Bereaved women yearn at their singer's lament.

في الصحف والكتب والألواح بان له

دينٌ قويم به الزيغ تبطيل

In scrolls, books, and tablets there appeared for him

An upright religion that nullifies deviation.

وفي الذراع ودر العنز معتبر

لمبصر لم تشككه التماحيل

In the foreleg and the she-goat's milk is a lesson

For one who sees, undoubted by deceitful arguments.

وفي الحصى والعصا والدب مستند

لناقل رويت عنه الأقاويل

In pebbles, the staff, and the bear is support

For a transmitter from whom sayings were related.

وفي الصبا والحيا والانشقاق له

وجه بديع وترفيه وترفيل

In the east wind, rain, and the splitting, he has

A wondrous aspect, relief, and honour.

وفي الحمار وفي العضبا ودلدله

أدلة لن توهيها التعالل

In the donkey, al-ʿAḍbāʾ, and his Duldul are

Proofs that excuses cannot weaken.

وفي الوليدة والوادي وغار حرا

سر خفيّ به الإظهار موصول

In the young woman, the valley, and Ḥirā's cave is

A hidden mystery joined to manifestation.

وفي الحفير وفي مد الكثيثب له

دليل صدق لو أن الصدق مدلول

In the trench and the sandhill's extension he has

A proof of truth, if truth be what is demonstrated.

وفي قتادة والعرجون كم ظهرت

مظاهر ليس تخفيها التحاييل

In Qatādah and the palm-stalk, how many appeared

Manifestations that stratagems cannot conceal!

وفي الغزالة والصياد معتمد

لمهتد لم تجاذبه التضليل

In the gazelle and the hunter is a foundation

For one guided, not pulled astray by misguidance.

وقصة الفتح والأصنام دامغة

لرأس كل كفور فيه تمحيل

The conquest's story and the idols crush

The head of every deceitful unbeliever.

وفي ثبير وفي ثور وغار حرا

نصر وفتح وتأييد وتاثيل

In Thabīr, Thawr, and Ḥirā's cave are

Victory, conquest, support, and firm establishment.

باض الحمام وحاك العنكبوت على

غار عليه لستر الله تجليل

The dove laid eggs and the spider wove over

A cave clothed in God's protecting veil.

وفيه قد قال تأنيبا لصاحبه

لا تحزنن فوعد الله مفعول

There he told his companion reprovingly,

'Do not grieve: God's promise will be fulfilled.'

كفالة الله صانته كفايتها

وهل يناوي فتى بالله مكفول

God's guardianship preserved him through its sufficiency:

Can a youth guarded by God be opposed?

وفي سواقة إذ ساح الجواد به

هدي لباغي نجاة وهو موصول

In Suwāqa, when his steed sank beneath him, is

Guidance continuously extended to one seeking salvation.

وحالة الذئب والراعي كم ابتهرت

بها عقول لها بالشرك تخييل

How often the wolf and shepherd's incident astonished

Minds possessed by idolatrous imaginings!

وفي انقلاب العصا سيفا براحته

خذلان باغ وباغي البغي مخذول

In the staff's transformation into a sword in his palm is

An aggressor's defeat; one seeking aggression is defeated.

في سفينة والضرغام أيّ نبا

لم يعترض متنهُ نسخ وتأويل

What a report there is in Safīna and the lion,

Its substance untouched by abrogation or reinterpretation!

وفي الموالي وفي أزواجه خبر

به الأقاويل صحن والأفاعيل

In his dependants and wives is an account

Through which sayings and deeds were confirmed.

وفي الصحابة والأتباع أيّ هدى

لتائه شأنه حلّ وترحيل

In the companions and followers, what guidance

For a wanderer whose condition is settling and departure!

وف اللعين أبي جهل وشيعته

أمر عجاب به قد جاء جبريل

In accursed Abū Jahl and his faction is

A wondrous matter brought by Gabriel.

وفي حنين وفي بدر وفي أحد

غبطال ما موّهت تلك الأباطيل

At Ḥunayn, Badr, and Uḥud is

The undoing of those falsehoods' disguises.

وفي قريظة والأحزاب كم ظهرت

وفي هوازن للهادي أفاعيل

Among Qurayẓah and the Confederates, how often appeared—

And among Hawāzin—the Guide's mighty deeds!

وفي مر يسيع كم ألقت صوارمه

من مفصل فيه للطغيان تأصيل

At Marr Yusīʿ, how many his swords struck off

Joints in which tyranny was rooted!

وفي تبوك وما أدراك كم رسمت

في صفحة النقع للقاضي تساجيل

At Tabūk—what could tell you?—how many were inscribed

Upon dust's page, records for the judge!

ما زال يملأ من عين ومن أثر

عين الزمان التي ما شقها ميل

He kept filling, through presence and trace,

Time's eye, which no kohl-stick had pierced,

حتى أقام لأهل الدين رسم هدى

عليه للحكم بإيجاب تسجيل

Until he established for religion's people a pattern of guidance

Bearing a record that judgment is binding.

يا أمة المصطفى طه أبشروا فلكم

من مشرب الإصطفاري وتنهيل

O community of the Chosen One, Ṭāhā, rejoice! Yours is

A draught of election [unclear] and abundant watering.

وليكفيكم شرفا ما في الدهر إن لكم

بأشرف المرسلين العز و الطول

Let this suffice as honour through time: you possess

Through the noblest messenger might and abundance.

طولوا وصولوا فأنتم أمة رجحت

عن غيرها شرفا فليهنكم طول

Excel and prevail: you are a community surpassing

Others in honour; may your abundance bring you joy!

ألستم خير من لبى لا رسول هدى

وافى على يده للحق تنزيل

Are you not the best who answered a guiding messenger [unclear],

Through whose hand revelation of truth arrived?

وافاكم بكتاب معجز عجزت

عن وصفه العرب السن المقاويل

He brought you a miraculous book that defeated

The eloquent Arab tongues' attempts to describe it.

ذكر من الله في مكنونه حكم

محكمات وتحريم وتحليل

A remembrance from God, containing rulings

Firmly established, prohibitions, and permissions.

في ضمنه علم ما قد كان قبل وما

يكون بعد وهل في الحق تخييل

Within it is knowledge of what came before and what

Will come after; is there imagining in truth?

وفيه جمع وتفريق وتسوية

وبسط عذر وتهويل وتسهيل

Within it are gathering, separation, and equalization,

The unfolding of excuse, warning, and easing.

لا يخلق الدهر من جلباب معجزه

ولن تفي بمعانيه الأقاويل

Time does not wear out its miracle's garment,

And sayings cannot exhaust its meanings.

به دعا للهدى هاد فأنقذنا

من قعر بحر له بالزيغ تهويل

With it a guide called to guidance and rescued us

From an ocean's depths, terrifying with deviation.

بالنصر رأيته السوداء قد عقدت

والفتح في البيض منقوط ومشكول

His black banner was tied for victory,

And conquest was dotted and vowelled upon bright blades.

فبالدماء وجنة الهندي في ضرج

وبالسويد لطرف الرمح تكحيل

Blood reddened the Indian blade's cheek;

Blackness anointed the spear's point with kohl.

هذا يقبل منه وجنة خجلت

وذا يغازل طرفا منه مكحول

This kisses a blushing cheek of his,

And that courts an eye of his lined with kohl.

يا كم شفى سقما أعيا الطيب وكم

داوى نكاية جرح فيه تدميل

How often he healed sickness beyond healing's power, and

Treated a wound's injury with healing salve!

وكم كفى صائلا حد النصال وكم

أغنى فقيراً له في الأرض تجويل

How often he checked an attacker with arrowheads' edge, and

Enriched a poor man wandering the earth!

وكم وقته هجير الشمس سائرة

لها حنوّ وإتحاف وتضليل

How often a passing one shielded him from the sun's noon heat,

With tenderness, gifts, and shade!

يندى حياء إذا تهمي يداه ندى

كأنها روضة يجري بها نيل

He grows moist with modesty when his hands rain bounty,

Like a garden through which a Nile flows.

وافى فروض أرض الشرق نائله

واخصر منه بأرض الغرب ممحول

His bounty reached the eastern land's dues [unclear],

And barren ground in the west grew green through it.

يمم علاه ففيه الشمل مجتمع

والوقف مفترق والجمع مشمول

Seek his loftiness: there company is united,

Those standing are dispersed, and the gathering embraced.

فللأعادي وللأصحاب من يده

يومي ندى وردى وتنكيل

For enemies and companions, from his hand come

Days of bounty, destruction, and punishment.

فسيله للندى في الربع مبتذل

وسيفه للعدا في النقع مسلول

His flood of generosity flows freely through the dwelling;

His sword is drawn against enemies amid dust.

ومن قلوب العدا عن قوس فكرته

بسهم رأي له بالنجح تنصيل

And from enemies' hearts, from his thought's bow,

With an arrow of judgment tipped with success.

وأعمل السيف في أعناقهم فلذا

بادوا وفاعل فعل البغي مفعول

He set the sword upon their necks; therefore

They perished: the doer of aggression became its object.

لما أحسّوه فروا جافلين نعم

وللنعام إمام الأسد تجفيل

When they sensed him, they fled in terror; indeed,

Ostriches are terrified before a lion.

يقود خيلا كأمثال الرياح لها

سير ووخد وأسراع وتنقيل

He leads horses like winds, possessing

Walking, swift pacing, speed, and movement.

كأنما بالثريا ألجمت ولها

من الأهلة أسراج وتنعيل

As though bridled with the Pleiades, they have

Saddles and shoes fashioned from crescents.

فأدهم برداء الليل مشتمل

له الضحى غرة والفحر تحجيل

A black horse enveloped in night's mantle,

With forenoon as its blaze and dawn as white stockings.

نهد عريض طويل الجيد مجتمع

ضافي التليل حديد القرن ذهلول

Robust, broad, long-necked, compact,

Full-maned, keen-hoofed, fleet.

رحب اللبان غليظ الساق مرتقع

طلق العنان بعدي الشأو معدول

Broad-chested, thick-legged, lofty,

Free-reined, far-reaching in its course, well-proportioned.

يقصر البرق عنه والرياح إذا

ما قالت الخيل يا حرب الوغى جولوا

Lightning and winds fall short of it when

The horses say, 'O warriors of battle, wheel!'

وأشهب في غدير الصبح منغمس

وأصفر بمذاب التبر مغسول

A grey horse immersed in morning's pool,

A yellow horse washed in molten gold,

وأحضر بحلى الريحان متشح

وأحمر برداء الورد مشمول

A green horse mantled in basil's adornments,

A red horse enveloped in roses' robe.

وكل حرف صلخدات لها عنق

مهما تسير وإرفال وتدميل

And every lean, rock-solid she-camel has a swift gait

Whenever she travels, with stately and measured pacing.

عوجاء جسرا في أخفاقها سعة

في ظهرها قصر في جيدها طول

A lean, sturdy camel, broad in her hoofbeats,

Short-backed and long-necked.

قوداء كرماء في عرنيها شمم

كم خلفت أمما إذ أمها ميل

Long-necked, noble, with proud height in her nose,

How many multitudes she left behind when miles were her goal!

غير أنه مبلغ حرفاء عانسة

كأنها عندما تنساب عسقول

Yet it is a bearer: a lean, mature she-camel,

Like a dragonfly when she glides.

عيناء وجناء شملال شمرذلة

عصباء ورقاء رأس النوق شمليل

Large-eyed, stout-cheeked, swift, long-bodied,

Sinewy, grey, foremost among camels, fleet.

تفلي بمشط الخطا فود الفلاة وكن

لها على الأرض إن نوخت أكاليل

With the comb of her steps she combs the desert's locks; there are

Garlands for her on the ground when she kneels.

لا تعرف الأين مهما أزمعت سفرا

ولا تدق الحصى منها الخلاخيل

She knows no weariness whenever she resolves to travel,

Nor do her anklets strike the pebbles.

كأنها سهم رام مطلقا حنقا

أو صارم في يد الرعديد مسلول

She is like an arrow angrily loosed by an archer,

Or a sharp sword drawn in a trembling man's hand,

أو قطر غيم ترامى أو شهاب دجى

أو لمع برق أو الطوفان مهطول

Or cloud-rain hurled down, or a meteor in darkness,

Or lightning's flash, or a pouring flood.

تسنّموها رجال بويعوا فشروا

ما أمّلوه فتعجيل وتأجيل

Men bound by a pledge mounted them and purchased

What they hoped for, whether hastened or deferred.

ليوث حرب إذا هاج الوغى ورغا

غيوث سلم إذا قال الوغى قيلوا

Lions of war when battle rages and roars,

Rain clouds of peace when battle says, 'Rest.'

مسددون إذا اعوج القنا ورأوا

رأيَ التطاعين لا عزل ولا ميل

Unerring when spears bend, choosing

The course of mutual thrusting, neither unarmed nor wavering.

الطاعمون لما أبدى اليسار لهم

الطاعنون لما أخفى السرابيل

Those who eat what prosperity reveals to them,

Those who pierce what garments conceal.

بكل أسمر لدن القد فيه على

لدونة القد للهيجاء تحميل

With every brown spear, supple in stature, yet bearing

Despite its suppleness the burden of battle.

كأنه لاضطراب العطف مبتهل

من الدماء مداما فهو مثمول

As though, through its swaying, it implores

For wine of blood, and is intoxicated.

قد ثقفت غمرات الحرب أكعبه

فطعنه بالكلا النحر موصول

War's depths have straightened its joints;

Its thrust reaches kidneys and throats.

وكل أبيض بسام الفرقد له

أن عبّس القرن في الأوصال تفصيل

And every white blade smiling with a pole-star, possessing,

When the rival frowns, the power to sever joints.

جرى الفرقد به دارا فزّينه

فلم يكن لحلاه فيه تعطيل

The pole-star coursed around it and adorned it;

Its ornaments were not left idle upon it.

كسته رونقها شمس الضحى فزها

كأنه جدول في الروض مصقول

The forenoon sun clothed it in brilliance, and it shone

Like a polished stream within a garden.

مهنّد ناحل الجثمان يبرئه

من علة السل في الأعناق تنقيل

A slender-bodied Indian blade, cured

Of wasting by passing from neck to neck.

هم معشر كلما حفوا بمعترك

ترى أسودا لها من سمرها غيل

They are a company who, whenever they surround a battlefield,

Appear as lions with thickets of brown spears.

ألخاذلون بنصر الله كل غو

من الطغاة فمنصور ومخذول

Those who, through God's victory, defeat every errant one

Among tyrants: one victorious, another defeated.

الجازمون برفع الدين إذ نصبوا

بيض الصفاح فموصول ومفصول

Those resolved to exalt religion when they raise

Bright blades: one joined, another severed.

المهملون بنقط السمر كل كم

من الغواة فمنقوط ومهمول

Those who abandon, through brown spears' dots, every armoured man

Among the errant: one dotted, another undotted.

ألمنصفون إذا ما الخصم ما طلهم

نقد الجلاد فمنصوب وممطول

Those who exact fairness when the opponent delays them

In paying combat's coin: one set up, another deferred.

ألمانعون ببذل النفس حوزتهم

من سرح عاد فممنوع ومبذول

Those who guard their domain by offering themselves

Against an aggressor's roaming: one guarded, another offered.

ألمقبلون على الأخرى بتركهم

دار الفنا فمتروك ومقبول

Those approaching the hereafter by abandoning

The abode of passing: one abandoned, another accepted.

ألعاقدون إذا حلوا الحبا علما

يلجى إليه فمعقود ومحلول

Those who, when they untie knee-bands, bind a banner

To which refuge is sought: one bound, another unbound.

تلقى الرؤوس مواضيهم فترفعها

سمر الغوالي فمطروح ومحمول

Their sharp blades cast down heads, then lift them

Brown spear-tips: one cast down, another carried.

ألجاعلون لخط البغي إن عضلت

أدواؤه حد السيف فيه تحليل

Those who make, for aggression's line when incurable

Its ailments become, the sword's edge a remedy.

كأنما احتملت أسيافهم فلها

يوم الوغى بدم الأبطال تعسيل

As though their swords had taken on burdens, and theirs is

On battle-day a honeying with champions' blood.

هم أنجم أوقد الرحمن نورهم

فكيف يطفئه بهت مخاذيل

They are stars whose light the Merciful kindled:

How could defeated men's slander extinguish it?

تفتر منهم ثغور المجد عن درر

لكونها في بحار الفضل تاصيل

Through them glory's mouths part to reveal pearls,

For these are rooted in seas of excellence.

أنباء أم العلا لو لم يجيء بهم

لم تزك أصلا ولم يذكر لها جيل

Sons of sublimity's mother: had she not borne them,

Her stock would not have flourished, nor her lineage been remembered.

هم الضراغم شد الله وطأتهم

فما بهم عن مقام الحرب تهليل

They are lions; God strengthened their tread:

They have no retreat from battle's station.

من ذا يقاومهم أو من يناظرهم

وهم هم الشم والبض البهاليل

Who can resist them, or who can rival them,

When they are the lofty, fair, noble chieftains?

أم كيف يحكون والرحمن فضلهم

بالمصطفى ولهم بالفتح تفضيل

How could they be imitated, when the Merciful favoured them

Through the Chosen One, granting distinction through conquest?

فهم على مركز الافاق ألوية

ولهم على مفرق العلياء إكليل

They are banners at the horizons' centre,

And a crown upon sublimity's head.

هداهم للهدى هاد به أنصحت

سبل الهدى واجلت عنها المخابيل

A guide led them to guidance; through him grew clear

Guidance's paths, and delusions were driven away.

ذو المعجزات التي عنها الورى عجزت

وليس يحصرها قال ولا قيل

Possessor of miracles that creation could not match,

Not encompassed by speech or saying.

فهي النجوم لصب فيه متبع

وهي الرجوم لخب فيه تمحيل

They are stars for a lover who follows him,

And missiles against a deceitful schemer.

هو الحبيب الذي لا بد منه وقل

هو الشفيع الذي ما عنه تحويل

He is the beloved who is indispensable; say,

He is the intercessor from whom there is no turning.

وهو الشهيد الرؤوف البر من شهدت

بصدق مبعثه الغر الأناجيل

He is the witness, compassionate, righteous, whose

True mission the radiant Gospels attested.

وهو الكريم على الله الكريم فما

شئتم فقولوا إذا أطنبتم قولوا

He is honoured by God the Generous; whatever

You wish, say it; when elaborating, speak!

فمبدأ القول فيه لا انتهاء له

وغاية العلم فيه أنه السلول

Speech about him has a beginning but no end;

Knowledge's utmost is that he is [unclear epithet].

عز المثيل فلا ند يماثله

وهل يماثل بدر التم قنديل

An equal is unattainable; no peer resembles him:

Can a lamp resemble the full moon?

أو هل يشابه راس الطير طائره

أو يعادل عنقا مغرب الفيل

Does the chief of birds resemble its bird?

Or can an elephant match the wondrous ʿAnqāʾ?

قد تم خلقا وأخلاقا فقل قمر

على قضيب له بالزهر تكليل

Perfect in form and character: call him a moon

Upon a branch crowned with blossoms.

لا حسن إلا ومنه يستمد ولا

جمال إلا وعن معناه منقول

No loveliness exists without drawing from him,

No beauty without being drawn from his meaning.

ما فوق الدهر لي سهما ولذت به

إلا وقتني من الباري سرابيل

Whenever time aimed an arrow at me and I sought his refuge,

Coats of protection from the Creator guarded me.

ولا تنكبت دهري واستغث به

إلا وأقبل ما لي فيه تأميل

Whenever I turned aside from my age and sought his help,

What I hoped for came to me.

فهو الكريم الذي يممت ساحته

فأمّني منه إقبال وتنويل

He is the generous one whose court I sought;

His welcome and bounty made me secure.

ومن يلذ يحمى طه يعزّ وإن

يعدو عليه عدو فهو مخذول

Whoever takes refuge in Ṭāhā's sanctuary gains might;

An enemy attacking him is defeated.

حسبي به جنة للدهر أرصدها

مهما سطا وأشحى عن نابه غول

He suffices as a shield I ready against time,

Whenever it assaults and a ghoul bares its fang.

حاشاه أن يمنع الراجي مواهبه

وفرده للذي يرجوه مبذول

Far be it from him to withhold gifts from the hopeful:

His singular gift is offered to whoever hopes in him.

أو لا يكون شفيعا في آمرئي وجل

له على فضله في الحشر تعويل

Or not to intercede for a fearful man

Who relies on his bounty at the gathering.

أو يخزني بعدما في النوم رحب بي

وهو الذي بشره بالبر موصول

Or to disgrace me after welcoming me in sleep,

He whose glad tidings are joined to goodness.

أم كيف أظمأ وأسقاني على ظمإ

ماء به ظمأ الأحشاء مبلول

How could I thirst when, in thirst, he gave me

Water that quenched my inward thirst?

أم كيف أقصى وللجنات أدخلني

مع صحبه وهم الغر الأفاضيل

How could I be excluded when he admitted me to gardens

With his companions, the radiant and excellent?

فهي المرائي التي ما وصفها كذب

وأنني في غد عنها لسؤول

These are visions whose description is no lie,

And tomorrow I shall be questioned about them.

لقوله من رآني كأن ما شهدت

عيناه حقا وقول الحق مقبول

For his saying, 'Whoever saw me,' means that what

His eyes beheld was truth; truth's word is accepted.

فهو الشفيع إذا طال الوقوف ولم

ينفع مقال ولم تنجع أفاعيل

He is the intercessor when standing grows long and

Speech avails nothing and deeds bring no relief.

حيث الحجال طائر والشمس دانية

والنار صائلة والصبر مفلول

Where mountains fly and the sun draws near,

Fire attacks and patience is blunted.

تؤمه الخلق يرجون الشفاعة من

هول لمعظمه في القلب تهويل

Creation seeks him, hoping for intercession against

A terror whose magnitude fills the heart with dread.

من بعدما ييأسوا من غيره ولهم

بالدمع والحزن ترسيل وتشكيل

After despairing of anyone else, they have

Streaming tears and grief's shaping.

وكل شخص يرجى مخلصا حسنا

من الحساب الذي في عرضه طول

Every person hopes for a good deliverance

From the reckoning whose expanse is long.

فيصرخون جميعا يا محمد قم

واشفع لنا فلك الإقبال مبذول

They all cry, 'Muhammad, arise,

And intercede for us: welcome is freely yours!'

فعند ذاك يقول الهاشمي نعم

أنا لها وفي لي والحق معمول

Then the Hāshimite says, 'Yes,

I am for this; it was promised me, and truth is fulfilled.'

ويغتدي نحو ساق العرش مبتدرا

ويبتدي بسجود فيه تبتيل

He hastens toward the Throne's base

And begins with devoted prostration.

ويسأل الرب في فصل القضا وله

حمد وشكر وتكبير وتهليل

He asks the Lord to settle judgment, offering

Praise, thanks, magnification, and affirmation of divine unity.

فيجتبي وينادي يا محمد قم

فاليوم فيه إليك الأمر موكول

He is chosen and called, 'Muhammad, arise:

Today the matter is entrusted to you.

أنت الحبيب فقل أسمع وسل لتنل

واشفع تشفع فعندي أنت مقبول

You are the beloved: speak, I hear; ask, you shall receive;

Intercede, your intercession is granted: you are accepted by me.'

من ذا يضاهيه أو من ذا يساجله

وهو الرجاء والمنى والقصد والسول

Who can equal him, or who can compete with him?

He is hope, aspiration, purpose, and longing.

وحق عينيه والذكر الحكيم وما

حوى زبور وتوراة وإنجيل

By his eyes, the wise Remembrance, and what

Psalms, Torah, and Gospel contain:

له أن الأفلاك والأرضين قاطبة

درج عريض له بالمد تطويل

Suppose the spheres and all the earths were

A broad scroll extended to great length,

وكل ما جرى أوسح من أفق

حبر له في بياض الدرج تكحيل

And everything flowing or pouring from a horizon were

Ink blackening the scroll's whiteness,

والنبت أقلام والمخلوق تكتب ما

لم يحو محمله سر وتفصيل

Plants were pens, and creation wrote what

Its contents had not encompassed, in mystery and detail:

لما حووا عشر معناه الذي نطقت

به عقود وإسراء وتنزيل

They would not contain a tenth of his meaning, of which spoke

Covenants, the Night Journey, and revelation.

وكيف يحوي الحيا حسبان ذي نظر

أم كيف يحصى الحصى عد وتجميل

How could an observer's reckoning encompass rain?

How could counting and embellishment enumerate pebbles?

أو هل يوفى بذرع الكون ذراعه

أم تضبط البحر بالكيل المكاييل

Could an arm-span fully measure the universe?

Could measuring vessels contain the sea by measurement?

أم يحصر الحرف سر الكون أجمعه

أم هل يفي بجميع القول تفعيل

Could letters encompass all existence's mystery?

Could a verbal pattern encompass all speech?

الأمر أعظم من عقل يكيفه

وكيف يعقل من بالعجز معقول

The matter is greater than a mind can define:

How can one bound by incapacity comprehend?

فحسب مملوكه جهد استطاعته

وأن يكون له في مدحه قيل

His servant need only exert his utmost ability

And have something to say in his praise.

وما يفي مدح مثلي في علاه وقد

حباه بالمدح قرآن وإنجيل

How could praise from one like me suffice for his loftiness, when

Qur'an and Gospel have bestowed praise upon him?

لكن تطفلت بالأمداح مفتقرا

وللفقير على الأبواب تطفيل

Yet I intruded with praises, needy,

And the poor intrude at doors.

وقد حنيت على الأعتاب ألثمها

وللحقير على الأعتاب تقبيل

I bent over the thresholds, kissing them;

The lowly kiss thresholds.

وبان عجزي ولا بدع فقد سفرت

لنا سعاد فقلبي اليوم متبول

My incapacity appeared—no wonder, for unveiled herself

To us has Suʿād; my heart today is love-stricken.

ولاح لي من معاني كعب صورتها

كعب سعيد على الأعناق محمول

Her image appeared to me from Kaʿb's meanings:

A fortunate Kaʿb borne upon necks.

وكم لكعب يد بيضاء سابقة

لنا بها في بيوت المدح تنقيل

How many earlier, radiant favours Kaʿb bestowed

On us, through which we move among verses of praise!

فيهن كعبا بما قد نال منزلة

في الخلد مربعها بالفضل مأهول

In them Kaʿb, through his attainment, gained a station

In eternity, its dwelling inhabited by excellence.

وليغن حسان بالتأييد أنّ له

ما ليس يعلوه تغيير وتبديل

Let Ḥassān sing, strengthened, that his is

What alteration and change cannot overtake.

يا صفوة الله ما مدحي بمبتدع

كلا ولا وصفك المعلوم مجهول

O God's chosen one, my praise is no innovation;

Indeed, your known description is not unknown.

أليس مدحك وافى في النساء وفي

ىي القتال وفي حم تنزيل

Did your praise not appear in al-Nisāʾ and in

Al-Qitāl, and in Ḥā-Mīm's revelation?

يا أكرم العرب يا أزكى الورى حسبا

يا أشرف الرسل يا من قاله القيل

O most generous Arab, O purest of creation in lineage,

O noblest messenger, O you whom the sovereign spoke of!

حسبي انقطاعي وأمداحي وتسميتي

يا خير من أمه النوق المراسيل

My devotion, praises, and naming suffice me,

O best one sought by swift she-camels!

أنت الشفيع فكن لي حين ينزل بي

من عالم الغيب أمر فيه تنكيل

You are the intercessor: stand for me when there descends upon me

From the unseen world a chastising matter.

وانظر إلي بعين البر تكرمة

وامنن علي فمنك المن مأمول

Look upon me with goodness' eye, honouring me;

Bestow favour upon me: your favour is hoped for.

وجد علي بما أوتيت من كرم

إن الكريم على الإكرام مجبول

Be generous to me from the generosity you received:

The generous are fashioned to show generosity.

يا رب وانصر لوا الإسلام واحم حماي

رسم الهداية أن يعروه تبطيل

O Lord, support Islam's banner and protect my sanctuary,

Guidance's pattern, lest nullification assail it.

وارفع منار مقامات التقى فيه

للزيغ والبغي تنكيس وتعطيل

Raise the beacon of piety's stations; therein

Are deviation's and oppression's overthrow and defeat.

واحرس مقام أمير المؤمنين فكم

لنا بنعماه تنويل وتمويل

Guard the Commander of the Faithful's station: how much

Bounty and wealth we receive through his blessings!

واحفظ به الدين والدنيا ووق به

مسارح الملك أن يغتالها غول

Through him preserve religion and the world, and protect

The kingdom's ranges from a ghoul's treachery.

وامحق بأسيافه أعناق حسده

وانصره نصرا به للفتح تكميل

With his swords destroy his enviers' necks,

And grant him victory completing conquest.

وألبسه درعا حصينا واحم حوزته

من كل عاد له بالكيد تمحيل

Clothe him in strong armour and guard his domain

From every enemy plotting deceitfully against him.

وصن حمى عبدك المسعود وأوف له

ولاية العهد إن الوعد مفعول

Guard your blessed servant's sanctuary, and fulfil for him

The succession to the covenant: the promise is fulfilled.

والطف به واعف عنه واوله مننا

لا من فيها لا نقص وتبديل

Be gentle with him, pardon him, and grant him favours

Without reproach, diminishment, or alteration.

وجازه بجميل يوم يكشف عن

ساق لهول به للعقل تعقيل

Reward him beautifully on the day when there is bared

A shin in terror that binds the mind.

وانصر حماة الهدى من كل طائفة

واخذل بهم كل باغ فيه تختيل

Support guidance's defenders from every company;

Through them defeat every deceitful aggressor.

واغفر لأشياخي الزهر الهداة وجد

بالصفح عنهم فإن الصفح مأمول

Forgive my radiant, guiding teachers, and be generous

In pardoning them: pardon is hoped for.

وعامل المسلمين المؤمنين بما

يرجونه من نعيم فيه تخويل

Treat believing Muslims with what

They hope for of bestowed bliss.

واختم بخير وسامح والدي وكن

لابن الخلوف فما لي عنك تحويل

Grant a good ending, forgive my parents, and stand

For Ibn al-Khalūf: I have no turning from you.

واحسن خلاصي فإني يا منى أملي

باللهو والزهو موثوق وموصول

Make my deliverance good; O goal of my hope, I am

Bound and joined to diversion and vanity.

وصن بني وإخواني وعج كرما

بالعفو عني فلي في العفو تأويل

Preserve my children and brothers, and turn generously

To pardoning me: I have hope in pardon.

ووف ديني وعامل بالرضا فعسى

أعطى بنيل الرضا في العرض توصيل

Pay my debt and deal with me in approval; perhaps

I may receive union through attaining approval at the presentation.

وصل تترى على طه وشيعته

ما حررت في معانيه الأقاويل

Send successive blessings upon Ṭāhā and his followers,

As long as sayings about his meanings are composed.

ووال سحب الرضا للآل تكرمة

ما لذ في السمع للقرآن ترتيل

Send clouds of approval continually upon his family, honouring them,

As long as Qur'anic chanting is sweet to hear.