عليك توكلي ولك افتقاري — Shehab Al Din Al Khalouf

عليك توكّلي ولك افتقاري

ومنك تطليبي وبك انتصاري

Upon You I rely, and to You I confess my need.

From You I seek, and through You comes my victory.

وفيك محبتي وإليك أمري

وهل إلاك قصدي واختباري

In You is my love, and to You I entrust my affairs.

Is anyone but You my aim and my choice?

أيا ملك الملوك ولا مليك

سوى عبد ببابك خذ بثاري

O King of kings—there is no sovereign

Who is not a servant at Your gate—avenge me.

ويل ديان يوم الدين سهل

طريق هدايتي وأقل عثاري

O Judge of Judgment Day, make easy

The path of my guidance, and pardon my stumbling.

ويا باري الورى طرا أنلني

مقامات الرضى وأقم مناري

O Creator of all humankind, grant me

The stations of contentment, and raise my beacon.

ويا الله هبئني لخير

وعاملني بلطف منك جاري

O God, [prepare] me for goodness,

And treat me with gentleness flowing from You.

ويا تواب يا وهاب وفق

فقد خط المشيب دجى عذاري

O Accepter of repentance, O Bestower, grant success,

For gray hair has streaked the darkness of my temples.

ويا غفار يا ستار من لي

بعفوك حين لا يغني اعتذاري

O Forgiver, O Concealer, who will secure for me

Your pardon when my excuses avail nothing?

ويا ذا الجود والجبروت جد لي

بما أرجوه من جبر انكساري

O Possessor of generosity and might, grant me

The mending of my brokenness that I hope for.

ويا ذا المن والرحموت قابل

برحماك اغترابي واغتراري

O Possessor of grace and mercy, meet

My estrangement and my delusion with Your mercy.

ويا عون المقل أجب دعائي

فإني قد دعوتك باضطراري

O Helper of the needy, answer my prayer,

For I have called upon You in my distress.

ويا رباه ويا غوثاه عجل

بتوفيق قد عجز اصطباري

O my Lord, O my Rescue, hasten

To grant success; my endurance has failed.

فحسبي أن رفعت على غنيّ

بمقالات أطراحي وافتقاري

It suffices me that I have raised to One free of need

Words expressing my abasement and my poverty.

ويكفي إن وصلت لباب عزّ

بذلّ واعتراف واقتصار

It is enough if I reach the gate of might

With humility, acknowledgment, and restraint.

أفي الأكوان غيرك من يرجى

لكشف الضر أو ستر العواري

Is there anyone in all existence besides You to be hoped in

For removing harm or covering exposed faults?

أثم سواك سلطان فيدعى

لإرواء الظمأ وشفا الأواري

Is there a sovereign besides You who may be called upon

To quench thirst and soothe burning ardor?

فلا والله ليس سواك مولى

يرجيه الكبار مع الصغار

No, by God, there is no master besides You

In whom the great and the small place hope.

ولا والله في الأكوان رب

سواك يرى ويعلم ما أواري

No, by God, in all existence there is no Lord

Besides You who sees and knows what I conceal.

فحقق حسن ظني إن ظني

يحقق لي بأنك ذو اقتدار

Fulfill my good opinion of You, for my conviction

Assures me that You possess power.

وتوجني بتاج العلم واجعل

لباس البر والتقوى شعاري

Crown me with the crown of knowledge, and make

The garment of righteousness and piety my attire.

ونورني بإيمان ويمن

ومتعني بحج واعتماري

Illuminate me with faith and blessing,

And let me enjoy pilgrimage and my lesser pilgrimage.

ومن بزورة الهادي المرجى

لنيل الفوز في دار القرار

Grant me a visit to the Guide in whom hope is placed,

To attain triumph in the everlasting abode.

عصام قصي فخر بني لوي

عماد معد كهف بني نزار

The support of Qusayy, the pride of the sons of Lu'ayy,

The pillar of Ma'add, the refuge of the sons of Nizar,

حبيب الحق خير الخلق طه

غمام الرسل دري الدراري

The beloved of the Truth, the best of creation, Taha,

The rain cloud of the messengers, the brightest of shining stars,

هلال الكون مصباح الدياجي

صباح الأفق شمس ضحى النهار

The crescent of existence, the lamp of dark nights,

The dawn of the horizon, the sun of the bright forenoon,

رياض الأمن مفتاح المعالي

غمام الجود كنز الإدخار

The gardens of safety, the key to lofty virtues,

The cloud of generosity, the treasure held in reserve,

مزيل المحل هطال الأيادي

خصيب الرحل مقصود الديار

The dispeller of drought, pouring down favors,

Whose dwelling is fertile, whose abode is sought,

شريف النفس مشكور المساعي

زكي الفرع محمود النجار

Noble of soul, thanked for his endeavors,

Pure in his branch, praised for his lineage:

رسول جاءنا بكتاب حق

فأنقذنا به بعد الإسار

A messenger who came to us with a book of truth

And thereby rescued us after captivity.

وأنبأ عن غيوب ليس تدرى

إلى أن قد دراها كل داري

He told of unseen things that were unknown,

Until every knower had come to know them.

تتوج بالحسن والبها لما

تسربل بالجلالة والوقار

He was crowned with beauty and splendor when

He clothed himself in majesty and dignity.

أقام على منار العز يدعو

بآيات الندى وظبا الفخار

He stood upon the beacon of glory, calling

With signs of generosity and the blades of honor.

وشاد الدين إذ تركت ظباه

رواق الكفر منقض الجدار

He raised religion when his blades left

The pavilion of unbelief with its walls collapsing.

وأحبا ملة الإسلام لما

أقام رسومها بعد الدمار

He [revived] the faith of Islam when

He established its practices after devastation.

وأوضح شمسها من بعد كسف

وأطلع بدرها بعد السرار

He revealed its sun after eclipse

And brought forth its full moon after its dark phase.

وذلل ملك كسرى بعد عز

وأوهى دار فارس بالبوار

He humbled Chosroes' kingdom after its might

And weakened the house of Persia with ruin.

وأخمد نارهم بعد اشتعال

وغور ماءهم بعد انجار

He quenched their fire after its blazing

And sank their water after its flowing.

وحسن الجذع من شروق إليه

كما حن الغريب إلى الديار

[The palm trunk yearned] for him in longing,

As the stranger yearns for home.

ووقته الغمامة حر قيظ

وجاءته بأمياه غزار

The cloud shielded him from summer's heat

And brought him abundant waters.

وشق لأجله بدر الدياجي

كما ردت له شمس النهار

The full moon of dark nights was split for his sake,

As the daylight sun was returned for him.

ونادته الغزالة أن أجرني

لأقضي حق أولاد صغار

The gazelle called to him, 'Give me protection,

That I may fulfill my duty to my little offspring.'

فأطلقها فولت ثم عادت

لترفي ربها حق الجوار

He released her; she departed, then returned

To [fulfill] for her master the obligation of protection.

ولاذ به البعير فقال آمنا

ودان لأمره بعد النفار

The camel sought refuge with him and spoke in safety,

And submitted to his command after shying away.

وخاطبه الوليد خطاب حق

وصدق قوله ضب القفار

The infant addressed him with truthful speech,

And the desert lizard confirmed his words.

وأنباه الذراع بسمه إذ

أثارت زينب نار الشنار

The foreleg told him of its poison when

Zaynab kindled the fire of disgrace.

وفي يده العصا انقلبت حساما

ومنها أصبح الطوفان جاري

In his hand the staff turned into a sword,

And from that hand a flood began to flow.

وفيها الصلد سبح باعتراف

وجدل العود أينع باخضرار

In it the hard stone praised God in acknowledgment,

And the cut stick sprouted green.

وأمر الغار فيه أيّ أمر

عجاب للبيب المستشار

The affair of the cave—what an affair it was!

A marvel to the discerning counselor.

وطرف سراقة قد ساخ لما

أراد ظهوره ذو الإقتدار

Suraqah's horse sank when

The Possessor of power willed his triumph.

وعاينت أمّه أعلام بصرى

وقد وضعته مكحول الشفار

His mother beheld the landmarks of Busra

When she bore him, his eyelids dark as with kohl.

وعين قتادة قد رد لما

أسالتها يد النقع المثار

He restored Qatadah's eye when

The hand of battle's rising dust had dislodged it.

وأبرى ريقه عيني عليّ

بخبير يوم جدل بالقفار

His saliva healed Ali's eyes

At Khaybar, on a day of combat in the wastes.

كذا ساق ابن الأكواع ثم

رجل الفتى ابن عتيك من بعد انكسار

Likewise the leg of Ibn al-Akwa', and then

The foot of the young Ibn Atik after its breaking.

ورد يمين معوذ حين قدت

فردت بعد قطع كاليسار

He restored Mu'awwidh's right hand when it was severed,

And after being cut it was restored like the left.

وشق خبيب أيرأه بمسح

وكم عافى بنفث من ضرار

Khubayb's wound he [healed] with a touch,

And how many he cured of suffering with a breath!

وكم أغنى بدعوته فقيراً

كما أغنى بها من حد نار

How many poor men he enriched through his prayer,

As through it he saved someone from fire's edge!

وأشبع جيشه بصواع تمر

وكانوا كالجواد لدى انتشار

He fed his army to fullness with a measure of dates,

And they were like a steed ranging abroad.

وصرع الشاة درّ له حليبا

وقبل اللمس لم يك قط جاري

[The sheep's udder] poured milk for him,

Though before his touch it had never flowed.

وأطفأ نوره حقد الأعادي

ونار الحرب مضرمة الشوار

His light extinguished the enemies' hatred

And war's fire, setting their gear ablaze.

وأمن خائفيه يوم فتح

وسيف النصر مشحوذ العواري

He reassured those who feared him on the day of conquest,

While victory's sword had its bare edges sharpened.

بحيث المجد ميراث تواصت

به حفظا كبار عن كبار

Where glory is an inheritance whose preservation

The great enjoin, receiving it from other great ones;

وحيث فخار مسنون العوالي

وسيل فخار مصقول الشفار

Where pride has sharpened spearheads,

And a torrent of honor has polished edges:

مفاخر للرماح بها ازدهار

يقابلها المهند بافترار

Glories through which the spears flourish,

And which the Indian sword meets with a smile.

جواد صان عليا المجد لكن

أبى عن صون مال أو عقار

A generous man who guarded the heights of glory, yet

Refused to guard money or property;

وبدر صير الهيجاء أفقا

نجوم سهامه فيها دراري

A full moon who made the battlefield a firmament,

Where the stars of his arrows shine brilliantly.

له الخيل السوابق إذ تداعت

خيول الملحدين إلى الفرار

His are the fleet horses, when

The unbelievers' horses summon one another to flight:

من الشهب المسومة اللواتي

يفتن البرق والشهب الجواري

The marked gray steeds that

Outstrip lightning and the coursing meteors;

أو الدهم الروافل في لجين

أو الشقر المشابة بالنضار

Or black steeds trailing in silver,

Or chestnut steeds mingled with gold.

فأشهب قد كساه الروض ثوبا

ووشّاهُ بأنوار النوار

A gray steed the meadow has clothed in a robe

And embroidered with the radiance of blossoms;

وأدهم قبل الدريّ منه

جبينا حيث خاض حشا النهار

A black steed—the radiant star kissed

Its forehead as it plunged into the heart of day;

وأشقر ما انبرى إلا وجالت

على عطفيه نيران استعار

A chestnut steed that never bounds forth without flames

Of blazing fire coursing over its flanks.

تسنم منتهى فتيان صدق

لهم فعل الضرغمة الضواري

He attained the highest rank among true-hearted youths

Whose deeds are those of ravening lions.

بنوا الهيجاء وهي تشب نارا

وليس دخانها إلا الغبار

They built up battle while it blazed like fire,

And its smoke was nothing but dust.

إذا ما ألهبوا البيض استطارت

رؤوس عداتهم مثل الشرار

When they set the bright swords aflame,

Their enemies' heads flew like sparks.

وإن هزّوا طوال السمر جاءت

أعاديهم بآجال قصار

When they shook the long dusky spears, they brought

Their enemies swiftly shortened lives.

وإن ضحكت أسنتهم تباكت

عيون جراح أعضاء المباري

When their spearheads laughed, there wept

The eyes of wounds in their opponents' limbs.

وإن أبدوا لمعنى الحرب وجها

أزاحوا بالظبا شبه المماري

When they showed a face to the meaning of war,

Their blades dispelled the disputant's doubts.

قبائل صولة وشعوب بأس

ورهط مكارم وعلا افتخار

Tribes of assault and peoples of valor,

A company of virtues and the heights of pride.

سخت بهم الليالي بعد ظن

وافشت سرهم بعد استتار

The nights bestowed them generously after misgiving

And disclosed their secret after concealment.

يرون الموت في طلب المعالي

ألذ من الحياة مع الصغار

They deem death in pursuit of lofty things

Sweeter than life with humiliation.

هداهم للسعادة منه هاد

حديد المنتضى عالي المنار

A guide from him led them to happiness,

Sharp in his drawn blade, lofty in his beacon.

وقادهم لرشد بعد غي

وعز حماهم بعد افتقار

He led them to right guidance after error,

And their domain grew mighty after poverty.

فصرح باعتراف ذو شجون

وأعلن بانقياد ذو نفار

One beset by grief openly acknowledged,

And one prone to flight declared submission.

فهم غوث لمنتجع وزهر

لمنتشق وهم زهر لساري

They are rescue to one seeking bounty, and blossoms

To one seeking fragrance, and stars to a night-traveler.

وهم غيث الموالي والموالي

وهم غيظ المراجي والمجاري

They are rain to patrons and clients,

And vexation to challengers and rivals.

إمام أئمة الثقلين طرا

وأكرم مستماح مستماري

The imam of all the imams of humankind and jinn,

The noblest of those asked for gifts and provisions.

تجاوره المعالي حيث يغدو

فتظفر من علاه بخير جاري

Lofty virtues dwell beside him wherever he goes,

And through his eminence gain the finest neighbor.

ويحلم قادرا عن غي جان

ولا حلم سوى من ذي اقتدار

Though powerful, he forbears the offender's wrongdoing;

There is no true forbearance except in one with power.

رشفنا للهداية من حماه

رضابا جل عن رشف العقار

For guidance we sipped from his sanctuary

Nectar surpassing any draught of wine.

ورضنا روض ملته فطبنا

بعرف فاق معطار البهار

We cultivated the garden of his faith and grew fragrant

With a scent surpassing aromatic blossoms.

وشمنا أفق سنته فشمنا

بروق العز في سحب الفخار

We scanned the horizon of his way and saw

The lightning of glory in the clouds of honor.

أيا جمع الأنام بلا شبه

ويا فرد الكرام بلا مجاري

O sum of humankind, without likeness,

O unique one among the noble, without rival,

ويا شمس السعود بلا غروب

ويا بدر السرور بلا سرار

O sun of good fortune, without setting,

O full moon of joy, without a dark phase!

أليس بأن أوج المجد أمسى

لشهب سناك كالفلك المدار

Has not the summit of glory become

Like a revolving sphere for the stars of your radiance?

وأن الخبر أجمع في مزار

لروض علاك فأنعم بالمزار

And all [goodness] is gathered in a visit

To the garden of your eminence—how blessed the visit!

بودّي لو شققت لك الفيافي

وخضت إليك أفئدة البحار

I wish I could cleave the deserts for you

And wade toward you through the hearts of the seas;

وسرت على ذرى الريح اعتجالا

وصرت على الطائر في مطار

And speed along the crests of the wind,

And ride a bird in its flight;

لأشهد روضة حوت المعالي

فحق لها بأن تسبي الدراري

To behold a garden containing lofty virtues,

Which rightly may captivate the shining stars;

وألثم تربة ضمت عظاما

تعاظم قدرها عن ذي افتخار

And kiss the soil that encloses bones

Whose worth surpasses every possessor of pride;

وأرشف من كؤوس الفوز راحا

ببرد روحها حر الأواري

And sip wine from the cups of triumph,

Its spirit's coolness [quenching] burning thirst;

وأقضي في حماها كل حج

بتطواف وسعي واعتمار

And perform within its sanctuary every pilgrimage rite,

With circumambulation, ritual running, and lesser pilgrimage;

وأرمي ف ذراها من دموعي

جمارا لا تقايس بالجمار

And cast into its heights, from my tears,

Pebbles beyond comparison with ordinary pebbles;

وأجعل مشعري فيها مديحا

يصيّر ما أرجيه شعاري

And make my sacred station there a song of praise

That makes what I hope for my emblem.

يمينا بالمطي وقد دعاها

إلى أوطانها داعي القرار

An oath by the mounts, when there has called them

To their homelands the summons of repose:

تجوب البيد في ليل بهيم

تناعس نجمه عن كل ساري

They cross the wastes in a pitch-black night

Whose star drowses, heedless of every night-traveler.

تهادى في حلى التسيار هديا

كهدي الغيد في حلل الوقار

They sway in the ornaments of travel with a gait

Like the gait of graceful women in robes of dignity.

وترفل في رداء التيه لما

قلت بيد السرى قود السحاري

They trail in the robe of pride when

[The night-travel deserts carry the long-necked desert mounts.]

مطايا كالقسي رمت سهاما

بخطو حين عن عوج العثار

Mounts like bows that have shot arrows

With strides [unerring], free of crooked stumbling;

تحن إلى الفلا طربا وشوقا

إلى تلك المعالم والديار

They yearn for the wilderness, joyfully and eagerly,

For those landmarks and those abodes.

فما تلوي أخادعها لورد

ولا يخلو لها مرعى الضمار

They do not turn their necks toward a watering place,

Nor is the pasture of leanness ever empty for them.

وإن تبلغ المسعى وتسعى

إلى ربع الحبيب على الشفار

And if they reach the place of ritual running and hasten

To the beloved's dwelling over sharp edges—

وأولي ثانيا قسما صدوقا

على وفق اختبارٍ واختيار

I add a second truthful oath,

In accord with experience and choice:

لأقتعدن أسنمة المهارى

أشق بوخدها شقق القفار

I shall surely mount the humps of the Mahri camels,

Cleaving the expanses of the wastes with their quick steps.

وأرسلها بأرقال إلى أن

أنوّحها بحي بني نزار

I shall send them at a swift trot until

I [settle] them in the quarter of the sons of Nizar.

هناك تقر عيني أن تراها

تلذ العيش في أهنى قرار

There my eye will delight to see them

Enjoying life in the happiest resting place.

وحينئذ أصيرها حراما

على شق الفيافي والقفار

Then I shall forbid them

To cleave the deserts and the wastes.

فيا خير الأنام عساك تصغي

لمدح جاء يدلي بافتقار

O best of humankind, may you listen

To praise that comes pleading its need.

وهل لي عودة لحماك كيما

ألوذ بجاهك الحامي الذمار

May I return to your sanctuary, so that

I may seek refuge in your standing, guardian of honor?

وجدت ذراك لي روضا أريضا

فقمت به على قطف الثمار

I found your shelter a flourishing garden for me,

And set about gathering its fruits.

ولذ جناه لي فطفقت أجني

لديه غصون مدحك باهتصاري

Its yield tasted sweet to me, so I began gathering

The branches of your praise there, bending them down.

فدونكها مدائح من مقيم

على جرف من الأشواق هاري

Receive these praises from one dwelling

On a crumbling brink of longing.

لساني في مديحك ذو انطلاق

ومدحي في علاك ذو اقتصار

My tongue is unrestrained in praising you,

But my praise falls short of your eminence.

وأنت أجل من يثنى عليه

بنظم في المدائح أو نثار

You are the most exalted of those praised

In verse of panegyric or in prose.

ولكني مدحتك كي أوقّ

عذاب القبر أو إحراق نار

Yet I praised you so that I might be shielded from

The torment of the grave or the burning of fire.

فلست إلى سواك أرى استناداً

ولست على سواكَ أرى اقتصاري

I see no support for myself in anyone besides you,

Nor do I see my reliance restricted to anyone else.

فجدلي بالشفاعة يا مرجى

لدفع ملمّة أو أخذ ثاري

Grant me intercession, O one in whom hope is placed,

To repel calamity or avenge me.

وحاشا أن أخيب ولي جوار

يبشرني بحفظك للجوار

Far be it that I fail, while I have protection

Promising me your safeguarding of those under protection.

ولي حب وتسمية ومدح

بهم أدلي على شحط المزار

I have love, a naming, and praise;

Through them I plead, despite the shrine's distance.

فيا الله يا جواد حسبي

من التسآل علمك بافتقاري

O God, O Generous One, sufficient for me

Instead of asking is Your knowledge of my need.

ويا حنان يا منان يسر

أموري واكفني شر الشنار

O Tender One, O Bestower of grace, ease

My affairs, and spare me the evil of disgrace.

وسامح والدي وعج بأمن

على شيخي الغرا وصني النجار

Forgive my parents, and turn with peace

Upon my illustrious master and my kinsman [reading uncertain].

وكن للمسلمين وجد بيمن

لأشياخي الذين بهم فخاري

Be there for the Muslims, and grant blessing

To my masters, in whom lies my pride.

وخلد ملك عبدك خير وال

أبي عمر والإمام المستماري

Perpetuate the reign of Your servant, the finest governor,

Abu Umar, and the imam sought for provision.

وايده بعز واقتدار

وتسديد وفتح وانتصار

Support him with might and power,

Right direction, conquest, and victory.

ووفق عبدك المسعود واعضد

مساعيه بلطف منك جاري

Grant success to Your servant al-Mas'ud, and strengthen

His endeavors with gentleness flowing from You.

وسخره ليسمح لي بحج

ويوليني السرور بلا غيار

Move him to grant me a pilgrimage

And bestow happiness on me without change.

وصل على نبيك ما تثنت

غصون هاجها صوت الهزار

Bless Your Prophet as long as there bend

Branches stirred by the nightingale's voice.

وبلغ آله أزكى صلاة

تواصل في رواح وابتكار

Convey to his family the purest blessings,

Continuing through evening and early morning.

وجاز الصحب خيرا ما استطالت

على زنج الدجى نبط النهار

Reward the Companions with good as long as there tower

The Nabataeans of daylight above the Zanj of night.