مادون رامة من معرس

فعلام هذي النوق تحبس

There is no resting place short of Rāmah.

So why are these she-camels held back?

سيروا فقد طاب المس

ير وقد دنا الوادي المقدس

Travel on, for the journey has grown pleasant,

and the sacred valley has drawn near.

وبدت لنا النار التي

يسوي الأضالع ليس تقبس

The fire has appeared to us,

which [sears] the ribs, not a flame to borrow.

ولي الدجى وكأنكم

بسنا الصباح وقد تنفس

Darkness has fled, and you seem

in morning's radiance as it breathes forth.

علق الظلام بذيله

فكأنه ثوب محندس

Darkness clung to its hem,

as though it were a pitch-black garment.

والشمس تبدو في الثور

أولا ثم المورس

The sun appears in twilight's ruddy glow,

first, then in a yellow-dyed robe.

وغدا رداء دجى تدثر

بالكواكب وهو أطلس

Night's cloak became enwrapped

in stars, though itself unembroidered.

كالخود تجلى في الثيا

ب تظل تخلعها وتلبس

Like a maiden displayed in garments

she keeps taking off and putting on.

وصلوا غبوق سراكم

بصبوحه تجدوه أكيس

And join the evening draught of your night journey

to its morning draught; you will find that wiser.

فأنيسكم في ليلكم

هذا جوار فيه كنس

For your companions in this night of yours

are coursing stars that hide within it.

تحييإذا هجم الدجى

وإذا بدا الإصباح ترمس

They come alive when darkness descends,

and when dawn appears, they are buried.

تزداد زهر نجومها

حسناًإذا ما لليل عسعس

Its brilliant stars increase

in beauty whenever night deepens.

كالروض يبسم نوره

فيه إذا ما النوء عيس

Like a meadow whose blossoms smile

within it when the raincloud [frowns].

تدنو أشعة شبهها

مع بعدها فتكاد تلمس

The rays of their likeness draw near,

despite their distance, almost within touch.

فستحمدون سراكم

ليلاً إذا ما الليل أشمس

So you will praise your traveling

by night, when night itself turns sunlit.

واضا الحمى وبدت ذكا

ء فإنهم الأضوا وألبس

The sanctuary shone, and Dhukāʾ, the sun, appeared;

[Text unclear: 'for they are the lights, and he clothed...']

وتأرجت تلك الحدا

ئق كالعبيرإذا تنفس

Those gardens breathed fragrance,

like perfume breathing forth.

وبدت لوامع مسجد

بقبا على التقوى مؤسس

The gleams of a mosque appeared,

at Qubāʾ, founded upon piety.

وبدا النخيل كخرد

مختلاه الأعطاف ميس

The date palms appeared like bashful maidens,

proudly swaying their graceful limbs.

حلو الجنا في حسوة

وحلاوة كشفاه ألعس

Their fruit is sweet in a mouthful,

with sweetness like the lips of a dusky-lipped one.

فهناك اشرف مطلب

تسمو النفوس به وأنفس

There lies the noblest goal,

to which souls soar—and the most precious:

حرم النبي محمد

أزكى الورى أصلاً ومغرس

the sanctuary of the Prophet Muhammad,

purest of creation in origin and stock.

من أنزل الرحمن في

أوصافه الآيات تدرس

He for whom the All-Merciful sent down

verses concerning his qualities, to be studied.

وحباه بالذكر الذي

فضل الأنام به فقرطس

And endowed him with the Remembrance,

by which he surpassed mankind and hit the mark.

اعمي عقول الخلق في

ه والسن الفصحاء تخرس

It bewildered the minds of all creation;

before it, the tongues of the eloquent fall mute.

فثناهم ذل النكو

ل بخيبة منه وأيئس

The shame of retreat drove them back,

disappointed in it, and made them despair.

فدعاهم فرداً ولم

ير خيفة في النفس توجس

So he summoned them alone, and did not

see fear stir within his soul.

أيخافهم من لم يزل

فيهم بعين الله يحرس

Would he fear them, he who has always

been guarded among them beneath God's eye?

وبكفه نطق الجما

د فسبح الباري وقدس

In his palm the inanimate spoke,

glorifying the Creator and declaring Him holy.

وكذاك منها الماء فا

ض بأعين اضحت تبجس

Likewise, water flowed from it,

in springs that began to gush forth.

والضب صدفه فحا

ر لذاك جاحده وإبلس

The lizard [affirmed him], and

his denier was thereby bewildered and struck dumb.

والعير والظبي الغرب

ر كذاك والسيد العلمس

The wild ass and the [young] gazelle

likewise, and the mighty wolf.

والجزع فارقه فحن

إليه والمهجور يبس

The [tree trunk], when he left it, yearned

for him, though the forsaken trunk was dry.

فأزال عنه كربه

إذ ضمه كرماً ونفس

So he removed its anguish

when he embraced it generously and gave it relief.

بشراه فاز به وفي

غده بدار الخلد يغرس

Glad tidings to it! Through him it triumphed, and

on its morrow will be planted in the eternal abode.

أترى أقوم ببابه

دمعاً لذاك اليوم يحبس

Do you think I could stand at his door

with tears held back for that day?

وأجله عن أنه

يسوى سنا الوجنات لمس

And I hold him too exalted for

a touch to equal the radiance of cheeks [wording unclear].

لولا نداه لما أتا

ه بذنبه مثلي مدنس

But for his bounty, none would come

to him with his sin, defiled as I am.

لكنني غلب الرجاء

الخوف فيه فلست أيئس

But in me, hope has overcome

fear concerning him, and I do not despair.

وبضاعتي التوحيد مع

حب الرسول فلست أبخس

My wares are God's oneness, together with

love of the Messenger, so I shall not be shortchanged.

صلى عليه الله ما

بكر النسيم سرى وغلس

May God bless him as long as

the fresh breeze travels by night and before dawn.