Sol 6.1

  1. O master of the messengers, whose station is secure,

    and foremost, though latest in time,

  2. and the chosen one, selected from among these mortals;

    thus lofty in rank are his station and his standing.

  3. And from prophethood, purity, and guidance

    comes an honor his heart and tongue have embraced.

  4. The heading of the prophets’ parchment, and its seal—

    and a parchment’s heading completes its beauty.

  5. So time is a horizon, and Ahmad its dawn;

    and creation is an eyelid, and Ahmad its pupil.

  6. A servant has called to you, held back by his sins,

    and longing’s flames scorch his heart.

  7. The mounts of the masters of piety have come to you,

    while the oft-erring sinner’s rein was held back.

  8. When he stayed behind, guilty of staying behind,

    among the sinners, and the means eluded him,

  9. he wrote the letter, hoping that, if he did not visit

    your grave with his gaze, his fingertips might visit it.

  10. And behind my ribs is a heart whose fetter

    is attachment to sins, and whose prison is its sorrows.

  11. But love for you is an intercessor whose plea is accepted;

    its blessing and protection enfold the one who loves you.

  12. And upon you, O best of all creatures, be a greeting,

    like a garden whose sweet basil has clasped hands with its breeze,

  13. from one whose writing and words visit you,

    since his body, because of his sin, has not visited you.

Sol 6.1