صاح ولي الدجى وصاح المطوَّقْ

صاح ولي الدجى وصاح المطوَّقْ

ولجيد الصباح بالأنس طوَّقْ

ولجيد الصباح بالأنس طوَّقْ

Friend, night has fled, and the ringdove has called;

The night's companion cries and the collared one shrieks,

and wreathed morning's neck with joy.

And the cheek of the morning is adorned with companionship.

وغصون الأراك حركها الري

وغصون الأراك حركها الري

ح فغنى لها الهزار وصفق

ح فغنى لها الهزار وصفق

And the wind stirred the boughs of the arak,

The branches of the thicket were stirred by the wind,

so the nightingale sang to them and clapped.

So it sang to them and the bushes clapped.

وأفاض الغمام درّاً على الزه

وأفاض الغمام درّاً على الزه

ر فللَه عدله حين فرَّق

ر فللَه عدله حين فرَّق

And the cloud poured pearls upon the flowers;

The clouds poured abundantly on the flowers,

God be praised for its justice as it shared them out!

So for that it has its recompense when it dispersed.

أنصف الغيث يا نديم فيا لي

أنصف الغيث يا نديم فيا لي

ت أمير الهوى به يتخلق

ت أمير الهوى به يتخلق

The rain was just, drinking companion—would that

Be fair, my friend, with the rain, for how

the prince of love would adopt its ways!

Wondrous is the prince of love with it being adorned!

قم بنا يا أخا الغزالة نوراً

قم بنا يا أخا الغزالة نوراً

وشقيق البدور حسناً ورونق

وشقيق البدور حسناً ورونق

Rise with us, O brother of the sun in radiance,

Rise with us, O gazelle-eyed one, radiant,

and brother of the full moons in beauty and splendor.

And cheek of roses, beautiful and graceful.

نضرم الشمس في النجوم ونُلقي

نضرم الشمس في النجوم ونُلقي

من لظاها على الهموم لِتُحرق

من لظاها على الهموم لِتُحرق

Let us kindle the sun amid the stars, and cast

We will kindle the sun in the stars and cast

some of its blaze upon our cares, to burn them away.

Its flames upon the sorrows to burn them away.

شمس راحٍ تتيه تيه رداحٍ

شمس راحٍ تتيه تيه رداحٍ

في وشاحٍ من الحباب وقرطق

في وشاحٍ من الحباب وقرطق

A sun of wine, strutting like a full-hipped beauty,

A traveling sun, wandering, wandering, in departure,

in a sash of bubbles and a short tunic.

In a robe of motley and anklets.

كلما غُيِّبَت بفيك مجازاً

كلما غُيِّبَت بفيك مجازاً

أشرقت من سماء خدك بالحق

أشرقت من سماء خدك بالحق

Whenever it is made to disappear in your mouth, figuratively,

Whenever it disappears from your horizon metaphorically,

it rises from the sky of your cheek in truth.

It rises from the sky of your cheek in truth.

ما وقوف المتيمين عن البس

ما وقوف المتيمين عن البس

ط وقد خيم الأراك وسردق

ط وقد خيم الأراك وسردق

Why do the love-stricken hold back from merriment,

The enamored do not refrain from the carpets,

when the arak has pitched a tent and raised a canopy?

Although the thicket has settled and the canopy spread.

وأضلَّ الرقيب فرعك في الغر

وأضلَّ الرقيب فرعك في الغر

ب وقد ساعد النسيم فشرَّق

ب وقد ساعد النسيم فشرَّق

And your hair has led the watcher astray in the west,

Your branch led the watcher astray in the dust,

while the breeze lent its aid, then turned eastward.

And the breeze assisted, so it was ripped apart.

وتجلت بجنة الزنبق الغض

وتجلت بجنة الزنبق الغض

ض عروس المتيمين أمُّ زنبق

ض عروس المتيمين أمُّ زنبق

And in a garden of tender lilies appeared

And the bride of the enamored appeared in the garden of lilies,

the lovers' bride, Umm Zanbaq,

The pure white lily among lilies.

في كؤوس كأنها حلل الغي

في كؤوس كأنها حلل الغي

د على الغيد من كواعب جلق

د على الغيد من كواعب جلق

in cups like the robes of graceful women,

In cups as if they were necklaces of pearls

on graceful, full-bosomed maidens of Jilliq,

Upon necklaces, from maidens of smooth cheeks.

بين زهرٍ زها وغصن تثنى

بين زهرٍ زها وغصن تثنى

ونسيم زكا وماءٍ ترقرق

ونسيم زكا وماءٍ ترقرق

amid blooming flowers and a swaying bough,

Among flowers smiling and branches bending over,

a fragrant breeze and rippling water,

And gentle breeze and running water.

وكريمٍ يقول ربٌّ كريم

وكريمٍ يقول ربٌّ كريم

زجَّ في عفوه الذنوب فأغرق

زجَّ في عفوه الذنوب فأغرق

and a generous man who says, “A generous Lord

And a generous one saying: a Generous Lord

cast sins into His forgiveness and drowned them.”

Mixed in His pardon the sins, so they drowned.

كلما صبها الغزال توهم

كلما صبها الغزال توهم

ت سناها من الغزالة أشرق

ت سناها من الغزالة أشرق

Whenever the gazelle pours it, I imagine

Whenever the gazelle pours it, it seemed

its radiance to have dawned from the sun.

Its brilliance from the gazelles shone.

ما لهذا الجمال وهو نصاب

ما لهذا الجمال وهو نصاب

بوجوب الزكاة لا يتصدق

بوجوب الزكاة لا يتصدق

What ails this beauty, which meets the threshold

What is this beauty while it is intended

for obligatory almsgiving, yet gives no charity?

For the obligation of alms, and does not give charity?

قد فهمنا المراد منه فهمنا

قد فهمنا المراد منه فهمنا

حسنات الكريم في السر أوفق

حسنات الكريم في السر أوفق

We understood his intent, and were enraptured:

We understood the intended meaning,

a generous man's good deeds are best done in secret.

The good deeds of the generous in secret are more harmonious.

يحسن المحسنون سرّاً كما يح

يحسن المحسنون سرّاً كما يح

سن مكسيمس الإمام الموفق

سن مكسيمس الإمام الموفق

Benefactors do good in secret, just as

The good-doers do good in secret, just as

Maximus, the divinely favored leader, does good.

The imam El-Muwaffaq does good.

سيدُ العارفين صمصامة الدي

سيدُ العارفين صمصامة الدي

ن الأمين المكين في طاعة الحق

ن الأمين المكين في طاعة الحق

Master of those who know God, the keen sword of the faith,

The master of the gnostics, the pillar of religion,

trustworthy, firmly established in obedience to the Truth.

The trusted, steadfast in obeying the Truth.

سيدٌ تُنْشَقُ المراحم منه

سيدٌ تُنْشَقُ المراحم منه

وحسامٌ به المآثم تَنْشَقّ

وحسامٌ به المآثم تَنْشَقّ

A lord whose mercies are breathed in,

A master whose compassion gushes forth from him,

and a sword by which sins are cleft.

And a sword with which wrongs are ripped apart.

أكرم الخلق أذكر الناس للَ

أكرم الخلق أذكر الناس للَ

ه وأزكى العباد طرّاً وأحذق

ه وأزكى العباد طرّاً وأحذق

Most generous of creation, most mindful of God among men,

The most generous of people, the most mindful of God,

and purest of all worshippers, and most skillful.

And the purest of worshippers, gentle and perspicacious.

فهو للصالحات تاجٌ وطوقٌ

فهو للصالحات تاجٌ وطوقٌ

وهو للمكرمات جيدٌ ومِفْرَق

وهو للمكرمات جيدٌ ومِفْرَق

Thus, for righteous deeds he is a crown and a necklace,

So he is for righteous women a crown and necklace,

and for noble deeds, a neck and the crown of a head.

And he is for the prestigious ones a neck and separation.

كلما حرَّك البنانَ لخيرٍ

كلما حرَّك البنانَ لخيرٍ

قدر اللَه أن نثاب ونرزق

قدر اللَه أن نثاب ونرزق

Whenever he moves his fingers for good,

Whenever he moves his lips for good,

God decrees that we be rewarded and provided for.

God destines that he be rewarded and granted provision.

لم يدم كالحَمام برّاً وديعاً

لم يدم كالحَمام برّاً وديعاً

غير مَن مِن كماله يتطوق

غير مَن مِن كماله يتطوق

None has remained kindly and gentle as a dove

He did not remain harmlessly, kindly,

except one who wears a collar of his perfection.

Except the one who has attained his perfection adorns himself.

يا له من مجاهدٍ جمع العل

يا له من مجاهدٍ جمع العل

م وأمواله على البر فرَّق

م وأمواله على البر فرَّق

What a striver he is, who gathered knowledge

O what an ascetic he is! He gathered knowledge

and distributed his wealth in charity!

And wealth for benevolence, so he dispersed it.

حسن اللَه منك خُلقاً وخَلقاً

حسن اللَه منك خُلقاً وخَلقاً

وكسا ذاته افتخاراً ورونق

وكسا ذاته افتخاراً ورونق

God has beautified your character and your form,

May God beautify your manners and creation from you,

and clothed his very self in pride and splendor.

And clothe His Self with pride and grace through you.

من تعدى على سناه المفدى

من تعدى على سناه المفدى

بفراشٍ من الضلالة يُحرَق

بفراشٍ من الضلالة يُحرَق

Whoever assails his cherished radiance

Whoever transgressed upon his radiant virtue

with the moths of error is burned.

With a bed of misguidance, burns.

خيفة اللَه ناطها بين عيني

خيفة اللَه ناطها بين عيني

هِ وحب التقى على القلب علَّق

هِ وحب التقى على القلب علَّق

He has hung the fear of God between his eyes,

He tied fear of God between his eyes,

and fastened love of piety upon his heart.

And hung love of piety upon the heart.

فهو قطب العلى ودائرة المج

فهو قطب العلى ودائرة المج

د التي مغرباً أحاطت ومشرق

د التي مغرباً أحاطت ومشرق

Thus he is the axis of eminence and the circle of glory

So he is the axis of highness and the cycle of glory,

that has encompassed west and east.

Which in the west and east surrounded.

وهو مظلوم من دعاه افتراءً

وهو مظلوم من دعاه افتراءً

كوكب الشرق إنه كوكب الحق

كوكب الشرق إنه كوكب الحق

And he is wronged by whoever falsely calls him

And he is oppressed by whoever called him a liar,

the Star of the East: indeed, he is the Star of Truth.

The star of the east, he is the star of truth.

كوكب أبيض الأديم ولكن

كوكب أبيض الأديم ولكن

طرفه أحمر الدموع وأزرق

طرفه أحمر الدموع وأزرق

A star white of complexion, yet

A white, bright star, but

his eye sheds red tears and is blue.

Its edges are red with tears and blue.

وهزارٌ على المنابر هادٍ

وهزارٌ على المنابر هادٍ

تتداعى له القلوب وتصعق

تتداعى له القلوب وتصعق

And a guiding nightingale upon the pulpits,

And a preacher in the pulpits, gentle,

to whom hearts flock and fall thunderstruck.

To whom hearts flow and are captivated.

قيد الناس عن أذى الناس بالوع

قيد الناس عن أذى الناس بالوع

ظ ومن ربقةِ الضلالة أعتَق

ظ ومن ربقةِ الضلالة أعتَق

By admonition he restrained people from harming people,

He restrained people from harming people with counseling,

and freed them from the noose of error.

And from the finery of misguidance he emancipated.

ما كفاه السمو في الدين حتى

ما كفاه السمو في الدين حتى

بعلوم العباد أجمع أحدق

بعلوم العباد أجمع أحدق

Eminence in religion did not suffice him until

Excellence in religion was not enough for him,

he encompassed all human learning.

Until with knowledge of worship he became focused.

فلبيدٌ لديه غرٌّ بليدٌ

فلبيدٌ لديه غرٌّ بليدٌ

وابن خاقان في السياسة أحمق

وابن خاقان في السياسة أحمق

Thus Labid beside him is a dull novice,

So for him Labeed is coarse and slow-witted,

and Ibn Khaqan is a fool in statecraft.

And Ibn Khaqan in politics is stupid.

ما امرؤ القيس والبها وابن هاني

ما امرؤ القيس والبها وابن هاني

والمعريْ والبحتريْ والفرزق

والمعريْ والبحتريْ والفرزق

What are Imru' al-Qays, al-Baha, and Ibn Hani,

Not Imru Al-Qais, Al-Buhturi, and Ibn Hani,

al-Ma'arri, al-Buhturi, and al-Farazdaq?

Al-Mutanabbi, Al-Ma'arri, and Al-Farazdaq.

كل فحلٍ من الرجال غرابٌ

كل فحلٍ من الرجال غرابٌ

وهو في قمة المفاخر شوذق

وهو في قمة المفاخر شوذق

Every champion among men is a crow,

Every champion among men is but a crow,

while he is a falcon at the summit of glory.

While he is at the peak of glories, towering.

يعتق اللَه من جهنم نفساً

يعتق اللَه من جهنم نفساً

شاء مكسيمس اَن تُحَلَّ وتُعتَق

شاء مكسيمس اَن تُحَلَّ وتُعتَق

God frees from Hell any soul

God emancipates a soul from Hell

that Maximus wills to be loosed and freed.

Maximus willed that it be loosened and emancipated.

يا إمام النقاة في بيعة اللَ

يا إمام النقاة في بيعة اللَ

ه ويا أرحم الرعاة وأشفق

ه ويا أرحم الرعاة وأشفق

O leader of the pure in God's church,

O Imam of the pious in the pledge of God,

and O most merciful and compassionate of shepherds,

And O most merciful of shepherds and most compassionate.

يا عروس الكنائس الغرِّ يا من

يا عروس الكنائس الغرِّ يا من

ناب فيما تريد عن ألف فيلق

ناب فيما تريد عن ألف فيلق

O bride of the radiant churches, O you who

O bride of churches, O you who attained

have stood in for a thousand legions in what you desire,

What you wanted from a thousand regiments.

بك تستقبل السماء ويستس

بك تستقبل السماء ويستس

قى بك الغيث والمآثم تحرق

قى بك الغيث والمآثم تحرق

through you we turn toward heaven, and

Through you the sky receives and through you

rain is sought through you, and sins are burned away.

Rain is sought and afflictions burn away.

بك تنجو النفوس من فيض طوفا

بك تنجو النفوس من فيض طوفا

ن المعاصي الذي به النفس تغرق

ن المعاصي الذي به النفس تغرق

Through you souls are saved from the overflowing flood

Through you souls are saved from the flood of sins,

of sins in which the soul is drowned.

Which drown the soul through them.

دعوةً تصرف العنا بلغ السي

دعوةً تصرف العنا بلغ السي

لُ الزُبَى وانثنى الهنا وتبدرق

لُ الزُبَى وانثنى الهنا وتبدرق

A prayer to turn away distress! The torrent has reached

A prayer that turns hardships away, reaching

the hilltops; joy has turned back and left under escort.

Elevated places, and sorrows withdraw and scatter apart.

أثقلت كاهلي الذنوب أغثني

أثقلت كاهلي الذنوب أغثني

يا أميناً على المواهب مطلق

يا أميناً على المواهب مطلق

Sins have weighed down my shoulders; rescue me,

Sins have burdened my shoulders, save me

O trusted guardian of gifts, with unfettered power.

O trusted with gifts unconditionally released.

واعطني النعمة التي هي مني

واعطني النعمة التي هي مني

بيَ أولى ومن أبي بي أرفق

بيَ أولى ومن أبي بي أرفق

And grant me the grace that, more than my own self,

And grant me the blessing which is more rightfully mine,

has a claim upon me, and is kinder to me than my father:

And from my father is more befitting for me.

راح روحي التي يسامح من يُصْ

راح روحي التي يسامح من يُصْ

بَحُ من كأسها الروي ويغبق

بَحُ من كأسها الروي ويغبق

the wine of my soul, which brings forgiveness to whoever drinks at dawn

Relax my soul which he forgives, he who wakes up

from its brimming cup, and drinks at dusk.

From its intoxicating cup and becomes coherent.

لا برحت الدوامَ برّاً مطاعاً

لا برحت الدوامَ برّاً مطاعاً

يفعل اللَه ما تحب وتعشق

يفعل اللَه ما تحب وتعشق

May you forever remain kindly and obeyed,

I will not stop being obedient and virtuous,

and may God do what you love and adore.

May God do what you love and desire!