من وحي الهجرة النبوية — Talaet Maghribi

يَا صَاحِبَ الذِّكرَى إِليْكَ تَحِيَتِي

وعَليْكَ يَا خَيْرَ الوُجُودِ ثَنَائِي

O you whom we commemorate, to you my greeting.

And upon you, O best of all existence, my praise.

يَزْهو القَصِيدُ بِذِكْرِكُمْ يَا سَيِّدِي

فمَقَامُكمْ يَعْلو عَلى الإِطْرَاءِ

Verse glows with your remembrance, my master.

For your station rises above acclaim.

أُهْدِى إليْكَ قَصِيدَتي فَلعَلَّنِي

يَوْمَ الِّلقَا أَنْجُو بِذَا الإِهْدَاءِ

I dedicate my poem to you, that perhaps I

May be saved on the day of meeting through this offering.

مِنْ وَحي سِيرَتِكُمْ أَتَتْ أبيَاتُهَا

والعُذْرُ إِنْ لَمْ أَسْتَطِعْ إِيْفَائِي

Its verses came from the inspiration of your life,

And pardon me if I could not do it full justice.

أَرْجُو شَفَاعَتَكُمْ إذَا اجْتمَعْ الوَرَى

أرْجُو رِضَاكُمْ يَا أبَا الزَّهْرَاءِ

I hope for your intercession when humankind gathers;

I hope for your pleasure, O father of al-Zahra.

نَفْسِي انْجَلَتْ عَنْهَا الهُمُومُ بِمَدْحِكُمْ

وتَبَدَّلَتْ أَكْدَارُهَا بِصَفاءِ

My soul's worries cleared away through praising you,

And its troubles were replaced by serenity.

نُورُ النَّبيِّ مُحَمَّدٍ كَشَفْ الدُّجَى

كَالبَدْرِ عِنْدَ الَّليلَةِ الظَّلْمَاءِ

The light of the Prophet Muhammad dispelled the darkness,

Like the full moon on a dark night.

نُورٌ عَلى نُورٍ مَدِيحُ مُحَمَّدٍ

حَقَّاً بِرَغم الأَعْينِ العَمْيَاءِ

Light upon light is the praise of Muhammad,

Truly, despite blind eyes.

فهْوَ السِّرَاجُ وذَاكَ وصْفُ إِلَهِنَا

وضِيَا حَبِيبِي فَاقَ كُلَّ ضِيَاءِ

For he is the lamp, as our God describes him,

And my beloved's radiance surpasses every radiance.

للعَالمَينَ أتيْتَ أَحْمَدُ رَحمَة ً

وأَرَاكَ لِلْكُفَّارِ سَيْفَ فَنَاءِ

You came, Ahmad, as a mercy to the worlds,

And I see you as a sword of annihilation for the unbelievers.

في السِّلْمِ خَيْرُ مُسَالِمٍ يَا سَيِّدِي

والفَارِسُ المغْوَارُ في الهَيْجَاءِ

In peace, the finest peacemaker, my master,

And the intrepid horseman in battle.

والصَّحْبُ إِنْ حَمِيَ الوَطِيسُ بِبَأْسِكُمْ

هُمْ يَتَّقُونَ وَعِنْدَ كُلِّ بَلاءِ

And the companions, when battle rages, in your might

Take shelter, as they do in every ordeal.

هَيْهَاتَ أَنْ أَظْمَأ وذِكْرُكَ سَيِّدِي

للقلْبِ فيهِ مَدَى الحيَاةِ رَوَائِي

Far be it that I should thirst, when remembrance of you, my master,

Is my heart's refreshment throughout life.

يَا وَيْحَ أَرْبَابَ الجَّهالَةِ أَقْبَلُوا

وقُلُوبُهُمْ كَالصَّخـرَةِ الصَّمَّاءِ

Alas for the lords of ignorance! They came,

Their hearts like solid stone.

جَاءُوا لِعَمِّ المُصْطَفَى وحَبِيْبِهِ

وتَكَلَّمُوا في غِلْظَةٍ وجَفَاءِ

They came to the Chosen One's uncle and dear one,

And spoke with harshness and coldness.

قَالُوا لَهُ ابنُ أَخيْكَ فَرَّقَ بَيْنَنَا

بَلْ عَابَ دِيْنَ القَوْمِ والآَبَاءِ

They said to him, “Your brother's son has divided us;

Indeed, he has disparaged the religion of our people and forefathers.

ومَضَى يقولُ بأَنَّهُ يُوْحَى لَهُ

مَعَ أَنَّهُ كَبَقِيَّةِ الشُّعَرَاءِ

He goes on saying that revelation comes to him,

Though he is like the rest of the poets.

إِنْ كَانَ مَا يَأْتِيهِ مَسَّاً... جَاءَهُ

مِنَّا أَطِبَّاءٌ بِخَيْرِ دَوَاءِ

If what comes upon him is possession, he shall receive

Doctors from us with the best medicine.

أوْ كَانَ يَبْغِي المَالَ جِئْنَاكُمْ بِهِ

حَتَّى يَضِيقَ بِذَلِكَ الإِثْرَاءِ

Or if he seeks wealth, we shall bring it to you,

Until he is overwhelmed by such riches.

أوْ كَانَ يَبْغِى المُلْكَ كَانَ مَليْكَنَا

وهوَ الرَّئِيسُ وسَيِّدُ الوُجَهَاءِ

Or if he seeks kingship, he shall be our king,

Our chief and lord of the notables.

فَارْجِعْ إلى ابنِ أخيْكَ واعْرِفْ رَأيَه

جِئْنَا لكي لا نَبْتَدي بِعَدَاءِ

So go back to your brother's son and learn his view;

We have come so that we do not begin with hostility.”

وهُنَا يقولُ المُصْطَفَى بِثَبَاتِهِ

وَوَقَارِهِ ... يَا أَرْحَمَ الآَبَاءِ

Here the Chosen One speaks with his steadfastness

And dignity: “O most merciful of fathers,

واللهِ يَا عَمَّاهُ لَوْ وَضَعُوا هُنَا

شَمْسَاً أوْ البَدْرَ المُنِيرَ إِزَائِي

By God, dear uncle, even if they placed here

A sun, or the shining full moon before me,

مَا كُنْتُ أَتْرُكُ مَا أُمِرْتُ بِفعْلِهِ

حَتَّى أُتَمِّمَهُ ولَوْ بِفَنَائِي

I would not abandon what I was commanded to do

Until I complete it, even at the cost of my destruction.”

وهُنَا يقولُ الكُفْرُ جِئْنَا فَاسْتَمِعْ

سَنَحُلُّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ دُونَ عَنَاءِ

Here unbelief says, “We have come, so listen:

We shall settle this matter without trouble.

خُذْ مَنْ تَشَا مِنَّا مَكَانَ مُحمَّدٍ

لا تَحْمِهِ واتْرُكْهُ دُونَ وِقَاءِ

Take whomever you wish from us in Muhammad's place;

Do not protect him; leave him without shelter.”

قَدْ سَاوَمُوهُ لِكي يُسَلِّمَ حِبَّهُ

عَرَضُوا لهَذا الأَمْرَ دُونَ حَيَاءِ

They bargained with him to surrender his beloved;

They offered this proposal without shame.

ويقولُ عَمُّ المُصْطَفَى وحَبيْبُهُ

يَا بِئْسَ مَا عَرَضُوا لَهُ بِغَبَاءِ

The Chosen One's uncle and dear one says,

“Oh, how vile the proposal they foolishly offered him!

بِئْسَتْ فِعَالِكمُو وبِئْسَ مَقَالُكُمْ

لا تَذْكُرُوهُ فَإِنَّ فيهِ شَقَائِي

Vile are your deeds, and vile your words;

Do not mention it, for it holds my misery.

أنَا أُطْعِمُ ابنَكُمُو وأغْذُوهُ لَكُمْ

ثُمَّ المُقَابِلُ تَقْتُلونَ رَجَائِي ؟!

I feed your son and rear him for you,

Then, in return, you kill my hope?!

واللهِ لَنْ يَصِلُوا إليْكَ بِجَمْعِهِمْ

حَتَّى أُفَارِقَ عَالَمَ الأَحْيَاءِ

By God, for all their numbers, they will not reach you

Until I depart the world of the living.”

ويَمُوتُ عَمُّ المُصْطَفَى ونَصِيرُهُ

يَا مَوْتُ هَلاَّ جِئْتَ في إِبْطَاءِ

The Chosen One's uncle and supporter dies;

O Death, why did you not come more slowly?

والزَّوْجُ فَارَقَتِ الحَيَاةَ لرَبِّهَا

فبقيْتَ تَبْكِيْهَا أَحَرَّ بُكَاءِ

And your wife left life to go to her Lord;

So you remained, weeping for her with the most burning tears.

وظَلَلْتَ تَذْكُرهَا بِخَيْرٍ دَائِمَاً

وحَبَوْتَهَا في العُمْرِ خَيْرَ وفَاءِ

And you continued always to speak well of her,

Granting her the finest fidelity throughout your life.

وقَضَيْتَ عَامَ الحُزْنِ بَعْدَ وفَاتِهِمْ

وإذَا الحَيَاة ُغَدَتْ بِغَيْرِ ضِيَاءِ

You spent the Year of Sorrow after their deaths,

And behold, life had become devoid of light.

وإذا بأهل ِالكفر زادُوا كيدَهمْ

وتفننوا في المَكر والإيذاءِ

And behold, the people of unbelief increased their plots,

And devised ever more ways of scheming and harm.

قالوا إذا لَمْ تَرْجِعُوا عَنْ دِينِكُمْ

سَنُحِيلُ دُنيَاكُمْ إلى أَرْزَاءِ

They said, “If you do not turn away from your religion,

We shall turn your lives into calamities.

سَنصُبُّ ألوَانَ العَذابِ عَليكمُو

لنْ تظفرُوا مِنَّا بِأَيِّ نَجَاءِ

We shall pour every kind of torment upon you;

You shall find no escape from us.”

هَذا (بِلالُ) قَدْ ابتُليْ بـ(أمَيَّةٍ)

قَدْ عَاشَ مِنْهُ العُمْرَ في بَلْوَاءِ

Here is Bilal, afflicted by Umayya;

He lived his life in torment at his hands.

يَأْتي بِصَخْرٍ فَوْقَ صَدْرٍ طَاهِرٍ

ويَجُرَّهُ جَرَّاً على الرَّمْضَاءِ

He brings a rock upon a pure chest,

And drags him across the scorching ground.

وإذَا العَذَابُ اشْتَدَّ زَادَ صَلابَةً

(أَحَدٌ) يقولُ (بِلالُ) للأَعْدَاءِ

As the torment worsens, he grows more steadfast;

“One!” Bilal says to his enemies.

(أَحَدٌ.. أَحَدْ) هذا نَشِيدٌ خَالِدٌ

قَدْ هَزَّ أَرْضِي بَلْ وَهَزَّ سَمَائِي

“One! One!” This is an immortal chant,

Which shook my earth—indeed, shook my sky.

وأرَى (صُهَيْبَ) الآَنَ يَبْغِي هِجْرَةً

لَكِنَّهُمْ وَقَفوا لَهُ بِجَفَاءِ

And now I see Suhayb seeking to emigrate,

But they stood against him with harshness.

قَدْ كُنْتَ صُعْلوكَاً فَقِيْرَاً مُعْدَمَاً

لا ... لَنْ تَمُرَّ بِهَذِهِ الأَشْيَاءِ

“You were a pauper, poor and destitute;

No, you shall not pass with these possessions.”

وهُنَا يَقولُ (صُهَيبُ) قوْلَة َوَاثِقٍ

أنَا أفْتَدِى دِينِي ولَوْ بِدِمَائِي

Here Suhayb speaks with a confident man's words:

“I ransom my religion, even with my blood.

أنَا لَنْ أعودَ مَدَى الحَيَاةِ إليكُمُو

لَوْ أنَّكُمْ مَزقتُمُو أشْلائي

I shall never return to you as long as I live,

Even if you tear my limbs to pieces.”

أبْشِرْ (أبَا يَحْيَى) بِبَيْعٍ رَابِحٍ

أبْشِرْ فَعِنْدَ اللهِ خَيْرُ عَطَاءِ

“Rejoice, Abu Yahya, in a profitable bargain!

Rejoice, for with God is the finest reward.”

وكذاكَ (عَمَّارُ بنُ ياسِرَ) مِثلهُمْ

وكَذا (سُمَيَّةُ) أوَّلُ الشُّهَدِاءِ

Likewise, Ammar ibn Yasir was like them,

And likewise Sumayya, the first of the martyrs,

وأبُوهُ (يَاسِرُ) تِلْكَ عَائِلَة ٌ غَدَتْ

فَوْقَ الكَلامِ وفَوْقَ كُلِّ ثَنَاءِ

And his father Yasir: that family rose

Beyond words and beyond all praise.

صَبْرَاً تقولُ لآَلِ ياسِرَ تُؤْجَرُوا

غَدَاً الِّلقَاءُ بِجَنَّةٍ فَيْحَاءِ

“Be patient,” you tell Yasir's family, “and be rewarded;

Tomorrow we meet in a spacious Paradise.”

ويقولُ (عَمَّارُ بنُ ياسِرَ) سَيِّدِي

إِنِّي أعِيشُ الآَنَ في الظَّلْمَاءِ

Ammar ibn Yasir says, “My master,

I now live in darkness.

طَاوَعْتُهُمْ يَا سَيِّدِي في قَوْلِهِمْ

لأَصُدَّ عَنِّي مِحْنَتِي وبَلائِي

I complied with what they said, my master,

To ward off my ordeal and affliction.

لَكِنَّ قَلْبيَ مُؤْمنٌ ومُوَحِّدٌ

مَا فِيهِ غَيْرُ عَقِيدَتي وَوَلائِي

But my heart believes and affirms God's oneness;

It holds nothing but my faith and loyalty.”

وتقولُ يَا (عََمَّارُ) عُدْ إنْ عَاوَدُوا

يوْمَاً ولا تَعْبَأْ بِذِي الأَشْيَاءِ

And you say, “Ammar, do it again if they return

One day; pay no heed to these things.

مَا دَامَ قَلْبُكَ مُطمَئِنَّاً لاَ تَخَفْ

واذْكُرْ إلهَكَ عِشْ بِخَيْرِ رَجَاءِ

So long as your heart is assured, do not fear;

Remember your God, and live in the finest hope.”

ويَجيىءُ (خَبَّابُ الأَرَتُّ) مُخَاطِبَاً

خَيْرَ البَرِيَّةِ سَيِّدَ الشُّفَعَاءِ

Khabbab al-Aratt comes to address

The best of creation, the master of intercessors.

ويَرَاكَ يَا مُخْتَارُ تُسْنِدُ ظَهْرَكُمْ

لِجِدَارِ هَذِى الكَعْبَةِ الشَّمَّاءِ

He sees you, O Chosen One, resting your back

Against the wall of this lofty Kaaba.

ويقولُ (خَبَابُ الأَرَتُّ) مَقولَةً

ألفَاظُهَا جَاءَتْ عَلى اسْتِحْيَاءِ

Khabbab al-Aratt speaks words

Whose utterance comes with shyness:

إِنَّ العَذَابَ اشْتَدَّ زَادَ ضَرَاوَةً

لَبِسَتْ لنَا الأَيَّامُ ثَوْبَ شَقَاءِ

“The torment has intensified and grown more savage;

The days have donned for us a garment of misery.

هَلاَّ دَعَوْتَ اللهَ رَبَّكَ سَيِّدِي

هَلاَّ دَعَوْتَ لنَا عَلى الأَعْدَاءِ

Will you not pray to God, your Lord, my master?

Will you not pray for us against our enemies?”

وتقولُ الاسْتِعْجَالُ ذلِكَ شَأْنُكُمْ

بِلْ إِنَّ ذَلِكَ شِيْمَة ُ الأَحيَاءِ

You say, “Haste—that is your way;

Indeed, that is the nature of the living.

قَدْ كَانَ فيمَا قَبْلَكُمْ أُمَمٌ مَضَتْ

صَبَرُوا عَلى البَلوَى بِلا اسْتِثْنَاءِ

Before you, there were nations that passed away;

They endured affliction without exception.

مُشِطُوا بأَمْشَاطِ الحدِيدِ فَمَدَّهُمْ

هَذا العَذَابُ بِقُوَّةٍ ومَضَاءِ

They were combed with iron combs, yet it supplied them—

This torment—with strength and resolve.

النَّصْرُ آَتٍ لا مَحَالَة َفَاصْبِرُوا

واسْتَمْسِكُوا بالشِّرْعَةِ الغَرَّاءِ

Victory will come without fail, so be patient;

Hold fast to the radiant sacred law.

النَّصْرُ مِنْ رَبِّ البَرِيَّةِ قَادِمٌ

فَلْتَنْضَوُوا يَا قَوْمُ تَحْتَ لِوَائِي

Victory is coming from the Lord of creation;

Gather, my people, beneath my banner.

الدِّينُ يَوْمَاً مَا سَيسْري ضَوْؤُهُ

وبقَدْرِ مَا تَمْتَدُّ عَيْنُ الرَّائِي

One day the light of the religion will spread

As far as the beholder's eye can reach.

ويَسيرُ سَائِرُكُمْ بِأَمْنٍ دَائِمٍ

مِنْ (حَضْرَمَوْتَ) إِلَى رُبَى (صَنْعَاءِ)

Your traveler will journey in lasting safety

From Hadramawt to the hills of Sana'a.

ويَسيرُ سَائِرُكُمْ بِأَمْنٍ دَائِمٍ

لَمْ يَخْشَ إلاَّ اللهَ ... ذَا الآَلاءِ

Your traveler will journey in lasting safety,

Fearing none but God, the giver of blessings.”

مَا كُنْتَ تِقْدِرُ أَنْ تُدَافِعَ سَيِّدِي

يوْمَاً عَن الضُّعَفَاءِ والبُؤَسَاءِ

You could not defend, my master,

The weak and wretched at any time.

هَا أنْتَ تَسْجُدُ مَرَّة ًفَيَجِيْئُكُمْ

بِـ(سَلا جَزُوْرٍ) أَخْبَثُ الخُبَثَاءِ

Here you are prostrating once, when there comes to you

The foulest of the foul, with a slaughtered camel's afterbirth.

وذَهَبْتَ تَبْغِي مِنْ ثَقِيْفٍ نُصْرَةً

فَلَعَلَّ فِيْهَا سَامِعَاً لِنِدَاءِ

You went to seek support from Thaqif,

Perhaps among them someone might hear the call.

لَكِنَّهُمْ كَانوا الأَرَاذِلَ سَيِّدِي

لاقُوكُمُو بِجَهَالَةٍ جَهْلاءِ

But they were the vilest, my master;

They met you with utter ignorance.

أَغْرَوا بِكُمْ صِبيَانَهُمْ وعبيدَهُمْ

تَرَكُوكُمُو فيهَا مَعَ السُّفَهَاءِ

They incited their boys and slaves against you,

Leaving you there among the fools.

يرْمُونَكُمْ بِحِجَارَةٍ يَا سَيِّدِي

فَتَسيل مِنْ عَقِبٍ أعَزُّ دِمَاءِ

They pelt you with stones, my master,

And the most precious blood flows from a heel.

ورَفَعْتَ كَفَّكَ للسَّماوَاتِ العُلا

فِإذَا جميعُ الكَوْنِ في إِصْغَاءِ

You raised your palm to the high heavens,

And behold, the whole universe was listening.

إنْ لَمْ يكنْ بِكَ رَبَّنا غَضَبٌ عَليَّ

فَذَاكَ غَايَة ُمُنْيَتِي ورِضَائِي

“If You have no anger toward me, our Lord,

That is the utmost of my wish and contentment.

إنِّي اسْتَعَذْتُ بِنُورِ وَجْهِكَ رَبَّنَا

فِبِهِ إِلَهِي أَشْرَقَتْ ظَلْمَائِي

I sought refuge in the light of Your face, our Lord;

Through it, my God, my darkness was illumined.

وبِهِ صَلاحُ الدِّينِ والدُّنيا مَعَاً

وأَخُصُّهُ بالحَمْدِ والإِطْرَاءِ

Through it, religion and worldly life alike are set right,

And I single it out for praise and acclaim.

عُتْبَى الأُمُورِ إليْكَ حَتَّى تَرْتَضِي

يَا رَبَّنَا يَا واسِعَ النَّعْمَاءِ

I seek to make amends to You in all matters, until You are pleased,

O our Lord, O You of boundless blessings.”

ويَجِيْىءُ أَمْرٌ أَنْ تُهَاجِرَ سَيِّدِي

مِنْ عِنْدِ رَبِّكَ أَرْحَمِ الرُّحَمَاءِ

An order comes for you to emigrate, my master,

From your Lord, the most merciful of the merciful.

وتَجَمَّعَ القَوْمُ الِّلئَامُ بِبَابِكُمْ

بِاللاّتِ قَدْ حَلَفُوا وبِالآَبَاءِ

The base people gathered at your door;

They swore by al-Lat and by their fathers:

لا يَنْجُوَنَّ (مُحَمَّدٌ) مِنْ بَيْنِنِا

أَوْ أَنَّنَا نُمْحَى مِنَ الغَبْرَاءِ

“Muhammad shall not escape from among us,

Or we shall be erased from the dusty earth.”

شَاهَتْ وُجوهُ القَوْمِ يَا خَيْرَ الوَرَى

ومَضَيْتَ أنْتَ بِعِزَّةٍ ومَضَاءِ

May those people's faces be disfigured, O best of humankind;

You went forth with dignity and resolve.

ومَعَ الذي قَدْ نَالَكُمْ مِنْ كَيْدِهِمْ

هَا أَنْتَ (أَحْمَدُ) سَيِّدُ الأُمَنَاءِ

Despite all that reached you from their scheming,

Here you are, Ahmad, the master of the trustworthy.

لِلْقَوْمِ عِنْدِي يَا عليُّ ودَائِعٌ

أنَا لا أخُونُهُمو وهُمْ أعْدَائِي

“Ali, I hold deposits belonging to these people;

I do not betray them, though they are my enemies.

نَمْ يَا علىُّ لكَيْ تَرُدَّ ودَائِعَاً

أَعْظِمْ بِكُمْ مِنْ قِمَّةٍ شَّمَّاءِ

Sleep, Ali, so that you may return the deposits.”

How great you are—a lofty summit!

أعْظِمْ بهذا الخُلْقِ أيْنَ مِثَالُهُ

أعْظِمْ بِهَا مِنْ مِنَّةٍ وَوَفَاءِ

How great this character! Where is its equal?

How great it is in kindness and fidelity!

هُمْ يَمْكُرُونَ ... يُدَبِّرُونَ لِقَتْلِكُمْ

وتُفَكِّرُونَ بِرَدِّ ذِي الأَشْيَاءِ

They scheme and plot to kill you,

While you think of returning these things.

ويَنَامُ مُشْْتَمِلاً عَلىُّ بِبُرْدِكُمْ

أَنْعِمْ بِهَذِي البُرْدَةِ الخَضْراءِ

Ali sleeps wrapped in your mantle;

How splendid this green mantle!

يَفْدِِيكُمُو بِالرُّوحِ لَمْ يَعْبَأْ بِهَا

يَفْدِيكُمُو حَقَّاً بِخَيْرِ فِدَاءِ

He offers his life for you, heedless of it;

Truly, he offers you the finest sacrifice.

المَوْتُ خَلْفَ البَابِ يَنْظُرُ نَحْوَهُ

لَكِنَّهُ يَعْلو عَنِ النُّظَرَاءِ

Death watches him from behind the door,

But he rises above his peers,

بِشَجَاعَةٍ فَوْقَ الشَّجَاعَةِ نَفْسِهَا

وبِهِمَّةٍ تَعْلو ذُرَى العَليَاءِ

With courage beyond courage itself,

And resolve that rises above the peaks of glory.

مَا هَابَ سَيْفَاً مُشْهَرَاً في وَجْهِهِ

مَا كَانَ يَوْمَاً مَا .. مِنَ الجُّبَنَاءِ

He did not fear a sword brandished in his face;

Never was he among the cowards.

يَا دَهْرُ سَجِّلْ لا تَكُنْ مُتَوَانِيَاً

هَذا النَّمُوذُجُ عَزَّ في دُنْيَائِي

O Time, record this; do not delay!

Such an example is rare in my world.

وخَرَجْتَ تَبْغِي مَنْ يكونُ مُؤَازِرَاً

ومَضَيْتَ في حَذَرٍ مِنَ الرُّقَبَاءِ

You went out seeking someone to support you,

And proceeded cautiously, wary of the watchers.

وذَهَبْتَ لِلصِّديقِ تَطْلُبُ رفْقَةً

أَنْعِمْ بِكُمْ يَا أَكْرَمَ الرُّفَقَاءِ

You went to al-Siddiq, seeking companionship;

How excellent you are, O noblest companions!

واللهُ في القُرْآنِ يَذْكُرُ فَضْلَهُ

يُتْلى عَلينَا وهوَ خَيْرُ ثَنَاءِ

God mentions his merit in the Quran;

It is recited to us, and is the finest praise.

قَدْ كَانَ حِبَّاً للحَبيبِ وصَاحِبَاً

ورفيْقَهُ في الهِِجْرَةِ الغَرَّاءِ

He was dear to the Beloved, and his companion,

And his fellow traveler in the radiant migration.

كانَ الصَّديقَ لخيْرِ مَنْ وطِئَ الثَّرَى

وأَنِيْسَهُ في الجَنَّةِ الفَيْحَاءِ

He was the friend of the best who trod the earth,

And his close companion in spacious Paradise.

واللهُ لَمْ يَذْكُرْ سِواهُ بِصُحْبَةٍ

هَذِي ورَبِّي أَعْظَمُ النَّعْمَاءِ

God mentioned none but him as a companion;

This, by my Lord, is the greatest blessing.

بُشْرايَ يَا بُشْرايَ أَصْحَبُ أَحْمَدَاً

رَبُّ السَّمَاءِ قَدْ استَجَابَ دُعَائِي

“My joy! O my joy! I shall accompany Ahmad!

The Lord of heaven has answered my prayer.

تَفْدِيْكَ نَفْسِي والأَحِبَّةُ كُلُّهُمْ

يَفْديْكَ مَالِي.. ذَا أَقَلٌّ فِدَاءِ

My soul and all my loved ones would ransom you;

My wealth would ransom you—that is the least sacrifice.”

وتَسِيرُ قُدَّامَ النَّبيِّ مُؤَمِّنَاً

وجْهَ الحَبيبِ ومَرَّةً بِوَرَاءِ

You walk ahead of the Prophet, safeguarding

The Beloved's face, and sometimes behind him.

ونَزَلْتُمَا في (غَارِ ثَوْرٍ) سَيِّدي

يَخْشَى (أَبو بَكْرٍ) مِنَ الأَعْدَاءِ

You two lodged in the Cave of Thawr, my master;

Abu Bakr fears the enemies:

لَوْ يَنْظُرُونَ الآَنَ تَحْتَهُمو رَأَوا

أَنَّا هُنَا يَا سَيِّدَ الشُّفَعَاءِ

“If they now looked beneath them, they would see

That we are here, O master of intercessors.”

: أَبْشِرْ ولاَ تَحْزَنْ بِخَيْرٍ صَاحِبِي

مَعَنَا الإِلَهُ البَرُّ ذُو الآَلاَءِ

“Take heart in good tidings and do not grieve, my companion;

God, the Beneficent, the giver of blessings, is with us.

اللهُ يَسْتُرُنَا فَكَيْفَ يَرَوْنَنَا؟!!

فَغِطَاءُ رَبِّكَ كَانَ خَيْرَ غِطَاءِ

God conceals us, so how can they see us?”

Your Lord's covering was the finest covering.

وصَحِبْتُمَا (ابنَ أُرَيْقِطٍ) لِيَدُلَّكُمْ

فهوَ الخَبِيْرُ بِهَذهِ البَيْدَاءِ

You two took Ibn Urayqit along to guide you;

He knew this wilderness well.

وخرَجْتَ تَبْغِي في الأَبَاعِدِ نُصْرَةً

إِنَّ الأَقَارِبَ أَتْعَسُ التُّعَسَاءِ

You went out seeking support among distant people;

Indeed, your kin were the most wretched of the wretched.

ونَظَرْتَ خَلْفَكَ والدَّمُوعُ غَزِيْرَةٌ

يَا أرْضَ مَكَّةَ أَطْهَرَ الأَرْجَاءِ

You looked behind you, your tears abundant:

“O land of Mecca, purest of places!

يَا بُقْعَة ً عِنْدَ الإِلَهِ عَزِيزَةً

وكذَاكَ عِنْدِي بَلْ وأنْتِ شِفَائِي

O place held dear by God,

And likewise by me—indeed, you are my healing.

واللهِ حُبُّكِ أنتِ يَجْري في دَمِي

لَكِنَّ أَهْلَكِ قَرَّرُوا إِقْصَائِي

By God, love of you flows in my blood,

But your people have decided to banish me.

يَا مَهْبِطَاً للوَحي إِنِّي أَرْتَجِي

مِنْ عِنْدِ رَبِّى مِنَّة ً بِلِقَاءِ

O place where revelation descends, I hope

For my Lord's favor in a reunion.”

إنَّ الذي فَرَضَ الكِتَابَ عليكُمُو

سَيرُدَّكمْ يَوْمَاً مِنَ السُّعَدَاءِ

Indeed, He who enjoined the Book upon you

Will one day bring you back among the blessed.

يَوْمَاً سَتَفْتَحُ ذلِكَ البَلَدَ الذَي

غادَرْتَهُ في حَلْكَةِ الظَّلْمَاءِ

One day you shall conquer that city which

You left in the deep blackness of night.

هَاجَرْتَ (أَحمَدُ) بَعْدَ مَا اشْتَدَّ الأَذَى

هَاجَرْتَ تَخْفِيْفَاً عَنِ الضُّعَفَاءِ

You emigrated, Ahmad, after the harm intensified;

You emigrated to ease the burden on the weak.

وأرَى (سُرَاقَةَ) رَاحَ يَتْبَعُ خَطْوَكُمْ

ضَلَّتْ خُطَاهُ وتَاهَ في البَيْدَاءِ

I see Suraqa setting out to follow your steps;

His steps went astray, and he wandered in the wilderness.

وجَوَادُهُ رَفَضَ الرُّضُوخَ لأَمْرِهِ

سَاخَتْ قَوَائِمُهُ بِذِي الصَّحْرَاءِ

His steed refused to submit to his command;

Its legs sank in this desert.

لِمَ يَا جَوَادُ اليَوْمَ أنْتَ خَذَلْتَنِي

مَا كُنْتَ يَوْمَاً تَرْتَضِى إيذَائِي

“Why, my steed, have you failed me today?

You never used to accept my being harmed.

فَخُطَاكَ تُسْرِعُ إِنْ بَعُدْنا عَنْهُمو

وإذَا قَصَدْنَاهُمْ فَفِي إِبطَاءِ

Your steps quicken when we move away from them,

But when we head toward them, you slow down.”

وَكَأَنَّهُ قَدْ قَالَ ذَا رَكْبُ الهُدَى

منَْ ذا يُطَاوِلُ رَكْبَهُ بِغَبَاءِ

It was as though it had said, “This is the caravan of guidance;

Who would foolishly challenge his caravan?”

حَقَّاً فَرَكْبُ المُصْطَفَى لا يُقْتَفَى

بِالسُّوءِ ذَاكَ تَصَرُّفُ البُلَـهَاءِ

Truly, the Chosen One's caravan must not be pursued

With evil intent; that is the conduct of fools.

فَعِنَايَة ُالرَّحمَنِ تَحْرُسُ رَكْبَهُ

وعِنَايَة ُ الرَّحمَنِ خَيْرُ وقَاءِ

The care of the All-Merciful guards his caravan,

And the All-Merciful's care is the finest protection.

وهُنَا يقولُ (سُرَاقَةُ) اذهَبْ سَيِّدِي

=لا .. لَنْ أُناصِبَكُمْ بِأَيِّ عَدَاءِ

Here Suraqa says, “Go, my master;

No, I shall not oppose you with any hostility.

هَاتِ الأَمَانَ أَيَا (مُحَمَّدُ) هَاتِهِ

فَعَطَاؤُكُمْ واللهِ خَيْرُ عَطَاءِ

Give me safe conduct, O Muhammad, give it to me;

By God, your giving is the finest giving.

أَنَا لَنْ أَدُلَّهَمو عليكُمْ سَيِّدِي

أبَدَاً ومَهْمَا حَاوَلوا إِغْرَائِي

I shall never lead them to you, my master,

No matter how they try to tempt me.”

ارْجِعْ (سُرَاقَةُ) لا غُبَارَ عليكُمُو

واسْمَعْ لِمَا سَأَقُولُ مِنْ أَنْبَاءِ

“Go back, Suraqa; no blame rests upon you;

Listen to the tidings I shall tell.

يَوْمَاً سَتَلْبَسُ فِي يَدَيْكَ أَسَاوِرَاً

هِيَ مِلْكُ (كِسْرَى) صَاحِبِ الخُيَلاءِ

One day you will wear bracelets on your hands,

Belonging to Kisra, the proud one.

ارْجِعْ (سُرَاقَةُ) وانْتَظِرْ مَا قُلْتُهُ

فَهْوَ القَرِيْبُ ولَيْـسَ ذَا بِالنَّائِي

Go back, Suraqa, and await what I have said;

It is near, not far away.”

هِيَ رِحْلَة ٌ هَاجَرْتَ فِيْهَا سَيِّدِي

أَحْدَاثُهَا جَلَّتْ عَنِ الإِحْصَاءِ

It was a journey in which you emigrated, my master;

Its events were too momentous to count.

عَطَّرْتَ طِيْبَةَ سَيِّدِي بِمَجِيْئِكُمْ

ومَلأتَ كُلَّ الكَوْنِ بالأَضْوَاءِ

You perfumed Tayba with your arrival, my master,

And filled the whole universe with lights.

وبَنَيْتَ مُجْتَمَعَاً يَفِيضُ مَحَبَّةً

ومَوَدَّةً يَخْلو مِنَ البَغْضَاءِ

You built a society overflowing with love

And affection, free from hatred.

هَجَرُوا حُظُوظ َالنَّفْـسِ حِينَ أمَرْتَهُمْ

وسَمُوا بِأَخْلاق ٍعَلى الجَّوْزَاءِ

They forsook the self's desires when you commanded them,

And rose in character above al-Jawza'.

وطَرَقْتُ بَابَ اللهِ في غَسَقِ الدُّجَى

ودُموعُ عيني قَدْ سَبَقْنَ نِدَائِي

I knocked at God's door in the deep darkness of night;

The tears of my eyes had preceded my call.

أرجوكَ تَغْفِرُ لِي ذُنُوبِي كُلَّهَا

ولْتَمْحُ يَا رَبَّ الورَى أَخْطَائِي

“I beg You to forgive me all my sins,

And erase my errors, O Lord of humankind.

تَعْفُو وتَصْفَحُ لَيْسَ يَنْفَدُ فَضْلُكُمْ

أنتَ الكريمُ البَرُّ ذُو الآلاءِ

You pardon and forgive; Your bounty never runs out.

You are the Generous, the Beneficent, the giver of blessings.

(أنَا إِنْ عَصَيْتُ فهذِهِ بَشَرِيَّتِي)

ولئِنْ عَفَوْتَ فَأَكرَمُ الكُرَمَاءِ

If I disobey, that is my human nature;

And if You pardon, You are the most generous of the generous.

أنَا بالحبيبِ مُحَمَّدٍ مُسْتَشْفِعٌ

مفتَاحُ بَابِ السِّـرِ في العَلْيَاءِ

I seek intercession through the Beloved Muhammad,

The key to the gate of the mystery on high.

يَا رَبِّ وامْنَحْنَا بِفَضْلِكَ هِجْرَةً

تَعْلو النُّفُوسُ بهَا عَلى الأَهْوَاءِ

O Lord, grant us by Your grace a migration

Through which souls rise above their passions,

ويكُونُ فِيْهَا هَجْرُ كُلِّ رَذِيلَةٍ

كَالْحِقْدِ والبَغْضَاءِ والشَّحْناءِ

In which every vice is forsaken,

Such as rancor, hatred, and enmity.

وأَعِدْ لأُمَّتِنَا سَوَالِفَ مَجْدِهَا

واكْتُبْ لنَا نَصْرَاً عَلى الأَعْدَاءِ

Restore to our nation its bygone glory,

And decree for us victory over the enemies.

ثَبِّتْ إِلَهي كُلَّ مَنْ قَدْ جَاهَدُوا

وارْفَعْ لَهُمْ يَا رَبُّ خَيْرَ لِوَاءِ

Make steadfast, my God, all who have striven,

And raise for them, O Lord, the finest banner.

واحْقِنْ دِمَاءَ المُسْلمينَ جميعَهَا

لنكونَ يَا رَبِّي منْ السُّعَدَاءِ

Spare the blood of all Muslims,

That we may be among the blessed, O my Lord.”