وَرَدَ السُّرورُ وطافَ بحانِها

وَرَدَ السُّرورُ وطافَ بحانِها

مَن كانَ صاحبَها ومن أَخدانِها

مَن كانَ صاحبَها ومن أَخدانِها

Joy arrived, and around her tavern went

Joy came and surrounded its abode,

whoever was her companion and one of her intimates.

Whoever was its companion and confidant.

جُلِيَتْ فكان من الحَباب نِثارها

جُلِيَتْ فكان من الحَباب نِثارها

وقلائد العِقيان نظم جمانها

وقلائد العِقيان نظم جمانها

She was unveiled; bubbles were her scattered jewels,

It was unveiled, so its love became scattered,

and her strung pearls were necklaces of pure gold.

And necklaces of passion arranged its beauty.

والصُّبحُ قد سَفَرتْ محاسِنُه لنا

والصُّبحُ قد سَفَرتْ محاسِنُه لنا

وشجون وُرقِ الدَّوح من أشجانها

وشجون وُرقِ الدَّوح من أشجانها

Dawn has unveiled its beauties to us,

The morning has revealed its splendor to us,

and the plaints of the great trees' gray doves spring from their sorrows.

And the sadness of the branches of the wild peach tree from its grief.

تُملي على فَنَنِ الغصون فنونَها

تُملي على فَنَنِ الغصون فنونَها

ورقاءُ قد صَدَحَتْ على أَفنانها

ورقاءُ قد صَدَحَتْ على أَفنانها

She dictates her varied songs upon a limb of the boughs—

It recites over the crafts of the branches its crafts,

a gray dove that has sung upon their branches.

And the gazelle cried over its young.

وتجيد أوتار القيان لحونها

وتجيد أوتار القيان لحونها

فاشرب على النغمات من ألحانها

فاشرب على النغمات من ألحانها

And the singing slave-girls' strings skillfully play their melodies;

And the strings of the qiyán recite its melodies,

so drink to the notes of their songs.

So drink to the tunes from its songs.

وانظر إلى الأَزهار كيف يروقها

وانظر إلى الأَزهار كيف يروقها

إشراقُ بهجتها وطيبُ زمانها

إشراقُ بهجتها وطيبُ زمانها

And look at the flowers, how they delight in

And look at the flowers, how its brilliance pleases it

the radiance of their beauty and the sweetness of their season.

The radiance of its joy and the goodness of its time.

وعلى اتّفاق الحُسنَ من أشكالها

وعلى اتّفاق الحُسنَ من أشكالها

وَقَعَ الخلافُ فكان من ألوانها

وَقَعَ الخلافُ فكان من ألوانها

Though their forms agree in beauty,

And over the concurrence of beauty in its forms

difference arose, and it lay in their colors.

Difference occurred, so it was of its colors.

يَهَبُ النَّسيمُ عبيرَها من روضةٍ

يَهَبُ النَّسيمُ عبيرَها من روضةٍ

لا زال طفل الطّلّ في أحضانها

لا زال طفل الطّلّ في أحضانها

The breeze bestows their perfume from a garden

The breeze gives off its scent from a meadow

where the infant dew is ever held in its embrace.

Where the newborn fawn still lays in its bosom.

يا حبَّذا زَمنٌ على عهد الصبا

يا حبَّذا زَمنٌ على عهد الصبا

ومواسم اللذَّات في إبّانها

ومواسم اللذَّات في إبّانها

Ah, how lovely a time in the days of youth,

O excellent time of youth's era

and the seasons of pleasure at their height!

And seasons of pleasures in its prime.

حيث الهوى وطرٌ وأبيات الحمى

حيث الهوى وطرٌ وأبيات الحمى

أَقمارُ مطْلَعِها وجُوهُ حِسانها

أَقمارُ مطْلَعِها وجُوهُ حِسانها

Where love is the desire, and the sanctuary's dwellings

Where passion, infatuation, and verses of yearning

have the faces of their beauties for rising moons.

Are the rising moons and beautiful faces of its time.

ويُديرُ بدرٍ التِّمِّ في غَسَق الدُّجى

ويُديرُ بدرٍ التِّمِّ في غَسَق الدُّجى

كأساً حصى الياقوت من تيجانها

كأساً حصى الياقوت من تيجانها

And in the thick darkness of night a full moon passes round

The full moon turns the cup in the darkness of the night

a cup, with ruby pebbles among its crowns.

A cup whose gems are of its crowns.

لله أوقاتُ السُّرور وساعة

لله أوقاتُ السُّرور وساعة

تجري كميتُ الرَّاح في ميدانها

تجري كميتُ الرَّاح في ميدانها

God bless the times of joy, and an hour

To God belong the times of joy and an hour

in whose arena the chestnut wine runs!

That flows like the course of wind in its field.

ضَمِنَتْ لنا الأَفراحَ كأسُ مدامةٍ

ضَمِنَتْ لنا الأَفراحَ كأسُ مدامةٍ

وَفَت المسرَّة برهة بضمانها

وَفَت المسرَّة برهة بضمانها

A cup of aged wine pledged joys to us,

It guaranteed joys for us like a cup of wine

and gladness honored its pledge for a while.

And opened happiness for a moment with its pledge.

ويروقها ذاك الحَبابُ فَعَقْدُهُ

ويروقها ذاك الحَبابُ فَعَقْدُهُ

من نَظْم لؤْلؤِها ومن مرجانها

من نَظْم لؤْلؤِها ومن مرجانها

Those bubbles lend it charm; their necklace

And that love adorns it, for its necklace

is strung from its pearls and its coral.

Is of the stringing of its pearls and coral.

مِسْكِيَّةُ النفحات يسْطعُ طيبها

مِسْكِيَّةُ النفحات يسْطعُ طيبها

ما افتضَّ ربّ الحان ختم دنانها

ما افتضَّ ربّ الحان ختم دنانها

Musky in its wafts, its fragrance rises

The musky breaths whose scent shines

whenever the tavern's master breaks the seal of its jars.

As the Lord of splendor sealed its mouths.

في مجلسٍ دارت به أقداحُها

في مجلسٍ دارت به أقداحُها

فكأَنَّها الأَفلاكُ في دورانها

فكأَنَّها الأَفلاكُ في دورانها

In a gathering where its goblets went round,

In a gathering its cups revolved around,

they seemed like the celestial spheres in their rotation.

As if they were the celestial spheres in their rotation.

يا طالب اللّذّات حسبُكَ لذَّة

يا طالب اللّذّات حسبُكَ لذَّة

ما سال في الأَقداح من ذوبانها

ما سال في الأَقداح من ذوبانها

O seeker of pleasures, sufficient delight for you is

O seeker of pleasures, your pleasure suffices

what flows in the goblets of its molten essence.

What melted in the cups from its dissolution.

باكِرْ صَبوحَك ما استَطَعْتَ وعُجْ إلى

باكِرْ صَبوحَك ما استَطَعْتَ وعُجْ إلى

كأسِ الطلا واحرصْ على ندمانها

كأسِ الطلا واحرصْ على ندمانها

Take your morning draught early, whenever you can, and turn toward

Hasten your morning as much as you can and hurry

the cup of wine, and cherish its boon companions.

To the cup of drinking and be keen on its companionship.

وإذا سََرحتَ إلى الرِّياض فنَلْ إذَنْ

وإذا سََرحتَ إلى الرِّياض فنَلْ إذَنْ

من رَوحها أرَجاً ومن رَيْحانها

من رَوحها أرَجاً ومن رَيْحانها

And if you roam to the gardens, then gather

And if you travel to the gardens, then obtain

fragrance from their refreshing air and their sweet herbs.

Its spirit’s ease and its basil.

ومُوَرَّدِ الوَجَنات جنَّةُ وَجْهِهِ

ومُوَرَّدِ الوَجَنات جنَّةُ وَجْهِهِ

تَصلى بأحشائي لظى نيرانها

تَصلى بأحشائي لظى نيرانها

And a rose-cheeked one—the garden of his face

The garden of the rose’s face that prays

sets my breast ablaze with the flames of its fires.

With fires in my heart from its flame.

ومهفهفٍ ذي طلعةٍ قَمَرِيَّةٍ

ومهفهفٍ ذي طلعةٍ قَمَرِيَّةٍ

أَجْني ثمارَ الحُسن من بستانها

أَجْني ثمارَ الحُسن من بستانها

And a slender one with a moonlike countenance,

And a crescent-faced one whose bloom

I gather the fruits of beauty from its garden.

I harvest, the fruits of beauty from its orchard.

ما زالَ تَفْعَلُ بالعقول لحاظه

ما زالَ تَفْعَلُ بالعقول لحاظه

ما تفعلُ الصَّهباءُ في نشوانها

ما تفعلُ الصَّهباءُ في نشوانها

His glances never cease to work upon minds

Its glances still captivate minds

as tawny wine works upon one drunk with it.

As the star Suhail does in its setting.

يَسقي فأَشربُ من لمَاه وكأسُه

يَسقي فأَشربُ من لمَاه وكأسُه

ما يُنعِشُ الأَرواح في جثمانها

ما يُنعِشُ الأَرواح في جثمانها

He pours, and I drink from his dusky lips; his cup holds

It quenches so I drink from its drink and its cup

what revives souls within their bodies.

Revives souls in their bodies.

يشفي مريض القلب من أَلم الجوى

يشفي مريض القلب من أَلم الجوى

ولذا تَقَرُّ النَّفسُ من هيمانها

ولذا تَقَرُّ النَّفسُ من هيمانها

It cures the sick heart of the pain of passion,

It cures the heartsick of the pain of passion,

and thus the soul finds rest from its lovesick frenzy.

So the self settles from its worries.

ويبلُّ غلَّةَ وامقٍ مستغرم

ويبلُّ غلَّةَ وامقٍ مستغرم

بالرّيّ من صادي الحشا ظمآنها

بالرّيّ من صادي الحشا ظمآنها

And it quenches the burning thirst of an enthralled lover,

And it irrigates the plants of a pasture that thirsts

with refreshment for a parched and thirsty heart.

With pure water from the cascades of mountain peaks.

تَسْتَحْسِنُ الأَبصار ما بُليت به

تَسْتَحْسِنُ الأَبصار ما بُليت به

وبَلِيَّةُ العشَّاق باستحسانها

وبَلِيَّةُ العشَّاق باستحسانها

Eyes find lovely what has afflicted them,

The sights admire what they have been adorned with

and lovers' affliction lies in their finding it lovely.

And the affliction of lovers is in its approval.

إنَّ النقيب القادريّ لعوذتي

إنَّ النقيب القادريّ لعوذتي

من حادث الدُّنيا ومن عدوانها

من حادث الدُّنيا ومن عدوانها

The Qadiri naqib is indeed my refuge

Indeed, the al-Qadiri leader is my refuge

from the world's calamities and its aggression.

From the incidents of life and its aggression.

شهمٌ تذلّ المال عزَّةُ نفسه

شهمٌ تذلّ المال عزَّةُ نفسه

ومنزّل الأَموال دار هوانها

ومنزّل الأَموال دار هوانها

A gallant man whose proud soul humbles wealth,

Valiant, money’s honor is humbled by his nobility

and who consigns riches to the abode of their abasement.

And the wealth people boast of is the home of its disgrace.

السّيّد السَّنَدُ الرَّفيعُ مكانه

السّيّد السَّنَدُ الرَّفيعُ مكانه

حيث النجوم وحيث سعد قرانها

حيث النجوم وحيث سعد قرانها

The lord, the mainstay, whose station is high,

The eminent master, lofty is his station,

where the stars are, and where their fortunate conjunction lies.

Where the stars are, and where its luck resides.

الطاهر البَرّ الرَّؤوف بأُمَّةٍ

الطاهر البَرّ الرَّؤوف بأُمَّةٍ

اللهُ وفَّقها إلى إيمانها

اللهُ وفَّقها إلى إيمانها

The pure, the pious, the compassionate toward a community

The pure, righteous, and merciful to a nation—

that God has guided to its faith.

May God grant it success in its faith.

كم حُجَّةٍ قد أَنبأَتك بفضله

كم حُجَّةٍ قد أَنبأَتك بفضله

قام الدليل بها على برهانها

قام الدليل بها على برهانها

How many a proof has told you of his merit,

How many signs have told you of his virtues,

with evidence supporting its demonstration!

Evidence was established for its proof.

الباسطُ الأَيدي لكلِّ مؤمِّل

الباسطُ الأَيدي لكلِّ مؤمِّل

وجداول الإِحسان فيض بنانها

وجداول الإِحسان فيض بنانها

He extends his hands to every hopeful petitioner,

The open-handed to every hopeful one,

and streams of kindness pour from their fingertips.

And the streams of benevolence overflow with its bounty.

تزِنُ الرِّجال عوارفُ ومعارفٌ

تزِنُ الرِّجال عوارفُ ومعارفٌ

يتميّز الرّجحان في ميزانها

يتميّز الرّجحان في ميزانها

Benefactions and knowledge weigh men,

Men are weighed by noble customs and deeds.

and preeminence is distinguished in their balance.

Preference is distinguished in its scale.

قل للمُفاخرِ سادةً قرشيَّةً

قل للمُفاخرِ سادةً قرشيَّةً

ما أَنتَ يوم الفخر من فرسانها

ما أَنتَ يوم الفخر من فرسانها

Say to one who rivals Qurayshi lords in pride:

Tell the arrogant from Quraysh’s masters:

'On the day of boasting, you are not among their champions.'

You are not on its knights’ day of pride.

فهُمُ الجبال الرَّاسيات وإنَّهم

فهُمُ الجبال الرَّاسيات وإنَّهم

بين الجبال الشّمّ شم رعانها

بين الجبال الشّمّ شم رعانها

For they are firmly rooted mountains, and they

For they are firmly established mountains, and they

are towering summits among the towering mountains.

Are the summit of mountains between its mounts and meadows.

بَنَت المباني في العُلى آباؤه

بَنَت المباني في العُلى آباؤه

من قبله فبَنى على بنيانها

من قبله فبَنى على بنيانها

His forefathers built edifices in the heights

Their forefathers built edifices on high—

before him, and he built upon their edifice.

He then built upon their building.

ما زلتُ أُبصرُ منك كلّ أبيَّةٍ

ما زلتُ أُبصرُ منك كلّ أبيَّةٍ

ما كانَ غيرك آخذاً بعنانها

ما كانَ غيرك آخذاً بعنانها

I have ever seen in you every proud achievement

I do not cease to see from you every wonder,

whose reins no one but you could grasp.

None other than you held its reins.

حتَّى إذا بلَغَتْ سماوات العُلى

حتَّى إذا بلَغَتْ سماوات العُلى

رَفَقَتْكَ حينئذٍ على كيوانها

رَفَقَتْكَ حينئذٍ على كيوانها

Until, when it reached the heavens of eminence,

Until you reached the highest heavens,

it accompanied you then upon their Saturn—

You ascended with kindness then upon its throne.

نفسٌ لعمرك في النفوس زكيَّةً

نفسٌ لعمرك في النفوس زكيَّةً

الله فضَّلها على أَقرانها

الله فضَّلها على أَقرانها

a soul, by your life, pure among souls,

A soul, by your life, pure in souls—

which God has favored above its peers.

God favored it over its peers.

ما فوق أيديه لذي شرفٍ يدٌ

ما فوق أيديه لذي شرفٍ يدٌ

لا في سماحتها ولا إحسانها

لا في سماحتها ولا إحسانها

No noble person's hand stands above his hands,

Above its hands no one of nobility has a hand

neither in their generosity nor in their beneficence.

In its generosity or benevolence.

كم من يدٍ لكَ في الجميل ونِعمةٍ

كم من يدٍ لكَ في الجميل ونِعمةٍ

تَسْتَغْرِقُ العافين في طوفانها

تَسْتَغْرِقُ العافين في طوفانها

How many a kindly hand is yours, and a favor

How many hands you have in good and blessings

that engulfs petitioners in its flood!

That overwhelm the tranquil in its flood.

فالسَّعْدُ والإِقبالُ من خُدَّامها

فالسَّعْدُ والإِقبالُ من خُدَّامها

والعالم العلويُّ من أَعوانها

والعالم العلويُّ من أَعوانها

So good fortune and success are among its servants,

Good fortune and success are among its servants,

and the upper world is among its helpers.

And the highest world among its aides.

ذاتٌ مطهَّرة ومجدٌ باذخٌ

ذاتٌ مطهَّرة ومجدٌ باذخٌ

في سِرِّها لطف وفي إعلانها

في سِرِّها لطف وفي إعلانها

A purified being and a towering glory,

A pure being and glorious splendor—

with gentleness in its secrecy and in its openness.

In its mystery is subtlety, and its display.

لله فيه سريرةٌ نبويّةٌ

لله فيه سريرةٌ نبويّةٌ

عَرَفَتْ جميعُ الخلق رفعة شانها

عَرَفَتْ جميعُ الخلق رفعة شانها

God bless the prophetic inward nature within him,

To God belongs in it a prophetic way,

whose lofty standing all creation has recognized!

All people knew the loftiness of its rank.

نشرت صحائف فضله بين الورى

نشرت صحائف فضله بين الورى

فقرأت سطر المجد من عنوانها

فقرأت سطر المجد من عنوانها

The pages of his merit were spread among mankind,

It circulated among mortals the pages of its virtues,

so I read the line of glory from their heading.

So it read the line of glory from its title.

إنِّي لأَشكُرُ من جميلك نِعمةً

إنِّي لأَشكُرُ من جميلك نِعمةً

وأَعوذُ بالرَّحمن من كفرانها

وأَعوذُ بالرَّحمن من كفرانها

I indeed give thanks for a favor among your kindnesses,

I thank for your kindness a blessing,

and seek refuge in the Merciful from ingratitude for it.

And seek refuge with the Merciful from its denial.

أُلْبِسْتُها منك الجميل صنايعاً

أُلْبِسْتُها منك الجميل صنايعاً

سطعت بطيب الشُّكر من أردانها

سطعت بطيب الشُّكر من أردانها

I was clothed in it with gracious benefactions from you,

I was clothed by you in fine character traits,

that shone with gratitude's fragrance from their sleeves.

That shone with good gratitude from its boughs.

ها أنتَ في الأَشْرافِ واحد عصرها

ها أنتَ في الأَشْرافِ واحد عصرها

ونجيبُ عنصرها رضيعُ لبانها

ونجيبُ عنصرها رضيعُ لبانها

Behold, among the nobles you are the peerless one of their age,

And its eminent essence, a suckling infant.

the finest of their stock, nursed on their milk.

Unless a people attain your heights—they

إلاَّ تَنَلْ قومٌ عُلاك فإنَّهم

إلاَّ تَنَلْ قومٌ عُلاك فإنَّهم

طالوا وما بلغوا رفيع مكانها

طالوا وما بلغوا رفيع مكانها

If a people do not attain your eminence, they

Yearned but never reached the lofty place of its position.

have risen high, yet not reached its lofty station.

Or the notables were counted among its elite—

أَوْ عُدَّت الأَعيان من نُقبائها

أَوْ عُدَّت الأَعيان من نُقبائها

ما كنتَ إلاَّ العَينَ من أَعيانها

ما كنتَ إلاَّ العَينَ من أَعيانها

Or if the notables among their naqibs are counted,

You were nothing but the essence of its essence.

you would be none but the foremost among their notables.

The rhymes in your praise have not ceased

إنَّ القوافي في مديحك لم تزلْ

إنَّ القوافي في مديحك لم تزلْ

تُثني عليك بلفظها ولسانها

تُثني عليك بلفظها ولسانها

The rhymes in praise of you have never ceased

To praise you in their wording and expression.

to extol you in their words and with their tongue.