يا حسنه والحسن قيد — Abn Zakur

يَا حُسْنَهُ وَالْحُسْنُ قَيَّدْ

فِيهِ البَصيرَةَ إذْ تَأَوَّدْ

Ah, his beauty! Beauty fettered

insight in him when he swayed.

تَخِذَ الْمَلاحَةَ مَلْبَساً

وَكَسَا المَلامَةَ مَنْ تَبَلَّدْ

He took comeliness as a garment

and clothed the dull-witted in blame.

وَسَقاهُ حَيْثُ سَبَاهُ مِنْ

مَا يَزْدَري بِسُلافِ صَرْخَدْ

And, as he captivated him, he gave him drink from

what puts Sarkhad's pure wine to shame.

فَمَشَتْ حُمَيَّا حُبِّهِ

في لُبِّهِ فَصَبَا فَغَرَّدْ

Then the intoxicating fervor of his love coursed

through his heart; he yearned and sang.

غَنَّى وَلَحْنُ غِنَائِهِ

أَرْبَى عَلى نَغَمَاتِ مَعبَدْ

He sang, and the melody of his song

surpassed Ma'bad's notes.

وَشَدا بِمَا فيهِ التَّخَ

لُّصُ مِنْ عَناً لِأَجْلِ مَقْصَدْ

And he sang of what brings deliverance

from toil, in pursuit of a goal.

عِقْدُ العُلاََ وَالْحِسُّ يَشْهَدْ

لَوْلاَ ابْنُ مَسْعودٍ تَبَدَّدْ

The necklace of eminence—perception bears witness—

would scatter, were it not for Ibn Mas'ud.

كَهْفُ الوَرى الْحَسَنُ الذِي

دِينُ الإِلَهِ به مُؤَيَّدْ

Al-Hasan, refuge of humankind, through whom

God's religion is sustained.

حَبْرٌ يُبيدُ الحِبْرَ بَعْ

ضُ مَدِيحِهِ والْخُبْرُ يَشْهَدْ

A scholar: the ink is exhausted by part

of his praise; experience bears witness.

عَلاَّمَةُ الدُّنْيا بِلاَ

ثُنْيَا وَمِصْقَعُهَا الْمُسَدَّدْ

The world's supreme scholar, without

exception, and its rightly guided orator.

بَحْرْ الشَّريعَةِ وَالْحَقِي

قَةِ فَاضَ فَيْضاً لَيْسَ يُعْهَدْ

The ocean of sacred law and spiritual truth

overflowed with a flood never known before.

بَذَّ الذِينَ تَقَدَّمُوا

وَاسْتَشْهِدِ الأَخْبَارَ تُرْشَدْ

He outstripped those who came before;

call the accounts as witnesses, and be guided.

فَسَمِيُّهُ الْبَصْرِيُّ لَوْ

رُزِقَ الْحَيَاةَ لَهُ تَرَدَّدْ

His namesake, al-Basri, if

granted life, would frequent him.

حَسَنُ الْحُلَى هُوَ وَالعُلاَ

أَخَوانِ ذاكَ بِذاكَ يُعْضَدْ

Beautiful in adornments, he and eminence

are brothers, each sustaining the other.

بَيْنَ الْهُدَى وَفِعالِهِ

وَمَقالِهِ حِلْفٌ مُؤَكَّْد

Between guidance and his deeds

and his speech is a firm alliance.

مَنْ ضَلَّ عَنْ أَعْلامِهِ

لمْ يَدْرِ كَيْفَ اللهً يُعْبَدْ

Whoever strays from his beacons

does not know how God is worshipped.

عُجْ بِالْحِمَى مِنْ حُبِّهِ

إِنْ شِئْتَ فِي الدَّارَيْنِ تَسْعَدْ

Turn toward the sanctuary of love for him,

if you wish to prosper in both abodes.

وَحَذَارِ صُحْبَةَ نَاقِصٍ

وَتَرَاكِ مَن يَأْبَى وَيَأْبَدْ

Beware the company of the deficient,

and forsake those who refuse and grow wild.

مَنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ فِي حُبِّهِ

طَعْمَ الْحَلاوَةِ لَيْسَ يُحْمَدْ

Whoever has not found in love for him

the taste of sweetness is not praiseworthy.

مَنْ لَمْ يَرِدْ مِنْ بَحْرِهِ الْ

عَذْبِ الْمَوَارِدِ لَنْ يُسَدَّدْ

Whoever has not drawn from his ocean's

sweet watering places will never be rightly guided.

عَكْسُ النقِيضِ مُوافِقٌ

لِمُرِيدِهِ فِي كُلِّ مَشْهَدْ

The contrapositive holds true

for his disciple in every setting.

وَالدِّينُ والدنْيا لِمَنْ

وَالَى مَوَدَّتَهُ بِمَرْصَدْ

And religion and the world, for whoever

keeps faith with affection for him, lie in readiness.

وَاليُمْنُ وَالإِقْبالُ فِي

لَفْظِ الثَّنَاءِ عليهِ مُغْمَدْ

And good fortune and success lie

sheathed in words of praise for him.

كَنْزُ الْغِنَى هُوَ وَالْعَنَا

مِمَّا تَبَايُنُهُ مُؤَبَّدْ

He is a treasure of riches, and hardship

is forever set apart from him.

لاَ يَعْرُجَنَّ إِلَى العُلاَ

مَنْ لمْ يَلُذْ مِنْهُ بِمِصْعَدْ

Let none ascend toward eminence

who has not sought a stairway through him.

لاَ يَفْتَحَنْ بَابَ الْمُنَى

مَنْ لَمْ يَفُزْ مِنْهُ بِمِقْلَدْ

Let none open the door of desires

who has not won a key from him.

يَفْرِي دَيَاجِيرَ الْهَوَى

مَنْ يَقْتَدِي مِنْهُ بِفَرْقَدْ

He cleaves the pitch-darkness of passion,

who follows a polar star from him.

وَيُجَارُ منْ جَمْعِ الْعِدَى

مَنْ يَنْتَمي مِنْهُ لِمُفْرَدْ

And is protected from the gathered foes,

who attaches himself to even one of his.

يَعْنُو لَهُ الْجَبَّارُ ذُو ال

بَتَّارِ وَهْوَ بهِ مُقَلَّدْ

The tyrant, bearing the

cleaving sword, bows to him, though girded with it.

وَيَهَابُهُ مَنْ لمْ يَذُقْ

لِوِدَادِهِ طَعْماً فَيُرْعَدْ

And whoever has never tasted

the savor of his affection fears him and trembles.

سِرٌّ مِنَ الرحْمَانِ لاَ

سِرٌّ منَ السُّلْطانِ أَخْمَدْ

A mystery from the All-Merciful—not

a mystery from the ruler—has quelled him.

وَعِنَايَةُ الرَّبِّ الرؤُو

فِ أَذَلَّتِ الْبَطَلَ الْمُزَرَّدْ

And the care of the compassionate Lord

has humbled the mail-clad champion.

قَدْ جَاءَ شَمْسَ مَعَارِفٍ

وَالْجَهْلُ أَتْهَمَ ثُمَّ أَنْجَدْ

He came as a sun of knowledge,

while ignorance entered the lowlands, then the uplands;

وَالدِّينُ مَفْصُومُ الْعُرَى

وَالَغَيُّ أَبْرَقَ ثمَّ أَرْعَدْ

while religion's bonds were broken,

and error flashed lightning, then thundered;

وَالْحَقُّ مَفْلولُ الشَّبَا

وَالبَغْيُ صَارِمُهُ مُهَنَّدْ

while truth's blade-edges were blunted,

and tyranny's sharp sword was of Indian steel;

وَالْخَيْرُ فَاعِلُهُ تَبَدَّدْ

وَالشَّرُّ مُوقِدُهُ تَوَدَّدْ

while the doers of good were scattered,

and the kindler of evil courted affection;

وَالْغَرْبُ غَرْبُ نَجَاتِهِ

مُتَخَرِّقٌ وَالْبَأْسُ مُوقَدْ

while the West's bucket of deliverance

was torn, and warfare blazed;

وَبُغَاثُهُ مُسْتَنْسِرٌ

وَسَرَاتُهُ سُرَّتْ بِجَدْجَدْ

its feeble birds posing as eagles,

and its nobles delighted with crickets;

وَشَحَا الرَّدَى أُفْوَاهَهُ

فُضَّتْ لِبَلْعِ وُلاَةِ أَحْمَدْ

while death gaped, its mouths

flung open to swallow Ahmad's adherents.

صَلَّى عَلَيْهِ اللهُ مَا

نَصَرَ الإِلَهُ بِهِ وَأَيَّدْ

May God bless him for as long as

God grants victory and support through him,

وَالآلِ والأَصْحابِ مَنْ

نَصَروا النَّبِيَّ بِكُلِّ مِجْدَدْ

and his family and companions, those who

helped the Prophet with every keen sword,

مِنْ كلِّ نَجْمٍ طَالِعٍ

فيِ بُرْجٍ سَامِي الجِيدِ أَجْرَدْ

each a rising star

in a tower, lofty-necked and bare.

وَالْعِلْمُ مِمَّا قَدْ عَرَا

فِيمَا أَقَامَ جَوىً وَأَقْعَدْ

And learning, from what had befallen it,

in anguish that made it rise and sit,

يَبْكِي قَوَاعِدَهُ كَمَا

أبْكَى لَبِيداً فَقْدُ أَرْبَدْ

wept for its foundations, as

the loss of Arbad made Labid weep.

فَأَعَادَ مِنْ أَنْوَارِهِ

مَا قَدْ خَبَا وَالْعَوْدُ أَحْمَدْ

He restored of its lights

what had died down; renewal is more praiseworthy.

وَبَنَى قَوَاعِدَهُ وَشَيَّدْ

وَحَوَى شَوَارِدَهُ وَقَيَّدْ

He rebuilt its foundations and raised them high,

gathered its scattered insights and bound them fast,

وَأَبَادَ مِنْ سُحْبِ الْجَهَا

لَةِ مَا تَكَاثَفَ أَوْ تَكَلَّدْ

and dispelled from the clouds of ignorance

all that had thickened or piled up.

وَسَقَى رِيَاضَ فُنُونِهِ

فَاخْضَرَّ مِنْها كلُّ أَمْلَدْ

He watered the gardens of its disciplines,

and every tender shoot within them grew green.

فَتََتَّقَتْ أَزْهَارُهَا

وَتَأَرَّجَتْ فيِ كُلِّ مَعْهَدْ

Then its blossoms burst open

and spread their fragrance in every place of learning.

وَسَرَى لأَِقْصَى الأَرْضِ مِنْ

نَفَحاتِها مُبْرِي الْمُسَهَّدْ

And to earth's farthest reaches drifted

a breath of their scent that heals the sleepless.

وَرَمَى الضَّلاَلَ بِأَسْهُمٍ

مِنْ سُنَّةِ الْهَادِي فَأَقْصَدْ

He shot at error with arrows

from the Guide's Sunna, striking it dead.

فَالدِّينُ أَصْبَحَ ضَاحِكاً

حُلْوَ الْحُلَى فِي زَيِّ فَوْهَدْ

So religion awoke smiling,

sweetly adorned, in a tender youth's garb.

لِمْ لاَ وَقَدْ زُفَّتْ لَهُ الْ

غَرَّاءُ حَالِيَةَ الْمُقَلَّدْ

Why not, when to it was brought as bride

the radiant beauty, her neck adorned?

وَأَدَارَ خَمْرَ حَقَائِقٍ

لِلَّهِ مَا أَحْلَى وَأَرْغَدْ

And he passed round wine of truths—

by God, how sweet and bountiful!

ثَبَتَتْ لَهَا الأَفْرَاحُ إِذْ

رَقَصَتْ لَهَا الأَرْوَاحُ مِنْ دَدْ

Joys were made firm through it, when

souls danced for it in merriment.

مَنْ ذَاقَ مِنْهَا شُرْبَةً

أَوْلَتْهُ سُكْراً لَيْسَ يَنْفَدْ

Whoever tasted a draught of it,

it bestowed on him an intoxication that never ends.

فَإِذَا صَحَا مِنْهَا بِهَا

طَرَقَتْهُ لِذَاتِهَا فَعَرْبَدْ

And when through it he sobered from it,

it visited him for its own sake, and he grew riotous.

آخَى بِهَا بَيْنَ الْعِبَا

دِ فَأَصْلَحَتْ مَا الصَّحْوُ أَفْسَدْ

Through it he joined the servants in brotherhood,

and it repaired what sobriety had spoiled.

عَرِّجْ بِأَنْجَادِ الْعُلاَ

مِنْ أَرْضِهِ تَسْعَدْ وَتُنْجَدْ

Turn to the highlands of eminence

in his land: prosper and be aided.

تَجِدِ الْمُنَى دَانِي الْجَنَى

وَتُصَافِحِ الآمَالَ بِالْيَدْ

You will find wishes with fruit close at hand,

and clasp hopes by the hand;

وَتَرَ الْجَلاَلَ مُخَيِّماً

فِي بُرْدِ مِفْضَالٍ مُمَجَّدْ

and see majesty encamped

in the cloak of a generous, exalted man;

وَالْبِشْرَ يُعْشِي نُورُهُ

عَيْنَ الْعَنَا وَالْوَجْدُ يُطْرَدْ

and good cheer, its light dazzling

the eye of hardship, while sorrow is driven away;

وَالْفَضْلَ مَنْثُورَ اللِّوَا

ءِ لِمَنْ تَصَوَّبَ أَوْ تَصَعَّدْ

and bounty, its banner unfurled

for those who descend or ascend;

وَالْحِلْمَ رَاسٍ طَوْدُهُ

وَقَصَائِدَ الإِرْشَادِ تُنْشَدْ

and forbearance, its mountain rooted fast,

while poems of guidance are recited;

وَالْعِلْمَ مَاجَ عُبَابُهُ

يُرْوِي وَيُشْبِعُ مَنْ تَوَرَّدْ

and knowledge, its deep waters surging,

quenching and feeding those who come to drink.

مَنْ لَمْ يَطُفْ بِحِمَاهُ بَيْ

تِ الْمَكْرُمَاتِ فَلَيْسَ يُرْفَدْ

Whoever has not circled his sanctuary, the house

of noble deeds, receives no bounty.

مَنْ لَمْ يُشَاهِدْ دَرْسَهُ

وَنَفَائِسُ الأَبْحَاثِ تُورَدْ

Whoever has not witnessed his lesson,

while precious investigations are presented,

وَالنُّجْحُ دَانٍ وَالْوَقَا

رُ يَحُفُّ مِنْهُ أَغَرَّ أَوْحَدْ

success is near, and dignity

surrounds in him a radiant, peerless man,

وَجَدَا الصَّوَابِ يُمِدُّهُ

هَطَّالُهُ بِزُلاَلِ مَدْمَدْ

and the bounty of sound judgment is supplied

by its downpour with abundant limpid water,

وَالْبِشْرُ يُوعِدُ بِالْمُنَى

وَسَحَائِبُ الأَوْهَامِ تُبْعَدْ

and cheerfulness promises fulfilled desires,

and clouds of delusion are driven away,

وَاللَّفْظُ يَجْلُو خُرَّداً

قَدْ زَفَّهَا الْفِكْرُ الْمُؤَيَّدْ

and speech unveils untouched maidens

whom inspired thought has brought as brides,

وَالْفَهْمُ يُنْشِدُ مَنْ تَبَلَّدْ

لَبَّيْكَ أَبْشِرْ لاَ تَأَلَّْد

and understanding sings to the dull-witted,

'At your service! Rejoice; do not be bewildered!'

لَمْ يَجْنِ تَمْرَ الْعِلْمِ بَلْ

لَمْ يَدْرِ كَيْفَ الْعِلْمُ يُنْشَدْ

has not harvested the dates of knowledge; indeed,

he does not know how knowledge is sought.

مَنْ مُبْلِغُ عَنِّي الْمُسَا

عِدَ والْمُعَانِدَ حيْثُ شَرَّدْ

Who will carry word from me to the supporter

and the adversary, wherever he has fled,

لِيَطِيبَ ذَا نَفْساً فَيَحْمَدْ

وَيَزِيدَ ذَا رِجْساً فَيَحْرَدْ

that this one's heart may rejoice and give praise,

and that one's defilement increase, so he fumes,

أَنِّي اقْتَنَيْتُ منَ الْعُلَا

مَا لاَ يٌحَدُّ وَلاَ يُعَدَّدْ

that I have acquired of eminence

what cannot be bounded or counted?

جَالَسْتُ فَخْرَ الدِّينِ وَالْ

إِرْشَادُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ يُسْرَدْ

I sat with Fakhr al-Din, while

al-Irshad was recited before him;

وَسَمِعْتُ عِزَّ الدِّينِ إِذْ

أَمْلَى قَوَاعِدَهُلِرُوَّدْ

and heard 'Izz al-Din as

he dictated his Qawa'id to seekers;

وَشَهِدْتُ سَعْدَ الدين ِقَدْ

أَقْرَا مَقَاصِدَهُ لِقُصَّدْ

and witnessed Sa'd al-Din as he

read his Maqasid to those who sought him;

وَرَأَيْتُ مَجْدَ الدينِوَالْ

قَامُوسُ مُشْكِلُهُ يُقَيَّدْ

and saw Majd al-Din, while

the difficult points of al-Qamus were set down.

فَأَفَادَنِي من نَظْمِهِ ال

مُزْري بِأسْلاكِ الزبَرْجَدْ

He gave me of his verse, which

puts strings of chrysolite to shame,

عَرِّجْ بِمُنْعَرِجِ الْهِضَا

بِ يَتِيمَةِ الْعِقْدِ الْمُنَضَّدْ

'Turn at the bend of the hills'—

the unique jewel of the ordered necklace;

وَقَصِيدَةً قَصَدَتْ حُلَى ال

إِبْدَاعِ مِنْ مَثْنىً وَمَوْحَدْ

and a poem that sought invention's

adornments, in pairs and singly;

نَظَمَتْ مِنَ الأَمْثَالِ مَا

لَمْ يَنْتَظِمْ بِطُلَى مُجَلَّدْ

it strung together proverbial sayings

never strung upon the neck of a bound volume;

وَحَوَتْ مِنَ الآداَبِ مَا

لَمْ يَحْوِ دِيوَانُ الْمُبَرِّدْ

and encompassed literary lore

that al-Mubarrid's collection did not contain.

يُبْدِي نَسِيمُ نَسِيبِهَا

لُطْفاً صَبَابَةَ مَنْ تَجَلَّدْ

The breeze of its love prelude reveals

gently the yearning of those who feign endurance;

وَتَقُودُ رَاحَةَ وَعْظِهَا

مَنْ قَدْ قَسَا قَلْباً بِمِقْوَدْ

and the palm of its admonition leads

those whose hearts have hardened, with a rein;

ومَديحُهَا يُنْسِيكَ مَا

صَاغَ الْمُخَضْرَمُ وَالْمُوَلَّدْ

and its praise makes you forget what

the poets of two eras and the later-born fashioned.

لِِمْ لاَ وَدُرُّ عُقُودِهِ

لِمُؤَازِرِ الإِسْلاَمِ مُسْنَدْ

Why not, when the pearls of its necklaces

are devoted to Islam's champion?

ذَاكَ ابنُ نَاصِرٍالذِي

نَصَرَ الرشادََ وَقَدْ تَنَهَّْد

That is Ibn Nasir, who

upheld right guidance when it had crumbled:

شَمْس ُالْهُدى مُرْدي الردَى

غَيْثُ النَّدى الْمَوْلَى مُحَمَّدْ

sun of guidance, destroyer of destruction,

rain of generosity, our lord Muhammad.

سَحَّتْ علَى جَدَثٍ حَوَى

مِنْهُ النَّصِيرَ لِمَنْ تَشَهَّدْ

May there pour upon the tomb that holds

in him the champion of those who bear witness,

وَالْعِلْمَ ذَا التَّحْقيقِ وَالْ

نُّصْحَ الْعَمِيمَ لِكُلِّ مُهَتَّدْ

knowledge endowed with exact discernment, and

universal counsel for every rightly guided soul,

وَأَسَحَّ مِنْ وَبْلِ الْحَيَا

وَأَعَمَّ مِنْهُ جَداً وَأَفْيَدْ

one more copious than a downpour of rain,

more far-reaching in bounty, more beneficent,

وَمَدَارَ أَنْوارِ الْهُدَى

وَمَنَارَ عِرْفانٍ وَسُؤْدَدْ

the axis of the lights of guidance,

and a beacon of understanding and nobility,

هَطْلاَءُ مِنْ رَوْحِ الذِي

أَبْقَى مَآثِرَهُ تُرَدَّدْ

a downpour of mercy from Him who

has kept his great deeds repeated,

وَأَنَالَهَا مِنْ بَعْدِهِ

مِصْبَاحَنَا ذَا اللَّذْ تَوَقَّدْ

and bestowed them after him upon

this lamp of ours, who blazes:

نُورُ الزمانِ أبُو عَلِ

يٍّ عِزُّ مَنْ لَبَّى وَوَحَّدْ

the light of the age, Abu 'Ali,

the pride of those who answer the call and profess God's oneness.

مَنْ لاَ يُحَاوِلُ شَأْوَهُ

فِي حَلِّ إِشْكَالٍ تَعَقَّدْ

whose reach none strives to match

in solving a tangled difficulty.

وَسَلِ الدُّرًوسَ أَوِ الطُّرُو

سَ فَإِنَّهَا لَيْسَتْ تُفَنَّدْ

Ask the lessons or the pages,

for their testimony cannot be refuted.

إِنْ شَبَّ جَمْرَ ذَكائِهِ

شَاهَدْتَ كُومَ الْجَهْلِ تَصْخَدْ

If he kindles the embers of his brilliance,

you see the heaps of ignorance scorching.

وَإِذَا انْتَضَى مِنْ هَدْيِهِ

عَضْباً رَأَيْتَ الزَّيْغَ يُحْصَدْ

And when he draws from his guidance

a keen sword, you see deviation reaped,

فَكَأَنَّ سَيْفَ اللهِِ عِنْ

دَ الشَّامِ قَدْ شَامَ الْمُهَنَّدْ

as though the Sword of God in

Syria had drawn the Indian blade;

أَوْ حَمْزَةًوَهْوَ الْغَضَنْ

فَرُ يَقْضِمُ الْجُنْدَ الْمُجَنَّدْ

or Hamzah, the lion,

gnawing at the mustered army;

أوْ ذَا الفَقَّارِيَقُدُّ مِنْ

جَمْعِ الْخَوَارِجِ مَا تَمَرَّدْ

or Dhu al-Fiqar cutting from

the massed Kharijites all who rebelled;

أَوْ عَضْبَ عَمْرٍوذَا الصَّرَا

مَةِ يَوْمَ فَارِسَإِذْ تَجَرَّدْ

or 'Amr's keen sword, so resolute,

on the day of Persia, when it was bared.

سَجَدَتْ رُؤُوسُهُمُ لَهُ

وَالْفُرْسُ لِلنِّيرَانِ سُجَّدْ

Their heads bowed down before him,

while the Persians bowed to fires.

مَوْلاَيَ يَا مَنْ حَاكَ مِنْ

غَزْلِ الْبَلاَغَةِ كُلَّ مِحْفَدْ

My lord, you who have woven from

the yarn of eloquence every patterned robe,

وَرَوى أَحادِيثَ الفَضا

ئِلِ وَالْمَنَاقِبِ عنْ مُسَدَّدْ

and narrated the traditions of virtues

and noble qualities from a rightly guided authority,

عَنْ نَاصِرِ الدِّينِ بْنِ نَا

صِرٍ الذِي أَحْيَا وَجَدَّدْ

from Nasir al-Din ibn Nasir,

who revived and renewed.

شِعْرِي أتَاكَ وَوَجْهُهُ

بحَِيَائِهِ مِنْكُمْ مُوَرَّدْ

My verse has come to you, its face

rosy with bashfulness before you.

رَفّلْتُهُ بِمَدِيحِكُمْ

إِذْ مِنْهُ لِلإِسْعَادِ يَصْعَدْ

I draped it in your praise,

since through that it rises toward happiness;

وَعَقَلْتُهُ بِعُلاكُمُ

فِلِذَا الرَّوِيُّ بِهِ مُقَيَّدْ

and I tethered it to your eminence,

hence its rhyme-letter is bound.

إِنْ كَانَ سَاءَ مِزَاجُهُ

وَشَوَى فَأَنْضَجَ ثُمَّ رَمَّدْ

If its temperament has gone awry,

and it roasted, cooked through, then turned to ash;

وَأَسَاءَ إِذْ أَهْدى الزُّيُو

فَ لِمَعْدِنَيْ وَرِقٍ وَعَسْجَدْ

and erred by offering counterfeit coins

to mines of silver and gold—

بَلْ قَطْرَةً مِنْ آسِنٍ

لِلنِّيلِ حِينَ طَمَى وَأَزْبَدْ

indeed, a drop of stagnant water

to the Nile when it swells and foams—

فَاعْذِرْهُ يَا مَوْلايَ إِ

نَّ الْعُذْرَ عِنْدَكُمْ مُمَهَّدْ

then pardon it, my lord; indeed,

excuses find a ready place with you.

هَذا وَإِنَّ تَأَنُّقِي

مَا مَدَّ نَحْوَ جَنَاهُ مِنْ يَدْ

This much—and my striving for refinement

stretched no hand toward its fruit.

قَطَفَتْهُ رَاحَةُ حُبِّكُمْ

مِنْ رَوْضِ فِكْرٍ غَيْر أَغْيَدْ

The palm of love for you plucked it

from a garden of thought not lush and supple;

أَذْوَتْهُ إِعْصَارٌ تَهُ

بُّ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ لَفَحَاتِ حُقَّدْ

a whirlwind withered it, blowing

upon it with the scorching blasts of spiteful men.

وَقَبُولُكُمْ إِيَّاهُ يَا

مَوْلايَ يَرْفَعُهُ فَيَسْعَدْ

And your acceptance of it, my

lord, will raise it, and it will prosper,

وَيُفَاخَرُ الدُّرُّ الذِي

فِي جِيدِ أَجْيَدَ قَدْ تَنَضَّدْ

and it will vie with the pearls that

are strung upon the neck of a long-necked beauty.

هَبْ لِي رِضَاكَ فَمَنْ يَفُزْ

بِرِضَاكَ يَقْهَرْ كلَّ أصْيَدْ

Grant me your favor: whoever wins

your favor overcomes every haughty lord,

وَيَهِجْ تَحَرُّقَ كُلِّ أوْغَدْ

فَيَحِنْ غَدَاةَ الْيَوْمِِ أَوْ غَدْ

and stirs the burning envy of every wretch,

who then groans this morning or tomorrow.

فَلَقَدْ تَعَوَّدْتُ الرِّضَى

وَالْقَرْمُ يَحْفَظُ مَا تَعَوَّدْ

For I have grown accustomed to your favor,

and the noble lord preserves his accustomed ways.

أبْقَى الإِلَهُ وُجُودَكُمْ

وَالْبَرُّ فِي الدُّنْيَا مُخَلَّدْ

May God preserve your presence;

the righteous live forever in this world:

يَحْيَى فَيُوجَدُ حِينَ يُفْقَدْ

مَنْ لَيْسَ يُفْقَدُ حِينَ يُوجَدْ

he lives on, found when he is lost—

the one who is not lost while he is present.