أَبْلِغْهُمْconvey to them مَأْلُكاًa message عَنْfrom قَلْبِthe heart of مَنْone whom مَلَكُواthey possessed
أَبْلِغْهُمْ مَأْلُكاً عَنْ قَلْبِ مَنْ مَلَكُوا
وَإِنْand even if جَفَوْهُthey shunned him وَحَبْلَand the cord of الْوَصْلِunion قَدْalready بَتَكُواthey severed
وَإِنْ جَفَوْهُ وَحَبْلَ الْوَصْلِ قَدْ بَتَكُوا
Convey to them a message from the heart of one they own,
Convey my yearning to those who have captured my heart,
Convey a message to them from the heart of the one they have possessed,
though they have shunned him and severed the cord of union,
Even though they've been harsh and severed the bonds of affection.
even if they shun him and have severed the rope of connection,
وَصَيَّرُواand they made نَكَبَاتِthe calamities of الدَّهْرِtime تَرْشُقُهُshoot at him
وَصَيَّرُوا نَكَبَاتِ الدَّهْرِ تَرْشُقُهُ
بِنَبْلِهَاwith their arrows وَنَجِيعَand the fresh blood of الصَّبْرِpatience قَدْalready سَفَكُواthey spilled
بِنَبْلِهَا وَنَجِيعَ الصَّبْرِ قَدْ سَفَكُوا
and made time's calamities shoot at him
They made the blows of fate assail me
and have caused the calamities of time to shoot at him
with their arrows, and spilled patience's fresh blood,
With its arrows, spilling all the patience I held.
with their arrows, spilling the lifeblood of his patience,
وَسَلَكُواand they thrust فيِinto لَظَىthe blaze of الأَحْزَانِsorrows مُهْجَتَهُhis lifeblood
وَسَلَكُوا فيِ لَظَى الأَحْزَانِ مُهْجَتَهُ
إِذْsince طُرُقَthe paths of الْغَدْرِbetrayal وَالإِخْلاَفِand promise-breaking قَدْalready سَلَكُواthey traversed
إِذْ طُرُقَ الْغَدْرِ وَالإِخْلاَفِ قَدْ سَلَكُوا
and thrust his lifeblood into the blaze of sorrows,
They tread the fierce heat of sorrows,
and made his soul walk through the blazing fire of sorrows,
since they have taken the paths of betrayal and broken promises.
When the paths of betrayal and disloyalty they did take.
when they walked the paths of betrayal and broken promises.
فَرُبَّمَاfor sometimes حَازَwon حَمْداًpraise مُقْتَفٍone following لِقَفَاat the heels of
فَرُبَّمَا حَازَ حَمْداً مُقْتَفٍ لِقَفَا
غَادِرِa betrayer شَرٍّevil َوَفَىkept faith وَاللَّيْلُwhile the night مُشْتَبِكُis tangled
غَادِرِ شَرٍّ َوَفَى وَاللَّيْلُ مُشْتَبِكُ
For sometimes praise is won by one following at the heels
Yet one who does wrong may still gain praise,
Yet perhaps one who follows in the footsteps of
of an evil betrayer, keeping faith while night lies tangled.
If he fulfills his word while night's darkness lies opaque.
a wicked traitor earns praise by proving loyal when the night is darkly tangled,
أَنْthat قَدْindeed تَجَلَّتْrevealed itself إِلَيْنَاto us شَمْسُa sun of مَعْرِفَةٍknowledge
أَنْ قَدْ تَجَلَّتْ إِلَيْنَا شَمْسُ مَعْرِفَةٍ
لَهَاfor it السَّعَادَةُfelicity بُرْجٌa zodiacal sign وَالْهُدَىand guidance فَلَكُa celestial sphere
لَهَا السَّعَادَةُ بُرْجٌ وَالْهُدَى فَلَكُ
That a sun of knowledge has revealed itself to us,
To us has risen a sun of wisdom,
[by declaring] that a sun of knowledge has manifested unto us,
with felicity as its zodiacal sign and guidance as its sphere.
It holds within fortune, and its orbit is guidance.
having happiness as its zodiac sign and guidance as its orbit.
أَطْلَعَهَاmade it rise الْعِلْمُknowledge إِذْwhen أَوْدَىperished كَمَاas دَرِمٌDarim
أَطْلَعَهَا الْعِلْمُ إِذْ أَوْدَى كَمَا دَرِمٌ
أَوْدَىperished وَأَمْرُand the state of الْهُدَىguidance مِنْthrough أَمْرِهِits plight لَبِكُtangled
أَوْدَى وَأَمْرُ الْهُدَى مِنْ أَمْرِهِ لَبِكُ
Knowledge made it rise when knowledge had perished, as Darim
Knowledge has revealed it, even as draco did fade,
Knowledge caused it to rise when it had almost perished, just as Darim
perished, and guidance's state was tangled through its plight,
Fade but the matters of guidance from its affairs do not break.
perished, and the affairs of guidance were deeply confused.
وَالْحُزْنُand grief أَسْمَعُmore keen-eared مِنْthan سِمْعٍa simʿ, a keen-eared beast وَأَفْتَكُand deadlier مِنْthan
وَالْحُزْنُ أَسْمَعُ مِنْ سِمْعٍ وَأَفْتَكُ مِنْ
عَمْرٍوʿAmr وَأَحْرَدُand more wrathful مِنْthan ذِمْرٍa fierce champion بِهِwithin him دَعَكُfury
عَمْرٍو وَأَحْرَدُ مِنْ ذِمْرٍ بِهِ دَعَكُ
and grief heard more keenly than a simʿ beast, and was deadlier than
Sorrow hears keener than any hearing and severs lives
And sorrow was sharper in hearing than the desert beast, and more lethal than
ʿAmr, and more wrathful than a champion gripped by fury.
Swifter than fate, more scorching than branding irons at its wake.
'Amr, and fiercer than a brave warrior tested by battle.
فَاسْتَأْصَلَتْso eradicated شَأْفَةَthe root of الإِشْكَالِperplexity طَلْعَتُهَاits rising
فَاسْتَأْصَلَتْ شَأْفَةَ الإِشْكَالِ طَلْعَتُهَا
أَلاَdo you not تَرَىsee حُرْمَةَthe sanctity of الأَوْهَامِdelusions تُنْتَهَكُis violated
أَلاَ تَرَى حُرْمَةَ الأَوْهَامِ تُنْتَهَكُ
So its rising eradicated perplexity at the root.
Its rising has uprooted doubt's brushwood,
But its rising uprooted the very core of our confusion;
Do you not see the sanctity of delusions violated?
See, sanctities of illusion it does violate!
do you not see the sanctity of illusions being shattered?
أَفْنَتْannihilated ظَلاَمَthe darkness of لَيَالِينَاour nights أَشِعَّتُهَاits rays
أَفْنَتْ ظَلاَمَ لَيَالِينَا أَشِعَّتُهَا
مِنْfrom بَعْدِafter مَاwhat عَاثَravaged فيِin أَيَّامِنَاour days الْحَلَكُblackness
مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا عَاثَ فيِ أَيَّامِنَا الْحَلَكُ
Its rays annihilated the darkness of our nights,
It has dispelled the darknesses of our nights, its rays have shone
Its rays annihilated the darkness of our nights,
after blackness had ravaged our days.
After disorder had wrought chaos on our days, oh what a mistake!
after pitch-blackness had wreaked havoc on our days.
مَنْwhoever كَانَhad أَحْجَمَrecoiled عَنْهَاfrom it وَهْيَwhile it مُغْشِيَةٌveils
مَنْ كَانَ أَحْجَمَ عَنْهَا وَهْيَ مُغْشِيَةٌ
عَيْنَthe eye of الْغَبَاdullness وَهْوَwhile he فيِin الأَوْهَامِdelusions مُرْتَبِكُis entangled
عَيْنَ الْغَبَا وَهْوَ فيِ الأَوْهَامِ مُرْتَبِكُ
Whoever has recoiled from it, though it veils
Whoever shunned it while it covered
Whoever held back from it, while it was covering
the eye of dullness, while he is tangled in delusions—
The eyes of the simpleton lost in his confusions opaque
the eye of stupidity, remained entangled in his illusions.
فَإِنَّنِيfor indeed I بِسَنَاهَاwith its radiance جِدُّdeeply مُكْتَحِلٍanointing my eyes with kohl
فَإِنَّنِي بِسَنَاهَا جِدُّ مُكْتَحِلٍ
وَفيِand in هَوَاهَاlove of it حَيَاةِthe life of الدِّينِreligion مُنْهَمِكُengrossed
وَفيِ هَوَاهَا حَيَاةِ الدِّينِ مُنْهَمِكُ
I, for my part, have deeply kohled my eyes with its radiance,
I am for its radiance a kohl'd-eyed lover
As for me, my eyes are deeply lined with the kohl of its radiance,
and am engrossed in loving it, the life of religion.
And for its love immersed in the life of faith at its wake.
and I am deeply engrossed in its love—the very life of religion.
وَبِعُرَىand to the handholds of عِصْمَةِthe safeguard of الإِسْلاَمِIslam سَيِّدِنَاour master
وَبِعُرَى عِصْمَةِ الإِسْلاَمِ سَيِّدِنَا
مَحْضِpure السَّنَاradiance الْحَسَنِal-Ḥasan الْيُوسِيِّal-Yūsī أَمْتَسِكُI hold fast
مَحْضِ السَّنَا الْحَسَنِ الْيُوسِيِّ أَمْتَسِكُ
And to the handholds of Islam's safeguard, our master,
By the honored bond of the Prophet's protection
And to the handholds of the protection of Islam, our Master,
pure radiance, al-Ḥasan al-Yūsī, I cling.
The fairest of bonds, the Joseph-like tie I do take.
the pure light, Al-Hasan Al-Yusi, I firmly cling.
ذَاكَthat الإِمَامُimam الذِيwho أَمْسَىhas come to يُعَالِجُtreat مَنْthose whom
ذَاكَ الإِمَامُ الذِي أَمْسَى يُعَالِجُ مَنْ
أَوْدَتْbrought ruin بِهِupon him الْعِلَّتَانِthe two ailments الْجَهْلُignorance وَالْعَفَكُand folly
أَوْدَتْ بِهِ الْعِلَّتَانِ الْجَهْلُ وَالْعَفَكُ
That imam who has come to treat those
That Imam who labors to heal those
That is the Imam who spends his evenings curing those
ruined by the two ailments, ignorance and folly.
Whom the two illnesses, ignorance and wantonness, did break.
who have been ruined by the twin diseases of ignorance and foolishness.
فِيin رَوْضَةٍa garden وَغَدِيرٍمِنْand a pool of بَشَاشَتِهِhis cheerful welcome
فِي رَوْضَةٍ وَغَدِيرٍمِنْ بَشَاشَتِهِ
يُقْتَنَصُare caught النَّائِرَانِthe two luminaries الْبِشْرُcheerfulness وَالْضَّحِكُand laughter
يُقْتَنَصُ النَّائِرَانِ الْبِشْرُ وَالْضَّحِكُ
In a garden and a pool of his cheerful welcome,
In a garden and pool of his affability
In a garden and a pool drawn from his cheerful countenance,
the two luminaries are caught: cheerfulness and laughter.
Heart's-ease and smiles can be hunted, no need for a lake.
the two glowing lights of joy and laughter are easily captured.
وَبِسُطُوعِand with the shining of سَناًa radiance مِنْfrom صُبْحِthe dawn of غُرَّتِهِhis brow
وَبِسُطُوعِ سَناً مِنْ صُبْحِ غُرَّتِهِ
يَنْقَشِعُdisperse الْمُظْلِمَانِthe two dark ones الْحِقْدُhatred وَالْحَسَكُand rancor
يَنْقَشِعُ الْمُظْلِمَانِ الْحِقْدُ وَالْحَسَكُ
And with a gleam shining from the dawn of his brow,
By the rising of a radiance from the morn of his joy
And by the brilliant gleam from the morning of his face,
the two dark ones disperse: hatred and rancor.
Rancor and bitterness, both murky obscurities, break.
the two darknesses of malice and resentment are dispersed.
حَبْرٌa learned scholar سَبَحْنَاwe swam بِبَحْرٍin a sea مِنْof مَعَارِفِهِhis knowledge
حَبْرٌ سَبَحْنَا بِبَحْرٍ مِنْ مَعَارِفِهِ
كَمَاas بِبَحْرٍin a sea خِضَمٍّvast and deep سَبَحَswam السَّمَكُthe fish
كَمَا بِبَحْرٍ خِضَمٍّ سَبَحَ السَّمَكُ
A scholar: we swam in a sea of his knowledge,
We have swum, thanks to his knowledge, in an ocean of seas,
A great scholar in whose ocean of knowledge we swam,
as fish swim in a vast, deep sea.
As fish swim in the midst of a swelling and tossing lake.
just as fish swim in a vast, boundless sea.
بَحْرٌa sea طَمَىoverflowed مِنْwith مَعَانٍmeanings مَوْجُهُits waves نُكَتٌsubtle insights
بَحْرٌ طَمَى مِنْ مَعَانٍ مَوْجُهُ نُكَتٌ
أَصْدَافُهُits shells رَشَدٌsound guidance دُرَرُهَاtheir pearls نُسُكُdevotion
أَصْدَافُهُ رَشَدٌ دُرَرُهَا نُسُكُ
An overflowing sea of meanings, its waves subtle insights,
A sea whose waves surge with meaning, its shells are wisdom,
A sea overflowing with meanings, its waves are subtle insights,
its shells sound guidance, their pearls devotion.
Its pearls, devotions - Would that my hands could partake!
its seashells are guidance, and its pearls are pure piety.
تَطْفُوfloat عَلَىupon بِرَكٍpools مِنْof فَيْضِهِhis overflow عَذُبَتْbecame sweet
تَطْفُو عَلَى بِرَكٍ مِنْ فَيْضِهِ عَذُبَتْ
لِجَائِعٍfor a hungry person وَصَدٍand a thirsty person مِنَof الْمُنَىwishes بُرَكُducks
لِجَائِعٍ وَصَدٍ مِنَ الْمُنَى بُرَكُ
There float upon pools from his overflow, made sweet
Upon pools from his overflow, barrels once empty
They float upon pools of his overflowing bounty, made sweet
for the hungry and thirsty, ducks of wishes.
Now brim for the thirsty and those from whom blessings did break.
for the hungry, bringing blessings of fulfilled desires to the thirsty.
إِذَاwhen دَعَاsummoned الْفَهْمَunderstanding بَعْضُsome of فِكْرَتِهِhis reflection
إِذَا دَعَا الْفَهْمَ بَعْضُ فِكْرَتِهِ
جَاءَتْcame لِدَعْوَتِهِto his summons الأَسْرَارُthe secrets تَبْتَرِكُkneel down
جَاءَتْ لِدَعْوَتِهِ الأَسْرَارُ تَبْتَرِكُ
When some of his reflection summons understanding,
When understanding calls out one of his insights,
If a fragment of his thought summons understanding,
secrets come kneeling at his call.
Secrets answer its summons and rapidly come, wide awake.
secrets come rushing to answer his call, seeking his blessing.
هَبَّتْblew بِرَوْضِthrough the meadow of الْبُخَارِيal-Bukhārī صَباًan east wind لَطُفَتْgrew gentle
هَبَّتْ بِرَوْضِ الْبُخَارِي صَباً لَطُفَتْ
مِنْfrom فِكْرِهِhis thought وَهْوَwhile he بِالتَّأْيِيدِwith divine support مُحْتَبِكُgirded
مِنْ فِكْرِهِ وَهْوَ بِالتَّأْيِيدِ مُحْتَبِكُ
A gentle east wind blew through al-Bukhārī's meadow,
The meadows of Bukhari were stirred by zephyrs of his thought
An east wind blew through the garden of Al-Bukhari, made gentle
from his thought, while he was girded with divine support.
While he was empowered and aided - all fetters did break.
by his intellect, woven tightly with divine support.
فَأَبْرَزَتْso it brought forth مِنْfrom شَذَاthe perfume of أَسْرارِهِits secrets أَرَجاًa fragrance
فَأَبْرَزَتْ مِنْ شَذَا أَسْرارِهِ أَرَجاً
كَأَنَّas though مَنْwhoever شَمَّهُsmelled it بِذَوْقِهِwith his discerning taste مَلَكُan angel
كَأَنَّ مَنْ شَمَّهُ بِذَوْقِهِ مَلَكُ
So it brought forth a fragrance from the perfume of its secrets,
From the scent of his hidden mysteries then wafted a fragrance
It brought forth a fragrance from the perfume of his secrets,
as though one who smelled it with discerning taste were an angel.
As if the scent's enjoyer has become an angel in his wake!
as if the one who tasted its scent had become an angel.
أَنَالَنَاhe granted us مِنْهُfrom it وَالأَنْذَالُwhile the base people لاَهِيَةٌheedless
أَنَالَنَا مِنْهُ وَالأَنْذَالُ لاَهِيَةٌ
مَاwhat لَمْdid not يَنَلْobtain سُوقَةٌcommon folk قَطُّever وَلاَnor مَلِكُa king
مَا لَمْ يَنَلْ سُوقَةٌ قَطُّ وَلاَ مَلِكُ
He bestowed on us from it, while the base were heedless,
From him we gained what no leading saint or prophet attained
He granted us a share of it, while the vile ones were distracted,
what neither common folk nor king had ever obtained.
Tho' they be guided or kingly - such bounty we did take.
giving us what neither commoner nor king has ever attained.
فَنَحْمَدُso we praise اللهَGod حَمْداًa praise نَسْتَزِيدُwe seek an increase بِهِthrough it
فَنَحْمَدُ اللهَ حَمْداً نَسْتَزِيدُ بِهِ
فَهْماًunderstanding بِهِthrough which حُجُبُthe veils of الْعِرْفَانِknowledge تَنْهَتِكُare rent
فَهْماً بِهِ حُجُبُ الْعِرْفَانِ تَنْهَتِكُ
So we praise God with praise through which we seek an increase
So we thank God with thanks that grant us more insight
So we praise Allah with a praise through which we seek an increase
in understanding that rends the veils of knowledge.
By it veils of gnosis are lifted, more knowledge we awake.
in understanding, by which the veils of gnosis are torn away.
يَاO سَارِياًnight-wanderer مِنْof نَسِيمِthe breeze of الرَّوْضِthe garden غِبَّafter حَياًrainfall
يَا سَارِياً مِنْ نَسِيمِ الرَّوْضِ غِبَّ حَياً
بَيْنَamong الرُّبَىthe hills مِنْfrom جَنَانِthe gardens of النَّوْرِblossom يَعْتَنِكُgathers densely
بَيْنَ الرُّبَى مِنْ جَنَانِ النَّوْرِ يَعْتَنِكُ
O night-wandering breeze of the garden after rain,
O you whose soul is a breeze from the meadows, stir to life
O night breeze traveling from the meadow after the rain,
gathering among the hills from gardens of blossom,
A neglected ruin 'mid Paradise' gardens, rejuvenate!
tending between the hills from gardens of glowing blossoms,
عُجْturn aside آثِراًfavoring مَاwhat بِقَبْرٍin a tomb قَدْalready حَوَىhas held رِمَماًremains
عُجْ آثِراً مَا بِقَبْرٍ قَدْ حَوَى رِمَماً
مُقَدَّسَاتٍhallowed بِهَاin them لِلْفَضْلِfor excellence مُعْتَرَكُan arena
مُقَدَّسَاتٍ بِهَا لِلْفَضْلِ مُعْتَرَكُ
turn aside, favoring what lies in a tomb that holds remains
Visit Bukhari's tomb, for it contains forever
turn aside, favoring a grave that holds sacred bones,
hallowed, where excellence has its arena.
The incense of glory kindled devotion did make.
holy remains around which virtues vie for prominence.
فَطَالَمَاfor many a time عُجْتَyou turned aside نَفَّاحَwafting scent الذُّيُولِthe hems عَلَىupon
فَطَالَمَا عُجْتَ نَفَّاحَ الذُّيُولِ عَلَى
جَنْبَيْكَyour two flanks مِنْfrom لُبْسِwearing أَذْرَاعِcubits الشَّذَاperfume سَهَكُa clinging odor
جَنْبَيْكَ مِنْ لُبْسِ أَذْرَاعِ الشَّذَا سَهَكُ
For often you have turned aside, your hems wafting scent, with
Give him the tidings, after purest salutations redolent
For how often have you turned aside, with fragrant trailing skirts,
your flanks bearing a clinging scent from wearing cubits of perfume.
With perfumes crowding the lane of musk so opaque,
carrying on your sides the intense scent of perfumed garments.
وَسُفْand sniff ضَرِيحَthe tomb of الْبُخَارِيal-Bukhārī فَإِنَّfor indeed بِهِwithin it
وَسُفْ ضَرِيحَ الْبُخَارِي فَإِنَّ بِهِ
بُخُورَincense of خُلْدٍeternity بِفِهْرِwith the pestle of الْحَمْدِpraise مُنْهَمِكُwholly engrossed
بُخُورَ خُلْدٍ بِفِهْرِ الْحَمْدِ مُنْهَمِكُ
And sniff al-Bukhārī's tomb, for within it is
That if he is told - as is his due - it would waft as a cloud
And breathe in the tomb of Al-Bukhari, for within it
incense of eternity, wholly given over to the pestle of praise.
Joy to his soul and gladden the tomb that his corpse did forsake.
is the incense of eternity, diligently crushed with the mortar of praise.
أَنْبِئْهُinform him بَعْدَafter سَلاَمٍa greeting نَافِحٍwafting fragrance عَبِقٍfragrant
أَنْبِئْهُ بَعْدَ سَلاَمٍ نَافِحٍ عَبِقٍ
تَأَرَّجَbecame fragrant مِنْfrom طِيبِthe perfume of مَاwhat ضُمِّنَهُwere filled with it السِّكَكُthe perfume-vessels
تَأَرَّجَ مِنْ طِيبِ مَا ضُمِّنَهُ السِّكَكُ
Tell him, after a greeting wafting fragrance,
Say: "We have read your 'School Bringing-together' upon
Inform him, after offering a fragrant, aromatic greeting
scented with the fragrance that filled the perfume-vessels,
What your dictation poured on us oceans to make,
that perfumes the streets with the sweetness it contains:
فَالظَّنُّfor the expectation is أَنَّهُthat he إِنْif يُنْبَأْis informed وَحُقَّand was due لَهُto him
فَالظَّنُّ أَنَّهُ إِنْ يُنْبَأْ وَحُقَّ لَهُ
سَمَاrose السُّرُورُjoy بِهِwith him لِلرَّوْحِtoward repose يَبْتَرِكُkneels down
سَمَا السُّرُورُ بِهِ لِلرَّوْحِ يَبْتَرِكُ
(for I expect that, if he is told—as he deserves—
Seas replenished from oceans - their interwoven depths! -
for it is certain that if he is informed—and rightly so—
joy will lift him as he kneels for repose),
From the immaculate Imams of decisive speech and weight.
joy will elevate him, bringing blessings to his soul.
أَنَّاthat we قَرَأْنَاread مَسِيكَthe mainstay of الدِّينِreligion جَامِعَهُhis Jāmiʿ
أَنَّا قَرَأْنَا مَسِيكَ الدِّينِ جَامِعَهُ
عَلَىunder الذِيthe one who فِيin عُلاَهُhis loftiness حَارَتِwere bewildered الْمُسَكُintellects
عَلَى الذِي فِي عُلاَهُ حَارَتِ الْمُسَكُ
that we have read his Jāmiʿ, the mainstay of religion,
They protected the faith, courageous and wise,
[Tell him] that we have read his 'Jami', the musk of religion,
under him whose loftiness leaves minds bewildered:
From caprice, and in the arena of sublime things set their stake.
under the guidance of one whose heights baffle even the strongest minds.
زَيْنُthe adornment of الْحُلَىornaments حَسَنٌḤasan وَمَنْوَمَنْand who—and who حَسَنٌḤasan
زَيْنُ الْحُلَى حَسَنٌ وَمَنْوَمَنْ حَسَنٌ
عَلاَّمَةٌa great scholar مُرْشِدٌa guide بِهِto him الْهُدَىguidance سَدِكُclinging
عَلاَّمَةٌ مُرْشِدٌ بِهِ الْهُدَى سَدِكُ
the adornment of ornaments, Ḥasan—and who, and who is Ḥasan!
The pleasure of God passed over them in the night
The ornament of adornments, Hasan, and who, oh who could compare to Hasan!
A great scholar and guide, to whom guidance clings.
To bless their tombs when they met their predestined fate.
An erudite scholar, a guide to whom true guidance closely clings.
قِرَاءَةٌa reading كُلُّevery تَحْقِيقٍexact inquiry بِهَاwith it كَلِفٌenamored
قِرَاءَةٌ كُلُّ تَحْقِيقٍ بِهَا كَلِفٌ
وَكُلُّand every مُسْتَبْدَعٍnovel marvel فَهْيَso it is لَهُfor it شَرَكُa snare
وَكُلُّ مُسْتَبْدَعٍ فَهْيَ لَهُ شَرَكُ
A reading with which every exact inquiry is enamored,
God bless those who gained what they left behind
A reading with which every thorough verification is deeply enamored,
and for every novel marvel it is a snare.
And forged anew what they hammered, and interwove what they did make.
and for every innovative thought, it acts as a captivating snare.
فِيover مُدَّةِa span of أَشْهُرٍmonths ثَلاَثَةٍthree رَجَبٌRajab
فِي مُدَّةِ أَشْهُرٍ ثَلاَثَةٍ رَجَبٌ
أَوَّلُهَاthe first of them كُلُّهَاall of them فِيin الْفَضْلِexcellence يَشْتَرِكُshare
أَوَّلُهَا كُلُّهَا فِي الْفَضْلِ يَشْتَرِكُ
Over a span of three months, with Rajab
You, insightful son of Mas'ud, the radiance of guidance,
Over a period of three months, the first of which is Rajab,
the first of them, all sharing in excellence.
Through your insight success' coinage is struck newly opaque.
all of them sharing equally in virtue and excellence.
وَالْعَامُand the year أَلْفُa thousand تَقَضَّتْhad elapsed بَعْدَهُafter it مِائَةٌa hundred
وَالْعَامُ أَلْفُ تَقَضَّتْ بَعْدَهُ مِائَةٌ
مِنْsince هِجْرَةِthe Hijra of الْمُنْتَفِيvanishing مِنْthrough بَعْثِهِhis mission الدَّرَكُruin
مِنْ هِجْرَةِ الْمُنْتَفِي مِنْ بَعْثِهِ الدَّرَكُ
And the year was one thousand, with a hundred elapsed beyond it,
When the palm of your knowledge unfolds, night's heavy curtain
And the year was a thousand, followed by a hundred that passed,
since the Hijra of him whose mission dispelled ruin.
Of realization falls away, dawn begins to break."
since the migration of the one whose mission banished all downfall.
وَقَدْand indeed وَرَدْنَاwe reached بِمَاthrough what أَمْلَىhe dictated عَلَيْهِon it لَنَاfor us
وَقَدْ وَرَدْنَا بِمَا أَمْلَى عَلَيْهِ لَنَا
بَحْراًa sea أُمِدَّwas replenished بِأَبْحُرٍby seas لَهَاthey have حُبُكُwoven patterns
بَحْراً أُمِدَّ بِأَبْحُرٍ لَهَا حُبُكُ
And through what he dictated on it for us, we reached
Clasp to your breast what thought has wrought for you here,
We have arrived, through what he dictated to us,
a sea replenished by seas with woven patterns.
Thought that in ardent love's transports all fetters did break,
at an ocean supplied by other oceans with beautifully woven waves.
حَدَّثَنَاhe transmitted to us بِهِabout it عَنْfrom غُرٍّillustrious ones جَحَاجِحَةٍeminent masters
حَدَّثَنَا بِهِ عَنْ غُرٍّ جَحَاجِحَةٍ
مِنْfrom كُلِّevery مَنْone whose ذِهْنُهُhis mind الأَوْهَامَdelusions يَحْتَنِكُeradicates
مِنْ كُلِّ مَنْ ذِهْنُهُ الأَوْهَامَ يَحْتَنِكُ
He transmitted it to us from illustrious, eminent masters,
From you I gained the solutions and learned the phrasings,
He narrated it to us from illustrious, noble masters,
each one whose mind eradicates delusions.
So do not blame me if they should fail to fully awake!
each of whose minds fully conquers and subdues all illusions.
أَئِمَّةٍimams قَالَhe stated مَاwhat أَمَلَوْاthey dictated وَمَاand what كَتَبُواthey wrote
أَئِمَّةٍ قَالَ مَا أَمَلَوْا وَمَا كَتَبُوا
الْقَوْلُthe word قَوْلُthe word of حَذَامِمَاḤadhām; no بِهِin it أَفَكُfalsehood
الْقَوْلُ قَوْلُ حَذَامِمَا بِهِ أَفَكُ
Imams: he stated what they dictated and what they wrote;
God keep you, that we might remain through your remaining,
Imams who, whatever they dictated and whatever they wrote,
the word is Ḥadhām's word: there is no falsehood in it.
O you whom no goal ever limits once you undertake!
their words are like the truthful words of Hadham, containing no falsehood.
حَمَوْاthey defended حِمَىthe sanctuary of الدِّينِreligion بَيْدَyet أَنَّهُمْthat they جَبُنُواshrank away
حَمَوْا حِمَى الدِّينِ بَيْدَ أَنَّهُمْ جَبُنُوا
عَنِfrom الْهَوَىdesire وَبِمَيْدَانِand in the field of الْعُلاَeminence نَهُكُواwere valiant
عَنِ الْهَوَى وَبِمَيْدَانِ الْعُلاَ نَهُكُوا
They guarded religion's sanctuary, yet shrank away
They protected the sanctuary of religion, yet they shrank away
from desire, while proving valiant in the field of eminence.
from lowly desires, and exhausted themselves in the battlefield of glory.
سَحَّتْpoured عَلَيْهِمْupon them مِنَof الرِّضْوَانِdivine favor غَادِيَةٌa morning raincloud
سَحَّتْ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنَ الرِّضْوَانِ غَادِيَةٌ
لِوَقْعِهَاat its fall فِيin ثَرَىthe soil of أَجْدَاثِهِمْtheir graves عَرَكُa tumult
لِوَقْعِهَا فِي ثَرَى أَجْدَاثِهِمْ عَرَكُ
May a morning raincloud of divine favor pour upon them,
May a morning cloud of divine pleasure pour down upon them,
its fall upon the soil of their graves a tumult.
its heavy raindrops intensely soaking the soil of their tombs.
وَبَارَكَand may bless اللهُGod فِيمَنْupon the one who حَازَacquired مَاwhat تَرَكُواthey left
وَبَارَكَ اللهُ فِيمَنْ حَازَ مَا تَرَكُوا
فَصَاغَso he fashioned مَاwhat سَبَكُواthey smelted وَحَاكَand he wove مَاwhat حَبَكُواthey interlaced
فَصَاغَ مَا سَبَكُوا وَحَاكَ مَا حَبَكُوا
And may God bless the one who acquired what they left,
And may Allah bless the one who inherited what they left behind,
then fashioned what they smelted and wove what they interlaced.
who fashioned what they smelted and wove what they spun,
عَيْنَessence of الْعُلاَeminence يَاO ابْنَson of مَسْعُودِMasʿūd الذِيwho طَفِقَتْbegan
عَيْنَ الْعُلاَ يَا ابْنَ مَسْعُودِ الذِي طَفِقَتْ
بِهَدْيِهِthrough his guidance فِضَّةُthe silver of التَّوْفِيقِsuccess تَنْسَبِكُis cast
بِهَدْيِهِ فِضَّةُ التَّوْفِيقِ تَنْسَبِكُ
O essence of eminence, Ibn Masʿūd, under whom there began
the very essence of eminence, O Ibn Mas'ud, by whose guidance
the casting, through his guidance, of the silver of success.
the pure silver of divine success is continuously cast.
وَمَنْand one who إِذَاwhen انْبَسَطَتْopens كَفُّthe palm of مَعَارِفِهِhis knowledge
وَمَنْ إِذَا انْبَسَطَتْ كَفُّ مَعَارِفِهِ
أَمْسَىcomes to be بِهَاin it سُنْبُلُthe grain-ears of التَّحْقِيقِexact inquiry يَنْفَرِكُrubbed free
أَمْسَى بِهَا سُنْبُلُ التَّحْقِيقِ يَنْفَرِكُ
And one who, when the palm of his knowledge opens,
And the one whose open palm of knowledge, when extended,
has the ears of exact inquiry rubbed free within it.
causes the wheat-ears of true realization to be easily harvested.
صَافِحْshake hands with بِصَفْحِكَwith your pardon مَاwhat قَدْalready صَاغَهُhas fashioned it لَكُمُfor you
صَافِحْ بِصَفْحِكَ مَا قَدْ صَاغَهُ لَكُمُ
فِكْرٌa mind بِمُؤْتَفِكَاتِamid the upheavals of الْوَجْدِyearning مُؤْتَفِكُoverturned
فِكْرٌ بِمُؤْتَفِكَاتِ الْوَجْدِ مُؤْتَفِكُ
Clasp, with your pardon, what has been fashioned for you
Pardon with your forgiveness what has been crafted for you
by a mind overturned amid the upheavals of yearning.
by a mind overturned by the turbulent winds of passionate love.
مِنْكَfrom you اسْتَفَدْتُI acquired حُلاَهَاits adornments وَصِيَاغَتَهَاand its fashioning
مِنْكَ اسْتَفَدْتُ حُلاَهَا وَصِيَاغَتَهَا
فَمَاso no عَلَيَّupon me إِذَنْthen إِنْif لَمْnot تَرُقْplease دَرَكُblame
فَمَا عَلَيَّ إِذَنْ إِنْ لَمْ تَرُقْ دَرَكُ
From you I acquired its adornments and its fashioning;
From you I gained its jewels and its very formulation,
so no blame falls on me, then, if it does not please.
so no blame falls upon me if my work fails to please.
أَبْقَاكَmay He preserve you رَبِّيmy Lord فَنَبْقَىso we endure بِبَقَائِكَthrough your endurance يَاO
أَبْقَاكَ رَبِّي فَنَبْقَى بِبَقَائِكَ يَا
مَنْyou who لاَnot يُرَامُcan be sought لِمَاof what قَدْalready حَازَهُhe has attained it دَرَكُa matching attainment
مَنْ لاَ يُرَامُ لِمَا قَدْ حَازَهُ دَرَكُ
May my Lord preserve you, so we endure through your endurance, O
May my Lord preserve you, so that we may endure through your existence, O
one whose attainments no one can hope to match.
you whose vast achievements can never be fully grasped.
Partial English translation: 74 of 90 Arabic lines translated.