أَزِفَdrew near الرَّحِيلُthe departure فَخانَنِيso it betrayed me صَبْريmy patience
أَزِفَ الرَّحِيلُ فَخانَنِي صَبْري
إِذْwhen هَاجَflared up ماwhat فِيin القَلْبِthe heart منْof جَمْرِembers
إِذْ هَاجَ ما فِي القَلْبِ منْ جَمْرِ
Departure drew near, and my patience betrayed me,
The time of departure has come, so my patience has betrayed me
Departure has drawn near, and my patience has betrayed me,
as the embers in my heart flared up.
As the embers in my heart rage
As the embers within my heart have flared up.
رُمْتُمْyou wished أَحِبَّتَنَاour beloved غَدَاةَthe morning of غَدٍtomorrow
رُمْتُمْ أَحِبَّتَنَا غَدَاةَ غَدٍ
أَنْto تَظْعَنُواyou depart بِالْقَلْبِwith the heart وَالْفِكْرِand the mind
أَنْ تَظْعَنُوا بِالْقَلْبِ وَالْفِكْرِ
You wished, our beloved, tomorrow morning,
You decided, my loved ones, at the break of a new day
You intend, our beloved ones, on the morrow,
to journey away with my heart and mind.
To preoccupy my heart and thoughts
To journey away, taking my heart and mind.
رُمْتُمْyou wished أَحِبَّتَنَاour beloved غَدَاةَthe morning of غَدٍtomorrow
رُمْتُمْ أَحِبَّتَنَا غَدَاةَ غَدٍ
أَنْto تُرْسِلُواyou let flow دَمْعِيmy tears كَمَاlike الْقَطْرِthe rain
أَنْ تُرْسِلُوا دَمْعِي كَمَا الْقَطْرِ
You wished, our beloved, tomorrow morning,
You decided, my loved ones, at the break of a new day
You intend, our beloved ones, on the morrow,
to let my tears flow like rain.
To unleash my tears like drops of rain
To make my tears fall like the pouring rain.
رُمْتُمْyou wished أَحِبَّتَنَاour beloved غَدَاةَthe morning of غَدٍtomorrow
رُمْتُمْ أَحِبَّتَنَا غَدَاةَ غَدٍ
أَنْto تَرْحَلُواyou depart عَنِّيfrom me إِلَىto بَدْرِthe full moon
أَنْ تَرْحَلُوا عَنِّي إِلَى بَدْرِ
You wished, our beloved, tomorrow morning,
You decided, my loved ones, at the break of a new day
You intend, our beloved ones, on the morrow,
to leave me and journey to the Full Moon.
To leave me for the full moon
To depart from me towards Badr.
رِفْقاًbe gentle أَحِبَتَنَاour beloved عَلىَwith زَمَنٍan infirm man
رِفْقاً أَحِبَتَنَا عَلىَ زَمَنٍ
فِيaround جِيدِهِhis neck الأَغْلاَلُthe fetters مِنْof ضَُرِّaffliction
فِي جِيدِهِ الأَغْلاَلُ مِنْ ضَُرِّ
Be gentle, our beloved, with an infirm man,
Gently, my loved ones, in an age
Be gentle, our beloved ones, with a time
with fetters of affliction around his neck.
Where shackles weigh down its arms
Around whose neck are the shackles of affliction.
رِفْقاًbe gentle أَحِبَتَنَاour beloved عَلىَwith دَنِفٍan ailing man
رِفْقاً أَحِبَتَنَا عَلىَ دَنِفٍ
فِيon سُوقِهِhis shins الأَصْفَادُthe shackles مِنْof عُسْرِhardship
فِي سُوقِهِ الأَصْفَادُ مِنْ عُسْرِ
Be gentle, our beloved, with an ailing man,
Gently, my loved ones, on a path
Be gentle, our beloved ones, with a frail sufferer
with shackles of hardship upon his shins.
Where chains make its route difficult
Upon whose legs are the fetters of hardship.
اللهَfor God's sake حَادِيO camel-driver الرَّكْبِthe caravan فِيregarding خَلَدِيmy heart
اللهَ حَادِي الرَّكْبِ فِي خَلَدِي
اللهَfor God's sake حَادِيO camel-driver الرَّكْبِthe caravan فِيregarding أَمْرِيmy plight
اللهَ حَادِي الرَّكْبِ فِي أَمْرِي
For God's sake, camel-driver of the caravan, heed my heart;
May God guide the caravan in my eternity
I beseech God, O caravan driver, for my mind,
for God's sake, camel-driver of the caravan, heed my plight.
May God guide the caravan in my matter
I beseech God, O caravan driver, for my affair.
يَاO بَدْرُfull moon رَكْبُكَyour caravan زَلَّعُواthey tore apart كَبِدِيmy liver
يَا بَدْرُ رَكْبُكَ زَلَّعُوا كَبِدِي
يَاO بَدْرُfull moon رَكْبُكَyour caravan صَدَّعُواthey split صَدْرِيmy breast
يَا بَدْرُ رَكْبُكَ صَدَّعُوا صَدْرِي
O Full Moon, your caravan has rent my liver;
O full moon, your caravan has crushed my liver
O full moon, your caravan has lacerated my heart,
O Full Moon, your caravan has split my breast;
O full moon, your caravan has cracked my chest
O full moon, your caravan has shattered my chest.
يَاO بَدْرُfull moon رَكْبُكَyour caravan أَضْرَمُواthey kindled حُرَقِيmy burning anguish
يَا بَدْرُ رَكْبُكَ أَضْرَمُوا حُرَقِي
يَاO بَدْرُfull moon رَكْبُكَyour caravan شَرَّدُواthey drove away صَبْرِيmy patience
يَا بَدْرُ رَكْبُكَ شَرَّدُوا صَبْرِي
O Full Moon, your caravan has kindled my burning anguish;
O full moon, your caravan has inflamed my wounds
O full moon, your caravan has ignited my burning pain,
O Full Moon, your caravan has driven my patience away;
O full moon, your caravan has scattered my patience
O full moon, your caravan has chased away my patience.
يَاO بَدْرُfull moon رَكْبُكَyour caravan هَيَّجُواthey stirred up ضَُرِّيmy suffering
يَا بَدْرُ رَكْبُكَ هَيَّجُوا ضَُرِّي
يَاO أَصْلَsource نُورِlight الشَّمْسِthe sun وَالْبَدْرِand the full moon
يَا أَصْلَ نُورِ الشَّمْسِ وَالْبَدْرِ
O Full Moon, your caravan has stirred up my suffering;
O full moon, your caravan has provoked my pain
O full moon, your caravan has stirred up my agony,
O source of the light of the sun and the full moon!
O essence of the sun and moon's light
O origin of the light of the sun and the full moon!
حَمَّلْتُهُمْI charged them to carry لِحِمَاكَto your sanctuary مَنْزِلَthe dwelling place مَاwhat
حَمَّلْتُهُمْ لِحِمَاكَ مَنْزِلَ مَا
قَدْindeed أَنْزَلَsent down الرَّحْمَانُthe All-Merciful مِنْof سِرِّmystery
قَدْ أَنْزَلَ الرَّحْمَانُ مِنْ سِرِّ
I charged them to carry to your sanctuary—the abode of what
I sent them to your sanctuary, which
I burdened them to bear to your sanctuary, the dwelling of what
the All-Merciful has sent down of mystery,
The Merciful has revealed of secrets
The Most Merciful has sent down of secrets,
وَمَحَطِّand the resting place جِبْرِيلٍGabriel وَمَهْبِطِهِand his place of descent
وَمَحَطِّ جِبْرِيلٍ وَمَهْبِطِهِ
وَمُعَرَّسِand the halting place الرَّحَمَاتِthe mercies وَالْبِرِّand goodness
وَمُعَرَّسِ الرَّحَمَاتِ وَالْبِرِّ
and Gabriel's resting place and place of descent,
And the landing place of Gabriel, his harbor
The alighting place of Gabriel and his descent,
and the halting place of mercies and goodness—
And the wedding of mercy and righteousness
And the resting place of mercies and righteousness:
أَزْكَىthe purest سَلاَمٍgreeting طَيِّبِsweet النَّشْرِfragrance
أَزْكَى سَلاَمٍ طَيِّبِ النَّشْرِ
كَنَسِيمِlike the breeze تُرْبِكَyour soil مِنْfrom ضَنًىwasting illness يُبْرِيit heals
كَنَسِيمِ تُرْبِكَ مِنْ ضَنًى يُبْرِي
the purest greeting, sweet in its fragrance,
The most virtuous greeting, with beautiful circulation
The purest of greetings, of fragrant scent,
like the breeze from your soil that heals wasting sickness.
Like a breeze from you that relieves distress
Like the breeze of your soil that cures from wasting disease.
أَوْدَعْتُهُمْI entrusted them لِحِمَاكَfor your sanctuary وَهْوَand it is حَرٍworthy
أَوْدَعْتُهُمْ لِحِمَاكَ وَهْوَ حَرٍ
بِمُبَرِّحِof the torment الأَشْوَاقِthe yearnings ذِيpossessing الْحَرِّheat
بِمُبَرِّحِ الأَشْوَاقِ ذِي الْحَرِّ
I entrusted them, for your sanctuary—and it is worthy
I sent them, while passionate and free
I entrusted them to your sanctuary while aflame
of the torment of yearnings, burning with heat—
To the cheerful awakener, the passionate one
With agonizing yearnings of intense, searing heat,
شَوْقاًa longing تَطِيرُsoar بِهِمْwith them عَزَائِمُهُits resolves
شَوْقاً تَطِيرُ بِهِمْ عَزَائِمُهُ
شَوْقاًa longing يَهُدُّit shatters قَوَائِمَthe pillars الصَّخْرِrock
شَوْقاً يَهُدُّ قَوَائِمَ الصَّخْرِ
with a longing whose resolves soar with them,
A passion that makes their resolves take flight
A yearning whose fierce resolve makes them fly,
a longing that shatters the pillars of rock;
A passion that steadies the legs of boulders
A yearning that crushes the pillars of solid rock,
شَوْقَthe longing of الذِيthe one whose بَانَتْdeparted أَحِبَّتُهُhis loved ones
شَوْقَ الذِي بَانَتْ أَحِبَّتُهُ
فَهَدَىso he spoke بِهِمْof them فِيin السِّرِّsecret وَالْجَهْرِand aloud
فَهَدَى بِهِمْ فِي السِّرِّ وَالْجَهْرِ
the longing of one whose beloved have departed,
The passion of the one whose loved ones
The yearning of one whose beloveds have departed,
so he spoke of them in secret and aloud;
Guided through secrets and openly
So he is guided by them in secret and aloud.
شَوْقَthe longing of الْغَرِيبِthe stranger إِلَىfor مَنَازِلِهِhis dwellings
شَوْقَ الْغَرِيبِ إِلَى مَنَازِلِهِ
شَوْقَthe longing of السَّلِيلِthe son إِلَىfor الأَبِthe father الْبَرِّthe kindly
شَوْقَ السَّلِيلِ إِلَى الأَبِ الْبَرِّ
the stranger's longing for his dwellings,
The longing of a stranger for his home
The yearning of a stranger for his homelands,
a son's longing for his kindly father.
The longing of a son for his righteous father
The yearning of a son for his righteous father.
يَاO رَحْمَةَmercy الرَّحْمَانِthe All-Merciful أَرْسَلَهَاHe sent it
يَا رَحْمَةَ الرَّحْمَانِ أَرْسَلَهَا
وَالنَّاسُwhile the people فِيin بَحْرٍa sea مِنَof الشَّرِّevil
وَالنَّاسُ فِي بَحْرٍ مِنَ الشَّرِّ
O mercy of the All-Merciful, which He sent
O mercy of the Merciful, which He sent
O Mercy of the Most Merciful, which He sent forth,
while mankind was in a sea of evil;
While people are in a sea of evil
While people were drowning in a sea of evil.
يَاO شَمْسَsun هَدْيِguidance اللهِGod قَدْindeed طَلَعَتْit rose
يَا شَمْسَ هَدْيِ اللهِ قَدْ طَلَعَتْ
وَالْخَلْقُwhile creation فِيin دَاجٍdarkness مِنَof الْكُفْرِunbelief
وَالْخَلْقُ فِي دَاجٍ مِنَ الْكُفْرِ
O sun of God's guidance, which rose
O sun of God’s guidance has risen
O sun of God's guidance that has risen brightly,
while creation was in the darkness of unbelief;
While creation is in darkness of disbelief
While creation was lost in the darkness of disbelief.
هَاbehold عَبْدُكَyour servant الْمِسْكِينُthe poor لَاذَsought refuge بِكُمْwith you
هَا عَبْدُكَ الْمِسْكِينُ لَاذَ بِكُمْ
يَرْجُوhe hopes for الأَمَانَsafety بِكُمْthrough you مِنَfrom الدَّهْرِTime
يَرْجُو الأَمَانَ بِكُمْ مِنَ الدَّهْرِ
behold, your poor servant has sought refuge with you,
Hoping through you for safety from fate
Here is your poor servant, seeking refuge in you,
hoping through you for safety from Time.
The heavy load of unforgiving sins
Hoping for safety through you from the ravages of time.
هَاbehold نَجْلُكَyour descendant الْمُضْطَرُّthe distressed حَطَّlaid down بِكُمْbefore you
هَا نَجْلُكَ الْمُضْطَرُّ حَطَّ بِكُمْ
حِمْلَthe burden of الذُُّنُوبِsins الْقَاصِمِthat breaks الظَّهْرِthe back
حِمْلَ الذُُّنُوبِ الْقَاصِمِ الظَّهْرِ
Behold, your distressed descendant has laid before you
He lowers himself to your glory through al-Husayn
Here is your distressed descendant, laying down before you
the burden of sins that breaks the back.
As al-Husayn lowered himself to pride through you
The back-breaking burden of heavy sins.
يُدْلِيhe lays claim لِمَجْدِكَto your glory بِالْحُسَيْنِthrough al-Husayn كَمَاjust as
يُدْلِي لِمَجْدِكَ بِالْحُسَيْنِ كَمَا
أَدْلَىlaid claim الْحُسَيْنُal-Husayn بِكُمْthrough you إِلَىto الْفَخْرِhonor
أَدْلَى الْحُسَيْنُ بِكُمْ إِلَى الْفَخْرِ
He lays claim to your glory through al-Husayn, just as
So protect your Husayn in his kinship
He invokes your glory through Al-Hussein, just as
al-Husayn laid claim to honor through you.
And spare the polished one from harm
Al-Hussein invoked you to attain his pride.
فاَحْفَظْso safeguard حُسَيْنَكَyour Husayn فِيin قَرَابَتِهِhis kin
فاَحْفَظْ حُسَيْنَكَ فِي قَرَابَتِهِ
وَاكْفِand shield الصِّقِلِّيفَادِحَal-Siqilli from grievous الضَُّرِّharm
وَاكْفِ الصِّقِلِّيفَادِحَ الضَُّرِّ
So safeguard your Husayn in his kin,
And grant him from your munificence his wish
So protect your Hussein due to his kinship,
and shield al-Siqilli from grievous harm.
In religion, life and also in the resurrection
And spare Al-Siqilli from grievous affliction,
وَأَنِلْهُand grant him مِنْfrom جَدْوَاكَyour bounty مُنْيَتَهُhis wish
وَأَنِلْهُ مِنْ جَدْوَاكَ مُنْيَتَهُ
فِيin الدِّينِreligion وَالدُّنْيَاand this world وَفِيand in النَّشْرِresurrection
فِي الدِّينِ وَالدُّنْيَا وَفِي النَّشْرِ
And grant him from your bounty his desire
And release the Messenger of God, who holds him back
And grant him from your bounty his deepest wish,
in religion, in this world, and at resurrection.
From the chains of loss, for your grandson
In religion, in this world, and in the Resurrection.
وَافْكُكْand free رَسُولَO Messenger اللهِof God نَاظِمَهُits composer
وَافْكُكْ رَسُولَ اللهِ نَاظِمَهُ
لِسَلِيلِكُمْfor your descendant مِنْfrom رِبْقَةِthe halter الْخُسْرِruin
لِسَلِيلِكُمْ مِنْ رِبْقَةِ الْخُسْرِ
And free, O Messenger of God, the one who composed it
Dress him in robes of contentment
And release, O Messenger of God, its composer,
for your descendant, from the halter of ruin.
In his worldly life and also in the resurrection
For the sake of your descendant, from the noose of ruin.
أَلْبِسْهُclothe him مِنْfrom نَسْجِthe weaving الرِّضَىfavor حُلَلاًrobes
أَلْبِسْهُ مِنْ نَسْجِ الرِّضَى حُلَلاً
فِيin دَارِهِhis abode الدُّنْيَاworldly وَفِيand at الْحَشْرِthe Gathering
فِي دَارِهِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي الْحَشْرِ
Clothe him in robes woven of favor,
May God send blessings upon you as long as
Clothe him in robes woven from your pleasure,
in his worldly abode and at the Gathering.
The branches of gardens dance and the full moon sings
In his worldly abode and at the Gathering.
صَلَّىmay He bless عَلَيْكَupon you اللهُGod مَاas long as رَقَصَتْdanced
صَلَّى عَلَيْكَ اللهُ مَا رَقَصَتْ
قُضْبُboughs الرِّيَاضِthe gardens وَغَرَّدَand sang الْقُمْرِيthe turtledove
قُضْبُ الرِّيَاضِ وَغَرَّدَ الْقُمْرِي
May God bless you as long as they dance—
And upon your family and your companions
May God bless you as long as they dance,
the garden boughs—and the turtledove sings;
And especially Mawla Abu Bakr
The branches of the meadows, and the turtledove sings,
وَعَلَىand upon أُهَيْلِكُمْyour dear family وَصَحْبِكُمُand your companions
وَعَلَى أُهَيْلِكُمْ وَصَحْبِكُمُ
وخُصوصاًand especially الْمَوْلَىthe master أبَاAbu بَكْرِBakr
وخُصوصاً الْمَوْلَى أبَا بَكْرِ
and your dear family and your companions,
May God send blessings upon you as long as
And upon your noble family and your companions,
and especially the master Abu Bakr.
The hands of clouds embroider the flowers
And especially the master, Abu Bakr,
صَلَّىmay He bless عَلَيْكَupon you اللهُGod مَاas long as رَقَمَتْembroidered
صَلَّى عَلَيْكَ اللهُ مَا رَقَمَتْ
أَيْدِيthe hands الْغَمَامِthe clouds مََطَارِفَmantles الزَّهْرِthe blossoms
أَيْدِي الْغَمَامِ مََطَارِفَ الزَّهْرِ
May God bless you as long as they embroider—
May God send blessings upon you as long as
May God bless you as long as they embroider,
the hands of clouds—the mantles of blossoms;
The beaks of eagles weave a thread of light
The hands of the clouds, the cloaks of flowers,
صَلَّىmay He bless عَلَيْكَupon you اللهُGod مَاas long as نَسَجَتْwove
صَلَّى عَلَيْكَ اللهُ مَا نَسَجَتْ
كَفُّthe hand النَّوَاسِمِthe breezes لاَمَةَthe coat of mail النَّهْرِthe river
كَفُّ النَّوَاسِمِ لاَمَةَ النَّهْرِ
May God bless you as long as it weaves—
May God send blessings upon you as long as
May God bless you as long as they weave,
the hand of the breezes—the river's coat of mail;
The meadow of remembrance exudes the fragrance of your remembrance
The hands of the breezes, the armor of the river,
صَلَّىmay He bless عَلَيْكَupon you اللهُGod مَاas long as عَبَقَتْwas fragrant
صَلَّى عَلَيْكَ اللهُ مَا عَبَقَتْ
بِأَرِيجِwith the fragrance ذِكْرِكَmention of you رَوْضَةُthe garden الذِّكْرِremembrance
بِأَرِيجِ ذِكْرِكَ رَوْضَةُ الذِّكْرِ
May God bless you as long as it is fragrant—
May God send blessings upon you as long as
May God bless you as long as it exudes,
the garden of remembrance—with the perfume of your mention;
The gardens of poetry flower with your sublime accessories
With your fragrant remembrance, the garden of invocation,
صَلَّىmay He bless عَلَيْكَupon you اللهُGod مَاas long as زَهَرَتْbloomed
صَلَّى عَلَيْكَ اللهُ مَا زَهَرَتْ
بِحُلَىwith the adornments عُلاَكَyour exalted rank حَدَائِقُthe gardens الشِّعْرِpoetry
بِحُلَى عُلاَكَ حَدَائِقُ الشِّعْرِ
May God bless you as long as they bloom—
May God bless you as long as they bloom,
the gardens of poetry—with the adornments of your glory.
With the ornaments of your exaltation, the gardens of poetry.
Partial English translation: 62 of 64 Arabic lines translated.