قَصَدْنَا ابْنَ دَاوُدَ ذَا الْمَعْلُوَاتِ

قَصَدْنَا ابْنَ دَاوُدَ ذَا الْمَعْلُوَاتِ

عَلِيّاً عَلِيَّ الْمَقَامِ الْجَلِيلْ

عَلِيّاً عَلِيَّ الْمَقَامِ الْجَلِيلْ

We sought Ibn Dawud, possessor of lofty distinctions,

We sought Ibn Daud of sublime virtues,

We journeyed to Ibn Dawud, possessor of exalted virtues,

Ali, exalted in station, the illustrious,

Ali, Ali of the lofty rank,

Ali, the highly exalted of majestic stature,

عَلَى حِينَ بَانَ لَنَا أَنَّهُ

عَلَى حِينَ بَانَ لَنَا أَنَّهُ

بِكُلِّ الذِي قَدْ أَرَدْنَا كَفِيلْ

بِكُلِّ الذِي قَدْ أَرَدْنَا كَفِيلْ

when it became clear to us that he

At the time it became clear to us that he

At a time when it became manifest to us that he

was guarantor of all we had desired.

Was fully capable of all we desired.

Is the guarantor of all that we have desired.

فَإِمَّا حَبَانَا بِمَا نَرْتَجِي

فَإِمَّا حَبَانَا بِمَا نَرْتَجِي

فَذَاكَ وَفِِيهِ شِفَاءُ الْغَلِيلْ

فَذَاكَ وَفِِيهِ شِفَاءُ الْغَلِيلْ

If, then, he bestows on us what we hope for,

Whether he favors us with what we hope for,

So if he grants us that which we hope for,

that is what we seek, and in it lies relief for burning thirst.

Then that is the cure for anguish,

Then that is our goal, and therein is the cure for our burning thirst;

وَإِلاَّ وَحَاشَاهُ مِنْ سَنَدٍ

وَإِلاَّ وَحَاشَاهُ مِنْ سَنَدٍ

عَلِمْنَا بِأَنَّ الدَّخِيلَ دَخِيلْ

عَلِمْنَا بِأَنَّ الدَّخِيلَ دَخِيلْ

Otherwise—far be that from him, a pillar of support—

Or else - and far be it from him - if he lacks support

And if not—though far be it from him as a pillar of support!—

we would know that the outsider remains an outsider,

We know the intruder is intrusive,

We would know that the seeker of refuge remains an outsider,

وَأَنَّ الْمَقَاصِدَ قَدْ بُنِيَتْ

وَأَنَّ الْمَقَاصِدَ قَدْ بُنِيَتْ

عَلَى جُرُفٍ مِنْ رَجَاءٍ عَلِيلْ

عَلَى جُرُفٍ مِنْ رَجَاءٍ عَلِيلْ

and that our aims had been built

And that intentions were built

And that our ambitions have been built

on a cliff of ailing hope.

On a cliff of faint hope.

Upon a crumbling precipice of ailing hope,

فَبَوَّأَنَا دَرَكاً نَازِحاً

فَبَوَّأَنَا دَرَكاً نَازِحاً

بُعَيْدَ النِّهَايَةِ مِمَّنْ يُنِيلْ

بُعَيْدَ النِّهَايَةِ مِمَّنْ يُنِيلْ

So it would lodge us in a distant depth,

So he relegated us to a distant place,

Settling us into a remote abyss,

just beyond the reach of anyone who bestows.

Far from the end, by one who attains.

Far beyond the utmost limit of any benefactor.

وَاسْتَغْفِرِ اللهَ أَنَّ الْعَلِي

وَاسْتَغْفِرِ اللهَ أَنَّ الْعَلِي

يَعُمُّ نَدَاهُ الدَّنِيَّ الْقَلِيلْ

يَعُمُّ نَدَاهُ الدَّنِيَّ الْقَلِيلْ

And seek God's forgiveness, for the exalted one's

And ask God's forgiveness, for the Sublime

But I seek Allah's forgiveness! For indeed, the exalted one's

bounty embraces the lowly, insignificant man.

His call encompasses the lowly and few.

Generosity encompasses even the lowly and the small.

فَلاَ شَكَّ عِنْدِي مِنْ فَيْضِهِ

فَلاَ شَكَّ عِنْدِي مِنْ فَيْضِهِ

عَلَيْنَا إِذَا مَا نَوَيْنَا الرَّحِيلْ

عَلَيْنَا إِذَا مَا نَوَيْنَا الرَّحِيلْ

So I have no doubt of his bounty's outpouring

I have no doubt about his overflowing grace

Thus, I harbor no doubt of his overflowing bounty

upon us when we resolve to depart.

Upon us, when we intend departure.

Showering upon us when we resolve to depart.