نِلْنَاwe attained وَلَوْلاَand were it not for الْحُبُّlove مَاnot نِلْنَاهَاwe attained them
نِلْنَا وَلَوْلاَ الْحُبُّ مَا نِلْنَاهَا
أَلْوِيَةَthe banners of التَّرْقِيقِtenderness إِذْwhen سُمْنَاهَاwe sought them
أَلْوِيَةَ التَّرْقِيقِ إِذْ سُمْنَاهَا
We won—and but for love, we would not have won them—
We attained though love we'd not attained,
We attained—and were it not for love, we would never have attained— / the banners of tenderness when we sought them out.
the banners of tenderness, when we sought them.
The gentle songs as we named them.
The hands of passion wove magnificent garments for us, / spun by the intense longing for the Beloved in their warp.
حَاكَتْwove لَنَاfor us أَيْدِيthe hands of الْغَرَامِpassion مَطَارِفاًbordered cloaks
حَاكَتْ لَنَا أَيْدِي الْغَرَامِ مَطَارِفاً
غَزَلَspun التَّوَلُّهُinfatuation فِيwith الْحَبِيبِthe beloved سَدَاهَاtheir warp
غَزَلَ التَّوَلُّهُ فِي الْحَبِيبِ سَدَاهَا
The hands of passion wove us bordered cloaks;
The hands of passion wove for us subtleties,
We guided passion when we surrendered to passion, / holding reins whose harshness was broken by our submission.
infatuation with the beloved spun their warp.
When obsession spun in the lover its veil.
We found delight, and deep longing granted us our full due; / just as it tamed our hearts, we tamed it in return.
قُدْنَاwe led الْهَوَىlove لَمَّاwhen انْفَعَلْنَاwe yielded لِلْهَوَىto love
قُدْنَا الْهَوَى لَمَّا انْفَعَلْنَا لِلْهَوَى
بِأَزِمَّةٍwith reins قَتَلَkilled الْخُضُوعُsubmission قُوَاهَاtheir strength
بِأَزِمَّةٍ قَتَلَ الْخُضُوعُ قُوَاهَا
We led love when we yielded to love,
We led passion when we were impassioned with passion
I swear by the Fire of Passion and the One who kindled it: / truly blessed is the one whose heart is its dwelling place.
with reins whose strength submission had slain.
In a crisis that meekness killed its strength.
Ignite its blaze within my soul, for the height / of all hopes lies in the depths of its burning trial.
طِبْنَاwe became glad فَوَفَّتْنَاso it paid us fully الصَّبَابَةُyearning حَقَّنَاour due
طِبْنَا فَوَفَّتْنَا الصَّبَابَةُ حَقَّنَا
مِنْfrom حَيْثُwhere رَاضَتْtamed لُبَّنَاour heart رُضْنَاهَاwe tamed it
مِنْ حَيْثُ رَاضَتْ لُبَّنَا رُضْنَاهَا
We were gladdened, and yearning paid us our due;
We were delighted so we were granted our right,
Yet I fear, O my benefactor, that through my love for you, / I will be entirely consumed by the scorching heat of yearning.
through its taming of our hearts, we tamed it.
Whence youth satisfied our heart we were satisfied.
Never! Loving you makes one like Abraham; thus its fire / becomes coolness and peace, despite its heat and blaze.
نَارُthe fire of الْغَرَامِpassion وَحَقِّand by the right of مَنْHim who أَغْرَاهَاset it raging
نَارُ الْغَرَامِ وَحَقِّ مَنْ أَغْرَاهَا
لَمُنَعَّمٌsurely blessed مَنْwhoever قَلْبُهُhis heart مَأْوَاهَاits refuge
لَمُنَعَّمٌ مَنْ قَلْبُهُ مَأْوَاهَا
Love's fire—by the right of Him who set it raging—
The fire of passion, by the right of the one who lit it,
Increase its raging flames, and I shall increase my humble submission, / for I cannot bear the harshness of unfeeling souls.
blessed indeed is he whose heart is its refuge.
What bliss for he whose heart is its abode.
By God, oh God, O Sun of Radiance! / He granted you dominion over my depths, and you became their very core.
أَوْقِدْkindle لَظَاهَاits blaze فِيin حَشَايَmy innermost heart فَمُنْتَهَىfor the utmost of
أَوْقِدْ لَظَاهَا فِي حَشَايَ فَمُنْتَهَى
آمَالِهِits hopes فِيin مُنْتَهَىthe utmost of لَأْوَاهَاits affliction
آمَالِهِ فِي مُنْتَهَى لَأْوَاهَا
Kindle its blaze within my breast, for the utmost
Light its flames in the embers of my mouth,
By God, oh God, O Essence of Desire! / He cast you into my spirit, and you became its ultimate wish.
of its hopes lies in the utmost of that fire's affliction.
His hopes at the extremity of its passions.
By God, oh God, O Source of Brilliance! / He placed you in my eyes, and you became their guiding light.
لَكِنْbut أَخَافُI fear عَلَىfor هَوَاكَyour love مُنَعِّمِيmy giver of bliss
لَكِنْ أَخَافُ عَلَى هَوَاكَ مُنَعِّمِي
بِحَرَارَةِin the heat of الأَشْوَاقِlongings أَنْthat يَصْلاَهَاit burn in it
بِحَرَارَةِ الأَشْوَاقِ أَنْ يَصْلاَهَا
But I fear for your love, O giver of my bliss,
But I fear for your passion, my bliss,
By God, oh God, O Soul of True Wealth! / He established you in my being, and you became its absolute richness.
lest it burn in that fire amid the heat of yearning.
With the heat of longing that it will scorch it.
By God, oh God, O Bane of the Enemies! / He gave you power over my foes, intensifying their torment.
كَلاَّno indeed هَوَاكَyour love بِهَاwithin it الْخَلِيلُthe Friend فَنارُهُso his fire
كَلاَّ هَوَاكَ بِهَا الْخَلِيلُ فَنارُهُ
بَرْدٌcoolness سَلاَمٌpeace حَرُّهَاits heat وَلَظَاهَاand its blaze
بَرْدٌ سَلاَمٌ حَرُّهَا وَلَظَاهَا
No! Your love is the Friend within it; his fire—
Nay, your passion, by it the Friend's fire,
Increase their burning! May God increase within / their hearts a fury that shatters their resolve.
its heat and blaze are coolness and peace.
Is cool safety, hot yet soothing.
Prolong their restlessness! May God forever preserve / your enduring presence, completely vanquishing their malice.
زِدْincrease فِيin تَسَعُّرِهَاits raging أَزِدْكَI will give you more تَذَلُّلاًhumility
زِدْ فِي تَسَعُّرِهَا أَزِدْكَ تَذَلُّلاً
فَقَسَاوَةُfor the harshness of الأَجْلاَفِthe boors لاَnot أَرْضَاهَاI accept it
فَقَسَاوَةُ الأَجْلاَفِ لاَ أَرْضَاهَا
Make it rage still more; I shall offer you more humility,
Increase in its inflammation, I'll be humbled to you,
In my love for the Beloved, I find the most profound ecstasy, / an unbroken joy fueled by the purest, most refined wine.
for the hard-heartedness of boors I cannot accept.
The harshness of the stony-hearted I do not please.
When I am intoxicated, I am awakened by the sheer thrill of it; / and when I am sober, I am intoxicated simply by remembering it.
بِاللهِby God آاللهُُis it God يَاO سَمْشَsun of الْبَهَاsplendor
بِاللهِ آاللهُُ يَا سَمْشَ الْبَهَا
أَوْلاَكَgave you أَحْشَائِيmy innermost parts فَكُنْتَso you became حَشَاهَاtheir core
أَوْلاَكَ أَحْشَائِي فَكُنْتَ حَشَاهَا
By God, was it God, O sun of splendor,
By God, O sun of splendor,
When I am sober, my sobriety never falls from exalted heights; / and when I am intoxicated, my intoxication is never from foolish vice.
who gave you my innermost being, so you became its core?
You dwelt in my innards so you were its dweller.
My poetic spirit surged wildly in the fields of amorous verse, / yet the praise of the Master of all Creation gently reins it in.
بِاللهِby God آاللهُُis it God يَاO رُوحَspirit of الْمُنَىwishes
بِاللهِ آاللهُُ يَا رُوحَ الْمُنَى
أَلْقَاكَcast you فِيin رُوحِيmy soul فَكُنْتَso you became مُنَاهَاits wishes
أَلْقَاكَ فِي رُوحِي فَكُنْتَ مُنَاهَا
By God, was it God, O spirit of wishes,
By God, O soul of elation,
It called out to him: 'O Dispeller of Sorrows! The paths of passion / spurred me onward when I mounted their steeds.'
who cast you into my soul, so you became its wishes?
I met you so you were its confidant.
Thus, it was delivered by his brilliant light when he answered its call, / much like the sun whose morning radiance drives away the dark.
بِاللهِby God آاللهُُis it God يَاO عَيْنَeye of السَّنَاradiance
بِاللهِ آاللهُُ يَا عَيْنَ السَّنَا
أَلْقَاكَcast you فِيin عَيْنِيmy eye فَكُنْتَso you became سَنَاهَاits radiance
أَلْقَاكَ فِي عَيْنِي فَكُنْتَ سَنَاهَا
By God, was it God, O eye of radiance,
By God, O eye of mirth,
It found the realm of speech utterly limitless in its scope, / with towering peaks whose ascent exhausts all humankind.
who cast you into my eye, so you became its radiance?
I met you so you were its gaze.
His virtues are so abundant that none can attempt to encompass them; / his merits are an overflowing sea that never knows an end.
بِاللهِby God آاللهُُis it God يَاO نَفْسَsoul of الْغِنَىwealth
بِاللهِ آاللهُُ يَا نَفْسَ الْغِنَى
أَلْقَاكَcast you فِيin نَفْسِيmy soul فَكُنْتَso you became غِنَاهَاits wealth
أَلْقَاكَ فِي نَفْسِي فَكُنْتَ غِنَاهَا
By God, was it God, O soul of wealth,
By God, O life of bounty,
The fingers of eloquence fall far too short to explain them, / as human comprehension proves entirely helpless before their true meaning.
who cast you into my soul, so you became its wealth?
I met you so you were its life.
It stood bewildered—and rightly so, for one attempting to praise him— / yet no equivalent or likeness exists for Ahmad Taha.
بِاللهِby God آاللهُُis it God يَاO غَيْظَvexation of الْعِدَىthe foes
بِاللهِ آاللهُُ يَا غَيْظَ الْعِدَى
أَوْلاَكَgave you أَعْدَائِيmy enemies تُثِيرُyou stir ضَنَاهَاtheir anguish
أَوْلاَكَ أَعْدَائِي تُثِيرُ ضَنَاهَا
By God, was it God, O vexation of foes,
By God, O scourge of the foe,
He is the Sun of all worlds and the wellspring of their grace, / both in the earliest dawn of creation and in the life to come.
who gave you my enemies, whose anguish you stir?
Your enemies rouse its rancor.
Before existence itself, his luminous light was already shining; / the Divine Throne and Footstool are but a fraction of his radiance.
زِدْincrease فِيin تَحَرُّقِهَاtheir burning فَزَادَso may He increase اللهُGod فِيin
زِدْ فِي تَحَرُّقِهَا فَزَادَ اللهُ فِي
أَكْبَادِهَاtheir livers غَيْظاًrage يَحُلُّloosens عُرَاهَاtheir bonds
أَكْبَادِهَا غَيْظاً يَحُلُّ عُرَاهَا
Increase their burning; and may God increase within
Increase in their burning, so God increased
He is the Origin of all origins, their finest branch, and their ultimate refuge, / the blazing lamp in their deepest darkness and the dawn breaking their night.
their livers a rage that unravels their bonds.
In their livers wrath dissolving their shame.
Amina gave birth to him, who is the spiritual forefather of Adam; / glory be to God for a mother who births both her son and her father!
وَأَطِلْand prolong تَمَلْمُلَهَاtheir restlessness أَطَالَmay He prolong اللهُGod فِيin
وَأَطِلْ تَمَلْمُلَهَا أَطَالَ اللهُ فِي
إِبْقَائِكَkeeping you alive الْمُفْنِيannihilating مُفِيتَthwarting رَدَاهَاtheir destruction
إِبْقَائِكَ الْمُفْنِي مُفِيتَ رَدَاهَا
And prolong their restlessness; may God prolong
And lengthen their disquiet, so God prolonged
Through him, the legions of Ultimate Truth rejoiced with laughter, / while the factions of ruin wept, their eyes pouring with bitter tears.
your survival, which lays them waste and thwarts their destruction.
Your lasting vanquisher of their demise.
Thus, the wellsprings of faith overflowed with absolute guidance, / while the echoing halls of perdition were struck utterly deaf.
لِيfor me فِيin هَوَىlove of الْمَحْبُوبِthe beloved أَعْظَمُthe greatest نَشْوَةٍintoxication
لِي فِي هَوَى الْمَحْبُوبِ أَعْظَمُ نَشْوَةٍ
مَوْصُولَةِuninterrupted in الأَفْرَاحِjoys رَقَّgrew delicate طِلاَهَاits wine
مَوْصُولَةِ الأَفْرَاحِ رَقَّ طِلاَهَا
In love of the beloved, mine is the greatest intoxication,
For me in the passion of the beloved is greatest elation
The sovereign masters of eloquence lost their way in praising him, / for being utterly bewildered in his praise is the highest eloquence.
whose joys are unbroken and whose wine is delicate.
Continuous joys, soften its climb.
How can one possibly praise a man whose majestic attributes / are ornaments that the Qur'an itself has intricately embroidered?
فَإِذَاso when سَكِرْتُI became drunk صَحَوْتُI sobered مِنْfrom طَرَبِيmy delight بِهَاin it
فَإِذَا سَكِرْتُ صَحَوْتُ مِنْ طَرَبِي بِهَا
وَإِذَاand when صَحَوْتُI sobered سَكِرْتُI became drunk مِنْfrom ذِكْرَاهَاits memory
وَإِذَا صَحَوْتُ سَكِرْتُ مِنْ ذِكْرَاهَا
When I am drunk, my delight in it makes me sober;
If I get drunk I sober from my rapture by it
And if you ever doubt this, the verse 'Glory be to Him who carried / His servant by night' suffices you, alongside the chapter of Ta-Ha.
and when I am sober, its memory makes me drunk.
And if I sober I get drunk by remembering it.
They asked, 'Will you not praise him?' I replied, 'What can I say after / God, the Exalted, has praised him directly with His own words?'
فَإِذَاso when صَحَوْتُI sobered فَمَاthen not صَحَوْتُI sobered عَنِaway from الْعُلاَthe heights
فَإِذَا صَحَوْتُ فَمَا صَحَوْتُ عَنِ الْعُلاَ
وَإِذَاand when سَكِرْتُI became drunk فَمَاthen not سَكِرْتُI became drunk سَفَاهَاfoolishly
وَإِذَا سَكِرْتُ فَمَا سَكِرْتُ سَفَاهَا
When I sober, I have not sobered away from the heights;
If I sober I sober not from sublime love,
In a divine presence of absolute sanctity, where even / the Archangel Gabriel could not approach its nearest threshold.
and when I am drunk, I am not drunk out of folly.
And if I get drunk I get not drunk with frivolity.
Beyond the praise bestowed by God—majestic is His majesty— / there is no greater praise for the one who humbled the heights yet transcended them all.
جَمَحَتْran wild بِمَيْدَانِin the arena of النَّسِيبِlove poetry قَرِيحَتِيmy poetic gift
جَمَحَتْ بِمَيْدَانِ النَّسِيبِ قَرِيحَتِي
وَمَدِيحِand praise of مَنْhim who سَادَruled الْوَرَىhumankind يَرْعَاهَاtends it
وَمَدِيحِ مَنْ سَادَ الْوَرَى يَرْعَاهَا
My poetic gift ran wild in the arena of love verse
My talent gathered in the realm of ode
His noble fingertips overflowed with generous grace, just as / they once overflowed with the very waters that quenched entire armies.
and of praise for humankind's lord, who watches over it.
And praise of the unparalleled guide of all.
The Most Merciful has granted him a station of immense majesty; / highly exalted is the Merciful—how endlessly supreme is that rank!
نَادَتْهُit called him يَاO مُجْلِيdispeller of الْعَنَاdistress رُسُمُtraces of الْهَوَىlove
نَادَتْهُ يَا مُجْلِي الْعَنَا رُسُمُ الْهَوَى
أَرْقَلْنَthey sped بِيwith me لَمَّاwhen امْتَطَيْتُI mounted مَطَاهَاtheir mounts
أَرْقَلْنَ بِي لَمَّا امْتَطَيْتُ مَطَاهَا
It called to him: 'O dispeller of distress, love's traces
It called him, "O effacer of distress, the form of passion
I swear by the intense devotion hidden within these holy secrets: / no created being has ever truly circled the heights of his sanctuary.
sped with me when I mounted their steeds.'
Weakened me when I mounted its course."
Forgive me, O Messenger of God! I come to you as a beggar in need, / not merely as a praiser, for your exalted status is utterly beyond my words.
فَتَخَلَّصَتْso it found release بِسَنَاهُthrough his radiance إِذْwhen لَبَّاهَاhe answered it
فَتَخَلَّصَتْ بِسَنَاهُ إِذْ لَبَّاهَا
كَالشَّمْسِlike the sun إِشْرَاقُthe brilliance of الضًُّحَىthe forenoon جَلاَّهَاrevealed it
كَالشَّمْسِ إِشْرَاقُ الضًُّحَى جَلاَّهَا
Then it found deliverance through his radiance when he answered it,
So it slipped by his brilliance when it clung to him
And if my humble verses have somehow fallen short, / I have still offered the purest first-fruits of my poetry to their rightful Master.
like the sun revealed by the brilliance of morning.
Like the sunrise, the radiance of dawn bared it.
You are the one who bestowed upon us the means of grace; / by God, were it not for you, we would never have attained them!
وَجَدَتْit found مَكَانَthe realm of الْقَوْلِspeech مَفْقُودَunfindable in الْمَدَىextent
وَجَدَتْ مَكَانَ الْقَوْلِ مَفْقُودَ الْمَدَى
سَامِيlofty in الذُّرَىsummits أَعْيَىexhausted الْوَرَىhumankind مَرْقَاهَاtheir ascent
سَامِي الذُّرَى أَعْيَى الْوَرَى مَرْقَاهَا
It found the realm of speech limitless in extent,
It found in place of utterance, the extended range lost,
Here stands your desperate servant, seeking refuge at your door, / hoping to grasp the strongest and surest of all means of guidance.
with lofty summits whose ascent exhausted humankind,
Sublime above all creation, the highest of its ascent exhausted.
Here is your sorrowful servant, seeking absolute sanctuary at your gate, / hoping for the most healing remedy to cure his spiritual afflictions.
جَمَّabundant in الْفَضَائِلِvirtues لاَnot يُحَاوِلُone attempts حَصْرَهَاto encompass them
جَمَّ الْفَضَائِلِ لاَ يُحَاوِلُ حَصْرَهَا
غَمْرَoverflowing with الْمَزَايَاmerits عَوْضُever لاَnot تَتَنَاهَىthey come to an end
غَمْرَ الْمَزَايَا عَوْضُ لاَ تَتَنَاهَى
rich in virtues whose compass none attempts to measure,
He combined all virtues, one cannot attempt to enumerate them,
He has been chained by his ceaseless indulgence in worldly desires, / as his mounting sins have bound him forcefully against his will.
overflowing with merits that never come to an end.
An abundance of qualities, infinite recompense.
The crushing hardships of his era have ruthlessly assailed him, / until the sheer weight of his grief has worn him down to nothing.
قَصُرَتْfell short بَنَانُthe fingers of الشَّرْحِexplanation عَنْof تَبْيِينِهَاmaking them clear
قَصُرَتْ بَنَانُ الشَّرْحِ عَنْ تَبْيِينِهَا
إِذْwhen بَانَbecame clear عَجْزُthe inability of الْفَهْمِunderstanding عَنْto reach مَعْنَاهَاtheir meaning
إِذْ بَانَ عَجْزُ الْفَهْمِ عَنْ مَعْنَاهَا
The fingers of explanation fell short of making them plain,
Eulogies fell short of describing it
Meet his desperate need with the healing grace of your remedy, / for the constancy of your cure will forever release him from his sorrow.
when understanding's inability to grasp their meaning was revealed.
When the incapacity of the mind to apprehend it became evident.
Turn the light of your guidance upon the dark places of his error, / with a boundless compassion that rescues the soul from its smothering gloom.
بَهَتَتْit was bewildered وَحُقَّand rightly so لِمِثْلِهَاfor one like it فِيbefore مِثْلِهِone like him
بَهَتَتْ وَحُقَّ لِمِثْلِهَا فِي مِثْلِهِ
وَالْمِثْلُand an equal مَفْقُودٌis absent لِأَحْمَدَfor Ahmad طَهَTa-Ha
وَالْمِثْلُ مَفْقُودٌ لِأَحْمَدَ طَهَ
It was bewildered, and rightly so for one like it before one like him,
It was perplexed, and rightly so for the like of it,
Grant him a special distinction, spiritually binding him / to your sanctuary alongside those who have truly obeyed God.
though no equal exists for Ahmad, Ta-Ha.
Yet the like is absent except Ahmad Taha.
Grant him spiritual wealth that banishes all forms of hardship, / until his right hand firmly grasps the ultimate realization of his hopes.
شَمْسُthe sun of الْعَوَالِمِthe worlds كُلِّهَاall of them وَمُمِدُّهَاand their sustainer
شَمْسُ الْعَوَالِمِ كُلِّهَا وَمُمِدُّهَا
فِيin النَّشْأَةِthe creation الأُولَىfirst وَفِيand in عُقْبَاهَاtheir hereafter
فِي النَّشْأَةِ الأُولَى وَفِي عُقْبَاهَا
The sun of all the worlds and their sustainer,
The sun of all the worlds and their illuminator,
Endow him with deep understanding of your divine decrees, / where even the contrapositive perfectly affirms their profound truth.
in their first creation and in their hereafter.
In the first creation and in its succession.
And protect his father, his family, and his spiritual guides, / both in the trials of this present world and in the everlasting Hereafter.
قَبْلَbefore الْوُجُودِexistence تَلَأْلَأَتْshone أَنْوَارُهُhis lights
قَبْلَ الْوُجُودِ تَلَأْلَأَتْ أَنْوَارُهُ
فَالْعَرْشُso the Throne وَالْكُرْسِيُّand the Footstool بَعْضُpart of سَنَاهَاtheir radiance
فَالْعَرْشُ وَالْكُرْسِيُّ بَعْضُ سَنَاهَا
Before existence, his lights shone forth;
Before existence, his lights gleamed,
May God's blessings be upon you, O you who came to us / bearing glad tidings, radiant as the sun in its mid-morning glory.
the Throne and the Footstool are but part of their radiance.
The Throne and Footstool some of its rays.
May God's blessings be upon you, O you who came to us / with supreme gentleness, never harsh-hearted nor overbearing.
أَصْلٌُthe root of الأُصْولِthe roots وَفَرْعُهَاand their branch وَمَلاَذُهُاand their refuge
أَصْلٌُ الأُصْولِ وَفَرْعُهَا وَمَلاَذُهُا
وَسِرَاجُand the lamp of غَيْهَبِهَاtheir blackness وَفَجْرُand the dawn of دُجَاهَاtheir darkness
وَسِرَاجُ غَيْهَبِهَا وَفَجْرُ دُجَاهَا
The root of all roots, their branch and their refuge,
The origin of origins and its branch, and its refuge,
May God's blessings be upon you, O you who came to us / as a gentle shelter for the weak, entirely free of arrogant pride.
the lamp of their blackness and the dawn of their darkness.
And lamp of its darkness and dawn of its gloom.
May God's blessings be upon you, O you whose brilliant light / upholds the entirety of the worlds, spanning both earth and sky.
وَلَدَتْهُshe bore him آمِنَةٌAmina أَبَاfather of الأُمِّthe mother-source آدَمٍAdam
وَلَدَتْهُ آمِنَةٌ أَبَا الأُمِّ آدَمٍ
لِلَّهِto God مَنْshe who تَلِدُgives birth to ابْنَهَاher son وَأَبَاهَاand her father
لِلَّهِ مَنْ تَلِدُ ابْنَهَا وَأَبَاهَا
Amina bore him, father of the mother-source, Adam;
Amina birthed him, father of fathers Adam,
May God's blessings be upon you, O you whose profound love / has restored perfect vision to hearts that were once completely blind.
how wondrous, by God, is she who bears her son and her father!
To God belongs she who gives birth to her father.
May God's blessings be upon you, O you whose very remembrance / forever perfumes the ears that hear it and the lips that speak it.
ضَحِكَتْsmiled بِهِbecause of him زُمَرُcompanies of الْحَقِيقَةِtruth إِذْwhen بَكَتْwept
ضَحِكَتْ بِهِ زُمَرُ الْحَقِيقَةِ إِذْ بَكَتْ
فِرَقُfactions of الرَّدَىperdition هَمَّالَةٌstreaming عَيْنَاهَاtheir two eyes
فِرَقُ الرَّدَى هَمَّالَةٌ عَيْنَاهَا
The companies of truth smiled because of him, while there wept
The hosts of reality laughed as the throngs of falsehood cried,
May God bless you for as long as the mystic, / having drunk deeply of the bewilderment of your majesty, cries out 'Ah!'
the factions of perdition, their eyes streaming.
Blinking their eyes.
And upon his noble kindred, the guiding lamps of all humanity, / and upon his companions, whose radiant guidance embraces everyone.
فَمَنَاهِلُso the watering places of الإِيمَانِfaith طَمَّoverflowed هُدَاهَاtheir guidance
فَمَنَاهِلُ الإِيمَانِ طَمَّ هُدَاهَا
وَمَنَازِلُand the abodes of الْخُسْرَانِloss صَمَّdeafened صَدَاهَاtheir echo
وَمَنَازِلُ الْخُسْرَانِ صَمَّ صَدَاهَا
The watering places of faith overflowed with guidance;
The springs of faith surged while its call rang out,
and the abodes of loss had a deafening echo.
And the abodes of ruin deafened its echo.
تَاهَتْwandered bewildered مُلُوكُthe kings of الْقَوْلِspeech فِيin أَمْدَاحِهِhis praises
تَاهَتْ مُلُوكُ الْقَوْلِ فِي أَمْدَاحِهِ
وَالتِّيهُand bewilderment فِيin أَمْدَاحِهِhis praises أَقْصَاهَاtheir utmost limit
وَالتِّيهُ فِي أَمْدَاحِهِ أَقْصَاهَا
The kings of speech lost their way in his praises,
The kings of speech wavered in their eulogies of him,
and bewilderment in praising him is the furthest praise can go.
Bewildered were the eulogies of him in its limits.
لاَnot يُسْتَطَاعُcan be accomplished مَدِيحُpraise of مَنْhim whose أَوْصَافُهُhis qualities
لاَ يُسْتَطَاعُ مَدِيحُ مَنْ أَوْصَافُهُ
قَدْindeed طَرَّزَembroidered الْقُرْآنthe Qur'an ُ بَعْضُsome of حُلاَهَاtheir adornments
قَدْ طَرَّزَ الْقُرْآن ُ بَعْضُ حُلاَهَا
It is impossible to praise one whose qualities
The praise of one whose traits embroidered the Quran,
have embroidered the Qur'an with some of their adornments.
Some of its adornment cannot be lauded.
وَإِذَاand if امْتَرَيْتَyou doubt فَإِنَّthen indeed سُبْحَانَglory be to الذِيHim who
وَإِذَا امْتَرَيْتَ فَإِنَّ سُبْحَانَ الذِي
أَسْرَىtook on a night journey بِهhim لَبْلاًat night كَفَاكَsufficed you وَطَهَand Ta-Ha
أَسْرَى بِه لَبْلاً كَفَاكَ وَطَهَ
And if you doubt, then 'Glory be to Him who
And if you lack, Glory to He Who took him on the night journey,
took him by night' suffices you, as does Ta-Ha.
That sufficed you, and Taha.
قَالُواthey said أَلاَcome now امْدَحْهُpraise him فَقُلْتُso I said أَبَعْدَمَاis it after
قَالُوا أَلاَ امْدَحْهُ فَقُلْتُ أَبَعْدَمَا
أَثْنَىpraised عَلَيْهِhim اللهُGod جَلَّexalted is He شِفَاهَاdirectly
أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ اللهُ جَلَّ شِفَاهَا
They said, 'Come, praise him!' I replied, 'After
They said, "Do praise him." I said, "After God extolled him,
God, exalted is He, has praised him directly
What praise from one whose lips He made majestic?"
فِِيin حَضْرَةٍa presence مِنْof قُدْسِهِHis holiness لَمْnot يَسْتَطِعْwas able
فِِي حَضْرَةٍ مِنْ قُدْسِهِ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ
جِبْرُيلُGabriel أَنْto يَدْنُوَdraw near مِنْto أَدْنَاهَاits nearest part
جِبْرُيلُ أَنْ يَدْنُوَ مِنْ أَدْنَاهَا
in a presence of His holiness, where it was not possible
In a sphere of His holiness that Gabriel
for Gabriel to draw close even to its nearest part?'
Could not come near in its base.
مَاno بَعْدَafter مَدْحِthe praise of اللهِGod جَلَّmajestic is جَلاَلُهُHis majesty
مَا بَعْدَ مَدْحِ اللهِ جَلَّ جَلاَلُهُ
مَدْحٌpraise لِمَنْfor him who خَفَضَlowered الْعُلاُthe heights وَعَلاَهَاand surpassed them
مَدْحٌ لِمَنْ خَفَضَ الْعُلاُ وَعَلاَهَا
After the praise of God—majestic is His majesty—there is no
Beyond God's praise, Majestic His Majesty,
praise for him who humbled the heights and rose above them.
Is praise of whom the Most High exalted and raised.
وَبَنَانُهُand his fingers فَاضَتْoverflowed نَوَالاًwith bounty مِثْلَlike مَاthat which
وَبَنَانُهُ فَاضَتْ نَوَالاً مِثْلَ مَا
قَاضَتْpoured forth بِمَاwith what رَوَّىquenched الْجُيُوشَthe armies مِيَاهَاtheir waters
قَاضَتْ بِمَا رَوَّى الْجُيُوشَ مِيَاهَا
His fingers poured forth bounty, just as
His edifice overflowed equally as
their waters poured forth to quench the armies.
The armies quenched their thirst from his downpour.
وَأَنَالَهُand bestowed on him الرَّحْمَانُthe All-Merciful جَلَّexalted is He مَكَانَةًa rank
وَأَنَالَهُ الرَّحْمَانُ جَلَّ مَكَانَةً
فَتَبَارَكَso blessed is الرَّحْمَانُthe All-Merciful مَاhow أَعْلاَهَاlofty it is
فَتَبَارَكَ الرَّحْمَانُ مَا أَعْلاَهَا
The All-Merciful, exalted is He, bestowed on him a rank;
And the Merciful granted him lofty rank,
blessed be the All-Merciful—how lofty it is!
So Blessed is the Merciful for how lofty He raised it.
أَقْسَمْتُI swore بِالْهَيَمَانِby rapturous wandering فِيin أَسْرَارِهَاits mysteries
أَقْسَمْتُ بِالْهَيَمَانِ فِي أَسْرَارِهَا
مَاnot حَامَcircled خَلْقٌa creature قَطُّever حَوْلَaround حِمَاهَاits sanctuary
مَا حَامَ خَلْقٌ قَطُّ حَوْلَ حِمَاهَا
I swear by rapturous wandering in its mysteries:
I swear by the Sanctuary in its mysteries
no creature has ever circled its sanctuary.
None can approximate its fence.
عُذْراًpardon رَسُولَO Messenger of اللهِGod جِئْتُكَI came to you طَالِباًَseeking
عُذْراً رَسُولَ اللهِ جِئْتُكَ طَالِباًَ
لاَnot مَادِحاًpraising حَاشَاكَyou are above that عِنْدَكَwith you جَاهَاstanding
لاَ مَادِحاً حَاشَاكَ عِنْدَكَ جَاهَا
Pardon me, Messenger of God: I have come to you seeking,
Excuse me, Messenger of God, I came to you seeking,
not praising—you are above that!—favor in your presence.
Not praising, far from you is grandeur.
وَلَئِنْand even if أَسَأْتُI did badly بِمَاin what نَظَمْتُI composed فَإِنَّنيِthen indeed I
وَلَئِنْ أَسَأْتُ بِمَا نَظَمْتُ فَإِنَّنيِ
أَهْدَيْتُI offered أَبْكَارِيmy maiden verses إِلَىto مَوْلاَهَاtheir master
أَهْدَيْتُ أَبْكَارِي إِلَى مَوْلاَهَا
Even if I have erred in what I composed, still I
If I was wrong in what I wrote, I gifted to your Master
have offered my maiden verses to their master.
My first works.
أَنْتَyou الذِيthe one who أَوْلَيْتَنَاgranted us أَسْبَابَهَاtheir means
أَنْتَ الذِي أَوْلَيْتَنَا أَسْبَابَهَا
وَاللهِand by God لَوْلاَwere it not for أَنْتَyou مَاnot نِلْنَاهَاwe attained them
وَاللهِ لَوْلاَ أَنْتَ مَا نِلْنَاهَا
You are the one who granted us the means to them;
You are the one who granted us its means,
and by God, without you we would not have attained them.
By God, without you we'd not attained it.
هَاbehold عَبْدُكَyour servant الْمُضْطَرٍّthe distressed أَمَّsought جَنَابَكُمْyour presence
هَا عَبْدُكَ الْمُضْطَرٍّ أَمَّ جَنَابَكُمْ
يَرْجُوhopes مِنْamong أَسْبَابِthe means of الْهُدَىguidance أَقْوَاهَاthe strongest of them
يَرْجُو مِنْ أَسْبَابِ الْهُدَى أَقْوَاهَا
Here is your distressed servant, who has sought your presence,
Hoping from the means to guidance its strength.
hoping for the strongest means of guidance.
Seeking from the cures of distress its healing.
هَاbehold عَبْدُكَyour servant الْمَلْهُوفُthe anguished لاَذَsought refuge بِبَابِكُمْat your door
هَا عَبْدُكَ الْمَلْهُوفُ لاَذَ بِبَابِكُمْ
يَرْجُوhopes مِنْamong أَدْوِيَةِthe remedies for الضَّنَىaffliction أَشْفَاهَاthe most healing of them
يَرْجُو مِنْ أَدْوِيَةِ الضَّنَى أَشْفَاهَا
Here is your anguished servant, who has sought refuge at your door,
Passion overwhelmed him as his sins shackled him,
hoping for the most healing remedies for affliction.
Coercing him.
قَدْindeed غَلَّهُshackled him الْإِيغَالُdeep indulgence فِيin شَهَوَاتِهِhis desires
قَدْ غَلَّهُ الْإِيغَالُ فِي شَهَوَاتِهِ
إِذْwhen أَوْثَقَتْهُbound him ذُنُوبُهُhis sins إِكْرَاهَاforcibly
إِذْ أَوْثَقَتْهُ ذُنُوبُهُ إِكْرَاهَا
Deep indulgence in his desires has shackled him,
And the conundrums of his time wore him down,
as his sins bound him by force.
Until hardship showed him its bitterness.
وَتَنَاوَشَتْهُand assailed him مُعْضِلاَتُthe grave troubles of زَمَانِهِhis time
وَتَنَاوَشَتْهُ مُعْضِلاَتُ زَمَانِهِ
حَتَّىuntil بَرَاهُwasted him away الْوَجْدُgrief مِنْfrom جَرَّاهَاtheir effects
حَتَّى بَرَاهُ الْوَجْدُ مِنْ جَرَّاهَا
The grave troubles of his time have assailed him,
Counter his necessity with your able healing,
until grief wasted him away because of them.
Its continuity is endless releasing his agony.
قَابِلْmeet ضَرُورَتَهُhis urgent need بِمُمْكِنِwith the possibility of طِبِّكُمْyour healing
قَابِلْ ضَرُورَتَهُ بِمُمْكِنِ طِبِّكُمْ
فَدَوَامُfor the continuance of ذَلِكَthat مُطْلِقٌunleashing شَكْوَاهَاits complaint
فَدَوَامُ ذَلِكَ مُطْلِقٌ شَكْوَاهَا
Meet his urgent need with what your healing can do,
And turn your guidance to the place of his misguidance,
for the persistence of that need unleashes its complaint.
Gently saving the soul from its gloom.
وَاعْطِفْand turn هُدَاكَyour guidance عَلَىtoward مَحَلِّthe place of ضَلاَلِهِhis misguidance
وَاعْطِفْ هُدَاكَ عَلَى مَحَلِّ ضَلاَلِهِ
عَطْفاًa turning يُنَجِّيthat saves النَّفْسَthe soul مِنْfrom غُمَّاهَاits distress
عَطْفاً يُنَجِّي النَّفْسَ مِنْ غُمَّاهَا
Turn your guidance toward the seat of his misguidance,
And specify for him in drawing near
with a turning that saves the soul from its distress.
Your sanctuary along with those obeying God.
وَأَنِلْهُand grant him تَخْصِيصاًdistinction بِجَرِّby drawing إِضَافَةٍan affiliation
وَأَنِلْهُ تَخْصِيصاً بِجَرِّ إِضَافَةٍ
لِحِمَاكَto your sanctuary مَعَwith مَنْthose who قَدْindeed أَطَاعَobeyed اللهَGod
لِحِمَاكَ مَعَ مَنْ قَدْ أَطَاعَ اللهَ
And grant him distinction by drawing him into affiliation
And grant in terms of independence, riddance of distress,
with your sanctuary, alongside those who have obeyed God.
The wishes reach and gratify him.
وَامْنَحْهُand grant him فِيin حَدِّthe bounds of الْغِنَىsufficiency طَرْدَthe banishment of الْعَنَاdistress
وَامْنَحْهُ فِي حَدِّ الْغِنَى طَرْدَ الْعَنَا
حَتَّىuntil تُنَاوِلَهُoffer him الْمُنَىwishes يُمْنَاهَاtheir right hand
حَتَّى تُنَاوِلَهُ الْمُنَى يُمْنَاهَا
Grant him, within the bounds of sufficiency, the banishment of distress,
And endow him with understanding in your concepts which
until wishes offer him their right hand.
The opposite corresponds with its contents.
وَأَفِدْهُand impart to him فَهْماًunderstanding فِيof قَضَايَاكَyour propositions التِيwhich
وَأَفِدْهُ فَهْماً فِي قَضَايَاكَ التِي
عَكْسُconversion of النَّقِيضِthe contradictory مُوَافِقٌaccords with فَحْوَاهَاtheir import
عَكْسُ النَّقِيضِ مُوَافِقٌ فَحْوَاهَا
And impart to him understanding of your propositions, whose
And protect his father, family, and elders,
contrapositives accord with their meaning.
In this world and the next.
وَاحْفَظْand preserve أَبَاهُhis father وَأَهْلَهُand his family وَشُيُوخَهُand his teachers
وَاحْفَظْ أَبَاهُ وَأَهْلَهُ وَشُيُوخَهُ
فِيin هَذِهِthis الدُّنْيَاworld وَفِيand in أُخْرَاهَاits hereafter
فِي هَذِهِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي أُخْرَاهَا
Preserve his father, his family, and his teachers,
God bless you, O you who came to us,
in this world and in its hereafter.
Like the sun at the time of its forenoon.
صَلَّىmay He send blessings عَلَيْكَupon you اللهُGod يَاO مَنْone who جَاءَنَاcame to us
صَلَّى عَلَيْكَ اللهُ يَا مَنْ جَاءَنَا
مُسْتَبْشِراًrejoicing كَالشَّمْسِlike the sun وَقْتَat the time of ضُحَاهَاits forenoon
مُسْتَبْشِراً كَالشَّمْسِ وَقْتَ ضُحَاهَا
May God bless you, O you who came to us
God bless you, O you who came to us,
rejoicing, like the sun in its forenoon.
With kindness, neither stern nor frowning.
صَلَّىmay He send blessings عَلَيْكَupon you اللهُGod يَاO مَنْone who جَاءَنَاcame to us
صَلَّى عَلَيْكَ اللهُ يَا مَنْ جَاءَنَا
بِالرِّفْقِwith gentleness لاَnot فَضّاًharsh وَلاَnor جَبَّاهَاoverbearing
بِالرِّفْقِ لاَ فَضّاً وَلاَ جَبَّاهَا
May God bless you, O you who came to us
God bless you, O you who came to us
with gentleness, not harsh or overbearing.
Easy on the weak, not assaulting.
صَلَّىmay He send blessings عَلَيْكَupon you اللهُGod يَاO مَنْone who جَاءَنَاcame to us
صَلَّى عَلَيْكَ اللهُ يَا مَنْ جَاءَنَا
سَهْلاًgentle عَلَىtoward الضُّعَفَاءِthe weak لاَnot تَيَّاهَاhaughty
سَهْلاً عَلَى الضُّعَفَاءِ لاَ تَيَّاهَا
May God bless you, O you who came to us
God bless you, O whose light
gentle toward the weak, not haughty.
Touched the worlds, its earth and sky.
صَلَّىmay He send blessings عَلَيْكَupon you اللهُGod يَاO مَنْone whose نُورُهُhis light
صَلَّى عَلَيْكَ اللهُ يَا مَنْ نُورُهُ
مَسَكَheld fast الْعَوَالِمَthe worlds أَرْضَهَاtheir earth وَسَمَاهَاand their heaven
مَسَكَ الْعَوَالِمَ أَرْضَهَا وَسَمَاهَا
May God bless you, O you whose light
God bless you, O whose love
held fast the worlds, their earth and their heaven.
Granted sight to the wise after blindness.
صَلَّىmay He send blessings عَلَيْكَupon you اللهُGod يَاO مَنْone whose حُبُّهُhis love
صَلَّى عَلَيْكَ اللهُ يَا مَنْ حُبُّهُ
قَدْindeed بَصَّرَgave sight to الأَلْبَابَthe minds بَعْدَafter عَمَاهَاtheir blindness
قَدْ بَصَّرَ الأَلْبَابَ بَعْدَ عَمَاهَا
May God bless you, O you whose love
God bless you, O whose mention
has given sight to minds after their blindness.
Purified hearings and mouths.
صَلَّىmay He send blessings عَلَيْكَupon you اللهُGod يَاO مَنْone whose ذِكْرُهُhis remembrance
صَلَّى عَلَيْكَ اللهُ يَا مَنْ ذِكْرُهُ
قَدْindeed طَيَّبَsweetened الأَسْمَاعَthe ears وَالأَفْوَاهَاand the mouths
قَدْ طَيَّبَ الأَسْمَاعَ وَالأَفْوَاهَا
May God bless you, O you whose remembrance
God bless you, of whom he who drank
has sweetened ears and mouths.
Perplexity from your majesty complained.
صَلَّىmay He send blessings عَلَيْكَupon you اللهُGod مَاas long as قَالَsaid الذِيthe one who
صَلَّى عَلَيْكَ اللهُ مَا قَالَ الذِي
شَرِبَdrank التَّحَيُّرَbewilderment مِنْfrom جَلاَلِكَyour majesty وَاهَاAh!
شَرِبَ التَّحَيُّرَ مِنْ جَلاَلِكَ وَاهَا
May God bless you whenever he cries out—
And his kin, the lamps of creation,
he who drank bewilderment from your majesty—'Ah!'
And his companions, the cloud of its guidance.
وَعَلَىand upon قَرَابَتِهِhis kin مَصَابِيحِthe lamps of الْوَرَىhumankind
وَعَلَى قَرَابَتِهِ مَصَابِيحِ الْوَرَى
وَعَلَىand upon صَحَابَتِهِhis companions الْعَمِيمِall-embracing هُدَاهَاtheir guidance
وَعَلَى صَحَابَتِهِ الْعَمِيمِ هُدَاهَا
and upon his kin, the lamps of humankind,
and upon his companions, whose guidance embraces all.
Partial English translation: 122 of 124 Arabic lines translated.
Partial English translation: 62 of 124 Arabic lines translated.