مَاذَا عَلَى الْعَطَّارِ لَوْ أَهْدَى لَنَا

مَاذَا عَلَى الْعَطَّارِ لَوْ أَهْدَى لَنَا

نَفَحَاتِهِ مِنْ جُونَةِ الأُرْجُوزَهْ

نَفَحَاتِهِ مِنْ جُونَةِ الأُرْجُوزَهْ

What harm would it do al-ʿAṭṭār if he gave us

What would it cost the perfumer if he gifted us

his fragrant wafts from the perfume casket of the rajaz poem,

His fragrant breezes from the basket of the Urjuza,

وَأَبَاحَنَا أَسْرَارَهَا تِلْكَ التِي

وَأَبَاحَنَا أَسْرَارَهَا تِلْكَ التِي

أَمْسَتْ عَلَى مَنْ دُونَهُ مَحْرُوزَهْ

أَمْسَتْ عَلَى مَنْ دُونَهُ مَحْرُوزَهْ

and revealed to us those secrets of it which

And permitted us to share its secrets, those which

now lie guarded from those beneath him?

Have become guarded and concealed from all but him?

إِنِّي وَإِنْ شَهِدَتْ بِنَقْصِي سِيرَتِي

إِنِّي وَإِنْ شَهِدَتْ بِنَقْصِي سِيرَتِي

وَبِهِ شَمَائِلُ شِيمَتِي مَلْمُوزَهْ

وَبِهِ شَمَائِلُ شِيمَتِي مَلْمُوزَهْ

I, though my conduct bears witness to my imperfection,

Indeed, even if my conduct testifies to my shortcomings,

and the traits of my character are censured for it,

And the traits of my character are thereby faulted,

لاَ أَرْتَضِي لِكَمَالِهِ حَاشَاهُ أَنْ

لاَ أَرْتَضِي لِكَمَالِهِ حَاشَاهُ أَنْ

تَبْقَى الْمَعَارِفُ عِنْدَهُ مَكْنُوزَهْ

تَبْقَى الْمَعَارِفُ عِنْدَهُ مَكْنُوزَهْ

cannot accept, given his perfection—far be it from him—that

I cannot accept for his perfection—far be it from him—that

knowledge should remain hoarded in his keeping.

Knowledge should remain hoarded as his hidden treasure.

هَذَا وَرَايَةُ حُبِّهِ وَوِدَادِهِ

هَذَا وَرَايَةُ حُبِّهِ وَوِدَادِهِ

أَبَداً أَرَاهَا فِي الْحَشَا مَرْكُوزَهْ

أَبَداً أَرَاهَا فِي الْحَشَا مَرْكُوزَهْ

This, while the banner of love and affection for him

All this, while the banner of his love and affection

I see forever planted within my heart.

I see forever planted firmly within my core,

وَغُصُونُ رَوْضِ الشُّكْرِ وَهْيَ نَضِيرَةٌ

وَغُصُونُ رَوْضِ الشُّكْرِ وَهْيَ نَضِيرَةٌ

مَا إِنْ تَزَالُ بِذِكْرِهِ مَهْزُوزَهْ

مَا إِنْ تَزَالُ بِذِكْرِهِ مَهْزُوزَهْ

And the boughs of gratitude's garden, fresh and verdant,

And the branches of gratitude's garden, vibrant and fresh,

never cease to sway at the mention of him.

Never cease to sway gently at his remembrance.