احن الى بغداد والشوق مقلق

احن الى بغداد والشوق مقلق

لأفرش حر الخد في ساحة المهدي

لأفرش حر الخد في ساحة المهدي

I yearn for Baghdad, and longing leaves me restless,

I yearn for Baghdad, and longing unsettles me,

that I may lay my bare cheek in al-Mahdi’s courtyard—

To lay my tender cheek in al-Mahdi's courtyard.

سليل الرفاعي الامام فتى الحمى

سليل الرفاعي الامام فتى الحمى

امام صدور الاولياء ابي اليد

امام صدور الاولياء ابي اليد

scion of al-Rifa‘i, the Imam, the sanctuary’s valiant champion,

Descendant of Imam al-Rifa'i, champion of the sanctuary,

Imam of the foremost saints, Abu al-Yad.

Imam of the foremost saints, noble-handed.

لي الفخر بالمهدي والله شاهدي

لي الفخر بالمهدي والله شاهدي

وبالسيد الجحجاح فالفخر للعبد

وبالسيد الجحجاح فالفخر للعبد

I glory in al-Mahdi—and God is my witness—

Mine is pride in al-Mahdi, and God is my witness,

and in Sayyid al-Hajjaj; for glory belongs to the servant.

And in the magnanimous master—such pride belongs to the servant.

له انتمي في طي كوني وانني

له انتمي في طي كوني وانني

رشفت حمياه الشريفة في مهدي

رشفت حمياه الشريفة في مهدي

To him I belong, deep within the folds of my being; indeed, I

To him I belong in the folds of my being, and indeed I

sipped his noble wine while still in my cradle.

Sipped his noble wine in my cradle.

هو الغوث والغيث المطير وللهدى

هو الغوث والغيث المطير وللهدى

تحاضره روحي على القرب والبعد

تحاضره روحي على القرب والبعد

He is the Ghawth and the rain—the pouring rain—and for guidance

He is the succor and the pouring rain; and for guidance

my spirit attends him, whether near or far.

My spirit communes with him, whether near or far.

ويشهد منه السر في كل نازل

ويشهد منه السر في كل نازل

لقطع الدواهي هزة الصارم الهندي

لقطع الدواهي هزة الصارم الهندي

At every calamity, the inward secret beholds issuing from him

And in every calamity, the inmost heart beholds from him

the Indian saber’s sweep, severing dire calamities.

A stroke of the keen Indian sword to cut down misfortunes.

رئيس الحمى الرواس ان ما نسبته

رئيس الحمى الرواس ان ما نسبته

ابوه ابي يا مي بل جده جدي

ابوه ابي يا مي بل جده جدي

Chief of the sanctuary, al-Rawwas—if I trace his lineage,

Chief of the sanctuary, al-Rawwas—if ever you trace his lineage,

his father is my father, O Mayy—nay, his grandfather is mine.

His father is my father, O Mayy—nay, his grandfather is my grandfather.

على روحه مني السلام تحفه

على روحه مني السلام تحفه

صنوف ايادي الغب بالمسك والند

صنوف ايادي الغب بالمسك والند

Upon his spirit be peace from me; around it gather

Upon his spirit be peace from me, surrounded by

love’s manifold favors, fragrant with musk and aloeswood.

Manifold favors of the unseen [reading uncertain], with musk and fragrant incense.