ذَكَرَ المَعاهِدَ وَالدِمَن

ذَكَرَ المَعاهِدَ وَالدِمَن

وَمَراتِعَ الظَبيِ الأَغَن

وَمَراتِعَ الظَبيِ الأَغَن

He recalled the familiar haunts and ruins,

He recalled the pact and the abode,

and the grazing grounds of the soft-voiced gazelle.

And pastures of the most affluent game,

وَشَجاه مَسجور الفُؤا

وَشَجاه مَسجور الفُؤا

د بعيدَ عَهدٍ بِالوَطَن

د بعيدَ عَهدٍ بِالوَطَن

And, his heart aflame, he was grieved—

And its decorated, fragrant forests -

long estranged from his homeland—

After a long absence from the homeland.

بِالرُومِ نوحُ حَمامَةٍ

بِالرُومِ نوحُ حَمامَةٍ

وَرقاءَ تَهتِفُ في فَنَن

وَرقاءَ تَهتِفُ في فَنَن

in Rum, by the lament of a dove,

In Rome, the wailing of a dove,

gray-feathered, calling on a bough.

And a fair gazelle cries out in artistry,

عَجماء يُعرِبُ لَحنُها

عَجماء يُعرِبُ لَحنُها

سِرَّ الغَرام المُكتَمَن

سِرَّ الغَرام المُكتَمَن

Wordless, her melody gives voice

A foreigner whose melody arabicizes

to the hidden secret of love.

The secret of passionate love.

تُبدي عَلى فنَن الأَرا

تُبدي عَلى فنَن الأَرا

كِ فُنونَ أَنواع الشَجَن

كِ فُنونَ أَنواع الشَجَن

Upon a branch of the arak tree she reveals

It demonstrates on the terraces of the shrine

the manifold varieties of sorrow.

Types of all kinds of yearning.

ما رامَ مَعبَدُ أَن يُضا

ما رامَ مَعبَدُ أَن يُضا

هي لَحنَها إِلّا لَحَن

هي لَحنَها إِلّا لَحَن

Never did Ma'bad seek to match

The sanctuary did not intend that its melody

her melody without striking a false note.

Would be anything but a melody.

أَملَت مِنَ الأَوراقِ ما

أَملَت مِنَ الأَوراقِ ما

دَرَستَهُ مِن طُرُقِ الحَزَن

دَرَستَهُ مِن طُرُقِ الحَزَن

From the leaves she dictated what

It dictated from papers what

she had studied of sorrow's ways,

You learned from the paths of sadness,

وَرَوت أَحاديثَ الهَوى

وَرَوت أَحاديثَ الهَوى

بِصَحيحِ مُسنَدِها الحَسَن

بِصَحيحِ مُسنَدِها الحَسَن

and recounted the traditions of love

And it related the conversations of love

through her authentic, fine chain of transmission:

With its authentic and good lineage,

عَن عَبرَةٍ مهرَاقَةٍ

عَن عَبرَةٍ مهرَاقَةٍ

تَهمي وَجسم مُمتَهَن

تَهمي وَجسم مُمتَهَن

from a tear poured forth,

streaming, and a body brought low;

About a weeping person and an exhausted body,

عَن لَوعَةٍ عَن زَفرَةٍ

عَن لَوعَةٍ عَن زَفرَةٍ

عَن مُقلَةٍ قَرحى وَعَن

عَن مُقلَةٍ قَرحى وَعَن

from anguish, from a sigh,

About agony, about sighing,

from an ulcerated eye, and from...

About a watery eye and a wounded...

تُذري الدُموع وَلَيتَها

تُذري الدُموع وَلَيتَها

في شَجوِها تَدري بِمَن

في شَجوِها تَدري بِمَن

She scatters tears—if only she

It sheds tears - if only it knew for whom!

knew for whom, in her grief.

Thought of the homeland watered it -

طارَحتُها ذكر الحِمى

طارَحتُها ذكر الحِمى

سَقى الحِمى غَيثٌ هَتَن

سَقى الحِمى غَيثٌ هَتَن

I shared with her memories of the cherished grounds—

The rain watered the protected homeland,

may copious rain water those grounds—

Where the abode is spacious

حَيثُ الدِيارُ فَسيحَةٌ

حَيثُ الدِيارُ فَسيحَةٌ

بِدِمَشقَ جَنّةُ مَن قَطَن

بِدِمَشقَ جَنّةُ مَن قَطَن

where the dwellings spread wide,

In Damascus, the paradise of its settler,

in Damascus, paradise of all who dwell there:

So its coolness and its courtyard

فَبَرادُها فَبَريدُها

فَبَرادُها فَبَريدُها

فَفِناءُ جامِعِها الحَسَن

فَفِناءُ جامِعِها الحَسَن

then her Barad, then her Barid,

Where established rituals are performed,

then the courtyard of her beautiful mosque,

And the purity of its water like Kawthar

فَرواقهُ حَيثُ الفُرو

فَرواقهُ حَيثُ الفُرو

ض تُقام فيهِ مَعَ السُنَن

ض تُقام فيهِ مَعَ السُنَن

then its portico, where the prescribed prayers

From Salsabil - how generous!

are offered, together with the customary devotions;

And that harbor for the well-rested,

فَصَفاء كَوثَر مائِها

فَصَفاء كَوثَر مائِها

مِن سَلسَبيلٍ ما أَجَن

مِن سَلسَبيلٍ ما أَجَن

then the limpid Kawthar of her water,

And those exceptional shelters,

from Salsabil, never grown stagnant;

And a channel to an open space

فَمَقيل هاتيكَ الرُبى

فَمَقيل هاتيكَ الرُبى

فَظِلال هاتيكَ الفَنَن

فَظِلال هاتيكَ الفَنَن

then the noonday retreat on those hills,

In a meadow full of bounty.

then the shade of those boughs;

My longing for my time through which

فَمَسيل باناسٍ إِلى

فَمَسيل باناسٍ إِلى

بِطحاءَ في رَوض أَغَن

بِطحاءَ في رَوض أَغَن

then the course of Banas toward

The valleys were watered from an era,

a pebbly plain within a lush garden.

Where youth has lodged

شَوقي إِلى زَمَني بِها

شَوقي إِلى زَمَني بِها

سُقِيَ الغُوادي مِن زَمَن

سُقِيَ الغُوادي مِن زَمَن

My longing is for the time I spent there—

And singers residence,

may that time be watered by morning rains!—

The lively elite of highborn -

حَيثُ الشَبيبَةُ مَنزِلٌ

حَيثُ الشَبيبَةُ مَنزِلٌ

وَالغانِياتُ لَهُ سَكَن

وَالغانِياتُ لَهُ سَكَن

when youth was a dwelling,

As lush as the abundant game,

and beautiful women were its inhabitants:

It poured with its charm

مِن كُلِّ مُخطَفةِ الحَشا

مِن كُلِّ مُخطَفةِ الحَشا

رودٌ كَما الرَشأ الأَغَن

رودٌ كَما الرَشأ الأَغَن

each a woman of slender waist,

The water of youth - time's crack.

tender, like the soft-voiced young gazelle,

I cannot forget the day of farewell

هَيفاءَ صَبَّ بِعِطفِها

هَيفاءَ صَبَّ بِعِطفِها

ماءَ الصِبا شَرخُ الزَمَن

ماءَ الصِبا شَرخُ الزَمَن

slender—along her flank was poured

And her words at the verge of departure,

the water of youth, by time in its prime.

As tears scatter pearls

لَم أَنسَها يَومَ الوَداع

لَم أَنسَها يَومَ الوَداع

وَقَولَها عِندَ الظَعَن

وَقَولَها عِندَ الظَعَن

I have not forgotten her on the day of parting,

That water the protected land,

nor her words at our departure,

"Oh, my ordeal that has destroyed

وَالدَمعُ ينثرُ لُؤلُؤاً

وَالدَمعُ ينثرُ لُؤلُؤاً

مِن نَرجِسٍ يَسقي الدِمَن

مِن نَرجِسٍ يَسقي الدِمَن

while tears scattered pearls

A lover afflicted with you,"

from narcissus flowers, watering the ruins:

"Why not return - my heart belongs to you."

يا مِحنَتي أَودى البِعا

يا مِحنَتي أَودى البِعا

دُ بِعاشِقٍ بِكَ مُمتَحَن

دُ بِعاشِقٍ بِكَ مُمتَحَن

"O my torment! Separation has destroyed

I answered her, "No - by Him

a lover sorely tried by you.

Whose secret to me is like the seen!

هَلّا رَجَعتَ فَإِنَّ لي

هَلّا رَجَعتَ فَإِنَّ لي

قَلباً بِحُبّك مُرتَهَن

قَلباً بِحُبّك مُرتَهَن

Will you not return? For I have

"Or He has left me to the shadows of one

a heart held hostage by your love."

Whose shade is a pillar for him."

فَأَجَبتُها لا وَالَّذي

فَأَجَبتُها لا وَالَّذي

سِرّي لَدَيهِ كَالعَلَن

سِرّي لَدَيهِ كَالعَلَن

I answered her, "No, by Him

The redundant lights of their secret divine -

to whom my secret is as plain as what is public,

Revealed to the people of insight,

أَو تَركَني لِظِلالِ مَن

أَو تَركَني لِظِلالِ مَن

ظِلُّ الإِلَهِ لَهُ رُكُن

ظِلُّ الإِلَهِ لَهُ رُكُن

unless He leaves me beneath the shade of one

The burnisher of existence and the demonstrator

whose support is the shade of God—

Of names through abundant overflow like who?

الفائِض الأَنوار عَن

الفائِض الأَنوار عَن

سِرٍّ إِلَهيّ عَلَن

سِرٍّ إِلَهيّ عَلَن

one who pours forth lights from

No, time's material dot

a divine secret now revealed;

And nakedness beyond time,

وَالمُستَفيظة مِن مبا

وَالمُستَفيظة مِن مبا

دئ عِلمِهِ أَهلُ الفِطَن

دئ عِلمِهِ أَهلُ الفِطَن

and from whose first principles

I mean the most lucky and merciful

of knowledge discerning minds draw illumination;

Of favors and graces,

مَجلى الوُجود وَمُظهرُ ال

مَجلى الوُجود وَمُظهرُ ال

أَسماءِ عَن فَيضٍ كَمَن

أَسماءِ عَن فَيضٍ كَمَن

the mirror of existence, revealer of the

The secret of the successor and successor

Names from a hidden outpouring;

And appearance and whatever veiled,

بَل نُقطَةُ الذات المُحي

بَل نُقطَةُ الذات المُحي

طةِ وَالعَريَّة عَن زَمَن

طةِ وَالعَريَّة عَن زَمَن

indeed, the point of the Essence that encompasses all

So flee to his courts -

and is free from time.

You are secured from the divergent tribulations.

أَعني بِهِ سَعدَ المَكا

أَعني بِهِ سَعدَ المَكا

رم وَالمَراحم وَالمِنَن

رم وَالمَراحم وَالمِنَن

I mean Sa'd of noble deeds,

And adhere to the soil of his doorsteps -

of mercies and benefactions,

They are safety from ordeals.

سرّ الخَليفة وَالخَلي

سرّ الخَليفة وَالخَلي

قة وَالظُهور وَما بَطَن

قة وَالظُهور وَما بَطَن

the secret of the caliph and creation,

And know Him truly before

of the manifest and all that lies concealed."

The parts of the body decompose.

فَاِلجأ إِلى أَبوابِهِ

فَاِلجأ إِلى أَبوابِهِ

تَأَمن مِنَ الدَهرِ الفِتَن

تَأَمن مِنَ الدَهرِ الفِتَن

So seek refuge at his doors:

For He is the Imam and there is no

you will be safe from the trials of time.

Ambiguity in the address of the insightful.

وَاِلثِم ثَرى أَعتابِهِ

وَاِلثِم ثَرى أَعتابِهِ

فَهيَ الأَمانُ مِنَ المِحَن

فَهيَ الأَمانُ مِنَ المِحَن

And kiss the dust of his thresholds,

And He is the One who has sacrificed Himself to

for there lies safety from afflictions.

The secret of the Caliphate - trusted to deliver.

وَاِعرفهُ حَقّاً قَبلَ أَن

وَاِعرفهُ حَقّاً قَبلَ أَن

تَنحلَّ أَجزاءُ البَدَن

تَنحلَّ أَجزاءُ البَدَن

And know him truly, before

Or do you not consider the secure spirit

the body's parts come undone.

How it resided in His secret?

فَهوَ الإِمام وَلا كِنا

فَهوَ الإِمام وَلا كِنا

ية في الخِطاب لِمَن فَطَن

ية في الخِطاب لِمَن فَطَن

For he is the Imam—no figurative meaning

It drives through him in justice

is intended in these words, for the discerning.

The Sunna of the Prophet to the Sunna of the Prophet.

وَهوَ الَّذي أَضحى عَلى

وَهوَ الَّذي أَضحى عَلى

سِرِّ الخِلافَة مُؤتَمَن

سِرِّ الخِلافَة مُؤتَمَن

He is the one who has become

And I have extended to His door

entrusted with the secret of the caliphate.

My hope though sustenance has narrowed,

أَوَ ما تَرى الروحَ الأَمي

أَوَ ما تَرى الروحَ الأَمي

نَ بِسِرِّهِ كَيفَ اِستَكَن

نَ بِسِرِّهِ كَيفَ اِستَكَن

Do you not see how the Trustworthy Spirit

And I thought well, recalling

has nestled within his secret?

"I am with My servant wherever he expects Me."

يَجري بِهِ في العَدلِ مِن

يَجري بِهِ في العَدلِ مِن

سُنَن النَبِيّ عَلى سَنَن

سُنَن النَبِيّ عَلى سَنَن

Through it he proceeds in justice,

For He is the One who gives the wishes

on a path among the Prophet's ways.

From His comfort - and not from...

وَلَقَد عَطَفتُ لِبابِهِ

وَلَقَد عَطَفتُ لِبابِهِ

أَملي وَقَد ضاقَ العَطَن

أَملي وَقَد ضاقَ العَطَن

I have indeed turned toward his door

God has extended his shelters

my hope, when my refuge grew narrow;

In both worlds with the extent of time,

وَظَنَنتُ خَيراً ذاكِراً

وَظَنَنتُ خَيراً ذاكِراً

أَنا عِندَ عَبدي حَيثُ ظَن

أَنا عِندَ عَبدي حَيثُ ظَن

and expected good, recalling:

And his sons are moons of houses

"I am with My servant as he expects."

Wherever He lodges their dwelling.

فَهوَ الَّذي يَهبُ المُنى

فَهوَ الَّذي يَهبُ المُنى

مِن راحَتيهِ وَلَيسَ مِن

مِن راحَتيهِ وَلَيسَ مِن

For he is the one who grants wishes

The beauty of happiness and sovereignty

from his two palms, without vaunting his gifts.

And the era's prime.

مَدَّ الإِلَهُ ظِلالَهُ

مَدَّ الإِلَهُ ظِلالَهُ

في العالَمينَ مَدى الزَمَن

في العالَمينَ مَدى الزَمَن

May God extend his shade

Time has averted from them

throughout the worlds for all time,

Its catastrophes and shifts.

وَبَنيهِ أَقمارُ المَنا

وَبَنيهِ أَقمارُ المَنا

زِلِ حَيثُ يَحويهم سَكَن

زِلِ حَيثُ يَحويهم سَكَن

and that of his sons, moons of their mansions,

By Muhammad, by his Household -

wherever a dwelling shelters them,

People of eloquence and tongue!

الجامِعي طَرَفَ السَعا

الجامِعي طَرَفَ السَعا

دَةِ وَالسِيادَةِ في قَرَن

دَةِ وَالسِيادَةِ في قَرَن

who unite the heights of happiness

and lordship in a single bond.

صَرف الزَمان خُطوبَه

صَرف الزَمان خُطوبَه

وَصُرُوفَهُ عَنهُم وَعَن

وَصُرُوفَهُ عَنهُم وَعَن

May time avert its calamities

and reversals from them, and from...

بِمُحَمَّدٍ وَبِآلِهِ

بِمُحَمَّدٍ وَبِآلِهِ

أَهلِ الفَصاحة وَاللسَن

أَهلِ الفَصاحة وَاللسَن

by Muhammad and his family,

masters of eloquence and fluent speech.