صَحا مِن سُكرِهِ وَسَلا

صَحا مِن سُكرِهِ وَسَلا

وَفارَقَ ذاكَ وَاِنقَفَلا

وَفارَقَ ذاكَ وَاِنقَفَلا

He sobered from his drunkenness and found solace,

He woke from his drunkenness and departed,

and forsook that and turned back.

And left that life behind as he set forth.

وَشَدَّ مَطِيَّةَ التَقوى

وَشَدَّ مَطِيَّةَ التَقوى

بِرَحلِ الحَزمِ وَاِرتَحَلا

بِرَحلِ الحَزمِ وَاِرتَحَلا

And saddled the mount of piety

He steadied the mount of piety,

with the saddle of resolve and set out.

With the saddlebags of resolve, and moved on.

وَجانَبَ موبِقاتِ الغَي

وَجانَبَ موبِقاتِ الغَي

يِ لَمّا شابَ وَاِكتَهَلا

يِ لَمّا شابَ وَاِكتَهَلا

And shunned the deadly sins of error

He avoided the pitfalls of youth,

when he grew gray and reached middle age.

When he matured and gained experience.

وَكانَ العَذلُ يُكرِثُهُ

وَكانَ العَذلُ يُكرِثُهُ

وَقَد يُسقى بِهِ العَسَلا

وَقَد يُسقى بِهِ العَسَلا

And reproach used to distress him,

Regret would often afflict him,

yet through it he might be given honey to drink.

And with it, honey could be made bitter.

وَذاكَ لَطيفُ صُنعِ اللَ

وَذاكَ لَطيفُ صُنعِ اللَ

هِ جلَّ إِلهُنا وَعَلا

هِ جلَّ إِلهُنا وَعَلا

And that is God's subtle handiwork—

Yet that was the subtle working of God—

exalted and sublime is our God.

Exalted is He, our Glorious Lord.

وَما قالَ النَبِيُّ لَهُ

وَما قالَ النَبِيُّ لَهُ

سَيُجزى المَرءُ ما عَمِلا

سَيُجزى المَرءُ ما عَمِلا

And what the Prophet told him:

Did not the Prophet tell him

"A person will be requited for what he has done."

That man shall be rewarded for what he does?

وَلَيسَ اللَهُ تارِكَ أَن

وَلَيسَ اللَهُ تارِكَ أَن

يُجازي الخَلقَ ما فَعَلا

يُجازي الخَلقَ ما فَعَلا

And God will not neglect

God will not neglect to repay

to requite His creatures for what they have done.

All people for their deeds.

فَيَجزي مُحسِناً حُسنى

فَيَجزي مُحسِناً حُسنى

وَيَجزي الزَلَّةَ الزَلَلا

وَيَجزي الزَلَّةَ الزَلَلا

So He rewards one who does good with the best,

So He rewards goodness with goodness,

and requites a misstep with a fall.

And recklessness with stumbling.

وَلَمّا أَن رَأى اللَهُ ال

وَلَمّا أَن رَأى اللَهُ ال

بَرِيَّةَ أَكثَروا الخَطَلا

بَرِيَّةَ أَكثَروا الخَطَلا

And when God saw

And when God saw

the people abounding in folly,

That most men had gone astray,

وَحادوا عَن سَبيلِ الرُش

وَحادوا عَن سَبيلِ الرُش

دِ أَوضَحَ فيهِمُ السُبُلا

دِ أَوضَحَ فيهِمُ السُبُلا

and straying from the path of right guidance,

That they had strayed from the path of right guidance,

He made the ways clear among them.

He made the ways clear to them.

وَخَتَّمَ أَحمَدَ المُختا

وَخَتَّمَ أَحمَدَ المُختا

رَ أَكرَمَ خَلقِهِ الرُسُلا

رَ أَكرَمَ خَلقِهِ الرُسُلا

And He made Ahmad, the chosen one,

He sealed off prophethood with Ahmad,

the seal of the messengers, the noblest of His creation.

The most honored of His messengers.

وَآتاهُ كِتاباً ضَم

وَآتاهُ كِتاباً ضَم

مَ فيهِ سَبعَهُ الطُوَلا

مَ فيهِ سَبعَهُ الطُوَلا

And He gave him a Book that gathered

He gave him a book containing

within it its seven long chapters.

The seven oft-repeated verses.

فَبَشَّرَهُم وَأَنذَرَهُم

فَبَشَّرَهُم وَأَنذَرَهُم

وَأَكثَرَ فيهِمُ الجَدَلا

وَأَكثَرَ فيهِمُ الجَدَلا

So he gave them good tidings and warned them,

So Ahmad warned and frightened them,

and debated with them at length.

And disputed much with them.

وَأَعلَمَهُم بِأَن كانوا

وَأَعلَمَهُم بِأَن كانوا

جَميعاً مَعشَراً ضُلُلا

جَميعاً مَعشَراً ضُلُلا

And informed them that they had been

He informed them that they had been

all a people astray.

Together a misguided people.

عُكوفُهُمُ عَلى الأَصنا

عُكوفُهُمُ عَلى الأَصنا

مِ لَم يَرضَوا بِها بَدَلا

مِ لَم يَرضَوا بِها بَدَلا

Their devotion was to idols;

Their clinging to idols,

they would accept no substitute for them.

Not content to replace them at all;

وَلا عَدَلوا عَنِ الدُنيا

وَلا عَدَلوا عَنِ الدُنيا

إِلى العَليا كَمَن عَدَلا

إِلى العَليا كَمَن عَدَلا

Nor did they turn from this world

Nor did they turn from this life

toward the heights, as others had turned.

To the Most High, as one who turns;

وَلا وَصَلوا مِنَ التَقوى

وَلا وَصَلوا مِنَ التَقوى

إِلى حَظٍّ كَمَن وَصَلا

إِلى حَظٍّ كَمَن وَصَلا

Nor did they gain from piety

Nor in piety did they attain

a share, as others had gained.

A share, like one who attains.

فَما إِن زالَ يَدعوهُم

فَما إِن زالَ يَدعوهُم

وَيُعمِلُ فيهِمُ الحِيَلا

وَيُعمِلُ فيهِمُ الحِيَلا

So he never ceased calling them

Still he did not cease calling them

and employing stratagems among them.

And scheming among them,

فَقالوا الحَربُ أَيسَرُ مِن

فَقالوا الحَربُ أَيسَرُ مِن

وِفاقٍ قَصَّرَ الأَمَلا

وِفاقٍ قَصَّرَ الأَمَلا

But they said, "War is easier than

Until they said: “War is easier

an accord that cuts hope short."

Than accord that shortens hope.”

فَشَنَّ عَلَيهِمُ شَنعاً

فَشَنَّ عَلَيهِمُ شَنعاً

بِنَفيِ جَميعَها الكَسَلا

بِنَفيِ جَميعَها الكَسَلا

So he unleashed fierce onslaughts upon them,

So he waged against them a war

banishing slackness from them all.

That removed all the sluggish.

فَلَم تُبصِر سَواءَ الخَي

فَلَم تُبصِر سَواءَ الخَي

لِ فيها تَحمِلُ الأَسَلا

لِ فيها تَحمِلُ الأَسَلا

So you saw nothing but horses

The thick dust did not reveal

bearing spears in the battle,

Who bore arms and who bore burdens.

وَأَبيَضَ في يَدَي رَجُلٍ

وَأَبيَضَ في يَدَي رَجُلٍ

يُعالِجُ تَحتَهُ رَجُلا

يُعالِجُ تَحتَهُ رَجُلا

and a gleaming sword in a man's two hands,

A white man fought beneath him

as he fought a man beneath him.

A black man, overthrowing him.

وَلَم تُبصِر سِوى بَطَلٍ

وَلَم تُبصِر سِوى بَطَلٍ

يُنازِعُ دارِعاً بَطَلا

يُنازِعُ دارِعاً بَطَلا

And you saw only a champion

The only thing seen was a brave man

contending with an armored champion.

Facing a brave man in battle.

فَما إِن زالَ بِالإِسلا

فَما إِن زالَ بِالإِسلا

مِ حَتّى تَمَّ أَو كَمُلا

مِ حَتّى تَمَّ أَو كَمُلا

So he never ceased striving for Islam

The Prophet did not cease

until it was complete or perfected.

Until Islam was complete.

فَأَصبَحَ مَن مَضى لِلمُس

فَأَصبَحَ مَن مَضى لِلمُس

لِمينَ مُبادِراً عَجِلا

لِمينَ مُبادِراً عَجِلا

So whoever went to join the Muslims,

So those who had passed became

hastening without delay,

To the Muslims precursors of speed

ثَواباً في جِنانِ الخُل

ثَواباً في جِنانِ الخُل

دِ يُكسى الحَليَ وَالحُلَلا

دِ يُكسى الحَليَ وَالحُلَلا

is rewarded in the gardens of eternity,

To the rewards in the Gardens of Eternity,

clothed in jewelry and robes.

Clothed in necklaces and apparel.

سَنِيَّ الذِكرِ في الدُنيا

سَنِيَّ الذِكرِ في الدُنيا

بِهِ قَد نَضرِبُ المَثَلا

بِهِ قَد نَضرِبُ المَثَلا

Of lofty renown in this world,

Goodly is his mention in the world,

we may cite him as an example,

By it examples are given.

وَلَو قِنٌّ مِنَ العُبدا

وَلَو قِنٌّ مِنَ العُبدا

نِ يَرعى دَهرَهُ الثِلَلا

نِ يَرعى دَهرَهُ الثِلَلا

even if he were a born slave among the slaves,

Were he a bag of musk

spending his life tending flocks.

Grazed by livestock night and day,

وَمَن بِاللاتِ وَالعُزّى

وَمَن بِاللاتِ وَالعُزّى

تَمَسَّكَ مُعصِماً جَذِلا

تَمَسَّكَ مُعصِماً جَذِلا

And whoever held to al-Lat and al-Uzza,

And one were to hold fast to Al-Lat and Al-Uzza,

clinging to them for protection, rejoicing,

Clinging to them desperately,

إِلى نارٍ مُسَعَّرَةٍ

إِلى نارٍ مُسَعَّرَةٍ

يُعالِجُ غُلَّها القَمِلا

يُعالِجُ غُلَّها القَمِلا

goes to a blazing fire,

To a blazing fire

struggling with its louse-ridden shackle,

Whose heat melts rock—

وَلَو مِمَّن يَقودُ لَهُم

وَلَو مِمَّن يَقودُ لَهُم

جُنودَ الغزوِ مُحتَفِلا

جُنودَ الغزوِ مُحتَفِلا

even if he were one of those who led for them

Even one of those who leads their hosts,

the armies on raids, mustering in force.

Exultant—

شَرابُهُمُ إِذا ظَمِئُوا

شَرابُهُمُ إِذا ظَمِئُوا

حَميمٌ يورِثُ الطَحِلا

حَميمٌ يورِثُ الطَحِلا

Their drink, when they thirst,

When thirsty their drink

is scalding water that causes swelling of the spleen.

Is boiling water that rends the innards.

وَلَو طُحِلوا إِذا طُحِلوا

وَلَو طُحِلوا إِذا طُحِلوا

لَكانَ بَلاؤُهُم جَلَلا

لَكانَ بَلاؤُهُم جَلَلا

And if they were cured when stricken in the spleen,

Were their guts to melt from it

their affliction would be slight;

Their torment would still be dreadful,

وَلكِن لا شِفاءَ لَهُم

وَلكِن لا شِفاءَ لَهُم

وَلَو قَد أَظهَروا اليَلَلا

وَلَو قَد أَظهَروا اليَلَلا

but there is no cure for them,

But no healing is there for them,

even if they bare their short upper teeth.

Even if they openly show anguish.

وَوُفّي المُسلِمونَ بِما

وَوُفّي المُسلِمونَ بِما

نَبِيُّهُمُ لَهُم كَفِلا

نَبِيُّهُمُ لَهُم كَفِلا

And the Muslims received in full

While the Muslims have been given

what their Prophet had guaranteed them.

All that their Prophet guaranteed them.

وَكَم مِن مُشرِكٍ في النا

وَكَم مِن مُشرِكٍ في النا

رِ يُغشى الغُلَّ وَالكَبَلا

رِ يُغشى الغُلَّ وَالكَبَلا

And how many a polytheist in the fire

How many associators are in the Fire,

is made to wear shackles and fetters!

Overtaken by darkness and sorrow!

وَكَم مِن مَعشَرٍ شَدّوا

وَكَم مِن مَعشَرٍ شَدّوا

إِلَيهِ مَطِيَّهُم ذُلُلا

إِلَيهِ مَطِيَّهُم ذُلُلا

And how many a company saddled

How many groups have steadied

their docile mounts to journey to him.

Their mounts, completely humbled!

فَأَظفَرَ كُلَّ ذي أَمَلٍ

فَأَظفَرَ كُلَّ ذي أَمَلٍ

يُسَرُّ بِهِ بِما أَمَلا

يُسَرُّ بِهِ بِما أَمَلا

So he enabled everyone with a hope

So all who hoped

that gladdened him to attain what he hoped for.

Have attained what they hoped for.

فَكَم يَحظى بِغانِيَةٍ

فَكَم يَحظى بِغانِيَةٍ

وَكَم يَستَخوِلُ الخَوَلا

وَكَم يَستَخوِلُ الخَوَلا

So how often he is favored with a beautiful woman,

Some enjoy a songstress;

and how often he takes servants into his service!

Some privately take a girlfriend.

وَقَومٌ آخَرونَ غَوَوا

وَقَومٌ آخَرونَ غَوَوا

لَقوا مِن غَيِّهِم نَكَلا

لَقوا مِن غَيِّهِم نَكَلا

But other people went astray;

While others went astray

they met punishment for their error.

And met a terrible fate.

فَيَنعَمُ ذا بِمَحصولٍ

فَيَنعَمُ ذا بِمَحصولٍ

وَيَكرَهُ ذاكَ ما حَصَلا

وَيَكرَهُ ذاكَ ما حَصَلا

So this one delights in what he has gained,

So this one prospers with his harvest,

and that one hates what he has gained.

While that one dislikes what he harvested.

كَذاكَ اللَهُ يَحمِلُ كل

كَذاكَ اللَهُ يَحمِلُ كل

لَ عَبدٍ مِثلَ ما حَمَلا

لَ عَبدٍ مِثلَ ما حَمَلا

Thus God makes every

Thus does God place upon each servant

servant bear the like of what he bore.

A burden like what he carried.