الحب داء والوصال دواء

والقرب من بعد البعاد شفاء

Love is an illness, and union its cure.

Closeness after separation brings healing.

والأنس بالأحباب أكبر لذّة

فيها لروح العاشقين غذاء

Companionship with loved ones is the greatest pleasure;

in it, lovers' souls find nourishment.

يا وريح أهل العشق من ألم الجوى

فلهم به كم قطّعت أحشاء

Ah, alas for lovers suffering the anguish of love!

How many of their vitals has it torn apart!

سكروا وهاموا بالغرام فدأبهم

سهرٌ ووجد والسرور بكاء

They grew intoxicated and wandered in passion; their constant lot is

sleeplessness and longing, and their joy is weeping.

يحلو لهم مر الهيام لأنهم

جند الغرام وهم له نصراء

Love's bitterness tastes sweet to them, for they are

passion's soldiers and its supporters.

قوم لهم في الحب أكبر دولة

خضعت لها الوزراء والأمراء

A people whose kingdom in love is the greatest,

to which ministers and princes have bowed.

إن يظفروا بالوصل كان جهادهم

نصرا وإن ماتوا فهم شهداء

If they attain union, their struggle becomes

victory; and if they die, they are martyrs.

أولا ولا فتخالهم من سقمهم

بين الورى موتى وهم أحياء

Otherwise, their sickness makes you deem them

dead among humankind, though they live.

يا صاح دع عنك الغرام فإنه

داء دويّ ما إليه دواء

My friend, leave passion alone, for it is

a grievous illness for which there is no remedy.

واربأ بنفسك أن تميل مع الهوى

إن الهوى للعاشقين بلاء

Hold yourself above inclining toward desire;

desire is an affliction for lovers.

طعم الهوى مهما استطيب فإنه

مرّ المذاق وصحوه إغماء

However pleasing love's taste may seem, it is

bitter to the palate, and its sobriety is a swoon.

كم من فتى أسرته ألحاظ المها

ورمته ف شرك الهوى عيناء

How many a youth has been captured by gazelles' glances!

A wide-eyed maiden cast him into love's snare.

فغدا صريعا بالدماء مضرّجا

والعين عبرى والدماء كساء

He lay fallen, drenched in blood,

his eye tearful, and blood his clothing.

جلبت إليه الوجد أوّل نظرة

قد فوّقها غادة غيداء

The very first glance brought him longing,

aimed by a graceful maiden.

جلبت إليه الوجد أول نظرة

قد فوقتها غادة غيداء

The very first glance brought him longing,

which a graceful maiden had aimed.

فاسمع ولا تهمل مقالة ناصح

فالتصح حصن للفتى ووقاء

So listen, and do not neglect a counselor's words:

counsel is a young man's fortress and protection.

فتنفّس الصعداء من وجد وقد

كادت تميد لوجده الأرجاء

Then he sighed deeply from longing, while

his longing almost made his surroundings sway.

وأجاب دع عنك الملام وخلني

إن الملامة عندنا إغراء

He answered, 'Leave your blame aside and let me be;

for us, reproach is an inducement.

لو كنت تدرى ما الهوى لعذرتني

وعذلت عذالي فهم جهلاء

Had you known what love is, you would have excused me

and blamed my censurers, for they are ignorant.

حاشى أميل إلى العذول وعذله

ويصدّ ما تفعل الرقباء

Far be it that I incline toward the censurer and his censure,

or be diverted by what the watchers do.

كم غادة أدمى فؤادي لحظها

فغدت بقلبي طعنة نجلاء

How many a maiden's glance has bloodied my heart!

It became a gaping wound within my heart.

أين السيوف من اللحاظ وفتكها

فاللحظ فتّاك وفيه مضاء

What are swords beside glances and their devastation?

A glance is deadly, and possesses a keen edge.

هي كالغزالة خفة وتلفتا

والقد منها والقضيب سواء

She is like a gazelle in nimbleness and turning;

her figure and a slender branch are alike.

وبخدها الضدان قد جمعا معا

نار تلظى جمرها والماء

In her cheek, the two opposites have been joined:

fire with blazing embers, and water.

سبحان من جعل الجمال نصيبها

وأنالها ما تبتغي وتشاء

Glory to Him who made beauty her portion

and granted her whatever she seeks and desires!

لي من هواها لوعة وصبابة

ولها الرضا والمنع والإعطاء

From loving her, mine are burning anguish and yearning;

hers are consent, withholding, and giving.

وبمهجتي من قدها أو خدّها

نار تلظّت مالها إطفاء

Within my heart, from her figure or her cheek,

a fire has blazed that cannot be quenched.

من شدة الوجد المبرح والضنى

رقّت لرقة حالتي الأهواء

From the intensity of tormenting longing and wasting sickness,

the passions softened at the frailty of my plight.

وعلى طرف الزهر غض جفونه

وحنت عليّ البانة الهيفاء

The blossoms' gaze lowered its eyelids over me,

and the slender ban tree bent compassionately toward me.

والطير قد ناحت على نوحي وقد

كادت تمزّق طوقها الورقاء

The birds lamented with my lament, and

the gray dove almost tore apart its collar.

إن رمت أسلو أو أردت تصبّرا

نمّت عليّ مدامع حرّاء

If I try to forget, or seek patient endurance,

burning tears betray me.

ماذا يفيد تجلدي وتصبّري

وبكلّ عين ديمة وطفاء

What use are my fortitude and patience,

when every eye holds a thick, steady-raining cloud?

أنا للهوى عبد ولكن همّتي

من دونها المريخ والجوزاء

I am love's slave, but my aspiration

has Mars and al-Jawza beneath it.

ما فلّ عزمي في الكريهة حادث

أبدا ولم يلحق بي الإعياء

No mishap in battle has ever blunted my resolve,

nor has exhaustion overtaken me.

وإذا دجا ليل الخطوب فلم يكن

عندى سوى خير الأنام رجاء

When the night of calamities grows dark, I have

no hope except in the best of humankind:

المصطفى الهادي البشير محمد

من أنجبته سادة نجباء

the Chosen One, the Guide, the Bearer of Glad Tidings, Muhammad,

whom noble masters brought forth.

سرّ الوجود وجاه كل موحّد

غوثٌ وغيثٌ إن ونت أنواء

Existence's secret, the honor of every believer in the One,

relief and rain when the rain-bearing stars falter.

المشرق الوجه المضىء جبينه

من تزدهى بعلوّه العلياء

Radiant of face, luminous of brow,

he whose eminence adorns the loftiest heights.

من نور غرّته وطلعة وجهه

لاح الضيا وتوارت الظلماء

From his radiant brow and the appearance of his face,

light shone forth, and darkness withdrew.

والشمس منه قد استعارت نورها

وسما له في الخافقين ضياء

The sun has borrowed its light from him,

and his radiance rose across east and west.

هو مبدأ الأشيا وأصل وجودها

روح الحياة وما سواه هباء

He is the beginning of things and the source of their existence,

the spirit of life; all besides him is dust.

سرّ مصون من ألست بربّكم

بحرٌ خضمّ دأبه الإعطاء

A secret preserved since 'Am I not your Lord?',

a fathomless sea whose constant practice is giving.

ومن دون جدواه السحاب إذا همى

فهو المفيد وما سواه جفاء

Beneath his bounty lie the clouds when they pour;

he is the giver, and all else is coldness.

وهو المرخى في الشدائد كلها

إن جلّ خطب أو عدت أعداء

He is the one looked to in every hardship,

when calamity grows grave or enemies attack.

ما أنجبت أنثى بمثل محمد

وبغيره لم تفتخر حواء

No woman has borne anyone like Muhammad;

in none besides him has Eve taken pride.

في يوم مولده العوالم قد زهت

ودنا المنى وتوالت الآلاء

On the day of his birth, the worlds grew splendid;

desires drew near, and blessings followed one another.

لما رأت عين الوجود جماله

قرّت به وتولّت الأقذاء

When existence's eye beheld his beauty,

it was gladdened by him, and its irritants departed.

كم آية ظهرت لوضع محمد

شفت الفؤاد ببعضها الشفاء

How many signs appeared at Muhammad's birth!

Even some of them brought healing to the heart.

قد خرّت الأصنام فيه سجدا

والنار قد خمدت وغاض الماء

The idols fell prostrate on that day;

the fire died down, and the water receded.

وارتجّ من إيوان كسرى عرشه

وارتاع لما اندك منه بناء

Kisra's throne shook within his palace hall,

and he was terrified when part of its structure collapsed.

والطير صاحت بالسرور وغرّدت

فرحا وقد ملئت بها الأجواء

The birds cried joyfully and sang

in delight, filling the skies.

والوحش بشر بالنبيّ المصطفى

حتى به قد ماجت البيداء

The wild beasts proclaimed glad tidings of the Chosen Prophet,

until the desert surged with him.

وغدت تبشّر بعضها الحيتان في

قاع البحار وراق منها الماء

The fish began bringing one another glad tidings in

the depths of the seas, whose waters grew clear.

ومشاعر البيت الحرام قد ازدهت

وتمايلت طربا به البطحاء

The sacred landmarks of the Sacred House grew splendid,

and al-Batha swayed with delight in him.

والخصب بعد الجدب أقبل ضاحكا

وهمى السحاب ودرّت العجفاء

Fertility came laughing after drought;

the clouds poured, and the lean ewe gave milk.

والخوف ولى مدبرا والأمن قد

خفقت به أعلامه البيضاء

Fear turned away in retreat, and security

had its white banners fluttering.

ولدت ذكورا عام وضع المصطفى

كل الحوامل ما لذا استثناء

In the year of the Chosen One's birth, males were born to

every pregnant woman, without exception.

نالت بإرضاع النبيّ حليمة

مالم تنله بغيره الرضعاء

Through nursing the Prophet, Halima attained

what other wet nurses attained through no one else.

سعدت بنو سعد به فجميعهم

مذ حلّ فيما بينهم سعداء

Banu Sa'd found happiness through him; all of them,

since he settled among them, were happy.

كم آية ظهرت لوضع المصطفى

كالشمس تشرق مالها إحصاء

How many signs appeared at the Chosen One's birth!

Like the shining sun, they cannot be counted.

لم لا وخير الخلق أشرف مرسل

وله بآي المعجزات بهاء

Why not, when the best of creation is the noblest messenger,

possessing splendor through miraculous signs?

قد ظللته من الهجير سحابة

وبكفّه قد سبّح الحصباء

A cloud shaded him from the midday heat,

and pebbles praised God in his palm.

وبلمس ضرع الشاء درت بعدما

كانت عجافا مضها الإعياء

At his touch, the sheep's udders yielded milk after

they had been gaunt and afflicted by exhaustion.

وبه استجارت ظبية فأجارها

واستبشرت بقدومها الأبناء

A gazelle sought his protection, and he sheltered her;

her offspring rejoiced at her return.

وشكا له الجمل المعذب جوعه

فأناله ما يبتغي ويشاء

The tormented camel complained to him of its hunger;

he granted it whatever it sought and desired.

والضب كلمه بأفصح منطق

والجذع حن وقد عراه بكاء

The spiny-tailed lizard spoke to him most eloquently,

and the tree trunk yearned, overcome by weeping.

وإليه وافت بالإشارة سرحة

منها عليه قد حنت أفياء

At a gesture, a spreading tree came to him;

its shades bent over him.

والنخل قد مالت إلى خير الورى

وتدانت الأثمار والأقناء

The palms bent toward the best of humankind,

and their fruits and date clusters drew near.

وعليه أنواع الحجارة سلمت

ولمشيه قد لانت الصماء

Various kinds of stones greeted him,

and hard rock softened beneath his footsteps.

والماء فاض من ألأصابع عذبه

أروى المئين فياله إرواء

Sweet water flowed from his fingers,

quenching hundreds—what a quenching!

وفسيل سلمان وآية غرسه

فيها لرفعة قدره إيماء

Salman's palm shoots and the miracle of their planting

contain an indication of his exalted rank.

في عامه قد أثمرت نخلاته

والرق زال فزالت الأعباء

His palm trees bore fruit that very year;

slavery ended, and burdens fell away.

وضع النبي بتمر جابر كفه

فغدا به وهو القليل وفاء

The Prophet placed his palm among Jabir's dates;

through him, though few, they became sufficient for repayment.

سم اليهود له الذراع فما ونت

أن أخبرته بسمها فاستاءوا

The Jews poisoned the foreleg for him, but it did not delay

telling him of its poison, leaving them distressed.

كم لليهود مكايد قد دبرت

طي الخفاء لأنهم جبناء

How many plots the Jews devised

in concealment, for they are cowards!

ما مس ذا مرض فأبطأ برؤه

فاللمس منه للمريض دواء

He touched no sick person whose recovery was delayed;

his touch is medicine for the sick.

وبرد عين قتادة وجمالها

في وجهه لا تذكر الزرقاء

With Qatada's eye restored, and its beauty

in his face, al-Zarqa goes unmentioned.

والغصن بعد اليبس صار بلمسه

نضرا عليه بهجة ورواه

After dryness, the branch became, at his touch,

fresh and radiant—and he watered it.

عن معجزات المصطفى حدث ولا

حرج وقل وردت بها الأنباء

Speak of the Chosen One's miracles without

restraint, and say that reports have conveyed them.

لم تبق معجزة لغير المصطفى

بعد الوفاة ومالها إبطاء

No miracle of anyone other than the Chosen One remained

after death, with no lingering.

وأجلها القرآن أكبر معجز

في فهمه قد حارت البلغاء

The greatest of them is the Quran, the greatest miracle;

eloquent speakers have been bewildered in understanding it.

أنوار هذا الدين بالقرآن قد

بقيت تضىء فما لها إطفاء

Through the Quran, the lights of this religion

have continued shining, with no extinguishing.

حاشى به الإسلام يطفأ نوره

مهما اعتدى أو عاند الأعداء

Far be it that Islam's light should be extinguished through it,

however the enemies attack or resist.

قد أحكمت آية فكلامهم

بإزاء آيات الكتاب هراء

A verse is perfected; their speech,

beside the Scripture's verses, is nonsense.

لبلاغة القرآن خروا سجدا

مع أنهم لزمامها أمراء

Before the Quran's eloquence, they fell prostrate,

though they were masters of eloquence's reins.

فيه هدى للمتقين ورحمة

فيه لصدر المؤمنين شفاء

In it are guidance for the God-fearing and mercy;

in it is healing for believers' breasts.

فيه علوم لا يحيط بوصفها

حد وليس لعدها استقصاء

In it is knowledge whose description no

limit encompasses, and whose enumeration cannot be exhausted.

ما كان فيه وما يكون وما حوا

ه العرض والزرقاء والغبراء

In it is what was, what will be, and all that is contained

by the expanse, the blue sky, and the dusty earth.

مستحدثات الكون فيه حديدة

بفنى الزمان وما لهن فناء

The universe's new events are fresh within it;

time passes away, but they know no extinction.

يحلو ويعذب في المسامع كلما

قد كررته السادة القراء

It grows sweet and delightful to the ears whenever

the noble reciters repeat it.

من كل تغيير تولى حفظه

رب العباد فنوره لألاء

Its preservation from every alteration was undertaken by

the Lord of His servants; its light is radiant.

هذا النبي الهاشمي هو الذي

ردّت له عند الغروب ذكاء

This Hashimite Prophet is the one

for whom Dhuka, the sun, was returned at sunset.

وله قد انشق الهلال بمكة

فتناقلت أخباره الأنحاء

For him the crescent split in Mecca,

and reports of it circulated through the regions.

وهو المقدم في اشهاة ذكره

بعد الإله ومن سواه وراء

He is foremost in the proclamation of his name,

after God; everyone else comes behind.

قد خصه المولى بكل كرامة

وأجلها المعراج والإسراء

The Lord singled him out for every honor,

the greatest being the Ascension and the Night Journey.

فيها رأى الرحمن جل جلاله

وتجلت الأسرار والأسماء

There he saw the All-Merciful—exalted is His majesty—

and the secrets and names were revealed.

والله ما زاغ الفؤاد وما طغى

بصر ولا ارتعدت له أعضاء

By God, the heart did not deviate, nor did

his sight overstep, nor his limbs tremble.

بل كان في نور التجلى ثابتا

ملء المحيا نضرة وحياء

Rather, he stood firm in the light of manifestation,

his face filled with radiance and modesty.

القلب يقظان ولكن عينه

من هيبة المولى بها إغضاء

His heart was awake, but his eye,

in awe of the Lord, held a lowered gaze.

ورأى بعينيه الإله ولم يكن

أين ولا كيف ولا تلقاء

He saw God with his own two eyes, with

no 'where,' no 'how,' and no facing direction.

داس البساط بنعله لما دنا

من قاب قوس حيث طاب لقاء

He trod the carpet with his sandal when he approached

within a bow's span, where the meeting was sweet.

هل بعد هذا للأماكن مفخرٌ

كلا فلا طور ولا سيناء

After this, have places any glory?

No—neither Tur nor Sinai.

وعليه قد فرض الصلاة لأنها

للدين أسّ محكم وبناء

Prayer was prescribed upon him, for it is

religion's firm foundation and structure.

سر من الأسرار لا يأتي به

أحد فلا وحى ولا إيحاء

A secret among secrets that cannot be brought

by anyone—neither revelation nor inspiration.

هذا هو المجد المؤثل والعلا

لمقامه والرتبة القعساء

This is firmly rooted glory and loftiness

for his station, and an unshakable rank.

هذا النبي أتى بأشرف شرعة

وأجل ما ارتاحت له العقلاء

This Prophet brought the noblest law

and the most exalted thing in which the wise find solace.

دين قويم أحكمت أحكامه

شرع شريف ملّة بيضاء

An upright faith whose rulings are perfected,

a noble law, a pure religion.

نسخت شريعته الشرائع كلها

فغدا لها من دونهنّ بقاء

His law abrogated all other laws;

it alone retained permanence, apart from them.

لم لا تكون هي الختام ووجهها

بين الشرائع مشرق وضاء

Why should it not be the final one, when its face

among the laws is radiant and bright?

لله دينٌ ليس ينكر ضوءه

في الناس إلا مقلة عمياء

God's is a faith whose light no one denies

among humankind except a blind eye.

ختم الإله به الرسالة إنه

أصل وعنه كلهم وكلاء

God sealed the message through him; he is

the source, and all of them are his deputies.

لمكارم الأخلاق جاء متمما

إن المكارم للنفوس دواء

He came to perfect noble character;

virtues are medicine for souls.

لبست به الدنيا شعار جمالها

وبه تجلى للعيون بهاء

Through him, the world donned the garb of its beauty;

through him, splendor appeared to the eyes.

لما دعا لله قام بنصره

قوم سراة سادة حنفاء

When he called to God, there arose to support him

eminent people, noble masters, upright monotheists.

قد جاهدوا في الله حق جهاده

إن الجميع لدينه نصراء

They strove for God as striving for Him is due;

all of them are supporters of his religion.

كانوا على الأعداء في يوم الوغى

اسدا لهم يؤم اللقاء لقاء

Against the enemies on the day of battle, they were

lions, for whom one encounter seeks another.

بيض الصحائف والصفائح دأبهم

بين الأعادي غارة شعواء

White are their records and sword blades; their constant practice

among enemies is a fierce raid.

كم جدلوا فوق الثرى من هامة

وبسيفهم كم مزّقت أحشاء

How many heads they felled upon the earth!

How many entrails were torn apart by their sword!

والأرض سالت بالدماء كأنها

بحر به قد عامت الأشلاء

The earth flowed with blood, as though it were

a sea in which severed limbs floated.

أصحاب بأس في العدا لكنهم

بالدين فيما بينهم رحماء

Mighty against enemies, yet they are

merciful among themselves through their faith.

تتساقط الهامات من ضرباتهم

أما الأكفّ فما لها إحصاء

Heads fall beneath their blows;

as for hands, they cannot be counted.

وكأنّ أجسام العداة وقد هوت

أعجاز نخل والدما دأماء

The enemies' bodies, fallen, seem like

palm stumps, and the blood a dark sea.

لله أصحاب وأنصار لهم

في كلّ معركة يد بيضاء

What companions and supporters! They have

a noble deed in every battle.

النصر والتأييد رائد قصدهم

والحزم فيهم شيمة شماء

Victory and divine support guide their purpose;

decisiveness is a lofty quality among them.

عزمات صدق في المعالي سطرت

شهدت بها الأبطال والأكفاء

True resolves were inscribed in lofty pursuits,

to which heroes and their peers bore witness.

لا غرو أن أبلوا بلاء صادقا

إن الجميع لدينه نصراء

No wonder they displayed genuine valor;

all of them are supporters of his religion.

يا خير مبعوث بخير شريعة

وأجل من طلعت عليه ذكاء

O best one sent with the best law,

most exalted of those upon whom Dhuka, the sun, has risen!

قلبى وحقّك في المحبة مخلص

إن المحبة لبني ولاء

My heart, by your right, is sincere in love;

indeed, love is loyalty for my sons.

أقسمت بالبيت الحرام وزمزم

وبموقف فيه الحجيج سواء

I swore by the Sacred House and Zamzam,

and by a standing place where pilgrims are equal,

وبمن به وقفوا ولبّوا خشّعا

وشعارهم عند الخشوع بكاء

and by Him for whom they stood and answered the call humbly,

their sign in humility being weeping:

إني بحبّك مستهام مولع

وجوانحي مستودع ووعاء

I am bewildered and infatuated with love for you;

my inner ribs are its repository and vessel.

نفسي وما أحرزت من نشب ومن

مال لخير المرسلين فداء

My soul and whatever I have acquired of property and

wealth are a ransom for the best of messengers.

فبحق آلك راعني وانظر

إلي فلى بقربى منك فيك رجاء

By the right of your family, heed me and look

toward me: through kinship with you, I place my hope in you.

وانظر لأهلى ثم أولادي فهم

لبنيك يا خير الورى أبناء

Regard my family, then my children, for they are

descendants of your sons, O best of humankind.

فأبوهم الكرار فاتح خيبر

والام سيدة النسا الزهراء

Their father is the Ever-Charging One, conqueror of Khaybar;

their mother is the mistress of women, al-Zahra.

وإليك يا خير البرية ينتهى

نسب عليه من الإله بهاء

To you, O best of creation, leads back

a lineage upon which God has bestowed splendor.

سدنا بك الدنيا ولكن غيرنا

نهضت به البيضاء والصفراء

Through you we ruled the world, while others

were raised by silver and gold.

فامدد يد الإحسان نحوى إنني

للجود محتاج وفيك سخاء

Stretch the hand of benevolence toward me, for I am

in need of generosity, and in you is bounty.

واعطف عليّ إذا الغزالة كوّرت

يوم القضاء وقامت الخصماء

Have compassion on me when the sun is rolled up

on Judgment Day, and the adversaries arise,

وبددت وبرزت الجحيم لمن يرى

وعلى المعاصي تشهد الأعضاء

and they are scattered, and Hell is laid bare to whoever sees,

and the limbs testify to sins.

والكل من فزع القيامة واجم

حيث استوى المرءوس والرؤساء

Everyone is stunned by the terror of resurrection,

where subordinate and chiefs become equal.

يا مصطفى أمن محبك بالرضا

فضلا وقل حاشى المحب يساء

O Chosen One, grant your lover safety through your favor,

graciously, and say, 'No lover shall be wronged.

وادخل إلى دار النعيم فإنها

منى على حسن المديح جزاء

And enter the abode of bliss, for it is

a reward from me for fine praise.'

صلى عليك الله ماهب الصبا

وازينت بالنيرين سماء

May God bless you whenever the east wind blows

and a sky is adorned by the two luminaries,

والآل والأصحاب والنفر الألى

خدموا العلوم فكلهم حنفاء

and your family, companions, and those people who

served the sciences, for all are upright monotheists.