1. في صفحة الخد خط الشيب إنذاره

    وثوب جسمى حل الضعف أزراره

    On the cheek's page, gray hair has inscribed its warning.

    And weakness has unfastened the buttons of my body's robe.

  2. وقد تولت جيوش العزم خاضعة

    بعد المشيب وكانت قبل جرّاره

    The armies of resolve have retreated, subdued,

    after graying, though before they had been mighty hosts.

  3. وما ارعويت عن الدنيا وزخرفها

    مع أنها بابتسام الثغر غرّاره

    Yet I have not turned away from the world and its finery,

    though its smiling mouth is deceptive.

  4. وكالسراب تراها في موّدتها

    وحسبها أنها بالختل غداره

    You see it as a mirage in its affection,

    and enough against it is its treachery through deceit.

  5. فكم لعيني بعين الغي قد غمزت

    حتى احتملت من التفريط أوزاره

    How often it has winked at my eye with the eye of error,

    until I bore the burdens of negligence.

  6. وطارت النفس بالأهواء هائمة

    كأنما الغيّ جو وهي طياره

    The soul flew, wandering amid desires,

    as though error were the sky and it a flier.

  7. وما أبرّىء نفسي من غوايتها

    فإن نفسي بفعل السوء أماره

    I do not absolve my soul of its waywardness,

    for my soul commands the doing of evil.

  8. يا نفس توبى فخير البر عاجله

    واستو كفى من غزير العفو أمطاره

    O soul, repent: the best goodness is that done promptly.

    And seek the showers of abundant pardon.

  9. ونظفي القلب من غي ومن غير

    ظطهري بدموع التوب أقذاره

    Cleanse the heart of error and resentments,

    and wash away its filth with tears of repentance.

  10. واستخصلى القلب مما كان يشغله

    ثم اغسلى بيد الإخلاص أوضاره

    Free the heart from what once occupied it,

    then wash away its stains with the hand of sincerity.

  11. وقدمي الخير مشفوعا بمعذرة

    فالله يقبل من راجيه أعذار

    Present goodness accompanied by an apology,

    for God accepts excuses from those who hope in Him.

  12. واخجلتي من ذنوبي حين أذكرها

    منها الدموع كسح السحب مدراره

    How ashamed I am of my sins when I remember them!

    Because of them, tears stream like clouds pouring rain.

  13. أنى لأيدي الكرام الكاتبين بها

    لأنها كنجوم الليل دراره

    How can the hands of the noble recorders cope with them,

    for they are like the stars of night, glittering in profusion?

  14. وقد مضى العمر في لهو وفي لعب

    وغض منه بياض الشعر أزهاره

    Life has passed in amusement and play,

    and the whiteness of hair has diminished its blossoms.

  15. وما ازدلفت إلى الأخرى بصالحة

    ولا عرفت ليوم الحشر مقداره

    I have not drawn near to the Hereafter with a righteous deed,

    nor recognized the importance of the Day of Gathering.

  16. ولا وجدت خليلا راح يرشدني

    غير المشيب وقد أنكرت إبداره

    Nor have I found a friend who would guide me,

    except gray hair, whose full-moon radiance I denied.

  17. وليس للعلم من نفع بلاعمل

    مهما قرأت أو استظهرت أسفاره

    Knowledge has no benefit without action,

    however much you read or memorize its volumes.

  18. علم بلا عمل روض بلا ثمر

    لا ينفع الروض إن لم تجن أثماره

    Knowledge without action is a garden without fruit;

    the garden does no good if you do not reap its fruits.

  19. لكن يقيني يقيني كل ضائقة

    بالنصر والفوز إن شن العدا غاره

    But my certainty protects me from every distress,

    with victory and triumph, should the foes launch a raid.

  20. وكيف لا ورسول الله معتصمى

    خير النبيين من شاهدت أنواره

    How could it be otherwise, when God's Messenger is my refuge,

    the best of prophets, whose lights I have witnessed?

  21. سر الوجود نور الكون من أزل

    لا يستطيع سليم القلب إنكاره

    The secret of existence, the universe's light from eternity,

    whom no sound heart can deny.

  22. أحيا القلوب وكانت قبل ميتة

    إذ فيه قد أودع الرحمن أسراره

    He revived hearts that had previously been dead,

    for the All-Merciful placed His secrets within him.

  23. وقد دعوه أمينا قبل مبعثه

    لما استشفوا بحسن الخلق أطواره

    They called him trustworthy before his prophetic mission,

    when through his fine character they discerned his ways.

  24. وحكموه فأرضاهم بحكمته

    واستحسنوا من أمين الله أفكاره

    They made him their arbiter, and he pleased them with his wisdom,

    and they approved the thoughts of God's trusted one.

  25. روح مؤيدّة بالروح من صغر

    لا يظهر البدر إلا حوله داره

    A spirit supported by the Spirit since childhood:

    the full moon appears only with its halo surrounding it.

  26. أزكى الخلائق أعرافا وأطهرم

    والله شرفة بالوحى واختاره

    The sweetest-scented of creatures and the purest of them,

    God honored him with revelation and chose him.

  27. فطهر الكون من رجس ومن دنس

    وشد بين يديه الشرك أكواره

    He purified the universe of defilement and filth,

    and before him idolatry strapped on its camel-saddles.

  28. وأنقذ الكل من غي ومن عمه

    وحط عن ظهر هذا الكون آصاره

    He rescued everyone from error and blind wandering,

    and lifted the burdens from this universe's back.

  29. وكل دين بدين المصطفى نسخت

    آياته واستحال الرشد أحباره

    Every religion had, through the Chosen One's religion,

    its verses abrogated, and its scholars turned toward right guidance.

  30. فأسلم البعض بعد البغض معترفا

    ولم يشد بخصر بعد زناره

    Some embraced Islam after hatred, acknowledging the truth,

    and thereafter no longer bound their girdles at the waist.

  31. والبعض عضت على كفر نواجذه

    ولم يفارق عتادا قط إصراره

    Others clenched their molars upon unbelief,

    and their obstinacy never once abandoned its arms.

  32. فباء بالخزى في الدنيا وآخرة

    وفيه قد أعمل المختار بتاره

    So they incurred disgrace in this world and the Hereafter,

    and against them the Chosen One wielded his cutting sword.

  33. ونظّف البيت من جبت ومن صنم

    واسأصل الشرك حتى بت أوتاره

    He cleansed the House of false gods and idols,

    and uprooted idolatry until he severed its cords.

  34. هذا النبي له الأحجار قد نطقت

    والنخل أدنى لخير الخلق أثماره

    This is the Prophet to whom the stones spoke,

    and the palms brought their fruit near to the best of creation.

  35. والجذع حن له والضب كأمه

    والشاة درت وما كانت بدراره

    The trunk yearned for him, and the lizard [apparently spoke to him];

    the ewe gave milk, though she had not been a plentiful milker.

  36. والغيم ظلله من حر هاجرة

    كما أمال إليه الدوح أشجاره

    The cloud shaded him from the noonday heat,

    just as the grove inclined its trees toward him.

  37. والعنكبوت مع الورقاء قد نسجا

    بالغار بيتا وعشا حصنا غاره

    The spider, together with the gray dove, wove

    a dwelling and a nest at the cave, fortifying his cave.

  38. له شكا الجمل المنهوك من سغب

    ومن عناء فعنه كف أضراره

    The exhausted camel complained to him of hunger

    and toil, so he warded off its afflictions.

  39. وكم به اعتز من عضته متربة

    فبدل الله بالإعسار إياره

    How many whom poverty had bitten found dignity through him,

    and God replaced their hardship with prosperity.

  40. فانظر إلى أنس تلقاء خدمته

    تجده نال بحسن الح أوطاره

    Look at Anas in regard to his service:

    you will find he gained his wishes through good fortune [wording unclear].

  41. به ارتقت ذروة العلياء أمته

    فاصبحوا بعد يغض الحق أنصاره

    Through him his community ascended the summit of glory,

    and after hating the truth, they became its champions.

  42. حتى غدا هدية في الكون منتشرا

    وعم أنجاده عزا وأغواره

    Until his guidance spread throughout the universe

    and filled its highlands and lowlands with honor.

  43. صرنا به في البرايا أمة وسطا

    كالسبعة الشهب في الأفلاك سياره

    Through him we became a balanced community among creation,

    like the seven bright heavenly bodies wandering in their orbits.

  44. وأيد الله بالقرآن دعوته

    وحصن الله بالإعجاز أسواره

    God supported his call with the Quran,

    and God fortified its ramparts with miraculous inimitability.

  45. فأعجزتهم وهالتهم بلاغته

    من ذا يقاوم في الإعجاز أسواره

    Its eloquence defeated them and filled them with awe:

    who can withstand its ramparts of miraculous inimitability?

  46. فأعجزتهم وهالتهم بلاغته

    من ذا يقاوم في الإعجاز تياره

    Its eloquence defeated them and filled them with awe:

    who can resist its torrent of miraculous inimitability?

  47. عذب فرات لذيذ الطعم مورده

    يشفى الفؤاد ةوتأبى النفس إصداره

    Its source is sweet, fresh, and delicious to taste;

    it heals the heart, and the soul refuses to leave its waters.

  48. ذكر قديم ومعنى كله حكم

    لا يدرك العقل مهما كان أسراره

    An eternal Reminder, its meaning wholly wisdom,

    whose secrets the intellect, however capable, cannot grasp.

  49. إلى النبي وفود الكون قد هرعت

    حتى استبانوا بصدق القصد أخباره

    Delegations from throughout creation hurried to the Prophet,

    until, with sincere intent, they clearly discerned the accounts of him.

  50. هذا النبي الذي كانت بشاشته

    على الكمال وآيات الهدى شاره

    This is the Prophet whose cheerful countenance

    was an emblem of perfection and the signs of guidance.

  51. فيا سعادة من بالعين شاهده

    في هذه الدار أوفى داره زاره

    How happy is one who saw him with his own eyes

    in this world, or visited him in his own abode!

  52. متى أشم الشذا ن طيب طيبته

    وأمتع القلب لما أجتلى داره

    When shall I smell the fragrance of his scented Taybah,

    and delight my heart as I behold his dwelling,

  53. وألثم الترب من أعتاب روضته

    مستلفتا بجميل العطف أنظاره

    and kiss the dust at the thresholds of his garden,

    seeking to draw his gracious, kindly gaze?

  54. لا أكذب الله شوقى نحو طيبته

    لا أستطيع مدى الأيام إضماره

    I do not lie to God about my longing for his Taybah;

    through all my days I cannot conceal it.

  55. وكيف لا ورسول الله شرّفها

    في حماها أضاء الله أقماره

    How could I, when God's Messenger honored her?

    Within her protected precinct, God lit His moons.

  56. فطاولت في علاها كل مرتفع

    وكل سبق تخطت فيه مضماره

    She rose above every height in her sublimity,

    and in every race she passed beyond its course.

  57. وأخرزت برسول الله غايتها

    فكل قطر إليها مدّ أقطاره

    Through God's Messenger she attained her goal,

    so every land extended its reaches toward her.

  58. جرت ينابيعها في الكون صافية

    حتى أمدّت بفيض الفضل أنهاره

    Her springs flowed clear throughout the universe,

    until she supplied its rivers with an outpouring of bounty.

  59. وعينها كوثر الفردوس منبعها

    زرقاء نضاخة بالماء فواره

    Her spring has Paradise's Kawthar as its source,

    blue, gushing with water, ever bubbling.

  60. تربانها العضال الداء شافية

    وأرضها من شذا المختار معطاره

    Her soil [wording unclear] heals intractable disease,

    and her land is fragrant with the Chosen One's scent.

  61. تخالها في ابتداء الأمر يابسة

    لكنها بازدهرا الزرع خواره

    At first you suppose her to be dry,

    yet as crops flourish, she is soft and yielding.

  62. هذا النبي حباه الله منعته

    كما حبا صحبه عزا وأنصاره

    This Prophet was endowed by God with His protection,

    just as He granted honor to his companions and supporters.

  63. وآل بيت وأزواج به شرفوا

    ومتّع الله بالعلياء أصهاره

    His household's family and his wives were honored through him,

    and God favored his in-laws with high rank.

  64. يا خير من رفعت بالنصر رايته

    ومن أتم له الرحمن أنواره

    O best of those whose banner was raised in victory,

    and whose lights the All-Merciful perfected,

  65. إليك بالعز آمالي أقدمها

    عسى بعيني أراها لا بنظاره

    to you I present my hopes for honor,

    hoping to see them with my own eyes, not through spectacles.

  66. صب بمدحك لا ينفك مشتغلا

    فزان منك جميل المدح أشعاره

    An ardent lover, ever occupied with praising you,

    the beauty of your praise has adorned his verses.

  67. من لي سواك وقلبي قد أقر بما

    بلغت فاقبل بمحض الفضل إقراره

    Who have I but you? My heart has acknowledged what

    you attained; accept its acknowledgment through pure grace.

  68. وانظر إليّ فحسبي أن لي صلة

    بآلك الطهر لا دعوى ولا عاره

    Look upon me: it suffices me that I have a connection

    to your pure family, neither claimed nor borrowed.

  69. فالدهر عبدي إذا مادمت تلحظني

    وأسترق بعطف منك أحراره

    Time is my servant so long as you regard me,

    and with your kindness I enslave its free men.

  70. ولست أخشى زماني في تقلبه

    ولا أخاف بحسن الظن إعساره

    I do not fear my time amid its changes,

    nor fear its hardship, with such hopeful trust.

  71. فأنت أعلى الورى جاها ومنزلة

    ومن إليك انتمى أعليت أقداره

    For you are highest among humankind in standing and rank,

    and whoever affiliates himself with you, you exalt his worth.

  72. يا رب صل على المختار من مضر

    واجعل مقامى بجنات العلا جاره

    O Lord, bless the Chosen One from Mudar,

    and make my dwelling beside him in the gardens on high,

  73. والآل والصحب ما أنشدت مفتتحا

    في صفحة الخد خط الشيب إنذاره

    and his family and companions, whenever I recite as my opening:

    On the cheek's page, gray hair has inscribed its warning.