إلىto ساحةthe precinct of المختارthe Chosen One شدواsaddle مطيتيmy mount
إلى ساحة المختار شدوا مطيتي
فعندfor with رسولthe Messenger of اللهGod روحيmy soul ومهجتيand my heart's lifeblood
فعند رسول الله روحي ومهجتي
Saddle my mount for the precinct of the Chosen One,
To al-Masjid al-Nabawi my ride lead
For with God's Messenger are my soul and my heart's lifeblood.
For near the Messenger of God is my spirit and passion
وقولواand say لهاto her جدىpress on المسيرwith the journey ولاand do not تنىflag
وقولوا لها جدى المسير ولا تنى
لعلىperhaps I أرىmay see القبرthe tomb الشريفnoble بمقلتيwith my eye
لعلى أرى القبر الشريف بمقلتي
And tell her, 'Press on with the journey, and do not flag,'
Tell it not to hesitate and journey steady
That I may see the noble tomb with my own eye.
That perhaps with my eyes I see his noble grave
فأنثرthen I scatter درpearls الدمعof tears منىfrom me تشوّقاin longing
فأنثر در الدمع منى تشوّقا
وأذكرand recount تهياميmy lovesick yearning وأنشرand unfold قصتيmy story
وأذكر تهيامي وأنشر قصتي
Then I shall scatter the pearls of my tears in longing,
So I may shed the pearls of my tears in yearning
And recount my lovesick yearning and unfold my story,
And recall my infatuation and relate my tale
وأروىand relate أحاديثtales البعادof separation وماand what جرىhappened
وأروى أحاديث البعاد وما جرى
منof الوجدpassion والأشواقand longings مدةthroughout غيبتيmy absence
من الوجد والأشواق مدة غيبتي
And relate the tales of separation and what befell me
And narrate the stories of separation and what transpired
Of passion and longing throughout my absence.
Of anguish and longing throughout my absence
وأفترand part my lips منfrom بعدafter البكاweeping متبسماsmiling
وأفتر من بعد البكا متبسما
لقربىbecause of my nearness منto المختارthe Chosen One خيرthe best of البريةcreation
لقربى من المختار خير البرية
And after weeping, I shall break into a smile
Then after crying smile delighted
At my nearness to the Chosen One, the best of creation.
For my nearness to the Chosen One, best of creation
وأمتعand delight عينىmy eyes منwith جلالthe majesty of جمالهhis beauty
وأمتع عينى من جلال جماله
وأنفحand perfume روحيmy soul منwith شذاthe fragrance of طيبthe scent of طيبةTaybah
وأنفح روحي من شذا طيب طيبة
And delight my eyes in the majesty of his beauty,
And gratify my eyes with the majesty of his beauty
And perfume my soul with the fragrance of Taybah's scent.
And perfume my soul with the fragrance of his fragrance
وأجعلand place خدىmy cheek فوقupon مسكthe musk of ترابهاher soil
وأجعل خدى فوق مسك ترابها
ففيهfor in it شفاءis healing الجسمfor the body منfrom كلevery غلةburning thirst
ففيه شفاء الجسم من كل غلة
And lay my cheek upon the musk of her soil,
And lay my cheek upon the musk of his soil
For in it is the body's healing from every burning thirst.
For in it is the cure of the body from every malady
ومنand from عينهاher spring الزرقاءblue أشربI drink سائغاeasy to swallow
ومن عينها الزرقاء أشرب سائغا
فراتاsweet and fresh كماءlike the water of الحوضthe Pool يجرىflowing بجنةin Paradise
فراتا كماء الحوض يجرى بجنة
And drink from her blue spring a draught easy to swallow,
And from its blue spring I drink pure
Sweet as the water of the Pool flowing in Paradise.
Euphrates, like the water of Paradise flowing in Heaven
وأنظرand behold أنوارthe lights of النبيthe Prophet تلألأتgleaming
وأنظر أنوار النبي تلألأت
علىupon أوجهthe faces of الزوارthe visitors منfrom خيرthe noblest حجرةchamber
على أوجه الزوار من خير حجرة
And behold the Prophet's lights gleaming
And I see the lights of the Prophet gleaming
Upon the visitors' faces, from the noblest chamber.
Upon the faces of visitors, the best of company
فأغضىthen I lower my gaze حياءin modesty عندat رؤيةthe sight of نورهhis light
فأغضى حياء عند رؤية نوره
وأهديهand offer him منىfrom me ألفa thousand ألفthousand تحيةgreetings
وأهديه منى ألف ألف تحية
Then I shall lower my gaze in modesty at the sight of his light,
So I lower my gaze in modesty before his light
And offer him a thousand thousand greetings from me.
And send him a thousand thousand greetings from me
وأحمدand praise ربيmy Lord بينbetween قبرa tomb ومنبرand a pulpit
وأحمد ربي بين قبر ومنبر
علىfor نعمةthe blessing of الإسلامIslam أكبرthe greatest نعمةblessing
على نعمة الإسلام أكبر نعمة
And praise my Lord between a tomb and a pulpit
And between grave and pulpit praise my Lord
For the blessing of Islam, the greatest blessing.
For the blessing of Islam, the greatest blessing
وأستمنحand ask for الإقبالfavor منfrom فيضthe overflow of فضلهhis bounty
وأستمنح الإقبال من فيض فضله
عسىperhaps المصطفىthe Elect One المختارthe Chosen One يرثىwill pity لذلتيmy lowliness
عسى المصطفى المختار يرثى لذلتي
And ask for favor from the overflow of his bounty,
And seek blessing from the overflowing of his grace
Hoping the Elect, Chosen One will pity my lowliness,
That perhaps the Chosen One will have mercy on my lowliness
ويمنحنىand grant me بالفضلgraciously منهfrom him رعايةcare
ويمنحنى بالفضل منه رعاية
وينظرand look ليupon me عطفاcompassionately ويكرمand honor شيبتيmy gray hairs
وينظر لي عطفا ويكرم شيبتي
And graciously grant me his care,
And grant me, by his grace, his protection
And look upon me with compassion and honor my gray hairs,
And look upon me kindly and honor my old age
ويدىand bestow منof honor الإكرامwhat ماhe هوis worthy of it أهلهis worthy of it
ويدى من الإكرام ما هو أهله
ويكتبand record فيin صحفthe registers of القبولacceptance زيارتيmy visit
ويكتب في صحف القبول زيارتي
And bestow such honor as befits him,
And grant me from his generosity what suits him
And record my visit in the registers of acceptance.
And record in the scrolls of acceptance my visit
وأشهدand witness منهfrom him رحمةmercy وتعطفاand tenderness
وأشهد منه رحمة وتعطفا
أرىI see منهfrom him طولthroughout الدهرtime حظىmy good fortune ورفعتيand my elevation
أرى منه طول الدهر حظى ورفعتي
And witness his mercy and tenderness,
And I witness from him mercy and kindness
Receiving from him good fortune and elevation for all time.
I see from him lifelong fortune and exaltation
فهذاso this مرادىis my aim منfrom حياتيmy life فإنand if أفزI attain it
فهذا مرادى من حياتي فإن أفز
ظفرتI have triumphed وإلاand otherwise متّI die غماof grief تحسرنيit fills me with regret
ظفرت وإلا متّ غما تحسرني
This is what I seek from my life; if I attain it,
So this is my desire in life, and if I succeed
I shall have triumphed; otherwise I shall die of grief that fills me with regret.
I am victorious, otherwise I die regretful
ولكننيbut I أرجوhope منfrom اللهGod منحةfor a gift
ولكنني أرجو من الله منحة
أنالI attain بهاthrough it قصدىmy aim وأدركand fulfill طلبتيmy wish
أنال بها قصدى وأدرك طلبتي
But I hope for a gift from God
But I hope from God a gift
Through which I may attain my aim and fulfill my wish.
Through which I attain my goal and purpose
فيصلحthen He sets aright باليmy affairs بالسعادةwith happiness والغنىand wealth
فيصلح بالي بالسعادة والغنى
ويشتدand grows stronger أزرىmy support ماas long as حييتI live وقوّتيand my strength
ويشتد أزرى ما حييت وقوّتي
Then He will set my affairs aright with happiness and wealth,
So He mends my plight with happiness and bounty
And strengthen my support and my power as long as I live.
And strengthens my resolve however long I live
هنالكthere أحظىI gain بالقبولacceptance وبالرضاand approval
هنالك أحظى بالقبول وبالرضا
وتنحلّand is undone بعدafter الضيقhardship عقدةthe knot of كربتيmy anguish
وتنحلّ بعد الضيق عقدة كربتي
There I shall gain acceptance and approval,
Thereupon I attain acceptance and pleasure
And, after hardship, the knot of my anguish will be undone.
And after distress the knot of my worries unties
متىwhen القلبthe heart منfrom جمرthe embers of التشوقlonging ينطفىis extinguished
متى القلب من جمر التشوق ينطفى
وتبردand cools منfrom حرthe heat of النوىseparation نارthe fire of غلتيmy burning thirst
وتبرد من حر النوى نار غلتي
When will the heart's embers of longing die out,
When the heart is cooled from the embers of yearning
And the fire of my thirst cool from separation's heat?
And the fire of my fervor subsides
متىwhen الأمرthe matter يقضىis settled والموانعand the obstacles تنتهيend
متى الأمر يقضى والموانع تنتهي
وفيand in روضةthe garden of المختارthe Chosen One تسجدbows in prostration جهتيmy direction (likely 'my forehead')
وفي روضة المختار تسجد جهتي
When will the matter be settled and the obstacles end,
When the matter concludes and obstacles vanish
And my forehead bow down in the Chosen One's garden [reading uncertain]?
And in the Messenger's garden my face prostrates
وأرفعand raise كفىmy hands ضارعاsupplicating متبتلاwholly devoted
وأرفع كفى ضارعا متبتلا
وبالفضلand through grace والإحسانand kindness تقبلis accepted توبتيmy repentance
وبالفضل والإحسان تقبل توبتي
And I raise my hands, supplicating and wholly devoted,
And I raise my palms pleading and repenting
And my repentance be accepted through grace and kindness?
And with grace and beneficence accept my repentance
وأدعوand pray بذلwith humility وانكسارand brokenness وخشيةand reverent fear
وأدعو بذل وانكسار وخشية
وخفضand lowering جناحa wing أنthat أفوزI attain بحجةa pilgrimage
وخفض جناح أن أفوز بحجة
And I pray with humility, brokenness, and reverent fear,
And I supplicate with humility, humility and fear
And with a lowered wing, that I may attain a pilgrimage,
And lowering of the wing that I succeed in pilgrimage
وأحرمand enter consecration بالحجfor the Hajj الشريفnoble وعمرةand an umrah
وأحرم بالحج الشريف وعمرة
وأسعىand hasten مطيفاcircling حولaround أشرفthe noblest بنيةedifice
وأسعى مطيفا حول أشرف بنية
And enter consecration for the noble Hajj and an umrah,
And perform Hajj and Umrah in sanctity
And hasten, circling the noblest edifice.
Circling the most noble House zealously
وبالموقفand at the standing-place الأسمىloftiest أفوزI succeed وفيand in منىMina
وبالموقف الأسمى أفوز وفي منى
أروحI go forth وأرمىand stone جمرةa jamrah بعدafter جمرةa jamrah
أروح وأرمى جمرة بعد جمرة
And attain the loftiest place of standing, and in Mina
And in Arafat attain success, and in Mina
Go forth and stone one jamrah after another.
I cast pebbles, one after another
فأرجعthen I return مغسولcleansed الذنوبof sins لموطنيto my homeland
فأرجع مغسول الذنوب لموطني
واشربand drink راحthe wine of الصفوserenity بينamong عشيرتيmy kin
واشرب راح الصفو بين عشيرتي
Then return to my homeland cleansed of sins,
So I return to my home cleansed of sins
And drink the wine of serenity among my kin,
And drink the clear honey among my clan
بعمرwith a life مديدlong فيin سرورjoy ونعمةand blessing
بعمر مديد في سرور ونعمة
وعزand honor وإقبالand prosperity وأوفرand most abundant نعمةblessing
وعز وإقبال وأوفر نعمة
With a long life in joy and blessing,
With a long life, in joy and grace
And honor, prosperity, and the most abundant blessing,
And power and prosperity and ample bounty
ورفعةand the elevation of أبنائيmy sons وأهلىand my family وإخوتيand my brothers
ورفعة أبنائي وأهلى وإخوتي
إلىto ذروةthe summit of العلياeminence وأهلand those holding مودّتيmy affection
إلى ذروة العليا وأهل مودّتي
And the elevation of my sons, my family, and my brothers
And the elevation of my children, family and brethren
To the summit of eminence—and of those I love.
To the highest summit, and people of my affection
وأنand that يحسنgrant a good المولىthe Lord ختاميmy end بفضلهby His grace
وأن يحسن المولى ختامي بفضله
ويمحوand erase ذنبيmy sin منfrom سطورthe lines of صحيفتيmy record
ويمحو ذنبي من سطور صحيفتي
And that the Lord, by His grace, grant me a good end,
And that the Almighty concludes my affair virtuously
And erase my sin from the lines of my record.
And erases my sins from the pages of my book
وعندand at احتضارthe approach of الموتdeath أرجوI hope for حضورهhis presence
وعند احتضار الموت أرجو حضوره
وعندand at سؤالthe questioning of القبرthe grave الهمI am inspired with حجتيmy defense
وعند سؤال القبر الهم حجتي
At the approach of death, I hope for his presence,
And at the approach of death, I hope for his presence
And, at the grave's questioning, to be inspired with my defense.
And at the questioning of the grave, he is my argument
وأنand that يكتبwrite down اللهGod العداةthe enemies جميعهمall of them
وأن يكتب الله العداة جميعهم
وكلand every حسودenvious person مبغضhateful متعنّتobstinate
وكل حسود مبغض متعنّت
And that God write down all the enemies,
And that God writes all enemies
And every envious, hateful, obstinate person.
And every envious hateful antagonist
فياso O خيرbest of خلقthe creation of اللهGod تلكthese مطالبيare my requests
فيا خير خلق الله تلك مطالبي
بسطتI stretched out بهاfor them كفىmy hands فأرجوso I hope for إجابتيmy answer
بسطت بها كفى فأرجو إجابتي
O best of God's creation, these are my requests.
O best of God's creation, those are my requests
I have stretched out my hands for them, and hope to be answered.
I extend my palm, so I hope you answer me
فجودكfor your generosity فياضis overflowing وبحركand your sea زاخرis surging
فجودك فياض وبحرك زاخر
وإنيand indeed I لمحتاجam surely in need لجودكof your generosity بالتيwith that which (unclear here)
وإني لمحتاج لجودك بالتي
For your generosity overflows, and your sea is surging,
For your generosity is overflowing, and your sea bountiful
And I am surely in need of your generosity [final word unclear].
And I am needy for your generosity
فكنso be ليfor me شفيعاan intercessor عندbefore ربكyour Lord إننيindeed I
فكن لي شفيعا عند ربك إنني
إلىto العترةthe family العلياءexalted أدلىI lay claim بنبةby [unclear word]
إلى العترة العلياء أدلى بنبة
So be my intercessor with your Lord, for I
So be my intercessor with your Lord, I am
Claim a bond with the exalted family [final word unclear].
To the sublime Family attributing my lineage
وإنىand indeed I إلىto السبطthe grandson المطهرpurified أنتمىbelong
وإنى إلى السبط المطهر أنتمى
وفاطمةand Fatimah الزهراءal-Zahra بنتكyour daughter جدتيis my ancestress
وفاطمة الزهراء بنتك جدتي
And I belong to the purified grandson,
And I belong to al-Sibt al-Murtada (Imam Ali Zain al-Abideen)
And Fatimah al-Zahra, your daughter, is my ancestress.
And Fatima the Radiant, your daughter, is my grandmother
وأنتand you لذيfor those of القربىkinship رجاءare hope وملجأand refuge
وأنت لذي القربى رجاء وملجأ
وحصنand a fortress حصينmighty حازpossessing أكبرthe greatest منعةprotection
وحصن حصين حاز أكبر منعة
You are hope and refuge for your kinsfolk,
And you are for the nearest of kin hope and refuge
And a mighty fortress possessing the greatest protection.
An impenetrable fortress which has the greatest protection
إذاwhen الناسpeople بالأنسابover pedigrees يوماone day تفاخرواboast
إذا الناس بالأنساب يوما تفاخروا
فنحنthen we لتاجfor the crown of المجدglory أشرفare the noblest هامةbrow
فنحن لتاج المجد أشرف هامة
When people one day boast of their pedigrees,
If people one day boast about their lineages
We are the noblest brow for the crown of glory.
Then we belong to the crown of glory, the noblest lineage
وكيفand how وخيرwhen the best of الخلقcreation فيin الكونthe universe جدناis our forefather
وكيف وخير الخلق في الكون جدنا
منthe one whom اختارهHe chose المولىthe Lord لأكرمfor the noblest امّةcommunity
من اختاره المولى لأكرم امّة
How could it be otherwise, when the best of creation in the universe is our forefather—
And how not, when the best of creation in the universe is our grandfather
He whom the Lord chose for the noblest community?
Whom the Almighty chose for the most honorable nation
وجدتناand our ancestress الكبرىgreat خديجةKhadijah منthe one بهاthrough whom
وجدتنا الكبرى خديجة من بها
تباهىtook pride العلاglory عندat ابتداءthe beginning of نبوةprophethood
تباهى العلا عند ابتداء نبوة
And our great ancestress is Khadijah, through whom
And our grandmother is Khadija the Great, who takes pride
Glory took pride at the beginning of prophethood.
In the highest company at the start of the prophecy
فياso O خيرbest مبعوثone sent forth وأشرفand noblest مرسلmessenger
فيا خير مبعوث وأشرف مرسل
وأكرمand noblest موصوفone characterized بحلمby forbearance ورحمةand mercy
وأكرم موصوف بحلم ورحمة
O best of those sent forth, noblest messenger,
O best of messengers and most noble prophet
And noblest one endowed with forbearance and mercy,
And most generous described with forbearance and mercy
ذنوبيmy sins وإنand even if فاقتexceeded علىbeyond الرملthe sand كثرةin number
ذنوبي وإن فاقت على الرمل كثرة
فلىso I have فيكin you آمالhopes لمحوfor erasing خطيئتيmy sin
فلى فيك آمال لمحو خطيئتي
Though my sins outnumber the grains of sand,
My sins though numerous as grains of sand
I place my hopes in you for the erasure of my sin.
In you I have hopes for erasing my misdeeds
وأنتand you لمثلىfor someone like me فيamong العصاةsinners مشفعare an accepted intercessor
وأنت لمثلى في العصاة مشفع
وأكبرand greatest جاهinfluence فيin رخائيmy ease وشدتيand my hardship
وأكبر جاه في رخائي وشدتي
For sinners like me, you are an intercessor whose plea is accepted,
And for the likes of me among transgressors you intercede
And my greatest means of favor in ease and hardship.
And have the greatest status during my ease and affliction
إذاwhen الناسpeople منfrom هولthe terror of القيامةResurrection أرجفواtremble
إذا الناس من هول القيامة أرجفوا
فكنso be ليfor me شفيعاan intercessor فيat القضاjudgment ووسيلتيand my means of drawing near
فكن لي شفيعا في القضا ووسيلتي
When people tremble at the terror of Resurrection,
When people tremble in fright on Judgment Day
Be my intercessor at judgment, and my means of drawing near.
Be my intercessor in judgement and my means
عليكupon you صلاةthe blessing of اللهGod فاحwafts عبيرهاits fragrance
عليك صلاة الله فاح عبيرها
وخصّكand may He favor you بالتسليمwith greetings of peace فيat كلّevery لمحةinstant
وخصّك بالتسليم في كلّ لمحة
May God's blessing be upon you, its fragrance wafting,
Upon you are God's blessings, the fragrance of which spreads
And may He single you out for greetings of peace at every instant,
And He granted you the highest accord in every moment
وآلand family وأصحابand companions وكلand everyone منwho انتمىbelongs
وآل وأصحاب وكل من انتمى
لملّتكto your faith الغراءradiant اشرفthe noblest ملةfaith
لملّتك الغراء اشرف ملة
And your family, companions, and everyone who belongs
And the Family, Companions and all who pledged
To your radiant faith, the noblest faith.
Allegiance to your brilliant nation, the most noble faith