كيفhow ترقَىascend رُقِيَّكyour ascent الأَنبياءُthe prophets
كيف ترقَى رُقِيَّك الأَنبياءُ
ياO سماءًheaven ماnot طاوَلَتْهاmatched its height سماءُa heaven
يا سماءً ما طاوَلَتْها سماءُ
How can the prophets ascend to your ascent?
How exalted is your nobility, O Messenger of God, you who the heavens themselves cannot reach!
O heaven no heaven has matched in height!
None can equal you in your exaltation, though some are lofty in status and honored in lineage.
لَمْnot يُساوُوكequal you فيin عُلاكَyour exaltation وَقَدْand indeed حاinterposed—
لَمْ يُساوُوك في عُلاكَ وَقَدْ حا
لَ—interposed سناًradiance مِنكfrom you دونَهمbetween them وسَناءُand eminence
لَ سناً مِنك دونَهم وسَناءُ
They never equaled your exaltation; there stood
They are but reflections of your virtues shown to people, as the stars reflect the light of the moon.
between you and them radiance and eminence.
You are the lantern of all virtue, your light the source of any splendor seen.
إنّماonly مَثَّلُواrepresented صِفاتِكyour qualities للناto people—
إنّما مَثَّلُوا صِفاتِك للنا
س—people كماas مثَّلَrepresented النجومَthe stars الماءُwater
س كما مثَّلَ النجومَ الماءُ
They only represented your qualities to people
The esoteric knowledge was placed in your care by the Knower of the unseen, including the names taught to Adam.
as water represents the stars.
You have always been the Chosen One in the consciousness of existence, praised by past and future generations.
أنتَyou مِصباحُlamp كلِّevery فضلٍexcellence فماso not تَصissue—
أنتَ مِصباحُ كلِّ فضلٍ فما تَص
دُرُ—issue إلاexcept عنfrom ضوئِكَyour light الأَضواءُthe lights
دُرُ إلا عن ضوئِكَ الأَضواءُ
You are the lamp of every excellence; lights
No period of the Messengers lacked tidings to their people heralding you, the most noble of prophets.
issue only from your light.
Eras take pride in you, lofty figures after them aspiring to your utmost heights.
لكَyours ذاتُessence العلومِknowledge منfrom عالِمِKnower الغَيthe unseen—
لكَ ذاتُ العلومِ من عالِمِ الغَي
بِ—unseen ومنهاand from it لآدمَfor Adam الأَسماءُthe names
بِ ومنها لآدمَ الأَسماءُ
Yours is knowledge itself, from the Knower of the unseen;
From your noble lineage came a noble man, his forefathers all generous and refined.
from it came Adam's names.
A pedigree reckoned by its majesty, its stars the brightest constellations.
لمnot تَزَلْcease فيin ضمائرِhidden depths الكونِcreation تُختَاare chosen—
لم تَزَلْ في ضمائرِ الكونِ تُختَا
رُ—chosen لكfor you الأُمهاتُthe mothers الأَباءُthe fathers
رُ لك الأُمهاتُ الأَباءُ
Within creation's hidden depths, there have always been chosen
Blessed is the lineage of Sa’d and rejoice, you who in it are the protected orphan.
for you mothers and fathers.
Glorious as the sun, dawn revealed him, dispelling the darkness of a wonderful night.
ماnot مضتْpassed فَترةٌan interval منbetween الرُّسْلِthe messengers إِلّاwithout
ما مضتْ فَترةٌ من الرُّسْلِ إِلّا
بَشَّرَتْgave glad tidings قومَهاtheir people بِكَof you الأَنبياءُthe prophets
بَشَّرَتْ قومَها بِكَ الأَنبياءُ
No interval between messengers passed without
The night of a birth that brought joy to the faith, with its day extolled and made great.
prophets giving their people glad tidings of you.
Good tidings spread of the Chosen One’s birth, it was time for delight and elation.
تتباهَىglory بِكَin you العصورُthe ages وَتَسْموand rise
تتباهَى بِكَ العصورُ وَتَسْمو
بِكَthrough you علْياءٌa height بعدَهاafter it علياءُa height
بِكَ علْياءٌ بعدَها علياءُ
The ages glory in you, and rise
Kisra’s palace collapsed, and were it not for a sign from you it would not have crumbled.
through you, height after height.
The fires of Persia were put out, though their flames always burn bright.
وَبَداand appeared للوُجُودِto existence منكfrom you كريمٌa noble one
وَبَدا للوُجُودِ منك كريمٌ
منfrom كريمٍa noble one آبَاؤُهhis fathers كُرماءُnoble
من كريمٍ آبَاؤُه كُرماءُ
From you there appeared to existence a noble one,
A birth from which destruction for the unbelievers was fated, and plague for their armies foretold.
from a noble one whose fathers were noble.
So congratulations to Amina, ennobled by him, and congratulations to Eve his mother.
نَسَبٌa lineage تَحسِبُyou imagine العُلاexaltation بِحُلاهُwith its ornaments
نَسَبٌ تَحسِبُ العُلا بِحُلاهُ
قَلَّدَتْهَاnecklace-adorned it نجومهَاits stars الْجَوزاءُOrion
قَلَّدَتْهَا نجومهَا الْجَوزاءُ
A lineage whose ornaments make you imagine that exaltation
What an honor for Eve to bear Ahmad! How exalted above women is Amina!
was necklace-adorned by Orion with its stars.
The day she gave birth, Waheb’s daughter gained a merit not attained by women before.
حبذاhow lovely عِقْدُnecklace سُؤْدُدٍsovereignty وَفَخَارٍand glory
حبذا عِقْدُ سُؤْدُدٍ وَفَخَارٍ
أنتَyou فيهin it اليتيمةُmatchless pearl العصماءُflawless
أنتَ فيه اليتيمةُ العصماءُ
How lovely a necklace of sovereignty and glory!
She brought her people a child greater than what the chaste Maryam had carried before.
You are its matchless, flawless pearl.
The angels gathered around him as she delivered him, thinking them his companions.
وُمُحَيّاًand a face كالشَّمسlike the sun منكَof yours مُضِيءٌradiant
وُمُحَيّاً كالشَّمس منكَ مُضِيءٌ
أسْفَرَتunveiled عنهit ليلةٌa night غَرّاءُsplendid
أسْفَرَت عنه ليلةٌ غَرّاءُ
And your face, radiant as the sun,
She felt overwhelmed by the intensity, fearing what was hidden inside.
was unveiled by a splendid night.
She left him reluctantly though he kept crying for her, unwilling to part from her breast.
ليلةُnight المولدِthe birth الذيwhich كَانwas للدِّيfor religion—
ليلةُ المولدِ الذي كَان للدِّي
نِ—religion سرورٌjoy بيومِهِat its day وازْدِهاءُand pride
نِ سرورٌ بيومِهِ وازْدِهاءُ
The birth-night whose day brought religion
They opened his chest and removed from it an imperfection, leaving a scar that remained.
joy and pride.
Sealed by the Trustworthy Hand, secrets were hidden that are not for disclosure.
وتوالَتْand followed repeatedly بُشْرَىglad tidings الهواتفِunseen voices أنthat قدْindeed
وتوالَتْ بُشْرَى الهواتفِ أن قدْ
وُلِدَwas born المصطفىthe Chosen One وحُقّand was deserved الهَناءُrejoicing
وُلِدَ المصطفى وحُقّ الهَناءُ
Unseen voices repeatedly announced the glad tidings:
Protected by the seal, neither rip nor rend can reveal what was placed inside.
the Chosen One was born, and rejoicing was deserved.
He took to worship, devotion and retreat in seclusion while still a child, as do the people of distinction.
وتَدَاعَىand collapsed إيوانُpalace كِسْرَىKisra ولَوْلاand were it not
وتَدَاعَى إيوانُ كِسْرَى ولَوْلا
آيةٌa sign مِنكَfrom you ماnot تَدَاعَىcollapsed البناءُthe building
آيةٌ مِنكَ ما تَدَاعَى البناءُ
Kisra's palace shook and fell; without
When true guidance touches a heart, the limbs hasten to worship and serve.
a sign from you, the building would not have fallen.
At the time of your commission, God sent angels to guard you from the Jinn who frequented where you preached.
وغَدَاand became كلُّevery بيتِtemple نارٍfire وفيهِand within it
وغَدَا كلُّ بيتِ نارٍ وفيهِ
كُرْبَةٌdistress مِنْfrom خُمودِهاits extinction وَبلاءُand affliction
كُرْبَةٌ مِنْ خُمودِها وَبلاءُ
Every fire-temple came to hold
They kept these false prophets away, as shepherds drive away wolves from their flocks.
distress and affliction at its fire's extinction.
The angelic dispelled their ramblings with verses of revelation beyond the dreams of soothsayers.
وعيونٌand springs لِلْفُرسِof the Persians غارَتْsank away فهلso was كاthere—
وعيونٌ لِلْفُرسِ غارَتْ فهل كا
نَ—was لنِيرانِهِمfor their fires بهاin them إطفاءُextinguishing
نَ لنِيرانِهِم بها إطفاءُ
Persian springs sank away; was there
Khadija beheld you, recognizing purity, asceticism, modesty, and shame in your character.
in them an extinguishing of their fires?
She saw that the cloud had shaded you, and revelation descended upon you from it.
مَوْلِدٌa birth كانwas منهُfrom it فيin طالعِhoroscope الكُفْunbelief—
مَوْلِدٌ كان منهُ في طالعِ الكُفْ
رِ—unbelief وبالٌdisaster عليهِمُupon them ووباءُand pestilence
رِ وبالٌ عليهِمُ ووباءُ
A birth that brought, into unbelief's horoscope,
She heard talks of your impending commission, the promise of the Messenger now to be fulfilled.
disaster and pestilence upon them.
So she proposed marriage to you, a blessed union of the righteous.
فَهنيئاًso congratulations بهupon it لآمِنَةَto Amina الفَضdistinction—
فَهنيئاً به لآمِنَةَ الفَض
لُ—distinction الذيwhich شُرِّفَتْwas honored بهby it حوَّاءُEve
لُ الذي شُرِّفَتْ به حوَّاءُ
Congratulations to Amina upon the distinction
In her house Gabriel brought you the message, since wisdom dictates caution and care.
by which Eve herself was honored!
She unveiled before him to see if it was revelation or some diabetic stroke.
مَنْwho لِحَوَّاءَfor Eve أنهاthat she حملَتْbore أحْAhmad—
مَنْ لِحَوَّاءَ أنها حملَتْ أحْ
مدَ—Ahmad أوor أنهاthat she بهwith him نُفَسَاءُnewly delivered
مدَ أو أنها به نُفَسَاءُ
Who could grant Eve that she bore Ahmad,
Gabriel vanished when she exposed her face, neither returning nor the veil restored.
or that she lay newly delivered of him?
Then Khadija was certain it was no sorcery she had uncovered, merely the Almighty’s secret.
يوْمَthe day نَالتobtained بِوَضْعِهِby bearing him ابنَةُdaughter وَهْبٍWahb
يوْمَ نَالت بِوَضْعِهِ ابنَةُ وَهْبٍ
مِنْof فَخَارٍglory ماwhat لمnot تَنَلْهُobtained it النِّساءُthe women
مِنْ فَخَارٍ ما لم تَنَلْهُ النِّساءُ
The day Wahb's daughter obtained, by bearing him,
Then, O Prophet, you called to the Way of God while your people still insisted on unbelief and rejection.
glory no other women obtained.
Communities immersed in disbelief, preferring misguidance though the path is clear.
وَأَتَتْand brought قومَهاher people بأفضلَsomeone better مماthan what
وَأَتَتْ قومَها بأفضلَ مما
حَمَلَتْbore قبلُbefore مريمُMary العذراءُthe Virgin
حَمَلَتْ قبلُ مريمُ العذراءُ
She brought her people someone better than what
We saw your signs and were guided, for when truth appears, disagreement disappears.
Mary the Virgin had borne before.
My Lord, guidance is granted by You, and by Your signs those You wish are guided aright.
شمَّتتهblessed him الأَملاكُthe angels إذwhen وضَعَتْهُshe delivered him
شمَّتته الأَملاكُ إذ وضَعَتْهُ
وشَفَتْنَاand healed us بِقَوْلِهَاwith her account الشَّفّاءُal-Shifa
وشَفَتْنَا بِقَوْلِهَا الشَّفّاءُ
The angels blessed him when she delivered him;
How often we saw those bereft of reason censured for that which cannot be comprehended by the rational!
al-Shifa healed us with her account.
Like the elephant, who disregarded his master and was left confused despite his intellect.
رافعاًraising رأسَهhis head وفيand in ذلكthat الرفraising—
رافعاً رأسَه وفي ذلك الرف
ع—raising إلىtoward كلevery سُؤْدُدٍsovereignty إيماءُa gesture
ع إلى كل سُؤْدُدٍ إيماءُ
Raising his head, with that raising
While inanimate things proclaimed what the most eloquent of orators could not utter.
pointing toward every sovereignty.
Woe to those people who rejected a prophet in a land whose very dust and stones knew him!
رامقاًlooking طَرْفهhis gaze السَّماءَheaven ومَرْمَىand aim
رامقاً طَرْفه السَّماءَ ومَرْمَى
عينِeye مَنْone whose شَأْنُهُhis destiny العُلُوُّelevation العَلاءُthe heights
عينِ مَنْ شَأْنُهُ العُلُوُّ العَلاءُ
His gaze looking heavenward; the aim
They insulted him, but the trunk of a tree inclined toward him and the mountain offered him shade.
of one destined for elevation is the heights.
They exiled him from his homeland, but a cave sheltered him and a dove watched over him.
وتَدَلَّتْand descended زُهْرُbright ones النُّجومِthe stars إليهِtoward him
وتَدَلَّتْ زُهْرُ النُّجومِ إليهِ
فأضاءتso illuminated بِضوئهاwith their light الأَرجاءُthe regions
فأضاءت بِضوئها الأَرجاءُ
The bright stars descended toward him,
A spider’s web concealed him from his foes in the best veil not provided by the doves.
illuminating the regions with their light.
He hid from them nearby, vanishing from sight to avoid the danger of being openly seen.
وتراءتand appeared قصورُpalaces قَيصَرCaesar بالرُّوin Roman lands—
وتراءت قصورُ قَيصَر بالرُّو
مِ—Roman lands يَرَاهَاsees them مَنْone whose دَارُهُhis home البطحاءُal-Batha
مِ يَرَاهَا مَنْ دَارُهُ البطحاءُ
Caesar's palaces appeared in the Roman lands,
The Chosen One migrated to Medina, and people flocked to him from all over Mecca.
visible to those whose home was al-Batha.
The Jinn sang his praises, captivating mankind with their odes.
وبَدَتْand appeared فِيduring رَضَاعِهِhis nursing مُعْجِزَاتٌmiracles
وبَدَتْ فِي رَضَاعِهِ مُعْجِزَاتٌ
لَيْسnot فيهاin them عنِfrom العيونthe eyes خَفَاءُconcealment
لَيْس فيها عنِ العيون خَفَاءُ
Miracles appeared during his nursing,
Those who followed his path saw wondrous signs, while his enemies witnessed only desolation.
not concealed from any eyes.
Whenever he recited verses from the Book of God, battalions of angels mobilized for battle.
إذْwhen أَبَتْهُrejected him لِيُتْمِهِfor his orphanhood مُرْضِعاتٌnursing women
إذْ أَبَتْهُ لِيُتْمِهِ مُرْضِعاتٌ
قُلْنَthey said ماnot فيin اليتيمِthe orphan عناfor us غَنَاءُlivelihood
قُلْنَ ما في اليتيمِ عنا غَنَاءُ
When nursing women rejected him for his orphanhood,
He sufficed against those who mocked, though insults often afflict prophets.
saying, 'This orphan offers us no livelihood,'
By his prayer alone he defeated the Confederates, after which only vestiges of them remained.
فأتتهُso came to him منfrom آلِclan سعدٍSa'd فتاةٌa girl
فأتتهُ من آلِ سعدٍ فتاةٌ
قدalready أبَتْهَاrejected her لِفَقْرِهَاfor her poverty الرُّضَعاءُthe nurslings
قد أبَتْهَا لِفَقْرِهَا الرُّضَعاءُ
a girl of the clan of Sa'd came to him,
They conspired to kill him, but the sword refused out of loyalty, the loyal blades rejecting disloyalty.
whom nurslings had rejected for her poverty.
Abu Jahl approached him in defeat like a camel presenting its neck to the slaughter.
أرْضَعتْهُshe nursed him لِبَانَهَاher milk فَسَقَتْهَاso gave her
أرْضَعتْهُ لِبَانَهَا فَسَقَتْهَا
وَبنِيهاand her children أَلْبَانَهُنَّtheir milk الشَّاءُthe sheep
وَبنِيها أَلْبَانَهُنَّ الشَّاءُ
She fed him her milk; then sheep supplied her
The Prophet pardoned a debt after the man had sold him something defective, unpleased with the deal.
and her children with their milk.
He saw what would come to pass, though nothing escapes the vision of the Messenger.
أَصْبَحَتْbegan the morning شُوَّلاًdry-uddered عِجافاlean وأمْسَتْand ended the day
أَصْبَحَتْ شُوَّلاً عِجافا وأمْسَتْ
ماnot بِهاamong them شائلٌa dry one ولاnor عَجْفاءُa lean one
ما بِها شائلٌ ولا عَجْفاءُ
They began the morning dry and lean, and ended it
The wood-bearing old woman prepared to attack him, coming like a gale seen from afar.
with none dry or lean among them.
She approached in a rage, decrying that she should be insulted on account of Ahmad.
أخْصَبَflourished العَيْشُlivelihood عِنْدَهَاwith her بعدَafter مَحْلٍdrought
أخْصَبَ العَيْشُ عِنْدَهَا بعدَ مَحْلٍ
إذwhen غَداbecame للنبيِّfor the Prophet منهاfrom her غِذاءُnourishment
إذ غَدا للنبيِّ منها غِذاءُ
Her livelihood flourished after drought,
But she left without seeing him, for how can the blind see the sun?
when she became the Prophet's source of nourishment.
A Jewish woman then poisoned his meal, and death awaits whoever consumes poison.
ياO لَهاwhat a مِنَّةًfavor لقدْindeed ضُوعِفَwas multiplied الأَجْreward—
يا لَها مِنَّةً لقدْ ضُوعِفَ الأَجْ
رُ—reward عليهاfor her منof جِنْسِهاits kind والجزَاءُand recompense
رُ عليها من جِنْسِها والجزَاءُ
What a favor! Its reward was multiplied
The lamb warned him of the venom, rewarding her evil with only good.
for her in kind, and so was its recompense.
Five marked by the pact were struck with ailments, their bodies exhausted and pained.
وإذاand when سخَّرَmade serve الإِلهُGod أُناساًpeople
وإذا سخَّرَ الإِلهُ أُناساً
لسعيدٍa fortunate one فإِنهمthen they سُعَداءُfortunate
لسعيدٍ فإِنهم سُعَداءُ
When God makes people serve
The lion 'Amr was blinded, a living dead man unable to see.
a fortunate person, they too are fortunate.
Al-As bin Wa'il was afflicted with dropsy, his requests for water never quenched.
حَبَّةa grain أَنْبَتَتْbrought forth سَنَابِلَears of grain والعَصand chaff—
حَبَّة أَنْبَتَتْ سَنَابِلَ والعَص
فُ—chaff لَدَيْهِbeside it يَسْتَشْرِفُlook expectantly الضُّعَفَاءُthe weak
فُ لَدَيْهِ يَسْتَشْرِفُ الضُّعَفَاءُ
A grain brought forth ears; beside its chaff
Al-Walid was grazed by an arrow in a wound that no medicine could cure.
the weak look expectantly.
A thorn lodged in Al-'Asi's throat, may God take vengeance for it!
وَأَتَتْand came to جَدَّهُhis grandfather وقدhaving فَصَلَتْهُweaned him
وَأَتَتْ جَدَّهُ وقد فَصَلَتْهُ
وبِهَاand within her مِنْfrom فِصَالِهِparting from him البُرَحَاءُanguish
وبِهَا مِنْ فِصَالِهِ البُرَحَاءُ
She brought him to his grandfather, having weaned him,
Al-Harith was driven to madness, a wretched state from which there was no escape.
suffering anguish at parting from him.
Five murders were cleansed from the earth by the death of these five men, sparing the people their evil.
إذwhen أحاطتْsurrounded بهhim ملائكةُangels اللGod—
إذ أحاطتْ به ملائكةُ الل
هِ—God فظنَّتْso she thought بأنهمthat they قُرَنَاءُspirit-companions
هِ فظنَّتْ بأنهم قُرَنَاءُ
When God's angels surrounded him,
The five who violated the charter were ransomed by the five struck with calamity. For nobility demands retribution.
she thought them spirit-companions.
Blessed youths who had prepared for good works, filling the mornings and evenings with praise.
ورأىand he saw وَجْدَهاher longing بهfor him ومِنَand from الوَجlonging—
ورأى وَجْدَها به ومِنَ الوَج
دِ—longing لهيبٌa flame تَصْلَىburn بهِin it الأَحْشاءُthe inward parts
دِ لهيبٌ تَصْلَى بهِ الأَحْشاءُ
He saw her longing for him; longing
Like the hoopoe's news to Solomon about Bilqis, which awoke the heedless king from his slumber.
has a flame that burns the inward parts.
Reminding us of the termite's erosion, though all memory had been worn away.
فَارَقَتْهُshe parted from him كُرْهَاًunwillingly وكانand was لَدَيْهَاwith her
فَارَقَتْهُ كُرْهَاً وكان لَدَيْهَا
ثاوِياًstaying لاnot يُمَلُّis wearied مِنْهُby him الثّواءُthe stay
ثاوِياً لا يُمَلُّ مِنْهُ الثّواءُ
She parted from him unwillingly; with her he had been
It conveyed to the Prophet secrets that revelation had hidden away.
a guest whose stay never wearied her.
Its breast was torn for an oath broken, unwilling to betray the bestowing hand.
شُقَّwas opened عَنْover قَلْبِهِhis heart وأُخْرِجَand was removed مِنْهُfrom it
شُقَّ عَنْ قَلْبِهِ وأُخْرِجَ مِنْهُ
مُضْغَةٌa morsel عِنْدَduring غَسْلِهِits washing سوداءُblack
مُضْغَةٌ عِنْدَ غَسْلِهِ سوداءُ
His heart was laid open, and from it was removed
The mosque overjoyed to host his footsteps, never visited before even by Elijah.
a black morsel when it was washed.
The Black Stone delighted when he touched and kissed it, a radiant honor for which even the heavens envy it!
خَتَمَتْهُsealed it يُمْنَىright hand الأَمينِthe Trustworthy One وقدand already أُوwas entrusted—
خَتَمَتْهُ يُمْنَى الأَمينِ وقد أُو
دِعَ—entrusted ماwhat لمnot تُذَعwere disclosed لهconcerning it أَنْبَاءُtidings
دِعَ ما لم تُذَع له أَنْبَاءُ
The Trustworthy One's right hand sealed it, already entrusted
His feet made the earth into mosques, and all things bowed to him when he prayed.
with things whose tidings had never been disclosed.
Revealing the earnestness of his devotion, as the crescent moon reveals itself from the clouds.
صانَguarded أَسْرَارَهits secrets الخِتَامُthe seal فلاso neither الفَضْbreaking—
صانَ أَسْرَارَه الخِتَامُ فلا الفَضْ
ضُ—breaking مُلِمٌّapproaching بِهِit وَلاnor الإِفضاءُdivulging
ضُ مُلِمٌّ بِهِ وَلا الإِفضاءُ
The seal guarded its secrets; neither breaking
Beauty itself was beautified through him, so all loveliness seeks his company.
nor divulging could approach it.
He brought light like the sun to darkness, affirming shadows by his brilliance.
أَلِفَgrew familiar with النُّسْكَdevotion والعبادةَand worship والخَلand solitude—
أَلِفَ النُّسْكَ والعبادةَ والخَل
وةَ—solitude طِفلاًas a child وهكذاand thus النُّجَبَاءُthe noble
وةَ طِفلاً وهكذا النُّجَبَاءُ
He grew familiar with devotion, worship, and solitude
Were he to smile, even the full moon would bow to him, admitting his superior splendor.
as a child; thus are the noble.
Serenity and majesty concealed his beauty, hiding their signs as warriors hide their arms.
وإذاand when حَلَّتِsettles in الْهِدَايَةُguidance قَلْبَاًa heart
وإذا حَلَّتِ الْهِدَايَةُ قَلْبَاً
نَشِطَتْbecome eager فيin العبادةworship الأَعضاءُthe limbs
نَشِطَتْ في العبادة الأَعضاءُ
When guidance settles in a heart,
Faces next to his paled in comparison, as their hues faded before his brilliance.
the limbs become eager for worship.
His luminous visage nearly blinded onlookers, its glow imparting secret wisdom.
بَعَثَsent اللَّهُGod عندَat مبعثهِhis commissioning الشُّهshooting stars—
بَعَثَ اللَّهُ عندَ مبعثهِ الشُّه
بَ—shooting stars حِراساًas guards وضاقَand grew crowded عنهاwith them الفضاءُspace
بَ حِراساً وضاقَ عنها الفضاءُ
At his commissioning God sent shooting stars
Through him features became radiant, like images in a mirror under sunlight.
as guards, and space grew crowded with them.
Some verses resemble others, though similarities between equals still differ.
تَطْرُدُdrive away الجِنَّthe jinn عنfrom مقاعدَstations للسَّمْfor listening—
تَطْرُدُ الجِنَّ عن مقاعدَ للسَّمْ
عِ—listening كماas تَطْرُدُdrive away الذِّئابَthe wolves الرِّعاءُthe shepherds
عِ كما تَطْرُدُ الذِّئابَ الرِّعاءُ
They drive jinn from listening-posts
Statements seem identical, though only like two counterparts of a pair.
as shepherds drive away wolves.
Yet through them we glimpsed subtleties of wisdom, gleaming with lucidity and clarity.
فَمَحَتْso erased آيةُsign الكَهَانَةِsoothsaying آياsigns—
فَمَحَتْ آيةُ الكَهَانَةِ آيا
تٌ—signs مِنَof الوحْيِrevelation ماnot لَهنَّfor them امِّحاءُerasure
تٌ مِنَ الوحْيِ ما لَهنَّ امِّحاءُ
Revelation's signs erased the sign of soothsaying—
As husks unveil the date's heart, marveling farmers with the fruit concealed inside.
signs that shall never be erased.
Lofty in wording, profound in meaning, an enchanting crescent of splendor and sweetness.
ورأَتْهُand saw him خديجةٌKhadija والتُّقَىand piety والand—
ورأَتْهُ خديجةٌ والتُّقَى وال
زُّهْدُasceticism فيهin him سجيَّةٌa disposition والحياءُand modesty
زُّهْدُ فيه سجيَّةٌ والحياءُ
Khadija saw him, with piety and
We saw in it perplexing wonders of virtue beyond the grasp of our minds.
asceticism his nature, and modesty too.
For limits cannot contain your essence, the said having an edge where meaning ends.
وأتاهاand reached her أنthat الغمامةَthe cloud والسرand great tree—
وأتاها أن الغمامةَ والسر
حَ—great tree أَظَلَّتْهُsheltered him منهماfrom both أفياءُshades
حَ أَظَلَّتْهُ منهما أفياءُ
She heard that the cloud and the great tree
Your excellence is measured only by time, confined to the moments we live.
had sheltered him with their shade.
My words cannot encompass the totality of your virtues. I do not aim to fully capture them.
وأحاديثand reports أنَّthat وَعْدَpromise رسولِMessenger الGod—
وأحاديث أنَّ وَعْدَ رسولِ ال
له—God بالبعثِof commissioning حانَbecame due منهof it الوفاءُfulfillment
له بالبعثِ حانَ منه الوفاءُ
And reports that the promise concerning God's Messenger
Merely sampling will quench my thirst, though only slightly, like a mouthful of flowers.
being commissioned was due for fulfillment.
Your speech provided guidance, though even the wisest scribes admit their inability to fully relay your knowledge.
فدَعَتْهُso she invited him إلىto الزواجِmarriage وماand how أَحْbeautiful—
فدَعَتْهُ إلى الزواجِ وما أَحْ
سَنَ—beautiful ماhow يبلغُattain المُنَىdesires الأَذكياءُthe intelligent
سَنَ ما يبلغُ المُنَى الأَذكياءُ
She invited him to marriage; how beautifully
Your signs astound mortals and immortals alike, so what can the eloquent say that would parallel them?
the intelligent attain their desires!
You brought the impossible to reality. Your words and deeds both miracles and guidance.
وأتاهُand came to him فيin بيتهاher house جَبْرَئيلٌGabriel
وأتاهُ في بيتها جَبْرَئيلٌ
ولِذيand for one possessing اللُّبِّdiscernment فيin الأُمورِaffairs ارْتياءُdeliberation
ولِذي اللُّبِّ في الأُمورِ ارْتياءُ
Gabriel came to him in her house;
Your nobility, character and justice, are beyond reproach or parallel.
the discerning deliberate upon affairs.
You are the ocean; all people merely drops. Every virtue in the world borrows from yours.
فأماطتso she removed عنهاfrom herself الخِمَارَthe veil لتَدْريto discover
فأماطت عنها الخِمَارَ لتَدْري
أهُوَis it الوحْيُrevelation أمor هوit الإِغماءُfainting
أهُوَ الوحْيُ أم هو الإِغماءُ
She removed her veil to discover
When your sun rose all shadows retreated, though they prove the sun's existence by their presence.
whether it was revelation or a fainting spell.
Were you veiled by clouds you would still be the sun, unobscured by any covering.
فاختفىso vanished عندupon كشفِهاher uncovering الرأْسَthe head جِبْريGabriel—
فاختفى عند كشفِها الرأْسَ جِبْري
لُ—Gabriel فماand not عادَreturned أوuntil أُعيدَwas restored الغِطاءُthe covering
لُ فما عادَ أو أُعيدَ الغِطاءُ
Gabriel vanished when she uncovered her head,
Your generosity humbled kings, your courage terrified warriors, your justice inspired subjects.
and returned only when the covering was restored.
You were unmoved by worldly riches, not even acknowledging any offerings received.
فاستبانتso recognized خديجةٌKhadija أنهthat he الكنْthe treasure—
فاستبانت خديجةٌ أنه الكنْ
زُ—treasure الذيwhich حَاوَلَتْهُshe sought والكِيميَاءُand alchemy
زُ الذي حَاوَلَتْهُ والكِيميَاءُ
Khadija recognized that he was the treasure
A sun of virtue whose expected clemency was proven, you are the sun, we merely its rays.
she had sought, and the alchemy.
You shone and all darkness was dispelled, establishing even shadows by your light.
ثمthen قامarose النبيُّthe Prophet يدعوcalling إلىto اللGod—
ثم قام النبيُّ يدعو إلى الل
هِ—God وفيand in الكُفرِunbelief نَجْدَةٌboldness وإباءُand defiance
هِ وفي الكُفرِ نَجْدَةٌ وإباءُ
Then the Prophet arose, calling to God,
Though you smile only slightly, even the blooming gardens' fragrance pales next to your breath.
while unbelief possessed boldness and defiance.
Neither breeze nor perfume equals your gentle humanity, which inspires devotion more sweetly than songs.
أُمَمَاًnations أُشرِبَتُwere imbued قلوبُهُمtheir hearts الكُفwith unbelief—
أُمَمَاً أُشرِبَتُ قلوبُهُم الكُف
رَ—unbelief فَدَاءُso disease الضَّلالِerror فيهمamong them عَيَاءُincurable
رَ فَدَاءُ الضَّلالِ فيهم عَيَاءُ
Nations whose hearts had imbibed unbelief—
Your laughter is but a soft smile, your rest but gentle slumber. It is as if only the light wind moves you.
their disease of error was incurable.
Nothing rivals your beauty but the breeze in gardens, serenading them with song.
ورأيناand we saw آياتِهhis signs فاهتدَيْنَاso we were guided
ورأينا آياتِه فاهتدَيْنَا
وإذاand when الحقُّtruth جاءcame زالَdisappeared المِراءُdisputation
وإذا الحقُّ جاء زالَ المِراءُ
We saw his signs and were guided;
You are the epitome of compassion, wisdom, dignity, piety, chastity, and modesty.
when truth arrives, disputation disappears.
Hardship never stripped you of patience, nor did joy entice you to frivolity.
رَبِّmy Lord إِنَّindeed الهُدىguidance هُداكYour guidance وَآياand Your signs—
رَبِّ إِنَّ الهُدى هُداك وَآيا
تُكَ—Your signs نورٌlight تَهْدِيYou guide بهاby them منwhom تشاءُYou will
تُكَ نورٌ تَهْدِي بها من تشاءُ
Lord, guidance is Your guidance, and Your signs
Your virtuous soul abhors evil thoughts, neither indecency nor vulgarity could tempt your noble heart.
are light by which You guide whom You will.
God's blessings upon you left worldly things valueless, neither craving riches nor pursuing them.
كمhow often رأَيْنَاwe saw ماwhat ليسnot يَعْقِلُreasons قدalready أُلْwas inspired—
كم رأَيْنَا ما ليس يَعْقِلُ قد أُلْ
هم—inspired ماwith what ليْسnot يُلْهَمُare inspired العُقلاءُthe reasoning
هم ما ليْس يُلْهَمُ العُقلاءُ
How often we saw the unreasoning inspired
An independent sovereign, though you sought not sovereignty, gave freely without conceit.
with what reasoning people were not granted!
Your every deed was beautiful, for when does a container improve upon its contents?
إذwhen أبىrefused الفيلُthe elephant ماwhat أتىundertook صاحبُmaster الفيthe elephant—
إذ أبى الفيلُ ما أتى صاحبُ الفي
لِ—elephant ولمand not ينفعِavailed الحِجاintelligence والذكاءُand cleverness
لِ ولم ينفعِ الحِجا والذكاءُ
The elephant refused what its master undertook,
You astounded listeners when recounting your merits, if only my repose had inclined toward them!
and neither intelligence nor cleverness availed.
O Father of Al-Qasim, whom I praise continually, lauding you is my vocation.
والجماداتُand inanimate things أفصحتspoke clearly بالذيof that which أُخwere silenced—
والجماداتُ أفصحت بالذي أُخ
رِسَ—silenced عنهabout it لأَحمدَconcerning Ahmad الفُصحاءُthe eloquent
رِسَ عنه لأَحمدَ الفُصحاءُ
Inanimate things spoke clearly of that concerning Ahmad
Through God-given knowledge you excel without need for a scribe, though its dictation is a blessing.
about which eloquent men were silenced.
The winds were harnessed to aid you, as if the very gale sat rested at your side.
ويْحَalas for قومٍa people جَفَواshunned نَبِيَّاًa prophet بأرضٍin a land
ويْحَ قومٍ جَفَوا نَبِيَّاً بأرضٍ
أَلِفَتْهُbefriended him ضِبَابُهاits lizards والظِّبَاءُand gazelles
أَلِفَتْهُ ضِبَابُها والظِّبَاءُ
Alas for people who shunned a prophet in a land
When ‘Ali’s eyes afflicted him, you bequeathed to him the sight of ‘Uqab, thereafter he saw through the eyes that hawk.
whose lizards and gazelles had befriended him!
And through two fragrant basil blooms, their sweetness imparted by she from whom you were inseparable.
وَسَلَوْهُand forgot him وَحَنَّand yearned جِذعٌa palm-trunk إِليهfor him
وَسَلَوْهُ وَحَنَّ جِذعٌ إِليه
وَقَلَوْهُand hated him وَوَدَّهٌand loved him الغُرَباءُthe strangers
وَقَلَوْهُ وَوَدَّهٌ الغُرَباءُ
They forgot him, while a palm-trunk yearned for him;
You sheltered them close to you, as the attached Alif embraces the dot placed above.
they hated him, while strangers loved him.
From two martyred masters, their tragedy at Karbala forgotten neither by time nor memory.
أخرَجوهthey expelled him منهاfrom it وآوَاهُand sheltered him غارٌa cave
أخرَجوه منها وآوَاهُ غارٌ
وَحَمَتْهُand protected him حَمامَةٌa dove وَرقاءُgray
وَحَمَتْهُ حَمامَةٌ وَرقاءُ
They drove him out; a cave sheltered him,
Regarding them your reigns were usurped, those you entrusted betraying your covenant.
and a gray dove protected him.
They substituted love and care with rancor and rejection, though masked with the guise of friendship.
وَكَفَتْهُand shielded him بِنَسْجِهاwith its weaving عنكبوتٌa spider
وَكَفَتْهُ بِنَسْجِها عنكبوتٌ
ماas كَفَتْهُshielded him الحمامةُthe dove الحَصْداءُthick-feathered
ما كَفَتْهُ الحمامةُ الحَصْداءُ
A spider, with its weaving, shielded him
Hardened hearts felt no sorrow seeing those who brought tears to earth and sky perish.
as the thick-feathered dove had shielded him.
Mourn them as long as you are able, though tears do little to sooth agonizing loss.
وَاختفىand was hidden منهمُfrom them علىdespite قُرْبٍnearness مَرْآhis appearance—
وَاختفى منهمُ على قُرْبٍ مَرْآ
هُ—his appearance ومنand from شِدَّةِintensity الظهورِvisibility الخَفَاءُconcealment
هُ ومن شِدَّةِ الظهورِ الخَفَاءُ
Though near, his appearance was hidden from them;
Each day and place is like Karbala to me, though sometimes time's passage lessens the heaviness of old sorrows.
extreme visibility can itself be concealment.
O Muhammmad’s family, I confess my heart is inconsolable regarding your sufferings.
وَنَحاand headed المصطفىthe Chosen One المدينةَMedina وَاشتاand yearned—
وَنَحا المصطفى المدينةَ وَاشتا
قتْ—yearned إليهfor him منof مكةَMecca الأَنحاءُthe regions
قتْ إليه من مكةَ الأَنحاءُ
The Chosen One headed toward Medina, while
Though I surrender all matters to God, placing my confidence in Him alone.
Mecca's regions longed for him.
Each day of Karbala lightens my burdened conscience, erasing some accumulated sins.
وَتغنّتْand sang بِمَدْحِهِhis praises الْجِنُّthe jinn حتَّىuntil
وَتغنّتْ بِمَدْحِهِ الْجِنُّ حتَّى
أطرَبَdelighted الإِنسَhumankind منهfrom it ذاكthat الغِناءُsinging
أطرَبَ الإِنسَ منه ذاك الغِناءُ
The jinn sang his praises until
As if the fallen oppressors were putrefying corpses, the pulsing veins of their tyranny decayed.
that singing delighted humankind.
O household of the Prophet, excellent was my eulogy to you, a lofty honor for me.
وَاقتفىand followed إثْرَهُhis track سُراقَةُSuraqa فاستَهْso drew down—
وَاقتفى إثْرَهُ سُراقَةُ فاستَهْ
وَتهُ—drew him down فيinto الأَرْضِthe earth صافنٌa poised horse جَرْداءُsleek
وَتهُ في الأَرْضِ صافنٌ جَرْداءُ
Suraqa followed his track; a poised, sleek mare
You perfected mankind through your piety while the rest were corrupted by immorality.
drew him down into the earth.
And your companions after you rightfully led the faithful, each excelling in their duties.
ثمthen ناداهُcalled him بعدَماafter سِيمَتِwere subjected to الخَسsinking—
ثم ناداهُ بعدَما سِيمَتِ الخَس
فَ—sinking العُلاlofty limbs وَقَدand may يُنْجِدُrescue الغريقَthe drowning النِّداءُa cry
فَ العُلا وَقَد يُنْجِدُ الغريقَ النِّداءُ
Then he called him, after its lofty limbs suffered
All were knowledgeable leaders and just rulers. Each succeeded in the responsibilities entrusted to them.
sinking; a cry may rescue the drowning.
They abstained from worldliness, neither greed nor craving tainted their hearts.
فطوىso traversed الأَرضَthe earth سائراtraveling وَالسمواand the heavens—
فطوى الأَرضَ سائرا وَالسموا
تِ—heavens العُلاlofty فوقَهاabove them لهfor him إِسراءُnight-journey
تِ العُلا فوقَها له إِسراءُ
He traversed the earth on his journey; above
They risked their lives at war, plundering the wealth of tyrants for the sake of the people.
the lofty heavens, his night-journey extended.
Each exercised independent judgement, always proper and balanced in their rulings.
فصِفِso describe الليلةَthe night التيwhich كانwas للمُخfor the Chosen One—
فصِفِ الليلةَ التي كان للمُخ
تارِ—Chosen One فيهاduring it علىupon البُراقِal-Buraq استواءُmounting
تارِ فيها على البُراقِ استواءُ
Describe the night when the Chosen One
God was pleased with them and they with Him, so who dares accuse them of misdeeds?
mounted al-Buraq,
Some upheld the truth and continued the mission, following the blessed Law.
وترقىand ascended بهupon it إلىto قابِdistance قَوْسَيْtwo bows—
وترقى به إلى قابِ قَوْسَيْ
نِ—two bows وَتِلكَand that السيادةُsovereignty القَعْساءُunshakable
نِ وَتِلكَ السيادةُ القَعْساءُ
and ascended upon it to two bow-lengths' distance—
Neither Moses nor Jesus had apostles that equaled their virtue or rank.
that is unshakable sovereignty.
Foremost among them was Abu Bakr, who after you was best suited to guide the nation.
رُتَبٌranks تَسْقُطfall الأَمانيُّaspirations حَسْرَىexhausted
رُتَبٌ تَسْقُط الأَمانيُّ حَسْرَى
دونَهاbefore them ماnot وراءهنbeyond them وَرَاءُa beyond
دونَها ما وراءهن وَرَاءُ
Ranks before which aspirations fall exhausted;
Al-Muhaddith rescued the faith at Saqifah when turmoil had erupted among the people.
beyond them there is no beyond.
He saved the religion after you, for through him God restored the Prophetic mission.
ثمthen وافَىreturned يحدِّثُtelling الناسَthe people شُكْرَاًin gratitude
ثم وافَى يحدِّثُ الناسَ شُكْرَاً
إذwhen أتتهcame to him منfrom ربِّهhis Lord النَّعْماءُblessings
إذ أتته من ربِّه النَّعْماءُ
Then he returned, telling people in gratitude,
He spent generously, exclusively to please you, neither counting the cost nor hesitating.
as blessings had come from his Lord.
The second was Abu Hafs, through whom God established the supremacy of the faith, subduing even the most stubborn.
وتَحَدَّىand challenged فارتابَso doubted كلُّevery مُريبٍdoubter
وتَحَدَّى فارتابَ كلُّ مُريبٍ
أَوَcan يَبْقَىremain معagainst السُّيُولِtorrents الغُثاءُfloating debris
أَوَ يَبْقَى مع السُّيُولِ الغُثاءُ
He challenged them, and every doubter doubted;
He who through his devotion to you became the closest of souls.
can floating debris remain against torrents?
‘Umar ibn Al-Khattab, the arbiter whose judgments were balanced and fair.
وَهْوَand he يدعوcalls إلىto الإِلهِGod وَإنalthough شقburdened—
وَهْوَ يدعو إلى الإِلهِ وَإن شق
قَ—burdened عليهhim كفرٌdisbelief بهin him وَازدِراءُand contempt
قَ عليه كفرٌ به وَازدِراءُ
He called to God, though
Satan fled in terror from his intense worship, the heat of which kindled the fires of Hell.
their disbelief and contempt burdened him.
He dug the well and led the Army, offering sacrifice though obstructed by enemies.
وَيَدُلُّand directs الورَىcreation علىtoward اللَّهِGod بالتَّوْthrough divine unity—
وَيَدُلُّ الورَى على اللَّهِ بالتَّوْ
حيدِ—divine unity وَهْوَand it المَحَجَّةُthe highway البَيْضاءُwhite
حيدِ وَهْوَ المَحَجَّةُ البَيْضاءُ
He directed creation toward God through divine unity,
He refused to circumambulate until you yourself had come, since the House was not yet open to others.
the clear, white highway.
So your hand, extended to him in covenant, sufficed as you blessed his inauguration.
فَبِمَاso through رحمةٍmercy مِنَfrom اللَّهِGod لانَتْsoftened
فَبِمَا رحمةٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ لانَتْ
صَخْرةٌa rock مِنْof إبائِهمtheir defiance صَمَّاءُdeaf
صَخْرةٌ مِنْ إبائِهم صَمَّاءُ
Through mercy from God, there softened
In his presence, good manners were refined through reserve, discretion being the way of the virtuous.
the deaf rock of their defiance.
And ‘Ali, the bosom friend whose love fills my heart, the object of my utmost devotion.
وَاستجابَتْand answered لهhim بنصرٍwith victory وَفَتْحٍand conquest
وَاستجابَتْ له بنصرٍ وَفَتْحٍ
بعدafter ذاكَthat الخضراءheaven والغبراءُand earth
بعد ذاكَ الخضراء والغبراءُ
Then heaven and earth answered him
Your vizier and cousin, the most honorable companionship for a ruler.
with victory and conquest.
Revelation augmented neither his faith nor certainty, for he was the sun unobscured by clouds.
وَأَطاعَتْand obeyed لأَمْرِهِhis command العَرَبُthe Arabs العَرْpure—
وَأَطاعَتْ لأَمْرِهِ العَرَبُ العَرْ
باء—pure وَالْجَاهِلِيَّةُand paganism الْجَهْلاءُignorant
باء وَالْجَاهِلِيَّةُ الْجَهْلاءُ
The pure Arabs obeyed his command,
And to your other Companions—those pillars manifesting your wisdom through their order and ranks,
and ignorant paganism itself.
Talhah, your close friend on the day when other brothers-in-arms retreated,
وَتَوالَتْand followed repeatedly للمصطفىfor the Chosen One الآيةُthe sign الكبْsupreme—
وَتَوالَتْ للمصطفى الآيةُ الكبْ
رَى—supreme عليهمْupon them وَالغارةُand the raid الشَّعْواءُsweeping
رَى عليهمْ وَالغارةُ الشَّعْواءُ
For the Chosen One, the supreme sign followed
Al-Zubayr, Abu al-Qarim, who fathered the most honorable mothers of believers,
upon them, and the sweeping raid.
The two loyal friends Sa‘d and Sa‘id, equal in their outstanding merit,
فإذاso whenever ماindeed تلاrecited كتاباa Book منfrom اللGod—
فإذا ما تلا كتابا من الل
هِ—God تَلَتْهُfollowed him كَتِيبَةٌa battalion خضراءُarmor-darkened
هِ تَلَتْهُ كَتِيبَةٌ خضراءُ
Whenever he recited a Book from God,
Ibn ‘Awf, who thought nothing of wealth, freely spending it to enrich others,
an armor-darkened battalion followed him.
Abu ‘Ubaydah, who embodied trust more than any other trustee.
وَكفاهُand spared him المستهزئينَthe mockers وَكمand how often ساgrieved—
وَكفاهُ المستهزئينَ وَكم سا
ءَ—grieved نبِيَّاًa prophet منfrom قومِهhis people استهزاءُmockery
ءَ نبِيَّاً من قومِه استهزاءُ
He protected him from the mockers; how often
And your uncle, the Lamp of Guidance, the object of my love and loyalty.
his people's mockery has grieved a prophet!
And the Mother of the Two Grandsons, the wife of ‘Ali and her sons included in the Family.
وَرَماهمand struck them بِدَعْوَةٍwith a supplication منfrom فِناءِcourtyard الthe—
وَرَماهم بِدَعْوَةٍ من فِناءِ ال
بَيتِHouse فيهَاin it للظالمينfor the unjust فَنَاءُdestruction
بَيتِ فيهَا للظالمين فَنَاءُ
He struck them with a supplication from the House's courtyard,
And your wives, those eminent women enveloped under your protection.
containing destruction for the unjust.
I implore security—my heart has strayed from them at times because of desires.
خمسةٌfive كُلُّهمall of them أُصيبواwere afflicted بداءٍwith disease
خمسةٌ كُلُّهم أُصيبوا بداءٍ
والرَّدَىand death منamong جنودِهِits soldiers الأَدوَاءُdiseases
والرَّدَى من جنودِهِ الأَدوَاءُ
Five, all afflicted with disease;
But for the rope of love for you I grasp, my intercessor on Judgment Day.
diseases are soldiers of death.
God protected me by grace, so I faced no adversity due to my devotion.
فدَهَىso struck الأَسودَal-Aswad بنَson مُطَّلِبٍMuttalib أَيwhat—
فدَهَى الأَسودَ بنَ مُطَّلِبٍ أَي
يُ—what عمىًblindness مَيِّتٌdead بهthrough it الأَحياءُthe living
يُ عمىً مَيِّتٌ به الأَحياءُ
Al-Aswad ibn Muttalib was struck by what
I hope in you for matters that my burning heart wishes resolved,
blindness leaves the living dead!
Approaching with the poverty of a beggar, whom your wealth enriches generously.
وَدَهَىand struck الأَسودَal-Aswad بنَson عبدِAbd يغوثٍYaghuth
وَدَهَى الأَسودَ بنَ عبدِ يغوثٍ
أنthat سَقَاهُgave him كأسَcup الرَّدَىdeath اسْتِسْقَاءُdropsy
أن سَقَاهُ كأسَ الرَّدَى اسْتِسْقَاءُ
Al-Aswad ibn Abd Yaghuth was struck
Sorrows concealed in my heart emerge toward your meadows, hoping for respite.
when dropsy gave him death's cup.
Aid me, O source of aid and comfort, when anguish afflicts creation!
وأَصابَand afflicted الوليدَal-Walid خَدْشَةُscratch سَهْمٍan arrow
وأَصابَ الوليدَ خَدْشَةُ سَهْمٍ
قَصَّرَتْfell short عنهاof it الْحَيَّةُthe snake الرَّقْطاءُspotted
قَصَّرَتْ عنها الْحَيَّةُ الرَّقْطاءُ
Al-Walid was afflicted by an arrow's scratch,
O Most Merciful to the faithful, when even mothers neglect their sons!
whose harm surpassed the spotted snake's.
O intercessor for sinners, when even the innocent fear their reckoning!
وَقَضَتْand ended شَوْكَةٌa thorn علىupon مَهْجَةِlife العاal-Asi—
وَقَضَتْ شَوْكَةٌ على مَهْجَةِ العا
صِي—al-Asi فللّهِso God's النَّقْمَةvengeance الشَّوْكاءُthorn-sharp
صِي فللّهِ النَّقْمَة الشَّوْكاءُ
A thorn ended al-Asi's life;
Forgive this disobedient soul, though among your servants I am most lowly.
God's was that thorn-sharp vengeance!
Veil my transgressions through Your grace, pretending not to see my insolence.
وَعَلاand overwhelmed الحارثَal-Harith القُيُوحُpus وَقدand indeed ساflowed—
وَعَلا الحارثَ القُيُوحُ وَقد سا
لَ—flowed بِهاwith it رأسُهhis head وَساءand evil was الوِعاءُthe vessel
لَ بِها رأسُه وَساء الوِعاءُ
Pus overwhelmed al-Harith; his head
Save one whom misdeeds have bound, invoking pardon or mercy through prayer.
flowed with it—an evil vessel.
Hoping his evil deeds, by God's forgiveness, disappear like dust in the wind.
خمسةٌfive طُهِّرَتْwas purified بِقَطْعِهِمby removing them الأَرthe earth—
خمسةٌ طُهِّرَتْ بِقَطْعِهِم الأَر
ضُ—earth فَكَفُّso hand الأَذىharm بهمthrough them شَلَّاءُparalyzed
ضُ فَكَفُّ الأَذى بهم شَلَّاءُ
Five whose removal purified the earth;
Or that his sins, by Your clemency, are changed into good deeds—dramatic wonders!
through them, harm's hand was paralyzed.
Every matter involving You overturns reason, perplexing the learned and the sage.
فُدِيَتْwere redeemed خمسةُfive الصَّحيفةِthe document بالخَمby the five—
فُدِيَتْ خمسةُ الصَّحيفةِ بالخَم
سةِ—five إنif كانthere was بالكرامfor the noble فِدَاءُredemption
سةِ إن كان بالكرام فِدَاءُ
The five of the document were redeemed by those five,
What startling changes emerge when oceans turn sweet, or barren land blooms green!
if noble people may be redeemed.
I despair of my accumulated wrongs—how can one thousand major sins be erased?
فِتْيَةٌyoung men بَيَّتُواplotted overnight علىfor فِعلِdoing خَيْرٍgood
فِتْيَةٌ بَيَّتُوا على فِعلِ خَيْرٍ
حَمِدpraised الصبحُthe morning أمرَهمtheir undertaking وَالمَساءُand evening
حَمِد الصبحُ أمرَهم وَالمَساءُ
Young men who plotted a good deed overnight,
I seek sincere repentance, though hypocrisy festers in my heart and insincerity stains my tongue.
whose undertaking morning and evening praised.
When will my heart be sound, as my body bends from the weight of
يَاO لأَمرwhat a deed أَتاهُundertook it بعدَafter هِشامٍHisham
يَا لأَمر أَتاهُ بعدَ هِشامٍ
زَمْعَةٌZam'a إنهindeed he الفتَىthe young man الأَتَّاءُactive
زَمْعَةٌ إنه الفتَى الأَتَّاءُ
What a deed, undertaken after Hisham by
Zam'a—truly a man of action!
وَزُهَيْرٌand Zuhayr وَالْمُطْعِمُand al-Mut'im بنُson عَدِيٍّAdi
وَزُهَيْرٌ وَالْمُطْعِمُ بنُ عَدِيٍّ
وَأبوand Abu البَخْتَرِيِّal-Bakhtari مِنْfrom حيثwhere شاؤواthey wished
وَأبو البَخْتَرِيِّ مِنْ حيث شاؤوا
And Zuhayr, and al-Mut'im ibn Adi,
and Abu al-Bakhtari, as they wished.
نَقَضُواthey undid مُبْرَمَbinding resolve الصَّحيفةِthe document إذwhen شدtightened—
نَقَضُوا مُبْرَمَ الصَّحيفةِ إذ شد
دَت—tightened عليهمagainst them منof العِداthe enemies الأَنداءُthe councils
دَت عليهم من العِدا الأَنداءُ
They undid the document's binding resolve, when
the enemies' councils tightened it against them.
أذْكَرَتْنَاreminded us بِأَكْلِهَاby devouring it أكلَdevouring مِنْسَاstaff—
أذْكَرَتْنَا بِأَكْلِهَا أكلَ مِنْسَا
ةِ—staff سُلَيْمانَSolomon الأَرْضَةُthe termite الخَرساءُmute
ةِ سُلَيْمانَ الأَرْضَةُ الخَرساءُ
The mute termite, by devouring it, reminded us
of its devouring Solomon's staff.
وَبهَاand of it أخبَرtold النبيُّthe Prophet وكمand how often أخbrought forth—
وَبهَا أخبَر النبيُّ وكم أخ
رَجَ—brought forth خَبْئاًsomething hidden لهfor it الغُيُوبُthe unseen خِبَاءُa hiding-place
رَجَ خَبْئاً له الغُيُوبُ خِبَاءُ
The Prophet told of it; how often he brought forth
something hidden, with the unseen its hiding-place!
لاdo not تَخَلْsuppose جانِبَcause النبيِّthe Prophet مُضَاماًhumiliated
لا تَخَلْ جانِبَ النبيِّ مُضَاماً
حينَwhen مَسَّتْهُtouched him منهمُfrom them الأَسْواءُinjuries
حينَ مَسَّتْهُ منهمُ الأَسْواءُ
Do not suppose the Prophet's cause humiliated
when their injuries touched him.
كلُّevery أمرٍaffair نَابَbefell النبيِّينَthe prophets فالشدso hardship—
كلُّ أمرٍ نَابَ النبيِّينَ فالشد
دَةُ—hardship فيهin it محمودةٌpraiseworthy وَالرّخاءُand ease
دَةُ فيه محمودةٌ وَالرّخاءُ
In everything that befell the prophets, hardship
and ease alike are praiseworthy.
لوif يَمسُّtouched النُّضَارَgold هُونٌdegradation مِنَfrom الناfire—
لو يَمسُّ النُّضَارَ هُونٌ مِنَ النا
رِ—fire لماnot then اختيرَwould be chosen للنُّضَارِfor gold الصِّلاءُfiring
رِ لما اختيرَ للنُّضَارِ الصِّلاءُ
If fire brought degradation upon gold,
firing would not be chosen for gold.
كمhow many يَدٍa hand عنfrom نَبِيِّهِHis Prophet كَفَّهَاrestrained it اللGod—
كم يَدٍ عن نَبِيِّهِ كَفَّهَا الل
هُ—God وَفيand among الخَلْقِpeople كَثْرَةٌmultitude وَاجتراءُand audacity
هُ وَفي الخَلْقِ كَثْرَةٌ وَاجتراءُ
How many hands God restrained from His Prophet,
though people were numerous and audacious!
إذwhen دعاcalled وَحْدَهُalone العبادَthe servants وَأَمْسَتْand became
إذ دعا وَحْدَهُ العبادَ وَأَمْسَتْ
مِنهfrom him فيin كلِّevery مُقلَةٍeye أَقْذاءُmotes
مِنه في كلِّ مُقلَةٍ أَقْذاءُ
When he alone called the servants,
he became a mote in every eye.
هَمَّplanned قومٌa people بِقَتْلِهِto kill him فأَبىbut refused السَّيْthe sword—
هَمَّ قومٌ بِقَتْلِهِ فأَبى السَّيْ
فُ—sword وَفاءًout of fidelity وَفاءتِand yielded الصَّفْواءُthe hard rock
فُ وَفاءً وَفاءتِ الصَّفْواءُ
People planned to kill him, but the sword refused
out of fidelity, and the hard rock yielded.
وَأبوand Abu جهلٍJahl إذwhen رأىsaw عُنُقَneck الفحthe stallion-camel—
وَأبو جهلٍ إذ رأى عُنُقَ الفح
لِ—stallion-camel إليهtoward him كأنهas though it العنقَاءُthe Anqa
لِ إليه كأنه العنقَاءُ
And Abu Jahl, when he saw a stallion-camel's neck
approaching him, like the Anqa.
وَاقتضَاهُand demanded from him النبيُّthe Prophet دَيْنُdebt الإِراشيthe Irashi—
وَاقتضَاهُ النبيُّ دَيْنُ الإِراشي
يِ—Irashi وَقدand already سَاءwent badly بيعُهُhis sale وَالشِّرَاءُand purchase
يِ وَقد سَاء بيعُهُ وَالشِّرَاءُ
The Prophet demanded from him the Irashi's debt,
whose sale and purchase had gone badly.
وَرأىand saw المصطفىthe Chosen One أَتَاهُbrought him بماwhat لَمْnot
وَرأى المصطفى أَتَاهُ بما لَمْ
يُنْجِsaved منهfrom it دونَwithout الوفاءrepayment النَّجَاءُescape
يُنْجِ منه دونَ الوفاء النَّجَاءُ
He saw the Chosen One bring what
no escape could avert except repayment.
هوَit ماwhat قدindeed رآهُhe saw مِنfrom قبلُbefore لكنْbut
هوَ ما قد رآهُ مِن قبلُ لكنْ
ماnot عَلَىagainst مِثْلِهِhis like يُعَدُّis counted الخَطَاءُerror
ما عَلَى مِثْلِهِ يُعَدُّ الخَطَاءُ
It was what he had seen before; yet
errors are not counted against one like him.
وَأَعَدَّتْand prepared حَمَّالَةُcarrier الحَطَبِfirewood الفِهthe stone—
وَأَعَدَّتْ حَمَّالَةُ الحَطَبِ الفِه
رَ—stone وَجَاءَتْand came كأَنهاas though she الوَرْقاءُthe gray dove
رَ وَجَاءَتْ كأَنها الوَرْقاءُ
The firewood-carrier prepared a stone,
and came like a gray dove.
يومَthe day جاءَتshe came غَضْبَىangry تقولُsaying أفيagainst مِثmy like—
يومَ جاءَت غَضْبَى تقولُ أفي مِث
لِيَ—my like مِنْfrom أحمدٍAhmad يُقالُis spoken الهِجَاءُsatire
لِيَ مِنْ أحمدٍ يُقالُ الهِجَاءُ
She came angrily, saying, 'Is someone like me
to be satirized by Ahmad?'
وَتَولَّتْand turned away وَمَاand not رأتهsaw him وَمِنْand from أَيْwhere—
وَتَولَّتْ وَمَا رأته وَمِنْ أَيْ
نَ—where تَرَىsees الشمسَthe sun مُقْلَةٌan eye عمياءُblind
نَ تَرَى الشمسَ مُقْلَةٌ عمياءُ
She turned away without seeing him; how
could a blind eye see the sun?
ثمthen سَمّتْpoisoned لهfor him اليهوديَّةُthe Jewish woman الشَاthe sheep—
ثم سَمّتْ له اليهوديَّةُ الشَا
ةَ—sheep وَكمand how often سَامَsought الشِّقْوَةَwretchedness الأَشقِيَاءُthe wretched
ةَ وَكم سَامَ الشِّقْوَةَ الأَشقِيَاءُ
Then the Jewish woman poisoned a sheep for him;
how often the wretched seek wretchedness!
فأَذاعَso disclosed الذِّراعُthe foreleg مَاwhat فيهwithin it مَنof شرevil—
فأَذاعَ الذِّراعُ مَا فيه مَن شر
رٍ—evil بِنُطْقٍby speaking إخفاؤُهُits concealment إبداءُdisclosure
رٍ بِنُطْقٍ إخفاؤُهُ إبداءُ
The foreleg disclosed the evil within it,
speaking so that its concealment became disclosure.
وَبِخُلقٍand through a quality مِنَof النبيِّthe Prophet كريمٍnoble
وَبِخُلقٍ مِنَ النبيِّ كريمٍ
لَمْnot تُقَاصَصْwas punished بِجرحهَاfor its injury العَجْماءُthe speechless beast
لَمْ تُقَاصَصْ بِجرحهَا العَجْماءُ
Through a noble quality of the Prophet,
the speechless beast was not punished for its injury.
مَنَّfavored فَضْلاًgraciously عَلَىupon هَوَازِنَHawazin إذْwhen كاwas—
مَنَّ فَضْلاً عَلَى هَوَازِنَ إذْ كا
نَ—was لهfor him قبلَbefore ذَاكَthat فيهِمِamong them رِبَاءُupbringing
نَ له قبلَ ذَاكَ فيهِمِ رِبَاءُ
He graciously favored Hawazin, where
he had previously been reared.
وَأتىand came السَّبيُthe captives فيهamong them أُختُa sister رَضَاعٍfosterage
وَأتى السَّبيُ فيه أُختُ رَضَاعٍ
وَضَعَlowered الكُفْرُunbelief قَدْرَهَاher standing وَالسِّبَاءُand captivity
وَضَعَ الكُفْرُ قَدْرَهَا وَالسِّبَاءُ
Among the captives came a foster-sister,
whose standing unbelief and captivity had lowered.
فَحَبَاهَاso bestowed upon her بِرّاًkindness تَوَهَّمَتِimagined النَّاthe people—
فَحَبَاهَا بِرّاً تَوَهَّمَتِ النَّا
سُ—people بهthrough it أنَّماthat only السِّبَاءcaptivity هِداءُa gift
سُ به أنَّما السِّبَاء هِداءُ
He bestowed such kindness upon her that people
thought captivity itself a gift.
بَسَطَspread المصطفىthe Chosen One لهاfor her مِنof رِداءٍa cloak
بَسَطَ المصطفى لها مِن رِداءٍ
أيُّwhat فضلexcellence حَوَاهُcontained it ذاكَthat الرِّداءُcloak
أيُّ فضل حَوَاهُ ذاكَ الرِّداءُ
The Chosen One spread a cloak for her;
what excellence that cloak contained!
فَغَدَتْso became فيهwithin it وَهْيَand she سيِّدةُmistress النِّسْthe women—
فَغَدَتْ فيه وَهْيَ سيِّدةُ النِّسْ
وَةِ—women وَالسيِّدَاتُand mistresses فيهwithin it إمَاءُhandmaids
وَةِ وَالسيِّدَاتُ فيه إمَاءُ
Within it she became the mistress of women,
and mistresses within it were handmaids.
فتَنَزَّهْso delight فيin ذاتِهhis person وَمَعَانيهِand his qualities
فتَنَزَّهْ في ذاتِه وَمَعَانيهِ
استماعاًby listening إنْif عَزَّwas impossible مِنهَاof them اجتِلاءُbeholding
استماعاً إنْ عَزَّ مِنهَا اجتِلاءُ
Delight in his person and his qualities
by listening, if seeing them is impossible.
وَاملأand fill السّمْعَhearing مِنwith محَاسِنَbeauties يُمْلِيdictates—
وَاملأ السّمْعَ مِن محَاسِنَ يُمْلِي
هَا—dictates them عليكto you الإنشَادُrecitation وَالإِنْشَاءُand composition
هَا عليك الإنشَادُ وَالإِنْشَاءُ
Fill your hearing with beauties dictated
to you by recitation and composition.
كلُّevery وَصْفٍdescription لهof him ابْتَدَأتَyou began بهwith it استَوْencompassed—
كلُّ وَصْفٍ له ابْتَدَأتَ به استَوْ
عَبَ—encompassed أخبَارَaccounts الفضلِexcellence مِنهfrom him ابتداءُa beginning
عَبَ أخبَارَ الفضلِ مِنه ابتداءُ
Whatever description of him you begin with,
its beginning encompasses accounts of his excellence.
سَيِّدٌa master ضِحْكُهُhis laughter التَّبَسُّمُsmiling وَالْمَشand walking—
سَيِّدٌ ضِحْكُهُ التَّبَسُّمُ وَالْمَش
يُ—walking الهَوَيْنَاgentle وَنَومُهُand his sleep الإِغفاءُlight slumber
يُ الهَوَيْنَا وَنَومُهُ الإِغفاءُ
A master whose laughter is smiling, whose walking
is gentle, and whose sleep is light slumber.
مَاnot سِوَىother than خُلْقِهِhis character النسيمُthe breeze وَلاnor غَيْother—
مَا سِوَى خُلْقِهِ النسيمُ وَلا غَيْ
رَ—other مُحَيَّاهُhis face الرَّوْضَةُthe garden الغَنَّاءُluxuriant
رَ مُحَيَّاهُ الرَّوْضَةُ الغَنَّاءُ
The breeze is nothing but his character,
the luxuriant garden nothing but his face.
رحمةٌmercy كلُّهُall of him وَحَزْمٌand firmness وَعَزْمٌand resolve
رحمةٌ كلُّهُ وَحَزْمٌ وَعَزْمٌ
وَوَقَارٌand dignity وَعِصْمَةٌand sinlessness وَحَيَاءُand modesty
وَوَقَارٌ وَعِصْمَةٌ وَحَيَاءُ
He is entirely mercy, firmness, and resolve,
dignity, protection from sin, and modesty.
لاnot تَحُلُّloosens البأْسَاءadversity مِنهin him عُرَاbonds الصَّبْpatience—
لا تَحُلُّ البأْسَاء مِنه عُرَا الصَّبْ
رِ—patience وَلاnor تَسْتَخِفُّهُmakes him frivolous السَّرَّاءُprosperity
رِ وَلا تَسْتَخِفُّهُ السَّرَّاءُ
Adversity does not loosen his bonds of patience,
nor does prosperity make him frivolous.
كَرُمَتْbecame noble نَفْسُهُhis soul فماso not يخْطُرُoccurs السُّوevil—
كَرُمَتْ نَفْسُهُ فما يخْطُرُ السُّو
ء—evil عَلَىupon قَلْبِهِhis heart وَلاnor الفحشَاءُobscenity
ء عَلَى قَلْبِهِ وَلا الفحشَاءُ
His soul is noble; evil never occurs
to his heart, nor obscenity.
عَظُمَتْbecame immense نِعْمَةُfavor الإِلهGod عليهupon him
عَظُمَتْ نِعْمَةُ الإِله عليه
فاستَقَلَّتْso seemed small لِذِكْرِهِbeside his mention العُظَمَاءُthe great
فاستَقَلَّتْ لِذِكْرِهِ العُظَمَاءُ
God's favor upon him became immense,
and the great seemed small beside his mention.
جَهِلَتْbehaved ignorantly قومُهُhis people عليهtoward him فأَغْضَىso overlooked
جَهِلَتْ قومُهُ عليه فأَغْضَى
وَأخوand possessor الحِلْمforbearance دَأبُهُhis habit الإِغْضَاءُoverlooking
وَأخو الحِلْم دَأبُهُ الإِغْضَاءُ
His people behaved ignorantly toward him; he overlooked it.
The forbearing habitually overlook offenses.
وَسِعَencompassed العَالَمِينthe worlds عِلْمَاًin knowledge وَحِلْمَاًand forbearance
وَسِعَ العَالَمِين عِلْمَاً وَحِلْمَاً
فهْوَso he بحرٌa sea لمnot تُعْيِهِwearied him الأَعبَاءُburdens
فهْوَ بحرٌ لم تُعْيِهِ الأَعبَاءُ
His knowledge and forbearance encompassed the worlds;
he is a sea unwearied by burdens.
مُسْتَقِلٌّconsidering slight دُنْيَاكَyour world أنthat يُنْسَبَbe attributed الإِمwithholding—
مُسْتَقِلٌّ دُنْيَاكَ أن يُنْسَبَ الإِم
ساكُ—withholding منهاfrom it إليهto him والإِعطاءُand giving
ساكُ منها إليه والإِعطاءُ
He considers your world too slight for its withholding
or giving to be attributed to him.
شمسُsun فضلٍexcellence تَحَقَّقَwas confirmed الظنُّthe belief فيهabout him
شمسُ فضلٍ تَحَقَّقَ الظنُّ فيه
أنهthat he الشمسُthe sun رِفْعَةًin elevation والضِّياءُand radiance
أنه الشمسُ رِفْعَةً والضِّياءُ
A sun of excellence, confirming the belief
that he is the sun in elevation and radiance.
فإذاso when ماindeed ضحاappeared محاerased نورُهhis light الظِّلshadow—
فإذا ما ضحا محا نورُه الظِّل
لَ—shadow وقدthough أثْبَتَestablished الظِّلالَshadows الضَّحَاءُdaylight
لَ وقد أثْبَتَ الظِّلالَ الضَّحَاءُ
When he appears, his light erases shadow,
though daylight ordinarily establishes shadows.
فكأنَّso as though الغمامةَthe cloud استَوْدَعَتْهُentrusted to him
فكأنَّ الغمامةَ استَوْدَعَتْهُ
مَنْthose أظَلَّتْit shaded مَنْfrom ظِلِّهِhis shadow الدُّفَفَاءُshelter-seekers
مَنْ أظَلَّتْ مَنْ ظِلِّهِ الدُّفَفَاءُ
As though the cloud entrusted to him
those it shaded, sheltered beneath his shadow.
خَفِيَتْdisappeared عِنْدَهُbeside him الفضائلُvirtues وانجاand departed—
خَفِيَتْ عِنْدَهُ الفضائلُ وانجا
بَتْ—departed بهthrough him عنfrom عقولِنَاour minds الأهواءُpassions
بَتْ به عن عقولِنَا الأهواءُ
Beside him, other virtues disappear, and
through him passions leave our minds.
أمَعَalongside الصُّبحِthe dawn للنجومِfor stars تَجَلٍّshining
أمَعَ الصُّبحِ للنجومِ تَجَلٍّ
أمْor معwith الشمسِthe sun للظلامِfor darkness بَقاءُremaining
أمْ مع الشمسِ للظلامِ بَقاءُ
Can stars shine beside the dawn?
Can darkness remain beside the sun?
مُعجزُmiraculous القَوْلِspeech والفِعَالِand deeds كريمُnoble الthe—
مُعجزُ القَوْلِ والفِعَالِ كريمُ ال
خلقِappearance وَالخُلْقِand character مُقْسِطٌjust مِعْطاءُlavishly generous
خلقِ وَالخُلْقِ مُقْسِطٌ مِعْطاءُ
Miraculous in speech and deeds, noble in appearance
and character, just and lavishly generous.
لاdo not تَقِسْcompare بالنبيِّwith the Prophet فيin الفضلexcellence خَلْقَاًa creature
لا تَقِسْ بالنبيِّ في الفضل خَلْقَاً
فهوfor he البحرthe sea والأنامُand humanity إضاءُpools
فهو البحر والأنامُ إضاءُ
Compare no creature with the Prophet in excellence;
he is the sea, and humanity mere pools.
كلُّevery فضلexcellence فيin العالَمينthe worlds فمنso from فَضexcellence—
كلُّ فضل في العالَمين فمن فَض
لِ—excellence النبيِّthe Prophet استعارَهُborrowed it الفُضَلاءُthe excellent
لِ النبيِّ استعارَهُ الفُضَلاءُ
Every excellence in the worlds is borrowed
by the excellent from the Prophet's excellence.
شُقَّwas opened عَنْover صَدْرِهِhis breast وشُقَّand was split لَهُfor him البَدْthe full moon—
شُقَّ عَنْ صَدْرِهِ وشُقَّ لَهُ البَدْ
رُ—full moon وَمِنْand among شَرْطِcondition كلِّevery شَرْطٍincision جَزاءُrecompense
رُ وَمِنْ شَرْطِ كلِّ شَرْطٍ جَزاءُ
His breast was opened, and the full moon split for him;
every incision has its answering reward.
ورَمَىand threw بالحَصَىpebbles فأَقْصَدَso struck down جَيشاًan army
ورَمَى بالحَصَى فأَقْصَدَ جَيشاً
ماwhat العَصَاthe staff عِنْدَهbeside him وَمَاand what الإِلقاءُthe casting
ما العَصَا عِنْدَه وَمَا الإِلقاءُ
He threw pebbles and struck down an army;
what are the staff and its casting beside him?
ودعاand prayed للأنامِfor mankind إذwhen دَهَمَتْهُمovertook them
ودعا للأنامِ إذ دَهَمَتْهُم
سَنَةٌa year مِنْfrom مُحولِهاits drought شَهْباءُgray
سَنَةٌ مِنْ مُحولِها شَهْباءُ
He prayed for mankind when they were overtaken
by a year made gray by drought.
فاسْتَهَلّتْso poured بالغَيْثِrain سَبْعَةَseven أَيَّاdays—
فاسْتَهَلّتْ بالغَيْثِ سَبْعَةَ أَيَّا
مٍ—days عليهمupon them سحابةٌa cloud وَطْفاءُheavy
مٍ عليهم سحابةٌ وَطْفاءُ
A heavy cloud poured rain for seven days
upon them.
تَتَحَرّىseeks out مَواضِعَplaces الرَّعْيِpasture وَالسَّقْand watering—
تَتَحَرّى مَواضِعَ الرَّعْيِ وَالسَّقْ
يِ—watering وحيثand where العِطاشُthe thirsty تُوهَىempty السِّقاءُwaterskins
يِ وحيث العِطاشُ تُوهَى السِّقاءُ
Seeking out places of pasture and watering,
where thirsty people emptied their waterskins.
وأتىand came الناسُthe people يَشْتَكُونَcomplaining أذاهاits harm
وأتى الناسُ يَشْتَكُونَ أذاها
وَرَخَاءٌand abundance يُؤْذِيharming الأنامmankind غلاءُdearth
وَرَخَاءٌ يُؤْذِي الأنام غلاءُ
People came complaining of its harm;
abundance that harms mankind is dearth.
فدعاso prayed فانجلىthen cleared الغمامthe clouds فقلتso I said فيin
فدعا فانجلى الغمام فقلت في
وصفdescription غيثrain إِقْلاعَهits cessation استسقاءُa rain-request
وصف غيث إِقْلاعَه استسقاءُ
He prayed; the clouds cleared, and I spoke
of rain whose cessation was sought as rain is.
ثمthen أَثْرىgrew rich الثَّرَىthe soil فقرَّتْso rejoiced عُيونٌeyes
ثم أَثْرى الثَّرَى فقرَّتْ عُيونٌ
بقُراهَاin its bounty وَأُحْيِيَتْand were revived أَحْيَاءُliving communities
بقُراهَا وَأُحْيِيَتْ أَحْيَاءُ
Then the soil grew rich, eyes rejoiced
in its bounty, and living communities revived.
فترىso you see الأرضَthe earth غِبَّهُafter it كسماءٍlike a sky
فترى الأرضَ غِبَّهُ كسماءٍ
أشْرَقَتْwas illuminated مِنْby نُجومِهَاits stars الظَّلْمَاءُdarkness
أشْرَقَتْ مِنْ نُجومِهَا الظَّلْمَاءُ
Afterward you see the earth like a sky
whose darkness is brightened by its stars.
تُخْجِلُput to shame الدُّرَّpearls واليواقيتَand rubies منof نَوْblossoms—
تُخْجِلُ الدُّرَّ واليواقيتَ من نَوْ
رِ—blossoms رُباهاits hills البَيْضَاءُwhite والحَمراءُand red
رِ رُباها البَيْضَاءُ والحَمراءُ
The white and red blossoms of its hills
put pearls and rubies to shame.
لَيْتَهُwould that he خَصَّنِيfavored me بِرُؤْيَةِwith seeing وَجْهٍa face
لَيْتَهُ خَصَّنِي بِرُؤْيَةِ وَجْهٍ
زَالَvanished عنfrom كلِّeveryone منwho رآهsaw it الشّقاءُmisery
زَالَ عن كلِّ من رآه الشّقاءُ
Would that he favored me with seeing a face
that banished misery from everyone who saw it!
مُسْفِرٌradiant يَلْتَقِيmeets الكَتِيبَةَthe battalion بَسَّاsmiling—
مُسْفِرٌ يَلْتَقِي الكَتِيبَةَ بَسَّا
ماً—smiling إذاwhen أسْهَمَmade wan الوُجُوهَthe faces اللِّقاءُbattle
ماً إذا أسْهَمَ الوُجُوهَ اللِّقاءُ
Radiant, meeting the battalion smiling,
when battle makes faces wan.
جُعِلَتْwas made مَسْجِدَاًa mosque لهfor him الأرضُthe earth فاهْتزso quivered—
جُعِلَتْ مَسْجِدَاً له الأرضُ فاهْتز
زَ—quivered بهat him للصلاةِfor prayer فيهاupon it حِرَاءُHira
زَ به للصلاةِ فيها حِرَاءُ
The earth was made a mosque for him; Hira
quivered at his prayer upon it.
مُظْهِرٍdisplaying شَجّةَwound الْجَبِينِthe forehead عَلَىdespite البُرْhealing—
مُظْهِرٍ شَجّةَ الْجَبِينِ عَلَى البُرْ
ءِ—healing كماas أَظهرَrevealed الهلالَthe crescent البَرَاءُlunar waning
ءِ كما أَظهرَ الهلالَ البَرَاءُ
Displaying the forehead's wound even after healing,
as the moon's waning reveals the crescent.
سُتِرَwas veiled الحُسْنُbeauty منهof him بالحسنِby beauty فاعجَبْso marvel
سُتِرَ الحُسْنُ منه بالحسنِ فاعجَبْ
لِجَمِالٍat beauty لهfor it الْجَمالُbeauty وِقاءُa shield
لِجَمِالٍ له الْجَمالُ وِقاءُ
His beauty was veiled by beauty; marvel
at beauty whose shield is beauty!
فهْوَso he كالزّهْرِlike a flower لاحَappeared منfrom سَجَفِcurtain الأكcalyxes—
فهْوَ كالزّهْرِ لاحَ من سَجَفِ الأك
مام—calyxes والعودِand fragrant wood شُقَّwas stripped عنهfrom it اللّحاءُthe bark
مام والعودِ شُقَّ عنه اللّحاءُ
Like a flower appearing through the curtain of its calyx,
or fragrant wood stripped of its bark.
كَادَnearly أَنْto يُغشِيَdazzle العُيونَthe eyes سناًradiance مِنْfrom—
كَادَ أَنْ يُغشِيَ العُيونَ سناً مِنْ
هُ—him لِسِرٍّthrough a mystery فيهin him حَكَتْهُimitated him ذُكاءُthe sun
هُ لِسِرٍّ فيه حَكَتْهُ ذُكاءُ
His radiance nearly dazzled the eyes,
through a mystery the sun imitated in him.
صانَهُprotected him الحُسْنُbeauty وَالسّكِينَةُand tranquility أَنْfrom تُظdisplaying—
صانَهُ الحُسْنُ وَالسّكِينَةُ أَنْ تُظ
هِرَ—displaying فيهupon him آثارهاits traces البأساءُadversity
هِرَ فيه آثارها البأساءُ
Beauty and tranquility protected him against
adversity displaying its traces upon him.
وتَخَالُand you imagine الوجوهَfaces إنْif قابَلَتْهmet him
وتَخَالُ الوجوهَ إنْ قابَلَتْه
أَلْبَسَتْهَاclothed them ألوانَهَاits colors الحِرْبَاءُthe chameleon
أَلْبَسَتْهَا ألوانَهَا الحِرْبَاءُ
You imagine that faces meeting him
were clothed in the chameleon's colors.
فإذاso when شِمْتَyou behold بِشْرَهُhis cheerfulness وَنَدَاهُand generosity
فإذا شِمْتَ بِشْرَهُ وَنَدَاهُ
أذْهَلَتْكَbewildered you الأنوارُlights والأنواءُand rain-stars
أذْهَلَتْكَ الأنوارُ والأنواءُ
When you behold his cheerfulness and generosity,
lights and rain-bearing stars bewilder you.
أَوْor بتقبيلِby kissing راحةٍa palm كانَwas للfor God—
أَوْ بتقبيلِ راحةٍ كانَ لل
هِ—God وباللَّهand through God أخذهاits taking والعطاءُand giving
هِ وباللَّه أخذها والعطاءُ
Or through kissing a palm whose taking
and giving were for God and through God.
تَتَّقِيfear بأْسَهاits might الملوكُthe kings وَتحْظَىand obtain
تَتَّقِي بأْسَها الملوكُ وَتحْظَى
بالغِنَىwealth منfrom نَوَالِهَاits bounty الفُقَراءُthe poor
بالغِنَى من نَوَالِهَا الفُقَراءُ
Kings fear its might, while
the poor gain wealth from its bounty.
لاdo not تَسَلْseek سَيْلَflood جُودِهاits generosity إنماonly يَكsuffice—
لا تَسَلْ سَيْلَ جُودِها إنما يَك
فِيك—suffice you مِنْfrom وكْفِrainfall سُحْبهاits clouds الأنداءُdewdrops
فِيك مِنْ وكْفِ سُحْبها الأنداءُ
Do not seek its flood of generosity; sufficient
are dewdrops from its clouds' rainfall.
دَرَّتِgave milk الشاةُthe ewe حينَwhen مرَّتْit passed عَلَيهاover her
دَرَّتِ الشاةُ حينَ مرَّتْ عَلَيها
فلهاso for her ثَرْوَةٌabundance بهاthrough it وَنَماءُand increase
فلها ثَرْوَةٌ بها وَنَماءُ
The ewe gave milk when it passed over her;
through it she gained abundance and increase.
نَبَعَsprang forth الماءُwater أَثْمَرَfruited النخلُpalms فيwithin عاa year—
نَبَعَ الماءُ أَثْمَرَ النخلُ في عا
مٍ—year بهاthrough it سَبَّحَتْpraised God بهاthrough it الحصباءُpebbles
مٍ بها سَبَّحَتْ بها الحصباءُ
Water sprang forth; palms fruited within a year
through it; pebbles praised God through it.
أحْيَتِrevived المُرْمِلِينَthe destitute مِنْfrom مِوْتِdeath جَهْدٍexhaustion
أحْيَتِ المُرْمِلِينَ مِنْ مِوْتِ جَهْدٍ
أَعْوَزَlacked القَوْمَthe people فيهduring it زادٌprovisions وماءُand water
أَعْوَزَ القَوْمَ فيه زادٌ وماءُ
It revived the destitute from deadly exhaustion,
when the people lacked provisions and water.
فتغَدَّىso ate بالصَّاعِfrom one sa' أَلْفٌa thousand جِياعٌhungry
فتغَدَّى بالصَّاعِ أَلْفٌ جِياعٌ
وتَرَوَّىand drank fully بالصَّاعِfrom one sa' ألفٌa thousand ظِمَاءُthirsty
وتَرَوَّى بالصَّاعِ ألفٌ ظِمَاءُ
A thousand hungry people ate from one sa',
and a thousand thirsty people drank from one sa'.
وَوَفَىand paid قدرُquantity بَيْضَةٍan egg مِنْof نُضَارٍgold
وَوَفَى قدرُ بَيْضَةٍ مِنْ نُضَارٍ
دَيْنَdebt سَلْمَانَSalman حِينَwhen حانَfell due الوفاءُrepayment
دَيْنَ سَلْمَانَ حِينَ حانَ الوفاءُ
An egg-sized quantity of gold paid
Salman's debt when repayment fell due.
كانَwas يُدْعَىcalled قِنّاًa slave فأُعْتِقَso was freed لَمَّاwhen
كانَ يُدْعَى قِنّاً فأُعْتِقَ لَمَّا
أيْنَعَتْripened مِنْof نَخيلِهhis palms الأَقْنَاءُfruit-clusters
أيْنَعَتْ مِنْ نَخيلِه الأَقْنَاءُ
He had been called a slave; he was freed when
his palms' fruit-clusters ripened.
أفلاwill you not تَعْذُرُونَexcuse سَلْمَانَSalman لَمَّاwhen
أفلا تَعْذُرُونَ سَلْمَانَ لَمَّا
أَنْthat عَرَتْهُovertook him مِنْfrom ذِكْرِهِremembering him العُروَاءُshivering
أَنْ عَرَتْهُ مِنْ ذِكْرِهِ العُروَاءُ
Will you not excuse Salman when
remembrance of him brought shivering upon him?
وَأَزالَتand removed بِلَمْسِهَاby its touch كلَّevery دَاءٍdisease
وَأَزالَت بِلَمْسِهَا كلَّ دَاءٍ
أكْبَرَتْهُdeemed it overwhelming أطِبَّةٌphysicians وَإِسَاءُand healers
أكْبَرَتْهُ أطِبَّةٌ وَإِسَاءُ
Its touch removed every disease
that physicians and healers deemed overwhelming.
وعُيُونٌand eyes مَرَّتْpassed بهاover them وَهْيwhile they رُمْدٌinflamed
وعُيُونٌ مَرَّتْ بها وَهْي رُمْدٌ
فأَرَتْهَاso showed them مَاwhat لَمْnot تَرَsaw الزَّرْقَاءُal-Zarqa
فأَرَتْهَا مَا لَمْ تَرَ الزَّرْقَاءُ
Eyes it passed over were inflamed;
it showed them what al-Zarqa never saw.
وأَعادَتْand restored عَلَىto قَتَادَةَQatada عَيْنَاًan eye
وأَعادَتْ عَلَى قَتَادَةَ عَيْنَاً
فَهْيَso it حتىuntil مماتِهhis death النَّجْلاءُlarge-eyed
فَهْيَ حتى مماتِه النَّجْلاءُ
It restored an eye to Qatada,
remaining large and beautiful until his death.
أَوْor بِلَثْمِby kissing التُّرَابِdust مِنْfrom قَدَمٍa foot لاsoftened—
أَوْ بِلَثْمِ التُّرَابِ مِنْ قَدَمٍ لا
نَتْ—softened حَياءًin shame منat مَشْيِهَاits walking الصَّفْواءُhard rock
نَتْ حَياءً من مَشْيِهَا الصَّفْواءُ
Or through kissing dust from a foot before which
hard rock softened, ashamed at its tread.
مَوْطِئُresting-place الأخمَصِhollow foot الَّذِيwhich منهfrom it للقلfor the heart—
مَوْطِئُ الأخمَصِ الَّذِي منه للقل
لبِ—heart إذاwhen مَضْجَعيmy bed أَقَضَّtormented وِطاءُsoft bedding
لبِ إذا مَضْجَعي أَقَضَّ وِطاءُ
The hollow foot's resting-place provides my heart
soft bedding when my own bed torments me.
حَظيَwas favored المسجدُthe Mosque الحرامُSacred بمَمْشاby its walking—
حَظيَ المسجدُ الحرامُ بمَمْشا
ها—its walking ولمand not يَنْسforgot حَظهits share إِيلِيَاءُIliya
ها ولم يَنْس حَظه إِيلِيَاءُ
The Sacred Mosque was favored by its walking;
Iliya did not forget its share.
وَرَمَتْand aimed إذْwhen رَمَىhe plunged بهاit ظُلَمَdarknesses الليnight—
وَرَمَتْ إذْ رَمَى بها ظُلَمَ اللي
لِ—night إلىtoward اللَّهGod خوفُهhis fear والرَّجاءُand hope
لِ إلى اللَّه خوفُه والرَّجاءُ
When he plunged it into night's darkness,
his fear and hope aimed toward God.
دَمِيَتْbled فيin الوَغَىbattle لِتَكْسِبَto make fragrant طِيباًfragrance
دَمِيَتْ في الوَغَى لِتَكْسِبَ طِيباً
ماwhat أراقتْshed منof الدَّمِblood الشُّهداءُthe martyrs
ما أراقتْ من الدَّمِ الشُّهداءُ
It bled in battle, to make fragrant
the blood the martyrs shed.
فَهْيَso it قُطْبُaxis المحرابِprayer-niche وَالْحَرْبِand war كمhow many داturned—
فَهْيَ قُطْبُ المحرابِ وَالْحَرْبِ كم دا
رت—turned عليهاupon it فيin طاعةobedience أَرحاءُmillstones
رت عليها في طاعة أَرحاءُ
It is the axis of prayer-niche and war; how many
millstones turned upon it in obedience!
وَأُرَاهُand I think him لوif لمnot يُسَكِّنْstilled بهاwith it قبpreviously—
وَأُرَاهُ لو لم يُسَكِّنْ بها قب
لُ—previously حِراءًHira ماجَتْwould surge بِهِwith him الدَّأْمَاءُthe deep
لُ حِراءً ماجَتْ بِهِ الدَّأْمَاءُ
I think that, had he not previously stilled Hira
with it, the deep would surge with him.
عَجَباًhow astonishing للكُفّارِthe unbelievers زادواincreased ضلالاًin error
عَجَباً للكُفّارِ زادوا ضلالاً
بالذيthrough what فيهin it للعقولfor minds اهتداءُguidance
بالذي فيه للعقول اهتداءُ
Marvel at unbelievers, growing more astray
through what guides the intellect!
والذيand what يسألونthey ask منهof him كتابٌa Book
والذي يسألون منه كتابٌ
مُنْزَلٌrevealed قدalready أتاهمcame to them وارتقاءُand ascent
مُنْزَلٌ قد أتاهم وارتقاءُ
What they request of him is a revealed Book,
already brought to them, and an ascent.
أَوَdoes لمnot يَكْفِهِمْsuffice them منfrom اللَّهِGod ذِكْرٌa reminder
أَوَ لم يَكْفِهِمْ من اللَّهِ ذِكْرٌ
فيهin it للناسfor people رحمةٌmercy وشفاءُand healing
فيه للناس رحمةٌ وشفاءُ
Does a reminder from God not suffice them,
containing mercy and healing for people?
أَعجزَdefeated الإِنسَhumankind آيةa verse منهof it والجنand jinn—
أَعجزَ الإِنسَ آية منه والجن
نَ—jinn فَهَلَّاso why not يأتيproduce بهاits like البُلَغاءُthe eloquent
نَ فَهَلَّا يأتي بها البُلَغاءُ
One verse of it defeated humans and jinn;
why do the eloquent not produce its like?
كلّevery يومٍday تُهدَىare offered إلىto سامِعِيهits hearers
كلّ يومٍ تُهدَى إلى سامِعِيه
مُعجِزاتٍmiracles منfrom لفظِهits wording القُرَّاءُthe reciters
مُعجِزاتٍ من لفظِه القُرَّاءُ
Every day, its hearers receive
miracles of its wording from reciters.
تَتَحَلَّىadorn themselves بهwith it المسامِعُears والأفand mouths—
تَتَحَلَّى به المسامِعُ والأف
واه—mouths فَهْوfor it الحُلِيُّjewelry وَالحَلْوَاءُand sweetness
واه فَهْو الحُلِيُّ وَالحَلْوَاءُ
Ears and mouths adorn themselves with it;
it is jewelry and sweetness.
رَقَّwas delicate لَفْظاًin wording وراقand delighted معنىًin meaning فجاءَتْso came
رَقَّ لَفْظاً وراق معنىً فجاءَتْ
فيin حُلاهاits sweetness وحَلْيِهاand its adornment الخَنْسَاءُthe gazelle
في حُلاها وحَلْيِها الخَنْسَاءُ
Delicate in wording, delightful in meaning, there appeared
the gazelle in its sweetness and adornment.
وأرَتْنَاand showed us فيهin it غوامضَhidden depths فضلٍexcellence
وأرَتْنَا فيه غوامضَ فضلٍ
رِقَّةٌdelicacy مِنْof زُلالِهَاits pure water وَصَفاءُand clarity
رِقَّةٌ مِنْ زُلالِهَا وَصَفاءُ
Its delicacy and clarity showed us
hidden depths of excellence.
إنماonly تُجْتَلَىare clearly seen الوُجُوهُfaces إذَاwhen ماindeed
إنما تُجْتَلَى الوُجُوهُ إذَا ما
جُلِيَتْwere polished away عِنْfrom مِرْآتِهَاtheir mirror الأصْداءُrusts
جُلِيَتْ عِنْ مِرْآتِهَا الأصْداءُ
Faces can be clearly seen only when
rust is polished from their mirror.
سُوَرٌsurahs منهof it أشْبَهَتْresembled صُوَراًimages مِنof—
سُوَرٌ منه أشْبَهَتْ صُوَراً مِن
نَا—us ومِثْلُand like النَّظَائِرcounterparts النُّظَراءُtheir counterparts
نَا ومِثْلُ النَّظَائِر النُّظَراءُ
Its surahs resembled images of ourselves;
counterparts resemble their counterparts.
والأقاويلand utterances عندَهمْamong them كالتماثيlike statues—
والأقاويل عندَهمْ كالتماثي
لِ—statues فلاso do not يُوهِمَنَّكَmislead you الخطباءُthe orators
لِ فلا يُوهِمَنَّكَ الخطباءُ
Their utterances are like statues;
do not let orators mislead you.
كمhow much أبانَتْrevealed آياتُهُits verses منof علومٍknowledge
كم أبانَتْ آياتُهُ من علومٍ
عنthrough حُروفٍletters أبانَmade plain عنهاthem الهجاءُthe alphabet
عن حُروفٍ أبانَ عنها الهجاءُ
How much knowledge its verses revealed
through letters the alphabet makes plain!
فهْيso they كالحَبِّlike grain والنَّوَىand date-stones أعجبَastonished الزُّرthe farmers—
فهْي كالحَبِّ والنَّوَى أعجبَ الزُّر
راعَ—farmers منهُfrom it سنابلٌears of grain وَزَكاءُand growth
راعَ منهُ سنابلٌ وَزَكاءُ
Like grain and date-stones, whose ears
and growth astonish farmers.
فأطالواso prolonged فيهabout it التردُّدَhesitation وَالرَّيand doubt—
فأطالوا فيه التردُّدَ وَالرَّي
بَ—doubt فقالواso said سِحْرٌsorcery وقالواand said افتراءُfabrication
بَ فقالوا سِحْرٌ وقالوا افتراءُ
They prolonged hesitation and doubt about it,
calling it sorcery, calling it fabrication.
وإذاand when البيِّنَاتُclear proofs لَمْnot تُغْنِavail شيئاًanything
وإذا البيِّنَاتُ لَمْ تُغْنِ شيئاً
فَالتماسُthen seeking الهُدَىguidance بِهِنَّthrough them عَناءُtoil
فَالتماسُ الهُدَى بِهِنَّ عَناءُ
When clear proofs avail nothing,
seeking guidance through them is toil.
وإذاand when ضلَّتِstrayed العُقولminds علىdespite عِلْknowledge—
وإذا ضلَّتِ العُقول على عِلْ
مٍ—knowledge فماذاthen what تقولهsay it الفُّصَحاءُthe eloquent
مٍ فماذا تقوله الفُّصَحاءُ
When minds stray despite knowledge,
what can eloquent speakers say?
قومَpeople عيسىJesus عاملْتمyou treated قومَpeople موسىMoses
قومَ عيسى عاملْتم قومَ موسى
بالذيas عامَلَتْكُمtreated you الحُنفاءُthe upright believers
بالذي عامَلَتْكُم الحُنفاءُ
People of Jesus, you treated the people of Moses
as the upright believers treated you.
صَدَّقواthey affirmed كُتْبَكُمُyour books وكذَبْتُمْand you denied
صَدَّقوا كُتْبَكُمُ وكذَبْتُمْ
كُتبَهُمُtheir books إنّindeed ذاthis لَبِئْسَsurely evil البَواءُrepayment
كُتبَهُمُ إنّ ذا لَبِئْسَ البَواءُ
They affirmed your books, while you denied
theirs; what an evil repayment!
لوif جحدناwe denied جُحُودَكمyour denial لاستويْنَاwe would be equal
لو جحدنا جُحُودَكم لاستويْنَا
أوَcan للحقِّtruth بالضَّلالِwith error استواءُequality
أوَ للحقِّ بالضَّلالِ استواءُ
Had we denied as you denied, we would be equal;
but can truth equal error?
مَاwhat لَكُمails you إِخْوَةَbrethren الكِتابِscripture أُناساًa people
مَا لَكُم إِخْوَةَ الكِتابِ أُناساً
ليسnot يُرْعَىis observed للحقِّtoward truth منكمamong you إخاءُbrotherhood
ليس يُرْعَى للحقِّ منكم إخاءُ
What ails you, brethren of scripture, a people
among whom no brotherhood toward truth is observed?
يَحْسُدُenvies الأولُthe earlier الأخيرَthe later وماand not زاceased—
يَحْسُدُ الأولُ الأخيرَ وما زا
لَ—ceased كذاthus المُحْدَثُونَthe moderns وَالقُدَمَاءُand ancients
لَ كذا المُحْدَثُونَ وَالقُدَمَاءُ
The earlier envies the later; always
have moderns and ancients been thus.
قدindeed عَلِمْتُمyou knew بِظلمِof injustice قابيلCain هابيAbel—
قد عَلِمْتُم بِظلمِ قابيل هابي
لَ—Abel ومظلومُand the wronged الإِخْوَةِbrothers الأَتْقِيَاءُthe godfearing
لَ ومظلومُ الإِخْوَةِ الأَتْقِيَاءُ
You know Cain's injustice toward Abel;
the wronged among brothers are the godfearing.
وسمِعْتمand you heard بكَيْدِof plotting أَبناءِsons يعقوJacob—
وسمِعْتم بكَيْدِ أَبناءِ يعقو
بَ—Jacob أَخَاهمagainst their brother وكلُّهمand all of them صُلَحَاءُrighteous
بَ أَخَاهم وكلُّهم صُلَحَاءُ
You heard of Jacob's sons plotting against
their brother, though all were righteous.
حِينَwhen أَلْقَوْهُthey cast him فيinto غَيابَةِdepths جُبٍّa well
حِينَ أَلْقَوْهُ في غَيابَةِ جُبٍّ
وَرَمَوْهُand accused him بالإفْكِwith falsehood وَهْوَwhile he بَراءُinnocent
وَرَمَوْهُ بالإفْكِ وَهْوَ بَراءُ
When they cast him into a well's depths
and falsely accused him, though innocent.
فتأَسَّوْاso take consolation بِمَنin those who مَضَىpreceded إذْwhen ظَلَمتمْyou acted unjustly
فتأَسَّوْا بِمَن مَضَى إذْ ظَلَمتمْ
فالتَّأَسِّيso comparison لِلنَّفْسِfor the soul فيهin it عَزَاءُconsolation
فالتَّأَسِّي لِلنَّفْسِ فيه عَزَاءُ
Take consolation in predecessors when you act unjustly;
such comparison offers the soul consolation.
أتُرَاكُمdo you suppose yourselves وَفَّيْتُمfaithful حينَwhen خَانُواthey betrayed
أتُرَاكُم وَفَّيْتُم حينَ خَانُوا
أمor تُرَاكُمْdo you suppose yourselves أَحْسَنْتُمُdoing good إذْwhen أساؤُواthey did evil
أم تُرَاكُمْ أَحْسَنْتُمُ إذْ أساؤُوا
Did you remain faithful when they betrayed?
Or did you do good when they did evil?
بَلْrather تَمَادَتْpersisted عَلَىin التَّجَاهُلِwillful ignorance آبَاfathers—
بَلْ تَمَادَتْ عَلَى التَّجَاهُلِ آبَا
ءٌ—fathers تَقَفَّتْfollowed آثَارِهَاtheir footsteps الأَبناءُthe sons
ءٌ تَقَفَّتْ آثَارِهَا الأَبناءُ
Rather, fathers persisted in willful ignorance,
and sons followed their footsteps.
بَيَّنَتْهُrevealed him تَوْراتُهُمْtheir Torah وَالأَناجِيand the Gospels—
بَيَّنَتْهُ تَوْراتُهُمْ وَالأَناجِي
لُ—Gospels وَهمand they فيin جُحُودِهِdenying him شُرَكاءُpartners
لُ وَهم في جُحُودِهِ شُرَكاءُ
Their Torah and the Gospels made him plain,
yet they share in denying him.
إنْif تقولواyou say ماnot بَيَّنَتْهُrevealed him فماthen not زَاwas removed—
إنْ تقولوا ما بَيَّنَتْهُ فما زَا
لَتْ—was removed بهاby them عنfrom عيونهمtheir eyes غشوَاءُa covering
لَتْ بها عن عيونهم غشوَاءُ
If you say they did not reveal him,
no covering was removed from their eyes by them.
أوor تقولواyou say قدindeed بَيَّنَتْهُrevealed him فماthen why لِلْfor the—
أو تقولوا قد بَيَّنَتْهُ فما لِلْ
أُذْنِear عماto what تقولهit says صَمَّاءُdeafness
أُذْنِ عما تقوله صَمَّاءُ
Or if you say they did reveal him, why
is the ear deaf to what they say?
عَرَفُوهُthey recognized him وَأنْكَرَوهُand denied him وَظُلمَاًand unjustly
عَرَفُوهُ وَأنْكَرَوهُ وَظُلمَاً
كَتَمَتْهُconcealed from him الشَّهَادَةَtestimony الشُّهَدَاءُthe witnesses
كَتَمَتْهُ الشَّهَادَةَ الشُّهَدَاءُ
They recognized him and denied him; unjustly,
the witnesses concealed testimony concerning him.
أوَcan نُورُlight الإِلهِGod تُطْفِئُهُextinguish it الأَفْmouths—
أوَ نُورُ الإِلهِ تُطْفِئُهُ الأَفْ
واهُ—mouths وَهْوَwhile it الذيthat which بهby it يُسْتَضاءُillumination is gained
واهُ وَهْوَ الذي به يُسْتَضاءُ
Can mouths extinguish God's light,
when it is that by which illumination is gained?
أوَلاwould they not يُنْكِرُونَdeny مَنone who طَحَنَتْهُمground them
أوَلا يُنْكِرُونَ مَن طَحَنَتْهُم
بِرَحاهاwith its mill عِنْat أمْرِهِhis command الْهَيجاءُwarfare
بِرَحاها عِنْ أمْرِهِ الْهَيجاءُ
Would they not deny one whom warfare
ground in its mill at his command?
وَكَساهمand clothed them ثَوْبَgarment الصَّغارِabasement وقدand indeed
وَكَساهم ثَوْبَ الصَّغارِ وقد
طُلَّتwas shed unavenged دِماًblood منهمfrom them وصِينَتْand was preserved دِمَاءُblood
طُلَّت دِماً منهم وصِينَتْ دِمَاءُ
He clothed them in abasement; some blood
was shed unavenged, and some was preserved.
كيفhow يَهدِيguides الإِلهGod منهمamong them قلوباًhearts
كيف يَهدِي الإِله منهم قلوباً
حَشْوُهاtheir filling منtoward حَبِيبِهِHis beloved الْبَغْضاءُhatred
حَشْوُها من حَبِيبِهِ الْبَغْضاءُ
How can God guide hearts among them
filled with hatred for His beloved?
خَبِّرونَاtell us أهلَpeople الكِتَابَيْنِthe two scriptures منfrom أَيْwhere—
خَبِّرونَا أهلَ الكِتَابَيْنِ من أَيْ
نَ—where أَتَاكُمcame to you تَثْليثكمyour Trinity والبَداءُand divine reconsideration
نَ أَتَاكُم تَثْليثكم والبَداءُ
Tell us, people of the two scriptures: whence
came your Trinity and divine reconsideration?
مَاnot أتىbrought بالعقِيدَتَيْنِthe two doctrines كتابٌa scripture
مَا أتى بالعقِيدَتَيْنِ كتابٌ
واعتقادٌand belief لاno نَصَّtextual warrant فيهfor it ادِّعاءُassertion
واعتقادٌ لا نَصَّ فيه ادِّعاءُ
No scripture brought those two doctrines;
belief without textual warrant is mere assertion.
والدَّعاوَىand claims ماunless لمnot تُقيمواyou establish عليهاfor them
والدَّعاوَى ما لم تُقيموا عليها
بَيِّنَاتٍproofs أبناؤُهاtheir offspring أَدْعِياءُillegitimate
بَيِّنَاتٍ أبناؤُها أَدْعِياءُ
Claims, unless you establish
proofs for them, have illegitimate offspring.
ليتwould that شعريI knew ذِكرُmention الثلاثةِthe three وَالواand the one—
ليت شعري ذِكرُ الثلاثةِ وَالوا
حِدِ—one نَقْصٌsubtraction فيin عَدِّكمyour reckoning أمْor نَماءُaddition
حِدِ نَقْصٌ في عَدِّكم أمْ نَماءُ
I wonder: mentioning the three and the one—
is that subtraction in your reckoning, or addition?
كيفhow وَحَّدْتُمyou declared one إِلهاًa god نَفَىnegated التَّوunity—
كيف وَحَّدْتُم إِلهاً نَفَى التَّو
حِيدَ—unity عنهof him الآباءُfathers والأَبناءُand sons
حِيدَ عنه الآباءُ والأَبناءُ
How did you declare one a god whose unity
fathers and sons negate?
أإِلهٌa god? مُرَكَّبٌcomposite ماnot سَمِعْنَاwe heard
أإِلهٌ مُرَكَّبٌ ما سَمِعْنَا
بإِلهٍof a god لذاتِهِfor his essence أَجْزَاءُparts
بإِلهٍ لذاتِهِ أَجْزَاءُ
A composite god? We have never heard
of a god whose essence has parts.
أَلِكُلٍّdoes each منهمof them نَصِيبٌa share مِنَof المُلsovereignty—
أَلِكُلٍّ منهم نَصِيبٌ مِنَ المُل
كِ—sovereignty فَهَلَّاthen why not تَمَيَّزُare distinguished الأَنْصِبَاءُthe shares
كِ فَهَلَّا تَمَيَّزُ الأَنْصِبَاءُ
Does each possess a share of sovereignty?
Why, then, are the shares not distinct?
أمor هُمُthey حَلّلوُاpermitted بهاthrough it شِرْكَةَpartnership الأبpersons—
أم هُمُ حَلّلوُا بها شِرْكَةَ الأب
دَانِ—persons أمْor هُمْthey لبعضِهمfor one another كُفَلاءُguarantors
دَانِ أمْ هُمْ لبعضِهم كُفَلاءُ
Or did they permit a partnership of persons,
or act as guarantors for one another?
أتراهمdo you think them لحاجةٍfrom need واضطرارٍand necessity
أتراهم لحاجةٍ واضطرارٍ
خَلَطُوهَاcombined it ومَاand not بَغَىencroached الخُلَطَاءُthe partners
خَلَطُوهَا ومَا بَغَى الخُلَطَاءُ
Did they, from need and necessity,
combine it, with no partners encroaching?
أهُوَis he الرَّاكِبُthe rider الحمارَthe donkey فياthen O عَجْweakness—
أهُوَ الرَّاكِبُ الحمارَ فيا عَجْ
زَ—weakness إِلهٍa god يَمَسُّهُtouches him الإِعْيَاءُexhaustion
زَ إِلهٍ يَمَسُّهُ الإِعْيَاءُ
Is he the donkey-rider? What weakness
in a god whom exhaustion touches!
أمْor جميعٌall عَلَىupon الحمارthe donkey لقدindeed جَلwas great—
أمْ جميعٌ عَلَى الحمار لقد جَل
لَ—was great حِمَارٌa donkey بِجَمْعِهِمwith them all مَشَّاءُwalking
لَ حِمَارٌ بِجَمْعِهِم مَشَّاءُ
Or are all upon the donkey? Great indeed
is a donkey walking with them all!
أمor سِواهمother than them هُوhe الإِلهُthe god فماthen what نِسْrelationship—
أم سِواهم هُو الإِلهُ فما نِسْ
بَةُ—relationship عيسىJesus إليهto him والإِنْتِمَاءُand affiliation
بَةُ عيسى إليه والإِنْتِمَاءُ
Or is another the god? Then what is
Jesus' relationship and affiliation to him?
أمor أردتُمyou meant بهاby it الصفاتِattributes فلمْthen why خُصwere assigned—
أم أردتُم بها الصفاتِ فلمْ خُص
صَتْ—assigned ثُلاثٌthree بِوصفِهto describe him وَثُناءُand praise
صَتْ ثُلاثٌ بِوصفِه وَثُناءُ
Or did you mean attributes? Why were
three alone assigned to describe and praise him?
أمor هُوhe ابنٌa son للَّهof God ماnot شاركتهshared with him
أم هُو ابنٌ للَّه ما شاركته
فيin معانيqualities النُّبُوَّةِprophethood الأَنبياءُthe prophets
في معاني النُّبُوَّةِ الأَنبياءُ
Or is he God's son, with no prophets sharing
his prophetic qualities?
قتلَتْهُkilled him اليهودُthe Jews فيماas زَعَمْتُمyou claimed
قتلَتْهُ اليهودُ فيما زَعَمْتُم
وَلأَمْواتِكمand for your dead بهthrough him إحياءُrevival
وَلأَمْواتِكم به إحياءُ
The Jews killed him, as you claim,
yet through him your dead are revived.
إنَّindeed قَوْلاًa statement أَطْلَقْتُمُوهُyou uttered it عَلَىabout اللGod—
إنَّ قَوْلاً أَطْلَقْتُمُوهُ عَلَى الل
هِ—God تعالىexalted ذِكْراin mention لقَوْلٌsurely a statement هُراءُnonsense
هِ تعالى ذِكْرا لقَوْلٌ هُراءُ
A statement you have uttered about God—
exalted be His mention—is sheer nonsense.
مِثْلَlike مَاwhat قَالَتsaid اليهودُthe Jews وكلٌّand each
مِثْلَ مَا قَالَت اليهودُ وكلٌّ
لَزِمَتْهُbound him مقالَةٌan assertion شَنعاءُabominable
لَزِمَتْهُ مقالَةٌ شَنعاءُ
Like what the Jews said; each
was bound to an abominable assertion.
إذْwhen همُthey اسْتَقْرَؤُواinferred البَداءَdivine reconsideration وكمand how often ساbrought—
إذْ همُ اسْتَقْرَؤُوا البَداءَ وكم سا
قَ—brought وَبَالاًdisaster إِليهمupon them اسْتِقْرَاءُinference
قَ وَبَالاً إِليهم اسْتِقْرَاءُ
They inferred divine reconsideration; how often
inference brought disaster upon them!
وَأَرَاهمand I see them لمnot يجعلُواmade الواحِدَthe One القَهthe Overpowering—
وَأَرَاهم لم يجعلُوا الواحِدَ القَه
هارَ—Overpowering فيin الخَلْقِcreation فاعلاًdoing ماwhatever يشاءُHe wills
هارَ في الخَلْقِ فاعلاً ما يشاءُ
I see they did not make the One, the Overpowering,
a doer in creation of whatever He wills.
جَوَّزُواpermit النَّسْخَabrogation مِثْلَماas جوَّزُواthey permitted المسtransformation—
جَوَّزُوا النَّسْخَ مِثْلَما جوَّزُوا المس
خَ—transformation عَلَيْهِمupon them لوif أنهمthey فُقهاءُknowledgeable
خَ عَلَيْهِم لو أنهم فُقهاءُ
They should permit abrogation, as they permit transformation
upon themselves, were they knowledgeable.
هُوَit إِلَّاonly أَنthat يُرْفَعَbe lifted الحكمُthe ruling بالحكby a ruling—
هُوَ إِلَّا أَن يُرْفَعَ الحكمُ بالحك
مِ—ruling وخَلْقٌand creation فيهin it وأمرٌand command سَواءُalike
مِ وخَلْقٌ فيه وأمرٌ سَواءُ
It is merely a ruling lifted by another ruling;
creation and command are alike in this.
ولحُكمٍand for a ruling منof الزمانِtime انتهاءٌan ending
ولحُكمٍ من الزمانِ انتهاءٌ
ولحُكمand for a ruling منof الزمانِtime ابتداءُa beginning
ولحُكم من الزمانِ ابتداءُ
One ruling has an ending in time;
another ruling has a beginning.
فَسَلُوهمso ask them أكانwas there فيin مسخِهِمtheir transformation نَسْabrogation—
فَسَلُوهم أكان في مسخِهِم نَسْ
خٌ—abrogation لآياتof signs اللَّهGod أمor إنشاءُnew creation
خٌ لآيات اللَّه أم إنشاءُ
Ask them: was their transformation an abrogation
of God's signs, or a new creation?
وَبَدَاءٌand divine reconsideration فيin قَوْلِهمْtheir saying نَدِمَregretted اللGod—
وَبَدَاءٌ في قَوْلِهمْ نَدِمَ الل
هُ—God عَلَىconcerning خَلْقِcreating آدمٍAdam أمْor خَطاءُerror
هُ عَلَى خَلْقِ آدمٍ أمْ خَطاءُ
Is their saying 'God regretted
creating Adam' divine reconsideration, or error?
أمor مَحَاerased اللَّهُGod آيةsign الليلnight ذكراًremembering
أم مَحَا اللَّهُ آية الليل ذكراً
بعدَafter سَهْوٍforgetfulness ليوجَدَthat might exist الإِمْساءُevening
بعدَ سَهْوٍ ليوجَدَ الإِمْساءُ
Or did God erase night's sign upon remembering
after forgetfulness, that evening might exist?
أمor بداreconsidered للإِلهِGod فيregarding ذَبْحِslaughter إِسْحَاIsaac—
أم بدا للإِلهِ في ذَبْحِ إِسْحَا
قَ—Isaac وقدand indeed كانwas الأمرthe command فيهconcerning it مَضاءُdecisiveness
قَ وقد كان الأمر فيه مَضاءُ
Or did God reconsider Isaac's slaughter,
when the command concerning it had been decisive?
أوَdid ماnot حَرَّمَforbid الإِلهُGod نِكَاحَmarrying الthe—
أوَ ما حَرَّمَ الإِلهُ نِكَاحَ ال
أُختِsister بعدَafter التحليلِpermitting فَهْوَso it الزِّناءُfornication
أُختِ بعدَ التحليلِ فَهْوَ الزِّناءُ
Did God not forbid marrying a sister
after permitting it, making it fornication?
لاdo not تُكَذِّبْdeny إنَّindeed اليَهُودَthe Jews وقدand indeed زاswerved—
لا تُكَذِّبْ إنَّ اليَهُودَ وقد زا
غُوا—swerved عنfrom الحقِّtruth مَعْشَرٌa company لُؤَماءُbase
غُوا عن الحقِّ مَعْشَرٌ لُؤَماءُ
Do not deny it: the Jews, having swerved
from truth, are a base company.
جَحَدُواthey denied المصطفىthe Chosen One وآمنand believed بالطاin false gods—
جَحَدُوا المصطفى وآمن بالطا
غُوتِ—false gods قومٌa people همْthey عندهمْin their estimation شُرَفاءُhonorable
غُوتِ قومٌ همْ عندهمْ شُرَفاءُ
They denied the Chosen One, while believing in false gods
were people they considered honorable.
قتَلواthey killed الأَنبياءَthe prophets وَاتَّخَذُواand adopted العِجthe calf—
قتَلوا الأَنبياءَ وَاتَّخَذُوا العِج
لَ—calf أَلاindeed إنهمthey همthemselves السُّفَهاءُthe foolish
لَ أَلا إنهم هم السُّفَهاءُ
They killed prophets and adopted the calf;
indeed, they are the foolish.
وسَفيهٌand foolish منone whom ساءَهdispleased him المنُّmanna والسَّلْand quails—
وسَفيهٌ من ساءَه المنُّ والسَّلْ
وَى—quails وأَرضاهُand pleased him الفُومُgarlic وَالقِثَّاءُand cucumbers
وَى وأَرضاهُ الفُومُ وَالقِثَّاءُ
Foolish is one displeased by manna and quails,
but satisfied by garlic and cucumbers.
مُلِئَتْwere filled بالخبيثِwith foulness منهمamong them بُطُونٌbellies
مُلِئَتْ بالخبيثِ منهم بُطُونٌ
فَهْيَso they نَارٌfire طِباقُهاits layers الأمعاءُintestines
فَهْيَ نَارٌ طِباقُها الأمعاءُ
Their bellies were filled with foulness;
they are fire whose layers are intestines.
لوif أُرِيدُواwere intended فيduring حالa state سَبْتٍSabbath بخيرٍfor good
لو أُرِيدُوا في حال سَبْتٍ بخيرٍ
كانwould be سَبْتَاًa Sabbath لديهمُfor them الأَربِعاءُWednesday
كان سَبْتَاً لديهمُ الأَربِعاءُ
Had good been intended for them on a Sabbath,
Wednesday would have been their Sabbath.
هُوَit يومٌa day مُبارَكٌblessed قيلَwas said للتصfor alteration—
هُوَ يومٌ مُبارَكٌ قيلَ للتص
ريفِ—alteration فيهin it منfrom اليهودthe Jews اعتداءُtransgression
ريفِ فيه من اليهود اعتداءُ
It is a blessed day; its alteration
was said to involve Jewish transgression.
فَبِظُلْمٍso through injustice منهمُfrom them وكفْرٍand unbelief عَدَتْهُمescaped them
فَبِظُلْمٍ منهمُ وكفْرٍ عَدَتْهُم
طَيِّبَاتٌgood things فيin تَرْكِهنَّabandoning them ابْتِلاءُa trial
طَيِّبَاتٌ في تَرْكِهنَّ ابْتِلاءُ
Through their injustice and unbelief, good things escaped them,
their abandonment becoming a trial.
خُدِعواwere deceived بالمنافقينby hypocrites وهلand does يَنْfind currency—
خُدِعوا بالمنافقين وهل يَنْ
فُقُ—find currency إلَّاexcept علىwith السفيهِthe foolish الشَّقاءُmisery
فُقُ إلَّا على السفيهِ الشَّقاءُ
Hypocrites deceived them; does misery
find currency except with the foolish?
واطمأنواand trusted بقَوْلِthe words الَاحزابthe confederates إِخواtheir brothers—
واطمأنوا بقَوْلِ الَاحزاب إِخوا
نِهِمُ—their brothers إِنناindeed we لكمfor you أولياءُallies
نِهِمُ إِننا لكم أولياءُ
They trusted their confederate brothers' words:
'We are your allies.'
حالَفوهمthey allied with them وخالفوهمand opposed them ولمْand not أَدْI know—
حالَفوهم وخالفوهم ولمْ أَدْ
رِ—I know لماذاwhy تخالَفَopposed each other الحُلفاءُthe allies
رِ لماذا تخالَفَ الحُلفاءُ
They allied with them, then opposed them; I do not
know why the allies opposed each other.
أسلَمُوهمthey abandoned them لأَوَّلِto the first الحَشْرِgathering لاnot مِيtheir promise—
أسلَمُوهم لأَوَّلِ الحَشْرِ لا مِي
عادُهم—their promise صادقٌtrue ولاnor الإِيلاءُthe oath
عادُهم صادقٌ ولا الإِيلاءُ
They abandoned them to the first gathering;
neither their promise nor their oath was true.
سكَنَinhabited الرُّعْبُterror والخَرابُand ruin قلوباًhearts
سكَنَ الرُّعْبُ والخَرابُ قلوباً
وبُيُوتاًand houses منهمُamong them نعاهاmourned them الجَلاءُexpulsion
وبُيُوتاً منهمُ نعاها الجَلاءُ
Terror and ruin inhabited hearts
and houses among them, mourned by expulsion.
وَبِيَوْمِand on the day الأحزابِthe Confederates إِذْwhen زاغتِwavered الأَبeyes—
وَبِيَوْمِ الأحزابِ إِذْ زاغتِ الأَب
صَارُ—eyes فيهمamong them وضلتِand strayed الآراءُjudgments
صَارُ فيهم وضلتِ الآراءُ
On the day of the Confederates, when eyes
wavered among them and judgments went astray.
وتَعَدَّوْاand overstepped إلىagainst النبيّthe Prophet حدوداًlimits
وتَعَدَّوْا إلى النبيّ حدوداً
كانwas فيهاin them عليهمupon them العُدَوَاءُcalamity
كان فيها عليهم العُدَوَاءُ
They overstepped limits against the Prophet,
bringing calamity upon themselves.
وَنَهَتْهُمand forbade them وماand not انتهتdesisted عنهfrom it قومa people
وَنَهَتْهُم وما انتهت عنه قوم
فأُبيدَso was destroyed الأَمَّارُthe commander والنَّهاءُand restrainer
فأُبيدَ الأَمَّارُ والنَّهاءُ
It forbade them, yet a people did not desist;
both commander and restrainer were destroyed.
وتعاطَوْاand uttered فيconcerning أحمدٍAhmad مُنْكَرَoffensive القَوْspeech—
وتعاطَوْا في أحمدٍ مُنْكَرَ القَوْ
لِ—speech وَنُطقُand utterance الأَراذِلِthe lowly العَوْراءُdefective
لِ وَنُطقُ الأَراذِلِ العَوْراءُ
They uttered offensive speech concerning Ahmad;
the speech of the lowly is defective.
كلُّevery رِجْسٍfoul person يَزِيدُهincreases him الخُلُقُcharacter السُّوevil—
كلُّ رِجْسٍ يَزِيدُه الخُلُقُ السُّو
ءُ—evil سِفاهاًin foolishness والمِلَّةُand creed العَوْجاءُcrooked
ءُ سِفاهاً والمِلَّةُ العَوْجاءُ
Every foul person grows more foolish through evil character
and a crooked creed.
فانظرواso look كيفhow كانwas عاقبةoutcome القوْthe people—
فانظروا كيف كان عاقبة القوْ
مِ—people وَماand what ساقbrought لِلْبَذِيِّupon the obscene البَذَاءُobscenity
مِ وَما ساق لِلْبَذِيِّ البَذَاءُ
Look at the people's outcome,
and what obscenity brought upon the obscene.
وجَدfound السَّبَّabuse فيهin his mouth سُمَّاًpoison وَلمand not يَدْknew—
وجَد السَّبَّ فيه سُمَّاً وَلم يَدْ
رِ—knew إِذْsince المِيمُmim فيin مواضِعَpositions بَاءُba
رِ إِذْ المِيمُ في مواضِعَ بَاءُ
He found abuse to be poison in his mouth, unaware
that mim sometimes stands where ba stands.
كانَwas مِنfrom فيهhis mouth قتلُهhis killing بِيَدَيْهِby his hands
كانَ مِن فيه قتلُه بِيَدَيْهِ
فهوso he فيin سوءevil فِعلهhis deed الزَّبَّاءُal-Zabba
فهو في سوء فِعله الزَّبَّاءُ
His killing came from his mouth, by his own hands;
in his evil deed, he is al-Zabba.
أوْor هُوَhe النحلُthe bee قَرْصُهَاits sting يَجْلُبُbrings الحَتdeath—
أوْ هُوَ النحلُ قَرْصُهَا يَجْلُبُ الحَت
فَ—death إليهاupon it وماand not لهfor him إنْكَاءُinjury
فَ إليها وما له إنْكَاءُ
Or a bee whose sting brings death
upon itself, without injuring him.
صَرَعَتْbrought down قومَهُhis people حبائِلُsnares بَغْيٍaggression
صَرَعَتْ قومَهُ حبائِلُ بَغْيٍ
مَدَّهاspread them المكرُcunning منهمfrom them والدَّهاءُand craft
مَدَّها المكرُ منهم والدَّهاءُ
Snares of aggression brought down his people,
spread by their cunning and craft.
فأتتهمso came to them خيلٌhorses إلىto الحربbattle تختاstrutting—
فأتتهم خيلٌ إلى الحرب تختا
لُ—strutting وللخيْلِand for horses فيin الوغَىwarfare خُيَلاءُpride
لُ وللخيْلِ في الوغَى خُيَلاءُ
Horses came to them, proudly advancing to battle;
horses have their pride in warfare.
قَصَدَتْstruck home فيهمamong them القناspears فقَوافِيso rhymes الthe—
قَصَدَتْ فيهم القنا فقَوافِي ال
طعْنِthrusting منهاfrom them ماnot شأنهاtheir nature الإيطاءُrepeated rhyme-word
طعْنِ منها ما شأنها الإيطاءُ
Spears struck home among them; the rhymes
of their thrusts admit no repeated rhyme-word.
وأثَارَتْand stirred بأرضِover the land مكةَMecca نَقْعَاًdust
وأثَارَتْ بأرضِ مكةَ نَقْعَاً
ظُنَّwas thought أنthat الغُدُوَّmorning منهاfrom it عِشاءُevening
ظُنَّ أن الغُدُوَّ منها عِشاءُ
They stirred dust over Mecca's land,
making morning seem evening.
أحْجَمَتْrecoiled عندهُbefore it الحجُونal-Hajun وأكْدىand ceased giving
أحْجَمَتْ عندهُ الحجُون وأكْدى
عِنْدafter إعطائهits giving القليلَlittle كَدَاءُKada
عِنْد إعطائه القليلَ كَدَاءُ
Al-Hajun recoiled before it; Kada ceased
giving, after offering little.
وَدَهَتْand overwhelmed أَوْجُهاًfaces بهاthere وبيوتاًand houses
وَدَهَتْ أَوْجُهاً بها وبيوتاً
مُلّgrew wearisome منهاfrom them الإكفاءُrhyme discord والإقواءُand ending discord
مُلّ منها الإكفاءُ والإقواءُ
It overwhelmed faces and houses
whose discordant rhymes and endings had grown wearisome.
فَدَعَوْاso called upon أحْلَمَmost forbearing البريَّةِcreation والعفْand pardon—
فَدَعَوْا أحْلَمَ البريَّةِ والعفْ
وُ—pardon جوابُreply الحليمِthe forbearing والإغْضاءُand overlooking
وُ جوابُ الحليمِ والإغْضاءُ
They called upon creation's most forbearing; pardon
and overlooking are the forbearing man's reply.
ناشدوهthey invoked to him القُرْبَىkinship التيwhich منof قُرَيْشQuraysh
ناشدوه القُرْبَى التي من قُرَيْش
قطعَتْهَاsevered it التِّراتُblood-feuds والشَّحْناءُand rancor
قطعَتْهَا التِّراتُ والشَّحْناءُ
They invoked kinship with Quraysh, severed
by blood-feuds and rancor.
فعَفاso pardoned عَفْوَpardon قَادرٍa powerful one لمnot يُنَغِّصْembittered—
فعَفا عَفْوَ قَادرٍ لم يُنَغِّصْ
هُ—embittered it عليهمagainst them بماover what مضىpassed إغراءُincitement
هُ عليهم بما مضى إغراءُ
He pardoned with a powerful man's pardon, unembittered
by incitement against them over the past.
وإذاand when كانwere القطْعseverance وَالوصلُand reunion للfor God—
وإذا كان القطْع وَالوصلُ لل
هِ—God تَسَاوَىbecame equal التَّقْرِيبُdrawing near وَالإِقْصاءُand excluding
هِ تَسَاوَى التَّقْرِيبُ وَالإِقْصاءُ
When severance and reunion are for God,
drawing near and excluding become equal.
وسواءٌand equal عليهto him فيماin what أتاهُcame to him
وسواءٌ عليه فيما أتاهُ
مِنْfrom سِواهُothers المَلامُblame وَالإطْراءُand praise
مِنْ سِواهُ المَلامُ وَالإطْراءُ
Equally to him, in what comes
from others, are blame and praise.
وَلَوand if انَّthat انتقامَهُhis vengeance لِهَوَىfor desire النَّفthe self—
وَلَو انَّ انتقامَهُ لِهَوَى النَّف
سِ—self لَدَامَتْwould have endured قطيعةٌestrangement وَجَفَاءُand harshness
سِ لَدَامَتْ قطيعةٌ وَجَفَاءُ
Had his vengeance served selfish desire,
estrangement and harshness would have endured.
قامacted للَّهfor God فيin الأُمورِaffairs فأَرْضَىso pleased الGod—
قام للَّه في الأُمورِ فأَرْضَى ال
لهَ—God منهfrom him تَبايُنٌseparation وَوَفاءُand fidelity
لهَ منه تَبايُنٌ وَوَفاءُ
He acted for God in affairs; God was pleased
by his separation and his fidelity.
فِعْلُهُhis deed كلُّهُall of it جَمِيلٌbeautiful وَهلand does يَنْexude—
فِعْلُهُ كلُّهُ جَمِيلٌ وَهل يَنْ
صَحُ—exude إلّاexcept بمَاwhat حَوَاهُcontained it الإناءُthe vessel
صَحُ إلّا بمَا حَوَاهُ الإناءُ
His every deed is beautiful; does
a vessel exude anything but its contents?
أطْربَdelighted السامعينَlisteners ذِكْرُmention عُلاهُhis exaltation
أطْربَ السامعينَ ذِكْرُ عُلاهُ
ياO لَرَاحٍwhat wine مَالَتْswayed بهَاwith it النُّدَماءُdrinking-companions
يا لَرَاحٍ مَالَتْ بهَا النُّدَماءُ
Mention of his exaltation delighted listeners;
what wine swayed those drinking together!
النبيُّthe Prophet الأميُّunlettered أعلمُmost learned مَنْone who أسtransmitted—
النبيُّ الأميُّ أعلمُ مَنْ أس
نَدَ—transmitted عنهfrom him الرُّوَاةُthe narrators وَالحكَماءُand sages
نَدَ عنه الرُّوَاةُ وَالحكَماءُ
The unlettered Prophet is the most learned of those
from whom narrators and sages transmit.
وَعَدَتْنِيpromised me ازْدِيَارَهُvisiting him العامَthis year وَجْناa sturdy camel—
وَعَدَتْنِي ازْدِيَارَهُ العامَ وَجْنا
ءٌ—sturdy camel وَمَنَّتْand bestowed favor بِوَعْدِهاwith its promise الوجْناءُthe sturdy camel
ءٌ وَمَنَّتْ بِوَعْدِها الوجْناءُ
A sturdy she-camel promised me his visitation this year;
her promise bestowed a favor.
أفلاshall I not أنْطَوِيfold myself لهاupon her فيin اقْتضائِيmy demanding
أفلا أنْطَوِي لها في اقْتضائِي
هit لِتُطْوَىthat be folded ماwhat بَيْنَناbetween us الأَفْلاءُdeserts
ه لِتُطْوَى ما بَيْنَنا الأَفْلاءُ
Shall I not fold myself upon her, demanding
it, so deserts between us are folded away?
بألُوفِwith one accustomed to البَطْحاءِal-Batha يُجْفِلُهَاfrightens her النِّيthe Nile—
بألُوفِ البَطْحاءِ يُجْفِلُهَا النِّي
لُ—Nile وقدand indeed شَفَّhollowed جَوْفَهَاher belly الإِظْماءُthirst
لُ وقد شَفَّ جَوْفَهَا الإِظْماءُ
Accustomed to al-Batha, she is frightened by the Nile,
though thirst has hollowed her belly.
أنْكَرَتْfound unfamiliar مِصْرَEgypt فَهيَso she تَنْفِرُshies ماwhenever لاappeared—
أنْكَرَتْ مِصْرَ فَهيَ تَنْفِرُ ما لا
حَ—appeared بِنَاءٌa building لِعَيْنِهَاto her eye أوْor خَلاءُopen space
حَ بِنَاءٌ لِعَيْنِهَا أوْ خَلاءُ
She found Egypt unfamiliar, shying whenever
a building or open space appeared to her eye.
فأَقَضّتْso troubled عَلَىat مبَارِكهاher kneeling-places بِرْher pond—
فأَقَضّتْ عَلَى مبَارِكها بِرْ
كَتهَا—her pond فالبُّوَيْبُthen al-Buwayb فالخَضْراءُthen al-Khadra
كَتهَا فالبُّوَيْبُ فالخَضْراءُ
Her kneeling-places troubled her: her pond,
then al-Buwayb, then al-Khadra.
فالقِبَابُthen the domes التيwhich تَلِيهاneighbor it فبِئْرُthen well الthe—
فالقِبَابُ التي تَلِيها فبِئْرُ ال
نخْلِpalms وَالرَّكْبُand the caravan قائِلُونَresting at noon رِوَاءُwell watered
نخْلِ وَالرَّكْبُ قائِلُونَ رِوَاءُ
Then the neighboring domes, then Bi'r al-Nakhl,
where the caravan rests at noon, well watered.
وَغَدَتْand became أَيْلَةُAyla وَحِقْلٌand Hiql وَقُرٌّand Qurr
وَغَدَتْ أَيْلَةُ وَحِقْلٌ وَقُرٌّ
خَلْفَهاbehind her فَالمَغَارَةُthen al-Maghara الفَيْحَاءُspacious
خَلْفَها فَالمَغَارَةُ الفَيْحَاءُ
Ayla, Hiql, and Qurr came to lie
behind her, then spacious al-Maghara.
فعيونُthen springs الأَقْصَابِal-Aqsab يَتبعُهاfollows them النَّبal-Nabk—
فعيونُ الأَقْصَابِ يَتبعُها النَّب
كُ—al-Nabk وَيتْلوand follows كُفَافَةَKufafa العَوْجاءُal-Awja
كُ وَيتْلو كُفَافَةَ العَوْجاءُ
Then Uyun al-Aqsab, followed by al-Nabk;
al-Awja follows Kufafa.
حاوَرَتْهَاconversed with her الحوراءُal-Hawra شَوْقاًin longing فينبوthen Yanbu—
حاوَرَتْهَا الحوراءُ شَوْقاً فينبو
عٌ—Yanbu فَرَقَّso grew tender اليَنْبُوعُthe spring وَالْحَوْراءُand al-Hawra
عٌ فَرَقَّ اليَنْبُوعُ وَالْحَوْراءُ
Al-Hawra spoke with her in longing, then Yanbu;
the spring and al-Hawra grew tender.
لاحَappeared بالدَّهْنَوَيْنِat al-Dahnawayn بَدْرٌBadr لهاto her بَعafter—
لاحَ بالدَّهْنَوَيْنِ بَدْرٌ لها بَع
دَ—after حُنَيْنٍHunayn وَحَنَّتِand yearned الصَّفْرَاءُal-Safra
دَ حُنَيْنٍ وَحَنَّتِ الصَّفْرَاءُ
At al-Dahnawayn, Badr appeared to her after
Hunayn; al-Safra yearned.
ونَضَتْand stripped بَزْوَةٌBazwa فرابغُthen Rabigh فالجُحْthen al-Juhfa—
ونَضَتْ بَزْوَةٌ فرابغُ فالجُحْ
فَةُ—al-Juhfa عنهاfrom her ماwhat حاكهwove it الإِنضاءُexhaustion
فَةُ عنها ما حاكه الإِنضاءُ
Bazwa, Rabigh, and al-Juhfa stripped from her
what exhaustion had woven.
وأرَتْهَاand showed her الخَلاصَdeliverance بئْرُwell عَليٍّAli
وأرَتْهَا الخَلاصَ بئْرُ عَليٍّ
فَعِقَابُthen Iqab السَّوِيقِal-Sawiq فالخَلصاءُthen al-Khalsa
فَعِقَابُ السَّوِيقِ فالخَلصاءُ
Bi'r Ali showed her deliverance,
then Iqab al-Sawiq, then al-Khalsa.
فهْيَso she منfrom ماءwater بئْرِwell عُسفَانَUsfan أوor مِنْfrom
فهْيَ من ماء بئْرِ عُسفَانَ أو مِنْ
بَطْنِBatn مَرٍّMarr ظمآنةٌthirsty خَمْصَاءُhollow-bellied
بَطْنِ مَرٍّ ظمآنةٌ خَمْصَاءُ
From the water of Bi'r Usfan, or from
Batn Marr, she remains thirsty and hollow-bellied.
قَرَّبَbrought near الزَّاهِرَal-Zahir المساجِدُal-Masajid منهاto her
قَرَّبَ الزَّاهِرَ المساجِدُ منها
بخُطاهاthrough her steps فالبُطءُso slowness منهاfrom her وَحاءُspeed
بخُطاها فالبُطءُ منها وَحاءُ
Al-Masajid brought al-Zahir near her
through her steps; her slowness is speed.
هذهthese عِدَّةُnumber المنازلِstopping-places لاnot ماwhat
هذه عِدَّةُ المنازلِ لا ما
عدَّwas counted فيهin it السّماكُal-Simak وَالعَوَّاءُand al-Awwa
عدَّ فيه السّماكُ وَالعَوَّاءُ
These are the counted stopping-places, not those
in which al-Simak and al-Awwa are counted.
فكأَنيso as though I بهاupon her أُرَحِّلُtransport منْfrom مَكMecca—
فكأَني بها أُرَحِّلُ منْ مَك
كَةَ—Mecca شمساًa sun سماؤُهاits sky البَيْداءُthe desert
كَةَ شمساً سماؤُها البَيْداءُ
As though upon her I transported from Mecca
a sun whose sky is the desert.
مَوْضِعُsite البَيْتِthe House مَهْبِطُdescent-place الوَحْيrevelation مأْوىrefuge الthe—
مَوْضِعُ البَيْتِ مَهْبِطُ الوَحْي مأْوى ال
رسلِmessengers حيثُwhere الأنوارُlights حيثُwhere البَهاءُsplendor
رسلِ حيثُ الأنوارُ حيثُ البَهاءُ
The House's site, revelation's descent-place, the messengers' refuge,
where lights dwell, where splendor dwells.
حيثُwhere فرضُprescription الطَّوَافِcircumambulation والسَّعْيُand ritual running وَالحلand shaving—
حيثُ فرضُ الطَّوَافِ والسَّعْيُ وَالحل
قُ—shaving وَرَمْيُand casting الجِمارpebbles وَالإِهداءُand sacrificial offerings
قُ وَرَمْيُ الجِمار وَالإِهداءُ
Where circumambulation, running, and shaving are prescribed,
and pebble-casting and sacrificial offerings.
حَبَّذاhow lovely حَبَّذَاhow lovely معاهِدُsacred sites منهاof it
حَبَّذا حَبَّذَا معاهِدُ منها
لمnot يُغَيِّرْaltered آياتِهِنَّtheir signs البِلاءُdecay
لم يُغَيِّرْ آياتِهِنَّ البِلاءُ
How lovely, how lovely its sacred sites,
whose signs decay has not altered!
حَرَمٌa sanctuary آمِنsecure وَبَيْتٌand a House حَرامٌsacred
حَرَمٌ آمِن وَبَيْتٌ حَرامٌ
وَمَقَامٌand a Station فيهin it المُقامُabiding تَلاءُprotection
وَمَقَامٌ فيه المُقامُ تَلاءُ
A secure sanctuary, a sacred House,
a Station where abiding is protection.
فَقَضَيْنَاso we performed بهاthere مَناسِكَrites لاnot يُحis praised—
فَقَضَيْنَا بها مَناسِكَ لا يُح
مَدُ—is praised إلّاexcept فيin فِعْلِهِنَّperforming them القضاءُfulfillment
مَدُ إلّا في فِعْلِهِنَّ القضاءُ
There we performed rites whose fulfillment
is praised only through their performance.
وَرَمَيْنَاand we shot through بهاupon her الفِجَاجَmountain-passages إلَىtoward طَيْTayba—
وَرَمَيْنَا بها الفِجَاجَ إلَى طَيْ
بَةَ—Tayba والسَّيْرُand traveling بالمطاياby mounts رِماءُshooting
بَةَ والسَّيْرُ بالمطايا رِماءُ
We shot through the mountain-passages toward Tayba;
traveling by mounts is shooting.
فأصَبْناso we struck عَنْfrom قَوْسِهاher bow غَرضَtarget القُرnearness—
فأصَبْنا عَنْ قَوْسِها غَرضَ القُر
بِ—nearness وَنِعْمَand excellent الخَبِيئَةُthe reserve الكَوْمَاءُhigh-humped camel
بِ وَنِعْمَ الخَبِيئَةُ الكَوْمَاءُ
From her bow we struck nearness's target;
what an excellent reserve is the high-humped camel!
فرأيناso we saw أرضَland الحَبيبِthe beloved يَغُضُّlowers الthe—
فرأينا أرضَ الحَبيبِ يَغُضُّ ال
طرفَgaze منهاfrom it الضياءُbrilliance وَالْلأْلاءُand radiance
طرفَ منها الضياءُ وَالْلأْلاءُ
We saw the beloved's land, whose brilliance
and radiance made the gaze lower.
فكأنَّso as though البَيْدَاءَthe desert مِنْfrom حيثُماwherever قاmet—
فكأنَّ البَيْدَاءَ مِنْ حيثُما قا
بَلَتِ—met العَينَthe eye رَوْضَةa garden غَنَّاءُluxuriant
بَلَتِ العَينَ رَوْضَة غَنَّاءُ
As though the desert, wherever it met
the eye, were a luxuriant garden.
وكأَنَّand as though البِقاعَthe lands زَرَّتْfastened عليهاover them
وكأَنَّ البِقاعَ زَرَّتْ عليها
طَرَفَيْهاits two edges مُلاءَةٌa mantle حَمْرَاءُred
طَرَفَيْها مُلاءَةٌ حَمْرَاءُ
As though a red mantle
had fastened its two edges over the lands.
وكأَنَّand as though الأَرجاءthe regions تَنشُرspread نَشْرfragrance الthe—
وكأَنَّ الأَرجاء تَنشُر نَشْر ال
مِسْكِmusk فيهاthrough them الجَنُوبُsouth wind وَالجِرْبِياءُand north wind
مِسْكِ فيها الجَنُوبُ وَالجِرْبِياءُ
As though the regions spread musk's fragrance,
borne through them by south and north winds.
فإذاso when شِمتَyou behold أوor شَمِمْتَyou smell رُبَاهاits hills
فإذا شِمتَ أو شَمِمْتَ رُبَاها
لاحَflashed منهاfrom them برقٌlightning وفاحَand breathed كِباءُincense
لاحَ منها برقٌ وفاحَ كِباءُ
When you behold or smell its hills,
lightning flashes and incense breathes from them.
أيَّwhat نُورٍlight وَأيَّand what نَوْرٍblossoms شَهِدْناwe witnessed
أيَّ نُورٍ وَأيَّ نَوْرٍ شَهِدْنا
يَوْمَthe day أَبْدَتrevealed لَناto us القِبَابَthe domes قُباءُQuba
يَوْمَ أَبْدَت لَنا القِبَابَ قُباءُ
What light and what blossoms we witnessed
when Quba revealed its domes to us!
قَرَّsettled منهاthere دَمْعِيmy tears وفَرَّand fled اصْطبَارِيmy endurance
قَرَّ منها دَمْعِي وفَرَّ اصْطبَارِي
فدُمُوعيso my tears سَيْلٌa torrent وصَبْرِيand my patience جُفاءُswept-away foam
فدُمُوعي سَيْلٌ وصَبْرِي جُفاءُ
My tears settled there, and my endurance fled;
my tears are a torrent, my patience swept-away foam.
فترىso you see الرَّكْبَthe caravan طائرِينَflying منfrom الشَّوْlonging—
فترى الرَّكْبَ طائرِينَ من الشَّوْ
قِ—longing إِلىtoward طَيْبَةٍTayba لَهُمْfor them ضَوْضاءُclamor
قِ إِلى طَيْبَةٍ لَهُمْ ضَوْضاءُ
You see the caravan flying from longing
toward Tayba, raising a clamor.
وكأَنَّand as though الزُّوَّارَthe visitors مَاnot مَسَّتِtouched البَأْadversity—
وكأَنَّ الزُّوَّارَ مَا مَسَّتِ البَأْ
ساءُ—adversity منهمamong them خَلْقاًanyone ولاnor الضَّرَّاءُhardship
ساءُ منهم خَلْقاً ولا الضَّرَّاءُ
As though adversity had touched
none of the visitors, nor hardship.
كلُّevery نفسٍsoul منهاamong them ابتهالsupplication وسؤْلٌand petition
كلُّ نفسٍ منها ابتهال وسؤْلٌ
ودُعاءٌand prayer وَرَغْبَةand desire وَابْتِغَاءُand seeking
ودُعاءٌ وَرَغْبَة وَابْتِغَاءُ
Every soul offers supplication and petition,
prayer, desire, and seeking.
وَزَفيرٌand sighing تَظُنُّyou imagine منهfrom it صُدوراًbreasts
وَزَفيرٌ تَظُنُّ منه صُدوراً
صادحاتٍcrying aloud يَعْتادُهُنَّrecur in them زُقاءُcalls
صادحاتٍ يَعْتادُهُنَّ زُقاءُ
And sighing, making you imagine breasts
crying aloud, repeatedly filled with calls.
وَبُكَاءٌand weeping يُغْرِيِهِurges it بالعينupon the eye مَدّa swelling tide
وَبُكَاءٌ يُغْرِيِهِ بالعين مَدّ
وَنجيبٌand sobbing يَحُثُّهurges it اسْتِعلاءُrising
وَنجيبٌ يَحُثُّه اسْتِعلاءُ
And weeping, urged upon the eye by a swelling tide,
and sobbing urged ever higher.
وجُسومٌand bodies كَأَنَّمَاas though رَحَضَتْهَاwashed them
وجُسومٌ كَأَنَّمَا رَحَضَتْهَا
منْfrom عظيمgreatness المَهَابَةِawe الرُّحَضاءُsweat
منْ عظيم المَهَابَةِ الرُّحَضاءُ
Bodies as though washed
by sweat from overwhelming awe.
وَوجُوهٌand faces كأَنَّماas though ألْبَسَتْهاclothed them
وَوجُوهٌ كأَنَّما ألْبَسَتْها
منْfrom حياءٍmodesty ألوانَهاits colors الحرْباءُthe chameleon
منْ حياءٍ ألوانَها الحرْباءُ
Faces as though clothed
by modesty in the chameleon's colors.
ودموعٌand tears كأنّماas though أرسلتهاsent them
ودموعٌ كأنّما أرسلتها
منfrom جفونٍeyelids سحابةٌa cloud وطفاءُheavy
من جفونٍ سحابةٌ وطفاءُ
Tears as though sent down
from eyelids by a heavy cloud.
فَحَطَطْناso we set down الرِّحالَsaddles حيثُwhere يحَطُّis removed الthe—
فَحَطَطْنا الرِّحالَ حيثُ يحَطُّ ال
وِزْرُburden عنّاfrom us وترفعand is lifted الحوجاءُneed
وِزْرُ عنّا وترفع الحوجاءُ
We set down our saddles where burdens
are removed from us and need is lifted.
وَقَرَأْناand we addressed السلامَpeace أكْرَمَnoblest خلقcreature الGod—
وَقَرَأْنا السلامَ أكْرَمَ خلق ال
لَه—God مِنْfrom حيثُwhere يُسمَعُis heard الإقْراءُgreeting
لَه مِنْ حيثُ يُسمَعُ الإقْراءُ
We addressed peace to God's noblest creature,
from where the greeting could be heard.
وذهلناand we were bewildered عندat اللقاءmeeting وكمand how often أَذْbewildered—
وذهلنا عند اللقاء وكم أَذْ
هَلَ—bewildered صَبَّاًa lover منfrom الحَبيبِthe beloved لِقاءُa meeting
هَلَ صَبَّاً من الحَبيبِ لِقاءُ
We were bewildered at meeting; how often
meeting the beloved bewilders a lover!
وَوَجمنَاand we fell silent مِنَfrom المَهَابَةِawe حتَّىuntil
وَوَجمنَا مِنَ المَهَابَةِ حتَّى
لاno كلامٌspeech مناfrom us ولاnor إيماءُgesture
لا كلامٌ منا ولا إيماءُ
We fell silent with awe, until
neither speech nor gesture came from us.
وَرَجَعْناand we returned وَللقلُوبِand for hearts التفاتاturnings—
وَرَجَعْنا وَللقلُوبِ التفاتا
تٌ—turnings إليهtoward him وللجُسومand for bodies انْثِناءُturning away
تٌ إليه وللجُسوم انْثِناءُ
We returned, our hearts turning
toward him while our bodies turned away.
وَسَمحْناand we relinquished بماwhat نُحِبُّwe love وقدand may يَسrelinquish—
وَسَمحْنا بما نُحِبُّ وقد يَس
مَحُ—relinquish عندat الضرورةِnecessity البُخلاءُthe miserly
مَحُ عند الضرورةِ البُخلاءُ
We relinquished what we love; even
the miserly relinquish at necessity.
ياO أباAbu القاسمِal-Qasim الذيwho ضِمنَwithin إِقساmy adjuration—
يا أبا القاسمِ الذي ضِمنَ إِقسا
مِي—my adjuration عليهconcerning him مَدْحٌpraise لهُfor him وَثَنَاءُand commendation
مِي عليه مَدْحٌ لهُ وَثَنَاءُ
O Abu al-Qasim, whom my adjuration
contains praise and commendation for!
بالعلومِby the knowledge التيwhich عَليكَupon you مِنfrom اللGod—
بالعلومِ التي عَليكَ مِن الل
هِ—God بلاwithout كاتِبٍa scribe لهاfor it إِمْلاءُdictation
هِ بلا كاتِبٍ لها إِمْلاءُ
By the knowledge dictated to you from God,
without any scribe to write it;
ومسيرand march الصَّباthe east wind بنصْرِكto aid you شَهْراa month
ومسير الصَّبا بنصْرِك شَهْرا
فكأَنَّso as though الصَّباthe east wind لَدَيكَbeside you رُخاءُa gentle breeze
فكأَنَّ الصَّبا لَدَيكَ رُخاءُ
and the east wind's month-long march to aid you,
as though it were a gentle breeze beside you;
وَعَلِيٍّand Ali لمَّاwhen تَفَلْتَyou spat بِعَيْنَيْinto his eyes—
وَعَلِيٍّ لمَّا تَفَلْتَ بِعَيْنَيْ
هِ—his eyes وكلتاهماand both مَعاًtogether رمْداءُinflamed
هِ وكلتاهما مَعاً رمْداءُ
and Ali, when you spat into his eyes,
both together afflicted with inflammation;
فَغَداso became ناظراًseeing بِعَيْنَيْwith eyes عُقَابٍan eagle
فَغَدا ناظراً بِعَيْنَيْ عُقَابٍ
فيin غَزاةٍa campaign لهاfor it العُقَابُal-Uqab لِواءُa banner
في غَزاةٍ لها العُقَابُ لِواءُ
he came to see with an eagle's eyes
in a campaign whose banner was al-Uqab;
وَبِرَيْحانَتَيْنِand by two basils طيبُهُماtheir fragrance مِنfrom—
وَبِرَيْحانَتَيْنِ طيبُهُما مِن
كَ—you الذيwhich أودعتهُماentrusted them الزَّهْراءُal-Zahra
كَ الذي أودعتهُما الزَّهْراءُ
and by two sweet basils whose fragrance came from
you, entrusted by al-Zahra;
كُنْتَyou were تُؤْوِيهِمَاsheltering them إليكbeside you كماas آsheltered—
كُنْتَ تُؤْوِيهِمَا إليك كما آ
وَتْ—sheltered منof الخَطِّwriting نُقْطَتَيْهَاits two dots اليَاءُya
وَتْ من الخَطِّ نُقْطَتَيْهَا اليَاءُ
you sheltered them beside you as
the written ya shelters its two dots;
مِنْof شهيدَيْنِtwo martyrs ليسnot يُنْسِيَنيmakes me forget الطَّفal-Taff—
مِنْ شهيدَيْنِ ليس يُنْسِيَني الطَّف
فُ—al-Taff مُصابَيْهِماtheir afflictions وَلاnor كَرْبَلاءُKarbala
فُ مُصابَيْهِما وَلا كَرْبَلاءُ
two martyrs, whose afflictions al-Taff
and Karbala never let me forget;
مَاnot رَعَىobserved فيهماtoward them ذِمامَكyour covenant مرؤوa subordinate—
مَا رَعَى فيهما ذِمامَك مرؤو
سٌ—subordinate وَقدand indeed خانَbetrayed عَهْدَكَyour pledge الرُّؤساءُthe leaders
سٌ وَقد خانَ عَهْدَكَ الرُّؤساءُ
no subordinate observed your covenant toward them,
while the leaders betrayed your pledge.
أبْدَلواthey replaced الودَّlove وَالحَفيظَةَand protective zeal فيtoward القُرْkin—
أبْدَلوا الودَّ وَالحَفيظَةَ في القُرْ
بَى—kin وَأَبدَتْand exposed ضِبَابهاits lizards النَّافِقاءُthe escape-burrow
بَى وَأَبدَتْ ضِبَابها النَّافِقاءُ
They changed love and protective zeal toward kin,
and the escape-burrow exposed its lizards.
وَقَسَتْand hardened منهمamong them قلوبٌhearts عَلَىtoward مَنْthose who
وَقَسَتْ منهم قلوبٌ عَلَى مَنْ
بَكَتِmourned الأرضُearth فقدَهمtheir loss والسماءُand heaven
بَكَتِ الأرضُ فقدَهم والسماءُ
Their hearts hardened toward those
whose loss earth and heaven mourned.
فابْكِهِمْso weep for them ماas much as اسْتَطَعْتَyou can إنَّindeed قليلاًlittle
فابْكِهِمْ ما اسْتَطَعْتَ إنَّ قليلاً
فيbeside عَظيمٍgreatness مِنof المُصابِaffliction البُكاءُweeping
في عَظيمٍ مِن المُصابِ البُكاءُ
Weep for them as much as you can; little
is weeping beside so great an affliction.
كلَّevery يوْمٍday وَكلُّand every أَرْضٍland لِكَرْبيthrough my grief
كلَّ يوْمٍ وَكلُّ أَرْضٍ لِكَرْبي
منهمُfor them كَرْبَلاKarbala وَعاشورَاءُand Ashura
منهمُ كَرْبَلا وَعاشورَاءُ
Every day and every land, through my grief
for them, is Karbala and Ashura.
آلَhousehold بَيْتِHouse النبيِّthe Prophet إِنَّindeed فُؤادِيmy heart
آلَ بَيْتِ النبيِّ إِنَّ فُؤادِي
ليسَnot يُسْلِيهِconsoles it عَنْكمfor you التَّأْسَاءُconsolation
ليسَ يُسْلِيهِ عَنْكم التَّأْسَاءُ
O household of the Prophet, my heart
is not consoled for you by consolation.
غيرَexcept أَنِّيthat I فَوَّضْتُentrusted أَمْرِيmy affair إِلَىto اللGod—
غيرَ أَنِّي فَوَّضْتُ أَمْرِي إِلَى الل
هِ—God وَتَفْوِيضِيَand my entrusting الأُمورَaffairs بَراءُrelease
هِ وَتَفْوِيضِيَ الأُمورَ بَراءُ
Yet I entrusted my affair to God;
entrusting affairs brings release.
رُبَّmany a يومٍday بِكَربَلاءَat Karbala مُسيئٍevil
رُبَّ يومٍ بِكَربَلاءَ مُسيئٍ
خَفَّفَتْlightened بعضsome وِزْرِهِits burden الزَّوْراءُal-Zawra
خَفَّفَتْ بعض وِزْرِهِ الزَّوْراءُ
Many an evil day at Karbala
had some of its burden lightened by al-Zawra.
وَالأَعادِيand the enemies كَأَنَّas though كلَّevery طَرِيحٍfallen one
وَالأَعادِي كَأَنَّ كلَّ طَرِيحٍ
منهمُamong them الزَّقُّthe wineskin حُلَّwas loosened عَنْهfrom it الوِكاءُthe tie
منهمُ الزَّقُّ حُلَّ عَنْه الوِكاءُ
Each fallen enemy was as though
a wineskin whose tie had been loosened.
آلَhousehold بيتِHouse النبيِّthe Prophet طبتُمyou were good فطابَso became good الْthe—
آلَ بيتِ النبيِّ طبتُم فطابَ الْ
مَدْحُpraise لِيfor me فيكُمُof you وَطابَand became good الرّثاءُelegy
مَدْحُ لِي فيكُمُ وَطابَ الرّثاءُ
Household of the Prophet, your goodness makes good
my praise of you, and my elegy.
أناI حَسَّانُHassan مَدْحِكمyour praise فإذَاand when نُحْI lament—
أنا حَسَّانُ مَدْحِكم فإذَا نُحْ
تُ—I lament عليكمْyou فإنَّنِيthen I الخنساءُal-Khansa
تُ عليكمْ فإنَّنِي الخنساءُ
I am the Hassan of your praise; when I lament
you, I am al-Khansa.
سُدْتُمُyou ruled النّاسَpeople بالتُّقَىthrough piety وَسِواكمand others
سُدْتُمُ النّاسَ بالتُّقَى وَسِواكم
سَوَّدَتْهُmade him master البَيْضاءُsilver والصَّفْراءُand gold
سَوَّدَتْهُ البَيْضاءُ والصَّفْراءُ
You ruled people through piety; others
were raised to mastery by silver and gold.
وَبِأصحابكand by your companions الذينwho همُthey بَعْafter—
وَبِأصحابك الذين همُ بَعْ
دَكَ—you فيناamong us الهُداةُguides وَالأوْصِياءُand trustees
دَكَ فينا الهُداةُ وَالأوْصِياءُ
And by your companions, who after
you are our guides and trustees;
أَحْسَنُواthey did well بعدكَafter you الخِلافَةَsuccession فِيin الديreligion—
أَحْسَنُوا بعدكَ الخِلافَةَ فِي الدي
نِ—religion وَكلٌّand each لِماto what تَوَلَّىhe undertook إزَاءُequal
نِ وَكلٌّ لِما تَوَلَّى إزَاءُ
they fulfilled succession in religion well after you,
each equal to what he undertook.
أَغْنياءٌrich نزاهَةًin integrity فُقَرَاءpoor
أَغْنياءٌ نزاهَةً فُقَرَاء
عُلَمَاءٌscholars أَئمَّةٌleaders أُمَرَاءُcommanders
عُلَمَاءٌ أَئمَّةٌ أُمَرَاءُ
Rich in integrity, yet poor;
scholars, leaders, and commanders.
زَهِدُواthey renounced فيin الدُّنَاworldly things فماso not عُرِفَwas known المَيinclination—
زَهِدُوا في الدُّنَا فما عُرِفَ المَي
لُ—inclination إلَيْهَاtoward them منهمamong them وَلاnor الرَّغْبَاءُdesire
لُ إلَيْهَا منهم وَلا الرَّغْبَاءُ
They renounced worldly things; no inclination
or desire for them was known among them.
أَرْخَصُواthey cheapened فيin الوغَىbattle نُفُوسَlives مُلُوكٍkings
أَرْخَصُوا في الوغَى نُفُوسَ مُلُوكٍ
حارَبُوهاthey fought them أسلابُهاtheir spoils إغْلاءُcostliness
حارَبُوها أسلابُها إغْلاءُ
In battle they cheapened the lives of kings
they fought, whose spoils were costly.
كلُّهُمْall of them فيin أحكامهits rulings ذوpossessing اجتهادٍindependent judgment
كلُّهُمْ في أحكامه ذو اجتهادٍ
وَصَوابٍand correctness وَكُلُّهمْand all of them أَكفاءُworthy equals
وَصَوابٍ وَكُلُّهمْ أَكفاءُ
Each exercises judgment in its rulings
with correctness; all are worthy equals.
رَضِيَwas pleased اللَّهُGod عَنْهُمُwith them وَرَضُواand were pleased عَنْwith—
رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمُ وَرَضُوا عَنْ
هُ—Him فأنَّىso how يَخطوsteps إليهمtoward them خَطَاءُerror
هُ فأنَّى يَخطو إليهم خَطَاءُ
God was pleased with them, and they with Him;
how could error step toward them?
جاءcame قَوْمٌa people مِنْfrom بَعْدِafter قَوْمٍa people بحَقٍّwith truth
جاء قَوْمٌ مِنْ بَعْدِ قَوْمٍ بحَقٍّ
وَعَلَىand upon المَنْهَجِthe path الحَنِيفِيِّupright جاؤواthey came
وَعَلَى المَنْهَجِ الحَنِيفِيِّ جاؤوا
People came after people with truth,
following the upright path.
ماnot لموسىfor Moses وَلاnor لعِيسىfor Jesus حَوارِيdisciples—
ما لموسى وَلا لعِيسى حَوارِي
يُونَ—disciples فيin فَضْلِهمtheir excellence وَلاnor نُقَبَاءُchiefs
يُونَ في فَضْلِهم وَلا نُقَبَاءُ
Neither Moses nor Jesus had disciples
or chiefs matching their excellence.
بأَبيby Abu بَكْرٍBakr اِلذيwho صَحَّwas established لِلنَّاfor people—
بأَبي بَكْرٍ اِلذي صَحَّ لِلنَّا
سِ—people بهthrough him فيduring حياتكyour lifetime الإِقتِداءُfollowing
سِ به في حياتك الإِقتِداءُ
By Abu Bakr, through whom following
was rightly established for people during your lifetime;
والمُهَدِّيand the pacifier يَوْمَday السَّقِيفَةِal-Saqifa لَماwhen
والمُهَدِّي يَوْمَ السَّقِيفَةِ لَما
أرْجَفَspread alarms الناسُthe people أنهthat it الدَّأْدَاءُcalamity
أرْجَفَ الناسُ أنه الدَّأْدَاءُ
the pacifier on the day of al-Saqifa, when
people spread alarms that it was calamity;
أَنقذَrescued الدينَreligion بعدَafter ماwhat كانwas للدfor religion—
أَنقذَ الدينَ بعدَ ما كان للد
دينِ—religion عَلَىupon كلِّevery كُرْبَةٍdistress إشْفَاءُbeing on the brink
دينِ عَلَى كلِّ كُرْبَةٍ إشْفَاءُ
he rescued religion after it had stood
on the brink of every distress.
أَنْفَقَspent المالَwealth فيfor رِضَاكَyour pleasure وَلاand no مَنreproach—
أَنْفَقَ المالَ في رِضَاكَ وَلا مَن
نٌ—reproach وَأَعْطَىand gave جَمَّاًabundantly وَلاand no إكْداءُwithholding
نٌ وَأَعْطَى جَمَّاً وَلا إكْداءُ
He spent wealth to please you, without reproach,
and gave abundantly without withholding.
وأبيand Abu حَفْصٍHafs الذيwho أظهرmanifested اللGod—
وأبي حَفْصٍ الذي أظهر الل
هُ—God بهthrough him الدينَreligion فارعَوىso drew back الرُّقباءُthe watchers
هُ به الدينَ فارعَوى الرُّقباءُ
And Abu Hafs, through whom God manifested
religion, so watchers drew back;
والذيand who تَقْرُبُdraw near الأباعِدُthe distant فيfor اللGod—
والذي تَقْرُبُ الأباعِدُ في الل
هِ—God إليهto him وَتَبْعُدُand grow distant القُرَباءُrelatives
هِ إليه وَتَبْعُدُ القُرَباءُ
one to whom distant people draw near for God,
while relatives grow distant;
عُمَرUmar بنson الخطابِal-Khattab مَنْwhose قَوْلُهُhis word الفَصdecisive—
عُمَر بن الخطابِ مَنْ قَوْلُهُ الفَص
لُ—decisive ومَنْand whose حُكْمُهُhis judgment السَّوِيُّupright السّواءُequitable
لُ ومَنْ حُكْمُهُ السَّوِيُّ السّواءُ
Umar ibn al-Khattab, whose word is decisive,
whose judgment is upright and equitable.
فَرَّfled منهfrom him الشيطانُSatan إذْbecause كانَwas فاروa Distinguisher—
فَرَّ منه الشيطانُ إذْ كانَ فارو
قاً—Distinguisher فلِلنَّارِso for fire مِنْfrom سَنَاهُhis radiance انْبِراءُrecoiling
قاً فلِلنَّارِ مِنْ سَنَاهُ انْبِراءُ
Satan fled him because he was the Distinguisher;
fire recoils from his radiance.
وَابْنand son عفَّانَAffan ذِيpossessor الأياديfavors التيwhich طاwas long—
وَابْن عفَّانَ ذِي الأيادي التي طا
لَ—was long إلىto المصطفىthe Chosen One بهاwith them الإِسْدَاءُbestowal
لَ إلى المصطفى بها الإِسْدَاءُ
And Ibn Affan, whose favors
were long bestowed upon the Chosen One;
حَفَرdug البِئْرَthe well جَهَّزَequipped الجَيْشَthe army أهْدَىoffered الْthe—
حَفَر البِئْرَ جَهَّزَ الجَيْشَ أهْدَى الْ
هَدْيَsacrificial animals لماwhen أنْthat صَدَّهُbarred him الأعْداءُthe enemies
هَدْيَ لما أنْ صَدَّهُ الأعْداءُ
he dug the well, equipped the army, offered
sacrificial animals when enemies barred him.
وَأبَىand refused أنْto يَطُوفَcircumambulate بالبيتِthe House إذْwhen لمْnot
وَأبَى أنْ يَطُوفَ بالبيتِ إذْ لمْ
يَدْنُwas accessible منهof it إلىto the Prophet النبيِّcourtyard space فِناءُcourtyard
يَدْنُ منه إلى النبيِّ فِناءُ
He refused to circumambulate the House when
its courtyard was inaccessible to the Prophet.
فَجَزَتْهُso rewarded him عنهاfor it بِبِيعَةِwith the Pledge رِضْواRidwan—
فَجَزَتْهُ عنها بِبِيعَةِ رِضْوا
نٍ—Ridwan يَدٌa hand مِنْfrom نَبِيِّهِhis Prophet بَيْضَاءُgracious
نٍ يَدٌ مِنْ نَبِيِّهِ بَيْضَاءُ
For that, a gracious hand of his Prophet
rewarded him with the Pledge of Ridwan.
أدَبٌcourtesy عندهwith him تَضَاعَفَتِwere multiplied الأعdeeds—
أدَبٌ عنده تَضَاعَفَتِ الأع
مالُ—deeds بالترْكِthrough abstention حَبَّذَاhow lovely الأُدَباءُthe courteous
مالُ بالترْكِ حَبَّذَا الأُدَباءُ
Such courtesy: deeds were multiplied
through abstention. How lovely the courteous!
وَعَلِيٍّand Ali صِنْوِcounterpart النبيّthe Prophet وَمَنْand whose دِيreligion—
وَعَلِيٍّ صِنْوِ النبيّ وَمَنْ دِي
نُ—religion فُؤادِيmy heart وِدادُهُhis love وَالوَلاءُand allegiance
نُ فُؤادِي وِدادُهُ وَالوَلاءُ
And Ali, the Prophet's counterpart, whose love
and allegiance are my heart's religion;
وَوَزيرِand minister ابنson عَمِّهhis uncle فيin المعاليlofty endeavors
وَوَزيرِ ابن عَمِّه في المعالي
ومِنَand from الأهلِfamily تُسْعَدُare prospered الوُزَراءُministers
ومِنَ الأهلِ تُسْعَدُ الوُزَراءُ
his cousin's minister in lofty endeavors;
ministers prosper when drawn from family.
لمnot يَزِدْهُincreased him كَشْفُunveiling الغِطاءِthe covering يَقِيناًin certainty
لم يَزِدْهُ كَشْفُ الغِطاءِ يَقِيناً
بَلrather هُوَhe الشمْسُthe sun ماno عليهupon him غِطاءُcovering
بَل هُوَ الشمْسُ ما عليه غِطاءُ
Unveiling the covering would not increase his certainty;
he is the sun, with no covering upon him.
وبباقِيand by remaining أصحابِكَyour companions المُظْهِرِmaking manifest التَّرْranking—
وبباقِي أصحابِكَ المُظْهِرِ التَّرْ
تيبِ—ranking فيناamong us تَفْضِيلُهمpreferring them والولاءُand allegiance
تيبِ فينا تَفْضِيلُهم والولاءُ
And your remaining companions, whose ranking
our preference and allegiance make manifest;
طَلْحَةِTalha الخَيْرِgoodness المُرْتَضِيهِchosen by you رَفيقاًas companion
طَلْحَةِ الخَيْرِ المُرْتَضِيهِ رَفيقاً
وَاحداًsole يومَthe day فَرَّتfled الرُّفَقَاءُthe companions
وَاحداً يومَ فَرَّت الرُّفَقَاءُ
Talha of goodness, chosen as your sole companion
the day companions fled;
وَحَوارِيِّكَand your disciple الزُّبَيْرِal-Zubayr أبيfather القَرْthe mighty man—
وَحَوارِيِّكَ الزُّبَيْرِ أبي القَرْ
مِ—mighty man الذيwhom أَنْجَبَتْnobly bore بِهِhim أسماءُAsma
مِ الذي أَنْجَبَتْ بِهِ أسماءُ
and your disciple al-Zubayr, father of the mighty man
whom Asma nobly bore;
وَالصَّفِيَّيْنِand the two chosen تَوْأَمِtwins الفضلexcellence سَعْدٍSa'd
وَالصَّفِيَّيْنِ تَوْأَمِ الفضل سَعْدٍ
وسَعِيدٍand Sa'id إنْif عُدَّتِwere counted الأصْفياءُthe chosen
وسَعِيدٍ إنْ عُدَّتِ الأصْفياءُ
the two chosen, twins in excellence, Sa'd
and Sa'id, when the chosen are counted;
وابْنِand son عَوْفٍAwf مَنْwhose هَوَّنَتْmade slight نفسُهhis soul الدُّنthe world—
وابْنِ عَوْفٍ مَنْ هَوَّنَتْ نفسُه الدُّن
يَا—world بِبَذْلٍthrough giving يُمِدُّهُsustains it إثْراءُwealth
يَا بِبَذْلٍ يُمِدُّهُ إثْراءُ
and Ibn Awf, whose soul made the world slight
through giving sustained by wealth;
والمُكَنَّىand the one called أباAbu عُبيْدَةَUbayda إذْwhen يَعْattribute—
والمُكَنَّى أبا عُبيْدَةَ إذْ يَعْ
زِي—attribute إليهto him الأمانةَtrustworthiness الأُمَناءُthe trustworthy
زِي إليه الأمانةَ الأُمَناءُ
and the one called Abu Ubayda, to whom
the trustworthy attribute trustworthiness;
وَبِعَمَّيْكَand by your uncles نَيِّرَيtwo lights فَلَكِfirmament المَجglory—
وَبِعَمَّيْكَ نَيِّرَي فَلَكِ المَج
دِ—glory وكلٌّand each أتَاهُcame to him منكfrom you إتاءُa gift
دِ وكلٌّ أتَاهُ منك إتاءُ
and your two uncles, lights of glory's firmament,
each receiving a gift from you;
وبأمِّand by mother السِّبْطَيْنِthe two grandsons زَوْجِwife عَلِيٍّAli
وبأمِّ السِّبْطَيْنِ زَوْجِ عَلِيٍّ
وَبَنِيهاand her sons وَمَنْand those whom حَوَتْهُencompassed العَبَاءُthe cloak
وَبَنِيها وَمَنْ حَوَتْهُ العَبَاءُ
and the two grandsons' mother, Ali's wife,
her sons, and those the cloak encompassed;
وَبِأَزواجكَand by your wives اللَّواتيwho تَشَرَّفْwere honored—
وَبِأَزواجكَ اللَّواتي تَشَرَّفْ
ن—were honored بأنْby صانَهُنَّprotected them منكwith you بِناءُmarriage
ن بأنْ صانَهُنَّ منك بِناءُ
and your wives, who were honored
by marriage to you protecting them.
الأمانَsafety الأمانَsafety إنَّindeed فُؤادِيmy heart
الأمانَ الأمانَ إنَّ فُؤادِي
منthrough ذُنوبٍsins أَتَيْتُهُنَّI committed them هَواءُempty
من ذُنوبٍ أَتَيْتُهُنَّ هَواءُ
Safety, safety! My heart
is empty through sins I committed.
قدindeed تَمَسَّكْتُI grasped مِنْthrough وِدَادِكَyour love بالحَبthe rope—
قد تَمَسَّكْتُ مِنْ وِدَادِكَ بالحَب
لِ—rope الذيwhich اسْتَمْسَكَتْgrasped بهit الشفَعاءُthe intercessors
لِ الذي اسْتَمْسَكَتْ به الشفَعاءُ
Through loving you I have grasped the rope
which the intercessors grasped.
وَأبىand refused اللَّهُGod أنْthat يَمَسَّنِيَtouch me السُّوevil—
وَأبى اللَّهُ أنْ يَمَسَّنِيَ السُّو
ءُ—evil بحالٍin any state وَلِيwhile I have إليكtoward you الْتِجاءُrefuge
ءُ بحالٍ وَلِي إليك الْتِجاءُ
God would not allow evil to touch me
in any state while I seek refuge in you.
قدindeed رَجَوْناكَwe hoped in you للأُمورِfor affairs الّتيwhich أبtheir coolest—
قد رَجَوْناكَ للأُمورِ الّتي أب
رَدُها—their coolest فِيin فُؤَادِناour heart رَمْضاءُscorching sand
رَدُها فِي فُؤَادِنا رَمْضاءُ
We have hoped in you for troubles whose coolest
burn like scorching sand within our hearts.
وَأَتَيْناand we came إليكَto you أَنْضاءَworn thin فَقْرٍpoverty
وَأَتَيْنا إليكَ أَنْضاءَ فَقْرٍ
حَمَلَتْناcarried us إلىtoward الغِنَىabundance أَنْضاءُworn-out mounts
حَمَلَتْنا إلى الغِنَى أَنْضاءُ
We came to you, worn thin by poverty,
borne toward abundance by worn-out mounts.
وانْطَوَتْand were folded فيwithin الصُّدُورِbreasts حاجاتُneeds نفسٍa soul
وانْطَوَتْ في الصُّدُورِ حاجاتُ نفسٍ
ماnot لهاfor them عَنْfrom نَدَىbounty يَدَيْكَyour hands انْطِوَاءُturning away
ما لها عَنْ نَدَى يَدَيْكَ انْطِوَاءُ
The breasts folded within them a soul's needs,
which cannot turn away from your hands' bounty.
فأَغِثْنَاso help us يَاO مَنْone who هُوَhe الغَوثُsuccor والغَيْand rain—
فأَغِثْنَا يَا مَنْ هُوَ الغَوثُ والغَيْ
ثُ—rain إذاwhen أَجْهَدَexhausted الورَىcreation اللّأْوَاءُhardship
ثُ إذا أَجْهَدَ الورَى اللّأْوَاءُ
Help us, you who are succor and rain,
when hardship exhausts creation;
وَالجَوَادُand the generous الذِيwho بهthrough him تُفْرَجُis lifted الغُمdistress—
وَالجَوَادُ الذِي به تُفْرَجُ الغُم
مَةُ—distress عَناfrom us وتُكْشَفُand is uncovered الحَوْباءُsorrow
مَةُ عَنا وتُكْشَفُ الحَوْباءُ
the generous one through whom distress
is lifted from us and sorrow uncovered.
ياO رحيماًmerciful بالمؤمنينtoward believers إذاwhen ماindeed
يا رحيماً بالمؤمنين إذا ما
ذَهِلَتforgot عنabout أبنائهاtheir children الرُّحَماءُthe compassionate
ذَهِلَت عن أبنائها الرُّحَماءُ
O merciful toward believers when
the compassionate forget their children!
ياO شفيعاًintercessor فيfor المُذنبينsinners إذاwhen أشdreaded—
يا شفيعاً في المُذنبين إذا أش
فقَ—dreaded مِنْfrom خَوفِfear ذَنْبِهِhis sin البُرَآءُthe innocent
فقَ مِنْ خَوفِ ذَنْبِهِ البُرَآءُ
O intercessor for sinners when
the innocent dread their sins!
جُدْbe generous لعاصٍto a sinner ومَاand none سِوايَbut myself هُوَhe العاthe sinner—
جُدْ لعاصٍ ومَا سِوايَ هُوَ العا
صِي—sinner وَلكنْbut تَنَكُّرِيmy disguise اسْتِحْياءُshame
صِي وَلكنْ تَنَكُّرِي اسْتِحْياءُ
Be generous to a sinner—none but myself
is that sinner; my disguise is shame.
وتَدَارَكْهُand rescue him بالعنايةwith care ماas long as داremains—
وتَدَارَكْهُ بالعناية ما دا
مَ—remains لهfor him بالذِّمامِunder protection منكfrom you ذماءُa life-remnant
مَ له بالذِّمامِ منك ذماءُ
Rescue him with care while
a remnant of life remains under your protection.
أخَّرَتْهُleft him behind الأعمالُdeeds والمالُand wealth عَمَّاwhat
أخَّرَتْهُ الأعمالُ والمالُ عَمَّا
قدَّمَsent ahead الصَّالحُونَthe righteous والأغنياءُand wealthy
قدَّمَ الصَّالحُونَ والأغنياءُ
His deeds and wealth left him behind what
the righteous and wealthy sent ahead.
كلevery يومٍday ذُنُوبُهُhis sins صاعداتٌascending
كل يومٍ ذُنُوبُهُ صاعداتٌ
وعليهاand over them أنفاسُهُhis breaths صُعَدَاءُsighs
وعليها أنفاسُهُ صُعَدَاءُ
Every day his sins ascend,
and over them his breaths are sighs.
أَلِفَgrew accustomed to البِطْنَةَfullness المُبَطِّئَةslowing السَّيْthe journey—
أَلِفَ البِطْنَةَ المُبَطِّئَة السَّيْ
رِ—journey بدارin a dwelling بهاin it البِطانُthe full-bellied بِطَاءُslow
رِ بدار بها البِطانُ بِطَاءُ
He grew accustomed to fullness, slowing his journey
in a dwelling where the full-bellied are slow.
فَبَكَىso wept ذَنْبَهُhis sin بِقَسْوَةِwith hardness قَلْبٍa heart
فَبَكَى ذَنْبَهُ بِقَسْوَةِ قَلْبٍ
نَهَتِforbade الدَّمْعَtears فالبُكاءُso weeping مُكاءُwhistling
نَهَتِ الدَّمْعَ فالبُكاءُ مُكاءُ
He wept for his sin with a hardened heart
that forbade tears; his weeping is whistling.
وغَدَاand became يَعْتِبُreproaching القَضَاءُdestiny ولاand no عذexcuse—
وغَدَا يَعْتِبُ القَضَاءُ ولا عذ
ر—excuse لعاصfor a sinner فيماin what يسوقbrings القضاءُdestiny
ر لعاص فيما يسوق القضاءُ
He came to reproach destiny; there is no excuse
for a sinner in what destiny brings.
أوثقتهfettered him منof الذنوبsins دُيُونٌdebts
أوثقته من الذنوب دُيُونٌ
شَدَّدَتْpressed harshly فِيin اقْتِضائِهاcollecting them الغُرَماءُthe creditors
شَدَّدَتْ فِي اقْتِضائِها الغُرَماءُ
Debts of sin fettered him,
whose creditors pressed harshly for repayment.
ماnot لَهُfor him حِيلَةٌrecourse سِوَىexcept حِيلَةِrecourse المُوthe bound man—
ما لَهُ حِيلَةٌ سِوَى حِيلَةِ المُو
ثَقِ—bound man إِمَّاeither تَوَسُّلٌentreaty أَوْor دُعَاءُprayer
ثَقِ إِمَّا تَوَسُّلٌ أَوْ دُعَاءُ
He has no recourse beyond a bound man's:
entreaty or prayer.
رَاجِياًhoping أَنْthat تعودَbecome أعمالُهhis deeds السُّوevil—
رَاجِياً أَنْ تعودَ أعمالُه السُّو
ءُ—evil بِغُفْرَانِthrough forgiveness اللَّهِGod وَهْيَwhile they هَباءُscattered dust
ءُ بِغُفْرَانِ اللَّهِ وَهْيَ هَباءُ
Hoping his evil deeds might become,
through God's forgiveness, scattered dust.
أَوْor تُرَىbe seen سَيِّئاتُهُhis misdeeds حَسَناتٍas good deeds
أَوْ تُرَى سَيِّئاتُهُ حَسَناتٍ
فيقَالُso is said اسْتحالتِtransformed الصَّهْباءُthe wine
فيقَالُ اسْتحالتِ الصَّهْباءُ
Or that his misdeeds appear as good deeds,
and people say, 'The wine has transformed.'
كلُّevery أمْرٍaffair تُعنَىyou attend بهto it تُقْلَبُare transformed الأعْsubstances—
كلُّ أمْرٍ تُعنَى به تُقْلَبُ الأعْ
يانُ—substances فيهin it وتَعْجَبُand marvel البُصَراءُthe discerning
يانُ فيه وتَعْجَبُ البُصَراءُ
Every affair you attend has its substances transformed,
and the discerning marvel.
رُبَّmany a عَيْنٍspring تَفَلْتَyou spat فيinto مائهاits water المِلْsalty—
رُبَّ عَيْنٍ تَفَلْتَ في مائها المِلْ
حِ—salty فأضْحَىso became وَهْوَand it الفُراتُsweet water الرَّوَاءُthirst-quenching
حِ فأضْحَى وَهْوَ الفُراتُ الرَّوَاءُ
Many a spring into whose salty water you spat
became sweet and thirst-quenching.
آهِah مِماfor what جَنَيْتُI committed إنْif كانَwas يُغْنِيhelpful
آهِ مِما جَنَيْتُ إنْ كانَ يُغْنِي
ألِفٌalif مِنْagainst عَظيمِimmense ذنْبٍsin وهاءُand ha
ألِفٌ مِنْ عَظيمِ ذنْبٍ وهاءُ
Ah, for what I committed—if there is any help
against immense sin in an alif and a ha!
أرْتَجِيI hope for التَّوْبَةَrepentance النَّصُوحَsincere وفِيwhile in القَلْthe heart—
أرْتَجِي التَّوْبَةَ النَّصُوحَ وفِي القَلْ
بِ—heart نفَاقٌhypocrisy وفيand on اللسانِthe tongue رِياءُostentation
بِ نفَاقٌ وفي اللسانِ رِياءُ
I hope for sincere repentance, while in the heart
is hypocrisy, and on the tongue ostentation.
ومتىand when يَسْتَقيمُbecomes straight قَلْبِيmy heart ولِلْجِسْwhile the body—
ومتى يَسْتَقيمُ قَلْبِي ولِلْجِسْ
مِ—body اعْوِجَاجٌcrookedness مِنْfrom كَبْرتيmy age وانْحِناءُand bending
مِ اعْوِجَاجٌ مِنْ كَبْرتي وانْحِناءُ
When will my heart become straight, while my body
is crooked and bent with age?
كُنْتُI was فيin نَوْمَةِsleep الشَّبابِyouth فماand not اسْتَيْI awakened—
كُنْتُ في نَوْمَةِ الشَّبابِ فما اسْتَيْ
قَظْتُ—I awakened إِلَّاuntil ولِمَّتيand my hair شَمْطاءُgray
قَظْتُ إِلَّا ولِمَّتي شَمْطاءُ
I slept youth's sleep, and did not awaken
until my hair was gray.
وتمادَيْتُand I persisted أَقْتَفيfollowing أَثَرَtrail القَوْthe people—
وتمادَيْتُ أَقْتَفي أَثَرَ القَوْ
مِ—people فطالَتْso grew long مَسَافَةٌdistance واقْتِفَاءُand pursuit
مِ فطالَتْ مَسَافَةٌ واقْتِفَاءُ
I persisted in following the people's trail;
the distance and pursuit grew long.
فوَراso behind السائرينَthe travelers وهْوَand it أمامِيahead of me
فوَرا السائرينَ وهْوَ أمامِي
سُبُلٌpaths وَعْرَةٌrugged وأرضٌand land عَراءُbarren
سُبُلٌ وَعْرَةٌ وأرضٌ عَراءُ
Behind the travelers, ahead of me lie
rugged paths and barren land.
حَمِدَpraised المُدلِجونَnight-travelers غِبَّoutcome سُرَاهُمtheir night-journey
حَمِدَ المُدلِجونَ غِبَّ سُرَاهُم
وكَفَىand sufficed مَنْthose who تَخَلَّفstayed behind الإِبْطاءُdelay
وكَفَى مَنْ تَخَلَّف الإِبْطاءُ
Night-travelers praised their journey's outcome;
delay sufficed those who stayed behind.
رِحلةٌa journey لَمْnot يَزَلْceased يُفنِّدنيdissuading me الصَّيsummer—
رِحلةٌ لَمْ يَزَلْ يُفنِّدني الصَّي
فُ—summer إِذَاwhen مَاindeed نَوَيْتُهاI intended it والشِّتاءُand winter
فُ إِذَا مَا نَوَيْتُها والشِّتاءُ
A journey which summer continually dissuades me from
whenever I intend it, and winter too.
يَتَّقِيavoids حُرُّtender part وجْهِيmy face الحَرَّheat والبَرْand cold—
يَتَّقِي حُرُّ وجْهِي الحَرَّ والبَرْ
دَ—cold وَقَدْand indeed عَزَّwas difficult مِنْfrom لَظىhellfire الاتِّقاءُavoidance
دَ وَقَدْ عَزَّ مِنْ لَظى الاتِّقاءُ
My tender face avoids heat and cold,
though avoiding hellfire is difficult.
ضِقْتُI was overwhelmed ذَرْعاًin capacity مِمَّاby what جَنَيْتُI committed فَيوْمِيso my day
ضِقْتُ ذَرْعاً مِمَّا جَنَيْتُ فَيوْمِي
قَمْطَرِيرٌgrim وليلَتيand my night دَرْعاءُdark
قَمْطَرِيرٌ وليلَتي دَرْعاءُ
I am overwhelmed by what I committed; my day
is grim, and my night dark.
وَتَذَكَّرْتُand I remembered رَحْمَةَmercy اللَّهِGod فالبِشso cheerfulness—
وَتَذَكَّرْتُ رَحْمَةَ اللَّهِ فالبِش
رُ—cheerfulness لِوَجْهِيfor my face أنّىwherever انْتَحَىit turned تِلْقاءُencountering
رُ لِوَجْهِي أنّى انْتَحَى تِلْقاءُ
I remembered God's mercy; cheerfulness
meets my face wherever it turns.
فألحَّso pressed الرَّجاءhope والخوفُand fear بالقَلْupon the heart—
فألحَّ الرَّجاء والخوفُ بالقَلْ
بِ—heart ولِلْخَوفِand for fear والرَّجاand hope إِخْفاءُconcealment
بِ ولِلْخَوفِ والرَّجا إِخْفاءُ
Hope and fear pressed upon the heart,
though fear and hope remain concealed.
صَاحِfriend لاdo not تأسَgrieve إنْif ضَعُفْتَyou lacked strength عَنِfor الطَّاobedience—
صَاحِ لا تأسَ إنْ ضَعُفْتَ عَنِ الطَّا
عةِ—obedience واسْتَأْثَرَتْand monopolized بهاit الأقوياءُthe strong
عةِ واسْتَأْثَرَتْ بها الأقوياءُ
Friend, do not grieve if you lack strength for obedience,
and the strong have monopolized it.
إنَّindeed للَّهِGod has رَحمةًmercy وأحَقُّand most entitled الthe—
إنَّ للَّهِ رَحمةً وأحَقُّ ال
ناسِpeople منهfrom Him بالرَّحمةِto mercy الضُّعَفَاءُthe weak
ناسِ منه بالرَّحمةِ الضُّعَفَاءُ
God possesses mercy; those most entitled
to His mercy are the weak.
فابقَso remain فيamong العُرْجِthe lame عندَat مُنْقَلَبِturning-place الذَّوْthe camels—
فابقَ في العُرْجِ عندَ مُنْقَلَبِ الذَّوْ
دِ—camels ففِيfor on العَوْدِreturning تَسْبِقُcomes first العَرْجاءُthe lame one
دِ ففِي العَوْدِ تَسْبِقُ العَرْجاءُ
Remain among the lame where the camels turn;
on returning, the lame one comes first.
لاdo not تَقُلْsay حاسداًenvying لِغَيْرِكanother هذَاthis one
لا تَقُلْ حاسداً لِغَيْرِك هذَا
أثْمَرَتْfruited نَخْلَهُhis palms ونَخْلِيand my palms عَفاءُbarren
أثْمَرَتْ نَخْلَهُ ونَخْلِي عَفاءُ
Do not say, envying another, 'This man's
palms fruited, while mine are barren.'
وائْتِand perform بالمَسْتَطاعwhat is possible مِنْof عَمَلdeeds البرgoodness—
وائْتِ بالمَسْتَطاع مِنْ عَمَل البر
ر—goodness فقدْfor may يُسْقِطُmake fall الثِّمارَfruit الإِتاءُabundance
ر فقدْ يُسْقِطُ الثِّمارَ الإِتاءُ
Perform whatever good deeds you can;
abundance itself may make fruit fall.
وبِحُبِّand through loving النبيِّthe Prophet فابْغِso seek رِضَىpleasure اللGod—
وبِحُبِّ النبيِّ فابْغِ رِضَى الل
هِ—God فَفِيfor in حُبِّهِloving him الرِّضاapproval والحِبَاءُand gifts
هِ فَفِي حُبِّهِ الرِّضا والحِبَاءُ
Through loving the Prophet, seek God's pleasure;
in loving him are approval and gifts.
ياO نبيَّProphet الهُدَىguidance اسْتِغَاثَةَappeal for help مَلْهوa distressed man—
يا نبيَّ الهُدَى اسْتِغَاثَةَ مَلْهو
فٍ—distressed man أَضَرَّتْharmed بحالِهhis condition الحوْبَاءُsorrow
فٍ أَضَرَّتْ بحالِه الحوْبَاءُ
O Prophet of guidance, hear a distressed man's appeal,
whose condition sorrow has harmed.
يَدَّعِيclaims الحُبَّlove وهْوَwhile he يأْمُرُcommands بالسُّوevil—
يَدَّعِي الحُبَّ وهْوَ يأْمُرُ بالسُّو
ءِ—evil ومَنْand who لِيfor me أنْthat تَصْدُقَbe sincere الرَّغْبَاءُlonging
ءِ ومَنْ لِي أنْ تَصْدُقَ الرَّغْبَاءُ
He claims love, while commanding evil;
who can ensure my longing is sincere?
أَيُّwhat حُبٍّlove يَصِحُّis sound منهfrom him وطَرْفِيwhile my eye
أَيُّ حُبٍّ يَصِحُّ منه وطَرْفِي
لِلْكَرَىwith sleep واصِلٌembracing وطَيْفُكَand your apparition رَاءُdistant
لِلْكَرَى واصِلٌ وطَيْفُكَ رَاءُ
What love can be sound in him, while my eye
embraces sleep and your apparition remains distant?
ليتwould that شِعرِيI knew أَذَاكَis that مِنْfrom عُظمِgreatness ذَنْبٍsin
ليت شِعرِي أَذَاكَ مِنْ عُظمِ ذَنْبٍ
أمْor حُظُوظُfortunes المُتَيَّمِينَthe passionate lovers حُظَاءُfavor
أمْ حُظُوظُ المُتَيَّمِينَ حُظَاءُ
I wonder: is that through grievous sin,
or are passionate lovers favored in their fortunes?
إنْif يكُنْis عُظْمُgreatness زَلَّتيmy lapse حَجْبَveiling رُؤْيَاseeing you—
إنْ يكُنْ عُظْمُ زَلَّتي حَجْبَ رُؤْيَا
كَ—seeing you فقدْthen indeed عَزَّeluded داءَmy heart's disease قلبيthe cure الدَّواءُthe cure
كَ فقدْ عَزَّ داءَ قلبي الدَّواءُ
If my great lapse veils the vision of you,
the cure eludes my heart's disease.
كيفhow يَصداrusts بالذَّنْبِthrough sin قلبُheart مُحِبٍّa lover
كيف يَصدا بالذَّنْبِ قلبُ مُحِبٍّ
ولهwhile for it ذِكْرُكَyour remembrance الجميلُbeautiful جِلاءُpolishing
وله ذِكْرُكَ الجميلُ جِلاءُ
How can a lover's heart rust through sin
when your beautiful remembrance polishes it?
هذهthis عِلَّتيmy illness وأنتand you طبيبيmy physician
هذه عِلَّتي وأنت طبيبي
ليسَnot يَخفَىis hidden عليكfrom you فيin القلبِthe heart داءُa disease
ليسَ يَخفَى عليك في القلبِ داءُ
This is my illness, and you my physician;
no disease within the heart escapes you.
ومِنَand among الفَوْزِsuccess أنْthat أبُثَّكَI confide to you شكوَىa complaint
ومِنَ الفَوْزِ أنْ أبُثَّكَ شكوَى
هِيَit شكوَىa complaint إليكَto you وهْيَand it اقْتضاءُa petition
هِيَ شكوَى إليكَ وهْيَ اقْتضاءُ
Success includes confiding to you a complaint—
a complaint addressed to you, also a petition.
ضُمِّنتهاI included in it مَدَائحpraises مُستطابٌdelightful
ضُمِّنتها مَدَائح مُستطابٌ
فيكconcerning you منهاof it المَديحُpraise والإصغاءُand listening
فيك منها المَديحُ والإصغاءُ
I filled it with praises, delightful
in praising you and listening.
قلماrarely حاوَلتْattempted مَدِيحكَyour praise إِلّاwithout
قلما حاوَلتْ مَدِيحكَ إِلّا
سَاعَدَتْهَاassisted it مِيمٌmim ودالٌand dal وحَاءُand ha
سَاعَدَتْهَا مِيمٌ ودالٌ وحَاءُ
Rarely did it attempt your praise without
mim, dal, and ha assisting it.
حقَّwas rightful لِيfor me فيكَin you أنْto أُسَاحِلَcompete at drawing water قوْماًmen
حقَّ لِي فيكَ أنْ أُسَاحِلَ قوْماً
سَلَّمَتْyielded منهمamong them لَدَلْوِيto my bucket الدِّلاءُthe buckets
سَلَّمَتْ منهم لَدَلْوِي الدِّلاءُ
I rightly compete in you with men
whose buckets yielded to my bucket.
إنَّindeed لِيI have غيرةًjealousy وقدand indeed زَاحَمَتْنيcrowded me
إنَّ لِي غيرةً وقد زَاحَمَتْني
فيin معانيmeanings مَديحِكَyour praise الشُّعراءُthe poets
في معاني مَديحِكَ الشُّعراءُ
I possess jealousy; poets have crowded me
in the meanings of your praise.
ولقلبيand for my heart فيكin you الغُلوُّexceeding bounds وأنَّىand how
ولقلبي فيك الغُلوُّ وأنَّى
لِلِسانيfor my tongue فيin مَدْحِكَyour praise الغُلواءُexceeding bounds
لِلِساني في مَدْحِكَ الغُلواءُ
My heart exceeds bounds in loving you; how could
my tongue exceed bounds in praising you?
فأَثِبْso reward خاطِراًa mind يَلَذُّis delightful لهto it مَدْyour praise—
فأَثِبْ خاطِراً يَلَذُّ له مَدْ
حُك—your praise عِلْماًknowing بأَنهthat it اللَّأْلاءُradiance
حُك عِلْماً بأَنه اللَّأْلاءُ
Reward a mind that delights in praising you,
knowing that it is radiance.
حاكَwove مِنْthrough صَنْعَةِcraft القَرِيضpoetry بُرُوداًrobes
حاكَ مِنْ صَنْعَةِ القَرِيض بُرُوداً
لَكَfor you لمnot تحْكِimitated وشْيَهاtheir embroidery صَنْعَاءُSana'a
لَكَ لم تحْكِ وشْيَها صَنْعَاءُ
Through poetry's craft it wove robes
for you, whose embroidery Sana'a could not imitate.
أعجزَdefeated الدُّرَّpearls نَظمُهُits arrangement فاستوتْso became equal فيin—
أعجزَ الدُّرَّ نَظمُهُ فاستوتْ في
هِ—it اليَدَانِthe two hands الصَّناعُskilled والخَرْقَاءُand clumsy
هِ اليَدَانِ الصَّناعُ والخَرْقَاءُ
Its arrangement defeated pearls, making equal
the skilled and clumsy hands.
فَارْضَهُso accept it أفْصَحَmost eloquent امرئٍperson نطقَspoke الضَّاdad—
فَارْضَهُ أفْصَحَ امرئٍ نطقَ الضَّا
دَ—dad فقامتْso rose تَغَارُenvying منهاit الظاءُza
دَ فقامتْ تَغَارُ منها الظاءُ
Accept it, most eloquent speaker of dad,
which made za rise in envy.
أبِذِكْرِby mentioning الآياتِthe miracles أُوفِيكَI fulfill for you مَدْحَاًpraise
أبِذِكْرِ الآياتِ أُوفِيكَ مَدْحَاً
أيْنَwhere مِنىfrom me وأَيْنَand where منهاfrom them الوفَاءُfulfillment
أيْنَ مِنى وأَيْنَ منها الوفَاءُ
Can mentioning miracles fulfill your praise?
How far fulfillment lies from me and them!
أمْor أُمَارِيI dispute بهِنَّthrough them قَوْمَpeople نَبِيٍّa prophet
أمْ أُمَارِي بهِنَّ قَوْمَ نَبِيٍّ
ساءَevil was ماwhat ظَنَّهُsupposed it بِيَof me الأغبياءُthe fools
ساءَ ما ظَنَّهُ بِيَ الأغبياءُ
Or am I disputing through them with a prophet's people?
Evil is what fools supposed of me.
ولَكَand yours الأُمَّةُthe community التيwhich غَبَطَتْهَاenvied it
ولَكَ الأُمَّةُ التي غَبَطَتْهَا
بكَbecause of you لَمَّاwhen أتيْتَهاyou came to it الأنبياءُthe prophets
بكَ لَمَّا أتيْتَها الأنبياءُ
Yours is the community which prophets envied
because of you, when you came to it.
لَمْnot نَخَفْwe feared بَعْدَكَafter you الضَّلالَerror وفيناand among us
لَمْ نَخَفْ بَعْدَكَ الضَّلالَ وفينا
وَارِثُواinheritors نُورِlight هَدْيِكَyour guidance العُلَماءُthe scholars
وَارِثُوا نُورِ هَدْيِكَ العُلَماءُ
After you we feared no error, with among us
scholars inheriting your guidance's light.
فانْقَضَتْso ended آيُsigns الَانبياءُthe prophets وَآياand your signs—
فانْقَضَتْ آيُ الَانبياءُ وَآيا
تُكَ—your signs فيamong الناسpeople ماnot لَهُنَّfor them انْقضاءُan ending
تُكَ في الناس ما لَهُنَّ انْقضاءُ
The prophets' signs ended, while your signs
among people have no ending.
والكراماتَand marvels منهمُfrom them مُعجزاتٌmiracles
والكراماتَ منهمُ مُعجزاتٌ
حازَهَاobtained them مِنْfrom نَوَالِكَyour bounty الأولياءُthe saints
حازَهَا مِنْ نَوَالِكَ الأولياءُ
The saints' marvels are miracles
they obtained from your bounty.
إنَّindeed مِنْamong مُعجزاتِكَyour miracles العَجزَinability عَنْto وصdescribe you—
إنَّ مِنْ مُعجزاتِكَ العَجزَ عَنْ وص
فِكَ—describe you إذْsince لاnot يَحُدُّهُencompasses it الإحصاءُenumeration
فِكَ إذْ لا يَحُدُّهُ الإحصاءُ
Among your miracles is inability to describe you,
since enumeration cannot encompass it.
كيفَhow يَسْتَوعِبُencompasses الكلامُspeech سَجَاياyour qualities—
كيفَ يَسْتَوعِبُ الكلامُ سَجَايا
كَ—your qualities وَهَلْand can تَنْزِحُdrain البحارthe seas الرِّكَاءُwater-jars
كَ وَهَلْ تَنْزِحُ البحار الرِّكَاءُ
How can speech encompass your qualities?
Can water-jars drain the seas?
ليسَnot مِنْany غايَةٍendpoint لِوَصْفِكَto describing you أَبغيI seek—
ليسَ مِنْ غايَةٍ لِوَصْفِكَ أَبغي
ها—I seek it وللْقَوْلِand for speech غايَةٌa limit وانتهاءُand ending
ها وللْقَوْلِ غايَةٌ وانتهاءُ
I seek no endpoint to describing you,
though speech has a limit and ending.
إنماonly فضلُكَyour excellence الزَّمَانُtime وآياand your signs—
إنما فضلُكَ الزَّمَانُ وآيا
تُكَ—your signs فيماin what نَعُدُّهُwe count it الآناءُmoments
تُكَ فيما نَعُدُّهُ الآناءُ
Your excellence is time itself, and your signs,
in what we count, its moments.
لَمْnot أُطِلْI prolonged فيin تَعْدادِenumeration مَدْحِكَyour praise نُطْقيmy speech
لَمْ أُطِلْ في تَعْدادِ مَدْحِكَ نُطْقي
ومُرادِيand my aim بذلكby that استقصاءُexhaustive accounting
ومُرادِي بذلك استقصاءُ
I have not prolonged my enumeration of your praise
with exhaustive accounting as my aim.
غيرrather إنيَI ظمآنُthirsting وَجْدٍlonging ومَاand not ليfor me
غير إنيَ ظمآنُ وَجْدٍ ومَا لي
بِقَليلٍwith little مِنَof الورودِdrinking ارْتِواءُquenching
بِقَليلٍ مِنَ الورودِ ارْتِواءُ
Rather, I thirst with longing, and cannot
be quenched by drinking only a little.
فسلامٌso peace عليكupon you تَتْرَىcontinually مِنَfrom اللGod—
فسلامٌ عليك تَتْرَى مِنَ الل
هِ—God وَتَبْقَىand endures بهthrough it لَكَfor you البَأواءُglory
هِ وَتَبْقَى به لَكَ البَأواءُ
Peace upon you, coming continually from God,
through which your glory endures.
وسلامٌand peace عليكupon you منكَfrom yourself فماfor not غَيother than you—
وسلامٌ عليك منكَ فما غَي
رُك—other than you منهfrom him لكَto you السلامpeace كِفاءُworthy
رُك منه لكَ السلام كِفاءُ
Peace upon you from yourself; none but
you offers peace worthy of you.
وَسَلامٌand peace مِنْfrom كلِّeverything ماthat خَلَقَcreated اللGod—
وَسَلامٌ مِنْ كلِّ ما خَلَقَ الل
هُ—God لِتحْياthat may live بِذِكْرِكَthrough remembering you الأملاءُmultitudes
هُ لِتحْيا بِذِكْرِكَ الأملاءُ
Peace from everything God created,
that multitudes may live through remembering you.
وَصلاةٌand blessing كالمِسْكِlike musk تَحْمِلهcarries it مِنfrom—
وَصلاةٌ كالمِسْكِ تَحْمِله مِن
ني—me شمَالٌa north wind إليكَto you أَوor نكْباءُa crosswind
ني شمَالٌ إليكَ أَو نكْباءُ
Blessing like musk, borne from me
to you by a north wind or a crosswind.
وَسَلامٌand peace عَلَىupon ضَرِيحِكَyour tomb تخْضَلis moistened—
وَسَلامٌ عَلَى ضَرِيحِكَ تخْضَل
لُ—is moistened بهby it منهfrom it تُرْبَةٌsoil وَعْساءُsoft sandy
لُ به منه تُرْبَةٌ وَعْساءُ
Peace upon your tomb, moistening
its soft sandy soil.
وَثَنَاءٌand praise قَدَّمْتَI offered بينَbefore يَدَيْhands نَجْmy intimate plea—
وَثَنَاءٌ قَدَّمْتَ بينَ يَدَيْ نَجْ
وَايَ—my intimate plea إذْsince لمnot يكنwas لَديَّwith me ثَراءُwealth
وَايَ إذْ لم يكن لَديَّ ثَراءُ
And praise I offered before my intimate plea,
since I possessed no wealth.
ماas long as أَقَامَestablished الصلاةَprayer مَنْwho عَبَدَworshipped اللGod—
ما أَقَامَ الصلاةَ مَنْ عَبَدَ الل
هِ—God وقامتْand subsisted بِربِّهَاthrough their Lord الأشياءُthings
هِ وقامتْ بِربِّهَا الأشياءُ
As long as God's worshippers establish prayer,
and things subsist through their Lord.
Partial English translation: 192 of 914 Arabic lines translated.