طَرقَتنيshe visited me by night نَوَارِNawar عِندَat دَكَارِDakar
طَرقَتني نَوَارِ عِندَ دَكَارِ
فَأثَارَتand she stirred بَلاَanxieties (first part) بِلِىmy anxieties (completion) وادِّكَارِيand my recollections
فَأثَارَت بَلاَ بِلِى وادِّكَارِي
Nawar visited me by night in Dakar,
She visited me, at midnight, in an obscure place,
And stirred my anxieties and memories.
And stirred a latent passion in my wary heart,
وَصَلَتنيshe joined me وَطَالَمَاthough for so long مَنَعتنيshe denied me
وَصَلَتني وَطَالَمَا مَنَعتني
وَصلَهاunion with her غَيبَةَin the absence of الرَّقِيبِthe watchman نَوَارِNawar
وَصلَها غَيبَةَ الرَّقِيبِ نَوَارِ
She joined me, though she had long denied me
She contacted me, though she'd often barred me before -
Union with her—Nawar—in the watchman’s absence.
Absence of guardians allowed our secret flirt
دَابُهَاher habit الهَجرُestrangement لِىfrom me وَدَابيand my habit هَوَاهَاloving her
دَابُهَا الهَجرُ لِى وَدَابي هَوَاهَا
فَهوُso it فيin القَلبِthe heart مثلُlike جَذَوةِa glowing ember of نَارِfire
فَهوُ في القَلبِ مثلُ جَذَوةِ نَارِ
Her habit is to shun me, and mine is to love her;
While she shunned me, my love for her grew ever more intense,
That love in my heart is like an ember of fire.
Like glowing embers lodged inside my chest
لَستُI am not اسطَاعُable عَنapart from نَوَارِNawar اصطِبَاراًpatient endurance
لَستُ اسطَاعُ عَن نَوَارِ اصطِبَاراً
خَاننيfailed me عَنin resisting هَوَىlove for نَوارِNawar اصطِبَارِيmy patience
خَانني عَن هَوَى نَوارِ اصطِبَارِي
I cannot endure being apart from Nawar;
I could not exercise patience to forget her
My patience failed me in resisting love for Nawar.
My resolve to forget her was a hopeless quest
كُلَّمَاwhenever ازدَدتُI increased فيfor نَوَارِNawar اشتِيَاقاًin longing
كُلَّمَا ازدَدتُ في نَوَارِ اشتِيَاقاً
أظهَرَتshe showed لِىto me زِيَادَةًan increase فيin النِّوَارِaversion
أظهَرَت لِى زِيَادَةً في النِّوَارِ
Whenever my longing for Nawar grows,
The more I longed for her, the more she displayed
She shows me still greater aversion.
New irresistible charms before my sight
طَرَقَتنيshe visited me by night والليلُwhile the night دَاجٍdark كَلَونِlike the color of
طَرَقَتني والليلُ دَاجٍ كَلَونِ
القَارِpitch مِنfrom بَعدِafter هَجعَةِthe sleep of السُّمَّارِthe late-night companions
القَارِ مِن بَعدِ هَجعَةِ السُّمَّارِ
She visited me while the night was dark as the color
Cloaked by the blackness of night she came to see me
Of pitch, after the late-night companions had fallen asleep.
After the slumber of weary caravans took flight
فَأرَتنيand she showed me لاَلئاًpearls ونُضَاراًand gold
فَأرَتني لاَلئاً ونُضَاراً
فيamid لالٍpearls أنِيقةٍexquisite ونُضَارِand gold
في لالٍ أنِيقةٍ ونُضَارِ
She showed me pearls and gold,
Radiant as a glittering pearl, an exquisite rose
Amid exquisite pearls and gold.
On a moonlit night, atop a lofty dune
وأرَتنيand she showed me لَيلاًa night عَلَىupon بَدرٍa full moon تَمٍّat its fullness
وأرَتني لَيلاً عَلَى بَدرٍ تَمٍّ
فَوقَabove خُوطٍa slender branch عَلَىupon كِثيبٍa dune هَارِcrumbling
فَوقَ خُوطٍ عَلَى كِثيبٍ هَارِ
And showed me a night upon a moon at its fullness,
With pure complexion, tender limbs, and graceful poise
Above a slender branch upon a crumbling dune.
Adorned with jewels in plenty, a precious boon
وبَنَاتِand daughters of النَّقَىthe sand dunes بَنَاناًfingers خَضِيباًhenna-dyed
وبَنَاتِ النَّقَى بَنَاناً خَضِيباً
وَنَقِيًّاand a pure one أغَرَّradiantly white مِلَءfilling السِّوَارِthe bracelet
وَنَقِيًّا أغَرَّ مِلَء السِّوَارِ
And daughters of the dunes—henna-dyed fingers—
Relaxed, as if the sweetness on his lips was from
And a pure, radiant wrist filling its bracelet.
The repose gained after hard day's toil
وشتِيتاًand a spaced-toothed mouth مُنصَباًdescending كَسَيَالٍlike acacia
وشتِيتاً مُنصَباً كَسَيَالٍ
وأقَاحٍand daisies وَطيلَسَانٍand a mantle of وقَارِdignity
وأقَاحٍ وَطيلَسَانٍ وقَارِ
And a spaced-toothed mouth, descending like acacia,
How did she find me, when I was lost and wandering
And daisies, and a mantle of dignity,
In barren deserts of endless, arid soil?
مُستَلَذًّاsweet to savor كَأنَّas though رِيقَتَهُits saliva فيin
مُستَلَذًّا كَأنَّ رِيقَتَهُ في
أثَرِthe wake of النَّومِsleep قُلَّةُthe jar of المُشتَارِthe honey-gatherer
أثَرِ النَّومِ قُلَّةُ المُشتَارِ
Sweet to savor, as though its saliva, in
I roamed amidst formidable seas on a decrepit boat
The wake of sleep, were the honey-gatherer’s jar.
With feeble oars, devoid of marked trail
عَجباًhow wondrous مِنabout نَوَارِNawar كَيفَhow اهتَدَتshe found her way لِىto me
عَجباً مِن نَوَارِ كَيفَ اهتَدَت لِى
بَعدَafter ماwhat جُبتُI traversed مِنof نِيَاطِthe far reaches of القِفَارِthe wastes
بَعدَ ما جُبتُ مِن نِيَاطِ القِفَارِ
How wondrous that Nawar found her way to me,
I'd known her to be discouraged by censure and disdain
After I had crossed the far reaches of the wastes,
From visiting the sacrosanct convent's veil
وتَبَطَّنتُand I ventured into مِنof بِحَارِseas مَهِيبَاfearsome (first part)
وتَبَطَّنتُ مِن بِحَارِ مَهِيبَا
تٍcompletion of ‘fearsome’ عَلَىaboard ذَاتِone possessing اضلُعٍribs ودِسَارِand nails
تٍ عَلَى ذَاتِ اضلُعٍ ودِسَارِ
And ventured into fearsome seas,
When she left me, sleeplessness and tears became my fate
Aboard a vessel of ribs and nails.
Cascading or sporadic, weeping was my veil
كُنتُI was عَهدِىmy recollection بِهَاof her يُثبُطُهاwould deter her دِعصٌa sand dune
كُنتُ عَهدِى بِهَا يُثبُطُها دِعصٌ
رُكَامٌheaped up عَنfrom زَورِدَارِvisiting the abode of المَزَارِvisitation
رُكَامٌ عَن زَورِدَارِ المَزَارِ
As I once knew her, a dune would deter her,
Like the dew drops of Mustafa, the blessed heir
Heaped high, from visiting the abode of visitation.
When rains were scarce and hot winds did prevail
فَارَقَتنيshe left me فَأرَّقتنيand so kept me sleepless فَدَمعِىso my tears
فَارَقَتني فَأرَّقتني فَدَمعِى
بَينَbetween مَاbeing هُوَّit is سَافِحٌpouring down أوجَارِor flowing
بَينَ مَا هُوَّ سَافِحٌ أوجَارِ
She left me and kept me sleepless; so my tears
It was not the lightning, but the clouds' heavy downpour
Are now pouring down, now flowing,
That brought relief, without a lightning trail
كَنَدَىlike the bounty of المُصطفيal-Mustafa الخٍِليفَةِthe caliph فيin الأُزdrought (first part)
كَنَدَى المُصطفي الخٍِليفَةِ في الأُز
مِcompletion of ‘drought’ إِذَاwhen أخلَفَfailed الغيوثُthe rains السَّوَارِيtraveling by night
مِ إِذَا أخلَفَ الغيوثُ السَّوَارِي
Like al-Mustafa the caliph’s bounty in drought,
You need not fear any bitterness or regret
When the night-traveling rains fail.
From his gifts, though some may impugn and assail
لَمnot يَكُنhe was خُلَّبَrainless البُروقِlightning flashes وَلَكِنbut
لَم يَكُن خُلَّبَ البُروقِ وَلَكِن
هَاطِلُa downpour of البَذلِgenerosity دُونَwithout بَرقٍlightning سَارِtraveling by night
هَاطِلُ البَذلِ دُونَ بَرقٍ سَارِ
He was never the empty promise of lightning, but
Come to him assured of safety, peace and comfort
A downpour of generosity without night-faring lightning.
Where fountains of grace and mercy prevail
لاdo not تَخَفfear فيin نَوَالِهِhis bounty كَدَراًa taint مِنfrom
لا تَخَف في نَوَالِهِ كَدَراً مِن
كَدَرِthe bitterness of المَنِّreminders of favors أوor مِنَfrom الأَكدَارِtroubles
كَدَرِ المَنِّ أو مِنَ الأَكدَارِ
Fear no taint in his bounty from
Where reverence, dignity, generosity and grace
The bitterness of reminders of favors, or from troubles.
And wisdom, obedience and virtue avail
فَإِذَاand when جِئتَهُyou come to him نَزَلتَyou alight بِأمنٍin safety
فَإِذَا جِئتَهُ نَزَلتَ بِأمنٍ
وأمَانٍand security وصَيِّبٍand a downpour مِدرَارِabundant
وأمَانٍ وصَيِّبٍ مِدرَارِ
And when you come to him, you alight in safety
Where intelligence, contentment and purpose abide
And security, and an abundant downpour,
And meaning, endeavor and carpentry detail
وهُمَامٍand a noble, resolute man ذِىpossessing هَيبَةٍawe-inspiring presence وحَيَاءٍand modesty
وهُمَامٍ ذِى هَيبَةٍ وحَيَاءٍ
وسَخَاءٍand generosity وعِفَّةٍand chastity وَوَقَارِand dignity
وسَخَاءٍ وعِفَّةٍ وَوَقَارِ
And with a noble man of commanding presence and modesty,
Where auspicious birds and kneeling men worship
And generosity, chastity, and dignity,
Prostrating before God, from dusk to dawn without fail
وَذكاءٍand intelligence وسُؤدَدٍand nobility ومَعَالٍand lofty virtues
وَذكاءٍ وسُؤدَدٍ ومَعَالٍ
وَمَعَانٍand fine qualities ومَحتَدٍand ancestral stock ونِجَارِand lineage
وَمَعَانٍ ومَحتَدٍ ونِجَارِ
And intelligence, nobility, and lofty virtues,
Remembering God in perpetual prostration
And fine qualities, ancestral stock, and lineage,
Never tiring of repeating litanies and tales
وطُيُورٍand birds مَيمُونَةٍauspicious ورِجَالٍand men
وطُيُورٍ مَيمُونَةٍ ورِجَالٍ
خُشَّعٍhumble سُجَّدٍprostrate لِوَجهِfor the sake of البَارِيthe Creator
خُشَّعٍ سُجَّدٍ لِوَجهِ البَارِي
And auspicious birds, and men
They drank from the wine of mystical knowledge
Humble and prostrate for the Creator’s sake.
And became intoxicated with that sublime grail
أبَداًalways فيin سُجُودِهمtheir prostrations يَذكُرونَthey remember اللهَGod
أبَداً في سُجُودِهم يَذكُرونَ اللهَ
لَمnot يَفتَرُواthey slackened عنfrom الأذكَارِacts of remembrance
لَم يَفتَرُوا عن الأذكَارِ
Always in their prostrations they remember God;
Ever worshipping God before his noble gate
They never slacken in remembrance.
Both youthful maidens and wise elders hail
شَرِبُواthey drank مِنfrom عُقَارٍwine of معناهُhis meaning كَأساًa cup
شَرِبُوا مِن عُقَارٍ معناهُ كَأساً
فانتَشَواand so they became intoxicated مِنfrom شَرَابِdrinking العُقَارِthe wine
فانتَشَوا مِن شَرَابِ العُقَارِ
They drank a cup from the wine of his meaning,
The Abode of Peace is the home of bliss and tranquility
And became intoxicated by drinking that wine.
Where rest and comfort and joy will never curtail
فَهُمُso they عِندَat بَابِهِhis door يَعبُدُونَworship اللهَGod
فَهُمُ عِندَ بَابِهِ يَعبُدُونَ اللهَ
عِندَat الآصَالِthe late afternoons والأبكَارِand the early mornings
عِندَ الآصَالِ والأبكَارِ
So at his door they worship God
It lies next to the land of the gazelle's sunset
In the late afternoons and early mornings.
The noblest neighborhood, without equal or parallel
إنَّindeed دَارَthe abode of القُدُوسِthe Most Holy دَارُan abode of نَعِيمٍbliss
إنَّ دَارَ القُدُوسِ دَارُ نَعِيمٍ
وَسَلاَمٍand peace وقُرَّةٍand delight وقَرَارِand abiding rest
وَسَلاَمٍ وقُرَّةٍ وقَرَارِ
The abode of the Most Holy is an abode of bliss,
It gathered nature's scattered boons into a perfect whole
And peace, delight, and abiding rest.
Excelled in every boon, nothing left to unveil
جَاوَرَتit neighbored مَغرِبًَthe setting-place of الغَزَالَةِthe sun فيat مطلَعِهَاits rising-place
جَاوَرَت مَغرِبًَ الغَزَالَةِ في مطلَعِهَا
فهىso it فيin أعَزِّthe noblest جِوَارِneighborhood
فهى في أعَزِّ جِوَارِ
It neighbored the sun’s setting-place at its rising-place,
Adorned with most fragrant blooms and charming scenes
So it stands in the noblest neighborhood.
Providing every guest a place to rest without travail
جَمَعَتit combined طارفnewly acquired الفَخَارِglory إلىwith التَّلدِinherited glory
جَمَعَت طارف الفَخَارِ إلى التَّلدِ
فَجَاءَتand so it came علىupon جَمِيعِall الفَخَارِglory
فَجَاءَت على جَمِيعِ الفَخَارِ
It joined new glory to inherited glory,
Knowledgeable, honorable, and kind to the destitute
And thus encompassed all glory.
Sheltering the poor who have nothing, not even a pail
وَتَحَلَّتand it adorned itself بِأروَعٍwith a splendid man أريَحِىِّgenerous-hearted
وَتَحَلَّت بِأروَعٍ أريَحِىِّ
قَارِa reader لِلكِتَابِof the Book للضيفfor the guest قَارِa host
قَارِ لِلكِتَابِ للضيف قَارِ
And adorned itself with a splendid, generous-hearted man,
Bearing the burden of all neighbors equally
A reader of the Book and a host to the guest,
With hands overflowing with gifts, leaving no one to flail
عَارِفٍlearned بالعلومin the sciences عَارِfree منfrom العَاdishonor (first part)
عَارِفٍ بالعلوم عَارِ من العَا
رِcompletion of ‘dishonor’ شَفَيقٍcompassionate عَلَىtoward الضَّعِيفِthe weak العَارِيthe unclothed
رِ شَفَيقٍ عَلَى الضَّعِيفِ العَارِي
Learned in the sciences, free of dishonor,
Holding back the neighbor even in dire straits
Compassionate toward the weak and unclothed,
Giving gold coins and wealth without pause or fail
حَامِلٍbearing كَلَّthe burden of كُلِّevery جَارٍneighbor وَفَيضَاand the outpourings (first part)
حَامِلٍ كَلَّ كُلِّ جَارٍ وَفَيضَا
تُcompletion of ‘outpourings’ يَدَيهِhis two hands عَلَىover الجِوَارِthe neighbors جَوَارِflowing
تُ يَدَيهِ عَلَى الجِوَارِ جَوَارِ
Bearing every neighbor’s burden, while the outpourings
Not making this abode an eternal resting place
Of his hands stream over the neighbors,
Thus preparing for the Afterlife, the most special grail
مُمسِكٍsupporting الجَارَthe neighbor فيduring اشتِدَادِthe intensifying of الدَّوَاهِىcalamities
مُمسِكٍ الجَارَ في اشتِدَادِ الدَّوَاهِى
بِاذِلٍfreely giving لِلدِّرهَامِof the dirham والدِّينَارِand the dinar
بِاذِلٍ لِلدِّرهَامِ والدِّينَارِ
Supporting his neighbor when calamities grow fierce,
Suckling from his mentor's breast blessings galore
Freely giving dirhams and dinars.
Advancing his merits over competitors without flail
لَمnot يَكُنhe was جَاعِلاًmaking ذِهِthis الدَّارَabode دَاراًa home
لَم يَكُن جَاعِلاً ذِهِ الدَّارَ دَاراً
وكَذَاكَand likewise الدَّارِىthe discerning one الذيwho هُوَhe دَارِknowing
وكَذَاكَ الدَّارِى الذي هُوَ دَارِ
He has not made this abode his home,
Do not fear the schemes of those jealous of you
And such is the discerning man, who knows.
The ocean is not extinguished by lighting of a frail flame
إنَّماonly هُوhe مستعدٌّprepared لِعُقبيfor the final outcome of الدthe abode (first part)
إنَّما هُو مستعدٌّ لِعُقبي الد
دارِcompletion of ‘the abode’ يَشدُوhe chants لَنِعمَhow excellent indeed عُقبَىthe final outcome of الدَّارِthe abode
دارِ يَشدُو لَنِعمَ عُقبَى الدَّارِ
He is only prepared for the final outcome of the
You are like a servant, lofty in rank and knowledge
Abode, chanting: ‘How excellent is the abode’s final outcome!’
A shining star, a priceless pearl of exquisite pedigree
مَكَّhe suckled مِنfrom ثَدِىthe breast of شَيخِهِhis master بَرَكَاتٍblessings
مَكَّ مِن ثَدِى شَيخِهِ بَرَكَاتٍ
قَدَّمتُهُI advanced him فيin الشَّأوِthe race والمِضمَارِand the racecourse
قَدَّمتُهُ في الشَّأوِ والمِضمَارِ
He suckled blessings from his master’s breast;
Your sublime traits are wondrously arrayed
I advanced him in the race and on the course.
Your hands are open wide in remarkable generosity
لاَdo not تَخَفfear أنthat يَنَالَshould reach شَأوَكَyour reach مَنwhoever نَاrivaled (first part)
لاَ تَخَف أن يَنَالَ شَأوَكَ مَن نَا
وَىcompletion of ‘rivaled’ فَلَيسَfor they are not الإِضَاءُsmall pools مثلَlike البِحَارِthe seas
وَى فَلَيسَ الإِضَاءُ مثلَ البِحَارِ
Do not fear that any rival will match your reach,
You upheld the Prophet's Way, luminous and pristine
For small pools are not like seas.
And did not stray into the path of unmindful glee
إِنَّمَاonly أنتَyou كالخَدِيمِlike al-Khadim عُلُوًّاin loftiness
إِنَّمَا أنتَ كالخَدِيمِ عُلُوًّا
وعُلُوماًand in learning وأَنجماًand stars وَدَرَارِيand brilliant stars
وعُلُوماً وأَنجماً وَدَرَارِي
You are but like al-Khadim in loftiness,
Draw me closer, for I am soon to depart
And in learning, and stars, and brilliant stars.
When the staff of support grants no comfort or bail
فَمَعَالِيكَso your lofty merits فيin انتِظَامٍan arrangement عَجِيبٍwondrous
فَمَعَالِيكَ في انتِظَامٍ عَجِيبٍ
وأيَادِيكَand your favors فيin عَجِيبٍa wondrous انتِثَارِscattering
وأيَادِيكَ في عَجِيبٍ انتِثَارِ
So your lofty merits stand in wondrous order,
I am casting off all burdens when summoned
And your favors are wondrously strewn.
To meet my Lord, leaving behind every possession and veil
وتَقَّفَيتَand you followed منهجَthe path of السُّنَّةِthe Sunnah الغَرَّاthe radiant (first part)
وتَقَّفَيتَ منهجَ السُّنَّةِ الغَرَّا
ءِcompletion of ‘radiant’ ولَمand did not تَغتَرِرbecome deceived بِنَهجِby a path of إِغتِرَارِdelusion
ءِ ولَم تَغتَرِر بِنَهجِ إِغتِرَارِ
And you followed the path of the radiant Sunnah,
Nor were you deceived by a path of delusion.
قَرَّبُونيdraw me near فَإِننيfor I طَارِحٌam laying down
قَرَّبُوني فَإِنني طَارِحٌ
عندَupon مَجِىءِcoming لكمto you عَصَاthe staff of التَّسيَارِwandering
عندَ مَجِىءِ لكم عَصَا التَّسيَارِ
Draw me near, for I am laying down,
On coming to you, the staff of wandering.
Partial English translation: 76 of 80 Arabic lines translated.