اللَّطْفُgrace حَفَّgathered round وَكُلُّand every حِينٍmoment يُطْلَبُis sought
اللَّطْفُ حَفَّ وَكُلُّ حِينٍ يُطْلَبُ
وَلِمَنْand for one who بِهِthrough him نَيلُattainment of الْمَطالِبِdesired ends أوْجَبُmore due
وَلِمَنْ بِهِ نَيلُ الْمَطالِبِ أوْجَبُ
Grace has gathered round, and is sought at every moment,
Kindness touched and every moment is sought
and is all the more due to him through whom wishes are attained.
And to whom through it desires are fulfilled more binding
وَالصَّفْوُand serenity يَبْغِيهِseeks it ابنُthe son of آدَمَAdam دِيمَةًan unceasing gentle rain
وَالصَّفْوُ يَبْغِيهِ ابنُ آدَمَ دِيمَةً
مِنْfrom أيْنَwhere ذاكَthat وَدَهْرُهُand his time مُتَقَلِّبُever-changing
مِنْ أيْنَ ذاكَ وَدَهْرُهُ مُتَقَلِّبُ
And Adam's son seeks an unceasing rain of serenity;
And sincerity the son of Adam constantly seeks
how can that be, when his days are ever changing?
Whence is this while his fate ever fluctuates?
يُلْقِيcasts عَلِيهِupon him عَقْدَa knot of شَدٍّtight binding مَرَّةًat one time
يُلْقِي عَلِيهِ عَقْدَ شَدٍّ مَرَّةً
وَيُمُدُّهُand supplies him أخْرِىat another time بِماwith what يُستَعذَبُis found sweet
وَيُمُدُّهُ أخْرِى بِما يُستَعذَبُ
At one time it casts a binding knot upon him,
Now it casts on him a knot of hardship
and at another supplies him with what is found sweet.
Then extends to him at other times that which is relished
وَلَرُبَّمَاand often indeed صَبَرَendured patiently الْمُضَامُthe wronged man لِضَيمِهِunder his oppression
وَلَرُبَّمَا صَبَرَ الْمُضَامُ لِضَيمِهِ
أمَّاbut إذاwhen قَلقَbecame distressed الحَبِيبُthe beloved فَيَكْذِبُthen proves false
أمَّا إذا قَلقَ الحَبِيبُ فَيَكْذِبُ
And often the wronged man patiently endures his wrongs,
And perhaps the oppressed is patient with his oppression
but when the beloved is distressed, that patience proves false.
But when the beloved is restless he lies
يَشْكُوsuffers عَليAli بنson of الحُسينِal-Husayn وَيغتديand breakfasts
يَشْكُو عَلي بن الحُسينِ وَيغتدي
بِالمَاءon water حَتَّيuntil أوor يَجِيءcomes وَيذْهَبُand goes
بِالمَاء حَتَّي أو يَجِيء وَيذْهَبُ
Ali ibn al-Husayn suffers, and breakfasts
He complains of Ali ibn Al-Husayn and transgresses
on water, until—or—he comes and goes.
With water until either it comes or goes
هَذاthis إذاًthen خَلقٌa creation جَديدٌnew وكلُّand everyone مَنwho
هَذا إذاً خَلقٌ جَديدٌ وكلُّ مَن
يَمشِيwalks عَلَىon رِجْلَينِtwo legs فِيهَاin it ثَعْلَبُa fox
يَمشِي عَلَى رِجْلَينِ فِيهَا ثَعْلَبُ
This, then, is a new creation, and everyone who
This then is a new creation and all who
walks on two legs in it is a fox.
Walk on two legs among them is a fox
كَلاَّno indeed لَقَدْcertainly وَقَفَstopped التَّنَفُّسُbreathing عِنْدَمَاwhen
كَلاَّ لَقَدْ وَقَفَ التَّنَفُّسُ عِنْدَمَا
أوحَىconveyed privately بذَاكَof that الخَطْبِcalamity غاوٍa wayward man أصْهبُtawny-haired
أوحَى بذَاكَ الخَطْبِ غاوٍ أصْهبُ
No indeed! Breathing came to a halt when
Nay, breathing itself stopped when
a wayward, tawny-haired man whispered of that calamity.
That confused sermon inspired that
وَانْسَدَّand was blocked بَابُthe gate of النُّطْقِspeech حَتَّىso much so أنَّهُthat it
وَانْسَدَّ بَابُ النُّطْقِ حَتَّى أنَّهُ
لَوif حُلَّwas opened قَالَsaid النَّاسُthe people أينَwhere المْذْهَبُthe way to go
لَو حُلَّ قَالَ النَّاسُ أينَ المْذْهَبُ
And the gate of speech was blocked, so much so that
And the door of speech closed until, verily
had it been opened, people would have said, 'Where can we go?'
Had it been solved, people would say “where is the vanished?”
غَابواthey were absent عَنِfrom الإحْسَاسِawareness إذْfor لوْif فَكَّرُواthey pondered
غَابوا عَنِ الإحْسَاسِ إذْ لوْ فَكَّرُوا
فِيمَاabout what جَرَىhappened تَحْتَbeneath الَّدكادكِthe low mounds غيِّبُواthey were buried
فِيمَا جَرَى تَحْتَ الَّدكادكِ غيِّبُوا
They lost awareness, for had they pondered
They were absent of feeling, for had they thought
what had happened, they would have been buried beneath the low mounds.
On what occurred beneath the clamor, they would have concealed
بَيْنَاwhile الوَرَىmankind فيunder حُكمِthe sway of قَبْضٍa tightening grip سَاخِطٍwrathful
بَيْنَا الوَرَى في حُكمِ قَبْضٍ سَاخِطٍ
إذْthen جَاءَcame بِالبُشْرَىwith glad tidings بَرِيدٌa courier أشْهَبُgray
إذْ جَاءَ بِالبُشْرَى بَرِيدٌ أشْهَبُ
While mankind lay under the sway of a wrathful grip,
While the people were in the grip of an angry fist
then a gray courier arrived with glad tidings.
There came with good tidings a white-faced messenger
هِيَit فَرْحَةٌa joy فَجَأتْcame suddenly عَقِيبَfollowing هَزِيمَةٍa defeat
هِيَ فَرْحَةٌ فَجَأتْ عَقِيبَ هَزِيمَةٍ
فَجَأتْcame suddenly فَكُلٌّso each مِنْهُمَاof the two مُستَغْرِبُastonished
فَجَأتْ فَكُلٌّ مِنْهُمَا مُستَغْرِبُ
It was a joy that came suddenly, following a defeat
It was a joy that came after defeat
that came suddenly; each of the two stood astonished.
Each of the two is surprising
جَمَعَتْgathered يَدthe hand of الألطَافِgracious favors فِيهَاin it كُلَّمَاall that
جَمَعَتْ يَد الألطَافِ فِيهَا كُلَّمَا
قَدْalready كَانَwas فيin عِلْمِthe knowledge of العَلِيمِthe All-Knowing يُرَتَّبُbeing arranged
قَدْ كَانَ في عِلْمِ العَلِيمِ يُرَتَّبُ
The hand of gracious favors gathered in it all that
The hand of kindness gathered in it whenever
was already being ordered in the knowledge of the All-Knowing,
It had been in the knowledge of the All-Knowing arranged
رِفقاًout of kindness بِمُنتَظِرِto one awaiting السَّلامَةِrecovery حَيثُsince لَمْnot
رِفقاً بِمُنتَظِرِ السَّلامَةِ حَيثُ لَمْ
يَلْمُمْbefall بِهِupon him طُولُthe length of العِلاجِthe treatment المُتعِبُwearisome
يَلْمُمْ بِهِ طُولُ العِلاجِ المُتعِبُ
in kindness to one awaiting recovery, since no
Gently with the awaiter of deliverance where the length of the tiresome treatment did not touch him
wearisome prolonging of treatment had afflicted him,
And protected lest one whose body was good be treated by a hand
وَصيانَةًand as protection مِنْagainst أنthat يُعَالَجَbe treated مِنْby يَدٍa hand
وَصيانَةً مِنْ أن يُعَالَجَ مِنْ يَدٍ
خَبُثَتْbecame defiled بِشَرّby the evil of الشِّركِpolytheism جِسْمٌa body طَيِّبُpure
خَبُثَتْ بِشَرّ الشِّركِ جِسْمٌ طَيِّبُ
and to safeguard—from treatment by a hand
Evil had touched with the evil of polytheism
defiled by the evil of polytheism—a pure body.
Therefore we hope from the Benevolent One's healing of it
فَلِذَاكَtherefore نَرجُوwe hope مِنfrom كَرِيمِgracious عِلاَجِهَاits treatment
فَلِذَاكَ نَرجُو مِن كَرِيمِ عِلاَجِهَا
أنْthat لاَnot يَرَىhe may see مِنfrom بَعدِهَاafter it مَاwhat يُتْعِبُcauses weariness
أنْ لاَ يَرَى مِن بَعدِهَا مَا يُتْعِبُ
Therefore, from its gracious cure we hope
That He not see in it afterwards what would fatigue
that after it he will encounter nothing wearisome.
O He who ransoms him from
يَاO أيُّهَاyou المَولَىthe lord الذيwhom يَفْدِيِهِransoms him مِنْfrom
يَا أيُّهَا المَولَى الذي يَفْدِيِهِ مِنْ
كُلَّall المَكَارِهِmisfortunes ماall that أظَلَّhas overshadowed الكَوكَبُthe star
كُلَّ المَكَارِهِ ما أظَلَّ الكَوكَبُ
O lord, who is ransomed from
All hatreds however much the planets have shaded
all misfortunes by all that the star overshadows,
From which direction did this one creep in
مِنfrom أيّwhich ناحِيَةٍquarter تَسَوَّرَscaled the wall هَذِهِthis
مِن أيّ ناحِيَةٍ تَسَوَّرَ هَذِهِ
وَعَلَىand over جَنَابِكَyour precinct حَارِسٌa guard مُتَرَقَّبُwatchful
وَعَلَى جَنَابِكَ حَارِسٌ مُتَرَقَّبُ
from what quarter did this scale the wall,
While You watch over him attentively?
with a watchful guard over your precinct?
But You are the healing of obstinate illnesses
بَلrather أنتَyou لِلعِلَلِfor the ailments الْحرَادِraging شِفَاؤهَاtheir cure
بَل أنتَ لِلعِلَلِ الْحرَادِ شِفَاؤهَا
مَاwhat للِشِّفَاwith the cure يَعْتَلُّfalls ill هذَاthis أعْجَبُmore astonishing
مَا للِشِّفَا يَعْتَلُّ هذَا أعْجَبُ
Rather, you yourself are the cure for raging ailments;
What a wonder that healing is impaired!
why should the cure fall ill? This is stranger still!
Can it be that time frightened You, O Jinn
أتُرَىdo you suppose الزَّمانُtime وقَدْand already أخَافَكَfrightened you جُنَّwent mad أوْor
أتُرَى الزَّمانُ وقَدْ أخَافَكَ جُنَّ أوْ
أخْطَاerred لأنَّكَbecause you خِصْبُهُits fertility إذْwhen يُجْدِبُgrows barren
أخْطَا لأنَّكَ خِصْبُهُ إذْ يُجْدِبُ
Do you think time, having frightened you, went mad, or
Or missed, as You are its fertility when it is barren?
erred? For you are its plenty when it grows barren.
Did it intend harm with Your embrace, desiring
أورَامَor sought عَنout of مِقَةٍaffection بِضَمِّكَby embracing you قَاصِداًintending
أورَامَ عَن مِقَةٍ بِضَمِّكَ قَاصِداً
حُبَّاlove وَتَرحَاباًand welcome فَزَادَso increased الْمَرْحَبُthe welcome
حُبَّا وَتَرحَاباً فَزَادَ الْمَرْحَبُ
Or, out of affection, did it seek to embrace you, intending
Love and compassion, so the harbor expanded?
love and welcome—but the welcome went too far?
Our singing was no use without Your embrace
مَاhow كَانَwould have been أغْنَانَاwe had no need إذاًthen عَنْfrom ضَمِّهِits embrace
مَا كَانَ أغْنَانَا إذاً عَنْ ضَمِّهِ
تَركُrefraining from التَوَغُّلِgoing too far فِيin المَبَرَّةِbenevolence أصوَبُwiser
تَركُ التَوَغُّلِ فِي المَبَرَّةِ أصوَبُ
How little we needed its embrace, then!
Abandoning delving into the desolate places was more proper
Refraining from excess in kindness would have been wiser.
And perhaps in that which has unveiled a miracle for You
وَلَعَلَّand perhaps فِيمَاin what قَدalready عَرَاكَbefell you كَرَامَةًan honor
وَلَعَلَّ فِيمَا قَد عَرَاكَ كَرَامَةً
يَأتِيwill come بِهَاwith it عِوَضاًas recompense زَمَانٌa time أقْرَبُnearer
يَأتِي بِهَا عِوَضاً زَمَانٌ أقْرَبُ
And perhaps in what has befallen you lies an honor
A nearer time will come with compensation for it
that the near future will bring as recompense.
So the good tidings are mine the day its mask is unveiled
فَلِيَthen for me البِشَارَةُthe glad tidings يَومَon the day of كَشْفِlifting قِنَاعِهَاits veil
فَلِيَ البِشَارَةُ يَومَ كَشْفِ قِنَاعِهَا
وَلِرَبِّهَاand to its Lord شُكرٌthanks عَلَيْكَupon you مُرَتَّبُdue
وَلِرَبِّهَا شُكرٌ عَلَيْكَ مُرَتَّبُ
Then mine shall be the glad tidings on the day its veil is lifted,
And thankfulness to its Lord upon You is obligated
and thanks to its Lord shall be incumbent upon you.
This while I say to one hopeful
هَذاthis وإنِّيand indeed I قَائِلٌspeaking لِمُؤَمِلٍto one who hopes
هَذا وإنِّي قَائِلٌ لِمُؤَمِلٍ
فِيin جَلْبِobtaining جَامِعَةِwhat encompasses العَطَايَاthe gifts يَرْغَبُlongs
فِي جَلْبِ جَامِعَةِ العَطَايَا يَرْغَبُ
That said, I speak to one full of hope,
In obtaining the Gatherer of Gifts he aspires
who longs to obtain what encompasses all gifts:
O seeker of virtue, listen to its date
يَاO طَالِبَseeker of الفَضلِbounty اسْتَمِعlisten to تارِيخَهُits date
يَا طَالِبَ الفَضلِ اسْتَمِع تارِيخَهُ
بَرِيءَhas recovered الهُمَامُthe noble one أبَعْدَis there beyond هَذاthis مَطلَبُa wish
بَرِيءَ الهُمَامُ أبَعْدَ هَذا مَطلَبُ
O seeker of bounty, hear its date:
Free of worries, this request is furthest
The noble one has recovered—is there any wish beyond this?
Partial English translation: 49 of 50 Arabic lines translated.