حَتّامَ عَنْ جَهْلٍ تَلُومُ

حَتّامَ عَنْ جَهْلٍ تَلُومُ

مَهْلاً فَإنَّ اللَّوم لُومُ

مَهْلاً فَإنَّ اللَّوم لُومُ

How long will you reproach me in ignorance?

Hattam, do not blame in ignorance,

Gently—for reproach is baseness.

Gently, for blame is blame.

طَرْفي الَّذي يَشْكُو السُّهادَ

طَرْفي الَّذي يَشْكُو السُّهادَ

وقَلْبيَ المضْنَى الْكَليمُ

وقَلْبيَ المضْنَى الْكَليمُ

My eye is the one that laments sleeplessness,

My eyes that lament sleeplessness

and my heart is worn out and wounded.

And my grieving, suffering heart.

إنَّ الشَّقا في الحُبٍّ عِنْ

إنَّ الشَّقا في الحُبٍّ عِنْ

دَ العَاشِقينَ هُوَ النعيمُ

دَ العَاشِقينَ هُوَ النعيمُ

Indeed, suffering in love, to

Verily, in love is bliss

lovers, is bliss.

For lovers, that is delight.

مَا الحُبُّ إلأَّ مُقْلَةٌ

مَا الحُبُّ إلأَّ مُقْلَةٌ

عَبْراءُ أو جِسْمُ سَقيمُ

عَبْراءُ أو جِسْمُ سَقيمُ

Love is nothing but an eye,

What is love but a poor heart

tearful, or an ailing body,

Weeping, or a frail body?

وبَلاَبلٌ بَينَ الجوانحِ

وبَلاَبلٌ بَينَ الجوانحِ

لا تَنَامُ ولا تُنيمُ

لا تَنَامُ ولا تُنيمُ

and torments between the ribs

And nightingales between my ribs

that neither sleep nor let one sleep.

That neither sleep nor make sleep.

يا مَنْ أُكَتِّمُ حبَّه

يا مَنْ أُكَتِّمُ حبَّه

واللهُ بي وبه عليمُ

واللهُ بي وبه عليمُ

O you for whom I hide my love,

O you whom I conceal my love,

while God knows both me and him.

Yet God knows of me and him.

ما لي وما لِلوائِمي

ما لي وما لِلوائِمي

أَعَليكَ ذُو عَقْلٍ يلومُ

أَعَليكَ ذُو عَقْلٍ يلومُ

What have I to do with my reproachers?

What business have I, what business have my critics,

Would anyone of sound mind reproach me over you?

Does one of reason blame me?

يا هَلْ تُراه يَعُودُ لي

يا هَلْ تُراه يَعُودُ لي

بكَ ذلكَ الزَّمن القديمُ

بكَ ذلكَ الزَّمن القديمُ

Ah, do you think it will return to me—

O would that he return to me

with you, that time of old,

That bygone time.

وهَنيُّ عَيْشٍ بالِلَوى

وهَنيُّ عَيْشٍ بالِلَوى

لَوْ أنَّ عَيْشَ هنيً يَدوُمُ

لَوْ أنَّ عَيْشَ هنيً يَدوُمُ

and pleasant living at al-Liwa?

And the soft life with passion

If only pleasant living would endure!

If only a soft life would last.

وبِرَامةٍ إذ نِلْتُ مِنْ

وبِرَامةٍ إذ نِلْتُ مِنْ

وَصْلِ الأحبّةِ مَا أَرومُ

وَصْلِ الأحبّةِ مَا أَرومُ

And at Rama, when I gained from

And with tranquility when I attained

union with loved ones all I sought.

The company of loved ones I desire.

يا حبّذا تِلكَ الرّبوع

يا حبّذا تِلكَ الرّبوع

وحبّذا تِلكَ الرسومُ

وحبّذا تِلكَ الرسومُ

Ah, how dear those dwelling places are,

Oh, happy were those meadows

and how dear those traces!

And happy were those dwellings.

يا تَاركينَ بمهجتي

يا تَاركينَ بمهجتي

شرراً يذُوبُ لَه الجحيمُ

شرراً يذُوبُ لَه الجحيمُ

O you who left within my heart

O you who left in my mind

sparks before which Hell melts.

Sparks that melt hell itself.

طَالَ المِطالَ ولم يهبّ

طَالَ المِطالَ ولم يهبّ

لِصِدْقِ وعدِكمُ نَسيمُ

لِصِدْقِ وعدِكمُ نَسيمُ

The delay has dragged on, and there has not blown

The waiting has been long but

a breeze of fulfillment for your promise.

No breeze came true to your promise.

مَطْل الغَنِيّ غريمَهُ

مَطْل الغَنِيّ غريمَهُ

حاشاكمُ خُلقٌ ذميمُ

حاشاكمُ خُلقٌ ذميمُ

A wealthy man's delaying his creditor—

Delay of the wealthy is offensive,

far be it from you—is a shameful trait.

Far from you, a vile trait.

أَيَخاَفُ طُولَ المطْلِ مَنْ

أَيَخاَفُ طُولَ المطْلِ مَنْ

أهْلُ الغَريّ لَهُ غَريمُ

أهْلُ الغَريّ لَهُ غَريمُ

Should one fear a long delay, when

Does one whose loved ones wrong him

the people of al-Ghari are his debtors?

Fear prolonging the wait?

بأبي وبيْ ذاكَ المحلُّ

بأبي وبيْ ذاكَ المحلُّ

ومَنْ بتُربَتِهِ مُقيمُ

ومَنْ بتُربَتِهِ مُقيمُ

May my father and I be ransom for that abode,

By my father and by that place

and whoever dwells within its earth.

And he who lies in its dust.

يا ليتَ شعري هَلْ إلى

يا ليتَ شعري هَلْ إلى

تلكَ المواطن لي قدومُ

تلكَ المواطن لي قدومُ

Ah, would that I knew whether to

Oh would that I know, will I

those places I shall ever come.

To those lands have a return?

ومَتى أنالُ بهنّ مِنْ

ومَتى أنالُ بهنّ مِنْ

تَعْفير خدّي ما أرومُ

تَعْفير خدّي ما أرومُ

And when shall I obtain there, from

And when will I gain from

rubbing my cheek in dust, what I seek?

Kissing its earth what I wish?

ومَتَى أرَاني خادِماً

ومَتَى أرَاني خادِماً

بإزاءِ تُربتِه أقومُ

بإزاءِ تُربتِه أقومُ

And when shall I see myself a servant,

And when will I see myself serving

standing before his grave?

By the side of its dust I stand?

حيَّاك قبراً بالغَريّ

حيَّاك قبراً بالغَريّ

مِن الحيا هطلٌ سَجومُ

مِن الحيا هطلٌ سَجومُ

May you be greeted, O grave in al-Ghari,

Greetings O grave in the meadow

by a downpour of streaming rain.

From the living, pouring rain.

يا قبرُ فيك المرتضَى

يا قبرُ فيك المرتضَى

والسَيّدُ السَّندُ الكريمُ

والسَيّدُ السَّندُ الكريمُ

O grave, within you lies al-Murtada,

O grave in you is the Chosen One

and the noble lord, the mainstay.

The Master, the Noble, the Generous.

فيكَ الوصيُّ أخو النَبي

فيكَ الوصيُّ أخو النَبي

المخْتَار والنَّبَأُ العظيمُ

المخْتَار والنَّبَأُ العظيمُ

Within you lies the appointed successor, brother of the Prophet,

In you is the Trustee, the Prophet's brother

the Chosen One, and the mighty tiding.

The Selected, the Great News.

فيكَ النَّجاةُ من الرَّدى

فيكَ النَّجاةُ من الرَّدى

فيكَ الصِّراطِ المستْقَيمُ

فيكَ الصِّراطِ المستْقَيمُ

Within you is deliverance from perdition;

In you is salvation from evil

within you is the straight path.

In you is the Straight Path.

فيكَ الموازرُ والمواخِي

فيكَ الموازرُ والمواخِي

والمواسي والحَميمُ

والمواسي والحَميمُ

Within you lies the supporter and brother in fellowship,

In you is the helper, the sympathizer

and the comforter and intimate friend.

The comforter, the intimate.

فيكَ الشَجاعةُ والنِّدَى

فيكَ الشَجاعةُ والنِّدَى

والعِلْمُ والدّينُ القَويمُ

والعِلْمُ والدّينُ القَويمُ

Within you are courage and generosity,

In you is valor, faithfulness

and knowledge and upright faith.

Knowledge, upright religion.

فِيكَ المكَارمُ والعُلاَ

فِيكَ المكَارمُ والعُلاَ

والمجدُ والشرفُ الصميمُ

والمجدُ والشرفُ الصميمُ

Within you are noble virtues and eminence,

In you are nobility and prestige

and glory and unalloyed honor.

Glory and true honor.

فيكَ الإمامةُ والزَّعامةُ

فيكَ الإمامةُ والزَّعامةُ

والكرامة لا تَريمُ

والكرامة لا تَريمُ

Within you are the imamate and leadership,

In you is the Imamate and leadership

and dignity that never departs.

And prestige that knows no peer.

فيكَ الذي يُشفي بتُربِ

فيكَ الذي يُشفي بتُربِ

نِعالِه الطَّرفُ السَّقِيمُ

نِعالِه الطَّرفُ السَّقِيمُ

Within you lies he who heals with the dust of

In you is he who cures with the dust

his sandals the ailing eye.

Of his sandals the ailing eye.

فيكَ الذي لَو أنصفَتْ

فيكَ الذي لَو أنصفَتْ

لهَوتْ لِمَصْرعِهِ النّجومُ

لهَوتْ لِمَصْرعِهِ النّجومُ

Within you lies he for whom, had they been just,

In you is he whom, had justice been done,

the stars would have fallen at his slaying.

The stars would have lamented his death.

فيكَ الّذي كانَتْ تُحاذرُ

فيكَ الّذي كانَتْ تُحاذرُ

بأسَهُ الصَيدُ القرومُ

بأسَهُ الصَيدُ القرومُ

Within you lies he whose might was dreaded

In you is he who the beasts of prey

by the proud chieftains.

Feared his might.

فيكَ الّذي كانَت تخفَ

فيكَ الّذي كانَت تخفَ

لِهولِ موقفِهِ الحُلومُ

لِهولِ موقفِهِ الحُلومُ

Within you lies he before whom minds grew unsteady

In you is he at whose terrible stance

at the terror of his stance.

Resolute heros shake in fear.

فيكَ الخصيمُ عَنِ المُهَيْمنِ

فيكَ الخصيمُ عَنِ المُهَيْمنِ

يومَ تجتمعُ الخصومُ

يومَ تجتمعُ الخصومُ

Within you lies the advocate for the Guardian,

In you is the adversary against the Almighty

on the day when the adversaries gather.

When adversaries gather.

لِمُحبِّهِ دارُ البَقا

لِمُحبِّهِ دارُ البَقا

ولِمَنْ يُعاديهِ الجحيمُ

ولِمَنْ يُعاديهِ الجحيمُ

For one who loves him is the everlasting abode,

For those who love him is lasting home

and for one who opposes him, Hell.

And for those who oppose, hellfire.

مَنْ ذا سواهُ لِهَذهِ

مَنْ ذا سواهُ لِهَذهِ

وَلِتِلْكَ في الأخرى قَسِيمُ

وَلِتِلْكَ في الأخرى قَسِيمُ

Who but he apportions this

Who else but he shall share that

and that in the hereafter?

And this in the hereafter?

صَرَفتهُ أرباب الشَقَا

صَرَفتهُ أرباب الشَقَا

عَمَّا حَبَاهُ بهِ العَليمُ

عَمَّا حَبَاهُ بهِ العَليمُ

The lords of misery turned him away

Evildoers denied him

from what the All-Knowing had bestowed upon him.

What the All-Knowing granted him.

لَمْ تُرْعَ تِلكَ المكرماتُ

لَمْ تُرْعَ تِلكَ المكرماتُ

وذلك السَّبقُ القديمُ

وذلك السَّبقُ القديمُ

Those noble virtues were not honored,

Those virtues were not heeded

nor that precedence of old.

Nor that ancient precedence.

خُذْها أَميرَ المؤمنين

خُذْها أَميرَ المؤمنين

كما زَهَا الدرُّ النَّظِيمُ

كما زَهَا الدرُّ النَّظِيمُ

Receive it, Commander of the Faithful,

Take them, Commander of the Faithful,

as radiant as pearls strung together.

As pearls are threaded.

كالرَّوضِ باكرَه الحيا

كالرَّوضِ باكرَه الحيا

وتَخطّرتْ فيهِ النّسيمُ

وتَخطّرتْ فيهِ النّسيمُ

Like a garden that rain visited at dawn,

Like a garden in first bloom

and through which the breeze sauntered.

Stirred by the breeze.

عَذراء لم يَفْتَضَها

عَذراء لم يَفْتَضَها

أَهْلَ الحجازِ ولا تميمُ

أَهْلَ الحجازِ ولا تميمُ

A virgin, not deflowered

A maiden whom the people of Hijaz nor Tamim

by the people of the Hijaz, nor by Tamim.

Had taken her virginity.

مِن مُخْلِصٍ لكَ لم تُخالجَهُ

مِن مُخْلِصٍ لكَ لم تُخالجَهُ

الشّكوكُ ولا الوهوم

الشّكوكُ ولا الوهوم

From one devoted to you, never assailed

From a loyal one whose doubts never

by doubts or delusions.

Seized him nor misgivings.

واعْذِرْ فَكلَّ مُفَوَّهٍ

واعْذِرْ فَكلَّ مُفَوَّهٍ

لَسِنٍ بحقّكَ لا يقومُ

لَسِنٍ بحقّكَ لا يقومُ

And pardon him, for every eloquent speaker,

Forgive, for every speaker

however fluent, falls short of your due.

With your rights cannot contend.

مَنْ ذا يَفِي بعَظيم حَقّكَ

مَنْ ذا يَفِي بعَظيم حَقّكَ

إنّه الحقُّ العَظيمُ

إنّه الحقُّ العَظيمُ

Who can fulfill your immense due?

Who can fully meet your great rights?

It is indeed a mighty claim.

Indeed, it is a supreme truth.

فأَجِزْهُ واقْبَلْ عَذرَهُ

فأَجِزْهُ واقْبَلْ عَذرَهُ

فالعُذرُ يقْبَلُه الكريمُ

فالعُذرُ يقْبَلُه الكريمُ

So reward him and accept his excuse,

So excuse and accept his plea

for the noble accept excuses.

For the noble accept excuse.

واشفعْ لَهُ إذْ لَيْسَ يَنْفَعُهُ

واشفعْ لَهُ إذْ لَيْسَ يَنْفَعُهُ

الصَّديقُ ولا الحميمُ

الصَّديقُ ولا الحميمُ

And intercede for him, when he has no help from

And intercede for him, as neither

friend or intimate companion.

Friend nor mate can benefit him.

فَعَسَاه يَظْفَرُ مِنْ رِضى

فَعَسَاه يَظْفَرُ مِنْ رِضى

رَبّ الأَنام بما يَرومُ

رَبّ الأَنام بما يَرومُ

So perhaps he may attain, through the favor of

May he gain by your pleasure

the Lord of creation, what he seeks.

What he hopes from the Lord of Men.