Sol 6.1

  1. طيف لليلى على شحط النوى طرقا

    ليلاً وطرفي بأمواج الكرى غرقا

    A vision of Laylā came across the vast distance of separation,

    at night, while my eye drowned in waves of slumber.

  2. أنى اهتدى والدجى وحف غياهبه

    يشقه ويجوب المهمه العرقا

    How did it find its way, with night's deep shadows so dense,

    cleaving them and crossing the sand-ridged wilderness?

  3. حتى أتاني وحياتي بها ولها

    نشر على الأفق من أنفاسها عبقا

    Until it reached me—my life is through her and for her—

    spreading fragrance from her breaths across the horizon.

  4. فبت ألثم خديها وألزمها

    وأرشف الشنب المعسول معتنقا

    I spent the night kissing her cheeks and holding her close,

    sipping her mouth's honeyed coolness as I embraced her.

  5. ألقيت وضواضها عنها وحلتها

    وبت منها مكان العقد معتنقا

    I cast her gauzy wrap and her robe off her,

    and lay embracing her where her necklace rests.

  6. حتى تهجد عصفور على علم

    مبشراً أن وجه الصبح قد شرقا

    Until a sparrow kept vigil upon a hilltop,

    announcing that dawn's face had shone.

  7. فقمت والدمع فوق الخد منحدر

    أجر ذيلي على وجه الثرى ولقا

    Then I rose, tears streaming down my cheek,

    dragging my hem hastily across the dust.

  8. فما قبضت من الطيف الملم بها

    إلا كمن قبضت أكفافه الأفقا

    I grasped nothing of the visiting vision of her,

    any more than one whose palms have grasped the horizon.

  9. ما أكذب الطيف لولا طيب زورته

    لمن تحب ولا طيف به صدقا

    How false the vision, but for its sweet visit

    of one you love! No vision holds any truth.

  10. رعياً لليلى ويا سقيا لأبطحها

    ويا سقى اللَه حيف الحي واليرقا

    Blessings on Laylā, and rain upon her pebbled valley!

    And may God water the encampment's edge and al-Yaraq!

  11. متى متى العيس ينكحن الهجول بنا

    وتمسح المعج والإيغلا والعنقا

    When, when will the pale camels wed the valleys, carrying us,

    sweeping onward at a gallop, ranging far and striding swiftly,

  12. وتخبط الآل بالأخفاف تحسبها

    بنات ماء العواري تخبط الغدقا

    beating the mirage with their footpads, so you take them

    for bare daughters of water, splashing through abundant water?

  13. تخفى وتظهر ساعات فتحسبها

    أهلة في السحاب انضم وافترقا

    At times they vanish and appear, so you take them

    for crescents amid clouds that gather and part.

  14. وإن هجرت رواحاً واصلت بكرت

    وتوضح الليل بالإرقال مذ غسقا

    And if they journey at noon, they press on at evening and set out early,

    brightening the night with their swift trot from nightfall.

  15. وعصبة فارقوا أوطانه وإلى

    ليلى أجدوا السرى واستعذبوا الأرقا

    And a band departed their homelands, and toward

    Laylā pressed their night journey, finding sleeplessness sweet.

  16. باتوا وقالوا على أكوارهم فهم

    مثل البزاة على أكوارها سبقا

    They spent the night and rested at noon upon their saddles, like

    falcons upon their nests, racing ahead.

  17. ووتارة في بطون العائمات لها

    أزمة من وراها تحكم العنقا

    And sometimes, within floating vessels that have

    bridles astern governing their necks.

  18. لا روح فيها ولا فيها جرى نفس

    فكلها جسد قد صيغ متفقا

    There is no spirit in them, nor does a breath pass through them;

    they are all body, fashioned into a harmonious whole.

  19. لا تشتكي لعباً في السير أو تعباً

    ولا بها الحس حتى تشتهي الشبقا

    They complain neither of tossing on the journey nor fatigue;

    nor have they senses through which they might crave mating.

  20. شرابها الصل إن تظما وإن سغبت

    فالقار تطعم لا القيصوم والسمقا

    Their drink is stale water if they thirst; and if they hunger,

    they eat pitch, not southernwood or tall herbage.

  21. ريح القبول لها في اليم قائدة

    وسائق ساقها الحدواء مصطقا

    The east wind is their guide upon the sea,

    and the resounding north wind drives them onward.

  22. بهم تشق عباب اليم قاصدة

    ليلى وقد جعلت شهب السما طرقا

    With them aboard, they cleave the sea's swell, heading toward

    Laylā, having made heaven's bright stars their roads.

  23. تناشدوا الشعر في ليلى لمجلسها

    ما كان في الشعر مقبوضاً ومنطلقا

    They exchanged poems of Laylā, for her gathering,

    whatever poetry held, restrained or freely flowing.

  24. لا يرقدون سروراً من محبتها

    حتى أضاء منار الصبح مؤتلقا

    They did not sleep, so joyful in their love for her,

    until dawn's beacon shone radiantly.

  25. لما أتوا جدة من بعد ما حرموا

    فقربوا اليعملات الذمل العنقا

    When they reached Jeddah, having entered pilgrim consecration,

    they brought forward the sturdy she-camels, brisk-trotting and swift-striding.

  26. راحوا لليلى على حسب الرجاء بها

    يغدو بهم أخمش الساقين محترقا

    They set out toward Laylā, according to their hope in her,

    a slender-shanked one speeding them onward, all afire.

  27. وعندما شارفوا ليلى وقد نظروا

    تلك المنائر في حافاتها السمقا

    And when they drew near Laylā and had seen

    those lofty minarets along her edges,

  28. فهلل الركب تكبيبراً ومن فرح

    بكوا ويبكي أخو الأفراح مشتفقا

    the caravan proclaimed God's oneness and greatness; and from joy

    they wept—and one full of joy may weep in awe.

  29. وبعد ما دخلوا باب السلام بها

    طافوا سبوعاً وما جفوا بها عرقا

    After they entered through her Gate of Peace,

    they made seven circuits, their sweat not yet dry,

  30. حتى أتوا زمزماً من مائها شربوا

    وما بقى فعلى أثياجهم هرقا

    until they came to Zamzam and drank its water,

    pouring what remained over their chests.

  31. ونحو باب الصفا قد أقبلوا ولقد

    بالمروتين سعوا في سعيهم دفقا

    Then they turned toward the Gate of al-Ṣafā, and indeed

    ran between Ṣafā and Marwa, surging onward.

  32. وفي منى ليلهم باتوا ومذ ذنوبهم

    يا فوز عبد بذاك اليوم قد عتقا

    At Minā they spent their night; and their sins—[text unclear]—

    how blessed the servant freed on that day!

  33. وبالغروب إلى جمع فقد نزلوا

    ليجمعوا اليزمع المجموع مفترقا

    At sunset they alighted at Jamʿ,

    to gather [unclear], the gathered now dispersed.

  34. وبعد ما حللوا إحرامهم قصدوا

    قبر النبي فجابوا السملق الصلقا

    After they had ended their consecration, they made for

    the Prophet's tomb, crossing the bare, level wilderness.

  35. مذ شارفوا طيبة المختار كلهم

    بدمعة من رسيس الشوق قد شرقا

    As they neared Ṭayba of the Chosen One, every one of them

    choked on tears drawn from deep-seated longing.

  36. وحيثما دخلوا باب السلام نحواً

    لقبره رفقاً في السير لا رفقا

    When they entered the Gate of Peace, they headed

    toward his tomb, gently in their walking—not merely in company.

  37. قاموا على الكوكب الأرضي كلهم

    قد رك من عبرات الشوق مختنقا

    They all stood beside the earthly star,

    weakened, choking on tears of longing.

  38. عليه مذ سلموا منه فقد طلبوا

    شفاعة أصدقت آمال من صدقا

    When they had greeted him, they sought from him

    an intercession that fulfilled the hopes of the sincere.

  39. وصاحبيه عليهم سلموا فهم

    من بعده غير مخلوق به خلقا

    They greeted his two companions as well, for they

    rank after him, unlike other created beings in character.

  40. عبداك هذا سعيد والشريف علي

    زائراك العلمانيان أهل تقى

    Your two servants are this Saʿīd and al-Sharīf ʿAlī,

    your two ʿAlmānī visitors, men of piety.

  41. هما فقد بغضا الأوطان مذ عشقا

    لقاك فوز أمرئ للوصل قد عشقا

    They have hated their homelands ever since they fell in love with

    meeting you—blessed is the man enamored of union!

  42. ومذ شغلت فقد أرسلت عبدهما

    لك السلام لمحض الحب قد نمقا

    Since I was occupied, I sent their servant,

    who has fashioned greetings for you from pure love.

  43. أنا المعاني واسمي سالم وأبي غسان

    والأزد هم لي أصبحوا عمقا

    I am the sufferer; my name is Sālim, and my father is Ghassān.

    The Azd have become my deep roots.

  44. وأنت حسبي ومولاي ومعتمدي

    بعد الإله بكم لا زلت متشقا

    You are sufficient for me, my master and my reliance,

    after God; I never cease yearning for you.

  45. يا خاتم الرسل ثم الأنبياء أولها

    في الفضل أشرف عند اللَه من خلقا

    O seal of the messengers and prophets, their foremost

    in excellence, noblest before God of all He created!

  46. يا خيرة اللَه في سر وفي علن

    يا طاهر الخيم يا أزكى الورى خلقا

    O God's chosen one, in secret and in public,

    O pure of nature, purest of humanity in character!

  47. يا من أدلته في الخق قد شرقت

    كالنور حيّاً وميتاً منه قد شرقا

    O you whose proofs have shone among creation,

    like light, radiating from him in life and death!

  48. يا من نظر الأعمى وقد فصحت

    نوق اليماني له لما لها رمقا

    O you through whom the blind man saw, and before whom spoke clearly

    the Yemenī's she-camels, when he turned his gaze upon them!

  49. والشاة قد حرته سم ذابحها

    من بعد ما غودرت فوق الطعام لقا

    And the sheep warned him of its slaughterer's poison,

    after it had been left lying upon the meal.

  50. وانشق في كمه البدر المنير وفي

    مدارج الفضل معراجاً سما ورقى

    The radiant full moon split within his sleeve; and on

    the stairways of excellence he rose and climbed in ascent.

  51. ونار فارس قد ماتت لمولده

    ومن أيوان كسرى أنهد وانفلقا

    Persia's fire died at his birth,

    and part of Kisrā's vaulted hall collapsed and split.

  52. وفي نخيلة وقد الجن وافقه

    لما من الطائف الأعلى رأى الحنقا

    At Nukhayla the jinn met him,

    when he had encountered fury from lofty al-Ṭāʾif.

  53. وواعدوه فوافوه بليلته

    في شعبة الجن حيث الأبطح عشقا

    They made an appointment with him and came to him that night,

    in the Jinn Ravine, where he loved the pebbled valley.

  54. كان ابن مسعود يوم الوفد صاحبه

    وقد رأى من شروط الجن ما زهقا

    Ibn Masʿūd was his companion on the day of the delegation,

    and saw among the jinn's signs what made him flee.

  55. وفي حرا زاره جبريل أول ما

    وافاه حتى لمن خوف فقد صعقا

    In Ḥirā Gabriel visited him, the first time

    he came to him, until fear made him swoon.

  56. كقاب قوسين ذاك اليوم كان له

    أدنى وكان له مما أخاف وقا

    He was two bow-lengths away from him that day,

    or nearer, and was his protection against what frightened him.

  57. أسرى به اللَه ليلاً والملائك أج

    لالاً له كنفت من حوله حرقا

    God bore him by night, and the angels, in rever-

    ence for him, surrounded him in companies.

  58. حتى أتى المسجد الأقصى وفاء إلى

    ليلى بليلته والصبح ما انفلقا

    Until he reached the Farthest Mosque, then returned to

    Laylā that same night, before dawn had broken.

  59. وفي حليمة برهان يؤيده

    مذ أرضعته فسال الدر مندفقا

    In Ḥalīma there is a sign confirming him:

    when she nursed him, her milk flowed abundantly.

  60. يوم مال به جبريل شق له

    بطناً فقدس منه اللحم والعلقا

    The day Gabriel took him aside and opened his

    belly, purifying his flesh and clotted blood.

  61. وكم له من دلالات به وضحت

    وضوح نور جبين الشمس إذ شرقا

    How many signs he had, plainly revealed through him,

    as clear as the light of the sun's brow when it rose!

  62. اللَه قال له في نون أنت على

    خلق عظيم نشا أكرم به خلقا

    God told him in Nūn: 'You possess

    a mighty character.' How nobly that character grew!

  63. وقدم العفو من قبل العتاب له

    بارءة أيها في حاله نطقا

    He granted him pardon before reproach,

    in Barāʾa, whose verses spoke of his state.

  64. ماذا أقول مديحاً والمديح له

    في الذكر قد جاء مجموعاً ومفترقا

    What praise can I utter, when his praise

    has come in the Reminder, gathered and scattered?

  65. لكن وجدت طريق المدح متسعاً

    فيه وحبي له محضاً فقد سبقا

    Yet I found the path of praise spacious

    within it; my pure love for him had already gone before.

  66. وإنني بمدحي طالب صلة

    شفاعة توسع الغفران والخلقا

    Through my praise I seek a gift:

    intercession extending forgiveness throughout creation.

  67. مولاي مولى جميع الخلق كلهم

    هبني بحبك في الكونين معتلقا

    My master, master of every created being,

    grant that I cling to your love in both worlds.

  68. فاقبل مديحي وعذري لو نأت بلدي

    حبي لكم خالص لم يمزج الملقا

    Accept my praise and my excuse, though my land is distant;

    my love for you is pure, unmixed with flattery.

  69. ولا تركت زياراتي لكم جنفا

    عنكم ولكن لأمر أحدث العوقا

    I have not abandoned my visits to you through estrangement

    from you, but because something arose to hinder me.

  70. وإن بقيت فما لي عن زيارتكم

    عذر إذا وفق الباري وطال بقا

    If I live, I shall have no excuse for not visiting you,

    if the Creator grants success and life endures.

  71. لو كنت من جلد خدي أحتذي لكم

    نعلاً وأجعل شسع النعلة الحدقا

    Were I to fashion for you, from the skin of my cheek,

    a sandal, making my eyeballs its strap,

  72. حتى بقبري أذري الدمع معتفراً

    بتربه فعسى أن أطفئ الحرقا

    until, in my grave, I shed tears, dust-smeared

    in its earth, hoping to quench my burning grief.

  73. لعل مولاي من بعد الإناب له

    يقول صفحاً عن العبد الذي أبقا

    Perhaps my master, after my turning back to him,

    will say: 'Pardon the servant who fled.'

  74. صلى عليك إله العرش مات نفس

    جرى وما الطرف من أجفانه رمقا

    May the God of the Throne bless you [so long as] a breath

    flows, and an eye looks out from beneath its lids,

  75. وصاحبيك ضجيعيك اللذين هما

    لك الحياة وبعد الموت قد صدقا

    and your two companions, who lie beside you, who

    were faithful to you in life and after death.