روضa garden سقتهwatered it منfrom الوسميthe autumn rain season أَمطارrains
روض سقته من الوسمي أَمطار
فَأَشرَقَتso shone مِنهُfrom it أَنوارlights وَنوارand blossoms
فَأَشرَقَت مِنهُ أَنوار وَنوار
A garden watered by the first autumn rains,
A garden watered by the rains of al-Wusmi
From which lights and blossoms shone.
From which lights and illuminations have shone
تَنَوعَتgrew diverse فيهِin it أَصنافkinds المَحاسنbeauties إِذas
تَنَوعَت فيهِ أَصناف المَحاسن إِذ
تَخالَفَتdiffered مِنهُfrom it أَورادroses وأَزهارand flowers
تَخالَفَت مِنهُ أَوراد وأَزهار
Within it, kinds of beauty grew diverse, as
In it various kinds of beauties appeared when
Its roses and flowers differed from one another.
Its roses and flowers differed
راقَتgrew pleasing وَرَقتand grew gentle بِهِin it ريحwind الصباthe east wind فَلذاand so
راقَت وَرَقت بِهِ ريح الصبا فَلذا
تَرقرَقتrippled وَأريقتand were poured forth مِنهُfrom it أَنهارstreams
تَرقرَقت وَأريقت مِنهُ أَنهار
The east wind grew pleasing and gentle there; thus
The breeze of morning blew upon it, so
Streams shimmered and poured forth from it.
Its streams gurgled and flowed from it
وَصفقتand clapped عذباتbranch tips البانthe bān trees وَانخفضتand bent low
وَصفقت عذبات البان وَانخفضت
كَأَنَّماas though هُنthey بَينَamid الرَوضthe garden أَبكارvirgin maidens
كَأَنَّما هُن بَينَ الرَوض أَبكار
The bān trees' branch tips clapped and bent low,
The obedient ripples of pools clapped
As though they were virgin maidens amid the garden.
As if they were maidens among the garden
وَنقطand dotted الطلthe dew أَوراقleaves الغُصونthe branches بِهِin it
وَنقط الطل أَوراق الغُصون بِهِ
لِكُلfor each واحدةone مِنهُنof them دينارa dinar
لِكُل واحدة مِنهُن دينار
Dew dotted the leaves of its branches,
Dew dotted the leaves of branches in it
For each one of them, a dinar.
For each of them a gold coin
وَالتفand twined بالبانaround the bān trees قَيصومyarrow الجنانthe gardens ضحىat midmorning
وَالتف بالبان قَيصوم الجنان ضحى
كَأَنَّماas though هُوَit للقضبانfor the branches زنارa girdle
كَأَنَّما هُوَ للقضبان زنار
At midmorning, the gardens' yarrow twined around the bān trees,
And the thickets of gardens embraced at dawn
As though it were a girdle for the branches.
As if it were a necklace for the twigs
وَالطَيرand the birds يَهتفcall out وَالشحرورand the blackbird منبسطjoyous
وَالطَير يَهتف وَالشحرور منبسط
وَالعَندَليبand the nightingale لَهُit has رجعan echoing refrain وَتكرارand repetition
وَالعَندَليب لَهُ رجع وَتكرار
The birds call out, and the blackbird is joyous,
The birds chirp and the insects are outstretched
And the nightingale has an echoing refrain, repeated again.
And the nightingale repeats and reiterates
وَالغُصنand the branch يَرقصdances وَالشاديand the singer يحركهsets it moving
وَالغُصن يَرقص وَالشادي يحركه
كَأَنَّماas though هُوَit سنطيرa dulcimer وَمزمارand a flute
كَأَنَّما هُوَ سنطير وَمزمار
The branch dances, and the singer sets it moving,
The branch dances and the wind stirs it
As though it were a dulcimer and a flute.
As if it were a pipe and a flute
وَالأَرضand the earth تضحكlaughs مِنfrom سحthe downpour الغمامthe clouds بِهاupon it
وَالأَرض تضحك مِن سح الغمام بِها
وَكَمand how many لَهُit has نعمblessings فيهاtherein وَآثارand traces
وَكَم لَهُ نعم فيها وَآثار
The earth laughs from the clouds' downpour upon it,
And the land laughs from the rain pouring on it
And how many blessings and traces it leaves there!
And how many favors it has on it and traces
كَأَنas though نَعلthe sandal رَسولthe Messenger اللَهof God مرpassed بِهاover it
كَأَن نَعل رَسول اللَه مر بِها
فَاخضرso grew green مِنfrom مسهits touch ريفcountryside وَأَمصارand cities
فَاخضر مِن مسه ريف وَأَمصار
As though the sandal of God's Messenger had passed over it,
As if the slipper of the Messenger of God passed over it
And countryside and cities had grown green at its touch.
So its countryside and cities became green
نعلa sandal بهاin it قدمthe foot الهاديthe Guide الأَمينthe trustworthy ثَوَتrested
نعل بها قدم الهادي الأَمين ثَوَت
فَفيهso within it مِنfrom قدمthe foot المُختارthe Chosen One أَسرارmysteries
فَفيه مِن قدم المُختار أَسرار
A sandal in which the trustworthy Guide's foot rested,
The slipper in which the foot of the trustworthy guide settled
Within it are mysteries from the Chosen One's foot.
So in it are the secrets of the feet of the Chosen
نعلa sandal مَشَتwalked فيwithin قبابthe domes العَرشthe Throne وَارتفعتand rose
نعل مَشَت في قباب العَرش وَارتفعت
عَلىupon البساطthe carpet بِذاof this جاءتكreached you أَخبارreports
عَلى البساط بِذا جاءتك أَخبار
A sandal that walked within the Throne's domes and rose
A slipper that walked on the domes of the Throne and ascended
Upon the carpet—reports of this have reached you.
To the Highest Company, so reports came to you
مرغrub بخدكwith your cheek تمثالاًa likeness لَهاof it فَلهfor it has
مرغ بخدك تمثالاً لَها فَله
فَضلmerit كَماas وَرَدَتhave been transmitted فيconcerning ذاكَthat آثارtraditions
فَضل كَما وَرَدَت في ذاكَ آثار
Rub your cheek against a likeness of it, for it has
Rub your cheek on it, for it is a statue for it
Merit, as traditions concerning this have related.
So it has virtue as mentioned in those traces
وَامسحand wipe جُفونكyour eyelids كيماso that تستضيءyou may gain light بِهfrom it
وَامسح جُفونك كيما تستضيء بِه
فَإنماfor only هُوَit للابصارfor the eyes ابصارsight
فَإنما هُوَ للابصار ابصار
And wipe your eyelids so that you may gain light from it,
And wipe your eyelids so that you may be illuminated by it
For it is nothing but sight for the eyes.
For it is enlightenment for sights
وَاذكرand remember وَصلand invoke blessings عَلىupon ذاكthat النَبيthe Prophet فَكَمfor how many
وَاذكر وَصل عَلى ذاك النَبي فَكَم
بذكرهthrough remembering him غفرتwere forgiven للناسfor people أَوزارsins
بذكره غفرت للناس أَوزار
Remember and invoke blessings upon that Prophet; how many
And mention and send your peace upon that prophet, for how much
Sins have been forgiven people through remembrance of him!
Sins of people are forgiven by his mention
الطاهرthe pure الفاخرthe glorious الزاكيthe virtuous الكَريمthe generous وَمَنand the one who
الطاهر الفاخر الزاكي الكَريم وَمَن
لأجلهfor his sake رفعتwere lifted للقربfor nearness أستارveils
لأجله رفعت للقرب أستار
The pure, the glorious, the virtuous, the generous, and the one
The pure, splendid, righteous, generous, and whoever
For whose sake veils were lifted for nearness.
For his sake veils of nearness were lifted
منwho مثلهlike him وَأَمينand the trusted bearer الوحيof revelation خادمهhis servant
من مثله وَأَمين الوحي خادمه
وَفيand in رَكائبهhis mounts الأَملاكthe angels قَدindeed سارواthey traveled
وَفي رَكائبه الأَملاك قَد ساروا
Who is like him, when revelation's trusted bearer serves him,
Who is like him, the trusted bearer of revelation, his servant
And angels have traveled in his mounted train?
And in his litters angels travelled
حَتّىuntil دَناhe drew near قابthe distance of قَوسينtwo bows الوصالunion فَفيso in
حَتّى دَنا قاب قَوسين الوصال فَفي
دنوهhis drawing near أَنبياءthe prophets اللَهof God قَدindeed حارواwere bewildered
دنوه أَنبياء اللَه قَد حاروا
Until he drew near to union, within two bow-lengths; at
Until near a bow span was the union, so in
His nearness, God's prophets stood bewildered.
His nearing the prophets of God were perplexed
وَالعَرشand the Throne أَشرَقshone مِنfrom أَنوارthe lights غرتهhis brow
وَالعَرش أَشرَق مِن أَنوار غرته
إِذas مِنهُfrom him قَدindeed سَطَعتblazed forth فيin الكَونthe universe أَنوارlights
إِذ مِنهُ قَد سَطَعت في الكَون أَنوار
The Throne shone from the lights of his brow,
And the Throne shone from the pride of his lights
As lights from him blazed forth throughout the universe.
When from it lights shone throughout existence
ناداهcalled to him مَولاهhis Lord أَهلاًwelcome بِالحَبيبto the beloved فَطبso be glad
ناداه مَولاه أَهلاً بِالحَبيب فَطب
قلباًat heart فَإِنَكfor you are نعمan excellent الخلfriend وَالجارand neighbor
قلباً فَإِنَك نعم الخل وَالجار
His Lord called to him: “Welcome, beloved; be glad
His Master welcomed him saying, “Hello to the beloved, so good
At heart, for you are an excellent friend and neighbor.
Hearted you are, for you are the best neighbor and companion."
أَنتَyou المشفعthe accepted intercessor فيon يَومthe Day المعادof Return إِذاwhen
أَنتَ المشفع في يَوم المعاد إِذا
قلgrew scarce النصيرthe helper وَأَبدتand revealed حَرَهاits heat النارthe Fire
قل النصير وَأَبدت حَرَها النار
You are the accepted intercessor on the Day of Return, when
You are the intercessor on the Day of Judgment when
Helpers are few and the Fire reveals its heat.”
The victors are few and the Fire bares its flames
فَردpeerless يرفلwalks resplendent فيin ثَوبa robe الوَقارof dignity وَفيand in
فَرد يرفل في ثَوب الوَقار وَفي
فُؤادهhis heart مِنfrom كنوزthe treasures العلمof knowledge أَوقارheavy loads
فُؤاده مِن كنوز العلم أَوقار
Peerless, he walks resplendent in dignity's robe, and in
So he returned dressed in the garb of dignity and in
His heart lie great loads from the treasures of knowledge.
His heart were treasures of knowledge and dignities
وَانشقand split apart للمُصطفىfor the Chosen One البَدرthe full moon التَمامat its fullest كَماas
وَانشق للمُصطفى البَدر التَمام كَما
قَدindeed حَدثتناhave told us بِهَذاof this عَنهُabout him أَخيارvirtuous people
قَد حَدثتنا بِهَذا عَنهُ أَخيار
For the Chosen One the full moon split, as
And the full moon split for the Chosen one just as
The virtuous have told us this about him.
The best of us have narrated this story about him
وَالظَبيand the gazelle وَالضبand the spiny-tailed lizard وَالأَشجارand the trees شاهدةbear witness
وَالظَبي وَالضب وَالأَشجار شاهدة
عَلىto نبوتهhis prophethood وَالسُمand the poison وَالغارand the cave
عَلى نبوته وَالسُم وَالغار
The gazelle, the spiny-tailed lizard, and the trees bear witness
And the gazelle, the wolf, and the trees bear witness
To his prophethood—as do the poison and the cave.
To his prophecy, the poison, and the cave
وَسَلand ask سراقةSurāqah ماذاwhat قَدindeed رَأىhe saw وَكَفىand it suffices
وَسَل سراقة ماذا قَد رَأى وَكَفى
فَخراًfor glory فَفيfor in ذاكَthat تَنويهacclaim وَإِنذارand warning
فَخراً فَفي ذاكَ تَنويه وَإِنذار
Ask Surāqah what he saw; it suffices
And Suraqa—what did he see? And enough
For glory, for in that are acclaim and warning.
Pride, so in that is notification and warning
وَأعظمand the greatest الكُلof all قرآنthe Qur'an بِهِin it قصصstories
وَأعظم الكُل قرآن بِهِ قصص
وَحكمةand wisdom وَمَواعيظand exhortations وَأَخبارand accounts
وَحكمة وَمَواعيظ وَأَخبار
Greatest of all is the Qur'an, in which are stories,
And greatest of all is the Quran in which are stories
And wisdom, exhortations, and accounts.
And wisdom, admonitions, and reports
أَلفاظهits words كَعقودlike necklaces الدرof pearls ساطعةradiant
أَلفاظه كَعقود الدر ساطعة
وَآيهand its verses لظلامfor the darkness الجَهلof ignorance أَقمارmoons
وَآيه لظلام الجَهل أَقمار
Its words are radiant, like necklaces of pearls,
Its words are like strands of pearls gleaming
And its verses are moons for ignorance's darkness.
And its verses are moons for the darkness of ignorance
رَقتgrew refined مَعانيهits meanings إِذas دَقتgrew subtle لَطائفهits fine points
رَقت مَعانيه إِذ دَقت لَطائفه
فَأَمعَنَتso delved deeply فيهِinto it ألبابintellects وَأَفكارand thoughts
فَأَمعَنَت فيهِ ألباب وَأَفكار
Its meanings grew refined as its fine points grew subtle,
Its meanings are gentle when its subtleties are delicate
So intellects and thoughts delved deeply into it.
So minds and thoughts have pondered upon it
كَفىsuffices بِهِwith it لأوليfor those possessing الأَلبابintellect تبصرةenlightenment
كَفى بِهِ لأولي الأَلباب تبصرة
أَنif أَنصفواthey judged fairly وَبحكُمand by the judgment العَقلof reason ماnot جارواthey strayed
أَن أَنصفوا وَبحكُم العَقل ما جاروا
It suffices as enlightenment for those endowed with intellect,
It is enough for people of intellect as insight
If they judge fairly and do not stray from reason's judgment.
That they be fair and judge with reason, not unjustly
بِهِthrough it هدىguided اللَهGod أَقواماًpeoples وَأَيدهُمand strengthened them
بِهِ هدى اللَه أَقواماً وَأَيدهُم
فَأَصبَحواso they came to be وَعَلىand upon المنهاجthe path قَدindeed سارواthey walked
فَأَصبَحوا وَعَلى المنهاج قَد ساروا
Through it God guided peoples and strengthened them,
With it God guided some people and supported them
And so they came to walk along the path.
So they became guided and walked the straight path
وَقَدand indeed أَضَلled astray بِهِthrough it قَوماًa people فَكَمand how many لَهُمthey have
وَقَد أَضَل بِهِ قَوماً فَكَم لَهُم
بَصائرfaculties of insight قَدindeed عَمتwere blinded مِنهُby it وَأَبصارand eyes
بَصائر قَد عَمت مِنهُ وَأَبصار
Yet through it He led a people astray; how many of their
And with it He led some people astray, so how many
Faculties of insight and eyes have been blinded by it!
Visions they are deprived of and sights they are denied
ياO صاحبbearer of الوَحيrevelation وَالتَنزيلand its sending down وَالشَرفand honor الضthe… (fragment of 'vast')
يا صاحب الوَحي وَالتَنزيل وَالشَرف الض
ضخمvast الجَليلmajestic وَمَنand the one who طابَتgrew pleasant بِهِthrough him الدارthe abode
ضخم الجَليل وَمَن طابَت بِهِ الدار
O bearer of revelation and its sending down, and of honor—
O possessor of revelation and the descending and the tremendous
Vast and majestic—and you through whom the abode grew pleasant,
Glory and the one in whom the house became good
وَالسَيدand the master العلمthe eminent one الفَردthe peerless الَّذيwho انتَقَلَتpassed
وَالسَيد العلم الفَرد الَّذي انتَقَلَت
مِنfrom وَجهِهِhis face لِجَميعto all الناسpeople أَنوارlights
مِن وَجهِهِ لِجَميع الناس أَنوار
And the eminent, peerless master, whose lights spread
And the master, the unique knowledge, the individual whom
From his face to all people.
From his face lights have shone for all people
المُصطَفىthe Chosen One المجتَبىthe Elect مِنfrom كُلevery مُنتخبchosen one
المُصطَفى المجتَبى مِن كُل مُنتخب
وَمَنand the one whom نَمتهraised him إِلىto العَلياءthe heights أطهارpure ones
وَمَن نَمته إِلى العَلياء أطهار
The Chosen One, the Elect among all the chosen,
The chosen, the selected from all select
And he whom the pure raised to the heights,
And the one whose nature is the purest traits
وَمَظهرand the manifestation of الحَقtruth وَالنهجand the path القَويمthe upright وَمَنand the one who
وَمَظهر الحَق وَالنهج القَويم وَمَن
بشرعهthrough his law كانthere was للتَوحيدof God's oneness إِظهارa manifestation
بشرعه كان للتَوحيد إِظهار
And the manifestation of truth and the straight path, and he
The manifestation of truth, the straight path, and the one
Through whose law God's oneness was made manifest,
By whose law the declaration of Oneness appeared
وَالصارعand the wrestler الصادقthe truthful الصدقtruth الصَفيthe pure one وَمنand the one who
وَالصارع الصادق الصدق الصَفي وَمن
صَفاwas pure فَصفيso was purified وَجلتand grew exalted مِنهof him أَقدارranks
صَفا فَصفي وَجلت مِنه أَقدار
And the wrestler, the truthful, truth itself, the pure one, and he
The honest combatant, the sincere, the pure, and the one
Who was pure and so was purified, and whose ranks grew exalted.
Whose sincerity made him chosen and extolled by destiny
أَغثaid فَقيراًa poor man دَعاكَcalled upon you اليَومtoday مُنزَعِجاًdistressed
أَغث فَقيراً دَعاكَ اليَوم مُنزَعِجاً
عَلىupon غَواربهhis shoulders حملa load وقنطارand a great weight
عَلى غَواربه حمل وقنطار
Aid a poor man who has called upon you today in distress,
Help a poor man who calls upon you today troubled
Upon whose shoulders lie a load and a great weight.
Bearing burdens of sins and enormous weights
قَدindeed عامَswam فيin ذَنبهhis sin التَيارthe torrent مِنsince صغرchildhood
قَد عامَ في ذَنبه التَيار مِن صغر
وَماand not لهhe has فيfor اقترافcommitting الوزرsin أَعذارexcuses
وَما له في اقتراف الوزر أَعذار
He has swum in his sin's torrent since childhood,
The currents of youthful folly have acted in his sin
And he has no excuses for committing sin.
And he has no excuse for perpetrating misdeeds
وَقدand indeed عرتهbeset him ديونdebts لاnot يطيقhe can bear لَهاfor them
وَقد عرته ديون لا يطيق لَها
حملاًa burden وَلاnor درهمa dirham مِنهاof them وَدينارand a dinar
حملاً وَلا درهم مِنها وَدينار
Debts have beset him; he cannot bear their
And debts have exposed him which he cannot bear
Burden—not even a dirham of them or a dinar.
Their burden and does not have a single dirham or dinar
وَلاذَand sought refuge بالحرمin the sanctuary المَحميprotected نازلهits guest
وَلاذَ بالحرم المَحمي نازله
وَإِنeven if أَلمbefell بِهِhim فَقرpoverty وَإعسارand insolvency
وَإِن أَلم بِهِ فَقر وَإعسار
He sought refuge in the sanctuary whose guest is protected,
And he has sought refuge in the protected sanctuary
Even if poverty and insolvency befall him.
Even if poverty and destitution have afflicted him
فَامنعso ward off بِحَقكby your right عَنهُfrom him كُلevery مُعضلةhardship
فَامنع بِحَقك عَنهُ كُل مُعضلة
فَإِنfor indeed رَبكyour Lord لِلأوزارof sins غفارever-forgiving
فَإِن رَبك لِلأوزار غفار
So, by your right, ward every hardship away from him,
So prevent with your right every difficult issue from him
For your Lord is ever-forgiving of sins.
For your Lord forgives sins
صَلىmay He bless عَليكupon you صَلاةa blessing لاno انقِطاعcessation لَهاto it
صَلى عَليك صَلاة لا انقِطاع لَها
ماas long as صَفقتclapped فيat حَواشيthe edges الرَوضof the garden أَشجارtrees
ما صَفقت في حَواشي الرَوض أَشجار
May He bless you with a blessing that never ceases,
Blessings upon you, blessings that have no end
As long as trees clap at the garden's edges.
As long as trees clap in the peripheries of the garden