طَويلlong غَراميmy passion فيin هَواكlove for you قَصيرshort
طَويل غَرامي في هَواك قَصير
نعمyes وَكَثيرand abundant الشَوقlonging فيكَfor you حَقيرpaltry
نعم وَكَثير الشَوق فيكَ حَقير
Long though my passion for you is, it is short.
My longing for your love is short
Yes, even abundant longing for you is paltry.
Yes, and my passion for you is little
سَمَوتمyou have risen high فَكُلso all الكائِناتbeings لِفَضلِكُمto your excellence
سَمَوتم فَكُل الكائِنات لِفَضلِكُم
مَدىthroughout الدَهرtime مِنfrom كُلall الجِهاتdirections تشيرpoint
مَدى الدَهر مِن كُل الجِهات تشير
You have risen high; all beings, to your excellence,
You have transcended so all creatures extol your superiority
Point from every direction throughout all time.
Throughout time from all directions they point to your favor
وَأَنتُمand you شُموسsuns العالمينall the worlds بِأَسرهمall of them
وَأَنتُم شُموس العالمين بِأَسرهم
وَفيand in ظُلمةthe darkness of اللَيلthe night البَهيمpitch-black بُدورfull moons
وَفي ظُلمة اللَيل البَهيم بُدور
You are the suns of all the worlds,
You are the suns of all the worlds together
And full moons in the darkness of the pitch-black night.
And in the darkness of the night the mindless wander astray
أَنارَتshone بِكُمthrough you كُلall الجِهاتdirections لأَنَكُمbecause you
أَنارَت بِكُم كُل الجِهات لأَنَكُم
لِكُلto all الوَرىcreation ياO آلfamily of أَحمدAhmad نورa light
لِكُل الوَرى يا آل أَحمد نور
Through you every quarter has shone, for you are
You have illuminated all directions because you
A light to all creation, O family of Ahmad.
Are, O family of Ahmad, the light for all the worlds
وَلماand when وَرتflared نارthe fire of الغَرامpassion وَحَركَتand stirred
وَلما وَرت نار الغَرام وَحَركَت
قُلوباًhearts مِنfrom الشَوقlonging القَديمage-old تَفورseethe
قُلوباً مِن الشَوق القَديم تَفور
And when the fire of passion flared and stirred
And when the fire of passion blazed and stirred
Hearts seething with age-old longing,
Hearts with ancient longing overflowing
سَرَيناwe traveled by night عَلىover الغَبراءthe dusty earth حَتّىuntil كَأَنَّناas though we
سَرَينا عَلى الغَبراء حَتّى كَأَنَّنا
عَلىupon قُبةthe dome of السَبعthe seven العَوالlofty heavens نَسيرwe travel
عَلى قُبة السَبع العَوال نَسير
We traveled by night over the dusty earth, until it seemed
We marched on the dust till we were as though
We traveled upon the dome of the seven lofty heavens.
We marched atop the mighty seven heavens
تَسيرtravel بِناwith us شُهبgray-white المَطاياmounts كَأَنَّهاas though they
تَسير بِنا شُهب المَطايا كَأَنَّها
طُيورbirds إِلىto أَوكارهنtheir nests تَطيرfly
طُيور إِلى أَوكارهن تَطير
Our gray-white mounts carry us as though they were
The meteors of our steeds seemed to soar as
Birds flying to their nests.
Birds returning to their nests in flight
سَوابحgliding mounts يزجيهاdrives them onward الغَرامpassion عَلىupon الرجاhope
سَوابح يزجيها الغَرام عَلى الرجا
قَشاعمgreat eagles حَنتyearned للسرىfor night travel وَصُقورand falcons
قَشاعم حَنت للسرى وَصُقور
Gliding mounts that passion drives onward in hope,
Seahawks driven by passion over the plains
Great eagles yearning for night journeys, and falcons.
Pigeons that have bowed for travel and hawks
تحركهاstir them الأَشواقlongings طَبعاًby nature وَكَمand how often غَداthere arose
تحركها الأَشواق طَبعاً وَكَم غَدا
لأَخفافهاfrom their padded feet عِندَduring المَسيرtravel صَريرa creaking
لأَخفافها عِندَ المَسير صَرير
Longings stir them by nature; how often there arose
Moved by longing as their nature and how often their
A creaking from their padded feet as they traveled!
Hoofs have cried at the march's outset
عَلَوناwe mounted عَلَيهاthem وَالجَوانحand the ribs لَمdid not تَزلcease
عَلَونا عَلَيها وَالجَوانح لَم تَزل
يشبblazes بِهاwithin them عِندَat الرَحيلdeparture سَعيرa raging fire
يشب بِها عِندَ الرَحيل سَعير
We mounted them, and within our breasts there still
We climbed upon them while the wings did not cease
Blazed a raging fire at departure.
To kindle with departure's blaze
عُيونeyes وَأَجفانand eyelids تَسيلstream وَمهجةand a soul
عُيون وَأَجفان تَسيل وَمهجة
تَذوبmelts وَشَوقand longing فيin القُلوبthe hearts كَثيرabundant
تَذوب وَشَوق في القُلوب كَثير
Eyes and eyelids stream, and a soul
Eyes and lids pouring forth and a soul
Melts, while longing abounds in the hearts.
Melting while great longing filled hearts
قَصَدناكمwe sought you نَرجوwe hope for النوالbounty لأَنكُمbecause you
قَصَدناكم نَرجو النوال لأَنكُم
غيوثrain clouds لِمَنfor whoever يَبغيseeks النَدىgenerosity وَبُحورand seas
غيوث لِمَن يَبغي النَدى وَبُحور
We sought you, hoping for bounty, for you are
We came seeking union for you are
Rain clouds and seas for those who seek generosity.
Succors for those who want drink and seas
أَتيناكُمwe came to you غُبرdust-covered الوُجوهfaces وَتربكمand your soil
أَتيناكُم غُبر الوُجوه وَتربكم
غسولa cleansing wash وَماءand water للقُلوبfor hearts طَهورpurifying
غسول وَماء للقُلوب طَهور
We came to you with dust-covered faces, and your soil is
We came to you faces covered in dust and your earth
A cleansing wash and purifying water for hearts.
Is a cleanser and water for hearts' purity
وَزُرناكُمand we visited you ياO خيرةchosen ones of اللَهGod فيamong الوَرىcreation
وَزُرناكُم يا خيرة اللَه في الوَرى
وَقدand indeed طابَwas blessed مِناamong us زائرa visitor ومزورand one visited
وَقد طابَ مِنا زائر ومزور
And we visited you, O God's chosen ones among creation,
And we visited you, best of Allah among creation
And among us, both visitor and visited were blessed.
And our visitor and visited have found pleasure
وَجئناand we came to عليexalted القَدرin rank وَالدمعand the tears سافحflowing
وَجئنا علي القَدر وَالدمع سافح
لَهُfor it فَوقabove أَطرافthe edges of الخُدودthe cheeks غَديرa pool
لَهُ فَوق أَطراف الخُدود غَدير
We came to the one exalted in rank, with tears streaming,
And we came shedding tears that poured
Forming a pool along the edges of our cheeks.
Down our cheeks in rivers from the brims
لَثمناwe kissed ثَرىthe soil of ذاكَthat المقامshrine لأَنَّهfor it
لَثمنا ثَرى ذاكَ المقام لأَنَّه
زلالclear, sweet water إِذاwhen اشتدgrew intense الظَماthirst وَنَميرand wholesome water
زلال إِذا اشتد الظَما وَنَمير
We kissed the soil of that shrine, for it is
We kissed the soil of that place for it
Clear, sweet water when thirst grows fierce, and wholesome drink.
Is sweet water when thirst and heat strike
وَلماand when انطَفَتwere quenched تِلكَthose الجِمارembers بِوَصلهby union with him
وَلما انطَفَت تِلكَ الجِمار بِوَصله
وَتَمتand were completed لِناغبfor the sipper of الوِصالunion أُجورrewards
وَتَمت لِناغب الوِصال أُجور
And when those embers were quenched by union with him,
And when those embers were extinguished by union
And the sipper of union received his rewards in full,
And the seekers of union received their reward
أَتيناwe came to الشَهيدthe martyr السبطthe grandson دُرةthe pearl of حَيدرHaydar
أَتينا الشَهيد السبط دُرة حَيدر
وَلَيسَand there is not لَهاfor it بَينَamong العِبادhumankind نَظيرan equal
وَلَيسَ لَها بَينَ العِباد نَظير
We came to the martyred grandson, Haydar's pearl,
We came to the martyred grandson, Haydar's pearl
Which has no equal among humankind.
With no peer among mankind elsewhere
وَرَيحانةand the sweet basil of المُختارthe Chosen One كَمhow often شمhe smelled عرفهاits fragrance
وَرَيحانة المُختار كَم شم عرفها
فَيعبقso wafts مِنهاfrom it مندلaloeswood وَعَبيرand perfume
فَيعبق مِنها مندل وَعَبير
And the Chosen One's sweet basil—how often he inhaled its fragrance!
And the Chosen's basil, what fragrance it exudes
From it waft aloeswood and perfume.
When robes and cloaks are perfumed by it
وَكَمand how often ضَمهاhe clasped it لِلصَدرto the chest مِنهُfrom him إِشارةa sign
وَكَم ضَمها لِلصَدر مِنهُ إِشارة
إِلىto أَنَّهُمthat they للعالمينfor all the worlds صُدورleaders
إِلى أَنَّهُم للعالمين صُدور
How often he clasped it to his chest, a sign from him
And how he embraced it to his chest indicating
That they are the leaders of all the worlds.
They are for the worlds altogether a refuge
وَقَبلand kissed ثَغراًlips مِنهُof his وَالوَجهand the face مُشرقradiant
وَقَبل ثَغراً مِنهُ وَالوَجه مُشرق
لَهُfor him فَرحةjoy مِنfor أَجلِهاits sake وَسُرورand gladness
لَهُ فَرحة مِن أَجلِها وَسُرور
And kissed his lips, his face radiant,
And he kissed a mouth from it while his face shone
With joy and gladness on its account.
With a joy that made him happy and glad
أُصيبwas stricken with grief بِهِfor him حَياًwhile alive وَأخبرand informed أَهلهhis family
أُصيب بِهِ حَياً وَأخبر أَهله
بِماof what نالَهُbefell him لاno شَكَdoubt وَهوَand he خَبيرwell informed
بِما نالَهُ لا شَكَ وَهوَ خَبير
He was stricken with grief for him while still alive, and told his family
He was touched by it alive and told his people
Of what would befall him—without doubt, he knew.
Of what he attained, no doubt an expert
أَماnot? كانَwas حينَwhen النقعthe battle dust ثارَrose وَأَقبَلَتand approached
أَما كانَ حينَ النقع ثارَ وَأَقبَلَت
خُيولhorses العِدىof the enemies فيin كَربلاءKarbala تَثورrage
خُيول العِدى في كَربلاء تَثور
Was there not—when battle dust rose and there came
Was he not when the evil deed occurred aroused and
The enemy's horses, raging in Karbala—
The enemy horses in Karbala stirred
خُيولhorses عَمَتwent blind لَماwhen تَعامَتfeigned blindness سراتهاtheir leading riders
خُيول عَمَت لَما تَعامَت سراتها
عَلَيهاupon them سفيهa fool ناكثan oath-breaker وَعقورand a savage attacker
عَلَيها سفيه ناكث وَعقور
Horses gone blind when their leaders feigned blindness,
Horses that roamed when their dignitaries banded
With fools, oath-breakers, and savage attackers upon them—
Against them a foolish betrayer and transgressor
فَجالَتso they wheeled عَلىagainst آلthe family of النَبيthe Prophet فَياso, oh لَهاfor them
فَجالَت عَلى آل النَبي فَيا لَها
مَصائبcalamities سودblack فيamong الكِرامthe noble ones تَدورcircle
مَصائب سود في الكِرام تَدور
Then they wheeled against the Prophet's family—oh, what
So they galloped upon the Prophet's family, oh what
Black calamities circled among the noble ones!
Calamities befell the honored revolving among them
أَماnot? كانَwas فيهمamong them منanyone who تذكرremembered أَحمَداًAhmad
أَما كانَ فيهم من تذكر أَحمَداً
وَمَدمعهand his tears لِلظاعِنينfor those departing غَزيرabundant
وَمَدمعه لِلظاعِنين غَزير
Was there none among them who remembered Ahmad,
Was there none among them who remembered Ahmad
With his tears flowing freely for those departing?
And his copious tears for the assailants?
أَماnot? كانَwas فيهمamong them منanyone who تَذكرremembered بنتهhis daughter
أَما كانَ فيهم من تَذكر بنته
وَبضعتهاand her flesh and blood فيin كَربلاءKarbala تحيرwas bewildered
وَبضعتها في كَربلاء تحير
Was there none among them who remembered his daughter,
Was there none among them who recalled his daughter
While her flesh and blood was bewildered in Karbala?
And her dishonor in Karbala wandering confused?
أَماnot? كانَwas فيهمamong them مِنanyone who تذكرremembered حَيدراًHaydar
أَما كانَ فيهم مِن تذكر حَيدراً
فَتىthe champion of الحَربwar مقدامdauntless الجُيوشarmies أَميرa commander
فَتى الحَرب مقدام الجُيوش أَمير
Was there none among them who remembered Haydar,
Was there none among them who recalled Haydar
War's champion, the dauntless commander of armies?
The warrior, battle's audacious leader?
أَماnot? كانَwas فيهمamong them مَنsomeone who يرقfelt pity لِصبيةfor children
أَما كانَ فيهم مَن يرق لِصبية
لَهُمthey had حنةa plaintive cry فيin كَربلاKarbala وَزَفيرand sighing
لَهُم حنة في كَربلا وَزَفير
Was there none among them who pitied children
Was there none among them who would pity children
Who moaned and sighed in Karbala?
Whose plight in Karbala was lament and wailing?
أَتمنعare they denied? أَطفالchildren النَبيof the Prophet عَلىdespite الظَماthirst
أَتمنع أَطفال النَبي عَلى الظَما
مِنfrom الماءwater وَالماءand water الفُراتsweet and fresh كَثيرabundant
مِن الماء وَالماء الفُرات كَثير
Are the Prophet's children, despite their thirst, denied
Were the Prophet's children forbidden water despite
Water, although sweet water is plentiful?
The abundant Euphrates flowing there?
صِغارlittle ones مِنfrom الرَمضاءthe scorching ground أَمسواbecame by evening ذَوابِلاًwithered
صِغار مِن الرَمضاء أَمسوا ذَوابِلاً
وَلَيسَand there was not لَهُمfor them يَومon the day of الهَجيرscorching midday heat مُجيرa protector
وَلَيسَ لَهُم يَوم الهَجير مُجير
Little ones, withered by evening from the scorching ground,
Little ones who faced the heat were rendered scorched
With no protector in the day's blazing heat.
With none on the day of departure to protect
فَدَيتI would ransom بِأَولاديwith my children الصِغارthe young صِغارَهُمtheir little ones
فَدَيت بِأَولادي الصِغار صِغارَهُم
فَخطبهمfor their calamity بَينَamong العِبادhumankind كَبيرgreat
فَخطبهم بَينَ العِباد كَبير
I would ransom their little ones with my own young children,
I ransom with my own little children their little ones
For great is their affliction among humankind.
Whose plight was greatest among all mankind
سَقاكَmay give you drink إِلَهthe God of العَرشthe Throne ياO فاتِكاslayer بِهمof them
سَقاكَ إِلَه العَرش يا فاتِكا بِهم
شَراباًa drink بِهِthrough which مِنكَof yours الدماغthe brain يَفورboils
شَراباً بِهِ مِنكَ الدماغ يَفور
May the God of the Throne give you, O slayer of them,
May He who rules the Throne quench your thirst with them
A drink that makes your brain boil!
A drink that makes your minds boil overflowing
طَغيتyou transgressed وَأَحزَنتand saddened الرَسولthe Messenger بِقَبرهin his grave
طَغيت وَأَحزَنت الرَسول بِقَبره
وَأَطفَأتand extinguished نوراًa light فيin الوجودexistence يَنورshines
وَأَطفَأت نوراً في الوجود يَنور
You transgressed and saddened the Messenger in his grave,
You have transgressed and saddened the Messenger in his grave
And extinguished a light that shines throughout existence.
And extinguished a light in existence giving light
شَقيتyou are wretched وَدارand the abode of الأَشقياءthe wretched جَهَنمHell
شَقيت وَدار الأَشقياء جَهَنم
لهاit has زَفرةa groan مِنfrom حَرهاits heat وَسَعيرand a blaze
لها زَفرة مِن حَرها وَسَعير
You are wretched, and Hell is the abode of the wretched;
You are wretched and Hell is the abode of the wretched
It has a groan from its heat, and a raging blaze.
With Hellfire's roar and raging blaze
وَلاand no بَأسharm إنif أوذواthey were harmed وَلِلّهand to God belongs درهمtheir excellence
وَلا بَأس إن أوذوا وَلِلّه درهم
فَتلكَfor those are مَقاماتَstations عَلتrose high وَأُجورand rewards
فَتلكَ مَقاماتَ عَلت وَأُجور
Yet no harm if they were hurt—how noble they are!
No matter, though they were wronged Allah has a silver coin
For those are stations raised high, and rewards.
For such are sublime stations and great reward
حسينHusayn حسينHusayn منwho يُدانيكcomes near you فيin العُلىexalted rank
حسين حسين من يُدانيك في العُلى
وَفَضلكand your excellence ياO سَبطgrandson of النَبيthe Prophet شَهيرrenowned
وَفَضلك يا سَبط النَبي شَهير
Husayn, Husayn, who comes near you in exalted rank?
Hussain, Hussain who can compare to you in nobility
And your excellence, O grandson of the Prophet, is renowned.
And excellence, O Prophet's grandson so renowned
فَدَتكَmay ransom you أَباO father of الأَشرافthe noble ones روحيmy soul وَمُهجَتيand my lifeblood
فَدَتكَ أَبا الأَشراف روحي وَمُهجَتي
وَماand not ذاكَthat إِلاexcept تافهa trifle وَحَقيرand paltry
وَما ذاكَ إِلا تافه وَحَقير
May my soul and lifeblood ransom you, O father of the nobles,
I sacrifice myself, my soul, and my being for you
And that is but a trifle, something paltry.
And that is but paltry and insignificant
وَلَستand I am not عَنof العَباسal-Abbas سالforgetful فإنهfor he
وَلَست عَن العَباس سال فإنه
كَريمnoble بِأَنواعof the kinds of الثَناءpraise جَديرworthy
كَريم بِأَنواع الثَناء جَدير
Nor have I forgotten al-Abbas, for he is
Nor do I forget al-Abbas whose
Noble, deserving of every kind of praise.
Nobility deserves all manner of praise
رَفيعexalted تَدَلىdescended مِنfrom ذُؤابةthe crest of حَيدرHaydar
رَفيع تَدَلى مِن ذُؤابة حَيدر
أَبيكyour father وَذوand possessing قَدرrank هُناكَthere خَطيرmighty
أَبيك وَذو قَدر هُناكَ خَطير
Exalted, descended from the crest of Haydar,
Lofty was he, descended from Haydar's
Your father, and possessed there of mighty rank.
Father, and of grave importance there
لَهُhe has محفلa gathering فَوقَabove المَحافلthe gatherings كُلهاall of them
لَهُ محفل فَوقَ المَحافل كُلها
وَمحفلand a gathering of فَضلexcellence فيin العُلىthe heights وَسَريرand a throne
وَمحفل فَضل في العُلى وَسَرير
His is a gathering above all gatherings,
He has a station above all stations
And a gathering of excellence in the heights, and a throne.
And a lofty seat and position of nobility
كِرامO noble ones of العباthe cloak قَلبيmy heart إِلىtoward حيكمyour abode صَباyearned
كِرام العبا قَلبي إِلى حيكم صَبا
لَهُit has حُرقةa burning يَومon the day of النَوىseparation وَزَفيرand a sigh
لَهُ حُرقة يَوم النَوى وَزَفير
O noble ones of the cloak, my heart yearned for your abode;
O noble kin, my heart in love to you has wandered
It burns and sighs on the day of separation.
Burning with grief on the day of woe and lament
لجدكمyour grandfather has فَضلfavor عَليupon me وَمنةand kindness
لجدكم فَضل عَلي وَمنة
وَجودand generosity وَأَنعامand beneficence عليupon me غَزيرabundant
وَجود وَأَنعام علي غَزير
Your grandfather has shown me favor and kindness,
To your grandfather I owe kindness and favor
And generosity and abundant blessings upon me.
Abundant generosity and benefaction
هَدانيhe guided me وَأَوانيand sheltered me وَلَمand did not أَعرفI know الهُدىguidance
هَداني وَأَواني وَلَم أَعرف الهُدى
فَصرتso I came to be عَلىon نَهجthe path of الرشادright guidance أَسيرI walk
فَصرت عَلى نَهج الرشاد أَسير
He guided and sheltered me when I knew not guidance,
He guided me when I knew not guidance
So I began walking the path of right guidance.
And so I set out prisoner of true guidance
أَأَنسىshall I forget? نداكمyour bounty ياO سلالةoffspring of هاشمHashim
أَأَنسى نداكم يا سلالة هاشم
وَأنكرهand I deny it إنيindeed I إذنthen لَكَفورsurely deeply ungrateful
وَأنكره إني إذن لَكَفور
Shall I forget your bounty, O offspring of Hashim,
Shall I forget your munificence O Hashimite descendants
And deny it? Then I would surely be ungrateful.
And disavow it? I would be ungrateful
عَلىupon جدكمyour grandfather أَزكىthe purest صَلاةblessing يَحفهاencompasses it
عَلى جدكم أَزكى صَلاة يَحفها
سَلامpeace وَتَشريفand honor لَدَيهin his presence كَثيرabundant
سَلام وَتَشريف لَدَيه كَثير
Upon your grandfather be the purest blessing, surrounded
Upon your grandfather most virtuous prayers descend
By peace and abundant honor in his presence,
With abundant greetings and veneration upon him
تَعمextends to مَدىthroughout الأَيامthe days آلاًfamily بِأسرهمall of them
تَعم مَدى الأَيام آلاً بِأسرهم
وَصحباًand companions رحاهمtheir millstone فيin الكَمالperfection تَدورturns
وَصحباً رحاهم في الكَمال تَدور
Embracing throughout all days his entire family
Encompassing all his family and companions
And companions, whose millstone turns in perfection.
Guided by him to the perfection they sought