مَتى أَنا قائِمٌ أَعلى مَقامِ

مَتى أَنا قائِمٌ أَعلى مَقامِ

وَلاقٍ نورَ وَجهِكَ بِالسَلامِ

وَلاقٍ نورَ وَجهِكَ بِالسَلامِ

When shall I stand upon the loftiest station

When shall I stand in the highest station,

and greet the light of your face with peace,

and greet the radiance of your face with peace,

وَمُنصَرِفٌ وَقَد أَثقَلتَ عِطفي

وَمُنصَرِفٌ وَقَد أَثقَلتَ عِطفي

مِنَ النَعماءِ وَالمِنَنِ الجِسامِ

مِنَ النَعماءِ وَالمِنَنِ الجِسامِ

then depart, my shoulders laden by you

and depart, you having laden my shoulder

with blessings and tremendous favors?

with blessings and mighty favors?

وَلي أَمَلٌ أَطَلتُ الصَبرَ فيهِ

وَلي أَمَلٌ أَطَلتُ الصَبرَ فيهِ

لَوَ أَنَّ الصَبرَ يَنقَعُ مِن أُوامي

لَوَ أَنَّ الصَبرَ يَنقَعُ مِن أُوامي

I have a hope for which I have long been patient—

And I have a hope for which I have long been patient—

if only patience could quench my burning thirst.

if only patience could quench my burning thirst!

وَما خِفتُ النَوائِبَ تَرتَمي بي

وَما خِفتُ النَوائِبَ تَرتَمي بي

وَقَد أَقعى بِجامِحِها لِجامي

وَقَد أَقعى بِجامِحِها لِجامي

I did not fear the calamities hurled at me,

And I have not feared misfortunes tossing me about,

for my bridle had mastered their headstrong steed.

for my bridle has brought their unruly steed to its haunches.

أَيَعرُقُني الطَوى وَالرَوضُ حالٍ

أَيَعرُقُني الطَوى وَالرَوضُ حالٍ

وَيَغلِبُني الظَما وَالبَحرُ طامِ

وَيَغلِبُني الظَما وَالبَحرُ طامِ

Shall hunger gnaw me while the meadow is verdant,

Shall hunger strip me to the bone while the meadow is lush,

and thirst overcome me while the sea brims full?

and thirst overpower me while the sea is brimming?

وَلي قُربى رَؤومٌ كُنتُ أَرجو

وَلي قُربى رَؤومٌ كُنتُ أَرجو

يَمينَكَ أَن تُقَرِّبَ لي مَرامي

يَمينَكَ أَن تُقَرِّبَ لي مَرامي

I have a tender bond of kinship, through which I hoped

And I have a tender bond of kinship; I had hoped

your right hand would bring my aspiration near.

your right hand would bring my goal within my reach.

وَبابُ الإِذنِ مِنّي كُلَّ يَومٍ

وَبابُ الإِذنِ مِنّي كُلَّ يَومٍ

يُقَعقِعُ بِالقَوافي وَالنِظامِ

يُقَعقِعُ بِالقَوافي وَالنِظامِ

Every day the door of audience, at my hand,

And each day the door of admission, at my urging,

is rattled by odes and ordered verse.

rattles with rhymes and ordered verse.

لَكُم أَرجاءُ زَمزَمَ وَالمُصَلّى

لَكُم أَرجاءُ زَمزَمَ وَالمُصَلّى

وَبَطحاءُ المَشاعِرِ وَالمَقامِ

وَبَطحاءُ المَشاعِرِ وَالمَقامِ

Yours are the precincts of Zamzam and the prayer place,

Yours are the precincts of Zamzam and the prayer place,

the Batha, the holy sites, and the Station.

and the pebbled plain of the sacred sites and the Station.

وَأَنتُم أَطوَلُ العُظَماءِ طَولاً

وَأَنتُم أَطوَلُ العُظَماءِ طَولاً

وَأَندى في المُحولِ مِنَ الغَمامِ

وَأَندى في المُحولِ مِنَ الغَمامِ

Among the great, you rise to the greatest height

And you are the greatest of the great in bounty,

and in years of drought give more freely than the clouds.

and more generous in drought than the rain clouds,

وَأَبعَدُ مَوطِناً مِن كُلِّ عارٍ

وَأَبعَدُ مَوطِناً مِن كُلِّ عارٍ

وَأَمنَعُ جانِباً مِن كُلَّ ذامِ

وَأَمنَعُ جانِباً مِن كُلَّ ذامِ

Your dwelling stands farthest from every shame,

and farthest in dwelling from every disgrace,

your flank most secure against every censurer.

and best protected in flank from every reproach,

وَأَجرى عِندَ مُختَلَفِ العَوالي

وَأَجرى عِندَ مُختَلَفِ العَوالي

وَأَفلَجُ عِندَ مُعتَرَكِ الخِصامِ

وَأَفلَجُ عِندَ مُعتَرَكِ الخِصامِ

You are boldest where the tall spears cross

and boldest where spearheads cross,

and most victorious in the clash of dispute,

and most victorious in the battlefield of contention,

بِئاباءِ مَضوا وَهُمُ عَوارٍ

بِئاباءِ مَضوا وَهُمُ عَوارٍ

مِنَ القَولِ المُهَجَّنِ وَالمَلامِ

مِنَ القَولِ المُهَجَّنِ وَالمَلامِ

through forefathers who passed away unstained

through fathers gone before, who were untouched

by base speech or blame,

by degrading words and blame,

وَأُماتٍ دَرَجنَ عَلى اللَيالي

وَأُماتٍ دَرَجنَ عَلى اللَيالي

وَهُنَّ أَصَحُّ مِن بَيدِ النَعامِ

وَهُنَّ أَصَحُّ مِن بَيدِ النَعامِ

and mothers who departed with the passing nights,

and mothers who passed away as the nights went by,

purer than ostrich eggs,

and were sounder than the ostriches' deserts,

وَعِزٍّ لا يُزَعزَعُ بِالرَزايا

وَعِزٍّ لا يُزَعزَعُ بِالرَزايا

وَطودٍ لا يُضَعضَعُ بِالزِحامِ

وَطودٍ لا يُضَعضَعُ بِالزِحامِ

and a might no calamity can shake,

and might unshaken by calamities,

a mountain no press of crowds can unsettle,

and a mountain not undermined by the throng,

وَفَخرٍ شامِخِ العِرنَينِ عالٍ

وَفَخرٍ شامِخِ العِرنَينِ عالٍ

وَمَجدٍ طائِرِ العَزَباتِ سامِ

وَمَجدٍ طائِرِ العَزَباتِ سامِ

and pride with lofty brow held high,

and lofty pride, its nose held high,

and glory soaring into distant heights, sublime.

and sublime glory, its streamers flying.

تَسيلُ إِلَيهِمُ أَيدي المَطايا

تَسيلُ إِلَيهِمُ أَيدي المَطايا

بِكُلِّ أَشَمِّ مَعروقِ العِظامِ

بِكُلِّ أَشَمِّ مَعروقِ العِظامِ

The forelegs of the mounts stream toward them,

The forelegs of riding beasts stream toward them,

each proud, lean-boned camel,

bearing every proud rider, lean to the bone.

يُغَلِّبنَ البِعادَ عَلى التَداني

يُغَلِّبنَ البِعادَ عَلى التَداني

وَيُؤثِرنَ المَسيرَ عَلى المَقامِ

وَيُؤثِرنَ المَسيرَ عَلى المَقامِ

choosing distant reaches over nearness

They favor distance over nearness,

and travel over remaining still,

and prefer travel over staying.

وَيُعلِفنَ الذَميلَ وَلا سَبيلٌ

وَيُعلِفنَ الذَميلَ وَلا سَبيلٌ

إِلى الغُدرانِ وَالنُطَفِ الطَوامي

إِلى الغُدرانِ وَالنُطَفِ الطَوامي

accustomed to the rapid pace, with no road

And they are fed on swift trotting, with no way

to pools or overflowing waters.

to pools or brimming waters.

وَيَنصُلُ لَيلُها عَن كُلِّ عَنسٍ

وَيَنصُلُ لَيلُها عَن كُلِّ عَنسٍ

غَضيضِ الطَرفِ فاتِرَةِ البُغامِ

غَضيضِ الطَرفِ فاتِرَةِ البُغامِ

Night sloughs away from every she-camel

And their night slips away from every sturdy she-camel,

whose gaze is lowered and whose lowing is languid,

her gaze lowered, her lowing faint.

أَحَفَّت مِن جَوانِبِها الفَيافي

أَحَفَّت مِن جَوانِبِها الفَيافي

وَساقَطَ نَحضَها خَعضُ الظَلامِ

وَساقَطَ نَحضَها خَعضُ الظَلامِ

hemmed in on every side by desert wastes,

The deserts have stripped her flanks bare,

her flesh worn away by the buffeting darkness.

and traversing the darkness has wasted her flesh.

تُناخُ بِمالِىءِ الدُنيا نَوالاً

تُناخُ بِمالِىءِ الدُنيا نَوالاً

وَصادِعِ بَيضَةِ المَلِكِ الهُمامِ

وَصادِعِ بَيضَةِ المَلِكِ الهُمامِ

They are made to kneel before one who fills the world with bounty

They are made to kneel before one who fills the world with gifts

and cleaves the crown of kingship—the valiant one—

and cleaves the valiant king's helmet,

بِبَأسٍ مِثلِ غَربِ السَيفِ ماضٍ

بِبَأسٍ مِثلِ غَربِ السَيفِ ماضٍ

وَجودٍ مِثلِ ماءِ المُزنِ هامِ

وَجودٍ مِثلِ ماءِ المُزنِ هامِ

with courage keen as the edge of a sword

with might as keen as the edge of a sword,

and generosity like the cloud’s pouring water,

and bounty pouring like water from rain clouds,

وَصَولاتٍ أَمَرَّ مِنَ المَنايا

وَصَولاتٍ أَمَرَّ مِنَ المَنايا

عَلى بَشَرٍ أَلَذَّ مِنَ المُدامِ

عَلى بَشَرٍ أَلَذَّ مِنَ المُدامِ

with assaults more bitter than death

and assaults more bitter than death,

joined to a countenance sweeter than wine.

with a countenance sweeter than wine.

أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ وَأَنتَ أَولى

أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ وَأَنتَ أَولى

بِغاياتِ الفَخارِ مِنَ الأَنامِ

بِغاياتِ الفَخارِ مِنَ الأَنامِ

Commander of the Faithful, you are the worthiest

Commander of the Faithful, you are more deserving

of all mankind to reach the pinnacles of glory.

of the heights of glory than all mankind.

وَأَنتَ مُمَلَّكٌ شَرقاً وَغَرباً

وَأَنتَ مُمَلَّكٌ شَرقاً وَغَرباً

حَريمَ الأَرضِ وَالبَلَدِ الحَرامِ

حَريمَ الأَرضِ وَالبَلَدِ الحَرامِ

You are sovereign over East and West,

And you are given sovereignty, east and west,

over the earth’s sanctuary and the Sacred Precinct.

over the earth's protected domain and the Sacred City.

أَجِب صَوتي إِلَيكَ فَكُلُّ مَلكٍ

أَجِب صَوتي إِلَيكَ فَكُلُّ مَلكٍ

يَلَذُّ عَلى مَسامِعِهِ كَلامي

يَلَذُّ عَلى مَسامِعِهِ كَلامي

Answer my voice: every king

Answer my voice calling to you, for every king

finds my words sweet upon his hearing.

finds my words pleasing to his ears.

وَجَرَّدَني تُلاقِ الدَهرَ مِنّي

وَجَرَّدَني تُلاقِ الدَهرَ مِنّي

بِمَسمومٍ مَضارِبُهُ حُسامِ

بِمَسمومٍ مَضارِبُهُ حُسامِ

The encounters of time have drawn me forth from myself

And unsheathe me: through me you will face Time

as a sword whose striking edges bear poison.

with a keen sword whose striking edges are poisoned.

وَلا تَتَغاضَيَنَّ عَنِ القَوافي

وَلا تَتَغاضَيَنَّ عَنِ القَوافي

فَقَد أَربَت عَلى طولِ الجِمامِ

فَقَد أَربَت عَلى طولِ الجِمامِ

Do not turn your gaze away from these poems:

And never turn away from the rhymes,

they have outgrown their long repose.

for they have grown stronger through their long repose.

وَإِنّي نِعمَ دامِغُ كُلِّ قِرنٍ

وَإِنّي نِعمَ دامِغُ كُلِّ قِرنٍ

يُرادي بِالعَداوَةِ أَو يُرامي

يُرادي بِالعَداوَةِ أَو يُرامي

I am an excellent crusher of every rival

And I am a fine crusher of every rival

who meets me in enmity or shoots at me,

who contends in enmity or exchanges missiles,

وَدافِعُ كُلُّ داهِيَةٍ نَآدٍ

وَدافِعُ كُلُّ داهِيَةٍ نَآدٍ

وَقائِدُ كُلِّ ذي لَجَبٍ لُهامِ

وَقائِدُ كُلِّ ذي لَجَبٍ لُهامِ

the repeller of every crushing calamity

and a repeller of every grievous calamity,

and leader of every vast, clamorous host.

and a commander of every vast, clamorous host.

لَعَلّي بالِغٌ أَمري وَلاقٍ

لَعَلّي بالِغٌ أَمري وَلاقٍ

مُنى نَفسي مِنَ النِعَمِ العِظامِ

مُنى نَفسي مِنَ النِعَمِ العِظامِ

Perhaps I shall attain my purpose and encounter

Perhaps I shall achieve my aim and find

the great blessings my soul desires,

my soul's desires among mighty blessings,

وَأَمراً مِنكَ يَحذَرُهُ الأَعادي

وَأَمراً مِنكَ يَحذَرُهُ الأَعادي

فَيَلحَظُهُ بِأَجفانِ دَوامِ

فَيَلحَظُهُ بِأَجفانِ دَوامِ

and receive from you a decree the enemies will fear

and a decree from you that enemies dread,

and watch with sleepless eyelids.

so they behold it with bleeding eyelids.

فَأَعيُنُهُم لِبَغضَتِهِ غَواضٍ

فَأَعيُنُهُم لِبَغضَتِهِ غَواضٍ

وَهُنَّ لِعُظمِ مَنظَرِهِ سَوامِ

وَهُنَّ لِعُظمِ مَنظَرِهِ سَوامِ

Their eyes lower themselves in hatred of it,

Their eyes are lowered in hatred of it,

yet its imposing grandeur holds their gaze.

yet lifted high at the grandeur of its appearance.

تَهَنَّ قُدومَ صَومِكَ يا إِماماً

تَهَنَّ قُدومَ صَومِكَ يا إِماماً

يَصومُ عَلى الزَمانِ مِنَ الأَثامِ

يَصومُ عَلى الزَمانِ مِنَ الأَثامِ

Blessed be the advent of your fast, O Imam

Rejoice in the arrival of your fast, O Imam,

who throughout time fasts from sin.

who abstains from sins throughout all time.

إِذا ما المَرءُ صامَ مِنَ الدَنايا

إِذا ما المَرءُ صامَ مِنَ الدَنايا

فَكُلُّ شَهورِهِ شُهرُ الصَيامِ

فَكُلُّ شَهورِهِ شُهرُ الصَيامِ

When a man fasts from all that is base,

When a person abstains from base deeds,

every month of his is the month of fasting.

every month of his is a month of fasting.

أَلانَ جَذَبتَ مِن أَيدي اللَيالي

أَلانَ جَذَبتَ مِن أَيدي اللَيالي

عِناني وَاِشتَمَلتَ عَلى زَمامي

عِناني وَاِشتَمَلتَ عَلى زَمامي

Now you have drawn from the hands of the nights

Now you have drawn from the hands of the nights

my reins, and taken full command of my bridle.

my reins, and taken hold of my bridle.

فَما أَخشى الزَمانَ وَلَو تَلاقَت

فَما أَخشى الزَمانَ وَلَو تَلاقَت

يَداهُ مِن وَرائي أَو أَمامي

يَداهُ مِن وَرائي أَو أَمامي

I no longer fear Time, even if

So I do not fear Time, even if

its two hands should meet behind me and before me—

its two hands meet behind me or before me.

وَلا سيما وَقَد أَمسى عَليٌّ

وَلا سيما وَقَد أَمسى عَليٌّ

ظَهيري وَالسَفيرَ إِلى إِمامي

ظَهيري وَالسَفيرَ إِلى إِمامي

especially now that Ali has become

And especially now that Ali has become

my supporter and my envoy to my Imam.

my supporter and envoy to my Imam.