ودارٍand a dwelling بِهاin it قومٌpeople كِرامٌnoble أَلِفْتُهُمْI have befriended them
ودارٍ بِها قومٌ كِرامٌ أَلِفْتُهُمْ
وماand not عَلِمواthey knew منِّيof me الَّذيwhat أَناI أعلَمُknow
وما عَلِموا منِّي الَّذي أَنا أعلَمُ
And a dwelling wherein are noble people whom I have befriended,
And a house wherein dwell honored people I got to know,
Yet they did not know of me what I know.
Yet they knew not what I know about myself.
ضَميرٌa secret ببطْنِin the depths of الغيبِthe unseen مَجْلىthe revealing-place of نِظامِهاits order
ضَميرٌ ببطْنِ الغيبِ مَجْلى نِظامِها
سيَبْرُزُwill emerge منهاfrom it للبَرِيَّاتِfor created beings أَنجُمُstars
سيَبْرُزُ منها للبَرِيَّاتِ أَنجُمُ
A secret in the depths of the unseen, where its order is revealed;
A conscience with folds of order in the unseen's core -
From it stars will emerge for all created beings.
From it the guides to true paths will shine as stars.
وتنبَلِجُand shines forth الشَّمسُthe sun التيwhich ضِمنَهاwithin it انْطَوَتْwas folded away
وتنبَلِجُ الشَّمسُ التي ضِمنَها انْطَوَتْ
ويظهَرُand appears منfrom هذاthis الطِّرازِthe brocade المُكَتَّمُthe concealed
ويظهَرُ من هذا الطِّرازِ المُكَتَّمُ
And the sun once folded within it will shine forth,
The sun that lay hidden will radiate from its folds,
And from this brocade the concealed will appear.
And the veiled order's gems will become manifest.
وتنفَتِحُand open الأَقْفالُthe locks عنfrom عَقْدِthe necklace of كَنْزِهاits treasure
وتنفَتِحُ الأَقْفالُ عن عَقْدِ كَنْزِها
فيزْهوthen it gleams بسِلْكِon the thread of المَكْرُماتِnoble deeds ويُنْظَمُand is strung
فيزْهو بسِلْكِ المَكْرُماتِ ويُنْظَمُ
And the locks will open to reveal the necklace of its treasure,
The locks shall open, revealing its treasured pearls,
Then it will gleam upon the thread of noble deeds and be strung.
As it shines with precious gifts arranged in order.
وتفرَحُand rejoice أَلبابٌminds وتُبْهَجُand are gladdened أَعيُنٌeyes
وتفرَحُ أَلبابٌ وتُبْهَجُ أَعيُنٌ
وتُبْهَتُand are dumbfounded حُسَّادٌenvious people وتُخْرَسُand are silenced لُوَّمُreproachers
وتُبْهَتُ حُسَّادٌ وتُخْرَسُ لُوَّمُ
And minds will rejoice, and eyes be gladdened,
Hearts will rejoice and eyes delight,
And the envious will be dumbfounded, and reproachers silenced.
As enviers are muted and blamers dismayed.
ويبْرُزُand comes forth للميدانِinto the arena كلُّevery مُلَثَّمٍveiled one
ويبْرُزُ للميدانِ كلُّ مُلَثَّمٍ
بسِبْقٍwith precedence ويُلوَىand is whirled بالعَجاجِin the dust مُهَيَّمُa love-bewildered one
بسِبْقٍ ويُلوَى بالعَجاجِ مُهَيَّمُ
And every veiled one will come forth into the arena,
All masked will come forth into the arena -
Taking the lead, while a love-bewildered one is whirled in the dust.
Some precede, some limping as they hurry.
ويُنْشَرُand is unfolded مطوِيٌّwhat was folded وينبُلُand rises in stature خامِلٌan obscure one
ويُنْشَرُ مطوِيٌّ وينبُلُ خامِلٌ
ويسْكَرُand becomes drunk ذوone possessed of جُحْدٍdenial ويطرَبُand is enraptured مُغْرَمُan enamored one
ويسْكَرُ ذو جُحْدٍ ويطرَبُ مُغْرَمُ
And what was folded will be unfurled, and the obscure will rise in stature,
The folded will unfold and the dormant rise high,
And the denier will grow drunk, and the enamored be enraptured.
As the denier gets drunk and the lover enraptured.
ونُجْلىand we are unveiled إذاًthen فيin فُسحَةِthe expanse of الرَّمسِthe grave نَجْتَلىwe behold الthe
ونُجْلى إذاً في فُسحَةِ الرَّمسِ نَجْتَلى ال
مَعانيmeanings سُكوتاًin silence والهوَىand love يتَكَلَّمُspeaks
مَعاني سُكوتاً والهوَى يتَكَلَّمُ
And we shall be unveiled then, in the grave's expanse, beholding the
We will then have unveiled in the pasture of setting suns,
meanings in silence, while love speaks.
Meanings silently, as passions speak.
يُتَرْجِمُinterprets عنَّاon our behalf قائلُthe speaker of الغيبِthe unseen سِرَّناour secret
يُتَرْجِمُ عنَّا قائلُ الغيبِ سِرَّنا
وينشُرُand unfolds ماwhat نَطْويwe fold away ونِعمَand excellent is المُتَرْجِمُthe interpreter
وينشُرُ ما نَطْوي ونِعمَ المُتَرْجِمُ
The speaker of the unseen interprets our secret on our behalf,
The speaker of the unseen will translate our secret,
And unfolds what we fold away—an excellent interpreter.
Unveiling all we conceal - an excellent translator!
فيصْمُتُthen falls silent منَّاamong us ناطِقُthe spokesman of الجنسِthe kind ظاهِراًoutwardly
فيصْمُتُ منَّا ناطِقُ الجنسِ ظاهِراً
وباطِنُهُand his inward self فيin دَوْحِهِhis spreading tree يترَنَّمُsings
وباطِنُهُ في دَوْحِهِ يترَنَّمُ
Then the spokesman of our kind falls outwardly silent,
Silent to creation, yet to his own soul
And his inner self sings within his spreading tree.
Our inner whispers chant as melodies.
يقومُrises لناfor us منfrom هذهthis الدَّارِthe dwelling رَوْنَقٌa radiance
يقومُ لنا من هذه الدَّارِ رَوْنَقٌ
لهit has منfrom شُؤُنِthe workings of اللهِGod فيin الكَوْنthe universe طِلْسَمُa talisman
له من شُؤُنِ اللهِ في الكَوْن طِلْسَمُ
From this dwelling a radiance rises for us,
From this abode will rise our grace -
Bearing a talisman of God's workings in the universe.
To it, in all creation, God's command is talisman.
يُرَقْرِقُsets rippling عنَّاon our behalf الرَّاحَthe wine منfrom حانَةِthe tavern of الهُدَىguidance
يُرَقْرِقُ عنَّا الرَّاحَ من حانَةِ الهُدَى
وكأسُand the cup of التَّجلِّيmanifestation بالإِشاراتِwith signs مُفْعَمُis brimming
وكأسُ التَّجلِّي بالإِشاراتِ مُفْعَمُ
It sets the wine rippling on our behalf from the tavern of guidance,
For us the zephyr sparkles from guidance' tavern,
And the cup of manifestation is brimming with signs.
And the cup of epiphany brims with allusions.
ويسجُرُand fills بحراًa sea منfrom فُنونِthe branches of عُلومِناour knowledge
ويسجُرُ بحراً من فُنونِ عُلومِنا
وياand O نِعمَexcellent is بحرٌa sea بالمَعانيwith meanings مُطَمْطَمُfathomless
ويا نِعمَ بحرٌ بالمَعاني مُطَمْطَمُ
And it fills a sea with the branches of our knowledge,
It casts for our sciences a deep, profound sea,
And what an excellent sea, fathomless with meanings!
With meanings - what a sea - ever-surging and swelling!
فسِرٌّso a secret رَقيقٌdelicate ناطَهُbound it الحُكمُjudgment بالخَفاto concealment
فسِرٌّ رَقيقٌ ناطَهُ الحُكمُ بالخَفا
لَطيفٌsubtle بسِتْرِbeneath the veil of الغيبِthe unseen فيin العِلْمِknowledge ُبْهَمُobscure
لَطيفٌ بسِتْرِ الغيبِ في العِلْمِ ُبْهَمُ
Thus, a delicate secret, which judgment bound to concealment,
A delicate secret whose judgment vagueness cloaked,
Subtle beneath the unseen's veil, obscure to knowledge.
Subtle, obscured by the unseen, yet of knowledge full.
وشأنٌand a station أرادَwilled اللهُGod إعْلاءَthe elevation of شأنِهِits standing
وشأنٌ أرادَ اللهُ إعْلاءَ شأنِهِ
لهُHis is الأَمرُcommand جلَّexalted is اللهُGod يَقضيHe decrees ويحكُمُand judges
لهُ الأَمرُ جلَّ اللهُ يَقضي ويحكُمُ
And a station whose stature God willed to exalt—
A matter God desired should be elevated -
Command is His—exalted is God—He decrees and judges.
His alone is the order; He judges and rules.
كأنِّيas though I بذيwith this الدَّارِthe dwelling المُنيرَةِradiant أخرَجَتْbrought forth
كأنِّي بذي الدَّارِ المُنيرَةِ أخرَجَتْ
رِجالاًmen تُراعُare frightened الأُسْدُthe lions فيin الغابِthe forest منهُمُby them
رِجالاً تُراعُ الأُسْدُ في الغابِ منهُمُ
It is as though I see this radiant dwelling bringing forth
As if I see that illuminated house bring forth
Men whom lions in the forest fear.
Men at whom even lions in the jungle quake.
كأنِّيas though I بهاwith it تَخلوgrows empty وتملأُand fills قُبَّةَthe dome of الthe
كأنِّي بها تَخلو وتملأُ قُبَّةَ ال
وُجودِexistence هُدًىwith guidance والسَّطْرُand the line فيin اللَّوْحِthe Tablet يُرْقَمُis inscribed
وُجودِ هُدًى والسَّطْرُ في اللَّوْحِ يُرْقَمُ
It is as though I see it grow empty, yet fill the dome of
As if I see it empty then fill the sphere of being with
existence with guidance, while the line is inscribed upon the Tablet.
Guidance, as the writ on the tablet is marked.
كأنِّيas though I وفيand in الشَّهْباءِal-Shahba منهاof it بقيَّةٌa remnant
كأنِّي وفي الشَّهْباءِ منها بقيَّةٌ
لمنfor whoever مَسَّهُtouched him التَّوفيقُdivine favor بالسِّرِّin secret تُرْسَمُis traced
لمن مَسَّهُ التَّوفيقُ بالسِّرِّ تُرْسَمُ
It is as though I see a remnant of it in al-Shahba,
As if, among its shooting stars, a remnant
Marked out in secret for whoever divine favor has touched.
Remains, destined in secret writ to be drawn.
كأَنِّيas though I ومنand from تلكَthat البقيَّةِthe remnant واحِدٌone
كأَنِّي ومن تلكَ البقيَّةِ واحِدٌ
بأَوَّلِهاat its beginning للقومِfor the people فيin الشَّأْوِthe race سُلَّمُa ladder
بأَوَّلِها للقومِ في الشَّأْوِ سُلَّمُ
It is as though I see one from that remnant,
As if I, of that remnant, were the first
At its beginning, a ladder for the people in the race.
To climb ahead of all unto its peak.
كأَنِّيas though I بهwith him والعارِفونَand the knowers عَصائِبٌbands
كأَنِّي به والعارِفونَ عَصائِبٌ
بأَلْفاظِهِwith his words كأسَthe cup of القَبولِacceptance تُزَمْزِمُmurmur softly
بأَلْفاظِهِ كأسَ القَبولِ تُزَمْزِمُ
It is as though I see him, with the knowers gathered in bands,
As if I and the knowledgeable were bands
Murmuring over the cup of acceptance with his words.
Quaffing at his words the cup of acceptance.
كأَنِّيas though I وفيand in حِيشَHish المَقامُthe station مُوَشَّحٌadorned
كأَنِّي وفي حِيشَ المَقامُ مُوَشَّحٌ
بحالٍwith a state إلهيٍّdivine منfrom الغَيْبِthe unseen يُسْجَمُis poured down
بحالٍ إلهيٍّ من الغَيْبِ يُسْجَمُ
It is as though I see the station in Hish adorned
As if I saw amid its lofty station’s assembly,
With a divine state poured down from the unseen.
Robed in a divine mood from the unseen, engrossed.
كأنِّيas though I وفيand in الرُّومِRum الرَقائِقُthe subtleties تُجْتَلىare beheld
كأنِّي وفي الرُّومِ الرَقائِقُ تُجْتَلى
لألْبابِfor the minds of أَقوامٍpeoples قَسَتْhave grown hard فتُقَوَّمُso are set right
لألْبابِ أَقوامٍ قَسَتْ فتُقَوَّمُ
It is as though, in Rum, subtleties are beheld
As if I saw among the tender Romans
By the minds of peoples grown hard, so they are set right.
Unveiled minds for discerning folk softened.
فيالَso, O for الوَحاhaste ياO غارَةَthe onrush of اللهِGod نفحَةًa breath
فيالَ الوَحا يا غارَةَ اللهِ نفحَةً
بإسْراجِby kindling أَسرارٍsecrets منthrough الطَّمْسِeffacement تُظْلِمُgrow dark
بإسْراجِ أَسرارٍ من الطَّمْسِ تُظْلِمُ
O haste! O onrush of God, grant a breath
O awe-inspiring waft of God, a zephyr
By kindling secrets that grow dark through effacement,
With the dawn-light of mysteries overpowering.
ليَعْلوso that it may rise طَريقَthe path of القَوْمِthe people بعدَafter انْحِطاطِهِits decline
ليَعْلو طَريقَ القَوْمِ بعدَ انْحِطاطِهِ
ويبلُجُand shines forth منfrom نَهْجِthe way of الرِّجالِthe men المُعَتَّمُthe darkened part
ويبلُجُ من نَهْجِ الرِّجالِ المُعَتَّمُ
So that the people's path may rise after its decline,
To raise their path, now declined, up high,
And the darkened part of the men's way may shine forth.
And make bright their now-darkened way.
وياand O همَّةَspiritual resolve of المُخْتارِthe Chosen One غَوْثاًhelp فإنَّنيfor indeed I
ويا همَّةَ المُخْتارِ غَوْثاً فإنَّني
شَذاthe fragrance of القُرْبِnearness منfrom هذاthis الحِمىthe sanctuary أتَنَسَّمُI breathe in
شَذا القُرْبِ من هذا الحِمى أتَنَسَّمُ
And, O spiritual resolve of the Chosen One, help! For I
O resolution of the chosen one, help! I am
Breathe the fragrance of nearness from this sanctuary.
The fragrance of proximity from this sanctuary inhaling.
تُراقِبُهُwatches for it منِّيof me السَّريرَةُthe inward heart علَّهاperhaps it
تُراقِبُهُ منِّي السَّريرَةُ علَّها
ترَىsees الوَعْدَthe promise فِعْلاًin action والمُحِبُّand the lover مُتَيَّمُenthralled
ترَى الوَعْدَ فِعْلاً والمُحِبُّ مُتَيَّمُ
My inward heart watches for it, hoping that it
My conscience watches him, hoping to see
May see the promise become deed; the lover is enthralled.
The promise fulfilled, the lover frets no more.
بدَتْappeared طاعَةُthe obedience of الإقْبالِapproach والعونُand aid قدalready أتَىhas come
بدَتْ طاعَةُ الإقْبالِ والعونُ قد أتَى
وجادَand were generous كِرامُthe noble ones of الحَيِّthe community واللهُand God أَكرَمُmore generous
وجادَ كِرامُ الحَيِّ واللهُ أَكرَمُ
Obedient approach has appeared, and aid has come,
Obedience of inclination appears, and aid arrives;
And the noble ones of the community have been generous, and God is more generous.
The Bountiful Living One's generosity flows free.
ووافَىand arrived المُرَجَّىthe hoped-for بعدَafter بعدٍseparation وأَرْعَدَتْand thundered
ووافَى المُرَجَّى بعدَ بعدٍ وأَرْعَدَتْ
سَحابُthe clouds of الأَمانيwishes فالرَّبيعُso spring مُنَمْنَمُembroidered
سَحابُ الأَماني فالرَّبيعُ مُنَمْنَمُ
And what was hoped for has arrived after separation, and thunder has sounded from
The clouds of hope thunder, and spring seems near,
the clouds of wishes; spring is embroidered.
As God's armies rise up forcibly drawing down foes.
وهاand behold هيit جُنْدُthe host of اللهِGod ثارَتْrose بجَذْبَةٍwith an ecstatic pull
وها هي جُنْدُ اللهِ ثارَتْ بجَذْبَةٍ
رِفاعِيَّةٍRifa'i أنفَthe nose of المُوارِبِthe schemer تُرْغِمُrubs in the dust
رِفاعِيَّةٍ أنفَ المُوارِبِ تُرْغِمُ
And behold, God's host has risen with an ecstatic pull
Say, wherever the enviers' smoke is seen rising,
Of the Rifa'i way, rubbing the schemer's nose in the dust.
You have attacked, but God's party is mightier than you.
فقلْso say حيثُماwherever الحُسَّادُthe envious يبدوappears دُخانُهُمْtheir smoke
فقلْ حيثُما الحُسَّادُ يبدو دُخانُهُمْ
هجَمْتُمْyou attacked وحزبُand the party of اللهِGod أَقدَرُmore powerful منكُمُthan you
هجَمْتُمْ وحزبُ اللهِ أَقدَرُ منكُمُ
So say, wherever the smoke of the envious appears:
Your voices called for your world, while our hearts
You have attacked, but God's party is mightier than you.
Love none but God, and He knows all.
وصِحْتُمْand you shouted لدُنْياكُمْfor your worldly life ونحنُand we قُلوبُناour hearts
وصِحْتُمْ لدُنْياكُمْ ونحنُ قُلوبُنا
مَحَتْerased غيرَother than حُبِّthe love of اللهِGod واللهُand God يعلَمُknows
مَحَتْ غيرَ حُبِّ اللهِ واللهُ يعلَمُ
And you have cried out for your worldly life, while our hearts
We follow the Rifa'i way and his soul
Have erased all but love of God—and God knows.
From us secretly speaks and murmurs within.
أخذْناwe took عنِfrom الغوثِthe spiritual succor الرِّفاعِيِّthe Rifa'i حالَناour state
أخذْنا عنِ الغوثِ الرِّفاعِيِّ حالَنا
وذيand this روحُهُhis spirit فيin السِّرِّthe inner secret منَّاwithin us تُدَمْدِمُrumbles
وذي روحُهُ في السِّرِّ منَّا تُدَمْدِمُ
We took our spiritual state from the Rifa'i succor,
Our sole goal: earnest invocation and Sunna,
And this is his spirit, rumbling in the secret within us.
As the praised Prophet, honorable guide, directed.
وغايَتُناand our aim ذِكرٌremembrance صَميمٌheartfelt وسُنَّةٌand prophetic practice
وغايَتُنا ذِكرٌ صَميمٌ وسُنَّةٌ
كماas أَرشَدَinstructed الهاديthe guide النَّبِيُّthe Prophet المُكَرَّمُhonored
كما أَرشَدَ الهادي النَّبِيُّ المُكَرَّمُ
And our aim is heartfelt remembrance and prophetic practice,
We rouse holy secrets to God through guidance,
As the guide, the honored Prophet, instructed.
Awakening those sunk in fancy from their slumber.
فنُنْهِضُso we raise أسْراراًinner secrets إلىtoward اللهِGod بالهُدىthrough guidance
فنُنْهِضُ أسْراراً إلى اللهِ بالهُدى
ونوقِظُand we awaken منthose هُمْthey عنهُaway from Him بالوَهْمِthrough delusion نُوَّمُasleep
ونوقِظُ من هُمْ عنهُ بالوَهْمِ نُوَّمُ
So we raise inner secrets toward God through guidance,
We mention Taha with devotion - upon him
And awaken those whom delusion keeps asleep to Him.
Ever we invoke peace and blessings.
ونذكُرُand we remember طَهَTa-Ha بالوُلوهِwith ardent love وإنَّناand indeed we
ونذكُرُ طَهَ بالوُلوهِ وإنَّنا
عَلَيْهِupon him نُصلَّيwe invoke blessings دائِماًcontinually ونُسَلِّمُand invoke peace
عَلَيْهِ نُصلَّي دائِماً ونُسَلِّمُ
And we remember Ta-Ha with ardent love, and indeed we
Continually invoke blessings and peace upon him.
Partial English translation: 68 of 70 Arabic lines translated.