ماnot هَفْهَفَتْنيbrushed me lightly نَسْمَةُthe breeze الرَّبيعِof spring
ما هَفْهَفَتْني نَسْمَةُ الرَّبيعِ
إِلاَّexcept أذابتْmelted فيin الهَوىlove جَميعيmy whole being
إِلاَّ أذابتْ في الهَوى جَميعي
Never did the spring breeze brush me
The breeze of spring did not stir me,
without melting my whole being in love.
Except that it melted my whole being in passion,
ولاnor سَمعْتُI heard سَحَراًbefore dawn رَنينَهاits ringing
ولا سَمعْتُ سَحَراً رَنينَها
إِلاَّexcept وَرَنَّتْand rang بالثَرىupon the earth دُموعيmy tears
إِلاَّ وَرَنَّتْ بالثَرى دُموعي
Nor did I hear its ringing before dawn
Nor did I hear the warbling of its melody,
without my tears ringing upon the earth.
Except that my tears sang on the ground.
قالتْshe said سَمِعتَyou heard واغْتَدَيْتَand you went forth لاهياًheedless
قالتْ سَمِعتَ واغْتَدَيْتَ لاهياً
عنof هَفَفيmy fluttering وجِئْتَand you came بالوُلوعِwith ardent passion
عن هَفَفي وجِئْتَ بالوُلوعِ
She said, 'You heard and went forth heedless
It said, you heard and were happy distracted,
of my fluttering, bringing ardent passion.'
From my stirring, and came in transports of passion.
قُلْتُI said لقدindeed سَمعتُI heard منكِfrom you وابْهجيand rejoice
قُلْتُ لقد سَمعتُ منكِ وابْهجي
بِعَبدِin a slave رِقٍّbondage سامعٍlistening مُطيعِobedient
بِعَبدِ رِقٍّ سامعٍ مُطيعِ
I said, 'Indeed I heard you; rejoice
I said, Indeed I heard you and was made joyous,
in a slave in bondage, listening and obedient.'
By a slave humble, listening, obedient.
قالتْshe said معَwith الرُّكبانِthe riders سِرْtravel لِحيِّto the camp of منthe one
قالتْ معَ الرُّكبانِ سِرْ لِحيِّ من
ولهْتَyou were enraptured فيby جَمالِهِhis beauty البَديعِwondrous
ولهْتَ في جَمالِهِ البَديعِ
She said, 'Travel with the riders to the camp of the one
It said, go with the throng and walk to the living one,
whose wondrous beauty has enraptured you.'
And you were distracted by his perfect beauty.
قُلْتُI said انْتَحىset out الرُّكْبانُthe riders سَيرَthe pace of طائرٍa bird
قُلْتُ انْتَحى الرُّكْبانُ سَيرَ طائرٍ
أينََhow far هُمُthey منfrom عاجزٍa helpless one ضَليعِlame
أينََ هُمُ من عاجزٍ ضَليعِ
I said, 'The riders have set out at a bird's pace;
I said, the throng travelled on the path of a bird,
how far they are from one helpless and lame!'
Where are they to one weak and broken.
قالتْshe said أماis there not منany زَفْرَةٍa sigh فيكَwithin you سَرَتْcoursed
قالتْ أما من زَفْرَةٍ فيكَ سَرَتْ
منهاfrom it فُنونُvarieties الشَّوقِof longing بالضُّلوعِthrough the ribs
منها فُنونُ الشَّوقِ بالضُّلوعِ
She said, 'Is there no sigh within you, from which have coursed
It said, is there not from a sigh within you,
the many forms of longing through your ribs?'
Arts of passion flowing in your ribs.
قُلْتُI said بَلىyes indeed لكنَّهاbut it كامِنَةٌhidden
قُلْتُ بَلى لكنَّها كامِنَةٌ
ضِمْنَwithin فُؤادٍa heart شَيِّقٍyearning وَجيعِaching
ضِمْنَ فُؤادٍ شَيِّقٍ وَجيعِ
I said, 'Yes, but it lies hidden
I said, Yes, but it lies hidden,
within a yearning, aching heart.'
In a heart ardent, restless and wounded.
ياO نَسمةًbreeze جاءَتْcame لناto us منfrom حَيِّهمْtheir camp
يا نَسمةً جاءَتْ لنا من حَيِّهمْ
رَشيقَةًgraceful تَفْتُكُstrikes fatally بالهَلوعِat the anxious-hearted
رَشيقَةً تَفْتُكُ بالهَلوعِ
O breeze that came to us from their camp,
O breeze, there came to us from their neighbourhood,
graceful, slaying the anxious-hearted!
A fragrance that takes from the transports of passion.
باللهby God هلْis there منany خبرٍnews نَرىwe may see بهthrough it
بالله هلْ من خبرٍ نَرى به
شأناًa prospect لِوَصلِfor rejoining حَبْلِناour cord القَطيعِsevered
شأناً لِوَصلِ حَبْلِنا القَطيعِ
By God, is there any news that might show us
By Allah, is there any news we see in it,
a way to rejoin our severed cord?
An affair binding our severed rope.
ياO ريحُwind رُبَّmany a كُرْبَةٍdistress أزالهاdispelled it
يا ريحُ رُبَّ كُرْبَةٍ أزالها
بارِؤُناour Creator بالفَرَجِwith relief السَّريعِswift
بارِؤُنا بالفَرَجِ السَّريعِ
O wind, many a distress has been dispelled
O wind, dispel any distress,
by our Creator with swift relief.
Show us open relief.
خيلَمُa great host حبِّيmy love بالطُّلولِamong the ruins جَلْجَلَتْresounded
خيلَمُ حبِّي بالطُّلولِ جَلْجَلَتْ
أينََhow far أناI منfrom رُحْبِهاtheir expanse الوَسيعِvast
أينََ أنا من رُحْبِها الوَسيعِ
The great host of my love resounded among the ruins;
My crazed love galloped in the hills,
how far am I from their vast expanse!
Where am I from its vast expanse.
أإنُّI groan إنْif حَيَّتْshe greeted لناto us بِنَشرِهاwith her fragrance
أإنُّ إنْ حَيَّتْ لنا بِنَشرِها
مُطَوَّقاًcollared كأنَّةِlike the groan of المَلْسوعِone stung
مُطَوَّقاً كأنَّةِ المَلْسوعِ
I groan when she greets us with her fragrance,
Do they, if they stirred to life by its motion,
collared, with a groan like that of one stung.
Encircle me as if clad imprisoned.
وأنْدُبُand I lament الحَيَّthe camp ودَمعيand my tears كَدَميlike my blood
وأنْدُبُ الحَيَّ ودَمعي كَدَمي
ومُقْلَتيand my eye مَحْرومَةُdeprived of الهُجوعِsleep
ومُقْلَتي مَحْرومَةُ الهُجوعِ
And I lament the camp, my tears like my blood,
I mourn the living and my tears are blood,
and my eye is denied sleep.
And my eyelids deprived of sleep.
أينََhow far الهُجوعُsleep منfrom فَقيدٍone bereft شَجنٍsorrowful
أينََ الهُجوعُ من فَقيدٍ شَجنٍ
رَبِّpossessor of غَرامٍpassion قَلِقٍrestless صَريعِlaid low
رَبِّ غَرامٍ قَلِقٍ صَريعِ
How can sleep come to one bereft and sorrowful,
Where is sleep from a love-sick captive,
a man of passion, restless and laid low?
My Lord of loves disturbed and fevered.
مثلَlike ضَليعِa lame one الشَّاةِthe sheep والذِّئابُand the wolves قدalready
مثلَ ضَليعِ الشَّاةِ والذِّئابُ قد
لَفَّتْclosed in بهاaround her شَذَّتْshe strayed عنfrom القَطيعِthe flock
لَفَّتْ بها شَذَّتْ عن القَطيعِ
Like a lame sheep, while the wolves have
Like the wounded deer, while the wolves
closed around her—she has strayed from the flock.
Surrounded it, separated from the herd.
أخَذْتُI took دِرْعيmy armor مُحْكَمَfirm الصَّبرَpatience بِهمfor their sake
أخَذْتُ دِرْعي مُحْكَمَ الصَّبرَ بِهم
وأنَّهُand indeed it منamong أحْسَنِthe finest الدُّروعِthe coats of mail
وأنَّهُ من أحْسَنِ الدُّروعِ
I took firm patience for their sake as my armor,
I took my armor, steadfastness its strength,
and it is among the finest coats of mail.
And it is the best armor.
وقدand indeed وَقَفْتُI stood عندَهُمْbefore them بأنَّةٍwith a groan
وقد وَقَفْتُ عندَهُمْ بأنَّةٍ
طافَswept جَميعُهاall of it علىover مَجْموعيmy whole being
طافَ جَميعُها على مَجْموعي
And I stood before them with a groan,
I stood before them with humility,
the whole of which swept over my whole being.
Circling all over my being.
مَيْتٌdead كَحَيٍّas though alive كالخَيالِlike a phantom حاملاًbearing
مَيْتٌ كَحَيٍّ كالخَيالِ حاملاً
ثَوْبَthe robe of الحَياةِlife وافرُabounding in الخُشوعِhumility
ثَوْبَ الحَياةِ وافرُ الخُشوعِ
Dead as though alive, like a phantom bearing
Dead like the living, like an apparition bearing,
the robe of life, abounding in humility.
The raiment of life, humble in reverence.
قدindeed شَمِلَتْنيencompassed me نَفْحَةُa breath of الحُبِّlove بهمfor them
قد شَمِلَتْني نَفْحَةُ الحُبِّ بهم
مثلَlike شُمولِencompassing الأصلِthe root للفُروعِof the branches
مثلَ شُمولِ الأصلِ للفُروعِ
A breath of love for them has encompassed me,
The breeze of love encompassed me through them,
as the root encompasses the branches.
Like the including of branches to origin.
مَوْجوعُaching قلبٍheart وغَريبٌand a stranger نازِحٌfar from home
مَوْجوعُ قلبٍ وغَريبٌ نازِحٌ
منwho للغَريبِfor the stranger النَّازحِfar from home المَوْجوعِin pain
من للغَريبِ النَّازحِ المَوْجوعِ
Aching at heart, a stranger far from home—
The sorrowing heart of an estranged wanderer,
who is there for the far-away, aching stranger?
Who should tend the sorrowing estranged wanderer.
أسْهَرُI keep vigil فيهمfor them جائعاًhungry لأجْلِهمْfor their sake
أسْهَرُ فيهم جائعاً لأجْلِهمْ
ولَذَّand became sweet عنديto me سَهَريmy vigil وَجوعيand my hunger
ولَذَّ عندي سَهَري وَجوعي
I keep vigil for them, hungry for their sake,
I keep vigil for them hungry,
and my vigil and hunger have grown sweet to me.
And my vigil and hunger are sweet to me.
كأنَّنيas though I إنif لَمَعَتْgleamed بُروقُهُمْtheir lightning flashes
كأنَّني إن لَمَعَتْ بُروقُهُمْ
مُسافرٌa traveler حَنَّyearned إلىfor الرُّجوعِreturning
مُسافرٌ حَنَّ إلى الرُّجوعِ
It is as though, when their lightning gleams, I were
As if when their lightning flashes,
a traveler longing to return.
I am a traveller returning home.
وَقيعُfallen قلبيmy heart بِرحابِin the precincts of عِزِّهمْtheir glory
وَقيعُ قلبي بِرحابِ عِزِّهمْ
يقولُit says مُدُّواextend الحَبْلَthe rope للوَقيعِto the fallen one
يقولُ مُدُّوا الحَبْلَ للوَقيعِ
My heart, fallen in the courts of their glory,
My heart cast into the expanse of their glory,
says, 'Extend the rope to the fallen one.'
Saying, extend the rope to the falling one.
ماليwhat have I وقدand indeed أوْهىweakened الصُّدودُrejection جَلَديmy endurance
مالي وقد أوْهى الصُّدودُ جَلَدي
إِلاَّexcept عَريضُfar-reaching هِمَّةِthe resolve of الشَّفيعِthe Intercessor
إِلاَّ عَريضُ هِمَّةِ الشَّفيعِ
What have I, now rejection has sapped my endurance,
What is mine when the chests spurned me,
but the Intercessor's far-reaching resolve?
Except the ambition of the interceder.
سِرُّthe secret of الوُجودِexistence المُنْتَقىthe chosen one منfrom هاشمٍHashim
سِرُّ الوُجودِ المُنْتَقى من هاشمٍ
رَبُّmaster of الجَلالِmajesty القاهرِoverpowering المَريعِawe-inspiring
رَبُّ الجَلالِ القاهرِ المَريعِ
The secret of existence, the chosen one of Hashim,
The secret of existence chosen from Hashim,
master of overpowering, awe-inspiring majesty,
Lord of Majesty, Vanquisher, Observer.
مُعَلِّمُteacher of الخَيرِgoodness وفَيَّاضُand overflowing with النَّدىbounty
مُعَلِّمُ الخَيرِ وفَيَّاضُ النَّدى
ومُسْبِلُand draping الذَّيْلِthe robe's hem علىover الجَميعِeveryone
ومُسْبِلُ الذَّيْلِ على الجَميعِ
teacher of goodness and overflowing with bounty,
Teacher of good and pourer of dew,
and draping his robe's hem over all.
And lowering garment upon all.
ياO نَفْسُsoul لاdo not تَرْضَيْbe content with سِوىother than أعْتابِهِhis thresholds
يا نَفْسُ لا تَرْضَيْ سِوى أعْتابِهِ
سوقَa market of صَلاحٍrighteousness فاشْتَريso buy وَبيعيand sell
سوقَ صَلاحٍ فاشْتَري وَبيعي
O soul, be content with nothing but his thresholds,
O soul, do not consent except to their doorsteps,
a market of righteousness—so buy and sell.
A market of righteousness, buy and sell.
وكَلْكليand press your breast against الأسْتارَthe curtains فيin رِحابِهِhis precincts
وكَلْكلي الأسْتارَ في رِحابِهِ
عندَbeside جَليلِmajestic حِصْنهِhis fortress المَنيعِimpregnable
عندَ جَليلِ حِصْنهِ المَنيعِ
And press your breast to the curtains in his precincts,
Shake my sleeve in their sanctuaries,
beside his majestic, impregnable fortress.
At the majestic fortress, inaccessible.
ناجيcommune with الإلهَGod دائماًalways بِوَجْههِby his countenance
ناجي الإلهَ دائماً بِوَجْههِ
وبِشَريفِand by the nobility of جاههِhis rank الرَّفيعِexalted
وبِشَريفِ جاههِ الرَّفيعِ
Commune with God always by his countenance,
Pray to God always through him,
and by his noble, exalted rank.
And through his noble, lofty rank,
صَلَّىmay He bless عليهِupon him رَبُّهُhis Lord مَدىthroughout المَدىall eternity
صَلَّى عليهِ رَبُّهُ مَدى المَدى
فيin المَلاءِthe assembly المُحْتَرَمِhonored المَرفوعِexalted
في المَلاءِ المُحْتَرَمِ المَرفوعِ
May his Lord bless him for all eternity,
May his Lord pray upon him the duration of eternity,
in the honored, exalted assembly,
In the respected, elevated, raised station.
وصاحِبَيْهِand his two companions والإمامِand the Imam المُرْتَضىal-Murtada (the approved)
وصاحِبَيْهِ والإمامِ المُرْتَضى
والسَّاكِنينَand those dwelling in جَنَّةَthe garden of البَقيعِal-Baqiʿ
والسَّاكِنينَ جَنَّةَ البَقيعِ
and his two companions and the Imam al-Murtada,
And his two companions and the chosen Imam,
and those dwelling in the garden of al-Baqiʿ.
And those who rest in Baqis garden.