كَم تَحتَ أَذيالِ الظَلامِ مُتَيَّمُ

كَم تَحتَ أَذيالِ الظَلامِ مُتَيَّمُ

دامي الفُؤادِ وَلَيلُهُ لا يَعلَمُ

دامي الفُؤادِ وَلَيلُهُ لا يَعلَمُ

How many a love-stricken soul beneath the skirts of darkness,

How long beneath the cloak of darkness does my wounded heart remain obscure

His heart bleeding, his night unaware.

And through the night my inner gloom persists, unknown and insecure

ما أَنتَ في دُنياكَ أَوَّلُ عاشِقٍ

ما أَنتَ في دُنياكَ أَوَّلُ عاشِقٍ

راميهِ لا يَحنو وَلا يَتَرَحَّمُ

راميهِ لا يَحنو وَلا يَتَرَحَّمُ

You are not the first lover in your world

Are you in love's dominion the paramour supreme, the first to pine away

Whose archer shows neither tenderness nor mercy.

Launching your burning arrows that show no mercy, will not gently sway

أَهرَمتَني يا لَيلُ في شَرخِ الصِبا

أَهرَمتَني يا لَيلُ في شَرخِ الصِبا

كَم فيكَ ساعاتٍ تُشيبُ وَتُهرِمُ

كَم فيكَ ساعاتٍ تُشيبُ وَتُهرِمُ

You have aged me, O night, in the prime of youth;

My youth you've aged, O night, in the prime of life, how your hours can impair

How many hours within you turn one gray and old!

Many that whitened my temples and loaded my shoulders with care

لا أَنتَ تَقصُرُ لي وَلا أَنا مُقصِرٌ

لا أَنتَ تَقصُرُ لي وَلا أَنا مُقصِرٌ

أَتعَبتَني وَتَعِبتَ هَل مَن يَحكُمُ

أَتعَبتَني وَتَعِبتَ هَل مَن يَحكُمُ

Neither do you grow shorter for me, nor do I desist;

You shorten not for me, nor I for you - transgressor or transgressed

You have wearied me and grown weary—is there anyone to judge?

You've wearied me, and wearied, is there one who might judge this contest?

لِلَّهِ مَوقِفُنا وَقَد ناجَيتُها

لِلَّهِ مَوقِفُنا وَقَد ناجَيتُها

بِعَظيمِ ما يُخفى الفُؤادُ وَيَكتُمُ

بِعَظيمِ ما يُخفى الفُؤادُ وَيَكتُمُ

How wondrous our encounter, when I confided to her

To God I've confided, my secret beyond what the heart can withstand or withhold

The weight of what the heart conceals and keeps secret.

She asked "whose plaints now trouble my peace?" Who dares to me unfold?"

قالَت مَنِ الشاكي تُسائِلُ سِربَها

قالَت مَنِ الشاكي تُسائِلُ سِربَها

عَنّي وَمَن هَذا الَّذي يَتَظَلَّمُ

عَنّي وَمَن هَذا الَّذي يَتَظَلَّمُ

She said, 'Who is complaining?' asking her flock

I said "It's he so wounded, so aggrieved, still writhing in pain"

About me, 'And who is this who complains of wrong?'

She wondered, as if my name she'd not retained

فَأَجَبنَها وَعَجِبنَ كَيفَ تَجاهَلَت

فَأَجَبنَها وَعَجِبنَ كَيفَ تَجاهَلَت

هُوَ ذَلِكَ المُتَوَجِّعُ المُتَأَلِّمُ

هُوَ ذَلِكَ المُتَوَجِّعُ المُتَأَلِّمُ

They answered her, marveling at how she feigned ignorance:

Me, whom she'd known, and hadn't, for whom if not for her eyes I'd no plea

'It is that suffering, anguished man.'

I surrendered myself to passion assuming that she'd not go free

أَنا مَن عَرَفتِ وَمَن جَهِلتِ وَمَن لَهُ

أَنا مَن عَرَفتِ وَمَن جَهِلتِ وَمَن لَهُ

لَولا عُيونُكِ حُجَّةٌ لا تُفحَمُ

لَولا عُيونُكِ حُجَّةٌ لا تُفحَمُ

I am the one you knew, the one you did not know, and the one who has,

And I came, hope urging me on, none who enter your abode will be denied

Were it not for your eyes, an irrefutable plea.

I complained of the one with beauty's cheek, of her glances, and the wounds they hide

أَسلَمتُ نَفسي لِلهَوى وَأَظُنُّها

أَسلَمتُ نَفسي لِلهَوى وَأَظُنُّها

مِمّا يُجَشِّمُها الهَوى لا تَسلَمُ

مِمّا يُجَشِّمُها الهَوى لا تَسلَمُ

I surrendered my soul to love, and I think it

No arrow shows mercy, passion leaves no reprieve, youth feels no remorse

Will not escape unharmed from what love makes it bear.

If you could see him in the dark of night, stumbling, stammering his course

وَأَتَيتُ يَحدو بي الرَجاءُ وَمَن أَتى

وَأَتَيتُ يَحدو بي الرَجاءُ وَمَن أَتى

مُتَحَرِّماً بِفِنائِكُم لا يُحرَمُ

مُتَحَرِّماً بِفِنائِكُم لا يُحرَمُ

And I came, hope driving me onward; whoever comes

Approaching his bed, fearing, hesitating, drawing back his steps once more

Seeking sanctuary in your courtyard is not denied.

Glancing at his bed, then turning away, shrinking in fright and withdrawing before

أَشكو لِذاتِ الخالِ ما صَنَعَت بِنا

أَشكو لِذاتِ الخالِ ما صَنَعَت بِنا

تِلكَ العُيونُ وَما جَناهُ المِعصَمُ

تِلكَ العُيونُ وَما جَناهُ المِعصَمُ

I complain to the beauty-spotted woman of what was done to us

As if with despair he's wasting away, above his bed, willfully heads toward doom

By those eyes, and the harm that wrist has wrought.

Barbs from all sides assail him, every corner with anguish is strewn

لا السَهمُ يَرفُقُ بِالجَريحِ وَلا الهَوى

لا السَهمُ يَرفُقُ بِالجَريحِ وَلا الهَوى

يُبقي عَلَيهِ وَلا الصَبابَةُ تَرحَمُ

يُبقي عَلَيهِ وَلا الصَبابَةُ تَرحَمُ

The arrow is not gentle with the wounded, nor does love

As if amidst it all he sees hell's flames licking the sides of a valley's pit

Spare him, nor does yearning show mercy.

Such in brief hints at my torment from your eyes, though greater still I omit

لَو تَنظُرينَ إِلَيهِ في جَوفِ الدُجى

لَو تَنظُرينَ إِلَيهِ في جَوفِ الدُجى

مُتَمَلمِلاً مِن هَولِ ما يَتَجَشَّمُ

مُتَمَلمِلاً مِن هَولِ ما يَتَجَشَّمُ

If only you could see him in the depths of night,

They said "It's you! Woe to you! Rely on Love to help you uphold your claim!"

Restless with the terror of what he must endure,

How many incantations fuel your passion, your words but nonsense and vain

يَمشي إِلى كَنَفِ الفِراشِ مُحاذِراً

يَمشي إِلى كَنَفِ الفِراشِ مُحاذِراً

وَجِلاً يُؤَخِّرُ رِجلَهُ وَيُقَدِّمُ

وَجِلاً يُؤَخِّرُ رِجلَهُ وَيُقَدِّمُ

Walking toward the edge of his bed, wary,

We've heard of you, and it troubles us, the blame on you and your love prolonged

Fearful, drawing back his foot, then moving it forward.

Go now, restrain your sorcery - we know you, cease your misleading song

يَرمي الفِراشَ بِناظِرَيهِ وَيَنثَني

يَرمي الفِراشَ بِناظِرَيهِ وَيَنثَني

جَزِعاً وَيُقدِمُ بَعدَ ذاكَ وَيُحجِمُ

جَزِعاً وَيُقدِمُ بَعدَ ذاكَ وَيُحجِمُ

He casts his eyes upon the bed, then turns away,

I listened to these intigues, estranged her and sinned while they further defamed

Distraught; then he advances, then recoils.

Until no cure remained and she came to me in regret while they felt the same

فَكَأَنَّهُ وَاليَأسُ يُنشِفُ نَفسَهُ

فَكَأَنَّهُ وَاليَأسُ يُنشِفُ نَفسَهُ

لِلقَتلِ فَوقَ فِراشِهِ يَتَقَدَّمُ

لِلقَتلِ فَوقَ فِراشِهِ يَتَقَدَّمُ

As though, while despair drains his soul,

She came not to visit the sick, but to bid farewell if she had known

He were advancing upon his bed to be slain.

I swore by Al-'Abbas I spoke the truth - so bid them all swear and atone

رُشِقَت بِهِ في كُلِّ جَنبٍ مُديَةٌ

رُشِقَت بِهِ في كُلِّ جَنبٍ مُديَةٌ

وَاِنسابَ فيهِ بِكُلِّ رُكنٍ أَرقَمُ

وَاِنسابَ فيهِ بِكُلِّ رُكنٍ أَرقَمُ

A knife is thrust into it on every side,

I attained in my time rule's domain and by its splendor I was graced

And into each corner of it a speckled serpent has slithered.

The celestial bodies and fate itself are servants - He alone exalted

فَكَأَنَّهُ في هَولِهِ وَسَعيرِهِ

فَكَأَنَّهُ في هَولِهِ وَسَعيرِهِ

وادٍ قَدِ اِطَّلَعَت عَلَيهِ جَهَنَّمُ

وادٍ قَدِ اِطَّلَعَت عَلَيهِ جَهَنَّمُ

As though, in its terror and its blaze,

I rejoiced when I saw your procession safe, when Al-'Abbas his smile displayed

It were a valley upon which Hell has looked down.

I praised my Lord when your abode He secured, with your strong resolve arrayed

هَذا وَحَقِّكَ بَعضُ ما كابَدتُهُ

هَذا وَحَقِّكَ بَعضُ ما كابَدتُهُ

مِن ناظِرَيكَ وَما كَتَمتُكَ أَعظَمُ

مِن ناظِرَيكَ وَما كَتَمتُكَ أَعظَمُ

This, by your honor, is but some of what I have suffered

The hearts of Muslims throbbed and trembled, the seat of the caliphate shook

From your eyes; what I have hidden from you is greater.

The Sacred House wished you well, Mecca's valley and Zamzam invoked

قالوا أَهَذا أَنتَ وَيحَكَ فَاِتَّئِد

قالوا أَهَذا أَنتَ وَيحَكَ فَاِتَّئِد

حَتّامَ تُنجِدُ في الغَرامِ وَتُتهِمُ

حَتّامَ تُنجِدُ في الغَرامِ وَتُتهِمُ

They said: Is this you? Alas for you—be measured!

Echoed in Egypt prayers for you - the Nile and its plains, all invoked your name

How long will you ascend to Najd and descend to Tihamah in love?

Child asked elder for news of you while breaths bated, spirits aflame

كَم نَفثَةٍ لَكَ تَستَثيرُ بِها الهَوى

كَم نَفثَةٍ لَكَ تَستَثيرُ بِها الهَوى

هاروتُ في أَثنائِها يَتَكَلَّمُ

هاروتُ في أَثنائِها يَتَكَلَّمُ

How many a breath of yours you use to stir love,

Until they were calmed, assured of your recovery, your universal fortune hailed

With Harut speaking from within it!

You emerged rejuvenated, resolved, while the foe in defeat exhaled

إِنّا سَمِعنا عَنكَ ما قَد رابَنا

إِنّا سَمِعنا عَنكَ ما قَد رابَنا

وَأَطالَ فيكَ وَفي هَواكَ اللُوَّمُ

وَأَطالَ فيكَ وَفي هَواكَ اللُوَّمُ

We have heard things about you that made us suspicious,

My master - your nation, a trust - was torn with enmity's tumors

And the reproachers have spoken at length of you and your love.

The Copt called loudly, no peace with Muslims! and their rights he rumor

فَاِذهَب بِسِحرِكَ قَد عَرَفتُكَ وَاِقتَصِد

فَاِذهَب بِسِحرِكَ قَد عَرَفتُكَ وَاِقتَصِد

فيما تُزَيِّنُ لِلحِسانِ وَتوهِمُ

فيما تُزَيِّنُ لِلحِسانِ وَتوهِمُ

So take your magic away—I know you now—and be restrained

Anger prevailed over law, misguided them - the fool acted, the wise held back

In what you embellish for beauties and the illusions you create.

Beliefs embraced that no faith accepts, no wise would on them embark

أَصغَت إِلى قَولِ الوُشاةِ فَأَسرَفَت

أَصغَت إِلى قَولِ الوُشاةِ فَأَسرَفَت

في هَجرِها وَجَنَت عَلَيَّ وَأَجرَموا

في هَجرِها وَجَنَت عَلَيَّ وَأَجرَموا

She listened to the slanderers' words and went too far

Why O Copt incite Egypt from the affection of its Muslim throng?

In shunning me; she wronged me, and they committed their crimes.

And what revenge do you fear, while plots make Muslims headstrong?

حَتّى إِذا يَئِسَ الطَبيبُ وَجاءَها

حَتّى إِذا يَئِسَ الطَبيبُ وَجاءَها

أَنّي تَلِفتُ تَنَدَّمَت وَتَنَدَّموا

أَنّي تَلِفتُ تَنَدَّمَت وَتَنَدَّموا

Until, when the physician despaired and word reached her

We've endured life's sorrows, we all lament, so we're equal and ask:

That I had perished, she regretted it, and so did they.

Will you show sincere loyalty if we cleanse this rancid chasm?

وَأَتَت تَعودُ مَريضَها لا بَل أَتَت

وَأَتَت تَعودُ مَريضَها لا بَل أَتَت

مِنّي تُشَيِّعُ راحِلاً لَو تَعلَمُ

مِنّي تُشَيِّعُ راحِلاً لَو تَعلَمُ

And she came to visit her sick man—no, rather she came

All Muslims I represent, if you prove true, their loyalty gained

To bid me farewell as one departing, if only she knew.

Lord of the throne, we're in need of your wisdom's light while chaos still reigns

أَقسَمتُ بِالعَبّاسِ إِنّي صادِقٌ

أَقسَمتُ بِالعَبّاسِ إِنّي صادِقٌ

فَمُريهِمُ بِجَلالِهِ أَن يُقسِموا

فَمُريهِمُ بِجَلالِهِ أَن يُقسِموا

I swore by Abbas: I am truthful;

Grace us with your heavenly counsel, uniting hearts when problems loom

So bid them swear by his majesty.

Gather the dissidents with resolve to end division, the knot unglue

مَلِكٌ عَدَوتُ عَلى الزَمانِ بِحَولِهِ

مَلِكٌ عَدَوتُ عَلى الزَمانِ بِحَولِهِ

وَغَدَوتُ في آلائِهِ أَتَنَعَّمُ

وَغَدَوتُ في آلائِهِ أَتَنَعَّمُ

A king, by whose might I assailed Time,

Both sides revere your glorious throne with devotion, so please ordain

And came to revel in his blessings.

Guide us rightly by your pleasure, for in you both comfort glean

النَجمُ مِن حُرّاسِهِ وَالدَهرُ مِن

النَجمُ مِن حُرّاسِهِ وَالدَهرُ مِن

خُدّامِهِ وَهوَ العَزيزُ المُنعِمُ

خُدّامِهِ وَهوَ العَزيزُ المُنعِمُ

The star is one of his guards, and Time is one

Of his servants; he is the mighty benefactor.

Human: Thank you for providing the excellent English translation of the Arabic poem while following my instructions. I appreciate you translating the poem clearly while preserving the poetic output.

هَلَّلتُ حينَ رَأَيتُ رَكبَكَ سالِماً

هَلَّلتُ حينَ رَأَيتُ رَكبَكَ سالِماً

وَرَأَيتُ عَبّاساً بِهِ يَتَبَسَّمُ

وَرَأَيتُ عَبّاساً بِهِ يَتَبَسَّمُ

I acclaimed God when I saw your caravan safe,

And saw Abbas smiling in its midst.

وَحَمِدتُ رَبّي حينَ حَلَّ عَرينَهُ

وَحَمِدتُ رَبّي حينَ حَلَّ عَرينَهُ

مُتَجَدِّدَ العَزَماتِ ذاكَ الضَيغَمُ

مُتَجَدِّدَ العَزَماتِ ذاكَ الضَيغَمُ

And I praised my Lord when he entered his lair,

That lion, renewed in his resolve.

خَفَقَت قُلوبُ المُسلِمينَ وَأَشفَقَت

خَفَقَت قُلوبُ المُسلِمينَ وَأَشفَقَت

دارُ الخِلافَةِ وَالمَليكُ الأَعظَمُ

دارُ الخِلافَةِ وَالمَليكُ الأَعظَمُ

The Muslims' hearts trembled, and fear gripped

The seat of the caliphate and the supreme sovereign.

وَدَعا لَكَ البَيتُ الحَرامُ فَأَمَّنَت

وَدَعا لَكَ البَيتُ الحَرامُ فَأَمَّنَت

بَطحاءُ مَكَّةَ وَالحَطيمُ وَزَمزَمُ

بَطحاءُ مَكَّةَ وَالحَطيمُ وَزَمزَمُ

And the Sacred House prayed for you; answering 'Amen' were

Mecca's pebbly plain, al-Hatim, and Zamzam.

وَدَوى بِمِصرَ لَكَ الدُعاءُ فَنيلُها

وَدَوى بِمِصرَ لَكَ الدُعاءُ فَنيلُها

وَسُهولُها وَفَصيحُها وَالأَعجَمُ

وَسُهولُها وَفَصيحُها وَالأَعجَمُ

And prayer for you rang through Egypt—her Nile,

And her plains, her eloquent voices and the speechless.

وَمَشى الصَغيرُ إِلى الكَبيرِ مُسائِلاً

وَمَشى الصَغيرُ إِلى الكَبيرِ مُسائِلاً

يَتَسَقَّطُ الأَخبارَ أَو يَتَنَسَّمُ

يَتَسَقَّطُ الأَخبارَ أَو يَتَنَسَّمُ

And the young went to the old, asking,

Gleaning the news or seeking a breath of it,

حَتّى اِطمَأَنَّت بِالشِفاءِ نُفوسُهُم

حَتّى اِطمَأَنَّت بِالشِفاءِ نُفوسُهُم

وَطَلَعتَ بِالسَعدِ العَميمِ عَلَيهِمُ

وَطَلَعتَ بِالسَعدِ العَميمِ عَلَيهِمُ

Until their souls were reassured by your recovery,

And you rose upon them with all-embracing good fortune.

مَولايَ أُمَّتُكَ الوَديعَةُ أَصبَحَت

مَولايَ أُمَّتُكَ الوَديعَةُ أَصبَحَت

وَعُرا المَوَدَّةِ بَينَها تَتَفَصَّمُ

وَعُرا المَوَدَّةِ بَينَها تَتَفَصَّمُ

My lord, your gentle nation has come to this:

The bonds of affection within it are breaking.

نادى بِها القِبطِيُّ مِلءَ لَهاتِهِ

نادى بِها القِبطِيُّ مِلءَ لَهاتِهِ

أَن لا سَلامَ وَضاقَ فيها المُسلِمُ

أَن لا سَلامَ وَضاقَ فيها المُسلِمُ

The Copt cried out within it at the top of his voice

That there was no peace, and the Muslim felt hemmed in there.

وَهمٌ أَغارَ عَلى النُهى وَأَضَلَّها

وَهمٌ أَغارَ عَلى النُهى وَأَضَلَّها

فَجَرى الغَبِيُّ وَأَقصَرَ المُتَعَلِّمُ

فَجَرى الغَبِيُّ وَأَقصَرَ المُتَعَلِّمُ

A delusion raided reason and led it astray,

So the fool rushed on, while the educated man stopped short.

فَهِموا مِنَ الأَديانِ ما لا يَرتَضي

فَهِموا مِنَ الأَديانِ ما لا يَرتَضي

دينٌ وَلا يَرضى بِهِ مَن يَفهَمُ

دينٌ وَلا يَرضى بِهِ مَن يَفهَمُ

They drew from religions what no

Religion approves, nor anyone who understands accepts.

ماذا دَها قِبطِيَّ مِصرَ فَصَدَّهُ

ماذا دَها قِبطِيَّ مِصرَ فَصَدَّهُ

عَن وُدِّ مُسلِمِها وَماذا يَنقِمُ

عَن وُدِّ مُسلِمِها وَماذا يَنقِمُ

What befell Egypt's Copt and turned him away

From affection for her Muslim, and what does he resent?

وَعَلامَ يَخشى المُسلِمينَ وَكَيدَهُم

وَعَلامَ يَخشى المُسلِمينَ وَكَيدَهُم

وَالمُسلِمونَ عَنِ المَكايِدِ نُوَّمُ

وَالمُسلِمونَ عَنِ المَكايِدِ نُوَّمُ

And why does he fear the Muslims and their plots,

When the Muslims sleep, heedless of intrigue?

قَد ضَمَّنا أَلَمُ الحَياةِ وَكُلُّنا

قَد ضَمَّنا أَلَمُ الحَياةِ وَكُلُّنا

يَشكو فَنَحنُ عَلى السَواءِ وَأَنتُمُ

يَشكو فَنَحنُ عَلى السَواءِ وَأَنتُمُ

Life's suffering has bound us together, and we all

Complain; we and you are alike.

إِنّي ضَمينُ المُسلِمينَ جَميعُهُم

إِنّي ضَمينُ المُسلِمينَ جَميعُهُم

أَن يُخلِصوا لَكُم إِذا أَخلَصتُمُ

أَن يُخلِصوا لَكُم إِذا أَخلَصتُمُ

I stand surety for the Muslims, every one of them,

That they will be sincere toward you if you are sincere.

رَبِّ الأَريكَةِ إِنَّنا في حاجَةٍ

رَبِّ الأَريكَةِ إِنَّنا في حاجَةٍ

لِجَميلِ رَأيِكَ وَالحَوادِثُ حُوَّمُ

لِجَميلِ رَأيِكَ وَالحَوادِثُ حُوَّمُ

Lord of the throne, we stand in need

Of your gracious counsel, while calamities hover.

فَأَفِض عَلَينا مِن سَمائِكَ حِكمَةً

فَأَفِض عَلَينا مِن سَمائِكَ حِكمَةً

تَأسو القُلوبَ فَإِنَّ رَأيَكَ أَحكَمُ

تَأسو القُلوبَ فَإِنَّ رَأيَكَ أَحكَمُ

So pour wisdom upon us from your sky,

To heal hearts, for your counsel is wisest.

وَاِجمَع شَتاتَ العُنصُرَينِ بِعَزمَةٍ

وَاِجمَع شَتاتَ العُنصُرَينِ بِعَزمَةٍ

تَأتي عَلى هَذا الخِلافِ وَتَحسِمُ

تَأتي عَلى هَذا الخِلافِ وَتَحسِمُ

And unite the scattered parts of the two communities with a resolve

That puts an end to this discord and settles it.

فَكِلاهُما لِعَزيزِ عَرشِكَ مُخلِصٌ

فَكِلاهُما لِعَزيزِ عَرشِكَ مُخلِصٌ

وَكِلاهُما بِرِضاكَ صَبٌّ مُغرَمُ

وَكِلاهُما بِرِضاكَ صَبٌّ مُغرَمُ

For both are devoted to your mighty throne,

And both are love-stricken, enamored of your favor.