مالي أراك أخا الإيناس والسلم — Hasan Alsairafi

مالي أَراكَ أَخا الإيناسِ وَالسِلمِ

أَصبَحَت لِلهَمِّ وَالأَفكارِ في سِلمِ

Why do I see you, once a companion of sociability and peace,

Now at peace with cares and thoughts?

وَما لِمُنسَكِبِ الأَجفانِ كَالسَلمِ

أَمِن تَذَكُّرِ جيرانٍ بِذي سِلمِ

And why do your streaming eyelids resemble the salam-tree?

Is it from remembering neighbors at Dhu Salam

مَزَجَت دَمعاً جَرى مِن مُقلَةٍ بِدَمِ

أَم طارَ نَومُكَ مِن وَرقاءَ ساجِعَةِ

That you mixed tears flowing from an eye with blood?

Or did a cooing gray dove drive your sleep away?

غَنَّت فَهامَت بِنَفسٍ مِنكَ هائِمَةِ

وَلَيسَتِ النَفسُ مِن وَجدٍ بِكاظِمَةِ

She sang, enthralling your already wandering soul,

A soul unable to suppress its passionate longing.

أَم هَبَّتِ الريحُ مِن تَلقاءِ كاظِمَةِ

وَأَومَضَ البَرقَ مِنَ الظِماءِ مِن أَضَمِ

Or did the wind blow from the direction of Kazimah,

And lightning flash from the thirsty lands of Idam?

عَجِبتُ مِنكَ مَتى يَخفى هَواكَ مَتى

هَل أَنتَ تُنكِرُ وَجداً لِلوَرى ثَبتا

I marvel at you: when could your love remain hidden?

Do you deny a longing manifest to everyone?

وَهَبكَ خَلوا وَما قالوهُ مُفتَأَتا

فَما لِعَينَيكَ إِن قُلتَ أَكفَفاهَمتا

Suppose you were untouched, and their words mere fabrication:

Why, when you tell your eyes to stop, do they pour?

وَما لِقَلبِكَ أَن قُلتَ اِستَفِق بِهِم

لَو لَم يُمسِك مِن نارِ الجَوى ضَرَمِ

Why does your heart wander when told to awaken?

Had no flame from love's inward fire seized you,

ما سالَ دَمعُكَ أَو حَلَّ الحَشا أَلَمِ

وَلَم يُحاوِل جَحدَ الحَقِّ مُتَّهَمٌ

Your tears would not flow, nor pain inhabit your breast.

An accused man would not attempt to deny the truth.

أَيَحسَبُ الصَبَّ إِنَّ الحَُّ مُنكَتِمِ

ما بَينَ مُنسَجِمٍ مِنهُ ومُضطَّرَمِ

Does the lover imagine that love remains concealed

Between his flowing tears and his burning heart?

نَعَم عَهِدتُّكَ قَبلَ الآنَ في جَذلِ

تَختالُ في حُلَلِ النَعماءِ وَالأَمَلِ

Yes, I knew you before now in delight,

Strutting in robes of blessing and hope.

فَأَنتَ طَبعاً وَإِن أَنكَرتَ كُلَّ جَلى

لَولا الهَوى لَم تَرقَ دَمعاً عَلى طَلَلِ

Yet your nature is evident, though you deny every sign.

Without love you would not shed tears over ruins,

وَلا أَرِقتُ لِذِكرِ البانِ وَالعِلمِ

لِلعاشِقِ فَبِكَ دَلالاتٌ وَقَد اِنوُجِدَت

Nor would I lose sleep remembering the ban-tree and landmark.

The lover's signs have indeed appeared in you;

حَتّى المَحبونَ وَالأَعدى لَكَ اِنتَقَدَت

طَرفٌ يَفيضُ وَدَمعُ حالِهِ شَهِدَت

Even friends and bitter enemies have criticized you.

An overflowing eye and tears testify to its condition.

فَكَيفَ تُنكِرُ حَبا بَعدَ ما شَهِدَت

بِهِ عَلَيكَ عَدولَ الدَمعِ وَالسَقمُ

How can you deny love after testimony

Against you from the trustworthy witnesses, tears and sickness?

كُنّا نَخالُكَ مَغبوطاً بِكُلِّ هُنا

وَلَم تَكُن أَبدا لِلهَمِّ مُرتَهَنا

We thought you enviable in every happiness,

Never held hostage to care.

وَها فُؤادَكَ بِالبُؤسي وَهيَ وَهنا

وَأَثبَتَ الوَجدُ خَطِي عَبرَةٍ وَضَنى

Now your heart has weakened under misery.

Longing has inscribed two lines, of tears and wasting,

مِثلَ البِهارِ عَلى خَدَّيكَ وَالعَتمُ

لَو كُنتُ مِثلِكَ وَالتَسهيدُ طَوَّقَني

Like yellow flowers and dark foliage upon your cheeks.

Were I like you, encircled by sleeplessness,

حَيثُ الحَبيبُ خَيالٌ مِنهُ سارِقَتي

لَقُلتُ إِن قيلَ هَل سارَ فَاِقلِقني

With the beloved's apparition stealing from me,

I would say, if asked whether it came and troubled me:

نِعمَ سَرى طَيفُ مَن أَهوى فَأَرقَني

وَالحُبُّ يَعتِرِضُ الَذاتَ بِالأَلَمِ

Yes, my beloved's phantom traveled by night and kept me awake;

Love interrupts pleasures with pain.

إِنَّ الصَبابَةَ ما دامَت مُقَدَّرَةً

أَظهِر عَلَيها لَدى العُذّالِ مَقدِرَة

Since ardent longing has been decreed,

Show mastery over it before your reproachers.

وَقُل لِمَن لامَ تَعزيراً وَتَبِصَرَةً

يا لائِمي في الهَوى العُذري مَعذِرة

Tell whoever blames you, by way of rebuke and instruction:

You who blame my chaste love, accept an apology

مِنّي إِلَيكَ وَلَو أَنصَفتَ لَم تَلُمِ

لَو أَنتَ تَدري بِما في العُشّاقِ مِن خَطَر

From me; had you been fair, you would not blame.

If you knew the dangers lovers face,

لَكُنت أَوَّلَ مَن يَرثي لِمُعتَذِر

وَما أَقولُ وَما هَمّي بِمُقتَصَرٍ

You would first pity one offering an apology.

What can I say? My care is not confined.

عُدَّتُكَ حالي لا سَرى بِمُستَتَر

عَنِ الوُشاةِ وَلا دائي بِمُنحَسِمِ

My condition [unclear]; my secret is not concealed

From tale-bearers, nor is my illness ended.

ماذا صَنَعتَ بِما جاهَدتَ تُبدِعُهُ

تَحتَ النَصيحَةِ مِن لَومٍ تَرقَعُهُ

What have you accomplished with what you labored to devise,

Patching blame beneath the guise of advice?

هَوِّن عَلَيكَ وَخَيرُ القَولِ أَنفَعُهُ

مَحَضتَني النُصحَ لَكِن لَستُ أَسمَعُهُ

Take it easy: the best speech is the most useful.

You offered sincere advice, but I do not hear it;

إِنَّ المُحِبَّ عَنِ العُذّالِ في صَمَمِ

دَع عَنكَ لَومي فَإِنَّ اللَومُ مِن قَبلي

The lover is deaf to reproachers.

Leave off blaming me: blame, to my heart,

كَالزَندِ بِالقَدَحِ إِن أَوروهُ يَشتَعِلِ

وَخَلِّ نُصحَكَ لا تَصرِفُهُ في هَزَلٍ

Is like a fire-stick struck: when kindled, it burns.

Leave your advice; do not expend it frivolously.

أَنّي لَتَهِمتُ نَصيحَ الشَيبِ في عَذلي

وَالشَيبُ أَبعَدَ في نُصحٍ عَنِ التُهَمِ

I even suspected gray hair's counsel when it reproached me,

Though gray hair's advice is furthest from suspicion.

اِنتَصِح بِجِدّي لَو أَنَّ الأَنفُسَ اِحتَفَظَت

بِهِ فَرَقَّت حَواشيها وَما غَلَظَت

Heed my earnest counsel; if souls preserved it,

Their edges would soften rather than harden.

وَأَينَ نَفسي مِن هَذا إِذا وَعَظَت

فَإِنَّ إِماراتي بِالسوءِ ما اِتَّعَظَت

But where is my soul in this when admonished?

My soul commanding evil has taken no warning,

مِن جَهلِها بِنَذيرِ الشَيبِ وَالهَرَمِ

مازِلتُ أَعدِلُها أَنّي أَرى خَطَراً

In its ignorance, from gray hair and old age.

I keep trying to correct it, seeing danger,

وَالغَيُّ اليَعدِلُها فيما لَهُ خَطَرا

فَما تَرَوَّت بِحَزمٍ كانَ لي وَزَرا

While error does not correct its dangerous impulses.

It has not reflected with resolve that could shelter me,

وَلا أَغدَت مِنَ الفِعلِ الجَميلِ قَرى

ضَيفٌ أَلَمَّ بِرَأسي غَيرَ مُحتَشِمِ

Nor prepared hospitality from beautiful deeds

For a guest arriving at my head unashamed.

ضَيفٌ كَريمٌ بِشِعرِ المَرءِ مَظهَرُهُ

أَولى لَهُ السَترَ مِمَّن لا يَقدِرُهُ

A noble guest whose appearance is in a person's hair:

Concealment suits him better with one who does not esteem him.

وَالحَقُّ أَنّي وَعَيبي لَستُ أُنكُرُهُ

لَو كُنتُ أَعلَمُ أَنّي ما أوقِرُهُ

The truth is—and I do not deny my fault—

Had I known I would not honor him,

كَتَمتُ سِرّاً بَدا لي مِنهُ بِالكَتمِ

يا وَيحَ نَفسي مَن أَداركِ غايَتُها

I would have concealed the secret he revealed to me.

Alas for my soul! Who can grasp its ultimate aim?

كَم بي تَجوزُ مَفازاتِ لِحاجَتِها

عَجِزتُ وَاللَهِ يَأساً مِن ضَلالَتِها

How often it carries me across deserts for its desires!

By God, I am helpless, despairing of its waywardness.

مَن لي بَردَ جِماحٍ مِن غِوايَتِها

كَما يَرِدُ جِماحَ الخَيلِ بِاللَجَمِ

Who will restrain its headstrong wandering for me,

As bridles restrain the headstrong rush of horses?

مِن رَغبَةِ النَفسِ في الدُنيا وَثَروَتَها

تَرمي المَرامي بِنا في جَوفِ شَقوَتِها

Through the soul's desire for the world and its wealth,

It casts us toward its goals, into its misery.

وَلَيسَ مِن أَمَلٍ في قَهرِ سَطوَتِها

فَلا تَرُم بِالمَعاصي كَسرَ شَهوَتِها

There seems no hope of conquering its dominion.

Do not seek to break its appetite through sins;

إِنَّ الطَعامَ يَقوى شَهوَةَ النَهَمِ

وَلا تَنَلها الَّذي تَهوى إِلَيهِ وَلا

Food only strengthens the glutton's appetite.

Do not grant it what it longs for, nor

تَلقى بِأَيديكَ فَرحاناً بِهِ جَذلا

مَةن يَبغِ تَركاً لِشَيءِ صَدِّهِ وَسَلا

Place it in your hands rejoicing and delighted.

Whoever seeks to abandon something should shun it and forget.

وَالنَفسُ كَالطِفلِ أَن تُهمِلَهُ شَبَّ عَلى

حُبِّ الرِضاعِ وَإِن تَفطِمُهُ يَنفَطِمِ

The soul resembles a child: neglect it, and it grows

Loving suckling; wean it, and it is weaned.

لا يَعدِمُ المَرءُ عَزماً إِن يوفيهِ

إِلى التَثَبُّتِ في أَمرٍ لِيَقليهِ

A person does not lack resolve if he directs it

Toward steadfastness in something he would reject.

وَالنَفسُ تُغريكَ بِالأَدنى لِتَأتيهِ

فَاِضرِف هَواها وَحاذِر إِن توليهِ

The soul entices you toward baseness, to make you pursue it.

Turn its desire aside, and beware of giving it command;

إِنَّ الهَوى ما تَوَلّى يَصِمِ أَو يَصِمِ

النَفسُ ما لَم تُقيدُ فهيَ هائِمَةً

Desire, whenever it rules, stains or deafens.

Unless restrained, the soul wanders,

كَنافَةَ ما لَها الحَيُّ شاكِمَة

فَاِعقِل لَها وَتَوَكَّل وَهيَ قائِمَةً

Like a she-camel whose people have no restraint for her.

Hobble her and trust, while she stands;

وَراعِها وَهيَ في الأَعمالِ سائِمَة

وَإِن هِيَ اِستَحَلَّت المَرعى فَلا تَسَمِ

Watch her as she grazes among deeds.

If she finds the pasture sweet, do not let her graze.

وَلا تُملِ نَحوَ ما شاءَتهُ قائِلَةٌ

هَذا لَذيذٌ وَخالي الضُرِّ خائِلَة

Do not incline toward what she wishes, saying,

This is delicious and harmless, as she imagines.

فَإِنَّها لا أَرانا اللَهُ غائِلَةً

كَم حَسُنَت لِذَّةً لِلمَرءِ قاتِلَة

For she—may God show us no calamity—

Has often beautified a pleasure fatal to a person,

مِن حَيثُ لَم يَدرِ إِنَّ السُمَّ في الدَسَمِ

ما المَرءُ مِنّا عَلى حالٍ بِمُنطَبَعِ

Who did not know that poison lay in the rich food.

None of us is fixed in a single state:

إِن جاعَ جالَ وَإِن يَشبَعُ فَذو جَزعِ

فَوَسطَ الحالِ في كُلٍّ بِلا جَشَعِ

Hungry, he roams; full, he becomes anxious.

Choose a middle condition in everything, without greed.

وَاِخشَ الدَسائِسَ مِن جوعٍ وَمِن شَبَعِ

فَرُبَّ مَخمَصَةٍ شَرٌّ مِنَ التُخَمِ

Fear the hidden snares of hunger and satiety;

Many a famine is worse than overindulgence.

وَالنَفسُ صُنها فَكَم نَفسٌ لَنا لَجَأَت

إِلى حَرامٍ عَلَيهِ طالَما اِنكَفَأَت

Guard the soul: how often a soul among us resorted

To forbidden things, repeatedly bending toward them.

فَاِختَر لَها الحَلَّ وَاِستَغفِر إِذا خَطَأَت

وَاِستَفرِغِ الدَمعَ مِن عَينٍ قَد اِمتَلَأَت

Choose lawful things for it; seek forgiveness when it errs.

Pour out tears from an eye that has filled

مِنَ المَحارِمِ وَالزَم حَمِيَّةَ النَدَمِ

وَمَل إِلى الحَقِّ وَالإِنصافِ وَاِعلِها

With forbidden sights, and keep repentance's discipline.

Incline toward truth and fairness, and elevate it.

وَلا تُطِع مُستَهاماً في الهَوى نَهَما

وَتابِعِ الدينَ وَالدِيانِ وَاِرضِها

Do not obey one infatuated and ravenous in desire.

Follow religion and the Judge, and satisfy it.

وَخالِفِ النَفسَ وَالشَيطانَ وَاِعصِها

وَإِن هَما مَحضاكَ النُصحَ فَإِنَّهُم

Oppose the soul and Satan, and disobey them;

Even if they offer sincere counsel, they are [unclear].

النَفسُ ما مَرَّةً تُهديكَ أَمَن حَمى

وَمَن أَبى مَرَّةً كَمَن واثِقاً بِعَمى

The soul never guides you to safe refuge [unclear].

Whoever once refuses is like one trusting blindly [unclear].

فَلا تَخلِ فيهِما رُشداً وَلا حُكماً

وَلا تُطِع مِنهُما خَصماً وَلا حِكَما

Do not imagine either possesses guidance or sound judgment.

Obey neither as an adversary nor as an arbiter;

فَأَنتَ تَعرِفُ كَيدَ الخَصمِ وَالحُكمِ

أَقولُ هَذا وَلَم أَنظُر إِلى عِلَلِ

You know the scheming of adversary and arbiter.

I say this without examining the ailments

فيها تَمادَيتُ مِن نَهلٍ إِلى عِلَلِ

فَذَلِكَ النُصحُ مِن جانٍ بِلا خَجَلِ

In which I persisted, drinking once and then again.

Such advice comes from a shameless offender.

أَستَغفِرُ اللَهَ مِن قَولٍ بِلا عَمَلِ

لَقَد نَسَبتُ بِهِ نَسلاً لِذي عَقَمِ

I seek God's forgiveness for speech without deeds;

Through it I attributed offspring to someone barren.

وَقَعتُ وَاللَهِ تَحتَ النَقدِ وَالشِبهِ

إِن كُنتَ أَو خُذ أَو قَولي بِموجَبِهِ

By God, I have fallen under criticism and suspicion.

If you were—or take—or my words as binding [unclear].

عُذراً أَخا الوُدِّ إِنّي غَيرَ مُنتَبِهِ

أَمَرتُكَ الخَيرَ لَكِن ما اِئتَمَرَت بِهِ

Forgive me, companion of affection: I am inattentive.

I commanded you to goodness, but did not follow it;

وَما اِستَقَمتُ فَما قَولي لَكَ اِستَقِمِ

النَفسُ كانَت عَنِ الإِحسانِ غافِلَةً

I was not upright: what means my telling you, Be upright?

The soul was heedless of doing good,

وَلَم تَزَل شَمسُ حَظّي عَنهُ آفِلَةً

فَما اِتَّخَذَت مِنَ الأَعمالِ كافِلَةً

And the sun of my fortune kept setting away from it.

It undertook no deeds that would secure it,

وَلا تَزَوَّدَت قَبلَ المَوتُ نافِلَةً

وَلَم أَصلِ سِوى فَرضٍ وَلَم أَصُمِ

Nor provisioned itself with voluntary worship before death.

I prayed only obligatory prayers, and did not fast.

وَلَيسَ حَظّي سِوى هَذا القُصورُ بِلى

لَقَد جُرِرتُ بِأَهوائي لِكُلِّ بِلا

Nor is this shortcoming my only portion: indeed,

My passions dragged me into every affliction.

وَلَيتَني لَم أَنَم لَيلي الطَويلَ وَلا

ظَلَمَت سُنَّةُ مَن أَحيا الظَلامَ إِلى

Would that I had not slept through my long night, nor

Wronged the practice of him who enlivened darkness until

إِن اِشتَكَت قَدَماهُ الضُرَّ مِن أَلَمِ

أَحيا وَقامَ وَمِنهُ الذِكرُ حَيثُ ثَوى

His feet complained of painful suffering.

He kept vigil and stood; remembrance accompanied him wherever he stayed,

في الصَحوِ وَالنَومِ لِلَهِ العُلى سِوا

وَكَم بِلا رَمَقٌ نَفَلُ الصِيامِ نَوى

Awake and asleep, equally devoted to God Most High.

How often, without strength, he intended a voluntary fast!

وَشَدَّ مِن سَغبِ أَحشاءِهِ وَطَوى

تَحتَ الحِجارَةِ كَشَحاً مُترَفَ الأَدَمِ

From hunger he bound his entrails and folded

Beneath stones a flank of delicate skin.

وَلَم يَشُدَّ الحَشا مِن عَوزِ مَطلَبِ

فَالخَيراتِ لَهُ مِن غَيرِ ما طَلَبِ

He did not bind his breast through lack of means;

Good things were his without his asking.

لَهُ تَراءَت كُنوزُ الأَرضِ عَن كَثَبِ

وَراوَدَتهُ الجِبالُ الشَمُّ مِن ذَهَبِ

The earth's treasures appeared before him close at hand.

Lofty mountains of gold sought to entice him

عَن نَفسِهِ فاراها إيما شَمَمِ

وَكَيفَ يَرضى وَقَد كانَت وَتيرَتُهُ

From himself, but he showed them proud disdain.

How could he consent, when his habitual way

حُبُّ القَناعَةِ ما قُلتُ ذَخيرَتُهُ

بَل قَد أَبَتها إِبا زُهدٍ سيرَتُهُ

Was love of contentment, his treasured provision?

Rather, his way rejected them with ascetic refusal.

وَأَكَّدتُ زُهدَهُ فيها ضَرورَتُهُ

إِنَّ الضَروراتِ لا تَعلو عَلى العَصَمِ

His need confirmed his renunciation of them;

Necessities do not overcome those divinely protected.

نِعمَ نَرى العَوزَ قَد أَدّى لِكُلِّ شَجَنِ

وَكَم بِصاحِبِهِ أَودى فَكادَ يَجنِ

Yes, we see want leading to every sorrow;

How often it ruins its sufferer, almost driving him mad!

لَكِن سَيِّدَنا بِالنَفسِ حازَ غِنى

وَكَيفَ تَدعو إِلى الدُنيا ضَرورَةَ مِنِ

But our master possessed richness of soul.

How could necessity summon to the world one

لَولاهُ لَم تَخرُجِ الدُنيا مِنَ العَدَمِ

لَولاهُ لَولاهُ لَم يَبدو سَنا القَمَرِي

Without whom the world would not have emerged from nothing?

Without him, without him, the radiance of the two moons—

نِ وَالكَواكِبُ وَالإِنسُ وَمُطلَقُ شَي

فَهوَ الأَساسُ لِتَكوينِ وَخَلقَةِ حَيِّ

—and the stars, humanity, and anything whatsoever would not appear.

He is the foundation for forming and creating living beings:

مُحَمَّدِ الكَونَينِ وَالثَقَل

ينِ وَالفَريقَينِ مِن عَربٍ وَمِن عَجَمِ

Muhammad, of the two worlds and the two weighty—

—kinds, and the two groups, Arabs and non-Arabs.

رَسولُنا مَن لَهُ يَومُ الحِسابِ يَدٌ

هِيَ الَّتي وَحدَها لِلمُلتَجى سَنَدِ

Our messenger possesses a helping hand on Judgment Day;

It alone supports whoever seeks refuge.

وَليناً مَن لَنا تَصديقُهُ رَشَدُ

نَبينا الآمِرِ الناهي فَلا أَحَدِ

Our protector, whose affirmation is guidance for us,

Our prophet commands and forbids; no one

أَبَرَّ في قَولٍ لا مِنهُ وَلا نِعَمِ

في الهَذِهِ الدارُ قَد كانَت طَريقَتُهُ

Is more truthful than he in saying No or Yes.

In this abode his way was

سَبيلُ فَوزٍ بِهِ سادَت جَماعَتُهُ

وَفي المَعادِ وَيا لِلهَولِ حِليَتُهُ

A path of success through which his community prevailed.

At the return—how terrible!—his distinction is:

هُوَ الحَبيبُ الَّذي تَرَجّى شَفاعَتُهُ

لَكِنَّ هَولٌ مِنَ الأَهوالِ مُقتَحَمٍ

He is the beloved whose intercession is hoped for,

When a terror among terrors must be encountered.

لَمّا قَضى اللَهُ أَشهارً لِمَذهَبِهِ

وَأَبلِغِ الأَمرَ جِبريلَ لِصاحِبِهِ

When God decreed the public proclamation of his path,

And Gabriel conveyed the command to his companion:

بِقُم فَأَنذِر وَاِقرَأ بِاِسمِ نادِبِهِ

دَعا إِلى اللَهِ فَالمُستَمسِكونَ بِهِ

Rise and warn; read in your summoner's name,

He called to God; those holding fast to him

مُستَمسِكونَ بِحَبلٍ غَيرَ مُنفَصِمِ

لَم تَحكِهِ الشَمسُ في رَأدٍ وَلا أُفُقِ

Hold fast to a cord that never breaks.

The sun did not resemble him at dawn or horizon.

وَلَم يَكُن هَكَذا حُسنٌ بِمُتَّفَقِ

فَلا عَجيبَ إِذا ما كانَ عَن أُفُقِ

Such beauty was no mere coincidence.

So no wonder if, from a horizon [unclear],

فاقِ النَبيينَ في خَلقٍ وَفي خَلقِ

وَلَم يُدانواهُ في حِلمٍ وَلا كَرَمِ

He surpassed the prophets in form and character;

They did not approach him in forbearance or generosity.

وَما لِشَأنِهِم في الفَضلِ مُبتَخَسِ

أَو عَنهُمُ الروحُ مِن ذي الطولِ مُحتَبَسِ

Their standing in excellence is not diminished,

Nor is the spirit withheld from them by the Bountiful.

بَل كُلُّهُم مِن جَلاِ اللَهِ مُقتَبَسِ

وَكُلُّهُم مِن رَسولِ اللَهِ مُلتَمَسِ

Rather, all draw from God's splendor,

And all seek from God's messenger

غَرَفاً مِنَ البَحرِ أَو رَشَفاً مِنَ الديمِ

فَهُم لِآلٍ وَطَهَ وَسطَ عَقدِهِم

A handful from the sea or a sip from steady rain.

They are pearls, and Taha is amid their necklace.

وَهُم بِمِقدارِهِ أَدرى وَقَدرُهُم

مُمَجِّدونَ لَهُ مِن فَوقِ مَجدِهِم

They know his measure best, and their own worth;

They magnify him above their own glory,

وَواقِفونَ لَدَيهِ عِندَ حَدِّهِم

مِن نُقطَةِ العِلمِ أَو مِن شَكلَةِ الحُكمِ

Standing before him within their limits,

A dot of knowledge or a vowel-mark of wisdom.

وَكَيفَ لا وَهوَ سِرُّ اللَهِ خَيرَتُهُ

مِن جُملَتِ سورَةِ التَفصيلِ سيرَتُهُ

How could it be otherwise? He is God's mystery, His chosen one.

His life is a chapter within the whole exposition.

وَلَيسَ في الخَلقِ مِن تَحكيهِ سورَتُهُ

فَهوَ الَّذي تَمَّ مَعناهُ وَصورَتُهُ

No created being's form resembles his.

His inward meaning and outward form reached perfection;

ثُمَّ اِصطَفاهُ حَبيباً بارِئِ النَسَمِ

فَظاهِرُ الحُسنِ فيهِ مِثلُ باطِنِهِ

Then the Creator of souls chose him as beloved.

His outward beauty resembles his inward beauty.

وَما عَلَيها وَرُبى مِن مَقارِنِهِ

كَلّا هُوَ الفَردُ في عَيني مَعانيهِ

And [unclear] among those who might compare with him.

No: he is unique in the essence of his meanings,

مُنَزَّهٌ عَن شَريكٍ في مَحاسِنِهِ

فَجَوهَرُ الحُسنِ فيهِ غَيرَ مُنقَسِمِ

Free of any partner in his beauties.

The substance of beauty in him is indivisible.

فَالمُرسَلونَ تُضاهيهِ بِأَيهَمٍ

وَزيهٍ بَيَّنَ مِن بَينِ زِيِّهِم

Which of the messengers could resemble him?

His appearance stands distinct among their appearances.

فَإِن تُرِد مَدحَهُ في نَشرِ طَيِّهِم

دَع ما اِدَّعَتهُ النَصارى في نَبِيِّهِم

If you wish to praise him, unfolding their hidden qualities,

Leave what Christians claimed concerning their prophet;

وَاِحكُم بِما شِئتَ مَدحاً فيهِ وَاِحتَكِمِ

وَقُل وَناظِر وَفاخِر كُلِّ ذي صَلَفِ

Then pronounce whatever praise you wish of him, and judge.

Speak, debate, and vie with every arrogant person,

بِبَعضِ ما حازَ مِن فَضلٍ وَمِن طَرَفِ

وَقُم بِأَرفَعِ مَنصوبٍ عَلى شَرَفِ

Using some of the excellence and marvels he possessed.

Stand upon the loftiest elevation of honor.

وَاِنسَب إِلى ذاتِهِ ما شِئتَ مِن شَرَفِ

وَاِنسِب إِلى قَدرِهِ ما شِئتَ مِن عَظَمِ

Attribute to his person whatever nobility you wish;

Attribute to his rank whatever greatness you wish.

وَما يُقالُ وَرَبُّ الحَمدِ جَملُهُ

بِكُلِّ مَدحٍ إِذا ما الفَضلُ جَمَّ لَهُ

What can be said? The Lord of praise adorned him

With every praise, since excellence abounded in him.

وَاللَهُ ما عِندَنا وَحيَ لِنُنزِلَهُ

فَإِنَّ فَضلَ رَسولِ اللَهِ لَيسَ لَهث

By God, we possess no revelation to bring down;

The excellence of God's messenger has no

حَدُّ فَيَعرُبَ عَنهُ ناطِقَ بِفَمِ

وَكَيفَ يُعرِبُ أَو يَلقى فَماً

Limit that a speaker could express with his mouth.

How could one express it, or find a mouth

يُجيدُ مَدحاً بِهِ لِلمُصطَفى قَدَما

فَوَالَّذي أَرغَمَ الأَعدا بِهِ كَظَماً

Skilled enough to praise the Chosen One's precedence?

By Him who subdued the enemies through him in anguish,

لَو ناسَبتَ قَدرَهُ أَياتِهِ عَظَما

أَحيا اِسمُهُ حينَ يَدَّعي دارِسَ الرِمَمِ

Had his signs matched his rank in greatness,

His name, when invoked, would revive decayed bones.

اِنظُر لِما كانَ مِن عالي تَأَدُّبِهِ

وَحُسنَ أَخلاقِهِ سُبحانَ واهِبِهِ

Consider his lofty refinement,

And beautiful character: glory to their Giver!

فَمَن لِطَيفِ سَجاياهُ وَطيبِهِ

لَم يَمتَحِنا بِما تَعيا العُقولُ بِهِ

Who could encompass his gentle disposition and goodness?

He did not test us with what exhausts minds,

حِرصاً عَلَينا فَلَم نُرَتِّب وَلَم نَهِمِ

جَلَّ القَديرُ لَهُ فَوقَ العُقولِ بَرى

Out of concern for us; we neither doubted nor wandered.

The Almighty—exalted is He—created him beyond minds.

فَكُلُّهُ مُعجِزَ إِدراكِهِ البَشَرا

لِذاكَ كانَ إِذا ما غابَ أَو حَضَرا

His whole being defeats human comprehension.

Thus, whether absent or present,

أَعيا الوَرى فَهُم مَعناهُ فَلَيسَ يَرى

في البُعدِ وَالقُربِ فيهِ غَيرَ مُنفَحِمِ

Understanding his meaning exhausted humanity; none is seen

Near or far from him except struck speechless.

قَد كانَ مِن لُطفِهِ لَم يَخشَ مِن أَحَدِ

وَهوَ المَهيبُ وَجَلَّ القَدرُ عَن أَسَدِ

In his gentleness he feared no one,

Yet he inspired awe, his rank exceeding a lion's.

لَكِنَّهُ وَهوَ أَعلا كُلَّ ذي صَعَدِ

كَالشَمسِ تَظهَرُ لِلعَينَينِ مِن بُعدِ

Though higher than everyone who ascends,

He is like the sun, appearing to the eyes from afar

صَغيرَةً وَتَكلُ الطَرفَ مِن أُمَمِ

ما كانَ مِن عارِفٍ فينا خَليقَتُهُ

Small, yet wearying sight when close.

No one among us truly knew his nature

عَلى الحَقيقَةِ لَم يُخطِئ طَريقَتُهُ

بَل عَنهُ نِمنا وَلَم نُدرِك هِدايَتُهُ

Without following his way.

Rather, we slept unaware of him and missed his guidance.

وَكيَفَ يُدرِكُ في الدُنيا حَقيقَتُهُ

قَومٌ نِيامٌ تَسلو عَنهُ بِالحِلمِ

How could his reality be grasped in this world

By sleeping people distracted from him by dreams?

وَمَن تَقدِرُهُ مِنّا لَهُ فَكِّر

بِحَقِّ مِقدارِهِ مَهما اِنتَهى نَظَر

Who among us can measure him? Consider

His true measure, however far vision reaches.

وَما يُقالُ وَأَقضى قَولَنا قَصَر

فَمَبلَغُ العِلمِ فيهِ إِنَّهُ بَشَر

What can be said? Our utmost speech falls short.

The utmost knowledge of him is that he is human,

وَإِنَّهُ خَيرَ خَلقِ اللَهِ كُلُّهُم

آياتِ ذي العَرشِ أَقصاها واقُربُها

And that he is the best of all God's creation.

The signs of the Lord of the Throne, farthest and nearest,

مِمّا حَوّى اللَوحُ في أَعلا مَراتِبِها

بِهِ لَنا اِتَّصَلَت أَضوا كَواكِبَها

Among what the Tablet contains in its highest ranks,

Their starlight reached us through him.

وَكُلُّ آيِ أَتى الرُسُلِ الكِرامِ بِها

فَإِنَّما اِتَّصَلَت مِن نورِهِ بِهِم

Every sign brought by the noble messengers

Reached them only from his light.

فَلَم تَكُن آيَةَ جِبريلِ كاتِبِها

في سابِقِ الدَهرِ إِلّا وَهوَ صاحِبِها

No sign inscribed by Gabriel

In bygone time existed without his possessing it.

وَعَن يَدِ الرُسُلِ قَد لاحَت ثَواقِبَها

فَإِنَّهُ شَمسُ فَضلٍ هُم كَواكِبُها

Their piercing lights shone through the messengers' hands;

He is a sun of excellence, and they its stars,

يَظهَرنَ أَنوارُهُ لِلناسِ في الظَلمِ

هُوَ الحَليمُ الَّذي ما شانُهُ نَزَق

Showing his lights to people in darkness.

He is the forbearing one, untouched by rashness,

وَذو الجَبينِ الَّذي كَالبَرقِ مُؤتَلَقِ

فيهِ الجَمالُ وَحُسنُ الطَبعِ مُتَّفَقِ

Whose forehead gleams like lightning.

Beauty and goodness of nature unite in him.

أَكرَمَ بِخَلقِ نَبي زانَهُ خَلقِ

بِالحُسنِ مُشتَمِلٌ بِالبَشَرِ مُتَّسَمِ

How noble a prophet's form, adorned by character!

Enfolded in beauty, marked by cheerful welcome.

راعي النَظيرَ لَمّا أوتيهِ مِن تُحَفِ

بِنُضرَةِ وَمُحَيّا صينَ عَن كَلَفِ

Attend to the correspondences in the gifts he received:

Freshness and a face protected from blemishes.

تَجِدهُ مَعَ جودِهِ وَالغَيثُ في سَرَفِ

كَالزَهرِ في تَرَفِ وَالبَدرِ في شَرَفِ

Alongside his generosity, with rain lavishly pouring, you find him

Like flowers in delicacy, the full moon in eminence,

وَالبَحرُ في كَرَمٍ وَالدَهرُ في هِمَمِ

عَلَيَّ قَدرُ بَهى في مَلاحَتِهِ

The sea in generosity, and time in lofty aspirations.

Lofty in stature, splendid in his beauty,

قُوى جاشِ كَمي في شَجاعَتِهِ

ما مِثلِهِ مِن نَبي في مَهابَتِهِ

Strong-hearted, a warrior in his courage.

No prophet resembles him in his awe.

كَأَنَّهُ وَهوَ فَردٌ في جَلالَتِهِ

في عَسكَرٍ حينَ تَلقاهُ وَفي حَشَمِ

Though alone in his majesty, he seems

When you meet him, surrounded by an army and attendants.

حَوى لِثَغرٍ بَديعَ النَظمِ مُؤتَلَفِ

وُحُسنُ لَفظٍ بِلا لَغوٍ وَلا هَرَفِ

He possessed a mouth with wondrously harmonious arrangement,

And beautiful speech without idle talk or babbling.

تَبارَكَ اللَهُ في وَصفٍ وَمُتَّصَفِ

كَأَنَّما اللُؤلُؤُ المَكنونَ في صَدَفِ

Blessed is God in description and the one described!

As though pearls hidden within shells

مِن مَعدَني مَنطِقٌ مِنهُ وَمُبتَسَمِ

بِكُلَّ ما جَلَّ ذو الإِجلالِ عَظمُهُ

Came from the two mines of his speech and smile.

In everything the Majestic One magnified his greatness,

حَيّاً وَمَيِّتاً فَنالَ الحَظَّ أَعظَمُهُ

قولوا لِمَن هامَ في وَردٍ وَأَعظَمُهُ

Alive and dead, so he gained the greatest portion.

Tell whoever is enamored of roses and magnifies them:

لا طيبَ يَعدِلُ تُرباً ضَمَّ أَعظَمُهُ

طوبى لِمُنتَشِقٍ مِنهُ وَمُلتَثَمِ

No fragrance equals earth that embraces his bones.

Blessed is whoever inhales it and kisses it.

بِهِ بَدا اللَهث مِن أَنوارِ مَظهَرُهُ

وَمِن قَديمٍ قَضى تَكوينُ جَوهَرِهِ

Through him God manifested lights of His appearance.

From ancient time his substance's formation was decreed.

وَعِندَما اِشتاقَتِ الدُنيا لِمَنظَرِهِ

أَبانَ مَولِدُهُ عَن طيبِ عُنصُرِهِ

When the world yearned for his appearance,

His birth disclosed the goodness of his origin.

يا طيبَ مُبتَدَاَ مِنهُ وَمُختَتَمِ

بدا الحَبيبُ وَمَن في الشَعبِ عَمَّهُم

How good his beginning and his ending!

The beloved appeared, and those in the mountain valley were filled

كُلُّ السُرورِ وَصارَ الأُنسُ بَينَهُم

وَيَومٌ إِن كانَتِ البُشرى تَسُرُّهُم

With every joy; companionship spread among them.

A day whose glad tidings delighted them,

يَومَ تَفَرَّسَ فيهِ الفُرسُ لَهُمُ

قَد أَنذَروا بِحُلولِ الوَيلِ وَالنَقَمِ

The day when the Persians discerned that they

Had been warned of approaching woe and vengeance.

وَذاكَ يَومٌ بِهِ كَم قَد بَدَت بِدَعِ

مِن نازِلاتٍ تَوَلّاهُم لَها هَلَعُ

How many wonders appeared upon that day!

Calamities seized them, filling them with panic.

فَكُلُّ صَقعٍ غَدا مَبناهُ مُنصَقِعِ

وَباتَ إيوانُ كِسرى وَهوَ مُنصَدِعِ

Every region found its structure shattered.

Kisra's palace stood cracked,

كَشَملِ أَصحابِ كِسرى غَيرَ مُلتَئِمِ

فَالخَدنِ وَالزَوجِ وَالصَنونِ في لَهفِ

Like Kisra's companions, whose unity was broken.

Companion, spouse, and kinsman were distressed.

وَعَظُمَ حُزنٌ عَلى ما خيفَ مِن تَلَفِ

وَالمَلِكُ لِلخَسفِ قَد أَمسى عَلى شَرَفِ

Grief grew over the destruction they feared.

The king stood on the brink of collapse.

وَالنارُ خامِدَةَ الأَنفاسِ مِن أَسَفِ

عَلَيهِ وَالنَهرُ ساهي العَينَ مِن سَدَمِ

The fire's breathing died away in sorrow

For him; the river's eye was distracted with grief.

وَالريحُ عاصِفَةً تَشتَدُّ غارَتُها

كَالنارِ لِلزَرعِ لا يَرتَدُّ قارَّتُها

The wind stormed, its assault intensifying,

Like fire against crops, its onslaught unturned.

وَأَعيُنُ الماءِ خانَتها غَزارَتُها

وَساءَ ساوَةً إن غارَت بُحَيرَتُها

The springs' abundance betrayed them.

Sawah was distressed when its lake sank away.

وَردُ وارِدِها بِالغَيظِ حينِ ظَمى

تَرى مَكانَ اللَظى بَرداً وَذا طَلَلِ

Its visitor returned furious in thirst.

You see flame's place cold and ruined,

وَمَوضِعُ الماءِ حَرا راحَ عَن طَلَلِ

سُبحانَ مِن حَولِ الأَحوالِ عَن حَولِ

And water's place hot, abandoned to desolation.

Glory to Him who transforms conditions by His power!

كَأَنَّ بِالنارِ ما بِالماءِ مِن بَلَلِ

حَزَناً وَبِالماءِ ما بِالنارِ مِن ضَرَمِ

As though the fire possessed water's wetness

From grief, and water possessed fire's burning.

هَذا وَآمِنَةً بِالأَمنِ راتِعَةً

وَالطَيرُ مِن فَوقِها بِاليَمَنِ ساجِعَة

Meanwhile Aminah basked in security,

Birds above her cooing auspiciously.

وَلِلمَلائِكَةِ التَسبيحَ سامِعَةً

وَالجِنُّ تَهتِفُ وَالأَنوارُ ساطِعَة

She heard the angels' glorification.

The jinn called out, lights shone,

وَالحَقُّ يَظهَرُ مِن مَعنى وَمِن كَلَمِ

وَالكافِرونَ تَغشاهُم هُناكَ ظُلمُ

And truth appeared in meaning and words.

There, darkness enveloped the unbelievers.

وَباتَ كُلُّ صَحيحٍ مِنهُم بِأَلَمٍ

حَتّى كَأَنَّما مُماطِراً وَأَلَمِ

Every healthy one among them spent the night in pain,

As though pain were raining down [unclear].

عَموا وَصَموا فاعِلانِ البَشائِرِ لَم

يَسمَع وَبارِقَةَ الإِنذارِ لَم تَشِمِ

Blind and deaf, they did not hear the proclamation

Of glad tidings, nor glimpse warning's flash.

لَم يَلبَثِ الكُلَّ إِن كَلَت عَواهِنَهُم

وَبانَ عَنهُم مَحابيهِم وَعائِنَهُم

All soon found their resources exhausted,

Their favored things and observers deserted them.

وَكانَ هَذا كَما أَنهى مَعايِنَهُم

مِن بَعدِ ما أَخبَرَ الأَقوامَ كاهِنَهُم

This was as their witnesses had reported,

After their soothsayer told the peoples

بانَ دينَهُم المِعوَجَّ لَم يَقُمِ

وَبَعدَ ما حَقَّقوا ما حَلَّ مِن عَطَبِ

That their crooked religion would not stand.

After they verified the destruction that had befallen them,

وَلَيسَ مِمّا قَضاهُ اللَهُ مِن هَرَبِ

وَبَعدَما شاهَدوا في الأَرضِ مِن عَجَبِ

From what God decreed there was no escape;

After witnessing wonders on earth,

وَبَعدَما عايَنوا في الأُفُقِ مِن شُهُبِ

مَنقَضَةً وِفقَ ما في الأَرضِ مُن صَنَمِ

And seeing shooting stars on the horizon

Fall, corresponding to the idols upon earth.

وَكانَ أَمرُ اِستِراقِ السمعِ مُلتَزِماً

لَهُ مِنَ الجِنِّ مَن لِلخَطفِ مُعتَزِمِ

Eavesdropping had been a regular practice

For jinn determined to snatch a hearing.

فَكانَ مِن حَلِّ وَلي وَهوَ مُنخَرِمِ

حَتّى غَدا عَن طَريقِ الوَحيِ مُنهَزِمِ

Then he turned away, the affair shattered [unclear],

Until, driven from revelation's path,

مِنَ الشَياطينِ يَقفو أَثَرَ مُنهَزِمِ

لِوَقعَةِ الفيلِ قَبلاً غَيرَ مُشبَهة

One fleeing devil followed another's trail.

Unlike the earlier battle of the Elephant,

لَها بِبَدرٍ لَقَد صاروا كَمُنبَهَةِ

إِذا قَد تَوَلّوا بِأَرواحِ مُدلَهَةٍ

At Badr they became as though reminded of it,

Turning away with bewildered souls,

كَأَنَّهُم هَرَبا إِبطالَ أَبرَهَةِ

أَو عَسكَرٌ بِالحَصى مِن راحَتَيهش رَمى

As though fleeing like Abrahah's champions,

Or an army struck with pebbles from his palms.

مِن راحَتي حاصِبُ عَينِ العِدا طَسَما

وَما رَمى إِذ رَمى بَل ذو الجَلالِ رَمى

From his palms, flying pebbles blinded the enemies' eyes.

He did not throw when he threw: the Majestic One threw.

وَكانَ أَلقى صَوبَ العِدا بِهِما

نَبذاً بِهِ بَعدَ تَسبيحٍ بِبَطنِهِما

He had cast toward the enemies with both palms

A scattering, after glorification within them:

نَبذُ المُسَبِّحِ في أَحشاءِ مُلتَقِمِ

وَكَم لَهُ طَلَبُ الأَعداءِ آبِدَةً

The casting of the praiser within a swallower's entrails.

How many lasting marvels his enemies' demands elicited,

مِن مُعجِزاتٍ تَراها العَينُ ناقِدَة

وَكَي تَكونَ لَهُ الأَعيانُ شاهِدَةً

Miracles that a discerning eye beholds!

So that visible things might testify for him,

جاءَت لِدَعوَتِهِ الأَشجارَ ساجِدَة

تَمشي إِلَيهِ عَلى ساقي بِلا قَدَمِ

Trees came at his summons, prostrating,

Walking toward him upon trunks without feet.

سارَت تَهُزُّ لِأَقلامٍ بِها اِنتَشَبَت

لَها بَرى اللَهُ وَالأَعدا بِها اِنقَضَبَت

They advanced, shaking penlike branches entwined upon them.

God fashioned them; through them enemies were cut off.

فَلَو تَرى أَثَرَها مِن حَيثُما اِنقَلَبِت

كَأَنَّما سَطرَت سَطراً لَما كَتَبَت

Had you seen their traces wherever they turned,

You would think they had ruled a line for what

فُروعُها مِن بَديعِ الخَطِّ في اللَقَمِ

وَلَم تَزَل زُمرَةَ الكُفّارِ ناكِرَةً

Their branches wrote in beautiful script upon the road.

The unbelievers' company continued denying,

لِكُلِّ آياتِهِ الكُبرى مُكابِرَة

حَتّى الَّتي بَينَهُم كَالشَمسِ ظاهِرَةً

Obstinately resisting all his great signs,

Even those visible among them like the sun,

مِثلَ الغَمامِ أَنّى سارَ سائِرَة

تَقيهِ حَرَّ وَطيسَ لِلهَجيرِ حَمي

Such as the cloud traveling wherever he traveled,

Shielding him from the blazing furnace of midday.

هَذا الَّذي قَلبُهُ شَقَّ المَليكَ لَهُ

طِفلاً وَكَهلاً وَلِلأَعلاءِ أَهلَهُ

This is he whose heart the Sovereign opened,

As child and adult, preparing him for exaltation.

يا جاحِدينَ عَلى عِلمِ فَضائِلِهِ

أَقسَمتُ بِالقَمَرِ المُنشَقِّ أَن لَهُ

You who deny despite knowing his virtues:

I swear by the split moon that it has

مِن قَلبِهِ نِسبَةَ مَبرورَةِ القَسَمِ

أَلا تَرَونَ أُسديهِ مِن قَدَمِ

A kinship with his heart, making the oath true.

Do you not see his two lions from of old,

وَما لَهُ فَوقَ ما لِلرُسُلِ مِن قَدَمِ

مِثلَ المَسيرِ وَلا آثارٍ مِن قَدَمِ

And his precedence beyond that of the messengers,

Like the journey leaving no footprints,

وَما حَوى الغارُ مِن خَيرٍ وَمِن كَرَمِ

وَكُلُّ طَرفٍ مِنَ الكُفّارِ عَنهُ عَمى

And the goodness and generosity the cave contained,

While every unbeliever's eye was blind to him?

قُبالَةَ الغارِ صارَ الجَميعُ مُزدَحِما

لِظَنِّهِم أَنَّهُ آوى بِهِ أُمَما

They all crowded before the cave,

Believing he had sheltered whole peoples within it.

لَكِن حاميهِ بِاللُطفِ الخَفي حَمى

فَالصِدقُ فيالغارِ وَالصَديقُ لَم يَرما

But his Protector guarded him with hidden gentleness.

Truth and the truthful companion were unseen in the cave,

وَهُم يَقولونَ ما بِالغارِ مِن أَرَمِ

رَأَوا حَماماً عَلى البابِ لَهُ اِشتَمَلا

While they said, There is no living soul inside.

They saw doves embracing its doorway,

وَعَنكَبوتاً حَوالَيهِ عَلا وَمَلا

وَمَن عَمى قَلبَهُم مِمّا بِهِم نَزَلا

And a spider rising around it and filling it.

Who blinded their hearts through what befell them?

ظَنّوا الحَمامَ وَظَنّوا العَنكَبوتَ عَلى

خَيرُ البَرِيَّةِ لَم تَنسُج وَلَم تَحِمِ

They thought the dove and spider had not, over

The best of creation, woven or nested.

مَني يَتَّقِ اللَهِ لَم يَعبَأ بِراجِفَةٍ

وَلا بِشَعواءَ لِلأَعمارِ خاطِفَة

Whoever fears God pays no heed to an earthquake,

Nor a fierce assault that snatches lives.

فَبِالتَوَكُّلِ في أَقوى مُزاحَفَةٍ

وِقايَةَ اللَهِ أَغَت عَن مُضاعَفَة

With trust, even in the fiercest battle,

God's protection dispenses with doubled

مِنَ الدُروعِ وَعَن عالٍ مِنَ الأَطَمِ

هَذا مُحَمَّدٌ مِن لَذنا بِجانِبِهِ

Armor and lofty fortresses.

This is Muhammad, beside whom we sought refuge;

وَنالَ كُلٌّ بِهِ أَقصى مَطالِبِهِ

فَوالَّذي صانَهُ مِن سَومِ عائِبِهِ

Through him each attained his utmost desires.

By Him who protected him from his detractor's abuse,

ما سامَني الدَهرُ يَوماً وَاِستَجَرتَ بِهِ

أَلا وَنِلتَ جِواراً مِنهُ لَم يَضَمِ

Never did time oppress me while you sought his refuge,

Without your gaining protection from him, never violated.

كَلّا وَلا رامَ قَلبي نَيلَ مَقصَدِهِ

مِن حُسنِ عَيشٍ يَهنيني بِأَرغَدِهِ

Nor did my heart seek its purpose

Of a pleasant life delighting me in its abundance,

أَو رُمتَ فَضلَ جَميلٍ مِن مَعودِهِ

وَلا التَمَسَت غِنى الدارَينِ مِن يَدِهِ

Nor did you seek a beautiful favor of his accustomed bounty,

Nor did I seek both abodes' richness from his hand,

إِلا اِستَلَمَت النَدى مِن خَيرِ مُستَلِمِ

عَجَبَت مِن عابِثٍ في الصِدقِ قَولَهُ

Without receiving generosity from the best giver.

I marvel at one trifling with the truth of his words,

وَالوَحى في النَومِ بِالآياتِ وَأَصلَهُ

يا مَعشَرَ الناسِ خَرَقَ ذاكَ أَم دَلَّهُ

And revelation in sleep, with signs and its origin [unclear].

People, was that folly or bewilderment?

لا تُنكِروا الوَحى مِن رُؤياهُ إِن لَهُ

قَلباً إِذا نامَتِ العَينانِ لَم يَنَمِ

Do not deny revelation through his vision: he has

A heart that does not sleep when both eyes sleep.

أَلَم يَكُن ما رَأى مِن قَبلُ بِعثَتُهُ

قَد كانَ كَالصُبحِ يَأتي في جَلِيَّتِهِ

Did not what he saw before his mission

Come in clarity like morning?

وَكَلُّكُم شاهِدوا مِصداقَ رُؤيَتِهِ

وَذاكَ حينَ بُلوغٌ مِن نَوبَتِهِ

All of you witnessed his vision's fulfillment.

That was when his turn had reached maturity [unclear];

فَلَيسَ يُنكِرُ فيهِ حالُ مَحتَلِمِ

أَما اِحتِمالُ حُصولِ الوَحيَ عَن سَبَبِ

A dreamer's condition is not denied in him.

As for supposing revelation occurs through a cause,

هَذا اِعتِزالٌ وَتَخطيطٌ بِلا أَدَبِ

أَكلُ مَن رامَ وَحَيا جاءَ عَن طَلَبِ

That is withdrawal and disrespectful contrivance.

Does everyone seeking revelation receive it by asking?

تَبارَكَ اللَهُ ما وَحيَ بِمُكتَسَبِ

وَلا نَبي عَلى غَيبٍ بِمُتَّهَمِ

Blessed is God! Revelation is not acquired,

Nor is a prophet suspect concerning the unseen.

هَذا وَأَحمَدَ لا تَخفى نَزاهَتُهُ

وَبِالأَمينِ دَعاهُ قَبلَ ناعِتِهِ

Ahmad's integrity is not hidden.

His describer called him the Trustworthy before this.

وَفي المَصابِ وَردَ العَينِ آيَتِهِ

كَم أَبرَأَت وَصَبا بِاللَمسِ راحَتَهُ

His sign appeared in affliction and restoring the eye.

How often his palm healed suffering through touch,

وَأَطلَقَت أَربا مِن رِبقَةِ اللَمَمِ

أَلَم يَرَ الناسَ ما أَدَّتهُ بِعثَتُهُ

And released a limb from madness's bonds!

Did people not see what his mission accomplished,

وَما هَدَّتهُم بِهِ لِلحَقِّ شِرعَتُهُ

فَقَد أَماتَت حَياةُ الكُفرِ نَشأَتُهُ

And how his law guided them to truth?

His advent put unbelief's life to death.

وَأَحيَتِ السَنَةَ الشَهباءَ دَعوَتُهُ

حَتّى حَكَت غُرَّةً في الأَعصَرِ الدَهِمِ

His prayer revived the gray year of drought,

Until it resembled a bright forehead amid dark ages.

وَهَل تَناسَت وَقَد ضَنَت بِصَيبِها

سَماءَ طيبَةٍ في أَبانٍ مَطلَبَها

Has it forgotten, after withholding its rain—

Taybah's sky—his request at the proper season,

بِدَعوَةٍ مِنهُ أَو في صَوبِ ساكِبِها

بِعارِضٍ جادَ أَو خَلَتِ البِطاحَ بِها

Through his prayer, or in its pouring downpour,

From a generous cloud, till you imagined its plains held

سَيبٌ مِنَ اليَمِّ أَو سَيلٌ مِنَ العَرَمِ

وَكَم وَكَم آيَةً مِنهُ لَقَد بَهَرَت

An outpouring from the sea or a flood of al-Arim?

How many, many signs of his dazzled

ذَوي العُقولِ وَفي الآقاقِ قَد نَشَرَت

يا اَرمَداً عَينَهُ عَن نورِهِ جَهَرَت

Those possessing minds, spreading across the horizons!

You whose inflamed eye is dazzled by his light,

دَعني وَوَصفي آياتٌ لَهُ ظَهَرَت

ظُهورَ نارِ القُرى لَيلاً عَلى عِلمِ

Leave me to describe signs of his that appeared

Like hospitality's fire by night upon a height.

إِن قيلَ مُطريهِ لِمَ لِلشِعرِ مُلتَزِمٌ

وَلُؤلُؤُ النَثرِ كَم يَبدو بِهِ عَظمُ

If asked, Why does his praiser commit to poetry,

When prose's pearls so often reveal greatness?

أَقولُ ذا الشِعرِ أَحلا وَهوَ مُنسَجِمُ

فَالدُرِّ يَزدادُ حُسناً وَهوَ مُنتَظِمُ

I say: this poetry is sweeter in its harmony.

Pearls grow more beautiful when strung,

وَلَيسَ يَنقُصُ قَدراً غَيرَ مُلتَئِمِ

وَأَيُّ مَدحٍ لَهُ أَنّى عَلا وَغلا

Yet lose no worth when unjoined.

What praise of him, however lofty and precious,

مِن عاشِقيهِ إِلى ما أَملوا وَصَلا

وَها أَنا مَن أَرادَ ذَلِكَ الأَمَلا

From his lovers ever reached what they hoped?

Here I am, one who desired that hope;

فَما تَطاوَلَ آمالَ المَديحِ إِلى

ما فيهِ مِن كَرَمِ الأَخلاقِ وَالشِيَمِ

Praise's aspirations never reach

His nobility of character and disposition.

لَمّا قَضى اللَهُ وَالدُنيا مُلَوَّثَةً

بِالكُفرِ وَالكُفرُ بِالدِيانِ مَخبَثَةُ

When God decreed, with the world polluted

By unbelief, and unbelief a defilement before the Judge,

عَلَيهِ أَنزَلَ وَالذِكرى مُحدَثَةً

آياتَ حَقٍّ مِنَ الرَحمَنِ مُحدَثَةُ

He sent down upon him a newly delivered reminder:

Verses of truth from the Merciful, newly revealed,

قَديمَةٌ صِفَةَ المَوصوفِ بِالقَدِمِ

آياتُ حَقٍّ بِبَثِّ العَدلِ تَأمُرُنا

Yet eternal as the attribute of Him described as eternal.

Verses of truth command us to spread justice,

تَنهى عَنِ السوءِ وَالفَحشاءِ تَحذِرُنا

وَحَيثُ كانَت بِما في اللَوحِ تُنذِرُنا

Forbid evil, and warn us against indecency.

As they warn us through what is in the Tablet,

لَم تَقرِن بِزَمانٍ وَهيَ تُخبِرُنا

عَنِ المَعادِ وَعَن عادِ وَعَن أَرَمِ

They are not bound to a time when telling us

Of the return, of Ad, and of Iram.

هَذا وَكَم كانَ مِن آيِ مُعَزَّزَةً

عَنِ النَبِيينَ باتَت غَيرَ مُحرِزَةِ

How many strengthened signs there were

From the prophets, which became no longer preserved!

وَآيَنا وَعَداها كُلُّ مَغمَزَةٍ

دامَت لَدَينا فَفاقَت كُلُّ مُعجَزَةِ

Our verses, untouched by every ground for reproach,

Endured among us, surpassing every miracle

مِنَ النَبِيينَ إِذ جاءَت وَلَم تَدُمِ

حَلَّت فَجَلَت لَدى الأَقوالِ عَن شِبهِ

Of prophets that appeared but did not endure.

They came, clearing doubtful matters in discourse.

وَما بِها عارِضَ فيهِ بِمُشتَبَهِ

حَتّى بَدَت وَهيَ مَرأى كُلِّ ذي أَبهِ

No objection concerning them remains confused.

They appeared in the sight of every attentive person,

مُحكَماتٍ فَما تُبقينَ مِن شِبهِ

لِذي شَقاقِ وَما تَبغينَ مِن حُكمِ

Decisive, leaving no doubt

For one in discord, requiring no arbiter.

كَم شاعِرٍ مُفلِقٍ أَو ناثِرٍ أَرِبِ

لَدى السَماعِ لَها قَد هامَ مِن طَرَبِ

How many an outstanding poet or skillful prose-writer,

Hearing them, became entranced with delight!

وَفَوقَ ذا أَنَّها في كُلِّ مُضطَّرَبِ

ما حورِبَت قَطُّ الأَعادِ مِن حَربِ

Beyond this, in every troubled encounter,

They were never attacked in any enemy assault

أَعدى الأَعادي إِلَيها مَلقى السَلَمِ

أَجَلَّها اللَهُ في شَتّى مَخاوِضِها

Without the bitterest enemies laying peace before them.

God exalted them in their various fields of inquiry

عَن اِختِلافٍ تَراهُ عَينُ داحِضها

وَعِندَ كُلِّ جِدالٍ في مَعارِضِها

Above contradictions their refuter's eye might see.

At every dispute over their competing claims,

رَدَت بَلاغَتُها دَعوى مَعارِضِها

رَدَّ الغَيورُ يَدَ الجاني عَنِ الحَرَمِ

Their eloquence repelled their opponent's contention,

As a jealous guardian repels an offender's hand from the sanctuary.

وَلا غَرابَةَ إِن قَد باتَ مِن حَسَدِ

مِن هالِهِم أَمرَها في مُنتَهى النَكَدِ

No wonder if, through envy,

Those awed by their power became utterly miserable,

إِذ شاهَدوها كَمِثلِ اللُؤلُؤِ النَضِدِ

لَها مَعانَ كَمَوجِ البَحرِ في مَدَدِ

Seeing them like closely strung pearls,

Their meanings extending like waves of the sea,

وَفَوقَ جَوهَرِهِ في الحُسنِ وَالقِيَمِ

عَنِ الهَوى نَزَّهتَ ما ضَلَّ صاحِبَها

Surpassing its jewels in beauty and worth.

You purified them from desire; their bearer did not stray.

مَحفوظَةً أَبداً تَرعى مَذاهِبَها

عَن قُدرَةِ اللَهِ قَد دَلَّت غَرائِبَها

Forever preserved, they guard their paths.

Their marvels point to God's power.

فَلا تَعدُ وَلا تُحصى عَجائِبَها

وَلا تَسامُ عَلى الإِكثارِ وَبالسَأِمِ

Their wonders are neither counted nor enumerated.

They do not grow tiresome through repetition and weariness.

هِيَ السَبيلُ لِمَن يَرجو مَؤمَلُهُ

وَرِبحُ مِن عامِلِ الخُسرانِ عامِلُهُ

They are the path for whoever hopes for his desire,

And profit for their practitioner against the workings of loss.

في مَشهَدِ الفَجرِ ما أَهنى مُزاوِلُهُ

قَرَّت بِها عَينُ قاريها فَقُلتُ لَهُ

At dawn's assembly, how blessed their practitioner!

Their reader's eye rejoiced in them; I told him:

لَقَد ظَفِرتُ بِحَبلِ اللَهِ فَاِعتَصِمِ

وَهيَ النَجاةُ لِتالِ شَأنِها حِفظاً

You have gained God's cord: hold fast.

They are salvation for one who recites and preserves them,

وَمِن مَعانٍ وَأسرارٍ لَها اِتَّعَظا

فَإشن تَكُن ذا يَقينٍ عالَماً يَقَظا

Taking admonition from their meanings and mysteries.

If you possess certainty, knowledge, and wakefulness,

إِن تَتلُها خيفَةً مِن حُرِّ نارِ لَظى

أَطفَأتُ حَرَّ لَظى مِن وَردِها الشَبَمِ

And recite them fearing the heat of blazing fire,

I quenched the blaze's heat with their cool draught.

فَكُلُّ ساعٍ لَها يَرمي بِمَشرَبِهِ

لِعَذبِ مَنهَلِها هانٍ بِمَشرَبِهِ

Everyone pursuing them seeks his drink

At their sweet watering-place, happy in drinking.

وَفي الصَفاءِ لَقَد جَلَت عَنِ الشَبَهِ

كَأَنَّها الحَوضُ تُبَيِّضُ الوُجوهَ بِهِ

In clarity they have removed all ambiguity.

They resemble the Pool, whitening the faces

مِنَ العُصاةِ وَقَد جاؤَهُ كَالحِمَمِ

اِنظُر لَها صَفحاً جاءَت مُعَدَّلَةً

Of sinners who arrived like blackened coals.

Look at their pages, brought into perfect balance:

فيها تَرى كُتُباً عَلياءَ مُنَزَّلة

فَكَالحِسابِ لَنا قَدراً وَمُنَزَّلةً

Within them you see lofty, revealed books.

Like the Reckoning for us in weight and station,

وَكَالصِراطِ وَكَالميزانِ مُعدَلَّة

فَالقِسطُ مِن غَيرِها في الناسِ لَم يَقُمِ

Balanced like the Bridge and the Scales;

Without them, justice would not stand among people.

أَسمَعُ وَأُبصِرُ بِها قَد فازَ مَكبَرُها

فَالفَضلُ وَالعَدلُ وَالإِحسانُ مِحوَرُها

How audible and visible they are! Their reverer has succeeded.

Excellence, justice, and beneficence are their axis.

وَإِذ عَلِمتُ بانَ الحَقُّ جَوهَرُها

لا تُعجِبَن لِحَسودٍ قامَ يُنكِرُها

Knowing them, I saw truth to be their substance.

Do not marvel at an envious man denying them,

تَجاهُلاً وَهوَ عَينُ الحاذِقِ الفَهِمِ

وَما عَلَينا إِذا ما كانَ ذو أَودِ

Feigning ignorance though thoroughly skillful and perceptive.

What does it matter to us if a crooked person

لَم يَعتَرِف بِمَعانيها لَدى أَحَدِ

فَدَعهُ يُنكِرُ أَو يَرتابُ في نَكَدِ

Acknowledges their meanings before no one?

Let him deny or doubt in misery.

قَد تُنكِرُ العَينُ ضوءَ الشَمسِ مِن رَمَدِ

وَيُنكِرُ الفَمَ طَعمَ الماءِ مِن سَقَمِ

An inflamed eye may deny sunlight,

And a sick mouth deny water's taste.

يا ذُخرَ مَن أَتعَبَ الأَعوازَ راحَتَهُ

وَمَن لَهُ مَدَّ ذو الحاجاتِ راحَتَهُ

O treasure of those whose ease want has exhausted,

To whom the needy extend their palms!

يا مُحسِناً كُلَّنا نَرجو سَماحَتُهُ

يا خَيرَ مَن يَمَّمَ العافونَ ساحَتَهُ

O benefactor whose generosity we all hope for!

O best of those whose courtyard seekers approach,

سَعياً وَفَوقَ ظُهورِ الأَينَقِ الرَسَمِ

وَمَن لَهُ اِختارَ رَبُّ العَرشِ مُن مُضَرِ

On foot and upon swiftly traveling she-camels!

You whom the Throne's Lord chose from Mudar,

وَفي السَماءِ لَهُ ما جَلَّ مِن أَثَرِ

وَمَن هُوَ الغايَةُ الحُسنى لَمُدَّكَرِ

Whose mighty traces are in heaven;

The fairest goal for one who remembers,

وَمَن هُوَ الآيَةُ الكُبرى لِمُعتَبِرِ

وَمَن هُوَ النِعمَةُ العُظمى لِمُغتَنِمِ

The greatest sign for one who takes heed,

The greatest blessing for one who seizes it.

مَن ذا يُجاريكَ في شَرخٍ وَفي هَرَمِ

وَمَن يُباريكَ في فَخرٍ وَفي كَرَمِ

Who can match you in youth or old age?

Who can rival you in glory or generosity?

يَكفيكَ إِنَّكَ وَالأَقوامُ في حِلمِ

سَرَيتَ مِن حَرَمِ لَيلاً إِلى حَرَمِ

Enough that, while the peoples lay in dreams,

You traveled by night from sanctuary to sanctuary,

كَما سَرى البَردُ في داجٍ مِنَ الظَلَمِ

وافَت مَلائِكَةُ الرَحمَنِ مُرسَلَةً

As coolness travels through deep darkness.

The Merciful's angels arrived, sent

لِلوَصلِ تَدعوكَ بِالبُشرى مُهَلَّلَة

فَقُمتُ تَغنِمَها نُعمى مُعجِلَةً

To summon you to communion, acclaiming glad tidings.

I rose to seize that swiftly granted blessing,

وَبِتُّ تَرقى إِلى أَن نِلتَ مَنزِلة

مَن قابَ قَوسَينِ لَم تُدرِكَ وَلَم تَرُمِ

And spent the night ascending until you reached a station

Of two bow-lengths, never reached or sought [unclear].

لِلقُدسِ مِن مَكَّةَ قَد سَرَت مُنتَبِها

لِتَشهَدَنَّ مِنَ الآياتِ أَعجَبَها

You traveled awake from Mecca to Jerusalem,

To witness the most wondrous signs.

ثُمَّ اِنتَهَيتُ إِلى العَليا بِكُلِّ بِها

وَقَدَمتُكَ جَميعَ الأَنبِياءِ بِها

Then I reached the highest heights [unclear].

All the prophets there placed you first,

وَالرُسُلُ تَقديمَ مَخدومٍ عَلى خَدَمِ

عَلَيكَ حاموا بِقُدسِ اللَهِ مَعبَدَهُم

And the messengers, as a master before servants.

They gathered around you in God's holy sanctuary, their temple,

وَأَنتَ وَالكافُ مُلغةُ كَقائِدِهِم

أَلا رَآكَ فَريقَ مِن مَذاهِبِهِم

You their leader, with the word Like discarded.

Did a party not see you from their paths?

وَأَنتَ تَختَرِقُ السَبعَ الطِباقَ بِهِم

في مَوكِبٍ كُنتَ فيهِ صاحِبَ العِلمِ

You passed through the seven layered heavens with them,

In a procession where you bore the banner.

وَبَعدَ أَن جَزَت ما عَطَرَت مِن أُفقِ

بِنَفخِ طيبٍ عَلى أَرجائِهِ عَبِقِ

After crossing horizons you had perfumed

With a fragrant breath spreading through their reaches,

جاوَزتَ ما لَم يُجاوِزُ مِن طُرُقِ

حَتّى إِذا لَم تَدَع شَأوا لِمُستَبَقِ

You passed ways no one had passed,

Until you left no distance for a competitor

مِنَ الدُنو وَلا مَرقى لِمُستَلِمِ

بَلَغَت أَسنى سَنا بِالعِلمِ جاءَكَ مُذ

In nearness, nor ascent for one seeking attainment.

You reached the brightest radiance, with knowledge granted since

رَقيتَ سِلمَ فَضلٍ عَنهُ غَيرَكَ بِذِ

وَمُذ عَلَوتَ أَنتَ في مَقامِكَ فَذ

You climbed a ladder of excellence leaving others behind.

Since ascending, you stand unique in your station.

خَفَضتَ كُلُّ مَقامٍ بِالإِضافَةِ إِذ

نوديتَ بِالرَفعِ مِثلرِ المَفرَمِ العِلمِ

You lowered every station by comparison when

Summoned upward like an honored standard.

فَكُنتُ أَوَّلَ مَنظورٍ وَمُنتَظِرِ

في باحَةٍ لَن وَلَن تَجتازُ مِن بَشَرِ

I was the first beheld and awaited

In a court no human will ever cross.

ثُمَّ اِنفَرَدَت بِقُدسِ جَلَّ عَن نَظَرِ

كَيما تَفوزُ بِوَصلِ أَيِّ مُستَتِرِ

Then you stood alone in holiness beyond sight,

To gain communion with One entirely veiled

عَنِ العُيونِ وَسِرُّ أَيِّ مُكتَتَمِ

سُبحانَهُ وَتَعالى جَلَّ مِن مُلكِ

From eyes, and a mystery utterly concealed.

Glory to Him, exalted! How great a Sovereign!

في الفَلَكِ آياتِهِ تَبدو وَفي الفَلَكِ

بِالقُربِ أَولاكَ عَن مُلكٍ وَعَن مَلِكِ

His signs appear in the spheres and in ships.

He favored you with nearness beyond sovereignty and king.

فَحُزتُ كُلَّ فِخارٍ غَيرَ مُشتَرِكِ

وَجُزتَ كُلَّ مَقامٍ غَيرَ مُزدَحِمِ

I attained every glory, sharing it with none;

You passed every station without a crowd.

هُنا حَظيتَ بِقُربٍ دونَ ما حَجَبٍ

وَنِلتَ ما لَم يَكُن في ظَنِّ مُحتَسِبِ

There you enjoyed nearness without veils,

Gaining what no reckoner had imagined.

فَحُقَّ إيثارٍ ما أوتيتَ مِن أَرَبِ

وَجَلَّ مِقدارُ ما وَليتَ مِن رُتَبِ

How deserved the preference of desires granted you!

How great the measure of ranks entrusted to you!

وَعَزَّ أَدراكَ ما أوليتَ مِن نِعَمِ

وَالشُكرُ اللَهِ كانَ الفَوزُ شامِلَنا

How difficult to comprehend the blessings bestowed on you!

Thanks to God, success encompassed us,

إِذ بِالشَفاعَةِ شُيِّدَت موئِلَنا

اللَهُ أَكبَرُ ما أَعلا مَنازِلَنا

When through intercession our refuge was fortified.

God is greatest! How lofty our stations!

بُشرى لَنا مَعشَرَ الإِسلامِ إِن لَنا

مِنَ العِنايَةِ رُكناً غَيرَ مُنهَدِمِ

Glad tidings to us, people of Islam: we have

From divine care a pillar that never collapses.

فَنَحنُ قَبلُ المَلا عَتقا كَرامَتِهِ

وَخَيرُهُم أُمَّةٌ في ظِلِّ رايَتِهِ

Before all creation, we are freedmen of his honor,

The best community beneath his banner's shade.

وَحاصِلُ الأَمرِ لا يَخفى بِحالَتِهِ

لِما دَعى اللَهُ داعينا لِطاعَتِهِ

The matter's conclusion is clear from its condition:

When God summoned our caller to His obedience,

بِأَكرَمَ الرُسُلَ كُنّا أَكرَمَ الأُمَمِ

دَعا فَكانَ لَنا حَظٌّ بِشَرعَتِهِ

Through the noblest messenger we became the noblest nation.

He called, and we gained a share through his law;

وَالأَشقِياءُ دَهى كُلٌّ بِرَوعَتِهِ

فَإِنَّهُ عِندَ ما قامَ بِدَعوَتِهِ

Every wretched one was struck by his awe.

When he arose with his summons,

راعَت قُلوبُ العِدا أَنباءَ بِعثَتِهِ

كَنَبأَةٍ أَجفَلَت غَفلاً مِنَ الغَنَمِ

News of his mission terrified the enemies' hearts,

Like a sudden sound startling unsuspecting sheep.

أَرادَ يُنقِذَهُم لِلنورِ مِن حِلِّكَ

أَوجَزَيةَ مِنهُم تَأتي بِلا مَحكِ

He wished to rescue them from darkness into light,

Or receive tribute from them without strife.

فَمَن أَبوا غَيرَ حَربٍ مِنهُ مُشتَبِكِ

ما زالَ يَلقاهُم في كُلِّ مُعتَرِكِ

Those who refused anything but entangled warfare

He kept meeting upon every battlefield,

حَتّى حَكوا بِالقَنا لِحِما عَلى وَضَمِ

حَمِيَ الوَطيسُ وَخالوا وَسطَ غَيهَبِهِ

Until spears made them like meat upon a butcher's board.

Battle's furnace blazed; amid its darkness they imagined

بَرقَ اِنتِصارِ تَحَدّاهُم بِخَلبِهِ

وَإِذ لَقوا المَوتَ نَشاباً بِمَنخلَبِهِ

A flash of victory that mocked them with false promise.

When they met death clinging with its claw,

وَدّوا الفِرارَ فَكادوا يَغبِطونَ بِهِ

أَشلاءَ شالَت مَعَ العِقبانِ وَالرَخَمِ

They wished to flee, almost envying

Limbs carried aloft with eagles and vultures.

كانوا يَعُدّوانَ قَبلَ الحَربِ عُدَّتُها

بِكُلِّ وَسعٍ وَيَستَقصونَ مُدَّتَها

Before war they prepared its equipment

With all their capacity, examining its duration.

فَأَصبَحوا مُذ رَأوا ناراً وَشِدَّتُها

تَمضي اللَيالي وَلا يَدرونَ عُدَّتَها

But once they saw its fire and fierceness,

Nights passed without their knowing their number,

ما لَم تَكُن مِن لَيالي الأَشهُرِ الحُرُمِ

أَمّا الصَحابَةُ مَن خَلوا تِجارَتَهُم

Unless they were nights of the sacred months.

As for the companions who abandoned their trade,

وَلَم يُبالوا بِجوعٍ هَدَّت راحَتُهُم

فَفي ذَبيحِ العِندا أَبدوا سَماحَتَهُم

Heedless of hunger that shattered their ease,

They displayed generosity in slaughtering enemies,

كَأَنَّما الدينُ ضَيفُ حِلِّ ساحَتِهِم

بِكُلِّ قَرمٍ إِلى لَحمِ العِدا قَرَمِ

As though religion were a guest arriving in their courtyard,

With every noble warrior craving enemies' flesh.

وَالمُصطَفى بِرُسومٍ مِنهُ ناجِحَةً

وَفِكرَةً في قَريبِ الفَتحِ طامَحَةِ

The Chosen One, with successful plans,

And thought aspiring toward imminent victory,

يَأتيهِم وَهوَ ناوٍ كُلَّ صالِحَةٍ

يَجُرُّ بَحرَ خَميسٍ فَوقَ سابِحَةِ

Comes to them intending every good deed,

Leading a sea of troops upon swimming steeds,

يَرمي بِمَوجٍ مِنَ الأَبطالِ مُلتَطِمِ

جيشَ تَآخي بِهِ في اللَهِ كُلَّ أَبي

Hurling a crashing wave of champions.

An army where every proud spirit became brothers in God,

أَجَلَّهُ اللَهُ عَ رُعبٍ وَعَن نَصَبِ

مُؤلِفٍ مِن رِجلِ سادَةِ نَخبِ

Which God exalted above terror and exhaustion,

Composed of men, noble leaders, chosen ones,

مِن كُلِّ مُنتَدِبٍ لِلَهِ مُحتَسِبِ

يَستطو بِمُستَأصِلٍ لِلكُفرِ مُصطَلَمِ

Every volunteer seeking God's reward,

Striking with an uprooter that cuts unbelief away.

فَأَصبَحَ القَومُ خَوفاً مِن مَضارِبِهِم

لا يَخرُجونَ فُرادى مِن مَارِبِهِم

The people, fearing their sword-strokes,

Would not leave their quarters singly.

وَهَكَذا عَزَّزوا مَرهوبَ جانِبِهِم

حَتّى غَدَت مِلَّةُ الإِسلامِ وَهيَ بِهِم

Thus they strengthened their fearsome power,

Until Islam's religion, through them, became

مِن بَعدِ غُربَتِها مَوصولَةَ الرَحِمِ

ظَلَّت تَعِزُّ بِهِم وَالقَومُ في حَربٍ

After estrangement, joined again to its kin.

It continued growing mighty through them, while the foes suffered,

كَأَنَّ أَمعاءَهُم لَفَتَ عَلى حَربِ

وَلَم تَزَل رَغمَهُم في الدَهرِ وَالحِقَبِ

As though their entrails were wound around spears.

Despite them, throughout time and ages, it remained

مَكفولَةً أَبَداً مِنهُم بِخَيرِ أَبِ

وَخَيرِ بَعلٍ فَلَم تَيَتَّمَ وَلَم تَئِمِ

Forever protected by the best father

And best husband, neither orphaned nor widowed.

حَيّاهُمُ اللَهُ ما أَدهى عَزائِمَهُم

لَدى الكِفاحِ وَما أَوهى مَقاوِمُهُم

God bless them! How formidable their resolves

In combat, how feeble their adversaries!

قولوا لِمَن غابَ لَم يَشهَد تَصادُمَهُم

هُمُ الجِبالُ فَسَل عَنهُم مَصادِمَهُم

Tell whoever was absent and missed their collisions:

They are mountains; ask whoever collided with them

ماذا رَأى مِنهُم في كُلِّ مُصطَدِمِ

وَسَل قَريظَةً وَالأَحزابِ مُفتَقِداً

What he saw from them at every clash.

Ask Qurayzah and the Confederates, seeking

رَأياً لِسَعدٍ بِهِ الأَعدا اِتَدَّت أَبَدا

وَمِن جِزامَ فَسَل مَن صَفَدوا صَفَدا

Sa'd's judgment, by which enemies were forever humbled.

Among Jizam, ask those they bound in chains.

وَسَل حَنينَاً وَسَل بَدراً وَسَل أُحُدا

فُصولُ حَتفٍ لَهُم أَدهى مِنَ الوَخَمِ

Ask Hunayn, ask Badr, ask Uhud:

Chapters of death more devastating than pestilence.

وَالصَحبُ ثُمَّ بِأَسيافٍ قَد اِتَّقَدَت

وَاِصفو مِنها أَعادَ بِالعَداءِ بَدَت

The companions then wielded blazing swords;

Describe the foes who appeared in hostility before them.

كانةوا يَرَونَ وَغَبرَ الحَربِ قَد عَقَدَت

المَصدَري البيضَ حَمرا بَعدَما وَرَدَت

They saw, while battle's dust had gathered,

White blades returned red after drinking

مِنَ العِدا كُلَّ مَسودٍ مِنَ اللَمَمِ

كَما خَدوا وَالقَنا مِنهُم قَد اِشتَبَكَت

From enemies every head with black locks.

They cut grooves, their spears entangling

بَينَ الضُلوعِ وَلَلأَلواحِ قَد نَهَكَت

الناسِخينَ لِأَشباحٍ لَقَدَ هَلَكَت

Between ribs and exhausting bodily frames,

Effacing forms that had perished,

وَالكاتِبينَ بِسُمرِ الخَطِّ ما تَرَكَت

أَقلامُهُم حَرفَ جِسمٍ غَيرَ مُنعَجِمِ

Writing with brown spear-lines, leaving

No bodily letter undotted by their pens.

تَراهُم وَالعِدا هَمَّت تُناهِزُهُم

وَغارِفيهِم يَشُقُّ القَلبَ بارِزَهُم

You see them as enemies strive to seize their chance;

Their challenger pierces the heart [unclear].

بَينَ الصُفوفِ ما قَد كِدتَ تَفرِزَهُم

شاكي السِلاحَ لَهُم سيما تَميزَهُم

Between the ranks you could scarcely distinguish them,

Armed to the teeth, with distinguishing marks;

وَالوَردُ يَمتازُ في السيما عَنِ السِلمِ

أَرادَ مَولاكَ أَعلاهُم وَنَصرَهُم

The rose differs in appearance from the acacia.

Your Lord desired their elevation and victory.

وَأَظهَرَ الحَربُ لِلفِجارِ قَدرَهُم

حَتّى اِنثَنوا بِأَريحِ الفَخرِ دَهرَهُم

War revealed their worth to the wicked.

They returned with glory's fragrance throughout their time.

تَهدي إِلَيكَ رِياحُ النَصرِ نَشرَهُم

فَتَحسَبُ الزَهرَ في الأَكمامِ كُلَّ كَمي

Victory's winds bring you their scent,

So you imagine every armored champion a flower in its sheath.

لَوافِحُ الحَرِّ خالوها نَسيمَ صِبا

وَقَعقَعاتِ السِلاحِ المُنتَضي طَرَبا

They thought scorching heat an easterly breeze,

And drawn weapons' clattering a delight.

أَما الثَبّاتُ فَقُل ما شِئتَهُ عَجَبا

كَأَنَّهُم في صُدورِ الخَيلِ نَبتٌ رَبا

As for steadfastness, speak whatever wonders you wish:

They seemed plants growing upon horses' breasts,

مِن شِدَّةِ الحَزمِ لا مِن شِدَّةِ الحَزمِ

لَم يَترُكوا سِلماً في الأَرضِ أَو نَفَقا

From firmness of resolve, not tightness of girths.

They left no ladder on earth, nor tunnel,

لِيُشرِقوا النَصرَ مِن صُبحِ المُنى فَلَقا

وَكُلَّما شوهِدوا في جَمعِهِم فَرَقا

To make victory break forth from desire's dawn.

Whenever seen in assembled companies,

طارَت قُلوبُ العِدا مِن بِأسِهِم فَرَقا

كَما تَفَرَّقَ بَينَ البَهمِ وَالبَهمِ

Their might made enemies' hearts fly with fear,

As warriors differ from lambs.

وَهَكَذا كانَ جَيشُ اللَهِ فَكَّرتَهُ

أَن يَهزِمَ الجَمعَ لا تُجديهِ كَثرَتُهُ

Such was God's army: its purpose

To rout the host, whose numbers avail it nothing.

وَكَيفَ تُثبِتُ حَولَ الصَبِّ زُمرَتُهُ

وَمَن تَكُن بِرَسولِ اللَهِ نُصرَتُهُ

How can their band stand around the torrent?

Whoever receives victory through God's messenger,

إِن تَلقَهُ الأَسَدُ في آجامِها تَجِمِ

فَبَأسُهُ حاصِلٌ مِن بَأسِ مُقتَدِرِ

Lions meeting him in their thickets fall silent.

His might derives from the might of One powerful.

وَفَضلُهُ شامِلٌ يَأتي عَلى قَدرِ

فَما غَنّى إِلَيهِ مُفتَقَرِ

His bounty encompasses all, arriving in due measure.

No needy one [unclear] before him.

وَلَن تَرى مَن وَلّى غَيرَ مُنتَصِرِ

بِهِ وَلا مِن عَدُوٍّ غَيرَ مُنقَصِمِ

You will never see one allied with him unvictorious,

Nor an enemy of his unbroken.

لَمّا رَأى الكُفرَ في غاياتِ شِدَّتِهِ

وَقُل مَن قَد نَجوا مِن ضَيرِ عِلَّتِهِ

When he saw unbelief at the height of its force,

And few had escaped its illness's harm,

لِلأَمنِ مِن شَرِّهِ في حالِ قُوَّتِهِ

أَحَلَّ أُمَّتَهُ في حَرزِ مِلَّتِهِ

To secure them from its evil while it was strong,

He settled his community within his religion's protection,

كَاللَيثُ حَلَّ مِنَ الأَشبالِ في أَجَمِ

كَم جادَلَ القَومَ في أَمرٍ لَهُ جَلَلُ

Like a lion settling among cubs in a thicket.

How often he disputed with people over weighty matters!

وَكَم أَتوهُ بِتَسآلٍ عَلى دَخلِ

وَفي الإِجابَةِ عَن كُلٍّ بِلا زَلَلِ

How often they questioned him with hidden malice!

Answering every question without error,

كَم جَدَلتَ كَلِماتِ اللَهِ مِن جَدِلِ

فيهِ وَكَم خَصَمَ البُرهانُ مِن خَصمِ

How often God's words felled a disputant

Concerning him, and proof defeated an adversary!

وَكَم مَلَحَّ بِجَهلٍ ظَنَّ مُعجِزَةً

فيهِ وَآدابِهِ رَدَّتهُ مُعجِزَةً

How many an ignorant insistent questioner imagined a miracle

In him and his manners, only to be answered by a miracle!

يا جاهِلاً لَم يَحُز نَفساً مُمَيَّزَةً

كَفاكَ بِالعِلمِ في الأُمِّيِّ مُعجِزَةً

Ignorant one, lacking a discerning soul:

Knowledge in the unlettered man is miracle enough,

في الجاهِلِيَّةِ وَالتَأديبِ في اليُتمِ

رُحماكَ رَبّي فَقَلبي في تَقَلُّبِهِ

Amid ignorance, and refinement amid orphanhood.

Your mercy, my Lord! My heart, in its changing,

لَم يَرعَ خِدمَةَ الفَضلِ واهِبُهُ

وَها أَنا الآنَ حُبّاً في تَقُرُّبِهِ

Failed to honor service to the Giver of grace.

Here I am now, loving nearness to him;

خِدمَتُهُ بِمَديحٍ اِستُقيلَ بِهِ

ذُنوبُ عُمرٍ مَضى في الشِعرِ وَالخَدَمِ

I served him with praise, seeking through it remission of

Sins of a life passed in poetry and service.

لا يَرتَجي مِن نَشيدِ الشِعرِ راغِبِهِ

وَخِدمَةِ الناسِ إِلّا ما يُشاغِبُهُ

One drawn to reciting poetry hopes from it,

And serving people, only for what troubles him.

قَد أَورَثاني هُما لا أَغالِبِهِ

إِذ قَلَّداني ما تَخشى عَواقِبُهُ

The two bequeathed me a care I cannot overcome,

Hanging upon me what has fearful consequences,

كَأَنَّني بِهِما هُدى مِنَ النِعَمِ

ما حيلَتي وَالهَوى غَشّى العُيونَ عَمى

As though through them I were a sacrificial beast among cattle.

What can I do, when desire blinds the eyes?

وَلِلشَبيبَةِ حُكمٌ في الصِغارِ رَمى

أَنا المُلامُ إِذا ما قُلتُ وَاِندَما

Youth casts its rule upon the young.

I am to blame when I say, Oh, regret!

أَطَعتُ غَيَّ الصِبا في الحالَتَينِ وَما

حَصَلتُ إِلّا عَلى الآثامِ وَالنَدَمِ

I obeyed youth's waywardness in both conditions, and

Obtained nothing but sins and remorse.

بِسوقِ دُنيايَ نَفسي في دَعارَتِها

لِلدينِ باعَت لِتَشري مِن نَضارَتِها

In my world's marketplace, my soul in its wickedness

Sold religion to buy worldly freshness.

وَهَكَذا رُحتُ مَغبوناً بِشارَتِها

فَيا خَسارَةَ نَفسٍ في تِجارَتِها

Thus I went away cheated by its display.

Alas for a soul whose trading lost,

لَم تَشتَرِ الدينَ بِالدُنيا وَلَم تَسِمِ

لَقَد شَرَت بَرَّ لَهوٍ في سَنابِلِهِ

Not buying religion with the world, nor bargaining!

It bought amusement's wheat still in its ears

بِبَرِّ بَرٍّ رَأَت بُعداً لِقابِلِهِ

فَكانَ شَرُّ مَبيعٍ في أَوائِلِهِ

With righteousness's wheat, deeming its harvest distant.

It was the worst merchandise from the outset.

وَمَن يَبِع عاجِلاً مِنهُ بِآجِلِهِ

يُبنُ لَهُ الغُبنَ في بَيعٍ وَفي سِلمِ

Whoever sells its immediate gain for its deferred gain

Has his loss revealed in sale and advance purchase.

لَكِن أَراني وَما صَدري بِمُنقَبِضِ

إِنَّ اِجتِنابي وَشَأني غَيرَ مُعتَرِضِ

Yet I see myself with a heart uncontracted;

My avoidance and my affair are unobstructed [unclear].

بَلى أَومَلَ أَنّي رَغمَ مُعتَرِضِ

أَن آتٍ ذَنباً فَما عَهدي بِمُنتَقِضِ

Indeed, despite an objector, I hope

That though I commit a sin, my covenant is not broken

مِنَ النَبِيِّ وَلا حَبلي بِمُنصَرِمِ

كَما أُؤَمِّلُ في جَدواهُ تَحلِيَتي

With the prophet, nor my cord severed.

I also hope his bounty will adorn me

بِما يَكونُ بِهِ في الحَشرِ تَزكِيَتي

وَلَيسَ يَخطُرُ في الأَذهانِ تَنحِيَتي

With what purifies me at the Gathering.

My exclusion does not occur to minds;

فَإِنَّ لي ذِمَّةً مِنهُ بِتَسمِيَتي

مُحَمَّداً وَهوَ أَوفى الخَلقِ بِالذِمَمِ

For I have his protection through my being named

Muhammad, creation's most faithful keeper of pledges.

وَمَن سِواهُ لَدى الشَداتتِ مُعتَمِدي

في شَدِّ أَزري وَلَيسَ غَيرُهُ سَنَدي

Who else is my reliance in hardships,

Strengthening me? No other is my support.

فَوَالَّذي خَصَّهُ بِالعَونِ وَالمَدَدِ

إِن لَم يَكُن في مَعادي آخِذاً بِيَدي

By Him who singled him out for help and reinforcement,

If at my return he does not take my hand

فَضلاً وَإِلّا فَقُل يا زَلَّةَ القَدَمِ

وَهَل يَظُنُّ جَدَلاً أَنَّ خادِمَهُ

In grace, then say: Alas, the slipping foot!

Could anyone suppose, even disputatiously, that his servant

يَبوءُ بِالرَدِّ مُحروماً مَراحِمُهُ

كَلّا فَمَن تَكُنِ الحُسنى دَعائِمُهُ

Would return rejected, deprived of his mercies?

No: one whose foundations are goodness—

حاشاهُ أَن يُحرَمَ الراجي مَكارِمُهُ

أَو يُرجِعَ الجارُ مِنهُ غَيرَ مُحتَرِمِ

Far be it that his generosity deny the hopeful,

Or his protected neighbor return without honor.

فِكري نِعمَ كانَ قَد أَجرى سَوانِحُهُ

إِنَّ التَخَلُّصَ لَم أَشمُم رائِحُهُ

Yes, my thought had let its passing notions run;

I had not smelled deliverance's scent.

لَكِن عَلى فَضلِهِ أَلقى مَطامِحُهُ

وَمُنذُ أَلزَمتُ أَفكاري مَدائِحُهُ

But it casts its aspirations upon his grace.

Since I bound my thoughts to his praises,

وَجَدتُهُ لِخَلاصي خَيرَ مُلتَزِمِ

طوبى لِراجيهِ في ضيقٍ إِذا نَشَبَت

I found him the best guarantor of my deliverance.

Blessed is whoever hopes in him during hardship, when

يَدُ الزَمانِ بِهِ وَالحالُ قَد صَعُبَت

فَهوَ الثَراءُ بِعَينِ قَط ما نَضَبَت

Time's hand clutches him and his condition grows difficult.

He is wealth from a spring that never dries.

وَلَن يَفوتَ الغِنى مِنهُ يَداً تَرَبَت

إِنَّ الحَيا يُنبِتُ الأَزهارَ في الأَكَمِ

Richness from him will not miss a dust-poor hand;

Rain makes flowers grow upon the hills.

وَما اِمتِداحي أَبا الزَهراءِ مَن وَصَفَت

بِهِ الكَمالاتِ الآنِيَةِ وَصَفَت

My praising Abu al-Zahra, whom perfections have described,

Through whom present perfections were described [unclear],

فَلَيسَ لي فِكرَةٌ في غَيرِهِ اِنصَرَفَت

وَلَم أُرِد زَهرَةَ الدُنيا الَّتي اِقتُطِفَت

Leaves me no thought diverted toward another.

I did not desire the world's blossom plucked

يَدا زُهَيرَ بِما أَثنى عَلى هَرَمِ

كَم جَرَّني الدَهرُ في مَجرى تَقَلُّبِهِ

By Zuhayr's hands through his praise of Haram.

How often time dragged me through its changes!

وَلَم يُجرِني صَديقٌ في تَغَلُّبِهِ

هَيهاتَ مِن مُنجِدٍ مِنهُم بِصَيبِهِ

No friend sheltered me amid its overpowering.

How far away a rescuer among them with his rain!

يا أَكرَمَ الرُسُلِ ما لي مِنَ الوذ بِهِ

سِواكَ عِندَ حُلولِ الحادِثِ العَمَمِ

O noblest messenger, I have none to seek refuge in

Except you when universal calamity descends.

إِن لَم تُعِرني التِفاتاً مِنكَ وَاِحرِبي

وَإِن تُعِدني بِجَبرِ الكَسرِ وَاِطرِبي

If you grant me no attention, alas for my ruin!

If you promise to mend the fracture, oh my joy!

فَالعَبدِ مِن وَلَدِ السَبطَينِ في نَسَبِ

وَلَن يَضيقَ رَسولَ اللَهِ جاهَكَ بي

Your servant descends in lineage from the two grandsons.

Messenger of God, your standing will not fail to encompass me

إِذا الكَريمُ تَجَلّى بِاِسمِ مُنتَقِمِ

وَإِن تَكُن خُطَّتي وَقَيتُ شُرتَها

When the Generous manifests as the Avenger.

Though my record—may its evil be averted—

قَد سُوِّدَت بِمَدادِ الوِزرِ صورَتَها

بَيَّضَ بِفَضلِكَ يا مَولايَ صَفحَتَها

Has had its image blackened with sin's ink,

Whiten its page through your grace, my master.

فَإِنَّ مِن جودِكَ الدُنيا وَضُرَّتَها

وَمِن عُلومِكَ عِلمُ اللَوحِ وَالقَلِمِ

The world and its rival belong to your generosity;

Knowledge of the Tablet and Pen belongs to your knowledge.

لَقَد غَدَوتَ وَلي قَلبٌ قَد اِرتَسَمَت

لِلعَطفِ فيهِ مَعانٍ بِالرِضا اِتَّسَمَت

You have come, while my heart has been inscribed

With meanings of compassion marked by acceptance.

أَقولُ لِلنَفسِ إِن شُذتَ أَو اِرتَكَبتَ

يا نَفسِ لا تَقنَطي مِن زِلَّةٍ عَظُمَت

I tell the soul, if you stray or commit wrong:

Soul, do not despair over a mighty lapse;

إِنَّ الكَبائِرَ في الغُفرانِ كَاللِمَمِ

أَحكامُ رَبّي وَإِن تَجهَل مَراسِمَها

Great sins, in forgiveness, resemble small ones.

My Lord's decrees, though you do not know their ordinances—

قُل يا عِبادي بِها تَبدو مَعالِمَها

وَمَن يَلُم بِما تَقضي مَراحِمَها

Say, O My servants—their signs appear therein.

Who can blame what their mercies decree?

لَعَلَّ رَحمَةَ رَبّي حينَ يَقسِمَها

تَأتي عَلى حَسَبِ العِصيانِ في اِنقَسَمِ

Perhaps my Lord's mercy, when He apportions it,

Will be distributed according to disobedience's measure.

يا رَبِّ أَنّي نَقَلتُ الحالَ مِن وَجَسِ

لِحُسنِ ظَنٍّ بِقَلبٍ غَيرَ مُبتَئِسِ

My Lord, I have changed my condition from apprehension

To good expectation, with a heart not despondent.

فَاِجمَع لِيَ العَفوَ وَالحُسنى بِلا وَكسِ

يا رَبِّ وَاِجعَل رَجائي غَيرَ مُنعَكِسِ

Unite forgiveness and goodness for me without diminution.

My Lord, let my hope not be reversed

لَدَيكَ وَاِجعَل حِسابي غَيرَ مُنخَرِمِ

مَولايَ قَلبي ضَعيفٌ لا اِحتِمالَ لَهُ

Before You; let my reckoning not be ruinous.

My Master, my heart is weak, with no endurance

عَلى اِبتِلائِكَ وَالعِصيانُ أَثقَلَهُ

فَعَدَلنَ عَلى الحالَتَينِ مائِلُهُ

For Your trial; disobedience has burdened it.

Straighten its leaning in both conditions.

وَالطُف بِعَبدِكَ في الدارَينِ إِن لَهُ

صَبراً مَتى تَدَعَهُ الأَهوالُ يَنهَزِمِ

Be gentle with Your servant in both abodes, for he has

Patience that collapses whenever terrors abandon it.

وَطَهَّرنَ نَفسَهُ مِن كُلِّ واصِمَةٍ

كَيلا تَكونَ لَدى حَشري بِواجِمِهِ

Purify his soul of every stain,

So it may not be downcast at my resurrection.

وَارزُقهُ قَبلَ التَناهي حُسنَ خاتِمَةٍ

وَاِذَن لِسَحبِ صَلاةٍ مِنكَ دائِمَةِ

Grant him a good ending before life's conclusion.

Permit clouds of perpetual blessing from You

عَلى النَبِيِّ بِمَنهَلٍ وَمُنسَجِمِ

وَاِصحَب صَلاتَكَ بِالتَسليمِ مُنجَذِباً

Upon the prophet, pouring and flowing.

Accompany Your blessing with peace drawn

مِن حَضرَةِ القَدسِ مَمزوجاً بِنَفحٍ رَبا

وَكُلُّ طيبٍ لَهُ مِسكُ الخِتامِ صَبا

From the holy presence, mixed with a growing fragrance,

And every scent whose musky ending wafted,

ما رَنَّحَت عَذَباتُ البانِ رِبحُ صَبا

وَاِطرَبِ العيسَ حادي العَيسُ بِالنَغَمِ

As long as the east wind sways the ban-tree's tender branches,

And the camel-driver delights white camels with melody.

يا رَبِّ وَاِعطِف عَلى رَيحانَتي أَثَرٌ

مِنهُ وَزِد لَهُما قَدراً عَلى قَدرِ

My Lord, turn some influence toward my two sweet basils

From him, and increase their rank upon rank.

وَاِجعَل لا مَهما أَحلى جَنى ثَمَرِ

ثُمَّ الرِضا عَن أَبي بَكرٍ وَعَن عُمَرِ

And grant [unclear] the sweetest harvest of fruit.

Then acceptance for Abu Bakr and Umar,

وَعَن عَلي وَعَن عُثمانَ ذي الكَرَمِ

ثُمَّ الكِرامُ الأولى بِالفَضلِ نُذَكِّرُهُم

For Ali and Uthman, the generous,

Then the noble ones whom we recall for excellence,

مَن بايَعوهُ وَقَد راجَت تِجارَتُهُم

وَهَكَذا كُلُّ مَن حَقَّت كَرامَتُهُم

Who pledged allegiance to him, their trade prospering;

Likewise everyone whose honor was established,

وَالآلُ وَالصَحبُ ثُمَّ التابِعينَ لَهُم

أَهلُ التُقى وَالنَقى وَالفَضلِ وَالكَرَمِ

The family, companions, and those who followed them:

People of piety, purity, excellence, and generosity.