لا تَعذَلِيه فَإِنَّ العَذلَ يُولِعُهُ

لا تَعذَلِيه فَإِنَّ العَذلَ يُولِعُهُ

قَد قَلتِ حَقاً وَلَكِن لَيسَ يَسمَعُهُ

قَد قَلتِ حَقاً وَلَكِن لَيسَ يَسمَعُهُ

Do not reproach him, for reproach inflames him.

Reproach him not, for blame will make him burn,

You have spoken the truth, but he does not hear it.

You speak the truth, but he does not discern,

جاوَزتِ فِي لَومهُ حَداً أَضَرَّبِهِ

جاوَزتِ فِي لَومهُ حَداً أَضَرَّبِهِ

مِن حَيثَ قَدرتِ أَنَّ اللَومَ يَنفَعُهُ

مِن حَيثَ قَدرتِ أَنَّ اللَومَ يَنفَعُهُ

In blaming him, you crossed a limit that harmed him,

In blaming him you've crossed a certain line,

Where you supposed that blame would benefit him.

With gentleness, since that would help, opine,

فَاستَعمِلِي الرِفق فِي تَأِنِيبِهِ بَدَلاً

فَاستَعمِلِي الرِفق فِي تَأِنِيبِهِ بَدَلاً

مِن عَذلِهِ فَهُوَ مُضنى القَلبِ مُوجعُهُ

مِن عَذلِهِ فَهُوَ مُضنى القَلبِ مُوجعُهُ

So use gentleness in admonishing him, instead

So gently chide, do not reprove or spurn,

Of reproach, for his heart is worn out and aching.

His heart is pained, with griefs he cannot turn,

قَد كانَ مُضطَلَعاً بِالخَطبِ يَحمِلُهُ

قَد كانَ مُضطَلَعاً بِالخَطبِ يَحمِلُهُ

فَضُيَّقَت بِخُطُوبِ الدهرِ أَضلُعُهُ

فَضُيَّقَت بِخُطُوبِ الدهرِ أَضلُعُهُ

He had been equal to calamity, bearing it,

Long has he borne life's heavy, mournful load,

Then the calamities of time constricted his ribs.

By fate's caprice his ribs are tightly bowed,

يَكفِيهِ مِن لَوعَةِ التَشتِيتِ أَنَّ لَهُ

يَكفِيهِ مِن لَوعَةِ التَشتِيتِ أَنَّ لَهُ

مِنَ النَوى كُلَّ يَومٍ ما يُروعُهُ

مِنَ النَوى كُلَّ يَومٍ ما يُروعُهُ

Enough anguish in his wandering is that he has

Let daily cares that haunt his soul suffice,

Each day, from separation, something that frightens him.

Each morn brings griefs that make his spirit rise,

ما آبَ مِن سَفَرٍ إِلّا وَأَزعَجَهُ

ما آبَ مِن سَفَرٍ إِلّا وَأَزعَجَهُ

رَأيُ إِلى سَفَرٍ بِالعَزمِ يَزمَعُهُ

رَأيُ إِلى سَفَرٍ بِالعَزمِ يَزمَعُهُ

He never returns from a journey without being driven

No journey's end but fills his heart with fright,

By a thought of another journey he firmly resolves to undertake.

The thought of leaving plunges him in blight,

كَأَنَّما هُوَ فِي حِلِّ وَمُرتحلٍ

كَأَنَّما هُوَ فِي حِلِّ وَمُرتحلٍ

مُوَكَّلٍ بِفَضاءِ اللَهِ يَذرَعُهُ

مُوَكَّلٍ بِفَضاءِ اللَهِ يَذرَعُهُ

As though, in halting and departing, he were

A wanderer he, bereft yet still resigned,

Charged with pacing out the expanse of God.

To Allah's will, though longing from behind,

إِنَّ الزَمانَ أَراهُ في الرَحِيلِ غِنىً

إِنَّ الزَمانَ أَراهُ في الرَحِيلِ غِنىً

وَلَو إِلى السِّندِ أَضحى وَهُوَ يُزمَعُهُ

وَلَو إِلى السِّندِ أَضحى وَهُوَ يُزمَعُهُ

Time has shown him wealth in travelling,

He sees this world holds nothing left to give,

Even if he comes to plan a journey to Sindh.

And homeward bound, bereft of will to live,

تأبى المطامعُ إلا أن تُجَشّمه

تأبى المطامعُ إلا أن تُجَشّمه

للرزق كداً وكم ممن يودعُهُ

للرزق كداً وكم ممن يودعُهُ

Ambitions insist on burdening him

Greed drives him on, through hardship and travail,

With toil for sustenance—and how many he bids farewell!

While many being loved cannot avail,

وَما مُجاهَدَةُ الإِنسانِ تَوصِلُهُ

وَما مُجاهَدَةُ الإِنسانِ تَوصِلُهُ

رزقَاً وَلادَعَةُ الإِنسانِ تَقطَعُهُ

رزقَاً وَلادَعَةُ الإِنسانِ تَقطَعُهُ

A person's striving does not bring him

No toil or rest brings sustenance guaranteed,

Sustenance, nor does a person's ease cut it off.

All lotted portions by the Lord decreed,

قَد وَزَّع اللَهُ بَينَ الخَلقِ رزقَهُمُ

قَد وَزَّع اللَهُ بَينَ الخَلقِ رزقَهُمُ

لَم يَخلُق اللَهُ مِن خَلقٍ يُضَيِّعُهُ

لَم يَخلُق اللَهُ مِن خَلقٍ يُضَيِّعُهُ

God has apportioned their sustenance among His creatures.

Yet people strive, you'll find none satisfied,

God has created no creature whom He neglects.

Beyond his needs, but wishing to provide,

لَكِنَّهُم كُلِّفُوا حِرصاً فلَستَ تَرى

لَكِنَّهُم كُلِّفُوا حِرصاً فلَستَ تَرى

مُستَرزِقاً وَسِوى الغاياتِ تُقنُعُهُ

مُستَرزِقاً وَسِوى الغاياتِ تُقنُعُهُ

Yet they are burdened with craving, so you never see

Wealth's apportioned, let not your greed impale,

A seeker of sustenance content with anything short of the utmost.

For greed destroys and avarice cannot avail,

وَالحِرصُ في الرِزاقِ وَالأَرزاقِ قَد قُسِمَت

وَالحِرصُ في الرِزاقِ وَالأَرزاقِ قَد قُسِمَت

بَغِيُ أَلّا إِنَّ بَغيَ المَرءِ يَصرَعُهُ

بَغِيُ أَلّا إِنَّ بَغيَ المَرءِ يَصرَعُهُ

And greed for sustenance, when sustenance has been allotted,

Fate grants from one hand, takes from the other,

Is transgression. Take heed: a person's transgression lays him low.

Inheritance gained, hopes soon dashed to bother,

وَالدهرُ يُعطِي الفَتى مِن حَيثُ يَمنَعُه

وَالدهرُ يُعطِي الفَتى مِن حَيثُ يَمنَعُه

إِرثاً وَيَمنَعُهُ مِن حَيثِ يُطمِعُهُ

إِرثاً وَيَمنَعُهُ مِن حَيثِ يُطمِعُهُ

Time gives a young man, from where it withholds from him,

In God I left behind a moon, a star,

An inheritance, and withholds from him where it raises his hopes.

Rising in Baghdad, radiant from afar,

اِستَودِعُ اللَهَ فِي بَغدادَ لِي قَمَراً

اِستَودِعُ اللَهَ فِي بَغدادَ لِي قَمَراً

بِالكَرخِ مِن فَلَكِ الأَزرارَ مَطلَعُهُ

بِالكَرخِ مِن فَلَكِ الأَزرارَ مَطلَعُهُ

I entrust to God a moon of mine in Baghdad,

I bid farewell, my soul wished to remain,

In al-Karkh, whose rising is from the sphere of buttons.

The sweetness of life left, ne'er to come again,

وَدَّعتُهُ وَبوُدّي لَو يُوَدِّعُنِي

وَدَّعتُهُ وَبوُدّي لَو يُوَدِّعُنِي

صَفوَ الحَياةِ وَأَنّي لا أَودعُهُ

صَفوَ الحَياةِ وَأَنّي لا أَودعُهُ

I bade him farewell, wishing that I were forsaken by

Clung he to me, as we parted that morn,

The sweetness of life, and that I need not bid him farewell.

His tears and mine, both filled with sorrow, torn,

وَكَم تَشبَّثَ بي يَومَ الرَحيلِ ضُحَىً

وَكَم تَشبَّثَ بي يَومَ الرَحيلِ ضُحَىً

وَأَدمُعِي مُستَهِلّاتٍ وَأَدمُعُهُ

وَأَدمُعِي مُستَهِلّاتٍ وَأَدمُعُهُ

And how he clung to me on the morning of departure,

I'll not pretend composure complete serene,

While my tears streamed forth, and his as well.

For his loss rends me, though I try to wean,

لا أَكُذب اللَهَ ثوبُ الصَبرِ مُنخَرقٌ

لا أَكُذب اللَهَ ثوبُ الصَبرِ مُنخَرقٌ

عَنّي بِفُرقَتِهِ لَكِن أَرَقِّعُهُ

عَنّي بِفُرقَتِهِ لَكِن أَرَقِّعُهُ

I will not lie to God: the garment of patience is torn

My faults I know, so I'll make excuses plain,

Off me by separation from him, yet I patch it.

My heart won't widen, though my words contain,

إِنّي أَوَسِّعُ عُذري فِي جَنايَتِهِ

إِنّي أَوَسِّعُ عُذري فِي جَنايَتِهِ

بِالبينِ عِنهُ وَقلبي لا يُوَسِّعُهُ

بِالبينِ عِنهُ وَقلبي لا يُوَسِّعُهُ

I make ample excuses for my wrong against him

I ruled but knew not how to steer my ship,

In parting from him, but my heart cannot admit that excuse.

No captain who neglects, his rule can grip,

رُزِقتُ مُلكاً فَلَم أَحسِن سِياسَتَهُ

رُزِقتُ مُلكاً فَلَم أَحسِن سِياسَتَهُ

وَكُلُّ مَن لا يُسُوسُ المُلكَ يَخلَعُهُ

وَكُلُّ مَن لا يُسُوسُ المُلكَ يَخلَعُهُ

I was granted a kingdom, but did not govern it well,

He who wears pleasure's robe, yet shows no thanks,

And a kingdom deposes whoever fails to govern it.

Will find the garment, by God's will, He ranks,

وَمَن غَدا لابِساً ثَوبَ النَعِيم بِلا

وَمَن غَدا لابِساً ثَوبَ النَعِيم بِلا

شَكرٍ عَلَيهِ فَإِنَّ اللَهَ يَنزَعُهُ

شَكرٍ عَلَيهِ فَإِنَّ اللَهَ يَنزَعُهُ

And whoever comes to wear the garment of bliss without

Since we were parted, anguish fills my days,

Gratitude for it—God will strip it from him.

A cup of sorrow shall I drink always,

اِعتَضتُ مِن وَجهِ خِلّي بَعدَ فُرقَتِهِ

اِعتَضتُ مِن وَجهِ خِلّي بَعدَ فُرقَتِهِ

كَأساً أَجَرَّعُ مِنها ما أَجَرَّعُهُ

كَأساً أَجَرَّعُ مِنها ما أَجَرَّعُهُ

In exchange for my beloved's face, after parting from him, I took

Many exclaim, "You've tasted absence's pain,"

A cup from which I swallow what I have to swallow.

I say the sin is mine, I shall abstain,

كَم قائِلٍ لِي ذُقتُ البَينَ قُلتُ لَهُ

كَم قائِلٍ لِي ذُقتُ البَينَ قُلتُ لَهُ

الذَنبُ وَاللَهِ ذَنبي لَستُ أَدفَعُهُ

الذَنبُ وَاللَهِ ذَنبي لَستُ أَدفَعُهُ

Many have told me, 'You have tasted separation'; I replied,

If only I had followed wisdom's course,

'The fault, by God, is mine; I do not deny it.'

Rejecting ruin for reason's true force!

أَلا أَقمتَ فَكانَ الرُشدُ أَجمَعُهُ

أَلا أَقمتَ فَكانَ الرُشدُ أَجمَعُهُ

لَو أَنَّنِي يَومَ بانَ الرُشدُ اتبَعُهُ

لَو أَنَّنِي يَومَ بانَ الرُشدُ اتبَعُهُ

'Why did you not stay? That would have been wisdom in full.'

My days I spend lamenting in dismay,

If only I had followed sound judgment when it became clear!

Grief cuts my heart asunder night and day,

إِنّي لَأَقطَعُ أيّامِي وَأنفِنُها

إِنّي لَأَقطَعُ أيّامِي وَأنفِنُها

بِحَسرَةٍ مِنهُ فِي قَلبِي تُقَطِّعُهُ

بِحَسرَةٍ مِنهُ فِي قَلبِي تُقَطِّعُهُ

Indeed, I pass my days and wear them away

When others sleep, I lie awake, bereft,

With grief for him in my heart that tears it apart.

Thoughts of him steal sweet slumber, nights I've wept,

بِمَن إِذا هَجَعَ النُوّامُ بِتُّ لَهُ

بِمَن إِذا هَجَعَ النُوّامُ بِتُّ لَهُ

بِلَوعَةٍ مِنهُ لَيلى لَستُ أَهجَعُهُ

بِلَوعَةٍ مِنهُ لَيلى لَستُ أَهجَعُهُ

For one for whom, when sleepers slumber, I spend

Neither his bed nor mine can comfort give,

My night in longing for him, unable to sleep.

Since separation's blow forced us to live,

لا يَطمِئنُّ لِجَنبي مَضجَعُ وَكَذا

لا يَطمِئنُّ لِجَنبي مَضجَعُ وَكَذا

لا يَطمَئِنُّ لَهُ مُذ بِنتُ مَضجَعُهُ

لا يَطمَئِنُّ لَهُ مُذ بِنتُ مَضجَعُهُ

My side finds no repose in any bed; likewise,

I never thought cruel fate could grieve me so,

His bed gives him no repose since I departed.

Or time would bring us both such pain and woe,

ما كُنتُ أَحسَبُ أَنَّ الدهرَ يَفجَعُنِي

ما كُنتُ أَحسَبُ أَنَّ الدهرَ يَفجَعُنِي

بِهِ وَلا أَن بِي الأَيّامَ تَفجعُهُ

بِهِ وَلا أَن بِي الأَيّامَ تَفجعُهُ

I never thought that time would bereave me

Till absence came, dividinģ us apart,

Of him, nor that the days would bereave him of me,

Fate's hand denied us joy with harsh cruel heart,

حَتّى جَرى البَينُ فِيما بَينَنا بِيَدٍ

حَتّى جَرى البَينُ فِيما بَينَنا بِيَدٍ

عَسراءَ تَمنَعُنِي حَظّي وَتَمنَعُهُ

عَسراءَ تَمنَعُنِي حَظّي وَتَمنَعُهُ

Until separation came between us with a hand

By the old campsite now in disarray,

Left-handed, denying me my share and him his.

Whose ruins time's long years have worn away,

بالله يامنزل القصف الذي درست

بالله يامنزل القصف الذي درست

اثاره وعفت مذ غبت اربعه

اثاره وعفت مذ غبت اربعه

By God, O dwelling of revelry, faded are

Will days of bliss with you again commence?

Your traces, your grounds effaced since I departed.

Or nights gone by ne'ermore come back from whence?

هل الزمان معيد فيك لذتنا

هل الزمان معيد فيك لذتنا

أم الليالي التي مرت وترجعه

أم الليالي التي مرت وترجعه

Will time restore our pleasure within you,

To Allah now, the rains your meadow bless!

Or will the nights that passed bring it back?

For one whose oath of friendship I profess,

فِي ذِمَّةِ اللَهِ مِن أَصبَحَت مَنزلَهُ

فِي ذِمَّةِ اللَهِ مِن أَصبَحَت مَنزلَهُ

وَجادَ غَيثٌ عَلى مَغناكَ يُمرِعُهُ

وَجادَ غَيثٌ عَلى مَغناكَ يُمرِعُهُ

In God's keeping be the one whose home you have become,

As he keeps faith with me, I shall acclaim,

And may rain pour upon your dwelling, making it flourish.

A friend I'll honor, and preserve his name,

مَن عِندَهُ لِي عَهدُ لا يُضيّعُهُ

مَن عِندَهُ لِي عَهدُ لا يُضيّعُهُ

كَما لَهُ عَهدُ صِداقٍ لا أُضَيِّعُهُ

كَما لَهُ عَهدُ صِداقٍ لا أُضَيِّعُهُ

The one who keeps a pledge to me and does not betray it,

He who brings my heart joy when I hear his name,

As I hold a pledge of friendship to him that I do not betray.

And when my name stirs his heart just the same,

وَمَن يُصَدِّعُ قَلبي ذِكرَهُ وَإِذا

وَمَن يُصَدِّعُ قَلبي ذِكرَهُ وَإِذا

جَرى عَلى قَلبِهِ ذِكري يُصَدِّعُهُ

جَرى عَلى قَلبِهِ ذِكري يُصَدِّعُهُ

And one whose memory cleaves my heart, and when

I'll patient be, though time no pleasure gives,

The thought of me crosses his heart, it cleaves it too.

Of him, or me, while separately we live,

لَأَصبِرَنَّ لِدهرٍ لا يُمَتِّعُنِي

لَأَصبِرَنَّ لِدهرٍ لا يُمَتِّعُنِي

بِهِ وَلا بِيَ فِي حالٍ يُمَتِّعُهُ

بِهِ وَلا بِيَ فِي حالٍ يُمَتِّعُهُ

I shall surely endure a time that lets me take no joy

Knowing relief will come if I remain calm,

In him, nor lets him take joy in me in any circumstance,

The narrowest strait seems wider if kept balm,

عِلماً بِأَنَّ اِصطِباري مُعقِبُ فَرَجاً

عِلماً بِأَنَّ اِصطِباري مُعقِبُ فَرَجاً

فَأَضيَقُ الأَمرِ إِن فَكَّرتَ أَوسَعُهُ

فَأَضيَقُ الأَمرِ إِن فَكَّرتَ أَوسَعُهُ

Knowing that my endurance brings relief,

Nights that us sundered, bodies shall unite,

For the narrowest strait, if you reflect, is the widest.

Fate will bring us together, reunite,

عَل اللَيالي الَّتي أَضنَت بِفُرقَتَنا

عَل اللَيالي الَّتي أَضنَت بِفُرقَتَنا

جِسمي سَتَجمَعُنِي يَوماً وَتَجمَعُهُ

جِسمي سَتَجمَعُنِي يَوماً وَتَجمَعُهُ

Perhaps the nights that, through our separation, have wasted

And if death takes one as Allah heeds the call,

My body will one day bring me and him together.

What's decreed by God, nothing can forestall.

وَإِن تُنلُّ أَحَدَاً مِنّا مَنيَّتَهُ

وَإِن تُنلُّ أَحَدَاً مِنّا مَنيَّتَهُ

فَما الَّذي بِقَضاءِ اللَهِ يَصنَعُهُ

فَما الَّذي بِقَضاءِ اللَهِ يَصنَعُهُ

And if death overtakes either of us,

What can he do against God's decree?