دناdrew near وتدلَّىand descended عبدُa servant ربٍّa Lord وربهand his Lord
دنا وتدلَّى عبدُ ربٍّ وربه
فلماthen when التقيناwe met لمdid not أجدI find غيرَother than واحدِone
فلما التقينا لم أجد غيرَ واحدِ
A Lord’s servant and his Lord drew near and descended.
He came near and a worshipper of the Lord bowed down
Then, when we met, I found none but One.
When we met, I found none other but the One
دواماًcontinually معwith الدنياthis world علىin كلevery حالةٍstate
دواماً مع الدنيا على كل حالةٍ
وفيand in الساحةthe arena الأخرىthe other بأعدلِwith the most just شاهدwitness
وفي الساحة الأخرى بأعدلِ شاهد
Continually, in this world, in every state,
Forever with the world in every state
And in the other arena, with the most just witness.
And in the other realm with the most just Witness
دعوتI called بهthrough Him حتىuntil إذاwhen ماemphatic particle استجابHe answered ليto me
دعوت به حتى إذا ما استجاب لي
رأيتُI saw الصدىthe echo يجريflows فكنتso I was كفاقدlike one bereft
رأيتُ الصدى يجري فكنت كفاقد
I called through Him until, when He answered me,
I called Him until when He responded to me
I saw the echo flow, so I was like one bereft.
I saw the echo flowing, so I was like one who had lost
دوواthey circled aloft (reading uncertain) بيwith me عليهover Him كيso that أرىI may see غيرَother than موجوديwhat exists for me
دووا بي عليه كي أرى غيرَ موجودي
لذاكfor that reason أرىI see بينbetween السُّهىal-Suhā (a star) والفراقدِand al-Farāqid (stars)
لذاك أرى بين السُّهى والفراقدِ
They circled aloft with me over Him, so I might see other than what exists for me.
They blamed me for Him, so I would see other than my existence
For that reason, I see between al-Suhā and al-Farāqid.
Therefore I see among the pleasures and the tombs
دعانيHe called me إليهto Him بالسجودِthrough prostration فعندماthen when
دعاني إليه بالسجودِ فعندما
سجدتُI prostrated myself لهto Him خابتfailed لديهin His presence مقاصديmy aims
سجدتُ له خابت لديه مقاصدي
He called me to Him through prostration; then, when
He called me to Him in prostration, so when
I prostrated myself to Him, my aims failed in His presence.
I prostrated to Him, my intentions failed before Him
ولاand not لكfor you ياO هذاyou there حجابكyour veil فلتقمso rise
ولا لك يا هذا حجابك فلتقم
بعزةِwith the glory معبودٍof one worshipped وذلةِand the lowliness عابدِof a worshipper
بعزةِ معبودٍ وذلةِ عابدِ
And your veil is not for you, O you; so rise,
And you, O this, have no veil so stand
With the glory of one worshipped and the lowliness of a worshipper.
In the honor of the Worshipped and the humiliation of the worshipper
دُعيتُI was summoned فلماthen when جئتI came أكرَمَHe honored مجلسيmy seat
دُعيتُ فلما جئت أكرَمَ مجلسي
وقالand He said لناto us أهلاًwelcome بأكرمto the noblest واردnewcomer
وقال لنا أهلاً بأكرم وارد
I was summoned; when I came, He honored my seat,
I was called so when I came, He honored my sitting
And said to us, “Welcome to the noblest newcomer.”
And said to us, welcome to the most generous visitor
ومشيتand I walked لماbecause of what قدalready جاءنيcame to me منof خطابهHis address
ومشيت لما قد جاءني من خطابه
وأطعمنيand He fed me ذوقاًa taste لذيذَsweet المواعدthe promised meetings
وأطعمني ذوقاً لذيذَ المواعد
And I walked in response to what had reached me of His address,
And I walked when what He said to me came
And He fed me a taste sweet with promised meetings.
And He fed me a delicious taste of promises
دوامُcontinuance شهودِwitnessing الذاتِthe Essence فيهtherein لمنfor whoever درىknows
دوامُ شهودِ الذاتِ فيه لمن درى
إذاwhen ماemphatic particle ابتلاهtested him اللهGod سمّvenom الأساودthe black serpents
إذا ما ابتلاه الله سمّ الأساود
Therein is unceasing witnessing of the Essence for one who knows,
The permanence of witnessing the Essence in Him, for whoever realizes
When God tests him with the venom of black serpents.
When God tries him with poisoned arrows
دعِlet الأمرthe matter يجريflow منهfrom Him لاnot منكfrom you واتئدand be deliberate
دعِ الأمر يجري منه لا منك واتئد
تكنyou will be فيin عِدادthe ranks المحصناتِthe chaste women الفرائدِthe peerless ones
تكن في عِداد المحصناتِ الفرائدِ
Let the matter flow from Him, not from you, and be deliberate;
Let the matter proceed from Him, not from you, and calm down
You will be counted among the chaste, peerless women.
Be among the protected, precious pearls