إِذا زَمزَمَ الحادي بذكرك أَو حَدا

إِذا زَمزَمَ الحادي بذكرك أَو حَدا

غَدَوتُ عَلى حكم الهَوى فيك أَوحَدا

غَدَوتُ عَلى حكم الهَوى فيك أَوحَدا

If the camel-driver murmurs your name or sings it aloud,

When the loving one reminds me of you or converses,

I become, by love's decree, unmatched in loving you.

I become infatuated and obsessed with only you.

وَإِن غرّدَت في دوحها الورقُ في الحمى

وَإِن غرّدَت في دوحها الورقُ في الحمى

حَكيتُ بِسَجعي في القَريض المغرّدا

حَكيتُ بِسَجعي في القَريض المغرّدا

And if gray doves sing in their spreading trees in the protected grounds,

And if the leaves chirp in the heat of fever,

I echo the songbird in the rhymed cadences of my verse.

I compose poetry with melodious verses.

وَليلة صَدٍّ بتُّ أُنشِد بدرها

وَليلة صَدٍّ بتُّ أُنشِد بدرها

نَسيبي الَّذي يُروى فَيروي مِن الصَدى

نَسيبي الَّذي يُروى فَيروي مِن الصَدى

On a night of rejection, I spent the night reciting to its full moon

On an moonlit night, I recited my kinship ties,

My love verse, which is recited and so quenches thirst.

that which sustains and echoes back.

وَناشَدتُهُ باللَهِ أَين سميّه

وَناشَدتُهُ باللَهِ أَين سميّه

فَأَمسَيتُ في الحالين لِلبَدرِ منشدا

فَأَمسَيتُ في الحالين لِلبَدرِ منشدا

And, invoking God, I asked it where its namesake was;

I implored him by God, where is his companion?

So in both senses I spent the evening addressing the full moon.

Thus I became a supplicant of the moon in both states.

فَلِلَّهِ قَلب ضلّ مُذ غاب بدرهُ

فَلِلَّهِ قَلب ضلّ مُذ غاب بدرهُ

وَلِلَّهِ طرف دمعه فيهِ ما هدا

وَلِلَّهِ طرف دمعه فيهِ ما هدا

By God, what a heart—astray since its full moon vanished!

By God, a heart that strayed since its moon set,

And, by God, what an eye, whose tears have never ceased!

By God, tears whose guidance it did not find.

وغصن تَثنّى وَهوَ ثانٍ لِعطفِهِ

وغصن تَثنّى وَهوَ ثانٍ لِعطفِهِ

عَلى أَنَّهُ لمّا تثنّى تفرّدا

عَلى أَنَّهُ لمّا تثنّى تفرّدا

And a bough that swayed, bending its flank,

A branch that bent when it was a second to its bending,

Yet, when it swayed, it stood without equal.

As if when it bent, it bent alone.

وَدَمع تردّى مِن جُفوني بعدهُ

وَدَمع تردّى مِن جُفوني بعدهُ

ولكنه لما تردى ترددا

ولكنه لما تردى ترددا

And tears that fell from my eyelids after he left,

Tears streamed down my eyelids after him,

But as they fell, they came again and again.

But when they streamed, they kept streaming.

وَبَدر غَدا في الحُسنِ سلطان عصره

وَبَدر غَدا في الحُسنِ سلطان عصره

فَكَم باب جور مذ تَولّى تولّدا

فَكَم باب جور مذ تَولّى تولّدا

And a full moon that became, in beauty, the sultan of his age—

The moon rose as the master of the beauty of his time,

How many doors of tyranny have sprung up since he took power!

So how many doors of tyranny opened since he assumed power!

تجلّدتُ لمّا أَن تجلّى فَلَم أُطِق

تجلّدتُ لمّا أَن تجلّى فَلَم أُطِق

وَأَيُّ محبٍّ مذ تَجلّى تجلّدا

وَأَيُّ محبٍّ مذ تَجلّى تجلّدا

I steeled myself when he appeared, but could not endure;

I endured when he appeared unveiled but could not bear it.

And what lover, since he appeared, has stood firm?

And which lover can endure when unveiled?

فَما البَدرُ وَالأَغصان وَاللَيث وَالرَشا

فَما البَدرُ وَالأَغصان وَاللَيث وَالرَشا

إِذا ما رَنا أَو صال أَو ماس أَو بَدا

إِذا ما رَنا أَو صال أَو ماس أَو بَدا

What are the full moon, the boughs, the lion, and the gazelle fawn,

The moon, the branches, the lion, and the gazelle -

When he gazes, or charges, or sways, or appears?

when they graze, converse, touch, or appear.

لَئِن كانَ في الأَقمار أَصبح كامِلاً

لَئِن كانَ في الأَقمار أَصبح كامِلاً

فَإِنّ عذولي فيهِ أَمسى مبرّدا

فَإِنّ عذولي فيهِ أَمسى مبرّدا

If indeed he has become perfect among the moons,

If he is perfect among the moons,

Then my reproacher over him has become Mubarrad—'cooled.'

my passion for him has cooled.

لعمري لَقَد آن النزوعُ عَن الصبا

لعمري لَقَد آن النزوعُ عَن الصبا

فَيا صبوتي حَتّامَ يَسترسل المَدى

فَيا صبوتي حَتّامَ يَسترسل المَدى

By my life, the time has come to turn from youthful passion;

By my life, the time of youthful passion has passed,

So, my youthful passion, how long will this course stretch on?

So farewell my youth before the days stretch long.

أَما في ثَلاثٍ بَعدَ عشرينَ حِجَّةً

أَما في ثَلاثٍ بَعدَ عشرينَ حِجَّةً

غَنى لغويٍّ آن أَن يترشّدا

غَنى لغويٍّ آن أَن يترشّدا

Are not twenty-three years

In thirteen years after twenty pilgrimages,

Enough for an erring man whose time has come to find guidance?

It is time for an infatuated soul to take guidance.

نعم ركدَت ريحُ الضلال وَأَقلعَت

نعم ركدَت ريحُ الضلال وَأَقلعَت

عَن الغيّ نَفسٌ حَقُّها أَن تَعبَّدا

عَن الغيّ نَفسٌ حَقُّها أَن تَعبَّدا

Yes, the wind of error stilled, and turned away

The wind of misguidance has stilled and a soul

From folly a soul whose duty is to worship.

has desisted from straying - its right to worship.

وَأَيقظَني مَدحُ الكَريم فَلَم أَنَم

وَأَيقظَني مَدحُ الكَريم فَلَم أَنَم

أُراقِبُ مِن طَيف البَخيلة موعدا

أُراقِبُ مِن طَيف البَخيلة موعدا

And praise of the generous one awakened me; I no longer slept

The praise of the generous woke me, never to sleep again,

To await an appointed visit from the withholding beloved's dream-phantom.

as I watch for the arrival of the stingy.

وَقلت لقلبٍ تاهَ في حيِّ غيِّهِ

وَقلت لقلبٍ تاهَ في حيِّ غيِّهِ

خَليلي لَقَد آن النزوع إِلى الهدى

خَليلي لَقَد آن النزوع إِلى الهدى

And I said to a heart lost in the quarter of its folly:

I said to a heart lost in the quarter of misguidance:

My friend, the time has surely come to turn toward guidance.

My friend, the time has come to return to guidance.

تعوّدتُ مَدحاً في النَبيّ وإِنّما

تعوّدتُ مَدحاً في النَبيّ وإِنّما

لكلّ اِمرئٍ مِن دَهرِهِ ما تعوّدا

لكلّ اِمرئٍ مِن دَهرِهِ ما تعوّدا

I have made praising the Prophet my habit, and indeed

I was accustomed to praising the Prophet - verily

Each man has from his life only what he has made his habit.

each person becomes accustomed to his own time.

أَبو القاسمِ المُختارُ من نسل هاشِم

أَبو القاسمِ المُختارُ من نسل هاشِم

وَأَزكى الوَرى نَفساً وَأَصلاً ومحتدا

وَأَزكى الوَرى نَفساً وَأَصلاً ومحتدا

Abu al-Qasim, the chosen one, descended from Hashim,

Abu Al-Qasim, the chosen one from Hashim's lineage,

And the purest of mankind in soul, origin, and ancestry.

the most virtuous of mankind in soul, origin, and single-mindedness.

نَبيٌّ براه اللَه أَشرَف خلقِهِ

نَبيٌّ براه اللَه أَشرَف خلقِهِ

وَأَسماه إِذ سَمّاه في الذِكرِ أَحمَدا

وَأَسماه إِذ سَمّاه في الذِكرِ أَحمَدا

A prophet God created as the noblest of His creation,

A prophet God tested, the noblest of His creation,

And exalted when He named him Ahmad in the Qur'an.

whose name when named in remembrance is Ahmad.

فَأَكرِم بِهِ عَبداً صَفيّاً ممدّحاً

فَأَكرِم بِهِ عَبداً صَفيّاً ممدّحاً

وأنعم بِهِ مولىً وَفيّاً محمّدا

وأنعم بِهِ مولىً وَفيّاً محمّدا

How noble he is—a chosen servant, highly praised!

So honor through him a loyal, praising servant,

And how excellent he is—a faithful master, Muhammad!

and bless through him a faithful, laudable master.

مبيدُ العدى مولي الندى قامِعُ الرَدى

مبيدُ العدى مولي الندى قامِعُ الرَدى

مبينُ الهُدى مروي الصدى واسِعُ الجدا

مبينُ الهُدى مروي الصدى واسِعُ الجدا

Destroyer of foes, bestower of bounty, subduer of ruin,

Destroyer of enemies, protector of companions, suppressor of deviance,

Revealer of guidance, quencher of thirst, vast in bounty.

elucidator of guidance, quencher of thirst, magnanimous.

فَرَجِّ نَداه إِنّه الغيث في النَدى

فَرَجِّ نَداه إِنّه الغيث في النَدى

وَخَف مِن سَطاه إِنَّهُ اللَيث في العدا

وَخَف مِن سَطاه إِنَّهُ اللَيث في العدا

So hope for his bounty: in generosity he is the rain;

Dread his might, he is a torrent in bounty,

And fear his onslaught: he is the lion among foes.

fear his power, he is a lion in battle.

حَليمٌ فَقيسٌ في النَديِّ مجهَّل

حَليمٌ فَقيسٌ في النَديِّ مجهَّل

كَريمٌ ودع ذِكرَ ابنِ مامَةَ في الندى

كَريمٌ ودع ذِكرَ ابنِ مامَةَ في الندى

So forbearing that Qays is deemed ignorant in the assembly;

Forbearing, insightful in friendship though unknown,

Generous—leave aside Ibn Mamah's name when speaking of bounty.

Noble - enough mentioning Ibn Mama in bounty.

فَكَم حمدَت مِنهُ الفَوارِسُ صولَةً

فَكَم حمدَت مِنهُ الفَوارِسُ صولَةً

وَعاد فَكانَ العود أَحمى وَأَحمَدا

وَعاد فَكانَ العود أَحمى وَأَحمَدا

How many charges of his have the horsemen praised!

How often the knights praised his courage,

He returned, and his return was fiercer and more praiseworthy.

and he returned more fervent and praised.

وَكَم مُذنِبٍ وافاهُ يَطلب نجدة

وَكَم مُذنِبٍ وافاهُ يَطلب نجدة

تنجّيه في الأُخرى فأَنجى وَأَنجَدا

تنجّيه في الأُخرى فأَنجى وَأَنجَدا

And how many a sinner came to him seeking aid

How many sinners came to him seeking deliverance

That would save him in the hereafter—so he saved and aided him!

to save them in the hereafter, so he delivered and supported.

أَيا خَيرَ خَلقِ اللَه دَعوَةُ مُذنب

أَيا خَيرَ خَلقِ اللَه دَعوَةُ مُذنب

تَخوّف مِن نار الجَحيم توقّدا

تَخوّف مِن نار الجَحيم توقّدا

O best of God's creation, this is the plea of a sinner

O best of God's creation, the supplication of a sinner

Who feared the blazing of Hell's fire.

fearing the hellfire burning fiercely,

لَهُ سندٌ عالٍ بِمَدحك نيّرٌ

لَهُ سندٌ عالٍ بِمَدحك نيّرٌ

وبابك أَمسى مِنهُ أسنى وَأَسنَدا

وبابك أَمسى مِنهُ أسنى وَأَسنَدا

He has a lofty, radiant support through praising you,

has through your praise a lofty pillar,

And your gate has become more radiant and more supportive than that.

and through you its foundation became firmer and supported.

وَأَنتَ الَّذي جنّبتَنا طارِق الردى

وَأَنتَ الَّذي جنّبتَنا طارِق الردى

وَأَنتَ الَّذي عرّفتنا طُرُقَ الهُدى

وَأَنتَ الَّذي عرّفتنا طُرُقَ الهُدى

And you are the one who kept death's night-visitor from us,

You who saved us from the evil of deviance,

And you are the one who taught us the paths of guidance.

you who guided us to the paths of guidance.

أَلا لَيتَ شعري هَل أَبيتنَّ ليلة

أَلا لَيتَ شعري هَل أَبيتنَّ ليلة

بِمَكَّةَ أَشفي ذا الفؤاد المفنّدا

بِمَكَّةَ أَشفي ذا الفؤاد المفنّدا

Ah, if only I knew: will I ever spend a night

Would that I know - did I spend a night

In Mecca, to heal this much-reproached heart?

in Mecca to heal this anguished heart?

وَهَل أَرِدَن ماء النَعيم بِزَمزم

وَهَل أَرِدَن ماء النَعيم بِزَمزم

وَهَل لِيَ أَن أَروى وَأَسعى وَأَسعَدا

وَهَل لِيَ أَن أَروى وَأَسعى وَأَسعَدا

And shall I reach the water of bliss at Zamzam?

Would that I drink the blissful water of Zamzam

And may I drink my fill, strive, and find happiness?

and sate myself, strive, and succeed?

وَإِنّي لصادٍ صادِرٌ عَن مَوارِدي

وَإِنّي لصادٍ صادِرٌ عَن مَوارِدي

إِلى أَن أَرى من عين زَمزم موردا

إِلى أَن أَرى من عين زَمزم موردا

And I am indeed thirsty, departing from my watering-places

I am determined to leave my dwellings

Until I find a watering-place at Zamzam's spring.

to see at Zamzam's spring a place of repose.

فَيا رَبّ حقّق لي رَجائي فَإِنَّني

فَيا رَبّ حقّق لي رَجائي فَإِنَّني

أَخافُ بأَن أُقصى طَويلاً وأطردا

أَخافُ بأَن أُقصى طَويلاً وأطردا

So, Lord, fulfill my hope for me, for I

O Lord, fulfill my hopes for I fear

Fear being kept far away for long and driven off.

being dismissed, exiled, and banned for long.

وَحاشاك أَن تقصي عَن الباب مخلصاً

وَحاشاك أَن تقصي عَن الباب مخلصاً

لتَوحيده يَرجو رِضاكَ ليَسعدا

لتَوحيده يَرجو رِضاكَ ليَسعدا

Far be it from You to bar from the gate one sincere

Far be it from You to turn away a sincere soul

In his affirmation of oneness, hoping for Your favor so he may be happy.

hoping for Your approval to succeed.

وَلَيسَ لَهُ إِلّا عليك معوَّلٌ

وَلَيسَ لَهُ إِلّا عليك معوَّلٌ

لتبلغَه جوداً شَفاعة أَحمَدا

لتبلغَه جوداً شَفاعة أَحمَدا

And he has no reliance except upon You,

He relies on none but You,

To grant him, through Your bounty, the intercession of Ahmad.

to reach through Ahmad's intercession Your bounty.

عليه صَلاة اللَه ثُمَّ سَلامه

عليه صَلاة اللَه ثُمَّ سَلامه

كَذا الآل والأَصحاب مثنى وَمفردا

كَذا الآل والأَصحاب مثنى وَمفردا

Upon him be God's blessing, then His peace,

Upon him, God's prayers and peace,

Likewise upon his family and companions, in pairs and one by one.

and so upon his family and companions, paired and singular.