جَعَلَmade المُهيمنُthe Guardian حُبّlove for أحمدَAhmad شيمةًa noble trait
جَعَلَ المُهيمنُ حُبّ أحمدَ شيمةً
وَأتَىand came بِهwith him فيamong المُرسلينَthe messengers كَرِيمةa precious gift
وَأتَى بِه في المُرسلينَ كَرِيمة
The Guardian made love for Ahmad a noble trait,
And brought him forth among the messengers as a precious gift.
فَغدَاso became هوَاهُlove for him علىupon القُلُوبِthe hearts تَمِيمَةًa talisman
فَغدَا هوَاهُ على القُلُوبِ تَمِيمَةً
وَغدَاand became هُداهُhis guidance لِهديِهمfor their guidance تَتَميمَاa completion
وَغدَا هُداهُ لِهديِهم تَتَميمَا
So love for him became a talisman upon the hearts,
And his guidance became the completion of their guidance.
صَلُّواsend blessings عَلَيهِupon him وَسَلِّمُواand send greetings of peace تَسلِيمَاa full salutation
صَلُّوا عَلَيهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسلِيمَا
أبدَىrevealed جَبينُthe brow of أبِيهِhis father شاهِدَthe sign of نُورِهِhis light
أبدَى جَبينُ أبِيهِ شاهِدَ نُورِهِ
Send blessings upon him, and salute him with peace.
His father's brow revealed the sign of his light.
سَجعتchanted in rhyme بهof him الكهَّانthe soothsayers قبلbefore ظهورهhis appearance
سَجعت به الكهَّان قبل ظهوره
كَالطَّيرِlike a bird غَرّدwarbled مُعرِباًexpressing clearly بصَفِيرِهِthrough its whistle
كَالطَّيرِ غَرّد مُعرِباً بصَفِيرِهِ
The soothsayers spoke of him in rhyme before his appearance,
Like a bird that trills, its whistle telling
عنof وَجهِthe face of إصباحِdawn يُطِلّappearing وَسِيمَاfair
عن وَجهِ إصباحِ يُطِلّ وَسِيمَا
صَلُّواsend blessings عَلَيهِupon him وَسَلِّمُواand send greetings of peace تَسلِيمَاa full salutation
صَلُّوا عَلَيهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسلِيمَا
Of the face of a dawn that rises fair.
Send blessings upon him, and salute him with peace.
أنسَbrought comfort to الرّسَالَةَthe prophetic mission بعدafter شِدّةِthe severity of نَفرَةٍestrangement
أنسَ الرّسَالَةَ بعد شِدّةِ نَفرَةٍ
مُنجيdeliverer of البرّيَّةcreation وَهيَwhile it فيin يدthe grip of غمرَةoverwhelming distress
مُنجي البرّيَّة وَهيَ في يد غمرَة
He brought comfort to the mission after bitter estrangement,
Deliverer of creation while it lay in the grip of distress,
مُحيِيreviver of النُّبُوّةprophethood وَالهدىand guidance عنafter فَترَةٍa hiatus
مُحيِي النُّبُوّة وَالهدى عن فَترَةٍ
فكَأنَّماso it was as though كَفَلَhe fostered الرّشَادَright guidance يَتِيمَاas an orphan
فكَأنَّما كَفَلَ الرّشَادَ يَتِيمَا
Reviver of prophethood and guidance after a hiatus,
As though he had taken right guidance into his care as an orphan.
صَلُّواsend blessings عَلَيهupon him وَسَلِّمُواand send greetings of peace تَسلِيمَاa full salutation
صَلُّوا عَلَيه وَسَلِّمُوا تَسلِيمَا
أنسَbrought comfort to الرّسَالَةَthe prophetic mission بعدafter شِدّةِthe severity of نَفرَةٍestrangement
أنسَ الرّسَالَةَ بعد شِدّةِ نَفرَةٍ
Send blessings upon him, and salute him with peace.
He brought comfort to the mission after bitter estrangement,
مُنجيdeliverer of البرّيَّةcreation وَهيَwhile it فيin يدthe grip of غمرَةoverwhelming distress
مُنجي البرّيَّة وَهيَ في يد غمرَة
مُحيِيreviver of النُّبُوّةprophethood وَالهدىand guidance عنafter فَترَةٍa hiatus
مُحيِي النُّبُوّة وَالهدى عن فَترَةٍ
Deliverer of creation while it lay in the grip of distress,
Reviver of prophethood and guidance after a hiatus,
فكأنَّماso it was as though كَفَلَhe fostered الرّشَادَright guidance يَتِيمَاas an orphan
فكأنَّما كَفَلَ الرّشَادَ يَتِيمَا
صَلُّواsend blessings عَلَيهِupon him وَسَلِّمُواand send greetings of peace تَسلِيمَاa full salutation
صَلُّوا عَلَيهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسلِيمَا
As though he had taken right guidance into his care as an orphan.
Send blessings upon him, and salute him with peace.
اللهُGod أَوضَحَmade clear فَضلَهُhis excellence فَتَوَضَّحَاso it became clear
اللهُ أَوضَحَ فَضلَهُ فَتَوَضَّحَا
وَاللهُand God بيَّنmade clear حبَّهlove for him فيin وَالضّحى'By the morning brightness'
وَاللهُ بيَّن حبَّه في وَالضّحى
God made his excellence plain, and it became manifest.
And God declared His love for him in 'By the Morning Brightness'.
والجِذعُand the tree trunk حَنّmoaned longingly هَوًىin love لهُfor him فتَرَنَّحَاso it swayed
والجِذعُ حَنّ هَوًى لهُ فتَرَنَّحَا
وَالماءُand water فَاضَgushed بِكَفِّهfrom his palm تَسنِيمَاTasnim, a heavenly spring
وَالماءُ فَاضَ بِكَفِّه تَسنِيمَا
And the tree trunk moaned in love for him and swayed.
And water gushed from his palm like Tasnim.
صَلُّواsend blessings عَلَيهِupon him وَسَلِّمُواand send greetings of peace تَسلِيمَاa full salutation
صَلُّوا عَلَيهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسلِيمَا
رَيَّاthe fragrance of الرّوَايَةِthe telling عَنof عُلاَهُhis eminence زَكِيَّةٌsweet and pure
رَيَّا الرّوَايَةِ عَن عُلاَهُ زَكِيَّةٌ
Send blessings upon him, and salute him with peace.
Sweet is the fragrance of accounts of his exalted rank.
نَجوَاهُhis intimate converse رَبَّانِيَّةُdivine مَلَكِيَّةٌangelic
نَجوَاهُ رَبَّانِيَّةُ مَلَكِيَّةٌ
أَوصَافُهُhis attributes عُلوِيَّةٌlofty فَلَكِيَّةٌcelestial
أَوصَافُهُ عُلوِيَّةٌ فَلَكِيَّةٌ
His intimate converse is divine and angelic.
His attributes are lofty and celestial.
نَجوَاهُhis intimate converse رَبَّانِيَّةُdivine مَلَكِيَّةٌangelic
نَجوَاهُ رَبَّانِيَّةُ مَلَكِيَّةٌ
صَلُّواsend blessings عَلَيهِupon him وَسَلِّمُواand send greetings of peace تَسلِيمَاa full salutation
صَلُّوا عَلَيهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسلِيمَا
His intimate converse is divine and angelic.
Send blessings upon him, and salute him with peace.
فَاشتَمthen he inhaled رَيحَانَthe basil of القَبُولِacceptance الطَّيِّبَاfragrant
فَاشتَم رَيحَانَ القَبُولِ الطَّيِّبَا
وَدنَاand drew near فأُسمِعَthen was made to hear ياO محمَّدMuhammad مرحبَاwelcome
وَدنَا فأُسمِعَ يا محمَّد مرحبَا
Then he inhaled the fragrant basil of acceptance,
And drew near, then heard: 'O Muhammad, welcome!
إنِّيindeed I جعلتُكI have made you جارَthe neighbor of عَرشيMy Throne الأقرَبَاthe nearest
إنِّي جعلتُك جارَ عَرشي الأقرَبَا
إنeven if كُنتُI had قَبلكَbefore you قدalready جعَلتُI appointed كَليمَاone spoken to directly
إن كُنتُ قَبلكَ قد جعَلتُ كَليمَا
Indeed, I have made you the nearest neighbor of My Throne,
Though before you I had already chosen one to speak with Me.'
صَلُّواsend blessings عَلَيهِupon him وَسَلِّمُواand send greetings of peace تَسلِيمَاa full salutation
صَلُّوا عَلَيهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسلِيمَا
يَاO لَيلةًnight يَجرِيruns الزّمانُtime فتَسبُقُand you outstrip it
يَا لَيلةً يَجرِي الزّمانُ فتَسبُقُ
Send blessings upon him, and salute him with peace.
O night, time races, and you outstrip it!
الحُجبُthe veils فيهاwithin it بالأرَائجِby fragrances تُفتَقُare torn open
الحُجبُ فيها بالأرَائجِ تُفتَقُ
مَاnot كانhad been مسكُthe musk of اللَّيلnight قَبلَكbefore you يَعبُقُgiving off fragrance
مَا كان مسكُ اللَّيل قَبلَك يَعبُقُ
Within it, the veils are torn open by fragrances.
Before you, the night's musk had not diffused its scent;
بِهَوَىthrough love of محَمَّدMuhammad استفادَit acquired نَسيمَاa breeze
بِهَوَى محَمَّد استفادَ نَسيمَا
صَلُّواsend blessings عَلَيهِupon him وَسَلِّمُواand send greetings of peace تَسلِيمَاa full salutation
صَلُّوا عَلَيهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسلِيمَا
Through love of Muhammad it gained a fragrant breeze.
Send blessings upon him, and salute him with peace.
حتَّىuntil إذَاwhen اقتَعدhe mounted البُرَاقَal-Buraq لِيَنزِلاto descend
حتَّى إذَا اقتَعد البُرَاقَ لِيَنزِلا
نَأدَتهcalled to him أسرَارُthe mysteries of السَّماوَاتِthe heavens العُلاthe highest
نَأدَته أسرَارُ السَّماوَاتِ العُلا
Until, when he mounted al-Buraq to descend,
The mysteries of the highest heavens called to him:
ياO راحِلاًdeparting one وَدّعتُهُI bade him farewell لاnot عَنout of قِلَىaversion
يا راحِلاً وَدّعتُهُ لا عَن قِلَى
مَاnot كانَwas عَهدُكَyour acquaintance بِالغُيوبِwith the unseen ذَميماblameworthy
مَا كانَ عَهدُكَ بِالغُيوبِ ذَميما
'O departing one, whom I bade farewell not out of aversion,
Your acquaintance with the unseen was never blameworthy.'
صَلُّواsend blessings عَلَيهِupon him وَسَلِّمُواand send greetings of peace تَسلِيمَاa full salutation
صَلُّوا عَلَيهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسلِيمَا
صَعِدَhe ascended النُّجودَthe highlands وَسَارand journeyed فيthrough الأغوَارِthe lowlands
صَعِدَ النُّجودَ وَسَار في الأغوَارِ
Send blessings upon him, and salute him with peace.
He climbed the highlands and journeyed through the lowlands,
سُمكthe height of السَّماheaven طورَاat one time وَبطنand the belly of الغارِthe cave
سُمك السَّما طورَا وَبطن الغارِ
مُتَقَسِّمَاdividing himself فيin طَاعَةِobedience to الجَبَّارٍِthe Compeller
مُتَقَسِّمَا في طَاعَةِ الجَبَّارٍِ
Now heaven's height, now the belly of the cave,
Dividing himself in obedience to the Compeller—
ماhow أشرَفَnoble المَقسُومَthe allotted portion وَالتَّقسِيمَاand the apportioning
ما أشرَفَ المَقسُومَ وَالتَّقسِيمَا
صَلُّواsend blessings عَلَيهupon him وسَلِّمُواand send greetings of peace تَسلِيمَاa full salutation
صَلُّوا عَلَيه وسَلِّمُوا تَسلِيمَا
How noble the portion and the apportioning!
Send blessings upon him, and salute him with peace.
دفَعَتrepelled كرَامتُهhis honor الزّنوجَthe Zanj (Black Africans) عنِfrom الحرَمthe Sanctuary
دفَعَت كرَامتُه الزّنوجَ عنِ الحرَم
وَدَعاهُand called him جِبرِيلGabriel المنزّهthe pure فيin الحرُمthe sacred precincts
وَدَعاهُ جِبرِيل المنزّه في الحرُم
His honor drove the Zanj away from the Sanctuary.
And Gabriel, the pure, called him in the sacred precincts.
وَدَعتand proclaimed لهfor him آيَاتُthe verses of نُونِNun وَالقَلَمand the Pen
وَدَعت له آيَاتُ نُونِ وَالقَلَم
خُلُقاًa character بهto which شهِدbore witness الإلهُGod عظيمَاgreat
خُلُقاً به شهِد الإلهُ عظيمَا
And the verses of 'Nun and the Pen' proclaimed for him
A character that God attested to be great.
صَلُّواsend blessings عَلَيهِupon him وَسَلِّمُواand send greetings of peace تَسلِيمَاa full salutation
صَلُّوا عَلَيهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسلِيمَا
الشَّافِعُthe intercessor المُتَوَسِّلُthe suppliant المُتَقَبِّلُthe accepting one
الشَّافِعُ المُتَوَسِّلُ المُتَقَبِّلُ
Send blessings upon him, and salute him with peace.
The intercessor, the suppliant, the accepting one,
القانِتُthe devout one المُدَثِّرُthe cloaked one المُزَّمِّلُthe enwrapped one
القانِتُ المُدَثِّرُ المُزَّمِّلُ
وَافىhe arrived وَظَهَرُwhile the surface of الأرضthe earth دَاجِdark مُمحلbarren
وَافى وَظَهَرُ الأرض دَاجِ مُمحل
The devout one, the cloaked one, the enwrapped one,
He arrived while the earth's surface was dark and barren;
فَجَلاَthen cleared البَهِيمُthe pitch-black darkness بهِthrough him وَأروَىand he quenched الهِيمَاthe thirst-stricken camels
فَجَلاَ البَهِيمُ بهِ وَأروَى الهِيمَا
صَلُّواsend blessings عَلَيهِupon him وَسَلِّمُواand send greetings of peace تَسلِيمَاa full salutation
صَلُّوا عَلَيهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسلِيمَا
Then darkness cleared through him, and he quenched the thirsty camels' thirst.
Send blessings upon him, and salute him with peace.
طَاوٍhungry يُفِيضُpours forth الزّادَprovisions فيamong أَصحَابِهِhis companions
طَاوٍ يُفِيضُ الزّادَ في أَصحَابِهِ
غَيثٌlife-giving rain وَلَكِنand yet كَانَwas يُستصحىfair weather was sought بهthrough him
غَيثٌ وَلَكِن كَانَ يُستصحى به
Hungry himself, he pours forth provisions among his companions.
Life-giving rain, yet through him fair weather was sought.
طَابَتgrew fragrant ضَمَائِرُthe hidden depths of قَبرِهِhis grave وَتُرَابِهِand its earth
طَابَت ضَمَائِرُ قَبرِهِ وَتُرَابِهِ
مِنهُfrom him بسِرّthrough a secret لمdid not يَزَلcease to be مَكتوماconcealed
مِنهُ بسِرّ لم يَزَل مَكتوما
The hidden depths of his grave and its earth grew fragrant,
From him, through a secret that has always remained concealed.
صَلُّواsend blessings عَلَيهِupon him وَسَلِّمُواand send greetings of peace تَسلِيمَاa full salutation
صَلُّوا عَلَيهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسلِيمَا
يَاO شَوقِيَmy longing الحامِيburning إلىfor ذَاكَthat الحِمىsanctuary
يَا شَوقِيَ الحامِي إلى ذَاكَ الحِمى
Send blessings upon him, and salute him with peace.
O my burning longing for that sanctuary!
فَمَتىthen when أُقَضّيهِshall I satisfy it غراماًin passionate love مُغرَماenamored
فَمَتى أُقَضّيهِ غراماً مُغرَما
وَمَتَىand when أُعَانِقُهshall I embrace it صَعِيداًground مُكرَمَاhonored
وَمَتَى أُعَانِقُه صَعِيداً مُكرَمَا
Then when shall I satisfy it, enthralled by love?
And when shall I embrace it—that honored ground,
بِضَمِيرِby the heart of كُلّevery مُوَحِّدٍbeliever in God's oneness مَلثُومَاkissed
بِضَمِيرِ كُلّ مُوَحِّدٍ مَلثُومَا
صَلُّواsend blessings عَلَيهِupon him وَسَلِّمُواand send greetings of peace تَسلِيمَاa full salutation
صَلُّوا عَلَيهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسلِيمَا
Kissed by the heart of every believer in God's oneness?
Send blessings upon him, and salute him with peace.