ما بالك يا قلبي أبدا

عُرب تحنو لَهُمُ أبدا

Why, my heart, do you forever

yearn tenderly for those Arabs, forever?

أم شِمتَ بريق أبيرِقِهم

قد أومض فاستشعىت ندا

Or did you glimpse a flash over their little stony hill?

It flashed, and so you sensed the dew.

كم أودعني ولهاً بهم

طيف بوصلهم وعدا

How often has yearning for them been planted in me

by a dream-vision promising reunion with them!

حادي الأظعان فقف بهما

وانشُد قلباً منّي شردا

O driver of the departing caravans, halt with them both,

and seek a heart that has strayed from me.

واقصد عرباً في حيّهم

مَن مات يعش عيشاً رغدا

And seek Arabs in whose encampment

whoever dies will live a life of ease.

وأعد يا سَعدُ حديثهم

لفتى بمحبتهم سعدا

And repeat, Saʿd, their tale

to a youth made happy by loving them.

وخُذَنّ الروح وما ملكت

وأرى لك فيه عليّ يدا

And take my soul and all that I possess;

and I shall count it as a favor you have done me.

كم أنزل في طري رمدا

وجدي وعلى قلبي مَردا

How often has my eye been afflicted with inflammation

by my yearning—and my heart with rebellion!

عيني وَسَقَت دمعي وسقت

خدّي به ولقد نفدا

My eye gathered my tears and watered

my cheek with them; indeed, they were spent.

فالوجد نما والدمع هما

والصبر وهى قلبي وغدا

So longing grew, and tears streamed down;

and patience faltered; my heart grew abject.

يا أهل الحيّ لكم حرم

مَن حلّ به ما ضلّ هدى

O people of the encampment, you have a sanctuary;

whoever settles there does not stray from guidance.

حرم يبت الرحمن به

ورسول اللَه به وُلدا

A sanctuary where the House of the All-Merciful stands,

and where the Messenger of God was born.

ذاك المختار ومَن أهدى

الإسلام لنا وإليه هدى

That is the Chosen One, who bestowed

Islam upon us and guided us to it.

وأبان الملّة حين أتى

وطرائقها كانت قددا

And he made the faith clear when he came,

while its paths had been divided.

تنحلّ عقود الكفر له

بِلوا للنّصر قد أنعقدا

The bonds of unbelief come undone for him,

with a banner already raised for victory.

كم أورد جيشاً راحته

لمّا أرداه ظماً وردى

How often his palm brought an army to water,

when thirst and destruction had laid it low!

يا أمة خير الخلق لقد

بلغت آمالكم السددا

O community of the best of creation, truly

your hopes have reached their goal.

جئتم للكعبة مُنيَتكم

فيها لُوذوا وادعُوا الصّمدا

You have come to the Kaaba, your heart's desire;

seek refuge there, and call upon the Self-Sufficient One.

كم قد وَجلَت نفس وجَلَت

لَمّا دُليت عنها الكمدا

How many a soul has trembled and then brightened,

when its sorrow was removed!

أبداً ترتاح لها الأروا

ح ولا ترتاح لبُعد مدى

Forever the souls find rest in it,

and find no rest at a far remove.

اشرب من زمزم وانوبه

يا ذا ما شئت تَنَل رَشَدا

Drink from Zamzam, and intend through it,

O you, whatever you wish; you will attain right guidance.

والمُلتَزم الزَمه وقف

بالموقف وارفع فيه يدا

And cling to the Multazam, and stand

at the standing-place, and raise a hand there.

واستَرجِ مُناك بأرض منى

تأمن خوفاً بالخِيف بدا

And hope for what you desire in the land of Mina;

at al-Khayf, you will be safe from fear that arose.

وزُر المُختار وطِب أمَلا

وأطِل في زَورَته الأمدا

And visit the Chosen One, and be of good hope;

and prolong the time of your visit to him.

وثبّت يا صاح بحُجرته

واسأله تَنَل منه المددا

And stand firm, my friend, at his chamber,

and ask him; you will receive help from him.

وبه ثَمَ استشفع وعلى

كرم المولى كن مُعتَمدا

And there seek his intercession, and upon

the Lord's generosity rely.

حاشاه يُخَيب قاصده

كلا واللضه متى قصدا

Far be it from Him to disappoint one who seeks Him!

Never, by God, whenever one seeks Him!

فعليه صلاة اللَه كذا

ك سلام لا يحصى عددا

So upon him be God's blessing, and likewise

peace that cannot be counted.