بَغْدَادُBaghdad مَكَّتُناour Mecca وَأَحْمَدُand Ahmad أَحْمَدُAhmad
بَغْدَادُ مَكَّتُنا وَأَحْمَدُ أَحْمَدُ
حُجُّواmake pilgrimage إلىto تِلْكَthose المناسِكِthe pilgrimage rites وَاسجُدواand prostrate yourselves
حُجُّوا إلى تِلْكَ المناسِكِ وَاسجُدوا
Baghdad is our Mecca, and Ahmad is Ahmad.
Make pilgrimage to those rites, and prostrate yourselves.
يَاO مُذْنِبينَsinners بِهاthere ضَعُواlay down أَوْزارَكُمْyour burdens of sin
يَا مُذْنِبينَ بِها ضَعُوا أَوْزارَكُمْ
وَتَطَهَّرُواand purify yourselves بِترابِهاwith its dust وَتَهَجَّدُواand pray at night
وَتَطَهَّرُوا بِترابِها وَتَهَجَّدُوا
O sinners, lay down your burdens there,
and purify yourselves with its dust, and keep prayerful night vigils.
فَهُناكَfor there مِنْfrom جَسَدِthe body of النُّبُوَّةِprophethood بَضْعَةٌa portion
فَهُناكَ مِنْ جَسَدِ النُّبُوَّةِ بَضْعَةٌ
بِالْوَحْيِwith revelation جِبْريلٌGabriel لَهاto it يَتَرَدَّدُcomes repeatedly
بِالْوَحْيِ جِبْريلٌ لَها يَتَرَدَّدُ
For there is a portion of the body of prophethood,
to which Gabriel repeatedly comes with revelation.
بَابُthe gate of النَّجَاةِsalvation مَدينَةُthe city of الْعِلْمِknowledge الَّتيwhich
بَابُ النَّجَاةِ مَدينَةُ الْعِلْمِ الَّتي
ماnot زالَceased كَوْكَبُthe star of هَدْيِهاits guidance يَتَوَقَّدُblazes
ما زالَ كَوْكَبُ هَدْيِها يَتَوَقَّدُ
The gate of salvation, the city of knowledge, whose
star of guidance has never ceased to blaze.
ماwhat lies بَينَbetween سِدْرَتِهِhis lote-tree وَسُدَّةِand the threshold of دَسْتِهِhis throne
ما بَينَ سِدْرَتِهِ وَسُدَّةِ دَسْتِهِ
نَبَأٌa message يُقِرُّacknowledges لَهُto it الكَفُورُthe hardened unbeliever المُلْحِدُthe heretic
نَبَأٌ يُقِرُّ لَهُ الكَفُورُ المُلْحِدُ
What lies between his lote-tree and the threshold of his throne
is a message even the faithless heretic acknowledges.
هَذاthis هُوَis السِّرُّthe secret الَّذِيthat بَهَرَdazzled الوَرَىmankind
هَذا هُوَ السِّرُّ الَّذِي بَهَرَ الوَرَى
فِيin ظَهْرِthe loins of آدَمَAdam فَالمَلائِكُso the angels سُجَّدُprostrate
فِي ظَهْرِ آدَمَ فَالمَلائِكُ سُجَّدُ
This is the secret that dazzled mankind
in Adam's loins, so the angels fell prostrate.
هذاthis الصِّراطُthe path المُسْتَقيمُthe straight حَقِيقَةًtruly
هذا الصِّراطُ المُسْتَقيمُ حَقِيقَةً
مَنْwhoever زَلَّslips عَنْهُfrom it فَفِيthen in الجَحيمِHell يُخَلَّدُshall dwell eternally
مَنْ زَلَّ عَنْهُ فَفِي الجَحيمِ يُخَلَّدُ
This is truly the straight path;
whoever slips from it shall dwell eternally in Hell.
هذاthis الذيis he who يَسْقِيgives drink to العِطاشَthe thirsty بِكَفِّهِwith his hand
هذا الذي يَسْقِي العِطاشَ بِكَفِّهِ
وِالحَوْضُwhile the Pool مُمْتَنِعُinaccessible الحِمىthe protected precinct لاnot يُورَدُis approached for water
وِالحَوْضُ مُمْتَنِعُ الحِمى لا يُورَدُ
This is he who gives the thirsty drink with his hand,
while the Pool's precinct is barred, and none can come to drink.
سَمْعاًgive ear أَميرَCommander of المؤمِنينَthe Faithful لِمدحَةٍto a praise-poem
سَمْعاً أَميرَ المؤمِنينَ لِمدحَةٍ
صَدَقَتْspoke truth فَهَلْso am أَنَاI قَارِئa reader أَوْor مُنْشِدُa reciter of verse
صَدَقَتْ فَهَلْ أَنَا قَارِئ أَوْ مُنْشِدُ
Give ear, Commander of the Faithful, to a praise-poem
whose words are true—am I a reader or a reciter of verse?
القَائِمُthe Riser المَهْدِيُّthe Rightly Guided أنتَyou بَقِيَّةُthe remnant of الthe
القَائِمُ المَهْدِيُّ أنتَ بَقِيَّةُ ال
إسلامIslam تَمْهَدُyou lay foundations تارَةًat times وَتُشَيِّدُand build high
إسلام تَمْهَدُ تارَةً وَتُشَيِّدُ
You are the Qa'im, the Mahdi, the remnant of
Islam: now you lay foundations, now you build high.
بُعْداًaway with لِمُنْتَظِرٍone awaiting سِواهُsomeone other than him وَقَدْand already بَدَتْhave appeared
بُعْداً لِمُنْتَظِرٍ سِواهُ وَقَدْ بَدَتْ
مِنْهُfrom him البَرَاهِينُthe proofs الّتيwhich لاnot تُجْحَدُare denied
مِنْهُ البَرَاهِينُ الّتي لا تُجْحَدُ
Away with anyone awaiting another, now that there have appeared
from him proofs that cannot be denied.
إنْif كانَwas فَوْقَatop الطُّورِMount Tur ناجِىcommuned with رَبَّهُhis Lord
إنْ كانَ فَوْقَ الطُّورِ ناجِى رَبَّهُ
موسىMoses فَبِالمِعْراجِthen through the Ascension أَنْتُمyou أَزْيَدُgreater
موسى فَبِالمِعْراجِ أَنْتُم أَزْيَدُ
If atop Mount Tur he communed with his Lord—
Moses—then in the Ascension you surpass him.
أوْor كانَhad يُوسُفُJoseph عَبَّرَinterpreted الرُّؤْياthe dream فَكمْthen how many
أوْ كانَ يُوسُفُ عَبَّرَ الرُّؤْيا فَكمْ
لِلْغَيْبِfor the unseen مِنْكُمْfrom you مَصْدَرٌa source أَوor مَوْرِدُa watering place
لِلْغَيْبِ مِنْكُمْ مَصْدَرٌ أَو مَوْرِدُ
Or if Joseph interpreted the dream, how many
sources or watering places for the unseen are found among you!
اللَّهGod أَنْزَلَsent down وَحْيَهُHis revelation لِمُحمَّدٍto Muhammad
اللَّه أَنْزَلَ وَحْيَهُ لِمُحمَّدٍ
وَإِليْكُمُand to you أَفْضَىconfided بِذاكَthat مُحَمَّدُMuhammad
وَإِليْكُمُ أَفْضَى بِذاكَ مُحَمَّدُ
God sent down His revelation to Muhammad,
and Muhammad confided that to you.
ياO ساكِنْيdwellers in دارَthe Abode of السَّلامِPeace لجِارِكُمْfor your neighbor
يا ساكِنْي دارَ السَّلامِ لجِارِكُمْ
شَرَفٌan honor أُنافِسُكُمْI compete with you عَلَيْهِfor it وَأحْسُدُand I envy
شَرَفٌ أُنافِسُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ وَأحْسُدُ
O dwellers in the Abode of Peace, your neighbor has
an honor for which I compete with you and envy you.
إنّيindeed I أَوَدُّwish إِذْاwhen وَطِئْتُمْyou tread أَرْضَهاits earth
إنّي أَوَدُّ إِذْا وَطِئْتُمْ أَرْضَها
لَوif only أنَّthat تُرْبَتَهاits dust لِعَينَيْfor my eyes إثْمِدُantimony kohl
لَو أنَّ تُرْبَتَها لِعَينَيْ إثْمِدُ
I wish, when you tread its earth,
that its dust were antimony kohl for my eyes.
إنَّindeed الخَليفَةَthe caliph مِنْfrom ذُؤَابَةِthe crest of هاشِمٍHashim
إنَّ الخَليفَةَ مِنْ ذُؤَابَةِ هاشِمٍ
لِلدّينfor religion وَالدُّنياand worldly life دَليلٌa guide مُرْشِدُleading aright
لِلدّين وَالدُّنيا دَليلٌ مُرْشِدُ
Indeed, the caliph, from the crest of Hashim,
is a guide who leads aright in religion and worldly life.
الدَّهْرُTime فِيin يَدِهِhis hand فَجودٌso generosity مُرْسَلٌfreely flowing
الدَّهْرُ فِي يَدِهِ فَجودٌ مُرْسَلٌ
سَبْطٌsmooth and straight وَبَأْسٌand martial might مُكْفَهِرٌّgrim أَجْعَدُtightly curled
سَبْطٌ وَبَأْسٌ مُكْفَهِرٌّ أَجْعَدُ
Time is in his hand: his bounty flows free,
smooth and straight, while his might is grim and tightly curled.
ياO مَنْyou who لِمْبغِضِهِfor whoever hates him الجَحيمُHell قَرارُهُhis abode
يا مَنْ لِمْبغِضِهِ الجَحيمُ قَرارُهُ
ولِمَنand for whoever يُواليْهِis loyal to him النَّعيمُbliss السَّرْمِدُeverlasting
ولِمَن يُواليْهِ النَّعيمُ السَّرْمِدُ
O you whose hater has Hell for his abode,
and whose loyal follower has everlasting bliss.
لَولاwere it not for التَّقِيَّةُdissimulation كُنْتُI would be أَوَّلَthe first of مَعْشَرٍa band
لَولا التَّقِيَّةُ كُنْتُ أَوَّلَ مَعْشَرٍ
غَالَواwent to extremes فَقالُواand so said أنتَyou ربٌa lord تُعْبَدُare worshipped
غَالَوا فَقالُوا أنتَ ربٌ تُعْبَدُ
Were it not for dissimulation, I would be the first of a band
who went to extremes and said: 'You are a lord to be worshipped.'
مَلِكٌa king إِذْاwhen ظَمِئَتْgrow thirsty شِفاهُthe lips of رِماحِهِhis spears
مَلِكٌ إِذْا ظَمِئَتْ شِفاهُ رِماحِهِ
فِيin معْرَكٍa battle فَدَمُthen the blood of الوَريدِthe jugular vein المَورِدُthe watering place
فِي معْرَكٍ فَدَمُ الوَريدِ المَورِدُ
A king whose spears' lips, when they thirst
in battle, find their watering place in jugular blood.
مَلِكُa king إِذْاwhen الْتَطَمَتْclash صُفوفُthe ranks of جُيوشِهِhis armies
مَلِكُ إِذْا الْتَطَمَتْ صُفوفُ جُيوشِهِ
أَيقَنْتَyou become certain أنَّthat البَرَّthe land بَحْرٌa sea مُزْبِدُfoaming
أَيقَنْتَ أنَّ البَرَّ بَحْرٌ مُزْبِدُ
A king whose armies' ranks, when they clash,
make you certain that the land is a foaming sea.
يَعْلوهُrises above him مِنْfrom زُمَرِcompanies of المَلائِكِthe angels فِيلقٌa legion
يَعْلوهُ مِنْ زُمَرِ المَلائِكِ فِيلقٌ
بِالرُّعبِthrough terror يَنْصُرُsupports عَزمَهُhis resolve وَيُؤَيِّدُand strengthens
بِالرُّعبِ يَنْصُرُ عَزمَهُ وَيُؤَيِّدُ
Above him rises a legion drawn from companies of angels;
through terror it supports his resolve and strengthens it.
ياO عاقِداًone knotting لِلطَّعْنِfor the spear-thrust فَضْلَthe loose end of لِوائِهِhis banner
يا عاقِداً لِلطَّعْنِ فَضْلَ لِوائِهِ
مَهْلاًgently فَأجْنِحَةُfor the wings of المَلاّئِكِthe angels تًعْقَدُare knotted
مَهْلاً فَأجْنِحَةُ المَلاّئِكِ تًعْقَدُ
O you who knot your banner's loose end for the spear-thrust,
gently—for it is angels' wings that are being knotted.
أَنِفَتْscorned صَوارِمُهُhis keen swords الجُفُونَthe sheaths فَأصْبَحَتُand so became
أَنِفَتْ صَوارِمُهُ الجُفُونَ فَأصْبَحَتُ
بِالنَّصرِin victory فِيin قِمَمِthe crowns of الخِوارِجِthe rebels تغْمَدُare sheathed
بِالنَّصرِ فِي قِمَمِ الخِوارِجِ تغْمَدُ
His keen swords scorned their sheaths, and now
are sheathed in victory in the rebels' heads.
إنْif كانَhad أَطْمَعَraised the hopes of مَنْكِليّاًMankili صَفْحُهُhis pardon
إنْ كانَ أَطْمَعَ مَنْكِليّاً صَفْحُهُ
فَوَراءَthen behind ذاكَthat الصَّفْحِpardon نارٌa fire تُوقَدُis kindled
فَوَراءَ ذاكَ الصَّفْحِ نارٌ تُوقَدُ
If his pardon stirred Mankili's hopes,
behind that pardon a fire is kindled.
عَصَفَتْswept violently رِياحُthe winds of الصّافِناتِthe poised steeds بِجَيْشِهِthrough his army
عَصَفَتْ رِياحُ الصّافِناتِ بِجَيْشِهِ
شَدّاًin a fierce charge فَطارَso flew هَباؤُهُits dust المُتَبَدِّدُscattered
شَدّاً فَطارَ هَباؤُهُ المُتَبَدِّدُ
The winds of the poised steeds swept through his army
in a fierce charge; its scattered dust flew away.
سَدَّbarred العَجاجُthe dust-storm عَنِfrom الهَزيمةِretreat سَبْلَهُits paths
سَدَّ العَجاجُ عَنِ الهَزيمةِ سَبْلَهُ
فَسَقاهُso it made it drink ماءَthe water of المَوتِdeath دَجنٌa cloud أَسْوَدُblack
فَسَقاهُ ماءَ المَوتِ دَجنٌ أَسْوَدُ
The dust-storm barred its paths of retreat,
so a black cloud made it drink the water of death.
ثُمَّthen انْجَلىcleared عَنْهُfrom it القَتامُthe battle-dust فَهارِبٌthen one fleeing
ثُمَّ انْجَلى عَنْهُ القَتامُ فَهارِبٌ
وَمُزَمَّلٌand one wrapped بدِمِائِهِin his blood وَمُصَّفَّدُand one fettered
وَمُزَمَّلٌ بدِمِائِهِ وَمُصَّفَّدُ
Then the battle-dust cleared from it: one fled,
and one was wrapped in his blood, and one was fettered.
خَلَطَmingled القَناthe spear-shafts بِعِظَامِهِwith its bones فَتَشابَهَتْso they resembled one another
خَلَطَ القَنا بِعِظَامِهِ فَتَشابَهَتْ
هِيَthey وَالقَناand the spear-shafts المُتَقَصِّفُsnapped المُتَقَصِّدُsplintered
هِيَ وَالقَنا المُتَقَصِّفُ المُتَقَصِّدُ
It mingled the spear-shafts with its bones until they looked alike—
the bones and the snapped, splintered shafts.
زَجَّتْthrust بِهِhim away عَنfrom أَصْبَهانَIsfahan وَأُخْتِهاand her sister
زَجَّتْ بِهِ عَن أَصْبَهانَ وَأُخْتِها
هَمَذَانَHamadan حَرْبٌa war نارُهاits fire لاnot تَخْمَدُdies out
هَمَذَانَ حَرْبٌ نارُها لا تَخْمَدُ
He was driven from Isfahan and her sister,
Hamadan, by a war whose fire never dies.
مَسْحاًa sweeping stroke بِأعْناقِacross the necks of الجِيادِthe steeds وَسوِقهاand their shanks
مَسْحاً بِأعْناقِ الجِيادِ وَسوِقها
إنْif كانَhad قَدindeed أَنْجاهُsaved him طِرْفٌa courser أَجْرَدُsleek
إنْ كانَ قَد أَنْجاهُ طِرْفٌ أَجْرَدُ
A sweeping stroke across the steeds' necks and shanks,
if a sleek courser has indeed saved him!
لَوif كُنْتُI had been حاضِرَpresent at جَمْعِهِمْtheir host لَشَفِيتُI would have quenched مِنfrom
لَو كُنْتُ حاضِرَ جَمْعِهِمْ لَشَفِيتُ مِن
أَعداءِthe enemies of أَحْمَدَAhmad غُلَّةّa burning thirst لاnot تَبْرُدُcools
أَعداءِ أَحْمَدَ غُلَّةّ لا تَبْرُدُ
Had I been present among their host, I would have quenched, at the expense of
Ahmad's enemies, a burning thirst that never cools.
هَلَكُواthey perished بِعْصيانٍthrough disobedience وَفُزتُand I triumphed بِطاعَةٍthrough obedience
هَلَكُوا بِعْصيانٍ وَفُزتُ بِطاعَةٍ
وَاللَّهand God يُشْقيmakes wretched مَنwhomever يَشاءْHe wills وَيُسْعِدُand makes happy
وَاللَّه يُشْقي مَن يَشاءْ وَيُسْعِدُ
They perished through disobedience; I triumphed through obedience,
and God makes wretched whom He wills, and makes happy.
أَمَليmy hope يَخِفُّis light وَجُوْدُand the generosity of مُوسىMusa مُثْقِليweighs me down
أَمَلي يَخِفُّ وَجُوْدُ مُوسى مُثْقِلي
فَالشَّوقُso longing يُنهِضُmakes one rise وَالعَطاياand gifts تُقعِدُmake one sit
فَالشَّوقُ يُنهِضُ وَالعَطايا تُقعِدُ
My hope is light, but Musa's generosity weighs me down;
so longing makes me rise, while gifts keep me seated.
مَلِكٌa king يَهِشُّbeams تَلَطُّفاًkindly بِعُفاتِهِupon his petitioners
مَلِكٌ يَهِشُّ تَلَطُّفاً بِعُفاتِهِ
فَكَأنَّهُso as though he المُسْتَعْطِفُthe seeker of kindness المُسْتَرفِدُthe seeker of gifts
فَكَأنَّهُ المُسْتَعْطِفُ المُسْتَرفِدُ
A king who beams kindly upon those seeking his bounty,
as though he himself were seeking kindness and gifts.
عَقَدَbound الإمامُthe Imam عَلَيْهِupon him خِنْصَرَthe little finger of عَزْمِهِhis resolve
عَقَدَ الإمامُ عَلَيْهِ خِنْصَرَ عَزْمِهِ
فَرَآهُand saw him سِيْفاًa sword لِلْخُطوبِagainst calamities يُجَرَّدُunsheathed
فَرَآهُ سِيْفاً لِلْخُطوبِ يُجَرَّدُ
The Imam bound upon him the little finger of his resolve,
and saw him as a sword unsheathed against calamities.
مَنْwho مُبْلِغُwill convey to عَنَّيon my behalf أَباهُhis father أَنَّthat مِنfrom
مَنْ مُبْلِغُ عَنَّي أَباهُ أَنَّ مِن
آلِthe family of الرَّسولِthe Messenger أَباًa father لَهُto him يَتَوَدَّدُshows affection
آلِ الرَّسولِ أَباً لَهُ يَتَوَدَّدُ
Who will tell his father on my behalf that, from
the Messenger's family, a father shows him affection?
دامَتْmay endure صَلاةُthe blessing of إلهِناour God وَسَلامُهُand His peace
دامَتْ صَلاةُ إلهِنا وَسَلامُهُ
أبَداًforever عَلىupon ذاكَthat الإمامImam تَجَدَّدُis renewed
أبَداً عَلى ذاكَ الإمام تَجَدَّدُ
May our God's blessing and His peace endure,
forever renewed upon that Imam.