كَانَit was لَيْلٌnight وَآدَمٌand Adam فِيin سُبَاتِdeep sleep
كَانَ لَيْلٌ وَآدَمٌ فِي سُبَاتِ
نَامَhe slept عَنْaway from حِسِّهhis senses إِلىuntil مِيقَاتِan appointed time
نَامَ عَنْ حِسِّه إِلى مِيقَاتِ
It was night, and Adam lay in deep sleep.
It was night, and Adam slept in slumber
He slept, unaware, until the appointed hour.
Unaware until the appointed time
وَالْبَرَايَاand the creatures فِيin هِدْأَةِthe stillness of الظُّلمَاتِdarkness
وَالْبَرَايَا فِي هِدْأَةِ الظُّلمَاتِ
خَاشِعَاتٌreverent رَجَاءَin hope of أَمْرٍan event آتِto come
خَاشِعَاتٌ رَجَاءَ أَمْرٍ آتِ
And all creatures, in the stillness of darkness,
While the wild beasts were hushed in the darkness of night
bowed in awe, hoping for an event to come,
Humbly hopeful for the expected event
يَتَوَقَّعنَthey await آيَةَthe miracle of الآيَاتِmiracles
يَتَوَقَّعنَ آيَةَ الآيَاتِ
وَالرُّبَىand the hills فِيin مُسُوحِهِنَّtheir sackcloth سَوَاجِدْprostrate
وَالرُّبَى فِي مُسُوحِهِنَّ سَوَاجِدْ
awaited the miracle of miracles.
Awaiting the greatest miracle of miracles
And the hills, in their sackcloth, lay prostrate
And the beasts roamed in submission
مِنْfrom بَعِيدٍafar وَالأُفْقُand the horizon جَاثٍkneeling كَعَابِدْlike a worshipper
مِنْ بَعِيدٍ وَالأُفْقُ جَاثٍ كَعَابِدْ
وَنُجُومُand the stars of الثَرَىthe earth سَوَاهٍdistracted سَوَاهِدْsleepless
وَنُجُومُ الثَرَى سَوَاهٍ سَوَاهِدْ
in the distance, while the horizon knelt like a worshipper.
From afar as the horizon knelt like worshippers
And the stars of earth were distracted and sleepless;
And the stars of earth were equals watching over equals
وَنُجُومُand the stars of الْعُلَىthe heights رَوَانٍgazing شَوَاهِدْwitnesses
وَنُجُومُ الْعُلَى رَوَانٍ شَوَاهِدْ
يَتَطلَّعْنَthey gaze مِنْfrom عَلٍon high ذَاهِلاَتِbewildered
يَتَطلَّعْنَ مِنْ عَلٍ ذَاهِلاَتِ
and the stars on high gazed, bearing witness,
And the stars on high were shining witnesses
peering from above, bewildered.
Looking down from on high in bewilderment
نَظَرَbeheld اللهُGod آدَماًAdam فِيin الخُلُودِeternity
نَظَرَ اللهُ آدَماً فِي الخُلُودِ
مُوحَشاًlonely لانْفِرَادِهِbecause of his solitude فِيin السُّعودِbliss
مُوحَشاً لانْفِرَادِهِ فِي السُّعودِ
God beheld Adam in eternity,
God saw Adam in eternity
lonely through his solitude amid bliss,
Alone in his exaltation and bliss
مُسْتَزِيداًseeking more وَالنَّقصُand deficiency فِيin المُسْتَزِيدِthe seeker of more
مُسْتَزِيداً وَالنَّقصُ فِي المُسْتَزِيدِ
فَرَأَىso He saw fit أَنْto يُتِمَّهmake him whole فِيin الْوُجُودِexistence
فَرَأَى أَنْ يُتِمَّه فِي الْوُجُودِ
seeking more—and whoever seeks more is lacking.
Yearning, though the yearner suffers want
So He saw fit to make him whole in being
So He decided to perfect him in existence
بِعَرُوسٍwith a bride شَرِيكَةٍa partner فِيin الْحَيَاةِlife
بِعَرُوسٍ شَرِيكَةٍ فِي الْحَيَاةِ
إِلْفُa companion عُمْرٍa lifetime وَالإِلْفُand companionship لِلإنْسَانِfor humankind
إِلْفُ عُمْرٍ وَالإِلْفُ لِلإنْسَانِ
with a bride, a partner in life,
With a partner for life
a lifelong companion—and companionship, for humankind,
The lifetime of a thousand years is, for human,
حَاجَةٌa need مِنْamong لَوَازِمِthe necessities of النُّقصَانِincompleteness
حَاجَةٌ مِنْ لَوَازِمِ النُّقصَانِ
تِلْكَthat فِيin الخَلْقِcreation سُنَّةthe law of الرَّحْمَنِthe All-Merciful
تِلْكَ فِي الخَلْقِ سُنَّة الرَّحْمَنِ
is a need inseparable from incompleteness.
A need inherent to his incompleteness
That is the All-Merciful's law in creation;
Such is, in creation, the way of the Merciful
سَنَّهاHe ordained it مُنْذُsince بَدْءِthe beginning of هَذَاthis الْكِيَانِexistence
سَنَّها مُنْذُ بَدْءِ هَذَا الْكِيَانِ
وَبِهَاand through it قَامَarose عَالَمُthe world of الْفَانِيَاتِperishable things
وَبِهَا قَامَ عَالَمُ الْفَانِيَاتِ
He ordained it from the beginning of this existence,
He ordained it since the genesis of this cosmos
and through it the world of perishable things arose.
And through it the world of transients arose
مُنْذُsince كَانَتْwas هَذِيthis الْخَلِيقَةُcreation قِدْماًlong ago
مُنْذُ كَانَتْ هَذِي الْخَلِيقَةُ قِدْماً
نَثَراتٍscattered particles مِنَof الْهَبَاءِdust فَضَمَّاso He gathered
نَثَراتٍ مِنَ الْهَبَاءِ فَضَمَّا
Ever since this creation was, long ago,
Since the beginning, when the creation was eternal
scattered particles of dust, He gathered
Scattered particles of dust then brought together
مَاwhat تَرَاخَىlay apart مِنْهَاof it فَأَلَّفَthen formed جِرْمَاa mass
مَا تَرَاخَى مِنْهَا فَأَلَّفَ جِرْمَا
ثُمَّthen أَحْيَاهُHe gave it life ثُمَّthen آتَاهُHe gave it جِسْمَاa body
ثُمَّ أَحْيَاهُ ثُمَّ آتَاهُ جِسْمَا
what lay apart of it and fashioned a mass,
What clung He composed into a body
then brought it to life, then gave it a body
Then gave it life, then gave it a body
مِثْلَهُlike it يَكْمُلاَنِthe two become complete ذَاتاًone being بِذَاتِwith another being
مِثْلَهُ يَكْمُلاَنِ ذَاتاً بِذَاتِ
بسِطتْstretched forth أَنْمُلُthe fingers of اللَّطِيفِthe Gentle الْقَدِيرِthe Almighty
بسِطتْ أَنْمُلُ اللَّطِيفِ الْقَدِيرِ
like itself, the two beings completing each other.
Matching it to perfect it by its pair
The fingers of the Gentle, the Almighty, stretched forth
The gentle fingers of the Almighty stretched out
فِيin الدُّجَىthe darkness مِنْfrom أَوْجِthe summit of الْعَلاَءِthe heights المُنِيرِradiant
فِي الدُّجَى مِنْ أَوْجِ الْعَلاَءِ المُنِيرِ
فَأَمَاجَتْso they stirred بِالضَّوْءِwith light بَحْرَthe sea of الأَثِيرِether
فَأَمَاجَتْ بِالضَّوْءِ بَحْرَ الأَثِيرِ
into the darkness from the summit of the radiant heights,
In the darkness from the splendid empyrean
and set the sea of ether surging with light,
They churned the ethereal sea with light
وَأَلْقَتْand they laid بِآدَمٍAdam فِيin السَّرِيرِthe bed
وَأَلْقَتْ بِآدَمٍ فِي السَّرِيرِ
لاِجْتِرَاحِto perform الْكُبْرَىthe greatest مِنَof المُعْجِزَاتِthe miracles
لاِجْتِرَاحِ الْكُبْرَى مِنَ المُعْجِزَاتِ
and laid Adam upon the bed,
And cast Adam into slumber
to work the greatest of miracles.
To rest from the greatest of miracles
فَتَحَتْthey opened جَنْبَهُhis side وَسَلَّتْand drew out بعَطْفِwith tenderness
فَتَحَتْ جَنْبَهُ وَسَلَّتْ بعَطْفِ
مِنْهُfrom him ضِلْعاًa rib فَجَاءَso there emerged تِمْثَالُa figure of لُطْفِgrace
مِنْهُ ضِلْعاً فَجَاءَ تِمْثَالُ لُطْفِ
They opened his side and gently drew
They opened his side and drew gently
from him a rib; a figure of grace emerged,
From it a rib, and the form of grace appeared
جَلَّwas exalted قَدْراًin worth عَنْabove اَصْلِهِits origin فَاسْتَصُفِّيso it was drawn pure
جَلَّ قَدْراً عَنْ اَصْلِهِ فَاسْتَصُفِّي
مِنْfrom دَمِthe blood of الصَّدْرِthe breast لاَnot التُّرَابِdust الصَّرْفِpure
مِنْ دَمِ الصَّدْرِ لاَ التُّرَابِ الصَّرْفِ
exalted above its source in worth, and drawn pure
Nobler than its origin, so cleanse your thoughts
from the blood of the breast, not from mere dust,
Of earthly soil, this is the red blood of man
سَمَاَit rose عَنْabove صِفَاتِهِits qualities بِصِفَاتِwith qualities
سَمَاَ عَنْ صِفَاتِهِ بِصِفَاتِ
فَبَدَتْso appeared غَضَّةtender in الصِّباyouth حَوَّاءُEve
فَبَدَتْ غَضَّة الصِّبا حَوَّاءُ
surpassing its source's qualities with its own.
Her traits distilled from his traits
So Eve appeared, tender in youth,
So there appeared Eve fresh as the dawn
وَهْيَand she هَيْفَاءُslender-waisted كَاعِبٌbudding-breasted زَهْرَاءُradiant
وَهْيَ هَيْفَاءُ كَاعِبٌ زَهْرَاءُ
لِيَدِof the hand of اللهِGod مَظْهَرٌa manifestation وُضَّاءُshining
لِيَدِ اللهِ مَظْهَرٌ وُضَّاءُ
slender-waisted, budding-breasted, radiant,
A stumbling, tumbling, fawn-like girl
a shining manifestation of the hand of God,
A marvel made by God’s hand, radiant and fair
وَسَنىand radiance بَينevident بِهَاin her وَسَنَاءُand majesty
وَسَنى بَين بِهَا وَسَنَاءُ
شَفَّrevealed عَنْهُit الْجَمَالُbeauty كَالمِرْآةِlike a mirror
شَفَّ عَنْهُ الْجَمَالُ كَالمِرْآةِ
with radiance evident in her, and majesty
Her beauty relieved him like a mirror
that beauty revealed as a mirror does.
The night passes as he looks behind him to her
تَتَجَلَّىshe shines forth وَاللَّيْلُand the night يَمْضِيdeparts انْدِفَاعاheadlong
تَتَجَلَّى وَاللَّيْلُ يَمْضِي انْدِفَاعا
نَاظِراًlooking خَلْفَهُbehind it إِلَيْهَاat her ارْتِيَاعَاin alarm
نَاظِراً خَلْفَهُ إِلَيْهَا ارْتِيَاعَا
She shines forth as night rushes away,
Yearning, as the harbinger of dawn sheds light
looking back at her in alarm;
Spreading the banners of radiance in succession
وَبَشِيرُand the herald of الصَّباحِmorning يُدْلِيlets down الشُّعاعَاthe ray
وَبَشِيرُ الصَّباحِ يُدْلِي الشُّعاعَا
نَاشِراًunfurling رَايَاتِthe banners of الضِّياءِlight تِبَاعَاone after another
نَاشِراً رَايَاتِ الضِّياءِ تِبَاعَا
and morning's herald lets down its ray,
Calling for joy and congratulations
unfurling banners of light one after another,
The stars glance at her beauty then dim their eyes
دَاعِياًcalling لِلسُّرُورِfor joy وَالتَّهنِئَاتِand congratulations
دَاعِياً لِلسُّرُورِ وَالتَّهنِئَاتِ
وَتَوَالِيand the last of النُّجومِthe stars تَرْمُقُgaze at آنَاfor a moment
وَتَوَالِي النُّجومِ تَرْمُقُ آنَا
calling for joy and congratulations.
While the stars of Heaven reveal their infatuation
And the last of the stars gaze for a moment
With a beauty they saw, and the two became
حُسْنَهَاher beauty ثُمَّthen تُغْمِضُclose الأَجْفَانَاtheir eyelids
حُسْنَهَا ثُمَّ تُغْمِضُ الأَجْفَانَا
وَنُجُومُand the stars of الجِنَانِthe gardens تُبْدِيshow افتِتاناenchantment
وَنُجُومُ الجِنَانِ تُبْدِي افتِتانا
at her beauty, then close their eyelids;
A sign for the seeing and hearing
and the stars of the gardens show enchantment
The whispers of the flowers converse
بِالْجَمَالِwith the beauty الَّذيwhich رَأَتْهُthey saw it فَكَانَاso it became
بِالْجَمَالِ الَّذي رَأَتْهُ فَكَانَا
آيَةُthe wonder of المُبْصِرَاتِthose that see وَالسَّامِعَاتِand those that hear
آيَةُ المُبْصِرَاتِ وَالسَّامِعَاتِ
with the beauty they saw, which became
The sighs of dawn call to each other
a wonder to all who see and hear.
The warblers’ singing responds
وَتَنَاجَتْand whispered together فَوَائِحُthe fragrances of الأَزْهَارِflowers
وَتَنَاجَتْ فَوَائِحُ الأَزْهَارِ
وَتَنَادَتْand called to one another نَوَافِحُthe breezes of الأَسْحَارِthe predawn hours
وَتَنَادَتْ نَوَافِحُ الأَسْحَارِ
And the flowers' fragrances whispered to one another,
Saying “This is the quintessence of mysteries”
and the breezes of dawn called to one another,
And the seal of the most wondrous wonders
وَتَدَاعَتْand summoned one another صَوَادِحُthe singing ones of الأَطْيَارِthe birds
وَتَدَاعَتْ صَوَادِحُ الأَطْيَارِ
قُلْنَthey said هَذِيthis خُلاَصَةُthe essence of الأَسْرَارِmysteries
قُلْنَ هَذِي خُلاَصَةُ الأَسْرَارِ
and the singing birds summoned one another.
“Our Lord, there is none worthy of worship but You
They said, 'This is the essence of mysteries
What creation do we see with a new form?
وَخِتَامُand the culmination of الْعَجَائِبُwonders المُدْهِشَاتِastounding
وَخِتَامُ الْعَجَائِبُ المُدْهِشَاتِ
رَبَّناour Lord ماthere is no سِوَاكَbesides You مِنْany مَعْبُودِone worshipped
رَبَّنا ما سِوَاكَ مِنْ مَعْبُودِ
and the culmination of astounding wonders.
Is she a risen sun or did she appear to Your servants
Our Lord, none but You is worshipped.
A trait of Yours in a unique example
أَيَّwhat خَلْقٍcreation نَرَىdo we see بِشَكْلٍin a form جَدِيدِnew
أَيَّ خَلْقٍ نَرَى بِشَكْلٍ جَدِيدِ
بِنْتَa daughter of شَمْسٍthe sun أَمْor قَدْalready بَدَتْhas appeared لِلْعَبِيدِto Your servants
بِنْتَ شَمْسٍ أَمْ قَدْ بَدَتْ لِلْعَبِيدِ
What creation do we see in a new form—
To receive our prostration and prayers?”
a daughter of the sun, or has there appeared to Your servants
A voice said “It is providence come to pass
صِفَةٌan attribute مِنْكَfrom You فِيin مِثَالٍa likeness فَرِيدِunique
صِفَةٌ مِنْكَ فِي مِثَالٍ فَرِيدِ
لِتَلَقِّيto receive سُجُودِنَاour prostration وَالصَّلاَةِand prayer
لِتَلَقِّي سُجُودِنَا وَالصَّلاَةِ
an attribute of Yours in a unique likeness,
It has illuminated your kingdom and shaded it
to receive our prostration and prayer?'
She has assumed authority over you all
قَالَsaid صَوْتٌهِيَa voice: she is الْعِنَايَةُProvidence حَلَّتْhas come to dwell
قَالَ صَوْتٌهِيَ الْعِنَايَةُ حَلَّتْ
فَأَنَارَتْso she illumined مَلِيكَكُمْyour king وَأَظَلَّتْand gave shelter
فَأَنَارَتْ مَلِيكَكُمْ وَأَظَلَّتْ
A voice said, 'She is Providence; she has come
And today she is a radiant bride
and illumined your king and sheltered him.
And tomorrow, mother to the lords of all creatures”
وَهْيَand she سُلْطَانَةٌa queen عَلَيْكُمْover you تَوَلَّتْhas assumed rule
وَهْيَ سُلْطَانَةٌ عَلَيْكُمْ تَوَلَّتْ
وَهْيَand she فِيon يَوْمِهَاher day عَرُوسٌa bride تَجَلَّتْhas appeared in splendor
وَهْيَ فِي يَوْمِهَا عَرُوسٌ تَجَلَّتْ
And she is a queen who has assumed rule over you;
This is Eve, in the beginning of time
and today she is a bride revealed in splendor,
No sorrow had yet clouded her joy in the garden
وَغَداًand tomorrow أُمُّthe mother of سَادَةِthe lords of الْكَائِنَاتِall beings
وَغَداً أُمُّ سَادَةِ الْكَائِنَاتِ
تِلْكَthat حَوَّاءُEve فِيat ابْتِدَاءِthe beginning of الزَّمَانِtime
تِلْكَ حَوَّاءُ فِي ابْتِدَاءِ الزَّمَانِ
and tomorrow, mother of the lords of all beings.'
Save ignorance of the secret of being
That was Eve at the beginning of time.
And feeling that in knowing
لَمْdid not يُكَدِّرْcloud صَفَاءَهَاher serenity فِيin الجِنَانِthe gardens
لَمْ يُكَدِّرْ صَفَاءَهَا فِي الجِنَانِ
مَاanything سِوَىexcept جَهْلٍignorance of سِرٍّthe secret of هَذَاthis الكِيَانِexistence
مَا سِوَى جَهْلٍ سِرٍّ هَذَا الكِيَانِ
Nothing clouded her serenity in the gardens
Lay a pleasure beyond all other pleasures
but ignorance of the secret of this existence
She bought her knowledge by loss of eternity
وَشُعُورٍand a feeling بِأَنَّthat فِيin العِرْفَانِknowledge
وَشُعُورٍ بِأَنَّ فِي العِرْفَانِ
لَذَةًa pleasure فَوْقَabove سَائِرِall other اللَّذَّاتِpleasures
لَذَةً فَوْقَ سَائِرِ اللَّذَّاتِ
and a feeling that in knowledge
And bought with bliss the secret of passion
lay a pleasure above all other pleasures.
She preferred, over even keel, a life
فَاشْتَرَتْso she bought عِلْمَهَاher knowledge بِفَقْدِwith the loss of الدَّوَامِimmortality
فَاشْتَرَتْ عِلْمَهَا بِفَقْدِ الدَّوَامِ
وَاشْتَرَتْand she bought بِالنَّعيمِwith bliss سِرَّthe secret of الْغَرَامِlove
وَاشْتَرَتْ بِالنَّعيمِ سِرَّ الْغَرَامِ
So she bought her knowledge with the loss of immortality,
Of health and illness, union and separation
and bought the secret of love with bliss;
When her act was a sin
وَاسْتَحَبَّتand she preferred عَلَىover اعْتِدَالِthe balance of المُقَامِthe abode
وَاسْتَحَبَّت عَلَى اعْتِدَالِ المُقَامِ
عِيشَةًa life بَيْنَbetween صِحَّةhealth وَسَقَامِand sickness
عِيشَةً بَيْنَ صِحَّة وَسَقَامِ
and preferred, over the calm of her dwelling,
Did she not, as mother, become
a life between health and sickness,
Through her suffering, a holy spirit
فِيin التَّصابِيyouthful dalliance وَمُلْتَقىًand meeting وَشَتَاتِand separation
فِي التَّصابِي وَمُلْتَقىً وَشَتَاتِ
فَإِذَاso if كَانَwas فِعْلُهَاher deed ذَاكَthat إِثْمَاa sin
فَإِذَا كَانَ فِعْلُهَا ذَاكَ إِثْمَا
amid youthful dalliance, meeting, and parting.
Supreme amongst angels
So if that deed of hers was a sin,
The source of redemption and mercy?
أَفَلَمْthen did she not تَغْدُbecome حِينَwhen أَضْحَتْshe became أُمَّاa mother
أَفَلَمْ تَغْدُ حِينَ أَضْحَتْ أُمَّا
بِمُعَانَاتِهَاthrough her endurance of العَذَابَsuffering الْجَمَّاimmense
بِمُعَانَاتِهَا العَذَابَ الْجَمَّا
did she not become, when she became a mother,
She was wronged in loss
through her endurance of immense suffering,
But was rewarded nobly in recompense
رَوْحَa spirit of قُدْسٍholiness مِنَthan المَلاَئكِthe angels أَسْمَىloftier
رَوْحَ قُدْسٍ مِنَ المَلاَئكِ أَسْمَى
مَصْدَراًa source لِلْفِدَاءِfor redemption وَالرَّحَمَاتِand mercies
مَصْدَراً لِلْفِدَاءِ وَالرَّحَمَاتِ
a holy spirit loftier than the angels,
Did we not gain love and knowledge?
a source of redemption and mercies?
Our bliss increased thereby
غُبِنْتْshe was cheated فِيin الْخِيَارِchoice غَبْناًa loss جَسِيماًgrievous
غُبِنْتْ فِي الْخِيَارِ غَبْناً جَسِيماً
لَكِنِbut اعْتَاضَتِshe gained recompense اعْتِياضاًa recompense كَرِيماnoble
لَكِنِ اعْتَاضَتِ اعْتِياضاً كَرِيما
She was grievously cheated in her choice,
Despite the misfortunes that befell us
yet she gained a noble recompense.
For this we love her, however we were
أَوَلَمْand did she not تُؤْتِنَاgive us الْهَوَىlove وَالعُلُومَاand knowledge
أَوَلَمْ تُؤْتِنَا الْهَوَى وَالعُلُومَا
فَنَعِمْنَاso we enjoyed bliss وَزَادَand heightened ذَاكَthat النَّعيمَاbliss
فَنَعِمْنَا وَزَادَ ذَاكَ النَّعيمَا
And did she not give us love and knowledge,
Whether happy or sad at an event
so that we enjoyed bliss—and that bliss was heightened
Or distraught with fear, or safe
مَاwhat حُفِفْناwe were surrounded بِهِwith it مِنَof الشِّقوَاتِmiseries
مَا حُفِفْنا بِهِ مِنَ الشِّقوَاتِ
فَلِهَذَاso for this نُحِبُّهاwe love her كَيْفَhowever كُنَّاwe may be
فَلِهَذَا نُحِبُّها كَيْفَ كُنَّا
by the miseries that surrounded us?
Her love in the truest of hearts
For this we love her, however we may be,
At the core of hearts and passions
إِنْwhether فَرِحْنَاwe rejoiced فِيin حَالةٍa circumstance أَوْor حَزِنَّاwe grieved
إِنْ فَرِحْنَا فِي حَالةٍ أَوْ حَزِنَّا
أَوْor جَزِعْنَاwe were alarmed لِحادِثٍby an event أَوْor أَمِنَّاwe felt secure
أَوْ جَزِعْنَا لِحادِثٍ أَوْ أَمِنَّا
whether in any circumstance we rejoice or grieve,
or are alarmed by some event, or feel secure;
وَهَوَاهَاand love for her مِنَfrom الأَبَرِّينَthe most dutiful مِنَّاamong us
وَهَوَاهَا مِنَ الأَبَرِّينَ مِنَّا
فِيin صَمِيمِthe depths of القُلُوبِhearts وَالمُهَجَاتِand souls
فِي صَمِيمِ القُلُوبِ وَالمُهَجَاتِ
and love for her, from the most dutiful among us,
dwells in the very depths of hearts and souls.
Partial English translation: 86 of 90 Arabic lines translated.