تبدَّدdispersed الليلُthe night مضمحلاfading away
تبدَّد الليلُ مضمحلا
إذas أَفَلَتset أنجمُthe stars العلأthe heights
إذ أَفَلَت أنجمُ العلأ
Night dispersed, fading away,
The night faded away, weakened,
As the stars of the heights set.
As its stars began to disappear.
وأقبلand approached الفجرthe dawn مستهلاbreaking forth
وأقبل الفجر مستهلا
يضاحكُsharing smiles with الأرضَthe earth والسمأand the sky
يضاحكُ الأرضَ والسمأ
And dawn approached, beginning to shine,
And dawn came into sight,
Sharing smiles with the earth and sky.
Smiling at the earth and the sky.
أطلَّappeared فيin الشرقthe east زاهراًradiant
أطلَّ في الشرق زاهراً
تصبغهcolors it حمرةُthe redness الشفقtwilight
تصبغه حمرةُ الشفق
It appeared in the east, radiant,
It rose in the east, blossoming,
Colored by the redness of twilight,
Dyed with the redness of the horizon.
يخترقpierces الغيمthe clouds باهراdazzling
يخترق الغيم باهرا
بنورهwith its light عندماwhen ائتلقit gleamed
بنوره عندما ائتلق
Piercing the clouds, dazzling,
It pierces the clouds, shining,
With its light as it gleamed.
With its light when it collided with them.
ويرسلand sends النورَthe light زائراas a visitor
ويرسل النورَ زائرا
يُنبِّهُawakens الطيرَthe birds فيin الورقthe leaves
يُنبِّهُ الطيرَ في الورق
And it sends the light as a visitor
And it sends glancing light
To wake the birds among the leaves.
That awakens the birds in the leaves,
كأنماas though الكونُthe universe إذاwhen تجلىshone forth
كأنما الكونُ إذا تجلى
وامتزجand mingled الليلُthe night بالضياءwith light
وامتزج الليلُ بالضياء
As though the universe, when it shone forth
As if the universe, when it appeared,
And night mingled with light,
And the night mingled with the light.
بقيَّةُthe remnant البؤسmisery حينwhen ولّىit departed
بقيَّةُ البؤس حين ولّى
فيat مطلعthe dawning السعدِgood fortune والهناءand joy
في مطلع السعدِ والهناء
Were misery's remnant as it departed
The rest of misery departed
At the dawning of good fortune and joy.
When the dawn of joy and delight came.
وأقبلتand approached ربةُthe mistress النهارof day
وأقبلت ربةُ النهار
فيin موكبِa procession النورof light رافعهraising
في موكبِ النور رافعه
And the mistress of day approached
And the mistress of the day came
In a procession of light, raising
In a procession of light, raising
الويةَbanners النصرof victory والفخارand glory
الويةَ النصر والفخار
ورديَّةrosy اللونthe hue ساطعهradiant
ورديَّة اللون ساطعه
The banners of victory and glory,
The banner of victory and pride,
Rosy in hue, radiant.
Rosy in color, shining.
كأنهاas though she والنسيمُand the breeze ساريmoving
كأنها والنسيمُ ساري
فيin الروضthe garden يغدوgoes forth الشذاthe fragrance معهwith it
في الروض يغدو الشذا معه
As though she, while the breeze moved
As if she and the breeze strolled
Through the garden with fragrance beside it,
In the garden, the aroma accompanying them.
تاجُa crown عقيقٍof agate بهwith it تحلىadorned itself
تاجُ عقيقٍ به تحلى
وزادand increased حسناًin beauty هذاthis الفضاءthe expanse
وزاد حسناً هذا الفضاء
Were an agate crown with which it adorned itself,
Adorned with a crown of carnelian,
And this expanse grew more beautiful;
Which added more beauty to this open space,
أوor مَلكُa king عزٍّof glory وافىarrived at محلّاa dwelling
أو مَلكُ عزٍّ وافى محلّا
يغمرهfloods it الشرقُthe east بالبهاءwith splendor
يغمره الشرقُ بالبهاء
Or a king of glory arriving at a dwelling
Or an angel of might who found
Flooded by the east with splendor.
The east inundating it with splendor.
فقمتُso I rose أمشيI walk إلىtoward الحقولthe fields
فقمتُ أمشي إلى الحقول
أشاهدُI watch الشمسَthe sun مشرقهshining
أشاهدُ الشمسَ مشرقه
So I rose and walked toward the fields,
So I walked to the fields,
Watching the sun shine,
Watching the beaming sun,
والنورُand the light منfrom وجههاher face الجميلbeautiful
والنورُ من وجهها الجميل
يسكبpours فيinto قلبيmy heart المِقَهlove
يسكب في قلبي المِقَه
While light from her beautiful face
And the light from its beautiful face
Pours love into my heart,
Pours into my heart passionately.
فيin مسرحٍa scene بالضحىwith morning sunshine حفيلfilled
في مسرحٍ بالضحى حفيل
حيثwhere الرياضthe gardens المنمقهadorned
حيث الرياض المنمقه
In a scene filled with morning sunshine,
In a meadow filled with morning,
Where the gardens stand adorned.
Where elegant gardens are located.
إنif شئتyou wished ورداًroses أوor شئتyou wished فلاjasmine
إن شئت ورداً أو شئت فلا
وكلهاand all of them نابتُvegetation الخلاءthe open land
وكلها نابتُ الخلاء
Roses if you wished, or jasmine if you wished,
If you wish for roses or wish not,
And all of them plants of the open land,
All are growing freely in the open space.
تقلَّدadorned itself with رونقاًradiance وطلّاand dew
تقلَّد رونقاً وطلّا
وابتسمتand smiled بسمةa smile الحياءof bashfulness
وابتسمت بسمة الحياء
Adorned themselves with radiance and dew
Adorned with grace and dew drops,
And smiled a bashful smile.
And smiled with a smile of shyness.
واستعرضand displayed العشبُthe grass فرشهits carpets
واستعرض العشبُ فرشه
خضراءgreen مثلlike الزمردemerald
خضراء مثل الزمرد
And the grass displayed its carpets,
And the grass flaunted its rug,
Green as emerald,
Green like emerald,
إذas نشرspread الطيرُthe bird ريشهits feathers
إذ نشر الطيرُ ريشه
ملتمعاًgleaming فوقهاabove them نديdewy
ملتمعاً فوقها ندي
As the bird spread its feathers,
When the birds spread their feathers,
Gleaming above them, fresh with dew.
Gathering atop it cheerfully.
وبارحand left الفرخُthe fledgling عشهits nest
وبارح الفرخُ عشه
فيin ملعswift flight الجِدِّearnestness والددand play
في ملع الجِدِّ والدد
And the fledgling left its nest
And the chick left its nest
In swift flight, earnest and playful;
In the beauty and adornment of the morning,
علىabove الربىthe hills طائراًflying تعلّىrose high
على الربى طائراً تعلّى
مستشرقاًfacing eastward هابطdescending into الجِواءthe broad valley
مستشرقاً هابط الجِواء
Flying above the hills, it rose high,
A bird rising high
Turning eastward, descending into the broad valley,
Coming down through the air space.
يسبحglorifies اللَهGod مستقلّاtaking flight
يسبح اللَه مستقلّا
لواحفيهfor its wings (unclear form) ملكُdominion الهواءthe air
لواحفيه ملكُ الهواء
Praising God as it took flight,
It swims freely in the void
Its wings held dominion over the air.
With the king of the air accompanying it.
جئتI came إلىto النهرthe river قاصداًseeking
جئت إلى النهر قاصداً
جمامَrest نفسيmy soul علىupon حصاهits pebbles
جمامَ نفسي على حصاه
I came to the river, seeking
I came to the river on purpose,
Rest for my soul upon its pebbles,
To quench the thirst of my soul with its pebbles,
مسرَّحَset free الفكرِthought ناشداًseeking
مسرَّحَ الفكرِ ناشداً
منfrom العلاthe heights راحةrepose الحياهof life
من العلا راحة الحياه
My thoughts set free, seeking
Appealing to the mind’s theater,
From on high, the repose of life.
Seeking tranquility of life from the Most High.
انظرI look حوليaround me إلىinto مدىthe distance
انظر حولي إلى مدى
والشجرُand the trees الخافرُguarding المياهthe waters
والشجرُ الخافرُ المياه
I look around me into the distance,
Look around me to the horizon,
While the trees that guard the waters
And the trees leaning over the waters,
يرسمdraws فوقupon المياهthe waters ظلّاa shadow
يرسم فوق المياه ظلّا
مضطرباًquivering عابسgrim الوراءwhat lies behind
مضطرباً عابس الوراء
Draw a shadow upon the waters,
Casting shadows on the waters,
Quivering, with a grim backdrop.
Disturbed, gloomy in appearance.
قلتI said لنفسيto myself ياO نفسsoul مهلاًbe calm
قلت لنفسي يا نفس مهلاً
لاnot ينفعhelps الهمُّworry والعناءand toil
لا ينفع الهمُّ والعناء
I said to myself: O soul, be calm;
I said to myself, O soul take it easy,
Worry and toil are of no use.
Worry and sorrow are of no use.
فكلfor all هذيthese الحصىthe pebbles نجومُstars
فكل هذي الحصى نجومُ
علىupon الرمالthe sands استقرَّتِhave settled
على الرمال استقرَّتِ
For all these pebbles are stars
For all these pebbles are stars
That have settled upon the sands;
That settled on the sands.
والمرجُand the meadow وجهthe face السماof the sky الوسيمُlovely
والمرجُ وجه السما الوسيمُ
ولانهرُand the river نهرُthe river المجرَّةِof the Milky Way
ولانهرُ نهرُ المجرَّةِ
And the meadow is the sky's lovely face,
And the meadow is the face of the beautiful sky,
And the river is the Milky Way's river;
And the river is the river of the galaxy.
والنبتand the plants زاهٍflourishing بهwithin it عميمabundant
والنبت زاهٍ به عميم
يبعثsends forth روحَthe spirit المسرَّةِof joy
يبعث روحَ المسرَّةِ
And the plants are lush and abundant within it,
And vegetation blossoms abundantly,
Sending forth the spirit of joy;
Emitting the spirit of joy.
والزهرُand the flowers فيهwithin it يشبهresemble طفلاa child
والزهرُ فيه يشبه طفلا
ضجيجclamor مهدٍa cradle رحبٍspacious رخاءcomfort
ضجيج مهدٍ رحبٍ رخاء
And the flowers in it resemble a child,
And the flowers resemble a child,
Noisy in a spacious, comfortable cradle;
The bustle of a vast, serene cradle,
إذاwhen يهبblows النسيمthe breeze سهلاgently
إذا يهب النسيم سهلا
يلعبplays فيهin it كماas يشاءit pleases
يلعب فيه كما يشاء
When the breeze blows gently,
When the breeze blows gently,
It plays in it as it pleases.
Playing in it as it wishes.
الماءُthe water والنورُand the light والعبيرand the fragrance
الماءُ والنورُ والعبير
والرملُand the sand والنبتُand the plants والحصىand the pebbles
والرملُ والنبتُ والحصى
The water, the light, and the fragrance,
The water, the light, the fragrance,
And the sand, the plants, and the pebbles,
The sand, the plants and the pebbles,
والنسماتand the breezes التيthat تسيرmove
والنسمات التي تسير
والظلُّand the shade إمّاwhenever تقلصاshrinks
والظلُّ إمّا تقلصا
And the breezes that pass,
And the breezes that blow,
And the shade whenever it shrinks,
And the shade, sometimes expanding, sometimes shrinking,
رمزٌa symbol لكنٍfor a refuge بهin it السرورjoy
رمزٌ لكنٍ به السرور
علىthroughout المدىall time قدindeed تخصصاwas reserved
على المدى قد تخصصا
Are an emblem of a refuge where joy
Are symbols of serenity
Has been reserved for all time;
That permeated the horizon.
وجاءَand came هذاthis عنهfrom it مُقِلّاpoorly endowed
وجاءَ هذا عنه مُقِلّا
بكلwith all ماthat فيهwithin it منof عَداءenmity
بكل ما فيه من عَداء
And this world came from it, less richly endowed,
And this came humbly,
With all the enmity within it.
With all the hostility in it.
يقتصُّexacts retribution فيهin it الإلهُGod عدلاjustly
يقتصُّ فيه الإلهُ عدلا
ممنfrom whoever بغىtransgressed فيهin it أوor أَساءdid wrong
ممن بغى فيه أو أَساء
In it God exacts just retribution
The God dispenses justice in it
From whoever transgressed in it or did wrong.
Against those who transgressed or did wrong.
الكلeverything فيin الكونthe universe لازمnecessary
الكل في الكون لازم
حتىeven جمادlifeless matter بغيرwithout حسfeeling
حتى جماد بغير حس
Everything in the universe is necessary,
Everything in the universe is destined,
Even lifeless matter without feeling.
Even inanimate objects without senses,
والحيوانand the animal المسالمpeaceable
والحيوان المسالم
يسرحroams فيin مأمنa safe haven وأنسand ease
يسرح في مأمن وأنس
And the peaceable animal
And the peaceful animal
Roams in safety and ease;
Grazes in safety and comfort.
لهfor it الفضاopen space والنواسمand breezes
له الفضا والنواسم
وظلُّand the shade دوحٍof great trees ونورُand the light شمسof the sun
وظلُّ دوحٍ ونورُ شمس
It has open space and breezes,
It has the space, the breeze,
And the shade of great trees and sunlight.
And the shade of palms and the light of the sun.
واتَّخذand established اللَهGod فيهwithin it كِفلاa share
واتَّخذ اللَه فيه كِفلا
لماfor what يوافيهreaches it منof غذاءnourishment
لما يوافيه من غذاء
And God has set aside a share therein
And God has taken it as a dependent
For the nourishment that comes its way;
For the sustenance it receives,
يُنتجproduces ولداًoffspring لهfor itself وأهلاand a family
يُنتج ولداً له وأهلا
ويُكثِرand increases الخصبَfertility والنماءand growth
ويُكثِر الخصبَ والنماء
It produces offspring and a family for itself,
It produces offspring for itself and a family,
And increases fertility and growth.
And increases fertility and growth.
كذاكthus كلall العناصرthe elements
كذاك كل العناصر
تنضمُّjoin together حتىuntil تُوَحَّداbecome one
تنضمُّ حتى تُوَحَّدا
Thus all the elements
Thus all elements
Join together until they become one:
Join together until they unite.
أواصرٌbonds فيwithin أواصرbonds
أواصرٌ في أواصر
أوائلbeginnings لنwill not تعدداbe numbered
أوائل لن تعددا
Bonds within bonds,
Bonds within bonds,
Beginnings that cannot be numbered,
Beginnings that will not multiply.
موصولةٌlinked بالأواخرto endings
موصولةٌ بالأواخر
وهيand they are بناءٌan edifice تفرداis unrivaled
وهي بناءٌ تفردا
Linked to endings;
Connected to the ends,
And they form an unrivaled edifice
And it is a singular structure.
لمنfor Him who بناهbuilt it فهوso it is مصلّىa place of prayer
لمن بناه فهو مصلّى
يُعبدُis worshipped فيهin it سرُّthe mystery البقاءof enduring existence
يُعبدُ فيه سرُّ البقاء
For Him who built it—a place of prayer,
For the One who built it, He is worshipped,
Where the mystery of enduring existence is worshipped.
The secret of existence is worshipped in it.
واللَهand God فيهwithin it عزis mighty وجلّاand exalted
واللَه فيه عز وجلّا
يدبِّرُgoverns الكلَّeverything بالسواءequally
يدبِّرُ الكلَّ بالسواء
And God—mighty and exalted—within it
And God in it, Almighty and Sublime,
Governs all alike.
Regulates everything equally.