طواميرُ في مدح النبي تضمنت

طواميرُ في مدح النبي تضمنت

كلاماً لأفهام المحبين قدوط

كلاماً لأفهام المحبين قدوط

Scrolls in praise of the Prophet contain

Praises in eulogy of the Prophet contained

words for lovers’ understanding [final expression unclear].

Words for the understanding of devoted lovers.

طواهر بيض زيّنتها بلاغةٌ

طواهر بيض زيّنتها بلاغةٌ

وما راقَ من لفظ فصيح ومن خطِّ

وما راقَ من لفظ فصيح ومن خطِّ

Pure white sheets, adorned by eloquence,

Pure whites adorned with eloquence,

and by delightful, eloquent wording and handwriting.

And pleasing, eloquent speech and writing.

طوابعُها مفضوضةُ الختم فاتلها

طوابعُها مفضوضةُ الختم فاتلها

فجوهرُها أبهى نظاماً من اللّط

فجوهرُها أبهى نظاماً من اللّط

Their seals are broken open: recite them,

Their nature stamped with a seal—recite them,

for their jewels are more beautifully strung than a necklace of beads.

For their essence is finer in order than plaited palm leaves.

طوت طيبةٌ جسمَ النبي ونشره

طوت طيبةٌ جسمَ النبي ونشره

لهُ ناشرٌ نامٍ وليس بمنحطّ

لهُ ناشرٌ نامٍ وليس بمنحطّ

Taybah enfolded the Prophet’s body; his fragrance

A good shroud wrapped the Prophet’s body and spread it out.

has one to spread it, growing and never declining.

For him a spreader lies asleep, not cast down.

طوالَ الليالي ليس يبلى جديدُه

طوالَ الليالي ليس يبلى جديدُه

ولا برده تحتَ التراب بمنعط

ولا برده تحتَ التراب بمنعط

Throughout the nights, his freshness never wears away,

Through the long nights his newness does not wear away,

nor is his mantle torn beneath the earth.

Nor does his coldness underground make him decay.

طوافي ببيت اللّه ثم بقبْره

طوافي ببيت اللّه ثم بقبْره

حضور بقلبي دونَ خطو ولا قطّ

حضور بقلبي دونَ خطو ولا قطّ

My circling of God’s House, and then his tomb,

Going around the House of God, then to his tomb—

is presence in my heart, without footsteps or covering ground.

My heart present without steps or cuts.

طوائحُ دهرِ طوّحت بي وليتها

طوائحُ دهرِ طوّحت بي وليتها

وقد لجّجت بي أخرجتني إلى الشط

وقد لجّجت بي أخرجتني إلى الشط

Time’s ravages tossed me about; and would that they,

The passing days of fate have tossed me about. Would that

having plunged me into the deep, had brought me to shore.

They had drowned me and brought me out onto the shore!

طوى العبدُ في تلك الطريق مخففاً

طوى العبدُ في تلك الطريق مخففاً

ذنوباً علته غطها أثقل الغط

ذنوباً علته غطها أثقل الغط

On that path the servant put away, lightening his burden,

The servant folded up on that path, lightening

sins that overwhelmed him with the heaviest engulfing.

Sins that weighed on him—they were covered by the heaviest cover.

طواغيتُ أهل الكفرِ حلّت لأحمد

طواغيتُ أهل الكفرِ حلّت لأحمد

فما حَطتِ الأقلام ثم القنا الخطّ

فما حَطتِ الأقلام ثم القنا الخطّ

The unbelievers’ tyrants became lawful for Ahmad;

The tyrants of the unbelievers beset Ahmad,

so the pens did not bring them down; then the lances of Khatt—

But the pens did not write, nor did the spearheads cut.

طواعنُ تتلوها رفاق صوارب

طواعنُ تتلوها رفاق صوارب

فما شئت من وخز وما شيت من قطّ

فما شئت من وخز وما شيت من قطّ

thrusting, followed by companion blades that cut—

Daggers that stab him are followed by cavaliers’ swords.

as much piercing as you wish, and as much slashing as you wish.

What you willed of piercing, what you willed of cutting!