تَذَكَّرَhe recalled أَيّامَthe days of اللّوىal-Liwa فَبَكىso he wept وَجداًin yearning
تَذَكَّرَ أَيّامَ اللّوى فَبَكى وَجداً
وَفَرَّقَتِand tore apart الأَشواقthe longings مِنfrom جَوفِهhis innards الكبداthe liver
وَفَرَّقَتِ الأَشواق مِن جَوفِه الكبدا
He recalled the days of al-Liwa and wept with yearning.
He recalled the days of passion, so he wept intensely,
And longings tore the liver from his innards.
And yearning had torn his inner self to pieces.
وَأَفرَطَand became excessive فيهِin him الشّوقlonging وَجداًin yearning وَلَوعةًand burning anguish
وَأَفرَطَ فيهِ الشّوق وَجداً وَلَوعةً
وَمِنهُand through it بِناءُthe edifice of العمرِlife وَالحيلand strength قَدindeed هُدّاwere demolished
وَمِنهُ بِناءُ العمرِ وَالحيل قَد هُدّا
Longing grew excessive within him, in yearning and burning anguish.
Passion, grief and anguish did overwhelm him,
And through it the edifice of his life and strength was demolished.
And the pillars of his life and stratagems had collapsed.
وَقَدand indeed شابَturned gray هدبُthe lashes of العَينِthe eye وَاِسوَدَّand turned black دَمعُهاits tears
وَقَد شابَ هدبُ العَينِ وَاِسوَدَّ دَمعُها
وَقَدand indeed كانَhad been مُبيَضّاًwhite فَقَدso now صارَbecame مُسودّاblackened
وَقَد كانَ مُبيَضّاً فَقَد صارَ مُسودّا
His eyelashes turned gray, and his tears turned black.
The eyelids had become white with age and its tears had turned black,
They had been white, but now have become black.
Though they were white before, now they had become dark.
وَمِنهُand because of it لَقَدindeed وَلّىdeparted وَماتَand died شَبابُهُhis youth
وَمِنهُ لَقَد وَلّى وَماتَ شَبابُهُ
فَكَفَّنهso he shrouded it مِنfrom شيبِthe grayness of لمّتِهِhis locks برداa mantle
فَكَفَّنه مِن شيبِ لمّتِهِ بردا
Because of it, his youth departed and died.
From it his youth had declined and died,
So he shrouded it in a mantle of his graying locks.
So old age shrouded it in the garb of chillness.
وَقَدand indeed مَرَّpassed فيهِthrough him ذِكرُremembrance of طيبةَTaybah فَاِغتَدىso he became
وَقَد مَرَّ فيهِ ذِكرُ طيبةَ فَاِغتَدى
خَدينa companion of هِيامfrenzied longing لاnot يَقِرُّrests وَلاand not يَهداgrows calm
خَدين هِيام لا يَقِرُّ وَلا يَهدا
The remembrance of Taybah passed through him, and he became
The memory of the dunes of Tibah made him lose control,
A companion to frenzied longing, neither resting nor growing calm.
With cheeks of an obsessed lover who finds no rest or guidance.
يُكَتِّمُhe conceals مِنfrom خَوفِfear of الشّماتَةِgloating وَجدَهُhis yearning
يُكَتِّمُ مِن خَوفِ الشّماتَةِ وَجدَهُ
وَجالدَand struggled حتّىuntil صَيَّرturned الجلدendurance الجِلداskin
وَجالدَ حتّى صَيَّر الجلد الجِلدا
He conceals his yearning for fear of others' gloating.
He concealed his passion fearing the gloating of enemies,
And struggled until he turned endurance into skin.
Until he made skin callous in place of skin.
وَمِنand from بَينِamong أَحشاهhis innards حَريقa blaze of صَبابَةٍpassionate longing
وَمِن بَينِ أَحشاه حَريق صَبابَةٍ
يُهَيِّجهُstirs it تِذكارهُhis remembrance of البانthe ban trees أَوor نَجداNajd
يُهَيِّجهُ تِذكارهُ البان أَو نَجدا
Within his innards is a blaze of passionate longing;
And from his inner self there was a blazing ember of youth,
His remembrance of the ban trees or Najd stirs it.
Stirred up by the memory of meadows or stone-carved idols.
إِذاwhen نامَتِslept السّمّارُthe night conversers هوّمhe dozed جالِساًsitting
إِذا نامَتِ السّمّارُ هوّم جالِساً
وَجافىand shunned لِفَرطِbecause of excessive الوَجدِyearning تَوسيدهُhis pillowing of الخدّاthe cheek
وَجافى لِفَرطِ الوَجدِ تَوسيدهُ الخدّا
When the night conversers slept, he dozed sitting upright.
When the night grew still he sat up sleepless,
And, from overwhelming yearning, shunned pillowing his cheek.
Abstaining from pillowing his cheek due to the excess of grief.
وَكَيفَand how يَنامُcan sleep اللّيلَthrough the night مَنone who كانَwas هائِماًlovesick
وَكَيفَ يَنامُ اللّيلَ مَن كانَ هائِماً
وَقَدand indeed مَلأfilled التذكارُremembrance أَعيُنَهُhis eyes سُهداwith sleeplessness
وَقَد مَلأ التذكارُ أَعيُنَهُ سُهدا
How can a lovesick man sleep through the night,
How can one sleep at night when obsessed with love,
When remembrance has filled his eyes with sleeplessness?
And reminiscence has filled his eyes with wakefulness?
بِحَيثُso that مُقاساةُenduring التّولُّهِinfatuation وَالهَوىand love
بِحَيثُ مُقاساةُ التّولُّهِ وَالهَوى
أَضَرَّتharmed بِهِhim حَتّىuntil تَجاوَزَتِexceeded الحدّاthe limit
أَضَرَّت بِهِ حَتّى تَجاوَزَتِ الحدّا
So much so that enduring infatuation and love
To the extent that suffering anguish and passion
Harmed him until it exceeded all bounds.
Had harmed him until they had exceeded all limits.
فَأَصبَحَso he became مُلتَفَّenclosing الضّلوعِthe ribs عَلىaround جَوىburning anguish
فَأَصبَحَ مُلتَفَّ الضّلوعِ عَلى جَوى
يُذيبُmelts بَقاياremnants of الرّوحِthe spirit وَالنّفسَand the soul الكدّاtoil
يُذيبُ بَقايا الرّوحِ وَالنّفسَ الكدّا
So he became one whose ribs enclose a burning anguish
So he became twisted of ribs due to the fire of love,
That melts the remnants of his spirit, while toil melts his soul.
Melting away the remnants of soul and the most wretched self.
حَبيسa captive of هَوىًlove صَالَتassailed عَلَيهِhim يَدُthe hand of النّوىseparation
حَبيس هَوىً صَالَت عَلَيهِ يَدُ النّوى
وَقَدand indeed قنطتهُmade him despair أَنthat يُفكَّhe might be freed وَأَنand that يُفدىhe might be ransomed
وَقَد قنطتهُ أَن يُفكَّ وَأَن يُفدى
A captive of love, assailed by the hand of separation,
Imprisoned by an obsession upon which the hand of affection had been extended,
Which made him despair of being freed or ransomed.
And by fate he had been made to despair of deliverance and emancipation.
رَمَتshot فيهِat him عَنfrom قَوسِthe bow of المَهالكِdestruction فَاِرتَمىso he fell stricken
رَمَت فيهِ عَن قَوسِ المَهالكِ فَاِرتَمى
وَأقعدand was incapacitated لَمnot يَسطعcould manage لِأَحبابِهِto his loved ones رَدَّاa reply
وَأقعد لَم يَسطع لِأَحبابِهِ رَدَّا
It shot at him from the bow of destruction, and he fell stricken.
It had aimed at him the bow of perdition so he fell down,
And was left helpless, unable to answer his loved ones.
And made him sit down immobilized, unable to help his loved ones.
طَريحprostrate لَدىat بَيروتَBeirut سالَتflowed جُروحُهُhis wounds
طَريح لَدى بَيروتَ سالَت جُروحُهُ
وَقَدand indeed جَعَلواthey made فيin طيبةٍTaybah لَهمُfor themselves مَهداa resting place
وَقَد جَعَلوا في طيبةٍ لَهمُ مَهدا
Prostrate in Beirut, his wounds streaming,
Lying wounded in Beirut, his injuries pouring forth,
While they have made themselves a resting place in Taybah.
While they had made for him in Tibah a final resting place.
بِماذاby what means يرَجّىhopes for القربَnearness مَنْone whose ذاكَthat حالُهُhis condition
بِماذا يرَجّى القربَ مَنْ ذاكَ حالُهُ
وَقَدand indeed أفعمَfilled التّقديرُdestiny شِقّتهhis journey بُعداwith remoteness
وَقَد أفعمَ التّقديرُ شِقّته بُعدا
How can one in such a state hope for nearness,
With what can proximity be hoped for by one whose state is thus,
When destiny has filled his journey with remoteness?
And the decree of destiny had distanced him with utmost separation?
إِذاif اِستَعمَلhe employs الآمالَhopes فيin مَسلَكِthe path of الرّجاexpectation
إِذا اِستَعمَل الآمالَ في مَسلَكِ الرّجا
تَمدُّstretch عَواديthe assaults of الدّهرtime مِنfrom دونِهِbefore him حدّاa barrier
تَمدُّ عَوادي الدّهر مِن دونِهِ حدّا
If he employs his hopes on the path of expectation,
If one employs hopes in the path of wishing,
The assaults of time raise a barrier before him.
The calamities of fate flow without end.
سَقَىmay water اللَّهGod مِنfrom عَينيmy eye ملثّunceasing دُموعِهاits tears
سَقَى اللَّه مِن عَيني ملثّ دُموعِها
مَعاهدold haunts لَمnot أَنقُضI have broken لِذِمّتهاtoward their covenant عَهداa pledge
مَعاهد لَم أَنقُض لِذِمّتها عَهدا
May God water, with the unceasing rain of my eye's tears,
May Allah water from my eyes whose copious tears
The old haunts whose covenant I have never broken,
Have flowed over covenants I have never violated.
بِحَيثwhere صَباthe east wind of نَجدNajd سحيراًjust before dawn إِذاwhen سَرىpasses by night
بِحَيث صَبا نَجد سحيراً إِذا سَرى
يُقَبِّلkisses فيin أَكنافِهاtheir surroundings الشّيحَthe wormwood وَالرّنداand the laurel
يُقَبِّل في أَكنافِها الشّيحَ وَالرّندا
Where Najd's east wind, when it passes before dawn,
To the extent that passion roamed at night, kissing
Kisses the wormwood and laurel in their precincts;
In its folds the withered and forgotten tree.
وَطيبَand the sweetness of أَوانٍa time كُنتI used to أَجنيgather بِهِin it الصّفاserenity
وَطيبَ أَوانٍ كُنت أَجني بِهِ الصّفا
وَأَرشفُand I sipped مِنfrom كَأسِthe cup of الأَمانيwishes بِهِin it شَهداhoney
وَأَرشفُ مِن كَأسِ الأَماني بِهِ شَهدا
And the sweetness of a time when I gathered serenity,
And the time when I enjoyed intimacy,
And sipped honey then from the cup of wishes.
And sipped from the cup of hopes a sweet nectar.
مَضىit passed فَذَكتso blazed نارُthe fire of الصّبابَةِlonging وَالجَوىand burning anguish
مَضى فَذَكت نارُ الصّبابَةِ وَالجَوى
بِقَلبيin my heart كَأَنّيas though I ماnot وَجدتُhad found لَهfor it بَرداcoolness
بِقَلبي كَأَنّي ما وَجدتُ لَه بَردا
It passed, and the fire of longing and anguish flared
It has passed, so the ember of youthful passion and anguish
In my heart, as though I had found no coolness for it.
Ignited in my heart as if I had never found solace.
لَكِfor you اللَّهGod ياO ريحَwind of الحِجازِthe Hijaz إِذاwhen سَرىpasses by night
لَكِ اللَّه يا ريحَ الحِجازِ إِذا سَرى
يُجدِّدُrenews فيin قَلبيmy heart لِنارِfor the fire of الجَوىburning grief وَقداa blaze
يُجدِّدُ في قَلبي لِنارِ الجَوى وَقدا
God be with you, O wind of the Hijaz, when you pass by night,
To you O breeze of the Hijaz when it blows,
Rekindling in my heart the blaze of burning grief,
Renewing in my heart the embers of anguish and kindling.
وَهَبَّand blew عَلىacross أَرجاءِthe reaches of طيبَةTaybah موهناًlate at night
وَهَبَّ عَلى أَرجاءِ طيبَة موهناً
يُصافِحُshakes hands with فيهاin it النّورَthe light إِنْif بانَappeared وَاِمتَدّاand spread
يُصافِحُ فيها النّورَ إِنْ بانَ وَاِمتَدّا
And blow late at night across Taybah's reaches,
Bestow on the environs of Tibah, wherever you turn,
Shaking hands there with the light when it appears and spreads.
A radiance that spreads out continuously.
تحمَّلcarry لِخَيرِto the best of الخَلقِcreation أَفضَلthe finest مُرسَلٍmessenger
تحمَّل لِخَيرِ الخَلقِ أَفضَل مُرسَلٍ
مِنَfrom الوالِهِthe distraught lover المُشتاقِthe yearning one أَشرفthe noblest ماwhat يُهدىis offered as a gift
مِنَ الوالِهِ المُشتاقِ أَشرف ما يُهدى
Bear to the best of creation, the finest messenger,
Convey to the best of creations, the most virtuous messenger,
From the distraught, yearning lover, the noblest gift offered.
From an ardent lover the most noble gift that can be presented.
نَبِيّa prophet هوَhe is النّورُthe light الّذيwhich مِنهُfrom it كُوِّنتwere formed
نَبِيّ هوَ النّورُ الّذي مِنهُ كُوِّنت
وَأُوجِدتِand were brought into being الأَكوانthe worlds فَهوَso he is لَهاfor them المَبداthe origin
وَأُوجِدتِ الأَكوان فَهوَ لَها المَبدا
A prophet who is the light from which were formed
A prophet who is the light from which
And brought into being the worlds: he is their origin.
The cosmos was created, so he is the source of its existence.
وَكانَand he was نَبِيّاًa prophet قَبلَbefore أَنthat كانَexisted آدمٌAdam
وَكانَ نَبِيّاً قَبلَ أَن كانَ آدمٌ
وَآدمُand Adam ماnot نالَattained الوجودَexistence وَلاnor اِعتَدّاwas reckoned
وَآدمُ ما نالَ الوجودَ وَلا اِعتَدّا
He was a prophet before Adam existed,
He had been a prophet before Adam,
When Adam had neither attained existence nor been reckoned.
While Adam had not yet attained existence and power.
نَبيٌّa prophet أَقَرَّestablished اللَّهُGod ربّيَmy Lord نورَهُhis light
نَبيٌّ أَقَرَّ اللَّهُ ربّيَ نورَهُ
بِأَصلابِin the loins of آباءٍfathers تَسامَوْاrose high بِهِthrough him مَجداin glory
بِأَصلابِ آباءٍ تَسامَوْا بِهِ مَجدا
A prophet whose light God, my Lord, established
A prophet whom my Lord had decreed his light
In the loins of fathers who rose through him in glory,
In the loins of noble fathers who had attained glory through him.
وَخَيرand the finest بُطونٍwombs مِنof كرائِمَnoble women طُهِّرَتwere purified
وَخَير بُطونٍ مِن كرائِمَ طُهِّرَت
وَنالَتand attained بِهِthrough him العلياءَeminence وَاليمنَand good fortune وَالسّعداand felicity
وَنالَت بِهِ العلياءَ وَاليمنَ وَالسّعدا
And the finest wombs of noble women made pure,
And the best of wombs purified,
Who attained through him eminence, good fortune, and felicity.
Attaining through him sublime status, good fortune and bliss.
وَأَرحامُهاand their wombs ضَمّتهُenclosed him وَهيَand they are جَواهِرٌjewels
وَأَرحامُها ضَمّتهُ وَهيَ جَواهِرٌ
فَياso oh فَخرَهاtheir pride إِذwhen ضَمَّتِenclosed الجَوهَرَthe jewel الفَرداpeerless
فَيا فَخرَها إِذ ضَمَّتِ الجَوهَرَ الفَردا
Their wombs held him, themselves jewels;
Their wombs had carried him while they were gems,
What pride was theirs when they held the peerless jewel!
So what an honor for them when they carried that unique gem!
تَنَقّلhe passed مِنfrom صلبٍloins شَريفٍnoble لِمِثلِهِto their like
تَنَقّل مِن صلبٍ شَريفٍ لِمِثلِهِ
وَفيand on جَبهَةِthe brow of الآباءِthe fathers ربّيmy Lord لَهُfor him أَبدىrevealed
وَفي جَبهَةِ الآباءِ ربّي لَهُ أَبدى
He passed from noble loins to others like them,
He moved from one noble loin to another like it,
And on the fathers' brows my Lord revealed his light,
And my Lord eternally decreed for him in the ancestry of fathers.
إِلىuntil أَنthat تَبَدّىhe appeared لِلوجودِin existence وَأَزهَرَتand blossomed
إِلى أَن تَبَدّى لِلوجودِ وَأَزهَرَت
بِمَولِدِهat his birth الأَكوانُthe worlds وَاِمتَلأتand filled رُشداwith right guidance
بِمَولِدِه الأَكوانُ وَاِمتَلأت رُشدا
Until he appeared in existence, and there blossomed
Until he appeared into existence and the universes blossomed
At his birth the worlds, which filled with right guidance.
With his birth and became filled with righteousness.
تَباشَرَتِrejoiced الأَملاكُthe angels وَالأَرضُand the earth وَالسّماand the sky
تَباشَرَتِ الأَملاكُ وَالأَرضُ وَالسّما
بِمَولِدِهِat his birth وَالخلقand creation طرّاًaltogether ولوeven if أَعْدَاenemies
بِمَولِدِهِ وَالخلق طرّاً ولو أَعْدَا
The angels, the earth, and the sky rejoiced
The angels and the earth and the sky
At his birth, and all creation, even enemies.
Congratulated each other upon his birth, and even if they counted they could not enumerate.
وَقَدand indeed خَرَّتِfell الأَصنامُthe idols عَنaway from بَيتِthe House of رَبّناour Lord
وَقَد خَرَّتِ الأَصنامُ عَن بَيتِ رَبّنا
وَإِيوانand the vaulted hall of كِسرىKisra شُقَّwas cleft بَلindeed بَعضُهُpart of it هُدّاwas demolished
وَإِيوان كِسرى شُقَّ بَل بَعضُهُ هُدّا
The idols fell away from the House of our Lord,
The idols fell down from the House of our Lord
And Kisra's vaulted hall was cleft—indeed, part of it was brought down.
And the palace of Chosroes cracked, or even collapsed.
وَصَيَّرهُand made him شَمسَthe sun of النّبوّةَprophethood ربّهhis Lord
وَصَيَّرهُ شَمسَ النّبوّةَ ربّه
فَياso alas تعسَwretchedness of أَعمىthe blind القَلبِheart إِذwhen كانَhe was لَمnot يُهْدىguided
فَيا تعسَ أَعمى القَلبِ إِذ كانَ لَم يُهْدى
His Lord made him the sun of prophethood;
His Lord made him the sun of prophethood,
Woe to the blind-hearted one who was not guided!
So shame on the blind of heart when he is not guided!
وَأَرسَلهُand sent him الرّحمنُthe All-Merciful لِلخَلقِto creation رَحمَةًas a mercy
وَأَرسَلهُ الرّحمنُ لِلخَلقِ رَحمَةً
فَكَمso how many نِقمَةa punishment عَنهمfrom them بِهِthrough him اللَّهGod قَدindeed رَدّاturned away
فَكَم نِقمَة عَنهم بِهِ اللَّه قَد رَدّا
The All-Merciful sent him as a mercy to creation;
And the Merciful sent him as a mercy for creations,
How many a punishment God turned away from them through him!
So how many deprivations did Allah repeal from them because of him!
وَأَيَّدهُand supported him بِالمُعجِزاتِwith miracles وَبَعضهاand some of them
وَأَيَّدهُ بِالمُعجِزاتِ وَبَعضها
لَقَدindeed دامَendured كَالقُرآنِlike the Qur'an فيthrough الدّهرِtime وَاِمتَدّاand continued
لَقَد دامَ كَالقُرآنِ في الدّهرِ وَاِمتَدّا
He supported him with miracles, some of which
And He supported him with miracles, some of which
Have endured through time, like the Qur'an, and continued.
Have endured over time like the Quran.
وَمِنهاand among them اِنشِقاقُsplitting of البدرِthe full moon نِصفَينِinto two halves فيin السّماthe sky
وَمِنها اِنشِقاقُ البدرِ نِصفَينِ في السّما
وَإِحياؤُهُand his reviving بِنتاًa girl لَقَدindeed هَلَكتhad perished وَأداby burial alive
وَإِحياؤُهُ بِنتاً لَقَد هَلَكت وَأدا
Among them is the full moon's splitting into two halves in the sky,
Among them is the splitting of the moon into two halves in the sky,
And his reviving a girl who had perished by being buried alive.
And his bringing back to life a young girl who had perished.
وَفيand in كَفِّهِhis palm البيضاءِwhite قَدindeed سَبَّحَglorified God الحَصاthe pebbles
وَفي كَفِّهِ البيضاءِ قَد سَبَّحَ الحَصا
وَمِنهاand among them لَهُto him شَكوىthe complaint of البَعيرthe camel وَقَدand indeed ندّاhad bolted
وَمِنها لَهُ شَكوى البَعير وَقَد ندّا
In his white palm, the pebbles glorified God,
And in his white palm pebbles glorified God,
And among them, a camel's complaint to him after it had bolted.
And among them is the she-camel's complaining after it had been hamstrung.
وَحَنَّand yearned عَلَيهfor him الجِذعُthe palm trunk عِندَat فِراقهِhis departure
وَحَنَّ عَلَيه الجِذعُ عِندَ فِراقهِ
فَواعَدَهُso he promised it يَحبوهُto grant it فيin الجنَّةParadise الخُلداeverlasting life
فَواعَدَهُ يَحبوهُ في الجنَّة الخُلدا
The palm trunk yearned for him when he departed,
And a tree trunk showed affection for him when he departed,
So he promised it the gift of everlasting life in Paradise.
So he promised it would be delighted to see him in Paradise eternally.
وَجاءَتand came لَهُto him الأَشجارُthe trees ساجِدَةًprostrating themselves وَقَدand indeed
وَجاءَت لَهُ الأَشجارُ ساجِدَةً وَقَد
تَمَشَّتwalked تَقدُّcleaving الأَرضَthe earth فيin مَشيِهاtheir walking قَدّاa deep cleaving
تَمَشَّت تَقدُّ الأَرضَ في مَشيِها قَدّا
The trees came to him in prostration, having
Trees came to him in prostration, walking
Walked, cleaving the earth as they went.
With their trunks lowered to the ground ahead of his walking.
نَبِيٌّa prophet عَظيمُmighty in القَدرِrank لِلرّسلِof the messengers سَيِّدa master
نَبِيٌّ عَظيمُ القَدرِ لِلرّسلِ سَيِّد
وَسَمّاهُand called him مَولاهُhis Master لِرفعِهِto exalt him عَبداa servant
وَسَمّاهُ مَولاهُ لِرفعِهِ عَبدا
A prophet mighty in rank, master of the messengers,
A great prophet, the master of prophets,
Whom his Master called a servant to exalt him.
And his Master named him His servant in order to elevate him.
وَفيناand among us بِأَمرِby the command of اللَّهِGod قَدindeed قامَstood داعِياًcalling
وَفينا بِأَمرِ اللَّهِ قَد قامَ داعِياً
إِلىto الحقِّthe truth يَهديناguiding us وَقَدand indeed بَذَلexerted الجُهداeffort
إِلى الحقِّ يَهدينا وَقَد بَذَل الجُهدا
Among us, by God's command, he stood calling
And among us he stood up calling
To the truth, guiding us and exerting every effort.
By Allah's command to the truth, guiding us after having exerted great effort.
وَأَيَّدand strengthened دينَthe religion of اللَّهGod قَطعاًdecisively بِحجَّةٍwith proof
وَأَيَّد دينَ اللَّه قَطعاً بِحجَّةٍ
وَسَيفٍand a sword يَقدّcleaves الأَرضَthe earth وَالحَجرand stone الصّلداhard
وَسَيفٍ يَقدّ الأَرضَ وَالحَجر الصّلدا
He upheld God's religion decisively with proof
And he supported the religion of Allah decisively with proof
And a sword that cleaves the earth and hard stone,
And with a sword that cuts across the earth and solid stone.
بِصَحبٍwith companions هُمُthey are الآسادُlions فيin كلِّevery مَعركٍbattlefield
بِصَحبٍ هُمُ الآسادُ في كلِّ مَعركٍ
أَذلُّواthey humbled إِذاwhen صالواthey charged الضّياغِمَthe fierce lions وَالأُسْداand the lions
أَذلُّوا إِذا صالوا الضّياغِمَ وَالأُسْدا
With companions who are lions on every battlefield;
With companions who are lions in every battle,
When they charged, they humbled lions, fierce and mighty.
Subduing whenever they meet adversaries and predators.
وَباعواand they sold بِهِfor him الأَرواحَsouls نَصراًin support لِدينِهِof his religion
وَباعوا بِهِ الأَرواحَ نَصراً لِدينِهِ
وَكانواand they were لَهُfor him جُنداًan army وَأَنعِمْand how excellent بِهِمthey are جُنداas an army
وَكانوا لَهُ جُنداً وَأَنعِمْ بِهِم جُندا
They sold their souls for him in support of his religion;
They sacrificed their souls in support of his religion,
They were his army—and what an excellent army!
And were soldiers for him; so excellent soldiers!
فَياso O أَشرَفَnoblest of الرُّسلِthe messengers الكرامِhonored وَخَيرِهمand the best of them
فَيا أَشرَفَ الرُّسلِ الكرامِ وَخَيرِهم
وَخاتمهمand their last بَعثاًin being sent وَأَوَّلَهمand their first مَبداin origin
وَخاتمهم بَعثاً وَأَوَّلَهم مَبدا
O noblest and best of the honored messengers,
O greatest of prophets, best and last of them in mission,
Last of them to be sent, and first in origin,
And most magnanimous, most excellent in ancestry.
وَأَكبرهمand their greatest نَفساًin soul وَأَسناهمand their loftiest ذُرىin summits
وَأَكبرهم نَفساً وَأَسناهم ذُرى
وَأَرحمهمand their most merciful قَلباًin heart وَأَرأَفهمand their most tender كبداin liver
وَأَرحمهم قَلباً وَأَرأَفهم كبدا
Greatest in soul, loftiest in summits,
Most merciful in heart, most compassionate in disposition,
Most merciful of heart, most tender of liver,
Most resolute, most generous in giving.
وَأَثبَتهمand their most steadfast جَأشاًin spirit وَأَطوَلهمand their longest يداًin hand
وَأَثبَتهم جَأشاً وَأَطوَلهم يداً
وَأَوسَعِهمand their broadest حِلماًin forbearance وَأَرفَعِهمand their highest مَجداin glory
وَأَوسَعِهم حِلماً وَأَرفَعِهم مَجدا
Most steadfast of spirit, longest of hand,
Most patient, most exalted in glory,
Broadest in forbearance, highest in glory,
Most knowledgeable of Allah, most God-fearing.
وَأَعرَفِهمand their most knowing بِاللَّهof God وَأَتقاهمُand their most reverent لَهُtoward Him
وَأَعرَفِهم بِاللَّه وَأَتقاهمُ لَهُ
وَأَخشاهُمُand their most fearful مِنهُof Him وَأَكثرهمand their greatest زُهداin asceticism
وَأَخشاهُمُ مِنهُ وَأَكثرهم زُهدا
Most knowing of God, most reverent toward Him,
Most apprehensive of Him, most ascetic,
Most fearful of Him, greatest in asceticism,
Greatest in intercession on the Day of Judgment.
وَأَعظَمِهمand their greatest يَومon the day of القِيامِResurrection شَفاعَةٍin intercession
وَأَعظَمِهم يَوم القِيامِ شَفاعَةٍ
فَأَنتَso you are شَفيعٌan intercessor سيّديmy master لَمnot تَنلِyou have met الرَّدّاrefusal
فَأَنتَ شَفيعٌ سيّدي لَم تَنلِ الرَّدّا
Greatest in intercession on the Day of Resurrection,
You are my intercessor, my master, who will never be rejected,
You are an intercessor, my master, who has not met refusal.
So intercede for me on the Day of Congregation, for I have
فَكُنso be شافِعيmy intercessor يَومَon the day of الزّحامcrowding فَإنَّfor indeed ليI have
فَكُن شافِعي يَومَ الزّحام فَإنَّ لي
ذُنوباًsins عِظاماًenormous لاnot أُحيطُI encompass بِهاthem عدّاin number
ذُنوباً عِظاماً لا أُحيطُ بِها عدّا
Be my intercessor on the Day of Crowding, for I have
Enormous sins that I cannot enumerate.
Enormous sins whose number I cannot encompass.
Worries have overwhelmed me, unbearable even for mountains,
دَهَتنيassailed me هُمومٌworries ماnot الجِبالُthe mountains تُطيقُهاcan bear them
دَهَتني هُمومٌ ما الجِبالُ تُطيقُها
وَلَوand if حُمِّلتwere burdened بَعضاًwith some لَأَوسَعَهاit would overwhelm them with هدّاdestruction
وَلَو حُمِّلت بَعضاً لَأَوسَعَها هدّا
Worries have assailed me that the mountains cannot bear;
And if a portion were loaded on them, they would collapse.
Were they burdened with even some, it would utterly crush them.
A grave, terrible one has weighed me down,
وَأَثقَلَنيand weighed me down مِنهاamong them فَظيعٌsomething terrible وَهائِلٌand dreadful
وَأَثقَلَني مِنها فَظيعٌ وَهائِلٌ
لَقَدindeed فَتَّتshattered الأَحشاءَthe innards وَالحيلَand strength قَدindeed هدّاdemolished
لَقَد فَتَّت الأَحشاءَ وَالحيلَ قَد هدّا
Among them, something terrible and dreadful has weighed me down;
Tearing my inner self to pieces and stratagems to bits.
It has shattered my innards and demolished my strength.
In it my home has reached a state of ruination,
وَفيهِand through it دِياريmy homes لِلخرابِto ruin مَآلُهاtheir destination
وَفيهِ دِياري لِلخرابِ مَآلُها
وَقَدand indeed شَمّتmade gloat الأَضدادَthe adversaries مَولايَmy master والأعداand the enemies
وَقَد شَمّت الأَضدادَ مَولايَ والأعدا
Through it, my homes are destined for ruin;
While adversaries have gloated over my master and foes.
It has made my adversaries and enemies gloat, my master.
And the enemy has therein a foothold, as has been said,
وَلِلضدِّand the adversary has فيهِin it مِثلماas قيلَwas said مَدخَلa role
وَلِلضدِّ فيهِ مِثلما قيلَ مَدخَل
وَإِنّيand indeed I لأَرجوtruly hope اللَّهGod أَنthat يُهلِكَwill destroy الضِّدّاthe adversary
وَإِنّي لأَرجو اللَّه أَن يُهلِكَ الضِّدّا
As has been said, the adversary has a hand in it,
Though I hope Allah will destroy the enemy.
And I truly hope that God will destroy the adversary.
Intercede, O beloved of Allah, pray to Him
تَشفّعintercede حَبيبbeloved of اللَّهِGod بِاللَّهby God عِندهُbefore Him
تَشفّع حَبيب اللَّهِ بِاللَّه عِندهُ
أَغِثنيhelp me أَغِثنيhelp me إِنَّنيindeed I كِدتُI almost أَنto أَردىperish
أَغِثني أَغِثني إِنَّني كِدتُ أَن أَردى
Intercede, beloved of God, by God, before Him;
Help me, help me! I am about to be vanquished.
Help me, help me: I have nearly perished!
You are the door to Allah, our entry is through you,
وَإِنّكand indeed you are بابُthe gate of اللَّهِGod مِنهُthrough it دُخولناour entry
وَإِنّك بابُ اللَّهِ مِنهُ دُخولنا
وَحاشاand far be it يَنالreceives الصدَّrejection مَنwhoever منهُthrough it قَدindeed عَدّىhas passed
وَحاشا يَنال الصدَّ مَن منهُ قَد عَدّى
You are God's gate, through which we enter;
Far from rejection is he who loves you and draws near to you.
Far be it that anyone passing through it should be turned away.
There is no good except through you as intercessor to Him,
وَلاand no خَيرَgood إِلّاexcept أَنتَyou واسِطةan intermediary لَهُfor it
وَلا خَيرَ إِلّا أَنتَ واسِطة لَهُ
وَلَمand not يَكُbe إِلّاexcept فيكَthrough you وَإِدراكُناand our attainment of القَصداthe goal
وَلَم يَكُ إِلّا فيكَ وَإِدراكُنا القَصدا
There is no good but you are its intermediary,
And we cannot attain the goal except through you.
And only through you do we attain our goal.
In you, O best end to the opening, Hassan is reflected,
وَفيكَand through you اِبنُson of فَتحِFath اللَّهِAllah حسنُgoodness of خِتامِهِhis ending
وَفيكَ اِبنُ فَتحِ اللَّهِ حسنُ خِتامِهِ
تَأمّلهhe has hoped for it ياO خَيرbest of مَنthose who عُرفهhis bounty أَسدىbestowed
تَأمّله يا خَير مَن عُرفه أَسدى
And through you, Ibn Fath Allah's good ending
So consider him, O best of those known for generosity!
Is what he hopes for, O best of those who bestow their bounty.
May Allah send prayers and peace upon you every instant,
وَصَلّىand may bless عَليكupon you اللَّهGod فيat كلِّevery لَمحَةٍinstant
وَصَلّى عَليك اللَّه في كلِّ لَمحَةٍ
وَسَلَّمand may grant peace تَسليماًa salutation of peace تَوالىcontinuing ولاand without حدّاlimit
وَسَلَّم تَسليماً تَوالى ولا حدّا
May God bless you at every instant,
In succession, without end.
And grant you peace continually, without limit,
For the duration of time, equal to all that exists,
مَدىthroughout الدّهرtime تِعدادَas many as الّذيthat which هوَis كائِنexisting
مَدى الدّهر تِعدادَ الّذي هوَ كائِن
وَماand what كانَhas existed أَوor يَأتيwill come وَأَضعافهُand multiples of it عَدّاin number
وَما كانَ أَو يَأتي وَأَضعافهُ عَدّا
Throughout all time, as many times as all that exists,
And that which was or will come, even multiplied.
Or has existed or will come, and many times that number.
The same for your Family—all of them,
كَذاكَlikewise عَلىupon الآلِthe family الكرامِnoble جَميعِهمall of them
كَذاكَ عَلى الآلِ الكرامِ جَميعِهم
وَصَحبٍand companions غَدَوْاbecame مثلَlike النُّجومِthe stars بِهِمthrough them نُهدىwe are guided
وَصَحبٍ غَدَوْا مثلَ النُّجومِ بِهِم نُهدى
Likewise upon all the noble family,
And the companions who were guided by them, becoming stars.
And companions who became like stars by which we are guided,
For the duration of time, whenever south or north winds blow,
مَدىthroughout الدَّهرِtime ماas long as هَبَّتblew جنوبٌa south wind وَشَمأَلٌand a north wind
مَدى الدَّهرِ ما هَبَّت جنوبٌ وَشَمأَلٌ
وَماand as long as السُّحبthe clouds قَدindeed سَحَّتْpoured down بِوابِلهاwith their heavy rain حدّاprofusely
وَما السُّحب قَد سَحَّتْ بِوابِلها حدّا
Throughout all time, as long as south and north winds blow,
And clouds pour down with their rain, without end.
And clouds pour down their heavy rain in torrents.
Partial English translation: 123 of 124 Arabic lines translated.