ياO منYou who يغيثbrings relief to الورىhumankind منfrom بعدafter ماthat قنطواthey despaired
يا من يغيث الورى من بعد ما قنطوا
بنشرby spreading رحمتهHis mercy غيثاًas rain إذاwhen قحطواthey suffered drought
بنشر رحمته غيثاً إذا قحطوا
O You who bring relief to humankind after they despair,
O You who brings relief to the people after they had despaired
By spreading Your mercy as rain when drought afflicts them.
By spreading His mercy when they are afflicted by drought
أنتYou الغياثthe succor وأنتand You المستغاثthe one whose aid is sought بهfrom Him
أنت الغياث وأنت المستغاث به
ارحمhave mercy on عبيداًservants أكفّthe palms الفقرof poverty قدhave بسطواthey stretched out
ارحم عبيداً أكفّ الفقر قد بسطوا
You are the succor, and You are the One whose aid is sought.
You are the Relief and You are the One whose help is sought
Have mercy on servants who have stretched out poverty's palms
Have mercy on Your servants, poverty has gripped them
واسترسلواand trusted in جودكYour generosity المعهودthe accustomed فاسقهمُso give them drink
واسترسلوا جودك المعهود فاسقهمُ
سقياًa drenching ندىthe dew of رحمةٍmercy فالقبضso constriction منبسطis expanded
سقياً ندى رحمةٍ فالقبض منبسط
And trusted in Your accustomed bounty; so give them drink,
And unleash Your accustomed generosity, quench them
A drenching of mercy's dew, so constriction opens into ease.
With a drink of the dew of mercy, for tight-fistedness has spread
والغيثand the rain يرويquenches thirst فيروونso they recount الحديثthe tale بهabout it
والغيث يروي فيروون الحديث به
ريّاًa quenching يريهمshows them رضاًfavor لمnot يثنهturn it aside سخطwrath
ريّاً يريهم رضاً لم يثنه سخط
And rain quenches thirst, and they recount its story—
And rain will water, so they discuss it gratefully
A quenching that shows them favor no wrath has turned aside.
A downpour showing them the pleasure that anger cannot diminish
وعاملand treat الكلّeveryone باللطفwith the kindness الّذيthat ألفواthey are accustomed to
وعامل الكلّ باللطف الّذي ألفوا
فالكلّfor all فيin عقدthe necklace of نظمthe stringing of الفضلbounty منسمطis strung
فالكلّ في عقد نظم الفضل منسمط
And treat everyone with the kindness they have known,
And treat all with the gentleness they are accustomed to
For all are strung in the ordered necklace of bounty.
So all are bound in the system of grace without effort
همthey تحتunder حكمthe rule of مرادthe will of الحقّthe True One ماnot خرجواthey departed
هم تحت حكم مراد الحقّ ما خرجوا
ياO عادلاًJust One لاno يُرىis seen فيin حكمهHis judgment شططinjustice
يا عادلاً لا يُرى في حكمه شطط
They have never left the rule of the True One's will.
They live under the authority of the Truth’s desire without transgressing
O Just One, in whose judgment no injustice is seen.
O You who are just, in whose rule no injustice is seen
إنّindeed البهائمthe beasts أضحىhas become التربdust مرتعهاtheir grazing ground
إنّ البهائم أضحى الترب مرتعها
ومنهand from it مربعهاtheir spring pasture لاnot الأثلtamarisk trees والخمطand bitter-fruited trees
ومنه مربعها لا الأثل والخمط
Indeed, dust has become the beasts' grazing ground,
The beasts, the earth has become their pasture
And from it comes their spring pasture—not tamarisk or bitter-fruited trees.
And their enclosure, not aromatic plants and medicinal herbs
تروحthey return at dusk والريحand the wind مرعاهاtheir pasture إذاwhen سرحتthey roam to graze
تروح والريح مرعاها إذا سرحت
والطيرand the birds تغدوgo out at dawn منfrom الحصباءthe gravel تلتقطthey peck
والطير تغدو من الحصباء تلتقط
They return at dusk, with wind for pasture when they roam.
They roam free and the wind is their shepherd when they head out
And birds go out at dawn, pecking among the gravel.
While the birds scour the pebbles picking at them
والأرضand the earth منof حلّةthe robe of الأزهارblossoms عاريةٌbare
والأرض من حلّة الأزهار عاريةٌ
وماand no علىupon ظهرهاits back منof زهرهاits flowers مرطmantle
وما على ظهرها من زهرها مرط
And the earth is bare of its robe of blossoms;
The ground is bare of flowers’ gowns
And no mantle of its flowers lies upon its back.
And not a single blossom remains on its back
حتّىeven رياضthe meadows of روابيهاits hills معطّلةٌunadorned
حتّى رياض روابيها معطّلةٌ
كأنّهاas though it ماnot تحلّتadorned itself بالنباتwith vegetation قَطُever
كأنّها ما تحلّت بالنبات قَطُ
Even the meadows of its hills lie unadorned,
Even its lush meadows are derelict
As though it had never adorned itself with vegetation.
As if they had never been adorned with plants
وأنتand You أكرمthe most generous مفضالgiver تمدّare stretched لهtoward Him
وأنت أكرم مفضال تمدّ له
أعناقُthe necks of آمالِthe hopes of مَنthose whose أعمالهمtheir deeds حبطواcame to nothing
أعناقُ آمالِ مَن أعمالهم حبطوا
And You are the most generous giver, toward whom stretch
Yet You are the most generous favorer extending
The necks of the hopes of those whose deeds have come to nothing.
The necks of hopes to those whose deeds have been nullified
إلىtoward أياديكYour favors ياO ذاPossessor of الجودbounty قدhave رفعتbeen raised
إلى أياديك يا ذا الجود قد رفعت
أيديthe hands of العصاةsinners وإنeven though جارواthey did wrong وإنeven though قنطواthey despaired
أيدي العصاة وإن جاروا وإن قنطوا
Toward Your favors, O Possessor of bounty, have been raised
To Your hands, O Most Generous, are raised
The hands of sinners, though they have done wrong and though they have despaired.
The hands of sinners, even if they transgress and despair
ناجوكthey whispered to You والليلwhile the night حلّاهadorned it الظلامthe darkness سناًwith radiance
ناجوك والليل حلّاه الظلام سناً
كأنّهas though it فودa temple-lock زنجيٍّa black African man بهin it وخطa sprinkling of gray
كأنّه فود زنجيٍّ به وخط
They whispered to You, while darkness adorned the night with radiance,
They beseech You while the night has donned darkness as attire
As though it were a black African man's temple-lock, flecked with gray.
As if it is a black Zanj wearing a cloak
حلّاهadorned it نورthe light of التجلّيdivine manifestation بالبهاwith splendor سحراًbefore dawn
حلّاه نور التجلّي بالبها سحراً
كماjust as يجلّيbrightens سوادthe blackness of اللمّةthe locks الشمطgray hair
كما يجلّي سواد اللمّة الشمط
The light of divine manifestation adorned it with splendor before dawn,
Dawn adorns it with the light of revelation as if
As gray hair brightens the blackness of the locks.
Uncovering the blackness of dark soil
فشاربٌso a drinker بذَنوبfrom a bucketful of الذنبsin غصّchoked بهon it
فشاربٌ بذَنوب الذنب غصّ به
وواردand one seeking water بحرa sea of عفوٍpardon ليسis not ينضبطbounded
ووارد بحر عفوٍ ليس ينضبط
So one drinks from sin's bucket, choking on it,
One drinks of the wine of sin, becomes drunk with it
And one comes to a sea of pardon that knows no bounds.
While another reaches an inexhaustible sea of pardon
ومجرِمونand sinners منof الخيراتgood deeds قدhave خلصواbecome devoid
ومجرِمون من الخيرات قد خلصوا
وآخرونand others كماas أخبرتناYou told us خلطواthey mixed
وآخرون كما أخبرتنا خلطوا
And sinners who have become devoid of good deeds,
And criminals are saved from punishments
And others who, as You told us, have mixed good with evil.
While others, as You have informed us, are confused
ومنand those who همُthey فيamid كديدthe hardship العيشof living وهوwhile he يُرىis seen
ومن همُ في كديد العيش وهو يُرى
لهfor him الحجابthe veil عنfrom الأبوابthe doors منكشطstripped away
له الحجاب عن الأبواب منكشط
And those amid life's hardship, while one sees
Some live in misery, while for them
The veil stripped away from the doors for them.
The gates to You are open, though veiled to their eyes
ومنand one who يرىis seen as عبدa servant سوءٍof evil وهوwhile he منتظمstrung in order
ومن يرى عبد سوءٍ وهو منتظم
فيin سلكthe thread of منthose who جاءcame حولaround العرشthe Throne ينخرطjoins the ranks
في سلك من جاء حول العرش ينخرط
And one seen as a wicked servant, though he is strung
One sees an evil servant, yet he is aligned
On the thread of those who come to join the ranks around the Throne.
In the path of those encircling the Throne
وملحدٌand a heretic يدّعيclaims ربّاًa lord سواكother than You لهfor himself
وملحدٌ يدّعي ربّاً سواك له
وجاحدand a denier فيin حضيضthe lowest depths الكفرof unbelief منهبطsunk
وجاحد في حضيض الكفر منهبط
And a heretic claiming a lord other than You for himself,
An atheist claims a god other than You
And a denier sunk into the lowest depths of unbelief,
While a denier wallows in the abyss of disbelief
ودائرٌand one circling فيin ضلالٍerror منfrom عقائدهhis beliefs
ودائرٌ في ضلالٍ من عقائده
حيرانbewildered فيin شركthe snare الأشراكof snares يختبطstumbles blindly
حيران في شرك الأشراك يختبط
And one circling in the error of his beliefs,
Another wanders astray, confused in his creed
Bewildered, stumbling in the snare of snares.
Perplexed by the polytheism of idols
كلٌّeach ينالreceives منof المقدورwhat is decreed قسمتهhis share
كلٌّ ينال من المقدور قسمته
والكلّand all فيin قبرthe grave of قهرthe compelling force of الأمرthe decree منضغطpressed tight
والكلّ في قبر قهر الأمر منضغط
Each receives his share of what is decreed,
Each attains the portion allotted in destiny
And all are pressed into the grave of the decree's compelling force.
And all are pressed down in the grave by inescapable decree
وهمand they كماas العلمknowledge قدماًfrom of old سابقاًpreceding برزواthey appeared
وهم كما العلم قدماً سابقاً برزوا
قومٌsome people ترقّواascended وقومٌand some people فيinto الهوىdesire سقطواfell
قومٌ ترقّوا وقومٌ في الهوى سقطوا
And they appeared as prior knowledge had foreseen of old:
They emerged as the foretold had preceded them
Some ascended, and others fell into desire.
Some were elevated, while others fell into passion
حكمٌa judgment منfrom اللهGod عدلٌjust فيamong بريّتهHis creatures
حكمٌ من الله عدلٌ في بريّته
وهمand they بسمطin the necklace of القضاdestiny فيin نظمهits threading نمطa pattern
وهم بسمط القضا في نظمه نمط
A just judgment from God among His creatures;
A just decree from God in His creation
And they form a pattern in the threaded necklace of destiny.
And they are pressed into the system of His order
لمnot نعترضwe object ذاthe One possessing ظهورٍmanifestation فيin مظاهرهHis manifestations
لم نعترض ذا ظهورٍ في مظاهره
فرضa duty عليناupon us لهto Him التسليمsubmission مشترطstipulated
فرض علينا له التسليم مشترط
We have not questioned the One manifest in His manifestations;
We do not object to one prominent in His manifestations
Submission to Him is a duty imposed and required of us.
Submission to whom is incumbent upon us
وماand not ذنوبthe sins الورىof humankind فيin جنبcomparison with رحمتهHis mercy
وما ذنوب الورى في جنب رحمته
إلّاexcept كحرفٍlike a letter بأيديby the hands of الفيضthe overflow ينكشطis scraped away
إلّا كحرفٍ بأيدي الفيض ينكشط
And the sins of humankind, compared with His mercy,
The sins of mankind are but as a letter
Are but a letter scraped away by the hands of the flood.
Effaced by the outpouring of His favor
بلrather نقطةa drop فيin بحارthe seas العفوof pardon قدhas سقطتfallen
بل نقطة في بحار العفو قد سقطت
وهلand can تقاسُbe compared بفيضwith the overflow of الأبحرthe oceans النقطdrops
وهل تقاسُ بفيض الأبحر النقط
Rather, a drop fallen into the seas of pardon;
Rather, a drop fallen in the oceans of pardon
And can drops be compared with the oceans' overflow?
Can a drop be compared to the abundance of oceans?
فماso not لناfor us ملجأٌa refuge إلّاexcept الكريمthe Generous One ومنand the One who
فما لنا ملجأٌ إلّا الكريم ومن
فيin عقدthe necklace of رحمتهHis mercy بالنظمby threading ننسمطwe are strung
في عقد رحمته بالنظم ننسمط
So we have no refuge but the Generous One, and the One
We have no refuge but the Bountiful, and those
In the necklace of whose mercy we are strung—
Encompassed by His mercy in His system
الأوّلthe First الآخرthe Last الذخرthe treasure الغياثthe succor ومنand the one who
الأوّل الآخر الذخر الغياث ومن
يلقىis met علىat الحوضthe Pool وهوand he السابقthe foremost الفرطforerunner
يلقى على الحوض وهو السابق الفرط
The First, the Last, the treasure, the succor—and the one
The First, the Last, the Reserve, the Relief, and the one
Who is met at the Pool, the foremost forerunner.
Who will be at the Basin, and the Outstanding Eminence
ذاكthat الرسولMessenger الّذيwhom كلّall الأنامhumankind لهfor him
ذاك الرسول الّذي كلّ الأنام له
بنيلٍfor attaining أعلىthe highest مقامstation الحمدof praise قدindeed غبطواthey envied his good fortune
بنيلٍ أعلى مقام الحمد قد غبطوا
That is the Messenger, whom all humankind
That Messenger, for whom all people
Have envied for attaining the highest station of praise.
Are envied for attaining the highest station of praise
كماjust as الجميعeveryone بذياكthrough that الشفيعintercessor لناfor us
كما الجميع بذياك الشفيع لنا
يومon the Day القيامةof Resurrection مسرورٌjoyful ومغتبطand delighted
يوم القيامة مسرورٌ ومغتبط
Just as all, through that intercessor for us,
Just as all will be delighted with that Intercessor for us
Will be joyful and delighted on the Day of Resurrection.
On Judgment Day, joyful and glad
صلّىmay He send blessings عليهupon him صلاةًa blessing لاno نفادend لهاto it
صلّى عليه صلاةً لا نفاد لها
مقرونةًjoined بسلامٍwith peace فيهin it ترتبطit is bound
مقرونةً بسلامٍ فيه ترتبط
May He bestow upon him a blessing that has no end,
Blessings upon him, unending
Joined with peace, in which it is bound,
Paired with greetings forever entwined
بربطby the bond of مولىًa Lord تعالىexalted is He خصّهHe favored him بهماwith both of them
بربط مولىً تعالى خصّه بهما
منthe one whose اسمهhis name باسمهwith His name فيin الذكرthe Reminder مرتبطis linked
من اسمه باسمه في الذكر مرتبط
By the bond of the exalted Lord, who favored him with both—
By the bond of the Exalted Master, who specified him
The one whose name is linked with His name in the Reminder.
With them, his name bound to His name in remembrance