أَنسايمُbreezes, interrogatively الأَحبابthe loved ones مِنfrom رَوضgarden الحِمىthe sanctuary
أَنسايمُ الأَحباب مِن رَوض الحِمى
وافَتarrived بريّاهاwith their fragrance الَّتيwhich ترويquenches الظَماthirst
وافَت بريّاها الَّتي تروي الظَما
Have the loved ones' breezes from the sanctuary's garden
The breezes of loved ones from the meadow of ambition
arrived with their fragrance that quenches thirst?
Came to its pastures that nourish ecstasy
سَلهاask them أَأَودعdid it deposit? طَيّهاwithin their folds نَشرfragrance الهَناhappiness
سَلها أَأَودع طَيّها نَشر الهَنا
بشراًglad tidings لِيَنشُرهto spread it السُرورdelight بِماwith what نماflourished
بشراً لِيَنشُره السُرور بِما نما
Ask them: did happiness's fragrance lay within their folds
Ask it - did it leave its folds blooming with joy
good news, for delight to spread it with what has flourished?
To spread good news of what has flourished?
تِلكَthose الأَشائرsigns وَالبَشائرand glad tidings لِلمَلاfor the gathering
تِلكَ الأَشائر وَالبَشائر لِلمَلا
بِقُدومat the arrival of شَمسsun العارِفينthe spiritual knowers مكرَّماhonored
بِقُدوم شَمس العارِفين مكرَّما
Those signs and glad tidings are for the gathering,
These are the signs and tidings for the Master
at the honored arrival of the sun of the spiritual knowers.
With the arrival of the sun of the Gnostics, honored
الوارثthe inheritor المَجدglory المُؤثّلdeep-rooted وَالتقىand piety
الوارث المَجد المُؤثّل وَالتقى
عَنfrom سادةmasters شَرَفnobility الخِصالcharacter traits لَهاto them اِنتَمىtraced its lineage
عَن سادة شَرَف الخِصال لَها اِنتَمى
He inherits deep-rooted glory and piety
The heir of glorious lineage and piety
from masters to whom nobility of character traces its lineage.
From the masters of noble traits she descends
ذاكَthat man الَّذيwho ذاعَتbecame renowned مَناقِبُهُhis virtues فَماso not
ذاكَ الَّذي ذاعَت مَناقِبُهُ فَما
كلّفتُI tasked قطُّever إِلىto تَعدّدهاenumerating them فَماa mouth
كلّفتُ قطُّ إِلى تَعدّدها فَما
He whose virtues are renowned; never
The one whose virtues have spread, so I have never
have I tasked a mouth with counting them.
Bothered to enumerate them, for they are countless
نَجمstar الحَقيقةspiritual truth بِدرfull moon أُفقhorizon سَماsky الهُدىguidance
نَجم الحَقيقة بِدر أُفق سَما الهُدى
شَمسsun الطَريقةthe spiritual path حَيثwherever كانَwas لَهاfor it سَماa sky
شَمس الطَريقة حَيث كانَ لَها سَما
Star of Truth, full moon on the horizon of guidance's sky,
The star of truth, the full moon on the horizon of guidance
sun of the Way, wherever it has a sky.
The sun of the spiritual path wherever it has an orbit
أَكرِمhow noble بِهِhe is, exclamatorily منas قادمٍa newcomer بِقُدومهِthrough his arrival
أَكرِم بِهِ من قادمٍ بِقُدومهِ
أَضحَتbecame لهاfor her فرصopportunities التَهانيcongratulations مَغنَماa boon
أَضحَت لها فرص التَهاني مَغنَما
How noble a newcomer he is! His arrival
Honor the one arriving with his coming
has made occasions for congratulations a boon for her.
For opportunities to congratulate became profitable
أَهدىgave as a gift المَسَرَّةjoy لِلقُلوبto hearts فَحَبَّذاso how welcome
أَهدى المَسَرَّة لِلقُلوب فَحَبَّذا
تِلكَthat الهَديّةgift لَمdid not تُغادرleave out مُسلماa Muslim
تِلكَ الهَديّة لَم تُغادر مُسلما
He gave joy to hearts—how welcome
He brought joy to hearts, so excellent
that gift, which left no Muslim untouched!
Was that gift, leaving no Muslim deprived
لِلّهby God كَمhow many ورقاءa gray dove فيamong وَرَقٍleaves شَجَتstirred with plaintive song
لِلّه كَم ورقاء في وَرَقٍ شَجَت
فَنَنَa bough الغُصونthe branches تَفَنّناًwith artful variation وَتَرنّماand singing
فَنَنَ الغُصون تَفَنّناً وَتَرنّما
By God, how many a gray dove among the leaves has stirred
By God, how many tender leaves on branches swayed
the branches' bough with artful variation and song!
The boughs gloriously sang and hummed
مَغَنىa dwelling شَجانيmoved me مِنهُfrom it شجوplaintive song حمامِهِits doves
مَغَنى شَجاني مِنهُ شجو حمامِهِ
طَرَباًto rapture وَبَرَّحand brought torment بِالنَسيمupon the breeze فَهينماso it murmured
طَرَباً وَبَرَّح بِالنَسيم فَهينما
A dwelling whose doves' plaintive song moved me
The melody of his love-lorn singing like a dove
to rapture, and tormented the breeze till it murmured.
Enchanted, and the breeze exhilarated, aroused desire
عَجَباًhow wondrous أراضhas tamed? لَهاfor her الهَناjoy رَوضgarden المُنىwishes
عَجَباً أراض لَها الهَنا رَوض المُنى
فَتَوَسَّمَتso she discerned نَيلattaining الأَمانيdesires مَوسِماa season
فَتَوَسَّمَت نَيل الأَماني مَوسِما
How wondrous! Has joy tamed wishes' garden for her,
Wondrously, joy made the meadow, the place of wishes
so she discerned a season for attaining her desires?
Anticipate attaining what is hoped for in its season
ظَفرتshe won بِماwith what ظَفرwon الكِرامthe noble بِهِwith it عَلىdespite
ظَفرت بِما ظَفر الكِرام بِهِ عَلى
رَغمthe opposition of اللئامthe base ترفّهاًin comfort وَتَنعّماand bliss
رَغم اللئام ترفّهاً وَتَنعّما
She won what the noble won, despite
It attained what the noble attained, despite
the base, in comfort and bliss.
The vile's arrogance and indulgence
ماذاwhat cost عَلَيناto us أَنto نَقومwe undertake بِشُكرgiving thanks for ماwhat
ماذا عَلَينا أَن نَقوم بِشُكر ما
منَّbestowed الإلهGod بِهِwith it وَجادَand gave freely وَأَنعَماand blessed
منَّ الإله بِهِ وَجادَ وَأَنعَما
What would it cost us to give thanks for what
What is upon us but to thank what
God has bestowed, given freely, and granted as blessing?
God has granted, given, and blessed?
إنّاindeed we لِنَأبىsurely refuse أَنthat يَكونshould be أَباfather of الثَناpraise
إنّا لِنَأبى أَن يَكون أَبا الثَنا
إِلّاexcept أَبوAbu, father of النَصرal-Nasr, victory اِبنson of أَكرَمthe noblest مَنone who سَماrose high
إِلّا أَبو النَصر اِبن أَكرَم مَن سَما
We will surely have no father of praise
We refuse for any but Abu Al-Nasr ibn the Most Noble
but Abu al-Nasr, son of the noblest man who rose
To be the object of our praise
لِلمَجدto glory ياO بَيتhouse of الكَرامةnobility وَالهُدىand guidance
لِلمَجد يا بَيت الكَرامة وَالهُدى
وَالعلمand learning إنّindeed حماكمُyour precinct أمسىbecame حِمىa sanctuary
وَالعلم إنّ حماكمُ أمسى حِمى
to glory. O house of nobility and guidance
Glory, O House of Generosity, Guidance
and learning, your precinct has become a sanctuary
And Knowledge - your protector has become a sanctuary
شرفhonor عَلىupon شَرَفhonor يَزيدincreases وَلاand never اِنبَرىset out
شرف عَلى شَرَف يَزيد وَلا اِنبَرى
برحاًdeparting بِهِin it الشَرَفhonor الرَفيعlofty مخيّماencamped
برحاً بِهِ الشَرَف الرَفيع مخيّما
of honor upon honor, ever growing; never has
An honor above honor that increases but does not manifest
lofty honor, encamped there, set out to depart.
With it the lofty honor solemnly endowed
ياO أَيُّهاyou المَولىthe lord الَّذيwho أَمسىbecame لَناfor us
يا أَيُّها المَولى الَّذي أَمسى لَنا
ذُخراًa treasure عَلىthrough مَرّthe passage of الزَمانtime وَمُنتمىand a source of belonging
ذُخراً عَلى مَرّ الزَمان وَمُنتمى
O lord, who has become for us
O Master whom for us has become
a treasure through time's passage, and one to whom we belong,
A treasure over the bitter days, and attached to
خُذهاtake her فديتmay I be your ransom فَريدةpeerless عَذراءa virgin ماnot
خُذها فديت فَريدة عَذراء ما
أَعدَدتهاI prepared her إِلّاexcept لعزّكfor your glory محرَماa lawful protector
أَعدَدتها إِلّا لعزّك محرَما
take her—may I be your ransom—a peerless virgin, whom
Take it, my ransom, a unique chaste girl
I prepared only for your glory, her lawful protector.
That I have prepared for none but your honor
مَنwho ليfor me بِأَنwith the assurance that تَحظىshe is favored بِلَثمwith kissing يَديكyour two hands ياO
مَن لي بِأَن تَحظى بِلَثم يَديك يا
شَمسsun الكَمالperfection تَقنّعاًveiling herself وَتَلثّماand covering her face
شَمس الكَمال تَقنّعاً وَتَلثّما
Who can secure for me her chance to kiss your hands, O
Who can grant that your hand, O sun of perfection
sun of perfection, veiling herself and covering her face,
Will favor it with a kiss, wearing it and tasting it
حَتّىso that يَكونmay be لَهاfor her الفَخارglory عَلىabove السوىothers
حَتّى يَكون لَها الفَخار عَلى السوى
شَرَفاًas an honor وَتَمنحهاand you grant her القُبولacceptance تَكرّماgraciously
شَرَفاً وَتَمنحها القُبول تَكرّما
so that she may win glory above the rest,
So that over others it will have pride
as an honor, and you graciously grant her acceptance?
And your acceptance will give it nobility
ماnot خلتهاI deemed her إِلّاexcept نَتائجَconclusions مَنطقlogic
ما خلتها إِلّا نَتائجَ مَنطق
صَدَقتproved true بِحَمدكin praising you تالياًas consequent وَمقدّماand antecedent
صَدَقت بِحَمدك تالياً وَمقدّما
I thought her nothing but the conclusions of logic,
I composed nothing but results of truthful speech
true in praising you, consequent and antecedent alike.
Praising you in succession and in preamble
دَلَّتshe indicated عَلىto خَيرthe goodness of القُدومthe arrival وَإِنَّهُand indeed it
دَلَّت عَلى خَير القُدوم وَإِنَّهُ
أَضحىbecame لِأَفئدةfor the hearts of الأَحبّةloved ones مَرهَماa balm
أَضحى لِأَفئدة الأَحبّة مَرهَما
She signaled a blessed arrival, and it
Indicating the best arrival, which has become
became a balm for the hearts of loved ones.
A salve for the hearts of loved ones
أَمَلٌa hope تَأَخَّرwas delayed عَهدهُits fulfillment مِنfrom سَيّدٍa master
أَمَلٌ تَأَخَّر عَهدهُ مِن سَيّدٍ
سادَsurpassed الأَواخرthe later generations بِالنهىin wisdom فَتَقَدَّماand so came to the fore
سادَ الأَواخر بِالنهى فَتَقَدَّما
A hope whose fulfillment was delayed, from a master
A hope long delayed from a master
who surpassed the later generations in wisdom and came to the fore.
Who excelled the latter ones in guiding, so preceded
بِتناwe spent the night نُراقبwatching for مِنهُfrom him طَلعةَthe appearance of ماجِدٍa noble man
بِتنا نُراقب مِنهُ طَلعةَ ماجِدٍ
أَنوارُهاits lights تَمحوerase الظَلامdarkness المُظلِماpitch-dark
أَنوارُها تَمحو الظَلام المُظلِما
We kept watch at night for his noble countenance,
We observe from him the rising of a glorious one
whose lights efface the murky darkness.
Whose lights erase the darkest darkness
وَإِذاand when بَداappears نورlight الصَباحmorning نَخالهُwe take it for
وَإِذا بَدا نور الصَباح نَخالهُ
وَجهface المَلاذthe refuge وَلاand not نَخالwe suppose توهّماmistakenly
وَجه المَلاذ وَلا نَخال توهّما
And when morning's light appears, we take it for
And when the light of dawn appears we see it as
the face of our refuge, nor do we think in error.
The face of refuge, and nothing else we imagine
أُمُيمُّماًO you seeking عَلياهhis heights مُقتَدياfollowing an example بِهِhim as a model
أُمُيمُّماً عَلياه مُقتَديا بِهِ
أَنعمتyou did well بِالبَحرtoward the sea الخضمvast and deep تَيمّماin directing yourself
أَنعمت بِالبَحر الخضم تَيمّما
O you who seek his heights, following his example,
Thirstily longing for it, following its example
you did well to turn toward the vast, deep sea.
I attained the abundant sea, fully quenched
لاdo not تنحُaim إِلّاexcept نَحوَtoward رفعةloftiness قَدرِهِhis rank
لا تنحُ إِلّا نَحوَ رفعة قَدرِهِ
فَاِخفضso lower بِهاthrough it قَدرthe rank of الحَواسدthe enviers وَاِجزماand be resolute
فَاِخفض بِها قَدر الحَواسد وَاِجزما
Aim nowhere but toward the loftiness of his rank;
Incline toward nothing but raising his worth
thereby lower the enviers' rank, and be resolute.
And debase the status of enviers, decisively
نادٍan assembly يُناديcalls بِالرَشادto right guidance وَغَيرهand another besides it
نادٍ يُنادي بِالرَشاد وَغَيره
بِالغيِّto error ناداهcalled it الزَمانTime مُرَخّماclipping its name
بِالغيِّ ناداه الزَمان مُرَخّما
An assembly that calls to right guidance; as for another,
Calling to guidance while others call to vain desire
Time has called it to error, clipping its name in the call.
The times called him, subdued and humble
صرفتwere directed لِنَحوtoward بَديعwondrous لُطفgrace بَيانهhis eloquence
صرفت لِنَحو بَديع لُطف بَيانه
دُررpearls المَعانيmeanings عقدهاtheir necklace فَتَنظَّماand so became strung
دُرر المَعاني عقدها فَتَنظَّما
Toward the wondrous grace of his eloquence were directed
Diverting toward an exquisite subtlety, his eloquence
the pearls of meaning; their necklace was strung in order.
Strung pearls of meanings, systematically adorned
روحsoul المجالسgatherings رَوحcomfort كُلّevery مجالسٍcompanion
روح المجالس رَوح كُلّ مجالسٍ
لَوif كلّمhe addressed الحَجرthe stone الأَصّمdeaf تكلّماit would speak
لَو كلّم الحَجر الأَصّم تكلّما
The soul of gatherings, the comfort of every companion:
Spirit of gatherings, spirit of all gatherings
if he addressed the deaf stone, it would speak.
Even if it addressed the deaf rock, it would speak
أَوor لَوif رَأَىbeheld اليَومthe day العَبوسsullen بَشاشَةًcheerfulness
أَو لَو رَأَى اليَوم العَبوس بَشاشَةً
منfrom وَجهِهِhis face لَكَfor you بالسُرورwith joy تَبَسَّماit would smile
من وَجهِهِ لَكَ بالسُرور تَبَسَّما
Or if the sullen day beheld the cheer
Or if it saw a gloomy day's cheerfulness
of his face, it would smile for you with joy.
From its face, it would make you smile in delight
فاِسعدso prosper بِجدّكthrough your good fortune أَوor بجدّكthrough your diligence أَيُّهاO you الthe
فاِسعد بِجدّك أَو بجدّك أَيُّها ال
مَولىlord المُعَظّمexalted منجداًbound for Najd أَوor مُتهماbound for Tihama
مَولى المُعَظّم منجداً أَو مُتهما
So prosper by your fortune or your diligence, O
So be joyous in your grandfather, O Master
exalted lord, whether bound for Najd or Tihama.
Revered, praised or blamed
نُهديwe offer إِلَيكَto you ثَناpraise الهَناjoy بِمَودَّةٍwith affection
نُهدي إِلَيكَ ثَنا الهَنا بِمَودَّةٍ
ماnot إِنat all, emphatically دَعاهاcalled it البُعدdistance أَنto تَتَصَرّماbe severed
ما إِن دَعاها البُعد أَن تَتَصَرّما
We offer you joyful praise with affection
We dedicate our joy to you in affection
that distance has never caused to be severed.
That when separated, regret did not make it whither
دامَتmay they endure عَلَيكَupon you سَوابغabundant النِعَمblessings الَّتيwhich
دامَت عَلَيكَ سَوابغ النِعَم الَّتي
مِنوالloom عزّكyour glory نَسجهاtheir weaving قَدindeed أَحكَماperfected
مِنوال عزّك نَسجها قَد أَحكَما
May abundant blessings endure upon you, which
May the perfect blessings continue upon you
the loom of your glory has woven to perfection.
That the pattern of your might wove firmly
يَسموrises بِهاthrough them الجاهstanding الرَفيعlofty وَلاand never اِنبَرىwore thin
يَسمو بِها الجاه الرَفيع وَلا اِنبَرى
يَكسوclothes شَمائلكyour qualities الطِرازembroidery المعلماrichly patterned
يَكسو شَمائلك الطِراز المعلما
Through them lofty standing rises, never wearing thin,
With it lofty glory rises but does not manifest
clothing your qualities in richly patterned embroidery.
Adorning your features, the crafted splendor