لَولا البَشائر في لقا الأَحباب

لَولا البَشائر في لقا الأَحباب

ذَهَبت بِنا البُرحاء كُلّ ذَهابِ

ذَهَبت بِنا البُرحاء كُلّ ذَهابِ

Were it not for glad tidings of meeting loved ones,

Without the good tidings of meeting loved ones,

Agony would have swept us utterly away.

separation would have taken us away completely.

وَأَنا العَليل بِغَير تَعليل اللقا

وَأَنا العَليل بِغَير تَعليل اللقا

لَم تُشفَ مِن علل النَوى أَوصابي

لَم تُشفَ مِن علل النَوى أَوصابي

And I am ailing; without reunion’s solace,

And I, sick without being diagnosed, from not meeting,

My pains have not been healed of separation’s ills.

my yearning has not been cured from its ailments.

لي مُهجة مَقروحة فَتَكَت بِها

لي مُهجة مَقروحة فَتَكَت بِها

أَيدي البِعاد بأسهمٍ وَحِرابِ

أَيدي البِعاد بأسهمٍ وَحِرابِ

Mine is a wounded heart, ravaged by

I have a wounded heart that was attacked

The hands of separation with arrows and lances.

by the hands of distance with its arrows and swords.

فَمَن المُبَشّرُ في لِقاء أَحبَّتي

فَمَن المُبَشّرُ في لِقاء أَحبَّتي

لِأَقوم بَينَ يَديهِ في الأَعتابِ

لِأَقوم بَينَ يَديهِ في الأَعتابِ

Who, then, brings glad tidings of meeting my loved ones,

So who brings me the good news of meeting my loved ones,

That I may stand before him at the thresholds,

that I may stand at their threshold?

وَأَعدُّهُ الملك المُطاع لِأَمره

وَأَعدُّهُ الملك المُطاع لِأَمره

وَأَنا لَهُ مِن جُملة الحجّابِ

وَأَنا لَهُ مِن جُملة الحجّابِ

And deem him the king whose command is obeyed,

And I count them as the obeyed king in his command,

While I am one of his chamberlains?

and I am of those veiled from them.

أَحبِب بِجَمع الشَمل بَعد تَفَرُّق

أَحبِب بِجَمع الشَمل بَعد تَفَرُّق

وَبُزوغ شَمس الوَصل غبّ غِيابِ

وَبُزوغ شَمس الوَصل غبّ غِيابِ

How delightful is reunion after separation,

I love the gathering after separation

And the rising of reunion’s sun after absence,

and the rising of the sun of union after its disappearance.

وَصَفاء كَأس الأُنس بَعدَ تَكَدُّرِ

وَصَفاء كَأس الأُنس بَعدَ تَكَدُّرِ

وَلَذيذ راحٍ بَعدَ مُرِّ شَرابِ

وَلَذيذ راحٍ بَعدَ مُرِّ شَرابِ

And the clarity of companionship’s cup after cloudiness,

And the purity of the cup of intimacy after its turbidity,

And delicious wine after a bitter drink!

and the sweetness of rest after bitter drinking.

يا صاحِبيَّ تَناهزا فُرص الهَنا

يا صاحِبيَّ تَناهزا فُرص الهَنا

ها قَد مَلَأت مِن السُرور وطابي

ها قَد مَلَأت مِن السُرور وطابي

O my two companions, seize the chances for happiness;

My friend, seize the opportunities for bliss,

Behold, I have filled my skin flasks with joy.

for I have been filled with joy and delight.

وَاِستَبشرا بِمُنى القُلوب وَنَيلها

وَاِستَبشرا بِمُنى القُلوب وَنَيلها

فَلَقَد بَلَغتُ بِنَيلِها آرابي

فَلَقَد بَلَغتُ بِنَيلِها آرابي

And rejoice in the hearts’ wishes and their fulfillment,

And rejoice in fulfilling the hearts' wishes,

For by attaining them I have fulfilled my desires.

for I have reached the fulfillment of my wishes.

وَاِستَجليا أَكواب بَكر مَسَرّة

وَاِستَجليا أَكواب بَكر مَسَرّة

سلبُ الهُموم بِها مِن الإِيجابِ

سلبُ الهُموم بِها مِن الإِيجابِ

And unveil the cups of virgin joy;

And enjoy the fresh goblets of delight,

Negating cares through them is an affirmation.

that dispel sorrows with joy.

وَاِستَقبلا قَمر السِيادة في ذرى

وَاِستَقبلا قَمر السِيادة في ذرى

عَلياه بَينَ كَواكب الأَصحابِ

عَلياه بَينَ كَواكب الأَصحابِ

And welcome the moon of eminence upon the summits

And meet the moon of nobility in its orbit,

Of his exalted stature, among the stars of his companions:

Elevated among the stars of companions.

السَيّد اليافيّ مَن هُوَ لِلمَلا

السَيّد اليافيّ مَن هُوَ لِلمَلا

كَهف المريد وَعُمدة الطُلّابِ

كَهف المريد وَعُمدة الطُلّابِ

The master al-Yafi, who for the people is

The noble master, who is a refuge for disciples

The disciple’s sheltering cave and the seekers’ mainstay;

and a pillar for all seekers.

شَمس الأَفاضل ذُو الفَضائل وَالنُهى

شَمس الأَفاضل ذُو الفَضائل وَالنُهى

وَالحلم بَدر سَما أولي الأَلبابِ

وَالحلم بَدر سَما أولي الأَلبابِ

The sun of the virtuous, endowed with virtues and reason

The sun of virtue, of sublime morals and guidance,

And forbearance; the full moon of the wise men’s sky;

and forbearance, a full moon for the wise.

عَلم بِهِ تُهدى الأَنام كَأَنَّهُ

عَلم بِهِ تُهدى الأَنام كَأَنَّهُ

داود لَمّا قامَ في المِحرابِ

داود لَمّا قامَ في المِحرابِ

A guiding landmark by whom humankind is led, as though he were

A banner under which people are guided, as if

David when he stood in the sanctuary.

he stood praying like David in the prayer niche.

وَغَضَنفر بِاللَه لا بِمهنّد

وَغَضَنفر بِاللَه لا بِمهنّد

لَيسَ الغَضَنفر كُلّ ذي مِخلابِ

لَيسَ الغَضَنفر كُلّ ذي مِخلابِ

And a lion through God, not through an Indian-steel sword;

He is angry for God, not for himself,

Not every creature with a claw is a lion.

for not all who frown are men of dignity.

فَمَتى بِنا جَمحت خُيول غواية

فَمَتى بِنا جَمحت خُيول غواية

رُدَّت بِهمّته عَلى الأَعقابِ

رُدَّت بِهمّته عَلى الأَعقابِ

So whenever the horses of misguidance bolt with us,

So whenever the steeds of temptation stampede with us,

They are driven back on their heels by his resolve.

they are turned back at his determination.

أَبوابهُ للعزِّ أَنجح مَطلبٍ

أَبوابهُ للعزِّ أَنجح مَطلبٍ

وَرِحابه لِلفَوز خَير رِحابِ

وَرِحابه لِلفَوز خَير رِحابِ

His doors are the most fruitful resort for honor,

His doors are the best place to seek honor,

And his courtyards the finest courts for success.

and his sanctuary the best sanctuary.

وَمَقامه أَعلى مَقامٍ بَينَنا

وَمَقامه أَعلى مَقامٍ بَينَنا

وَجَنابُهُ فينا أَعَزّ جَنابِ

وَجَنابُهُ فينا أَعَزّ جَنابِ

And his station is the highest station among us,

His position is the highest among us,

And his court is the most honored court in our midst.

and his side the most honored of sides.

فَاِسعَد بِجدّك أَو بِجدّك حائز ال

فَاِسعَد بِجدّك أَو بِجدّك حائز ال

عَلياء مِن حسبٍ وَمِن أَنسابِ

عَلياء مِن حسبٍ وَمِن أَنسابِ

So prosper through your fortune—or your forefather—you who possess the

So be happy with your grandfather or with your grandfather's heir,

Lofty eminence through ancestral honor and lineage.

the most sublime in lineage and ancestry.

فَلَنا بِعزّك يا سميَّ محمّد

فَلَنا بِعزّك يا سميَّ محمّد

عزٌّ يَدوم عَلى مَدى الأَحقابِ

عزٌّ يَدوم عَلى مَدى الأَحقابِ

For through your glory, O namesake of Muhammad, we have

For through your might, O praised Muhammad,

A glory that endures through the ages.

we have lasting might throughout the ages.

أَفلا نَفوز وَقَد أَتى النَصر الَّذي

أَفلا نَفوز وَقَد أَتى النَصر الَّذي

قَد عدَّ مِن أَنجالك الأَنجابِ

قَد عدَّ مِن أَنجالك الأَنجابِ

Shall we not triumph, now that al-Nasr has arrived, who

Shall we not succeed, when the victory has come,

Is counted among your noble sons?

which you counted among your perfect offspring?

وَلَنا الهَنا شَرَف الإِياب أَتى بِهِ

وَلَنا الهَنا شَرَف الإِياب أَتى بِهِ

يَتلو السُرور فَكانَ خَير إِيابِ

يَتلو السُرور فَكانَ خَير إِيابِ

And happiness is ours, brought by the honor of his return;

And ours is the joy - the return brought it,

With delight following, it was the finest return.

and it was the best return, following joy.

حُيّيتَ يا محيي القُلوب بِعوده

حُيّيتَ يا محيي القُلوب بِعوده

وَمُنعّم الأَرواح بَعدَ عَذابِ

وَمُنعّم الأَرواح بَعدَ عَذابِ

Hail to you, reviver of hearts through his return,

Greetings to you, reviver of hearts by his return,

And giver of bliss to souls after torment.

and enricher of souls after suffering!

فَمآبك السامي بعزّك في المَلا

فَمآبك السامي بعزّك في المَلا

أَمسى لَنا زُلفى وَحُسن مَآبِ

أَمسى لَنا زُلفى وَحُسن مَآبِ

For your exalted return, through your glory among the people,

Your lofty station, by your might amongst people,

Has become for us a means of nearness and a good place of return.

has become intimacy and blessed destination for us.

وَلَقد نَظَرت إِلى الحمى فَوَجدته

وَلَقد نَظَرت إِلى الحمى فَوَجدته

يَختالُ في حُلَلٍ مِن الإِعجابِ

يَختالُ في حُلَلٍ مِن الإِعجابِ

And I looked upon the protected domain and found it

I saw the camp swaggering in garments

Strutting in robes of admiration.

of admiration and wonder.

وَبَدَت رِياض الأُنس وَهيَ نَواضر

وَبَدَت رِياض الأُنس وَهيَ نَواضر

تَزهو كَزَهو الخودِ تَحت نِقابِ

تَزهو كَزَهو الخودِ تَحت نِقابِ

And the gardens of companionship appeared, fresh and flourishing,

And the gardens of intimacy appeared blooming,

Glowing as a fair maiden glows beneath her veil.

blossoming like the cheeks’ bloom beneath the veil.

فَكَأَنّ أَغصان الرُبى بِيَدِ الصِبا

فَكَأَنّ أَغصان الرُبى بِيَدِ الصِبا

مَرحاً قدود كَواعبٍ أَترابِ

مَرحاً قدود كَواعبٍ أَترابِ

So it is as though the hillside branches, in the east wind’s hand,

As if the branches of basil were waving playfully

Were, in their frolic, the slender forms of full-breasted maidens of like age.

like the hands of flirtatious and supple-bodied maidens.

وَشَدَت بَلابل دَوحها فَكَأنَّما

وَشَدَت بَلابل دَوحها فَكَأنَّما

تُملي عَلَينا نَغمة الفارابي

تُملي عَلَينا نَغمة الفارابي

And the nightingales of their spreading trees sang, as though

And the songbirds trilled their melody, as if

Dictating to us the melody of al-Farabi.

dictating to us the tunes of Al-Farabi,

طَرَباً تَحنّ لَها القُلوب كَأَنَّها

طَرَباً تَحنّ لَها القُلوب كَأَنَّها

داعي التَهاني في لقا الغُيّابِ

داعي التَهاني في لقا الغُيّابِ

In rapture, hearts yearn for it, as though it were

Enchanting the hearts, as if calling out greetings

A herald of congratulations at reunion with the absent.

to the absent in this meeting.

مَولاي يا مَن لا مَلاذ لَنا سِوى

مَولاي يا مَن لا مَلاذ لَنا سِوى

أَبوابه في الناس مِن أَبوابِ

أَبوابه في الناس مِن أَبوابِ

My master, O you—we have no refuge save

My Master, O you in whom we have no refuge

Your doors, among all the doors of humankind.

but your doors amongst people!

أَوجَزت في مَدحي مَناقبك الَّتي

أَوجَزت في مَدحي مَناقبك الَّتي

بِالفَضل تَستَغني عَن الإِسهابِ

بِالفَضل تَستَغني عَن الإِسهابِ

I have been brief in my praise of your virtues, which

I summarized your merits in my praise, which

In their excellence need no lengthy elaboration.

are self-sufficient, without prolonged speech.

فَاِعذر مريدكَ إِنّ دَهري شاغِلي

فَاِعذر مريدكَ إِنّ دَهري شاغِلي

بِهجائه عَن مَدح كُلّ نِقابِ

بِهجائه عَن مَدح كُلّ نِقابِ

So pardon your disciple: my fate keeps me occupied

So forgive your disciple - my time preoccupies me

With satirizing it, rather than praising every discerning man.

from praising every veil.

وَلَئن أَساء فَقَد عَفَوت وَإِنَّما

وَلَئن أَساء فَقَد عَفَوت وَإِنَّما

يَعفو الفَتى فَيَنال خَير ثَوابِ

يَعفو الفَتى فَيَنال خَير ثَوابِ

And though it has done wrong, I have forgiven it; indeed,

And if I did wrong, you have pardoned me, for

A man forgives and thereby earns the finest reward.

the noble pardon and gain the best reward.

وَلَقَد ظَفَرت بِما أَروم وَأَبتَغي

وَلَقَد ظَفَرت بِما أَروم وَأَبتَغي

فَمنعت عَنهُ تعتُّبي وَعِتابي

فَمنعت عَنهُ تعتُّبي وَعِتابي

And I have attained what I desire and seek,

I have attained what I desire and seek,

So I have withheld from it my reproach and rebuke.

so you prevented me from complaining and rebuke.

فاِسلم وَدُم فَلأَنت غاية مَقصدي

فاِسلم وَدُم فَلأَنت غاية مَقصدي

وَرضاك سُؤلي في الوَرى وَطِلابي

وَرضاك سُؤلي في الوَرى وَطِلابي

So be well and live on, for you are my ultimate aim,

So submit to the One, and remain, for you are the goal of my pursuit,

And your favor is my wish and my quest among humankind.

and your pleasure is what I seek in life and desire.