خل دمعي فقد اصاب مسيلا

خل دمعي فقد اصاب مسيلا

إذ أسروا نحو الحبيب الرحيلا

إذ أسروا نحو الحبيب الرحيلا

Let my tears flow; they have found a course,

Let my tears flow as they have found an outlet,

Since they journeyed by night toward the beloved.

When they marched towards the beloved's departure.

خلفوني فرد أو ماذا عليهم

خلفوني فرد أو ماذا عليهم

لو أقاموا على الكثيب قليلا

لو أقاموا على الكثيب قليلا

They left me alone—or what harm would it have done them

Leave me alone or whatever is upon them,

Had they stayed a little upon the dune?

If only they had stayed on the sand dune a little.

أتراهم خانوا عليه الجوى والشوق

أتراهم خانوا عليه الجوى والشوق

والتوق والسرى والنحولا

والتوق والسرى والنحولا

Did they betray him to heartache and longing,

Do you think they have betrayed the longing and passion for him,

To yearning, night journeys, and wasting away?

As well as the desire, the night journey, and the emaciation?

فتولوا عنه وخلوه فردا

فتولوا عنه وخلوه فردا

لا يلاقي سوى البكاء خليلا

لا يلاقي سوى البكاء خليلا

They turned away from him and left him alone,

So they turned away from him and left him alone,

Finding no companion but weeping.

With none but weeping as a companion.

مغرم غادر الأسى جسمه الآهل

مغرم غادر الأسى جسمه الآهل

رسما بعد الفراق محيلا

رسما بعد الفراق محيلا

A lover whose once-inhabited body sorrow left

A lover whom sadness has left frail,

A desolate ruin after separation.

After separation has drawn him as an example.

عصفت بينه رياح ارتياح

عصفت بينه رياح ارتياح

تركنه معالماً وطلولا

تركنه معالماً وطلولا

Winds of yearning swept through him,

Winds of comfort have blown upon him,

Leaving him vestiges and ruined traces.

Leaving him as ruins and hills.

كلما ظن دمعه يطفئ الوج

كلما ظن دمعه يطفئ الوج

د أثار الجوى وأذكى الغليلا

د أثار الجوى وأذكى الغليلا

Whenever he thought his tears would quench passion,

Whenever he thought his tears would extinguish the fire of love,

They stirred his heartache and kindled his burning thirst.

The embers of longing ignited and the anguish intensified.

دل بادي الأسى وخافي جواء

دل بادي الأسى وخافي جواء

أن بين الضلوع داء دخيلا

أن بين الضلوع داء دخيلا

His manifest sorrow and hidden heartache showed

My obvious sorrow and hidden passion have shown,

That an invading sickness lay between his ribs.

That within my ribs there is an alien disease.

مولع بالصبا تمر على الحي

مولع بالصبا تمر على الحي

سحيرا تجر ذيلا بليلا

سحيرا تجر ذيلا بليلا

Enamored of the east wind as it passes over the encampment

Passionate for the youths that pass through the neighborhood,

At early dawn, trailing a dew-damp hem.

Enchantingly dragging their tails at night.

كلما إذ كرته يوماً قصيراً

كلما إذ كرته يوماً قصيراً

بالتلاقي بكى بكاء طويلا

بالتلاقي بكى بكاء طويلا

Whenever it reminded him of a brief day

Whenever I recall him for a short day,

Of reunion, he wept at length.

I cry profusely at the meeting.

وينادي الحادي الذي يرجو العيس

وينادي الحادي الذي يرجو العيس

فإن لم يجبه نادي الدليلا

فإن لم يجبه نادي الدليلا

He calls to the camel-driver who hopes for the pale camels;

And calls upon the guide whom he hopes to reach,

If he does not answer him, he calls the guide.

If he does not respond, he calls the guide.

أيها السائر الذي في الموامي

أيها السائر الذي في الموامي

باكر السير بكرة وأصيلا

باكر السير بكرة وأصيلا

O traveler who, through the trackless wastes,

O you who travels the dunes,

Sets out early, at dawn and evening,

Start your journey early in the morning and late at night.

يكحل المقتلين من أثمد الليل

يكحل المقتلين من أثمد الليل

فيفني القفار ميلاً ميلا

فيفني القفار ميلاً ميلا

Darkens both eyes with the kohl of night,

Darkness of night hurts the perished,

And devours the deserts mile by mile.

Walking mile after mile in the desert.

ويميل الكرى بعطفيه وهنا

ويميل الكرى بعطفيه وهنا

فوق وجناء لا تمل الذميلا

فوق وجناء لا تمل الذميلا

Drowsiness bends his shoulders late at night,

And the destiny leans with its shoulder, over here,

Upon a stout-cheeked she-camel that never tires of trotting.

Upon the cheek that does not reject the curl.

فهو يبغي أهل الحمى بسراه

فهو يبغي أهل الحمى بسراه

وهي تبغي مراحها والمقيلا

وهي تبغي مراحها والمقيلا

He seeks the people of the sanctuary through his night journey,

He longs for the people of love in their homes,

While she seeks her resting place and midday repose.

While she longs for her rest and sleep.

لا تني في السري إلى أن ترى البا

لا تني في السري إلى أن ترى البا

ن تبغي مراحها والمقيلا

ن تبغي مراحها والمقيلا

She never slackens in her night journey until she sees the ban-trees,

Do not try to reach the homes, until you see

Seeking her resting place and midday repose.

That she longs for her rest and sleep.

طبت مسرى وفاز قدحك بالسول

طبت مسرى وفاز قدحك بالسول

فكن لي إلى الرسول رسولا

فكن لي إلى الرسول رسولا

Blessed is your night journey; your lot has won your wish,

You have given good advice, so your cup has gained,

So be my messenger to the Messenger.

So be to the Messenger, a messenger for me.

وبلغت المنى فبلغ هداك الله

وبلغت المنى فبلغ هداك الله

عني عبء اشتياقي ثقيلا

عني عبء اشتياقي ثقيلا

You have attained your wishes; convey—may God guide you—

And you have reached your purpose, so may God guide you,

On my behalf the heavy burden of my longing.

And relieve me of the heavy burden of my longing.

ثم سلم والثم ثرى الأرض ما اسطعت

ثم سلم والثم ثرى الأرض ما اسطعت

وكرر في تربها التقبيلا

وكرر في تربها التقبيلا

Then give greetings and kiss the earth's soil as much as you can,

Then bid farewell, and let the farewell be the soil of earth glittering,

And repeat your kisses upon its dust.

And repeat the kissing of its soil.

وابك عني فلو وصلت إليه

وابك عني فلو وصلت إليه

ظل دمعي للسحب فيه رسيلا

ظل دمعي للسحب فيه رسيلا

And weep for me; were I to reach him,

And cry for me, for if you had reached him,

My tears there would keep the clouds company.

My tears would have remained pouring upon him as showers.

ثم قل قد تركت في عرصة الدا

ثم قل قد تركت في عرصة الدا

ر من القوم نضو وشوق عليلا

ر من القوم نضو وشوق عليلا

Then say: I left in the courtyard of the dwelling,

Then say that I have left in the land of people,

Among the people, a wasted soul, sick with longing.

A thin longing and frail passion.

يرتجى أن يرى حماك وما ذا

يرتجى أن يرى حماك وما ذا

ك وإن شفه الضنا مستحيلا

ك وإن شفه الضنا مستحيلا

He hopes to see your sanctuary; nor is that,

It is hoped that he will see your protection, though

Though wasting sickness has worn him down, impossible.

Reaching it after estrangement is impossible.

فعسى فضلك العميم يناديه

فعسى فضلك العميم يناديه

فيلقى إلى اللقاء سبيلا

فيلقى إلى اللقاء سبيلا

Perhaps your all-embracing bounty will call to him,

So hopefully your abundant grace will call him,

And he will find a way to the meeting.

And guide him to the path of meeting.

ولو اسطاع كان من شدة الشو

ولو اسطاع كان من شدة الشو

ق إلى الحي للرياح زميلا

ق إلى الحي للرياح زميلا

Were he able, his fierce longing would make him

If he could, the intensity of his passion,

A companion to the winds toward the encampment.

Would make him a companion to the winds.

لا بمقصوده ولا عن رضى

لا بمقصوده ولا عن رضى

منه غدا البعد للدنو بديلا

منه غدا البعد للدنو بديلا

Not by his intention, nor with consent

Not because of his purpose or consent,

On his part, has distance replaced nearness.

Has distance from the close become a substitute.

إنما الذنب كلما خف للسير

إنما الذنب كلما خف للسير

إليكما تراه قيدا ثقيلا

إليكما تراه قيدا ثقيلا

Only sin is to blame: whenever he hastens to journey

The only crime is that when longing to travel,

Toward you both, you see it as a heavy shackle.

To you both, he sees it as a heavy shackle.

وزمانإذا رجا منه سعا

وزمانإذا رجا منه سعا

ذا على قصده راء بخيلا

ذا على قصده راء بخيلا

And time: whenever he hopes for its aid,

And time, whenever he hopes for ease,

In his quest, he finds it miserly.

In pursuing his aim, appears miserly.

وضنى كلما تقاضى له البر

وضنى كلما تقاضى له البر

غدا بالمراد منه مطولا

غدا بالمراد منه مطولا

And wasting sickness: whenever he begs for kindness,

And prevents him whenever he requests,

It delays granting what he desires from it.

To prolong his wishes.

وتعدى السبعين آذنه

وتعدى السبعين آذنه

بالسير نحو الأخرى فضم الذيولا

بالسير نحو الأخرى فضم الذيولا

Passing seventy has warned him

He is over seventy, time has warned him,

Of departure toward the next life; so he gathered his garment's hems.

Of traveling to the next life, so he has folded his tails.

فإذا ما قضي ولم يبلغ السو

فإذا ما قضي ولم يبلغ السو

ل رجا في المعاد منك السولا

ل رجا في المعاد منك السولا

So if he dies without attaining his wish,

So when his time is up and he does not reach

He hopes to receive that wish from you at the Resurrection.

His wishes, he hopes for intercession from you.

أنت يا شافع العباد بتحقيق

أنت يا شافع العباد بتحقيق

رجاء الورى غدوت كفيلا

رجاء الورى غدوت كفيلا

You, O intercessor for the servants, for the fulfillment

You, O intercessor of servants, have truly

Of humankind's hope have become the guarantor.

Become the guarantor of people's hopes.

لك جاه في موقف الحشر قد أضحى

لك جاه في موقف الحشر قد أضحى

عريضاً عند الإله طويلا

عريضاً عند الإله طويلا

Your standing at the place of resurrection has become

You have great standing on the Day of Judgment,

Broad and lofty before God.

Spacious for God, long lasting.

والمقام المحمود الحوض والكو

والمقام المحمود الحوض والكو

ثر يقفو ظل اللواء الظليلا

ثر يقفو ظل اللواء الظليلا

And the Praiseworthy Station, the Pool, and Kawthar

The Praised Station, the Basin, the Great Intercession

Follow the banner's sheltering shade.

Follow in the shade of your blessed flag.

فترى منك ساقياً ودليلا

فترى منك ساقياً ودليلا

إن ضللنا وشافعاً مقبولا

إن ضللنا وشافعاً مقبولا

Thus one finds in you a cupbearer and a guide,

So we will see you as a water bearer and guide,

If we stray, and an accepted intercessor.

If we are lost, and an accepted intercessor.

حاملاً كلنا هنالك إذ كل

حاملاً كلنا هنالك إذ كل

تراه بنفسه مشغولا

تراه بنفسه مشغولا

Bearing us all there, while everyone

Carrying us all there when you are busy with yourself,

Is, as you see, preoccupied with himself.

You, whom the messengers of God

أنت من بشرت به رسل

أنت من بشرت به رسل

الله البرايا من قبل جيلاً جيلا

الله البرايا من قبل جيلاً جيلا

You are the one of whom the messengers

Foretold the good news to the lands before, generation after generation.

Of God gave humanity glad tidings beforehand, generation after generation.

And so did the monks in the deserts and the Jewish scholars,

وكذاك الرهبان في القفر والأ

وكذاك الرهبان في القفر والأ

حبار قصوا وصفا له منقولا

حبار قصوا وصفا له منقولا

Likewise the monks in the wilderness and the rabbis

They narrated and conveyed descriptions of him, transmitted.

Recounted a description of him handed down.

And glad tidings continued through revelations in sanctuaries,

وتوالت بشرى الهواتف في الأقطا

وتوالت بشرى الهواتف في الأقطا

ر تفقوا حزونها والسهولا

ر تفقوا حزونها والسهولا

Glad tidings from unseen voices followed one another throughout the regions,

Reciting them sorrowfully while traveling and on the plains.

Traversing their rugged ground and their plains.

The devils were blocked from hearing of him,

وبه صدت الشياطين عن سمع

وبه صدت الشياطين عن سمع

إليه كانت تطيق الوصولا

إليه كانت تطيق الوصولا

Through him, the devils were barred from a hearing

To him they were unable to reach.

To which they had once been able to gain access.

Through him God protected the people of His House,

وبه صان أهل كعبته الله

وبه صان أهل كعبته الله

وصد العدا ورد الفيلا

وصد العدا ورد الفيلا

Through him, God protected the people of His Kaaba,

Repelled enemies, and made the elephant army return.

Repelled the enemies and turned back the elephant.

And the good news of prophethood came to him in the cave of Hira,

وأتته بشرى النبوة في غا

وأتته بشرى النبوة في غا

ر حرار مع الرضى جبريلا

ر حرار مع الرضى جبريلا

The glad tidings of prophethood came to him in the cave

With contentment and Gabriel.

Of Harar [probably Hira], with favor, through Gabriel.

He came with the Wise Remembrance and said “Read”,

جاء بالذكر الحكيم وقال اقرأ

جاء بالذكر الحكيم وقال اقرأ

وألقى عليه قولاً ثقيلا

وألقى عليه قولاً ثقيلا

He brought the wise Reminder and said, "Recite,"

And revealed to him a profound discourse.

And laid upon him a weighty word.

It rendered humans and jinn incapable with a chapter of it,

أعجز الأنس سورة منه والجن

أعجز الأنس سورة منه والجن

فولوا عجزاً وحادوا نكولا

فولوا عجزاً وحادوا نكولا

A surah of it rendered humans and jinn powerless,

So they failed and turned away.

So they turned away helpless and recoiled in retreat.

Thus He guided us through him, and you are the Remembrance,

فهدانا به وناهيك بالذكر

فهدانا به وناهيك بالذكر

كتاباً وبالنبي رسولا

كتاباً وبالنبي رسولا

He guided us by it; sufficient is the Reminder

A book and a prophet messenger.

As a Book, and the Prophet as a messenger.

Our book and God’s Messenger have sufficed us

وكفانا كتابنا ورسول الله

وكفانا كتابنا ورسول الله

في الدين هادياً ودليلا

في الدين هادياً ودليلا

Our Book and God's Messenger suffice us

As a guide and evidence in the religion.

As a guide and a leader in religion.

With this and that God has guided us to the truth,

فبهذا وذاك أرشدنا الله إلى

فبهذا وذاك أرشدنا الله إلى

الحق فاهتدينا السبيلا

الحق فاهتدينا السبيلا

Through this and that, God directed us toward

So we found the path.

The truth, and we found the path.

We have preserved it in our hearts, so we have succeeded

فحفظناه في الصدور ففز

فحفظناه في الصدور ففز

نا ورتلنا آياته ترتيلا

نا ورتلنا آياته ترتيلا

We preserved it in our breasts and succeeded,

And recited its verses rhythmically.

And recited its verses in measured recitation.

We are tasked with it until we meet God as judges,

وكلفنا به فلم نستطع عنه

وكلفنا به فلم نستطع عنه

إلى أن نلتقي الإله عدولا

إلى أن نلتقي الإله عدولا

We became enamored of it, unable to turn away from it

Then when we complete its recitation, the next recitation becomes the first,

Until we meet God.

Like one who yearns for the homes, whenever he reaches his destination,

فإذا استكملنا قراءته عد

فإذا استكملنا قراءته عد

نا فصارت أخرى التلاوة أولا

نا فصارت أخرى التلاوة أولا

Whenever we finish reading it, we return,

He repeats the journey.

And the end of recitation becomes its beginning.

Therefore send blessings upon the Messenger,

مثل سار يهوى السرى كلما صا

مثل سار يهوى السرى كلما صا

ر إلى قصده أعاد الرحيلا

ر إلى قصده أعاد الرحيلا

Like a traveler who loves night journeys: whenever he reaches

To whom God revealed His Book as a revelation.

His destination, he sets out anew.

Blessings from his Lord and fragrant greetings

فعلى المرسل الذي أنزل الله

فعلى المرسل الذي أنزل الله

عليه كتابه تنزيلا

عليه كتابه تنزيلا

So upon the Messenger to whom God sent down

As long as the doves coo.

His Book in revelation,

صلوات من ربه وسلام

صلوات من ربه وسلام

عاطر ما دعا الحمام هديلا

عاطر ما دعا الحمام هديلا

Be blessings from his Lord and peace,

Fragrant, as long as doves call in cooing.