Qasidat al-Hamziyya · قصيدة الهمزية

كَيْفَ تَرْقَى رُقِيَّكَ الأَنْبِيَاءُ
يَا سَمَاءً مَا طَاوَلَتْهَا سمَاءُ

Kayfa tarqā ruqiyyaka al-anbiyā’u
Yā samā’an mā ṭāwalahā samā’u

How can the other Prophets reach your height, O Heaven that no other heaven can overtop?

لَمْ يُسَاوُوكَ فِي عُلاَكَ وَقَدْحَا
لَ سَنىً مِنْكَ دُونَهُمْ وَسَنَاءُ

Lam yusāwūka fī ‘ulāka wa qadḥā
La sanan minka dūnahum wa sanā’u

They did not equal you in your loftiness, for a light from you was given to them, but yours is the brilliance and the majesty.

إِنَّمَا مَثَّلُوا صِفَاتِكَ لِلنَّا
سِ كَمَا مَثَّلَ النُّجُومَ الْمَاءُ

Innamā maththalū ṣifātika linnās
Kamā maththala al-nujūm al-mā’u

They only represented your attributes to the people, just as the water reflects the image of the stars.

أَنْتَ مِصْبَاحُ كُلِّ فَضْلٍ فَمَا تَصْ
دُر ُإِلاَّعَنْ ضَوْئِكَ الأَضْواءُ

Anta miṣbāḥu kulli faḍlin famā taṣdur
illā ‘an ḍaw’ika al-aḍwā’u

You are the lamp of every virtue, and no lights originate except from your light.

لَكَ ذَاتُ الْعُلُومِ مِنْ عَالِمِ الْغَيْ
بِ وَمِنْهََا لآدَمَ الأَسْمَاءُ

Laka dhātu al-‘ulūmi min ‘ālim al-ghayb
Wa minhā li-Ādama al-asmā’u

You possess the essence of sciences from the Knower of the Unseen, and from that essence, Adam was taught the Names.

لَمْ تَزَلْ فِي ضَمَائِر ِالْكَوْنِ تُخْتَا
رُ لَكَ الأُمَّهَاتُ وَالآبَاءُ

Lam tazal fī ḍamā’iri al-kawni tukhtāru laka
Al-ummuhātu wal-ābā’u

You continued to be chosen within the heart of existence, through a succession of noble mothers and fathers.

مَامَضَتْ فَتْرَةٌ مَنَ الرُّسْل إَلاَّ
بَشَّرَتْ قَوْمَهَا بِكَ الأَنْبِيَاءُ

Mā madafat fatratun min al-rusuli illā
Bashsharat qawmahā bika al-anbiyā’u

No period of time passed without messengers, except that the Prophets gave glad tidings of you to their people.

تَتَبَاهَى بِكَ الْعُصُورُوَتَسْمُو
بِكَ عَلْيَاءُ بَعْدَهَا عَلْيَاءُ

Tatabāhā bika al-‘uṣūru wa tasmu
Bika ‘ulyā ba‘dahā ‘ulyāu

The eras boast of you, and one lofty age after another is ennobled by your presence.

وَبَدَا لِلْوُجُودِ مِنكَ كَرِيمٌ
مِنْ كَرِيمٍ آبَاؤُهُ كُرَمَاءُ

Wa badā lil-wujūdi minka karīm
Min karīmin ābā’uhu kuramā’u

There appeared to existence from you a noble one, from a noble one whose ancestors were all generous and honorable.

نَسَبٌ تَحْسِبُ الْعُلاَ بِحُلاَهُ
قَلَّدَتْهَا نُجَومَهَا الْجَوْزَاءُ

Nasabun taḥsubu al-‘ulā bi-ḥulāh
Qalladathā nujūmahā al-jawzā’u

A lineage so high that the constellation Gemini would think the stars of heaven were jewels adorning its necklace.

حَبَّذَا عِقْدُ سُؤْدَدٍ وَفَخَارٍ
أَنْتَ فِيهِ الْيَتِيمَةُ الْعَصْمََاءُ

Ḥabbadhā ‘iqdu su’uddin wa fakhrin
Anta fīhi al-yatīmat al-‘aṣmā’u

How wonderful is that necklace of sovereignty and pride, in which you are the unique and precious central pearl!

وَمُحَيّاً كَالشَّمْسِ مِنْكَ مُضِيءٌ
أَسْفَرَتْ عَنْهُ لَيْلَةٌٌ غَرَّاءُ

Wa muḥayyan ka al-shamsi minka muḍī’
Asfarat ‘anhu laylatun gharrā’u

A countenance like the sun shines from you, revealed by a radiant and glorious night.

لَيْلَةُ الْمَوْلِدِ الذِي كَانَ لِلدِّي
نِ سُرُورٌ بِيَوْمِهِ وَازْدِهَاءُ

Laylatu al-mawlidi alladhī kāna li al-dīn
Surūrun bi-yawmihi wa-izdiḥā’u

The night of the Birth, in which religion found joy, splendor, and blossoming pride.

وَتَوَالَتْ بُشْرَى الْهَوَاتِفِ أَنْ قَدْ
وُلِدَالْمُصْطَفَى وَحَقَّ الْهَنَاءُ

Wa tawālāt bushra al-hawātifi an qad
Wulida al-muṣṭafā wa ḥaqqa al-hanā’u

The tidings from the unseen voices followed one another, announcing that the Chosen One was born and true happiness was realized.

وَتَدَاعَى إِيوَانُ كِسْرَى وَلَولاَ
آيَةٌ مِنْكَ مَا تَدَاعَى الْبِنَاءُ

Wa tadā‘ā īwānu Kisrā wa lawlā
Āyatun minka mā tadā‘a al-binā’u

The palace of Khosrau (Chosroes) cracked and crumbled; were it not for a sign from you, the building would not have fallen.

وَغَدَا كُلُّ بَيْتِ نَارٍ وَفِيهِ
كُرْبَةٌ مِنْ خُمُودِهَا وَبَلاَءُ

Wa ghadā kullu baytin nārin wa fīhi
Kurbatun min khumūdihā wa balā’u

Every house of fire (of the Persians) became a place of distress as its flames were extinguished and died out.

وَعُيُونٌ لِلْفُرْسِ غَارَتْ فَهَلْ كَا
نَ لِنِيرَانِهِمْ بِهَا إِطْفَاءُ

Wa ‘uyūnun lil-fursi ghārat
Fahal kāna linīrānihim bihā iṭfā’u

The springs of the Persians dried up; was there no water left to quench their fires?

مَوْلِدٌ كَانَ مِنْهُ فِي طَالِعِ الْكُفْ
رِ وَبَالٌ عَلَيْهِمُ وَوَبَاءُ

Mawlidun kāna minhu fī ṭāli‘i al-kufri
Wa bālun ‘alayhimu wa wabā’u

A birth that brought a heavy omen and a plague upon the dawning of disbelief.

فَهَنِيئاً بِهِ لآمِنَةَ الْفَضْ
لُ الذِي شُرِّفَتْ بِهِ حَوَّاءُ

Fa-hanī’an bihi li-Āminati al-faḍlu
Alladhī shurrifat bihi Ḥawwā’u

Congratulations to Aminah for the favor through which even Eve was honored.

مَنْ لِحَوَّاءَ أَنَّهَاحَمَلَتْ أَحْ
مَدَ أَوْ أَنَّهَا بِهِ نُفَسَاءُ

Man li-Ḥawwā’ annahā ḥamalat aḥmad
Aw annahā bihi nufasā’u

What a joy for Eve, that she (through her lineage) carried Ahmad or was his foremother.

يَوْمَ نَالَتْ بِوَضْعِهِ ابْنَةُ وَهْبٍ
مِنْ فَخَار مَالَمْ تَنَلْهُ النِّسَاءُ

Yawma nālat bi-waḍ‘ihi ibnatu Wahb
Min fakharin mā lam tanalhu al-nisā’u

On the day the daughter of Wahb attained through his birth a pride that no other woman has attained.

وَأَتَتْ قَوْمَهَا بِأَفْضَلَ مِمَّا
حَمَلَتْ قَبْلُ مَرْيَمُ الْعَذْرَاءُ

Wa atat qawmahā bi-afḍali mimma
Hamalat qabl Maryamu al-‘adhra’u

She brought to her people something better than what the Virgin Mary had carried before.

شَمَّتَتْهُ الأَمْلاَكُ إِذْ وَضَعَتْهُ
وَشَفَتْنَا بِقَولِهَا الشَّفَّاءُ

Shammatathu al-amlāku idh waḍa‘athu
Wa shafatnā bi-qawlihā al-shaffā’u

The angels greeted him when she gave birth, and the "Healer" (the midwife) cured us with her report.

رَافِعاًرَأْسَهُ وَفِي ذَلِكَ الرَّفْ
عِ إِلَى كُلِّ سُؤْدَدٍ إِيمَاءُ

Rāfi‘an ra’sahu wa fī dhālika al-raf‘
Ilā kulli su’ddadin īmā’u

He was born raising his head, and in that raising was a gesture toward every form of sovereignty.

رَامِقاًطَرْفُهُ السَّمَاءَ وَمَرْمَى
عَيْنِ مَنْ شَأْنُهُ الْعُلُوُّ الْعَلاَءُ

Rāmiqan ṭarfuhu al-samā’ wa marmā
‘Ayni man sha’nuhu al-‘ulū al-‘alā’u

His gaze was fixed upon the sky—the gaze of one whose nature is loftiness and highness.

وَتَدَلَّتْ زُهْرُ النُّجُومِ إَلَيْهِ
فَأَضَاءَتْ بِضَوْئِهَاالأَرْجَاءُ

Wa tadallat zuhru al-nujūmi ilayh
Fa-aḍā’at bi-ḍaw’ihā al-arjā’u

The bright stars leaned down toward him, illuminating every horizon with their light.

وَتَرَاءتْ قُصِورُ قَيْصَرَ بالرُّو
مِ يَرَاهَامَنْ دَارُهُ الْبَطْحَاءُ

Wa tarā’at quṣūru Qaysara bi al-rū
Mirāyahā man dāruhu al-baṭḥā’u

The palaces of Caesar in Rome appeared so clearly that they could be seen by those dwelling in the valley of Mecca.

وَبَدَتْ فِي رَضَاعِهِ مُعْجِزِاتٌ
لَيْسَ فِيهَاعَنِ الْعُيُونِ خَفَاءُ

Wa badat fī raḍā‘ihi mu‘jizātun
Laysa fīha ‘an al-‘uyūni khafā’u

Miracles appeared during his nursing that were not hidden from any eye.

إِذْ أَبَتْهُ لِيُتْمِهِ مُرْضِعَاتٌ
قُلْنَ مَافِي الْيَتِيمِ عَنَّا غَنَاءُ

Idh abat-hu li-yutmihi murḍi‘ātun
Qulna mā fī al-yatīmi ‘annā ghannā’u

When the wet-nurses refused him because of his orphanhood, saying: "An orphan brings us no wealth,"

فَأَتَتْهُ مِنْ آلِ سَعْدٍ فَتَاةٌ
قَدْ أَبَتْهَا لِفَقْرِهَا الرُّضَعَاءُ

Fa-atathuhu min āli Sa‘din fatātun
Qad abat-hā li-faqrihā al-ruḍa‘ā’u

There came to him a young woman from the clan of Sa'd, whom other infants had refused due to her poverty.

أَرْضًَعَتْهُ لِبَانَهَا فَسَقَتْهَا
وَبَنِيهَا أَلْبَانهُنَّ الشَّاءُ

Arḍa‘athuhu li-bānuhā fa-saqathu
Wa banīhā albānuhunna al-shā’u

She gave him her milk, and in return, the sheep provided milk for her and her children.

أَصْبَحَتْ شُوَلاًعِجَافاًوَأِمْسَتْ
مَا بِهَا شَائِلٌ وَلاَ عَجْفَاءُ

Aṣbaḥat shuwlān ‘ijāfān wa imsatat
Mā bihā shā’ilun wa lā ‘ajfā’u

Her sheep began the day lean and dry, but by evening, none were empty or weak.

أَخْصَبَ الْعَيْشُ عِنْدَهَابَعْدَمَحْلٍ
إِذْ غَدَا لِلنَّبِيِّ مِنْهَا غِذَاءُ

Akhṣaba al-‘ayshu ‘indahā ba‘d maḥlin
Idh ghadā li al-nabī minhā ghidhā’u

Life became fertile and abundant for her after drought, once the Prophet was nourished by her.

يَا لَهَامِنَّةٌ لَقَدْ ضُوعِفَ الأَجْ
رُعَلَيْهَامِنْ جِنْسَهَاوَالْجَزَاءُ

Yā lahā minnahu laqad ḍu‘ifa al-ajru
‘Alayhā min jinsihā wa al-jazā’u

What a favor! The reward and the blessing were multiplied for her from the very nature of her service.

وَإِذَا سَخَّرَ الإِلَهُ أُنَاساً
لَسَعِيدٍ فَإِنَّهُمْ سُعَدَاءُ

Wa idhā sakkhara al-ilāhu unnāsan
Li-sa‘īd fainnahum su‘adā’u

When God selects people to serve a blessed one, they themselves become the truly happy ones.

حَبَّةٌ أَنْبَتَتْ سَنَابِلَ وَالْعَصْ
فُ لَدَيْهِ يَسْتَشْرِفُ الضُّعَفَاءُ

Ḥabbatun anbatat sanābila wa al-‘aṣfu
Ladayhi yastashrifu al-ḍu‘afā’u

He was like a grain that brought forth many ears of corn, while the weak find shelter within its husks.

وَأَتَتْ جَدَّهُ وَقَدْ فَصَلَتْهُ
وَبِهَا مِنْ فِصَالِهِ الْبُرَحَاءُ

Wa atat jaddahu wa qad faṣalathu
Wa bihā min fiṣālihi al-burḥā’u

She brought him back to his grandfather after he was weaned, though she felt the pain of parting from him.

إِذْ أَحَاطَتْ بِهِ مَلاَئِكَةُ الل
هِ فَظَنَّتْ بِأَنَّهُمْ قُرَنَاءُ

Idh aḥāṭat bihi malā’ikatu al-lahi
Fa-ẓannat bi-annahum qurānā’u

The angels of Allah surrounded him, so she thought they were merely companions.

وَرَأَى وَجْدَهَابِهِ وَمِنَ الْوَجْ
دِلَهِيبٌ تَصْلَى بِهِ الأُحْشَاءُ

Wa ra’ā wajdahā bihi wa mina al-wajd
Lahībun taṣlā bihi al-uḥshā’u

He saw her deep love for him—a love that burned like a flame within her heart.

فَارَقَتْهُ كَرْهاً وَكَانَ لَدَيْهَا
ثَاوِياً لاَ يُمَلُّ مَنْهُ الثَّوَاءُ

Fāraqathu karhan wa kāna ladayhā
Thāwiyan lā yumallu minhū al-thawā’u

She left him reluctantly, for one never tires of the presence of such a guest.

شُقَّ عَنْ قَلْبِهِ وَأُخْرَجَ مِنْهُ
مُضْغَةٌ عِنْدَ غَسْلِهِ سَوْدَاءُ

Shuqqa ‘an qalbihi wa ukhrajā minhū
Muḍghatun ‘inda ghuslihi sawdā’u

His heart was split open, and a dark clot was removed from it during the washing.

خَتَمَتْهُ يُمْنَى الأَمِينِ وَقَدْ أُو
دِعَ مَا لُمْ تُذَعْ لَهُ أَنْبَاءُ

Khatamat-hu yumnā al-amīn wa qad ū
Di‘a mā lum tudha‘ lahu anbā’u

The right hand of the Trustworthy (Gabriel) sealed it, and secrets were deposited there that have not been disclosed.

صَانَ أَسْرَارَهُ الْخِتَامُ فَلاَ الْفَ
ضُّ مُلِمٌّ بِهِ وَلاَ الإِفْضَاءُ

Ṣāna asrārahu al-khitām falā al-faḍḍu
Mulim bihī wa lā al-ifḍā’u

The seal protected his secrets, so neither prying nor disclosure could reach them.

أَلِفَ النُّسْكَ وَالْعِبَادَةَ وَالْخَلْ
وَةَ طِفْلاً وَهَكَذَا النُّجَبَاءُ

Alifa al-nuskā wa al-‘ibādah wa al-khalwah
Ṭiflan wa hakadhā al-nujabā’u

Even as a child, he was inclined toward devotion, worship, and seclusion—and such is the way of the noble-born.

وَإِذَا حَلَّتِ الْهِدَايَةُ قَلْباً
نَشِطَتْ لِلْعِبَادَةِ الأَعْضَاءُ

Wa idhā ḥallati al-hidāyah qalban
Nashtat lil-‘ibādah al-a‘ḍā’u

When guidance settles into a heart, the limbs become active and eager for worship.

بَعَثَ اللهُ عِنْدَ مَبْعَثِهِ الشُّهْ
بَ حِرَاساًوَضَاقَ عَنْهَاالْفَضَاءُ

Ba‘atha Allahu ‘inda mab‘athihi al-shuhab
Ḥirāsan wa ḍāqa ‘anhā al-faḍā’u

When God sent him, He sent the shooting stars as guards, and the heavens felt narrow for the prying jinn.

تَطْرُدُ الْجِنَّ عَنْ مَقَاعِد َللسَّمْ
عِ كَمَا تَطْرُدُ الذِّئَابَ الرِّعَاءُ

Taṭrud al-jinna ‘an maqā‘id al-samā’
Kamā taṭrud al-dhi’āb al-ri‘ā’u

The stars drove the jinn away from their listening posts, just as shepherds drive away wolves.

فَمَحَتْ آيَةَ الْكَهَانَةِ آيَا
تٌ مِنَ الْوَحْيِ مَالَهُنَّ انْمِحَاءُ

Fa-maḥat āyat al-kahānah āyatan
Mina al-waḥyi mā lahunna inmiḥā’u

The signs of the Revelation erased the signs of soothsaying, leaving no trace behind.

وَرَأَتْهُ خَدِيجَةٌ وَالتُّقَى وَال
زُّهْدُ فِيهِ سَجِيَّةٌ وَالْحَيَاءُ

Wa ra’at-hu Khadīja wa al-tuqā wal-zuhd
Fīhī sajiyyah wa al-ḥayā’u

Khadija saw him, observing that piety, asceticism, and modesty were his natural disposition.

وَأَتَاهَا أَنَّ الْغَمَامَةَ وَالسَّرْ
حَ أَظَلَّتْهُ مِنْهُمَا أَفْيَاءُ

Wa atāhā anna al-ghamāmah wa al-sarḥ
Aẓallathū minhumā afyā’u

She learned that the clouds and the trees had cast their shadows over him as he traveled.

وَأَحَادِيثُ أَنَّ وَعْدَ رَسُولِ
اللهِ بِالْبَعْثِ حَانَ مِنْهُ الْوَفَاءُ

Wa aḥādīthu anna wa‘da Rasūl
Allāhi bil-ba‘thi ḥāna minhū al-wafā’u

She heard accounts that the promise of God’s Messenger and his dawning mission were now due.

فَدَعَتْهُ إِلَى الزَوَاجِ وَمَا أَحْ
سَنَ مَايَبْلُغُ الْمُنَى الأَذْكِيَاءُ

Fa-da‘athū ilā al-zawāj wa mā aḥ
San mā yablaghu al-munā al-adhkiyā’u

She invited him to marriage—and how excellently the wise achieve their ultimate desires!

وَأَتَاهُ فِي بَيْتِهَا جَبْرَئِيلُ
وَلِذِي اللُّبِّ فِي الأُمُورِ ارْتِيَاءُ

Wa atāhū fī baytihā Jibrīl
Wa li-dhī al-lubbi fī al-umūr irtīyā’u

Gabriel came to him in her house, and for a person of intellect, all matters require deep reflection.

فَأَمَاطَتْ عَنْهَاالْخِمارَلِتَدْرِي
أَهُوَ الْوَحْيُ أَمْ هُوَ الإِغْمَاءُ

Fa-amāṭat ‘anhā al-khimār li-tadrī
Ahuwa al-waḥyu am huwa al-ighmā’u

She removed her veil to know: was this the Divine Revelation or merely a state of trance?

فَاخْتَفَى عِنْدَكَشْفِهَا الرَّأْسَ جِبْرِي
لُ فَمَاعَادَ أَوْ أُعِيدَ الغِطَاءُ

Fa-ikhtafā ‘indaka kashfihā al-ra’s Jibrīl
Fa-mā ‘āda aw u‘īda al-ghiṭā’u

Gabriel disappeared when her head was uncovered, and he did not return until the veil was restored.

فَاسْتَبَانَتْ خَدِيجَةٌ أَنَّهُ الْكَنْ
الذِي حَاوَلَتْهُ وَالكِيمْيَاءُ

Fa-istabānat Khadīja annahu al-kan
Alladhī ḥāwalathū wa al-kīmiyā’u

Thus Khadija became certain that he was the "Treasure" she had sought, the true spiritual Alchemy.

ثُمَّ قَامَ النَّبِيُّ يَدْعُو إِلَى اللَّه
وَفِي الْكُفْرِ نَجْدةٌ وَإِبَاءُ

Thumma qāma al-nabī yad‘ū ilā Allah
Wa fī al-kufri najdah wa ibā’u

Then the Prophet stood up to call to Allah, while disbelief stood ready with stubbornness and pride.

أُمَماً أُشْرِبَتْ قُلُوبُهُمُ الْكُفْ
رِ فَدَاءُ الضّلاَلِ فِيهِْ عَيَاءُ

Ummaman ush’ribat qulūbuhumu al-kufr
Fadā’ al-ḍalāl fīhi ‘ayā’u

He called nations whose hearts were saturated with disbelief, for the disease of misguidance is a wearying ailment.

وَرَأَيْنَا آيَاتِه فَاهْتَديْنَا
وَإِذَا الْحَقُّ جَاءَزَالَ الْمِرَاءُ

Wa ra’aynā āyātihi fa-ihtadaynā
Wa idhā al-ḥaqq jā’azā al-mirā’u

But we saw his signs and were guided; when the Truth arrives, all dispute vanishes.

رَبِّ إِنَّ الْهُدَى هُدَاكَ وَآيَا
نُورٌ تَهْدِي بِهَا مَنْ تَشَاءُ

Rabbi inna al-hudā hudāk wa āyā
Nūrun tahdī bihā man tashā’u

O Lord, guidance is Your guidance, and Your signs are a light with which You guide whom You will.

كَمْ رَأَيْنَامَالَيْسَ يَعْقِلُ قَدْ أُلْْ
هِمَ مَا لَيْسَ يُلْهَمُ الْعُقَلاَءُ

Kam ra’aynā mā laysa ya‘qilu qad ulhima
Mā laysa yulhimu al-‘uqalā’u

How often have we seen that which lacks intellect (nature) inspired with what the "intellectuals" were never granted!

إِذْ أَبَى الْفِيلُ مَاأَتَى صَاحِبُ الْفِي
لِ وَلَمْ يَنْفَعِ الْحِجَاوالذَّكَاءُ

Idh abā al-fīl mā atā ṣāḥibu al-fīl
Wa lam yanfa‘ al-ḥijā wa al-dhakā’u

The Elephant refused what its owner intended, for cleverness and intelligence did not benefit the army of the Elephant.

والْجَمَادَاتُ أَفْصَحَتْ بِالذِي أُخْ
رِسَ عَنْهُ لأَحْمَدَالْفُصَحَاءُج

Wa al-jamādāt afṣaḥat bi-lladhī ukhrisa ‘anhu
Li-Aḥmad al-fuṣaḥā’u

Inanimate stones spoke more eloquently of Ahmad than the most articulate of men.

وَيْحَ قَوْمٍ جَفَوْا نَبِيّاً بِأَرْضٍ
أَلِفَتْهُ ضِبَابُهَا وَالظِّبَاءُ

Wayḥa qawmin jafaw nabiyyan bi-arḍin
Alifat-hu ḍibābuhā wa al-ẓibā’u

Woe to a people who turned away from a Prophet in a land where even the desert lizards and the deer loved him!

وَسَلَوْهُ وَحَنَّ جِذْعٌ إِلَيْهِ
وَقَلَوْهُ وَوَدَّهُ الْغُرَباءُ

Wa salawhu wa ḥanna jiḏ‘un ilayh
Wa qalawhu wa wadda-hu al-ghurbā’u

They forgot him, yet a dry tree trunk yearned for him; they hated him, yet the strangers loved him.

أخْرَجُوهُ مِنْهَا وَآوَاهُ غَارٌ
وَحَمَتْهُ حَمَامَةٌ وَرْقَاءُ

Akhrajūhu minhā wa āwāhu ghār
Wa ḥamat-hu ḥamāmah warqā’u

They drove him out, and a cave gave him refuge, protected by a wild pigeon.

وَكَفَتْهُ بِنَسْجِهَا عَنْكَبُوتٌ
مَاكَفَتْهُ الْحَمَامَةُ الْحَصْدَاءُ

Wa kafat-hu bi-nasjihā ‘ankabūt
Ma kafat-hu al-ḥamāmah al-ḥaṣdā’u

A spider sufficed him with its web—a protection more effective than the armor of a soldier.

وَاخْتَفَى مِنْهُمُ عَلَى قُرْبِ مَرآ
هُ وَمِنْ شِدَّةِ الظُّهُورِالْخَفَاءُ

Wa ikhtafā minhum ‘alā qurb marāh
Wa min shiddat al-ẓuhūr al-khafā’u

He remained hidden from them even though he was close to their sight; for sometimes, extreme manifestation causes a veil.

وَنَحَاالْمُصْطَفَى الْمَدِينَةَ وَاشْتَا
قَتْ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ مَكَّةَ الأَنْحَاءُ

Wa naḥā al-muṣṭafā al-madīnah wa ishtāqat ilayh
Min Makkah al-anḥā’u

The Chosen One turned toward Medina, while every corner of Mecca yearned for his return.

وَتَغَنَّتْ بِمَدْحِهِ الْجِنُّ حَتَّى
أَطْرَبَ الإِنْسَ مِنْهُ ذَاكَ الْغِنَاءُ

Wa taghannat bi-madḥihi al-jinnu ḥattā
Aṭraba al-ins minhu dhāk al-ghinā’u

The jinn sang his praises until their songs enraptured even the humans.

واقْتَفَى إِثْرَهُ سُرَاقَةُ فَاسْتَهْ
وَتْهُ فِي الأَرْضِ صَافِنٌ جَرْدَاءُ

Wa iqtafā ithrahu Surāqah fastah
Wa tathuhu fī al-arḍ ṣāfin jardā’u

Suraqa followed his tracks, but the hard earth swallowed his horse’s legs.

ثُمَّ نَادَاهُ بَعْدَمَا سِيمَتِ الْخَسْ
فَ وَقَدْ يُنْجِدُ الْغَرِيقَ النِّدَاءُ

Thumma nādāhū ba‘d mā sīmat al-khasf
Wa qad yunjidu al-gharīq al-nidā’u

Suraqa called out after being humbled, and truly, a cry for help can save the drowning.

فَطَوَى الأَرْضَ سَائِراً والسَّمَوَا
تُ العُلاَ فَوْقَهَا لَهُ إِسْرَاءُ

Faṭawā al-arḍ sā’iran wa al-samawāt
Al-‘ulā fawqahā lahu isrā’u

The Prophet crossed the earth, and the High Heavens were his path during the Night Journey.

فَصِفِ اللَّيْلَةَ التِي كَانَ لِلْمُخْ
تَارِ فِيهَا عَلَى البُرَاقِ اسْتِوَاءُ

Fa-ṣif al-laylah allatī kāna lil-mukh
Tār fīhā ‘alā al-burāq istiwwā’u

Describe the night when the Chosen One mounted the Buraq in majestic equilibrium.

وَتَرَقَّى بِهِ إِلَى قَابِ قَوْسَيْ
نِ وَتِلْكَ السِّيَّادَةُ الْقَعْسَاءُ

Wa taraqqā bihī ilā qāb qawsayn
Wa tilka al-siyyādah al-qasā’u

He ascended to the distance of "two bows' length"—that is the most exalted of sovereignties.

وَتَلَقَّى مِنْ رَبِّهِ كَلِمَاتٍ
كُلَّ شَمْسٍ مِنْ دُونِهِنَّ هَبَاءُ

Wa talaqqā min rabbihi kalimātin
Kulla shamsin min dūnihinna habā’u

He received words from his Lord, compared to which every sun is but a speck of dust.

زَاخِرَاتِ البِحَارِ تَعْجَزُ عَنْ إِدْ
رَاكِهَا الْعُلَمَاءُ وَالْحُكَمَاءُ

Zākherāt al-biḥār ta‘jazu ‘an idrakihā
Al-‘ulamā’ wa al-ḥukamā’u

The scholars and the wise are unable to grasp the depths of those overflowing oceans.

رُتَبٌ تَسْقُطُ الأَمَانِيُّ حَسْرَى
دُونَهَا مَا وَرَاءَهُنَّ وَرَاءُ

Rutabun tasquṭu al-amānī ḥasrā
Dūnahā mā warā’ahunna warā’u

These are ranks where all worldly hopes fall short; there is nothing beyond them to be reached.

ثُمَّ وَافَى يُحَدِّثُ الّنَّاسَ شُكْراً
إِِذْ أَتَتْهُ مِنْ رَبّهِ النَّعْمَاءُ

Thumma wāfā yuḥaddithu al-nās shukran
Idh atathūhu min rabbihi al-na‘mā’u

He returned to speak to the people in gratitude, for the blessings had come to him from his Lord.

وَتَحَدَّى فَارْتَابَ كُلُّ مُرِيبٍ
أَوَ يَبْقَى مَعَ السُّيُولِ الْغُثَاءُ

Wa taḥaddā fārṭāb kullu murīb
Aw yabqā ma‘a al-suyūl al-ghuthā’u

He (the Prophet) issued the challenge, and every skeptic was shaken with doubt; for can the dry scum of a stream ever remain against the rushing floods?

وَهْوَ يَدْعُو إلى الإِلَهِ وَإنْ شَ
قَّ عَلَيْهِ كُفْرٌ بِهِ وَازْدِرَاءُ

Wa huwa yad‘ū ilā al-ilāh wa in shaqq
‘Alayhi kufrun bihi wa izdira’u

He called to God, even if disbelief and mockery were difficult to bear.

وَيَدُلُّ الْوَرَى عَلَى اللهِ بِالتّوْ
حِيدِ وَهْوَ الْمَحَجَّةُ الْبَيْضَاءُ

Wa yadullu al-warā ‘alā Allah bi al-tawḥīd
Wa huwa al-maḥajjah al-bayḍā’u

He guided humanity to God through Monotheism, which is the clear and radiant path.

فَبِمَا رَحْمَةٍ مِنَ الله لاَنَتِْ
صَخْرَةٌ مِنْ إِبَائِهِمْ صَمَّاءُ

Fa-bimā raḥmatin min Allah la-nat
Ṣakhratun min ibā’ihim ṣammā’u

Through a mercy from Allah, the solid rock of their stubbornness was softened.

وَاسْتَجَابَتْ لَهُ بِنَصْرٍ وَفَتْحٍ
بَعْدَ ذَاكَ الْخَضْرَاءُ وَالْغَبْرَاءُ

Wa istajābat lahu bi-naṣrin wa fatḥin
Ba‘da dhāka al-khaḍrā’ wa al-ghabrā’u

After that, the heavens and the earth responded to him with victory and opening.

وَأَطَاعَتْ لأَمْرِهِ الْعَرَبُ الْعَرْ
بَاءُ والْجَاهِلِيَّةُ الجَهْلاَءُ

Wa aṭā‘at li-amrihī al-‘Arab al-‘ar
Bā’ wa al-jāhiliyyah al-jahlā’u

The eloquent Arabs and the ignorant masses alike obeyed his command.

وَتَوَالَتْ لِلْمُصْطَفَى الآيَةُ الْكُبْ
رَى عَلَيْهِمْ وَالْغَارَةُ الشَّعْوَاءُ

Wa tawālat lil-muṣṭafā al-āyah al-kubrā
‘Alayhim wa al-ghārah al-sha‘wā’u

The greatest sign—the Quran—followed one after another, as did the sweeping victories.

وَإِذَا مَا تَلاَ كِتَاباً مِنَ الله
تَلَتْهُ كَتِيبَةٌ خَضْرَاءُ

Wa idhā mā talā kitāban min Allah
Talat-hu katībah khaḍrā’u

Whenever he recited a Book from Allah, a "green battalion" (angels) followed its recitation.

وَكَفَاهُ الْمُسْتَهْزِئِينَ وَكَمْ سَا
ءَ نَبِيّاً مِنْ قَوْمِهِ اسْتِهْزَاءُ

Wa kafāhu al-mustahzi’īn wa kam sā’
Nabiyyan min qawmihi istihzā’u

Allah sufficed him against the mockers; how often has a Prophet been pained by the mockery of his people?

وَرَمَاهُمْ بِدَعْوَةٍ مِنْ فِنَاءِ
الْبَيْتِ فِيهَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ فَنَاءُ

Wa ramāhum bi-da‘watin min finā’
Al-bayt fīhā lil-ẓālimīn fanā’u

He struck them with a prayer from the courtyard of the House (Kaaba), which brought ruin to the oppressors.

خَمْسَةٌ كُلُّهُمْ أُصِيبُوا بِدَاءٍ
والرَّدَى مِنْ جُنُودِهِ الأَدْوَاءُ

Khamsah kulluhum uṣībū bi-dā’in
Wa al-radā’ min junūdihi al-adwā’u

These five were all stricken with disease, for death and its various ailments are among the soldiers of God.

فَدَهَى الأَسْوَدَ بْنَ مُطَّلِبٍ أَيُّ
عَمىً مَيِّتٌ بِهِ الأَحْيَاءُ

Fa-dahā al-Aswad ibn Muṭṭalib ayy
‘Amān mayyit bihī al-aḥyā’u

Destruction overtook Al-Aswad ibn al-Muttalib with a blindness so severe it made the living seem as though they were dead.

وَدَهَى الأَسْوَدَ بْنَ عَبْدِ يَغُوثٍ
أَنْ سَقَاهُ كَأْسَ الرَّدَى اسْتِسْقَاءُ

Wa dahā al-Aswad ibn ‘Abd Yaghūth
An saqāhu kā’s al-radā’ istisqā’u

Destruction also overtook Al-Aswad ibn Abd Yaghuth, for dropsy forced him to drink from the cup of death.

وَأصَابَ الْوَلِيدَ خَدْشَةُ سَهْمٍ
قَصَّرَتْ عَنْهَا الْحَيَّةُ الرَّقْطَاءُ

Wa aṣāb al-Walīd khadshah sahm
Qaṣṣarat ‘anhā al-ḥayyah al-raqṭā’u

Al-Walid ibn al-Mughira was struck by the mere scratch of an arrow, yet its venom surpassed that of a spotted viper.

وَقَضَتْ شَوْكَةٌ عَلَى مُهْجَةِ الْعَا
صِي فَلِلَّهِ النَّقْعَةُ الشَّوْكَاءُ

Wa qaḍat shawkatun ‘alā muhjat al-‘āṣī
Fa-li-llāhi al-naq‘ah al-shawkā’u

A single thorn ended the life-soul of Al-As ibn Wa’il—by Allah, how effective was that thorny prick!

وعَلَى الحارِثِ الْقُيُوحُ وَقَدْ سَا
لَ بِهَا رَأْسُهُ وَسَاءَ الْوِعَاءُ

Wa ‘alā al-Ḥārith al-quyūḥ wa qad sā
La bihā ra’suhu wa sā’ al-wi‘ā’u

Upon Al-Harith ibn Qays, pus flowed from his head; what a wretched vessel his skull became.

خَمْسَةٌ طُهِرَتْ بِقَطْعِهِمُ الأَرْ
ضُ فَكَفُّ الأَذَى بِهِمْ شَلاَّءُ

Khamsah tuhhirat bi-qaṭ‘ihimu al-arḍ
Fa-kaffu al-adhā’ bihim shallā’u

These five were removed and the earth was purified by their cutting off; the hand of harm they extended was thus paralyzed.

فُدِيَتْ خَمْسَةُ الَّصّحِيفَةِ بِالْخَمْ
ةِ إِنْ كَانَ لِلْكِرَامِ فِدَاءُ

Fudiyat khamsatu al-ṣaḥīfah bi-al-khamsah
In kāna lil-kirām fidā’u

These five evils were the ransom for the five noble men who broke the boycott document, if indeed there is ever a ransom for the noble.

يَالَ أَمْرٍ أَتَاهُ بََعْدَ هِشَامٍ
زَمْعَةٌ إنَّهُ الْفَتَى الأَتَّاءُ

Yāla amrin atāhu ba‘da Hishām
Zam‘ah innahu al-fatā al-attā’u

What a noble matter it was that Zam’ah undertook after Hisham; he was indeed a courageous young man.

وَزُهَيرٌ والْمُطْعِمُ بْنُ عَديٍّ
وَأَبُو الْبُحْتُرِيِّ مِنْ حَيْثُ شَاءُوا

Wa Zuhayr wal-Muṭ‘im ibn ‘Addiyy
Wa Abū al-Buḥturī min ḥaythu shā’ū

Along with Zuhayr, Al-Mut’im ibn Adiyy, and Abu al-Bukhturi, they acted with resolve from wherever they chose.

نَقَضُوا مُبْرَمَ الصَّحِيفَةِ إِذْ شَ
دَّتْ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنَ الْعِدَا الأَنْدَاءُ

Naqaḍū mubram al-ṣaḥīfah idh shaddat
‘Alayhim mina al-‘idā’ al-andā’u

They annulled the firm document of the boycott even as the cold hostility of the enemies intensified against them.

أَذْكَرَتْنَا بِأَكْلِهَا أَكْلَ مِنْسَا
ةِ سُلَيْمَانَ الأَرْضَةُ الْخَرْسَاءُ

Azhkarnā bi-aklihā akl minṣah
Sulaimān al-arḍah al-kharsā’u

The "silent termite" reminded us of the staff of Solomon by eating away at the document.

وَبِهَا أَخْبَرَ النَّبِيُّ وَكَمْ أَخْ
رَجَ خَبْئاً لَهُ الغُيُوبُ خِبَاءُ

Wa bihā akhbara al-nabī wa kam akhraja
Khab’an lahu al-ghuyūb khibā’u

The Prophet foretold this event, for how often has he revealed secrets that the Unseen had kept hidden in its tent?

لاَ تَخَلْ جَانِبَ النَّبِيِّ مُضَاماً
حِينَ مَسَّتْهُ مِنْهُمُ الأَسْوَاءُ

Lā takhall jānb al-nabī muḍāmman
Ḥīna massathu minhum al-aswā’u

Do not imagine the Prophet’s side to be oppressed even when the evils of his enemies touched him.

كُلُّ أَمْرٍ نَابَ النَّبِيئِينَ فَالشِّ
دَّةُ فِيهِ مَحْمُودَةٌ وَالرَّخَاءُ

Kullu amrin nāba al-nabiyīn fa al-shiddah
Fīhī maḥmūdah wa al-rakhā’u

Every hardship that befalls the Prophets is ultimately praiseworthy, whether in times of severity or ease.

لَوْ يَمَسُّ النُّظَارَ هَوْنٌ مِنَ النَّا
رِ لَمَا اخْتِيرَ للِنُّظَارِ الصِّلاَءُ

Law yamas al-nuẓār hawnun min al-nār
Lamā ikhtīr lil-nuẓār al-ṣillā’u

If pure gold were not touched by the heat of the fire, it would never have been chosen for the refining process.

كَمْ يَدٍ عَنْ نَبِيِّهِ كَفَّهَا الله
وَفِي الْكُفْرِ نَجْدَةٌ وإِبَاءُ

Kam yad ‘an nabiyyih kafahā Allah
Wa fī al-kufr najdah wa ibā’u

How many hands did Allah restrain from His Prophet, even when disbelief was characterized by boldness and stubbornness?

إِذْ دَعَا وَحْدَهُ الْعِبَادَ وَأَمْسَتْ
مِنْهُ فِي كُلِّ مُقْلَةٍ أَقْذَاءُ

Idh da‘ā waḥdahu al-‘ibād wa amsat
Minhu fī kulli muqlah aqdhā’u

When he called the servants of God alone, he became like a speck of dust in the eye of every enemy, irritating and blinding them.

هَمَّ قَوْمٌ بِقَتْلِهِ فَأَبَى السَّيْ
فُ وَفَاءً وَفَاءَتِ الصَّفْوَاءُ

Hamma qawm bi-qatlih fa-abā al-sayyifu
Wa wafā’an wafā’at al-ṣafwā’u

A people intended to kill him, but the sword refused to strike out of loyalty, and the pure Truth returned to its place.

وَأَبُو جَهْلٍ إذْ رَأَى عُنُقَ الْفَحْ
لِ إِلَيْهِ كَأَنَّهُ الْعَنْقَاءُ

Wa Abū Jahl idh ra’ā ‘unuq al-faḥl
Ilayh ka-annahu al-‘anqā’u

And Abu Jahl, when he tried to attack, perceived the neck of a stallion lunging at him as if it were a legendary phoenix.

وَاقْتَضَاهُ النَّبِيُّ دَيْنَ الأَرَاشِ
يِّ وَقَدْ سَاءَ بَيْعُهُ وَالشِّرَاءُ

Wa iqḍāhū al-nabī dayn al-arāshiyy
Wa qad sā’ bay‘uhu wa al-shirā’u

The Prophet claimed the debt of the Arashi from Abu Jahl, whose business dealings and trades were utterly wretched.

وَرَأَى الْمُصْطَفَى أَتَاهُ بِمَا لَمْ
يُنْجِ مِنْهُ دُونَ الْوَفَاءِ النَّجَاءُ

Wa ra’ā al-muṣṭafā atāhu bimā lam
Yunj minhu dūna al-wafā’ al-najā’u

The Chosen One saw that Abu Jahl yielded only because he witnessed a sight from which there was no escape except through fulfillment.

هُوَ مَا قَدْ رَآهُ مِنْ قَبْلُ لَكِنْ
مَا عَلَى مِثْلِهِ يُعَدُّ الْخَطَاءُ

Huwa mā qad ra’āhu min qabl lakin
Mā ‘alā mithlihi yu‘add al-khaṭā’u

It was the same stallion the Prophet had seen before, yet for one like him, such a vision is never considered an error of sight.

وَأَعَدَّتْ حَمَّالَةُ الْحَطَبِ الْفِهْ
رَ وَجَاءَتْ كَأَنَّهَا الْعَنْقَاءُ

Wa a‘addat ḥammālat al-ḥaṭab al-fih
Wa jā’at ka-annahā al-‘anqā’u

The "Carrier of Firewood" (Abu Lahab's wife) prepared her stone and arrived appearing as fierce as a legendary phoenix.

يَوْمَ جَاءَتْ غَضْبَى تَقولُ أَفِي مِثْ
لِيَ مِنْ أَحْمَدٍ يُقَالُ الهِجَاءُ

Yawma jā’at ghaḍbā taqūlu afī mithlī
Min Aḥmad yuqāl al-hijā’u

That day she came in a rage, saying: "Is it about someone like me that Ahmad recites his lampoons?"

وَتَوَلَّتْ وَمَا رَأَتْهُ وَمِنْ أَيْ
نَ تَرَى الشَّمْسَ مُقْلَةٌ عَمْيَاءُ

Wa tawallat wa mā ra’athūhū wa min ay
Na tarā al-shams muqlatun ‘amyā’u

She turned away without ever seeing him; for how can a blind eye ever perceive the sun?

ثُمَّ سَمَّتْ لَهُ الْيَهُودِيَةَ الشَّا
ةَ وَكَمْ سَامَ الشِّقْوَةَ الأَشْقِيَاءُ

Thumma sammat lahu al-Yahūdiyyah al-shā
’ah wa kam sāma al-shiqwah al-ashqiyā’u

Then the Jewish woman offered him the poisoned sheep; how often have the wretched sought to inflict wretchedness.

فَأَذَاعَ الذِّرَاعُ مَا فِيهِ مِنْ سُ
مٍّ بِنُطْقٍ إِخْفَاؤُهُ إِبْدَاءُ

Fa-adhā‘a al-dhirā‘ mā fīhi min summ
Bi-nuṭqin ikhfa’uhū ibdā’u

But the shoulder of the meat disclosed the poison within it, speaking with a voice where silence would have meant manifestation.

وَبِخُلْقٍ مِنَ النَّبِيِّ كَرِيمٍ
لَمْ تُقَاصَصْ بِجَرْحِهَا الْعَجْمَاءُ

Wa bi-khuluqin mina al-nabī karīm
Lam tuqāṣaṣ bi-jarḥihā al-‘ajmā’u

Through the noble character of the Prophet, he did not seek retribution against the speechless animal for the injury it carried.

مَنَّ فَضْلاً عَلَى هَوَازِنَ إِذْ كَا
نَ لَهُ قَبْلَ ذَاكَ فِيهِمْ رَبَاءُ

Manna faḍlan ‘alā Hawāzin idh kā
Na lahu qabl dhāka fīhim ribā’u

He bestowed favor upon the tribe of Hawazin, for he had been fostered among them in his early years.

وَأَتَى السَّبْيُ فِيهِ أُخْتُ رَضَاعٍ
وَضَعَ الْكُفْرُ قَدْرَهَا والسِّبَاءُ

Wa atā al-saby fīhi ukhtu raḍā‘
Wa ḍa‘a al-kufr qadarahā wa al-sibyā’u

Among the captives came his foster-sister, whose status had been lowered by disbelief and the taking of prisoners.

فَحَبَاهَا بِرّاً تَوَهَّمَتِ النَّا
سُ بِهِ أَنَّمَا السِّبَاءُ هِدَاءُ

Fa-ḥabāhā birran tawahhamat al-nās
Bihī annamā al-sibyā’ hidaā’u

He honored her with such kindness that the people imagined the taking of captives was actually a giving of gifts.

بَسَطَ المُصْطَفَى لَهَا مِنْ رِدَاءٍ
أَيُّ فَضْلٍ حَوَاهُ ذَاكَ الرّدَاءُ

Basata al-muṣṭafā lahā min ridā’
Ayyu faḍlin ḥawāhu dhāka al-ridā’u

The Chosen One spread out his own cloak for her—what immense virtue was contained within that cloak!

فَغَدَتْ فِيهِ وَهْيَ سَيِّدَةُ النِّسْ
وَةِ وَالسَّيِّدَاتُ فِيهِ إِمَاءُ

Fa-ghadat fīh wa hiya sayyidat al-nisā’
Wa al-sayyidāt fīh imā’u

In that moment, she became the mistress of all women, while the noblewomen around her seemed like handmaidens.

فَتَنَزَّهْ فِي ذَاتِهِ وَمَعَانِي
هِ اجْتِلاَءً إِنْ عَزَّ مِنْهَا اجْتِلاءُ

Fa-tanazah fī dhātihī wa ma‘ānīh
Ijtalā’an in ‘azza minhā ijtalā’u

So contemplate his essence and his meanings with clarity, if such a clear vision is granted to you.

وَامْلإِ السَّمْعَ مِنْ مَحَاسِنَ يُمْلِي
هَا عَلَيْكَ الإِنْشَادُ وَالإِنشَاءُ

Wa amla’ al-sam‘ min maḥāsin yumli
Hā ‘alayka al-inshād wa al-inshā’u

Fill your hearing with the beauties dictated to you by the rhythmic recitation and the composition.

كُلُّ وَصْفٍ لَهُ ابْتَدَأْتُ بِهِ اسْتَوْ
عَبَ أَخْبَارَ الْفَضْلِ مِنْهُ ابْتِدَاءُ

Kullu waṣfin lahu ibtada’tu bihī istaw
‘aba akhbār al-faḍl minhu ibtidā’u

Every description I began with regarding him encompasses the very reports of excellence from the start.

سَيِّدٌ ضِحْكُهُ التَّبَسُّمُ والْمَشْ
يُ الْهُوَيْنَا وَنَوْمُهُ الإِغْفَاءُ

Sayyidun ḍiḥkuhu al-tabassum wa al-mash
Yu al-huwainā wa nawmuhu al-ighfā’u

A Master whose laughter was a smile, whose walk was dignified and humble, and whose sleep was but a light slumber.

مَا سِوَى خُلْقِهِ النَّسِيمُ وَلاَغَيْ
رِ مُحَيَّاهُ الرَّوْضَةِ الْغَنّاءُ

Mā siwā khuluqihī al-nasīm wa lā ghayr
Muḥayyāhū al-rawdah al-ghannā’u

The gentle breeze is nothing but a reflection of his character, and the lush, singing garden is nothing but a reflection of his countenance.

رَحْمَةٌ كُلُّهُ وَحَزْمٌ وَعَزْمٌ
وَوَقَارٌ وَعِصْمَةٌ وَحَيَاءُ

Raḥmatun kulluhū wa ḥazm wa ‘azm
Wa waqār wa ‘iṣmah wa ḥayā’u

He is entirely mercy, combined with resolve, determination, dignity, protection, and modesty.

لاَتَحُلُّ الْبَأْسَاءُ مِنْهُ عُرَى الصَّبْ
رِ وَلاَ تَسْتَخِفُّهُ السَّرَّاءُ

Lā taḥullu al-ba’sā’ minhu ‘urā’ al-ṣabr
Wa lā tastakhiffuhu al-sarrā’u

Hardships could never loosen the bonds of his patience, nor did prosperity ever make him light-headed.

كَرُمَتْ نَفْسُهُ فَمَا يَخْطُرُ السُّو
ءُ عَلَى قَلْبِهِ وَلاَ الْفَحْشَاءُ

Karamat nafsuhū famā yakhṭur al-sū’
‘Alā qalbihī wa lā al-faḥshā’u

His soul was so noble that neither evil nor indecency ever crossed his heart.

عَظُمَتْ نِعْمَةُ الإِلَهِ عَلَيْهِ
فَاسْتُقِلَّتْ لِذِكْرِهِ الْعُظَمَاءُ

‘Aẓumat ni‘mat al-Ilāh ‘alayh
Fa-ustuqillat li-dhikrīhi al-‘uẓamā’u

The blessing of God upon him was so great that even the greatest of men seem small in his mention.

جَهِلَتْ قَوْمُهُ عَلَيْهِ فَأَغْضَى
وَأَخُو الحِلْمِ دَأْبُهُ الإِغْضَاءُ

Jahilat qawmuhū ‘alayh fa-aghḍā
Wa akhū al-ḥilm da‘buhū al-ighḍā’u

His people acted ignorantly toward him, yet he overlooked it, for the nature of the clement is to forgive.

وَسِعَ الْعَالَمِينَ عِلْماً وَحِلْماَ
فَهْوَ بَحْرٌ لَمْ تُعْيِهِ الأَعْبَاءُ

Wa si‘a al-‘ālamīn ‘ilman wa ḥilman
Fa-huwa baḥrun lam tu‘yihī al-a‘bā’u

He encompassed the worlds in knowledge and forbearance; he is an ocean that is never exhausted by its burdens.

مُسْتَقِلٌ دُنْيَاكَ أَنْ يُنْسَبَ الإِمْ
سَاكُ مِنْهَا إِلَيْهِ والإِعْطَاءُ

Mustaqil dunyāk an yunsab al-im
Sāk minhā ilayh wa al-i‘ṭā’u

Your world is too insignificant to have its "giving" or "withholding" truly attributed to him.

شَمْسُ فَضْلٍ تَحَقَّقَ الظَّنُّ فِيهِ
أَنَّهُ الشَّمْسُ رِفْعَةً وَالضِّيَاءُ

Shamsu faḍlin taḥaqqaqa al-ẓannu fīh
Annahu al-shamsu rifa‘atan wa al-ḍiyā’u

He is the sun of favor; every positive thought of him is confirmed by his loftiness and light.

فَإِذَا مَا ضَحَا مَحَى نُورُهُ الظِّ
لَّ وَقَدْ أَثْبَتَ الظّلاَلَ الضَّحَاءُ

Fa-idhā mā ḍaḥā maḥā nūruhu al-ẓill
Wa qad athbata al-ẓalāl al-ḍaḥā’u

When the sun of his presence shines, its light erases the shadow, even though the morning sun usually defines the shade.

فَكَأَنَّ الْغَمَامَةَ اسْتَوْدَعَتْهُ
مَنْ أَظَلَّتْ مِنْ ظِلِّهِ الدُّفَفَاءُ

Fa-ka’anna al-ghamāmah istawda‘athu
Man aẓallat min ẓillihī al-duffafā’u

It is as if the clouds were entrusted to him; those whom the clouds shaded were actually sheltered by his shadow.

خَفِيَتْ عِنْدَهُ الْفَضَائِلُ وَانْجَا
بَتْ بِهِ عَنْ عُيُونِنَا الأَهْوَاءُ

Khaffiyat ‘indahū al-faḍā’il wa anjā
Bat bihī ‘an ‘uyūninā al-ahwā’u

Virtues were hidden within him, and through him, the whims of the ego were removed from our eyes.

أَمَعَ الصُّبْحِ لِلنُّجُومِ تَجَلٍّ
أَمْ مَعَ الشَّمْسِ لِلظَّلاَمِ بَقَاءُ

Am‘a al-ṣubḥ li-l-nujūm tajallī
Am ma‘a al-shams li-l-ẓalām baqā’u

Is there any radiance for the stars once the morning has come, or any survival for darkness in the presence of the sun?

مُعْجِزُ الْقَوْلِ وَالْفِعَالِ كَرِيمُ
الْخَلْقِ وَالْخُلْقِ مُقْسِطٌ مِعْطَاءُ

Mu‘jizu al-qawl wa al-fi‘āl karīm
Al-khalq wa al-khuluq muqsiṭun mi‘ṭā’u

Miraculous in speech and deed, noble in form and character, just and most generous.

لاَ تَقِسْ بِالنَّبِيِّ فِي الْفَضْلِ خَلْقاً
فَهُوَ الْبَحْرُ وَالأَنَامُ إِضَاءُ

Lā taqs bi-l-nabī fī al-faḍl khalqan
Fahuwa al-baḥr wa al-anām iḍā’u

Do not compare any of creation to the Prophet in virtue; he is the ocean while the rest of mankind are but small pools.

كُلُّ فَضْلٍ فِي الْعَالَمِينَ فَمِنْ فَضْ
لِ النَّبِيِّ اسْتَعَارَهُ الْفُضَلاَءُ

Kullu faḍlin fī al-‘ālamīn famin faḍ
Li-l-nabī ista‘ārahū al-fuḍalā’u

Every virtue found in the worlds was merely borrowed from the virtue of the Prophet by the people of excellence.

شُقَّ عَنْ صَدْرِهِ وَشُقَّ لَهُ الْبَدْ
رُ وَمِنْْ شَرْطِ كُلِّ شَرْطٍ جَزَاءُ

Shuqqa ‘an ṣadrhī wa shuqqa lahu al-badr
Wa min sharṭ kulli sharṭin jazā’u

His chest was split open (for purification), and for him the full moon was split; and every 'condition' must, by necessity, have its 'consequent' reward.

وَرَمَى بِالْحَصَى فَأَقْصَدَ جَيْشاً
مَا الْعَصَا عِنْدَهُ وَمَا الإِلْقَاءُ

Wa ramā bi-l-ḥaṣā fa-aqṣad jayshan
Ma al-‘aṣā ‘indahū wa ma al-ilqā’u

He threw the handful of pebbles and struck down an entire army—compared to this, what was the staff (of Moses) or the casting down (of the sorcerers' ropes)?

وَدَعَا لِلأَنَامِ إِذْ دَهَمَتْهُمْ
سَنَةٌ مِنْ مُحُولِهَا شَهْبَاءُ

Wa da‘ā li-l-anām idh dahamat'hum
Sunnah min muḥawilihā shahbā’u

He prayed for the people when they were overtaken by a barren, dust-colored year of intense drought.

فَاسْتَهَلَّتْ بِالْغَيْثِ سَبْعَةَ أَيَّا
مٍ عَلَيْهِمْ سَحَابَةٌ وَطْفَاءُ

Fa-istaḥallat bi-l-ghayth sab‘at ayyā
‘Alayhim saḥābah wa ṭifā’u

So a heavy, rain-laden cloud poured down upon them for seven full days.

تَتَحَرَّى مَوَاضِعَ الرَّعْيِ والسَّقْيِ
وَحَيْثُ الْعِطَاشُ تُوهَى السِّقَاءُ

Tataḥarrā mawāḍi‘ al-ra‘y wa al-saqy
Wa ḥaythu al-‘iṭāsh tūhā al-siqā’u

The rain sought out the grazing lands and watering holes, and wherever the thirsty were, the water-skins were filled to bursting.

وَأَتَى النّاسُ يَشْتَكُونَ أَذَاهَا
وَرَخَاءٌ يُؤْذِي الأَنَامَ غَلاَءُ

Wa atā al-nās yashtakūn adhāhā
Wa rakhā’ yu’dhī al-anām ghalā’u

Then the people came complaining of the rain's harm, for even abundance can be harmful to people if it leads to excessive costs.

فَدَعَا فَانْجَلَى الْغَمَامُ فَقُلْ فِي
وَصْفِ غَيْثٍ إِقْلاَعُهُ اسْتِسْقَاءُ

Fa-da‘ā fa-anjalā al-ghamām fa-qul fī
Waṣf ghaythin iqla‘uhu istisqā’u

So he prayed again and the clouds cleared; say then of a rain whose clearing was itself a miraculous answer to a prayer for water.

ثْمَّ أَثْرَى الثَّرَى فَقَرَّتْ عُيُونٌ
بِقُرُاهُا وَأُحْيِيَتْ أَحْيَاءُ

Thumma athrā al-tharā fa-qarrat ‘uyūn
Bi-qurūhā wa uḥyiyat aḥyā’u

Then the moist earth became rich, eyes were delighted by the villages, and the living were revived.

فَتَرَى الأَرْضَ غِبَّهُ كَسَمَاءٍ
أَشْرَقَتْ مِنْ نُجُومِهَا الظَّلْمَاءُ

Fa-tarā al-arḍa ghibbahu ka-samā’
Ashraqat min nujūmihā al-ẓalmā’u

You would see the earth after that rain like a sky whose darkness had been illuminated by its own stars.

تُخْجِلُ الدُّرُّ وَالْيَوَاقِيتَ مِنْ نَوْ
رِ رُبَاهَا الْبَيْضَاءُ وَالْحَمْرَاءُ

Tukhjilu al-durr wa al-yawāqīt min nawri
Rubāhā al-bayḍā’ wa al-ḥamrā’u

The white and red blossoms of its hills put to shame both pearls and rubies with their radiance.

لَيْتَهُ خَصَّنِي بِرُؤْيَةِ وَجْهٍ
زَالَ عَنْ كُلِّ مَنْ رَآهُ الشَّقَاءُ

Laytahu khaṣṣanī bi-ru’yati wajhin
Zāla ‘an kulli man rāhū al-shaqā’u

I wish he had graced me with the sight of a face through which all misery vanishes for whoever beholds it.

مُسْفِرٌٍ يَلْتَقِي الْكَتِيبَةَ بَسَّا
ماً إِذَا أَسْهَمَ الْوُجُوهَ اللِّقَاءُ

Musfirun yaltaqī al-katībah bassam
Idhā as-hama al-wujūh al-liqā’u

A radiant face that meets the battalion with a smile, even when the meeting of armies turns faces grim.

جُعِلَتْ مَسْجِداً لَهُ الأَرْضُ فَاهْتَ
زَّ بِهِ لِلصَّلاَةِ فِيهَا حِرَاءُ

Ju‘ilat masjidān lahu al-arḍu fa-htazz
Bihī li-l-ṣalāh fīhā ḥirā’u

The entire earth was made a mosque for him, and even Mount Hira shook with the vibration of prayer upon it.

مُظْهِرٌٍ شَجَّةَ الْجَبِينِ عَلَى الْبُرْ
ءِ كَمَا أَظْهَرَ الْهِلاَلَ الْبَرَاءُ

Muẓhirun shajja al-jabīn ‘alā al-bur’
Kamā aẓhara al-hilāl al-barā’u

The mark on his forehead appeared as it healed, just as the new moon appears in its clarity.

سُتِرَ الْحُسْنُ مِنْهُ بِالْحُسْنِ فَاعْجَب
لِجَمَالٍ لَهُ الْجَمَالُ وِقَاءُ

Sutira al-ḥusnu minhū bi-l-ḥusni fa-‘ajab
Li-jamāl lahu al-jamāl wiqā’u

Beauty was veiled by beauty; wonder then at a loveliness for which loveliness itself was the protective shield.

فَهْوَ كَالزَّهْرِ لاَحَ مِنْ سَجَفِ الأَكْ
مَامِ وَالْعُودِ شُقَّ عَنْهُ اللِّحَاءُ

Fahuwa ka-al-zahr lāḥa min sajfi al-akmām
Wa al-‘ūd shuqqa ‘anhū al-liḥā’u

He is like a flower appearing from the veil of its petals, or like the aromatic wood when its bark is stripped away.

كَادَ أَنْ يُغْشَيَ الْعُيُونَ سَنىً مِنْ
هُ لِسِرٍّ حَكَتْهُ فِيهِ ذُكَاءُ

Kāda an yughshā al-‘uyūn sanā minhū
Li-sirr ḥakat-hū fīh dhukā’u

A brilliance from him nearly blinded the eyes, due to a secret within him that mimicked the midday sun.

صَانَهُ الْحُسْنُ وَالسَّكِينَةُ أَنْ تُظْ
هِرَ فِيهِ آثَارَهَا الْبَأْسَاءُ

Ṣānahū al-ḥusn wa al-sakīnah an tuẓhir
Fīh āthārahā al-ba’sā’u

His beauty and serenity protected him so that no traces of hardship ever appeared upon him.

وَتَخَالُ الْوُجُوهَ إِنْ قَابَلَتْهُ
أَلْبَسَتْهَا أَلْوَانَهَا الْحِرْبَاءُ

Wa takhāl al-wujūh in qābalathū
Albasathā alwānahā al-ḥirbā’u

You would imagine the faces that met him were like chameleons, being clothed in the colors of his radiance.

فَإِذَا شِمْتَ بِشْرَهُ وَنَدَاهُ
أَذْهَلَتْكَ الأَنْوَارُ وَالأَنْوَاءُ

Fa-idhā shimt bi-shrahū wa nadāhū
Adhalatka al-anwār wa al-anwā’u

If you caught a glimpse of his joy and his generosity, the lights and the spiritual downpours would leave you bewildered.

أَوْ بِتَقْبِيلِ رَاحَةٍ كَانَ للهِ
وَبِاللهِ أَخْذُهَا وَالْعَطَاءُ

Aw bi-taqbīli rāḥah kān li-llāh
Wa bi-llāh akhdhuhā wa al-‘iṭā’u

Or by the kissing of a palm that was for the sake of Allah, and through Allah was its taking and its giving.

تَتَّقِي بَأْسَهَا الْمُلُوكُ وَتَحْظَى
بِالْغِنَا مِنْ نَوَالِهَا الْفُقَرَاءُ

Tattaqī ba’sahā al-mulūk wa taḥẓā
Bi-l-ghinā’ min nawālihā al-fuqarā’u

Kings fear its power, while the poor attain wealth from its bestowals.

لاَ تَسَلْ سَيْلَ جُودِهَا إِنَّمَا يَكْ
فِيكَ مِنْ وَكْفِ سُحْبِهَا الأَنْدَاءُ

Lā tasal sayl jūdihā innamā yakfīk
Min wakf suḥbihā al-andā’u

Do not ask of the flood of that palm’s generosity, for even the mere mist from its clouds is enough to suffice you.

دَرَّتِ الشَّاةُ حِينَ مَرَّتْ عَلَيْهَا
فَلَهَا ثَرْوَةٌ بِهَا وَنَمَاءُ

Darrat al-shāt ḥīna marrat ‘alayhā
Fa-lahā tharwah bihā wa namā’u

The sheep gave milk in abundance once that hand passed over it, gaining through it wealth and increase.

نَبَعَ الْمَاءُ أَثْمَرَ النَّخْلُ فِي عَا
مٍ بِهَا سَبَّحَتْ بِهَا الْحَصْبَاءُ

Naba‘ al-mā’ athmara al-nakhl fī ‘ām
Bihā sabbaḥat bihā al-ḥaṣbā’u

Water gushed forth, and palm trees bore fruit within a single year; through that hand, even the pebbles sang the praises of God.

أَحْيَتِ الْمُرْمِلِينَ مِنْ مَوْتِ جَهْدٍ
أَعْوَزَ الْقَوْمَ فِيهِ زَادٌ وَمَاءُ

Aḥyat al-murmilīn min mawt jahd
A‘waz al-qawm fīh zād wa mā’u

It revived the destitute from the death of exhaustion, in a time when the people lacked both provision and water.

فَتَغَذَّى بِالصَّاعِ أَلْفٌ جِيَاعٌ
وَتَرَوَّى بِالصَّاعِ أَلْفٌ ظِمَاءُ

Fa-taghadhdhā bi-l-ṣā‘ alf jiyā‘
Wa tarawwā bi-l-ṣā‘ alf ẓimā’u

A thousand hungry souls were nourished from a single measure (sa'a), and a thousand thirsty ones were quenched from that same measure.

وَوَفَى قَدْرُ بَيْضَةٍ مِنْ نُظَارٍ
دَيْنَ سَلْمَانَ حِينَ حَانَ الْوَفَاءُ

Wa wafā qadru bayḍatin min nuẓār
Dayn Salmān ḥīna ḥān al-wafā’u

A piece of gold the size of an egg sufficed to pay the debt of Salman al-Farisi when the time of payment was due.

كَانَ يُدْعَى قِنّاً فَأَعْتَقَ لَمَّا
أَيْنَعَتْ مِنْ نَخِيلِهِ الأَقْنَاءُ

Kāna yud‘ā Qinnan fa-a‘taqa lammā
Ayn‘at min nakhīlihī al-aqnā’u

He was called a slave, but was set free once the clusters of dates on his palms had ripened by that hand.

أَفَلاَ تَعْذُرُونَ سَلْمَانَ لَمَّا
أَنْ عَرَتْهُ مِنْ ذِكْرِهِ الْعُرَوَاءُ

Afa-lā ta‘dharūn Salmān lammā
An ‘arat-hū min dhikrihī al-‘urawā’u

Do you not then excuse Salman for the trembling that overcomes him at the mere mention of the Prophet?

وَأَزَالتْ بِلَمْسِهَا كُلَّ دَاءٍ
أَكْبَرَتْهُ أَطِبَّةٌ وَإِسَاءُ

Wa azālat bi-lamsihā kull dā’
Akbarat-hū aṭibbah wa isā’u

That hand removed with its touch every disease that physicians and healers had deemed incurable.

وَعُيُونٌ مَرَّتْ بِهَا وَهْيَ رُمْدٌ
فَأَرَتْهَا مَا لَمْ تَرَ الزَّرْقَاءُ

Wa ‘uyūn marrat bihā wa hiya rumdun
Fa-arathā mā lam tara al-zarqā’u

Eyes that were red with inflammation were touched by it, and they saw what even the legendary sharp-sighted Zarqa' could not see.

وَأَعَادَتْ عَلَى قَتَادَةَ عَيْناً
فَهْيَ حَتَّى مَمَاتِهِ النَّجْلاَءُ

Wa a‘ādat ‘alā Qatādah ‘aynan
Fahy ḥattā mamātihī al-najlā’u

It restored to Qatadah his eye after it was struck, and it remained the sharper of the two until his death.

أَوْ بِلَثْمِ التُّرَابِ مِنْ قَدَمٍ لاَ
نَتْ حَياءً مِنْ مَشْيِهَا الصَّفْوَاءُ

Aw bi-lathmi al-turāb min qadam lā
Nat ḥayā’an min mashyihā al-ṣafwā’u

Or consider the kissing of the dust from a foot before whose humble tread even the solid rocks softened out of modesty.

مَوْطِئُ الأَخْمُصِ الذِي مِنْهُ لِلْقَلْ
إِذَا مَضْجَعِي أَقَضَّ وِطَاءُ

Mawṭi’ al-akhmuṣ alladhī min-hu lil-qal
Idhā maḍja‘ī aqadd waṭā’u

The place where his sole trod is a resting place for my heart whenever my bed becomes hard and restless.

حَظِيَ الْمَسْجِدُ الْحَرَامُ بِمَمْشَا
هَا وَلَمْ يَنْسَ حَظَّهُ إِيلْيَاءُ

Ẓaḥī al-masjid al-ḥarām bi-mamshāhā
Wa lam yans ḥaẓhū Īliyā’u

The Sacred Mosque was honored by its walking, and Jerusalem (Aelia) did not forget its own share of that honor.

وَرِمَتْ إِذْ رَمَى بِهَا ظِلَمَ اللَّيْ
لِ إِلَى اللهِ خَوْفُهُ وَالرَّجَاءُ

Wa ramat idh ramā bihā ẓilam al-layl
Ilā Allāh khawfuh wa al-rajā’u

That foot cast itself, and the fear and hope within it, toward Allah through the darkness of the night.

دَمِيَتْ فِي الْوَغَى لِتُكْسِبَ طِيباً
مَا أَرَاقَتْ مِنَ الدَّمِ الشُّهَدَاءُ

Damiyat fī al-waghā li-tuksib ṭayyiban
Mā arāqat min al-dam al-shuhadā’u

It bled in the heat of battle to gain a fragrance finer than any blood the martyrs ever shed.

فَهْيَ قُطْبُ الْمِحْرَابِ وَالْحَرْبِ كَمْ دَا
رَتْ عَلَيْهَا فِي طَاعَةٍ أَرْحَاءُ

Fahy quṭbu al-miḥrāb wa al-ḥarb kam
Dārat ‘alayhā fī ṭā‘ah arḥā’u

It is the pivot of both the prayer niche and the battlefield; how often have the millstones of obedience turned upon it!

وَأُرَاهُ لَوْ لَمْ يُسَكِّنْ بِهَا قَبْ
لُ حِرَاءً مَاجَتْ بِهِ الدَّأْمَاءُ

Wa urāhū law lam yusakkīn bihā qablu
Ḥirā’ mājat bihī al-da’mā’u

I believe that had he not previously stilled Mount Hira with that foot, the very oceans would have surged in upheaval.

عَجَباً لِلْكُفَّارِ زَادُوا ظَلاَلاً
بِالذِي لِلْعُقُولِ فِيهِ اهْتِدَاءُ

‘Ajaban lil-kuffār zādū ẓalāl
Bi-lladhī lil-‘uqūl fīh ihtidā’u

How strange it is that the disbelievers increased in delusion through the very one in whom there is guidance for the intellects!

والذِي يَسْأَلُونَ مِنْهِ كِتَابٌ
مُنْزَلٌ قَدْ أَتَاهُمُ وَارْتِقَاءُ

Wa al-ladhī yas’alūna min-hu kitābun
Munzal qad atāhum wa irtiqā’u

What they demand from him is a Book sent down—which has already come to them—and a spiritual ascension.

أَوَلَمْ يَكْفِهِمْ مِنَ اللهِ ذِكْرٌ
فِيهِ لِلنَّاسِ رَحْمَةٌ وَشِفَاءُ

Awalam yakfihim min Allāh dhikrun
Fīh lil-nās raḥmah wa shifā’u

Does the Remembrance from Allah not suffice them, in which there is mercy and healing for mankind?

أَعْجَزَ الإِنْسَ آيَةٌ مِنْهُ وَالْجِ
نَّ فَهَلاَّ تَأْتِي بِهَا الْبُلَغَاءُ

A‘jaz al-ins āyah min-hū wa al-jinn
Fahallā ta’tī bihā al-bulaghā’u

A single verse of it has confounded both humans and jinn; so why do the eloquent not produce something like it?

كُلَّ يَوْمٍ يُهْدَي إِلَى سَامِعِيهِ
مُعْجِزَاتٌ مِنْ لَفْظِهِ الْقُرَّاءُ

Kull yawmin yuhdā ilā sāmi‘ihī
Mu‘jizāt min lafẓih al-qurrā’u

Every day, the readers present to their listeners miracles from its very wording.

تَتَحَلَّى بِهِ الْمَسَامِعُ والأَفْ
وَاهُ فَهْوَ الْحُلِيُّ وَالْحَلْوَاءُ

Tatataḥallā bihī al-masāmi‘ wa al-afwāh
Fahwa al-ḥuliyy wa al-ḥalwā’u

The ears and the mouths are adorned by it, for it is both the finest jewelry and the sweetest confection.

رَقَّ لَفْظاً وَرَاقَ مَعْنىً فَجَاءَتْ
فِي حُلاَهَا وَحَلْيِهَا الْخَنْسَاءُ

Raqqa lafẓan wa rāqa ma‘nā fa-jā’at
Fī ḥulāhā wa ḥalyihā al-khansā’u

Its words are delicate and its meanings are sublime, appearing in such beauty that even the poetess Al-Khansa' would be humbled by its adornment.

وَأَرَتْنَا فِيهِ غَوَامِضَ فَضْلٍ
رِقَّةٌ مِنْ زُلاَلِهَا وَصَفَاءُ

Wa aratnā fīhī ghawāmiḍ faḍl
Riqah min zulāl-hā wa ṣafā’u

The Quran has shown us hidden subtleties of its grace, with a clarity and purity as refined as the freshest water.

إِنَّمَا تُجْتَلَى الْوُجُوهُ إِذَا مَا
جُلِيَتْ عَنْ مِرْآتِهَا الأَصْدَاءُ

Innamā tujtalā al-wujūh idhā mā
Juliyat ‘an mirā’atihā al-aṣdā’u

Faces are only truly reflected when the rust of the world is polished away from the mirror.

سُوَرٌ مِنْهُ أَشْبَهَتْ صُوَراً مِ
نَّا وَمِثْلُ النَّظَائِرِ النُّظَرَاءُ

Suwar min-hu ashbaht ṣuwaran minnā
Wa mithlu al-naẓā’ir al-nuẓarā’u

Its chapters bear a resemblance to us, for like responds to like, and peers recognize their own.

وَالأَقَاوِيلُ عِنْدُهُمْ كَالتَّمَاثِي
لِ فَلاَ يُوهِمَنَّكَ الْخُطَبَاءُ

Wa al-aqāwīl ‘indahum ka-al-tamāthīl
Fa-lā yuwahimannaka al-khuṭabā’u

But the mere words of men compared to it are like lifeless statues; do not let the eloquent speakers deceive you.

كَمْ أَبَانَتْ آيَاتُهُ مِنْ عُلُومٍ
عَنْ حُرُوفٍ أَبَانَ عَنْهَا الْهِجَاءُ

Kam abānat āyātuh min ‘ulūm
‘An ḥurūf abāna ‘anhā al-hijā’u

How many sciences have its verses revealed through the very letters shown in the alphabet?

فَهْيَ كَالْحَبِّ وَالنَّوَى أَعْجَبَ الزُّ
رَّاعَ مِنْهُ سَنَابِلٌ وَذَكَاءُ

Fahy ka-al-ḥabb wa al-nawā a‘jaba al-zu
Rrā‘ min-hu sanābil wa dhakā’u

They are like seeds and pits that amaze the sower with the stalks and intelligence they produce.

فَأَطَالُوا فِيهِ التَّرَدُّدَ والرَّيْ
بَ فَقَالُوا سِحْرٌ وَقَالُوا افْتِرَاءُ

Fa-aṭālū fīh al-taraddud wa al-rayb
Faqālū siḥr wa qālū iftirā’u

The disbelievers prolonged their hesitation and doubt, saying "This is sorcery" or "This is a fabrication."

وَإِذَا الْبَيِّنَاتُ لَمْ تُغْنِ شَيْئاً
فَالْتِمَاسُ الْهُدَى بِهِنَّ عَنَاءُ

Wa idhā al-bayyināt lam tughni shay’an
Fa-ltīmās al-hudā bihinna ‘anā’u

But if the clear signs do not suffice, then seeking guidance through them becomes a wearying task.

وَإِذَا ضَلَّتِ الْعُقُولُ عَلَى عِلْ
مٍ فَمَاذَا تَقُولُهُ النُّصَحَاءُ

Wa idhā ḍallat al-‘uqūl ‘alā ‘ilm
Fama dhā taqūluh al-nuṣaḥā’u

And if minds go astray despite having knowledge, what can the sincere advisors say?

قَوْمَ عِيسَى عَامَلْتُمُ قَوْمَ مُوسَى
بِالذِي عَامَلَتْكُمُ الْحُنَفَاءُ

Qawma ‘Īsā ‘āmaltum qawma Mūsā
Bi-lladhī ‘āmalatkum al-ḥunafā’u

O people of Jesus, you have treated the people of Muhammad as the people of Moses once treated you.

صَدَّقُوا كُتْبَكُمُ وَكَذَّبْتُمُ كُتْ
بَهُمُ إِنَّ ذَا لَبِئْسَ الْبَوَاءُ

Ṣaddaqū kutubakum wa kadhabtum kutubahum
Inna dhā labi’s al-bawā’u

The believers accepted your Books, yet you denied theirs; indeed, that is a wretched exchange.

لَوْ جَحَدْنَا جُحُودَكُمُ لاَسْتَوَيْنَا
أَوَ لِلْحَقِّ بِالضَّلاَلِ اسْتِوَاءُ

Law jaḥadnā juḥūdakum la-sṭawaynā
Aw lil-ḥaqq bi-al-ḍalāl istiwā’u

Had we denied what you denied, we would be equals; but can Truth and misguidance ever be equal?

مَالَكُمْ إِخْوَةَ الْكِتَابِ أُنَاساً
لَيْسَ يُرْعَى لِلْحِقِّ مِنْكُمْ إخَاءُ

Mā lakum ikhwatu al-kitāb anāsan
Laysa yur‘ā lil-ḥaqq minkum ikhā’u

What is the matter with you, O People of the Book, that you do not observe the brotherhood of truth?

يَحْسُدُ الأَوَّلُ الأَخِيرَ وَمَا زَا
لَ كَذَا الْمُحْدَثُونَ وَالْقُدَمَاءْ

Yaḥsudu al-awwal al-akhīr wa mā zā
La kadha al-muḥdathūn wa al-qudamā’u

The former envies the latter, and such has been the way of both the moderns and the ancients.

قَدْ عَلِمْتُمْ بِظُلْمِ قَابِيلَ هَابِي
لَ وَمَظْلُومَ الإِخْوَةِ الأَتْقِيَاءُ

Qad ‘alimtum bi-ẓulm Qābīl hābī
Wa maẓlūm al-ikhwā al-atqiyā’u

You already know of the injustice of Cain toward Abel, and the suffering of the pious, wronged brothers.

وَسَمِعْتُمْ بِكَيْدِ أَبْنَاءِ يَعْقُو
بَ أَخَاهُمْ وَكُلُّهُمْ صُلَحَاءُ

Wa sami‘tum bi-kayd abnā’ Ya‘qūb
Akhāhum wa kulluhum ṣulḥā’u

And you have heard of the plot of the sons of Jacob against their brother, though they were all righteous.

حِينَ أَلْقَوْهُ فِي غَيَابَةِ جُبٍّ
وَرَمَوْهُ بِالإِفْكِ وَهْوَ بَرَاءُ

ḥīna alqaw-hū fī ghiyābat jubb
Wa ramaw-hū bi-al-ifk wa huwa barā’u

When they cast him into the depths of the well and accused him of a lie while he was innocent.

فَتَأَسَّوْا بِمَنْ مَضَى إِذْ ظُلِمْتُمْ
فَالتَّأَسِّي لِلنَّفْسِ فِيهِ عَزَاءُ

Fa-ta’assaw bi-man maḍā idh ẓulimtum
Fa-al-ta’assī lil-nafs fīh ‘azā’u

So find solace in those who passed before when you are wronged, for in such examples there is comfort for the soul.

أَتَراكُمْ وَفَّيْتُمُ حِينَ خَانُوا
أَمْ تَرتكُمْ أَحْسَنْتُمُ إِذْ أَسَاءوا

Atarākum waffaytum ḥīna khānū
Am tartukum aḥsantum idh asā’ū

Do you think you were faithful when they betrayed, or do you think you acted well when they behaved badly?

بَلْ تَمَادَتْ عَلَى التَّجَاهُلِ آبَا
ءٌ تَقَفَّتْ آثَارَهَا الأَبْنَاءُ

Bal tamādat ‘alā al-tajāhuli ābā’
Taqaffat āthārahā al-abnā’u

Nay, the fathers persisted in their ignorance, and the sons followed in their footsteps.

بَيَّنَتْهُ تَوْرَاتُهُمْ وَالأَنَاجِي
يلُ وَهُمْ فِي جُحُودِهِ شُرَكَاءُ

Bayyanat-hu tawrātuhum wa al-anājī
Yalū wa hum fī juḥūdihī shurakā’u

The Torah and the Gospels made him (the Prophet) clear, yet they were partners in his denial.

إِنْ تَقُولُوا مَا بَيَّنَتْهُ فَمَا زَا
لَتْ بِهِ عَنْ عُيُونِهِمْ غَشْوَاءُ

In taqūlū mā bayyanat-hu famā zālat
Bihī ‘an ‘uyūnihim ghashwā’u

If you say they did not make him clear, then a veil still remains over their eyes.

أَوْ تَقُولُوا قَدْ بَيَّنَتْهُ فَمَا لِلْ
أُذْنِ عَمَّا تَقُولُهُ صَمَّاءُ

Aw taqūlū qad bayyanat-hu famā lil-
Udhun ‘ammā taqūluh ṣammā’u

Or if you say they did make him clear, then the ear has turned deaf to what is being said.

عَرَفُوهُ وَأَنْكَرُوهُ وَظُلْماً
كَتَمَتْهُ الشَّهَادَةَ الشُّهَدَاءُ

‘Arafūhū wa ankārūhū wa ẓulman
Katamat-hu al-shahādah al-shuhadā’u

They recognized him but denied him out of injustice; the witnesses suppressed the very testimony.

أَوَ نُورَ الإِلَهِ تُطْفِئُهُ الأَفْ
وَاهُ وَ هْوَ الذِي بِهِ يُسْتَضَاءُ

Aw nūr al-Ilāh tutfi’uh al-afwāh
Wa huwa alladhī bihī yustadā’u

Can the light of God be extinguished by mouths when it is the very light by which one finds guidance?

أَوَ لاَ يُنْكِرُونَ مَنْ طَحَنَتْهُمْ
بِرَحَاهَا عَنْ أَمْرِهِ الْهَيْجَاءُ

Aw lā yunkirūn man taḥanat-hum
Birahāhā ‘an amrih al-hayjā’u

Do they not recognize him who crushed them with the millstones of war by his command?

وَكَسَاهُمْ ثَوْبَ الصَّغَارِ وَقَدْ طُلْ
لَتْ دِماً مِنْهُمُ وَصِينَتْ دِمَاءُ

Wa kasāhum thawb al-ṣighār wa qad ṭullat
Daman min-humu wa ṣīnat dimā’u

He clothed them in the garment of lowliness, where blood was spilled and yet other blood was preserved.

كَيْفَ يَهْدِي الإِلَهُ مِنْهُمْ قُلُوباً
حَشْوُهَا مِنْ حَبِيبِهِ الْبَغْضَاءُ

Kayfa yahdī al-Ilāh min-hum qulūban
Ḥashwuhā min ḥabībihī al-bughḍā’u

How can God guide hearts that are filled with hatred for His beloved?

خَبِّرُونَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابَيْنِ مِنْ أَيْ
نَ أَتَاكُمْ تَثْلِيثُكُمْ وَالْبَدَاءُ

Khabbirūnā ahl al-kitābayn min ayna
Atākum tathlīthukum wa al-badā’u

Tell us, O People of the Two Books, from where did your concept of the Trinity and "change in Divine will" (Bada) come?

مَا أَتَى بِالْعَقِيدَتْيْنِ كِتَابٌ
وَاعْتِقَادٌ لاَ نَصَّ فِيهِ ادِّعَاءُ

Mā atā bi-al-‘aqīdatayn kitāb
Wa i‘tiqād lā naṣṣ fīh idd‘iyā’u

No scripture ever brought these two doctrines; a belief without a text is merely a claim.

وَالدَّعَاوِي مَا لَمْ تُقِيمُوا عَلَيْهَا
بَيِّنَاتٌ أَبْنَاؤُهَا أَدْعِيَاءُ

Wa al-da‘āwī mā lam tuqīmū ‘alayhā
Bayyināt abnā’uhā ad‘iyā’u

And claims that lack clear evidence are born as mere pretenders.

لَيْتَ شِعْرِي ذِكْرُ الثَّلاَثَةِ وَالْوَا
حِدِ نَقْصٌ فِي عَدِّكُمْ أَمْ نَمَاءُ

Layta shi‘rī dhikr al-thalāthah wa al-wāḥid
Naqṣ fī ‘addikum am namā’u

I wonder: is the mention of "three" and "one" a decrease in your counting or an increase?

كَيْفَ وَحَّدْتُمُ إِلَهاً نَفَى التَّوْ
حِيدَ عَنْهُ الآبَاءُ وَالأَبْنَاءُ

Kayfa waḥhadtum ilāhan nafy al-tawḥīd
‘An-hu al-ābā’ wa al-abnā’u

How can you declare a God as One when the fathers and sons have denied that Oneness?

أَأَلِهٌ مُرَكَّبٌ مَا سَمِعْنَا
بِإِلَهٍ لِذَاتِهِ أَجْزَاءُ

A’aliḥ murakkab mā sami‘nā
Bi-Ilāh li-dhātihī ajzā’u

Is He a composite God? We have never heard of a God whose essence consists of parts.

أفلِكُلٍّ مِنْهُمْ نَصِيبٌ مِنَ الْمُلْ
كِ فَهَلاَّ تُمَيَّزُ الأَنْصِبَاءُ

Aflikul min-hum naṣīb min al-mulk
Fahallā tumayyaz al-anṣibā’u

Does each of them have a share in the kingdom? If so, why are these shares not distinguished?

أَتُرَاهُمْ لِحَاجَةٍ وَاضْطِرَارٍ
خَلَطُوهَا وَمَا بَغَى الْخُلَطَاءُ

Atarāhum li-ḥajah wa-ḍiṭrār
Khalatuhā wa mā baghā al-khulṭā’u

Do you think they mixed these parts out of need or necessity? But those who mingle do not usually seek to wrong one another.

أَهُوَ الرَّاكِبُ الْحِمَارَ فَيَا عَجْ
زَ إِلَهٍ يَمَسُّهُ الإِعْيَاءُ

Ahu al-rākib al-ḥimār faya ‘ajz
Ilāh yamassuh al-‘iyā’u

Is He the one riding the donkey? How weak is a God who is touched by exhaustion!

أَمْ جَمِيعٌ عَلَى الْحِمَارِ لَقَدْ جَ
لَّ حِمَارٌ بِجَمْعِهِمْ مَشَّاءُ

Am jamī‘un ‘alā al-ḥimār laqad jal
Ḥimār bi-jam‘ihim mashā’u

Or are they all upon the donkey? Then truly great is a donkey that can carry them all!

أَمْ سِوَاهُمْ هُوَ الإِلَهُ فَمَا نِسْ
بَةُ عِيسَى إِلَيْهِ وَالإِنْتِمَاءُ

Am siwāhum huwa al-ilāh famā nisbah
‘Īsā ilayh wa al-intimā’u

Or is the God someone else entirely? Then what is the relation and kinship of Jesus to Him?

أَمْ أَرَدْتُمْ بِهَا الصِّفَاتِ فَلِمْ خُصْ
صَتْ ثُلاَثٌ بِوَصْفِهِ وَثُنَاءُ

Am aradtum bihā al-ṣifāt falim khusṣat
Thalāth bi-waṣfih wa thunā’u

Or did you mean the Attributes? Then why were only three singled out for description and praise?

أَمْ هُوَ ابْنٌ للهِ مَا شَارَكَتْهُ
فِي مَعَانِي الْبُنُوَّةِ الأَنْبِيَاءُ

Am huwa ibn lillāh mā shārakathū
Fī ma‘ānī al-bunūwah al-anbiyā’u

Or is he a son of God, in whose sense of sonship no other Prophets share?

قَتَلَتْهُ الْيَهُودُ فِيمَا زَعَمْتُمْ
وَلأَمْوَاتِكُمْ بِهِ إِحْيَاءُ

Qatalathū al-yahūd fīmā za‘amtum
Wa li-amwātikum bih iḥyā’u

The Jews killed him, according to what you claim, yet in him there is life for your dead.

إِنَّ قَوْلاً أَطْلَقْتُمُوهُ عَلَى اللَّ
هِ تَعَالَى ذِكْراً لَقَوْلٌ هُرَاءُ

Inna qawlan aṭlaqtumūh ‘alā al-lāh
Ta‘ālā dhikran la-qawl hurā’u

Indeed, such a statement that you have attributed to God, the Most High, is but foolish talk.

مِثْلَ مَا قَالَتِ الْيَهُودُ وَكُلٌّ
لَزِمَتْهُ مَقَالَةٌ شَنْعَاءُ

Mithla mā qālat al-yahūd wa kull
Lazimat-hu maqālah shan‘ā’u

It is like what the Jews said, and both are bound by a loathsome doctrine.

إِذْْ هُمُ اسْتَقْرَءُوا الْبَدَاءَ وَكَمْ سَا
قَ وَبَالاً إِلَيْهِمُ اسْتِقْرَاءُ

Idh hum istaqar’ū al-badā’ wa kam sāq
Wa bālan ilayhim istiqrā’u

For they pursued the concept of "Bada" (change in Divine will), and how much ruin has such a pursuit brought upon them!

وَأَرَاهُمْ لَمْ يَجْعَلُوا الْوَاحِدَ الْقَ
هَّارَ فِي الْخَلْقِ فَاعِلاً مَا يَشَاءُ

Wa arāhum lam yaj‘alū al-wāḥid al-qahhār
Fī al-khalq fā‘ilan mā yashā’u

I see that they did not regard the One, the Subduer, as being the absolute Doer of what He wills in creation.

جَوَّزُوا النَّسْخَ مِثْلَ مَا جَوَّزُوا الْمسْ
خَ عَلَيْهِمْ لَوْ أَنَّهُمْ فُقَهَاءُ

Jawwazū al-nask mithla mā jawwazū al-mas’
Kha ‘alayhim law annahum fuqahā’u

They permitted the concept of abrogation (Naskh) just as they permitted the transformation (Maskh) of their own selves, if only they were truly jurists.

هُوَ إِلاَّ أَنْ يُرْفَعَ الْحُكْمُ بِالْحُ
كْمِ وَخَلْقٌ فِيهِ وَأَمْرٌ سَوَاءُ

Huwa illā an yurfa‘ al-ḥukm bi-al-ḥukm
Wa khalq fīh wa amr sawā’u

It is nothing but the replacing of one ruling with another; in this, both creation and command are equal.

وَلِحُكْمٍ مِنَ الزَّمَانِ انْتِهَاءٌ
وَلِحُكْمٍ مِنَ الزَّمَانِ ابْتِدَاءُ

Wa li-ḥukm min al-zamān intiha’
Wa li-ḥukm min al-zamān ibtidā’u

For every ruling, there is an end in time, and for every ruling, there is a beginning in time.

فَسَلُوهُمْ أَكَانَ فِي نَسْخِهِم مَسْ
خٌ لآيَاتِ اللهِ أَمْ إِنْشَاءُ

Fas’alūhum akāna fī naskihim maskh
Li-āyāt Allāh am inshā’u

So ask them: was there in their abrogation a transformation of God's signs, or was it a new creation?

وَبَدَاءٌ فِي قَوْلِهِمْ نَدِمَ اللَّ
هُ عَلَى خَلْقِ آدَمَ أَمْ خَطَاءُ

Wa badā’ fī qawlihim nadima al-lāh
‘Alā khalq Ādam am khaṭā’u

And this "Bada" in their saying—did God "regret" the creation of Adam, or was it an "error"?

أَمْ مَحَا اللهُ آيَةَ اللَّيْلِ ذُكْراً
بَعْدَ سَهْوٍ لِيُوجَدَ الإِمْسَاءُ

Am maḥā Allāh āyat al-layl dhikran
Ba‘da sahw li-yūjad al-imsā’u

Or did God erase the "sign of the night" after a lapse of memory so that the evening might exist?

أَمْ بَدَا لِلإِلَهِ فِي ذَبْحِ إِسْحَا
قَ وَقَدْ كَانَ الأَمْرُ فِيهِ مَضَاءُ

Am badā lil-Ilāh fī dhabḥ Isḥāq
Wa qad kān al-amr fīh maḍā’u

Or did a new thought occur to God regarding the sacrifice of Isaac, even after the command had been set in motion?

أَوَ مَا حَرَّمَ الإِلَهُ نِكَاَ الأُخْ
تِ بَعْدَ التَّحْلِيلِ فَهْوَ الزِّنَاءُ

Aw mā ḥarrama al-Ilāh nikā’ al-ukh
Tī ba‘da al-taḥlīl fahuwa al-zinā’u

Or did God forbid the marriage of sisters after it had been permitted, making it then an act of sin?

لاَ تُكَذِّبْ أَنَّ الْيَهُودَ وَقَدْ زَا
غُوا عَنِ الْحَقِّ مَعْشَرٌ لُؤُمَاءُ

Lā tukadhib anna al-yahūd wa qad zāghū
‘An al-ḥaqq ma‘shar lu’umā’u

Do not disbelieve that the Jews, having swerved from the Truth, are a base people.

جَحَدُوا الْمُصْطَفَى وَآمَنَ بالطَّا
غُوتِ قَومٌ هُمْ عِنْدَهُمْ شُرَفَاءُ

Jaḥadū al-muṣṭafā wa āman bi-al-ṭā
Ghūt qawm hum ‘indahum shurafā’u

They denied the Chosen One and believed in the "Taghut" (false idols) whom they considered noble.

قَتَلُوا الأَنْبِيَاءَ وَاتَّخَذُوا الْعِجْ
لَ أَلاَ إِنَّهُمْ هُمُ السُّفَهَاءُ

Qatalū al-anbiyā’ wa-ittakhadhū al-‘ijl
Alā innahum hum al-sufahā’u

They killed the Prophets and took the calf as a god; truly, they are the foolish ones.

وَسَفِيهٌ مَنْ سَاءَهُ الْمَنُّ والسَّلْ
وَى وَأَرْضَاهُ الْفُومُ والْقِثَّاءُ

Wa safīh man sā’ahu al-mannu wa al-salwa
Wa ardhāhu al-fūm wa al-qithā’u

And foolish is the one who was displeased by the Manna and Salwa, yet was satisfied with garlic and cucumbers.

مُلِئَتْ بِالْخَبِيثِ مِنْهُمْ بُطُونٌ
فَهْيَ نَارٌ طِبَاقُهَا الأَمْعَاءُ

Mulī’at bil-khabīth minhum buṭūn
Fahya nār ṭibāquhā al-am‘ā’u

Their bellies are filled with the forbidden, so they are like fires whose layers are their very intestines.

لَوْ أُرِيدُوا فِي حَالِ سَبْتٍ بِخَيْرٍ
كَانَ سَبْتاً لَدَيْهِمُ الأَرْبِعَاءُ

Law urīdū fī ḥāl sabt bikhayr
Kāna sabtan ladayhim al-arbi‘ā’u

Had they been intended for good on the Sabbath, Wednesday would have been their Sabbath instead.

هْوَ يَوْمٌ مُبَارَكٌ قِيلَ لِلتَّصْ
رِيفِ فِيهِ مِنَ الْيِهُودِ اعْتِدَاءُ

Huwa yawm mubārak qīla lil-taṣrīf
Fīh min al-yahūd i‘tidā’u

It is a blessed day, yet it is said that regarding it, the Jews committed transgression.

فَبِظُلْمٍ مِنْهُمْ وَكُفْرٍ عَدَتْهُمْ
طَيِّبَاتٌ فِي تَركِهِنَّ ابْتِلاَءُ

Fa bi-ẓulm minhum wa kufr ‘addathum
Ṭayyibāt fī tarkihinna ibtilā’u

So because of their injustice and disbelief, good things were forbidden to them as a trial.

خُدِعُوا بِالْمُنَافِقِينَ وَهَلْ يُنْ
فَقُ إِلاَّ عَلَى السَّفِيهِ الشَّقَاءُ

Khudi‘ū bil-munāfiqīn wa hal yanfiqu
Illā ‘alā al-safīh al-shaqā’u

They were deceived by the hypocrites; and does anything befall the foolish but wretchedness?

وَاطْمَأَنُّوا بِقَوْلِ الأَحْزَابِ إِخْوَا
نِهِمُ إِنَّنَا لَكُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ

Wa iṭma’ annū bi-qawl al-aḥzāb ikhwa
Nihim innanā lakum awliyā’u

They felt secure in the words of the "Parties," their brothers, who said: "Indeed, we are your allies."

حَالَفُوهُمْ وَخَالَفُوهُمْ وَلَمْ أَدْ
رِ لِمَاذَا تَخَالَفَ الْحُلَفَاءُ

Ḥālufūhum wa khālufūhum wa lam adri
Limādhā takhālaf al-ḥulafā’u

They allied with them and then opposed them; and I know not why allies would so disagree.

أَسْلَمُوهُمْ لأَوَّلِ الْحَشْرِ لاَ مِي
عَادُهُمْ صَادِقٌ وَلاَ الإِيلاَءُ

Aslamūhum li-awwal al-ḥashr lā mī‘ād
Hum ṣādiq wa lā al-ilā’u

They abandoned them to the first exile; neither was their promise true, nor was their oath kept.

سَكَنَ الرُّعْبُ وَالْخَرَابُ قُلُوباً
وَبُيُوتاً مِنْهُمْ نَعَاهَا الْجَلاَءُ

Sakana al-ru‘b wa al-kharāb qulūban
Wa buyūt minhum na‘āhā al-jalā’u

Terror and ruin dwelt in their hearts and in houses from which they were announced as being expelled.

وَبِيَوْمِ الأَحْزَابِ إِذْ زَاغَتِ الأَبْ
صَارُ فِيهِ وَظَلَّتِ الآرَاءُ

Wa bi-yawm al-aḥzāb idh zāghat al-abṣār
Ṣāra fīh wa ẓallat al-ārā’u

And on the Day of the Parties, when gazes swerved and opinions were wavering,

وَتَعَدَّوْا إِلَى النَّبِيِّ حُدُوداً
كَانَ فِيهَا عَلَيْهِمُ الْعَدْوَاءُ

Wa ta‘addaw ilā al-nabī ḥudūdan
Kāna fīhā ‘alayhim al-‘adwā’u

They transgressed against the Prophet beyond all bounds, and the transgression fell back upon them.

وَنَهَتْهُمْ وَمَا انْتَهَتْ عَنْهُ قَوْمٌ
فَأُبِيدَ الأَمَّارُ وَالنَّهَّاءُ

Wa nahathum wa mā intahat ‘anhu qawm
Fa ubīd al-ammār wa al-nahhā’u

He forbade them, but a people who did not desist were annihilated—the ones who commanded evil and the ones who forbade good.

وَتَعَاطَوْا فِي أَحْمَدٍ مُنْكَرَ الْقَوْ
لِ وَنُطْقُ الأَرَاذِلِ الْعَوْرَاءُ

Wa ta‘āṭaw fī Aḥmad munkar al-qawl
Wa nuṭq al-arādhil al-‘awrā’u

They uttered foul words against Ahmad, and the speech of the base is ever-ugly and distorted.

كُلُّ رِجْسٍ يَزِيدُهُ الْخُلُقُ السُّو
ءُ سِفَاهاً وَالْمِلَّةُ الْعَوْجَاءُ

Kullu rijs yazīduhu al-khuluq al-sū’
Sifāhān wa al-millah al-‘awjā’u

Every impurity is increased by an evil character in its foolishness and its crooked creed.

فَانْظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْقَوْ
مِ وَمَا سَاقَ لِلبَذِيِّ الْبَذَاءُ

Fanzhurū kaifa kān ‘āqibat al-qawm
Wa mā sāq lil-badhī al-badhā’u

So look at what was the end of that people, and what vulgarity brought upon the vulgar.

وَجَدَ السَّبَّ فِيهِ سُمّاً وَلَمْ يَدْ
رِ إِذِ الْمِيمُ فِي مَوَاضِعَ بَاءُ

Wa jad al-sabb fīh summan wa lam yadr
Idh al-mīm fī mawāḍi‘ bā’u

One found poison in his own insults, not knowing that in certain places, the "M" becomes a "B" (turning Samm "poison" into Sabb "insult").

كَانَ مِنْ فِيهِ قَتْلُهُ بِيَدَيْهِ
فَهْوَ فِي سُوءِ فِعْلِهِ الزَّبَّاءُ

Kāna min fīh qatlu bī-yadayh
Fahwa fī sū’ fi‘līh al-zabbā’u

The cause of his death was in his own mouth by his own hands; in his evil deed, he was like the queen Az-Zabba.

أَوْ هُوَ النَّحْلُ قَرْصُهَا يَجْلِبُ الْحَتْ
إِلَيْهَا وَمَا لَهَا إِنْكَاءُ

Aw huwa al-naḥl qarṣuha yajlib al-ḥat
Ilayhā wa mā lahā inkā’u

Or he was like the bee, whose sting brings death upon itself while it causes no real harm to its target.

صَرَعَتْ قَوْمَهُ حَبَائِلُ بَغْيٍ
مَدَّهَا الْمَكْرُ مِنْهُمُ وَالدَّهَاءُ

Ṣara‘at qawmahu ḥabā’il baghyin
Maddahā al-makr minhum wa al-dahā’u

The snares of oppression, which they had spread through plot and cunning, struck down his own people.

فَأَتَتْهُمْ خَيْلٌ إِلَى الحَرْبِ تَخْ
تَالُ وَلِلْخَيْلِ فِي الْوَغَى خُيَلاَءُ

Fa atat-hum khayl ilā al-ḥarb takhṭāl
Wa lil-khayl fī al-waghā khuyalā’u

Then horses came to the war, strutting with pride; and horses in battle possess a natural majesty.

قَصَدَتْ فِيهِمُ الْقَنا فَقَوَافِي
الطَّعْنِ مِنْهَا مَا شَانَهَا الإِيطَاءُ

Qaṣadat fīhim al-qanā fa-qawāfī
Al-ṭa‘n minhā mā shānahā al-īṭā’u

The spears aimed at them, and the "rhymes" of the stabbing were flawless and without defect.

وَأَثَارَتْ بِأَرْضِ مَكَّةَ نَقْعاً
ظُنَّ أَنَّ الغُدُوَّ مِنْهَا عِشَاءُ

Wa athārat bi-arḍ Makkah naq‘an
Ẓunna anna al-ghudū min-hā ‘ishā’u

They stirred up a dust in the land of Mecca so thick that the morning was thought to be evening.

أَحْجَمَتْ عِنْدَهُ الْحَجُونُ وَأَكْدَى
عِنْدَ إِعْطَائِهِ الْقَلِيلَ كُدَاءُ

Aḥjamat ‘indahu al-ḥajūn wa akdā
‘Ind i‘ṭā’ihi al-qalīl kudā’u

The hills of Hajun shrank back before him, and the mountain of Kuda' became barren when he gave but a little.

وَدَهَتْ أَوْجُهاً بِهَا وَبُيُوتاً
مُلَّ مِنْهَا الإِكْفَاءُ وَالإِقْوَاءُ

Wa dahat awjhā bi-hā wa buyūtan
Mull minhā al-ikfā’ wa al-iqwā’u

It overwhelmed faces and houses until the changes of fortune and the desolation of homes became wearying.

فَدَعَوْا أَحْلَمَ الْبَرِيَّةِ والْعَفْ
وُ جَوَابُ الْحَلِيمِ وَالإِغْضَاءُ

Fa da‘aw aḥlam al-bariyyah wa al-‘afw
Jawāb al-ḥalīm wa al-ighḍā’u

Then they called upon the most clement of creation; and the answer of the clement is ever-pardon and overlooking.

نَاشَدُوهُ الْقُرْبَى التِي مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ
قَطَعَتْهَا التِّراتُ وَالشَّحْنَاءُ

Nāshadūhu al-qurbā allatī min Quraysh
Qaṭa‘athā al-tirāt wa al-shaḥnā’u

They appealed to him by the kinship of Quraysh, which had been severed by blood-feuds and hatred.

فَعَفَا عَفْوَ قَادِرٍ لَمْ يُنَغِّصْ
هُ عَلَيْهِمْ بِمَا مَضَى إِغْرَاءُ

Fa ‘afā ‘afwa qādir lam yunagghiṣ
‘Alayhim bimā maḍā ighrā’u

So he pardoned with the pardon of one who is powerful, not allowing his victory over them to be tainted by past incitements.

وَإِذَا كَانَ الْقَطْعُ وَالْوَصْلُ لِل
هِ تَسَاوَى التَّقْرِيبُ وَالإِقْصَاءُ

Wa idhā kān al-qaṭ‘ wa al-waṣl lil
Hī tasāwā al-taqrīb wa al-iqṣā’u

And when severing and joining are for the sake of Allah, then drawing near and distancing become equal.

وَسَوَاءٌ عَلَيْهِ فِيمَا أَتَاهُ
مِنْ سِوَاهُ الْمَلاَمُ وَالإِطْرَاءُ

Wa sawā’ ‘alayh fīmā atāhu
Min siwāh al-malām wa al-iṭrā’u

To him, blame and praise from anyone else were the same in what they brought.

وَلَوَ اَنَّ انْتِقَامَهُ لِهَوَى النَّف
سِ لَدَامَتْ قَطِيعَةٌ وَجَفَاءُ

Wa law anna intiqāmuhu li-hawā al-nafs
Ladāmat qaṭī‘ah wa jafā’u

Had his vengeance been for the sake of personal desire, the estrangement and coldness would have lasted forever.

قَامَ للهِ فِي الأُمُورَ فَأَرْضَى
اللهَ مِنْهُ تَبَايُنٌ وَوَفَاءُ

Qāma lillāh fī al-umūr fa-arḍā
Allāh min-hu tabāyun wa wafā’u

He stood for Allah in all matters, so his variance and his loyalty were both pleasing to God.

فِعْلُهُ كُلُّهُ جَمِيلٌ وَهَلْ يَنْ
ضَحُ إِلاَّ بِمَا حَوَاهُ الإِنَاءُ

Fi‘luhu kulluhu jamīl wa hal yanḍaḥ
Illā bimā ḥawāhu al-inā’u

Every deed of his is beautiful; and does a vessel pour out anything except what it contains?

أَطْرَبَ السَّامِعِينَ ذِكْرُ عُلاَهُ
يَا لَرَاحٍ مَالَتْ بِهِ النُّدَمَاءُ

Aṭraba al-sāmi‘īn dhikr ‘ulāh
Yā larāḥ mālat bihī al-nudamā’u

The mention of his loftiness enraptures the listeners—what a wine it is that makes the companions of the feast sway!

النَّبِيُّ الأُمِّيُّ أَعْلَمُ مُنْ أَسْ
نَدَ عَنْهُ الرُّوَّاةُ وَالْحُكَمَاءُ

Al-nabī al-ummī a‘lam min asnad
‘An-hu al-ruwāt wa al-ḥukamā’u

The Unlettered Prophet is more knowledgeable than any from whom the narrators and the wise have ever sought support.

وَعَدَتْنِي ازْدِيَارَهُ الْعَامَ وَجْنَا
ءُ وَمَنَّتْ بِوَعْدِهَا الْوَجْنَاءُ

Wa‘adatnī izdiyārah al-‘ām wa jnā’
Wa mannāt bi-wa‘dihā al-wajnā’u

A swift she-camel promised me a visit to him this year, and she was generous in fulfilling her promise.

أَفَلاَ أَنْطَوِي لَهَا فِي اقْتِضَائِي
هِ لِتُطْوَى مَابَيْنَنَا الأَفْلاَءُ

Afal anṭawī lahā fī iqtidā’ī
Hī li-tuṭwā mā baynanā al-aflā’u

Shall I not then exert my full effort for her in seeking him, so that the vast deserts between us may be folded away?

بِأَلُوفِ الْبَطْحَاءِ يُجْفِلُهَا النِّي
لُ وَقَدْ شَفَّ جَوْفَهَا الإِظْمَاءُ

Bi-alūfi al-baṭḥā’i yujfiluhā an-nīlu
wa-qad shaffa jawfahā al-iẓmā’u

She is a creature accustomed to the desert of Mecca, startled by the Nile, even when thirst has worn her down.

أَنْكَرَتْ مِصْرَ فَهْيَ تَنْفِرُ مَا لاَ
حَ بِنَاءٌ لِعَيْنِهَا أَوْ خَلاَءُ

Ankarat Miṣra fa-hiya tanfiru mā lā
ḥa binā’un liʿaynihā aw khalā’u

She disliked Egypt, and so she bolts whenever a building or even an open space appears to her eye.

فَأَفَضَّتْ عَلَى مُبَارِكِهَا بِرْ
كَتُهَا فَالْبُوَيْبُ فَالْخَضْرَاءُ

Fa-afaḍḍat ʿalā mubāriki-hā birkatuhā
fa-l-Buweib fa-l-Khaḍrā’u

Her blessing overflowed upon Mubarika, then upon Al-Buwayb and Al-Khadra'.

فَالْقِبَابُ التِي تَلِيهَا فَبِئْرِ
النَّخْلِ وَالرَّكْبُ قَائِلُونَ رِوَاءُ

Fa-l-qibābu allatī talīhā fa-bi’ri an-nakhli
wa-r-rakbu qā’ilūna riwā’u

Then the domes that follow them, then the Well of the Palm, while the riders spoke of being fully quenched.

وَغَدَتْ أَيْلَةٌ وَحِقْلٌ وَقَرٌّ
خَلْفَهَا فَالْمَغَارَةُ الْفَيْحَاءُ

Wa-ghadat Aylatun wa-Ḥiqlun wa-Qarrun
khalfahā fa-l-Maghāratu al-Fayḥā’u

Then Ayla, Haql, and Qarr were left behind her, followed by the vast and spacious cave.

فَعُيُونُ الأَقْصَابِ يَتْبَعُهَا النَّبْ
كُ وَتَتْلُو كَفَافَةَ الْعَوْجَاءُ

Fa-ʿuyūnu al-aqṣābi yatbaʿuhā an-nabku
wa-tatlū kafāfata al-ʿawjā’u

Then the Springs of the Reeds, followed by the Nabk and the narrow pass of Al-Awja'.

حَاوَرَتْهَاالْحَوْرَاءُ شَوْقاً فَيُنْبُو
عٌ فَرَقَّ الْيُنْبُوعُ وَالْحَوْرَاءُ

Ḥāwarathā al-ḥawrā’u shawqan fa-yunbuʿun
fa-raqqa al-yunbūʿu wa-l-ḥawrā’u

Al-Hawra' conversed with her out of longing, then Yanbu'; and both the spring and the maiden became tender.

لاَحَ بِالدَّهْنَوَيْنِ بَدْرٌ لَهَا بَعْ
دَ حُنَيْنٍ وَحَنَّتِ الصَّفْرَاءُ

Lāḥa bi-d-Dahnawayni badrun lahā
baʿda Ḥunaynin wa-ḥannati aṣ-Ṣafrā’u

A full moon appeared for her at the two Dahnas after Hunayn, and the valley of Al-Safra' yearned.

وَنَضَتْ بَزْوَةٌ فَرَابغُ فَالْجُحْ
فَةُ عَنْهَا مَا حَاكَهُ الإِنْضَاءُ

Wa-naḍat Bazwatun fa-Rābighu fa-l-Juḥfatu
ʿanhā mā ḥākahu al-inḍā’u

She cast off Bazwa, then Rabigh, then Al-Juhfa, shedding the exhaustion that had woven its toll upon her.

وَأَرَتْهَا الْخَلاَصَ بِئْرُ عَلُيٍّ
فَعْقَابُ السُّوَيْقِ فَالْخُلَصَاءُ

Wa-arathā al-Khalāṣa bi’ru ʿUlayyin
fa-ʿAqābu as-Suwayqi fa-l-Khulaṣā’u

The Well of Ali showed her the way to salvation, then the Pass of Suwayq and Al-Khulasa'.

فَهْيَ مِنْ مَاءِ بِئْرِ عُسْفَانَ أَوْ مِنْ
بَطْنِ مَرٍّ ظَمْآنةٌ خَمْصَاءُ

Fahiya min mā’i bi’ri ʿUsfāna aw min
baṭni Marrin ẓam’ānatu khamsā’u

She arrived from the water of Usfan or from the belly of Marrh, thirsty and lean.

قَرَّبَ الزَّاهِرُ الْمَسَاجِدَ مِنْها
بِخُطَاهَا فَالْبُطْءُ مِنْهَا وَحَاءُ

Qarraba az-Zāhiru al-masājida minhā
bi-khuṭāhā fa-l-buṭ’u minhā waḥā’u

Al-Zahir brought the mosques closer to her with her strides, so her slowness turned into swiftness.

هَذِهِ عِدَّةُ الْمَنَازِلِ لاَ مَا
عُدَّ فِيهِ السِّمَاكُ وَالْعَوَّاء

Hādhihi ʿid-datu al-manāzili lā mā
ʿudda fīhi as-Simāku wa-l-ʿAwwā’u

These are the true count of the stations, not the stars like Simak or 'Awwa that others count.

فَكَأَنِّي بِهَا أُرَحِّلُ مِنْ مَ
كَّةَ شَمْساً سَمَاؤُهَا الْبَيْدَاءُ

Fa-ka-annī bihā uraḥḥilu min Makka
shamsan samā’uhā al-bayḍā’u

It is as if, through her, I am carrying away from Mecca a sun whose sky is the open wilderness.

مَوْضِعُ الْبَيْتِ مَهْبِطُ الْوَحْيِ مَأْوَى
الرُّسْلِ حَيْثُ الأَنْوَارُ حَيْثُ الْبَهَاءُ

Mawḍiʿu al-bayti mahbiṭu al-waḥyi ma’wā
ar-rusli ḥaythu al-anwāru ḥaythu al-bahā’u

The site of the House, the place where Revelation descended, the refuge of messengers, where lights and splendor dwell.

حَيْثُ فَرْضُ الطَّوَافِ وَالسَّعْيِ والْحَل
قِ وَرَمْيِ الْجِمَارِ وَالإِهْدَاءُ

Ḥaythu farḍu aṭ-ṭawāfi wa-s-saʿyi wa-l-ḥalq
wa-ramyi al-jimāri wa-l-ihdā’u

Where the duty of circumambulation, the striving, the shaving, the throwing of pebbles, and the sacrifice are performed.

حَبَّذَا حَبَّذَا مَعَاهِدُ مِنْهَا
لَمْ يُغَيِّرْ آيَاتِهِنَّ الْبَلاَءُ

Ḥabbadhā ḥabbadhā maʿāhidu minhā
lam yughayyir āyātihinna al-balā’u

How wonderful, how wonderful are those sanctuaries, whose signs have not been altered by the passage of time.

حَرَمٌ آمِنٌ وَبَيْتٌ حَرَامٌ
وَمَقَامٌ فِيهِ الْمُقَامُ تَلاَءُ

Ḥaramun āminun wa-baytun ḥarāmun
wa-maqāmun fīhi al-muqāmu talā’u

A secure sanctuary, a Sacred House, and a Station where standing is a form of devotion.

فَقَضَيْنَا بِهَا مَنَاسِكَ لاَ يُحْ
مَدُ إِلاَّ فِي فِعْلِهِنَّ الْقَضَاءُ

Faqaḍaynā bihā manāsika lā yuḥmadu
illā fī fiʿlihinnā al-qaḍā’u

There we performed the rituals, for the fulfillment of which no praise is enough.

وَرَمَيْنَا بِهَا الْفِجَاجَ إِلَى طَيْ
بَةَ وَالسَّيْرُ بِالْمَطَايَا رِمَاءُ

Wa-ramaynā bihā al-fijāja ilā Ṭayba
wa-s-sayru bi-l-maṭāyā rimā’u

We struck the mountain passes toward Tayba (Medina), and the journey upon the mounts was like the flight of arrows.

فَأَصَبْنَا عَنْ قَوْسِهَا غَرَضَ الْقُرْ
بِ وَنِعْمَ الْخَبِيئَةُ الْكَوْمَاءُ

Fa-aṣabnā ʿan qawsi-hā gharaḍa al-qurbi
wa-niʿma al-khabī’atu al-kawmā’u

We struck, from the bow of that journey, the target of nearness—and what an excellent hidden treasure is that noble mount.

فَرَأَيْنَا أَرْضَ الْحَبِيبَ يَغُضُّ
الطَّرْفَ مِنْهَا الضِّيَاءُ واللَّأْلاَءُ

Fa-ra’aynā arḍa al-ḥabībi yaghuddu
aṭ-ṭarfa minhā aḍ-ḍiyā’u wa-l-la’lā’u

Then we saw the land of the Beloved, from which brilliance and radiance cause the eyes to lower.

فَكَأَنَّ الْبَيْدَاءَ مِنْ حَيْثُ مَا قَا
بَلَتِ الْعَيْنُ رَوْضَةٌ غَنَّاءُ

Fa-ka’anna al-bayḍā’a min ḥaythu mā
qābalati l-ʿaynu rawḍatun ghannā’u

It was as if the wilderness, wherever the eye met it, was a lush and singing garden.

وَكَأَنَّ الْبِقَاعَ ذُرَّتْ عَلَيْهَا
طَرَفَيْهَا مُلاَءةٌ حَمْرَاءُ

Wa-ka’anna al-biqāʿa dhurrat ʿalayhā
ṭarafayhā mulā’atun ḥamrā’u

It was as if the earth had been sprinkled on both its sides with a red garment.

وَكَأَنَّ الأَرْجَاءَ يَنْشُرُ نَشْرَ الْ
مِسْكِ فِيهَا الْجَنُوبُ وَالْجِرْبِيَاءُ

Wa-ka’anna al-arjā’a yanshuru nashra
al-misk fīhā al-janūbu wa-l-jirbiyā’u

It was as if the horizons were spreading the scent of musk through the south wind and the breeze.

فَإِذَا شِمْتَ أَوْ شَمَمْتَ رُبَاهَا
لاَحَ مِنْهَا بَرْقٌ وَفَاحَ كِبَاءُ

Fa-idhā shimta aw shamamta rubāhā
lāḥa minhā barqun wa-fāḥa kibā’u

If you caught a glimpse or a scent of its hills, lightning would flash from them and the fragrance of aloeswood would waft.

أَيُّ نُورٍ وَأَيَّ نَوْرٍ شَهِدْنَا
يَوْمَ أَبْدَتْ لَنَا الْقِبَابَ قُبَاءُ

Ayyu nūrin wa-ayya nawri(n) shahidnā
yawma abdath lanā al-qibābu Qubā’u

What light and what blossoms we witnessed on the day the domes of Quba' appeared to us!

قَرَّ مِنْهَا دَمْعِي وَفَرَّ اصْطِبَارِي
فَدُمُوعِي سَيْلٌ وَصَبْرِي جُفَاءُ

Qarra minhā damʿī wa-farra iṣṭibārī
fa-dumūʿī saylun wa-ṣabrī jufā’u

My tears settled there and my patience fled; so my tears are a flood and my patience is a dry husk.

فَتَرَى الرَّكْبَ طَائِرِينَ مِنَ الشَّوْ
قِ إِلَى طَيْبَةٍ لَهُمْ ضَوْضَاءُ

Fa-tarā ar-rakba ṭā’irīna mina ash-shawqi
ilā Ṭaybata lahum ḍawḍā’u

You see the riders flying out of longing toward Tayba, making a clamorous sound of joy.

فَكَأَنَّ الزُّوَّارَ مَا مَسَّتِ الْبَأْ
سَاءُ مِنْهُمْ خَلْقاً وَلاَ الضَّرُّاءُ

Fa-ka’anna az-zuwāra mā massati al-ba’sā’u
minhum khalqan wa-lā aḍ-ḍarrā’u

It was as if the visitors had never been touched by hardship or distress in their entire lives.

كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مِنْهَا ابْتِهَالٌ وَسُؤْلٌ
وَدُعَاءٌ وَرَغْبَةٌ وَابْتِغَاءُ

Kullu nafsin minhā ibtihālun wa-su’lun
wa-duʿā’un wa-raghbatan wa-ibtighā’u

In every soul there was a supplication, a request, a prayer, a desire, and a seeking.

وَزَفِيرٌ تَظُنُّ مِنْهُ صُدُوراً
صَادِحَاتٍ يَعْتَادُهُنَّ زُقَاءُ

Wa-zafīrun taẓunnu minhu ṣudūran
ṣādiḥātin yaʿtādihunna zuqā’u

And a sighing from which you would think hearts were singing birds accustomed to chirping.

وَبُكَاءٌ يُغْرِيهِ بِالْعَيْنِ مَدٌ
وَنَحِيبٌ يَحُثُّهُ اسْتِعْلاَءُ

Wa-bukā’un yughrīhi bi-l-ʿayni madun
wa-naḥībun yaḥuththu-hu istiʿlā’u

And a weeping that is increased by a swelling of the eyes, and a sobbing urged on by rising emotion.

وَجُسُومٌ كَأَنُّمَا رَحَضَتْهَا
مِنْ عَظِيمِ الْمَهَابَةِ الرُّحَضَاءُ

Wa-jusūmun ka-annahā raḥaḍathhā
min ʿaẓīmi al-mahābati ar-ruḥaḍā’u

And bodies that seemed as if they were washed by a sweat of profound awe.

وَوُجُوهٌ كَأَنَّما أَلْبَسَتْهَا
مِنْ حَيَاءٍ أَلْوَانَهَا الْحِرْبَاءُ

Wa-wujūhun ka-annahā albast-hā
min ḥayā’in alwānuhā al-ḥirbā’u

And faces that seemed as if a chameleon had clothed them in its colors out of modesty.

وَدُمُوعٌ كَأَنَّمَا أَرْسَلَتْهَا
مِنْ جُفُونٍ سَحَابَةٌ وَطْفَاءُ

Wa-dumūʿun ka-annamā arsalat-hā
min jufūnin saḥābatun waṭfā’u

And tears that seemed as if they were sent from eyelids by a heavy, rain-laden cloud.

فَحَطَطْنَا الرِّحَالَ حَيْثُ يُحَطُّ
الْوِزْرُ عَنَّا وَتُرفَعُ الْحَوْبَاءُ

Fa-ḥaṭaṭnā ar-riḥāla ḥaythu yuḥaṭṭu
al-wizru ʿannā wa-turfaʿu al-ḥawbā’u

There we halted our mounts, where burdens are cast off from us and the soul is elevated.

وَقَرَأْنَا السَّلاَمَ أَكْرَمَ خَلْقِ
اللهِ مِنْ حَيْثُ يُسْمَعُ الإِقْرَاءُ

Wa-qara’nā as-salāma akrama khalqi
Allāhi min ḥaythu yusmaʿu al-iqrā’u

We offered our salutations to the noblest of God’s creation, from the place where such salutations are heard.

وَذَهِلْنَا عِنْدَ اللِّقَاءِ وَكَمْ أَذْ
هَلَ صَبّاً مِنَ الْحَبِيبِ لِقَاءُ

Wa-dhihilnā ʿinda al-liqā’i wa-kam adh-
hala ṣabban mina al-ḥabībi liqā’u

We were dazed at the moment of meeting; and how often has a meeting with the Beloved left a lover in bewilderment?

وَوَجَمْنَا مِنَ الْمَهَابَةَ حَتَّى
لاَ كَلاَمٌ مِنَّا وَلاَ إِيمَاءُ

Wa-wajamnā mina al-mahābati ḥattā
lā kalāmun minnā wa-lā īmā’u

We stood in silent awe, with neither speech nor even a gesture coming from us.

وَرَجَعْنَا وَلِلْقُلُوبِ الْتِفَاتَا
تٌ إِلَيْهِ وَلِلْجُسُومِ انْثِنَاءُ

Wa-rajaʿnā wa-li-l-qulūbi iltifātātun
ilayhi wa-li-l-jusūmi inthinā’u

And we returned while our hearts were still turning back toward him, and our bodies were bent in yearning.

وَسَمَحْنَا بِمَا نُحِبُّ وَقَدْ يَسْ
مَحُ عِنْدَ الضَّرُورَةِ الْبُخَلاَءُ

Wa-samaḥnā bimā nuḥibbu wa-qad yasmaḥu
ʿinda aḍ-ḍarūrati al-bukhalā’u

We gave up that which we loved most (his presence), and even the stingy can be generous when necessity compels.

يَا أَبَا الْقَاسِمِ الذِي ضِمْنُ إِقْسَا
مِي عَلَيْهِ مَدْحٌ لَهُ وَثَنَاءُ

Yā Abā al-Qāsimi alladhī ḍimnu iqṣāmī
ʿalayhi madḥun lahu wa-thanā’u

O father of al-Qasim, he whose mention within my oaths is itself a form of praise and tribute.

بِالْعُلُومِ التِي عَلَيْكُ مِنَ الل
هِ بِلاَ كَاتِبٍ لَهَا إِمْلاَءُ

Bi-l-ʿulūmi allatī ʿalayka mina Allāhi
bilā kātibin lahā imlā’u

By the sciences dictated to you from God, without the need for a scribe to record them.

وَمَسِيرِ الصَّبَا بِنَصْرِكَ شَهْراً
فَكَأَنَّ الصَّبَا لَدَيْكَ رُخَاءُ

Wa-masīri aṣ-ṣabā bi-naṣrika shahra(n)
fa-ka’anna aṣ-ṣabā ladayka rukhā’u

And by the travel of the East Wind which aided you for a month, so that the wind seemed like a gentle breeze in your presence.

وَعَلِيٍّ لَمَّا تَفَلْتَ بِعَيْنَيْ
هِ وَكِلْتَاهُمَا مَعاً رَمْدَاءُ

Wa-ʿAliyyin lammā tafalta bi-ʿaynayhi
wa-kiltāhumā maʿan ramdā’u

And by Ali, when you applied your saliva to his eyes while both were afflicted with soreness.

فَغَدَا نَاظِراً بِعَيْنَيْ عُقَابٍ
فِي غَزَاةٍ لَهَا الْعُقَابُ لِوَاءُ

Fa-ghadā nāẓiran bi-ʿaynay ʿuqābin
fī ghazāatin lahā al-ʿuqābu liwā’u

He became as sharp-sighted as an eagle in a battle where the eagle itself was the banner.

وَبِرَيْحَانَتَيْنِ طِيبُهُمَا مِنْ
كَ الذِي أُودِعَتْهُمَا الزَّهْرَاءُ

Wa-bi-rayḥānataynī ṭībuhumā minka
alladhī ūdiʿat-humā az-Zahrā’u

And by your two "basils" (Hasan and Husayn), whose fragrance comes from you, and whom the Radiant One (Fatima) was entrusted with.

كُنْتَ تُؤْوِيهِمَا إِلَيْكَ كَمَا آ
وَتْ مِنَ الْخَطِّ نُقْطَتَيْهَا الْيَاءُ

Kunta tu’wiīhimā ilayka kamā āwat
mina al-khaṭṭi nuqṭatayhā al-yā’u

You used to take them into your shelter, just as the letter 'Ya' encompasses its two dots within its script.

مِنْ شَهِيدَيْنِ لَيْسَ يُنْسِينِيَ الطَّ
فُّ مُصَابَيْهِمَا وَلاَ كَرْبَلاَءُ

Min shahīdayn(i) laysa yunsīnī aṭ-ṭiffu
muṣābayhimā wa-lā Karbalā’u

By two martyrs—the tragedy of the Bank (at the Euphrates) does not let me forget their suffering, nor does Karbala.

مَا رَعَى فِيهِمَا ذِمَامَكَ مَرْءُو
سٌ وَقَدْ خَانَ عَهْدَكَ الرُّؤَسَاءُ

Mā raʿā fīhimā dhimāmaka mar’u’usun
wa-qad khāna ʿahdaka ar-ru’asā’u

The pact of protection was not observed for them by the subjects, and even the leaders betrayed your covenant.

أَبْدَلُوا الْوِدَّ وَالْحَفِيظَةَ فِي القُرْ
بَى وَأَبْدَتْ ضِبَابَهَا النَّافِقَاءُ

Abdalū al-widd(a) wa-l-ḥafīẓata fī al-qurbā
wa-abdat ḍibābahā an-nāfiqā’u

They exchanged love for a grudge against your kin, and the hypocrites revealed their hidden malice.

وَقَسَتْ مِنْهُمُ قُلُوبٌ عَلَى مَنْ
بَكَتِ الأَرْضُ فَقْدَهُمْ وَالسَّمَاءُ

Wa-qasat minhum qulāb(un) ʿalā man
bakat al-arḍu faqduhum wa-s-samā’u

Their hearts hardened against those for whose loss the earth and the heavens wept.

فَابْكِهِمْ مَا اسْتَطَعْتَ إِنَّ قَلِيلاً
فِي عَظِيمٍ مِنَ الْمُصَابِ الْبُكَاءُ

Fābkihim ma istaṭaʿta inna qalīlan
fī ʿaẓīmin mina al-muṣābi al-bukā’u

So weep for them as much as you can, for even much weeping is but little for such a great tragedy.

كُلَّ يَوْمٍ وَكُلُّ أَرْضٍ لِكَرْبِي
مِنْهُمُ كَرْبَلاَ وَعَاشُورَاءُ

Kulla yawmin wa-kullu arḍin likarbī
minhum Karbalā’a wa-ʿĀshūrā’u

Every day and every land, in my grief for them, is Karbala and Ashura.

آلَ بَيْتِ النَّبِيِّ إِنَّ فُؤَادِي
لَيْسَ يُسْلِيهِ عَنْكُمُ التَّأْسَاءُ

Āla Bayti an-Nabī inna fu’ādī
laysa yuslīhi ʿankumu at-ta’asā’u

O people of the Prophet’s house, my heart finds no consolation for your loss through mere patient endurance.

غَيْرَ أَنِّي فَوَّضْتُ أَمْرِي إِلَى الل
هِ وَتَفْويضِيَ الأُمُورَ بَرَاءُ

Ghayra annī fawwaḍtu amrī ilā Allāhi
wa-tafwīḍiya l-umūra barā’u

Except that I have entrusted my affair to God, and my entrusting of matters to Him is a declaration of my innocence from the oppressors.

رُبَّ يَوْمٍ بِكَرْبَلاَءَ مُسِيءٍ
خَفَّفَتْ بَعْضَ رُزْئِهِ الزَّوْرَاءُ

Rubba yawmin bi-Karbalā’a musī’in
khafafat ba‘ḍa ruz’ihi z-Zawrā’u

Many a day at Karbala was evil, yet some of its sorrow was lightened by the city of Zawra' (Baghdad).

وَالأَعَادِي كَأَنَّ كُلَّ طَرِيحٍ
مِنْهُمُ الزِّقُّ حُلَّ عَنْهُ الْوِكَاءُ

Wa-l-a‘ādī ka-anna kulla ṭarīḥin
minhumu z-ziqqu ḥulla ‘anhu l-wikā’u

The enemies lay fallen as if every prostrate one among them was a wineskin whose cord had been loosened.

آلَ بَيْتِ النَّبِيِّ طِبْتُمْ فَطَابَ الْ
مَدْحُ لِي فِيكُمُ وَطَابَ الرِّثَاءُ

Āla bayti n-nabiyy ṭibtum fa-ṭāba l-
madḥu lī fīkum wa-ṭāba r-rithā’u

O people of the Prophet’s house, you are pure; so my praise of you is pure, and my elegy for you is pure.

أَنَا حَسَّانُ مَدْحِكُمْ فَإِذَا نُحْ
تُ عَلَيْكُمْ فَإِنَّنِي الْخَنْسَاءُ

Anā Ḥassān madḥikum fa-idhā nuḥtu
ʿalaykum fa-innī l-khansā’u

I am the Hassan (the Prophet's poet) of your praise, and when I mourn you, I am the Khansa'.

سُدْتُمُ النَّاسَ بِالتُّقَى وَسِوَاكُمْ
سَوَّدَتْهُ الْبَيْضَاءُ والصَّفْرَاءُ

Sudtum un-nāsa bi-t-tuqā wa-siwākum
sawwadat-hu l-bayḍā’u wa-s-ṣafrā’u

You mastered mankind through piety, while others were made "masters" only by white silver and yellow gold.

وَبِأَصْحَابِكَ الذِينَ هُمُ بَعْ
دَكَ فِينَا الهُدَاةُ وَالأَوْصِيَاءُ

Wa-bi-aṣḥābika alladhīna hum ba‘daka
fīnā l-hudāt wa-l-awṣiyā’u

And by your companions who, after you, are the guides and the executors of truth among us.

أَحْسَنُوا بَعْدَكَ الْخِلاَفَة فِي الدِّي
نِ وَكُلٌ لِمَا تَوَلَّى إِزَاءُ

Aḥsanū ba‘daka l-khilāfatu fī d-dīn
wa-kullun limā tawallā izā’u

They excelled in the Caliphate of the religion after you, and each was a match for the responsibility he undertook.

أَغْنِيَاءٌ نَزَاهَةً فُقَرَاءُ
عُلَمَاءٌ أَئِمَّةٌ أُمَراءُ

Aghniyā’un nazāhatan fuqarā’u
ʿUlamā’un a’immah umarā’u

They were wealthy in their integrity, yet poor in their worldly needs; scholars, leaders, and commanders.

زَهِدُوا فِي الدُّنَا فَمَا عُرِفَ الْميْ
لُ إِلَيْهَا مِنْهُمْ وَلاَ الرَّغْبَاءُ

Zahadū fī d-dunā famā ʿurifa l-milu
ilayhā minhum wa-lā r-raghbā’u

They renounced the world, so no inclination toward it was known from them, nor any desire.

أَرْخَصُوا فِي الْوَغَى نُفُوسَ مُلُوكٍ
حَارَبُوهَا أَسْلاَبُهَا إِغْلاَءُ

Arkhasū fī l-waghā nufūsa mulūk
ḥārabūhā aslābuhā ighlā’u

In the heat of battle, they held the lives of kings as cheap, yet the spoils they won from them were precious.

رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْ
هُ فَأَنَّى يَخْطُو إِلَيْهِمْ خَطَاءُ

Raḍiya Allāhu ʿanhum wa-raḍū ʿanhu
fa-annā yakhṭū ilayhim khaṭā’u

God is well-pleased with them and they are well-pleased with Him; how then could any error ever reach them?

كُلُّهُمْ فِي أَحْكَامِهِ ذُو اجْتِهَادٍ
وَصَوَابٍ وَكُلُّهُمْ أَكْفَاءُ

Kulluhum fī aḥkāmihī dhū ijtihād
wa-ṣawābin wa-kulluhum akfā’u

Each of them, in his rulings, was a man of independent judgment and correctness, and all were peers in excellence.

جَاءَ قَوْمٌ مِنْ بَعْدِ قَوْمٍ بِحَقٍّ
وَعَلَى الْمَنْهَجِ الْحَنِيفِيِّ جَاءُوا

Jā’a qawmun min ba‘di qawmin bi-ḥaqqin
wa-‘alā l-manhaji l-ḥanīfī jā’ū

Generation after generation came with the truth, following the primordial, upright path.

مَا لِمُوسَى وَلاَ لِعِيسَى حَوَارِ
يُّنَ فِي عَدِّهِمْ وَلاَ نُقَبَاءُ

Mā li-Mūsā wa-lā li-ʿĪsā ḥawār
fī ʿaddihim wa-lā nuqabā’u

Neither Moses nor Jesus had disciples or deputies who could match their count.

بِأَبِي بَكْرٍ الذِي صَحَّ لِلنَّا
سِ بِهِ فِي حَيَاتِكَ الإِقْتِدَاءُ

Bi-Abī Bakrin alladhī ṣaḥḥa li-n-nāsi
bihi fī ḥayātika l-iqtidā’u

By Abu Bakr, through whom the people’s following of you in your lifetime was validated.

وَالْمُهَدِّي يَوْمَ السَّقِيفَةِ لَمَّا
أَرْجَفَ النَّاسُ إِنَّهُ الدَّأْدَاءُ

Wa-l-Muhaddī yawma s-saqīfati lammā
arjafa n-nāsu innahu d-dā’dā’u

The guide on the Day of Saqifa when the people were shaken; he was the firm foundation.

أَنْقَذَ الدِّينَ بَعْدَ مَا كَانَ لِلدِّي
نِ عَلَى كُلِّ كُرْبَةٍ إِشْفَاءُ

Anqaḏa d-dīna ba‘da mā kāna li-d-dīn
ʿalā kulli kurbah ishfā’u

He saved the religion after it had reached a state of near-collapse from every distress.

أَنْفَقَ الْمَالَ فِي رِضَاكَ وَلاَ مَ
نٌ وَأَعْطَى جَمّاً وَلاَ إِكْدَاءُ

Anfaqa l-māla fī riḍāka wa-lā man
wa-aʿṭā jamman wa-lā ikdā’u

He spent his wealth seeking your pleasure without reminding of the favor; he gave abundantly without exhaustion.

وَأَبِي حَفْصٍ الذِي أَظْهَر اللَّ
هُ بِهِ الدِّينَ فَارْعَوَى الرُّقَبَاءُ

Wa-Abī Ḥafs alladhī aẓhara llāhu
bihi d-dīna fa-ar‘awā r-ruqabā’u

And by Abu Hafs (Umar), through whom God made the religion manifest, causing the prying enemies to retreat.

والذِي تَقْرُبُ الأَبَاعِدُ فِي الل
هِ إِلَيْهِ وَتَبْعُدُ الْقُرَبَاءُ

Wa-lladhī taqarrabu l-abāʿidu fī llāhi
ilayhi wa-tabʿudu l-qurbā’u

The one for whose sake distant strangers draw near to God, while near relatives who oppose Him are distanced.

عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ مَنْ قَوْلُهُ الْفَصْ
لُ وَمَنْ حُكْمُهُ السَّوِيُّ السَّواءُُ

ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb man qawluhu l-faṣlu
wa-man ḥukmuhu s-sawiyy us-sawā’u

Umar ibn al-Khattab, whose word was the criterion and whose ruling was the absolute standard of justice.

فَرَّ مِنْهُ الشَّيْطَانُ إِذْ كَانَ فَارُو
قاً فَلِلنَّارِ مِنْ سَنَاهُ انْبِرَاءُ

Farra minhu sh-shayṭānu idh kāna fārūqan
fa-lin-nāri min sanāhū inbirā’u

Satan fled from him because he was the Faruq; and the fire of his radiance was a burning deterrent.

وَابْنِ عَفَّانَ ذِي الأَيَادِي التِي طَا
لَ إِلَى الْمُصْطَفَى بِهَا الإِسْدَاءُ

Wa-Ibn ʿAffān dhī l-ayādī allati ṭālat
ilā l-muṣṭafā bihā l-isdā’u

And by the son of Affan (Uthman), the possessor of the hands that were long in providing aid to the Chosen One.

حَفَرَ الْبِئْرَ جَهَّزَ الْجَيْشَ أَهْدَى
الْهَدْيَ لَمَّا أَنْ صَدَّهُ الأَعْدَاءُ

Ḥafara l-bi’ra jahhaza l-jaysh ahdā
l-hady lammā an ṣaddahu l-a‘dā’u

He dug the well, equipped the army, and offered the sacrifice when the enemies blocked the way.

وَأَبَى أَنْ يَطُوفَ بِالْبَيْتِ إِذْ لَمْ
يَدْنُ مِنْهُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ فِنَاءُ

Wa-abā an yaṭūfa bi-l-bayti idh lam
yadnu minhu ilā n-nabiyy finā’u

He refused to circumambulate the House because he could not do so while the Prophet was barred from its courtyard.

فَجَزَتْهُ عَنْهَا بِبَيْعَةِ رِضْوَا
نٍ يَدٌ مِنْ نَبِيِّهِ بَيْضَاءُ

Fa-jazathū ʿanhā bi-bayʿati riḍwā
n yadun min nabiyyihā bayḍā’u

So he was rewarded for it by the "Pledge of Pleasure" (Bay'at al-Ridwan) from the white hand of his Prophet.

أَدَبٌ عِنْدَهُ تَضَاعَفَتِ الأَعْ
مَالُ بِالتَّرْكِ حَبّذَا الأُدَبَاءُ

Adabun ʿindahu taḍāʿafat al-aʿmāl
bi-t-tarki ḥabbadhā l-udabā’u

Such was his refined conduct; and the value of deeds is multiplied through such restraint—how excellent are those of refined conduct!

وَعَلِيٍّ صِنْوِ النَّبِيِّ وَمَنْ دِي
نُ فُؤَادِي وِدَادُهُ وَالْوَلاَءُ

Wa-ʿAliyy ṣinw un-nabiyy wa-man dīn
fū’ādī widāduhu wa-l-walā’u

And by Ali, the kinsman of the Prophet, whose love and loyalty are the very religion of my heart.

وَوَزِيرِ ابْنِ عَمِّهِ فِي الْمَعَالِي
وَمِنَ الأَهْلِ تَسْعَدُ الْوُزَرَاءُ

Wa-wazīr ibn ʿammihi fī l-maʿālī
wa-min al-ahl tasʿadu l-wuzarā’u

The minister of his cousin in lofty matters; and through one's family, ministers find their true happiness.

لَمْ يَزِدْهُ كَشْفُ الْغِطَاءِ يَقِيناً
بَلْ هُوَ الشَّمْسُ مَا عَلَيْهِ غِطَاءُ

Lam yazidhu kashfu l-ghiṭā’i yaqīnan
bal huwa sh-shamsu mā ʿalayhi ghiṭā’u

The removal of the veil did not increase his certainty; rather, he is the sun itself, over which there is no veil.

وَبِبَاقِي أَصْحَابِكَ الْمُظْهِرِ التَّرْ
تِيبَ فِينَا تَفْضِيلُهُمْ وَالْوَلَاءُ

Wa-bi-bāqī aṣḥābika l-muẓhiri t-tartīb
fīnā tafḍīluhum wa-l-walā’u

And by the rest of your companions, whose merit and loyalty establish the very order of excellence among us.

طَلْحَةَ الْخَيْرِ الْمُرْتَضِيهِ رَفِيقاً
وَاحِداً يَوْمَ فَرَّتِ الرُّفَقَاءُ

Ṭalḥa l-khayr al-murtaḍīhi rafīqan
wa-ḥādan yawma farrat ar-rufaqā’u

By Talha of Goodness, the one you were pleased with as a single companion on the day all other companions fled.

وَحَوَارِيِّكَ الزُّبَيْرِ أَبِي الْقَرْ
مِ الذِي أَنْجَبَتْ أَسْمَاءُ

Wa-ḥawārīk az-Zubayr Abī l-Qār
mī alladhī anjabat asmā’u

By your disciple Zubair, the noble leader, whom Asma gave birth to.

وَالصَّفِيَّيْنِ تَوْأَمِ الْفَضْلِ سَعْدٍ
وَسَعِيدٍ إِذْ عُدَّتِ الأَصْفِيَاءُ

Wa-ṣ-ṣafiyyayn taw’ami l-faḍli Sa‘d
wa-Sa‘īd idh ʿuddat al-aṣfiyā’u

By the two chosen ones, the twins of virtue, Sa’d and Sa’id, when the elite are counted.

وَابْنِ عَوْفٍ مَنْ هَوَّنَتْ نَفْسُهُ الدُّنْ
يَا بِبَذْلٍ يُمِدُّهُ إِثْرَاءُ

Wa-Ibn ʿAwf man hawwanat nafsuhu d-dun
yā bi-bazlin yumidduhu ithrā’u

By Ibn Awf, whose soul held the world in low regard through a generosity supported by great wealth.

وَالْمُكَنَّى أَبَا عُبَيْدَةَ إِذْ يَعْ
زِي إِلَيْهِ الأَمَانَةَ الأُمَنَاءُ

Wa-l-mukannā Abā ʿUbayda idh yaʿzi
ilayhi l-amānata l-umunā’u

By the one nicknamed Abu Ubaidah, to whom the trustworthy attribute the very essence of trust.

وَبِعَمَّيْكَ نَيِّرَيْ فَلَكِ الْمَجْ
دِ وَكُلٌ أَتَاهُ مِنْكَ إِتَاءُ

Wa-bi-ʿammayka nayyiray falaki l-majd
wa-kullun atāhu minka itā’u

By your two uncles, the two luminaries in the firmament of glory, each of whom received a great gift from you.

وَبِأُمِّ السِّبْطَيْنِ زَوْجِ عَلِيٍّ
وَبَنِيهَا وَمَنْ حَوَتْهُ الْعَبَاءُ

Wa-bi-ummis-sibṭayn zawji ʿAliyyin
wa-baniyhā wa-man ḥawtahu l-ʿabā’u

By the mother of the two grandsons, the wife of Ali, her sons, and all those whom the Cloak encompassed.

وَبِأَزْوَاجِكَ اللَّوَاتِي تَشَرَّفْ
نَ بِأَنْ صَانَهُنَّ مِنْكَ بِنَاءُ

Wa-bi-azwājika l-lawāti tasharrafna
bi-an ṣānahunna minka binā’u

By your wives who were honored by the fact that your household protected them.

الأَمَانَ الأَمَانَ إِنَّ فُؤَادِي
مِنْ ذُنُوبٍ أَتَيْتُهُنَّ هَوَاءُ

Al-amān al-amān inna fu’ādī
min dhunūbin ataytuhunna hawā’u

Safety! Safety! For my heart is empty of all but the sins I have committed.

قَدْ تَمَسَّكْتُ مِنْ وِدَادِكَ بِالْحَبْ
لِ الذِي اسْتَمْسَكَتْ بِهِ الشُّفَعَاءُ

Qad tamassaktu min widādika bi-l-ḥab
lil-ladhī istam-sakat bihi sh-shufāʿā’u

I have held fast to the rope of your love—the same rope held by those who seek intercession.

وَأَبَى اللهُ أَنْ يَمَسَّنِيَ السُّو
ءُ بِحَالٍ وَلِي إِلَيْكَ الْتِجَاءُ

Wa-abā Allāhu an yamassanī s-sū’
bi-ḥālin wa-lī ilayka l-tijā’u

Allah has forbidden that harm should touch me in any state, as long as I have a refuge in you.

قَدْ رَجَوْنَاكَ لِلأُمُورِ التِي أَبْ
رَدُهَا فِي قُلُوبِنَا رَمْضَاءُ

Qad rajawnāka li-l-umūr allati ab
radu-hā fī qulūbinā ramḍā’u

We have hoped in you for matters whose lightest heat is like a scorching fire in our hearts.

وَأَتَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ أَنْضْاءَ فَقْرٍ
حَمَلَتْنَا إِلَى الْغِنَا أَنْضَاءُ

Wa-ataynā ilayka anḍā’a faqrin
ḥamaltnā ilā l-ghinā anḍā’u

We have come to you as emaciated remnants of poverty, carried to the state of wealth by our very exhaustion.

وَانْطَوَتْ فِي الصُّدُورِ حَاجَاتُ نَفْسٍ
مَا لَهَا عَنْ نَدَى يَدَيْكَ انْطِوَاءُ

Wa-anṭawat fī ṣ-ṣudūri ḥājāt nafsin
mā lahā ʿan nadā yadayka inṭiwā’u

Within our chests are hidden needs of the soul that never fold away from the dew of your hands.

فَأَغِثْنَا يَا مَنْ هُوَ الْغَوْثُ وَالْغَيْ
ثُ إِذَا أَجْهَدَ الْوَرَى اللّْأْوَاءُ

Fa-aghithnā yā man huwa l-ghawthu wa-l-ghaythu
idhā ajhada l-wara al-l-awā’u

So aid us, O you who are the Help and the Rain when hardship exhausts all of creation.

وَالْجَوَادُ الذِي بِهِ تُفْرَجُ الْغُ
مَّةُ عَنَّا وَتُكْشَفُ الَحَوْبَاءُ

Wa-l-jawādu alladhī bihi tufraju l-ghumma
ʿannā wa-tukshafu l-ḥawba’ā’u

You are the generous one through whom grief is dispelled from us and the burden of sin is uncovered.

يَارَحِيماً بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذَا مَا
ذَهِلَتْ عَنْ أَبْنَائِهَا الرُّضَعَاءُ

Yā raḥīman bi-l-mu’minīna idh mā
dhahilat ʿan abnā’ihā r-ruḍa’ā’u

O you who are merciful to the believers when even nursing mothers become heedless of their infants.

يَاشَفِيعاً لِلْمُذْنِبِينَ إِذَا أَشْ
فَقَ مِنْ خَوفِ ذَنْبِهِ الْبُرَآءُ

Yā shafīʿan li-l-mudhnibīna idhā ash
faqa min khawfi dhanbihi l-burā’u

O intercessor for the sinners when even the innocent tremble with the fear of sin.

جُدْ لِعَاصٍ وَمَا سِوَايَ هُوَ الْعَا
صِي وَلَكِنْ تَنْكِيرِيَ اسْتِحْيَاءُ

Jud li-ʿāṣin wa-mā siwāya huwa l-ʿāṣī
wa-lākin tankīrī istiḥyā’u

Be generous to a sinner—and I am none other than that sinner, though my anonymity is out of shame.

وَتَدَارَكْهُ بِالْعِنَايَةِ مَا دَا
مَ لَهُ بِالذِّمَامِ مِنْكَ ذِمَاءُ

Wa-tadārakhu bi-l-ʿināyah mā dā
ma lahu bi-dh-dhimām minka dhimā’u

Reach him with care as long as he still possesses a shred of life to hold onto your covenant.

أَخَّرَتْهُ الأَعْمَالُ وَالْمَالُ عَمَّا
قَدَّمَ الصَّالِحُونَ وَالأَغْنِيَاءُ

Akhkharathu l-aʿmāl wa-l-māl ʿammā
qaddama ṣ-ṣāliḥūn wa-l-aghniyā’u

My deeds and my wealth have delayed me from that which the righteous and the wealthy have sent forth.

كُلَّ يَوْمٍ ذُنُوبُهُ صَاعِدَاتٌ
وَعَلَيْهَا أَنْفَاسُهُ صُعَدَاءُ

Kulla yawmin dhunūbuhu ṣāʿidātun
wa-ʿalayhā anfāsuhu ṣuʿadā’u

Every day his sins are ascending, and upon them his breaths are heavy sighs.

أَلِفَ الْبِطْنَةَ الْمُبَطِّئَةَ السَّيْ
رِ بِدَارٍ بِهَا الْبِطَانُ بِطَاءُ

Alif al-biṭnah al-mubatta’ah as-sayri
bi-dārin bihā l-biṭān bi-ṭā’u

He grew accustomed to a gluttony that slows his journey in an abode where the well-fed are sluggish.

فَبَكَى ذَنْبَهُ بِقَسْوَةِ قَلْبٍ
نَهَتِ الدَّمْعَ فَالْبُكَاءُ مُكَاءُ

Fa-bakā dhanbuhu bi-qaswati qalbin
nahatad-damʿa fa-l-bukā’u mukā’u

So he wept for his sin with a hardness of heart that prevented the tears, making his weeping but a whistling sound.

وَغَدَا يَعْتِبُ الْقَضَاءَ وَلاَ عُذْ
رَ لُعَاصٍ فِيمَا يَسُوقُ الْقَضَاءُ

Wa-ghadā yaʿtibu l-qaḍā’a wa-lā ʿudh
ra luʿāṣin fīmā yasūqu l-qaḍā’u

He began to blame Fate, yet there is no excuse for a sinner in what Fate brings him.

أَوْثَقَتْهُ مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ دُيُونٌ
شَدَّدَتْ فِي اقْتِضَائِهَا الْغُرَمَاءُ

Awthaqathu mina dh-dhunūbi duyūnun
shaddadat fī iqtiḍā’ihā l-ghuramā’u

Debts of sin have bound him, and the creditors have become harsh in their demands.

مَا لَهُ حِيلَةٌ سِوَى حِيلَةِ الْمُو
ثَقِ إِمَّا تَوَسُّلٌ أَوْ دُعَاءُ

Mā lahu ḥīlah siwā ḥīlati l-mūthaqi
immā tawassulun aw duʿā’u

He has no trick left but the trick of the shackled: either intercession or supplication.

ْرَاجِياً أَنْ تَعُودَ أَعْمَالُهُ السُّو
ءُ بِغُفْرَانِ اللهِ وَهْيَ هَبَاءُ

Rājiyan an taʿūda aʿmāluhu s-sū’
bi-ghufrāni llāhi wa-hiya habā’u

Hoping that his evil deeds return as nothingness through the forgiveness of Allah.

أَوْ تُرَى سَيِّئَاتُهُ حَسَنَاتٍ
فَيُقَالُ اسْتَحَالَتِ الصَّهْبَاءُ

Aw turā sayyiātuhu ḥasanātin
fayuqālu istaḥālat iṣ-ṣahbā’u

Or that his sins are seen as good deeds, so it is said: "The bitter wine has been transformed into something pure."

كُلُّ أَمْرٍ تُعْنَى بِهِ تُقْلَبُ الأَعْ
يَانُ فِيهِ وَتَعْجَبُ الْبُصَرَاءُ

Kullu amrin tuʿnā bihi tuqlabu l-a‘yān
fīhi wa-taʿjabu l-buṣarā’u

Every matter you concern yourself with causes essences to be overturned, and the insightful are left in wonder.

رُبَّ عَيْنٍ تَفَلْتَ فِي مَاءِهَا الْمِلْ
حِ فَأَضْحَى وَهْوَ الْفُرَاتُ الرَّوَاءُ

Rubba ʿaynin tafalta fī mā’ihā l-milh
fa-aḍḥā wahuwa l-furātu r-rawā’u

How many a salt-water spring did you spit into, and it became fresh, sweet water?

آهِ مِمَّا جَنَيْتُ إِنْ كَانَ يُغْنِي
أَلِفٌ مِنْ عَظِيمِ ذَنْبٍ وَهَاءُ

Āh mimma janaytu in kāna yughnī
alifun min ʿaẓīmi dhanbin wa-hā’u

Ah, for what I have committed! If only an "Alif" or a "Ha" (the sounds of a sigh) could suffice for a great sin.

أَرْتَجِي التَّوْبَةَ النَّصُوحَ وَفِي الْقَلْ
بِ نِفَاقٌ وَفِي اللِّسَانِ رِيَاءُ

Artaǧī t-tawbata n-naṣūḥa wa-fī l-qalb
nifāqun wa-fī l-lisāni riyā’u

I hope for sincere repentance, while in the heart is hypocrisy and on the tongue is pretense.

وَمَتَى يَسْتَقِيمُ قَلْبِي وَلِلْجِسْ
مِ اعْوِجَاجٌ مِنْ كِبْرَتِي وَانْحِنَاءُ

Wa-matā yastaqīmu qalbī wa-lil-jisūm
ʿawijājun min kibratī wa-inḥinā’u

And when will my heart be upright when my body is crooked and bent from my old age?

كُنْتُ فِي نَوْمَةِ الشَّبَابِ فَمَا اسْتَيْ
قَظْتُ إِلاَّ وَلِمَّتِي شَمْطَاءُ

Kuntu fī nawmatish-shabābi famā istay
qaẓtu illā wa-limmatī shamaṭā’u

I was in the sleep of youth and did not wake up until the hair at my temples had turned white.

وَتَمَادَيْتُ أَقْتَفِي أَثَرَ الْقَوْ
مِ فَطَالَتْ مَسَافَةٌ وَاقْتِفَاءُ

Wa-tamādaytu aqtaffī athara l-qawmi
fa-ṭālat masāfah wa-iqtiḍā’u

I persisted in following the tracks of the people until the distance and the pursuit became long.

فَوَرَا السَّائِرِينَ وَهْوَ أَمَامِي
سُبُلٌ وَعْرَةٌ وَأَرْضٌ عَرَاءُ

Fa-warā as-sā’irīna wahuwa amāmī
subulun waʿratun wa-arḍun ʿarā’u

Behind the travelers, while it is still before me, are rugged paths and a barren land.

حَمِدَ الْمُدْلِجُونَ غِبَّ سُرَاهُمْ
وَكَفَى مَنْ تَخَلَّفَ الإِبْطَاءُ

Ḥamida l-mudlijūna ghibba surāhum
wa-kafā man takhallafa l-ibṭā’u

Those who traveled by night praised the result of their journey, while for the one who stayed behind, his slowness is enough of a burden.

رِحْلَةٌ لَمْ يَزَلْ يُفَنِّدُنِي الصَّيْ
فُ إِذَا مَا نَوَيْتُهَا وَالشِّتَاءُ

Riḥlah lam yazal yufannidunī ṣ-ṣayfu
idhā mā nawaituhā wa-sh-shitā’u

It is a journey for which the summer and winter never cease to mock me whenever I intend it.

يَتَّقِي حُرُّ وَجْهِيَ الْحَرَّ والْبَرْ
دَ وَقَدْ عَزَّ مِنْ لَظَى الإِتِّقَاءُ

Yattaqī ḥurru wajhiya l-ḥarr wa-l-bar
wa-qad ʿazza min laẓā l-ittiḳā’u

The skin of my face fears the heat and the cold, yet it has failed to fear the heat of the Blazing Fire.

ضِقْتُ ذَرْعاً مِمَّا جَنَيْتُ فْيَوْمِي
قَمْطَرِيرٌ وَلَيْلَتِي دَرْعَاءُ

Ḍiqqtu dharʿan mimma janaytu fī yawmi
qamṭarīrun wa-laylatī darʿā’u

I am distressed by what I have committed; my day is grim and my night is dark.

وَتذَكَّرْتُ رَحْمَةَ اللهِ فَالْبِشْ
رُ لِوَجْهِي أَنَّى انْتَحَى تِلْقَاءُ

Wa-tadhakkartu raḥmata llāhi fa-l-bishru
li-wajhī annā intahā tilqā’u

But I remembered the mercy of Allah, and joy returned to my face wherever I turned.

فَأَلَحَّ الرَّجَاءُ وَالْخَوْفُ بِالْقَلْ
بِ وَلِلْخَوْفِ وَالرَّجَا إِحْفَاءُ

Fa-allaḥa r-rajā’u wa-l-khawfu bi-l-qalb
wa-lil-khawfi wa-r-rajā’i iḥfā’u

So hope and fear urged the heart, and for fear and hope there is an exhausting persistence.

صَاحِ لاَ تَاسَ إِنْ ضَعُفْتَ عَنِ الطَّا
عَةِ وَاسْتَأْثَرَتْ بِهَا الأَقْوِيَاءُ

Ṣāḥi lā tās in ḍaʿufta ʿani ṭ-ṭāʿah
wa-ista’tharat bihā l-aqwiyā’u

O companion, do not despair if you are weak in obedience and the strong have taken it all.

إِنَّ للهِ رَحْمَةً وَأَحَقُّ
النَّاسِ مِنْهُ بِالرَّحْمَةِ الضُّعَفَاءُ

Inna li-llāhi raḥmatan wa-aḥaqqu
n-nāsi minhu bi-r-raḥmati ḍ-ḍuʿafā’u

For Allah has a mercy, and the people most worthy of it are the weak.

فَابْقَ فِي الْعُرْجِ عِنْدَ مُنْقَلَبِ الذَّوْ
فَفِي الْعَوْدِ تَسْبِقُ الْعَرْجَاءُ

Fābqa fī l-ʿurji ʿinda munqalabi dh-dhaw
fa-fī l-ʿawdi tasbiqu l-ʿarjā’u

So remain among the "lame" at the turning point of the flock, for in the return, the lame sheep often leads the way.

لاَ تَقُلْ حَاسِداً لِغَيْرِكَ هَذَا
أَثْمَرَتْ نَخْلُهُ وَنَخْلِي عَفَاءُ

Lā taqul ḥāsidan li-ghayrika hādhā
athmarat nakhluhu wa-nakhli ʿafā’u

Do not say, envying another: "This one’s palms have borne fruit while my palms are barren."

وَأَتِ بِالْمُسْتَطَاعِ مِنْ عَمَلِ الْبِ
رِّ فَقَدْ يُسْقِطُ الثِمَارَ الإِتَاءُ

Wa-at bi-l-mustatāʿi min ʿamali l-birr
faqad yusqitu th-thimāra l-itā’u

But bring what you can of righteous deeds, for even a small gift can cause the fruits to fall.

وَبِحُبِّ النَّبِيِّ فَابْغِ رِضَا اللَّ
هِ فَفِي حُبِّهِ الرِّضَا وَالْحِبَاءُ

Wa-bi-ḥubbi n-nabiyyī fābgh riḍā
llāhi fa-fī ḥubbihi r-riḍā wa-l-ḥibā’u

And through the love of the Prophet, seek the pleasure of Allah, for in his love is both pleasure and the greatest gift.

يَا نْبِيَّ الْهُدَى إِغَاثَةَ مَلْهُو
فٍ أَضَرَّتْ بِحَالِهِ الْحَوْبَاءُ

Yā nabiyya l-hudā ighāthata malhū
fin aḍarrat bi-ḥālihi l-ḥawba’ā’u

O Prophet of Guidance, help a distressed soul whose sins have damaged its state.

يَدَّعِي الْحُبَّ وَهْوَ يَأَمُرُ بِالسُّو
ءِ وَمَنْ لِي أَنْ تَصْدُقَ الرَّغْبَاءُ

Yaddaʿī l-ḥubba wahuwa ya’muru bi-s-sū’
wa-man lī an taṣduqa r-raghbā’u

It claims love while it commands evil—and who will ensure that my desires are truthful?

أَيُّ حُبٍّ يَصِحُّ مِنْهُ وَطَرْفِي
لِلْكَرَى وَاصِلٌ وَطَيْفُكَ رَاءُ

Ayyu ḥubbin yaṣiḥu minhu wa-ṭarfī
li-l-karā wāṣilun wa-ṭayfuka rā’u

What love can be true when my eyes are joined in sleep, yet your phantom is seen?

لَيْتَ شِعْرِي أَذَاكَ مِنْ عُظْمِ ذَنْبٍ
أَمْ حُظُوظُ الْمُتَيَّمِينَ حُظَاءُ

Layta shiʿrī adhāk min ʿaẓmi dhanbin
am ḥuẓūẓu l-mutyayyamīn ḥuẓā’u

I wonder: is that due to the greatness of my sin, or are the fortunes of the enamored but a meager share?

إِنْ يَكُنْ عُظْمُ زَلَّتِي حَجْبَ رُؤَيَا
كَ فَقَدْ عَزَّ دَاءَ قَلْبِي الدَّوَاءُ

In yakun ʿaẓmu zallatī ḥajba ru’yā
faqad ʿazza dā’a qalbī d-dawā’u

If the greatness of my lapse has veiled me from seeing you, then the medicine for my heart’s disease is truly rare.

كَيْفَ يَصْدَا بِالذَّنْبِ قَلْبُ مُحِبٍّ
وَلَهُ ذِكْرُكَ الْجَمِيلُ جِلاَءُ

Kayfa yaṣdā bi-dh-dhanbi qalbu muḥibbin
wa-lahu dhikru-ka l-jamīlu jilā’u

How can the heart of a lover be rusted by sin when your beautiful remembrance is its polish?

هَذِهِ عِلَّتِي وَأَنْتَ طَبِيبِي
لَيْسَ يَخْفَى عَلَيْكَ فِي الْقَلْبِ دَاءُ

Hādhihi ʿillatī wa-anta ṭabībī
laysa yakhfā ʿalayka fī l-qalbi dā’u

This is my ailment and you are my physician; no disease in the heart is hidden from you.

وَمِنَ الْفَوْزِ أَنْ أَبُثَّكَ شَكْوَى
هِيَ شَكْوَى إِلَيْكَ وَهْيَ اقْتِضَاءُ

Wa-min al-fawzi an abuthhaka shakwā
hiya shakwā ilayka wa-hiya iqtiḍā’u

It is a victory that I broadcast my complaint to you; it is a complaint to you and it is a request.

ضُمِّنَتْهَا مَدَائِحٌ مُسْتَطَابٌ
فِيكَ مِنْهَا الْمَدِيحُ وَالإِصْغَاءُ

Ḍumminat-hā madā’iḥun mustaṭābun
fīka minhā l-madīḥu wa-l-iṣghā’u

Within it are pleasant praises; from you comes the listening, and from me the praise.

قَلَّمَا حَاوَلَتْ مَدِيحَكَ إِلاَّ
سَاعَدَتْهَا مِيمٌ وَدَالٌ وَحَاءُ

Qallamā ḥāwalat madīḥaka illā
sāʿadat-hā mīm wa-dāl wa-ḥā’u

Rarely did I attempt to praise you unless the letters "Meem," "Dal," and "Ha" (forming Madah - praise) aided me.

حَقَّ لِي فِيكَ أَنْ أُسَاجِلَ قَوْماً
سَلَّمَتْ مِنْهُمُ لِدَلْوِي الدِّلاَءُ

Ḥaqqan lī fīka an usājila qawman
sallamat minhum li-dalwī d-dilā’u

It is my right regarding you to compete with a people who have yielded the buckets of the well to my bucket.

إِنَّ لِي غَيْرَةً وَقَدْ زَاحَمَتْنِي
فِي مَعَانِي مَدِيحِكَ الشُّعَرَاءُ

Inna lī ghayratan wa-qad zāḥamatnī
fī maʿānī madīḥika sh-shuʿarā’u

For I have a jealousy, as the poets have crowded me in the meanings of your praise.

وَلِقَلْبِي فِيكَ الْغُلُوُّ وَأَنَّى
لِلِسَانِي فِي مَدْحِكَ الْغُلَوَاءُ

Wa-li-qalbī fīka l-ghulūwwu wa-annā
li-l-lisānī fī madḥika l-ghulawā’u

And for my heart regarding you there is an intensity; yet how can my tongue reach the height of your praise?

فَأَثِبْ خَاطِراً يَلَذُّ لَهُ مَدْ
حُكَ عِلْماً بِأَنَّهُ اللَّأْلاَءُ

Fa-athib khāṭiran yaladhu lahu madḥu
ʿilman bi-annahu l-lā’lā’u

So reward a mind that finds delight in your praise, knowing that it is the ultimate radiance.

حَاكَ مِنْ صَنْعَةِ الْقْرِيضِ بُرُوداً
لَكَ لَمْ تَحْكِ وَشْيَهَا صَنْعَاءُ

Ḥāka min ṣanʿati l-qarīḍi burūdā
laka lam taḥki wishyahā ṣanʿā’u

It has woven from the craft of poetry garments for you whose patterns even the weavers of Sana'a could not mimic.

أَعْجَزَ الدُّرَّ نَظْمُهُ فَاسْتَوَتْ فِي
هِ الْيَدَانِ الصَّنَّاعُ وَالْخَرْقَاءُ

Aʿjaza d-durra naẓmuhu fa-stawat fīh
i l-yadāni ṣ-ṣannāʿu wa-l-kharqā’u

Its arrangement has made the pearls feel inadequate; in it, both the skilled hand and the clumsy are equal.

فَارْضَهُ أَفْصَحَ امْرِئٍ نَطَقَ الضَّا
دَ فَقَامَتْ تَغَارُ مِنْهَا الظَّاءُ

Fārḍahu afṣaḥu imri’in naṭaqa ḍ-ḍād
faqāmat taghāru minhā ẓ-ẓā’u

Be pleased with the most eloquent man who ever spoke the letter "Dad," so that the letter "Za" stood jealous of it.

أَبِذِكْرِ الآيَاتِ أُوفِيكَ مَدْحاً
أَيْنَ مِنِّي وَأَيْنَ مِنْهَا الْوَفَاءُ

Abidhkri l-āyāti ūfīka madḥan
ayna minnī wa-ayna minhā l-wafā’u

Is it by mentioning your miracles that I fulfill your praise? Where am I, and where is the fulfillment?

أَمْ أُمَارِي بِهِنَّ قَوْمَ نَبِيٍّ
سَاءَ مَا ظَنَّهُ بِيَ الأَغْبِيَاءُ

Am umārī bihinna qawmu nabiyyin
sā’a ma ẓannahū bī l-aghbiyā’u

Or do I compete through them with the people of a Prophet? How evil is what the ignorant have thought of me.

وَلَكَ الأُمَّةُ التِي غَبَطَتْهَا
بِكَ لَمّا أَتَيْتَهَا الأَنْبِيَاءُ

Wa-laka l-umma allati gha-baṭathā
bika lammā ataytahā l-anbiyā’u

And for you is the nation that the other Prophets envied you for when you came to them.

لَمْ تَخَفْ بَعْدَكَ الضَّلاَلَ وَفِينَا
وَارِثُوا نُورِ هَدْيِكَ الْعُلَمَاءُ

Lam takhaf baʿdaka ḍ-ḍalāla wa-fīnā
wārithū nūri hudyaka l-ʿulamā’u

It did not fear misguidance after you, for among us are the scholars, the inheritors of the light of your guidance.

فَانْقَضَتْ آيُ الأَنْبِيَاءِ وَآيَا
تُكَ فِي النَّاسِ مَ لَهُنَّ انْقِضَاءُ

Fa-inqaḍat āyu l-anbiyā’i wa-āyātuka
fī n-nāsi malahunna inqiḍā’u

The miracles of the other Prophets ended, but your miracles among the people have no end.

إِنَّ مِنْ مُعْجِزَاتِكَ الْعَجْزَ عَنْ وَصْ
فِكَ إِذْ لاَ يَحُدُّهُ الإِحْصَاءُ

Inna min muʿjizātika l-ʿajz ʿan waṣfika
idh lā yaḥudd-hu l-iḥṣā’u

Indeed, among your miracles is the very inability to describe you, for you cannot be encompassed by counting.

كَيْفَ يَسْتَوْعِبُ الْكَلاَمُ سَجَايَا
كَ وَهَلْ تَنْزِحُ الْبِحَارَ الرِّكَاءُ

Kayfa yastaʿibu l-kalāmu sajāyā
ka wa-hal tanzihu l-biḥāra r-rikā’u

How can speech ever contain your character? Can the small vessels ever drain the oceans?

لَيْسَ مِنْ غَايَةٍ لِوَصْفِكَ أَبْغِي
هَا وَلِلْقَوْلِ غَايَةٌ وَانْتِهَاءُ

Laysa min ghāyah li-waṣfika abghīhā
wa-li-l-qawli ghāyah wa-intihā’u

There is no limit to your description that I seek; for speech has a limit and an end.

إِنَّمَا فَضْلُكَ الزَّمَانُ وَآيَا
تُكَ فِيمَا نَعُدُّهُ الآنَاءُ

Innamā faḍluka z-zamān wa-āyātuka
fīmā naʿudduhu l-ānā’u

Rather, your virtue is Time itself, and your miracles are the very moments we count.

لَمْ أُطِلْ فِي تَعْدَادِ مَدْحِكَ نُطْقِي
وَمُرَادِي بِذَلكَ اسْتِقْصَاءُ

Lam uṭil fī taʿdādi madḥika nuṭqī
wa-murādī bi-dhālika istiqṣā’u

I have not prolonged my speech in the counting of your praise, nor was my intent to be exhaustive.

غَيْرَ أَنِّي ظَمْآنُ وَجْدٍ وَمَا لِي
بِقَلِبلٍ مِنَ الْوُرُودِ ارْتِوَاءُ

Ghayr annī ẓamānu wajdin wa-mā lī
bi-qalībin min al-wurūd irtawā’u

But I am a thirsty man of longing, and I am never quenched by a meager drink from the watering place.

فَسَلاَمٌ عَلَيْكَ تَتْرَى مِنَ اللَّ
هِ وَتَبْقَى بِهِ لَكَ الْبَأْوَاءُ

Fa-salāmun ʿalayka tatrā min-llāhi
wa-tabqā bihi laka l-ba’awā’u

So peace be upon you, successively from Allah, and may your majesty remain through it.

وَسَلاَمٌ عَلَيْكَ مِنْكَ فَمَا غَيْ
رُكَ مِنْهُ لَكَ السّلاَمُ كِفَاءُ

Wa-salāmun ʿalayka minka famā ghayruka
minhu laka s-salāmu kifā’u

And peace be upon you from yourself, for nothing besides you is a sufficient greeting for you.

وَسَلاَمٌ مِنْ كُلِّ مَا خَلَقَ اللَّ
هُ لِتَحْيَا بِذِكْرِكَ الإِمْلاَءُ

Wa-salāmun min kulli mā khalaqa llāhu
li-taḥyā bi-dhikrika l-imlā’u

And peace from everything Allah has created, so that the dictation (of your praise) may live by your mention.

وَصَلاَةٌ كَالْمِسْكِ تَحْمِلُهُ مِ
نِّي شَمَالٌ إِلَيُكَ أَوْ نَكْبَاءُ

Wa-ṣalātun ka-l-miski taḥmilu-hu minni
shamālun ilayka aw nakbā’u

And a prayer like musk carried from me by the north wind or the stormy gale.

وَسَلاَمٌ عَلَى ضَرِيحِكَ تَخْضَ
لُّ بِهِ مِنْهُ تُرْبَةٌ وَعْسَاءُ

Wa-salāmun ʿalā ḍarīḥika takhḍullu
bihi minhu turbatun wa-ʿasā’u

And peace be upon your tomb, so that through it the soft earth and the dust are moistened.

وَثَنَاءً قَدَّمْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ نَجْ
وَايَ إِذْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَدَيَّ ثَرَاءُ

Wa-thanā’un qaddamtu bayna yaday najwāy
idh lam yakun ladayya tharā’u

And a tribute I have presented before my intimate discourse, since I possessed no other wealth.

مَا أَقَامَ الصَّلاَةَ مَنْ عَبَدَ اللَّ
هَ وَقَامَتْ بِرَبِّهَا الأَشْيَاءُ

Mā aqāma ṣ-ṣalāta man ʿabada llāha
wa-qāmat bi-rabbihā l-ashyā’u

No one has truly established prayer except the one who worshipped Allah while all things stood upright through their Lord.