أَمِنْ تَذَكُّرِ جِيرَانٍ بِذِي سَلَمِمَزَجْتَ دَمْعًا جَرَى مِنْ مُقْلَةٍ بِدَمِ

Is it from remembering neighbours at Dhū SalamThat you shed tears admixed with blood from your eyes?

أَمْ هَبَّتِ الرِّيحُ مِنْ تِلْقَاءِ كَاظِمَةٍوَأَوْمَضَ البَرْقُ فِي الظَّلْمَاءِ مِنْ إِضَمِ

Or because wind has blown from the direction of KāẓimaAnd lightning has flashed in the dark of Iḍam?

فَمَا لِعَيْنَيْكَ إِنْ قُلْتَ اكْفُفَا هَمَتَاوَمَا لِقَلْبِكَ إِنْ قُلْتَ اسْتَفِقْ يَهِمِ

So what ails your eyes that when you tell them ‘stop’, they continue to weep still more?And what ails your heart that when you bid it awake, it wanders further in distraction?

أَيَحْسَبُ الصَّبُّ أَنَّ الحُبَّ مُنْكَتِمٌمَا بَيْنَ مُنْسَجِمٍ مِنْهُ وَمُضْطَرِمِ

Does the lovelorn man think that love can be hiddenBehind a torrent from his [eyes], or a heart’s raging fire?

لَوْلاَ الهَوَى لَمْ تَرِقْ دَمْعًا عَلَى طَلَلٍوَلاَ أَرِقْتَ لِذِكْرِ البَانِ وَالْعَلَمِ

But for passion, you would not shed tears at an abandoned camp,Or lie awake at night recalling the fragrant willow or the mountain;

فَكَيْفَ تُنْكِرُ حُبًّا بَعْدَمَا شَهِدَتْبِهِ عَلَيْكَ عُدُولُ الدَّمْعِ وَالسَّقَمِ

So how can you deny this love when tears and sickness,truthful witnesses, have testified to it against you?

وَأَثْبَتَ الوَجْدُ خَطَّيْ عَبْرَةٍ وَضَنىًمِثْلَ البَهَارِ عَلَى خَدَّيْكَ وَالعَنَمِ

Lovesickness has etched two lines, of tears and gauntness,Upon your cheeks, like yellow spice and red ʿanam

نَعَمْ سَرَى طَيْفُ مَنْ أَهْوَى فَأَرَّقَنِيوَالحُبُّ يَعْتَرِضُ اللَّذَّاتِ بِالأَلَمِ

Yes, my beloved’s apparition came to me and denied me sleep,For love always opposes pleasures with pain!

يَا لاَئِمِي فِي الهَوَى العُذْرِيِّ مَعْذِرَةًمِنِّي إِلَيْكَ وَلَوْ أَنْصَفْتَ لَمْ تَلُمِ

O you who blame me for this chaste love, pardon me!But had you judged fairly, you would not have blamed me.

عَدَتْكَ حَالِي لاَ سِرِّي بِمُسْتَتِرٍعَنِ الْوُشَاةِ وَلاَ دَائِي بِمُنْحَسِمِ

May you be spared my condition! My secret cannot be concealedFrom detractors, nor is there any cure for my ailment!

مَحَّضْتَنِي النُصْحَ لَكِنْ لَسْتُ أَسْمَعُهُإِنَّ المُحِبَّ عَنْ العُذَّالِ فِي صَمَمِ

You have given me sincere advice, but I cannot hear it;A lover’s ears are deaf to the reproaches of critics.

إِنِّي اتَّهَمْتُ نَصِيحَ الشَّيْبِ فِي عَذَلِيوَالشَّيْبُ أَبْعَدُ فِي نُصْحِ عَنِ التُّهَمِ

I hold suspect even the advice of my own grey hairs,Even though their advice is far from deception.

فَإِنَّ أَمَّارَتِي بِالسُّوءِ مَا اتَّعَظَتْمِنْ جَهْلِهَا بِنَذِيرِ الشَّيْبِ وَالهَرَمِ

Because of its ignorance, my ill-commanding ego has paid no heedTo the warner of grey hair and approaching old age;

وَلاَ أَعَدَّتْ مِنَ الفِعْلِ الجَمِيلِ قِرَىضَيْفٍ أَلَمَّ بِرَأْسِي غَيْرَ مُحْتَشِمِ

Nor has it prepared good deeds in welcomeFor an unannounced guest who has settled on my head.

لَوْ كُنْتُ أَعْلَمُ أَنِّي مَا أُوَقِّرُهُكَتَمْتُ سِرًّا بَدَالِي مَنْهُ بِالكَتَمِ

Had I realised, I would not have honoured it;I would have used [black] katam-dye to hide what it showed

مَنْ لِي بِرَدِّ جِمَاحٍ مِنْ غَوَايَتِهَاكَمَا يُرَدُّ جِمَاحُ الخَيْلِ بِاللُّجُمِ

Who will help me restrain my bolting ego from its wilfulnessAs a rebellious horse may be restrained with reins?

فَلاَ تَرُمْ بِالمَعَاصِي كَسْرَ شَهْوَتِهَاإِنَّ الطَّعَامَ يُقَوِّي شَهْوَةَ النَّهِمِ

Do not try to thwart unlawful desires by satisfying them,For food only increases a glutton’s desires.

وَالنَّفْسُ كَالطِّفِلِ إِنْ تُهْمِلْهُ شَبَّ عَلَىحُبِّ الرَّضَاعِ وَإِنْ تَفْطِمْهُ يَنْفَطِمِ

The ego is like a child: neglect it and it will grow up lovingTo suckle; but if you wean it, it will be weaned.

فَاصْرِفْ هَوَاهَا وَحَاذِرْ أَنْ تُوَلِّيَهُإِنَّ الهَوَى مَا تَوَلَّى يُصْمِ أَوْ يَصِمِ

Divert its vain desires and beware of giving it power,For vain desires pollute or destroy whatever they control.

وَرَاعِهَا وَهِيَ فِي الأَعْمَالِ سَائِمَةٌوَإِنْ هِيَ اسْتَحْلَتِ المَرْعَى فَلاَ تُسِمِ

Guard it as it grazes in the field of actions;And should it find the grazing sweet, do not let it roam.

كَمْ حَسَّنَتْ لَذَّةً لِلْمَرْءِ قَاتِلَةًمِنْ حَيْثُ لَمْ يَدْرِ أَنَّ السُّمَّ فِي الدَّسَمِ

How often it has found delight in something fatal,For [one] cannot tell that there is poison in the fat!

وَاخْشَ الدَّسَائِسَ مِنْ جُوعٍ وَمِنْ شِبَعٍفَرُبَّ مَخْمَصَةٍ شَرُّ مِنَ التُّخَمِ

Beware of the snares of hunger and of satiety,being hungry at times can be worse than gorging oneself!

وَاسْتَفْرِغِ الدَّمْعَ مِنْ عَيْنٍ قَدِ امْتَلَأَتْمِنَ المَحَارِمِ وَالْزَمْ حِمْيَةَ النَّدَمِ

Empty out the tears from an eye that has filled itself upwith forbidden sights. Maintain a strict diet of remorse.

وَخَالِفِ النَّفْسَ وَالشَّيْطَانَ وَاعْصِهِمَاوَإِنْ هُمَا مَحَضَاكَ النُّصْحَ فَاتَّهِمِ

Oppose the self and Satan and disobey them;If they offer you advice, be suspicious of them.

وَلاَ تُطِعْ مِنْهُمَا خَصْمًا وَلاَ حَكَمًافَأَنْتَ تَعْرِفُ كَيْدَ الخَصْمِ وَالحَكَمِ

Obey neither of them, whether they oppose or give judgment,For you know the wiles of opponent and judge.

أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ مِنْ قَوْلٍ بِلاَ عَمَلٍلَقَدْ نَسَبْتُ بِهِ نَسْلاً لِذِي عُقُمِ

I seek Allah’s forgiveness for words bereft of deeds,As by them I attributed progeny to a sterile man.

أَمَرْتُكَ الخَيْرَ لَكِنْ مَا ائْتَمَرْتُ بِهِوَمَا اسْتَقَمْتُ فَمَا قَوْلِي لَكَ اسْتَقِمِ

I enjoined goodness upon you while failing to heed the same.I was not upright, so what use is my enjoining uprightness?

وَلاَ تَزَوَّدْتُ قَبْلَ المَوْتِ نَافِلَةًوَلَمْ أُصَلِّ سِوَى فَرْضٍ وَلَمْ أَصُمِ

I have not gathered provisions of voluntary prayers before death,or prayed and fasted beyond what is obligatory.

ظَلَمْتُ سُنَّةَ مَنْ أَحْيَا الظَّلاَمَ إِلَىأَنِ اشْتَكَتْ قَدَمَاهُ الضُّرَّ مِنْ وَرَمِ

I have wronged the Sunna of him who enlivened the dark nightsBy praying till his feet complained of painful swelling.

وَشَدَّ مِنْ سَغَبٍ أَحْشَاءَهُ وَطَوَىتَحْتَ الحِجَارَةِ كَشْحًا مُتْرَفَ الأَدَمِ

He placed a stone over his belly and soft skin,Tightening a belt over it to diminish the hunger pangs.

وَرَاوَدَتْهُ الجِبَالُ الشُّمُّ مِنْ ذَهَبٍعَنْ نَفْسِهِ فَأَرَاهَا أَيَّمَا شَمَمِ

Lofty mountains tried, to tempt him with turning to gold,But he showed them the height of his own loftiness!

وَأَكَّدَتْ زُهْدَهُ فِيهَا ضَرُورَتُهُإِنَّ الضَّرُورَةَ لاَ تَعْدُو عَلَى العِصَمِ

His dire neediness only strengthened his detachment;neediness like his never leads to transgression.

وَكَيْفَ تَدْعُو إِلَى الدُّنْيَا ضَرُورَةُ مَنْلَوْلاَهُ لَمْ تُخْرَجِ الدُّنْيَا مِنَ العَدَمِ

How could need tempt him with worldliness, when but for himThe world would not have emerged from non-existence?

مُحَمَّدٌ سَيِّدُ الكَوْنَيْنِ وَالثَّقَلَيْــنِ وَالفَرِيقَيْنِ مِنْ عُرْبٍ وَمِنْ عَجَمِ

Muhammad is the master of both abodes, of both kinds,And both classes [of people]: Arabs and non-Arabs.

نَبِيُّنَا الآمِرُ النَّاهِي فَلاَ أَحَدٌأَبَرَّ فِي قَوْلِ لاَ مِنْهُ وَلاَ نَعَمِ

Our Prophet, who commands and who forbids;None is more true than him in saying “yes” or “no”.

هُوَ الحَبِيبُ الذِّي تُرْجَى شَفَاعَتُهُلِكُلِّ هَوْلٍ مِنَ الأَهْوَالِ مُقْتَحَمِ

He is the Beloved whose intercession is hoped for,Victorious over every terror and disaster.

دَعَا إِلَى اللهِ فَالْمُسْتَمْسِكُونَ بِهِمُسْتَمْسِكُونَ بِحَبْلٍ غَيْرِ مُنْفَصِمِ

He called [people] to Allah, so those who hold fast to himAre holding fast to a rope that never shall break.

فَاقَ النَّبِيِّينَ فِي خَلْقٍ وَفِي خُلُقٍوَلَمْ يُدَانُوهُ فِي عِلْمٍ وَلاَ كَرَمِ

He excelled the other Prophets in form and qualities;Their knowledge and nobility did not come near his.

وَكُلُّهُمْ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ مُلْتَمِسٌغَرْفًا مِنَ البَحْرِ أَوْ رَشْفًا مِنَ الدِّيَمِ

They all seek something from Allah’s Emissary –handfuls from the sea, or small sips of drizzle.

وَوَاقِفُونَ لَدَيْهِ عِنْدَ حَدِّهِمِمِنْ نُقْطَةِ العِلْمِ أَوْ مِنْ شَكْلَةِ الحِكَمِ

They all stand before him, observing their limits;Dots to his knowledge, or vowel-marks to his wisdom.

فَهْوَ الذِّي تَمَّ مَعْنَاهُ وَصُورَتُهُثُمَّ اصْطَفَاهُ حَبِيبًا بَارِئُ النَّسَمِ

It is he whose meaning and form attained perfectionThen the Maker of Souls chose him for His beloved.

مُنَزَّهٌ عَنْ شَرِيكٍ فِي مَحَاسِنِهِفَجَوْهَرُ الحُسْنِ فِيهِ غَيْرُ مُنْقَسِمِ

Exalted above having a rival in his perfections;In him is the undivided essence of beauty.

دَعْ مَا ادَّعَتْهُ النَّصَارَى فِي نَبِيِّهِمِوَاحْكُمْ بِمَا شِئْتَ مَدْحًا فِيهِ وَاحْتَكِمِ

Eschew the claim Christians have made for their Prophet.Then say in his praise what you will, but wisely!

وَانْسُبْ إِلَى ذَاتِهِ مَا شِئْتَ مِنْ شَرَفٍوَانْسُبْ إِلَى قَدْرِهِ مَا شِئْتَ مِنْ عِظَمِ

Ascribe whatever honour you will to his essence,And ascribe what greatness you will to his worth;

فَإِنَّ فَضْلَ رَسُولِ اللهِ لَيْسَ لَهُحَدٌّ فَيُعْرِبَ عَنْهُ نَاطِقٌ بِفَمِ

For the worth of Allah’s Emissary has no limitThat could be expressed by a human mouth.

لَوْ نَاسَبَتْ قَدْرَهُ آيَاتُهُ عِظَمًاأَحْيَا اسْمُهُ حِينَ يُدْعَى دَارِسَ الرِّمَمِ

If his miracles were commensurate with his greatness,The mere mention of his name would give life to dry bones.

لَمْ يَمْتَحِنَّا بِمَا تَعْيَا الْعُقُولُ بِهِحِرْصًا عَلَيْنَا فَلَمْ نَرْتَبْ وَلَمْ نَهِمْ

He did not try us with things that confound the mindOut of concern for us, so we neither doubted nor strayed.

أَعْيَا الوَرَى فَهْمُ مَعْنَاهُ فَلَيْسَ يُرَىفِي القُرْبِ وَالْبُعْدِ فِيهِ غَيْرُ مُنْفَحِمِ

Man’s mind is exhausted trying to understand his meaning;All of them, near or far, appear as if dumbstruck.

كَالشَّمْسِ تَظْهَرُ لِلْعَيْنَيْنِ مِنْ بُعُدٍصَغِيرَةً وَتُكِلُّ الطَّرْفَ مِنْ أَمَمِ

He is like the sun: small to the eye when seen from afar,But dazzling to the sight when seen close up.

وَكَيْفَ يُدْرِكُ فِي الدُّنْيَا حَقِيقَتَهُقَوْمٌ نِيَامٌ تَسَلَّوْا عَنْهُ بِالحُلُمِ

How can his reality be grasped in this worldBy sleeping folk, distracted from him by dreams?

فَمَبْلَغُ العِلْمِ فِيهِ أَنَّهُ بَشَرٌوَأَنَّهُ خَيْرُ خَلْقِ اللهِ كُلِّهِمِ

The extent of our knowledge is that he is a mortal –And that he is the best of Allah’s creation!

وَكُلُّ آيٍ أَتَى الرُّسْلُ الكِرَامُ بِهَافَإِنَّمَا اتَّصَلَتْ مِنْ نُوِرِهِ بِهِمِ

Every miracle produced by the noble EmissariesCame to them by virtue of his light alone

فَإِنَّهُ شَمْسُ فَضْلٍ هُمْ كَوَاكِبُهَايُظْهِرْنَ أَنْوَارَهاَ لِلنَّاسِ فِي الظُّلَمِ

For he is the sun of virtue, and they are its planets;They display its lights to mankind in the darkness.

أَكْرِمْ بِخَلْقِ نَبِيٍ زَانَهُ خُلُقٌبِالحُسْنِ مُشْتَمِلٍ بِالبِشْرِ مُتَّسِمِ

How noble the qualities of a Prophet beautified by such traits:Full of beauty, and marked by smiles and good cheer!

كَالزَّهْرِ فِي تَرَفٍ وَالبَدْرِ فِي شَرَفٍوَالبَحْرِ فِي كَرَمٍ وَالدَّهْرِ فِي هِمَمِ

Like flowers in delicate beauty, like the full moon in honour;like the sea in generosity, like time in persistence.

كَأَنَّه وَهْوَ فَرْدٌ مِنْ جَلاَلَتِهِفِي عَسْكَرٍ حِينَ تَلْقَاهُ وَفِي حَشَمِ

So majestic was his presence that even when alonehe appeared surrounded by a large army and retinue.

كَأَنَّمَا اللُّؤْلُؤْ المَكْنُونُ فِي صَدَفٍمِنْ مَعْدِنَيْ مَنْطِقٍ مِنْهُ وَمُبْتَسِمِ

It is as if precious hidden pearls, sparkling from their shells,came from the treasure-mine of his speech and smile.

لاَ طِيبَ يَعْدِلُ تُرْبًا ضَمَّ أَعْظُمَهُطُوبىَ لِمُنْتَشِقٍ مِنْهُ وَمُلْتَثِمِ

No perfume can match the ground that holds his bones.Blessed are those who breathe in its fragrance or kiss it!

أَبَانَ مَوْلِدُهُ عَنْ طِيبِ عُنْصُرِهِيَا طِيبَ مُبْتَدَإٍ مِنْهُ وَمُخْتَتَمِ

His birth made the purity of his pedigree evident;O how pure were his beginning and his end!

يَوْمٌ تَفَرَّسَ فِيهِ الفُرْسُ أَنَّهُمُقَدْ أُنْذِرُوا بِحُلُولِ البُؤْسِ وَالنِّقَمِ

On that day the Persians intuited that theyHad been warned of looming misery and retribution.

وَبَاتَ إِيوَانُ كِسْرَى وَهُوَ مُنْصَدِعٌكَشَمْلِ أَصْحَابِ كِسْرَى غَيْرَ مُلْتَئِمِ

That night the throne room of Khusraw became cracked,Khusraw’s people, too, crumbled, never to be restored.

وَالنَّارُ خَامِدَةُ الأَنْفَاسِ مِنْ أَسَفٍعَلَيْهِ وَالنَّهْرُ سَاهِي العَيْنِ مِنْ سَدَمِ

The sacred fire, grief-stricken, breathed its last,And the river [Euphrates] dried up out of worry.

وَسَاءَ سَاوَةَ أَنْ غَاضَتْ بُحَيْرَتُهَاوَرُدَّ وَارِدُهَا بِالغَيْظِ حِينَ ظَمِي

Sāʾa was saddened by its lake drying up;the thirsty who went to drink there came back in a rage!

كَأَنَّ بِالنَّارِ مَا بِالمَاءِ مِنْ بَلَلٍحُزْنًا وَبِالمَاءِ مَا بِالنَّارِ مِنْ ضَرَمِ

As if the fire, from sorrow, took on the water’s wetnessAnd water assumed the fire’s quality of blazing.

وَالجِنُّ تَهْتِفُ وَالأَنْوَارُ سَاطِعَةٌوَالحَّقُ يَظْهَرُ مِنْ مَعْنىً وَمِنْ كَلِمِ

There were jinn calling out, and dazzling lightsAs truth was manifested in both word and reality.

عَمُوا وَصَمُّوا فَإِعْلاَنُ البَشَائِرِ لَمْيُسْمَعْ وَبَارِقَةُ الإِنْذَارِ لَمْ تُشَمِ

They were blind and deaf, so the glad tidings proclaimedWent unheard, and the warning lightning-flash was not seen.

مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا أَخْبَرَ الأَقْوَامَ كَاهِنُهُمْبِأَنَّ دِينَهُمُ المُعْوَجَّ لَمْ يَقُمِ

Even after the soothsayers had informed their peoplesThat their crooked religion would not endure,

وَبَعْدَمَا عَايَنُوا فِي الأُفْقِ مِنْ شُهُبٍمُنْقَضَّةٍ وَفْقَ مَا فِي الأَرْضِ مِنْ صَنَمِ

And even after their eyes saw meteors on the horizonPlunging downwards, as idols were toppled on earth;

حَتَّى غَدَا عَنْ طَرِيقِ الْوَحِْي مُنْهَزِمٌمِنَ الشَّيَاطِينِ يَقْفُوا إِثْرَ مُنْهَزِمِ

Until devils, routed, from the path of revelation,Fled in the wake of those who had been overpowered.

كَأَنَّهُمْ هَرَبًا أَبْطَالُ أَبْرَهَةٍأَوْ عَسْكَرٍ بِالحَصَى مِنْ رَاحَتَيْهِ رُمِي

Fleeing like the brave warriors of AbrahaOr the army pelted by pebbles thrown by his hand,

نَبْذًا بِهِ بَعْدَ تَسْبِيحٍ بِبَطْنِهِمَانَبْذَ المُسَبِّحِ مِنْ أَحْشَاءِ مُلْتَقِمِ

Cast by him after glorifying Allah in the palm of his hand,As he who glorified his Lord was cast from the whale.

جَاءَتْ لِدَعْوَتِهِ الأَشْجَارُ سَاجِدَةًتَمْشِي إِلَيْهِ عَلَى سَاقٍ بِلاَ قَدَمِ

Trees came prostrating to him when he called,Walking towards him on trunks without feet

كَأَنَّمَا سَطَرَتْ سَطْرًا لِمَا كَتَبَتْفُرُوعُهَا مِنْ بَدِيعِ الْخَطِّ بِاللَّقَمِ

As though they had inscribed lines of splendid calligraphyWith their branches along the path.

مِثْلَ الغَمَامَةِ أَنَّى سَارَ سَائِرَةًتَقِيهِ حَرَّ وَطِيسٍ لِلْهَجِيرِ حَمِي

Like the cloud that hovered over him wherever he went,Shielding him from the intense oven of the midday heat.

أَقْسَمْتُ بِالْقَمَرِ المُنْشَقِّ إِنَّ لَهُمِنْ قَلْبِهِ نِسْبَةً مَبْرُورَةَ القَسَمِ

I swear by the [Lord of the] moon that was split in twoa true oath: it has truly a connection with his heart.

وَمَا حَوَى الغَارُ مِنْ خَيْرٍ وَمِنْ كَرَمِوَكُلُّ طَرْفٍ مِنَ الكُفَّارِ عَنْهُ عَمِي

And by the goodness and nobility contained in the caveWhile the disbelievers’ every glance was blind to him.

فَالصِّدْقُ فِي الغَارِ وَالصِّدِّيقُ لَمْ يَرِمَاوَهُمْ يَقُولُونَ مَا بِالْغَارِ مِنْ أَرِمِ

Truthfulness and the True One in the cave wavered notWhile they said ‘No one who breathes is in the cave!’

ظَنُّوا الحَمَامَ وَظَنُّوا الْعَنْكَبُوتَ عَلَىخَيْرِ الْبَرِيَّةِ لَمْ تَنْسُجْ وَلَمْ تَحُمِ

They supposed that a dove would never perch,Or a spider would spin its web, for the Best of Creation

وِقَايَةُ اللهِ أَغْنَتْ عَنْ مُضَاعَفَةٍمِنَ الدُّرُوعِ وَعَنْ عَالٍ مِنَ الأُطُمِ

Their protection by Allah absolved them of needfor additional armour or for lofty fortresses.

مَا سَامَنِي الدَّهْرُ ضَيْمًا وَاسْتَجَرْتُ بِهِإِلاَّ وَنِلْتُ جِوَارًا مِنْهُ لَمْ يُضَمِ

Never, when fate oppressed me, have I sought refuge in himbut that I found sanctuary with him and was oppressed no more.

وَلاَ الْتَمَسْتُ غِنَى الدَّارَيْنِ مِنْ يَدِهِإِلاَّ اسْتَلَمْتُ النَّدَى مِنْ خَيْرِ مُسْتَلَمِ

And never have I sought wealth in both worlds from his handWithout receiving largesse from the best of givers.

لاَ تُنْكِرِ الْوَحْيَ مِنْ رُؤْيَاهُ إِنَّ لَهُقَلْبًا إِذَا نَامَتِ العَيْنَانِ لَمْ يَنَمِ

Do not deny the revelations he received in his dreams;For though his eyes slept, he had a heart that slept not.

وَذَاكَ حِينَ بُلُوغٍ مِنْ نُبَوَّتِهِفَلَيْسَ يُنْكَرُ فِيهِ حَالُ مُحْتَلِمِ

That was when he attained his Prophetic status;the night dreams of mature men cannot be denied!

تَبَارَكَ اللهُ مَا وَحَيٌ بِمُكْتَسَبٍوَلاَ نَبيُّ عَلَى غَيْبٍ بِمُتَّهَمِ

Blessed is Allah! Revelation is not something acquired!Nor can a Prophet’s knowledge of the Unseen be deemed suspect.

كَمْ أَبْرَأَتْ وَصِبًا بِاللَّمْسِ رَاحَتُهُوَأَطْلَقَتْ أَرِبًا مِنْ رِبْقَةِ اللَّمَمِ

How many sick people were healed by the touch of his hand;how many released from the tight knots of madness!

وَأَحْيَتِ السَّنَةَ الشَّهْبَاءَ دَعْوَتُهُحَتَّى حَكَتْ غُرَّةً فِي الأَعْصُرِ الدُّهُمِ

His supplication brought life to a grey year [of drought] –Marked it out from dark years like [a horse’s] white blaze.

بِعَارضٍ جَادَ أَوْ خِلْتَ البِطَاحَ بِهَاسَيْبًا مِنَ اليَمِّ أَوْ سَيْلاً مِنَ العَرِمِ

With generous rainclouds, so much that you would have thoughtThat the valleys flowed with sea water or the flood of ʿArim.

دَعْنِي وَوَصْفِي آيَاتٍ لَهُ ظَهَرَتْظُهُورَ نَارِ القِرَى لَيْلاً عَلَى عَلَمِ

Let me describe to you the signs that were manifested for him,Visible like the village beacons lit atop hills at night.

فَالدُّرُّ يَزْدَادُ حُسْنًا وَهْوَ مُنْتَظِمٌوَلَيْسَ يَنْقُصُ قَدْرًا غَيْرَ مُنْتَظِمِ

Though a pearl is more lovely when strung [with others],Its value is not diminished when alone and unstrung.

فَمَا تَطَاوُلُ آمَالِ المَديحِ إِلَىمَا فِيهِ مِنْ كَرَمِ الأَخْلاَقِ وَالشِّيَمِ

To what hope can the giver of praise aspireOf doing justice to his noble qualities and traits?

آيَاتُ حَقٍّ مِنَ الرَّحْمَانِ مُحْدَثَةٌقَدِيمَةٌ صِفَةُ المَوْصُوفِ بِالقِدَمِ

Signs of truth from the All-Merciful—revealed within timeYet pre-eternal; the attribute of Him who is pre-eternal.

لَمْ تَقْتَرِنْ بِزَمِانٍ وَهْيَ تُخْبِرُنَاعَنْ المَعَادِ وَعَنْ عَادٍ وَعَنْ إِرَمِ

They are not connected with time, yet they inform usAbout the Resurrection, and about ʿĪd and Iram.

دَامَتْ لَدَيْنَا فَفَاقَتْ كُلَّ مُعْجِزَةٍمِنَ النَّبِيِّينَ إِذْ جَاءَتْ وَلَمْ تَدُمِ

They remained with us, thus surpassing every miracleOf the other Prophets, which came but did not last.

مُحْكَّمَاتٌ فَمَا تُبْقِيْنَ مِنْ شُبَهٍلِذِي شِقَاقٍ وَمَا تَبْغِيْنَ مِنْ حَكَمِ

Unequivocal verses leaving no doubt to remainin dissenters, and requiring no arbiter.

مَا حُورِبَتْ قَطُّ إِلاَّ عَادَ مِنْ حَرَبٍأَعْدَى الأَعَادِي إِلَيْهَا مُلْقِيَ السَّلَمِ

No implacable foe has attacked themBut that he retreated from battle and sued for peace.

رَدَّتْ بَلاَغَتُهَا دَعْوَى مُعَارِضِهَارَدَّ الغَيُورِ يَدَ الجَانِي عَنِ الْحُرَمِ

Their sheer eloquence refutes the claim of their opponent,As a jealous man wards off an assailant’s hand from his wife.

لَهَا مَعَانٍ كَمَوْجِ البَحْرِ فِي مَدَدٍوَفَوْقَ جَوْهَرِهِ فِي الْحُسْنِ وَالقِيَمِ

They contain meanings like the sea’s bountiful waves,And surpass the sea’s jewels in beauty and value.

فَمَا تُعَدُّ وَلاَ تُحْصَى عَجَائِبُهَاوَلاَ تُسَامُ عَلَى الإِكْثَارِ بِالسَّأَمِ

Their marvels can neither be counted nor numbered,And frequent repetition never gives rise to tedium.

قَرَّتْ بِهَا عَيْنُ قَارِيْهَا فَقُلْتُ لَهُلَقَدْ ظَفِرْتَ بِحَبْلِ اللهِ فَاعْتَصِمِ

They delighted the one who recited them, so I told him,‘You have the Rope of Allah, so hold fast to it!’

إِنْ تَتْلُهَا خِيفَةً مِنْ حَرَّ نَارِ لَظَىأَطْفَأْتَ حَرِّ لَظَىَ مِنْ وِرْدِهَا الشَّبِمِ

If you recite them out of fear of a blazing fire’s heatfrom their cool wells they will quench the blazing heat

كَأَنَّهَا الحَوْضُ تَبْيَضُّ الوُجُوهُ بِهِمِنَ العُصَاةِ وَقَدْ جَاءُوهُ كَالحُمَمِ

Like the Pool, they brighten the faces of the sinful,Though they had come to it as black as charcoal.

وَكَالصِّرَاطِ وَكَالمِيزَانِ مَعْدِلَةًفَالقِسْطُ مِنْ غَيْرِهَا فِي النَّاسِ لَمْ يَقُمِ

Like the Traverse and like Scales in justice;True justice amongst men cannot be upheld from any other source.

لاَ تَعْجَبَنْ لِحَسُودٍ رَاحَ يُنْكِرُهَاتَجَاهُلاً وَهْوَ عَيْنُ الحَاذِقِ الفَهِمِ

Do not be amazed at an envious person who denies themFeigning ignorance, though he has perception and understanding.

قَدْ تُنْكِرُ الْعَيْنُ ضَوْءَ الشَّمْسِ مِنْ رَمَدٍوَيُنْكِرُ الفَمُ طَعْمَ المَاءِ مِنْ سَقَمِ

For the eye, when inflamed, may be averse to the sun’s light;And the mouth, when ailing, may loathe water’s taste.

يَا خَيْرَ مَنْ يَمَّمَ العّافُونَ سَاحَتَهُسَعْيًا وَفَوْقَ مُتُونِ الأَيْنُقِ الرُّسُمِ

O best of those to whose courtyard seekers turn toHastening on foot or the backs of strong camels!

وَمَنْ هُوَ الآيَةُ الكُبْرَى لِمُعْتَبِرٍوَمَنْ هُوَ النِّعْمَةُ العُظْمَى لِمُغْتَنِمِ

O Greatest Sign for those who contemplate!O Supreme Grace for those who seek to gain!

سَرَيْتَ مِنْ حَرَمٍ لَيْلاً إِلَى حَرَمٍكَمَا سَرَى البَدْرُ فِي دَاجٍ مِنَ الظُّلَمِ

You journeyed by night, from Sanctuary to Sanctuaryas the full moon travels through the pitch black sky.

وَبِتَّ تَرْقَى إِلَى أَنْ نِلْتَ مَنْزِلَةًمِنْ قَابِ قَوْسَيْنِ لَمْ تُدْرَكْ وَلَمْ تُرَمِ

That night you ascended till you reached a stationOf Two Bows’ Length—one never attained or hoped for!

وَقَدَّمَتْكَ جَمِيعُ الأَنْبِيَاءِ بِهَاوَالرُّسْلِ تَقْدِيمَ مَخْدُومٍ عَلَى خَدَمِ

There all the Prophets and Emissaries gave you precedence,As a master is given precedence by those who serve him.

وَأَنْتَ تَخْتَرِقُ السَّبْعَ الطِّبَاقَ بِهِمْفِي مَوْكِبٍ كُنْتَ فِيهِ الصَّاحِبَ العَلَمِ

You traversed the seven heavens with them [behind you]In a procession wherein you were the standard-bearer.

حَتَّى إِذَا لَمْ تَدَعْ شَأْوًا لِمُسْتَبِقٍمِنَ الدُّنُوِّ وَلاَ مَرْقَى لِمُسْتَنِمِ

Until your proximity left no space for the avid seeker,Nor any higher summit for one seeking elevation.

خَفَضْتَ كُلَّ مَقَامٍ بِالإِضَافَةٍ إِذْنُودِيْتَ بِالرَّفْعِ مِثْلَ المُفْرَدِ العَلَمِ

You surpassed all other stations in comparisonWhen acclaimed on high as ‘The Matchless and Eminent’–

كَيْمَا تَفُوزَ بِوَصْلٍ أَيِّ مُسْتَتِرٍعَنْ العُيُونِ وَسِرٍّ أَيِّ مُكْتَتَمِ

So that you might triumph through a tryst hiddenFrom sight. How hidden a secret that was!

فَحُزْتَ كُلَّ فَخَارٍ غَيْرَ مُشْتَرَكٍوَجُزْتَ كُلَّ مَقَامٍ غَيْرَ مُزْدَحَمِ

So you received every glory without rivalAnd gained every station alone, unbeset.

وَجَلَّ مِقْدَارُ مَا وُلِّيتَ مِنْ رُتَبٍوَعَزَّ إِدْرَاكُ مَا أُولِيْتَ مِنْ نِعَمِ

How glorious is the worth of the ranks you were givenHow difficult it is to grasp the graces conferred!

بُشْرَى لَنَا مَعْشَرَ الإِسْلَامِ إِنَّ لَنَامِنَ العِنَايَةِ رُكْنًا غَيْرَ مُنْهَدِمِ

Glad tidings for us, O people of Islam,For we have an indestructible pillar of divine care.

لَمَّا دَعَا اللهُ دَاعِينَا لِطَاعَتِهِبِأَكْرَمِ الرُّسْلِ كُنَّا أَكْرَمَ الأُمَمِ

When Allah named the one who called us to obey HimThe Noblest of Emissaries, we became the noblest of nations!

رَاعَتْ قُلُوبَ الْعِدَا أَنْبَاءُ بِعْثَتِهِكَنَبْأَةٍ أَجْفَلَتْ غُفْلاً مِنَ الْغَنَمِ

The news of his being sent had cast fear into the hearts of foesas heedless sheep are startled by sudden noise.

مَا زَالَ يَلْقَاهُمُ فِي كُلِّ مُعْتَرَكٍحَتَّى حَكَوْا بِالْقَنَا لَحْمًا عَلَى وَضَمِ

He continued to meet them on every battlegroundUntil spears cut them, like meat on a butcher’s block.

وَدُّوا الفِرَارَ فَكَادُوا يَغْبِطُونَ بِهِأَشْلاَءَ شَالَتْ مَعَ الْعِقْبَانِ وَالرَّخَمِ

They longed to flee, almost jealous ofThe dead flesh carried off by hawks and vultures.

تَمْضِي اللَّيَالِي وَلاَ يَدْرُونَ عِدَّتَهَامَا لَمْ تَكُنْ مِنْ لَيَالِي الأَشْهُرِ الْحُرُمِ

The nights passed with them unaware of their number,Apart from the nights of the Sacred Months.

كَأَنَّمَا الدِّينُ ضَيْفٌ حَلَّ سَاحَتَهُمْبِكُلِّ قَرْمٍ إِلَى لَحْمِ العِدَا قَرِمِ

As if the religion were a guest that had arrived at their courtyard,With every honoured chieftain eager for the flesh of their foes.

يَجُرُّ بَحْرَ خَمِيسٍ فَوْقَ سَابِحَةٍيَرْمِى بِمَوْجٍ مِنَ الأَبْطَالِ مُلْتَطِمِ

Bringing forth a sea of soldiers on swift steeds,Tossing wave upon wave of onrushing heroes.

مِنْ كُلِّ مُنْتَدَبٍ لِلهِ مُحْتَسِبٍيَسْطُو بِمُسْتَأْصِلٍ لِلكُفْرِ مُصْطَلِمِ

All responding to Allah’s call and anticipating reward,Boldly charging on, and uprooting disbelief.

حَتىَّ غَدَتْ مِلَّةُ الإِسْلاَمِ وَهْيَ بِهِمْمِنْ بَعْدِ غُرْبَتِهَا مَوْصُولَةَ الرَّحِمِ

Until the religion of Islam was, through them,Reunited in kinship after being in exile.

مَكْفُولَةً أَبَدًا مِنْهُمْ بِخَيْرِ أَبٍوَخَيْرِ بَعْلٍ فَلَمْ تَيْتَمْ وَلَمْ تَئِمِ

Forever protected from [foes] by the best of fathers and husbands,So that she was no longer an orphan or a widow.

هُمُ الجِبَالُ فَسَلْ عَنْهُمْ مُصَادِمَهُمْمَاذَا رَأَى مِنْهُمُ فِي كُلِّ مُصْطَدَمِ

They were mountains! Ask those who came to blows with themWhat they saw from them on every field of battle.

وَسَلْ حُنَيْنًا وَسَلْ بَدْرًا وَسَلْ أُحُدًافُصُولَ حَتْفٍ لَهُمْ أَدْهَى مِنَ الوَخَمِ

Ask Ḥunayn, ask Badr, ask Uḥud—Seasons of death, more disastrous for them than the plague!

المُصْدِرِي البِيضِ حُمْرًا بَعْدَ مَا وَرَدَتْمِنَ العِدَا كُلَّ مُسْوَدٍّ مِنَ اللِّمَمِ

White swords returned, dripping red after taking drinkFrom beneath the black heads of all their enemies.

وَالكَاتِبِينَ بِسُمْرِ الخَطِّ مَا تَرَكَتْأَقْلاَمُهُمْ حَرْفَ جِسْمٍ غَيْرَ مُنْعَجِمِ

Like scribes with wielded spears for pens,Leaving no letter of a body unmarked with dots.

شَاكِي السِّلاَحِ لَهُمْ سِيمَا تُمَيِّزُهُمْوَالوَرْدُ يَمْتَازُ بِالسِّيمَا عَنِ السَّلَمِ

Well-armed, they were distinguished by a clear sign,as a rose differs from an acacia tree in its features.

تُهْدِي إِلَيْكَ رِيَاحُ النَّصْرِ نَشْرَهُمُفَتَحْسَبُ الزَّهْرَ فِي الأَكْمَامِ كُلَّ كَمِي

The winds of victory bring you their scent as a gift;You would think each armed hero a flower in bud!

كَأَنَّهُمْ فِي ظُهُورِ الخَيْلِ نَبْتُ رُبًامِنْ شِدَّةِ الحَزْمِ لاَ مِنْ شِدَّةِ الحُزُمِ

As if, riding their steeds, they were flowers on a hill-topHeld firm not by strong stirrups, but by strength of resolve.

طَارَتْ قُلُوبُ العِدَا مِنْ بَأْسِهِمْ فَرَقًافَمَا تُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ البَهْمِ وَالبُهُمِ

Their forceful onslaught so put their foes’ hearts to flightthat you could not have told a herd from a warrior.

وَمَنْ تَكُنْ بِرَسُولِ اللهِ نُصْرَتُهُإِنْ تَلْقَهُ الأُسْدُ فِي آجَامِهَا تَجِمِ

For the one whose help comes from the Emissary of AllahEven lions finding him in their dens will be loth to face him.

وَلَنْ تَرَى مِنْ وَليٍّ غَيْرِ مُنْتَصِرٍبِهِ وَلاَ مِنْ عَدُوٍّ غَيْرِ مُنْقَصِمِ

You will not see one saint who is not victorious through him;Or a single foe of his who is not dealt mortal blows.

أَحَلَّ أُمَّتَهُ فِي حِرْزِ مِلَّتِهِكَاللَّيْثِ حَلَّ مَعَ الأَشْبَالِ فِي أَجَمِ

He gave his nation sanctuary in the stronghold of his faith,As a lion settles in with its cubs in a thicket.

كَمْ جَدَّلَتْ كَلِمَاتُ اللهِ مِنْ جَدَلٍفِيهِ وَكَمْ خَصَمَ البُرْهَانُ مِنْ خَصِمِ

How often have Allah’s words felled his opponents,And how often the Qur’an has defeated its enemies!

كَفَاكَ بِالْعِلْمِ فِي الأُمِّيِّ مُعْجِزَةًفِي الجَاهِلِيَّةِ وَالتَّأْدِيبِ فِي اليُتُمِ

The erudition of an unlettered one is miracle enoughin an Age of Ignorance, as is an orphan’s education.

خَدَمْتُهُ بِمَدِيحٍ أَسْتَقِيلُ بِهِذُنُوبَ عُمْرٍ مَضَى فِي الشِّعْرِ وَالخِدَمِ

By this eulogy I have served him, seeking absolutionFor the sins of a life spent in poetry and patronage.

إِذْ قَلَّدَانِيَ مَا تُخْشَى عَوَاقِبُهُكَأَنَّنِي بِهِمَا هَدْىٌ مِنَ النَّعَمِ

For these two have yoked me, with consequences I fear;as if I were, on their account, a ritual lamb for slaughter.

أَطَعْتُ غَيَّ الصِّبَا فِي الحَالَتَيْنِ وَمَاحَصَلْتُ إِلاَّ عَلَى الآثَامِ وَالنَّدَمِ

In both I obeyed the reckless folly of youth,And gained nothing except sins and regrets.

فَيَا خَسَارَةَ نَفْسٍ فِي تِجَارَتِهَالَمْ تَشْتَرِ الدِّينَ بِالدُّنْيَا وَلَمْ تَسُمِ

Alas, what abject loss for a soul in its transaction!It did not buy the Next World at the price of this – or even try to!

وَمَنْ يَبِعْ آجِلاً مِنْهُ بِعَاجِلِهِيَبِنْ لَهُ الْغَبْنُ فِي بَيْعٍ وَفِي سَلَمِ

Anyone who sells the Hereafter for the ephemeralWill be cheated in their present and future transactions.

إِنْ آتِ ذَنْبًا فَمَا عَهْدِي بِمُنْتَقِضٍمَنَ النَّبِيِّ وَلاَ حَبْلِي بِمُنْصَرِمِ

I have sinned, yet my pledge to the Prophet is unbroken;Nor has the rope binding me to him been severed.

فَإِنَّ لِي ذِمَّةً مِنْهُ بِتَسْمِيَتِيمُحَمَّداً وَهْوَ أَوْفَى الخَلْقِ بِالذِّمَمِ

For I have a protective covenant with him owing to my name—Muḥammad—and he is the most loyal of mankind to covenants.

إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي مَعَادِي آخِذًا بِيَدِيفَضْلاً وَإِلاَّ فَقُلْ يَا زَلَّةَ القَدَمِ

If, in the Hereafter, he does not take me by the handFrom pure grace, what a terrible slip of the foot!

حَاشَاهُ أَنْ يَحْرِمَ الرَّاجِي مَكَارِمَهُأَوْ يَرْجِعَ الجَارُ مِنْهُ غَيْرَ مُحْتَرَمِ

Far be it for him to deprive one hopeful of his generous gifts,Or for a neighbour to turn back without being honoured by him!

وَمُنْذُ أَلْزَمْتُ أَفْكَارِي مَدَائِحَهُوَجَدْتُهُ لِخَلاَصِي خَيْرَ مُلْتَزِمِ

Ever since I have focused my thoughts on his praises,I have found him the one most committed to my salvation.

وَلَنْ يَفُوتَ الغِنَى مِنْهُ يَدًا تَرِبَتْإِنَّ الحَيَا يُنْبِتَ الأَزْهَارَ فِي الأَكَمِ

His wealth will not overlook a dusty, needy hand;For showers cause flowers to bloom on hill-tops.

وَلَمْ أُرِدْ زَهْرَةَ الدُّنْيَا الَّتِي اقْتَطَفَتْيَدَا زُهَيْرٍ بِمَا أَثْنَى عَلَى هَرِمِ

I sought not the flowers of this worldWhich Zuhayr picked for his praise of Harim.

يَا أَكْرَمَ الخَلْقِ مَالَي مَنْ أَلُوذُ بِهِسِوَاكَ عِنْدَ حُلُولِ الحَادِثِ العَمِمِ

O Noblest of Creation, whose protection can I seekBut yours, when the Universal Event comes to pass?

وَلَنْ يَضِيقَ رَسُولَ اللهِ جَاهُكَ بِيإِذَا الكَرِيمُ تَجَلَّى بِاسْمِ مُنْتَقِمِ

O Emissary of Allah, your rank will not be diminishedBy me when the Generous One appears, named as the Avenger.

فَإِنَّ مِنْ جُودِكَ الدُّنْيَا وَضَرَّتَهَاوَمِنْ عُلُومِكَ عِلْمَ اللَّوْحِ وَالقَلَمِ

For this world and its companion the Next come from your bounty,And part of what you know is knowledge of the Tablet and Pen.

يَا نَفْسُ لاَ تَقْنَطِي مِنْ زَلَّةٍ عَظُمَتْإَنَّ الكَبَائِرَ فِي الغُفْرَانِ كَاللَّمَمِ

O soul, despair not over a fault that is immense;Enormities, with divine forgiveness, are like minor errors.

لَعَلَّ رَحْمَةَ رَبِّي حِينَ يَقْسِمُهَاتَأْتِي عَلَى حَسَبِ العِصْيَانِ فِي الْقِسَمِ

Perchance my Lord’s mercy, when He apportions it,Will be distributed in accordance with the measure of sins.

يَا رَبِّ وَاجْعَلْ رَجَائِي غَيْرَ مُنْعَكِسٍلَدَيْكَ وَاجْعَلْ حِسَابِي غَيْرَ مُنْخَرِمِ

O my Lord, let not my hope in You be overturnedAnd do not make my account devoid of value.

وَالْطُفْ بِعَبْدِكَ فِي الدَّارَيْنِ إَنَّ لَهُصَبْرًا مَتَى تَدْعُهُ الأَهْوَالُ يَنْهَزِمِ

Be gentle with Your servant in this life and the Next;For his patience flees when he is visited by terrors.

وَأْذَنْ لِسُحْبِ صَلاَةٍ مِنْكَ دَائِمَةٍعَلَى النَّبِيِّ بِمُنْهَلٍّ وَمُنْسَجِمِ

And may clouds of Your blessings rain down constantlyUpon the Prophet, pouring down in abundance.

مَا رَنَّحَتْ عَذَبَاتِ الْبَانِ رِيحُ صَبًاوَأَطْرَبَ الْعِيسَ حَادِي الْعِيسِ بِالنَّغَمِ

For as long as the east wind stirs the branches of willows,And camel-drivers bring joy to their camels with melody.

ثُمَّ الرِّضَا عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعَنْ عُمَرٍوَعَنْ عَلِيٍّ وَعَنْ عُثْمَانَ ذِي الْكَرَمِ

Then extend Your good-pleasure to Abū Bakr and to ʿUmarAnd to ‘Ali, and to ʿUthmān, the generous

وَالآلِ وَالصَّحْبِ ثُمَّ التَابِعِيَن فَهُمْأَهْلُ التُّقَى وَالنَّقَا وَالحِلْمِ وَالْكَرَمِ

And to the Family and the Companions, and then the Followers—the people of Godfearingness,purity, forbearance and generosity.

يَا رَبِّ بِالمُصْطَفَى بَلِّغْ مَقَاصِدَنَاوَاغْفِرْ لَنَا مَا مَضَى يَا وَاسِعَ الكَرَمِ

O Lord, by the Chosen One, allow us to attain our hopesAnd forgive us for what has gone past, O Vastly Generous.

وَاغْفِرْ إِلَهِي لِكُلِ المُسْلِمِينَ بِمَايَتْلُونَ فِي المَسْجِدِ الأَقْصَى وَفِي الحَرَمِ

And forgive, O God, all of the Muslims, by virtueOf what they recite in the Furthest Mosque [al-Aqṣā] and the Sacrosanct Mosque [al-Ḥaram]

بِجَاهِ مَنْ بَيْتُهُ فِي طَيْبَةٍ حَرَمٌوَاسْمُهُ قَسَمٌ مِنْ أَعْظَمِ الْقَسَمِ

By the rank of him whose house is a sanctum in Ṭayba [Medina]And whose name is an oath—from the greatest of oaths!

وَهَذِهِ بُرْدَةُ المُخْتَارِ قَدْ خُتِمَتْوَالحَمْدُ للهِ فِي بَدْءٍ وَفِي خَتَمِ

This Burda Ode of the Chosen One is thus completeAnd all praise is due to Allah in its beginning and its end.

أَبْيَاتُهَا قَدْ أَتَتْ سِتِّينَ مَعْ مِائَةٍفَرِّجْ بِهَا كَرْبَنَا يَا وَاسِعَ الْكَرَمِ

Its couplets—numbering one hundred and sixty—have come;Relieve us our difficulties by them, O Vastly Generous!