Arabic and Latin Text of Qasida al-Burda's Lyrics, Complete with Translation

Qasida al-Burda (Arabic: قصيدة البردة‎), known in English as the ‘Poem of the Cloak’ or the ‘Mantle-Ode’ is the most famous work of Imam Sharaf ad-Din al-Busiri V, an eminent Sufi poet. It also known as al-Kawakib al-duriyah fi madḥ Khayr al-Bariyah (Arabic: الكواكب الدرية في مدح خير البرية ), meaning ‘Celestial Lights in Praise of the Best of Creation’ or ‘Glittering Stars in Praise of the Best of Creation’. Despite the difficulty of the poem’s exalted Arabic, it has been said that it is the most widely-memorised poem in the Muslim world.

About Imam al-Busiri

Imam al-Busiri‘s full name was Abu Abd-Allah Sharaf al-Din Muhammad ibn Sa’id al-Busiri al-Sanhaji. He was from the Banu Habnum clan, a major branch of the North African Berber Sanhaji tribe. It is reported that he was born in 608 AH / 1211 CE in Dellys (Arabic: دلّس‎, Berber: Delles), a small Mediterranean town in modern-day northern Algeria. He reportedly passed away in 691 AH / 1294 CE and is buried in Alexandria, Egypt.

Qasida Burda Documentary

Arabic and Latin Text of Qasida al-Burda's Lyrics

اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ مُنْشِي الْخَلْقِ مِنْ عَدَمِ

ثُمَ الصَّلَاةُ عَلى الْمُخْتَارِ فِي الْقِدَمِ

Al-ḥamdu li Llāhi munshī l-khalqi min ʿadami

Thumma ṣ-ṣalātu ʿala l-mukhtāri fi l-qidami

Praise be to Allah, Originator of Creation from non-existence

Then prayers be upon the one chosen since pre-eternity

Chorus

مَولَايَ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ دَائِمًا أَبَدًا

عَلَى حَبِيبِكَ خَيْرِ الْخَلْقِ كُلِّهِمِ

Mawlāya ṣalli wa sallim dā'iman abadan

ʿAlā ḥabībika khayri l-khalqi kullihimi

O my Lord, bless and grant peace always and forever

Upon Your beloved one, the Best of all Creation

الْفَصْلُ الْاَوَّلُ فِي الْغَزْلِ وَشَكْوَى الْغَرَامِ

Al-faṣlu l-awwalu fi l-ghazli wa shakwa l-gharāmi

Chapter One: On Words of Love and the Intense Suffering of Passion

أَمِنْ تَذَكُّرِ جِيرَانٍ بِذِي سَلَمِ

مَزَجْتَ دَمْعًا جَرَى مِنْ مُقْلَةٍ بِدَمِ

Amin tadhakkuri jīrānin bi dhī salami

Mazajta damʿan jarā min muqlatin bi dami

1. Is it the memory of neighbours in Dhu Salam

That has left your eyes so red with tears?

أَمْ هَبَّتِ الرِّيحُ مِنْ تِلْقَاءِ كَاظِمَةٍ

وَأَوْمَضَ الْبَرْقُ فِي الظَّلْمَاءِ مِنْ إِضَمِ

Am habbati r-rīḥu min tilqā'i kāẓimatin

Wa awmaḍa l-barqu fi ẓ-ẓalmā'i min iḍami

2. Or is it the wind blowing from the direction of Kazima

And the lightning flashing in the black night from Mount Idam?

فَمَا لِعَيْنَيْكَ إِنْ قُلْتَ اكْفُفَا هَمَتَا

وَمَا لِقَلْبِكَ إِنْ قُلْتَ اسْتَفِقْ يَهِمِ

Fa mā li ʿaynayka in qulta k-fufā hamatā

Wa mā li qalbika in qulta s-tafiq yahimi

3. What is the matter with your eyes, that when you tell them to refrain, they only weep more?

And your heart - when you try to rouse it, it only becomes more bewildered

أَيَحْسَبُ الصَّبُّ أَنَّ الْحُبَّ مُنْكَتِمٌ

مَا بَيْنَ مُنْسَجِمٍ مِنْهُ وَمُضْطَرِمِ

Ayaḥsabu ṣ-ṣabbu anna l-ḥubba munkatimun

Mā bayna munsajimin minhu wa muḍṭarimi

4. Does the one in love suppose his love can be concealed

Between pouring tears and a blazing heart?

لَوْلَا الْهَوَى لَمْ تُرِقْ دَمْعًا عَلَى طَلَلٍ

وَلَا أَرِقْتَ لِذِكْرِ الْبَانِ وَالْعَلَمِ

Lawla l-hawā lam turiq damʿan ʿalā ṭalalin

Wa lā ariqta li dhikri l-bāni wa l-ʿalami

5. If not for love, your tears would not pour forth over traces left by your beloved,

Nor would you be sleepless remembering the willow tree and the mountain

فَكَيْفَ تُنْكِرُ حُبًّا بَعْدَ مَا شَهِدَتْ

بِهِ عَلَيْكَ عُدُولُ الدَّمْعِ وَالسَّقَمِ

Fa kayfa tunkiru ḥubban baʿda mā shahidat

Bihi ʿalayka ʿudūlu d-damʿi wa s-saqami

6. So how can you deny this love when such honest witnesses,

as weeping and looking gaunt have testified to it against you?

وَأَثْبَتَ الْوَجْدُ خَطَّيْ عَبْرَةٍ وَضَنىً

مِثْلَ الْبَهَارِ عَلَى خَدَّيْكَ وَالْعَنَمِ

Wa athbata l-wajdu khaṭṭay ʿabratin wa ḍanan

Mithla l-bahāri ʿalā khaddayka wa l-ʿanami

7. The agony of love has inscribed two lines of tears and grief

Upon your cheeks, pale as bahar and red as anam

نَعَمْ سَرَى طَيْفُ مَنْ أَهْوَى فَأَرَّقَنِي

وَالْحُبُّ يَعْتَرِضُ اللَّذَّاتِ بِالْأَلَمِ

Naʿam sarā ṭayfu man ahwā fa arraqanī

Wa l-ḥubbu yaʿtariḍu l-ladhdhati bi l-alami

8. Yes, a vision of the one I love came to me by night, and I could not sleep,

Oh, how love hinders the tasting of delight with its suffering!

يَا لَائِمِي فِي الْهَوَى الْعُذْرِيِّ مَعْذِرَةً

مِنِّي إِلَيْكَ وَلَوْ أَنْصَفْتَ لَمْ تَلُمِ

Yā lā'imī fi l-hawa l-ʿudhriyyi maʿdhiratan

Minnī ilayka wa law anṣafta lam talumi

9. O you who would rebuke me for this pure love, accept my excuse

If you were truly fair, you would not reproach me at all

عَدَتْكَ حَالِيَ لَا سِرِّي بِمُسْتَتِرٍ

عَنِ الْوُشَاةِ وَلَا دَائِي بِمُنْحَسِمِ

ʿAdatka ḥāliya lā sirrī bi mustatirin

ʿAni l-wushāti wa lā dā'ī bi munḥasimi

10. May you be spared a state such as mine! My secret cannot be concealed

From my detractors, nor will there ever be an end to my malady

مَحَّضْتَنِي النُّصْحَ لَكِنْ لَسْتُ أَسْمَعُهُ

إِنَّ الْمُحِبَّ عَنِ الْعُذَّالِ فِي صَمَمِ

Maḥḥaḍtanī n-nuṣḥa lākin lastu asmaʿuhu

Inna l-muḥibba ʿani l-ʿudh-dhāli fī ṣamami

11. You gave me sincere good counsel, but I did not hear it,

The lover is quite deaf to those who blame him

إِنِّي اتَّهَمْتُ نَصِيحَ الشَّيْبِ فِي عَذَلٍ

وَالشَّيْبُ أَبْعَدُ فِي نُصْحٍ عَنِ التُّهَمِ

Innī t-tahamtu naṣīḥa sh-shaybi fī ʿadhalin

Wa sh-shaybu abʿadu fī nuṣ-ḥin ʿani t-tuhami

12. I even suspected the counsel of my own grey hairs rebuking me,

When I knew the counsel of old age and grey hair to be above suspicion

اَلْفَصْلُ الثَّانِي فِي الْحَذِيرِ مِنْ هَوَى النَّفْسِ

Al-faṣlu th-thānī fi l-ḥadhīri min hawa n-nafsi

Chapter Two: A Caution About the Whims of the Self

فَإِنَّ أَمَّارَتيِ بِالسُّوءِ مَا اتَّعَظَتْ

مِنْ جَهْلِهَا بِنَذِيرِ الشَّيْبِ وَالْهَرَمِ

Fa inna ammāratī bi s-sū'i ma t-taʿaẓat

Min jahlihā bi nadhīri sh-shaybi wa l-harami

13. My foolish reckless self refused to heed the warning

Heralded by the onset of grey hair and old age

وَلَا أَعَدَّتْ مِنَ الْفِعْلِ الْجَمِيلِ قِرَى

ضَيْفٍ أَلَمَّ بِرَأْسِي غَيْرَ مُحْتَشِمِ

Wa lā aʿaddat mina l-fiʿli l-jamīli qirā

Ḍayfin alamma bi ra'sī ghayra muḥtashimi

14. And it had not prepared any good deeds to properly welcome

This guest who had turned up on my head unannounced

لَوْ كُنْتُ أَعْلَمُ أَنِّي مَا أُوَقِّرُهُ

كَتَمْتُ سِرًّا بَدَا ليِ مِنْهُ بِالْكَتَمِ

Law kuntu aʿlamu annī mā uwaqqiruhu

Katamtu sirran badā lī minhu bi l-katami

15. If I had known that I could not receive him with honour,

I would have hidden my secret from him with dye

مَنْ لِي بِرَدِّ جِمَاحٍ مِنْ غَوَايَتِهَا

كَمَا يُرَدُّ جِمَاحُ الْخَيْلِ بِاللُّجُمِ

Man lī bi raddi jimāḥin min ghawāyatihā

Kamā yuraddu jimāḥu l-khayli bi l-lujumi

16. Who can hold back my headstrong soul from the error of its ways,

Just as wild horses are restrained with bridles and reins?

فَلَا تَرُمْ بِالْمَعَاصِي كَسْرَ شَهْوَتِهَا

إِنَّ الطَّعَامَ يُقَوِّي شَهْوَةَ النَّهِمِ

Fa lā tarum bi l-maʿāṣī kasra shahwatihā

Inna ṭ-ṭaʿāma yuqawwī shahwata n-nahimi

17. Do not aim to break the desires by plunging further into sin,

The glutton’s greed is only increased by [the sight of] food

وَالنَّفْسُ كَالطِّفْلِ إِنْ تُهْمِلْهُ شَبَّ عَلَى

حُبِّ الرَّضَاعِ وَإِنْ تَفْطِمْهُ يَنْفَطِمِ

Wa n-nafsu ka-ṭ-ṭifli in tuhmilhu shabba ʿalā

Ḥubbi r-raḍāʿi wa in tafṭimhu yanfaṭimi

18. The self is like an infant, if you neglect its proper care,

It will grow up still loving to suckle; but once you wean it, it will be weaned

فَاصْرِفْ هَوَاهَا وَحَاذِرْ أَنْ تُوَلِّيَهُ

إِنَّ الْهَوَى مَا تَوَلَّى يُصْمِ أَوْ يَصِمِ

Faṣrif hawāhā wa ḥādhir an tuwalliyahu

Inna l-hawā mā tawallā yuṣmi aw yaṣimi

19. So dismiss its passions, beware of letting them take over,

For when passion gets the upper hand, it will either kill or bring dishonour

وَرَاعِهَا وَهْيَ فِي الْأَعْمَالِ سَائِمَةٌ

وَإِنْ هِيَ اسْتَحْلَتِ الْمَرْعَى فَلَا تُسِمِ

Wa rāʿihā wahya fi l-aʿmāli sā'imatun

Wa in hiya s-taḥlati l-marʿā fa lā tusimi

20. Keep a watchful eye on it as it grazes in the field of actions,

And if it finds the pasture too delightful, do not let it graze unchecked

كَمْ حَسَّنَتْ لَذَّةً لِلْمَرْءِ قَاتِلَةً

مِنْ حَيْثُ لَمْ يَدْرِ أَنَّ السُّمَّ فِي الدَّسَمِ

Kam ḥassanat ladh-dhatan li l-mar'i qātilatan

Min ḥaythu lam yadri anna s-summa fi d-dasami

21. How often a pleasure that is in fact deadly has seemed good,

To one who does not know there may be poison in the fat

وَاخْشَ الدَّسَائِسَ مِنْ جُوعٍ وَمِنْ شِبَعٍ

فَرُبَّ مَخْمَصَةٍ شَرٌّ مِنَ التُّخَمِ

Wa kh-sha d-dasā'isa min jūʿin wa min shibaʿin

Fa rubba makhmaṣatin sharrun mina t-tukhami

22. Beware the snares of hunger and satiety,

For an empty stomach may be worse than over-eating

وَاسْتَفْرِغِ الدَّمْعَ مِنْ عَيْنٍ قَدِ امْتَلَأَتْ

مِنَ الْمَحَارِمِ وَالْزَمْ حِمْيَةَ النَّدَمِ

Wa s-tafrighi d-damʿa min ʿaynin qadi m-tala'at

Mina l-maḥārimi wa l-zam ḥimyata n-nadami

23. Dry the tears from eyes that have had their fill of forbidden things,

And henceforth let your only diet be regret

وَخَالِفِ النَّفْسَ وَالشَّيْطَانَ وَاعْصِهِمَا

وَإِنْ هُمَا مَحَضَاكَ النُّصْحَ فَاتَّهِمِ

Wa khālifi n-nafsa wa sh-shayṭāna wa ʿṣihimā

Wa in humā maḥaḍāka n-nuṣḥa fa t-tahimi

24. Oppose the self and shaytan - and defy them,

If they try to offer you advice, treat it with suspicion

وَلَا تُطِعْ مِنْهُمَا خَصْمًا وَلَا حَكَمًا

فَأَنْتَ تَعْرِفُ كَيْدَ الْخَصْمِ وَالْحَكَمِ

Wa lā tuṭiʿ minhumā khaṣman wa lā ḥakaman

Fa anta taʿrifu kayda l-khaṣmi wa l-ḥakami

25. Never obey them, whether they oppose or come to arbitrate,

For you know by now the tricks of both opponents and arbitrators

أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ مِنْ قَوْلٍ بِلَا عَمَلٍ

لَقَدْ نَسَبْتُ بِهِ نَسْلًا لِذِي عُقُمِ

Astaghfiru Llāha min qawlin bilā ʿamalin

Laqad nasabtu bihi naslan li dhī ʿuqumi

26. I beg Allah’s forgiveness for saying things I do not do,

As though I were ascribing progeny to one who was barren

أَمَرْتُكَ الْخَيْرَ لَكِنْ مَا ائْتَمَرْتُ بِهِ

وَمَا اسْتَقَمْتُ فَمَا قَوْليِ لَكَ اسْتَقِمِ

Amartuka l-khayra lākin mā' tamartu bihi

Wa ma s-taqamtu fa mā qawlī laka s-taqimi

27. I ordered you to be good, but then didn’t heed my own advice,

I was not myself upright, so what of my telling you, ‘Be upright!’

وَلَا تَزَوَّدْتُ قَبْلَ الْمَوْتِ نَافِلَةً

وَلَمْ أُصَلِّ سِوَى فَرْضٍ وَلَمْ أَصُمِ

Wa lā tazawwadtu qabla l-mawti nāfīlatan

Wa lam uṣalli siwā farḍin wa lam aṣumi

28. I have not made much provision of voluntary prayer before death comes to take me,

Neither have I prayed nor fasted more than was obligatory

الْفَصْلُ الثَّالِثُ فِي مَدْحِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ

Al-faṣlu th-thālithu fī madḥi n-Nabiyyi (ṣalla Llāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam)

Chapter Three: Praise of the Prophet ﷺ

ظَلَمْتُ سُنَّةَ مَنْ أَحْيَا الظَّلَامَ إِلَى

أَنِ اشْتَكَتْ قَدَمَاهُ الضُّرَّ مِنْ وَرَمِ

Ẓalamtu sunnata man aḥyā ẓ-ẓalāma ilā

Ani sh-takat qadamāhu ḍ-ḍurra min warami

29. I have done injustice to the path of the one who prayed at night

Until his feet complained of pain and swelling

وَشَدَّ مِنْ سَغَبٍ أَحْشَاءَهُ وَطَوَى

تَحْتَ الْحِجَارَةِ كَشْحًا مُتْرَفَ الْأَدَمِ

Wa shadda min saghabin aḥshā'ahu wa ṭawā

Taḥta l-ḥijārati kash-ḥan mutrafa l-adami

30. While he bound up his insides against the extremity of his hunger,

Hiding his delicate skin beneath the stone tied round his waist

وَرَاوَدَتْهُ الْجِبَالُ الشُّمُّ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ

عَنْ نَفْسِهِ فَأَرَاهَا أَيَّمَا شَمَمِ

Wa rāwadat-hu l-jibālu sh-shummu min dhahabin

ʿAn nafsihi fa'arāhā ayyamā shamami

31. The high mountains of gold sought to entice him,

But he showed them in return the true meaning of elevation

وَ أَكَّدَتْ زُهْدَهُ فِيهَا ضَرُورَتُهُ

إِنَّ الضَّرُورَةَ لَا تَعْدُو عَلَى الْعِصَمِ

Wa akkadat zuhdahu fīhā ḍarūratuhu

Inna ḍ-ḍarūrata lā taʿdū ʿala l-ʿiṣami

32. His situation of austerity and need only confirmed his indifference to worldly concerns,

For even dire need cannot assail such impeccable virtue

وَكَيْفَ تَدْعُو إِلَى الدُّنْيَا ضَرُورَةُ مَنْ

لَولَاهُ لَمْ تُخْرَجِ الدُّنْيَا مِنَ الْعَدَمِ

Wa kayfa tadʿū ila d-dunyā ḍarūratu man

Lawlāhu lam tukhraji d-dunyā mina l-ʿadami

33. How could the dire need of such a person draw him towards the world,

When were it not for him, the world would never have emerged from non-existence?

مُحَمَّدٌ سَيِّدُ الْكَوْنَيْنِ وَالثَّقَلَيْـ

ـنِ وَالْفَرِيقَيْنِ مِنْ عُرْبٍ وَمِنْ عَجَمِ

Muḥammadun sayyidu l-kawnayni wa th-thaqalay-

-ni wa-l farīqayni min ʿurbin wa min ʿajami

34. Muhammad ﷺ is the master of the two worlds, master of the jinn and [men,]

And master of the two groups, Arabs and non-Arabs

نَبِيُّنَا الْآمِرُ النَّاهِي فَلَا أَحَدٌ

أَبَرَّ فِي قَوْلِ لَا مِنْهُ وَلَا نَعَمِ

Nabiyyuna l-āmiru n-nāhī falā aḥadun

Abarra fī qawli lā minhu wa lā naʿami

35. Our Prophet, who commands the good and forbids the wrong,

There is no one truer to his word, whether it be ‘yes’ or ‘no’

هُوَ الْحَبِيبُ الَّذِي تُرْجَى شَفَاعَتُهُ

لِكُلِّ هَوْلٍ مِنَ الْأَهْوَالِ مُقْتَحَمِ

Huwa l-ḥabību l-ladhī turjā shafāʿatuhu

Li kulli hawlin mina l-ahwāli muqtaḥami

36. He is the beloved one, whose intercession is hoped for

Against all the terrifying things that take us by storm

دَعَا إِلَى اللهِ فَالْمُسْتَمْسِكُونَ بِهِ

مُسْتَمْسِكُونَ بِحَبْلٍ غَيْرِ مُنْفَصِمِ

Daʿā ila Llāhi fa l-mustamsikūna bihi

Mustamsikūna bi ḥablin ghayri munfaṣimi

37. He has called people to Allah, so those who cling to him

Are clinging to a rope which will never break

فَاقَ النَّبِيِّينَ فِي خَلْقٍ وَفِي خُلُقٍ

وَلَمْ يُدَانُوهُ فِي عِلْمٍ وَلَا كَرَمِ

Fāqa n-nabiyyīna fī khalqin wa fī khuluqin

Wa lam yudānūhu fī ʿilmin wa lā karami

38. He surpassed the other prophets both in form and noble character,

And none has come close to him in knowledge or in pure generosity

وَكُلُّهُمْ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ مُلْتَمِسٌ

غَرْفًا مِنَ الْبَحْرِ أَوْ رَشْفًا مِنَ الدِّيَمِ

Wa kulluhum min rasūli Llāhi multamisun

Gharfan mina l-baḥri aw rashfan mina d-diyami

39. They all petition the Messenger of Allah for just a handful of water

From his ocean, or a draught from his never-ending rain

وَوَاقِفُونَ لَدَيْهِ عِنْدَ حَدِّهِمِ

مِنْ نُقْطَةِ الْعِلْمِ أَوْ مِنْ شَكْلَةِ الْحِكَمِ

Wa wāqifūna ladayhi ʿinda ḥaddihimi

Min nuqṭati l-ʿilmi aw min shaklati l-ḥikami

40. They all come to a halt before him according to their measure,

As diacritical points upon his knowledge, or vowel marks upon his wisdom

فَهْوَ الَّذِي تَمَّ مَعْنَاهُ وَصُورَتُهُ

ثُمَّ اصْطَفَاهُ حَبِيبًا بَارِئُ النَّسَمِ

Fahwa l-ladhī tamma maʿnāhu wa ṣūratuhu

Thumma ṣ-ṭafāhu ḥabīban bāri'u n-nasami

41. He is the one in whom meaning and form were perfected,

And then the One who created all mankind chose him as His beloved

مُنَزَّهٌ عَنْ شَرِيكٍ فِي مَحَاسِنِهِ

فَجَوْهَرُ الْحُسْنِ فِيهِ غَيْرُ مُنْقَسِمِ

Munazzahun ʿan sharīkin fī maḥāsinihi

Fa jawharu l-ḥusni fīhi ghayru munqasimi

42. He is far from having any equal in his virtues,

For in him, the essence of perfection is indivisible

دَعْ مَا ادَّعَتْهُ النَّصَارَى فِي نَبِيِّهِمِ

وَاحْكُمْ بِمَا شِئْتَ مَدْحًا فِيهِ وَاحْتَكِمِ

Daʿ ma d-daʿathu n-naṣārā fī nabiyyihimi

Wa ḥ-kum bimā shi'ta mad-ḥan fīhi wa ḥ-takimi

43. Abandon what the Christians have claimed about their Prophet,

Beyond that you may say whatever you wish in praise of him

وَانْسُبْ إِلَى ذَاتِهِ مَا شِئْتَ مِنْ شَرَفٍ

وَانْسُبْ إِلَى قَدْرِهِ مَا شِئْتَ مِنْ عِظَمِ

Wa n-sub ilā dhātihi mā shi'ta min sharafin

Wa n-sub ilā qadrihi mā shi'ta min ʿiẓami

44. You may ascribe whatever you wish of nobility to his essence,

And to his rank, whatever you wish of greatness

فَإِنَّ فَضْلَ رَسُولِ اللهِ لَيْسَ لَهُ

حَدٌّ فَيُعْرِبَ عَنْهُ نَاطِقٌ بِفَمِ

Fa inna faḍla rasūli Llāhi laysa lahu

Ḥaddun fa yuʿriba ʿanhu nāṭiqun bi fami

45. Indeed, the high merit of the Messenger of Allah has no furthest limit

Which could be expressed by the tongue of a human being

لَوْ نَاسَبَتْ قَدْرَهُ آيَاتُهُ عِظَمًا

أَحْيَا اسْمُهُ حِينَ يُدْعَى دَارِسَ الرِّمَمِ

Law nāsabat qadrahu āyātuhu ʿiẓaman

Aḥya s-muhu ḥīna yudʿā dārisa r-rimami

46. Were his miracles to be as mighty as his rank,

Just the sound of his name would bring dead bones to life

لَمْ يَمْتَحِنَّا بِمَا تَعْيَا الْعُقُولُ بِهِ

حِرْصًا عَلَيْنَا فَلَمْ نَرْتَبْ وَلَمْ نَهِمِ

Lam yamtaḥinnā bimā taʿya l-ʿuqūlu bihi

Ḥirṣan ʿalaynā fa lam nartab wa lam nahimi

47. He did not test us with things that would exhaust our intellects,

Out of concern for us, so we did not fall into doubt or bewilderment

أَعْيَا الْوَرَى فَهْمُ مَعْنَاهُ فَلَيْسَ يُرَى

فِي الْقُرْبِ وَالْبُعْدِ فِيهِ غَيْرُ مُنْفَحِمِ

Aʿya l-warā fahmu maʿnāhu falaysa yurā

Fi l-qurbi wa l-buʿdi fīhi ghayru munfaḥimi

48. Mankind is unable to comprehend his true essence,

Near and far, they are dumbfounded

كَالشَّمْسِ تَظْهَرُ لِلْعَيْنَيْنِ مِنْ بُعُدٍ

صَغِيرَةً وَتُكِلُّ الطَّرْفَ مِنْ أَمَمِ

Ka sh-shamsi taẓ-haru li l-ʿaynayni min buʿudin

Ṣaghīratan wa tukillu ṭ-ṭarfa min amami

49. Like the sun, which from afar appears small to the naked eye,

Whereas up close, it would dim and dazzle the vision

وَكَيْفَ يُدْرِكُ فِي الدُّنْيَا حَقِيقَتَهُ

قَوْمٌ نِيَامٌ تَسَلَّوْا عَنْهُ بِالْحُلُمِ

Wa kayfa yudriku fi d-dunyā ḥaqīqatahu

Qawmun niyāmun tasallaw ʿanhu bi l-ḥulumi

50. How can people who are asleep perceive his true reality

In this world, while they are distracted from him by their dreams?

فَمَبْلَغُ الْعِلْمِ فِيهِ أَنَّهُ بَشَرٌ

وَأَنَّهُ خَيْرُ خَلْقِ اللهِ كُلِّهِمِ

Fa mablaghu l-ʿilmi fīhi annahu basharun

Wa annahu khayru khalqi Llāhi kullihimi

51. The extent of the knowledge we have of him is that he is a man,

And that he is the best of all Allah’s creation

وَكُلُّ آيٍ أَتَى الرُّسْلُ الْكِرَامُ بِهَا

فَإِنَّمَا اتَّصَلَتْ مِنْ نُورِهِ بِهِمِ

Wa kullu āyin ata r-ruslu l-kirāmu bihā

Fa innama t-taṣalat min nūrihi bihimi

52. Every miracle brought by the Noble Messengers

Was only connected to them through his light

فَإِنَّهُ شَمْسُ فَضْلٍ هُمْ كَوَاكِبُهَا

يُظْهِرْنَ أَنْوَارَهَا لِلنَّاسِ فِي الظُّلَمِ

Fa innahu shamsu faḍlin hum kawākibuhā

Yuẓ-hirna anwārahā li n-nāsi fi ẓ-ẓulami

53. Surely he is a sun of bounty and they are its planets,

Manifesting their lights for people in the darkness

أَكْرِمْ بِخَلْقِ نَبِيٍّ زَانَهُ خُلُقٌ

بِالْحُسْنِ مُشْتَمِلٍ بِالْبِشْرِ مُتَّسِمِ

Akrim bi khalqi nabiyyin zānahu khuluqun

Bi l-ḥusni mushtamilin bi l-bishri muttasimi

54. How generous the creation of a Prophet adorned with excellent character!

So graced with beauty, and radiant of face

كَالزَّهْرِ فِي تَرَفٍ وَالْبَدْرِ فِي شَرَفٍ

وَالْبَحْرِ فِي كَرَمٍ وَالدَّهْرِ فِي هِمَمِ

Ka z-zahri fī tarafin wa l-badri fī sharafin

Wa l-baḥri fī karamin wa d-dahri fī himami

55. Like a flower in freshness and a full moon in eminence,

Like an ocean in pure generosity and like time itself in strength of resolution

كَأَنَّهُ وَهْوَ فَرْدٌ مِنْ جَلَالَتِهِ

فِي عَسْكَرٍ حِينَ تَلْقَاهُ وَفِي حَشَمِ

Ka annahu wahwa fardun min jalālatihi

Fī ʿaskarin ḥīna talqāhu wa fī ḥashami

56. Just from his majestic bearing, even when he was alone,

He seemed as if amongst a great army and entourage

كَأَنَّمَا اللُّؤْلُؤُ الْمَكْنُونُ فِي صَدَفٍ

مِنْ مَعْدِنَيْ مَنْطِقٍ مِنْهُ وَمُبْتَسَمِ

Ka annama l-lu'lu'u l-maknūnu fī ṣadafin

Min maʿdinay manṭiqin minhu wa mubtasami

57. It was as if shining pearls, protected in their shells,

Emerged from both his speech and his radiant smile

لَا طِيبَ يَعْدِلُ تُرْبًا ضَمَّ أَعْظُمَهُ

طُوبَى لِمُنْتَشِقٍ مِنْهُ وَمُلْتَثِمِ

Lā ṭība yaʿdilu turban ḍamma aʿẓumahu

Ṭūbā li muntashiqin minhu wa multathimi

58. No perfume could ever match that of the earth that holds his noble form,

What bliss for the one who smells that blessed earth or kisses it!

الْفَصْلُ الرَّابِعُ فِي مَوْلِدِهِ ﷺ

Al-faṣlu r-rābiʿu fī mawlidihi (ṣalla Llāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam)

Chapter Four: On his Birth ﷺ

أَبَانَ مَوْلِدُهُ عَنْ طِيبِ عُنْصُرِهِ

يَا طِيبَ مُبْتَدَإٍ مِنْهُ وَمُخْتَتَمِ

Abāna mawliduhu ʿan ṭībi ʿunṣurihi

Yā ṭība mubtada'in minhu wa mukhtatami

59. His birth made clear the purity of his origin,

O how pure his beginning and his end!

يَوْمٌ تَفَرَّسَ فِيهِ الْفُرْسُ أَنَّهُمُ

قَدْ أُنْذِرُوا بِحُلُولِ الْبُؤْسِ وَالنِّقَمِ

Yawmun tafarrasa fīhi l-fursu annahumu

Qad undhirū bi ḥulūli l-bu'si wa n-niqami

60. On that day, the Persians realised they had been warned

Of the onset of misery and disasters

وَبَاتَ إِيوَانُ كِسْرَى وَهْوَ مُنْصَدِعٌ

كَشَمْلِ أَصْحَابِ كِسْرَى غَيْرَ مُلْتَئِمِ

Wa bāta īwānu kisrā wahwa munṣadiʿun

Ka shamli aṣ-ḥābi kisrā ghayra multa'imi

61. That very night a crack appeared in the Arch of Chosroes,

Just as the unity and cohesion of his people was forever lost

وَالنَّارُ خَامِدَةُ الْأَنْفَاسِ مِنْ أَسَفٍ

عَلَيْهِ وَالنَّهْرُ سَاهِي الْعَيْنِ مِنْ سَدَمِ

Wa n-nāru khāmidatu l-anfāsi min asafin

ʿAlayhi wa n-nahru sāhī l-ʿayni min sadami

62. The fire, out of grief for the loss, breathed its last,

And the river was distracted from its course by sorrow

وَسَاءَ سَاوَةَ أَنْ غَاضَتْ بُحَيْرَتُهَا

وَرُدَّ وَارِدُهَا بِالْغَيْظِ حِينَ ظَمِي

Wa sā'a sāwata an ghāḍat buḥayratuhā

Wa rudda wāriduhā bi l-ghayẓi ḥīna ẓamī

63. Sawa was troubled as the waters of its lake receded,

And the one who came to drink from it returned raging with thirst

كَأَنَّ بِالنَّارِ مَا بِالْمَاءِ مِنْ بَلَلٍ

حُزْنًا وَبِالْمَاءِ مَا بِالنَّارِ مِنْ ضَرَمِ

Ka anna bi n-nāri mā bi l-mā'i min balalin

Ḥuznan wa bi l-mā'i mā bi n-nāri min ḍarami

64. It was as though, from grief, the fire took on water’s wetness,

And water took on the blazing dryness of the fire

وَالْجِنُّ تَهْتِفُ وَالْأَنْوَارُ سَاطِعَةٌ

وَالْحَقُّ يَظْهَرُ مِنْ مَعْنًى وَمِنْ كَلِمِ

Wa l-jinnu tahtifu wa l-anwāru sāṭiʿatun

Wa l-ḥaqqu yaẓ-haru min maʿnan wa min kalimi

65. The jinn were shrieking, and the lights were flashing out,

As the truth was made manifest in both meaning and word

عَمُوا وَصَمُّوا فَإِعْلَانُ الْبَشَائِرِ لَمْ

تُسْمَعْ وَبَارِقَةُ الْإِنْذَارِ لَمْ تُشَمِ

ʿAmū wa ṣammū fa iʿlānu l-bashā'iri lam

Tusmaʿ wa bāriqatu l-indhāri lam tushami

66. But blind and deaf, the Persians did not hear the happy tidings,

Neither did they see the flash of warning signs

مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا أَخْبَرَ الْأَقْوَامَ كَاهِنُهُمْ

بِأَنَّ دِينَهُمُ الْمُعْوَجَّ لَمْ يَقُمِ

Min baʿdi mā akhbara l-aqwāma kāhinuhum

Bi anna dīnahumu l-muʿwajja lam yaqumi

67. Even after the people’s own soothsayers had told them

That their crooked old religion could not last

وَبَعْدَ مَا عَايَنُوا فِي الْأُفْقِ مِنْ شُهُبٍ

مُنْقَضَّةٍ وَفْقَ مَا فِي الْأَرْضِ مِنْ صَنَمِ

Wa baʿda mā ʿāyanū fi l-ufqi min shuhubin

Munqaḍḍatin wafqa mā fi l-arḍi min ṣanami

68. And after they had seen shooting stars away on the horizon,

Falling from the heavens, just as the idols were falling on earth

حَتَّى غَدَا عَنْ طَرِيقِ الْوَحْيِ مُنْهَزِمٌ

مِنَ الشَّيَاطِينِ يَقْفُوا إِثْرَ مُنْهَزِمِ

Ḥattā ghadā ʿan ṭarīqi l-waḥyī munhazimun

Mina sh-shayāṭīni yaqfū ithra munhazimi

69. Until even the devils were routed, fleeing from the path of revelation,

Following after others as they fled

كَأَنَّهُمْ هَرَبًا أَبْطَالُ أَبْرَهَةٍ

أَوْ عَسْكَرٌ بِالْحَصَى مِنْ رَاحَتَيْهِ رُمِي

Ka annahum haraban abṭālu abrahatin

Aw ʿaskarun bi l-ḥaṣā min rāḥatayhi rumī

70. They were fleeing just like Abraha’s warriors,

Or like the army scattered by pebbles thrown from the Prophet’s own hand

نَبْذًا بِهِ بَعْدَ تَسْبِيحٍ بِبَطْنِهِمَا

نَبْذَ الْمُسَبِّحِ مِنْ أَحْشَاءِ مُلْتَقِمِ

Nabdhan bihi baʿda tasbīḥin bi baṭnihimā

Nabdha l-musabbiḥi min aḥshā'i multaqimi

71. Thrown by him after glorifying God in the palm of his hand,

As the one who glorified his Lord was thrown out from the belly of the whale

الْفَصْلُ الْخَامِسُ فِي مُعْجِزَاتِهِ ﷺ

Al-faṣlu l-khāmisu fī muʿjizātihi (ṣalla Llāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam)

Chapter Five

On the Miracles that came at his Hand ﷺ

جَاءَتْ لِدَعْوَتِهِ الْأَشْجَارُ سَاجِدَةً

تَمْشِي إِلَيْهِ عَلَى سَاقٍ بِلَا قَدَمِ

Jā'at li daʿwatihi l-ashjāru sājidatan

Tamshī ilayhi ʿalā sāqin bilā qadami

72. Trees came to him when he called, prostrating,

Walking towards him on trunks that had no feet

كَأَنَّمَا سَطَرَتْ سَطْرًا لِمَا كَتَبَتْ

فُرُوعُهَا مِنْ بَدِيعِ الْخَطِّ بِاللَّقَمِ

Ka annamā saṭarat saṭran limā katabat

Furūʿuhā min badīʿi l-khaṭṭi bi l-laqami

73. As though they had written lines of beautiful calligraphy

With their branches all along the path

مِثْلَ الْغَمَامَةِ أَنَّى سَارَ سَائِرَةً

تَقِيهِ حَرَّ وَطِيسٍ لِلْهَجِيرِ حَمِي

Mithla l-ghamāmati annā sāra sā'iratan

Taqīhi ḥarra waṭīsin li l-hajīri ḥamī

74. Like the cloud that moved with him wherever he went,

Protecting him from the fierce oven of the midday heat

أَقْسَمْتُ بِالْقَمَرِ الْمُنْشَقِّ إِنَّ لَهُ

مِنْ قَلْبِهِ نِسْبَةً مَبْرُورَةَ الْقَسَمِ

Aqsamtu bi l-qamari l-munshaqqi inna lahu

Min qalbihi nisbatan mabrūrata l-qasami

75. I swear by the [Lord of the] moon that was split in two,

Surely it has a connection with his heart, a true and blessed oath

وَمَا حَوَى الْغَارُ مِنْ خَيْرٍ وَمِنْ كَرَمٍ

وَكُلُّ طَرْفٍ مِنَ الْكُفَّارِ عَنْهُ عَمِي

Wa mā ḥawa l-ghāru min khayrin wa min karamin

Wa kullu ṭarfin mina l-kuffāri ʿanhu ʿamī

76. And by the excellence and nobility encompassed in the cave,

While every glance of the unbelievers was quite blind to it

فَالصِّدْقُ فِي الْغَارِ وَالصِّدِّيقُ لَمْ يَرِمَا

وَهُمْ يَقُولُونَ مَا بِالْغَارِ مِنْ أَرِمِ

Fa ṣ-ṣidqu fi l-ghāri wa ṣ-ṣiddīqu lam yarimā

Wa hum yaqūlūna mā bi l-ghāri min arimi

77. The true one and the truthful one remained in the cave,

As those outside said to one another, ‘There is no one in this cave.’

ظَنُّوا الْحَمَامَ وَظَنُّوا الْعَنْكَبُوتَ عَلَى

خَيْرِ الْبَرِيَّةِ لَمْ تَنْسُجْ وَلَمْ تَحُمِ

Ẓannu l-ḥamāma wa ẓannu l-ʿankabūta ʿalā

Khayri l-bariyyati lam tansuj wa lam taḥumi

78. They did not suspect that a dove would hover giving protection,

Or that a spider would spin its web to help the Best of Creation

وِقَايَةُ اللهِ أَغْنَتْ عَنْ مُضَاعَفَةٍ

مِنَ الدُّرُوعِ وَعَنْ عَالٍ مِنَ الْأُطُمِ

Wiqāyatu Llāhi aghnat ʿan muḍāʿafatin

Mina d-durūʿi wa ʿan ʿālin mina l-uṭumi

79. Allah’s solicitude and shelter freed him from the need to resort

To coats of armour and fortresses for his protection

مَا سَامَنِي الدَّهْرُ ضَيْمًا وَاسْتَجَرْتُ بِهِ

إِلَّا وَنِلْتُ جِوَارًا مِنْهُ لَمْ يُضَمِ

Mā sāmani d-dahru ḍayman wa s-tajartu bihi

Illā wa niltu jiwāran minhu lam yuḍami

80. Whenever the times have treated me unjustly, and I have turned to him

For refuge, I always found security with him, unharmed

وَلَا الْتَمَسْتُ غِنَى الدَّارَيْنِ مِنْ يَدِهِ

إِلَّا اسْتَلَمْتُ النَّدَى مِنْ خَيْرِ مُسْتَلَمِ

Wa la l-tamastu ghina d-dārayni min yadihi

Illa s-talamtu n-nadā min khayri mustalami

81. And never have I sought the wealth of the two worlds from his hand,

Without receiving open-handed generosity from the best of givers

لَا تُنْكِرِ الْوَحْيَ مِنْ رُؤْيَاهُ إِنَّ لَهُ

قَلَبًا إِذَا نَامَتِ الْعَيْنَانِ لَمْ يَنَمِ

Lā tunkiri l-waḥya min ru'yāhu inna lahu

Qalban idhā nāmati l-ʿaynāni lam yanami

82. Do not deny the revelations he received in his dreams,

For surely, though his eyes would sleep, he had a heart that never slept

وَذَاكَ حِينَ بُلُوغٍ مِنْ نُبُوَّتِهِ

فَلَيْسَ يُنْكَرُ فِيهِ حَالُ مُحْتَلِمِ

Wa dhāka ḥīna bulūghin min nubuwwatihi

Fa laysa yunkaru fīhi ḥālu muḥtalimi

83. That was from the time when he attained to prophethood,

For the dreams of the one who has come of age cannot be denied

تَبَارَكَ اللهُ مَا وَحْيٌ بِمُكْتَسَبٍ

وَلَا نَبيٌّ عَلَى غَيْبٍ بِمُتَّهَمِ

Tabāraka Llāhu mā waḥyun bi muktasabin

Wa lā nabiyyun ʿalā ghaybin bi muttahami

84. God be praised! Revelation is not something acquired,

Nor is a prophet’s knowledge of the unseen to be suspected

كَمْ أَبْرَأَتْ وَصِبًا بِاللَّمْسِ رَاحَتُهُ

وَأَطْلَقَتْ أَرِبًا مِنْ رِبْقَةِ اللَّمَمِ

Kam abra'at waṣiban bi l-lamsi rāḥatuhu

Wa aṭlaqat ariban min ribqati l-lamami

85. How many sick people have been healed at the touch of his hand,

And how many, driven almost mad by the noose of their sins, have been set free

وَأَحْيَتِ السَّنَةَ الشَّهْبَاءَ دَعْوَتُهُ

حَتَّى حَكَتْ غُرَّةً فِي الْأَعْصُرِ الدُّهُمِ

Wa aḥyati s-sanata sh-shahbā'a daʿwatuhu

Ḥattā ḥakat ghurratan fi l-aʿṣuri d-duhumi

86. His supplication brought new life in the year of barren dryness,

So that it stood out among the dark years like the beautiful white blaze on a horses forehead

بِعَارِضٍ جَادَ أَوْ خِلْتَ الْبِطَاحَ بِهَا

سَيْبٌ مِنَ الْيَمِّ أَوْ سَيْلٌ مِنَ الْعَرِمِ

Bi ʿāriḍin jāda aw khilta l-biṭāḥa bihā

Saybun mina l-yammi aw saylun mina l-ʿarimi

87. The clouds poured down rain, until you would have thought

The valley was flowing with water from the open sea, or from the burst dam of Arim

الْفَصْلُ السَّادِسُ فِي شَرَفِ الْقُرآنِ وَمَدْحِهِ

Al-faṣlu s-sādisu fī sharafi l-Qur'āni wa madḥihi

Chapter Six

On the Nobility of the Qur’an and its Praise

دَعْنِي وَوَصْفِيَ آيَاتٍ لَهُ ظَهَرَتْ

ظُهُورَ نَارِ الْقِرَى لَيْلًا عَلَى عَلَمِ

Daʿnī wa waṣfiya āyātin lahu ẓaharat

Ẓuhūra nāri l-qirā laylan ʿalā ʿalami

88. Allow me to describe to you the signs that appeared to him

Clearly visible like beacons lit at night on the high hills to welcome guests

فَالدُّرُّ يَزْدَادُ حُسْنًا وَهْوَ مُنْتَظِمٌ

وَلَيْسَ يَنْقُصُ قَدْرًا غَيْرَ مُنْتَظِمِ

Fa d-durru yazdādu ḥusnan wahwa muntaẓimun

Wa laysa yanquṣu qadran ghayra muntaẓimi

89. Although a pearl’s beauty is increased when strung among others

Its value is not lessened when alone, unstrung

فَمَا تَطَاوُلُ آمَالِ الْمَدِيحِ إِلَى

مَا فِيهِ مِنْ كَرَمِ الْأَخْلَاقِ وَ الشِّيَمِ

Fa mā taṭāwulu āmāli l-madīḥi ilā

Mā fīhi min karami l-akhlāqi wa sh-shiyami

90. What hope can the one who tries to praise it have

Of doing justice to its noble traits and qualities?

آيَاتُ حَقٍّ مِنَ الرَّحْمٰنِ مُحْدَثَةٌ

قَدِيمَةٌ صِفَةُ الْمَوْصُوفِ بِالْقِدَمِ

Āyātu ḥaqqin mina r-Raḥmāni muḥdathatun

Qadīmatun ṣifatu l-mawṣūfi bi l-qidami

91. Verses of truth from the Merciful - revealed in time,

Yet Eternal - the attribute of the Pre-eternal One

لَمْ تَقْتَرِنْ بِزَمَانٍ وَهْيَ تُخْبِرُنَا

عَنِ الْمَعَادِ وَعَنْ عَادٍ وَعَنْ إِرَمِ

Lam taqtarin bi zamānin wahya tukhbirunā

ʿAni l-maʿādi wa ʿan ʿādin wa ʿan irami

92. They are not bound by time, and bring us tidings of

The Last Day, and also of ‘Ad and Iram

دَامَتْ لَدَيْنَا فَفَاقَتْ كُلَّ مُعْجِزَةٍ

مِنَ النَّبِيِّينَ إِذْ جَاءَتْ وَلَمْ تَدُمِ

Dāmat ladaynā fa fāqat kulla muʿjizatin

Mina n-nabiyyīna idh jā'at wa lam tadumi

93. They have lasted to our time, and outstripped every miracle

Brought by other prophets, which came, but did not last

مُحَكَّمَاتٌ فَمَا تُبْقِينَ مِنْ شُبَهٍ

لِذِي شِقَاقٍ وَمَا يَبْغِينَ مِنْ حَكَمِ

Muḥkamātun fa mā tubqīna min shubahin

Li dhī shiqāqin wa mā yabghīna min ḥakami

94. Verses so clear that no obscurity can remain

For the wrangler, nor do they require any judge

مَا حُورِبَتْ قَطُّ إِلَّا عَادَ مِنْ حَرَبٍ

أَعْدَى الْأَعَادِي إِلَيْهَا مُلْقِيَ السَّلَمِ

Mā ḥūribat qaṭṭu illā ʿāda min ḥarabin

Aʿda l-aʿādī ilayhā mulqiya s-salami

95. No implacable enemy has ever attacked them

Without retreating at last from the battle, begging for peace

رَدَّتْ بَلَاغَتُهَا دَعْوَى مُعَارِضِهَا

رَدَّ الْغَيُورِ يَدَ الْجَانِي عَنِ الْحُرَمِ

Raddat balāghatuhā daʿwā muʿāriḍihā

Radda l-ghayūri yada-l jānī ʿani l-ḥurami

96. Their very eloquence refutes the claim of one opposing them,

As an honourable man wards off the assailants hand from what is sacred

لَهَا مَعَانٍ كَمَوْجِ الْبَحْرِ فِي مَدَدٍ

وَ فَوْقَ جَوْهَرِهِ فِي الْحُسْنِ وَالْقِيَمِ

Lahā maʿānin ka mawji l-baḥri fī madadin

Wa fawqa jawharihi fi l-ḥusni wa l-qiyami

97. They contain meanings like the sea’s never-ending waves,

And go far beyond its jewels in their beauty and value

فَمَا تُعَدُّ وَلَا تُحْصَى عَجَائِبُهَا

وَلَا تُسَامُ عَلَى الْإِكْثَارِ بِالسَّأَمِ

Fa mā tuʿaddu wa lā tuḥṣā ʿajā'ibuhā

Wa lā tusāmu ʿala l-ikthāri bi s-sa'ami

98. Their wonders are numberless and incalculable,

Nor does their constant repetition ever result in weariness or boredom

قَرَّتْ بِهَا عَيْنُ قَارِيهَا فَقُلْتُ لَهُ

لَقَدْ ظَفِرْتَ بِحَبْلِ اللهِ فَاعْتَصِمِ

Qarrat bihā ʿaynu qārīhā fa qultu lahu

Laqad ẓafirta bi ḥabli Llāhi faʿtaṣimi

99. The one who recited them was filled with delight, and I said to him,

‘Truly you have seized the rope of Allah - so hold on to it.’

إِنْ تَتْلُهَا خِيفَةً مِنْ حَرِّ نَارِ لَظَى

أَطْفَأْتَ حَرَّ لَظَى مِنْ وِرْدِهَا الشَّبِمِ

In tatluhā khīfatan min ḥarri nāri laẓā

Aṭfa'ta ḥarra laẓā min wirdiha sh-shabimi

100. If you recite them fearing the heat of the blazing Fire,

You have extinguished the heat of the blaze by their cool sweet water

كَأَنَّهَا الْحَوْضُ تَبْيَضُّ الْوُجُوهُ بِهِ

مِنَ الْعُصَاةِ وَقَدْ جَاؤُوهُ كَالْحُمَمِ

Ka annaha l-ḥawḍu tabyaḍḍu l-wujūhu bihi

Mina l-ʿuṣāti wa qad jā'ūhu ka l-ḥumami

101. Like the Hawd, which makes bright the faces of the disobedient,

When they had arrived with faces black as coal

وَكَالصِّرَاطِ وَكَالْمِيزَانِ مَعْدِلَةً

فَالْقِسْطُ مِنْ غَيْرِهَا فِي النَّاسِ لَمْ يَقُمِ

Wa ka ṣ-ṣirāṭi wa ka l-mīzāni maʿdilatan

Fa l-qisṭu min ghayrihā fi n-nāsi lam yaqumi

102. Like the Sirat, and like the Balance Scales in justice,

True justice among men cannot be established from any other

لَا تَعْجَبَنْ لِحَسُودٍ رَاحَ يُنْكِرُهَا

تَجَاهُلًا وَهْوَ عَيْنُ الْحَاذِقِ الْفَهِمِ

Lā taʿjaban li ḥasūdin rāḥa yunkiruhā

Tajāhulan wahwa ʿaynu l-ḥādhiqi l-fahimi

103. Do not be surprised if an envious person refuses to acknowledge them

Affecting ignorance, even though perfectly able to understand

قَدْ تُنْكِرُ الْعَيْنُ ضَوْءَ الشَّمْسِ مِنْ رَمَدٍ

وَيُنْكِرُ الْفَمُ طَعْمَ الْمَاءِ مِنْ سَقَمِ

Qad tunkiru l-ʿaynu ḍaw'a sh-shamsi min ramadin

Wa yunkiru l-famu ṭaʿma l-mā'i min saqami

104. For the eye may reject the sun’s light when it is inflamed,

And when the body is unwell, the mouth may shun even the taste of sweet water.

الْفَصْلُ السَّابِعُ فِي إِسْرَائِهِ وَمِعْرَاجِهِ ﷺ

Al-faṣlu s-sābiʿu fī isrā'ihi wa miʿrājihi (ṣalla Llāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam)

Chapter Seven

On the Prophet’s Night Journey and Ascension ﷺ

يَا خَيْرَ مَنْ يَمَّمَ الْعَافُونَ سَاحَتَهُ

سَعْيًا وَفَوْقَ مُتُونِ الْأَيْنُقِ الرُّسُمِ

Yā khayra man yammama l-ʿāfūna sāḥatahu

Saʿyan wa fawqa mutūni l-aynuqi r-rusumi

105. O best of those to whose courtyards repair the seekers of blessings,

On foot and on the backs of laden camels

وَمَنْ هُوَ الْآيَةُ الْكُبْرَى لِمُعْتَبِرٍ

وَمَنْ هُوَ النِّعْمَةُ الْعُظْمَى لِمُغْتَنِمِ

Wa man huwa l-āyatu l-kubrā li muʿtabirin

Wa man huwa n-niʿmatu l-ʿuẓmā li mughtanimi

106. O you who are the greatest sign for the one able to perceive,

And the most sublime blessing for the one desiring benefit

سَرَيْتَ مِنْ حَرَمٍ لَيْلًا إِلَى حَرَمٍ

كَمَا سَرَى الْبَدْرُ فِي دَاجٍ مِنَ الظُّلَمِ

Sarayta min ḥaramin laylan ilā ḥarami

Kamā sara l-badru fi dājin mina ẓ-ẓulami

107. You travelled by night from one sacred place to yet another,

Just as the full moon travels across the pitch-black sky

وَبِتَّ تَرْقَى إِلَى أَنْ نِلْتَ مَنْزِلَةً

مِنْ قَابِ قَوْسَيْنِ لَمْ تُدْرَكْ وَلَمْ تُرَمِ

Wa bitta tarqā ilā an nilta manzilatan

Min qābi qawsayni lam tudrak wa lam turami

108. That night you ascended until you reached a station of nearness

Only two bows-lengths distant, a station never before attained or even hoped for

وَقَدَّمَتْكَ جَمِيعُ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ بِهَا

وَالرُّسْلِ تَقْدِيمَ مَخْدُومٍ عَلَى خَدَمِ

Wa qaddamatka jamīʿu l-anbiyā'i bihā

Wa r-rusli taqdīma makhdūmin ʿalā khadami

109. Thus all the Prophets and Messengers gave precedence to you,

The precedence of a master over those who serve him

وَأَنْتَ تَخْتَرِقُ السَّبْعَ الطِّبَاقَ بِهِمْ

فِي مَوْكِبٍ كُنْتَ فِيهِ الصَّاحِبَ الْعَلَمِ

Wa anta takhtariqu s-sabʿa ṭ-ṭibāqa bihim

Fī mawkibin kunta fīhi ṣāhiba l-ʿalami

110. You traversed the Seven Heavens with them,

And you were the standard bearer - leading their procession

حَتَّى إِذَا لَمْ تَدَعْ شَأْوًا لِمُسْتَبِقٍ

مِنَ الدُّنُوِّ وَلَا مَرْقًى لِمُسْتَنِمِ

Ḥattā idhā lam tadaʿ sha'wan li mustabiqin

Mina d-dunuwwi wa lā marqan li mustanimi

111. Until you left no greater goal for the seeker of eminence and proximity,

Nor any higher station for the one seeking elevation

خَفَضْتَ كُلَّ مَقَامٍ بِالْإِضَافَةِ إِذْ

نُودِيتَ بِالرَّفْعِ مِثْلَ الْمُفْرَدِ الْعَلَمِ

Khafaḍta kulla maqāmin bi l-iḍāfati idh

Nūdīta bi r-rafʿi mithla l-mufradi l-ʿalami

112. All other stations seemed lower in comparison with yours

Since you were proclaimed in the highest terms - the unique one

كَيْمَا تَفُوزَ بِوَصْلٍ أَيِّ مُسْتَتِرٍ

عَنِ الْعُيُونِ وَسِرٍّ أَيِّ مُكْتَتَمِ

Kaymā tafūza bi waṣlin ayyi mustatirin

ʿAni l-ʿuyūni wa sirrin ayyi muktatami

113. So that you would achieve a station of perfect proximity

Hidden from the eyes, and obtain a secret concealed from all creation

فَحُزْتَ كُلَّ فَخَارٍ غَيْرَ مُشْتَرَكٍ

وَجُزْتَ كُلَّ مَقَامٍ غَيْرَ مُزْدَحَمِ

Fa ḥuzta kulla fakhārin ghayra mushtarakin

Wa juzta kulla maqāmin ghayra muzdaḥami

114. So you attained to every excellence without equal

And you passed alone through every station, far from all others

وَجَلَّ مِقْدَارُ مَا وُلِّيتَ مِنْ رُتَبٍ

وَعَزَّ إِدْرَاكُ مَا أُولِيتَ مِنْ نِعَمِ

Wa jalla miqdāru mā wullīta min rutabin

Wa ʿazza idrāku mā ūlīta min niʿami

115. Sublime indeed is the measure of the ranks you have been granted,

Beyond comprehension the blessings bestowed upon you

بُشْرَى لَنَا مَعْشَرَ الْإِسْلَامِ إِنَّ لَنَا

مِنَ الْعِنَايَةِ رُكْنًا غَيْرَ مُنْهَدِمِ

Bushrā lanā maʿshara l-islāmi inna lanā

Mina l-ʿināyati ruknan ghayra munhadimi

116. Glad tidings for us, O assembly of Muslims,

For truly we have a pillar of support and solicitude that can never be destroyed

لَمَّا دَعَا اللهُ دَاعِينَا لِطَاعَتِهِ

بِأَكْرَمِ الرُّسْلِ كُنَّا أَكْرَمَ الْأُمَمِ

Lammā daʿā Llāhu dāʿīnā li ṭāʿatihi

Bi akrami r-rusli kunnā akrama l-umami

117. When God named the one who called us to obey Him

The noblest of Messengers, henceforward we became the noblest of peoples

الْفَصْلُ الثَّامِنُ فِي جِهَادِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ

Al-faṣlu th-thāminu fī jihādi n-Nabiyyi (ṣalla Llāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam)

Chapter Eight

On the Martial Struggle of the Prophet ﷺ

رَاعَتْ قُلُوبَ الْعِدَا أَنْبَاءُ بِعْثَتِهِ

كَنَبْأَةٍ أَجْفَلَتْ غُفْلًا مِنَ الْغَنَمِ

Rāʿat qulūba l-ʿidā anbā'u biʿthatihi

Ka nab'atin ajfalat ghuflan mina l-ghanami

118. News of his marching out cast fear into the hearts of the enemy,

Just as heedless goats are startled at a sudden noise

مَا زَالَ يَلْقَاهُمُ فِي كُلِّ مُعْتَرَكٍ

حَتَّى حَكَوْا بِالْقَنَا لَحْمًا عَلَى وَضَمِ

Mā zāla yalqāhumu fī kulli muʿtarakin

Ḥattā ḥakaw bi l-qanā laḥman ʿalā waḍami

119. He continued to meet them on every battle ground,

Until they were cut to pieces by spears, like meat upon a butcher’s block

وَدُّوا الْفِرَارَ فَكَادُوا يَغْبِطُونَ بِهِ

أَشْلَاءَ شَالَتْ مَعَ الْعِقْبَانِ وَالرَّخَمِ

Waddu l-firāra fa kādū yaghbiṭūna bihi

Ashlā'a shālat maʿa l-ʿiqbāni wa r-rakhami

120. They were longing to flee, almost envying

The corpses carried off by the eagles and vultures

تَمْضِي اللَّيَالِي وَلَا يَدْرُونَ عِدَّتَهَا

مَا لَمْ تَكُنْ مِنْ لَيَالِي الْأَشْهُرِ الْحُرُمِ

Tamḍi l-layālī wa lā yadrūna ʿiddatahā

Mā lam takun min layāli l-ash-huri l-ḥurumi

121. The nights passed, without them being able to keep count,

Except if they were the nights of the Sacred Months

كَأَنَّمَا الدِّينُ ضَيْفٌ حَلَّ سَاحَتَهُمْ

بِكُلِّ قَرْمٍ إِلَى لَحْمِ الْعِدَا قَرِمِ

Ka annama d-dīnu ḍayfun ḥalla sāḥatahum

Bi kulli qarmin ilā laḥmi l-ʿidā qarimi

122. As if the religion were a guest that had arrived at their courtyards,

With every brave chieftain ready to rend the flesh of their enemies

يَجُرُّ بَحْرَ خَمِيسٍ فَوْقَ سَابِحَةٍ

يَرْمِي بِمَوْجٍ مِنَ الْأَبْطَالِ مُلْتَطِمِ

Yajurru baḥra khamīsin fawqa sābiḥatin

Yarmī bi mawjin mina l-abṭāli multaṭimi

123. Bringing in its wake a sea of armed men upon fast horses,

Hurling forth waves of brave warriors in clashing tumult

مِنْ كُلِّ مُنْتَدِبٍ لِلّٰهِ مُحْتَسِبٍ

يَسْطُو بِمُسْتَأْصِلٍ لِلْكُفْرِ مُصْطَلِمِ

Min kulli muntadibin li Llāhi muḥtasibin

Yasṭū bi musta'ṣilin li l-kufri muṣṭalimi

124. Each responding to Allah’s summons, seeking His good pleasure,

Mounting a fierce assault, to fear out unbelief by its roots

حَتَّى غَدَتْ مِلَّةُ الْإِسْلَامِ وَهْيَ بِهِمْ

مِنْ بَعْدِ غُرْبَتِهَا مَوْصُولَةَ الرَّحِمِ

Ḥatta ghadat millatu l-islāmi wahya bihim

Min baʿdi ghurbatihā mawṣūlata r-raḥimi

125. Until the religion of Islam, thanks to them,

After banishment from her homeland was once again unified with her kin

مَكْفُولَةً أَبَدًا مِنْهُمْ بِخَيْرِ أَبٍ

وَخَيْرِ بَعْلٍ فَلَمْ تَيْتَمْ وَلَمْ تَئِمِ

Makfūlatan abadan minhum bi khayri abin

Wa khayri baʿlin fa lam taytam wa lam ta'imi

126. Ever protected from her enemies by the best father

And most excellent husband, so that she was neither orphaned nor widowed

هُمُ الْجِبَالُ فَسَلْ عَنْهُمْ مُصَادِمَهُمْ

مَاذَا رَأَى مِنْهُمُ فِي كُلِّ مُصْطَدَمِ

Humu l-jibālu fa sal ʿanhum muṣādimahum

Mādhā ra'ā minhumu fī kulli muṣṭadami

127. They were mountains - ask those who fought against them

Just what they saw of them on every battlefield

وَسَلْ حُنَيْنًا وَسَلْ بَدْرًا وَسَلْ أُحُدًا

فُصُولَ حَتْفٍ لَهُمْ أَدْهَى مِنَ الْوَخَمِ

Wa sal ḥunaynan wa sal badran wa sal uḥudan

Fuṣūla ḥatfin lahum ad-hā mina l-wakhami

128. Ask Hunayn, ask Badr, ask Uhud - seasons of death and destruction

More calamitous for them than fatal epidemics

الْمُصْدِرِي الْبِيضِ حُمْرًا بَعْدَ مَا وَرَدَتْ

مِنَ الْعِدَا كُلَّ مُسْوَدٍّ مِنَ اللِّمَمِ

Al-muṣdirī l-bīḍi ḥumran baʿda mā waradat

Mina l-ʿidā kulla muswaddin mina l-limami

129. Their burnished swords returned quenched and bloody,

After drinking deep beneath black locks on their enemies’ heads

وَالْكَاتِبِينَ بِسُمْرِ الْخَطِّ مَا تَرَكَتْ

أَقْلَامُهُمْ حَرْفَ جِسْمٍ غَيْرَ مُنْعَجِمِ

Wa l-kātibīna bi sumri l-khaṭṭi mā tarakat

Aqlāmuhum ḥarfa jismin ghayra munʿajimi

130. Like writers wielding reed pens for spears,

Their pens left no part of the bodies unpointed or unmarked

شَاكِي السِّلَاحِ لَهُمْ سِيمَا تُمَيِّزُهُمْ

وَالْوَرْدُ يَمْتَازُ بِالسِّيمَا عَنِ السَّلَمِ

Shāki s-silāḥi lahum sīmā tumayyizuhum

Wa l-wardu yamtāzu bi s-sīmā ʿani s-salami

131. Bristling with arms, yet a special quality distinguished them,

Just as a rose differs by a certain perfumed quality from the thorny salam tree

تُهْدِي إِلَيْكَ رِيَاحُ النَّصْرِ نَشْرَهُمُ

فَتَحْسَبُ الزَّهْرَ فِي الْأَكْمَامِ كُلَّ كَمِي

Tuhdī ilayka riyāḥu n-naṣri nashrahumu

Fa taḥsabu z-zahra fi l-akmāmi kulla kamī

132. The winds of victory would present to you their fragrance,

So that you imagine each valiant one of them to be a beautiful flower in bud

كَأَنَّهُمْ فِي ظُهُورِ الْخَيْلِ نَبْتُ رُبًا

مِنْ شِدَّةِ الْحَزْمِ لَا مِنْ شَدَّةِ الْحُزُمِ

Ka annahum fī ẓuhūri l-khayli nabtu ruban

Min shiddati l-ḥazmi lā min shaddati l-ḥuzumi

133. As if, riding their steeds, they were flowers blooming upon a height

Held there not by the tautness of their saddles, rather by the firmness of their resolution

طَارَتْ قُلُوبُ الْعِدَا مِنْ بَأْسِهِمْ فَرَقًا

فَمَا تُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ الْبَهْمِ وَالْبُهَمِ

Ṭārat qulūbu l-ʿidā min ba'sihim faraqan

Fa mā tufarriqu bayna l-bahmi wa l-buhami

134. The enemy hearts in turmoil, terrified at their mighty power,

Could hardly tell brave warriors from herds of sheep

وَمَنْ تَكُنْ بِرَسُولِ اللهِ نُصْرَتُهُ

إِنْ تَلْقَهُ الْأُسْدُ فِي آجَامِهَا تَجِمِ

Wa man takun bi Rasūli Llāhi nuṣratuhu

In talqahu l-usdu fī ājāmihā tajimi

135. Those whose help comes from the Messenger of Allah,

Even lions encountering them in their dens would be speechless with fear

وَلَنْ تَرَى مِنْ وَلِيٍّ غَيْرَ مُنْتَصِرٍ

بِهِ وَلَا مِنْ عَدُوٍّ غَيْرَ مُنْقَصِمِ

Wa lan tarā min waliyyin ghayra muntaṣirin

Bihi wa lā min ʿaduwwin ghayra munqasimi

136. You would never see a friend of his unaided by him,

Nor yet an enemy of his undefeated

أَحَلَّ أُمَّتَهُ فِي حِرْزِ مِلَّتِهِ

كَاللَّيْثِ حَلَّ مَعَ الْأَشْبَالِ فِي أَجَمِ

Aḥalla ummatahu fī ḥirzi millatihi

Ka l-laythi ḥalla maʿa l-ashbāli fī ajami

137. He established his community within the fortress of his religion,

As the lion settles down with its cubs in its lair

كَمْ جَدَّلَتْ كَلِمَاتُ اللهِ مِنْ جَدِلٍ

فِيهِ وَكَمْ خَصَمَ الْبُرْهَانُ مِنْ خَصِمِ

Kam jaddalat kalimātu Llāhi min jadilin

Fīhi wa kam khaṣama l-burhānu min khaṣimi

138. How often have the words of Allah thrown down those who contended with him,

How often has the Clear Proof defeated his opponents in argument!

كَفَاكَ بِالْعِلْمِ فِي الْأُمِّيِّ مُعْجِزَةً

فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ وَالتَّأْدِيبِ فِي الْيُتُمِ

Kafāka bi l-ʿilmi fi l-ummiyyi muʿjizatan

Fi l-jāhiliyyati wa t-ta'dībi fi l-yutumi

139. Enough of a miracle for you - such knowledge found

In someone unlettered, living in the Age of Ignorance, and such refinement in an orphan!

الْفَصْلُ التَّاسِعُ فِي تَوَسُّلٍ بِرَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ

Al-faṣlu t-tāsiʿu fī tawassulin bi Rasūli Llāhi (ṣalla Llāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam)

Chapter Nine

On Seeking Intercession Through the Prophet ﷺ

خَدَمْتُهُ بِمَدِيحٍ أَسْتَقِيلُ بِهِ

ذُنُوبَ عُمْرٍ مَضَى فِي الشِّعْرِ وَالْخِدَمِ

Khadamtuhu bi madīḥin astaqīlu bihi

Dhunūba ʿumrin maḍā fi sh-shiʿri wa l-khidami

140. I have served him with my praise, seeking pardon

For the sins of a life spent in poetry and the service of others

إِذْ قَلَّدَانِيَ مَا تُخْشَى عَوَاقِبُهُ

كَأَنَّنِي بِهِمَا هَدْيٌ مِنَ النَّعَمِ

Idh qalladāniya mā tukhshā ʿawāqibuhu

Ka annanī bihimā hadyun mina n-naʿami

141. Garlanded with these two sins, the consequences of which I dread

It is as though I were now a sacrificial animal

أَطَعْتُ غَيَّ الصِّبَا فِي الْحَالَتَيْنِ وَمَا

حَصَلْتُ إِلَّا عَلَى الْآثَامِ وَالنَّدَمِ

Aṭaʿtu ghayya ṣ-ṣibā fi l-ḥālatayni wa mā

Ḥaṣaltu illā ʿala l-āthāmi wa n-nadami

142. In both these errors I followed only the reckless delinquency of youth

Achieving nothing in the end but wrong action and regret

فَيَا خَسَارَةَ نَفْسٍ فِي تِجَارَتِهَا

لَمْ تَشْتَرِ الدِّينَ بِالدُّنْيَا وَلَمْ تَسُمِ

Fa yā khasārata nafsin fī tijāratihā

Lam tashtari d-dīna bi d-dunyā wa lam tasumi

143. Alas for a soul that has met with only loss in its transactions!

It did not use this world to help secure the Next, nor even to embark upon negotiations

وَمَنْ يَبِعْ آجِلًا مِنْهُ بِعَاجِلِهِ

يَبِنْ لَهُ الْغَبْنُ فِي بَيْعٍ وَفِي سَلَمِ

Wa man yabiʿ ājilan minhu bi ʿājilihi

Yabin lahu l-ghabnu fī bayʿin wa fī salami

144. Whoever sells his Hereafter in exchange for this world,

Soon discovers he has been cheated, both in present and future gains

إِنْ آتِ ذَنْبًا فَمَا عَهْدِي بِمُنْتَقِضٍ

مِنَ النَّبِيِّ وَلَا حَبْلِي بِمُنْصَرِمِ

In āti dhanban fa mā ʿahdī bi muntaqiḍin

Mina n-nabiyyi wa lā ḥablī bi munṣarimi

145. If I were to commit a sin, it would not break my contract

with the Prophet, nor cut off my connection to him

فَإِنَّ لِي ذِمَّةً مِنْهُ بِتَسْمِيَتِي

مُحَمَّدًا وَهْوَ أَوْفَى الْخَلْقِ بِالذِّمَمِ

Fa inna lī dhimmatan minhu bi tasmiyatī

Muḥammadan wahwa awfa l-khalqi bi dh-dhimami

146. For I have a covenant of protection from him by my being named

Muhammad, and he is the most faithful of all mankind in keeping trusts

إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي مَعَادِي آخِذًا بِيَدِي

فَضْلًا وَإِلَّا فَقُلْ يَا زَلَّةَ الْقَدَمِ

In lam yakun fī maʿādī ākhidhan bi yadī

Faḍlan wa illā faqul yā zallata l-qadami

147. On the Day of Rising, if he does not take me by the hand

Out of pure kindness, then just say, ‘What a terrible end!’

حَاشَاهُ أَنْ يَحْرِمَ الرَّاجِي مَكَارِمَهُ

أَوْ يَرْجِعَ الْجَارُ مِنْهُ غَيْرَ مُحْتَرَمِ

Ḥāshāhu an yaḥrima r-rājī makārimahu

Aw yarjiʿa l-jāru minhu ghayra muḥtarami

148. Far be it from him to ever deprive the hopeful one of his generous gifts,

Or to turn back someone seeking refuge without treating him honourably

وَمُنْذُ أَلْزَمْتُ أَفْكَارِي مَدَائِحَهُ

وَجَدْتُهُ لِخَلَاصِي خَيْرَ مُلْتَزِمِ

Wa mundhu alzamtu afkārī madā'iḥahu

Wajadtuhu li khalāṣī khayra multazimi

149. For ever since I have devoted all my thoughts to his praise,

I have found him to be the best guarantor of my salvation

وَلَنْ يَفُوتَ الْغِنَى مِنْهُ يَدًا تَرِبَتْ

إَنَّ الْحَيَا يُنْبِتُ الْأَزْهَارَ فِي الْأَكَمِ

Wa lan yafūta l-ghinā minhu yadan taribat

Inna l-ḥayā yunbitu l-azhāra fi l-akami

150. His bounty will not fail even a hand that is dusty and poor,

For surely the rain may bring forth flowers even on the rockiest of slopes

وَلَمْ أُرِدْ زَهْرَةَ الدُّنْيَا الَّتيِ اقْتَطَفَتْ

يَدَا زُهَيْرٍ بِمَا أَثْنَى عَلَى هَرِمِ

Wa lam urid zahrata d-dunya l-lati q-taṭafat

Yadā zuhayrin bimā athnā ʿalā harimi

151. Indeed, I have no more desire for the flowers of this world,

Like those gathered in by the hands of Zuhayr for his praise of Harim

الْفَصْلُ الْعَاشِرُ فِي الْمُنَاجَاةِ وَعَرْضِ الْحَاجَاتِ

Al-faṣlu l-ʿāshiru fi l-munājāti wa ʿarḍi l-ḥājāti

Chapter Ten

On Intimate Conversation and Cherished Hopes

يَا أَكْرَمَ الْخَلْقِ مَا لِي مَنْ أَلُوذُ بِهِ

سِوَاكَ عِنْدَ حُلُولِ الْحَادِثِ الْعَمِمِ

Yā akrama l-khalqi mā lī man alūdhu bihi

Siwāka ʿinda ḥulūli l-ḥādithi l-ʿamimi

152. O most Noble of all Creation, whose protection can I seek,

But yours, when the Great Catastrophe overtakes us?

وَلَنْ يَضِيقَ رَسُولَ اللهِ جَاهُكَ بِي

إِذَا الْكَرِيمُ تَجَلَّى بِاسْمِ مُنْتَقِمِ

Wa lan yaḍīqa rasūla Llāhi jāhuka bī

Idha l-karīmu tajallā bismi muntaqimi

153. O Messenger of Allah, your great rank will not be lessened by my petition,

If the Generous One appears as the Avenger

فَإِنَّ مِنْ جُودِكَ الدُّنْيَا وَضَرَّتَهَا

وَمِنْ عُلُومِكَ عِلْمَ اللَّوْحِ وَالْقَلَمِ

Fa inna min jūdika d-dunyā wa ḍarratahā

Wa min ʿulūmika ʿilma l-lawḥi wa l-qalami

154. For surely this world and its companion the Next are from your generosity

And part of your knowledge is knowledge of the Preserved Tablet and of the Pen

يَا نَفْسُ لَا تَقْنَطِي مِنْ زَلَّةٍ عَظُمَتْ

إِنَّ الْكَبَائِرَ فِي الْغُفْرَانِ كَاللَّمَمِ

Yā nafsu lā taqnaṭī min zallatin ʿaẓumat

Inna l-kabā'ira fi l-ghufrāni ka l-lamami

155. O my soul, do not despair over an error which may appear immense,

For surely even grave sins, with divine forgiveness are more like minor lapses

لَعَلَّ رَحْمَةَ رَبِّي حِينَ يَقْسِمُهَا

تَأْتِي عَلَى حَسَبِ الْعِصْيَانِ فِي الْقِسَمِ

Laʿalla raḥmata rabbī ḥīna yaqsimuhā

Ta'tī ʿalā ḥasabi l-ʿiṣyāni fi l-qisami

156. It may be that my Lord’s mercy, when He distributes it,

Will be apportioned in accordance with the magnitude of sins

يَا رَبِّ وَاجْعَلْ رَجَائِي غَيْرَ مُنْعَكِسٍ

لَدَيْكَ وَاجْعَلْ حِسَابِي غَيْرَ مُنْخَرِمِ

Yā rabbī wa j-ʿal rajā'ī ghayra munʿakisin

Ladayka wa j-ʿal ḥisābī ghayra munkharimi

157. O my Lord, let not my hopes in You be cast back unfulfilled,

Nor let my firm conviction [of Your Goodness] be thrown into disarray

وَالْطُفْ بِعَبْدِكَ فِي الدَّارَيْنِ إِنَّ لَهُ

صَبْرًا مَتَى تَدْعُهُ الْأَهْوَالُ يَنْهَزِمِ

Wa l-ṭuf bi ʿabdika fi d-dārayni inna lahu

Ṣabran matā tadʿuhu l-ahwālu yanhazimi

158. Be kind to Your servant, both in this world and the Next,

For his patience, when called upon by dreadful fears, just disappears

وَأْذَنْ لِسُحْبِ صَلَاةٍ مِنْكَ دَائِمَةٍ

عَلَى النَّبِيِّ بِمُنْهَلٍّ وَمُنْسَجِمِ

Wa'dhan lisuḥbi ṣalātin minka dā'imatin

ʿAla n-nabiyyi bi munhallin wa munsajimi

159. And let a cloud of blessings from You pour down

Upon the Prophet, raining down unceasingly

مَا رَنَّحَتْ عَذَبَاتِ الْبَانِ رِيحُ صَبًا

وَأَطْرَبَ الْعِيسَ حَادِي الْعِيسِ بِالنَّغَمِ

Mā rannaḥat ʿadhabāti l-bāni rīḥu ṣaban

Wa aṭraba l-ʿīsa ḥādī l-ʿīsi bi n-naghami

160. As long as the easterly breezes sway the willow boughs,

And the caravan leader urges on his white camels, delighting them with his songs

The following seven verses were not in the original Burda, but were added at a later date

ثُمَّ الرِّضَا عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعَنْ عُمَرَ

وَعَنْ عَلِيٍّ وَعَنْ عُثْمَانَ ذِي الْكَرَمِ

Thumma r-riḍā ʿan Abī Bakrin wa ʿan ʿUmara

Wa ʿan ʿAliyyin wa ʿan ʿUthmāna dhi l-karami

And grant Your good pleasure to Abu Bakr and Umar

And to Ali and Uthman, the noble and generous

وَالْآلِ وَالصَّحْبِ ثُمَّ التَّابِعِينَ فَهُمْ

أَهْلُ التُّقَى وَالنَّقَى وَالْحِلْمِ وَالْكَرَمِ

Wa l-āli wa ṣ-ṣaḥbi thumma t-tābiʿīna fa hum

Ahlu t-tuqā wa n-naqā wa l-ḥilmi wa l-karami

And to the Family and the Companions and Followers,

For they are the people of true mindfulness of God and of purity, forbearance and generosity

يِا رَبِّ بِالْمُصْطَفَى بَلِّغْ مَقَاصِدَنَا

وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا مَا مَضَى يَا وَاسِعَ الْكَرَمِ

Yā rabbī bi l-Muṣṭafā balligh maqāṣidanā

Waghfir lanā mā maḍā yā wāsiʿa l-karami

O my Lord, by the Chosen One, let us attain all that we are hoping for,

And pardon us for what has passed, O Boundlessly Generous One

وَاغْفِرْ إِلَهِي لِكُلِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ بِمَا

يَتْلُونَ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ الْأَقْصَى وَفِي الْحَرَمِ

Waghfir ilāhī li kulli l-muslimīna bimā

Yatlūna fi l-masjidi l-aqṣā wa fi l-ḥarami

And, O God, forgive all the Muslims their wrong actions,

By that which they recite in the Masjid al-Aqsa, as well as in the Ancient Sanctuary

بِجَاهِ مَنْ بَيْتُهُ فِي طَيْبَةٍ حَرَمٌ

وَإِسْمُهُ قَسَمٌ مِنْ أَعْظَمِ الْقَسَمِ

Bi jāhi man baytuhu fī ṭaybatin ḥaramun

Wa ismuhu qasamun min aʿẓami l-qasami

By the rank of the one whose dwelling is a sanctuary in Tayba

And whose very name is one of the greatest of oaths

وَهَذِهِ بُرْدَةُ الْمُخْتَارِ قَدْ خُتِمَتْ

وَالْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ فِي بَدْءٍ وَ فِي خَتَمِ

Wa hādhihi burdatu l-mukhtāri qad khutimat

Wa l-ḥamdu li Llāhi fī bad'in wa fī khatami

This Burda of the Chosen One is now complete,

Praise be to Allah for its beginning and for its end

أَبْيَاتُهَا قَدْ أَتَتْ سِتِّينَ مَعْ مِائَةٍ

فَرِّجْ بِهَا كَرْبَنَا يَا وَاسِعَ الْكَرَمِ

Abyātuhā qad atat sittīna maʿ mi'atin

Farrij bihā karbanā yā wāsiʿa l-karami

Its verses number one hundred and sixty,

Ease, by them, all of our difficulties, O Boundlessly Generous Lord

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