Bi sal'in ilā wādī-l 'aqīq
Translated by: Imam Fakhruddin Owaisi
بِسَلْعٍ إِلَى وَادِي الْعَقِيقِ كَثِيبُ // حَنَنْتُ إِلَيْهِ وَالْفُؤَادُ كَئِيبُ
Bi sal‘in ilā wādī-l ‘aqīqi kathību // ḥanantu ilayhi wa-l fu’ādu ka’ību
Between Sala’in and al-Aqiq (valleys that surround Madinah) is a hillside…
That I yearn for with an anguished heart!
***
كَئِيبٌ عَلَيْلٌ مُغْرَمٌ وَمُتَيَّمٌ // بِهِ حَفَّتِ الْأَجْنَاسُ وَهْوَ غَرِيبُ
Ka’ībun ‘alaylun mughramun wa mutayyamun // bihi ḥaffati-l ajnāsu wahwa garību
Sad and sick, in love and passion.
Surrounded by people but still a stranger!
***
غَرِيبٌ فَلاَ شَكْلٌ يُقَاسِي شُجُونَهُ // مُحَالٌ عَلَيْهِ الْوَصْلُ وَهْوَ قَرِيبُ
Gharībun falā shaklun yuqāsī shujūnahu // muḥālun ‘alayhi-l waṣlu wahwa qarību
A stranger indeed, for none endures a passion like his!
Forbidden from meeting his beloved, who is so near!
***
قَرِيبٌ إِلَيْهِ مَا يُحِبُّ وَيَشْتَهِي // بَعِيدٌ عَلَيْهِ الدَّهْرَ فَهْوَ عَجِيبُ
Qarībun ilayhi mā yuḥibbu wa yashtahī //ba’īdun ‘alayhi-d dahra fah’wa ‘ajību
What he desires is so near to him
Yet distanced by time…..how strange indeed!
***
عَجِيبٌ كَعِيسٍ حِينَ يَقْتُلُهَا الظَّمَا // عَلَيْهِ مِيَاهٌ كَالْفُرَاتِ عَذُوبُ
‘Ajībun ka‘īshin ḥīna yaqtuluhā-ẓ ẓamā // ‘alayhi mayāhun ka-l furāti ‘adhūbu
As strange as the Camel that dies of thirst
While carrying the sweetest of water on it’s back!
***
تَوَهَّمْتُ آيَاتِ النَّبِي فَعَرَفْتُهُ // هُوَ الْكُلُّ مِنْهُ الْكُلُّ لَيْسَ عَرِيبُ
Tawahhamtu āyāti-n nabiyyi fa‘araftuhu // huwa-l kullu minhu-l kullu laysa ‘arību
I visualize the miracles of the Prophet and I recognise him
He is everything and everything is from him! None other!
***
فَمِنْهُ أَبُوهُ مِنْهُ مُوسَى كَلِيمُهُ // كَذَا الْخِلُّ قَبْلَ الرُّوحِ وَهْوَ حَبِيبُ
Fa-minhu abūhu minhu mūsā kalīmuhu // kadhā-l khillu qabla-r rūḥi wahwa ḥabību
From him is his father (Adam)! From him is Moses the Spoken one!
From him is the Intimate one (Ibrahim) and the Spirit (Jesus)! For he is the Most Beloved!
***
فُيُوضَاتُ خَيْرِ الْخَلْقِ فَاضَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ // فَسَادَ الَّذِي وَافَاهُ مِنْهُ نَصْيبُ
Fuyūḍātu khayri-l khalqi fāḍat ‘alayhim // fasāda-l ladhī wāfāhu minhu naṣību
Indeed the spiritual luminance of the Best of Creation (SAW) flowed upon all of them
And whosoever received a portion of it, surpassed the rest!
***
وَأُنْشِدُ بَيْتًا قَالَهُ الْفَحْلُ مَادِحًا // وَمُثْنِي سِوَى خَيْرِ الْأَنَامِ كَذُوبُ
Wa unshidu baytān qālahu-l fuhla mādiḥān // wa muthnī siwā khayri-l anāmi kadhūbu
So I repeat (for him) a couplet said by the legendary (Arab) poet (Alqamah in praise of a king)
And whoever praises other than the Best of Mankind (SAW) is a liar:
***
فَفِي كُلِّ حَيٍّ قَدْ خَبَطْتَ بِنِعْمَةٍ// فَحُقَّ لِشَاسٍ مِنْ جَدَاكَ ذُنُوبُ
Fafī kulli ḥayyin qad khabat’ta bi-ni’imatin // fa-ḥuqqa lishāshin min jadāka dhunūbu
Indeed your generous favours have covered all lands…
So Shas (a kinsman of Alqamah who was imprisoned by the King) also deserves a portion of it!
***
بِحَقِّكَ فَاشْفَعْ فِيَّ فَإِنَّنِي مُقَيِّدٌ مَعَ // الْعُرْجِ خَلْقًا وَالْقُيُودُ ذُنُوبُ
Bi-haqqika fāshfa’a fiyya fa-innanī muqayidun ma’a // -l ‘urji khalqān wa-l quyūdu dhunūbu
For your (generosity’s) sake! Intercede for me for I am also imprisoned!
And lamed and restrained by my sins!
***
فَأَنْتَ شَفِيعُ الْمُذْنِبِينَ وَغَيْرِهِمْ // فَلاَ ضَرَّنِي مَا قَدْ يَخُطُّ رَقِيبُ
Fa-Anta Shafī’u-l mudhnibīna wa ghayrihim // falā ḍarranī mā qad yakhuttu raqību
For you are the Intercessor for the sinners and everyone else
Indeed (with your intercession) I cannot be harmed by what is written by Raqib (recorder of sins)
***
أَأَحْمَدُ يَامَاحِي الضَّلاَلِ مُحَمَّدًا // وَعَاقِبُ أَرْسَالِ الْإِلَهِ حَبِيبُ
A-Ahmadu Yā Māḥī-d dalāli Muḥammadān // wa āqibu arsāli-l Ilāhi ḥabību
O Ahmad! O remover of all misguidance! O Muhammad!
O Final Messenger of God! O Beloved (of God)!
***
أَحَاشِرُ يَا طَهَ الْمُقَفَّى وَفَكَّنِي // أَجِرْ مُذْنِبًا مِمَّا جَنَاهُ يَذُوبُ
Aḥāshiru Yā Taha-l muqafā wa fakkanī // ajir mudhnibān mimmā janāhu yadhūbu
O first to be resurrected (by God)! O Taha! O Final One! O Bringer of Good News!
Save a sinner who melts (in shame ) of his sins!
***
تَسَلَّمَ يَا مَحْمُودُ قَلْبِي وَفَكَّنِي // عَنِ النَّفْسِ عَلِّي مِنْ سِوَاكَ أَتُوبُ
Tasallama Yā Maḥmūdu qalbī wafakkanī // ‘ani-n nafsi ‘alī min siwāka atūbu
Take my heart O Praised One! And free it from the lower self!
For I repent from all other than You!
***
قَدِ اخْتِرْتَ مِنْ مُخْتَارِ مُخْتَارِ عُرْبِهِ // أَتَحْفِرُ عَاصٍ جَاءَ وَهْوَ سَلِيبُ
Qadi-khtirta min Mukhtāri Mukhtāri ‘urbihi // ataḥfiru ‘āsin jā-a wahwa salību
Indeed you were chosen from the chosen ones from the chosen Arabs!
Will you (not) assist a sinner who has come to you empty handed and destitute!
***
شَفَاعَتُكَ الْعُظْمَى لِمِثْلِي فَكُنْ لَنَا // شَفِيعًا فَإِنِّي الْيَوْمَ جِئْتُ أُنِيبُ
Shafā’atuka-l uẓmā li-mithlī fakun lanā // shafī’ān fa innī-l yauma ji’tu unību
Your great intercession is what I hope for! So be our Intercessor!
For I have come to you today repentant!
***
وَتَرْفَعُنِي وَلْتَرْضَ عَنِّي فَإِنْ يَكُنْ // سِوَاكَ نَصِيبِي مَا أَتَاني نَصِيبُ
Wa tarfa‘unī waltarḍa ‘annī fa-in yakun // siwāka naṣībī mā atānī naṣību
So raise me! And be pleased with me! And If my portion is from other than you!
Then may I never receive it!
***
إِذَا رَضِيَ الْمُخْتَارُ عَنِّي فَلَمْ أُبَلْ // مَقَالَ وُشَاةٍ وَيْكَ هِنْدٌ غَضُوبُ
Idhā raḍiya-l mukhtāru ‘annī falam ubal // maqāla wushātin wayka hindun ghaḍūbu
Indeed, if the Chosen Prophet is pleased with me, then I do not care
About the words of my detractors or anyone else’s displeasure!
***
وَإِنْ سَأَلُونِي عَنْ حَبِيبِي وَمَذْهَبِي // جَوَابِي رَسُولُ اللهِ حِينَ أُجِيبُ
Wa in sa-alūnī ‘an ḥabībī wa madh’habī // jawābī rasūlu-llahi ḥīna ujību
And if they ask me about my Beloved and my Persuasion (madh-hab)
My answer will always be: The Messenger of Allah!
***
إِذَا بِخِلَ الْمُمْدُوحُ يَوْمًا فَإِنَّنِي // حَبِيبِي وَمَمْدُوحِي الْكَرِيمُ وَهُوبُ
Idhā bikhila-l mumdūḥu yaumān fa-innanī // ḥabībī wa mamdūḥī-l karīmu wahūbu
If some of those who are praised are stingy (in rewarding their praiser)
Indeed, my beloved and my praised one is the most generous of all!
***
أَنِطْتُ بِهِ كُلَّ الْمَطَامِعِ يَافِعًا // وَشَرْخًا وَشَيْخًا قَدْ عَلاَهُ مَشِيبُ
Aniṭ’ṭu bihi kulla-l maṭāmi’i yāfi’ān // wa sharkhān wa shaykhān qad ‘alāhu mashību
And I have attached all my desires and wishes to him, as a young boy
As an adult, and (now) as an old man with grey hair!
***
بِبُرْدَتِكَ الْعُظْمَى أَجَزْتَ لِمَادِحٍ // أَجِزْهُ بِبَدْرٍ لاَ دَنَاهُ لَهِيبُ
Bi-burdatika-l ‘uẓmā ajazta li-mādiḥin // ajiz’hu bi-badrin lā danāhu lahību
You rewarded a praiser once with your blessed Burdah (Cloak)
Reward me too with a Bardin (Coolness) that no fire can come near!
***
تَقُولُ أَلاَ يَا نَارُ بَرْدًا مُسَلِّمًا لِذَا // الْعَبْدِ كُونِي مَا أَقَامَ عَسِيبُ
Taqūlu alā Yā Nāru bardān musallimān lidhā // -l ‘abdi kūnī mā aqāma ‘asību
Saying to it: O Fire! Be cool and be safe!
For this servant (Ibrahim)! As long as the mountain of Asib stands (i.e. forever)
***
عَلَيْهِ صَلاَةُ اللهِ ثُمَّ سَلاَمُهُ // يُمَزِّقُ أَشْلاَءَ الْبُغَاءِ كَلِيبُ
‘Alayhi ṣalātu-llahi thumma salāmuhu // yumazziqu ashlā’i-l bughā’i kalību
May the blessings and salutation of Allah be upon him…
And may the dogs (of his wrath) tear apart all those who wish me harm
***
عَلَيْهِ صَلاَةُ اللهِ ثُمَّ سَلاَمُهُ // أُوَا فِيهِ بِالأَمْدَاحِ وَهْوَ يُثِيبُ
‘Alayhi ṣalātu-llahi thumma salāmuhu // uwā fīhi bi-l amdāḥi wahwa yuthību
May the blessings and salutation of Allah be upon him…
And may I continue praising him and he continues rewarding me!
***
عَلَيْهِ صَلاَةُ اللهِ ثُمَّ سَلاَمُهُ // فَإِنِّي لَدَيْهِ بِالثَّنَاءِ خَطِيبُ
‘Alayhi ṣalātu-llahi thumma salāmuhu // fa-inniī ladayhi bi-th thanā’i khaṭību
May the blessings and salutation of Allah be upon him…
And may I forever remain the singer of praises in his presence!
***
خَطِيبٌ وَقَوَّالٌ لَدَيهِ وَطَامِعٌ // وَفَيضُ مَلاَذِي لِلْعَالَمِينَ سَكُوبُ
Khaṭībun wa qaawwālun ladayhi wa ṭāmi’un // wa fayḍu malādhī li-l ‘ālamīna sukūbu
An orator and singer in his presence, seeking (his grace)
For the generosity of my master engulfs the whole world!
***
عَلَيْهِ مَعَ الأَلِ الْكِرَامِ وَصَحْبِهِ // يَحِنُّ إِلَى مَاحِي الضَّلاَلِ نَجِيبُ
‘Alayhi ma’a-l ali-l kirāmu wa ṣaḥbihi // yaḥinnu ilā Māḥī-ḍ ḍalāli najību
Blessing upon him and his noble Household and Companions…
As long as a noble one yearns towards the Wiper of Misguidance (SAW)!