Ibrahim Niasse

Translation:

Did lightning flash towards the meadows, gleaming?

O grant me a person that when the lightning flashes, he weeps

You only glimpse it weakly, woe to you, and you are inflamed with love

And glistening tears are stilled in the hour of Life

Recalling the days of youth which have passed

And nothing remains save agony and pain

May God pour out rain on a land in Madina for indeed she is

The travellers’ halt, in it, tattered rags are mended

Home of the beloved of God and he is His entrusted one

Residing in it [al-Madina], surrounded by all his followers

Home to the one whose heart is preoccupied with his love

For his remembrance is to the heart is like a meadow and grassland

Home to the most exalted of creation, beautiful of character and form

Home to he who, in creation, gives and holds back

And [he is] the best of them in himself, in relation by marriage, and in descent

In knowledge and in manners,  most mindful and most reverent

Indeed, he is the best of creation in absolute magnificence and splendour.

Awe-inspiring,  in his gait, he strides powerfully

[He is] Rosy of colour and black of eye

putting to shame the eye of the wild cow grazing in the bush

Large-eyed, with long lashes, and broad of brow is the Messenger of God,

and his character is more expansive

with eyebrows fine and curved, the face of TaHa is round

and his beard is thick, and his chest, wide

His shoulders are broad, and his bones large

and of stocky build is the sublime TaHa

Likewise his biceps are large, and large are his forearms

His palms are welcoming/generous and shine with lights

his fingers were long and unclipped

and thick, these are among his sublime features

his teeth are white, and they shine forth when he smiles

like grains of white clouds or the flashing lightning

The hair on his head is luxurious and manly

and he is soft-spoken and silent, for he is reverent

and his sorrows are connected to his contemplation

and if he speaks, he speaks goodness and the truth that is due

he but glances and he prevails over the earth

he leads his companions and the angels follow him

And the neck of the Messenger of God resembles a doll

When he separates his hair, it [neck] shines and glows

Like the hidden pearls, and its smell is like musk

for there is none altogether like the Messenger of God in fortune

the Most clement of God’s creatures and most just of His creation

Among people, most generous is he, [and] even the bravest [of them]

He serves families, mends [sews] his sandals

He cuts meats and he patches clothes

So modest, that he answers to whoever calls upon him

For his anger is only for his Master (Mawla), and he returns to The Truth 

He never refrained from that which is lawful even if it were pleasant

And he was not consumed, in most times, with satiating his appetite

Sometimes he rides on horses، at times

On donkeys, and sometimes on foot he walks, striding briskly

And likewise his clothing was fragrant with perfume

He sits with [different] groups, while voices are yet raised

Sometimes he jokes, at other times, he creates bonds of friendship

Never did he fear any king, for indeed his state is lofty

He never despised the poor, but invited them all

And by God, the Master of creation, he brings together creation

The Master honoured him with the greatest of honours

And He singled him out as the one who benefits creation

Upon him be the blessings of God as long as [the sun] shines forth from the East

And [as long as] the doves sing on the branches cooing

And as long as the dust of time is repelled from the place which

adorns his praises with song and rhyme

And upon his family and companions as long as the words of the longing lover [ask]

Did lightning flash towards the meadows, gleaming?

Original:

Ibn al-Fāriḍ

Translation:

1. Is it a flash of lightning that shone over the mottled mountain, or did Layla lift, from her face, the veil?

2. Yes, she unveiled her face at night, and made it day with the light of her shining beauty

3. O rider of the strenuous she-camel—mayest thou be protected from destruction!—if thou shalt cross o’er rugged land, or make thy journey through torrent-bottoms

4. And if thou passest along Na’man of the thorn-bush, turn thou aside unto a valley there I have known of old, wide spreading,

5. Then at the right of al-‘Alaman, skirting Na’man to the East, incline, and repair to its sweet-scented arin

6. And when thou hast reached unto long mountains opposing the sandy stretch, inquire after a heart that has perished in that dear torrent-bed

7. And recite a greeting unto the dear folk dwelling there on my behalf (and say, ‘I left him thirsting passionately for your presence’):

8. ‘O inhabitants of Nejd, is there no compassion for one a prisoner to a loved companion, who desireth not release?

9. Why have ye not sent a greeting to the impassioned one, in the folds of the dust-free winds at evening,

10.’Whereby he may live anew, who supposed your shunning him to be but a jest, and yet believed jesting far removed from your wants?’

11. O thou who reproachest a passionate heart, ignorant of what he has long been enduring—mayest thou never achieve success!—

12. Thou hast wearied thyself in counseling him whose determined view it is, that he will not look upon prosperity and good fortune:

13. Refrain—may I have naught of thee!—and reject thou him whose bowels have been mercilessly wounded by wide-eyed enchanters.

14. Thou wast the truest of friends, before thou didst offer thy counsel to one passionate with love; and hast thou ever seen amorous swain friendly disposed to counsellors?

15. If thou seekest my reformation, for my own part, I never desired any reformation for the ruin of my heart in passion

16. What is it that the reproachers desire, in reproaching one who has clothed himself in profligacy, and taken his rest and is at repose?

17. O people of my affection, is it possible that he who hopes for union with you should attain his ambition, and so his mind enjoy rest?

18. Since ye were absent form my gaze, truly my sighing fills all the quarts of Egypt with lamentation

19. and when I remember you, I sway with emotion as though I have been given to drink of wine, because of the fragrance of your memory

20. And when I am urged to feign forgetfulness of my bond with you, I find my bowels are very jealous of that bond

21. Fresh forever be the recollection of those days passed by, with neighbors in whose company our nights were festivals indeed

22. When the tribe’s enclosure was my homeland too, and the dwellers of al-Ghaḍa were my heart’s whole comfort, and when I came down as I pleased to water there freely;

23. And its dear people were my desire, and the shade of its palm-trees my joy, and the sands of its twain valleys my place of repose.

24. Alas for that time and its sweetness, days when I ever found rest from weariness!

25. I swear by Zamzam and Abraham’s station, and he who came to the Sacred House crying, ‘Labbayk, to Thee I come, O Lord!’ a journeyer in the land:

26. Never did the breeze wafting from the East sway the sweet-scented wormwood of the sand-hills, but that it brought new life from you to the lovers slain by passion

Translation modified from The Mystical Poem of Ibn al-Farid by A.J. Arberry

Original:

أبَرْقٌ، بدا من جانِبِ الغَورِ، لامعُ،                  أم ارتَفَعتْ، عن وجه ليلى ، البراقِعُ
نعم اسفرت ليلى فصار بوجهها                         نهارا به نور المحاسن ساطع
أنارُ الغضا ضاءتْ وسلمى بذي الغضا                          أمِ ابتسمتْ عمَّا حــكتهُ المدامعُ
أنشرُ خزامي فاحَ أمْ عرفُ حاجرٍ                     بأمّ القُرى ، أم عِطْرُ عَزّة َ ضائِعُ
ألا ليتَ شعري هلْ سليمي مقيمة ٌ                      بِوادي الحِمى ، حَيثُ المُتيَّمُ والِعُ
وهلْ لعلعَ الرَّعدُ الهتونُ بلعلعٍ                    وهلْ جادَها صَوبٌ من المُزنِ هامِعُ
وهلْ أردنْ ماءَ العذيبِ وحاجرٍ                    جِهاراً، وسِرُّ اللّيلِ، بالصّبحِ، شائِعُ
وهل قاعَة ُ الوَعْساءمخْضَرّة َ الرّبى ؛               وهلْ، ما مَضَى فيها من العيش، راجعُ
وهلْ، برُبى نجْدٍ، فَتوضِحَ، مُسنِدٌ                          أُهَيلَ النّقا عمّا حَوَتْهُ الأضالِعُ
وهلْ بلوى سلعٍ يسلْ عنْ متيَّمٍ                          بكاظمة ٍ ماذا بهِ الشَّوقُ صانعُ
وهلْ عذباتُ الرَّندِ يقطفُ نورها                             وهلْ سلماتٌ بالحجازِ أيانعُ
وهلْ أثلاثُ الجزعِ مثمرة ٌ وهلْ                       عُيونُ عَوادي الدّهرِعنها هَواجِعُ
وهل قاصِراتِ الطّرفِ عِينٌ، بعالجٍ،                      على عهديَ المعهودِ أمْ هوِ ضائعُ
وهلْ ظبياتَ الرَّقمتينِ بعيدنا                               أقمنا بها أمْ دونَ ذلكَ مانعُ
وهَل فَتَياتٌ بالغُويرِ يُرينَني                              مرابعَ نعمٍ نعمَ تلكَ المرابعُ
وهلْ ظلُّ ذاكَ الضَّالِ شرقيَّ ضارجٍ                           ظليلٌ، فـقَدْ رَوّتْهُ منّي المَدامعُ
وهلْ عامرٌ منْ بعد ناشعبُ عامرٍ                          وهل هوَ، يوماً، للمُحبّينَ جامِعُ
وهلْ أمَّ بيتَ اللهِ يا أمَّ مالكٍ                          عريبٌ لهمْ عندي جميعاً صنائعُ
وهلْ نَزَلَ الرَّكبُ العِراقي، مُعَرِّفاً،                          وهلْ شرعتْ نحوَ الخيامِ شرائعُ
وهلْ رقصتْ بالمأزمينِ قلائصٌ                             وهلْ للقبابِ البيضِ فيها تدافعُ
وهلْ لي بجمعِ الشَّملِ في جمع مسعدٌ                          وهلْ لليالي الخيفِ بالعمرِ بائعُ
وهلْ سلَّمتْ سلمى على الحجرِ الَّذي                           بهِ العهدُ والتفَّتْ عليهِ الأصابعُ
وهلْ رضعتْ منْ ثديِ زمزمَ رضعة ً                     فلا حُرّمتْ، يوماً عليها، المَراضِعُ
لعلّ أُصَيحابي، بِمكّة ، يُبْرِدُوا،                          بذِكْرِ سُلَيْمَى ، ما تُجِنّ الأضالعُ
وعلَّ الُّلييلاتِ الَّتي قدْ تصرَّمتْ                                تعودُ لنا يوماً فيظفرَ طامعُ
ويَفْرَحَ محْزُونٌ، ويَحيَا مُتَيَّمٌ،                                 ويأنسَ مشتاقٌ ويلتذْ سامعُ

Translation:

Original:

هلْ نارُ ليلى بَدت ليلاً بِذي سَلَمِ،             أمْ بارقٌ لاحَ في الزَّوراءِ فالعلمِ
أرواحَ نعمانَ هلاَّ نسمة ٌ سحراً                 وماءَ وجرة َ هلاَّ نهلة ٌ بفمِ
يا سائقَ الظَّعنِ يطوي البيدَ معتسفاً         طيَّ السّجِلّ، بذاتِ الشّيحِ من إضَمِ
عُجْ بالحِمى يا رَعاكَ اللَّهُ، مُعتَمداً          خميلة َ الضَّالِ ذاتَ الرَّندِ والخزمِ
وقِفْ بِسِلْعٍ وسِلْ بالجزْعِ:هلْ مُطرَتْ                   بالرَّقمتينِ أثيلاتٌ بمنسجمِ
ناشَدْتُكَ اللَّهَ إنْ جُزْتَ العَقيقَ ضُحًى            فاقْرَ السَّلامَ عليهِمْ، غيرَ مُحْتَشِمِ
وقُلْ تَرَكْتُ صَريعاً، في دِيارِكُمُ،                حيّاً كميِّتٍ يعيرُ السُّقمَ للسُّقمِ
فَمِنْ فُؤادي لَهيبٌ نابَ عنْ قَبَسٍ،              ومنْ جفوني دمعٌ فاضَ كالدِّيمِ
وهذهِ سنَّة ُ العشَّاقِ ما علقوا               بِشادِنٍ، فَخَلا عُضْوٌ منَ الألَمِ
يالائماً لا مني في حبِّهمْ سفهاً               كُفَّ المَلامَ، فلو أحبَبْتَ لمْ تَلُمِ
وحُرْمَة ِ الوَصْلِ، والوِدِّالعتيقِ، وبالـ           العهدِ الوثيقِ وما قدْ كانَ في القدمِ
ما حلتُ عنهمْ بسلوانٍ ولابدلٍ             ليسَ التَّبدُّلُ والسُّلوانُ منْ شيمي
ردُّوا الرُّقادَ لجفني علَّ طيفكمُ            بمضجعي زائرٌ في غفلة ِ الحلمِ
آهاً لأيّامنا بالخَيْفِ، لَو بَقِيَتْ             عشراً وواهاً عليها كيفَ لمْ تدمِ
هيهاتَ واأسفي لو كانَ ينفعني        أوْ كانَ يجدى على ما فات واندمي
عني إليكمْ ظباءَ المنحنى كرماً              عَهِدْتُ طَرْفيَ لم يَنْظُرْ لِغَيرِهِمِ
طوعاً لقاضٍ أتى في حُكمِهِ عَجَباً،          أفتى بسفكِ دمي في الحلِّ والحرمِ
أصَمَّ لم يَسمَعِ الشّكوَى ، وأبكمَ لم        يُحرْجواباً وعنْ حالِ المشوقِ عَمِي

Buṣīrī’s Burdah

Translation:

Is it from remembering the neighbors at Dhu Salam that you mingle with blood tears shed from your eyes

Or has the wind blown from before Kāẓimah, and lightning flashed in the darkness of Iḍam

What ails your eyes, that when you bid them cease they weep still more? What ails your heart, that when you bid it wake, it wanders

Reckons the lovelorn that his love may be concealed, when part of him’s a torrent, and the other is a blaze?

But for passion, you wouldn’t weep at an abandoned camp, nor lie awake at night recalling the willow and the mountain

So how can you deny your love, when the witness of tears and sickness have testified against you?

Love has written upon your cheeks two tracks of tears like yellow spice and red ‘anam fruit

Yes, my loved one’s spirit haunted me, and denied me my sleep. For love ever obstructs pleasures with pain.

You who blame me for this chaste love: I seek your pardon! Yet had you judged fairly, you would not have blamed me at all.

Original:

أمن تذكــــــر جيــــــرانٍ بذى ســــــلم
مزجت دمعا جَرَى من مقلةٍ بـــــدم

َامْ هبَّــــت الريـــــحُ مِنْ تلقاءِ كاظمــةٍ
وأَومض البرق في الظَّلْماءِ من إِضم

فما لعينيك إن قلت اكْفُفاهمتـــــــــــــــا
وما لقلبك إن قلت استفق يهـــــــــم

أيحسب الصب أن الحب منكتـــــــــــم
ما بين منسجم منه ومضطــــــــرم

لولا الهوى لم ترق دمعاً على طـــــللٍ
ولا أرقت لذكر البانِ والعلــــــــــمِ

فكيف تنكر حباً بعد ما شـــــــــــــهدت
به عليك عدول الدمع والســـــــــقمِ

وأثبت الوجد خطَّيْ عبرةٍ وضــــــــنى
مثل البهار على خديك والعنــــــــم

نعم سرى طيف من أهوى فأرقنـــــــي
والحب يعترض اللذات بالألــــــــمِ

يا لائمي في الهوى العذري معـــــذرة
مني إليك ولو أنصفت لم تلــــــــــمِ

Ibn ‘Arabi

He saw the lightning flash
and yearned toward the East.
If it had flashed West
west he’d have turned.

I burn for the lightning,
for the flash,
not for this or that – 
some piece of ground.

The East wind told me
a tradition about them, from
the wreck of my heart, from
ecstasy, sorrow, my disarray

From drunkenness, reason,
longing, the wound of love,
from tears, my eyelids,
the fire, my heart:

He whom you desire
is between your ribs,
turned side to side
in the heat of your sigh.

I told them tell him
he’s the one
who kindled the fire
blazing in my heart.

It is extinguished only
in our coming together. If
it burns out of control,
who can be blamed for loving?


From: Stations of Desire: Translations from Tarjuman al-ashwaq by Michael Sells

Original:

رأى البرْقَ شرقيّاً، فحنّ إلى الشرْقِ،                         ولو لاحَ غربيَّاً لحنَّ إلى الغربِ
فإنّ غَرامي بالبُرَيْقِ ولمحِهِ                          وليسَ غرَامي بالأماكِنِ والتُّرْبِ
رَوَتْهُ الصَّبَا عنهُمْ حَديثاً مُعَنْعَناً             عن البثّ عن وَجدي عن الحزْن عن كربي
عن السكرِ عن عقلي عن الشوق عن جوًى                 عن الدَّمعِ عن جفني عن النَّارعن قلبي
بأنّ الذي تهواه بينَ ضُلوعكم                              تقلِّبهُ الأنفاسُ جنباً إلى جنبِ

فقلتُ لها: بلِّغ إليهِ فإنَّهُ                          هو الموقِدُ النّارَ التي داخلَ القلبِ

   فإن كان إطفاءٌ، فوَصْلٌ مُخلَّدٌ                 وإن كان إحتراقٌ، فلا ذنبَ للصّبّ      

Shushtari

Whether lightning flashes at al-Himā

or you watch for it, cast off restraint

Say to whomever finds in it a bad omen:

I was happy, when I saw the lightning.

When it appeared over the high place of worship,

it taught the morning to shine

When a wanderer came in the darkness,

it turned his night to day

His sun rose from his deepest self to the summit of perfection,

leaving him perplexed.

Drunkenness afflicted him from what he saw and

the kindness of the cupbearer rounding  toward him

He poured for him a convivial old vintage,

the choicest wine, an overpowering drink.

His intoxication made him stagger, and he called out:

“Friend don’t abandon the great ones

Be wanton, like me.

Drinking this has left me with no choice.”

Through it, the moment is purified, since it passed ’round

to the builder of the wall.

How odd: Layla’s Qays

complains that the one who visited him fled.

Layla did not leave him

instead she put a veil on her face.

When she came before him without it

her Majnun called what he saw a disgrace

translation from: Abu’l Hasan al-Shushtari Songs of Love and Devotion by Lourdes Maria Alvarez

Original:

إذا  بُرَيْق  الحمى   استنارَا        أو   شمته   فاخلع   العذَارَا

وقلْ    لمنْ    شامه     فإنيّ        آنست   لمّا    رأيت    نارَا

لمَّا بَدت في  رُبيَ  المُصَلَّى        علمت  الصبحَ     الاسفرارَا

ومُدْلِج  في   الدجى     أتاهَا        قَد   صيرت   ليله    نهَارا

وأشرقت    شمَسه     بأوج        الكمالِ   من   ذاتِه    فخارا

يميلَ   من   سِكر    ماتراه        منْ لطف  ساق  علِيه    دَارا

سقاهَ  من   خندريس   أنْس        سلافة      تعقر      القفارا

رنَّحَهُ      سُكرهُ      فَنادى        ياصَاح  لا  تترك     الكبَارَا

وكنْ   خليعاً   كما    ترَاني        لم يُبْقِ  لي  شربها  اِختيارا

بها صَفَاَ الوقت حين دارت        عَلى الذي قد  بنَى  الجدارا

يَا   عجبا    مَالقيس    ليلى        يشكو الذَّي  وصْلُه    النّفارا

لمَّا   بدت    دونَه    تَسمَّى        مَجْنَونها   ما   رآه    عَارا

لَيلاه    مَا    باعَدْتُه    لكن        أرْخَتْ عَلى وجهِهِا   الخمَارا

Imru’l Qays

Friend, do you see yonder lightning? Look, there goes its gleam
flashing like two hands now in the heaped-up, crowned stormcloud:

Its glimmer illumining the sky, or like the flicker of a monk’s lamp

When, tilting it, he soaks with oil the tightly twisted wick.

أصاحي ترى برقا كأن وميضه           كلمع اليدين في حبي مكلل

يضيء سناه أو مصابيح راهب        أهان السليط في الذبال المفتل

Hafez

A lightning flash from Layla’s house at dawn,

Goodness knows, what it did to the love-torn heart of Majnun.

برقی از منزل لیلی بدرخشید سحر

وه که با خرمن مجنون دل افگار چه کرد