Poems of Our Hashemite Master, Al-Qāhir Billah

Arabic originals with their corresponding English renderings.

“As though their tears were earrings and a single gem—
not upon the ears, but traced along the arc of the cheek.

No kohl—
the dark powder placed upon the eyelids—
can ever remain in their eyes;
their tears replace it before it can settle.

People wear rings of ruby,
but their young men wear no agate—
only the blood of the slain upon their hands and fingers.

And if they were to swear an oath, your sun would turn to darkness—
and how not, when the one who outshines the sun is their forefather?”

Last Line, Al-Qahir refers to the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali, for whom the sun was returned backward, just as it once happened in the Old Testament with Joshua.

I broke the chain the day I saw a vision
at the dawn of the month of Dhū al-Ḥijjah, sacred and forbidden.

That I walk through the forests, alone—
yet I am a captive of sorrow and immense grief.

Around me a shackle of iron rope
wrapped itself around my flesh and bone.

I dragged the chains behind me, heavy and slow,
and thus I moved through darkness.

It was a road I knew completely—
I had walked it constantly,
a path that always relieved my burdens
and lifted the constriction of my days.

And I was seeking a way out of a distress
that pressed upon me until nothing remained but pain.

As if one of its days were the thrust of a blade,
its morning fading into darkness.

I saw myself walking quickly,
aware how far the days have taken me

I said: Perhaps this is the time
when the meanings and suspicions of the mind are fulfilled.

Until I reached a stake driven in the ground—
the point where the chain was fastened to the hard earth.

I said: I have reached the limit of my strength;
I have reached the end of my striving.

They could not move forward any longer,
nor could they return from the steps already taken.

I sat upon the ground and said:
I have no place left to go; surely this must end.

Except that my Lord—if He wills to return,
He brings victory; He is the best of guardians.

So I remained until I saw a light
from a vessel drawing toward me in steady order.

Men came forth from it, bringing good news,
dressed in white garments.

They appeared dark of complexion, long of hair,
and upon their faces was a trace of calm and gentle smile.

I said to the one who seemed their chief:
Are you the one who has occupied my thoughts?
Are you my guide?

He spoke no word, yet I understood:
Mount with us, and upon you be my peace.

So I said: I will go with them, whether they are
what they seem or something else—
for I have reached the limit of weariness.

God wills that I move forward;
I care not how, nor do I seek to understand.

Thus I broke the chain from me,
and I became as Hercules among mankind.

I cast aside the iron shackle
and the chains that had worn me down to ruin.

And I said: In the name of God, I go with dignity,
and then I boarded with that noble company.

They traveled—and their travel was strange,
beyond anything speech could describe.

I looked, and it seemed the matter was progressing,
as though the world held no benefit and no permanence.

Then I saw myself alone, seated
with an open chest, in thought or in a gentle trance—

as if in a place of food,
or in a café, with a hat upon my head,

like those worn by the herders—
the Americans, a people among peoples.

I said: All distress and sorrow has passed,
for this world is nothing but illusion.

So say, every day you live:
Our Lord is God, and live with uprightness.

Pay no mind to this world, nor to people,
nor to sorrow, nor to ambition, nor to those who aim at you.

And if you are in distress or difficulty,
then revive the night with the strings of standing prayer.

For the arrows of the night—shot in worship—
strike their target without fail.

كَأَنَّ الدَّمْعَ أَقْرَاطٌ وَجَوْهَرَةٌ
خَلَا الأُذْنَيْن بِصَحْنِ الخَدِّ يَرْتَسِمُ

مَا يَثْبُتُ الكُحْلُ فِي عَيْنٍ لَهُمْ أَبَدًا
فَدُونَهُ الدَّمْعُ فِي الأَجْفَانِ يَنْسَجِمُ

تَخَتَّمَ النَّاسُ يَاقُوتًا وَفِتْيَتُهُمْ
دُونَ العَقِيق بِدَمِّ النَّحْرِ تَخْتَتِمُ

لَوْ أَقْسَمُوا لَصَارَتْ شَمْسُكُمْ ظُلَمًا
كَيْفَ لَا وَمَرْدُ الشَّمْسِ جَدُّهُمُ

كَسَرْتُ القَيْدَ يَوْمَ رَأَيْتُ رُؤْيَا
بِغُرَّةِ شَهْرِ ذِي حِجَّةٍ الحَرَامِ

بِأَنِّي أَسِيرُ فِي الغَابَاتِ وَحْدِي
أَسِيرَ الهَمِّ وَالكُرَبِ العِظَامِ

وَحَوْلِي القَيْدُ مِنْ حَبْلٍ حَدِيدٍ
يَلُفُّ حَوْلَ لَحْمِي وَالعِظَامِ

أَجُرُّ السَّلاسِلَ خَلْفِي ثِقَالًا
كَذَلِكَ أَمْشِي فِي الظَّلَامِ

طَرِيقًا كُنْتُ أَعْرِفُهُ تَمَامًا
لَطَالَمَا سِرْتُ عَلَى الدَّوَامِ

يُبْنِفْسُ الكُرْبَاتِ عَنِّي وَيُجْلِي
الضِّيقَ عَنْ نَفْسِي مِنَ الأَيَّامِ

وَكُنْتُ أَبْغِي مَخْرَجًا مِنْ ضِيقَةٍ
أَلَحَّتْ فَمَا أَبْقَتْ سِوَى الآلَامِ

كَأَنَّ اليَوْمَ فِيهَا طَعْنُ نَصْلٍ
إِذْ يَمْضِي صُبْحُهُ إِلَى الإِظْلَامِ

رَأَيْتُنِي وَأَنَا أَسِيرُ بِسُرْعَةٍ
وَأَدْرِي مَبلغي من الأيامِ

أَقُولُ لَعَلَّهُ الوَقْتُ هَذَا الَّذِي
تَتِمُّ بِهِ الظُّنُونُ مِنَ الأَفْهَامِ

حَتَّى بَلَغْتُ إِلَى وَتِدٍ يُشَدُّ بِهِ
القَيْدُ إِلَى الأَرْضِ الصَّرَامِ

فَقُلْتُ مَبْلَغُ طَاقَتِي أَدْرَكْتُهُ
ألا إني قَدْ بَلَغْتُ مُرَامِي

فَلَا اسْتَطَاعُوا مُضِيًّا إِلَى أَمَدٍ
وَلَا رُجُوعًا عَنِ الإقْدَامِ

جَلَسْتُ عَلَى الأَرْضِ أَقُولُ أنِّي
لَا شَأْنَ لِي بَعْدُ وَلَابُدَّ مِنِ انْصِرَامِ

ألا إنَّ اللهَ رَبِّي إن يُرد
يَأْتِي بِنَصْرٍ إِنَّهُ خَيْرُ حَامِي

فَلَبِثْتُ حَتَّى رَأَيْتُ نُورًا
مِنْ مَرْكَبٍ جَاءَ نَحْوِي بِانْتِظَامِ

وَمِنْهُ رِجَالٌ قَدْ أَتَوْنَا بِبُشْرَى
يَلْبَسُونَ البَيَاضَ مِنَ الهِنْدَامِ

كَأَنَّهُمُ سُمْرٌ طِوَالٌ شُعُورُهُمْ
وَمَحْيَاهُمُ شَأْنٌ مِنَ الِابْتِسَامِ

فَقُلْتُ لِكَبِيرِهِمْ أَأَنْتَ الَّذِي
شَغَلْتَنِي فِكْرًا أَأَنْتَ إِمَامِي؟

فَلَمْ يَنْطِقْ بِشَيْءٍ غَيْرَ أَنِّي
فَهِمْتُ: أَنِ ارْكَبْ وَأن عَلَيْكَ سَلَامِي

فَقُلْتُ: أَغْدُو رَائِحًا مَعَهُمْ أَكَانُوا
هُمُ أَوْ غَيْرُهُمْ، بَلَغْتُ مِنَ السَّآمِ

هُوَ اللَّهُ يُرِيدُ مِنِّي مُضِيًّا
وَلَا شَأْنَ لِي كَيْفَ، وَلَا أَبْغِي إفْهَامِي

كَسَرْتُ القَيْدَ إِذَاكَ عَنِّي
وَصِرْتُ هِرَقْلَ مِنْ بَيْنِ الأَنَامِ

طَرَحْتُ القَيْدَ عَنِّي مِنْ حَدِيدٍ
وَمِنْ سَلَاسِلَ أَضْنَتْنِي لِلْحُطَامِ

وَقُلْتُ: بِسْمِ اللهِ أَمْضِي كَرِيمًا
ثُمَّ رَكِبْتُ مَعَ القَوْمِ الكِرَامِ

فَسَارُوا وَسَيْرُهُمْ عَجِيبٌ
لَيْسَ يُحْكَى بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ كَلَامِ

نَظَرْتُ كَأَنَّ الأَمْرَ يَمْضِي
فَلَا كَانَتِ الدُّنْيَا بِنَفْعٍ أَوْ دَوَامِ

ثُمَّ رَأَيْتُنِي لِوَحْدِي جَالِسًا
مُنْشَرِحَ الصَّدْرِ فِي فِكْرٍ أَوْ هِيَامِ

كَأَنِّي بِمَوْضِعٍ ذِي طَعَامٍ
أَوْ بِمَقْهًى وَقُبَّعَةٌ فَوْقَ هَامِي

كَتِلْكَ الَّتِي يَرْتَدِيهَا رُعَاةٌ
مِنَ الأِمرِيكِ، قَوْمٌ مِنَ الأَقْوَامِ

أَقُولُ: مَضَى كُلُّ ضِيقٍ وَهَمٍّ
ألا إنَّمَا الدُّنْيَا مِنَ الأَوْهَامِ

فَقُلْ كُلَّمَا قَدْ عِشْتَ يَوْمًا
رَبُّنَا اللهُ، وَعِشْ بِاسْتِقَامِ

وَلَا تَأْبَهْ إِلَى دُنْيا وَلَا مَرْءٍ
وَلَا هَمٍّ، وَلَا نَبْلٍ، وَلَا رَامِ

وَإِنْ كُنْتَ فِي ضِيقٍ وَشَأْنٍ
فَأَحْيِ اللَّيْلَ بِأَوْتَارِ القِيَامِ

تَكْفِيكَ عَنْ شُغْلٍ وَتَدْبِيرٍ
سِهَامُ اللَّيْلِ صَائِبَةُ المَرَامِ

قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله

The Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, said

“Truly, within eloquence there lies a spell, and within poetry, a hidden wisdom”.

صدق رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله

Yusufiyyah

اليوسُفية

Coming - يتبع

The Kashfiyya

I became aware of the hidden secrets, with God as my guide,
and I entered the depths of unveiling with seriousness and intention.

I resolved that I would not turn back
until I attained a measure of glory—such is the worth of glory.

I encountered in my path hardship and severity,
and I strained a soul already burdened with its ache.

Yet I continued my journey, advancing and not retreating,
despite all the effort that weighed upon me.

My mount travelled by day when the sun was visible,
and in the darkness of night through the demands of wakefulness.

I walked by God’s law, both in what is apparent and what is hidden,
and I reached a completion symbolized by the lion.

I journeyed through lands seeking His grace,
and I responded to my Lord in heat and in cold.

I sought rectification of my condition and sought distinction,
a monk at heart hoping to behold the One.

This remained my state and my reasoning
until I uncovered a newer secret.

And if my intuition proves correct, then one decisive event suffices,
a great matter witnessed by the assembled ranks.

May God reward Younis the noble,
a youth whose hand is generous in virtues.

He is the companion whose closeness is an aid—
one who spares you reliance on kin or clan.

A handsome youth of singular nature,
light of step in the harshest times.

The world revealed itself to him, and he understood its deceit,
and he turned away, distancing himself entirely.

It is as though, by the tongue of his state, he were saying:
“I overlooked in jest and in earnest alike.”

He is the moon that once revolved within my orbit,
and became more beautiful when set within my constellation.

For I am the radiant star, and it is enough for me
to revolve around the Sun of the Imam, al-Hujjah al-Mahdi.

When Mercury moves between the earth
and the sun at its appointed time of observation,

it ignites at its rising according to decree—
and my star too has its ordained moment.

O my critic, be patient, lest you be struck by a thunderbolt
if I unveil the secret or speak the reply.

They say that I exaggerate—yet I have voiced no falsehood,
nor have I claimed anything beyond the rank of a servant.

I came to the Generous One with no provision,
and what need have travelers for burden or supplies?

He is God—the Bountiful, the Majestic,
the Most Generous, full of tenderness and affection.

He honored my arrival and elevated my standing,
and caused His beneficence to overflow, abundant and vast,

until I became a youth—indeed, what a youth—
one of the Companions of the Cave, with God as my covenant.

O House of Hashim, your dawn has appeared,
and the true promise of God has come.

I embodied the expressions of poets until it seemed
I had become one with the ancients of glory.

I chanted the hidden secrets—God knows my course,
and my occupation is His praise and gratitude.

A man thought that I praised him, yet he did not realize
that satire was my intention in those words.

Did he understand that I spoke gently,
saying he possessed “hands of virtue” only out of courtesy?

Is there virtue in a claim unproven?
Or in speech of jest without seriousness?

What help did I receive from the deaf
except poisons spread from envy?

I spoke truthfully: he is light indeed—
light in worth and in benefit.

A jealous one who seeks only to wound
those of nobility, honor, and dignity.

And I said—as al-Ma‘arri once said
to one who arose as my adversary:

“Have you, O sons of the world, no minds
to restrain you from rivalry and transgression?”

But their foolish one did not understand my words,
nor does he grasp anything of renunciation.

Nor does he understand that I do not care
whether I live today or lie in the grave.

A Roman forced affection upon me,
and I said, “Let such affection perish.”

For I desire no nearness from any person—
whether from supposed friend or enemy.

What need have I, when they bring nothing but harm,
distraction, and bitterness?

If my day is good, I am free of them;
and if it is difficult, what I possess is enough for me.

So do not sit with the people of base character,
for the dispositions of the foolish are contagious.

الكشفية

تفطَّنتُ للأسرار واللهُ مُرشِدي
وخُضتُ غِمارَ الكشفِ بالجدِّ والقَصدِ

وآليتُ أنّي لستُ أرجِعُ دونَما
مجدًا أُصيبُ فَيالَ ذا المَجدِ

ولاقيتُ من أمري جَهدًا وشِدّةً
وأرهقتُ نفسًا تشكو من الكَبِدِ

وواصلتُ سيري مُقبِلًا غيرَ مُدبِرٍ
برغمِ ما ألقى من كثرةِ الجَهدِ

سارتْ رِكابي نهارًا حين تُبصِرُ شمسُها
وفي عتمةِ الليلِ في شأنٍ من السّهدِ

وسِرتُ بشرعِ اللهِ وما منه قد بَطَن
ونِلتُ كمالًا فمثّلتُ بالأسَدِ

تفسّحتُ في البلدانِ أطلبُ فضلَهُ
ولبّيتُ ربّي في الحرِّ والبَردِ

أبغي صلاحَ الحالِ وأبغي تفرُّدًا
وراهبًا أرجو رُؤيةَ الفَردِ

ولا زال هذا الحال حالي ومَنطقي
حتى كشفتُ عن السرِِّ الأجَدِ

فإن صدقَ الظنُّ فحسبي وَقعةً
وشأناً عظيماً على مَرأىً من الجُندِ

جزى اللهُ خيرًا يُونسَ الغُرَّ إنّهُ
فَتىً في المكرماتِ لَذو يَدِ

هو الرفيقُ الذي في قُربهِ عَونٌ
على الدهرِ يُغنيكَ عن خالٍ وجَدِ

فتىً صبيحُ الوجهِ غريبُ حالٍ
خفيفُ الوَقعِ في الدهرِ الأشدِّ

تراءتْ لهُ الدنيا فأدركَ زيفَها
وأعرضَ يَنأى بجانبِ الخَدِّ

حتى كأني بلسانِ الحالِ منهُ
يقولُ: تجاهلتُ في الهزلِ والجِدِّ

هو الحجرُ الذي قد دارَ في فَلَكي
فزادَهُ حُسنًا إذ صارَ في العِقدِ

فإنني الكوكبُ الدُّرّيُّ حسبي
مدارًا شمسَ الإمامِ الحُجّةِ المَهدِي

إذا سارَ العُطارِدُ بين أرضٍ
وبين الشمسِ في موعدِ الرَّصدِ

تلهبُ بالميقاتِ عندَ طُلوعِهِ
وإنّ لفَرقدي لميقاتَ وقدِ

أيـا عاذِلي مهلًا لا أُصِبْكَ بصَعقةٍ
إذا ما كشفتُ السرَّ أو بُحتُ بالرَّدِ

يقولونَ تغلو وما بُحتُ بمنكَرٍ
ولا زعمتُ أنّي قد زدتُ عن عبدِ

لكن وفدتُ على الكريمِ بغيرِ زادٍ
وما حاجةُ القُصّادِ للحَملِ والزَّودِ؟

هو اللهُ الجوادُ وذو الجلالِ
لأكرمُ مُغدِقٍ ذو اللُّطفِ والوُدِّ

فأكرمَ مقدمي وأعزَّ شأني
وفاض إحسانًا وأجزَلَ في الرِّفدِ

حتى غَدوتُ فتىً وأيَّ فتىً غَدوتُ
من فِتيةِ الكهفِ من اللهِ عهدي

يآلَ هاشمَ ها قد بانَ فجرُكم
وجاء وعدُ اللهِ الصادقُ الوعدِ

تمثّلتُ بالأشعارِ حتى كأنّني
توحدتُ والأقدمينَ أولي المَجدِ

ترنّمتُ بالأسرار فللهِ درّي
وباللهِ شُغلي من التسبيحِ والحمدِ

يظنُّ الفتى أني مدحتُ وما درى
أن الهِجاءَ بذي الأقوالِ قصدي

أيدري أنني قد أسففتُ رِفقًا
فقلتُ إنَّ لهُ في الفضلِ أيدِي؟

أذو فضلٍ لقولٍ لم يُحقَّقْ؟
وقولٍ من الهزلِ بغيرِ جدِّ؟

وأيَّ عونٍ رأيتُ من الأصمِّ
إلّا السُّمومَ التي بُثّت من الحِقدِ؟

خفيفٌ قد صدقتُ القولَ فيهِ
عديمُ النفعِ في الدهرِ الأشدِّ

حسودٌ ليس يبغي إلّا طَعنًا
بذي الأشرافِ والجاهِ والسُّؤدِ

وقُلتُ كما قالَ المعرّي
لمن انبرى يومًا عدوّي

أَما لَكُم بَني الدُّنيا عُقولٌ
تَصُدُّ عَنِ التنافُسِ والتعدّي؟

فلم يفهم أحيمقُهم مقالي
وليسَ يعي شيئًا من الزُّهدِ

وليس يَعي بأني لا أُبالي
حييتُ اليومَ أم في القبرِ رَقْدِي

وروميٌّ تكلّفني بودٍّ
فقلتُ: ألا تَعسًا لذا الوُدِّ

فإني لا أُريدُ من مرئٍ بقُربي
فَبُؤسٌ للأصادقِ والأعادي

وما حاجتي وليسَ سوى أذىً
منهم وسوى التشتيتِ والنَّكَدِ

فإن طابَ يومي غنيتُ عنهم
وإن ساءَ فحسبي وما عندي

فلا تجلسْ إلى أهلِ الدنايا
فإنّ خَلائقَ السُّفَهاءِ تُعدي