Stages of the Seeker

Each Arabic line is a button. Press it to go through its words, then press a word for its meaning.

إِذا سَافر الْمُحب للقاء محبوبه ركبت جُنُوده مَعَه

When the lover travels to meet his beloved, his armies accompany him.

فَكَانَ الْحُبُّ فِي مُقَدِّمَةِ العَسْكَرِ

Love was at the forefront of the army.

وَالرَّجَاءُ يَحْدُو بِالْمَطِيِّ

Hope urged the camels onward.

وَالشَّوْقُ يَسُوقُ هَا

Longing drove them.

وَالْخَوْفُ يَجْمَعُ هَا عَلَى الطَّرِيقِ

Fear kept them on the road.

فَإِذَا شَارَفَ قُدُومُ بَلَدِ الوَصْلِ خَرَجَتْ تَقَادِمُ الحَبِيبِ بِاللِّقَاءِ

When they neared the arrival of the land of meeting, offerings came forth to greet the beloved.

فَدَاوِ سُقْمًا بِجِسْمٍ أَنْتَ مُتْلِفُهُ وَأَبْرِدْ غَرَامًا بِقَلْبٍ أَنْتَ مُضْرِمُهُ

Cure an ailment with the body you are destroying... and cool down a flame with the heart you are igniting.

وَلَا تَكِلْنِي عَلَى بُعْدِ الدِّيَارِ إِلَى صَبْرِي الضَّعِيفِ فَصَبْرِي أَنْتَ تَعْلَمُهُ

Do not leave me to my weak patience across the distance of lands.

تلقى قلبه فقد أَرْسلتهُ عجلا إِلَى لقائك والأشواق تقدمه

You will find his heart as he has sent it hurriedly to meet you, and longing precedes it.

فَإِذَا دَخَلَ عَلَى الحَبِيبِ أُفِيضَتْ عَلَيْهِ الخِلَعُ مِنْ كُلِّ نَاحِيَةٍ

When he meets the beloved, gifts are poured upon him from all sides.

لِيَمْتَحِنَ أَيَسْكُنُ إِلَيْهَا فَتَكُونَ حَظَّهُ

To test whether he finds contentment with them as his portion.

أَمْ يَكُونُ اِلْتِفَاتُهُ إِلَى مَنْ أَلْبَسَهُ إِيَّاهَا

Or will he turn towards the giver of these clothes.

مَلَأُوا مَرَاكِبَ الْقُلُوبِ مَتَاعًا لَا تُنْفَقُ إِلَّا عَلَى الْمَلِكِ

They filled the vessels of hearts with goods that can only be spent on the King.

فَلَمَّا هَبَّتْ رِيَاحُ السَّحَرِ أَقْلَعَتْ تِلْكَ الْمَرَاكِبُ

When the winds of dawn blew, those vessels set sail.

فَمَا طلع الْفجْر الا وَهِي بالمينا

The dawn had not broken before they were at the port.

قَطَعُوا بَادِيَةَ الْهَوَى بِأَقْدَامِ الْجَدِّ

They crossed the desert of passion on the feet of earnestness.

فَمَا كَانَ إِلَّا الْقَلِيلُ حَتَّى قَدِمُوا مِنَ السَّفَرِ

It was only a little while until they returned from the journey.

فَأَعْقَبَهُمُ الرَّاحَةُ فِي طَرِيقِ التَّلَقِّي

It gave them rest on the path of arrival.

فَدَخَلُوا بلد الْوَصْل وَقد حَاز ربح الْأَبَد

They entered the land of connection and gained the profit of eternity.