Yā Nafsu in Lam Taẓfarī · Should You Not Gain Your Wants My Soul

1.
Yaa nafsu in lam taẓfaree laa tajza‘ee
wa-ilaa mawaa’idi joodi Mawlaaki hra‘ee
Wa-idhaa ta’akhkhara maṭlabun fa-larubbamaa
fee dhaalikat–ta’kheeri kullul–maṭma‘ee

2.
Wasta’nisee bil–man‘i war‘ee ḥaqqahoo
innar–riḍaa waṣful–muneebil–alma‘ee
Wa-idhaa badaa min naaṭiqil–wijdaani maa
yad‘ooki lil–ya’sidh–dhameemil–ashna‘ee

3.
Fasṭayqiẓee min nawmatil–ghafalaati wal–
yakunir rajaa laki marta‘an feehi rta‘ee
Innal ‘aṭaa imdaaduhu mutanawwi‘un
yaa ḥusna haadhaakal–‘aṭal–mutanawwi‘ee

4.
Waradoo ilaa nahril–ḥayaati wa kulluhum
shariboo wa kam fir–rakbi min mutaḍalli‘ee
Ḥaashal–Kareemu yarudduhum ‘aṭshan wa qad
waradoo wa aṣlul–joodi min dhal–manba‘ee

5.
Yaa Rabbi lee ẓannun jameelun waafirun
qaddamtuhu amshee bihi yas‘aa ma‘ee
Kullul–ladhee yarjoona faḍlaka umṭiroo
ḥaashaaka an yabqaa hasheeman marba‘ee

6.
Thummaṣ–ṣalaatu ‘alal–ḥabeebi Muḥammadin
sababil–qawiyyi ilal–maqaamil–arfa‘ee
Huwa ‘iṣmatee huwa ‘urwatee fastamsikee
yaa nafsu bil–majdil–‘aẓeemil–amna‘ee

1.
Should you not gain your wants, my soul, then be not grieved;
But hasten to that banquet which your Lord’s bequeathed.
And when a thing for which you ask is slow to come,
Then know that often through delay are gifts received.

2.
Find solace in privation and respect its due,
For only by contentment is the heart relieved.
And know that when the trials of life have rendered you
Despairing of all hope, and of all joy bereaved,

3.
Then shake yourself and rouse yourself from heedlessness,
And make pure hope a meadow that you never leave.
Your Maker’s gifts take subtle and uncounted forms.
How fine the fabric of the world His hands have weaved.

4.
The journey done, they came to the water of life,
And all the caravan drank deep, their thirst alleved.
Far be it from the Host to leave them thirsty there,
His spring pours forth all generosity received.

5.
My Lord, my trust in all Your purposes is strong,
That trust is now my shield; I’m safe, and undeceived.
All those who hope for grace from You will feel Your rain;
Too generous are You to leave my branch unleaved.

6.
May blessings rest upon the loved one, Muhammad,
Who’s been my means to high degrees since I believed.
He is my fortress and my handhold, so my soul,
Hold fast, and travel to a joy still unconceived.