Ṭālamā Ashkū Gharāmī (طالما أشكو غرامي) is a popular Arabic devotional song from the Levant. Written by the Ottoman Syrian poet, composer and playwright ‘Abd al-Hādī al-Wafā’ī, it is a deeply moving expression of infatuation, longing and yearning for the Prophet ﷺ. It is sung in the maqām of Nahāwand, to the tune of the Turkish folk song “Üskudar’a gider iken” (a tune shared by local folk songs throughout the former Ottoman Empire). Some variation is found in the lyrics and exact order of lines; the last two lines (verse 7) are a later addition. The epithet “Tihāmī” in the second line of the poem refers to the area of Tihāmah, a name for the westernmost region of the Arabian peninsula, along the Red Sea.
Lyrics
Arabic
Transliteration
Ṭaalamaa askhoo gharaamee
yaa nooral–wujood
wa unaadee yaa tihaamee
yaa ma‘dinal–jood
Munyatee aqṣaa maraamee
aḥẓaa bish–shuhood
wa araa baabas–salaami
yaa zaakil–judood
Yaa ṭiraazal–kawni innee
‘aashiq mustahaam
mughramun wal–madḥu fannee
yaa badrat–tamaam
Iṣrifil–i‘raaḍa ‘annee
aḍnaanil–gharaam
feeka qad ḥassantu ẓannee
yaa saamil–‘uhood
Yaa siraajal–anbiyaa’i
yaa ‘aalil–janaab
yaa imaamal–atqiyaa’i
inna qalbee dhaab
Yakfee yaa nooral–ahillah
inna hajree ṭaal
sayyidee wal–‘umru wallaa
jud bil–waṣli jood
Yaa nabiyyan qad taḥallaa
ḥaqqan bil–jamaal
wa ‘alaykAllaahu ṣallaa
Rabbee Dhul Jalaal
Translation
How long I have suffered this heart-ache –
O light of the universe! –
Calling out, “O Tihāmī,
O wellspring of goodness!”
My wish, my utmost desire
Is that I attain the vision
And look upon the Portal of Peace,
O nurturer of good fortune!
O jewel of the universe, I am
A lover engrossed in longing,
Infatuated; praise is my profession,
O perfect full moon!
Shun me no longer,
For love has consumed me and exhausted me.
Of you I have the best opinion,
O bearer of the highest covenants!
O lantern of the prophets,
O most honourable one,
O leader of the pious,
My heart is melting!
Enough, O light of crescents!
Too long have I endured this pain,
My master, my life is being spent –
Be generous, let me be united with you!
O Prophet! You have been adorned,
Truly, with the greatest beauty!
And upon you God did pray,
My Lord, the Majestic!
Show All
Ṭaalamaa askhoo gharaamee
yaa nooral–wujood
wa unaadee yaa tihaamee
yaa ma‘dinal–jood
How long I have suffered this heart-ache –
O light of the universe! –
Calling out, “O Tihāmī,
O wellspring of goodness!”
– 2 –
Munyatee aqṣaa maraamee
aḥẓaa bish–shuhood
wa araa baabas–salaami
yaa zaakil–judood
My wish, my utmost desire
Is that I attain the vision
And look upon the Portal of Peace,
O nurturer of good fortune!
– 3 –
Yaa ṭiraazal–kawni innee
‘aashiq mustahaam
mughramun wal–madḥu fannee
yaa badrat–tamaam
O jewel of the universe, I am
A lover engrossed in longing,
Infatuated; praise is my profession,
O perfect full moon!
– 4 –
Iṣrifil–i‘raaḍa ‘annee
aḍnaanil–gharaam
feeka qad ḥassantu ẓannee
yaa saamil–‘uhood
Shun me no longer,
For love has consumed me and exhausted me.
Of you I have the best opinion,
O bearer of the highest covenants!
– 5 –
Yaa siraajal–anbiyaa’i
yaa ‘aalil–janaab
yaa imaamal–atqiyaa’i
inna qalbee dhaab
O lantern of the prophets,
O most honourable one,
O leader of the pious,
My heart is melting!
– 6 –
Yakfee yaa nooral–ahillah
inna hajree ṭaal
sayyidee wal–‘umru wallaa
jud bil–waṣli jood
Enough, O light of crescents!
Too long have I endured this pain,
My master, my life is being spent –
Be generous, let me be united with you!
– 7 –
Yaa nabiyyan qad taḥallaa
ḥaqqan bil–jamaal
wa ‘alaykAllaahu ṣallaa
Rabbee Dhul Jalaal
O Prophet! You have been adorned,
Truly, with the greatest beauty!
And upon you God did pray,
My Lord, the Majestic!
Audio Samples
Imran Shadhili
Al Kauthar Ensemble 🎶
Mesut Kurtis 🎶
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