شعر أبو نواس – ذنوبي مثل أعداد الرمال

Poem Translation:

My sins outnumber grains upon the shore,
Yet grant me, Lord, Thy mercy evermore.
Each day my fleeting life begins to wane,
While sins increase—how bear I such a strain?

Before Thee stands Thy servant, lost, afraid,
Confessing faults, yet still Thy help he prayed.
If Thou shouldst pardon—grace is but Thy due,
If not—whom else shall we for mercy sue?

Poem Explanation:

These lines by Abu Nuwas reflect a deeply penitential tone, diverging from his usual themes of revelry to express sincere remorse. The poet acknowledges the vastness of his sins, likening them to the countless grains of sand, and pleads for divine forgiveness.

He meditates on the fleeting nature of life, realizing that with each passing day, his sins accumulate while his time diminishes. This contrast intensifies his desperation for redemption. In the final couplets, he humbly submits to God, affirming that only divine mercy can offer hope. The last line is particularly striking—if God does not forgive, then there is no other refuge.

The poem’s structure, built on contrast and repetition, enhances its emotional weight, making it a powerful supplication filled with humility and dependence on divine grace.