ياO موتDeath طرفىtwo racing steeds رهانٍin a contest لمnot تكنyou were ببطىat a slow pace
يا موت طرفى رهانٍ لم تكن ببطى
لوif only انتظرتyou had waited أوانthe time of الشيبwhite hair والشمطand grizzled hair
لو انتظرت أوان الشيب والشمط
O Death, the two contenders in your wager were not slow.
O Death, you were not slow with these two racing steeds.
If only you had waited for the season of gray hair and hoariness.
If only you had waited for the time of white hair and grizzled locks!
أخذتyou took بدرىtwo full moons كمالperfection فيin سماthe sky of حرمa sanctuary
أخذت بدرى كمال في سما حرم
كاناthey both were علىfollowing نمطa pattern قدindeed راقwas pleasing منas نمطa pattern
كانا على نمط قد راق من نمط
You took my two full moons, perfected in the sky of a sanctuary—
You took two full moons of perfection from a sanctuary's sky.
two fashioned to one pattern, surpassing every pattern.
They shared a manner—how pleasing a manner it was!
كاناthey both were علىintent on حسنthe excellence of ماwhatever بعنيهماconcerned them both (probable reading) عملاin practice
كانا على حسن ما بعنيهما عملا
فيin زينةthe adornment of الأدبletters; literary refinement المطبوعinnate فيin القمطswaddling bands
في زينة الأدب المطبوع في القمط
In all that concerned them, they acted beautifully,
They worked to perfect whatever concerned them,
adorned with innate refinement, stamped into their very nature.
in the adornment of letters, innate even in their swaddling bands.
محمداناour two Muhammads أديباthe two men of letters العصرof the age سيرهماtheir bearing
محمدانا أديبا العصر سيرهما
سنّthe years of الشبابyouth مسيرthe bearing of الشيبwhite hair والوخطand gray streaks
سنّ الشباب مسير الشيب والوخط
Our two Muhammads, the age’s two men of letters—their course
Our two Muhammads, the age's two men of letters—their bearing
through youth was the course of gray age and hoary streaks.
in youth was that of white-haired men and men streaked with gray.
محمداناour two Muhammads فريداthe two peerless men الدهرof the age قدindeed جمعاthey both gathered
محمدانا فريدا الدهر قد جمعا
مماof what تفرقwas scattered فيamong الآباءforefathers والرهطand kinsfolk
مما تفرق في الآباء والرهط
Our two Muhammads, the age’s peerless pair, had gathered
Our two Muhammads, the age's peerless pair, had gathered
what was scattered among forefathers and kindred.
what lay scattered among forefathers and kinsfolk.
ولوand if تفرقwere divided فيamong الأقرانpeers ماwhat جمعاthey both gathered
ولو تفرق في الأقران ما جمعا
لادركواthey would have attained كلّevery مطلوبdesired thing ومغتبطand enviable good
لادركوا كلّ مطلوب ومغتبط
Were what they had gathered dispersed among their peers,
And had what they gathered been divided among their peers,
those peers would attain every object sought and every joy desired.
they would have attained every desired and enviable good.
ماhow much ضمjoined أفعلdeeds (probable reading) ممدوحpraised السجيةin character منof
ما ضم أفعل ممدوح السجية من
هماthem both إلىto حسنfine قولspeech شطّkept far away عنfrom شططexcess
هما إلى حسن قول شطّ عن شطط
No finest subject of praise, by natural character, encompassed more
How they joined deeds of praiseworthy character
than those two, along with fine speech far removed from excess.
to fine speech, far removed from excess!
ماnever كدراthey both troubled مجلساa gathering يوماًever علىfor أحدanyone
ما كدرا مجلسا يوماً على أحد
لاnot فيin الرضاcontentment منهماfrom them both كلاcertainly not ولاnor السخطanger
لا في الرضا منهما كلا ولا السخط
Never did they trouble a gathering on anyone’s account,
Never did they sour a gathering for anyone,
whether pleased or angry—neither one of them.
neither in their contentment—certainly not—nor in anger.
قدindeed طالwent on long ماthat (verbal particle) أطرقاthey both lowered their eyes لاnot مكثرانprolix speakers هماthey two
قد طال ما أطرقا لا مكثران هما
ولاnor هماthey two منamong ذويthose given to التغليطfinding fault with others والغلطand error
ولا هما من ذوي التغليط والغلط
How long they would bow their heads, both unconcerned;
Long did they sit with lowered eyes; neither was a babbler,
nor were they given to harshness or error.
nor were they given to faultfinding or error.
شتانhow far apart ماwhat بينbetween منone who يأسوheals الكلومwounds وكاand a wounder (word begins)
شتان ما بين من يأسو الكلوم وكا
لمcompletion of 'wounder' ببادرةwith a rash outburst منfrom قولهhis speech السقطworthless; faulty
لم ببادرة من قوله السقط
How far apart are one who heals wounds and one
How far apart are the healer of wounds and one who
whose rash utterance is a slip!
wounds with a rash burst of his worthless speech!
أينwhere الظرافةwit; elegance بلrather اينwhere الخطابةoratory بلrather
أين الظرافة بل اين الخطابة بل
أينwhere الكتابةwriting بالالاتwith instruments والبسطand outspread carpets
أين الكتابة بالالات والبسط
Where now is wit? Indeed, where is oratory?
Where is their wit? Rather, where their oratory? Rather,
Where is writing, with its instruments and spacious scope?
where is their writing, with tools and upon carpets?
أينwhere الحكايةstorytelling والمحكيand the tale told ينشدis recited أوor
أين الحكاية والمحكي ينشد أو
ينشاis composed واينand where حسانfine examples الخطof calligraphy والخططand designs
ينشا واين حسان الخط والخطط
Where are the tale and the thing told, whether recited or
Where are the storytelling and the tale, recited or
composed—and where the beauties of script and design?
composed? And where the fine calligraphy and designs?
ماnot لابنfor Ibn مقلةMuqla والحرّاقand al-Harraq خطّهُماtheir handwriting
ما لابن مقلة والحرّاق خطّهُما
لاno شكلequal; match للحرفfor the letter والأشكالand the shapes والنقطand the dots
لا شكل للحرف والأشكال والنقط
How could the script of Ibn Muqla or al-Harrani compare with theirs—
Neither Ibn Muqla nor al-Harraq could match their handwriting—
in the forming of letters, figures, and dots?
no equal in letters, shapes, or dots.
للّهfor God! (expressing wonder) سودٌblack forms وحمرٌand red forms منamong حروفهماtheir letters
للّه سودٌ وحمرٌ من حروفهما
والصفرand yellow forms والخضرand green forms فيin مخطوطةtraced; inscribed الصرطthe pathways
والصفر والخضر في مخطوطة الصرط
How wondrous the blacks and reds among their letters,
How wondrous the black and red among their letters,
and the yellows and greens in the written line!
and the yellow and green in the traced pathways!
للّهfor God! (expressing wonder) بيضwhite forms خلالamid السطرthe line نقرؤهاwe read them
للّه بيض خلال السطر نقرؤها
منfrom بينamong مختلفdiffering الالوانcolors مختلطintermingled
من بين مختلف الالوان مختلط
How wondrous the whites within the line we read,
How wondrous the white forms we read between the lines,
mingled amid the many colors!
among differing colors, all intermingled.
بيضٌwhite forms بدتappeared منfrom خلالamid السطرthe line دانيةًnear
بيضٌ بدت من خلال السطر دانيةً
منto كفئهاtheir match وسواهand other than it عنهfrom it فيin شحطremoteness
من كفئها وسواه عنه في شحط
White forms appeared within the line, brought near
White forms appeared between the lines, close
to their equals, while all besides stood far away.
to their match, while all else lay far from it.
ماnot ريىءwas seen جامعa gatherer of نبلnobility قطever before جمعهماtheir gathering
ما ريىء جامع نبل قط جمعهما
لوeven if جاءcame عوضfuture time (personified) بهwith him منfrom بعدafter بخلthe stinginess of قطpast time (personified)
لو جاء عوض به من بعد بخل قط
Never were noble gifts seen gathered as they were in those two—
No gatherer of nobility was ever seen to gather as they did,
and if a replacement for them should come afterward, it would come only after utter withholding.
even if Future brought one after Past had been miserly.
تقارناthey kept company فيin طلابseeking العلمknowledge وامتطياand they both mounted
تقارنا في طلاب العلم وامتطيا
إلىtoward عواليthe highest reaches of المعاليhonor متنthe back of كلevery مطىsteed; mount
إلى عوالي المعالي متن كل مطى
Together they sought learning, mounting
They kept company in seeking knowledge, and mounted
toward the heights of excellence the back of every noble steed.
every steed's back toward the loftiest heights of honor.
ساراthey both journeyed وماand not افترقاthey parted; differed فيin اسمname ولاnor سمةtrait; distinguishing mark
سارا وما افترقا في اسم ولا سمة
ولاnor حياةlife وموتand death سيرَthe journey of مغتبطone content
ولا حياة وموت سيرَ مغتبط
They journeyed, never divided in name or mark,
They journeyed, differing neither in name nor in traits,
nor in life or death: theirs was a blessed course.
nor in life or death—a journey of glad contentment.
زمّاthey both bridled إلىtoward زمزمZamzam نجبnoble camels العزائمresolves لاnot
زمّا إلى زمزم نجب العزائم لا
تخشىfearing كلالاweariness منfrom التصديرfitting breast-straps والمرطand rapid travel
تخشى كلالا من التصدير والمرط
Toward Zamzam they urged the noble steeds of resolve, which
They reined the noble camels of resolve toward Zamzam, never
feared no weariness from setting out or hard driving.
fearing weariness from breast-straps and swift travel.
مناهماtheir hopes بمنىat Mina والمروتينand the two Marwas وفيand in
مناهما بمنى والمروتين وفي
أمUmm (Mother) القرىal-Qura (of Towns) خيرthe finest موطوءtrodden ground هناكthere وطىwas trodden
أم القرى خير موطوء هناك وطى
Their desire was Mina, the two Marwas, and
Their hopes lay at Mina and the two Marwas, and in
Umm al-Qura—the finest ground they trod there.
Umm al-Qura, the finest ground trodden there.
ساراthey both traveled إلىto الحرمthe Sanctuary المأمونsecure; safe حيثwhere مزاwaterskins (word begins)
سارا إلى الحرم المأمون حيث مزا
داتcompletion of 'waterskins' الدموعof tears غدتbecame منحلةloosened الربطthe bindings
دات الدموع غدت منحلة الربط
They journeyed to the secure Sanctuary, where there mingled
They traveled to the secure Sanctuary, where the waterskins
tears with tears, becoming a gift of steadfastness.
of tears came loose at their bindings.
أثارةtraces; remnants of العلمlearning والمأثورand what is handed down منof حسنgoodness; beauty
أثارة العلم والمأثور من حسن
تثيرstirs; awakens ماwhat شاقaroused longing عنهconcerning it كلّevery متبسطopenhearted companion
تثير ما شاق عنه كلّ متبسط
A remnant of learning and an inherited legacy of grace
The traces of learning and the goodness handed down
awakens all for which every expansive speaker yearns.
rekindle every openhearted companion's longing for that goodness.
أندىmost moist; most tearful دعاةsummoners of البكاweeping داعa caller; a cause بكاهُmourning for him يرىis regarded
أندى دعاة البكا داع بكاهُ يرى
ديناas a duty; debt فكمso how many ضارعa humble supplicant يبكيweeps ومختبطand one distraught
دينا فكم ضارع يبكي ومختبط
The most bountiful summons to weeping is that of one who sees his tears
The most tearful call to weeping is one whose mourning is deemed
as a debt—how many a suppliant weeps, how many a distraught soul!
a duty—how many humble supplicants and distraught souls weep!
فليغتنمso let him gain أجرهhis reward ذوone possessing الصبرpatience بعدهماafter them both
فليغتنم أجره ذو الصبر بعدهما
وليخشand let him fear ذوone possessing جزعanguish منin; concerning أمرهhis conduct الفرطexcess
وليخش ذو جزع من أمره الفرط
Then let the steadfast seize his reward after their passing;
So let the patient claim his reward after them,
and let the anguished fear excess in his grief.
and let the distraught fear excess in his conduct.
فإنfor indeed ذاthe one possessing السكرintoxication منfrom كأسthe cup of المحبةlove فيin
فإن ذا السكر من كأس المحبة في
موتdeath وطيبand the sweetness of حياةlife غيرnot معتبطtaken prematurely
موت وطيب حياة غير معتبط
For this intoxication from love’s cup, whether in
For the one drunk from the cup of love, in
death or the sweetness of life, affords no delight.
death and life's sweetness, is not taken before his time.
فكنso be علىin ثقةtrust باللّهin God كلevery فتىyoung man
فكن على ثقة باللّه كل فتى
وقفstood علىat النعشthe bier بينbetween الجنبthe flank والإبطand the armpit
وقف على النعش بين الجنب والإبط
So let every young man trust in God
So trust in God, every young man
when he stands beside the bier, bearing it between flank and armpit.
who stands by the bier, held between flank and armpit.
فحسبناfor sufficient for us اللّهGod اناindeed we راجعونare returning لهto Him
فحسبنا اللّه انا راجعون له
وقدنيand enough for me الربthe Lord منrather than مربوبهHis creature وقطىand enough for me
وقدني الرب من مربوبه وقطى
God is enough for us; surely to Him we return.
For God is enough for us; to Him we return.
The Lord suffices me for the one He nurtured—He alone suffices.
And the Lord, rather than His creature, suffices me—He is enough.
عوضهماcompensate them both ربLord خيراsomething better منthan شبابهماtheir youth
عوضهما رب خيرا من شبابهما
وحطand remove أوزارناour burdens; sins والطفand be gentle بناwith us وحطand protect us
وحط أوزارنا والطف بنا وحط
Lord, recompense them both with better than their youth;
Compensate them, Lord, with something better than their youth,
lift our burdens, deal gently with us, and absolve.
and lift our burdens, be gentle with us, and protect us.
واحفظand preserve لناfor us ربناour Lord فيin; regarding ابنa son وحاشيةand household; retinue
واحفظ لنا ربنا في ابن وحاشية
وذيand one possessing ودادaffection بحبلby the cord of الشيخthe shaykh مرتبطbound; attached
وذي وداد بحبل الشيخ مرتبط
Preserve for us, Lord, a son and a household,
And keep safe for us, our Lord, son and household,
and one of affection, bound to the shaykh’s cord.
and each loving friend bound to the shaykh's cord.
أزكىthe purest الصلاةblessings إلىjoined to; with أزكىthe purest السلامpeace علىupon
أزكى الصلاة إلى أزكى السلام على
منthe one whose فضلهhis excellence منهfrom him فضلthe excellence of الامةthe community الوسطthe middle; balanced
من فضله منه فضل الامة الوسط
The purest blessings upon the purest one, and peace upon
The purest blessings, joined to the purest peace, upon
him from whose bounty came the excellence of the middle nation.
him whose excellence is the source of the middle community's excellence.
Sol 6.1