ألِّماcome, you two علىto لَوْميreproaching me وجدًّاand be earnest, you two مُجَدَّداًanew
ألِّما على لَوْمي وجدًّا مُجَدَّداً
فإنِّيfor indeed I لأدريI surely know ماwhat الضلالerror وماand what الهدىguidance
فإنِّي لأدري ما الضلال وما الهدى
Come, you two, to reproach me, and be earnest anew;
My censurer, do not blame me again,
For I surely know what error is and what guidance is.
For I know not what is misguidance or guidance.
فمنwho, then مبلغُone to tell السلوانconsolation عنِّيon my behalf بأننيthat I
فمن مبلغُ السلوان عنِّي بأنني
فَنيتُI have perished وشوقيand my longing لاnot يزالstill remains مُخَلَّداimmortal
فَنيتُ وشوقي لا يزال مُخَلَّدا
Who, then, will tell consolation on my behalf that I
Who will convey to me that I have perished,
Have perished, while my longing remains immortal?
Yet my longing remains immortal forever.
عذوليmy reproacher انتصاحaccepting counsel منكfrom you لاnot أستفيدهI benefit from it
عذولي انتصاح منك لا أستفيده
ومنand whoever عدَّهconsidered it عدلاًjust فقدhas indeed جارacted unjustly واعتدىand transgressed
ومن عدَّه عدلاً فقد جار واعتدى
My reproacher, accepting your counsel brings me no benefit.
Your rebuke benefits me not,
Whoever reckons it just has wronged and transgressed.
And whoever calls it justice has transgressed.
وماand not كانَwas أدرىbetter informed بالذيabout what قدalready دَرَيْتُهI knew it
وما كانَ أدرى بالذي قد دَرَيْتُه
وأخطأand missed the mark ذاكthat العذلreproach لماwhen تعمّداhe acted deliberately
وأخطأ ذاك العذل لما تعمّدا
Nor did he know better what I have known;
None knows better than I what I have experienced,
That reproach missed its mark when he deliberately aimed it.
While the blamer missed the mark intentionally.
أُعَلِّلI console نفسيmyself بالعُذَيبwith al-ʿUdhayb وكلَّماand whenever
أُعَلِّل نفسي بالعُذَيب وكلَّما
أرَدْتُI wished بهthrough it إطفاءَextinguishing وَجديmy passion تَوَقَّداit blazed
أرَدْتُ به إطفاءَ وَجدي تَوَقَّدا
I console myself with al-ʿUdhayb, and whenever
I blame my agony, and whenever
I seek through it to quench my passion, it blazes.
I want to extinguish my passion, it blazes anew.
خليليَّmy two friends ضاعwas lost القلبُthe heart هلdo تعرفانهyou two recognize it
خليليَّ ضاع القلبُ هل تعرفانه
مشوقyearning فؤاديmy heart عندماwhen رحلواthey departed فدىa ransom
مشوق فؤادي عندما رحلوا فدى
My two friends, my heart is lost—do you recognize it?
Oh my dear ones, my heart is lost - do you know it?
My heart is yearning, a ransom when they departed.
The stirrer of my soul when they left as redemption.
وماand not أسفيmy sorrow إلاَّexcept علىfor عُمْرa lifetime مغرمa lover
وما أسفي إلاَّ على عُمْر مغرم
قضاهhe spent it ولكنbut فيin تبعدكمyour estrangement سُدىin vain
قضاه ولكن في تبعدكم سُدى
My sorrow is only for a lover's lifetime,
I grieve only for the life of a lover
Which he spent, but wasted in your estrangement.
Who spent it while you were distant in vain.
ولمand did not تدرknow أجفانيmy eyelids بكمbecause of you سنةdrowsiness الكرىsleep
ولم تدر أجفاني بكم سنة الكرى
وماand not زالceased طرفيmy gaze فيin هواكمlove for you مسهداsleepless
وما زال طرفي في هواكم مسهدا
My eyelids have known no drowsiness of sleep because of you;
My eyelids were unaware of you for years,
My gaze remains sleepless in its love for you.
While my eyes in your love remained sleepless.
وآهٍand ah علىfor يومa day قضىfulfilled الأنسcompanionship نحبهits allotted term
وآهٍ على يوم قضى الأنس نحبه
توسَّدpillowed itself on عرفانknowledge الهوىlove إذwhen توسداlay pillowed
توسَّد عرفان الهوى إذ توسدا
Ah, for the day when companionship met its death;
Alas! The day companionship's delight departed,
It pillowed itself on the knowledge of love as it lay down.
Finding intimacy's path blocked when it drew near.
لياليnights فيهاin them العيشlife كانَwas اخضرارهits greenness
ليالي فيها العيش كانَ اخضراره
رقيقtender الحواشيthe edges بالمطالبwith wishes أورداrosy
رقيق الحواشي بالمطالب أوردا
Nights in which life's greenness was
Nights in which living was verdant,
Tender at the edges, rosy with wishes.
Delicate in description, abundant in wishes.
أخلاّيmy friends كمhow often جادwas generous الزمانtime بنَيْلهاin granting them
أخلاّي كم جاد الزمان بنَيْلها
وهلand whether كانَwas طرفthe eye الدهرtime عنهنّaway from them أرمداbleary-eyed
وهل كانَ طرف الدهر عنهنّ أرمدا
My friends, how often time generously granted them!
My companions, how generous time was in bestowing them,
Was time's eye bleary, turned away from them?
Did the days ever withhold their gaze?
وأوْرَدَناand brought us to drink صفوَpurity المنىwishes فكأنَّهso, as though it
وأوْرَدَنا صفوَ المنى فكأنَّه
علىupon وجنةthe cheek الأيامthe days كانَwas تورَّداblushing
على وجنة الأيام كانَ تورَّدا
It brought us to drink the purity of wishes, as though it
They made us taste the quintessence of purpose, as if
Were a rosy blush upon the cheek of days.
Clustered on the cheeks of days when they blushed.
قساhardened قلبكمyour heart عنيtoward me ولاand no غروwonder حيثsince ليI have
قسا قلبكم عني ولا غرو حيث لي
حظوظٌfortunes تعيدturn الماءَwater إذwhen ذاكthat جلمداsolid stone
حظوظٌ تعيد الماءَ إذ ذاك جلمدا
Your heart hardened toward me—no wonder, since mine are
Your hearts were harsh to me, but no wonder -
Fortunes that turn water, at such times, to solid stone.
My fortunes return water when frozen back to liquid.
وماand not كنتُI was لولاwere it not for الحظّfortune أحظىgain favor لأنَّنيbecause I
وما كنتُ لولا الحظّ أحظى لأنَّني
قدَحْتُI struck زنادthe flint الجدّearnest effort فيكمfor you فأصلداbut it gave no spark
قدَحْتُ زناد الجدّ فيكم فأصلدا
But for fortune, I would gain no favor, for I
Had it not been for fate, I'd not have enjoyed
Struck the flint of earnest effort for you, but it gave no spark.
Kindling in you the flint of earnestness to spark.
تمادىlengthened مداكمyour distance استمرَّpersisted علىin الجفاestrangement
تمادى مداكم استمرَّ على الجفا
وقدand indeed كادnearly أنto يقضيput an end مداكمyour distance علىto المدىdistance
وقد كاد أن يقضي مداكم على المدى
Your distance lengthened, persisting in estrangement;
Your aversion increased, persisting in estrangement,
Your distance nearly put an end to distance itself.
Your estrangement nearly exhausted the furthest span.
ومَنand who لعليلfor an ailing man أنحفَwasted السقمُsickness جسمهhis body
ومَن لعليل أنحفَ السقمُ جسمه
تردّىhe clad himself ولكنbut منin ضنىwasting pain وجدهhis passion رداa cloak
تردّى ولكن من ضنى وجده ردا
Who will care for an ailing man whose body sickness has wasted,
He whom emaciation has wasted in sickness,
Clad, but in a cloak of his passion's wasting pain?
Collapsing, but who shows fortitude finds strength returned.
وإنَّand indeed اصطباريmy endurance بعدafter طولlong duration بعادكمyour absence
وإنَّ اصطباري بعد طول بعادكم
دعاcalled forth جلداًfortitude منهfrom it يبينmakes clear التجلداsteadfastness
دعا جلداً منه يبين التجلدا
My endurance, after your long absence,
My patience after your long absence
Called forth a fortitude from which steadfastness becomes clear.
Has mastered a forbearance revealing endurance.
أعيداrecall, you two لهاto her ذكرremembrance الديارthe dwellings لعلهاperhaps she
أعيدا لها ذكر الديار لعلها
تبلّغنيshe brings me تلكthose المعاهدfamiliar haunts مقصداa destination
تبلّغني تلك المعاهد مقصدا
Recall the dwellings to her, you two, so perhaps she
I remind my abode of the dwellings, perhaps
Will bring me to those familiar haunts as my destination.
It will convey those homes' aims to me.
ولماand when أتَتْshe reached تلكthose الطلولruins ورسمهاand their trace
ولما أتَتْ تلك الطلول ورسمها
غدتshe began تشتكيto lament شكوىlament الفراقseparation كماjust as غداhe began
غدت تشتكي شكوى الفراق كما غدا
When she reached those ruins and their trace,
When the ruins came with their features,
She began lamenting separation, just as he did.
They began to bemoan the agony of our separation.
أُناديI call الحمىthe sanctuary بالنوحwith weeping عنfor ساكنthe dweller الحمىthe sanctuary
أُنادي الحمى بالنوح عن ساكن الحمى
فياoh, then حبّذاhow welcome لوif only أنَّهthat he يسمعhears النداthe call
فيا حبّذا لو أنَّه يسمع الندا
I call to the sanctuary, weeping for the sanctuary's dweller;
I call to the group with lament for their dweller -
How welcome it would be if he could hear the call!
Would that he might hear my voice!
تكرُّassail repeatedly بهupon him الأشواقlongings منfrom كلّevery جانبside
تكرُّ به الأشواق من كلّ جانب
إذاwhenever كررhe repeated الذكرىremembrance لديهwith him وردداand reiterated
إذا كرر الذكرى لديه ورددا
Longings assail him from every side
Yearning tosses him about from every side
Whenever he repeats remembrance to himself and reiterates it.
If memories recur, echoing in his breast.
وماand whenever مرhe passed بالجرعاءthrough al-Jarʿaʾ إذwhen عادreturned ذكرهits memory
وما مر بالجرعاء إذ عاد ذكره
أعادbrought back عليهupon him وَجْدَهhis passion فتجدداand it was renewed
أعاد عليه وَجْدَه فتجددا
Whenever he passed al-Jarʿaʾ and its memory returned,
Whenever his mention passes the devoted,
It brought his passion back upon him, and it was renewed.
It renews their passion to blaze anew.
بياضwhiteness محيّاcountenance ذلكthat العيشlife بعدكمafter you
بياض محيّا ذلك العيش بعدكم
فماand not زالceased ذاكthat الوجهface أغبَرdust-gray أسوداblack
فما زال ذاك الوجه أغبَر أسودا
The whiteness of that life's countenance, after you left—
The dazzling life with you after you left
That face has remained dust-gray and black.
Remains gloomy, blackened in complexion.
رأىsaw البينseparation مجموعاًgathered علىin القربcloseness شملناour union
رأى البين مجموعاً على القرب شملنا
فبدَّدهso it scattered it منّاfrom us النوىdistance فتبدَّداand it dispersed
فبدَّده منّا النوى فتبدَّدا
Separation saw our union gathered in closeness;
Separation saw us united in nearness,
Distance scattered our union, and it fell apart.
So disseminated us with intention to disperse.
شذاfragrance وردrose ذاكthat الوصلunion منfrom روضgarden قربكمyour nearness
شذا ورد ذاك الوصل من روض قربكم
هزارnightingale اشتياقيmy longing كلماwhenever هبwafted غرداit sang
هزار اشتياقي كلما هب غردا
The fragrance of the rose of that union, from the garden of your nearness—
The fragrance of that union was a bouquet from the garden of your proximity,
Whenever it wafted, the nightingale of my longing sang.
Thousands of my longings chirp whenever the breeze blows.
ونشواتكمby your raptures ماnot قدalready أفاقsobered ولاand not ارعوىrestrained himself
ونشواتكم ما قد أفاق ولا ارعوى
غداhe was at morning مثلlike ماwhat أمسىhe was at evening وأمسىand he was at evening كماjust as غداhe was at morning
غدا مثل ما أمسى وأمسى كما غدا
By your raptures, he has neither sobered nor restrained himself;
Your revivals never fully returned to consciousness,
Morning finds him as evening left him, and evening as morning found him.
Becoming tomorrow as they were tonight, and tonight as they'll be tomorrow.
وقدand indeed جابtraversed وعرrough terrain الشوقlonging فيin بيدdeserts هجركمyour estrangement
وقد جاب وعر الشوق في بيد هجركم
ومنand from زادprovisions تقواهhis piety عنagainst العزلexclusion زوّداhe took provision
ومن زاد تقواه عن العزل زوّدا
He has crossed longing's rugged terrain in the deserts of your estrangement,
And longing roamed the desolate plains of your abandonment,
And from the stores of his piety he took provision against exclusion.
He who exceeded the solitary in piety gained provisions.
أضِلُّI go astray فأُهدىthen I am guided فيin هَواكمlove for you وينثنيand returns
أضِلُّ فأُهدى في هَواكم وينثني
إليَّto me هوىًlove يَهديguides عياناًvisibly ويهتدىand is guided
إليَّ هوىً يَهدي عياناً ويهتدى
I stray, then am guided in my love for you, and there returns
I stray, yet am guided by your love, which bends toward me,
To me a love that visibly guides and is itself guided.
Guiding visibly and attaining the right path.
رشادguidance عبيدʿUbayd اللهAllah للحقّtoward truth إنَّهindeed he
رشاد عبيد الله للحقّ إنَّه
سناbrilliance نورlight رشدٍright guidance فيهin it يستأنسfinds solace الهدىguidance
سنا نور رشدٍ فيه يستأنس الهدى
ʿUbayd Allah's guidance is toward truth; he is
The guidance of Abdullah Obeid to truth, it is
The brilliance of a guiding light in which guidance finds solace.
A radiant star of direction in which guidance finds illumination.
درىknew كلevery علمscience فيin الوجودexistence وجودهhis being
درى كل علم في الوجود وجوده
ولمand did not تدرknow يمناهhis right hand سوىexcept السيفthe sword والندىand generosity
ولم تدر يمناه سوى السيف والندى
His very being knew every science in existence,
He knew every knowledge in existence and its existence,
Yet his right hand has known only the sword and generosity.
While none but the sword and dew knew his right hand.
يحلunties عقودknots المشكلاتdifficulties برأيهthrough his judgment
يحل عقود المشكلات برأيه
إذاwhen أشكلgrew obscure المعنىthe meaning الدقيقsubtle وعقداand became knotted
إذا أشكل المعنى الدقيق وعقدا
He unties the knots of difficulties through his judgment
He solves problems' knots with his judgment
When the subtle meaning grows obscure and knotted.
When subtle meanings and wisdoms grow complex.
وأحياand revived دروسlessons العلمlearning فيin علمknowledge درسهhe studied it
وأحيا دروس العلم في علم درسه
بدتappeared فيهin him آثارsigns الفضائلvirtues مذsince بداhe appeared
بدت فيه آثار الفضائل مذ بدا
He revived the lessons of learning through knowledge he studied;
He revives the lessons of knowledge in the knowledge he studied
Signs of virtue appeared in him as soon as he appeared.
Until the traces of virtues appeared as he began.
لعمركby your life فليفخرso let him boast علىover السؤددnobility امرؤa man
لعمرك فليفخر على السؤدد امرؤ
يرىsees السؤددَnobility العلياءَlofty heights مجداًas glory وسؤدداand lordship
يرى السؤددَ العلياءَ مجداً وسؤددا
By your life, let a man boast above nobility,
By your life, let the eminent man boast over the vile
Who sees lofty nobility as glory and lordship.
Who sees the most eminent as glory and vile as eminent!
وأفصحَand more eloquent منthan نهجthe path البلاغةeloquence منطقاًin speech
وأفصحَ من نهج البلاغة منطقاً
تخرّfall لهbefore him الأقلامpens فيupon الطرسthe writing sheet سجّداprostrate
تخرّ له الأقلام في الطرس سجّدا
More eloquent in speech than Nahj al-Balagha,
His speech is more eloquent than the path of eloquence -
Pens fall prostrate before him upon the page.
Pens bow down in humility to transcribe it.
بهthrough him استسهلواthey found easy حزنrough ground العلومthe sciences ووعرهاand their rugged terrain
به استسهلوا حزن العلوم ووعرها
وأيسرُand easiest شيءthing عندهfor him ماwhat تشدّداgrew difficult
وأيسرُ شيء عنده ما تشدّدا
Through him they found learning's rough and rugged ground easy;
Through him they overcame the sorrows and rough terrain of sciences,
What grows difficult is the easiest thing for him.
While the most facile thing for him is what seemed most arduous.
إذاwhen أضْرَمَتْkindled أعداؤهhis enemies نارَthe fire باطلٍfalsehood
إذا أضْرَمَتْ أعداؤه نارَ باطلٍ
أثارhe raised عليهاagainst it الحقَّtruth يوماًone day فأخمداand he extinguished it
أثار عليها الحقَّ يوماً فأخمدا
When his enemies kindle the fire of falsehood,
When his enemies kindled the fire of falsehood,
He raises truth against it one day and quenches it.
He stirred the truth against it one day and extinguished it.
فلوso if رامhe sought أسبابpathways السماءheaven لنالهاhe would attain them
فلو رام أسباب السماء لنالها
وسارand traveled بمضمارalong the racecourse المرامthe aim وماand not كداtired
وسار بمضمار المرام وما كدا
Were he to seek the pathways of heaven, he would reach them,
If he aspired to the means of heaven he would attain it,
And travel the racecourse of his aim without tiring.
Running in the arena of purpose without fatigue.
وماand not مالhe inclined إلاَّexcept للعبادةtoward worship والتقىand piety
وما مال إلاَّ للعبادة والتقى
كأنْas though عنهaway from him شيطانthe devil الوساوسwhisperings صُفِّداwas chained
كأنْ عنه شيطان الوساوس صُفِّدا
He inclines only toward worship and piety,
He inclined only to worship and piety,
As though the devil of whisperings were chained away from him.
As if devils of temptation were shackled from him.
وماand not هوhe إلاَّexcept قطبthe pole دائرةthe circle العلىsublimity
وما هو إلاَّ قطب دائرة العلى
إمامٌan imam لأربابfor the masters الطريقةthe Way مقتدىfollowed as a model
إمامٌ لأرباب الطريقة مقتدى
He is the pole of the circle of sublimity,
He is none but the axis of the circle of exaltation,
An imam whom the masters of the Way follow.
An imam for the masters of spiritual paths to follow.
تنيلbestows نوالbounty اليمنgood fortune يمناهhis right hand بسطهاits outstretching
تنيل نوال اليمن يمناه بسطها
وماand not مَدَّstretched إلاَّexcept نحوtoward خالقهhis Creator يداa hand
وما مَدَّ إلاَّ نحو خالقه يدا
His outstretched right hand bestows the bounty of good fortune,
His right hand attains the blessings of success -
Yet he stretches a hand only toward his Creator.
He never extended except toward his Creator.
ولمand did not تبلغattain fulfillment الآمالhopes فيin غيرother than مالهhis wealth
ولم تبلغ الآمال في غير ماله
وفيand in غيرother than ذاكthat العذبsweet water لاnot ينقعquenches الصدىthirst
وفي غير ذاك العذب لا ينقع الصدى
Hopes find fulfillment only in his wealth,
No hopes reached their goal without his wealth,
And thirst is quenched only by that sweet water.
Nor was any fresh water drunk but from that sweet spring.
ألاbehold ياO سحاباًa cloud أغْرَقَdrowned الوفدَthe visiting throng غيثهits rain
ألا يا سحاباً أغْرَقَ الوفدَ غيثه
لظاميfor one thirsting الندىgenerosity كانتwere أياديهhis benefactions مورداa watering place
لظامي الندى كانت أياديه موردا
O cloud whose rain drowned the visiting throng,
Oh clouds flooding the pilgrims with your rain,
His benefactions were a watering place for one thirsting for bounty.
His hands were a source of dew for the thirsty.
فلوso if حاولsought المجدglory الأثيلdeep-rooted مقامهhis station
فلو حاول المجد الأثيل مقامه
لحاولit would seek ذاكthat المجدglory بالمجدthrough glory أمجداone more glorious
لحاول ذاك المجد بالمجد أمجدا
If deep-rooted glory sought his station,
If the eternal glory endeavored for his station,
That glory, through glory, would seek one more glorious.
That glory would struggle for glory through him!
مكارمnoble qualities طبعinnate nature فيin علاهhis loftiness ظهورهاtheir appearance
مكارم طبع في علاه ظهورها
وكانand he was لهاتيكfor those المكارمnoble qualities موعداa meeting place
وكان لهاتيك المكارم موعدا
Innate noble qualities reveal themselves in his loftiness;
The appearance of his nature's generosity
He was a meeting place for those noble qualities.
Had always an appointed time for those virtues.
وأنْبتَّand you made grow بالتقوىthrough piety بأحسنin the finest منبتٍsoil
وأنْبتَّ بالتقوى بأحسن منبتٍ
وقدand indeed طابwas noble أصلاًin root مثلماjust as طابwas noble محتداin lineage
وقد طاب أصلاً مثلما طاب محتدا
You made them grow through piety in the finest soil,
He planted with piety in the most fertile soil,
And his root was noble, just as his lineage was noble.
As excellent as the origin when it thrived.
يقضيhe spends لعمرby the life اللهGod صوماًfasting نهارهhis daytime
يقضي لعمر الله صوماً نهاره
ويحييand keeps alive لياليهhis nights دعاًprayer وتعبُّداand devotion
ويحيي لياليه دعاً وتعبُّدا
By God's life, he spends his daylight fasting,
He spends his days fasting for God's sake,
And keeps his nights alive with prayer and devotion.
And invigorates his nights praying devoutly.
ولماand when ادَّعىhe claimed ماwhat إنْnot أتىbrought الدهرtime مثلهits like
ولما ادَّعى ما إنْ أتى الدهر مثله
فأتبعso he was followed فيماin what يدّعيهhe claims وقلداand was emulated
فأتبع فيما يدّعيه وقلدا
When he claimed what time had never brought the like of,
When the eras claimed none like him came,
He was followed in what he claimed and emulated.
He emulated what he claimed and took its model.
وأشرعand opened للشرعfor the Sacred Law الحنيفupright مناهجاًpathways
وأشرع للشرع الحنيف مناهجاً
قواعدَfoundations دينthe religion اللهGod أضحىhe became ممهداlaying firm
قواعدَ دين الله أضحى ممهدا
He opened pathways for the upright Sacred Law,
He paved a methodology for the noble Divine Law -
Laying firm the foundations of God's religion.
He made the foundations of God's religion facilitated.
تصرّفهhis action فيin باطنthe inward aspect الحالthe state باطنhidden
تصرّفه في باطن الحال باطن
إلىtoward الرشدright guidance أصحابthe people الحقيقةspiritual truth أرشداhe guided
إلى الرشد أصحاب الحقيقة أرشدا
His action in the inward state is hidden;
His inner state's management was inwardly
He guided the people of spiritual truth toward right guidance.
Guiding the people of truth to rectitude.
ومتّبعand following شرعاًthe Sacred Law لماin what هوhe ذاهبٌpursues
ومتّبع شرعاً لما هو ذاهبٌ
ومَذْهَبُهand his school ينحوinclines toward طريقةthe way أحمداAhmad
ومَذْهَبُه ينحو طريقة أحمدا
He follows the Law in what he pursues,
A follower of the Law he tended toward,
And his school inclines toward Ahmad's way.
His school inclined to Ahmad's way.
وماand not كانَwas إلاَّexcept حينَwhen يُسألhe is asked ردهhis reply
وما كانَ إلاَّ حينَ يُسأل رده
بأسرعmore swiftly منthan حاكa speaker يجاوبهanswers him الصدىthe echo
بأسرع من حاك يجاوبه الصدى
Only when asked does his answer come
Only when asked would his answer come
Faster than a speaker is answered by the echo.
Swifter than the echo responds to the speaker.
وأدركand more discerning ممنthan one whose فضلهhis merit يملأfills الفضاthe expanse
وأدرك ممن فضله يملأ الفضا
تعدare counted أياديهhis benefactions بألسنةby the tongues العدىthe enemies
تعد أياديه بألسنة العدى
More discerning than one whose merit fills the expanse,
He attained from those whose merit filled the horizon
His benefactions are counted by the tongues of his enemies.
Counting his hands through the tongues of enemies.
وللهand God has فيماin what قدindeed أنالكHe bestowed on you حكمةwisdom
ولله فيما قد أنالك حكمة
فأعْدَمَso He made vanish فيكin you الجهلَignorance والعلمَand knowledge أوجداHe brought into being
فأعْدَمَ فيك الجهلَ والعلمَ أوجدا
God has a wisdom in what He has bestowed on you;
God's wisdom in what He granted you -
He made ignorance vanish in you and brought knowledge into being.
Abolishing ignorance in you, granting knowledge.
سَعَيْتَyou strove ويجديand benefits السعدgood fortune بالسعيthrough striving ربهits possessor
سَعَيْتَ ويجدي السعد بالسعي ربه
وأصبَحتَand you became فيin صدرthe bosom السعادةgood fortune أسعداmost fortunate
وأصبَحتَ في صدر السعادة أسعدا
You strove, and good fortune benefits its possessor through striving;
You strove and prosperity comes through striving the Lord,
In the bosom of good fortune you became most fortunate.
Becoming the happiest in the breast of fortune.
فياoh, then زهرblossoms روضa garden أنتمyou زهرflowers كمِّهِits calyx
فيا زهر روض أنتم زهر كمِّهِ
لقدindeed ماسswayed غصنthe branch الفخرpride فيكمamong you سيّداas a lord
لقد ماس غصن الفخر فيكم سيّدا
O garden blossoms, you are the flowers in its calyx;
Oh blossom! You are the garden's blossom entire!
The branch of pride has swayed among you as a lord.
The branch of pride grazed you, making you supreme.
ظهرتمyou appeared ولاand not يخفىis hidden منfrom الشمسthe sun نورهاits light
ظهرتم ولا يخفى من الشمس نورها
وحاديand the camel-driver انتشارspreading الذكرfame فيat ذكركمyour mention حداchanted
وحادي انتشار الذكر في ذكركم حدا
You have appeared; the sun's light cannot be hidden,
You appeared, and the sun's light cannot be obscured,
And the camel-driver of spreading fame chanted at your mention.
The guide to spreading your fame became limited through mention of you.
إذاwhen ماever مضىpassed away منكمfrom among you عنaway from المجدglory سيّدٌa lord
إذا ما مضى منكم عن المجد سيّدٌ
أقامhe established لكمfor you فيin موقفthe station الفخرpride سيّداa lord
أقام لكم في موقف الفخر سيّدا
Whenever a lord from among you passes away from glory,
Whenever a master of glory passed from you,
He establishes a lord for you in the station of pride.
He established for you, at glory's station, a master.
وذكركand your remembrance حتَّىuntil يقضيdecrees اللهGod أمرهHis command
وذكرك حتَّى يقضي الله أمره
علىfor طولthe duration ماas long as طالlasted الزمانtime تأبَّداbecame eternal
على طول ما طال الزمان تأبَّدا
Your remembrance, until God decrees His command,
And your mention - until God fulfills His decree -
Has become everlasting for as long as time endures.
Will last, enduring throughout time eternal.
أبرَّتْsurpassed علىbeyond ماwhat تدعيهit claims يَمينُهاits oath
أبرَّتْ على ما تدعيه يَمينُها
مَتىwhenever تقسمswear الأيامthe days إنَّكthat you مفرداpeerless
مَتى تقسم الأيام إنَّك مفردا
Its oath surpasses what it claims,
Their oaths affirm what you claim,
Whenever the days swear that you are peerless.
Whenever the eras swear you are unparalleled!
ولماand when دعاكsummoned you الأصلُthe root يوماًone day لفرعهto its branch
ولما دعاك الأصلُ يوماً لفرعه
وَرَدْتَyou came to water فماand not أبقيتَyou left للناسfor people مورداa watering place
وَرَدْتَ فما أبقيتَ للناس موردا
When the root one day summoned you to its branch,
And when lineage called you one day to its branch,
You came to water, leaving no watering place for others.
You came, leaving no source for people.
رواةtransmitters المعاليhigh deeds عنfrom جنابكyour presence أخبرواreported
رواة المعالي عن جنابك أخبروا
حديثاًa report عنof العلياءloftiness صحّwas authenticated وأسْنِداand was duly attributed
حديثاً عن العلياء صحّ وأسْنِدا
The transmitters of high deeds reported from your presence
The bearers of excellences from your side have narrated
A report of loftiness, authenticated and duly attributed.
A truthful, supported account of the eminent.
ويوردand relates عنكof you المدحpraise والحمدand acclaim كلّهall of it
ويورد عنك المدح والحمد كلّه
كمالكyour perfection يرويناquenches us كماjust as لكfor you أورداbrought to water
كمالك يروينا كما لك أوردا
All praise and acclaim are related of you;
And they transmit about you all praise and laudation
Your perfection gives us drink, as it brought drink to you.
As your perfection relates to us what it conveyed.
غياثsuccor وغوثand aid لاnot يجارىis rivaled جوادهhis steed
غياث وغوث لا يجارى جواده
وملجأand a refuge منthose whom آويتyou sheltered كنتyou were ومنجداand a rescuer
وملجأ من آويت كنت ومنجدا
Succor and aid, whose steed none can rival,
An aid and refuge whose munificence has no peer,
You were a refuge and rescuer for those you sheltered.
A shelter for whoever sought refuge, a helper in need.
ونلتand you attained بتوفيقthrough the favor العنايةprovidence رتبةa rank
ونلت بتوفيق العناية رتبة
عدوَّكyour enemy يلقىmeets دونهاbeneath it موردthe watering place الردىdeath
عدوَّك يلقى دونها مورد الردى
Through providence's favor you attained a rank
You attained by the care of providence a rank
Beneath which your enemy meets the watering place of death.
Your enemy meets as the site of perdition.
وحسبand enough الَّذيthe one who عاداكopposed you فيماin what يرومهhe seeks
وحسب الَّذي عاداك فيما يرومه
جعلتyou made عليهfor him ليلthe night هجركyour estrangement سرمداeverlasting
جعلت عليه ليل هجرك سرمدا
Enough for the one who opposed you in what he seeks:
It suffices that your adversary in his intentions
You made the night of your estrangement eternal for him.
Made the night of your estrangement eternal for him.
علىin رغمdefiance منwhoever عاداكopposed you قلتI said مُؤَرِّخاًcomposing a chronogram
على رغم من عاداك قلت مُؤَرِّخاً
بفتوىaccording to the fatwa عبيدʿUbayd اللهAllah لاnot زالceased يقتدىis followed
بفتوى عبيد الله لا زال يقتدى
In defiance of those who opposed you, I said as a chronogram:
Despite your adversaries you said, chronicling:
May ʿUbayd Allah's fatwa forever be followed.
Abdullah's fatwa continues to be followed.
Sol 6.1