ضَحِكَlaughed البرقُthe lightning فأبكانيso it made me weep دَماblood
ضَحِكَ البرقُ فأبكاني دَما
وجرىand flowed دمعيmy tears لهfor it وانسجَماand poured forth
وجرى دمعي له وانسجَما
The lightning laughed and made me weep blood;
The lightning laughed, so it made me weep blood,
and for it my tears flowed and poured.
And my tears flowed to it and blended.
وأهاجَand stirred الوجدlonging فيin إيماضهits flashing
وأهاجَ الوجد في إيماضه
كَبِداًa liver حرّىburning وقلباًand a heart مغرماlove-stricken
كَبِداً حرّى وقلباً مغرما
And, in its flashing, longing stirred
Passion was stirred in its flashing,
a burning liver and a love-stricken heart.
A burning liver and an enamored heart.
ماnot أرىI see دائيَmy ailment إلاَّexcept لَوعَةًanguish
ما أرى دائيَ إلاَّ لَوعَةً
منfrom حشاًan inward heart تُورىis kindled ومنand from دمعٍtears همىstreamed
من حشاً تُورى ومن دمعٍ همى
I see my ailment as nothing but anguish,
I see my illness only as a heartache
from an inward heart aflame and tears that streamed,
From longing that is hidden and from streaming tears,
منfrom سناًradiance لاحshone ومنand from برقlightning أضاflashed
من سناً لاح ومن برق أضا
ماnot بكىwept الوامقthe lover إلاَّexcept that ابتسماit smiled
ما بكى الوامق إلاَّ ابتسما
from radiance that shone and lightning that flashed:
From a brilliance that shone and from lightning that smiled.
the lover never wept without it smiling.
The cheerful lightning only frowned.
فكأنَّso it was as though البرقَthe lightning فيin جنحthe wing of الدجىdarkness
فكأنَّ البرقَ في جنح الدجى
ألْبَسَclothed الظلماءthe darkness بُرداًa mantle مُعْلماpatterned
ألْبَسَ الظلماء بُرداً مُعْلما
It was as though the lightning, under the wing of darkness,
So it was as if the lightning in the wings of night
clothed the darkness in a patterned mantle.
Dressed the darkness in a figured cloak.
باحdivulged فيin الحبّlove بأسرارwith the secrets of الهوىdesire
باح في الحبّ بأسرار الهوى
وأبىand refused سرُّthe secret of الهوىdesire أنْto يكتماbe concealed
وأبى سرُّ الهوى أنْ يكتما
It divulged, in love, the secrets of desire,
It sneered about love and the secrets of passion,
and the secret of desire refused to be concealed.
Yet the secret of passion refused to be concealed.
ياO أخلاّئيmy dear friends وهلand is there منany وقفةٍpause
يا أخلاّئي وهل من وقفةٍ
بعدكمafter you بالجزعat the valley bend منof ذاكthat الحمىsanctuary
بعدكم بالجزع من ذاك الحمى
O my dear friends, is there any lingering
O my boon companions! Is there any pause
after you, at the valley bend of that sanctuary?
After you from that fever's distress?
أنشدُI seek الدارthe dwelling الَّتيwhich كنتمyou were بهاin it
أنشدُ الدار الَّتي كنتم بها
ناشداًseeking أطلالهاits ruins والأرسماand the traces
ناشداً أطلالها والأرسما
I seek the dwelling where you once were,
I recite a poem about the house where you dwelt,
seeking its ruins and its traces.
Appealing to its ruins and its pillars.
ياO دياراًdwellings بالغضاamong the ghada trees أعهدهاI remember them
يا دياراً بالغضا أعهدها
مَرْبَضَa lair الأسْدِthe lions ومحرابand a prayer-niche الدمىthe lovely idols
مَرْبَضَ الأسْدِ ومحراب الدمى
O dwellings among the ghada trees, I remember them
O abodes of verdure I was familiar with,
as the lions' lair and the prayer-niche of lovely idols.
The lion's den and shrine of the blood-price!
سَوَّلَتْmade enticing للدمعfor tears أنto يجريflow بهاin them
سَوَّلَتْ للدمع أن يجري بها
وقضتand decreed للوجدfor longing أنْto يضطرماblaze up
وقضت للوجد أنْ يضطرما
They tempted tears to flow within them,
You made my tears flow in it
and decreed that longing should blaze.
And decreed that passion should flame up.
أينَwhere سكانُكyour dwellers لاnot كانَmay there be النوىseparation
أينَ سكانُك لا كانَ النوى
أعْرَقَwent toward Iraq البينparting بهمwith them أمor أشأماwent toward al-Sham
أعْرَقَ البين بهم أم أشأما
Where are your dwellers? May separation never be!
Where are your inhabitants? Did the vipers
Did parting take them toward Iraq or toward al-Sham?
Moisten their abode with them or did they protect it?
كانَwas عهديmy recollection بظباءof gazelles المنحنىthe bend
كانَ عهدي بظباء المنحنى
تصرَعُfells الظبيةُthe doe فيهin it الضيغماthe lion
تصرَعُ الظبيةُ فيه الضيغما
I remember the gazelles of the bend:
My pact with the sand grouse of the valley
there, a doe would fell a lion.
Was that the young bird took fright at the crow.
وبنفسيand with my soul بينamong أسرابherds of المهاoryx
وبنفسي بين أسراب المها
ظالمٌa wrongdoer لمdid not يَعْفُpardon عمَّنthose whom ظلماhe wronged
ظالمٌ لم يَعْفُ عمَّن ظلما
And I would ransom with my soul, among the herds of oryx,
And myself among flocks of ostriches
a wrongdoer who pardoned none he wronged.
Was a wronged man who did not pardon one who wronged him.
إنَّindeed فيin أحداقthe eyes of هاتيكthose الظباgazelles
إنَّ في أحداق هاتيك الظبا
صحةًhealth تورثbequeaths جسميmy body سقماsickness
صحةً تورث جسمي سقما
Indeed, in the eyes of those gazelles
Truly in the glances of those sand grouse
is health that bequeaths sickness to my body.
Is a sickness that gives my body pain.
ومليحand a handsome one بابليٍّBabylonian طرفهhis glance
ومليح بابليٍّ طرفه
ساحرِenchanting المقلةof eye معسولhoney-sweet اللمىthe lips' dark hue
ساحرِ المقلة معسول اللمى
And a handsome one, Babylonian in his glance,
And a fair Babylonian whose glance
enchanting of eye, honey-sweet of dusky lip.
Is magic and whose coquetry is sweet.
حرَّمforbade اللهGod دميmy blood وهوyet he يرىbelieves
حرَّم الله دمي وهو يرى
أنَّهthat it حلَّbecame lawful لهfor him ماwhat حرماHe forbade
أنَّه حلَّ له ما حرما
God forbade the spilling of my blood, yet he believes
God forbade my blood, though He saw
that what He forbade has become lawful for him.
That He made lawful for him what He forbade.
كمhow many أراشتfeathered أسهماًarrows ألحاظُهhis glances
كم أراشت أسهماً ألحاظُه
ياO لهfor him فيin الحبّlove منwhat an رامٍarcher رمىshot
يا له في الحبّ من رامٍ رمى
How many arrows his glances have feathered!
How his glances shot arrows!
Oh, what an archer he is, shooting in love!
Oh what an excellent archer and sure shot!
أشتهيI crave عَذْبَthe sweetness of ثناياهhis front teeth الَّتيwhich
أشتهي عَذْبَ ثناياه الَّتي
جَرَّعَتْنيmade me swallow فيin هواهlove of him العلقماcolocynth
جَرَّعَتْني في هواه العلقما
I crave the sweetness of his front teeth, which
I desire the sweetness of his lips
made me swallow colocynth in loving him.
That made me drink in his love the bitter aloes.
وصلتcame أيامهhis days وانقَرضَتand passed away
وصلت أيامه وانقَرضَت
أفكانتwere they, then? ليتwould that شعريmy knowing حلماa dream
أفكانت ليت شعري حلما
His days came, then passed away;
His days have gone and vanished.
were they—would that I knew—a dream?
Were they, I wonder, a dream?
علِّلانيyou two, console me بعسىwith 'perhaps' أوor ربَّما'maybe'
علِّلاني بعسى أو ربَّما
فعسىfor perhaps تغنيmay suffice عسى'perhaps' أوor ربَّما'maybe'
فعسى تغني عسى أو ربَّما
Console me, you two, with 'perhaps' or 'maybe';
Excuse me with "perhaps" or "maybe,"
for perhaps 'perhaps' or 'maybe' will avail.
For "perhaps" will substitute for "perhaps" or "maybe."
حارwas bewildered حكمthe judge of الحبّlove فيin الحبّlove فماso did not
حار حكم الحبّ في الحبّ فما
أنْصَفَdo justice to المظلومَthe wronged ممنagainst the one who ظلماwronged him
أنْصَفَ المظلومَ ممن ظلما
Love's judge was bewildered in love, and so did not
Love was perplexed about love, so it was not
give the wronged justice against the one who wronged him.
Equitable to the wronged against the wronger.
ليتَهwould that he يعدلacted justly فيin الحكمjudgment بناtoward us
ليتَه يعدل في الحكم بنا
عدلthe justice of داودDawud إذاwhenever ماfor emphasis حكماhe judged
عدل داود إذا ما حكما
Would that he judged us with justice,
Would that it might judge justly between us
with the justice of Dawud whenever he judged.
With the justice of David, when he gave judgment!
أيَّدstrengthened اللهGod بهthrough him الدِّينthe faith امرؤa man
أيَّد الله به الدِّين امرؤ
كانَwas للدينfor the faith بهin him مُستَعْصَماa refuge
كانَ للدين به مُستَعْصَما
A man through whom God strengthened the faith,
God supported religion by him, commander
in whom the faith found a refuge;
Whose religion by him had a protector.
ذوpossessed of مزاياvirtues ترتضىpleasing أطلعهاmade them rise
ذو مزايا ترتضى أطلعها
منهfrom him فيin أفقthe horizon of المعاليeminence أنجماstars
منه في أفق المعالي أنجما
possessed of pleasing virtues, which were made to rise
He has praiseworthy qualities; may he display them
from him as stars on the horizon of eminence.
As stars in the horizon of glory!
بلغattained الرشدmaturity كمالاًin perfection وحجىand wisdom
بلغ الرشد كمالاً وحجى
قبلbefore أنto يبلغreach فيهاin them الحلماpuberty
قبل أن يبلغ فيها الحلما
He attained maturity in perfection and wisdom
He attained maturity perfection and proof
before he reached puberty, already possessing them.
Before attaining it in years.
ومبانيand the edifices of المجدglory فيin أفعالهhis deeds
ومباني المجد في أفعاله
قدalready بناهنّhe built them البناءَconstruction المحكماsolid
قد بناهنّ البناءَ المحكما
And the edifices of glory, in his deeds,
And the structures of glory in his deeds-
he has built with solid construction.
He built them, constructing firmly.
ناشئgrowing up فيin طاعةobedience to اللهGod فتىًa young man
ناشئ في طاعة الله فتىً
لمdid not يزلcease برًّاrighteous رؤوفاًcompassionate منعماgenerous
لم يزل برًّا رؤوفاً منعما
A young man raised in obedience to God,
A youth brought up obeying God, a lad
ever righteous, compassionate, and generous.
Who never ceased to be righteous, merciful and generous.
قدindeed علاrose بالفضلthrough excellence فيمنamong those who قدalready علاrose
قد علا بالفضل فيمن قد علا
وسماand soared بالعلمthrough knowledge فيمنamong those who قدalready سماsoared
وسما بالعلم فيمن قد سما
He rose through excellence among those who rose,
He excelled in merit those who excel
and soared through knowledge among those who soared.
And attained in knowledge those who attain.
كمhow many وكمand how many فيمنamong those whose تولّىhe took charge of أمْرَهhis affairs
كم وكم فيمن تولّى أمْرَه
أعيَنٍeyes قَرَّتْwere gladdened وأنفٍand a nose أرغماwas rubbed in dust
أعيَنٍ قَرَّتْ وأنفٍ أرغما
How many, how many, among those whose affairs he undertook:
How many, of those he took charge of,
eyes made glad, and noses rubbed in the dust!
Eyes grew cheerless and noses were chafed!
رجلa man لوif ملكhe possessed الدنياthe world لماwould not
رجل لو ملك الدنيا لما
تركتleave أيديهhis hands شخصاًa person معدماdestitute
تركت أيديه شخصاً معدما
A man—if he possessed the world, never would
A man, if he possessed the world, would not
his hands leave a single person destitute.
Leave his hands devoid of a pauper.
فإذاso when جادhe gives generously فماthen what is وبلthe downpour of الحياrain
فإذا جاد فما وبل الحيا
وذاand when جادلhe debated خصماًan opponent أفحماhe silenced him
وذا جادل خصماً أفحما
When he gives, what is the rain's downpour beside him?
When he is generous, water reaches the rain clouds,
And when he debates an opponent, he leaves him speechless.
And when he argues with an adversary, he refutes him.
بُسِطَتْwere extended أيديهhis hands بالجودwith generosity فماso not
بُسِطَتْ أيديه بالجود فما
تركتleft مماof what اقتناهhe acquired it درهماa dirham
تركت مما اقتناه درهما
His hands were spread wide in generosity, and did not
His hands are spread in munificence, and never
leave a dirham of all he had acquired.
Leave of what he acquires a single dirham.
أظهرَmade manifest الحقَّthe truth بياناًwith clear exposition وجلاand dispelled
أظهرَ الحقَّ بياناً وجلا
منfrom ظلامthe darkness of الشكdoubt ليلاًa night مظلماdark
من ظلام الشك ليلاً مظلما
He made the truth manifest with clear exposition and dispelled
He shows the truth lucidly and removes
a dark night from the gloom of doubt.
From the darkness of doubt a gloomy night.
سيّدa lord منof هاشمHashim إذas ينتميhe traces his descent
سيّد من هاشم إذ ينتمي
لرسولto the Messenger of اللهGod أعلىthe loftiest منتمىdescent
لرسول الله أعلى منتمى
A lord of Hashim, tracing his descent
The chief of Hāshim, for he traces
to God's Messenger—the loftiest descent.
His lineage to God's Messenger, the highest lineage.
واعظٌa preacher إنْif وعظhe admonished الناسthe people اهتدتthey were guided
واعظٌ إنْ وعظ الناس اهتدت
لسبيلto the path of الرشدright guidance منfrom بعدafter العمىblindness
لسبيل الرشد من بعد العمى
A preacher: when he admonishes the people, they are guided
A preacher - if he preaches to men they are guided
to the path of right guidance after blindness.
To the path of righteousness after blindness.
كلّماwhenever ألقىhe cast إليناto us كلِماًwords
كلّما ألقى إلينا كلِماً
لفظتwere uttered منfrom فيهhis mouth كانتthey were حِكماwise sayings
لفظت من فيه كانت حِكما
Whenever he casts words to us,
Whenever he utters a word to us
uttered from his mouth, they are words of wisdom.
We utter pearls from his mouth as wisdom.
تكشفclear away الرانthe rust عنfrom القلبthe heart وماand not
تكشف الران عن القلب وما
تركتleft فيin الدِّينthe faith أمراًa matter مبهماobscure
تركت في الدِّين أمراً مبهما
They clear the rust from the heart, and have not
He strips the cloak from the heart, and leaves
left any matter in the faith obscure.
No obscure matter in religion.
قولهhis word الفصلdecisive وفيand in أحكامهhis rulings
قوله الفصل وفي أحكامه
ماwhat يريكshows you الحكمjudgment أمراًa matter مبرماfirmly settled
ما يريك الحكم أمراً مبرما
His word is decisive, and in his rulings
His word is conclusive, and in his judgments
is what shows you judgment as a firmly settled matter.
You see the judgment an absolute decree.
إنif قضىhe decided بالدينby the faith أمراًa matter ومضىand carried it through
إن قضى بالدين أمراً ومضى
أذعَنَsubmitted الآبيthe defiant one لهto him واستسلماand surrendered
أذعَنَ الآبي له واستسلما
If he decides a matter by the faith and carries it through,
If he decides a religious matter and it is done,
the defiant submit to him and surrender.
The obdurate yields to it and submits.
يحسمeradicates الداءthe disease منof الجهلignorance وكمand how often
يحسم الداء من الجهل وكم
حًسِمwas eradicated الجهلignorance بهthrough him فانحسماand vanished
حًسِم الجهل به فانحسما
He eradicates the disease of ignorance; how often
He removes the malady of ignorance, and how
has ignorance been eradicated through him and vanished!
Ignorance by him was removed and vanished!
نجمarose العلمknowledge بهthrough him إذwhen نجماhe arose
نجم العلم به إذ نجما
ونمىand grew الفضلexcellence بهthrough him منذsince نمىhe grew
ونمى الفضل به منذ نمى
Knowledge arose through him when he arose,
The star of knowledge rose by him when stars rose,
and excellence grew through him from the time he grew.
And merit throve by him since it throve.
وبدينand in the faith of اللهGod فيamong أقرانِهhis peers
وبدين الله في أقرانِه
لمnot أجدُI have found أثْبَتَmore steadfast منهthan him قدماin footing
لم أجدُ أثْبَتَ منه قدما
And in God's faith, among his peers,
In religion among his peers
I have found none more firmly footed than he.
I did not find anyone firmer of foot than he.
يدفعrepels الباطلfalsehood بالحقwith the truth الَّذيthat
يدفع الباطل بالحق الَّذي
يُفلقُcleaves الهامَheads ويبريand hews off القمماcrowns of heads
يُفلقُ الهامَ ويبري القمما
He repels falsehood with the truth that
He repels falsehood by the truth that
cleaves heads and hews off their crowns.
Rends mountains and makes highlands a plain.
واكتفىand was content بالسمرwith dark shafts عنrather than بيضbright الظباsword-edges
واكتفى بالسمر عن بيض الظبا
أغْمدَsheathed السيفthe sword وأجرىand set flowing القلماthe pen
أغْمدَ السيف وأجرى القلما
And he was content with dark shafts rather than bright blades;
He was content to be silent about the sand grouse
he sheathed the sword and set the pen flowing.
And sheathed the sword and let the pen flow.
وُجدَwas found الفضلُexcellence بهthrough him مفتتحاًbegun
وُجدَ الفضلُ به مفتتحاً
لاnot أرىI see فيin فقدهthe loss of him مختتماended
لا أرى في فقده مختتما
Excellence was found to begin with him;
Merit was found inaugurated by him;
I do not see it ending with his loss.
I do not see it concluded by his loss.
علماءscholars of الدّينthe faith أعلامbeacons of الهدىguidance
علماء الدّين أعلام الهدى
كلُّevery فردindividual كانَwas منهمamong them علماa beacon
كلُّ فرد كانَ منهم علما
The scholars of the faith are beacons of guidance;
The learned in religion, the guiding stars -
every one among them has been a beacon.
Each individual of them was a star.
إنَّماindeed أنتَyou لعمريby my life واحدone of a kind
إنَّما أنتَ لعمري واحد
ماnot رأيناwe have seen لكfor you فيناamong us توأماa twin
ما رأينا لك فينا توأما
You, by my life, are truly one of a kind;
You, by my life, are peerless;
we have seen no twin of yours among us.
We did not see you to have a peer.
أنتَyou أندىthe most generous of الناسpeople إنْif تثرىyou grow rich ندىin bounty
أنتَ أندى الناس إنْ تثرى ندى
ياO غماماًcloud سحَّpoured down ياO بحراًsea طمىoverflowed
يا غماماً سحَّ يا بحراً طمى
You are the most generous of men when rich in bounty—
You are the most dewy of men when dew is shed.
O cloud pouring down, O sea overflowing!
O pouring rain, O swelling sea!
إنَّindeed أيامَكyour days أعيادُfestivals of المنىwishes
إنَّ أيامَك أعيادُ المنى
حيثas كانتthey were للأمانيfor hopes موسماa season
حيث كانت للأماني موسما
Your days are festivals of wishes,
Your days are the festivals of desires,
for they are a season for hopes.
Where they had for wishes a season.
سيّديmy master أنتَyou وهاand behold أنتyou لناfor us الthe
سيّدي أنتَ وها أنت لنا ال
عروةhandhold الوثقىfirmest الَّتيwhich لنwill never تفصماbe broken
عروة الوثقى الَّتي لن تفصما
My master, you are—behold, for us you are the
My master, you are for us the firmest
firmest handhold, which shall never be broken.
Handhold that will never be severed.
نظمcomposed الشعرpoetry لكمfor you داعيكمُthe one who prays for you
نظم الشعر لكم داعيكمُ
فتَقبَّلْso accept فيكabout you ماwhat قدalready نظماhe composed
فتَقبَّلْ فيك ما قد نظما
The one who prays for you has composed verse for you;
I compose poetry for you, your suppliant,
so accept what he has composed about you,
So accept in yourself what I have composed,
ذاكراًrecalling منamong أنْعَمthe blessings of اللهGod لكمfor you
ذاكراً من أنْعَم الله لكم
نِعَماًblessings تُسديbestow إليناupon us النعماblessings
نِعَماً تُسدي إلينا النعما
recalling, among God's blessings to you,
Mentioning the favors God has given you,
blessings that bestow blessings upon us.
Favors that bring favors to us.
Sol 6.1