سُقهاdrive her وَلَوand even if ذَهَبَwent away السُّرىnight travel بِسَراتِهاwith her back
سُقها وَلَو ذَهَبَ السُّرى بِسَراتِها
كَمhow long ذاthus تَرُدُّdo you turn back النَفسَthe soul عَنfrom عَزَماتِهاits resolves
كَم ذا تَرُدُّ النَفسَ عَن عَزَماتِها
Drive her on, even if night travel wears away her back.
Her lofty principles even if stripped of elegance
How long will you turn the soul back from its resolves?
How often does the soul recoil from its resolves?
طالَhas lasted long اِمتِراؤُكَyour seeking milk خَلفَbehind كُلِّevery رَذِيَّةٍspent she-camel
طالَ اِمتِراؤُكَ خَلفَ كُلِّ رَذِيَّةٍ
أَكدىmore unyielding لَدىwhen faced with الإِبساسِmilking calls مِنthan ثَفناتِهاher knee-calluses
أَكدى لَدى الإِبساسِ مِن ثَفناتِها
Long have you sought milk behind every spent she-camel,
Your procrastination has been too long behind every ignoble one,
more unyielding to milking calls than her knee-calluses.
More intense during adversity than its twinges
سَفَهاًfolly لِرَأيِكَupon your judgment إِنif سُرِرتَyou delight بِرَوضَةٍin a meadow
سَفَهاً لِرَأيِكَ إِن سُرِرتَ بِرَوضَةٍ
لِمُزنَّمِfor a wattled one العِدّانِof the young billy goats غَضُّtender نَباتِهاits growth
لِمُزنَّمِ العِدّانِ غَضُّ نَباتِها
Folly upon your judgment if you delight in a meadow
How foolish your view if you are pleased with a meadow
whose tender growth is for a wattled young billy goat.
Whose sprouting plants are diminished by a dissolute herder
أَوَلَيسَand is it not جَهلاًignorance أَنto تُسيمَpasture livestock بِمَرتَعٍin a pasture
أَوَلَيسَ جَهلاً أَن تُسيمَ بِمَرتَعٍ
أَكَلَتate بِهِin it المِعزىthe goats لُحومَthe flesh رُعاتِهاof their shepherds
أَكَلَت بِهِ المِعزى لُحومَ رُعاتِها
Is it not ignorance to pasture beasts in a grazing ground
Is it not ignorance that you pasture in a land
where goats have eaten their shepherds' flesh?
Whose goats have eaten the flesh of its shepherds?
أَعرَبتَyou spoke clearly حينَwhen دَعوتَyou called إِلّاexcept أَنَّهُthat
أَعرَبتَ حينَ دَعوتَ إِلّا أَنَّهُ
لاnot يَبلُغُreaches الأَمواتَthe dead صَوتُthe voice دُعاتِهاof their callers
لا يَبلُغُ الأَمواتَ صَوتُ دُعاتِها
You spoke clearly when you called, except that
You supplicated properly when you called but
the voices of their callers do not reach the dead.
The dead cannot hear the voices of those who call them
فَاِنهَضso rise وَسَلِّand dispel الهَمَّsorrow عَنكَfrom yourself بِجَسرَةٍwith a sturdy she-camel
فَاِنهَض وَسَلِّ الهَمَّ عَنكَ بِجَسرَةٍ
رَوحاتُهاher evening journeys تُربىsurpass عَلىover غَدَواتِهاher morning journeys
رَوحاتُها تُربى عَلى غَدَواتِها
So rise, and dispel your sorrow with a sturdy she-camel
So get up and distract yourself from anxiety briskly
whose evening journeys surpass her morning journeys.
Its brisk walks are nurtured by its maneuvers
وَاِرغَبand hold aloof بِنَفسِكَin self-respect أَنfrom تُقيمَdwelling بِبَلدَةٍin a town
وَاِرغَب بِنَفسِكَ أَن تُقيمَ بِبَلدَةٍ
عُصفورُهاits sparrow يَسطوassails بِشُهبِthe gray-white بُزاتِهاof its falcons
عُصفورُها يَسطو بِشُهبِ بُزاتِها
Hold yourself too high to dwell in a town
And make your soul content to stay in a land
whose sparrow assails its gray-white falcons.
Whose sparrows can grasp the gray hair of hyenas
إِنif يَرضَaccept قَوميmy people الهونَhumiliation فيَّin my case فَطالَماthen how often
إِن يَرضَ قَومي الهونَ فيَّ فَطالَما
عَمداًdeliberately أَهَنتُI humbled النَفسَthe soul فيin seeking مَرضاتِهاtheir pleasure
عَمداً أَهَنتُ النَفسَ في مَرضاتِها
If my people accept my humiliation, how often
If my people are pleased with my humiliation, indeed
have I deliberately humbled myself to please them!
I have often willfully humiliated myself to please them
كَمhow often قَدindeed غَدوتُI went out in the morning وَرُحتُand returned in the evening غَيرَnot مَقَصِّرٍfalling short
كَم قَد غَدوتُ وَرُحتُ غَيرَ مَقَصِّرٍ
فيin لَمِّmending فُرقَتِهاtheir divisions وَجَمعِand gathering شتاتِهاtheir scattered ranks
في لَمِّ فُرقَتِها وَجَمعِ شتاتِها
How often have I gone out morning and evening, never slackening
How often have I marched and roamed without ever being remiss
in mending their divisions and gathering their scattered ranks!
In gathering their fragments and uniting their remnants
وَلَكَمand how often عَصَيتُI disobeyed بِهاfor their sake العَذولَthe reprover وَلَمand did not أُذِعI divulge
وَلَكَم عَصَيتُ بِها العَذولَ وَلَم أُذِع
ماwhat بانَbecame apparent لِلأَعداءِto the enemies مِنof عَوراتِهاtheir vulnerabilities
ما بانَ لِلأَعداءِ مِن عَوراتِها
How often for their sake I defied the reprover, and never divulged
And how often have I protected it from slanderers without divulging
the vulnerabilities of theirs that became apparent to enemies!
What weaknesses of theirs became apparent to the enemy
حامَيتُI defended عَنin defense of أَعقابِهاtheir rear وَرَمَيتُand shot arrows عَنin defense of
حامَيتُ عَن أَعقابِها وَرَمَيتُ عَن
أَحسابِهاtheir ancestral honor وَسَهِرتُand kept vigil فيduring نَوباتِهاtheir times of peril
أَحسابِها وَسَهِرتُ في نَوباتِها
I defended their rear and shot arrows in defense of
I have protected their posterity and thrown
their ancestral honor, and kept vigil in their times of peril.
Myself before their calculations and kept vigil during their watches
بَهراًwoe لَهاto them أَوَand ماnot دَرَتdid they know أَنّيthat I الَّذيam the one who
بَهراً لَها أَوَ ما دَرَت أَنّي الَّذي
يُدعىis called مَسَرَّتَهاtheir joy وَغَيظَand the vexation عِداتِهاof their foes
يُدعى مَسَرَّتَها وَغَيظَ عِداتِها
Woe to them! Did they not know that I am the one
Bewildered by them! Or have they not realized that I
called their joy and the vexation of their foes?
Am the one called their delight and the wrath of their enemies?
كَمhow many a زبيَةٍpitfall حَفَرَتdug لَهاfor them يَدُthe hand كاشِحٍof a hater
كَم زبيَةٍ حَفَرَت لَها يَدُ كاشِحٍ
يَبغيseeking لَهاfor them الأَسواءَthe worst evils فيduring غَفَلاتِهاtheir unguarded moments
يَبغي لَها الأَسواءَ في غَفَلاتِها
How many a pitfall a hater's hand dug for them,
How many pits has the hand of a fierce attacker dug
seeking their worst harm in their unguarded moments!
Seeking to do them the utmost harm in their moments of oblivion
ماnot زِلتُI ceased أَهدِمُdemolishing جالَهاits sides حَتّىuntil غَدَتbecame
ما زِلتُ أَهدِمُ جالَها حَتّى غَدَت
أَبحاثُهاits excavations تَنهارُcollapse فيinto مَهوَاتِهاits depths
أَبحاثُها تَنهارُ في مَهوَاتِها
I kept demolishing its sides until
I have not ceased demolishing their edifices until
its excavations collapsed into its depths.
Their constructions have collapsed into their abyss
مَهلاًgently بَنيsons of اللُؤَماءِbase men ثُمَّthen تَبيَّنواrecognize
مَهلاً بَني اللُؤَماءِ ثُمَّ تَبيَّنوا
سَبّاقَهاtheir foremost racer الساميrising إِلىtoward غاياتِهاtheir goals
سَبّاقَها السامي إِلى غاياتِها
Gently, sons of base men! Then recognize
Wait, O dissolute people, then become certain
their foremost racer, rising toward their goals.
Of its most noble horseman racing to its goals
إِنَّindeed العِتاقَthe thoroughbreds مِنَamong الجِيادِsteeds هِيَthey الَّتيare those that
إِنَّ العِتاقَ مِنَ الجِيادِ هِيَ الَّتي
تَجريrun الأُصولُbloodlines بِهاwith them عَلىdespite عِلّاتِهاtheir defects
تَجري الأُصولُ بِها عَلى عِلّاتِها
The thoroughbreds among steeds are those
Indeed, the thoroughbreds are those
whose breeding carries them onward despite their defects.
That transmit ancient glories through their lineage
لَيسَتare not كَوادِنهاtheir packhorses بِسَرجٍthrough a saddle مُذهَبٍgilded
لَيسَت كَوادِنها بِسَرجٍ مُذهَبٍ
تَجريrunning وَلاnor بِحُجُولهاthrough their anklets وَشِيانهاand their embroidered trappings
تَجري وَلا بِحُجُولها وَشِيانها
It is not a gilded saddle that makes their packhorses
Its riding beasts are not adorned with gold
run, nor their anklets and embroidered trappings.
That flows neither are they distinguished by their elegance and grace
قَوميmy people سُراةُthe nobles رَبيعَةٍof Rabi'ah وَمُلوكُهاand its kings
قَومي سُراةُ رَبيعَةٍ وَمُلوكُها
وَإِذاand when نُسِبتُmy lineage is traced وُجِدتُI am found مِنamong سَرَواتِهاits foremost nobles
وَإِذا نُسِبتُ وُجِدتُ مِن سَرَواتِها
My people are Rabi'ah's nobles and kings;
My people are the cavalry of the Banu Rabīʿah
trace my lineage, and you will find me among its foremost nobles.
When my lineage is recounted I am found among their nobility
الطاعِنينَthose who spear الخَيلَhorses فيin لَبّاتِهاtheir throats
الطاعِنينَ الخَيلَ في لَبّاتِها
وَالضارِبينَand those who strike الصِيدَproud lords فيon هاماتِهاtheir heads
وَالضارِبينَ الصِيدَ في هاماتِها
Those who spear horses in their throats
Those who stab horses in their innermost being
and strike proud lords upon their heads.
And who strike wild beasts in their brain stems
وَلَرُبَّand many a لاحٍreprover قالَsaid ليto me وَجُفونُهُwhile his eyelids
وَلَرُبَّ لاحٍ قالَ لي وَجُفونُهُ
سَكرىdrunk إِلىto الآماقِthe inner eye-corners مِنfrom عَبَرَاتِهاtheir tears
سَكرى إِلى الآماقِ مِن عَبَرَاتِها
Many a reprover said to me, his eyelids
And many a clear-sighted one has said to me while
drunk to the inner corners with their tears:
Tears of sorrow flowed copiously from his eyelids:
هَوِّنtake it easy فَقَومُكَfor your people ياO عَلِيُّAli حَياتُهاtheir life
هَوِّن فَقَومُكَ يا عَلِيُّ حَياتُها
كَمَماتِهاlike their death وَمَماتُهاand their death كَحَياتِهاlike their life
كَمَماتِها وَمَماتُها كَحَياتِها
Take it easy, Ali, for your people's life
Make things easy for them - their lives
is like their death, and their death like their life.
Are like their skulls and their skulls are like their lives
لَوif كانَthere were فيهاamong them مِنany هُمامٍhigh-minded man ماجِدٍnoble
لَو كانَ فيها مِن هُمامٍ ماجِدٍ
لَمnot تُسقَyou would be given to drink مُرَّthe bitterness الضَّيمِof oppression مِنfrom راحاتِهاtheir palms
لَم تُسقَ مُرَّ الضَّيمِ مِن راحاتِها
Had there been among them a high-minded noble,
If only they possessed an ambitious spirit
you would not have been made to drink bitter oppression from their palms.
They would not have tasted the bitterness of tranquility
سَلَبَتكَthey stripped you of ماwhat خُوِّلتَهُyou were granted مِنof نِعمَةٍblessing
سَلَبَتكَ ما خُوِّلتَهُ مِن نِعمَةٍ
وَرَماكَand shot at you مَنthe one who ناوَاكَopposed you مِنfrom مَرماتِهاtheir shooting-ground
وَرَماكَ مَن ناوَاكَ مِن مَرماتِها
They stripped you of the blessings granted you,
They robbed you of the blessings you were granted
and your antagonist shot at you from their own shooting-ground.
And those nurturing you pelted you with their shots
مُذsince وارتِconcealed الغَبراءُthe dust-gray earth شَخصَthe person مُحمَّدٍof Muhammad
مُذ وارتِ الغَبراءُ شَخصَ مُحمَّدٍ
رَحَلَdeparted العُلاloftiness وَالمَجدُand glory مِنfrom أَبياتِهاtheir dwellings
رَحَلَ العُلا وَالمَجدُ مِن أَبياتِها
Since the dust-gray earth concealed Muhammad's person,
Ever since the dust covered the person of Muḥammad
loftiness and glory have departed from their dwellings.
Glory and honor have disappeared from its abodes
أَوَand ماnot تَراهاdo you see them كَيفَhow نامَslept عَدُوُّهاtheir enemy
أَوَ ما تَراها كَيفَ نامَ عَدُوُّها
أَمناًsecure وَماand what قدindeed نالَgained مِنof خَيراتِهاtheir riches
أَمناً وَما قد نالَ مِن خَيراتِها
Do you not see how their enemy sleeps
Or do you not see how their enemy
secure, and what he has gained of their riches,
Sleeps safely and achieves the best of its fortunes?
وَتَرىand you see أَقارِبَهاtheir kinsmen وَأَهلَand the people وِدادِهاof love for them
وَتَرى أَقارِبَها وَأَهلَ وِدادِها
غَرَضَa target البلاof affliction فيin صُبحِهاtheir morning وَبَياتِهاand their night
غَرَضَ البلا في صُبحِها وَبَياتِها
while you see their kinsmen and those who love them
And you see their relatives and loved ones -
targets of affliction by morning and by night?
Misfortune has afflicted them morning and night
فَأَجَبتُso I answered وَهوَwhile he يَظُنُّthought أَنَّthat مَقالَتيmy words
فَأَجَبتُ وَهوَ يَظُنُّ أَنَّ مَقالَتي
اليَومَtoday أَطويهاI fold them away عَلىwith بَلَلاتِهاtheir faults
اليَومَ أَطويها عَلى بَلَلاتِها
I answered, while he thought that these words of mine
So I responded while he supposed
I would fold away today, with all their flaws:
My speech today would end with my sobbing
لاdo not تَعجلَنhasten وَاِربَعand be gentle عَلَيَّwith me فَإِنَّنيfor I
لا تَعجلَن وَاِربَع عَلَيَّ فَإِنَّني
لَبّاسُone well acquainted with أَقوامٍpeoples عَلىin حالاتِهاtheir conditions
لَبّاسُ أَقوامٍ عَلى حالاتِها
Do not hurry; be gentle with me, for I
Do not be hasty and stomp on me - I
am well acquainted with peoples in all their conditions.
Am the attire of a people true to their states
أَهلُpeople of التَمَلُّقِflattery باعَدَتdrove apart ماwhat بَينَناis between us
أَهلُ التَمَلُّقِ باعَدَت ما بَينَنا
بِحُطامِهاwith their paltry goods وَالزُورِand falsehood فيin خَلَواتِهاtheir private councils
بِحُطامِها وَالزُورِ في خَلَواتِها
The flatterers have driven us apart
The fawning drove what was between us apart
with their paltry goods and falsehood in their private councils.
With their rubbish and lies during their private sessions
بِأَقَلِّfor the least حَظٍّgain غادَرَتthey left أَرحامَناour kinship ties
بِأَقَلِّ حَظٍّ غادَرَت أَرحامَنا
جَذّاءَsevered بادِيَةَshowing الضَناwasting sickness لِشكاتِهاfrom their affliction
جَذّاءَ بادِيَةَ الضَنا لِشكاتِها
For the slightest gain, they left our bonds of kinship
With the minimum amount of fortune they abandoned
severed, visibly wasted by their affliction.
Our womb relations to the bare wilderness complaining of their misery
فَلأَرحَلَنso I shall surely depart عَنهاfrom them رَحيلَthe departure مُفارِقٍof one parting for good
فَلأَرحَلَن عَنها رَحيلَ مُفارِقٍ
وَلَأَزجُرَنَّand I shall surely restrain النَّفسَthe soul عَنfrom لَفَتاتِهاits backward glances
وَلَأَزجُرَنَّ النَّفسَ عَن لَفَتاتِها
I shall depart from them as one who parts for good,
So I shall depart from it a final separation
and sternly forbid my soul to look back.
And restrain my soul from its allurements
لَكِنَّbut ليI have بِالخَطِّin al-Khatt وَقفَةَa halt ساعَةٍof an hour
لَكِنَّ لي بِالخَطِّ وَقفَةَ ساعَةٍ
بِمَحَلِّat the abode سادَتِهاof their lords وَدارِand the house حُماتِهاof their defenders
بِمَحَلِّ سادَتِها وَدارِ حُماتِها
Yet in al-Khatt I have an hour's halt,
However, my path calls me for an instant
at the abode of their lords, the house of their defenders,
To where its masters dwell and the abode of its revered ladies
لِقَضاءِto make عُذرٍa plea مِنbefore مُلوكٍkings لَحمُهاwhose flesh
لِقَضاءِ عُذرٍ مِن مُلوكٍ لَحمُها
لَحميis my flesh وَأَخشىand I fear اللَّومَreproach إِنif لَمnot آتِهاI visit them
لَحمي وَأَخشى اللَّومَ إِن لَم آتِها
to make my plea to kings whose flesh
To fulfil an excuse from kings whose flesh
is my flesh; I fear reproach if I do not visit them.
Is my flesh and I fear blame if I do not go to them
فَإِنِso if اِلتَقَتنيthey meet me بِالعُقوقِwith estrangement كَغَيرِهاlike the others
فَإِنِ اِلتَقَتني بِالعُقوقِ كَغَيرِها
فارَقتُهاI leave them وَسَلِمتُand am safe مِنfrom لَوماتِهاtheir reproaches
فارَقتُها وَسَلِمتُ مِن لَوماتِها
If they meet me with estrangement like the others,
For if they treat me with ingratitude like others
I shall leave them, free of their reproaches.
I will leave them and be safe from their blame
وَالأَرضُand the earth واسِعَةُample الفَضاءِin open space لِمَسلَكيfor my journey
وَالأَرضُ واسِعَةُ الفَضاءِ لِمَسلَكي
أَنّىwherever اِتَّجَهتُI turn وَلَستُand I am not مِنamong سَقطاتِهاits castoffs
أَنّى اِتَّجَهتُ وَلَستُ مِن سَقطاتِها
The earth has ample open space for my journey,
And the earth with its vast expanse is open to my course
wherever I turn; I am not among its castoffs.
Wherever I head and I am not one of its outcasts
وَرجايَand my hope فيin فَضلِFadl النَدىthe bountiful اِبنِson مُحمَّدٍof Muhammad
وَرجايَ في فَضلِ النَدى اِبنِ مُحمَّدٍ
إِدراكُattainment ماof what فيis in النَفسِthe soul مِنof حاجاتِهاits desires
إِدراكُ ما في النَفسِ مِن حاجاتِها
My hope in Fadl the bountiful, son of Muhammad,
And my hope is in the overflowing munificence of the son of Muḥammad
is to attain the desires within my soul.
To attain what my soul desires of its needs
السابِقِthe one outstripping القَومَthe men الكِرامَthe noble إلىtoward العُلىthe heights
السابِقِ القَومَ الكِرامَ إلى العُلى
سَبقَas the outstripping المُبَرِّزof the champion فيin مَدىthe course حَلباتِهاof their racecourses
سَبقَ المُبَرِّز في مَدى حَلباتِها
He outstrips noble men toward the heights,
The foremost of the noble folk to the lofty heights
as the champion outstrips others over their racecourses.
Excelled in its racetrack by the outstanding among its racers
وَالواهِبِand the giver الهَجَماتِof camel herds عَفواًfreely وَاللُّهاand rich gifts
وَالواهِبِ الهَجَماتِ عَفواً وَاللُّها
فيin عامِهاtheir year الأَحوىdark وَفيand in لَزباتِهاtheir hardships
في عامِها الأَحوى وَفي لَزباتِها
He gives herds of camels freely, and rich gifts,
The forgiver of offenses in His most fevered time
in the dark year and in its times of hardship.
And in fierce fights on the battlefield
وَالمُكرِمِand the protector الجاراتِof women neighbors عَنfrom شَرِّthe evil الخَناof lewdness
وَالمُكرِمِ الجاراتِ عَن شَرِّ الخَنا
إِنif دَبَّتِcrept النّوكىthe fools إِلىtoward جارَاتِهاtheir women neighbors
إِن دَبَّتِ النّوكى إِلى جارَاتِها
He protects women neighbors from the evil of lewdness
The one who honors neighbors against the evil of malice
when fools creep toward their women neighbors.
Should it creep into their vicinity
وَالقائِدِand the leader الجُردَof sleek horses العِتاقَthoroughbred إِلىto الوَغىbattle
وَالقائِدِ الجُردَ العِتاقَ إِلى الوَغى
يَخرُجنَthey come forth كَالعُقبانِlike eagles تَحتَbeneath كماتِهاtheir armored warriors
يَخرُجنَ كَالعُقبانِ تَحتَ كماتِها
He leads sleek thoroughbreds to battle,
The leader who drives the vigorous steeds to battle
coming forth like eagles beneath their armored warriors.
They emerge like eagles beneath their shields
وَالطاعِنِand the one who spears الفُرسانَhorsemen كُلَّwith every مَريشَةٍfeathered thrust
وَالطاعِنِ الفُرسانَ كُلَّ مَريشَةٍ
مَخلوجَةٍwrenched about وَالخَيلَand horses فيin لَبّاتِهاtheir throats
مَخلوجَةٍ وَالخَيلَ في لَبّاتِها
He pierces horsemen with every feathered,
The one who pierces the horsemen - every
wrenching thrust, and horses in their throats.
Trained and conditioned horse in its prime
وَالخائِضِand the one plunging into الغَمَراتِbattle's depths حَتّىuntil يَنجَليclears
وَالخائِضِ الغَمَراتِ حَتّى يَنجَلي
بِحُسامِهِby his sharp sword ماwhat ثارَrose مِنof هَبَواتِهاits dust clouds
بِحُسامِهِ ما ثارَ مِن هَبَواتِها
He plunges into battle's depths until
The one who wades through tribulations until
his sharp sword clears the dust they raise.
He cleanses with his sword what turbulences erupted from it
وَالسالِبِand the one stripping المَلكَthe king المُعَظَّمَexalted تاجَهُof his crown
وَالسالِبِ المَلكَ المُعَظَّمَ تاجَهُ
وَمُذيقِهِand making him taste المَكرُوهَhardship مِنfrom كاساتِهاits cups
وَمُذيقِهِ المَكرُوهَ مِن كاساتِها
He strips the exalted king of his crown
The vanquisher who seizes protected kingship
and makes him taste hardship from its cups.
And makes it taste the bitterness of his cups
وَالواصِلِand the one maintaining الرَّحِمَkinship الَّتيwhich أَوصىenjoined بِهاconcerning it
وَالواصِلِ الرَّحِمَ الَّتي أَوصى بِها
ذُوthe Lord of العَرشِthe Throne فيin الآياتِthe verses مِنof سُوراتِهاits surahs
ذُو العَرشِ في الآياتِ مِن سُوراتِها
He maintains the bonds of kinship enjoined
The one who connects relations as He whose throne
by the Lord of the Throne in the verses of the surahs.
Is above the heavens ordered in verses among the suras
ياO اِبنَson الَّذيof him who خَضَعتbowed لَهُbefore him وَتضاءلَتand dwindled
يا اِبنَ الَّذي خَضَعت لَهُ وَتضاءلَت
شُوسُthe fierce الأُسودِlions الغُلبُthick-necked فيin أَجماتِهاtheir thickets
شُوسُ الأُسودِ الغُلبُ في أَجماتِها
O son of him before whom bowed and dwindled
My prince whose rule
the fierce, thick-necked lions in their thickets!
The arrogance of tyrants humbled during his rule
أَجرىhe drove نِزاراًNizar كَيفَhowever شاءَhe wished وَيَعرُباًand Ya'rub
أَجرى نِزاراً كَيفَ شاءَ وَيَعرُباً
بِالكُرهِby force مِنamong مُرّادِهاtheir rebels وَعُتاتِهاand their tyrants
بِالكُرهِ مِن مُرّادِها وَعُتاتِها
He drove Nizar and Ya'rub as he wished,
He who flowed as he pleased whether willingly
compelling their rebels and their tyrants.
Or reluctantly on their part with might and resolution
ماnot حارَبَتهُfought him قَبيلَةٌa tribe إِلّاexcept غَدَتbecame
ما حارَبَتهُ قَبيلَةٌ إِلّا غَدَت
أَحياؤُهاits living وَفداًa delegation عَلىto أَمواتِهاits dead
أَحياؤُها وَفداً عَلى أَمواتِها
No tribe fought him but its
No tribe fought him without becoming
living became a delegation to its dead.
Corpses their lives ransoms for their dead
وَكَتيبَةٍand many a host رَعناءَtowering يَخشاهاfears it الرَدىdeath
وَكَتيبَةٍ رَعناءَ يَخشاها الرَدى
أَبكىhe made weep فَوارِسَهاits horsemen عَلىover ساداتِهاits lords
أَبكى فَوارِسَها عَلى ساداتِها
Many a towering host, feared even by Death—
A wretched horde he fears whose recall
he made its horsemen weep over its lords.
Makes their horsemen weep for their chiefs
ياO سُوءَill حَظِّfortune بَنيof the sons نِزارٍof Nizar بَعدَهُafter him
يا سُوءَ حَظِّ بَني نِزارٍ بَعدَهُ
وَشَقاءَand the misery حاضِرهاof their townsfolk وَشُؤمَand the ill fortune بُداتِهاof their nomads
وَشَقاءَ حاضِرها وَشُؤمَ بُداتِها
How ill the fortune of Nizar's sons after him,
Oh what misfortune for the Banū Nizār after him
how wretched their townsfolk, how ill-starred their nomads!
And what ill-omened beginnings and miserable consequences!
مَنwho لِلمكارِمِfor noble deeds وَالصَوارِمِand keen swords وَالقَناand lances
مَن لِلمكارِمِ وَالصَوارِمِ وَالقَنا
وَالمُرمِلاتِand destitute women وَمَنand who لِفَكِّfor freeing عُناتِهاtheir captives
وَالمُرمِلاتِ وَمَن لِفَكِّ عُناتِها
Who now for noble deeds, keen swords, and lances,
Who now for gallantry, weaponry, spears
for destitute women, and for freeing their captives?
Fine steeds, and undoing their entanglements?
رَجَفَتtrembled لِمَهلَكِهِat his death البِلادُthe lands وَزُلزِلَتand were shaken
رَجَفَت لِمَهلَكِهِ البِلادُ وَزُلزِلَت
وَغَداand became مناخُthe encampment الذُلِّof abasement فيin حُجراتِهاtheir chambers
وَغَدا مناخُ الذُلِّ في حُجراتِها
The lands trembled at his death and were shaken;
The countries quaked from his death and crumbled -
abasement made its camp within their chambers.
The climate of humiliation took hold of their lodgings
إِنif نَبكِwe weep مَصرَعَهُhis fall أَسىًin sorrow فَلَقدthen indeed بَكَتwept
إِن نَبكِ مَصرَعَهُ أَسىً فَلَقد بَكَت
جَزعاًin anguish عَلَيهِfor him الجِنُّthe jinn مِنfrom سَتراتِهاtheir hiding places
جَزعاً عَلَيهِ الجِنُّ مِن سَتراتِها
If we weep in sorrow for his fall, already
If you mourn his death in agony, indeed
the jinn have wept in anguish for him from their hiding places.
The jinn wept bitterly from their hiding places over him
وَيَحقُّand it is fitting أَنthat يَبكيweep عَلَيهِfor him بِحُرقَةٍwith burning grief
وَيَحقُّ أَن يَبكي عَلَيهِ بِحُرقَةٍ
وَحشُthe wild beasts الفَلاof the desert وَالطَيرُand the birds فيin ركُناتِهاtheir retreats
وَحشُ الفَلا وَالطَيرُ في ركُناتِها
Rightly should there weep for him in burning grief
And rightfully the beasts of prey and the birds
the desert beasts and the birds in their retreats.
In the wilds should weep for him in torment
كانَتwas بِهِthrough him البَحرَينُBahrain جَنَّةthe garden مَأرِبٍof Ma'rib
كانَت بِهِ البَحرَينُ جَنَّة مَأرِبٍ
أَيّامَin the days بَهجَتِهاof its splendor وَطيبand the sweetness حَياتِهاof its life
أَيّامَ بَهجَتِها وَطيب حَياتِها
Through him, Bahrain was the garden of Ma'rib
Through him the two seas were like the gardens of Maʾrib
in its days of splendor and the sweetness of its life,
During the days of its joy and the goodness of its life
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen ماindeed التُربُthe dust وارىconcealed شَخصَهُhis person
حَتّى إِذا ما التُربُ وارى شَخصَهُ
أَبدَتlaid bare يَدُthe hand الأَيّامِof time عَنfrom سَوآتِهاits shameful parts
أَبدَت يَدُ الأَيّامِ عَن سَوآتِها
until, when the dust concealed his person,
Until when the soil covered his person
the hand of time laid bare its shameful parts.
The hand of time exposed its deficiencies
تَبّاًperdition لِدُنياto a world كُلَّماwhenever وَهَبَتit gave ثَنَتit turned back
تَبّاً لِدُنيا كُلَّما وَهَبَت ثَنَت
فَاِستَرجَعَتthen took back مِنّاfrom us نَفيسَthe choicest هِباتِهاof its gifts
فَاِستَرجَعَت مِنّا نَفيسَ هِباتِها
Perdition to a world that, whenever it gives, turns back
Curse upon a world that whenever it bestows, it folds back
and takes from us the choicest of its gifts!
And takes back from us the finest of its gifts
ياO فَضلُFadl ياO مَنyou whose لاnot تَزالُcease جِيادُهُhis steeds
يا فَضلُ يا مَن لا تَزالُ جِيادُهُ
وَطءُtrampling الأُنوفِnoses الشُمِّproud مِنamong عاداتِهاtheir habits
وَطءُ الأُنوفِ الشُمِّ مِن عاداتِها
O Fadl, you whose steeds forever count
My gracious lord whose steeds persist
the trampling of proud noses among their habits!
Trampling the elevated noses of enemies habitually
أَنتَyou الَّذيare the one whose ماnot زالَceased سَيفُكَyour sword فيin الوَغىbattle
أَنتَ الَّذي ما زالَ سَيفُكَ في الوَغى
يُرديfells العِداthe foes وَيَكُفُّand curbs مِنsome of جَهلاتِهاtheir reckless deeds
يُردي العِدا وَيَكُفُّ مِن جَهلاتِها
You are he whose sword has never ceased in battle
You whose sword in battle continuously
felling enemies and curbing their reckless deeds.
Repels the enemy and restrains the ignorant ones among them
أَشبَهتَyou resembled والدَكَyour father الهُمامَhigh-minded وَإِنَّماand indeed
أَشبَهتَ والدَكَ الهُمامَ وَإِنَّما
عُرِفتare recognized بَنوthe sons الآسادِof lions مِنby أَصواتِهاtheir voices
عُرِفت بَنو الآسادِ مِن أَصواتِها
You resemble your high-hearted father; indeed,
You resemble your magnanimous father - indeed
lion cubs are known by their voices.
The Banū Asad are known by their voices
شَيَّدتyou rebuilt دَولَةَthe rule آلِof the house فَضلٍof Fadl بَعدَماafter
شَيَّدت دَولَةَ آلِ فَضلٍ بَعدَما
خَرَّتcollapsed قَواعِدُهاits foundations عَلىupon آلاتِهاits structures
خَرَّت قَواعِدُها عَلى آلاتِها
You rebuilt the rule of the house of Fadl after
You established the dynastic rule of the Āl Faḍl after
its foundations had collapsed upon its structures.
Its foundations crumbled because of their burdens
عَلَتِrose above النُجومَthe stars بُرُوجُهاits towers فَكَأَنّماso it was as though
عَلَتِ النُجومَ بُرُوجُها فَكَأَنّما
عَقَدتit bound أَكاليلاًgarlands عَلىupon شُرُفاتِهاits battlements
عَقَدت أَكاليلاً عَلى شُرُفاتِها
Its towers rose above the stars, as though
Its constellations ascended as though
it had bound garlands upon its battlements.
Crowns were placed over their pavilions
وَقَرَعتَand you struck آنافَthe noses العِداof the foes فَتَقاصَرَتso dwindled
وَقَرَعتَ آنافَ العِدا فَتَقاصَرَت
أَطماعُهاtheir ambitions وَكَفَفتَand you curbed مِنsome of سَطَواتِهاtheir assaults
أَطماعُها وَكَفَفتَ مِن سَطَواتِها
You struck the noses of the foes, and their
And you beat back the snouts of enemies so
ambitions shrank; you curbed their assaults.
Their ambitions were cut short and you curbed their transgressions
وَحَميتَand you defended دارَthe domain أَبيكَof your father مِنكَof your own بِهِمَّةٍwith resolve
وَحَميتَ دارَ أَبيكَ مِنكَ بِهِمَّةٍ
الجودُgenerosity وَالإِقدامُand daring مِنamong هاماتِهاits summits
الجودُ وَالإِقدامُ مِن هاماتِها
You defended your father's domain with a resolve of your own,
And you protected the house of your father with an ardor -
whose loftiest summits are generosity and daring.
Munificence and daring are among its instincts
مِنfrom بَعدِafter ماthat جَمَعَتgathered عَقيلٌUqayl كَيدَهاits cunning
مِن بَعدِ ما جَمَعَت عَقيلٌ كَيدَها
بِالرَأيِthrough counsel مِنfrom عُقّالِهاits wise men وَغُواتِهاand its wayward men
بِالرَأيِ مِن عُقّالِها وَغُواتِها
After Uqayl had gathered all its cunning,
After ʿAqīl had gathered its cunning
taking counsel from its wise men and its wayward ones,
Through opinion from its schemers and reckless ones
وَدَعَتand summoned بِأَهلِthe people السِّيبِof al-Sib فَاِبتَدأَتthen set out بِهاwith them
وَدَعَت بِأَهلِ السِّيبِ فَاِبتَدأَت بِها
مِنfrom شَطِّthe bank دِجلتِهاof their Tigris وَشَطِّand the bank فُراتِهاof their Euphrates
مِن شَطِّ دِجلتِها وَشَطِّ فُراتِها
and summoned the people of al-Sib, then set out with them
And she called the captives so it began with them
from the bank of their Tigris and the bank of their Euphrates.
From the shore of its Tigris and the shore of its Euphrates
تَتلوfollowing المُعَلّىal-Mu'alla حَيثُwherever سارَhe went وَإِنَّهُand indeed he
تَتلو المُعَلّى حَيثُ سارَ وَإِنَّهُ
لَلفارِسُis surely the horseman الوَلّاجُwho plunges فيinto غَمَراتِهاits battle-depths
لَلفارِسُ الوَلّاجُ في غَمَراتِها
They followed al-Mu'alla wherever he went; indeed,
Succeeding the Sublime wherever He marched - indeed
he is the horseman who plunges into battle's depths.
He is the intrepid knight wading into its turbulence
فَتَكَنَّفتthen closed round أَهلُthe people القَطيفِof al-Qatif بِخَيلِهاwith their horses
فَتَكَنَّفت أَهلُ القَطيفِ بِخَيلِها
وَرِماحِهاand their lances وَقسِيِّهاand their bows وَرُماتِهاand their archers
وَرِماحِها وَقسِيِّها وَرُماتِها
Then the people of al-Qatif closed round with their horses,
So the people of Al-Qaṭīf armed themselves with
their lances, their bows, and their archers.
Their steeds, their spears, their bows, and their archers
فَصَبَرتَso you stood firm صَبرَwith the patience الأَكرَمينَof the noblest وَلَمand did not نَخِمwe flinch
فَصَبَرتَ صَبرَ الأَكرَمينَ وَلَم نَخِم
عَنfrom زَحفِهاtheir advance يَوماًon any day وَلاnor غاراتِهاtheir raids
عَن زَحفِها يَوماً وَلا غاراتِها
You stood firm as the noblest do, and we never flinched
You remained steadfast with the patience of the most generous
from their advance on any day, nor from their raids.
We never flinched from its march or raids
تَتلوfollows لِواءَكَyour banner مِنfrom رَبيعةَRabi'ah عُصبَةٌa band
تَتلو لِواءَكَ مِن رَبيعةَ عُصبَةٌ
تَخشىfear الأُسودُthe lions الغُلبُthick-necked مِنbecause of صَولاتِهاtheir onslaughts
تَخشى الأُسودُ الغُلبُ مِن صَولاتِها
A band of Rabi'ah follows your banner,
The standards of your ancestor Rabīʿah - a group
whose onslaughts the thick-necked lions fear.
Feared by the arrogance of tyranny because of its assaults
بِأَكُفِّهاin their hands بِيضٌwhite swords بِهاwith which ضَرَبَstruck العِداthe foes
بِأَكُفِّها بِيضٌ بِها ضَرَبَ العِدا
آباؤُهاtheir fathers الماضونَof old عَنin defense of أُمّاتِهاtheir mothers
آباؤُها الماضونَ عَن أُمّاتِها
In their hands are white blades with which the foes were struck
With its white swords with which
by their forefathers of old, in defense of their mothers.
Their forefathers who passed struck the enemy mothers
كَمhow many جَدَّلَتthey laid low بِحُدُودِهاwith their edges مِنa مائِقٍfool
كَم جَدَّلَت بِحُدُودِها مِن مائِقٍ
مُتَمَرِّدٍrebellious وَالخَيلُwhile the horses فيin جَولاتِهاtheir wheeling charges
مُتَمَرِّدٍ وَالخَيلُ في جَولاتِها
How many a fool they have laid low with their edges,
How often it contended over its borders
rebellious, as the horses wheeled about!
Against a transgressor whose horses were on raids
تَبكيweep قَواتِلslayers مَنthose whom قَتَلنَthey slew وَلَيسَand there is not مِنany
تَبكي قَواتِل مَن قَتَلنَ وَلَيسَ مِن
قَوَدٍretaliation يُقادُexacted وَمَنand who لَهاfor them بِدِياتِهاwith their blood-money
قَوَدٍ يُقادُ وَمَن لَها بِدِياتِها
The slaying blades weep for those they slew; there is no
Crying over those we killed with no
retaliation exacted—and who can claim their blood-money?
Retribution to lead nor wergild for them
نِعمَexcellent are الحُماةُthe defenders إِذاwhen الكُماةُthe armored warriors تَسانَدَتmass together
نِعمَ الحُماةُ إِذا الكُماةُ تَسانَدَت
لِيَبينَso it becomes clear أَحماهاthe best defender among them عَلىover راياتِهاtheir banners
لِيَبينَ أَحماها عَلى راياتِها
Excellent defenders when armored warriors mass together
What fine defenders when defenders cooperate
to show which guards his banner best!
So the protected would know who protected its banners
تَرَكَتthey left نِساءَthe women السِّيبِof al-Sib تَبكيweeping حَسرَةًin grief
تَرَكَت نِساءَ السِّيبِ تَبكي حَسرَةً
لِوُلاتهاfor their rulers وَتُطيلُand prolonging مِنof وَيلاتِهاtheir wails
لِوُلاتها وَتُطيلُ مِن وَيلاتِها
They left the women of al-Sib weeping in grief
It left the women of captives crying bitterly
for their rulers, prolonging their wails.
For their newborns prolonging their wailing
إِيهاًcome now عِمادَImad الدينِal-Din يَقظَةَawaken ماجِدٍas a noble man
إِيهاً عِمادَ الدينِ يَقظَةَ ماجِدٍ
فَذَووfor possessors of مَكارِمِهاits noble deeds وَذُوand the possessor of يَقظاتِهاits awakenings
فَذَوو مَكارِمِها وَذُو يَقظاتِها
Come, Imad al-Din, awake as a noble man should!
Alas pillar of the faith and wakefulness of the glorious
For noble deeds have their masters, and vigilance its master.
Thus are the abodes of its gallantry and its vigilance
أَوَand ماnot تَرىdo you see الرَّحِمَkinship المَضيمَةَwronged تَشتَكيcomplaining
أَوَ ما تَرى الرَّحِمَ المَضيمَةَ تَشتَكي
قَدindeed ضاقَتِhas grown narrow الأَحشاءُthe breast عَنfor زَفَراتِهاits sighs
قَد ضاقَتِ الأَحشاءُ عَن زَفَراتِها
Do you not see wronged kinship complaining,
Can you not see the oppressed womb complaining -
its breast grown too narrow to contain its sighs?
The bowels can no longer contain its groans
وَالماجِدُand the noble الأَحسابِin ancestry بَرٌّdutiful واصِلٌmaintaining kinship
وَالماجِدُ الأَحسابِ بَرٌّ واصِلٌ
وَاللُّؤمُand baseness فيin أَجلافِهاits boors وَجُفاتِهاand its harsh men
وَاللُّؤمُ في أَجلافِها وَجُفاتِها
The man of noble ancestry is dutiful and maintains kinship;
While the honorable genealogy is righteous, caring
baseness dwells among its boors and its harsh men.
And protecting and the wicked are empty and rude
وَأُعيذُand I seek protection for مَجدَكَyour glory أَنfrom يَقولواtheir saying باخِلٌa miser
وَأُعيذُ مَجدَكَ أَن يَقولوا باخِلٌ
وَأبوكَwhile your father مُحييrevived بالِياتِthe decayed رُفاتِهاof its remains
وَأبوكَ مُحيي بالِياتِ رُفاتِها
I seek protection for your glory from their saying: A miser!
And I seek refuge for your glory from them saying you are stingy
while your father revived its crumbling remains.
While your father enlivens the forgotten bones of its dead
فَذَرِso abandon التَغافُلَheedlessness فَالتَغافُلُfor heedlessness كُلُّهُall of it
فَذَرِ التَغافُلَ فَالتَغافُلُ كُلُّهُ
لُؤمٌbaseness وَكُلُّand all الجودِgenerosity فيin هَبّاتِهاits awakenings
لُؤمٌ وَكُلُّ الجودِ في هَبّاتِها
So leave off heedlessness: heedlessness is all
So abandon indifference - indifference is
baseness, while all generosity lies in its awakenings.
Entirely base while all generosity is in its gifts
وَاِعلَمand know بِأَنَّthat اليَومَtoday آخِرُthe last وَقفَةٍhalt
وَاِعلَم بِأَنَّ اليَومَ آخِرُ وَقفَةٍ
وَالنَّفسُand the soul تائِقَةٌyearning إِلىfor مَرقاتِهاits ascent
وَالنَّفسُ تائِقَةٌ إِلى مَرقاتِها
Know that today is my final halt,
And know that today is the last stance
and my soul longs for its ascent.
And the soul yearns unto its relief
وَحَوائِجُand the needs المَوتىof the dead إِلىare for أَكفانِهاtheir shrouds
وَحَوائِجُ المَوتى إِلى أَكفانِها
وَحوائِجُand the needs الأَحياof the living إِلىare for أَقواتِهاtheir sustenance
وَحوائِجُ الأَحيا إِلى أَقواتِها
The needs of the dead are for their shrouds,
The dead have need for their shrouds
and the needs of the living are for their sustenance.
And the living have need for their livelihoods
وَالمَرءُand a man فيin الدُنياthis world حَديثٌa tale سائِرٌtraveling
وَالمَرءُ في الدُنيا حَديثٌ سائِرٌ
تَقضيpass الرِفاقُthe companions بِهِwith it مَدىthe span أَوقاتِهاof their time
تَقضي الرِفاقُ بِهِ مَدى أَوقاتِها
A man in this world is a tale that travels,
And man in this world is continually travelling
with which companions pass the span of their hours.
His companions fulfil during their appointed times
فَاِختَرso choose لِنَفسِكَfor yourself ماwhat يُقالُwill be said ضُحىin the morning غَدٍof tomorrow
فَاِختَر لِنَفسِكَ ما يُقالُ ضُحى غَدٍ
إِذwhen تُطلَبُare sought الأَخبارُtidings عِندَfrom رُواتِهاtheir tellers
إِذ تُطلَبُ الأَخبارُ عِندَ رُواتِها
Choose for yourself what will be said tomorrow morning,
So choose for yourself what will be said tomorrow morning
when tidings are sought from their tellers.
When the reports about it are sought from its narrators
فَأَماnow then وَأَعلامِby the landmarks المُحصَّبِof al-Muhassab مِنin مِنىًMina
فَأَما وَأَعلامِ المُحصَّبِ مِن مِنىً
وَمواقِفِand the stations الرُكبانِof the riders فيin عَرَفاتِهاits Arafat
وَمواقِفِ الرُكبانِ في عَرَفاتِها
Now, by the landmarks of al-Muhassab in Mina,
As for the standards of those assuming ihram from Mina
and the stations of the riders at its Arafat,
And the stance of riders in ʿArafāt
لَولاwere it not for أَواصِرُناour bonds وَبُعدُand the reach حَمِيَّتيof my protective pride
لَولا أَواصِرُنا وَبُعدُ حَمِيَّتي
لَتَعَرَّفَتنيwould surely have known me حِميَرٌHimyar بِسَراتِهاamong its chieftains
لَتَعَرَّفَتني حِميَرٌ بِسَراتِها
were it not for our bonds and my far-reaching pride,
Were it not for our ties and the distance of my zeal
Himyar would have known me among its chieftains.
Donkeys would recognize me by my voice
وَأَقولُand I say إِنَّindeed الأُسدَlions إِنif هِيَthey أُحرِجَتare driven into straits
وَأَقولُ إِنَّ الأُسدَ إِن هِيَ أُحرِجَت
خَرَجَتcome out إِلىto الأَصحارِthe open plains مِنfrom غاباتِهاtheir thickets
خَرَجَت إِلى الأَصحارِ مِن غاباتِها
I say: when lions are driven into straits,
And I say that when lions are frustrated
they leave their thickets for the open plains.
They emerge into the plains from their forests
وَالغبنُand injustice يُوطيmakes tread الحُرَّthe freeborn man كُلَّevery عَظِيمَةٍgreat peril
وَالغبنُ يُوطي الحُرَّ كُلَّ عَظِيمَةٍ
وَيُفتِّشُand searches الحُلماءِthe forbearing عَنfor إِحناتِهاtheir hidden rancors
وَيُفتِّشُ الحُلماءِ عَن إِحناتِها
Injustice makes the freeborn tread through every great peril,
Injustice blankets the free and examines
and searches the forbearing for their hidden rancors.
The forbearing among them for their failings
Sol 6.1