أمارات سر الحب ما لا يكتم — Abn Almqrb Alaaona

أَماراتُ سِرِّ الحُبِّ ما لا يُكَتَّمُ

وَأَبيَنُ شَيءٍ ما يُجِنُّ المُتَيَّمُ

The signs of love's secret cannot be concealed;

and clearest of all is what the love-stricken hides.

ظَنَنتُ نُحُولي وَاِصفِراري مِنَ الهَوى

وَذَلِكَ مِمّا يَقتَضيهِ التَوَهُّمُ

I thought my wasting and my pallor came from passion,

and that is what conjecture would suggest.

لَعَمرُكَ ما بي مِن هَوىً غَيرَ أَنَّني

بِغُرِّ المَعالي يا اِبنَةَ القَومِ مُغرَمُ

By your life, no passion afflicts me, except that I

am enamored of radiant glories, daughter of the clan.

وَقَد عَرَضَت مِن دُونِ ذاكَ فَأَحرَضَت

أُمُورٌ لَها يُستَهلَكُ اللَحمُ وَالدَمُ

Yet before that goal there arose, bringing me low,

affairs that consume both flesh and blood.

إِذا خُطَّةً أَنكَرتُ مِن ذِي عَداوَةٍ

أَتاني مِنَ الأَحبابِ أَدهى وَأَعظَمُ

Whenever I condemn a course taken by an enemy,

something more grievous and greater comes to me from friends.

عَلى أَنَّني النَدبُ الَّذي يُكتَفى بِهِ

إِذا غالَها خَطبٌ مِنَ الدَهرِ مُبهَمُ

Yet I am the resourceful man on whom my people can rely

when an unfathomable calamity of fate assails them.

وَعِندي لِشانِيها سُيُوفٌ ثَلاثَةٌ

لِسانٌ وَرَأيٌ لا يُفَلُّ وَمِخذَمُ

Against their hater I have three swords:

a tongue, a judgment that cannot be blunted, and a keen blade.

وَلَستُ بِهَجّامٍ عَلى ما يَسُوءُها

وَلا ناطِقٍ بِالعَيبِ مِنّي لَها فَمُ

I do not rush headlong into what would harm them,

nor does any mouth of mine speak ill of them.

وَلا قابِضٍ فَضلَ الغِنى عَن فَقيرِها

وَلا باسِطٍ كَفّاً لَها حينَ أُعدِمُ

Nor do I withhold surplus wealth from their poor,

nor stretch a palm to them when I am destitute.

وَإِنّي لَأَقصاها إِذا ثابَ مغنَمٌ

وَإِنّي لأَدناها إِذا نابَ مَغرَمُ

I am their farthest when spoils come in,

and their nearest when a financial burden falls due.

وَلِي في الغِنى سَهمٌ إِذا ما أَفَدتُهُ

وَلِلدَفعِ عَن أَحسابِها مِنهُ أَسهُمُ

Of wealth I take one share, when I acquire it,

and several shares go to defending their ancestral honor.

وَيَمنَعُني كَيدَ العَدُوِّ اِحتِقارُهُ

وَكَيد المُداجي عِفَّتي وَالتَكَرُّمُ

My contempt for the enemy keeps me from plotting against him,

and my restraint and nobility from plotting against the dissembler.

وَأَصفَحُ عَن جُهّالِ قَومي حَمِيَّةً

وَإِن أَسرَجُوا في هَدمِ عِزّي وَأَلجَموا

I pardon the ignorant among my people out of loyal pride,

even if they saddle and bridle to tear down my honor.

وَإِن قَطَعُوا أَرحامَ بَيني وَبَينهُم

وَصَلتُ وَذُو العَليا أَبَرُّ وَأَرحَمُ

Though they sever the ties of kinship between us,

I restore them; the noble man is more dutiful and merciful.

وَأُغضي عَلى عَوراءِ قَومي وَإِنَّني

لَأَبصَرُ مِنهُم لَو أَشاءُ وَأَعلَمُ

I overlook my people's faults, though I

see more clearly than they, if I wish, and know more.

وَأَحفَظُ وُدَّ الأَصدِقاءِ وَإِن هُمُ

إِلَيَّ بِلا جُرمٍ أَساؤُوا وَأَجرَمُوا

I preserve my friends' affection, even when they

wrong and offend me without any fault of mine.

وَقائِلَةٍ لي وَالرِكابُ مُناخَةٌ

بِكِيرانِها تَرغُو مِراراً وَتَزغمُ

Many a woman said to me, while the riding camels knelt

with their saddles, repeatedly bellowing and softly grumbling—

وَقَد أَيقَنَت مِنّي الرَحيلَ فَدَمعُها

تَوامٌ كَما اِنفَضَّ الجُمانُ المُنَظَّمُ

she knew for certain I would leave, and her tears

fell in pairs, like strung pearls scattering:

دَعِ الحلَّ وَالتِرحالَ وَالشَدَّ وَاِصطَبِر

فَصَبرُ الفَتى لَو شَقَّ أَحرى وَأَحزَمُ

"Leave off halting, traveling, and saddling up; be patient.

For a man's patience, though hard, is fitter and wiser.

وَلا تَجزَعَن إِنَّ اللَيالي بِأَهلِها

تَقَلَّبُ وَالأَيّامُ بُؤسى وَأنعُمُ

Do not despair: the nights, with their people,

turn about, and days bring hardship and blessings.

وَقَد يُصطَفى العِيرُ اللَئيمُ لِحَظِّهِ

مِراراً وَيُخفى الأَعوَجِيُّ المَطَهَّمُ

The lowly ass may be favored for its good fortune,

time after time, while the well-formed A'waji steed is hidden away.

وَعاقِبَةُ الصَبرِ المُمِضِّ حَلاوَةٌ

وَإِن كانَ أَحياناً يُمِضُّ وَيُؤلِمُ

The outcome of searing patience is sweetness,

even if at times it stings and hurts."

فَقُلتُ لَها وَالنَفسُ في غُلَوَائِها

تَجيشُ وَأَفكاري تَغُورُ وَتُتهِمُ

I said to her, while my soul in its vehemence

seethed, and my thoughts ranged through Ghawr and Tihamah:

ذَريني فَإِنَّ الحُرَّ لا يَأَلَفُ الأَذى

وَقَد أَكثَرَ النَسلَ الجَديلُ وَشَدقَمُ

"Leave me: a freeborn man does not grow used to harm,

and al-Jadil and Shadqam have sired abundant offspring.

وَمَن يَكُ مِثلي ضَيمُهُ مِن رِجالِهِ

فَتِرحالُهُ لَو مَسَّهُ الضُرُّ أَحزَمُ

For one like me, whose own men are his oppressors,

departing is wiser, even if hardship touches him.

لَعَمري لَقَد طالَ اِنتِظاري وَلا أَرى

سِوى نارِ شَرٍّ كُلَّ يَومٍ تَضَرَّمُ

By my life, my waiting has been long, and I see

only a fire of evil flaring up each day.

تَقُولينَ عُقبى الصَبرِ حُلوٌ مَذاقُهُ

وَما هِيَ إِلّا مُرَّةُ الطَعمِ عَلقَمُ

You say the fruit of patience tastes sweet,

yet it is nothing but bitter-tasting colocynth.

أَأَصبِرُ إِمّا شاكِياً مُتَعَتِّباً

إِلى شامِتٍ أَو باكِياً أَتَظَلَّمُ

Shall I endure, either complaining and voicing reproaches

to one who gloats, or weeping as I cry out against injustice?

سَأُرحِلُها إِمّا لِداعي مَنِيَّةٍ

وَإِمّا لِعِزٍّ حَوضُهُ لا يُهَدَّمُ

I shall drive her onward, either toward death's summons

or toward glory whose watering pool cannot be demolished.

فَفي شاطِئِ الزَوراءِ مِن آلِ هاشِمٍ

إِمامُ هُدىً يُؤوَى إِلَيهِ فَيَعصِمُ

On the shore of al-Zawra is one of the house of Hashim,

an imam of guidance, sought as refuge, who gives protection.

تَطُوفُ المُلوكُ الصِيدُ حَولَ فِنائِهِ

كَما طافَ بِالرُكنِ اليَمانِيِّ مُحرِمُ

Proud kings circle his courtyard,

as a consecrated pilgrim circles the Yemeni Corner.

تُرَجِّي بِهِ دِيناً وَدُنيا لِأَنَّهُ

إِلى اللَهِ في الدُنيا وَفي الدينِ سُلَّمُ

They hope through him for faith and worldly welfare, for he

is a ladder to God in worldly life and in religion.

وَهَل مِثلُهُ يَومَ المَعادِ وَسيلَةٌ

إِلى اللَهِ إِلّا رَهطُهُ المُتَقَدِّمُ

On the Day of Return, who is a means like him

of drawing near to God, except his kin who came before?

أُبُوَّتُهُ إِمّا نَبِيٌّ مُعَظَّمٌ

إِلى اللَهِ يَدعُو أَو إِمامٌ مُكَرَّمُ

Each forefather of his is either a venerated prophet

calling to God, or an honored imam.

هُمُ القَومُ إِن مالُوا أَمالُوا وَإِن دُعُوا

أَنالُوا وَإِن خَفَّت بَنُو الحَربِ أَقدَمُوا

They are the people who, when they incline, sway others; when called,

they bestow gifts; when the sons of war stir, they advance.

وَإِن وَعَدُوا أَوفُوا وَإِن قَدَرُوا عَفَوا

وَإِن سُئِلُوا النَعماءَ جادُوا وَأَنعَمُوا

When they promise, they fulfill; when they have power, they pardon.

When asked for favors, they give freely and bestow blessings.

وَإِن عاهَدُوا عَهداً أَصَرُوا وَحافَظُوا

وَإِن عَقَدُوا عَقداً أَمَرّوا وَأَحكَمُوا

When they pledge a covenant, they hold fast and keep it;

when they tie a knot, they twist it tight and make it firm.

وَإِن حارَبُوا قَوماً أَقامُوا وَأَقعَدُوا

وَإِن خُوطِبُوا يَوماً أَحَرّوا وَأَفحَمُوا

When they wage war on a people, they throw them into turmoil;

if ever addressed, they scorch and silence.

هُمُ نَزَلُوا أَحياءَ مَكَّةَ فَاِبتَنَوا

بِبَطحائِها في حَيثُ شاؤُوا وَخَيَّمُوا

They settled in Mecca's quarters and built

on its gravel plain wherever they wished, and pitched their tents.

وَأَضحوا وَبَيتُ اللَهِ فيهِم وَسَلَّمَت

خُزاعَةُ كُلَّ الأَمرِ فيهِم وَجُرهُمُ

They now had God's House among them, and were granted

all authority by Khuza'ah and Jurhum.

وَلَم يَبقَ حَيٌّ في تِهامَةَ تُتَّقى

عَداوَتُهُ إِلّا أَذَلُّوا وَأَرغَمُوا

No clan remained in Tihamah whose enmity was feared

but they humbled it and rubbed its nose in dust.

وَحَسبُكُمُ بِالناصِرِ المُهتَدى بِهِ

فَخاراً إِذا ما الناسُ لِلحَجِّ وَسَّمُوا

Al-Nasir, through whom guidance comes, is enough for you

as a source of pride when people gather for pilgrimage.

بِهِ يَرفَعُ الصَوتَ المُلَبّي وَبِاِسمِهِ

عَلى اللَهِ في دَفعِ المُلِمّاتِ يُقسِمُ

Invoking him, the pilgrim raises his voice, and by his name

adjures God to ward off calamities.

تُقِرُّ مِنىً وَالمَأزِمانِ بِفَضلِهِ

وَيَشهَدُ جَمعٌ وَالمُصَلّى وَزَمزَمُ

Mina and al-Ma'ziman acknowledge his excellence;

Jam', al-Musalla, and Zamzam bear witness.

وَكَعبَةُ بَيتِ اللَهِ تَعلَمُ أَنَّها

لَهُ وَكَذا البَيتُ المُقَدَّسُ يَعلَمُ

The Kaaba of God's House knows that it

belongs to him; the Holy House knows likewise.

وَكُلُّ بِقاعِ الأَرضِ قَد جُعِلَت لَهُ

حَلالاً فَيُعطي مَن يَشاءُ وَيَحرِمُ

All regions of the earth have been made his

lawful possession: he gives to whom he wills, and withholds.

وَلا دينَ إِلّا ما اِرتَضاهُ وَقالَهُ

وَحَسبُ اِمرِئٍ يَأباهُ دِيناً جَهَنَّمُ

There is no religion but what he approves and declares;

Hell is requital enough for a man who rejects him.

أَضاءَت بِهِ الدُنيا سُروراً وَبَهجَةً

فَأَيّامُها تِيهاً بِهِ تَتَبَسَّمُ

Through him the world shines with joy and splendor,

and its days smile, proud of him.

وَأَلقَت إِلَيهِ بِالمَقاليدِ بُلغَرٌ

وَعُربٌ وَأَكرادٌ وَتُركٌ وَدَيلَمُ

The Bulgars have delivered their keys to him,

and Arabs, Kurds, Turks, and Daylamites.

وَما الناسُ وَالأَملاكُ إِلّا عَبيدُهُ

صَريحُهُمُ إِن يُنسَبُوا وَالمُخَضرَمُ

People and kings are nothing but his slaves,

the purebred, when their lineages are traced, and those of mixed stock.

وَأَضحى بِهِ الإِسلامُ غَضّاً وَأَصبَحَت

عُيونُ الأَذى عَن سِربِهِ وَهيَ نُوَّمُ

Through him Islam has grown fresh, and now

harm's eyes sleep, averted from his flock.

وَمُذ خَفِقَت راياتُهُ وَبُنُودُهُ

فَوَجهُ بِلادِ الشِّركِ بِالضَيمِ يُلطَمُ

Since his standards and banners fluttered,

the face of polytheism's lands is slapped with abasement.

لَها كُلَّ يَومٍ مِنهُ شَعواءُ لا تَني

تَؤُزُّ نَواحيها وَجَيشٌ عَرَمرَمُ

Against them each day he sends a fierce raid that never ceases

to harry their regions, and a vast army.

وَمُذ سَلَكَت فرسانُهُ مِن دِيارِها

مَحارِمَها لَم يَبقَ لِلشِركِ مَحرَمُ

Since his horsemen have ridden through their lands,

through their sanctuaries, polytheism has no sanctuary left.

أَعَزَّ بِهِ اللَهُ الرَعِيَّةَ فَاِغتَدَت

وَلا ظالِمٌ فيها وَلا مُتَظَلِّمُ

Through him God has exalted the subjects, so they have come to be

without an oppressor among them, or one who complains of wrong.

وَخَلّي الأَذى مَن كانَ لَولا اِنتِقامُهُ

يُشَمِّرُ عَن ساقٍ لَهُ وَيُصَمِّمُ

Harm has been abandoned by one who, but for his vengeance,

would bare his shin for it and press resolutely on.

وَمَن أَلزَمَ الأُسدَ القِصاصَ فَهَل تَرى

أُوَيساً عَلى شاءٍ بِوادِيهِ يُقدِمُ

He who has made lions submit to retribution—do you think

a little wolf would dare attack sheep in his valley?

جَنَت ما جَنَتهُ وَهي تَحسِبُ أَنَّها

مِنَ العُجبِ إِذ كانَت سِماكٌ وَمِرزَمُ

They committed their crimes, imagining themselves,

in their conceit, to be Simak and Mirzam in their day.

فَلَمّا رَماها بِالعُقوبَةِ لَم تَرُح

مِنَ الغابِ إِلّا وَهيَ لَحمٌ مُوَضَّمُ

But when he struck them with punishment, they did not leave

the thicket except as flesh laid on a butcher's block.

فَأَصبَحَ يَرعى آمِناً في جَنابِهِ

عَتُودٌ وَسِرحانٌ وَعِيرٌ وَضَيغَمُ

So now in his domain there graze in safety

a kid and a wolf, a wild ass and a lion.

إِلَيكَ سَمِيَّ المُصطَفى وَاِبنَ عَمِّهِ

تَخَطَّت بِيَ البَيداءَ وَجناءَ عَيهمُ

To you, the Chosen One's namesake and cousin,

a broad-cheeked, sturdy she-camel has borne me across the desert.

وَخاضَ بِيَ الرَجّافَ عارٍ عِنانُهُ

يَبيتُ بِيُمنى فارِسٍ لا يُوَهّمُ

A saddleless mount bore me through the surging sea, its rein

resting at night in the right hand of an unerring rider.

وَحُسنُ اِعتِقادي وَالوَلاءُ أَجاءَني

إِلَيكَ وَوُدٌّ خالِصٌ لا يُجَمجَمُ

My sound faith and allegiance have driven me

to you, and pure affection that is never concealed.

وَأَفضَلُ ما يُرجى ثَوابُ زِيارَةٍ

يَؤُمُّ بِها أَكنافَ دارِكَ مُسلمُ

The finest hope is the reward of a visit

in which a Muslim makes for the precincts of your home."