قُمRise فَاِسقِنيهاthen give it to me to drink قَبلَbefore صَوتِthe call of الحَمامthe doves
قُم فَاِسقِنيها قَبلَ صَوتِ الحَمام
كَرمِيَّةًvine-born wine تَجمَعُgathers شَملَthe company of الكِرامthe noble
كَرمِيَّةً تَجمَعُ شَملَ الكِرام
Rise, then pour it for me before the doves call,
a vine-born wine that gathers the noble together.
صَهباءَtawny wine مِمّاof what عَتَّقَتaged بابِلٌBabylon
صَهباءَ مِمّا عَتَّقَت بابِلٌ
مِزاجُهاits blend الأَريُhoney وَماءُand water of الغَمامthe clouds
مِزاجُها الأَريُ وَماءُ الغَمام
Tawny wine of what Babylon aged,
its blend is honey and the water of clouds.
مِمّاof what أُدِيرَwas passed around الكَأسُthe cup مِنهاfrom it عَلىto
مِمّا أُدِيرَ الكَأسُ مِنها عَلى
كِسرىKisra وَنُمرُوذَand Nimrod بنِson of كُوشِCush بنِson of حامHam
كِسرى وَنُمرُوذَ بنِ كُوشِ بنِ حام
Of that whose cup was passed around to
Kisra and Nimrod son of Cush son of Ham.
لَوِif اِحتَساهاhe drank it اِبنُthe son of الزُبَيرِal-Zubayr اِغتَدىbecame
لَوِ اِحتَساها اِبنُ الزُبَيرِ اِغتَدى
أَكرَمَmore generous مِنthan كَعبٍKa‘b وَأَوسِand Aws بنِson of لامLam
أَكرَمَ مِن كَعبٍ وَأَوسِ بنِ لام
Had Ibn al-Zubayr drunk it, he would have become
more generous than Ka‘b and Aws ibn Lam.
تَذهَبُdoes away بِاليَأسِwith despair وَتُدنيand brings near المُنىwishes
تَذهَبُ بِاليَأسِ وَتُدني المُنى
وَتَنشُرُand spreads اللَهوَmerriment وَتَطويand folds away الغَرامlove’s anguish
وَتَنشُرُ اللَهوَ وَتَطوي الغَرام
It banishes despair and brings wishes near,
spreads merriment and folds away love’s anguish.
أَوor ذاقَهاhe tasted it المَنزُوفُthe man drained ضَرطاًby farting لَماwould not have
أَو ذاقَها المَنزُوفُ ضَرطاً لَما
هابَfeared اِبنَthe son of ذيDhi الجَدَّينِal-Jaddayn يَومَthe day of الزِحامthe melee
هابَ اِبنَ ذي الجَدَّينِ يَومَ الزِحام
Or had the man drained by farting tasted it, he would not have
feared Ibn Dhi al-Jaddayn on the day of the melee.
وَحَرِّكِand stir الأَوتارَthe strings وَاِذكُرand recall لَناfor us
وَحَرِّكِ الأَوتارَ وَاِذكُر لَنا
أَيّامناour days الغُرَّthe radiant بَدارِin the Abode of السَلامPeace
أَيّامنا الغُرَّ بَدارِ السَلام
And stir the strings, and recall for us
our radiant days in Dar al-Salam,
وَتِلكُمُand those الغُزلانُgazelles بَينَamong المَهاthe oryx
وَتِلكُمُ الغُزلانُ بَينَ المَها
تَمشيwalk إِلىto الشَطِّthe riverbank فِئاماًin groups فِئامgroups
تَمشي إِلى الشَطِّ فِئاماً فِئام
and those gazelles amid the oryx,
walking to the riverbank, group upon group.
مِنof كُلِّevery أَظمىdark-lipped one فاتِرٍlanguid طَرفُهُhis glance
مِن كُلِّ أَظمى فاتِرٍ طَرفُهُ
تُروىare quenched بِمَرآهُby the sight of him القُلوبُthe hearts الحِيامthe thirsty
تُروى بِمَرآهُ القُلوبُ الحِيام
Each dark-lipped one, languid of glance,
by whose sight thirsty hearts are quenched.
وَغَنّناand sing to us بِالوَترِto the string صَوتاًa song وَقُلand say
وَغَنّنا بِالوَترِ صَوتاً وَقُل
المَوتُdeath أَحلىsweeter مِنthan سُؤالِbegging from اللِئامthe base
المَوتُ أَحلى مِن سُؤالِ اللِئام
And sing us a song to the string, and say:
Death is sweeter than begging from the base.
أَرىI see المَعاليhigh honors تَقتَضيdemand عَزمَتيmy resolve
أَرى المَعالي تَقتَضي عَزمَتي
تَعَسُّفَtraversing البِيدِthe deserts وَخَوضَand plunging into الطَوامthe deep seas
تَعَسُّفَ البِيدِ وَخَوضَ الطَوام
I see high honors demanding of my resolve
the crossing of deserts and the plunging into deep seas,
بِكُلِّaboard every مَطلِيِّtar-coated المِلاطَينِthe two flanks لَمnot
بِكُلِّ مَطلِيِّ المِلاطَينِ لَم
يَجرَبbecome mangy وَلَمand did not يَرعَgraze بِمَرعىin the pasture of السَوامlivestock
يَجرَب وَلَم يَرعَ بِمَرعى السَوام
aboard each craft with tar-coated flanks, which has never
had mange, nor grazed in the pasture of livestock.
تَسُوقُهُdrives it الرِيحُthe wind وَتَحتَثُّهُand urges it onward الthe (fragment)
تَسُوقُهُ الرِيحُ وَتَحتَثُّهُ ال
جَلُّsails وَفيand in الوَجعاءِthe rump (stern) مِنهُof it الزِمامthe rein (rudder)
جَلُّ وَفي الوَجعاءِ مِنهُ الزِمام
The wind drives it, and it is urged onward by the
sails; at its rump lies its rein.
لاnot يَعرِفُknows الإِعياءَweariness فيin سَيرِهِits journey
لا يَعرِفُ الإِعياءَ في سَيرِهِ
وَلاand not يُباليcares أَمضىwhether it goes أَمor أَقامstays
وَلا يُبالي أَمضى أَم أَقام
It knows no weariness in its journey,
nor cares whether it goes on or stays.
وَقَدand indeed تَساوىhave become equal عِندَهُto it فيover the journey’s span المَدىline_30
وَقَد تَساوى عِندَهُ في المَدى
يَومٌa day وَأُسبوعٌand a week وَشَهرٌand a month وَعامand a year
يَومٌ وَأُسبوعٌ وَشَهرٌ وَعام
Indeed, to it, over a journey’s span, all are alike:
a day, a week, a month, and a year.
إِذاif يَمَسُّit touches الأَرضَthe earth فيin جَريِهِits running
إِذا يَمَسُّ الأَرضَ في جَريِهِ
خِيفَit is feared عَلىfor راكِبِهِits rider الاِصطِلامdestruction
خِيفَ عَلى راكِبِهِ الاِصطِلام
If it touches the earth as it runs,
destruction is feared for its rider.
أَوor كُلِّevery رَوعاءَspirited she-camel عَزِيزِيَّةٍ‘Aziziyya
أَو كُلِّ رَوعاءَ عَزِيزِيَّةٍ
تَزِفُّhurries بِالرَحلِwith the saddle زَفيفَthe swift gait of النَعامostriches
تَزِفُّ بِالرَحلِ زَفيفَ النَعام
Or upon each spirited ‘Aziziyya she-camel,
hurrying with the saddle at the swift gait of ostriches.
يَصحَبُهاaccompanies her أَجرَدa sleek steed عَرضbroad النَساthe thigh-sinew
يَصحَبُها أَجرَد عَرض النَسا
قَصيرُshort الأَرساغِthe pasterns طَويلُlong الحِزامthe girth
قَصيرُ الأَرساغِ طَويلُ الحِزام
A sleek steed accompanies her, broad of thigh,
short of pastern, ample of girth,
كَيماso that أُلاقِيI may meet مَلِكاًa king عِندَهُwith whom
كَيما أُلاقِي مَلِكاً عِندَهُ
لِلماجِدِfor one noble الأَحسابِin ancestral honor مِثليlike me مُقامa place
لِلماجِدِ الأَحسابِ مِثلي مُقام
so that I may meet a king with whom
a man of noble ancestry like me has a place:
مُطَهَّرَpure الأَخلاقِin character تَسمُوsoar بِهِwith him
مُطَهَّرَ الأَخلاقِ تَسمُو بِهِ
إِلىto المَعاليhigh honors هِمَمٌaspirations لاnot تُرامare attainable
إِلى المَعالي هِمَمٌ لا تُرام
pure of character, lifted
to the heights by aspirations beyond reach.
أَموالُهُhis wealth مِنof ضَيمِهِhis oppression تَشتَكيcomplains
أَموالُهُ مِن ضَيمِهِ تَشتَكي
وَجارُهُand his neighbor فيin نَجوَةٍsafety لاnot يُضامis wronged
وَجارُهُ في نَجوَةٍ لا يُضام
His wealth complains of his oppression,
while his neighbor is safe, suffering no wrong.
مَنwhoever يَلقَmeets شَمسَSun of الدِّينِthe Faith يَلقَmeets اِمرَءاًa man
مَن يَلقَ شَمسَ الدِّينِ يَلقَ اِمرَءاً
يَقعُدُsits وَالأَعداءُwhile the enemies مِنهُbecause of him قِيامstand
يَقعُدُ وَالأَعداءُ مِنهُ قِيام
Whoever meets Shams al-Din meets a man
who sits while his enemies are kept standing by him.
نَبَّهَroused طُلّابَseekers of النَدىbounty جُودُهُhis generosity
نَبَّهَ طُلّابَ النَدى جُودُهُ
إِلَيهِtoward him تَنويهاًdrawing attention وَكانُواand they had been نِيامasleep
إِلَيهِ تَنويهاً وَكانُوا نِيام
His generosity awakened seekers of bounty,
drawing attention to him when they had been asleep.
لَولاهُbut for him لَمnot يَعرِفwould know بَنُوsons of عَصرِناour age
لَولاهُ لَم يَعرِف بَنُو عَصرِنا
مِنfrom مَلِكٍa king شَيئاًanything سِوىexcept الإِنتِقامvengeance
مِن مَلِكٍ شَيئاً سِوى الإِنتِقام
But for him, the people of our age would have known
nothing from a king except vengeance.
يُجانِبُshuns اللَهوَfrivolity وَيَهوىand loves التُقىpiety
يُجانِبُ اللَهوَ وَيَهوى التُقى
وَيَحفَظُand keeps العَهدَthe covenant وَيَرعىand safeguards الذِمامbonds of protection
وَيَحفَظُ العَهدَ وَيَرعى الذِمام
He shuns frivolity and loves piety,
keeps his covenant and safeguards the bonds of protection.
لَمnot يَنطِقِuttered العَوراءَa shameful word فيin مَجلِسٍa gathering
لَم يَنطِقِ العَوراءَ في مَجلِسٍ
يَوماًon any day وَلاand not أَصغىlistened لِزُورِto falsehood in الكَلامspeech
يَوماً وَلا أَصغى لِزُورِ الكَلام
Never has he uttered a shameful word in a gathering
on any day, nor listened to false speech.
لاnot بَرقُهُhis lightning فيin حالَةٍany circumstance خُلَّبٌa deceptive flash
لا بَرقُهُ في حالَةٍ خُلَّبٌ
وَلاand not سَحابُthe cloud of الجُودِbounty مِنهُfrom him جَهامrainless
وَلا سَحابُ الجُودِ مِنهُ جَهام
His lightning is never a deceptive flash,
nor is his cloud of bounty rainless.
أَرضىpleased إِلَهَthe God of العَرشِthe Throne فيamong خَلقِهِHis creatures
أَرضى إِلَهَ العَرشِ في خَلقِهِ
مُذsince وَلِيَhe assumed الأَمرَauthority وَأرضىand pleased الإِمامthe Imam
مُذ وَلِيَ الأَمرَ وَأرضى الإِمام
He pleased the God of the Throne among His creatures
since taking authority, and pleased the Imam.
عَفٌّscrupulous فَماso not باتَspent the night أَخُوa man of ثَروَةٍwealth
عَفٌّ فَما باتَ أَخُو ثَروَةٍ
يَلصِقُpressing مِنهُbecause of him صَدرَهُhis chest بِالرَغامto the dust
يَلصِقُ مِنهُ صَدرَهُ بِالرَغام
He is scrupulous: no man of wealth has spent the night
pressing his chest to the dust because of him.
كَمhow many رَدَّhe restored مِنof حالِthe condition of مَخيفٍa frightened man وَقَدand already
كَم رَدَّ مِن حالِ مَخيفٍ وَقَد
صارَhad become مِنfrom الهَمِّworry كَذاتِlike a woman with الوِحامpregnancy cravings
صارَ مِن الهَمِّ كَذاتِ الوِحام
How many a frightened man’s condition he restored, though he
had become, from worry, like a woman with pregnancy cravings.
إِذاwhen رَأىhe saw ماwhat نالَbefell إِخوانَهُhis brothers
إِذا رَأى ما نالَ إِخوانَهُ
مِنَof البَلاياafflictions صاحَhe cried صمّيstrike deaf! صَمامO calamity!
مِنَ البَلايا صاحَ صمّي صَمام
When he saw what had befallen his brothers
of afflictions, he cried, ‘Strike deaf, O calamity!’
فَظَلَّand he remained مُنكَبّاًfallen عَلىon وَجهِهِhis face
فَظَلَّ مُنكَبّاً عَلى وَجهِهِ
وَذابَand melted غَمّاًwith grief وَتَمَنّىand wished for الحِمامdeath
وَذابَ غَمّاً وَتَمَنّى الحِمام
He remained fallen upon his face,
melted with grief, and wished for death.
مُنذُsince تَوَلّىhe took charge لَمnot يَبِتspent the night مُسلِمٌa Muslim
مُنذُ تَوَلّى لَم يَبِت مُسلِمٌ
مِنهُbecause of him عَلىover نِعمَتِهِhis prosperity ذاhaving اِهتِمامanxiety
مِنهُ عَلى نِعمَتِهِ ذا اِهتِمام
Since he took charge, no Muslim has spent the night
anxious over his prosperity because of him.
راشَgave means to ذَويthose with الفَقرِpoverty وَأَحياهُمُand revived them
راشَ ذَوي الفَقرِ وَأَحياهُمُ
وَاِحتَرَمَand respected المُثرِينَthe wealthy أَيَّthe utmost اِحتِرامrespect
وَاِحتَرَمَ المُثرِينَ أَيَّ اِحتِرام
He gave the poor means and revived them,
and honored the wealthy with the utmost respect.
وَغَيرُهُand someone else لَمّاwhen تَوَلّاهُمُhe took charge of them
وَغَيرُهُ لَمّا تَوَلّاهُمُ
لَمnot يُبقِleft تَحتَbeneath الجِلدِthe skin غَيرَother than العِظامthe bones
لَم يُبقِ تَحتَ الجِلدِ غَيرَ العِظام
But another, when he took charge of them,
left nothing beneath their skin but bones,
بِالضَربِwith beatings وَالصَلبِand crucifixion وَحَلقِand shaving اللِحاthe beards
بِالضَربِ وَالصَلبِ وَحَلقِ اللِحا
وَقَلعِand pulling out الأَظفارِthe nails وَشَمّand inhaling الأُيامsmoke
وَقَلعِ الأَظفارِ وَشَمّ الأُيام
with beatings, crucifixion, and shaving of beards,
pulling out nails and the inhaling of smoke.
لَمnot يَرثَfelt pity لِلشَيخِfor the old man حَياءًout of reverence مِنfor الشthe (fragment)
لَم يَرثَ لِلشَيخِ حَياءً مِن الش
شَيبِgray hair وَلَمand not يَرحَمshowed mercy to شَبابَthe youth of الغُلامthe boy
شَيبِ وَلَم يَرحَم شَبابَ الغُلام
He pitied no elder out of reverence for his
gray hair, nor showed mercy to the boy’s youth.
وَكَمand how many حَصانٍa chaste woman أُبرِزَتwas brought out جَهرَةًpublicly
وَكَم حَصانٍ أُبرِزَت جَهرَةً
تُساقُis driven لِلجَلدِto flogging بِغَيرِwithout اِحتِشامshame
تُساقُ لِلجَلدِ بِغَيرِ اِحتِشام
How many a chaste woman was brought out publicly,
driven to a flogging without any shame,
وَماand not أَتَتshe committed فاحِشَةًan indecency تَقتَضيrequiring
وَما أَتَت فاحِشَةً تَقتَضي
حَدّاًa prescribed penalty وَلاand not تُوجِبُrequires سَلبَremoving الخِدامthe anklets
حَدّاً وَلا تُوجِبُ سَلبَ الخِدام
though she had committed no indecency warranting
a prescribed penalty or the removal of her anklets.
لاnot تَدعُcall شَمسَSun of الدِينِthe Faith ياO ذاpossessor of الحِجاreason
لا تَدعُ شَمسَ الدِينِ يا ذا الحِجا
مُخاطِباًwhen addressing him إِلّاexcept غياثَthe succor of الأَنامhumankind
مُخاطِباً إِلّا غياثَ الأَنام
Do not call Shams al-Din, O man of reason,
when addressing him, anything but ‘Succor of Humankind.’
فَإِنَّfor indeed ذاthis الإِسمَname بِهِfor him لائِقٌbefitting
فَإِنَّ ذا الإِسمَ بِهِ لائِقٌ
لاnot بِالمشائِيمِfor the ill-omened الطَغامِthe rabble اللِئامthe ignoble
لا بِالمشائِيمِ الطَغامِ اللِئام
For this name befits him,
not the ill-omened, base, ignoble rabble.
ياO أَيُّهاyou البَصرَةُBasra تِيهيtake pride بِهِin him
يا أَيُّها البَصرَةُ تِيهي بِهِ
فَإِنَّهُfor he المَلكُthe king الأَغَرُّthe radiant الهُمامthe valiant
فَإِنَّهُ المَلكُ الأَغَرُّ الهُمام
O Basra, take pride in him,
for he is the radiant, valiant king.
وَإِنَّهُand he أَوحَدُthe unrivaled one of هَذاthese الوَرىpeople
وَإِنَّهُ أَوحَدُ هَذا الوَرى
حِلماًin forbearance وَعِلماًand learning وَنَدىًand bounty وَاِعتِزامand resolve
حِلماً وَعِلماً وَنَدىً وَاِعتِزام
And he is unrivaled among these people
in forbearance, learning, bounty, and resolve.
بَثَّspread بِهاin her الأَمنَsecurity وَرَدَّand restored المُنىhopes
بَثَّ بِها الأَمنَ وَرَدَّ المُنى
غَضّاًfresh وَكاناand both had آذَناsignaled بِاِنصِرامtheir ending
غَضّاً وَكانا آذَنا بِاِنصِرام
He spread security through her and restored hopes
fresh, though both had signaled their imminent end.
وَلَمand not يُصَعِّرturned aside خَدَّهُhis cheek مُعرِضاًturning away
وَلَم يُصَعِّر خَدَّهُ مُعرِضاً
كِبراًin pride وَلَمand not يَفضُضbroke لِجُورٍfor injustice خِتامa seal
كِبراً وَلَم يَفضُض لِجُورٍ خِتام
He did not turn his cheek away
in pride, nor break the seal on injustice.
ياباO father of شُجاعٍShuja‘ ياO ثِمالَrefuge of الوَرىhumankind
يابا شُجاعٍ يا ثِمالَ الوَرى
ياO طاهِراًone pure مِنof كُلِّevery ذَمٍّreproach وذامand disgrace
يا طاهِراً مِن كُلِّ ذَمٍّ وذام
O Abu Shuja‘, O refuge of humankind,
O you, pure of every reproach and disgrace,
ياO شِبهَlikeness of ذيpossessor of القَرنَينِthe two horns مَنfrom رَهطِهِhis clan الthe (fragment)
يا شِبهَ ذي القَرنَينِ مَن رَهطِهِ ال
غُرِّillustrious بَنيsons of العِيصِal-‘Is المُلوكِthe kings الكِرامthe noble
غُرِّ بَني العِيصِ المُلوكِ الكِرام
O likeness of Dhu al-Qarnayn, from his clan, the
illustrious sons of al-‘Is, the noble kings.
كَأَنَّماas though البَصرَةُBasra مُذsince جُزتَهاyou passed beyond her
كَأَنَّما البَصرَةُ مُذ جُزتَها
أَشلاءُremnants of غِمدٍa sheath سُلَّwas drawn مِنهُfrom it الحُسامthe sharp sword
أَشلاءُ غِمدٍ سُلَّ مِنهُ الحُسام
It is as though Basra, since you left her,
were the remnants of a sheath from which the sharp sword was drawn.
بُدِّلَتِwas given in exchange الوَحشَةloneliness مِنin place of أُنسِهاher companionship
بُدِّلَتِ الوَحشَة مِن أُنسِها
وَأُلبِسَتand was clothed بَعدَafter الضِياءِthe light الظَلامin darkness
وَأُلبِسَت بَعدَ الضِياءِ الظَلام
Her companionship was exchanged for loneliness,
and she was clothed in darkness after light.
وَكُلُّand every أَرضٍland فَقَدَتlost شَمسَهاits sun
وَكُلُّ أَرضٍ فَقَدَت شَمسَها
غَشّىcovered الدُجىthe night’s darkness ساحاتِهاher courtyards وَالخِيامand the tents
غَشّى الدُجى ساحاتِها وَالخِيام
Every land that loses its sun
has darkness enshroud its courtyards and tents.
وَالآنَand now إِذwhen عُدتَyou returned إِلَيهاto her زَهَتshe flourished
وَالآنَ إِذ عُدتَ إِلَيها زَهَت
وَاِبتَسَمَتand smiled بِالبِشرِwith joy أَيَّwhat a اِبتِسامsmile
وَاِبتَسَمَت بِالبِشرِ أَيَّ اِبتِسام
Now, when you have returned to her, she flourishes
and smiles with joy—what a smile!
فَلاso may not خَلَتbe bereft مِنكَof you الرَعاياthe subjects وَلاand may not
فَلا خَلَت مِنكَ الرَعايا وَلا
زِلتَcease to be لِمُرفَضِّfor the scattered المَعاليhigh honors نِظامa binding thread
زِلتَ لِمُرفَضِّ المَعالي نِظام
So may your subjects never be bereft of you, and may you never
cease to be the thread binding scattered glories.
Sol 6.1