تَرىyou see حَيثُwhere أَعلامُthe landmarks العُيونِof al-ʿUyūn تَراهاthey see her
تَرى حَيثُ أَعلامُ العُيونِ تَراها
فَخَلّواso loosen لِأَعناقِfor the necks المَطِيِّof the mounts بُراهاtheir nose-rings
فَخَلّوا لِأَعناقِ المَطِيِّ بُراها
You see her where the landmarks of al-ʿUyūn behold her.
Wherever the flags of eyes can see her
So slacken the mounts' nose-rings for their necks.
Make way for the necks of mounts to show her
وَلاand do not تُعجِلُوهاhurry her عَنaway from إِناخَةِkneeling down ساعَةٍfor an hour
وَلا تُعجِلُوها عَن إِناخَةِ ساعَةٍ
فَقَدfor indeed شَفَّهاhas worn her thin تَهجِيرُهاher midday travel وَسُراهاand her night journeys
فَقَد شَفَّها تَهجِيرُها وَسُراها
And do not hurry her away from an hour's kneeling rest,
And do not rush her from alighting an hour
for midday travel and her night marches have worn her thin.
For parting and travel have reddened her cheeks
وَياand O حادِيَيهاher two camel-drivers مِنof زَوِيِّZawiyy بنِson of مالِكٍMālik
وَيا حادِيَيها مِن زَوِيِّ بنِ مالِكٍ
ذَراهاlet her be, you two تَرِدlet her reach ماءَthe water الوَقيبِof al-Waqīb ذَراهاlet her be, you two
ذَراها تَرِد ماءَ الوَقيبِ ذَراها
And O her two camel-drivers, of Zawiyy ibn Mālik,
And O you who lead her on from Zawi bin Malik
let her reach al-Waqīb's water; let her be.
Let her stop to drink the water of al-Waqib
وَلاand do not تَجذِباهاyou two pull her بِالبُرىby the nose-rings وَاِرخِياand give slack, you two لَهاto her
وَلا تَجذِباها بِالبُرى وَاِرخِيا لَها
فَجَذبُfor pulling البُرىthe nose-rings وَالإِنجِذابُand being pulled بَراهاwore her down
فَجَذبُ البُرى وَالإِنجِذابُ بَراها
Do not pull her by the nose-rings; give her slack,
And do not pull her to the hills, be gentle with her
for pulling at the nose-rings and being pulled have worn her down.
For pulling to the hills and tugging tires her
فَماfor not خُلِقَتwere made مِنfrom طَبعِforged metal حَينيof Ḥaynī خِفافُهاher hooves
فَما خُلِقَت مِن طَبعِ حَيني خِفافُها
وَلاnor مِنfrom ذُرىthe peaks هُضبِof the rocky hills السَراةِof al-Sarāt ذُراهاher humps
وَلا مِن ذُرى هُضبِ السَراةِ ذُراها
For her hooves were not made of Ḥaynī's forged metal,
She was not created with a nature for racing
nor her humps of the peaks of al-Sarāt's rocky hills.
Nor from the breed of frisky colts racing
وَلاand do not تُنكِراyou two disapprove of إِرزامَهاher low rumbling وَحَنِينَهاand her yearning cries
وَلا تُنكِرا إِرزامَها وَحَنِينَها
فَكُلُّfor every هَوىًlove تَحنُوshe inclines عَلَيهِtoward it وَراهاlies behind her
فَكُلُّ هَوىً تَحنُو عَلَيهِ وَراها
Do not disapprove of her rumbling and yearning cries,
Do not deny her whimpering and yearning
for every love she inclines toward lies behind her.
For every love, she sighs and pines over
بِعَينيwith my eye أَرىI see ماوَيكُماah, you two (uncertain reading) غافَةَthe ghaf tree النَقاof the dune
بِعَيني أَرى ماوَيكُما غافَةَ النَقا
نَقاthe dune العَينِof al-ʿAyn ذاتِpossessing الرَملِsand فَاِبتَدِراهاso hasten to it, you two
نَقا العَينِ ذاتِ الرَملِ فَاِبتَدِراها
With my eye I see—ah, you two—the dune's ghaf tree,
I see you two heedless of the fatigue of travel
the dune of sandy al-ʿAyn; hasten to it.
The fatigue that dims the eyes with kohl
لَعَلَّperhaps مَقِيلاًa midday rest تَحتَهاbeneath it وَاِضطِجاعَةًand a lying down
لَعَلَّ مَقِيلاً تَحتَها وَاِضطِجاعَةً
تَرُدُّwill restore عَلىto عَينِthe eye المَشُوقِof the longing lover كَراهاits slumber
تَرُدُّ عَلى عَينِ المَشُوقِ كَراها
Perhaps a midday rest beneath it, and lying down,
Perhaps stopping and lying down somewhere
will restore slumber to the longing lover's eye.
Would soothe the eyes of the ardent lover
وَبِيتاand spend the night, you two وَظلّاand spend the day, you two بِالدِيارِat the dwellings وَذَكِّراand remind me, you two
وَبِيتا وَظلّا بِالدِيارِ وَذَكِّرا
لَيالِيَناour nights بِالقَصرِat al-Qaṣr وَاِذَّكِراهاand remember them, you two
لَيالِيَنا بِالقَصرِ وَاِذَّكِراها
Spend night and day at the dwellings, and recall
Stay and linger near the abodes and remind
our nights at al-Qaṣr; remember them.
Of our nights in the palace and recall them to her
فَكَمfor how many لَيلَةٍa night بِتناwe spent the night بِهاthere لَوif يُباعُهاhe were offered it for sale
فَكَم لَيلَةٍ بِتنا بِها لَو يُباعُها
أَريبٌa discerning man بِشطرَيwith both halves of عُمرِهِhis life لَشَراهاhe would surely buy it
أَريبٌ بِشطرَي عُمرِهِ لَشَراها
How many a night we spent there—were it offered for sale,
For how many a night we spent there that if sold
a discerning man would buy it with both halves of his life.
One would pay half a lifetime's price to buy it
يَلُومُblame قَلُوصِيmy young she-camel صاحِبايَmy two companions عَلىfor الوَنىweariness
يَلُومُ قَلُوصِي صاحِبايَ عَلى الوَنى
وَلَوand if عَرَفاthe two knew ماwhat فَوقَهاis upon her عَذَراهاthey would excuse her
وَلَو عَرَفا ما فَوقَها عَذَراها
My two companions blame my young she-camel for her weariness;
My heart blames my two friends for infatuation
if they knew what rides upon her, they would excuse her.
If they knew what was beyond they'd excuse her
لَقَدindeed حَمَلَتshe has carried بَحراًa sea وَبَدراًand a full moon وَهَضبَةًand a mountain
لَقَد حَمَلَت بَحراً وَبَدراً وَهَضبَةً
وَماand not كُلُّall ذاthis يَقوىcan bear عَلَيهِit قَراهاher back
وَما كُلُّ ذا يَقوى عَلَيهِ قَراها
She has borne a sea, a full moon, and a mountain,
She has carried a sea, a full moon and a meadow
and her back is not strong enough to bear all this.
Not all of that can match her burial mound
وَلاand do not تَلحَياهاyou two scold her إِنَّهاindeed she خَيرُis the best عُدَّةٍresource
وَلا تَلحَياها إِنَّها خَيرُ عُدَّةٍ
لِنَفسٍfor a soul إِذاwhen بَعضُsome of الهُمومِthe sorrows عَراهاassail it
لِنَفسٍ إِذا بَعضُ الهُمومِ عَراها
Do not scold her: she is the best resource
Do not blame her, she is the best company
for a soul when some of its sorrows assail it.
For a soul when cares of life have stripped it bare
بِهاwith her يَتَلَهّىfinds diversion ذُوone possessed of الشُجُونِsorrows إِذاwhile لَهَتare engrossed
بِها يَتَلَهّى ذُو الشُجُونِ إِذا لَهَت
تِجارُthe merchants القُرىof the towns فيin بَيعِهاselling her وَشِراهاand buying her
تِجارُ القُرى في بَيعِها وَشِراها
With her the sorrow-laden finds diversion, while
The sorrowful man plays with her when
the towns' merchants busy themselves buying and selling her.
City merchants are selling and buying her
وَلاand do not تَنظُراهاyou two look at her وَاِنظُرَاand look at, you two طَودَa mountain سُؤددٍof lordship
وَلا تَنظُراها وَاِنظُرَا طَودَ سُؤددٍ
عَلَيهاupon her وَبَعدَand after العامِthe year فَاِنتَظِراهاthen await her, you two
عَلَيها وَبَعدَ العامِ فَاِنتَظِراها
Do not look at her; look at a mountain of lordship
Do not look at her, but look to the pregnant clouds
upon her; and after the year, await her.
Waiting after this year, so wait for her
سَتَأتيshe will bring بِماwith what يُشجيgrieves الحَسُودَthe envious one سَماعُهُhearing it
سَتَأتي بِما يُشجي الحَسُودَ سَماعُهُ
وَيُنسيand makes forgotten خصالاتِthe qualities الرِجالِof men مِراهاher milk-yield
وَيُنسي خصالاتِ الرِجالِ مِراها
She will bring what grieves the envious when he hears it,
She will come with what makes jealous ears joyful
and her milk-yield will make men's qualities forgotten.
And makes traits of men forgettable
فَإِنso if مَنَعَتwithholds سَعدانُSaʿdān رَوضَthe meadows بِلادِهاof its land
فَإِن مَنَعَت سَعدانُ رَوضَ بِلادِها
وَقِيلَand it is said اِكتَفىhe made do مِنinstead of عَذبِهاits sweet water بِصَراهاwith its stagnant water
وَقِيلَ اِكتَفى مِن عَذبِها بِصَراها
If Saʿdān denies her the meadows of its land,
If Sa'dan has denied her his meadows
and it is said, 'He settled for its stagnant water instead of its sweet,'
Saying: I'm pleased with tasting it from afar
وَهَرَّتand growled كِلابٌdogs دُونَهاbefore her وَهَريرُهاand their growling
وَهَرَّت كِلابٌ دُونَها وَهَريرُها
أَثارَstirred up عَلَيهاagainst her بِالنِباحِwith barking ضِراهاtheir savagery
أَثارَ عَلَيها بِالنِباحِ ضِراها
and dogs growl before her, and their growling
While the barking of dogs disturbs her rest
stirs up their savagery against her with their barking,
Their howling causes harm to befall her
فَبِالبَصرَةِthen in Baṣra الفَيحاءِthe spacious ماءٌwater وَرَوضَةٌand a meadow
فَبِالبَصرَةِ الفَيحاءِ ماءٌ وَرَوضَةٌ
حَبيبٌdear إِلَيهاto her نَبتُهاits vegetation وَثَراهاand its soil
حَبيبٌ إِلَيها نَبتُها وَثَراها
then in spacious Baṣra are water and a meadow
In shining Basra are waters and meadows
whose plants and soil are dear to her.
Beloved to it are its plants and seeds
وَلَيثٌand a lion مِنَfrom العِيصِal-ʿĪṣ بنِson of إِسحاقَIsḥāq عِيصُهُhis ancestral thicket
وَلَيثٌ مِنَ العِيصِ بنِ إِسحاقَ عِيصُهُ
يَراهاlooks on her بِعَينِwith an eye of الوُدِّaffection حينَwhen يَراهاhe sees her
يَراها بِعَينِ الوُدِّ حينَ يَراها
And a lion whose ancestral thicket is al-ʿĪṣ ibn Isḥāq
And a lion from Banu 'Ees who is a true 'Ees
looks on her with an eye of love whenever he sees her.
Sees her with loving eyes whenever he sees her
يُسَرُّhe rejoices بِمَلقىat the laying down of رَحلِهاher saddle عِندَat بابِهِhis door
يُسَرُّ بِمَلقى رَحلِها عِندَ بابِهِ
فَلَوso even if شَرِبَتshe drank ذَوبَmolten اللُجَينِsilver قَراهاhe would provision her
فَلَو شَرِبَت ذَوبَ اللُجَينِ قَراها
He rejoices when her saddle is set down at his door;
Happy to meet her caravan at his abode
were she to drink molten silver, he would serve it to her.
That were she his drink he would melt to drink her
هُمامٌa high-hearted man تَرىyou see فيin كُلِّevery حَيٍّtribe لَهُbelonging to him يَداًa hand
هُمامٌ تَرى في كُلِّ حَيٍّ لَهُ يَداً
بِبُؤسَىwith affliction وَنُعمىand blessing بَيِّناًclearly manifest أَثَراهاits two effects
بِبُؤسَى وَنُعمى بَيِّناً أَثَراها
A high-hearted man: in every tribe you see his hand,
They are ambitions who in every quarter have a hand
in affliction and blessing, both its effects plain.
Evident in my misery and bounty its effect on her
جَوادٌa generous man يَرىhe sees الدُنياthe world مَتاعاًpassing enjoyment وَبُلغَةًand a means of subsistence
جَوادٌ يَرى الدُنيا مَتاعاً وَبُلغَةً
فَأَهوَنُso the most trifling شَيءٍthing عِندَهُin his eyes حَجَراهاits two stones (gold and silver)
فَأَهوَنُ شَيءٍ عِندَهُ حَجَراها
A generous man who sees the world as passing enjoyment and a means to get by,
A noble one who sees life as vanity and nonsense
so its two stones are the most trifling thing to him.
The least thing to him is depriving her
تُقِرُّacknowledges العِراقُIraq أَنَّهُthat he خَيرُis the best أَهلِهاof her people
تُقِرُّ العِراقُ أَنَّهُ خَيرُ أَهلِها
وَبَحرُand the sea عَطاياهاof her gifts وَلَيثُand the lion شَراهاof her thickets
وَبَحرُ عَطاياها وَلَيثُ شَراها
Iraq acknowledges that he is the best of her people,
Iraq acknowledges he's the best of its people
the sea of her gifts, the lion of her thickets,
The sea of his gifts and lion in buying them
وَعِصمَةُand the safeguard جانِيهاof her wrongdoer وَمَأوىand the refuge طَريدِهاof her outcast
وَعِصمَةُ جانِيها وَمَأوى طَريدِها
وَمُطلِقُand the liberator أَسراهاof her captives وَكَهفُand the haven ذُراهاof her heights
وَمُطلِقُ أَسراها وَكَهفُ ذُراها
the safeguard of her wrongdoer, the refuge of her outcast,
The protector of those seeking refuge with him
the freer of her captives, the haven of her heights,
The liberator of captives and shelter for victims
وَبَدرُand the full moon مَعاليهاof her lofty deeds وَشَمسُand the sun فَخارِهاof her glory
وَبَدرُ مَعاليها وَشَمسُ فَخارِها
وَمِصباحُand the lamp ناديهاof her assembly وَنَجمُand the star سُراهاof her night journeys
وَمِصباحُ ناديها وَنَجمُ سُراها
the full moon of her lofty deeds, the sun of her glory,
The full moon of its glories and sun of its pride
the lamp of her assembly, the star of her night journeys,
The lamp of its gatherings and star of its secrets
وَمارِنand the supple tip عِرنينِof the nose العُلاof loftiness مِنamong مُلوكهاher kings
وَمارِن عِرنينِ العُلا مِن مُلوكها
وَدُرَّةُand the pearl تاجِof the crown العِزِّof honor مِنamong أُمَراهاher princes
وَدُرَّةُ تاجِ العِزِّ مِن أُمَراها
the supple tip of loftiness's nose among her kings,
The neighing of the steeds of lofty kings
the pearl of honor's crown among her princes.
The jewel in the crown of power of its princes
إِذاwhen خَدَمُthe servants الأَموالِof wealth باعَتsell حُظُوظَهاtheir shares
إِذا خَدَمُ الأَموالِ باعَت حُظُوظَها
مِنَin الباقياتِenduring الصالِحاتِgood deeds شَراهاhe buys them
مِنَ الباقياتِ الصالِحاتِ شَراها
When the servants of wealth sell their shares
When serving money sells its luck
in enduring good deeds, he buys them.
Investing in lasting good deeds he buys it
وَإِنand if هِبتَyou dreaded مَسرىa night journey لَيلَةٍof a night فيin صَباحِهاits morning
وَإِن هِبتَ مَسرى لَيلَةٍ في صَباحِها
طِعانٌspear-thrusting كَتغطاطِlike the gurgling المَزادِof waterskins سُراهاhe traversed it by night
طِعانٌ كَتغطاطِ المَزادِ سُراها
And if you dread a night's journey whose morning brings
And if an easy life is gifted one morning
spear-thrusts like waterskins' gurgling, he travels through that night.
There are cavils like auctioneer's bids after it
سَلواask, all of you عَنabout مَواضِيهِhis keen swords مَنيعاًManīʿ وَعَمَّهُand his uncle
سَلوا عَن مَواضِيهِ مَنيعاً وَعَمَّهُ
فَقَدfor indeed خَبَراهاthey both came to know them بَعدَماafter اِختَبَرَاهاthey both tested them
فَقَد خَبَراها بَعدَما اِختَبَرَاها
Ask Manīʿ and his uncle about his keen swords;
Ask the formidable landscape and it will tell you
they came to know them after putting them to the test.
After trying, it knows her well and has tested her
أَلَمdid not يُخلِhe clear أَرضَthe land السَيبِof al-Sayb بِالسَيفِwith the sword مِنهُماof the two of them
أَلَم يُخلِ أَرضَ السَيبِ بِالسَيفِ مِنهُما
وَكاناand the two had بِغَيرِwithout الحَقِّright قَدalready عَمَراهاinhabited it
وَكانا بِغَيرِ الحَقِّ قَد عَمَراها
Did he not clear the land of al-Sayb of them with the sword,
Did it not rid the land of rebels with the sword?
when they had occupied it without right?
They had unjustly inhabited and settled it
أَراداthey both wanted يَكِيدانِto plot against الخِلافَةَthe caliphate ضلَّةًin folly
أَرادا يَكِيدانِ الخِلافَةَ ضلَّةً
فَياso O لَكِfor you (exclamation) رُؤياa dream ضِدَّcontrary to ماhow عَبَراهاthey both interpreted it
فَيا لَكِ رُؤيا ضِدَّ ما عَبَراها
They meant, in their folly, to plot against the caliphate;
Seeking to deviate the caliphate astray
what a dream—contrary to the way they interpreted it!
What a sight opposing what they envisioned!
وَهَلand did ضَرَّharm قَرنَthe rim الشَمسِof the sun عِندَat ذُرُورِهاits rising
وَهَل ضَرَّ قَرنَ الشَمسِ عِندَ ذُرُورِها
عُواءُthe howling كِلابٍof dogs أَوor نُباحُthe barking جِراهاof their pups
عُواءُ كِلابٍ أَو نُباحُ جِراها
Has the sun's rim, at its rising, ever been harmed
Has the barking of dogs or howling of apes
by dogs' howls or the barking of their pups?
Ever harmed the sun when it rose radiant?
أَحَلَّهُماhe settled the two of them بِالسَيفِby the sword فيin أَرضِthe land عامِرٍof ʿĀmir
أَحَلَّهُما بِالسَيفِ في أَرضِ عامِرٍ
وَلَولاand were it not for سِطامُthe edge السَيفِof the sword ماnot اِعتَمَراهاthey both inhabited it
وَلَولا سِطامُ السَيفِ ما اِعتَمَراها
He settled them by the sword in the land of ʿĀmir;
He rid them from a prosperous land with the sword
without the sword's edge, they would not have settled there.
Had it no sheath, they'd not have flourished in it
إِلىto هَجَرٍHajar ساقاthey both drove المَطاياthe mounts بِهجرَةٍin exile
إِلى هَجَرٍ ساقا المَطايا بِهجرَةٍ
وَغَيرand without اِختيارٍchoice مِنهُمُon their part اِهتَجَراهاthey both migrated to it
وَغَير اِختيارٍ مِنهُمُ اِهتَجَراها
To Hajar they drove the mounts in exile,
To Hijr he led the steeds in migration
and not by their own choice did they migrate there.
Without their choice, he made them emigrate
وَأُقسِمُand I swear لَولاwere it not for حَملُهُhis bearing with them وَاِحتِقارُهُand his disdain
وَأُقسِمُ لَولا حَملُهُ وَاِحتِقارُهُ
لِشَأنِهماfor the two men's standing جِدّاًutterly لَماthey would not حَضَراهاhave reached it, the two of them
لِشَأنِهما جِدّاً لَما حَضَراها
I swear: but for his bearing with them and his disdain
I swear had he not disdained and scorned them
for their standing, utterly, they would never have arrived there.
He'd not have attended to or transacted with them
وَمِنand from قَبلُbefore كَمhow many أَولاهُماhe bestowed on the two of them مِنof صَنيعَةٍa favor
وَمِن قَبلُ كَم أَولاهُما مِن صَنيعَةٍ
وَنُعمىand a blessing تَفُوتُsurpasses الشُكرَthanks لَوeven if شَكَراهاthey both gave thanks for it
وَنُعمى تَفُوتُ الشُكرَ لَو شَكَراها
And before that, how many a favor he had bestowed upon them,
Beforehand, how much favor he'd shown
and a blessing beyond thanks, even had they given thanks for it!
Gifts that gratitude falls short however thanked
لَعَمريby my life لَقَدindeed نالَhe struck المعاديthe foes إِذاwhen اِعتَدَتthey transgressed
لَعَمري لَقَد نالَ المعادي إِذا اِعتَدَت
بِساعَةِwith an hour سُوءٍof evil أَخرَسَتsilenced شُعَراهاtheir poets
بِساعَةِ سُوءٍ أَخرَسَت شُعَراها
By my life, he struck the foes, when they transgressed,
By my life, if the enemy is audacious for an hour
with a grievous hour that silenced their poets.
His vileness is exposed and poetry was struck dumb
أَسالَhe made flow مَجاريthe channels سَيلِهاof their torrents مِنwith دِمائِهاtheir blood
أَسالَ مَجاري سَيلِها مِن دِمائِها
وَأَوهىand he weakened إِلىuntil يَومِthe Day المَعادِof Return عُراهاtheir bonds
وَأَوهى إِلى يَومِ المَعادِ عُراها
He made the channels of their torrents flow with their blood,
His swords poured out their blood
and weakened their bonds until the Day of Return.
And till judgment day his nakedness was exposed
لَقَدindeed جَرَّدَتdrew مِنهُfrom him الخِلافَةُthe caliphate صارِماًa keen sword
لَقَد جَرَّدَت مِنهُ الخِلافَةُ صارِماً
لَوَif اِنَّindeed الرَواسيthe firmly rooted mountains أَرؤُسٌheads لَفَراهاit would surely cleave them
لَوَ اِنَّ الرَواسي أَرؤُسٌ لَفَراها
The caliphate drew from him a keen sword
Indeed the caliph stripped him of his blade
that, had the rooted mountains been heads, would have cleft them.
If only heads were firm, he'd have lopped them
أَنامhe put to sleep بَنيthe sons الأَسفارِof journeys أَمناًsafely فَأَصبَحَتso it became
أَنام بَني الأَسفارِ أَمناً فَأَصبَحَت
سَواءًalike عَلَيهاto them قَفرُهاits wilderness وَقُراهاand its villages
سَواءً عَلَيها قَفرُها وَقُراها
He made the sons of travel sleep secure, so now
I sleep in the desert lands secure and awaken
its wilderness and its villages are alike to them.
To me her ruins and villages are equal
تَسيرُthey travel إِلىto الأَهوازِal-Ahwāz مِنfrom أَرضِthe land بابِلٍof Bābil
تَسيرُ إِلى الأَهوازِ مِن أَرضِ بابِلٍ
وَلَيسَand there are not سِوىother than أَسيافِهِhis swords خُفَراهاtheir guardians
وَلَيسَ سِوى أَسيافِهِ خُفَراها
They travel to al-Ahwāz from the land of Bābil,
She travels to Ahvaz from Babylon's land
with no guardians but his swords.
With only his swords as her brave guards
تَبِيتُspends the night عَلىon ظَهرِthe surface الطَريقِof the road عِيابُهاtheir baggage
تَبِيتُ عَلى ظَهرِ الطَريقِ عِيابُها
وَعَينُand the eye اِبنِof the son غَبراءِof the dustland السُحُوقِthe far-flung تَراهاsees it
وَعَينُ اِبنِ غَبراءِ السُحُوقِ تَراها
Their baggage spends the night on the open road,
She spends the night in the open, under the stars
and the eye of the far-flung dustland's son sees it.
As the son of Ghoura's eyes keep watch over her
وَياand oh طالماhow often قَدindeed نزّعَتhad been stripped مِنfrom رِقابِهاtheir necks
وَيا طالما قَد نزّعَت مِن رِقابِها
مَدارِعُهاtheir tunics شَدَّat the height of الضُحىthe forenoon وَفِراهاand their furs
مَدارِعُها شَدَّ الضُحى وَفِراها
And oh, how often from their necks had been stripped
How often has she stripped the necks of her coats
their tunics and furs at high forenoon!
At dawn, to face the cold without their cover!
لَعَمريby my life لَقَدindeed أَحياhe revived لِأُمَّةِfor the community أَحمَدٍof Aḥmad
لَعَمري لَقَد أَحيا لِأُمَّةِ أَحمَدٍ
مِنَof العَدلِjustice ماwhat أَوصىenjoined بِهِconcerning it عُمَراهاits two ʿUmars
مِنَ العَدلِ ما أَوصى بِهِ عُمَراها
By my life, he has revived for the community of Aḥmad
By my life, she revived for Muhammad's nation
the justice its two ʿUmars enjoined.
Justice he enjoined on Omar to look after
فَلاso may not عَدِمَتهُit lose him ماas long as أَنارَتshine نُجُومُهاits stars
فَلا عَدِمَتهُ ما أَنارَت نُجُومُها
وَماand as long as سارَtravel فيthrough أَبراجِهاits zodiacal towers قَمَراهاits two moons (sun and moon)
وَما سارَ في أَبراجِها قَمَراها
May it never lose him while its stars shine,
May she never lack it, as long as her stars shine
and its two moons travel through its zodiacal towers.
And her full moons journey in their mansions
وَلاand may never بَرِحَتcease أَعداؤُهُhis enemies وَزَمانُهاwhile their age
وَلا بَرِحَت أَعداؤُهُ وَزَمانُها
بِعَينِwith an eye of القِلىhatred وَالإِمتِهانِand contempt يَراهاit looks on them
بِعَينِ القِلى وَالإِمتِهانِ يَراها
And may his enemies ever have their age
Nor may her enemies and time see in her
look on them with an eye of hatred and contempt.
A weak and abased eye that they may look down on
Sol 6.1