تُسَدُّare barred إِذاwhen حُمَّis decreed الحِمامُdeath المَذاهِبُthe paths
تُسَدُّ إِذا حُمَّ الحِمامُ المَذاهِبُ
وَيُعييand defeats البَرايَall creatures فَوتُescape from ماwhat اللَهُGod طالِبُseeks
وَيُعيي البَرايَ فَوتُ ما اللَهُ طالِبُ
When death is decreed, all paths are barred.
The ways are blocked when the doves coo,
And escaping what God seeks is beyond all mortals.
And the messenger cannot find what God wants.
وَأَنتَand you وَماand no فيamong الخَلقِcreation مِنكَin your stead مُعَوَّضٌreplacement
وَأَنتَ وَما في الخَلقِ مِنكَ مُعَوَّضٌ
لَهُمfor them عِوَضٌa recompense مِنfor كُلِّall ماthat هُوَit ذاهِبُpasses away
لَهُم عِوَضٌ مِن كُلِّ ما هُوَ ذاهِبُ
And you—whom no one in creation can replace—
You are irreplaceable, none can take your place,
are their recompense for everything that passes away.
Though others may be consoled for their loss.
أَرىI see غِيَرَvicissitudes الأَيّامِof the days تَلعَبُtoy بِالوَرىwith humankind
أَرى غِيَرَ الأَيّامِ تَلعَبُ بِالوَرى
فَلاso may you not زِلتَcease to be مَحروساًprotected وَلاand may not جَدَّturn serious لاعِبُa player
فَلا زِلتَ مَحروساً وَلا جَدَّ لاعِبُ
I see time's vicissitudes toy with humankind.
I see time playing with mortals,
May you remain protected, and may no player turn serious.
Yet you remain protected, no players can touch you.
هَوىfell كَوكَبٌa star زُهرُradiant ones الكَواكِبِof the stars مُذهَوىsince it fell
هَوى كَوكَبٌ زُهرُ الكَواكِبِ مُذهَوى
فَفارَقَthen forsook مَثواهاtheir dwelling عَلَيهِover it نَوادِبُfemale mourners
فَفارَقَ مَثواها عَلَيهِ نَوادِبُ
A star fell; since it fell, the radiant stars
A star, the most splendid of all, passionately loved,
have forsaken their dwelling, mourning over it.
Left its orbit, so elegies mourn it.
وَلَوand had لَمnot يُراعِhonored الأُفقُthe horizon حَقَّthe right جِوارِهِof its neighborly bond
وَلَو لَم يُراعِ الأُفقُ حَقَّ جِوارِهِ
لَماthen would not شَيَّعَتهُhave escorted it بِالبُكاءِwith weeping السَحائِبُthe clouds
لَما شَيَّعَتهُ بِالبُكاءِ السَحائِبُ
Had the horizon not honored its due as a neighbor,
If the horizon had not respected its neighborly rights,
the clouds would not have escorted it with weeping.
The clouds would not have bidden it farewell with their weeping.
أُعَبِّرُI express myself بِالتَذكيرِin the masculine عَمداًdeliberately وَإِنَّنيand indeed I
أُعَبِّرُ بِالتَذكيرِ عَمداً وَإِنَّني
وَماand not إِن(emphasis) تَعَدَّيتُhave I gone beyond الكِنايَةَallusion هائِبُfearful
وَما إِن تَعَدَّيتُ الكِنايَةَ هائِبُ
I deliberately speak in the masculine; yet I,
I refer to it as “he” intentionally, though
though I have not gone beyond allusion, am afraid.
I recoil from going beyond allusion.
وَلَيسَand there is no لِماfor what أَخفىconcealed إِباؤُكَyour proud reserve مُظهِرٌrevealer
وَلَيسَ لِما أَخفى إِباؤُكَ مُظهِرٌ
وَلَيسَand there is no لِمَنfor the one whom سَربَلتَهyou clothed الصَونَprotection سالِبُdespoiler
وَلَيسَ لِمَن سَربَلتَه الصَونَ سالِبُ
No one can reveal what your proud reserve has concealed,
For what you have hidden, no revealer can show,
nor strip away the protection you have clothed someone in.
Nor can any robber steal what you have kept virtuous.
وَكَمand how much مُظهَرٍis manifest مِنof فَضلِهِhis excellence وَهوُthough he مُضمَرٌis concealed
وَكَم مُظهَرٍ مِن فَضلِهِ وَهوُ مُضمَرٌ
وَكَمand how many شاهِدٍwitnesses مِنto مَجدِهِhis glory وَهوُthough he غائِبُis absent
وَكَم شاهِدٍ مِن مَجدِهِ وَهوُ غائِبُ
How much of his excellence is manifest, though he is concealed;
and how many witnesses to his glory remain, though he is absent.
How much splendor lies implicit, though manifest,
إِذاif ما(emphasis) سَماءُthe heaven المَجدِof glory لَمhas not يَهوِfallen بَدرُهاits full moon
إِذا ما سَماءُ المَجدِ لَم يَهوِ بَدرُها
فَأَهوِنthen how slight بِأَنit is that تَنقَضَّfall مِنهاfrom it الكَواكِبُthe stars
فَأَهوِن بِأَن تَنقَضَّ مِنها الكَواكِبُ
If the full moon of glory's heaven has not fallen,
How much glory absent, though present.
how slight a matter it is that stars fall from it!
When the sky of glory lacks its full moon,
فَدَتmay ransom سائِرُall الأَرواحِthe souls مَلكاًa king فِداؤُهُransoming him
فَدَت سائِرُ الأَرواحِ مَلكاً فِداؤُهُ
وَطاعَتُهُand obedience to him فَرضٌa duty عَلىupon الناسِthe people وَاجِبُbinding
وَطاعَتُهُ فَرضٌ عَلى الناسِ وَاجِبُ
May all souls ransom a king: ransoming him
It matters little if the stars leave it.
and obeying him is a duty binding on all people.
All souls are ransoms for the King whose ransom is them,
لَئِنeven if ظَفِرَتhave won أَيديthe hands الخُطوبِof calamities بِبُغيَةٍa desired prize
لَئِن ظَفِرَت أَيدي الخُطوبِ بِبُغيَةٍ
فَماyet you have not زِلتَceased تَفريto cleave وَالخُطوبُand calamities الدَرائِبُthe targets (uncertain reading)
فَما زِلتَ تَفري وَالخُطوبُ الدَرائِبُ
Though the hands of calamity have seized a prize,
Whose obedience is an obligatory duty.
you have ever cleaved, with calamities as your targets [uncertain reading].
Though the strokes of fate gain the upper hand,
وَلَوand if أَنَّindeed صَرفَthe reversals الدَهرِof time يُثنىcould be turned back بِقُوَّةٍby strength
وَلَو أَنَّ صَرفَ الدَهرِ يُثنى بِقُوَّةٍ
لَعاوَدَwould turn back عَنfrom هَذاthis الحِمىprotected realm وَهوَwhile it خائِبُis thwarted
لَعاوَدَ عَن هَذا الحِمى وَهوَ خائِبُ
If time's reversals could be turned back by strength,
You always break free, while fate is shattered.
they would retreat from this protected realm, thwarted.
If the cycle of fate could be bent by any force,
وَلَوand if كُنَّthey were شَخصاًa person صَدَّهُwould bar him عَنfrom مُرادِهِhis purpose
وَلَو كُنَّ شَخصاً صَدَّهُ عَن مُرادِهِ
مُؤَلَّلَةٌsharp-pointed زُرقٌblue spears وَبيضٌand white swords قَواضِبُkeen-cutting
مُؤَلَّلَةٌ زُرقٌ وَبيضٌ قَواضِبُ
And were they a person, he would be barred from his purpose
It would return from this sanctuary, frustrated.
by sharp-pointed blue spears and white, cleaving swords.
Had it been embodied in blue and white banners,
وَلَوand if أَنهُit were جَيشٌan army كَثيرٌgreat عَديدُهُin its numbers
وَلَو أَنهُ جَيشٌ كَثيرٌ عَديدُهُ
لَقارَعَهُwould clash with it مِنfrom كُلِّevery أَوبٍquarter كَتائِبُbattalions
لَقارَعَهُ مِن كُلِّ أَوبٍ كَتائِبُ
And were it an army vast in number,
Squadrons would have fought it from every ravine.
battalions would clash with it from every quarter.
You see the ruin of lives as they parade triumphantly,
تُرىare seen as نُزهَةَa delight الأَبصارِto the eyes وَهيَwhen they are مَواكِبٌprocessions
تُرى نُزهَةَ الأَبصارِ وَهيَ مَواكِبٌ
وَهادِمَةَand destroyers of الأَعمارِlives وَهيَwhen they are مَقانِبُcavalry squadrons
وَهادِمَةَ الأَعمارِ وَهيَ مَقانِبُ
They are seen as a delight to the eyes in procession,
And the destruction of ages as they decline.
and as destroyers of lives when they are cavalry squadrons.
Yet they are but a resolve of yours, an act of grace;
وَماand not هِيَit إِلّاbut عَزمَةٌan act of resolve مِنكَfrom you صَدقَةٌsincere
وَما هِيَ إِلّا عَزمَةٌ مِنكَ صَدقَةٌ
وَلاand not الصَبرُpatience مَغلوبٌdefeated وَلاand not الهَمُّsorrow غالِبُvictorious
وَلا الصَبرُ مَغلوبٌ وَلا الهَمُّ غالِبُ
It takes only one sincere act of resolve from you;
Patience is not overcome, nor is grief victorious.
patience is not defeated, nor is sorrow victorious.
Your resolve has destroyed the protectors of realms,
وَعَزمُكَand your resolve قَدalready أَفنىdestroyed حُماةَthe defenders مَمالِكٍof kingdoms
وَعَزمُكَ قَد أَفنى حُماةَ مَمالِكٍ
تُطاعِنُexchanging spear-thrusts شَزراًfrom the side دونَهاin their defense وَتُضارِبُand exchanging blows
تُطاعِنُ شَزراً دونَها وَتُضارِبُ
Your resolve has destroyed the defenders of kingdoms,
Who stitch together futile plans and exchange blows.
who traded sidelong spear-thrusts and sword-blows in their defense.
Realms you have crushed after they were intoxicated
مَمالِكُkingdoms قَدalready دَوَّختَهاyou subdued them بَعدَafter ما(linking particle) سَفَتunclear as written; perhaps 'grew clear'
مَمالِكُ قَد دَوَّختَها بَعدَ ما سَفَت
مَشارِبُwatering places فيهاwithin them وَاِطمَأَنَّتand grew secure مَسارِبُroutes
مَشارِبُ فيها وَاِطمَأَنَّت مَسارِبُ
Kingdoms you subdued, after clarity had come [uncertain reading]
With settled ways and calm passages.
to their watering places, and their routes had grown secure.
You have reached an extent none can attain, though
فَحُزتَthus you attained مَدىًa goal قَدalready عاوَدَتhad turned back دونَshort of نَيلِهِattaining it
فَحُزتَ مَدىً قَد عاوَدَت دونَ نَيلِهِ
أَمانِيُّthe hopes أَهلِof the people الأَرضِof earth وَهيَwhile they لَواغِبُwere exhausted
أَمانِيُّ أَهلِ الأَرضِ وَهيَ لَواغِبُ
Thus you attained a goal, before reaching which
The hopes of mankind cycle back, ever yearning.
the hopes of earth's people had turned back exhausted.
If the Turks are joined to you by ancestry and origin,
لَئِنeven if ناسَبَتكَare related to you التُركُthe Turks فَرعاًin descent وَعُنصُراًand in origin
لَئِن ناسَبَتكَ التُركُ فَرعاً وَعُنصُراً
فَماyet no لَكَfor you فيin حَوزِattaining العَلاءِeminence مُناسِبُpeer
فَما لَكَ في حَوزِ العَلاءِ مُناسِبُ
Though the Turks are your kin in descent and origin,
You have no peer in the absence of the sublime.
none is your peer in attaining eminence.
An age adorned itself with beauties while you were in it,
تَحَلّىhas adorned itself زَمانٌan age أَنتَyou فيهِare in it مَحاسِناًwith beauties
تَحَلّى زَمانٌ أَنتَ فيهِ مَحاسِناً
عَواطِلُbare مِنهُنَّof them السِنونَthe years الذَواهِبُgone by
عَواطِلُ مِنهُنَّ السِنونَ الذَواهِبُ
An age in which you live has adorned itself with beauties
Fleeting years whose loss time laments.
of which the years gone by are bare.
You who, when will and fate collide,
وَأَنتَand you الَّذيthe one who ماnot إِن(emphasis) يَزالُceases to be مُظَفَّراًvictorious
وَأَنتَ الَّذي ما إِن يَزالُ مُظَفَّراً
إِذاwhenever ما(emphasis) اِلتَقَتmeet آراؤُهُhis counsels وَالنَوائِبُand calamities
إِذا ما اِلتَقَت آراؤُهُ وَالنَوائِبُ
And you are the one who is ever victorious
Remain victorious – how false were their notions.
whenever his counsels meet calamities.
The harm of deadly schemes - had foes not divulged them,
لَقَدindeed كَذَبَتproved false مُذsince ذُدتَyou warded off عَنّاfrom us ظَنونُهاtheir expectations
لَقَد كَذَبَت مُذ ذُدتَ عَنّا ظَنونُها
فَلاso may not صَدَقَتprove true تِلكَthose الظُنونُexpectations الكَواذِبُlying
فَلا صَدَقَت تِلكَ الظُنونُ الكَواذِبُ
Their expectations proved false since you warded off from us—
No drinker would have moistened his lips in water.
may those lying expectations never come true!—
Exult in this most noble glory, for it
أَذىthe harm الفَتَكاتِof deadly assaults اللائيwhich لَوhad لَمnot تَبُحdisclosed بِهاthem
أَذى الفَتَكاتِ اللائي لَو لَم تَبُح بِها
نِفوسُthe souls العِدىof the enemies ماnot اِلتَذَّwould have relished بِالماءِwater شارِبُa drinker
نِفوسُ العِدى ما اِلتَذَّ بِالماءِ شارِبُ
the harm of deadly assaults which, had they not been disclosed
Paves the straightest path to defeat the ignoble.
by the enemies' souls, no drinker would have relished water.
With sweet praise perfuming the earth, its lands
تَعَزَّtake comfort بِذاin this العِزِّglory الأَشَمِّlofty فَإِنَّهُfor it
تَعَزَّ بِذا العِزِّ الأَشَمِّ فَإِنَّهُ
طَريقٌa path إِلىto حَسمِending المَساءَةِsorrow لاحِبُclear and broad
طَريقٌ إِلى حَسمِ المَساءَةِ لاحِبُ
Take comfort in this lofty glory—for it
Imbibed its fragrance from your east to your west.
is a broad, clear path to ending sorrow—
It is by your resolve, O Sword of the Caliphate,
وَطيبِand in the sweetness ثَناءٍof praise طَبَّقَcovered الأَرضَthe earth فَاِكتَسَتso became clothed
وَطيبِ ثَناءٍ طَبَّقَ الأَرضَ فَاِكتَسَت
مَشارِقُهاits eastern regions مِنin عَرفِهِits fragrance وَالمَغارِبُand the western regions
مَشارِقُها مِن عَرفِهِ وَالمَغارِبُ
and in sweet praise that covered the earth, so that
That we are guided - do not heed any usurpers.
its eastern and western reaches were clothed in its fragrance.
Grant us relief by letting go of sorrow,
بِعَزمِكَby your resolve ياO سَيفَSword الخِلافَةِof the Caliphate يُقتَدىone is guided
بِعَزمِكَ يا سَيفَ الخِلافَةِ يُقتَدى
فَلاso do not تُرِshow خَطباًa calamity أَنَّهُthat it is لَكَover you غاصِبُa despoiler
فَلا تُرِ خَطباً أَنَّهُ لَكَ غاصِبُ
Your resolve, O Sword of the Caliphate, is an example to follow;
For how many wishes have you fulfilled.
so do not show a calamity that it can despoil you.
Subdue the rebellious sleep with the power by which
أَنِلناgrant us بِتَركِby leaving الهَمِّsorrow يَمضيto go لِشَأنِهِon its own way
أَنِلنا بِتَركِ الهَمِّ يَمضي لِشَأنِهِ
مُناناour wishes فَكَمfor how many نيلَتhave been attained لَدَيكَat your hands الرَغائِبُdesires
مُنانا فَكَم نيلَت لَدَيكَ الرَغائِبُ
Grant us, by leaving sorrow to go its own way,
You pacified the sleep of the world while it was estranged.
our wishes—how many desires have been attained at your hands!
Give us sorrow amidst what you have granted,
وَذَلِّلand subdue عَصِيَّrebellious النَومِsleep بِالسَطوَةِwith the might الَّتيthat
وَذَلِّل عَصِيَّ النَومِ بِالسَطوَةِ الَّتي
أَرَحتَyou brought to rest بِهاwith it نَومَthe sleep الوَرىof humankind وَهوُwhile it عازِبُhad strayed afar
أَرَحتَ بِها نَومَ الوَرى وَهوُ عازِبُ
And tame rebellious sleep with that might
For sorrows are slight while you remain.
with which you brought humankind's sleep home when it had strayed.
وَهَبناand grant us الأَسىsorrow فيماamong what وَهَبتَyou have given فَإِنَّناfor we
وَهَبنا الأَسى فيما وَهَبتَ فَإِنَّنا
تَهونُare light عَلَيناupon us ماas long as بَقيتَyou remain المَصائِبُcalamities
تَهونُ عَلَينا ما بَقيتَ المَصائِبُ
And give us sorrow among your gifts, for to us
calamities are light so long as you remain.
Partial English translation: 56 of 60 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1