قَصَّرَfell short عَنof سَعيِكَyour striving الأُلىthose who جَهَدواstrove
قَصَّرَ عَن سَعيِكَ الأُلى جَهَدوا
فَاِفخَرso take pride بِحَمدٍin praise ماnot نالَهُattained it أَحَدُanyone
فَاِفخَر بِحَمدٍ ما نالَهُ أَحَدُ
Those who strove fell short of your endeavor.
So glory in praise no one has attained.
طالَتtowered above بِكَthrough you العالَمينَall mankind أَربَعَةٌfour
طالَت بِكَ العالَمينَ أَربَعَةٌ
عَزمٌresolve وَحَزمٌand prudence وَنائِلٌand bounty وَيَدُand strength of hand
عَزمٌ وَحَزمٌ وَنائِلٌ وَيَدُ
Four things through you have towered above mankind:
resolve, prudence, bounty, and strength of hand.
وَأَنزَلَتكَand settled you السُيوفُthe swords مَنزِلَةًin a station
وَأَنزَلَتكَ السُيوفُ مَنزِلَةً
طالَgrew long عَلىfor مَنwhoever يَرومُهاseeks it الأَمَدُthe span of time
طالَ عَلى مَن يَرومُها الأَمَدُ
Swords have set you in a station
that those who seek it need an age to reach.
كُنتَyou were أَباthe first taker of عُذرِهاher maidenhood وَذاكَand that بِماbecause of what
كُنتَ أَبا عُذرِها وَذاكَ بِما
أَقدَمتَyou advanced وَالمَوتُwhile death دونَهاbefore her رَصَدُlay in wait
أَقدَمتَ وَالمَوتُ دونَها رَصَدُ
You were the first to claim her maidenhood, because
you advanced while death lay in wait before her.
فَماso no سَعىstrove نَحوَهاtoward her أَمامَكَbefore you إِنstart of 'person'
فَما سَعى نَحوَها أَمامَكَ إِن
سانٌrest of 'person' وَقَدand already سُدَّwas barred خَلفَكَbehind you الجَدَدُthe open road
سانٌ وَقَد سُدَّ خَلفَكَ الجَدَدُ
No man before you ever strove toward her,
and behind you the open road has been barred.
يَقرُبُdraws near مِنthrough عَزمِكَyour resolve البَعيدُthe distant مِنَof الthe
يَقرُبُ مِن عَزمِكَ البَعيدُ مِنَ ال
عِزِّglory وَيَنأىand stays far عَنfrom رَأيِكَyour judgment الفَنَدُfolly
عِزِّ وَيَنأى عَن رَأيِكَ الفَنَدُ
Your resolve brings near the distant heights of
glory, while folly stays far from your judgment.
فيon كُلِّevery يَومٍday لَقيتَyou met فيهِon it عِدىًenemies
في كُلِّ يَومٍ لَقيتَ فيهِ عِدىً
دَمٌblood مُراقٌspilled وَمُرتَقىًand an ascent صَعَدُsteep
دَمٌ مُراقٌ وَمُرتَقىً صَعَدُ
Every day on which you encountered foes held
blood spilled and a steep height scaled.
وَمُنذُand since بَوَّأتَهُمyou lodged them in رِضاكَyour favor نَسواthey forgot
وَمُنذُ بَوَّأتَهُم رِضاكَ نَسوا
مَنthose whom أَقصَدَتهُstruck him dead الظُبىthe blades بِمَنfor the one whom قَصَدواthey sought
مَن أَقصَدَتهُ الظُبى بِمَن قَصَدوا
Since you lodged them in your favor, they have forgotten
those the blades struck dead, for the one they sought.
حَكَمتَyou ruled حُكمَwith the rule of الأَعَزِّthe mightiest مُقتَدِراًfully empowered
حَكَمتَ حُكمَ الأَعَزِّ مُقتَدِراً
فَالقَتلُso the killing فيهِمamong them وَمِنهُمُand from them القَوَدُblood-requital
فَالقَتلُ فيهِم وَمِنهُمُ القَوَدُ
You ruled as the mightiest, holding full power;
the killing falls upon them, and from them comes blood-requital.
هَوَّنَlightened وِجدانُهُمtheir finding نَداكَyour bounty لَهُمfor them
هَوَّنَ وِجدانُهُم نَداكَ لَهُم
عَوناًan aid عَلىagainst الدَهرِtime فَقدَthe loss of مَنthose whom فَقَدواthey lost
عَوناً عَلى الدَهرِ فَقدَ مَن فَقَدوا
Finding your bounty an aid for them
against time lightened the loss of those they lost.
عَقَلتَهُمyou bound them بِالجَميلِwith kindness فَاِنعَقَلواso they were bound
عَقَلتَهُم بِالجَميلِ فَاِنعَقَلوا
رُبَّmany عُناةٍcaptives أَصفادُهاtheir fetters الصَفَدُbounty
رُبَّ عُناةٍ أَصفادُها الصَفَدُ
You bound them with kindness, and they were bound;
many captives have gifts for their fetters.
تَقارَبَhave grown alike الخَلقُpeople فيin خَلائِقِهِمtheir qualities
تَقارَبَ الخَلقُ في خَلائِقِهِم
وَأَنتَwhile you بِالمُعجِزاتِin wondrous feats مُنفَرِدُstand alone
وَأَنتَ بِالمُعجِزاتِ مُنفَرِدُ
People resemble one another in their qualities,
but you stand alone in wondrous feats.
وَأَينَand where مِنكَbeside you الوَرىis mankind وَماand never وَلَدَتhave borne
وَأَينَ مِنكَ الوَرى وَما وَلَدَت
لَكَfor you اللَياليthe nights مِثلاًan equal وَلاnor تَلِدُwill bear
لَكَ اللَيالي مِثلاً وَلا تَلِدُ
Where is mankind beside you? The nights have never
borne you an equal, nor ever will.
إِنif كانَwas ذاthis المُلكُkingship نيلَattained مُطَّرَفاًas a new acquisition
إِن كانَ ذا المُلكُ نيلَ مُطَّرَفاً
فَإِنَّthen indeed هَذاthis العَلاءَeminence مُتَّلَدُis inherited
فَإِنَّ هَذا العَلاءَ مُتَّلَدُ
If this kingship was newly acquired,
this eminence is an ancient inheritance.
قَعَدتَyou sat وَالقَومُwhile the others قائِمونَwere standing كَماjust as
قَعَدتَ وَالقَومُ قائِمونَ كَما
قُمتَyou rose بِصَرفِto turn aside الخُطوبِcalamities إِذwhen قَعَدواthey sat
قُمتَ بِصَرفِ الخُطوبِ إِذ قَعَدوا
You sat while the others stood, just as
you rose to turn calamities aside when they sat still.
فَلتَعلُso let rise بيضُthe bright blades of السُيوفِthe swords صاعِدَةًascending
فَلتَعلُ بيضُ السُيوفِ صاعِدَةً
أَنَّكَbecause you مِنهاare of them وَتَفخَرِand let boast العُدَدُthe weapons
أَنَّكَ مِنها وَتَفخَرِ العُدَدُ
Let the white swords rise aloft,
since you are one of them, and let the weapons boast.
نَهَضتَyou rose ياO عُدَّةَmainstay of الخَلائِفِthe caliphs بِالwith the
نَهَضتَ يا عُدَّةَ الخَلائِفِ بِال
أَعباءِburdens إِذwhen خانَbetrayed غَيرَكَothers besides you الجَلَدُendurance
أَعباءِ إِذ خانَ غَيرَكَ الجَلَدُ
You shouldered, O mainstay of the caliphs, the
burdens, when endurance betrayed others.
مُبَيِّناًmaking clear أَنَّthat رَأيَthe judgment of حاكِمِهِمtheir ruler
مُبَيِّناً أَنَّ رَأيَ حاكِمِهِم
مِمّاfrom what أَراهُshowed him المُهَيمِنُthe Guardian الصَمَدُthe Eternal Refuge
مِمّا أَراهُ المُهَيمِنُ الصَمَدُ
Making clear that their ruler's judgment
came from what the Guardian, the Eternal Refuge, showed him.
أَيقَنَhe knew for certain يَومَon the day اِصطَفاكَhe chose you مُنتَجِباًsingling you out
أَيقَنَ يَومَ اِصطَفاكَ مُنتَجِباً
أَنَّكَthat you لِاِبنِfor the son of اِبنِهِhis son غَداًtomorrow عَضُدُa strong arm
أَنَّكَ لِاِبنِ اِبنِهِ غَداً عَضُدُ
The day he chose and singled you out, he knew
you would be a strong arm for his son's son tomorrow.
بايَعَpledged allegiance to جَدّاًa grandfather عَلىin هَواكَlove for you أَبٌa father
بايَعَ جَدّاً عَلى هَواكَ أَبٌ
وَقَدand indeed تَلاhas followed الآنَnow والِداًa father وَلَدُa son
وَقَد تَلا الآنَ والِداً وَلَدُ
A father pledged allegiance to a grandfather in loving you,
and now a son has followed his father.
لاdo not تَخشَfear مِنfrom حاسِديكَyour enviers بائِقَةًa calamity
لا تَخشَ مِن حاسِديكَ بائِقَةً
ذَلَّتwere humbled أَعادٍenemies سِلاحُهاtheir weapon الحَسَدُenvy
ذَلَّت أَعادٍ سِلاحُها الحَسَدُ
Fear no calamity from those who envy you;
enemies whose weapon is envy are humbled.
فَلَنso never يَحُلَّwill undo الأَنامُhumankind ماwhat عَقَدَتhave bound
فَلَن يَحُلَّ الأَنامُ ما عَقَدَت
يَداكَyour two hands ماas long as دامَremain فيin القَناthe spear-shafts عُقَدُnodes
يَداكَ ما دامَ في القَنا عُقَدُ
No human being will undo what
your hands have bound, as long as spear-shafts have nodes.
أَضحَتhave become مَطاياthe mounts of المُنىhopes بِأَجمَعِهاin their entirety
أَضحَت مَطايا المُنى بِأَجمَعِها
إِلَيكَtoward you مِنfrom كُلِّevery وِجهَةٍdirection تَخِدُhasten
إِلَيكَ مِن كُلِّ وِجهَةٍ تَخِدُ
The mounts of hopes, every one of them,
now hasten toward you from every quarter.
حَيثُwhere يَحُطُّsets down الرَجاءُhope أَرحُلَهُits saddles
حَيثُ يَحُطُّ الرَجاءُ أَرحُلَهُ
مَكارِمٌnoble deeds لَمnot يُحِطencompassed بِهاthem عَدَدُany number
مَكارِمٌ لَم يُحِط بِها عَدَدُ
Where hope sets down its saddles
are noble deeds no number can encompass.
وَلَوand if دَعَوتَyou summoned المُلوكَthe kings قاطِبَةًall together
وَلَو دَعَوتَ المُلوكَ قاطِبَةً
لَأَصبَحَتthey would be دونَinstead of رُسلِهاtheir envoys تَفِدُarriving as delegates
لَأَصبَحَت دونَ رُسلِها تَفِدُ
Were you to summon all the kings,
they would arrive in place of their envoys.
أَمالَhas bent أَعناقَهاtheir necks الخُضوعُsubmission لِماbecause of what
أَمالَ أَعناقَها الخُضوعُ لِما
تَعرِفُهُthey know it مِنof سُطاكَyour might لاnot الصَيَدُwryneck
تَعرِفُهُ مِن سُطاكَ لا الصَيَدُ
Submission has bent their necks because of
the might they know in you—not a neck ailment.
لاlet them not يَدَّعواclaim النُصحَsincere loyalty بِاِعتِرافِهِمُthrough their acknowledgment
لا يَدَّعوا النُصحَ بِاِعتِرافِهِمُ
لَوif وَجَدواthey found الجَحدَdenial مُمكِناًpossible جَحَدواthey would deny
لَو وَجَدوا الجَحدَ مُمكِناً جَحَدوا
Let them not claim sincere loyalty through their acknowledgment;
if they found denial possible, they would deny.
وَكَيفَand how يَعصونَcould they disobey حينَwhen يَأمُرُهُمcommands them
وَكَيفَ يَعصونَ حينَ يَأمُرُهُم
مَلكٌa king إِذاwhen عَنَّarises ذِكرُهُhis mention سَجَدواthey prostrate themselves
مَلكٌ إِذا عَنَّ ذِكرُهُ سَجَدوا
How could they disobey when commanded by
a king at whose mere mention they prostrate themselves?
يُربيhe excels عَلىbeyond الغَيثِthe rain حينَwhen يَقتَصِدُhe is sparing
يُربي عَلى الغَيثِ حينَ يَقتَصِدُ
وَيَسبِقُand outruns الرِيحَthe wind وَهوَwhile he مُتَّئِدُis unhurried
وَيَسبِقُ الرِيحَ وَهوَ مُتَّئِدُ
He outdoes the rain even when sparing,
and outruns the wind while moving calmly.
مَنِhe who اِستَوىwere alike فيin وَغىًbattle وَفيand in قَنصٍhunting
مَنِ اِستَوى في وَغىً وَفي قَنصٍ
بِناظِرَيهِin his eyes الطِرادُmounted combat وَالطَرَدُand hunted game
بِناظِرَيهِ الطِرادُ وَالطَرَدُ
For him, in battle and in hunting,
mounted combat and hunted game are alike to his eyes.
وَجادَand gave lavishly حَتّىuntil اِنبَرَتset out مَواهِبُهُhis gifts
وَجادَ حَتّى اِنبَرَت مَواهِبُهُ
تَطلُبُseeking ذاsomeone of فاقَةٍneed فَماbut none تَجِدُthey find
تَطلُبُ ذا فاقَةٍ فَما تَجِدُ
He gave until his gifts set out
seeking someone needy, and could find none.
وَلَنand never يُساوُوهُwill they equal him فيin العُلىeminence أَبَداًever
وَلَن يُساوُوهُ في العُلى أَبَداً
هَلcan يَتَساوىbe equal الصَريحُpure milk وَالزَبَدُand froth
هَل يَتَساوى الصَريحُ وَالزَبَدُ
They will never equal him in eminence;
can pure milk and froth be equal?
تِسعَةُnine أَعشارِهاtenths of it اِستَبَدَّhe took sole possession بِهاof them
تِسعَةُ أَعشارِها اِستَبَدَّ بِها
وَعُشرُهاand its tenth فيamong بَنيthe sons of الدُنىthe worlds بَدَدُis scattered
وَعُشرُها في بَني الدُنى بَدَدُ
Nine tenths of it he has taken for himself,
and its tenth is scattered among the sons of the world.
مُبادِرُswift in البَطشِstriking وَالنَوالِand giving فَماso not
مُبادِرُ البَطشِ وَالنَوالِ فَما
يوعِدُdoes he threaten ذاone with زَلَّةٍa fault وَلاnor يَعِدُpromise
يوعِدُ ذا زَلَّةٍ وَلا يَعِدُ
Swift to strike and swift to give, he neither
threatens an offender nor makes promises.
قَدhas قَطَبَblended البِشرَcheerfulness بِالقُطوبِwith sternness كَذاjust so الthe
قَد قَطَبَ البِشرَ بِالقُطوبِ كَذا ال
صارِمُkeen sword فيهِin it الفِرِندُthe watered pattern وَالرُبَدُand dusky coloring
صارِمُ فيهِ الفِرِندُ وَالرُبَدُ
He has blended cheer with sternness, just as the
keen sword bears its watered pattern and its dusky hue.
أَعجِبmarvel بِنَفسٍat a soul ضاقَhas grown narrow الزَمانُtime بِهاfor it
أَعجِب بِنَفسٍ ضاقَ الزَمانُ بِها
مِنbecause of عِظَمٍgreatness كَيفَhow حازَهاhas contained it الجَسَدُthe body
مِن عِظَمٍ كَيفَ حازَها الجَسَدُ
Marvel at a soul for which time is too narrow—
so great it is! How could a body contain it?
مَلَكتَyou have possessed رِقَّthe servitude of الفَخارِglory ماnot مَلَكَتhas possessed
مَلَكتَ رِقَّ الفَخارِ ما مَلَكَت
عَدنانُAdnan مِعشارَهُa tenth of it وَلاnor أُدَدُUdad
عَدنانُ مِعشارَهُ وَلا أُدَدُ
You have made glory your slave; not even
Adnan possessed a tenth of it, nor Udad.
خَلَفتَyou succeeded أَجوادَهُمtheir generous men كَماas خَلَفَsucceeded الthe
خَلَفتَ أَجوادَهُم كَما خَلَفَ ال
ناعِقَcawing bird بِالبَينِof parting مُطرِبٌa tuneful singer غَرِدُwarbling
ناعِقَ بِالبَينِ مُطرِبٌ غَرِدُ
You succeeded their generous men as
a tuneful warbler succeeds the crow of parting.
وَنُبتَand took the place عَمَّنof one whose فَشَتbecame renowned شَجاعَتُهُhis courage
وَنُبتَ عَمَّن فَشَت شَجاعَتُهُ
نِيابَةَthe substitution of البيضِbright swords وَالقَناwhile the spears قِصَدُare shattered pieces
نِيابَةَ البيضِ وَالقَنا قِصَدُ
You replaced those whose courage was renowned,
as bright swords take over when spears lie shattered.
فَلَوand if رَآكَsaw you المُقَرِّظونَthe eulogists لَهُمfor them
فَلَو رَآكَ المُقَرِّظونَ لَهُم
عادواthey would return يَذُمّونَto condemn كُلَّeveryone مَنwhom حَمِدواthey praised
عادوا يَذُمّونَ كُلَّ مَن حَمِدوا
Had their eulogists seen you,
they would return to condemn everyone they had praised.
قَدindeed نُصِرَتhas been granted victory دَولَةٌa dynasty بِكَby you اِعتَضَدَتit gained strength
قَد نُصِرَت دَولَةٌ بِكَ اِعتَضَدَت
وَعَزَّand has grown mighty دينٌa faith عَلَيكَupon you يَعتَمِدُit relies
وَعَزَّ دينٌ عَلَيكَ يَعتَمِدُ
A dynasty strengthened by you has been granted victory,
and a faith that relies on you has grown mighty.
عَزمُكَyour resolve سَيفٌa sword لَدَيهِat its side مُنصَلِتٌunsheathed
عَزمُكَ سَيفٌ لَدَيهِ مُنصَلِتٌ
وَأَنتَand you تاجٌa crown عَلَيهِupon it مُنعَقِدُfastened
وَأَنتَ تاجٌ عَلَيهِ مُنعَقِدُ
Your resolve is a sword unsheathed at its side,
and you are a crown fastened upon it.
وَقَدand indeed أَبَحتَyou granted المُلوكَthe kings أَمنَهُمُtheir safety
وَقَد أَبَحتَ المُلوكَ أَمنَهُمُ
مِنَfrom الرَدىdeath ماnot عَتَواthey rebelled وَماand not عَنَدواthey showed defiance
مِنَ الرَدى ما عَتَوا وَما عَنَدوا
You have granted kings their safety
from death; they have neither rebelled nor shown defiance.
فَفيso in عِدادِthe number of الجَرادِlocusts تَبعَثُهاyou send them forth
فَفي عِدادِ الجَرادِ تَبعَثُها
جُرداًsleek steeds بِأُسدِwith lions of اللِقاءِbattle تَنجَرِدُsweeping forth
جُرداً بِأُسدِ اللِقاءِ تَنجَرِدُ
In numbers like locusts, you send them forth,
sleek steeds sweeping onward with lions of battle.
كَمhow many وارَدوكَcame with you to الرَدىdeath فَماand did not صَدَرواcome away
كَم وارَدوكَ الرَدى فَما صَدَروا
عَنهُfrom it وَلَكِنbut رُدّواwere slain كَماas وَرَدواthey arrived
عَنهُ وَلَكِن رُدّوا كَما وَرَدوا
How many joined you at death's waters and never returned
from them, but were slain the moment they arrived.
ظُبىًblades تَقُدُّsever الطُلىthroats تُؤَيِّدُهاstrengthen them
ظُبىً تَقُدُّ الطُلى تُؤَيِّدُها
عَزائِمٌresolves فيin دُجىthe darkness of الوَغىbattle تَقِدُblaze
عَزائِمٌ في دُجى الوَغى تَقِدُ
Blades that sever throats are strengthened by
resolves blazing in the darkness of battle,
وَهِمَّةٌand an ambition فيin السَماءِheaven مَسكَنُهاis its dwelling
وَهِمَّةٌ في السَماءِ مَسكَنُها
لِذاكَtherefore سُكّانُهاits inhabitants لَهاfor it مَدَدُare reinforcements
لِذاكَ سُكّانُها لَها مَدَدُ
and an ambition whose dwelling is in heaven;
thus heaven's inhabitants come to its aid.
شَمِّرgird yourself لِأَرضِfor the land of العِراقِIraq إِنَّindeed بِهاin it
شَمِّر لِأَرضِ العِراقِ إِنَّ بِها
جَمائِعاًgathered hosts فيin الحَياةِlife قَدhave زَهِدواlost interest
جَمائِعاً في الحَياةِ قَد زَهِدوا
Gird yourself for the land of Iraq, for there are
gathered hosts there who have renounced life.
تَلقَyou will find قُلوباًhearts إِلَيكَtoward you طائِرَةًflying
تَلقَ قُلوباً إِلَيكَ طائِرَةً
شَوقاًin longing وَأُخرىand others أَطارَهاsent them flying الزَأَدُterror
شَوقاً وَأُخرى أَطارَها الزَأَدُ
You will find hearts flying toward you
in longing, and others sent flying by terror.
وَاِندُبand appoint لَهاfor it فِتيَةًyoung warriors عَمائِمُهاtheir turbans
وَاِندُب لَها فِتيَةً عَمائِمُها
بَيضٌhelmets تَلالاgleaming وَقُمصُهاand their shirts زَرَدُchain mail
بَيضٌ تَلالا وَقُمصُها زَرَدُ
Appoint for it young warriors whose turbans
are glittering helmets, and whose shirts are mail.
حَشوَfilling جُيوشٍarmies إِذاwhen اِنتَحَتthey head toward بَلَداًa land
حَشوَ جُيوشٍ إِذا اِنتَحَت بَلَداً
فَقائِداهاthen their two commanders النَجاحُsuccess وَالرَشَدُand right guidance
فَقائِداها النَجاحُ وَالرَشَدُ
Filling armies that, when they march toward a land,
have success and right guidance for their two commanders.
تَشتَبِهُlook alike الدُهمُblack horses وَالوِرادُand bay horses بِهاamong them
تَشتَبِهُ الدُهمُ وَالوِرادُ بِها
لَمّاwhen كَساهاhas clothed them العَجاجُthe dust وَالنَجَدُand sweat
لَمّا كَساها العَجاجُ وَالنَجَدُ
Black horses and bay horses look alike among them,
when dust and sweat have clothed them.
فَماthere is not بِبَغدادَin Baghdad مَنanyone who يُرَوِّعُهاfrightens them
فَما بِبَغدادَ مَن يُرَوِّعُها
حَتّىuntil يَروعَfrighten الضَراغِمَthe lions النَقَدُsheep
حَتّى يَروعَ الضَراغِمَ النَقَدُ
There is no one in Baghdad who can frighten them,
until sheep can frighten lions.
فَثَمَّfor there مُلكٌa kingdom مالَتhave tilted دَعائِمُهُits pillars
فَثَمَّ مُلكٌ مالَت دَعائِمُهُ
وَعَنand after قَليلٍa little while إِلَيكَupon you يَستَنِدُit will lean
وَعَن قَليلٍ إِلَيكَ يَستَنِدُ
There is a kingdom whose pillars have tilted,
and before long it will lean upon you.
لَناwe have بِذاin this الظِلِّshade لاmay it not اِنطَوىfold away أَبَداًever
لَنا بِذا الظِلِّ لا اِنطَوى أَبَداً
دَرٌّa flow of milk غَزيرٌcopious وَعيشَةٌand a life رَغَدُof ease
دَرٌّ غَزيرٌ وَعيشَةٌ رَغَدُ
Beneath this shade—may it never fold away—we have
an abundant flow of milk and a life of ease.
بَهجَةُthe joy of أَعيادِناour festivals بَقاؤُكَyour remaining مَحstart of 'protected'
بَهجَةُ أَعيادِنا بَقاؤُكَ مَح
روساًrest of 'protected' فَبُقّيتَso may you be preserved ماas long as بَقيَremains الأَبَدُeternity
روساً فَبُقّيتَ ما بَقيَ الأَبَدُ
The joy of our festivals is your remaining
protected; may you be preserved as long as eternity endures.
بِذاfor this دَعاprayed المُحرِمونَconsecrated pilgrims مُذsince نَزَلواthey entered
بِذا دَعا المُحرِمونَ مُذ نَزَلوا
مَكَّةَMecca فيat كُلِّevery مَشهَدٍgathering شَهِدواthey attended
مَكَّةَ في كُلِّ مَشهَدٍ شَهِدوا
For this the consecrated pilgrims prayed since they entered
Mecca, at every gathering they attended.
قَدindeed سَمِعَhas heard اللَهُGod فَاِستَجابَand has answered لَهُمfor them
قَد سَمِعَ اللَهُ فَاِستَجابَ لَهُم
دُعاءَهُمtheir prayer وَالمَقامُwhile the Station مُحتَشِدُis thronged
دُعاءَهُم وَالمَقامُ مُحتَشِدُ
God has heard and answered
their prayer, while the Station is thronged.
ماnot بَلَغَhas reached الحَمدُpraise كَنهَthe full measure of ماwhat أَنتَyou موstart of 'bestowing it'
ما بَلَغَ الحَمدُ كَنهَ ما أَنتَ مو
ليهِrest of 'bestowing it' مِنَof العُرفِkindness وَهوَthough it مُجتَهِدُstrives its utmost
ليهِ مِنَ العُرفِ وَهوَ مُجتَهِدُ
Praise has not reached the full measure of what you bestow
in kindness, though it strives its utmost.
أَعيَيتَنيyou have left me unable بِالنَوالِthrough bounty عَنهُto attain it وَماand not
أَعيَيتَني بِالنَوالِ عَنهُ وَما
تُغِبُّنيvisit me intermittently مِنكَfrom you أَنعُمٌblessings جُدُدُnew
تُغِبُّني مِنكَ أَنعُمٌ جُدُدُ
Your bounty has made me unequal to such praise, and
fresh favors from you never miss a day.
جادَتthey lavished بِفَوقِmore than الغِنىsufficiency وَهاand here هِيَthey لاdo not
جادَت بِفَوقِ الغِنى وَها هِيَ لا
تُقلِعُcease فَهيَso they are الطَوارِفُnew acquisitions التُلُدُlong-held possessions
تُقلِعُ فَهيَ الطَوارِفُ التُلُدُ
They have given beyond sufficiency, and still they do not
cease: both newly acquired and long-held possessions.
لاlet not يَحسَبِsuppose الحاسِدِيَّmy enviers أَنَّهُمُthat they
لا يَحسَبِ الحاسِدِيَّ أَنَّهُمُ
بِأَنَّنيbecause I عَنكَfrom you نازِحٌam distant سَعِدواthey have prospered
بِأَنَّني عَنكَ نازِحٌ سَعِدوا
Let my enviers not suppose they have
prospered because I am far from you.
بُعديmy distance دُنُوٌّis nearness بِماthrough what أُحَبِّرُهُI fashion it beautifully
بُعدي دُنُوٌّ بِما أُحَبِّرُهُ
فيكَabout you وَغَيريwhile someone other than me دُنُوُّهُhis nearness بَعَدُis remoteness
فيكَ وَغَيري دُنُوُّهُ بَعَدُ
My distance is nearness through what I compose
about you, while another's nearness is remoteness.
وَإِنَّماand only أَنظِمُI string الفَريدَchoice pearls كَذاlike this
وَإِنَّما أَنظِمُ الفَريدَ كَذا
عِقداًas a necklace لِذاfor this الجيدِneck حينَwhen أَنفَرِدُI am alone
عِقداً لِذا الجيدِ حينَ أَنفَرِدُ
I only string choice pearls like this
into a necklace for this neck when I am alone.
بَحريmy sea مِنَof الشِعرِpoetry زاخِرٌis brimming وَبِهِand in it
بَحري مِنَ الشِعرِ زاخِرٌ وَبِهِ
جَواهِرٌjewels بِالعُقولِby minds تُنتَقَدُare assayed
جَواهِرٌ بِالعُقولِ تُنتَقَدُ
My sea of poetry is brimming, and in it
are jewels assayed by discerning minds.
فَاِسمَعso listen لِغُرٍّto radiant examples مِنَof المَحامِدِpraises لاnot
فَاِسمَع لِغُرٍّ مِنَ المَحامِدِ لا
يَفوتُهاescapes them فيin مَسيرِهاtheir journey بَلَدُany land
يَفوتُها في مَسيرِها بَلَدُ
So listen to radiant praises that
miss no land on their journey.
مُقيمَةٍdwelling فيin البِلادِthe lands ظاعِنَةٍtraveling
مُقيمَةٍ في البِلادِ ظاعِنَةٍ
مَعقولَةٍtethered وَهيَwhile they فيthroughout الدُناthe worlds شُرُدُroam free
مَعقولَةٍ وَهيَ في الدُنا شُرُدُ
Dwelling in the lands, yet ever traveling,
tethered, yet roaming free throughout the world.
تَفنىperish الأَحاديثُtales وَهيَwhile they باقِيَةٌremain
تَفنى الأَحاديثُ وَهيَ باقِيَةٌ
وَتَنطَويand fold away قَبلَbefore طَيِّهاtheir folding away المُدَدُthe ages
وَتَنطَوي قَبلَ طَيِّها المُدَدُ
Tales perish, while they remain,
and ages fold away before they are folded.
لاmay not بَلَغَتattain سُؤلَهاtheir desire عِداكَyour enemies وَلاand may not
لا بَلَغَت سُؤلَها عِداكَ وَلا
زالَcease بِهاwith them أَوuntil يُميتَهاkills them الحَسَدُenvy
زالَ بِها أَو يُميتَها الحَسَدُ
May your enemies never attain their desire, and may
envy never leave them until it kills them.
وَعِشتَand may you live ماas long as أَعقَبَsucceeds النَهارُdaylight دُجىًdarkness
وَعِشتَ ما أَعقَبَ النَهارُ دُجىً
وَدامَand continues لِليَومِfor today فيin الزَمانِtime غَدُa morrow
وَدامَ لِليَومِ في الزَمانِ غَدُ
May you live as long as day succeeds the dark,
and time still holds a morrow for today.
Sol 6.1