يَطمَعُ الناسُ في البَقاءِ وَتابى

يَطمَعُ الناسُ في البَقاءِ وَتابى

نُوَبٌ تَسلُبَ النُفَوسَ اِغتِصابا

نُوَبٌ تَسلُبَ النُفَوسَ اِغتِصابا

People hope to endure, but are denied

People hope for longevity, yet fate brings

by calamities that seize souls by force.

Misfortunes that seize souls by force.

وَمَتى تَرعَوي حَوادِثُ دَهرٍ

وَمَتى تَرعَوي حَوادِثُ دَهرٍ

دَأبُها أَن تُفَرِّقَ الأَحبابا

دَأبُها أَن تُفَرِّقَ الأَحبابا

And when will the calamities of time relent,

And when the vicissitudes of fate pasture,

whose habit is to part loved ones?

Their habit is to separate loved ones.

يَذهَبُ اللَومُ وَالعِتابُ هَباءً

يَذهَبُ اللَومُ وَالعِتابُ هَباءً

في خُطوبٍ لا تَعرِفُ الإِعتابا

في خُطوبٍ لا تَعرِفُ الإِعتابا

Blame and reproach vanish like dust

Blame and reproach disappear into thin air

amid disasters that know no making amends.

In catastrophes that know no remorse.

غِيَرٌ لَو نَحَت غُراباً إِذاً شا

غِيَرٌ لَو نَحَت غُراباً إِذاً شا

بَ وَلَو صافَحَت حَديداً لَذابا

بَ وَلَو صافَحَت حَديداً لَذابا

Reversals that, if they approached a raven, would turn it

Another, if he carved a raven, became

gray; and if they clasped iron, it would melt.

A genius, and if he shook hands with iron, it would melt.

وَإِذا ماسَطَت فَمَن ذا يُداجى

وَإِذا ماسَطَت فَمَن ذا يُداجى

مِن جَميعِ الأَنامِ أَم مَن يُحابا

مِن جَميعِ الأَنامِ أَم مَن يُحابا

And when they grapple, who is humored

And when she extends her hand, who can be sought

among all mankind, or shown favor?

Among all people, or who would be loved?

لَو يَهابُ الرَدى لَنَكَّبَ مَحُمو

لَو يَهابُ الرَدى لَنَكَّبَ مَحُمو

داً وَلَكِنَّ صَرفَهُ لَن يَهابا

داً وَلَكِنَّ صَرفَهُ لَن يَهابا

If death knew fear, it would have shunned Mahmud;

If the return to dust were feared, Muhammad

but its onslaught will never know fear.

Would have recoiled, but his destiny he did not fear.

عَمَّ نَصراً وَصالِحاً وَمَنيعاً

عَمَّ نَصراً وَصالِحاً وَمَنيعاً

وَشَبيباً وَلَم يَهَب وَثّابا

وَشَبيباً وَلَم يَهَب وَثّابا

It overwhelmed Nasr, Salih, and Maniʿ,

It encompassed Nasr, Salih, Mani' and

and Shabib, and did not fear Waththab.

Shabib and did not spare or reward.

أَينَ تِلكَ الأَملاكُ زادوا عَلى الخَل

أَينَ تِلكَ الأَملاكُ زادوا عَلى الخَل

قِ وَزانوا الأَحسابَ وَالأَنسابا

قِ وَزانوا الأَحسابَ وَالأَنسابا

Where are those kings who surpassed mankind

Where are those angels whose number exceeded

and adorned ancestral honor and lineage?

Mankind, and who calculated lineage and ancestry?

إِن دَعاهُم إِلى الكَريهَةِ داعٍ

إِن دَعاهُم إِلى الكَريهَةِ داعٍ

جَعَلوا الطَعنَ وَالضِرابَ جَوابا

جَعَلوا الطَعنَ وَالضِرابَ جَوابا

If a caller summoned them to battle,

If someone called them to battle,

they made spear-thrusts and sword-blows their answer.

They made spears and swords their response.

وَلَقوا الحَربَ دارِعينَ مِنَ الصَب

وَلَقوا الحَربَ دارِعينَ مِنَ الصَب

رِ دُروعاً لَيسَت تَحُلُّ العِيابا

رِ دُروعاً لَيسَت تَحُلُّ العِيابا

And they faced war armored in patience,

And they met war, blocking with the armor

in armor never stowed in clothing chests.

Of patience, armor that defies reproach.

نَزَلوا مُكرَهينَ عَن ذِروَةِ العِز

نَزَلوا مُكرَهينَ عَن ذِروَةِ العِز

زِ وَكانوا قِدماً لَهُ أَربابا

زِ وَكانوا قِدماً لَهُ أَربابا

They were forced down from the summit of glory,

They came down unwillingly from the peak of glory

though they had long been its lords.

And had been lords over it.

فَكَأَن لَم يُصاقِبوا أَرضَ حَرّا

فَكَأَن لَم يُصاقِبوا أَرضَ حَرّا

نَ وَلا حَلَّ حَيُّهُم جُلّابا

نَ وَلا حَلَّ حَيُّهُم جُلّابا

As though they had never neighbored the land of Harran,

So it is as if they never dwelt on the hot sands of Harrān

nor their clan ever settled in Jullab.

Nor pitched their tents on its plains.

قَصَدَتهُم بِوائِقُ الدَهرِ حَتّى

قَصَدَتهُم بِوائِقُ الدَهرِ حَتّى

أَسكَنَتهُم بَعدَ القُصورِ التُرابا

أَسكَنَتهُم بَعدَ القُصورِ التُرابا

Time's calamities sought them out until

The vicissitudes of fate sought them out until

they lodged them, after palaces, in the dust.

It settled them in dust after palaces.

وَاِستَزادَت أَبا سَلامَةَ لَمّا

وَاِستَزادَت أَبا سَلامَةَ لَمّا

تَمَّ مُلكاً وَقُدرَةً وَشَبابا

تَمَّ مُلكاً وَقُدرَةً وَشَبابا

And they claimed Abu Salama as well, when

And it exceeded Abu Salamah when

he reached his height in kingship, power, and youth.

His kingdom, power and youth were complete.

حادِثٌ عَمَّ عامِراً بِالرَزايا

حادِثٌ عَمَّ عامِراً بِالرَزايا

فَاِستَكانَت لَهُ وَخَصَّ كِلابا

فَاِستَكانَت لَهُ وَخَصَّ كِلابا

A calamity overwhelmed ʿAmir with afflictions;

An event that afflicted 'Amir with misfortunes

so ʿAmir bowed before it, and it singled out Kilab.

So he submitted to it and it singled him out.

إِنَّ رَيبَ المَنونِ أَلوى بِمَلكٍ

إِنَّ رَيبَ المَنونِ أَلوى بِمَلكٍ

لَو رَماهُ غَيرُ الرَدى ما أَصابا

لَو رَماهُ غَيرُ الرَدى ما أَصابا

Indeed, the ravages of death carried off a king

Indeed the stroke of death twisted a kingdom;

whom any assailant other than death would have missed.

Had fate not cast it, it would not have hit its mark.

لَم يُغالِب قَضاءَ ذي العَرشِ إِذ وا

لَم يُغالِب قَضاءَ ذي العَرشِ إِذ وا

فى وَمازالَ لِلعِدى غَلّابا

فى وَمازالَ لِلعِدى غَلّابا

He did not contend with the decree of the Lord of the Throne when it came,

He did not overcome the decree of the Owner of the Throne when he came,

though he had always triumphed over his foes.

And he remained victorious over the enemy.

لا يَخافُ الأَملاكَ مُذ فارَقَ المَه

لا يَخافُ الأَملاكَ مُذ فارَقَ المَه

دَ وَهَل تَرهَبُ الأُسودُ الذِئابا

دَ وَهَل تَرهَبُ الأُسودُ الذِئابا

He feared no kings from the time he left the cradle—

He does not fear angels since he left the cradle;

do lions ever fear wolves?

Do lions fear jackals?

مِن أُناسٍ تَوارَثوا البَأسَ وَالنَخ

مِن أُناسٍ تَوارَثوا البَأسَ وَالنَخ

وَةَ وَاِستَحقَبوا العُلى أَحقابا

وَةَ وَاِستَحقَبوا العُلى أَحقابا

He was of a people who inherited valor and proud spirit,

They are people who inherited valor and

and carried lofty honor through age after age.

Sternness and considered supremacy their right.

تَرَكوا لِلوَرى الوِهادَ مِنَ العِز

تَرَكوا لِلوَرى الوِهادَ مِنَ العِز

زِ وَحَلّوا مِنهُ الرُبى وَالهِضابا

زِ وَحَلّوا مِنهُ الرُبى وَالهِضابا

They left mankind the lowlands of glory,

They left glorious power to the world

and dwelt upon its hills and plateaus.

And they extracted its pure honey and plateau.

لَهفَ نَفسي عَلى المُسافِرِ لا يَر

لَهفَ نَفسي عَلى المُسافِرِ لا يَر

جو لَهُ طالِبُ النَوالِ إِيابا

جو لَهُ طالِبُ النَوالِ إِيابا

My soul grieves for the traveler;

My soul yearns for the traveller who

no seeker of bounty hopes for his return.

The seeker of bounty does not hope will return.

أَكرَمُ العالَمينَ نَفساً وَأَخلا

أَكرَمُ العالَمينَ نَفساً وَأَخلا

قاً وَأُمّاً وَوالدِاً وَنِصابا

قاً وَأُمّاً وَوالدِاً وَنِصابا

The noblest of all people in soul and character,

The most generous of both worlds in self and

in mother, father, and stock.

Character, mother, father and companion.

كانَ في ذا الورى غَريباً وَوافى

كانَ في ذا الورى غَريباً وَوافى

قَدَرٌ لَم يَزِدهُ إِلّا اِغتِرابا

قَدَرٌ لَم يَزِدهُ إِلّا اِغتِرابا

He was a stranger among these people, and there came

He was a stranger in this world and destiny

a fate that only deepened his estrangement.

Met him in a way that only increased his estrangement.

يَكرَهُ الوَعدَ وَالمِطالَ فَتَنثا

يَكرَهُ الوَعدَ وَالمِطالَ فَتَنثا

لُ يَداهُ بِالمَكرُماتِ اِقتِضابا

لُ يَداهُ بِالمَكرُماتِ اِقتِضابا

He hated promises and delay, so there poured

He dislikes promises and waiting, so his hands quickly

from his hands generous deeds, without ado.

Give generously and concisely.

جازَ حَدَّ النَدى وَآمَن سِربي

جازَ حَدَّ النَدى وَآمَن سِربي

فَكَفى أَن أَرتادَ أَو أَرتابا

فَكَفى أَن أَرتادَ أَو أَرتابا

He exceeded the bounds of generosity and kept me safe,

He exceeded the limit of generosity and secured my companionship

sparing me the need to seek sustenance or feel doubt.

So it is enough that I frequent him or doubt.

عَقَلَتني في ظِلِّهِ فَعَلاتٌ

عَقَلَتني في ظِلِّهِ فَعَلاتٌ

تَمنَعُ الإِنتِجاعَ وَالإِضطِرابا

تَمنَعُ الإِنتِجاعَ وَالإِضطِرابا

His deeds tethered me beneath his shade,

My mind flourished in his shadow, so I have sublime thoughts

keeping me from seeking fresh pasture or wandering.

That prevent regression and agitation.

بَينَ جودٍ يَسيرُهُ يَطرُدُ الفَق

بَينَ جودٍ يَسيرُهُ يَطرُدُ الفَق

رَ وَقُربى تُعَلِّمُ الآدابا

رَ وَقُربى تُعَلِّمُ الآدابا

Amid generosity whose least measure banishes poverty,

Between generosity, which his travel drives away poverty,

and closeness that teaches good manners,

And relatives whom he teaches manners,

وَعَطايا لَمّا تَعالَمَها العا

وَعَطايا لَمّا تَعالَمَها العا

لَمُ لَم يُنكِروا لِبَحرٍ عُبابا

لَمُ لَم يُنكِروا لِبَحرٍ عُبابا

and gifts: once the world had learned of them,

And gifts – when the world learned of them

none found a sea's swelling flood strange.

It did not deny the sea has waves.

وَكَساني مَلابِساً أَلبَسَتني

وَكَساني مَلابِساً أَلبَسَتني

مُذ تَوارى مِنَ الأَسى جِلبابا

مُذ تَوارى مِنَ الأَسى جِلبابا

And he clothed me in garments that have clad me,

And he clothed me in garments that dressed me

since he vanished, in a cloak of sorrow.

Since the mantle of sorrow disappeared from me.

يا اِبنَةَ الأَكرَمينَ قَدرُكِ في النا

يا اِبنَةَ الأَكرَمينَ قَدرُكِ في النا

سِ عَظيمٌ وَإِن عَظُمتِ مُصابا

سِ عَظيمٌ وَإِن عَظُمتِ مُصابا

O daughter of the noblest, your standing among people

O daughter of the most generous, your status among people is great

is great, though your affliction is great as well.

Even if your calamity is momentous.

فَاِستَرَدَّ الوَهّابُ ما كانَ أَعطا

فَاِستَرَدَّ الوَهّابُ ما كانَ أَعطا

كِ وَمَن ذا يُنازِعُ الوَهّابا

كِ وَمَن ذا يُنازِعُ الوَهّابا

So the Bestower reclaimed what He once gave

The Giver took back what He had given you

you; and who can contend with the Bestower?

And who can dispute with the Giver?

لَم تَسودي ذا الخَلقَ إِلّا بِفَضلٍ

لَم تَسودي ذا الخَلقَ إِلّا بِفَضلٍ

فُقتِ فيهِ الأَشكالَ وَالأَضرابا

فُقتِ فيهِ الأَشكالَ وَالأَضرابا

You became foremost among these people only through merit,

You did not darken existence except by superior virtue

in which you surpassed your equals and peers.

In which forms and doubts disappear.

فَدَعي رَأيَ أُمَّةٍ لَستِ مِنهُم

فَدَعي رَأيَ أُمَّةٍ لَستِ مِنهُم

وَاِفعَلي فِعلَ مَن تَخافُ الحِسابا

وَاِفعَلي فِعلَ مَن تَخافُ الحِسابا

So leave the counsel of a community you do not belong to,

So ignore the opinion of a nation you are not from

and act as one who fears the Reckoning.

And act like one who fears the Reckoning.

وَتَأَسَّي بِرَأيِ داوُدَ في الفِت

وَتَأَسَّي بِرَأيِ داوُدَ في الفِت

نَةِ إِذ خَرَّ راكِعاً وَأَنابا

نَةِ إِذ خَرَّ راكِعاً وَأَنابا

And follow David's example in the trial,

And be consoled by David’s view during turmoil,

when he fell kneeling and repented.

When he fell kneeling and repented.

لا تُعاصي مَولاكِ فيما قَضاهُ

لا تُعاصي مَولاكِ فيما قَضاهُ

وَذَري الحُزنَ إِن أَرَدتِ الثَوابا

وَذَري الحُزنَ إِن أَرَدتِ الثَوابا

Do not disobey your Lord in what He has decreed,

Do not disobey your Master in what He decreed,

and leave sorrow behind if you seek reward.

And neglect sorrow if you desire reward.

قَدَرُ اللَهِ لا يُدافَعُ إِن حُم

قَدَرُ اللَهِ لا يُدافَعُ إِن حُم

مَ فَصَبراً لِحُكمِهِ وَاِحتِسابا

مَ فَصَبراً لِحُكمِهِ وَاِحتِسابا

God's decree cannot be resisted once ordained;

The decree of God cannot be challenged if it descends

so bear His judgment patiently, seeking His reward.

So be patient with His judgement and seek reward.

أَيُّ عُذرٍ وَقَد أَحَطتِ بِصَرفِ ال

أَيُّ عُذرٍ وَقَد أَحَطتِ بِصَرفِ ال

دَهرِ عِلماً وَقَد دَرَستِ الكِتابا

دَهرِ عِلماً وَقَد دَرَستِ الكِتابا

What excuse have you, knowing time's vicissitudes

What excuse, when you comprehended fate’s machinations,

thoroughly, and having studied the Book?

And studied the Scripture thoroughly?

وَحَقيقٌ بِالصَبرِ مَن لَزِمَ المُص

وَحَقيقٌ بِالصَبرِ مَن لَزِمَ المُص

حَفَ ديناً وَواصَلَ المِحرابا

حَفَ ديناً وَواصَلَ المِحرابا

And patience befits one who keeps to the Qur'an

It befits one who holds fast to the Scripture

in devotion and frequents the prayer niche.

As religion and frequents the prayer niche to be patient.

وَلِعُذرٍ تَأَخَّرَت هَذِهِ الخِد

وَلِعُذرٍ تَأَخَّرَت هَذِهِ الخِد

مَةُ لا أَنَّني عَدِمتُ الصَوابا

مَةُ لا أَنَّني عَدِمتُ الصَوابا

For a reason this tribute was delayed,

For some excuse this service was delayed

not because I lacked sound judgment.

Not because I lacked propriety.

نابَتِ العَينُ بِالبُكاءِ وَأُفحِم

نابَتِ العَينُ بِالبُكاءِ وَأُفحِم

تُ فَما أَحسَنَ اللِسانُ المَنابا

تُ فَما أَحسَنَ اللِسانُ المَنابا

My eye stood in for me through tears, and I was struck dumb;

My eyes flowed with tears and my mouth was silenced

my tongue could not serve well in my stead.

So how excellent is the repenting tongue!

زالَ لُبّي في عِلَّةٍ جَمَعَت لي

زالَ لُبّي في عِلَّةٍ جَمَعَت لي

فَقدَ تاجِ المُلوكِ وَالأَوصابا

فَقدَ تاجِ المُلوكِ وَالأَوصابا

My reason left me in an illness that combined for me

My heartache persists in an illness that gathered

the loss of the crown of kings and bodily suffering.

The loss of the monarch and leaders for me.

لَيتَني لَم أُفِق فَقَد جاءَ مِن فَق

لَيتَني لَم أُفِق فَقَد جاءَ مِن فَق

ديهِ ما سَهَّلَ الحِمامَ فَطابا

ديهِ ما سَهَّلَ الحِمامَ فَطابا

Would that I had not recovered! From my loss of him came

Would that I had not regained consciousness, for what his loss

what made death easy, even sweet.

Brought made life easier and more pleasant.

لا يُوازي مِعشار ماكانَ يولي

لا يُوازي مِعشار ماكانَ يولي

قَطعِيَ العُمرَ حَسرَةً وَاِكتِئابا

قَطعِيَ العُمرَ حَسرَةً وَاِكتِئابا

Not even a tenth of what he used to bestow is matched

It does not equal a tenth of what he used to

by my spending a lifetime in grief and dejection.

Make my life bitter with grief and depression.

سَرَّني حاضِراً وَأَدنى وَأَغنى

سَرَّني حاضِراً وَأَدنى وَأَغنى

فَعَدِمتُ السُرورَ لَمّا غابا

فَعَدِمتُ السُرورَ لَمّا غابا

He delighted me in his presence, drew me close, and enriched me;

He brought me joy when present, and denied and enriched me,

so I lost joy when he was gone.

So I lost happiness when he was absent.

وَبِرَغمي أَن أَجعَلَ المَدحَ تَأبِي

وَبِرَغمي أَن أَجعَلَ المَدحَ تَأبِي

ناً وَأَدعو مَن لَو وَعى لَأَجابا

ناً وَأَدعو مَن لَو وَعى لَأَجابا

Against my will, I turn praise into an elegy,

And despite myself, I refuse to make praise unpleasant

and call to one who, if he heard, would answer.

And call one who, if he understood, would answer

بِمَقالٍ لا أَستَزيدُ بِهِ زُل

بِمَقالٍ لا أَستَزيدُ بِهِ زُل

فى وَلا أَبتَغي عَلَيهِ ثَوابا

فى وَلا أَبتَغي عَلَيهِ ثَوابا

with words through which I seek no greater closeness,

With words whose utterance I do not consider

nor ask any reward for them.

Presumptuous, nor for which do I seek reward –

سائِرٍ لا يَزالُ يَشكُرُ نُعما

سائِرٍ لا يَزالُ يَشكُرُ نُعما

هُ كَما تَشكُرُ الرِياضُ السَحابا

هُ كَما تَشكُرُ الرِياضُ السَحابا

Words that travel far, ever thanking his bounty,

A traveller who never ceases to thank

as gardens thank the clouds.

His blessings, just as meadows thank the rainclouds.