ماwhat ضَرَّwould harm طَيفَكَyour dream-image وَالكَرىand sleep لَوif زاراthey both visited
ما ضَرَّ طَيفَكَ وَالكَرى لَو زارا
فَعَسىso perhaps اللَياليthe nights أَنthat يَعُدنَbecome again قِصاراshort
فَعَسى اللَيالي أَن يَعُدنَ قِصارا
What harm would it do your dream-image and sleep to visit?
Your phantom visiting would not have harmed, even if the homes had been abandoned,
Perhaps the nights would then grow short again.
Perhaps the nights will return to being short.
ياO عادِلاًone just فيin حُكمِهِhis judgment وَمَزارُهُand his place of visitation
يا عادِلاً في حُكمِهِ وَمَزارُهُ
ناءٍfar away فَلَمّاthen when صارَhe became جاراًa neighbor جاراhe acted unjustly
ناءٍ فَلَمّا صارَ جاراً جارا
O you, just in your judgment, whose dwelling lies
O just one in his rule, his tomb a neighbor,
far away—yet once a neighbor, you dealt unjustly.
He was a good neighbor until he became an annoying neighbor.
لاnot أَبتَغيI seek فَوقَbeyond الخَيالِthe dream-image زِيارَةًa visit
لا أَبتَغي فَوقَ الخَيالِ زِيارَةً
حَسبيenough for me خَيالُكَyour dream-image لَوif أَنالَit granted مَزاراa visit
حَسبي خَيالُكَ لَو أَنالَ مَزارا
I seek no visit beyond the dream-image;
I do not seek a visitation above my imagination,
your image would suffice me, if it granted a visit.
It suffices that your image comes to visit.
أَأَكونُshall I be مَنone who يُهديoffers إِلَيكَto you حَياتَهُhis life
أَأَكونُ مَن يُهدي إِلَيكَ حَياتَهُ
وَأَرومُand I seek ماwhat يُهديbrings إِلَيكَto you العاراdisgrace
وَأَرومُ ما يُهدي إِلَيكَ العارا
Shall I be one who offers you his life,
Should I be one who offers you his life?
yet seek what brings you disgrace?
And I aspire to what would bring you disgrace?
وَأَماand indeed وَشُعثٍby disheveled riders فَوقَupon شُعثٍshaggy mounts رُزَّحٍexhausted
وَأَما وَشُعثٍ فَوقَ شُعثٍ رُزَّحٍ
جَعَلواthey made بُلوغَreaching المَشعَرَينِthe two sacred stations شِعاراa watchword
جَعَلوا بُلوغَ المَشعَرَينِ شِعارا
I swear by disheveled riders upon shaggy, exhausted mounts,
As for dreadlocks upon dreadlocks in dishevelment,
who made reaching the two sacred stations their watchword:
They made reaching the two holy sites their badge.
تَرَكواthey left الدِيارَtheir homes مُعَوِّلينَrelying بِمَنfor those who لَهُمbelong to them
تَرَكوا الدِيارَ مُعَوِّلينَ بِمَن لَهُم
فيهاin them عَلىupon مَنHim who يَعلَمُknows الأَسراراthe secrets
فيها عَلى مَن يَعلَمُ الأَسرارا
they left their homes, entrusting those belonging to them
They left the homes placing their trust in one,
within them to Him who knows all secrets.
Who knows their secrets, there for them.
ماnot أَحدَثَbrought about العُذّالُthe reproachers عِنديin me سَلوَةًconsolation
ما أَحدَثَ العُذّالُ عِندي سَلوَةً
بَلrather زادَنيincreased me in مَنwhoever لامَنيblamed me اِستِهتاراreckless passion
بَل زادَني مَن لامَني اِستِهتارا
The reproachers have brought me no consolation;
The blamer brought me no serenity,
rather, whoever blamed me increased my reckless passion.
But rather the one who blamed me increased my arrogance.
فَعَلىso upon التَسَلّيconsolation أَنto يَغيضَebb جَميعُهُall of it
فَعَلى التَسَلّي أَن يَغيضَ جَميعُهُ
وَعَلىand upon المَدامِعِthe tear ducts أَنto تَفيضَoverflow غِزاراcopiously
وَعَلى المَدامِعِ أَن تَفيضَ غِزارا
So let all consolation ebb away,
It is for sadness to overwhelm it all
and let my eyes overflow with copious tears.
And for tears to pour heavily.
ماnot كُلُّall ماthat أَلقىI suffer وَإِنand even if هَدَّit shatters القُوىstrength
ما كُلُّ ما أَلقى وَإِن هَدَّ القُوى
كُفُؤًequal لِخَوفيto my fear أَنthat أَرىI be seen غَدّاراfaithless
كُفُؤً لِخَوفي أَن أَرى غَدّارا
Not all I suffer, though it shatter my strength,
Not everything I undertake, even if it topples the mighty,
equals my dread of being seen as faithless.
Is equal to my fear of seeing a deceiver someday.
ياO حَبَّذاhow lovely ذاتُDhāt الأَجارِعِal-Ajāriʿ مَنزِلاًas a dwelling
يا حَبَّذا ذاتُ الأَجارِعِ مَنزِلاً
وَجِوارُناand our living as neighbors قِبَلَnear العَقيقِal-ʿAqīq جِواراas companionship
وَجِوارُنا قِبَلَ العَقيقِ جِوارا
How lovely Dhāt al-Ajāriʿ was as a dwelling,
How excellent it would be for the place of al-Ajārish to be a dwelling,
and our companionship near al-ʿAqīq!
With our proximity to al-‘Aqeeq a neighboring.
وَأَغَنَّand a nasal-voiced beloved تَحكيهِresembles him الغَزالَةُthe gazelle مُقلَةًin eye
وَأَغَنَّ تَحكيهِ الغَزالَةُ مُقلَةً
وَمُقَلَّداًand in neck وَتَعَرُّضاًand in sidelong bearing وَنِفاراand in shying away
وَمُقَلَّداً وَتَعَرُّضاً وَنِفارا
And a beloved with a nasal lilt, whom the gazelle resembles in eye,
The young gazelle's talk fascinated him utterly,
in neck, in sidelong bearing, and in skittish flight.
Both in necklaces and subtle gestures of allure.
يَفتَرُّhe parts his lips عَنrevealing بَرَدٍhailstones يُعَلُّwatered anew بِبارِدٍwith cool drops
يَفتَرُّ عَن بَرَدٍ يُعَلُّ بِبارِدٍ
مِنfrom ريقِهِhis saliva تَرَكَleft القُلوبَthe hearts حِراراburning
مِن ريقِهِ تَرَكَ القُلوبَ حِرارا
He smiles, revealing hailstones moistened anew with cool drops
The coldness of his saliva leaves hearts aflame,
of his saliva, which has left hearts burning.
His glance captivates more than wine in its intoxication.
لَمnot أَدرِI knew حينَwhen رَناhe gazed إِلَيَّat me بِطَرفِهِwith his eye
لَم أَدرِ حينَ رَنا إِلَيَّ بِطَرفِهِ
أَأَدارَdid he direct لَحظاًa glance أَمor أَدارَhe passed around عُقاراwine
أَأَدارَ لَحظاً أَم أَدارَ عُقارا
When he gazed at me with his eye, I could not tell
I did not know when he glanced at me with his eyes,
whether he had turned a glance upon me or passed around wine.
If he averted a glance or averted magic.
نَظَرٌa gaze نَظيرُthe equal of الخَمرِwine فيin إِسكارِهاits intoxicating power
نَظَرٌ نَظيرُ الخَمرِ في إِسكارِها
لَكِنَّهُbut it مِنهاthan it أَشَدُّmore severe خُماراin hangover
لَكِنَّهُ مِنها أَشَدُّ خُمارا
A gaze like wine in its power to intoxicate,
A glance like wine in its intoxication,
but harsher than wine in its hangover.
But more intoxicating than it in its effects.
قالَhe said اِسلُforget عَنabout قَصدِseeking out المُلوكِkings وَمَدحِهِمand praising them
قالَ اِسلُ عَن قَصدِ المُلوكِ وَمَدحِهِم
وَاِسأَلand ask حَوائِجَكَyour needs القَناthe spears الخَطّاراswaying
وَاِسأَل حَوائِجَكَ القَنا الخَطّارا
He said, 'Forget seeking out kings and praising them,
He said, ask about the aims of kings and praise them,
and ask the swaying spears to meet your needs.'
And ask for your needs from the fine writers.
وَأَلَحَّand he persisted يَلحىreproaching فيover الفِراقِdeparture أَخاa man of هَوىًpassion
وَأَلَحَّ يَلحى في الفِراقِ أَخا هَوىً
لَمnot يَقضِhe fulfilled مِنfrom أَحبابِهِhis beloveds أَوطاراdesires
لَم يَقضِ مِن أَحبابِهِ أَوطارا
He persisted, reproaching for his departure a man in love
And he insisted, insisting during the separation, my love-struck brother,
who had not fulfilled his desires with his beloveds.
Who did not fulfill his union with his loved ones.
فَأَجَبتُهُso I answered him لاdo not تَلحَreproach رَبَّa possessor of عَزائِمٍfirm resolves
فَأَجَبتُهُ لا تَلحَ رَبَّ عَزائِمٍ
هَجَرَhe forsook الثَواءِstaying put وَواصَلَand continued الأَسفاراjourneys
هَجَرَ الثَواءِ وَواصَلَ الأَسفارا
I answered him: 'Do not reproach a man of firm resolve
So I responded: Do not insist to the Lord of resolves,
who forsook staying put and embraced continual travel.
Who abandoned settlements and connected journeys.
فَبِهَذِهِfor through these الأَسفارِjourneys أَسفَرَdawned ليfor me غِنىًwealth
فَبِهَذِهِ الأَسفارِ أَسفَرَ لي غِنىً
لَولاwere it not for اِبنُson of يوسُفَYūsuf جانَبَit would have shunned الإِسفاراcoming to light
لَولا اِبنُ يوسُفَ جانَبَ الإِسفارا
For through these journeys wealth dawned upon me,
Through these journeys, wealth was revealed to me,
which, but for Ibn Yūsuf, would have shunned the light.
If not for the son of Joseph, I would have avoided journeying.
أَسدىhe bestowed وَماand did not أَكدىstint أَيادِيَfavors لَمhas not يَزَلceased
أَسدى وَما أَكدى أَيادِيَ لَم يَزَل
مَعروفُهاtheir kindness يَستَعبِدُenslaves الأَحراراfree men
مَعروفُها يَستَعبِدُ الأَحرارا
He bestowed, never stinting, favors whose
Asad gave though the hands of time did not cease,
kindness has ever enslaved free men,
Their favors making the free into slaves.
وَصَنائِعاًand benefactions غُرّاًradiant أَفَدنَyielded مَنائِحاًgifts
وَصَنائِعاً غُرّاً أَفَدنَ مَنائِحاً
عوناًmature وَلَدنَgave birth to مَدائِحاًpraises أَبكاراvirgin
عوناً وَلَدنَ مَدائِحاً أَبكارا
and radiant benefactions yielding gifts,
And strange, virgin inventions unveiled new glories,
mature gifts that gave birth to virgin praises.
And poetic odes birthed wondrous songs.
وَلَكَمand how often دَعاcalled for مِدَحيmy praises نَوالُthe bounty of مُمَلَّكٍa crowned ruler
وَلَكَم دَعا مِدَحي نَوالُ مُمَلَّكٍ
فَأَبَتso they refused عُتُوّاًdefiantly عَنهُfrom him وَاِستِكباراand haughtily
فَأَبَت عُتُوّاً عَنهُ وَاِستِكبارا
How often a crowned ruler's bounty called for my praises,
How often my praise called out to a supreme ruler,
yet they refused him, defiantly and haughtily,
But he arrogantly refused it and spurned it.
حَتّىuntil وَجَدتُI found لَهاfor them هُماماًa noble champion لَمhave not تَزَلceased
حَتّى وَجَدتُ لَها هُماماً لَم تَزَل
أَوصافُهُhis qualities تَستَغرِقُfill entirely الأَشعاراpoetry
أَوصافُهُ تَستَغرِقُ الأَشعارا
until I found for them a noble champion whose
Until I found rulers whose attributes,
qualities have always filled the whole compass of poetry.
Consumed poems no matter how long they flowed.
فَوَسَمتُso I emblazoned أَوجُهُهاtheir faces بِمُستَولٍwith one commanding عَلىover
فَوَسَمتُ أَوجُهُها بِمُستَولٍ عَلى
رُتَبِthe ranks of العَلاءِloftiness مَناقِباًin virtues وَنِجاراand in lineage
رُتَبِ العَلاءِ مَناقِباً وَنِجارا
So I emblazoned their faces with one who commands
I marked their faces with the sword of one who rules
the ranks of loftiness through virtues and lineage,
Over the ranks of the lofty, traits and excellences.
وَأَغَرَّand a radiant one فيin إِجمالِهِhis gracious conduct وَجَمالِهِand his beauty
وَأَغَرَّ في إِجمالِهِ وَجَمالِهِ
ماthat which يَملَأُfills الأَسماعَears وَالأَبصاراand eyes
ما يَملَأُ الأَسماعَ وَالأَبصارا
and a radiant one, in whose graciousness and beauty lies
Tempting in his perfection and beauty,
all that fills ears and eyes.
Filling hearing and sights however much.
مَلِكٌa king غَدَتhas become يُمناهُhis right hand يُمناًgood fortune لِاِمرِئٍfor a man
مَلِكٌ غَدَت يُمناهُ يُمناً لِاِمرِئٍ
يَبغيseeking نَوالاًbounty وَاليَسارُand the left hand يَساراwealth
يَبغي نَوالاً وَاليَسارُ يَسارا
A king whose right hand has become good fortune for a man
A king whose support brought prosperity to one,
seeking bounty, and whose left hand has become wealth.
Seeking bounty while the left hand gave favor.
حَلّىhe adorned الزَمانَthe age وَكانَand it was قِدماًformerly عاطِلاًunadorned
حَلّى الزَمانَ وَكانَ قِدماً عاطِلاً
وَأَعادَand turned back لَيلَthe night of الآمِلينَthe hopeful نَهاراinto day
وَأَعادَ لَيلَ الآمِلينَ نَهارا
He adorned the age, formerly bereft of ornament,
He sweetened time though it had been stagnant
and turned the hopefuls' night back into day,
And returned the night of the hopeful to day.
بِعُلىًwith glories أَقامَتthat settled لاnot تَريمُleave فِناءَهُhis courtyard
بِعُلىً أَقامَت لا تَريمُ فِناءَهُ
وَحَديثُهاand word of them بَينَamong الوَرىmankind قَدalready ساراspread
وَحَديثُها بَينَ الوَرى قَد سارا
with glories that abide, never leaving his courtyard,
With sublime pillar that does not fall to ruin,
while word of them has spread among mankind.
And its news between people has circulated.
بَلَغَتthey reached بِهِwith him رُتَباًranks فَرَعنَthat overtopped مَحَلَّةًa realm
بَلَغَت بِهِ رُتَباً فَرَعنَ مَحَلَّةً
أَمسَتbecame نُجومُthe stars of سَمائِهاits sky أَقماراmoons
أَمسَت نُجومُ سَمائِها أَقمارا
They brought him to ranks overtopping a realm
Through him stations were reached which then spread
whose stars of heaven had become moons.
Whose stars in its sky became moons.
زانَتadorned فَضائِلُهُhis virtues بَدائِعَthe wonders of نَظمِهاtheir verse
زانَت فَضائِلُهُ بَدائِعَ نَظمِها
كَمhow many مِعصَمٍa wrist أَضحىhas come to يَزينُadorn سِواراa bracelet
كَم مِعصَمٍ أَضحى يَزينُ سِوارا
His virtues adorned the wonders of their verse—
His virtues adorned the wonders of its prose,
how many a wrist has come to adorn a bracelet!
Like bracelets made more beautiful by gems.
وَلَقَدand indeed جَزَيتُI repaid الحادِثاتِmisfortunes بِماfor what جَنَتthey committed
وَلَقَد جَزَيتُ الحادِثاتِ بِما جَنَت
فَسَلَبتُهاso I stripped them of الأَنيابَthe fangs وَالأَظفاراand the claws
فَسَلَبتُها الأَنيابَ وَالأَظفارا
I have indeed repaid misfortunes for their wrongs,
I surely rewarded events with what they yielded,
stripping them of fangs and claws,
Taking away their fangs and claws.
مُذsince شِمتُI beheld أَوضَحَmore evident مِنthan حُسامٍa sword صارِمٍkeen
مُذ شِمتُ أَوضَحَ مِن حُسامٍ صارِمٍ
أَثَراًin effect وَأَحمَدَand more praiseworthy فيamong الوَرىmankind آثاراin deeds
أَثَراً وَأَحمَدَ في الوَرى آثارا
since I beheld one clearer than a keen sword
Since I perceived the clearest, sharper than an Indian sword,
in effect, and more praiseworthy among mankind in his deeds,
An impact more praised in the lands, and relics.
وَأَعَمَّand more far-reaching مِنthan كَعبِKaʿb اِبنِson of مامَةَMāmah نائِلاًin bounty
وَأَعَمَّ مِن كَعبِ اِبنِ مامَةَ نائِلاً
وَأَعَزَّand mightier مِنthan زَيدِZayd الفَوارِسِal-Fawāris جاراas a protecting neighbor
وَأَعَزَّ مِن زَيدِ الفَوارِسِ جارا
more far-reaching in bounty than Kaʿb ibn Māmah,
More comprehensive than Ka'b ibn Mama's grasp, attaining,
and mightier as a protecting neighbor than Zayd al-Fawāris,
And more honored than Zayd al-Fawaris as a neighbor.
وَمُظَفَّرَand victorious in الأَقلامِpens كَمhow often أَردىhe felled بِهاwith them
وَمُظَفَّرَ الأَقلامِ كَم أَردى بِها
مَلِكاًa king وَرَوَّعَand terrified جَحفَلاًan army جَرّاراvast and advancing
مَلِكاً وَرَوَّعَ جَحفَلاً جَرّارا
and triumphant in his pens—how often with them he felled
The pens he made victorious, how many a king they laid low
a king and terrified a vast, advancing army!
And terrified a surging, raging army.
عَجَباًhow wondrous لَهاat them تَجريflow بِأَسوَدَwith black ink فاحِمٍcoal-dark
عَجَباً لَها تَجري بِأَسوَدَ فاحِمٍ
يَكسوclothes الطُروسَthe pages ظَلامُهُits darkness أَنواراin lights
يَكسو الطُروسَ ظَلامُهُ أَنوارا
How wondrous those pens, flowing with coal-black ink,
Wondrously they run with a darkness giving off flames,
whose darkness clothes the pages in light!
Cloaking turbans, its gloom but light.
تَمضيthey penetrate بِحَيثُwhere تُرىare seen السُيوفُthe swords كَليلَةًblunt
تَمضي بِحَيثُ تُرى السُيوفُ كَليلَةً
وَتَطولُand reach far حَيثُwhere تَرىyou see الرِماحُthe spears قِصاراshort
وَتَطولُ حَيثُ تَرى الرِماحُ قِصارا
They penetrate where swords are seen to be blunt,
They advance where swords appear but flashes
and reach far where spears appear short.
And lengthen where spears seem but short.
وَتَخالُهاand you suppose them بِالظَنِّby conjecture أَغماراًnovices وَقَدand already
وَتَخالُها بِالظَنِّ أَغماراً وَقَد
مَلَأَتthey have filled صُدورَthe breasts of عُداتِهِhis enemies أَغماراwith rancor
مَلَأَت صُدورَ عُداتِهِ أَغمارا
You might suppose them novices, yet
You would think them by assumption a torrential flood,
they have filled his enemies' breasts with rancor.
Though they filled the chests of his enemies with surging tides.
تَجريflow بِواحِدِهاthrough one of them ثَلاثُthree سَحائِبٍclouds
تَجري بِواحِدِها ثَلاثُ سَحائِبٍ
تَهميpour down الصَواعِقَthunderbolts وَالحَياand rain المِدراراin torrents
تَهمي الصَواعِقَ وَالحَيا المِدرارا
Three clouds flow through a single one of them,
With just one cloud three clouds race,
pouring thunderbolts and rain in torrents.
With lightning and torrents rushing heavily.
وَيَمُدُّهُand he feeds it بِالوَصلِwith bounty حينَwhen يَمُدُّهُhe feeds it
وَيَمُدُّهُ بِالوَصلِ حينَ يَمُدُّهُ
بِبَديهَةٍwith ready inspiration لاnot تُتعِبُweary الأَفكاراthoughts
بِبَديهَةٍ لا تُتعِبُ الأَفكارا
He feeds it with bounty when he feeds it
He supports it by connection when he extends it,
with ready inspiration that does not weary thought.
With a lucidity that does not tax thoughts.
إِنif رامَseek نائِلَهُhis bounty العُفاةُthe supplicants أَمَدَّهُhe feeds it
إِن رامَ نائِلَهُ العُفاةُ أَمَدَّهُ
كَرَماًwith generosity وَإِنand if رامَseeks الخَميسُthe army مُغاراa raiding ground
كَرَماً وَإِن رامَ الخَميسُ مُغارا
If supplicants seek his bounty, he feeds it
If the disobedient desired to attain it, he gave generously,
with generosity; and if the army seeks a raiding ground,
And if the resolute desired a cave, he terrified.
مَلَأَhe fills الكِتابَthe letter تَهَدُّداًwith threats فَكَأَنَّماso as though
مَلَأَ الكِتابَ تَهَدُّداً فَكَأَنَّما
مَلَأَhe filled الكِتابَthe letter أَسِنَّةًwith spearheads وَشِفاراand blades
مَلَأَ الكِتابَ أَسِنَّةً وَشِفارا
he fills the letter with threats, as though
He filled the letter with threats yet it was as if
he filled the letter with spearheads and blades.
He filled the letter with keen blades and edges.
تَجنيgather النَواظِرُthe eyes مِنfrom مَحاسِنِthe beauties of خَطِّهِhis script
تَجني النَواظِرُ مِن مَحاسِنِ خَطِّهِ
رَوضاًa garden وَمِنand from أَلفاظِهِhis words أَزهاراblossoms
رَوضاً وَمِن أَلفاظِهِ أَزهارا
Eyes gather from the beauty of his script
Eyes reap from the beauties of his script,
a garden, and from his words blossoms.
Gardens, and from his words, blossoms.
خَطٌّa script رِماحُthe spears of الخَطِّal-Khaṭṭ مِنamong خُدّامِهِits servants
خَطٌّ رِماحُ الخَطِّ مِن خُدّامِهِ
إِنif رامَhe seeks ذَمراًexhortation أَوor أَعَزَّhe safeguards ذِماراa protected charge
إِن رامَ ذَمراً أَو أَعَزَّ ذِمارا
A script whose servants include the spears of al-Khaṭṭ,
A script whose servants are the spearheads of script,
when he seeks to spur men on or safeguards his charge.
If it wished suppression or made powerless the inkpot.
وَبَلاغَةٌand eloquence تُضحيcomes to بِأَدنىwith the slightest فَقرَةٍphrase
وَبَلاغَةٌ تُضحي بِأَدنى فَقرَةٍ
تُغنيenriches فَقيراًa pauper أَوor تَقُدُّcleaves فَقاراvertebrae
تُغني فَقيراً أَو تَقُدُّ فَقارا
And eloquence that, with the slightest phrase,
And eloquence that would sacrifice for its slightest poverty,
enriches a pauper or cleaves backbones.
Enriching the poor or guiding the lost.
وَيَشيمُand glimpse رُوّادُseekers of النَدىbounty مِنin بِشرِهِhis cheerful face
وَيَشيمُ رُوّادُ النَدى مِن بِشرِهِ
بَرقاًlightning وَمِنand from إِحسانِهِhis beneficence أَمطاراshowers
بَرقاً وَمِن إِحسانِهِ أَمطارا
Seekers of bounty glimpse in his cheerful face
The visitors of dew from his good tidings gain,
lightning, and in his beneficence showers.
Lightning and from his favor, rains.
بِشرٌa cheerful face يُبَشِّرُheralding بِالجَميلِkindness وَعادَةُand the way of الthe
بِشرٌ يُبَشِّرُ بِالجَميلِ وَعادَةُ ال
أَزهارِflowers أَنto تَتَقَدَّمَprecede الأَثماراfruits
أَزهارِ أَن تَتَقَدَّمَ الأَثمارا
A cheerful face heralding kindness; it is the way of the
Good tidings giving glad tidings of beauty, and the way
flowers to precede the fruits.
Of flowers is to precede fruits.
وَنَدىًand bounty يَعُمُّembraces all وَلاand not يَخُصُّsingles out كَأَنَّهُas though it were
وَنَدىً يَعُمُّ وَلا يَخُصُّ كَأَنَّهُ
هاميpouring قُطارٍrainfall طَبَّقَcovered الأَقطاراthe regions
هامي قُطارٍ طَبَّقَ الأَقطارا
And bounty that embraces all, not just some, as though it were
And a bounty encompassing not specific, as if it were,
pouring rain that covers every region.
Clouds pouring across regions and lands.
يَستَصغِرُhe deems small الأَمرَthe matter العَظيمَgreat إِذاwhen عَراit befalls
يَستَصغِرُ الأَمرَ العَظيمَ إِذا عَرا
بِعَزيمَةٍwith a resolve تَستَسهِلُthat finds easy الأَوعاراrugged paths
بِعَزيمَةٍ تَستَسهِلُ الأَوعارا
He deems a mighty matter small when it befalls him,
He makes the great matter small when it comes to him,
with a resolve that finds rugged paths easy.
With a resolve making obstacles smooth.
وَيَرُدُّand he turns back غَربَthe sharp edge of الحادِثاتِmisfortunes مُفَلَّلاًblunted
وَيَرُدُّ غَربَ الحادِثاتِ مُفَلَّلاً
بِسَعادَةٍwith good fortune تَستَخدِمُthat makes servants of الأَقداراthe fates
بِسَعادَةٍ تَستَخدِمُ الأَقدارا
He turns back the edge of misfortunes, blunted,
He returns the setting of tribulations in triumph,
with good fortune that makes the fates its servants.
With a fortune that harnesses the decrees of fate.
كَمhow often ذَلَّلَتit has tamed صَعباًthe difficult وَرَدَّتand restored ذاهِباًthe lost
كَم ذَلَّلَت صَعباً وَرَدَّت ذاهِباً
وَحَمَتand protected أَذَلَّthe most abased وَذَلَّلَتand humbled جَبّاراa tyrant
وَحَمَت أَذَلَّ وَذَلَّلَت جَبّارا
How often it has tamed the difficult and restored the lost,
How many a difficult thing it subjugated, and returned a receding one,
protected the most abased and humbled a tyrant!
It protected the disgraced and disgraced the tyrant.
وَيَخِفُّand he hastens نَحوَtoward الجودِgenerosity إِلّاexcept أَنَّهُthat he
وَيَخِفُّ نَحوَ الجودِ إِلّا أَنَّهُ
يوفيsurpasses عَلىabove شُمِّlofty الجِبالِthe mountains وَقاراin gravity
يوفي عَلى شُمِّ الجِبالِ وَقارا
He hastens lightly toward generosity, yet
Except it leans to generosity with the composure,
surpasses the lofty mountains in gravity.
Of mountains, and its reason fears no dignity.
وَلَهُand he has وَجُردُwhile the sleek الخَيلِhorses تَعثُرُstumble بِالقَناover spears
وَلَهُ وَجُردُ الخَيلِ تَعثُرُ بِالقَنا
وَالهامِand skulls رَأيٌa judgment لاnot يَخافُfears وَقاراa hindrance
وَالهامِ رَأيٌ لا يَخافُ وَقارا
And while sleek horses stumble over spears
I came to know people by their dispositions,
and skulls, his judgment fears no hindrance.
"Glory to Him who created creation in diversity."
وَلَقَدand indeed عَرَفتُI have known الناسَpeople مِنby أَطوارِهِمtheir ways
وَلَقَد عَرَفتُ الناسَ مِن أَطوارِهِم
سُبحانَglory to مَنHim who خَلَقَcreated الوَرىmankind أَطواراin varied forms
سُبحانَ مَن خَلَقَ الوَرى أَطوارا
I have indeed known people by their ways—
I found them varying though created alike,
glory to Him who created mankind in varied forms!
And in their creation and end, differing.
فَوَجَدتُهُمso I found them يَتَبايَنونَdiffering وَإِنand though غَدَواthey have become
فَوَجَدتُهُم يَتَبايَنونَ وَإِن غَدَوا
فيin خَلقِهِمtheir creation وَفَنائِهِمand their passing away أَنظاراequals
في خَلقِهِم وَفَنائِهِم أَنظارا
I found them differing, though they are
O you whom by your giving I knew the face of wealth,
equals in their creation and their passing away.
Truly, though I had rejected it in denial.
ياO مَنyou who عَرَفتُI came to know بِجودِهِthrough his generosity وَجهَthe face of الغِنىwealth
يا مَن عَرَفتُ بِجودِهِ وَجهَ الغِنى
حَقّاًtruly وَكُنتُand I had been جَهِلتُهُignorant of it إِنكاراin denial
حَقّاً وَكُنتُ جَهِلتُهُ إِنكارا
O you through whose generosity I knew the face of wealth
Since you expanded for me the paths of attainment,
truly, though once I knew it not and denied it.
And made it so hopes could choose.
أَمّاnow وَقَدand already وَسَّعتَyou widened ليfor me طُرُقَthe paths of المُنىwishes
أَمّا وَقَد وَسَّعتَ لي طُرُقَ المُنى
وَجَعَلتَand you allowed لِلآمالِto hopes أَنto تَختاراchoose
وَجَعَلتَ لِلآمالِ أَن تَختارا
Now that you have widened for me the paths of wishes
And inundated me with continuous gifts,
and given my hopes the freedom to choose,
Leaving me before events no vengeance.
وَغَمَرتَنيand you overwhelmed me بِمَواهِبٍwith gifts مَوصولَةٍuninterrupted
وَغَمَرتَني بِمَواهِبٍ مَوصولَةٍ
لَمnot تُبقِleft ليfor me عِندَagainst الحَوادِثِmisfortunes ثاراa claim for vengeance
لَم تُبقِ لي عِندَ الحَوادِثِ ثارا
and overwhelmed me with uninterrupted gifts
Then will I perpetuate praising you,
that left me no revenge to exact from misfortunes,
As legacies and relics relate one after another.
فَلَأُبقِيَنَّso I shall surely leave behind مِنَof الثَناءِpraise عَلَيكَof you ماthat which
فَلَأُبقِيَنَّ مِنَ الثَناءِ عَلَيكَ ما
يَتَعَقَّبُfollows after الآثارُthe deeds وَالأَخباراand the accounts
يَتَعَقَّبُ الآثارُ وَالأَخبارا
I shall surely leave behind such praise of you
How many gone whose relics chronicled them,
as will follow your deeds and the accounts of them.
When their lifespans expired after eras.
كَمhow many ذاهِبٍa departed man عَمَرَتhave lived on لَهُfor him أَخبارُهُhis stories
كَم ذاهِبٍ عَمَرَت لَهُ أَخبارُهُ
لَمّاwhen تَقَضّىended عُمرُهُhis lifetime أَعماراfor lifetimes
لَمّا تَقَضّى عُمرُهُ أَعمارا
How many a departed man's stories have lived on for him,
Indeed the minister saw accumulated afflictions,
once his own lifetime ended, through many lifetimes!
So he chose you to dispel them.
إِنَّindeed الوَزيرَthe vizier رَأىsaw النَوائِبَcalamities جَمَّةًabundant
إِنَّ الوَزيرَ رَأى النَوائِبَ جَمَّةً
فَاِختارَso he chose مِنكَin you لِدَفعِهاto repel them مُختاراa chosen man
فَاِختارَ مِنكَ لِدَفعِها مُختارا
The vizier saw calamities in abundance,
You turned them away forcibly by your resolve
and chose in you a chosen man to ward them off.
Which would not accept less than the highest rank.
فَصَرَفتَهاso you drove them away قَسراًby force بِهِمَّتِكَwith your ambition الَّتيwhich
فَصَرَفتَها قَسراً بِهِمَّتِكَ الَّتي
لَمnot تَرضَwould accept ماwhat is دونَbelow المَجَرَّةِthe Milky Way داراas a dwelling
لَم تَرضَ ما دونَ المَجَرَّةِ دارا
You drove them off by force, with an ambition that
The enemies were unable to spur their steeds
would accept no dwelling below the Milky Way.
For fear of your vengeance turning Syria’s soil to dust.
وَعَدىand kept back الأَعادِيَthe enemies أَنfrom تُثيرَstirring up جِيادُهُمtheir steeds
وَعَدى الأَعادِيَ أَن تُثيرَ جِيادُهُم
خَوفَfear of اِنتِقامِكَyour vengeance بِالشَآمِin al-Shām غُباراdust
خَوفَ اِنتِقامِكَ بِالشَآمِ غُبارا
And what kept the enemies' steeds from stirring up
You took their long-standing glory by determination,
dust in al-Shām was fear of your vengeance.
As if that glory had been borrowed.
وَسَلَبتَهُمand you stripped them of بِالعَزمِthrough resolve تالِدَinherited عِزِّهِمtheir might
وَسَلَبتَهُم بِالعَزمِ تالِدَ عِزِّهِم
فَكَأَنَّso as though ذاكَthat العِزَّmight كانَwas مُعاراlent
فَكَأَنَّ ذاكَ العِزَّ كانَ مُعارا
Through resolve you stripped them of their inherited might,
You gave life to Syria after its fall,
as though that might had only been lent to them.
Until its horizons became settled lands.
وَعَمَرتَand you revived هَذاthis الشامَal-Shām بَعدَafter دُثورِهِits desolation
وَعَمَرتَ هَذا الشامَ بَعدَ دُثورِهِ
حَتّىuntil غَدَتbecame أَطرافُهُits outlying regions أَمصاراcities
حَتّى غَدَت أَطرافُهُ أَمصارا
And you revived this land of al-Shām after its desolation,
You did not ward off the torrents from its inhabitants,
until its outlying regions became cities.
Until you met harm and waded into the flood.
لَمnot تَدفَعِyou averted الغَمَراتِoverwhelming perils عَنfrom سُكّانِهِits inhabitants
لَم تَدفَعِ الغَمَراتِ عَن سُكّانِهِ
حَتّىuntil لَقيتَyou encountered أَذىًharm وَخُضتَand waded into غِماراdangerous depths
حَتّى لَقيتَ أَذىً وَخُضتَ غِمارا
You did not avert overwhelming perils from its inhabitants
You risked the precious soul in the heights,
until you endured harm and waded through dangerous depths.
Taking responsibility for revenue and expenditure.
وَسَمَحتَand you gave freely بِالنَفسِof your life النَفيسَةِprecious فيin pursuing العُلىgreatness
وَسَمَحتَ بِالنَفسِ النَفيسَةِ في العُلى
تَستَحمِدُseeking praise for الإيرادَadvance وَالإِصداراand withdrawal
تَستَحمِدُ الإيرادَ وَالإِصدارا
You freely offered your precious life in pursuit of greatness,
O rider of dangers, knowing them,
seeking praise in advancing and withdrawing.
You attained the highest rank of dangers.
ياO راكِبَrider of الأَخطارِdangers عَنwith عِلمٍknowledge بِهاof them
يا راكِبَ الأَخطارِ عَن عِلمٍ بِها
أَدرَكتَyou attained أَعلىthe highest رُتبَةٍrank أَخطاراin worth
أَدرَكتَ أَعلى رُتبَةٍ أَخطارا
O you who ride into dangers knowing them well,
Do not ask the resolves to strain themselves,
you have attained the highest rank in worth.
You have gone until you found no way.
لاdo not تَطلُبَنَّdemand مِنَfrom العَزائِمِresolves جَهدَهاtheir utmost effort
لا تَطلُبَنَّ مِنَ العَزائِمِ جَهدَها
قَدalready سِرتَyou have traveled حَتّىuntil ماnot وَجَدتَyou found مَساراa path
قَد سِرتَ حَتّى ما وَجَدتَ مَسارا
Do not demand the utmost effort of your resolves:
Consider the inhabitants of the lands forbidden territory,
you have traveled until no path remains to travel.
Thwarting harm though it benefits the wicked.
عُدreturn آهِلَwell peopled الأَرجاءِin its domains مَمنوعَprotected الحِمىin sanctuary
عُد آهِلَ الأَرجاءِ مَمنوعَ الحِمى
جَمَّrich in المَساعيendeavors نافِعاًbeneficial ضَرّاراharm-dealing
جَمَّ المَساعي نافِعاً ضَرّارا
Return, your domains well peopled and your sanctuary guarded,
And surrender to the days, fasting most purely
rich in endeavors, bringing benefit and dealing harm.
In a fast, and break it most fortunately.
وَاِسلَمand remain safe عَلىthrough الأَيّامِthe days أَزكىthe purest صائِمٍfaster
وَاِسلَم عَلى الأَيّامِ أَزكى صائِمٍ
صَوماًin fasting وَأَسعَدَand the most fortunate مُفطِرٍfast-breaker إِفطاراin breaking the fast
صَوماً وَأَسعَدَ مُفطِرٍ إِفطارا
And remain safe through the days, the purest of fasters
in fasting, and the most fortunate in breaking the fast.
Partial English translation: 136 of 138 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1