خطَبْتَyou courted المجدَglory بالأسَلِwith spears العَواليlofty
خطَبْتَ المجدَ بالأسَلِ العَوالي
ففُزْتَso you won بوصْلِthrough union with أبكارِthe virgins of المَعاليhigh honors
ففُزْتَ بوصْلِ أبكارِ المَعالي
You courted glory with lofty spears,
You sought glory with lofty determination,
and won union with the virgin heights of honor.
So you attained the pinnacle of grandeur.
وحاولْتَand you sought العُلاgreatness فلذِذْتَso you delighted منهاfrom it
وحاولْتَ العُلا فلذِذْتَ منها
بشهدٍin honey دونَهbefore it لسْعُthe sting of النِبالِarrows
بشهدٍ دونَه لسْعُ النِبالِ
And you sought greatness and savored its
You aspired for supremacy and savored its sweetness,
honey, guarded by the sting of arrows.
With a nectar beyond the reach of archers.
وجُزتَand you crossed إلىtoward الثّناpraise لُجَجَthe deep waters of المَناياdeath
وجُزتَ إلى الثّنا لُجَجَ المَنايا
فخُضْتَso you plunged into اليمّthe sea فيin طلبِpursuit of اللآليpearls
فخُضْتَ اليمّ في طلبِ اللآلي
And toward praise you crossed the depths of death,
Fate drew you to the pitfalls of mortality,
plunging into the sea in search of pearls.
So you braved the seas in quest of the sublime.
وقارَعْتَand you battled الخُطوبَcalamities السودَdark حتّىuntil
وقارَعْتَ الخُطوبَ السودَ حتّى
أرَضْتَyou tamed جوامحَthe unruly steeds of النّوَبِmisfortunes العُضالِintractable
أرَضْتَ جوامحَ النّوَبِ العُضالِ
And you battled dark calamities until
You confronted adversities until you subdued
you tamed the unruly steeds of intractable afflictions.
The beasts of formidable tribulations.
وأرْعَشْتَand you made quiver القَناthe spears حتّىuntil ظننّاwe thought
وأرْعَشْتَ القَنا حتّى ظننّا
نفَحْتَyou breathed بهنّinto them أرواحَthe spirits of الصِلالِvipers
نفَحْتَ بهنّ أرواحَ الصِلالِ
And you made the spears quiver till we thought
You shook the spears until we thought
you had breathed into them the spirits of vipers.
You breathed life into the dormant blades.
وصافحْتَand you clasped الصِّفاحَthe sword blades فلاحَso shone فيهاwithin them
وصافحْتَ الصِّفاحَ فلاحَ فيها
وُجوهُthe faces of الموتِdeath فيin صوَرِthe forms of النِّمالِants
وُجوهُ الموتِ في صوَرِ النِّمالِ
And you clasped the blades; within them flashed
You clasped the swords, as if unveiling in them
the faces of death in the forms of ants.
The face of death in the form of unsheathed steel.
حوَيْتَyou gathered المجدَglory أجمعَهُall of it صَبيّاًas a boy
حوَيْتَ المجدَ أجمعَهُ صَبيّاً
تحنّyou yearn هَوىًout of love إلىfor الحربِwar السِّجالِof alternating fortunes
تحنّ هَوىً إلى الحربِ السِّجالِ
You gathered all glory while still a boy,
As a child, you encompassed all glory,
yearning passionately for war of shifting fortunes.
Yearning for the passion of armed combat.
تُكنّيyou allude بالقَريضin verse عنto المَواضيkeen-edged swords
تُكنّي بالقَريض عن المَواضي
بذِكرِby mentioning قِصارِshort أيّامِdays of الوِصالِunion
بذِكرِ قِصارِ أيّامِ الوِصالِ
In verse you allude to keen-edged swords
You hint at dwelling places with poetry,
by mentioning the brief days of union;
Mentioning the short days of union.
وعنand to عَذْبِthe tips of القَناspears بقُرونِthrough the tresses of ليلىLayla
وعن عَذْبِ القَنا بقُرونِ ليلى
فتنسِبُso you sing love poetry فيin لياليهاher nights الطِوالِlong
فتنسِبُ في لياليها الطِوالِ
and to spear tips through Layla's tresses,
And the sweet nights with the willowy Laila,
singing of love in her long nights.
Thus ascribing to her long nights.
فكمand how often أقْرَحْتَyou made sore أكبادَthe livers of الأعاديenemies
فكم أقْرَحْتَ أكبادَ الأعادي
وكمand how often أرْمَدْتَyou inflamed أجفانَeyelid-like scabbards of النِّصالِblades
وكم أرْمَدْتَ أجفانَ النِّصالِ
How often you made your enemies' livers sore,
How many enemy livers have you tormented,
and inflamed the eyelids of the blades!
And how many eyelids of archers stiffened!
وكمand how often صبّحْتَyou attacked at dawn بالغاراتِwith raids حيّاًa tribe
وكم صبّحْتَ بالغاراتِ حيّاً
فأصبحso it became ميّتَlifeless الأطلالِthe ruins باليdecayed
فأصبح ميّتَ الأطلالِ بالي
And how often you assailed a tribe with dawn raids,
How often did you dawn alive with raids
so its ruins became lifeless and decayed;
Where the ruins awoke dead the next morn.
وأمسىand by evening it was والدِّيارُwith the dwellings معطّلاتٌbereft
وأمسى والدِّيارُ معطّلاتٌ
منof الفِتيانyoung men والبيضِand fair women الحَواليadorned
من الفِتيان والبيضِ الحَوالي
and evening found its dwellings bereft
With homes deserted of their youths and whites,
of young men and fair, adorned women.
And every corner filled with wailing women.
وكمand how many لكَyou had بالحُوَيْزةِat al-Huwayza يومَa day of حربٍwar
وكم لكَ بالحُوَيْزةِ يومَ حربٍ
تَشيبُturn gray لهولِهfrom its terror لِمَمُthe locks of اللّياليthe nights
تَشيبُ لهولِه لِمَمُ اللّيالي
And how many days of war were yours at al-Huwayza,
How many times at Al-Huwaiyzah, on days of war,
whose terror turned the nights' locks gray!
Did you turn the hair of night guards gray!
ويومٍand a day مثلlike يومِthe Day of الحشْرِResurrection فيهon which
ويومٍ مثل يومِ الحشْرِ فيه
تَميدُsway الرّاسياتُthe firmly rooted ones منَamong الجِبالِmountains
تَميدُ الرّاسياتُ منَ الجِبالِ
And a day like the Day of Resurrection, when
That day was like doomsday, with mountains
the firmly rooted mountains swayed;
Swaying and nearly crumbling down.
بهon it الأعلامُmountains كالآرامlike gazelles تَسْريmove
به الأعلامُ كالآرام تَسْري
فتَشْتَبِهso become indistinguishable الرِّعانُmountain spurs معwith الرِّعالِcavalry squadrons
فتَشْتَبِه الرِّعانُ مع الرِّعالِ
there the mountains moved like gazelles,
The banners were swirling like a dust storm,
so mountain spurs and cavalry squadrons became indistinguishable.
And the commoners mixed with the nobles.
مَهولٌdreadful فيهin it نارُthe fire of الحِقدِhatred تغليboil
مَهولٌ فيه نارُ الحِقدِ تغلي
مراجلُهاits cauldrons بأفئِدَةin the hearts of الرِّجالِmen
مراجلُها بأفئِدَة الرِّجالِ
A dreadful day: there hatred's fire set boiling
A dreadful fire of malice boiled within,
its cauldrons in the hearts of men.
Its furnaces stoked by the hearts of men.
بهon it اِجتمعَتْgathered بَنوsons of لامٍLam جميعاًall together
به اِجتمعَتْ بَنو لامٍ جميعاً
تُستِّرُscreening جانبَthe side of الطّرفِthe flank الشّماليnorthern
تُستِّرُ جانبَ الطّرفِ الشّمالي
There all of Banu Lam gathered,
The Banu Laam converged to take
screening the northern flank.
Refuge on the left side of the valley.
ولاذواand they sought refuge بالحُصونِin fortresses فماbut not اِستفادواthey gained
ولاذوا بالحُصونِ فما اِستفادوا
نجاةًsafety بالجِدارِthrough the wall ولاnor الجِدالِargument
نجاةً بالجِدارِ ولا الجِدالِ
They sought refuge in fortresses, but gained
They sought shelter in forts but gained no salvation,
no safety through walls or argument.
Neither through walls nor negotiation.
غُواةٌmisguided men قامَarose بينهُمُamong them غَويٌّa misguided man
غُواةٌ قامَ بينهُمُ غَويٌّ
يُمنّيهمhe feeds them hopes بأنواعِwith varieties of المُحالِthe impossible
يُمنّيهم بأنواعِ المُحالِ
Misguided men: among them arose a misguided man,
A rebel rose among them, misleading
feeding them hopes of every impossibility.
Them with schemes of sheer impossibility.
جزىhe repaid نُعماكَyour bounty طُغياناًwith rebellion وكُفْراًand ingratitude
جزى نُعماكَ طُغياناً وكُفْراً
فحلّتْso befell فيهupon him قارعةُthe crushing blow of النّكالِpunishment
فحلّتْ فيه قارعةُ النّكالِ
He repaid your bounty with rebellion and ingratitude,
He rewarded your favors with defiance and blasphemy,
so the crushing blow of punishment fell upon him.
Thus unleashing upon himself the strike of reckoning.
تخيّلَhe conjured up سحرَthe sorcery of باطلِهhis falsehood لديهمْbefore them
تخيّلَ سحرَ باطلِه لديهمْ
وأوهمَهُمand he deluded them بحيّاتِwith snakes of الحِبالِropes
وأوهمَهُم بحيّاتِ الحِبالِ
He conjured his falsehood's sorcery before them,
He pretended his illusion was truth to them
and deluded them with ropes appearing as snakes.
And deluded them with mirages like snakes.
فجِئْتَthen you came ببيّناتِwith clear proofs of الحقِّtruth حتّىuntil
فجِئْتَ ببيّناتِ الحقِّ حتّى
تهدّمcollapsed ماwhat بَنوهُthey built it علىupon الجِبالِthe mountains
تهدّم ما بَنوهُ على الجِبالِ
Then you came with clear proofs of truth, until
You then brought clear proofs until
what they had built upon the mountains collapsed.
You demolished what they built on the hills.
تَرومُseek رُماتُهمtheir archers غيّاًin error وغَدراًand treachery
تَرومُ رُماتُهم غيّاً وغَدراً
تُصيبُstrike عُلاكَyour eminence فيwith سَهْمِan arrow of اِغتيالِassassination
تُصيبُ عُلاكَ في سَهْمِ اِغتيالِ
Their archers seek, in error and treachery,
Their arrows secretly targeted you with betrayal,
to strike your eminence with an assassin's arrow.
Seeking to strike you down with assassination.
أمَاdid not? علِمواthey knew بأنّكthat you ياO عليٌّAli
أمَا علِموا بأنّك يا عليٌّ
لَباريsurely the shaper of قوسهاits bow يومَon the day of النِّزالِcombat
لَباري قوسها يومَ النِّزالِ
Did they not know that you, O Ali,
Do they not know that you, O Ali,
are surely the shaper of its bow on the day of combat?
Are an impregnable fortress on the day of battle?
تناءَوْاthey withdrew far away بالدّيارِto the dwellings فكنتُso I was أسريtraveling by night
تناءَوْا بالدّيارِ فكنتُ أسري
إليهمtoward them بالخُيولِon horses منfrom الخَيالِimagination
إليهم بالخُيولِ من الخَيالِ
They withdrew to distant dwellings, so I traveled by night
They settled around the lands, so I marched against them
toward them on steeds of imagination.
With regiments of imaginary cavalry.
ملأتَyou filled الرُّحبَthe open space حولهمُaround them جُيوشاًarmies
ملأتَ الرُّحبَ حولهمُ جُيوشاً
تُكاثرُrival in number عدَّthe number of حبّاتِgrains of الرّمالِsand
تُكاثرُ عدَّ حبّاتِ الرّمالِ
You filled the open ground around them with armies
You filled the expanse around them with armies
rivaling the number of grains of sand.
As numerous as the grains of sand.
إلىto عقَباتِهاtheir mountain passes العِقبانُeagles تأويtake refuge
إلى عقَباتِها العِقبانُ تأوي
وتمدَحُand praise فيamong ضراغِمِهاtheir lions السّعاليshe-ghouls
وتمدَحُ في ضراغِمِها السّعالي
Eagles take refuge in their mountain passes,
Ravens flocked to their hindquarters,
and she-ghouls sing the praises of their lions.
Cawing within their multitudes.
كتائِبُbattalions للحَديدِof iron بهاwithin them وَميضٌa flash
كتائِبُ للحَديدِ بها وَميضٌ
تمرُّpass عليكَbefore you كالسُّحُبِlike clouds الثِّقالِheavy
تمرُّ عليكَ كالسُّحُبِ الثِّقالِ
Battalions in which iron flashes
Your battalions brandished flashes of iron
pass before you like heavy clouds.
Passing you like heavy clouds.
ولمّاand when لمnot تجِدْyou found للصُّلْحِfor peace وجهاًan opening
ولمّا لم تجِدْ للصُّلْحِ وجهاً
ولاnor للعَفْوِfor pardon عنهُمfor them والنّوالِand gift-giving
ولا للعَفْوِ عنهُم والنّوالِ
And when you found no opening for peace,
When you found no way to reconcile or pardon them,
nor for pardoning them and bestowing gifts,
You bombarded them with meteors of equal brilliance.
قذَفْتَهُمُyou pelted them بشُهْبٍwith meteors منof حديدٍiron
قذَفْتَهُمُ بشُهْبٍ من حديدٍ
وأقْمارٍand moons سَواءٍequal فيin الكَمالِperfection
وأقْمارٍ سَواءٍ في الكَمالِ
you hurled against them meteors of iron
Missiles from your sons surrounded them, within which
and moons equal in perfection:
Were stars from the line of uncles and cousins.
بُدورٌfull moons منamong بَنيكyour sons تحفُّcluster around فيهاamid them
بُدورٌ من بَنيك تحفُّ فيها
نجومٌstars منamong بَنيsons of عمٍّa paternal uncle وخالِand a maternal uncle
نجومٌ من بَني عمٍّ وخالِ
full moons from your sons, amid whom cluster
Generations tracing back to the Chosen One,
stars from the sons of paternal and maternal uncles.
With kinship ties maintaining their connection.
سُلالاتٌdescendants إلىto المُختارthe Chosen One تُعزىare traced
سُلالاتٌ إلى المُختار تُعزى
وأرْحامٌand blood ties بهwith him ذاتُhaving اِتّصالِa connection
وأرْحامٌ به ذاتُ اِتّصالِ
Descendants traced back to the Chosen One,
They quenched the thirst of pride from their father
and blood ties connected to him.
And grandfathers, the utmost honorable virtues.
رَوَوْاthey transmitted سندَthe chain of transmission of المفاخِرglorious deeds عنfrom أبيهمtheir father
رَوَوْا سندَ المفاخِر عن أبيهم
وعنand from أجدادِهمtheir forefathers شرفَthe nobility of الخِصالِcharacter traits
وعن أجدادِهم شرفَ الخِصالِ
They transmitted the chain of glorious deeds from their father,
Their actions and faces were equally perfect,
and noble character from their forefathers.
Complete in beauty and grace.
فِعالهُمُtheir deeds وأوجُهُهُمand their faces سَواءٌalike
فِعالهُمُ وأوجُهُهُم سَواءٌ
تَمامٌperfection بالجميلِin goodness وبالجمالِand in beauty
تَمامٌ بالجميلِ وبالجمالِ
Their deeds and their faces are alike:
You placed them before you upon engagement
perfect in goodness and in beauty.
As vanguards of the armies while you followed.
جعلتَهُمyou placed them أمامكَbefore you فيin التّلاقيthe encounter
جعلتَهُم أمامكَ في التّلاقي
مقدّمةَthe vanguard of الجُيوشِthe armies وأنتwhile you تالِfollowing
مقدّمةَ الجُيوشِ وأنت تالِ
You set them before you at the encounter,
Thus you guaranteed their frontlines while they guaranteed yours
as the armies' vanguard, while you followed.
From behind, before the clashes began.
فكنتَso you were كفيلَguardian of أظهُرِهمtheir backs وكانواand they were
فكنتَ كفيلَ أظهُرِهم وكانوا
لكfor you الكُفَلاءَthe protectors منfrom قُبُلِthe front of النِّزالِbattle
لك الكُفَلاءَ من قُبُلِ النِّزالِ
You were the guardian of their backs, and they were
Whenever the wicked fled, you held fast
your protectors at the front of battle.
Until the deserters returned to combat.
إذاwhen جفلَscattered الخميسُthe army ثَبتّyou stood firm حتّىuntil
إذا جفلَ الخميسُ ثَبتّ حتّى
يعودَreturn الهاربونَthe fugitives إلىto القِتالِfighting
يعودَ الهاربونَ إلى القِتالِ
When the army scattered, you stood firm until
O Glory of Ali, it was as if you were with us
the fugitives returned to the fighting.
On the day the misguided hordes converged.
كأنّكas though you were ياO عليَّAli of المجدِglory فِيناamong us
كأنّك يا عليَّ المجدِ فِينا
سميُّكَyour namesake يومَon the day of أحزابِthe confederates of الضّلالِerror
سميُّكَ يومَ أحزابِ الضّلالِ
You seemed among us, O Ali of glory, like
You charged the enemy, while your sons advanced,
your namesake on the day of error's confederates.
Until the wide battlefield grew narrow through their masses.
حمَلْتَyou charged علىagainst العِداthe enemy وبنوكَand your sons صالواattacked
حمَلْتَ على العِدا وبنوكَ صالوا
فضاقَso became cramped بجيشهمْfor their army رَحْبُthe breadth of المَجالِthe field
فضاقَ بجيشهمْ رَحْبُ المَجالِ
You charged the enemy, and your sons attacked,
They were like fierce hunting birds,
so the wide battlefield grew cramped for their army.
Pouncing like swooping eagles.
وكانواand they had been كالجوارِحِlike birds of prey كاسراتٍcrushing prey
وكانوا كالجوارِحِ كاسراتٍ
فولّواthen they turned away مثلَlike نافِرةِa startled flock of الرّئالِostrich chicks
فولّوا مثلَ نافِرةِ الرّئالِ
And they had been like raptors, breaking their prey,
To escape the flames, they fled to the shore,
then turned and fled like startled ostrich chicks.
Where the water boiled from the blazing heat.
وعنand from نارِthe fire of الظُّباsword edges للشّطِّto the riverbank فرّواthey fled
وعن نارِ الظُّبا للشّطِّ فرّوا
فكانَso became الماءُthe water منof نارِthe fire of الوَبالِruin
فكانَ الماءُ من نارِ الوَبالِ
From the fire of sword edges they fled to the riverbank,
They saw death was bitter with the sword,
and the water, too, became a fire of ruin.
So they tasted death's sweet draught.
رأواthey saw أنّthat الرّدىdeath بالسّيفِby the sword مُرٌّbitter
رأوا أنّ الرّدى بالسّيفِ مُرٌّ
فذاقواso they tasted الموتَdeath بالعَذْبِin sweet water الزُّلالِclear
فذاقوا الموتَ بالعَذْبِ الزُّلالِ
They found death by the sword bitter,
How many skulls did your swords cleave
so tasted death in sweet, clear water.
Of Hizbar, while pardoning the doe!
فكمand how many صرعَتْfelled سُيوفُكَyour swords منof هِزَبْرٍa lion
فكم صرعَتْ سُيوفُكَ من هِزَبْرٍ
بحيّهمamong their tribe وعفّتْand held back عنfrom غَزالِa gazelle
بحيّهم وعفّتْ عن غَزالِ
How many a lion your swords brought down
If you angered the egg-white blades against them,
among their tribe, while sparing the gazelle!
You have pleased the crescent-bladed adulterer's knives!
لَئِنْif indeed أغضَبْتَyou angered بيضَthe helmets of الشّوسِfierce warriors منهُمamong them
لَئِنْ أغضَبْتَ بيضَ الشّوسِ منهُم
فقدyet indeed أرضَيْتَyou pleased بيضاتِegg-like maidens of الحِجالِcurtained chambers
فقد أرضَيْتَ بيضاتِ الحِجالِ
Though you angered the helmets of their fierce warriors,
You left their elite slain the next morn
you surely pleased the egg-like maidens of the curtained chambers.
And harvested praise for sheltering your household.
تركْتَyou left سُراتَهُمtheir chiefs صَرعىslain غَداةًone morning
تركْتَ سُراتَهُم صَرعى غَداةً
وحُزْتَand you won الحَمدَpraise فيby سَتْرِsheltering العِيالِthe families
وحُزْتَ الحَمدَ في سَتْرِ العِيالِ
You left their chiefs slain that morning,
Enough, O desert tribesmen! Restrain yourselves
and won praise by safeguarding their families.
And repent from evil deeds!
ألاlisten! ياO معشرَcompany of الأعْرابِBedouins كُفّواdesist
ألا يا معشرَ الأعْرابِ كُفّوا
وتوبواand repent عنof خَبيثاتِwicked الفِعالِdeeds
وتوبوا عن خَبيثاتِ الفِعالِ
Listen, O company of Bedouins: desist,
If you repent, glad tidings of pardon,
and repent of your wicked deeds.
Forgiveness and blissful outcomes await you.
فإنْfor if تُبْتُمyou repent فبُشْراكُمthen glad tidings for you بعَفوٍof pardon
فإنْ تُبْتُم فبُشْراكُم بعَفوٍ
ومغفرةٍand forgiveness وحُسْنand a good مآلِoutcome of حالِcircumstance
ومغفرةٍ وحُسْن مآلِ حالِ
For if you repent, then glad tidings for you of pardon,
But if you return, a day shall follow another
forgiveness, and a fair outcome to your condition.
Where each dawn is harsher than the one before.
وإنْand if عُدْتُمyou return يَعُدhe will return يوماًone day بأخرىwith another raid
وإنْ عُدْتُم يَعُد يوماً بأخرى
تُصبّحُكمit will attack you at dawn أشدَّmore fiercely منthan الأَوَاليthe earlier ones
تُصبّحُكم أشدَّ من الأَوَالي
And if you return, he will return one day with another raid,
My master, soon shall you attain an easy conquest—
assailing you at dawn more fiercely than the earlier ones.
Far-famed and lofty in attainment.
ليهنِكَmay it gladden you سيّديmy lord فتحٌa victory قريبٌnear at hand
ليهنِكَ سيّدي فتحٌ قريبٌ
بَعيدُfar-reaching in الصّيتِfame مرتَفعُlofty in المَنالِattainment
بَعيدُ الصّيتِ مرتَفعُ المَنالِ
May a victory close at hand gladden you, my lord,
An eternal victory shall continue to reach you,
far-reaching in fame, lofty in attainment.
Bearing the banners of majesty.
ونصرٌand a triumph لاnot يزالُcease الدهرُtime منهfrom it
ونصرٌ لا يزالُ الدهرُ منه
عليكَtoward you يزُفُّbears in procession ألويةَbanners of الجَلالِmajesty
عليكَ يزُفُّ ألويةَ الجَلالِ
And a triumph from which time will never cease
Your lands shall not cease to enjoy prosperity,
to bring you the banners of majesty in procession.
With your ascendance extended like shade.
فلاso may not برِحَتْcease ديارُكyour dwellings مؤنِقاتٍdelightful
فلا برِحَتْ ديارُك مؤنِقاتٍ
ورَوْحُand the solace of عُلاكَyour eminence مَمدودَoutspread in الظِّلالِshade
ورَوْحُ عُلاكَ مَمدودَ الظِّلالِ
May your dwellings never cease to be delightful,
Your suns shall remain shining
and the solace of your eminence keep its shade outspread.
Within the cycle of setting, but never setting.
ولاand may not زالَتْcease شُموسُكَyour suns مُشرِقاتٍshining
ولا زالَتْ شُموسُكَ مُشرِقاتٍ
بدائِرةِin the circle of الزّوالِthe meridian بلاwithout زَوالِdecline
بدائِرةِ الزّوالِ بلا زَوالِ
And may your suns never cease to shine
in the meridian's circle, without decline.
Partial English translation: 102 of 104 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1