يَلوحُgleams فتستَدْعيso she summons الفِراشَthe moths وتَبْسُمُand smiles
يَلوحُ فتستَدْعي الفِراشَ وتَبْسُمُ
فيفتَرُّso opens in a smile ثَغرُthe mouth of الصُبْحِdawn والليلُwhile the night مُظلِمُis dark
فيفتَرُّ ثَغرُ الصُبْحِ والليلُ مُظلِمُ
It gleams; she summons the moths and smiles.
Then dawn's mouth breaks into a smile, though night is dark.
وتُبديand she reveals ثَناياهاher front teeth لناto us كَنْزَa treasure of جَوْهرٍjewels
وتُبدي ثَناياها لنا كَنْزَ جَوْهرٍ
فترصُدُهاso she guards it فيin فرعِهاher tresses وهْوَand it is أرقَمُa speckled serpent
فترصُدُها في فرعِها وهْوَ أرقَمُ
She reveals her front teeth to us—a treasure of jewels—
Then guards it amid her tresses, a speckled serpent.
وتقضيand she decrees فيَمشيso walks السحرُmagic فيin غِمدِa sheath of فِتنةٍtemptation
وتقضي فيَمشي السحرُ في غِمدِ فِتنةٍ
وترنوand she gazes فيُضحيso it becomes مُصْلَتاًunsheathed وهْوَthough it is مُحرِمُritually consecrated
وترنو فيُضحي مُصْلَتاً وهْوَ مُحرِمُ
She decrees, and magic walks within a sheath of temptation;
She gazes, and it stands unsheathed, though ritually consecrated.
وتَسعىand she walks فتخشىso you fear الطّعْنَa thrust منfrom عِطفِthe bend of قدِّهاher figure
وتَسعى فتخشى الطّعْنَ من عِطفِ قدِّها
ورُبّand many a قَوامٍstature وهْوand it is رُمحٌa spear مُقوَّمُstraightened
ورُبّ قَوامٍ وهْو رُمحٌ مُقوَّمُ
She walks, and you fear a thrust from her figure's supple bend;
And many a stature is a straightened spear.
إمَاindeed وحبابٍby bubbles وهوand it is ثغرٌa mouth مُفلَّجٌwith finely spaced teeth
إمَا وحبابٍ وهو ثغرٌ مُفلَّجٌ
وجامِدِand congealed خمرٍwine وهْوand it is خدٌّa cheek معَنْدَمُcrimson-dyed
وجامِدِ خمرٍ وهْو خدٌّ معَنْدَمُ
Indeed, by bubbles—a mouth of finely spaced teeth—
And congealed wine—a crimson-dyed cheek—
لصِنوانindeed twins مَسمومpoisoned السِّهامِarrows ولحظُهاand her glance
لصِنوان مَسموم السِّهامِ ولحظُها
ومَبْسِمُهاand her smiling mouth والجوهَرُand the jewel الفردُmatchless توأمُa twin
ومَبْسِمُها والجوهَرُ الفردُ توأمُ
Poisoned arrows and her glance are indeed twins;
Her smiling mouth and the matchless jewel are twins.
وقامتُهاand her stature والسّمهريُّand the straight spear وإنّهاand indeed she
وقامتُها والسّمهريُّ وإنّها
لأعدَلُsurely more upright منهthan it وهوand it is فيin الفتكِkilling أظلَمُmore unjust
لأعدَلُ منه وهو في الفتكِ أظلَمُ
And her stature and the straight spear: indeed, she
Is more upright than it, while it is more unjust in killing.
هيshe البدرُthe full moon فيin الإشراقِradiance لولاbut for حِجالُهاher curtained chambers
هي البدرُ في الإشراقِ لولا حِجالُها
وشمسُand the sun of الضُحىmorning لولاbut for السِجافُthe curtain المخيّمُenveloping
وشمسُ الضُحى لولا السِجافُ المخيّمُ
She is the full moon in radiance, but for her curtained chambers,
And the morning sun, but for the enveloping curtain;
وبيضُand the white ones of الدُمىthe statues لولاbut for البراقِعُthe face-veils والحَياand modesty
وبيضُ الدُمى لولا البراقِعُ والحَيا
وظبيُand the gazelle of الحِمىthe sanctuary لولاbut for الثّوىdwelling والتكلّمُand speech
وظبيُ الحِمى لولا الثّوى والتكلّمُ
And white statues, but for her face-veils and modesty,
And a gazelle of the sanctuary, but for her settled life and speech.
مَهاةٌan oryx لديهاin her presence السُمرُthe brown spears فيin حرَمِthe sanctuary of الهَوىlove
مَهاةٌ لديها السُمرُ في حرَمِ الهَوى
تُحلُّpermit دِماءَthe blood of الصَّيْدthe quarry والبِيضُand the bright swords تحرُمُare forbidden
تُحلُّ دِماءَ الصَّيْد والبِيضُ تحرُمُ
An oryx: before her, within love's sanctuary, the brown spears
Permit the quarry's blood, while the bright swords are forbidden.
تحفُّgather around الظِّباءُthe gazelles العِينُwide-eyed فيهاin her presence إذاwhen شدَتْshe sings
تحفُّ الظِّباءُ العِينُ فيها إذا شدَتْ
وتزأرُand roar آسادُthe lions of الشّراal-Shara حينَwhen تَبغُمُshe gives a doe's call
وتزأرُ آسادُ الشّرا حينَ تَبغُمُ
Wide-eyed gazelles gather in her presence when she sings,
And the lions of al-Shara roar when she gives a doe's soft call.
فكمْso how many حوْلَهاaround her ليثٌa lion بحُلّةin a robe of أرقَمٍa speckled serpent
فكمْ حوْلَها ليثٌ بحُلّة أرقَمٍ
يطوفُcircles وكمand how many خِشفٍa fawn بعينيهِin its two eyes ضيغَمُa fierce lion
يطوفُ وكم خِشفٍ بعينيهِ ضيغَمُ
How many a lion in a speckled serpent's robe
Circles her, and how many a fawn has a fierce lion in its eyes!
تحامَىavoid حِماهاher sanctuary واِحْذَرِand beware الموتَdeath دونَهاbefore reaching her
تحامَى حِماها واِحْذَرِ الموتَ دونَها
فليسfor is not الحِمىthe sanctuary إلّاexcept الحِمامُdeath المرخّمُwith its ending clipped
فليس الحِمى إلّا الحِمامُ المرخّمُ
Avoid her sanctuary, and beware death before reaching her;
For ḥimā, 'sanctuary,' is only ḥimām, 'death,' with its ending clipped.
وماand not الحِبُّthe beloved إلّاexcept أنthat يكونis مزارُهhis place of visitation
وما الحِبُّ إلّا أن يكون مزارُه
عَزيزاًinaccessible إليهtoward him لاnot يَجوزُcan pass التوهّمُimagination
عَزيزاً إليه لا يَجوزُ التوهّمُ
A beloved is only one whose place of visitation
Is inaccessible: not even imagination can reach him.
بحيثُwhere الدمُblood المحظورُforbidden فيهin it محلَّلٌmade lawful
بحيثُ الدمُ المحظورُ فيه محلَّلٌ
علىto السيفthe sword والماءُand water المُباحُpermitted محرَّمُforbidden
على السيف والماءُ المُباحُ محرَّمُ
Where forbidden blood is made lawful
To the sword, while permitted water is forbidden.
وإنّاand indeed we لَقومٌare surely a people قدalready نَشاhas grown فيin قُلوبِناour hearts
وإنّا لَقومٌ قد نَشا في قُلوبِنا
بحبِّthrough love of الدِماblood والمَكرُماتِand noble deeds التسَنُّمُthe ascent to heights
بحبِّ الدِما والمَكرُماتِ التسَنُّمُ
We are a people in whose hearts has grown
The urge to ascend through love of blood and noble deeds.
ففيso in الدُرّpearls رُخْصٌcheapness عندَناamong us وهْوand it is جَوهَرٌa jewel
ففي الدُرّ رُخْصٌ عندَنا وهْو جَوهَرٌ
ويغلوand grows dear لدَيناto us قيمةًin value وهْوand it is مَبسِمُa smiling mouth
ويغلو لدَينا قيمةً وهْو مَبسِمُ
Pearls are cheap to us when they are jewels,
But rise in value to us when they are a smiling mouth.
نفِرُّwe flee إذاwhen يرنوgazes غزالٌa gazelle مقنَّعٌveiled
نفِرُّ إذا يرنو غزالٌ مقنَّعٌ
ونسطوand we charge إذاwhen يرنوgazes هِزَبرٌa lion معمَّمُturbaned
ونسطو إذا يرنو هِزَبرٌ معمَّمُ
We flee when a veiled gazelle casts a glance,
Yet charge when a turbaned lion casts a glance.
نُضاحِكُwe smile back at ضوءَthe gleam of البرقِlightning وهوand it is مهنّدٌan Indian-steel sword
نُضاحِكُ ضوءَ البرقِ وهو مهنّدٌ
ونبكيand we weep نجيعاًfresh blood وهْوand it is ثغرٌa mouth ملثّمُveiled
ونبكي نجيعاً وهْو ثغرٌ ملثّمُ
We smile back at lightning's gleam when it is a blade of Indian steel,
Yet weep fresh blood when it is a veiled mouth.
ونحذرُand we beware منof نَبلِthe arrows of الرّدىdeath وهْوand it is أعيُنٌeyes
ونحذرُ من نَبلِ الرّدى وهْو أعيُنٌ
ونلْقاهُand we meet it فيin لَبّاتِناour throats' hollows وهْوand it is أسهُمُarrows
ونلْقاهُ في لَبّاتِنا وهْو أسهُمُ
We fear death's arrows when they are eyes,
Yet meet them in our throats when they are arrows.
ومحجوبةٍand a secluded woman لوif ينظُرُwere to see البدرُthe full moon وجهَهاher face
ومحجوبةٍ لو ينظُرُ البدرُ وجهَها
لخرّit would surely fall صريعاًslain واِنثَنىand turn away وهْوَand it is مُغرَمُlovestruck
لخرّ صريعاً واِنثَنى وهْوَ مُغرَمُ
And many a secluded woman whose face, if the full moon saw it,
It would fall slain and turn away lovestruck.
إذاif حدّثَتْshe speaks فيin بُقعةٍa place أوor تنفّسَتْshe breathes
إذا حدّثَتْ في بُقعةٍ أو تنفّسَتْ
ففيthen in بابلٍBabylon أوor باِسْمِby the name of دارِينَDarin تُوسَمُis marked
ففي بابلٍ أو باِسْمِ دارِينَ تُوسَمُ
If she speaks in a place or breathes,
That place is marked as Babylon or given the name of Darin.
سَقىmay water دارَهاher house ماءَthe water of الطُلىthroats بارقُthe gleam of الظُّباblade-edges
سَقى دارَها ماءَ الطُلى بارقُ الظُّبا
ففيso in التُربِthe soil منهاfrom it لاnot يَسوغُis permissible التيمّمُdry ritual cleansing
ففي التُربِ منها لا يَسوغُ التيمّمُ
May the gleam of blade-edges water her house with blood from throats;
For its soil may not be used for dry ritual cleansing.
ممنّعةٌwell-guarded لاnot يُمكنُis possible for الطّيفَthe dream-phantom نحوَهاtoward her
ممنّعةٌ لا يُمكنُ الطّيفَ نحوَها
صُعودٌan ascent ولوeven if أنthat المجرّةthe Milky Way سُلَّمُa ladder
صُعودٌ ولو أن المجرّة سُلَّمُ
She is so well guarded that no dream-phantom can
Climb to her, even were the Milky Way a ladder.
تأتّيْتُهاI made my way to her والنّسرُand the Eagle فيon الأفْقِthe horizon واقعٌresting
تأتّيْتُها والنّسرُ في الأفْقِ واقعٌ
وبيضُand the white ones of حَمامِthe doves of الأنجُمِthe stars الزُهْرِshining تُرجَمُare pelted
وبيضُ حَمامِ الأنجُمِ الزُهْرِ تُرجَمُ
I made my way to her while the Eagle rested on the horizon,
And the white doves of the shining stars were being pelted.
وبتْناand we spent the night كِلاناboth of us فيin العَفافةِchastity والتُقىand piety
وبتْنا كِلانا في العَفافةِ والتُقى
أناI يوسُفٌYusuf وهْيand she الكريمةُthe noble مَريمُMaryam
أنا يوسُفٌ وهْي الكريمةُ مَريمُ
We both spent the night in chastity and piety:
I was Yusuf, and she the noble Maryam.
وماand not أناI ممّنْamong those who يتّقيshun الحتْفَdeath إنif بغىhe seeks
وما أنا ممّنْ يتّقي الحتْفَ إن بغى
مَراماًa goal ولاand not يثنيهِturn him aside فيin الحُبِّlove لوَّمُreproachers
مَراماً ولا يثنيهِ في الحُبِّ لوَّمُ
I am not one who shuns death when he seeks
A goal, nor one whom reproachers turn aside in love.
ورَكْبٍand a band of riders تعاطَواundertook فيin الدُجىdarkness دلَجَa night-march of السُّرىnight travel
ورَكْبٍ تعاطَوا في الدُجى دلَجَ السُّرى
يميلونَthey sway منْfrom سُكرِthe intoxication of الكَرىsleep لمnot يهوّمواthey dozed
يميلونَ منْ سُكرِ الكَرى لم يهوّموا
And many a band of riders undertook a night-march in darkness,
Swaying, drunk with sleep, though they had not dozed;
سِهاماًas arrows علىupon مثلِthe likeness of القِسيّbows اِرْتَمَتْhurtled onward بهِمwith them
سِهاماً على مثلِ القِسيّ اِرْتَمَتْ بهِم
يَؤمّونthey head for نَجداًNajd والهَوىand love حيثُwherever يمّمواthey turn
يَؤمّون نَجداً والهَوى حيثُ يمّموا
Like arrows on bow-shaped mounts that hurtled onward with them,
They head for Najd, with love wherever they turn.
تَراءَىappeared لهُمto them قلبيmy heart أماماًahead فغرّهُمso deceived them
تَراءَى لهُم قلبي أماماً فغرّهُم
وأوهمَهُمand made them imagine نارَthe fire of الغَضاghada wood فتوهّمواso they imagined
وأوهمَهُم نارَ الغَضا فتوهّموا
My heart appeared ahead of them, deceiving them,
Making them imagine a fire of ghada wood—and they believed it.
أروحُI go at evening وليand I have رَوْحٌrepose إلىtoward نحوِthe direction of رامةٍRamah
أروحُ ولي رَوْحٌ إلى نحوِ رامةٍ
وآرامُهاand its gazelles شوقاًwith longing تحِنُّyearn وترأمُand show tender love
وآرامُها شوقاً تحِنُّ وترأمُ
I go at evening, finding repose in the direction of Ramah,
And its gazelles yearn with longing and show tender love.
وقلبٌand a heart إلىtoward نحوِthe direction of الحِجازِthe Hijaz وأهلِهand its people
وقلبٌ إلى نحوِ الحِجازِ وأهلِه
يغورُdescends into the lowlands بهwith it الوُدُّaffection الصّحيحُtrue ويُتْهِمُand goes to Tihamah
يغورُ به الوُدُّ الصّحيحُ ويُتْهِمُ
And I have a heart turned toward the Hijaz and its people,
Which true affection carries into the lowlands and Tihamah.
إذاwhen مرّpasses ذكرُmention of الخَيفِal-Khayf لوif لمnot يكنthere were بهin it
إذا مرّ ذكرُ الخَيفِ لو لم يكن به
ولاءُdevotion to عليٍّAli كادَalmost بالنّارِwith fire يُضرَمُis set ablaze
ولاءُ عليٍّ كادَ بالنّارِ يُضرَمُ
When al-Khayf is mentioned, were there not within it
Devotion to Ali, it would almost be set aflame.
جَوادٌa generous man هَوىloved المعروفَkindness قبلbefore رَضاعِهhis suckling
جَوادٌ هَوى المعروفَ قبل رَضاعِه
ومالand inclined إلىtoward حُبِّlove of العُلاeminence قبلَbefore يُفطَمُhe was weaned
ومال إلى حُبِّ العُلا قبلَ يُفطَمُ
A generous man, who loved kindness before he was suckled,
And inclined toward love of eminence before he was weaned;
هُمامٌa hero إذاwhen قامتْarises وغىًbattle فهوthen he is ساقُهاits leg
هُمامٌ إذا قامتْ وغىً فهو ساقُها
وإنْand if شمّرَتْit rolled up عنfrom زَنْدِهاits forearm فهْوthen he is مِعصَمُa wrist
وإنْ شمّرَتْ عن زَنْدِها فهْو مِعصَمُ
A hero: when battle stands, he is its leg,
And if it bares its forearm, he is its wrist.
فتىًa young man حُبُّهhis love للمجدِfor glory أفقدَهُdeprived him of الغِنىwealth
فتىً حُبُّه للمجدِ أفقدَهُ الغِنى
كماas فقدlost السُّلوانَconsolation صبٌّa passionate lover متيّمُenthralled by love
كما فقد السُّلوانَ صبٌّ متيّمُ
A young man whose love of glory has robbed him of wealth,
As a passion-bound lover loses consolation.
يلَذُّdelights دُعاءُthe prayers of السامعينthe listeners بسمعِهin his hearing
يلَذُّ دُعاءُ السامعين بسمعِه
كماas لذّdelighted فيin سمعِthe hearing of الطَّروبِthe song-enraptured الترنُّمُmelodious singing
كما لذّ في سمعِ الطَّروبِ الترنُّمُ
The listeners' prayers delight his hearing,
As singing delights the ear of one enraptured by song.
كَساclothed العِرضَhonor منfrom حُسنِthe beauty of الثّناpraise خيرَthe finest حُلّةٍrobe
كَسا العِرضَ من حُسنِ الثّنا خيرَ حُلّةٍ
لهاfor it الفخرُpride يُسديlays the warp والمَكارِمُand noble deeds تُلحِمُweave the weft
لها الفخرُ يُسدي والمَكارِمُ تُلحِمُ
He clothed his honor in the finest robe of lovely praise,
For which pride lays the warp and noble deeds weave the weft.
لهfor him الطّعَناتُthe spear-wounds النُّجْلُbroad تبكيweep كأنّهاas though they
له الطّعَناتُ النُّجْلُ تبكي كأنّها
عُيونٌeyes رأتْsaw يومَthe day of النّوىparting فهْيَso they تَسْجُمُpour down tears
عُيونٌ رأتْ يومَ النّوى فهْيَ تَسْجُمُ
The broad wounds of his thrusts weep, as though they were
Eyes that saw the day of parting and pour down tears.
ولاand no عجباًwonder يَجريhe flows حَياًas rain وهْوthough he is شُعلةٌa flame
ولا عجباً يَجري حَياً وهْو شُعلةٌ
ويَضرمُand kindles ناراًfire فيin الوغىbattle وهْوthough he is خِضْرِمُa vast sea
ويَضرمُ ناراً في الوغى وهْو خِضْرِمُ
No wonder: he flows as rain though he is a flame,
And kindles fire in battle though he is a boundless sea.
يَصولُhe charges بفجرٍwith a dawn كاذبٍfalse وهوand it is صارمٌa keen sword
يَصولُ بفجرٍ كاذبٍ وهو صارمٌ
ويسطوand strikes بنجمٍwith a star ثاقبٍpiercing وهْوand it is لهذَمُa sharp spear
ويسطو بنجمٍ ثاقبٍ وهْو لهذَمُ
He charges with a false dawn that is a keen sword,
And strikes with a piercing star that is a sharp spear.
دنانيرُهhis dinars صُفْرُyellow الوجوهِof face لعِلمِهاbecause they know
دنانيرُه صُفْرُ الوجوهِ لعِلمِها
بأنّthat النّوىseparation فيover شَملهِنّtheir gathering محكَّمُholds sway
بأنّ النّوى في شَملهِنّ محكَّمُ
His dinars have yellow faces, knowing
That separation holds sway over their gathering.
إذاif زارَهvisit him العافونَseekers of bounty يوماًone day تشتّتَتْthey scatter
إذا زارَه العافونَ يوماً تشتّتَتْ
كأدمُعِlike the tears of صَبٍّa passionate lover قدalready دعتْهُنّsummoned them أرسُمُtraces of dwellings
كأدمُعِ صَبٍّ قد دعتْهُنّ أرسُمُ
If seekers of bounty visit him one day, his coins scatter,
Like a lover's tears called forth by traces of old dwellings.
فلوso if جلسَsat الأقمارُthe moons منfrom حولِهaround him دُجىًin darkness
فلو جلسَ الأقمارُ من حولِه دُجىً
دَرَواthey would know أنّهthat he المَولىthe lord وإنْeven though كانhe were منهُمُone of them
دَرَوا أنّه المَولى وإنْ كان منهُمُ
If moons sat around him in darkness,
They would know he was their lord, though one of them;
ولوand if أنفقَتْهاspent them فيin الهِباتِgifts يَمينُهhis right hand
ولو أنفقَتْها في الهِباتِ يَمينُه
لقلَّwould seem little لدَيهاto it بَدرُهاtheir full moon وهْوَand it is دِرْهَمُa dirham
لقلَّ لدَيها بَدرُها وهْوَ دِرْهَمُ
And if his right hand spent them in gifts,
Even their full moon, a dirham, would seem little to it.
ولوand if كفِلَتْsheltered أهلَthe people of الهوىlove دِرعُthe armor of أمنِهhis protection
ولو كفِلَتْ أهلَ الهوى دِرعُ أمنِه
لردّتْit would repel سِهامَthe arrows of الأعيُنِthe eyes النُجْلِwide عنهُمُfrom them
لردّتْ سِهامَ الأعيُنِ النُجْلِ عنهُمُ
If the armor of his protection sheltered the people of love,
It would turn the arrows of wide eyes away from them.
حطَمْنَshattered عَواليهِhis tall spears قَناthe spears of كُلِّevery فتنةٍstrife
حطَمْنَ عَواليهِ قَنا كُلِّ فتنةٍ
فكِدْنَso they nearly لِقاماتِagainst the statures of الدُمىthe beauties البِيضِfair-white تُحطَمُwere shattered
فكِدْنَ لِقاماتِ الدُمى البِيضِ تُحطَمُ
His tall spears shattered the spears of every strife,
Yet nearly shattered against the statures of fair-white beauties.
ورُدَّتْand were repelled سُيوفُthe swords of الجَورِtyranny وهيand they are كليلةٌblunt
ورُدَّتْ سُيوفُ الجَورِ وهي كليلةٌ
فأوشَكْنَso they nearly حتّىeven أنصُلُthe blades of الغُنجِcoquetry تكْهَمُgrow blunt
فأوشَكْنَ حتّى أنصُلُ الغُنجِ تكْهَمُ
The swords of tyranny were turned back, blunted,
Till even the blades of coquetry nearly lost their edge.
لهhe has بَيتُa house of مجدٍglory شامخٌtowering فيupon صعيدِهits ground
له بَيتُ مجدٍ شامخٌ في صعيدِه
تعفَّرُare dust-stained آنافُthe noses of المُلوكِkings وتُرغَمُand are humbled
تعفَّرُ آنافُ المُلوكِ وتُرغَمُ
He has a towering house of glory; upon its ground
The noses of kings are dust-stained and humbled.
تُطنِّبُهstakes it fast شمسُthe sun of الضُحىmorning فيwith حِبالِهاits cords
تُطنِّبُه شمسُ الضُحى في حِبالِها
وتسمُكُهand raises it high أيديthe hands of السِّماكِal-Simak وتدعَمُand support it
وتسمُكُه أيدي السِّماكِ وتدعَمُ
The morning sun secures it with its guy ropes,
And the hands of al-Simak raise it high and support it.
يودّcovets حَصاهُits pebbles الدهرُTime لوif only أنّهthey غَداbecame
يودّ حَصاهُ الدهرُ لو أنّه غَدا
علىupon جِيدِهits neck عِقْداًa necklace يُناطُhung ويُنظَمُand strung
على جِيدِه عِقْداً يُناطُ ويُنظَمُ
Time covets its pebbles, wishing they could become
A necklace strung and hung upon its neck.
وحسبُand enough for الدُجىdarkness فخراًas glory بحَصباءِin the gravel of أرضِهhis land
وحسبُ الدُجى فخراً بحَصباءِ أرضِه
لوif اِنتثرَتْit were scattered منfrom فوقِهabove it وهْيand it is أنجُمُstars
لو اِنتثرَتْ من فوقِه وهْي أنجُمُ
Darkness would have enough glory in the gravel of his land,
Were it strewn above it as stars.
تُقبِّلُهاkiss them الأفواهُthe mouths حتّىuntil كأنّهاas though they
تُقبِّلُها الأفواهُ حتّى كأنّها
ثُغورُthe mouths of الغَوانيlovely women فهْيso they are تُهوَىdesired وتُلثَمُand kissed
ثُغورُ الغَواني فهْي تُهوَى وتُلثَمُ
Mouths kiss those pebbles, until they seem
The mouths of lovely women, desired and kissed.
نجيبٌa noble man نمَتْهُbrought him forth الغُرُّthe illustrious ones منfrom آلِthe house of حيدَرٍHaydar
نجيبٌ نمَتْهُ الغُرُّ من آلِ حيدَرٍ
مُلوكٌkings علىover كلِّall المُلوكِkings تقدّمواtook precedence
مُلوكٌ على كلِّ المُلوكِ تقدّموا
A noble man, born of the illustrious men of Haydar's house,
Kings who took precedence over all kings:
جِنانُgardens of نَعيمٍbliss غيرexcept أنّthat سُيوفَهُمtheir swords
جِنانُ نَعيمٍ غير أنّ سُيوفَهُم
لتعذِيبِfor tormenting أرواحthe spirits of الطُغاةِtyrants جهنّمُHell
لتعذِيبِ أرواح الطُغاةِ جهنّمُ
Gardens of bliss—yet their swords
Are Hell for tormenting the spirits of tyrants.
مُزانونَadorned فيin حَلْيthe ornaments of العُلاeminence منذُsince خلعِهمtheir casting off
مُزانونَ في حَلْي العُلا منذُ خلعِهم
تمائِمَهمْtheir amulets بالمَكرُماتِwith noble deeds تختّمواthey wore rings
تمائِمَهمْ بالمَكرُماتِ تختّموا
Adorned with lofty honor: from the day they cast off
Their amulets, they wore rings of noble deeds.
مَصاليتُfearless warriors يومَon the day of الكَرِّattack منwhomever شِئتَyou choose منهمُof them
مَصاليتُ يومَ الكَرِّ من شِئتَ منهمُ
بهby him يُصدَمis struck الجيشُthe army اللُّهامُvast ويُهزَمُand is routed
به يُصدَم الجيشُ اللُّهامُ ويُهزَمُ
Fearless warriors on the day of attack: whichever of them you choose,
By him a vast army is struck and routed.
مَضواthey passed away وأتىand he came منfrom بعدِهمafter them فأعادَهُمso brought them back
مَضوا وأتى من بعدِهم فأعادَهُم
إلىuntil أنthat رأىsaw كلَّall الوَرىmankind إنّهمthat they هُمُthey themselves
إلى أن رأى كلَّ الوَرى إنّهم هُمُ
They passed away, and he came after them, bringing them back,
Until all mankind saw that they were those very men.
تحدّرhe descended فيthrough الأصلابِthe loins حتّىuntil أتَتْthey came بهwith him
تحدّر في الأصلابِ حتّى أتَتْ به
فكانso he was هوhe السرُّthe secret الخفيّhidden المُكتّمُclosely concealed
فكان هو السرُّ الخفيّ المُكتّمُ
He descended through the loins until they brought him forth,
And he was the hidden, closely concealed secret.
أبوهُhis father ذُكاءٌDhuka, the sun أعقبَتْbegot خيرَthe finest أنجُمٍstars
أبوهُ ذُكاءٌ أعقبَتْ خيرَ أنجُمٍ
ولكنّهbut he is نجمٌa star هوhe البدرُthe full moon فيهمُamong them
ولكنّه نجمٌ هو البدرُ فيهمُ
His father is Dhuka, the sun, which begot the finest stars,
But he is a star that is their full moon.
كريمٌa generous man لديهwith him زِدْتُI increased قدْراًin worth ورِفعةًand in standing
كريمٌ لديه زِدْتُ قدْراً ورِفعةً
وتكرمةًand honor والحُرُّand the noble man للحُرِّthe noble man يُكرمُhonors
وتكرمةً والحُرُّ للحُرِّ يُكرمُ
A generous man: with him I gained in worth and standing,
And honor; the noble honor the noble.
فليso I have كلَّevery حينٍmoment منهfrom him لُطفٌkindness مجدَّدٌrenewed
فلي كلَّ حينٍ منه لُطفٌ مجدَّدٌ
وليand I have كلَّevery يومٍday منfrom أيادِيهhis benefactions أنعُمُfavors
ولي كلَّ يومٍ من أيادِيه أنعُمُ
At every moment I receive fresh kindness from him,
And every day new favors from his benefactions.
أمَولايَO my lord ياO مولايَmy lord دعوةَthe plea of مُخلصٍa sincere man
أمَولايَ يا مولايَ دعوةَ مُخلصٍ
حليفِan ally in ولاًloyalty فيin وُدّهhis affection لاnot يُجَمْجِمُequivocates
حليفِ ولاً في وُدّه لا يُجَمْجِمُ
O my lord, my lord—hear the plea of a sincere man,
A sworn ally in loyalty, unhesitating in his love.
لقدindeed أوجبَتْhas made obligatory نُعماكَyour bounty حجّاًa pilgrimage وعُمرةًand an umrah
لقد أوجبَتْ نُعماكَ حجّاً وعُمرةً
علىupon ذمّتيmy obligation والحجُّand pilgrimage فرضٌa duty محتّمُbinding
على ذمّتي والحجُّ فرضٌ محتّمُ
Your bounty has laid upon me a pilgrimage and an umrah,
As my obligation; pilgrimage is a binding duty.
فهلso is there إذنpermission ليfor me أقضيto discharge حُقوقَthe obligations of مناسكٍrites
فهل إذن لي أقضي حُقوقَ مناسكٍ
تُشاركُنيyou share with me فيهاin them الثّوابَthe reward ونَغنَمُand we gain
تُشاركُني فيها الثّوابَ ونَغنَمُ
So is there permission for me to discharge the obligations of rites
In whose reward you share with me, and we both gain?
ليَهنكَmay it gladden you صومُthe fast of الشهرِthe month وُفّيتَmay you be paid in full أجرَهُits reward
ليَهنكَ صومُ الشهرِ وُفّيتَ أجرَهُ
وبالعزِّand with honor عُقباهُits outcome لكfor you اللَّهُGod يختمُseals
وبالعزِّ عُقباهُ لك اللَّهُ يختمُ
May the month's fast gladden you; may its reward be paid you in full,
And may God seal its end for you with honor;
وعودةُand the return of عيدٍa feast قدalready تزيّنhas been adorned جيدُهits neck
وعودةُ عيدٍ قد تزيّن جيدُه
بطَوقِwith the collar of هِلالٍa crescent نُونُهits letter nun ليسis not تُعجَمُdotted
بطَوقِ هِلالٍ نُونُه ليس تُعجَمُ
And the return of a feast whose neck has been adorned
With a crescent's collar, its letter nun left undotted.
هِلالٌa crescent إذاwhen قابلْتَهyou face it زالvanishes نقصُهits incompleteness
هِلالٌ إذا قابلْتَه زال نقصُه
فيشرقُso it shines ليلاًat night وهوand it is بدرٌa full moon متمَّمُmade complete
فيشرقُ ليلاً وهو بدرٌ متمَّمُ
A crescent whose incompleteness vanishes when you face it,
So it shines by night as a perfected full moon.
يصوغit fashions لوِردِfor the lion of الليلِnight مِخلبَa claw of فضّةٍsilver
يصوغ لوِردِ الليلِ مِخلبَ فضّةٍ
ولولاكand but for you أمسىit would become وهْوand it is ظُفرٌa nail مقلَّمُclipped
ولولاك أمسى وهْو ظُفرٌ مقلَّمُ
It fashions a silver claw for the lion of night;
But for you, it would become a clipped nail.
فلاso never زِلتَmay you cease تَكسوto clothe وجههُits face مَنْfrom سَناthe radiance of العُلاeminence
فلا زِلتَ تَكسو وجههُ مَنْ سَنا العُلا
ولاand never زالmay it cease بالإقبالِwith auspicious approach نحوكَtoward you يخدُمُto serve
ولا زال بالإقبالِ نحوكَ يخدُمُ
May you never cease to clothe its face in the radiance of eminence,
And may it ever serve you, approaching with good fortune.
لعينيكَto your two eyes يبدوit appears وهْوand it is قلبُthe heart of حَبيبِهits lover
لعينيكَ يبدو وهْو قلبُ حَبيبِه
ويَلقىand it meets الأعاديthe enemies وهْوand it is سيفٌa sword مصمِّمُcleaving straight through
ويَلقى الأعادي وهْو سيفٌ مصمِّمُ
To your eyes it appears as the heart of its lover,
And meets enemies as a sword that cuts straight through.
Sol 6.1