إلىto اللّهِGod نَشكوwe complain of فادِحاتِcrushing النّوائِبِthe calamities
إلى اللّهِ نَشكو فادِحاتِ النّوائِبِ
فقدfor indeed فجَعَتْناthey bereaved us فيin أجلِّthe noblest of المَطالبِaspirations
فقد فجَعَتْنا في أجلِّ المَطالبِ
To God we complain of crushing calamities.
To God we complain of the calamities that afflict us,
They have bereaved us in our noblest hopes.
For they have saddened us, seeking the most precious.
رمَتْناthey struck us برُزْءٍwith a grievous loss لوif رمَتْthey hurled فيهinto it يَذبُلاًYadhbul
رمَتْنا برُزْءٍ لو رمَتْ فيه يَذبُلاً
لزُلزِلَwould surely be shaken منهby it راسِخاتُthe firmly rooted الجوانِبِflanks
لزُلزِلَ منه راسِخاتُ الجوانِبِ
They struck us with a loss that, had they hurled Yadhbul into it,
They have assailed us with contempt, which if assailed by,
Would have shaken its firmly rooted flanks.
The firmly rooted mountains would shake and tremble.
فتبّاًso perdition لدهْرٍto an age لاnever تزالُcease خُطوبُهits calamities
فتبّاً لدهْرٍ لا تزالُ خُطوبُه
تُطالِبُdemand payment from فيin أوتارِهاtheir blood-feuds كلَّevery طالِبِseeker
تُطالِبُ في أوتارِها كلَّ طالِبِ
So perdition to an age whose calamities never cease
Woe to a life whose calamities are unceasing,
Demanding their blood-debts from every seeker.
Plucking each chord of longing within the seeker.
كأنّas though اللياليthe nights فيهِin it فيin بعضِهاsome of them لهُمْfor them
كأنّ الليالي فيهِ في بعضِها لهُمْ
قدindeed اِتّصلَتْhave become joined أرحامُهاtheir kinship ties بالنّواصِبِwith the Nasibis
قد اِتّصلَتْ أرحامُها بالنّواصِبِ
As though some of this age's nights, for their sake,
As if its nights amongst each other in part,
Had formed bonds of kinship with the Nasibis.
Are linked in kinship with those who sever ties.
فإنّاfor we وإنْeven though ساءَتْhave treated badly إلَيْناtoward us صُروفُهاtheir vicissitudes
فإنّا وإنْ ساءَتْ إلَيْنا صُروفُها
فقدyet indeed حسّنَتْhave refined أخلاقُناour character بالتّجارِبِthrough trials
فقد حسّنَتْ أخلاقُنا بالتّجارِبِ
For though their vicissitudes have treated us ill,
But even as its turns have brought us sorrow,
Our character has nevertheless been refined through trials.
Our character has been refined through trials.
فياoh, then لَيْتَهاwould that they فدّتْhad ransomed حُسَيْناًHusayn بماwith whatever تَشاthey wished
فيا لَيْتَها فدّتْ حُسَيْناً بما تَشا
منَfrom الوَفْدِthe visitors منamong ماشٍone walking إليهِto him وراكِبِand one riding
منَ الوَفْدِ من ماشٍ إليهِ وراكِبِ
Oh, would that they had ransomed Husayn with whomever they wished
Would that it had ransomed Husayn with what was offered,
From the visitors, those walking to him and those riding.
Of gifts from far and near to him, the chosen one.
لقدindeed شَفعَتْthey doubled يومَon the day of الصّفوفِthe battle ranks بمِثلِهwith his equal
لقد شَفعَتْ يومَ الصّفوفِ بمِثلِه
وثنّتْand doubled it بلَيثٍwith a lion منof لُؤيِّLu'ayy بنِson of غالِبِGhalib
وثنّتْ بلَيثٍ من لُؤيِّ بنِ غالِبِ
Indeed, on the day of battle ranks they doubled the loss with his like,
On the day of the rows of battle, it mediated through his like,
And made it two with a lion of Lu'ayy ibn Ghalib.
And because of Laith it glorified the son of Ghalib.
هِزَبْرٌa lion تَرىyou see بيضَwhite العَطاياgifts بكفّهِin his palm
هِزَبْرٌ تَرى بيضَ العَطايا بكفّهِ
وحُمرَand crimson المَواضيkeen blades بينَbetween حُمرِcrimson المَخالِبِclaws
وحُمرَ المَواضي بينَ حُمرِ المَخالِبِ
A lion—you see white gifts in his palm,
Swords in the hands of death are his eyes,
And crimson blades between crimson claws.
While its bows are arches above the brows.
صوارمُهhis sharp swords فيin أوجُهِthe faces of الموتِdeath أعيُنٌeyes
صوارمُه في أوجُهِ الموتِ أعيُنٌ
وأقوُسُهand his bows منهاrelative to them مَكانَin the place of الحَواجِبِeyebrows
وأقوُسُه منها مَكانَ الحَواجِبِ
His sharp swords are eyes in the faces of death,
A youth who was like scent on the hillside,
And his bows occupy the place of eyebrows above them.
And beauty manifest among the high and noble.
فتىًa youth كانَwas كالتّوريدِlike a rosy blush فيon وجنةِthe cheek of العُلىglory
فتىً كانَ كالتّوريدِ في وجنةِ العُلى
وكالعِقْدِand like a necklace حُسناًin beauty فيupon نُحورِthe necks of المَراتِبِhigh ranks
وكالعِقْدِ حُسناً في نُحورِ المَراتِبِ
A youth who was like a rosy blush on glory's cheek,
After him the new moon of glory will not shine,
And like a necklace in beauty upon the necks of high ranks.
Nor will the Indian smile joyfully holding spears.
فلاso may not اِنطَبَقَتْclose عينُthe eye of العُلاglory بعدَafter فَقدِهhis loss
فلا اِنطَبَقَتْ عينُ العُلا بعدَ فَقدِه
ولاnor may اِبتسَمَsmile الهِنديُّthe Indian sword فيin كفِّthe hand of ضارِبِa wielder
ولا اِبتسَمَ الهِنديُّ في كفِّ ضارِبِ
So may glory's eye never close after his loss,
Beloved he lives beneath the soil in a grave,
Nor an Indian sword smile in a wielder's hand.
Would that it were a perfumed shrine instead.
عزيزٌa cherished man ثَوىlay buried تحتَbeneath التُرابِthe dust بحُفرةٍin a pit
عزيزٌ ثَوى تحتَ التُرابِ بحُفرةٍ
فياoh, then لَيتَهاwould that it محفورةwere dug فيamong التّرائِبِthe breastbones
فيا لَيتَها محفورة في التّرائِبِ
A cherished man lies beneath the dust in a pit;
Think not that life has departed from his body there,
Oh, would that it were dug among our breastbones!
Does not the life of the revered shine like lamps?
فلاso do not تحسَبوهُthink him منof دُجىthe darkness of القبرِthe grave راهِباًafraid
فلا تحسَبوهُ من دُجى القبرِ راهِباً
ألَيْسَis not المُحيّاthe face منهُof his مصباحَthe lamp of راهِبِa monk
ألَيْسَ المُحيّا منهُ مصباحَ راهِبِ
Do not think him fearful of the grave's darkness:
May God water his dwelling with pardon and mercy,
Is his face not a monk's lamp?
And shield him on the day when defects are laid bare.
سَقىmay water اللّهُGod مَثواهُhis resting place بعَفْوٍwith pardon ورَحمةٍand mercy
سَقى اللّهُ مَثواهُ بعَفْوٍ ورَحمةٍ
وأولاهُand may grant him سِتراًa veil يومَon the day of كَشْفِexposing المَعايبِfaults
وأولاهُ سِتراً يومَ كَشْفِ المَعايبِ
May God water his resting place with pardon and mercy,
Not poor is his grave to life that remains,
And grant him a veil on the day faults are laid bare.
Within it has dawned an ocean delightful to partake.
وماand what فَقْرُneed مَثواهhis resting place الرّويِّwell-watered إلىfor الحَياrain
وما فَقْرُ مَثواه الرّويِّ إلى الحَيا
وفيهِwhile within it انطَوىlies enfolded بحرٌa sea لذيذsweet المَشاربِin its draughts
وفيهِ انطَوى بحرٌ لذيذ المَشاربِ
What need has his well-watered resting place of rain,
In the biers of the palm-branches no need lies for his bier
When within it lies enfolded a sea of sweet draughts?
Sufficient is what the bosoms of the balms contain.
وماand what فيin بَناتِthe Daughters of النّعشِthe Bier (constellation) حاجةُneed نعشِهِhis bier
وما في بَناتِ النّعشِ حاجةُ نعشِهِ
كفىsuffices ماwhat حوَتْهُit contained منof حِسانِbeautiful المَناقِبِvirtues
كفى ما حوَتْهُ من حِسانِ المَناقِبِ
What need has his bier of the Daughters of the Bier?
Heaven and earth wept for him until their tears flowed,
The beautiful virtues it has borne suffice.
With the tears of the clouds flowing abundantly.
نعَتْهُannounced his death السّماheaven والأرضُand earth حتّىuntil بكَتْwept لهfor him
نعَتْهُ السّما والأرضُ حتّى بكَتْ له
جُفونُthe eyelids of الغَواديmorning rainclouds بالدّموعِwith tears السّواكِبِstreaming
جُفونُ الغَوادي بالدّموعِ السّواكِبِ
Heaven and earth announced his death, till for him there wept
In grief the bamboo cane has bowed its shoulders,
The eyelids of morning clouds, with streaming tears.
Yearning after him the wild deer and does.
ورقّand softened القَناthe spears حُزناًin grief عليهِfor him صُدورهtheir breasts
ورقّ القَنا حُزناً عليهِ صُدوره
وحنّتْand yearned إليهِfor him صاهِلاتُthe neighing السّلاهِبِlong-bodied steeds
وحنّتْ إليهِ صاهِلاتُ السّلاهِبِ
The breasts of spears softened in grief for him,
Those afar tore their garments in anguish,
And tall, neighing steeds yearned for him.
Beyond even the sincerity of kin by blood.
وشقّتْand tore عليهِfor him الأبعَدونَdistant strangers جُيوبَهاtheir collars
وشقّتْ عليهِ الأبعَدونَ جُيوبَها
منَfrom الوجدِanguish فضلاًto say nothing عنof قُلوبِthe hearts of الأقارِبِrelatives
منَ الوجدِ فضلاً عن قُلوبِ الأقارِبِ
Distant strangers tore their collars for him
Goodness and valor he fulfilled and righteousness,
In anguish—to say nothing of his relatives' hearts.
While the ways of right conduct narrowed around us.
قضىhe died فقضىso died المعروفُkindness والبأسُand valor والرّجاand hope
قضى فقضى المعروفُ والبأسُ والرّجا
وضاقَتْand narrowed عليناfor us واسِعاتُthe broad expanses of المَذاهِبِpaths
وضاقَتْ علينا واسِعاتُ المَذاهِبِ
He died, and kindness, valor, and hope died with him;
Over his loss my heart is no less wounded,
And broad paths grew narrow for us.
Than the heart of a wolf bereft of her cubs.
فليسَso is not عليهover him القلبُthe heart منamong أُسْدِthe lions of قومِهhis people
فليسَ عليه القلبُ من أُسْدِ قومِه
بأجزَعَmore anguished منthan خُمْصِthe lean الذِّئابِwolves السّواغِبِfamished
بأجزَعَ من خُمْصِ الذِّئابِ السّواغِبِ
No heart among his people's lions grieves for him
So say to the seekers of glory to cease their quest,
More bitterly than the lean, famished wolves.
For the disappointment of endeavor and the trials of misfortune.
فقُلْso tell لبَنيthe sons of الحاجاتِneed كُفّواcease عنِfrom السُّرىnight travel
فقُلْ لبَني الحاجاتِ كُفّوا عنِ السُّرى
فواoh, alas خَيبةَthe failure of المسعىthe quest وفَوْتَand the loss of المآرِبِdesired aims
فوا خَيبةَ المسعى وفَوْتَ المآرِبِ
So tell the sons of need: cease your night journeys.
I see the earth has obscured him from sight,
Alas for the fruitless quest and the loss of desired aims!
As if the shining moons and the gleaming constellations.
أرىI see الأرضَthe earth حالَتْhas intervened دونَهbetween us and him فتكسّفَتْso were eclipsed
أرى الأرضَ حالَتْ دونَه فتكسّفَتْ
لمرآهُat the sight of him أقمارُthe moons of الدُّجىdarkness والملاعِبِand pleasure grounds
لمرآهُ أقمارُ الدُّجى والملاعِبِ
I see the earth has hidden him, and so were eclipsed
Have Muzn, the clouds' pasturing ground, stripped of his traits,
At the sight of him, the moons of night and of pleasure grounds.
With the firm knots of its gatherings as shooting stars?
سنَبْكيهِwe shall weep for him ماas long as عِشناwe live وإنْand if قلَّdwindles دَمعُناour tears
سنَبْكيهِ ما عِشنا وإنْ قلَّ دَمعُنا
أزَدْناهُwe shall increase it منّاfrom us بالقُلوبِwith hearts الذّوائِبِmelting
أزَدْناهُ منّا بالقُلوبِ الذّوائِبِ
We shall weep for him as long as we live; if our tears run scant,
Or has his perfections been buried in the soil,
We shall swell them with our own melting hearts.
While its origin remains between the stars?
فلاso may not سلِمَتْbe spared نفْسٌa soul منfrom الوَجدِanguish لمnot تَذُبْmelt
فلا سلِمَتْ نفْسٌ من الوَجدِ لم تَذُبْ
عليهِfor him ولاnor قلبٌa heart غَداbecame غيرَnot واجِبِthrobbing
عليهِ ولا قلبٌ غَدا غيرَ واجِبِ
May no soul be spared anguish that has not melted
Without him, pleasure in verse has no delight for us
For him, nor any heart that has failed to throb.
Even if we borrowed meanings from folds of the bosoms.
سلِask الأرضَthe earth عنهُabout him هلwhether تصدّىhas rusted فِرِندُهhis blade's luster
سلِ الأرضَ عنهُ هل تصدّى فِرِندُه
فعَهديfor my recollection بهof him نَصْلٌa blade صَقيلُpolished المَضارِبِat the cutting edges
فعَهدي به نَصْلٌ صَقيلُ المَضارِبِ
Ask the earth about him: has his blade's luster rusted?
When after him will days quench our flames,
For I remember him as a blade with polished cutting edges.
Having immersed in the earth the vastness of gifts?
وهلand have أقْشَعَتْdispersed مُزْنُthe rainclouds of النّدىbounty منfrom بَنانِهhis fingertips
وهل أقْشَعَتْ مُزْنُ النّدى من بَنانِه
فعِلميَfor my knowledge فيهاof them وهْيَwhile they are عشْرُten سَحائِبِclouds
فعِلميَ فيها وهْيَ عشْرُ سَحائِبِ
And have the rainclouds of bounty dispersed from his fingertips?
And when will we seek repose from them,
For I knew them as ten rainclouds.
When they have sunken us into most wretched troubles?
وهلand have دُفِنَتْbeen buried منهُof his الشّمائِلُnoble qualities فيin الثّرىthe soil
وهل دُفِنَتْ منهُ الشّمائِلُ في الثّرى
فمركزُهاfor their station الأصليُّoriginal بينamong الكواكِبِthe stars
فمركزُها الأصليُّ بين الكواكِبِ
And have his noble qualities been buried in the soil?
Noble, his rest after death has become,
For their native station lies among the stars.
As his morals spread open to the aspirations.
فماso no للثّناfor praise منfrom بعدِهafter him بهجةٌsplendor ولوeven if
فما للثّنا من بعدِه بهجةٌ ولو
سرَقْناwe stole المعانيthe meanings منfrom ثَناياthe front teeth of الكَواعِبِbudding-breasted maidens
سرَقْنا المعاني من ثَنايا الكَواعِبِ
After him, praise has no splendor, even if
By his life's close, death seized him entirely,
We stole meanings from the front teeth of budding-breasted maidens.
Without seizing him when warriors' arms were gripped.
متىwhen بعدَهُafter him الأيّامُthe days تُطفيwill quench أُوامَناour burning thirst
متى بعدَهُ الأيّامُ تُطفي أُوامَنا
وقدwhen indeed غوّرَتْhave made sink بالأرضِinto the earth بحرَthe sea of المَواهِبِgifts
وقد غوّرَتْ بالأرضِ بحرَ المَواهِبِ
When, after him, will the days quench our burning thirst,
His loss has made the night eternal for us,
When they have sunk the sea of gifts into the earth?
With no dawn appearing after him that is not false.
وأنّىand how لناfor us منهاfrom them نُحاولُwe seek راحةًrest
وأنّى لنا منها نُحاولُ راحةً
وقدwhen indeed أوقعَتْناthey have cast us فيinto أشقِّthe harshest المَتاعِبِhardships
وقد أوقعَتْنا في أشقِّ المَتاعِبِ
And how can we seek any rest from them,
As if the plaits of darkness by his adversity,
When they have cast us into the harshest hardships?
For us are joined to forelocks by sorrows.
كريمٌa generous man غدَتْremained راحاتُهhis palms بعدafter موتِهhis death
كريمٌ غدَتْ راحاتُه بعد موتِه
لعاداتِهاtrue to their custom مبسوطةًoutstretched للرّغائِبِto meet desires
لعاداتِها مبسوطةً للرّغائِبِ
A generous man whose palms, after his death, remained
Were it not for God completing the light of guidance for us,
Outstretched to meet desires, as was their custom.
Through his father we would live in the darkness of deviations.
تمكّنgained mastery منهُover him الموتُdeath فيin قَبضِseizing روحِهhis soul
تمكّن منهُ الموتُ في قَبضِ روحِه
ولمand did not يتمكّنْgain mastery عندَwhen قبضِclenching الرّواجِبِthe finger-joints
ولم يتمكّنْ عندَ قبضِ الرّواجِبِ
Death gained mastery over him in seizing his soul,
O father of generosity, piety and glory, O brother of bounty,
Yet could not manage to close his finger-joints.
Brilliance of the highest traits, full moon of the brave.
أدامَmade perpetual عليناfor us فَقْدُهhis loss الليلَthe night سَرْمَداًforever
أدامَ علينا فَقْدُه الليلَ سَرْمَداً
فلمso not نلْقَdid we find فجراًa dawn بعدَهُafter him غيرَother than كاذِبِa false one
فلم نلْقَ فجراً بعدَهُ غيرَ كاذِبِ
His loss has made the night eternal for us,
Open handed in the land of the two gardens is his abode,
So we have found no dawn after him but a false one.
While his renown unto every seeker flows.
كأنّas though قُرونَthe horns of الحالِقاتِthe towering mountains لرُزْئِهat his loss
كأنّ قُرونَ الحالِقاتِ لرُزْئِه
لناfor us وصلَتْjoined عُمرَthe lifetime of الدُّجىdarkness بالذّوائِبِto the forelocks
لنا وصلَتْ عُمرَ الدُّجى بالذّوائِبِ
As though the horns of towering mountains, at his loss,
May God make his life last and extend it,
Had bound the lifetime of darkness to their forelocks for us.
And suffice him in both abodes against evil ends.
فلوso if لمnot يُتِمِّhad completed اللّهُGod نورَthe light of الهُدىguidance لناfor us
فلو لم يُتِمِّ اللّهُ نورَ الهُدى لنا
بوالدِهthrough his father عِشْناwe would have lived بسُودِin the blackness of الغَياهِبِdeep gloom
بوالدِه عِشْنا بسُودِ الغَياهِبِ
Had God not completed the light of guidance for us
May his eyes not witness in his loved ones,
Through his father, we would have lived in pitch-black gloom:
Nor his ears hear the voice of the wailing mourner.
أبيthe father of الجُودِgenerosity والتّقوىand piety عليّAli أخيthe brother of النّدىbounty
أبي الجُودِ والتّقوى عليّ أخي النّدى
ذُكاءِDhuka' (the sun) المعاليnoble heights بدرِthe full moon of شُهبِthe bright stars of الكَتائِبِbattalions
ذُكاءِ المعالي بدرِ شُهبِ الكَتائِبِ
The father of generosity and piety, Ali, brother of bounty,
May his sons and their sons remain,
Dhuka', sun of noble heights, full moon of the battalions' stars.
Rallying to him in victory from all sides.
جوادٌa generous man بأرضِin the land of الكَرخَتَيْنِal-Karkhatayn مُقامُهhis dwelling
جوادٌ بأرضِ الكَرخَتَيْنِ مُقامُه
ومعروفُهand his kindness يَسريtravels إلىto كلِّevery طالبِseeker
ومعروفُه يَسري إلى كلِّ طالبِ
A generous man whose dwelling is in the land of al-Karkhatayn,
Lions, when the claws of their young are sharpened,
And whose kindness travels to every seeker.
Hunting the lions of prey, cubs of lions.
عسىmay اللّهُGod يُبقيpreserve عُمرَهhis life ويمدُّهand prolong it
عسى اللّهُ يُبقي عُمرَه ويمدُّه
ويَكفيهِand spare him فيin الدّارَينِboth worlds سوءَthe evil of العَواقِبِoutcomes
ويَكفيهِ في الدّارَينِ سوءَ العَواقِبِ
May God preserve his life and prolong it,
Gardens watered by the Fatimis with their essence,
And spare him ill outcomes in both worlds.
The most fragrant branches from the most fragrant roots.
ولاand may not شهِدَتْwitness عيناهُhis eyes بينَamong أحبّةٍloved ones
ولا شهِدَتْ عيناهُ بينَ أحبّةٍ
ولاnor may سمِعَتْhear أُذْناهُhis ears صوتَthe voices of النّوادِبِmourning women
ولا سمِعَتْ أُذْناهُ صوتَ النّوادِبِ
May his eyes never witness sorrow among loved ones,
Wondrous progeny from a womb purified from filth,
Nor his ears hear the voices of mourning women.
Radiant moons, they came from luminous horizons.
ولاand may not برِحَتْcease أبناؤهُhis sons وبَنوهُمُand their sons
ولا برِحَتْ أبناؤهُ وبَنوهُمُ
تحِفُّsurround بهhim للنّصْرِin support منfrom كلِّevery جانبِside
تحِفُّ به للنّصْرِ من كلِّ جانبِ
May his sons and their sons never cease
May their Lord protect them from all evil,
To surround him in support on every side:
And deliver them the most noble of aspirations and wants.
أُسودٌlions إذاwhen شُدَّتْare fastened ثعالِبُthe foxes (spearhead tangs) of لُدْنِهمtheir supple spears
أُسودٌ إذا شُدَّتْ ثعالِبُ لُدْنِهم
تَصيدُthey hunt أسودَthe lions of الصيدِthe chase صيدُthe hunting of الثّعالِبِfoxes
تَصيدُ أسودَ الصيدِ صيدُ الثّعالِبِ
Lions—when the 'foxes' of their supple spears are fastened,
They hunt the lions of the chase as foxes are hunted.
رياضٌgardens سقَتْهاwatered them الفاطميّاتُwomen of Fatima's line درَّهاtheir milk
رياضٌ سقَتْها الفاطميّاتُ درَّها
وأزْكىand the purest فروعٍbranches منfrom أصولٍroots أطايِبِchoicest
وأزْكى فروعٍ من أصولٍ أطايِبِ
Gardens watered with their milk by women of Fatima's line,
And the purest branches from the choicest roots.
سُلالاتُscions of أرحامٍwombs منof الرِّجْسِdefilement طُهِّرَتْpurified
سُلالاتُ أرحامٍ من الرِّجْسِ طُهِّرَتْ
مَيامينُblessed ones أنجابٌnoble scions أتَوْاcame منfrom نَجائِبِnoble women
مَيامينُ أنجابٌ أتَوْا من نَجائِبِ
Scions of wombs purified of defilement,
Blessed, noble ones born of noble women.
وقاهُmay protect him وإيّاهُمand them منfrom السّوءِevil ربُّهمtheir Lord
وقاهُ وإيّاهُم من السّوءِ ربُّهم
وبلّغَهُمand may bring them to أسنىthe loftiest المُنىwishes والمطالِبِand aspirations
وبلّغَهُم أسنى المُنى والمطالِبِ
May their Lord protect him and them from evil,
And bring them to the loftiest wishes and aspirations.
Partial English translation: 82 of 90 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1