هُوَit is المَوتُdeath عَضبٌa keen sword لاnot تَخونُfail مَضارِبُهits striking edges
هُوَ المَوتُ عَضبٌ لا تَخونُ مَضارِبُه
وَحَوضٌand a pool زُعاقٌbitter and briny كُلُّeveryone مَنwho عاشَlived شارِبُهdrinking it
وَحَوضٌ زُعاقٌ كُلُّ مَن عاشَ شارِبُه
Death is a keen sword whose strokes never fail,
and a bitter, briny pool that everyone who lives must drink.
وَماand not الناسُpeople إِلّاexcept وارِدوهُthose approaching it فَسابِقٌso one arriving first
وَما الناسُ إِلّا وارِدوهُ فَسابِقٌ
إِلَيهِto it وَمَسبوقٌand one preceded تَخِبُّtrot نَجائِبُهhis noble camels
إِلَيهِ وَمَسبوقٌ تَخِبُّ نَجائِبُه
People are only those who come to it: one arrives first,
another follows, his noble camels trotting toward it.
يُحِبُّdesires الفَتىthe young man إِدراكَattaining ماwhat هُوَhe راغِبٌdesires
يُحِبُّ الفَتى إِدراكَ ما هُوَ راغِبٌ
وَيُدرِكُهُand overtakes him لابُدَّinevitably ماwhat هُوَhe راهِبُهfears
وَيُدرِكُهُ لابُدَّ ما هُوَ راهِبُه
A young man longs to attain what he desires,
but what he fears will inevitably overtake him.
فَكَمso how many لابِسٍa wearer ثَوبَthe garment of الحَياةِlife فَجاءَهُthen came to him
فَكَم لابِسٍ ثَوبَ الحَياةِ فَجاءَهُ
عَلىupon فَجأَةٍa sudden moment عادٍan assailant مِنَfrom المَوتِdeath سالِبُهstripping him
عَلى فَجأَةٍ عادٍ مِنَ المَوتِ سالِبُه
How many wore the garment of life, only to be visited
suddenly by an assailant from death who stripped it away!
وَلَمand did not يَقِهِprotect him فِرعَونَPharaoh عَونٌaid أَعَدَّهُhe prepared it
وَلَم يَقِهِ فِرعَونَ عَونٌ أَعَدَّهُ
وَلاnor مُردُbeardless youths of نَمروذٍNimrod حَمَتprotected وَأَشايِبُهand his motley hosts
وَلا مُردُ نَمروذٍ حَمَت وَأَشايِبُه
No aid he had prepared protected Pharaoh,
nor did Nimrod's beardless youths and motley hosts protect him.
وَهَلand did كانَever أَبقىkeep alive بُختَنصَّرَNebuchadnezzar بَختُهُhis fortune
وَهَل كانَ أَبقى بُختَنصَّرَ بَختُهُ
وَأَنصارُهُand his supporters لَمّاwhen تَحَدّاهُchallenged him واجِبُهhis inevitable doom
وَأَنصارُهُ لَمّا تَحَدّاهُ واجِبُه
Did Nebuchadnezzar's fortune keep him alive,
or his supporters, when his inevitable doom challenged him?
فَماso did not صانَpreserve حِبراًa scholar عِلمُهُhis learning وَكِتابُهُand his book
فَما صانَ حِبراً عِلمُهُ وَكِتابُهُ
وَلاnor مَلِكاًa king أَعلامُهُhis banners وَكَتائِبُهand his battalions
وَلا مَلِكاً أَعلامُهُ وَكَتائِبُه
Neither learning nor his book preserved a scholar,
nor banners and battalions a king.
وَلَسناand we do not نَسُبُّcurse الدَهرَtime فيماfor what يُصيبُناbefalls us
وَلَسنا نَسُبُّ الدَهرَ فيما يُصيبُنا
فَلاfor neither الدَهرُtime جاليهِdispelling it وَلاnor هُوَit جالِبُهbringing it
فَلا الدَهرُ جاليهِ وَلا هُوَ جالِبُه
We do not curse time for what befalls us,
for time neither dispels it nor brings it.
مَضىpassed مُشرِقَradiant in الأَيّامِdays حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen اِنقَضَتended
مَضى مُشرِقَ الأَيّامِ حَتّى إِذا اِنقَضَت
لَياليthe nights of أَبيAbu حَفصٍHafs تَوَلَّتtook command غَياهِبُهits deep darkness
لَيالي أَبي حَفصٍ تَوَلَّت غَياهِبُه
Time passed with radiant days until, when
Abu Hafs's nights ended, its deep darkness took command.
نَقيبٌa chief نَسيناwe forgot كُلَّevery شَيءٍthing لِرُزئِهِbecause of his loss
نَقيبٌ نَسينا كُلَّ شَيءٍ لِرُزئِهِ
تُذَكِّرُناهُremind us of him كُلَّevery آنٍmoment مَناقِبُهhis virtues
تُذَكِّرُناهُ كُلَّ آنٍ مَناقِبُه
A chief whose loss made us forget everything;
his virtues remind us of him at every moment.
أَناعِيَهُO announcer of his death أَرسَلتَyou sent forth عَزلاءَunarmed مُهجَتيmy heart
أَناعِيَهُ أَرسَلتَ عَزلاءَ مُهجَتي
فَهاso here دَمُهاits blood حِملاقَthe inner rim of جَفنيmy eyelid ساكِبُهpouring it
فَها دَمُها حِملاقَ جَفني ساكِبُه
O announcer of his death, you sent my heart forth unarmed;
so here my eyelid's inner rim pours out its blood.
طَوىfolded away نَعيُهُnews of his death وَعييmy awareness فَهاso here أَناI غائِبٌabsent
طَوى نَعيُهُ وَعيي فَها أَنا غائِبٌ
عَنِfrom الحِسِّthe senses فيهِin it ذاهِلُdazed in العَقلِthe mind ذاهِبُهbereft of it
عَنِ الحِسِّ فيهِ ذاهِلُ العَقلِ ذاهِبُه
The news of his death folded away my awareness; here I am absent
from the senses through it, my mind dazed and gone.
تَمَكَّنَtook hold مِنof نَفسيmy soul بِنَفسٍat the very سَماعهhearing of it
تَمَكَّنَ مِن نَفسي بِنَفسٍ سَماعه
جَوىanguish فيهِin which كُلّيmy whole self ذابَmelted قَلبيmy heart وَقالِبُهand its frame
جَوى فيهِ كُلّي ذابَ قَلبي وَقالِبُه
At the mere hearing of it, there seized my soul
an anguish in which my whole self melted—my heart and its frame.
فَلاقَيتُهُso I faced it لُقياthe encounter of شَجٍa grieving man مُتَعَلِّلٍseeking solace
فَلاقَيتُهُ لُقيا شَجٍ مُتَعَلِّلٍ
بِصِدقِin the truth of الأَمانيwishes والأَمانيand wishes كَواذِبُهdeceiving him
بِصِدقِ الأَماني والأَماني كَواذِبُه
I faced it as a grieving man seeking solace
in the truth of wishes, though wishes deceive him.
عَزاءَthe solace of حَيِيٍّa modest man عَمَّهُengulfed him الشَجوُgrief لاnot يَنيslackens
عَزاءَ حَيِيٍّ عَمَّهُ الشَجوُ لا يَني
تُساوِرُهُassail him حَيّاتُهُits snakes وَعَقارِبُهand its scorpions
تُساوِرُهُ حَيّاتُهُ وَعَقارِبُه
The solace of a modest man engulfed in grief that never slackens;
its snakes and scorpions assail him.
أُعاتِبُهُI reproach him فيماfor what أَقامَhe brought about وَلَمand did not يَقُمstand
أُعاتِبُهُ فيما أَقامَ وَلَم يَقُم
عَلىupon حُجَّةِthe defense of المُعذورِone excused فيماfor what أُعاتِبُهI reproach him
عَلى حُجَّةِ المُعذورِ فيما أُعاتِبُه
I reproach him for what he wrought; he has not stood
on an excusable man's defense against my reproach.
أَهذيare these السَحابُclouds الغُرُّbright white وَهيَand they مُلِثَّةٌpersistently raining
أَهذي السَحابُ الغُرُّ وَهيَ مُلِثَّةٌ
بَواكيهِhis weeping mourners أَمor تِلكَthose الرُعودُthunderclaps نَوادِبُهhis lamenters
بَواكيهِ أَم تِلكَ الرُعودُ نَوادِبُه
Are these bright clouds, ceaselessly raining,
his weeping mourners, or are those thunderclaps his lamenters?
تَضَعضَعَتِwas shaken الدُّنياthe world فَسَلمىso Salma رَأَيتُهُI saw it
تَضَعضَعَتِ الدُّنيا فَسَلمى رَأَيتُهُ
لِفَقدِat the loss of اِبنِIbn هَدHad هُدَّwas crushed بِالهَمِّby grief جانِبُهits flank
لِفَقدِ اِبنِ هَد هُدَّ بِالهَمِّ جانِبُه
The world was shaken: I saw even Salma
with its flank crushed by grief at the loss of Ibn Had.
فَلاso no حَيَّclan إِلّاexcept وَهوَand it أَصبَحَbecame مَأتَماًa mourning gathering
فَلا حَيَّ إِلّا وَهوَ أَصبَحَ مَأتَماً
تُداوَلُهُtake turns attending it أَشياخُهُits elders وَكَواعِبُهand its nubile maidens
تُداوَلُهُ أَشياخُهُ وَكَواعِبُه
No clan remained but became a gathering of mourning,
attended in turn by its elders and its young maidens.
فَقَدso indeed صَحَّwas confirmed مَوتُthe death of المَكرماتِnoble virtues بِمَوتِهِthrough his death
فَقَد صَحَّ مَوتُ المَكرماتِ بِمَوتِهِ
وَصَرَّحَand declared openly ناعيهِhis death-crier وَلَوَّحَand hinted ناعِبُهhis cawing raven
وَصَرَّحَ ناعيهِ وَلَوَّحَ ناعِبُه
With his death, the death of noble virtues was confirmed;
his death-crier declared it plainly, and his raven hinted at it.
إِلىto أَينَwhere مَنthe one whose أَيّامُهُhis days العيدُfestivals كُلُّهاall of them
إِلى أَينَ مَن أَيّامُهُ العيدُ كُلُّها
مَآكِلُهُhis feasts مَصفوفَةٌarrayed وَمَواكِبُهand his processions
مَآكِلُهُ مَصفوفَةٌ وَمَواكِبُه
Whither has gone the man whose days were all festivals,
his feasts and processions arrayed?
دَعاهُcalled him السَميعُthe All-Hearing One المُستَجابُwhose call is answered وَطالَماand often
دَعاهُ السَميعُ المُستَجابُ وَطالَما
دَعاinvited الأَجفَلىeveryone without distinction وَالعامُand the year أَشهَبُashen with drought آدِبُهits feast-giver
دَعا الأَجفَلى وَالعامُ أَشهَبُ آدِبُه
The All-Hearing One, whose call is answered, called him; how often
he, the feast's host, invited all, though the year was ashen!
ألازِمُهُwas it his inevitable lot المَكتوبُwritten أَنthat حَلَّbefell رابَناtroubled us
ألازِمُهُ المَكتوبُ أَن حَلَّ رابَنا
وَلَكِنbut نِظامُthe order of العالَمِthe world اِنحَلَّcame undone كاتِبُهits scribe
وَلَكِن نِظامُ العالَمِ اِنحَلَّ كاتِبُه
Was it his inevitable written fate, when it befell, that troubled us?
But the scribe of the world's order has come undone.
وَماand not مثلُthe likeness of الدُنياthe world وَراءَafter خِصالِهِhis qualities
وَما مثلُ الدُنيا وَراءَ خِصالِهِ
بِشَيءٍanything سِوىexcept لَيلٍa night تَهاوَتfell كَواكِبُهits stars
بِشَيءٍ سِوى لَيلٍ تَهاوَت كَواكِبُه
And the world, after his virtues have passed, is like
nothing but a night whose stars have fallen.
فَياso O طِرفَهُhis noble steed ماnot كُنتَyou were كَالخَيلِlike other horses لاnot أَرىI see
فَيا طِرفَهُ ما كُنتَ كَالخَيلِ لا أَرى
سِواكَbesides you غَداةَon the morning of الهَيعَةِthe battle alarm البَدرthe full moon راكِبُهits rider
سِواكَ غَداةَ الهَيعَةِ البَدر راكِبُه
O his noble steed, you were unlike other horses: I see
no other whose rider, on the morning of alarm, was the full moon.
هُوَhe السَيِّدُthe lord المُمتَدُّfar-reaching فيamong الناسِpeople ذِكرُهُhis renown
هُوَ السَيِّدُ المُمتَدُّ في الناسِ ذِكرُهُ
وَفيand in البُؤسِhardship كَفّاهُhis two hands وَفيand in البَأسِbattle قاضِبُهhis cutting sword
وَفي البُؤسِ كَفّاهُ وَفي البَأسِ قاضِبُه
He is the lord whose renown reaches far among people,
his hands reaching out in hardship, his sword in battle.
يُلايِنُacts gently مُرتاضاًdisciplined أَريباًdiscerning وَيَنبَريand springs forth
يُلايِنُ مُرتاضاً أَريباً وَيَنبَري
هِزَبراًas a lion أَباfather of أَجرٍcubs عَلىagainst مَنwhoever يُغاضِبُهangers him
هِزَبراً أَبا أَجرٍ عَلى مَن يُغاضِبُه
He deals gently, disciplined and discerning, but springs forth
a lion, a sire of cubs, against whoever angers him.
فَتىًa young man يَهَبُgives الآلافَthousands عَفواًfreely وَتَنكَفيand recoil
فَتىً يَهَبُ الآلافَ عَفواً وَتَنكَفي
مَخافَتَهُfor fear of him الأُلافُthe thousands حينَwhen تُحارِبُهwage war on him
مَخافَتَهُ الأُلافُ حينَ تُحارِبُه
A youth who freely gives thousands; and they recoil
for fear of him—the thousands—when they fight him.
تَنَوَّعَvaried فيهِconcerning him الناسِبونَthose comparing فَكُلُّهُمso all of them
تَنَوَّعَ فيهِ الناسِبونَ فَكُلُّهُم
إِلىto كُلِّevery جِنسٍkind كامِلِperfect in الوَصفِits qualities ناسِبُهlikening him
إِلى كُلِّ جِنسٍ كامِلِ الوَصفِ ناسِبُه
Those comparing him differed, yet every one
likened him to every kind perfect in its qualities.
فَلِلأَبحُرِso to the seas الراوونَthose recounting أَخبارَaccounts of جودِهِhis generosity
فَلِلأَبحُرِ الراوونَ أَخبارَ جودِهِ
وَلِلقَمَرِand to the moon الراؤونَthose seeing كَيفَhow مَناصِبُهhis stations
وَلِلقَمَرِ الراؤونَ كَيفَ مَناصِبُه
Those who recounted his generosity likened him to seas;
those who saw how high his stations were, to the moon;
وَلِلأُسُدِand to the lions الواعونَthose knowing شِدَّةَthe fierceness of بَأسِهِhis might
وَلِلأُسُدِ الواعونَ شِدَّةَ بَأسِهِ
وَماand what دافَعَتrepelled فيin كُلِّevery هَيجاbattle مَناكِبُهhis shoulders
وَما دافَعَت في كُلِّ هَيجا مَناكِبُه
those who knew his fierce might, to lions,
and what his shoulders repelled in every battle.
مَذاهِبُthe ways of مَنone who يوليbestows الجَزيلَlavish gifts وَيَقتَنيand acquires
مَذاهِبُ مَن يولي الجَزيلَ وَيَقتَني
بِهِthrough him الوَفرَwealth مَنone whose أَعيَتfailed عَلَيهِfor him مَذاهِبُهhis avenues
بِهِ الوَفرَ مَن أَعيَت عَلَيهِ مَذاهِبُه
Such are the ways of one who gives lavishly; one acquires
wealth through him when one's own avenues have failed.
يُجِدُّstrives earnestly فَيفنيso annihilates مَنwhoever يُناويopposes مَهابَةًthrough awe
يُجِدُّ فَيفني مَن يُناوي مَهابَةً
وَيُجديand gives وَيفنيand overwhelms مَنwhoever يُواليbefriends مَواهِبُهhis gifts
وَيُجدي وَيفني مَن يُوالي مَواهِبُه
He strives and destroys whoever opposes him through awe;
he gives, and his gifts overwhelm whoever befriends him.
عَلانِيَةًopenly يَأتَمُّهُseeks him الجَمُّthe multitude وارِداًcoming to drink
عَلانِيَةً يَأتَمُّهُ الجَمُّ وارِداً
فَيَضرِبُهُso he strikes it أَوor مارِداًrebellious فَيُضارِبُهso he battles it
فَيَضرِبُهُ أَو مارِداً فَيُضارِبُه
Openly the multitude seeks him, coming to drink,
so he strikes it; or, if rebellious, he battles it.
يُناجيwhispers بِماof what فيin نَفسِthe soul of عافيهِhis petitioner قَلبُهُhis heart
يُناجي بِما في نَفسِ عافيهِ قَلبُهُ
فَيُتحِفُهُso he presents him ماthat which فيهِupon which نيطَتwere fastened مَآرِبُهhis desires
فَيُتحِفُهُ ما فيهِ نيطَت مَآرِبُه
His heart whispers to him what lies in his petitioner's soul,
so he presents him with that on which his desires are fixed.
أَبىrefused فَضلُهُhis excellence الحُذّاقthe skilled experts أَنthat يَحذِقواthey master بِهِit
أَبى فَضلُهُ الحُذّاق أَن يَحذِقوا بِهِ
فَلاso no اليَدُhand تُحصيهِcounts it وَلاand no الفَمُmouth حاسِبُهreckoning it
فَلا اليَدُ تُحصيهِ وَلا الفَمُ حاسِبُه
His excellence forbade the cleverest to encompass it;
no hand can count it, nor any mouth reckon it.
فَلَمso did not يُغنِهِsuffice him المَجدُthe glory الّذيthat هوَhe حائِزٌpossesses
فَلَم يُغنِهِ المَجدُ الّذي هوَ حائِزٌ
تُراثاًas an inheritance عَنِin place of المَجدِthe glory الَّذيthat هُوَhe كاسِبُهearns it
تُراثاً عَنِ المَجدِ الَّذي هُوَ كاسِبُه
The glory he possessed did not suffice him,
inherited as it was, in place of glory he himself earned.
علاstood over حَزمهhis resolve مِنfrom طَبعِهِhis nature مُتَعَقِّبٌa vigilant watcher
علا حَزمه مِن طَبعِهِ مُتَعَقِّبٌ
يُباعِدُهُkeeps him away from الأَمرَthe deed المَلومَblamed مُقارِبُهone approaching it
يُباعِدُهُ الأَمرَ المَلومَ مُقارِبُه
A watcher sprung from his nature stood over his resolve,
keeping him far from deeds whose pursuer incurs blame.
فَماso not سَدّهُhis barrier مُستَأنِساًwhile at ease ماwhat يُريبُهُtroubles him
فَما سَدّهُ مُستَأنِساً ما يُريبُهُ
مُحاكِيهُmatching it السَدُّthe dam الَّذيthat شادَbuilt مارِبُهits Ma'rib
مُحاكِيهُ السَدُّ الَّذي شادَ مارِبُه
No match for his warding off whatever troubles him, even at ease,
is the dam that its Ma'rib raised.
مَعاطِفُهُhis shoulders ماnot ضِقنَfelt constrained ذَرعاًin capacity بِحادِثٍby a calamity
مَعاطِفُهُ ما ضِقنَ ذَرعاً بِحادِثٍ
جِليلٍgrave وَإِنand even if كانَتwere تُخافُfeared مَعاطِبُهits perils
جِليلٍ وَإِن كانَت تُخافُ مَعاطِبُه
His shoulders never felt unequal to a calamity,
however grave, even if its dangers were feared.
إِمامُan imam of نَدىgenerosity فيin جامِعِthe mosque of المَجدِglory راتِبٌestablished
إِمامُ نَدى في جامِعِ المَجدِ راتِبٌ
تُحيلُmake impossible القَضاياthe decrees أَنthat تُنالَbe attained مَراتِبُهhis ranks
تُحيلُ القَضايا أَن تُنالَ مَراتِبُه
An established imam of generosity in the mosque of glory;
the decrees make it impossible to attain his ranks.
مُنَوَّرُillumined مِرآةِthe mirror of الفُؤادِthe heart مُوَفَّقٌwell guided
مُنَوَّرُ مِرآةِ الفُؤادِ مُوَفَّقٌ
تَراءىappeared لَهُto him مِنof كُلِّevery أَمرٍmatter عَواقِبُهits outcomes
تَراءى لَهُ مِن كُلِّ أَمرٍ عَواقِبُه
Illumined was his heart's mirror; he was well guided,
and the outcomes of every matter appeared to him.
تُفَرِّقُdispenses ماwhat يَكفيsuffices البَرِيَّةَhumankind كَفُّهُhis hand
تُفَرِّقُ ما يَكفي البَرِيَّةَ كَفُّهُ
وَتَجمَعُand gathers مَنwhoever فَوقَabove التُرابِthe dust تَرائِبُهhis breastbones
وَتَجمَعُ مَن فَوقَ التُرابِ تَرائِبُه
His hand dispenses enough to suffice all humankind,
and his breast embraces everyone above the dust.
نسوجٌa master weaver عَلىon مِنوالِthe loom of ماwhat كانَwas ناسِجاًweaving
نسوجٌ عَلى مِنوالِ ما كانَ ناسِجاً
عَلىover ذِكرِهِits memory مِنsince عَهدِthe time of يَحيىYahya عَناكِبُهits spiders
عَلى ذِكرِهِ مِن عَهدِ يَحيى عَناكِبُه
A master weaver on the loom of what had been woven
over its memory by its spiders since Yahya's time.
عَلىthrough يَدِهِhis hand الطولىfar-reaching تَقَمَّصَتI donned مِطرَفاًa mantle
عَلى يَدِهِ الطولى تَقَمَّصَت مِطرَفاً
مِنَof العِزِّhonor وَالإِثراءِand wealth هاhere أَناI ساحِبُهtrailing it
مِنَ العِزِّ وَالإِثراءِ ها أَنا ساحِبُه
Through his far-reaching hand I donned a mantle
of honor and wealth; here I am, trailing it.
أَيَجتَمِعُdo meet البَحرانِthe two seas إِلّاexcept إِذاwhen رَساlay at anchor
أَيَجتَمِعُ البَحرانِ إِلّا إِذا رَسا
سَفينٌa fleet مُدنّاتٌbrought near إِلَيهِto him قَوارِبُهits skiffs
سَفينٌ مُدنّاتٌ إِلَيهِ قَوارِبُه
Do the two seas meet except when there lies at anchor
a fleet whose skiffs are brought close to him?
يُحَكِّمُهُgives him authority رُبّانُهُits captain فيover نَفيسِهاits precious cargo
يُحَكِّمُهُ رُبّانُهُ في نَفيسِها
وَيَدعوهُand calls him فيماregarding what يَصطَفيhe selects فَيُجاوِبُهso he answers him
وَيَدعوهُ فيما يَصطَفي فَيُجاوِبُه
Its captain gives him authority over its precious cargo,
and calls him to choose what he desires, and he answers him.
فَيُصدِرُso he sends away رَكباًa caravan بَعدَafter رَكبٍa caravan ثَقيلَةًheavy-laden
فَيُصدِرُ رَكباً بَعدَ رَكبٍ ثَقيلَةً
بِماwith what وَهَبَتgave تِلكَthat اليَمينُright hand رَكائِبُهits mounts
بِما وَهَبَت تِلكَ اليَمينُ رَكائِبُه
He sends away caravan after caravan, heavy-laden,
its mounts bearing what that right hand bestowed.
فَتُبصِرُهُso you see him عَذباًsweet فُراتاًfresh غَطَمطَماًa vast surging sea
فَتُبصِرُهُ عَذباً فُراتاً غَطَمطَماً
يَذِلُّbows لَهُto him حِقوُthe flank of الأُجاجُthe briny sea وَغارِبُهand its crest
يَذِلُّ لَهُ حِقوُ الأُجاجُ وَغارِبُه
You see him a vast, surging sea, sweet and fresh;
the briny sea's flank and crest bow before him.
يُزاحِمُjostles فيin بَثِّspreading الجَميلِkindness تَسابُقاًracing
يُزاحِمُ في بَثِّ الجَميلِ تَسابُقاً
إِلىtoward شُكرِهِthanking him أَفواهُهُits mouths وَحَقائِبُهand its saddlebags
إِلى شُكرِهِ أَفواهُهُ وَحَقائِبُه
In proclaiming his kindness, they jostle, racing
to thank him—their mouths and saddlebags.
إِلىto بابِهِhis door فيin كُلِّevery تَيهاءtrackless desert مَنهَجٍa road
إِلى بابِهِ في كُلِّ تَيهاء مَنهَجٍ
يُؤَدّيleads إِلَيهِto him طالِبَthe seeker of العُرفِbounty لاحِبُهits broad beaten path
يُؤَدّي إِلَيهِ طالِبَ العُرفِ لاحِبُه
To his door, in every trackless desert, there is a road,
whose broad, beaten track leads the seeker of bounty to him.
عَجِبتُI marvelled لِأَيدٍat hands كَيفَhow وارَتburied بِمَضجَعٍin a resting place
عَجِبتُ لِأَيدٍ كَيفَ وارَت بِمَضجَعٍ
غَمامَa cloud of أَيادٍbenefactions يوعِبُcovers entirely الأَرضَthe earth صائِبُهits rainfall
غَمامَ أَيادٍ يوعِبُ الأَرضَ صائِبُه
I marvel at hands: how could they bury in a resting place
a cloud of bounty whose rainfall covers the earth?
سَقىmay water اللَهُGod قَبراًa grave ضَمَّهُenclosed him وَبلَa downpour of رَحمَةٍmercy
سَقى اللَهُ قَبراً ضَمَّهُ وَبلَ رَحمَةٍ
مِنَof الرَوحِrepose وَالرَيحانِand fragrant herbs تَهميpour down سَحائِبُهits clouds
مِنَ الرَوحِ وَالرَيحانِ تَهمي سَحائِبُه
May God rain on the grave that enclosed him a downpour of mercy,
of repose and fragrant herbs, its clouds streaming down;
وَأَوفَضَand may hasten فيamid وَحشِthe desolation of التُرابِthe dust بِروحِهِwith his spirit
وَأَوفَضَ في وَحشِ التُرابِ بِروحِهِ
إِلىto حَيثُwhere أَترابُcompanions of equal age الجِنانِParadise تُلاعِبُهplay with him
إِلى حَيثُ أَترابُ الجِنانِ تُلاعِبُه
and amid the desolation of the dust, hasten his spirit
to where Paradise's companions of equal age play with him.
فَصاحِبso befriend عَلِيُّAli الصَبرَpatience فيهِin this وَآخِهِand be its brother
فَصاحِب عَلِيُّ الصَبرَ فيهِ وَآخِهِ
فَمَحمودَةٌso praiseworthy عُقبىthe outcome of مَنِone whose الصبرُpatience صاحِبُهhis companion
فَمَحمودَةٌ عُقبى مَنِ الصبرُ صاحِبُه
So, Ali, make patience your companion in this, and befriend it;
praiseworthy is the end of one whose companion is patience.
فَماso not حانَperished حَتّىuntil بانَemerged مِنكَfrom you سَمَيذَعٌa noble chief
فَما حانَ حَتّى بانَ مِنكَ سَمَيذَعٌ
يُجاريهِmatches him فيin مَيدانِهِhis arena وَيُجاذِبُهand contends with him
يُجاريهِ في مَيدانِهِ وَيُجاذِبُه
He did not perish before a noble chief emerged from you,
matching him in his arena and contending with him.
هُوَhe الفاعِلُthe doer of الخَيراتِgood deeds قُدِّرَwas decreed حَذفُهُhis deletion
هُوَ الفاعِلُ الخَيراتِ قُدِّرَ حَذفُهُ
فَثِقso trust بِوُجوبِin the necessity of الرَفعِelevation; nominative case إِنَّكَindeed you نائِبُهhis deputy
فَثِق بِوُجوبِ الرَفعِ إِنَّكَ نائِبُه
He was the doer of good deeds; his deletion was decreed;
so trust in the obligatory elevation: you are his deputy.
تَبارَيتُماyou two vied بَدرَينِas two full moons فيin أُفُقِthe horizon of العُلاeminence
تَبارَيتُما بَدرَينِ في أُفُقِ العُلا
فَقَدso indeed سرَّgladdened باديهِits appearing one وَأَحزَنَand saddened غائِبُهits vanished one
فَقَد سرَّ باديهِ وَأَحزَنَ غائِبُه
You two vied as full moons on the horizon of eminence;
its appearing moon has brought joy, its vanished moon sorrow.
وَماand not قَلَّدوكَthey entrusted you with الأَمرَauthority إِلّاexcept تَيَقُّناًin certainty
وَما قَلَّدوكَ الأَمرَ إِلّا تَيَقُّناً
لِإِدراكِكَof your attaining الأَمرَthe aim الَّذيthat أَنتَyou طالِبُهseeking it
لِإِدراكِكَ الأَمرَ الَّذي أَنتَ طالِبُه
They entrusted you with authority only in certainty
that you would attain the aim you seek.
فَقُمso arise راشِداًrightly guided وَاِقصُدand advance toward عَدُوَّكَyour enemy واثِقاًconfident
فَقُم راشِداً وَاِقصُد عَدُوَّكَ واثِقاً
بِفَتحِكَهُin your conquering him إِذsince هَمُّthe anxiety of خَوفِكَfearing you ناصِبُهexhausting him
بِفَتحِكَهُ إِذ هَمُّ خَوفِكَ ناصِبُه
Rise, rightly guided, and advance on your foe, confident
of conquering him, for the anxiety of fearing you exhausts him.
فَيُؤيدُكَso He supports you اللَهُGod الَّذيwho هُوَHe باسِطٌstretching forth
فَيُؤيدُكَ اللَهُ الَّذي هُوَ باسِطٌ
يَدَيكَyour two hands فَمَغلوبٌso vanquished بِهِthrough Him مَنwhoever تُغالِبُهyou contend with him
يَدَيكَ فَمَغلوبٌ بِهِ مَن تُغالِبُه
Then God will support you, He who stretches forth
your hands; through Him, whoever you fight is vanquished.
فَلاso let not يَتنِكَdivert you الحُسّادُthe envious عَمّاfrom what تَشاؤُهُyou desire it
فَلا يَتنِكَ الحُسّادُ عَمّا تَشاؤُهُ
فَلَنso never will يَمنَعَwithhold الحُسّادُthe envious ماwhat اللَهُGod واهِبُهbestowing it
فَلَن يَمنَعَ الحُسّادُ ما اللَهُ واهِبُه
Let not the envious divert you from what you desire;
the envious will never withhold what God bestows.
فَأَموالُهُمfor their wealth ماwhat أَنتَyou بِالسَيبِin bounty واهِبٌbestow
فَأَموالُهُم ما أَنتَ بِالسَيبِ واهِبٌ
وَأَعمارُهُمand their lives ماwhat أَنتَyou بِالسَيفِwith the sword ناهِبُهplundering it
وَأَعمارُهُم ما أَنتَ بِالسَيفِ ناهِبُه
For their wealth is what you bestow in bounty,
and their lives are what you plunder with the sword.
كَماlikewise لَكَfor you ياO إِنسانَthe pupil of عَينِthe eye of زَمانِهِhis age
كَما لَكَ يا إِنسانَ عَينِ زَمانِهِ
تَكَنَّفَهُencompassed him حِفظٌprotection مِنَfrom اللَهِGod حاجِبُهshielding him
تَكَنَّفَهُ حِفظٌ مِنَ اللَهِ حاجِبُه
Likewise for you, O pupil of the eye of your age:
God's sheltering protection has encompassed you.
Sol 6.1