رقدْتُ وما ليلُ الغريب براقدِ

رقدْتُ وما ليلُ الغريب براقدِ

وما راقدٌ لم يرْعَ نجماً كساهدِ

وما راقدٌ لم يرْعَ نجماً كساهدِ

I slept, yet the stranger's night does not sleep.

I slept, but the night of the stranger did not slumber,

No sleeper who has not watched a star is like one awake.

And he who does not rest sees no stars don their veils.

وكيف رُقاد الصَّبِّ ما بين سائقٍ

وكيف رُقاد الصَّبِّ ما بين سائقٍ

من الشوْق يُقريه النزاعَ وقائدِ

من الشوْق يُقريه النزاعَ وقائدِ

How can a lovesick lover sleep between a driver

How can the passionate one sleep amidst the ecstasy of yearning

of longing, feeding him yearning, and a guide?

That afflicts him with torment and guides him with zeal?

إذا ما تدانيْنا مُنعتُ وإن تَبِنْ

إذا ما تدانيْنا مُنعتُ وإن تَبِنْ

جَزِعْتُ وما في المنْع عذرٌ لواجِدِ

جَزِعْتُ وما في المنْع عذرٌ لواجِدِ

Whenever we draw near, I am denied; if you depart,

When we draw near, I'm denied, and if we're apart,

I am distraught; denial holds no excuse for a grieving lover.

I'm distraught, though there's no excuse for one who finds.

تبيتُ ذراعي لي وساداً ومُنْصُلي

تبيتُ ذراعي لي وساداً ومُنْصُلي

ضجيعاً إذا ما بتُّ فوق الوسائدِ

ضجيعاً إذا ما بتُّ فوق الوسائدِ

My arm spends the night as my pillow, and my sword

My arms become my pillow as I lay prostrate

as my bedfellow, whenever I lie upon pillows.

When I spend the night atop cushions and pillows.

أحنُّ إلى بغداذ والبيدُ دونها

أحنُّ إلى بغداذ والبيدُ دونها

حنينَ عميدِ القلب حَرَّانَ فاقِدِ

حنينَ عميدِ القلب حَرَّانَ فاقِدِ

I yearn for Baghdad, with deserts barring the way,

I yearn for Baghdad although armies stand between us,

with the longing of one heart-stricken, burning and bereft.

With a longing of one dispossessed, burning with fervor inside.

وأتركها قصْداً لآمِدَ طائعاً

وأتركها قصْداً لآمِدَ طائعاً

وقلبي إليها بالهوى جِدَّ قاصِدِ

وقلبي إليها بالهوى جِدَّ قاصِدِ

I leave it willingly, making for Amid,

Yet I leave it willingly, obedient though my heart

while my heart, in love, is earnestly bound for it.

To it is ardently and earnestly inclined.

ألا هلْ لأيام تعلَّلْتُ عيشها

ألا هلْ لأيام تعلَّلْتُ عيشها

بها عودةٌ أم ليس دهرٌ بعائدِ

بها عودةٌ أم ليس دهرٌ بعائدِ

Ah, will the days whose pleasures consoled me

Oh, will the days I spent with it ever return?

there return, or does no bygone time return?

Or does time not flow back to where it began?

بلى ربما عاد الزمان بمثل ما

بلى ربما عاد الزمان بمثل ما

بدا فحمدنا فعلَه غير عامدِ

بدا فحمدنا فعلَه غير عامدِ

Yes; time has sometimes returned with the like of what

Yes, perhaps time will revert to what transpired before

once appeared, and we praised its deed, though unintended.

And we'll praise what comes not by any design.

فما مثلُها للمُلْك دار خلافة

فما مثلُها للمُلْك دار خلافة

أجَلْ لا ولا للطيب مرتاد رائدِ

أجَلْ لا ولا للطيب مرتاد رائدِ

No seat of the caliphate equals it for sovereignty,

For the abode of succession, no city compares,

indeed, none; nor any place a scout might choose for delight.

Nor for perfume is there a homestead so fine.

وما خِلْتُنا مستبدِلِي بقعةٍ بها

وما خِلْتُنا مستبدِلِي بقعةٍ بها

من الأرض لولا شؤْمُ صاحبِ آمِدِ

من الأرض لولا شؤْمُ صاحبِ آمِدِ

I never thought we would exchange it for a place

We've not replaced it with any other place,

on earth, but for the ill omen of Amid's lord.

Were it not for the ill-omen of one with dark deeds.

أظنَّ أميرَ المؤمنين كغيره

أظنَّ أميرَ المؤمنين كغيره

من الناس تَبَّاً للغَويِّ المعانِدِ

من الناس تَبَّاً للغَويِّ المعانِدِ

Did he think the Commander of the Faithful like the rest

I reckon the Commander of the Faithful is like all men,

of mankind? Ruin to the wayward, obstinate man!

Curse the insolent enemy who disobeys!

ألم ير أن الأمر في الأرض أَمره

ألم ير أن الأمر في الأرض أَمره

وأن الذي يعصيه ليس بخالدِ

وأن الذي يعصيه ليس بخالدِ

Did he not see that command on earth is his command,

Does he not see that rule of the world is his alone,

and that whoever disobeys him is not immortal?

And that whoever defies him shall not endure?

وما عذر من ضلَّ الهدى وأمامَهُ

وما عذر من ضلَّ الهدى وأمامَهُ

ضياءُ شهاب في دُجى الليل واقِدِ

ضياءُ شهاب في دُجى الليل واقِدِ

What excuse has one who strays from guidance, when before him

No excuse for one who abandons the path of guidance

shines a meteor's radiance, blazing in the night's gloom?

When before him shines the beacon’s light through the murk!

لقد رأبَ الله الثَّأى وجلا العمى

لقد رأبَ الله الثَّأى وجلا العمى

بمعْتَضِدٍ بالله للدين عاضدِ

بمعْتَضِدٍ بالله للدين عاضدِ

God has indeed mended the breach and dispelled blindness

God has dispelled discord and illuminated blindness

through al-Mu'tadid bi-llah, a supporter of the faith,

With one who supports faith and the religion upholds.

حليمٍ عليمٍ للرَّعية ناظرٍ

حليمٍ عليمٍ للرَّعية ناظرٍ

رؤوفٍ بهم يحنو عليهم كوالدِ

رؤوفٍ بهم يحنو عليهم كوالدِ

forbearing, learned, watchful over his subjects,

Clement and wise, watching over the flock,

compassionate toward them, tending them like a father.

Compassionate to them, caring as a parent would.

يريحُهُمُ إتعابُهُ نفسَه لهم

يريحُهُمُ إتعابُهُ نفسَه لهم

ويُسْهِرُهُ إصلاحُ أحوال هاجدِ

ويُسْهِرُهُ إصلاحُ أحوال هاجدِ

His wearying himself for them brings them rest;

Their hardships bring ease to his soul,

setting a sleeper's affairs right keeps him awake.

And reforming their state keeps him wakeful at night.

إذا ما العِدا لم يستجيروا بعفْوه

إذا ما العِدا لم يستجيروا بعفْوه

ويُلْقوا إليه خُضَّعاً بالمقالدِ

ويُلْقوا إليه خُضَّعاً بالمقالدِ

When his enemies do not seek refuge in his pardon

When foes don't seek refuge in his pardon,

and humbly hand him the keys,

And fail to submit to him in meekness and grace,

سرى جَحْفَلٌ من بأْسه قاصداً لهم

سرى جَحْفَلٌ من بأْسه قاصداً لهم

فساقهمُ قهراً كسوْق الطَّرائِدِ

فساقهمُ قهراً كسوْق الطَّرائِدِ

a mighty host of his strength marches by night toward them,

An army sets forth to confront them,

and drives them by force like hunted quarry.

Driving them before it like chasing small game.

وإن أرْصدوا منه لإدراك غرَّةٍ

وإن أرْصدوا منه لإدراك غرَّةٍ

لقُوا دونها أسيافه بالمراصدِ

لقُوا دونها أسيافه بالمراصدِ

If they watch him for an unguarded moment,

And if they lie waiting to ambush in stealth,

they meet his swords at the watchposts before they reach it.

They find his swords meeting them at their posts.

وما غَرَّهم لا يَبْعَد اللَّهُ غيرَهُمْ

وما غَرَّهم لا يَبْعَد اللَّهُ غيرَهُمْ

بليْثٍ على لجْبِ المحجَّة صائدِ

بليْثٍ على لجْبِ المحجَّة صائدِ

What deceived them—may God banish none but them—

Their treachery does not make God forsake the rest,

about a lion hunting on the clamorous highway?

For He is the Hunter of those lost from the path.

إذا ما انتضى للعزم صارمَ رأْيه

إذا ما انتضى للعزم صارمَ رأْيه

رأيتَ جميع الناس في مَسْك واحدِ

رأيتَ جميع الناس في مَسْك واحدِ

Whenever he draws the sharp blade of his judgment to act,

When the resolve of his purpose grows firm,

you see all mankind in a single skin.

You see all mankind in awe as one.

ويكشف أعقابَ الأمور صدورُها

ويكشف أعقابَ الأمور صدورُها

له فيراها غائباً كمشاهدِ

له فيراها غائباً كمشاهدِ

The beginnings of affairs reveal their endings

And the outcomes of all matters he lays bare,

to him; though absent, he sees them like an eyewitness.

Seeing the unseen as clearly as the present.

ألست الذي ساد الورى وحَوى العلا

ألست الذي ساد الورى وحَوى العلا

على رغم أنفٍ من عدو وحاسدِ

على رغم أنفٍ من عدو وحاسدِ

Are you not he who ruled mankind and won the heights,

Are you not the one who ruled the world and contained the sublime

despite every foe and envier, their noses in the dust?

Despite the spite of foe and hater alike?

منعتَ حِمى الإسلام ممن يكيدُه

منعتَ حِمى الإسلام ممن يكيدُه

وضاربتَ عنه قائماً غير قاعدِ

وضاربتَ عنه قائماً غير قاعدِ

You guarded Islam's sanctuary against those plotting against it,

You protected the sanctuary of Islam from those who conspire

and fought for it, standing rather than sitting.

And you stood up in its defense, never sitting or waiting.

وباشرتَ فيه كل لينٍ وشدةٍ

وباشرتَ فيه كل لينٍ وشدةٍ

وجاهدتَ عنه فوق جَهْد المجاهدِ

وجاهدتَ عنه فوق جَهْد المجاهدِ

You applied every gentleness and severity in its cause,

You have met it with gentleness and with severity,

and strove for it beyond the striving of a warrior,

And you have striven for it beyond the supreme struggle.

غلاماً أميراً ثم كهلاً خليفةً

غلاماً أميراً ثم كهلاً خليفةً

بهمَّة ماضي العزم يقظانَ ماجدِ

بهمَّة ماضي العزم يقظانَ ماجدِ

as a commander in youth, then a caliph in maturity,

A boy, then prince, then aged caliph,

with the spirit of one resolute, vigilant and noble.

With resolute ambition, vigorous, magnificent.

وكم مارقٍ من ربقة الدين خائنٍ

وكم مارقٍ من ربقة الدين خائنٍ

لنعمى الإله عنده فيك جاحدِ

لنعمى الإله عنده فيك جاحدِ

How many a rebel from religion's halter, faithless

How many dissenters from religion's brilliance were traitors

to God's favor upon him, denying it in you,

To God's blessings, denying them in your presence!

دَلَفْتَ إليه فاستبحتَ حَرِيمَهُ

دَلَفْتَ إليه فاستبحتَ حَرِيمَهُ

بجيشٍ لُهامٍ كالمدود الزَّوائدِ

بجيشٍ لُهامٍ كالمدود الزَّوائدِ

have you marched against, overrunning his sanctuary,

You overtook them and ravaged their sacrosanct abodes

with a vast army like swelling floods!

With a ferocious army of lengthened columns.

وأسلفتَ إنذاراً وقدّمت عذْرَةً

وأسلفتَ إنذاراً وقدّمت عذْرَةً

لتقويم مُعوَجٍّ وإصلاح فاسدِ

لتقويم مُعوَجٍّ وإصلاح فاسدِ

You gave prior warning and presented your justification

You warned them first and offered excuse

to straighten the crooked and repair the corrupt.

To reform crooked ways and what was corrupt.

ولو شئتَ أطعمتَ المنية رُوحه

ولو شئتَ أطعمتَ المنية رُوحه

بأدنى غلامٍ أو بأصغر قائدِ

بأدنى غلامٍ أو بأصغر قائدِ

Had you wished, you could have fed his soul to death

Had you wished, you could have fed the smallest page

through the lowliest youth or the least commander.

Or the lowliest commander doses of demise.

وقد فَغرتْ فاهاً له غير أنها

وقد فَغرتْ فاهاً له غير أنها

تراقب إذناً منك غير مساعدِ

تراقب إذناً منك غير مساعدِ

Death had opened its mouth for him, but it

Yet its jaws gaped though it watched for your consent,

awaited leave from you, who would not consent.

Not venturing on its own without your approval.

وأنت تراعي الله فيمن تضمُّه

وأنت تراعي الله فيمن تضمُّه

مدينتُه من مسلم ومُعاهدِ

مدينتُه من مسلم ومُعاهدِ

You are mindful of God toward those whom

For you observe God's will toward those who dwell

his city holds, Muslims and people under covenant.

In the lands of Muslim and those with whom treaties exist.

فلم يعصم ابن الشيخ تَشييدُ سُوره

فلم يعصم ابن الشيخ تَشييدُ سُوره

على رأس نيقٍ بالصَّفا والجلامدِ

على رأس نيقٍ بالصَّفا والجلامدِ

Raising his wall did not protect Ibn al-Shaykh,

The Sheikh's son was not protected by building his wall

atop a lofty crag, with smooth rock and boulders.

Atop pillars on Safa nor solid stone foundations.

بل اغترَّ بالإحْصار منه وسوَّلتْ

بل اغترَّ بالإحْصار منه وسوَّلتْ

له النفس غَيّاً ليس غاوٍ كراشدِ

له النفس غَيّاً ليس غاوٍ كراشدِ

Rather, he was deceived by its enclosing barrier, and beguiled

Rather he felt emboldened by the siege against him

by his soul into error; the errant is not like the rightly guided.

As the soul deluded him, not wisely lead.

وما الحازمُ النِّحريرُ إلا الذي يرى

وما الحازمُ النِّحريرُ إلا الذي يرى

مصادرَ ما يأتيه قبل المواردِ

مصادرَ ما يأتيه قبل المواردِ

The prudent, sharp-witted man is only he who sees

The wise and prudent one sees the sources of what comes to him

the ways out of what he undertakes before the ways in.

Before the streams arrive at their destinations.

وقد كان في الغيثِ المُواصل غوْثُهُ

وقد كان في الغيثِ المُواصل غوْثُهُ

يدافعنا عنه دفاعَ المُكايدِ

يدافعنا عنه دفاعَ المُكايدِ

His help had lain in the unceasing rain,

Our solace in the ceaseless rain was its downpour

which warded us off him with a schemer's resistance.

Shielding us, defending against hazards and woes,

فلما تقضى حيْنُه وتفرَّغتْ

فلما تقضى حيْنُه وتفرَّغتْ

عَزاليه ثُرنا كالليوث اللوابدِ

عَزاليه ثُرنا كالليوث اللوابدِ

When its time ran out and its

But when his time had passed and emptied were

spouts had emptied, we sprang up like crouching lions.

Our quivers like those of enraged lions bereaved,

فجادتْهُ من وُبل السهام سحابةٌ

فجادتْهُ من وُبل السهام سحابةٌ

تسح ذُعافاً من سمام الأساودِ

تسح ذُعافاً من سمام الأساودِ

Then a cloud showered him with a downpour of arrows,

The clouds of arrows poured forth hailstones upon him

pouring deadly venom from the poisons of black serpents.

That scattered clusters like twinkling stars colliding.

وأمطرَه جذْبُ المجانيق جنْدلاً

وأمطرَه جذْبُ المجانيق جنْدلاً

وناراً تلظَّى كانقضاض الفراقدِ

وناراً تلظَّى كانقضاض الفراقدِ

The catapults' pull rained rocks upon him,

And the hauling of the mangonels rained upon him spears

and blazing fire, like the plunging of the Faraqid stars.

And fire that blazed like flashes of lightning unleashed.

ودبَّ عليه الموتُ غضبانَ مسرعاً

ودبَّ عليه الموتُ غضبانَ مسرعاً

باباته من محكمات المصائدِ

باباته من محكمات المصائدِ

Death crept upon him, angry and swift,

Then death advanced upon him angrily racing forth

its ways taking shape in well-fashioned snares.

With its gates of well-laid snares and cunning devices.

ثلاثةُ أيامٍ فَقَطَّ عُددتها

ثلاثةُ أيامٍ فَقَطَّ عُددتها

به ساهراً في ليله غيرَ راقدِ

به ساهراً في ليله غيرَ راقدِ

Three days only—I counted them

For but three days—I counted—you besieged him,

there, wakeful through its night, not sleeping.

Not sleeping a night, keeping constant vigil.

فأخرَجْتهُ مستخزياً راجلاً بما

فأخرَجْتهُ مستخزياً راجلاً بما

بَثَثْتَ عليه من صنوف المكايدِ

بَثَثْتَ عليه من صنوف المكايدِ

You brought him out, humiliated and on foot, through what

Then you forced him out disgraced and humiliated, on foot,

you had unleashed upon him of varied stratagems.

With the myriad stratagems you had unleashed against him.

ولو لم يَعُدْ بالعفو منك لأرْقلَتْ

ولو لم يَعُدْ بالعفو منك لأرْقلَتْ

إليه المنايا في رؤوس المَطاردِ

إليه المنايا في رؤوس المَطاردِ

Had he not returned with your pardon, deaths would have rushed

Had you not returned to pardon him, deaths

toward him on the points of long spears.

Would have galloped to him with all haste.

فأثبتَّهُ لما استقاد وقد دنت

فأثبتَّهُ لما استقاد وقد دنت

ظُباتُ السيوف من مَناط القلائدِ

ظُباتُ السيوف من مَناط القلائدِ

You spared him when he submitted, though already close

But you gave him sanctuary when he regained his feet,

were the sword-edges to where necklaces hang.

Though the necks of swords were nearing his collar.

وأصبحتَ تحوي أرضه ودياره

وأصبحتَ تحوي أرضه ودياره

وكلَّ طريف من حماه وتالدِ

وكلَّ طريف من حماه وتالدِ

You came to possess his land and dwellings,

And you came to possess his land, his home,

and all newly acquired and inherited wealth in his domain.

And every ally under his protection and domain.

أباح وما قامتْ عليه لسفكه

أباح وما قامتْ عليه لسفكه

شهادةُ قاضٍ فهو أعدلُ شاهدِ

شهادةُ قاضٍ فهو أعدلُ شاهدِ

He made his blood lawful to shed, though against him there stood no

You deemed it permissible, though no judge sanctioned

judge's testimony: he himself was the most just witness,

His killing. But you were the most just of witnesses.

بنقض شروط كان أحمقَ ناقضٍ

بنقض شروط كان أحمقَ ناقضٍ

عُراها ولكن كنتَ أحزم عاقدِ

عُراها ولكن كنتَ أحزم عاقدِ

through breaking terms, the most foolish breaker of

By annulling terms of truce that the fool had breached

their bonds—yet you were the most resolute binder.

When he stripped them, though you were the wisest in pacts.

فآب ذميمَ الفعل خزيانَ نادماً

فآب ذميمَ الفعل خزيانَ نادماً

وأُبْتَ كريم العفو جمَّ المحامدِ

وأُبْتَ كريم العفو جمَّ المحامدِ

He returned, his deed disgraceful, shamed and repentant,

So the despicable deed brought him back repentant and ashamed,

while you returned generous in pardon, rich in merits.

While noble clemency garmented you in acclaim.

وأُبنا عِزازَ النصر تشكو ركابُنا

وأُبنا عِزازَ النصر تشكو ركابُنا

وَجاهاً ونشكو طولَ هجر الخرائدِ

وَجاهاً ونشكو طولَ هجر الخرائدِ

We returned exalted by victory, our mounts complaining

And we reside in the glory of victory while our mounts complain of

of their sore feet, while we complained of long parting from fair maidens.

Our absence, longing for the plunder taken away.

بأية ملأ مغنماً وسلامةً

بأية ملأ مغنماً وسلامةً

حواها رفيعَ العيش خوضُ الشدائدِ

حواها رفيعَ العيش خوضُ الشدائدِ

With what a company, spoils and safety,

With what bounty and security has the plunge into hardships

won, with lofty living, by braving hardships!

Ever afforded elevation of life and station!

وليس كإغْذاذ المسير وحثِّه

وليس كإغْذاذ المسير وحثِّه

لتقريب لُقْيان الصديق الأباعدِ

لتقريب لُقْيان الصديق الأباعدِ

Nothing equals pressing on and hastening the journey

It is not like easy travel urgently spurred

to bring closer a meeting with distant friends.

To swiftly reunite with a dear friend now departed.

ولم أر مثل الشعر يَنْظم للعُلا

ولم أر مثل الشعر يَنْظم للعُلا

فنون الحُلى لو أنه غيرُ كاسدِ

فنون الحُلى لو أنه غيرُ كاسدِ

I have seen nothing like poetry to string for glory

And I've not seen any poetry praising the sublime

all kinds of ornaments—if only it did not languish unsold.

Compose such adornments, had the art not now waned.