إِيهِcome now! فَالْعِزُّfor glory قَدْكَenough for you مِنْof تَدْلِيسِdeception
إِيهِ فَالْعِزُّ قَدْكَ مِنْ تَدْلِيسِ
لَيْسَis not بَيْنَbetween الْمَقِيلِthe noonday rest وَالتَّعْرِيسِand the late-night halt
لَيْسَ بَيْنَ الْمَقِيلِ وَالتَّعْرِيسِ
Come now! Glory—enough of your deception—
Alas! Glory has weaned you of guile
Come now, for true glory—enough of deceit!
is not found between noonday repose and the late-night halt.
There is no honor between staying or departing
Is not found between the midday rest and the nighttime halt.
إِنَّمَاonly الْعِزُّglory فِيin الرَّحِيلِjourneying فَبَطْشُfor the onslaught of الthe
إِنَّمَا الْعِزُّ فِي الرَّحِيلِ فَبَطْشُ ال
لَّيْثِlion لَيْسَis not يًحَسُّfelt فِيin الْعِرِّيسِthe lair
لَّيْثِ لَيْسَ يًحَسُّ فِي الْعِرِّيسِ
Glory lies only in journeying, for the onslaught of the
Glory lies only in leaving, so the prowess of a
Glory lies only in the journey, for the strike of the
lion is not felt within its lair.
lion is not felt among the lambs
Lion is not felt while it lingers in its thicket.
زَعَمَتْshe claimed إِذْwhen تَيَقَّنَتْshe became certain صِدْقَthe reality of سَيْرِيmy journey
زَعَمَتْ إِذْ تَيَقَّنَتْ صِدْقَ سَيْرِي
أَنَّنِيthat I قَدْindeed رَضَعْتُI suckled ثَدْيَthe breast of الْبُوسِmisery
أَنَّنِي قَدْ رَضَعْتُ ثَدْيَ الْبُوسِ
She claimed, when she knew my journey was real,
When she was convinced of my good conduct
She claimed, when she became certain of the earnestness of my journey,
that I had suckled at the breast of misery.
She thought I had suckled at the breast of the idol
That I had suckled from the breast of misery.
مَاnot دَرَتْshe knew لاَmay not دَرَتْshe know قَضَايَاthe matters of عِتَابِيmy reproach
مَا دَرَتْ لاَ دَرَتْ قَضَايَا عِتَابِي
إِنَّindeed قَصْدِيmy purpose انْتِجَاعُseeking sustenance غَيْثِthe rain of الْيُوسِيal-Yusi
إِنَّ قَصْدِي انْتِجَاعُ غَيْثِ الْيُوسِي
She knew not—may she never know!—the grounds for reproaching me:
She did not know, she did not realize the arguments of my reproach
She knew not—and may she never know—the grounds of my reproach:
indeed, my purpose is to seek the rain of al-Yusi.
My only aim being to obtain the rain of al-Yusi
That my destination is to seek the rain-clouds of Al-Yusi.
الإِمَامُthe imam الذِيwho يَحِقُّis rightfully due لَهُto him السَّعْthe striving (first part)
الإِمَامُ الذِي يَحِقُّ لَهُ السَّعْ
يُthe striving (completion) وَحَقِّand by the honor of عُلاَهُhis exalted rank فَوْقَabove الرُّؤُوسِthe heads
يُ وَحَقِّ عُلاَهُ فَوْقَ الرُّؤُوسِ
The imam who rightly merits the journey to him,
The Imam most deserving of esteem
The Imam to whom all striving is rightfully
by his exalted rank above all heads!
Whose eminence towers over all heads
Due, and whose exalted rank sits high above our heads;
الْهُمَامُthe magnanimous one الذِيwho ضِيَاءُthe light of الْهُدَىguidance يَسْshines (first part)
الْهُمَامُ الذِي ضِيَاءُ الْهُدَى يَسْ
طَعُshines (completion) مِنْهُfrom him سُطُوعَthe radiance of ضَوْءِthe light of الشُّموسِthe suns
طَعُ مِنْهُ سُطُوعَ ضَوْءِ الشُّموسِ
The magnanimous one, from whom the light of guidance
The counsel whose light of guidance pours forth
The noble hero from whom the light of guidance radi-
shines with the radiance of suns.
A radiance brighter than the sun’s rays
-ates, shining as brightly as the light of the suns.
شَيْخُنَاour shaykh أَفْضَلُthe best of الشُّيُوخِthe shaykhs وَمَاand what أَدْmade you know (first part)
شَيْخُنَا أَفْضَلُ الشُّيُوخِ وَمَا أَدْ
رَاكَmade you know (completion) مَاwhat شَيْخُنَاour shaykh بَهَاءُthe splendor of الدُّرُوسِthe lessons
رَاكَ مَا شَيْخُنَا بَهَاءُ الدُّرُوسِ
Our shaykh, the best of shaykhs—and what could tell
Our Shaykh, most excellent of shaykhs, for who can
Our Shaykh is the best of shaykhs, and what could make
you what our shaykh is? The splendor of lessons!
Comprehend what our Shaykh is, the splendor of all lessons
You comprehend who our Shaykh is? He is the splendor of every lesson.
شَيْخُنَاour shaykh بَاهِرُoutshining الشُّيوخِthe shaykhs بِفَضْلٍthrough excellence
شَيْخُنَا بَاهِرُ الشُّيوخِ بِفَضْلٍ
فَاضَoverflowed فَيْضاًin a flood أَرْبَىsurpassed عَلَىbeyond الْقَامُوسِthe ocean
فَاضَ فَيْضاً أَرْبَى عَلَى الْقَامُوسِ
Our shaykh outshines the shaykhs through excellence
Our Shaykh surpasses all shaykhs in merit
Our Shaykh dazzles the other shaykhs with a grace
that overflowed in a flood surpassing the ocean.
Overflowing with grace, quenching the lexicon
That overflows, surpassing even the vast ocean.
شَيْخُنَاour shaykh كَعْبَةُthe Kaaba of الْفَضائِلِthe virtues لاَmay not زَاcease (first part)
شَيْخُنَا كَعْبَةُ الْفَضائِلِ لاَ زَا
لَتْcease (completion) مَطَافاًa place of circumambulation لِمُغْرَمٍfor one enamored بِالنَّفِيسِof precious things
لَتْ مَطَافاً لِمُغْرَمٍ بِالنَّفِيسِ
Our shaykh is the Kaaba of virtues; may it never
Our Shaykh, Kaaba of virtues, ceased not to be
Our Shaykh is the Kaaba of virtues, may it never cease
cease to be a place of circling for lovers of precious things.
An object of visitation for one enamored of the precious
To be a site of circumambulation for one enamored with the precious.
قَدْindeed قَصَدْنَاكَwe sought you وَالْفَلاَحَand prosperity قَصَدْنَاwe sought
قَدْ قَصَدْنَاكَ وَالْفَلاَحَ قَصَدْنَا
بِكَthrough you وَالرُّشٍٍْدَand right guidance يَاO مُنِيرَradiant one التُّوسِnatural disposition
بِكَ وَالرُّشٍٍْدَ يَا مُنِيرَ التُّوسِ
We have sought you, and prosperity we have sought
We came to you seeking success and rectitude, O enlightener of Touss
We have sought you, and success we have sought
through you, and right guidance, O you of radiant nature.
We came to you seeking deliverance and water in place of wine
Through you, and righteous guidance, O you of the radiant countenance!
قَدْindeed قَصَدْنَاكَwe sought you وَالنَّجَاحَand success قَصَدْنَاwe sought
قَدْ قَصَدْنَاكَ وَالنَّجَاحَ قَصَدْنَا
بِكَthrough you وَالرِّيَّand thirst-quenching مِنْfrom أَجْلِِthe noblest of الْكُؤُوسِthe cups
بِكَ وَالرِّيَّ مِنْ أَجْلِِ الْكُؤُوسِ
We have sought you, and success we have sought
We came to you seeking salvation, my Master, from the torment of Bīs
We have sought you, and triumph we have sought
through you, and thirst's relief from the noblest cups.
We came to you seeking deliverance from the greatest foe, Iblīs
Through you, and the quenching of thirst from the most majestic of cups.
قَدْindeed قَصَدْنَاكَwe sought you وَالنَّجَاةَand deliverance قَصَدْنَاwe sought
قَدْ قَصَدْنَاكَ وَالنَّجَاةَ قَصَدْنَا
بِكَthrough you مَوْلاَيَmy master مِنْfrom عَذَابِtorment بِيسِgrievous
بِكَ مَوْلاَيَ مِنْ عَذَابِ بِيسِ
We have sought you, and deliverance we have sought
We came to you seeking wealth, we came to
We have sought you, and salvation we have sought
through you, my master, from grievous torment.
You, beyond base, vile, despicable adversity
Through you, my master, from a wretched torment.
قَدْindeed قَصَدْنَاكَwe sought you وَالْخَلاَصَand release قَصَدْنَاwe sought
قَدْ قَصَدْنَاكَ وَالْخَلاَصَ قَصَدْنَا
بِِكَthrough you مِنْfrom أَكْبَرِthe greatest of الْعِدَاthe enemies إِبْلِيسِIblis
بِِكَ مِنْ أَكْبَرِ الْعِدَا إِبْلِيسِ
We have sought you, and release we have sought
We came to you seeking benefit during transcription and instruction
We have sought you, and deliverance we have sought
through you from the greatest of foes, Iblis.
We came to you seeking victory in battle against a defeated enemy
Through you, from the greatest of enemies, Iblis.
قَدْindeed قَصَدْنَاكَwe sought you وَالْغِنَىand independence قَدْindeed قَصَدْنَاwe sought
قَدْ قَصَدْنَاكَ وَالْغِنَى قَدْ قَصَدْنَا
بِكَthrough you عَنْfrom عَارِضٍa passing thing دَنِيٍّbase خَسِيسِcontemptible
بِكَ عَنْ عَارِضٍ دَنِيٍّ خَسِيسِ
We have sought you, and independence we have sought
We came to you seeking healing from what mars the good character
We have sought you, and true wealth we have sought
through you from anything fleeting, base, and contemptible.
We came to you, the healer of souls,
Through you, turning away from any base and contemptible worldly offering.
قَدْindeed قَصَدْنَاكَwe sought you وَانْتِفَاعاًand benefit قَصَدْنَاwe sought
قَدْ قَصَدْنَاكَ وَانْتِفَاعاً قَصَدْنَا
مِنْكَfrom you عِنْدَduring التَّدْوِينِcompilation وَالتَّدْرِيسِand teaching
مِنْكَ عِنْدَ التَّدْوِينِ وَالتَّدْرِيسِ
We have sought you, and benefit we have sought
Not the doctor of pulp and chemicals
We have sought you, and true benefit we have sought
from you in compiling and teaching.
And found you to be the very staff of noble traits,
From you, in the compiling of books and the teaching of lessons.
قَدْindeed قَصَدْنَاكَwe sought you وَانْتِصَاراًand victory قَصَدْنَاwe sought
قَدْ قَصَدْنَاكَ وَانْتِصَاراً قَصَدْنَا
مِنْكَfrom you فِيin حَرْبِbattle with حَاقِدٍa spiteful person مَنْكُوسِabased
مِنْكَ فِي حَرْبِ حَاقِدٍ مَنْكُوسِ
We have sought you, and victory we have sought
Not a staff attributed to Galen
We have sought you, and victory we have sought
from you in battle against a spiteful, abased foe.
Grant us from the sweetness of intimacy
From you, in the war against every inverted, resentful hater.
قَدْindeed قَصَدْنَاكَwe sought you وَالشِّفَاءَand healing قَصَدْنَاwe sought
قَدْ قَصَدْنَاكَ وَالشِّفَاءَ قَصَدْنَا
مِنْكَfrom you مِمَّاحَوَىfrom what ... held الْحَشَاthe heart مِنْof رَسِيسِlingering pain
مِنْكَ مِمَّاحَوَى الْحَشَا مِنْ رَسِيسِ
We have sought you, and healing we have sought
To forget the bitterness of dejection
We have sought you, and healing we have sought
from you for the lingering pain held within the heart.
And give us from the jujubes of meaning
From you, for the persistent fevers hidden deep within.
قَدْindeed قَصَدْنَاwe sought مِنْكُمْfrom you طَبِيبَthe physician of النُّفُوسِsouls
قَدْ قَصَدْنَا مِنْكُمْ طَبِيبَ النُّفُوسِ
لاَnot طَبِيبَthe physician of الْكَيْلُوسِchyle وَالْكَيْمُوسِand chyme
لاَ طَبِيبَ الْكَيْلُوسِ وَالْكَيْمُوسِ
We have sought in you the physician of souls,
To soothe the obstruction of distraught souls
We have sought in you the physician of souls,
not the physician of chyle and chyme.
And protect us from our souls, for they have
Not the physician of chyle and chyme.
وَظَفِرْنَاand we found بِكُمْin you بِآسِa healer of الْمَعَالِيnoble virtues
وَظَفِرْنَا بِكُمْ بِآسِ الْمَعَالِي
لاَnot بِآسٍa healer يُعْزَىis attributed لِجَالَيْنُوسِto Galen
لاَ بِآسٍ يُعْزَى لِجَالَيْنُوسِ
And in you we have found a healer of noble virtues,
Fought against us, not like the war of Bassoos
And we have triumphed through you with the myrtle of high virtues,
not a healer associated with Galen.
Wanting to plunder what God let flow
Not the myrtle attributed to Galen.
هَبْgrant لَنَاto us مِنْsome of حَلاَوَةِthe sweetness of التَّأْنِيسِcomforting companionship
هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ حَلاَوَةِ التَّأْنِيسِ
مَاwhat يُنَسِّيmakes one forget مَرَارَةَthe bitterness of التَّنْكِيسِrelapse
مَا يُنَسِّي مَرَارَةَ التَّنْكِيسِ
Grant us of the sweetness of comforting companionship
Generously over humankind, of fine chivalry
Grant us some of the sweetness of gentle companionship
what makes us forget the bitterness of relapse.
A glance at Abu ‘Ali has quenched
That makes us forget the bitterness of a relapse.
وَاسْقِنَاand give us to drink مِنْfrom سَكَنْجَبِينِthe honey-vinegar syrup of الْمَعَانِيmeanings
وَاسْقِنَا مِنْ سَكَنْجَبِينِ الْمَعَانِي
مَاwhat يُلِينُeases احْتِبَاسَthe retention of بُؤْسِthe misery of النُّفُوسِsouls
مَا يُلِينُ احْتِبَاسَ بُؤْسِ النُّفُوسِ
And give us to drink of the oxymel of meanings
A drink from Abu ‘Ali, the president
And pour us from the oxymel of deep meanings
what eases the pent-up misery of souls.
May his light keep shining, showing him
That which relieves the pent-up misery of souls.
وَاحْمِنَاand protect us مِنْfrom نُفُوسِنَاour souls إِنَّهَاindeed they قَدْhave
وَاحْمِنَا مِنْ نُفُوسِنَا إِنَّهَا قَدْ
حَارَبَتْنَاthey waged war on us وَلاَand not كَحَرْبِlike the war of الْبَسُوسِal-Basus
حَارَبَتْنَا وَلاَ كَحَرْبِ الْبَسُوسِ
And protect us from our own souls, for they have
A full moon of glory at the rise of veneration
And protect us from our own souls, for they have
waged war on us—not like the war of al-Basus.
Waged war against us, worse than the War of Basus.
وَأَرَادَتْand they desired سَلْبَto strip away الذِيwhat أَسْبَلَdraped الGod (first part)
وَأَرَادَتْ سَلْبَ الذِي أَسْبَلَ ال
لَّهُGod (completion) عَلَىupon الْعِرْضِhonor مِنْof جَمِيلِfine اللَّبُوسِraiment
لَّهُ عَلَى الْعِرْضِ مِنْ جَمِيلِ اللَّبُوسِ
And sought to strip away what God had draped
And they have sought to strip away what Al-
upon our honor—a fair garment.
-mighty God has draped over our honor from the most beautiful of garments.
نَظْرَةٌa glance فِيat أَبِيAbu عَلِيٍّAli كَفَتْنَاspared us
نَظْرَةٌ فِي أَبِي عَلِيٍّ كَفَتْنَا
شُرْبَةًa draught مِنْfrom أَبِيAbu عَلِيِّAli الرَّئِيسِthe Chief
شُرْبَةً مِنْ أَبِي عَلِيِّ الرَّئِيسِ
A glance at Abu Ali has spared us
A single glance at Abu Ali has sufficed us,
a draught from Abu Ali al-Ra'is.
Serving as a healing draught from Abu Ali, the Chief Physician.
دَامَmay he endure وَالْنُّورُand the light مِنْfrom هُدَاهُhis guidance يُرِيهِreveals him
دَامَ وَالْنُّورُ مِنْ هُدَاهُ يُرِيهِ
بَدْرَa full moon of مَجْدٍglory بِمَطْلِعِat the rising-place of التَّقْدِيسِsanctity
بَدْرَ مَجْدٍ بِمَطْلِعِ التَّقْدِيسِ
May he endure, while the light of his guidance reveals him
May he remain forever, while the light of his guidance shows him
as a full moon of glory on the horizon of sanctity.
As a full moon of glory at the rising point of sanctity.
Partial English translation: 43 of 50 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1