أَلَم تَرَ أَنَّ الشَمسَ قَد ضَمَّها القَبرُ

أَلَم تَرَ أَنَّ الشَمسَ قَد ضَمَّها القَبرُ

وَأَن قَد كَفانا فَقدَنا القَمَرَ البَدرُ

وَأَن قَد كَفانا فَقدَنا القَمَرَ البَدرُ

Have you not seen that the grave has embraced the sun,

Have you not seen that the sun is now confined to the grave?

and that the full moon has made good our loss of the moon,

That the bright full moon has set, leaving us in darkness?

وَأَنَّ الحَيا إِن كانَ أَقلَعَ صَوبُهُ

وَأَنَّ الحَيا إِن كانَ أَقلَعَ صَوبُهُ

فَقَد فاضَ لِلآمالِ في إِثرِهِ البَحرُ

فَقَد فاضَ لِلآمالِ في إِثرِهِ البَحرُ

and that, if the rain's downpour has ceased,

If life departs from us, though reluctantly,

then the sea has overflowed for hopes in its wake?

The sea of hopes will still overflow in its wake.

إِساءَةُ دَهرٍ أَحسَنَ الفِعلَ بَعدَها

إِساءَةُ دَهرٍ أَحسَنَ الفِعلَ بَعدَها

وَذَنبُ زَمانٍ جاءَ يَتبَعُهُ العُذرُ

وَذَنبُ زَمانٍ جاءَ يَتبَعُهُ العُذرُ

A wrong of time, which afterward did good,

An age’s wrongdoing is atoned for by later good deeds,

and a fault of the age that came followed by an excuse.

And the sins of a period are excused by what follows.

فَلا يَتَهَنَّ الكاشِحونَ فَما دَجا

فَلا يَتَهَنَّ الكاشِحونَ فَما دَجا

لَنا اللَيلُ إِلّا رَيثَما طَلَعَ الفَجرُ

لَنا اللَيلُ إِلّا رَيثَما طَلَعَ الفَجرُ

So let the spiteful not rejoice: darkness lasted

So let not the despondent lose hope, for the night

in our night only until the dawn arose.

Will last only until dawn breaks through again.

وَإِن يَكُ وَلّى جَهوَرٌ فَمُحَمَّدٌ

وَإِن يَكُ وَلّى جَهوَرٌ فَمُحَمَّدٌ

خَليفَتُهُ العَدلُ الرِضى وَاِبنُهُ البَرُّ

خَليفَتُهُ العَدلُ الرِضى وَاِبنُهُ البَرُّ

And if Jahwar has departed, then Muhammad

If one Commander passes away, Muhammad is his successor –

is his just, well-regarded successor and his dutiful son.

Justice, contentment, benevolence are his heirs.

لَعَمري لَنِعمَ العِلقُ أَتلَفَهُ الرَدى

لَعَمري لَنِعمَ العِلقُ أَتلَفَهُ الرَدى

فَبانَ وَنِعمَ العِلقُ أَخلَفَهُ الدَهرُ

فَبانَ وَنِعمَ العِلقُ أَخلَفَهُ الدَهرُ

By my life, how fine the treasure death destroyed!

By my life! How excellent was he whom time destroyed!

So it departed; and how fine the treasure time supplied in its place!

How excellent he whom fate succeeded!

هَزَزنا بِهِ الصَمّامَ فَالعَزمُ حَدُّهُ

هَزَزنا بِهِ الصَمّامَ فَالعَزمُ حَدُّهُ

وَحِليَتُهُ العَليا وَإِفرِندُهُ البِشرُ

وَحِليَتُهُ العَليا وَإِفرِندُهُ البِشرُ

In him we brandished the keen sword; resolve is its edge,

He emboldened us, resolute was his intent,

and its ornament is loftiness, and its watered pattern good cheer.

His noble ornament was his humanity and joyful countenance.

فَتىً يَجمَعُ المَجدَ المُفَرَّقَ هَمُّهُ

فَتىً يَجمَعُ المَجدَ المُفَرَّقَ هَمُّهُ

وَيُنظَمُ في أَخلاقِهِ السَودَدُ النَثرُ

وَيُنظَمُ في أَخلاقِهِ السَودَدُ النَثرُ

A young man whose ambition gathers scattered glory,

A youth whose concern is to unite scattered glory,

and scattered nobility is strung together in his character.

Whose character blends the ornate with the plain.

أَهابَت إِلَيهِ بِالقُلوبِ مَحَبَّةٌ

أَهابَت إِلَيهِ بِالقُلوبِ مَحَبَّةٌ

هِيَ السِحرُ لِلأَهواءِ بَل دونَها السِحرُ

هِيَ السِحرُ لِلأَهواءِ بَل دونَها السِحرُ

Love has summoned hearts toward him,

The hearts were filled with love of him, a sorcery

It is magic to the affections—rather, magic falls short of it.

Beyond mere passion – nay, it surpasses sorcery!

سَرَت حَيثُ لاتَسري مِنَ الأَنفُسِ المُنى

سَرَت حَيثُ لاتَسري مِنَ الأَنفُسِ المُنى

وَدَبَّت دَبيباً لَيسَ يُحسِنُهُ الخَمرُ

وَدَبَّت دَبيباً لَيسَ يُحسِنُهُ الخَمرُ

It coursed where wishes cannot course within souls,

It crept where no other yearning creeps,

and crept with a subtlety that wine cannot match.

With a creeping not induced by wine.

لَبِسنا لَدَيهِ الأَمنَ تَندى ظِلالُهُ

لَبِسنا لَدَيهِ الأَمنَ تَندى ظِلالُهُ

وَزَهرَةَ عَيشٍ مِثلَما أَينَعَ الزَهرُ

وَزَهرَةَ عَيشٍ مِثلَما أَينَعَ الزَهرُ

We donned security in his presence, its shades moist with dew,

In his shade we donned the raiment of security,

and the bloom of life, just as flowers came into full bloom.

And the flower of livelihood blossomed as flowers bloom.

وَعادَت لَنا عاداتُ دُنيا كَأَنَّها

وَعادَت لَنا عاداتُ دُنيا كَأَنَّها

بِها وَسَنٌ أَو هَزَّ أَعطافَها سُكرُ

بِها وَسَنٌ أَو هَزَّ أَعطافَها سُكرُ

And the world's familiar ways returned to us, as though it

Customs returned which were like a brief intoxication

were drowsy, or drunkenness had swayed its sides.

Or a spell cast on the epochs of time.

مَليكٌ لَهُ مِنّا النَصيحَةُ وَالهَوى

مَليكٌ لَهُ مِنّا النَصيحَةُ وَالهَوى

وَمِنهُ الأَيادي البيضُ وَالنِعَمُ الخُضرُ

وَمِنهُ الأَيادي البيضُ وَالنِعَمُ الخُضرُ

A king who has our loyal counsel and love,

A king to whom we give sincere counsel and passion,

and from him come white hands of bounty and green blessings.

And from whom we receive reward and tender green gifts.

نُسِرُّ وَفاءً حينَ نُعلِنُ طاعَةً

نُسِرُّ وَفاءً حينَ نُعلِنُ طاعَةً

فَما خانَهُ سِرٌّ وَلا رابَهُ جَهرُ

فَما خانَهُ سِرٌّ وَلا رابَهُ جَهرُ

We keep loyalty within when we openly declare obedience,

We rejoice in demonstrating loyalty openly,

so no secret has betrayed him, nor has open speech aroused his suspicion.

Since no secret ever betrayed him nor any boldness offended him.

فَقُل لِلحَيارى قَد بَدا عَلَمُ الهُدى

فَقُل لِلحَيارى قَد بَدا عَلَمُ الهُدى

وَلِلطامِعِ المَغرورِ قَد قُضِيَ الأَمرُ

وَلِلطامِعِ المَغرورِ قَد قُضِيَ الأَمرُ

So tell the bewildered: the banner of guidance has appeared,

Say to the wandering perplexed: the flag of guidance has now appeared.

and the deluded aspirant: the matter has been settled.

Say to the deluded ambitious: the matter has now been decided.

أَبا الحَزمِ قَد ذابَت عَلَيكَ مِنَ الأَسى

أَبا الحَزمِ قَد ذابَت عَلَيكَ مِنَ الأَسى

قُلوبٌ مُناها الصَبرُ لَو ساعَدَ الصَبرُ

قُلوبٌ مُناها الصَبرُ لَو ساعَدَ الصَبرُ

O Abu al-Hazm, grief for you has melted

O resolute one, for you fond hearts have melted in sorrow,

hearts whose wish is patience, if only patience would help.

Though patience was their goal, even if patience came to their aid.

دَعِ الدَهرَ يَفجَع بِالذَخائِرِ أَهلَهُ

دَعِ الدَهرَ يَفجَع بِالذَخائِرِ أَهلَهُ

فَما لِنَفيسٍ مُذ طَواكَ الرَدى قَدرُ

فَما لِنَفيسٍ مُذ طَواكَ الرَدى قَدرُ

Let time bereave its people of treasures;

Leave Fate to torment his folk with his calamities,

for nothing precious has worth since death folded you away.

Since, my dear, you have no worth to me now the days have shrouded you.

تَهونُ الرَزايا بَعدُ وَهيَ جَليلَةٌ

تَهونُ الرَزايا بَعدُ وَهيَ جَليلَةٌ

وَيُعرَفُ مُذ فارَقتَنا الحادِثُ النُكرُ

وَيُعرَفُ مُذ فارَقتَنا الحادِثُ النُكرُ

Calamities seem slight thereafter, though they are grave,

Hardships will seem slight, though momentous indeed,

and since you left us, we know what dreadful calamity is.

And grievous events become familiar once the noble stranger has departed.

فَقَدناكَ فِقدانَ السَحابَةِ لَم يَزَل

فَقَدناكَ فِقدانَ السَحابَةِ لَم يَزَل

لَها أَثَرٌ يُثني بِهِ السَهلُ وَالوَعرُ

لَها أَثَرٌ يُثني بِهِ السَهلُ وَالوَعرُ

We lost you as one loses a cloud that still

We have lost you as the plains and hills lose the rain clouds,

has a trace for which plain and rugged ground give praise.

Which leave their trace, guiding the flatlands and the rugged peaks.

مَساعيكَ حَليٌ لِلَّيالي مُرَصَّعٌ

مَساعيكَ حَليٌ لِلَّيالي مُرَصَّعٌ

وَذِكرُكَ في أَردانِ أَيّامِها عِطرُ

وَذِكرُكَ في أَردانِ أَيّامِها عِطرُ

Your deeds are a jewel-studded ornament for the nights,

Your efforts were a ornament for the nights, a necklace

and your memory is perfume in the sleeves of their days.

And remembrance of you perfumes the bosom of their days.

فَلا تَبعَدَن إِنَّ المَنِيَّةَ غايَةٌ

فَلا تَبعَدَن إِنَّ المَنِيَّةَ غايَةٌ

إِلَيها التَناهي طالَ أَو قَصُرَ العُمرُ

إِلَيها التَناهي طالَ أَو قَصُرَ العُمرُ

So may you not be far away! Death is an end

So depart not, for death is the final end,

to which all come, whether life be long or short.

However short or long a lifetime is, that is where it terminates.

عَزاءً فَدَتكَ النَفسُ عَنهُ فَإِن ثَوى

عَزاءً فَدَتكَ النَفسُ عَنهُ فَإِن ثَوى

فَإِنَّكَ لا الواني وَلا الضَرَعُ الغُمرُ

فَإِنَّكَ لا الواني وَلا الضَرَعُ الغُمرُ

Take comfort for his loss—may my soul ransom you—for if he lies buried,

Your soul for ransom! It consoles for your loss; though you are buried,

then you are neither irresolute nor a weak novice.

You are neither forlorn nor drowned in tears.

وَما الرُزءُ في أَن يودَعَ التُربَ هالِكٌ

وَما الرُزءُ في أَن يودَعَ التُربَ هالِكٌ

بَلِ الرُزءَ كُلَّ الرِزءِ أَن يَهلِكَ الأَجرُ

بَلِ الرُزءَ كُلَّ الرِزءِ أَن يَهلِكَ الأَجرُ

And the loss is not that a dead man is laid in the dust,

What calamity if a mortal is interred?

rather, the loss—the utter loss—is that the reward should perish.

True calamity is when his reward perishes!

أَمامَكَ مِن حِفظِ الإِلَهِ طَليعَةٌ

أَمامَكَ مِن حِفظِ الإِلَهِ طَليعَةٌ

وَحَولَكَ مِن آلائِهِ عَسكَرٌ مَجرُ

وَحَولَكَ مِن آلائِهِ عَسكَرٌ مَجرُ

Before you stands a vanguard of God's protection,

Before you is a vanguard under God’s protection,

and around you is a vast army of His blessings.

Around you an army on high alert.

وَما بِكَ مِن فَقرٍ إِلى نَصرِ ناصِرٍ

وَما بِكَ مِن فَقرٍ إِلى نَصرِ ناصِرٍ

كَفَتكَ مِنَ اللَهِ الكَلاءَةُ وَالنَصرُ

كَفَتكَ مِنَ اللَهِ الكَلاءَةُ وَالنَصرُ

And you have no need of a helper's aid;

You have no need for a champion’s support,

God's guardianship and aid have sufficed you.

For divine sufficiency and aid are enough for you.

لَكَ الخَيرُ إِنّي واثِقٌ بِكَ شاكِرٌ

لَكَ الخَيرُ إِنّي واثِقٌ بِكَ شاكِرٌ

لِمَثنى أَياديكَ الَّتي كُفرُها الكُفرُ

لِمَثنى أَياديكَ الَّتي كُفرُها الكُفرُ

May good be yours! I trust in you and am grateful

Goodness is yours - I trust and thank you,

for your repeated favors—ingratitude for them is unbelief.

For the denial shown by the infidels to your open hands.

تَحامى العِدا لَمّا اِعتَلَقتُكَ جانِبي

تَحامى العِدا لَمّا اِعتَلَقتُكَ جانِبي

وَقالَ المُناوي شَبَّ عَن طَوقِهِ عَمرُ

وَقالَ المُناوي شَبَّ عَن طَوقِهِ عَمرُ

Enemies avoided my side once I held fast to you,

When I clung to your side, the enemies recoiled,

and the adversary said, "Amr has outgrown his collar."

And those who wished me ill recovered from their hatred.

يَلينُ كَلامٌ كانَ يَخشُنُ مِنهُمُ

يَلينُ كَلامٌ كانَ يَخشُنُ مِنهُمُ

وَيَفتُرُ نَحوي ذَلِكَ النَظَرُ الشَزرُ

وَيَفتُرُ نَحوي ذَلِكَ النَظَرُ الشَزرُ

Their speech, once harsh, grows gentle,

From them speech softened that had once been harsh,

and that hostile, sidelong gaze toward me slackens.

And those stern glances became kind.

فَصَدِّق ظُنوناً لي وَفِيَّ فَإِنَّني

فَصَدِّق ظُنوناً لي وَفِيَّ فَإِنَّني

لَأَهلُ اليَدِ البَيضاءَ مِنكَ وَلا فَخرُ

لَأَهلُ اليَدِ البَيضاءَ مِنكَ وَلا فَخرُ

So fulfill my hopes and those placed in me, for I

So believe my hopes for you, as I am deserving

am worthy of your white hand of bounty—and that is no boast.

Of your open-handed reward, and this is no boast.

وَمَن يَكُ لِلدُنيا وَلِلوَفرِ سَعيُهُ

وَمَن يَكُ لِلدُنيا وَلِلوَفرِ سَعيُهُ

فَتَقريبُكَ الدُنيا وَإِقبالُكَ الوَفرُ

فَتَقريبُكَ الدُنيا وَإِقبالُكَ الوَفرُ

And if anyone strives for the world and wealth,

He whose efforts are for worldly fortune and plenty,

then your drawing one close is the world, and your favor is wealth.

Seeks to gain your worldly success and plentiful bounty.