مَرادُهُمُtheir roaming ground حَيثُwhere السِلاحُthe weapons خَمائِلُthickets
مَرادُهُمُ حَيثُ السِلاحُ خَمائِلُ
وَمَورِدُهُمand their watering place حَيثُwhere الدِماءُthe blood مَناهِلُdrinking pools
وَمَورِدُهُم حَيثُ الدِماءُ مَناهِلُ
Their roaming ground is where weapons form thickets,
Their desire wherever arms repose, doves nest,
and their watering place is where blood forms drinking pools.
And their resort wherever blood flows, springs well,
وَدونَand before المُنىthe desired ends فيهِمamong them جِيادٌnoble steeds صَوافِنٌstanding poised
وَدونَ المُنى فيهِم جِيادٌ صَوافِنٌ
وَمَأثورَةٌand patterned بيضٌwhite swords وَسُمرٌand brown spears عَوامِلُthrusting
وَمَأثورَةٌ بيضٌ وَسُمرٌ عَوامِلُ
Before the wishes sought among them stand noble, poised steeds,
Below their goal, among them steeds fleet and mottled gray,
and patterned white swords, and brown, thrusting spears.
White swords and chestnut spears, stalwart and keen.
لِكُلِّfor every نَجيدٍbrave man فيin النِجادِthe sword-belt كَأَنَّماas though
لِكُلِّ نَجيدٍ في النِجادِ كَأَنَّما
تُناطُare hung بِمَتنِupon the shaft of الرُمحِthe spear مِنهُfrom him الحَمائِلُthe sword-straps
تُناطُ بِمَتنِ الرُمحِ مِنهُ الحَمائِلُ
For every brave man in a sword-belt, it is as though
On the strong neck of each purebred in battle
his baldrics were hung upon a spear-shaft.
As though the burden of spears from him hung pendant.
طَويلٌlong عَلَيناupon us لَيلُهُhis night مِنfrom حَفيظَةٍjealous anger
طَويلٌ عَلَينا لَيلُهُ مِن حَفيظَةٍ
كَأَنَّas though صَباباتِthe yearnings of النُفوسِthe souls طَوائِلُblood-debts
كَأَنَّ صَباباتِ النُفوسِ طَوائِلُ
His night weighs long upon us through jealous wrath,
Long on us was his night with the sentinel stars
as though the yearnings of souls were blood-debts.
As though the souls' lamps were lofty poles.
كِناسٌa gazelle's covert دَناdrew near مِنهُto it الشَرىthe lion-thicket فيin مَحَلَّةٍa dwelling
كِناسٌ دَنا مِنهُ الشَرى في مَحَلَّةٍ
بِهاin it اللَيثُthe lion يَعدوcharges وَالغَزالُand the gazelle يُغازِلُflirts
بِها اللَيثُ يَعدو وَالغَزالُ يُغازِلُ
A gazelle's covert, with a lion-thicket close by, in an abode
It drew nigh so the pleiad for a tryst like the kindling
where the lion charges and the gazelle flirts.
Of the evening fire and like the fawn gamboling.
لَعَمرُby the life of القِبابِthe tents الحُمرِred وَسطَamid عَرينِهِمtheir lion-den
لَعَمرُ القِبابِ الحُمرِ وَسطَ عَرينِهِم
لَقَدindeed قُصِرَتhave been confined فيهاwithin them السُروبُthe herds العَقائِلُthe noble ladies
لَقَد قُصِرَت فيها السُروبُ العَقائِلُ
By the life of the red tents amid their lion-den,
By the red domes midst their lairs, their bases curved inwards,
within them the noble herds are indeed kept secluded.
Among them the Pleiades were hemmed in marvelously.
أَمَحجوبَةٌis she secluded? لَيلىLayla وَلَمand not تُخضَبِhave been blood-dyed القَناthe spears
أَمَحجوبَةٌ لَيلى وَلَم تُخضَبِ القَنا
وَلاnor حَجَبَتhas veiled شَمسَthe sun of الضَحاءِmidmorning القَساطِلُthe battle-dust clouds
وَلا حَجَبَت شَمسَ الضَحاءِ القَساطِلُ
Is Layla secluded, though the spears have not been dyed in blood,
Veiled is Layla though the bow shone not at dusk
nor has battle-dust veiled the midmorning sun?
Nor screened the sun of daybreak the high risings.
أَناةٌa languid woman عَلَيهاupon her مِنfrom سَناthe radiance of البَدرِthe full moon مَيسَمٌa mark
أَناةٌ عَلَيها مِن سَنا البَدرِ مَيسَمٌ
وَفيهاand in her مِنَfrom الغُصنِthe bough النَضيرِverdant شَمائِلُgraces
وَفيها مِنَ الغُصنِ النَضيرِ شَمائِلُ
A languid beauty, marked with the full moon's radiance,
On her a grace from the boughs of the full moon
and in her are the graces of a verdant bough.
And in it a subtlety from the tender branch,
يَجولُsway وِشاحاهاher two sashes عَلىaround خَيزُرانَةٍa bamboo stem
يَجولُ وِشاحاها عَلى خَيزُرانَةٍ
وَتُشرِقُand gleam تَحتَbeneath البُردَتَينِthe two mantles الخَلاخِلُthe anklets
وَتُشرِقُ تَحتَ البُردَتَينِ الخَلاخِلُ
Her two sashes sway around a bamboo stem,
Her wrap wanders upon a meadow green
and anklets gleam beneath the two mantles.
And beneath the silks her anklets gleam.
وَلَيلَةَand on a night وافَتناshe came to us الكَثيبَthe sand dune لِمَوعِدٍfor a tryst
وَلَيلَةَ وافَتنا الكَثيبَ لِمَوعِدٍ
كَماas ريعَwas startled وَسنانُdrowsy العَشِيّاتِin the evenings خاذِلُa solitary gazelle
كَما ريعَ وَسنانُ العَشِيّاتِ خاذِلُ
And on the night she came to us at the dune for a tryst,
And the night we reached the sandy hill for an appointment
like a startled, solitary gazelle, drowsy in the evenings,
The Pleiades deserted it as the fire deserted the wood.
تَهادىshe glides gently اِنسِيابُthe gliding of الأَيمِthe snake يَعفوeffaces إِثارَهاher tracks
تَهادى اِنسِيابُ الأَيمِ يَعفو إِثارَها
مِنَof الوَشيِbrocade مَرقومُpatterned العِطافَينِon both sides ذائِلُtrailing
مِنَ الوَشيِ مَرقومُ العِطافَينِ ذائِلُ
she glided like a snake, her tracks effaced
The flowing of tears gently effaced their traces
by trailing brocade, patterned on both sides.
From the cheek, numbered like the Pleiades declining.
قَعيدَكِI adjure you أَنّىhow زُرتِyou visited ضَوؤُكِyour light ساطِعٌshining
قَعيدَكِ أَنّى زُرتِ ضَوؤُكِ ساطِعٌ
وَطيبُكِand your perfume نَفّاحٌwafting strongly وَحَليُكِand your jewelry هادِلُtinkling
وَطيبُكِ نَفّاحٌ وَحَليُكِ هادِلُ
I adjure you: how did you visit, your radiance shining,
Your camp, where have you alighted? For your light gleams
your perfume wafting, and your jewelry tinkling?
And your perfume wafts and your trinkets dangle.
هَبيكِsuppose that you اِغتَرَرتِyou caught unawares الحَيَّthe clan واشيكِyour tale-bearer هاجِعٌasleep
هَبيكِ اِغتَرَرتِ الحَيَّ واشيكِ هاجِعٌ
وَفَرعُكِand your hair غِربيبٌjet-black وَلَيلُكِand your night لائِلُdeeply dark
وَفَرعُكِ غِربيبٌ وَلَيلُكِ لائِلُ
Suppose you caught the clan unawares, your tale-bearer sleeping,
You have aroused the quarter and the steed is eager
your tresses jet-black and your night deeply dark—
Your streamer flutters and your night is departing.
فَأَنّىthen how اِعتَسَفتِyou ventured through الهَولَthe terror خَطوُكِyour steps مُدَمجٌclosely set
فَأَنّى اِعتَسَفتِ الهَولَ خَطوُكِ مُدَمجٌ
وَرِدفُكِand your hips رَجراجٌquivering وَعِطفُكِand your flank مائِلُinclining
وَرِدفُكِ رَجراجٌ وَعِطفُكِ مائِلُ
then how did you brave the terrors, your steps so short,
How then did you hurry past in dread? Your pace reeled,
your hips quivering, and your flank inclining?
Your train swayed and your side bent.
خَليلَيَّmy two friends ماليwhat ails me? كُلَّماwhenever رُمتُI sought سَلوَةًconsolation
خَليلَيَّ مالي كُلَّما رُمتُ سَلوَةً
تَعَرَّضَintervened شَوقٌa longing دونَbefore ذَلِكَthat حائِلُbarring
تَعَرَّضَ شَوقٌ دونَ ذَلِكَ حائِلُ
My two friends, what ails me, that whenever I seek consolation,
My friend, whenever I tried for union
a longing intervenes, barring me from it?
Desire thwarted that, nothing else intervened.
أَراحُI am exhilarated إِذاwhen راحَblows النَسيمُthe breeze شَآمِياًfrom the north
أَراحُ إِذا راحَ النَسيمُ شَآمِياً
كَأَنَّas though شَمولاًwine ماwhat تُديرُpass round الشَمائِلُthe north winds
كَأَنَّ شَمولاً ما تُديرُ الشَمائِلُ
I am exhilarated when the breeze blows from the north,
I find rest when the breath blows northerly
as though what the north winds pass round were wine.
As though a wrap were swinging the Pleiades.
ضَلالاًin folly تَمادىpersisted الحُبُّlove فيamong المَعشَرِthe folk العِداhostile
ضَلالاً تَمادى الحُبُّ في المَعشَرِ العِدا
وَلَفَّand entangled الهَوىpassion فيin حَيثُwhere تُخشىare feared الغَوائِلُtreacherous perils
وَلَفَّ الهَوى في حَيثُ تُخشى الغَوائِلُ
In folly, love has persisted among hostile folk,
Strayed passion in the noble throng has persisted
and passion has entangled me where treacherous perils are feared.
And love twisted where sorrows are feared.
كَأَنas though لَيسَthere is not فيin نُعمىthe bounty of الهُمامِthe gallant مُحَمَّدٍMuhammad
كَأَن لَيسَ في نُعمى الهُمامِ مُحَمَّدٍ
مُسَلٍّa consolation وَفيand in مَثنىthe redoubling of أَياديهِhis favors شاغِلُa distraction
مُسَلٍّ وَفي مَثنى أَياديهِ شاغِلُ
As though the gallant Muhammad's bounty offered no
As though in the favors of Mohammed the faithful
consolation, nor his redoubled favors any distraction.
There were no sympathizer and in his pair of hands no busyness,
أَغُرُّradiant إِذاwhen شِمناwe scanned سَحائِبُthe clouds of جودِهِhis generosity
أَغُرُّ إِذا شِمنا سَحائِبُ جودِهِ
تَهَلَّلَbeamed وَجهٌa face وَاستَهَلَّتand rained forth أَنامِلُfingertips
تَهَلَّلَ وَجهٌ وَاستَهَلَّت أَنامِلُ
Radiant—when we scan the clouds of his bounty,
I gleam when we smell the clouds of his munificence
his face beams, and his fingers pour forth rain.
A cheek dimples and fingers begin to shine.
يُبَشِّرُناbrings us glad tidings بِالنائِلِof the gift الغَمرِabundant وَجهُهُhis face
يُبَشِّرُنا بِالنائِلِ الغَمرِ وَجهُهُ
وَقَبلَand before الحَياthe rain ماindeed تَستَطيرُspread abroad المَخايِلُthe rain-portents
وَقَبلَ الحَيا ما تَستَطيرُ المَخايِلُ
His face brings us glad tidings of abundant gifts,
It heralds the attainment of abundant rain, his face,
and before the rain, its harbingers spread abroad.
And before the morning what steeds are saddled!
لَدَيهِwith him رِياضٌgardens لِلسَجاياof virtues أَنيقَةٌlovely
لَدَيهِ رِياضٌ لِلسَجايا أَنيقَةٌ
تَغَلغَلُwind فيهاthrough them لِلعَطاياof gifts جَداوِلُstreams
تَغَلغَلُ فيها لِلعَطايا جَداوِلُ
With him are lovely gardens of virtues,
By him gardens for traits subtle and beautiful
through which streams of gifts wind.
In which for bounty run rivulets.
أَتِيٌّa torrent فَماso not تِلكَthat السَماحَةُgenerosity نُهزَةٌa fleeting windfall
أَتِيٌّ فَما تِلكَ السَماحَةُ نُهزَةٌ
وَفِيٌّfaithful فَماso not تِلكَthose الحِبالُbonds حَبائِلُsnares
وَفِيٌّ فَما تِلكَ الحِبالُ حَبائِلُ
A torrent—his generosity is no fleeting windfall;
Gentle, so what is that generosity? A fleeting mirage?
faithful—those bonds are no snares.
And kind, so what are those cords? Mere ropes?
زَعيمُa guarantor الدَهاءِcunning أَنthat تُصيبَwill strike مِنَamong العِداthe enemies
زَعيمُ الدَهاءِ أَن تُصيبَ مِنَ العِدا
مَكايِدُهُhis stratagems مالاwhat ... not تُصيبُstrike الجَحافِلُmassed armies
مَكايِدُهُ مالا تُصيبُ الجَحافِلُ
His cunning guarantees that, against the enemy,
The chief of guile that his schemes should strike his foe
his stratagems strike what massed armies cannot.
When his hordes strike not, amazing!
فَماso not سَيفُthe sword of ذاكَthat العَزمِresolve فيهِمagainst them بِمَعضِدٍa pruning blade
فَما سَيفُ ذاكَ العَزمِ فيهِم بِمَعضِدٍ
وَلاnor سَهمُthe arrow of ذاكَthat الرَأيِjudgment أَفوَقُsplit-nocked ناصِلِheadless
وَلا سَهمُ ذاكَ الرَأيِ أَفوَقُ ناصِلِ
So the sword of that resolve against them is no pruning blade,
For not by his will that sword of resolution
nor is the arrow of that judgment split-nocked or headless.
Nor higher than a peerless archer his arrow of prudence.
بَنيsons of جَهوَرٍJahwar عِشتُمmay you live بِأَوفَرِin the fullest غِبطَةٍbliss
بَني جَهوَرٍ عِشتُم بِأَوفَرِ غِبطَةٍ
فَلَولاكُمُfor without you ماnot كانَwould there be لِلعَيشِfor life طائِلُany worth
فَلَولاكُمُ ما كانَ لِلعَيشِ طائِلُ
Sons of Jahwar, may you live in fullest bliss;
O people of glory, you have lived in utmost bliss
for without you, life would have no worth.
For were it not for you, life would have no cause.
تَفاضَلَvied فيin السَروِnobility المُلوكُthe kings فَخِلتُهُمand I deemed them
تَفاضَلَ في السَروِ المُلوكُ فَخِلتُهُم
أَنابيبَshaft-sections رُمحٍof a spear أَنتُمُyou فيهِin it عامِلُthe striking end
أَنابيبَ رُمحٍ أَنتُمُ فيهِ عامِلُ
Kings vie in nobility, and I deem them
You have excelled the kings in topmost merit
the sections of a spear, with you its striking end.
You champions are the staves of one spear.
لَئِنeven if قَلَّis small فيamong أَهلِthe people of الزَمانِthe age عَديدُكُمyour number
لَئِن قَلَّ في أَهلِ الزَمانِ عَديدُكُم
فَإِنَّthen indeed دَرارِيَّthe brilliant ones among النُجومِthe stars قَلائِلُfew
فَإِنَّ دَرارِيَّ النُجومِ قَلائِلُ
Even if your number is small among the people of this age,
If few in the kin of time be your number
the brilliant stars are few indeed.
Then rare are stars though the sky be mother.
فِداؤُكُمُyour ransom مَنwhoever إِنif تَعِدهُpromise him ظُنونُهُhis fancies
فِداؤُكُمُ مَن إِن تَعِدهُ ظُنونُهُ
لَحاقَكُمُto catch you فيin المَجدِglory فَالدَهرُthen time ماطِلُa procrastinator
لَحاقَكُمُ في المَجدِ فَالدَهرُ ماطِلُ
May he be your ransom who, if his fancies promise him
Your ransom is one whom if ambitions embolden
to catch you in glory, finds time putting him off.
To vie with your glory, time will belie him.
مَناكيدُwretches فِعلِdoing الخَيرِgood مِنهُمfrom them تَكَلُّفٌan affectation
مَناكيدُ فِعلِ الخَيرِ مِنهُم تَكَلُّفٌ
إِذِsince الشَرُّevil طَبعٌan inborn nature ماnot لَهُمfor them عَنهُfrom it ناقِلُanything that turns them away
إِذِ الشَرُّ طَبعٌ ما لَهُم عَنهُ ناقِلُ
Wretches: doing good is an affectation with them,
From them deeds of virtue are ostentation
for evil is their nature, and nothing turns them from it.
Since evil is innate, they have no transporter from it.
فَإِنso if سُتِرَتare concealed أَخلاقُهُمtheir character بِتَخَلُّقٍby affected virtue
فَإِن سُتِرَت أَخلاقُهُم بِتَخَلُّقٍ
فَكُلُّthen every خَضيبٍdyed thing لاno مَحالَةَescape ناصِلُloses its dye
فَكُلُّ خَضيبٍ لا مَحالَةَ ناصِلُ
So, if their character is veiled by affected virtue,
So if their morals are cloaked in false piety
every dyed thing must inevitably lose its color.
Then every gray beard, decidedly will show white.
لَكَfor you الخَيرُgood إِنّيindeed I قائِلٌspeak غَيرُnot مُقصِرٍfalling short
لَكَ الخَيرُ إِنّي قائِلٌ غَيرُ مُقصِرٍ
فَمَنbut who لِيَfor me بِاستيفاءِwith a full account of ماwhat أَنتَyou فاعِلُdo
فَمَن لِيَ بِاستيفاءِ ما أَنتَ فاعِلُ
May good be yours! I speak, sparing no effort,
Goodness is due to you - I say without neglect -
but who can help me fully recount what you do?
But who can attain all that you accomplish?
لَعَمرُby the life of سَراةِthe nobles of الثَغرِthe frontier وافاكَcame to you وَفدُهُمtheir delegation
لَعَمرُ سَراةِ الثَغرِ وافاكَ وَفدُهُم
لَماsurely not ذَمَّcriticized مِنهُمamong them ذَلِكَthat النُزلَhospitality نازِلُa guest
لَما ذَمَّ مِنهُم ذَلِكَ النُزلَ نازِلُ
By the life of the frontier's nobles, whose delegation came to you,
By your dwelling the cheeks' bloom and what throngs resort
not one guest among them disparaged that hospitality.
For not in them did that host halt and lodge in vain.
لَأَعذَرتَyou surely did your utmost لَمّاsince لَمnot يُمِلَّكَwearied you مُكثُهُمtheir stay
لَأَعذَرتَ لَمّا لَم يُمِلَّكَ مُكثُهُم
إِذاwhen عَذَرَpleaded excuse المُستَثقِلُone who finds it burdensome المُتَثاقِلُthe reluctant one
إِذا عَذَرَ المُستَثقِلُ المُتَثاقِلُ
You surely did your utmost, since their stay did not weary you,
You would pardon them, since prolonged their stay
when a weary, reluctant host would plead excuse.
When the burdened pardons the overburdened.
نَضَدتَyou arrayed رَياحينَfragrant sprigs of الطَلاقَةِcheerful welcome غَضَّةًfresh
نَضَدتَ رَياحينَ الطَلاقَةِ غَضَّةً
وَرَقرَقتَand made ripple ماءَthe water of البِرِّkindness وَهوَwhile it is سَلاسِلُsmooth and sweet
وَرَقرَقتَ ماءَ البِرِّ وَهوَ سَلاسِلُ
You arrayed fresh, fragrant sprigs of welcome,
The zephyrs of amiability you poured fresh
and made the water of kindness ripple, smooth and sweet.
And pellucid the water of righteousness flows.
فَماso none مِنهُمُamong them إِلّاexcept شَديدٌstrong نِزاعُهُhis longing
فَما مِنهُمُ إِلّا شَديدٌ نِزاعُهُ
إِلَيكَtoward you مُقيمُremaining القَلبِat heart وَالجِسمُand the body راحِلُdeparting
إِلَيكَ مُقيمُ القَلبِ وَالجِسمُ راحِلُ
Not one of them but yearns deeply
Not but adamant among them the will
for you: his heart stays, though his body departs.
To you sincere of heart and body departing.
ضَمانٌa pledge عَلَيهِمbinding on them أَنthat سَيُؤثَرُwill be recounted عَنهُمُfrom them
ضَمانٌ عَلَيهِم أَن سَيُؤثَرُ عَنهُمُ
عَلَيكَabout you ثَناءٌpraise فيin المَحافِلِthe assemblies حافِلُabundant
عَلَيكَ ثَناءٌ في المَحافِلِ حافِلُ
They are pledged that their words will be passed on:
Their surety to prefer over them praise of you
abundant praise of you in the assemblies.
Among the throngs abundant and streaming.
مَساعٍgreat deeds هِيَthey are العِقدُthe necklace اِنتِظامَa stringing together of مَحاسِنٍbeauties
مَساعٍ هِيَ العِقدُ اِنتِظامَ مَحاسِنٍ
تَحَلّىwas adorned بِهاwith them جيدٌa neck مِنَof الدَهرِtime عاطِلُunadorned
تَحَلّى بِها جيدٌ مِنَ الدَهرِ عاطِلُ
Deeds that are a necklace of beauties strung in order,
Hearing them is a necklace threading together fair traits
with which time's once-bare neck has adorned itself.
Adorning a cheek which time had stripped bare.
تُنيرُshine بِهاthrough them الآمالُhopes وَاللَيلُwhile the night واقِبٌdarkens
تُنيرُ بِها الآمالُ وَاللَيلُ واقِبٌ
وَتُخضِبُand takes on color مِنهاfrom them الأَرضُthe earth وَالأُفقُwhile the horizon ماحِلُdrought-stricken
وَتُخضِبُ مِنها الأَرضُ وَالأُفقُ ماحِلُ
Through them hopes shine, though night grows dark,
By it hopes gleam, the darkness flees
and the earth is dyed green by them, though the horizon is barren.
And by it the horizon and land are dyed verdant.
هَنيئاًmay it be joyful لَكَfor you العيدُEid الَّذيwhich بِكَthrough you أَصبَحَتhas come to be
هَنيئاً لَكَ العيدُ الَّذي بِكَ أَصبَحَت
تَروقُdelight الضُحىthe mornings مِنهُof it وَتَندىand grow dewy الأَصائِلُthe late afternoons
تَروقُ الضُحى مِنهُ وَتَندى الأَصائِلُ
May Eid bring you joy; through you it has come to have
Congratulations for the feast day whereby
mornings that delight and late afternoons that glisten with dew.
The dawn glowed through you and the roots anchored.
تَلَقّاكَmet you بِالبُشرىwith glad tidings وَحَيّاكَand greeted you بِالمُنىwith hopes
تَلَقّاكَ بِالبُشرى وَحَيّاكَ بِالمُنى
فَبُشراكَso glad tidings to you أَلفٌa thousand بَعدَafter عامِكَyour year قابِلُto come
فَبُشراكَ أَلفٌ بَعدَ عامِكَ قابِلُ
It met you with glad tidings and greeted you with hopes;
It greeted you with glad tidings and hailed you with desire
so rejoice: may a thousand follow this year of yours.
So greet it - thousands - another of your years' cycle.
لَئِنeven if يَنصَرِمends شَهرُthe month of الصِيامِfasting لَبَعدَهُsurely after it
لَئِن يَنصَرِم شَهرُ الصِيامِ لَبَعدَهُ
نَثاthe good report of صالِحِrighteous الأَعمالِdeeds ماwhat أَنتَyou عامِلُdo
نَثا صالِحِ الأَعمالِ ما أَنتَ عامِلُ
Even if the month of fasting ends, afterward there remains
If the fasting month flows by, after it
the good report of righteous deeds in what you do.
Will run deeds righteous that you enact.
رَأَيتَyou regarded أَداءَthe fulfillment of الفَرضِthe obligation ضَربَةَa stroke لازِمٍinescapable
رَأَيتَ أَداءَ الفَرضِ ضَربَةَ لازِمٍ
فَلَمand not تَرضَyou were content حَتّىuntil شَيَّعَتهُescorted it النَوافِلُvoluntary devotions
فَلَم تَرضَ حَتّى شَيَّعَتهُ النَوافِلُ
You deemed fulfillment of the obligation an inescapable charge,
You saw fulfilling the duty as binding
and were not content until voluntary devotions escorted it.
So you were not pleased till supererogations accompanied it.
سَدَنتَyou served بِبَيتِat the house of اللَهِGod حُبَّfor love of جِوارِهِdwelling near it
سَدَنتَ بِبَيتِ اللَهِ حُبَّ جِوارِهِ
لَكَfor you اللَهُGod بِالأَجرِof the reward المُضاعَفِmultiplied كافِلُa guarantor
لَكَ اللَهُ بِالأَجرِ المُضاعَفِ كافِلُ
You served at God's house for love of dwelling near it;
You clove to God's house out of love for being its neighbor
God guarantees you a multiplied reward.
To you doubly requited may God be guarantee.
هَجَرتَyou forsook لَهُfor it الدارَthe home الَّتيwhich أَنتَyou آلِفٌare accustomed to
هَجَرتَ لَهُ الدارَ الَّتي أَنتَ آلِفٌ
لِيَعتادَهُso as to frequent it مَحضُpure الهَوىlove مِنكَfrom you واصِلُcoming
لِيَعتادَهُ مَحضُ الهَوى مِنكَ واصِلُ
For it you left the home to which you are accustomed,
You abandoned for it the abode which you inhabited
so pure love from you might keep coming to visit it.
So sincere love of you would grow into a habit.
فَإِنand if تَتَناقَلكَpass you between them الدِيارُthe dwellings فَطالَماthen often
فَإِن تَتَناقَلكَ الدِيارُ فَطالَما
تَناقَلَتِpassed along البَدرَthe full moon المُنيرَshining المَنازِلُthe lunar mansions
تَناقَلَتِ البَدرَ المُنيرَ المَنازِلُ
If dwellings pass you from one to another, often
For if lands would transmit you time and again
have the lunar mansions passed along the shining full moon.
The shining orb has transmitted the stages.
أَلاindeed كُلُّevery رَجوىhope فيin سِواكَanyone but you عُلالَةٌa meager consolation
أَلا كُلُّ رَجوى في سِواكَ عُلالَةٌ
وَكُلُّand every مَديحٍpraise لَمhas not يَكُنbeen فيكَabout you باطِلُvain
وَكُلُّ مَديحٍ لَم يَكُن فيكَ باطِلُ
Indeed, every hope in anyone but you is a meager solace,
Behold all other hope but in you is isolated
and all praise that is not of you is vain.
And every praise if not in you, invalid.
فَماfor none لِعِمادِfor the pillar of الدينِreligion حاشاكَexcept you رافِعٌone who raises it
فَما لِعِمادِ الدينِ حاشاكَ رافِعٌ
وَلاnor لِلِواءِfor the banner of المُلكِsovereignty غَيرَكَother than you حامِلُa bearer
وَلا لِلِواءِ المُلكِ غَيرَكَ حامِلُ
For none but you upholds the pillar of religion,
To the pillar of the faith, who but you lofts?
and none but you bears sovereignty's banner.
And the standard of the realm, but you upholds?
لَأَمَّنتَنيyou surely secured me الخَطبَthe calamity الَّذيthat أَناI خائِفٌfear
لَأَمَّنتَني الخَطبَ الَّذي أَنا خائِفٌ
وَبَلَّغتَنيand brought me to الحَظَّthe fortune الَّذيthat أَناI آمِلُhope for
وَبَلَّغتَني الحَظَّ الَّذي أَنا آمِلُ
You have indeed secured me against the calamity I fear,
You secured me from the fears I dread
and brought me the good fortune I hope for.
And attained me the hopes I anticipate.
أَرىI see خاطِريmy thought كَالصارِمِlike a cutting sword العَضبِkeen لَمhas not يَزَلceased
أَرى خاطِري كَالصارِمِ العَضبِ لَم يَزَل
لَهُfor it شاحِذٌa sharpener مِنfrom حُسنِthe excellence of رَأيِكَyour judgment صاقِلُa polisher
لَهُ شاحِذٌ مِن حُسنِ رَأيِكَ صاقِلُ
I see my thought as a keen, cutting sword, which has never lacked
I find my mind like the angry, wrathful sword
a sharpener and polisher in your excellent judgment.
For it a furbisher in your wisdom, polishing.
وَماand not الشِعرُpoetry مِمّاamong what أَدَّعيهِI claim فَضيلَةًas a virtue
وَما الشِعرُ مِمّا أَدَّعيهِ فَضيلَةً
تَزينُadorns وَلَكِنbut أَنطَقَتنيmade me speak الفَواضِلُthe gracious favors
تَزينُ وَلَكِن أَنطَقَتني الفَواضِلُ
I do not claim poetry as a virtue
And poetry is not of what I claim, so desist!
that adorns me; rather, your gracious favors have made me speak.
But the virtues move me to speak.
بَقيتَmay you endure كَماas تَبقىendure مَعاليكَyour lofty deeds إِنَّهاindeed they
بَقيتَ كَما تَبقى مَعاليكَ إِنَّها
خَوالِدُeverlasting حينَwhile العَيشُlife كَالظِلِّlike a shadow زائِلُpassing away
خَوالِدُ حينَ العَيشُ كَالظِلِّ زائِلُ
May you endure as your lofty deeds endure; they
You remain as your glories remain
are everlasting, while life passes like a shadow.
Forever, while life is like the vanishing shadow.
فَماso not نَستَزيدُwe ask for more from اللَهَGod بَعدَbeyond نِهايَةٍthe utmost attainment
فَما نَستَزيدُ اللَهَ بَعدَ نِهايَةٍ
لِنَفسِكَfor yourself غَيرَexcept الخُلدِimmortality إِذsince أَنتَyou كامِلُcomplete
لِنَفسِكَ غَيرَ الخُلدِ إِذ أَنتَ كامِلُ
So we ask God for nothing more beyond such perfection,
For the perfected self what but eternity can we seek
for you but immortality, since you are complete.
Beyond, when you are the epitome of perfection?
Sol 6.1