مُستَضامٌ ما لَهُ مِن وَلِيِّ

مُستَضامٌ ما لَهُ مِن وَلِيِّ

غَير وَسميّ البُكا وَالوَليِّ

غَير وَسميّ البُكا وَالوَليِّ

A wronged man, with no protector

The bereft one has no guardian

A wronged man with no protector to defend him,

save the first rain of tears and the rain that follows.

Except the tattoo of weeping and sorrow

Save for the spring rain of tears and the pouring shower,

في القُرَيّاتِ القُصا بَينَ قَومٍ

في القُرَيّاتِ القُصا بَينَ قَومٍ

يَحسَبونَ البَحرَ مِثل القَرِيِّ

يَحسَبونَ البَحرَ مِثل القَرِيِّ

In remote little villages, among people

Among the short-statured folk, between a people

In distant villages, dwelling among a people

who think the sea no different from a rivulet,

Who think the sea is like a pond

Who mistake the boundless ocean for a shallow stream,

وَيَرونَ الصُبحَ مِثلَ الدَياجي

وَيَرونَ الصُبحَ مِثلَ الدَياجي

وَالمَعاني غُيَّبٌ عَن غَبِيِّ

وَالمَعاني غُيَّبٌ عَن غَبِيِّ

and see dawn as dark nights;

And who see the dawn like the nightfall

Who perceive the breaking dawn as pitch darkness,

meanings are hidden from a dullard.

While meanings are hidden from the ignorant

While deep meanings remain hidden from the dullard.

أَسَرَتني لَوثَةُ الدَهرِ لَيثا

أَسَرَتني لَوثَةُ الدَهرِ لَيثا

فَعَوى كُلُّ حَرِيٍّ جَرِيِّ

فَعَوى كُلُّ حَرِيٍّ جَرِيِّ

Time's madness took me captive, a lion,

The viciousness of fate has captured me like a lion

The twisted turn of time ensnared me—a lion—

so every bold, presumptuous fellow howled.

So every free man took flight

So every bold and currish dog began to howl.

رُبَّ مَن عَلَّمتُ حَتّى تَناهى

رُبَّ مَن عَلَّمتُ حَتّى تَناهى

فَجَزى النُعمى بِكُفرِ البغَيِّ

فَجَزى النُعمى بِكُفرِ البغَيِّ

Many a one I taught until he reached mastery

How many have I taught to the utmost limit

How many have I taught until they reached perfection,

then repaid kindness with a wrongdoer's ingratitude.

Yet they rewarded blessing with the ingratitude of rebellion

Only to repay my favor with the ingratitude of a tyrant?

وَجزيتُ الغَدرَ مِنهُ بِغَدرٍ

وَجزيتُ الغَدرَ مِنهُ بِغَدرٍ

إِنَّما أوفي بِعَهدِ الوَفِيِّ

إِنَّما أوفي بِعَهدِ الوَفِيِّ

I repaid his betrayal with betrayal;

And I repaid their treachery with treachery

Yet I repaid his treachery with treachery,

I keep faith only with the faithful.

I only fulfill the covenant of the loyal

For I keep faith only with those who are faithful.

إِنَّ نَفسي مُرَّةٌ فَهيَ تَأبى

إِنَّ نَفسي مُرَّةٌ فَهيَ تَأبى

أَن تَراني مُحسِناً لِمُسيِّ

أَن تَراني مُحسِناً لِمُسيِّ

My soul is bitter, and refuses

My soul is bitter so it refuses

Indeed, my soul is bitter and proud; it refuses

to let you see me doing good to a wrongdoer.

To see me doing good to the wicked

To see me showing kindness to an evildoer.

وَجَزاءُ السَيءِ سَيءٌ وَمَن لَم

وَجَزاءُ السَيءِ سَيءٌ وَمَن لَم

يَنتَصِر باءَ بِذُلِّ الشَقيِّ

يَنتَصِر باءَ بِذُلِّ الشَقيِّ

Evil's recompense is evil; whoever fails

And the reward of evil is evil, and whoever

The recompense of evil is evil, and whoever does not

to avenge himself incurs a wretch's humiliation.

Does not defend himself will perish in humiliation

Vindicate himself returns with the humiliation of the wretched.

أَيُّها العاوي عَلى القَمَرِ اِخسَأ

أَيُّها العاوي عَلى القَمَرِ اِخسَأ

جِئتَ في الحَقِّ بِشَيءٍ فَريِّ

جِئتَ في الحَقِّ بِشَيءٍ فَريِّ

Begone, you who howl at the moon!

O you who attack the moon, be rational

O you who howl at the moon, be silent and begone!

You have brought an outrageous thing against the truth.

You have come with nothing true, so turn back

You have brought forth a grave fabrication against the truth.

مِن مَواتِ الأَرضِ أَنتَ فَأَنّى

مِن مَواتِ الأَرضِ أَنتَ فَأَنّى

لَكَ نُطقٌ في المَواتي لرَضِيِّ

لَكَ نُطقٌ في المَواتي لرَضِيِّ

You are of the earth's dead land; how then

You are from the dead lands, so how can you

You belong to the dead lands, so how is it

can you speak of one who obliges a worthy man?

Have a say regarding the living lands

That you have speech among the dead regarding a pleasing soul?

إِنَّما يهدمُ قيلُ الأَعادي

إِنَّما يهدمُ قيلُ الأَعادي

شَرَفاً لَم يُبنَ بِالمَشرَفِيِّ

شَرَفاً لَم يُبنَ بِالمَشرَفِيِّ

Enemies' talk demolishes only

Only the words of enemies

The gossip of enemies only tears down

honor not built with the Mashrafi sword.

Tear down a nobility not built by the noble

Honor that was not built by the Mashrafiyya swords.

كَم أَثارَت صَولَتي مِن كَمينٍ

كَم أَثارَت صَولَتي مِن كَمينٍ

وَكَم اِبتَزَّت يَدي من كَمِيِّ

وَكَم اِبتَزَّت يَدي من كَمِيِّ

How many lurking foes my onslaught roused,

How many times my assault stirred ambushes

How many ambushes has my assault stirred up,

and how many armored warriors my hand despoiled!

And how many times my hand captured the concealed

And how many armored warriors has my hand despoiled?

غَيرَ أَنّي نَهنَهَتني الرَزايا

غَيرَ أَنّي نَهنَهَتني الرَزايا

في أَبٍ بَرٍّ وَفي اِبنٍ زَكِيِّ

في أَبٍ بَرٍّ وَفي اِبنٍ زَكِيِّ

Yet calamities checked me,

Except that tribulations deterred me

Except that calamities have restrained me

in a loving father and a pure-hearted son.

Over a dutiful father and a virtuous son

Regarding a righteous father and a pure son.

شَقّني فَقدُ أَبي حينَ أَودى

شَقّني فَقدُ أَبي حينَ أَودى

فَشَفى قَلبي وجودُ السَمِيِّ

فَشَفى قَلبي وجودُ السَمِيِّ

My father's loss tore me when he died;

The loss of my father tore me apart when he passed away

The loss of my father crushed me when he perished,

his namesake's presence healed my heart.

Then the existence of my namesake healed my heart

But the existence of his namesake healed my heart.

ثُمَّ لَمّا جُبِرَت فِهر هيضَت

ثُمَّ لَمّا جُبِرَت فِهر هيضَت

بِمُضِيٍّ مِن هِلالٍ مُضِيِّ

بِمُضِيٍّ مِن هِلالٍ مُضِيِّ

Then, when Fihr was mended, it was broken anew

Then when the wound had healed

Then, just as the bone of Fihr was set, it was broken again

by the passing of a shining crescent.

With the passing of a crescent moon, it festered again

By the passing of a crescent moon that was shining.

أَفَلا أَبكي عَلى اِبنٍ نَجيبٍ

أَفَلا أَبكي عَلى اِبنٍ نَجيبٍ

كَأَبي صَعب المَرامِ أَبِيِّ

كَأَبي صَعب المَرامِ أَبِيِّ

Should I not then weep for a noble son,

Shall I not weep over a noble son

Shall I not weep for a noble son,

like my father, unassailable and unbowed?

Like my father, mighty in purpose, my role model?

Who was like my father—difficult to attain, dignified and proud?

أَنا مِسكينٌ وَلَو كُنتُ كِسرَى

أَنا مِسكينٌ وَلَو كُنتُ كِسرَى

لا غِنىً إِلّا بِعَبدِ الغَنِيِّ

لا غِنىً إِلّا بِعَبدِ الغَنِيِّ

I am poor, even if I were Kisra;

I am destitute, and even if I were Chosroes

I am destitute, even if I were possessed of a kingdom;

no wealth is mine except through Abd al-Ghani.

I would have no wealth except through The All-Sufficient

There is no wealth for me except in Abdul-Ghani.

عطّلت مِن بَعدَهُ اليَومَ دُنيا

عطّلت مِن بَعدَهُ اليَومَ دُنيا

زُيِّنَت مِنهُ بِأَبهى الحُلِيِّ

زُيِّنَت مِنهُ بِأَبهى الحُلِيِّ

Today, after him, a world stands stripped of adornment,

After him I neglected this world

The world is stripped of ornament today after him,

once adorned through him with the loveliest jewels.

That he had adorned with the finest jewelry

A world that was adorned by him with the most splendid jewelry.

كانَ فيهِ عَجَبٌ لِلمَعالي

كانَ فيهِ عَجَبٌ لِلمَعالي

سُنَنُ الشَيخِ وَسنُّ الصَبِيِّ

سُنَنُ الشَيخِ وَسنُّ الصَبِيِّ

In him was a marvel of lofty qualities:

In him was a marvel for the lofty ideals

In him was a wonder of high virtues:

an elder's ways and a child's age.

The ways of the old and the tooth of the young

The wisdom of the elder and the age of the boy.

كانَ قَرّا يُرى حينَ يَقرا

كانَ قَرّا يُرى حينَ يَقرا

أَفصَح القُرّاء كَالأَعجَمِيِّ

أَفصَح القُرّاء كَالأَعجَمِيِّ

He was a reciter; when he recited, one saw

When he recited, he who was seen

He was a delight to the eyes when he recited,

the most eloquent reciter as foreign-tongued.

Was the most eloquent of reciters, like a foreigner

Making the most eloquent readers seem like incoherent foreigners.

عَن مَثاني العودِ يثني النَدامى

عَن مَثاني العودِ يثني النَدامى

إِن تَغنّي بِمَثاني الوَحِيِّ

إِن تَغنّي بِمَثاني الوَحِيِّ

He turned boon companions from the lute's paired strings

He would turn the singers away from lyrics

He turned his drinking companions away from the lute's strings,

if he chanted revelation's oft-repeated verses.

If he sang the lyrics of revelation

If he chanted the repeated verses of Revelation.

ورّي الفهم لَدَيهِ فَأَغنى

ورّي الفهم لَدَيهِ فَأَغنى

قَلبَهُ عَن كُلِّ شِبع وَرِيِّ

قَلبَهُ عَن كُلِّ شِبع وَرِيِّ

Understanding was kindled within him, satisfying

The understanding he possessed enriched

Understanding was kindled within him, enriching

his heart beyond all satiety and quenching of thirst.

His heart beyond any satiation or quenching of thirst

His heart beyond any abundant fullness of this world.

فَليُحَيِّ اللَهُ أَرضاً حَوَتهُ

فَليُحَيِّ اللَهُ أَرضاً حَوَتهُ

بِالحَيا وَليَحبُها بِالحَبِيِّ

بِالحَيا وَليَحبُها بِالحَبِيِّ

May God revive the land that holds him

So may God give life to the land that contained him

May God greet the earth that contains him

with rain, and grant it gathering clouds.

With life, and may it love him with an encompassing love

With rain, and grant it the gift of heavy clouds.

لا يَرُعني لِلغُرابِ نَعيبٌ

لا يَرُعني لِلغُرابِ نَعيبٌ

فَكَفى رَوعاً بِهذا النَعِيِّ

فَكَفى رَوعاً بِهذا النَعِيِّ

Let no raven's caw frighten me:

I am not disturbed by the croaking of the raven

The croaking of the raven does not startle me,

this death-announcement is terror enough.

For this wailing alone is sufficient disturbance

For this death announcement is sufficient shock.

هَل طَوى الدَهرُ مِن اِبنِيَ إِلّا

هَل طَوى الدَهرُ مِن اِبنِيَ إِلّا

سابقَ النَدِّ وَزين النَديِّ

سابقَ النَدِّ وَزين النَديِّ

Has time folded away in my son anything but

Did fate conceal from me other than

Did time fold away in my son anything but

one who surpassed his peers and adorned the assembly?

A predecessor in mirth and ornament of bliss?

The surpasser of peers and the ornament of the assembly?

فَبَكى الرَكبُ لِخَطبِ المَعالي

فَبَكى الرَكبُ لِخَطبِ المَعالي

وَبَكَت لِلرَّكب بُزلُ المَطِيِّ

وَبَكَت لِلرَّكب بُزلُ المَطِيِّ

The travelers wept for the calamity of lofty virtues;

The caravan wept for the tribulation of glory

The caravan wept for the calamity of high virtues,

the mature riding camels wept for the travelers.

And the camels wept for the caravan

And the mature camels wept for the caravan.

لَو رَعى فيهِ الرعافُ ذِمامي

لَو رَعى فيهِ الرعافُ ذِمامي

لَم يَشقني لِلشَّقيقِ الجَنيِّ

لَم يَشقني لِلشَّقيقِ الجَنيِّ

Had his nosebleed respected my bond of protection,

If careful attention had grazed him

Had the gushing blood respected my protection over him,

it would not have anguished me with fresh-picked anemones.

The death of the benevolent one would not have torn me

It would not have distressed me regarding my own flesh and blood.

سالَ حَتّى سالَ عُوّادُهُ هَل

سالَ حَتّى سالَ عُوّادُهُ هَل

طَعَنَتهُ الحَربُ بِالسَمهَرِيِّ

طَعَنَتهُ الحَربُ بِالسَمهَرِيِّ

It flowed until his sickbed visitors asked: “Has

They asked, “Was he stabbed by war?”

It flowed until his visitors asked,

war pierced him with a Samhari spear?”

I said, “By God, He is his preserver! Nay,

"Did war pierce him with a Samhari spear?"

قُلتُ وَاللَهُ حَفِيٌّ بِهِ بَل

قُلتُ وَاللَهُ حَفِيٌّ بِهِ بَل

تَلّهُ المَوتُ بِطَعنٍ خَفِيِّ

تَلّهُ المَوتُ بِطَعنٍ خَفِيِّ

I said—God is kind to him—“Rather,

Death felled him with a subtle stab.”

I said, while God is gracious to him, "Nay,"

death cast him down with an unseen thrust.”

It matters not to the days if they had assisted me

"Death struck him down with a hidden thrust."

ما عَلى الأَيّامِ لَو أَسعَفَتني

ما عَلى الأَيّامِ لَو أَسعَفَتني

بِرُقوّ الدَمِّ عَن ذي الرُقيِّ

بِرُقوّ الدَمِّ عَن ذي الرُقيِّ

What would it have cost the days to help me

Against the slaying of the exalted one

What would it have cost the days had they aided me,

by stanching the blood of one so exalted?

My star set, so God blinded an eye

By stopping the blood of the one who was rising high?

فاقَ نَجلي فَقَأَ اللَهُ عَيناً

فاقَ نَجلي فَقَأَ اللَهُ عَيناً

طَرَقَتني في الزَكِيِّ الذَكِيِّ

طَرَقَتني في الزَكِيِّ الذَكِيِّ

My son excelled—may God put out an eye

That had dazzled me in the intelligent, the holy one

My son excelled, so may God gouge out the eye

that struck me through the pure, intelligent one!

Do not describe him with the attributes of a child, but look

That struck me regarding the pure, the intelligent one.

لا تَصِفهُ صِفَةَ الطِفلِ وَاِنظُر

لا تَصِفهُ صِفَةَ الطِفلِ وَاِنظُر

أَينَ مِنهُ كُلُّ كَهلٍ تَقِيِّ

أَينَ مِنهُ كُلُّ كَهلٍ تَقِيِّ

Do not describe him as a child; look

Where every adult wise man stands in relation to him

Do not describe him with the attributes of a child, but look

where every pious mature man stands in comparison with him.

If death had been gentle with him a little

Where every pious elder stands in comparison to him.

لَو تَراخى المَوتُ عَنهُ قَليلاً

لَو تَراخى المَوتُ عَنهُ قَليلاً

لَعَلا فَوقَ العَليمِ العَليِّ

لَعَلا فَوقَ العَليمِ العَليِّ

Had death held back from him a little,

He may have surpassed the Knowing, the Exalted

Had death delayed taking him for a little while,

he would have risen above the learned, exalted man,

He guided me to the sweet Straight Path

He would have risen above the learned and the high.

فَحَماني بِالصّراطِ المحلّى

فَحَماني بِالصّراطِ المحلّى

وَهَداني لِلصِّراطِ السَوِيِّ

وَهَداني لِلصِّراطِ السَوِيِّ

then protected me with the ornamented sword

And guided me to the even Way

He protected me by the adorned path,

and guided me to the straight path.

If lives were ransomed, they would have profited

And guided me to the straight and level way.

لَو فَدَتهُ لَأَفادَت فخاراً

لَو فَدَتهُ لَأَفادَت فخاراً

غُلُبٌ مَن غالِبٍ وَعَدِيِّ

غُلُبٌ مَن غالِبٍ وَعَدِيِّ

Had they ransomed him, they would have won glory,

A tribe defeated by a Conqueror and Master

If they could ransom him, they would have gained pride,

the stalwarts of Ghalib and Adi.

They came down from every side and cast down

The thick-necked warriors of Ghalib and Adi.

نَزَلوا عَن كُلِّ طِرفٍ وَأَلقوا

نَزَلوا عَن كُلِّ طِرفٍ وَأَلقوا

بِالعَوالي وَالظُبى وَالقِسيِّ

بِالعَوالي وَالظُبى وَالقِسيِّ

They dismounted from every noble steed and cast aside

Their weapons, camels, and bows

They dismounted from every noble steed and threw down

lances, sword edges, and bows.

Then they said, after Abd al-Ghani

Their spears, their swords, and their bows.

ثُمَّ قالوا بَعدَ عَبدِ الغَنِيِّ

ثُمَّ قالوا بَعدَ عَبدِ الغَنِيِّ

لا هنا الطِفلَ رضاعُ الثُديِّ

لا هنا الطِفلَ رضاعُ الثُديِّ

Then they said, after Abd al-Ghani:

The noble branch was severed so it withered

Then they said, "After Abdul-Ghani,"

“May no child find joy in suckling at breasts!”

And the heart was split, so woe to the broken one

"May the child not enjoy the suckling of breasts."

وَشج الفَرعُ الكَريم فَوَلّى

وَشج الفَرعُ الكَريم فَوَلّى

وَشَجا القَلبَ فَوَيلُ الشَجِيِّ

وَشَجا القَلبَ فَوَيلُ الشَجِيِّ

The noble branch was wounded, then passed away,

When he grew well and completed his growth they said

The noble branch was split and turned away,

and grieved the heart—woe to the grief-stricken!

Blessings in the age of this one with teeth

And it grieved the heart—so woe to the grieving one.

إِذ نَما طَيِّباً وَتَمَّ فَقالوا

إِذ نَما طَيِّباً وَتَمَّ فَقالوا

بَرَكاتٌ في سنى ذا السَنِيِّ

بَرَكاتٌ في سنى ذا السَنِيِّ

When he grew pure and reached fullness, they said:

Envy begrudged him until

When he grew pure and became complete, they said,

“Blessings upon the radiance of this illustrious one!”

It reaped the core of his happiness

"Blessings be upon the radiance of this sublime one."

حَسَدَت فيهِ المَنِيَّةُ حَتّى

حَسَدَت فيهِ المَنِيَّةُ حَتّى

حَصَدَت جَوهَرَهُ مِن مَنِيِّ

حَصَدَت جَوهَرَهُ مِن مَنِيِّ

Death envied what was in him, until

In him my qualities were cloven through

Death envied him until

it reaped his jewel, sprung from semen.

Making his memory the preoccupation of every bosom friend

It harvested his essence from my desire.

صَدَعَت فيهِ صفاتي صفاةٌ

صَدَعَت فيهِ صفاتي صفاةٌ

جَعَلَت ذِكراهُ شُغلَ الخَلِيَّ

جَعَلَت ذِكراهُ شُغلَ الخَلِيَّ

A rock shattered my rock through his loss,

I have not ceased taking refuge in his pillar

A massive rock cracked my composure regarding him,

making his memory the carefree man's concern.

And in the upright, sturdy pillar

Making his memory the sole occupation of my empty mind.

لَم أَزَل آوي إِلى الرُكنِ مِنهُ

لَم أَزَل آوي إِلى الرُكنِ مِنهُ

وَإلى الرُكنِ القَويمِ القَوِيِّ

وَإلى الرُكنِ القَويمِ القَوِيِّ

I never ceased to seek shelter in his support,

O my heart, pay his ransom and visit him

I cease not to seek shelter in a corner of his memory,

and in that upright, mighty pillar.

And fulfill to him the right of the sufficient guarantor

And in the corner of the Upright, the Strong.

يا فُؤادي فِد عَلَيه فَزُرهُ

يا فُؤادي فِد عَلَيه فَزُرهُ

وَاِقضِهِ حَقَّ الكَفيلِ الكَفِيِّ

وَاِقضِهِ حَقَّ الكَفيلِ الكَفِيِّ

My heart, go to him and visit him,

And for three moments show anguish

O my heart, pay ransom for him and visit him,

and pay him the due of an able guardian.

In the morn, noon, or evening

And fulfill for him the right of the sufficient guarantor.

وَلِأَوقاتٍ ثَلاثَةٍ اِهتَج

وَلِأَوقاتٍ ثَلاثَةٍ اِهتَج

بُكرَة أَو ظُهُرٍ أَو عَشِيِّ

بُكرَة أَو ظُهُرٍ أَو عَشِيِّ

And at three times let grief stir you:

He would go to the school morning and evening

And for three times make your pilgrimage:

morning, noon, or evening.

From it, in the finest appearance and satisfaction

In the early morning, at noon, or in the evening.

كانَ لِلكتّابِ يَغدو وَيَأتي

كانَ لِلكتّابِ يَغدو وَيَأتي

مِنهُ في أَحسَن زيٍّ وَرَيِّ

مِنهُ في أَحسَن زيٍّ وَرَيِّ

He would go to school in the morning and return

His own self disciplined him, so it spared him

He used to go to the school and come back

from it in the finest dress and freshness.

The lash of a whipper and rod of a rod bearer

In the finest attire and appearance.

أَدَّبَتهُ نَفسُهُ فَكَفَتهُ

أَدَّبَتهُ نَفسُهُ فَكَفَتهُ

سَوطَ ساطٍ وَعصيَّ عَصِيِّ

سَوطَ ساطٍ وَعصيَّ عَصِيِّ

His own soul disciplined him, sparing him

So he has honor with the tutor

His own soul disciplined him, sufficing him

the flogger's whip and the rods for the unruly.

The voice of a vocalizer and bequest of a trustee

From the whip of the lasher and the stick of the disobedient.

فَلَهُ عِندَ المُؤَدِّبِ عِزٌّ

فَلَهُ عِندَ المُؤَدِّبِ عِزٌّ

صَوتُ صَوّالٍ وَصيتُ وَصِيِّ

صَوتُ صَوّالٍ وَصيتُ وَصِيِّ

So he had honor with his teacher:

While he was near, from him

He had honor with the teacher,

a champion's voice and a guardian's renown.

And his sons were far away

The voice of a commander and the reputation of a guardian.

كانَ مِنهُ في مَكانٍ قَريبٍ

كانَ مِنهُ في مَكانٍ قَريبٍ

وَبَنوهُ في مَكانٍ قَصِيِّ

وَبَنوهُ في مَكانٍ قَصِيِّ

He held a place close to him,

So he is the martyr amongst all

He held a place close to his teacher,

while his own sons held a distant place.

And he is the successor amongst all the departed

While the teacher's own sons were in a distant place.

فَهوَ مُستَشهِدُهُ بَينَ كُلٍّ

فَهوَ مُستَشهِدُهُ بَينَ كُلٍّ

وَهوَ مُستَخلِفهُ في المضِيِّ

وَهوَ مُستَخلِفهُ في المضِيِّ

So he called upon him as witness among all,

O noble one, in whom my clansetMaximumLength exceeded.

He would cite him as a witness among all,

and appointed him deputy when he went away.

And appoint him successor when he had to leave.

يا نَبيلاً فَجِعَت فيهِ فهرٌ

يا نَبيلاً فَجِعَت فيهِ فهرٌ

وَلِفهرٍ أسوَةٌ في النَبِيِّ

وَلِفهرٍ أسوَةٌ في النَبِيِّ

O noble one, in whom Fihr was bereaved!

O noble one for whom the tribe of Fihr was pained,

And Fihr has a model in the Prophet.

And Fihr has a model of patience in the Prophet.

وَعَدَت فيكَ الأَماني فَمانَت

وَعَدَت فيكَ الأَماني فَمانَت

وَعَدَت قُسَّ الزَمانِ القَصِيِّ

وَعَدَت قُسَّ الزَمانِ القَصِيِّ

Hopes made promises in you, then lied;

Hopes made promises regarding you, but they lied,

they promised a Quss of the far-distant past.

Though they promised the eloquence of Quss of ancient times.

وَقَفَت آثاركَ العين حَتّى

وَقَفَت آثاركَ العين حَتّى

وَقَفَت في حُسنكَ اليوسُفيِّ

وَقَفَت في حُسنكَ اليوسُفيِّ

And the eye followed your traces until

The eye traced your marks until

it halted before your Joseph-like beauty.

It halted at your beauty, reminiscent of Joseph.

كَشَفَت ستري بِما كَسَفَتهُ

كَشَفَت ستري بِما كَسَفَتهُ

مِن مُحيّاكَ البَهيجِ البَهِيِّ

مِن مُحيّاكَ البَهيجِ البَهِيِّ

It stripped away my veil by eclipsing

It exposed my veil by what it eclipsed

your joyful, radiant countenance.

Of your joyful, radiant face.

ولَدي لا تَنسَني يَومَ أَظما

ولَدي لا تَنسَني يَومَ أَظما

وَاِسقِني كَأسَ المَعينِ الشَهِيِّ

وَاِسقِني كَأسَ المَعينِ الشَهِيِّ

My son, do not forget me on the day I thirst;

My son, do not forget me on the day I thirst,

and give me a cup of delicious, flowing water.

And give me to drink from the cup of the delicious spring.

وَسَلِ اللَهِ لِيَ العَفوَ كيما

وَسَلِ اللَهِ لِيَ العَفوَ كيما

نَتَلاقى في النَعيمِ الهَنِيِّ

نَتَلاقى في النَعيمِ الهَنِيِّ

And ask God for forgiveness for me, so that

And ask God for pardon for me so that

we may meet in pleasant bliss.

We may meet in the blissful paradise.

أَتُراني أَشتَفي بِكَ قُرباً

أَتُراني أَشتَفي بِكَ قُرباً

وَأَرى حُسنَ المُحَيّا الحَييِّ

وَأَرى حُسنَ المُحَيّا الحَييِّ

Do you think I shall find healing in nearness to you

Do you see me finding healing by nearness to you,

and see the beauty of that modest face?

And seeing the beauty of that shy face?

فُز بِدارِ الخُلدِ مُتّكِئاً في

فُز بِدارِ الخُلدِ مُتّكِئاً في

رَفرَفٍ خُضرٍ وَفي عَبقَرِيِّ

رَفرَفٍ خُضرٍ وَفي عَبقَرِيِّ

Triumph in the abode of eternity, reclining on

Triumph in the Abode of Eternity, reclining on

green cushions and sumptuous carpets.

Green cushions and rich carpets.

قَد ثَوى عَبدُ الغَنِيِّ بطوبى

قَد ثَوى عَبدُ الغَنِيِّ بطوبى

فَهَل العُقبى غَداً لِعَليِّ

فَهَل العُقبى غَداً لِعَليِّ

Abd al-Ghani has come to rest in Tuba;

Abdul-Ghani has settled in the gardens of Tuba,

so will the hereafter be Ali's tomorrow?

So will the outcome tomorrow belong to Ali?