اِنهِلالُstreaming الدُموعِthe tears يَشفيheals الكَئيباthe sorrowful one
اِنهِلالُ الدُموعِ يَشفي الكَئيبا
إِنif هِلالُcrescent moon العُلاglory أَطالَprolonged المَغيباthe absence
إِن هِلالُ العُلا أَطالَ المَغيبا
The streaming of tears heals the sorrowful,
The pouring of tears brings healing to the sorrowful,
if the crescent moon of glory prolongs his absence.
Since the crescent of high glory has prolonged his absence.
كانَwas فَألُomen الهِلالِthe crescent فيهِin his case اِقتِراباًdrawing near
كانَ فَألُ الهِلالِ فيهِ اِقتِراباً
فَمِنَso from الحَقِّwhat is right أَنthat نعيبَwe fault النَعيباthe cawing
فَمِنَ الحَقِّ أَن نعيبَ النَعيبا
The crescent's omen foretold his drawing near;
The omen of that crescent seemed to promise his approach,
so we are right to fault the cawing.
So it is only right that we wail our mournful cry.
غابَwas absent فيin آبٍAugust عَنfrom مَصلّاهُhis prayer-place مضنىwasted by illness
غابَ في آبٍ عَن مَصلّاهُ مضنى
فَتَفاءَلتُso I took it as a good omen طامِعاًhoping أَنthat يَؤوباhe return
فَتَفاءَلتُ طامِعاً أَن يَؤوبا
In August he was absent from his prayer-place, wasted by illness;
In the heat of August, he vanished from his prayer-place, wasted by sickness,
and I took it as a good omen, hoping he would return.
Yet I held to optimism, hoping he would return.
تَعسmay it perish الفَألُthe omen فيin تَغَرُّبِهِhis departure كاwas (first part)
تَعس الفَألُ في تَغَرُّبِهِ كا
نَwas (completion) صَدوقاًtruthful وَفيand in الإِيابِthe return كَذوباlying
نَ صَدوقاً وَفي الإِيابِ كَذوبا
Accursed be the omen! Of his departure it was
Wretched was that omen in his departure; it was
truthful, but of his return it lied.
Truthful in predicting loss, but a liar regarding his return.
ماnot حَسِبتُI thought القُبورَthe graves تَستَودِعُhold in safekeeping الأَقthe moons (first part)
ما حَسِبتُ القُبورَ تَستَودِعُ الأَق
مارِmoons (completion) فيهاwithin them حَتّىuntil دَفَنتُI buried الحَبيباthe beloved
مارِ فيها حَتّى دَفَنتُ الحَبيبا
I never thought graves held the
I never thought the graves were made to be repositories for moons,
moons within them, until I buried my beloved.
Not until the day I laid my beloved into the earth.
ياO غروبَstreams الدُموعِthe tears فيضيpour forth إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle
يا غروبَ الدُموعِ فيضي إِذا ما
الشَمسُthe sun مَطلَعاًrising وَمَغيباand setting
الشَمسُ مَطلَعاً وَمَغيبا
O streams of tears, pour forth whenever
O setting sun of tears, overflow when
the sun rises and sets.
The sun rises and when it descends to set.
كانَwas عَبدAbd (servant) الغنيّal-Ghani (the Self-Sufficient) لِلعَينِto the eye نوراًa light
كانَ عَبد الغنيّ لِلعَينِ نوراً
وَلِقَلبيand to my heart هُدىًguidance وَلِلعَيشِand to life طيباsweetness
وَلِقَلبي هُدىً وَلِلعَيشِ طيبا
Abd al-Ghani was a light to my eyes,
Abd al-Ghani was a light unto my eyes,
guidance to my heart, and sweetness to life.
Guidance for my heart, and the sweetness of my life.
كانَwas شيبيmy gray hair بِهِthrough him شَباباًyouth فَلَمّاso when
كانَ شيبي بِهِ شَباباً فَلَمّا
بانَdeparted عَنّيfrom me رَدَّturned الشَبابَthe youth مَشيباgray age
بانَ عَنّي رَدَّ الشَبابَ مَشيبا
Through him my gray age was youth, but when
Through him, my grey age felt like youth; but when
he left me, he turned that youth to gray age.
He departed from me, he turned youth back into greying age.
كُنتُI was فيin غُربَتيmy exile كَأَنّيas though I بِهِwith him فيin
كُنتُ في غُربَتي كَأَنّي بِهِ في
وَطَنيmy homeland فَاِنقَضىso he passed away فَعُدتُso I became again غَريباa stranger
وَطَني فَاِنقَضى فَعُدتُ غَريبا
In exile, with him, I felt as though I were in
In my exile, it was as if—through his presence—I was in
my homeland; he passed away, and I became a stranger again.
My own homeland; but he passed, and I became a stranger once more.
لَمdid not يَدَعleave فَقدُهُhis loss لِمَغنايَto my dwelling مَعنىًa meaning
لَم يَدَع فَقدُهُ لِمَغنايَ مَعنىً
فَخَلاso it became empty آهِلاًinhabited وَضاقَand it became cramped رَحيباspacious
فَخَلا آهِلاً وَضاقَ رَحيبا
His loss left my dwelling no meaning;
His loss left my dwelling place devoid of meaning,
it stood empty though inhabited, cramped though spacious.
Empty though filled with people, constricting though vast in space.
أَخَطَأَتنيmissed me الخُطوبُthe calamities ماnot أَخطَأَتهُmissed him
أَخَطَأَتني الخُطوبُ ما أَخطَأَتهُ
ثُمَّthen أَنّيthat I أُصِبتُI was stricken لمّاwhen أُصيباhe was stricken
ثُمَّ أَنّي أُصِبتُ لمّا أُصيبا
Calamities missed me; they did not miss him,
Misfortunes missed their mark on me as long as they spared him,
yet I too was stricken when he was struck.
But I was truly struck down the moment he was struck.
لَستُI do not أَنسىforget مَقامَهُhis state وَمَقاميand my state
لَستُ أَنسى مَقامَهُ وَمَقامي
وَكِلاناand both of us مِثلُlike القَتيلِthe slain man خَضيباblood-stained
وَكِلانا مِثلُ القَتيلِ خَضيبا
I never forget his state and mine,
I shall never forget where he stood, and where I stood,
both of us blood-stained like a slain man.
Both of us like slain men, dyed in crimson blood.
أَنفُهُhis nose يَنثُرُscatters العَقيقَthe carnelian وَعَينيand my eye
أَنفُهُ يَنثُرُ العَقيقَ وَعَيني
تَنثُرُscatters الدَمعَthe tears بِالعَقيقِwith carnelian مَشوباmingled
تَنثُرُ الدَمعَ بِالعَقيقِ مَشوبا
His nose scattered carnelian, and my eye
His nose scattering red agate, while my eyes
scattered tears mingled with carnelian.
Scatter tears mixed with the blood of grief.
ضَمَّنيhe embraced me شاكِياًcomplaining إِلَيَّto me وَقَلبيand my heart
ضَمَّني شاكِياً إِلَيَّ وَقَلبي
كُلَّماwhenever يَشتَكيhe complains يَطيرُleaps وَجيباthrobbing
كُلَّما يَشتَكي يَطيرُ وَجيبا
He embraced me, complaining to me, while my heart
He embraced me, pouring out his pain, while my heart
leapt with throbbing whenever he complained.
Fluttered and flew with terror at every word of his complaint.
فَكَأَنّيso as though I قَبَّلتُI kissed مِنهُof him هِلالاa crescent moon
فَكَأَنّي قَبَّلتُ مِنهُ هِلالا
وَكَأَنّيand as though I عانَقتُI embraced مِنهُof him قَضيباa slender branch
وَكَأَنّي عانَقتُ مِنهُ قَضيبا
It was as though I kissed a crescent moon in him,
It was as if I were kissing a crescent moon,
and as though I embraced a slender branch in him.
And embracing a tender, slender bough.
وَبِوُدّيand it is my wish لَوif only اِحتَمَلتُI bore فِداءًas ransom
وَبِوُدّي لَو اِحتَمَلتُ فِداءً
عَنهُin his place ذاكَthat الضَنىthe wasting illness وَتِلكَand those الكُروباsorrows
عَنهُ ذاكَ الضَنى وَتِلكَ الكُروبا
I wished I could have borne, as his ransom,
How I wish I could have borne, as his ransom,
that wasting illness and those sorrows in his place.
That wasting illness and those crushing agonies.
لَمdid not أطِقI manage فيهِin his case حيلَةًa remedy غَيرَexcept أَنّيthat I
لَم أطِق فيهِ حيلَةً غَيرَ أَنّي
مُذsince قَضىfulfilled نَحبَهُhis allotted term أَلفتُI grew accustomed to النَحيباthe sobbing
مُذ قَضى نَحبَهُ أَلفتُ النَحيبا
I had no means to help him, except that,
I had no power to save him, no stratagem, save that
since he met his death, I have grown familiar with sobbing.
Since he met his end, I have taken weeping as my companion.
إِنَّindeed تَأبينَهُelegizing him الَّذيwhich هُوَit is دَأبيmy constant practice
إِنَّ تَأبينَهُ الَّذي هُوَ دَأبي
حَرَّمَforbade المَدحَthe praise بَعدَهُafter him وَالنَسيباand love poetry
حَرَّمَ المَدحَ بَعدَهُ وَالنَسيبا
Indeed, elegizing him, which is my constant work,
Indeed, mourning him, which has become my sole occupation,
has forbidden me praise and love poetry after him.
Has forbidden me from ever composing praise or love verses again.
قُلsay لِصيدِto the proud ones المُلوكِthe kings أَنقَضتُI weighed down ظَهريmy back
قُل لِصيدِ المُلوكِ أَنقَضتُ ظَهري
فيin رِضاكُمyour favor مِمّاfrom what أَقولُI say ذُنوباsins
في رِضاكُم مِمّا أَقولُ ذُنوبا
Tell the proud kings: I have burdened my back
Tell the proud kings: I have broken my back
with sins in the words I utter to please you.
In seeking your favor, burdened by the sins of my words.
وَعَسىand may اللَهُGod أَنthat يَتوبَturn in mercy عَلىupon المُذthe sinner (first part)
وَعَسى اللَهُ أَن يَتوبَ عَلى المُذ
نِبِsinner (completion) مِنfrom قَبلِbefore مَوتِهِhis death لِيَتوباso he may repent
نِبِ مِن قَبلِ مَوتِهِ لِيَتوبا
May God turn in mercy toward the
Perhaps God will turn in forgiveness towards the sinner
sinner before his death, so that he may repent.
Before his death, granting him the grace to repent.
فَصِلونيso reward me لِحُرمَةِfor the sanctity of العِلمِlearning أَوor لاnot
فَصِلوني لِحُرمَةِ العِلمِ أَو لا
تَصِلونيreward me لاno مَدحَpraise لاno تَشبيباlove verses
تَصِلوني لا مَدحَ لا تَشبيبا
So reward me in honor of learning, or do not
So maintain ties with me for the sake of knowledge, or do not
reward me: no praise, no love verses.
Maintain them at all—for I have no praise left to give, nor songs of love.
ماتَdied مَنthe one كُنتُI used to أَقطَعُcross البيدُthe deserts جَرّاon account of
ماتَ مَن كُنتُ أَقطَعُ البيدُ جَرّا
هُhim وَأَرجوand I hope for المُنىthe wishes وَأَخشىand I fear الخُطوباthe calamities
هُ وَأَرجو المُنى وَأَخشى الخُطوبا
Dead is the one for whose sake I crossed the deserts,
He has died—the one for whom I traversed the wild deserts,
and hoped for my wishes, and feared calamities.
Hoping for fulfillment, and fearing the strokes of fate.
وَعَظَتنيadmonished me الدُنياthe world مَواعِظَlessons شَتّىvarious
وَعَظَتني الدُنيا مَواعِظَ شَتّى
وَأَقَلُّand the least العِظاتِthe admonitions تَكفيsuffices اللَبيباthe discerning one
وَأَقَلُّ العِظاتِ تَكفي اللَبيبا
The world has admonished me with many kinds of lessons,
The world has preached to me sermons of every kind,
and the slightest lesson suffices for the discerning.
And the slightest of sermons is enough for the wise.
فُصحاءeloquent speakers الخِطابspeech فيin الخَطبِthe calamity تَعياfalter
فُصحاء الخِطاب في الخَطبِ تَعيا
وَكَفىand suffices أَعجَمُthe speechless الخُطوبthe calamities خَطيباas a preacher
وَكَفى أَعجَمُ الخُطوب خَطيبا
Eloquent speakers falter before calamity,
The most eloquent orators fall silent in the face of such calamity,
and speechless calamity suffices as a preacher.
For the mute tragedy speaks louder than any orator.
أَبلغُmost eloquent الوَعظِthe admonition أَنthat تَرىsees اليَومَtoday عَينيmy eye
أَبلغُ الوَعظِ أَن تَرى اليَومَ عَيني
خَلِقاًworn out مَنthe one رَأَتهُit saw him أَمسyesterday قَشيباfresh and new
خَلِقاً مَن رَأَتهُ أَمس قَشيبا
The most eloquent admonition is that today my eye sees
The most profound lesson is what my eye beholds today:
worn out the one it saw fresh yesterday.
A worn, decaying form, who only yesterday was fresh and new.
مَنwhoever صَحاawoke عَقلهُhis mind وَصَحَّand became sound سَلاlost attachment عَنto
مَن صَحا عَقلهُ وَصَحَّ سَلا عَن
حُبِّlove دُنياهُhis worldly life إِنَّهُindeed it كانَwas حوباa sin
حُبِّ دُنياهُ إِنَّهُ كانَ حوبا
Whoever's mind awakens and is sound turns away from
He whose mind is clear and sound will turn away from
loving his worldly life; it was a sin.
The love of this world, for truly it is a grievous sin.
زاهِدٌone who renounces فيin الحَياةِlife أَفضَلُbetter عِندَin the sight of الGod (first part)
زاهِدٌ في الحَياةِ أَفضَلُ عِندَ ال
لَهِGod (completion) مِمَّنthan one who يَكونُis فيهاin it رَغيباdesirous
لَهِ مِمَّن يَكونُ فيها رَغيبا
One who renounces life is better in the sight of
He who renounces life's pleasures is higher in the sight of God
God than one who covets it.
Than he who chases its fleeting desires.
ماhow أَغَرَّdeceptive الحَياةَlife لِلمَرءِto a person ماhow أَبfar off (first part)
ما أَغَرَّ الحَياةَ لِلمَرءِ ما أَب
عَدَfar off (completion) آمالَهُhis hopes وَأَدنىand how near شَعوباDeath
عَدَ آمالَهُ وَأَدنى شَعوبا
How deceptive life is to man! How far
How deceiving is this life for man! How far
away his hopes are, and how near Death!
It places his hopes, while drawing Death so near.
ماhow أَقَلَّlittle الوَفاءَloyalty ماhow أَضعَفَweak الطاthe seeker (first part)
ما أَقَلَّ الوَفاءَ ما أَضعَفَ الطا
لِبَseeker (completion) فيin ذاthis الزَمانِage وَالمَطلوباand the sought
لِبَ في ذا الزَمانِ وَالمَطلوبا
How little loyalty! How weak the
How scarce is loyalty! How weak is the one who seeks
seeker in this age, and the sought!
And the one sought after, in these treacherous times.
هَلdo تَرىyou see أَيُّهاO الشَموتُthe gloating one بِرُزئيover my bereavement
هَل تَرى أَيُّها الشَموتُ بِرُزئي
آمِناًsafe مِنfrom زَمانِهِhis time أَنthat يَنوباbring misfortune
آمِناً مِن زَمانِهِ أَن يَنوبا
Do you see, you who gloat over my loss,
Do you see, O you who gloat over my misfortune,
anyone safe from the misfortune his time may bring?
Anyone safe from Time striking them in turn?
قَدكَenough for you هَبsuppose كُربَتيmy anguish عِقاباًpunishment بِدينيfor my faith
قَدكَ هَب كُربَتي عِقاباً بِديني
أَبِتَقواكَis it through your piety لَمdid not تَمُتyou die مَكروباin anguish
أَبِتَقواكَ لَم تَمُت مَكروبا
Enough! Suppose my anguish is punishment for my faith:
Enough! Even if you assume my anguish is a punishment for my faith,
is your piety why you have not died in anguish?
Does your piety guarantee you will not die in agony?
بَلrather عِبادُservants الإِلهِGod نَحنُwe يُعافيHe grants well-being
بَل عِبادُ الإِلهِ نَحنُ يُعافي
مُحسِناًbestowing kindness ذاthis one وَيَبتَليand He tests ذاthat one مُثيباgranting reward
مُحسِناً ذا وَيَبتَلي ذا مُثيبا
No, we are God's servants; He grants well-being
Nay, we are all servants of God; He grants ease
to this one in kindness, and tests that one, granting reward.
To one, and tests another, rewarding both in His wisdom.
عَلِمَknew اللَهُGod كَيفَhow عيشيmy life
عَلِمَ اللَهُ كَيفَ عيشي
قَدَراًa decree مِنهُfrom Him وَاِبتَلىand He tested أَيّوباJob
قَدَراً مِنهُ وَاِبتَلى أَيّوبا
God knew how I lived,
God knows the state of my existence,
by His decree; and He put Job to the test.
A decree from Him, just as He tested Job.
وَاِبتَلىand He tested يوسُفاًJoseph لِيَملِكَso he might rule مِصراًEgypt
وَاِبتَلى يوسُفاً لِيَملِكَ مِصراً
وَشَفىand He healed بَعدَafter حُزنِهِhis grief يَعقوباJacob
وَشَفى بَعدَ حُزنِهِ يَعقوبا
He tested Joseph so that he might rule Egypt,
And He tested Joseph that he might come to rule Egypt,
and healed Jacob after his grief.
And healed Jacob's eyes after his long sorrow.
باO (apparent typo) حَبيبُbeloved الإِلهِGod لَولاwere it not for المَناياdeath
با حَبيبُ الإِلهِ لَولا المَنايا
لَشَفىHe would surely heal مِنكَin you ماwhat أعلَّsickened الطَبيباthe physician
لَشَفى مِنكَ ما أعلَّ الطَبيبا
O beloved of God, were it not for death,
O beloved of God, were it not for the destiny of death,
He would have healed in you what sickened the physician.
You would have been cured of what baffled the physicians.
يَومَthe day نادَيتyou cried فَرَّجَmay He relieve اللَهGod كَربيmy anguish
يَومَ نادَيت فَرَّجَ اللَه كَربي
إِنَّنيindeed I اِشتَقتُlonged for مَسجِديmy mosque وَالأَديباand the teacher
إِنَّني اِشتَقتُ مَسجِدي وَالأَديبا
The day you cried: “May God relieve my anguish!
The day you called out, 'God has relieved my pain!
I have longed for my mosque and the teacher.
I long for my mosque and my teacher.'
وَلِداتand peers سَبَقتهُمI outstripped them لَحِقونيcaught up with me
وَلِدات سَبَقتهُم لَحِقوني
صارَbecame مَنthe one كانَwas غالِباًvictorious مَغلوباdefeated
صارَ مَن كانَ غالِباً مَغلوبا
And peers I once outstripped have caught up with me;
'And my peers whom I surpassed—they have caught up to me,'
the one who was victorious is now defeated.
'Thus the victor became the vanquished.'
طالَlasted long سُقميmy illness فَاِرفَعso put away دَواتيmy inkwell وَأَقلاand pens (first part)
طالَ سُقمي فَاِرفَع دَواتي وَأَقلا
ميmy pens (completion) وَلاand do not تَمحُerase لَوحِيَmy tablet المَكتوباthe inscribed
مي وَلا تَمحُ لَوحِيَ المَكتوبا
My illness has lasted long; put away my inkwell and my
'My sickness is long, so take away my inkwell and pens,
pens, and do not erase my inscribed tablet.
But do not erase what I have written on my tablet.'
فَإِذاso when ماemphatic particle أَفَقتُI recover أَدرَكتُI catch up with مَنthose who فاoutstripped (first part)
فَإِذا ما أَفَقتُ أَدرَكتُ مَن فا
تَoutstripped (completion) وَعادَتand turns into عَنقاؤُهُمtheir phoenix عَندَليباa nightingale
تَ وَعادَت عَنقاؤُهُم عَندَليبا
Then, when I recover, I shall catch up with those who have
'If I recover, I will catch those who went ahead,
outstripped me, and their phoenix will become a nightingale.”
And their mythical phoenix will become a singing nightingale again.'
وَلديmy son كَيفَhow نَستَويcan we be equal أَناI فيin حرheat (first part)
وَلدي كَيفَ نَستَوي أَنا في حر
رِheat (completion) الرَزياthe calamities وَأَنتَwhile you فيin ظِلِّthe shade طوبىTuba
رِ الرَزيا وَأَنتَ في ظِلِّ طوبى
My son, how can we be alike? I am in the burning
My son, how can we be equal? I burn in the heat
heat of calamities, while you are in the shade of Tuba.
Of this tragedy, while you rest in the shade of Paradise's Tuba tree.
أَنتَyou حَيثُwhere المُقَرَّبونَthose brought near فَأَبشِرso rejoice
أَنتَ حَيثُ المُقَرَّبونَ فَأَبشِر
وَسَلand ask اللَهَGod أَنthat أَراكَI see you قَريباsoon
وَسَل اللَهَ أَن أَراكَ قَريبا
You are where those brought near to God dwell, so rejoice;
You are amongst the favored ones, so rejoice,
and ask God that I may see you soon.
And pray to God that I may see you soon.
وَاِسقِنيand give me drink الماءَthe water يَومَthe day تروىyou drink your fill وأصدىand I thirst
وَاِسقِني الماءَ يَومَ تروى وأصدى
نَصباًaffliction مِنfrom خَطيئَتيmy sin وَلُغوباand exhaustion
نَصباً مِن خَطيئَتي وَلُغوبا
Give me water on the day you drink your fill while I thirst,
Give me water on the Day you drink your fill, while I thirst,
in affliction from my sin and in exhaustion.
Exhausted and weary from the burden of my sins.
كَبِديmy liver أَشفعُintercede (contextual imperative) لِسائِرِfor the rest of الجِسمِthe body أَسلَمI may be safe
كَبِدي أَشفعُ لِسائِرِ الجِسمِ أَسلَم
مِنfrom لَظىthe Blaze يَومthe day يَستَطيرُflares لَهيباas flame
مِن لَظى يَوم يَستَطيرُ لَهيبا
My liver, intercede for the rest of my body, so I may be safe
O piece of my liver, intercede for the rest of my body, that I may be safe
from the Blaze on the day it flares in flame.
From the blazing fire of that Day when flames fly wild.
ماnot أَظُنُّI think الكَريمَthe Generous One يَرضىwould consent إِذاwhen أَنgranted bliss (first part)
ما أَظُنُّ الكَريمَ يَرضى إِذا أَن
عَمَgranted bliss (completion) بَعضيpart of me لِبَعضيto part of me التَعذيباtorment
عَمَ بَعضي لِبَعضي التَعذيبا
I do not think the Generous One would consent, after granting
I do not think the Generous Lord would be pleased, having blessed
bliss to part of me, to torment the other part.
A part of me, to consign the other part to torture.
كَمhow often تَلَقَّيتُI encountered فيon العروبَةِFriday ثَكلىa bereaved woman
كَم تَلَقَّيتُ في العروبَةِ ثَكلى
فَتَلَقَّيتَso you encountered أَنتَyou بِكراًa virgin عَروباaffectionate
فَتَلَقَّيتَ أَنتَ بِكراً عَروبا
How often on Friday I met a bereaved woman,
How often I met bereaved mothers among the Arabs,
while you met a loving virgin.
While you have gone to meet a pure, loving companion in heaven.
رُقتَهاyou captivated her وَالسَقامand illness قَدalready فضَّshattered تَفضيsilvering (first part)
رُقتَها وَالسَقام قَد فضَّ تَفضي
ضَsilvering (completion) المحيّاthe face وَأَذهَبَand removed التَذهيباthe gilding
ضَ المحيّا وَأَذهَبَ التَذهيبا
You captivated her, though illness had broken the silver
You charmed her, even as sickness had shattered
sheen of your face and stripped away its gilding.
The brightness of your face and stripped away its golden glow.
ثُمَّthen قالَتshe said دَعَوتَناyou called us فَأَجَبناso we answered
ثُمَّ قالَت دَعَوتَنا فَأَجَبنا
كَyou (object ending) وَلَسناand we do not نُجيبُanswer إِلّاexcept النَجيباthe noble one
كَ وَلَسنا نُجيبُ إِلّا النَجيبا
Then she said: “You called us, and we answered
Then she said: 'You called to us, and we answered you,
you; we answer only the noble.”
For we do not answer the call of any but the noble.'
فَتَبَوَّأso settle فيin الخُلدِeternity حَيثُwhere تَرىyou see اللَGod (first part)
فَتَبَوَّأ في الخُلدِ حَيثُ تَرى اللَ
هَGod (completion) وَتَلقىand meet نَبِيَّكَyour Prophet المَحبوباthe beloved
هَ وَتَلقى نَبِيَّكَ المَحبوبا
So dwell in eternity, where you see
So take your station in Eternity, where you shall see God,
God and meet your beloved Prophet,
And meet your beloved Prophet face to face.
حَيثُwhere وَفىfulfilled نَصيبَكَyour portion اللَهGod فَوراًimmediately
حَيثُ وَفى نَصيبَكَ اللَه فَوراً
وَالمُنىand the wishes أَنthat نُصيبَwe gain فيكَthrough you نَصيباa share
وَالمُنى أَن نُصيبَ فيكَ نَصيبا
where God has promptly granted your portion in full;
There, God has granted your full portion without delay,
and our hope is to gain a share through you.
And our only wish is to be granted a share through you.
لَهفgrief نَفسيmy soul عَلَيكَfor you ياO غُصنَbranch بانٍa ban-tree
لَهف نَفسي عَلَيكَ يا غُصنَ بانٍ
خَرَّfell يَبساًdry لمّاwhen تَثنّىswayed رَطيباfresh and green
خَرَّ يَبساً لمّا تَثنّى رَطيبا
How my soul grieves for you, O branch of the ban-tree,
My soul cries out for you, O slender branch of the Ban tree,
that fell dry just as it swayed, still green.
That fell withered to the ground just as it swayed with green life.
سَمتُهُhis bearing سَمتُthe bearing ذيone possessing تقىًpiety وَعَفافand chastity
سَمتُهُ سَمتُ ذي تقىً وَعَفاف
لَوif دَرىhe knew ماwhat الهَوىpassion أَنامَlulled to sleep الرَقيباthe watcher
لَو دَرى ما الهَوى أَنامَ الرَقيبا
His bearing was that of one devout and chaste;
He bore the mark of piety and pure chastity;
had he known what passion was, he would have lulled the watcher to sleep.
Had he known passion, he would have lulled the censor to sleep.
مِنamong بَنيthe sons القَومِthe people مَنthose who يَشُبُّgrow up عَفيفاًchaste
مِن بَني القَومِ مَن يَشُبُّ عَفيفاً
وَمِنَand among القَومِthe people مَنthose who يَشُبّgrow up
وَمِنَ القَومِ مَن يَشُبّ
Among the people's sons are those who grow up chaste,
Some among the people grow up pure and chaste,
and among the people are those who grow up.
And others among the people grow up...
يَقِظٌalert عَدَّتِreckoned العُقولthe minds ذُكاءًintelligence
يَقِظٌ عَدَّتِ العُقول ذُكاءً
قَبَساًa spark مِنfrom ذكائِهِhis intelligence مَشبوباkindled
قَبَساً مِن ذكائِهِ مَشبوبا
Alert, he was: minds reckoned their intelligence
An alert mind—intellects considered his brilliance
a spark kindled from his intelligence.
To be but a kindled spark of his blazing wit.
قَبلَbefore أَنthat يَكتُبَhe writes العُشورَthe ten-verse passages يَعيهاhe understands them
قَبلَ أَن يَكتُبَ العُشورَ يَعيها
فَيَرىso see الناسُthe people مِنهُfrom him أَمراًa thing عَجيباwondrous
فَيَرى الناسُ مِنهُ أَمراً عَجيبا
Before he wrote the ten-verse passages, he understood them,
Before he could even write the numbers, he mastered them,
and people saw in him something wondrous.
And people witnessed in him a wondrous marvel.
وَلَقَدand indeed صُنتُهُI guarded him وَأَمسَكتُand I held back عَنfrom كُتschool (first part)
وَلَقَد صُنتُهُ وَأَمسَكتُ عَن كُت
تابِهِhis school (completion) خَوفَfear أَنthat يُعانَbe struck by the evil eye دَؤوباdiligent
تابِهِ خَوفَ أَن يُعانَ دَؤوبا
Indeed I guarded him, and kept him from
I guarded him fiercely, and held him back from his books,
his school, fearing the evil eye upon his diligence.
Fearing the envious eye might strike his diligence.
فَإِذاthen behold العَينُthe evil eye أَثَّرَتaffected فيهِin him مِنfrom قَبbefore (first part)
فَإِذا العَينُ أَثَّرَت فيهِ مِن قَب
لُbefore (completion) لِكَيso that يَظفَرَtriumph العِدىthe enemies وَأخيباand I be thwarted
لُ لِكَي يَظفَرَ العِدى وَأخيبا
And behold, the evil eye had struck him even
Yet the Eye had already left its mark on him,
before that, so that enemies might triumph and I be thwarted.
So that the enemy might triumph, and I be left in loss.
وَعَزيزand grievous عَلىto العُلاglory أَنthat تَراهُyou see him
وَعَزيز عَلى العُلا أَن تَراهُ
أَنشَبَتsank فيهِinto him النائِباتُthe calamities نُيوباfangs
أَنشَبَت فيهِ النائِباتُ نُيوبا
It is grievous to glory to see him
It weighs heavy on Glory to see him thus—
with calamities sinking their fangs into him.
With the fangs of calamity sunk deep into his flesh.
كَمhow often سَأَلتُI asked الأَديبَthe teacher رِفقاًgentleness وَكَمand how often لُمI reproached (first part)
كَم سَأَلتُ الأَديبَ رِفقاً وَكَم لُم
تُI (verb ending) عَلَيهِon his account فَقالَso he said لاno تَثريباreproach
تُ عَلَيهِ فَقالَ لا تَثريبا
How often I asked the teacher for gentleness, and how often I reproached
How often I begged his tutor for leniency, and how often I blamed him,
him on his account! He said: “No reproach.
Yet he replied: 'There is no cause for reproach.
إِنَّindeed أَترابَهُhis peers اِهتَدواwere guided بِهُداهُby his guidance
إِنَّ أَترابَهُ اِهتَدوا بِهُداهُ
فَتَحَلَّتso were adorned أَخلاقُهُمtheir characters تَهذيباrefinement
فَتَحَلَّت أَخلاقُهُم تَهذيبا
His peers followed his guidance,
His peers have found their way through his guidance;
and their characters were adorned with refinement.
Their characters have been adorned with refinement.
لاdo not تَلُمنيblame me فَماfor ... not ضَرَبتُI struck وَمَنand who ذاis it
لا تَلُمني فَما ضَرَبتُ وَمَن ذا
يَضرِبُstrikes الطائِرَthe bird الذَكيّthe clever الأَريباthe discerning
يَضرِبُ الطائِرَ الذَكيّ الأَريبا
Do not blame me: I never struck him. And who
Do not blame me, for I never struck him—and who, indeed,
would strike the clever, discerning bird?”
Would strike a bird so brilliant and so wise?'
خَضَعَتbowed بَعدَهُafter him رِقابnecks لِداتpeers
خَضَعَت بَعدَهُ رِقاب لِدات
كانَwas فيهِمamong them مُعَظَّماًhonored وَمَهيباand revered
كانَ فيهِم مُعَظَّماً وَمَهيبا
After him, the necks of his peers bowed,
After he passed, the heads of his peers bowed low;
among whom he had been honored and revered.
For he was honored among them, and held in awe.
كانَwas يَهديguiding قُلوبَهُمtheir hearts ثُمَّthen وَلّىdeparted
كانَ يَهدي قُلوبَهُم ثُمَّ وَلّى
فَعَمواso became blind الآنَnow أَعيُناًeyes وَقُلوباand hearts
فَعَموا الآنَ أَعيُناً وَقُلوبا
He used to guide their hearts, then departed;
He used to guide their hearts, but now he has turned away,
now they are blind in eyes and hearts.
Leaving them blind in their eyes and in their hearts.
ياO اِبنَson of تِسعnine يَحكيmatches اِبنَson of تِسعينَninety رَأياًin judgment
يا اِبنَ تِسع يَحكي اِبنَ تِسعينَ رَأياً
وُنهوضاand vigor يَفوتهُsurpasses him وَوُثوباand leaping
وُنهوضا يَفوتهُ وَوُثوبا
O nine-year-old, matching a ninety-year-old in judgment,
O child of nine years, echoing the wisdom of ninety,
and surpassing him in vigor and in leaps!
Surpassing age in your rising and your spirited leap.
حُقَّis justified ليfor me أَنthat أَشُقَّI rend قَلبيmy heart ثُكلاًfrom bereavement
حُقَّ لي أَن أَشُقَّ قَلبي ثُكلاً
لاnot أُوَفّيكَI give you your due إِنif شَقَقتُI tore الجُيوباthe collars
لا أُوَفّيكَ إِن شَقَقتُ الجُيوبا
I have the right to rend my heart in bereavement;
I have every right to tear my heart open in grief;
I would not give you your due if I tore my collars.
For tearing my garments would never be enough for you.
Sol 6.1