يا قَمَري مَن قَمرك

يا قَمَري مَن قَمرك

حسنَكَ حَتّى غَيَّرَك

حسنَكَ حَتّى غَيَّرَك

O my moon, who robbed you of

Oh my moon, who has eclipsed your light? Was it your own beauty that eventually transformed you?

your beauty, until he changed you?

Oh my tender, fresh branch, how sweet and delicious was your fruit!

يا غُصنيَ الغَضَّ الجَني

يا غُصنيَ الغَضَّ الجَني

ما كانَ أَشهى ثَمَرَك

ما كانَ أَشهى ثَمَرَك

O my tender bough, ripe with fruit,

Oh my garden, watered by modest rain, how radiant were your blossoms!

how delicious your fruit once was!

Oh my pearl, the One who strung you gave me joy, only to shatter and scatter you.

يا رَوضَتي ذات الحَيا

يا رَوضَتي ذات الحَيا

ما كانَ أَزهى زَهَرَك

ما كانَ أَزهى زَهَرَك

O my garden blessed with rain,

Destruction folded you within its cloak, while the grave's soil spread you out.

how resplendent your blossoms once were!

Woe to the Fates! They have bereaved the noble clan of Fihr by taking you away.

يا دُرَّتي ما سَرَّني الن

يا دُرَّتي ما سَرَّني الن

ناظِمُ حَتّى نَثَرَك

ناظِمُ حَتّى نَثَرَك

O my pearl, scarcely had I been gladdened by the

Glory itself weeps, crying out: "May the hands of him who buried you be paralyzed!"

stringer when he scattered you.

How often did Eminence pray for you—a prayer shared by all—

طَواكَ في رِدائِهِ الر

طَواكَ في رِدائِهِ الر

ردى وَنَشرٌ نَشَرَك

ردى وَنَشرٌ نَشَرَك

You were folded in the cloak of

That God might make your life the longest span of all.

Death, while a fragrance spread you abroad.

But an envious eye struck in the night, and the glance of Time betrayed you.

وَيحَ المَنايا أَثكَلَت

وَيحَ المَنايا أَثكَلَت

كِرامَ فِهرٍ نَفَرَك

كِرامَ فِهرٍ نَفَرَك

Woe to the fates of death! They bereaved

What Time spread open, it has now folded shut; what Time took away, it has left behind.

the nobles of Fihr, your own kin.

How grievous it is to Time that Death has blunted your youthful vigor.

فَالمَجدُ يَبكي قائِلاً

فَالمَجدُ يَبكي قائِلاً

شُلَّت يَدا مَن قَبَرَك

شُلَّت يَدا مَن قَبَرَك

So Glory weeps, saying,

Though you never brandished a drawn sword, nor stood witness on the battlefield,

“May both hands of him who buried you be paralyzed!”

Just when I strengthened my arm with yours, and they said, "Strike now, for he supports you,"

وَكَم دَعَت لَكَ العُلا

وَكَم دَعَت لَكَ العُلا

وَهوَ دُعاء مُشتَرك

وَهوَ دُعاء مُشتَرك

And how often High Honor prayed for you—

"You shall see, if he lives, your victory manifest over every enemy."

a prayer in which all joined—

The Evil Eye afflicted you, and no incantations had the power to spare you.

ليَجعَلَ اللَهُ لَها

ليَجعَلَ اللَهُ لَها

أَطوَلَ عُمرٍ عُمُرَك

أَطوَلَ عُمرٍ عُمُرَك

that God, for her sake, might make

Sickness crushed your frame, though had my God willed, He would have mended you.

your life the longest of lives.

Here is your stricken father, complaining of his grief and weeping over your traces.

لكِنَّ عَيناً طَرَقَت

لكِنَّ عَيناً طَرَقَت

وَطَرفَ دَهرٍ غَدَرَك

وَطَرفَ دَهرٍ غَدَرَك

But an evil eye came by night,

Look at him but once; turn your gaze back toward him,

and a glance of Time betrayed you.

Or grant him sleep, and command your phantom to visit him with your news.

ما نَشَرَ الدَهرُ طوى

ما نَشَرَ الدَهرُ طوى

ما أَخَذَ الدَهرُ تَرَك

ما أَخَذَ الدَهرُ تَرَك

What Time unfolded, it folded away;

Oh, the agony of separation! It has made your journey so terribly long.

what Time took, it left.

You departed this world before you could satisfy your desires within it.

أَعزِز عَلى الدَهرِ بِأَن

أَعزِز عَلى الدَهرِ بِأَن

فلَّت شَعوبٌ ظُفُرَك

فلَّت شَعوبٌ ظُفُرَك

How grievous for Time it is that

Did the world unveil its flaws to you, warning, "Be on your guard,"

Death has blunted your talon,

So that when you found it displeasing, you turned your gaze away from it?

وَما هَزَزتَ المُنتَضى

وَما هَزَزتَ المُنتَضى

وَلا شَهِدتَ المُعتَرَك

وَلا شَهِدتَ المُعتَرَك

though you had never brandished the drawn sword

You departed from it unblemished, with no guilt or debt pursuing you.

nor witnessed the battlefield.

Had you clung to this world, it would have ensnared you in its trap.

لَمّا شَدَدتُ ساعِدي

لَمّا شَدَدتُ ساعِدي

وَقيلَ صُل قَد نَصَرَك

وَقيلَ صُل قَد نَصَرَك

When I had made my arm strong,

I used to be jealous that the beautiful maidens might gaze upon your dark eyes.

and it was said, “Charge! He has supported you;

May no eye escape calamity if it permitted harm to befall you.

سَوفَ تَرى إِن عاشَ في

سَوفَ تَرى إِن عاشَ في

كُلّ عَدُوٍّ ظَفَرَك

كُلّ عَدُوٍّ ظَفَرَك

if he lives, you shall see

Illness so transformed you that even your devoted father could barely recognize you.

your triumph over every enemy,”

It withered the rose of your dewy cheek and obscured your modest beauty.

عَنَّت لَكَ العَينُ فَلَم

عَنَّت لَكَ العَينُ فَلَم

تَقوى الرُقى أَن تَذَرَك

تَقوى الرُقى أَن تَذَرَك

the evil eye assailed you, and

What blood flowed from you! As if a piercing arrow had struck your throat.

charms had no power to spare you.

God sorely tested you in this world, but He has granted you reward.

وَهاظَكَ السقمُ وَلَو

وَهاظَكَ السقمُ وَلَو

شاءَ إِلهي جَبَرَك

شاءَ إِلهي جَبَرَك

And illness crushed you; yet had

I speak these words while my weeping eye betrays the heart whenever it remembers you:

my God so willed, He would have mended you.

"My Lord, let me die, and answer the prayer of a servant who has always thanked You."

هذا أَبوكَ المُبتَلى

هذا أَبوكَ المُبتَلى

يَشكو وَيَبكي أَثَرَك

يَشكو وَيَبكي أَثَرَك

Here is your afflicted father,

I am content with what You have decreed; whoever accepts not Your will denies You.

lamenting and weeping over your traces.

The physicians were helpless regarding my son; their ignorance was but a part of Your decree.

فَاِنظُر وَلَو واحِدَةً

فَاِنظُر وَلَو واحِدَةً

إِلَيهِ وَاِرجِع بَصَرَك

إِلَيهِ وَاِرجِع بَصَرَك

So look, if only once,

And you, O my eye, stay wakeful throughout the night, until the break of dawn.

at him, and turn back your gaze.

You have gone to your Master; how pure and good your vigil seems to me now.

أَو هَب لَهُ النَومَ وَمُر

أَو هَب لَهُ النَومَ وَمُر

طَيفَكَ يُخبِر خَبَرَك

طَيفَكَ يُخبِر خَبَرَك

Or grant him sleep, and bid

And you, O grave, do you realize what brilliant shooting star now inhabits you?

your dream-phantom bring word of you.

And what a deluge of my tears has flooded you, surpassing the heaviest rain?

يا وَيلَتا مِنَ النَوى

يا وَيلَتا مِنَ النَوى

لَقَد أَطالَت سَفَرَك

لَقَد أَطالَت سَفَرَك

Alas for separation!

Guard him well, for the grief within the heart of Eminence itself has dug your hollow.

It has indeed prolonged your journey.

And you, O Time, have struck the clan of Fihr with tragedy by taking its brightest stars.

زِلتَ عَنِ الدُنيا وَما

زِلتَ عَنِ الدُنيا وَما

قَضيت مِنها وَطَرَك

قَضيت مِنها وَطَرَك

You departed this world without

You have robbed me of four who adorned existence—they were your very pearls.

fulfilling your desire in it.

By God, O Time, through their loss, admonish me and teach me your harsh lessons.

هَل سَفَرَت عَن عَيبِها

هَل سَفَرَت عَن عَيبِها

قائِلَةً خُذ حَذَرَك

قائِلَةً خُذ حَذَرَك

Did she unveil her flaw,

You show a clear, bright face to a young man, all the while concealing your murky depths.

saying, “Be on your guard,”

You admire a thing's beauty, yet how swiftly you bring about its corruption.

حَتّى إِذا لَم تَرضَها

حَتّى إِذا لَم تَرضَها

صَرَفتَ عَنها نَظَرَك

صَرَفتَ عَنها نَظَرَك

so that, when she failed to please you,

It is as if your only "good news" is when you hungrily devour human flesh.

you turned your gaze away from her

And you, O Abd al-Ghani, give thanks to a Lord who has shielded you.

وَرحتَ مِنها سالِماً

وَرحتَ مِنها سالِماً

لَيسَ عَلَيكَ مِن دَرَك

لَيسَ عَلَيكَ مِن دَرَك

and departed from her unscathed,

He saved you from calamities, the least of which was the illness that overpowered you.

with no blame laid upon you?

What did you say to the two angels when they questioned you about your Creator?

وَلَو تَشَبَّثتَ بِها

وَلَو تَشَبَّثتَ بِها

لَأَنشَبَتكَ في الشَرَك

لَأَنشَبَتكَ في الشَرَك

And had you clung to her,

May God grant me success, just as you were guided when He tested you.

she would have caught you in the snare.

He has counted you among the righteous, without doubt, and among them He has gathered you.

كُنتُ أَغارُ أَن تَرى

كُنتُ أَغارُ أَن تَرى

حورُ الغَواني حَورَك

حورُ الغَواني حَورَك

I was jealous lest

Your father calls to you for the Morrow; come forth from Paradise that he may see you.

the dark-eyed beauties behold your wide, dark eyes.

Intercede for him; perhaps the One who restored you will also restore his broken heart.

فَلا نَجَت مِن آفَةٍ

فَلا نَجَت مِن آفَةٍ

عَينٌ أَباحَت ضَرَرَك

عَينٌ أَباحَت ضَرَرَك

So may there be no escape from affliction

Remember, and do not forget, a father who stored you away as a treasure for this very station.

for any eye that allowed you to be harmed.

You are there to help, but if you are occupied with other things, he excuses you.

غَيَّرَكَ السُقمُ عَلى ال

غَيَّرَكَ السُقمُ عَلى ال

عابدِ حَتّى نَكَرَك

عابدِ حَتّى نَكَرَك

Illness so changed you before the

Yet how could you not show compassion to one you left yearning, waiting for you?

worshipper that he failed to recognize you.

You have won the pleasure of a King whom you never disobeyed in His commands.

خَدَّدَ خَدَّكَ النَدي

خَدَّدَ خَدَّكَ النَدي

ورداً وَأَخفى خَفَرَك

ورداً وَأَخفى خَفَرَك

It furrowed your dewy cheek—

You loved the Remembrance of God, never neglecting it in your early mornings.

a rose—and hid your bashfulness.

Even in your childhood, you used to recite your chapters of the Quran to me.

أَيُّ دَمٍ مِنكَ جَرى

أَيُّ دَمٍ مِنكَ جَرى

كَأَنَّ سَهماً نَحَرَك

كَأَنَّ سَهماً نَحَرَك

What blood flowed from you,

And when others recited, you listened despite your frailty, until it held you captive.

as though an arrow had pierced your throat!

You were truly a divine sign; everyone exalted you despite your tender age.

لَقَد بَلاكَ اللَهُ في الد

لَقَد بَلاكَ اللَهُ في الد

دنيا وَلكِن أَجَرَك

دنيا وَلكِن أَجَرَك

God indeed tried you in this

How would it have been had you remained, until I could celebrate your old age?

world, but He rewarded you.

My heart remains united with you in love, so my body cannot bear your departure.

أَقولُ وَالعَينُ تَشي

أَقولُ وَالعَينُ تَشي

بِالقَلبِ مَهما ذَكَرَك

بِالقَلبِ مَهما ذَكَرَك

I say, as the eye betrays

the heart whenever it remembers you:

رَبِّ أَمِتني وَأَجِب

رَبِّ أَمِتني وَأَجِب

دَعوَةَ عَبدٍ شَكَرَك

دَعوَةَ عَبدٍ شَكَرَك

“My Lord, let me die, and answer

the prayer of a servant who thanked You,

راض بِما قَدَّرتَهُ

راض بِما قَدَّرتَهُ

مَن لَيسَ يَرضى كفرَك

مَن لَيسَ يَرضى كفرَك

content with what You have decreed;

whoever is not content has denied You.

جَهلُ الأُساةِ في اِبنِهِ

جَهلُ الأُساةِ في اِبنِهِ

ما كانَ لَولا قَدَرَك

ما كانَ لَولا قَدَرَك

The physicians' ignorance concerning his son

would not have been but for Your decree.”

وَأَنت يا عَينُ اِسهَري

وَأَنت يا عَينُ اِسهَري

لَيلَكِ إِلّا سَحَرَك

لَيلَكِ إِلّا سَحَرَك

And you, O eye, stay awake

through your night, except its predawn hours.

أَتَيت مَولاكَ فَما

أَتَيت مَولاكَ فَما

أَطيَبَ عندي سَهَرَك

أَطيَبَ عندي سَهَرَك

You have come to your master; how

sweet to me is your wakefulness!

وَأَنتَ يا قَبرُ تَرى

وَأَنتَ يا قَبرُ تَرى

أَيَّ شِهابٍ عمرَك

أَيَّ شِهابٍ عمرَك

And you, O grave, behold

what a blazing star has made you his home,

وَأَيّ غَيثٍ دونَهُ

وَأَيّ غَيثٍ دونَهُ

مِن عبراتي غَمَرَك

مِن عبراتي غَمَرَك

and what a rain, above him,

from my tears has flooded you!

فَاِحفَظهُ إِنَّ الثُكلَ في

فَاِحفَظهُ إِنَّ الثُكلَ في

قَلبِ المَعالي حَفَرَك

قَلبِ المَعالي حَفَرَك

So guard him, for bereavement

has dug you in the heart of high honor.

وَأَنتَ يا دَهرُ لَقَد

وَأَنتَ يا دَهرُ لَقَد

فَجَعتَ فِهراً غُرَرَك

فَجَعتَ فِهراً غُرَرَك

And you, O Time, have indeed

bereaved Fihr of your brightest ones.

سَلَبتَني أَربَعَةً

سَلَبتَني أَربَعَةً

زانوا فَكانوا دُرَرَك

زانوا فَكانوا دُرَرَك

You robbed me of four

who adorned you and were your pearls.

بِاللَهِ يا دَهرُ بِهِم

بِاللَهِ يا دَهرُ بِهِم

عِظني أَفِدني عِبَرَك

عِظني أَفِدني عِبَرَك

By God, O Time, through them

admonish me; teach me your lessons.

صَفوَكَ تُبدي لِلفَتى

صَفوَكَ تُبدي لِلفَتى

وَأَنتَ تُخفي كَدَرَك

وَأَنتَ تُخفي كَدَرَك

You show a man your clarity

while you conceal your murk.

تستَحسنُ الشَيءَ وَما

تستَحسنُ الشَيءَ وَما

أَقرَبُ مِنهُ غَيرَك

أَقرَبُ مِنهُ غَيرَك

You admire a thing; yet how

near to it are your reversals!

كَأَنَّما بُشراكَ إِن

كَأَنَّما بُشراكَ إِن

تَأكُلُ جوعاً بَشَرَك

تَأكُلُ جوعاً بَشَرَك

As though glad tidings were yours if

you hungrily devoured your people.

وَأَنتَ يا عَبدَ الغَنِي

وَأَنتَ يا عَبدَ الغَنِي

يِ اِشكُر لِرَبٍّ سَترَك

يِ اِشكُر لِرَبٍّ سَترَك

And you, O Abd al-Ghani,

give thanks to a Lord who sheltered you.

نَجّاكَ مِن مَكارِه

نَجّاكَ مِن مَكارِه

أَقُلّها ما قَهَرَك

أَقُلّها ما قَهَرَك

He delivered you from misfortunes,

the least of which was what overpowered you.

ما قُلتَ لِلشَّخصَينِ إِذ

ما قُلتَ لِلشَّخصَينِ إِذ

سالاكَ عَمَّن فَطَرَك

سالاكَ عَمَّن فَطَرَك

What did you say to the two figures when

they asked you who created you?

وَفَّقَني اللَهُ كَما

وَفَّقَني اللَهُ كَما

وُفِّقتَ حينَ اِختَبَرَك

وُفِّقتَ حينَ اِختَبَرَك

May God guide me aright as

you were guided when He tested you.

عَدَّكَ في الأَبرارِ لا

عَدَّكَ في الأَبرارِ لا

شَكَّ وَفيهِم حَشَرَك

شَكَّ وَفيهِم حَشَرَك

He numbered you among the righteous—no

doubt—and gathered you among them.

أَبوكَ يَدعوكَ غَداً

أَبوكَ يَدعوكَ غَداً

فَاِبرُز مِنَ الخُلدِ يَرَك

فَاِبرُز مِنَ الخُلدِ يَرَك

Your father will call you tomorrow;

come forth from Paradise, that he may see you.

وَاِشفَع لَهُ لَعَلَّهُ

وَاِشفَع لَهُ لَعَلَّهُ

يجبرُهُ مَن جَبَرَك

يجبرُهُ مَن جَبَرَك

And intercede for him, that perhaps

He who made you whole may make him whole.

وَاِذكُر وَلا تَنسَ أَباً

وَاِذكُر وَلا تَنسَ أَباً

لِذا المَقامِ اِدَّخَرَك

لِذا المَقامِ اِدَّخَرَك

Remember, and do not forget, a father

who held you in reserve for this hour.

وَأَنتَ في العَونِ فإن

وَأَنتَ في العَونِ فإن

شُغِلتَ عَنهُ عذرَك

شُغِلتَ عَنهُ عذرَك

You are his help; but if

you are kept from him, he will excuse you.

وَكَيفَ لا تَحنو عَلى

وَكَيفَ لا تَحنو عَلى

مَن شُقتَهُ فَاِنتَظَرَك

مَن شُقتَهُ فَاِنتَظَرَك

And how could you not be tender toward

one you made yearn, who has waited for you?

لَكَ الرِضا مِن مَلكٍ

لَكَ الرِضا مِن مَلكٍ

لَم تَعصِهِ ما أَمَرَك

لَم تَعصِهِ ما أَمَرَك

Yours is the favor of a King

whom you never disobeyed in what He commanded.

كُنتَ مُحِبَّ الذِكر لا

كُنتَ مُحِبَّ الذِكر لا

تَنامُ عَنهُ بكرَك

تَنامُ عَنهُ بكرَك

You loved the Remembrance, never

sleeping through it in your early mornings.

وَكُنتَ حَتّى في الصِبا

وَكُنتَ حَتّى في الصِبا

عَلَيَّ تَتلو سورَك

عَلَيَّ تَتلو سورَك

And even in childhood, you would

recite your suras to me.

وَمَن تَلا تَسمَع عَلى

وَمَن تَلا تَسمَع عَلى

ضَعفكَ حَتّى أَسَرَك

ضَعفكَ حَتّى أَسَرَك

And whoever recited, you would listen, despite

your frailty, until he captivated you.

ما كُنتَ إِلّا آيَةً

ما كُنتَ إِلّا آيَةً

أَكبَر كُلٌّ صِغرَك

أَكبَر كُلٌّ صِغرَك

You were nothing but a marvel;

all held your tender years in awe.

فَكَيفَ لَو دُمتَ كَذا

فَكَيفَ لَو دُمتَ كَذا

حَتّى أَهنا كِبَرَك

حَتّى أَهنا كِبَرَك

What then, had you remained thus

until I could delight in your adulthood!

واصَلَك القَلبُ هَوىً

واصَلَك القَلبُ هَوىً

فَما لِجِسمي هَجرَك

فَما لِجِسمي هَجرَك

The heart kept close to you in love;

why, then, has my body forsaken you?