سُلالَةُ فهرٍ أَينَ مِنكَ سَلولُ

سُلالَةُ فهرٍ أَينَ مِنكَ سَلولُ

وَطِفلٌ نِزارٍ أَينَ مِنكَ طَفيلُ

وَطِفلٌ نِزارٍ أَينَ مِنكَ طَفيلُ

Scion of Fihr, what is Salul beside you?

Scion of Fihr, where does Salul stand beside you?

And child of Nizar, what is Tufayl beside you?

And child of Nizar, where is Tufayl compared to you?

رَأَوكَ ضَئيلَ الشَخصِ وَاِستَعظَموا السنى

رَأَوكَ ضَئيلَ الشَخصِ وَاِستَعظَموا السنى

وَلا عَجَبٌ إِنَّ الهِلالَ ضَئيلُ

وَلا عَجَبٌ إِنَّ الهِلالَ ضَئيلُ

They saw your slight frame, yet marveled at your radiance;

They saw your frame was slight, yet deemed your radiance vast,

And no wonder: the crescent is slight.

And this is no wonder, for truly the crescent moon is slight.

وَقالوا لِمَن واراكَ مَهلاً فَجَعتَنا

وَقالوا لِمَن واراكَ مَهلاً فَجَعتَنا

أَتُربٌ عَلى تُربِ الهِلالِ مهيلُ

أَتُربٌ عَلى تُربِ الهِلالِ مهيلُ

They told the one who buried you, “Gently! You have bereaved us!”

They said to him who buried you, "Gently, you have shattered us,"

“Is earth to be heaped upon the crescent’s peer?”

"Is earth being poured upon the earth of the crescent moon?"

تَسامَيت مِن قَبلِ الفِطامِ إِلى العُلا

تَسامَيت مِن قَبلِ الفِطامِ إِلى العُلا

وَما نِلتُ طِفلاً لَم تَنَلهُ كهولُ

وَما نِلتُ طِفلاً لَم تَنَلهُ كهولُ

You rose toward glory even before weaning;

You ascended to the heights before you were even weaned,

What I attained as a child, mature men did not attain.

And as a child, you attained what elders failed to reach.

إِذا عُدَّ فَضلٌ كانَ فيكَ وَمَفخَر

إِذا عُدَّ فَضلٌ كانَ فيكَ وَمَفخَر

فَمُستَكثرٌ ما عِشتَ وَهوَ قَليلُ

فَمُستَكثرٌ ما عِشتَ وَهوَ قَليلُ

Whenever a merit or a source of pride in you was counted,

If virtue and glory were counted, they were found in you,

It was reckoned much while you lived, yet it was little.

So the short time you lived seems abundant, though it was brief.

وَمُستَحسِنٌ ما أَبصَرت مِنكَ أَعيُنٌ

وَمُستَحسِنٌ ما أَبصَرت مِنكَ أَعيُنٌ

وَأَحسَن مِنهُ ما رَأَتهُ عُقولُ

وَأَحسَن مِنهُ ما رَأَتهُ عُقولُ

What eyes saw of you was admired;

Eyes found beauty in what they saw of you,

More beautiful still was what minds perceived.

But what minds perceived in you was even more beautiful.

أَحينَ أراني الدَهر قَد شدَّ ساعِدي

أَحينَ أراني الدَهر قَد شدَّ ساعِدي

بِسَعدِكَ وَالدُنيا إِلَيَّ تَميلُ

بِسَعدِكَ وَالدُنيا إِلَيَّ تَميلُ

Was it when time had shown me my arm strengthened

Is it now, when Fate showed me my arm was strengthened

By your good fortune, and the world inclining toward me,

By your good fortune, and the world was leaning towards me,

أصول عَلى الأَيّامِ مِنكَ بِواحِدٍ

أصول عَلى الأَيّامِ مِنكَ بِواحِدٍ

نَمَتهُ فُروعٌ لِلعُلا وَأُصولُ

نَمَتهُ فُروعٌ لِلعُلا وَأُصولُ

While I assailed the days with you, my only one,

That I attack the days with a single warrior from you,

Nurtured by noble branches and roots,

Whom branches and roots of high nobility have raised?

رَماني بِسَهمِ العَينِ فَاِندَقَّ عامِلي

رَماني بِسَهمِ العَينِ فَاِندَقَّ عامِلي

وَأَصبَحَ مِنّي في الغرارِ فلولُ

وَأَصبَحَ مِنّي في الغرارِ فلولُ

That it shot me with the evil eye’s arrow, shattering my spear-shaft,

The Evil Eye struck me with its arrow, shattering my spear-shaft,

And left notches along my cutting edge?

And my blade became notched within its sheath.

ظَمِئتُ إِلى اللُقيا وَفي الحَشرِ نَلتَقي

ظَمِئتُ إِلى اللُقيا وَفي الحَشرِ نَلتَقي

فَيا سَلسَبيلي ما إِلَيكَ سَبيلُ

فَيا سَلسَبيلي ما إِلَيكَ سَبيلُ

I have thirsted for reunion; at the Resurrection we shall meet.

I thirst for our meeting, and in the Gathering we shall meet;

O my Salsabil, there is no path to you!

O my Salsabil, is there no path to you?

نَهاري عَلى الأَنهارِ وَالرَوضُ وحشَة

نَهاري عَلى الأَنهارِ وَالرَوضُ وحشَة

إِلَيكَ وَأَمّا لَيلَتي فَأَليلُ

إِلَيكَ وَأَمّا لَيلَتي فَأَليلُ

My day amid rivers and gardens is desolate

My day by the rivers and gardens is desolate

With longing for you; as for my night, it is pitch-dark.

Without you; and as for my night, it is utter darkness.

وَنَفسي بِأَنفاسي تَذوبُ حَرارَةً

وَنَفسي بِأَنفاسي تَذوبُ حَرارَةً

فَمِن أَينَ يشفى بِالدُموعِ غَليلُ

فَمِن أَينَ يشفى بِالدُموعِ غَليلُ

My soul melts in the heat of my sighs;

My soul melts with heat through my very breaths;

How, then, can tears quench this burning thirst?

So how can burning thirst be quenched by tears?

أعزى وَمَن لي بِالعَزاءِ وَقَد خَلَت

أعزى وَمَن لي بِالعَزاءِ وَقَد خَلَت

أَعِزّاءُ أَسمو بِاِسمِهِم وَأصولُ

أَعِزّاءُ أَسمو بِاِسمِهِم وَأصولُ

I am offered consolation—but who can console me, now that gone are

I am consoled, but who can truly console me when they are gone—

Dear ones in whose names I rose, and the roots of my lineage?

The dear ones by whose name I rise and strike?

عَهدتُ الدّنا غَرّا مُحجّلَةً مَعا

عَهدتُ الدّنا غَرّا مُحجّلَةً مَعا

وَهُم غُرَرٌ كانَت لَها وَحُجولُ

وَهُم غُرَرٌ كانَت لَها وَحُجولُ

I knew the worlds both white-blazed and white-footed;

I knew the world was bright and marked with glory,

They were their white blazes and their white fetlock-marks.

For they were the brightness on its forehead and the white on its feet.

وَغَير جَميلٍ أَن أَرى كُلَّ سَيِّدٍ

وَغَير جَميلٍ أَن أَرى كُلَّ سَيِّدٍ

يُواريهِ قَبر وَالعَراءُ جَميلُ

يُواريهِ قَبر وَالعَراءُ جَميلُ

It is no fair sight to see every noble lord

It is not fitting that I see every master

Hidden by a grave while the open land is beautiful.

Hidden by a grave, while the bare wasteland remains fair.

تَجَلَّدَت لكِنَّ الدُموعَ فَضَحنَني

تَجَلَّدَت لكِنَّ الدُموعَ فَضَحنَني

كَما فَضَحَ الشَيب الخَصيُ نُصولُ

كَما فَضَحَ الشَيب الخَصيُ نُصولُ

I steeled myself, but tears exposed me,

I feigned endurance, but my tears exposed me,

As fading dye revealed the eunuch’s gray hair.

Just as the fading of dye exposes grey hair.

لَقيت مِنَ الأَيّامِ كُلَّ عَظيمَةٍ

لَقيت مِنَ الأَيّامِ كُلَّ عَظيمَةٍ

تهيلُ عَلى الأُسدِ الثَرى وَتَهولُ

تهيلُ عَلى الأُسدِ الثَرى وَتَهولُ

I have met every calamity the days could bring,

I have encountered every calamity from the days,

Heaping earth upon lions and striking terror.

That pile earth upon lions and strike terror.

يَقولونَ كانَ الأَهلُ وَالسَكَنُ اِبنَه

يَقولونَ كانَ الأَهلُ وَالسَكَنُ اِبنَه

وَكانَ مِنَ الخِلّانِ فيهِ بَديلُ

وَكانَ مِنَ الخِلّانِ فيهِ بَديلُ

They say his son was his family and his home,

They say his family and his dwelling were his son,

And in him was a substitute for friends.

And in him was a substitute for all friends.

فَلَيسَ يُلاقي اليَومَ إِلّا عَدُوَّهُ

فَلَيسَ يُلاقي اليَومَ إِلّا عَدُوَّهُ

وَقَد صَدَقوا ما لِلغَريبِ خَليلُ

وَقَد صَدَقوا ما لِلغَريبِ خَليلُ

So today he meets none but his enemy;

So today he meets no one but his enemy,

They speak truly: a stranger has no friend.

And they spoke truly: the stranger has no friend.

فَقَدتُ حَبيبَ النَفسِ وَاِشتَقتُ نَحوه

فَقَدتُ حَبيبَ النَفسِ وَاِشتَقتُ نَحوه

فَهَل لي إلى وَصلِ الحَبيبِ وُصولُ

فَهَل لي إلى وَصلِ الحَبيبِ وُصولُ

I lost my soul’s beloved and longed for him;

I lost the beloved of my soul and yearned for him,

Is there a way for me to reach reunion with the beloved?

Is there any way for me to reach the beloved's union?

أَلَم تَعلَمي أَنّي تَوَدَّدتُ لِلعِدا

أَلَم تَعلَمي أَنّي تَوَدَّدتُ لِلعِدا

وَأَنَّ خَفيفاً لا يُحِبُّ ثَقيلُ

وَأَنَّ خَفيفاً لا يُحِبُّ ثَقيلُ

Did you not know that I showed affection to my foes,

Do you not know that I courted enemies,

And that the heavy cannot love the light?

And that a light spirit does not love a heavy one?

وَرِفتُ عَلَيهِم سَجسَجا وَهُم الصَفا

وَرِفتُ عَلَيهِم سَجسَجا وَهُم الصَفا

سَواء عَلَيهِم حَرجَفٌ وَبَليلُ

سَواء عَلَيهِم حَرجَفٌ وَبَليلُ

I breathed over them as a temperate breeze, though they were flint;

I fluttered over them like a gentle breeze though they were hard rock,

A biting gale and a cool, moist breeze were alike to them.

To whom a cold wind and a moist breeze are the same.

فَلَمّا أَدلوا وَاِستَدَلّوا بِلا يَدٍ

فَلَمّا أَدلوا وَاِستَدَلّوا بِلا يَدٍ

رَفَعتُ يَدي عَنهُم فَقيلَ مَلولُ

رَفَعتُ يَدي عَنهُم فَقيلَ مَلولُ

When they grew presumptuous and claimed indulgence without a favor,

When they acted arrogantly and sought proof without power,

I withdrew my hand from them, and was called fickle.

I withdrew my hand from them, and it was said I was fickle.

وَلَو أَنصَفوا قالوا وَمَن لي بِمُنصِفٍ

وَلَو أَنصَفوا قالوا وَمَن لي بِمُنصِفٍ

حسدنا فَلَم نَحمِلهُ وَهوَ حَمولُ

حسدنا فَلَم نَحمِلهُ وَهوَ حَمولُ

Had they been fair, they would have said—but who will be fair to me?—

If they were fair, they would have said—but who will be fair to me?—

“We envied him and could not bear him, though he was forbearing.”

"We envied him, and we could not bear him, though he was forbearing."

وَمِن عَجَبِ الدُنيا غَيربٌ مُحَبَّبٌ

وَمِن عَجَبِ الدُنيا غَيربٌ مُحَبَّبٌ

وَمِن نَكَدِ الدُنيا أَلَدَّ جَهولُ

وَمِن نَكَدِ الدُنيا أَلَدَّ جَهولُ

Among the world’s wonders is a beloved stranger;

It is a wonder of the world: a stranger who is beloved,

Among its miseries is an ignorant, contentious man.

And it is the misery of the world: a fierce, ignorant enemy.

وَفيتُ بِعَهدي وَاللَيالي غَوادِرٌ

وَفيتُ بِعَهدي وَاللَيالي غَوادِرٌ

وَجُدتُ بِنَفسي وَالزَمانُ بَخيلُ

وَجُدتُ بِنَفسي وَالزَمانُ بَخيلُ

I kept my pledge while the nights were treacherous;

I kept my covenant while the nights were treacherous,

I gave freely of myself while time was miserly.

And I was generous with my soul while Time was stingy.

وَآثَرتُ ديني وَاِقتَنَعتُ بِما كَفى

وَآثَرتُ ديني وَاِقتَنَعتُ بِما كَفى

وَعِشتُ عَزيزاً وَالغَريبُ ذَليلُ

وَعِشتُ عَزيزاً وَالغَريبُ ذَليلُ

I preferred my faith and was content with enough;

I preferred my faith and was content with what sufficed,

I lived with dignity, though the stranger is abased.

And I lived with dignity, while the stranger is usually humbled.

وَما طَمَعي أَن يَعرِفَ القَومُ قيمَتي

وَما طَمَعي أَن يَعرِفَ القَومُ قيمَتي

وَسيّانَ فَضلٌ عِندَهُم وَفُضولُ

وَسيّانَ فَضلٌ عِندَهُم وَفُضولُ

I have no hope that these people will know my worth,

I have no ambition that the people should know my worth;

For to them merit and mere excess are alike.

Virtue and superfluity are the same to them.

تَظافَرَتِ الأَيّامُ حَتّى غَلَبنَني

تَظافَرَتِ الأَيّامُ حَتّى غَلَبنَني

عَلى واحِدي وَالخَطبُ فيهِ جَليلُ

عَلى واحِدي وَالخَطبُ فيهِ جَليلُ

The days joined forces until they overcame me

The days conspired until they overcame me,

In the loss of my only one—a grievous calamity.

Taking my only one, and the calamity regarding him is grave.

جَرى دمهُ حَتّى جَرَت فيهِ نَفسُهُ

جَرى دمهُ حَتّى جَرَت فيهِ نَفسُهُ

وَأَقسَمَ ظَنّي أَنَّهُ لَقَتيلُ

وَأَقسَمَ ظَنّي أَنَّهُ لَقَتيلُ

His blood flowed until his soul flowed out with it;

His blood flowed until his very soul flowed within it,

My foreboding swore that he was surely slain.

And my intuition swore that he was indeed slain.

وَمُهجَتُهُ مِن مُهجَتي فَمَدامِعي

وَمُهجَتُهُ مِن مُهجَتي فَمَدامِعي

سلوهُنَّ أَيُّ المُهجَتَينِ تَسيلُ

سلوهُنَّ أَيُّ المُهجَتَينِ تَسيلُ

His lifeblood came from mine; as for my tears,

His lifeblood comes from my lifeblood, so ask my tears:

Ask them which of our two streams of lifeblood flows.

Which of the two souls is flowing out?

عَقيقٌ جَرى في الدرَّ حَتّى إِذا مَحا

عَقيقٌ جَرى في الدرَّ حَتّى إِذا مَحا

مَحاسِنهُ عاقَ الهِلال أفولُ

مَحاسِنهُ عاقَ الهِلال أفولُ

Agate flowed amid the pearls until, when it effaced

Carnelian flowed over pearls until, when it erased

His beauty, setting halted the crescent.

His beauties, an eclipse hindered the crescent moon.

وَقَد جَحَظَت مُزوَرَّتانِ وَما كَفى

وَقَد جَحَظَت مُزوَرَّتانِ وَما كَفى

جحوظُهُما حَتّى أَسيلَ أَسيلُ

جحوظُهُما حَتّى أَسيلَ أَسيلُ

Two averted eyes had bulged, and it was not enough

Two skewed eyes bulged out, and it was not enough

That they protruded, until his smooth cheek was made to bleed.

That they bulged, until a smooth cheek liquefied.

مُؤَثِّرَةً فيهِ الجِراحَةُ مِثلَما

مُؤَثِّرَةً فيهِ الجِراحَةُ مِثلَما

يُفَلَّلُ سَيفُ الهِندِ وَهوَ صَقيلُ

يُفَلَّلُ سَيفُ الهِندِ وَهوَ صَقيلُ

The wound left its mark on him, just as

The wound leaving a mark on him, just as

An Indian sword is notched though polished bright.

An Indian sword is notched while it is polished.

فَكَيفَ اِنتِصاري وَالمَنايا قَواتِلٌ

فَكَيفَ اِنتِصاري وَالمَنايا قَواتِلٌ

وَكَيفَ اِثِّئاري وَالقَتيلُ قَبيلُ

وَكَيفَ اِثِّئاري وَالقَتيلُ قَبيلُ

How could I prevail, when deaths themselves are the killers?

How can I triumph when dooms are the killers,

How could I avenge him, when the slain one was a whole clan?

And how can I take revenge when the slain is my own kin?

أَغُضّ لَها طَرفي وَأغضي عَلى القَذا

أَغُضّ لَها طَرفي وَأغضي عَلى القَذا

وَلا سَخطٌ حَسبي رِضاً وَقَبولُ

وَلا سَخطٌ حَسبي رِضاً وَقَبولُ

I lower my gaze before them and endure the mote in my eye;

I lower my gaze before them and close my eyes on the pain,

Without resentment, contentment and acceptance suffice me.

With no resentment; contentment and acceptance suffice me.

وَنَشوانُ إِن كانَت بيُمناهُ أَكِلة

وَنَشوانُ إِن كانَت بيُمناهُ أَكِلة

كَأَعلاهُ كانَت بِالشمالِ شَمولُ

كَأَعلاهُ كانَت بِالشمالِ شَمولُ

And a drunken man—if his right hand held a morsel

He was reeling; if a gnawing pain was in his right hand,

As large as his head, his left hand held wine.

It was as if intoxicating wine possessed his left.

سألتُ فَدَلّى بِالغرورِ وَدَلَّني

سألتُ فَدَلّى بِالغرورِ وَدَلَّني

عَلى سَبَبٍ لِلمَوتِ فيهِ دَليلُ

عَلى سَبَبٍ لِلمَوتِ فيهِ دَليلُ

I asked him; he lured me with deception and guided me

I asked, and he lowered the bucket of deception and guided me

To a means of death that bore a sign of death within it.

To a cause of death in which there was a sign.

وَشَكَّ فَما أَشكاهُ بَل زادَ عِلَّة

وَشَكَّ فَما أَشكاهُ بَل زادَ عِلَّة

وَكَيفَ بِمَعلولٍ يُبَلُّ عَليلُ

وَكَيفَ بِمَعلولٍ يُبَلُّ عَليلُ

He pierced him without relieving him; instead he worsened the illness.

He complained, but it did not relieve him; rather it increased the illness,

How can an ailing man be healed by another who is ailing?

And how can a sick man be cured by one who is sick?

رجوت نقوهاً ما نَقَهتُ حَديثهُ

رجوت نقوهاً ما نَقَهتُ حَديثهُ

وَإِن رابَني مِنهُ ضَنىً وَنحولُ

وَإِن رابَني مِنهُ ضَنىً وَنحولُ

I hoped for recovery as long as I could understand his speech,

I hoped for recovery, the account of which I did not understand,

Though his wasting and emaciation alarmed me.

Even though emaciation and wasting in him alarmed me.

فَقَد زالَ عَقلي لِاِختِبالِ لِسانِهِ

فَقَد زالَ عَقلي لِاِختِبالِ لِسانِهِ

وَخُيِّلَ لي أَنَّ الجِبالَ تَزولُ

وَخُيِّلَ لي أَنَّ الجِبالَ تَزولُ

My reason left me when his tongue became confused;

My mind vanished due to the confusion of his tongue,

I imagined that the mountains themselves were moving.

And I imagined that the mountains were crumbling.

وَما هَدَّني حَتّى هَدَت حَرَكاتهُ

وَما هَدَّني حَتّى هَدَت حَرَكاتهُ

وَقامَ عَلَيهِ مأتَمٌ وَعَويلُ

وَقامَ عَلَيهِ مأتَمٌ وَعَويلُ

I was not shattered until his movements grew still,

Nothing crushed me until his movements ceased,

And mourning and wailing rose over him.

And a funeral and wailing arose over him.

وَكُفِّن في ثَوبِ الكَرامَةِ وَالثَنا

وَكُفِّن في ثَوبِ الكَرامَةِ وَالثَنا

عَلَيهِ حَنوطٌ وَالدُموعُ غَسولُ

عَلَيهِ حَنوطٌ وَالدُموعُ غَسولُ

He was shrouded in a robe of honor, and praise

He was shrouded in the garment of dignity and praise,

Was his funeral perfume, and tears his washing-water.

Upon him was embalming perfume, and tears were the wash-water.

وَلَمّا غَدَوا نَحوَ المُصَلّى بِنَعشِهِ

وَلَمّا غَدَوا نَحوَ المُصَلّى بِنَعشِهِ

تَقاصَرَ باعُ المَجدِ وَهوَ طَويلُ

تَقاصَرَ باعُ المَجدِ وَهوَ طَويلُ

When they went at dawn toward the prayer-ground with his bier,

When they went towards the prayer-place with his bier,

The reach of glory shortened, long though it was.

The reach of Glory fell short, though it is long.

وَأَمسَت مَغاني فهر أَمّا رَبيعها

وَأَمسَت مَغاني فهر أَمّا رَبيعها

فَيَبسٌ وَأَمّا ربعُها فَمَحيلُ

فَيَبسٌ وَأَمّا ربعُها فَمَحيلُ

Fihr’s dwellings came to this: their spring

The dwellings of Fihr became—as for their spring,

Was dry, and their homestead was barren.

It is dry; and as for their home, it is barren.

وَنَوَّر حَولي قَبره الصَيف في الصَفا

وَنَوَّر حَولي قَبره الصَيف في الصَفا

وَطابَ بِرَيّاهُ ضُحىً وَأَصيلُ

وَطابَ بِرَيّاهُ ضُحىً وَأَصيلُ

Summer made blossoms grow on the rock around his grave;

His grave blossomed around me in the summer at Al-Safa,

Morning and late afternoon grew sweet with their fragrance.

And the morning and evening were perfumed by his scent.

وَجَدتُ بِهِ لينَ الحَياةِ وَقَلبهُ

وَجَدتُ بِهِ لينَ الحَياةِ وَقَلبهُ

فَلَمّا اِهتَدى قَلبي إِذا هُوَ نيلُ

فَلَمّا اِهتَدى قَلبي إِذا هُوَ نيلُ

I found in him life’s gentleness (līn) and its reversal;

I found in him the softness of life and his heart,

When my heart found its way, behold, he was a Nile (nīl).

But when my heart was guided, suddenly he was out of reach.

وَشَبَّهتهُ لينا فَلَمّا قَلبتهُ

وَشَبَّهتهُ لينا فَلَمّا قَلبتهُ

إِذا هُوَ فَوقَ الفَرقَدَينِ أنيلُ

إِذا هُوَ فَوقَ الفَرقَدَينِ أنيلُ

I called him gentle (līnā); when I reversed its letters,

I likened him to a soft branch, but when I tested him,

Behold, above the two pole-stars, he was more bountiful (anīl).

He was loftier than the two bright stars.

وَقالوا أَتَهوى البَدر قُلتُ لَهُم أَجَل

وَقالوا أَتَهوى البَدر قُلتُ لَهُم أَجَل

سَميٌّ لَهُ يهوى فَكَيفَ مَثيلُ

سَميٌّ لَهُ يهوى فَكَيفَ مَثيلُ

They asked, “Do you love the full moon?” I answered, “Yes.”

They said, "Do you love the full moon?" I said to them, "Yes,"

Even his namesake is loved—how much more his likeness!

"One who shares his name is loved, so how much more the likeness?"

أَحبُّ بَني الدُنيا إِلَيَّ سَمِيُّهُ

أَحبُّ بَني الدُنيا إِلَيَّ سَمِيُّهُ

أحابيهِ حُبّاً لِاِسمِهِ وَأثيلُ

أحابيهِ حُبّاً لِاِسمِهِ وَأثيلُ

The dearest of this world’s sons to me is his namesake;

The most beloved of the world's sons to me is his namesake,

I favor him for love of his name and enrich him.

I favor him out of love for his name, and I honor him.

أَعبد الغَنيّ اِختَرتَ دارَ كَرامَةٍ

أَعبد الغَنيّ اِختَرتَ دارَ كَرامَةٍ

نَزَلت بِها حَيثُ الكِرام نزولُ

نَزَلت بِها حَيثُ الكِرام نزولُ

O Abd al-Ghani, you chose an abode of honor;

O Abd al-Ghani, you have chosen a house of honor,

You settled there where the noble abide.

You descended there where the noble ones descend.

حَطَطتَ جِوارَ اللَهِ رَحلَك آمِناً

حَطَطتَ جِوارَ اللَهِ رَحلَك آمِناً

وَشقت المعزّى هَل إِلَيكِ رَحيلُ

وَشقت المعزّى هَل إِلَيكِ رَحيلُ

You set down your saddle in God’s neighborhood, safe;

You have set down your saddle safely in God's neighborhood,

You stirred longing in the bereaved—can one journey to you?

And the mourner cries out, "Is there a journey to you?"

ردِ الكَوثَرُ الخلدِيَّ فَاِشرَب وَسَقّني

ردِ الكَوثَرُ الخلدِيَّ فَاِشرَب وَسَقّني

إِذا لَم يَرِف ظِلٌّ عَلَيَّ ظَليلُ

إِذا لَم يَرِف ظِلٌّ عَلَيَّ ظَليلُ

Approach the eternal Kawthar; drink and give me drink

Arrive at the eternal Kawthar, drink, and give me drink,

When no deep, sheltering shade spreads over me.

When no shading shadow flutters over me.

وَصل رَحمي وَاِسأَل ليَ اللَه رَحمَةً

وَصل رَحمي وَاِسأَل ليَ اللَه رَحمَةً

يُقل عَثَراتي إِنَّهُ لَمقيلُ

يُقل عَثَراتي إِنَّهُ لَمقيلُ

Maintain our kinship, and ask God for mercy for me;

Maintain my kinship ties and ask God for mercy for me;

May He pardon my stumbles; indeed, He pardons.

May He forgive my stumbles, for He is the Forgiver.

وَما أَنا إِلّا السَيف كُنت مضاءَهُ

وَما أَنا إِلّا السَيف كُنت مضاءَهُ

فَأَصبَح لَمّا مُتَّ وَهوَ كَليلُ

فَأَصبَح لَمّا مُتَّ وَهوَ كَليلُ

I am nothing but a sword; you were its keenness.

I am but the sword, and you were its sharpness;

When you died, it was left blunt.

So when you died, it became dull.

خَبا مِنكَ مِصباحٌ وَجَفَّ مُنوّرٌ

خَبا مِنكَ مِصباحٌ وَجَفَّ مُنوّرٌ

خَميلَتُهُ لِلحاسِدينَ خمولُ

خَميلَتُهُ لِلحاسِدينَ خمولُ

In you a lamp went out and a flowering plant withered;

A lamp from you has faded, and a blossoming flower has dried,

Its shady grove consigned the envious to obscurity.

Its thicket is obscure to the envious.

فَلا عَظمَ إِلّا أَوهَنتهُ عَظائِمٌ

فَلا عَظمَ إِلّا أَوهَنتهُ عَظائِمٌ

وَلا حَبل إِلّا قَطَّعَتهُ حُبولُ

وَلا حَبل إِلّا قَطَّعَتهُ حُبولُ

No bone but grievous calamities weakened it;

There is no bone but that calamities have weakened it,

No cord but calamities severed it.

And no rope but that snares have cut it.

وَكُنت كَما أحبَبتُ بَرّاً مُبارَكاً

وَكُنت كَما أحبَبتُ بَرّاً مُبارَكاً

تُصَدِّقُكَ الأَقيالُ حينَ تَقولُ

تُصَدِّقُكَ الأَقيالُ حينَ تَقولُ

You were, as I wished, dutiful and blessed;

You were, as I loved, righteous and blessed,

Princes believed you whenever you spoke.

The kings believed you when you spoke.

إِذا غِبتَ قالَ الناسُ أَينَ اِبنكَ الَّذي

إِذا غِبتَ قالَ الناسُ أَينَ اِبنكَ الَّذي

تَطولُ بِهِ أَسيافيا وَنَطولُ

تَطولُ بِهِ أَسيافيا وَنَطولُ

When you were absent, people said, “Where is your son, the one

When you were absent, people asked, "Where is your son, the one"

Through whom my swords grow long, and we rise high?”

"By whom our swords reach far, and we prevail?"

فَإِن لحت قالوا يا عُلاهُ سَلى لَنا

فَإِن لحت قالوا يا عُلاهُ سَلى لَنا

أَلِلقَمَرَينِ النَيِّرَينِ سَليلُ

أَلِلقَمَرَينِ النَيِّرَينِ سَليلُ

When you appeared, they said, “O his lofty glory, ask for us:

If you appeared, they said, "O his highness, ask for us—"

Have the two shining moons a scion?”

"Is he a descendant of the two shining moons?"

حَرامٌ عَلَيهِ أن يحلَّ لَهُ حُباً

حَرامٌ عَلَيهِ أن يحلَّ لَهُ حُباً

وَإِن كانَ طِفلاً أَو تُجَرُّ ذُيولُ

وَإِن كانَ طِفلاً أَو تُجَرُّ ذُيولُ

For him, loosening his knee-bands was forbidden,

It is forbidden for folly to settle within him,

Whether still a child or wearing trailing robes.

Even if he was a child or his robes trailed.

فَلا طيشَ فيهِ وَاِبن عِشرينَ طائِش

فَلا طيشَ فيهِ وَاِبن عِشرينَ طائِش

وَلا عجل وَالآدَمي عَجولُ

وَلا عجل وَالآدَمي عَجولُ

There was no rashness in him, though a twenty-year-old is rash;

There is no recklessness in him, while a twenty-year-old is reckless,

No haste, though mankind is hasty.

And no haste, though man is hasty.

وَلَو كانَ يَحوي اِبنَ المخاضِ نَجابَة

وَلَو كانَ يَحوي اِبنَ المخاضِ نَجابَة

حَواها لِراعِ البُزلِ وَهوَ فَصيلُ

حَواها لِراعِ البُزلِ وَهوَ فَصيلُ

If a yearling camel could possess noble breeding,

If a young camel possessed nobility,

He possessed it, in the herdsman’s eyes, while still a weanling.

He possessed it for the herder of full-grown camels while he was yet a weanling.

أَعادَ العدا كَلمي بِوَقعِ كَلامِهِ

أَعادَ العدا كَلمي بِوَقعِ كَلامِهِ

فَقالوا نِبالٌ راشَهُنَّ نَبيلُ

فَقالوا نِبالٌ راشَهُنَّ نَبيلُ

The foes reopened my wound through the impact of his words,

My words returned to the enemies through the impact of his speech,

Saying, “Arrows feathered by a noble archer.”

And they said, "Arrows feathered by a noble archer."

وَما ضامَهُ قَطّ الأَديبُ بِصَولَةٍ

وَما ضامَهُ قَطّ الأَديبُ بِصَولَةٍ

وَلا جاءَ يَشكوهُ إِليّ رَسولُ

وَلا جاءَ يَشكوهُ إِليّ رَسولُ

No man of letters ever humbled him with an onslaught;

No man of letters ever wronged him with an assault,

Nor did a messenger come to me complaining of him.

Nor did a messenger ever come to me complaining of him.

ليَهنَكَ يا عَبد الغَنيّ اِبني الرِضا

ليَهنَكَ يا عَبد الغَنيّ اِبني الرِضا

مَحَلٌّ بِطوبى طابَ فيهِ حُلولُ

مَحَلٌّ بِطوبى طابَ فيهِ حُلولُ

May it gladden you, Abd al-Ghani, my beloved son:

Let contentment gladden you, O Abd al-Ghani, my son,

An abode in Tuba, where dwelling is sweet.

A place in Tuba where dwelling is sweet.

نُفِعتُ بِحُبِّ الذِكرِ لَم تُؤثر الصبا

نُفِعتُ بِحُبِّ الذِكرِ لَم تُؤثر الصبا

عَلَيهِ وَلَم يَهنَئكَ عَنهُ مَقيلُ

عَلَيهِ وَلَم يَهنَئكَ عَنهُ مَقيلُ

I benefited from love of remembrance; you did not prefer youthful play

You profited by the love of remembrance; you did not prefer childish play

Over it, nor did a midday rest away from it please you.

Over it, nor did a resting place distract you from it.