وراءَback كُماyou two إنَّindeed المُصَابَthe calamity جَليلُgrievous
وراءَ كُما إنَّ المُصَابَ جَليلُ
وإنَّand indeed البُكَاweeping فيover مِثْلِهِits like لَقَلِيلُtruly little
وإنَّ البُكَا في مِثْلِهِ لَقَلِيلُ
Stand back, you two: the calamity is grievous,
Behind you, indeed the calamity is great,
and weeping over its like is little indeed.
And indeed, crying over the likes of it is little.
ألاlisten فاتركَانيso leave me, you two والبُكَاءَand weeping ولوand even if غَدَتْcame to be
ألا فاتركَاني والبُكَاءَ ولو غَدَتْ
لِذَلِكَbecause of that رُوحيmy soul فيin الدُّمُوعِtears تَسِيلُflows
لِذَلِكَ رُوحي في الدُّمُوعِ تَسِيلُ
Ah, leave me to weep, you two, even should
So leave me to weep even if
my soul, because of this, flow away in tears.
My soul in tears starts flowing for it.
فَأَيْسَرُso the least ماthat which يُقْضَىis paid بِهِwith it حَقُّthe due هَالِكٍof one who has died
فَأَيْسَرُ ما يُقْضَى بِهِ حَقُّ هَالِكٍ
دُمُوعُكَyour tears لوif only يُطْفَىis quenched بِهِنَّby them غَليلُburning thirst
دُمُوعُكَ لو يُطْفَى بِهِنَّ غَليلُ
For the least with which a dead man's due is paid
The easiest thing to fulfill the right of the perished
is your tears—if only they could quench a burning thirst.
Is your tears if they could extinguish agony.
أَسىًgrief لبنيfor the sons of أُمٍّone mother مَضَوْاdeparted لسبيلِهِمْon their way
أَسىً لبني أُمٍّ مَضَوْا لسبيلِهِمْ
كَماas استرحلَurged to depart الرَّكْبَthe caravan البُطَاءَthe slow-moving عَجُولُone in haste
كَما استرحلَ الرَّكْبَ البُطَاءَ عَجُولُ
Grief for sons of one mother who have gone their way,
Sorrow for the sons of a mother who passed away on their path
as one in haste urged a slow caravan to depart.
As the slow group hurried at dawn.
قدindeed استُؤْصِلَتْwas uprooted بالأَمْسِyesterday شَأْفَةُthe root جَمعِهِمْof their company
قد استُؤْصِلَتْ بالأَمْسِ شَأْفَةُ جَمعِهِمْ
فأودَتْso perished نساءٌwomen منهُمُamong them وبُعُولُand husbands
فأودَتْ نساءٌ منهُمُ وبُعُولُ
Yesterday the very root of their company was torn out,
Their elite were uprooted yesterday,
so women among them perished, and husbands.
So women from them became widowed.
شبابٌyoung men كماas شَاءَwished الصِّبَاyouth ومَشَايخٌand elders
شبابٌ كما شَاءَ الصِّبَا ومَشَايخٌ
قضَىfulfilled الشَّيبُgray hair منهمfrom them حقَّهُits due وكُهُولُand middle-aged men
قضَى الشَّيبُ منهم حقَّهُ وكُهُولُ
Young men such as youth would wish, and elders
Youths as the morning willed, and elders
from whom gray hair had taken its due, and middle-aged men.
Whom old age took its right and they became frail.
جَرَىhastened ذاthis man علىon آثَارِthe tracks هَذَاof this man وهَذِهِand this woman
جَرَى ذا على آثَارِ هَذَا وهَذِهِ
علىin إِثْرِthe wake of هَذِيthis woman والحديثُand the tale يطُولُgrows long
على إِثْرِ هَذِي والحديثُ يطُولُ
This man hastened in that man's footsteps, and this woman
This walked in the footsteps of that, and this in the footsteps of those,
in that woman's wake—and the tale grows long.
And the tale becomes long.
بنيsons of هاشمٍHashim هلdoes للمَنُونِfor Death طَوَائِلٌclaims for vengeance
بني هاشمٍ هل للمَنُونِ طَوَائِلٌ
لديكمْagainst you وهلand do للحادِثاتِfor calamities ذُحُولُblood-feuds
لديكمْ وهل للحادِثاتِ ذُحُولُ
Sons of Hashim, does Death have claims for vengeance
O Banu Hashim, does death have long ropes
against you, and do calamities have blood-feuds?
With you? And do events have burdens?
لأعوزَtruly scarce يومٍa day أنto يَمُرَّpass وماand not لكُمْfor you
لأعوزَ يومٍ أن يَمُرَّ وما لكُمْ
عَلَىamong غَيرِother than أصحَابِthe dwellers of القُبُورِthe graves نُزُولُstopping
عَلَى غَيرِ أصحَابِ القُبُورِ نُزُولُ
Scarcely a day passes without your
I doubt a day will pass without you
visiting none but the dwellers in graves.
Descending upon other than the people of graves.
إذاwhen ماوَضَعتُمْyou have laid down نَعْشَthe bier مَيْتٍof a dead person رَفَعْتُمُyou lift
إذا ماوَضَعتُمْ نَعْشَ مَيْتٍ رَفَعْتُمُ
جَنَازَةَthe funeral bier of ثَانٍa second إِنَّindeed ذَاthis لَيَطُولُtruly goes on
جَنَازَةَ ثَانٍ إِنَّ ذَا لَيَطُولُ
Whenever you set down one dead man's bier, you lift
Whenever you bury a corpse, you hold
a second's funeral bier—this goes on and on.
The funeral of another. Indeed, this is lengthy.
أَأَبغضتُمُhave you hated الأَحْيَاءَthe living طُرّاًall فماso not لكُمْfor you
أَأَبغضتُمُ الأَحْيَاءَ طُرّاً فما لكُمْ
علَىamong غَيْرِother than أصْحَابِthe dwellers of القُبُورِthe graves نزولُstopping
علَى غَيْرِ أصْحَابِ القُبُورِ نزولُ
Have you come to hate all the living, that you have
Have you hated the living intensely? Why is it
no place to stop but among the dwellers in graves?
That you do not descend upon other than the people of graves?
فلمso did not تَتْركُواyou leave فيin الأَرضِthe earth مِمّاfrom what دَفَنْتُمُyou buried
فلم تَتْركُوا في الأَرضِ مِمّا دَفَنْتُمُ
بهاin it قَدْرَa space ماwhere يُلْقِيlays down عَصاهُhis staff نَزِيلُa guest
بها قَدْرَ ما يُلْقِي عَصاهُ نَزِيلُ
So you have left no space in the earth, with all you have buried
You have not left in the earth you buried in,
there, for a guest to lay down his staff.
As much as what a resident's stick can toss.
أَيأكلُdoes it devour منكُمْof you حَادِثُthe calamity الدَّهرِof Time خَمْسَةًfive
أَيأكلُ منكُمْ حَادِثُ الدَّهرِ خَمْسَةً
لخمسينَin fifty يَوْماًdays إنَّهُindeed it لأَكُولُtruly voracious
لخمسينَ يَوْماً إنَّهُ لأَكُولُ
Does Time's calamity devour five of you
Does it devour five of you in fifty days?
in fifty days? It is voracious indeed.
Indeed, it is gluttonous.
وأَنتُمand you أُناسٌa people قَطْرَةٌa drop منof دِمَائِكُمyour blood
وأَنتُم أُناسٌ قَطْرَةٌ من دِمَائِكُم
يَؤدُّburdens البَرايَاall creation حَمْلُهاbearing it ويَهُولُand terrifies
يَؤدُّ البَرايَا حَمْلُها ويَهُولُ
And you are a people: a single drop of your blood
While you are people - a drop of your blood
is a burden for all creation to bear, and a terror.
Carrying it leads to perishing and falling.
ولاand none كالذيlike the one who بالأمسِyesterday قِيْدَwas led إلىto الرَّدَىdeath
ولا كالذي بالأمسِ قِيْدَ إلى الرَّدَى
وكلُّand every عزيزٍmighty person للحِمَامِbefore death ذَليلُabased
وكلُّ عزيزٍ للحِمَامِ ذَليلُ
And none is like the man led yesterday to death—
Not like yesterday's captive bound to ruin
and every mighty man is abased before death.
And every dear person to the pigeons is disgraced.
فَتىًa young man لوif وزنَّاwe weighed الناسَthe people كلَّهمall of them بِهِagainst him
فَتىً لو وزنَّا الناسَ كلَّهم بِهِ
لَخَفُّواthey would weigh light علىon الميزَانِthe scales وَهْوَwhile he ثَقيلُheavy
لَخَفُّوا على الميزَانِ وَهْوَ ثَقيلُ
A young man: were we to weigh all people against him,
A youth - if the people altogether were weighed against him
they would be light on the scales, while he would be heavy.
They would be light on the scale while he is heavy.
فشُلَّتْso may they be paralyzed أَكُفُّthe hands الحَامِلِيهِof those carrying him إلىto البِلَىdecay
فشُلَّتْ أَكُفُّ الحَامِلِيهِ إلى البِلَى
أتعلمُdo they know مَنْwho ذاthis is للقُبُورِto the graves تشيلُthey lift
أتعلمُ مَنْ ذا للقُبُورِ تشيلُ
So may the hands that bear him to decay be paralyzed!
So the palms carrying him to doom faltered,
Do they know who it is they lift toward the graves?
Do you know who this one interred is?
تُهيلُthey heap عليهِupon him التُرْبَthe earth جَهْلاًin ignorance وإنَّهاand indeed they
تُهيلُ عليهِ التُرْبَ جَهْلاً وإنَّها
لتحثُوهُtruly cast it by handfuls فيinto أَحْدَاقِنَاour eyes وتُهيلُand heap
لتحثُوهُ في أَحْدَاقِنَا وتُهيلُ
They heap earth upon him in ignorance, yet in truth
Ignorantly, the soil is heaped upon him, yet it
they cast it by handfuls into our eyes, and heap it up.
Shovels him in our eyes and pours.
شكرناwe thanked يَدَthe hand الأَيّامِof the days فيfor جُودِهاtheir generosity بِهِin giving him
شكرنا يَدَ الأَيّامِ في جُودِها بِهِ
ومَوْقِعُand the effect إحْسَانِof kindness اللئامِfrom the ignoble جَليلُgreat
ومَوْقِعُ إحْسَانِ اللئامِ جَليلُ
We thanked the hand of Time for its generous gift of him,
We thanked the hands of time in its generosity with it
and kindness from the ignoble counts for much.
And the place of favor from the wicked is great.
فماbut not هوit إلاَّexcept أَنْthat تَقَاضَاهُreclaimed him صَرْفُهاtheir reversals
فما هو إلاَّ أَنْ تَقَاضَاهُ صَرْفُها
لهاfor them ومُحَالٌand impossible أنthat يَجُودَbe generous بَخِيلُa miser
لها ومُحَالٌ أن يَجُودَ بَخِيلُ
But no sooner had it done so than its reversals reclaimed him
It is nothing but its turns claiming it back,
for itself—and a miser's generosity is impossible.
And it is impossible for a miser to be generous.
فإنْso if سَبَقَforestalled الآمالَthe hopes فيهِin him فَطَالَماthen how often
فإنْ سَبَقَ الآمالَ فيهِ فَطَالَما
عَدَاpassed by الحَيَّthe encampment صَوْبُthe rain المَحْلِof drought وَهْوَwhile it مُحِيلُdrought-stricken
عَدَا الحَيَّ صَوْبُ المَحْلِ وَهْوَ مُحِيلُ
If it forestalled the hopes placed in him, how often
If hopes surpassed it, often,
has drought-time rain passed by a drought-stricken camp!
The living roam the place of death and become barred.
أَمَاindeed وأَيَاديهِby his benefactions الجِسَامُthe great وإنَّهاand indeed they
أَمَا وأَيَاديهِ الجِسَامُ وإنَّها
لأَنفَسُtruly the most precious ماwhat يُعْطيgives امرؤٌa man ويُنيلُand bestows
لأَنفَسُ ما يُعْطي امرؤٌ ويُنيلُ
Ah, by his great benefactions—which are indeed
By his life and helping hands, they are indeed
the most precious things a man gives or bestows—
The most precious that a man can give and attain.
مَعَارفُknowledge لوif نَاجَىhe whispered بهاof it الصخرَthe stone مُفْهِماًexplaining
مَعَارفُ لو نَاجَى بها الصخرَ مُفْهِماً
لأَوشَكَit would nearly أنto يدريunderstand وكادَand almost يقُولُspeak
لأَوشَكَ أن يدري وكادَ يقُولُ
knowledge: had he whispered it to stone, explaining,
Knowledge - if whispered to the rock comprehending
it would almost have understood, and nearly spoken.
It almost realizes and nearly speaks.
تُفَتَّحُare opened أَبْصَارٌeyes بِهاby it وبَصَائِرٌand inner sight
تُفَتَّحُ أَبْصَارٌ بِها وبَصَائِرٌ
وتَلْقَحُand are fertilized أَذْهَانٌminds بهاby it وعُقُولُand intellects
وتَلْقَحُ أَذْهَانٌ بها وعُقُولُ
Eyes and inner sight are opened by it,
Eyes open and insights mature through it,
and minds and intellects are made fertile by it.
And minds are pollinated and intellects.
فَقَدْنَاهُwe lost him فَقْدَas the loss of الرَّوْضِthe garden رِيْعَwas frightened away سَقِيُّهُits water-giver
فَقَدْنَاهُ فَقْدَ الرَّوْضِ رِيْعَ سَقِيُّهُ
فخوّىso laid waste بهِto it بَعْدَafter النُّمُوِّgrowth ذُبُولُwithering
فخوّى بهِ بَعْدَ النُّمُوِّ ذُبُولُ
We lost him as a garden does when its water-giver is frightened away,
We lost him - loss of the garden's greenery after growth
and withering lays it waste after its growth.
So it became empty after flourishing and withered.
عَفَاءٌruin علىupon منwhoever يَطْلُبُseeks العِلْمَknowledge بعدَهُafter him
عَفَاءٌ على من يَطْلُبُ العِلْمَ بعدَهُ
وغَالَتْand carried off بنيthe sons of أُمِّthe mother of الفضائِلِvirtues غُولُa ghoul
وغَالَتْ بني أُمِّ الفضائِلِ غُولُ
Ruin upon whoever seeks knowledge after him!
Dearth to whoever seeks knowledge after him,
And a ghoul has carried off the sons of the mother of virtues.
And darkness has come over the children of the mother of virtues.
إذَاwhen مَاتَdies فحلٌa master مِثْلُlike هَذَاthis one فإنَّهُthen indeed it
إذَا مَاتَ فحلٌ مِثْلُ هَذَا فإنَّهُ
علىof ضَعْفِthe weakness حَظِّof the fortune المسلمينَof the Muslims دَليلُa sign
على ضَعْفِ حَظِّ المسلمينَ دَليلُ
When a master like this dies, it is
When one like this Chieftain dies, then he is
a sign of the Muslims' poor fortune.
Clear proof of the bad fortune of Muslims.
وأنَّىand how لأَرْضٍfor a land أنto تُوافِقَencounter مثلَهُhis like
وأنَّى لأَرْضٍ أن تُوافِقَ مثلَهُ
ولوand even if بَعْدَafter حِينٍa time بالخَرَابِof ruin كَفِيلُa surety
ولو بَعْدَ حِينٍ بالخَرَابِ كَفِيلُ
And how could a land ever encounter his like,
And how can a land find one matching him
even after a time, with ruin assured?
Even after time with ruin can suffice?
فللّهِso, by God ماhow أَسْنَىsplendid حُظُوظَthe fortunes مَعَاشِرٍof communities
فللّهِ ما أَسْنَى حُظُوظَ مَعَاشِرٍ
حَوَاهُheld him مَبيتٌa night's lodging عندهُمْamong them ومَقيلُand a midday resting-place
حَوَاهُ مَبيتٌ عندهُمْ ومَقيلُ
By God, how splendid are the fortunes of those communities
To Allah - how excellent are the fortunes of groups
among whom he has his nightly lodging and midday rest!
Whose night’s rest and nap were in his presence.
متىwhen كُلِّفَwere charged with duties الأَمواتُthe dead فيin عَرْصَةِthe courtyard البِلَىof decay
متى كُلِّفَ الأَمواتُ في عَرْصَةِ البِلَى
وكانَand there was لأَصْحَابِfor the dwellers of القُبُورِthe graves رَسُولُa messenger
وكانَ لأَصْحَابِ القُبُورِ رَسُولُ
When were the dead charged with duties in the courtyard of decay,
Whenever the deceased are tasked in the court of doom
and when did the dwellers in graves have a messenger?
And there is a messenger for the people of graves
أَوَالِدَهُO his father ماnot أَنْتَyou فيin الثَّكْلِbereavement واحداًalone
أَوَالِدَهُ ما أَنْتَ في الثَّكْلِ واحداً
شَريكُكَyour partner فيهِin it عالِمٌa learned person وَجَهُولُand an ignorant person
شَريكُكَ فيهِ عالِمٌ وَجَهُولُ
O his father, you are not alone in bereavement:
To his children - You are not alone in bereavement,
the learned and the ignorant share it with you.
The scholar and the ignorant are partners with you.
فإنْso if قُلْتَyou say قدindeed أَوْدَىhas perished سَلِيليmy son فإنَّهُthen indeed he
فإنْ قُلْتَ قد أَوْدَى سَلِيلي فإنَّهُ
لِسَائرِto all هَذَاthis العَالمينَworld's people سَليلُa son
لِسَائرِ هَذَا العَالمينَ سَليلُ
If you say, "My son has perished," he is
If you say, “My lineage has been lost,” then he is
a son to all the people of this world.
The lineage of all the people of both worlds.
أبَىrefused فضلُهُhis excellence أَنْthat يستَخِصَّhave exclusive claim برُزْئِهِto his loss
أبَى فضلُهُ أَنْ يستَخِصَّ برُزْئِهِ
بنُوthe sons of بيتِهِhis house كلٌّeveryone عَليهِfor him ثَكُولُbereaved
بنُو بيتِهِ كلٌّ عَليهِ ثَكُولُ
His excellence would not allow his loss to be the sole grief of
His merit refused to be exclusive to his descendants -
his household; everyone is bereaved of him.
Everyone relies and depends on him.
أَأُسْرَتَهُO his family والناسُwhile the people أَجْمعُall سَيْرُهُمْtheir journey
أَأُسْرَتَهُ والناسُ أَجْمعُ سَيْرُهُمْ
وَجِيفٌa swift trot إلىtoward دَارِthe abode البِلَىof decay وذَميلُand a brisk gait
وَجِيفٌ إلى دَارِ البِلَى وذَميلُ
O his family, since all mankind travels
His family and all mankind - their life's journey
at a swift trot and a brisk gait toward the abode of decay,
And a corpse to the abode of doom and decay.
عَزَاؤكُمُtake comfort والدهْرُand Time ياah ربَّمَاperhaps ارْعَوَىrelented
عَزَاؤكُمُ والدهْرُ يا ربَّمَا ارْعَوَى
فَأحْسَنَand then did good والأَحوَالُand circumstances سَوفَwill تَحُولُchange
فَأحْسَنَ والأَحوَالُ سَوفَ تَحُولُ
take comfort—ah, Time may yet relent
Your solace - Time may one day pastoralize
and do good; circumstances will change.
So it does good while situations change.
ضَمِنْتُI pledged لكمto you عنon behalf of ذيthe Possessor of الجَلالِMajesty بِعَطْفِهِof His compassion
ضَمِنْتُ لكم عن ذي الجَلالِ بِعَطْفِهِ
يَزُولُpasses away بِهاthrough it ضُرٌّdistress وتُدرَكُand are attained سُولُwishes
يَزُولُ بِها ضُرٌّ وتُدرَكُ سُولُ
I pledge you, on behalf of the Lord of Majesty, His compassion,
I guarantee you from The Lord of Majesty in His kindness -
through which distress passes away and wishes are fulfilled.
Harm will disappear and goals will be reached.
سَقَىmay He water قَبرَهُhis grave منfrom وَاكِفِthe pouring of الغَيْثِrain رَبُّهُhis Lord
سَقَى قَبرَهُ من وَاكِفِ الغَيْثِ رَبُّهُ
وجَرَّand draw عَلَيهِover it للنسيمِthe breeze's ذُيُولُtrailing skirts
وجَرَّ عَلَيهِ للنسيمِ ذُيُولُ
May his Lord water his grave with streaming rain,
His Lord watered his grave from the rain clouds,
and draw across it the trailing skirts of the breeze.
And allowed the breeze to pull curtains over him.
ولاand never زَالَcease تسليمُthe greeting of peace الإلهِof God يسوقُهُHe sends it
ولا زَالَ تسليمُ الإلهِ يسوقُهُ
لهto him غدوةًat morning ماnever تنقضِيends وأَصِيلُand at evening
له غدوةً ما تنقضِي وأَصِيلُ
And may God never cease to send His greetings of peace
And the safety of God continues to lead him
to him at morn and eve, without end.
Every morning endlessly and every evening.
Sol 6.1