سَلامٌa greeting كَنَشرِlike the fragrance of الرَوضِthe garden غِبَّafter تَبَسُّمٍa smile
سَلامٌ كَنَشرِ الرَوضِ غِبَّ تَبَسُّمٍ
عَلىupon رَبعكمyour dwelling مَغنىthe haunt of الهَوىlove المُتَقَدِّمِlong past
عَلى رَبعكم مَغنى الهَوى المُتَقَدِّمِ
A greeting like a garden's fragrance after it smiles,
upon your dwelling, the haunt of love long past.
عَلىupon مَعهَدٍa familiar place لَمnot تُبقِleave مِنهُof it يَدُthe hand of النَوىseparation
عَلى مَعهَدٍ لَم تُبقِ مِنهُ يَدُ النَوى
سِوىexcept دمنَةٍa dwelling's trace مِنfrom عَهدِكُمyour days لَمnot تُكلَمِbe wounded
سِوى دمنَةٍ مِن عَهدِكُم لَم تُكلَمِ
Upon a familiar place where separation's hand has left
only an unscarred trace from your former days.
وَجادَتand lavished rain لَهُupon it حَيثُwhere الدِيارُthe dwellings فَسيحَةٌspacious
وَجادَت لَهُ حَيثُ الدِيارُ فَسيحَةٌ
سَحابَةُa cloud of عَهدٍfellowship عَهدُهاits pledge لَمnot يُذمَمِbe reproached
سَحابَةُ عَهدٍ عَهدُها لَم يُذمَمِ
May there rain upon it, where the dwellings spread wide,
a cloud of fellowship whose pledge was never reproached.
وَخصَّتand favored مَغانيthe haunts of اللَهوِpleasure مِنهُof it وَألبِسَتand clothed
وَخصَّت مَغاني اللَهوِ مِنهُ وَألبِسَت
مَعالِمهُits landmarks بُرديthe two mantles of شَبابٍyouth وَأَنغُمِand melodies
مَعالِمهُ بُردي شَبابٍ وَأَنغُمِ
May it favor its haunts of pleasure and clothe
its landmarks in the twin mantles of youth and melodies.
وَحَيّاand may greet إِلَهُthe Lord of العَرشِthe Throne قاطِنَthe dweller in رَبعِهِits precinct
وَحَيّا إِلَهُ العَرشِ قاطِنَ رَبعِهِ
وَإِنeven though كانَhe is لاnot يَرعىhe cherishes وِدادَthe affection of مُتَيّمِa love-stricken one
وَإِن كانَ لا يَرعى وِدادَ مُتَيّمِ
May the Lord of the Throne greet the dweller in its precinct,
even though he does not cherish a love-stricken lover's affection,
تَحِيَّةَthe greeting of صَبٍّa yearning lover كُلَّماwhenever ذُكِرَis mentioned الغَضاal-Ghada (saxaul trees)
تَحِيَّةَ صَبٍّ كُلَّما ذُكِرَ الغَضا
رَمىhe cast بَينَbetween جَنبَيهِhis two sides بِجَمرٍwith embers مُضَرَّمِblazing
رَمى بَينَ جَنبَيهِ بِجَمرٍ مُضَرَّمِ
with the greeting of a lover who, whenever al-Ghada is mentioned,
casts blazing embers between his ribs.
يَحِنُّhe yearns لِهاتيكَfor those الدِيارِdwellings وَأَهلِهاand their people
يَحِنُّ لِهاتيكَ الدِيارِ وَأَهلِها
حَنينَthe yearning of مَشُوقٍone filled with longing نازِحِfar from الدارِhome مُغرَمِenamored
حَنينَ مَشُوقٍ نازِحِ الدارِ مُغرَمِ
He yearns for those dwellings and their people,
with the yearning of an enamored man longing far from home.
يَروحُhe goes at evening عَلىamid بُرحthe torment of الهُمومcares وَيَغتَديand goes at morning
يَروحُ عَلى بُرح الهُموم وَيَغتَدي
بِمَفلُوذَةٍwith a piece of liver حَرّىburning وَقَلبٍand a heart مُقَسَّمِtorn apart
بِمَفلُوذَةٍ حَرّى وَقَلبٍ مُقَسَّمِ
He goes at evening amid tormenting cares, and at morning
with a burning shred of liver and a heart torn apart.
وَيَذكُرهُand reminds him القُمريُّthe turtledove بِالأَيكِin the thicket ساحِقاًfar away
وَيَذكُرهُ القُمريُّ بِالأَيكِ ساحِقاً
زَمانَthe time of الصِباyouth مِنfrom شَرخِهِhis prime المُتَقَدِّمِearlier
زَمانَ الصِبا مِن شَرخِهِ المُتَقَدِّمِ
And the turtledove, far off in the thicket, reminds him
of his youthful days, the prime of his earlier life,
وَرَقراقِand the shimmer of عَيشٍlife راقَwas pleasing حُسناًin beauty وَنَضرَةًand freshness
وَرَقراقِ عَيشٍ راقَ حُسناً وَنَضرَةً
بِأَفياءِin the shades of شَرخٍyouthful prime قَدalready ضَفاgrew abundant فيin تَنَعُّمِluxurious ease
بِأَفياءِ شَرخٍ قَد ضَفا في تَنَعُّمِ
and a shimmering life, pleasing in beauty and freshness,
beneath the shades of youth grown luxuriant in ease,
وَظِلِّand the shade of شَبابٍyouth كانَwas يَندىdewy غَضارَةًwith vigor
وَظِلِّ شَبابٍ كانَ يَندى غَضارَةً
وَوَشيand the brocade of رِداءٍa cloak رَيعانُهُits first bloom لَمnot يُنَمنَمِbe embroidered
وَوَشي رِداءٍ رَيعانُهُ لَم يُنَمنَمِ
and youth's shelter, once dewy with vigor,
and a robe's brocade, its first bloom not yet embroidered.
طَوىfolded away بُردهُits mantle كَرّthe recurrence of الجَديدينِday and night مِثلَlike ماhow
طَوى بُردهُ كَرّ الجَديدينِ مِثلَ ما
طَوىfolded away وُدّthe love of مَنthe one whom أَهواهI love عَنّيfrom me لُوّميmy reproachers
طَوى وُدّ مَن أَهواه عَنّي لُوّمي
The returning day and night folded away its mantle, just as
my reproachers folded away from me the love of the one I cherish.
وَرُبَّand many a صَديقٍfriend قَدindeed نَعِمتُI delighted بِقُربِهِin his nearness
وَرُبَّ صَديقٍ قَد نَعِمتُ بِقُربِهِ
زَماناًfor a time وَجَفنُand the eyelid of الدَهرِfate عَنto وُدِّناour affection عَميwas blind
زَماناً وَجَفنُ الدَهرِ عَن وُدِّنا عَمي
Many a friend whose nearness I once enjoyed
for a time, while fate's eyelid was blind to our affection:
تَدورُrevolve شُموسُthe suns of الراحِwine بَينيbetween me وَبَينَهand between him
تَدورُ شُموسُ الراحِ بَيني وَبَينَه
بِمَجلِسٍin a gathering أُنسof fellowship فيamong نَدامىdrinking companions كَأَنجُمِlike stars
بِمَجلِسٍ أُنس في نَدامى كَأَنجُمِ
the suns of wine revolved between us
in a gathering of fellowship, amid drinking companions like stars,
إِلىuntil أَنthat رَمَتناshot at us الحادِثاتcalamities بِأَسهُمٍwith arrows
إِلى أَن رَمَتنا الحادِثات بِأَسهُمٍ
وَأَقفَرَand became desolate رَبعيmy dwelling مِنof هَواهhis love وَمَعلَميand my familiar haunt
وَأَقفَرَ رَبعي مِن هَواه وَمَعلَمي
until calamities shot their arrows at us,
and my dwelling and familiar haunt stood empty of his love.
طَوَتfolded away شَخصَهُhis presence عَنّيfrom me اللَياليthe nights وَأَسأَرَتand left behind
طَوَت شَخصَهُ عَنّي اللَيالي وَأَسأَرَت
بِقَلبيin my heart عَقابيلُthe lingering effects of السقامِsickness المُحكَمِdeep-rooted
بِقَلبي عَقابيلُ السقامِ المُحكَمِ
The nights folded his presence away from me and left
in my heart the lingering effects of deep-rooted sickness.
وَهَلand am? أَناI إِلّاanything but رَبُّthe keeper of نَفسٍa soul معارةٍborrowed
وَهَل أَنا إِلّا رَبُّ نَفسٍ معارةٍ
وَقَلبٍand a heart مُعارٍlent لِلجَوىto burning grief وَالتَألُّمِand pain
وَقَلبٍ مُعارٍ لِلجَوى وَالتَألُّمِ
And am I anything but the keeper of a borrowed soul
and a heart lent to burning grief and pain?
وَمِمّاand among what شَجانيgrieved me وَالحَوادِثُand calamities جَمَّةٌare many
وَمِمّا شَجاني وَالحَوادِثُ جَمَّةٌ
تَغَيُّرُthe fickleness of دَهرٍtime فيover الكِرامthe noble مُحكَّمِgiven mastery
تَغَيُّرُ دَهرٍ في الكِرام مُحكَّمِ
Among the things that grieve me—and calamities are many—
is the fickleness of time, given mastery over the noble,
وَجَورُand the injustice of أَخٍa brother يُبديdisplays التَجَنّيunfounded blame وَيَنثَنيand turns
وَجَورُ أَخٍ يُبدي التَجَنّي وَيَنثَني
عَلَيَّupon me بِلَومٍwith reproach وَالكِتابwhile correspondence مُحَرّمِforbidden
عَلَيَّ بِلَومٍ وَالكِتاب مُحَرّمِ
and the injustice of a brother who displays unfounded blame, then turns
upon me with reproach, while correspondence is forbidden.
فَياso O أَيُّهاyou الجانيwrongdoer وَنَسأَلُهُand we ask him for الرِضاfavor
فَيا أَيُّها الجاني وَنَسأَلُهُ الرِضا
تَرَفَّقbe gentle عَلىwith صَبٍّa yearning lover بِبَينِكَby your departure قَدalready رُميbeen struck
تَرَفَّق عَلى صَبٍّ بِبَينِكَ قَد رُمي
O you who wrong me, yet whose favor we seek,
be gentle with a lover struck by your departure.
وَأَصغِand listen إِلىto عَتبِthe reproach of الصَديقِthe friend فَرُبَّماfor perhaps
وَأَصغِ إِلى عَتبِ الصَديقِ فَرُبَّما
أَعادَrestored عِتابٌa remonstrance خُلّةَthe friendship of المُتَصَرِّمِthe estranged one
أَعادَ عِتابٌ خُلّةَ المُتَصَرِّمِ
Listen to a friend's reproach, for perhaps
a remonstrance may restore the friendship of one estranged.
فَهاso here قَدindeed بَسَطتُI laid out العَتبَthe reproach فَاِسمَعso hear هَديّةًa gift
فَها قَد بَسَطتُ العَتبَ فَاِسمَع هَديّةً
وَأَودَعتُهُand I placed it in سِلكَthe thread of الجُمانِpearls المُنَظّمِstrung in order
وَأَودَعتُهُ سِلكَ الجُمانِ المُنَظّمِ
Here, I have unfolded my reproach; hear it as a gift,
and I have strung it on a thread of ordered pearls.
لَقَدcertainly كُنتُI was قَبلَbefore الآنِnow جَلداًsteadfast عَلىagainst النَوىseparation
لَقَد كُنتُ قَبلَ الآنِ جَلداً عَلى النَوى
أَبِيّاًunyielding وَلَمand not أَربعlinger عَلىat رَسمa dwelling's trace مُعلَمِrecognizable
أَبِيّاً وَلَم أَربع عَلى رَسم مُعلَمِ
Before now, I was indeed steadfast against separation,
unyielding, never stopping at a recognizable dwelling's trace.
عَلىgiven أَنَّنيthat I لاnot غالِبُoverpowering الرَأيِjudgment بِالهَوىwith passion
عَلى أَنَّني لا غالِبُ الرَأيِ بِالهَوى
وَلاnor قائِلٌsaying لِلشَوقِof longing إِنif ضَلَّit strayed يَحلُمِit acts wisely
وَلا قائِلٌ لِلشَوقِ إِن ضَلَّ يَحلُمِ
For I do not overpower judgment with passion,
nor claim that longing, when astray, will grow wise.
أَروحُI go at evening بِأَثوابِin the garments of العَفافِchastity مُسَربَلاclothed
أَروحُ بِأَثوابِ العَفافِ مُسَربَلا
وَأَغدوand I go at morning بِحلمٍwith forbearance مِثلَlike طَودِthe mountain of يَلَملَمِYalamlam
وَأَغدو بِحلمٍ مِثلَ طَودِ يَلَملَمِ
At evening I go clothed in the garments of chastity,
and at morning with forbearance like Mount Yalamlam.
وَإِنand if نَكَرتنيdisowned me خلَّةٌa friendship أَوor نَكرتُهاI disowned it
وَإِن نَكَرتني خلَّةٌ أَو نَكرتُها
رَحلتُI departed إلىto أُخرىanother بِغَيرِwithout تَنَدُّمِregret
رَحلتُ إلى أُخرى بِغَيرِ تَنَدُّمِ
If a friendship disowns me, or I disown it,
I move on to another without regret.
فَبدّلَنيso gave me in exchange بالعِزِّin place of dignity ذُلّاًhumiliation هَواكُمُyour love
فَبدّلَني بالعِزِّ ذُلّاً هَواكُمُ
وَلاعجُand the searing flame of شَوقٍlonging مِنin place of نَعيمٍbliss مُخَيّمِabiding
وَلاعجُ شَوقٍ مِن نَعيمٍ مُخَيّمِ
Love for you has exchanged my dignity for humiliation,
and abiding bliss for the searing flame of longing.
أَقولُI say إِذاwhen نامَsleeps الخليُّthe carefree one وَلَمand not أَنَمI sleep
أَقولُ إِذا نامَ الخليُّ وَلَم أَنَم
عَلىamid حَرّthe heat of وَقدٍa blaze لِلضُلوعِto the ribs مُقَوَّمِstraightening
عَلى حَرّ وَقدٍ لِلضُلوعِ مُقَوَّمِ
I say, when the carefree one sleeps and I cannot sleep,
amid a blaze whose heat straightens my ribs:
خَليليّmy two friends ماwhat لِلخلِّwith the friend قَدalready حالَhas changed وُدُّهُhis affection
خَليليّ ما لِلخلِّ قَد حالَ وُدُّهُ
وَوُدِّيand my affection عَلىover طُولِthe length of المَدىthe span لَمnot يُصرّمِbe severed
وَوُدِّي عَلى طُولِ المَدى لَم يُصرّمِ
My two friends, what ails the friend whose affection has changed,
while mine, through all this time, has never been severed?
أَغَيّرَهُhas it changed him? صَرفُthe vicissitudes of الزِمانِtime أَمِor اِرعَوىhe turned
أَغَيّرَهُ صَرفُ الزِمانِ أَمِ اِرعَوى
إِلىto وَشيِthe slander of واشٍa slanderer أَمor مَقالspeech مُنَمنَمِembellished
إِلى وَشيِ واشٍ أَم مَقال مُنَمنَمِ
Have time's vicissitudes changed him, or has he turned
to a slanderer's insinuations, or to embellished words?
فَياso O مُنتَهىthe culmination of الآمالِhopes ياO غايَةَthe utmost of المُنىwishes
فَيا مُنتَهى الآمالِ يا غايَةَ المُنى
وَنُزهَةَand the delight of نَفسِthe soul of الصَبِّthe yearning lover ياO ذاpossessor of التَكرُّمِgenerosity
وَنُزهَةَ نَفسِ الصَبِّ يا ذا التَكرُّمِ
O culmination of hopes, O utmost wish,
delight of the lover's soul, O generous one!
لَكَfor you اللَهُGod فيconcerning صَبٍّa yearning lover أَضَرَّdid harm بِحالِهِto his condition
لَكَ اللَهُ في صَبٍّ أَضَرَّ بِحالِهِ
بِعادٌdistance لَهُit has فيin قَلبِهِhis heart فِعلُthe action of لِهذَمِa keen blade
بِعادٌ لَهُ في قَلبِهِ فِعلُ لِهذَمِ
God be with you concerning a lover whose plight is ravaged
by distance that acts in his heart like a keen blade.
مُقيمٌabiding عَلىin رَعيِobserving الذِمامobligations of loyalty وَطالَand long was ماthe time that
مُقيمٌ عَلى رَعيِ الذِمام وَطالَ ما
غَذاكَhe nourished you with لِبانَthe milk of الوُدِّaffection غَيرَwithout مُذَمَّمِblame
غَذاكَ لِبانَ الوُدِّ غَيرَ مُذَمَّمِ
He abides by the obligations of loyalty, and long
has fed you the milk of affection, free of blame.
صَفَتbecame pure مِنهُfrom him أَخلاقٌqualities لَدَيكَbefore you خَليقَةٌworthy
صَفَت مِنهُ أَخلاقٌ لَدَيكَ خَليقَةٌ
بِحُسنِof fine ثَناءٍpraise مِنfrom فَصيحٍan eloquent one وَأَعجَمِand an inarticulate one
بِحُسنِ ثَناءٍ مِن فَصيحٍ وَأَعجَمِ
His qualities have proved pure before you, deserving
of fair praise from eloquent and inarticulate alike,
كَزَهرِlike the flowers of الرُباthe hills قَدalready فَتَّحَتهُopened them يَدُthe hand of الصَباthe east wind
كَزَهرِ الرُبا قَد فَتَّحَتهُ يَدُ الصَبا
وَجَرَّتand trailed عَلَيهِover them ذَيلَهاits hem فيin تَبَسُّمِa smile
وَجَرَّت عَلَيهِ ذَيلَها في تَبَسُّمِ
like flowers on the hills opened by the east wind's hand,
as it trails its hem over them in a smile.
وَراعَand cherish لَهُfor him حُسنthe beauty of الوِدادِaffection وَإِنeven if نَباturned harsh
وَراعَ لَهُ حُسن الوِدادِ وَإِن نَبا
زَمانٌtime وَلاand do not تَسمَعlisten to مَقالَةَthe words of مُجرِمِa wrongdoer
زَمانٌ وَلا تَسمَع مَقالَةَ مُجرِمِ
Cherish his sincere affection, even if unkind
times come; do not heed a wrongdoer's words.
أُعيذُكَI seek protection for you مِمَّنfrom one whom قالَspoke فيin وَصفِdescribing شَأنِهِhis conduct
أُعيذُكَ مِمَّن قالَ في وَصفِ شَأنِهِ
أَديبٌa man of letters لَهُhe has فيin الشعرِpoetry فَضلُthe distinction of تَقَدُّمِprecedence
أَديبٌ لَهُ في الشعرِ فَضلُ تَقَدُّمِ
I seek protection for you from one whose conduct was described
by a man of letters preeminent in poetry:
إِذاwhen ساءَbecame bad فِعلُthe deed of المَرءِa person ساءَتbecame bad ظُنونُهُhis suspicions
إِذا ساءَ فِعلُ المَرءِ ساءَت ظُنونُهُ
وَصَدّقand believed ماwhat يَعتادُهُbesets him مِنof تَوَهُّمِdelusion
وَصَدّق ما يَعتادُهُ مِن تَوَهُّمِ
When a man's deeds turn evil, so do his suspicions,
and he believes the delusions that beset him.
وَعادىand became hostile to مُحِبّيهِthose who love him بِقَولِat the word of عداتِهِhis enemies
وَعادى مُحِبّيهِ بِقَولِ عداتِهِ
وَأَصبَحand became فيin شَكٍّdoubt مِنَlike اللَيلِthe night مُظلِمِdark
وَأَصبَح في شَكٍّ مِنَ اللَيلِ مُظلِمِ
He turns against those who love him at his enemies' word,
and finds himself in doubt, dark as night.
تَذَكّرremember رَعاكَmay He protect you اللَهُGod سابِقَthe earlier خلّةٍfriendship
تَذَكّر رَعاكَ اللَهُ سابِقَ خلّةٍ
وَلاحِقand the later عَهدٍpledge بِالقِلىby aversion لَمnot يُهَدّمِbe demolished
وَلاحِق عَهدٍ بِالقِلى لَم يُهَدّمِ
Remember—may God preserve you—our earlier friendship
and the later pledge, never demolished by aversion.
جَحَدتَyou denied وَلاءًloyalty مِنfrom وَلِيٍّa devoted friend غَداhas come to be لَهُhis
جَحَدتَ وَلاءً مِن وَلِيٍّ غَدا لَهُ
عَلىover كُلِّevery مَولىًdevoted friend فيكَtoward you فَضلُthe advantage of المُقَدَّمِthe foremost
عَلى كُلِّ مَولىً فيكَ فَضلُ المُقَدَّمِ
You have denied the loyalty of a friend who has gained
precedence over every other devoted friend of yours.
وَأَنكَرتُand I denied مِنهُfrom him الوُدَّlove يُزهىshines نَضارَةًwith freshness
وَأَنكَرتُ مِنهُ الوُدَّ يُزهى نَضارَةً
وَأَقبلتَهُand you met it with صَدرَthe point of الحُسامِthe sword المُصَمَّمِcleaving
وَأَقبلتَهُ صَدرَ الحُسامِ المُصَمَّمِ
And I denied his love, radiant in freshness,
and you met it with the point of a cleaving sword.
فَمَهلاًso gently عَلِيَّexalted in القَدرِrank ياO مَنone بِحُبِّهِthrough loving him
فَمَهلاً عَلِيَّ القَدرِ يا مَن بِحُبِّهِ
نَفوزُwe shall gain غَداًtomorrow مِنfrom ذيthe Lord of الجَلالMajesty بِمَغنَمِa reward
نَفوزُ غَداً مِن ذي الجَلال بِمَغنَمِ
Gently, O exalted one, O you through love for whom
we shall gain tomorrow a reward from the Lord of Majesty.
أَتَجحَدdo you deny? مَنone who والاكَwas loyal to you وَالرَبعُwhile the dwelling شاسِعٌfar away
أَتَجحَد مَن والاكَ وَالرَبعُ شاسِعٌ
لعاًmay you regain your footing لَكfor you هَلis? هَذاthis فعالُthe conduct of مُكَرّمِan honored man
لعاً لَك هَل هَذا فعالُ مُكَرّمِ
Do you deny one who remained loyal to you, though his dwelling is far away?
May you regain your footing! Is this an honored man's conduct?
أَعدrestore ماwhat مَضىpassed يَوماًonce إِلَيهِto him لَعَلّهُperhaps it
أَعد ما مَضى يَوماً إِلَيهِ لَعَلّهُ
يَريشُmay feather العَواريthe bare shafts مِنamong نِباليmy arrows وَأَسهُميand my darts
يَريشُ العَواري مِن نِبالي وَأَسهُمي
Restore to him what once was, so that perhaps it
may feather the bare shafts among my arrows and darts.
وَإِنand if لَمnot يَكُنthere is فيin غَورِthe depths of وُدِّكَyour affection مَطمَعٌhope
وَإِن لَم يَكُن في غَورِ وُدِّكَ مَطمَعٌ
وَهَبّتand blew لَهُupon it النَكباءُthe crosswind بِالبينِwith separation تَرتَميhurtling
وَهَبّت لَهُ النَكباءُ بِالبينِ تَرتَمي
But if there is no hope in the depths of your affection,
and a crosswind assails it, hurtling with separation,
سأُعملI shall drive عِيسِيmy pale camels عَنaway from بِلادِكَyour lands راحِلاًdeparting
سأُعمل عِيسِي عَن بِلادِكَ راحِلاً
لِقَولٍheeding a saying of شَريفٍa noble man فيin العُلاeminence مُتَقَدّمِforemost
لِقَولٍ شَريفٍ في العُلا مُتَقَدّمِ
I shall drive my pale camels away from your lands,
heeding the saying of a noble man foremost in eminence:
وَأَولىand most worthy بِلادٍlands بِالمَقامِof dwelling مِنamong الأُلىthose
وَأَولى بِلادٍ بِالمَقامِ مِن الأُلى
بِلادٌlands مَتىwhenever يَنزلsettles بِهاin them الحُرّa free man يَغنَمِgains
بِلادٌ مَتى يَنزل بِها الحُرّ يَغنَمِ
Of all lands, those most worthy of dwelling in
are lands where a free man prospers whenever he settles.
وَقَدand indeed مَحّضَتكَhas given you pure النُصحَcounsel نَفسٌa soul لِصُحبَةٍfor a companionship
وَقَد مَحّضَتكَ النُصحَ نَفسٌ لِصُحبَةٍ
رعايتهاpreserving it فَرضٌa duty عَلىupon كُلِّevery مُسلِمِMuslim
رعايتها فَرضٌ عَلى كُلِّ مُسلِمِ
A soul has offered you pure counsel, for a companionship
whose preservation is a duty upon every Muslim.
إِذاwhen ماever صَحِبتَyou befriend المَرءَa person فَاِصحَبthen befriend مُهَذَّباًa refined one
إِذا ما صَحِبتَ المَرءَ فَاِصحَب مُهَذَّباً
كَريمَnoble in السَجاياdispositions لِلفَضائلto the virtues مُنتَميdevoted
كَريمَ السَجايا لِلفَضائل مُنتَمي
When you take a companion, choose one refined,
noble in character and devoted to the virtues.
وَعاشرand associate بِخُلقٍwith a disposition ماas far as اِستَطَعتُI was able مُحَبَّبlovable
وَعاشر بِخُلقٍ ما اِستَطَعتُ مُحَبَّب
وَجانبand shun فَدَتكَmay ransom you النَفسُthe soul كُلَّevery مُذَمَّمِblameworthy one
وَجانب فَدَتكَ النَفسُ كُلَّ مُذَمَّمِ
And deal with others amiably, as far as I have been able,
and shun every blameworthy man—may my soul ransom you.
وَراعِand respect لِإخوانِfor the brothers of الصَفاءِsincerity حُقوقَهُمtheir rights
وَراعِ لِإخوانِ الصَفاءِ حُقوقَهُم
وَإِنand if أَنتَyou ضَيّعتَneglect الوَفاfidelity خِلِّmy friend تَندَمِyou will regret
وَإِن أَنتَ ضَيّعتَ الوَفا خِلِّ تَندَمِ
Honor the rights of your true-hearted brothers;
if you neglect fidelity, my friend, you will regret it.
فَياah then لاnot رَعىmay protect الرَحمَنُthe Most Merciful مَنone who لَيسَis not راعِياًobserving
فَيا لا رَعى الرَحمَنُ مَن لَيسَ راعِياً
حُقوقَthe rights of إِخاءٍbrotherhood مِنfrom صَديقa friend مُقَدَّمِcherished
حُقوقَ إِخاءٍ مِن صَديق مُقَدَّمِ
Ah, may the Most Merciful not protect one who fails to honor
the rights of brotherhood from a cherished friend.
وَأَحسِنand do good إِلىto الأَيّامthe days وَاِعلَمand know بِأَنَّهاthat they are
وَأَحسِن إِلى الأَيّام وَاِعلَم بِأَنَّها
مَطاياmounts إِلىto لَحدٍa grave بِغَبراءَin dusty earth مُقتَمِdust-darkened
مَطايا إِلى لَحدٍ بِغَبراءَ مُقتَمِ
Treat the days well, and know that they
are mounts to a grave, darkened in dusty earth.
فَماfor not الدَهرُtime إِلّاanything but مِثلُlike أَحلامِthe dreams of نائِمٍa sleeper
فَما الدَهرُ إِلّا مِثلُ أَحلامِ نائِمٍ
وَعِزُّand the glory of الفَتىa man فيهِin it كَطَيفٍlike a phantom مُسَلّمِoffering greetings
وَعِزُّ الفَتى فيهِ كَطَيفٍ مُسَلّمِ
Time is nothing but the dreams of a sleeper,
and a man's glory in it is like a phantom offering greeting.
وَلاand do not تَكُbe مَغروراًdeluded بِعِزٍّby glory تَنالُهُyou attain
وَلا تَكُ مَغروراً بِعِزٍّ تَنالُهُ
بِهِthrough it وَاِخشَand fear يَوماًa day أَنwhen يَطاكit tramples you بِمنسَمِwith a camel's hoof
بِهِ وَاِخشَ يَوماً أَن يَطاك بِمنسَمِ
Do not be deluded by the glory you attain
through it; fear a day when it tramples you with a camel's hoof.
وَراقِبand be mindful of إِلَهَthe Lord of العَرشِthe Throne وَاعلَمand know بِأَنَّهُthat He
وَراقِب إِلَهَ العَرشِ وَاعلَم بِأَنَّهُ
يَرىsees ماwhat خَفيis hidden مِنof كُلِّevery أَمرٍmatter مُكَتَّمِconcealed
يَرى ما خَفي مِن كُلِّ أَمرٍ مُكَتَّمِ
Be mindful of the Lord of the Throne, and know that He
sees what lies hidden in every concealed matter.
وَهاكَand here, take قَريضاًverse قَدindeed بَداemerged عَنfrom رَويَّةٍreflection
وَهاكَ قَريضاً قَد بَدا عَن رَويَّةٍ
تَضمّنَcontained عَتباًreproach مِثلَlike عِقدٍa necklace مُنَظّمِwell-strung
تَضمّنَ عَتباً مِثلَ عِقدٍ مُنَظّمِ
Here is verse that has emerged from reflection,
bearing reproach like a necklace of strung beads.
خِلالَbetween سُطُورِthe lines of الشَوقِlonging يَبدوappears كَأَنَّهُas though it were
خِلالَ سُطُورِ الشَوقِ يَبدو كَأَنَّهُ
لَمىthe dusky lip-color of شادِنٍa young gazelle يَبدُوappearing خِلالَthrough تَبَسُّمِa smile
لَمى شادِنٍ يَبدُو خِلالَ تَبَسُّمِ
Between the lines of longing it appears as though it were
a young gazelle's dusky lip-color, showing through a smile.
أَرَقُّmore delicate مِنَthan الصَهباءِtawny wine شُجّتwas diluted عَشِيَّةًone evening
أَرَقُّ مِنَ الصَهباءِ شُجّت عَشِيَّةً
بِمُزنٍwith cloud-water مَرَتmilked أَخلافُهُits udders يَدُthe hand of مِرزَمِMirzam
بِمُزنٍ مَرَت أَخلافُهُ يَدُ مِرزَمِ
More delicate than tawny wine diluted one evening
with cloud-water, its udders milked by Mirzam's hand.
وَدُمand remain فيin نَعيمٍbliss دائِمٍlasting وَمَسَرَّةٍand joy
وَدُم في نَعيمٍ دائِمٍ وَمَسَرَّةٍ
بِعَيشٍwith a life هَنيءٍpleasant مِنfrom ذُراthe heights of العِزِّglory وَاِسلَمِand fare well
بِعَيشٍ هَنيءٍ مِن ذُرا العِزِّ وَاِسلَمِ
Remain in lasting bliss and joy,
with a pleasant life on glory's heights; fare well.
مَقامُكَyour station مَحمودٌpraiseworthy وَبابُكَand your door مَلجَأٌa refuge
مَقامُكَ مَحمودٌ وَبابُكَ مَلجَأٌ
وَظِلُّكَand your shade مَمدودٌoutspread لَهُto it السَعدgood fortune يَنتَميbelongs
وَظِلُّكَ مَمدودٌ لَهُ السَعد يَنتَمي
Your station is praised, your door a refuge,
and your shade stretches wide, with good fortune belonging to it,
مَدىthroughout الدَهرtime ماas long as بَكّىmakes weep القَريضpoetry بِسَجعِهِwith its rhyming cadence
مَدى الدَهر ما بَكّى القَريض بِسَجعِهِ
هَديلُthe cooing of وَفاءٍfidelity قَدalready مَضىhas passed بِتَرَنّمِin melody
هَديلُ وَفاءٍ قَد مَضى بِتَرَنّمِ
through all time, while poetry is made to weep by the rhyming
coo of bygone fidelity, uttered in melody.
Sol 6.1