شامَwatched بَرقُlightning الشامِal-Sham بِالرومin Rum جَزُوعاdistraught
شامَ بَرقُ الشامِ بِالروم جَزُوعا
فَاِنبَرَتand began أَجفانُهُhis eyelids تذريscatter الدُموعاtears
فَاِنبَرَت أَجفانُهُ تذري الدُموعا
He watched al-Sham's lightning, distraught in Rum;
and his eyelids began to scatter tears.
هَبَّflashed مِنfrom عَلياthe heights of دِمَشقٍDamascus مَوهِناًlate at night
هَبَّ مِن عَليا دِمَشقٍ مَوهِناً
هَبَّةَlike the flare of المِصباحِa lamp فيin اللَيلِthe night ذَريعاswiftly
هَبَّةَ المِصباحِ في اللَيلِ ذَريعا
It flashed from the heights of Damascus late at night,
like a lamp flaring swiftly in the night.
جزعcrossed الآفاقthe horizons فيin هَبَّتِهِits flashing
جزع الآفاق في هَبَّتِهِ
وَأَتىand reached الرومRum سُرىthe night journey of الأَيمِa snake جَزُوعاcrossing swiftly
وَأَتى الروم سُرى الأَيمِ جَزُوعا
It crossed the horizons as it flashed,
and reached Rum like a snake crossing by night.
خَفَقَتfluttered راياتُهُits banners فيon أُفقِهِits horizon
خَفَقَت راياتُهُ في أُفقِهِ
خَفَقانَlike the beating of القَلبِthe heart قَدalready أَمسىhad become مَرُوعاterrified
خَفَقانَ القَلبِ قَد أَمسى مَرُوعا
Its banners fluttered on its horizon,
like the beating of a heart now terrified.
وَقَعَتfell شُعلَتُهُits flame وَسطَamid الحَشاthe breast
وَقَعَت شُعلَتُهُ وَسطَ الحَشا
وَسَناهُand its radiance طالَrose فيin الجَوِّthe air رَفيعاhigh
وَسَناهُ طالَ في الجَوِّ رَفيعا
Its flame struck within the breast,
and its radiance rose high in the air.
لَيسَnot يَدريknows وَقعَهاits impact غَيرُother than شَجٍa sorrowing man
لَيسَ يَدري وَقعَها غَيرُ شَجٍ
فارَقَleft الأَوطانthe homelands مِثليlike me وَالرُبوعاand the abodes
فارَقَ الأَوطان مِثلي وَالرُبوعا
None knows its impact but a sorrowing man
who, like me, has left his homelands and abodes;
أَوor مُعَنّىًone tormented بِهَوىًby love تَيَّمَهُthat enslaved him
أَو مُعَنّىً بِهَوىً تَيَّمَهُ
مِنfrom غَزالٍa gazelle راحَbecame لِلوَصلِof union مَنوعاwithholding
مِن غَزالٍ راحَ لِلوَصلِ مَنوعا
or one tormented by a love that enslaved him,
for a gazelle now withholding union,
يُخجِلُputs to shame الشَمسَthe sun سَناءًin splendor وَسَناand radiance
يُخجِلُ الشَمسَ سَناءً وَسَنا
وَمَهاةَand the oryx of الرَملِthe sands جِيداًin neck وَتَليعاand long-necked grace
وَمَهاةَ الرَملِ جِيداً وَتَليعا
who puts the sun to shame in splendor and radiance,
and the desert oryx in the grace and length of the neck.
أَسهَرَkept awake الجَفنَthe eyelid خَلِيّاًempty عَنof كَرىًslumber
أَسهَرَ الجَفنَ خَلِيّاً عَن كَرىً
مُقلَةًan eye لَمnot تُطعَمِwas fed النَومَsleep هُجُوعاin repose
مُقلَةً لَم تُطعَمِ النَومَ هُجُوعا
He kept the eyelid sleepless, empty of slumber—
an eye never nourished with sleep's repose.
كَيفَhow يَكرىcan sleep ناظِرٌan eye فارَقَهُthat has lost
كَيفَ يَكرى ناظِرٌ فارَقَهُ
ناظِرُthe pupil of العَيشِlife مِنَof اللَيلِthe night هَزيعاa watch
ناظِرُ العَيشِ مِنَ اللَيلِ هَزيعا
How can an eye sleep when it has lost
the pupil of life, for a watch of the night?
وَشَبابٍand a youth شَرخُهُwhose prime مُقتَبلٌis beginning
وَشَبابٍ شَرخُهُ مُقتَبلٌ
كانَwas فيamid الصَدِّestrangement لَدىfor العَبدِthis servant هَزيعاa brief span
كانَ في الصَدِّ لَدى العَبدِ هَزيعا
And a youth whose prime had just begun
was only a brief span for this servant amid estrangement.
لَمnot يَكُنwas إِلّاexcept كُحُلمٍlike a dream وَاِنقَضىand ended
لَم يَكُن إِلّا كُحُلمٍ وَاِنقَضى
أَوor خَيالٍa vision فيin الكَرىslumber مَرَّpassed سَريعاswiftly
أَو خَيالٍ في الكَرى مَرَّ سَريعا
It was only a dream, and it ended,
or a vision in slumber that passed swiftly.
أَزمَعَتresolved حَسرَتُهُits regret لاnot تَنقَضيto end
أَزمَعَت حَسرَتُهُ لا تَنقَضي
آهِah ماhow أَعجَلَswift ماwhat وَلّىdeparted زَميعاhastening away
آهِ ما أَعجَلَ ما وَلّى زَميعا
Its regret resolved never to end;
ah, how quickly it went, hastening away!
لَستُI do not أَرضىaccept مِنَّةَthe favor of السُقياwatering لَهُfor it
لَستُ أَرضى مِنَّةَ السُقيا لَهُ
وَسَحابُand the cloud of الجفنِthe eyelid يَسقيهِwaters its الرَبيعاspring
وَسَحابُ الجفنِ يَسقيهِ الرَبيعا
I seek no favor of watering for it,
while the eyelid's cloud waters its spring.
وَالَّذيand what هاجَstirred الجَوىinward grief قَمَرِيَّةa turtledove
وَالَّذي هاجَ الجَوى قَمَرِيَّة
بِالضُحىat forenoon تَهتِفُcalls بِالأَيكِin the grove سُجوعاcooing
بِالضُحى تَهتِفُ بِالأَيكِ سُجوعا
What stirred the inward grief was a turtledove,
cooing in the grove at forenoon.
كُلَّماwhenever ناحَتshe lamented عَلىupon أَفنانِهاher branches
كُلَّما ناحَت عَلى أَفنانِها
هاجَتِstirred الصَبَّthe lover غَراماًto passion وَوُلُوعاand ardor
هاجَتِ الصَبَّ غَراماً وَوُلُوعا
Whenever she lamented upon her branches,
she stirred the lover to passion and ardor.
وَإِذاand whenever غَنَّتshe sang لَهُto him عَنَّتarose لَهُfor him
وَإِذا غَنَّت لَهُ عَنَّت لَهُ
ذِكرَةٌa memory لِلشامِof al-Sham زادَتهُincreased his نُزوعاyearning
ذِكرَةٌ لِلشامِ زادَتهُ نُزوعا
And whenever she sang to him, there came to him
a memory of al-Sham that increased his yearning.
ياah سَقىmay water اللَهُGod حِماهاits sanctuary وَابِلاًwith a downpour
يا سَقى اللَهُ حِماها وَابِلاً
مُسبِلَlowering الطَرفِthe gaze مِنَof الغَيثِrain هَمُوعاstreaming
مُسبِلَ الطَرفِ مِنَ الغَيثِ هَمُوعا
Ah, may God water its sanctuary with a downpour,
rain with lowered gaze, pouring in streams.
حَيثُwhere ربعُthe quarter of اللَهوِpleasure مِنهاwithin it آهِلٌis inhabited
حَيثُ ربعُ اللَهوِ مِنها آهِلٌ
وَالمَغانيand the haunts فيin مَغانيهاits dwelling places جَميعاall together
وَالمَغاني في مَغانيها جَميعا
Where its quarter of pleasure is inhabited,
and all the haunts lie in its dwelling places.
كُلُّevery رودٍtender maiden أُلبِسَتwas clothed in شَرخَthe prime of الصِباyouth
كُلُّ رودٍ أُلبِسَت شَرخَ الصِبا
وَكَساهاand clothed her الحُسنُbeauty ديباجاًin brocade بَديعاwondrous
وَكَساها الحُسنُ ديباجاً بَديعا
Every tender maiden is clothed in youth's prime,
and beauty robes her in wondrous brocade.
لَمnot يَرعَهاtended her غَيرَother than رَيعانthe first bloom of الصِباyouth
لَم يَرعَها غَيرَ رَيعان الصِبا
وَهَوىًand love إِنif تَدعُهُshe calls it لَبّىanswers مُطيعاobediently
وَهَوىً إِن تَدعُهُ لَبّى مُطيعا
She has had no guardian but youth's first bloom,
and love that answers obediently if she calls it.
كَمhow many لَناwe have فيهِنَّamong them مِنof بَهنانَةٍa sweet-natured woman
كَم لَنا فيهِنَّ مِن بَهنانَةٍ
وَلعَwas enamored القَلبُthe heart بِهاof her خوداًa lovely maiden سَموعاattentive
وَلعَ القَلبُ بِها خوداً سَموعا
How many a sweet-natured woman we have among them,
a lovely, attentive maiden whom the heart adores.
لَستُI do not أَنسىforget ساعَةَthe hour of التَوديعِfarewell إِذwhen
لَستُ أَنسى ساعَةَ التَوديعِ إِذ
وَقَفَتshe stood فيat مَوقفِthe place of البينِparting خَضُوعاhumbled
وَقَفَت في مَوقفِ البينِ خَضُوعا
I do not forget the hour of farewell, when
she stood, humbled, at the place of parting,
وَهيَwhile she تُذريscatters لُؤلُؤاًpearls مِنfrom نَرجِسٍnarcissi
وَهيَ تُذري لُؤلُؤاً مِن نَرجِسٍ
فَوقَupon وَردٍroses كادَalmost طيباًin fragrance أَنto يَضُوعاwaft
فَوقَ وَردٍ كادَ طيباً أَن يَضُوعا
scattering pearls from narcissi
upon roses almost wafting their fragrance.
عَلِقتَshe clung to ذَيليmy hem وَخانَتهاand betrayed her القُوىher strength
عَلِقتَ ذَيلي وَخانَتها القُوى
فَاِنثَنَتthen she collapsed مِنfrom وَقعَةِthe blow of البينِparting صَريعاstricken down
فَاِنثَنَت مِن وَقعَةِ البينِ صَريعا
She clung to my hem, and her strength betrayed her;
she collapsed, felled by the blow of parting.
وَأَفاقَتand she revived وَبِهاand within her رسّthe first stirrings of الجَوىinward grief
وَأَفاقَت وَبِها رسّ الجَوى
ثُمَّthen قالَتshe said وَشَكَتand lamented دَهراًan age خَدوعاtreacherous
ثُمَّ قالَت وَشَكَت دَهراً خَدوعا
She revived, with the first stirrings of grief within her,
then spoke, lamenting a treacherous age:
لاmay not رَعىprotect اللَهُGod المَعاليlofty honors مَطلَباًas a goal
لا رَعى اللَهُ المَعالي مَطلَباً
كَمhow many تَرىyou see مُغرىenthralled بِهاby them صَبّاًa lover وَلوعاardently devoted
كَم تَرى مُغرى بِها صَبّاً وَلوعا
May God not protect lofty honors as a goal!
How many a passionate lover you see enthralled by them!
كُنتَyou were ليfor me بَدراًa full moon مُنيراًshining فَاِختَفىthen vanished
كُنتَ لي بَدراً مُنيراً فَاِختَفى
فيinto سِرارٍmoonless darkness بَعدَafter ماit سرَّbrought joy طُلوعاin rising
في سِرارٍ بَعدَ ما سرَّ طُلوعا
You were a shining full moon for me, then vanished
into moonless darkness after a rising that brought joy.
وَشَباباًand a youth لاحَshone بَدراًas a full moon عِندَماwhen
وَشَباباً لاحَ بَدراً عِندَما
أَشعَلَkindled الرَأسthe head سَناًwith radiance راحَdeparted مريعاcausing dismay
أَشعَلَ الرَأس سَناً راحَ مريعا
And a youth that shone as a full moon when
it set the head aglow, then departed, causing dismay.
أَيُّهاO الظاعِنُdeparting one وَالقَلبُand the heart عَلىin
أَيُّها الظاعِنُ وَالقَلبُ عَلى
إِثرِهِhis wake مُذsince سارَhe set out ماnot زالَceased هَلوعاbeing distraught
إِثرِهِ مُذ سارَ ما زالَ هَلوعا
O departing one, while the heart, following
in his wake, has stayed distraught since he set out,
لاdo not تَكُنbe لِلعَهدِof the covenant بَعديafter me ناسِياًforgetful
لا تَكُن لِلعَهدِ بَعدي ناسِياً
ياO حَياتيmy life وَاِعطِفَنand do turn نَحويtoward me رُجُوعاreturning
يا حَياتي وَاِعطِفَن نَحوي رُجُوعا
do not forget our covenant after leaving me;
O my life, turn back toward me.
وَإِذاand if لَمnot تَرعَyou honor عَهديmy pledge فَاِذكُرَنthen do remember
وَإِذا لَم تَرعَ عَهدي فَاِذكُرَن
عَهدَthe bond of مِنthose whom خَلّفتَyou left behind وَالطفلَand the child الرَضيعاnursing
عَهدَ مِن خَلّفتَ وَالطفلَ الرَضيعا
And if you do not honor my pledge, remember
the bond of those you left behind, and the nursing child.
كَيفَhow تَنسىcan you forget زَينَباًZaynab أَوor أُختَهاher sister
كَيفَ تَنسى زَينَباً أَو أُختَها
كُلَّماwhenever قالَتshe said أَبيmy father أَذَرَتshe shed دُموعاtears
كُلَّما قالَت أَبي أَذَرَت دُموعا
How can you forget Zaynab or her sister,
who sheds tears whenever she says, 'Father'?
لَهُماfor them both مِنكَfrom you وَإِنeven if طالَlengthens المَدىthe distance
لَهُما مِنكَ وَإِن طالَ المَدى
ذِمَّةٌan obligation تُرعىto be honored وَعَهدٌand a covenant لَنnever يَضيعاto be lost
ذِمَّةٌ تُرعى وَعَهدٌ لَن يَضيعا
They both have a claim upon you, however long the distance:
an obligation to honor and a covenant—neither to be lost.
وَشَفيعُand an intercessor of الدَمعِtears يَجريruns دُرَراًas pearls
وَشَفيعُ الدَمعِ يَجري دُرَراً
مِثلَlike دُرٍّpearls وَقعُهُwhose fall يَحكيresembles الصَقيعاfrost
مِثلَ دُرٍّ وَقعُهُ يَحكي الصَقيعا
And tears run as an intercessor, pearl upon pearl,
like pearls whose fall resembles frost.
قُلتُI said هَيهاتَfar beyond reach شَفيعan intercessor أَوunless أَرىI see
قُلتُ هَيهاتَ شَفيع أَو أَرى
فَضلَthe bounty of سَعدِSa'd الدينِal-Din فيهِنَّin their case شَفيعاas an intercessor
فَضلَ سَعدِ الدينِ فيهِنَّ شَفيعا
I said: 'An intercessor is far beyond reach, unless I see
Sa'd al-Din's bounty interceding for them.'
سَعدُSa'd دينِreligion of اللَهِGod مَجلىmanifestation of سِرِّهِHis secret
سَعدُ دينِ اللَهِ مَجلى سِرِّهِ
فيin ظُهورٍa revelation بَلَغَreached السَقفَthe vault الرَفيعاlofty
في ظُهورٍ بَلَغَ السَقفَ الرَفيعا
Sa'd of God's religion, the manifestation of His secret,
in a revelation reaching the lofty vault.
مُظهِرُrevealer of الأَلطافِkindnesses فَيّاضُoverflowing with النَدىgenerosity
مُظهِرُ الأَلطافِ فَيّاضُ النَدى
عَنthrough أَيادٍfavors تُخجِلُput to shame الغَيثَthe rain الرَبيعاof spring
عَن أَيادٍ تُخجِلُ الغَيثَ الرَبيعا
Revealer of kindnesses, overflowing with generosity,
through favors that put spring rain to shame.
عالمٌa scholar عَذبُsweet السَجاياin character ناسكٌan ascetic
عالمٌ عَذبُ السَجايا ناسكٌ
كُلَّماwhenever اِزدادَhe grows تُقىًin piety زادَhe grows خُشوعاin humility
كُلَّما اِزدادَ تُقىً زادَ خُشوعا
A scholar of sweet character, an ascetic,
whose humility grows whenever his piety grows.
قانِتٌdevout لِلّهِtoward God فيهِin him خِشيَةٌreverent fear
قانِتٌ لِلّهِ فيهِ خِشيَةٌ
يَقطَعُhe spends اللَيلَthe night قِياماًstanding وَرُكوعاand bowing
يَقطَعُ اللَيلَ قِياماً وَرُكوعا
Devout toward God, filled with reverent fear,
he spends the night standing and bowing.
طاهِرُpure الشيمةَin character عَفُّchaste الذَيلِof hem لاnot
طاهِرُ الشيمةَ عَفُّ الذَيلِ لا
يَزدَهيهِbeguile him جانِباthe two sides of الدُنياthe world مُريعاabundant
يَزدَهيهِ جانِبا الدُنيا مُريعا
Pure in character, chaste of hem, he is not
beguiled by either side of the world in its abundance.
مُستَنيرُilluminated الرَأيِin judgment مَرهوبُawe-inspiring الحِجىin intellect
مُستَنيرُ الرَأيِ مَرهوبُ الحِجى
أَريَحِيُّopenhanded الجودin generosity كَمhow many أَولىhe bestowed صَنيعاa favor
أَريَحِيُّ الجود كَم أَولى صَنيعا
Illuminated in judgment, awe-inspiring in intellect,
openhandedly generous—how many favors he has bestowed!
قَدindeed حَمىprotected الإِسلامIslam مِنهُof his صارِمٌa sharp sword
قَد حَمى الإِسلام مِنهُ صارِمٌ
فَلَّblunted عَنّاaway from us حادِثَthe outbreak of الخَطبِcalamity شَنيعاdire
فَلَّ عَنّا حادِثَ الخَطبِ شَنيعا
A sword of his has protected Islam,
turning dire calamity away from us,
وَيَراعٍand a reed pen ينظِمُstrings together الشُهبَshooting stars وَإِنand if
وَيَراعٍ ينظِمُ الشُهبَ وَإِن
نَثَرَit scatters الدُرَّpearls كَساit clothes الرَوضَthe meadow وَشيعاin embroidery
نَثَرَ الدُرَّ كَسا الرَوضَ وَشيعا
and a pen that strings the shooting stars; and if
it scatters pearls, it clothes the meadow in embroidery.
ماnever مَشىit moved فيacross الطِرسِthe parchment إلّاexcept that خِلتَهُyou imagined it
ما مَشى في الطِرسِ إلّا خِلتَهُ
أَرقَماًa speckled serpent يَنسابُgliding فيthrough الرَوضِthe meadow ضَليعاmighty
أَرقَماً يَنسابُ في الرَوضِ ضَليعا
Whenever it moves across the parchment, you would think it
a mighty speckled serpent gliding through the meadow.
يَنفُثُit breathes out الأَريَhoney لراجيto one hoping for وُدِّهِhis friendship
يَنفُثُ الأَريَ لراجي وُدِّهِ
وَلِباغيand to one seeking ضِدِّهِhis enmity السُمَّpoison النَقيعاdeadly
وَلِباغي ضِدِّهِ السُمَّ النَقيعا
It breathes honey to one who hopes for his friendship,
and deadly poison for one who seeks his enmity.
مُذsince رَساhe stood firm لِلملكِfor the kingdom طَوداًas a mountain لَمnot يَزَلceased
مُذ رَسا لِلملكِ طَوداً لَم يَزَل
رُكنهُits pillar مِنagainst حادِثِmisfortunes of الدَهرِtime مَنيعاsecure
رُكنهُ مِن حادِثِ الدَهرِ مَنيعا
Since he settled as a mountain for the kingdom, still
its pillar stands secure against time's misfortunes.
يَحتَبيhe wraps around himself الحُلمَforbearance بِحِقوَيهِaround his loins إِذاwhen
يَحتَبي الحُلمَ بِحِقوَيهِ إِذا
زَعزَعتshook عاصِفthe raging ريحِwind of الطَيشِrecklessness ريعاa ridge
زَعزَعت عاصِف ريحِ الطَيشِ ريعا
He girds his loins with forbearance when
the raging wind of recklessness shakes a ridge.
أَيُّهاO السالِكُtraveler مِنalong نَهجِthe path of الهُدىguidance
أَيُّها السالِكُ مِن نَهجِ الهُدى
طُرُقَroads of الحَقِّtruth دَعِleave off المَشيَwalking هَيوعاin panic
طُرُقَ الحَقِّ دَعِ المَشيَ هَيوعا
O traveler, following the path of guidance
on the roads of truth, cease walking in panic.
وَاِستَبِقand hasten to سدَّةَthe threshold of سَعدSa'd نورهاits light
وَاِستَبِق سدَّةَ سَعد نورها
قَدindeed بَداappeared مِنfrom أُفقِthe horizon of الحَقِّtruth صَديعاbreaking forth
قَد بَدا مِن أُفقِ الحَقِّ صَديعا
And hasten to Sa'd's threshold; its light
has broken forth from the horizon of truth.
الإِمامُthe imam المُجتَبىthe chosen سَعدُSa'd, joy of الوَرىmankind
الإِمامُ المُجتَبى سَعدُ الوَرى
فَهوَfor he مَنthe one who يَنتَظِرُawaits القَومَthe people تَبيعاas followers
فَهوَ مَن يَنتَظِرُ القَومَ تَبيعا
The chosen imam, Sa'd, the joy of mankind,
he awaits the people as followers.
صاحِبُpossessor of الخيرَةِdistinction وَالنُورand the light الَّذيthat
صاحِبُ الخيرَةِ وَالنُور الَّذي
مَلَأَhas filled الآفاقَthe horizons وَالكَونَand the universe شُيوعاspreading everywhere
مَلَأَ الآفاقَ وَالكَونَ شُيوعا
Possessor of distinction and the light that
has filled the horizons and the universe, spreading everywhere.
هُوَhe ظِلُّshadow of الظِلِّthe shadow وَالظلُّand the shadow كَماas
هُوَ ظِلُّ الظِلِّ وَالظلُّ كَما
قيلَhas been said عَينُthe very الشَمسِsun إِنif كُنتَyou are سَميعاable to hear
قيلَ عَينُ الشَمسِ إِن كُنتَ سَميعا
He is the shadow of the shadow; and the shadow, as
has been said, is the very sun—if you can hear.
لَيسَnot تَخفيis hidden ذاتُهُhis essence إِلّاexcept عَلىfrom
لَيسَ تَخفي ذاتُهُ إِلّا عَلى
أَكمهٍone born blind لاnot يَعرِفُknows الصُبحَthe dawn الصَديعاbreaking
أَكمهٍ لا يَعرِفُ الصُبحَ الصَديعا
His essence is hidden only from
one born blind, who cannot know the breaking dawn.
رُتَبٌranks تَسقطُfall حَسرىexhausted دونَهاbeneath them
رُتَبٌ تَسقطُ حَسرى دونَها
مُستَطيلاتُfar-reaching الأَمانيّambitions وُقوعاcollapsing
مُستَطيلاتُ الأَمانيّ وُقوعا
Ranks beneath which fall, exhausted,
the far-reaching ambitions, collapsing.
لَمnot تُنَلwere attained بِالسَعيِby striving كلّاno indeed إِنَّماonly
لَم تُنَل بِالسَعيِ كلّا إِنَّما
هُوَit فَضلُthe bounty of اللَهِGod فيهِin him قَدindeed أُذيعاwas proclaimed
هُوَ فَضلُ اللَهِ فيهِ قَد أُذيعا
Not attained through striving—no! Rather,
it is God's bounty, made manifest in him.
أَيُّهاO المَولىmaster الَّذيwhose أَعتابُهُhis thresholds
أَيُّها المَولى الَّذي أَعتابُهُ
لِأُليfor possessors of العِلمِknowledge غَدَتhave become ربعاًan abode وَسيعاspacious
لِأُلي العِلمِ غَدَت ربعاً وَسيعا
O master, whose thresholds
have become a spacious abode for the learned,
وَأَقامَand erected السَعدُgood fortune فيin أَكنافِهاtheir precincts
وَأَقامَ السَعدُ في أَكنافِها
بَيتَa house of فَضلٍbounty حَجّهُmade pilgrimage to it الناسِthe people رَفيعاlofty
بَيتَ فَضلٍ حَجّهُ الناسِ رَفيعا
good fortune has erected in their precincts
a lofty house of bounty to which people make pilgrimage.
رُكنُهُits corner رُكنٌa corner لَناfor us مُلتَزَمٌto cling to
رُكنُهُ رُكنٌ لَنا مُلتَزَمٌ
وَحِماهُand his sanctuary حَرَمٌa sacred precinct يُلفىis found مَنيعاimpregnable
وَحِماهُ حَرَمٌ يُلفى مَنيعا
Its corner is a corner we cling to,
and his sanctuary is a sacred precinct found impregnable.
فَبنوthus the sons of الآمالhope طافَتcircled حَولَهُaround it
فَبنو الآمال طافَت حَولَهُ
تَبتَغيseeking مِنfrom فَضلِهِhis bounty الفَضلَbounty نُجوعاseeking sustenance
تَبتَغي مِن فَضلِهِ الفَضلَ نُجوعا
Thus the sons of hope circle around it,
seeking bounty from his bounty, coming for sustenance.
وَبَنوand the sons of الآدابletters فيin ساحاتِهِhis courtyards
وَبَنو الآداب في ساحاتِهِ
قَدindeed أَقامَتhave settled تُنشئُproducing الوَشيَembroidery البَديعاwondrous
قَد أَقامَت تُنشئُ الوَشيَ البَديعا
And the sons of letters in his courtyards
have settled, weaving wondrous embroidery.
وَمُلوكُand the kings of النَظمِverse وَالنَثرand prose بِهاwithin them
وَمُلوكُ النَظمِ وَالنَثر بِها
هَيبَةٌawe مِنof نُطقِهِhis speech تُبديshows الخُضوعاsubmission
هَيبَةٌ مِن نُطقِهِ تُبدي الخُضوعا
And the kings of verse and prose within them
show submission in awe of his speech.
ياah لَهاhow wondrous they are أَكنافُthe precincts of سَعدٍSa'd أَصبَحَتhave become
يا لَها أَكنافُ سَعدٍ أَصبَحَت
يَذكُرُrecalls الفَضلَal-Fadl (bounty) حِماهاtheir sanctuary وَالرَبيعاand al-Rabi' (spring)
يَذكُرُ الفَضلَ حِماها وَالرَبيعا
Ah, how wondrous Sa'd's precincts have become!
Their sanctuary recalls al-Fadl and al-Rabi'.
فَاِبنُfor Ibn عَبّادٍ'Abbad لَوِif اِجتازَpassed بِهاthrough them
فَاِبنُ عَبّادٍ لَوِ اِجتازَ بِها
لَرَأىhe would surely see فَضلاًexcellence يُنسّيهِmaking him forget البَديعاal-Badi'
لَرَأى فَضلاً يُنسّيهِ البَديعا
For if Ibn 'Abbad were to pass through them,
he would see excellence that made him forget al-Badi'.
وَدَرىand would know أَنّthat المَعاليlofty attainments لَمnot تَكُنwere
وَدَرى أَنّ المَعالي لَم تَكُن
تَحتَunder حَصرthe restriction of العَصرthe age بَلrather فَضلٌbounty أُشيعاspread abroad
تَحتَ حَصر العَصر بَل فَضلٌ أُشيعا
And he would know that lofty attainments were not
confined to one age, but were bounty spread abroad.
فَلَعَمريso, by my life إِنَّindeed مَغناهاtheir dwelling place لَناfor us
فَلَعَمري إِنَّ مَغناها لَنا
جَنَّةٌa garden أَنهارُهاits rivers تَجريflow نُبوعاfrom springs
جَنَّةٌ أَنهارُها تَجري نُبوعا
By my life, their dwelling place is for us
a garden whose rivers flow from springs.
أَبتَغيI seek فيهاthere مُقاميmy residence مِثلَjust as ماthat
أَبتَغي فيها مُقامي مِثلَ ما
يَبتَغيseeks فَضلكَyour bounty فيin الدُنياthe world الشُيوعاwide diffusion
يَبتَغي فَضلكَ في الدُنيا الشُيوعا
I seek to reside there, just as
your bounty seeks to spread throughout the world.
وَلِسانيand my tongue عَنكَabout you يَهوىlongs for السرَّthe secret كيso that
وَلِساني عَنكَ يَهوى السرَّ كي
يَنثُرit scatters الإِحسانَbeneficence فيover الأَرضِthe earth مشيعاspreading it abroad
يَنثُر الإِحسانَ في الأَرضِ مشيعا
And my tongue longs for your secret, so that it may
scatter beneficence abroad over the earth,
بَينَamong أَقطارthe regions of دِمَشقDamascus وَيَرىand sees
بَينَ أَقطار دِمَشق وَيَرى
مَنزِلاًa dwelling فارَقَهُleft it الجِسمthe body جَزوعاin anguish
مَنزِلاً فارَقَهُ الجِسم جَزوعا
through the regions of Damascus, and see
a dwelling the body left in anguish.
ماnot شَرِبناwe drank الماءَthe water كَلّاno indeed وَالكَلاand the herbage
ما شَرِبنا الماءَ كَلّا وَالكَلا
مُنذُfor عامَينِtwo years وَحَسبيand enough for me أَنthat أَضيعاI waste away
مُنذُ عامَينِ وَحَسبي أَن أَضيعا
We have not drunk the water—no—nor tasted the herbage
for two years; enough that I should waste away!
ماnot لَهُمthey have ثَمَّthere سِوىexcept مَولاهُمtheir master
ما لَهُم ثَمَّ سِوى مَولاهُم
ثُمَّthen هَذاthis العَبدُservant فَاِرسِلهُso send him سَريعاquickly
ثُمَّ هَذا العَبدُ فَاِرسِلهُ سَريعا
They have no one there except their master,
and then this servant—so send him swiftly.
لاmay not بَرِحتَyou cease الدَهرَthrough time ردّافَcontinually bestowing العَطاgifts
لا بَرِحتَ الدَهرَ ردّافَ العَطا
عَنthrough أَيادٍfavors تُخجِلُput to shame السحبَthe clouds صَنيعاin beneficence
عَن أَيادٍ تُخجِلُ السحبَ صَنيعا
May you never cease, through time, to give gift after gift,
with favors whose beneficence puts the clouds to shame,
بَينَamid إِقبالِprosperity وَعيدٍand a festival عايِدٍreturning
بَينَ إِقبالِ وَعيدٍ عايِدٍ
بِأَمانٍin safety فيin زَمانٍan age ماnot أُريعاalarmed
بِأَمانٍ في زَمانٍ ما أُريعا
amid prosperity and a returning festival,
in safety, in an age untroubled by fear,
وَبَنُوكَand your sons الغُرُّradiant ساداتُlords of الوَرىmankind
وَبَنُوكَ الغُرُّ ساداتُ الوَرى
فيamong الوَرىmankind طابُواthey are noble أصولاًin roots وَفُروعاand branches
في الوَرى طابُوا أصولاً وَفُروعا
and your radiant sons, lords of mankind,
noble among mankind in root and branch,
ماas long as صَباyearns صَبٌّa lover إِلىfor أَوطانِهِhis homelands
ما صَبا صَبٌّ إِلى أَوطانِهِ
نازِحُfar from الدارhome وَاِشتاقَand longs for رُبوعاdwelling places
نازِحُ الدار وَاِشتاقَ رُبوعا
as long as a lover yearns for his homelands,
far from home, and longs for its dwelling places.
Sol 6.1