نُزَجيwe urge onward دِماءblood النَفسِthe soul مِنfrom بَعدِafter إِمضاضٍsearing pain
نُزَجي دِماء النَفسِ مِن بَعدِ إِمضاضٍ
وَيَجذِبُناand drags us يَومٌa day فَيَومٌthen a day بأَمراضwith illnesses
وَيَجذِبُنا يَومٌ فَيَومٌ بأَمراض
We urge life's blood onward after searing pain,
and day after day drags us along with illnesses.
وَكانَand there was لَناfor us فَضلٌa portion مِنof العُمرِlife سابِقٌearlier
وَكانَ لَنا فَضلٌ مِن العُمرِ سابِقٌ
قَطَعناهُwe spent it فيin لَهوٍdiversion وَفيand in نَيلِattaining أَغراضِaims
قَطَعناهُ في لَهوٍ وَفي نَيلِ أَغراضِ
An earlier portion of life was once ours;
we spent it in diversion and pursuing our aims.
مَلِلناwe grew weary وَمَلَّتناand grew weary of us الحَياةُlife فَلوso if أَتَتcame
مَلِلنا وَمَلَّتنا الحَياةُ فَلو أَتَت
شعوبُDeath استَرحناwe would rest مِنfrom مُقاساةِenduring أَعراضِafflictions
شعوبُ استَرحنا مِن مُقاساةِ أَعراضِ
We are weary, and life is weary of us; so if there came
Death, we would rest from enduring these afflictions:
تقاربshortening خَطوsteps وَاِنحِناءand stooping وَشَيبَةand gray hair
تقارب خَطو وَاِنحِناء وَشَيبَة
وَضَعفand weakness لحاظٍof sight وَاِنتِهاضand rising كمنهاضِlike one with broken bones
وَضَعف لحاظٍ وَاِنتِهاض كمنهاضِ
shortened steps, stooping, and gray hair,
failing sight, and rising like someone with broken bones.
وَكُنتُand I was اِمرَأًa man ليfor me بِالعُلومِwith the sciences عَلاقَةٌan attachment
وَكُنتُ اِمرَأً لي بِالعُلومِ عَلاقَةٌ
سَراتيmy back مِنfrom تَكليفِهاburdening it ذاتpossessing اِنقاضِcreaking
سَراتي مِن تَكليفِها ذات اِنقاضِ
I was a man attached to the sciences;
my back creaked from the burdens laid upon it.
عُنيتُI devoted myself بِهاto them إِحدىone وَسَبعينَand seventy حِجَّةًyears
عُنيتُ بِها إِحدى وَسَبعينَ حِجَّةً
نَهاراًby day وَلَيلاًand by night فيin اِجتِهادٍdiligence وَتنهاضِand strenuous effort
نَهاراً وَلَيلاً في اِجتِهادٍ وَتنهاضِ
I devoted myself to them for seventy-one years,
day and night, in diligence and strenuous effort.
فَأكتبso I write فيin التَفسيرِexegesis أَشعارَverses حِكمَةٍof wisdom
فَأكتب في التَفسيرِ أَشعارَ حِكمَةٍ
أَقَرَّconceded لَهاto them الحُسّادُthe envious قَسراًunder compulsion بِأَنغاضِwith head-nodding
أَقَرَّ لَها الحُسّادُ قَسراً بِأَنغاضِ
So I write verses of wisdom in exegesis,
which the envious were forced to acknowledge with nods.
نَضَواthey unsheathed هِمماًresolves فيin نَيلِpursuit of دُنياworldly life عَريضَةٍample
نَضَوا هِمماً في نَيلِ دُنيا عَريضَةٍ
فَنالواso they attained وَإِنّيand indeed I للذيof what نُوِّلُواthey were granted ناضِone who casts off
فَنالوا وَإِنّي للذي نُوِّلُوا ناضِ
They unsheathed their resolves to gain worldly abundance;
they attained it, while I cast off what they were granted.
أَحَبُّواthey loved دَناياهاits baseness فَصارُواso they became عَبيدَهاits slaves
أَحَبُّوا دَناياها فَصارُوا عَبيدَها
وَإِنّيand indeed I حُرٌّam free فيin اِتِّراكٍabandonment وَإِبغاضِand loathing
وَإِنّي حُرٌّ في اِتِّراكٍ وَإِبغاضِ
They loved its baseness and became its slaves,
while I remain free, abandoning and loathing it.
إِذاwhen وَرَدواthey approached to drink قَلتاًa rock-pool مِنof العلمِlearning آجِناًstagnant
إِذا وَرَدوا قَلتاً مِن العلمِ آجِناً
وَرَدتI approached to drink نِطافاclear waters غربةًabundant ملءَfilling أَحواضِbasins
وَرَدت نِطافا غربةً ملءَ أَحواضِ
When they approached a stagnant rock-pool of learning,
I approached abundant clear waters filling whole basins.
ثَلَلتُI toppled بعَضبِwith the keen blade of الحَزمِresolve عَرشَthe throne of فَضائِلٍexcellences
ثَلَلتُ بعَضبِ الحَزمِ عَرشَ فَضائِلٍ
وَهُمwhile they ثَلمُواnicked فيهاin them يَسيراًa little بِمِقراضِwith shears
وَهُم ثَلمُوا فيها يَسيراً بِمِقراضِ
With resolve's keen blade I toppled a throne of excellence,
while they made only slight nicks in those excellences with shears.
وَلَماand when تَناضَلناwe competed in archery لِنَقنِصto hunt شارِداًa fleeing quarry
وَلَما تَناضَلنا لِنَقنِص شارِداً
أَصَبتُI hit بِحَدٍّwith a sharp point إِذwhile أَصابُواthey hit بِمِعراضِwith a blunt shaft
أَصَبتُ بِحَدٍّ إِذ أَصابُوا بِمِعراضِ
When we competed in archery to hunt a fleeing quarry,
I struck with a sharp point, while they struck with a blunt shaft.
فَصارَso there became لَناours حَظٌa share مِنof العلمِlearning وافِرٌabundant
فَصارَ لَنا حَظٌ مِن العلمِ وافِرٌ
وَهُمwhile they قَدalready رَضُواwere content مِنهُof it بِإدراكِwith attaining أَبعاضِportions
وَهُم قَد رَضُوا مِنهُ بِإدراكِ أَبعاضِ
Thus we gained an abundant share of learning,
while they were content to attain only portions of it.
وَماand not الفَضلُexcellence إِلاexcept أَنthat يرىbe seen المَرءُa man أُمةًa whole community
وَما الفَضلُ إِلا أَن يرى المَرءُ أُمةً
فَريداًunique تَهادىpassed along ذكرَهُhis renown كُلُّevery رَكّاضِswift rider
فَريداً تَهادى ذكرَهُ كُلُّ رَكّاضِ
True excellence is for a man to be seen as a whole community,
unique, his renown passed along by every swift rider,
يَطوفُhe roams عَلىacross الآفاقِthe horizons ينشُرُspreading فَضلَهُhis merit
يَطوفُ عَلى الآفاقِ ينشُرُ فَضلَهُ
ثَناءًin praise كَمثلِlike المِسكِmusk فُتَّcrushed بِمِرضاضِwith a pestle
ثَناءً كَمثلِ المِسكِ فُتَّ بِمِرضاضِ
ranging across the horizons, spreading his merit
in praise like musk ground with a pestle.
وَإِنَّand indeed اِمرأًa man قَدindeed حازَacquired علماًknowledge وَلَمand did not يَكُنbe
وَإِنَّ اِمرأً قَد حازَ علماً وَلَم يَكُن
يَجودُgive generously بِهِof it كَالفَأرِlike a mouse عاشَlived بِمِرحاضِin a privy
يَجودُ بِهِ كَالفَأرِ عاشَ بِمِرحاضِ
A man who has acquired knowledge but does not
share it generously is like a mouse living in a privy.
تَرىyou see الشَيخَthe elder مِنهُمamong them شاتِماًinsulting لِذَويthose endowed with النُهىreason
تَرى الشَيخَ مِنهُم شاتِماً لِذَوي النُهى
تَسَلُّطَwith the aggression of كَلبٍa dog كاشِرِbaring النابِthe fang مِعضاضِgiven to biting
تَسَلُّطَ كَلبٍ كاشِرِ النابِ مِعضاضِ
You see an elder among them insulting people of reason,
with the aggression of a biting dog, its fang bared.
وَأَقرَضَهُمand he lent them قَرضاًa loan of abuse قَبيحاًfoul حَياتَهُthroughout his life
وَأَقرَضَهُم قَرضاً قَبيحاً حَياتَهُ
فإذاand when ماتَhe died جازَوهُthey repaid him بِأَقبحwith fouler إِقراضِlending of abuse
فإذا ماتَ جازَوهُ بِأَقبح إِقراضِ
He lent them a foul loan of abuse throughout his life;
when he died, they repaid him with a fouler loan.
فَذَلِكso that man إِنif يَهلَكhe perishes فَلاthen no ذاكِرٌone remembering لَهُhim
فَذَلِك إِن يَهلَك فَلا ذاكِرٌ لَهُ
بِخَيرٍwith kindness وَلاnor ناسيهِone forgetting him مِنamong شَرِّthe vilest قَرّاضِslanderers
بِخَيرٍ وَلا ناسيهِ مِن شَرِّ قَرّاضِ
If that man perishes, no one remembers him
kindly, nor does any vicious slanderer forget him.
وَقالواand they said أَبوAbu حَيانHayyan كانَwas معلِّماa teacher
وَقالوا أَبو حَيان كانَ معلِّما
بِخَلقٍwith a disposition رَضِيٍّpleasing لِلتَلاميذِtoward pupils مُرتاضِgentle and disciplined
بِخَلقٍ رَضِيٍّ لِلتَلاميذِ مُرتاضِ
And they said: Abu Hayyan was a teacher
of kindly character, gentle and disciplined with his pupils.
فَماand not كانَwas he نَجاهاًharshly scolding وَلاnor شاتِماًinsulting لِمَنtoward those whom
فَما كانَ نَجاهاً وَلا شاتِماً لِمَن
يَعلِّمُهhe teaches him بَلrather خُلقُهhis character طيِّبٌkind راضِcontented
يَعلِّمُه بَل خُلقُه طيِّبٌ راضِ
He was never harsh or insulting toward those
he taught; rather, his nature was kind and contented.
لَقَدindeed فُجِعَwere bereaved الأَصحابُthe companions مِنهُin losing him بِأَوحَدٍof a peerless man
لَقَد فُجِعَ الأَصحابُ مِنهُ بِأَوحَدٍ
بِبَحرٍof a sea زَخورٍsurging بِالفَضائلِwith virtues فيّاضِoverflowing
بِبَحرٍ زَخورٍ بِالفَضائلِ فيّاضِ
His companions were indeed bereaved of a peerless man,
a surging sea overflowing with virtues,
أَليفٍa companion لِقُرآنٍof the Qur'an حَليفٍan ally لسُنةٍof the Sunna
أَليفٍ لِقُرآنٍ حَليفٍ لسُنةٍ
عَنfrom الشَرِّevil مِبطاءٍslow-moving إِلىtoward الخَيرِgood نَهّاضِswift to rise
عَن الشَرِّ مِبطاءٍ إِلى الخَيرِ نَهّاضِ
a companion of the Qur'an, an ally of the Sunna,
slow toward evil, swift to rise for good,
عليمٍwell versed بِتَنقادِin criticizing الكَلامِdiscourse وَصوغِهِand fashioning it
عليمٍ بِتَنقادِ الكَلامِ وَصوغِهِ
إِلىinto كُلِّevery مُعتاصٍintractable matter عَنbeyond الفَهمِunderstanding خَوّاضِone who plunges
إِلى كُلِّ مُعتاصٍ عَن الفَهمِ خَوّاضِ
well versed in criticizing discourse and fashioning it,
plunging into every matter beyond easy understanding.
فَسَلso ask فسرthe commentary of كَشّافٍal-Kashshaf وَفسرَand the commentary of وَجيزِهمtheir al-Wajiz
فَسَل فسر كَشّافٍ وَفسرَ وَجيزِهم
لَقَدindeed أَدجَياthe two grew dark مِنfrom نَقدِهhis criticism بَعدَafter إِيماضِflashing light
لَقَد أَدجَيا مِن نَقدِه بَعدَ إِيماضِ
Ask the commentary al-Kashshaf and their al-Wajiz commentary:
both grew dark under his criticism after their flashes of light.
وَتَسهيلُهُمand their al-Tashil قَدindeed راضَهُhe tamed it ناقِداًas a critic لَهُof it
وَتَسهيلُهُم قَد راضَهُ ناقِداً لَهُ
فَياso, what حِذقَskill نقّادٍof a discerning critic وَياand what رِفقَgentleness روّاضِof a tamer
فَيا حِذقَ نقّادٍ وَيا رِفقَ روّاضِ
He tamed their al-Tashil while critically examining it;
what skill in a critic, what gentleness in a tamer!
وَمَنand whoever يَعنَdevotes himself بِالتَسهيلِto al-Tashil يَرأسbecomes a leader بِفَهمِهِthrough understanding it
وَمَن يَعنَ بِالتَسهيلِ يَرأس بِفَهمِهِ
وَقاريand a reader سِواهُof anything else فيis in عَناءٍhardship وَإِحراضِand wasting exhaustion
وَقاري سِواهُ في عَناءٍ وَإِحراضِ
Whoever studies al-Tashil becomes a leader through understanding it;
readers of other works face hardship and exhaustion.
كِتابٌa book نَفيسٌprecious لَمnot يُؤلَّفhas been composed نَظيرُهُits equal
كِتابٌ نَفيسٌ لَم يُؤلَّف نَظيرُهُ
غَداit became زُبدةًthe cream فيin النَحوِgrammar مِنfrom بعدِafter تَمخاضِchurning
غَدا زُبدةً في النَحوِ مِن بعدِ تَمخاضِ
A precious book, whose equal has never been composed,
it became the cream of grammar after churning.
بِهِby it نُسِختwere superseded كُتبُthe books النَحاةِof the grammarians وَمُزِّقَتand torn apart
بِهِ نُسِخت كُتبُ النَحاةِ وَمُزِّقَت
فَصارَتso they became هَباءًdust طارَthat flew فيthroughout كُلِّevery أَراضِland
فَصارَت هَباءً طارَ في كُلِّ أَراضِ
By it the grammarians' books were superseded and torn apart,
becoming dust that flew throughout every land.
وَماand not النَحوُgrammar إِلاexcept ماwhat جَمَعناwe gathered بِشَرحِهِin its commentary
وَما النَحوُ إِلا ما جَمَعنا بِشَرحِهِ
لحازَit indeed encompassed الَّذيwhat قالوهُthey said it فيin العصرthe age الماضيpast
لحازَ الَّذي قالوهُ في العصر الماضي
Grammar is nothing but what we gathered in its commentary;
it encompassed what they said in bygone times,
وَفاقَand surpassed بِتَنقيحٍthrough refinement وَتَفصيلِand elaboration of مُجمَلٍwhat was condensed
وَفاقَ بِتَنقيحٍ وَتَفصيلِ مُجمَلٍ
وَتَرتيبِand ordering of تَخليطٍconfusion وَتَصحيحِand correction of مِمراضِwhat was ailing
وَتَرتيبِ تَخليطٍ وَتَصحيحِ مِمراضِ
and surpassed it through refinement and unfolding what was condensed,
ordering confusion and correcting what was ailing,
وَإِيجادِand supplying مَعدومٍwhat was missing وَإِيجازِand abridging مُسهَبwhat was lengthy
وَإِيجادِ مَعدومٍ وَإِيجازِ مُسهَب
وَتَعيينِand specifying إِبهامٍambiguity وَتَوضيحِand clarifying إِغماضِobscurity
وَتَعيينِ إِبهامٍ وَتَوضيحِ إِغماضِ
supplying what was missing and abridging what was lengthy,
making the vague precise and the obscure clear.
وَإِنand indeed كِتابَthe book الارتشافِal-Irtishaf لَزائِدٌcertainly adds more
وَإِن كِتابَ الارتشافِ لَزائِدٌ
عَلَيهِto it بِأَحكامٍwith rules غَدَتthat became طَوعَsubject to نَفّاضِa searching examiner
عَلَيهِ بِأَحكامٍ غَدَت طَوعَ نَفّاضِ
And the book al-Irtishaf adds still more
to it, with rules brought under a searching examiner's command.
نَفَضتُI shook out عَلَيهِinto it لُبَّthe essence of ماwhat قَدalready كَتَبتُهُI wrote it
نَفَضتُ عَلَيهِ لُبَّ ما قَد كَتَبتُهُ
بِتذكِرَتيin my Tadhkira فَاختالَso it strutted زَهواًproudly بِتَنفاضيthrough my sifting
بِتذكِرَتي فَاختالَ زَهواً بِتَنفاضي
Into it I shook the essence of what I had written
in my Tadhkira, and it strutted proudly with my siftings.
وَرتَّبتُهُand I arranged it بِالعَقلِwith reason وَاختَرتُand I chose لَفظهُits wording
وَرتَّبتُهُ بِالعَقلِ وَاختَرتُ لَفظهُ
وَمَثَّلتُهُand I illustrated it كَيso that يُستفادَbenefit might be gained بِإِيقاضِthrough awakening
وَمَثَّلتُهُ كَي يُستفادَ بِإِيقاضِ
I arranged it rationally and selected its wording,
and illustrated it with examples so readers could benefit through awakened insight.
وَزادَand it exceeded عَلىbeyond التَسهيلِal-Tashil مثليهِtwice its measure فَازدَهىso it exulted
وَزادَ عَلى التَسهيلِ مثليهِ فَازدَهى
عَلىover كُلِّevery تَأليفٍcomposition طوالٍvery long وَعرّاضِand broad
عَلى كُلِّ تَأليفٍ طوالٍ وَعرّاضِ
It exceeded al-Tashil by twice its measure, and stood proudly
above every composition, long and wide-ranging.
فَجاءَso it emerged غَريبَunique in الوَضعِarrangement لَمnot يَأتِhas produced عالمٌa scholar
فَجاءَ غَريبَ الوَضعِ لَم يَأتِ عالمٌ
لَهُfor it بِنَظيرٍan equal بلهَlet alone عَصريَa contemporary of mine أَوor ماضِa predecessor
لَهُ بِنَظيرٍ بلهَ عَصريَ أَو ماضِ
It emerged unique in arrangement; no scholar has produced
its equal, much less any contemporary of mine or predecessor.
وَمَنand whoever لَمnot يَكُنis فيin العلمِlearning مُنتَمياًaffiliated لَناwith us
وَمَن لَم يَكُن في العلمِ مُنتَمياً لَنا
فَذاكَthen that man دَعِيٌّa pretender فيهِin it حُكماًby a judgment مِنfrom القاضيthe judge
فَذاكَ دَعِيٌّ فيهِ حُكماً مِن القاضي
Whoever is not affiliated with us in learning
is a pretender to it, by the judge's verdict.
وَياand O عَجَباًwhat wonder مِنat مُدَّعِينَthose claiming فَضيلَةًdistinction
وَيا عَجَباً مِن مُدَّعِينَ فَضيلَةً
بِنزرٍthrough a scant handful مِنof الأَوراقِpages ذاتِpossessing إِنقاضِcrackling
بِنزرٍ مِن الأَوراقِ ذاتِ إِنقاضِ
How astonishing are those who claim distinction
with a scant handful of crackling pages!
رَأَواthey deemed سيبويهِSibawayh تِلكَthose الأَوراقَpages فَاِكتَفَواso they contented themselves
رَأَوا سيبويهِ تِلكَ الأَوراقَ فَاِكتَفَوا
بِهاwith them كَظِماءٍlike thirsty she-camels حينَat the time of بلّةَa moistening أَبراضِscant trickles
بِها كَظِماءٍ حينَ بلّةَ أَبراضِ
They took those pages for Sibawayh, and contented themselves
with them, like thirsty she-camels with a few scant drips.
فَماbut not رَوِيَتwere slaked مِنهاby them وَأَلقَتand they cast out أَجِنَّةًunborn young
فَما رَوِيَت مِنها وَأَلقَت أَجِنَّةً
لِغَيرِat less than تَمامٍfull term قَدalready رَغَونَthey bellowed لإِجهاضِbecause of miscarriage
لِغَيرِ تَمامٍ قَد رَغَونَ لإِجهاضِ
They were not slaked by them, and cast their unborn young
before full term, bellowing as they miscarried.
وَكانواand they were كَتُرّاكٍlike those abandoning لَذيذdelicious حلاوَةٍsweetness
وَكانوا كَتُرّاكٍ لَذيذ حلاوَةٍ
وَقَدwhile indeed آثَرواthey preferred مَضغاًchewing لِدِفلىof oleander وَحُمّاضِand sorrel
وَقَد آثَروا مَضغاً لِدِفلى وَحُمّاضِ
They were like those who abandon delicious sweetness,
preferring to chew oleander and sour sorrel.
وَلَماand when غَنُواthey dispensed عَنwith سيبويهِSibawayh تَعوَّضواthey took instead
وَلَما غَنُوا عَن سيبويهِ تَعوَّضوا
بكُنّاشَةٍwith a notebook جَدّاءَbarren مِنamong شَرِّthe worst أَعواضِsubstitutes
بكُنّاشَةٍ جَدّاءَ مِن شَرِّ أَعواضِ
When they dispensed with Sibawayh, they took in exchange
a barren notebook, among the worst of substitutes.
وَماand not وارِدُone approaching البَحرِthe sea المُحيطِall-encompassing كَلاجئٍlike one seeking refuge
وَما وارِدُ البَحرِ المُحيطِ كَلاجئٍ
إِلىin ثَمَدٍa shallow pool نَزرِscant in البَلالَةِmoisture غَيّاضِquick to dry up
إِلى ثَمَدٍ نَزرِ البَلالَةِ غَيّاضِ
One who approaches the encompassing ocean is not like one seeking refuge
in a shallow pool, scant of moisture and quick to dry.
لَسَهَّلتُI have indeed made easy هَذاthis العلمَscience حَتّىuntil لَقَدindeed غَداit became
لَسَهَّلتُ هَذا العلمَ حَتّى لَقَد غَدا
كَشَربَةِlike a draught of ماءٍwater قَدalready جَرىhas flowed علوَover رَضراضِpebbles
كَشَربَةِ ماءٍ قَد جَرى علوَ رَضراضِ
I have indeed made this science so easy that it has become
like a draught of water that has flowed over pebbles,
مَشُوباmingled بشَهدٍwith honeycomb فَهوَso it يَنساغslips easily فيthrough اللُهىthe throats
مَشُوبا بشَهدٍ فَهوَ يَنساغ في اللُهى
وَللقلبِand to the heart يَسريit flows فيin صَفاءٍclarity وَتَمحاضِand purity
وَللقلبِ يَسري في صَفاءٍ وَتَمحاضِ
mingled with honeycomb, slipping smoothly down the throat,
and flowing to the heart in clarity and purity.
فَإِنso if أُمسِI reach evening قَدalready أَقوَتhas become deserted مِنof العلمlearning حَضرَتيmy gathering
فَإِن أُمسِ قَد أَقوَت مِن العلم حَضرَتي
وَأَصبَحتُand I reach morning نَفضاًa scattered remnant هامِداًlifeless بَينَamong أَنقاضِruins
وَأَصبَحتُ نَفضاً هامِداً بَينَ أَنقاضِ
If I reach an evening when my gathering is empty of learning,
and morning finds me a lifeless remnant among ruins,
فَماyet not ماتَhas died مَنone who أَبقىleft behind تَآليفَwritings زانَهاadorned them
فَما ماتَ مَن أَبقى تَآليفَ زانَها
تَلاميذُpupils كُلٌّeach فيin مباحيثِهِhis inquiries ماضِadvancing
تَلاميذُ كُلٌّ في مباحيثِهِ ماضِ
one who leaves writings has not died, writings adorned by
pupils, each advancing in his inquiries.
لِيَهناlet rejoice بَنوthe sons of الأَعرابِthe Bedouins أَنthat كُنتُI was شَيخَهُمtheir master
لِيَهنا بَنو الأَعرابِ أَن كُنتُ شَيخَهُم
وَأنهضتُهمand I raised them فيin عِلمِهِits science أَيّwhat إِنهاضِa raising
وَأنهضتُهم في عِلمِهِ أَيّ إِنهاضِ
May the sons of the Bedouins rejoice that I was their master,
and raised them in that science—what a raising!
فَصارُواso they became رُؤوساًleaders يُقتَدىexample is taken بِأَتباعِهِمfrom their followers
فَصارُوا رُؤوساً يُقتَدى بِأَتباعِهِم
كُسُواthey were clothed مِنin دُروعِarmor الفَضلِof excellence أَكمَلthe most perfect فَضفاضِample mail
كُسُوا مِن دُروعِ الفَضلِ أَكمَل فَضفاضِ
They became leaders whose followers are themselves emulated,
clothed in excellence's most perfect, ample armor.
حَوَواthey won قَصَباتِthe prize-reeds of السَبقِprecedence علماًin learning وَسُؤدداًand eminence
حَوَوا قَصَباتِ السَبقِ علماً وَسُؤدداً
فَماso no فَاضِلٌman of merit عَماin exchange for what حَوَوهُthey attained it بِمعتاضِwould take a substitute
فَما فَاضِلٌ عَما حَوَوهُ بِمعتاضِ
They won the prize-reeds in learning and eminence;
no man of merit would exchange their attainments for anything else.
إِذاwhen باحِثٌan inquirer وَافىarrived يخبِّطُblundering قابَلُواthey met
إِذا باحِثٌ وَافى يخبِّطُ قابَلُوا
تَخابيطَهُhis blunders صَفحاًforgivingly بِتَركٍby leaving aside وَإعراضِand turning away
تَخابيطَهُ صَفحاً بِتَركٍ وَإعراضِ
When a blundering inquirer comes, they meet
his blunders with forbearance, leaving them and turning away.
وَإِنand if كانَhe was ذاpossessed of فهمٍunderstanding وَعِلمٍand learning وَإِنand even if هَفاhe slipped
وَإِن كانَ ذا فهمٍ وَعِلمٍ وَإِن هَفا
فَيُغضُونَthen they turn a blind eye عَنهُto him فيin وِدادٍaffection وَإحماضِand lighthearted banter
فَيُغضُونَ عَنهُ في وِدادٍ وَإحماضِ
If he has understanding and learning, even if he slips,
they overlook his lapse with affection and lighthearted banter.
وَإِنand if لجَّhe persists فيin بَحثٍan argument لَهُof his فاسِدٍunsound غَداhe becomes
وَإِن لجَّ في بَحثٍ لَهُ فاسِدٍ غَدا
كَعُروةlike Urwa دمّىbloodied رَأسَهhis head فَتكُthe treacherous assault of برّاضِBarrad
كَعُروة دمّى رَأسَه فَتكُ برّاضِ
But if he persists in an unsound argument of his, he becomes
like Urwa, his head bloodied by Barrad's treacherous assault.
جَهابِذُmasters نَقّادُونَdiscerning critics يَجرحُwounds نَقدُهُمtheir criticism
جَهابِذُ نَقّادُونَ يَجرحُ نَقدُهُم
كَحيَّةlike a snake of لِصبٍa rock-crevice هامزِjabbing with النابِthe fang نَضناضِdarting its tongue
كَحيَّة لِصبٍ هامزِ النابِ نَضناضِ
Masters and discerning critics, their criticism wounds
like a crevice-snake, stabbing with its fang, its tongue darting.
يَفوقُونَthey surpass نَحويthe grammarians of الوجودthe world بِفطنَةٍin acuity
يَفوقُونَ نَحوي الوجود بِفطنَةٍ
لِسُرعَةِthrough swiftness of إِدراكunderstanding وَسُرعَةِand swiftness of إِنباضِtwanging the bowstring
لِسُرعَةِ إِدراك وَسُرعَةِ إِنباضِ
They surpass the world's grammarians in acuity,
through swift understanding and swift twanging of the bowstring.
فَلاso neither مَغرِبٌWest كلاindeed not وَلاnor مَشرِقٌEast حَوىhas contained
فَلا مَغرِبٌ كلا وَلا مَشرِقٌ حَوى
كَأَمثالِهِمany like them فيin عَصرِناour age ذاthis وَلاnor الماضيthe past
كَأَمثالِهِم في عَصرِنا ذا وَلا الماضي
Neither West—no indeed—nor East has ever held
their like, in this age of ours or in the past.
Sol 6.1