مَنwhoever لَيسَis not بِالباكيone who weeps وَلاnor المُتَباكيone trying to weep
مَن لَيسَ بِالباكي وَلا المُتَباكي
لِقَبيحِover the ugliness of ماwhat يَأتيhe does فَلَيسَthen he is not بِزاكِpure
لِقَبيحِ ما يَأتي فَلَيسَ بِزاكِ
Whoever neither weeps nor tries to weep
He who does not weep, nor makes others weep, over the ugly things he does, he is not chaste.
over the vile deeds he does is not pure.
The world called me, so I said to it: "Make yourself short! Whoever fills his pockets in you is not wise."
نادَتcalled بِيَto me الدُنياthe world فَقُلتُso I said لَهاto her اِقصِريdesist
نادَت بِيَ الدُنيا فَقُلتُ لَها اِقصِري
ماnot عُدَّwas counted فيamong الأَكياسِthe discerning مَنwhoever لَبّاكِanswered your call
ما عُدَّ في الأَكياسِ مَن لَبّاكِ
The world called to me; I told her: Desist!
And when the righteous are close to God, not an eminent or lowly man approaches Him.
None who answered your call was counted among the discerning.
You kept deceiving me with tricky lightning, and had I been guided, I would not have been deceived by that.
وَلَمّاand never صَفاstood pure عِندَbefore الإِلَهِGod وَلاnor دَناdrew near
وَلَمّا صَفا عِندَ الإِلَهِ وَلا دَنا
منهُto Him اِمرُؤٌa man صافاكِbefriended you أَوor داناكِkept close to you
منهُ اِمرُؤٌ صافاكِ أَو داناكِ
No man has stood pure before God or drawn near
It said to me: "Does not the length of your wing make you arrogant?" As if by it you have set traps for me!
to Him while befriending you or keeping close to you.
By God, there is no place of comfort on earth except that my traps have been set upon it.
مازِلتِyou have never ceased خادِعَتيdeceiving me بِبَرقٍwith lightning خُلَّبٍrainless
مازِلتِ خادِعَتي بِبَرقٍ خُلَّبٍ
وَلَوand if اِهتَدَيتُI had found guidance لَماthen not اِنخَدَعتُI would have been deceived لِذاكِby that
وَلَو اِهتَدَيتُ لَما اِنخَدَعتُ لِذاكِ
You have never ceased deceiving me with rainless lightning;
Fly however you wish, for you will fall into it, helpless, with no hope of escape.
had I found guidance, I would not have been deceived by that.
Whoever tries to gore me with his horn in battle, I floor him without a fight.
قالَتshe said أَغَرَّكَhas it deceived you? مِنof جَناحِكَyour wing طولُهُits length
قالَت أَغَرَّكَ مِن جَناحِكَ طولُهُ
وَكَأَنَّand as though بِهِit قَدalready قُصَّwas clipped فيin أَشراكيmy snares
وَكَأَنَّ بِهِ قَد قُصَّ في أَشراكي
She said: Has the length of your wing deceived you?
I do not know polished swords or spears, yet I have crushed the armed warrior.
Yet it is as though already clipped within my snares.
How many tyrants have I buried in their lairs! And how many have I destroyed with the blows of the killer!
تَاللَهِby God ماthere is no فيon الأَرضِthe earth مَوضِعُa place of راحَةٍrest
تَاللَهِ ما في الأَرضِ مَوضِعُ راحَةٍ
إِلّاbut وَقَدand already نُصِبَتhave been set عَلَيهِover it شِباكيmy nets
إِلّا وَقَد نُصِبَت عَلَيهِ شِباكي
By God, there is no resting place on earth
So I answered it, astonished by its betrayal: "Do you repay with hatred those who love you?"
but my nets have already been set over it.
I will keep my eyes on your sons, for they are all either your prisoners, or your wounded, or your dead.
طِرfly كَيفَhowever شِئتَyou wish فَأَنتَfor you are فيهاinto them واقِعٌbound to fall
طِر كَيفَ شِئتَ فَأَنتَ فيها واقِعٌ
عانٍa captive بِهاin them لايُرتَجىnot hoped for لِفَكاكِfor release
عانٍ بِها لايُرتَجى لِفَكاكِ
Fly as you please; you are bound to fall into them,
If they were to charge you for your treatment of them, they would spend their whole lives seeking revenge.
a captive in them, with no hope of release.
You have blinded their minds and the light of their hearts, so they desperately rush after your sweets.
مَنwhoever كانَused to يَصرَعُfell قِرنَهُhis rival فيin مَعرَكٍbattle
مَن كانَ يَصرَعُ قِرنَهُ في مَعرَكٍ
فَعَلَيَّthen upon me صَرعَتُهُfelling him بِغَيرِwithout عِراكِa fight
فَعَلَيَّ صَرعَتُهُ بِغَيرِ عِراكِ
Whoever could fell his rival in battle,
It is as if they are flies that have fallen into sticky honey, until they are completely destroyed and perish.
I shall bring him down without a fight.
You were no mother to us who cared for her children after giving birth. How brief is your life!
ماnot أَعرِفُI know العَضبَthe keen sword الصَقيلَthe polished وَلاnor القَناspears
ما أَعرِفُ العَضبَ الصَقيلَ وَلا القَنا
وَلَقَدand indeed بَطَشتُI struck down بِذيthe bearer of السِلاحِweapons الشاكيfully armed
وَلَقَد بَطَشتُ بِذي السِلاحِ الشاكي
I know neither the keen, polished sword nor spears,
And we know a mother is affectionate to her son, yet you are so harsh!
yet I have struck down the fully armed warrior.
Whoever dwells upon your back or takes shelter in you will surely be crushed in the dirt of your path.
كَمhow many a ضَيغَمٍlion عَفَّرتُهُI rolled him in dust بِعَرينِهِin his den
كَم ضَيغَمٍ عَفَّرتُهُ بِعَرينِهِ
وَلَكَمand how often فَتَكتُI slew بِأَفتَكِthe deadliest of الفُتّاكِkillers
وَلَكَم فَتَكتُ بِأَفتَكِ الفُتّاكِ
How many a lion have I rolled in dust within his den!
You are a mirage, you are a hidden disease in the ribs - how difficult is your cure!
And how often have I slain the deadliest killers!
God is disobeyed when you are obeyed, and obeying my Lord means breaking your staff.
فَأَجَبتُهاso I answered her مُتَعَجِّباًmarveling مِنat غَدرِهاher treachery
فَأَجَبتُها مُتَعَجِّباً مِن غَدرِها
أَجزَيتِhave you repaid? بِالبَغضاءِwith hatred مَنwhoever يَهواكِloves you
أَجزَيتِ بِالبَغضاءِ مَن يَهواكِ
So I answered her, marveling at her treachery:
It is our duty to be good to our mothers, but disobeying them is forbidden - except for you!
Have you repaid with hatred the one who loves you?
Whether poverty or wealth continues in you, your poverty and wealth are the same to us.
لَأَجَلتُindeed I turned عَينيmy eye فيover بَنيكِyour children فَكُلَّهُمand all of them
لَأَجَلتُ عَيني في بَنيكِ فَكُلَّهُم
أَسراكِyour captives أَوor جُرحاكِyour wounded أَوor صَرعاكِyour slain
أَسراكِ أَو جُرحاكِ أَو صَرعاكِ
I have indeed cast my gaze over your children: all are
Where are the arrogant tyrants and their feathers? They have taken to silk after wool.
your captives, your wounded, or your slain.
Their faces were like full moons but are now shrouded in your black robes.
لَوif قارَضوكِthey repaid you عَلىfor صَنيعُكِyour treatment فيهِمُof them
لَو قارَضوكِ عَلى صَنيعُكِ فيهِمُ
قَطَعواthey would spend مَدىthe span of أَعمارِهِمtheir lifetimes بِقِلاكِin hating you
قَطَعوا مَدى أَعمارِهِم بِقِلاكِ
Had they repaid you for your treatment of them,
They turned away from worshiping the Master of the Heavens on High, the Lord of all and Subduer of angels.
they would have spent their lifetimes hating you.
By the majesty of my Lord, if my determination were sound, I would abandon you and not seek another.
طَمَسَتwere effaced عُقولُهُمtheir minds وَنورُand the light of قُلوبِهِمtheir hearts
طَمَسَت عُقولُهُم وَنورُ قُلوبِهِم
فَتَهافَتواso they rushed headlong حِرصاًgreedily عَلىfor حَلواكِyour sweetness
فَتَهافَتوا حِرصاً عَلى حَلواكِ
Their minds and the light of their hearts were blotted out,
I would take my provision of piety from you and strengthen my faith by breaking your bonds.
so they rushed headlong, greedy for your sweetness.
I would pitch my tent under the banners of guidance so that when God saw me under His banner,
فَكَأَنَّهُمso it is as if they مِثلُlike الذُبابِflies تَساقَطَتfell one after another
فَكَأَنَّهُم مِثلُ الذُبابِ تَساقَطَت
فيinto الأَريhoney حَتّىuntil اِستُؤصِلواthey were wiped out بِهَلاكِby death
في الأَري حَتّى اِستُؤصِلوا بِهَلاكِ
They were like flies, tumbling
He would say: "Wait for her, for decay will overtake her and she will be without land or heaven."
into honey, until death wiped them out.
And our Lord who gives death to us all will resurrect us to please none but those He pleased.
لاmay ... not كُنتِyou exist مِنas أُمٍّa mother لَناto us أَكّالَةٍa voracious devourer
لا كُنتِ مِن أُمٍّ لَنا أَكّالَةٍ
بَعدَafter الوِلادَةِgiving birth ماhow أَقَلَّlittle حَياكِyour sense of shame
بَعدَ الوِلادَةِ ما أَقَلَّ حَياكِ
May you perish, mother who devours us
By God, the beloved of the King is none but the intelligent one who constantly worries Him.
after giving birth—how little shame you have!
He abandoned false lovers, connecting to devoted hearts who smile with love for the crying saint.
وَلَقَدand indeed عَهِدناwe have known الأُمَّa mother تَلطُفُto be gentle بِاِبنِهاwith her son
وَلَقَد عَهِدنا الأُمَّ تَلطُفُ بِاِبنِها
عَطفاًout of tenderness عَلَيهِfor him وَأَنتِbut you ماhow أَقساكِcruel you are
عَطفاً عَلَيهِ وَأَنتِ ما أَقساكِ
We have known a mother to treat her son gently,
I stay up for them, not for doves crying over the branches of cypress trees.
out of tenderness for him—but you, how cruel you are!
No life is pure for kings - rather, the life of ascetics is pure and praised.
ماthere is no فَوقَupon ظَهرِكِyour back قاطِنٌresident أَوor ظاعِنٌtraveler
ما فَوقَ ظَهرِكِ قاطِنٌ أَو ظاعِنٌ
إِلّاbut سَيُهَشَمُwill be crushed فيon ثِفالِthe mat beneath رَحاكِyour millstone
إِلّا سَيُهَشَمُ في ثِفالِ رَحاكِ
No one upon your back, settled or traveling,
And from God, prayers upon the Prophet, as numerous as the stars and equal to the angels.
but will be crushed on the mat beneath your millstone.
أَنتِyou are السَرابُthe mirage وَأَنتِand you are داءٌa sickness كامِنٌhidden
أَنتِ السَرابُ وَأَنتِ داءٌ كامِنٌ
بَينَbetween الضُلوعِthe ribs فَماso how أَعَزَّelusive دَواكِyour cure
بَينَ الضُلوعِ فَما أَعَزَّ دَواكِ
You are the mirage, and you are a hidden sickness
between the ribs—how elusive your cure!
يُعصىis disobeyed الإِلَهُGod إِذاwhen أُطِعتِyou are obeyed وَطاعَتيand my obedience
يُعصى الإِلَهُ إِذا أُطِعتِ وَطاعَتي
لِلَهِto God رَبّيmy Lord أَنthat أَشُقَّI split عَصاكِyour staff
لِلَهِ رَبّي أَن أَشُقَّ عَصاكِ
God is disobeyed when you are obeyed; my obedience
to God, my Lord, is to split your staff.
فَرضٌa duty عَلَيناupon us بِرُّناour honoring of أُمّاتِناour mothers
فَرضٌ عَلَينا بِرُّنا أُمّاتِنا
وَعُقوقُهُنَّand disobedience to them مُحَرَّمٌforbidden إِلّاكِexcept you
وَعُقوقُهُنَّ مُحَرَّمٌ إِلّاكِ
Honoring our mothers is a duty laid upon us;
and disobedience to them is forbidden—except to you.
ماnot إِنindeed يَدومُendures الفَقرُpoverty فيكِin you وَلاnor الغِنىwealth
ما إِن يَدومُ الفَقرُ فيكِ وَلا الغِنى
سِيّانُequal فَقرُكِyour poverty عِندَناto us وَغِناكِand your wealth
سِيّانُ فَقرُكِ عِندَنا وَغِناكِ
Neither poverty nor wealth endures in you;
your poverty and your wealth are equal in our eyes.
أَينَwhere are الجَبابِرَةُthe tyrants الأُلىof old وَرِياشُهُمand their finery
أَينَ الجَبابِرَةُ الأُلى وَرِياشُهُم
قَدalready باشَرواthey touched directly بَعدَafter الحَريرِsilk ثَراكِyour dust
قَد باشَروا بَعدَ الحَريرِ ثَراكِ
Where are the tyrants of old, and their finery?
After silk, they have lain against your dust.
وَلَطالَماand how often رُدّواthey were clothed بِأَردِيَةِin robes of البَهاsplendor
وَلَطالَما رُدّوا بِأَردِيَةِ البَها
فَتَعَوَّضواthen they took instead مِنهاin their place رِداءَa robe of رَداكِyour death
فَتَعَوَّضوا مِنها رِداءَ رَداكِ
How often they were clothed in robes of splendor,
then exchanged them for your robe of death!
كانَتwere وجوهُهُمُtheir faces كَأَقمارِlike moons of الدُجاdarkness
كانَت وجوهُهُمُ كَأَقمارِ الدُجا
فَغَدَتthen became مُسَجّاةًshrouded بِثَوبِin the garment of دُجاكِyour darkness
فَغَدَت مُسَجّاةً بِثَوبِ دُجاكِ
Their faces once were like moons in the darkness,
then lay shrouded in the garment of your darkness,
وَعَنَتand bowed لِقَيّومِbefore the Sustainer of السَماواتِthe heavens العُلاthe lofty
وَعَنَت لِقَيّومِ السَماواتِ العُلا
رَبِّLord of الجَميعِall وَقاهِرِand Subduer of الأَملاكِkings
رَبِّ الجَميعِ وَقاهِرِ الأَملاكِ
and bowed before the Sustainer of the lofty heavens,
Lord of all and Subduer of kings.
وَجَلالِby the majesty of رَبّيmy Lord لَوif تَصِحُّwere firm عَزائِميmy resolves
وَجَلالِ رَبّي لَو تَصِحُّ عَزائِمي
لَزَهِدتُI would lose interest فيكِin you وَلَاِبتَغَيتُand I would seek سِواكِother than you
لَزَهِدتُ فيكِ وَلَاِبتَغَيتُ سِواكِ
By my Lord's majesty, if my resolves were firm,
I would renounce you and seek something other than you,
وَأَخَذتُand I would take زاديَmy provision مِنكِfrom you مَنof عَمَلِthe deeds of التُقىpiety
وَأَخَذتُ زاديَ مِنكِ مَن عَمَلِ التُقى
وَشَدَدتُand I would strengthen إيمانيmy faith بِنَقضِby undoing عُراكِyour bonds
وَشَدَدتُ إيماني بِنَقضِ عُراكِ
and take from you my provision of pious deeds,
and strengthen my faith by undoing your bonds,
وَحَطَطتُand I would set down رَحليmy saddle تَحتَbeneath أَلوِيَةِthe banners of الهُدىguidance
وَحَطَطتُ رَحلي تَحتَ أَلوِيَةِ الهُدى
وَلَمّاand would not رَآنيsee me اللَهُGod تَحتَbeneath لِواكِyour banner
وَلَمّا رَآني اللَهُ تَحتَ لِواكِ
and set down my saddle beneath the banners of guidance,
and God would not see me beneath your banner.
مَهلاًrestrain عَلَيكِyourself فَسَوفَfor ... will يَلحَقُكِovertake you الفَناannihilation
مَهلاً عَلَيكِ فَسَوفَ يَلحَقُكِ الفَنا
فَتُريthen you will be seen بِلاwithout أَرضٍearth وَلاnor أَفلاكِcelestial spheres
فَتُري بِلا أَرضٍ وَلا أَفلاكِ
Restrain yourself: annihilation will overtake you,
and you will be seen without earth or celestial spheres.
وَيُعيدُناand will restore us رَبٌّa Lord أَماتَcaused to die جَميعَناall of us
وَيُعيدُنا رَبٌّ أَماتَ جَميعَنا
لِيَكونَso that He may يُرضيplease غَيرَother than مَنthose who أَرضاكِpleased you
لِيَكونَ يُرضي غَيرَ مَن أَرضاكِ
And the Lord who made us all die will bring us back,
so that He may please others, not those who pleased you.
وَاللَهِby God ماnot المَحبوبُthe beloved عِندَin the sight of مَليكِهِhis Sovereign
وَاللَهِ ما المَحبوبُ عِندَ مَليكِهِ
إِلّاexcept لَبيبٌa discerning man لَمnot يَزَلcease يَشناكِhe loathes you
إِلّا لَبيبٌ لَم يَزَل يَشناكِ
By God, none is beloved in his Sovereign's sight
except a discerning man who has always loathed you.
هَجرَhe forsook الغَوانيbeautiful women واصِلاًseeking union لِعَقائِلٍwith noble ladies
هَجرَ الغَواني واصِلاً لِعَقائِلٍ
يَضحَكنَthey laugh حُبّاًwith love لِلوَلِيَّfor the saint الباكيthe weeping one
يَضحَكنَ حُبّاً لِلوَلِيَّ الباكي
He forsook the beauties, seeking union with noble ladies
who laugh with love for the weeping saint.
إِنّيindeed I أَرِقتُI lay sleepless لَهُنَّfor them لاnot لِحَمائِمٍfor doves
إِنّي أَرِقتُ لَهُنَّ لا لِحَمائِمٍ
تَبكيmourning الهَديلَal-Hadil, the dove عَلىon غُصونِbranches of أَراكِarak trees
تَبكي الهَديلَ عَلى غُصونِ أَراكِ
Indeed, I have lain sleepless for them, not for doves
mourning al-Hadil on the branches of arak.
لاno عَيشَlife يَصفوis serene لِلمُلوكِfor kings وَإِنَّماbut only
لا عَيشَ يَصفو لِلمُلوكِ وَإِنَّما
تَصفوis serene وَتُحمَدُand is praised عيشَةُthe life of النُسّاكِascetics
تَصفو وَتُحمَدُ عيشَةُ النُسّاكِ
No life is serene for kings; only
the ascetics' life is serene and praiseworthy.
وَمِنَand from الإِلَهِGod عَلىupon النَبِيِّthe Prophet صَلاتُهُHis blessing
وَمِنَ الإِلَهِ عَلى النَبِيِّ صَلاتُهُ
عَدَدَas many as النُجومِthe stars وَعِدَّةَand the number of الأَملاكِthe angels
عَدَدَ النُجومِ وَعِدَّةَ الأَملاكِ
And may God's blessings be upon the Prophet,
as numerous as the stars and angels.
Partial English translation: 35 of 72 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1