كَذاthus فَليَجِلَّso let it be great الخَطبُthe calamity وَليَفدَحِand let it weigh heavily الأَمرُthe crisis
كَذا فَليَجِلَّ الخَطبُ وَليَفدَحِ الأَمرُ
فَلَيسَfor there is no لِعَينٍfor an eye لَمdid not يَفِضoverflow ماؤُهاits tears عُذرُexcuse
فَلَيسَ لِعَينٍ لَم يَفِض ماؤُها عُذرُ
Thus let calamity be great, and the crisis weigh heavy;
for an eye whose tears have not overflowed has no excuse.
تُوُفِّيَتِdied الآمالُhopes بَعدَafter مُحَمَّدٍMuhammad
تُوُفِّيَتِ الآمالُ بَعدَ مُحَمَّدٍ
وَأَصبَحَand became فيin شُغلٍpreoccupation عَنِaway from السَفَرِtravel السَفرُthe travelers
وَأَصبَحَ في شُغلٍ عَنِ السَفَرِ السَفرُ
Hopes died after Muhammad,
and travelers are now too preoccupied to journey.
وَماand not كانَhe was إِلّاexcept مالَthe wealth of مَنwhoever قَلَّwas scant مالُهُhis wealth
وَما كانَ إِلّا مالَ مَن قَلَّ مالُهُ
وَذُخراًand a reserve لِمَنfor whoever أَمسىreached evening وَلَيسَand there was no لَهُfor him ذُخرُreserve
وَذُخراً لِمَن أَمسى وَلَيسَ لَهُ ذُخرُ
He was the wealth of those whose wealth was scant,
and a reserve for those who reached evening with none.
وَماand not كانَused to يَدريknow مُجتَديthe seeker of جودِthe generosity of كَفِّهِhis hand
وَما كانَ يَدري مُجتَدي جودِ كَفِّهِ
إِذاwhen ماfor emphasis اِستَهَلَّتit poured forth أَنَّهُthat it was the case خُلِقَwas created العُسرُhardship
إِذا ما اِستَهَلَّت أَنَّهُ خُلِقَ العُسرُ
The seeker of his hand's bounty never knew,
when it poured forth, that hardship had been created.
أَلاah! فيin سَبيلِthe cause of اللَهِGod مَنthe one who عُطِّلَتwere left idle لَهُon his account
أَلا في سَبيلِ اللَهِ مَن عُطِّلَت لَهُ
فِجاجُthe broad paths of سَبيلِthe cause of اللَهِGod وَاِنثَغَرَand was breached الثَغرُthe frontier
فِجاجُ سَبيلِ اللَهِ وَاِنثَغَرَ الثَغرُ
Ah, in God's cause fell the man at whose loss
the broad roads of God's cause fell idle, and the frontier was breached.
فَتىًa youth كُلَّماwhenever فاضَتoverflowed عُيونُthe eyes of قَبيلَةٍa tribe
فَتىً كُلَّما فاضَت عُيونُ قَبيلَةٍ
دَماًwith blood ضَحِكَتsmiled عَنهُabout him الأَحاديثُthe tales وَالذِكرُand remembrance
دَماً ضَحِكَت عَنهُ الأَحاديثُ وَالذِكرُ
A youth: whenever a tribe's eyes overflowed
with blood, tales and remembrance of him smiled.
فَتىًa youth ماتَdied بَينَamid الضَربِblows وَالطَعنِand spear-thrusts ميتَةًa death
فَتىً ماتَ بَينَ الضَربِ وَالطَعنِ ميتَةً
تَقومُstands مَقامَin the place of النَصرِvictory إِذwhen فاتَهُeluded him النَصرُvictory
تَقومُ مَقامَ النَصرِ إِذ فاتَهُ النَصرُ
A youth who died amid blows and spear-thrusts, a death
that stood in place of victory when victory eluded him.
وَماand not ماتَhe died حَتّىuntil ماتَdied مَضرِبُthe striking edge of سَيفِهِhis sword
وَما ماتَ حَتّى ماتَ مَضرِبُ سَيفِهِ
مِنَfrom الضَربِstriking وَاِعتَلَّتand sickened عَلَيهِagainst him القَناthe spears السُمرُbrown
مِنَ الضَربِ وَاِعتَلَّت عَلَيهِ القَنا السُمرُ
He did not die until his sword's striking edge had died
from striking, and the brown spears sickened against him.
وَقَدand indeed كانَwas فَوتُescaping المَوتِdeath سَهلاًeasy فَرَدَّهُbut sent him back
وَقَد كانَ فَوتُ المَوتِ سَهلاً فَرَدَّهُ
إِلَيهِto it الحِفاظُdefense of honor المُرُّbitter وَالخُلُقُand a temperament الوَعرُunyielding
إِلَيهِ الحِفاظُ المُرُّ وَالخُلُقُ الوَعرُ
Escaping death had been easy, but he was driven back
to it by bitter devotion to honor and an unyielding nature,
وَنَفسٌand a soul تَعافُloathes العارَdisgrace حَتّىto the point that كَأَنَّهُas though it were
وَنَفسٌ تَعافُ العارَ حَتّى كَأَنَّهُ
هُوَit itself الكُفرُunbelief يَومَon the day of الرَوعِterror أَوor دونَهُless than it الكُفرُunbelief
هُوَ الكُفرُ يَومَ الرَوعِ أَو دونَهُ الكُفرُ
and a soul that loathed disgrace as though it
were unbelief on the day of terror—or unbelief were less vile.
فَأَثبَتَso he planted firmly فيin مُستَنقَعِthe quagmire of المَوتِdeath رِجلَهُhis foot
فَأَثبَتَ في مُستَنقَعِ المَوتِ رِجلَهُ
وَقالَand said لَهاto it مِنfrom تَحتِbeneath أَخمُصِكِyour foot's arch الحَشرُthe Resurrection
وَقالَ لَها مِن تَحتِ أَخمُصِكِ الحَشرُ
So he planted his foot firmly in death's quagmire
and told it, 'From beneath your arch comes the Resurrection.'
غَداhe went forth غَدوَةًone morning وَالحَمدُwhile praise نَسجُthe weave of رِدائِهِhis cloak
غَدا غَدوَةً وَالحَمدُ نَسجُ رِدائِهِ
فَلَمand did not يَنصَرِفreturn إِلّاexcept وَأَكفانُهُwith his shrouds الأَجرُreward
فَلَم يَنصَرِف إِلّا وَأَكفانُهُ الأَجرُ
He went forth one morning, praise the fabric of his cloak,
and returned only with reward itself as his shrouds.
تَرَدّىhe donned ثِيابَthe garments of المَوتِdeath حُمراًred فَماand not أَتىcame
تَرَدّى ثِيابَ المَوتِ حُمراً فَما أَتى
لَهاupon them اللَيلُnight إِلّاexcept وَهيَwhile they were مِنof سُندُسٍfine silk خُضرُgreen
لَها اللَيلُ إِلّا وَهيَ مِن سُندُسٍ خُضرُ
He donned death's garments, red; by the time
night came upon them, they were green, of fine silk.
كَأَنَّas though بَنيthe sons of نَبهانَNabhan يَومَon the day of وَفاتِهِhis death
كَأَنَّ بَني نَبهانَ يَومَ وَفاتِهِ
نُجومُstars of سَماءٍa sky خَرَّfell مِنfrom بَينِهاamong them البَدرُthe full moon
نُجومُ سَماءٍ خَرَّ مِن بَينِها البَدرُ
The sons of Nabhan, on the day of his death, were like
stars in a sky from among which the full moon had fallen.
يُعَزَّونَthey are consoled عَنfor ثاوٍone laid to rest تُعَزّىis consoled بِهِfor him العُلىglory
يُعَزَّونَ عَن ثاوٍ تُعَزّى بِهِ العُلى
وَيَبكيand weeps عَلَيهِfor him الجودُgenerosity وَالبَأسُand valor وَالشِعرُand poetry
وَيَبكي عَلَيهِ الجودُ وَالبَأسُ وَالشِعرُ
They are consoled for one laid to rest, whose loss leaves glory itself needing consolation,
while generosity, valor, and poetry weep for him.
وَأَنّىand how لَهُمfor them صَبرٌpatience عَلَيهِover him وَقَدand indeed مَضىhe went
وَأَنّى لَهُم صَبرٌ عَلَيهِ وَقَد مَضى
إِلىto المَوتِdeath حَتّىuntil اِستُشهِداboth were martyred هُوَhe وَالصَبرُand patience
إِلى المَوتِ حَتّى اِستُشهِدا هُوَ وَالصَبرُ
How can they have patience at his loss, when he went
to death until both he and patience were martyred?
فَتىًa youth كانَwas عَذبَsweet of الروحِspirit لاnot مِنfrom غَضاضَةٍweakness
فَتىً كانَ عَذبَ الروحِ لا مِن غَضاضَةٍ
وَلَكِنَّbut rather كِبراًout of pride أَنlest يُقالَit be said بِهِof him كِبرُarrogance
وَلَكِنَّ كِبراً أَن يُقالَ بِهِ كِبرُ
A youth whose spirit was sweet, not through weakness,
but out of pride, lest anyone say he was proud.
فَتىًa youth سَلَبَتهُdespoiled him الخَيلُthe cavalry وَهوَthough he was حِمىًa sanctuary لَهاfor it
فَتىً سَلَبَتهُ الخَيلُ وَهوَ حِمىً لَها
وَبَزَّتهُand stripped him نارُthe fire of الحَربِwar وَهوَthough he was لَهاfor it جَمرُglowing coal
وَبَزَّتهُ نارُ الحَربِ وَهوَ لَها جَمرُ
A youth whom the cavalry despoiled, though he was its refuge,
and whom war's fire stripped, though he was its glowing coal.
وَقَدand indeed كانَتِwere البيضُthe white swords المَآثيرُpatterned فيin الوَغىbattle
وَقَد كانَتِ البيضُ المَآثيرُ في الوَغى
بَواتِرَsevering blades فَهيَbut they are الآنَnow مِنfrom بَعدِهِafter him بُترُsevered
بَواتِرَ فَهيَ الآنَ مِن بَعدِهِ بُترُ
The white, patterned swords in battle had once been
severing blades; now, after him, they are severed.
أَمِنis it from بَعدِafter طَيِّthe folding away الحادِثاتِcalamities مُحَمَّداًMuhammad
أَمِن بَعدِ طَيِّ الحادِثاتِ مُحَمَّداً
يَكونُwill there be لِأَثوابِfor the garments of النَدىgenerosity أَبَداًever نَشرُunfolding
يَكونُ لِأَثوابِ النَدى أَبَداً نَشرُ
After calamities have folded Muhammad away,
will generosity's garments ever be unfolded again?
إِذاif شَجَراتُthe trees of العُرفِkindness جُذَّتwere severed أُصولُهاtheir roots
إِذا شَجَراتُ العُرفِ جُذَّت أُصولُها
فَفيthen on أَيِّwhich فَرعٍbranch يوجَدُis found الوَرَقُfoliage النَضرُfresh
فَفي أَيِّ فَرعٍ يوجَدُ الوَرَقُ النَضرُ
If the trees of kindness have been severed at their roots,
on what branch can fresh foliage be found?
لَئِنif indeed أُبغِضَis hated الدَهرُTime الخَؤونُtreacherous لِفَقدِهِfor his loss
لَئِن أُبغِضَ الدَهرُ الخَؤونُ لِفَقدِهِ
لَعَهديsurely I knew بِهِhim مِمَّنamong those who يُحَبُّis loved لَهُfor his sake الدَهرُTime
لَعَهدي بِهِ مِمَّن يُحَبُّ لَهُ الدَهرُ
If treacherous Time is hated for his loss,
I knew him as one for whose sake Time was loved.
لَئِنif indeed غَدَرَتbetrayed فيin الرَوعِbattle's terror أَيّامُهُhis days بِهِhim
لَئِن غَدَرَت في الرَوعِ أَيّامُهُ بِهِ
لَماsurely never زالَتِceased الأَيّامُthe days شيمَتُهاtheir nature الغَدرُtreachery
لَما زالَتِ الأَيّامُ شيمَتُها الغَدرُ
If his days betrayed him in the terror of battle,
the days have always had treachery for their nature.
لَئِنif indeed أُلبِسَتwas clothed in فيهِon his account المُصيبَةَcalamity طَيِّئٌTayyi'
لَئِن أُلبِسَت فيهِ المُصيبَةَ طَيِّئٌ
لَماsurely not عُرِّيَتwas stripped مِنهاof it تَميمٌTamim وَلاnor بَكرُBakr
لَما عُرِّيَت مِنها تَميمٌ وَلا بَكرُ
If Tayyi' was clothed in calamity over him,
neither Tamim nor Bakr was left bare of it.
كَذَلِكَthus ماnot نَنفَكُّdo we cease نَفقِدُlosing هالِكاًone who perished
كَذَلِكَ ما نَنفَكُّ نَفقِدُ هالِكاً
يُشارِكُناshare with us فيin فَقدِهِhis loss البَدوُthe nomads وَالحَضرُand townsfolk
يُشارِكُنا في فَقدِهِ البَدوُ وَالحَضرُ
Thus we never cease to lose someone to death,
whose loss the nomads and townsfolk share with us.
سَقىmay water الغَيثُthe rain غَيثاًa rain وارَتِhas hidden الأَرضُthe earth شَخصَهُhis body
سَقى الغَيثُ غَيثاً وارَتِ الأَرضُ شَخصَهُ
وَإِنand though لَمnot يَكُنthere was فيهِin him سَحابٌcloud وَلاnor قَطرُraindrop
وَإِن لَم يَكُن فيهِ سَحابٌ وَلا قَطرُ
May rain water the rain whose body the earth has hidden,
though in him there was neither cloud nor raindrop.
وَكَيفَand how اِحتِماليmy owing لِلسَحابِto the clouds صَنيعَةًa favor
وَكَيفَ اِحتِمالي لِلسَحابِ صَنيعَةً
بِإِسقائِهاfor their watering قَبراًa grave وَفيwhile in لَحدِهِits burial niche البَحرُthe sea
بِإِسقائِها قَبراً وَفي لَحدِهِ البَحرُ
And how can I owe the clouds a favor
for watering a grave, when the sea lies in its burial niche?
مَضىhe departed طاهِرَpure of الأَثوابِgarments لَمnot تَبقَremained رَوضَةٌa meadow
مَضى طاهِرَ الأَثوابِ لَم تَبقَ رَوضَةٌ
غَداةَon the morning ثَوىhe was laid to rest إِلّاexcept اِشتَهَتit wished أَنَّهاthat it were قَبرُa grave
غَداةَ ثَوى إِلّا اِشتَهَت أَنَّها قَبرُ
He departed in spotless garments; not a meadow remained
the morning he was laid to rest but wished it were a grave.
ثَوىhe lay فيin الثَرىthe earth مَنhe who كانَused to يَحياlive بِهِthrough him الثَرىthe earth
ثَوى في الثَرى مَن كانَ يَحيا بِهِ الثَرى
وَيَغمُرُand overwhelmed صَرفَthe reversals of الدَهرِTime نائِلُهُhis bounty الغَمرُoverflowing
وَيَغمُرُ صَرفَ الدَهرِ نائِلُهُ الغَمرُ
In the earth lies he through whom the earth once lived,
and whose overflowing bounty drowned Time's misfortunes.
عَلَيكَupon you سَلامُthe peace of اللَهِGod وَقفاًin perpetuity فَإِنَّنيfor indeed I
عَلَيكَ سَلامُ اللَهِ وَقفاً فَإِنَّني
رَأَيتُI have seen الكَريمَthe generous man الحُرَّthe noble لَيسَthere is no لَهُfor him عُمرُlifetime
رَأَيتُ الكَريمَ الحُرَّ لَيسَ لَهُ عُمرُ
May God's peace be yours in perpetuity, for I
have seen that the generous, noble man is granted no long life.
Sol 6.1