ماnot ليfor me بِعادِيَةِagainst the onslaught of الأَيّامِthe days مِنany قِبَلِpower
ما لي بِعادِيَةِ الأَيّامِ مِن قِبَلِ
لَمdid not يَثنِturn back كَيدَthe scheming of النَوىseparation كَيديmy scheming وَلاnor حِيَليmy stratagems
لَم يَثنِ كَيدَ النَوى كَيدي وَلا حِيَلي
I have no strength against the onslaught of the days.
I have no patience with the tyranny of days gone by,
Neither my cunning nor my stratagems turned back separation's wiles.
Scheming fate did not foil my schemes or tricks,
لاno شَيءَthing إِلّاexcept that أَباتَتهُit made it pass the night عَلىin وَجَلٍfear
لا شَيءَ إِلّا أَباتَتهُ عَلى وَجَلٍ
وَلَمand did not تَبِتspend the night قَطُّever مِنof شَيءٍanything عَلىin وَجَلِfear
وَلَم تَبِت قَطُّ مِن شَيءٍ عَلى وَجَلِ
There is nothing it has not made pass the night in fear,
Nothing but setbacks met me in my wretched state,
yet it has never spent a night fearing anything.
Never did a thing go well in my wretched life,
قَدindeed قَلقَلَstirred الدَمعَtears دَهرٌtime مِنamong خَلائِقِهِits traits
قَد قَلقَلَ الدَمعَ دَهرٌ مِن خَلائِقِهِ
طولُlong duration الفِراقِseparation وَلاand no طولٌlengthening مِنَof الأَجَلِlife's term
طولُ الفِراقِ وَلا طولٌ مِنَ الأَجَلِ
Time has stirred my tears; among its ways are
Time made tears flow from all his creatures,
long separation, but no lengthening of life's term.
Prolonged absence but no reprieve from death,
سَلنيask me عَنِabout الدينِreligion وَالدُنياand the world أُجِبكَI will answer you وَعَنand about
سَلني عَنِ الدينِ وَالدُنيا أُجِبكَ وَعَن
أَبيAbu سَعيدٍSa'id وَفِقدَيهِand his two losses فَلاthen do not تَسَلِask
أَبي سَعيدٍ وَفِقدَيهِ فَلا تَسَلِ
Ask me about religion and the world; I will answer you—but about
Ask me of religion, this world - I will answer you,
Abu Sa'id and the twofold loss of him—do not ask.
Of my father Sa‘īd and his loss - do not ask,
مَنhe who كانَwas حَليَthe adornment of الأَمانيhopes قَبلَbefore ظَعنَتِهِhis departure
مَن كانَ حَليَ الأَماني قَبلَ ظَعنَتِهِ
فَصِرتُso I became مُذsince سارَhe departed ذاpossessor of أُمنِيَّةٍa hope عُطُلِunadorned
فَصِرتُ مُذ سارَ ذا أُمنِيَّةٍ عُطُلِ
He who was the adornment of hopes before his departure—
He whose hopes were dashed before their time,
so since he left, I have held a hope stripped of adornment.
I have since lost all hopes, no more wishing wells for me.
نَأيُthe remoteness of النَدىgenerosity لاnot ثَنائيmy praise خُلَّةًfriendship وَهَوىًand love
نَأيُ النَدى لا ثَنائي خُلَّةً وَهَوىً
وَالفَجعُand grief بِالمَجدِfor glory غَيرُunlike الفَجعِgrief بِالغَزَلِfor romance
وَالفَجعُ بِالمَجدِ غَيرُ الفَجعِ بِالغَزَلِ
It is generosity's absence—not my praise born of friendship and love;
The beloved shuns intimacy or affection with me,
and grief for glory is not the grief of romance.
Parting in glory unlike parting in passion’s throes,
لَئِنif indeed غَداhe set out شاحِباًpale تَخديhasten القِلاصُthe young she-camels بِهِwith him
لَئِن غَدا شاحِباً تَخدي القِلاصُ بِهِ
لَقَدindeed تَخَلَّفتُI stayed behind عَنهُbehind him شاحِبَpale in الأَمَلِhope
لَقَد تَخَلَّفتُ عَنهُ شاحِبَ الأَمَلِ
If he set out pale, the young she-camels hastening with him,
If he wakes up tomorrow, pale-faced disappointing me,
I certainly stayed behind him, with hope grown pale.
I fell behind, disappointed, hopes turned pale for me.
مُلقىcast down الرَجاءِhope وَمُلقىand laid down الرَحلِthe saddle فيamong نَفَرٍa company of men
مُلقى الرَجاءِ وَمُلقى الرَحلِ في نَفَرٍ
الجودُgenerosity عِندَهُمُamong them قَولٌtalk بِلاwithout عَمَلِaction
الجودُ عِندَهُمُ قَولٌ بِلا عَمَلِ
With hope cast down and saddle laid among a company
In a group where hopes are dashed and journeys thwarted,
for whom generosity is talk without action.
Kindness with them is but words, no deeds,
أَضحَواthey have become بِمُستَنِّin the channel of سَيلِthe torrent of الذَمِّblame وَاِرتَفَعَتand rose
أَضحَوا بِمُستَنِّ سَيلِ الذَمِّ وَاِرتَفَعَت
أَموالُهُمtheir riches فيon هِضابِthe hills of المَطلِdelay وَالعِلَلِand excuses
أَموالُهُم في هِضابِ المَطلِ وَالعِلَلِ
They stand in the channel of blame's torrent, while high rise
They make light of the torrents of blame and their riches
their riches on the hills of delay and excuses.
Are built on the barren heights of sickness and frailty.
مِنof كُلِّevery أَظمىparched الثَرىsoil وَالأَرضُwhile the earth قَدalready نَهِلَتhas drunk its fill
مِن كُلِّ أَظمى الثَرى وَالأَرضُ قَد نَهِلَت
وَمُقشَعِرِّand shivering الرُباthe hills وَالشَمسُwhile the sun فيin الحَمَلِAries
وَمُقشَعِرِّ الرُبا وَالشَمسُ في الحَمَلِ
Each with parched soil, though the earth has drunk its fill,
In all the dark, overcast earth that poured down rain
and with shivering hills, though the sun is in Aries;
And the sun is wrapped in its mantle,
وَأَخرَسِand mute in الجودِgenerosity تَلقىyou find الدَهرَalways سائِلَهُhis petitioner
وَأَخرَسِ الجودِ تَلقى الدَهرَ سائِلَهُ
كَأَنَّهُas though he واقِفٌwere standing مِنهُbefore him عَلىat طَلَلِa ruined dwelling
كَأَنَّهُ واقِفٌ مِنهُ عَلى طَلَلِ
and mute in generosity: you always find his petitioner
The tongue-tied miser faces time, asking for its bounty,
as though he stood before a ruined dwelling instead of him.
As if standing on its ruins amidst its wreckage.
قَدindeed كانَwas وَعدُكَyour promise ليto me بَحراًa sea فَصَيَّرَنيthen brought me
قَد كانَ وَعدُكَ لي بَحراً فَصَيَّرَني
يَومُthe day of الزِماعِresolve إِلىto الضَحضاحِshallow water وَالوَشَلِand a trickle
يَومُ الزِماعِ إِلى الضَحضاحِ وَالوَشَلِ
Your promise to me was a sea; then I was brought
Your promise was an ocean that left me on the day of discord
by the day of decision to shallow water and a trickle.
Floundering in shallows and swamps,
وَبَيَّنَand made clear اللَهُGod هَذاthis مِنof بَرِيَّتِهِHis creation
وَبَيَّنَ اللَهُ هَذا مِن بَرِيَّتِهِ
فيin قَولِهِHis saying خُلِقَwas created الإِنسانُman مِنof عَجَلِhaste
في قَولِهِ خُلِقَ الإِنسانُ مِن عَجَلِ
And God made this plain concerning His creatures
God has shown this weakness in His creation,
in His saying: 'Man was created of haste.'
Saying man was created hasty.
لِلَّهِGod be praised for وَخدُthe brisk stride of المَهاريthe Mahri camels أَيَّwhat مَكرُمَةٍnobility
لِلَّهِ وَخدُ المَهاري أَيَّ مَكرُمَةٍ
هَزَّتthey stirred وَأَيَّand what غَمامٍcloud قَلقَلَتthey set moving خَضِلِrain-laden
هَزَّت وَأَيَّ غَمامٍ قَلقَلَت خَضِلِ
God be praised for the Mahri camels' stride! What nobility
O Nose of the Skilled One, what honor made it quake,
they stirred, and what rain-laden cloud they set in motion!
What clouds did it shake and stir?
خَيرُthe best of الأَخِلّاءِclose friends خَيرُthe best of الأَرضِthe earth هِمَّتُهُhis aim
خَيرُ الأَخِلّاءِ خَيرُ الأَرضِ هِمَّتُهُ
وَأَفضَلُand the finest of الرَكبِriders يَقروhe follows أَفضَلَthe finest of السُبُلِpaths
وَأَفضَلُ الرَكبِ يَقرو أَفضَلَ السُبُلِ
The best of friends, with earth's best as his aim,
A people’s finest son, the finest steed takes the finest path,
and the finest of riders, following the finest paths.
The best of friends takes the best of roads.
حُطَّتwere set down إِلىat عُمدَةِthe pillar of الإِسلامِIslam أَرحُلُهُhis saddles
حُطَّت إِلى عُمدَةِ الإِسلامِ أَرحُلُهُ
وَالشَمسُwhile the sun قَدalready نَفَضَتhad shaken out وَرساًyellow dye عَلىover الأُصُلِthe late-afternoon hours
وَالشَمسُ قَد نَفَضَت وَرساً عَلى الأُصُلِ
His saddles were set down at the pillar of Islam,
The mounts were unpacked at the pillar of Islam
while the sun had shaken yellow dye over the late-afternoon hours.
As the sun shook off motes upon the pillar.
مُلَبِّياًchanting the pilgrim's response طالَماso often لَبّىhe answered مُنادِيَهُhis summoner
مُلَبِّياً طالَما لَبّى مُنادِيَهُ
إِلىto الوَغىbattle غَيرَnot رِعديدٍa trembling coward وَلاnor وَكَلِa weakling
إِلى الوَغى غَيرَ رِعديدٍ وَلا وَكَلِ
Chanting the pilgrim's response, he who so often answered his summoner
Many times did its caller call out:
to battle, neither a trembling coward nor a weakling.
To battle! No cowardice or holding back!
وَمُحرِماًand in pilgrim consecration أَحرَمَتabstained أَرضُthe land of العِراقِIraq لَهُfor him
وَمُحرِماً أَحرَمَت أَرضُ العِراقِ لَهُ
مِنَfrom النَدىgenerosity وَاِكتَسَتand clothed itself ثَوباًa garment مِنَof البَخَلِmiserliness
مِنَ النَدى وَاِكتَسَت ثَوباً مِنَ البَخَلِ
And in pilgrim consecration, while Iraq's land, for him, abstained
The land of Iraq donned pilgrim garb for him,
from bounty, and clothed itself in a garment of miserliness.
Shunning moisture, clad in miserliness,
وَسافِكاًand a shedder لِدِماءِof the blood of البُدنِsacrificial camels قَدalready سُفِكَتwas shed
وَسافِكاً لِدِماءِ البُدنِ قَد سُفِكَت
بِهِthrough him دِماءُthe blood of ذَويthose holding الإِلحادِheresy وَالنِحَلِand sectarian creeds
بِهِ دِماءُ ذَوي الإِلحادِ وَالنِحَلِ
And shedding sacrificial camels' blood; already shed
Shedding the blood of bodies, blood was shed
through him was the blood of heretics and sectarians.
Of dissenters and people of different faiths,
وَرامِياًand stoning جَمَراتِthe ritual pillars of الحَجِّpilgrimage فيin سَنَةٍa year
وَرامِياً جَمَراتِ الحَجِّ في سَنَةٍ
رَمىhe pelted بِهاin it جَمَراتِthe embers of اليَومِthe day ذيhaving الشُعَلِflames
رَمى بِها جَمَراتِ اليَومِ ذي الشُعَلِ
And stoning the pilgrimage's pillars in a year
Hurling pebbles at the day of Hajj one year,
in which he pelted the embers of the flame-filled day.
He hurled the pebbles of each day of burning grief,
يَرديhe runs وَيُرقِلُand hastens نَحوَtoward المَروَتَينِSafa and Marwa كَماjust as
يَردي وَيُرقِلُ نَحوَ المَروَتَينِ كَما
يَرديhe runs وَيُرقِلُand hastens نَحوَtoward الفارِسِthe horseman البَطَلِthe champion
يَردي وَيُرقِلُ نَحوَ الفارِسِ البَطَلِ
He runs and hastens toward Safa and Marwa, just as
Swaying to and fro between the two hillsides,
he runs and hastens toward the champion horseman.
Swaying like a valiant knight.
تُقَبِّلُyou kiss الرُكنَthe Corner رُكنَthe Corner of البَيتِthe House نافِلَةًas voluntary worship
تُقَبِّلُ الرُكنَ رُكنَ البَيتِ نافِلَةً
وَظَهرُand the back of كَفِّكَyour hand مَعمورٌthronged مِنَwith القُبَلِkisses
وَظَهرُ كَفِّكَ مَعمورٌ مِنَ القُبَلِ
You kiss the Corner, the Corner of the House, in voluntary devotion,
Your palm kisses the corner of the Holy House time and again
while the back of your hand is thronged with kisses.
And your back is blessed by kissing,
لَمّاwhen تَرَكتَyou left بُيوتَthe houses of الكُفرِunbelief خاوِيَةًdesolate
لَمّا تَرَكتَ بُيوتَ الكُفرِ خاوِيَةً
بِالغَزوِthrough warfare آثَرتَyou preferred بَيتَthe House of اللَهِGod بِالقَفَلِon your return
بِالغَزوِ آثَرتَ بَيتَ اللَهِ بِالقَفَلِ
When you had left the houses of unbelief desolate
When you left the homes of unbelief empty
through warfare, you preferred God's House on your return.
You preferred God’s House, locking its door,
وَالحَجُّand pilgrimage وَالغَزوُand warfare مَقرونانِare paired فيon قَرَنٍone tether
وَالحَجُّ وَالغَزوُ مَقرونانِ في قَرَنٍ
فَاِذهَبso go فَأَنتَfor you are زُعافُdeadly poison الخَيلِhorses وَالإِبِلِand camels
فَاِذهَب فَأَنتَ زُعافُ الخَيلِ وَالإِبِلِ
And pilgrimage and warfare are bound on one tether,
Pilgrimage and holy war coupled in one moment -
so go, for you are deadly poison to horses and camels.
Go! You are the bolt of steeds and camels!
نَفسيmy soul فِداؤُكَyour ransom إِنif كانَتit were فِداءَكَa ransom for you مِنfrom
نَفسي فِداؤُكَ إِن كانَت فِداءَكَ مِن
صَرفِthe vicissitudes of الحَوادِثِevents وَالأَيّامِand the days وَالدُوَلِand changes of fortune
صَرفِ الحَوادِثِ وَالأَيّامِ وَالدُوَلِ
My soul be your ransom, if it could ransom you from
My soul is your ransom, if it could ransom you
the vicissitudes of events, days, and changing fortunes.
From fate’s caprice, time and destiny’s changing ways,
لاnot مُلبِسٌone who clothes مالَهُhis wealth مِنfrom دونِthe reach of سائِلِهِhis petitioner
لا مُلبِسٌ مالَهُ مِن دونِ سائِلِهِ
سِتراًa veil وَلاnor ناصِبُone who sets up المَعروفِkindness لِلعَذَلِfor reproach
سِتراً وَلا ناصِبُ المَعروفِ لِلعَذَلِ
He does not wrap his wealth, to hide it from his petitioner,
None wears his wealth, hiding it from a beggar,
in a veil, nor make his kindness a target for reproach.
Or does good then regrets it afterwards,
لاnot شَمسُهُhis sun جَمرَةٌa burning coal تُشوىare scorched الوُجوهُfaces بِهاby it
لا شَمسُهُ جَمرَةٌ تُشوى الوُجوهُ بِها
يَوماًever وَلاnor ظِلُّهُhis shade عَنّاfrom us بِمُنتَقِلِmoving away
يَوماً وَلا ظِلُّهُ عَنّا بِمُنتَقِلِ
His sun is no ember by which faces are scorched
His sun no ember singeing faces therewith
ever, nor does his shade depart from us.
Nor does his shade desert us,
تَحولُchanges أَموالُهُhis riches عَنfrom عَهدِهاtheir former state أَبَداًalways
تَحولُ أَموالُهُ عَن عَهدِها أَبَداً
وَلَمand did not يَزُلdepart قَطُّever عَنfrom عَهدٍa pledge وَلَمnor did يَحُلِchange
وَلَم يَزُل قَطُّ عَن عَهدٍ وَلَم يَحُلِ
His wealth forever changes from its former state,
His wealth is never diverted from the path
but he has never swerved from a pledge or changed.
And never swerves from a promise or changes,
ساريnight-roaming in الهُمومِconcerns طَموحُlofty in العَزمِresolve صادِقُهُtrue in it
ساري الهُمومِ طَموحُ العَزمِ صادِقُهُ
كَأَنَّas though آراءَهُhis judgments تَنحَطُّplunge down مِنfrom جَبَلِa mountain
كَأَنَّ آراءَهُ تَنحَطُّ مِن جَبَلِ
Night-roaming in his concerns, lofty and true in resolve,
Sadness’ companion has grand ambitions, his truthfulness
as though his judgments plunged down from a mountain.
As if his views were hewn from a great rock,
أَبقىmore enduring عَلىagainst جَولَةِthe onslaught of الأَيّامِthe days مِنthan كَنَفَيthe two flanks of
أَبقى عَلى جَولَةِ الأَيّامِ مِن كَنَفَي
رَضوىRadwa وَأَسيَرُand more far-ranging فيacross الآفاقِthe horizons مِنthan مَثَلِa proverb
رَضوى وَأَسيَرُ في الآفاقِ مِن مَثَلِ
More enduring against the days' onslaught than the two flanks of
You remain, despite the varying days’ caprice
Radwa, and more far-ranging across the horizons than a proverb.
A mercy, journeying through the horizons as an exemplar,
نَبَّهتَyou awakened نَبهانَNabhan بَعدَafter النَومِsleep وَاِنسَكَبَتand poured forth
نَبَّهتَ نَبهانَ بَعدَ النَومِ وَاِنسَكَبَت
بِكَthrough you الحَياةُlife عَلىupon الأَحياءِthe clans مِنof ثُعَلِThu'al
بِكَ الحَياةُ عَلى الأَحياءِ مِن ثُعَلِ
You roused Nabhan after sleep, and there poured forth
You awakened after sleep, and through you
through you life upon the clans of Thu'al.
Life poured into the living from its source,
كَمhow many قَدindeed دَعَتprayed لَكَfor you بِالإِخلاصِwith sincerity مِنof مَرَةٍwoman
كَم قَد دَعَت لَكَ بِالإِخلاصِ مِن مَرَةٍ
فيهِمamong them وَفَدّاكَand ransomed you بِالآباءِwith fathers مِنof رَجُلِman
فيهِم وَفَدّاكَ بِالآباءِ مِن رَجُلِ
How many a woman has prayed sincerely for you
How often in that tribe did someone pray
among them, and how many a man has offered his fathers as your ransom!
For you sincerely, fathers for their sons!
إِنif حَنَّyearns نَجدٌNajd وَأَهلوهُand its people إِلَيكَfor you فَقَدthen indeed
إِن حَنَّ نَجدٌ وَأَهلوهُ إِلَيكَ فَقَد
مَرَرتَyou passed فيهِthrough it مُرورَas the passing of العارِضِthe raincloud الهَطِلِrain-pouring
مَرَرتَ فيهِ مُرورَ العارِضِ الهَطِلِ
If Najd and its people yearn for you, indeed
If Najd feels affection for you, you have indeed
you passed through it as a rain-pouring cloud passes.
Passed by it like a passing cloud’s rain.
وَأَيُّand what أَرضٍland بِهِin it لَمwas not تُكسَclothed زَهرَتَهاits bloom
وَأَيُّ أَرضٍ بِهِ لَم تُكسَ زَهرَتَها
وَأَيُّand what وادٍvalley بِهِin it ظَمآنُthirsty لَمdid not يَسِلِflow
وَأَيُّ وادٍ بِهِ ظَمآنُ لَم يَسِلِ
And what land in it was not clothed in its bloom,
What land but you clothed it in flowers?
and what thirsty valley in it did not flow?
What thirsty valley but you gave it to drink?
مازالَthere has always been لِلصارِخِfor the crier المُعليraising عِقيرَتَهُhis voice
مازالَ لِلصارِخِ المُعلي عِقيرَتَهُ
غَوثٌsuccor مِنَfrom الغَوثِal-Ghawth تَحتَbeneath الحادِثِthe calamity الجَلَلِgrave
غَوثٌ مِنَ الغَوثِ تَحتَ الحادِثِ الجَلَلِ
There has always been, for the crier raising his voice,
Ever the desperate caller finds with you
succor from al-Ghawth beneath a grave calamity.
Succor against dreadful, momentous events,
مِنfrom كُلِّevery أَبيَضَbright-faced man يَجلوreveals مِنهُfrom him سائِلُهُhis petitioner
مِن كُلِّ أَبيَضَ يَجلو مِنهُ سائِلُهُ
خَدّاًa cheek أَسيلاًsmooth بِهِon it خَدٌّa scar مِنَfrom الأَسَلِspears
خَدّاً أَسيلاً بِهِ خَدٌّ مِنَ الأَسَلِ
From every bright-faced man whose petitioner reveals his
From every shining white face its seeker derives
smooth cheek, bearing a scar from spears.
A cheek, and from it a cheek of the beautiful gazelle,
Sol 6.1