الحَقُّthe truth أَبلَجُclear وَالسُيوفُand the swords عَوارِunsheathed
الحَقُّ أَبلَجُ وَالسُيوفُ عَوارِ
فَحَذارِso beware مِنof أَسَدِthe lion of العَرينِthe lair حَذارِbeware
فَحَذارِ مِن أَسَدِ العَرينِ حَذارِ
Truth is clear, and swords are bare.
Truth is resplendent and swords are blazing,
So beware the lion of the lair—beware!
So beware of the lion in his den, beware!
مَلِكٌa king غَداbecame جارَa neighbor of الخِلافَةِthe caliphate مِنكُمُfrom among you
مَلِكٌ غَدا جارَ الخِلافَةِ مِنكُمُ
وَاللَهُand God قَدindeed أَوصىenjoined بِحِفظِfor safeguarding الجارِthe neighbor
وَاللَهُ قَد أَوصى بِحِفظِ الجارِ
A king from among you has become the caliphate's neighbor,
A king who became the neighbor of the Caliphate,
And God has enjoined the protection of neighbors.
And God has enjoined good treatment of one's neighbor.
ياO رُبَّmany a فِتنَةِturmoil of أُمَّةٍa nation قَدindeed بَزَّهاsubdued it
يا رُبَّ فِتنَةِ أُمَّةٍ قَد بَزَّها
جَبّارُهاits mighty ruler فيin طاعَةِobedience to الجَبّارِthe Almighty
جَبّارُها في طاعَةِ الجَبّارِ
How many a nation's turmoil has been overcome
O Lord of the tribulation of a nation led astray
By its mighty ruler, in obedience to the Almighty!
By its tyrant in obeying the Supreme Tyrant.
جالَتit swept بِخَيذَرَwith Khaydhar جَولَةَa sweep of المِقدارِfate
جالَت بِخَيذَرَ جَولَةَ المِقدارِ
فَأَحَلَّهُso it lodged him الطُغيانُtyranny دارَa dwelling of بَوارِruin
فَأَحَلَّهُ الطُغيانُ دارَ بَوارِ
It swept Khaydhar round in the sweep of fate,
Fate took a turn with Khayzuran deceitfully,
And tyranny lodged him in a dwelling of ruin.
So tyranny made his abode one of destruction.
كَمhow many نِعمَةٍa blessing لِلَّهِof God كانَتwas عِندَهُin his keeping
كَم نِعمَةٍ لِلَّهِ كانَت عِندَهُ
فَكَأَنَّهاso as though it were فيin غُربَةٍexile وَإِسارِand captivity
فَكَأَنَّها في غُربَةٍ وَإِسارِ
How many a blessing of God's was in his keeping,
How many favors of God he had,
As though it were in exile and captivity!
Yet he was as if estranged and shackled.
كُسِيَتit was clothed سَبائِبَgarments لومِهِhis disgrace فَتَضاءَلَتso it dwindled
كُسِيَت سَبائِبَ لومِهِ فَتَضاءَلَت
كَتَضاؤُلِlike the dwindling of الحَسناءِa beautiful woman فيin الأَطمارِrags
كَتَضاؤُلِ الحَسناءِ في الأَطمارِ
Clothed in the garments of his disgrace, it dwindled,
The locks of blame were cast over him and faded away
As a beautiful woman dwindles in rags.
Like the fading of a beautiful lady's veil.
مَوتورَةٌwronged طَلَبَdemanded الإِلَهُGod بِثَأرِهاvengeance for it
مَوتورَةٌ طَلَبَ الإِلَهُ بِثَأرِها
وَكَفىand sufficient بِرَبِّis the Lord of الثَأرِvengeance مُدرِكَas an exacter of ثارِrevenge
وَكَفى بِرَبِّ الثَأرِ مُدرِكَ ثارِ
Wronged, it had God demanding vengeance for it,
Seeking revenge for her humiliation by God,
And the Lord of vengeance suffices to exact revenge.
And the Lord of Vengeance suffices as the requiter.
صادىhe cajoled أَميرَthe Commander of المُؤمِنينَthe Faithful بِزَبرَجٍwith glitter
صادى أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ بِزَبرَجٍ
فيin طَيِّهِits folds حُمَةُthe venom of الشُجاعِthe serpent الصاريvenom-hoarding
في طَيِّهِ حُمَةُ الشُجاعِ الصاري
He cajoled the Commander of the Faithful with glitter,
Echoing the Commander of the Faithful in Zabargad,
Within whose folds lay the venom of a venom-hoarding serpent.
In his sheath lies the courage of the unsheathed sword.
مَكراًa plot بَنىhe built رُكنَيهِits two pillars إِلّاexcept أَنَّهُthat he
مَكراً بَنى رُكنَيهِ إِلّا أَنَّهُ
وَطَدَhe secured الأَساسَthe foundation عَلىupon شَفيرٍa brink هارِcrumbling
وَطَدَ الأَساسَ عَلى شَفيرٍ هارِ
A plot whose two pillars he built, except that he
With deceit he built the pillars of his kingdom,
Secured its foundation upon a crumbling brink.
Though he laid its foundations on the verge of collapse,
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen ماan emphatic particle اللَهُGod شَقَّsplit open ضَميرَهُhis secret heart
حَتّى إِذا ما اللَهُ شَقَّ ضَميرَهُ
عَنto expose مُستَكِنِّthe hidden الكُفرِunbelief وَالإِصرارِand obstinacy
عَن مُستَكِنِّ الكُفرِ وَالإِصرارِ
Until, when God split open his secret heart
Until God split open his conscience,
To expose hidden unbelief and obstinacy,
From the residing disbelief and obstinacy within.
وَنَحاand he aimed لِهَذاat this الدينِreligion شَفرَتَهُhis blade اِنثَنىhe recoiled
وَنَحا لِهَذا الدينِ شَفرَتَهُ اِنثَنى
وَالحَقُّand Truth مِنهُfrom him قانِئُcrimson الأَظفارِthe claws
وَالحَقُّ مِنهُ قانِئُ الأَظفارِ
And he turned his blade against this faith, he recoiled,
And he inclined his blade to this religion, bent over,
With Truth's claws crimson from his blood.
While truth recoiled from him, clawing and scratching.
هَذاthis النَبِيُّProphet وَكانَand he was صَفوَةَthe chosen one of رَبِّهِhis Lord
هَذا النَبِيُّ وَكانَ صَفوَةَ رَبِّهِ
مِنfrom بَينٍamong بادٍa nomad فيamong الأَنامِhumankind وَقارِand a settler
مِن بَينٍ بادٍ في الأَنامِ وَقارِ
This Prophet, who was his Lord's chosen one
This Prophet was the elite of his Lord
Among mankind's nomads and settled folk,
Amongst mankind, with dignity and honor.
قَدindeed خَصَّhe favored مِنamong أَهلِthe people of النِفاقِhypocrisy عِصابَةًa band
قَد خَصَّ مِن أَهلِ النِفاقِ عِصابَةً
وَهُمُand they أَشَدُّmore severe أَذىًin harm مِنَthan الكُفّارِthe unbelievers
وَهُمُ أَشَدُّ أَذىً مِنَ الكُفّارِ
Had favored a band among the hypocrites,
He singled out a group of the hypocrites
Though they were more harmful than unbelievers.
Who were more harmful than the disbelievers.
وَاِختارَand he chose مِنfrom سَعدٍSa'd لَعينِthe accursed one of بَنيthe sons of أَبيAbi
وَاِختارَ مِن سَعدٍ لَعينِ بَني أَبي
سَرحٍSarh لِوَحيِfor the revelation of اللَهِGod غَيرَnot خِيارِthe best
سَرحٍ لِوَحيِ اللَهِ غَيرَ خِيارِ
And chose from Sa'd the accursed one of the sons of Abi
And he chose Sa'd, from the Bani Ubayda,
Sarh for God's revelation—not one of the best.
For the revelation of God, apart from any other.
حَتّىuntil اِستَضاءَhe took light بِشُعلَةِfrom the flame of السُوَرِthe suras الَّتيwhich
حَتّى اِستَضاءَ بِشُعلَةِ السُوَرِ الَّتي
رَفَعَتlifted لَهُfor him سَجفاًa curtain عَنِfrom الأَسرارِthe secrets
رَفَعَت لَهُ سَجفاً عَنِ الأَسرارِ
Until he took light from the flame of the suras that
Until he illuminated with the flames of resolve
Lifted for him a curtain from hidden secrets.
That raised for him curtains from the secrets.
وَالهاشِمِيّونَand the Hashimites اِستَقَلَّتdeparted عيرُهُمtheir caravan
وَالهاشِمِيّونَ اِستَقَلَّت عيرُهُم
مِنfrom كَربَلاءَKarbala بِأَثقَلِwith the heaviest الأَوتارِblood-debts
مِن كَربَلاءَ بِأَثقَلِ الأَوتارِ
And the Hashimites' caravan departed
And the Hashimites, their caravan departed
From Karbala bearing the heaviest blood-debts.
From Karbala’, loaded with the heaviest burdens.
فَشَفاهُمso he healed them المُختارُal-Mukhtar مِنهُof it وَلَمand not يَكُنhe was
فَشَفاهُم المُختارُ مِنهُ وَلَم يَكُن
فيin دينِهِhis faith المُختارُal-Mukhtar بِالمُختارِtruly chosen
في دينِهِ المُختارُ بِالمُختارِ
Al-Mukhtar healed them of it, yet he was not
So the Chosen One healed their rift with him,
In his faith—al-Mukhtar—a chosen man.
For, in his religion, he was not the Chosen.
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen اِنكَشَفَتwere exposed سَرائِرُهُhis secrets اِغتَدَواthey became
حَتّى إِذا اِنكَشَفَت سَرائِرُهُ اِغتَدَوا
مِنهُof him بِراءَfree السَمعِin hearing وَالأَبصارِand sight
مِنهُ بِراءَ السَمعِ وَالأَبصارِ
Until, when his secrets were laid bare, they became
Until, when his secrets were uncovered, they disavowed him
Clear of him in both hearing and sight.
Completely, in hearing and in sight.
ماnot كانَwould have been لَولاwere it not for فُحشُthe enormity of غَدرَةِthe betrayal of خَيذَرٍKhaydhar
ما كانَ لَولا فُحشُ غَدرَةِ خَيذَرٍ
لِيَكونَto be فيin الإِسلامِIslam عامُa year of فِجارِsacrilege
لِيَكونَ في الإِسلامِ عامُ فِجارِ
Had it not been for Khaydhar's monstrous betrayal,
Had it not been for the gross treachery of Khayzuran
There would have been no year of sacrilege in Islam.
There would not have been, in Islam, a scandalous year.
ماnot زالَceased سِرُّthe secret of الكُفرِunbelief بَينَbetween ضُلوعِهِhis ribs
ما زالَ سِرُّ الكُفرِ بَينَ ضُلوعِهِ
حَتّىuntil اِصطَلىhe burned in سِرَّthe hidden fire of الزِنادِthe fire-sticks الواريfire-kindling
حَتّى اِصطَلى سِرَّ الزِنادِ الواري
The secret of unbelief remained between his ribs
The secret of his disbelief remained in his breast
Until he burned in the fire hidden in the kindling sticks:
Until he kindled the secret spark, burning.
ناراًa fire يُساوِرُassails جِسمَهُhis body مِنfrom حَرِّهاits heat
ناراً يُساوِرُ جِسمَهُ مِن حَرِّها
لَهَبٌa flame كَماas عَصفَرتَyou dyed with safflower شِقَّhalf of إِزارِa waistcloth
لَهَبٌ كَما عَصفَرتَ شِقَّ إِزارِ
A fire, from whose heat his body was assailed
A fire that runs through his body with its heat,
By flame, as when you safflower-dye half a waistcloth.
Flames whose blasts demolish his pillars without rubble.
طارَتflew لَهاfrom it شُعَلٌflames يُهَدِّمُdemolishes لَفحُهاtheir scorching blast
طارَت لَها شُعَلٌ يُهَدِّمُ لَفحُها
أَركانَهُhis frame هَدماًa demolition بِغَيرِwithout غُبارِdust
أَركانَهُ هَدماً بِغَيرِ غُبارِ
Flames flew from it, their scorching blast demolishing
Ignited, it was raised for the greatest idolator,
His frame, demolishing it without dust.
One who never raised its light as a guide.
مَشبوبَةًkindled رُفِعَتit was raised لِأَعظُمِfor the bones of مُشرِكٍa polytheist
مَشبوبَةً رُفِعَت لِأَعظُمِ مُشرِكٍ
ماnot كانَhe was يَرفَعُraising ضَوءَهاits light لِلساريfor the night traveler
ما كانَ يَرفَعُ ضَوءَها لِلساري
A blaze raised for the bones of a polytheist
He prayed towards it while alive, and was its fuel when dead,
Who had never raised its light for a night traveler.
Entering it with the sinners.
صَلّىhe prayed لَهاto it حَيّاًalive وَكانَand he was وَقودَهاits fuel
صَلّى لَها حَيّاً وَكانَ وَقودَها
مَيتاًdead وَيَدخُلُهاand he will enter it مَعَwith الفُجّارِthe wicked
مَيتاً وَيَدخُلُها مَعَ الفُجّارِ
He prayed to it alive, and became its fuel
They ripped apart every joint of his body
In death; he will enter it with the wicked.
And did to each limb as a poor criminal’s.
فَصَّلنَthey split apart مِنهُfrom him كُلَّevery مَجمَعِmeeting-place of مَفصِلٍa joint
فَصَّلنَ مِنهُ كُلَّ مَجمَعِ مَفصِلٍ
وَفَعَلنَand they inflicted فاقِرَةًa back-breaking calamity بِكُلِّon every فَقارِvertebra
وَفَعَلنَ فاقِرَةً بِكُلِّ فَقارِ
They split apart every place where his joints met,
Thus will the people of the Fire be, in this world,
And wrought a back-breaking ruin on every vertebra.
On the Day of Resurrection, most of the people of the Fire.
وَكَذاكَand likewise أَهلُthe people of النارِfire فيin الدُنياthis world هُمُthey
وَكَذاكَ أَهلُ النارِ في الدُنيا هُمُ
يَومَthe day of القِيامَةِresurrection جُلُّmost of أَهلِthe people of النارِthe Fire
يَومَ القِيامَةِ جُلُّ أَهلِ النارِ
So the people of fire in this world are
O what a scene it was, whose joy reached
On Resurrection Day, most of the people of the Fire.
Its farthest cities – the cities’ folk rejoiced.
ياO مَشهَداًspectacle صَدَرَتreturned بِفَرحَتِهِwith joy at it إِلىto
يا مَشهَداً صَدَرَت بِفَرحَتِهِ إِلى
أَمصارِهاtheir cities القُصوىfarthest بَنوthe people of الأَمصارِthe cities
أَمصارِها القُصوى بَنو الأَمصارِ
O spectacle, whose joy the city-dwellers carried home to
They looked upon the heights of his trunk, as if
Their farthest cities!
They had found the crescent on the eve of breaking the fast.
رَمَقواthey gazed at أَعاليthe heights of جِذعِهِhis stake فَكَأَنَّماas though
رَمَقوا أَعالي جِذعِهِ فَكَأَنَّما
وَجَدواthey found الهِلالَthe crescent عَشِيَّةَon the eve of الإِفطارِbreaking the fast
وَجَدوا الهِلالَ عَشِيَّةَ الإِفطارِ
They gazed at the top of his stake, as though
And they sniffed from it a perfume whose diffusion
They had sighted the crescent on the eve of breaking the fast.
Was of fine ambergris and aromatic musk.
وَاِستَنشَأواand they inhaled مِنهُfrom him قُتاراًa burnt-flesh reek نَشرُهُits fragrance
وَاِستَنشَأوا مِنهُ قُتاراً نَشرُهُ
مِنfrom عَنبَرٍambergris ذَفِرٍpungent وَمِسكٍand musk داريfrom Darin
مِن عَنبَرٍ ذَفِرٍ وَمِسكٍ داري
They inhaled his burnt-flesh reek, whose fragrance was
And they talked of his death as talk
Of pungent ambergris and musk from Darin.
Of the nomads about successive rains.
وَتَحَدَّثواand they spoke عَنof هُلكِهِhis destruction كَحَديثِlike the talk of مَنthose
وَتَحَدَّثوا عَن هُلكِهِ كَحَديثِ مَن
بِالبَدوِin the desert عَنof مُتَتابِعِsuccessive الأَمطارِrains
بِالبَدوِ عَن مُتَتابِعِ الأَمطارِ
They spoke of his destruction as people
And they exchanged greetings as pilgrims do
In the desert speak of successive rains.
During venerable years at the cheapest rates.
وَتَباشَرواand they rejoiced كَتَباشُرِlike the rejoicing of الحَرَمَينِthe two sanctuaries فيamid
وَتَباشَروا كَتَباشُرِ الحَرَمَينِ في
قُحَمِhardships of السِنينِdrought years بِأَرخَصِat the cheapest الأَسعارِprices
قُحَمِ السِنينِ بِأَرخَصِ الأَسعارِ
And rejoiced like the two sanctuaries rejoicing, amid
The gloating of a gloater was shameful, for
The hardships of lean years, at the cheapest prices.
With it the clothes of shame were washed clean.
كانَتwas شَماتَةُthe gloating of شامِتٍa gloater عاراًshameful فَقَدbut indeed
كانَت شَماتَةُ شامِتٍ عاراً فَقَد
صارَتit became بِهِthrough him تَنضوcasting off ثِيابَthe garments of العارِshame
صارَت بِهِ تَنضو ثِيابَ العارِ
A gloater's gloating once was shameful, but now
The Caliph had granted him a position
Through him it has cast off the garments of shame.
In his heart, inviolable by fate.
قَدindeed كانَhad بَوَّأَهُlodged him الخَليفَةُthe caliph جانِباًa part
قَد كانَ بَوَّأَهُ الخَليفَةُ جانِباً
مِنof قَلبِهِhis heart حَرَماًa sanctuary عَلىagainst الأَقدارِfate
مِن قَلبِهِ حَرَماً عَلى الأَقدارِ
The caliph had granted him a place
So he quenched his thirst with sweet water gently,
Within his heart, a sanctuary barred to fate.
And let him sleep in safety, without cunning.
فَسَقاهُso he gave him to drink ماءَthe water of الخَفضِease غَيرَnot مُصَرَّدِstinted
فَسَقاهُ ماءَ الخَفضِ غَيرَ مُصَرَّدِ
وَأَنامَهُand he lulled him فيin الأَمنِsafety غَيرَnot غِرارِsnatches of sleep
وَأَنامَهُ في الأَمنِ غَيرَ غِرارِ
He gave him the water of ease to drink without stint,
And through him he saw what ‘Amr ibn Shas
And let him sleep securely, not in snatches.
Had never seen before him in lifeless ruins.
وَرَأىand he saw بِهِin him ماwhat لَمnot يَكُنhe had يَوماًever رَأىseen
وَرَأى بِهِ ما لَم يَكُن يَوماً رَأى
عَمرُو'Amr بنُson of شَأسٍSha's قَبلَهُbefore him بِعِرارِin 'Irar
عَمرُو بنُ شَأسٍ قَبلَهُ بِعِرارِ
He saw in him what never, in all his days, had
Yet here is the son of an infidel woman delighting in his unbelief
'Amr ibn Sha's seen before in 'Irar.
With passion like Farazdaq’s delight in lampoons.
فَإِذاand behold اِبنُthe son of كافِرَةٍan unbelieving woman يُسِرُّsecretly cherishes بِكُفرِهِfor his unbelief
فَإِذا اِبنُ كافِرَةٍ يُسِرُّ بِكُفرِهِ
وَجداًyearning كَوَجدِlike the yearning of فَرَزدَقٍFarazdaq بِنَوارِfor Nawar
وَجداً كَوَجدِ فَرَزدَقٍ بِنَوارِ
Yet the unbelieving woman's son secretly cherished his unbelief,
And when he remembered him he wept as Ka’b wept
With a yearning like Farazdaq's yearning for Nawar.
When he elegized Abu Mihjan long ago.
وَإِذاand whenever تَذَكَّرَهُhe remembered it بَكاهُhe wept for it كَماas بَكىwept
وَإِذا تَذَكَّرَهُ بَكاهُ كَما بَكى
كَعبٌKa'b زَمانَwhen رَثىhe elegized أَباAbu المِغوارِal-Mighwar
كَعبٌ زَمانَ رَثى أَبا المِغوارِ
Whenever he remembered it, he wept for it, as
His embellishments deluded the Caliph that
Ka'b wept when he elegized Abu al-Mighwar.
Not every lush, green branch bears fruit.
دَلَّتtaught زَخارِفُهُhis glittering pretenses الخَليفَةَthe caliph أَنَّهُthat
دَلَّت زَخارِفُهُ الخَليفَةَ أَنَّهُ
ماnot كُلُّevery عودٍbough ناضِرٍflourishing بِنُضارِof choice timber
ما كُلُّ عودٍ ناضِرٍ بِنُضارِ
His glittering pretenses taught the caliph that
O you who firmly grasps the hand of Ka’us’s folk with justice,
Not every flourishing bough is choice timber.
Pair their right hand with their left.
ياO قابِضاًone seizing يَدَthe hand of آلِthe house of كاوُسَKawus عادِلاًjustly
يا قابِضاً يَدَ آلِ كاوُسَ عادِلاً
أَتبِعfollow يَميناًa right hand مِنهُمُof theirs بِيَسارِwith a left hand
أَتبِع يَميناً مِنهُمُ بِيَسارِ
O you who justly seize the hand of the house of Kawus,
Affix the traitorous forehead with a rear skull,
Follow their right hand with their left.
And the betraying chest with a breastplate.
أَلحِقjoin جَبيناًa brow دامِياًbloodied رَمَّلتَهُyou bloodstained it
أَلحِق جَبيناً دامِياً رَمَّلتَهُ
بِقَفاًto a nape وَصَدراًand a breast خائِناًtreacherous بِصِدارِto a chest-brand
بِقَفاً وَصَدراً خائِناً بِصِدارِ
Join the bloodied brow you have stained
Know that you only cast them
To a nape, and a traitorous breast to a chest-brand.
Into some of the pits they dug themselves.
وَاِعلَمand know بِأَنَّكَthat you إِنَّماonly تُلقيهِمُcast them
وَاِعلَم بِأَنَّكَ إِنَّما تُلقيهِمُ
فيinto بَعضِsome of ماwhat حَفَرواthey dug مِنَof الآبارِthe wells
في بَعضِ ما حَفَروا مِنَ الآبارِ
And know that you are only casting them
Had his tribe not plotted against the Samaritan
Into some of the wells they dug.
Their calf would not have perished without cause.
لَوif لَمnot يَكِدschemed لِلسامِرِيِّfor al-Samiri قَبيلُهُhis people
لَو لَم يَكِد لِلسامِرِيِّ قَبيلُهُ
ماnot خارَlowed عِجلُهُمُtheir calf بِغَيرِwithout خُوارِa bellow
ما خارَ عِجلُهُمُ بِغَيرِ خُوارِ
Had al-Samiri's people not schemed for him,
Thamud would not have stabbed her she-camel
Their calf would not have lowed without a bellow.
Had they not impugned their Lord, by Qudar’s sword.
وَثَمودُand Thamud لَوif لَمnot يُدهِنواwere lax فيregarding رَبِّهِمtheir Lord
وَثَمودُ لَو لَم يُدهِنوا في رَبِّهِم
لَمnot تَدمَwould have bled ناقَتُهُHis she-camel بِسَيفِby the sword of قُدارِQudar
لَم تَدمَ ناقَتُهُ بِسَيفِ قُدارِ
And had Thamud not been lax regarding their Lord,
It healed the intestines from their sores
His she-camel would not have bled beneath Qudar's sword.
That your door became inaccessible to visitors.
وَلَقَدand indeed شَفىcured الأَحشاءَthe entrails مِنof بُرَحائِهاtheir agony
وَلَقَد شَفى الأَحشاءَ مِن بُرَحائِها
أَنthat صارَbecame بابَكُBabak جارَthe neighbor of ماMa- (part of Mazyar) زَيّارِ-zyar (part of Mazyar)
أَن صارَ بابَكُ جارَ ما زَيّارِ
And it cured the entrails of their torment
Peerless in the heart of the heavens though they were two in the cave,
That Babak became the neighbor of Mazyar,
As if they disappeared so as to fold up
ثانيهِhis fellow فيin كَبِدِthe heart of السَماءِthe sky وَلَمand not يَكُنhe was
ثانيهِ في كَبِدِ السَماءِ وَلَم يَكُن
لِاِثنَينِof two ثانٍa second إِذwhen هُماthe two of them فيin الغارِthe cave
لِاِثنَينِ ثانٍ إِذ هُما في الغارِ
His fellow in the heart of the sky—yet he was not
News from a peering stalker,
The second of two when they were in the cave.
Wearing black robes as if woven by venomous spiders,
وَكَأَنَّماand as though اِنتَبَذاthe two withdrew لِكَيماso that يَطوِياthe two conceal
وَكَأَنَّما اِنتَبَذا لِكَيما يَطوِيا
عَنfrom ناطِسٍan inquisitive watcher خَبَراًa piece of news مِنَamong الأَخبارِthe reports
عَن ناطِسٍ خَبَراً مِنَ الأَخبارِ
As though the two had withdrawn to conceal
Covered in the depths of carried litters,
Some piece of news from an inquisitive watcher.
Tied up for them at the carpenter’s workshop.
سودُblack الثِيابِthe garments كَأَنَّماas though نَسَجَتwove لَهُمfor them
سودُ الثِيابِ كَأَنَّما نَسَجَت لَهُم
أَيديthe hands of السَمومِthe scorching wind مَدارِعاًtunics مِنof قارِpitch
أَيدي السَمومِ مَدارِعاً مِن قارِ
Black-clad, as though there had woven for them
They do not budge, and whoever sees them finds them
The hands of the scorching wind tunics of pitch.
Forever on a journey of journeys.
بَكَرواthey set out at dawn وَأَسرواand traveled by night فيon مُتونِthe backs of ضَوامِرٍlean mounts
بَكَروا وَأَسروا في مُتونِ ضَوامِرٍ
قيدَتwere led لَهُمfor them مِنfrom مَربِطِthe stable of النَجارِthe carpenter
قيدَت لَهُم مِن مَربِطِ النَجارِ
They set out at dawn and traveled by night on lean mounts' backs,
They plotted against prophecy and guidance, so
Led out for them from the carpenter's stable.
Their necks were severed in that arena.
لاnot يَبرَحونَthey move away وَمَنand whoever رَآهُمsaw them خالَهُمwould think them
لا يَبرَحونَ وَمَن رَآهُم خالَهُم
أَبَداًforever عَلىon سَفَرٍa journey مِنَof الأَسفارِthe journeys
أَبَداً عَلى سَفَرٍ مِنَ الأَسفارِ
They never move away, yet anyone who sees them would imagine them
They were ignorant and so did not appreciate
Forever upon one journey or another.
An acknowledged obedience in building lifetimes.
كادواthey plotted against النُبُوَّةَprophecy وَالهُدىand guidance فَتَقَطَّعَتso were severed
كادوا النُبُوَّةَ وَالهُدى فَتَقَطَّعَت
أَعناقُهُمtheir necks فيin ذَلِكَthat المِضمارِracecourse
أَعناقُهُم في ذَلِكَ المِضمارِ
They plotted against prophecy and guidance; thus were severed
So strengthen the Caliphate through Aaron, he being
Their necks in that racecourse.
A comfort for its desolation and a house of rest,
جَهِلواthey were ignorant فَلَمso not يَستَكثِرواthey abounded مِنin طاعَةٍobedience
جَهِلوا فَلَم يَستَكثِروا مِن طاعَةٍ
مَعروفَةٍknown بِعِمارَةِfor sustaining الأَعمارِlifetimes
مَعروفَةٍ بِعِمارَةِ الأَعمارِ
They were ignorant, and did not abound in obedience
With the Abbasid youth, and the moon surrounded
Known to make lifetimes flourish.
By the stars of Ya’rub and Nizari.
فَاِشدُدso strengthen بِهارونَwith Harun الخَلافَةَthe caliphate إِنَّهُindeed he
فَاِشدُد بِهارونَ الخَلافَةَ إِنَّهُ
سَكَنٌsolace لِوَحشَتِهاfor its loneliness وَدارُand an abode of قَرارِrest
سَكَنٌ لِوَحشَتِها وَدارُ قَرارِ
Strengthen the caliphate, then, with Harun; he is
Generous kinsman and maternal nephew, his origin
Solace for its loneliness, and an abode of rest.
Includes Quraysh, the Supporters and Helpers before.
بِفَتىwith the young man of بَنيthe sons of العَبّاسِal-'Abbas وَالقَمَرِand the moon الَّذيwho
بِفَتى بَني العَبّاسِ وَالقَمَرِ الَّذي
حَفَّتهُsurrounded him أَنجُمُthe stars of يَعرُبٍYa'rub وَنِزارِand Nizar
حَفَّتهُ أَنجُمُ يَعرُبٍ وَنِزارِ
With the young man of al-'Abbas's sons, and the moon whom
He is the blessing of Yemen amongst them, and felicity,
The stars of Ya'rub and Nizar surround.
A night lamp amongst them, and a daytime sun.
كَرَمُthe nobility of العُمومَةِpaternal kin وَالخُؤولَةِand maternal kin مَجَّهُpoured it forth
كَرَمُ العُمومَةِ وَالخُؤولَةِ مَجَّهُ
سَلَفاthe two ancestral lines of قُرَيشٍQuraysh فيهِinto him وَالأَنصارِand the Ansar
سَلَفا قُرَيشٍ فيهِ وَالأَنصارِ
The nobility of paternal and maternal kin was poured into him
So suppress the devils of hypocrisy with a rightly-guided one
By the forebears of Quraysh and the Ansar.
Whose guidance the Creator is pleased with, and humankind.
هُوَhe نَوءُa rain-bringing star of يُمنٍgood fortune فيهِمُamong them وَسَعادَةٍand happiness
هُوَ نَوءُ يُمنٍ فيهِمُ وَسَعادَةٍ
وَسِراجُand a lamp of لَيلٍnight فيهِمُamong them وَنَهارُand daylight
وَسِراجُ لَيلٍ فيهِمُ وَنَهارُ
He is their rain-star of blessing and happiness,
To walk the horizons with the manner of kindness
And their lamp by night, and their daylight.
And steer them with tranquility and dignity.
فَاِقمَعso subdue شَياطينَthe devils of النِفاقِhypocrisy بِمُهتَدٍwith a rightly guided man
فَاِقمَع شَياطينَ النِفاقِ بِمُهتَدٍ
تَرضىapproves البَرِيَّةُcreation هَديَهُhis guidance وَالباريand the Creator
تَرضى البَرِيَّةُ هَديَهُ وَالباري
Subdue the devils of hypocrisy with a rightly guided man
Thus China is threaded to Andalusia
Whose guidance creation and the Creator approve,
To the walls of Rome – a fused kingdom.
لِيَسيرَso that he may proceed فيin الآفاقِthe horizons سيرَةَa course of رَأفَةٍcompassion
لِيَسيرَ في الآفاقِ سيرَةَ رَأفَةٍ
وَيَسوسَهاand govern them بِسَكينَةٍwith serenity وَوَقارِand dignity
وَيَسوسَها بِسَكينَةٍ وَوَقارِ
That he may follow a merciful course across the horizons
I know that this is a stronghold
And govern them with serenity and dignity.
You would not leave without an enclosure.
فَالصينُfor China مَنظومٌstrung together بِأَندَلُسٍwith al-Andalus إِلىto
فَالصينُ مَنظومٌ بِأَندَلُسٍ إِلى
حيطانِthe walls of رومِيَّةٍRome فَمُلكِthen the realm of ذَمارِDhamar
حيطانِ رومِيَّةٍ فَمُلكِ ذَمارِ
For China is strung with al-Andalus, as far as
For the earth is a barren abode unless
The walls of Rome, then the realm of Dhamar.
A Hashimite becomes lord of that abode.
وَلَقَدand indeed عَلِمتُI knew بِأَنَّthat ذَلِكَthat مِعصَمٌa wrist
وَلَقَد عَلِمتُ بِأَنَّ ذَلِكَ مِعصَمٌ
ماnot كُنتَyou would تَترُكُهُleave it بِغَيرِwithout سِوارِa bracelet
ما كُنتَ تَترُكُهُ بِغَيرِ سِوارِ
And I know well that this is a wrist
The verses of the Glorious Qur'an were revealed amongst you
You would not leave without a bracelet.
And excellent poetry is composed for you.
فَالأَرضُfor the earth دارٌa house أَقفَرَتbecomes desolate ماif لَمnot يَكُنthere is
فَالأَرضُ دارٌ أَقفَرَت ما لَم يَكُن
مِنfrom هاشِمٍHashim رَبٌّa master لِتِلكَof that الدارِhouse
مِن هاشِمٍ رَبٌّ لِتِلكَ الدارِ
For the earth is a house left desolate unless there is
A master from Hashim for that house.
سُوَرُthe suras of القُرانِthe Quran الغُرُّradiant فيكُمamong you أُنزِلَتwere revealed
سُوَرُ القُرانِ الغُرُّ فيكُم أُنزِلَت
وَلَكُمand for you تُصاغُare fashioned مَحاسِنُthe beauties of الأَشعارِpoetry
وَلَكُم تُصاغُ مَحاسِنُ الأَشعارِ
The radiant suras of the Quran were revealed among you,
And for you are fashioned poetry's finest beauties.
Partial English translation: 118 of 122 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1