ماwhat لِلدُموعِwith the tears تَرومُseek كُلَّevery مَرامِgoal
ما لِلدُموعِ تَرومُ كُلَّ مَرامِ
وَالجَفنُand the eyelid ثاكِلُbereft of هَجعَةٍslumber وَمَنامِand sleep
وَالجَفنُ ثاكِلُ هَجعَةٍ وَمَنامِ
What ails the tears, seeking every course,
while the eyelid is bereft of slumber and sleep?
ياO حُفرَةَgrave of المَعصومِthe blameless one تُربُكِyour soil مودَعٌentrusted with
يا حُفرَةَ المَعصومِ تُربُكِ مودَعٌ
ماءَthe water of الحَياةِlife وَقاتِلُand the slayer of الإِعدامِdestitution
ماءَ الحَياةِ وَقاتِلُ الإِعدامِ
O grave of the blameless one, your soil is entrusted with
the water of life and the slayer of destitution.
إِنَّindeed الصَفائِحَthe stone slabs مِنكِof yours قَدalready نُضِدَتhave been stacked عَلىupon
إِنَّ الصَفائِحَ مِنكِ قَد نُضِدَت عَلى
مُلقىresting place of عِظامٍbones لَوif عَلِمتِyou knew عِظامِmighty
مُلقى عِظامٍ لَو عَلِمتِ عِظامِ
Indeed, your stone slabs have been stacked upon
a resting place of bones—mighty, if you only knew.
فَتَقَburst open المَدامِعَthe tear ducts أَنَّthat لَحدَكِyour tomb حَلَّهُwas inhabited by
فَتَقَ المَدامِعَ أَنَّ لَحدَكِ حَلَّهُ
سَكَنُthe solace of الزَمانِthe age وَمُمسِكُand the restrainer of الأَيّامِthe days
سَكَنُ الزَمانِ وَمُمسِكُ الأَيّامِ
The tear ducts burst because your tomb was inhabited by
the solace of the age and the restrainer of days,
وَمُصَرِّفُand the governor of المُلكِkingship الجَموحِheadstrong كَأَنَّهُas though it
وَمُصَرِّفُ المُلكِ الجَموحِ كَأَنَّهُ
قَدalready زُمَّhad been bridled مُصعَبُهُits unruly mount لَهُfor him بِزِمامِwith a rein
قَد زُمَّ مُصعَبُهُ لَهُ بِزِمامِ
and the governor of headstrong kingship, as though
its unruly mount had been bridled for him with a rein.
هَدَمَتdemolished صُروفُthe vicissitudes of المَوتِdeath أَرفَعَthe loftiest حائِطٍwall
هَدَمَت صُروفُ المَوتِ أَرفَعَ حائِطٍ
ضُرِبَتwere set دَعائِمُهُits pillars عَلىupon الإِسلامِIslam
ضُرِبَت دَعائِمُهُ عَلى الإِسلامِ
Death's vicissitudes demolished the loftiest wall,
whose pillars were set upon Islam.
دَخَلَتthey entered عَلىupon مَلِكِthe king of المُلوكِkings رِواقَهُhis pavilion
دَخَلَت عَلى مَلِكِ المُلوكِ رِواقَهُ
وَتَشَزَّنَتand bristled لِمُقَوِّمِagainst the straightener of القُوّامِthe rulers
وَتَشَزَّنَت لِمُقَوِّمِ القُوّامِ
They entered the pavilion of the king of kings
and bristled against him who set the rulers straight:
مِفتاحُthe key to كُلِّevery مَدينَةٍcity قَدalready أُبهِمَتhad been sealed
مِفتاحُ كُلِّ مَدينَةٍ قَد أُبهِمَت
غَلَقاًtightly shut وَمُخليand the emptier of كُلِّevery دارِabode of مُقامِresidence
غَلَقاً وَمُخلي كُلِّ دارِ مُقامِ
the key to every city that had been sealed
fast shut, and the emptier of every settled dwelling;
وَمُعَرِّفُand the teacher of الخُلَفاءِthe caliphs أَنَّthat حُظوظَهاtheir fortunes
وَمُعَرِّفُ الخُلَفاءِ أَنَّ حُظوظَها
فيin حَيِّزِthe sphere of الإِسراجِsaddling وَالإِلجامِand bridling
في حَيِّزِ الإِسراجِ وَالإِلجامِ
who taught the caliphs that their fortunes lay
in the realm of saddling and bridling.
أَخَذَhe took الخِلافَةَthe caliphate عَنthrough أَسِنَّتِهِhis spearheads الَّتيwhich
أَخَذَ الخِلافَةَ عَن أَسِنَّتِهِ الَّتي
مَنَعَتdefended حِمىthe protected domain of الآباءِfathers وَالأَعمامِand uncles
مَنَعَت حِمى الآباءِ وَالأَعمامِ
He won the caliphate through his spearheads, which
defended the sacred domain of fathers and uncles.
فَلِسورَةِso for the surah of الأَنفالِal-Anfal (The Spoils) فيin ميراثِهِhis inheritance
فَلِسورَةِ الأَنفالِ في ميراثِهِ
آثارُهاits traces وَلِسورَةِand for the surah of الأَنعامِal-An'am (The Cattle)
آثارُها وَلِسورَةِ الأَنعامِ
Thus the surah al-Anfal has, in his inheritance,
its traces, and so does the surah al-An'am.
ماas long as دامَremains هارونُHarun الخَليفَةَthe caliph فَالهُدىthen right guidance
ما دامَ هارونُ الخَليفَةَ فَالهُدى
فيin غِبطَةٍbliss مَوصولَةٍjoined بِدَوامِto permanence
في غِبطَةٍ مَوصولَةٍ بِدَوامِ
As long as Harun remains caliph, right guidance
dwells in bliss joined to permanence.
إِنّاindeed we رَحَلناjourneyed on واثِقينَtrusting بِواثِقِin al-Wathiq
إِنّا رَحَلنا واثِقينَ بِواثِقِ
بِاللَهِbi-llah (in God) شَمسِa sun of ضُحىًforenoon وَبَدرِand a moon of تَمامِfullness
بِاللَهِ شَمسِ ضُحىً وَبَدرِ تَمامِ
We have journeyed on, trusting in al-Wathiq
bi-llah, a forenoon sun and a moon at its full.
لِلَّهِGod be praised أَيُّwhat a حَياةٍlife اِنبَعَثَتsprang up لَناfor us
لِلَّهِ أَيُّ حَياةٍ اِنبَعَثَت لَنا
يَومَon the day of الخَميسِThursday وَبَعدَand after أَيِّwhat a حِمامِdeath
يَومَ الخَميسِ وَبَعدَ أَيِّ حِمامِ
God be praised—what life sprang up for us
on Thursday, and after what a death!
أَودىcarried off بِخَيرِthe best of إِمامٍimams اِضطَرَبَتwere shaken بِهِby it
أَودى بِخَيرِ إِمامٍ اِضطَرَبَت بِهِ
شُعَبُthe tribes of الرِجالِmen وَقامَand arose خَيرُthe best of إِمامِimams
شُعَبُ الرِجالِ وَقامَ خَيرُ إِمامِ
It carried off the best of imams; because of it trembled
the tribes of men—and the best of imams arose.
تِلكَthat الرَزِيَّةُcalamity لاno رَزِيَّةَcalamity مِثلُهاlike it
تِلكَ الرَزِيَّةُ لا رَزِيَّةَ مِثلُها
وَالقِسمُand the allotted share لَيسَis not كَسائِرِlike the rest of الأَقسامِthe shares
وَالقِسمُ لَيسَ كَسائِرِ الأَقسامِ
That was a calamity with no calamity like it,
and the allotted share is unlike all other shares.
إِنif أَصبَحَتhave now become هَضَباتُthe heights of قُدسَQuds أَصابَهاhas struck them
إِن أَصبَحَت هَضَباتُ قُدسَ أَصابَها
قَدَرٌfate فَماyet not زالَتhave vanished هِضابُthe heights of شَمامِShamam
قَدَرٌ فَما زالَت هِضابُ شَمامِ
If the heights of Quds have now been struck by
fate, the heights of Shamam still stand.
أَوor يُفتَقَدis missed ذوDhu (possessor of) النونِal-Nun (the fish) فيin الهَيجاbattle فَقَدthen indeed
أَو يُفتَقَد ذو النونِ في الهَيجا فَقَد
دَفَعَwarded off harm الإِلَهُGod لَناfor us عَنِfrom الصَمّامِal-Sammam
دَفَعَ الإِلَهُ لَنا عَنِ الصَمّامِ
Or if Dhu al-Nun is missed in battle, then
God has kept al-Sammam safe for us.
أَوor جُبَّwas lopped off مِنّاfrom us غارِبٌwithers غَدواًat dawn فَقَدthen indeed
أَو جُبَّ مِنّا غارِبٌ غَدواً فَقَد
رُحناwe returned at evening بِأَتمَكِwith a loftier ذِروَةٍcrest وَسَنامِand hump
رُحنا بِأَتمَكِ ذِروَةٍ وَسَنامِ
Or if our withers were lopped away at dawn, then
we returned at evening with a loftier crest and hump.
هَلis it غَيرُanything but بُؤسىmisery of ساعَةٍan hour أَلبَستَهاyou clothed it
هَل غَيرُ بُؤسى ساعَةٍ أَلبَستَها
بِنَداكَthrough your bounty ماwhat لَبِسَتit wore مِنَof الإِنعامِblessings
بِنَداكَ ما لَبِسَت مِنَ الإِنعامِ
Was it more than an hour's misery, which you clothed
through your bounty in all the blessings it wears?
نَقضٌan unraveling كَرَجعِlike the blink of الطَرفِthe eye قَدalready أَبرَمتَهُyou have bound it fast
نَقضٌ كَرَجعِ الطَرفِ قَد أَبرَمتَهُ
ياO اِبنَson of الخَلائِفِcaliphs أَيَّماwhat a إِبرامِbinding
يا اِبنَ الخَلائِفِ أَيَّما إِبرامِ
An unraveling, brief as a blink, which you have bound fast,
O son of caliphs, with such a firm binding!
ماnot إِنindeed رَأىsaw الأَقوامُthe peoples شَمساًa sun قَبلَهاbefore it
ما إِن رَأى الأَقوامُ شَمساً قَبلَها
أَفَلَتit set فَلَمyet did not تُعقِبهُمُleave them بِظَلامِin darkness
أَفَلَت فَلَم تُعقِبهُمُ بِظَلامِ
Never had the peoples seen, before this one, a sun
set without leaving them in darkness.
أَكرِمhow glorious بِيَومِهِمtheir day الَّذيon which مُلِّكتَهُمyou were made their king
أَكرِم بِيَومِهِم الَّذي مُلِّكتَهُم
فيat صَدرِهِits beginning وَبِعامِهِمand their year مِنas عامِa year
في صَدرِهِ وَبِعامِهِم مِن عامِ
How glorious their day, when you were made their king
at its outset, and their year—what a year!
لَوif لَمnot يَكُنit were بِدعاًan innovation لَقَدsurely نَصَبواthey would erect
لَو لَم يَكُن بِدعاً لَقَد نَصَبوا
سِمَةًa distinguishing mark يَبينُit stands apart بِهاby it مِنَfrom الأَعوامِthe years
سِمَةً يَبينُ بِها مِنَ الأَعوامِ
Had it not been an innovation, they would have set up
a mark to distinguish it from other years.
لَغَدَواthey would have awoken وَذاكَand that الحَولُyear حَولُa year of عِبادَةٍworship
لَغَدَوا وَذاكَ الحَولُ حَولُ عِبادَةٍ
فيهِمamong them وَذاكَand that الشَهرُmonth شَهرُa month of صِيامِfasting
فيهِم وَذاكَ الشَهرُ شَهرُ صِيامِ
They would have awoken to find that year a year of worship
among them, and that month a month of fasting.
لَمّاwhen دَعَوتَهُمُyou summoned them لِأَخذِto take عُهودِهِمtheir pledges
لَمّا دَعَوتَهُمُ لِأَخذِ عُهودِهِم
طارَflew السُرورُjoy بِمُعرِقٍwith an Iraq-bound man وَشَآمِand a Syria-bound man
طارَ السُرورُ بِمُعرِقٍ وَشَآمِ
When you summoned them to take their pledges,
joy sent Iraq-bound and Syria-bound men soaring.
فَكَأَنَّso as though هَذاthis one قادِمٌwere returning مِنfrom غَيبَةٍabsence
فَكَأَنَّ هَذا قادِمٌ مِن غَيبَةٍ
وَكَأَنَّand as though ذاكَthat one مُبَشَّرٌwere given glad tidings بِغُلامِof a son
وَكَأَنَّ ذاكَ مُبَشَّرٌ بِغُلامِ
It was as if this man were returning from absence,
and that one were given glad tidings of a son.
لَوif يَقدِرونَthey could مَشَواthey would walk عَلىon وَجَناتِهِمtheir cheeks
لَو يَقدِرونَ مَشَوا عَلى وَجَناتِهِم
وَعُيونِهِمand their eyes فَضلاًto say nothing عَنِof الأَقدامِthe feet
وَعُيونِهِم فَضلاً عَنِ الأَقدامِ
Had they been able, they would have walked on their cheeks
and their eyes, not merely on their feet.
قُسِمَتwere divided أَميرَO Commander of المُؤمِنينَthe Faithful قُلوبُهُمtheir hearts
قُسِمَت أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ قُلوبُهُم
بَينَbetween المَحَبَّةِlove فيكَfor you وَالإِعظامِand reverence
بَينَ المَحَبَّةِ فيكَ وَالإِعظامِ
Their hearts, Commander of the Faithful, were divided
between love for you and reverence.
شُرِحَتwere opened بِدَولَتِكَby your reign الصُدورُhearts وَأَصبَحَتand became
شُرِحَت بِدَولَتِكَ الصُدورُ وَأَصبَحَت
خُشُعُhumbled العُيونِthe eyes إِلَيكَtoward you وَهيَwhile they سَوامِgazing
خُشُعُ العُيونِ إِلَيكَ وَهيَ سَوامِ
Your reign has opened hearts, and now
eyes, though humbled, gaze toward you.
ماnot أَحسِبُI think القَمَرَthe moon المُنيرَluminous إِذاwhen بَداit appears
ما أَحسِبُ القَمَرَ المُنيرَ إِذا بَدا
بَدراًfull بِأَضوَأَany brighter مِنكَthan you فيin الأَوهامِimaginations
بَدراً بِأَضوَأَ مِنكَ في الأَوهامِ
I do not think the luminous moon, when it appears
full, is brighter than you in the mind's eye.
هِيَit is بَيعَةُthe pledge of allegiance of الرِضوانِdivine approval يُشرَعُis opened وَسطَهاwithin it
هِيَ بَيعَةُ الرِضوانِ يُشرَعُ وَسطَها
بابُthe gate of السَلامَةِsafety فَاِدخُلواso enter بِسَلامِin peace
بابُ السَلامَةِ فَاِدخُلوا بِسَلامِ
It is the Pledge of Ridwan; in its midst is opened
the gate of safety: enter, then, in peace.
وَالمَركَبُand the mount المُنجيthat saves فَمَنso whoever يَعدِلsets an equal بِهِbeside it
وَالمَركَبُ المُنجي فَمَن يَعدِل بِهِ
يَركَبrides جَموحاًa headstrong beast غَيرَnot ذاتِpossessing لِجامِa bridle
يَركَب جَموحاً غَيرَ ذاتِ لِجامِ
And the saving mount: whoever sets another equal to it
rides a headstrong beast without a bridle.
يَتبَعfollows هَواهُhis whim وَلاand no لَقاحَindependence لِرَهطِهِfor his clan
يَتبَع هَواهُ وَلا لَقاحَ لِرَهطِهِ
بَسلٌsacrosanct وَلَيسَتand is not أَرضُهُhis land بِحَرامِinviolable
بَسلٌ وَلَيسَت أَرضُهُ بِحَرامِ
He follows his whim, though his clan has no independence
that is sacrosanct, nor is his land inviolable.
وَعِبادَةُand worship of الأَهواءِwhims فيin تَطويحِهاits hurling away
وَعِبادَةُ الأَهواءِ في تَطويحِها
بِالدينِof religion فَوقَbeyond عِبادَةِworship of الأَصنامِidols
بِالدينِ فَوقَ عِبادَةِ الأَصنامِ
And worship of whims, in its hurling
religion aside, surpasses the worship of idols.
إِنَّindeed الخِلافَةَthe caliphate أَصبَحَتhas now become حُجُراتُهاits pavilions
إِنَّ الخِلافَةَ أَصبَحَت حُجُراتُها
ضُرِبَتhave been pitched عَلىover ضَخمِone vast in الهُمومِambitions هُمامِhigh-souled
ضُرِبَت عَلى ضَخمِ الهُمومِ هُمامِ
Indeed, the caliphate now has its pavilions
pitched over a high-souled man of vast ambitions:
مَلِكٌa king يَرىwho sees الدُنياthe world بِأَيسَرِwith the slightest لَحظَةٍglance
مَلِكٌ يَرى الدُنيا بِأَيسَرِ لَحظَةٍ
وَيَرىand regards التُقىpiety رَحِماًa kinship مِنَamong الأَرحامِkinships
وَيَرى التُقى رَحِماً مِنَ الأَرحامِ
a king who surveys the world with the slightest glance,
and regards piety as one of his bonds of kinship.
لاno قَدحَblemish فيin عودِthe stock of الإِمامَةِthe imamate بَعدَماnow that
لا قَدحَ في عودِ الإِمامَةِ بَعدَما
مَتَّتit has claimed a bond إِلَيكَwith you بِحُرمَةٍthrough a sacred tie وَذِمامِand a covenant
مَتَّت إِلَيكَ بِحُرمَةٍ وَذِمامِ
No flaw mars the stock of the imamate, now that
it has claimed a bond with you through sacred ties and covenant.
هَيهاتَfar from it تِلكَthat قِلادَةُthe necklace of اللَهِGod الَّتيwhich
هَيهاتَ تِلكَ قِلادَةُ اللَهِ الَّتي
ماnot كانَwould يَترُكُهاHe leave it بِغَيرِwithout نِظامِa string
ما كانَ يَترُكُها بِغَيرِ نِظامِ
Far from it! That is God's necklace, which
He would never leave without a string:
إِرثُthe inheritance of النَبِيِّthe Prophet وَجَمرَةُand the ember of المُلكِkingship الَّتيwhich
إِرثُ النَبِيِّ وَجَمرَةُ المُلكِ الَّتي
لَمnot تَخلُhas been devoid مِنof لَهَبٍflame بِكُمthrough you وَضِرامِand blazing fire
لَم تَخلُ مِن لَهَبٍ بِكُم وَضِرامِ
the Prophet's inheritance, and the ember of kingship, which
has never lacked, through you, flame and blaze.
مَذخورَةٌheld in store أَحرَزتَهاyou secured it بِحُكومَةٍby a decree
مَذخورَةٌ أَحرَزتَها بِحُكومَةٍ
لِلَّهِof God تَعلوthat rises above أَرؤُسَthe heads of الحُكّامِjudges
لِلَّهِ تَعلو أَرؤُسَ الحُكّامِ
Held in store, you secured it by a decree
of God that towers above the heads of judges.
لَسناwe are not مُريديseekers of حُجَّةٍa proof نَشفيwe cure بِهاwith it
لَسنا مُريدي حُجَّةٍ نَشفي بِها
مِنfrom ريبَةٍdoubt سَقَماًan illness مِنَamong الأَسقامِillnesses
مِن ريبَةٍ سَقَماً مِنَ الأَسقامِ
We seek no proof by which to heal
any one of the ailments of doubt.
الصُبحُdaybreak مَشهورٌis manifest بِغَيرِwithout دَلائِلٍproofs
الصُبحُ مَشهورٌ بِغَيرِ دَلائِلٍ
مِنfrom غَيرِهِother than itself اِبتُغِيَتwere sought وَلاnor أَعلامِguiding signs
مِن غَيرِهِ اِبتُغِيَت وَلا أَعلامِ
Daybreak is manifest, without proofs
sought from elsewhere, or guiding signs.
فَأَقِمso straighten مُخالِفَناour opponent بِكُلِّwith every مُقَوَّمٍstraightened spear
فَأَقِم مُخالِفَنا بِكُلِّ مُقَوَّمٍ
وَاِحسِمand cut down مُعانِدَناour obstinate foe بِكُلِّwith every حُسامِkeen sword
وَاِحسِم مُعانِدَنا بِكُلِّ حُسامِ
So set our opponent straight with every straightened spear,
and cut down our obstinate foe with every keen sword.
تَرَكَتleft أُسودُthe lions of الغابَتَينِthe two forests مَغارَهاtheir lairs
تَرَكَت أُسودُ الغابَتَينِ مَغارَها
لَمّاwhen أَتاهاcame to them وارِثُthe heir of الآجامِthe thickets
لَمّا أَتاها وارِثُ الآجامِ
The lions of the two forests left their lairs
when the heir of the thickets came to them:
أَلوىa fierce contender إِذاwhen خاضَhe plunged into الكَريهَةَbattle لَمnot يَكَنwas he
أَلوى إِذا خاضَ الكَريهَةَ لَم يَكَن
بِمُزَنَّدٍfeeble فيهاin it وَلاnor بِكَهامِblunt
بِمُزَنَّدٍ فيها وَلا بِكَهامِ
a fierce contender who, when he plunged into battle, was never
feeble there, nor dull of edge.
لَبّاسُhabitual wearer of سَردِthe linked mail of الصَبرِpatience مُدَّرِعٌarmored بِهِin it
لَبّاسُ سَردِ الصَبرِ مُدَّرِعٌ بِهِ
فيin الحادِثِa calamity الجَلَلِgrievous اِدِّراعَas one dons اللامِcoats of mail
في الحادِثِ الجَلَلِ اِدِّراعَ اللامِ
A wearer of patience's linked mail, armored in it
in grievous calamity as one dons a coat of mail.
وَالصَبرُand patience بِالأَرواحِthrough souls يُعرَفُis known فَضلُهُits excellence
وَالصَبرُ بِالأَرواحِ يُعرَفُ فَضلُهُ
صَبرُthe patience of المُلوكِkings وَلَيسَand not بِالأَجسامِthrough bodies
صَبرُ المُلوكِ وَلَيسَ بِالأَجسامِ
And patience's excellence is proved in souls—
the patience of kings—not in bodies.
لاnot تُدهِنواbe lax فيabout حُكمِهِhis rule فَالبَحرُfor the sea قَدmay
لا تُدهِنوا في حُكمِهِ فَالبَحرُ قَد
تُرديkill غَوارِبُهُits wave-crests وَلَيسَand is not بِطامِoverflowing
تُردي غَوارِبُهُ وَلَيسَ بِطامِ
Do not treat his rule lightly: the sea may
kill with its wave-crests, though it is not overflowing.
ياO بنَson of الكَواكِبِthe stars مِنamong أَئِمَّةِthe imams of هاشِمٍHashim
يا بنَ الكَواكِبِ مِن أَئِمَّةِ هاشِمٍ
وَالرُجَّحِand those weighty in الأَحسابِnoble lineages وَالأَحلامِand sound judgment
وَالرُجَّحِ الأَحسابِ وَالأَحلامِ
O son of the stars among the imams of Hashim,
and of men weighty in noble lineage and sound judgment,
أَهدىoffered إِلَيكَto you الشِعرَpoetry كُلُّevery مُفَهَّهٍinarticulate man
أَهدى إِلَيكَ الشِعرَ كُلُّ مُفَهَّهٍ
خَطِلٍbabbling وَسَدَّدَand aimed true فيكَat you كُلُّevery عَبامِdullard
خَطِلٍ وَسَدَّدَ فيكَ كُلُّ عَبامِ
every inarticulate man has offered you verse,
babbling though he is; and every dullard has aimed true at you.
غَرَضُthe target of المَديحِpraise تَقارَبَتhave drawn near آفاقُهُits horizons
غَرَضُ المَديحِ تَقارَبَت آفاقُهُ
وَرَمىand shot فَقَرطَسَthen hit the bull's-eye فيهِin it غَيرُone other than الراميan archer
وَرَمى فَقَرطَسَ فيهِ غَيرُ الرامي
The horizons of praise's target have drawn near,
and one who is no archer has shot and hit its bull's-eye.
Sol 6.1