هَلhas ...? ليمَwas reproached نَضوُone wasted by صَبابَةٍardent longing فَأَفاقاand so regained his senses
هَل ليمَ نَضوُ صَبابَةٍ فَأَفاقا
أَمor سيمَwas required to show صَبراًpatience فيin الهَوىlove فَأَطاقاand so could endure it
أَم سيمَ صَبراً في الهَوى فَأَطاقا
Has one wasted by longing ever been reproached and come to his senses?
Shall I find respite from love's torment, and awaken?
Or was patience in love demanded of him, and could he bear it?
Or shall I show patience with passion and endure it?
ماhow! أَتعَبَexhausts اللُوّامَthe reproachers إنif مَلَكَpossessed الهَوىlove
ما أَتعَبَ اللُوّامَ إن مَلَكَ الهَوى
رِقَّbondage of القُلوبِthe hearts وَطَوَّقَand collared الأَعناقاthe necks
رِقَّ القُلوبِ وَطَوَّقَ الأَعناقا
How weary the reproachers are when love holds
Passion has wearied the blamer - if it holds sway,
Hearts in bondage and collars their necks!
It softens hearts and shackles necks.
حَشَدواthey mustered المَلاوِمَreproaches وَاِنبَرىand stepped forth بِلِوائِهِwith his banner
حَشَدوا المَلاوِمَ وَاِنبَرى بِلِوائِهِ
يُزجيurges onward العُهودَpledges وَيَحشُدُand musters الأَشواقاlongings
يُزجي العُهودَ وَيَحشُدُ الأَشواقا
They mustered reproaches; he stepped forth with his banner,
They mustered censurers, and its banner waved;
Urging pledges onward and mustering longings.
It severs covenants and rallies longings.
أَولىmost deserving الفَوارِسthe knights بِاللِواءِof the banner مُجاهِدٌa warrior
أَولى الفَوارِس بِاللِواءِ مُجاهِدٌ
يُرديstrikes down الوُشاةَthe slanderers وَيَنصُرُand champions العُشّاقاthe lovers
يُردي الوُشاةَ وَيَنصُرُ العُشّاقا
The knight most worthy of the banner is a warrior
The finest of knights, the one who bears the standard,
Who strikes down slanderers and champions lovers.
Sweeping away the wicked and aiding lovers.
عَرَفَالهَوىhe knew love حَرباًas war فَكَرَّand so charged مُغامِراًdaringly
عَرَفَالهَوى حَرباً فَكَرَّ مُغامِراً
فيهِin it وَراحَand set forth مُبادِراًhastening سَبّاقاahead of others
فيهِ وَراحَ مُبادِراً سَبّاقا
He knew love as war and charged, daring all,
When love knew war, it ventured boldly into it
Into it, setting forth swiftly and taking the lead.
And set out eagerly racing ahead.
مَنَعَdefended الذِمارَthe sacred charge مَنازِلاًhomes وَأَحِبَّةًand loved ones
مَنَعَ الذِمارَ مَنازِلاً وَأَحِبَّةً
وَحَمىand guarded الحَقيقَةَwhat is owed protection جيرَةًneighbors وَرِفاقاand companions
وَحَمى الحَقيقَةَ جيرَةً وَرِفاقا
He defended his sacred charge: homes and loved ones,
It denied the slanderers dwellings and loved ones,
And guarded those owed protection: neighbors and companions.
And protected the truth - both neighbour and friend.
طُفgo round بِالحُماةِamong the defenders فَهَلand do ...? تَرىyou see ذاone possessing نَجدَةٍvalor
طُف بِالحُماةِ فَهَل تَرى ذا نَجدَةٍ
إِلّاexcept بِحَيثُwhere تَرىyou see الدَمَthe blood المُهراقاspilled
إِلّا بِحَيثُ تَرى الدَمَ المُهراقا
Go among the defenders: do you see a man of valor
Patrol the guardians - do you see any rescue
Except where you see blood spilled?
Except where you see blood copiously shed?
وَالمَجدُand glory يَعرِفُهُknows it بِطيبِby the sweetness of مَذاقِهِits savor
وَالمَجدُ يَعرِفُهُ بِطيبِ مَذاقِهِ
مَنwhoever يَستَطيبُfinds sweet المَوتَdeath فيهِfor its sake مَذاقاin taste
مَن يَستَطيبُ المَوتَ فيهِ مَذاقا
And glory's sweet savor is known to the one
And glory is recognised for its sweetness
Who finds death for its sake sweet to taste.
By one who finds death in it sweet to taste.
وَأَرىand I see العُلىlofty glory تَأبىrefuses عَلىto خُطّابِهاits suitors
وَأَرى العُلى تَأبى عَلى خُطّابِها
حَتّىuntil يَكونَbecome لَهfor it النُفوسُsouls صَداقاa bridal dower
حَتّى يَكونَ لَه النُفوسُ صَداقا
And I see high glory refusing its suitors
And I see greatness refuses to be addressed
Until souls become its bridal dower.
Until souls are for it sincere friends.
لَيسَis not الَّذيthe one who أَخَذَtook الحَياةَlife بِحَقِّهاwith its rightful due
لَيسَ الَّذي أَخَذَ الحَياةَ بِحَقِّها
مِثلَlike الَّذيthe one who أَخَذَtook الحَياةَlife نِفاقاhypocritically
مِثلَ الَّذي أَخَذَ الحَياةَ نِفاقا
He who lives life as it ought to be lived is not
Not equal are those who took life by right
Like him who lives life through hypocrisy.
And those who took life by hypocrisy.
يُزجيpeddles التَصَنُّعَaffectation وَالرِياءَand ostentation بِضاعَةًas merchandise
يُزجي التَصَنُّعَ وَالرِياءَ بِضاعَةً
تُغريtempts التِجارَthe merchants وَتَزدَهيand dazzles الأَسواقاthe markets
تُغري التِجارَ وَتَزدَهي الأَسواقا
He peddles affectation and ostentation as merchandise
It casts aside pretence and hypocrisy - wares
That tempts merchants and dazzles markets.
That tempt the merchants and thrive in markets.
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen وَضَحَbecame clear اليَقينُcertainty تَسَلَّلواthey slunk away
حَتّى إِذا وَضَحَ اليَقينُ تَسَلَّلوا
عُصَباًin bands تَروعُterrify العاصِفاتِthe storm winds إِباقاin runaway flight
عُصَباً تَروعُ العاصِفاتِ إِباقا
Until, when the truth is clear, they slink away
Until, when certainty is clear, they steal away,
In bands, terrifying the storm winds with their flight.
A band frightening tempests by their fleeing.
إِنَّindeed الغِوايَةَwaywardness لِلرِجالِfor men تِجارَةًa trade
إِنَّ الغِوايَةَ لِلرِجالِ تِجارَةً
تَلِدُgives birth to البَوارَruin وَتورِثُand bequeaths الإِخفاقاfailure
تَلِدُ البَوارَ وَتورِثُ الإِخفاقا
Indeed, waywardness is a trade for men
For men, deception is a trade
That breeds ruin and bequeaths failure.
That breeds ruin and begets failure.
وَلَقَدand indeed رَأَيتُI have seen فَماand yet not رَأَيتُI have seen كَمُدَّعٍlike a pretender
وَلَقَد رَأَيتُ فَما رَأَيتُ كَمُدَّعٍ
يَرجوhopes بِأَحرارِwith the free الرِجالِmen لَحاقاto catch up
يَرجو بِأَحرارِ الرِجالِ لَحاقا
And indeed I have seen, but never seen the like of a pretender
Truly, I have seen none like the pretentious one
Who hopes to catch up with free men.
Who hopes to join the noble ones.
يَنسىhe forgets أَباهُhis father وَلَوand if يُطاوِعهُobeys him الثَرىthe earth
يَنسى أَباهُ وَلَو يُطاوِعهُ الثَرى
لَسَعىhe would surely hasten إِلىto ساداتِهِhis masters مُشتاقاlongingly
لَسَعى إِلى ساداتِهِ مُشتاقا
He forgets his father; were the earth to obey him,
He forgets his father, and if the earth would obey him
He would hasten to his masters, full of longing.
He would hasten to his masters, desirous.
يَأتيhe comes وَيَذهَبُand goes فيin ظِلالِthe shade of قُصورِهِمtheir palaces
يَأتي وَيَذهَبُ في ظِلالِ قُصورِهِم
لاnot يَشتَكيcomplains عَنَتاًhardship وَلاnor إِرهاقاexhaustion
لا يَشتَكي عَنَتاً وَلا إِرهاقا
He comes and goes in the shade of their palaces,
He comes and goes in the shade of their palaces,
Complaining of neither hardship nor exhaustion.
Neither complaining of trouble nor fatigue.
لَيسواthey are not كَمَنlike whoever مَلَكَowned النُفوسَthe souls فَسامَهاand so subjected them to
لَيسوا كَمَن مَلَكَ النُفوسَ فَسامَها
سوءَthe evil of العَذابِtorment وَغالَهاand destroyed them اِستِرقاقاthrough enslavement
سوءَ العَذابِ وَغالَها اِستِرقاقا
They are not like one who owned souls and subjected them
They are not like those who possessed souls and exhaled them -
To dreadful torment, destroying them through enslavement.
The evil of torment and the burdens of slavery.
هَزَّshook الجَناحَthe wing يُريدُseeking دارَةَthe abode of قَشعَمٍQashʿam
هَزَّ الجَناحَ يُريدُ دارَةَ قَشعَمٍ
مَلَكَruled الجِواءَthe open sky وَظَلَّلَand overshadowed الآفاقاthe horizons
مَلَكَ الجِواءَ وَظَلَّلَ الآفاقا
He shook his wing, seeking Qashʿam's abode;
It shook its wings, intending the palace of Qushaym,
He ruled the open sky and overshadowed the horizons.
Who possessed the heavens and overshadowed horizons.
تَدَعُleave النُسورُthe vultures لَهُto him بَعيدَthe farthest extent of مَطارِهاtheir flight
تَدَعُ النُسورُ لَهُ بَعيدَ مَطارِها
وَتَحيدُand veer away عَنfrom هَبَواتِهِhis dust clouds إِشفاقاin fear
وَتَحيدُ عَن هَبَواتِهِ إِشفاقا
The vultures yield him their farthest reaches of flight,
Eagles abandon their distant flight to it
And veer from his dust clouds in fear.
And shy from its gusts in awe.
اللَهُGod بارَكَblessed فيin البُناةِthe builders فَزادَهُمand so gave them more
اللَهُ بارَكَ في البُناةِ فَزادَهُم
مَجداًglory وَزادَand increased جَلالَهُمtheir majesty إِشراقاin radiance
مَجداً وَزادَ جَلالَهُم إِشراقا
God blessed the builders, bestowing on them more
God has blessed the builders and increased
Glory, and adding radiance to their majesty.
Their glory and made their eminence shine brighter.
مِنfrom among كُلِّevery مِقدامٍbold man يُقيمُraises لِجيلِهِfor his generation
مِن كُلِّ مِقدامٍ يُقيمُ لِجيلِهِ
شَرَفاًhonor يَمُدُّspreads عَلىover النُجومَthe stars رُواقاa canopy
شَرَفاً يَمُدُّ عَلى النُجومَ رُواقا
Each a bold man who raises for his generation
With every valiant act, he establishes for his people
Honor that spreads a canopy above the stars.
Nobility extending high above the stars.
وَلَرُبَّand indeed many a مَغلولِone fettered in العَزيمَةِresolve يَشتَكيcomplains
وَلَرُبَّ مَغلولِ العَزيمَةِ يَشتَكي
فيin كُلِّevery عِضوٍlimb رِبقَةًa tether وَوثاقاand a binding cord
في كُلِّ عِضوٍ رِبقَةً وَوثاقا
And many a man with fettered resolve complains
While the fainthearted complains in every limb
Of a tether and a binding cord on every limb.
Of a tether and bonds.
لاnot يَستَطيعُcan سِوىanything but المَقالِspeech وَلاand not يَرىsees
لا يَستَطيعُ سِوى المَقالِ وَلا يَرى
أَحَدٌanyone بِماin what يَهذيhe babbles بِهِabout it مِصداقاproof
أَحَدٌ بِما يَهذي بِهِ مِصداقا
He can do nothing but talk, and no one sees
He cannot manage more than talk, and no one sees
Any proof in what he babbles.
In what he raves any substance.
أَسدىbestowed وَشَيَّدَand built ماwhat اِستَطاعَhe could وَإِنَّماand yet only
أَسدى وَشَيَّدَ ما اِستَطاعَ وَإِنَّما
أَسدىbestowed المِدادَink وَشَيَّدَand built الأَوراقاsheets of paper
أَسدى المِدادَ وَشَيَّدَ الأَوراقا
He gave and built as much as he could, but all he did
He gave what he could, and indeed
Was give ink and build up sheets of paper.
Gave only ink and set up pages.
فيin كُلِّevery حَرفٍletter مَسجدٌa mosque أَوor مَلجَأٌa refuge
في كُلِّ حَرفٍ مَسجدٌ أَو مَلجَأٌ
يُعييwearies الدُهاةَthe shrewd وَيُعجِزُand defeats الحُذّاقاthe skilled
يُعيي الدُهاةَ وَيُعجِزُ الحُذّاقا
In every letter is a mosque or a refuge
In every letter a sanctuary or refuge,
That wearies the shrewd and defeats the skilled.
Frustrating the cunning and the adept.
لَوif شاءَhe wished لِلسَبعِto the seven الطِباقِsuperposed layers زِيادَةًan addition
لَو شاءَ لِلسَبعِ الطِباقِ زِيادَةً
لَأَقامَhe would surely erect عَشراًten فَوقَهُنَّabove them طِباقاin layers
لَأَقامَ عَشراً فَوقَهُنَّ طِباقا
If he wished to add to the seven layered heavens,
Had He wished to add to the seven strata
He would raise ten more tiers above them.
He would have established ten atop them.
لَيسَare not الأُلىthose who حَمَلواcarried النُفوسَthe souls كَريمَةًnoble
لَيسَ الأُلى حَمَلوا النُفوسَ كَريمَةً
مِثلَlike الأُلىthose who حَمَلواcarried الوُجوهَthe faces صِفاقاthick-skinned
مِثلَ الأُلى حَمَلوا الوُجوهَ صِفاقا
Those who bear noble souls are not
Not equal are those who carried souls nobly
Like those who bear brazen faces.
And those who carried faces disgracefully.
وُدُّaffection of البِلادِthe homeland لِمَنfor whoever يَقومُstands up بِحَقِّهاfor its rights
وُدُّ البِلادِ لِمَن يَقومُ بِحَقِّها
وَلِمَنand for whoever يُقيمُestablishes لِقَومِهِfor his people الأَخلاقاmoral virtues
وَلِمَن يُقيمُ لِقَومِهِ الأَخلاقا
The homeland's affection belongs to whoever upholds its rights,
The love of a land belongs to those who stand by it
And to whoever establishes virtue for his people.
And to those who establish virtuous morals for its people.
Sol 6.1