أَأَفاقَhas he come to his senses? ظالِمُone who wrongs نَفسِهِhimself فَأَناباand so repented
أَأَفاقَ ظالِمُ نَفسِهِ فَأَنابا
وَرَأىand saw المَحَجَّةَthe clear path مُخطِئٌone who errs فَأَصاباand found the right way
وَرَأى المَحَجَّةَ مُخطِئٌ فَأَصابا
Has he who wronged his own soul awakened and repented?
Has he who wronged himself come to his senses and repented?
Has he seen the clear road after straying, and found the right path?
And has the one who erred seen the clear path and found the right way?
إِنَّindeed الَّذيHe who وَسِعَencompassed الخَلائِقَall creatures رَحمَةًin mercy
إِنَّ الَّذي وَسِعَ الخَلائِقَ رَحمَةً
غَمَرَengulfed المَمالِكَthe kingdoms وَالشُعوبَand the peoples عَذاباin torment
غَمَرَ المَمالِكَ وَالشُعوبَ عَذابا
Indeed, I am he whose mercy embraced all creation,
Indeed, He whose mercy encompassed all creatures
yet I engulfed kingdoms and peoples in torment.
Engulfed the kingdoms and the peoples in torment.
لَمّاwhen جَرىflowed فيin الأَرضِthe earth طوفانُthe flood of الأَذىharm
لَمّا جَرى في الأَرضِ طوفانُ الأَذى
أَجرىmade flow بِهِthrough it الدَمَblood وَالحَديدَand iron عُباباas a surging flood
أَجرى بِهِ الدَمَ وَالحَديدَ عُبابا
When a deluge of suffering swept across the earth,
When the flood of harm swept across the earth,
I sent blood and steel coursing through it in torrents.
He made blood and iron flow through it in a surging flood.
وَالناسُand people إِنif عَمَرواfill الزَمانَtime بِظُلمِهِمwith their injustice
وَالناسُ إِن عَمَروا الزَمانَ بِظُلمِهِم
تَرَكوleft المَدائِنَthe cities وَالبِلادَand the lands خَراباin ruins
تَرَكو المَدائِنَ وَالبِلادَ خَرابا
Though humankind builds up the age with its knowledge,
And if people fill their age with their injustice,
it leaves cities and countries in ruins.
They leave the cities and the lands in ruins.
انظُرlook إِلىat الدُنياthe world يُريكَshows you مَشيبُهاits gray hair
انظُر إِلى الدُنيا يُريكَ مَشيبُها
دُنياa world تُريكَshows you نَضارَةًfreshness وَشَباباand youth
دُنيا تُريكَ نَضارَةً وَشَبابا
Look upon this world: its gray hairs will show you
Look at the world: its gray hairs show you
a world displaying bloom and youth.
A world that shows you freshness and youth.
هَذيthis one تُطِلُّlooks out عَلىover الشُعوبِthe peoples وَهَذِهِand this one
هَذي تُطِلُّ عَلى الشُعوبِ وَهَذِهِ
تُزجيurges onward الرَكائِبَthe caravans لاnot تُريدُdesires مَآباa return
تُزجي الرَكائِبَ لا تُريدُ مَآبا
This one looks out upon the peoples, and this one
This one looks out over the peoples, while the other
drives the caravans onward, seeking no return.
Urges the caravans onward, seeking no return.
اللَهُGod قَدَّرَهاordained it حَياةًas a life غَضَّةًfresh and tender
اللَهُ قَدَّرَها حَياةً غَضَّةً
وَأَعَدَّهاand prepared it لِلصالِحينَfor the righteous ثَواباas a reward
وَأَعَدَّها لِلصالِحينَ ثَوابا
God ordained it as a life, fresh and flourishing,
God ordained it as a fresh, tender life,
and prepared it as a reward for the righteous.
And prepared it as a reward for the righteous.
قُلsay لِلمُلوكِto the kings أَتَتبَعونَdo you follow? زَمانَكُمyour age
قُل لِلمُلوكِ أَتَتبَعونَ زَمانَكُم
أَمor تَأخُذونَdo you adopt لِغَيرِهِfor something other than it الأَسباباthe means
أَم تَأخُذونَ لِغَيرِهِ الأَسبابا
Say to the kings: Will you follow your own age,
Say to the kings: do you follow your own age,
or adopt the ways of an age not your own?
Or do you adopt the ways of another age?
ماnot المُلكُkingship يُؤخَذُis acquired بَيعَةًthrough a pledge of allegiance وَمَشورَةًand consultation
ما المُلكُ يُؤخَذُ بَيعَةً وَمَشورَةً
كَالمُلكِlike kingship يُؤخَذُis acquired عَنوَةًby force وَغِلاباand conquest
كَالمُلكِ يُؤخَذُ عَنوَةً وَغِلابا
Kingship obtained through allegiance and counsel is not
Kingship gained through a pledge of allegiance and consultation is not
like kingship seized by violence and conquest—
Like kingship seized by force and conquest.
الصاعِدينَthose ascending عَلىupon العروشِthe thrones جَماجِماًskulls
الصاعِدينَ عَلى العروشِ جَماجِماً
الرافِعينَthose raising ذُرىthe summits القُصورِof palaces رِقاباnecks
الرافِعينَ ذُرى القُصورِ رِقابا
those who climb to thrones over skulls,
Those whose skulls rise upon the thrones,
who raise palace heights upon human necks,
Who lift their necks to the summits of palaces,
المُنكِرينَthose denying عَلىto المَمالِكِthe kingdoms حَقَّهاtheir right
المُنكِرينَ عَلى المَمالِكِ حَقَّها
الزاعِمينَthose claiming شُعوبَهُنَّtheir peoples ذُباباflies
الزاعِمينَ شُعوبَهُنَّ ذُبابا
who deny nations their rightful due,
Who deny the kingdoms their rights,
and claim their peoples are mere flies;
Who deem their peoples flies—
مِنamong كُلِّevery فَردٍindividual فيon الأَريكَةِthe royal couch مالِكٍruling
مِن كُلِّ فَردٍ في الأَريكَةِ مالِكٍ
أُمَماًnations تَهولُastound بَنيthe sons of الزَمانِthe age حِساباin number
أُمَماً تَهولُ بَني الزَمانِ حِسابا
each one a solitary man upon the throne, possessing
Each a lone man upon the royal couch, ruling
whole nations whose multitude astounds the children of the age.
Nations whose numbers astound the sons of the age;
فَخمِmagnificent in المَواكِبِprocessions ماnot يُباليhe cares أَصبَحواthey wake
فَخمِ المَواكِبِ ما يُبالي أَصبَحوا
راضينَcontent أَمor باتواthey spend the night عَلَيهِat him غِضاباangry
راضينَ أَم باتوا عَلَيهِ غِضابا
Magnificent in his processions, he cares nothing whether they greet the morning
Splendid in his processions, he cares not whether they wake
content, or spend the night angry with him.
Content, or spend the night angry with him.
المالُwealth يُجبىis collected وَالبِلادُand the lands مُطيعَةٌobedient
المالُ يُجبى وَالبِلادُ مُطيعَةٌ
وَالجُندُand the troops يَخطُرُstrut جيئَةًcoming وَذَهاباand going
وَالجُندُ يَخطُرُ جيئَةً وَذَهابا
Wealth is gathered and the countries submit;
Wealth is collected, and the lands are obedient,
the army struts proudly, coming and going.
And the troops strut, coming and going.
وَالجَمعُand the crowd مُحتَفِلٌassembled يَطوفُcircles بِسُدَّةٍaround a threshold
وَالجَمعُ مُحتَفِلٌ يَطوفُ بِسُدَّةٍ
تُلقيcasts عَلَيهِover him مِنَof الجَلالِmajesty حِجاباa veil
تُلقي عَلَيهِ مِنَ الجَلالِ حِجابا
The assembled multitude, ceremonially gathered, circles the royal threshold,
And the assembled crowd circles a threshold
casting around him a veil of majesty.
That casts a veil of majesty over him.
تَتَوَثَّبُleap forth الأَقدارُthe fates فيin عَليائِهاits heights
تَتَوَثَّبُ الأَقدارُ في عَليائِها
تَحميguard السُتورَthe curtains وَتَمنَعُand bar الأَبواباthe doors
تَحمي السُتورَ وَتَمنَعُ الأَبوابا
High dignitaries vie with one another in its lofty precincts,
The fates leap forth in its heights,
guarding the curtains and barring the doors.
They guard the curtains and bar the doors.
يَرضىhe is pleased فَيُرسِلُهاand so sends them لِقَومٍto a people نِعمَةًas a blessing
يَرضى فَيُرسِلُها لِقَومٍ نِعمَةً
وَتَكونُand they become مِنهُfrom him لِآخِرينَfor others عِقاباa punishment
وَتَكونُ مِنهُ لِآخِرينَ عِقابا
He is pleased, and sends them to one people as a blessing,
When pleased, he sends them as a blessing to a people,
or grows angry, and from him they become punishment for others—
And from him they become a punishment for others.
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen جَمَعَgathered القَياصِرَthe Caesars مَوعِدٌan appointed time
حَتّى إِذا جَمَعَ القَياصِرَ مَوعِدٌ
بَعَثَsent forth الإِلَهُGod قَضاءَهُHis decree فَاِنساباand it flowed onward
بَعَثَ الإِلَهُ قَضاءَهُ فَاِنسابا
until, when an appointed hour gathers the Caesars,
Until, when an appointed hour gathered the Caesars,
God sends forth His decree, and it sweeps onward.
God sent forth His decree, and it flowed onward.
لَمّاwhen أَغارَsent raiding عَلىagainst المَمالِكِthe kingdoms جُندَهُHis troops
لَمّا أَغارَ عَلى المَمالِكِ جُندَهُ
أَخَذَseized العُروشَthe thrones وَأَهلَهاand their occupants أَسلاباas spoils
أَخَذَ العُروشَ وَأَهلَها أَسلابا
When His army raids the kingdoms,
When He sent His troops raiding the kingdoms,
it takes the thrones and their occupants as spoils.
He seized the thrones and their occupants as spoils.
وَأَرىand I see لِرَبِّكَof your Lord كُلَّevery حينٍmoment آيَةًa sign
وَأَرى لِرَبِّكَ كُلَّ حينٍ آيَةً
تَعِظُadmonishes العَبيدَthe slaves وَتردَعُand restrains الأَرباباthe masters
تَعِظُ العَبيدَ وَتردَعُ الأَربابا
At every moment I behold a sign from your Lord,
And at every moment I see a sign of your Lord
admonishing subjects and restraining masters.
That admonishes the slaves and restrains the masters.
تَطغىgrow tyrannical الجُنودُthe armies فَإِنbut if تَدافَعَsurges forth بَأسُهُHis might
تَطغى الجُنودُ فَإِن تَدافَعَ بَأسُهُ
هَزَمَrouted الجُنودَthe armies وَأَهلَكَand destroyed الأَحزاباthe factions
هَزَمَ الجُنودَ وَأَهلَكَ الأَحزابا
Armies grow tyrannical; but when their might collides,
Armies grow tyrannical; but if His might surges forth,
He routs the armies and destroys the allied hosts.
He routs the armies and destroys the factions.
وَإِذاand when رَمىstruck شُمَّlofty المَعاقِلِstrongholds مِنfrom عَلٍon high
وَإِذا رَمى شُمَّ المَعاقِلِ مِن عَلٍ
طارَتthey flew بِمُختَرِقِthrough the passage of الرِياحِthe winds تُراباas dust
طارَت بِمُختَرِقِ الرِياحِ تُرابا
And when, from on high, He assails the proud peaks of strongholds,
And when He strikes the lofty strongholds from on high,
they scatter like dust along the pathway of the winds.
They fly as dust along the pathways of the winds.
إِنَّindeed الَّذيHe who جَعَلَmade الزَمانَtime مُؤَدِّباًa teacher
إِنَّ الَّذي جَعَلَ الزَمانَ مُؤَدِّباً
جَعَلَmade الحَوادِثَevents لِلشُعوبِfor the peoples كِتاباa book
جَعَلَ الحَوادِثَ لِلشُعوبِ كِتابا
Indeed, He who made time itself a teacher
Indeed, He who made time a teacher
made events a book for humankind.
Made events a book for the peoples.
وَالناسُand people تُعوِزُهاare lacking to them العُقولُreason فَيَستَويand so are equal
وَالناسُ تُعوِزُها العُقولُ فَيَستَوي
فيin الجَهلِignorance مَنthose who شَهِدَwitnessed العِظاتِthe lessons وَغاباand were absent
في الجَهلِ مَن شَهِدَ العِظاتِ وَغابا
Yet humankind is so wanting in reason that equal
Yet people lack reason; thus equal
in ignorance are those who witnessed the warnings and those who were absent.
In ignorance are those who witnessed the lessons and those absent.
العَبقَرِيَّةُgenius فيin الحَياةِlife لِأُمَّةِto a nation
العَبقَرِيَّةُ في الحَياةِ لِأُمَّةِ
تَلِدُgives birth to العُقولَminds وَتُنجِبُand brings forth الأَلباباintellects
تَلِدُ العُقولَ وَتُنجِبُ الأَلبابا
Genius in life belongs to a nation
Genius in life belongs to a nation
that gives birth to minds and begets discerning intellects:
That gives birth to minds and brings forth intellects:
مِنfrom كُلِّevery جَبّارِmighty in القُوىstrength مُتَمَرِّدٍa rebel
مِن كُلِّ جَبّارِ القُوى مُتَمَرِّدٍ
يَعلوrises above الخُطوبَadversities مُساوِراًassailing وَثّاباever leaping
يَعلو الخُطوبَ مُساوِراً وَثّابا
among them every mighty, indomitable rebel
From every rebel of mighty strength,
who rises above calamities, grappling and springing;
Who surmounts adversities, assailing them and leaping;
وَمُثَقَّبٍand a keen-minded one وارٍblazing يُريكَshows you مُضيئُهُits radiance
وَمُثَقَّبٍ وارٍ يُريكَ مُضيئُهُ
فيamid الداجِياتِthe dark aspects مِنَof الأُمورِaffairs شِهاباa shooting star
في الداجِياتِ مِنَ الأُمورِ شِهابا
and every keen, blazing mind whose sharp resolve reveals
And a keen, blazing mind whose radiance shows you
a meteor amid the darkness of affairs;
A shooting star amid the darkness of affairs;
وَضَحِlight of الغُيوبِmysteries يَدُبُّcreeps فيinto أَوكارِهاtheir lairs
وَضَحِ الغُيوبِ يَدُبُّ في أَوكارِها
وَيَشُقُّand cuts عَنto uncover أَسرارِهاtheir secrets الأَنقاباtunnels
وَيَشُقُّ عَن أَسرارِها الأَنقابا
and every revealer of mysteries who creeps into their lairs
A light upon mysteries, it creeps into their lairs
and bores passageways toward their secrets.
And cuts tunnels to uncover their secrets.
سَلَبُthe spoils of الشُعوبِpeoples لِمَنfor whoever يُقَلِّبُbrandishes حَولَهاaround them
سَلَبُ الشُعوبِ لِمَن يُقَلِّبُ حَولَها
ظُفراًa claw مِنَof العِلمِknowledge العَتيدِheld ready وَناباand a fang
ظُفراً مِنَ العِلمِ العَتيدِ وَنابا
The spoils of peoples fall to whoever wields against them
The spoils of peoples belong to whoever brandishes around them
the battle-ready claw and fang of knowledge.
A claw and a fang of knowledge held ready.
العِلمُknowledge إِنif حَمَتِguarded الضَراغِمُthe lions مُلكَهاtheir kingdom
العِلمُ إِن حَمَتِ الضَراغِمُ مُلكَها
مُلكٌa kingdom أَعَزُّmore inviolable حِمىًsanctuary وَأَمنَعُand more impregnable غاباforest
مُلكٌ أَعَزُّ حِمىً وَأَمنَعُ غابا
Knowledge—when lions guard its realm—
Knowledge, even if lions guard their kingdom,
is a realm mightier in sanctuary and more unassailable in its forest.
Is a kingdom with a more inviolable sanctuary and a more impregnable forest.
طُفroam بِالمَشارِقِthrough the eastern lands هَلdo you تُصادِفُencounter جاحِداًa denier
طُف بِالمَشارِقِ هَل تُصادِفُ جاحِداً
وَجُبِand traverse المغَارِبَthe western lands هَلdo you تَرىsee مُرتاباa doubter
وَجُبِ المغَارِبَ هَل تَرى مُرتابا
Range through the eastern lands: will you encounter anyone denying this?
Roam the eastern lands: do you meet a denier?
Traverse the western lands: will you see anyone in doubt?
And traverse the western lands: do you see a doubter?
أَرَأَيتَhave you seen? مَنone who أَخَذَtook الحَياةَlife بِحَقِّهاas it deserves
أَرَأَيتَ مَن أَخَذَ الحَياةَ بِحَقِّها
وَسَعىand strove لَهاfor it سَعيَthe striving of الرِجالِmen فَخاباand then failed
وَسَعى لَها سَعيَ الرِجالِ فَخابا
Have you ever seen one who grasped life as it deserves,
Have you seen anyone who embraced life as it deserves
strove for it as true men strive, and then failed?
And strove for it as men strive, yet failed?
جَنِّدmobilize لِقَومِكَfor your people إِنif هَمَمتَyou resolve بِغارَةٍon a raid
جَنِّد لِقَومِكَ إِن هَمَمتَ بِغارَةٍ
جُندَthe army of المَعارِفِknowledge وَاِحشُدِand muster الآداباthe literary arts
جُندَ المَعارِفِ وَاِحشُدِ الآدابا
Muster for your people, if you contemplate a campaign,
Mobilize for your people, if you intend a raid,
the armies of knowledge, and mobilize the arts and letters.
The army of knowledge, and muster the literary arts.
Sol 6.1