حَلَّuntied الوَفاءُfidelity الحَقُّtrue عَقدَthe knot of ذِمامِهِits pledge
حَلَّ الوَفاءُ الحَقُّ عَقدَ ذِمامِهِ
وَقَضىand fulfilled الوَلاءُloyalty الصدقُsincere حَقَّthe duty of مَلامِهِreproaching it
وَقَضى الوَلاءُ الصدقُ حَقَّ مَلامِهِ
True fidelity has untied the knot of its pledge,
And sincere loyalty has fulfilled the duty of reproaching it.
ليfor me فيin الهَوىlove عُذرُthe excuse of الأَمينِthe faithful وَلَيسَand there is not ليfor me
لي في الهَوى عُذرُ الأَمينِ وَلَيسَ لي
غَدرُthe betrayal of الخؤونِthe treacherous وَلاnor أَثيمُsinful غَرامِهِhis passion
غَدرُ الخؤونِ وَلا أَثيمُ غَرامِهِ
In love I have the faithful one's excuse; I have neither
The treacherous one's betrayal nor his sinful passion.
القَلبُthe heart نِبراسٌa lamp فَإِنso if أَطفَأتَهُyou extinguish it
القَلبُ نِبراسٌ فَإِن أَطفَأتَهُ
أَضلَلتَهُyou lead it astray وَضَلَلتَand you go astray بَينَamid ظَلامِهِits darkness
أَضلَلتَهُ وَضَلَلتَ بَينَ ظَلامِهِ
The heart is a lamp; if you extinguish it,
You lead it astray and wander lost amid its darkness.
بَيتُthe house of الحَقيقَةِtruth إِنif تَجَلّىappears باطِلٌfalsehood
بَيتُ الحَقيقَةِ إِن تَجَلّى باطِلٌ
فيهِwithin it تَجَلّىreveals Himself اللَهُGod فيin هُدّامِهِits destroyers
فيهِ تَجَلّى اللَهُ في هُدّامِهِ
It is truth's house; if falsehood appears
Within it, God reveals Himself in those who tear it down.
ماليwhy do I أُصاديI flatter الشِعرَpoetry أَكتُمُI conceal from أَهلَهُits practitioners
مالي أُصادي الشِعرَ أَكتُمُ أَهلَهُ
ماwhat يُرمضُscorches الأَحرارَthe free مِنof آثامِهِits sins
ما يُرمضُ الأَحرارَ مِن آثامِهِ
Why should I flatter poetry, concealing from its practitioners
Those sins of its that sear the free?
رَكِبَit rode الهَوىdesire وَاِستَنَّand followed سُنَّةَthe way of جاهِلٍan ignorant man
رَكِبَ الهَوى وَاِستَنَّ سُنَّةَ جاهِلٍ
فيin جاهِلِيَّتِهِits pre-Islamic age وَفيand in إِسلامِهِits Islam
في جاهِلِيَّتِهِ وَفي إِسلامِهِ
It rode desire and followed an ignorant man's way,
In its pre-Islamic days and in its Islam.
رَضِعَit suckled الأَذىharm طِفلاًas an infant عَلَيهِupon it تَمائِمٌamulets
رَضِعَ الأَذى طِفلاً عَلَيهِ تَمائِمٌ
وَجَرىand persisted عَلَيهِin it فَتىًas a youth وَحينَand at تَمامِهِits maturity
وَجَرى عَلَيهِ فَتىً وَحينَ تَمامِهِ
It suckled harm as an infant wearing amulets,
And kept to it in youth and at full maturity.
جازَit passed beyond الخِيامَthe tents إِلىto القُصورِthe palaces حَضارَةًin civilization
جازَ الخِيامَ إِلى القُصورِ حَضارَةً
وَالشَرُّand evil بَينَamid قُصورِهِits palaces وَخِيامِهِand its tents
وَالشَرُّ بَينَ قُصورِهِ وَخِيامِهِ
It passed from tents to palaces as civilization advanced,
Yet evil dwelt amid its palaces and tents.
إِنif سادَreigns ظُلمٌoppression فَهوَthen it is مِنamong أَعوانِهِits helpers
إِن سادَ ظُلمٌ فَهوَ مِن أَعوانِهِ
أَوor عَزَّholds sway جَهلٌignorance فَهوَthen it is مِنamong خُدّامِهِits servants
أَو عَزَّ جَهلٌ فَهوَ مِن خُدّامِهِ
If oppression reigns, it is among its helpers;
Or if ignorance holds sway, it is among its servants.
الفَتكُslaughter بِالضُعَفاءِof the weak أَكبَرُgreatest هَمِّهِits concern
الفَتكُ بِالضُعَفاءِ أَكبَرُ هَمِّهِ
وَالغَدرُand betrayal بِالخُلَطاءِof companions جُلَّthe chief of مَرامِهِits aims
وَالغَدرُ بِالخُلَطاءِ جُلَّ مَرامِهِ
Slaughtering the weak is its greatest concern,
And betraying companions its chief aim.
سَفَكَit shed الدِماءَblood وَلَجَّand persisted فيin غلوائِهِits excess
سَفَكَ الدِماءَ وَلَجَّ في غلوائِهِ
صَلِفاًarrogantly يُدِلُّboasting بِشَرِّهِof its wickedness وَعُرامِهِand its ferocity
صَلِفاً يُدِلُّ بِشَرِّهِ وَعُرامِهِ
It shed blood and persisted in its excess,
Arrogant, boasting of its wickedness and ferocity.
وَلَعُthe obsession of الغَوِيِّthe wayward man بِكَأسِهِwith his cup وَمُدامِهِand his wine
وَلَعُ الغَوِيِّ بِكَأسِهِ وَمُدامِهِ
وَغَرامُهُand his passion بِفَتاتِهِfor his maiden وَغُلامِهِand his boy
وَغَرامُهُ بِفَتاتِهِ وَغُلامِهِ
The wayward man's obsession with his cup and wine,
And his passion for his maiden and his boy,
وَمَخيلَةُand the conceit of المُغتَرِّthe self-deluded man يَزعُمُclaiming أَنَّهُthat he
وَمَخيلَةُ المُغتَرِّ يَزعُمُ أَنَّهُ
ثَلَّhe toppled العُروشَthe thrones بِبَأسِهِwith his might وَحُسامِهِand his sword
ثَلَّ العُروشَ بِبَأسِهِ وَحُسامِهِ
And the conceit of the self-deluded man, claiming that he
Has toppled thrones with his might and sword.
يَأتيit approaches المُلوكَthe kings مُحارِباًwarring وَمُسالِماًand at peace
يَأتي المُلوكَ مُحارِباً وَمُسالِماً
وَالمالُand money باعِثُthe motive for حَربِهِits war وَسَلامِهِand its peace
وَالمالُ باعِثُ حَربِهِ وَسَلامِهِ
It approaches kings in war and in peace,
And money is the motive for its war and peace.
هَذاthis الَّذيis what جَعَلَmade القَريضَverse مَعابَةًa disgrace
هَذا الَّذي جَعَلَ القَريضَ مَعابَةً
مَهماhowever تَأَنَّقَit strives for elegance فيin بَديعِthe beauty of نِظامِهِits composition
مَهما تَأَنَّقَ في بَديعِ نِظامِهِ
This is what has made verse a disgrace,
However exquisite the artistry of its composition.
أَلِفَit grew used to الحَضيضَthe depths فَماso not تَكادُalmost تُقيمُهُraise it
أَلِفَ الحَضيضَ فَما تَكادُ تُقيمُهُ
أَيديthe hands of أَئِمَّتِهِits masters وَلاnor أَعلامِهِits luminaries
أَيدي أَئِمَّتِهِ وَلا أَعلامِهِ
It has grown used to the depths; scarcely can it be raised
By the hands of its masters or its luminaries.
لَولاbut for الأُلىthose who جَعَلواmade المُلوكَthe kings رُواتَهُits reciters
لَولا الأُلى جَعَلوا المُلوكَ رُواتَهُ
هَوَتِwould have fallen الكَواكِبُthe stars عَنbelow رَفيعِlofty مَقامِهِits station
هَوَتِ الكَواكِبُ عَن رَفيعِ مَقامِهِ
But for those who made kings its reciters,
The stars would have fallen below its lofty station.
يَتَصايَحونَthey shout to one another بِهِwith it عَلىat أَبوابِهِمtheir gates
يَتَصايَحونَ بِهِ عَلى أَبوابِهِم
يَرجونَthey pin hopes on كُلَّevery مُخافِتٍone who murmurs بِسَلامِهِwith his greeting
يَرجونَ كُلَّ مُخافِتٍ بِسَلامِهِ
They shout it to one another at their gates,
Pinning their hopes on anyone who murmurs his greeting.
سامٍexalted يُزِلُّmakes stumble الثَبتَthe steadfast كَرُّthe sweep of لِحاظِهِhis glances
سامٍ يُزِلُّ الثَبتَ كَرُّ لِحاظِهِ
وَيَخِرُّand brings down بِالجَبّارِthe tyrant رَجعُthe echo of كَلامِهِhis words
وَيَخِرُّ بِالجَبّارِ رَجعُ كَلامِهِ
Exalted is he; the sweep of his glances makes the steadfast stumble,
And the echo of his words brings the tyrant crashing down.
نَظَرواthey looked إِلَيهِat him وَفيand in العُيونِthe eyes غَشاوَةٌa veil
نَظَروا إِلَيهِ وَفي العُيونِ غَشاوَةٌ
فَاِستَصغَرواso they deemed inadequate السَجَداتِprostrations فيfor إِعظامِهِhonoring him
فَاِستَصغَروا السَجَداتِ في إِعظامِهِ
They looked at him with a veil upon their eyes,
So they deemed prostrations too little to honor him.
وَالمَرءُand a man إِنif نَبَذَcasts الحَقائِقَtruths خَلفَهُbehind him
وَالمَرءُ إِن نَبَذَ الحَقائِقَ خَلفَهُ
جَهِلَhe fails to know الصَوابَwhat is right وَضلَّand goes astray فيin أَوهامِهِhis delusions
جَهِلَ الصَوابَ وَضلَّ في أَوهامِهِ
And when a man casts truths behind him,
He fails to know what is right and strays amid his delusions.
أَودىbrought ruin بِدينِupon the religion of الحَقِّtruth دينُa religion of غوايَةٍerror
أَودى بِدينِ الحَقِّ دينُ غوايَةٍ
كانَتwere مُلوكُthe kings of الشَرقِthe East مِنamong أَصنامِهِits idols
كانَت مُلوكُ الشَرقِ مِن أَصنامِهِ
A religion of error brought the true faith to ruin;
The kings of the East were among its idols.
الشَرقُthe East يَعلَمُknows أَنَّthat مُعضِلَthe intractable part of دائِهِits illness
الشَرقُ يَعلَمُ أَنَّ مُعضِلَ دائِهِ
مِنfrom صُنعِthe work of سادِتِهِits masters وَمِنand from حُكّامِهِits rulers
مِن صُنعِ سادِتِهِ وَمِن حُكّامِهِ
The East knows that its intractable malady
Is the work of its masters and its rulers.
نَشَرواthey unfurled لِواءَthe banner of الجَهلِignorance بَينَamong شُعوبِهِits peoples
نَشَروا لِواءَ الجَهلِ بَينَ شُعوبِهِ
وَقَضواand judged بِغَيرِwithout الحَقِّjustice فيamong أَقوامِهِits nations
وَقَضوا بِغَيرِ الحَقِّ في أَقوامِهِ
They unfurled ignorance's banner among its peoples,
And judged its nations without justice.
أَخَذواthey took السَبيلَthe path إِلىto المَناكِرِevil deeds فَاحتَذَواso they followed suit
أَخَذوا السَبيلَ إِلى المَناكِرِ فَاحتَذَوا
وَالمَرءُand a man مُتَّبِعٌfollows سَبيلَthe path of إِمامِهِhis leader
وَالمَرءُ مُتَّبِعٌ سَبيلَ إِمامِهِ
They took the road to evil, and others followed,
For a man follows his leader's path.
لاnot يَعرِفونَthey recognize الرَأيَopinion إِلّاexcept واحِداًone
لا يَعرِفونَ الرَأيَ إِلّا واحِداً
فيin نَقضِrevoking ماwhat زَعَمواthey claimed وَفيand in إِبرامِهِratifying it
في نَقضِ ما زَعَموا وَفي إِبرامِهِ
They recognize only one opinion,
Whether rescinding what they have claimed or ratifying it.
هَدَمواthey demolished مِنَof الإِسلامِIslam رُكناًa pillar عالِياًlofty
هَدَموا مِنَ الإِسلامِ رُكناً عالِياً
نَهَضَrose النَبِيُّthe Prophet وَآلُهُand his family بِمُقامِهِto establish it
نَهَضَ النَبِيُّ وَآلُهُ بِمُقامِهِ
They demolished a lofty pillar of Islam
That the Prophet and his family rose to establish.
لاnot يأمَنُis safe from الشَعبُthe people المُرَوَّعُterror-stricken كَيدَهُمtheir schemes
لا يأمَنُ الشَعبُ المُرَوَّعُ كَيدَهُم
إِلّاexcept بِطاعَتِهِthrough its obedience وَبِاِستِسلامِهِand through its surrender
إِلّا بِطاعَتِهِ وَبِاِستِسلامِهِ
The terror-stricken people are not safe from their schemes
Except through obedience and surrender.
كَرِهواthey hated لَهُfor it الإِقدامَboldness خيفَةَfor fear of بَطشِهِits onslaught
كَرِهوا لَهُ الإِقدامَ خيفَةَ بَطشِهِ
وَالخَيرُand good كُلُّall الخَيرِgood فيin إِقدامِهِits boldness
وَالخَيرُ كُلُّ الخَيرِ في إِقدامِهِ
They hated the people's boldness, fearing their onslaught,
Yet good—all good—lies in their boldness.
تيجانُهُمtheir crowns مَخضوبَةٌdyed بِدِمائِهِwith its blood
تيجانُهُم مَخضوبَةٌ بِدِمائِهِ
وَعُروشُهُمand their thrones مَبنِيَّةٌbuilt بِعِظامِهِof its bones
وَعُروشُهُم مَبنِيَّةٌ بِعِظامِهِ
Their crowns are dyed with the people's blood,
And their thrones are built of the people's bones.
زَعَمواthey claimed بَقاءَthe endurance of المُلكِmonarchy فيin اِستِعبادِهِits enslavement
زَعَموا بَقاءَ المُلكِ في اِستِعبادِهِ
وَرَأَواand saw دَوامَthe continuance of الأَمرِrule فيin إِرغامِهِits subjugation
وَرَأَوا دَوامَ الأَمرِ في إِرغامِهِ
They claimed monarchy would endure through the people's enslavement,
And saw lasting rule in forcing them to submit.
انظُرlook إِلىat الدُنياthe world الجَديدَةِnew وَاِعتَبِرand take a lesson
انظُر إِلى الدُنيا الجَديدَةِ وَاِعتَبِر
بِعَميمِfrom the all-embracing عَدلِjustice of اللَهِGod فيin أَحكامِهِHis judgments
بِعَميمِ عَدلِ اللَهِ في أَحكامِهِ
Look at the new world, and take a lesson
From God's all-embracing justice in His judgments.
قَلبَHe overturned العُروشَthe thrones بِأَهلِهاwith their occupants فَتَساقَطواso they tumbled
قَلبَ العُروشَ بِأَهلِها فَتَساقَطوا
مِنfrom كُلِّevery أَمنَعَmost impregnable صاعِدٍtowering بِدَعامِهِon its pillars
مِن كُلِّ أَمنَعَ صاعِدٍ بِدَعامِهِ
He overturned the thrones with their occupants, and down they tumbled
From every impregnable height soaring on its pillars.
أَهوىcast down بِهاthem المَلِكُthe King الجَليلُthe majestic فَأَيقَنواso they became certain
أَهوى بِها المَلِكُ الجَليلُ فَأَيقَنوا
بَعدَafter الجُحودِdenial بِعِزِّهِof His might وَدَوامِهِand His eternity
بَعدَ الجُحودِ بِعِزِّهِ وَدَوامِهِ
The majestic King cast them down, and they grew certain,
After denial, of His might and His eternity.
لَمdid not يَدرِknow قَيصَرُCaesar إِذwhen تَحَوَّلَpassed away مُلكُهُhis kingdom
لَم يَدرِ قَيصَرُ إِذ تَحَوَّلَ مُلكُهُ
وَمَضىand passed الكَبيرُthe great الفَخمُthe splendid مِنof أَيّامِهِhis days
وَمَضى الكَبيرُ الفَخمُ مِن أَيّامِهِ
Caesar did not know, when his kingdom slipped away
And the great splendor of his days was gone:
أَأُحيطَhad ... been overwhelmed? بِالمُلكِthe kingdom الكبيرِmighty كَماas يَرىhe sees
أَأُحيطَ بِالمُلكِ الكبيرِ كَما يَرى
أَمor ماwhat تَراهُbeholds it العينُthe eye مِنamong أَحلامِهِhis dreams
أَم ما تَراهُ العينُ مِن أَحلامِهِ
Had the mighty kingdom been overwhelmed, as he saw,
Or was what the eye beheld one of his dreams?
اللَهُGod جَدَّدَrenewed لِلشُعوبِfor the peoples حَياتَهاtheir life
اللَهُ جَدَّدَ لِلشُعوبِ حَياتَها
مِنfrom فَضلِهِHis bounty الأَوفىfullest وَمِنand from إِنعامِهِHis beneficence
مِن فَضلِهِ الأَوفى وَمِن إِنعامِهِ
God has renewed the peoples' life
Out of His fullest bounty and His beneficence.
Sol 6.1