هُوَit وَفدُهمtheir delegation وهمُand they الفريقُthe company الطَّيِّبُgoodly
هُوَ وَفدُهم وهمُ الفريقُ الطَّيِّبُ
ماnot فَاتَهمeluded them منof كلِّevery خيرٍgood مَطْلَبُgoal
ما فَاتَهم من كلِّ خيرٍ مَطْلَبُ
It is their delegation, and they are the goodly company.
He is their envoy, and they are the virtuous group,
Of all that is good, no goal has eluded them.
Missing no merit or noble quest,
طابتwere good مَنابِتُهمtheir roots فطابَso was good صَنيعُهمtheir conduct
طابت مَنابِتُهم فطابَ صَنيعُهم
إنّindeed الرجالَmen إلىto المنابِتِthe origins تُنْسَبُare traced
إنّ الرجالَ إلى المنابِتِ تُنْسَبُ
Their roots were good, and so were their deeds.
Their deeds prospered, so their work was blessed,
Indeed, men are traced to their origins.
For men are linked to what they manifest.
إلاif ... not يُطيعواthey obey خالداًKhalid إذwhen جَاءهمhe came to them
إلا يُطيعوا خالداً إذ جَاءهم
فلكلِّthen for every أمرٍaffair مَوعِدٌan appointed time يُتَرَقَّبُis awaited
فلكلِّ أمرٍ مَوعِدٌ يُتَرَقَّبُ
If they did not obey Khalid when he came to them,
Though disobeying Khaled when he came,
then every affair has an appointed time to await.
For every matter has its time foreseen.
سَدُّواthey barred السبيلthe way عليهagainst him ستةsix أشهرmonths
سَدُّوا السبيل عليه ستة أشهر
وأتىand came عليٌّAli بالكتابwith the letter فرحّبواso they welcomed
وأتى عليٌّ بالكتاب فرحّبوا
They barred his way for six months,
They closed the road to him for six months,
and Ali came with the letter, so they welcomed him.
But Ali came with the writ, so welcomed in.
همدانHamdan أهلٌworthy للجميلِof noble deeds وعِندهمand with them
همدان أهلٌ للجميلِ وعِندهم
غَوْثُsuccor الصَّريخِthe one crying for help ونَجدةٌand aid ماnot تكذبُfails
غَوْثُ الصَّريخِ ونَجدةٌ ما تكذبُ
Hamdan are worthy of noble deeds; theirs are
Hamdan's people merit all that’s good,
succor for those crying out, and aid that never fails,
Succor for those who cry, aid that’s no lie,
نَصرُsupport الحُماةِthe defenders الصَّادِقينَfaithful وصَبْرُهُمand their steadfastness
نَصرُ الحُماةِ الصَّادِقينَ وصَبْرُهُم
والحربُand war حَرَّىblazing hot والفوارِسُand the horsemen هُيَّبُafraid
والحربُ حَرَّى والفوارِسُ هُيَّبُ
the support of faithful defenders and their steadfastness,
True defenders’ aid, and patience under duress,
while war blazes and the horsemen are afraid.
When war grew hot, fighters stood ready.
شَهِدَbore witness النبيُّthe Prophet لهمfor them فتلكَso those صِفاتُهمtheir qualities
شَهِدَ النبيُّ لهم فتلكَ صِفاتُهم
تُمْلىare dictated مَحاسِنُهاtheir merits عَليَّto me وأكْتُبُand I write
تُمْلى مَحاسِنُها عَليَّ وأكْتُبُ
The Prophet bore witness for them; these are their qualities.
The Prophet witnessed thus; such are their traits
Their merits are dictated to me, and I write them down.
Whose beauties I recite and transcribe.
يرضونَthey accept مِلَّتَهُhis faith فيسجدُso he prostrates شاكراًin gratitude
يرضونَ مِلَّتَهُ فيسجدُ شاكراً
للهِto God جلَّexalted is جلالُهHis majesty يَتقرَّبُhe seeks nearness
للهِ جلَّ جلالُه يَتقرَّبُ
They accept his faith, and he prostrates in gratitude
Pleasing his faith, gratefully bowing down
to God—exalted is His majesty—seeking nearness to Him.
To God, most high, most grand, drawing them nigh.
ويُذِيقُهمand he lets them taste بَرْدَthe coolness السّلامِpeace مُردَّداًrepeated
ويُذِيقُهم بَرْدَ السّلامِ مُردَّداً
عَذْباًsweet كماءِlike the water of المُزْنِrain clouds أوor هُوَit أعْذَبُsweeter
عَذْباً كماءِ المُزْنِ أو هُوَ أعْذَبُ
And he lets them taste the coolness of peace, again and again,
Granting them cool peace, repeating its balm,
sweet as rain-cloud water, or sweeter still.
Sweet as Muzn’s water, or yet more calm.
أوتادُpillars هذِيthis الأرضِearth أوor أبدالُهاits abdal (successor-saints)
أوتادُ هذِي الأرضِ أو أبدالُها
مِنهمfrom among them فمشرِقُهاso its east لهمbelongs to them والمغرِبُand the west
مِنهم فمشرِقُها لهم والمغرِبُ
The pillars of this earth, or its guardian saints,
Pillars of earth, its replacements they remain,
are among them; thus its east and west belong to them.
Its east and west flourish through them evermore.
يَمضِيpasses الزمانُtime وهمand they وُلاةُgovernors أمورِهاits affairs
يَمضِي الزمانُ وهم وُلاةُ أمورِها
فيin دولةٍa dominion أبديَّةٍeverlasting ماnot تَذْهَبُpasses away
في دولةٍ أبديَّةٍ ما تَذْهَبُ
Time passes, while they govern its affairs,
Time passes, but they steer its affairs,
in an everlasting dominion that never passes away.
In an eternal state, never to fade.
تِلكَthat الولايةُauthority لاnot ولايةُthe rule of معشرٍa band
تِلكَ الولايةُ لا ولايةُ معشرٍ
يَبْقَوْنَthey endure ماas long as غَفلis heedless الزمانُtime القُلَّبُfickle
يَبْقَوْنَ ما غَفل الزمانُ القُلَّبُ
That is authority, not the rule of a band
That rule no other faction’s rule;
who endure only while fickle time overlooks them.
They remain when errant time forgets and strays.
جاءواthey came عليهمupon them رونقٌsplendor ونضارةٌand freshness
جاءوا عليهم رونقٌ ونضارةٌ
يَصِفُdescribes النَّعيمَluxury لباسُهمtheir clothing والمركبُand the mount
يَصِفُ النَّعيمَ لباسُهم والمركبُ
They came clothed in splendor and fresh beauty;
Grace and radiance come their way,
their garments and mounts spoke of luxury.
Their clothes and mounts bespeak their cheer.
صَنَعَhe made البُرودَthe striped cloaks لهمfor them فأحسنَso he perfected صُنْعَهاtheir making
صَنَعَ البُرودَ لهم فأحسنَ صُنْعَها
وأجادَهاand he perfected them صَنَعُdeft اليَدَيْنِof both hands مُدَرَّبُpracticed
وأجادَها صَنَعُ اليَدَيْنِ مُدَرَّبُ
He made the striped cloaks for them, and made them well;
Raiment tailored, excellently done,
and a practiced, deft-handed craftsman perfected them.
The work of trained hands, perfectly.
تَهفُوthey flutter يمانيةًYemeni علىover أجسادِهمtheir bodies
تَهفُو يمانيةً على أجسادِهم
فَتكادُso they almost حُسْناًfor their beauty بالنواظِرِby the eyes تُنْهَبُare plundered
فَتكادُ حُسْناً بالنواظِرِ تُنْهَبُ
They flutter, Yemeni-made, over their bodies,
Yemeni cloth clinging to their forms,
so beautiful they are almost plundered by eyes.
Lovely to beholders’ eyes it seems.
منof كلِّevery وضّاحِradiant الجبينِthe brow مُعمَّمٍturbaned
من كلِّ وضّاحِ الجبينِ مُعمَّمٍ
وكأنّهand as though he مماfrom what يُهابُis feared مُعصَّبُbound about the head
وكأنّه مما يُهابُ مُعصَّبُ
Each one radiant-browed and turbaned,
Turbans wrap each smooth-browed head,
as though his head were bound in what inspires awe.
As if to guard what’s revered lies beneath.
زانواthey adorned الرِجالَthe men بماwith what أفاءتْbestowed مَهْرَةٌMahrah
زانوا الرِجالَ بما أفاءتْ مَهْرَةٌ
منof نَسْلِهاits stock الغالِيprecious وأنْجَبَand bred fine stock أرْحَبُArhab
من نَسْلِها الغالِي وأنْجَبَ أرْحَبُ
They adorned the men with what Mahrah had bestowed
They sire men the choice stock has bred,
of its prized stock, and what Arhab had bred.
Got in plenty, of generous blood.
جاءواthey came بِشاعِرِهمwith their poet فَمِنْso from أنفاسِهِhis breaths
جاءوا بِشاعِرِهم فَمِنْ أنفاسِهِ
أرَجٌfragrance كَنَفْحِlike a waft of الطِّيبِperfume أوor هوit أطْيَبُmore fragrant
أرَجٌ كَنَفْحِ الطِّيبِ أو هو أطْيَبُ
They came with their poet; from his breath
With their poet they came, and from his breath
came fragrance like a waft of perfume—or sweeter still.
A perfume like incense, or yet more sweet.
حيَّاhe greeted رسولَthe Messenger اللهِof God يُظهِرُshowing حُبَّهُhis love
حيَّا رسولَ اللهِ يُظهِرُ حُبَّهُ
إنّindeed الكريمَthe noble man إلىto الكريمِthe noble man مُحبَّبُbeloved
إنّ الكريمَ إلى الكريمِ مُحبَّبُ
He greeted God's Messenger, showing his love.
Greeting Allah’s Messenger, disclosing love,
Indeed, the noble are dear to the noble.
For the noble by the noble are belov’d.
حيَّاhe saluted الشَّمائِلَthe noble qualities كالخمائِلِlike leafy groves فالرُّبَىso the hills
حيَّا الشَّمائِلَ كالخمائِلِ فالرُّبَى
تُبدِيshow البشاشةَcheer والخمائلُand the groves تطربُrejoice
تُبدِي البشاشةَ والخمائلُ تطربُ
He saluted virtues like leafy groves; the hills
Praising his traits, like the sandal’s scent,
display their cheer, and the groves rejoice.
Comrades display joy, and sandalwood is glad.
حَيَّاهُhe greeted him مُرْتَجِزاًreciting rajaz verse وإنَّand indeed لمالكٍfor Malik
حَيَّاهُ مُرْتَجِزاً وإنَّ لمالكٍ
لأَعَزَّsurely the most precious ماwhat مَلَكَpossessed البَيَانُeloquence المُعْجِبُwondrous
لأَعَزَّ ما مَلَكَ البَيَانُ المُعْجِبُ
He greeted him in rajaz verse; and Malik indeed possesses
With pride for Malik he hailed, whose speech
the most precious thing that wondrous eloquence has possessed.
Is most precious of all eloquence esteemed.
قُلْspeak ياO أخاbrother of هَمْدانَHamdan واشْهَدْand testify أنّهthat he
قُلْ يا أخا هَمْدانَ واشْهَدْ أنّه
لَلحقُّindeed the truth مالَكَyou have no دُونَهُapart from him مُتَنَكَّبُway aside
لَلحقُّ مالَكَ دُونَهُ مُتَنَكَّبُ
Speak, brother of Hamdan, and testify that he
Say, O brother of Hamdan, witness unopposed,
is indeed the truth; you have no way to turn aside from him.
None merits Malik’s mantle but he who dons it.
هُوَhe ذلكمthat one (to you all) ماthere is no مِنْany رسولٍmessenger غيرهother than him
هُوَ ذلكم ما مِنْ رسولٍ غيره
فَيميلُso he would turn عنهfrom him أخوa man of الرَّشادِright guidance ويَرْغَبُand turn away
فَيميلُ عنه أخو الرَّشادِ ويَرْغَبُ
He is that one; there is no other messenger
He is the one no messenger but he,
for whom a rightly guided man would turn from him and forsake him.
From whom a rightly-guided brother would not stray.
ماthere is no فيهabout him منany شكٍّdoubt وليسand there is no كمثلِهِanyone like him
ما فيه من شكٍّ وليس كمثلِهِ
لِلعالَمينَfor all the worlds مُعلِّمٌa teacher ومُهَذِّبُand a moral guide
لِلعالَمينَ مُعلِّمٌ ومُهَذِّبُ
There is no doubt about him, nor is there anyone like him
No doubt clouds him; none can compare,
as a teacher and moral guide to all the worlds.
Teacher and mentor to all peoples.
أنتَyou الأميرُthe chief علىover الأُلىthose who اتّبعواfollowed الهُدَىright guidance
أنتَ الأميرُ على الأُلى اتّبعوا الهُدَى
والحقَّand the truth منamong هَمْدانَHamdan أوor أنتَyou الأبُthe father
والحقَّ من هَمْدانَ أو أنتَ الأبُ
You are the chief of those who followed guidance
O Prince of the Exalted, follow guidance,
and truth among Hamdan—or you are their father.
And truth, from Hamdan, or you its heir.
خُذْهمhold them بآدابِto the precepts of الكتابِthe Book وَكُنْand be لهمfor them
خُذْهم بآدابِ الكتابِ وَكُنْ لهم
مَثَلاًan example منof الشِّيَمِcharacter traits الرَّضِيَّةِcommendable يُضْرَبُto be held up
مَثَلاً من الشِّيَمِ الرَّضِيَّةِ يُضْرَبُ
Hold them to the precepts of the Book, and be for them
Take them by the Book’s manners, be for them
an example of worthy character to be held up.
An example of praiseworthy traits oft-cited.
وَاعْمَلْand work لربِّكَfor your Lord جَاهِداًstriving لاdo not تَأْلُهُwithhold from Him
وَاعْمَلْ لربِّكَ جَاهِداً لا تَأْلُهُ
دَأَباًpersistent effort فليسfor ... does not يفوزُsucceed منwhoever لاnot يَدْأبُpersevere
دَأَباً فليس يفوزُ من لا يَدْأبُ
And labor earnestly for your Lord, sparing no effort for Him,
And work hard for your Lord, tireless in zeal,
unceasingly, for none succeeds who does not persevere.
For no one succeeds who does not toil.
Sol 6.1