مِنof حَقِّthe right of رَكبِكَyour cavalcade أَنto يَهُزَّstir النيلاthe Nile
مِن حَقِّ رَكبِكَ أَن يَهُزَّ النيلا
وَيَشوقَand enchant عَصرِكَyour age بَهجَةًwith delight وَالجيلاand the generation
وَيَشوقَ عَصرِكَ بَهجَةً وَالجيلا
It is your cavalcade's right to stir the Nile,
Your caravan deserves to shake the Nile,
and enchant your age and generation with delight.
And your era longs for bliss and progeny.
أَرَضيتَhave you accepted إِلّاexcept بِالعُيونِwith the eyes رَكائِباًmounts
أَرَضيتَ إِلّا بِالعُيونِ رَكائِباً
وَقَنِعتَand been content إِلّاexcept بِالقُلوبِwith the hearts سَبيلاa path
وَقَنِعتَ إِلّا بِالقُلوبِ سَبيلا
Have you accepted any mounts but eyes,
You were only pleased with processions for your eyes,
or been content with any path but hearts?
And you were only content with hearts as your path.
حَيَّتhailed وُفودُthe delegations of النيلِthe Nile مِنكَin you مُوَقَّراًa revered one
حَيَّت وُفودُ النيلِ مِنكَ مُوَقَّراً
يُزريdetracts بِأُبَّهَةِfrom the splendor of المُلوكِkings جَليلاmajestic
يُزري بِأُبَّهَةِ المُلوكِ جَليلا
The Nile's delegations hailed in you a revered man,
The Nile's delegations came to you, honored,
a majestic man who puts the splendor of kings to shame.
Wearing the splendor of magnificent kings.
لَمّاwhen مَشىhe walked بَينَamong المَواكِبِthe processions لَمnot يَدَعhe left
لَمّا مَشى بَينَ المَواكِبِ لَم يَدَع
لِمُتَوَّجٍfor a crowned ruler عَرشاًa throne وَلاnor إِكليلاa diadem
لِمُتَوَّجٍ عَرشاً وَلا إِكليلا
When he walked among the processions, he left
When he walked between processions, he left
no crowned ruler a throne or diadem.
No throne for a crowned head, no wreath.
تَمشيwalk الجُموعُthe multitudes إِلىtoward إِمامِthe leader of هُداتِهاtheir guides
تَمشي الجُموعُ إِلى إِمامِ هُداتِها
وَتَؤُمُّand seek شَيخَthe elder of حُماتِهاtheir protectors المَأمولاthe hoped-for one
وَتَؤُمُّ شَيخَ حُماتِها المَأمولا
The multitudes walk toward the foremost of their guides,
The masses walk to the imam of his guidance,
and seek their protectors' elder, in whom they place their hopes.
And the venerable sheikh of his hopes.
قُلsay لِلكِنانَةِto Kinanah جَدَّhas grown earnest جِدُّكِyour striving فَاِنظُريso look
قُل لِلكِنانَةِ جَدَّ جِدُّكِ فَاِنظُري
أَتَرَينَdo you see إِلّاexcept سَيفَكِyour sword المَسلولاthe unsheathed
أَتَرَينَ إِلّا سَيفَكِ المَسلولا
Tell Kinanah: Your striving has grown earnest; look—
Tell pride, your grandfather is very proud, look
do you see anything but your unsheathed sword?
Do you see other than your drawn sword?
خوضيplunge into الغِمارَthe fray إِلىtoward الفُتوحِthe victories نَرىwe see لَهاupon them
خوضي الغِمارَ إِلى الفُتوحِ نَرى لَها
غُرَراًwhite forehead-blazes تُضيءُilluminate بِهاby them الدُنىthe worlds وَحُجولاand white leg-markings
غُرَراً تُضيءُ بِها الدُنى وَحُجولا
Plunge into the fray toward victories; we see upon them
Venture into the unknown, we see for it
forehead-blazes that light the worlds, and white-marked legs.
Secrets that illuminate the world and its expanses.
دَلَفَadvanced الفَوارِسُthe horsemen فيunder لِوائِكِyour banner حُسَّراًunarmored
دَلَفَ الفَوارِسُ في لِوائِكِ حُسَّراً
وَمَضواand went رَعيلاًa troop لِلوَغىto battle فَرعيلاthen another troop
وَمَضوا رَعيلاً لِلوَغى فَرعيلا
The horsemen advanced beneath your banner, unarmored,
The knights raced in your banners delighted,
and went to battle, troop after troop.
And went off in droves to the fray in droves.
يَتَقارَعونَvie عَلىfor الشَهادَةِmartyrdom أَيُّهُمwhich of them
يَتَقارَعونَ عَلى الشَهادَةِ أَيُّهُم
يُمسيbecomes at evening لِطَهَTaha's فيin الجِنانِParadise's gardens نَزيلاa guest
يُمسي لِطَهَ في الجِنانِ نَزيلا
They vie for martyrdom—which of them
They compete over martyrdom, which of them
will be Taha's guest in Paradise's gardens by evening?
Will spend evening in heavens, hosted.
أَمُعاوِدَO returner to الأَوطانِthe homelands بَعدَafter فِراقِهاparting from them
أَمُعاوِدَ الأَوطانِ بَعدَ فِراقِها
أَنَوَيتَhave you intended إِلّاexcept فُرقَةًseparation وَرَحيلاand departure
أَنَوَيتَ إِلّا فُرقَةً وَرَحيلا
O you returning to your homeland after parting from it,
Have you reconsidered returning to the homelands after leaving them?
have you intended anything but separation and departure?
Have you intended anything but separation and departure?
مازِلتَyou have remained مُغتَرِبَwandering abroad with الأَسِنَّةِthe spearheads وَالظُبىand sword-edges
مازِلتَ مُغتَرِبَ الأَسِنَّةِ وَالظُبى
فَمَتىso when تُريدُdo you want مِنَfrom الجِهادِthe struggle قُفولاa homeward return
فَمَتى تُريدُ مِنَ الجِهادِ قُفولا
You still wander abroad with spearheads and sword-edges;
You remained an exile of years and gazelles,
when do you mean to return from the struggle?
So when do you want return from jihad?
بَعُدَis distant القَرارُrest فَسِرso journey بِقَومِكَwith your people هادِياًas a guide
بَعُدَ القَرارُ فَسِر بِقَومِكَ هادِياً
وَاِطوِand traverse المَدىthe distance ميلاًa mile إِلَيهِtoward it فَميلاthen another mile
وَاِطوِ المَدى ميلاً إِلَيهِ فَميلا
Rest lies far away; journey with your people as their guide,
After settling down, travel with your people, guiding,
and traverse the distance toward it, mile after mile.
And urge the steed gradually, gently toward it.
قَصُرَتwas short مَسافَتُهُits distance فَماyet not بَرَحَceased الأُلىthose who
قَصُرَت مَسافَتُهُ فَما بَرَحَ الأُلى
رَكِبواrode الهَوىcaprice حَتّىuntil تَباعَدَgrew distant طولاin length
رَكِبوا الهَوى حَتّى تَباعَدَ طولا
Its distance was short, yet those would not desist
Its distance shortened, but those consumed with passion did not stop,
who rode their whims, until it stretched far away.
They rode caprice until the road lengthened.
حَمَلواcarried الحِمايَةَthe protectorate فَالبِلادُso the land مَروعَةٌis terrified
حَمَلوا الحِمايَةَ فَالبِلادُ مَروعَةٌ
وَالشَعبُand the people يَنظُرُgaze at نَعشَهُtheir coffin المَحمولاbeing borne
وَالشَعبُ يَنظُرُ نَعشَهُ المَحمولا
They carried the protectorate; the land is terrified,
They carried protection, so the countries are frightened,
and the people gaze at their own coffin being borne.
And the people look upon their carried bier.
لَوif كُنتَyou were شاهِدَهُمwitness to them غَداةَthe morning مَشَواthey marched بِهاwith it
لَو كُنتَ شاهِدَهُم غَداةَ مَشَوا بِها
وَجَوانِبُand the sides of الواديthe valley تَموجُsurge طُبولاwith drums
وَجَوانِبُ الوادي تَموجُ طُبولا
Had you witnessed them the morning they marched with it,
Had you witnessed them the morning they walked with it
while the valley's sides surged with drums,
And the valley's edges surged with drums.
أَيقَنتَyou became certain أَنَّthat مِنَamong الشُعوبِthe peoples أَجِنَّةًembryos
أَيقَنتَ أَنَّ مِنَ الشُعوبِ أَجِنَّةً
وَعَلِمتَand you knew أَنَّthat مِنَamong البِلادِthe lands طُلولاruins
وَعَلِمتَ أَنَّ مِنَ البِلادِ طُلولا
you would have been certain that some peoples are embryos,
You would be certain that of the peoples are demons,
and known that some lands are ruins.
And you would know that of the lands are tyrants.
مَنwhoever غابَwas absent عَنهُمfrom them مِنamong بَنيthe children of الدُنياthe world فَماthen not
مَن غابَ عَنهُم مِن بَني الدُنيا فَما
عَرَفَknew المَسيخَthe Antichrist وَلاnor رَأىsaw عِزريلاAzrael
عَرَفَ المَسيخَ وَلا رَأى عِزريلا
Whoever among this world's children was absent from them
Whoever was absent from them of the people of this world,
has never known the Antichrist or seen Azrael.
Never knew the Messiah or saw Gabriel.
هُمthey فَرَّقواscattered الشَملَthe company الجَميعَthe united وَمَزَّقواand tore apart
هُم فَرَّقوا الشَملَ الجَميعَ وَمَزَّقوا
ماwhat أَلَّفَhad united الصيدُthe proud lords الأُباةُthe unbowed فُلولاinto fragments
ما أَلَّفَ الصيدُ الأُباةُ فُلولا
They scattered the united company and tore apart
They severed the cohesion of all and tore apart
what proud, unbowed lords had joined, into shattered remnants.
What the persistent fate had joined seamlessly.
لَوeven if كُنتَyou were مِنamong ظُلَلِthe canopies of الغَمامِcloud بِمَنزِلٍin a dwelling
لَو كُنتَ مِن ظُلَلِ الغَمامِ بِمَنزِلٍ
لَرَأَيتَyou would have seen حِزباًa faction أَوor لَقيتَmet قَبيلاa clan
لَرَأَيتَ حِزباً أَو لَقيتَ قَبيلا
Even had you dwelt among canopies of cloud,
Had you been in the clouds' shadows, settled,
you would have seen a faction or encountered a clan.
You would have seen a party or met a tribe.
ضَرَبواpitted الأُبُوَّةَfatherhood بِالبَنينِagainst sons وَقَطَّعواand severed
ضَرَبوا الأُبُوَّةَ بِالبَنينِ وَقَطَّعوا
ماwhat كانَhad been مِنof أَرحامِهِمtheir kinship ties مَوصولاconnected
ما كانَ مِن أَرحامِهِم مَوصولا
They pitted fatherhood against sons and severed
They struck kinship with children and severed
the ties of kinship that had bound them.
What had been connected of their wombs.
الشَرُّevil يَعصِفُrages وَالعَدُوُّand the enemy بِغَبطَةٍin delight
الشَرُّ يَعصِفُ وَالعَدُوُّ بِغَبطَةٍ
وَالنيلُand the Nile يَهتِفُcalls بِالقُرىto the villages لِتَزولاso they may vanish
وَالنيلُ يَهتِفُ بِالقُرى لِتَزولا
Evil rages, and the enemy rejoices,
Evil storms and enemies rejoice
while the Nile calls upon the villages to vanish.
As the Nile shouts at the villages to disappear.
وَمُدَجَّجينَand armored men رَمىhurled الدُعاةُthe agitators سَوادَهُمtheir masses
وَمُدَجَّجينَ رَمى الدُعاةُ سَوادَهُم
فَمَضواso they sped سِهاماًas arrows لِلعِدىfor the enemy وَنُصولاand blade-points
فَمَضوا سِهاماً لِلعِدى وَنُصولا
And armored men—the agitators hurled their masses forth,
And the robed preachers aimed their darkness,
so they sped as arrows and blade-points for the enemy.
So they went off as arrows to the enemy, raiding.
طَلَبواpursued بَنيthe sons of أَعمامِهِمtheir paternal uncles فَكَأَنَّماso it was as though
طَلَبوا بَني أَعمامِهِم فَكَأَنَّما
طَلَبواthey sought تِراتٍold grievances عندَهمwith them وَذُحولاand blood-feuds
طَلَبوا تِراتٍ عندَهم وَذُحولا
They pursued their cousins, as though
They sought the sons of their uncles, as if
seeking vengeance from them for old wrongs and blood-feuds.
They sought loot they possessed or preserve.
قُومٌa people شَفواsated غَيظَthe rage of العِدىthe enemy وَسِياسَةٌand a policy
قُومٌ شَفوا غَيظَ العِدى وَسِياسَةٌ
لَمnot تُبقِleft مِنهُمof theirs مَأرِباًan aim أَوor سولاa wish
لَم تُبقِ مِنهُم مَأرِباً أَو سولا
A people who sated the enemy's rage, and a policy
A people who quenched the enemy's wrath and a policy
that left none of their aims or wishes unfulfilled.
That left none of them a conflict or authority.
أَخَذواbarred عَلىagainst النيلِthe Nile السَبيلَthe way وَصادَفواand encountered
أَخَذوا عَلى النيلِ السَبيلَ وَصادَفوا
شَعباًa people يَميلُswaying مَعَwith الرِياحِthe winds ذَلولاsubmissive
شَعباً يَميلُ مَعَ الرِياحِ ذَلولا
They barred the Nile's way and encountered
They took the Nile's path and met
a submissive people swaying with the winds.
A people who sway with the winds, humble.
حَمَلواbrought إِلَيهِto him الغولَthe ghoul فيin اِستِقلالِهِمtheir independence
حَمَلوا إِلَيهِ الغولَ في اِستِقلالِهِم
فَسَلِso ask المَواكِبَthe processions كَيفَhow زَفّواthey escorted as a bride الغولاthe ghoul
فَسَلِ المَواكِبَ كَيفَ زَفّوا الغولا
They brought him the ghoul in their independence;
They carried to it savagery in their independence,
so ask the processions how they led the ghoul in bridal pomp.
So ask the processions how they marched carrying beasts.
تَفَتَرُّshe grins عَنrevealing أَنيابِهاher fangs وَكَأَنَّماand as though
تَفَتَرُّ عَن أَنيابِها وَكَأَنَّما
أَمسَتbecame عُيونُthe eyes of بَنيthe sons of الكِنانَةِKinanah حولاcross-eyed
أَمسَت عُيونُ بَني الكِنانَةِ حولا
She grins, exposing her fangs, as though
It relaxes its fangs, as if
the eyes of Kinanah's sons had become cross-eyed.
The gazelles' eyes of the Kinana have become beasts.
لَولاwere it not for المَدارِهُthe champions يَدفَعونَwarding off بَلاءَهاher scourge
لَولا المَدارِهُ يَدفَعونَ بَلاءَها
لَرَأَيتَyou would have seen حُكمَthe rule of جُناتِهاher perpetrators مَقبولاaccepted
لَرَأَيتَ حُكمَ جُناتِها مَقبولا
Were it not for the champions warding off her scourge,
Had it not been for the protection, they would have driven away its affliction,
you would have seen the rule of her perpetrators accepted.
You would have seen its rule desired.
اذكُرrecall لَناfor us القَومَthe people الغُزاةَthe warriors وَحَيِّهِand salute them
اذكُر لَنا القَومَ الغُزاةَ وَحَيِّهِ
شَعباًa people أَبَرَّexcelled عَلىover الشُعوبِthe peoples نَبيلاnoble
شَعباً أَبَرَّ عَلى الشُعوبِ نَبيلا
Recall for us the warrior people, and salute them,
Remind us of the invading people and its awakened folk,
a noble people who surpassed all peoples.
A people who excelled the peoples, noble.
عَدَتِattacked الذِئابُthe wolves فَهَبَّso he rose مِنfrom غَفَواتِهِhis slumbers
عَدَتِ الذِئابُ فَهَبَّ مِن غَفَواتِهِ
يَبتَزُّtearing away لِبدَتَهُhis mane وَيَحميand defending الغيلاthe thicket
يَبتَزُّ لِبدَتَهُ وَيَحمي الغيلا
The wolves attacked; he sprang from his slumbers,
The wolves returned, so it awoke from its slumber,
tearing off his mane and defending the thicket.
Snatching its garment and protecting the herd.
لَمnot يَستَنِمhe put trust لِلغاصِبينَin the usurpers وَلمand not يُرِدhe desired
لَم يَستَنِم لِلغاصِبينَ وَلم يُرِد
يَوماًa single day عَلىunder حُكمِthe rule of الجُفاةِthe cruel نُزولاsubmission
يَوماً عَلى حُكمِ الجُفاةِ نُزولا
He never trusted the usurpers, nor desired
It never fell asleep for the usurpers and never wanted
for a single day to submit to the rule of the cruel.
To ever submit to the rule of the unjust.
وَإِذاand when اِستَبَدَّtyrannize الغاصِبونَthe usurpers بِأُمَّةٍover a nation
وَإِذا اِستَبَدَّ الغاصِبونَ بِأُمَّةٍ
مُسِخَتit was disfigured وَبُدِّلَand was changed خَلقُهاits form تَبديلاutterly
مُسِخَت وَبُدِّلَ خَلقُها تَبديلا
And when usurpers tyrannize over a nation,
And if the usurpers dominated a nation,
it is disfigured, and its form utterly altered.
It was distorted and its creation altered.
ماnot اِنفَكَّتِceased to be الأَشلاءُthe torn limbs نَهبَprey to سُيوفِهِhis swords
ما اِنفَكَّتِ الأَشلاءُ نَهبَ سُيوفِهِ
حَتّىuntil تَدارَكَhe recovered شِلوَهُhis torn limb المَأكولاthe devoured
حَتّى تَدارَكَ شِلوَهُ المَأكولا
The torn limbs remained prey to his swords,
The remnants did not cease to be the spoils of its swords
until he recovered his own devoured limb.
Until it regained its dismembered, devoured parts.
فَزِعَتwere terrified خُطوبُthe calamities of الدَهرِtime مِنby سَطَواتِهِhis assaults
فَزِعَت خُطوبُ الدَهرِ مِن سَطَواتِهِ
وَاِرتَدَّand recoiled صَرفُthe reversals of الحادِثاتِevents مَهولاstruck with dread
وَاِرتَدَّ صَرفُ الحادِثاتِ مَهولا
Time's calamities recoiled in fear from his assaults,
Misfortunes of fate cowered before its tyranny,
and the reversals of events retreated, struck with dread.
And the course of events turned, tremendous.
وَرَأَتand saw شُعوبُthe peoples of الأَرضِthe earth مِنfrom نَهضاتِهِhis resurgences
وَرَأَت شُعوبُ الأَرضِ مِن نَهضاتِهِ
مِلءَenough to fill العُقولِthe minds الواعِياتِthe discerning ذُهولاastonishment
مِلءَ العُقولِ الواعِياتِ ذُهولا
The peoples of the earth saw in his resurgences
And the earth's peoples saw in its rising
astonishment enough to fill discerning minds.
Minds filled with astonishment, amazed.
قوميmy people الأُلىwho صَحِبواaccompanied الصَوافِنَthe poised steeds فِتيَةًas youths
قومي الأُلى صَحِبوا الصَوافِنَ فِتيَةً
وَقَضواand fulfilled لُباناتِthe desires of السُيوفِthe swords كُهولاas mature men
وَقَضوا لُباناتِ السُيوفِ كُهولا
My people, who rode the poised steeds as youths
Arise, my dear ones, accompany the young men to the ships,
and fulfilled the swords' desires as mature men,
And fulfill the swords' needs, even as they age.
مَثَلُa model of الحَياةِlife لِكُلِّfor every شَعبٍpeople باسِلٍvaliant
مَثَلُ الحَياةِ لِكُلِّ شَعبٍ باسِلٍ
لاnot يَستَكينُsubmits وَلاnor يُريدُdesires نُكولاretreat
لا يَستَكينُ وَلا يُريدُ نُكولا
are life's example for every valiant people
The example of life for every stalwart people
that will not submit or choose retreat.
Who neither cowers nor wants to submit.
صَلّىmay send blessings الإِلَهُGod عَلىupon المَيامينِthe blessed ones الأُلىwho
صَلّى الإِلَهُ عَلى المَيامينِ الأُلى
نَصَرواsupported النَبِيَّthe Prophet وَأَيَّدواand upheld التَنزيلاthe Revelation
نَصَروا النَبِيَّ وَأَيَّدوا التَنزيلا
May God bless the blessed ones who
May God bless the loyal ones who
supported the Prophet and upheld the Revelation.
Supported the Prophet and aided revelation.
أَدِرِset flowing الحَديثَthe tale وَرَوِّand quench مِنwith أَنبائِهِمtheir tidings
أَدِرِ الحَديثَ وَرَوِّ مِن أَنبائِهِم
شَعباًa people يَزيدُgrows عَلىwith الزَمانِtime غَليلاin thirst
شَعباً يَزيدُ عَلى الزَمانِ غَليلا
Let the tale flow, and quench with their tidings
Relay the news and narrate some of their tales,
a people whose thirst grows with time.
A people who excel the times however long.
بَيِّنexplain لَهُto it مَعنىthe meaning of الثَباتِsteadfastness فَلَيسَfor it is not مِنof
بَيِّن لَهُ مَعنى الثَباتِ فَلَيسَ مِن
خُلُقِthe character of المُجاهِدِthe fighter أَنto يَكونَbe مُلولاeasily wearied
خُلُقِ المُجاهِدِ أَن يَكونَ مُلولا
Explain to it the meaning of steadfastness; it is not
Explain to it the meaning of steadfastness, for it is not
in a fighter's nature to be easily wearied.
In the nature of the mujahid to be apathetic.
وَإِذاand when نَظَرتَyou look إِلىat المَمالِكِthe kingdoms لَمnot تَجِدyou find
وَإِذا نَظَرتَ إِلى المَمالِكِ لَم تَجِد
مِثلَlike الثَباتِsteadfastness عَلىof الحَياةِlife دَليلاa sign
مِثلَ الثَباتِ عَلى الحَياةِ دَليلا
And when you look at kingdoms, you will not find
And if you look at the kingdoms, you will not find
a sign of life to match steadfastness.
Anything like steadfastness in life as evidence.
وَلَقَدand indeed رَأَيتَyou have seen الناهِضينَthose rising فَهَلso do تَرىyou see
وَلَقَد رَأَيتَ الناهِضينَ فَهَل تَرى
إِلّاexcept خَلائِقَcharacters سَمحَةٍgenerous وَعُقولاand minds
إِلّا خَلائِقَ سَمحَةٍ وَعُقولا
You have indeed seen those who rise; do you see
And you have seen the risers, so do you see
anything but generous characters and minds?
Anything but gracious natures and intellects?
إِنّاindeed we لَنَذكُرُsurely acknowledge لِلكِنانَةِfor Kinanah حَقَّهاher right
إِنّا لَنَذكُرُ لِلكِنانَةِ حَقَّها
وَنَرىand we deem الكَثيرَmuch مِنَof الوَفاءِloyalty قَليلاlittle
وَنَرى الكَثيرَ مِنَ الوَفاءِ قَليلا
We surely acknowledge Kinanah's rightful claim,
We do recall the Kinana's right,
and deem even abundant loyalty too little.
And we see much loyalty as little.
نَأبىwe refuse الكَرىsleep حَتّىuntil نَقومَwe rise بِنَصرِهاto support her
نَأبى الكَرى حَتّى نَقومَ بِنَصرِها
وَنَرُدَّand drive back غاصِبَthe usurper of حَقِّهاher right مَخذولاdefeated
وَنَرُدَّ غاصِبَ حَقِّها مَخذولا
We refuse sleep until we rise to champion her
We refuse doom until we aid it
and send the usurper of her rights back defeated.
And return its usurper vanquished.
عَهدٌa pledge رَعىtended وَرَقَthe foliage of الشَبيبَةِyouth وَاِنتَحىand sought
عَهدٌ رَعى وَرَقَ الشَبيبَةِ وَاِنتَحى
ظِلَّthe shade of المَشيبِgray hair فَطابَso was sweet مِنهُfrom it مَقيلاas a noonday resting-place
ظِلَّ المَشيبِ فَطابَ مِنهُ مَقيلا
A pledge that tended youth's foliage and sought
A promise kept, regardful of the youth and dignified
the shade of gray hair, finding it a sweet noonday resting-place.
In the shade of old age, so its resting place is good.
لَسناwe are not كَمَنlike one who جَهِلَmisunderstood الحَياةَlife رِوايَةًas a play
لَسنا كَمَن جَهِلَ الحَياةَ رِوايَةً
تُعييbewilders العُقولَthe minds مَناظِراًin scenes وَفُصولاand acts
تُعيي العُقولَ مَناظِراً وَفُصولا
We are not like one who mistakes life for a play
We are not like one who is ignorant of life's tale
whose scenes and acts bewilder the mind.
That wearies minds with scenes and chapters.
صُوَرٌimages يَروعُكَappalls you عَدُّهاtheir number وَمَلاعِبٌand playhouses
صُوَرٌ يَروعُكَ عَدُّها وَمَلاعِبٌ
تُلقيcast عَلَيكَover you مِنَof الرِياءِhypocrisy سُدولاcurtains
تُلقي عَلَيكَ مِنَ الرِياءِ سُدولا
Images whose number appalls you, and playhouses
Forms whose number disturbs you and playthings
that cast curtains of hypocrisy over you.
That cast pretense's veils upon you.
إِنّيindeed I أَعوذُseek refuge بِمَنصِبيin my station وَمُروءَتيand my honor
إِنّي أَعوذُ بِمَنصِبي وَمُروءَتي
مِنfrom أَنthat أَكونَI become الشاعِرَthe poet الضَلِّيلاthe wayward
مِن أَن أَكونَ الشاعِرَ الضَلِّيلا
I take refuge in my station and my honor
I seek refuge in my position and chivalry
lest I become the wayward poet.
From being the misguided poet.
لِلحُرِّfor the free man أَخلاقٌvirtues تَميلُturn aside بِنَفسِهِhis soul
لِلحُرِّ أَخلاقٌ تَميلُ بِنَفسِهِ
عَنaway from أَنto يُغَيِّرchange عَهدَهُhis pledge وَيَحولاand turn away
عَن أَن يُغَيِّر عَهدَهُ وَيَحولا
The free man has virtues that turn his soul
The free have morals that incline themselves
away from changing his pledge or turning aside.
From changing their promise and turning.
هِيَit is صِبغَةُthe dye of الباريthe Creator وَلَستَand you do not تَرىsee لِماin what
هِيَ صِبغَةُ الباري وَلَستَ تَرى لِما
صَبَغَhas dyed الَّذيHe who بَرَأَcreated النُفوسَthe souls نُصولاfading
صَبَغَ الَّذي بَرَأَ النُفوسَ نُصولا
It is the Creator's dye; you will not see, in what
It is God's coloring, and you do not see what
the Maker of souls has dyed, any fading.
He who created souls colored transgressions.
وَلَقَدand indeed رَأَيتُI have seen الفاضِلينَthe virtuous وَماand what بَنَواthey built
وَلَقَد رَأَيتُ الفاضِلينَ وَما بَنَوا
لِلغابِرينَfor the departed مِنَof القُرونِthe centuries الأُولىthe earliest
لِلغابِرينَ مِنَ القُرونِ الأُولى
I have indeed seen the virtuous and what they built
And I have seen the virtuous and not built
for the departed of the earliest centuries.
For the perished of past generations,
فَعَلِمتُthen I knew أَنَّthat مِنَamong الرِجالِmen ذَخائِراًtreasures
فَعَلِمتُ أَنَّ مِنَ الرِجالِ ذَخائِراً
وَعَلِمتُand I knew أَنَّthat مِنَamong الرِجالِmen فُضولاsuperfluities
وَعَلِمتُ أَنَّ مِنَ الرِجالِ فُضولا
Then I knew that some men are treasures,
So I knew that of men are treasures,
and knew that some men are mere surplus.
And I knew that of men are excesses.
وَرَأَيتُand I saw بَعضَsome القَولِspeech دينَa faith of هِدايَةٍguidance
وَرَأَيتُ بَعضَ القَولِ دينَ هِدايَةٍ
يَأتيcomes بِهِwith it الرَجُلُthe man الحَكيمُthe wise رَسولاas a messenger
يَأتي بِهِ الرَجُلُ الحَكيمُ رَسولا
I saw some speech to be a faith of guidance,
And I saw some words as guiding faith,
which the wise man brings as a messenger.
Brought by the wise man, a messenger.
لَيسَis not القَريضُverse عَلىdespite النُبوغِbrilliance بِنافِعٍof use
لَيسَ القَريضُ عَلى النُبوغِ بِنافِعٍ
حَتّىuntil يَكونَit becomes لِذيfor one possessing النُهىreason إِنجيلاa gospel
حَتّى يَكونَ لِذي النُهى إِنجيلا
Verse, for all its brilliance, is of no use
Boasting is not beneficial to brilliance
until it becomes a gospel for the discerning.
Unless it is an evangel for one of piety.
Sol 6.1