الشعرpoetry خيرthe best نتائجproducts الأفكارof thoughts
الشعر خير نتائج الأفكار
لاسيّماespecially فيin المدحpraise والتذكارand remembrance
لاسيّما في المدح والتذكار
Poetry is the finest product of thought,
Poetry is the best outcome of ideas
Especially in praise and remembrance.
Especially in praise and commemoration
إنif قلتyou say هلis it حلوsweet فحلوthen sweet الطعامfood أوor
إن قلت هل حلو فحلو الطعام أو
مرbitter فمرّthen bitterness شيبmingled لهبblaze النارof fire
مر فمرّ شيب لهب النار
If you say, ‘Is it sweet?’—then sweet as food; or
If I say is it sweet, then sweet is the food, or
Bitter? Then a bitterness mingled with the blaze of fire.
Bitter, then bitter is the flame of fire
شببsing of love بهthrough it إنif كنتyou are منamong أهلthe people الهوىof love
شبب به إن كنت من أهل الهوى
إنindeed الهوىlove لمرونقsurely lends lustre to الأشعارpoems
إن الهوى لمرونق الأشعار
Sing of love through it, if you belong to love’s people;
Passion with it if you are from the people of love
Indeed, love lends poetry its lustre.
For passion is the adornment of poems
أوor قلتyou say هلwhether خافيhidden الغرامpassion وشوقهand its longing
أو قلت هل خافي الغرام وشوقه
أوor ظاهرmanifest البلوىaffliction فكالاحجارthen like stones
أو ظاهر البلوى فكالاحجار
Or if you ask whether passion and its longing are hidden,
Or I said, is the love hidden and its longing
Or suffering manifest—it is like stones,
Or the affliction apparent, then like stones
أوor كالزنادlike a fire-striker حديدةa steel piece إنif رمتهاyou seek it
أو كالزناد حديدة إن رمتها
وإذاand when قدحتyou strike فكالشهابthen like a meteor الواريblazing
وإذا قدحت فكالشهاب الواري
Or like a fire-striker’s steel, if you seek it;
Or like flint, if you throw it
And when you strike it, like a blazing meteor.
And if you strike it, then like a flaming meteor
كالثلجlike snow برداin coldness والزلالand clear water عذابهits torment
كالثلج بردا والزلال عذابه
عذبsweet ويرميand throws لفحهits scorching breath بشرارwith sparks
عذب ويرمي لفحه بشرار
Cold as snow and clear water; its torment
Like ice in its coldness and its torment pleasant
Is sweet, yet its scorching breath flings sparks.
Sweet but its flames throw sparks
لاهوit is not مختصّconfined بوقتto a time لاno ولاnor
لاهو مختصّ بوقت لا ولا
بمجزإa remedy for الأدواءmaladies والأضرارand injuries
بمجزإ الأدواء والأضرار
It is not confined to any time—no, nor
It is not specific to a time or a
A remedy for maladies and injuries.
Place, nor to the harms and detriments
منwhoever لمhas not يمتdied فيهof it فليسthen is not بعاشقa lover
من لم يمت فيه فليس بعاشق
والعشقand passion فيناamong us شيمةthe nature الأحرارof the freeborn
والعشق فينا شيمة الأحرار
Whoever has not died of it is no lover,
Whoever does not die in it is not a lover
And passion among us is the nature of the freeborn.
And love in us is the trait of the free
هلare نافعhelpful آهah! والصعداءand deep sighs أوor
هل نافع آه والصعداء أو
إهراقناour pouring forth للمدمعof tears المدرارstreaming
إهراقنا للمدمع المدرار
Are ‘ah!’ and deep sighs of any use, or
Is sighing beneficial or climbing the hill
Our pouring forth of streaming tears?
Or our shedding of flowing tears
منfrom أينwhere ذاكthat لمنfor one who يرىsees النسماتthe breezes للـof the—
من أين ذاك لمن يرى النسمات للـ
أسحارpredawn hours والنغماتand melodies للاطيارof the birds
أسحار والنغمات للاطيار
How could that be for one who sees the breezes of
From where is that for one who sees the breeze for
The predawn hours, and the birds’ melodies,
Secrets and melodies for birds
ويرىand sees التذللsubmission والتدللand coquetry والتملـand restless—
ويرى التذلل والتدلل والتملـ
ـمل—ness والتعلّلand self-consolation ساعةthe hour الأسحارof predawn
ـمل والتعلّل ساعة الأسحار
And beholds submission, coquetry, and restless—
And sees humility, humbleness, cuddling
—ness and self-consolation in the predawn hour,
And excuse making in the time of secrets
وتمايلand the swaying الأغضانof boughs [probably الأغصان] فيin كثبانهاtheir sand dunes
وتمايل الأغضان في كثبانها
وتورّدand the reddening الوجناتof cheeks فيin الأقمارthe moons
وتورّد الوجنات في الأقمار
And the boughs swaying in their sand dunes,
And the bending of branches in their dunes
And cheeks growing rosy in the moons,
And the blushing of cheeks in the moons
وتفلجand the spacing البرقof lightning الشتيتscattered العذبsweet منfrom
وتفلج البرق الشتيت العذب من
ثغرa mouth مليحlovely باردcool معطارfragrant
ثغر مليح بارد معطار
And sweet, scattered lightning shining through gaps, from
And the scattering of sweet, light rain from
A lovely, cool, fragrant mouth;
A beautiful, cool, fragrant mouth
وليالياand nights كستclothed الصباحthe morning دجنّةin darkness
ولياليا كست الصباح دجنّة
وكساand clothed الصباحthe morning ظلامهاtheir darkness بنهارin daylight
وكسا الصباح ظلامها بنهار
And nights that clothed the morning in darkness,
And nights that clothed the morning, dark
While morning clothed their darkness in daylight;
And the morning clothed their darkness with daylight
وتناشدand exchanging recitations الأشعارof poems منfrom أريابهاtheir masters [probably أربابها]
وتناشد الأشعار من أريابها
وتدندنand humming النغماتmelodies فيin المزمارthe flute
وتدندن النغمات في المزمار
And poems exchanged in recitation by their masters,
And poems solicit their reciters
And melodies humming in the flute.
And melodies murmur in the flute
قسماan oath ببيضby the white blades البيضof fair beauties وهيwhile they are فواترlanguid
قسما ببيض البيض وهي فواتر
وخدودand cheeks وردof roses صوغهاtheir fashioning بنضارin pure gold
وخدود ورد صوغها بنضار
I swear by the fair beauties’ white blades, languid though they are,
By the eggs of eggs, which are the slender waists
And rosy cheeks fashioned in pure gold;
And cheeks of roses adorned with blossoms
المصمتاتthe women who silence دمالجاarmlets وخلاخلاand anklets
المصمتات دمالجا وخلاخلا
ولكلand to every قلبheart مفصحan eloquent speaker وسوارand an assailant
ولكل قلب مفصح وسوار
Those who silence their armlets and anklets,
The silent ones are places of conversation and anklets
Yet speak to every heart and take it by storm;
And for every heart an eloquent companion
السالباتthe women who rob رماحهنّtheir spears عقولناour minds
السالبات رماحهنّ عقولنا
فحذارso beware منof تلكthose الرماحspears حذارbeware
فحذار من تلك الرماح حذار
Those whose spears rob us of our minds—
Those who negate, their spears our minds
Beware those spears, beware!
So beware of those spears, beware
لحديثsurely the tale كلof all الغانياتthe beauties وماand what جرىhappened
لحديث كل الغانيات وما جرى
منfrom فتكهنّtheir slaying باسهمwith arrows الأوتارof bowstrings
من فتكهنّ باسهم الأوتار
Surely the tale of all the beauties and what befell
For the words of all the singing girls and what
From their slaying with bowstring arrows
Destruction their arrows and strings have wrought
هوit is الصحيحauthentic سوىexcept العيونthe eyes أوor الخضوwai— [probably الخصور]
هو الصحيح سوى العيون أو الخضو
ر—sts فإنهfor this surely لمضعفsurely weakens الأخبارthe reports
ر فإنه لمضعف الأخبار
Is authentic, except for the eyes or wai—
It is true but for the eyes or the reddening
—sts, for this surely weakens the reports.
For it weakens reports
لماwhen رأىsaw شعبانSha‘ban الزوارthe visitors منbecause of
لما رأى شعبان الزوار من
أنيthat I أناI رجبRajab مدىthroughout الأطوارthe changing states
أني أنا رجب مدى الأطوار
When the visitors saw Sha‘ban, since
When Shaban the visitors saw that
I am Rajab through all my changing states,
I am Rajab, the cycle of conditions
قالواthey said بهhe has عينan evil eye فقلتso I said نعمyes وبيand I have
قالوا به عين فقلت نعم وبي
ثغرa mouth; a frontier حمتهguarded it البيضthe white blades وهيwhile they are غوارraiding
ثغر حمته البيض وهي غوار
They said, ‘He has the evil eye.’ I said, ‘Yes, and I have
They said, by him the eye, so I said yes, and by
A mouth guarded by white blades while they raid.’
A mouth protected by eggs, and it inspires
قالواthey said نشوانdrunk فقلتso I said لهمto them أجلyes
قالوا نشوان فقلت لهم أجل
منfrom سكرthe intoxication خمرof wine رضابهاof her saliva المعطارfragrant
من سكر خمر رضابها المعطار
They said, ‘He is drunk.’ I said to them, ‘Yes—
They said intoxicated, so I said to them yes
From the intoxication of the wine of her fragrant saliva.’
Intoxicated by the wine of his fragrant approval
أوor ماnot جعلتyou made العطفkindness ليfor me بذلbestowing الجفاestrangement
أو ما جعلت العطف لي بذل الجفا
توكيدهits emphasis بنعوتwith descriptions وصلof reunion الدارat home
توكيده بنعوت وصل الدار
Or have you not made kindness to me a gift of estrangement,
Or have I not shown kindness to me by avoiding estrangement
Emphasizing it with descriptions of reunion at home?
And affirming the description of one who reaches home
أمرضتنيyou made me ill وأناwhile I am الذيone who لاno بدescape منfrom
أمرضتني وأنا الذي لا بد من
صلةa bond; a visit وعائدهاand its returning visitor/pronoun عنfrom الزوارthe visitors
صلة وعائدها عن الزوار
You made me ill, while I am one who cannot do without
You made me sick and I am the one who must
A bond and its returning visitor from among the callers;
Connect and return from the visitors
وأبيتand you refused عنto grant هذينthese two هلwas it أفتيruled permissible بذاin this
وأبيت عن هذين هل أفتي بذا
نحوthe grammar النحاةof grammarians ومنand whoever لهمthey have منamong قارreaders [shortened قارئ]
نحو النحاة ومن لهم من قار
Yet you denied these two—has this been sanctioned by
And you refused to answer whether I issue
The grammarians’ grammar, or any of their readers?
A judgment to the grammarians and those who have settlements
جولتI sent roaming فكريmy thoughts فيamong العجائبwonders لمdid not أجدI find
جولت فكري في العجائب لم أجد
كعجيبةlike a marvel فيin سائرall الأقطارthe lands
كعجيبة في سائر الأقطار
I sent my thoughts roaming among wonders, but found none
My thoughts roamed the wonders, I did not find
Like this marvel in all the lands:
A wonder in the rest of the lands
ليلnight علىupon صبحdawn علىupon ريمa gazelle علىupon
ليل على صبح على ريم على
غصنa bough علىupon حقفa sand dune منamong الأوعارrugged places
غصن على حقف من الأوعار
Night upon dawn, upon a gazelle, upon
A night over morning over a white gazelle over
A bough, upon a dune among rugged places.
A branch over an agile doe
فيin صبحهits dawn سيناتsīn letters درختمهاpearl, sealed by [joined دُرّ ختمها]
في صبحه سينات درختمها
ميمa mīm علىupon مسكmusk ذكيfragrant واريglowing
ميم على مسك ذكي واري
In its dawn are sīns of pearl, sealed by
In her morning, she has the letter ‘seen' shaped moles
A mīm upon fragrant, glowing musk;
Sealed by a ‘meem’ over musky perfume
وبغصنهand on its bough رمانتانtwo pomegranates عليهماupon them
وبغصنه رمانتان عليهما
حياتsnakes فرعof hair ضلlost his way فيهاamong them الساريthe night-traveller
حيات فرع ضل فيها الساري
And on its bough are two pomegranates, upon which
And on its branch, two pomegranates on which
Lie snakes of hair in which the night-traveller loses his way.
Snakes, missing the ‘seen’, in which the guide disappeared
عجباhow wondrous ونونand a nūn; a fish فوقabove ألحاظthe glances المهاof the oryx
عجبا ونون فوق ألحاظ المها
ذاthat one بالقفارin the deserts وهذهand this one ببحارin seas
ذا بالقفار وهذه ببحار
How wondrous—a nūn above the oryx’s glances:
A wonder! And the letter ‘noon’ above the glances of the does
That in the deserts, this in the seas!
But the real wonder is the desire for
بلrather إنماindeed only العجبthe wonder العجابmost wondrous تشوّقاawakening longing
بل إنما العجب العجاب تشوّقا
ألفan alif لذاfor this جمعتwas assembled بأيديby the hands الباريof the Creator
ألف لذا جمعت بأيدي الباري
No, the wonder of wonders, awakening longing,
The letter ‘alif’ so the Creator gathered it in His hands
Is an alif assembled for this by the Creator’s hands.
An ‘alif’ not for connection but a separation
ألفan alif ولاand not للوصلfor joining بلbut قطعيةseparating
ألف ولا للوصل بل قطعية
قطعتcut off مكانthe chance توصّليof my reaching ومزاريand my visitation
قطعت مكان توصّلي ومزاري
An alif not of joining, but of cutting off,
That cut off my place of connection and sanctuary
Cutting off my chance of approach and visitation.
Do not be surprised at what I mentioned for this
لاdo not تعجبواmarvel مماat what ذكرتI mentioned فهذهfor this
لا تعجبوا مما ذكرت فهذه
أعجوبةa wonder كتفتقlike the bursting open الأزهارof flowers
أعجوبة كتفتق الأزهار
Do not marvel at what I have mentioned, for this
Is a wonder like the blooming of flowers
Is a wonder like the bursting open of flowers.
The light of his hands pours on the clouds having gathered
نورa light يداهhis two hands السحبthe clouds تسكبpour عسجداgold
نور يداه السحب تسكب عسجدا
جمعتgathered لكلfor every فضيلةvirtue وفخارand glory
جمعت لكل فضيلة وفخار
A light: his hands are clouds pouring gold,
Every virtue and pride
Joined in every virtue and glory.
The day of dew, an abundant, overflowing sea
يومon the day الندىof generosity بحرa sea خضمّmighty زاخرsurging
يوم الندى بحر خضمّ زاخر
إذwhile فيin الوغىbattle ليثa lion العوينof the lair [probably العرين] الضاريfierce
إذ في الوغى ليث العوين الضاري
On the day of generosity, a mighty, surging sea;
For in commotion he is the fierce attacking lion
While in battle, the fierce lion of the lair.
He piled up the commotion, he gathered glory so for you is the highest
طودa mountain الوغىof battle جمّabundant الجداin bounty فلكa sphere العلىof exaltedness
طود الوغى جمّ الجدا فلك العلى
رحبwide الفضاin expanse حاميguardian حمىof the sanctuary الجارof the neighbor
رحب الفضا حامي حمى الجار
A mountain in battle, lavish in bounty, a sphere of exaltedness,
Ample space, protector, guardian of neighbors
Wide in expanse, guardian of the neighbor’s sanctuary.
And he is the cousin of the Quran, not
وهوand he is ابنIbn عباس‘Abbas لدىin القرآنthe Qur’an لاbut— [part of لكن]
وهو ابن عباس لدى القرآن لا
كن—but [completes لكن] فيin الحديثhadith بخاريal-Bukhari الأخبارof reports
كن في الحديث بخاري الأخبار
In the Qur’an he is Ibn ‘Abbas; yet
Bukhari in the narrations of hadith
In hadith, he is al-Bukhari of transmitted reports.
And he is the friend in prosody and the authority of grammarians
وهوand he is الخليلal-Khalil لدىin العروضprosody وسيبويand Sibaway—
وهو الخليل لدى العروض وسيبوي
ه—h [completes Sibawayh] النحاةof grammarians فكيفso what of بالأنباريal-Anbari
ه النحاة فكيف بالأنباري
In prosody he is al-Khalil, and Sibaway—
Sibawayh so how are the vessels
—h of the grammarians—what then of al-Anbari?
Or Maliki in jurisprudence but he is the combiner
أوor مالكيّa Maliki الفقهin jurisprudence بلrather هوhe is جامعone encompassing
أو مالكيّ الفقه بل هو جامع
كلall المذاهبthe legal schools قلsay عقدa knot إزارin a waist-wrap
كل المذاهب قل عقد إزار
Or a Maliki in jurisprudence—rather, he encompasses
Of all the schools of thought, wrap the waistcloth
All the schools—say, ‘a knot in a waist-wrap’ [phrase unclear].
Rather every art to other than it
بلrather كلّevery فنّdiscipline منهfrom him عنfrom غيرهanother
بل كلّ فنّ منه عن غيره
لكنbut تسربلhe clothed himself in سنّةthe Sunnah المختارof the Chosen One
لكن تسربل سنّة المختار
Rather, every discipline comes through him from another,
But he wears the Sunnah of the Chosen one
Yet he clothes himself in the Chosen One’s Sunnah.
As for the reality, he is the talisman whose secret
أماas for الحقيقةReality فهوhe is طلسمthe talisman سرهاof its secret
أما الحقيقة فهو طلسم سرها
لكنهyet he is كنزa treasure منamong السرارhidden mysteries
لكنه كنز من السرار
As for Reality, he is the talisman of its secret,
But he is a treasure of mysterie
Yet he is a treasure among hidden mysteries.
So with insight and eloquence he eliminates the
فبعبرةso with a tear وعبارةand an utterance يقضيhe passes الظلاthe dark—
فبعبرة وعبارة يقضي الظلا
م—ness وعبرةand reflection خالfree منof الأغبارdust
م وعبرة خال من الأغبار
With tears and words he passes the dark—
Darkness, and insight devoid of motes
—ness, and reflection, free of dust,
And he practices abstinence, generosity, and desire
وتورّعand scrupulousness وتبرّعand generosity وتولّعand ardent devotion
وتورّع وتبرّع وتولّع
وتخضّعand humility وتضرّعand supplication للباريto the Creator
وتخضّع وتضرّع للباري
With scrupulousness, generosity, and ardent devotion,
And humility, and supplication to the Creator
With humility and supplication to the Creator.
He is the mirror of the people of God, the light of their brilliance
مرآةthe mirror أهلof the people اللهof God ضوءthe light شعاعهمof their radiance
مرآة أهل الله ضوء شعاعهم
روحthe spirit الزمانof the age مشارقthe rising places الأنوارof lights
روح الزمان مشارق الأنوار
The mirror of God’s people, the light of their radiance,
The spirit of the age, the rise of lights
The spirit of the age, the rising places of lights;
Possessor of blessing, possessor of blessing, possessor of kindness
ذوpossessed of نعمةbounty ذوpossessed of نعمةease ذوpossessed of رأفةcompassion
ذو نعمة ذو نعمة ذو رأفة
ذوpossessed of رتبةrank فيamid هيبةawe ووقارand dignity
ذو رتبة في هيبة ووقار
Possessed of bounty, possessed of ease, possessed of compassion,
Possessor of status of reverence and dignity
Possessed of rank amid awe and dignity.
If it is said that there is in the river what is
إنif قيلit is said إنthat النهرthe river يوجدis found فيهin it ماwhat
إن قيل إن النهر يوجد فيه ما
لافيnot in البحارthe seas فأعظمthen the greatest الأنهارof rivers
لافي البحار فأعظم الأنهار
If it is said that a river contains what
Not in seas, so he is the greatest of rivers
The seas do not, he is the greatest of rivers.
Or if with regards to greatness and dew
أوor كانit were منin جهةrespect of العظامةgreatness والندىand generosity
أو كان من جهة العظامة والندى
فهوthen he is البحارthe seas فكيفso what of بالأمطارthe rains
فهو البحار فكيف بالأمطار
Or, in respect of greatness and generosity,
Then he is the sea, so how are with the rains
He is the seas—what then of rain?
And he is the spring, grace from whom
وهوand he is الربيعthe spring الفضلbounty منone who يحياis revived بهthrough him
وهو الربيع الفضل من يحيا به
ميتdead القلوبhearts وميتand those dead الأوزارunder sinful burdens
ميت القلوب وميت الأوزار
He is the bountiful spring through whom are revived
The dead of hearts and the dead of burdens come alive
Dead hearts and those dead beneath sinful burdens.
Grace has locks and it is the keys
للفضلexcellence has أقفالlocks وهوand he is مفاتحthe keys الto the—
للفضل أقفال وهو مفاتح ال
أقفالlocks معطىendowed with الفضلexcellence بالإكثارin abundance
أقفال معطى الفضل بالإكثار
Excellence has locks, and he is the keys to the
To locks, given grace with generosity
Locks, endowed with excellence in abundance.
He is relieved of wellness if what comes upon him
يرتاحhe rejoices للعافيin the supplicant إذاwhen ماindeed جاءهhe comes to him
يرتاح للعافي إذا ما جاءه
مثلlike ارتياحthe delight فرزدقof Farazdaq لنوارin Nawar
مثل ارتياح فرزدق لنوار
He rejoices in the supplicant when he comes to him,
Is the like of the relief Farazdaq had from Nawar
As Farazdaq rejoices in Nawar.
He is the best of the scholars, even the
هوhe is خيرthe best الأعلامof notables والأحبارand scholars بلـrather—
هو خير الأعلام والأحبار بلـ
ـعلمa standard علىabove الأعلامthe notables والأحبارand scholars
ـعلم على الأعلام والأحبار
He is the finest of notables and scholars—rather,
The standard bearer over scholars and experts
A standard above all notables and scholars.
The individuals every virtue, he is their individual
أفرادthe peerless ones كلof every فضيلةvirtue هوhe is فردهمtheir peerless one
أفراد كل فضيلة هو فردهم
لكنهyet he هوhe is خيرthe best الأخيارof the best
لكنه هو خير الأخيار
Among the peerless in every virtue, he is their peerless one,
But he is the best of the chosen ones
Yet he is the best of the best.
He recommends protecting the neighbor and he is his guarantor
يوصيhe enjoins بحفظprotecting الجارthe neighbor وهوand he is كفيلهhis guarantor
يوصي بحفظ الجار وهو كفيله
واللهand God وصاناcharged us بحفظto protect الجارthe neighbor
والله وصانا بحفظ الجار
He enjoins protection of the neighbor and is his guarantor,
And Allah protected us in protecting the neighbor
And God has charged us to protect the neighbor.
In his right with generosity is a thousand Hatem
بيمينهin his right hand فيin الجودgenerosity ألفa thousand حاتمHatim
بيمينه في الجود ألف حاتم
وكذاكand likewise ألاbehold! جعفرJa‘far بيسارin the left hand
وكذاك ألا جعفر بيسار
In generosity, his right hand holds a thousand Hatims,
And likewise Ala' and Ja'far on his left
And likewise—behold!—Ja‘far in his left.
And Yazid's mind comes to him a thousand times
ويذهنهand in his mind [probably وبذهنه] إياسIyas ألفىtwo thousand [apparently ألفَي] مرةtimes
ويذهنه إياس ألفى مرة
والشافعيand al-Shafi‘i فيin جودةexcellence الأفكارof thoughts
والشافعي في جودة الأفكار
In his mind is Iyas two thousand times over,
And Al Shafi'i in the generosity of ideas
And al-Shafi‘i in excellence of thought.
What do you think of the one God chose from
ماwhat ظنكمyour opinion بمنof one whom اصطفاهchose him اللهGod منfrom among
ما ظنكم بمن اصطفاه الله من
أهلthe people التقرّبof drawing near سادةthe masters الأعصارof the ages
أهل التقرّب سادة الأعصار
What do you think of one whom God chose from
The people of devotion, the masters of times
Those drawn near, the masters of the ages?
So sufficing him was graciously every one of his matters
فكفاهso He provided for him تفضّلاgraciously جميعall أمورهhis affairs
فكفاه تفضّلا جميع أموره
وجرتand moved ببغيتهaccording to his wish يدthe hand الأقدارof destinies
وجرت ببغيته يد الأقدار
In His grace He attended to all his affairs,
And by his preference the days of fate flowed
And the hand of destiny moved according to his wish.
The lowest of his ranks is high above creation
أدنىthe lowest مراتبهof his stations العلوexaltation عنabove الورىmankind
أدنى مراتبه العلو عن الورى
وإدامةand continual التدريسteaching والأذكارand remembrances
وإدامة التدريس والأذكار
His lowest station is exaltation above mankind,
And continuance in teaching and remembering
And constant teaching and remembrances.
O you who compare the tears of the eyes with others
ياO قائساyou who compare ماءMa’ (‘water’) العيونal-‘Uyun (‘the eyes/springs’) بغيرهwith others
يا قائسا ماء العيون بغيره
منamong سائرall الغيابthe absent والحضارand the present
من سائر الغياب والحضار
O you who compare Ma’ al-‘Uyun with others
From the all the absent and present
Among all the absent and the present,
The burning thirst with the sun and the fire
قستyou compared السهاal-Suha بالشمسwith the sun والنيرانand fires
قست السها بالشمس والنيران
بالماءwith water والظلماتand darkness بالأنوارwith lights
بالماء والظلمات بالأنوار
You have compared al-Suha with the sun, and fires
With water, and the darkness with the lights
With water, and darkness with lights.
And likewise you, Oh envious one, so be brief or
وكذاكand likewise أنتyou أياO حسودenvious one فقصرso be brief أوor
وكذاك أنت أيا حسود فقصر أو
بالغgo to extremes وضاعفand double صيغthe forms الإنكارof denial
بالغ وضاعف صيغ الإنكار
And likewise you, O envious one—be brief, or
Exceed limits and duplicate forms of denial
Go to extremes, and double your forms of denial.
Or harm the barking of dogs or
أوor ضائرharmful to نبحthe barking الكلابof dogs الشمسthe sun أوor
أو ضائر نبح الكلاب الشمس أو
يؤذىharms النجومthe stars تحركthe stirring الأشجارof trees
يؤذى النجوم تحرك الأشجار
Or can the dogs’ barking harm the sun, or
Harm the sun or move the trees
Can the stirring of trees injure the stars?
And likewise, O you who try to count the traits of
وكذاكand likewise ياO منone who رمتyou sought تحصىto count خصالthe qualities الـof the—
وكذاك يا من رمت تحصى خصال الـ
ـقطبPole فيin الإظهارoutward manifestation والإضمارand inward concealment
ـقطب في الإظهار والإضمار
And likewise, you who sought to count the qualities of the
The Pole in showing and concealment
Pole, outwardly and inwardly,
Summarize, elaborate, seek help, explain, add
أجملsummarize وفصلand detail واستعنand seek help واشرحand explain وزدand add
أجمل وفصل واستعن واشرح وزد
وامدحand praise وبالغand go to extremes أنتyou بالمختارby the Chosen One
وامدح وبالغ أنت بالمختار
Summarize, detail, seek help, explain, and add;
Praise, exaggerate, you with the chosen one
And praise and go to extremes—you, by the Chosen One,
You have not reached a tenth of his praise
لمhave not تبلغyou reached المعشارone tenth منof أمداحهhis praises
لم تبلغ المعشار من أمداحه
كلاno indeed ولاnor جزءاa fraction منof الأعثارtenths [probably الأعشار]
كلا ولا جزءا من الأعثار
Have not reached a tenth of his praises,
No, not a piece of the khafiy
No, not even a fraction of those tenths.
The praises race toward his side
تتسابقrace one another الأمداحpraises نحوtoward جنابهhis presence
تتسابق الأمداح نحو جنابه
وقرائحand inspirations الشعراءof poets بالأشعارwith poems
وقرائح الشعراء بالأشعار
Praises race toward his presence,
And the inspirations of the poets with poems
And poets’ inspirations race with poems.
That's while my statement of his superiority
هذاthis وليسand is not بمقدحdetracting ماwhat قلتهI said it
هذا وليس بمقدح ما قلته
فيfrom فضلthe merit حبرof a scholar شامخlofty المقدارin stature
في فضل حبر شامخ المقدار
All this, and what I have said does not detract
Not a criticism for the grace of one high in rank
From the merit of a scholar of lofty stature.
So the majesty of the truthful one and the caliphs has not
فجلالةso the grandeur الصديقof al-Siddiq والخلفاءand the caliphs لمdid not
فجلالة الصديق والخلفاء لم
تنقصdiminish فضيلةthe merit الالof the Family والأنصارand the Ansar
تنقص فضيلة الال والأنصار
The grandeur of al-Siddiq and the caliphs did not
Diminished the virtue of the Al and Ansar
Diminish the merit of the Family and the Ansar.
And indeed I knew that your merit is apparent
ولقدand indeed علمتI knew بأنthat فضلكyour merit ظاهرis manifest
ولقد علمت بأن فضلك ظاهر
شمساas a sun ولاand not تحتاجyou need للإظهارa display
شمسا ولا تحتاج للإظهار
I know that your merit is manifest
Like the sun and needs no display
As a sun, and you need no display.
As if by saying the heavens are above us
ببوكقائلunclear; apparently ‘like someone saying’ إنّindeed السماءthe sky منfrom فوقناabove us
ببوكقائل إنّ السماء من فوقنا
والنارand fire تحرقburns والضياand light بنهارby day
والنار تحرق والضيا بنهار
Like someone saying [opening unclear]: ‘The sky is above us,
And fire burns, and daylight is in daytime
And fire burns, and light comes by day.’
And I knew that my words compile what
وعلمتand I knew أنthat مقالتيmy statement تحصيلobtaining ماwhat
وعلمت أن مقالتي تحصيل ما
هوis حاصلalready obtained وإرادةand intending التكرارrepetition
هو حاصل وإرادة التكرار
I know that my statement merely obtains what
Is compiled and is an intention to repeat
Is already obtained, and intends repetition.
But speaking truth does is not harmful
لكنbut قولspeaking الحقthe truth ليسis not بضائرharmful
لكن قول الحق ليس بضائر
تكرارهits repetition عنconcerning كلevery ماwhatever اخبارreporting
تكراره عن كل ما اخبار
But speaking the truth does no harm,
Its repetition on all reports
Even when repeated in everything that is reported.
Or harmful is our repeating of remembrance or
أوor ضائرharmful تكرارناour repetition للذكرأوof remembrance, or
أو ضائر تكرارنا للذكرأو
إدمانناour persistence in الصلواتprayers للغفارto the All-Forgiving
إدماننا الصلوات للغفار
Or is our repeating remembrance harmful, or
Our dedication to prayer for the Forgiver
Our continual prayers to the All-Forgiving?
O Pole, O beloved one, protector, ocean
ياO قطبPole ياO خنذيذpeerless champion ياO صمصامkeen sword ياO
يا قطب يا خنذيذ يا صمصام يا
بحرsea البحورof seas وقرّةand delight الأبصارof the eyes
بحر البحور وقرّة الأبصار
O Pole, O peerless champion, O keen sword, O
Of oceans, and delight of sights
Sea of seas and delight of the eyes!
O adornment of life and splendor of its people
ياO زينةadornment الدنياof the world وبهجةand joy أهلهاof its people
يا زينة الدنيا وبهجة أهلها
ياO خيرthe best أهلof the people البدوof the desert والمصارand the towns
يا خير أهل البدو والمصار
O adornment of the world and joy of its people,
The best of the people of desert and residences
O best of desert-dwellers and townsfolk!
O my reliance, my pillar, my delight
ياO عدتيmy provision ياO عمدتيmy support ياO نزهتيmy delight
يا عدتي يا عمدتي يا نزهتي
ياO نصرتيmy aid ياO زينتيmy adornment ومنارand a beacon
يا نصرتي يا زينتي ومنار
O my provision, my support, my delight,
My aid, my beauty and beacon
O my aid, my adornment, and beacon!
You remain a crown over nobility and a full moon over reverence
لازلتmay you remain تاجa crown علىof loftiness وبدرand a full moon مهابةof majesty
لازلت تاج على وبدر مهابة
وطرازand an ornament مكرمةof nobility وسيفand a sword وقارof dignity
وطراز مكرمة وسيف وقار
May you remain a crown of loftiness and a moon of majesty,
A decoration, honor, and noble sword
An ornament of nobility and a sword of dignity.
And I hope the one called Responder extends
ورجوتand I hoped منin Him who يدعىis called مجيباthe Answerer أنthat يصيmay beco—
ورجوت من يدعى مجيبا أن يصي
ر—me [completes يصير] عمركمyour lifespan منamong آخرthe last الأعمارlifespans
ر عمركم من آخر الأعمار
I have hoped in Him called the Answerer that
Your life from the last of ages
Your lifespan may become one of the last to end.
O successor of the Chosen one, may you remain well
ياO وارثheir المختارof the Chosen One دمتmay you remain معافياin good health
يا وارث المختار دمت معافيا
وصلاةand the blessing مولاناof our Lord علىupon المختارthe Chosen One
وصلاة مولانا على المختار
O heir of the Chosen One, may you remain in good health,
And the prayer of our master upon the Chosen one
And may our Lord’s blessing rest upon the Chosen One,
The memorable statement of an enemy reproacher
ماas long as قالsays تذكرةas a reminder غريمa love-stricken debtor منشدa reciter
ما قال تذكرة غريم منشد
الشعرpoetry خيرthe best نتائجproducts الأفكارof thoughts
الشعر خير نتائج الأفكار
As long as a love-stricken reciter says, as a reminder,
Poetry is the best outcome of ideas
‘Poetry is the finest product of thought.’
Partial English translation: 161 of 162 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1