عادَتbecame أَغانيthe songs العُرسِof the wedding رَجعَan echo نُواحِof wailing
عادَت أَغاني العُرسِ رَجعَ نُواحِ
وَنُعيتِand your death was announced بَينَamong مَعالِمِthe signs الأَفراحِof rejoicing
وَنُعيتِ بَينَ مَعالِمِ الأَفراحِ
The wedding songs became an echo of wailing,
The wedding songs have returned to lamentation
And your death was announced amid the signs of rejoicing.
And congratulations turned into condolences
كُفِّنتِyou were shrouded فيin لَيلِthe night الزَفافِof the wedding بِثَوبِهِin its garment
كُفِّنتِ في لَيلِ الزَفافِ بِثَوبِهِ
وَدُفِنتِand you were buried عِندَat تَبَلُّجِthe brightening الإِصباحِof dawn
وَدُفِنتِ عِندَ تَبَلُّجِ الإِصباحِ
You were shrouded on the wedding night in its garment,
You were shrouded in the night of marriage with its garb
And buried at the brightening of dawn.
And buried at the break of dawn
شُيِّعتِyou were escorted to burial مِنout of هَلَعٍpanic بِعَبرَةِwith the tear ضاحِكٍof one laughing
شُيِّعتِ مِن هَلَعٍ بِعَبرَةِ ضاحِكٍ
فيin كُلِّevery ناحِيَةٍquarter وَسَكرَةِand the stupor صاحِof one sober
في كُلِّ ناحِيَةٍ وَسَكرَةِ صاحِ
In panic, you were borne to your grave with a laughing man's tear,
You were bidden farewell with the tears of a laughing mourner
In every quarter, and a sober man's stupor.
In every place and drunken clamor
ضَجَّتclamored عَلَيكِover you مَآذِنٌminarets وَمَنابِرٌand pulpits
ضَجَّت عَلَيكِ مَآذِنٌ وَمَنابِرٌ
وَبَكَتand wept عَلَيكَover you مَمالِكٌkingdoms وَنَواحِand regions
وَبَكَت عَلَيكَ مَمالِكٌ وَنَواحِ
Minarets and pulpits clamored over you,
Minarets and pulpits roared over you
And kingdoms and regions wept over you.
And angels and mourners wept over you
الهِندُIndia والِهَةٌdistraught وَمِصرُand Egypt حَزينَةٌsorrowful
الهِندُ والِهَةٌ وَمِصرُ حَزينَةٌ
تَبكيweeping عَلَيكِfor you بِمَدمَعٍwith a weeping eye سَحّاحِstreaming abundantly
تَبكي عَلَيكِ بِمَدمَعٍ سَحّاحِ
India is distraught, and Egypt sorrowful,
India the goddess and sad Egypt
Weeping for you with a streaming eye.
Cry over you with flowing tears
وَالشامُand the Levant تَسأَلُasks وَالعِراقُand Iraq وَفارِسٌand Persia
وَالشامُ تَسأَلُ وَالعِراقُ وَفارِسٌ
أَمَحاhas ... erased? مِنَfrom الأَرضِthe earth الخِلافَةَthe caliphate ماحِan obliterator
أَمَحا مِنَ الأَرضِ الخِلافَةَ ماحِ
And the Levant asks, and Iraq and Persia:
Syria asks and Iraq and Persia
Has an obliterator erased the caliphate from the earth?
Has the caliphate been erased from the earth?
وَأَتَتand came لَكَto you الجُمَعُthe Fridays الجَلائِلُaugust مَأتَماًas a mourning assembly
وَأَتَت لَكَ الجُمَعُ الجَلائِلُ مَأتَماً
فَقَعَدنَso they sat فيهِin it مَقاعِدَin the seats الأَنواحِof mourners
فَقَعَدنَ فيهِ مَقاعِدَ الأَنواحِ
And the august Fridays came to you as a mourning assembly,
The great gathering came to you in mourning
And sat there in the mourners' seats.
And sat in it in seats of lamentation
ياO لَلرِجالِmen, to the rescue! لَحُرَّةٍfor a freeborn woman مَوؤودَةٍburied alive
يا لَلرِجالِ لَحُرَّةٍ مَوؤودَةٍ
قُتِلَتshe was slain بِغَيرِwithout جَريرَةٍoffense وَجُناحِand sin
قُتِلَت بِغَيرِ جَريرَةٍ وَجُناحِ
O men, come to the aid of a freeborn woman buried alive,
O noble free men wrongfully killed
Slain without offense or sin.
Without crime or sin
إِنَّindeed الَّذينَthose who أَسَتhealed جِراحَكِyour wounds حَربُهُمtheir war
إِنَّ الَّذينَ أَسَت جِراحَكِ حَربُهُم
قَتَلَتكِkilled you سَلمُهُموtheir peace بِغَيرِwithout جِراحِwounds
قَتَلَتكِ سَلمُهُمو بِغَيرِ جِراحِ
Indeed, those whose war healed your wounds—
Indeed those whose war wounded you
Their peace has killed you without wounds.
Their peace killed you without wounds
هَتَكواthey tore بِأَيديهِمwith their hands مُلاءَةَthe mantle فَخرِهِمof their pride
هَتَكوا بِأَيديهِم مُلاءَةَ فَخرِهِم
مَوشِيَّةًembroidered بِمَواهِبِwith the gifts الفَتّاحِof the Opener
مَوشِيَّةً بِمَواهِبِ الفَتّاحِ
With their own hands they tore the mantle of their pride,
With their hands they violated the honor of their pride
Embroidered with the gifts of the Opener.
Adorned with the gifts of the Opener
نَزَعواthey removed عَنِfrom الأَعناقِthe necks خَيرَthe finest قِلادَةٍnecklace
نَزَعوا عَنِ الأَعناقِ خَيرَ قِلادَةٍ
وَنَضَواand they stripped off عَنِfrom الأَعطافِthe shoulders خَيرَthe finest وِشاحِsash
وَنَضَوا عَنِ الأَعطافِ خَيرَ وِشاحِ
They removed from necks the finest necklace,
They removed from necks the best necklace
And stripped from shoulders the finest sash.
And tore from shoulders the best cloak
حَسَبٌancestral honor أَتىcame طولُthe long span اللَياليof nights دونَهُshort of it
حَسَبٌ أَتى طولُ اللَيالي دونَهُ
قَدhas طاحَfallen بَينَbetween عَشِيَّةٍan evening وَصَباحِand a morning
قَد طاحَ بَينَ عَشِيَّةٍ وَصَباحِ
A noble heritage beyond the reach of the long passing nights
Suffice that the long nights brought it down
Has fallen between an evening and a morning.
It fell between evening and dawn
وَعَلاقَةٌand a bond فُصِمَتwere snapped عُرىthe loops أَسبابِهاof its cords
وَعَلاقَةٌ فُصِمَت عُرى أَسبابِها
كانَتit had been أَبَرَّthe most faithful عَلائِقِof the bonds الأَرواحِof souls
كانَت أَبَرَّ عَلائِقِ الأَرواحِ
And a bond, the loops of its cords now snapped,
And a relationship whose ties were severed
Had been the most faithful of bonds between souls.
It was the strongest of soulmates
جَمَعَتit gathered عَلىin البِرِّrighteousness الحُضورَthose present وَرُبَّماand at times
جَمَعَت عَلى البِرِّ الحُضورَ وَرُبَّما
جَمَعَتit gathered عَلَيهِin it سَرائِرَthe innermost hearts النُزّاحِof those far away
جَمَعَت عَلَيهِ سَرائِرَ النُزّاحِ
It united those present in righteousness, and at times
It gathered people for righteousness and perhaps
United in it the innermost hearts of those far away.
It gathered on it the secrets of integrity
نَظَمَتit ordered صُفوفَthe ranks المُسلِمينَof Muslims وَخَطوَهُمand their steps
نَظَمَت صُفوفَ المُسلِمينَ وَخَطوَهُم
فيin كُلِّevery غَدوَةِmorning جُمعَةٍof Friday وَرَواحِand evening
في كُلِّ غَدوَةِ جُمعَةٍ وَرَواحِ
It ordered the ranks of Muslims and their steps
It organized the ranks of Muslims and guided them
Every Friday morning and evening.
Every Friday morning and evening
بَكَتِwept الصَلاةُprayer وَتِلكَand that فِتنَةُthe strife عابِثٍof one trifling
بَكَتِ الصَلاةُ وَتِلكَ فِتنَةُ عابِثٍ
بِالشَرعِwith sacred law عِربيدِa drunkard القَضاءِin judgment وَقاحِbrazen
بِالشَرعِ عِربيدِ القَضاءِ وَقاحِ
Prayer wept; this is the strife of one who trifles
The prayer wept and the sedition of an insolent transgressor
With sacred law, a brazen drunkard in judgment.
Rudely interfering in jurisprudence
أَفتىhe issued a legal ruling خُزَعبِلَةًnonsense وَقالَand said ضَلالَةًerror
أَفتى خُزَعبِلَةً وَقالَ ضَلالَةً
وَأَتىand brought بِكُفرٍwith unbelief فيinto البِلادِthe lands بَواحِblatant
وَأَتى بِكُفرٍ في البِلادِ بَواحِ
He issued a nonsense ruling and uttered error,
Issued corrupt edicts and said perversions
And brought blatant unbelief into the lands.
And brought disbelief to the countries openly
إِنَّindeed الَّذينَthose who جَرىwas applied عَلَيهِمto them فِقهُهُhis jurisprudence
إِنَّ الَّذينَ جَرى عَلَيهِم فِقهُهُ
خُلِقواwere created لِفِقهِfor understanding كَتيبَةٍa battalion وَسِلاحِand weaponry
خُلِقوا لِفِقهِ كَتيبَةٍ وَسِلاحِ
Indeed, those upon whom his jurisprudence was imposed
Indeed those on whom his jurisprudence flowed
Were made for the understanding of battalions and arms.
Were created for the jurisprudence of brigades and weapons
إِنif حَدَّثواthey speak نَطَقواthey utter بِخُرسِwith mute كَتائِبٍbattalions
إِن حَدَّثوا نَطَقوا بِخُرسِ كَتائِبٍ
أَوor خوطِبواthey are addressed سَمِعواthey hear بِصُمِّwith deaf رِماحِspears
أَو خوطِبوا سَمِعوا بِصُمِّ رِماحِ
If they speak, they speak through mute battalions,
If they speak they speak with the muteness of cohorts
Or, when addressed, they hear through deaf spears.
Or if addressed they hear with the deafness of spears
أَستَغفِرُI ask forgiveness of الأَخلاقَmorality لَستُI am not بِجاحِدٍone who disowns
أَستَغفِرُ الأَخلاقَ لَستُ بِجاحِدٍ
مَنthe one whom كُنتُI used to أَدفَعُdefend دونَهُon his behalf وَأُلاحيand argue
مَن كُنتُ أَدفَعُ دونَهُ وَأُلاحي
I ask morality's forgiveness; I do not disown
I seek forgiveness for morals, I am no denier
The man I once defended and argued for.
What have I to blame your patron for when I have
ماليwhy do I أُطَوِّقُهُcollar him with المَلامَblame وَطالَماand so often
مالي أُطَوِّقُهُ المَلامَ وَطالَما
قَلَّدتُهُI garlanded him with المَأثورَthe memorable words مِنof أَمداحيmy praises
قَلَّدتُهُ المَأثورَ مِن أَمداحي
Why do I collar him with blame, when so often
Often conferred on him the inherited praise
I have garlanded him with the memorable words of my praise?
He is a pillar of the kingdom and protector of the state
هُوَhe رُكنُa pillar مَملَكَةٍof a kingdom وَحائِطُand a wall دَولَةٍof a state
هُوَ رُكنُ مَملَكَةٍ وَحائِطُ دَولَةٍ
وَقَريعُand a champion شَهباءٍof a steel-gray host وَكَبشُand a ram نِطاحِthat locks horns
وَقَريعُ شَهباءٍ وَكَبشُ نِطاحِ
He is a kingdom's pillar and a state's wall,
And rebuker of comets and ram of butting
And champion of a steel-gray host, a ram that locks horns.
Shall I say the revival of the community is an atheist?
أَأَقولُshall I say مَنthe one who أَحياrevived الجَماعَةَthe community مُلحِدٌan atheist
أَأَقولُ مَن أَحيا الجَماعَةَ مُلحِدٌ
وَأَقولُand say مَنthe one who رَدَّrestored الحُقوقَthe rights إِباحيa libertine
وَأَقولُ مَن رَدَّ الحُقوقَ إِباحي
Shall I call the one who revived the community an atheist,
And shall I say the restorer of rights is a debaucher?
And call the one who restored rights a libertine?
The truth is more deserving of your reverence
الحَقُّtruth أَولىmore deserving مِنthan وَلِيِّكَyour friend حُرمَةًof reverence
الحَقُّ أَولى مِن وَلِيِّكَ حُرمَةً
وَأَحَقُّand more entitled مِنكَthan you بِنُصرَةٍto support وَكِفاحِand struggle
وَأَحَقُّ مِنكَ بِنُصرَةٍ وَكِفاحِ
Truth is more deserving of reverence than your friend,
And more right to support and struggle
And more deserving than you of support and struggle.
So praise the men of truth and blame them
فَاِمدَحso praise عَلىaccording to الحَقِّtruth الرِجالَmen وَلُمهُمواand blame them
فَاِمدَح عَلى الحَقِّ الرِجالَ وَلُمهُموا
أَوor خَلِّleave عَنكَaside from yourself مَواقِفَthe positions النُصّاحِof sincere advisers
أَو خَلِّ عَنكَ مَواقِفَ النُصّاحِ
So praise men according to truth, and blame them,
Or rid yourself of the stances of an advisor
Or leave the role of sincere advisers aside.
And of men, if you rise up for their destruction
وَمِنَand among الرِجالِmen إِذاwhen اِنبَرَيتَyou set yourself لِهَدمِهِمto demolish them
وَمِنَ الرِجالِ إِذا اِنبَرَيتَ لِهَدمِهِم
هَرَمٌa pyramid غَليظُthick مَناكِبِin the shoulders الصُفّاحِof broad stone slabs
هَرَمٌ غَليظُ مَناكِبِ الصُفّاحِ
And among men, when you set out to demolish them,
A tough old man of sturdy shoulders
Is a pyramid, thick-shouldered with broad stone slabs.
So if you hurl the truth at their hides
فَإِذاthen if قَذَفتَyou hurl الحَقَّtruth فيagainst أَجلادِهِhis sides
فَإِذا قَذَفتَ الحَقَّ في أَجلادِهِ
تَرَكَhe leaves الصِراعَthe struggle مُضَعضَعَshaken in الأَلواحِthe slabs
تَرَكَ الصِراعَ مُضَعضَعَ الأَلواحِ
Then, if you hurl truth against his sides,
It will leave the struggle shaking the planks
He leaves the struggle with his slabs shaken.
Give sincere advice to the warrior, he will gain insight
أَدّواconvey إِلىto الغازيthe Ghazi النَصيحَةَsincere counsel يَنتَصِحhe will heed advice
أَدّوا إِلى الغازي النَصيحَةَ يَنتَصِح
إِنَّindeed الجَوادَthe noble steed يَثوبُreturns بَعدَafter جِماحِbolting
إِنَّ الجَوادَ يَثوبُ بَعدَ جِماحِ
Convey counsel to the Ghazi; he will heed it.
Surely the generous will return after plunging
Indeed, the noble steed returns after bolting.
Arrogance made the leader drink of its spirit
إِنَّindeed الغُرورَvanity سَقىgave drink to الرَئيسَthe leader بِراحِهِwith its wine
إِنَّ الغُرورَ سَقى الرَئيسَ بِراحِهِ
كَيفَhow اِحتِيالُكَyour stratagem فيfor صَريعِone felled by الراحِwine
كَيفَ اِحتِيالُكَ في صَريعِ الراحِ
Indeed, vanity has plied the leader with its wine;
How is your cunning in laying the spirits low?
How can you deal with one laid low by wine?
He transferred the laws, beliefs and sanctuaries
نَقَلَhe moved الشَرائِعَthe laws وَالعَقائِدَand beliefs وَالقُرىand villages
نَقَلَ الشَرائِعَ وَالعَقائِدَ وَالقُرى
وَالناسَand people نَقلَas one moves كَتائِبٍbattalions فيon الساحِthe battlefield
وَالناسَ نَقلَ كَتائِبٍ في الساحِ
He moved laws, beliefs, and villages,
And people he transferred like brigades in the plain
And people, as battalions are moved on the battlefield.
A nation left him like an awed ghost
تَرَكَتهُleft him كَالشَبَحِlike a phantom المُؤَلَّهِdeified أُمَّةٌa nation
تَرَكَتهُ كَالشَبَحِ المُؤَلَّهِ أُمَّةٌ
لَمdid not تَسلُforsake بَعدُyet عِبادَةَthe worship الأَشباحِof phantoms
لَم تَسلُ بَعدُ عِبادَةَ الأَشباحِ
A nation left him like a deified phantom,
That no longer worships specters
One that had not yet forsaken the worship of phantoms.
They gave him free rein like a Caesar among them
هُمthey أَطلَقواthey released يَدَهُhis hand كَقَيصَرَlike Caesar فيهُموamong them
هُم أَطلَقوا يَدَهُ كَقَيصَرَ فيهُمو
حَتّىuntil تَناوَلَhe seized كُلَّeverything غَيرِnot مُباحِpermitted
حَتّى تَناوَلَ كُلَّ غَيرِ مُباحِ
They gave him a free hand among them, like Caesar,
Until he took all that was unlawful
Until he seized everything forbidden.
The obedience of the masses deluded him
غَرَّتهُbeguiled him طاعاتُthe obedience الجُموعِof the crowds وَدَولَةٌand a state
غَرَّتهُ طاعاتُ الجُموعِ وَدَولَةٌ
وَجَدَfound السَوادُthe masses لَهاfor it هَوىthe affection المُرتاحِof one contented
وَجَدَ السَوادُ لَها هَوى المُرتاحِ
The crowds' obedience beguiled him, and a state
And the commoners found in it the pleasure of comfort
For which the masses felt a contented love.
And if you take glory from Omayyads
وَإِذاand if أَخَذتَyou take المَجدَglory مِنfrom أُمِّيَّةٍilliteracy
وَإِذا أَخَذتَ المَجدَ مِن أُمِّيَّةٍ
لَمnot تُعطَyou are given غَيرَanything but سَرابِهِits mirage اللَمّاحِglittering
لَم تُعطَ غَيرَ سَرابِهِ اللَمّاحِ
And if you draw glory from an unlettered populace,
You will not give anything but its fleeting mirage
You are given nothing but its glittering mirage.
Who will tell the Muslims words
مَنwho قائِلٌwill say لِلمُسلِمينَto Muslims مَقالَةًa statement
مَن قائِلٌ لِلمُسلِمينَ مَقالَةً
لَمnot يوحِهاinspire it غَيرَother than النَصيحَةِsincere counsel واحِan inspirer
لَم يوحِها غَيرَ النَصيحَةِ واحِ
Who will speak to the Muslims a word
Inspired by nothing but sincerity and advice?
Inspired by nothing but sincere counsel?
The era of caliphate, I was the first defender
عَهدُthe pledge الخِلافَةِof the caliphate فِيَّwithin me أَوَّلُthe foremost ذائِدٍdefender
عَهدُ الخِلافَةِ فِيَّ أَوَّلُ ذائِدٍ
عَنin defense of حَوضِهاits pool بِبَراعَةٍwith eloquence نَضّاحِpouring forth abundantly
عَن حَوضِها بِبَراعَةٍ نَضّاحِ
My pledge to the caliphate is its foremost defender,
To ward it off from its basin with skill
Guarding its pool with overflowing eloquence.
Love of God's essence has been and still remains
حُبٌّlove لِذاتِfor the very being اللَهِof God كانَit was وَلَمand has not يَزَلceased
حُبٌّ لِذاتِ اللَهِ كانَ وَلَم يَزَل
وَهَوىًand passion لِذاتِfor the very essence الحَقِّof truth وَالإِصلاحِand reform
وَهَوىً لِذاتِ الحَقِّ وَالإِصلاحِ
A love for God Himself, it was and still remains,
And passion for God's essence and reform
And a passion for truth itself and reform.
I am the lamp, I am not spent
إِنّيindeed I أَناI myself المِصباحُthe lamp لَستُI am not بِضائِعٍlost
إِنّي أَنا المِصباحُ لَستُ بِضائِعٍ
حَتّىas to أَكونَbecome فَراشَةَthe moth المِصباحِof the lamp
حَتّى أَكونَ فَراشَةَ المِصباحِ
I am indeed the lamp; I am not so lost
Until I become the moth of the lamp
As to become the lamp's moth.
The expeditions of Adam were crowned with splendor
غَزَواتُthe campaigns أَدهَمَof Adham كُلِّلَتwere crowned بَذَوابِلٍwith slender lances
غَزَواتُ أَدهَمَ كُلِّلَت بَذَوابِلٍ
وَفُتوحُand the conquests أَنوَرَof Anwar فُصِّلَتwere studded بِصِفاحِwith sword blades
وَفُتوحُ أَنوَرَ فُصِّلَت بِصِفاحِ
Adham's campaigns were crowned with slender lances,
And the conquests of Unur were detailed to brilliance
And Anwar's conquests were studded with sword blades.
Their swords drew back and their resolve showed
وَلَّتpassed away سُيوفُهُماthe swords of both وَبانَand departed قَناهُماthe lances of both
وَلَّت سُيوفُهُما وَبانَ قَناهُما
وَشَباand the sharp tips يَراعيof my reed pen غَيرُnot ذاتِpossessing بَراحِdeparture
وَشَبا يَراعي غَيرُ ذاتِ بَراحِ
Their swords have passed away, and their lances departed,
While others were preoccupied with inaction
But my reed pen's sharp points do not depart.
Do not bestow the Prophet's coat on an incapable
لاdo not تَبذُلواbestow بُرَدَthe mantles النَبِيِّof the Prophet لِعاجِزٍon a helpless man
لا تَبذُلوا بُرَدَ النَبِيِّ لِعاجِزٍ
عُزُلٍunarmed يُدافِعُhe defends دونَهُin its defense بِالراحِwith the palms
عُزُلٍ يُدافِعُ دونَهُ بِالراحِ
Do not bestow the Prophet's mantles on a helpless man,
Dismissed one who defends it with ease
Unarmed, defending them with his palms.
Yesterday he wounded the Muslims with a wound
بِالأَمسِyesterday أَوهىhe weakened المُسلِمينَthe Muslims جِراحَةًwith a wound
بِالأَمسِ أَوهى المُسلِمينَ جِراحَةً
وَاليَومَand today مَدَّhe extended لَهُمto them يَدَthe hand الجَرّاحِof the surgeon
وَاليَومَ مَدَّ لَهُم يَدَ الجَرّاحِ
Yesterday he weakened the Muslims with a wound,
And today he extended to them the hand of a healer
And today he offers them the surgeon's hand.
So you will hear in every land a caller
فَلتَسمَعُنَّthen you will surely hear بِكُلِّin every أَرضٍland داعِياًa caller
فَلتَسمَعُنَّ بِكُلِّ أَرضٍ داعِياً
يَدعوcalling إِلىto الكَذّابِthe Liar أَوor لِسَجاحِto Sajah
يَدعو إِلى الكَذّابِ أَو لِسَجاحِ
Then in every land you will surely hear a caller,
Calling to the liar or to prostration
Calling to the Liar or to Sajah.
And you will witness in every land a sedition
وَلتَشهَدُنَّand you will surely witness بِكُلِّin every أَرضٍland فِتنَةًstrife
وَلتَشهَدُنَّ بِكُلِّ أَرضٍ فِتنَةً
فيهاin which يُباعُis sold الدينُreligion بَيعَa sale سَماحِat a low price
فيها يُباعُ الدينُ بَيعَ سَماحِ
And in every land you will surely witness strife,
In which religion is sold for a pittance
In which religion is sold at a bargain price.
Fatwas are issued based on al-Muizz's gold and sword
يُفتىlegal rulings are issued عَلىaccording to ذَهَبِthe gold المُعِزِّof al-Mu'izz وَسَيفِهِand his sword
يُفتى عَلى ذَهَبِ المُعِزِّ وَسَيفِهِ
وَهَوىand the whims النُفوسِof souls وَحِقدِهاand their rancor المِلحاحِrelentless
وَهَوى النُفوسِ وَحِقدِها المِلحاحِ
Legal rulings are issued according to al-Mu'izz's gold and sword,
And the passions of souls and their relentless hatred
And the whims of souls and their relentless rancor.
Partial English translation: 89 of 90 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1