أَرَأَيتَhave you seen زَينَZayn العابِدينَal-Abidin مُجَهَّزاًprepared for burial
أَرَأَيتَ زَينَ العابِدينَ مُجَهَّزاً
نَقَلوهُthey carried him نَقلَthe carrying of الوَردِroses مِنfrom مِحرابِهits prayer niche
نَقَلوهُ نَقلَ الوَردِ مِن مِحرابِه
Have you seen Zayn al-Abidin prepared for burial?
Have you seen Zayn al-Abidin prepared for burial?
They bore him as gently as a rose from its sanctuary,
They bore him away like a rose taken from its prayer niche,
مِنfrom دارِthe home of تَوأَمِهِhis twin وَصِنوِand the companion of حَياتِهِhis life
مِن دارِ تَوأَمِهِ وَصِنوِ حَياتِهِ
وَالأَوَّلِand the first المَألوفِfamiliar مِنamong أَترابِهhis peers
وَالأَوَّلِ المَألوفِ مِن أَترابِه
from the house of his twin, the counterpart of his life,
From the home of his twin and lifelong companion,
his earliest, dearest familiar among his peers.
And the first familiar friend among his peers.
سارواthey journeyed بِهِwith him مِنfrom باطِلِthe falsehood of الدُنياthe world إِلىto
ساروا بِهِ مِن باطِلِ الدُنيا إِلى
بُحبوحَةِthe spacious heart of الحَقِّtruth المُبينِmanifest وَغابِهand its groves
بُحبوحَةِ الحَقِّ المُبينِ وَغابِه
They carried him from the falsehood of this world into
They carried him from the falsehood of this world to
the broad expanse of manifest Truth and its hidden depths.
The spacious realm of manifest truth and its groves.
وَمَضَواand they went بِهِwith him لِسَبيلِalong the path of آدَمَAdam قَبلَهُbefore him
وَمَضَوا بِهِ لِسَبيلِ آدَمَ قَبلَهُ
وَمَصايِرِand the destinies of الأَقوامِthe peoples مِنamong أَعقابِهhis descendants
وَمَصايِرِ الأَقوامِ مِن أَعقابِه
They took him down the path Adam followed before him,
And took him along the path Adam followed before him,
toward the destinies of the peoples who came after him.
And toward the destinies of the peoples descended from him.
تَحنوbends tenderly السَماءُheaven عَلىover زَكِيِّthe fragrant سَريرِهِhis bier
تَحنو السَماءُ عَلى زَكِيِّ سَريرِهِ
وَيَمَسُّand touches جيدَthe neck of الأَرضِthe earth طيبُthe fragrance of رِكابِهhis cortege
وَيَمَسُّ جيدَ الأَرضِ طيبُ رِكابِه
Heaven bends tenderly over his stainless bier,
Heaven bends tenderly over his fragrant bier,
and the fragrance of his conveyance brushes the earth's neck.
And the fragrance of his cortege touches the earth's neck.
وَتَطيبُand grow fragrant هامُthe heads of الحامِلينَthe bearers وَراحُهُمand their palms
وَتَطيبُ هامُ الحامِلينَ وَراحُهُم
مِنfrom طيبِthe fragrance of مَحمَلِهِhis bier وَطيبِand the fragrance of ثِيابِهhis garments
مِن طيبِ مَحمَلِهِ وَطيبِ ثِيابِه
The bearers' heads and palms are perfumed
And the bearers' heads and palms grow fragrant
by the fragrance of his bier and the fragrance of his clothes.
From the fragrance of his bier and of his garments.
وَكَأَنَّand as though مِصرَEgypt بِجانِبَيهِon either side of him رَبَوَةٌa hill
وَكَأَنَّ مِصرَ بِجانِبَيهِ رَبَوَةٌ
آذارُMarch آذَنَهاhas warned it بِوَشكِof the imminence of ذَهابِهits departure
آذارُ آذَنَها بِوَشكِ ذَهابِه
It was as though Egypt, on both its banks, were a verdant height
And Egypt, on either side of him, seems a hill
that March had warned of his imminent departure.
Which March has warned of its own imminent departure.
وَيَكادُand almost مِنfrom طَرَبٍdelight لِعادَتِهِat his usual practice النَدىgenerosity
وَيَكادُ مِن طَرَبٍ لِعادَتِهِ النَدى
يَنسَلُّslips out لِلفُقَراءِto the poor مِنfrom أَثوابِهhis garments
يَنسَلُّ لِلفُقَراءِ مِن أَثوابِه
The dew, delighted by his accustomed generosity, almost
And generosity, delighted by his customary ways, almost
slips from his robes toward the poor.
Slips from his garments to the poor.
الطَيبُthe good man اِبنُson of الطَيِّبينَthe good وَرُبَّماand often
الطَيبُ اِبنُ الطَيِّبينَ وَرُبَّما
نَضَحَexuded الفَتىthe young man فَأَبانَand thus revealed عَنabout أَحسابِهhis noble ancestry
نَضَحَ الفَتى فَأَبانَ عَن أَحسابِه
Pure, the son of the pure—and often
The good man, son of good men—and often
a young man exudes the essence that reveals his lineage.
A young man exudes his nature, revealing his noble ancestry.
وَالمُؤمِنُand the believer المَعصومُprotected فيin أَخلاقِهِhis character
وَالمُؤمِنُ المَعصومُ في أَخلاقِهِ
مِنfrom كُلِّevery شائِنَةٍblemish وَفيand in آدابِهhis manners
مِن كُلِّ شائِنَةٍ وَفي آدابِه
A believer safeguarded in his character,
And the believer, whose character is free
from every blemish, and refined in all his manners.
From every blemish, as are his manners.
أَبَداًalways يَراهُsees him اللَهُGod فيin غَلَسِthe pre-dawn darkness of الدُجىthe night
أَبَداً يَراهُ اللَهُ في غَلَسِ الدُجى
مِنfrom صَحنِthe courtyard of مَسجِدِهِhis mosque وَحَولِand around كِتابِهhis book
مِن صَحنِ مَسجِدِهِ وَحَولِ كِتابِه
God always saw him in the darkness before dawn,
God always sees him in the darkness before dawn,
in the courtyard of his mosque, beside his Book.
In his mosque's courtyard and beside his book.
وَيَرىand sees اليَتامىthe orphans لائِذينَseeking refuge بِظِلِّهِin his shade
وَيَرى اليَتامى لائِذينَ بِظِلِّهِ
وَيَرىand sees الأَرامِلَthe widows يَعتَصِمنَtaking refuge بِبابِهat his door
وَيَرى الأَرامِلَ يَعتَصِمنَ بِبابِه
He saw the orphans seeking refuge in his shade,
And sees the orphans seeking shelter in his shade,
and the widows clinging for protection to his door.
And sees the widows taking refuge at his door.
وَيَراهُand sees him قَدalready أَدّىhas fulfilled الحُقوقَthe duties جَميعَهاall of them
وَيَراهُ قَد أَدّى الحُقوقَ جَميعَها
لَمdid not يَنسَforget مِنهاof them غَيرَexcept حَقِّthe right of شَبابِهhis youth
لَم يَنسَ مِنها غَيرَ حَقِّ شَبابِه
He saw him discharge every obligation,
And sees that he has fulfilled every duty,
forgetting only the claim his own youth had upon him.
Forgetting none but the claim of his own youth.
أَدّىgave مِنَof المَعروفِkindness حِصَّةَthe share of أَهلِهِhis family
أَدّى مِنَ المَعروفِ حِصَّةَ أَهلِهِ
وَقَضىand fulfilled مِنَof الأَحسابِhonor حَقَّthe due of صِحابِهhis companions
وَقَضى مِنَ الأَحسابِ حَقَّ صِحابِه
He rendered in good works the portion due his family,
He gave his family their share of kindness,
and in benevolence the full due of his companions.
And paid his companions their due of honor.
مَهويشُMahwish أَينَwhere أَبوكyour father هَلwhether ذَهَبواthey went بِهِwith him
مَهويشُ أَينَ أَبوك هَل ذَهَبوا بِهِ
لِمَwhy لَمdid not يَعُدreturn أَيّانَwhen يَومُthe day of إِيابِهhis return
لِمَ لَم يَعُد أَيّانَ يَومُ إِيابِه
A distraught child asks, “Where is his father? Have they taken him away?”
Mahwish, where is your father? Have they taken him away?
“Why has he not returned? When will his homecoming be?”
Why has he not returned? When is the day of his return?
قَدindeed وَكَّلَhas entrusted اللَهُGod الكَريمَthe gracious وَعَينَهُand His watchful eye
قَد وَكَّلَ اللَهُ الكَريمَ وَعَينَهُ
بِكِwith your care فَاِحسِبيهِso consider him عَلىat كَريمِthe gracious رِحابِهHis spacious courts
بِكِ فَاِحسِبيهِ عَلى كَريمِ رِحابِه
The bountiful God has appointed His watchful eye
He has entrusted gracious God and His watchful eye
over you; count him sheltered in the Bountiful One's spacious care.
With your care; think of him within His gracious courts.
وَدَعىand leave off البُكاweeping يَكفيهِsuffices him ماwhat حَمَّلتِهِyou burdened him with
وَدَعى البُكا يَكفيهِ ما حَمَّلتِهِ
مِنof دَمعِكِyour tears الشاكيlamenting وَمِنand of تَسكابِهtheir pouring forth
مِن دَمعِكِ الشاكي وَمِن تَسكابِه
Let weeping rest; enough for him is what you have laden him with—
And cease weeping; he has enough of what you have burdened him with
your grieving tears and all their outpouring.
Of your lamenting tears and their outpouring.
وَلَقَدand indeed شَرِبتِyou have drunk بِحادِثٍfrom a calamity ياoh طالَماhow often
وَلَقَد شَرِبتِ بِحادِثٍ يا طالَما
شَرِبَتhave drunk بَناتُthe daughters of العالَمينَmankind بِصابِهof its bitter sap
شَرِبَت بَناتُ العالَمينَ بِصابِه
You have drunk from a calamity—ah, how often
And you have drunk from a calamity—oh, how often
the daughters of every world have drunk from its draught.
The daughters of mankind have drunk its bitter sap.
كُلُّevery اِمرِئٍman غادٍheading عَلىtoward عُوّادِهِhis sickbed visitors
كُلُّ اِمرِئٍ غادٍ عَلى عُوّادِهِ
وَسُؤالِهِمand their asking ماwhat حالُهُhis condition ماذاwhat بِهwith him
وَسُؤالِهِم ما حالُهُ ماذا بِه
Every mortal will one day have his bedside visitors,
Every man is destined to receive sickbed visitors
asking, “How is he? What is the matter with him?”
And their questions: 'How is he? What ails him?'
وَالمَرءُand man فيin طَلَبِseeking الحَياةِlife طَويلَةًlong
وَالمَرءُ في طَلَبِ الحَياةِ طَويلَةً
وَخُطىand the footsteps of المَنِيَّةِdeath مِنfrom وَراءِbehind طِلابِهhis pursuit
وَخُطى المَنِيَّةِ مِن وَراءِ طِلابِه
A man seeks to make his life long,
And man seeks a lengthy life,
while death's footsteps follow close behind his quest.
While death's footsteps follow behind his pursuit.
فيin بِرِّthe kindness of عَمِّكِyour paternal uncle ماthat which يَقومُtakes مَكانَهُhis place
في بِرِّ عَمِّكِ ما يَقومُ مَكانَهُ
فيin عَطفِهِhis affection وَحَنانِهِand his tenderness وَدِعابِهand his playfulness
في عَطفِهِ وَحَنانِهِ وَدِعابِه
In your uncle's loving goodness, no one can take his place,
In your uncle's kindness is what can take his place,
in his tenderness, compassion, and playful humor.
In his affection, tenderness, and playful ways.
إِسكَندَرِيَّةُAlexandria كَيفَhow صَبرُكِyour endurance عَنwithout فَتىًa youth
إِسكَندَرِيَّةُ كَيفَ صَبرُكِ عَن فَتىً
الصَبرُpatience لَمwas not يُخلَقcreated لِمِثلِfor the like of مُصابِهhis loss
الصَبرُ لَم يُخلَق لِمِثلِ مُصابِه
Alexandria, how can you bear separation from such a youth?
Alexandria, how can you endure without a youth?
Patience was never fashioned for a loss like his.
Patience was not made for a loss like his.
عَطِلَتwas stripped سَماؤُكِyour sky مِنof بَريقِthe gleam of سَحابِهاits clouds
عَطِلَت سَماؤُكِ مِن بَريقِ سَحابِها
وَخَباand dimmed فَضاؤُكِyour firmament مِنof شُعاعِthe radiance of شِهابِهhis meteor
وَخَبا فَضاؤُكِ مِن شُعاعِ شِهابِه
Your sky has been stripped of the gleam of its clouds,
Your sky is stripped of the gleam of its clouds,
and your firmament has dimmed without the ray of its meteor.
And your firmament has dimmed without his meteor's radiance.
زَينُthe adornment of الشَبابِyouth قَضىdied وَلَمand did not تَتَزَوَّديyou take provisions
زَينُ الشَبابِ قَضى وَلَم تَتَزَوَّدي
مِنهُfrom him وَلَمand did not تَتَمَتَّعيyou enjoy بِقَرابِهin his nearness
مِنهُ وَلَم تَتَمَتَّعي بِقَرابِه
The ornament of youth is gone before you could take your provision
The adornment of youth has died, and you had not taken your fill
from him or delight in the closeness of his kinship.
Of him, nor enjoyed his nearness.
قَدindeed نابَrepresented عَنكِon your behalf فَكانَand was أَصدَقَthe most truthful نائِبٍrepresentative
قَد نابَ عَنكِ فَكانَ أَصدَقَ نائِبٍ
وَالشَعبُand the people يَهوىlove الصِدقَtruthfulness فيin نُوّابِهtheir representatives
وَالشَعبُ يَهوى الصِدقَ في نُوّابِه
He represented you and was the truest of deputies;
He represented you, and was the most truthful representative;
and the people cherish truthfulness in their deputies.
And the people love truthfulness in their representatives.
أَعَلِمتِهِdid you know him اِتَّخَذَmade الأَمانَةَthe entrusted duty مَرَّةًever
أَعَلِمتِهِ اِتَّخَذَ الأَمانَةَ مَرَّةً
سَبَباًa means يُبَلِّغُهُthat brings him إِلىto آرابِهhis desires
سَبَباً يُبَلِّغُهُ إِلى آرابِه
Did you ever know him to make a public trust, even once,
Did you ever know him to make his position of trust
a means of bringing him to his private desires?
A means of attaining his own desires?
لَوif عاشَhe lived كانَwould have been مُؤَمَّلاًlooked to with hope لِمَواقِفٍfor occasions
لَو عاشَ كانَ مُؤَمَّلاً لِمَواقِفٍ
يَرجوhopes for لَهاfor them الواديthe Valley كِرامَthe noble ones of شَبابِهits youth
يَرجو لَها الوادي كِرامَ شَبابِه
Had he lived, hopes would have rested on him in moments
Had he lived, he would have been looked to on occasions
for which the Valley looks to the nobility of its young men.
For which the Valley places hope in its noble youth.
يَجلوreveals عَلىto الأَلبابِminds هِمَّةَthe resolve of فِكرِهِhis thought
يَجلو عَلى الأَلبابِ هِمَّةَ فِكرِهِ
وَيُناوِلُand offers الأَسماعَears سِحرَthe enchantment of خِطابِهhis speech
وَيُناوِلُ الأَسماعَ سِحرَ خِطابِه
He would reveal to minds the soaring resolve of his thought,
He would reveal to minds the resolve of his thought,
and offer listening ears the enchantment of his speech.
And offer ears the enchantment of his speech,
وَيَفيand fulfills كَدَيدَنِهِas is his habit بِحَقٍّthe duty owed to بِلادِهِhis country
وَيَفي كَدَيدَنِهِ بِحَقٍّ بِلادِهِ
وَيَفيand keeps faith بِعَهدِwith the covenant of المُسلِمينَthe Muslims كَدابِهas is his custom
وَيَفي بِعَهدِ المُسلِمينَ كَدابِه
He would fulfill, as was his constant habit, his country's claim,
And, as was his habit, fulfill his country's due,
and keep the Muslims' covenant, as was his wont.
And keep faith with the Muslims, as was his wont.
تَقواكَyour piety إِسماعيلُIsmail كُلُّevery عَلاقَةٍbond
تَقواكَ إِسماعيلُ كُلُّ عَلاقَةٍ
سَيَبُتُّهاwill sever it الدَهرُTime العَضوضُthe biting بِنابِهwith its fang
سَيَبُتُّها الدَهرُ العَضوضُ بِنابِه
Hold fast to your piety, Ismail: every bond
Hold fast to your piety, Ismail: every bond
biting Time will sever with its fang.
Savage Time will sever with its fang.
إِنَّindeed الَّذيthe one whom ذُقتَyou tasted العَشِيَّةَthis evening فَقدَهُhis loss
إِنَّ الَّذي ذُقتَ العَشِيَّةَ فَقدَهُ
بِتَّyou spent اللَياليthe nights موجَعاًin pain لِعَذابِهat his suffering
بِتَّ اللَيالي موجَعاً لِعَذابِه
The one whose loss you tasted this evening—
Indeed, for him whose loss you tasted this evening,
you spent the nights aching at his suffering.
You spent the nights in anguish at his suffering.
فارَقتَyou parted from صِنوَكَyour twin مَرَتَينِtwice فَلاقِهِso meet him
فارَقتَ صِنوَكَ مَرَتَينِ فَلاقِهِ
فيin عالَمِthe world of الذِكرىmemory وَبَينَand among شِعابِهits ravines
في عالَمِ الذِكرى وَبَينَ شِعابِه
Twice you parted from your other self; now meet him
You parted from your twin twice; now meet him
in the realm of memory and among its mountain paths.
In the world of memory and among its ravines.
مِنof عادَةِthe habit of الذِكرىmemory تَرُدُّit brings back مِنَfrom النَوىseparation
مِن عادَةِ الذِكرى تَرُدُّ مِنَ النَوى
مَنone whom لاno يَدَينِtwo hands لَناfor us بِطَيِّto folding away غِيابِهhis absence
مَن لا يَدَينِ لَنا بِطَيِّ غِيابِه
Memory is accustomed to bring back from afar
It is memory's habit to bring back from separation
those whose absence refuses to be folded away.
One whose absence we have no power to fold away.
حُلُمٌa dream كَأَحلامِlike the dreams of الكَرىsleep وَسِناتِهِand its drowsings
حُلُمٌ كَأَحلامِ الكَرى وَسِناتِهِ
مُستَعذَبٌsweet فيin صِدقِهِits truth وَكِذابِهand its falsehood
مُستَعذَبٌ في صِدقِهِ وَكِذابِه
It is a dream like the dreams and drowsiness of sleep,
A dream like the dreams and drowsings of sleep,
made sweet whether it tells truth or falsehood.
Sweet in its truth and in its falsehood.
اِسكُبpour out دُموعَكَyour tears لاnot أَقولُI say اِستَبقِهاsave them
اِسكُب دُموعَكَ لا أَقولُ اِستَبقِها
فَأَخوfor the companion of الهَوىlove يَبكيweeps عَلىfor أَحبابِهhis loved ones
فَأَخو الهَوى يَبكي عَلى أَحبابِه
Pour out your tears; I will not tell you, “Hold them back,”
Pour out your tears; I do not tell you to save them,
for one who loves must weep over those he loves.
For love's companion weeps for his loved ones.
Sol 6.1