المَشرِقانِthe two Easts عَلَيكَfor you يَنتَحِبانِlament
المَشرِقانِ عَلَيكَ يَنتَحِبانِ
قاصيهُماtheir farthest part فيin مَأتَمٍmourning وَالدانيand the nearest
قاصيهُما في مَأتَمٍ وَالداني
The two Easts lament you,
their farthest reaches in mourning, and their nearest.
ياO خادِمَservant الإِسلامِof Islam أَجرُreward مُجاهِدٍof one striving
يا خادِمَ الإِسلامِ أَجرُ مُجاهِدٍ
فيin the cause of اللَهِGod مِنof خُلدٍimmortality وَمِنand of رِضوانِdivine favor
في اللَهِ مِن خُلدٍ وَمِن رِضوانِ
O servant of Islam, yours is a striver's reward
in God's cause: immortality and divine favor.
لَمّاwhen نُعيتَyour death was announced إِلىto الحِجازِthe Hijaz مَشىspread الأَسىgrief
لَمّا نُعيتَ إِلى الحِجازِ مَشى الأَسى
فيamong الزائِرينَthe visitors وَرُوِّعَand were terrified الحَرَمانِthe two sanctuaries
في الزائِرينَ وَرُوِّعَ الحَرَمانِ
When news of your death reached the Hijaz, grief spread
among the visitors, and the two sanctuaries were struck with dread.
السِكَّةُthe railway الكُبرىthe great حِيالَfacing رُباهُماtheir hills
السِكَّةُ الكُبرى حِيالَ رُباهُما
مَنكوسَةُturned upside down الأَعلامِthe flags وَالقُضبانِand the rails
مَنكوسَةُ الأَعلامِ وَالقُضبانِ
The great railway, facing their hills,
has its flags and rails turned upside down.
لَمdid not تَألُهاwithhold from it عِندَduring الشَدائِدِhardships خِدمَةًservice
لَم تَألُها عِندَ الشَدائِدِ خِدمَةً
فيfor اللَهِGod وَالمُختارِand the Chosen One وَالسُلطانِand the sultan
في اللَهِ وَالمُختارِ وَالسُلطانِ
You withheld no service from it in times of hardship,
for God, the Chosen One, and the sultan.
ياO لَيتَwould that مَكَّةَMecca وَالمَدينَةَand Medina فازَتاboth gained
يا لَيتَ مَكَّةَ وَالمَدينَةَ فازَتا
فيin المَحفِلَينِthe two assemblies بِصَوتِكَyour voice الرَنّانِringing
في المَحفِلَينِ بِصَوتِكَ الرَنّانِ
Would that Mecca and Medina had been blessed
in their two assemblies with your ringing voice,
لِيَرىso they might see اَلأَواخِرُlater generations يَومَon the day ذاكَof that وَيَسمَعواand hear
لِيَرى اَلأَواخِرُ يَومَ ذاكَ وَيَسمَعوا
ماwhat غابَvanished مِنof قُسٍّQuss وَمِنand of سَحبانِSahban
ما غابَ مِن قُسٍّ وَمِن سَحبانِ
so later generations might see, that day, and hear
what had vanished with Quss and Sahban.
جارَO neighbor التُرابِof the dust وَأَنتَand you are أَكرَمُthe noblest راحِلٍdeparted one
جارَ التُرابِ وَأَنتَ أَكرَمُ راحِلٍ
ماذاwhat لَقيتَyou encountered مِنَfrom الوُجودِexistence الفانيfleeting
ماذا لَقيتَ مِنَ الوُجودِ الفاني
O neighbor of the dust, noblest of the departed,
what did you endure in this fleeting existence?
أَبكيI mourn صِباكَyour youth وَلاand do not أُعاتِبُreproach مَنwhoever جَنىinflicted
أَبكي صِباكَ وَلا أُعاتِبُ مَن جَنى
هَذاthis عَلَيهِupon it كَرامَةًout of respect لِلجانيfor the wrongdoer
هَذا عَلَيهِ كَرامَةً لِلجاني
I weep for your youth, yet do not reproach whoever inflicted
this upon it, out of respect for the wrongdoer.
يَتَساءَلونَthey ask أَبِالسُلالِwas it from consumption قَضَيتَyou died أَمor
يَتَساءَلونَ أَبِالسُلالِ قَضَيتَ أَم
بِالقَلبِfrom the heart أَمor هَلdid مُتَّyou die بِالسَرطانِfrom cancer
بِالقَلبِ أَم هَل مُتَّ بِالسَرطانِ
They ask: did you die of consumption, or
a heart ailment—or did you die of cancer?
اللَهُGod يَشهَدُbears witness أَنَّthat مَوتَكَyour death بِالحِجاfrom intellect
اللَهُ يَشهَدُ أَنَّ مَوتَكَ بِالحِجا
وَالجِدِّand earnestness وَالإِقدامِand boldness وَالعِرفانِand knowledge
وَالجِدِّ وَالإِقدامِ وَالعِرفانِ
God bears witness that your death came from intellect,
earnestness, boldness, and knowledge.
إِنif كانَthere is لِلأَخلاقِfor virtue رُكنٌa pillar قائِمٌstanding
إِن كانَ لِلأَخلاقِ رُكنٌ قائِمٌ
فيin هَذِهِthis الدُنياworld فَأَنتَthen you are البانيthe builder
في هَذِهِ الدُنيا فَأَنتَ الباني
If virtue has a standing pillar
in this world, then you are its builder.
بِاللَهِby God فَتِّشsearch عَنfor فُؤادِكَyour heart فيin الثَرىthe soil
بِاللَهِ فَتِّش عَن فُؤادِكَ في الثَرى
هَلare there فيهِin it آمالٌhopes وَفيهِand in it أَمانيwishes
هَل فيهِ آمالٌ وَفيهِ أَماني
By God, search for your heart in the dust:
are there hopes in it, and wishes within it?
وِجدانُكَyour conscience الحَيُّliving المُقيمُenduring عَلىthroughout المَدىtime
وِجدانُكَ الحَيُّ المُقيمُ عَلى المَدى
وَلَرُبَّand indeed many a حَيٍّliving person مَيتِdead الوِجدانِconscience
وَلَرُبَّ حَيٍّ مَيتِ الوِجدانِ
Your living conscience endures through time—
and many a living person has a dead conscience.
الناسُpeople جارٍa runner فيin الحَياةِlife لِغايَةٍtoward a goal
الناسُ جارٍ في الحَياةِ لِغايَةٍ
وَمُضَلَّلٌand one misguided يَجريruns بِغَيرِwithout عِنانِa rein
وَمُضَلَّلٌ يَجري بِغَيرِ عِنانِ
Among people, one runs through life toward a goal,
and another, misguided, runs without a rein.
وَالخُلدُand immortality فيin الدُنياthis world وَلَيسَand is not بِهَيِّنٍat all easy
وَالخُلدُ في الدُنيا وَلَيسَ بِهَيِّنٍ
عُلياthe highest المَراتِبِranks لَمnot تُتَحbe granted لِجَبانِto a coward
عُليا المَراتِبِ لَم تُتَح لِجَبانِ
And immortality in this world—and it is no easy thing—
is the highest rank, never granted to a coward.
فَلَوfor if أَنَّthat رُسلَthe messengers اللَهِof God قَدhad جَبَنواbeen cowardly لَماthey would not
فَلَو أَنَّ رُسلَ اللَهِ قَد جَبَنوا لَما
ماتواhave died عَلىadhering to دينٍa religion مِنَof الأَديانِthe religions
ماتوا عَلى دينٍ مِنَ الأَديانِ
Had God's messengers been cowardly, they would not
have died adhering to any faith.
المَجدُglory وَالشَرَفُand honor الرَفيعُlofty صَحيفَةٌa page
المَجدُ وَالشَرَفُ الرَفيعُ صَحيفَةٌ
جُعِلَتwere made لَهاfor it الأَخلاقُvirtues كَالعُنوانِlike the heading
جُعِلَت لَها الأَخلاقُ كَالعُنوانِ
Glory and lofty honor are a page
with virtue set as its heading.
وَأَحَبُّand dearer مِنthan طولِlength الحَياةِof life بِذِلَّةٍin humiliation
وَأَحَبُّ مِن طولِ الحَياةِ بِذِلَّةٍ
قِصَرٌbrevity يُريكَshows you تَقاصُرَfalling short الأَقرانِof peers
قِصَرٌ يُريكَ تَقاصُرَ الأَقرانِ
And dearer than a long life in humiliation
is a short one that shows you how your peers fall short.
دَقّاتُbeats قَلبِof the heart المَرءِof a person قائِلَةٌsaying لَهُto him
دَقّاتُ قَلبِ المَرءِ قائِلَةٌ لَهُ
إِنَّindeed الحَياةَlife دَقائِقٌminutes وَثَوانيand seconds
إِنَّ الحَياةَ دَقائِقٌ وَثَواني
A person's heartbeats tell him:
life is minutes and seconds.
فَاِرفَعso exalt لِنَفسِكَfor yourself بَعدَafter مَوتِكَyour death ذِكرَهاits remembrance
فَاِرفَع لِنَفسِكَ بَعدَ مَوتِكَ ذِكرَها
فَالذِكرُfor remembrance لِلإِنسانِfor a person عُمرٌa life ثانيsecond
فَالذِكرُ لِلإِنسانِ عُمرٌ ثاني
So exalt your own memory after your death,
for remembrance is a person's second life.
لِلمَرءِfor a person فيin الدُنياthis world وَجَمِّand the multitude شُؤونِهاof its affairs
لِلمَرءِ في الدُنيا وَجَمِّ شُؤونِها
ماwhatever شاءَhe wills مِنof رِبحٍgain وَمِنand of خُسرانِloss
ما شاءَ مِن رِبحٍ وَمِن خُسرانِ
In this world and its countless affairs, a person has
whatever gain or loss he wills.
فَهيَfor it is القَضاءُfate (likely 'open expanse' intended) لِراغِبٍfor a seeker مُتَصَلِّعٍbald (likely 'aspiring' intended)
فَهيَ القَضاءُ لِراغِبٍ مُتَصَلِّعٍ
وَهيَand it is المَضيقُthe narrow strait لِمُؤثِرِfor one preferring السُلوانِforgetfulness
وَهيَ المَضيقُ لِمُؤثِرِ السُلوانِ
For it is an open expanse for an aspiring seeker [conjectural reading],
and a narrow strait for one who prefers forgetfulness.
الناسُpeople غادٍone going out at dawn فيin الشَقاءِmisery وَرائِحٌand returning at evening
الناسُ غادٍ في الشَقاءِ وَرائِحٌ
يَشقىsuffer لَهُfor him الرُحَماءُthe compassionate وَهوَwhile he is الهانيcarefree
يَشقى لَهُ الرُحَماءُ وَهوَ الهاني
Among people, one goes forth and returns in misery;
the compassionate suffer for him, while he is carefree.
وَمُنَعَّمٌand a pampered person لَمhas not يَلقَmet إِلّاexcept لَذَّةًpleasure
وَمُنَعَّمٌ لَم يَلقَ إِلّا لَذَّةً
فيwithin طَيِّهاits folds شَجَنٌa sorrow مِنَamong الأَشجانِsorrows
في طَيِّها شَجَنٌ مِنَ الأَشجانِ
And another, pampered, has met with nothing but pleasure,
within whose folds lies a sorrow among sorrows.
فَاِصبِرso be patient عَلىwith نُعمىblessings الحَياةِof life وَبُؤسِهاand its misery
فَاِصبِر عَلى نُعمى الحَياةِ وَبُؤسِها
نُعمىblessings الحَياةِof life وَبُؤسِهاand its misery سِيّانِare alike
نُعمى الحَياةِ وَبُؤسِها سِيّانِ
So bear patiently life's blessings and its misery:
life's blessings and its misery are alike.
ياO طاهِرَpure in الغَدَواتِmorning departures وَالرَوحاتِand evening returns وَالand the
يا طاهِرَ الغَدَواتِ وَالرَوحاتِ وَال
خَطَراتِpassing thoughts وَالإِسرارِand secrecy وَالإِعلانِand openness
خَطَراتِ وَالإِسرارِ وَالإِعلانِ
O you, pure in morning departures, evening returns, and
passing thoughts, in secrecy and in openness,
هَلhas قامَrisen قَبلَكَbefore you فيin المَدائِنِthe cities فاتِحٌa conqueror
هَل قامَ قَبلَكَ في المَدائِنِ فاتِحٌ
غازٍa warrior بِغَيرِwithout مُهَنَّدٍan Indian-steel sword وَسِنانِand a spearpoint
غازٍ بِغَيرِ مُهَنَّدٍ وَسِنانِ
has any conqueror before you risen in the cities,
a warrior without an Indian-steel sword or spearpoint,
يَدعوcalling إِلىto العِلمِlearning الشَريفِnoble وَعِندَهُand in his view
يَدعو إِلى العِلمِ الشَريفِ وَعِندَهُ
أَنَّthat العُلومَthe sciences دَعائِمُpillars العُمرانِof civilization
أَنَّ العُلومَ دَعائِمُ العُمرانِ
calling people to noble learning, and believing
that the sciences are the pillars of civilization?
لَفّوكَthey wrapped you فيin عَلَمِthe flag البِلادِof the country مُنَكَّساًinverted
لَفّوكَ في عَلَمِ البِلادِ مُنَكَّساً
جَزِعَgrieved الهِلالُthe crescent عَلىfor فَتىthe young man الفِتيانِof young men
جَزِعَ الهِلالُ عَلى فَتى الفِتيانِ
They wrapped you in the country's flag, turned upside down;
the crescent grieved for the finest of young men.
ماnot اِحمَرَّit reddened مِنfrom خَجَلٍshame وَلاnor مِنfrom ريبَةٍsuspicion
ما اِحمَرَّ مِن خَجَلٍ وَلا مِن ريبَةٍ
لَكِنَّماbut rather يَبكيit weeps بِدَمعٍwith tears قانيcrimson
لَكِنَّما يَبكي بِدَمعٍ قاني
It did not redden from shame, nor from suspicion,
but weeps with crimson tears.
يُزجونَthey carry along نَعشَكَyour bier فيin السَناءِsplendor وَفيand in السَناradiance
يُزجونَ نَعشَكَ في السَناءِ وَفي السَنا
فَكَأَنَّماso it is as though فيin نَعشِكَyour bier القَمَرانِthe two moons
فَكَأَنَّما في نَعشِكَ القَمَرانِ
They bear your bier amid splendor and radiance,
as though your bier held the two moons.
وَكَأَنَّهُand as though it were نَعشُthe bier الحُسَينِof Husayn بِكَربُلاat Karbala
وَكَأَنَّهُ نَعشُ الحُسَينِ بِكَربُلا
يَختالُsways proudly بَينَamid بُكاًweeping وَبَينَand amid حَنانِtenderness
يَختالُ بَينَ بُكاً وَبَينَ حَنانِ
And as though it were Husayn's bier at Karbala,
swaying proudly amid weeping and tenderness.
فيin ذِمَّةِthe care اللَهِof God الكَريمِthe generous وَبِرِّهِand His goodness
في ذِمَّةِ اللَهِ الكَريمِ وَبِرِّهِ
ماall that ضَمَّit contained مِنof عُرفٍkindness وَمِنand of إِحسانِbenevolence
ما ضَمَّ مِن عُرفٍ وَمِن إِحسانِ
In the care of generous God and His goodness
is all the kindness and benevolence it held.
وَمَشىand advanced جَلالُthe majesty المَوتِof death وَهوَand it is حَقيقَةٌa reality
وَمَشى جَلالُ المَوتِ وَهوَ حَقيقَةٌ
وَجَلالُكَand your majesty المَصدوقُproven true يَلتَقِيانِthe two meet
وَجَلالُكَ المَصدوقُ يَلتَقِيانِ
And death's majesty advanced, a reality,
and your proven majesty—the two converging.
شَقَّتtore لِمَنظَرِكَat the sight of you الجُيوبَgarment necklines عَقائِلٌnoble women
شَقَّت لِمَنظَرِكَ الجُيوبَ عَقائِلٌ
وَبَكَتكَand wept for you بِالدَمعِwith tears الهَتونِstreaming غَوانيbeautiful women
وَبَكَتكَ بِالدَمعِ الهَتونِ غَواني
Noble women rent their garments at the sight of you,
and beauties wept for you with streaming tears.
وَالخَلقُand the people حَولَكَaround you خاشِعونَreverent كَعَهدِهِمas was their custom
وَالخَلقُ حَولَكَ خاشِعونَ كَعَهدِهِم
إِذwhen يُنصِتونَthey listen silently لِخُطبَةٍto a speech وَبَيانِand eloquence
إِذ يُنصِتونَ لِخُطبَةٍ وَبَيانِ
The people around you were reverent, as was their custom
when listening to a speech and eloquent words.
يَتَساءَلونَthey ask بِأَيِّwith what قَلبٍheart تُرتَقىare ascended
يَتَساءَلونَ بِأَيِّ قَلبٍ تُرتَقى
بَعدَafterward المَنابِرِthe pulpits أَمor بِأَيِّwith what لِسانِtongue
بَعدَ المَنابِرِ أَم بِأَيِّ لِسانِ
They ask: with what heart will they be mounted—
the pulpits henceforth—or with what tongue?
لَوif أَنَّthat أَوطاناًhomelands تُصَوَّرُcould be formed هَيكَلاًas a body
لَو أَنَّ أَوطاناً تُصَوَّرُ هَيكَلاً
دَفَنوكَthey would bury you بَينَbetween جَوانِحِthe ribs الأَوطانِof the homelands
دَفَنوكَ بَينَ جَوانِحِ الأَوطانِ
If homelands could be given a bodily form,
they would bury you between the homelands' ribs.
أَوor كانَit were يُحمَلُcarried فيin الجَوارِحِbodily members مَيِّتٌa dead person
أَو كانَ يُحمَلُ في الجَوارِحِ مَيِّتٌ
حَمَلوكَthey would carry you فيin الأَسماعِthe ears وَالأَجفانِand the eyelids
حَمَلوكَ في الأَسماعِ وَالأَجفانِ
Or if a dead person could be carried in bodily members,
they would carry you in ears and eyelids.
أَوor صيعَunclear; apparently 'fashioned' مِنfrom غُرِّshining الفَضائِلِvirtues وَالعُلاand eminence
أَو صيعَ مِن غُرِّ الفَضائِلِ وَالعُلا
كَفَنٌa shroud لَبِستَyou would wear أَحاسِنَthe finest الأَكفانِof shrouds
كَفَنٌ لَبِستَ أَحاسِنَ الأَكفانِ
Or if from shining virtues and eminence were fashioned [conjectural reading]
a shroud, you would wear the finest of shrouds.
أَوor كانَthere were لِلذِكرِof the Reminder الحَكيمِthe wise بَقِيَّةٌa remaining portion
أَو كانَ لِلذِكرِ الحَكيمِ بَقِيَّةٌ
لَمnot تَأتِcome بَعدُyet رُثيتَyou would be elegized فيin القُرآنِthe Qur'an
لَم تَأتِ بَعدُ رُثيتَ في القُرآنِ
Or if a portion of the Wise Reminder remained
that had not yet come, you would be elegized in the Qur'an.
وَلَقَدand indeed نَظَرتُكَI saw you وَالرَدىwhile death بِكَaround you مُحدِقٌencircling
وَلَقَد نَظَرتُكَ وَالرَدى بِكَ مُحدِقٌ
وَالداءُand disease مِلءُfilling مَعالِمِthe features الجُثمانِof the body
وَالداءُ مِلءُ مَعالِمِ الجُثمانِ
And indeed I saw you, death encircling you,
and disease filling every feature of your body,
يَبغيrages وَيَطغىand oversteps وَالطَبيبُwhile the physician مُضَلَّلٌbewildered
يَبغي وَيَطغى وَالطَبيبُ مُضَلَّلٌ
قَنِطٌdespairing وَساعاتُand the hours الرَحيلِof departure دَوانيdrawing near
قَنِطٌ وَساعاتُ الرَحيلِ دَواني
raging and overstepping, while the physician was bewildered,
despairing, and the hours of departure drew near.
وَنَواظِرُand the eyes العُوّادِof the visitors عَنكَaway from you أَمالَهاturned them aside
وَنَواظِرُ العُوّادِ عَنكَ أَمالَها
دَمعٌtears تُعالِجُstruggle with كَتمَهُconcealing them وَتُعانيand suffer
دَمعٌ تُعالِجُ كَتمَهُ وَتُعاني
The visitors' eyes were turned away from you
by tears they struggled to conceal in their anguish.
تُمليyou dictate وَتَكتُبُand you write وَالمَشاغِلُwhile concerns جَمَّةٌare many
تُملي وَتَكتُبُ وَالمَشاغِلُ جَمَّةٌ
وَيَداكَand your two hands فيover القِرطاسِthe paper تَرتَجِفانِtremble
وَيَداكَ في القِرطاسِ تَرتَجِفانِ
You dictated and wrote, with countless concerns,
while your two hands trembled over the paper.
فَهَشَشتَyet you brightened ليfor me حَتّىso much that كَأَنَّكَas if you were عائِديmy visitor
فَهَشَشتَ لي حَتّى كَأَنَّكَ عائِدي
وَأَناand I was الَّذيthe one whom هَدَّshattered السَقامُillness كِيانيmy being
وَأَنا الَّذي هَدَّ السَقامُ كِياني
Yet you welcomed me so warmly it seemed you were visiting me,
and I was the one whose being sickness had shattered.
وَرَأَيتُand I saw كَيفَhow تَموتُdie آسادُthe lions الشَرىof Shara
وَرَأَيتُ كَيفَ تَموتُ آسادُ الشَرى
وَعَرَفتُand I learned كَيفَhow مَصارِعُthe deaths الشُجعانِof the brave
وَعَرَفتُ كَيفَ مَصارِعُ الشُجعانِ
And I saw how the lions of Shara die,
and learned how brave men meet their deaths.
وَوَجَدتُand I found فيin ذاكَthat الخَيالِshadow عَزائِماًresolves
وَوَجَدتُ في ذاكَ الخَيالِ عَزائِماً
ماnot لِلمَنونِfor Death بِدَكِّهِنَّto demolish them يَدانِtwo hands
ما لِلمَنونِ بِدَكِّهِنَّ يَدانِ
And in that shadow I found resolves
that Death's two hands could not demolish.
وَجَعَلتَand you began تَسأَلُنيasking me الرِثاءَfor an elegy فَهاكَهُso take it
وَجَعَلتَ تَسأَلُني الرِثاءَ فَهاكَهُ
مِنfrom أَدمُعيmy tears وَسَرائِريand my innermost thoughts وَجِنانيand my heart
مِن أَدمُعي وَسَرائِري وَجِناني
You began asking me for an elegy; here it is,
from my tears, my innermost thoughts, and my heart.
لَولاwere it not for مُغالَبَةُthe overpowering الشُجونِgriefs لِخاطِريover my mind
لَولا مُغالَبَةُ الشُجونِ لِخاطِري
لَنَظَمتُI would have composed فيكَabout you يَتيمَةَa peerless jewel الأَزمانِof the ages
لَنَظَمتُ فيكَ يَتيمَةَ الأَزمانِ
Had grief not overwhelmed my mind,
I would have composed for you the peerless jewel of the ages.
وَأَناand I am الَّذيthe one who أَرثيelegizes الشُموسَthe suns إِذاwhen هَوَتthey fall
وَأَنا الَّذي أَرثي الشُموسَ إِذا هَوَت
فَتَعودُso they return سيرَتَهاtheir course إِلىto الدَوَرانِcircling
فَتَعودُ سيرَتَها إِلى الدَوَرانِ
I am the one who elegizes suns when they fall,
and so they resume their circling course.
قَدindeed كُنتَyou used to تَهتُفُproclaim فيamong الوَرىmankind بِقَصائِديwith my poems
قَد كُنتَ تَهتُفُ في الوَرى بِقَصائِدي
وَتُجِلُّand you exalt فَوقَabove النَيِّراتِthe shining stars مَكانيmy place
وَتُجِلُّ فَوقَ النَيِّراتِ مَكاني
You used to proclaim my poems among mankind,
and exalt my place above the shining stars.
ماذاwhat دَهانيbefell me يَومَthe day بِنتَyou departed فَعَقَّنيso it forsook me
ماذا دَهاني يَومَ بِنتَ فَعَقَّني
فيكَconcerning you القَريضُpoetry وَخانَنيand betrayed me إِمكانيmy ability
فيكَ القَريضُ وَخانَني إِمكاني
What befell me the day you departed, that I was forsaken
by poetry for you, and betrayed by my powers?
هَوِّنease عَلَيكَfor yourself فَلاfor no شَماتَgloating بِمَيّتٍover a dead person
هَوِّن عَلَيكَ فَلا شَماتَ بِمَيّتٍ
إِنَّindeed المَنِيَّةَdeath غايَةُthe ultimate end الإِنسانِof a person
إِنَّ المَنِيَّةَ غايَةُ الإِنسانِ
Ease your heart: there is no gloating over the dead;
death is humanity's ultimate end.
مَنwho لِلحَسودِfor the envious بِمَيتَةٍwith a death بُلِّغتَهاyou were granted it
مَن لِلحَسودِ بِمَيتَةٍ بُلِّغتَها
عَزَّتwas unattainable عَلىto كِسرىKisra أَنوشِروانِAnushirwan
عَزَّت عَلى كِسرى أَنوشِروانِ
Who could grant the envious a death like the one you were granted,
beyond even Kisra Anushirwan's reach?
عوقِبتَyou were punished مِنby حَرَبِdeprivation الحَياةِof life وَحَربِهاand its warfare
عوقِبتَ مِن حَرَبِ الحَياةِ وَحَربِها
فَهَلso have اِستَرَحتَyou found rest أَمِor اِستَراحَhas found rest الشانيthe hater
فَهَل اِستَرَحتَ أَمِ اِستَراحَ الشاني
You were punished by life's deprivation and its warfare;
have you found rest, or has your hater rested?
ياO صَبَّardent lover مِصرَof Egypt وَياand O شَهيدَmartyr غَرامِهاof love for her
يا صَبَّ مِصرَ وَيا شَهيدَ غَرامِها
هَذاthis is ثَرىthe soil مِصرَof Egypt فَنَمso sleep بِأَمانِin safety
هَذا ثَرى مِصرَ فَنَم بِأَمانِ
O ardent lover of Egypt, martyr to your passion for her,
this is Egypt's soil: sleep in safety.
اِخلَعbestow as a robe عَلىupon مِصرَEgypt شَبابَكَyour youth عالِياًexalted
اِخلَع عَلى مِصرَ شَبابَكَ عالِياً
وَاِلبِسand put on شَبابَthe youth الحورِof the houris وَالوِلدانِand the boys
وَاِلبِس شَبابَ الحورِ وَالوِلدانِ
Clothe Egypt in your lofty youth,
and put on the youth of the houris and heavenly boys.
فَلَعَلَّso perhaps مِصراًEgypt مِنfrom شَبابِكَyour youth تَرتَديwill clothe herself
فَلَعَلَّ مِصراً مِن شَبابِكَ تَرتَدي
مَجداًglory تَتيهُshe exults بِهِin it عَلىover البُلدانِthe lands
مَجداً تَتيهُ بِهِ عَلى البُلدانِ
Perhaps Egypt will clothe herself, from your youth,
in glory with which she exults over other lands.
فَلَوَfor if اَنَّthat بِالهَرَمَينِin the two pyramids مِنfrom عَزَماتِهِhis resolves
فَلَوَ اَنَّ بِالهَرَمَينِ مِن عَزَماتِهِ
بَعضَsome المَضاءِof the driving force تَحَرَّكَwould move الهَرَمانِthe two pyramids
بَعضَ المَضاءِ تَحَرَّكَ الهَرَمانِ
For if within the two pyramids, from his resolves,
there were some driving force, the two pyramids would move.
عَلَّمتَyou taught شُبّانَthe young men المَدائِنِof the cities وَالقُرىand villages
عَلَّمتَ شُبّانَ المَدائِنِ وَالقُرى
كَيفَhow الحَياةُlife تَكونُis فيin الشُبّانِthe young men
كَيفَ الحَياةُ تَكونُ في الشُبّانِ
You taught the young men of the cities and villages
what life in the young should be.
مِصرُEgypt الأَسيفَةُgrieving ريفُهاher countryside وَصَعيدُهاand her Upper Egypt
مِصرُ الأَسيفَةُ ريفُها وَصَعيدُها
قَبرٌa tomb أَبَرُّmost devoted عَلىover عِظامِكَyour bones حانيtenderly bending
قَبرٌ أَبَرُّ عَلى عِظامِكَ حاني
Grieving Egypt, her countryside and her Upper Egypt,
is a most devoted tomb, bending tenderly over your bones.
أَقسَمتُI have sworn أَنَّكَthat you are فيin التُرابِthe dust طَهارَةٌpurity
أَقسَمتُ أَنَّكَ في التُرابِ طَهارَةٌ
مَلَكٌan angel يَهابُdread سُؤالَهُquestioning him المَلَكانِthe two angels
مَلَكٌ يَهابُ سُؤالَهُ المَلَكانِ
I have sworn that in the dust you are purity itself,
an angel whom the two angels dread to question.
Sol 6.1