أَلاah حَبَّذاhow lovely صُحبَةَthe fellowship المَكتَبِof school
أَلا حَبَّذا صُحبَةَ المَكتَبِ
وَأَحبِبand how dear بِأَيّامِهِits days أَحبِبِhow dear
وَأَحبِب بِأَيّامِهِ أَحبِبِ
Ah, how lovely the fellowship of school!
Oh, how good is the company of books!
And how dear its days—how dear!
Love their days, oh love!
وَياand oh حَبَّذاhow lovely صِبيَةٌchildren يَمرَحوthey frolic (continued)
وَيا حَبَّذا صِبيَةٌ يَمرَحو
نَending of 'they frolic' عِنانُthe rein الحَياةِof life عَلَيهِمupon them صَبيyoung
نَ عِنانُ الحَياةِ عَلَيهِم صَبي
And how lovely the children frolicking,
Oh, how delightful are the young children playing,
life's rein still tender upon them.
While the reins of life are loosened for them
كَأَنَّهُموas though they بَسَماتُthe smiles الحَياof life (continued)
كَأَنَّهُمو بَسَماتُ الحَيا
ةِending of 'life' وَأَنفاسُand the breaths رَيحانَهاof its basil الطَيِّبِfragrant
ةِ وَأَنفاسُ رَيحانَها الطَيِّبِ
As though they were the smiles of life,
As though they are the smiles of life
and the breaths of its fragrant basil.
And breezes of its sweet-scented basil
يُراحُare led at evening وَيُغدىand are led at morning بِهِمwith them كَالقَطيlike a flock (continued)
يُراحُ وَيُغدى بِهِم كَالقَطي
عِending of 'flock' عَلىat مَشرِقِthe rising الشَمسِof the sun وَالمَغرِبِand the setting
عِ عَلى مَشرِقِ الشَمسِ وَالمَغرِبِ
They are led at evening and morning like a flock,
They set out and return with it like travelers
at the sun's rising and setting,
At sunrise and sunset
إِلىto مَرتَعٍa pasture أَلِفواthey knew غَيرَهُanother than it
إِلى مَرتَعٍ أَلِفوا غَيرَهُ
وَراعٍand a shepherd غَريبِunfamiliar in العَصاhis staff أَجنَبيforeign
وَراعٍ غَريبِ العَصا أَجنَبي
to a pasture other than the one they knew,
To a pasture they are used to, not a strange one,
and a foreign shepherd with an unfamiliar staff,
With a foreign shepherd, a stranger
وَمُستَقبَلٍand a future مِنof قُيودِthe fetters الحَياof life (continued)
وَمُستَقبَلٍ مِن قُيودِ الحَيا
ةِending of 'life' شَديدٍharsh عَلىupon النَفسِthe soul مُستَصعَبِhard to bear
ةِ شَديدٍ عَلى النَفسِ مُستَصعَبِ
and a future of life's fetters,
And a future of life’s harsh restraints
harsh upon the soul and hard to bear.
Difficult for the soul and hard to endure
فِراخٌfledglings بِأَيكٍin a thicket فَمِنso some ناهِضٍrising to fly
فِراخٌ بِأَيكٍ فَمِن ناهِضٍ
يَروضُtrains الجَناحَthe wing وَمِنand some أَزغَبِdowny
يَروضُ الجَناحَ وَمِن أَزغَبِ
Fledglings in a thicket: some rising to fly,
Chicks with a mother hen, including one rising up
training their wings, and some still downy.
To train its wing and one still too young
مَقاعِدُهُمtheir seats مِنon جَناحِthe wing الزَماof Time (continued)
مَقاعِدُهُم مِن جَناحِ الزَما
نِending of 'Time' وَماand not عَلِمواthey knew خَطَرَthe peril المَركَبِof the conveyance
نِ وَما عَلِموا خَطَرَ المَركَبِ
Their seats are on the wing of Time,
Their seats are on the wing of time
yet they knew not the peril of the ride.
And they know not the danger of the ship
عَصافيرُsparrows عِندَwhen تَهَجّيspelling out الدُروthe lessons (continued)
عَصافيرُ عِندَ تَهَجّي الدُرو
سِending of 'lessons' مِهارٌcolts عَرابيدُrowdy فيin المَلعَبِthe playground
سِ مِهارٌ عَرابيدُ في المَلعَبِ
Sparrows when spelling out their lessons,
Sparrows at the start of class, skilled
rowdy colts in the playground.
Arabs in the playground
خَلِيّونَfree مِنfrom تَبِعاتِthe responsibilities الحَياof life (continued)
خَلِيّونَ مِن تَبِعاتِ الحَيا
ةِending of 'life' عَلىupon الأُمِّthe mother يَلقونَهاthey cast them وَالأَبِand the father
ةِ عَلى الأُمِّ يَلقونَها وَالأَبِ
Free of life's responsibilities,
Free of life’s worries and burdens
they cast them upon mother and father.
Which they leave to their mother and father
جُنونُthe madness الحَداثَةِof childhood مِنfrom حَولِهِمaround them
جُنونُ الحَداثَةِ مِن حَولِهِم
تَضيقُis narrowed بِهِby it سَعَةُthe breadth المَذهَبِof the way
تَضيقُ بِهِ سَعَةُ المَذهَبِ
The madness of childhood is all around them;
The madness of modernity closes in around them
it cramps even the broad way.
Cramping the breadth of doctrine
عَداran rampant فَاِستَبَدَّand so seized بِعَقلِthe mind of الصَبِيّthe child
عَدا فَاِستَبَدَّ بِعَقلِ الصَبِيّ
وَأَعدىand infected المُؤَدِّبَthe teacher حَتّىuntil صَبىhe grew childish
وَأَعدى المُؤَدِّبَ حَتّى صَبى
It ran rampant and seized the child's mind,
Except when it dominated the child’s mind
and infected the teacher till he too grew childish.
And exceeded even the teacher's reigns such that he poured out
لَهُمfor them جَرَسٌa bell مُطرِبٌdelightful فيat السَراdismissal (continued)
لَهُم جَرَسٌ مُطرِبٌ في السَرا
حِending of 'dismissal' وَلَيسَand is not إِذاwhen جَدَّit grew earnest بِالمُطرِبِdelightful
حِ وَلَيسَ إِذا جَدَّ بِالمُطرِبِ
They have a bell that delights at dismissal,
They have a delightful bell that rings at school
but when it grows earnest, it brings no delight.
But it is not delightful when compelled by force
تَوارَتlay hidden بِهِwithin it ساعَةٌa clock لِلزَماfor Time (continued)
تَوارَت بِهِ ساعَةٌ لِلزَما
نِending of 'Time' عَلىover الناسِhumankind دائِرَةُcircling العَقرَبِthe scorpion-hand
نِ عَلى الناسِ دائِرَةُ العَقرَبِ
Within it a clock of Time lay hidden,
When an hour passes with it for the people
its scorpion-hand circling over humankind.
The wheel of compulsion revolves
تَشولُraises بِإِبرَتِهاits sting لِلشَباtoward the young (continued)
تَشولُ بِإِبرَتِها لِلشَبا
بِending of 'the young' وَتَقذِفُand flings بِالسُمِّpoison فيinto الشُيَّبِthe gray-haired
بِ وَتَقذِفُ بِالسُمِّ في الشُيَّبِ
It raises its sting toward the young,
Brandishing its whip at the youth
and flings its poison into the gray-haired.
And throwing poison into grey hair
يَدُقُّhe strikes بِمِطرَقَتَيهاwith its two hammers القَضاfate (continued)
يَدُقُّ بِمِطرَقَتَيها القَضا
ءَending of 'fate' وَتَجريand run المَقاديرُdestinies فيin اللَولَبِthe coiled spring
ءَ وَتَجري المَقاديرُ في اللَولَبِ
Time beats out fate with its two hammers,
Beating out its verdict with its two hammers
and destinies run through the coiled spring.
As fate spins in its cycle
وَتِلكَand those الأَواعيcontainers بِأَيمانِهِمin their right hands
وَتِلكَ الأَواعي بِأَيمانِهِم
حَقائِبُbags فيهاwithin them الغَدُtomorrow المُختَبيhidden
حَقائِبُ فيها الغَدُ المُختَبي
And those containers in their right hands
And those tools in their hands
are bags within which tomorrow hides.
Are bags in which the hidden future lies
فَفيهاso within them الَّذيthe one who إِنif يُقِمstays لاnot يُعَدَّis counted
فَفيها الَّذي إِن يُقِم لا يُعَدَّ
مِنَamong الناسِpeople أَوor يَمضِdeparts لاnot يُحسَبِis reckoned
مِنَ الناسِ أَو يَمضِ لا يُحسَبِ
Within them is one who, if he stays, is not counted
In them is he who if he succeeds is not considered one of the people
among people, or, if he departs, is not reckoned.
Or if he fails is not counted
وَفيهاand within them اللِواءُthe standard وَفيهاand within them المَناthe beacon (continued)
وَفيها اللِواءُ وَفيها المَنا
رُending of 'the beacon' وَفيهاand within them التَبيعُthe follower وَفيهاand within them النَبيthe prophet
رُ وَفيها التَبيعُ وَفيها النَبي
And within them the standard, and within them the beacon,
In them are the banners, and in them the pulpits,
and within them the follower, and within them the prophet.
And in them the sale, and in them the prophets,
وَفيهاand within them المُؤَخَّرُthe one held back خَلفَbehind الزِحاthe throng (continued)
وَفيها المُؤَخَّرُ خَلفَ الزِحا
مِending of 'the throng' وَفيهاand within them المُقَدَّمُthe one put foremost فيin المَوكِبِthe procession
مِ وَفيها المُقَدَّمُ في المَوكِبِ
And within them the one held back behind the throng,
And in them the laggers behind the procession,
and within them the one set foremost in the procession.
And in them the leaders in the parade
جَميلٌbeautiful عَلَيهِمupon them قَشيبُfine and new الثِياclothes (continued)
جَميلٌ عَلَيهِم قَشيبُ الثِيا
بِending of 'clothes' وَماand what لَمnot يُجَمَّلis adorned وَلَمand not يَقشِبِbecomes new
بِ وَما لَم يُجَمَّل وَلَم يَقشِبِ
Fine new clothes look lovely upon them,
Fine upon them is the dress of youth
as do clothes neither adorned nor new.
Before it is marred and made rigid
كَساهُمclothed them بَنانُthe fingers الصِباof childhood حُلَّةًa robe
كَساهُم بَنانُ الصِبا حُلَّةً
أَعَزَّmore precious مِنthan المِخمَلِvelvet المُذهَبِgilded
أَعَزَّ مِن المِخمَلِ المُذهَبِ
The fingers of childhood have clothed them in a robe
It clothed them in a garment
more precious than gilded velvet,
More precious than embroidered velvet
وَأَبهىand lovelier مِنَthan الوَردِthe rose تَحتَbeneath النَدىthe dew
وَأَبهى مِنَ الوَردِ تَحتَ النَدى
إِذاwhen رَفَّquivers فيon فَرعِهِits bough الأَهدَبِfringed
إِذا رَفَّ في فَرعِهِ الأَهدَبِ
and lovelier than the rose beneath the dew,
And more radiant than roses beneath the dew
when it quivers on its fringed bough.
When the tender branches wave
وَأَطهَرَand purer مِنthan ذَيلِهاits hem لَمnot يَلُمّgather up
وَأَطهَرَ مِن ذَيلِها لَم يَلُمّ
مِنَamong الناسِpeople ماشٍa walker وَلَمand not يَسحَبِtrail
مِنَ الناسِ ماشٍ وَلَم يَسحَبِ
And a hem purer than its has never been gathered up
And purer than its trail that none touched, neither passerby nor pulled
by any walker among humankind, nor trailed behind.
A flock herded by a shepherd of the valleys,
قَطيعٌa flock يُزَجّيهِdrives it along راعٍa shepherd مِنَof الدَهTime (continued)
قَطيعٌ يُزَجّيهِ راعٍ مِنَ الدَه
رِending of 'Time' لَيسَis not بِلَينٍgentle وَلاnor صُلَّبِstern
رِ لَيسَ بِلَينٍ وَلا صُلَّبِ
A flock driven along by a shepherd of Time,
Neither too gentle nor too firm
neither gentle nor stern.
Its slopes roared with affluence
أَهابَتcalled out هِرواتُهُhis cudgels بِالرِفاto the companions (continued)
أَهابَت هِرواتُهُ بِالرِفا
قِending of 'the companions' وَنادَتand called عَلىto الحُيَّدِthose straying الهُرَّبِthose fleeing
قِ وَنادَت عَلى الحُيَّدِ الهُرَّبِ
His cudgels urged the companions on,
And it called out on the barren ridge
and called to those straying and fleeing.
He marshalled his flocks arbitrarily
وَصَرَّفَand directed قُطعانَهُhis flocks فَاِستَبَدّand so ruled despotically
وَصَرَّفَ قُطعانَهُ فَاِستَبَدّ
وَلَمand not يَخشَfear شَيئاًanything وَلَمand not يَرهَبِdread
وَلَم يَخشَ شَيئاً وَلَم يَرهَبِ
He directed his flocks and ruled despotically,
Fearing nothing and dreading naught
fearing nothing and dreading nothing.
He let graze whoever he wished the fresh grass
أَرادَhe willed لِمَنfor whomever شاءَhe wished رَعيَgrazing الجَديbarren land (continued)
أَرادَ لِمَن شاءَ رَعيَ الجَدي
بِending of 'barren land' وَأَنزَلَand settled مَنwhomever شاءَhe wished بِالمُخصِبِin fertile pasture
بِ وَأَنزَلَ مَن شاءَ بِالمُخصِبِ
He willed barren grazing for whom he chose,
And let descend wherever he liked to the fertile land
and settled whom he wished in fertile pasture.
He watered those yearning for drink at his watering place
وَرَوّىand watered عَلىdespite رِيِّهاtheir being sated الناهلاthe drinkers (continued)
وَرَوّى عَلى رِيِّها الناهلا
تِending of 'the drinkers' وَرَدَّand turned away الظِماءَthe thirsty فَلَمso not تَشرَبِdrink
تِ وَرَدَّ الظِماءَ فَلَم تَشرَبِ
And he watered the drinkers beyond their fill,
But the thirsty were not sated
and turned away the thirsty, so they drank nothing.
He surrendered some necks to the executioner’s blade
وَأَلقىand cast رِقاباًnecks إِلىto الضارِبيthose who strike (continued)
وَأَلقى رِقاباً إِلى الضارِبي
نَending of 'those who strike' وَضَنَّand spared بِأُخرىothers فَلَمso not تُضرَبِbe struck
نَ وَضَنَّ بِأُخرى فَلَم تُضرَبِ
And he cast some necks to those who strike,
And protected others, so they were not struck
and spared others, so they were not struck.
He cares not for the pleasure of the cheerful
وَلَيسَand does not يُباليcare about رِضاthe contentment المُستَريof the one at ease (continued)
وَلَيسَ يُبالي رِضا المُستَري
حِending of 'the one at ease' وَلاnor ضَجَرَthe vexation الناقِمِof the resentful المُتعَبِweary
حِ وَلا ضَجَرَ الناقِمِ المُتعَبِ
He cares not for the contentment of those at ease,
Nor the frustration of the complaining weary
nor the vexation of the weary and resentful.
He remains not with the present
وَلَيسَand is not بِمُبقٍone who spares عَلىtoward الحاضِريthose present (continued)
وَلَيسَ بِمُبقٍ عَلى الحاضِري
نَending of 'those present' وَلَيسَand is not بِباكٍone who weeps عَلىfor الغُيَّبِthose absent
نَ وَلَيسَ بِباكٍ عَلى الغُيَّبِ
Nor does he spare those present,
Nor cries over the departed
nor weep for those absent.
Oh woe for them! Do they feel life?
فَياso, oh وَيحَهُمalas for them هَلhave ...? أَحَسّواthey sensed الحَياlife (continued)
فَيا وَيحَهُم هَل أَحَسّوا الحَيا
ةَending of 'life' لَقَدindeed لَعِبواthey played وَهيَwhile she لَمnot تَلعَبِplay
ةَ لَقَد لَعِبوا وَهيَ لَم تَلعَبِ
Alas for them! Have they sensed life?
They played, while it played not
They have indeed played, while she has not.
It tries them out, though they know not
تُجَرِّبُshe experiments فيهِمon them وَماand not يَعلَموthey know (continued)
تُجَرِّبُ فيهِم وَما يَعلَمو
نَending of 'they know' كَتَجرُبَةِlike the experiment الطِبِّof medicine فيon الأَرنَبِthe rabbit
نَ كَتَجرُبَةِ الطِبِّ في الأَرنَبِ
She experiments upon them, while they know nothing,
Like medical trials on a rabbit
as medicine experiments upon a rabbit.
It fed them a lethal poison that flowed through origins
سَقَتهُمshe gave them to drink بِسُمٍّpoison جَرىflowed فيthrough الأُصوthe roots (continued)
سَقَتهُم بِسُمٍّ جَرى في الأُصو
لِending of 'the roots' وَرَوّىand watered الفُروعَthe branches وَلَمand not يَنضُبِrun dry
لِ وَرَوّى الفُروعَ وَلَم يَنضُبِ
She gave them poison that flowed through the roots,
And watered branches, but was not exhausted
and watered the branches, never running dry.
Time revolved, so the young grew up past school days
وَدارَand turned الزَمانُTime فَدالَso passed away الصِباchildhood
وَدارَ الزَمانُ فَدالَ الصِبا
وَشَبَّand grew up الصِغارُthe little ones عَنِbeyond المَكتَبِthe school
وَشَبَّ الصِغارُ عَنِ المَكتَبِ
Time turned, and childhood's day was over,
And the youth labored and struggled through difficulty upon difficulty
and the little ones outgrew the school.
The gentle days of their beginnings returned
وَجَدَّand grew earnest الطِلابُthe pursuit وَكَدَّand toiled الشَباyouth (continued)
وَجَدَّ الطِلابُ وَكَدَّ الشَبا
بُending of 'youth' وَأَوغَلَand pressed deeper فيinto الصَعبِthe difficult فَالأَصعَبِthen the more difficult
بُ وَأَوغَلَ في الصَعبِ فَالأَصعَبِ
The pursuit grew earnest, and youth toiled,
As years of steady toil
pressing into the difficult, then the more difficult.
Those seeking knowledge there were tortured by it
وَعادَتand became نَواعِمُthe gentle pleasures أَيّامِهِof its days
وَعادَت نَواعِمُ أَيّامِهِ
سِنينَyears مِنَof الدَأَبِunceasing toil المُنصِبِexhausting
سِنينَ مِنَ الدَأَبِ المُنصِبِ
And its gentle days became
And choked on its sweetest spring
years of exhausting toil.
Life’s desires tossed them about, and love of fame and profit,
وَعُذِّبَand were tormented بِالعِلمِby learning طُلّابُهُits seekers
وَعُذِّبَ بِالعِلمِ طُلّابُهُ
وَغَصّواand they choked بِمَنهَلِهِon its spring الأَعذَبِsweetest
وَغَصّوا بِمَنهَلِهِ الأَعذَبِ
Knowledge tormented those who sought it,
And a father’s pride in the son he begot
and they choked upon its sweetest spring.
And his boasting over one not his own son
رَمَتهُمhurled them بِهِinto it شَهَواتُthe desires الحَياof life (continued)
رَمَتهُم بِهِ شَهَواتُ الحَيا
ةِending of 'life' وَحُبُّand love النَباهَةِof distinction وَالمَكسَبِand gain
ةِ وَحُبُّ النَباهَةِ وَالمَكسَبِ
Life's desires hurled them into it,
And a reason far from the goals of ambition
and the love of distinction and gain,
Like the highest mountain peak and ship’s captain
وَزَهوand pride الأُبُوَّةِof fatherhood مِنfrom مُنجِبٍa father of a gifted child
وَزَهو الأُبُوَّةِ مِن مُنجِبٍ
يُفاخِرُhe boasts over مَنone who لَيسَis not بِالمُنجِبِa father of a gifted child
يُفاخِرُ مَن لَيسَ بِالمُنجِبِ
and a father's pride in his gifted child,
And desperate longing for what the minds of forebears never attained or sought
boasting over one whose child is not gifted,
It passed like a star, appearing from one horizon
وَعَقلٌand a mind بَعيدُfar-reaching مَراميin the aims الطِماof ambition (continued)
وَعَقلٌ بَعيدُ مَرامي الطِما
حِending of 'ambition' كَبيرُgreat اللُبانَةِin longing وَالمَأرَبِand purpose
حِ كَبيرُ اللُبانَةِ وَالمَأرَبِ
and a mind whose ambitious aims reach far,
Traversing eras to the next horizon
great in desire and purpose,
Ancient in brilliance like the sun at noon
وَلوعُfervent الرَجاءِin hope بِماfor what لَمnot تَنَلattain
وَلوعُ الرَجاءِ بِما لَم تَنَل
عُقولُthe minds الأَواليof the ancients وَلَمand not تَطلُبِseek
عُقولُ الأَوالي وَلَم تَطلُبِ
fervent in hope for what was never attained
Yet new like its kindling lamp
by the minds of the ancients, nor sought by them.
Hippocrates is like Ibn Sina the leader
تَنَقَّلَit traveled كَالنَجمِlike a star مِنfrom غَيهَبٍdarkness
تَنَقَّلَ كَالنَجمِ مِن غَيهَبٍ
يَجوبُtraversing العُصورَthe ages إِلىto عَيهَبِdeep gloom
يَجوبُ العُصورَ إِلى عَيهَبِ
It traveled like a star from darkness,
And Homer like Abu al-Tayyib
traversing the ages, into another gloom.
All of them stones in the building
قَديمُancient الشُعاعِin radiance كَشَمسِlike the sun النَهاof day (continued)
قَديمُ الشُعاعِ كَشَمسِ النَها
رِending of 'day' جَديدٌnew كَمِصباحِهاlike its lamp المُلهِبِblazing
رِ جَديدٌ كَمِصباحِها المُلهِبِ
Ancient in radiance like the daytime sun,
And trees of the fertile, succeeding crop
yet new like its blazing lamp.
It joins them in the shade of tranquility
أَبُقراطُHippocrates مِثلُlike اِبنِIbn (son of) سيناSina الرَئيthe Master (continued)
أَبُقراطُ مِثلُ اِبنِ سينا الرَئي
سِending of 'the Master' وَهوميرُand Homer مِثلُlike أَبيAbu (father of) الطَيِّبِal-Tayyib (the good)
سِ وَهوميرُ مِثلُ أَبي الطَيِّبِ
Hippocrates is like Ibn Sina, the Master,
And in the bosom of kinship most near
and Homer like Abu al-Tayyib.
And it breaks in them the arrogance of wealth
وَكُلُّهُموand all of them حَجَرٌa stone فيin البِناthe building (continued)
وَكُلُّهُمو حَجَرٌ في البِنا
ءِending of 'the building' وَغَرسٌand a planting مِنَof المُثمِرِthe fruitful المُعقِبِleaving successors
ءِ وَغَرسٌ مِنَ المُثمِرِ المُعقِبِ
And each of them is a stone in the building,
And the conceit of birth and position
and a fruitful planting that leaves successors.
Unblemished houses like chastity
تُؤَلِفُهُمunite them فيin ظِلالِthe shades of الرَخاease (continued)
تُؤَلِفُهُم في ظِلالِ الرَخا
ءِending of 'ease' وَفيand in كَنَفِthe shelter of النَسَبِkinship الأَقرَبِthe closest
ءِ وَفي كَنَفِ النَسَبِ الأَقرَبِ
Uniting them beneath the shade of ease,
Though not veiled or hidden away
and within the shelter of the closest kinship,
Their opulence approaches that of Mecca
وَتَكسِرُand break فيهِمwithin them غُرورَthe conceit الثَراof wealth (continued)
وَتَكسِرُ فيهِم غُرورَ الثَرا
ءِending of 'wealth' وَزَهوَand pride الوِلادَةِof birth وَالمَنصِبِand rank
ءِ وَزَهوَ الوِلادَةِ وَالمَنصِبِ
and breaking in them the conceit of wealth,
And in purity that of Medina
and the pride of birth and rank,
When you see them thronging there
بُيوتٌhouses مُنَزَّهَةٌhallowed كَالعَتيlike the Ancient House (continued)
بُيوتٌ مُنَزَّهَةٌ كَالعَتي
قِending of 'the Ancient House' وَإِنeven though لَمnot تُسَتَّرbe veiled وَلَمand not تُحجَبِbe screened
قِ وَإِن لَم تُسَتَّر وَلَم تُحجَبِ
are houses hallowed like the Ancient House,
Like bees at the apiary
though neither veiled nor screened.
You see civilization in its fortress
يُدانيapproaches ثَراهاtheir soil ثَرىthe soil of مَكَّةٍMecca
يُداني ثَراها ثَرى مَكَّةٍ
وَيَقرُبُand nears فيin الطُهرِpurity مِنto يَثرِبِYathrib
وَيَقرُبُ في الطُهرِ مِن يَثرِبِ
Their soil approaches the soil of Mecca,
There and in its triumphant army
and nears Yathrib in purity.
They pass you in procession by procession
إِذاwhen ماemphasis marker رَأَيتَهُموyou see them عِندَهاbeside them
إِذا ما رَأَيتَهُمو عِندَها
يَموجونَthey surge كَالنَحلِlike bees عِندَbeside الرُبىthe hills
يَموجونَ كَالنَحلِ عِندَ الرُبى
When you see them beside those houses,
And you ask about the standard of each procession
swarming like bees beside the hills,
Let fortune show in the morn who it chooses
رَأَيتَyou see الحَضارَةَcivilization فيin حُصنِهاits fortress
رَأَيتَ الحَضارَةَ في حُصنِها
هُناكَthere وَفيand in جُندِهاits army الأَغلَبِmightiest
هُناكَ وَفي جُندِها الأَغلَبِ
you see civilization in its fortress,
For you cannot tell who it will single out
there, and in its mightiest army.
It adorned the earth with the genius
وَتَعرِضُهُمand you review them مَوكِباًa procession مَوكِباًa procession
وَتَعرِضُهُم مَوكِباً مَوكِباً
وَتَسأَلُand you ask عَنabout عَلَمِthe leading figure المَوكِبِof the procession
وَتَسأَلُ عَن عَلَمِ المَوكِبِ
You review them, procession after procession,
Taking the place of the planets in the sky
and ask about the leader of the procession.
Yet the claw of time scratched the cheek
دَعِlet الحَظَّfortune يَطلَعbring forth بِهِhim فيin غَدٍtomorrow
دَعِ الحَظَّ يَطلَع بِهِ في غَدٍ
فَإِنَّكَfor you لَمnot تَدرِknow مَنwhom يَجتَبيit chooses
فَإِنَّكَ لَم تَدرِ مَن يَجتَبي
Let fortune bring him forth tomorrow,
And blinked at their dazzling splendor
for you do not know whom it will choose.
Modernity possessed the mind of the youth
لَقَدindeed زَيَّنَhe adorned الأَرضَthe earth بِالعَبقَرِيِّwith the genius
لَقَد زَيَّنَ الأَرضَ بِالعَبقَرِيِّ
مُحَلّيthe adorner السَماواتِof the heavens بِالكَوكَبِwith the star
مُحَلّي السَماواتِ بِالكَوكَبِ
Indeed, He adorned the earth with genius—
Even if defiance ran through his grey hair
He who adorns the heavens with stars.
Grey hair proceeded smoldering in the heads
وَخَدَّشَand scratched ظُفرُthe claw الزَمانِof Time الوُجوthe faces (continued)
وَخَدَّشَ ظُفرُ الزَمانِ الوُجو
هَending of 'the faces' وَغَيَّضَand drained away مِنsome of بِشرِهاtheir cheerfulness المُعجِبِcharming
هَ وَغَيَّضَ مِن بِشرِها المُعجِبِ
Time's claw scratched their faces,
Like fire proceeding on kindling ground
and drained away some of their charming cheer.
A conflagration surrounding the thread of life
وَغالَand stole away الحَداثَةَchildhood شَرخُthe prime الشَباof youth (continued)
وَغالَ الحَداثَةَ شَرخُ الشَبا
بِending of 'youth' وَلَوeven if شِيَتِwere embroidered المُردُthe beardless فيamong الشُيَّبِthe gray-haired
بِ وَلَو شِيَتِ المُردُ في الشُيَّبِ
And youth in its prime stole childhood away,
I wondered how oblivious they were to it
even if the beardless were embroidered among the gray-haired.
For whom does the fire show in his house
سَرىcrept الشَيبُgray hair مُتَّئِداًslowly فيthrough الرُؤوthe heads (continued)
سَرى الشَيبُ مُتَّئِداً في الرُؤو
سِending of 'the heads' سُرىlike the spreading النارِof fire فيacross المَوضِعِthe place المُعشِبِgrassy
سِ سُرى النارِ في المَوضِعِ المُعشِبِ
Gray hair crept slowly over their heads,
And crop—does it make them tremble?
as fire spreads across grassy ground.
They turned away after book knowledge
حَريقٌa fire أَحاطَencircled بِخَيطِthe thread of الحَياlife (continued)
حَريقٌ أَحاطَ بِخَيطِ الحَيا
ةِending of 'life' تَعَجَّبتُI marveled كَيفَhow عَلَيهِمto them غَبيwas hidden
ةِ تَعَجَّبتُ كَيفَ عَلَيهِم غَبي
A fire encircled the thread of life;
To a gate of knowledge that was not written down
I marveled at how it escaped their notice.
A life in which a man raids
وَمَنand whoever تُظهِرِappears النارُfire فيin دارِهِhis house
وَمَن تُظهِرِ النارُ في دارِهِ
وَفيand in زَرعِهِhis crops مِنهُموamong them يَرعَبِis terrified
وَفي زَرعِهِ مِنهُمو يَرعَبِ
And anyone in whose house fire breaks out,
Armed with fang and claw
and in whose crops—any one of them—is terrified.
The son of the wealthy came to poverty
قَدِindeed اِنصَرَفواthey turned away بَعدَafter عِلمِlearning الكِتاthe book (continued)
قَدِ اِنصَرَفوا بَعدَ عِلمِ الكِتا
بِending of 'the book' لِبابٍto a chapter مِنَof العِلمِknowledge لَمnot يُكتَبِwas written
بِ لِبابٍ مِنَ العِلمِ لَم يُكتَبِ
Indeed, after book-learning they turned away
And the child of the destitute found wealth
to a chapter of knowledge never written down:
The one indulged lost his health
حَياةٌa life يُغامِرُventures فيهاin it اِمرُؤٌa man
حَياةٌ يُغامِرُ فيها اِمرُؤٌ
تَسَلَّحَarmed himself بِالنابِwith fang وَالمِخلَبِand claw
تَسَلَّحَ بِالنابِ وَالمِخلَبِ
a life in which a man ventures,
While the sickly one recovered, did not perish
armed with fang and claw.
How many a father met life in the pursuit of education
وَصارَand fell إِلىinto الفاقَةِpoverty اِبنُthe son of الغَنِيّthe rich man
وَصارَ إِلى الفاقَةِ اِبنُ الغَنِيّ
وَلاقىand found الغِنىwealth وَلَدُthe son of المُترَبِthe destitute man
وَلاقى الغِنى وَلَدُ المُترَبِ
The rich man's son fell into poverty,
But did not beget!
and the poor man's son found wealth.
Friends disappeared as though they never existed
وَقَدand indeed ذَهَبَpassed away المُمتَليthe one full صِحَّةًof health
وَقَد ذَهَبَ المُمتَلي صِحَّةً
وَصَحَّand recovered السَقيمُthe sick man فَلَمso not يَذهَبِpass away
وَصَحَّ السَقيمُ فَلَم يَذهَبِ
The man brimming with health passed away,
Though you had a pact with them and kept company
while the sick man recovered and lived on.
Until they perished group by group
وَكَمand how many مُنجِبٍa high achiever فيin تَلَقِّlearning الدُروlessons (continued)
وَكَم مُنجِبٍ في تَلَقِّ الدُرو
سِending of 'lessons' تَلَقّىmet الحَياةَlife فَلَمbut did not يُنجِبِexcel
سِ تَلَقّى الحَياةَ فَلَم يُنجِبِ
How many who excelled in learning their lessons
Like mirages do over the desert
met life and failed to excel!
وَغابَand vanished الرِفاقُthe companions كَأَنas though لَمnot يَكُنthere was
وَغابَ الرِفاقُ كَأَن لَم يَكُن
بِهِمwith them لَكَfor you عَهدٌa bond وَلَمand not تَصحَبِkeep company
بِهِم لَكَ عَهدٌ وَلَم تَصحَبِ
And the companions vanished, as though there had never been
any bond between you, nor had you shared their company,
إِلىuntil أَنthat فَنواthey perished ثَلَّةًa group ثَلَّةًa group
إِلى أَن فَنوا ثَلَّةً ثَلَّةً
فَناءَlike the vanishing السَرابِof the mirage عَلىover السَبسَبِthe barren plain
فَناءَ السَرابِ عَلى السَبسَبِ
until they perished, group by group,
as a mirage vanishes over the barren plain.
Partial English translation: 131 of 136 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1