قُمarise سُلَيمانُSolomon بِساطُthe carpet الريحِof the wind قاماhas risen
قُم سُلَيمانُ بِساطُ الريحِ قاما
مَلَكَhave seized القَومُthe people مِنَof الجَوِّthe air الزِماماthe reins
مَلَكَ القَومُ مِنَ الجَوِّ الزِماما
Rise, Solomon: the carpet of the wind has risen.
Men have taken the reins of the air.
حينَwhen ضاقَgrew narrow البَرُّthe land وَالبَحرُand the sea بِهِمfor them
حينَ ضاقَ البَرُّ وَالبَحرُ بِهِم
أَسرَجواthey saddled الريحَthe wind وَساموهاand made it bear اللِجاماthe bridle
أَسرَجوا الريحَ وَساموها اللِجاما
When land and sea grew too narrow for them,
they saddled the wind and made it bear the bridle.
صارَbecame ماwhat كانَwas لَكُمfor you مُعجِزَةًa miracle
صارَ ما كانَ لَكُم مُعجِزَةً
آيَةًa sign لِلعِلمِfor science آتاهاbestowed it الأَناماhumankind
آيَةً لِلعِلمِ آتاها الأَناما
What was a miracle for you has become
a sign of science, bestowed on humankind.
قُدرَةٌa power كُنتَyou were بِهاin it مُنفَرِداًalone
قُدرَةٌ كُنتَ بِها مُنفَرِداً
أَصبَحَتhas become حِصَّةَthe share مَنof whoever جَدَّwas earnest اِعتِزاماin resolve
أَصبَحَت حِصَّةَ مَن جَدَّ اِعتِزاما
A power you once possessed alone
has become the share of whoever strives with resolve.
عَينُAyn شَمسٍShams قامَarose فيهاin it مارِدٌa mighty spirit
عَينُ شَمسٍ قامَ فيها مارِدٌ
مِنfrom عَفاريتِكَyour mighty spirits يُدعىcalled شاتَهاماShatham
مِن عَفاريتِكَ يُدعى شاتَهاما
In Ayn Shams a mighty spirit has arisen,
one of your ifrits, called Shatham.
يَملَأُhe fills الجَوَّthe air عَزيفاًwith eerie droning كُلَّماwhenever
يَملَأُ الجَوَّ عَزيفاً كُلَّما
ضَرَبَhe struck الريحَthe wind بِسَوطٍwith a whip وَالغَماماand the clouds
ضَرَبَ الريحَ بِسَوطٍ وَالغَماما
He fills the air with eerie droning whenever
he lashes the wind and clouds with a whip.
مَلِكُthe king الجَوِّof the air تَليهِfollows him عُصبَةٌa band
مَلِكُ الجَوِّ تَليهِ عُصبَةٌ
جَمَعَتhas gathered شَهماًa gallant man وَنَدباًand a daring man وَهُماماand a valiant man
جَمَعَت شَهماً وَنَدباً وَهُماما
The king of the air is followed by a band
uniting the gallant, the daring, and the valiant.
اِستَوَواthey took their places فَوقَupon مَناطيدِهمُtheir airships
اِستَوَوا فَوقَ مَناطيدِهمُ
ماnot يُبالونَthey care حَياةًlife أَمor حِماماdeath
ما يُبالونَ حَياةً أَم حِماما
They took their places upon their airships,
caring nothing for life or death,
وَقُبوراًand graves فيin السَمَواتِthe heavens العُلاon high
وَقُبوراً في السَمَواتِ العُلا
نَزَلواthey alighted أَمor حُفَراتٌpits وَرَغاماand dust
نَزَلوا أَم حُفَراتٌ وَرَغاما
nor whether in graves in the heavens on high
they came to rest, or in pits and dust.
مُطمَئِنّينَat peace نُفوساًin soul كُلَّماwhenever
مُطمَئِنّينَ نُفوساً كُلَّما
عَبَسَتfrowned كارِثَةٌa calamity زادواthey increased اِبتِساماin smiling
عَبَسَت كارِثَةٌ زادوا اِبتِساما
Their souls at peace, whenever
disaster frowned, they smiled the more.
صَهوَةَthe saddleback العِزِّof glory اِعتَلَواthey mounted تَحسَبُهُمyou would think them
صَهوَةَ العِزِّ اِعتَلَوا تَحسَبُهُم
جَمعَa host أَملاكٍof angels عَلىupon الخَيلِhorses تَسامىrose high
جَمعَ أَملاكٍ عَلى الخَيلِ تَسامى
They mounted glory's saddleback; you would think them
a host of angels rising high on horseback.
رَفَعواthey raised لَولَبَهاits propeller فَاِندَفَعَتso it surged forward
رَفَعوا لَولَبَها فَاِندَفَعَت
هَلhave رَأَيتَyou seen الطَيرَthe birds قَدalready زَفَّtaken wing وَحاماand circled
هَل رَأَيتَ الطَيرَ قَد زَفَّ وَحاما
They raised its propeller, and it surged ahead.
Have you seen birds take wing and circle?
شالَraised بِالأَذنابِwith the tails كُلٌّeach وَرَمىand flung
شالَ بِالأَذنابِ كُلٌّ وَرَمى
بِجَناحَيهِwith its two wings كَماas when رُعتَyou startled النَعاماthe ostriches
بِجَناحَيهِ كَما رُعتَ النَعاما
Each raised its tail and flung
out both wings, like ostriches you had startled.
ذَهَبَتit went تَسموsoaring فَكانَتand it became أَعقُباًeagles
ذَهَبَت تَسمو فَكانَت أَعقُباً
فَنُسوراًthen vultures فَصُقوراًthen falcons فَحَماماthen doves
فَنُسوراً فَصُقوراً فَحَماما
They went soaring, becoming eagles,
then vultures, then falcons, then doves.
تَنبَريit darts forth فيin زَرَقِthe blue الأُفقِof the horizon كَماas
تَنبَري في زَرَقِ الأُفقِ كَما
سَبَحَswam الحوتُthe whale بِدَأماءٍin a dark sea وَعاماand floated
سَبَحَ الحوتُ بِدَأماءٍ وَعاما
They dart through the horizon's blue, as
a whale swims and floats in a dark sea.
بَعضُهاsome of them فيin طَلَبِpursuit البَعضِof the others كَماas
بَعضُها في طَلَبِ البَعضِ كَما
طارَدَchased النَسرُthe vulture عَلىacross الجَوِّthe air القُطاماthe falcon
طارَدَ النَسرُ عَلى الجَوِّ القُطاما
Some are in pursuit of others, as
a vulture chases a falcon across the air.
وَيَراهاand sees them عالَمٌa world فيon زُحَلٍSaturn
وَيَراها عالَمٌ في زُحَلٍ
أَرسَلَتsent forth مِنfrom جانِبِthe side الأَرضِof the earth سِهاماas arrows
أَرسَلَت مِن جانِبِ الأَرضِ سِهاما
And a world on Saturn sees them
sent like arrows from the earth's side,
أَوor نُجوماًstars ذاتَpossessing أَذنابٍtails بَدَتappeared
أَو نُجوماً ذاتَ أَذنابٍ بَدَت
تُنذِرُwarning الناسَhumankind نُشوراًof resurrection وَقِياماand rising for Judgment
تُنذِرُ الناسَ نُشوراً وَقِياما
or tailed stars that have appeared,
warning humankind of resurrection and Judgment.
أَتَرىdo you see القُوَّةَthe strength فيin جُؤجُؤهِits breast
أَتَرى القُوَّةَ في جُؤجُؤهِ
وَهوَwhile it بِالجُؤجُؤِbreast-first ماضٍadvances يَتَرامىhurling itself onward
وَهوَ بِالجُؤجُؤِ ماضٍ يَتَرامى
Do you see the strength in its breast,
as it hurtles onward, breast first?
أَمor تَراهاyou see it فيin الخَوافيthe secondary feathers خَفِيَتis hidden
أَم تَراها في الخَوافي خَفِيَت
أَمor مَقَرُّthe seat الحَولِof strength فيin بَعضِsome القُدامىthe primary feathers
أَم مَقَرُّ الحَولِ في بَعضِ القُدامى
Or do you see it hidden in the secondary feathers,
or is power lodged in some of the primaries?
أَمor ذُناباهُits tail إِذاwhen حَرَّكَهُit moves it
أَم ذُناباهُ إِذا حَرَّكَهُ
يَزِنُbalances الجِسمَthe body هُبوطاًin descent وَقِياماand ascent
يَزِنُ الجِسمَ هُبوطاً وَقِياما
Or is it its tail, when it moves it,
that balances the body in descent and ascent?
أَمor بِعَينَيهِin its two eyes إِذاwhen ماever جالَتاthey both rove
أَم بِعَينَيهِ إِذا ما جالَتا
تَكشِفانِthey both scan الجَوَّthe sky غَيثاًrain-bearing clouds أَمor جَهاماrainless clouds
تَكشِفانِ الجَوَّ غَيثاً أَم جَهاما
Or in its eyes, whenever they rove,
scanning the sky, whether its clouds bear rain or not?
أَمor بِأَظفارٍin claws إِذاwhen شَبَّكَهاit interlocks them
أَم بِأَظفارٍ إِذا شَبَّكَها
نَفَذَتthey pierced فيthrough الريحِthe wind دَفعاًthrusting وَاِستِلاماand taking hold
نَفَذَت في الريحِ دَفعاً وَاِستِلاما
Or in claws that, when it interlocks them,
pierce the wind, thrusting and taking hold?
أَمor أَمَدَّتهُsupplied it بِروحٍwith a spirit أُمُّهُits mother
أَم أَمَدَّتهُ بِروحٍ أُمُّهُ
يَومَthe day أَلقَتهُshe bore it وَماwhile not yet جازَpassed الفِطاماweaning
يَومَ أَلقَتهُ وَما جازَ الفِطاما
Or did its mother endow it with a spirit
the day she bore it, before it had passed weaning?
فَتَلَقّاهُthen received it أَبٌa father كَمhow many مِنa أَبٍfather
فَتَلَقّاهُ أَبٌ كَم مِن أَبٍ
دونَهُshort of him فيamong الناسِpeople بِالوُلدِfor offspring اِهتِماماin care
دونَهُ في الناسِ بِالوُلدِ اِهتِماما
Then a father received it—how many a father
among men falls short of him in care for young!
فَلَكِيٌّcelestial هُوَit إِلّاexcept أَنَّهُthat it
فَلَكِيٌّ هُوَ إِلّا أَنَّهُ
لَمnot يَنَلgained فَهماًunderstanding وَلَمand not يُعطَwas given الكَلاماspeech
لَم يَنَل فَهماً وَلَم يُعطَ الكَلاما
It is a creature of the heavens, except that
it has gained no understanding and was granted no speech.
طِلبَةٌa goal قَدalready رامَهاsought it آباؤُناour forefathers
طِلبَةٌ قَد رامَها آباؤُنا
وَاِبتَغاهاand pursued it مَنwhoever رَأىsaw الدَهرَTime غُلاماas a boy
وَاِبتَغاها مَن رَأى الدَهرَ غُلاما
A goal our forefathers sought,
and those who saw Time still a boy pursued.
أَسقَطَتbrought down إيكارَIcarus فيin تَجرِبَةٍan experiment
أَسقَطَت إيكارَ في تَجرِبَةٍ
وَاِبنَand Ibn فِرناسٍFirnas فَماso not اِستَطاعاthey both could قِياماrise
وَاِبنَ فِرناسٍ فَما اِستَطاعا قِياما
It brought Icarus down in an experiment,
and Ibn Firnas; neither could rise.
فيin سَبيلِthe path المَجدِof glory أَودىperished نَفَرٌsome men
في سَبيلِ المَجدِ أَودى نَفَرٌ
شُهَداءُthe martyrs العِلمِof science أَعلاهُمthe highest among them مَقاماin rank
شُهَداءُ العِلمِ أَعلاهُم مَقاما
In the cause of glory, men have perished;
science's martyrs rank highest among them.
خُلَفاءُsuccessors الرُسلِof the messengers فيon الأَرضِearth هُموthey
خُلَفاءُ الرُسلِ في الأَرضِ هُمو
يَبعَثُsends forth اللَهُGod بِهِمwith them عاماًa year فَعاماthen a year
يَبعَثُ اللَهُ بِهِم عاماً فَعاما
They are the messengers' successors on earth;
God sends them forth year after year.
قَطرَةٌa drop مِنof دَمِهِمtheir blood فيin مُلكِهِHis dominion
قَطرَةٌ مِن دَمِهِم في مُلكِهِ
تَملَأُfills المُلكَthe dominion جَمالاًwith beauty وَنِظاماand order
تَملَأُ المُلكَ جَمالاً وَنِظاما
A drop of their blood within His dominion
fills that dominion with beauty and order.
رَبِّmy Lord إِنif كانَتit was لِخَيرٍfor good جُعِلَتmade
رَبِّ إِن كانَت لِخَيرٍ جُعِلَت
فَاِجعَلِthen make الخَيرَgoodness بِناديهاin its assembly لِزاماconstant
فَاِجعَلِ الخَيرَ بِناديها لِزاما
My Lord, if it was made for good,
then make goodness constant in its assembly.
وَإِنِand if اِعتَزَّgains strength بِهاthrough it الشَرُّevil غَداًtomorrow
وَإِنِ اِعتَزَّ بِها الشَرُّ غَداً
فَتَعالَتthen it soared تُمطِرُraining down المَوتَdeath الزُؤاماswift and dreadful
فَتَعالَت تُمطِرُ المَوتَ الزُؤاما
And if evil gains strength through it tomorrow,
and it soars, raining down swift, dreadful death,
فَاِملَأthen fill الجَوَّthe air عَلَيهاagainst it رُجُماًwith pelting stones
فَاِملَأ الجَوَّ عَلَيها رُجُماً
رَحمَةًas mercy مِنكَfrom You وَعَدلاًand justice وَاِنتِقاماand vengeance
رَحمَةً مِنكَ وَعَدلاً وَاِنتِقاما
then fill the air with stones hurled against it,
as mercy from You, and justice and vengeance.
ياO فَرَنساFrance لاmay not عَدِمناwe be deprived of مِنَناًfavors
يا فَرَنسا لا عَدِمنا مِنَناً
لَكِyou have عِندَin the eyes of العِلمِscience وَالفَنِّand art جُساماimmense
لَكِ عِندَ العِلمِ وَالفَنِّ جُساما
O France, may we never lack your favors,
so great in the eyes of science and art.
لَطَفَmay be gentle اللَهُGod بِباريسَwith Paris وَلاand may not
لَطَفَ اللَهُ بِباريسَ وَلا
لَقِيَتshe encounter إِلّاexcept نَعيماًbliss وَسَلاماand peace
لَقِيَت إِلّا نَعيماً وَسَلاما
May God be gentle with Paris, and may she
encounter only bliss and peace.
رَوَّعَتterrified قَلبيmy heart خُطوبٌcalamities رَوَّعَتterrified
رَوَّعَت قَلبي خُطوبٌ رَوَّعَت
سامِرَthe night-talkers الأَحياءِof the neighborhoods فيهاin it وَالنِياماand the sleepers
سامِرَ الأَحياءِ فيها وَالنِياما
Calamities terrified my heart, and terrified
those talking at night in her quarters, and those asleep.
أَناI لاnot أَدعوI pray عَلىagainst سينٍthe Seine طَغىoverflowed
أَنا لا أَدعو عَلى سينٍ طَغى
إِنَّindeed لِلسينِfor the Seine وَإِنand though جارَit wronged ذِماماa claim to loyalty
إِنَّ لِلسينِ وَإِن جارَ ذِماما
I do not curse the Seine for overflowing;
for the Seine, though it wrongs, has claims upon my loyalty.
لَستُI am not بِالناسيone who forgets عَلَيهِbeside it عيشَةًa life
لَستُ بِالناسي عَلَيهِ عيشَةً
كانَتِit was الشَهدَhoney وَأَحباباًand loved ones كِراماnoble
كانَتِ الشَهدَ وَأَحباباً كِراما
I do not forget a life beside it
that was honey, and noble loved ones.
اِجعَلوهاmake them رُسلَكُمyour messengers أَهلَpeople الهَوىof love
اِجعَلوها رُسلَكُم أَهلَ الهَوى
تَحمِلُthey carry الأَشواقَlongings عَنكُمon your behalf وَالغَراماand passion
تَحمِلُ الأَشواقَ عَنكُم وَالغَراما
Make them your messengers, people of love,
carrying your longings and passion for you.
وَاِستَعيروهاand borrow them جَناحاًas a wing طالَماhow often
وَاِستَعيروها جَناحاً طالَما
شَغَفَcaptivated الصَبَّthe lover وَشاقَand stirred longing in المُستَهاماthe love-distraught
شَغَفَ الصَبَّ وَشاقَ المُستَهاما
And borrow them as a wing that has so often
enthralled the lover and stirred the love-distraught,
يَحمِلُit carries المُضنىthe love-worn one إِلىto أَرضِthe land الهَوىof love
يَحمِلُ المُضنى إِلى أَرضِ الهَوى
يَمَناًYemen حَلَّhas settled هَواهُhis love أَمor شَآماSyria
يَمَناً حَلَّ هَواهُ أَم شَآما
carrying the love-worn to the land of love,
whether his beloved dwells in Yemen or Syria.
أَركَبُI ride اللَيثَthe lion وَلاand not أَركَبُهاI ride it
أَركَبُ اللَيثَ وَلا أَركَبُها
وَأَرىand I deem لَيثَthe lion الشَرىof al-Shara أَوفىmore faithful ذِماماin its pledge
وَأَرى لَيثَ الشَرى أَوفى ذِماما
I would ride a lion, but not one of them,
and deem the lion of al-Shara truer to its pledge.
غَدَرَتit betrayed جَيرونَJayrun لَمnot تَحفِلit cared بِهِfor him
غَدَرَت جَيرونَ لَم تَحفِل بِهِ
وَبِماand for what حاوَلَhe attempted مِنof فَوزٍsuccess وَراماand sought
وَبِما حاوَلَ مِن فَوزٍ وَراما
It betrayed Jayrun, caring nothing for him
or for the triumph he strove for and sought.
وَقَعَتit fell ناحِيَةًto one side فَاِحتَرَقَتthen burned
وَقَعَت ناحِيَةً فَاِحتَرَقَت
مِثلَlike قُرصِthe disk الشَمسِof the sun بِالأُفقِon the horizon اِضطِراماin blazing
مِثلَ قُرصِ الشَمسِ بِالأُفقِ اِضطِراما
It fell to one side and burned,
blazing like the sun's disk on the horizon.
راضَهاhe tamed it بِاليُمنِthrough good fortune مِنfrom طَلعَتِهِhis countenance
راضَها بِاليُمنِ مِن طَلعَتِهِ
خَيرُthe best مَنof those who حَجَّmade pilgrimage وَمَنand those who صَلّىprayed وَصاماand fasted
خَيرُ مَن حَجَّ وَمَن صَلّى وَصاما
He tamed it with the blessing of his countenance—
the best of those who have made pilgrimage, prayed, and fasted.
كَخَليلِlike the intimate friend of اللَهِGod فيin حَضرَتِهِhis presence
كَخَليلِ اللَهِ في حَضرَتِهِ
خَرَّتِfell prostrate النارُthe fire خُشوعاًin humility وَاِحتِراماand reverence
خَرَّتِ النارُ خُشوعاً وَاِحتِراما
As with God's Friend, in his presence
the fire fell prostrate in humility and reverence.
ماwhat لِروحيwith Ruhi صاعِداًascending ماnot يَنتَهيhe stops
ما لِروحي صاعِداً ما يَنتَهي
أَتُراهُdo you think he آثَرَpreferred الجَوَّthe air فَراماand sought it
أَتُراهُ آثَرَ الجَوَّ فَراما
Why does Ruhi keep ascending without end?
Do you think he has preferred the sky and sought it?
كُلَّماwhenever دارَhe circled بِهِthrough it دَورَتَهُhis circuit
كُلَّما دارَ بِهِ دَورَتَهُ
أَبدَتِshowed الريحُthe wind اِمتِثالاًobedience وَاِرتِساماand compliance
أَبدَتِ الريحُ اِمتِثالاً وَاِرتِساما
Whenever he makes his circuit through it,
the wind shows obedience and compliance.
أَناI لَوif نِلتُattained الَّذيwhat قَدalready نالَهُhe attained it
أَنا لَو نِلتُ الَّذي قَد نالَهُ
ماnot هَبَطتُI descended الأَرضَto earth أَرضاهاI accept it مُقاماas a dwelling
ما هَبَطتُ الأَرضَ أَرضاها مُقاما
If I attained what he has attained,
I would not descend to earth and accept it as my home.
هَلdo تَرىyou see فيon الأَرضِearth إِلّاexcept حَسَداًenvy
هَل تَرى في الأَرضِ إِلّا حَسَداً
وَرِياءًand hypocrisy وَنِزاعاًand contention وَخِصاماand strife
وَرِياءً وَنِزاعاً وَخِصاما
Do you see anything on earth but envy,
hypocrisy, contention, and strife?
مُلكُsovereignty هَذاthis الجَوِّthe sky فيin مَنعَتِهِits inviolability
مُلكُ هَذا الجَوِّ في مَنعَتِهِ
طالَماfor long لِلنَجمِto the stars وَالطَيرِand the birds اِستَقاماremained secure
طالَما لِلنَجمِ وَالطَيرِ اِستَقاما
Sovereignty over this impregnable sky
has long belonged to the stars and birds.
حَسَدَenvied الإِنسانُhumankind سِربَيهِits two flocks بِماfor what
حَسَدَ الإِنسانُ سِربَيهِ بِما
أوتِياthey both were granted فيon ذُروَةِthe summit العِزِّof glory اِعتِصاماa refuge
أوتِيا في ذُروَةِ العِزِّ اِعتِصاما
Man envied its two flocks for
the refuge both were granted on glory's summit.
دَخَلَhe entered العُشَّthe nest عَلىamong أَنسُرِهِits vultures
دَخَلَ العُشَّ عَلى أَنسُرِهِ
أَتُرىdo you suppose يَغشىhe will reach مِنَof النَجمِthe stars السَناماthe highest crest
أَتُرى يَغشى مِنَ النَجمِ السَناما
He entered the nest among its vultures;
do you think he will reach the stars' highest crest?
أَيُّهاO الشَرقُEast اِنتَبِهawake مِنfrom غَفلَةٍheedlessness
أَيُّها الشَرقُ اِنتَبِه مِن غَفلَةٍ
ماتَdied مَنwhoever فيin طُرُقاتِthe paths السَيلِof the torrent ناماslept
ماتَ مَن في طُرُقاتِ السَيلِ ناما
O East, awake from heedlessness!
Whoever slept in the torrent's path has died.
لاdo not تَقولَنَّever say عِظامِيٌّnoble through ancestry أَناI
لا تَقولَنَّ عِظامِيٌّ أَنا
فيin زَمانٍan age كانَhas been لِلناسِfor mankind عِصاماan Isam (self-made exemplar)
في زَمانٍ كانَ لِلناسِ عِصاما
Never say, 'I am noble through my forebears,'
in an age that has been mankind's Isam, its self-made exemplar.
شاقَتِenticed العَلياءُthe heights فيهِin it خَلفاًa new generation
شاقَتِ العَلياءُ فيهِ خَلفاً
لَيسَdoes not يَألوهاstint effort toward them طِلاباًin pursuit وَاِغتِناماand attainment
لَيسَ يَألوها طِلاباً وَاِغتِناما
In it, the heights have enticed a new generation,
sparing no effort to pursue and seize them.
كُلَّevery حينٍmoment مِنهُموfrom among them نابِغَةٌa genius
كُلَّ حينٍ مِنهُمو نابِغَةٌ
يَفضُلُsurpasses البَدرَthe full moon بَهاءًin splendor وَتَماماand perfection
يَفضُلُ البَدرَ بَهاءً وَتَماما
At every moment, from among them comes a genius,
surpassing the full moon in splendor and perfection.
خالِقَCreator العُصفورِof the sparrow حَيَّرتَYou bewildered بِهِwith it
خالِقَ العُصفورِ حَيَّرتَ بِهِ
أُمَماًnations بادواthey perished وَماand not نالواthey attained المَراماthe aim
أُمَماً بادوا وَما نالوا المَراما
Creator of the sparrow, with it You bewildered
nations that perished without reaching their aim.
أَفنَواthey exhausted النَقدَينِgold and silver فيin تَقليدِهِimitating it
أَفنَوا النَقدَينِ في تَقليدِهِ
وَهوَwhile it كَالدِرهَمِlike a dirham ريشاًin feathers وَعِظاماand bones
وَهوَ كَالدِرهَمِ ريشاً وَعِظاما
They exhausted gold and silver in imitating it,
though in feather and bone it is like a dirham.
Sol 6.1