خَفَضتُI lowered لِعِزَّةِbefore the might of المَوتِdeath اليَراعاthe reed pen
خَفَضتُ لِعِزَّةِ المَوتِ اليَراعا
وَجَدَّand grew solemn جَلالُthe majesty of مَنطِقِهِits speech فَراعاso it awed
وَجَدَّ جَلالُ مَنطِقِهِ فَراعا
I lowered my reed pen before death's might.
I lowered the banner of death's glory,
And the majesty of its speech grew solemn and awed me.
And the majesty of its speech was awesome.
كَفىsuffices بِالمَوتِwith death لِلنُذُرِfor warnings اِرتِجالاًimprovisation
كَفى بِالمَوتِ لِلنُذُرِ اِرتِجالاً
وَلِلعَبَراتِand for tears وَالعِبَرِand lessons اِختِراعاinvention
وَلِلعَبَراتِ وَالعِبَرِ اِختِراعا
Death alone suffices to improvise warnings,
Let death suffice for extempore warnings
and to invent tears and lessons.
And for lessons and examples to invent.
حَكيمٌa sage صامِتٌsilent فَضَحَexposed اللَياليthe nights
حَكيمٌ صامِتٌ فَضَحَ اللَيالي
وَمَزَّقَand tore عَنfrom خَناthe depravity of الدُنياthe world القِناعاthe veil
وَمَزَّقَ عَن خَنا الدُنيا القِناعا
A silent sage that exposed the nights,
A wise silent being who laid bare the nights
and tore the veil from the world's depravity.
And tore off the mask of life's illusion,
إِذاwhen حَضَرَcame before النُفوسَsouls فَلاthen no نَعيماًbliss
إِذا حَضَرَ النُفوسَ فَلا نَعيماً
تَرىyou see حَولَaround الحَياةِlife وَلاand no مَتاعاpleasure
تَرى حَولَ الحَياةِ وَلا مَتاعا
When it stands before souls, no bliss
When death draws near, you see around life
do you see surrounding life, nor any pleasure.
Neither bliss nor possessions.
كَشَفتُI unveiled بِهِthrough it الحَياةَlife فَلَمand did not أَجِدهاfind it
كَشَفتُ بِهِ الحَياةَ فَلَم أَجِدها
وَلَمحَةَand the gleam of مائِهاits water إِلّاexcept خِداعاdeception
وَلَمحَةَ مائِها إِلّا خِداعا
Through it I laid life bare, but found it
I uncovered life through death but found naught
and its water's gleam nothing but deception.
Except a flash of its waters-deceit.
وَماand not الجَرّاحُthe surgeon بِالآسيthe healer المُرَجّىthe hoped-for
وَما الجَرّاحُ بِالآسي المُرَجّى
إِذاif لَمnot يَقتُلِexamines exhaustively الجُثَثَcorpses اِطِّلاعاin study
إِذا لَم يَقتُلِ الجُثَثَ اِطِّلاعا
Nor is the surgeon the hoped-for healer
What good a surgeon who does not slaughter corpses
unless he has studied corpses exhaustively.
If through them he fails to gain experience?
فَإِنso if تَقُلِyou utter الرِثاءَan elegy فَقُلthen utter دُموعاًtears
فَإِن تَقُلِ الرِثاءَ فَقُل دُموعاً
يُصاغُis fashioned بِهِنَّwith them أَوor حِكَماًmaxims تُراعىto be heeded
يُصاغُ بِهِنَّ أَو حِكَماً تُراعى
If you utter an elegy, utter tears
If you elegy then let them be tears
with which it is fashioned, or maxims to be heeded.
To forge maxims that heed morals,
وَلاand do not تَكُbe مِثلَlike نادِبَةِthe mourner of المُسَجّىthe shrouded dead
وَلا تَكُ مِثلَ نادِبَةِ المُسَجّى
بَكَتshe wept كَسباًfor gain وَلَمand did not تَبكِweep اِلتِياعاin anguish
بَكَت كَسباً وَلَم تَبكِ اِلتِياعا
And do not be like the mourner of the shrouded dead,
And be not like a hired mourning woman
who wept for gain, not out of anguish.
Who wept for payment and not in agony.
خَلَتpassed away دُوَلُthe dynasties of الزَمانِtime وَزُلنَand vanished رُكناًa pillar
خَلَت دُوَلُ الزَمانِ وَزُلنَ رُكناً
وَرُكنُand the pillar of الأَرضِthe earth باقٍremains ماnot تَداعىcollapsed
وَرُكنُ الأَرضِ باقٍ ما تَداعى
Time's dynasties have passed away, their pillars gone,
Eras have passed and pillars have declined,
yet earth's pillar remains and has not collapsed.
Yet the earth’s pillar remains as long as chaos reigns,
كَأَنَّas though الأَرضَthe earth لَمnot تَشهَدwitnessed لِقاءًa meeting
كَأَنَّ الأَرضَ لَم تَشهَد لِقاءً
تَكادُalmost لَهُat which تَميدُsways وَلاnor وَداعاa farewell
تَكادُ لَهُ تَميدُ وَلا وَداعا
As though the earth had never witnessed a meeting
As though the earth never witnessed a meeting
at which it nearly reeled, nor a farewell.
It almost swayed for without even bidding adieu.
وَلَوand if آبَتreturned ثَواكِلُbereaved mothers of كُلِّevery قَرنٍcentury
وَلَو آبَت ثَواكِلُ كُلِّ قَرنٍ
وَجَدنَthey would find الشَمسَthe sun لَمnot تَثكَلwas bereaved of شُعاعاa ray
وَجَدنَ الشَمسَ لَم تَثكَل شُعاعا
And if the bereaved mothers of every century returned,
Had the nurses of every age sobbed,
they would find the sun bereaved of no ray.
They would have found the sun never once orphaned a ray.
وَلَكِنbut تُضرَبَare set forth الأَمثالُexamples رُشداًfor guidance
وَلَكِن تُضرَبَ الأَمثالُ رُشداً
وَمِنهاجاًand a path لِمَنfor whoever شاءَwishes اِتِّباعاto follow
وَمِنهاجاً لِمَن شاءَ اِتِّباعا
Yet examples are set forth for guidance,
But examples are given for guidance
and as a path for whoever wishes to follow.
And as a path for those who wish to follow.
وَرُبَّand many a حَديثِtale of خَيرٍgoodness هاجَstirred خَيراًgoodness
وَرُبَّ حَديثِ خَيرٍ هاجَ خَيراً
وَذِكرِand remembrance of شَجاعَةٍcourage بَعثَroused الشُجاعاthe brave
وَذِكرِ شَجاعَةٍ بَعثَ الشُجاعا
Many a tale of goodness has stirred goodness,
And many a good word stirs up goodness,
and remembrance of courage has roused the brave.
Just as courage's mention rouses the brave.
مَعارِفُlearning مِصرَEgypt كانَthere was لَهُنَّfor them رُكنٌa pillar
مَعارِفُ مِصرَ كانَ لَهُنَّ رُكنٌ
فَذُقنَso they tasted اليَومَtoday لِلرُكنِof the pillar اِنصِداعاa fracture
فَذُقنَ اليَومَ لِلرُكنِ اِنصِداعا
Egypt's learning had a pillar;
Cairo’s lighthouses had a firm foothold
today it has tasted that pillar's breaking.
Till today when they collapsed from the pillar’s crack.
مَضىpassed away أَعلىthe loftiest of الرِجالِmen لَهاfor it يَميناًin right hand
مَضى أَعلى الرِجالِ لَها يَميناً
وَأَرحَبُهُمand the broadest of them بِحُلَّتِهاin its robe ذِراعاin arm
وَأَرحَبُهُم بِحُلَّتِها ذِراعا
Gone is the man whose right hand rose highest in its service,
The noblest of men walked its right side,
and whose arm was broadest within its robe,
The most open‐armed in its coat.
وَأَكثَرُهُمand the most among them لَهاfor it وَقَفاتِstands of صِدقٍsincerity
وَأَكثَرُهُم لَها وَقَفاتِ صِدقٍ
إِباءًproud resistance فيin الحَوادِثِcalamities أَوor زِماعاresolve
إِباءً في الحَوادِثِ أَو زِماعا
and who most often stood true in its cause,
The most sincere to it in loyalties,
with proud resistance amid calamities, or firm resolve.
Unbowed by mishaps or times of need.
أَتَتهُit came to him فَنالَهاso he won it نَفلاًas spoil وَفَيئاًand booty
أَتَتهُ فَنالَها نَفلاً وَفَيئاً
فَلاso not هِبَةًas a gift أَتَتهُit came to him وَلاnor اِصطِناعاas patronage
فَلا هِبَةً أَتَتهُ وَلا اِصطِناعا
It came to him, and he won it as spoil and booty;
Cairo came to Saad unsought, a bonus,
it came neither as a gift nor through patronage.
Not a gift or favor he worked to gain.
تَنَقَّلَhe moved يافِعاًas a youth فيهاwithin it وَكَهلاًand as a mature man
تَنَقَّلَ يافِعاً فيها وَكَهلاً
وَمِنand through أَسبابِهاits means بَلَغَhe reached اليَفاعاthe heights
وَمِن أَسبابِها بَلَغَ اليَفاعا
He moved through it as a youth and as a mature man,
He roamed through it as youth and grown man,
and through its means he attained the heights.
And by its causes attained plentitude.
فَتىًa young man عَجَمَتهُtested him أَحداثُthe adversities of اللَياليthe nights
فَتىً عَجَمَتهُ أَحداثُ اللَيالي
فَلاso no ذُلّاًabasement رَأَينَthey saw وَلاnor اِختِضاعاsubmission
فَلا ذُلّاً رَأَينَ وَلا اِختِضاعا
A man whom the nights' adversities tested,
A youth whom the nights’ events aged
and they saw neither abasement nor submission.
Without being humbled or forced to bow.
سَجَنَّthey imprisoned مُهَنَّداًan Indian-steel sword وَنَفَينَand they exiled تِبراًunminted gold
سَجَنَّ مُهَنَّداً وَنَفَينَ تِبراً
وَزِدنَand they increased المِسكَthe musk مِنwith ضَغطٍpressure فَضاعاso its fragrance spread
وَزِدنَ المِسكَ مِن ضَغطٍ فَضاعا
They imprisoned an Indian-steel sword and banished unminted gold,
He was jailed, exiled, his glory multiplied,
and pressed the musk harder, so its fragrance spread.
And the more squeezed, the more fragrant his musk.
شَديدٌstern صُلَّبٌunyielding فيin الحَقِّjustice حَتّىuntil
شَديدٌ صُلَّبٌ في الحَقِّ حَتّى
يَقولَcalls for الحَقُّjustice ليناًgentleness وَاِتِّداعاand repose
يَقولَ الحَقُّ ليناً وَاِتِّداعا
Stern and unyielding in defense of justice, until
Firm, crucified in truth until
justice itself bids gentleness and repose.
Truth itself says yield and bend.
وَمَدرَسَةٍand a school سَمَتrose high بِالعِلمِthrough learning رُكناًa pillar
وَمَدرَسَةٍ سَمَت بِالعِلمِ رُكناً
وَأَنهَضَتِand uplifted القَضاءَthe judiciary وَالاِشتِراعاand lawmaking
وَأَنهَضَتِ القَضاءَ وَالاِشتِراعا
And a school whose pillar rose through learning,
He founded a school that truth buttressed
and uplifted the judiciary and lawmaking—
And resurrected justice and legislation.
بَناهاhe built it مُحسِناًas a benefactor بِالعِلمِto learning بَرّاًdevoted
بَناها مُحسِناً بِالعِلمِ بَرّاً
يَشيدُhe raises لَهُfor it المَعالِمَlandmarks وَالرِباعاand dwellings
يَشيدُ لَهُ المَعالِمَ وَالرِباعا
he built it as a benefactor devoted to learning,
He built it, bettering with knowledge, innocent,
raising for it landmarks and dwellings.
Erecting landmarks and homesteads.
وَحارَبَand fought دونَهاin defense of it صَرعىthose felled by قَديمٍold ways
وَحارَبَ دونَها صَرعى قَديمٍ
كَأَنَّas though بِهِمthey had عَنِfrom الزَمَنِtime اِنقِطاعاa severance
كَأَنَّ بِهِم عَنِ الزَمَنِ اِنقِطاعا
And he fought in its defense those felled by old ways,
And for it he battled the comatose of old
as though they were cut off from time.
As though they and time itself were disjointed.
إِذاwhen لَمَحَglimmered الجَديدُthe new لَهُمbefore them تَوَلَّواthey turned away
إِذا لَمَحَ الجَديدُ لَهُم تَوَلَّوا
كَذيlike one with رَمَدٍsore eyes عَلىagainst الضَوءِthe light اِمتِناعاin refusal
كَذي رَمَدٍ عَلى الضَوءِ اِمتِناعا
When the new glimmered before them, they turned away,
When faced with the new, they simply turned away
like one with sore eyes refusing the light.
Like one blind who flinches from light.
أَخاO brother of سيشيلَthe Seychelles لاdo not تَذكُرmention بِحاراًseas
أَخا سيشيلَ لا تَذكُر بِحاراً
بَعُدنَtoo distant عَلىfor المَزارِvisiting وَلاnor بِقاعاlands
بَعُدنَ عَلى المَزارِ وَلا بِقاعا
O brother of the Seychelles, speak not of seas
O friend, do not mention seas
too far away to visit, nor of lands.
That have remained far from your tomb or land.
وَرَبِّكَby your Lord ماno وَراءَbeyond نَواكَyour separation بُعدٌdistance
وَرَبِّكَ ما وَراءَ نَواكَ بُعدٌ
وَأَنتَwhile you بِظاهِرِon the outskirts of الفُسطاطِFustat قاعاon a plain
وَأَنتَ بِظاهِرِ الفُسطاطِ قاعا
By your Lord, no distance exceeds your separation,
By your Lord, behind your bier is vast distance
though you lie on a plain outside Fustat.
While you remain by Cairo’s gate.
نَزَلتَyou descended بِعالَمٍinto a world خَرَقَoverturned القَضاياthe rules
نَزَلتَ بِعالَمٍ خَرَقَ القَضايا
وَأَصبَحَand became فيهِin it نَظمُthe order of الدَهرِtime ضاعاlost
وَأَصبَحَ فيهِ نَظمُ الدَهرِ ضاعا
You have entered a world that overturns the rules,
You came to a world where chaos erupted
where the order of time has been lost.
And the rhythm of fate in it was lost.
فَخَلِّso leave الأَربَعينَthe fortieth day لِحافِليهاto those observing it
فَخَلِّ الأَربَعينَ لِحافِليها
وَقُمand rise تَجِدِyou will find القُرونَthe centuries مَرَرنَhave passed ساعاas hours
وَقُم تَجِدِ القُرونَ مَرَرنَ ساعا
So leave the fortieth day to those who observe it,
So leave the mourners to their forty,
and rise: you will find centuries have passed as hours.
And arise to find the centuries have flown.
مَرِضتَyou fell ill فَماbut did not أَلَحَّpress persistently الداءُillness إِلّاexcept
مَرِضتَ فَما أَلَحَّ الداءُ إِلّا
عَلىupon نَفسٍa soul تَعَوَّدَتِaccustomed itself to الصِراعاstruggle
عَلى نَفسٍ تَعَوَّدَتِ الصِراعا
You fell ill, but illness pressed only
You fell ill, and no sooner did the malady worsen
upon a soul accustomed to struggle.
Than assail a soul that grew used to strife.
وَلَمand not يَكُwas غَيرَother than حادِثَةٍa calamity أَصابَتthat struck
وَلَم يَكُ غَيرَ حادِثَةٍ أَصابَت
مُفَلِّلَone who blunts كُلِّevery حادِثَةٍcalamity قِراعاin combat
مُفَلِّلَ كُلِّ حادِثَةٍ قِراعا
It was merely a calamity that struck
Nor was it just an accident that befell,
one who blunted every calamity in combat.
Vanquishing each mishap with a slap.
وَمَنand whoever يَتَجَرَّعِgulps down الآلامَsuffering حَيّاًwhile alive
وَمَن يَتَجَرَّعِ الآلامَ حَيّاً
تَسُغgoes down easily عِندَat المَماتِdeath لَهُfor him اِجتِراعاwhen swallowed
تَسُغ عِندَ المَماتِ لَهُ اِجتِراعا
Whoever gulps down suffering while alive
Whoever gulps down pain while alive
will find it easy to swallow at death.
Will find death’s throes easy to endure.
أَرِقتَyou were sleepless وَكَيفَand how يُعطىis granted الغُمضَsleep جَفنٌan eyelid
أَرِقتَ وَكَيفَ يُعطى الغُمضَ جَفنٌ
تَسُلُّdraw out وَراءَهُbehind it القَلبَthe heart الرُواعاterrors
تَسُلُّ وَراءَهُ القَلبَ الرُواعا
You lay sleepless; how could sleep be given to an eyelid
You lost sleep—how can slumber be granted an eyelid
behind which terrors pluck out the heart?
That trails after it a wakeful heart?
وَلَمand did not يَهدَءrest وِسادُكَyour pillow فيduring اللَياليthe nights
وَلَم يَهدَء وِسادُكَ في اللَيالي
لِعِلمِكَbecause you knew أَنthat سَتُفنيهاyou will spend them اِضطِجاعاlying down
لِعِلمِكَ أَن سَتُفنيها اِضطِجاعا
Your pillow did not rest throughout the nights,
Your pillow found no rest during the nights
for you knew you would spend them all lying down.
Knowing the morrow would leave it flat.
عَجِبتُI marveled لِشارِحٍat one explaining سَبَبَthe cause of المَناياdeaths
عَجِبتُ لِشارِحٍ سَبَبَ المَنايا
يُسَمّىnames الداءَdisease وَالعِلَلَand ailments الوِجاعاpainful
يُسَمّى الداءَ وَالعِلَلَ الوِجاعا
I marvel at one who explains the cause of deaths,
I wondered at one who explained the cause of death
naming disease and painful ailments.
Naming illness and aches as the motive,
وَلَمand not تَكُنِwere الحُتوفُdeaths مَحَلَّa matter of شَكٍّdoubt
وَلَم تَكُنِ الحُتوفُ مَحَلَّ شَكٍّ
وَلاnor الآجالُallotted lifespans تَحتَمِلُadmit النِزاعاdispute
وَلا الآجالُ تَحتَمِلُ النِزاعا
Yet deaths have never been a matter of doubt,
When the allotted terms were never ambiguous
nor do allotted lifespans admit dispute.
Nor did the appointed times allow dispute.
وَلَكِنbut صُيَّدٌhunters وَلَهاand they have بُزاةٌfalcons
وَلَكِن صُيَّدٌ وَلَها بُزاةٌ
تَرىyou see السَرَطانَcancer مِنهاamong them وَالصُداعاand headache
تَرى السَرَطانَ مِنها وَالصُداعا
But they are hunters, and they have falcons:
Rather, death has hunters and experts
among them you see cancer and headache.
Who deem cancer and headache fair game.
أَرىI see التَعليمَeducation لَمّاsince زِلتَyou departed عَنهُfrom it
أَرى التَعليمَ لَمّا زِلتَ عَنهُ
ضَعيفَweak in الرُكنِsupport مَخذولاًforsaken مُضاعاneglected
ضَعيفَ الرُكنِ مَخذولاً مُضاعا
I see education, since you left it,
I see education, since you fell from it,
weak in its support, forsaken and neglected.
A weak pillar, failed, neglected, collapsed.
غَريقٌa drowning man حاوَلَتreached for يَدُهُhis hand شِراعاًa sail
غَريقٌ حاوَلَت يَدُهُ شِراعاً
فَلَمّاbut when أَوشَكَتit nearly succeeded فَقَدَhe lost الشِراعاthe sail
فَلَمّا أَوشَكَت فَقَدَ الشِراعا
A drowning man whose hand reached for a sail,
A drowner who grabbed at a sail
but just as it nearly grasped it, he lost the sail.
Only to lose hold of it as he sank.
سَراةُthe leaders of القَومِthe people مُنصَرِفونَturning away عَنهُfrom it
سَراةُ القَومِ مُنصَرِفونَ عَنهُ
وَصُحفُand the newspapers of القَومِthe people تَقتَضِبُcurtail الدِفاعاthe defense
وَصُحفُ القَومِ تَقتَضِبُ الدِفاعا
The people's leaders turn away from it,
The tribe’s nobles turn away from it
and the people's newspapers cut short its defense.
And the tribe’s papers shorten its defense.
لَقَدindeed نَسّاهُmade it forget يَومُكَyour day ناصِباتٍwearisome
لَقَد نَسّاهُ يَومُكَ ناصِباتٍ
مِنَof السَنَواتِthe years قاساهاit endured them تِباعاone after another
مِنَ السَنَواتِ قاساها تِباعا
Your day has surely made it forget wearisome
The days you opposed have truly forgotten you—
years it endured, one after another.
Years you weathered consecutively.
قُمِrise اِبنِbuild الأُمَّهاتِmothers عَلىupon أَساسٍa foundation
قُمِ اِبنِ الأُمَّهاتِ عَلى أَساسٍ
وَلاand do not تَبنِbuild الحُصونَfortresses وَلاnor القِلاعاcastles
وَلا تَبنِ الحُصونَ وَلا القِلاعا
Rise and build mothers upon a foundation,
Rise, O son of mothers, on a foundation,
and build neither fortresses nor castles.
And build no citadels or castles.
فَهُنَّfor they يَلِدنَgive birth to لِلقَصَبِfor the victory-reed المَذاكيseasoned steeds
فَهُنَّ يَلِدنَ لِلقَصَبِ المَذاكي
وَهُنَّand they يَلِدنَgive birth to لِلغابِfor the forest السِباعاbeasts of prey
وَهُنَّ يَلِدنَ لِلغابِ السِباعا
For they bear seasoned steeds for the victor's reed,
For they give birth to cane and thorn
and they bear beasts of prey for the forest.
And birth to beasts of wasteland lairs.
وَجَدتُI found مَعانِيَthe meanings of الأَخلاقِmoral character شَتّىvaried
وَجَدتُ مَعانِيَ الأَخلاقِ شَتّى
جُمِعنَgathered together فَكُنَّso they became فيin اللَفظِthe word الرِضاعاsuckling
جُمِعنَ فَكُنَّ في اللَفظِ الرِضاعا
I found the varied meanings of moral character
I found the senses of morals manifold
gathered into the single word 'suckling'.
Collected, yet single in expression.
عَزاءَthe consolation of الصابِرينَthe patient أَباO father of بَهِيٍّBahi
عَزاءَ الصابِرينَ أَبا بَهِيٍّ
وَمِثلُكَand one like you مَنwho أَنابَturned to God وَمَنand who أَطاعاobeyed
وَمِثلُكَ مَن أَنابَ وَمَن أَطاعا
May you have the solace of the patient, Abu Bahi;
Condolences, O just father, are your wont
and one like you turns to God and obeys.
And the wont of those like you who heeded and obeyed.
صَبَرتَyou endured عَلىthrough الحَوادِثِcalamities حينَwhen جَلَّتgrew grave
صَبَرتَ عَلى الحَوادِثِ حينَ جَلَّت
وَحينَand when الصَبرُpatience لَمnot يَكُwas مُستَطاعاpossible
وَحينَ الصَبرُ لَم يَكُ مُستَطاعا
You endured calamities when they grew grave,
You were patient when calamities descended
and when endurance was beyond one's power.
And patience then was beyond anyone’s grasp.
وَإِنَّand indeed النَفسَthe soul تَهدَءُgrows calm بَعدَafter حينٍa while
وَإِنَّ النَفسَ تَهدَءُ بَعدَ حينٍ
إِذاif لَمnot تَلقَfinds بِالجَزعِin anguish اِنتِفاعاbenefit
إِذا لَم تَلقَ بِالجَزعِ اِنتِفاعا
And the soul grows calm after a while,
The soul does settle after a time
if it finds no benefit in anguish.
If it gains no benefit from despair.
إِذاwhen اِختَلَفَcomes and goes الزَمانُtime عَلىover حَزينٍa grieving person
إِذا اِختَلَفَ الزَمانُ عَلى حَزينٍ
مَضىit passed بِالدَمعِwith tears ثُمَّthen مَحاwiped away الدِماعاthe tears
مَضى بِالدَمعِ ثُمَّ مَحا الدِماعا
As time comes and goes over a grieving soul,
When time differs with a grieving soul,
it passes with tears, then wipes the tears away.
Off goes the tear, then the tear is wiped away.
قُصارىthe final end of الفَرقَدَينِthe two Farqad stars إِلىtoward قَضاءٍfate
قُصارى الفَرقَدَينِ إِلى قَضاءٍ
إِذاwhen عَثَراthey both stumble بِهِupon it اِنفَصَماthey both split apart اِجتِماعاin their union
إِذا عَثَرا بِهِ اِنفَصَما اِجتِماعا
The two Farqad stars must ultimately meet fate;
The goal of the two lids is destined death
when they stumble upon it, their union breaks apart.
If in it they trip, broken is their bond.
وَلَمand not تَحوِheld الكِنانَةُEgypt (the Quiver) آلَO house of سَعدٍSaad
وَلَم تَحوِ الكِنانَةُ آلَ سَعدٍ
أَشَدَّstronger عَلىagainst العِداenemies مِنكُمthan you نِباعاbows
أَشَدَّ عَلى العِدا مِنكُم نِباعا
Egypt's quiver, O house of Saad, has never held
Nor did the Kinaana's creatureliness
bows fiercer against foes than you.
Against enemies prove fiercer than yours.
وَلَمand not تَحمِلborne كَشَيخِكُمُlike your elder المُفَدّىthe revered
وَلَم تَحمِل كَشَيخِكُمُ المُفَدّى
نُهوضاًrising بِالأَمانَةِto the trust وَاِضطِلاعاand shouldering it
نُهوضاً بِالأَمانَةِ وَاِضطِلاعا
Nor has it borne anyone like your revered elder,
Nor did your predecessor who found salvation
in rising to the trust and shouldering it.
Bear the trust or task more ably.
غَداًtomorrow فَصلُthe decisive resolution of الخِطابِthe dispute فَمَنso who بَشيريmy bearer of good news
غَداً فَصلُ الخِطابِ فَمَن بَشيري
بِأَنَّwith news that الحَقَّjustice قَدhas indeed غَلَبَovercome الطِماعاgreed
بِأَنَّ الحَقَّ قَد غَلَبَ الطِماعا
Tomorrow brings the decisive verdict; who will give me good news
Tomorrow comes the decisive word. So who brings me news
that justice has overcome greed?
That truth has conquered the gluttonous?
سَلواask أَهلَthe people of الكِنانَةِEgypt (the Quiver) هَلwhether تَداعَواhave rallied
سَلوا أَهلَ الكِنانَةِ هَل تَداعَوا
فَإِنَّfor indeed الخَصمَthe adversary بَعدَafter غَدٍtomorrow تَداعىwill collapse
فَإِنَّ الخَصمَ بَعدَ غَدٍ تَداعى
Ask Egypt's people whether they have rallied,
Ask the Kinaana: Have you come together?
for the adversary will collapse the day after tomorrow.
For the opponent tomorrow comes together.
وَماand not سَعدٌSaad بِمُتَّجِرٍa trader إِذاماwhenever
وَما سَعدٌ بِمُتَّجِرٍ إِذاما
تَعَرَّضَتِare put at stake الحُقوقُrights شَرىhe buys وَباعاand sells
تَعَرَّضَتِ الحُقوقُ شَرى وَباعا
Saad is no trader who, whenever
Saad is no profiteer if
rights are at stake, buys and sells.
Rights are compromised in sale or purchase.
وَلَكِنbut تَحتَميtake refuge الآمالُhopes فيهِin him
وَلَكِن تَحتَمي الآمالُ فيهِ
وَتَدَّرِعُand put on armor الحُقوقُrights بِهِwith him اِدِّراعاas armor
وَتَدَّرِعُ الحُقوقُ بِهِ اِدِّراعا
Rather, hopes take refuge in him,
But hopes take cover in him
and rights put him on as their armor.
And rights don armor in his shelter.
إِذاwhen نَظَرَتlooked قُلوبُكُمُyour hearts إِلَيهِtoward him
إِذا نَظَرَت قُلوبُكُمُ إِلَيهِ
عَلاhe rose لِلحادِثاتِto face calamities وَطالَand grew long باعاin reach
عَلا لِلحادِثاتِ وَطالَ باعا
When your hearts look toward him,
If your hearts look to him, he rises
he rises to face calamities, and his reach grows vast.
Above events and spreads his wingspan wide.
Sol 6.1