اُنظُرlook إِلىat الأَقمارِthe moons كَيفَhow تَزولُvanish
اُنظُر إِلى الأَقمارِ كَيفَ تَزولُ
وَإِلىand at وُجوهِthe faces of السَعدِgood fortune كَيفَhow تَحولُchange
وَإِلى وُجوهِ السَعدِ كَيفَ تَحولُ
Look at the moons—how they vanish.
Look how the moons fade away,
And at the faces of good fortune—how they change.
And how the faces of good fortune change,
وَإِلىand at الجِبالِthe mountains الشُمِّlofty كَيفَhow يُميلُهاbends them
وَإِلى الجِبالِ الشُمِّ كَيفَ يُميلُها
عاديthe ravager الرَدىdeath بِإِشارَةٍwith a gesture فَتَميلُand so they bend
عادي الرَدى بِإِشارَةٍ فَتَميلُ
And at the lofty mountains—how they are bent by
And how the lofty mountains lean
Death the ravager: one gesture, and they bend.
When the returning winds gesture, so they lean.
وَإِلىand at الرِياحِthe winds تَخِرُّfall دونَshort of قَرارِهاtheir resting place
وَإِلى الرِياحِ تَخِرُّ دونَ قَرارِها
صَرعىfallen slain عَلَيهِنَّover them التُرابُearth مَهيلُheaped
صَرعى عَلَيهِنَّ التُرابُ مَهيلُ
And at the winds, falling short of their resting place,
And how the winds blow without stopping,
Laid low, with earth heaped over them.
While dust overwhelms them, abased.
وَإِلىand at النُسورِthe eagles تَقاسَرَتwere cut short أَعمارُهاtheir lifespans
وَإِلى النُسورِ تَقاسَرَت أَعمارُها
وَالعَهدُand the known custom فيin عُمرِthe lifespan of النُسورِthe eagles يَطولُis long
وَالعَهدُ في عُمرِ النُسورِ يَطولُ
And at the eagles, whose lives were cut short,
And how the eagles' lifespans have shortened,
Though eagles' lives are known to be long.
Yet an eagle's lifetime is long.
فيin كُلِّevery مَنزِلَةٍrank وَكُلِّand every سَمِيَّةٍlofty station
في كُلِّ مَنزِلَةٍ وَكُلِّ سَمِيَّةٍ
قَمَرٌa moon مِنَamong الغُرِّthe radiant السُماةِthe exalted قَتيلُslain
قَمَرٌ مِنَ الغُرِّ السُماةِ قَتيلُ
In every rank and every lofty station,
In every high-ranking position,
A moon among the radiant and exalted lies slain.
A moon of virtues is killed by fate.
يَهويplunges القَضاءُfate بِهاwith them فَماso there is no مِنany عاصِمٍprotector
يَهوي القَضاءُ بِها فَما مِن عاصِمٍ
هَيهاتَfar from possible! لَيسَthere is no مِنَfrom القَضاءِfate مُقيلُgiver of reprieve
هَيهاتَ لَيسَ مِنَ القَضاءِ مُقيلُ
Fate hurls them down; there is no protector.
Fate casts them down, none can protect them,
Alas, no one grants reprieve from fate.
Alas, fate cannot be resisted.
فَتحُthe conquest of السَماءِthe sky وَنورُهاand its light سَكَناboth dwelt الثَرىthe dust
فَتحُ السَماءِ وَنورُها سَكَنا الثَرى
فَالأَرضُso the earth وَلهىdistraught وَالسَماءُand the sky ثَكولُbereft of children
فَالأَرضُ وَلهى وَالسَماءُ ثَكولُ
The sky's conquest and its light have settled in the dust.
Heaven's gates opened and its light settled the land,
So earth is distraught, and the sky bereaved.
So the land rejoiced while the sky grieved.
سِرtravel فيthrough الهَواءِthe air وَلُذand seek refuge بِناصِيَةِat the forelock of السُهاSuha
سِر في الهَواءِ وَلُذ بِناصِيَةِ السُها
المَوتُdeath لاnot يَخفىis hidden عَلَيهِfrom it سَبيلُa path
المَوتُ لا يَخفى عَلَيهِ سَبيلُ
Travel through the air, and seek refuge at Suha's forelock;
Travel in the air and hold on to the forelocks of horses,
No path is hidden from Death.
Death knows no obstacle in its path.
وَاِركَبand ride جَناحَthe wing of النَسرِthe eagle لاnot يَعصِمكَshields you مِنfrom
وَاِركَب جَناحَ النَسرِ لا يَعصِمكَ مِن
نَسرٍan eagle يُرَفرِفُflutters فيهِwithin it عِزرائيلُAzrael
نَسرٍ يُرَفرِفُ فيهِ عِزرائيلُ
And ride the eagle's wing: it cannot shield you from
Ride on the wings of an eagle, it will not protect you
An eagle within which Azrael flutters.
From an eagle in which flies Azrael.
وَلِكُلِّand for every نَفسٍsoul ساعَةٌan hour مَنwhoever لَمnot يَمُتdie
وَلِكُلِّ نَفسٍ ساعَةٌ مَن لَم يَمُت
فيهاin it عَزيزاًhonored ماتَdied وَهوَwhile he is ذَليلُabased
فيها عَزيزاً ماتَ وَهوَ ذَليلُ
And every soul has its hour; whoever does not die
Each soul has an appointed hour, one who does not die in it,
In it with honor dies abased.
Dies disgraced though he lived esteemed.
أَإِلىis it in الحَياةِlife سَكَنتَyou found repose وَهيَthough it is مَصارِعٌplaces of death
أَإِلى الحَياةِ سَكَنتَ وَهيَ مَصارِعٌ
وَإِلىand in الأَمانيwishes يَسكَنُfinds repose المَسلولُthe consumptive
وَإِلى الأَماني يَسكَنُ المَسلولُ
Do you put your trust in life, though it is a field of death?
Have you settled for life though it is full of death,
And in wishes the consumptive puts his trust.
While dreams occupy the sleeping?
لاdo not تَحفَلَنَّpay any heed بِبُؤسِهاto its misery وَنَعيمِهاand its bliss
لا تَحفَلَنَّ بِبُؤسِها وَنَعيمِها
نُعمىthe blessings of الحَياةِlife وَبُؤسُهاand its misery تَضليلُdeception
نُعمى الحَياةِ وَبُؤسُها تَضليلُ
Pay no heed to its misery and its bliss;
Do not be distracted by its sorrows or joys,
Life's blessings and its misery are deception.
The bliss and pain of life are but confusion.
ماwhat lies بَينَbetween نَضرَتِهاits bloom وَبَينَand between ذُبولِهاits withering
ما بَينَ نَضرَتِها وَبَينَ ذُبولِها
عُمرُthe lifespan of الوُرودِroses وَإِنَّهُand indeed it لَقَليلُis surely short
عُمرُ الوُرودِ وَإِنَّهُ لَقَليلُ
The interval between its bloom and its withering
Between its blossoming and wilting,
Is the lifespan of roses—and it is very short.
Is the lifetime of roses, and it is short indeed.
هَذاthis بَشيرُbearer of glad tidings الأَمسِof yesterday أَصبَحَhas become ناعِياًan announcer of death
هَذا بَشيرُ الأَمسِ أَصبَحَ ناعِياً
كَالحُلمِlike a dream جاءَcame بِضِدِّهِwith its opposite التَأويلُthe interpretation
كَالحُلمِ جاءَ بِضِدِّهِ التَأويلُ
This bearer of yesterday's glad tidings now announces a death,
The one who brought good news yesterday is today a mourner,
Like a dream whose interpretation brings its opposite.
As if the interpretation has belied the dream.
يَجريflows مِنَof العَبَراتِtears حَولَaround حَديثِهِhis tale
يَجري مِنَ العَبَراتِ حَولَ حَديثِهِ
ماwhat كانَwas مِنof فَرَحٍjoy عَلَيهِover it يَسيلُflowing
ما كانَ مِن فَرَحٍ عَلَيهِ يَسيلُ
Around his tale there now flows in tears
Tears flow around his tales,
What once flowed over it in joy.
Where once joy overflowed.
وَلَرُبَّand many أَعراسٍweddings خَبَأنَconcealed مَأتَماًa funeral
وَلَرُبَّ أَعراسٍ خَبَأنَ مَأتَماً
كَالرُقطِlike mottled snakes فيin ظِلِّthe shade of الرِياضِgardens تَقيلُrest at midday
كَالرُقطِ في ظِلِّ الرِياضِ تَقيلُ
And many weddings have concealed a funeral,
Many a wedding party hides a funeral,
Like mottled snakes resting at noon in garden shade.
Like a garden's shade conceals snakes.
ياO أَيُّهاyou الشُهَداءُmartyrs لَنnever will يُنسىbe forgotten لَكُمfor you
يا أَيُّها الشُهَداءُ لَن يُنسى لَكُم
فَتحٌa conquest أَغَرُّradiant عَلىfor السَماءِthe sky جَميلُa noble deed
فَتحٌ أَغَرُّ عَلى السَماءِ جَميلُ
O martyrs, never shall your
O you martyrs, you will not be forgotten,
Radiant conquest, a noble deed for the sky, be forgotten.
A conquest more splendid than you adorns the sky.
وَالمَجدُand glory فيin الدُنياthis world لِأَوَّلِbelongs to the first مُبتَنٍbuilder
وَالمَجدُ في الدُنيا لِأَوَّلِ مُبتَنٍ
وَلِمَنand to whoever شُيِّدَbuilt بَعدَهُafter him فَيُطيلُand so builds higher
وَلِمَن شُيِّدَ بَعدَهُ فَيُطيلُ
And glory in this world belongs to the first builder,
In life, the first pioneer takes the glory,
And to whoever builds after him and raises it higher.
And whoever comes after lengthens it.
لَولاwere it not for نُفوسٌsouls زُلنَperished فيon سُبُلِthe paths of العُلاgreatness
لَولا نُفوسٌ زُلنَ في سُبُلِ العُلا
لَمwould not يَهدِguide فيهاalong them السالِكينَthe travelers دَليلُa guide
لَم يَهدِ فيها السالِكينَ دَليلُ
Had souls not perished on the paths to greatness,
Were it not for souls who went astray on the path of ascension,
No guide would have led the travelers along them.
No guide would lead the climbers.
وَالناسُand people باذِلُa giver of روحِهِhis soul أَوor مالِهِhis wealth
وَالناسُ باذِلُ روحِهِ أَو مالِهِ
أَوor عِلمِهِhis knowledge وَالآخَرونَand the others فُضولُsuperfluous
أَو عِلمِهِ وَالآخَرونَ فُضولُ
And people are those who give their lives or wealth,
While some give their soul, money or knowledge,
Or their knowledge; the rest are superfluous.
Others remain useless.
وَالنَصرُand victory غُرَّتُهُits white forehead blaze الطَلائِعُthe vanguard فيin الوَغىbattle
وَالنَصرُ غُرَّتُهُ الطَلائِعُ في الوَغى
وَالتابِعونَand the followers مِنَfrom الخَميسِthe army حُجولُwhite leg markings
وَالتابِعونَ مِنَ الخَميسِ حُجولُ
And victory's white blaze is the vanguard in battle,
Victory prides itself on its vanguards in battle,
And the army's followers are its white stockings.
While the camp followers trail behind like sheep.
كَمhow many أَلفُthousand ميلٍmiles نَحوَtoward مِصرَEgypt قَطَعتُمyou traveled
كَم أَلفُ ميلٍ نَحوَ مِصرَ قَطَعتُم
فيمَwhy الوُقوفُthe halt وَدونَwhile short of مِصرٍEgypt ميلُa mile
فيمَ الوُقوفُ وَدونَ مِصرٍ ميلُ
How many thousand miles you traveled toward Egypt!
How many thousands of miles towards Egypt you traveled!
Why halt, with only a mile remaining to Egypt?
Why stop when Egypt is but a mile away?
طوروسُTaurus تَحتَكِمُbeneath you ضَئيلٌfeeble طَرفُهُits gaze
طوروسُ تَحتَكِمُ ضَئيلٌ طَرفُهُ
لَمّاwhen طَلَعتُمyou rose فيamid السَحابِthe clouds كَليلُdulled
لَمّا طَلَعتُم في السَحابِ كَليلُ
Taurus lies beneath you, its gaze feeble,
Your wings humble Mount Toros,
Dulled when you rose among the clouds.
When you ascended the clouds like the new moon.
تَرخونَyou loosen لِلريحِfor the wind العِنانَthe rein وَإِنَّهاand indeed it
تَرخونَ لِلريحِ العِنانَ وَإِنَّها
لَكُمfor you عَلىdespite طُغيانِهاits tyranny لَذَلولُis surely docile
لَكُم عَلى طُغيانِها لَذَلولُ
You loosen the rein for the wind, and it
You relinquish the reins to the winds, though they
Is surely docile for you, despite its tyranny.
Are submissive to you in their rebellion.
اِثنَينِtwo اِثرَfollowing اِثنَينِtwo لَمnever يَخطُرoccur لَكُمto you
اِثنَينِ اِثرَ اِثنَينِ لَم يَخطُر لَكُم
أَنَّthat المَنِيَّةَdeath ثالِثٌa third وَزَميلُand a companion
أَنَّ المَنِيَّةَ ثالِثٌ وَزَميلُ
Two after two, it never occurred to you
Two and two you marched, unaware that death
That Death was a third and a companion.
Would be a third companion.
وَمِنَand among العَجائِبِthe wonders فيin زَمانِكَyour age أَنthat يَفيstays faithful
وَمِنَ العَجائِبِ في زَمانِكَ أَن يَفي
لَكَto you فيin الحَياةِlife وَفيand in المَماتِdeath خَليلُa friend
لَكَ في الحَياةِ وَفي المَماتِ خَليلُ
And among the wonders of your age is a friend's loyalty
Among the wonders of your time is that you found
To you in life and in death.
In life and death a faithful friend.
لَوif كانَwere يُفدىcould be ransomed هالِكٌone doomed to perish لَفَداكُمُwould surely ransom you
لَو كانَ يُفدى هالِكٌ لَفَداكُمُ
فيin الجَوِّthe air نَسرٌan eagle بِالحَياةِwith life بَخيلُmiserly
في الجَوِّ نَسرٌ بِالحَياةِ بَخيلُ
If one doomed to die could be ransomed, you would be ransomed
If one destined to die could be ransomed,
By an eagle in the air that clings jealously to life.
The eagles in the sky would be stingy with life.
أَيُّwhich الغُزاةِwarriors أُليpossessors of الشَهادَةِmartyrdom قَبلَكُمbefore you
أَيُّ الغُزاةِ أُلي الشَهادَةِ قَبلَكُم
عَرضُthe breadth of السَماءِthe sky ضَريحُهُمtheir tomb وَالطولُand the length
عَرضُ السَماءِ ضَريحُهُم وَالطولُ
Which warriors who attained martyrdom before you
Which conquerors have approached martyrdom before you?
Had the sky's breadth and length for their tomb?
Their graves are the sky's expanse and its horizons.
يَغدوcomes in the morning عَلَيكُمto you بِالتَحِيَّةِwith greetings أَهلُهاits inhabitants
يَغدو عَلَيكُم بِالتَحِيَّةِ أَهلُها
وَيُرَفرِفُand flutters التَسبيحُglorification of God وَالتَهليلُand proclamation of God's oneness
وَيُرَفرِفُ التَسبيحُ وَالتَهليلُ
Its inhabitants come in the morning to greet you,
Its inhabitants greet you each morning
And praise of God and declarations of His oneness flutter.
With glorification and praise.
إِدريسُIdris فَوقَabove يَمينِهِhis right hand رَيحانَةٌa sprig of basil
إِدريسُ فَوقَ يَمينِهِ رَيحانَةٌ
وَيَسوعُand Jesus فَوقَabove يَمينهِhis right hand إِكليلُa wreath
وَيَسوعُ فَوقَ يَمينهِ إِكليلُ
Above Idris's right hand is a sprig of basil,
Idris with a basil plant above his right,
And above Jesus's right hand is a wreath.
And Jesus with a wreath above his right.
فيin عالَمٍa world سُكّانُهُits inhabitants أَنفاسُهُمtheir breaths
في عالَمٍ سُكّانُهُ أَنفاسُهُم
طيبٌperfume وَهَمسُand the murmur of حَديثِهِمtheir speech إِنجيلُgospel
طيبٌ وَهَمسُ حَديثِهِم إِنجيلُ
In a world whose inhabitants' breaths are
In a world whose inhabitants' breaths are sweet,
Perfume, and the murmur of their speech is gospel.
And the whispers of their talk are the Gospels.
إِنّيindeed I أَخافُfear عَلىfor السَماءِthe sky مِنَfrom الأَذىharm
إِنّي أَخافُ عَلى السَماءِ مِنَ الأَذى
فيon يَومِa day يُفسِدُspreads corruption فيin السَماءِthe sky الجيلُhumankind
في يَومِ يُفسِدُ في السَماءِ الجيلُ
I fear that the sky may suffer harm
I fear for the sky from harm,
On the day humankind spreads corruption in the sky.
On a day when the generation corrupts the sky.
كانَتit was مُطَهَّرَةَpurified الأَديمِthe surface نَقِيَّةًundefiled
كانَت مُطَهَّرَةَ الأَديمِ نَقِيَّةً
لاno آدَمٌAdam فيهاwithin it وَلاand no قابيلُCain
لا آدَمٌ فيها وَلا قابيلُ
Its surface was pure, undefiled,
It used to be immaculate, untouched,
With no Adam there and no Cain.
With no Adam or Cain in it.
يَتَوَجَّهُturns العانيthe captive إِلىtoward رَحَماتِهاits mercies
يَتَوَجَّهُ العاني إِلى رَحَماتِها
وَيَرىand sees بِهاin it بَرقَthe flash of الرَجاءِhope عَليلُa sick person
وَيَرى بِها بَرقَ الرَجاءِ عَليلُ
The captive turns toward its mercies,
The weary turns to its mercies,
And the sick see in it the flash of hope.
And the ailing sees in it the light of hope.
وَيُشيرُand points بِالرَأسِwith the head المُكَلَّلِcrowned نَحوَهاtoward it
وَيُشيرُ بِالرَأسِ المُكَلَّلِ نَحوَها
شَيخٌan old man وَبِاللَحظِand with the gaze البَريءِinnocent بَتولُa virgin
شَيخٌ وَبِاللَحظِ البَريءِ بَتولُ
And toward it points, with his crowned head,
The crowned old man gestures toward it,
An old man, and with her innocent gaze, a virgin.
As does the innocent-eyed virgin.
وَاليَومَand today لِلشَهَواتِfor desires فيهاwithin it وَالهَوىand passion
وَاليَومَ لِلشَهَواتِ فيها وَالهَوى
سَيلٌa torrent وَلِلدَمِand for blood وَالدُموعِand tears مَسيلُa channel
سَيلٌ وَلِلدَمِ وَالدُموعِ مَسيلُ
And today, desires and passion within it have
But today it harbors lusts and desires -
A torrent, and blood and tears a channel.
A torrent, and for blood and tears, a channel.
أَضحَتit has become وَمِنand of سُفُنِships الجَواءِthe sky طَوائِفٌgroups
أَضحَت وَمِن سُفُنِ الجَواءِ طَوائِفٌ
فيهاwithin it وَمِنand of خَيلِthe steeds of الهَواءِthe air رَعيلُa squadron
فيها وَمِن خَيلِ الهَواءِ رَعيلُ
Now there are fleets of ships of the sky
Fleets of airships circle it,
Within it, and squadrons of the air's steeds.
And from the air, hordes of horses.
وَأُزيلَand was removed هَيكَلُهاits temple المَصونُguarded وَسِرُّهُand its secret
وَأُزيلَ هَيكَلُها المَصونُ وَسِرُّهُ
وَالدَهرُand time لِلسِرِّof the secret المَصونِguarded مُذيلُa profaner
وَالدَهرُ لِلسِرِّ المَصونِ مُذيلُ
And its guarded temple and its secret were swept away;
Its protected temple and secret are gone,
And time profanes the guarded secret.
And time strips bare the secret.
هَلِعَتwas terrified دِمَشقُDamascus وَأَقبَلَتand came forth فيamong أَهلِهاher people
هَلِعَت دِمَشقُ وَأَقبَلَت في أَهلِها
مَلهوفَةًgrief-stricken لَمdid not تَدرِknow كَيفَhow تَقولُto speak
مَلهوفَةً لَم تَدرِ كَيفَ تَقولُ
Damascus was terrified and came forth among her people,
Damascus panicked, and desperately
Grief-stricken, not knowing how to speak.
Rushed to her people, not knowing what to say.
مَشَتِmoved الشُجونُsorrows بِهاthrough her وَعَمَّand spread over غِياطَهاher groves
مَشَتِ الشُجونُ بِها وَعَمَّ غِياطَها
بَينَbetween الجَداوِلِthe streams وَالعُيونِand the springs ذُبولُwithering
بَينَ الجَداوِلِ وَالعُيونِ ذُبولُ
Sorrows coursed through her; over all her groves,
Sorrows walked her streets, and her wailing
Between streams and springs, withering spread.
Spread among the rivers and springs, withering them.
فيin كُلِّevery سَهلٍplain أَنَّةٌa moan وَمَناحَةٌand a lament
في كُلِّ سَهلٍ أَنَّةٌ وَمَناحَةٌ
وَبِكُلِّand on every حَزنٍrugged ground رَنَّةٌa plaintive cry وَعَويلُand wailing
وَبِكُلِّ حَزنٍ رَنَّةٌ وَعَويلُ
In every plain, a moan and a lament,
In every plain are groans and laments,
And on every rugged height, a cry and a wail.
With every grief, cries and wailing.
وَكَأَنَّماand as though نُعِيَتwas announced dead أُمَيَّةُUmayya كُلُّهاall of it
وَكَأَنَّما نُعِيَت أُمَيَّةُ كُلُّها
لِلمَسجِدِto the mosque الأَمَوِيِّUmayyad فَهوَso it is طُلولُruined remains
لِلمَسجِدِ الأَمَوِيِّ فَهوَ طُلولُ
As though all the house of Umayya had been announced dead
As if all Umayyad Damascus were mourning
To the Umayyad Mosque, now a desolate ruin.
The Umayyad Mosque, for it is her towering knight.
خَضَعَتbowed لَكُمfor you فيهِwithin it الصُفوفُthe ranks وَأُزلِفَتand was brought near
خَضَعَت لَكُم فيهِ الصُفوفُ وَأُزلِفَت
لَكُمُfor you الصَلاةُprayer وَقُرِّبَand was brought close التَرتيلُmeasured recitation
لَكُمُ الصَلاةُ وَقُرِّبَ التَرتيلُ
Within it, the ranks bowed for you, and prayer was offered
In it, the rows bow down to you and prayers are brought near for you,
For you, and measured recitation was drawn close
And recitals and chanting draw close.
مِنto كُلِّevery نَعشٍbier كَالثُرَيّاlike the Pleiades مَجدُهُits glory
مِن كُلِّ نَعشٍ كَالثُرَيّا مَجدُهُ
فيon الأَرضِearth عالٍlofty وَالسَماءِand heaven أَصيلُdeep-rooted
في الأَرضِ عالٍ وَالسَماءِ أَصيلُ
To every bier whose glory, like the Pleiades,
From each coffin, its glory is like myrrh in the earth -
Is lofty on earth and deeply rooted in heaven.
Lofty, while in the sky, rooted.
فيهِwithin it شَهيدٌa martyr بِالكِتابِin the Book مُكَفَّنٌshrouded
فيهِ شَهيدٌ بِالكِتابِ مُكَفَّنٌ
بِمَدامِعِwith the tears of الروحِthe Spirit الأَمينِtrustworthy غَسيلُwashed
بِمَدامِعِ الروحِ الأَمينِ غَسيلُ
Within it is a martyr shrouded in the Book,
In it lies a martyr shrouded in the Book,
Washed with the tears of the Trustworthy Spirit.
Washed with the tears of the Trustworthy Spirit.
أَعوادُهُits timbers بَينَamong الرِجالِmen وَأَصلُهُand its root
أَعوادُهُ بَينَ الرِجالِ وَأَصلُهُ
بَينَbetween السُهىSuha وَالمُشتَريand Jupiter مَحمولُborne
بَينَ السُهى وَالمُشتَري مَحمولُ
Its timbers are among men, while its root
His pillars are between the men, while his roots
Is borne between Suha and Jupiter.
Are between the praised ones, and He is borne witness to.
يَمشيwalk الجُنودُthe soldiers بِهِbearing it وَلَولاand were it not that أَنَّهُمthey
يَمشي الجُنودُ بِهِ وَلَولا أَنَّهُم
أَولىmore entitled بِذاكَto that مَشىwould walk بِهِbearing it جِبريلُGabriel
أَولى بِذاكَ مَشى بِهِ جِبريلُ
Soldiers walk bearing it; and were they not
The soldiers carry him, and were it not for their precedent,
More entitled to this, Gabriel would have borne it.
Gabriel would have carried him.
حَتّىuntil نَزَلتُمyou alighted بُقعَةًa spot فيهاwithin it الهَوىlove
حَتّى نَزَلتُم بُقعَةً فيها الهَوى
مِنsince قَبلُbefore ثاوٍdwelling وَالسَماحُand generosity نَزيلُa guest
مِن قَبلُ ثاوٍ وَالسَماحُ نَزيلُ
Until you alighted on a spot where love
Until you reached a spot where desires
Already dwelt, and generosity was a guest.
And hospitality once lodged.
عَظُمَتbecame great وَجَلَّand became majestic ضَريحُthe tomb of يوسُفَYusuf فَوقَهاupon it
عَظُمَت وَجَلَّ ضَريحُ يوسُفَ فَوقَها
حَتّىso that كَأَنَّas though المَيتَthe dead man فيهِwithin it رَسولُa messenger
حَتّى كَأَنَّ المَيتَ فيهِ رَسولُ
It grew great, and Yusuf's tomb upon it grew majestic,
The grave of Joseph loomed over it,
As though the dead man within it were a messenger.
As if the deceased in it were a messenger.
شِعريmy poetry إِذاwhen جُبتَyou traversed البِحارَthe seas ثَلاثَةًthree
شِعري إِذا جُبتَ البِحارَ ثَلاثَةً
وَحَواكَand embraced you ظِلٌّa shade فيin فُروقَFuruq ظَليلُsheltering
وَحَواكَ ظِلٌّ في فُروقَ ظَليلُ
My poetry, when you have crossed three seas,
My poetry, when you traverse the seas thrice,
And a sheltering shade in Furuq has embraced you,
And shade accompanies you in shady halts,
وَتَداوَلَتكَand passed you among them عِصابَةٌa band عَرَبِيَّةٌArab
وَتَداوَلَتكَ عِصابَةٌ عَرَبِيَّةٌ
بَينَamong المَآذِنِthe minarets وَالقِلاعِand fortresses نُزولُsojourning
بَينَ المَآذِنِ وَالقِلاعِ نُزولُ
And an Arab band has passed you from hand to hand,
And you are passed from one Arab gathering
Lodged among the minarets and fortresses,
To another, between minarets and castles,
وَبَلَغتَand you reached مِنfrom بابِthe gate of الخِلافَةِthe caliphate سُدَّةًa threshold
وَبَلَغتَ مِن بابِ الخِلافَةِ سُدَّةً
لِسُتورِهاfor its curtains التَمسيحُstroking وَالتَقبيلُand kissing
لِسُتورِها التَمسيحُ وَالتَقبيلُ
And you have reached a threshold at the caliphate's gate,
Until you reach, from the gate of the Caliphate, an elevation
Whose curtains are stroked and kissed,
Where you kiss its curtains and caress them,
قُلsay لِلإِمامِto Imam مُحَمَّدٍMuhammad وَلِآلِهِand to his household
قُل لِلإِمامِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَلِآلِهِ
صَبرُthe patience of العِظامِthe great عَلىunder العَظيمِgreat affliction جَميلُbeautiful
صَبرُ العِظامِ عَلى العَظيمِ جَميلُ
Say to Imam Muhammad and his household:
Say to the Imam Muhammad and his family:
The patience of the great under great affliction is beautiful.
Patience over loss of life is seemly.
تِلكَthose الخُطوبُcalamities وَقَدand indeed حَمَلتُمyou have borne شَطرَهاhalf of them
تِلكَ الخُطوبُ وَقَد حَمَلتُم شَطرَها
ناءَstaggered الفُراتُthe Euphrates بِشَطرِهاunder half of them وَالنيلُand the Nile
ناءَ الفُراتُ بِشَطرِها وَالنيلُ
Those calamities, of which you have borne half,
Such were your tribulations, while you bore part,
The Euphrates and the Nile staggered beneath the other half.
With the Euphrates bearing part, and the Nile.
إِنif تَفقِدواyou lose الآسادَthe lions أَوor أَشبالَهاtheir cubs
إِن تَفقِدوا الآسادَ أَو أَشبالَها
فَالغابُfor the forest مِنby أَمثالِهاtheir like مَأهولُinhabited
فَالغابُ مِن أَمثالِها مَأهولُ
If you lose the lions or their cubs,
If you miss the lions or their cubs,
For the forest is inhabited by their like.
The wilderness is filled with their likes.
صَبراًpatience! فَأَجرُfor the reward of المُسلِمينَthe Muslims وَأَجرُكُمand your reward
صَبراً فَأَجرُ المُسلِمينَ وَأَجرُكُم
عِندَwith الإِلَهِGod وَإِنَّهُand indeed it لَجَزيلُis surely abundant
عِندَ الإِلَهِ وَإِنَّهُ لَجَزيلُ
Patience! The Muslims' reward, and yours,
Have patience - for Muslims awaits a great reward, as for you,
Are with God, and that reward is truly abundant.
Yours, with God, is plentiful.
ياO مَنyou whose خِلافَتُهُhis caliphate الرَضِيَّةُworthy عِصمَةٌa safeguard
يا مَن خِلافَتُهُ الرَضِيَّةُ عِصمَةٌ
لِلحَقِّfor truth أَنتَyou بِأَنfor ensuring that يُحَقَّit is upheld كَفيلُa guarantor
لِلحَقِّ أَنتَ بِأَن يُحَقَّ كَفيلُ
O you whose worthy caliphate is a safeguard
O you whose rightly-guided Caliphate is a protection
For truth—you guarantee that it shall be upheld.
For truth, you guarantee truth be upheld.
وَاللَهُand God يَعلَمُknows أَنَّthat فيamong خُلَفائِهِHis caliphs
وَاللَهُ يَعلَمُ أَنَّ في خُلَفائِهِ
عَدلاًjustice يُقيمُsets upright المُلكَthe realm حينَwhen يَميلُleans
عَدلاً يُقيمُ المُلكَ حينَ يَميلُ
And God knows that among His caliphs there is
God knows among his Caliphs is one of justice,
Justice that sets the realm upright when it leans.
Who will make the kingdom upright when it tilts.
وَالعَدلُand justice يَرفَعُraises لِلمَمالِكِfor kingdoms حائِطاًa wall
وَالعَدلُ يَرفَعُ لِلمَمالِكِ حائِطاً
لاnot الجَيشُthe army يَرفَعُهُraises it وَلاnor الأُسطولُthe fleet
لا الجَيشُ يَرفَعُهُ وَلا الأُسطولُ
And justice raises for kingdoms a wall
Justice raises for kingdoms an impregnable wall,
That neither army nor fleet can raise.
Not an army or armada raises it.
هَذاthis مَقامٌan occasion أَنتَyou فيهِin it مُحَمَّدٌMuhammad
هَذا مَقامٌ أَنتَ فيهِ مُحَمَّدٌ
وَالرِفقُand gentleness عِندَfrom مُحَمَّدٍMuhammad مَأمولُhoped for
وَالرِفقُ عِندَ مُحَمَّدٍ مَأمولُ
This is a moment in which you are Muhammad,
This is the standing of Muhammad,
And gentleness is hoped for from Muhammad.
And gentleness with Muhammad is hoped for.
بِاللَهِby God بِالإِسلامِby Islam بِالجُرحِby the wound الَّذيwhich
بِاللَهِ بِالإِسلامِ بِالجُرحِ الَّذي
ماnot اِنفَكَّceased فيin جَنبِthe flank of الهِلالِthe crescent يَسيلُbleeding
ما اِنفَكَّ في جَنبِ الهِلالِ يَسيلُ
By God, by Islam, by the wound that
By God, by Islam, by the wound
Has never ceased to bleed in the crescent's flank,
That still flows on the crescent's side!
إِلّاplease حَلَلتَyou loosen عَنِfrom السَجينِthe prisoner وَثاقَهُhis bonds
إِلّا حَلَلتَ عَنِ السَجينِ وَثاقَهُ
إِنَّindeed الوِثاقَbonds عَلىupon الأُسودِlions ثَقيلُheavy
إِنَّ الوِثاقَ عَلى الأُسودِ ثَقيلُ
I implore you, undo the prisoner's bonds;
Release the prisoner from his shackles,
Indeed, bonds weigh heavily upon lions.
For shackles are heavy on the noble.
أَيَقولُshall ... say? واشٍa slanderer أَوor يُرَدِّدُrepeat شامِتٌa gloating foe
أَيَقولُ واشٍ أَو يُرَدِّدُ شامِتٌ
صِنديدُthe champion of بُرقَةَBarqa موثَقٌbound مَكبولُshackled
صِنديدُ بُرقَةَ موثَقٌ مَكبولُ
Shall a slanderer say, or a gloating foe repeat:
Will some slanderer say, or a gloating enemy repeat:
The champion of Barqa is bound and shackled?
"Buraihah is shackled and bound"?
هُوَhe مِنamong سُيوفِكَyour swords أَغمَدوهُthey sheathed him لِريبَةٍon suspicion
هُوَ مِن سُيوفِكَ أَغمَدوهُ لِريبَةٍ
ماnot كانَwas يُغمَدُto be sheathed سَيفُكَyour sword المَسلولُunsheathed
ما كانَ يُغمَدُ سَيفُكَ المَسلولُ
He is one of your swords; they sheathed him on suspicion.
He is one of your swords they have sheathed for suspicion -
Never should your unsheathed sword have been sheathed.
Your unsheathed sword is not to be sheathed.
فَاِذكُرso remember أَميرَO Commander of المُؤمِنينَthe Faithful بَلاءَهُhis valor
فَاِذكُر أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ بَلاءَهُ
وَاِستَبقِهِand preserve him إِنَّindeed السُيوفَswords قَليلُfew
وَاِستَبقِهِ إِنَّ السُيوفَ قَليلُ
So remember, Commander of the Faithful, his valor,
Remember then the Commander of the Faithful's ordeal,
And preserve him; swords are few.
And prioritize him, for swords are few.
Sol 6.1