دمblood المحبthe lover عَلىupon الاطلالthe ruins مَطلولunavenged
دم المحب عَلى الاطلال مَطلول
وَسَيفand the sword سحرenchantment عيونeyes العينthe wide-eyed beauties مَسلولdrawn
وَسَيف سحر عيون العين مَسلول
The lover's blood lies unavenged upon the ruins,
The blood of the lover is shed over the ruins
And the sword of the wide-eyed beauties' enchanting eyes is drawn.
And the sword of the magic of eyes is unsheathed
هنّthey الحَواجِبthe brows منfrom تحتbeneath الحجابthe veil لهاshe has
هنّ الحَواجِب من تحت الحجاب لها
مناamong us أَسيرa captive وَمَجروحand a wounded man وَمَقتولand a slain man
منا أَسير وَمَجروح وَمَقتول
Those are the brows beneath the veil; hers are
The eyebrows beneath the veil have taken me captive
Among us a captive, a wounded man, and a slain man.
I am their prisoner, wounded and killed
وَللنَوىand for separation وَالهَوىand love العذرىchaste فيin كبديmy liver
وَللنَوى وَالهَوى العذرى في كبدي
وَقفan endowment صَريحoutright وَتَحبيسand holding in trust وَتَسبيلand perpetual dedication
وَقف صَريح وَتَحبيس وَتَسبيل
Separation and chaste love have, within my liver,
In my heart, chaste love and passion
An outright endowment, held in trust and forever devoted.
Have taken a firm stand, confined and flowing free
ماnever حدثspoke الركبthe caravan عَنabout سلمىSalma بذيat Dhu سلمSalam
ما حدث الركب عَن سلمى بذي سلم
الاexcept that اِستَمَعتI listened وَماءand the water العينof the eye مَهمولstreaming
الا اِستَمَعت وَماء العين مَهمول
Never did the caravan speak of Salma at Dhu Salam
No caravan told of Salma in Dhi Salm
But I listened, my eyes streaming with tears.
Except I listened as tears flowed
وَلاnor تغنتsang بذاتat Dhat الاثلal-Athl; tamarisk trees ساجعةa cooing bird
وَلا تغنت بذات الاثل ساجعة
الاexcept that وَهيجنيand stirred me سجعcooing وَمأثولand [unclear word]
الا وَهيجني سجع وَمأثول
Nor did a cooing bird sing at Dhat al-Athl
Nor did she sing of the beautiful doe unless
But cooing and [an unclear word] stirred me.
It stirred me, rhymed prose and verse
فَكَيفَso how يَسلوfinds solace فؤاديmy heart بالغويرat al-Ghuwayr وَليand I have
فَكَيفَ يَسلو فؤادي بالغوير وَلي
بالمنجدينamong those gone to Najd أَمانيhopes وَتَضليلand deception
بالمنجدين أَماني وَتَضليل
How can my heart find solace at al-Ghuwayr, when I have
So how can my heart find solace with song and refrain
Hopes—and deception—among those gone to Najd?
When it harbors hopes and misguidance
وَفيand behind السَتائِرthe curtains بنتthe daughter العبسof al-'Abs نفحتهاher fragrance
وَفي السَتائِر بنت العبس نفحتها
مسكmusk وَمبسمهاand her smiling mouth بالشهدwith honey مَعسولsweetened
مسك وَمبسمها بالشهد مَعسول
Behind the curtains is the daughter of al-'Abs, whose fragrance is
And in the curtains the aloof one’s breath is musk
Musk, and whose smiling mouth is sweetened with honey.
And her smile with honey is sweetened
مسكmusk يَفوحwafts وانوارand lights تَلوحgleam عَلىupon
مسك يَفوح وانوار تَلوح عَلى
فضىsilvery خدa cheek بماءwith the water الحسنof beauty مَطلولbedewed
فضى خد بماء الحسن مَطلول
Musk wafts, and lights gleam upon
Musk diffusing, lights shining
A silvery cheek bedewed with beauty's water.
On the cheek's sheen, water strewn
هيshe الشفاءthe cure لدائيfor my ailment لوif ظفرتI attained بهاher
هي الشفاء لدائي لو ظفرت بها
وَلَيسَand there is not منهاfrom her دواa remedy للداءfor the ailment مَبذولoffered
وَلَيسَ منها دوا للداء مَبذول
She is the cure for my ailment, if I could win her,
She's the cure if I win her
Yet no remedy for the ailment is offered by her.
No medicine for my malady is offered
منwho منصفيwill do me justice منagainst قضيبa slender branch فيin كثيبa dune نقاfine sand
من منصفي من قضيب في كثيب نقا
اعلاهits summit بدرa full moon عليهover it اللَيلthe night مَسدولdraped
اعلاه بدر عليه اللَيل مَسدول
Who will obtain justice for me against a slender branch upon a dune of fine sand,
Who of my censors in an arid desert
Whose summit is a full moon, with night draped over it?
Finds its heights and depths obscured by night
فَماand never برحنdeparted تَباريحيmy agonies عَلىfrom كبديmy liver
فَما برحن تَباريحي عَلى كبدي
بفارغover one carefree القَلبin heart قَلبيmy heart فيهin him مَشغولengrossed
بفارغ القَلب قَلبي فيه مَشغول
My agonies have never left my liver,
So my feelings in my heart have not ceased
Over one whose heart is carefree, while mine is absorbed in him.
Though empty of heart, it is filled
ياO لائميyou who blame me فيfor هَوىloving قومpeople احبهمI love them
يا لائمي في هَوى قوم احبهم
وَالناسand people فيin الحبlove مَعذورexcused وَمَعذولand reproached
وَالناس في الحب مَعذور وَمَعذول
O you who blame me for loving people I hold dear,
O you who blame me for loving a people
People in love are excused or reproached.
When people in love are excused and blamed
انif كانis شوقكyour longing مَعلوماknown عَلىaccording to صفةa description
ان كان شوقك مَعلوما عَلى صفة
فانthen indeed شَوقيmy longing مَعلومknown وَمَجهولand unknown
فان شَوقي مَعلوم وَمَجهول
If your longing is known and can be described,
If your passion is known by its traits
Then my longing is both known and unknown.
Then my passion is known and obscure
عليكattend to نفسكyourself انindeed العمرlife عاريةa loan
عليك نفسك ان العمر عارية
وَمَرتَعيand my pasture روضةthe garden الآملof the hopeful one مَهزولmeager
وَمَرتَعي روضة الآمل مَهزول
Attend to yourself: life is a loan,
You yourself know life is but a loan
And my pasture, the hopeful one's garden, is meager.
And my hopes for meadows are razed
وانand if جَفاكshuns you صديقa friend أونبor turns hostile (reading uncertain) زمنtime
وان جَفاك صديق أونب زمن
فحسبكthen sufficient for you اللَيلthe night وَالبزلand mature camels المَراسيلswift-moving
فحسبك اللَيل وَالبزل المَراسيل
And if a friend shuns you, or time turns hostile,
If a friend is unkind or time is harsh
Then the night and swift, full-grown camels will suffice you.
Your refuge is the night and messaging
واقصدand head for زبيداZabid سقاهاmay He water it اللَهGod منof بلدa town
واقصد زبيدا سقاها اللَه من بلد
فربعهاfor its quarter بوليby a friend اللَهof God مأهولinhabited
فربعها بولي اللَه مأهول
Head for Zabid—may God water that town—
Head to Zabid, watered by God from a land
For its quarter is inhabited by a friend of God.
Whose quarters are inhabited by God's friend
زرvisit أَحمدAhmad بنson of أَبيAbi; father of بكرBakr فهمتهfor his resolve
زر أَحمد بن أَبي بكر فهمته
فيin الدينreligion منfrom دونهاbeneath it غفرواthey forgave (context unclear) كَليلweary; blunted
في الدين من دونها غفروا كَليل
Visit Ahmad ibn Abi Bakr; his resolve
Visit Ahmad ibn Abi Bakr, his knowledge in religion
In religion—beneath it [unclear wording] is weary.
Reveals the ignorant's paucity
واسجدand prostrate لربكto your Lord شكراin gratitude عندupon رؤيتهseeing him
واسجد لربك شكرا عند رؤيته
وَالئمand kiss (reading uncertain) بنانthe fingertips يدof a hand فيin باعهاits reach طولlength
وَالئم بنان يد في باعها طول
Prostrate to your Lord in gratitude at the sight of him,
And prostrate before your Lord in thanks when you see Him
And kiss the fingertips of a hand whose reach is long.
Align with the two hands whose reach is long
وانزلand take up abode منof الدينreligion وَالدنياand worldly life بنورهماin their light
وانزل من الدين وَالدنيا بنورهما
فالعسرso hardship يسرease بهthrough him وَالعقدand the knot مَحلولuntied
فالعسر يسر به وَالعقد مَحلول
And dwell in the light of religion and worldly life;
And descend into religion and life with their light
Through him, hardship is ease, and the knot is undone.
Hardship becomes easy, knots are unbound
واِستنجدand seek aid from ابنthe son ابيAbi; father of بكرBakr تجدهyou will find him فَتىa noble man
واِستنجد ابن ابي بكر تجده فَتى
يَقضيhe decrees فَيَمضيso it takes effect وامرand the command اللَهof God مَفعولfulfilled
يَقضي فَيَمضي وامر اللَه مَفعول
Seek the aid of Ibn Abi Bakr: you will find him a noble man,
Seek help from the son of Abi Bakr, you'll find a man
Who decrees, and it takes effect; God's command is fulfilled.
Who acts and God's command is carried out
سرthe secret السرارةof the innermost core لبthe essence اللبof the essence منfrom مضرMudar
سر السرارة لب اللب من مضر
اغراradiant (reading uncertain) تجابهconfronts غرradiant men بهاwith it ليلnight
اغرا تجابه غر بها ليل
The secret of the innermost core, the essence of essence, from Mudar,
The secret's secret, the kernel's kernel, from Mudar
Radiant, confronting radiant men [the ending is unclear].
Alluring, met by allure, night long
يَرتاحhe delights للجودانin generosity, if (joined in text) حفcrowds around الوجودexistence بهhim
يَرتاح للجودان حف الوجود به
كانهas though he بشمولwith all-embracing power الراحof wine مَشمولenveloped
كانه بشمول الراح مَشمول
He delights in giving when existence crowds around him,
Finding comfort in generosity, being surrounds
As though enveloped by wine's all-embracing power.
As if enveloped in ample comfort
ربmaster العلومof the sciences اللدنياتdivinely imparted ماnot رسمتwere inscribed
رب العلوم اللدنيات ما رسمت
خطاin writing وَلاnor ضمهاencompassed them درسstudy وَتحصيلand acquisition
خطا وَلا ضمها درس وَتحصيل
Master of divinely imparted sciences, never traced
Lord of innate knowledge, nothing You composed
In writing, nor encompassed by study and acquisition.
Was wrong, nor did study and learning compile it
لهhe has طَلائعfirst intimations ربانيةdivine مزجتmingled
له طَلائع ربانية مزجت
بالنورwith light وَالعلمand knowledge مَعقولrational وَمَنقولand transmitted
بالنور وَالعلم مَعقول وَمَنقول
He has divine intimations, mingled
It has divine portents interwoven
With light and knowledge, rational and transmitted.
With light and transmitted and rational knowledge
فَماthen what is صَريحexplicit wording ومبنىand structure ومطردand regularity
فَما صَريح ومبنى ومطرد
وَماand what is دَليلproof وَتَعليلand reasoned explanation وَتأَصيلand grounding in principles
وَما دَليل وَتَعليل وَتأَصيل
What, then, are explicit wording, structure, and regularity,
So composed, structured and consistent
And what are proof, explanation, and grounding in principles?
Evidence, reasoning and analysis
بحرan ocean الحَقيقةof truth فيin ضمنthe bounds of الشَريعَةsacred law عَنconcerning
بحر الحَقيقة في ضمن الشَريعَة عَن
بحرan ocean مَعانيهof his meanings تَجميلembellishment وَتَفصيلand detailed exposition
بحر مَعانيه تَجميل وَتَفصيل
An ocean of truth within sacred law; concerning
The sea of truth within religious law
The ocean of his meanings: embellishment and detailed exposition.
Its ocean of meaning, beautiful and detailed
وَكَمand how many لهhe has حججproofs علميةscholarly وَبهand through him
وَكَم له حجج علمية وَبه
يحلis resolved رمزa symbol والغازand riddles وَتَشكيلand intricate formulation
يحل رمز والغاز وَتَشكيل
How many scholarly proofs he has; through him
And how much scholarly evidence it has
Symbols, riddles, and intricate formulations are resolved.
Deciphering symbolism and composition
ياO منyou who اذwhen لذتI sought refuge فيهin him حاطنيsheltered me وَثنىand turned aside
يا من اذ لذت فيه حاطني وَثنى
نابthe fang النوئبof calamities عنيaway from me وَهوwhile it مَغلولfettered
ناب النوئب عني وَهو مَغلول
O you who sheltered me when I sought refuge in you, and turned
O You who when enjoyed protects me, turns
The fang of calamities away from me, leaving it fettered,
Misfortune from me, though in shackles
ومنand you who لهhas عندamong خلقthe creatures اللَهof God مرتبةa rank
ومن له عند خلق اللَه مرتبة
وَعندand with خالقهhis Creator فضلfavor وَتَبجيلand reverence
وَعند خالقه فضل وَتَبجيل
And you who hold a rank among God's creatures,
And who has with God's creation a station
And favor and reverence with your Creator,
And with his Creator merit and reverence
أَنتَyou الَّذيthe one who أَنتَyou فردunique لاno نَظيرpeer لهfor him
أَنتَ الَّذي أَنتَ فرد لا نَظير له
كالشَمسlike the sun لَيسَthere is not لهاfor it بالشهبamong the stars تَمثيلa likeness
كالشَمس لَيسَ لها بالشهب تَمثيل
You are who you are: unique, with no peer,
You are peerless, unique as the sun
Like the sun, unmatched among the stars.
With no likeness among the stars
يداكyour two hands بحرan ocean كَراماتof wonders وَبحرand an ocean غنىof riches
يداك بحر كَرامات وَبحر غنى
فَماthen what is الفراتthe Euphrates وَماand what is سيحونthe Sayhun وَالنيلand the Nile
فَما الفرات وَما سيحون وَالنيل
Your two hands are an ocean of wonders and an ocean of riches:
Your hands are a sea of miracles and abundance
What, then, are the Euphrates, the Sayhun, and the Nile?
Not the Euphrates, Sihun or Nile
جاوزتyou surpassed غايةthe utmost reach أَهلof the people اففضلof excellence منفرداalone
جاوزت غاية أَهل اففضل منفردا
بالفضلin excellence فاِتسعتso multiplied فيكabout you الاقاويلthe sayings
بالفضل فاِتسعت فيك الاقاويل
You alone have surpassed the utmost reach of the people of excellence,
You exceeded the utmost of the eminent, singular
In excellence; thus sayings about you have multiplied.
In superiority, beyond all thought
وَمستand you walked proudly فيin حللthe robes التَوحيدof divine unity مفتخراtaking pride
وَمست في حلل التَوحيد مفتخرا
بمنin the One who لهHis is الفخرglory بالتَعظيمwith exaltation موصولjoined
بمن له الفخر بالتَعظيم موصول
And you walked proudly in the robes of divine unity, taking pride
And you rose in the garb of pure monotheism, proud
In the One whose glory is joined to exaltation.
Of the One Pride in Grandeur inheres
سكرانdrunk منfrom كأسa cup راحof wine روحrefreshed نسمتهhis soul
سكران من كأس راح روح نسمته
سرthe secret العنايةof divine care والاذهابand carrying away (sense unclear) مَذهولbewildered
سر العناية والاذهاب مَذهول
Drunk from a cup of wine, his soul refreshed by
Intoxicated from the cup whose rapture's wind
The secret of divine care, carried away and bewildered.
Blew the secret of providence, lost
هَلmight عطفةa kindness منكfrom you ياO مَولايmy master تبلغنيbring me
هَل عطفة منك يا مَولاي تبلغني
منكfrom you المرادthe desired goal فَفيكfor in you البرgoodness مأمولhoped for
منك المراد فَفيك البر مأمول
Might a kindness from you, my master, bring me
Is there any kindness from you my Master that reaches me?
What I seek from you? In you, goodness is hoped for.
From you what's intended, for in you goodness is hoped
عدنيpromise me بخيرgood فأَهلfor worthy of الخَيرgood أَنتَyou وَلضمand [unclear word]
عدني بخير فأَهل الخَير أَنتَ وَلضم
يحطis reduced بانجازby fulfilling وَعدمنكa promise from you تَطويلprolonged delay
يحط بانجاز وَعدمنك تَطويل
Promise me good, for you are worthy of good [ending unclear];
Call me to good, for You are good and to fold in
Delay is lessened by fulfilling a promise from you.
Achievement, no delay in Your promise
وَقَدand indeed علمتyou know بأنthat الدهرtime ذوpossessing غيرreversals
وَقَد علمت بأن الدهر ذو غير
وَللوفاءand for faithfulness عَلىon الاطلاقan unrestricted basis تَفضيلpreference
وَللوفاء عَلى الاطلاق تَفضيل
And you know that time brings reversals,
And You know fortunes always change
And faithfulness is preferred without qualification.
Loyalty absolutely preferred
فاِشفعso intercede لصاحبfor the man of محوالMihwal وَرفقتهand his companions
فاِشفع لصاحب محوال وَرفقته
انif كانis يرجىhoped for لحالfor the plight القومof the people تَحويلa change
ان كان يرجى لحال القوم تَحويل
So intercede for the man of Mihwal and his companions,
So intercede for my brothers and companions
If a change in these people's plight can be hoped for.
If the people's state can perhaps be changed
وارحمand show mercy to مَساكينpoor men فيin السجنprison اِستمرcontinued بهمover them
وارحم مَساكين في السجن اِستمر بهم
دهرa stretch of time مَضىhas passed وَغَريمand the creditor الدينof the debt مَمطولkept waiting
دهر مَضى وَغَريم الدين مَمطول
And show mercy to poor men in prison, over whom has dragged
And have mercy on prisoners, long held
A long stretch of time, while the creditor is kept waiting.
As their debt to the faith remains unpaid
كَمhow many فيهin it منof شبحa figure شبهresembling الخَلالa toothpick اذاwhen
كَم فيه من شبح شبه الخَلال اذا
رأيتهمyou see them قلتyou say ماwhat هذىthese التَماثيلstatues
رأيتهم قلت ما هذى التَماثيل
How many a figure there resembles a toothpick! When
How many specters like the departed, when
You see them, you say, 'What are these statues?'
You see them, you say "What idols are these?"
لهمthey have حَريمwomenfolk وَأَرحامand kin وَحاشيةand dependents
لهم حَريم وَأَرحام وَحاشية
وأمهاتand mothers وآباءand fathers مثاكيلbereft of children
وأمهات وآباء مثاكيل
They have womenfolk, kin, and dependents,
They have womenfolk, relatives, allies
And mothers and fathers bereft of their children.
And mothers and fathers like statues
فاعطفso show kindness علهيمto them وَراجعand plead again ماas much as اِستَطعتyou can بهمon their behalf
فاعطف علهيم وَراجع ما اِستَطعت بهم
فَجاهfor the standing وَجهكof your face فيin الدارينthe two abodes مَقبولaccepted
فَجاه وَجهك في الدارين مَقبول
So show them kindness, and plead for them as much as you can,
So show them kindness, rectify what you can of their state
For the honor of your countenance is accepted in both abodes.
Your countenance in both houses is accepted
والامرand the matter أَسرَعquicker نجعاin taking effect انif هممتyou concern yourself بهمwith them
والامر أَسرَع نجعا ان هممت بهم
منthan لمحةa flicker الطرفof the eye لَولاwere it not for منكfrom you تَسهيلfacilitation
من لمحة الطرف لَولا منك تَسهيل
And the matter is remedied more swiftly, if you attend to them,
And the matter, if You resolve it, is quicker
Than a flicker of the eye—were it not for your facilitation [wording unclear].
Than the blink of an eye, without Your easing
الخيرgood أَنفعهits most beneficial للناسto people أَعجلهits swiftest
الخير أَنفعه للناس أَعجله
لاno خيرgood فيin كلany خيرgood فيهin which تأجيلdelay
لا خير في كل خير فيه تأجيل
The good most beneficial to people is the swiftest;
The best good is the most beneficial to people, the swiftest
There is no good in any good that is delayed.
No good in any good whose delivery is delayed
لاnot زلتyou ceased للجودin generosity ياO بدرfull moon الوجودof existence أخاa brother to
لا زلت للجود يا بدر الوجود أخا
مجدglory عليهupon it منof التَقوىpiety سرابيلgarments
مجد عليه من التَقوى سرابيل
May you never cease, in generosity, O full moon of existence, to be a brother to
I remain, O Full Moon of Existence, a brother to generosity
Glory, clothed in garments of piety.
In honor, wearing garb of piety
وَدمتand may you remain فيin النعمةblessing الخضراءgreen ماas long as سجعتcooed
وَدمت في النعمة الخضراء ما سجعت
وَرقgray doves وَماand as long as تَليتis recited حمHa Mim (letter names) تَنزيلRevelation
وَرق وَما تَليت حم تَنزيل
And may you remain in green blessing as long as there coo
And you remain in bounty ever green, however long
Gray doves, and 'Ha Mim: Revelation' is recited.
Leaves stir and revelation is recited
Sol 6.1