بِمَدْحِthrough praise of المصطفىthe Chosen One تَحياcome alive القلوبُthe hearts
بِمَدْحِ المصطفى تَحيا القلوبُ
وَتُغْتَفَرُand are forgiven الخطاياthe faults وَالذُّنوبُand the sins
وَتُغْتَفَرُ الخطايا وَالذُّنوبُ
Through praise of the Chosen One, hearts come alive,
And faults and sins are forgiven.
وَأَرْجُوand I hope أنto أعِيشَlive بهthrough him سعيداًhappily
وَأَرْجُو أن أعِيشَ به سعيداً
وَأَلقاهُand meet him وَليسand there is not عَلَيَّupon me حُوبُguilt
وَأَلقاهُ وَليس عَلَيَّ حُوبُ
I hope to live happily through him,
And meet him with no guilt upon me.
نبيٌّa prophet كاملperfect in الأوصافِqualities تَمَّتْbecame complete
نبيٌّ كامل الأوصافِ تَمَّتْ
محاسِنُهhis beauties فقيلso was said لهof him الحبيبُthe Beloved
محاسِنُه فقيل له الحبيبُ
A prophet perfect in his qualities, complete
In his beauties, and thus called the Beloved.
يُفَرِّجُrelieves ذِكْرُهُhis remembrance الكُرُباتِthe afflictions عناfrom us
يُفَرِّجُ ذِكْرُهُ الكُرُباتِ عنا
إذاwhen نَزَلَتْdescend بساحَتِناupon our dwelling الكُروبُthe troubles
إذا نَزَلَتْ بساحَتِنا الكُروبُ
His remembrance relieves our afflictions
When troubles descend upon our dwelling.
مدائحُهhis praises تَزيدُincrease القَلْبَthe heart شَوْقاًin longing
مدائحُه تَزيدُ القَلْبَ شَوْقاً
إليهfor him كأنهاas though they حَلْيٌadornment وَطيبُand perfume
إليه كأنها حَلْيٌ وَطيبُ
His praises increase the heart's longing
For him, as though they were adornment and perfume.
وَأَذْكُرُهُand I remember him وَلَيْلُwhile the night of الخَطْبِcalamity داجٍis dark
وَأَذْكُرُهُ وَلَيْلُ الخَطْبِ داجٍ
عَلَيَّaround me فَتَنْجَلِيso clear away عنيfrom me الخُطوبُthe troubles
عَلَيَّ فَتَنْجَلِي عني الخُطوبُ
I remember him when the night of calamity is dark
Around me, and my troubles clear away.
وَصَفْتُI described شمائلاًtraits منهof his حِسَاناًbeautiful
وَصَفْتُ شمائلاً منه حِسَاناً
فماso I do not أدريknow أمدحٌis it praise أمْor نَسيبُlove poetry
فما أدري أمدحٌ أمْ نَسيبُ
I have described beautiful traits of his,
And know not whether this is praise or love poetry.
وَمَنْand who ليwill grant me أنْthat أرىI see منهof him مُحَيّاًa face
وَمَنْ لي أنْ أرى منه مُحَيّاً
يُسَرُّis gladdened بحسنِهِby its beauty القلْبُthe heart الكئِيبُsorrowful
يُسَرُّ بحسنِهِ القلْبُ الكئِيبُ
Who will grant me a glimpse of his face,
Whose beauty gladdens the sorrowful heart?
كأنَّas though حديثَهhis speech زَهْرٌblossoms نَضِيرٌfresh
كأنَّ حديثَه زَهْرٌ نَضِيرٌ
وَحاملَand the bearer of زَهْرِهِhis blossoms غُصْنٌa branch رَطيبُtender
وَحاملَ زَهْرِهِ غُصْنٌ رَطيبُ
His speech is like fresh blossoms,
And their bearer a tender branch.
ولِيand I have طَرْفٌan eye لِمَرْآهُto behold him مَشوقٌlonging
ولِي طَرْفٌ لِمَرْآهُ مَشوقٌ
وَلِيand I have قلبٌa heart لِذِكْراهُat his remembrance طَرُوبُenraptured
وَلِي قلبٌ لِذِكْراهُ طَرُوبُ
I have an eye longing to behold him,
And a heart enraptured by his remembrance.
تَبَوَّأَhe attained قابَa span of قوْسَيْنِtwo bows اخْتصاصاًas a special privilege
تَبَوَّأَ قابَ قوْسَيْنِ اخْتصاصاً
وَلاand no وَاشٍinformer هناكَthere وَلاand no رقيبُwatcher
وَلا وَاشٍ هناكَ وَلا رقيبُ
He attained two bow-lengths' proximity as a special privilege,
With no informer there, nor any watcher.
مَناصِبُهhis stations السَّنِيَّةُexalted ليسَthere is not فيهاin them
مَناصِبُه السَّنِيَّةُ ليسَ فيها
لإِنسانٍfor a human وَلاnor مَلَكٍan angel نَصِيبُa share
لإِنسانٍ وَلا مَلَكٍ نَصِيبُ
His exalted stations contain
No share for any human or angel.
رَحِيبُbroad of الصَّدْرِbreast ضاقَgrew narrow الكَوْنُthe universe عماfor what
رَحِيبُ الصَّدْرِ ضاقَ الكَوْنُ عما
تَضَمَّنَcontained ذلكthat الصدْرُbreast الرحيبُspacious
تَضَمَّنَ ذلك الصدْرُ الرحيبُ
Broad of breast, the universe is too narrow for what
That spacious breast contains.
يُجَدِّدُrenews فيin قُعودٍsitting أوْor قِيامٍstanding
يُجَدِّدُ في قُعودٍ أوْ قِيامٍ
لهfor him شَوْقِيmy longing المُدَرِّسُthe teacher وَالخَطيبُand the preacher
له شَوْقِي المُدَرِّسُ وَالخَطيبُ
Whether sitting or standing, they renew
My longing for him—the teacher and the preacher.
عَلَىaccording to قَدَرٍa measure يُمِدُّsupplies الناسَthe people عِلْماًwith knowledge
عَلَى قَدَرٍ يُمِدُّ الناسَ عِلْماً
كماas يُعطِيكgives you أَدْوِيَةًmedicines طبيبُa physician
كما يُعطِيك أَدْوِيَةً طبيبُ
He supplies people with knowledge in due measure,
As a physician gives you medicines.
وَتَسْتَهْدِيand seek القلوبُthe hearts النُّورَthe light منهfrom him
وَتَسْتَهْدِي القلوبُ النُّورَ منه
كماas اسْتَهْدَىsought its supply مِنَfrom البَحْرِthe sea القَلِيبُthe well
كما اسْتَهْدَى مِنَ البَحْرِ القَلِيبُ
Hearts seek light from him,
As the well sought its supply from the sea.
بَدَتْappeared للناسِto people منهfrom him شُموسُsuns of عِلْمٍknowledge
بَدَتْ للناسِ منه شُموسُ عِلْمٍ
طَوالِعَrising ماnot تَزُولُpassing away وَلاnor تَغِيبُsetting
طَوالِعَ ما تَزُولُ وَلا تَغِيبُ
Suns of knowledge appeared to people through him,
Rising, never passing away or setting.
وَأَلْهَمَناand He inspired us بهthrough him التَّقْوَىwith piety فَشَقَّتْso it opened
وَأَلْهَمَنا به التَّقْوَى فَشَقَّتْ
لناfor us عمَّاwhat أَكَنَّتْهُhad concealed الغُيُوبُunseen things
لنا عمَّا أَكَنَّتْهُ الغُيُوبُ
Through him He inspired us with piety, which opened
For us what unseen things had concealed.
خلائِقُهُhis character traits مَوَاهِبُgifts دُونَwithout كِسْبٍacquisition
خلائِقُهُ مَوَاهِبُ دُونَ كِسْبٍ
وشَتَّانَand how far apart are المَوَاهِبُthe gifts وَالكُسُوبُand earned attainments
وشَتَّانَ المَوَاهِبُ وَالكُسُوبُ
His character consists of gifts, not acquisitions;
How far apart are gifts and earned attainments!
مُهَذَّبَةٌrefined بنورِby the light of اللَّهِGod ليستْit is not
مُهَذَّبَةٌ بنورِ اللَّهِ ليستْ
كأخلاقٍlike character يُهَذِّبُهَاthat he refines اللَّبِيبُthe wise person
كأخلاقٍ يُهَذِّبُهَا اللَّبِيبُ
Refined by God's light, it is not
Like character that a wise person refines.
وَآدابُand the manners of النُّبُوَّةِprophethood مُعجزاتٌmiracles
وَآدابُ النُّبُوَّةِ مُعجزاتٌ
فكيفso how يَنالُهاcan attain them الرجُلُthe man الأديبُcultivated
فكيف يَنالُها الرجُلُ الأديبُ
The manners of prophethood are miracles;
How can a cultivated man attain them?
أبيْنَthey rejected مِنَfrom الطِّباعِnatural dispositions دَماًblood وَفَرْثاًand dung
أبيْنَ مِنَ الطِّباعِ دَماً وَفَرْثاً
وَجاءتand emerged مثلَlike ماwhat جَاءَemerged الحليبُthe milk
وَجاءت مثلَ ما جَاءَ الحليبُ
They rejected the blood and dung of natural disposition,
And emerged as milk emerges.
سَمِعْنَاwe heard الوَحْيَthe revelation مِنْfrom فِيهhis mouth صريحاًclearly
سَمِعْنَا الوَحْيَ مِنْ فِيه صريحاً
كغادِيَةٍlike a morning raincloud عَزَالِيهَاits pouring streams تَصُوبُpour down
كغادِيَةٍ عَزَالِيهَا تَصُوبُ
We heard revelation clearly from his mouth,
Like a morning raincloud whose streams pour down.
فلاso no قَوْلٌspeech وَلاand no عَمَلٌdeed لَدَيْهَاin its presence
فلا قَوْلٌ وَلا عَمَلٌ لَدَيْهَا
بفاحِشَةٍwith indecency وَلاnor بِهَوىًwith passion مَشُوبُtainted
بفاحِشَةٍ وَلا بِهَوىً مَشُوبُ
In its presence, neither speech nor deed
Is tainted with indecency or passion.
وَبالأهواءِand through passions تَخْتَلِفُdiffer المساعيthe endeavors
وَبالأهواءِ تَخْتَلِفُ المساعي
وَتَفْتَرِقُand separate المذاهِبthe doctrines وَالشُّعوبُand the peoples
وَتَفْتَرِقُ المذاهِب وَالشُّعوبُ
Through passions, endeavors differ,
And doctrines and peoples separate.
ولَماand when صارbecame ذاكthat الغَيْثُrain سَيْلاًa torrent
ولَما صار ذاك الغَيْثُ سَيْلاً
علاهُrose upon it مِنَfrom الثَّرَىthe soil الزَّبَدُthe froth الغَرِيبُforeign
علاهُ مِنَ الثَّرَى الزَّبَدُ الغَرِيبُ
When that rain became a torrent,
Foreign froth from the soil rose upon it.
فلاso do not تَنْسُبْattribute لِقَوْلِto the word of اللَّهِGod رَيْباًuncertainty
فلا تَنْسُبْ لِقَوْلِ اللَّهِ رَيْباً
فماfor there is not فِيin قولِthe word of رَبِّكَyour Lord ماanything that يُرِيبُarouses doubt
فما فِي قولِ رَبِّكَ ما يُرِيبُ
Do not attribute uncertainty to God's word;
Nothing in your Lord's word arouses doubt.
فإنْso if تَخْلُقْinvent لهُfor it الأعداءُthe enemies عَيباًa fault
فإنْ تَخْلُقْ لهُ الأعداءُ عَيباً
فَقَوْلُthen the words of العَائِبِينَthe fault-finders هوare themselves المَعيبُfaulty
فَقَوْلُ العَائِبِينَ هو المَعيبُ
If enemies invent a fault for it,
The fault-finders' words are themselves faulty.
فَخالِفْso differ from أُمَّتَيْthe two communities of موسىMoses وَعيسىand Jesus
فَخالِفْ أُمَّتَيْ موسى وَعيسى
فماfor there is not فيهمْamong them لخالِقِهِto his Creator مُنِيبُone turning
فما فيهمْ لخالِقِهِ مُنِيبُ
So differ from the communities of Moses and Jesus;
Among them none turns to his Creator.
فَقَوْمٌso a group منهمamong them فُتِنُواwere beguiled بِعِجْلٍby a calf
فَقَوْمٌ منهم فُتِنُوا بِعِجْلٍ
وَقَوْماًand a group منهمamong them فَتَنَbeguiled الصَّليبُthe cross
وَقَوْماً منهم فَتَنَ الصَّليبُ
Some among them were beguiled by a calf,
And others among them the cross beguiled.
وَأَحْبارٌand rabbis تَقُولُsay لَهُHe has شَبِيهٌa likeness
وَأَحْبارٌ تَقُولُ لَهُ شَبِيهٌ
وَرُهْبَانٌand monks تَقُولُsay لَهُHe has ضَرِيبُan equal
وَرُهْبَانٌ تَقُولُ لَهُ ضَرِيبُ
Rabbis say, 'He has a likeness,'
And monks say, 'He has an equal.'
وَإِنَّand indeed محمداًMuhammad لرَسولُis certainly a messenger of حَقٍّtruth
وَإِنَّ محمداً لرَسولُ حَقٍّ
حَسيبٌdistinguished فيin نُبُوَّتِهِhis prophethood نَسِيبُnoble in lineage
حَسيبٌ في نُبُوَّتِهِ نَسِيبُ
Muhammad is indeed a true messenger,
Distinguished in his prophethood, noble in lineage.
أمينٌtrustworthy صادِقٌtruthful بَرٌّrighteous تَقِيٌّdevout
أمينٌ صادِقٌ بَرٌّ تَقِيٌّ
عليمٌknowledgeable ماجِدٌnoble هادٌa guide وَهُوبُa lavish giver
عليمٌ ماجِدٌ هادٌ وَهُوبُ
Trustworthy, truthful, righteous, devout,
Knowing, noble, guiding, lavishly giving.
يُرِيكَhe shows you عَلَىin الرِّضَاpleasure وَالسُّخْطِand anger وَجْهاًa face
يُرِيكَ عَلَى الرِّضَا وَالسُّخْطِ وَجْهاً
تَرُوقُare pleasing بهupon it البَشَاشَةُcheerfulness وَالقُطوبُand frowning
تَرُوقُ به البَشَاشَةُ وَالقُطوبُ
In pleasure and anger, he shows you a face
On which cheerfulness and frowning alike are pleasing.
يُضِيءُshines بِوَجْهِهِwith his face المِحْرَابُthe prayer niche لَيْلاًat night
يُضِيءُ بِوَجْهِهِ المِحْرَابُ لَيْلاً
وَتُظْلِمُand grow dark فيin النهارِthe daytime بهthrough him الحُروبُthe battles
وَتُظْلِمُ في النهارِ به الحُروبُ
The prayer niche shines with his face at night,
And battles grow dark through him by day.
تَقَدَّمَhe surpassed مَنْwhoever تَقَدَّمَcame before مِنْamong نَبِيٍّprophets
تَقَدَّمَ مَنْ تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ نَبِيٍّ
نماهُwas his forebear وهكذاand such is البَطَلُthe hero النَّجِيبُnobly born
نماهُ وهكذا البَطَلُ النَّجِيبُ
He surpassed every earlier prophet
Who was his forebear—such is the nobly born hero.
وصَدَّقَهُand believed him وحَكَّمَهُand appointed him judge صَبيّاًas a boy
وصَدَّقَهُ وحَكَّمَهُ صَبيّاً
مِنَamong الكُفَّارِthe unbelievers شُبَّانٌyoung men وشِيبُand gray-haired men
مِنَ الكُفَّارِ شُبَّانٌ وشِيبُ
They believed him and appointed him judge while still a boy:
Young men and gray-haired men among the unbelievers.
فلماyet when جاءهمhe came to them بالحقِّwith the truth صَدُّواthey turned away
فلما جاءهم بالحقِّ صَدُّوا
وصَدُّand the turning away of أُولئكthose people العَجَبُthe marvel العَجيبُwondrous
وصَدُّ أُولئك العَجَبُ العَجيبُ
Yet when he brought them the truth, they turned away;
Their turning away is a wondrous marvel.
شريعتُهُhis law صراطٌa path مُستقيمٌstraight
شريعتُهُ صراطٌ مُستقيمٌ
فليسَso does not يَمَسُّنَاtouch us فيهاon it لُغوبُweariness
فليسَ يَمَسُّنَا فيها لُغوبُ
His law is a straight path,
On which no weariness touches us.
عليكَyou must hold fast بهاto it فإنَّfor indeed لهاit has كِتاباًa Book
عليكَ بها فإنَّ لها كِتاباً
عليهfor it تَحْسُدُenvy الحَدقَthe eyes القلوبُthe hearts
عليه تَحْسُدُ الحَدقَ القلوبُ
Hold fast to it, for it has a Book
For which hearts envy eyes.
يَنُوبُsubstitutes لهاfor it عَنِin place of الكُتبِthe scriptures المَوَاضيof old
يَنُوبُ لها عَنِ الكُتبِ المَوَاضي
ولَيْسَتْand they do not عنهin its stead فيin حالٍany circumstance تَنُوبُsubstitute
ولَيْسَتْ عنه في حالٍ تَنُوبُ
For it, this Book replaces the scriptures of old,
But they can never replace it.
ألَمْhave you not تَرَهُseen it يُنَادِيproclaiming بالتَّحَدِّيa challenge
ألَمْ تَرَهُ يُنَادِي بالتَّحَدِّي
ولاand no أحدٌone بِبَيِّنَةٍwith proof يُجِيبُanswers
ولا أحدٌ بِبَيِّنَةٍ يُجِيبُ
Have you not seen it proclaiming its challenge,
While no one answers with proof?
وَقدand indeed كَشَفَit lifted الغِطَاءَthe veil لناfor us وشُقَّتْand were rent
وَقد كَشَفَ الغِطَاءَ لنا وشُقَّتْ
عَنِrevealing الحُسْنِthe beauty البَدِيعِwondrous بهthrough it جُيوبُcollars
عَنِ الحُسْنِ البَدِيعِ به جُيوبُ
It has lifted the veil for us, and there were rent
Through it, collars revealing wondrous beauty.
وَدَانَand submitted البَدْرُthe full moon مُنْشَقّاًsplit apart إليهto him
وَدَانَ البَدْرُ مُنْشَقّاً إليه
وأَفْصَحَand spoke clearly ناطِقاًspeaking عَيْرٌa donkey وَذيبُand a wolf
وأَفْصَحَ ناطِقاً عَيْرٌ وَذيبُ
The full moon submitted to him, split apart,
And a donkey and a wolf spoke clearly.
وَجِذْعُand the trunk of النَّخْلِthe palm حَنَّyearned حَنِينَwith the yearning of ثَكْلَىa bereaved mother
وَجِذْعُ النَّخْلِ حَنَّ حَنِينَ ثَكْلَى
لهُfor him فأَجابهُso he answered it نِعْمَexcellent is المُجِيبُthe responder
لهُ فأَجابهُ نِعْمَ المُجِيبُ
The palm trunk yearned with a bereaved mother's yearning
For him; he answered it—an excellent responder.
وَقدand indeed سَجَدَتْbowed لهُbefore him أَغصانُbranches of سَرْحٍsarh trees
وَقد سَجَدَتْ لهُ أَغصانُ سَرْحٍ
فلِمْso why لاnot يؤْمِنُbelieve الظَّبْيُthe gazelle الرَّبِيبُtame
فلِمْ لا يؤْمِنُ الظَّبْيُ الرَّبِيبُ
Branches of sarh trees bowed before him;
Why, then, should the tame gazelle not believe?
وَكمْand how many مِنْa دَعْوَةٍprayer فيamid المَحْلِdrought منهاthrough which
وَكمْ مِنْ دَعْوَةٍ في المَحْلِ منها
رَبَتْswelled وَاهْتَزَّتِand stirred الأرضُthe earth الجَدِيبُbarren
رَبَتْ وَاهْتَزَّتِ الأرضُ الجَدِيبُ
How many a prayer amid drought, through which
The barren earth swelled and stirred!
وَروَّىand gave drink to عَسْكَراًan army بِحليبِwith the milk of شاةٍa sheep
وَروَّى عَسْكَراً بِحليبِ شاةٍ
فعاوَدَهُمso returned to them بهِthrough it العَيْشُsustenance الخصيبُplentiful
فعاوَدَهُم بهِ العَيْشُ الخصيبُ
He gave an army drink from a sheep's milk,
And plentiful sustenance returned to them through it.
وَمَخْبولٌand a deranged man أتاهُcame to him فثابَso returned عَقْلٌreason
وَمَخْبولٌ أتاهُ فثابَ عَقْلٌ
إليهto him وَلمْand did not نَخلْهُwe think it لهto him يثُوبُwould return
إليه وَلمْ نَخلْهُ له يثُوبُ
A deranged man came to him, and reason returned
To him, though we had not thought it would return.
وماand no ماءٌwater تَلَقَّىhe encountered وهْوَwhile it was مِلْحٌsalty
وما ماءٌ تَلَقَّى وهْوَ مِلْحٌ
أُجاجٌbitter طَعْمُهُits taste إِلَّاexcept يَطِيبُbecomes sweet
أُجاجٌ طَعْمُهُ إِلَّا يَطِيبُ
No water he encountered, though salty
And bitter in taste, failed to become sweet.
وعينٌand an eye فارقَتْlost نظراًsight فعادتso returned
وعينٌ فارقَتْ نظراً فعادت
كماas كانتْit had been ورُدَّand was restored لهاto it السَّليبُwhat was taken away
كما كانتْ ورُدَّ لها السَّليبُ
An eye that had lost its sight returned
To what it had been, its loss restored to it.
ومَيْتٌand a dying man مُؤْذِنٌannouncing بِفِرَاقِthe departure of رُوحٍa soul
ومَيْتٌ مُؤْذِنٌ بِفِرَاقِ رُوحٍ
أَقامَrose وسُرِّيَتْand was dispelled عنهfrom him شعُوبُDeath
أَقامَ وسُرِّيَتْ عنه شعُوبُ
A dying man, heralding his soul's departure,
Rose, and Death was dispelled from him.
وثَغْرُand the teeth of مُعَمِّرٍa long-lived man عُمراًa life طويلاًlong
وثَغْرُ مُعَمِّرٍ عُمراً طويلاً
تُوُفّيhe died وهوَwhile it was مَنْضُودٌneatly arranged شَنيبُwhite and fresh
تُوُفّي وهوَ مَنْضُودٌ شَنيبُ
And the teeth of a man granted a long life:
He died with them still evenly set, fresh and white.
وَنَخْلٌand palm trees أَثْمَرَتُbore fruit فيin دُونِless than عامٍa year
وَنَخْلٌ أَثْمَرَتُ في دُونِ عامٍ
فَغَارَso grew jealous بهاbecause of them عَلَىof القِنْوِthe date-cluster العَسيبُthe palm frond
فَغَارَ بها عَلَى القِنْوِ العَسيبُ
Palm trees bore fruit in less than a year,
So the palm frond grew jealous of the date-cluster because of them.
وَوفّىand repaid منهُfrom it سَلْمانٌSalman دُيُوناًdebts
وَوفّى منهُ سَلْمانٌ دُيُوناً
عليهupon him ماnot يُوفِّيهاcould repay them جَرِيبُa jarib measure
عليه ما يُوفِّيها جَرِيبُ
From it Salman repaid debts
He owed, which a jarib measure could not repay.
وَجَرَّدَand drew مِنْfrom جَرِيدِthe fronds of النَّخْلِthe palm سَيْفاًa sword
وَجَرَّدَ مِنْ جَرِيدِ النَّخْلِ سَيْفاً
فقِيلَso it was said بِذَاكَbecause of that لِلسَّيْفِof the sword القَضِيبُal-Qadib
فقِيلَ بِذَاكَ لِلسَّيْفِ القَضِيبُ
He drew a sword from a palm frond,
So for that the sword was called al-Qadib.
وهَزَّand shook ثَبِيرThabir عِطْفَيْهِits two flanks سُروراًin joy
وهَزَّ ثَبِير عِطْفَيْهِ سُروراً
بهat him كالغُصْنِlike a branch هَبَّتْهُblew upon it الجَنُوبُthe south wind
به كالغُصْنِ هَبَّتْهُ الجَنُوبُ
Thabir shook both its flanks in joy
At him, like a branch stirred by the south wind.
ورَدَّand repelled الفيلَthe elephant والأحزابَand the Confederates طَيْرٌbirds
ورَدَّ الفيلَ والأحزابَ طَيْرٌ
وريحٌand a wind ماnot يُطاقُcould be endured لهاits هُبُوبُblowing
وريحٌ ما يُطاقُ لها هُبُوبُ
The elephant and the Confederates were driven back by birds
And a wind whose blowing could not be endured.
وَفارِسand Persia خانهاbetrayed it ماءٌwater ونارٌand fire
وَفارِس خانها ماءٌ ونارٌ
فغِيضَso subsided الماءُthe water وانطَفأَand went out اللَّهيبُthe flame
فغِيضَ الماءُ وانطَفأَ اللَّهيبُ
Persia was betrayed by water and fire:
The water subsided, and the flame went out.
وَقدand indeed هَزَّbrandished الحسامَthe sword عليهagainst him عادٍan assailant
وَقد هَزَّ الحسامَ عليه عادٍ
بِيَوْمٍon a day نَوْمُهhis sleep فيهin it هُبوبُwakefulness
بِيَوْمٍ نَوْمُه فيه هُبوبُ
An assailant had brandished a sword against him
On a day when his sleep was wakefulness.
فقامَso rose المصطفىthe Chosen One بالسيفِwith the sword يَسْطوattacking fiercely
فقامَ المصطفى بالسيفِ يَسْطو
عَلَىagainst السَّاطيthe assailant بهwith it وَلهُand he had وثُوبُa leap
عَلَى السَّاطي به وَلهُ وثُوبُ
The Chosen One rose with the sword, striking
At its assailant, springing forward.
وَرِيعَand was terrified لهُfor his sake أبوAbu جهلٍJahl بِفَحْلٍby a bull camel
وَرِيعَ لهُ أبو جهلٍ بِفَحْلٍ
يَنُوبُstands in عَنِfor الهِزَبْرِthe lion لهُit has نُيُوبُfangs
يَنُوبُ عَنِ الهِزَبْرِ لهُ نُيُوبُ
Abu Jahl was terrified for his sake by a bull camel,
Standing in for a lion, with fangs of its own.
وَشُهْبٌand meteors أُرْسِلَتْwere sent حَرَساًas guards فخُطَّتْso were inscribed
وَشُهْبٌ أُرْسِلَتْ حَرَساً فخُطَّتْ
عَلَىupon طِرسِthe parchment of الظَّلامِdarkness بهاwith them شُطوبُstreaks
عَلَى طِرسِ الظَّلامِ بها شُطوبُ
Meteors were sent as guards, and there were traced
With them, streaks upon the parchment of darkness.
وَلَمْand did not أَرَI see مُعجزاتٍmiracles مِثْلَlike ذِكْرٍa Reminder
وَلَمْ أَرَ مُعجزاتٍ مِثْلَ ذِكْرٍ
إليهto it كلُّevery ذِيpossessor of لُبٍّunderstanding يُنيبُturns
إليه كلُّ ذِي لُبٍّ يُنيبُ
I have seen no miracles like a Reminder
To which everyone possessing understanding turns.
وماand not آياتُهhis signs تُحْصَىare numbered بِعَدٍّby counting
وما آياتُه تُحْصَى بِعَدٍّ
فَيُدْرِكَso might grasp شَأْوَهاtheir full extent منيthrough me طَلوبُan eager seeker
فَيُدْرِكَ شَأْوَها مني طَلوبُ
His signs cannot be numbered by any count,
So that an eager seeker might grasp their full extent through me.
طَفِقْتُI began أعُدُّcounting منهاamong them مَوْجَthe waves of بَحْرٍa sea
طَفِقْتُ أعُدُّ منها مَوْجَ بَحْرٍ
وَقَطْراًand raindrops غَيْثُهُtheir rain أَبَداًforever يَصُوبُpours down
وَقَطْراً غَيْثُهُ أَبَداً يَصُوبُ
I began counting among them the waves of a sea
And drops whose rain forever pours down.
يَجُودُpours generously سَحابُهُنَّtheir clouds وَلاand no انْقِشَاعٌclearing
يَجُودُ سَحابُهُنَّ وَلا انْقِشَاعٌ
وَيَزْخَرُand surges بَحْرُهُنَّtheir sea وَلاand no نُضُوبُdrying up
وَيَزْخَرُ بَحْرُهُنَّ وَلا نُضُوبُ
Their clouds pour generously, never clearing,
And their sea surges, never running dry.
فَراقَكَso delighted you مِنْfrom بَوَارِقِهاtheir lightning flashes وَمِيضٌa gleam
فَراقَكَ مِنْ بَوَارِقِها وَمِيضٌ
وَشاقَكَand stirred your longing مِنْamong جَوَاهِرِهاtheir jewels رُسوبُa sunken gem
وَشاقَكَ مِنْ جَوَاهِرِها رُسوبُ
A gleam from their lightning delighted you,
And a sunken jewel among their gems stirred your longing.
هداناguided us للإِلهِto God بهاthrough them نَبيٌّa prophet
هدانا للإِلهِ بها نَبيٌّ
فضائِلهhis virtues إذاwhen تُحْكَىare recounted ضُروبُmany kinds
فضائِله إذا تُحْكَى ضُروبُ
Through them a prophet guided us to God,
Whose virtues, when recounted, are of many kinds.
وأَخبَرَand informed تابِعِيهِhis followers بِغائِباتٍof unseen things
وأَخبَرَ تابِعِيهِ بِغائِباتٍ
وَلَيسَand is not بِكائِنcoming into being عنهُfrom him معيبُanything blameworthy
وَلَيسَ بِكائِن عنهُ معيبُ
He informed his followers of unseen things,
And nothing blameworthy comes from him.
ولاand did not كَتَبَwrite الكتابَthe Book وَلاnor تَلاهrecite it
ولا كَتَبَ الكتابَ وَلا تَلاه
فيُلْحِدَso might impugn فيin رسالتهhis mission المُريبُthe doubter
فيُلْحِدَ في رسالته المُريبُ
He neither wrote the Book nor recited it,
So no doubter may impugn his mission.
وَقدand indeed نالواthey attained عَلَىabove الأُممthe nations المَوَاضيof old
وَقد نالوا عَلَى الأُمم المَوَاضي
بهthrough him شَرَفاًhonor فكلُّهُمُso all of them حَسيبُnoble in standing
به شَرَفاً فكلُّهُمُ حَسيبُ
Above the nations of old, they attained
Honor through him, each noble in standing.
وماand none كأميرِناlike our commander فيهمamong them أميرٌa commander
وما كأميرِنا فيهم أميرٌ
ولاnor كنقِيبِناlike our chief لهمُfor them نقيبُa chief
ولا كنقِيبِنا لهمُ نقيبُ
Among them no commander is like ours,
Nor have they a chief like our chief.
كأَنَّas though عليمَناour learned man لهمُto them نبيٌّa prophet
كأَنَّ عليمَنا لهمُ نبيٌّ
لدعوتِهِto his call الخلائقُall creatures تستجيبُrespond
لدعوتِهِ الخلائقُ تستجيبُ
Our learned man is like a prophet to them,
To whose call all creatures respond.
وَقدand indeed كتِبَتْwere prescribed عليناfor us واجباتٌobligatory duties
وَقد كتِبَتْ علينا واجباتٌ
أَشَدُّharder عليهمُfor them منهاthan these النُّدوبُrecommended duties
أَشَدُّ عليهمُ منها النُّدوبُ
Obligatory duties have been prescribed for us;
Recommended duties are harder for them than these.
وماand not تَتَضاعفُmultiply الأغلالُthe fetters إِلَّاexcept
وما تَتَضاعفُ الأغلالُ إِلَّا
إذاwhen قَسَتِgrow hard الرِّقابُthe necks أوِor القلوبُthe hearts
إذا قَسَتِ الرِّقابُ أوِ القلوبُ
Fetters multiply only
When necks or hearts grow hard.
ولماand when قيلَwere called للكفارِthe unbelievers خُشْبٌlogs
ولما قيلَ للكفارِ خُشْبٌ
تَحَكَّمَruled فيهمُover them السيفُthe sword الخشِيبُunpolished
تَحَكَّمَ فيهمُ السيفُ الخشِيبُ
When the unbelievers were called logs,
The unpolished sword ruled over them.
حَكَوْاthey resembled فيin ضَرْبِsetting forth أَمثلةٍparables حَمِيراdonkeys
حَكَوْا في ضَرْبِ أَمثلةٍ حَمِيرا
فواحِدُناso one of us لأَلفِهِمُagainst a thousand of theirs ضَرُوبُa mighty striker
فواحِدُنا لأَلفِهِمُ ضَرُوبُ
In the setting forth of parables, they resembled donkeys;
One of ours strikes a thousand of theirs.
وماand not عُلَماؤُناour scholars إلاexcept سُيوفٌswords
وما عُلَماؤُنا إلا سُيوفٌ
مَواضٍkeen لاnot تُفَلُّare blunted لهاtheir غُروبُcutting edges
مَواضٍ لا تُفَلُّ لها غُروبُ
Our scholars are nothing but swords,
Keen, with edges that cannot be blunted.
سَراةٌnoble leaders لمdid not يَقُلْsay منهمamong them سَرِيٌّa noble man
سَراةٌ لم يَقُلْ منهم سَرِيٌّ
لِيَوْمِof a day of كَرِيهَةٍbattle يومٌa day عَصيبُdire
لِيَوْمِ كَرِيهَةٍ يومٌ عَصيبُ
Noble leaders, none of whose noble men ever said
Of a day of battle, 'A dire day.'
وَلَمْand did not يَفْتِنْهُمُtempt them ماءٌwater نَمِيرٌwholesome
وَلَمْ يَفْتِنْهُمُ ماءٌ نَمِيرٌ
مِنَfrom الدنياthis world ولاnor مَرْعىًpasture خصيبُfertile
مِنَ الدنيا ولا مَرْعىً خصيبُ
Wholesome water did not tempt them
From this world, nor fertile pasture.
ولمand did not تُغْمَضْclose لهمْtheir ليلاًat night جُفونٌeyelids
ولم تُغْمَضْ لهمْ ليلاً جُفونٌ
ولاnor أَلِفَتْgrew accustomed to مَضاجِعَهاtheir beds جُنُوبُsides
ولا أَلِفَتْ مَضاجِعَها جُنُوبُ
Their eyelids did not close at night,
Nor did their sides grow familiar with their beds.
يَشُوقُكَstirs your longing منهمُamong them كلُّevery ابنِson of هَيْجَاbattle
يَشُوقُكَ منهمُ كلُّ ابنِ هَيْجَا
عَلَىamid اللَّأواءhardship مَحْبُوبٌbeloved مَهيبُawe-inspiring
عَلَى اللَّأواء مَحْبُوبٌ مَهيبُ
Every son of battle among them stirs your longing:
Beloved and awe-inspiring amid hardship.
لهhe has مِنْfrom نَقْعِهَاits dust طَرْفٌan eye كَحِيلkohl-darkened
له مِنْ نَقْعِهَا طَرْفٌ كَحِيل
ومِنْand from دَمِthe blood of أُسْدِهاits lions كَفٌّa hand خَضِيبُdyed
ومِنْ دَمِ أُسْدِها كَفٌّ خَضِيبُ
His eye is kohled with its dust,
And his hand dyed with the blood of its lions.
وتنهالُand crumble الكتائبُthe battalions حينَwhen يَهْوِيhe swoops down
وتنهالُ الكتائبُ حينَ يَهْوِي
إليهاupon them مثلَlike ماwhat انهالcollapsed الكثيبُthe sand dune
إليها مثلَ ما انهال الكثيبُ
Battalions crumble when he swoops
Upon them, as a sand dune collapses.
علىalong طُرُقِthe paths of القَناthe spears للموْتِfor death منهfrom him
على طُرُقِ القَنا للموْتِ منه
إلىtoward مُهجِthe lifeblood of العِداthe enemies أبداforever دَبيبُcreeping
إلى مُهجِ العِدا أبدا دَبيبُ
Along the paths of spears, death from him
Forever creeps toward his enemies' lifeblood.
يُقَصِّدُhe shatters فيamong العِداthe enemies سُمْرَthe brown العَواليlofty spears
يُقَصِّدُ في العِدا سُمْرَ العَوالي
فيَرْجِعُthen returns وهْوَwhile he is مسلوبٌstripped سَلوبُa plunderer
فيَرْجِعُ وهْوَ مسلوبٌ سَلوبُ
He shatters the brown, lofty spears among his enemies,
Then returns stripped, yet a plunderer.
ذَوابِلُslender spears كالعُقُودِlike necklaces لهاthey have اطّرادٌunbroken succession
ذَوابِلُ كالعُقُودِ لها اطّرادٌ
فليسَso nothing يَشُوقُهاstirs their longing إلَّاexcept التَّرِيبُthe breastbone
فليسَ يَشُوقُها إلَّا التَّرِيبُ
Slender spears, like necklaces, proceeding in succession:
Only the breastbone stirs their longing.
يَخِرُّfalls لِرُمْحِهِbefore his spear الرُّومِيُّthe Roman أنَّىhow
يَخِرُّ لِرُمْحِهِ الرُّومِيُّ أنَّى
تَيَقَّنَbecame certain أنهthat it is العُودُthe wood الصَّليبُthe cross
تَيَقَّنَ أنه العُودُ الصَّليبُ
The Roman falls before his spear—how
Did he become certain it was the wood of the cross?
ويَخْضِبُand dyes سَيْفَهُhis sword بِدَمِwith the blood of النَّواصيthe forelocks
ويَخْضِبُ سَيْفَهُ بِدَمِ النَّواصي
مَخَافَةَfor fear أنْthat يُقالَit be said بهin it مَشِيبُgray hair
مَخَافَةَ أنْ يُقالَ به مَشِيبُ
He dyes his sword with the blood of forelocks,
Lest someone say that it has gone gray.
لهhe has فيin الليلِthe night دَمْعٌtears ليسَnot يَرْقاceasing
له في الليلِ دَمْعٌ ليسَ يَرْقا
وقلبٌand a heart ماnot يَغِبُّpauses لهits وجِيبُthrobbing
وقلبٌ ما يَغِبُّ له وجِيبُ
At night he has tears that never cease,
And a heart whose throbbing never pauses.
رسولَO Messenger of اللَّهِGod دعوةَthe plea of مُستقيلٍone seeking pardon
رسولَ اللَّهِ دعوةَ مُستقيلٍ
مِنَfor التقصيرِshortcomings خاطِرُهُhis heart هَيُوبُfearful
مِنَ التقصيرِ خاطِرُهُ هَيُوبُ
O Messenger of God, hear the plea of one seeking pardon
For shortcomings, fearful in heart.
تَعَذَّرَhe pleaded excuses فيin المَشِيبِgray old age وكانَand he was عَيَّاًtongue-tied
تَعَذَّرَ في المَشِيبِ وكانَ عَيَّاً
وَبُرْدُand the mantle of شبابِهِhis youth ضافٍample قشيبُnew
وَبُرْدُ شبابِهِ ضافٍ قشيبُ
He pleads excuses in gray age, though he was tongue-tied
When the mantle of his youth was ample and new.
ولاand no عَتْبٌblame علىupon مَنone who قامَrose يَجْلوdisplays
ولا عَتْبٌ على مَن قامَ يَجْلو
محاسِنَbeauties لاnot تُرَىare seen معهاbeside them عيوبُfaults
محاسِنَ لا تُرَى معها عيوبُ
No blame falls on one who rises to display
Beauties beside which no faults can be seen.
دَعاكhe called upon you لكلِّfor every مُعْضِلةٍdifficulty أَلَمَّتْthat befell
دَعاك لكلِّ مُعْضِلةٍ أَلَمَّتْ
بهhim ولكلِّand for every نائبةٍcalamity تَنُوبُthat comes around
به ولكلِّ نائبةٍ تَنُوبُ
He called upon you for every difficulty that befell
Him, and for every calamity that comes around.
وللذَّنبِand for the sin الذيwhich ضاقَتْgrew narrow عليهaround him
وللذَّنبِ الذي ضاقَتْ عليه
بهbecause of it الدنياthe world وجانبُهاand its expanse رَحِيبُwide
به الدنيا وجانبُها رَحِيبُ
And for the sin that made too narrow for him
The world, though its expanse is wide.
يُراقِبُkeeps watch over منهof it ماwhat كَسَبَتْearned يَداهhis two hands
يُراقِبُ منه ما كَسَبَتْ يَداه
فيَبْكيهso he weeps over it كماas يَبْكيweeps الرَّقوبُthe bereaved parent
فيَبْكيه كما يَبْكي الرَّقوبُ
He watches what his hands have earned of sin,
And weeps over it as a bereaved parent weeps.
وأَنىand how يهتديfinds guidance للرُّشدِto right conduct عاصٍa sinner
وأَنى يهتدي للرُّشدِ عاصٍ
لِغارِبِupon the withers of كلِّevery مَعصِيَةٍsin ركوبُa habitual rider
لِغارِبِ كلِّ مَعصِيَةٍ ركوبُ
How can a sinner find right guidance,
A habitual rider upon the withers of every sin?
يَتوبُrepents لِسانُهُhis tongue عَنْof كلِّevery ذَنْبٍsin
يَتوبُ لِسانُهُ عَنْ كلِّ ذَنْبٍ
وَلمand has not يَرَseen قلبهُhis heart منهof it يَتُوبُrepent
وَلم يَرَ قلبهُ منه يَتُوبُ
His tongue repents of every sin,
Yet he has not seen his heart repent of it.
تَقَاضَتْهُdemanded from him مواهِبُكَyour gifts امْتِدَاحاًpraise
تَقَاضَتْهُ مواهِبُكَ امْتِدَاحاً
وَأَوْلَىand most deserving الناسِof people بالمَدْحِof praise الوَهُوبُthe generous giver
وَأَوْلَى الناسِ بالمَدْحِ الوَهُوبُ
Your gifts demanded praise from him;
The generous giver is most deserving of praise.
وَأغْرانيand urged me بهto it داعِيa caller اقْتِراحٍmaking a request
وَأغْراني به داعِي اقْتِراحٍ
عَلَيَّupon me لأَمْرِهِfor his command أبَدَاًalways وُجُوبُbinding obligation
عَلَيَّ لأَمْرِهِ أبَدَاً وُجُوبُ
A caller making a request urged me to it;
His command is ever binding upon me.
فقلتُso I said لِمَنْto the one who يَحُضُّurges عَلَيَّupon me فيهabout it
فقلتُ لِمَنْ يَحُضُّ عَلَيَّ فيه
لعلَّكperhaps you فيin هواهlove for him لِيto me نَسيبُa kinsman
لعلَّك في هواه لِي نَسيبُ
So I said to the one pressing me about it:
Perhaps you are my kinsman in loving him.
دَلَلْتَyou guided عَلَىtoward الهَوَىlove قلبيmy heart فَسَهْمِيso my arrow
دَلَلْتَ عَلَى الهَوَى قلبي فَسَهْمِي
وَسَهْمُكَand your arrow فيin الهَوَىlove كلٌّeach مُصيبُhits the mark
وَسَهْمُكَ في الهَوَى كلٌّ مُصيبُ
You guided my heart to love, so my arrow
And yours in love both hit the mark.
لجودٍfor the generosity of المصطفىthe Chosen One مُدَّتْwere outstretched يَداناour two hands
لجودٍ المصطفى مُدَّتْ يَدانا
وَماand not مُدَّتْoutstretched لهُto him أَيْدٍhands تَخِيبُare disappointed
وَما مُدَّتْ لهُ أَيْدٍ تَخِيبُ
Our hands were outstretched for the Chosen One's generosity,
And hands stretched out to him never go disappointed.
شفاعَتُهُhis intercession لناfor us ولكلِّand for every عاصٍsinner
شفاعَتُهُ لنا ولكلِّ عاصٍ
بِقَدْرِin proportion to ذُنوبِهِhis sins منهاof it ذَنوبُa bucketful
بِقَدْرِ ذُنوبِهِ منها ذَنوبُ
His intercession is for us, and for every sinner,
A bucketful of it in proportion to his sins.
هُوَhe الغَيْثُthe rain السَّكُوبَpouring نَدىًgenerosity وعِلْماًand knowledge
هُوَ الغَيْثُ السَّكُوبَ نَدىً وعِلْماً
جَهِلْتُI was ignorant وماand not هُوَhe الغَيْثُthe rain السَّكوبُpouring
جَهِلْتُ وما هُوَ الغَيْثُ السَّكوبُ
He is the pouring rain of generosity and knowledge;
I was mistaken—he is not the pouring rain.
صلاةُthe blessings of اللّهِGod ماas long as سارتtravel سحابٌclouds
صلاةُ اللّهِ ما سارت سحابٌ
عليهupon him وماand as long as رَساstands firm وَثَوَىand abides عَسِيبُAsib
عليه وما رَسا وَثَوَى عَسِيبُ
God's blessings, as long as clouds travel,
Be upon him, and as long as Asib stands firm and abides.
Sol 6.1