رَسْمٌ عليَّ لذلك الرَّسم

رَسْمٌ عليَّ لذلك الرَّسم

أَنِّي أُقاسمُهُ ضَنَى الجسمِ

أَنِّي أُقاسمُهُ ضَنَى الجسمِ

I owe that ruined trace a duty:

A mark is upon me, so for that mark,

to share with it the wasting of the body.

I share the body's grief.

دارٌ على حَرْبِ الزَّمانِ لنا

دارٌ على حَرْبِ الزَّمانِ لنا

جَنَحَتْ بها سَلْمَى إلى سَلمي

جَنَحَتْ بها سَلْمَى إلى سَلمي

A dwelling that, amid time's war, was ours,

A house turned by the war of time to us,

where Salma inclined toward peace with me.

In it, my peace reached my peace.

ما للهوى أَباً يُلازِمُني

ما للهوى أَباً يُلازِمُني

فيها فهل كُتِبَ الهوى باسمي

فيها فهل كُتِبَ الهوى باسمي

Why does love cling to me endlessly

Passion has no father who stays with me

within it? Was love inscribed in my name?

In it, so was passion written in my name?

يا صاحِ تعذِلُني على شَعَفٍ

يا صاحِ تعذِلُني على شَعَفٍ

ما زالَ يَعْذرُني له خَصْمي

ما زالَ يَعْذرُني له خَصْمي

O friend, you blame me for an ardent love

O companion, you blame me for a weakness,

for which my adversary has always excused me.

My adversary continues to excuse me to it.

إنّي رَضَعْتُ لبانَ حُبِّهمُ

إنّي رَضَعْتُ لبانَ حُبِّهمُ

ويعزُّ عنه وإنْ جَفَوا فَطْمي

ويعزُّ عنه وإنْ جَفَوا فَطْمي

I suckled the milk of love for them,

I suckled the milk of their love,

and weaning me from it is hard, even if they shun me.

And it’s hard to be weaned even if they wean me.

كَلْمٌ فِراقُهُم ولومُكَ لي

كَلْمٌ فِراقُهُم ولومُكَ لي

في حُبِّهم كَلْمٌ على كَلْمِ

في حُبِّهم كَلْمٌ على كَلْمِ

Their parting is a wound, and your blaming me

Their separation is painful, and your blame is pain

for loving them is wound upon wound.

In loving them, pain upon pain.

بَخِلوا عليَّ بوَصْلِ طيفهمُ

بَخِلوا عليَّ بوَصْلِ طيفهمُ

ما كان بُخْلُ الطَّيفِ في زَعْمي

ما كان بُخْلُ الطَّيفِ في زَعْمي

They begrudged me a visit from their phantom;

They were stingy to grant me their apparition.

I had never imagined a phantom could be stingy.

The apparition’s stinginess was not in my doctrine.

أَنّى يَطيبُ ويستطيبُ كرىً

أَنّى يَطيبُ ويستطيبُ كرىً

قَلْبٌ يَهيمُ وناظرٌ يَهْمي

قَلْبٌ يَهيمُ وناظرٌ يَهْمي

How could either feel at ease and relish sleep:

How can a heart that raves and a gazing eye that desires

a heart wandering in love, an eye streaming tears?

Feel good and desire good things?

أَو ما سِوَى هَجْري عِقَابهُمُ

أَو ما سِوَى هَجْري عِقَابهُمُ

أَم ليس غَيْرَ هواهمُ جُرْمي

أَم ليس غَيْرَ هواهمُ جُرْمي

Is forsaking me their only punishment,

Or is there anything but their estrangement that punishes me?

or is loving them my only crime?

Or is there any crime but my love for them?

أَمّا الغرامُ فأَدمعي أَبداً

أَمّا الغرامُ فأَدمعي أَبداً

يُعرِبْنَ عنه بأَلسنٍ عُجْمِ

يُعرِبْنَ عنه بأَلسنٍ عُجْمِ

As for passion, my tears forever

As for passion, my tears will forever

express it with speechless tongues.

Express it in inarticulate tongues.

والقلبُ مَسْكنُهمْ فكيف رَضُوا

والقلبُ مَسْكنُهمْ فكيف رَضُوا

أَنْ يجعلوه مسكنَ الهَمِّ

أَنْ يجعلوه مسكنَ الهَمِّ

The heart is their dwelling; how could they consent

And the heart is their dwelling, so how can they accept

to make it sorrow's dwelling?

To make it the dwelling of worries?

والسُّقمُ في جسمِ المحبِّ فلمْ

والسُّقمُ في جسمِ المحبِّ فلمْ

وُصفَتْ عيونُ البيضِ بالسَّقَمِ

وُصفَتْ عيونُ البيضِ بالسَّقَمِ

Sickness inhabits the lover's body; why, then,

And sickness in the lover's body, so

are the eyes of fair beauties described as sick?

Were the white eyes described as sick?

أُدْمٌ سَفَكْنَ دمي بأَعينها

أُدْمٌ سَفَكْنَ دمي بأَعينها

يا لَلْرِجالِ من الدُّمى الأُدْمِ

يا لَلْرِجالِ من الدُّمى الأُدْمِ

Dusky beauties shed my blood with their eyes.

Blood they spilled, they spilled my blood with their eyes

Men, help me against these dusky idols!

What excellent bloody idols!

بيْضُ الظُّبَى تَنْبو وترشقنا

بيْضُ الظُّبَى تَنْبو وترشقنا

بيْضُ الظِّباءِ بأَعينٍ تُدْمي

بيْضُ الظِّباءِ بأَعينٍ تُدْمي

Bright sword-blades glance off, while we are shot at

The whiteness of the gazelles rises and shines upon us

by fair gazelles with eyes that draw blood.

The gazelles’ whiteness with eyes that bloody me.

ما كنتُ أَعلمُ قبلَ رؤيتها

ما كنتُ أَعلمُ قبلَ رؤيتها

أَنَّ النّواظر أَسْهمٌ تُصْمي

أَنَّ النّواظر أَسْهمٌ تُصْمي

Before seeing them, I had not known

I did not know before seeing them

that eyes are arrows that kill outright.

That sights are arrows that deafen me.

أَقمارُ خَمْرٍ إنْ سَفرنَ لنا

أَقمارُ خَمْرٍ إنْ سَفرنَ لنا

وإن انتقبنَ أَهلّةُ اللّثْمِ

وإن انتقبنَ أَهلّةُ اللّثْمِ

Moons of wine when they unveil to us,

Moons of wine, if they travel to us,

and, when they veil, crescents beneath face-veils.

And if they wink, those who deserve a kiss.

يَضْعُفنَ عن حملِ الإزارِ فلم

يَضْعُفنَ عن حملِ الإزارِ فلم

يحملنَ أَوزاراً منَ الإثم

يحملنَ أَوزاراً منَ الإثم

Too frail to bear a waist-wrap—why, then,

They are too weak to carry a loincloth, so they

do they bear burdens of sin?

Did not carry any burdens of sin.

لظباءِ كاظمةٍ مقابلتي

لظباءِ كاظمةٍ مقابلتي

غيظي من الرُّقباءِ بالكظم

غيظي من الرُّقباءِ بالكظم

For the gazelles of Kazima, I meet

For matching a silent gazelle, my anger

my anger at the watchers with restraint.

From the stiff-necked ones with restraint.

وأَغنَّ بالكَشْحِ الهضيمِ له

وأَغنَّ بالكَشْحِ الهضيمِ له

يا كاشحي أًغناكَ عن هَضْمي

يا كاشحي أًغناكَ عن هَضْمي

And a soft-voiced one, whose slender waist,

And it sang with melodious trilling to it,

O my ill-wisher, spares you the work of wasting me.

"O you who trill, your trilling has made me forget."

أَحمي بجُهْدي في الهَوَى جلدِي

أَحمي بجُهْدي في الهَوَى جلدِي

واللّحظُ منه يُبِيحُ ما أَحْمي

واللّحظُ منه يُبِيحُ ما أَحْمي

With all my effort, I guard my skin in love,

I protect my skin with effort in passion,

but a glance from him lays open what I guard.

And a glance from it permits what I protect.

مَنْ مُنْصفي مِنْ جَورِ حاجبهِ

مَنْ مُنْصفي مِنْ جَورِ حاجبهِ

ولحاظُهُ عن قوسهِ تَرْمي

ولحاظُهُ عن قوسهِ تَرْمي

Who will give me justice against his eyebrow's tyranny,

Who can justify me from the injustice of their frown?

while his glances shoot from its bow?

Their amorous glance shoots from their bow.

وَحَلا ومرَّ وتجنِّياً وجنىً

وَحَلا ومرَّ وتجنِّياً وجنىً

يا شهدَهُ لِمْ شِيْبَ بالسُّمِّ

يا شهدَهُ لِمْ شِيْبَ بالسُّمِّ

Sweet and bitter—unjust reproach and fruit:

They visited while dressed beautifully and picked

O his honey, why was it mixed with poison?

O, their visit! Why did it turn white from poison?

الخمرُ رِيْقتُهُ وقد عَذُبَتْ

الخمرُ رِيْقتُهُ وقد عَذُبَتْ

ما كلُّ خمرٍ مُزَّةُ الطَّعْمِ

ما كلُّ خمرٍ مُزَّةُ الطَّعْمِ

His saliva is wine, yet it has grown sweet;

The saliva is sweet and it has become delicious.

not every wine is tart in taste.

Not all wines have the flavor of taste.

وإذا شَفَتْ شَفَةٌ غليلَ صَدٍ

وإذا شَفَتْ شَفَةٌ غليلَ صَدٍ

فالظُّلمُ صدُّكهُ عن الظَّلْمِ

فالظُّلمُ صدُّكهُ عن الظَّلْمِ

If a lip has cured a thirsty one's burning thirst,

And if a lip heals the anguish of a breast,

injustice is his denying you the teeth's gleaming moisture.

Then your prevention of injustice is injustice.

أَقَنعْتَ من بَرْقِ الحِمَى سَحَراً

أَقَنعْتَ من بَرْقِ الحِمَى سَحَراً

ونسيمهِ بالشّيمِ والشمِّ

ونسيمهِ بالشّيمِ والشمِّ

Are you content with the protected abode's dawn lightning

You sufficed from the lightning of passion for a while,

and its breeze—merely watching and smelling?

And its breeze with tolerable and smell.

ورضيتَ من نُعمٍ وإنْ مَطَلَتْ

ورضيتَ من نُعمٍ وإنْ مَطَلَتْ

بنَعَمْ ونُعمى تلكَ من نعمِ

بنَعَمْ ونُعمى تلكَ من نعمِ

And are you content with Nu'm, even if she delays,

And you were satisfied with blessings even if they were late,

with a 'yes'? That is a blessing from Nu'm.

With blessings and prosperity. That is of blessings.

وَبَلغْتَ من عظمِ الشُّكاة مَدىً

وَبَلغْتَ من عظمِ الشُّكاة مَدىً

فيه المُى بَلَغَتْ إلى العَظْمِ

فيه المُى بَلَغَتْ إلى العَظْمِ

You have reached such a pitch of suffering

And you have reached in the greatness of complaining a point,

that suffering has reached the bone.

In which the inclined reached the bone.

فإلامَ تشكو الظُّلْمَ من زَمَنٍ

فإلامَ تشكو الظُّلْمَ من زَمَنٍ

يتهضّمُ الأَحرارَ بالظُّلمِ

يتهضّمُ الأَحرارَ بالظُّلمِ

How long will you complain of injustice from an age

So why do you complain of the injustice of a time,

that oppresses the freeborn with injustice?

That oppresses the free with injustice?

تأْتي نوائبُهُ مُنبِّهةً

تأْتي نوائبُهُ مُنبِّهةً

وتمرُّ كالمرئيِّ في الحلمِ

وتمرُّ كالمرئيِّ في الحلمِ

Its calamities come as an awakening

Its disasters come warning,

and pass like something seen in a dream.

And pass like the seen in a dream.

لا تَخْفضِ اسمَكَ وارتفعْ حذراً

لا تَخْفضِ اسمَكَ وارتفعْ حذراً

فعْلاً تصرِّفُهُ يَدُ الحزمِ

فعْلاً تصرِّفُهُ يَدُ الحزمِ

Do not lower your name; rise cautiously,

Do not lower your name, and rise cautiously

a verb conjugated by the hand of resolve.

With an act that the hand of wisdom steers.

سُمْ نَفْسَكَ العلياءَ واسمُ بها

سُمْ نَفْسَكَ العلياءَ واسمُ بها

في بغيةِ الدُّنيا عن الوسمِ

في بغيةِ الدُّنيا عن الوسمِ

Demand the heights of yourself, and rise with them,

Name yourself the most high, and call it,

in your worldly quest, above being branded.

In the quest of the world, away from branding.

حَتى مَتى تَظْما إلى ثمدٍ

حَتى مَتى تَظْما إلى ثمدٍ

أَيقنْتَ أَنَّ ورودَهُ يُظْمي

أَيقنْتَ أَنَّ ورودَهُ يُظْمي

How long will you thirst for a scant pool

Until when will you be thirsty for dried up water

whose approach, you know, only increases thirst?

You were certain that its arriving will make you thirsty?

فَدَعِ التيمُّمَ بالصّعيدِ ففي

فَدَعِ التيمُّمَ بالصّعيدِ ففي

كَنَفِ الإمامِ شريعةُ اليمِّ

كَنَفِ الإمامِ شريعةُ اليمِّ

Leave dry ablution with dust, for in

So leave wiping with soil, for in

the Imam's shelter lies a watering-place of the sea.

The Caliph's caress is the law of ablution.

مَلِكٌ ليالي النائباتِ بهِ

مَلِكٌ ليالي النائباتِ بهِ

تُجلَى وتخضب أَزمنُ الأَزمِ

تُجلَى وتخضب أَزمنُ الأَزمِ

A king through whom the nights of calamity

A king of the nights of disasters through him

are dispelled, and times of hardship grow fertile.

Becomes clear and the times of crises become bloody.

وَرأى الوَرَى الوجدانَ من عدمٍ

وَرأى الوَرَى الوجدانَ من عدمٍ

في عصرهِ والوَجْدَ منْ عُدْمِ

في عصرهِ والوَجْدَ منْ عُدْمِ

People saw possession emerge from nothing

And he saw well-being from nothingness

in his age, and wealth emerge from poverty.

In his time, and ecstasy from non-existence.

أوصافُهُ بالوحي نعرفُها

أوصافُهُ بالوحي نعرفُها

فصفاتُهُ جلّتْ عن الوَهْمِ

فصفاتُهُ جلّتْ عن الوَهْمِ

We know his qualities through revelation,

His descriptions through revelation we know,

for his attributes transcend imagination.

So his traits have been too high for perception.

تَسْمو بلثمِ تُرابِ موكبهِ

تَسْمو بلثمِ تُرابِ موكبهِ

فلقد سَمَتْ يَدُهُ عن اللّثمِ

فلقد سَمَتْ يَدُهُ عن اللّثمِ

You rise by kissing the dust of his procession,

It rises to kiss the dust of his procession

for his hand has risen beyond kissing.

For his hand has certainly risen above kissing.

ما كنتَ تبصرُ نَفْعَ موكبهِ

ما كنتَ تبصرُ نَفْعَ موكبهِ

لولا تواضُعُه من العظم

لولا تواضُعُه من العظم

You would not have perceived his procession's benefit

You would not see the benefit of his procession,

but for his humility amid greatness.

Had it not been for his humility against greatness.

النّجمُ منزلُهُ ومنزلُه

النّجمُ منزلُهُ ومنزلُه

للوحي منزلُ سورة النَّجمِ

للوحي منزلُ سورة النَّجمِ

The star is his station, and his dwelling

The star is his house, and his house

is revelation's abode, the descent-place of the Surah of the Star.

For revelation is the house of Surat An-Najm.

مِنْ مَعْشَرٍ آساسُ ملكهمُ

مِنْ مَعْشَرٍ آساسُ ملكهمُ

صينْنَتْ قواعدُهُا عن الهَدْمِ

صينْنَتْ قواعدُهُا عن الهَدْمِ

From a people whose kingdom's foundations

From a people whose kingdom's foundations

have had their bases safeguarded against demolition.

Were protected from destruction.

مِن كلِّ سامي الأصلِ سامِقِهِ

مِن كلِّ سامي الأصلِ سامِقِهِ

زاكي الخليقةِ طاهرِ الجذمِ

زاكي الخليقةِ طاهرِ الجذمِ

From men, each lofty and towering in lineage,

From every highest of origin and its highest

pure in character and unstained in stock.

Of pure creature and clean body.

شمُ المعاطسِ عزُّهُمْ أَبداً

شمُ المعاطسِ عزُّهُمْ أَبداً

قمنٌ بذلِّ معاطسِ الشّمِّ

قمنٌ بذلِّ معاطسِ الشّمِّ

High-nosed men, whose might is always

Protection from contagion is their honor forever

fit to humble the noses of the proud.

An epidemic with the submission of contagion.

المنهبونَ الوفدَ وفرهمُ

المنهبونَ الوفدَ وفرهمُ

والمشترونَ الشُّكرَ بالشُّكمِ

والمشترونَ الشُّكرَ بالشُّكمِ

Those who offer their abundance as spoil to delegations,

They who give generously and their delegation bought

and purchase gratitude with rewards.

And those who bought gratitude with gratitude.

قَومٌ يرونَ إذا هُمُ اجتمعوا

قَومٌ يرونَ إذا هُمُ اجتمعوا

تفريقَ ما غَنِمُوا من الغنمِ

تفريقَ ما غَنِمُوا من الغنمِ

A people who, when they gather, consider

A people who - if assembled - see

the sharing of their winnings to be gain.

The distribution of what they collected from the booty.

خَفُّوا إلى فعلِ الجميلِ فما

خَفُّوا إلى فعلِ الجميلِ فما

يستثقلونَ تَحمُّلَ الغُرمِ

يستثقلونَ تَحمُّلَ الغُرمِ

They hasten to do good, and never

They rushed to doing good, so they

find the bearing of expense burdensome.

Do not find bearing liability heavy.

حُمْرُ النِّصالِ جَلوا ببيضهمُ

حُمْرُ النِّصالِ جَلوا ببيضهمُ

ظلماتِ ظُلْمِ الأَزمُنِ الدُّهمِ

ظلماتِ ظُلْمِ الأَزمُنِ الدُّهمِ

Red of blade, they dispel with their bright swords

The red swords - their whiteness defeated

the darkness of oppression in blackened ages.

The darkness of the gloomy times' injustice.

وخطابُهمْ في كل داهيةٍ

وخطابُهمْ في كل داهيةٍ

يَقْتادُ أَنفَ الخطبِ بالخُطمِ

يَقْتادُ أَنفَ الخطبِ بالخُطمِ

Their speech, in every calamity,

And their discourse in every calamity

leads disaster by the nose with bridles.

Leads the eloquence of speeches with the muzzle.

إرثُ النُّبوَّةِ بل خلافتُها

إرثُ النُّبوَّةِ بل خلافتُها

في يوسفَ المستنجدِ القَرْمِ

في يوسفَ المستنجدِ القَرْمِ

Prophethood's inheritance—rather, its succession—

The inheritance - rather the caliphate - of prophethood

is in Yusuf al-Mustanjid, the great lord.

In Joseph the victorious one of firm determination.

كالبدرِ نوراً والهزَبْرِ سطاً

كالبدرِ نوراً والهزَبْرِ سطاً

يومَ الهِياجِن وليلةَ التمِّ

يومَ الهِياجِن وليلةَ التمِّ

Like the full moon in radiance, the lion in assault,

Like the full moon in light and the plain earth

on battle's day and the night of the full moon.

On the day of storms and night of complete darkness.

لا بالجَهَام ولا الكَهَام إذا

لا بالجَهَام ولا الكَهَام إذا

نُوَبُ الزَّمانِ عَرَتْ ولا الجهم

نُوَبُ الزَّمانِ عَرَتْ ولا الجهم

Neither a rainless cloud nor a blunt blade when

Not with ignorance or blind anger when

time's afflictions strike, nor grim of face.

The time's calamities are exposed or blind rage.

لو للسيوفِ مَضاءُ عَزْمتهِ

لو للسيوفِ مَضاءُ عَزْمتهِ

ويراعِهِ أَمنتْ مِنَ الثَّلمِ

ويراعِهِ أَمنتْ مِنَ الثَّلمِ

Had swords the keenness of his resolve

Had the swords had his determination’s illumination

and his pen, they would be safe from notches.

And his observation, it would have been safe from imperfections.

وإذا المُنى عَقُمْتَ فنائِلُهُ

وإذا المُنى عَقُمْتَ فنائِلُهُ

شافي العقامِ وناتجُ العُقمِ

شافي العقامِ وناتجُ العُقمِ

When hopes become barren, his bounty

And if wishes are fruitless, then its obtainers

heals barrenness and gives offspring to the barren.

Are curing frigidity and producing infertility.

الدِّينُ مرتبطٌ بدولتهِ

الدِّينُ مرتبطٌ بدولتهِ

والدَّهرُ تابعُ أَمرهِ الحزمِ

والدَّهرُ تابعُ أَمرهِ الحزمِ

Religion is bound to his dynasty,

The religion is tied to his state,

and time follows his resolute command.

And fate is subject to his firm command.

لوليهِ من فَيْضِ نائله

لوليهِ من فَيْضِ نائله

فَيْضُ الوليِّ ونائلُ الوسمي

فَيْضُ الوليِّ ونائلُ الوسمي

For his ally, from his bounty's overflow,

For his successor from the abundance of his obtainer

come floods of following rain and the bounty of autumn showers.

Is the obtainer’s abundance and the marker’s obtainer.

قسماً نصيبُ من الوفاء به

قسماً نصيبُ من الوفاء به

أَوفى النصيبِ وأَوفرَ القسمِ

أَوفى النصيبِ وأَوفرَ القسمِ

I swear: the share of loyalty to him

A share, a portion of faithfulness it deserves,

is the fullest share and the richest portion.

Has fulfilled the portion and abundant portion.

للحقِّ ما يرضيكَ مِنْ عَمَلٍ

للحقِّ ما يرضيكَ مِنْ عَمَلٍ

والحكم ما تُمضيهِ من حُكْمِ

والحكم ما تُمضيهِ من حُكْمِ

To right belongs whatever deed pleases you,

For truth whatever satisfies you of deed,

and judgment is whatever ruling you enforce.

And rule whatever judgment you pass.

أَمّا الطُّغاةُ فقد وسَمتَهمُ

أَمّا الطُّغاةُ فقد وسَمتَهمُ

ووصَمتهمْ بالذُّلِّ والرُّغمِ

ووصَمتهمْ بالذُّلِّ والرُّغمِ

As for the tyrants, you have branded them

As for the tyrants, you have branded them

and marked them with humiliation and abasement.

And stigmatized them with humiliation and stuffed mouths.

بينَ الزِّجاجِ تصدَّعوا شُعَبا

بينَ الزِّجاجِ تصدَّعوا شُعَبا

صَدْعَ الزُّجاجِ لوقعةِ الصَّمِ

صَدْعَ الزُّجاجِ لوقعةِ الصَّمِ

Among the spear-butts they split into fragments,

Between glass they cracked into pieces

as glass shatters under a blow from hard stones.

The glass' cracking from the deafening shock.

للوقدِ أَنفُسُهمْ وسمعُهمُ

للوقدِ أَنفُسُهمْ وسمعُهمُ

للوَقْرِ والأَعناقُ للوَقمِ

للوَقْرِ والأَعناقُ للوَقمِ

Their souls are for burning, their hearing

Their souls are for burning and their hearing

for deafness, and their necks for crushing.

For gravity, and the necks for retardation.

إغمدْ حُسامَكَ في رقابهمُ

إغمدْ حُسامَكَ في رقابهمُ

فالَّاءُ مفتقرٌ إلى الحَسْمِ

فالَّاءُ مفتقرٌ إلى الحَسْمِ

Sheathe your blade in their necks;

Sheathe your sword in their necks

for the disease requires excision.

For the separation is needy for decisiveness.

آزرْتَ ملككَ بالوزيرِ فَمنْ

آزرْتَ ملككَ بالوزيرِ فَمنْ

شَروا كما في العَزْمِ والحزمِ

شَروا كما في العَزْمِ والحزمِ

You strengthened your kingdom with the vizier; who

You have supported your kingdom with the minister, so who

equals you both in determination and resolve?

Bought like in determination and wisdom?

يحيى الذي أَضحى بسيرتهِ

يحيى الذي أَضحى بسيرتهِ

حيَّ المحامدِ ميِّتَ الذَّمِّ

حيَّ المحامدِ ميِّتَ الذَّمِّ

Yahya, who through his conduct has become

Yahya who sacrificed with his conduct

alive in praise and dead to blame.

The living praise and the dead blame.

كبرتْ وجلَّتْ فيكَ همتُهُ

كبرتْ وجلَّتْ فيكَ همتُهُ

فله بنصحكَ أَكبرُ الهمِّ

فله بنصحكَ أَكبرُ الهمِّ

His ambition for you has grown great and exalted,

Your ambition has grown and risen through you

and his greatest concern is sincere counsel to you.

So for counseling you the greatest interest is his.

هو حاتميُّ الجودِ ليس يرى

هو حاتميُّ الجودِ ليس يرى

إسْداءَ نائلهِ سوى حَتْمِ

إسْداءَ نائلهِ سوى حَتْمِ

He is Hatim-like in generosity, never regarding

He is the seal of generosity, he does not see

the bestowal of his bounty as anything but a duty.

Except bestowing his obtainer openly.

فليهننا أَنّا لملككَ في

فليهننا أَنّا لملككَ في

زمنٍ يردُّ شبيبةَ الهمِّ

زمنٍ يردُّ شبيبةَ الهمِّ

Let us rejoice that, under your kingship, we live in

So allow us to congratulate that we are - through you - in

an age that restores ambition's youth.

A time that restores the ambition of worry.

وهناكَ أَنَّلتَ بينَ أَظهرِنا

وهناكَ أَنَّلتَ بينَ أَظهرِنا

خَلَفُ النَّبيِّ ووارثُ العلمِ

خَلَفُ النَّبيِّ ووارثُ العلمِ

And may it gladden you that among us you are

And you have bestowed upon our backs

the Prophet's successor and the heir of knowledge.

The caliph after the prophet and the heir of knowledge.

وكما وزَنتَ عِيارَ فضلكَ بال

وكما وزَنتَ عِيارَ فضلكَ بال

إِفضالِ زِنْتَ العلمَ بالحِلْمِ

إِفضالِ زِنْتَ العلمَ بالحِلْمِ

Just as you weighed the measure of your merit with

And as you have weighed the merit of your grace without

bounty, you weighed knowledge with forbearance.

Grace, you have weighed knowledge with forbearance.

بمكارمٍ لكَ عَرْفُها أَبداً

بمكارمٍ لكَ عَرْفُها أَبداً

فينا يَنُمُّ وعُرفها يُنْمي

فينا يَنُمُّ وعُرفها يُنْمي

Through your noble deeds, whose fragrance always

With virtues that their customs are eternally known to you in us

speaks among us, and whose goodness fosters growth.

Flourishing and their custom cultivating.

ما روضةٌ غَنّاءُ حَاليةٌ

ما روضةٌ غَنّاءُ حَاليةٌ

وَشْياً تُحلِّيه يَدُ الرَّقمِ

وَشْياً تُحلِّيه يَدُ الرَّقمِ

No luxuriant garden, adorned

No flourishing garden, no delightful

with embroidery wrought by the hand of patterning,

Meadow adorned by the hand of pruning.

فعرائسُ الأغصانِ قد جُلِيَتْ

فعرائسُ الأغصانِ قد جُلِيَتْ

في زهرِها بالوشي والوسمِ

في زهرِها بالوشي والوسمِ

where branch-brides have been unveiled

So the blossoms of the branches have been thinned out

among its blossoms, in brocade and markings,

In their flowers with thinning out and marking.

وتمايلتْ أَزهارُها سَحَراً

وتمايلتْ أَزهارُها سَحَراً

بنسيمهِ المتمارِضِ النَّسمِ

بنسيمهِ المتمارِضِ النَّسمِ

and its flowers sway at dawn

And their flowers swayed at dawn

in the languid breaths of its breeze,

With its flirting breeze and soft blow.

فلكلِّ نَوْرٍ نُورُ ثاقبةٍ

فلكلِّ نَوْرٍ نُورُ ثاقبةٍ

ولكلِّ ناجمةٍ سَنَا نَجْمِ

ولكلِّ ناجمةٍ سَنَا نَجْمِ

where every blossom bears a piercing star's light

For every light there is a penetrating light,

and every shoot has a star's radiance—

And for every star there is an elevated star.

دُرّانِ من طَلٍّ على زَهَرٍ

دُرّانِ من طَلٍّ على زَهَرٍ

يا حُسنَهُ نَثْراً عملى نَظْمِ

يا حُسنَهُ نَثْراً عملى نَظْمِ

two pearls: dew upon a flower,

Two pearls from dew over a flower

how lovely, scattered upon an ordered string!—

How beautiful its scattering over my stringing!

إذ كل هاتفةٍ وهاتنةٍ

إذ كل هاتفةٍ وهاتنةٍ

مَشْغولةٌ بالسَّجعِ والسَّجْمِ

مَشْغولةٌ بالسَّجعِ والسَّجْمِ

where every calling bird and raining cloud

For every caller and caller

is busy with cooing and pouring,

Is busy with rhyming and framing.

فالوُرقُ في نوح وفي طربٍ

فالوُرقُ في نوح وفي طربٍ

والوَجْدُ في بَوْحٍ وفي كَتْمِ

والوَجْدُ في بَوْحٍ وفي كَتْمِ

the gray doves in lament and delight,

So the leaves - in lament and delight -

and longing both revealed and concealed,

And the passion - in confessing and concealing.

بأتمَّ حُسْناً من صدائحَ لي

بأتمَّ حُسْناً من صدائحَ لي

فيكم مُنزَّهة عن الوصمِ

فيكم مُنزَّهة عن الوصمِ

is more perfect in beauty than my ringing verses

With the most beautiful voice of my melodies for you

about you, untainted by blemish.

Purified from blemish among you.

دُريّةُ الإشراقِ مشرفةُ ال

دُريّةُ الإشراقِ مشرفةُ ال

دُرّيّ بل مسكِيّةُ الخَتْمِ

دُرّيّ بل مسكِيّةُ الخَتْمِ

Pearl-like in radiance, rising above the

A glistening pearl of illumination, honor of

brilliant star—rather, musk-scented at the close.

Not a pearl but a musky seal.

تجري وتفتحُ من سلاستِها

تجري وتفتحُ من سلاستِها

صُمَّ الصّفا ومسامعَ الصُّمِّ

صُمَّ الصّفا ومسامعَ الصُّمِّ

They flow, and their smoothness opens

It flows and opens from its smoothness

unyielding rocks and the ears of the deaf.

The deafness of clarity and the hearing of the deaf.

يغني الطروبُ عن الغناءِ بها

يغني الطروبُ عن الغناءِ بها

وابنُ الكريمِ عن ابنةِ الكَرْمِ

وابنُ الكريمِ عن ابنةِ الكَرْمِ

The music-lover can dispense with song through them,

The turtledoves suffice from singing through it,

and the generous man's son with the vine's daughter.

And the son of the generous from the daughter of generosity.

لطُفَتْ وطالتْ فهي جامعةٌ

لطُفَتْ وطالتْ فهي جامعةٌ

عظمَ الحِجا ولطافَةَ الحَجمِ

عظمَ الحِجا ولطافَةَ الحَجمِ

They are delicate and lofty, uniting

It has gentled and lengthened, so it is inclusive

greatness of intellect and delicacy of size.

Of the hajj's greatness and the hajj's gentleness.

ولكم سحبْتُ الذَّيلَ مبتهجاً

ولكم سحبْتُ الذَّيلَ مبتهجاً

حيثُ الرَّجاءُ مطرَّزُ الكُمِّ

حيثُ الرَّجاءُ مطرَّزُ الكُمِّ

How often I have trailed my hem in joy

And for you I have trailed the train joyfully

where hope wears an embroidered sleeve.

Where hope is embroidered with perfection.

مستنزرٌ جمُّ الثّنهاءِ إذا

مستنزرٌ جمُّ الثّنهاءِ إذا

قابلتَهُ بعطائِكَ الجمِّ

قابلتَهُ بعطائِكَ الجمِّ

Abundant praise is reckoned scant

Seeking aid, I am collecting all praise when

when you compare it with your abundant gifts.

You meet it with your perfect gift.

لم يُخطِ منذ أَصببتُ خِدْمتكم

لم يُخطِ منذ أَصببتُ خِدْمتكم

أَغراضَ أَغراضي بكم سَهْمي

أَغراضَ أَغراضي بكم سَهْمي

Never has it missed, since I became devoted to your service,

Since I poured out serving you

the targets of my aims through you—my arrow.

My purposes have not missed their mark through you.

ولرُبَّ مجدٍ قد أَضفتُ إلى

ولرُبَّ مجدٍ قد أَضفتُ إلى

ما نِلْتُ منْ خالٍ ومن عمِّ

ما نِلْتُ منْ خالٍ ومن عمِّ

And many a glory have I added to

And for plenty of glory I have added unto

what I gained from maternal and paternal uncles.

What I received from maternal and paternal uncles.

فالدَّهرُ يصرفُ صَرْفَهُ بكم

فالدَّهرُ يصرفُ صَرْفَهُ بكم

ويكُفُّ كفَّ البسطِ عن غَشْمِ

ويكُفُّ كفَّ البسطِ عن غَشْمِ

Through you, time diverts its misfortunes

So fate turns its course through you

and restrains its outstretched hand from oppression.

And restrains the palm from clenching.

وَلئِنْ نطقتُ بكم فوصفكُمُ

وَلئِنْ نطقتُ بكم فوصفكُمُ

مُحيي الجمادِ ومُنطِقُ البُكمِ

مُحيي الجمادِ ومُنطِقُ البُكمِ

And if I speak of you, your description

And if I speak of you, then your description

revives the lifeless and gives speech to the mute.

Revives the inanimate and enables the mute to speak.