أَلمhas ... not يَأنthe time come أَنthat يغنىavail العزاءconsolation لَبيبُa wise person
أَلم يَأن أَن يغنى العزاء لَبيبُ
وَأَنand that يَتَسلىfind solace عَنfrom أَساهhis sorrow كَئيبa grieving person
وَأَن يَتَسلى عَن أَساه كَئيب
Has the time not come for consolation to avail the wise,
and for a grieving man to find relief from his sorrow?
أَجلyes أنهاit is indeed منfrom فتكةthe deadly assault الدَهرof Time حالَةٌa plight
أَجل أنها من فتكة الدَهر حالَةٌ
تَقضقضُbreak apart أَضلاعribs لَهاbecause of it وَجُنوبand flanks
تَقضقضُ أَضلاع لَها وَجُنوب
Yes, it is a plight born of Time's deadly assault,
before which ribs and flanks break apart.
فَللدَمعso for tears ماthe space بَينَbetween الجُفونthe eyelids تَدفقa gushing
فَللدَمع ما بَينَ الجُفون تَدفق
وَللوَجدand for anguish ماthe space بَينَbetween الضُلوعthe ribs دَبيبa creeping
وَللوَجد ما بَينَ الضُلوع دَبيب
So tears gush between the eyelids,
and anguish creeps between the ribs.
هُوَit is البَثgrief فيin قَلبthe heart الهُدىof guidance مِنهُfrom it حَسرَةٌanguish
هُوَ البَث في قَلب الهُدى مِنهُ حَسرَةٌ
وَفيand on صَفحةthe face العَلياءِof exalted glory مِنهُfrom it نَدوبscars
وَفي صَفحة العَلياءِ مِنهُ نَدوب
It is grief, leaving anguish in the heart of guidance,
and scars upon the face of exalted glory.
لَئنthough indeed شَقَقتhas torn مِنهَbecause of him الحِسابreckoning جيوبَهاits collars
لَئن شَقَقت مِنهَ الحِساب جيوبَها
لَقَدindeed شُقِّقَتhave been torn مِناamong us عَلَيهِfor him قُلوبhearts
لَقَد شُقِّقَت مِنا عَلَيهِ قُلوب
Though reckoning has torn its collars over him,
our hearts have indeed been torn for him.
وَإِنand if ظَهَرَتappeared بِالشَمسin the sun مِنهُbecause of him كَآبةgloom
وَإِن ظَهَرَت بِالشَمس مِنهُ كَآبة
فَفيthen in كُلِevery وَجهٍface عبرةa tear وَشُحوبand pallor
فَفي كُلِ وَجهٍ عبرة وَشُحوب
And if the sun shows gloom because of him,
in every face are tears and pallor.
وَماand not هُوَit إِلّاexcept حادثa calamity جَلgrew immense خَطبهits gravity
وَما هُوَ إِلّا حادث جَل خَطبه
فَفاضَso overflowed شجىًsorrow مِنهُfrom it وَجاشَand surged وَجيبheart-throbbing
فَفاضَ شجىً مِنهُ وَجاشَ وَجيب
It is nothing but a calamity whose gravity is immense,
from which sorrow overflowed and heartbeats surged.
كَفَرناwe disavowed أَياديthe favors الدَهرof Time مِنهُbecause of it فَهَذِهِfor these are
كَفَرنا أَيادي الدَهر مِنهُ فَهَذِهِ
رزاياهits calamities تَتَرىcoming successively حشوهنtheir contents حُروبwars
رزاياه تَتَرى حشوهن حُروب
We disavow Time's favors because of it: here are
its successive calamities, packed with wars.
أَلَمhave ... not تَرَyou seen شَعبَthe company المَجدof glory كَيفَhow سَطَتit assailed بِهِupon it
أَلَم تَرَ شَعبَ المَجد كَيفَ سَطَت بِهِ
وَجَرَّتand dragged away شُعوبbranches الشَملof the fellowship مِنهُfrom it شُعوبDeath, the divider
وَجَرَّت شُعوب الشَمل مِنهُ شُعوب
Have you not seen how it assailed the company of glory,
and Death dragged away branches of its fellowship?
وَكَيفَand how اِستَباحتviolated كَفَهاits hand حُرمَةَthe sanctity العُلاof high glory
وَكَيفَ اِستَباحت كَفَها حُرمَةَ العُلا
وَمِنand from دونَهاbefore it حُجبbarriers لَهاbelonging to it وَدُروبand gateways
وَمِن دونَها حُجب لَها وَدُروب
And how its hand profaned the sanctity of high glory,
though barriers and gateways stood before it?
أَلاheed this إِنَّماonly الأَقدارthe decrees of fate جَيشٌan army خُيولَهُits steeds
أَلا إِنَّما الأَقدار جَيشٌ خُيولَهُ
مُتونthe backs اللَياليof nights وَالسِلاحُand the weapons خُطوبcalamities
مُتون اللَيالي وَالسِلاحُ خُطوب
Take heed: the decrees of fate are an army whose steeds
are the backs of nights, whose weapons are calamities.
فَطَعنso a thrust وَلَمthough not يُبرزis brought forth لَهُfor it مَتنُthe shaft لَهذمٍof a keen spear
فَطَعن وَلَم يُبرز لَهُ مَتنُ لَهذمٍ
وَضَربand a blow وَلَمthough not يُستلis unsheathed مِنهُfrom it قَضيبa slender sword
وَضَرب وَلَم يُستل مِنهُ قَضيب
Thrusting, though no keen spear-shaft is brought forth;
and striking, though no slender sword is drawn.
وَإِنand indeed امرءاًa man قَدhas indeed عاشَlived بَعدَafter اِبنIbn (son of) أَحمَدٍAhmad
وَإِن امرءاً قَد عاشَ بَعدَ اِبن أَحمَدٍ
لَجلدsurely hardy عَلىagainst مَضthe biting pain الزَمانof Time صَليبsteadfast
لَجلد عَلى مَض الزَمان صَليب
Indeed, a man who has lived on after Ibn Ahmad
must be hardy and steadfast against Time's biting pain.
دَعَتهُcalled him المَناياthe fates of death دَعوَةًa summons فَأَجابَهاso he answered it
دَعَتهُ المَنايا دَعوَةً فَأَجابَها
وَبِالكَرهand unwillingly ماwhenever تَدعوcalls بِناfor us فَنَجيبso we answer
وَبِالكَره ما تَدعو بِنا فَنَجيب
Death called him, and he answered its summons;
and unwillingly we answer whenever it calls us.
فَلَماthen when نَعىannounced death الناعيthe death-herald بِهِconcerning him طاشَتreeled النُهىreason
فَلَما نَعى الناعي بِهِ طاشَت النُهى
وَخامَرَهاand possessed it خُبلderangement هُناكَthen عَجيبstrange
وَخامَرَها خُبل هُناكَ عَجيب
When the herald announced his death, reason reeled,
and a strange derangement possessed it then.
فَكِدناso we nearly وَلَمand did not نَملُكhold عِنانthe reins تَشبثٍof firm resolve
فَكِدنا وَلَم نَملُك عِنان تَشبثٍ
نَشكdoubt وَقُلناand we said غائبhe is absent سيؤوبhe will return
نَشك وَقُلنا غائب سيؤوب
So we nearly—unable to hold the reins of resolve—
doubted, and said: 'He is away; he will return.'
وَإِنيand I indeed بِهِfrom him وَالمُنتَأىand the far retreat جِدُّvery نازحremote
وَإِني بِهِ وَالمُنتَأى جِدُّ نازح
بِعيدfar away عَلىdespite أَنthe fact that المَزارthe place of visitation قَريبnear
بِعيد عَلى أَن المَزار قَريب
And I am parted from him, his far retreat so remote,
far away, although the place of visitation is near.
لَيبكlet ... weep عَلَيهِfor him العلمlearning وَالحلمand forbearance وَالحجىand reason
لَيبك عَلَيهِ العلم وَالحلم وَالحجى
بِأَجفانwith eyelids شَجوٍof sorrow ماؤهنtheir waters غُروبtorrents
بِأَجفان شَجوٍ ماؤهن غُروب
Let learning, forbearance, and reason weep for him,
with sorrowing eyelids whose waters flow in torrents.
فَتىa young man كانwas يَقتادleading الأَبيَّthe unyielding فَينَثنيso he yielded
فَتى كان يَقتاد الأَبيَّ فَينَثني
وَيَقتادهُand would lead him داعيthe caller الهُدىof guidance فَيُنيبso he turned obediently
وَيَقتادهُ داعي الهُدى فَيُنيب
A young man who led the unyielding, making him yield,
while guidance's caller led him, and he turned obediently.
إِذاwhen ظلماتthe darknesses الخَطبof calamity أَبهَمنَgrew impenetrable شابَهاhe mingled them
إِذا ظلمات الخَطب أَبهَمنَ شابَها
بِرَأيwith judgment شَباهُits keen edge فيamid الخُطوبcalamities خَطيبeloquent
بِرَأي شَباهُ في الخُطوب خَطيب
When disaster's darkness grew impenetrable, he mingled it
with judgment whose keen edge spoke eloquently amid calamities.
لَهُhe had سَيفُa sword عَزمٍof resolve إِنif نَضاحدهhe bared its edge مَضىit advanced
لَهُ سَيفُ عَزمٍ إِن نَضاحده مَضى
يَفلblunting حُسامthe keen sword الخَطبof calamity وَهُوَthough it was رَسوبdeep-cutting
يَفل حُسام الخَطب وَهُوَ رَسوب
His was a sword of resolve: if he bared its edge, it swept on,
blunting calamity's sword, though it cut deep.
أَديبcultured أَريبdiscerning قُلَّبُnimble القَلبof mind حازمresolute
أَديب أَريب قُلَّبُ القَلب حازم
فَتىًa young man المَعيٌّkeen-witted بِالظُنونin conjectures مُصيبaccurate
فَتىً المَعيٌّ بِالظُنون مُصيب
Cultured, discerning, nimble of mind, resolute,
a keen-witted young man, accurate in his surmises.
فَتىًa young man يَستَخفmakes light of الدَهرTime وَهُوَthough it is مُوَقَرٌheavily laden
فَتىً يَستَخف الدَهر وَهُوَ مُوَقَرٌ
وَيَملأand fills أُفقthe horizon الأَرضof the earth وَهُوَthough it is رَحيبvast
وَيَملأ أُفق الأَرض وَهُوَ رَحيب
A young man who made light of Time, for all its weight,
and filled the earth's horizon, vast though it was.
عَزيزpainful عَلَيناto us أَنthat يَحلhe should dwell بِمُستَوىًon a level tract
عَزيز عَلَينا أَن يَحل بِمُستَوىً
مِنof الأَرضthe earth حَيثُwhere المَجدglory مِنهُto it غَريبa stranger
مِن الأَرض حَيثُ المَجد مِنهُ غَريب
It is painful to us that he should dwell on a level tract
of earth where glory is a stranger,
وَيَعتاضand exchanges مِنinstead of لبسwearing العُلاhigh glory لبسَةَthe garb البَلىof decay
وَيَعتاض مِن لبس العُلا لبسَةَ البَلى
وَبُردwhile the mantle حَلاهof his virtues بِالثَناءwith praise قَشيبis fresh
وَبُرد حَلاه بِالثَناء قَشيب
and trade the robes of glory for the garb of decay,
though the mantle of his virtues is fresh with praise.
سَقىmay ... water جدثاًa grave قَدindeed حَلَهُhe entered it وَثَوىand dwelt بِهِin it
سَقى جدثاً قَد حَلَهُ وَثَوى بِهِ
حَياًrain مُستَهلاًpouring down فيupon رُباهits rises سكوبflowing abundantly
حَياً مُستَهلاً في رُباه سكوب
May the grave where he settled and dwelt be watered
by rain pouring in torrents over its rises.
يُخصُّis singled out بِهِfor it خِدنٌa close friend لِدَيّin my eyes مُعظَمٌrevered
يُخصُّ بِهِ خِدنٌ لِدَيّ مُعظَمٌ
وَيُحياand is revived بِهِby it شَخصa person لَدَيto me حَبيبbeloved
وَيُحيا بِهِ شَخص لَدَي حَبيب
May a companion I revere be singled out for it,
and a person dear to me be revived by it.
وَلاand may ... not زالَcease رَيحانthe sweet basil الإِلَهof God وَروحهand His mercy
وَلا زالَ رَيحان الإِلَه وَروحه
يَنمّdiffuses fragrance عَلىover أَرواحهhis spirits وَيَطيبand smells sweet
يَنمّ عَلى أَرواحه وَيَطيب
May God's sweet basil and His mercy never cease
to spread fragrance over his spirit and smell sweet.
أَباO Abu يونسYunus أَجدبتَyou made barren معهدَthe haunt أَنسناof our fellowship
أَبا يونس أَجدبتَ معهدَ أَنسنا
وَعَهديand my recollection بِهِof it بِالأَمسyesterday وَهُوَwhen it was خَصيبfertile
وَعَهدي بِهِ بِالأَمس وَهُوَ خَصيب
Abu Yunus, you have made the haunt of our fellowship barren,
though only yesterday I knew it fertile.
فَكَمso how many مُقلَةٍan eye عبرىtearful عَليكover you شَجيةٍgrieving
فَكَم مُقلَةٍ عبرى عَليك شَجيةٍ
وَكَمand how many كَبدa liver جَرىflowed عَلَيكover you تَذوبmelts
وَكَم كَبد جَرى عَلَيك تَذوب
How many a tearful eye grieves for you,
and how many a liver has flowed for you, melting away!
أَثابَكَmay He reward you بِالحُسنىwith the finest مِنof الخَيرgoodness كُلَهall of it
أَثابَكَ بِالحُسنى مِن الخَير كُلَه
يُجزىis recompensed أَهلهits people وَيُثيبand He rewards
يُجزى أَهله وَيُثيب
May He reward you with the finest of all goodness;
those who do good are recompensed, and He grants reward.
نعزيwe console بِكَfor your loss الأَعداءthe enemies إِذsince لَيسَthere is not عِندَناamong us
نعزي بِكَ الأَعداء إِذ لَيسَ عِندَنا
لِقَلبِfor the heart وَليof a friend فيin العَزاءconsolation نَصيبa share
لِقَلبِ وَلي في العَزاء نَصيب
We console your enemies for your loss, since among us
no friend's heart has any share in consolation.
أَماis there not فيin اللَياليthe nights عبرةa lesson لِذَويfor those possessing النُهىunderstanding
أَما في اللَيالي عبرة لِذَوي النُهى
لَهاthey have حَسَناتgood deeds عِندَناin our eyes وَذُنوبand sins
لَها حَسَنات عِندَنا وَذُنوب
Is there not in the nights a lesson for those of understanding?
They have good deeds and sins in our eyes.
يَهبنَthey give رضاًwillingly مِنهاon their part وَيَسلبنand strip away عَنوةًby force
يَهبنَ رضاً مِنها وَيَسلبن عَنوةً
وَأَغرَبand the strangest شَيءٍthing واهبa giver وَسلوبand a plunderer
وَأَغرَب شَيءٍ واهب وَسلوب
They give willingly of themselves, and take away by force;
and strangest of things is a giver who also plunders.
أَباO Abu عمرٍUmar إِنif تَكتئبyou grieve فَلمثلِهِthen for one like him
أَبا عمرٍ إِن تَكتئب فَلمثلِهِ
وَإِنand if تَحتَسبهyou bear his loss seeking reward فَالجَزاءthen the reward حَسيبis sufficient
وَإِن تَحتَسبه فَالجَزاء حَسيب
Abu Umar, if you grieve, it is for one like him;
and if you bear his loss hoping for reward, that reward suffices.
وَمثلكand one like you مَنone who يَشجىgrieves فَيَرجعthen returns للتيto that which
وَمثلك مَن يَشجى فَيَرجع للتي
هِيَis الذُخرthe treasure فيماin what نابَهُbefell him وَيَثوبand returns
هِيَ الذُخر فيما نابَهُ وَيَثوب
And one like you grieves, then returns to that which
is his treasure when adversity befalls, and turns to it again.
Sol 6.1