أَودىdestroyed الغَرامُpassionate love بِصَبٍّa lovesick man قادَهُled him وَصَباsuffering
أَودى الغَرامُ بِصَبٍّ قادَهُ وَصَبا
أَولاهُbestowed upon him ثوبَa robe سَقامٍsickness قَدُّهُhis figure وَصَباand the east wind
أَولاهُ ثوبَ سَقامٍ قَدُّهُ وَصَبا
Love has undone a lovesick man, driving him into suffering;
Passion brought a youth to his ruin, led by desire,
His figure and the east wind bestowed on him a robe of sickness.
It clothed him in the garb of sickness, his neck bent by yearning.
وافىcame upon بِغاراتِهِwith its raids صَبريmy patience فَماand not اِنقَلَبَتthey returned
وافى بِغاراتِهِ صَبري فَما اِنقَلَبَت
حَتّىuntil غَداbecame سَرحُthe roaming herd نَوميof my sleep عِندَهاin their keeping سَلَباplunder
حَتّى غَدا سَرحُ نَومي عِندَها سَلَبا
It came raiding my patience, and its raids did not return
It exhausted my patience with its raids, yet no sooner
Until the roaming herd of my sleep became their plunder.
Had it gone than my restful sleep became plunder to it.
سَلask رَسمَthe traces of دارِthe abode of الأُلىthose who شَطّواwent far away فَهَلso did...? شَرِقَتit choked
سَل رَسمَ دارِ الأُلى شَطّوا فَهَل شَرِقَت
بِالرَيِّwith a draught مِنof عَندَمِthe crimson of الدَمعِthe tears الَّذيthat سُكِباwere poured out
بِالرَيِّ مِن عَندَمِ الدَمعِ الَّذي سُكِبا
Ask the traces of the home of those gone far: did it choke
It asked the way to the abode of those I love - did it rise
On a draught of the crimson tears that were poured out?
With the water from my teardrops, copiously poured?
خطَّtraced النَوىseparation أَحرُفاًletters مِنfrom عيسِهِمtheir pale camels فيُرىso it is seen
خطَّ النَوى أَحرُفاً مِن عيسِهِم فيُرى
سَطرُa line of القِصارِthe short forms عَلىon طِرسِthe parchment of العُلىthe heights كُتِباwas written
سَطرُ القِصارِ عَلى طِرسِ العُلى كُتِبا
Separation traced letters with their pale camels, and one sees
It traced letters from their procession, so it seems
A line of small forms inscribed on the parchment of the heights.
The short line appears inscribed on the page of exaltation.
أَمَّتheaded toward رِكابُهُمُtheir mounts البيدَthe deserts القَواءَbarren بِهِمbearing them
أَمَّت رِكابُهُمُ البيدَ القَواءَ بِهِم
وسُمنَand they imposed أرجاءَهاits expanses التَقريبَcantering وَالخبَباand trotting
وسُمنَ أرجاءَها التَقريبَ وَالخبَبا
Their mounts headed into the barren deserts, bearing them,
Their mounts have made the far desert their own through them
And imposed on their expanses a canter and a trot.
And its expanses are perfumed with musk and ambergris.
كمائِمٌflower-sheaths مِنof خُدورٍcurtained litters حُمِّلَتwere laden with زَهَراblossoms
كمائِمٌ مِن خُدورٍ حُمِّلَت زَهَرا
وأنجُمٌand stars جُعِلَتwere made أفلاكُهاtheir spheres قِبَباdomes
وأنجُمٌ جُعِلَت أفلاكُها قِبَبا
Calyxes of curtained litters, laden with blossoms,
Like standards of perfume they carried, their orbits
And stars whose spheres were made into domes.
Were made to be censers revolving in space.
بِهِwith it زَهاbloomed عَرضُthe expanse of بَيداءٍa desert فَتَحسَبُهاso you would think it
بِهِ زَها عَرضُ بَيداءٍ فَتَحسَبُها
عَلىon غَديرِa pool of سَرابٍmirage قَدalready طَفاfloated حَبَباbubbles
عَلى غَديرِ سَرابٍ قَد طَفا حَبَبا
With it the desert's expanse bloomed; you would think it
By it the expanse of Bayda glistens, so you deem it
Bubbles floating upon a pool of mirage.
Foam floating on a mirage that has spread its dust.
فَحَيِّso greet حَيّاًa tribe حَلولاًencamped بِالعَقيقِat al-Aqiq وَإِنand even if
فَحَيِّ حَيّاً حَلولاً بِالعَقيقِ وَإِن
أَجرَوهُthey made it flow مِلءَfilling جُفونيmy eyelids واكِفاًpouring سَرِباstreaming freely
أَجرَوهُ مِلءَ جُفوني واكِفاً سَرِبا
So greet a tribe encamped at al-Aqiq, even though
Greet them, greet them kindly with carnelian, though
They made it flow, filling my eyelids, pouring in streams.
They left my eyelids filled and amply provided.
وَلاand no تَحِيَّةَgreeting إلّاexcept ماwhat يُعَلِّلُهُconsoles him
وَلا تَحِيَّةَ إلّا ما يُعَلِّلُهُ
شَيمُwatching البُروقِthe lightning وَرَيّاand fragrance مِنfrom نَسيمِthe breeze of صَباthe east wind
شَيمُ البُروقِ وَرَيّا مِن نَسيمِ صَبا
No greeting, save that with which he is consoled:
No greeting except what the lighting justifies
Watching the lightning, and fragrance from an east-wind breeze.
And a breeze from the zephyr of morning validates.
وَاللَيلُand the night أسحَمُjet-black جِلباباًin mantle وَقَدand already رَكَدَتhad grown still
وَاللَيلُ أسحَمُ جِلباباً وَقَد رَكَدَت
نُجومُهُits stars فَانطَوىso folded up صُبحٌdawn بِهِwithin it طُنُباtent-ropes
نُجومُهُ فَانطَوى صُبحٌ بِهِ طُنُبا
And night was jet-black of mantle, and motionless lay
The night dons its blackest of robes and its stars wane,
Its stars; dawn folded up its tent-ropes within it.
So dawn wraps itself in it, thickly layered.
هَصَرتُهُI bent it down وَجُفونُand the eyelids of الشُهبِthe stars ساهِرَةٌwakeful
هَصَرتُهُ وَجُفونُ الشُهبِ ساهِرَةٌ
وَأَشقَرُand the chestnut steed of البرقِlightning فيin نَقعِthe dust of الغَمامِthe clouds كَباstumbled
وَأَشقَرُ البرقِ في نَقعِ الغَمامِ كَبا
I bent it down while the eyelids of the stars stayed wakeful,
I stay up while the shooting stars' eyes grow tired
And the chestnut steed of lightning stumbled in the dust of clouds.
And the lightning in the clouds' belly flashes pale.
كَمhow long ذاthis أَبِيِّunyielding اغتِرامٍpassion لاnot يُدَلِّلُهُcoaxes it
كَم ذا أَبِيِّ اغتِرامٍ لا يُدَلِّلُهُ
أَماwill it not يَلينُsoften اِنقِياداًin submission بَعدَafter ماhaving صَعُباproved difficult
أَما يَلينُ اِنقِياداً بَعدَ ما صَعُبا
How long this stubborn passion that cannot be coaxed?
How many dear ones made intractable, whom gentleness
Will it not yield obediently after proving so obstinate?
Will not make pliant after they hardened?
أمِطremove قَذاةَthe mote of التَوانيindolence عَنfrom شَرائِعِهِits watering-places
أمِط قَذاةَ التَواني عَن شَرائِعِهِ
وَاِشدُدand fasten لَهُfor it بمَضاءِwith the keenness of الهِمَّةِresolve السَبَباthe rope
وَاِشدُد لَهُ بمَضاءِ الهِمَّةِ السَبَبا
Remove the mote of indolence from its watering-places,
Remove the sleep from their lassitude and steady
And fasten the rope for it with the keenness of resolve.
For them the cord of resolve to climb upward.
أجِلcast قِداحَthe arrows of رَشادٍright guidance وَاطَّرِحand cast aside فُرُطاًexcess
أجِل قِداحَ رَشادٍ وَاطَّرِح فُرُطاً
مِنَof الهَوىdesire طالَماlong have استَخفَفتَهُyou treated it lightly حِقَباfor ages
مِنَ الهَوى طالَما استَخفَفتَهُ حِقَبا
Cast the arrows of right guidance, and cast away excess
Cast the stirrups of guidance and reject the surplus
Of desire, which you have long treated lightly, for ages.
Of passion you have too lightly dismissed.
أَلقِlay down العَصاthe staff فيin حِمىthe sanctuary of العِزِّglory الَّذيwhich اِنتخَبَتchose
أَلقِ العَصا في حِمى العِزِّ الَّذي اِنتخَبَت
لَهُfor him الأَصالَةُnoble lineage فيin بَحرٍan ocean سَماrose high رُتَباin rank
لَهُ الأَصالَةُ في بَحرٍ سَما رُتَبا
Lay down your staff in glory's sanctuary, chosen
Throw down your staff in the protected realm you chose
For him by noble lineage, in an ocean exalted in rank:
For its origin - a sea whose ways are deposited.
حِمىthe sanctuary of النَبِيِّthe Prophet المَكينِfirm العِلمِin knowledge طاهِرِهpure in it الزthe (fragment of 'pure')
حِمى النَبِيِّ المَكينِ العِلمِ طاهِرِه الز
زاكيpure المَناقِبِin virtues لاحَتshone لِلعُلاfor the heights شُهُباas meteors
زاكي المَناقِبِ لاحَت لِلعُلا شُهُبا
The sanctuary of the Prophet, firm and pure in knowledge,
The protected realm of the Prophet, secured, pure,
Pure in virtues, which shone as meteors for the heights.
Of commendable traits, virtues for high ones.
مِنof طينَةِthe clay of المَجدِglory وَالتَشريفُand honor مُطَّرِدٌunceasing
مِن طينَةِ المَجدِ وَالتَشريفُ مُطَّرِدٌ
فيهاwithin it مَعينٌa flowing spring مِنَof التَقديسِsanctity مُنسَكِباpouring forth
فيها مَعينٌ مِنَ التَقديسِ مُنسَكِبا
Of the clay of glory, with honor flowing ceaselessly,
Of the clay of glory - and the honor inherent
Within it, a spring of sanctity pouring forth.
In it a spring of sanctity poured forth.
نورٌa light مِنَfrom الحَقِّthe Truth وَضّاحٌradiant لِذيfor one with رَشَدٍright guidance
نورٌ مِنَ الحَقِّ وَضّاحٌ لِذي رَشَدٍ
بادٍmanifest صَباحَas the dawn of يَقينٍcertainty يَنسَخُdispels الرِيَباdoubts
بادٍ صَباحَ يَقينٍ يَنسَخُ الرِيَبا
A light from the Truth, radiant to one rightly guided,
A light of truth giving clear guidance to one of reason
Manifest as certainty's dawn, dispelling doubts.
Bringing the dawn of certainty that dispels doubt.
أَبانmade clear للجاحِدِto the denier الأَغشىdim-eyed فَبانَso appeared لَهُto him
أَبان للجاحِدِ الأَغشى فَبانَ لَهُ
نَهجُthe path of الحَقائِقِtruths فيin لَيلِthe night of السُرىnight-travel كُثُباclose at hand
نَهجُ الحَقائِقِ في لَيلِ السُرى كُثُبا
He enlightened the dim-eyed denier, and there appeared to him
It clarified for the veiled denier, so the path
The path of truths, close at hand in the night of travel.
Of truths appeared to him in the night of mystic journey.
وَشامَand he watched بارِقُهاtheir lightning فَارتادَthen he sought مُنعَرَجاًa winding way
وَشامَ بارِقُها فَارتادَ مُنعَرَجاً
مُفَوَّفاًrichly patterned أرجاًfragrant يُهديoffers شَميمَthe scent of كَباincense
مُفَوَّفاً أرجاً يُهدي شَميمَ كَبا
And he watched their lightning, then sought a winding way,
Its lightning flashed and he found a twisting ascent
Richly patterned and fragrant, wafting the scent of incense.
Scattered with flowers, guiding the sense of smell.
وَخُصَّand he was singled out بالقُربِfor nearness حَتّىuntil احتَلَّoccupied مَنزِلَةًa station
وَخُصَّ بالقُربِ حَتّى احتَلَّ مَنزِلَةً
مِنfrom دونِهاbelow it اختَرَقَhe pierced الأطباقَthe layers وَالحُجُباand the veils
مِن دونِها اختَرَقَ الأطباقَ وَالحُجُبا
And he was singled out for nearness, until he attained a station
He was granted exclusivity until he attained a rank
Below which he pierced the layers and the veils.
Above which he traversed heavens and barriers.
وَقائِدٌand a guide بِبَراهينٍwith proofs يَظَلُّremains بِهاbecause of them
وَقائِدٌ بِبَراهينٍ يَظَلُّ بِها
حَسودُهاtheir envier قَلِقَrestless الأحشاءِin the entrails مُصطَخِباclamorous
حَسودُها قَلِقَ الأحشاءِ مُصطَخِبا
And a guide with proofs that keep
A guide with proofs that keep his envious enemies
Their envier inwardly restless and clamorous.
Restless, their entrails churned into confusion.
لَوif لَمnot يَكُنthere were غَيرَother than آياتٍsigns مُبَيَّنَةٍclear
لَو لَم يَكُن غَيرَ آياتٍ مُبَيَّنَةٍ
أَخرَسنَthey silenced مَنwhoever حاكَwove بُردَthe mantle of الشِعرِpoetry أوor خَطَباorated
أَخرَسنَ مَن حاكَ بُردَ الشِعرِ أو خَطَبا
Were there nothing but the manifest signs
If it were not for clear verses they would have silenced
That silenced whoever wove poetry's mantle or delivered speeches—
Those who spin verses of poetry or make speeches.
دَهَتstruck مَعاطِنَthe watering-grounds of شِركٍidolatry فَانزَوىso it withdrew وَخزىand was disgraced
دَهَت مَعاطِنَ شِركٍ فَانزَوى وَخزى
ضَيئلَdiminished شَخصٍin form وَقِدماًand formerly قَدindeed عَلاit rose وَرَباand grew
ضَيئلَ شَخصٍ وَقِدماً قَد عَلا وَرَبا
They struck idolatry's watering-grounds; it withdrew in disgrace,
The foundations of polytheism tottered and withdrew in shame
Diminished in form, though once it had risen and grown.
While the persona and foot of one exalted sank.
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen لَمnot تدَعyou left لِلشِركِfor idolatry قائِمَةًan upright prop
حَتّى إِذا لَم تدَع لِلشِركِ قائِمَةً
إلّاexcept وَكَسَّرتَand you shattered مِنهاof it النَبعَbow-wood والغَرَباand willow
إلّا وَكَسَّرتَ مِنها النَبعَ والغَرَبا
Until you left no upright prop of idolatry
Until you left no basis for polytheism standing
Without shattering its bow-wood and willow.
Except that you severed its spring and west.
ياO خَيرَbest of مَنthose whom يَرتَجيهِhopes in him المُستَجيرُthe refuge-seeker إذاwhen
يا خَيرَ مَن يَرتَجيهِ المُستَجيرُ إذا
ماindeed (emphatic) كانَwas كُلُّevery امرِئٍperson رَهناًheld in pledge بِماfor what كَسَباhe earned
ما كانَ كُلُّ امرِئٍ رَهناً بِما كَسَبا
O best of those in whom the seeker of refuge hopes, when
O best one hoped for by those seeking refuge when
Every person is held in pledge for what he has earned.
All people are hostage to what they reaped.
صَلّىmay send blessings عَلَيكَupon you إِلَهُthe God of العَرشِthe Throne ماas long as سَجَعَتcooed
صَلّى عَلَيكَ إِلَهُ العَرشِ ما سَجَعَت
قُمرِيَّةٌa turtle-dove فَوقَabove بانٍa moringa tree فَاِنثَنىso it swayed طَرَباin delight
قُمرِيَّةٌ فَوقَ بانٍ فَاِنثَنى طَرَبا
May the God of the Throne bless you, so long as there coos
The God of the Throne prayed upon you whenever
A turtle-dove above a moringa that sways in delight.
A Pleiad rose above the cup and bent its wrist.
وَدامَand may endure كافِلُthe guardian of هَذاthis الدينِfaith سِبطُكَyour descendant مَنhe who
وَدامَ كافِلُ هَذا الدينِ سِبطُكَ مَن
يَسموrises بِكُمthrough you all فيin ذُرىthe summits of فَخرٍpride إذاwhen اِنتَسَباhe names his lineage
يَسمو بِكُم في ذُرى فَخرٍ إذا اِنتَسَبا
And may your descendant endure as guardian of this faith, he who
And may your grandson ‒ the guardian of this faith ‒ endure;
Rises through you all to the peaks of pride when he names his lineage.
He by whom you rise to the peaks of pride if linked.
خليفَةًas a caliph صارَhas become بَينَbetween الخافِقَينِthe two horizons لَهُfor him
خليفَةً صارَ بَينَ الخافِقَينِ لَهُ
صيتُthe renown of الثَناءِpraise عَلىon الأَفواهِthe lips قَدindeed عَذُباgrown sweet
صيتُ الثَناءِ عَلى الأَفواهِ قَد عَذُبا
A caliph, for whom there has arisen, between the two horizons,
He became the Caliph between the two risers, his name
The renown of praise, grown sweet upon the lips.
Is sweet upon tongues, deliciously flavored.
يَنِمُّreveals itself مِثلَlike شَذاthe scent of المِسكِmusk الفَتيقِunsealed إِذاwhen
يَنِمُّ مِثلَ شَذا المِسكِ الفَتيقِ إِذا
تَداوَلَتهُthey passed it round رِفاقُthe companions of البيدِthe deserts مُنتَهَباsnatched up
تَداوَلَتهُ رِفاقُ البيدِ مُنتَهَبا
It reveals itself like the fragrance of unsealed musk when
It spreads like the rare musk when passed
Desert companions pass it round, each snatching it up.
Among the youths of the land, snatched up.
تَشرَّفَتwere ennobled بِكِthrough you أوصافُthe qualities of العُلىeminence فَكَفىso it sufficed
تَشرَّفَت بِكِ أوصافُ العُلى فَكَفى
عِزّاًas honor بِهاfor them أَنكَthat you تُدعىare called بِاسمِهاby their name لَقَباas a title
عِزّاً بِها أَنكَ تُدعى بِاسمِها لَقَبا
The attributes of eminence gained honor through you; enough
Through you the attributes of exaltation were ennobled,
Of glory for them is that you bear their name as a title.
Sufficiently honored that you are called by its name.
ماnot إِنat all (emphatic) يُباريكَrivals you ذوone with زَهوٍpride مُفاخَرَةًin boasting
ما إِن يُباريكَ ذو زَهوٍ مُفاخَرَةً
إِلّاexcept تَوَلّىhe turned away كَليلاًdulled أوor فليلbroken شباin points
إِلّا تَوَلّى كَليلاً أو فليل شبا
No proud man vies with you in boasting
If one vaunting himself competes with you
Without turning back dulled, or with broken points.
He turns back humiliated and miserable.
وَلاand none يَجاريكَraces you فيin مِضمارِthe racecourse of مَكرُمَةٍa noble deed
وَلا يَجاريكَ في مِضمارِ مَكرُمَةٍ
إِلاexcept تَولّىhe turned away علىupon الأَعقابِhis heels مُنقلِباturning back
إِلا تَولّى على الأَعقابِ مُنقلِبا
And none races you in the arena of noble deeds
And none contend with you in the race course of generosity
Without turning back upon his heels.
Except they return upon their heels inverted.
لماwhen اِنتَصَبتَyou stood عَلىupon دَستِthe throne of الفَخارِglory رَأىsaw
لما اِنتَصَبتَ عَلى دَستِ الفَخارِ رَأى
مِنكَin you الوَرىmankind عَلَماًa banner فَرداًpeerless قَدِindeed اِنتَصَباstood aloft
مِنكَ الوَرى عَلَماً فَرداً قَدِ اِنتَصَبا
When you stood upon the throne of glory, mankind saw
When you rose above the hand of glory people saw
In you a peerless banner standing aloft.
In you a singular banner erected tall.
حَتّىuntil خَطَبتَyou courted ارتِجالاًwithout preparation فَتحَthe conquest of مَملَكَةٍa kingdom
حَتّى خَطَبتَ ارتِجالاً فَتحَ مَملَكَةٍ
كانَwas السَفيرُthe envoy مُجَيفِلاًrushing لَهاto it فجَباso he collected tribute
كانَ السَفيرُ مُجَيفِلاً لَها فجَبا
Until, without preparation, you courted a kingdom's conquest;
Until you proposed extemporaneously and a kingdom opened
The envoy rushed to it and collected tribute.
Whose ambassador had been resistant and aloof.
وَماand what مَضىhas passed فَهوَso it is مِنamong آيِthe signs of ابتَداءَتِهhis beginning
وَما مَضى فَهوَ مِن آيِ ابتَداءَتِه
وَضِعفُand double أضعافِهِits multiples ماwhat كانَwas مُرتَقَباexpected
وَضِعفُ أضعافِهِ ما كانَ مُرتَقَبا
And what has passed is among the signs of his beginning,
What has passed belongs to the signs of his beginnings
While twice its manyfold measure was what was expected.
While multiples of its weakness were expected.
يُقارِضُrepays المُعتفيthe supplicant عَلياكyour loftiness حينَwhen غَداhe began
يُقارِضُ المُعتفي عَلياك حينَ غَدا
يوليhe bestows الثَناءَpraise إِذاwhen أَولَيتَهُyou bestowed on him نَشَباwealth
يولي الثَناءَ إِذا أَولَيتَهُ نَشَبا
The supplicant repays your loftiness when he begins
It loans approval to you when approval
To bestow praise, when you have bestowed wealth upon him.
Turns to praise you, should you bestow it.
وَمَنand whoever يَلُذtakes refuge بِذِمامٍin protection مِنكَfrom you كَيفَhow إذَنthen
وَمَن يَلُذ بِذِمامٍ مِنكَ كَيفَ إذَن
يَنالُهُreaches him صَرفُthe vicissitudes of دَهرٍan age غالَthat destroys أَوor غَلَباoverpowers
يَنالُهُ صَرفُ دَهرٍ غالَ أَو غَلَبا
And whoever takes refuge in your protection—how, then,
And who clings to your reins - how can
Could the turns of an age that destroys or overpowers reach him?
The turns of time overcome him, conquer or conquer him?
تِلكَthose السَجاياqualities الَّتيwhich لَمdid not تُبقِleave مَكرُمةًa noble deed
تِلكَ السَجايا الَّتي لَم تُبقِ مَكرُمةً
إِلّاexcept وَقَدand indeed أَحرَزَتthey won فيin شَأوِهاits race قَصَباthe victor's reed
إِلّا وَقَد أَحرَزَت في شَأوِها قَصَبا
Those are the qualities that left no noble deed
Those are the qualities that left no glory
Without winning the victor's reed in its race.
Except that they secured its height as theirs.
وَنَجلُكَand your son الملِكُthe king المَأمونُal-Ma'mun مُنتَهِجٌfollowing
وَنَجلُكَ الملِكُ المَأمونُ مُنتَهِجٌ
آثارَthe traces of مَجدِكَyour glory لَمdid not يَعدِلequate بِهاwith them أَرَباany aim
آثارَ مَجدِكَ لَم يَعدِل بِها أَرَبا
And your son, King al-Ma'mun, follows
And your son al-Maʾmūn, follower of the tracks
The traces of your glory, finding no other aim their equal.
Of your glory – none ever came close.
فَهوَfor he is الَّذيthe one who زانَadorned سِلكَthe strand of العِزِّglory مُتَّسِقاًwell-ordered
فَهوَ الَّذي زانَ سِلكَ العِزِّ مُتَّسِقاً
وَهوَand he is الَّذيthe one who كانَwas للعَلياءِfor eminence مُنتَخَباchosen
وَهوَ الَّذي كانَ للعَلياءِ مُنتَخَبا
He is the one who adorned glory's well-ordered strand,
He is the one who adorned the path of power in all its aspects
And he is the one who was chosen for eminence.
And he is the one who was chosen by the exalted.
لاmay not زالَcease مُلكُكَyour sovereignty بِالتَخليدِwith perpetuity مُقتَرِناًjoined
لا زالَ مُلكُكَ بِالتَخليدِ مُقتَرِناً
يَجُرُّdragging ذَيلاًa train عَلىover الأَملاكِkings مُنسَحِباtrailing
يَجُرُّ ذَيلاً عَلى الأَملاكِ مُنسَحِبا
May your sovereignty ever remain joined to perpetuity,
Your kingdom continues, bound to eternity,
Trailing its sweeping train over kings.
Dragging its train withdrawn upon realms.
Sol 6.1