أَشتَقتَHave you yearned وَاِنهَلَّand poured forth دَمعُthe tears عَينِكَof your eye أَنbecause
أَشتَقتَ وَاِنهَلَّ دَمعُ عَينِكَ أَن
أَضحىhas become قِفاراًdeserted مِنof خُلَّتيmy beloved طَلَحُTalh
أَضحى قِفاراً مِن خُلَّتي طَلَحُ
Have you yearned, and have your eye's tears streamed, because
You yearned, and tears streamed from your eyes, that
Talh has become a wilderness, empty of my beloved?
The palm grove of my dwelling is now a wasteland.
بَسابِسٌdesert wastes دارُهاher dwelling وَمَعدَنُهاand her native home
بَسابِسٌ دارُها وَمَعدَنُها
تُمسيlies at evening خَلاءًempty وَماand no بِهاin it شَبَحُliving figure
تُمسي خَلاءً وَما بِها شَبَحُ
Her dwelling and her native home are desert wastes,
Desolate is its home, though once a mine,
Lying empty at evening, with no living figure there
At dusk now empty, not a soul in sight,
إِلّاexcept عسولٌa loping wolf أَوor حاجِلٌa white-legged crow نَغِقٌcroaking
إِلّا عسولٌ أَو حاجِلٌ نَغِقٌ
وَذوand one with ضُياحٍshrill yelping فيin صَوتِهِhis voice بَحَحُhoarseness
وَذو ضُياحٍ في صَوتِهِ بَحَحُ
Except a loping wolf or a croaking, white-legged crow,
Save perhaps a night jar or grunting gazelle,
And a shrill caller with hoarseness in his voice.
Some lizard calling, crying in the night,
يَضبَحُhe barks فيهاin it شَختاًfaintly تُجاوِبُهُshe answers him
يَضبَحُ فيها شَختاً تُجاوِبُهُ
إِذاwhen صاحَhe cries يَومٌone day رَوّاغَةٌa sly female ضَبُحُbarking
إِذا صاحَ يَومٌ رَوّاغَةٌ ضَبُحُ
He barks there faintly, and is answered,
Dawn breaks but no voice answers his call
When he cries one day, by a sly, barking female.
Except some curlew shrieking at first light.
كَأَنَّهُas though it لَمnot يَكُنhad been بِهِin it أَحَدٌanyone
كَأَنَّهُ لَم يَكُن بِهِ أَحَدٌ
فَالقَلبُso the heart مِنfrom قَلبِthe heart مَنof one who نَأىwent far away قَرِحُis wounded
فَالقَلبُ مِن قَلبِ مَن نَأى قَرِحُ
As though no one had ever been there;
As if no one had lived here, so one’s heart—
So the heart is wounded by the heart of one who went far away.
When absent from a home—is galled and raw.
تَشوقُهُstirs his longing عُدمُلُthe ancient traces الدِيارِof the dwellings وَماand nothing
تَشوقُهُ عُدمُلُ الدِيارِ وَما
أَشقاهُmade him wretched إِلاexcept الدّوارِسُthe weathered ruins المُصُحُutterly effaced
أَشقاهُ إِلا الدّوارِسُ المُصُحُ
The ancient traces of the dwellings stir his longing; nothing
Longing for the old camp, though what pained him
Has made him wretched except the weathered, obliterated ruins.
Were but the stone ruins, now collapsed in the sand.
يَعتادُهاrevisits them كُلُّevery مُسبِلٍrain-shedding cloud لَجِبٍclamorous
يَعتادُها كُلُّ مُسبِلٍ لَجِبٍ
جَونٍdark رُكامٍheaped up سَحابُهُits clouds رُجُحُheavy-laden
جَونٍ رُكامٍ سَحابُهُ رُجُحُ
Every clamorous, rain-shedding cloud revisits them,
Every night-traveling caravan passes it by—
Dark and piled high, its clouds heavily laden.
Clouds trailing, rain just threatening to pour.
قُعسٌhollow-backed مِنَof الماءِwater فيon غَوارِبِهِits crests
قُعسٌ مِنَ الماءِ في غَوارِبِهِ
بُلقٌpiebald صِعابٌunruly يَرمَحنَهُthey kick it ضُرُحُfierce kickers
بُلقٌ صِعابٌ يَرمَحنَهُ ضُرُحُ
On its crests are water-laden, hollow-backed shapes,
Some pools filled from the rain in a wash
Piebald and untamed, fiercely kicking and thrusting at it.
Pebbles and boulders—the flash floods push and shove.
مُقعَندِرٌmassed together فيover الدِيارِthe dwellings مُؤتَلِقٌflashing brightly
مُقعَندِرٌ في الدِيارِ مُؤتَلِقٌ
تَكادُalmost مِنهُfrom it الأَبصارُthe eyes تُلتَمَحُare snatched away
تَكادُ مِنهُ الأَبصارُ تُلتَمَحُ
Massing over the dwellings, flashing brightly,
A wadi spreads through the old camp’s midst
It almost snatches away the sight.
Eyes can barely make it out.
مُؤتَلِفٌjoined together خِلتَyou would imagine فيin أَواخِرِهِits rear parts
مُؤتَلِفٌ خِلتَ في أَواخِرِهِ
حُداةَdrivers عِيرٍof a camel train إِذاwhen جَلَّحواthey press onward صَدَحواthey sing aloud
حُداةَ عِيرٍ إِذا جَلَّحوا صَدَحوا
Closely joined, it makes you imagine at its rear
Familiar at the end with the ruins
Camel-train drivers singing loudly as they press onward.
Where bold camels gather, grunting aloud.
قَدalready ماتَdied غَمّاًof grief أَجَشُّa hoarse-thundering cloud مُبتَرِكٌcrouching
قَد ماتَ غَمّاً أَجَشُّ مُبتَرِكٌ
تَنصاحُburst open مِنهُfrom it مَواقِرٌladen clouds دُلُحُweighed down
تَنصاحُ مِنهُ مَواقِرٌ دُلُحُ
A hoarse-thundering, crouching cloud has died of grief;
Many die of grief—a crippled old camel
Heavy, burdened masses burst open from it.
Whose saddle sores fester from the flies.
فَالماءُso the water يَجرىflows وَلاand no نِظامَorder لَهُfor it
فَالماءُ يَجرى وَلا نِظامَ لَهُ
لَهُit has رَواياwater-bearing clouds صَعوقَةٌthunderous سُحُحُpouring abundantly
لَهُ رَوايا صَعوقَةٌ سُحُحُ
The water runs, with no order to its flow;
Water flows without order, wild torrents
Its water-bearers are thunderous and pouring.
Swift channels cut through, straight and winding both.
وَالطَيرُand the birds تَطفوfloat غَرَقاًdrowned قَدindeed أَهلَكَهاhas killed them
وَالطَيرُ تَطفو غَرَقاً قَد أَهلَكَها
رَحبُwide العَزاليthe spouts ماwhat صَبَّit pours مُنسَفِحُflowing freely
رَحبُ العَزالي ما صَبَّ مُنسَفِحُ
Birds float drowned, killed by
While birds founder, drowned by the deluge
The wide-spouted cloud; all it pours streams freely.
Of desert rains falling hard without end.
يَزدادُincreases جوداًin rainfall وَالأَكمُand the hills قَدhave غُمِرَتbeen submerged
يَزدادُ جوداً وَالأَكمُ قَد غُمِرَت
وَالعونُand the mature cows فيهاthere مَقامُهاtheir standing place طَفِحُoverflowing
وَالعونُ فيها مَقامُها طَفِحُ
Its rain grows more abundant, and the hills are submerged;
The valleys grow richer the more they are filled.
The mature cows' standing places there overflow.
But all the ravines hold only that which they can.
وَالوَحشُand the wild beasts أَوفَتclimbed عَلىonto اليَفاعِthe heights وَماand those that
وَالوَحشُ أَوفَت عَلى اليَفاعِ وَما
لمdid not يُوفِclimb مِنهاamong them سَيلِهِits torrent سُبُحُswimmers
لم يُوفِ مِنها سَيلِهِ سُبُحُ
The wild beasts have climbed the heights, while those
Beasts of prey crowd the banks full, yet still
That did not climb are swimmers in its torrent.
The flood pours over, heedless of loss.
قَدalready نالَreached مِنهاof them البُطونَthe bellies ذوone with زَبَدٍfoam
قَد نالَ مِنها البُطونَ ذو زَبَدٍ
فَكُلُّso every رَفعٍraised part مِنهُنَّof them مُنتَضِحُis splashed
فَكُلُّ رَفعٍ مِنهُنَّ مُنتَضِحُ
The foaming flood has reached their bellies;
Those with much spittle take the fill of it.
Every raised part of them is splashed.
All who raise their heads get covered with muck.
أَشحَدَpoured relentlessly إِذاwhen هَبَّتِblew الشَمالُthe north wind لَهُupon it
أَشحَدَ إِذا هَبَّتِ الشَمالُ لَهُ
سِيقَwas driven رُكامٌa piled mass فَالغَيمُso the clouds مُنسَرِحُare dispersing
سِيقَ رُكامٌ فَالغَيمُ مُنسَرِحُ
It pours relentlessly; when the north wind blows upon it,
When the north winds howl, clouds mass
Heaped clouds are driven on, and the cloud-mass disperses.
Raining down thick while the sky cracks and booms.
تَلوحُgleams فيهِwithin it لَمّاwhen قَضىit fulfilled وَطَراًa need
تَلوحُ فيهِ لَمّا قَضى وَطَراً
قَوسٌa bow حَناهاhe bent it فيin مُزنِِrain-clouds قُزَحُQuzah
قَوسٌ حَناها في مُزنِِ قُزَحُ
Once it has fulfilled its need, there gleams within it
Lightning flashes it opens after the clouds
A bow that Quzah bent amid the rain-clouds.
As God’s bow bends in the midst of its arcs.
وَالأَرضُand the earth مِنهُthrough it جَمُّabundant النَباتِvegetation بِهاin it
وَالأَرضُ مِنهُ جَمُّ النَباتِ بِها
مِثلُlike الزَرابيcarpets لِلوَنِهِin its color صَبَحُrosy brightness
مِثلُ الزَرابي لِلوَنِهِ صَبَحُ
Through it, the earth is rich in vegetation,
The land puts on its coat of many plants
Like carpets, bright with its rosy coloring.
The color of flowers at dawn’s first blush.
وَاِرتَدَتِand clothed themselves الأُكمُthe hills مِنin تَهاويلِthe varied splendors ذيof something bearing
وَاِرتَدَتِ الأُكمُ مِن تَهاويلِ ذي
نَورٍblossom عَميمٍabundant وَالأَسهُلُand the plains البُطُحbroad and level
نَورٍ عَميمٍ وَالأَسهُلُ البُطُح
The hills don the varied splendors of growth bearing
The valleys recede from the torrent’s assault
Abundant blossom, as do the broad, level plains.
And the gentlest ground is an easy grade—
مِنof أربِيانٍchamomile تَزِينُهُadorn it شُقُقٌpoppies
مِن أربِيانٍ تَزِينُهُ شُقُقٌ
يُغبِقُtakes an evening draught ماءَthe water النَدىof dew وَيَصطَبِحُand drinks at dawn
يُغبِقُ ماءَ النَدى وَيَصطَبِحُ
Chamomile adorned by poppies,
Made of cobblestones beautified by fissures
Drinking dew at evening and again at dawn.
Dew gathers, then evaporates at first light.
أَولادُهاher offspring الأَرخُcalves حينَwhen تَفطِمُهاshe weans them
أَولادُها الأَرخُ حينَ تَفطِمُها
وَغاطِشٌand a dim-eyed calf لِلرِضاعِfor suckling مُرتَشِحُeager
وَغاطِشٌ لِلرِضاعِ مُرتَشِحُ
Her young are calves when she weans them,
Their young, still nursing, already prey
And a dim-eyed youngster, eager to suckle.
On the teats, suckling strong without cease.
يَحوزُهاhe gathers them كَالعَزيزِlike a mighty lord عَنfrom عُرُضٍthe side
يَحوزُها كَالعَزيزِ عَن عُرُضٍ
يَهُزُّhe shakes رَوقاًa horn كَأَنَّهُas though it رُمُحُa spear
يَهُزُّ رَوقاً كَأَنَّهُ رُمُحُ
He rounds them up from the side like a mighty lord,
They protect them like something precious and dear
Shaking a horn as though it were a spear.
Shaking the rope that leads them, as if it were a spear.
وَأَنتَand you إِنif تَشأَyou wish أَمَّseek مُرتَبِئاًone keeping watch
وَأَنتَ إِن تَشأَ أَمَّ مُرتَبِئاً
لَهُhe has صِعابٌuntamed females رَواتِعٌgrazing لُقُحُpregnant
لَهُ صِعابٌ رَواتِعٌ لُقُحُ
And if you wish, seek a beast that keeps watch,
If you wish, though, make camp in a spot for herds
With untamed, grazing, pregnant females.
With rocks and gullies that make the feetache.
يَصومُhe fasts مِنbecause of حُبِّهاlove for them وَيَربَؤُهاand watches over them
يَصومُ مِن حُبِّها وَيَربَؤُها
فَالبَطنُso the belly مِنهُof him كَأَنَّهُas though it قِدَحُan arrow-shaft
فَالبَطنُ مِنهُ كَأَنَّهُ قِدَحُ
Out of love for them he fasts and watches over them;
Abstain from love for her though it pains you—
His belly is as slender as an arrow-shaft.
Your stomach empty as an abandoned well.
إِنif رامَهاhe seeks them لَمnot تَقِرَّthey stand still وَاِمتَنَعَتand they resist
إِن رامَها لَم تَقِرَّ وَاِمتَنَعَت
مِنهُfrom him عَلىon كُلِّevery فائِلٍhaunch muscle جُرُحُwounds
مِنهُ عَلى كُلِّ فائِلٍ جُرُحُ
If he seeks them, they will not stand still, but resist;
If you desire her, she won’t settle, refusing
From him, every haunch bears wounds.
The rope of every suitor who seeks her.
مَتىwhenever تَفُتهُthey outstrip him فيin الشَدِّrunning خائِفَةًafraid
مَتى تَفُتهُ في الشَدِّ خائِفَةً
يُدنِهِbring him close مِنهاto them صَلادِمmassive hooves وُقُحُhard
يُدنِهِ مِنها صَلادِم وُقُحُ
When they outstrip him in running, afraid,
Whenever you startle her, she is afraid
Massive, hard hooves bring him close to them.
Others approach her, sly suitors with greed.
صَرَفتُI turned away عَنهاfrom her وَالطَيرُwhile the birds جارِيَةٌwere passing
صَرَفتُ عَنها وَالطَيرُ جارِيَةٌ
وَلَستُand I am not مِمَّنamong those whom يَعوقُهُhinders him السُنُحُbird-omens
وَلَستُ مِمَّن يَعوقُهُ السُنُحُ
I turned away from her while the birds were passing,
I turned away, while the birds all around me
And I am not one whom bird-omens hinder.
Undisturbed, no barrier blocking my way.
تَحمِلُcarries كوريmy saddle وَجناءُa stout-cheeked she-camel مُجفَرَةٌbroad-bellied
تَحمِلُ كوري وَجناءُ مُجفَرَةٌ
قَنواءُlong-nosed عَرفاءُlong-maned جَسرَةٌsturdy سُرُحُswift-striding
قَنواءُ عَرفاءُ جَسرَةٌ سُرُحُ
My saddle is borne by a stout-cheeked, broad-bellied she-camel,
My camel carries saddlebags and supplies—
Long-nosed, long-maned, sturdy and swift.
Prudent, highbred, quick footed, and free.
أُجهٌpowerfully built أَمونٌdependable كَالقَبرُlike a grave-mound هامَتُهاher head
أُجهٌ أَمونٌ كَالقَبرُ هامَتُها
ذاتُpossessing هِبابٍvigor فيin لَحيِهاher jaw سَجَحُsmoothness
ذاتُ هِبابٍ في لَحيِها سَجَحُ
Powerfully built and dependable, her head like a grave-mound,
With a long neck, sculpted head held high
Full of vigor, with smoothness in her jaw.
A swinging gait, swaying from side to side.
وَفيand in يَدَيهاher forelegs مِنfrom بَغيِهاher eagerness عُسُرٌan inward twist
وَفي يَدَيها مِن بَغيِها عُسُرٌ
وَالرِجلُand the hind leg فيهاin her مِنfrom خَلفِهِbehind it رَوَحُan outward splay
وَالرِجلُ فيها مِن خَلفِهِ رَوَحُ
Her forelegs twist inward in her eager striving,
Her pace heavy-laden, hard to control
And her hind legs splay outward behind them.
Her rider far back, barely in reach.
بِهاon her نُدوبُscars الأَنساعِof the girth-straps دامِةٌbleeding
بِها نُدوبُ الأَنساعِ دامِةٌ
يَلوحُshows مِنfrom حَزِّهاtheir cutting بِهاon her وَضَحُa white mark
يَلوحُ مِن حَزِّها بِها وَضَحُ
She bears bleeding scars from the girth-straps;
Her ribs show the marks of how she was bred
White marks show where they have cut her.
Scars still clear though they’ve started to heal.
حَزَّcuts made by سُقاةٍwater-drawers حِجاجَgrooves غامِضَةًdeep
حَزَّ سُقاةٍ حِجاجَ غامِضَةً
مِنهاof it عَلىon كُلِّevery جانِبٍside مَتَحواthey hauled up water
مِنها عَلى كُلِّ جانِبٍ مَتَحوا
Cuts such as water-drawers make in deep grooves,
Scars from the slaps used to train and to guide
On either side of it as they haul upward.
Visible on either side.
لاno شَيءَthing أَنجىswifter مِنهاthan her وَقَدand she has ضَمَرَتgrown lean
لا شَيءَ أَنجى مِنها وَقَد ضَمَرَت
مِنfrom بَعدِafter بُدنٍstoutness إِذwhen بَلَّهاdrenched her الرَشَحُsweat
مِن بَعدِ بُدنٍ إِذ بَلَّها الرَشَحُ
Nothing runs more swiftly than she, now grown lean
Nothing left unwounded by her and her might
After her stoutness, when sweat drenched her.
After she had battered them down without cease.
يَبُلُّwets مِنهاher الذِفرىthe nape behind the ears وَدَنَّسَهاand stained it
يَبُلُّ مِنها الذِفرى وَدَنَّسَها
مِنfrom قُنفُذِthe bristling tuft اللِيتِof the neck حالِكٌjet-black نَتِحُoozing sweat
مِن قُنفُذِ اللِيتِ حالِكٌ نَتِحُ
It wets the nape behind her ears and stains it,
She sweats constantly, soaked to the skin
Dark sweat oozing from her neck's bristling tuft.
From a rutting male’s discharge that won’t scrub off.
تُمِرُّshe sweeps جَثلاًa bushy tail مِثلَlike الإِهانِpalm fruit-clusters عَلىover الthe
تُمِرُّ جَثلاً مِثلَ الإِهانِ عَلى ال
حاذَينِtwo haunches يَبروappears فيon its stalks قُضبِهِunripe dates البَلَحُline_73
حاذَينِ يَبرو في قُضبِهِ البَلَحُ
She sweeps a bushy tail, like a palm's fruit-clusters, over the
She labors, breathing as heavy as shame
Two haunches, as green dates appear upon its stalks.
Bent over double, her shoulders bowed down.
وَتارَةًand at times عَجزَهاher rump تُصيبُshe strikes بِهِwith it
وَتارَةً عَجزَها تُصيبُ بِهِ
وَذائِلاًand a long, trailing tail لَيسَthere is not فيهِin it مُمتَنَحُa plucked patch
وَذائِلاً لَيسَ فيهِ مُمتَنَحُ
And at times she strikes her rump with it,
Then she trips, legs kicked out from under
A long, trailing tail with no plucked patch in it.
Her rump skyward, no strength left to rise.
إِنif حُلَّis unfastened عَنهاfrom her كَورٌa saddle يَبِتit spends the night وَحَداًalone
إِن حُلَّ عَنها كَورٌ يَبِت وَحَداً
وَصاحِباهاand her two companions كِلاهُماboth of them طَلِحُweary
وَصاحِباها كِلاهُما طَلِحُ
If her saddle is unfastened, it spends the night alone,
When a calf strays, left on its own
And both her companions are exhausted.
She and the others are distraught.
فَكَمso how many وَرَدناwe reached مِنof مَنهَلٍa watering-place أَبِدٍremote and deserted
فَكَم وَرَدنا مِن مَنهَلٍ أَبِدٍ
أَعذَبُthe sweetest ماthat which نَستَقيwe draw بِهِat it المِلَحُbrackish water
أَعذَبُ ما نَستَقي بِهِ المِلَحُ
How many a remote watering-place we have reached,
How often we’ve stopped at a spring forever renewed
Where the sweetest water we draw is brackish!
Sweetest water that washes away the salt.
آمُلُI hope for فَضلاًfavor مِنfrom سيبِthe bounty of مُنتَجَعٍone sought for gifts
آمُلُ فَضلاً مِن سيبِ مُنتَجَعٍ
إِيّاهُhim يَنويis directed toward الثَناءُpraise وَالمِدَحُand eulogies
إِيّاهُ يَنوي الثَناءُ وَالمِدَحُ
I hope for favor from the bounty of a sought-out patron,
I hope for gifts from the tribe of ‘Abs
To whom praise and eulogies are directed.
I intend my praises for them, and wish them well.
أَزَحتَyou drove away عَنّاfrom us آلَthe house of الزُبيرِal-Zubayr وَلَوand had
أَزَحتَ عَنّا آلَ الزُبيرِ وَلَو
كانَhad been إِمامٌan imam سِواكَother than you ماnot صَلَحواthey came to order
كانَ إِمامٌ سِواكَ ما صَلَحوا
You drove the house of al-Zubayr away from us; had
You have removed from us the clan of Zubayr
An imam other than you ruled, they would not have been brought to order.
And had another led, they would not have thrived.
تَسوسُyou govern أَهلَthe people of الإِسلامِIslam عُملَتَهُمtheir officials
تَسوسُ أَهلَ الإِسلامِ عُملَتَهُم
وَأَنتَand you عِندَin the sight of الرَحمنِthe All-Merciful مُنتَصَحُare sincere
وَأَنتَ عِندَ الرَحمنِ مُنتَصَحُ
You govern Islam's people and their officials,
They erode the hearts of Muslims, their dishonesty
And before the All-Merciful you are sincere.
While you stand redeemed in the eyes of God.
إِنif تَلقَyou meet بَلوىadversity فَصابِرٌthen patient أَنِفٌunbowed
إِن تَلقَ بَلوى فَصابِرٌ أَنِفٌ
وَإِنand if تُلاقِyou meet النُعمىgood fortune فَلاthen not فرِحُexultant
وَإِن تُلاقِ النُعمى فَلا فرِحُ
If you meet adversity, you are patient and unbowed;
Calm, dignified—when you meet misfortune
And if you meet good fortune, you do not exult.
Yet not prideful if fortune should smile upon you.
ماضٍpressing onward إِذاwhen العِيسُthe pale camels أُسنِفَتwere harnessed وَوَنَتand grew weary
ماضٍ إِذا العِيسُ أُسنِفَت وَوَنَت
فيin لَونِthe hue of داجٍdarkness كَأَنَّهُas though it مِسَحُcoarse haircloth
في لَونِ داجٍ كَأَنَّهُ مِسَحُ
Pressing onward when the pale camels are harnessed and weary,
A towering pillar, strong and upright
In darkness whose hue is like coarse haircloth.
Though the people rush to and fro in alarm.
تُصبِحُyou reach morning عَنafter غِبِّthe aftermath ماwhat أَضَرَّharmed بَهاthem
تُصبِحُ عَن غِبِّ ما أَضَرَّ بَها
وَالعِيسُand the pale camels خوصٌhollow-eyed بِالقَومِwith the riders تَجتَنِحُlean sideways
وَالعِيسُ خوصٌ بِالقَومِ تَجتَنِحُ
You reach morning after what has wearied them,
As for Quraysh, their affairs are yours toinherit
While the hollow-eyed camels lean sideways with their riders.
Stopping their rabble when they’re in a rage.
يَرميhe casts his gaze بِعَينَيwith the eyes of أَقنىa hook-beaked bird عَلىon شَرَفٍa height
يَرمي بِعَينَي أَقنى عَلى شَرَفٍ
لَمhas not يُؤذِهِafflicted it عائِرٌeye irritation وَلاnor لَحَحُsticky eyelids
لَم يُؤذِهِ عائِرٌ وَلا لَحَحُ
He gazes with the eyes of a hook-beaked bird on a height,
What they neglected, you’ve preserved
Untroubled by eye irritation or sticky lids.
Subduing them when they attack and betray.
يَبينُis evident فيهِin him عِتقَthe nobility of الأَعاصيthe A'asis كَماjust as
يَبينُ فيهِ عِتقَ الأَعاصي كَما
يَبينُis evident يَوماًone day لِلناظِرِto the beholder الصُبحُdaybreak
يَبينُ يَوماً لِلناظِرِ الصُبحُ
The nobility of the A'asis is plain in him, just as
The finest deeds are yours to inherit
Daybreak becomes plain to the beholder one morning.
Praise to God is gain that increases one’s profit.
وَآلُand the house of أَبيAbu العاصِal-As أَهلُpeople of مَأثُرَةٍillustrious deeds
وَآلُ أَبي العاصِ أَهلُ مَأثُرَةٍ
غُرٌّillustrious عِتاقٌnoble بِالخَيرِwith goodness قَدhave نَفَحواlavished
غُرٌّ عِتاقٌ بِالخَيرِ قَد نَفَحوا
And the house of Abu al-As are people of illustrious deeds,
I’ve striven in earnest, my oath is sincere
Radiant and noble, they have lavished goodness.
By the Lord of a servant shamed and reviled.
خَيرُthe best of قَريشٍQuraysh هُمُthey أَفاضِلُهاits noblest
خَيرُ قَريشٍ هُمُ أَفاضِلُها
فيin الجِدِّseriousness جِدٌّearnest وَإِنeven if هُمُthey مَزَحواjest
في الجِدِّ جِدٌّ وَإِن هُمُ مَزَحوا
The best of Quraysh, they are its noblest,
He reads the Bible, studying it closely
Earnest in serious affairs, even when they jest.
Fear of God piercing his heart like a spear.
أَرحِبُهاthe broadest of them أَذرُعاًin arm-span وَأَصبِرُهاand the most patient of them
أَرحِبُها أَذرُعاً وَأَصبِرُها
صَبراًin patience إِذاwhen القَومُthe men فيin الوَغىbattle كَلَحواbare their teeth
صَبراً إِذا القَومُ في الوَغى كَلَحوا
Broadest of reach among them, and most steadfast
Your son is the rightful heir to his father’s rule.
In patience, when men bare their teeth in battle.
Do not let his uncle usurp what is not his claim.
أَمّاas for قرَيشٌQuraysh فَأَنتَthen you وارِثُهاits heir
أَمّا قرَيشٌ فَأَنتَ وارِثُها
تَكُفُّyou restrain مِنof شَغبِهِمtheir turmoil إِذاwhen طَمَحواthey overreach
تَكُفُّ مِن شَغبِهِم إِذا طَمَحوا
As for Quraysh, you are its heir;
David ruled justly. Judge as he did.
You curb their turbulence when they overreach.
The clan of Marwan, they mean well.
حَفِظتَyou preserved ماwhat ضَيَّعواthey squandered وَزَندَهُمُand their fire-stick
حَفِظتَ ما ضَيَّعوا وَزَندَهُمُ
أَورَيتَyou kindled إِذاwhen أصلَدواthey got no spark وَقَدthough already قَدَحواthey had struck
أَورَيتَ إِذا أصلَدوا وَقَد قَدَحوا
You preserved what they squandered, and their fire-stick
So follow their practice, those excellent men
You kindled when they got no spark, though they had struck.
Do good and struggle as hard as they’ve struggled.
مَناقِبُthe distinctions of الخَيرِvirtue أَنتَyou وارِثُهاtheir heir
مَناقِبُ الخَيرِ أَنتَ وارِثُها
وَالحَمدُand praise ذُخرٌa treasure تُغليyou increase the value بِهِthrough it رَبِحُprofit
وَالحَمدُ ذُخرٌ تُغلي بِهِ رَبِحُ
The distinctions of virtue—you are their heir;
And praise is a treasure with which you increase your gain.
آلَيتُI swore جَهداًwith all my strength وَصادِقٌand true قَسَميmy oath
آلَيتُ جَهداً وَصادِقٌ قَسَمي
بِرَبِّby the Lord of عَبدٍa worshiper تَجُنُّهُshelter him الكُرُحُmonastic cells
بِرَبِّ عَبدٍ تَجُنُّهُ الكُرُحُ
I swore with all my strength, and my oath is true,
By the Lord of a worshiper sheltered by monastic cells.
فَهوَso he يَتلوrecites الإِنجيلَthe Gospel يَدرُسُهُstudies it
فَهوَ يَتلو الإِنجيلَ يَدرُسُهُ
مِنfrom خَشيَةِfear of اللَهِGod قَلبُهُhis heart قَفِحُquivering
مِن خَشيَةِ اللَهِ قَلبُهُ قَفِحُ
He recites the Gospel and studies it;
His heart quivers with fear of God.
لابنُكَsurely your son أَولىmore entitled بِمُلكِto the kingship of والِدِهِhis father
لابنُكَ أَولى بِمُلكِ والِدِهِ
وَعَمُّهُand his uncle إِنif عَصاكَhe disobeys you مُطَّرَحُcast aside
وَعَمُّهُ إِن عَصاكَ مُطَّرَحُ
Surely your son is more entitled to his father's kingship;
And his uncle, if he disobeys you, is cast aside.
داودُDavid عَدلٌjust فَاِحكُمso rule بِسُنَّتِهِby his way
داودُ عَدلٌ فَاِحكُم بِسُنَّتِهِ
وَآلُand the house of مَروانَMarwan إنهمنَصَحواif they offer sincere counsel
وَآلُ مَروانَ إنهمنَصَحوا
David was just; so rule according to his way.
And the house of Marwan, if they give sincere counsel,
فَهُمthen they خيارٌworthy men فَاِعمَلso act بِسُنَّتِهِمaccording to their way
فَهُم خيارٌ فَاِعمَل بِسُنَّتِهِم
وَاِحيَand live بِخَيرٍin goodness وَاِكدَحand strive كَماas كَدَحواthey strove
وَاِحيَ بِخَيرٍ وَاِكدَح كَما كَدَحوا
Are worthy men; so follow their way,
And live in goodness, and strive as they strove.
Partial English translation: 104 of 116 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1