أَلاLo! هاجَstirred قَلبيmy heart العامَthis year ظُعنٌwomen's camel-caravans بَواكِرٌdeparting early
أَلا هاجَ قَلبي العامَ ظُعنٌ بَواكِرٌ
كَماas هاجَstirred مَسحوراًa spellbound man إلىtoward الشَوقِlonging ساحِرُa sorcerer
كَما هاجَ مَسحوراً إلى الشَوقِ ساحِرُ
Lo, this year early-departing women's caravans stirred my heart,
Alas! My heart this year has been troubled with pangs of love,
as a sorcerer stirs a spellbound man to longing.
Like one enchanted, craving for union's delight.
سُلَيمىSulayma وَهِندٌand Hind وَالرَبابُand al-Rabab وَزَينَبٌand Zaynab
سُلَيمى وَهِندٌ وَالرَبابُ وَزَينَبٌ
وَأَروىand Arwa وَلَيلىand Layla صِدنَنيensnared me وَتُماضِرُand Tumadir
وَأَروى وَلَيلى صِدنَني وَتُماضِرُ
Sulayma and Hind and al-Rabab and Zaynab,
Sulayma and Hind, Rabab and Zainab
and Arwa and Layla ensnared me, and Tumadir.
Allured me, speaking honeyed words.
كَواعِبُround-breasted maidens أَترابof equal age كَأَنَّas though حُمولَهاtheir laden camels
كَواعِبُ أَتراب كَأَنَّ حُمولَها
مِنَamong النَخلِthe palms عُمرِيُّ‘Umari النَخيلdate palms المَواقِرُheavily laden
مِنَ النَخلِ عُمرِيُّ النَخيل المَواقِرُ
Round-breasted maidens of one age; their laden camels are like
Slave-girls of noble birth, as if the cargo
the fruit-laden ‘Umari date palms among the palms.
They bore on camel litters were pliant palm-trees of my native country.
تَعَلَّقَhung ديباجٌbrocade عَلَيهنَّupon them باجِلٌsumptuous
تَعَلَّقَ ديباجٌ عَلَيهنَّ باجِلٌ
وَعَقلٌand red cloth وَرَقمٌand patterned fabric يِملَأُfills العَينَthe eye فاخِرُsplendid
وَعَقلٌ وَرَقمٌ يِملَأُ العَينَ فاخِرُ
Sumptuous brocade hung upon them,
Broidered silk was draped over them, studded
and red cloth and splendid patterned fabric that filled the eye.
With pearls and gems filling the eye with light.
دَخَلنَthey entered خُدوراًcurtained chambers فَوقَatop عِيسٍpale camels كَنينَةًsecluded
دَخَلنَ خُدوراً فَوقَ عِيسٍ كَنينَةً
كَماas كَنَسَتsought shelter نِصفَthe middle of النَهارِthe day الجَآذِرُwild-cow calves
كَما كَنَسَت نِصفَ النَهارِ الجَآذِرُ
They entered secluded curtained chambers atop pale camels,
They came forth from secluded tents above carpets
as wild-cow calves seek shelter at midday.
Of brocade, as the new moon glides across the sky.
مِنَamong الهِيفِslender-waisted women قَدindeed رَقَّتbecame delicate جُلوداًskins تَصونُهاthey protect them
مِنَ الهِيفِ قَد رَقَّت جُلوداً تَصونُها
وَأَوجُهُهاand their faces قَدindeed دَقَّbecame fine مِنهاon them المَناخِرُthe nostrils
وَأَوجُهُها قَد دَقَّ مِنها المَناخِرُ
Slender-waisted, tender of skin, which they protect,
Smooth of skin by reason of youth, their faces
with faces whose nostrils are finely shaped.
Were pierced with slender noses proud and high.
تَلوثُcoil فُروعاًtresses كَالعَثاكيلِlike palm bunches أَينَعَتhave ripened
تَلوثُ فُروعاً كَالعَثاكيلِ أَينَعَت
عَناقيدُهاtheir clusters وَاِبيَضَّand grew white مِنهاon them المَحاجِرُthe eye-sockets
عَناقيدُها وَاِبيَضَّ مِنها المَحاجِرُ
They coil tresses like palm bunches; ripened are
Their fresh young breasts were like small elegant fir-cones,
their clusters, and the rims of their eyes have grown white.
Their lips like interior petals of a rose half-blown.
كُسِينَthey were clothed مِنamong الأَلوانِthe colors لَوناًa color كَأَنَّهُas though it were
كُسِينَ مِن الأَلوانِ لَوناً كَأَنَّهُ
تَهاويلُwondrous adornments دُرٍّof pearls يَقبَلُreceives الطِيبَperfume باهِرُdazzling
تَهاويلُ دُرٍّ يَقبَلُ الطِيبَ باهِرُ
They were clothed in a color among colors, as though it were
Clad were they in divers hues like hyacinths bending down,
wondrous pearl adornments, dazzling and receptive to perfume.
As when round pearls is poured ambergris' perfume.
عِتاقٌnoble maidens جَوازيrichly endowed with الحُسنِbeauty تَضحيbecome by day كَأَنَّهاas though they were
عِتاقٌ جَوازي الحُسنِ تَضحي كَأَنَّها
وَلَوeven if لَمnot تُصِبreceive طِيباًperfume لِآلٍpearls عَواطِرُfragrant
وَلَو لَم تُصِب طِيباً لِآلٍ عَواطِرُ
Noble maidens, rich in beauty, by day they seem,
Chaste and virtuous, though no sweet odors touched them,
even without perfume, fragrant pearls.
They'd shed delicate fragrance from their robes of honor.
إِذاwhen ماindeed جَرىflows الجادِيُّthe saffron فَوقَover مُتونِهاtheir backs
إِذا ما جَرى الجادِيُّ فَوقَ مُتونِها
وَمِسكٌand musk ذَكِيٌّpungently fragrant جَفَّفَتهاdried them المَجامِرُthe incense braziers
وَمِسكٌ ذَكِيٌّ جَفَّفَتها المَجامِرُ
When saffron flows over their backs,
When the zephyr played on them its murmuring tune,
and pungent musk, the incense braziers dry them.
Musk-breathing, drying up their moist perfume,
لَهُنَّthey have عُيونُeyes العِينِof wide-eyed wild cows فيin صورِthe forms of الدُمىfigurines
لَهُنَّ عُيونُ العِينِ في صورِ الدُمى
وَطُرفٌand a gaze ضَعيفٌsoft يَستَميensnares العَقلَthe mind فاتِرُlanguid
وَطُرفٌ ضَعيفٌ يَستَمي العَقلَ فاتِرُ
They have the eyes of wide-eyed wild cows, in the forms of figurines,
Their eyes were like those of the wild cows of Wajra,
and a soft, languid gaze that ensnares the mind.
Their glances tender, stealing away the wits of men.
أَبانَتleft aside حَصِيداًHasid عَنon يَمينٍthe right وَياسَرَتand turned left
أَبانَت حَصِيداً عَن يَمينٍ وَياسَرَت
وَسارَتand traveled وَفيهاand in its course عَنِaway from رُماحٍRumah تَزاوُرُa veering
وَسارَت وَفيها عَنِ رُماحٍ تَزاوُرُ
The caravan left Hasid on its right and turned left,
With swinging gait they advanced, their anklets rattling,
and traveled on, veering away from Rumah.
Proudly, like a lofty palace shaking off its dust.
فَظِلتُso I remained وَفيand in نَفسيmy soul هُمومٌcares تَنوبُنيassail me
فَظِلتُ وَفي نَفسي هُمومٌ تَنوبُني
وَفيand in النَفسِthe soul حُزنٌsorrow مُستَسِرٌّhidden وَظاهِرُand manifest
وَفي النَفسِ حُزنٌ مُستَسِرٌّ وَظاهِرُ
So I remained, cares assailing my soul,
Slim-waisted, they were straight as spear-shafts, pliant,
and sorrow in my soul, hidden and manifest.
Long necked, with salient nostrils and mouths like buds half-opened.
عَساكِرُarmies مِنof وُجدٍpassion وَشَوقٍand longing تَنوبُنيassail me
عَساكِرُ مِن وُجدٍ وَشَوقٍ تَنوبُني
إِذاwhen رُفِّهَتare lifted عَنّيfrom me أَتَتنيcome to me عَساكِرُarmies
إِذا رُفِّهَت عَنّي أَتَتني عَساكِرُ
Armies of passion and longing assail me;
Boys of Qafar tended them, and a fair Indian
when they are lifted from me, more armies come.
In silk, resembling liquid gleams of early dawn.
وَإِنand if قُلتُI say هذاthis حينَthe time يَسليto forget حَبائبيmy beloveds
وَإِن قُلتُ هذا حينَ يَسلي حَبائبي
أَبىrefused القَلبُthe heart أَنto يَسلىforget الَّذيthe one whom هُوَit ذاكِرُremembers
أَبى القَلبُ أَن يَسلى الَّذي هُوَ ذاكِرُ
And if I say, 'This is the time to forget my beloveds,'
I fulfilled my desire on their backs, and returned them
the heart refuses to forget whom it remembers.
Refreshed, as the practised rider controls his agile steed.
فَلَوso if أَنَّthat حَيّاًa living man ماتَdied شَوقاًof longing صَبابَةًof ardent love
فَلَو أَنَّ حَيّاً ماتَ شَوقاً صَبابَةً
لَقامَwould surely have stood عَلىover أَوصالِيَmy limbs العامَthis year قابِرُa grave-digger
لَقامَ عَلى أَوصالِيَ العامَ قابِرُ
If any living man could die of longing and love,
The pleasures attract me, then my soul dissuades me,
a grave-digger would have stood over my limbs this year.
And God's grace hides their sweetness, to protect my weaker self,
عَفَتfaded دُمنَةٌa deserted campsite مِنهُنَّof theirs بِالجَوِّat al-Jaww أَقفَرَتbecame deserted
عَفَت دُمنَةٌ مِنهُنَّ بِالجَوِّ أَقفَرَت
كَأَنas though لَمnot يَكُنthere had been فيهاin it مِنَamong الحَيِّthe tribe سامِرُa nighttime talker
كَأَن لَم يَكُن فيها مِنَ الحَيِّ سامِرُ
A deserted campsite of theirs at al-Jaww faded and emptied,
While Islam and old age and piety turn me away,
as though no tribesman had ever talked there by night.
And for man seem age and faith as warning bells.
تَبَدَّتappeared بِهاthere الأَرواحُthe winds كُلَّevery عَشِيَّةٍevening
تَبَدَّت بِها الأَرواحُ كُلَّ عَشِيَّةٍ
وَغَيَّرَand altered آياتِthe signs of الرُسومِthe traces الأَعاصِرُthe whirlwinds
وَغَيَّرَ آياتِ الرُسومِ الأَعاصِرُ
The winds rose there every evening,
And I said, as noble ladies passed with their retinue:
and whirlwinds altered the signs of its traces.
"Naught endures forever save my God, whose might is infinite!"
وَغَيثٌand rain سِماكِيٌّof Simak's season رُكامٌpiled high سَحابُهُits clouds
وَغَيثٌ سِماكِيٌّ رُكامٌ سَحابُهُ
دَلوحٌheavy and drooping مِنَamong الوَسمِيِّthe autumn rains بِالماءِwith water باكِرُearly
دَلوحٌ مِنَ الوَسمِيِّ بِالماءِ باكِرُ
And rain of Simak's season, its clouds piled high,
He is the Inner, the Gentle, the Merciful, His place unknown,
heavy with water, early among the autumn rains.
First and Last is He, our Lord, of Majesty and Might.
يَبِيتُspends the night إِذاwhen أَبدىshows بُروقاًlightning flashes كَأَنَّهاas though they were
يَبِيتُ إِذا أَبدى بُروقاً كَأَنَّها
سُيوفُswords زُحوفٍof advancing armies جَرَّدَتهاunsheathed them الأَساوِرُthe horsemen
سُيوفُ زُحوفٍ جَرَّدَتها الأَساوِرُ
At night, when it flashes lightning, the flashes seem like
Noble, Forbearing, His decree none can oppose,
swords of advancing armies, unsheathed by horsemen.
With gracious plenty rewarding the sins of men.
كَأَنَّas though طُبولاًdrums فَوقَabove أَعجازِthe rear parts of مُزنِهِits rainclouds
كَأَنَّ طُبولاً فَوقَ أَعجازِ مُزنِهِ
يُجاوِبُهاanswers them مِنfrom آخِرِthe end of اللَيلِthe night زامرُa piper
يُجاوِبُها مِن آخِرِ اللَيلِ زامرُ
As though drums above the rear of its rainclouds
He brings to fullness the harvest of the crops,
were answered, late in the night, by a piper.
While generations come and go through His enduring might.
كَأَنَّas though حَنِينَthe moaning of وُلَّهٍdistraught she-camels فيin سَحابِهِits clouds
كَأَنَّ حَنِينَ وُلَّهٍ في سَحابِهِ
يُجاوِبُهاanswers them خُلجٌshe-camels bereft of calves وَعُطفٌand yearning she-camels جَراجِرُloudly rumbling
يُجاوِبُها خُلجٌ وَعُطفٌ جَراجِرُ
As though the moaning of distraught she-camels in its clouds
As for telling His tale, who has the skill?
were answered by bereaved and yearning camels, rumbling aloud.
This much in verse from me must now suffice.
لَهُit has زِبرِجٌglitter بَرقٌlightning وَرَعدٌand thunder كَأَنَّهُas though it were
لَهُ زِبرِجٌ بَرقٌ وَرَعدٌ كَأَنَّهُ
مَزاميرُpipes جونٌdark هَيَّجَتهاroused them مَزاهِرُlutes
مَزاميرُ جونٌ هَيَّجَتها مَزاهِرُ
It has glittering lightning, and thunder as though it were
O Man! say, have you worked toward the world to come?
dark pipes roused by lutes.
For after death, inevitably, your deeds will all be weighed.
فَغَيَّرَso altered رَسمَthe traces of الدارِthe dwelling مِنfrom بَعدِafter عُرفِهاits familiar appearance
فَغَيَّرَ رَسمَ الدارِ مِن بَعدِ عُرفِها
أَجَشُّhoarse هَزيمٌroaring يَحفِشُsweeps away الأُكمَthe hillocks ماطِرُrain-bearing
أَجَشُّ هَزيمٌ يَحفِشُ الأُكمَ ماطِرُ
So it changed the dwelling's traces, once familiar,
See you not that good and evil both are but a test,
a hoarse, roaring rain sweeping the hillocks.
Where with like deeds the Lord of Justice will requite?
يَبيتُspends the night يَصُبُpouring الماءَwater صَبّاًin torrents وَيَنتَحيand courses onward
يَبيتُ يَصُبُ الماءَ صَبّاً وَيَنتَحي
لَهُit has نُزُلٌabundant runoff فيهِin it تُجَرُّare dragged حَضاجِرُhyenas
لَهُ نُزُلٌ فيهِ تُجَرُّ حَضاجِرُ
All night it pours water in torrents and courses onward;
He that works righteousness, he that idly stays his hand,
it has a flood in which hyenas are dragged along.
For all their secret thoughts a time of reckoning awaits.
فَأَزلَقَso made slip وِرلاناًmonitor lizards فَبالأُكمِso to the hillocks أَعصَمتthey clung for safety
فَأَزلَقَ وِرلاناً فَبالأُكمِ أَعصَمت
وَقَدand indeed زَلِقَتslipped مِنهbecause of it الضِبابthe spiny-tailed lizards الجَواحِرُburrow-dwelling
وَقَد زَلِقَت مِنه الضِباب الجَواحِرُ
It made monitor lizards slip, so they clung to the hillocks,
Rich man, poor man, alike I have found,
and the burrowing spiny-tailed lizards slipped in it.
Comes after God's decree dispensing joy and pain.
كَساهاit clothed it رِياضاًin meadows كَالعُهونِlike dyed wool عَشِيَةًin the evening
كَساها رِياضاً كَالعُهونِ عَشِيَةً
لَهاthey have صَبَحٌrosy brightness مِثلُlike الدَرانيكِpatterned rugs ناضِرُfresh
لَها صَبَحٌ مِثلُ الدَرانيكِ ناضِرُ
In the evening it clothed the land in meadows like dyed wool,
If care weighs down a people, yet relief will come,
with a fresh rosy brightness like patterned rugs.
When God in grace grants all they wish for, as He promised us of old.
إِذاwhen اِكتَهَلَتmatured وَاِعتَمَّand grew dense أَزواجُthe varieties of نَبتِهاtheir growth
إِذا اِكتَهَلَت وَاِعتَمَّ أَزواجُ نَبتِها
نَماgrew بَعدَهُafter it بَقلٌherbage تُؤامٌgrowing in pairs وَزاهِرُand flowering
نَما بَعدَهُ بَقلٌ تُؤامٌ وَزاهِرُ
When the meadows mature and their kinds of growth grow thick,
He whom an abode delights, though leaving it he's loath,
paired shoots and flowering herbs grow afterward.
Dire woes that home shall bring, if he embrace what God forbids.
عَفَتfaded غَيرَexcept for ظِلمانٍmale ostriches كَأَنَّas though نَعامَهاits ostriches
عَفَت غَيرَ ظِلمانٍ كَأَنَّ نَعامَها
إِذاwhen راعَهاfrightened them رَوعٌa fright إِفالٌyoung camels نَوافِرُbolting
إِذا راعَها رَوعٌ إِفالٌ نَوافِرُ
The site is effaced, save for male ostriches; its ostriches seem,
Who judges rightly the people's causes, as a judge should do,
when fright alarms them, like young camels bolting.
While whoso judges not aright rebels against God's law.
بِهاthere النُؤيُthe encircling ditch وَالمَشجوجُand the split peg بِالفِهرِwith a handstone رأسهُits head
بِها النُؤيُ وَالمَشجوجُ بِالفِهرِ رأسهُ
وَآرِيُّand a tethering post أَفراسٍof horses بِهاthere وَأَياصِرُand tethering ropes
وَآرِيُّ أَفراسٍ بِها وَأَياصِرُ
There are the encircling ditch and the peg, its head split by a handstone,
The debtor deep in debt is pardoned for his debts,
and a horses' tethering post there, and tethering ropes,
But no excuse avails for wronging and oppressing men.
وَسُفعٌand blackened hearthstones ضَبَتscorched أَنصافَهاtheir halves النارُthe fire رُكَّدٌmotionless
وَسُفعٌ ضَبَت أَنصافَها النارُ رُكَّدٌ
وَأَورَقُand gray ash هابٍscattered كَالحَمامَةِlike a dove دائِرُlying round
وَأَورَقُ هابٍ كَالحَمامَةِ دائِرُ
and motionless blackened hearthstones, their halves scorched by fire,
and dove-gray, scattered ash lying in a circle.
فَهَيَّجَso stirred دَمعيmy tears رَسمُthe traces of دارٍa dwelling كَأَنَّهُas though they were
فَهَيَّجَ دَمعي رَسمُ دارٍ كَأَنَّهُ
وُحِيُّinscriptions السِلامِon stones فَالدُموعُso the tears بَوادِرُbursting forth
وُحِيُّ السِلامِ فَالدُموعُ بَوادِرُ
The traces of a dwelling stirred my tears, as though they were
inscriptions on stones; the tears burst forth.
وَحُبُّكَand your love ماwhat لاnot تَستَطيعُyou are able طِلابَهُits pursuit
وَحُبُّكَ ما لا تَستَطيعُ طِلابَهُ
وَمِنand one who لاnot يُجِدُّearnestly seeks الوَصلَunion داءٌa sickness مُخامِرُpervading
وَمِن لا يُجِدُّ الوَصلَ داءٌ مُخامِرُ
Your love for what you cannot pursue,
and for one who does not seek union, is a clinging sickness.
وَيَهماءُand a trackless waste يَجريflows آلُهاits mirage فَوقَover أُكمِهاits hillocks
وَيَهماءُ يَجري آلُها فَوقَ أُكمِها
كَماas فاضَoverflowed ماءٌwater أَلبَسَclothed الأُكمَthe hillocks غامِرُflooding
كَما فاضَ ماءٌ أَلبَسَ الأُكمَ غامِرُ
And a trackless waste, its mirage running over its hillocks,
like overflowing water, flooding and cloaking the hills,
إِذاwhen الشَمسُthe sun كانَتwas قِمَّabove رَأسٍa head سَوِيَّةٍlevel
إِذا الشَمسُ كانَت قِمَّ رَأسٍ سَوِيَّةٍ
وَظَلَّتand kept تُسامِيهاreaching up toward it الحَرابيthe chameleons الخَواطِرُswaying
وَظَلَّت تُسامِيها الحَرابي الخَواطِرُ
when the sun stood directly above the crown of one's head,
and swaying chameleons kept reaching toward it,
تَجَشَّمتُهاI braved it حَتّىuntil أَجوبَI cross سَرابَهاits mirage
تَجَشَّمتُها حَتّى أَجوبَ سَرابَها
وَإِنand though حَمِيَتgrew hot بَعدَafter المَقِيلِthe midday rest الهَواجِرُthe midday heats
وَإِن حَمِيَت بَعدَ المَقِيلِ الهَواجِرُ
I braved it, to cross its mirage,
though the midday heats grew fierce after the midday rest,
بِناجِيَةٍon a swift she-camel أُجدٍsturdy كِنازٍcompactly built كَأَنَّهاas though she were
بِناجِيَةٍ أُجدٍ كِنازٍ كَأَنَّها
إِذاwhen رُدَّwas turned back فيهاupon her الطَرفُthe gaze فَحلٌa stallion عُذافِرُmassive
إِذا رُدَّ فيها الطَرفُ فَحلٌ عُذافِرُ
on a swift, sturdy, compact she-camel, as though she were,
when one's gaze returned to her, a massive stallion.
تَمُدُّstretches الزِمامَthe halter وَالجَديلَand the braided rein إِذاwhen مَشَتshe walks
تَمُدُّ الزِمامَ وَالجَديلَ إِذا مَشَت
مُواشِكَةٌswift-stepping غَلباءُthick-necked كَالبُرجِlike a tower عاقِرُbarren
مُواشِكَةٌ غَلباءُ كَالبُرجِ عاقِرُ
She pulls taut the halter and braided rein when she walks,
swift-stepping, thick-necked, barren, like a tower,
بِأَتلَعَwith a long neck كَالجِذعِlike a palm trunk السَودِيِّSudi طولُهُits height
بِأَتلَعَ كَالجِذعِ السَودِيِّ طولُهُ
نَفىstripped away اللِيفَthe palm fiber عَنهثfrom it (apparent typo) وَالكَرانِيفَand the leaf-stubs ناجِرُa carpenter
نَفى اللِيفَ عَنهث وَالكَرانِيفَ ناجِرُ
with a long neck, tall as a Sudi palm trunk,
from which a carpenter has stripped the fiber and leaf-stubs.
وَطالَand grew long شَواهاher limbs ثُمَّthen تَمَّfilled out نَصِيلُهاher frame
وَطالَ شَواها ثُمَّ تَمَّ نَصِيلُها
وَقَدand indeed طالَgrew long مِنهاon her خَطمُهاher muzzle وَالمَشافِرُand the lips
وَقَد طالَ مِنها خَطمُها وَالمَشافِرُ
Her limbs grew long, then her frame filled out,
and her muzzle and lips grew long.
عَلَيهاon her مِنَamong الفِتيانِthe young men جَوّابُa traverser of قَفرَةٍwilderness
عَلَيها مِنَ الفِتيانِ جَوّابُ قَفرَةٍ
وَأَبيَضُand a white blade هِندِيٌّIndian مِنَamong العُتقِthe finest باتِرُkeen-cutting
وَأَبيَضُ هِندِيٌّ مِنَ العُتقِ باتِرُ
On her is a young man who ranges the wilderness,
and a white Indian blade, one of the finest, keen-cutting,
وَحِلسٌand a saddlecloth عَلَيهِon it نِسعَتانtwo straps وَنُمرُقٌand a cushion
وَحِلسٌ عَلَيهِ نِسعَتان وَنُمرُقٌ
وَكُورٌand a camel saddle عِلافِيٌّ‘Ilafi-style مِنَof المَيسِhackberry wood قاتِرُclose-fitting
وَكُورٌ عِلافِيٌّ مِنَ المَيسِ قاتِرُ
and a saddlecloth bearing two straps and a cushion,
and a close-fitting ‘Ilafi saddle of hackberry wood.
أُقَضّىI fulfill عَلَيهاon her حاجَتيmy need وَأَرُدُّهاand return her
أُقَضّى عَلَيها حاجَتي وَأَرُدُّها
مَنيناًexhausted كَماas رَدَّreturned المَنِيحَthe shareless gaming arrow المُخاطِرُthe gambler
مَنيناً كَما رَدَّ المَنِيحَ المُخاطِرُ
On her I fulfill my need, then bring her back
exhausted, as a gambler returns the shareless gaming arrow.
وَتُعجِبُنيand delight me اللَذّاتُpleasures ثُمَّthen يَعُوجُنيturns me aside
وَتُعجِبُني اللَذّاتُ ثُمَّ يَعُوجُني
وَيَستُرُنيand shields me عَنهاfrom them مِنَfrom اللَهِGod ساتِرُa guardian
وَيَستُرُني عَنها مِنَ اللَهِ ساتِرُ
Pleasures delight me, but then I am turned aside,
and a guardian from God shields me from them.
وَيُزجُرُنيand restrains me الإِسلامُIslam وَالشَيبُand gray hair وَالتُقىand piety
وَيُزجُرُني الإِسلامُ وَالشَيبُ وَالتُقى
وَفيand in الشَيبِgray hair وَالإِسلامِand Islam لِلمَرءِfor a man زاجِرُa restraint
وَفي الشَيبِ وَالإِسلامِ لِلمَرءِ زاجِرُ
Islam, gray hair, and piety restrain me;
in gray hair and Islam is a restraint for a man.
وَقُلتُand I said وَقَدand already مَرَّتpassed حُتوفٌdeaths بِأَهلِهاupon their victims
وَقُلتُ وَقَد مَرَّت حُتوفٌ بِأَهلِها
أَلاLo! لَيسَthere is not شَيءٌanything غَيرَexcept رَبِّيَmy Lord غابِرُenduring
أَلا لَيسَ شَيءٌ غَيرَ رَبِّيَ غابِرُ
I said, as deaths overtook their victims:
Lo, nothing but my Lord endures.
هُوَHe الباطِنُthe Hidden الرَبُّthe Lord اللَطيفُsubtle مَكانُهُHis place
هُوَ الباطِنُ الرَبُّ اللَطيفُ مَكانُهُ
وَأَوَّلُand the first شَيءٍthing رَبُّناour Lord ثُمَّthen آخِرُthe last
وَأَوَّلُ شَيءٍ رَبُّنا ثُمَّ آخِرُ
He is the Hidden Lord, whose place is subtle,
and our Lord is first of all things, then the last.
كَريمٌgenerous حَليمٌforbearing لاnot يُعَقَّبُcan be overturned حُكمُهُHis judgment
كَريمٌ حَليمٌ لا يُعَقَّبُ حُكمُهُ
كَثيرُabundant in أَياديfavors الخَيرِgoodness لِلذَّنبِfor sin غافِرُforgiving
كَثيرُ أَيادي الخَيرِ لِلذَّنبِ غافِرُ
Generous and forbearing, His judgment cannot be overturned,
lavish in favors of goodness, forgiving of sin.
يُنِيمُlays low حَصادَthe ripe harvest الزَرعِof the crop بَعدَafter اِرتَفاعِهِits growth
يُنِيمُ حَصادَ الزَرعِ بَعدَ اِرتَفاعِهِ
فَتَفنىso perish قُرونٌgenerations وَهوَwhile He لِلزَرعِfor the crop آبِرُa cultivator
فَتَفنى قُرونٌ وَهوَ لِلزَرعِ آبِرُ
He lays the ripe crop low after it has risen,
and generations perish, while He cultivates the crop.
وَمَنand whoever يَعيَfalters بِالإِخبارِin giving tidings عَنabout مَنone who يَرومُهاseeks them
وَمَن يَعيَ بِالإِخبارِ عَن مَن يَرومُها
فَإِنّيthen I بِماof what قَدalready قُلتُI said فيin الشِعرِverse خابِرُwell informed
فَإِنّي بِما قَد قُلتُ في الشِعرِ خابِرُ
And whoever falters in giving tidings of one who seeks them—
I know well what I have said in verse.
أَلاHear! أَيُّهاO الإِنسانُhuman being هَلare ...? أَنتَyou عامِلٌacting
أَلا أَيُّها الإِنسانُ هَل أَنتَ عامِلٌ
فَإِنَّكَfor you بَعدَafter المَوتِdeath لاno بُدَّescape ناشِرُrising again
فَإِنَّكَ بَعدَ المَوتِ لا بُدَّ ناشِرُ
Hear, O human being: are you taking action?
For after death you must surely rise again.
أَلَمhave you not تَرَseen أَنَّthat الخَيرَgood وَالشَرَّand evil فِتنَةٌa trial
أَلَم تَرَ أَنَّ الخَيرَ وَالشَرَّ فِتنَةٌ
ذَخائِرُstored treasures مَجزِيٌّrecompensed بِهِنَّfor them ذَخائِرُstored treasures
ذَخائِرُ مَجزِيٌّ بِهِنَّ ذَخائِرُ
Have you not seen that good and evil are a trial—
treasures, for which treasures are given in recompense?
وَمَنand whoever يَعمَلِdoes الخَيراتِgood deeds أَوor يُخطِsins خالِياًin private
وَمَن يَعمَلِ الخَيراتِ أَو يُخطِ خالِياً
يُجازُis recompensed بِهاfor them أَيّامَon the days تُبلىare tested السَرائِرُinner secrets
يُجازُ بِها أَيّامَ تُبلى السَرائِرُ
Whoever does good deeds or sins in private
will be repaid for them when inner secrets are laid bare.
وَجَدتُand I found الثَراءَwealth وَالمُصيباتِand misfortunes كُلَّهاall of them
وَجَدتُ الثَراءَ وَالمُصيباتِ كُلَّها
يَجيءُcomes بِهاwith them بَعدَafter الإِلهِGod المَقادِرُthe decrees of fate
يَجيءُ بِها بَعدَ الإِلهِ المَقادِرُ
I have found that wealth and all misfortunes
are brought, after God, by fate's decrees.
فَإِنso if عُسرَةٌhardship يَوماًone day أَضَرَّتdid harm بِأَهلِهاto its people
فَإِن عُسرَةٌ يَوماً أَضَرَّت بِأَهلِها
أَتَتcame بَعدَهاafter it مِمّاamong what وُعِدناwe were promised المَياسِرُtimes of ease
أَتَت بَعدَها مِمّا وُعِدنا المَياسِرُ
If hardship one day harms its people,
the promised times of ease follow it.
وَنازِلِand many a dweller دارٍa home لاnot يُريدُwants فِراقَهاto leave it
وَنازِلِ دارٍ لا يُريدُ فِراقَها
سَتُظعِنُهُwill drive him away عَمّاfrom what يُريدُhe wants الجَرائِرُmisdeeds
سَتُظعِنُهُ عَمّا يُريدُ الجَرائِرُ
And many a dweller in a home, unwilling to leave it—
misdeeds will drive him from what he desires.
وَمَنand whoever يُنصِفِis fair to الأَقوامَthe peoples ماnot فاتَfell short قاضِياًas a judge
وَمَن يُنصِفِ الأَقوامَ ما فاتَ قاضِياً
وَكُلُّand every اِمرىءٍman لاnot يُنصِفُgives due to اللَهَGod جائِرُunjust
وَكُلُّ اِمرىءٍ لا يُنصِفُ اللَهَ جائِرُ
Whoever is fair to people has not failed as a judge,
and every man who does not give God His due is unjust.
يُعَذَّرُis excused ذوone with الدَينِdebt الطَلوبِpressing بِدَينِهِbecause of his debt
يُعَذَّرُ ذو الدَينِ الطَلوبِ بِدَينِهِ
وَلَيسَand there is no لِأَمرٍfor an act يَظلِمُthat wrongs الناسَpeople عاذِرُone who excuses
وَلَيسَ لِأَمرٍ يَظلِمُ الناسَ عاذِرُ
A man with a pressing debt is excused because of his debt,
but none excuses an act that wrongs people.
Partial English translation: 60 of 116 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1