أَسَمِعْتُماhave you two heard أنthat الجِبالَthe mountains تُضامُare wronged
أَسَمِعْتُما أن الجِبالَ تُضامُ
وعَلِمْتُماand have you two learned مَنْwhom غَالَتِstruck down الأيَّامُthe days
وعَلِمْتُما مَنْ غَالَتِ الأيَّامُ
Have you heard that mountains can be wronged,
Have you two heard that mountains can be wronged,
and learned whom the passing days have snatched away?
And learned whom the days have struck down?
فَجْعٌbereavement تَطيرُfly لهbecause of it علىover أحشائِناour entrails
فَجْعٌ تَطيرُ له على أحشائِنا
شُعَلٌflames وتَسقُطُand fall فيinto القلوبِthe hearts سِهامُarrows
شُعَلٌ وتَسقُطُ في القلوبِ سِهامُ
Be stricken with grief: for him, across our innermost parts, fly
A grief at which, over our entrails,
flames, while arrows fall into our hearts.
Flames fly, and arrows fall into our hearts.
وَرَزيَّةٌand a calamity أَخَذَtook الرَّدَىDeath ماwhat يبتَغيit desires
وَرَزيَّةٌ أَخَذَ الرَّدَى ما يبتَغي
منّاfrom us ونالَand gained بهاthrough it الذيwhat يَستامُit seeks to exact
منّا ونالَ بها الذي يَستامُ
A calamity—death took what it desired
And a calamity: Death took what it desired
from us, and thereby attained the prize it sought.
From us, and through it gained what it sought to exact.
شَهِدَتْit testified بتحليلْto the lawfulness of الدموعِtears وخَبَّرَتْand declared
شَهِدَتْ بتحليلْ الدموعِ وخَبَّرَتْ
أنَّthat العَزاءَconsolation علىfor اللَّبيبِthe discerning حَرامُis forbidden
أنَّ العَزاءَ على اللَّبيبِ حَرامُ
It testified that shedding tears was lawful, and declared
It attested to the lawfulness of tears, and declared
that consolation is forbidden to the discerning.
That consolation is forbidden to the discerning.
كنَّاwe used to نَعُدُّcount الحِصنَal-Hisn (the fortress) دارَa home of إقامةٍresidence
كنَّا نَعُدُّ الحِصنَ دارَ إقامةٍ
فاليومَbut today وقفتُناour stop بهthere إلمامُa passing visit
فاليومَ وقفتُنا به إلمامُ
We once deemed the stronghold an everlasting home;
We once counted al-Hisn a lasting home;
today our stay there is only a passing visit.
Today our stop there is but a passing visit.
يَبكيweeps الغَمامُthe clouds المستسيرُdrifting بأرضِهاover its land
يَبكي الغَمامُ المستسيرُ بأرضِها
ونقولُand we say جادَrained abundantly بذيat Dhu الغَميمِal-Ghamim غَمامُa cloud
ونقولُ جادَ بذي الغَميمِ غَمامُ
The wandering cloud weeps over its land,
The drifting clouds weep over its land,
and we say: May a cloud rain generously upon Dhū al-Ghumaym.
And we say, 'A cloud has lavished rain on Dhu al-Ghamim.'
إنْif يفترِقْscatter أحبابُناour loved ones أيديthe scattered groups of سَباSaba
إنْ يفترِقْ أحبابُنا أيدي سَبا
عنهاaway from it فقدfor indeed يَتفرَّقُscatter الأَقْوامُpeoples
عنها فقد يَتفرَّقُ الأَقْوامُ
If our loved ones scatter from it like the bands of Sheba,
If our loved ones scatter like the tribes of Saba
then whole nations may indeed be scattered.
Away from it—for peoples do indeed scatter.
عَطَنٌa watering-place أخَلَّforsook بهit الوفودُthe delegations وأوحشَتْand became desolate
عَطَنٌ أخَلَّ به الوفودُ وأوحشَتْ
منهof it الرِّحابُthe courts الفِيحُspacious والآطامُand the strongholds
منه الرِّحابُ الفِيحُ والآطامُ
A gathering place the delegations left empty, now desolate;
A watering-place delegations have forsaken; desolate
without him, its spacious courts and hill-forts lie forlorn.
Are its spacious courts and strongholds.
أقوىit is deserted وفيهwhile within it منof العديدِthe multitude تَدافُعٌjostling
أقوى وفيه من العديدِ تَدافُعٌ
وخَلاand it is empty وفيهwhile within it منof الأنيسِcompanions زِحَامُa throng
وخَلا وفيه من الأنيسِ زِحَامُ
It stands deserted, though multitudes once jostled there,
It stands deserted, though multitudes jostle within it;
and empty, though crowds of companions once thronged it.
And empty, though companions throng within it.
والتُّربُand the soil ظَمآنُthirsty الجَوانحِthe inward parts ماas سَرىtravels by night
والتُّربُ ظَمآنُ الجَوانحِ ما سَرى
رَكْبُthe caravan of السَّحابِclouds عليهover it وهيwhile they are جَهَامُrainless
رَكْبُ السَّحابِ عليه وهي جَهَامُ
The earth thirsts to its very core whenever there passes
And the soil is thirsty in its breast as
a caravan of clouds above it, themselves rainless.
The caravan of clouds travels over it by night, rainless.
أينَwhere الفَتىthe youth الأزِديُّthe Azdi بلrather أينَwhere النَّدىthe rain الرْthe (start of 'springtime')
أينَ الفَتى الأزِديُّ بل أينَ النَّدى الرْ
رِبْعيُّspringtime أينَwhere البُؤسُsternness والإنعامand bounty
رِبْعيُّ أينَ البُؤسُ والإنعام
Where is the Azdī youth? Nay, where is that spring-
Where is the Azdi youth—rather, where is the rain
like bounty? Where are valor and beneficence?
Of spring? Where are sternness and bounty?
أينwhere الأُلىthose who شِرِبَdrank الحِمامُDeath نُفوسَهمtheir souls
أين الأُلى شِرِبَ الحِمامُ نُفوسَهم
وَهُمُwhile they were حياةٌlife غَضَّةٌtender وحِمامُand death
وَهُمُ حياةٌ غَضَّةٌ وحِمامُ
Where are those foremost men who drank death, offering their souls,
Where are those whose souls Death drank,
while they themselves were flourishing life—and death itself?
Though they were tender life—and death?
أينَwhere السَّمِيُّrainclouds مِنbeside المَكارِمِnoble deeds هذِهِthese
أينَ السَّمِيُّ مِن المَكارِمِ هذِهِ
تَنْهَلُّpour down داجنةًunceasingly وتلكand those تُغامُare clouded over
تَنْهَلُّ داجنةً وتلك تُغامُ
Where is his peer in noble deeds? Show him to us!
Where do rainclouds stand beside noble deeds? These
One dark raincloud drenches him, while another gathers gloom.
Pour down unceasingly, while those are clouded over.
والسُّمرُand the dusky lances تُنظَمُare strung فيon عوامِلِهِاtheir spearheads العِدَىthe enemies
والسُّمرُ تُنظَمُ في عوامِلِهِا العِدَى
والبِيضُand the bright swords تُنثَرُare scattered عنfrom ظُباهاtheir edges الهامُthe heads
والبِيضُ تُنثَرُ عن ظُباها الهامُ
Brown spears string the enemy upon their points,
The dusky lances: enemies are strung upon their spearheads;
and white swords scatter heads from their blades.
The bright swords: heads are scattered from their edges.
نَزَلُواthey submitted علىto حكمِthe judgment of الزَّمانِTime وأمرِهand its command
نَزَلُوا على حكمِ الزَّمانِ وأمرِه
وهُمُwhile they were الخُصومُadversaries اللُّدُّfierce والحُكَّامُand arbiters
وهُمُ الخُصومُ اللُّدُّ والحُكَّامُ
They bowed to the judgment and command of Time,
They yielded to Time's judgment and command,
though they were fierce adversaries—and judges themselves.
Though they were fierce adversaries and arbiters.
يمضيpasses بمُرِّwith the bitterness of الفَجْعِbereavement عامٌa year فيهِمُamong them
يمضي بمُرِّ الفَجْعِ عامٌ فيهِمُ
ويَجيءُand comes بالرُّزْءwith loss المبرِّحِagonizing عامُa year
ويَجيءُ بالرُّزْء المبرِّحِ عامُ
A year passes among them with calamity’s bitterness,
A year passes with bitter bereavement among them,
and every year arrives bearing devastating loss.
And a year comes with agonizing loss.
نِعَمٌblessings كأنَّas though الدَّهْرَTime أقسَمَswore جاهداًearnestly
نِعَمٌ كأنَّ الدَّهْرَ أقسَمَ جاهداً
ألاّthat not تَدومَthey would endure فبرَّتِand came true الأقسامُthe oaths
ألاّ تَدومَ فبرَّتِ الأقسامُ
Blessings—as though Time had sworn with all its might
Blessings—as though Time had earnestly sworn
that they should not endure; and its oaths came true.
That they would not endure—and the oaths came true.
كانتthey were مَوارِدَwatering-places للعُفاةِfor gift-seekers فأصبَحَتْthen became
كانت مَوارِدَ للعُفاةِ فأصبَحَتْ
مَحمِيَّةَguarded الجَنَباتِon every side لَيسَnot تُرامُapproached
مَحمِيَّةَ الجَنَباتِ لَيسَ تُرامُ
They were watering places for needy petitioners; then they became
They were watering-places for gift-seekers, but became
fortified on every side, impossible to approach.
Guarded on every side, beyond approach.
ولقدand indeed شَجانيit grieved me أنthat يُقَوَّضَbe dismantled مَجْلِسٌa gathering
ولقد شَجاني أن يُقَوَّضَ مَجْلِسٌ
فيهin it الحِجَىreason والعِلْمُand learning والأحلامand forbearance
فيه الحِجَى والعِلْمُ والأحلام
What grieves me is that a gathering should be broken up
And indeed it grieved me that a gathering should be dismantled
where wisdom, knowledge, and forbearance dwelt.
Containing reason, learning, and forbearance.
طُوِيَتْwere folded away حَدائِقُهُits gardens وهنَّwhile they were نَواضِرٌflourishing
طُوِيَتْ حَدائِقُهُ وهنَّ نَواضِرٌ
وخبَتْand died out بَوارِقُهits lightning flashes وهنَّwhile they were ضِرامُblazing fire
وخبَتْ بَوارِقُه وهنَّ ضِرامُ
Its gardens were folded away while still in bloom,
Its gardens were folded away while still flourishing,
and its lightning flashes died while still ablaze.
And its lightning flashes died out while still ablaze.
أدَبٌliterary refinement غَدَتْcame to أيديthe hands of الحِمامِDeath تَضيمُهwrong it
أدَبٌ غَدَتْ أيدي الحِمامِ تَضيمُه
ماnot كانَwas إلاexcept بالحِمامِby Death يُضامُwronged
ما كانَ إلا بالحِمامِ يُضامُ
A culture of learning the hands of death have come to wrong—
Literary refinement, which Death's hands came to wrong,
nothing but death could ever have wronged it.
Could be wronged by Death alone.
وشهابُand a meteor رَجْمٍfor stoning غَيَّبَتْهُhid it صَفائِحٌstone slabs
وشهابُ رَجْمٍ غَيَّبَتْهُ صَفائِحٌ
طُوِيَتْwere closed علىover إشراقِهits radiance ورِجامand stone heaps
طُوِيَتْ على إشراقِه ورِجام
A shooting star—a missile for stoning—which stone slabs concealed,
And a stoning meteor, concealed by slabs
folding over its radiance, with stones heaped upon it.
Closed over its radiance, and by heaps of stones.
للهِby God أيُّwhat a مُوَدَّعٍone being bid farewell حَفَّتsurrounded بهِhim
للهِ أيُّ مُوَدَّعٍ حَفَّت بهِ
عُصَبٌbands of people علىon جَمْرِthe embers of الوَداعِfarewell قِيامُstanding
عُصَبٌ على جَمْرِ الوَداعِ قِيامُ
By God, what a man was bidden farewell, encircled by
By God, what a man they bade farewell to, surrounded
bands standing upon the embers of farewell.
By bands standing on the embers of farewell!
صارواthey became بهbecause of him مَرضَىsick القلوبِat heart كأنَّماas though
صاروا به مَرضَى القلوبِ كأنَّما
قُدْسٌQuds علىupon أيديِهمُtheir hands وشَمامُand Shamam
قُدْسٌ على أيديِهمُ وشَمامُ
Through him their hearts grew sick, as though
Because of him they became heartsick, as though
the mountains Quds and Shamām weighed upon their hands.
Quds and Shamam lay upon their hands.
عَبِقُfragrant البُرودِof mantles يَزينُadorns مَشهَدَهُhis presence التُّقَىpiety
عَبِقُ البُرودِ يَزينُ مَشهَدَهُ التُّقَى
وتَحيدُand turn aside عنfrom خَلَواتِهِhis private retreats الآثامُsins
وتَحيدُ عن خَلَواتِهِ الآثامُ
Piety, fragrant-robed, adorns his resting place,
His mantles are fragrant; piety adorns his presence,
and keeps sins far from its secluded precincts.
And sins turn aside from his private retreats.
أضحَىhe has become ضجيعَthe bedfellow of مُسنَّدِينَmen laid reclining كأنَّماas though
أضحَى ضجيعَ مُسنَّدِينَ كأنَّما
صَرَعَتْهُمُfelled them نُخُبُdraughts from الكُؤوسِthe cups فنامُواand so they slept
صَرَعَتْهُمُ نُخُبُ الكُؤوسِ فنامُوا
He has become the bedfellow of men laid upon their sides, as though
He now lies beside men laid reclining, as though
draughts from the cups had felled them and they slept—
Draughts from the cups had felled them, and they slept.
كُرَماءَnoble men لاnot يرجُوهُمُhopes in them فيin قُربِهِمtheir nearness
كُرَماءَ لا يرجُوهُمُ في قُربِهِم
راجٍa hopeful seeker ولاand not يَعتامُهُمchooses them مُعتامُa chooser
راجٍ ولا يَعتامُهُم مُعتامُ
noble men whom, despite their nearness, no hopeful petitioner can approach,
Noble men, in whom, though they are near, no hope is placed
nor can any seeker choose among them.
By any supplicant, nor does any chooser select them.
حُجِبُواthey were screened عَنِfrom الأحبابِloved ones إلاّexcept زَورَةًa visit
حُجِبُوا عَنِ الأحبابِ إلاّ زَورَةً
تجريflow بزُورِwith the illusion of لِقائِهاits encounter الأحلامُdreams
تجري بزُورِ لِقائِها الأحلامُ
They are veiled from their loved ones, save for a visitation
They are screened from their loved ones, save for a visit
that dreams contrive through the false semblance of meeting.
Borne along by dreams with its illusory encounter.
نَطَأُwe tread الصَّفيحَthe stone covering عليهمُabove them ووراءَهand beyond it
نَطَأُ الصَّفيحَ عليهمُ ووراءَه
مثلُlike الصَّفائحِsword blades مُنجِبونَsires of worthy offspring كِرامُnoble
مثلُ الصَّفائحِ مُنجِبونَ كِرامُ
We tread the stone slab above them, while beneath it
We tread the stone covering above them; beyond it
are noble, well-born men like gleaming blades.
Are noble sires of worthy offspring, like sword blades.
رَقَدُواthey slept عنِaway from الصَّلواتِthe prayers فيهthere وطالماand so often
رَقَدُوا عنِ الصَّلواتِ فيه وطالما
قامواthey rose إلىfor الصلواتthe prayers وهيwhile they were تُقامُbeing held
قاموا إلى الصلوات وهي تُقامُ
They sleep through the prayers there—though for so long
They sleep there, heedless of prayers, though so often
they rose to prayer whenever it was begun.
They rose for prayers as they were being held.
أمحمدُO Muhammad بنُson of عليٍّAli احتفلَgathered abundantly الحَياthe rain
أمحمدُ بنُ عليٍّ احتفلَ الحَيا
ودُموعُناand our tears فَهُماso both عليكَupon you سِجامُpouring down
ودُموعُنا فَهُما عليكَ سِجامُ
Ahmad son of Ali—the life-giving rain has gathered for you,
O Muhammad ibn Ali, the rain has gathered in abundance,
and so have our tears; both pour abundantly upon you.
And our tears too: both pour down upon you.
هَضَباتُheights حِلْمٍforbearance سِحْنَflowed away وهيَwhile they were شَواهِقٌtowering
هَضَباتُ حِلْمٍ سِحْنَ وهيَ شَواهِقٌ
ومياهُand waters of علمٍknowledge غُصْنَsank away وهيwhile they were جُمامُbrimming
ومياهُ علمٍ غُصْنَ وهي جُمامُ
Mountains of forbearance were leveled though they towered high,
Heights of forbearance flowed away while still towering,
and waters of knowledge diminished though they brimmed.
And waters of knowledge sank away while still brimming.
تبكيweep العلومُbranches of learning عليهfor him فيin أوطانِهاtheir homes
تبكي العلومُ عليه في أوطانِها
ورياضُand the gardens of تلكthose الصُّحْفِpages والأقلامُand the pens
ورياضُ تلك الصُّحْفِ والأقلامُ
The sciences mourn him in their homelands,
The branches of learning weep for him in their homes,
as do the gardens of those pages and pens.
And the gardens of those pages, and the pens.
وأرىand I see ذويpeople of الآدابِletters بعدَكَafter you أُمَّةًa community
وأرى ذوي الآدابِ بعدَكَ أُمَّةً
ضَلَّتْgone astray وليسَand there is no لهاfor it سِواكَother than you إمامُleader
ضَلَّتْ وليسَ لها سِواكَ إمامُ
After you, I see the people of letters as a nation
And I see the men of letters after you as a community
gone astray, with no leader but you.
Gone astray, with no leader but you.
ماwhat بالُis the matter with أرضِكَyour land أُحْرِمَتْwas stripped of adornment فرَواؤُهاso its appearance
ما بالُ أرضِكَ أُحْرِمَتْ فرَواؤُها
بعدَafter ابتسامِthe smile of رُوائِهاits beauty الإِحْرامُpilgrim austerity
بعدَ ابتسامِ رُوائِها الإِحْرامُ
What has befallen your land, that it has been stripped of its verdure?
What ails your land, stripped bare? Its appearance,
After its freshness smiled, barrenness came.
After its smiling beauty, is now a pilgrim's austerity.
قالُواthey said خَبَتْdied out نارٌa fire علىon أعلامِهاits summits
قالُوا خَبَتْ نارٌ على أعلامِها
قُلْناwe said أجَلyes وتَهاوَتِand collapsed الأَعلامُthe summits
قُلْنا أجَل وتَهاوَتِ الأَعلامُ
They said, “A beacon upon its heights has gone out.”
They said, 'A fire on its summits has died.'
We said, “Indeed—and the lofty peaks came crashing down.”
We said, 'Yes—and the summits have collapsed.'
قدonce كانَتِwere الأَفْهامُminds صافيةًclear بهاwithin it
قد كانَتِ الأَفْهامُ صافيةً بها
فالآنَbut now إذnow that صَدِئَتْhave rusted بهاwithin it الأَفهامُminds
فالآنَ إذ صَدِئَتْ بها الأَفهامُ
Pure minds once flourished there;
Minds once were clear within it;
but now the minds there have rusted.
But now the minds within it have rusted.
وكأنَّماand as though ارتحلَdeparted الغِنَىwealth عنfrom أهلِهاits people
وكأنَّما ارتحلَ الغِنَى عن أهلِها
لمّاwhen ثَوَيْتَyou came to rest وخَيَّمَand pitched its tent الإِعدامُpoverty
لمّا ثَوَيْتَ وخَيَّمَ الإِعدامُ
It is as though prosperity departed from its people
And it is as though wealth departed from its people
when you settled there and destitution pitched its tent.
When you came to rest, and poverty pitched its tent.
قدindeed كنتَyou were أحسنَthe finest نِعْمَةٍblessing فُزْناwe attained بهاwith it
قد كنتَ أحسنَ نِعْمَةٍ فُزْنا بها
لوif only كانَthere were للنَّعَمِfor blessings الحِسانِfair دَوامُpermanence
لو كانَ للنَّعَمِ الحِسانِ دَوامُ
You were the finest blessing we ever won—
You were the finest blessing we attained,
if only lovely blessings could endure.
If only fair blessings could endure!
لاnever زِلْتَmay you cease to be عُرْضَةَthe target of عارضٍa raincloud مُتَهَللsmiling
لا زِلْتَ عُرْضَةَ عارضٍ مُتَهَلل
تَخْضَرُّgrow green منهfrom it ضَحاضِحٌshallows وإكامُand hills
تَخْضَرُّ منه ضَحاضِحٌ وإكامُ
May you never cease to receive the visitation of a smiling raincloud,
May you always be the target of a smiling raincloud
from which lowlands and hills grow green.
That makes shallows and hills grow green.
تَغْدوcome at dawn الرِّياحُthe winds عليكَupon you وهيwhile they are لَطائِمٌperfume-laden caravans
تَغْدو الرِّياحُ عليكَ وهي لَطائِمٌ
ويَروحُand comes at dusk صَوبُthe downpour of المُزْنِrainclouds وهوwhile it is مُدامُwine
ويَروحُ صَوبُ المُزْنِ وهو مُدامُ
May the winds come to you at dawn, striking their cheeks in grief,
May the winds visit you at dawn as perfume-laden caravans,
and the cloudburst come at evening, its flow unceasing.
And the rainclouds' downpour come at dusk as wine.
ولَئِنْand if indeed غَدَتْhas become أرضٌa land حَوَتْكَthat holds you كريمةًnoble
ولَئِنْ غَدَتْ أرضٌ حَوَتْكَ كريمةً
فلقدthen indeed أُتيحَwas granted لهاto it بكَthrough you الإكرامُhonor
فلقد أُتيحَ لها بكَ الإكرامُ
Though the land that holds you has thereby become noble,
And if the earth that holds you has become noble,
it was through you that such honor was granted it.
Honor has indeed been granted it through you.
فعليكَso upon you تَضعيفُa doubling of السَّلامِpeace تَحِيَّةًas a greeting
فعليكَ تَضعيفُ السَّلامِ تَحِيَّةً
ماas long as اعتمَّwear a turban بالوَرَقِwith leaves النَّضيرِfresh green سِلامُacacia trees
ما اعتمَّ بالوَرَقِ النَّضيرِ سِلامُ
May greetings be upon you, with peace redoubled,
So upon you be doubled peace, as a greeting,
as long as the salām tree grows dense with verdant leaves.
As long as acacias don turbans of fresh green leaves.
Sol 6.1