أثَارstirred up بِلَىdecay دُورِdwellings of الأحِبَّةِthe loved ones فِينَاwithin us
أثَار بِلَى دُورِ الأحِبَّةِ فِينَا
مِنَof الدَّاءthe malady مَاwhat قَدalready كَانَwas مِنهُof it دَفِينَاburied
مِنَ الدَّاء مَا قَد كَانَ مِنهُ دَفِينَا
The decay of the loved ones' dwellings has stirred within us
The dwellings of loved ones have stirred in us
what had lain buried of our malady;
Some latent malady that lay dormant within.
وأورَىand kindled تَبَارِيحَagonies الجَوَىburning longing فَزَوافِريso my sighs
وأورَى تَبَارِيحَ الجَوَى فَزَوافِري
تُرَدِّدُrepeat إِنif قُلتُI said انخَفِضَنsubside (plural) رَقِينَاwe have risen
تُرَدِّدُ إِن قُلتُ انخَفِضَن رَقِينَا
and kindled love's agonies; so my sighs
The winds wail their laments, and if I say “Subside,”
reply, 'We have risen,' whenever I say, 'Subside.'
They echo, “If only our stature could diminish!”
أّذالَmade run freely مُصُونُheld back الدَّمعِtears صِبغَينِtwo dyes عَندَماً‘andam (red dye)
أّذالَ مُصُونُ الدَّمعِ صِبغَينِ عَندَماً
وَوَرساًand wars (yellow dye) وأجرَىand made flow فيin العُيونِthe eyes عُيُونَاsprings
وَوَرساً وأجرَى في العُيونِ عُيُونَا
The tears once kept back have set two dyes running—red ‘andam
My tears now flow copiously, though once restrained,
and yellow wars—and made springs flow in the eyes.
Streaming in cascades through my eyes’ dark pools.
كَأنَّas though دُمُوعَtears of العَينِthe eye وَطفاءُa dense, dark cloud قَدalready مَرَىmilked
كَأنَّ دُمُوعَ العَينِ وَطفاءُ قَد مَرَى
قَوادِمَهاits leading edges مَرُّthe passage of الجَنُوبِthe south wind هتُونَاpouring rain
قَوادِمَها مَرُّ الجَنُوبِ هتُونَا
The eye's tears are like a dense, dark cloud, milked
As though my tears were showers drawn on by the breeze
at its leading edges by the passing south wind, pouring rain.
Of the south wind, arriving sluggishly.
أَإِنis it because لاحَappeared أطلاَلٌruins بَلِينَworn away بِذِيat Dhu النَّقَىal-Naqa
أَإِن لاحَ أطلاَلٌ بَلِينَ بِذِي النَّقَى
جُنِنتَyou went mad بِذِكرِat recalling الظَّاعِنِينَthose who departed جُنُونَاutter madness
جُنِنتَ بِذِكرِ الظَّاعِنِينَ جُنُونَا
Is it because worn ruins appeared at Dhu al-Naqa
Do the ruins of a pure soul still appear to you
that you went utterly mad recalling those who departed?
When you are crazed with yearning for the absent ones?
وقَدand indeed فَتَنَتكَbewitched you الدُّورُthe dwellings يَومَthe day عَرفتَهاyou recognized them
وقَد فَتَنَتكَ الدُّورُ يَومَ عَرفتَها
لَوائِحَvisible traces آىٍsigns كَالوُشُومlike tattoos فُتُونَاenchantment
لَوائِحَ آىٍ كَالوُشُوم فُتُونَا
The dwellings had bewitched you the day you recognized them:
The dwellings had captivated you the day you knew them,
visible signs like tattoos, utterly enchanting.
Like tattoos, pages of signs full of temptation.
فَأصبَحتَso you became حَيرَاناًbewildered مَشُوقُاyearning
فَأصبَحتَ حَيرَاناً مَشُوقُا
تُنادِىyou call to رُسُوماًtraces قَدalready بَلِينَworn away سِنِينَاfor years
تُنادِى رُسُوماً قَد بَلِينَ سِنِينَا
So you became bewildered and yearning,
Thus you were left perplexed, filled with longing,
calling to traces worn away for years.
Calling out to forms long worn by the years.
مَتَىwhenever شَجَنٌa sorrow مِنfrom ذِكرِremembering سَاكِنَهَأtheir dweller انقَضَىended
مَتَى شَجَنٌ مِن ذِكرِ سَاكِنَهَأ انقَضَى
يُخَلِّفُleaves behind أحشَاءَthe innards of العَمِيدِthe love-stricken one شُجُونَاsorrows
يُخَلِّفُ أحشَاءَ العَمِيدِ شُجُونَا
Whenever a sorrow at the memory of their dweller subsides,
When will a stirring lament for the dwellers
it leaves the love-stricken one's innards full of sorrows.
Leave behind in the heart of the noble one sorrows?
غَدتbecame مَرتِعَpasture for العِينِwide-eyed creatures الأوَابِدِwild بَعدَمَاafter
غَدت مَرتِعَ العِينِ الأوَابِدِ بَعدَمَا
عَهِدتَyou had known بِهاin them رُودٌgentle women نَواعِمَdelicate عِينَاwide-eyed
عَهِدتَ بِها رُودٌ نَواعِمَ عِينَا
They became pasture for wide-eyed wild creatures, after
After you had known them as a meadow for the glance,
you had known there gentle, delicate, wide-eyed women:
They became a wasteland for the desolate eye.
خرَائِدَchaste maidens فِيهنَّamong them الرَّبَابُal-Rabab كَلُؤlike pearls (first fragment) لُؤٍpearls (second fragment)
خرَائِدَ فِيهنَّ الرَّبَابُ كَلُؤ لُؤٍ
قَدalready اكتَنَّlay hidden فيin الأصدافِthe shells مِنهُsome of it وصِينَاand was safeguarded
قَد اكتَنَّ في الأصدافِ مِنهُ وصِينَا
chaste maidens, among them al-Rabab, like pearls,
In them the maidens were like necklaces of pearls
some hidden within shells and kept safe.
That lodged in oyster shells and took refuge.
خَلِيلِىِّmy friend هَلis there لِىfor me مِنany مُعِينٍhelper عَلَىwith البُكَاweeping
خَلِيلِىِّ هَل لِى مِن مُعِينٍ عَلَى البُكَا
أمُستَحسَنٌis it commendable أنthat لاَnot تَكونَyou be مُعِيناًa helper
أمُستَحسَنٌ أن لاَ تَكونَ مُعِيناً
My friend, is there anyone to help me weep?
My friend, will you aid me in my weeping
Is it admirable that you should give no help?
Or do you consider it fine not to give aid?
أعِرنيlend me شُئُوناًtear ducts لاno انقِضَاءَend لِدَمعِهَاto their tears
أعِرني شُئُوناً لا انقِضَاءَ لِدَمعِهَا
أعِركَI shall lend you مَتَىwhenever منيfrom me استَعَرتَyou borrow شُئوناtear ducts
أعِركَ مَتَى مني استَعَرتَ شُئونا
Lend me tear ducts whose tears never cease;
Lend me cares that know no end to their tears—
I shall lend you tear ducts whenever you borrow them from me.
I will lend them to you when I borrow cares from you.
فَإِنَّfor indeed التَّبَاكِيfeigned weeping مِنamong شُؤونِthe ways of ذَوِيthose with الهَوَىpassionate love
فَإِنَّ التَّبَاكِي مِن شُؤونِ ذَوِي الهَوَى
ورُبَّand many شُئؤنٍtear ducts قَدalready جَرَرنَhave drawn along شُئُونَاtear ducts
ورُبَّ شُئؤنٍ قَد جَرَرنَ شُئُونَا
For feigned weeping is among the ways of lovers,
For shedding tears over the concerns of those in love
and many tear ducts have drawn others after them.
Often brings on many more concerns.
وإلاَّand if not فَدعنيthen leave me عَنكَaway from you مَاnot كُنتَI was حَاجِياًsupposing
وإلاَّ فَدعني عَنكَ مَا كُنتَ حَاجِياً
عَلَيكَof you رِضاًcontentment أنthat لاَتفيyou would not keep faith وتَخُونَاand you betray
عَلَيكَ رِضاً أن لاَتفي وتَخُونَا
Otherwise, leave me alone; I had not expected
Unless release me from what once bound you to me—
you to be content to break faith and betray.
It pleases you not to keep faith or show loyalty.
ألَمdid you not تَكُyou were عَاشَرتَkept company with الشَّرِيفَthe Sharif الذيwho بِهِthrough him
ألَم تَكُ عَاشَرتَ الشَّرِيفَ الذي بِهِ
قَدalready أخَضَرَّgrew green دَوحُgreat trees of المَكرُمَاتِnoble deeds غُصُونَاbranches
قَد أخَضَرَّ دَوحُ المَكرُمَاتِ غُصُونَا
Had you not kept company with the Sharif, through whom
Were you not the companion of the noble soul through whom
the great trees of noble deeds have grown green in their branches?
The orchards of bounty put forth verdant branches,
وشادَand raised عَلَىover الدِّينِthe faith القَوِيمِupright رِعَايَةًfor protection
وشادَ عَلَى الدِّينِ القَوِيمِ رِعَايَةً
عَنِagainst البَدعِreligious innovations المُستَنكَراتِcondemned حُصُونَاfortresses
عَنِ البَدعِ المُستَنكَراتِ حُصُونَا
And over the upright faith he raised, for its protection,
And who built strongholds, by God’s true religion,
fortresses against condemned innovations.
Against abhorred heresies and innovations?
هُوَhe النَّدبُthe gallant man أفَّاهُAffah الضَّنِينُguarding jealously بِعِرضِهhis honor
هُوَ النَّدبُ أفَّاهُ الضَّنِينُ بِعِرضِه
ولَمand not يَكُhe was بالدُّرِّwith pearls الثَّمِينِprecious ضَنِينَاsparing
ولَم يَكُ بالدُّرِّ الثَّمِينِ ضَنِينَا
He is the gallant Affah, protective of his honor,
He is the one whose honor the slanderer’s mouth rent,
yet never sparing with precious pearls.
Yet he was no miser with treasures of worth.
قَمِينٌfitting بإِلقَاءِto hand over المَقَالِيدِthe keys نَحوَهُtoward him
قَمِينٌ بإِلقَاءِ المَقَالِيدِ نَحوَهُ
أُولُوthose possessing الأمرِauthority ِإذsince بالأمرِfor command كَانَhe was قَمِينَاworthy
أُولُو الأمرِ ِإذ بالأمرِ كَانَ قَمِينَا
It is fitting that the keys be handed over to him
The rulers hastened to confer authority on him
by those in authority, for he was worthy of command.
When authority's maintenance was their duty.
نَمَتهُtraced him back إِلَىto المَهدِىِّal-Mahdi سِيمَاa mark هِدَايَةٍof guidance
نَمَتهُ إِلَى المَهدِىِّ سِيمَا هِدَايَةٍ
تُؤَsupports (first fragment) إزرُsupports (second fragment) حِلماًforbearance رَاسِياًfirmly rooted ورُزُونَاand gravity
تُؤَ إزرُ حِلماً رَاسِياً ورُزُونَا
A mark of guidance traced him back to al-Mahdi,
May God soon guide aright the Mahdi's steps toward him—
supporting firmly rooted forbearance and gravity.
Steps followed by wisdom, composure, and calm.
اقَرَّبِهِgladdened through him المَولَىthe Lord عُيونَthe eyes of أُولِىthose possessing الهُدَىguidance
اقَرَّبِهِ المَولَى عُيونَ أُولِى الهُدَى
وأقذَىand cast grit بِهِthrough him حِزبَthe party of الضَّلاَلِerror عُيونَاeyes
وأقذَى بِهِ حِزبَ الضَّلاَلِ عُيونَا
The Lord, through him, cooled the eyes of the rightly guided,
May God soon grant success to the eyes of the rightly guided
and through him cast grit into the eyes of the party of error.
And foil the party of misguidance and their eyes.
فَكَانَتso were ثُبَاتِcompanies of المُهتَدِينَthe rightly guided حَيَاتُهاtheir life
فَكَانَت ثُبَاتِ المُهتَدِينَ حَيَاتُها
بِهِthrough him وثُباتِand the companies of المغتَوِينَthe misguided تَوِينَاperished
بِهِ وثُباتِ المغتَوِينَ تَوِينَا
Thus the companies of the rightly guided found their life
Thus the lives of those rightly guided were made stable by him
through him, while the companies of the misguided perished.
While the misguided were left wavering and frail.
علىto السُّنَّةِthe Sunnah البَيضَاءِshining قَدindeed عَضَّhe bit firmly لَمnot يَكُنhe was
على السُّنَّةِ البَيضَاءِ قَد عَضَّ لَم يَكُن
يُوَاصِلُmaintain ties with مَنanyone who فيin الدِّينِthe faith أحدَثَintroduced دِينَاa creed
يُوَاصِلُ مَن في الدِّينِ أحدَثَ دِينَا
He gripped the shining Sunnah with his teeth; he would not
He held fast to the brilliant Sunna and did not
keep ties with anyone who introduced a new creed into the faith.
Befriend those who brought novelty to religion.
ولَمand not تُثنِهِturned him away عَنfrom نُصرَةِchampioning الحَقِّthe truth غُربَةٌbeing far from home
ولَم تُثنِهِ عَن نُصرَةِ الحَقِّ غُربَةٌ
ولاnor وَثَبَاتُthe assaults of المُعتَدِينَaggressors ثُيِينَاin bands (uncertain reading)
ولا وَثَبَاتُ المُعتَدِينَ ثُيِينَا
And living far from home did not turn him from championing the truth,
He was not deterred from aiding the truth by estrangement
nor did the assaults of aggressors in bands.
Or by the resolve of aggressors, impotent and vile.
ألاَtake heed قُلsay لِمَنto whoever يَحجُوهُsupposes him فَارَقَhe left أهلَهُhis people
ألاَ قُل لِمَن يَحجُوهُ فَارَقَ أهلَهُ
وأوطَانَهُand his native lands أوor كَانhe had قَارَفَincurred هُونَاhumiliation
وأوطَانَهُ أو كَان قَارَفَ هُونَا
Now tell whoever supposes he has left his people
Say to the one who censures him, “He left his homeland,
and his native lands, or has incurred humiliation:
His family, did what is disgraceful”—
أسَأتَyou have thought ill ظُنوناًin your suspicions بالشرِيفِof the Sharif أيُرتَجَىcan one hope
أسَأتَ ظُنوناً بالشرِيفِ أيُرتَجَى
نَجَاحَsuccess مُسِىءٍof one thinking ill بالشريفof the Sharif ظُنُونَاin his suspicions
نَجَاحَ مُسِىءٍ بالشريف ظُنُونَا
You have thought ill of the Sharif; is there hope
“You have thought ill of the noble soul. Can it be hoped
of success for one who thinks ill of the Sharif?
That one who thinks ill of the noble will prosper?”
أتَىhe came to مَعشَراًa people بَهواهُwith love for him أبنَاءُsons of عَمِّهِhis paternal uncle
أتَى مَعشَراً بَهواهُ أبنَاءُ عَمِّهِ
فَصَادَفَand found آبَاءًfathers بِهِin it وبَنِينَاand sons
فَصَادَفَ آبَاءً بِهِ وبَنِينَا
He came to a people devoted to him—his paternal cousins—
He came to a people who, out of desire for him, became
and among them found fathers and sons.
Fathers to him, though they were his cousins.
أتَىhe came to الحَسنَيينَthe Hasanids الأُلَىwho شُغِفُواwere passionately devoted بِهِto him
أتَى الحَسنَيينَ الأُلَى شُغِفُوا بِهِ
فَأصبَحَand he became مَحمِىَprotected الجَنَابِthe domain مَكِينَاsecure in standing
فَأصبَحَ مَحمِىَ الجَنَابِ مَكِينَا
He came to the Hasanids, who were passionately devoted to him,
He came to the two Hasans, who loved him dearly,
and became secure in standing, his domain protected.
And so became the protected companion of the noble ones.
أتَىhe came to أهلَهُhis people حَتَّىeven حبيwas given الكُتبَthe books فِيهمُamong them
أتَى أهلَهُ حَتَّى حبي الكُتبَ فِيهمُ
وكَانَand he was لأربَابِto the masters of الصَّفَاءِpurity قَرِينَاa companion
وكَانَ لأربَابِ الصَّفَاءِ قَرِينَا
He came to his people, and was even given books among them,
He came to his family until he made the love of books reign among them
and was a companion to the masters of purity.
And became a companion to the people of purity.
وقُلand say لِلذِيto the one who يُنشِىcomposes القَوَافيrhymes مُعِّرضاًcasting veiled slights
وقُل لِلذِي يُنشِى القَوَافي مُعِّرضاً
لَهُagainst him مُخفِياًconcealing فيin صَفوِهُنَّtheir clarity اُجُونَاstagnant foulness
لَهُ مُخفِياً في صَفوِهُنَّ اُجُونَا
And tell the one who composes rhymes, casting veiled slights
And say to one who spurns him though he strings verses:
against him, hiding foul stagnation in their clarity:
“Sweat will pour if frowning lasts long on our brows.”
ألَمdid you not تَدرِknow أنَّthat الشِّعرَpoetry مَسقَطُthe falling-place of رَأسِهِits head
ألَم تَدرِ أنَّ الشِّعرَ مَسقَطُ رَأسِهِ
لَدَينَاamong us وأنَّاand that we بِالعُلُومِwith learning حُلِينَاwe were adorned
لَدَينَا وأنَّا بِالعُلُومِ حُلِينَا
Did you not know that poetry's birthplace
Do you not know that poetry was his first cradle among us
is among us, and that we are adorned with learning?
And that we are adorned with all kinds of knowledge?”
وقُلand say لِلذِىto the one who جَارَاهُrivaled him وَيحَكَwoe to you فَاتَّئِدso slow down
وقُل لِلذِى جَارَاهُ وَيحَكَ فَاتَّئِد
سَتَعرَقُyou will sweat إنif طَالَlasted long النَّجَاءُthe swift run جَبِينَاat the brow
سَتَعرَقُ إن طَالَ النَّجَاءُ جَبِينَا
And tell whoever races him: woe to you—slow down!
And say to one who faulted and maligned him, “Be careful!
Your brow will sweat if the swift run lasts long.
Prolonged safety from others’ blame tries one’s patience.”
تبقَىyou will remain بِمَيدانِin the field of السِّباقِthe race مُخَلَّفاًleft behind
تبقَى بِمَيدانِ السِّباقِ مُخَلَّفاً
كَمَاas خَلّفَleft behind الطِّرفُthe thoroughbred السَّبُوحُswiftly gliding هَجِينَاa half-bred horse
كَمَا خَلّفَ الطِّرفُ السَّبُوحُ هَجِينَا
You will be left behind on the racing field,
In the arena of rivalry he will be left behind
as the smoothly gliding thoroughbred leaves a half-bred horse behind.
Like the distant Pleiades left behind the charging bull.
Sol 6.1