الم تعلم بمن تقع الخُطوب

الم تعلم بمن تقع الخُطوب

وهل تدري النَّوآئبُ من تنوب

وهل تدري النَّوآئبُ من تنوب

Have you not learned upon whom calamities fall?

Do you not know who misfortunes befall?

And do you know whom misfortunes visit?

Do you not know whose turn miseries take?

بَلى وكأنَّما الأَحْداث تَغْشىَ

بَلى وكأنَّما الأَحْداث تَغْشىَ

أجلَتنا وافضَلَنا تصيبُ

أجلَتنا وافضَلَنا تصيبُ

Yes, and it is as though disasters descend

Yes, it's as if disasters overwhelm us -

upon our most eminent, striking our best.

Our time runs out and the best fate strikes us.

خطوبٌ في الضّعِاف أشدُّ نكراً

خطوبٌ في الضّعِاف أشدُّ نكراً

وفي الأشرف موقعُها غَريبُ

وفي الأشرف موقعُها غَريبُ

Calamities are more grievous among the weak,

Misfortunes in the weak are most abhorred,

and their impact among the noblest is strange.

And in the noblest souls their fall is weird.

وفقْدان العزيز أعَزَّ خطبا

وفقْدان العزيز أعَزَّ خطبا

وَفوتُ المُعْجبات هو العجيبُ

وَفوتُ المُعْجبات هو العجيبُ

Losing one held dear is the harshest calamity,

To lose a loved one is the greatest woe,

and the passing of admirable things is truly strange.

And to miss delights is the strangest blow.

تَعاظمْنا المشيَبَ ومُذْ كبرنا

تَعاظمْنا المشيَبَ ومُذْ كبرنا

وَددْنا أن يدومَ لنا المَشيبُ

وَددْنا أن يدومَ لنا المَشيبُ

We thought gray hair a great affliction; but since growing old,

We boasted of our grey hairs since we aged,

we have wished that our gray-haired years might endure.

Wanting our whiteness ever to pervade.

وفارقنا الأحبَّة فاعْترفْنا

وفارقنا الأحبَّة فاعْترفْنا

يَروحُ المرءُ ليس لهُ حبيبُ

يَروحُ المرءُ ليس لهُ حبيبُ

We parted from loved ones and came to acknowledge:

We parted from loved ones and then perceived

a person goes forth with no loved one.

A man departs owning no one who's grieved.

وَعاينَّا الخُطوبَ كما سمَعنا

وَعاينَّا الخُطوبَ كما سمَعنا

فلا شكٌ ولا ظن كَذوبُ

فلا شكٌ ولا ظن كَذوبُ

We witnessed calamities just as we had heard of them,

We've seen these woes as we'd heard them told,

so there is no doubt, nor any false conjecture.

No doubt, deception here cannot take hold.

ونحنُ نُسرّ بالدَّنيا كأنّا

ونحنُ نُسرّ بالدَّنيا كأنّا

أمنَّا ما تُسِرُّ لنا الغُيوبُ

أمنَّا ما تُسِرُّ لنا الغُيوبُ

Yet we rejoice in this world as though

While we find joy in life as though we know

we were safe from what the unseen conceals for us.

No sadness that the unseen days may show.

عزيزُ النَّاسِ أكبرهُم نَعيماً

عزيزُ النَّاسِ أكبرهُم نَعيماً

واشقَى النَّاس في الدنيا اللَّبيبُ

واشقَى النَّاس في الدنيا اللَّبيبُ

The most honored of people is the one with the greatest comforts,

The happiest people have the most assets,

and the most wretched in this world is the discerning.

While the most wretched here bear wisdom's weight.

مَراقبةُ العُقولِ نُهىً وحلمٌ

مَراقبةُ العُقولِ نُهىً وحلمٌ

ويَصفو الوصلُ ماغَفَل الرَّقيبُ

ويَصفو الوصلُ ماغَفَل الرَّقيبُ

The vigilance of minds is judgment and forbearance,

To watch one's mind, patience is the guide,

and union is untroubled while the watcher is heedless.

While companionship makes harshness subside.

وعيشٌ مُنْتهاهُ إلى زوالٍ

وعيشٌ مُنْتهاهُ إلى زوالٍ

وغايتُه الأذَى فَمَتَى يطيبُ

وغايتُه الأذَى فَمَتَى يطيبُ

And a life whose end is disappearance,

A life that leads to fading has no zest,

whose outcome is suffering—when can it be sweet?

And harm is its eventual bequest.

تَسير بنا إلى الأجل اللَّيالي

تَسير بنا إلى الأجل اللَّيالي

ونحن بنا السّآمة واللغوبُ

ونحن بنا السّآمة واللغوبُ

The nights carry us toward our appointed end,

The nights escort us on to finite ends,

while weariness and exhaustion weigh upon us.

While boredom and distress have us in bends.

وها أَنا في المُنى أجْري وادري

وها أَنا في المُنى أجْري وادري

بأن الدَّهرَ جَيّآءٌ ذَهوبُ

بأن الدَّهرَ جَيّآءٌ ذَهوبُ

And here I am, running among hopes, and I know

And here am I, though doomed I stay aware

that time is forever coming and going.

That time is fickle, fleeting without care.

وفي الأوقات ليَ مُلتاث لهوٍ

وفي الأوقات ليَ مُلتاث لهوٍ

كأنيَّ في تناولها مُريبُ

كأنيَّ في تناولها مُريبُ

And at times I have a tangle of diversion,

My leisure hours I spend absorbed in play,

as though I were suspect in taking them up.

As if I'll live forever and a day.

ومن يَتوقَّعِ الحدثانَ يأمَنْ

ومن يَتوقَّعِ الحدثانَ يأمَنْ

رَوائعَ حينَ يفْجَوءُه الوثُوبُ

رَوائعَ حينَ يفْجَوءُه الوثُوبُ

Whoever anticipates time's misfortunes is safe

One who foresees events can rest assured,

from terrors when the onslaught surprises him.

Safe from whatever shocks the deaf have heard.

إِذا صادفتَ احسانَ الليَّالي

إِذا صادفتَ احسانَ الليَّالي

فهلاَّ تنتَهي ولها ذنوبُ

فهلاَّ تنتَهي ولها ذنوبُ

If you encounter the kindness of the nights,

If nights bring you their kindness, don't forget

then why not desist, when they have sins?

Their wrongs once done you that incur a debt.

وإن أبَدَتْ لكَ الدَّنيا كَمالاً

وإن أبَدَتْ لكَ الدَّنيا كَمالاً

فسَوفَ يكون عُقباهُ العُيوبُ

فسَوفَ يكون عُقباهُ العُيوبُ

And if the world displays perfection to you,

If worldly perfection to you seems nigh,

then defects will be its aftermath.

Its faults and failings surely will belie.

الم ترَ يوم داهيةٍ شَهْدِنا

الم ترَ يوم داهيةٍ شَهْدِنا

لعمرك أنه يومُ عصيبُ

لعمرك أنه يومُ عصيبُ

Did you not see the day of calamity we witnessed?

Remember days of woe we have survived?

By your life, it was indeed a grievous day.

By God, those days brought grievous blows that jived.

وحادثةٌ مُفجّعِة عليها

وحادثةٌ مُفجّعِة عليها

تساعدت المدامعُ والقلوبُ

تساعدت المدامعُ والقلوبُ

And a heart-rending calamity, over which

Some sad event where tears flowed free,

weeping eyes and hearts lent each other aid.

And hearts were limp, racked with agony.

فؤآدٌ حَشوهُ لذعٌ أليمٌ

فؤآدٌ حَشوهُ لذعٌ أليمٌ

وجفنٌ مِلؤه دمعٌ سَكوبُ

وجفنٌ مِلؤه دمعٌ سَكوبُ

A heart filled with painful burning,

A spirit filled with piercing, bitter pain,

and an eyelid brimful of streaming tears.

An eye drowned in tears falling like rain.

فُجِعنا بالكريمةِ في معدٍّ

فُجِعنا بالكريمةِ في معدٍّ

لها ولقومها الشُرف الحسيبُ

لها ولقومها الشُرف الحسيبُ

We were bereaved of the noble lady of Maʿadd,

We grieved for one noble soul claimed by death,

hers and her people's is honor of noble lineage.

Honor was hers, and noble lineage bequeathed.

بسيّدة النساءِ تُقىً وحِلماً

بسيّدة النساءِ تُقىً وحِلماً

وجوداً ما يُعدُّ لها ضريبُ

وجوداً ما يُعدُّ لها ضريبُ

The foremost of women in piety and forbearance,

A lady of highest virtue, wise and fair,

and generosity, with no equal reckoned for her.

Whose equal no appraiser could declare.

وَلَمْ يُعرفْ لها خُلقٌ ذميمٌ

وَلَمْ يُعرفْ لها خُلقٌ ذميمٌ

ولم يوجَد لها سعيٌ مَعيبُ

ولم يوجَد لها سعيٌ مَعيبُ

No blameworthy trait was ever known in her,

No base trait in her could be traced,

nor was any of her endeavors found faulty.

No quest of hers left worthy deeds displaced.

مُجاوِرُها عزيزٌ في ذراها

مُجاوِرُها عزيزٌ في ذراها

وسآئلُها المَثوبَة لا يخيبُ

وسآئلُها المَثوبَة لا يخيبُ

Her neighbor was honored under her protection,

Her company made all near her esteemed,

and whoever sought her reward was never disappointed.

Her requests rewarded, never once denied.

ألا هيَ مُزْنةُ الجُودِ اضْمحلَّت

ألا هيَ مُزْنةُ الجُودِ اضْمحلَّت

وشمسُ المجد واراها المغيبُ

وشمسُ المجد واراها المغيبُ

Ah, she was generosity's rain cloud, now dissolved,

Alas the splendid pillar of grace is gone,

and glory's sun, hidden by sunset.

The sun of glory passed into night drawn.

تَولَّتْ بالبشاشةِ والأيادي

تَولَّتْ بالبشاشةِ والأيادي

وغابَتْ بالسُّرور فما تغيبُ

وغابَتْ بالسُّرور فما تغيبُ

She departed, taking cheerfulness and favors with her,

Her cheer and open hands have slipped away,

and vanished with joy, yet she does not vanish.

And happiness with her has seen its day.

أيُسكنُ بعدَها البلدُ المزكَّي

أيُسكنُ بعدَها البلدُ المزكَّي

وهل يُسْتَحسَنُ الزَّمن الخصيبُ

وهل يُسْتَحسَنُ الزَّمن الخصيبُ

Can the blessed town be inhabited after her?

Can this lauded town be home without her tread?

And can a prosperous time still be thought pleasing?

Can times of bounty still their wealth be said?

أفادَ الكلّ نائلُها فأْضحى

أفادَ الكلّ نائلُها فأْضحى

لكلٍ من مُصيبتها نصيبُ

لكلٍ من مُصيبتها نصيبُ

Her bounty benefited everyone, and now

She benefited all, so each soul could claim

each has a share in her calamity.

A portion of grief when sorrow laid its claim.

وقالَ لها من الباكي عَليها

وقالَ لها من الباكي عَليها

حشى يَنْقدُّ أو كبدٌ تذوبُ

حشى يَنْقدُّ أو كبدٌ تذوبُ

And from one weeping over her there spoke to her

And every tear that falls speaks for the deceased,

entrails splitting apart, or a liver melting away.

"My heart is torn, my liver shredded, at least."

وعزَّ على الأحبَّةِ أن يرَوها

وعزَّ على الأحبَّةِ أن يرَوها

يُهالُ على محاسِنها الكثيبُ

يُهالُ على محاسِنها الكثيبُ

It was hard for her loved ones to see her

It pained her loved ones that they can't behold

with a mound of sand heaped over her beauty.

Her visage graced with tresses black as coal.

رَهينة وحشةٍ في بَطن لحدٍ

رَهينة وحشةٍ في بَطن لحدٍ

تمرُّ بِها الشَّمَائلُ والجنوبِ

تمرُّ بِها الشَّمَائلُ والجنوبِ

Captive to loneliness in the depths of a burial niche,

She lies imprisoned in a lonesome tomb,

the north winds and the south wind pass her by.

As years and eras over her will loom.

مفارقةٌ ومَلْقاها يسيرٌ

مفارقةٌ ومَلْقاها يسيرٌ

ونازحةٌ ومثواها قريبُ

ونازحةٌ ومثواها قريبُ

Parted from us, though meeting her is easy,

Gone from us, though her place is not remote,

and far away, though her resting place is near.

She's left, her dwelling-place for us still wrote.

تُزارَ فما تُحِسُّ بزآئريها

تُزارَ فما تُحِسُّ بزآئريها

ويَدعوها المجيبُ فلا يُجيبُ

ويَدعوها المجيبُ فلا يُجيبُ

She is visited, but senses nothing of her visitors,

She cannot sense her mourners at her grave,

and one who answers calls to her, but no reply comes.

Their calls unheeded, though compassion gave.

نُبكِّيها ونندُبها وحقٌ

نُبكِّيها ونندُبها وحقٌ

لنا منها التَّأسُّفُ والنَّحيبُ

لنا منها التَّأسُّفُ والنَّحيبُ

We weep for her and lament her, and it is right

We've wept for her and voiced our elegy,

for us to grieve and sob because of her.

For it is right that we should grieve for she.

ونعلم أنها إِحدى ملوك

ونعلم أنها إِحدى ملوك

من الساداتِ غالنهم شَعوبُ

من الساداتِ غالنهم شَعوبُ

And we know that she was one of the sovereigns

We know she was a queen of high degree,

among the nobles whom Shaʿub, Death, carried off.

A lady whose rule spread o'er land and sea.

هُمُ عَمَروا البلادَ وأوطنوها

هُمُ عَمَروا البلادَ وأوطنوها

فأْمستْ ما بها مِنهمْ غريبُ

فأْمستْ ما بها مِنهمْ غريبُ

They built up the lands and made them their home,

Her people made the countries flourish fair,

and now not one of them is a stranger there.

So foreign there seems all that they did square.

فكم بيتٍ لهم من مال عزّ

فكم بيتٍ لهم من مال عزّ

حمته الخيلُ والحَرسُ المهيبُ

حمته الخيلُ والحَرسُ المهيبُ

And how many a house of theirs, made mighty by wealth,

What wealth filled every home that they made thrive,

guarded by horses and an awe-inspiring guard,

Protected by their horses and guards of might!

تعاطتهُ المنيةُ من أشمٍ

تعاطتهُ المنيةُ من أشمٍ

تحُفُّ بهِ المجادلُ والدروبُ

تحُفُّ بهِ المجادلُ والدروبُ

did death seize from a proud man,

But death took her, despite her rarest traits,

whom towers and gateways surrounded!

Whom cavalry surrounded, flags at her gates.

وما دفع الأقاربُ والموالي

وما دفع الأقاربُ والموالي

وما نفع العوائد والطبيبُ

وما نفع العوائد والطبيبُ

Neither kinsfolk nor allies warded it off,

No aid from kinfolk could make death evade,

nor did the women visiting the sick or the physician help.

No doctor's knowledge render useless aid.

كفى حَزناً أنِ اختُرِمتْ بموتٍ

كفى حَزناً أنِ اختُرِمتْ بموتٍ

فلا ثأرٌ تُقامُ به الحروبُ

فلا ثأرٌ تُقامُ به الحروبُ

It is grief enough that she was cut down by death,

Grief enough that we've lost her to the tomb,

with no blood vengeance for which wars might be waged.

No vengeance can be sought to seal its doom.

وقد يأبى ظُلامتها رجالٌ

وقد يأبى ظُلامتها رجالٌ

من الحَيَّين شُبَّانٌ وشيبُ

من الحَيَّين شُبَّانٌ وشيبُ

And men would indeed refuse to let her be wronged,

Stalwart men still live whom this loss shook,

from both clans, young and gray-haired alike.

The youthful and the old, all heavy it took.

نجيبة سادةٍ وأبو سَعيد

نجيبة سادةٍ وأبو سَعيد

أبوها وابنُها النَّدبُ النجيبُ

أبوها وابنُها النَّدبُ النجيبُ

A noble daughter of lords; Abu Saʿid

A scion of lords was she, her line secure,

is her father, and her son is valiant and noble.

Abu Sa'id was her sire, noble and pure.

وأصبح شاهداً بالبرّ عنها

وأصبح شاهداً بالبرّ عنها

أبو عَبد الأله فما يغيبُ

أبو عَبد الأله فما يغيبُ

And now, bearing witness to her goodness, stands

And Abu Abdillah stands witness to

Abu ʿAbd al-Ilah, who is never absent.

Her virtues manifold, e'er shining through.

وفضل محمد بنِ مُعمرٍ عن

وفضل محمد بنِ مُعمرٍ عن

فضائِل خَير والده ينوبُ

فضائِل خَير والده ينوبُ

And the excellence of Muhammad ibn Muʿammar

Muhammad ibn Mu'ammar upholds the name

stands in for the goodly virtues of his father,

Of excellence, as his father staked his claim.

كما شَهِدت محاسنُه بحسنى

كما شَهِدت محاسنُه بحسنى

أبي عُمَرِ ونائلُه الرّحيبُ

أبي عُمَرِ ونائلُه الرّحيبُ

just as his fine qualities have testified to the goodness

As his father's virtues I attest to seeing,

of Abu ʿUmar, as has his abundant bounty.

Abu Umar's deeds fail not to bring him leading.

فتىً للمال مِتلافٌ بَذولُ

فتىً للمال مِتلافٌ بَذولُ

وللعلياءِ طلاَّبٌ كسوبُ

وللعلياءِ طلاَّبٌ كسوبُ

A young man lavish in spending wealth, freely giving,

A young man inclined to wealth yet nobler goals,

and in pursuit of high honor, eager and successful.

Seeking lofty ends his effort he extols.

رَبيطُ الجأشِ مقدامٌ جريءٌ

رَبيطُ الجأشِ مقدامٌ جريءٌ

طويلُ الباعِ بسَّامٌ وهوبُ

طويلُ الباعِ بسَّامٌ وهوبُ

Steadfast of heart, bold and daring,

Brave, bold, and long of arm, a warrior pup,

long of reach, ever smiling, ever giving.

Who befriends or opposes without let up.

واوفى من يُسالمُ أو يعادي

واوفى من يُسالمُ أو يعادي

وأشقى من يُعاقِبُ أو يثيبُ

وأشقى من يُعاقِبُ أو يثيبُ

The most faithful of those who make peace or show hostility,

In his famed endeavor fails he never once,

and the most wretched of those who punish or reward.

And no fault exists in his deeds evinced.

فما في سَعيهِ المشهور عارٌ

فما في سَعيهِ المشهور عارٌ

ولا في فعله الموجودِ حُوبُ

ولا في فعله الموجودِ حُوبُ

There is no disgrace in his renowned endeavors,

Every land acclaims his merit outright,

nor sin in his actual deeds.

Foreign tongues praise him, his glory grows bright.

يُشيدُ بفضلهِ في كل أرضٍ

يُشيدُ بفضلهِ في كل أرضٍ

لسانٌ بالثناءِ له غريبُ

لسانٌ بالثناءِ له غريبُ

His excellence is extolled in every land

His keen intellect and wisdom are confessed,

by a stranger's tongue offering him praise.

To all it's known he's prudent and possessed.

ويَشهد منه الفظاً وفهماً

ويَشهد منه الفظاً وفهماً

فيعلمُ أنه الفَطِنُ الَّلبيبُ

فيعلمُ أنه الفَطِنُ الَّلبيبُ

And one witnesses his speech and understanding,

The Azdi rose, glory was their destination,

and so knows that he is perceptive and discerning.

Their hearts were free of lowly inclination.

من الأزد الكرامِ علت عُلاهم

من الأزد الكرامِ علت عُلاهم

وقد طَهُرت من الدَّنسِ الجيوبُ

وقد طَهُرت من الدَّنسِ الجيوبُ

Of the noble Azd, whose glories rose high,

His father's honor from Attaka flowed,

and whose bosoms have been cleansed of defilement.

While hers from Mudar, with glory bestowed.

نّماهُ من الأبِ العَتكيّ مجدٌ

نّماهُ من الأبِ العَتكيّ مجدٌ

بمجد الأمّ من مضرِ مشوبُ

بمجد الأمّ من مضرِ مشوبُ

Glory from his ʿAtaki father nurtured him,

Sadness we felt for Muhammad's grieving spirit,

mingled with his mother's glory from Mudar.

That Muhammad should feel sorrow made us fear it.

لعاً لمحمدٍ ولقد أسفْنا

لعاً لمحمدٍ ولقد أسفْنا

بأنّ محمداً أسفٌ كئيبُ

بأنّ محمداً أسفٌ كئيبُ

May Muhammad recover! We have indeed grieved

Although the noble lad shows courage ample,

that Muhammad is sorrowful and dejected,

Bearing sorrows with composure most simple.

على أنَّ الفتى جلدٌ صبورٌ

على أنَّ الفتى جلدٌ صبورٌ

على البلوى له عودٌ صليبُ

على البلوى له عودٌ صليبُ

though the young man is hardy and patient,

He's circled by concerns, but ne'er shows gloom

in affliction, his stem is stout.

To any companion, refuses to fume.

تُساوِرُهُ الهمومُ فَلا عُبوسٌ

تُساوِرُهُ الهمومُ فَلا عُبوسٌ

لديه على الجليس ولا قُطوبُ

لديه على الجليس ولا قُطوبُ

Sorrows assail him, yet there is no scowl

He may shake in mirth or joyful emotion,

from him toward his companion, nor any frown.

Like a lithe branch shaking soft in the wind's notion.

وقد يَهتزُّ جوداً وارتياحاً

وقد يَهتزُّ جوداً وارتياحاً

كما يهتزُّ بالوَرق القَضيبُ

كما يهتزُّ بالوَرق القَضيبُ

He stirs with generosity and gladness,

Long may he live to build his parents' name,

as a branch stirs with its leaves.

So it's known he's a cousin of merited fame.

فَعاشَ يشيد مَجدَيْ والدَيهِ

فَعاشَ يشيد مَجدَيْ والدَيهِ

ليُعلم انه نعمَ النسيبُ

ليُعلم انه نعمَ النسيبُ

So may he live to build up his parents' two glories,

May his beloved ne'er from his side be driven,

so it may be known what a worthy scion he is.

Each beauty avoided that his gaze has given.

ولا تَبَعدْ عزيزتُه ودُرَّتْ

ولا تَبَعدْ عزيزتُه ودُرَّتْ

عليها كلُّ غادية تصوبُ

عليها كلُّ غادية تصوبُ

May his dear one not be far removed, and may there pour

Muhammad's nature was virtuous and sound,

upon her every morning cloud shedding rain.

Destined to reign over all lofty and profound.

وكان محمد خلقاً زكياً

وكان محمد خلقاً زكياً

يكون له على العلْيا رُبوبُ

يكون له على العلْيا رُبوبُ

And Muhammad was pure in character,

and lordship over high honor shall be his.