وفدarrived البريدthe courier بماwith what يُريدhe desires فَبشَّراthen brought glad tidings
وفد البريد بما يُريد فَبشَّرا
وشفىand healed الصّدورthe hearts بماwith what أذاعhe broadcast وأخبراand reported
وشفى الصّدور بما أذاع وأخبرا
The courier arrived with what was wished for and brought glad tidings.
The postman came with what he wanted, so he gave good tidings,
And healed hearts with what he broadcast and reported.
And healed the chests with what he spread and informed,
خبرٌnews لعمركby your life قدindeed أتاحgranted منof المُنىwishes
خبرٌ لعمرك قد أتاح من المُنى
دَرَكاًfulfillment تروَّضbecame a garden فيin القلوبthe hearts ونَوَّراand blossomed
دَرَكاً تروَّض في القلوب ونَوَّرا
News, by your life, that brought our hopes
News for you that gave from wishes,
to fulfillment, becoming a garden in our hearts and blossoming.
A cure that softened in hearts and illuminated,
وجرىand coursed بحسْنِwith the beauty of الذَّكرpraise فيin أنفاسناour breaths
وجرى بحسْنِ الذَّكر في أنفاسنا
أزجٌfragrance (text uncertain) تضوَّعdiffused its scent فيthrough البلادِthe lands وعَطَّراand perfumed
أزجٌ تضوَّع في البلادِ وعَطَّرا
And with fair praise there coursed through our breath
And it flowed with the good mention in our breaths,
a fragrance that spread through the lands and perfumed them.
A meadow that spread in the countries and perfumed,
وأناand I الذيthe one whom هوhe بالبشارةwith glad tidings خَصَّنيsingled me out
وأنا الذي هو بالبشارة خَصَّني
وأفادنيand granted me حَظَّa share of السّرورjoy الأوفَراthe fullest
وأفادني حَظَّ السّرور الأوفَرا
And I am the one whom he singled out with glad tidings,
And I am the one who was specially endowed with the good news,
granting me the fullest share of joy.
And it benefited me the most abundant share of joy,
حمداًpraise لكto You اللَّهمO God ياO ربّاهmy Lord إذْwhen
حمداً لك اللَّهم يا ربّاه إذْ
عمَّرتَنيYou kept me alive حتىuntil لقيتُI met مُعمّراMuʿammar
عمَّرتَني حتى لقيتُ مُعمّرا
Praise to You, O God, O my Lord, for
Praise be to You, O God, O Lord, when
keeping me alive until I met Muʿammar.
You let me live until I met the long-lived,
ورأيتand I saw عينيmy eye صورةthe image of الوجهthe face الذيthat
ورأيت عيني صورة الوجه الذي
ماnot زالceased فيin فكرthe thought of الضّميرthe inward mind مٌصَوَّراpictured
ما زال في فكر الضّمير مٌصَوَّرا
And I saw with my own eye the image of the face that
And my eyes saw the image which
had always remained pictured in my inward thoughts.
Remained pictured in the conscience,
عاينتI beheld عينَthe eye of الدّهرTime فيamong أبنائهِits sons
عاينت عينَ الدّهر في أبنائهِ
ورأيتُand I saw منof حُسناهُhis beauty أحسنَthe finest مايُرىwhat can be seen
ورأيتُ من حُسناهُ أحسنَ مايُرى
I beheld the very eye of Time among its sons,
I saw the eye of time in its sons,
and saw in his beauty the loveliest that can be seen.
And I saw the best of its beauty that can be seen,
ولقيتُand I met أشرَفهمtheir noblest يداًin hand وأيادياًand benefactions
ولقيتُ أشرَفهم يداً وأيادياً
وأدقَّهمand their keenest نظَراًin judgment وأبهىand most splendid منظراin appearance
وأدقَّهم نظَراً وأبهى منظرا
And I met their noblest in hand and bounty,
And I met the noblest of them, hand to hand,
their keenest in judgment and most splendid in appearance.
And the most perceptive of them in sight and the most splendid in appearance,
أعظمتُI deemed immense ذنبَthe sin of الدَّهرTime عندduring بِعادهhis absence
أعظمتُ ذنبَ الدَّهر عند بِعاده
فاليومَso today آنit is time بقربهِwith his nearness أنْthat يُغفراit be forgiven
فاليومَ آن بقربهِ أنْ يُغفرا
I deemed Time's sin immense while he was far away;
I exaggerated the sin of time when away from him,
today, with him near, it is time for it to be forgiven.
So today it is time near him to be forgiven,
وأتىand it came ببشرwith glad tidings of النّجحsuccess معتَذراًapologizing بهwith it
وأتى ببشر النّجح معتَذراً به
عنfor عُسْرthe hardship of ماwhat قدindeed كانhad been قبلُbefore تَعَسَّراdifficult
عن عُسْر ما قد كان قبلُ تَعَسَّرا
It came with glad success, offering it as an apology
And the harbinger of success came apologizing through it,
for the hardship of what had formerly proved difficult.
For the difficulty of what had become difficult before,
هذاthis man مُجيرprotector of الخائفينthe fearful لقاؤهُmeeting him
هذا مُجير الخائفين لقاؤهُ
أقوىstronger لِدَفعfor warding off الشرّevil منthan ليثِa lion of الشَّرىal-Shara
أقوى لِدَفع الشرّ من ليثِ الشَّرى
This is the protector of the fearful; meeting him
This is the protector of the fearful, meeting him
wards off evil more powerfully than a lion of al-Shara.
Is stronger to repel evil than the lions of the plateau,
وظننتand I deemed داءَthe illness of المُعتفَينsupplicants دوآءهhis remedy
وظننت داءَ المُعتفَين دوآءه
أشفىmore healing لفقريfor my poverty منthan أيارجiyarij (an electuary) فَيْقَراfiqra (picra)
أشفى لفقري من أيارج فَيْقَرا
And I deemed his remedy for supplicants' illness
And I thought the disease of the hopeful was its cure,
more healing for my poverty than iyarij fiqra.
More healing to my poverty than torrential rains,
لولاwere it not for رجاءhope كانused to يمنحgrant خاطريmy heart
لولا رجاء كان يمنح خاطري
وعديmy promise يعودreturns لقاءهmeeting him مستَبشِراrejoicing
وعدي يعود لقاءه مستَبشِرا
Were it not for hope that kept granting my heart
If it wasn't for the hope that bestowed upon my mind
my promise of meeting him again in gladness,
And the promise to meet him again joyfully,
لذممتُI would have blamed معرفَتيmy knowing مودتَهhis affection التِّيwhich
لذممتُ معرفَتي مودتَه التِّي
ملأَتfilled حشايmy heart تاسّفاًwith regret وتذكُّراand remembrance
ملأَت حشاي تاسّفاً وتذكُّرا
I would have blamed my knowing his affection, which
I would have blamed my knowledge of his friendship which
filled my heart with regret and remembrance.
Filled my breast with regret and remembrance,
للهto God be praise for بُزلُmature camels اليَعملاتِswift she-camels فإنّهاfor they
لله بُزلُ اليَعملاتِ فإنّها
عونُthe aid of المشوقthe longing one علىin مجانبةavoiding الكَرىsleep
عونُ المشوق على مجانبة الكَرى
Praise be to God for the full-grown, swift she-camels, for they are
To God belongs the removal of afflictions, He surely
the longing man's aid in shunning sleep.
Is the helper of the lover in avoiding disasters,
كمhow often قدindeed جلبْنَthey brought السّرورjoy وماand not سرىhe traveled by night
كم قد جلبْنَ السّرور وما سرى
ودرأنَand they repelled كربَthe anguish of الهمِّworry عنهُfrom him وماand not دَرَىhe knew
ودرأنَ كربَ الهمِّ عنهُ وما دَرَى
How often they brought him joy, though he had not traveled by night,
How much joy it brought, and how much sorrow it dispelled,
and drove away his anguish while he knew nothing of it.
And warded off the worry of anxiety and what was unknown,
عُرجٌlimping camels رواسمswift striders يعتمدنthey rely علىon الطوىempty bellies
عُرجٌ رواسم يعتمدن على الطوى
طيّfolding up الفَلاthe wilderness ويُجزَنand they cross أجوازَthe interiors of القراthe uplands
طيّ الفَلا ويُجزَن أجوازَ القرا
Limping, swift-striding, they rely on empty bellies
A procession of messengers relying on the hillocks,
to fold up the deserts and cross the heart of the uplands.
Folding the robes, crossing the lands,
يحملنthey carry أكرمَthe noblest وافدvisitor أخذتtook hold بهِof him
يحملن أكرمَ وافد أخذت بهِ
أيديthe forelegs of المطيّthe riding camels وخيرَand the best منwho وطئَtrod الثَّرىthe earth
أيدي المطيّ وخيرَ من وطئَ الثَّرى
They carry the noblest visitor ever borne
Bearing the most generous newcoming, taken by
by the camels' forelegs, the finest ever to tread the earth,
The hands of the riders, and the best that stepped on the ground,
وأجلَّand the most exalted منwho شهدattended المحافلassemblies وابتدىand entered the desert
وأجلَّ من شهد المحافل وابتدى
وأعزand the mightiest منwho ركبrode العتاقthoroughbreds الضمَّراlean
وأعز من ركب العتاق الضمَّرا
the most exalted to attend assemblies or roam the desert,
And the most distinguished that attended gatherings and initiated,
and the mightiest to ride lean, thoroughbred steeds.
And the most honourable that rode the trained horses,
أولاهُbestowed on him خالقهhis Creator العُلىhigh rank وأحلّهand settled him
أولاهُ خالقه العُلى وأحلّه
فيat رأسthe summit of أرعنa rugged mountain باذخٍtowering عاليlofty in الذُّرىsummits
في رأس أرعن باذخٍ عالي الذُّرى
His Creator bestowed high rank on him and set him
His Creator has given him the highest authority and installed him
atop a rugged, towering mountain with lofty summits.
At the head of a lofty and eminent lineage,
بمعمّرwith Muʿammar ابنson of أبيAbu (father of) المعمّرal-Muʿammar اطلعتbrought forth
بمعمّر ابن أبي المعمّر اطلعت
بُزْلmature camels الرّكابِthe mounts لناfor us الصّباحَthe morning المُسْفِراradiant
بُزْل الرّكابِ لنا الصّباحَ المُسْفِرا
With Muʿammar, son of Abu al-Muʿammar, they brought forth
With the long-lived son of the long-lived, the riders’
the radiant morning for us, those mature riding camels,
Procession emerged for us in the glowing morning,
وغمامةًand a cloud تُحييgives life بعاجلwith immediate نَفْعهاits benefit
وغمامةً تُحيي بعاجل نَفْعها
وكأنّهاand as though it تهميrains down النباتَvegetation المُثمِراfruit-bearing
وكأنّها تهمي النباتَ المُثمِرا
and a cloud that gives life through its swift benefits,
And a cloud that revives us with its imminent benefit,
as though it rains down fruit-bearing plants.
As if it were hastening fertile plant growth,
وكأنّهاand as though it فيat وقتthe time of بسطspreading أكفّناour palms
وكأنّها في وقت بسط أكفّنا
تكفdrips اللجينَsilver أوor النُّضارpure gold الأحمَراred
تكف اللجينَ أو النُّضار الأحمَرا
And as though, whenever we spread our palms,
And as if when our palms spread
it drips silver or ruddy gold.
It stops the mud or the red blossoms,
للهto God be praise for عزمكyour resolve ياO أباAbu (father of) عمرٍʿUmar إلىtoward
لله عزمك يا أبا عمرٍ إلى
طاعاتacts of obedience to ربِّكyour Lord إذwhen نهضتَyou rose مُشمِّراgirded for action
طاعات ربِّك إذ نهضتَ مُشمِّرا
How splendid your resolve, Abu ʿUmar, toward
To You O Abu Umar is your determination, since you arose
obedience to your Lord, when you rose girded for action!
To the devotions of your Lord, having rolled up your sleeves,
قدindeed كنتyou were أزكىthe purest of المحرمينthe consecrated pilgrims وخَيرَand the best منwho
قد كنت أزكى المحرمين وخَيرَ من
لَبَّىchanted the pilgrimage call وهَلَّلَand proclaimed God's oneness فيamong الحَجيجthe pilgrims وكبَّراand proclaimed God's greatness
لَبَّى وهَلَّلَ في الحَجيج وكبَّرا
You were the purest of the consecrated pilgrims, the best who
You were the purest pilgrim, and the best who
chanted the pilgrimage call, proclaimed God's oneness, and magnified Him among the pilgrims.
Cried the talbiyah among the pilgrims and exalted,
وقدمتand you came to نَزوىNizwa مَقدَماًan arrival أخذتَtook on (you/she) بهthrough it
وقدمت نَزوى مَقدَماً أخذتَ به
زِيَّthe attire of العروسthe bride تدللاًcoquettishly وتَبَخْتُراand strutting proudly
زِيَّ العروس تدللاً وتَبَخْتُرا
You came to Nizwa with an arrival through which she donned
And you went ahead to Nizwa, you took it
a bride's attire, coquettish and proudly swaying.
Like a bride showing coquetry and arrogance,
وسقيتهاand you watered her with أرْىthe honey of السّرورjoy معلّلاًin repeated draughts
وسقيتها أرْى السّرور معلّلاً
وكسوتَهاand clothed her in وشيَthe brocade of البهاءِsplendor مُحَبَّراrichly patterned
وكسوتَها وشيَ البهاءِ مُحَبَّرا
You gave her repeated draughts of the honey of joy,
And you watered it copiously, giving excuses,
and clothed her in richly patterned brocade of splendor.
And clothed it in fine clothes and embroidered fabric,
وشفيتand you healed منof ألمthe pain of الفراقseparation محمّداًMuhammad
وشفيت من ألم الفراق محمّداً
السيّدَthe lord العلمthe beacon الأغرَّthe radiant الأزهَراthe shining
السيّدَ العلم الأغرَّ الأزهَرا
And you cured Muhammad of the pain of separation,
And you cured Muhammad, the master scholar,
the lord, the beacon, the radiant, shining one.
Of the pain of separation, the most tender and flowering,
أماas for أبوAbu (father of) عبدservant of الإلهGod فقدindeed أتىhe brought
أما أبو عبد الإله فقد أتى
بجميلwith the good in ماwhat خلناهwe supposed of him فيهin him وبالحَرَىand fittingly
بجميل ما خلناه فيه وبالحَرَى
As for Abu ʿAbd al-Ilah, he has shown
As for Abu Abdullah, he came
the good we expected of him, as was fitting.
With the favour we had missed in him and was obligatory,
وتقبلand adopted الشيَمthe qualities اليمانيةYemeni الَّتيwhich
وتقبل الشيَم اليمانية الَّتي
أعطتgave أوائلَهhis forebears المحلَّthe station الأكبَراhighest
أعطت أوائلَه المحلَّ الأكبَرا
And he embraced the Yemeni traits that
And he accepted the Yemeni marks of honour that
gave his forebears the highest station.
Gave his origin the greatest status,
وسعىand he strove كسعيlike the striving of أبيهhis father فيin طلبseeking العُلىhigh rank
وسعى كسعي أبيه في طلب العُلى
وجرىand proceeded علىalong سيرthe course of الكرامthe noble كماas جرَىhe proceeded
وجرى على سير الكرام كما جرَى
He strove, as his father strove, in pursuit of greatness,
And he strove as his father strove in seeking the most high,
and followed the noble men's course, just as his father did.
And he followed the path of the generous as he did,
واسمعْand hear جميلthe fine الذكرpraise عنof إحسانهhis beneficence
واسمعْ جميل الذكر عن إحسانه
وانظرْand look بعينكwith your eye حسنَat the beauty of ماwhat قدindeed أَثراhe left behind
وانظرْ بعينك حسنَ ما قد أَثرا
Hear the fine praise of his good deeds,
Now hear the good mention of his benevolence,
and see with your own eye the beauty of what he has left behind.
And see with your own eyes the goodness of what he enacted,
واعْدُدهand count him منamong أزكىthe purest وأفضلand finest أنعمٍblessings
واعْدُده من أزكى وأفضل أنعمٍ
للهfrom God عندكin your possession حُزتهاyou gained them دونَapart from الورىmankind
لله عندك حُزتها دونَ الورى
Count him among the purest and finest blessings
And count him among the purest and superior bounties
God has given you, which you gained above all others.
That, in your view, have a rank below only the Creator,
واسعدْand rejoice بذاin this الولدson الذيwhom أُعطَيتَهyou were given him
واسعدْ بذا الولد الذي أُعطَيتَه
قدراًas a decree لسعدٍfor good fortune قدindeed أتاكcame to you مقدَّراdecreed
قدراً لسعدٍ قد أتاك مقدَّرا
And rejoice in this son you have been given,
And be joyful for this son you were given,
a destined gift of fortune that came to you decreed.
A destiny for fortune that came predestined,
وبقيتماand may you both live on ورَقيتماand may you both ascend شرَفthe heights of العُلىhigh rank
وبقيتما ورَقيتما شرَف العُلى
ووقيتماand may you both be protected أنthat تكرهاyou both dislike أوor تَحذَراyou both fear
ووقيتما أن تكرها أو تَحذَرا
May you both live on and ascend the lofty heights of honor,
And you two lived honourably and attained the nobility of the most high,
and be spared what you might dislike or fear.
And you were spared having to dislike or be wary,
أجوىis it heartache بنفسكin your soul حالفتyou allied yourself with تَذكارهَهاher remembrance
أجوى بنفسك حالفت تَذكارهَها
وقذىًand a mote بعينكin your eye أبدتِit revealed استعْبارَهاits weeping
وقذىً بعينك أبدتِ استعْبارَها
Is it heartache in your soul, as you cling to her remembrance,
My soul is yours in ransom, O Abu Umar, for you
and a mote in your eye that has drawn its tears,
Stirred my soul, expressing its secrets,
شوقاًout of longing إلىfor محبوبةa beloved عبثتtoyed بهاwith her
شوقاً إلى محبوبة عبثت بها
أيديthe hands of الفراقseparation وجنَّبتكَand barred you from مَزارَهاvisiting her
أيدي الفراق وجنَّبتكَ مَزارَها
from longing for a beloved, toyed with by
You made me yearn for what you mentioned, rewarding,
the hands of separation, which kept you from visiting her?
The landmarks of Mecca, arriving like visitors,
وعهدتهاand you knew her زمناًfor a time وأهلكand your people جيرةًas neighbors
وعهدتها زمناً وأهلك جيرةً
فيin حسنsweet وصلٍunion ماnot ذممتَyou faulted جوارَهاher proximity
في حسن وصلٍ ما ذممتَ جوارَها
You knew her once, when your people were neighbors,
O how excellent is the good news that reaches us,
in sweet union, never finding fault with her nearness.
Healing hearts as it spreads its reports,
وهيand she المنعمّةُthe pampered one الكَعابthe budding-breasted maiden كأنّماas though
وهي المنعمّةُ الكَعاب كأنّما
ناطتshe fastened بجيدon the neck of جَدايةa young gazelle أزرارَهاher buttons
ناطت بجيد جَداية أزرارَها
She was the pampered maiden with budding breasts, as though
May my Lord watch over you as you witness His Plain,
she had fastened her buttons about a young gazelle's neck.
Among its people, and when you stone the Jamarat,
فيamong خرّدshy maidens بيضwhite الوجوهof face أوانسٍcompanionable
في خرّد بيض الوجوه أوانسٍ
أقمارmoons تمّfull ماnot عرفتyou knew سرارَهاtheir dark phases
أقمار تمّ ما عرفت سرارَها
Amid shy, white-faced, companionable maidens,
You have arrived welcomed and you reached
full moons whose dark phases you had never known.
Nizwa and settled in its abodes,
ياO ويحalas for نفسيmy soul منbecause of غليلthe burning of تأسفٍregret
يا ويح نفسي من غليل تأسفٍ
نزلdescended المشيبgray hair وماand not قضتit fulfilled أوطارَهاits desires
نزل المشيب وما قضت أوطارَها
Alas for my soul, scorched by regret!
So one longing for your nearness will be delighted, and one
Gray hair has descended, yet it has not fulfilled its desires.
Yearning will settle, his soul taking flight,
ولطالماand for so long نعمتit reveled بحسنin the beauty of شبيبةyouth
ولطالما نعمت بحسن شبيبة
خَلعتit cast off معamong الغيدthe supple maidens الحسانthe beautiful عِذارَهاits bridle
خَلعت مع الغيد الحسان عِذارَها
And long had it reveled in the beauty of youth,
And your house will be adorned, O Abu Umar, so it will not
casting off its bridle among lovely, supple maidens!
Cease, while you live, to have its building renovated,
وربيبةand a sheltered girl وسطَin the midst of الخباءِthe tent طرقتُهاI visited her by night
وربيبة وسطَ الخباءِ طرقتُها
فيon ليلةٍa night غلبovercame الكرىsleep سُمَّارَهاher evening companions
في ليلةٍ غلب الكرى سُمَّارَها
And a sheltered maiden within her tent I visited by night,
O Muhammad son of the long-lived, you have lived
on a night when sleep overcame her evening companions.
Where wellbeing reaps its fruits,
ولربَّand many a دَسكَرةhamlet نزلتُI entered وصحبتيand my companions
ولربَّ دَسكَرة نزلتُ وصحبتي
بعدafter الهدوءthe quiet منبّهاًrousing خمّارَهاits wine-seller
بعد الهدوء منبّهاً خمّارَها
And how many a hamlet I entered with my companions,
And you both attained the joy of life and its prosperity,
after all was quiet, rousing its wine-seller,
And were spared its hated and cautious affairs,
حتىuntil فَضضتُI broke عنfrom الدنانthe wine jars ختامَهاtheir seals
حتى فَضضتُ عن الدنان ختامَها
وشربتand I drank مثلlike الأرجوانpurple dye عُقارَهاits wine
وشربت مثل الأرجوان عُقارَها
until I broke the seals from its wine jars
My soul is yours in ransom, O Abu Umar, for you
and drank its wine, the color of purple dye.
Stirred my soul, expressing its secrets,
صَفراءgolden-yellow تلمعgleams فيin الزَّجاجglass كأنهاas though it
صَفراء تلمع في الزَّجاج كأنها
لونthe color of العقيقagate إذاwhen النَّديمُthe drinking companion أدارَهاcirculated it
لون العقيق إذا النَّديمُ أدارَها
Golden-yellow, it gleams in the glass, as though it were
You made me yearn for the mention of you, rewarding,
the hue of agate when the drinking companion passed it around.
The landmarks of Mecca, arriving like visitors.
وكريمةand a noble woman تشدوsings بحسنwith beautiful ترنمٍmodulation
وكريمة تشدو بحسن ترنمٍ
صوتa tune البسيطِal-Basit مجاوباًanswering أوتارَهاher strings
صوت البسيطِ مجاوباً أوتارَها
And a noble woman sang with lovely modulation,
the Basit melody, answering her strings,
فيin روضةٍa garden نسجتwove لهاfor it دَيمُsteady showers of الحَياlife-giving rain
في روضةٍ نسجت لها دَيمُ الحَيا
خضرَgreen الحريرsilk وضاعفتand doubled أستارَهاits curtains
خضرَ الحرير وضاعفت أستارَها
in a garden for which steady, life-giving rains had woven
green silk and doubled its curtains.
طفقتbegan بِهاin it مُزْنُrainclouds of المَصيفsummer تعلّهاwatering it repeatedly
طفقت بِها مُزْنُ المَصيف تعلّها
ويلاًdownpour (text uncertain) وطَلاًand dew ليلهاits night ونَهارَهاand its day
ويلاً وطَلاً ليلها ونَهارَها
Summer rainclouds began to water it again and again,
with downpours and dew, by night and day.
وغَدتand came at dawn لهاto it بنسيمهاwith its breeze ريحُthe wind of الصَّباthe east
وغَدت لها بنسيمها ريحُ الصَّبا
عندat الصَّباحmorning وباشرتand caressed أشجارَهاits trees
عند الصَّباح وباشرت أشجارَها
And the east wind came to it with its breeze,
in the morning, caressing its trees.
فتعانقتthen embraced أغصانُهاits branches وتفتحتand opened
فتعانقت أغصانُها وتفتحت
عنهاfrom them الكمامُthe bud sheaths فأبرَزَتand revealed نوارَهاits blossoms
عنها الكمامُ فأبرَزَت نوارَها
Then its branches embraced, and there opened
around them the bud sheaths, revealing its blossoms.
أبدتrevealed بنفسجهاits violets وآذريونهاand its marigolds
أبدت بنفسجها وآذريونها
متقابلاًfacing one another وشقيقهاand its anemones وبَهارَهاand its yellow daisies
متقابلاً وشقيقها وبَهارَها
It displayed its violets and marigolds,
facing one another, with its anemones and yellow daisies.
ولقدand indeed صبحتI encountered الدَّهرَTime فيin حالاتهits conditions
ولقد صبحت الدَّهرَ في حالاته
وطعمتand I tasted منهاfrom them شهدَهاtheir honey ومرارَهاand their bitterness
وطعمت منها شهدَها ومرارَها
I have indeed encountered Time in its changing states,
and tasted their honey and their bitterness.
وأرانيand showed me التجريبُexperience بينamong صحابتيmy companions
وأراني التجريبُ بين صحابتي
خوّانهاtheir betrayers وأبانand revealed ليto me غَدّارَهاtheir treacherous ones
خوّانها وأبان لي غَدّارَها
Experience showed me, among my companions,
the disloyal among them, and revealed their betrayers to me.
وقطعتand I crossed آفاقَthe horizons of البلادthe lands ميمَّماheading toward
وقطعت آفاقَ البلاد ميمَّما
شرقاًeastward وغرباًand westward سالكاًtraveling أقاطارَهاtheir regions
شرقاً وغرباً سالكاً أقاطارَها
I crossed the lands' horizons, directing myself
east and west, traveling their regions.
ورأيتand I saw سادَتهاtheir lords وزرتُand I visited ملوكهاtheir kings
ورأيت سادَتها وزرتُ ملوكها
منfrom كلِّevery حيّtribe أزْدَهاtheir Azd ونزارَهاand their Nizar
من كلِّ حيّ أزْدَها ونزارَها
I saw their lords and visited their kings,
from every tribe, their Azd and their Nizar,
حتىuntil رأيتI saw معمَّراًMuʿammar ومحمَّداًand Muhammad
حتى رأيت معمَّراً ومحمَّداً
فعرفتthen I knew منهاamong them خيرهاtheir best وخِيارَهاand their choicest
فعرفت منها خيرها وخِيارَها
until I saw Muʿammar and Muhammad
and knew the best and choicest among them.
علمانtwo beacons بينamong العالمينmankind تسربَلاthey both donned
علمان بين العالمين تسربَلا
حُللَthe robes of النُّهىreason وتتَبَّعاand both followed آثارَهاits traces
حُللَ النُّهى وتتَبَّعا آثارَها
Two beacons among mankind, they both donned
the robes of reason and followed its traces,
متطَلباتseeking (text uncertain) منof العُلىhigh rank آثارهاits traces
متطَلبات من العُلى آثارها
متناولانboth reaching for منof الأمورaffairs كبارَهاtheir greatest
متناولان من الأمور كبارَها
seeking the traces of greatness,
reaching for the greatest of affairs.
لمحمّدfor Muhammad بنson of معمّرMuʿammar فيamong يَعرُبٍYaʿrub
لمحمّد بن معمّر في يَعرُبٍ
علياthe loftiest خُؤولٍmaternal kin مجدَهاtheir glory وفخارَهاand their pride
عليا خُؤولٍ مجدَها وفخارَها
Muhammad ibn Muʿammar has among Yaʿrub
the loftiest maternal kin, their glory and their pride:
عمريّةʿUmari in lineage أزديةAzdi in lineage عتكيةʿAtaki in lineage
عمريّة أزدية عتكية
سمكraised المليكُthe Sovereign علىabove السماكal-Simak نجارَهاtheir lineage
سمك المليكُ على السماك نجارَها
ʿUmari, Azdi, ʿAtaki,
whose lineage the Sovereign raised above al-Simak.
ولهand he has خلائقُthe virtues of سيّدٍa lord قدindeed أظهرتdisplayed
وله خلائقُ سيّدٍ قد أظهرت
منهاfrom them عليهupon him حلمهاtheir forbearance ووقارَهاand their dignity
منها عليه حلمها ووقارَها
He has a lord's virtues, which have displayed
their forbearance and dignity upon him.
ولهand he has سماحٌgenerosity يَمتريdraws منfrom كفّهِhis palm
وله سماحٌ يَمتري من كفّهِ
للسّائلينfor petitioners لجينهاits silver ونُضارَهاand its gold
للسّائلين لجينها ونُضارَها
And a generosity that draws from his palm
its silver and gold for petitioners,
ومَضاءand the resolve of ندبa gallant man فيin الأمورaffairs مُدبِّرٍmanaging
ومَضاء ندب في الأمور مُدبِّرٍ
إيرادَهاtheir initiation متبيّنِdiscerning إصدارَهاtheir conclusion
إيرادَها متبيّنِ إصدارَها
and a gallant man's resolve in affairs, governing
their beginnings and discerning their outcomes.
إسلمْstay safe أباAbu (father of) عبدservant of الإلهGod فإنّماfor only
إسلمْ أبا عبد الإله فإنّما
حسنُthe beauty of السّلامةwell-being ماso long as لبستyou wear إزارَهاits waist-wrap
حسنُ السّلامة ما لبست إزارَها
Stay safe, Abu ʿAbd al-Ilah, for
well-being is beautiful only while you wear its garment.
جدّدتyou renewed ليfor me نُعمىthe kindness of أبيكyour father ولمand not يَزلhe ceased
جدّدت لي نُعمى أبيك ولم يَزل
متواترَunceasing in الحسناتgood deeds ليَto me درَّارَهاpouring them forth
متواترَ الحسنات ليَ درَّارَها
You renewed your father's kindness to me; he has never ceased
bestowing good deeds on me, pouring them forth.
نفسيmy soul فداؤكis your ransom ياO أباAbu (father of) عمرʿUmar لقدindeed
نفسي فداؤك يا أبا عمر لقد
هيجتَyou stirred نفسيmy soul مبدياًrevealing أسرارَهاits secrets
هيجتَ نفسي مبدياً أسرارَها
May my soul ransom you, Abu ʿUmar! You have
stirred my soul, bringing its secrets into the open.
شوَّقتنيyou stirred my longing لماwhen ذكرتكI recalled you جائزاًpassing
شوَّقتني لما ذكرتك جائزاً
أعلامَthe landmarks of مكّةMecca قادماًarriving زوَّارَهاits visitors
أعلامَ مكّة قادماً زوَّارَها
You filled me with longing when I recalled you passing
the landmarks of Mecca, arriving among its visitors.
ياO حبّذاhow welcome البشرىthe glad tidings تُباشرناyou greet us بهاwith them
يا حبّذا البشرى تُباشرنا بها
تشفيheal القلوبthe hearts مذيعةَproclaiming أخبارَهاtheir news
تشفي القلوب مذيعةَ أخبارَها
How welcome the glad tidings you greet us with,
healing hearts as their news is proclaimed!
يرعاكmay guard you ربيmy Lord شاهداًattending عَرفاتهاits ʿArafat
يرعاك ربي شاهداً عَرفاتها
فيamong أهلهاits people وإذاand when رمَيتyou cast جمارَهاits ritual pebbles
في أهلها وإذا رمَيت جمارَها
May my Lord guard you as you stand at its ʿArafat,
among its people, and when you cast its ritual pebbles.
إنif قدindeed قدمتyou arrived قدومَan arrival of مَسرورa joyful man وقدand indeed
إن قد قدمت قدومَ مَسرور وقد
وافيتَyou reached نَزوىNizwa واحتلَلتand settled in ديارَهاits dwellings
وافيتَ نَزوى واحتلَلت ديارَها
If you have come with a joyful arrival, and
reached Nizwa and settled in her dwellings,
فتسرّthen you gladden مشتاقاًa longing man لقربكfor your nearness وامقاًloving
فتسرّ مشتاقاً لقربك وامقاً
سكنinhabited التذكُّرremembrance نفسهhis soul فأطارَهاthen sent it flying
سكن التذكُّر نفسه فأطارَها
then you gladden a lover longing for your nearness,
whose soul remembrance inhabited, then sent flying.
وتزينand you adorn داركَyour home ياO أباAbu (father of) عمرٍʿUmar فلاand may not
وتزين داركَ يا أبا عمرٍ فلا
زالتcease بعمركthrough your life يَستجدُّbeing renewed عِمارَهاits habitation
زالت بعمرك يَستجدُّ عِمارَها
And adorn your home, Abu ʿUmar; may
its habitation ever be renewed through your life!
أمحمدَO Muhammad بنَson of معمَّرٍMuʿammar عُمَّرتَmay you live long ماboth (split dual ending)
أمحمدَ بنَ معمَّرٍ عُمَّرتَ ما
حيثwhere السّلامةwell-being تجنيانyou both reap ثمارَهاits fruits
حيث السّلامة تجنيان ثمارَها
O Muhammad son of Muʿammar, may you both live long,
where you both reap the fruits of well-being.
ولقيتماand may you both meet فرحَthe joy of الدّناthe world وعمارهاand its flourishing
ولقيتما فرحَ الدّنا وعمارها
وكُفيتماand may you both be spared مكروههاits evils وحِذارَهاand its dangers
وكُفيتما مكروهها وحِذارَها
May you both meet the world's joy and flourishing,
and be spared its evils and its dangers.
Partial English translation: 92 of 150 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1