سَعِيدُblessed المَبانيamong buildings مَاthat which يَطُولُlasts long ويَمتَدُّand endures
سَعِيدُ المَباني مَا يَطُولُ ويَمتَدُّ
إذاwhen كَانَis لِلوَجهِfor the countenance الجَميلِbeautiful بهin it القَصدthe aim
إذا كَانَ لِلوَجهِ الجَميلِ به القَصد
Blessed among buildings is one that lasts and endures,
when the beautiful Countenance is its intended aim;
ولاَسِيَمَأand especially إنْif كَانَthere is فيin خُلُقِthe character of الذيthe one who
ولاَسِيَمَأ إنْ كَانَ في خُلُقِ الذي
بَنَاهُbuilt it انطِبَاعُamenability لاَnot انقِبَاضٌreserve ولاَnor حِقْدُrancor
بَنَاهُ انطِبَاعُ لاَ انقِبَاضٌ ولاَ حِقْدُ
especially if, in the character of the one
who built it, there is amenability, not reserve or rancor.
بِذاthrough this يَحسُنُbecomes fair المَبنَىthe building ويَسعَدُand prospers أهلُهُits people
بِذا يَحسُنُ المَبنَى ويَسعَدُ أهلُهُ
ويَحويand attains بِهِthrough it آمَالَهُhis hopes الأبُthe father والوِلْدُand the child
ويَحوي بِهِ آمَالَهُ الأبُ والوِلْدُ
Through this the building grows fair, and its people prosper,
and through it father and child attain their hopes.
وَيَصْدُقُand speaks truly إنْif قَالَsays الخَبيرُthe expert بِوَصفِهِin describing it
وَيَصْدُقُ إنْ قَالَ الخَبيرُ بِوَصفِهِ
هِيَit is القُبَّةُthe dome الفَيحَاءُspacious مَاnot إنْemphatic particle لَهَاfor it نِدُّa peer
هِيَ القُبَّةُ الفَيحَاءُ مَا إنْ لَهَا نِدُّ
The expert speaks truly if, describing it, he says:
It is the spacious dome, without a peer.
لَقَدْindeed خَفِيتْlay hidden حتىuntil إذاwhen التَّخْتُthe throne زارَهَاvisited it
لَقَدْ خَفِيتْ حتى إذا التَّخْتُ زارَهَا
تبدتappeared وماand not للملكfor the king منany مثلهاits like بدan alternative
تبدت وما للملك من مثلها بد
It lay hidden until the throne visited it;
then it appeared, and the king could not dispense with its like.
نتيجةthe fruit of فكرan idea قدhad سهاbeen heedless عنهof it منthe one who مضىwent before
نتيجة فكر قد سها عنه من مضى
فشيدهاso he raised it منthe one who هذّبset in order الأمرَaffairs منfrom بعدُafterward
فشيدها من هذّب الأمرَ من بعدُ
The fruit of an idea overlooked by those gone before,
it was raised by the one who set affairs aright afterward.
فَجاْءَتْso it appeared كَنَجمِlike the star of النُّجحِsuccess طالwas long انتِظارُهُthe wait for it
فَجاْءَتْ كَنَجمِ النُّجحِ طال انتِظارُهُ
فَمِنْso from كُلّevery نَجَّامٍastrologer لِطَلعَتِهِfor its rising رَصدُa watch
فَمِنْ كُلّ نَجَّامٍ لِطَلعَتِهِ رَصدُ
Thus it appeared like the star of success, long awaited,
with every astrologer watching for its rising.
ولَوand if لَمْnot تَكُنْit were نَجْماًa star يُرَجَّىis hoped for طُلُوعُهُits rising
ولَو لَمْ تَكُنْ نَجْماً يُرَجَّى طُلُوعُهُ
لماthen there would not كَانَhave been مِنْfrom بُرجِthe tower of السُّعُودِgood fortune لَهَاfor it مَهْدُa cradle
لما كَانَ مِنْ بُرجِ السُّعُودِ لَهَا مَهْدُ
Had it not been a star whose rising was hoped for,
it would not have found a cradle in the tower of good fortune.
فَألْقَتْso it cast عَلَىupon بَاقِيthe rest of المَنَازِلِthe mansions يُمنَهَاits blessing
فَألْقَتْ عَلَى بَاقِي المَنَازِلِ يُمنَهَا
فَفِيso in كُلّevery بَيتٍhouse مِنْfrom سعادتهاits happiness سعدgood fortune
فَفِي كُلّ بَيتٍ مِنْ سعادتها سعد
So it cast its blessing upon the other mansions,
and every house draws good fortune from its happiness.
وكانتْand it was لأعيانِfor the eyes of المحبينَthe admirers قرّةًa delight
وكانتْ لأعيانِ المحبينَ قرّةً
وإنand although كانَthere was منهاfrom it فيin عيونِthe eyes of العدىthe foes فقدُloss
وإن كانَ منها في عيونِ العدى فقدُ
It was a delight to the eyes of its admirers,
though it brought loss to the eyes of foes.
فَسَرّحْso let roam بِهَاover it طَرفاًa gaze إلَىuntil الآنnow لَمnot يَكُنْhad been
فَسَرّحْ بِهَا طَرفاً إلَى الآن لَم يَكُنْ
لَهُfor it منof بَديِعِwondrous الشَّكلِform مِنْfrom قَبلِهَاbefore it عَهْدُacquaintance
لَهُ من بَديِعِ الشَّكلِ مِنْ قَبلِهَا عَهْدُ
So let your gaze roam over it—a gaze that until now
had never known such wondrous form before it.
فَتُعطِيكَso it gives you بِالتَّمثْيلِthrough likeness مِاwhatever شِئْتَyou wish مِنْof مُنىًwishes
فَتُعطِيكَ بِالتَّمثْيلِ مِا شِئْتَ مِنْ مُنىً
فَإنْso if شِئتَهَاyou wish it رَوضٌa garden وإنْand if شِئتَهَاyou wish it خَودُa lovely maiden
فَإنْ شِئتَهَا رَوضٌ وإنْ شِئتَهَا خَودُ
Through likeness, it grants you whatever fancies you desire:
a garden, if you wish it so; a lovely maiden, if you wish.
وإنْand if أنتَyou أنعَمْتَmade thorough التأمُلَcontemplation خِلتَهَاyou would deem it
وإنْ أنتَ أنعَمْتَ التأمُلَ خِلتَهَا
يَتيمَةَa matchless pearl of دارِthe house of المُلكِroyalty تَمَّwas completed بِهَاby it العِقدُthe necklace
يَتيمَةَ دارِ المُلكِ تَمَّ بِهَا العِقدُ
And if you contemplate it thoroughly, you will deem it
the matchless pearl of the royal house, completing the necklace.
هِيَit is الرَّأسُthe head مِنهَاof it والطَّويلَةُand the long structure صَدرُهَاits chest
هِيَ الرَّأسُ مِنهَا والطَّويلَةُ صَدرُهَا
ومَاand what قَدhas عَلاَrisen above ذَاكَthat الصّدارَthe bodice لَهَاfor it نَهدُa breast
ومَا قَد عَلاَ ذَاكَ الصّدارَ لَهَا نَهدُ
It is the head of the whole, and the long structure its chest;
what rises above that bodice is its breast.
وَمَاand not صَغُرَتْbecame small تِلكَthose البَساتينُthe gardens حَولَهَاaround it
وَمَا صَغُرَتْ تِلكَ البَساتينُ حَولَهَا
لأنَّbecause قَليلاًa little كَافِياًsufficient كُثرُهُits abundance دّدُّan opposite (uncertain reading)
لأنَّ قَليلاً كَافِياً كُثرُهُ دّدُّ
Nor are those gardens around it too small,
for excess is the opposite of a sufficient little.
عَلَىnotwithstanding أنَّهَاthat it is رَوضٌa garden يُذَبِّحُهُslaughters it الحَيَاthe rain
عَلَى أنَّهَا رَوضٌ يُذَبِّحُهُ الحَيَا
فَفِيso in كُلّevery نَورٍblossom فيin تَفاصِيلهَاits details بُردُa mantle
فَفِي كُلّ نَورٍ في تَفاصِيلهَا بُردُ
Yet it is a garden that the rain slaughters;
each blossom in its details holds a mantle.
وفيand at أوجِهَاits summit حَيثُwhere الكُوىthe windows مِنهَاof it أوbeckoned (first fragment) مَأتْbeckoned (second fragment)
وفي أوجِهَا حَيثُ الكُوى مِنهَا أو مَأتْ
إلىtoward الشَّمسِthe sun قُدسُthe holiness of اللهGod فيin قَلبهاits heart يَندْوُis dewy
إلى الشَّمسِ قُدسُ الله في قَلبها يَندْوُ
And at its summit, where its windows beckon
toward the sun, God's holiness is dewy within its heart.
فَإذاso then ذَاكَthat moment أضدادُopposites among الأشِعَّةِthe rays جُمِعَتْwere joined
فَإذا ذَاكَ أضدادُ الأشِعَّةِ جُمِعَتْ
ومنْand from قَبلِbefore هّذاthis الحِينِmoment ماnot اجتَمَعَhad met الضِدُّthe opposite
ومنْ قَبلِ هّذا الحِينِ ما اجتَمَعَ الضِدُّ
Then contrary rays were brought together;
before this moment, opposites had never met.
عَلَىupon أربَعٍfour قَامَتْit stood وإنand although كَانَwas شِبهَهَاits counterpart
عَلَى أربَعٍ قَامَتْ وإن كَانَ شِبهَهَا
مِنَamong الغِيدِthe graceful maidens يَكفِيsuffices فيfor مَلاحَتِهِits loveliness قَدُّa figure
مِنَ الغِيدِ يَكفِي في مَلاحَتِهِ قَدُّ
It stands on four pillars, though its counterpart
among graceful maidens needs only a figure for loveliness.
وَلَكِنَّهَاand yet it زادَتْincreased لِتَلعَبَto play بِالنُّهَىwith the intellect
وَلَكِنَّهَا زادَتْ لِتَلعَبَ بِالنُّهَى
إلىto الغَايَةِthe limit القُصوىutmost أساطينُهاits pillars المُلدُsmooth
إلى الغَايَةِ القُصوى أساطينُها المُلدُ
Yet it was further enhanced, to toy with the mind
to the utmost, by its smooth pillars.
ومَاand nothing قَيَّدَheld fast الألحَاظَthe glances مِنهَاin it كَمَركَزٍlike a center
ومَا قَيَّدَ الألحَاظَ مِنهَا كَمَركَزٍ
مَوَاتٍlifeless وأموَاهُand the waters of الحَياةِlife بِهِwithin it تَعدوrace
مَوَاتٍ وأموَاهُ الحَياةِ بِهِ تَعدو
Nothing in it fettered the gaze like a center,
lifeless, yet with the waters of life racing through it.
لِمَعنىًfor a reason تَرَىyou see الأنحَاءَthe sides مِنهاof it ثَمَانياًeight
لِمَعنىً تَرَى الأنحَاءَ مِنها ثَمَانياً
فَهَلْso, is ...? هِيَit إلاَّanything but مِنْamong جِنانٍgardens بِهَاin them الخُلْدُeternity
فَهَلْ هِيَ إلاَّ مِنْ جِنانٍ بِهَا الخُلْدُ
For a reason, you see that it has eight sides:
is it not among the gardens where eternity dwells?
وألقَتْand it laid عَلىupon ظَهرِthe back of الطَريقِthe road وِسَادَهَاits cushion
وألقَتْ عَلى ظَهرِ الطَريقِ وِسَادَهَا
لِئلاَّso that not يُلاقيencounters الغَبنَloss فيin قَصدِهَاseeking it الوَفْدُthe visitors
لِئلاَّ يُلاقي الغَبنَ في قَصدِهَا الوَفْدُ
It laid its cushion upon the road's back,
so visitors would suffer no loss in seeking it.
وَتُبصِرُand it sees مِنْfrom قُربٍnearby مُرِيداًa seeker تَوَدَّهُit loves him
وَتُبصِرُ مِنْ قُربٍ مُرِيداً تَوَدَّهُ
وتَسْمَعُand it hears بَدءاًat the outset صَوتَthe voice of مَنْone who قَصْدُهُhis aim الرّفدُbounty
وتَسْمَعُ بَدءاً صَوتَ مَنْ قَصْدُهُ الرّفدُ
From nearby it sees a seeker whom it loves,
and hears at once the voice of one whose aim is bounty.
فَحَسْبُso enough for مَنِone who استَعفىsought relief منfrom الضَّيمinjustice وَقفةًa single halt
فَحَسْبُ مَنِ استَعفى من الضَّيم وَقفةً
وحَسْبُand enough for الذيthe one who يَأتيcomes لِعَاداتِهَاfor its customary favors العَودُa return
وحَسْبُ الذي يَأتي لِعَاداتِهَا العَودُ
A single halt suffices for one seeking relief from injustice;
one who comes for its customary favors need only return.
وأعظِمْand how great بِهَاit (in exclamation) والبُرجُwhile the tower يَكفِتُgathers up ذَيَلَهَاits train
وأعظِمْ بِهَا والبُرجُ يَكفِتُ ذَيَلَهَا
كَجَالِسَةٍlike a seated woman قَسْعَاًa posture description (unclear) وكُرسِيُّهَاand her chair طَودُa mountain
كَجَالِسَةٍ قَسْعَاً وكُرسِيُّهَا طَودُ
How grand it is, with the tower gathering its train,
like a seated woman [posture unclear], her chair a mountain.
وَلَوand if نَطَقَتْit spoke قَالَتْit would say لَهُto him كُنتَyou were ليfor me
وَلَو نَطَقَتْ قَالَتْ لَهُ كُنتَ لي
وَمِنْand from بَينناbetween us فِيمَاin what طُبِعْنَاwe were fashioned لَهُfor it بُعدُdistance
وَمِنْ بَيننا فِيمَا طُبِعْنَا لَهُ بُعدُ
Were it to speak, it would tell him: you were there for me,
yet we are far apart in what we were fashioned for.
طُبِعتُI was fashioned عَلَىfor التَّقوىpiety فأقبَلُso I welcome منwhoever دَنَاdraws near
طُبِعتُ عَلَى التَّقوى فأقبَلُ من دَنَا
وأدنُوand I draw near لِمَنْto whoever يَنأىstays distant ومِنْand of طَبعِكَyour nature الطَّرْدُexpulsion
وأدنُو لِمَنْ يَنأى ومِنْ طَبعِكَ الطَّرْدُ
I was fashioned for piety, so I welcome whoever draws near,
and approach whoever stays far away; your nature is to repel.
فَأينَso where مُخيفَاتٌterrifying things بَهَاwith them كُنتَyou were تَحتَميseeking shelter
فَأينَ مُخيفَاتٌ بَهَا كُنتَ تَحتَمي
أمِنْis it against? قَدَرٍa fate يأتيcomes بِهِwith it الصَّمَدُthe Eternal Refuge الفَرْدُthe One
أمِنْ قَدَرٍ يأتي بِهِ الصَّمَدُ الفَرْدُ
Where are the terrifying things with which you sheltered yourself?
Was it against a fate brought by the Eternal Refuge, the One?
وهَاand here أناI ذيthis one وجَّهتُI have turned وَجهِيmy face لِوجِههtoward His face
وهَا أنا ذي وجَّهتُ وَجهِي لِوجِهه
وَمِنْand from ذِكرِهِHis remembrance مَاas long as دُمْتُI remain فيin الدَّهرِthe world ليfor me وِردُa regular litany
وَمِنْ ذِكرِهِ مَا دُمْتُ في الدَّهرِ لي وِردُ
Here I am: I have turned my face toward His face,
and as long as I remain in this world, His remembrance is my litany.
وَبِعتُand I traded المَغانيthe songs بِالمَثانِيfor the Oft-Repeated Verses ونَشوَتيand my rapture
وَبِعتُ المَغاني بِالمَثانِي ونَشوَتي
بِماin what قَامَstood up حَمَّالُthe bearer of الحَديثِhadith بِهِwith it يَشدْوُchants
بِما قَامَ حَمَّالُ الحَديثِ بِهِ يَشدْوُ
I have traded songs for the Oft-Repeated Verses, and my rapture
comes from what the bearer of hadith stands to chant.
بِهَذاthrough this رَأيتُI saw السَّمكَthe height أصبَحَbecame مَنزِلِيmy abode
بِهَذا رَأيتُ السَّمكَ أصبَحَ مَنزِلِي
وأنتَand you كَمَاas عَايَنتَyou have seen مَنزِلُكَyour abode الوَهدُthe low ground
وأنتَ كَمَا عَايَنتَ مَنزِلُكَ الوَهدُ
Through this, I saw the heights become my abode,
while you, as you have seen, dwell in the low ground.
كَذَلِكَthus يَعلوrises مَنْwhoever إلىtoward الخَيرِgoodness سَعيُهُhis striving
كَذَلِكَ يَعلو مَنْ إلى الخَيرِ سَعيُهُ
ويَسْفُلُand sinks مَنْwhoever يَغدُوsets out إلىtoward الشَّرّevil يَشتَدُّhastens
ويَسْفُلُ مَنْ يَغدُو إلى الشَّرّ يَشتَدُّ
Thus rises whoever strives toward goodness,
and sinks whoever sets out racing toward evil.
كَفَتنيhas sufficed me مِنَfrom المَولىthe Lord القَويّthe Mighty حِمايَةٌprotection
كَفَتني مِنَ المَولى القَويّ حِمايَةٌ
ومَاand no بَعدَafter عَونِthe help of اللهِGod فِيin شِدَّةٍhardship جُندُarmy
ومَا بَعدَ عَونِ اللهِ فِي شِدَّةٍ جُندُ
Protection from the mighty Lord has sufficed me;
in hardship, no army is needed beyond God's aid.
عَلَىnotwithstanding أنَّthat بِالإسنَادِthrough support لِيfor me بِكَthrough you حُرمَةٌhonored standing
عَلَى أنَّ بِالإسنَادِ لِي بِكَ حُرمَةٌ
عَليكَupon you لِمَنْto the one who أولاَكَهَاbestowed it on you يَجِبُis due الحَمْدُthanks
عَليكَ لِمَنْ أولاَكَهَا يَجِبُ الحَمْدُ
Yet, through your support, I enjoy an honored place with you;
you owe thanks to the one who bestowed that honor upon you.
هوَhe is السَّيِّدُthe lord البَاشَاthe Pasha الذيwho بِكَمَالِهِthrough his perfection
هوَ السَّيِّدُ البَاشَا الذي بِكَمَالِهِ
وإكمَالِهِand his fulfillment of مَاwhat يَنبَغِيis fitting كَمُلَwas perfected الحَدُّthe limit
وإكمَالِهِ مَا يَنبَغِي كَمُلَ الحَدُّ
He is the lord, the Pasha, through whose perfection
and fulfillment of what is fitting, the utmost measure is attained.
مُرادِيthe one I mean عَلِيُّAli بْنُson of الحُسَينِal-Husayn ومَنand whoever يَقُلْsays
مُرادِي عَلِيُّ بْنُ الحُسَينِ ومَن يَقُلْ
لَهُfor him فيin النَّهىintellect شَانٍa peer (uncertain reading) فَقَولَتُهُthen his assertion رَدُّrejected
لَهُ في النَّهى شَانٍ فَقَولَتُهُ رَدُّ
I mean Ali ibn al-Husayn; if anyone claims
that he has a peer in intellect, his claim is rejected.
إذاwhen عُدَّare counted مَنْthose who وَفَّىfulfilled بِكُلّwith every ملِيحَةٍfine quality
إذا عُدَّ مَنْ وَفَّى بِكُلّ ملِيحَةٍ
وقِيلَand it is said عَلِيٌAli أوَّلٌfirst وَقَفَstops العَدُّthe counting
وقِيلَ عَلِيٌ أوَّلٌ وَقَفَ العَدُّ
When those who fulfill every fine virtue are counted,
and 'Ali is first' is said, the counting stops.
سَقَىmay it water قَصرَهُhis palace هَذاthis وكُلَّand every قَرارَةٍresting place
سَقَى قَصرَهُ هَذا وكُلَّ قَرارَةٍ
يَحُلُّhe dwells بِهَاin it سَارٍa night-traveling cloud مِنَof اللَّطفِgrace مُمتَدُfar-reaching
يَحُلُّ بِهَا سَارٍ مِنَ اللَّطفِ مُمتَدُ
May this palace of his and every resting place
where he dwells be watered by a far-reaching night-cloud of grace.
دُعَاءٌa prayer أجَابَanswered اللهُGod مَنْwhoever قَدْhas دَعَاprayed بِهِwith it
دُعَاءٌ أجَابَ اللهُ مَنْ قَدْ دَعَا بِهِ
وَتَاريخُهُand its chronogram بَيتٌa verse بِهِin it أونِسَwas perceived السَّعدُgood fortune
وَتَاريخُهُ بَيتٌ بِهِ أونِسَ السَّعدُ
A prayer—God has answered whoever uttered it—
and its chronogram is a verse in which good fortune was perceived.
بِحُرمَةِby the sanctity of مَنْthe one who وافَىcame إلىto الخَلقِcreation رَحمَةًas mercy
بِحُرمَةِ مَنْ وافَى إلى الخَلقِ رَحمَةً
فَزَالَتْso vanished بِهِthrough him الأسواthe ills وتَمَّand was completed بِهِthrough him الرُّشدَright guidance
فَزَالَتْ بِهِ الأسوا وتَمَّ بِهِ الرُّشدَ
By the sanctity of the one who came as mercy to creation,
through whom ills vanished and right guidance was fulfilled,
عَلَيهِupon him صَلاةٌa blessing لاَnot يُحَاطُis encompassed بِقَدرِهَاin its extent
عَلَيهِ صَلاةٌ لاَ يُحَاطُ بِقَدرِهَا
يُحَاطُis encompassed بِهَاby it عَنْagainst فَيضِthe outpouring of بابِthe gate of الرّضَىfavor السَّدُّthe barrier
يُحَاطُ بِهَا عَنْ فَيضِ بابِ الرّضَى السَّدُّ
upon him be a blessing whose measure cannot be encompassed,
by which the barrier against the flood from favor's gate is encompassed.
ويَدخُلُand enters بانِيthe builder of البَيتِthe house فيinto حِصنِthe stronghold of دِرْعهاits armor
ويَدخُلُ بانِي البَيتِ في حِصنِ دِرْعها
فَتَحفَظَهُso it protects him حِفظَwith the protection of الحِمَىthe sanctuary الحَافِظِguarding الجَلْدِsteadfast
فَتَحفَظَهُ حِفظَ الحِمَى الحَافِظِ الجَلْدِ
May the house's builder enter the stronghold of its armor,
so it protects him as a strong, watchful sanctuary protects.
وَفيand in حِرزِthe safeguard of بسمِin the name of اللهِGod وَهيand it is وَجيهَةٌhonored
وَفي حِرزِ بسمِ اللهِ وَهي وَجيهَةٌ
يَحِقُّis made right بهاthrough it المَبداthe beginning وَيَزكوand flourishes بهاthrough it العودُthe return
يَحِقُّ بها المَبدا وَيَزكو بها العودُ
And in the safeguard of 'In the name of God,' honored as it is,
through it the beginning is made right, and the return flourishes.
Sol 6.1