بِيضٌfair-skinned women طَوالعُemerging منfrom خيامٍtents سُودblack
بِيضٌ طَوالعُ من خيامٍ سُود
رُفِعَتْwere raised لطَرْفِكfor your gaze منfrom أقاصيthe farthest reaches البِيدِthe deserts
رُفِعَتْ لطَرْفِك من أقاصي البِيدِ
Fair women emerging from black tents,
White tents from black tents were raised for your eyes from the farthest parts
Raised for your gaze from the remotest wastes.
If torn, we would mend them with cords
لوif مُزِّقَتْwere torn لرقَعْنَهاthey would patch them بذَوائبٍwith tresses
لو مُزِّقَتْ لرقَعْنَها بذَوائبٍ
أوor قُوَضَتْwere dismantled لدعَمْنَهاthey would support them بقُدودwith bodily forms
أو قُوَضَتْ لدعَمْنَها بقُدود
If torn, they would patch them with their tresses;
Or if collapsed, we would prop them up with poles
Or, if dismantled, prop them up with their forms.
You see a tent - if you visit it in its courtyard
خِيَمٌtents تَرىyou see إنif زُرتَهاyou visit them بفِنائهاin their forecourt
خِيَمٌ تَرى إن زُرتَها بفِنائها
آثارَtraces جَرِّdragging قناًlances وجَرِّand dragging بُرودstriped cloaks
آثارَ جَرِّ قناً وجَرِّ بُرود
Tents where, if you visit, you see in their forecourts
Traces of dragging ropes and pulling poles
Traces of dragging lances and trailing striped cloaks.
It meets the lions of darkness among its walls
تَلقَىyou meet أُسودَthe lions الغِيلِthe thickets بينamong عِراصِهاtheir open grounds
تَلقَى أُسودَ الغِيلِ بين عِراصِها
صَرْعَىstruck down لأحداقِby the eyes الظِباءِthe gazelles الغِيدthe supple-necked
صَرْعَى لأحداقِ الظِباءِ الغِيد
You meet the lions of the thickets in their open grounds,
Bodies for the glances of roaming gazelles
Struck down by the eyes of supple-necked gazelles.
The intoxication of glances does not awaken from youth
سَكْرَىdrunken اللّواحظِthe glances ماnot يُفِقْنَthey sober up منfrom الصِّباyouthful passion
سَكْرَى اللّواحظِ ما يُفِقْنَ من الصِّبا
منof كُلِّeach هيفاءِa slender-waisted woman المُوَشَّحِthe sash's place روُدgentle in movement
من كُلِّ هيفاءِ المُوَشَّحِ روُد
Drunk of glance, they never sober from youthful passion,
From every passionately amorous and heavily perfumed one
Each slender where her sash lies, gentle in motion.
Bewitching with magic, some with kohl
مَكْحولةٌlined with kohl بالسِحْرِwith magic منهاof her مُقلةٌan eye
مَكْحولةٌ بالسِحْرِ منها مُقلةٌ
كُحِلَتْwere lined with kohl لهاfor her عَيْنايَmy two eyes بالتَسهيدwith sleeplessness
كُحِلَتْ لها عَيْنايَ بالتَسهيد
An eye of hers is lined with magic;
My eyes were lined for it with smearing
For her sake, my eyes were lined with sleeplessness.
They secretly bid farewell when the caravan with the voice of the driver calling departed
خالَسْنَthey stole furtively تسليمَgreeting الوَداعِfarewell وقدand already هَفاwafted
خالَسْنَ تسليمَ الوَداعِ وقد هَفا
بالرَكْبِover the caravan شَجْوُthe plaint السائقِthe driver الغِرّيدthe melodious
بالرَكْبِ شَجْوُ السائقِ الغِرّيد
They stole farewell greetings as there wafted
Their breaths and their passions competed
Over the caravan the plaint of the melodious driver.
So they scattered the pearls of tears and necklaces
وتَنافَسَتْand vied أنفاسُهاtheir breaths وشُؤونُهاand their tear ducts
وتَنافَسَتْ أنفاسُها وشُؤونُها
فَنَثَرْنَso they scattered دُرَّىْtwo kinds of pearls أدمُعٍtears وعُقودand necklaces
فَنَثَرْنَ دُرَّىْ أدمُعٍ وعُقود
And their breaths and tear ducts vied,
As if they had taken those necklaces from their steeds
Scattering pearls of two kinds: tears and necklaces.
And hung them on cheeks
وكأنّهُنّand as though they نَزعْنَremoved منfrom أجيادِهاtheir necks
وكأنّهُنّ نَزعْنَ من أجيادِها
تلكthose العقودَnecklaces ونُطْنَهاand hung them بخُدودupon cheeks
تلك العقودَ ونُطْنَها بخُدود
As though they had taken from their necks
And I am tormented - neither distance comforts me nor
Those necklaces and hung them upon cheeks.
Does your nearness fulfill what is promised
ومُعذَّبٌand a tormented one لاnot البُعْدُdistance يُسليهِconsoles him ولاand not
ومُعذَّبٌ لا البُعْدُ يُسليهِ ولا
فيin القُرْبِnearness منكto you تَجودُyou bestow بالموعودwith the promised gift
في القُرْبِ منك تَجودُ بالموعود
And a tormented lover: distance does not console him, nor
So if he becomes distant he becomes a prisoner of love
When he is near you do you grant what was promised.
And if he comes near he becomes a victim of rejection
فإذاthen when نأَىhe goes far أمَسىhe becomes at evening أسيرa captive صَبابةٍardent longing
فإذا نأَى أمَسى أسير صَبابةٍ
وإذاand when دناhe draws near أضحَىhe becomes by morning قَتيلone slain صُدودrejection
وإذا دنا أضحَى قَتيل صُدود
If he goes far, evening finds him captive to longing;
How strange is the specter that meets some youth
And if he draws near, morning finds him slain by rejection.
Disheveled on the edges of the wilderness, lost
عجَباًhow strange! منat الطَّيفِthe phantom المُلِمِّvisiting بفتْيةٍto young men
عجَباً من الطَّيفِ المُلِمِّ بفتْيةٍ
شُعْثٍunkempt بأطرافِat the edges الفلاةِthe wilderness هُجودasleep
شُعْثٍ بأطرافِ الفلاةِ هُجود
How strange the phantom visiting young men,
The morning is the first to breathe, rising
Unkempt and sleeping at the edges of the wilderness,
And the night is like the exhaustion of effort
والصبْحُand dawn أوّلَfirst ماwhen تَنفّسَbreathed طالعاًrising
والصبْحُ أوّلَ ما تَنفّسَ طالعاً
والليّلُand night مِثْلُlike حُشاشةِthe last remnant of life المَجْهودthe exhausted one
والليّلُ مِثْلُ حُشاشةِ المَجْهود
As dawn first breathes, rising,
It brings your visit near while the aim is within reach
And night is like the last remnant of an exhausted man's life.
The distant one is not far from wishes
يُدْنيbrings near مَزارَكa visit to you والمهامِهُand the trackless deserts دُونَهin front of it
يُدْني مَزارَك والمهامِهُ دُونَه
ليسis not البعيدُthe distant علىto المُنىwishes ببَعيدat all distant
ليس البعيدُ على المُنى ببَعيد
It brings a visit to you close, though trackless deserts stand between;
O night of the heart's joy at the mention
What is far is not far to longing.
If you are fortunate, return
ياO ليلةًa night طَرِبwas thrilled الفؤادُthe heart لِذكْرِهاby its remembrance
يا ليلةً طَرِب الفؤادُ لِذكْرِها
إنif كنتِyou were مُسعِدةَa comforter المَشوقِthe yearning lover فَعُوديthen return
إن كنتِ مُسعِدةَ المَشوقِ فَعُودي
O night whose memory thrilled the heart,
I am the one you knew, and if I met with misfortunes
If you would gladden the yearning lover, return.
The times brought that unlike what was familiar
أناI مَنthe one عَهِدْتِyou knew وإنand though لَقِيتُI encountered حوادثاًevents
أنا مَن عَهِدْتِ وإن لَقِيتُ حوادثاً
حالَdeparted الزّمانُtime بهاthrough them عنِfrom المَعْهودthe accustomed state
حالَ الزّمانُ بها عنِ المَعْهود
I am the one you knew, though I have encountered events
Every day I gain new ambitions
Through which time has departed from its familiar ways.
That refuse to flee from the abode of humiliation
فيin كلِّevery يومٍday أستَجِدُّI acquire anew مَطامِعاًhopes
في كلِّ يومٍ أستَجِدُّ مَطامِعاً
يأبَيْنَrefuse عنfrom دارِthe abode الهَوانِhumiliation شُروديmy escape
يأبَيْنَ عن دارِ الهَوانِ شُرودي
Every day I acquire fresh hopes
My head, the burning of its gray hairs has lasted long
That forbid my escape from the abode of humiliation.
It is my wish and time for it to settle down
والرّأسُand the head قدalready طالَhas lasted long اشتِعالُthe blazing مَشيبِهof its gray hair
والرّأسُ قد طالَ اشتِعالُ مَشيبِه
منّىof mine وآنand has come لهfor it أوانُthe time خُمودdying down
منّى وآن له أوانُ خُمود
My head's gray hair has been blazing long,
The hair is like hair, it is not denied
And now its time to die down has come.
Whitening after the advance of blackening
والشِّعْرُand poetry مثْلُlike الشَّعْرِhair ليسis not بمنكَرِa stranger to التْthe (word continued)
والشِّعْرُ مثْلُ الشَّعْرِ ليس بمنكَرِ التْ
تَبْيِيضِwhitening بعدَafter تَقَدُّمِthe precedence التّسْويدblackening
تَبْيِيضِ بعدَ تَقَدُّمِ التّسْويد
And verse, like hair, is no stranger to
If the absence of my onlooker lifted from me
Whitening after blackening has gone before.
I would see the place of my desired propriety
ولَوِand if انجَلَتْcleared عنّىfrom me غَيابةُthe veil of darkness ناظريmy sight
ولَوِ انجَلَتْ عنّى غَيابةُ ناظري
لرأيتُI would see مَوضِعَthe place رُشْدِيَmy right guidance المَنْشودsought
لرأيتُ مَوضِعَ رُشْدِيَ المَنْشود
And if the darkness veiling my sight were lifted from me,
And I would spurn a world that is stingy with its gifts
I would see the place of right guidance that I seek,
And if it is generous it does not give except to the ascetic
وزَهِدْتُand I would renounce فيin دُنياa world تَشُحُّis stingy بنَيْلِهاwith its bounty
وزَهِدْتُ في دُنيا تَشُحُّ بنَيْلِها
وإذاand when سَخَتْit is generous لمnot تُولِbestows غيرَother than زهيدa trifle
وإذا سَخَتْ لم تُولِ غيرَ زهيد
And would renounce a world that begrudges its bounty,
And I would cut off, in seeking salvation, my ties
And, when generous, bestows only a trifle.
And I see the flash of the sword in detachment
وقَطَعتُand I would sever فيin طَلَبِseeking النّجاةِdeliverance عَلائقيmy attachments
وقَطَعتُ في طَلَبِ النّجاةِ عَلائقي
وأرىand I see مَضاءَthe cutting power السّيفِthe sword فيin التّجْريدstripping bare
وأرى مَضاءَ السّيفِ في التّجْريد
And would sever my ties in seeking deliverance;
Why should I compete with every inferior society
I see the sword's cutting power in being stripped bare.
That falsely boasts without merit a second excellence
ماليwhy should I أُنافسُcompete كلَّevery ناقصِdeficient one مَعْشَرٍa company of people
مالي أُنافسُ كلَّ ناقصِ مَعْشَرٍ
يَزْورُّturns aside دونَbefore الفَضْلِexcellence ثانيَbending جِيدa neck
يَزْورُّ دونَ الفَضْلِ ثانيَ جِيد
Why do I compete with every deficient man among his fellows,
He is deluded by a chest that he adorned from a session
Who turns away from excellence, bending his neck aside?
Go away, you are not up to it, leave it
يُزْهىboasts بصَدْرٍof a foremost seat حَلَّهhe occupied it منof مجْلسٍan assembly
يُزْهى بصَدْرٍ حَلَّه من مجْلسٍ
أقْصِرْdesist فلستَfor you are not عليهfor it بالمَحْسودat all envied
أقْصِرْ فلستَ عليه بالمَحْسود
He boasts of a foremost seat he has occupied in an assembly;
If precedence was obtained through merit
Desist—you are not envied for it.
It would not have existed at the start of creation
لوif كانwere بالفَضْلِthrough excellence التّقدُّمُprecedence يُقْتَنىacquired
لو كان بالفَضْلِ التّقدُّمُ يُقْتَنى
ماnot كانwould be لا“no” فيin أوّلِthe beginning التَّوحيدthe declaration of divine oneness
ما كان لا في أوّلِ التَّوحيد
Were precedence acquired through excellence,
And I obeyed as I disobeyed my critics
“No” would not come first in the declaration of God's oneness.
So they did not need to blame or refute me
ولقدand indeed أطَعْتُI obeyed كماjust as عَصيْتُI disobeyed عَواذِليmy reproachers
ولقد أطَعْتُ كما عَصيْتُ عَواذِلي
فغَنيِنَso they had no need عنof عَذَليreproaching me وعنand of تَفْنيديcalling me foolish
فغَنيِنَ عن عَذَلي وعن تَفْنيدي
Indeed, I obeyed my reproachers as I once defied them,
And I slipped off the saddlebags of the riding beast
So they had no need to reproach me or call me foolish.
And tightened my legs on their straps
وحَللْتُand I released منfrom عُقْلِthe hobbles المَطّيِthe riding-camels مُشيحةًeager ones
وحَللْتُ من عُقْلِ المَطّيِ مُشيحةً
وشَددْتُand I fastened فوقupon سِراعهنّtheir swift ones قُتوديmy camel-saddles
وشَددْتُ فوق سِراعهنّ قُتودي
And I released eager riding-camels from their hobbles,
In the darkness of night that spread its breadth over the plains
And fastened my saddles upon their swiftest.
Wandering and turning, circling around without direction
فيamong غلْمةٍyoung men ذرعَتْtraversed بهمwith them عَرْضَthe breadth الفَلاthe open wastes
في غلْمةٍ ذرعَتْ بهم عَرْضَ الفَلا
هُوجٌheadlong camels تَلُفُّfold together تَهائماًlowlands بنُجودwith uplands
هُوجٌ تَلُفُّ تَهائماً بنُجود
Among young men carried across the breadth of the wastes
To the immaculate court we went together
By headlong camels that fold lowlands together with uplands.
A delegation and a delegation of glory and delegation of good fortune
وإلىand to صَفىِṢafī الدّولةِof the State اصسطحَباjourneyed in company معاًtogether
وإلى صَفىِ الدّولةِ اصسطحَبا معاً
وَفْدانtwo delegations وَفْدُa delegation عُلاًglory ووفْدُand a delegation سُعودgood fortunes
وَفْدان وَفْدُ عُلاً ووفْدُ سُعود
And toward Ṣafī al-Dawla journeyed together
The feast and the caravan that approached through the light
Two delegations: one of glory, one of good fortune.
Of its honor, the daughters of the feast
العيدُthe feast والركْبُand the caravan الذينwho دنَتْdrew near بهِمwith them
العيدُ والركْبُ الذين دنَتْ بهِم
منfrom نُورِthe light غُرَّتهhis brow بَناتُthe daughters العيدʿĪd (camel lineage)
من نُورِ غُرَّته بَناتُ العيد
The feast, and the riders brought near
So they came while the auspicious one was the delegate of a group
By the daughters of ʿĪd, through the light of his brow.
Hope came through him to the fortunate one
فأتَوْهso they came to him والمَسعودُand the fortunate one وافِدُan envoy مَعْشَرٍa people
فأتَوْه والمَسعودُ وافِدُ مَعْشَرٍ
قَدِمَcame الرَّجاءُhope بهِwith him علىbefore مَسْعودMasʿūd
قَدِمَ الرَّجاءُ بهِ على مَسْعود
They came to him; fortunate is a people's envoy
They came as humble delegations and woke up
Whom hope has brought before Masʿūd.
From his sword while they were vanquished delegations
أمسَواthey were at evening وفوداًdelegations مُعتفِينَseeking gifts وأصبحواand became at morning
أمسَوا وفوداً مُعتفِينَ وأصبحوا
منfrom سَيْبِهhis bounty وهُمُand they مُناخُthe resting-place وُفودdelegations
من سَيْبِه وهُمُ مُناخُ وُفود
At evening they were gift-seeking delegations, and by morning,
And they drew the clouds of gifts from the hand
Through his bounty, themselves a resting-place for delegations.
White, created for bounty and generosity
واستَمطَرواand they sought rain سُحُبَthe clouds المواهبِgifts منfrom يَدِa hand
واستَمطَروا سُحُبَ المواهبِ من يَدِ
بَيضاءَwhite صِيغَتْwas fashioned للنَدىfor generosity والجُودand bounty
بَيضاءَ صِيغَتْ للنَدى والجُود
They sought rain from clouds of gifts, from a hand
May its consecutive feasts gladden him, for his house
White, fashioned for generosity and bounty.
From every feast has touched the joyous one
فَلْيَهنِهso may they gladden him عِيدانِtwo feasts أمَّاboth sought بَيتُهhis house
فَلْيَهنِه عِيدانِ أمَّا بَيتُه
منof كُلِّevery عيدٍfeast قدalready ألمَّarrived سعيدhappy
من كُلِّ عيدٍ قد ألمَّ سعيد
May two feasts that have sought his house gladden him;
A Persian feast following an Arab one
Every feast that has arrived is a happy one.
After a complete calculated month
عَجميُّnon-Arab عِيدٍa feast تابِعٌfollowing عَربيَّهُits Arab counterpart
عَجميُّ عِيدٍ تابِعٌ عَربيَّهُ
منfrom بَعْدِafter شَهْرٍa month كاملٍcomplete مَعْدودcounted
من بَعْدِ شَهْرٍ كاملٍ مَعْدود
A non-Arab feast follows its Arab counterpart
A king whose armies of victory spread
After one complete month, duly counted.
Wherever he went, right and left beneath his hoisted banner
مَلِكٌa king جُيوشُthe armies النّصرِvictory حيثwherever سَماrose لهfor him
مَلِكٌ جُيوشُ النّصرِ حيث سَما له
يسْرِينtravel by night تحتbeneath لوائهhis banner المَعْقودraised
يسْرِين تحت لوائه المَعْقود
A king for whom, wherever he rises, the armies of victory
And if he girded the land with armies, it was certain
March by night beneath his raised banner.
That the sky reinforced him with soldiers
وإذاand when أزارmakes visit الأرضَthe earth جُنْداًan army أيقنَتْit knows for certain
وإذا أزار الأرضَ جُنْداً أيقنَتْ
أنّthat السّماءَheaven تُمِدُّهreinforces him بجُنودwith armies
أنّ السّماءَ تُمِدُّه بجُنود
When he brings an army to visit the earth, it knows
And if the secret of intentions frowned upon it
That heaven reinforces him with armies.
He cast his spear at it - the secret of mucus
وإذاand when تَجّهَمscowls فيهagainst him سِرُّthe secret ضمائرٍinner intentions
وإذا تَجّهَم فيه سِرُّ ضمائرٍ
ألقَىcasts إليهtoward it سَناهُhis radiance سِرَّthe secret غُمودsheaths
ألقَى إليه سَناهُ سِرَّ غُمود
And when the secret of hidden intentions scowls at him,
As for the caliphate, it harbors glory
His radiance casts at it the secret of sheaths.
From it to a pillar that a mighty one roams around
أمّاas for الخلافةُthe caliphate فَهْيthen it تَأْوِىseeks refuge عِزّةًfor strength
أمّا الخلافةُ فَهْي تَأْوِى عِزّةً
منهfrom him إلىto رُكنٍa pillar يَتيهُstands proudly شَديدstrong
منه إلى رُكنٍ يَتيهُ شَديد
As for the caliphate, it seeks refuge for strength
He inherited sovereignty from one great to another
In a proud, mighty pillar found in him.
So he soared with blazing and continuous glory
وَرِثَhe inherited السّيادةَlordship كابِراًa great one عنfrom كابِرٍa great one
وَرِثَ السّيادةَ كابِراً عن كابِرٍ
فَسماso he rose بِمجْدٍthrough glory طارِفٍnewly acquired وتَليدand ancestral
فَسما بِمجْدٍ طارِفٍ وتَليد
He inherited lordship from great forebear after great forebear,
Not like one who his ancestors settled
And rose through glory, newly won and ancestral.
With worries, but coincidence of forefathers erected
لاnot كالّذيlike the one قَعَدتْheld back بهhim أجدادُهhis forefathers
لا كالّذي قَعَدتْ به أجدادُه
لُؤْماًthrough baseness وأنْهَضهand raised him اتِفّاقُa chance conjunction جُدودfortunes
لُؤْماً وأنْهَضه اتِفّاقُ جُدود
Not like one whom his forefathers held back
You fulfilled the crown of the two nobles with determination
Through baseness, and whom a chance turn of fortune raised.
That cut off the hatred of the resentful one
أوفَيْتَyou rose high تاجَO Crown الحَضْرتَيْنِthe Two Courts بهِمّةٍthrough resolve
أوفَيْتَ تاجَ الحَضْرتَيْنِ بهِمّةٍ
قطَعَتْsevered نياطَthe heartstrings الحاسدِthe envier المَكْبودthe liver-stricken
قطَعَتْ نياطَ الحاسدِ المَكْبود
You rose high, Crown of the Two Courts, with a resolve
And you united the realm after its disunity
That severed the heartstrings of the liver-stricken envier.
And ignited the flame of generosity that the jealous smothered
ونَظمْتَand you gathered شَمْلَthe unity المُلْكِthe kingdom بعدafter شَتاتَهِits dispersal
ونَظمْتَ شَمْلَ المُلْكِ بعد شَتاتَهِ
وشَبْبتَand you kindled نارَthe fire الجُودِgenerosity غِبَّafter هُمودdying down
وشَبْبتَ نارَ الجُودِ غِبَّ هُمود
And you united the kingdom after its dispersal,
And you suppressed the enemies of the faith so their necks bowed
And rekindled the fire of generosity after it had died down.
Whether standing or lying flat
وقَمعْتَand you subdued أعداءَenemies الهُدىguidance فتَطأْطَأَتْso bowed down
وقَمعْتَ أعداءَ الهُدى فتَطأْطَأَتْ
أعناقُهمtheir necks منof قائمٍthose standing وحَصيدand those reaped
أعناقُهم من قائمٍ وحَصيد
And you subdued the enemies of guidance; down bent
And you subjugated them all with the loftiness of your ancestry
Their necks—the standing and the reaped alike.
And from suffering is the enmity of the detested
وقَهرْتَهمand you overcame them بعُلُوِّthrough the loftiness جَدِّكyour fortune كلَّهمall of them
وقَهرْتَهم بعُلُوِّ جَدِّك كلَّهم
ومنand of العَناءِhardship عَداوةُenmity المَجْدودthe fortunate one
ومن العَناءِ عَداوةُ المَجْدود
And overcame them all through the loftiness of your fortune;
And you raised the banners of science so its people
Enmity toward the fortunate is hardship.
Spread under the shade of your extended porch
ورفَعْتَand you raised أعلامَthe banners العلومِlearning فأهْلُهاso its people
ورفَعْتَ أعلامَ العلومِ فأهْلُها
يَغْشَوْنfrequent ظِلَّthe shade رِواقِكyour pavilion المَمْدودspread wide
يَغْشَوْن ظِلَّ رِواقِك المَمْدود
And you raised the banners of learning; its people
And they understood you from the secret of hearts and necessitated
Frequent the shade of your outstretched pavilion.
Your love through effort, not conformity
وألَوكَthey sought refuge in you منfrom سِرّthe innermost القلوبِthe hearts وأوجَبواand declared obligatory
وألَوكَ من سِرّ القلوبِ وأوجَبوا
بالاجتهادِthrough independent reasoning هَواكlove for you لاnot التَقْليدimitation
بالاجتهادِ هَواك لا التَقْليد
They sought refuge in you from their inmost hearts, and deemed
And they saw you greatest in resolve, so they competed
Love for you obligatory by independent judgment, not imitation.
Around the basin of your streaming reward
ورأوْكand they saw you أكبرَgreater هِمّةًin resolve فَتَزاحَمواso they crowded together
ورأوْك أكبرَ هِمّةً فَتَزاحَموا
منfrom حَولِaround حَوضِthe pool نَوالِكyour bounty المَوْرودfrequented
من حَولِ حَوضِ نَوالِك المَوْرود
And they saw you greater in resolve, so crowded together
And if I found the sea forbidden
Around the much-frequented pool of your bounty.
Against being made permitted is one performing dry ablution with sand
وإذاand when وجَدْتُI find البحرَthe sea كانit is مُحرَّماًforbidden
وإذا وجَدْتُ البحرَ كان مُحرَّماً
أنthat يُستباحَbe allowed تَيمُّمٌdry ablution بصَعيدwith earth
أن يُستباحَ تَيمُّمٌ بصَعيد
And when I find the sea, it is forbidden
May the two consecutive ones gladden you - their good tidings
To allow dry ablution with earth.
Of victory and support alternated
ولْيَهنِكَand may they gladden you المتَجدّدِانthe two new occasions تَتابَعَتْcame successively
ولْيَهنِكَ المتَجدّدِان تَتابَعَتْ
بُشْراهُماtheir glad tidings بالنّصْرِof victory والتّأييدand support
بُشْراهُما بالنّصْرِ والتّأييد
May the two new occasions gladden you; in succession came
Two feasts from a feast shaded the giver of glad tidings
Their glad tidings of victory and support.
Of fortune, and from a necklace you strung a new one
عِيدانِtwo feasts مِنof عيدٍa feast أظَلّdrew near مُبَشّرٍheralding
عِيدانِ مِن عيدٍ أظَلّ مُبَشّرٍ
سَعْدٍgood fortune ومِنand of عَقْدٍa bond عقَدْتَyou tied جَديدnew
سَعْدٍ ومِن عَقْدٍ عقَدْتَ جَديد
Two feasts: a feast drawing near, heralding
You adorned your crown of glory with a pearl from it
Good fortune, and a fresh bond you have tied.
That exhausted the resolves of kings hunting
رَصّعْتَyou studded تاجَthe crown عُلاكَyour eminence منهfrom it بدرَّةٍwith a pearl
رَصّعْتَ تاجَ عُلاكَ منه بدرَّةٍ
أعْيَتْproved beyond reach علىfor هِمَمthe aspirations المُلوكِthe kings الصِّيدthe proud
أعْيَتْ على هِمَم المُلوكِ الصِّيد
With it you studded the crown of your eminence with a pearl
Noble, testifying to a caliphal one
Beyond the aspirations of proud kings.
Growing in counting and numbering
شَرَفيّةSharafiyya; of Sharaf شَهدَتٌattested عليto (على) خَلَفِيّةٍKhalafiyya; of Khalaf
شَرَفيّة شَهدَتٌ علي خَلَفِيّةٍ
تَنْمِىincreases علىbeyond الإحصاءreckoning والتّعديدand enumeration
تَنْمِى على الإحصاء والتّعديد
A Sharafiyya, attesting to a Khalafiyya,
So congratulate it with blessings that overflow upon the youth
Increasing beyond reckoning and enumeration.
Among the peerless, the envied cloak
فتَهنَّهاso enjoy them نِعَماًas blessings تَفيضُdrape علىupon الفتىthe young man
فتَهنَّها نِعَماً تَفيضُ على الفتى
بينَamong الأماثلِthe foremost بُردةَa mantle المَحْسودthe envied one
بينَ الأماثلِ بُردةَ المَحْسود
So enjoy them—blessings that drape a young man
So I ask Allah to increase your esteem
Among the foremost in the mantle of the envied.
As long as there is room for increase
فاللهَso God أسألُI ask أنthat يَزيدَكَHe increase you رِفْعةًin elevation
فاللهَ أسألُ أن يَزيدَكَ رِفْعةً
مادامَas long as يُوجَدُis found مَوضِعٌa place لمَزيدfor more
مادامَ يُوجَدُ مَوضِعٌ لمَزيد
So I ask God to increase your elevation
Until, when increase becomes unattainable to an end
As long as a place for further increase is found,
It rests in the settlement of eternity
حتّىuntil إذاwhen امتَنعbecomes impossible المَزيدُfurther increase تَناهِياًat the utmost limit
حتّى إذا امتَنع المَزيدُ تَناهِياً
ألقَىcasts المراسِيَthe anchors فيin قَرارِthe depths خُلودeternity
ألقَى المراسِيَ في قَرارِ خُلود
Until, when further increase is barred at the utmost height,
He casts the anchors into the depths of eternity.
Partial English translation: 110 of 112 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1