وجهُكِyour face عندamong الشّموسِthe suns أَضَوَؤهاtheir brightest
وجهُكِ عند الشّموسِ أَضَوَؤها
وفُوكِand your mouth بينamong الكؤوسthe cups أَهْنَؤهاtheir most delightful
وفُوكِ بين الكؤوس أَهْنَؤها
Your face, among the suns, is the brightest;
and your mouth, among cups, the most delightful.
وماand not رأىsaw النّاسُpeople قبلَbefore رؤيتهاseeing her
وما رأى النّاسُ قبلَ رؤيتها
لآلئاًpearls فيin العَقيقِcarnelian مَخْبؤهاtheir hiding place
لآلئاً في العَقيقِ مَخْبؤها
Before seeing her, people had never seen
pearls whose hiding place was carnelian.
كمhow many ظمأةٍa thirst ليI have إلىfor مراشِفهاher lips
كم ظمأةٍ لي إلى مراشِفها
كماas يشاءُwishes الغَيورُthe jealous one أظمؤهاI endure its thirst
كما يشاءُ الغَيورُ أظمؤها
How many a thirst I have for her lips,
which I endure as the jealous one desires.
ذوpossessed of ريقةٍsaliva لوif أبىhe refused شِرايَmy purchase لهاof it
ذو ريقةٍ لو أبى شِرايَ لها
إلاّexcept بِروحيfor my soul لَقَلَّit would indeed be little مَسْبَؤهاits purchase price
إلاّ بِروحي لَقَلَّ مَسْبَؤها
His is a sweet saliva: if he refused to sell it
except for my soul, its price would still be small.
يُبْديreveals عتابيmy reproach والرّاحُwhile the wine صافيةٌis clear
يُبْدي عتابي والرّاحُ صافيةٌ
أمرُّهاits bitterest للنديمِfor the drinking companion أمْرَؤهاits most wholesome
أمرُّها للنديمِ أمْرَؤها
My reproach reveals, though the wine is clear,
that its bitterest is most wholesome to the drinking companion.
لمnot تَخْلُwas empty عَيْنَيmy eye منof نورِthe light of غُرَّتهِhis radiant brow
لم تَخْلُ عَيْنَي من نورِ غُرَّتهِ
إلاّexcept وفَيْضُwhile a flood of الدّموعِtears يَملَؤهاfills it
إلاّ وفَيْضُ الدّموعِ يَملَؤها
My eye was never empty of his brow's radiance
without a flood of tears filling it.
عينan eye إذاwhen ماever الفراقُseparation أظمأهاmade it thirsty
عين إذا ما الفراقُ أظمأها
كانwas بطَيفِin the apparition of الخيالِthe imagination مَجزؤهاwhat sufficed it
كان بطَيفِ الخيالِ مَجزؤها
An eye that, whenever separation made it thirsty,
found sufficiency in a dream's apparition.
ليلةُthe night of حُزنيmy grief لاnot تَنقضِيends أبداًever
ليلةُ حُزني لا تَنقضِي أبداً
فيat مُنتهاهاits end يعودُreturns مَبْؤهاits beginning
في مُنتهاها يعودُ مَبْؤها
The night of my grief never ends;
at its end, its beginning returns.
كِتْبةُthe writing of ليلٍ'night' منfrom عَكْسِreversing أحرفهاits letters
كِتْبةُ ليلٍ من عَكْسِ أحرفها
يأتيكcomes to you ليلٌ'night' إنif عُدْتَyou return تَقْرؤهاto reading it
يأتيك ليلٌ إن عُدْتَ تَقْرؤها
The written word layl, with its letters reversed,
still gives you layl, 'night,' when you read it again.
لمّاwhen اقتسَمْناwe divided among ourselves العيونَthe eyes أُعطِيتُI was given أبtheir most tearful (first part)
لمّا اقتسَمْنا العيونَ أُعطِيتُ أب
كاهاtheir most tearful (completion) وخَصّand allotted الخَلِيّthe carefree one أبكؤهاtheir driest
كاها وخَصّ الخَلِيّ أبكؤها
When we divided eyes, I was given the most
tearful; the carefree one was allotted the driest.
أَغرقتُI drowned خَدّيmy cheek دّمعاًin tears وفيwhile in كبِديmy liver
أَغرقتُ خَدّي دّمعاً وفي كبِدي
جمرةُan ember of وَجْدٍlonging قدindeed عزَّwas difficult مَطْفؤهاits extinguishing
جمرةُ وَجْدٍ قد عزَّ مَطْفؤها
I drowned my cheek in tears, while in my liver
lay an ember of longing, hard to extinguish.
ماليَwhy is it that I لاnot يَهتديfinds its way الطّريقُthe road إلىto
ماليَ لا يَهتدي الطّريقُ إلى
ناريmy fire وبَرْحُwhile the torment of الغرامpassion يَحْضَؤهاstokes it
ناري وبَرْحُ الغرام يَحْضَؤها
Why does the road not lead to
my fire, though love's torment stokes it?
لكنّهbut it يهتديfinds its way إلىto قَرْحthe wounds of أَسmy secrets (first part)
لكنّه يهتدي إلى قَرْح أَس
راريmy secrets (completion) فماand not إنan emphatic particle يزالُceases يَنكَؤهاto reopen them
راري فما إن يزالُ يَنكَؤها
Yet it finds its way to the wounds of my
secrets, and never ceases to reopen them.
دَمعةُthe tear of عَيْنيmy eye ظَمياءُZamya كاهنةٌa soothsayer
دَمعةُ عَيْني ظَمياءُ كاهنةٌ
يَصْدُقُproves true عندamong الورىmankind مُنبؤهاits prediction
يَصْدُقُ عند الورى مُنبؤها
The tear of my eye, Zamya, is a soothsayer;
its prediction proves true among mankind.
فليسso not تَخْفىis hidden علىfrom كهانتِهاits divination
فليس تَخْفى على كهانتِها
خبيئةُa hidden secret منof هَواكَmy love for you أَخبَؤهاI conceal it
خبيئةُ من هَواكَ أَخبَؤها
Nothing is hidden from its divination:
no secret of my love for you that I conceal.
أَبعْدَwas it after هَدءٍa quiet stretch of night زارَvisited الخيالُthe phantom لهاof her
أَبعْدَ هَدءٍ زارَ الخيالُ لها
للصّبِّthe lovesick one's عَيْناًeye قدalready حانhad come مَهْدَؤهاits time of rest
للصّبِّ عَيْناً قد حان مَهْدَؤها
After a quiet stretch of night, did her phantom visit
the lover's eye, whose time for rest had come?
فيamong فتيةٍyoung men هَوّمَتْdozed وباتwhile spent the night لهاfor them
في فتيةٍ هَوّمَتْ وبات لها
كَلوءُa wakeful watcher ليلٍof night فيin البِيدِthe wastes يَرْبؤهاkeeping watch over them
كَلوءُ ليلٍ في البِيدِ يَرْبؤها
Among young men who had dozed, while for them
a wakeful night watchman kept lookout in the wastes.
وقامand rose طاليthe anointer of الجَرباءthe scabby sky مُنكمِشاًbriskly
وقام طالي الجَرباء مُنكمِشاً
وهْوبقارِwhile he, with the pitch of الظّلامِdarkness يَهْنؤهاsmears her
وهْوبقارِ الظّلامِ يَهْنؤها
The scabby sky's anointer rose briskly,
smearing her with the pitch of darkness.
واللّيلُand the night تَحكيresemble نجومُهits stars سُرُجاًlamps
واللّيلُ تَحكي نجومُه سُرُجاً
قدalready حانhad come عندat الصّباحdawn مَطْفؤهاtheir extinguishing
قد حان عند الصّباح مَطْفؤها
The night's stars resemble lamps
whose time to be extinguished has come at dawn.
باتتْspent the night تَهادَىpassing among themselves أيديthe hands of عياهبِهits deep darkness
باتتْ تَهادَى أيدي عياهبِه
كأسَthe cup of الثُّريَاthe Pleiades والطرّفُwhile the eye يَكْلؤهاwatches over it
كأسَ الثُّريَا والطرّفُ يَكْلؤها
The hands of its deep darkness passed among themselves
the cup of the Pleiades, while the eye watched over it.
يَملؤهاfills it شَرقُهاits east ويَشربُهاand drinks it
يَملؤها شَرقُها ويَشربُها
جُنْحُthe flank of دُجاهاits darkness والغَرْبُand the west يَكفْؤُهاpours it out
جُنْحُ دُجاها والغَرْبُ يَكفْؤُها
Its east fills it, and it is drunk
by the flank of its darkness; the west pours it out.
قدindeed هَزِئَتْmocked جارتيmy female neighbor لماwhen نَكرَتْshe failed to recognize
قد هَزِئَتْ جارتي لما نَكرَتْ
فزادَand increased ماwhat فيwas in الفؤادِthe heart مَهْزؤهاher mockery
فزادَ ما في الفؤادِ مَهْزؤها
My lady neighbor mocked when she found me changed;
her mockery increased what lay within my heart.
وأكبَرتُand I deemed grave شَيْبتيmy gray hair وقدwhile already فُجئَتْshe was surprised
وأكبَرتُ شَيْبتي وقد فُجئَتْ
وأكبرُand the gravest الحادثاتevents أفجَؤهاtheir most sudden
وأكبرُ الحادثات أفجَؤها
I thought my graying grave; it had taken her by surprise,
and the gravest events are the most sudden.
مِرآةُa mirror of خَدّa cheek بيضاءُwhite قدalready صُقلَتْwas polished
مِرآةُ خَدّ بيضاءُ قد صُقلَتْ
أصبحَbecame عينُthe eye of الفتاةِthe maiden تَبذَؤهاdespises it
أصبحَ عينُ الفتاةِ تَبذَؤها
A cheek's white mirror, polished bright,
has become something the maiden's eye despises.
عُطِّلwas left unused مَصقولُهاits polished surface وماand not بَرحتْceased to be
عُطِّل مَصقولُها وما بَرحتْ
نَصْبَbefore عيونthe eyes of الحسانِbeautiful women مُصْدؤهاits tarnished surface
نَصْبَ عيون الحسانِ مُصْدؤها
Its polished surface was forsaken, yet ever
before the beauties' eyes remained its tarnished one.
أشهبُa gray steed of خيلٍhorses خَلَّyielded المجالَthe field لهto it
أشهبُ خيلٍ خَلَّ المجالَ له
أدهمُهاtheir black one صاغراًhumbled وأصدَؤهاand their rust-colored one
أدهمُها صاغراً وأصدَؤها
A gray steed for which the field was yielded
by the black and the rust-colored, humbled.
عافتْrejected عَيوفاًAyuf نَفْسيmy soul الغداةَthis morning ولمand not
عافتْ عَيوفاً نَفْسي الغداةَ ولم
يَرْوَwas quenched بلُقْياby meeting ظَمياءَZamya مظمؤهاits thirst
يَرْوَ بلُقْيا ظَمياءَ مظمؤها
This morning my soul rejected Ayuf, nor
did meeting Zamya quench its thirst.
قُلوبُناour hearts اليومَtoday كالعيونِlike the eyes لكمfor you
قُلوبُنا اليومَ كالعيونِ لكم
أَمرَضُهاtheir sickest إنif نظَرْتَyou look أبرَؤهاtheir healthiest
أَمرَضُها إن نظَرْتَ أبرَؤها
Today our hearts, for you, are like eyes:
their sickest, if you look, are their healthiest.
دِينُthe creed of المعاليlofty deeds إليهto it نَفْسيَmy soul مِنfrom
دِينُ المعالي إليه نَفْسيَ مِن
دِينthe creed of التّصابيyouthful dalliance أُتيحَwas granted مَصْبَؤهاits conversion
دِين التّصابي أُتيحَ مَصْبَؤها
The creed of lofty deeds—to it my soul, from
the creed of youthful dalliance, was granted conversion.
فاعتَضْتُso I exchanged أنْساًcompanionship بالسُّهْدِfor sleeplessness أكحُلُهI apply it as kohl to
فاعتَضْتُ أنْساً بالسُّهْدِ أكحُلُه
عَيْنيmy eye وعِيساًand pale camels بالبيدِthrough the wastes أنسَؤهاI urge them onward
عَيْني وعِيساً بالبيدِ أنسَؤها
So I traded companionship for sleeplessness, lining
my eye with it, and for pale camels I urge through the wastes.
فيamong فتيةٍyoung men فُرْشُهمtheir beds إذاwhen هَجَعواthey sleep
في فتيةٍ فُرْشُهم إذا هَجَعوا
تُمسيbecome by evening وَرَمْلُwith the sand of الفلاةِthe wilderness أَوْطؤهاtheir softest
تُمسي وَرَمْلُ الفلاةِ أَوْطؤها
Among young men whose beds, when they sleep,
have the desert's sand as their softest part.
شَجّعتهمI emboldened them والليوثُand the lions عاديةٌon the attack
شَجّعتهم والليوثُ عاديةٌ
أَجَرُّهاthose dragging the most للصُّيودِin taking prey أَجرَؤهاare their boldest
أَجَرُّها للصُّيودِ أَجرَؤها
I emboldened them; of lions on the attack,
those dragging back the most prey are the boldest.
فقاتَلُواso they battled البِيدَthe wastes وانتضَواand unsheathed أيديthe forelegs of الthe (split article)
فقاتَلُوا البِيدَ وانتضَوا أيدي ال
عيسِpale camels لِلَبّاتِهاat their throats تَوَجُّؤهاpiercing them
عيسِ لِلَبّاتِها تَوَجُّؤها
They fought the wastes and unsheathed the forelegs of the
pale camels, stabbing the deserts in the throat.
حتىuntil استقادَsubmitted الفلاthe wastes فعادَthen began again عنِfrom الthe (split article)
حتى استقادَ الفلا فعادَ عنِ ال
عظامbones منهاof them الِلّحامُthe flesh يَكْفَؤهاturning it away
عظام منها الِلّحامُ يَكْفَؤها
Until the wastes yielded, then began stripping from the
camels' bones their flesh.
أَنجابُnoble sons of قومٍa people خدَتْsped بهمwith them نجبٌnoble camels
أَنجابُ قومٍ خدَتْ بهم نجبٌ
يسبقoutstrips طرفَthe glance of الفتىthe young man مبطؤهاtheir slowest
يسبق طرفَ الفتى مبطؤها
Noble sons of a people, borne swiftly by noble camels,
whose slowest outstrips a young man's glance.
سرواthey traveled by night بسفنin ships فيin البيدthe wastes مسبحهاtheir sailing ground
سروا بسفن في البيد مسبحها
وعندand beside شطيthe two banks of بغدادBaghdad مرفؤهاtheir anchorage
وعند شطي بغداد مرفؤها
They traveled by night in ships whose sailing ground was the desert,
and whose anchorage lay at Baghdad's two banks.
شامواthey spied علىfrom البُعدِafar للنّدىof bounty سُحُباًclouds
شاموا على البُعدِ للنّدى سُحُباً
كَفُّthe palm of عمادِImad الإسلامِal-Islam مَنْشَؤهاtheir origin
كَفُّ عمادِ الإسلامِ مَنْشَؤها
From afar they spied clouds of bounty,
whose source was the palm of Imad al-Islam.
فانتَجَعواso they sought العِزَّhonor فيon ذُراthe heights of مَلِكٍa king
فانتَجَعوا العِزَّ في ذُرا مَلِكٍ
عافوهthey sought his bounty فيin جّنّةٍa garden تَبَوَّؤهاthey settled in it
عافوه في جّنّةٍ تَبَوَّؤها
They sought honor on the heights of a king,
seeking his bounty in a garden they made their home.
وطَّأَhe smoothed أكنافَthe reaches of جُودهhis generosity لهمُfor them
وطَّأَ أكنافَ جُوده لهمُ
وخيرُand the best of أكنافِهمtheir refuges مُوَطَّؤهاthose made welcoming
وخيرُ أكنافِهم مُوَطَّؤها
He smoothed the reaches of his generosity for them;
the best of their refuges are those he makes welcoming.
مَولىًa lord غداbecame الدَوْلتانthe two states منbecause of عِظَمِthe greatness of الشْthe (split article)
مَولىً غدا الدَوْلتان من عِظَمِ الشْ
شَأْنrank وكُلٌّand each إليهin him مَلْجَؤهاhas its refuge
شَأْن وكُلٌّ إليه مَلْجَؤها
A lord of such great rank that the two states
each find their refuge in him.
يَوماهُhis two days يومٌa day للنَّيْلfor giving يَنضحُهhe showers it
يَوماهُ يومٌ للنَّيْل يَنضحُه
جُوداًgenerously ويومٌand a day للخيلِfor horses يَعبَؤهاhe marshals them
جُوداً ويومٌ للخيلِ يَعبَؤها
His days are two: a day of gifts, which he showers
generously, and a day for horses he marshals.
هامٌheads لِبيضٍof fair ones أضحىhe has become يُتوِّجُهاhe crowns them
هامٌ لِبيضٍ أضحى يُتوِّجُها
مُلْكاًwith kingship وهامٌand heads بالبيضِwith bright swords يَفْطَؤهاhe crushes them
مُلْكاً وهامٌ بالبيضِ يَفْطَؤها
The heads of fair ones he crowns
with sovereignty, and other heads he crushes with bright blades.
يُشرَعُis leveled فيin بَطْنِthe hollow of كَفِّهhis palm قَلمٌa pen
يُشرَعُ في بَطْنِ كَفِّه قَلمٌ
يَستَهْزِمُrouts الخَطْبَdisaster حينَwhen يَفْجَؤهاit takes it by surprise
يَستَهْزِمُ الخَطْبَ حينَ يَفْجَؤها
A pen is leveled in the hollow of his palm,
routing disaster whenever it surprises his hand.
إذاwhen ثلاثٌthree fingers تأثّفَتْهُbrace it like hearthstones لهfor him
إذا ثلاثٌ تأثّفَتْهُ له
لمnot يُخْشَis feared فيin المُشكلاتِdifficult affairs مَنْهَؤهاtheir failure
لم يُخْشَ في المُشكلاتِ مَنْهَؤها
When three fingers brace it like hearthstones for him,
their failure in difficult affairs is never feared.
وإنand if غَدتْit becomes بالنّوالِin generosity فائزةًtriumphant
وإن غَدتْ بالنّوالِ فائزةً
فلاthen no يَدٌhand للمَلامِof blame تَفْثَؤهاcan quell it
فلا يَدٌ للمَلامِ تَفْثَؤها
And when it triumphs in bestowing gifts,
no hand of censure can quell it.
عِينُa spring of سماحٍgenerosity يَطيبُis sweet مَنبعُهاits source
عِينُ سماحٍ يَطيبُ مَنبعُها
بُعْداًfar away وقُرْباًand near يَطيبُis sweet مَنْبؤهاits news
بُعْداً وقُرْباً يَطيبُ مَنْبؤها
A spring of generosity, sweet at its source,
whose tidings are sweet both far and near.
كُلُّall وفودِdelegations of الأنامِmankind واردُهاcome to its water
كُلُّ وفودِ الأنامِ واردُها
فماand none سِوىexcept عاذلٍa faultfinder مُحَلَّؤهاis driven from it
فما سِوى عاذلٍ مُحَلَّؤها
All mankind's delegations come to drink there;
none but a faultfinder is driven away.
قَرْمٌa noble chief نَماهbred him أعْلىَthe loftiest بُيوتِhouses of علاًglory
قَرْمٌ نَماه أعْلىَ بُيوتِ علاً
وُسّطَwas placed centrally فيin هاشمٍHashim مُبوّؤهاtheir dwelling
وُسّطَ في هاشمٍ مُبوّؤها
A chief sprung from the loftiest houses of glory,
whose dwelling stands in the heart of Hashim.
والزيّنبِيونَand the Zaynabids فيamong الملوكkings هُمُthey
والزيّنبِيونَ في الملوك هُمُ
بصَيْدat hunting وَحشِthe wild game of العلياءglory أبسَؤهاthe most accustomed
بصَيْد وَحشِ العلياء أبسَؤها
The Zaynabids among kings are
the most accustomed to hunting glory's wild game.
دَوحةُa spreading tree of مَجِدٍglory منbecause of فَرْطِthe utmost رِفعتِهاits loftiness
دَوحةُ مَجِدٍ من فَرْطِ رِفعتِها
كُلُّall بنىthe children of دَهْرِهاits age تَفَيَّؤهاseek its shade
كُلُّ بنى دَهْرِها تَفَيَّؤها
A spreading tree of glory, so lofty
that all the children of its age seek its shade.
آراؤهمtheir counsels عندin كُلِّevery نازلةٍcalamity
آراؤهم عند كُلِّ نازلةٍ
سهامُarrows of غَيبٍthe unseen لمnot تَخْشَyou fear تُخْطِؤهاtheir missing the mark
سهامُ غَيبٍ لم تَخْشَ تُخْطِؤها
Their counsels, in every calamity,
are arrows from the unseen, never feared to miss.
فمِنfor from لُبابthe essence of التّنزيلِRevelation مَنْبِتُهاtheir root
فمِن لُباب التّنزيلِ مَنْبِتُها
وفيand in حُجورthe laps of التآويلِinterpretations منْشؤهاtheir upbringing
وفي حُجور التآويلِ منْشؤها
Their roots lie in the essence of Revelation,
and they grew in the laps of its interpretations.
ثابتُsteadfast of جأْشٍheart عندin الحِفاظِdefending honor إذاwhen
ثابتُ جأْشٍ عند الحِفاظِ إذا
قلقَلَshakes نَفْسَthe soul of الجبَانِthe coward مَجشؤهاits surge of fear
قلقَلَ نَفْسَ الجبَانِ مَجشؤها
Steadfast of heart in defending honor, when
fear's upsurge unsettles the coward's soul.
إذاwhen رأتهُsees him عَينُthe eye of الحسودِthe envious one غداbecomes
إذا رأتهُ عَينُ الحسودِ غدا
سَناهُhis radiance مِثلَlike السِّنانthe spearhead يَفقؤهاpiercing it
سَناهُ مِثلَ السِّنان يَفقؤها
When the envious eye sees him,
his radiance becomes a spearhead that pierces it.
يَسهرُhe stays awake مُستَرقداًseeking sleep for رَعيَّتَهhis subjects
يَسهرُ مُستَرقداً رَعيَّتَه
بالعَدْلِthrough justice حتّىuntil يَقِرَّbecomes settled مّهْدَؤهاtheir repose
بالعَدْلِ حتّى يَقِرَّ مّهْدَؤها
He stays awake, seeking sleep for his subjects,
through justice, until their repose is undisturbed.
رَبَّhe nurtured البراياmankind كأنّهas though he ثقةٌconfident
رَبَّ البرايا كأنّه ثقةٌ
برَعْيهِin his care ماnot يَزالُceases يَبْرَؤهاcreating them
برَعْيهِ ما يَزالُ يَبْرَؤها
He nurtures mankind as though, confident
in his care, he were continually creating them.
شِراكُthe strap of نَعْلٍa sandal لهof his الهلالُthe crescent عُلاًin loftiness
شِراكُ نَعْلٍ له الهلالُ عُلاً
ماnot مِنany سماءheaven إلاexcept يُوَطَّؤهاhe is made to tread it
ما مِن سماء إلا يُوَطَّؤها
The crescent, in his loftiness, is his sandal strap;
there is no heaven he is not given to tread.
إنْif يَمضِpasses away منْthe one who قَبلَهwas before him فكمthen how many فُقدتْwere lost
إنْ يَمضِ منْ قَبلَه فكم فُقدتْ
نَفْسُa soul of كريمa noble man وساءَand grievous was مَرْزؤهاits loss
نَفْسُ كريم وساءَ مَرْزؤها
If his predecessor passes away, how often has been lost
a noble soul, whose loss was grievous.
فاسْعَدْso rejoice بأيامهِin his days فأحْرَىfor most deserving أياfavors of (first part)
فاسْعَدْ بأيامهِ فأحْرَى أيا
ديfavors of (completion) اللهGod مناّfrom us بالشُكرِof thanks أطْرؤهاtheir newest
دي الله مناّ بالشُكرِ أطْرؤها
Rejoice in his days: of God's favors, those most deserving
of our thanks are the newest.
إنْif يَكُthere is صُبْحٌa dawn مضىَthat has passed ففيthen in الأثَرِits wake الشْthe (split article)
إنْ يَكُ صُبْحٌ مضىَ ففي الأثَرِ الشْ
شَمسُsun بداappeared للعيونto the eyes مَرْجَؤهاits delayed rising
شَمسُ بدا للعيون مَرْجَؤها
If a dawn has passed, in its wake comes the
sun, whose delayed rising now appears to the eyes.
كذلكthus اللهُGod ذوpossessor of المَواهِبِgifts ماwhatever
كذلك اللهُ ذو المَواهِبِ ما
يَنْسَخُHe abrogates منof آيةٍa verse ويَنْسَؤهاand defers it
يَنْسَخُ من آيةٍ ويَنْسَؤها
Thus does God, the possessor of gifts: whatever
verse He abrogates and defers,
يأتِHe brings بَخْيرٍsomething better منهاthan it فَيقْصُرso falls short عنof
يأتِ بَخْيرٍ منها فَيقْصُر عن
مُعادِهاits renewal فيin الجلالِmajesty مُبْدَؤهاits first form
مُعادِها في الجلالِ مُبْدَؤها
He brings a better one, so that
its first form falls short of its renewal in majesty.
هُنِّئْتَهاmay you be congratulated on it رُتْبةًas a rank بِنَيِلِكَby your attaining إيْit (first part)
هُنِّئْتَها رُتْبةً بِنَيِلِكَ إيْ
ياهاit (completion) حَقيقٌdeserving منّاfrom us مُهنَّؤهاits congratulated recipient
ياها حَقيقٌ منّا مُهنَّؤها
May you be congratulated on a rank whose attainment
truly makes you worthy of our congratulations.
وزارةٌa vizierate تُشرِكُshares الخِلافةُthe caliphate فيin النْthe (split article)
وزارةٌ تُشرِكُ الخِلافةُ في النْ
نِسبةِlineage عالٍlofty فيamong النّجْمِthe stars مَربؤهاits lookout
نِسبةِ عالٍ في النّجْمِ مَربؤها
A vizierate sharing lineage with the caliphate,
its lookout high among the stars.
آخِرةٌlast فيin الزمانِtime سابقةforemost
آخِرةٌ في الزمانِ سابقة
فلاso not يَزلْmay cease رَبُّهاits lord يُمَلَّؤهاis granted enjoyment of it
فلا يَزلْ رَبُّها يُمَلَّؤها
Last in time, yet foremost;
may its lord ever be granted enjoyment of it.
لمnot يكُwas إبطاؤهاits delay بمنْقَصةٍa deficiency
لم يكُ إبطاؤها بمنْقَصةٍ
خيْرُthe best of النّبواتِprophethoods كانwas أبْطؤهاtheir latest
خيْرُ النّبواتِ كان أبْطؤها
Its delay was no deficiency:
the best of prophethoods was the latest.
دعاprayed إمامُthe imam of الهُدَىguidance بهاfor it فأتتْso came
دعا إمامُ الهُدَى بها فأتتْ
أسبابُهاits means مُسعِداًbringing aid مُهيَّؤُّهاtheir arranger
أسبابُها مُسعِداً مُهيَّؤُّها
The Imam of Guidance prayed for it, and there came
its means, their arranger bringing aid.
دُعاءَas the prayer of موسىMoses هارونَfor Aaron مُعتضِداًseeking support
دُعاءَ موسى هارونَ مُعتضِداً
بعُقْدةٍthrough a bond منهwith him شُدَّwas tightened مَحكَؤهاits fastening
بعُقْدةٍ منه شُدَّ مَحكَؤها
As Moses prayed for Aaron, seeking support
through a bond with him whose fastening was drawn tight.
ياO شَرَفَSharaf الدّينِal-Din دَعوةًa call ضمِنَتْguaranteed
يا شَرَفَ الدّينِ دَعوةً ضمِنَتْ
نهايةَthe utmost النُّجْحsuccess حينwhen يَبْدَؤهاone begins it
نهايةَ النُّجْح حين يَبْدَؤها
O Sharaf al-Din—a call that guarantees
the utmost success the moment one begins it.
كمhow many منof حُدودٍsharp edges علىagainst الزّمانِTime لناwe have
كم من حُدودٍ على الزّمانِ لنا
أصبحَnow بالقُربthrough nearness منكto you نَدْرؤهاwe thrust them forward
أصبحَ بالقُرب منك نَدْرؤها
How many keen edges we have against Time,
which, through nearness to you, we now thrust forward.
كمhow many وعَدتْنيpromised me فيكconcerning you المُنَىhopes عدةًa promise
كم وعَدتْني فيك المُنَى عدةً
قدalready آنit is time أنْthat يُجتلَىbe revealed مُخّبؤهاits hidden content
قد آن أنْ يُجتلَى مُخّبؤها
How many promises my hopes have made me concerning you,
whose hidden contents it is now time to reveal.
وكيفَand how أخشىcould I fear خُلْفاًa broken promise لِمَاof what وعدَتْthey promised
وكيفَ أخشى خُلْفاً لِمَا وعدَتْ
وأنتwhen you أوفىthe most faithful of الورىmankind وأملَؤهاand their most able to fulfill
وأنت أوفى الورى وأملَؤها
How could I fear their promises going unfulfilled,
when you are mankind's most faithful, and most able to fulfill them?
أصبحnow يُمناكyour right hand ليسnot يَرزؤهاdepletes it
أصبح يُمناك ليس يَرزؤها
فيamong النّاسpeople إلاexcept مَنone who ليسnot يَزرَؤهاdespises it
في النّاس إلا مَن ليس يَزرَؤها
Now your right hand is depleted
only by those among men who do not scorn it.
يَصفرُّturns yellow وجْهُthe face of النضارِgold يَرْهَبُهاfearing it
يَصفرُّ وجْهُ النضارِ يَرْهَبُها
صُفْرةَwith the yellowness of وَجْهِthe face of الحسودِthe envious man يشنَؤهاwho hates it
صُفْرةَ وَجْهِ الحسودِ يشنَؤها
Gold's face turns yellow in fear of it,
yellow as the face of the envious man who hates it.
فدامso may ever remain للاصفرَيْنfor the two yellow ones مُغْنيةًenriching
فدام للاصفرَيْن مُغْنيةً
كَفُّكyour palm فيamid نعمةblessing تَمَلَّؤهاyou enjoy it
كَفُّك في نعمة تَمَلَّؤها
May your palm ever enrich those two yellow ones,
amid blessings you enjoy,
ذاpossessed of دولةٍa state للهُدَىfor right guidance تُدبِرُهاyou govern it
ذا دولةٍ للهُدَى تُدبِرُها
وعيشةٍand a life فيamid العُلاloftiness تُهَنّؤهاyou enjoy it
وعيشةٍ في العُلا تُهَنّؤها
possessed of a state you govern for right guidance,
and a life of eminence you enjoy.
Sol 6.1