أَلَمّ صُبحاً وجَمْرُ الحَلْيِ قد بَرَدا

أَلَمّ صُبحاً وجَمْرُ الحَلْيِ قد بَرَدا

وقد بَدا يَخْطِفُ الأبصارَ مُتّقِدا

وقد بَدا يَخْطِفُ الأبصارَ مُتّقِدا

He came at dawn, when the embers of the jewels had cooled,

The morning dawned in pain, and the embers of my campfire had cooled,

yet they appeared ablaze, snatching every gaze.

When there appeared, igniting glances, one with burning embers.

فهل رأَتْ قَطُّ عينٌ قبل رُؤْيتِه

فهل رأَتْ قَطُّ عينٌ قبل رُؤْيتِه

جَمْراً به تَخْصَرُ الأيدي وما خَمَدا

جَمْراً به تَخْصَرُ الأيدي وما خَمَدا

Had any eye, before seeing him, ever seen

Had any eye before this sight ever seen

embers that chill the hands yet have not gone out?

Embers that scorched hands, yet did not diminish?

وافَى شبيهَ خيالٍ منه مُستَرِقاً

وافَى شبيهَ خيالٍ منه مُستَرِقاً

وفي جفوني خَيالٌ منه قد وَفدا

وفي جفوني خَيالٌ منه قد وَفدا

He came like a phantom of himself, stealing in,

An apparition of him stole to me like his image in my mind,

while a phantom of him had already visited my eyelids.

And in my eyelids came a specter of him that arrived unbidden.

واستَشخصَ الطّيفُ في عَيْني فقلتُ له

واستَشخصَ الطّيفُ في عَيْني فقلتُ له

أَفي كرىً زائري أم يقظةٍ قَصدا

أَفي كرىً زائري أم يقظةٍ قَصدا

The apparition took bodily form before my eye, and I asked him:

The phantom took shape before my eyes, so I asked it:

“Did my visitor come in sleep, or in wakefulness?”

“Does my frequent visitor come to me in a dream or waking?”

فقُمتُ للعينِ منّي ماسِحاً بيَدِي

فقُمتُ للعينِ منّي ماسِحاً بيَدِي

ولاثماً منه رِجْلاً تارةً ويدا

ولاثماً منه رِجْلاً تارةً ويدا

So I rose, wiping my eye with my hand,

I rose to touch the apparition, wiping it with my hand,

and kissing now his foot, now his hand,

At times embracing its leg, at others its hand.

مُغازِلاً لغزالٍ منه ذي غَيَدٍ

مُغازِلاً لغزالٍ منه ذي غَيَدٍ

منه غَزالُ الفلاةِ استَوهَب الغَيدا

منه غَزالُ الفلاةِ استَوهَب الغَيدا

flirting with the gazelle in him, possessed of swaying grace,

Caressing the gazelle of the wilderness that had come from him,

from whom the desert gazelle begged its grace.

The gazelle of the wilderness that had been granted grace.

وِشاحُه حاسِدٌ في خَصْرِه هَيَفاً

وِشاحُه حاسِدٌ في خَصْرِه هَيَفاً

والعِقْدُ في الجِيدِ منه يَحسُدُ الجَيدا

والعِقْدُ في الجِيدِ منه يَحسُدُ الجَيدا

His sash envies the slenderness of his waist,

Its cloak was jealous of the slimness of its waist,

and the necklace upon his neck envies that neck.

And the beads around its neck envied its necklace.

ذو عارِضٍ مُشرِقٍ يَفْتَرُّ عن بَرَدٍ

ذو عارِضٍ مُشرِقٍ يَفْتَرُّ عن بَرَدٍ

فَسمِّهِ إن أردتَ العارِض البَرَدا

فَسمِّهِ إن أردتَ العارِض البَرَدا

He has a radiant cheek that smiles to reveal hailstones;

With a shining cheek that puts the full moon’s face to shame,

so, if you wish, call him the hail cloud.

Name it “radiant cheek” if you wish to name the full moon.

مُضرَّجُ الخَدِّ إن قَرّبتَ مُقتَبِساً

مُضرَّجُ الخَدِّ إن قَرّبتَ مُقتَبِساً

من وجنَتَيْهِ سراجاً في الدُّجى وَقَدا

من وجنَتَيْهِ سراجاً في الدُّجى وَقَدا

His cheek is crimson; if, seeking a spark, you bring

When brought near, the rose-red of its cheeks

a lamp near his cheeks in the dark, it will blaze.

Would light a lamp in the darkness if lit from its cheeks.

فقلتُ يا بدرُ ما هذا الطُّروقُ لنا

فقلتُ يا بدرُ ما هذا الطُّروقُ لنا

ولا طريقَ أرى إلاّ وقد رُصِدا

ولا طريقَ أرى إلاّ وقد رُصِدا

I said, “O full moon, why this night visit to us,

I said, “O full moon, what is this sudden appearance to us,

when I see no road that is not watched?

When I see no path but that it has been watched?”

فكيف والحَيُّ أيقاظٌ مَررْتَ بهم

فكيف والحَيُّ أيقاظٌ مَررْتَ بهم

وما بدَوْتَ ونجمٌ لو سَرى لَبَدا

وما بدَوْتَ ونجمٌ لو سَرى لَبَدا

How did you pass them, while the tribe were awake,

“How did you pass by them while the people were awake,

unseen, though a star traveling by night would appear?”

Yet not appear, while any star that rose would show itself?”

فقال في ليلِ أصداغي خَفِيتُ سُرىً

فقال في ليلِ أصداغي خَفِيتُ سُرىً

فكان مَن هَبَّ بالوادي كَمنْ هَجَرا

فكان مَن هَبَّ بالوادي كَمنْ هَجَرا

He said, “I traveled hidden in the night of my sidelocks,

It replied, “I hid in the darkness of my cheeks by night,

so whoever stirred in the valley was as one who had departed.

So one who came down to the valley was like one who deserted.”

والحَيُّ قد أزمَعوا سَيْراً غداةَ غدٍ

والحَيُّ قد أزمَعوا سَيْراً غداةَ غدٍ

كُلٌّ أعدَّ له عَيْرانةً أُجُدا

كُلٌّ أعدَّ له عَيْرانةً أُجُدا

The tribe have resolved to travel tomorrow morning;

“The people made ready to travel at dawn tomorrow,

each has prepared a sturdy, strong-bodied she-camel.

Each one preparing mounts for himself.

والعِيس أعناقُها شَطْرَ الحُداةِ لها

والعِيس أعناقُها شَطْرَ الحُداةِ لها

ميْلٌ كأنّك بالحادي بها وخَدا

ميْلٌ كأنّك بالحادي بها وخَدا

The pale camels' necks, toward their chanting drivers,

The camel-litter’s necks incline tomorrow at first light,

incline; you would think their driver had already set them trotting.

As if their leader urges them onward.”

وليس يَعْشَقُ طولَ اللّيلِ ذو كَلَفٍ

وليس يَعْشَقُ طولَ اللّيلِ ذو كَلَفٍ

إلاّ إذا خَبَّروا أنّ الرّحيلَ غَدا

إلاّ إذا خَبَّروا أنّ الرّحيلَ غَدا

No passionate lover loves the length of night

“No enamored person stays up all night

unless they tell him departure comes tomorrow.”

Unless they are told the time of departure is tomorrow.”

وقال هذا وَداعي فاستَعِرْ جَزعاً

وقال هذا وَداعي فاستَعِرْ جَزعاً

من وَشْكِ فُرقتِنا أو فاستَعِرْ جَلَدا

من وَشْكِ فُرقتِنا أو فاستَعِرْ جَلَدا

He said, “This is my farewell: borrow anguish

It spoke these words and said, “Now show anguish at our imminent parting,

from our imminent parting—or borrow fortitude.”

Or show fortitude.” Then like a breath exhaled in haste,

وعاد كالنَّفَسِ المُرتَدِّ من سَرعٍ

وعاد كالنَّفَسِ المُرتَدِّ من سَرعٍ

والقومُ قد أخَذوا للرِّحلةِ العُدَدا

والقومُ قد أخَذوا للرِّحلةِ العُدَدا

He turned back like a breath returning in haste,

It returned while the people readied themselves for the journey,

while the people had taken up their equipment for the journey.

Passing the night conversing with cares and keeping vigil.

وَلَّى وفي الخَدِّ ما في العِقْدِ من دُرَرٍ

وَلَّى وفي الخَدِّ ما في العِقْدِ من دُرَرٍ

كأنّ ذائبَها في جِيدِه جَمَدا

كأنّ ذائبَها في جِيدِه جَمَدا

He turned away, with pearls on his cheek like those in his necklace,

It slipped away while its cheeks still held the pearls of its necklace,

as though their liquid had frozen on his neck.

As if their radiance in its cheek had frozen.

وقامَ يَعثُر في أذيالِهِ دنِفٌ

وقامَ يَعثُر في أذيالِهِ دنِفٌ

للإلْفِ والقَلْبِ منه راح مُفْتَقِدا

للإلْفِ والقَلْبِ منه راح مُفْتَقِدا

A lovesick man rose, stumbling in his trailing robes,

It left stumbling over its train, distressed and heartsick at parting,

bereft, as he went, of his beloved and his heart.

Turning back like a breath sharply inhaled.

صَبّ أقامَ وقد سارَتْ أحِبَّتُهُ

صَبّ أقامَ وقد سارَتْ أحِبَّتُهُ

يُسامِرُ الهَمَّ طولَ اللّيلِ والسُّهُدا

يُسامِرُ الهَمَّ طولَ اللّيلِ والسُّهُدا

An ardent lover stayed behind while his loved ones traveled on,

The dawn came, and its beloved ones had gone.

keeping company with sorrow and sleeplessness all night.

All night it conversed with sorrow and kept solitary vigil.

وَلْهانَ يبكي بماءٍ أَحمرٍ أَسَفاً

وَلْهانَ يبكي بماءٍ أَحمرٍ أَسَفاً

كأنّما هو من آماقِه فُصِدا

كأنّما هو من آماقِه فُصِدا

Distraught, he weeps red water in grief,

It wept red tears of sorrow, as if

as though he had been bled through the corners of his eyes.

Those tears had been squeezed from its innermost depths.

قَتيلَ عينَيْهِ أو عَينَيْ مُنَعَّمةٍ

قَتيلَ عينَيْهِ أو عَينَيْ مُنَعَّمةٍ

فليس يَعْلمُ مِمَّنْ يَطلُبُ القَودا

فليس يَعْلمُ مِمَّنْ يَطلُبُ القَودا

Slain by his own eyes—or the eyes of a pampered beauty—

Slain were its eyes, or the eyes of one enamored,

he does not know from whom to demand blood vengeance.

So it knew not whose death it sought vengeance for.

قد كنتُ أحسَبُ أنّي إن يَغِبْ سَكَني

قد كنتُ أحسَبُ أنّي إن يَغِبْ سَكَني

يوماً أَمُتْ خجَلاً إن لم أَمُتْ كَمَدا

يوماً أَمُتْ خجَلاً إن لم أَمُتْ كَمَدا

I used to think that, should my solace vanish

I used to think that if my solace ever left me one day,

for one day, I would die of shame if grief did not kill me.

I would die of shame if I did not die completely.

فقد تَدرَّبْتُ حتّى ما يُتَعْتِعُني

فقد تَدرَّبْتُ حتّى ما يُتَعْتِعُني

سُكْرُ الفِراقِ لِما قد راحَ بي وغَدا

سُكْرُ الفِراقِ لِما قد راحَ بي وغَدا

Yet I have grown practiced, until I am no longer unsettled

So I inured myself until parting’s intoxication no longer disturbs me,

by parting's intoxication, which has carried me off evening and morning.

Now that it has departed and left me.

فلستُ أخشَى عِثاراً في طريقِ نوىً

فلستُ أخشَى عِثاراً في طريقِ نوىً

لأنّني منه أغدو سالِكاً جَددا

لأنّني منه أغدو سالِكاً جَددا

I no longer fear stumbling on the road of separation,

I do not fear stumbling on the path of a new love,

for I go forth along it upon firm, level ground.

For I tread it anew every day.

أمِنْتُ من فُرْقةِ الاُّلاّفِ غَيبْتَها

أمِنْتُ من فُرْقةِ الاُّلاّفِ غَيبْتَها

فمِنْ عزاءٍ كسَوْتُ الصّدْرَ لي زَرَدا

فمِنْ عزاءٍ كسَوْتُ الصّدْرَ لي زَرَدا

I have grown secure against the absence brought by parting from companions;

I felt safe from the separation of intimacy once absence veiled it,

I have clothed my breast in chain mail made of consolation.

And from consolation I clothed my heart in armor.

عندي منَ الدّهرِ مالو أنّ أَهْونَه

عندي منَ الدّهرِ مالو أنّ أَهْونَه

يَغْشى الثُّريّا رأوا مجموعَها بَدَدا

يَغْشى الثُّريّا رأوا مجموعَها بَدَدا

I bear from time such suffering that, if its slightest portion

What I own of fate - if its least of it

befell the Pleiades, their cluster would be seen scattered.

Were seen heaped up by the noble - they would wish it scattered.

حَدٌّ يُكَلّفُني إقصاءهُ عُدَداً

حَدٌّ يُكَلّفُني إقصاءهُ عُدَداً

ولستُ مُمتلِكاً إحصاءه عَدَدا

ولستُ مُمتلِكاً إحصاءه عَدَدا

A sharp edge whose repelling demands equipment of me,

It burdens me to distance it, while I lack

yet I lack the power to tally its number.

The ability to enumerate it in number.

لو حَمَّلوا عِبْءَ قلبي مَتْنَ شاهقةٍ

لو حَمَّلوا عِبْءَ قلبي مَتْنَ شاهقةٍ

صارتْ طرائقَ من أقطارِها قِدَدا

صارتْ طرائقَ من أقطارِها قِدَدا

If they laid my heart's burden on a lofty mountain's back,

If the burden of my heart were loaded onto a towering caravan,

it would split into torn strips across its flanks.

Its routes would stretch from end to end of the earth.

قلبٌ من الهَمّ ما يعلو له نَفَسٌ

قلبٌ من الهَمّ ما يعلو له نَفَسٌ

كأنّما هو في أحشائهِ وُئدا

كأنّما هو في أحشائهِ وُئدا

A heart so burdened with sorrow that no breath rises from it,

A heart weighed down by cares from which no breath can rise,

as though that breath were buried alive in its depths.

As if suppressed and suffocated in its depths.

فالدّهرُ لولا بنوهُ وهو أقبَلَ في

فالدّهرُ لولا بنوهُ وهو أقبَلَ في

جَيشِ الحوادثِ لم أَشعُرْ به أَبَدا

جَيشِ الحوادثِ لم أَشعُرْ به أَبَدا

Were it not for time's sons, even as time advanced in

If not for fate's children, while it streamed forth

an army of calamities, I would never feel its presence.

In a surge of afflictions, I'd never feel it at all.

عَبِيدُ صَوْتٍ وسَوْطٍ يَملِكانِهمُ

عَبِيدُ صَوْتٍ وسَوْطٍ يَملِكانِهمُ

لو أصبح البُخْلُ شَخصاً فيهمُ عُبِدا

لو أصبح البُخْلُ شَخصاً فيهمُ عُبِدا

Slaves of voice and whip, which both rule them;

They are slaves of voice and whip whose master is anger.

if miserliness became a person among them, it would be worshiped.

If greed gained human form, it would be worshipped by them.

يا مَنْ يظَلُّ خطيبُ القومِ يَجمَعُهم

يا مَنْ يظَلُّ خطيبُ القومِ يَجمَعُهم

حتّى إذا حَلَّ خطْبٌ كان مُنْفَرِدا

حتّى إذا حَلَّ خطْبٌ كان مُنْفَرِدا

O you whose people's orator keeps gathering them,

O you whose sermon assembles the people until,

only to stand alone when calamity arrives:

When danger draws near, you stand alone!

خُضْ وقعةَ الدّهرِ خَوضاً غيرَ هائبِها

خُضْ وقعةَ الدّهرِ خَوضاً غيرَ هائبِها

فما غَنيمتُها إلاّ لمَنْ شَهِدا

فما غَنيمتُها إلاّ لمَنْ شَهِدا

plunge fearlessly into time's battle,

Face the days of fate undaunted by their tumult,

for its spoils belong only to those who take part.

For the only gains are to those who witness.

كم تَقطَعُ العُمْرَ حِلْفاً للشّقاء كذا

كم تَقطَعُ العُمْرَ حِلْفاً للشّقاء كذا

وكم تُكابِدُ هَمّاً يَقْرَحُ الكَبِدا

وكم تُكابِدُ هَمّاً يَقْرَحُ الكَبِدا

How long will you spend your life thus, allied with misery,

How many times you've sworn allegiance to misery itself!

and how long endure sorrow that ulcerates the liver?

How much anguish you've endured, corrupting the liver!

وما السّعادةُ إلاّ مطْلَبٌ أمَمٌ

وما السّعادةُ إلاّ مطْلَبٌ أمَمٌ

مَن قال أَسعَدُ مأْمولي فقد سَعِدا

مَن قال أَسعَدُ مأْمولي فقد سَعِدا

Happiness is only a goal close at hand:

Joy is but a hoped-for prize. One who says,

whoever says, “As'ad is my hope,” has already found happiness.

“My hopes have brought me joy” has found joy.

شهابُ الشُّهْبُ مَرْآها له أَبَداً

شهابُ الشُّهْبُ مَرْآها له أَبَداً

من العُلُوِّ كمَرآنا لها بُعُدا

من العُلُوِّ كمَرآنا لها بُعُدا

Shihab—to him the meteors always appear,

The shooting star's mirror is its sublime ascent,

from his lofty height, as distant as we appear to them.

Seen from afar like a mirror's reflected gleam.

سُدٌّ لمملكةِ السّلطانِ فِكْرتُهُ

سُدٌّ لمملكةِ السّلطانِ فِكْرتُهُ

وماله منه سُدٌّ لا يُعَدُّ سُدى

وماله منه سُدٌّ لا يُعَدُّ سُدى

His thought is a bulwark for the sultan's realm,

A bulwark for the kingdom is his deliberation,

and his wealth a bulwark for it, never reckoned wasted.

While his assets are a barrier than cannot be crossed.

إجالةُ الرّأيِ منه رايةٌ رفِعَتْ

إجالةُ الرّأيِ منه رايةٌ رفِعَتْ

وخَطّةُ السّطْرِ منه جَيشٌ احْتَشَدا

وخَطّةُ السّطْرِ منه جَيشٌ احْتَشَدا

His turning of judgment is a banner raised,

The sagacity of his view is a banner raised aloft,

and his written stroke is an army massed.

And the line of his prose a massed army on the field.

ليثُ الكتابةِ أو ليثُ الكتيبةِ مَن

ليثُ الكتابةِ أو ليثُ الكتيبةِ مَن

طلبْتَ في بُرْدهِ لم تَعْدُ أن تَجِدا

طلبْتَ في بُرْدهِ لم تَعْدُ أن تَجِدا

A lion of writing or a lion of the battalion—whichever

He is the lion of literature or the lion of the armed forces.

you seek beneath his cloak, you will surely find.

Seek as you will in his cold resolve, you'll find no slackening.

ما بالْقَنا عَسَلانٌ في أكفِّهمُ

ما بالْقَنا عَسَلانٌ في أكفِّهمُ

من خوفِ أقلامِه تُبدي القنا رِعَدا

من خوفِ أقلامِه تُبدي القنا رِعَدا

The spears' motion in their palms is no mere sway:

With their pens, the scribes’ fingers shed their claws in fear

from fear of his pens, the spears display their trembling.

As he straightens the quills of the state with justice.

متوِّجُ الكُتْبِ في طُغْرى يُنَمِّقُها

متوِّجُ الكُتْبِ في طُغْرى يُنَمِّقُها

تاجاً به الكُتْبُ تَستَعْلِي إذا عُقِدا

تاجاً به الكُتْبُ تَستَعْلِي إذا عُقِدا

He crowns documents with the tughra he embellishes,

He crowns books with excellence upon his ascent to heights,

a crown that raises the documents in rank once fastened.

The books made lofty by his crown once placed upon them.

قَوْساً وسَهْماً معاً يُمسى مَجازُهما

قَوْساً وسَهْماً معاً يُمسى مَجازُهما

حقيقةً في حَشا المُخْفِي له حَسَدا

حقيقةً في حَشا المُخْفِي له حَسَدا

A bow and an arrow together: their metaphor becomes

His metaphor is both bow and arrow, and in the thick of battle,

reality in the breast of whoever hides envy of him.

It is reality shot from the concealed quiver of his envy.

تَبْرِي أناملُه الأظفارَ من قَصَبٍ

تَبْرِي أناملُه الأظفارَ من قَصَبٍ

مقوِّماً من قناةِ الدّولةِ الأَوَدا

مقوِّماً من قناةِ الدّولةِ الأَوَدا

His fingertips whittle claws from reeds,

His fingers trim the reeds into pens,

straightening the crooked shaft of the state.

Straightening the channels of the state into right channels.

لا غَرو إن صالَ في يُمْنَى يدي أَسَدٍ

لا غَرو إن صالَ في يُمْنَى يدي أَسَدٍ

ما ضَمّ غابُ اللّيالي مِثْلَهُ أَسَدا

ما ضَمّ غابُ اللّيالي مِثْلَهُ أَسَدا

No wonder it charges in the right hand of a lion;

No wonder that, lodged in the grip of his right hand,

the forest of nights has held no lion his equal.

Is a lion the nights' thickets have not bundled like it!

لَعزَّما منه قد يُهدَي لأنمُلِه

لَعزَّما منه قد يُهدَي لأنمُلِه

مُشَجِّعٌ نبتُهُ في الغَيْضةِ الأَسَدا

مُشَجِّعٌ نبتُهُ في الغَيْضةِ الأَسَدا

Precious indeed is what is given from it to his fingertips:

He possesses a firmness nurtured in the heat of resolve

its growth in the thicket emboldens lions.

That bends the bodies of foes and splits heads with its sword.

له يَراعٌ يُراعُ الدّارعون له

له يَراعٌ يُراعُ الدّارعون له

يَثْني مُتون الأعادي والقَنا قِصَدا

يَثْني مُتون الأعادي والقَنا قِصَدا

He has a reed pen that terrifies armored men,

A blossom - when they rode, they were stars guiding the way,

bending foes' backs and breaking spears into pieces.

Yet when angered, they were shooting stars of destruction.

وغُرُّ خَيلٍ عليها غُرُّ أغلِمةٍ

وغُرُّ خَيلٍ عليها غُرُّ أغلِمةٍ

تَرْدِي فَتَرْدَى إذا ما مارِدٌ مَرُدا

تَرْدِي فَتَرْدَى إذا ما مارِدٌ مَرُدا

White-blazed horses bear bright-faced youths;

Steadfast on their horses in the fury of battle, their offspring

they gallop, then fall, whenever a rebel rebels.

Seem born in the stirrups, so naturally did they ride.

زُهْرٌ إذا ركبوا كانوا نجومَ هُدىً

زُهْرٌ إذا ركبوا كانوا نجومَ هُدىً

حتّى إذا غَضِبوا كانوا رُجومَ رَدى

حتّى إذا غَضِبوا كانوا رُجومَ رَدى

Radiant, when they ride they are stars of guidance,

O you whose heart dwells in your courtyard endlessly,

until, angered, they become missiles of death.

Whether my person draws near or remains far!

ثَبْتٌ على الخيلِ في الهَيْجا وليدُهُم

ثَبْتٌ على الخيلِ في الهَيْجا وليدُهُم

كأنّه في سَراةِ الطِّرفِ قد وُلِدا

كأنّه في سَراةِ الطِّرفِ قد وُلِدا

Even their youngest is steady on horseback in battle,

God knows that since I left your presence,

as though born upon the back of a noble steed.

Loyalty to our covenant has not clothed my ears with rings

يا عاكفاً لم يَزْل قلبي بساحتهِ

يا عاكفاً لم يَزْل قلبي بساحتهِ

إنْ كان شَخْصي دنا في الأرضِ أو بَعُدا

إنْ كان شَخْصي دنا في الأرضِ أو بَعُدا

O abiding one, my heart has never left your courtyard,

Or any word but news of you, arriving from your region.

whether my body was near or far upon the earth.

The best outcome for one in life is to gain praise.

قد يَعلَمُ اللهُ مذْ فارقْتُ حضْرتَه

قد يَعلَمُ اللهُ مذْ فارقْتُ حضْرتَه

أنّ الولاءَ على العَهْدِ الّذي عَهِدا

أنّ الولاءَ على العَهْدِ الّذي عَهِدا

God knows that, ever since I left his presence,

And why should I not wish an easy life for one by whom

my loyalty remains true to the covenant he knew.

I live an easy life? How often I say:

لم تَلْبِسِ القُرْطَ أُذْني قَطُّ من كَلِمٍ

لم تَلْبِسِ القُرْطَ أُذْني قَطُّ من كَلِمٍ

إلاّ إذا خَبرٌ من شَطْرِه وَرَدا

إلاّ إذا خَبرٌ من شَطْرِه وَرَدا

My ear has never worn an earring of words,

“My Lord, grant long life to the one for whom

save when news arrived from his direction:

You created spirit, making the world its body.”

بأنّ عُقْبَى الّتي قد أقبلَتْ حُمِدتْ

بأنّ عُقْبَى الّتي قد أقبلَتْ حُمِدتْ

وخيرُ عُقْبَى امرئ في الدّهرِ ما حُمِدا

وخيرُ عُقْبَى امرئ في الدّهرِ ما حُمِدا

that the outcome of what had come to pass was praised;

“Grant us well-being through a ruler by whom we can live,

and a man's best outcome in time is what earns praise.

And grant him success through triumph and help.”

وكيف لا أتمنّى عيشةً رغَداً

وكيف لا أتمنّى عيشةً رغَداً

لمَنْ به صِرْتُ أُزجِي عيشةً رغَدا

لمَنْ به صِرْتُ أُزجِي عيشةً رغَدا

How could I not wish a life of ease

He who does not elevate my estate in my dwelling

for him through whom I came to live in ease?

Sees all I own as some of what he grants.

كم قلتُ يا رب هَبْ طولَ البقاء لمَنْ

كم قلتُ يا رب هَبْ طولَ البقاء لمَنْ

خلَقْتَه الروحَ معنىً والورى جَسَدا

خلَقْتَه الروحَ معنىً والورى جَسَدا

How often I have said, “Lord, grant long life to him

How often, when one greets me with congratulations

whom You made the spirit in essence, and mankind the body.

Upon my wearing some new garment, I say to him:

أعِشْ لنا سالماً مَولىً نَعيشُ به

أعِشْ لنا سالماً مَولىً نَعيشُ به

وأحْيِه هو بأْسا في الورى ونَدى

وأحْيِه هو بأْسا في الورى ونَدى

Keep safe for us a lord through whom we live,

“He renews what the days of my life have ruined—

and keep him alive as mankind's valor and generosity.”

One who says ‘Wear out and renew’ did not say ‘Perish and fade.’”

مَن لم أُجِلْ مُقلتي في مَنزلي نَظَراً

مَن لم أُجِلْ مُقلتي في مَنزلي نَظَراً

إلاّ أرى كُلَّ مالي بعضَ ما رفَدا

إلاّ أرى كُلَّ مالي بعضَ ما رفَدا

One for whom I never turn my eye around my home

So God gives life to religion and world eternally,

without seeing all I own as part of what he bestowed.

Or extends the life of all time.

كم قلتُ للمَرْء يَلْقاني يُهنّئُني

كم قلتُ للمَرْء يَلْقاني يُهنّئُني

لَمّا لَبِستُ جديداً وهْو منه جَدا

لَمّا لَبِستُ جديداً وهْو منه جَدا

How often I told a man who met and congratulated me,

He made obedient saints who are shields

when I wore something new, a gift from him:

Against evil and enemies made ransoms of them.

هو المُجدِّدُ ما أَفنَى مدى عُمُري

هو المُجدِّدُ ما أَفنَى مدى عُمُري

مَن قال أَبْلِ وجَدّدْ لم يقُلْ فَنَدا

مَن قال أَبْلِ وجَدّدْ لم يقُلْ فَنَدا

“He renews what the span of my life has worn away;

A people whose ambition is to benefit all people,

whoever said, ‘Wear it out and renew it,’ spoke no nonsense.”

And those who rightly elevate when they rise high.

فاللهُ للدّينِ والدُّنيا مُعَمِّرُه

فاللهُ للدّينِ والدُّنيا مُعَمِّرُه

عُمْرَ الزّمانِ جميعاً أو أَمَدَّ مَدى

عُمْرَ الزّمانِ جميعاً أو أَمَدَّ مَدى

May God prolong his life for faith and the world

Leave Quran recital to people who judge therewith—

for the whole lifetime of time, or a still longer span,

If you believe in judging by the Quran.

وجاعِلُ الأولياءِ الطّائعين له

وجاعِلُ الأولياءِ الطّائعين له

من الرّدى والأعادي الرّاغمين فِدى

من الرّدى والأعادي الرّاغمين فِدى

and make the allies who obey him,

Recite! For God has guaranteed the Quran's survival,

along with his humbled foes, a ransom against death.

And whoever fulfills what he promises is truest to his vow.

قَوْمٌ تُناطُ بنَفْعِ النّاسِ همَتُه

قَوْمٌ تُناطُ بنَفْعِ النّاسِ همَتُه

ومَن بحقٍّ سَما لمّا سَما صُعُدا

ومَن بحقٍّ سَما لمّا سَما صُعُدا

A people whose ambition is tied to benefiting mankind,

What benefits people remains eternal for them,

and one who rose rightfully when he rose to the heights.

While what is superficial rises and passes like foam.

دعِ القِرانَ لقومٍ يَحكمون به

دعِ القِرانَ لقومٍ يَحكمون به

إن كنتَ للحُكْمِ بالقُرآنِ مُعتَقدا

إن كنتَ للحُكْمِ بالقُرآنِ مُعتَقدا

Leave planetary conjunctions to those who judge by them,

So take it here, smiling like a meadow,

if you believe in judging by the Qur'an.

With pearls arrayed as a necklace and spears fixed straight.

واقرأْ فقد ضَمِن اللهُ البقاءَ له

واقرأْ فقد ضَمِن اللهُ البقاءَ له

ومَنْ مِنَ اللهِ أَوفَى بالّذي وعدا

ومَنْ مِنَ اللهِ أَوفَى بالّذي وعدا

Read, for God has guaranteed him lasting life,

It matters not that you are no shooting star

and who is truer than God to what He promised?

If I liken you to shooting stars in my recital.

ما ينفَعُ النّاسَ يَبْقَى ماكثاً لهمُ

ما ينفَعُ النّاسَ يَبْقَى ماكثاً لهمُ

وذاهبٌ زائلٌ ما يَرتَقي زبَدا

وذاهبٌ زائلٌ ما يَرتَقي زبَدا

What benefits people remains, abiding for them;

If you are no shooting star, you rise

what rises as froth passes away and vanishes.

By one whose ascension lifts those who do not rise.

فهاكَها فِقَراً كالرّوضِ مُبتَسماً

فهاكَها فِقَراً كالرّوضِ مُبتَسماً

والعِقْدِ منتظماً والرُمْحِ مُطّرِدا

والعِقْدِ منتظماً والرُمْحِ مُطّرِدا

So take these passages, smiling like a garden,

A star of faith that fills those who watch it with joy—

ordered like a necklace, straight like a spear.

If those gone astray kohl their eyes with its radiance.

ما ضَرّ أن لم تكن سيّارةً شُهُباً

ما ضَرّ أن لم تكن سيّارةً شُهُباً

مادُمْتُ أَقرِضُها سَيّارةً شُرُدا

مادُمْتُ أَقرِضُها سَيّارةً شُرُدا

What harm if they are not wandering meteors,

A gleam and ablution - when you behold its rising,

so long as I compose them as wandering, far-flung verses?

It gives the world, from its first light, dew and guidance.

إن لم تكن شُهُباً في نَفْسِها طَلَعَتْ

إن لم تكن شُهُباً في نَفْسِها طَلَعَتْ

ففي مَنِ الشهْبُ لا يَصعِدْن ما صَعِدا

ففي مَنِ الشهْبُ لا يَصعِدْن ما صَعِدا

If they have not risen as meteors in themselves,

Whenever a pen flows praising it, it brings back

they praise one whose ascent the meteors cannot match:

Goods of merit for them, renewed perpetually.

شهابُ دينٍ يُسَرُّ النّاظرون به

شهابُ دينٍ يُسَرُّ النّاظرون به

إن يَكْتحِلْ بسَناهُ مَنْ غَوى رَشدا

إن يَكْتحِلْ بسَناهُ مَنْ غَوى رَشدا

Shihab of the Faith, a delight to all who behold him;

If they gain insights from its wisdom, they light

if one astray anoints his eyes with his radiance, he finds guidance.

A torch of gratitude to God that lasts forever.

نَوْءٌ وضَوءٌ إذا عايَنْتَ طَلْعتَه

نَوْءٌ وضَوءٌ إذا عايَنْتَ طَلْعتَه

فلِلورَى من مُحَيّاهُ ندىً وهُدى

فلِلورَى من مُحَيّاهُ ندىً وهُدى

A rain-bearing star and a light: when you behold his countenance,

O you whose hand, when extended, does not cease

mankind receives dew and guidance from his face.

Perusing a book or imparting wisdom's radiance!

حَبْرٌ متى أنفذَتْ في مَدْحِه عُصَبٌ

حَبْرٌ متى أنفذَتْ في مَدْحِه عُصَبٌ

بضائعَ الفَضلِ يَردُدْها لهم جُدُدا

بضائعَ الفَضلِ يَردُدْها لهم جُدُدا

A scholar: whenever bands send forth in his praise

Dividing its benevolence between the two realms of its sight,

wares of excellence, he returns them freshly renewed.

Never seen as blameworthy in its life.

إذا استفادُوا لُهاً من عِنده اقْتَبسوا

إذا استفادُوا لُهاً من عِنده اقْتَبسوا

نهىً تكون على شُكرِ اللُّها مَدَدا

نهىً تكون على شُكرِ اللُّها مَدَدا

When they gain gifts from him, they also draw

Think not eternity beyond reach

wisdom that helps them give thanks for those gifts.

For one who ties convention to gratitude ever striving.

يا مَن يَمُدُّ يَداً ما إن يَزالُ بها

يا مَن يَمُدُّ يَداً ما إن يَزالُ بها

مُطالِعاً في كتابٍ أو يُفيدُ نَدى

مُطالِعاً في كتابٍ أو يُفيدُ نَدى

O you who stretch forth a hand, never ceasing with it

He accompanies time with never-ending life

to study a book or bestow bounty,

Who couples generosity with exertion.

مُقسِّماً بين إحسانَيهِ ناظِرَهُ

مُقسِّماً بين إحسانَيهِ ناظِرَهُ

ما إن يُرَى لائماً في عُمرِه أبَدا

ما إن يُرَى لائماً في عُمرِه أبَدا

dividing your gaze between your two benefactions,

No glory was tripled when the intellect relied

never in your life seen reproaching anyone:

Upon the two pillars of thought and remembrance.

لا تَحسبَنَّ خلودَ الدّهرِ مُمتَنِعاً

لا تَحسبَنَّ خلودَ الدّهرِ مُمتَنِعاً

مَن ناط عُرْفاً بعِرفانٍ فقد خَلَدا

مَن ناط عُرْفاً بعِرفانٍ فقد خَلَدا

do not deem immortality through time impossible.

Thought on the past makes you feel

Whoever joins kindness to knowledge has already become immortal.

As if you lived in those bygone ages.

يُعايشُ الدّهرَ عيشاً لا انقضاءَ له

يُعايشُ الدّهرَ عيشاً لا انقضاءَ له

مَن يَقُرنُ الفَضلَ بالإفضالِ مُجتَهدا

مَن يَقُرنُ الفَضلَ بالإفضالِ مُجتَهدا

He lives alongside time a life without end—

While remembrance, among surviving nations, puts you

the man who diligently joins excellence with generosity.

As if not lost to them when gone from them.

الفِكُر والذِكُر لم يُثلِثْهُما شرفٌ

الفِكُر والذِكُر لم يُثلِثْهُما شرفٌ

إذا اللّبيبُ على رُكنَيهما اعتَمَدا

إذا اللّبيبُ على رُكنَيهما اعتَمَدا

Thought and remembrance have no third distinction beside them,

Only in this way, my friend, acquire

when the wise man relies upon their twin pillars.

Meaning in the words of men, "Live forever!"

بالفِكر في سِيَر الماضينَ تَحْسَبه

بالفِكر في سِيَر الماضينَ تَحْسَبه

كأنّما عاش فيهم تِلكُم المُدَدا

كأنّما عاش فيهم تِلكُم المُدَدا

Through pondering the lives of those gone before, you deem him

to have lived among them through those ages;

والذّكْرُ في الأمَمِ الباقين يَجعلُه

والذّكْرُ في الأمَمِ الباقين يَجعلُه

كأنّه غيرُ مفقودٍ إذا فقِدا

كأنّه غيرُ مفقودٍ إذا فقِدا

and remembrance among the peoples who remain makes him

seem not lost even after he is gone.

وليس إلاّ على ذا الوجْهِ فاقتَنِه

وليس إلاّ على ذا الوجْهِ فاقتَنِه

مَعنىً يَصِحُّ لقَول النّاسِ عِشْ أبدا

مَعنىً يَصِحُّ لقَول النّاسِ عِشْ أبدا

Only in this sense—so grasp it—

is there truth in people's saying, “Live forever.”