أأحبابَناO our beloved ones قدindeed شُقْتمُوناyou have made us yearn فأسْعِدواso grant solace
أأحبابَنا قد شُقْتمُونا فأسْعِدوا
ولاand do not تُجْمِعواcombine أنto تُسهِروناkeep us awake وتَرقُدواand sleep
ولا تُجْمِعوا أن تُسهِرونا وتَرقُدوا
O our beloved ones, you have made us yearn; now grant us solace.
Our beloveds have caused us so much anguish, so make us happy
Do not both keep us awake and sleep yourselves.
And do not decide to keep us up at night while you sleep
لقدindeed خيطَتِwere sewn shut الأجفانُthe eyelids منكمof yours علىupon الكرىsleep
لقد خيطَتِ الأجفانُ منكم على الكرى
وجَفْنيand my eyelid كحيلٌkohled بالظّلامِwith darkness مُسَهَّدkept sleepless
وجَفْني كحيلٌ بالظّلامِ مُسَهَّد
Your eyelids have indeed been sewn shut upon sleep,
My eyelids have certainly become sutured with grief over you
While my eyelid, kohled with darkness, is kept sleepless.
And my eyelid has become like kohl smeared in darkness
فلاso do not تَدَّعواclaim صِدْقَsincerity of الوفاءfidelity وإنّناand indeed we
فلا تَدَّعوا صِدْقَ الوفاء وإنّنا
لأيقاظُare surely wakeful لَيْلٍat night أنتمُyou فيهِin it هُجَّدasleep
لأيقاظُ لَيْلٍ أنتمُ فيهِ هُجَّد
Do not claim sincere fidelity, when we
So do not pretend to be truly faithful, for we
Are wakeful through a night in which you sleep.
Are awake during a night in which you are bundled up
ولاand do not تُنِكرواdeny حَقَّthe right of المَشوُقِthe yearning lover فإنّماfor indeed
ولا تُنِكروا حَقَّ المَشوُقِ فإنّما
لناfor us وعليكمand against you أنجمُthe stars of اللّيلِthe night تَشْهَدbear witness
لنا وعليكم أنجمُ اللّيلِ تَشْهَد
Do not deny the yearning lover his due, for
And do not deny the right of yearning, for indeed
The night's stars testify for us and against you.
For us and for you the stars of the night bear witness
بقَولكمُby your words العذْبِsweet اغتَررْنَاwe were deceived وفِعلُكمand your deeds
بقَولكمُ العذْبِ اغتَررْنَا وفِعلُكم
منthan النّجمِthe star يبدوappearing فيin ذُراthe heights of الأفْقِthe horizon أَبْعَدfarther away
من النّجمِ يبدو في ذُرا الأفْقِ أَبْعَد
We were deceived by your sweet words, while your deeds
With your sweet words we were deceived, yet your actions
Are farther away than the star appearing high on the horizon.
Appear farther than a star rising on the horizon
أَراناI see us سهاماًas arrows فيin الهوىlove وأَراكمُand I see you
أَرانا سهاماً في الهوى وأَراكمُ
حناياas bows فماso not تَدْنونyou draw near إلاّexcept لتُبْعِدواto drive away
حنايا فما تَدْنون إلاّ لتُبْعِدوا
In love I see us as arrows, and you
We see ourselves as arrows in love, and we see you
As bows: you draw near only to send us far away.
As shields, so you never draw near except to distance yourselves
أبِيتُI spend the night نَجِيَّthe confidant of الهَمِّsorrow فيin كُلِّevery ليلةٍnight
أبِيتُ نَجِيَّ الهَمِّ في كُلِّ ليلةٍ
كأنّas though بهاwithin it طَرْفِيmy eye طِرافٌa leather tent مُمَدَّدstretched out
كأنّ بها طَرْفِي طِرافٌ مُمَدَّد
Every night I spend as sorrow's intimate companion,
Every night I remain wakeful, grieved
As though my eye were a leather tent stretched out within it.
As if my eyelids on it are outstretched
فأهْدابُهso its eyelashes أطنابُهare its tent-ropes ونُجومُهاand its stars
فأهْدابُه أطنابُه ونُجومُها
وقدand indeed بِتْنَthey became by night أوتاداًpegs لُجَينٌsilver وعسجدand gold
وقد بِتْنَ أوتاداً لُجَينٌ وعسجد
Its lashes are its tent-ropes, and the night's stars,
So its pleats are folds, and its stars
Having become its pegs, are silver and gold.
Have spent the night like tent pegs hammered down
فنَوْمِيَso my sleep منfrom عَيْنيmy eye وقلبيand my heart منfrom الحشاthe breast
فنَوْمِيَ من عَيْني وقلبي من الحشا
وجسميand my body منfrom الأوطانِhomelands كُلٍّeach مُشرَّدdriven away
وجسمي من الأوطانِ كُلٍّ مُشرَّد
My sleep from my eye, my heart from my breast,
So my sleep is gone from my eyes, and my heart is gone from longing
And my body from its homeland—each is driven away.
And my body is gone from the homelands, each one banished
وهاجرةٍand a forsaking woman تَحْميscorches نَواهاher separation كوَصْفِهاas her epithet suggests
وهاجرةٍ تَحْمي نَواها كوَصْفِها
ويَنْدَىand grows dewy أصيلُthe late afternoon of الوَصْلِunion منهاwith her وَيبردand grows cool
ويَنْدَى أصيلُ الوَصْلِ منها وَيبرد
And a forsaking woman, whose separation scorches as her epithet suggests,
An emigrant protecting her intent as her description
While the late afternoon of union with her grows dewy and cool.
And the origin of union from her grows cold and lifeless
يُسافِرُjourneys طَرْفُthe gaze of العينthe eye حتّىuntil إذاwhen انتهىit reaches
يُسافِرُ طَرْفُ العين حتّى إذا انتهى
إلىto الوَجْهِthe face منهاof hers سافراًunveiled يتَقيّدis held captive
إلى الوَجْهِ منها سافراً يتَقيّد
The eye's gaze journeys until, when it reaches
My gaze travels until when it reaches
Her unveiled face, it is held captive.
Her face after traveling, it becomes constrained
تَعاكَسَتِreflected back and forth الأنوارُthe lights منfrom وَجهِthe face of غادةٍa graceful maiden
تَعاكَسَتِ الأنوارُ من وَجهِ غادةٍ
لهاhers الخَدُّthe cheek وَرْدٌa rose والخِمارُand the veil مُورَّدrose-tinted
لها الخَدُّ وَرْدٌ والخِمارُ مُورَّد
Lights reflect back and forth from a graceful maiden's face:
The lights were reflected from Ghada’s face
Her cheek is a rose, her veil rose-tinted.
For her is a cheek like a rose and a flushed veil
ولمand I did not أنسَهاforget her يومَthe day of النّوىparting ودموعُهاwhile her tears
ولم أنسَها يومَ النّوى ودموعُها
تَحدَّرُstream down والأنفاسُand the sighs منهاfrom her تَصعَّدrise up
تَحدَّرُ والأنفاسُ منها تَصعَّد
I have not forgotten her on the day of parting, her tears
And I did not forget her on the day of parting, and her tears
Streaming downward, while her sighs rose upward.
Flowed down while the sighs from her rose up
وجادand lavished لهاupon her جفنٌan eyelid كساclothed الخَدَّthe cheek دُرُّهits pearls
وجاد لها جفنٌ كسا الخَدَّ دُرُّه
وجِيدٌand a neck لهاof hers عارٍbare منof الدُّرpearls أجيدgracefully long
وجِيدٌ لها عارٍ من الدُّر أجيد
Her eyelid was lavish, its pearls clothing her cheek,
And her eyelid, which covered her cheek with its pearls, was generous
And her lovely long neck, bare of pearls, was lavish too,
And her neck, which was bare of pearls, was graceful
بعِقدَيْنِwith two necklaces عِقْدٍa necklace حَلَّsettled غيرَoutside محلِّهits proper place
بعِقدَيْنِ عِقْدٍ حَلَّ غيرَ محلِّه
وعِقْدٍand a necklace نظيمٍneatly strung حَلَّsettled منat حيثwhere يُعقَدit is tied
وعِقْدٍ نظيمٍ حَلَّ من حيث يُعقَد
With two necklaces: one resting outside its proper place,
With two necklaces, a necklace dissolved not in its place
And one neatly strung, resting where a necklace is tied.
And a strung necklace dissolved where it should be strung
فقلتُso I said لهاto her والعِيسُwhile the pale camels تُحدَيwere urged onward ودُرّهاand her pearls
فقلتُ لها والعِيسُ تُحدَي ودُرّها
تَشابَهَresembled one another منهamong them ماwhat يَذوبُmelts ويَجْمُدand solidifies
تَشابَهَ منه ما يَذوبُ ويَجْمُد
I said to her, as the pale camels were urged onward, and her pearls—
So I said to her while the Pleiades were setting, and her pearls
The melting and the solid alike—looked the same:
Resembled among them what melts and what solidifies
تَحلّىadorned itself المُحيّاthe face منكِof yours فيat جلوةِthe unveiling of النّوىparting
تَحلّى المُحيّا منكِ في جلوةِ النّوى
بذاكِwith that الّذيwhich منهwith it تَحلّىadorned itself المُقَلَّدthe necklace-bearing neck
بذاكِ الّذي منه تَحلّى المُقَلَّد
Your face, at separation's unveiling, has adorned itself
You have adorned your cheek in the severity of parting
With the very thing that adorns your neck.
With that with which the adorned one adorns himself
فقدfor indeed نهبَتْplundered صَبرِيmy patience منfrom الصَّدرthe breast مَوهناًlate at night
فقد نهبَتْ صَبرِي من الصَّدر مَوهناً
طليعةُthe vanguard of بَينٍparting جَالبٍbringing جيشَهits army الغَدthe morrow
طليعةُ بَينٍ جَالبٍ جيشَه الغَد
For, late in the night, my patience was plundered from my breast
So indeed the patience was plundered from my chest weakly
By the vanguard of a parting whose army the morrow would bring.
The vanguard of a separating army whose tomorrow is coming
وسالَand flowed أَبِيُّthe defiant الدمعِtears منّيfrom me صَبابةًfrom ardent longing
وسالَ أَبِيُّ الدمعِ منّي صَبابةً
فأصبحso became خَدِّيmy cheek منهfrom them وهْوwhile it was مُخَدَّدfurrowed
فأصبح خَدِّي منه وهْو مُخَدَّد
And my once-defiant tears flowed out of longing,
And the flowing tears poured down from me youthfully
Leaving my cheek furrowed by them.
So my cheek from it became wet and furrowed
وإنْand though يَحْكِresembles دَمْعيmy tears دَمعَهاher tears ببياضِهin their whiteness
وإنْ يَحْكِ دَمْعي دَمعَها ببياضِه
ومنand from تحتهِbeneath them نارُthe fire of الجوانحthe inner ribs تُوقَدis kindled
ومن تحتهِ نارُ الجوانح تُوقَد
Though my tears resemble hers in their whiteness,
And if my tear flows alongside her tear in its whiteness
Beneath them the fire within my ribs is kindled.
While beneath it the fire of my soul is kindled
فماfor not الدّمعُthe tears ليof mine ماءًwater منfrom العينِthe eye قاطراًdripping
فما الدّمعُ لي ماءً من العينِ قاطراً
ولكنّهbut it is قلْبٌa heart مُذابٌmelted مُصعَّدraised upward
ولكنّه قلْبٌ مُذابٌ مُصعَّد
My tears are not water dripping from my eye,
Then the tear is not to me water dripping from the eye
But a melted heart raised upward.
Rather, it is a melting heart rising up
إلىtoward رُؤيةِseeing الأحبابِthe beloved ones رامَsought تَطرُّقاًa way through
إلى رُؤيةِ الأحبابِ رامَ تَطرُّقاً
فؤادٌa heart غداcame to be منّيof mine لعينيّtoward my two eyes يَحسُدenvious
فؤادٌ غدا منّي لعينيّ يَحسُد
It sought a way to behold the beloved,
Yearning to see the beloved, my heart set out searching
A heart of mine that came to envy my two eyes.
So my inner self became envious of my eye
فأعمَلَso it set to work منهfrom itself الفكْرَthought حتّىuntil بداappeared لهto it
فأعمَلَ منه الفكْرَ حتّى بدا له
إليهمto them طريقٌa road فيthrough الدُّموعِtears مُعَبَّدpaved
إليهم طريقٌ في الدُّموعِ مُعَبَّد
It set its thought to work, until there appeared to it
It employed thought until a way to them appeared to it
A road to them, paved through tears.
A way made smooth in the tears
فماso it did not زالcease منهof it كلّماwhenever اشتاقَit yearned شُعبةٌa fragment
فما زال منه كلّما اشتاقَ شُعبةٌ
تَسلَّلُslips out منfrom حَبْسِthe prison of الضُّلوعِthe ribs فيصعدthen rises
تَسلَّلُ من حَبْسِ الضُّلوعِ فيصعد
So, whenever it yearned, a fragment of it kept
So a branch from it continues to slip out
Slipping from the ribs' prison and rising.
From the imprisonment of my ribs and ascend
تَغيّرَchanged فيin الدّنياthe world عُهودِيَmy familiar conditions كُلُّهاall of them
تَغيّرَ في الدّنيا عُهودِيَ كُلُّها
فلمso not يَبْقَremained كالمعهودِas formerly known منهنَّamong them مَعهَدa familiar haunt
فلم يَبْقَ كالمعهودِ منهنَّ مَعهَد
All the familiar conditions of my life have changed,
My covenants in life have all changed
And no familiar haunt remains as I once knew it.
So none remains as was promised, no pact kept
فمِنso of كلَفِيmy ardor لمnot يَبْقَremained إلاexcept تكَلُّفٌforced effort
فمِن كلَفِي لم يَبْقَ إلا تكَلُّفٌ
ومنand of جَلَديmy fortitude لمnot يَبْقَremained إلاexcept تَجلُّدfeigned endurance
ومن جَلَدي لم يَبْقَ إلا تَجلُّد
Of my ardor, nothing remains but forced effort,
Of my burdens, there remains only pretension
And of my fortitude, only a show of endurance.
And of my patience, only feigned patience stays
أرىI see بينَbetween أيّاميmy days وشَعْرِيَand my hair قدalready بداappeared
أرى بينَ أيّامي وشَعْرِيَ قد بدا
لتَعْجيلِto hasten إبلائيmy wearing out خِلافٌa disagreement مُجَدّدrenewed
لتَعْجيلِ إبلائي خِلافٌ مُجَدّد
I see, between my days and my hair, emerging
I see between my days and my hair, there has appeared
A renewed disagreement that hastens my decay.
For my quickening demise, again renewed contradiction
فقدfor indeed أصبحتْthey became سُوداًblack وشَعْرِيَand my hair أبيضٌwhite
فقد أصبحتْ سُوداً وشَعْرِيَ أبيضٌ
وعَهْدِيand my recollection بهاof them بِيضاًwhite وشَعْريَand my hair أسودblack
وعَهْدِي بها بِيضاً وشَعْريَ أسود
My days have turned black, while my hair is white,
For I have become black while my hair is white
Though I knew them white when my hair was black.
And my pact with her white while my hair black
عدَتْنيassailed me العواديcalamities ماnot كفَىit sufficed أنthat يُعينهاaid them
عدَتْني العوادي ما كفَى أن يُعينها
عليّagainst me أعادٍenemies ليof mine زمانُtime وحُسَّدand envious people
عليّ أعادٍ لي زمانُ وحُسَّد
Calamities assailed me; it did not suffice that they were helped
Misfortunes have done to me what was enough that they were aided
Against me by enemies of mine, time, and the envious,
Against me by eras that repeated tribulations against me
وخُوّانُand betrayers among إخوانٍbrothers وحاشاbut excepting كِرامَهمْtheir noble ones
وخُوّانُ إخوانٍ وحاشا كِرامَهمْ
وهمْwhile they حُضّرٌare present أَلْباًas a united force مَعwith الدّهرِfate حُشَّدmassed together
وهمْ حُضّرٌ أَلْباً مَع الدّهرِ حُشَّد
And treacherous brothers—save the noble among them—
And treacherous brothers—but far from their nobility—
All present, a massed host allied with fate.
While they were esteemed, banded with fate
وآثارُand traces of أغلالٍfetters تَوالَتْfollowed in succession فلمand did not تدَعْleave
وآثارُ أغلالٍ تَوالَتْ فلم تدَعْ
لدىamong النّاسِpeople آثاراًdeeds إلىuntil اليومِtoday تُحمَدare praised
لدى النّاسِ آثاراً إلى اليومِ تُحمَد
And the scars of successive fetters have left
And the traces of shackles succeeded until they left
No legacy among people that is praised to this day.
For people no celebrated traces to this day
وأصبَحَand now became ساداتيmy lords وقدand indeed شَطّتِcarried far النّوىseparation
وأصبَحَ ساداتي وقد شَطّتِ النّوى
بناwith us وبهمْand with them والدّارُwhile the dwelling تَدنوdraws near وَتَبْعُدand grows distant
بنا وبهمْ والدّارُ تَدنو وَتَبْعُد
As for my lords, separation has carried far
And my masters—after separation tore
Both us and them, while dwellings draw near and recede.
Us and them apart, and the house draws near then retreats—
متىwhenever ماat all أُرِدْI wish خَطْواًa step وخَطّاًand writing إليهمُto them
متى ما أُرِدْ خَطْواً وخَطّاً إليهمُ
عصانيdefied me فلاso no رجْلٌfoot تُطيعُobeys ولاand no يَدhand
عصاني فلا رجْلٌ تُطيعُ ولا يَد
Whenever I wish for steps or written lines to reach them,
When I desire a step or steps towards them
They defy me: neither foot nor hand obeys.
My legs disobey, and my hands do not comply
بُليتُI am worn out ولكنْbut ليI have ببغدادَin Baghdad صاحبٌa friend
بُليتُ ولكنْ لي ببغدادَ صاحبٌ
كريمٌgenerous إذاwhenever شاهَدْتُهI behold him أتجَدَّدI am renewed
كريمٌ إذا شاهَدْتُه أتجَدَّد
I am worn out, but in Baghdad I have a friend,
I have been tested, but in Baghdad I have a friend
Generous: whenever I behold him, I am renewed.
Noble, when I see him I am made anew
متىwhen أناI فيamong رَكْبٍriders يَحُجّونَmaking pilgrimage to بَيْتَهhis house
متى أنا في رَكْبٍ يَحُجّونَ بَيْتَه
وقدand indeed رَحلواthey departed قَصْداًbound for لهhim وتَزَوَّدواand took provisions
وقد رَحلوا قَصْداً له وتَزَوَّدوا
When shall I be among riders making pilgrimage to his house,
Whenever I am in a riding party and they perform
Having set out for him and taken their provisions?
Pilgrimage to his house, journeying purposefully to him and preparing
وقدand indeed علِمواthey knew الإحرامَritual consecration منamong شرطِهمtheir requirements فمِنso from
وقد علِموا الإحرامَ من شرطِهم فمِن
وسائلِهمْtheir means of approach إلاّexcept الرّجاءَhope تَجَرَّدواthey divested themselves
وسائلِهمْ إلاّ الرّجاءَ تَجَرَّدوا
Knowing that ritual consecration is required of them, they have
And they have known the ritual purity from their condition, so from
Divested themselves of every means of approach except hope.
Their means, they are stripped of all but hope
فسارِيهمُso their night traveler يَسْرِيtravels by night بضَوءِby the light of وَلائهِhis favor
فسارِيهمُ يَسْرِي بضَوءِ وَلائهِ
وحاديهمُand their camel-driver فيهconcerning him بمَدْحِيwith my praise يُغَرِّدsings
وحاديهمُ فيه بمَدْحِي يُغَرِّد
Their night traveler journeys by the light of his favor,
Their travel garments move with the light of his loyalty
And their camel-driver sings my praises of him.
And their guide among them sings my praises
لعلّيperhaps I منfrom الزّوراءal-Zawra أحظَىmay obtain بزَوْرةٍa visit
لعلّي من الزّوراء أحظَى بزَوْرةٍ
وعَوْدٍand a return إلىto عَهْدٍa former time بهاthere كنتI used to أَعهَدknow
وعَوْدٍ إلى عَهْدٍ بها كنت أَعهَد
Perhaps I may win a visit to al-Zawra,
Perhaps I will gain from Zawra’ a visit
And return to a life there that I once knew.
And a return to the pact with it I once kept
ويَقْضِيand may it ordain بتأييدٍwith support منfrom اللهِGod أنthat أرىI see
ويَقْضِي بتأييدٍ من اللهِ أن أرى
بهthere مَنْthe one who غداhas become للدّينِfor the faith وهْوand he is المؤَيَّدthe aided champion
به مَنْ غدا للدّينِ وهْو المؤَيَّد
And, with support from God, may it be ordained that I see
And fulfill by the victory of God that I see
There him who has become the faith's divinely aided champion.
Through it one who has become the supporter of the religion
صيامُthe fasting of الورىmankind شهرٌa month ودَهْرٌand an age عنِaway from الورىmankind
صيامُ الورى شهرٌ ودَهْرٌ عنِ الورى
إلىuntil أنْthat أراهُI see him صومِيَmy fasting المتَوكّدfirmly maintained
إلى أنْ أراهُ صومِيَ المتَوكّد
People fast for a month; from people, for an age,
The fasting of creation is a month, and an epoch away from creation
My steadfast fast lasts until I see him.
Until I see him, my confirmed fasting
ولاand no عِيدَfestival إلاّexcept يومthe day أغدُوI go forth وناظرِيand my gaze
ولا عِيدَ إلاّ يوم أغدُو وناظرِي
بوجْهِat the face of سديدِthe upright guide of الدّولَتَيْنِthe two states مُعَيِّدcelebrates the festival
بوجْهِ سديدِ الدّولَتَيْنِ مُعَيِّد
There is no festival but the day I go forth and my gaze
And no feast except the day I go early and my sights
Celebrates at the face of Sadid al-Dawlatayn.
Are upon the face of the Judge of the two abodes, celebrating
أمينِthe confidant of أميرِthe Commander of المؤمنينthe Faithful الذّيwhom اصطفَىhe chose
أمينِ أميرِ المؤمنين الذّي اصطفَى
وسهمِand the arrow of أميرِthe Commander of المؤمنينthe Faithful المُسدَّدwell-aimed
وسهمِ أميرِ المؤمنين المُسدَّد
The trusted man whom the Commander of the Faithful has chosen,
The Trustworthy of the Commander of the Faithful, whom He chose
And the well-aimed arrow of the Commander of the Faithful.
And the guided arrow of the Commander of the Faithful
جَموعِthe great gatherer of شتيتاتِscattered portions of العلاglory فإذاso when غداthere come to be
جَموعِ شتيتاتِ العلا فإذا غدا
أُلوفُthousands of العلاglories فيin واحدٍone man فهْوthen he is أوحدpeerless
أُلوفُ العلا في واحدٍ فهْو أوحد
Gatherer of scattered glories: when
The collected remnants of the eminent, so when
Thousands of glories unite in one man, he is peerless.
The thousands of the eminent become through one, he is the only one
يُعَدُّis counted عِياناًby sight واحداًas one وهْوyet he is أُمّةٌa whole nation
يُعَدُّ عِياناً واحداً وهْو أُمّةٌ
ويُصِبحُand he stands فيamong جَمْعthe whole assemblage of الورىmankind وهْوyet he is مُفْردunique
ويُصِبحُ في جَمْع الورى وهْو مُفْرد
To the eye he counts as one, yet he is a whole nation,
He is considered manifestly one, yet he is a nation
And amid all humanity he stands unique.
And he wakes in the gathering of creation, yet he is singular
لهhis are المأثُراتُhonorable deeds الباهراتُdazzling التيwhich غدَتْhave become
له المأثُراتُ الباهراتُ التي غدَتْ
تفَرَّثُare torn apart للحُسّادِfor the envious منهنّbecause of them أَكبُدlivers
تفَرَّثُ للحُسّادِ منهنّ أَكبُد
His are dazzling deeds of honor, from which
For him are the magnificent, dazzling feats which have become
The envious have their livers torn apart.
Fertile ground for the envious because of them
ففيfor in فَرْدِa single نَعْلٍhorseshoe تحتهbeneath him الطِّرْفُthe noble steed فانثنىand it curved
ففي فَرْدِ نَعْلٍ تحته الطِّرْفُ فانثنى
هلالاًinto a crescent بهby it الدّهرَthroughout time الشُّهورُthe months تُعَدَّدare counted
هلالاً به الدّهرَ الشُّهورُ تُعَدَّد
For a single horseshoe of the steed beneath him has curved
So in the sole of a slipper beneath which the new crescent
Into a crescent by which the months are counted through time.
Became for him through it the months of time enumerated
ومنهand from him الثُّريّاthe Pleiades وَطْؤُهُhis footprint أثّرتْleft a mark بهاupon them
ومنه الثُّريّا وَطْؤُهُ أثّرتْ بها
لهhis القَدمُfoot العلياءُlofty فيماas تَرَدَّدit moved to and fro
له القَدمُ العلياءُ فيما تَرَدَّد
And the Pleiades are his footprint, impressed upon them
And by his threading, his steps left their mark
By his lofty foot as it moved to and fro.
By which for him the supreme footstep wherever deliberated
وقدand indeed جرّhe dragged فوقَabove الأنجمِthe stars الذَّيلَthe hem جرّةًa sweep
وقد جرّ فوقَ الأنجمِ الذَّيلَ جرّةً
تَوشَّحهاgirded itself with it صرحُthe palace of السماءthe sky المُمَرَّدsmoothly built
تَوشَّحها صرحُ السماء المُمَرَّد
Above the stars he trailed his robe, leaving a sweep
And he dragged across the stars a train
That girded the smooth-built palace of heaven.
Which the celestial tower adorned itself with
صُوىًlandmarks نُصبَتْwere erected منهby him علىalong طُرُقِthe paths of العُلاglory
صُوىً نُصبَتْ منه على طُرُقِ العُلا
بهنّby them متىwhenever يَسترشِدِseek guidance القومُthe people يُرشَدواthey are guided
بهنّ متى يَسترشِدِ القومُ يُرشَدوا
Landmarks set up by him along the paths of glory,
Guiding pillars were erected from it upon the roads of eminence
By which, whenever people seek guidance, they are guided.
By them, when people seek guidance, they are guided
وكانتْand were وسيلاتُthe means of المقاصدِdestinations كُلِّهاall of them
وكانتْ وسيلاتُ المقاصدِ كُلِّها
خُطاthe strides of الخيلِhorses لاnot ينْأىَis distant عليهنّwith them مَقْصدa destination
خُطا الخيلِ لا ينْأىَ عليهنّ مَقْصد
Once the means of reaching every goal were
And the means to all purposes were
Horses' strides, with which no destination was distant,
The steps of horses, no purpose from them veers
وَسْيرٌand traveling علىupon أَثباجِthe backs of كُلِّevery نجيبةٍnoble she-camel
وَسْيرٌ على أَثباجِ كُلِّ نجيبةٍ
وخَطّارةٍand a swaying she-camel بالرِّجْلِwith the hind leg لليَدِafter the foreleg تَطْرُدpursues
وخَطّارةٍ بالرِّجْلِ لليَدِ تَطْرُد
And journeys on the backs of noble she-camels,
And a gait upon the carpets of each noble woman
And swaying she-camels, their hind feet chasing their forefeet,
And a trotting by foot to hand outpacing
وطِرْفٌand a noble steed هوthat is الرّيحُthe wind الّتيwhich كانwas مُجرِياًsetting in motion
وطِرْفٌ هو الرّيحُ الّتي كان مُجرِياً
سُليمانُSolomon إلاّexcept أَنّهthat it is مُتَجسِّدembodied
سُليمانُ إلاّ أَنّه مُتَجسِّد
And a steed that was the wind once set running
And a gaze which is the wind by which
By Solomon, except that it had taken bodily form.
Solomon once flowed, but embodied
فأصبحَso now منهfrom him اليومَtoday تُغنيdispense عنwith الخُطاfootsteps
فأصبحَ منه اليومَ تُغني عن الخُطا
خَواطرُthoughts منهاfrom them يَطلُعُrise الدّهرَthroughout time أَسعُدauspicious stars
خَواطرُ منها يَطلُعُ الدّهرَ أَسعُد
Today, instead of footsteps, he provides
So today through him songs make the steps forget
Thoughts from which auspicious stars rise forever.
Happy thoughts through them time rises above
يَبيتُspends the night بُراقُthe Buraq of الرَّأْيِjudgment منهof his وفكْرَهand his thought
يَبيتُ بُراقُ الرَّأْيِ منه وفكْرَه
بهupon it فيin سماءthe heaven of المُلْكِsovereignty يَسموsoars وَيصعَدand ascends
به في سماء المُلْكِ يَسمو وَيصعَد
At night, the Buraq of his judgment bears his thought,
The steed of enlightened opinion spends the night from him and its thought
Which soars and rises upon it through sovereignty's heaven.
By it ascends in the sky of the kingdom and climbs
وتُومِيand gestures لهfor him اليُمنىthe right hand إلىtoward قَلَمٍa pen لهof his
وتُومِي له اليُمنى إلى قَلَمٍ له
هوit is المَلْكُthe king والأقلامُand the pens أجمَعُall أَعبُدslaves
هو المَلْكُ والأقلامُ أجمَعُ أَعبُد
His right hand gestures toward a pen of his,
Good fortune stretches to him to a pen of his
A king, while all other pens are slaves.
Which is the possession and the pens altogether worship
سَريرٌa throne لهfor it فيin المُلْكِsovereignty أَسرارُthe secrets of كفِّهhis palm
سَريرٌ له في المُلْكِ أَسرارُ كفِّه
ففيهِso in it لأقلامِfor the pens of الورَىmankind تَتَعبّدsubmit in worship
ففيهِ لأقلامِ الورَى تَتَعبّد
The secrets of his palm are its royal throne,
He has a throne in the kingdom, secrets of his palm
Where mankind's pens submit in worship.
So in it for the pens of creation is devotion
لأمرِfor the command of أميرthe Commander of المؤمنينthe Faithful ونَهْيهِand his prohibition
لأمرِ أمير المؤمنين ونَهْيهِ
ترَىyou see الدّهرَthroughout time منهfrom it ناظراًwatching يتَرصَّدwaiting alertly
ترَى الدّهرَ منه ناظراً يتَرصَّد
For the Commander of the Faithful's commands and prohibitions,
For the order and prohibition of the Commander of the Faithful
You see it ever watching, on the alert.
You see time from it watching and waiting
ويَغْدوand it becomes لساناًa tongue نائباًdeputizing عنfor لسانِهhis tongue
ويَغْدو لساناً نائباً عن لسانِه
فيُصدِرُso it sends forth عنهfrom him ماwhatever يشاءُhe wishes ويُورِدand brings in
فيُصدِرُ عنه ما يشاءُ ويُورِد
It becomes a tongue deputizing for his tongue,
And it becomes a representative tongue for his tongue
Sending forth and bringing in whatever he wishes.
So from him it issues what he wills and presents
إذاwhen أَمَّit leads in prayer أقلامَthe pens of الورىmankind فأكفُّهمthen their palms
إذا أَمَّ أقلامَ الورى فأكفُّهم
مَحاريبُprayer niches والأقلامُand the pens فيهنّwithin them عُبَّدworshippers
مَحاريبُ والأقلامُ فيهنّ عُبَّد
When it leads mankind's pens in prayer, their palms
When he directs the pens of creation, and their palms
Are prayer niches, and the pens within them worshippers.
Are places of worship, and the pens in them worship
فأدمعُهمْso their tears خوفاًin fear مدىthroughout الدّهرِtime سُجَّمٌflowing
فأدمعُهمْ خوفاً مدى الدّهرِ سُجَّمٌ
وأرؤسُهمand their heads طوعاًwillingly مدَىthroughout الدّهرِtime سُجَّدprostrate
وأرؤسُهم طوعاً مدَى الدّهرِ سُجَّد
Their tears flow in fear throughout all time,
Their inkwells out of fear for the duration of time congealed
And their heads bow willingly throughout all time.
And their heads voluntarily for the duration of time bowed
لمُلْكِfor the rule of بنيthe sons of العبّاسِal-Abbas تَعْدوrace بهامِهاon their heads
لمُلْكِ بني العبّاسِ تَعْدو بهامِها
فيشْكُرُso rewards منهاfrom them السّعْيَthe striving مَلْكٌa king مُؤَيَّدdivinely aided
فيشْكُرُ منها السّعْيَ مَلْكٌ مُؤَيَّد
For the rule of the sons of al-Abbas they race upon their heads,
For the kingdom of the Abbasids coursing with their spiritedness
And a divinely aided king rewards their striving.
So for their effort a kingdom aided praises
أياO مَنyou who خلاemptied الدّنياthe world وسادand ruled رِجالُهاits men
أيا مَن خلا الدّنيا وساد رِجالُها
وماyet not كانتِwas الدّنياthe world خلَتْempty وهْوwhile he was سَيِّدa lord
وما كانتِ الدّنيا خلَتْ وهْو سَيِّد
O you who have emptied the world and ruled its men,
O you who emptied the world and dominated its men
Yet the world has never been empty while he is its lord.
And the world was not emptied while he was master
أتانيcame to me كتابٌa letter منكfrom you ضُمِّنَwas filled صَدْرُهits opening
أتاني كتابٌ منك ضُمِّنَ صَدْرُه
نفيسَprecious كلامٍspeech عندَهbeside it الدُّرُّpearls يَكْسُدlose their market
نفيسَ كلامٍ عندَه الدُّرُّ يَكْسُد
A letter came to me from you, its opening filled with
A letter has come to me from you in whose chest
Precious words beside which pearls lose their market.
Was set precious speech, beside which pearls pale
فمِنso from نَثرِهits prose فيهwithin it فرائدُmatchless pearls نُصَّعٌbrightly lustrous
فمِن نَثرِه فيه فرائدُ نُصَّعٌ
ومنand from نَظْمِهits verse فيِهwithin it أوابِدُrare marvels شُرَّدuntamed wanderers
ومن نَظْمِه فيِه أوابِدُ شُرَّد
In its prose are lustrous, matchless pearls,
So in its prose were exceptional uniquely crafted jewels
And in its verse, rare marvels that roam untamed.
And in its verse were wildly wandering treasures
تَحيَّرwas bewildered فيهby it ناظِريmy gaze ثُمَّthen خاطِريmy mind
تَحيَّر فيه ناظِري ثُمَّ خاطِري
وقدand indeed لاحshone forth ذاكَthat الجَوهرُjewel المُتَبَدِّدscattered
وقد لاح ذاكَ الجَوهرُ المُتَبَدِّد
My eye was bewildered by it, then my mind,
My eyes were confused by it, then my thoughts
As that scattered treasure of jewels shone forth.
When that essence scattered before me sparkled
ونَمْنَمand embroidered كافوراًcamphor بمِسْكٍwith musk فَطِيبُهso its fragrance
ونَمْنَم كافوراً بمِسْكٍ فَطِيبُه
إلىuntil اليومِtoday باقٍremains فيin يَدِيmy hand ليسdoes not يَنْفَدrun out
إلى اليومِ باقٍ في يَدِي ليس يَنْفَد
It embroidered camphor with musk; its fragrance
And it distilled camphor with musk, so its scent
Still lingers in my hand today, never exhausted.
To this day remains in my hand, inexhaustible
غرائبُmarvels خَطَّتْهاinscribed them لأكرمِfor the noblest كاتبٍscribe
غرائبُ خَطَّتْها لأكرمِ كاتبٍ
يَدٌa hand كلّماwhenever خَطّتْit wrote ثَنتْناdrew us back لهاtoward it يَدa favor
يَدٌ كلّما خَطّتْ ثَنتْنا لها يَد
Marvels inscribed by the noblest scribe's
Wonders traced by the pen of the most generous writer
Hand; whenever it wrote, a favor drew us back to it.
A hand which, whenever it writes, we praise it
بديعُan innovator in أساليبِthe forms of الكلامِspeech مُسلِّمٌconceded
بديعُ أساليبِ الكلامِ مُسلِّمٌ
لهto him بالمعانيin meanings والمعاليand lofty virtues التَّفرُّدuniqueness
له بالمعاني والمعالي التَّفرُّد
An innovator in the forms of speech, to whom is conceded
The unique in the styles of speech undisputedly surrender
Uniqueness in meanings and exalted virtues.
To him the meanings and the heights without parallel
فألفاظُهso his words طُرّاًall عُقودٌnecklaces جَميعُهاevery one of them
فألفاظُه طُرّاً عُقودٌ جَميعُها
وماand no فيamong مَعانيهِنَّtheir meanings مَعْنىًmeaning مُعقَّدknotted
وما في مَعانيهِنَّ مَعْنىً مُعقَّد
His words, all of them, are strung necklaces,
So its words are soaring knots, all of them
Yet not one of their meanings is knotted or obscure.
And in their meanings no meaning convoluted
وإنّيand I indeed وإنْeven though حاولْتُI attempted منهto it إجابةًan answer
وإنّي وإنْ حاولْتُ منه إجابةً
فأصبحتُso I became فيهover it حائراًbewildered أتَلَدَّدlooking helplessly around
فأصبحتُ فيه حائراً أتَلَدَّد
And I, though I sought to answer it,
And even if I attempted an answer
Became bewildered, looking helplessly this way and that,
I was bewildered by it, writhing
لكالمُتصَدِّيsurely like one undertaking أَنْto يكونَbe مُعارِضاًa rival
لكالمُتصَدِّي أَنْ يكونَ مُعارِضاً
لِمُعْجِزِهto what defeats his powers حتّىuntil عَراهُovertook him التَّبلُّدmental numbness
لِمُعْجِزِه حتّى عَراهُ التَّبلُّد
Like one who undertakes to match
For it is absurd for my expression to pretend
What defeats his powers, until numbness overtakes him.
To parallel its miraculous quality, so practiced
ولكنّنيbut I لمّاwhen رُميتُwas struck بنَظْرةٍby a glance
ولكنّني لمّا رُميتُ بنَظْرةٍ
وبالدُّرِّand with pearls طَبْعاًnaturally بَحْرُthe sea of فَضْلِكyour excellence يُزْبِدfoams
وبالدُّرِّ طَبْعاً بَحْرُ فَضْلِك يُزْبِد
But when I was struck by a glance,
But when I was pierced by a glimpse
While the sea of your excellence naturally foamed with pearls,
And the sea of your nobility—the essence of pearls—naturally foams
جعلْتُI made جوابيmy reply عنهto it منهُfrom it مُسارِقاًstealing a little
جعلْتُ جوابي عنه منهُ مُسارِقاً
وكمand how many سارقٍa thief بالقَطْعِwith amputation لاnot يُتَوَعَّدis threatened
وكم سارقٍ بالقَطْعِ لا يُتَوَعَّد
I made my reply to it by stealing a little from it—
I made my answer to it quoting from it
And how many thieves are not threatened with amputation!
And how many a thief is surely unpunished by the stolen
ولمand not يُرَwas seen قبليbefore me غائصٌa diver رَدَّreturned دُرَّهhis pearls
ولم يُرَ قبلي غائصٌ رَدَّ دُرَّه
علىto بَحْرِهhis sea خُلْقٌa habit لَهof his مُتعَوّدcustomary
على بَحْرِه خُلْقٌ لَه مُتعَوّد
Before me, no diver was seen returning his pearls
And none was seen before me, a diver who returned his pearl
To his sea—a practice familiar to him.
To its sea, a quality familiar to him
وماand not أدّعِيI claim أنّيthat I بإسماعِby uttering ظِنّةٍsomething suspect
وما أدّعِي أنّي بإسماعِ ظِنّةٍ
أروّجُpass off ليfor myself زَيْفاًcounterfeit ومثْلُكَwhile one like you يَنقُدassays
أروّجُ لي زَيْفاً ومثْلُكَ يَنقُد
I do not claim that, by uttering something suspect,
Nor do I claim to circulate for myself a counterfeit
I can pass off counterfeit while one like you assays it.
While one like you appraises
ولكنْbut مُوالاتيmy loyalty كأنيas though I أمِنْتُfelt safe أنfrom
ولكنْ مُوالاتي كأني أمِنْتُ أن
يُزَيِّفَهاdeeming it counterfeit نَقْدٌcriticism وعَهْدِيand my pledge المُوكِّدconfirmed
يُزَيِّفَها نَقْدٌ وعَهْدِي المُوكِّد
But my loyalty seems secure, I trust, against
But my allegiance is as if I believed
Scrutiny deeming it false—and so does my confirmed pledge.
That no test will falsify it, my pact confirmed
ومهماand whatever تَجُدْyou find منof مِدْحةٍpraise لكَof you قُلْتُهاI spoke it
ومهما تَجُدْ من مِدْحةٍ لكَ قُلْتُها
فجُودُكfor your generosity أندَىis more bountiful منهthan it حُسْناًin beauty وأجْودand more generous
فجُودُك أندَى منه حُسْناً وأجْود
Whatever praise of you you may find that I have spoken,
And whatever praise to you I have uttered
Your bounty surpasses it in beauty, abundance, and generosity.
Your generosity is more brilliant and bountiful
وكلُّand every طريفٍnewly acquired thing منof ثنائيmy praise ومُتْلَدٍand inherited thing
وكلُّ طريفٍ من ثنائي ومُتْلَدٍ
حَذاهُmatched it طريفٌsomething new منfrom نَداكyour bounty ومُتْلَدand something long-held
حَذاهُ طريفٌ من نَداك ومُتْلَد
And all my praise, whether new or long-established,
And each subtle witticism from my praise and birth
Is matched by your bounty, new and long-established.
Is matched by a subtle witticism from your bounty and birth
فياso O سَيّداًmaster ماno مثْلُlike سُؤدَدِهhis lordship اغتدَىever became
فيا سَيّداً ما مثْلُ سُؤدَدِه اغتدَى
لذيfor one possessing شَرَفٍnobility يوماًever منamong النّاسٍmankind سُؤدَدlordship
لذي شَرَفٍ يوماً من النّاسٍ سُؤدَد
O master, no lordship like yours has ever belonged
So O master, none has contended with his like
To any noble man among mankind.
For one of nobility one day among the people contended
أبوكyour father المُسمَّىnamed عبْدَservant of مَنْthe One أصبحَbecame اسمُهhis name
أبوك المُسمَّى عبْدَ مَنْ أصبحَ اسمُه
مدىthroughout الدّهرِtime وصْفاًa description لابْنِهof his son ليسnot يُجْحَدdenied
مدى الدّهرِ وصْفاً لابْنِه ليس يُجْحَد
Your father, named the servant of Him whose name became
Your father named Abdullah has become his name
An undeniable description of his son for all time,
For the duration of time a description of his son, undeniable
غداbecame ماجِداًnoble لولاwere it not for ابنُهhis son أنتyou لمnot يكنthere would be
غدا ماجِداً لولا ابنُه أنت لم يكن
إذاwhen عُدَّcounted فيamong كُلِall الورىmankind منهthan him أمجَدnobler
إذا عُدَّ في كُلِ الورى منه أمجَد
Was noble; were it not for you, his son, there would be none
He became glorious only because of your son, you
In all mankind who, when reckoned, was nobler than he.
For if counted in all creation, from him most glorious
فزانَso adorned عُلاًwith noble rank عبدُAbd الكريمِal-Karim مُحمّداًMuhammad
فزانَ عُلاً عبدُ الكريمِ مُحمّداً
وزادand increased عُلاin nobility عبدَAbd الكريمal-Karim مُحمّدMuhammad
وزاد عُلا عبدَ الكريم مُحمّد
Abd al-Karim adorned Muhammad with noble rank,
So the elevation of Abdul Karim Muhammad was adorned
And Muhammad increased Abd al-Karim's nobility.
And the elevation of Abdul Karim increased, Muhammad
ولمand not يَجتمْعever joined فيin الأفْقِthe horizon بَدْرٌa full moon وأنجمٌand stars
ولم يَجتمْع في الأفْقِ بَدْرٌ وأنجمٌ
كماas اجتَمعاthe two united للمرءin the man نَفْسٌcharacter وَمحْتِدand ancestry
كما اجتَمعا للمرء نَفْسٌ وَمحْتِد
No full moon and stars ever joined in the sky
And never in the horizon has a full moon and stars
As character and lineage have united in this man.
Gathered as they gathered for man, self and aspiration
وأعلَىand the highest of بنيthe sons of المُلْكِsovereignty ابْنُكyour son الأشرفُthe most noble الّذيwho
وأعلَى بني المُلْكِ ابْنُك الأشرفُ الّذي
غداhas become أنتyou فيهthrough him وهْوand he فيكthrough you مُحسَّدenvied
غدا أنت فيه وهْو فيك مُحسَّد
And highest among royal scions is your most noble son,
And your noblest son whom you became in him and he in you
Through whom you are envied, as he is through you.
United, raised the children of the kingdom, the most sublime
هلالُa crescent بُدورِfull moons التِّمّof completeness يَنقُصُdiminish عندَهُbeside him
هلالُ بُدورِ التِّمّ يَنقُصُ عندَهُ
وشِبْلُand a lion cub أسودِlions of الغابِthe forest عنهapart from him تَفَرُّدstand apart
وشِبْلُ أسودِ الغابِ عنه تَفَرُّد
A crescent beside whom the fullest moons are diminished,
Crescent moons diminish next to him
And a lion cub from whom the forest's lions stand apart.
And the cubs of black forest from him withdraw, isolated
فدُمْتَso may you live on لتَلْقَىto behold منamong بَنيهِhis sons قبائلاًtribes
فدُمْتَ لتَلْقَى من بَنيهِ قبائلاً
تَحُفُّsurround بناديكaround your assembly الشّريفِnoble وتَحفِدand hasten to serve
تَحُفُّ بناديك الشّريفِ وتَحفِد
May you live on to see whole tribes of his sons
So may you remain, facing from his sons tribes
Surrounding your noble assembly and hastening to serve.
That exalt your noble call and provoke zeal
ولاand may not زالcease فيamid الإطرابdelights عيشٌa life مُهنَّأٌpleasant
ولا زال في الإطراب عيشٌ مُهنَّأٌ
يَضُمُّgathers لكمfor you شَملاًunity ومُلْكٌand sovereignty مُخلَّدeverlasting
يَضُمُّ لكم شَملاً ومُلْكٌ مُخلَّد
And may a blessed life amid delights endure,
And may there continue rejoicing, a pleasant life
Keeping you united, along with an everlasting reign.
That gathers for you unity, and an undying kingdom
Sol 6.1