شُغلانِtwo preoccupations مِنfrom عَذلِreproach وَمِنand from تَفنيدِcharges of folly
شُغلانِ مِن عَذلِ وَمِن تَفنيدِ
وَرَسيسِand a lingering trace of حُبٍّlove طارِفٍnew وَتَليدِand old-established
وَرَسيسِ حُبٍّ طارِفٍ وَتَليدِ
Two preoccupations: reproach and charges of folly,
Lovelorn young men in the throes of longing and languishing,
and the lingering trace of love, both new and old.
Smitten by ardent love and consumed by yearning,
وَأَماand indeed وَأَرآمِand by white gazelles الظِباءِthe gazelles لَقَدindeed نَأَتwent far away
وَأَما وَأَرآمِ الظِباءِ لَقَد نَأَت
بِهَواكَwith your love أَرآمُwhite gazelles الظِباءِthe gazelles الغيدِslender-necked
بِهَواكَ أَرآمُ الظِباءِ الغيدِ
Indeed, by the white gazelles, far away have gone
As for the white gazelles, your love has made
the slender-necked white gazelles, bearing your love with them.
The white gazelles waste away in agony.
طالَعنَthey came upon غَوراًa lowland مِنof تِهامَةَTihama وَاِعتَلىand rose high
طالَعنَ غَوراً مِن تِهامَةَ وَاِعتَلى
عَنهُنَّabove them رَملاthe two sandy tracts of عالِجٍʿAlij وَزَرودِand Zarud
عَنهُنَّ رَملا عالِجٍ وَزَرودِ
They came upon a lowland of Tihama, while above
They ascended the slopes of Tihama then climbed
them rose the sands of ʿAlij and Zarud.
The sand dunes of ‘Alīj, rugged and rocky terrain,
لَمّاwhen مَشَينَthey walked بِذيat Dhu الأَراكِal-Arak تَشابَهَتwere alike
لَمّا مَشَينَ بِذي الأَراكِ تَشابَهَت
أَعطافُcurves of قُضبانٍboughs بِهِin it وَقُدودِand slender figures
أَعطافُ قُضبانٍ بِهِ وَقُدودِ
When they walked at Dhu al-Arak, alike were
When they walked by Dhī Al-’Arāk, they swayed gently
the curves of its boughs and their slender figures.
Like slender twigs bent by the breeze.
فيin حُلَّتيtwo robes of حِبرٍstriped cloth وَرَوضٍand meadow فَاِلتَقىso there met
في حُلَّتي حِبرٍ وَرَوضٍ فَاِلتَقى
وَشيانِtwo patterns وَشيُembroidery of رُباًhills وَوَشيُand embroidery of بُرودِcloaks
وَشيانِ وَشيُ رُباً وَوَشيُ بُرودِ
In two robes of striped cloth and meadow, there met
In their dresses of ink and meadows they met;
two patterns: the hills' embroidery and the cloaks'.
A she-camel mingled with a stallion camel in rut.
وَسَفَرنَand they unveiled فَاِمتَلَأَتso were filled عُيونٌeyes راقَهاdelighted them
وَسَفَرنَ فَاِمتَلَأَت عُيونٌ راقَها
وَردانِtwo kinds of roses وَردُroses of جَناًwhat is gathered وَوَردُand roses of خُدودِcheeks
وَردانِ وَردُ جَناً وَوَردُ خُدودِ
And they unveiled, and eyes were filled, delighted by
When they set out their eyes brimmed over
two kinds of roses: gathered roses and roses of cheeks.
With dewdrops and rose gardens and rosy cheeks.
وَضَحِكنَand they laughed فَاغتَرَفَso drew a draught الأَقاحيthe daisies مِنfrom نَدىًdew
وَضَحِكنَ فَاغتَرَفَ الأَقاحي مِن نَدىً
غَضٍّfresh وَسَلسالِand a clear-flowing stream of الرِضابِsaliva بَرودِcool
غَضٍّ وَسَلسالِ الرِضابِ بَرودِ
And they laughed, and the daisies drew their fill from dew,
They laughed and the goblets sipped the dew
fresh, and from the cool, clear-flowing stream of saliva.
Of their soft lips and pearl necklaces so cool.
نَرجوwe hope for مُقارَبَةَnearness to الحَبيبِthe beloved وَدونُهُand between us and him
نَرجو مُقارَبَةَ الحَبيبِ وَدونُهُ
وَخدٌa swift camel-pace يُبَرِّحُinflicts suffering بِالمَهارىon the Mahri camels القودِthe long-necked
وَخدٌ يُبَرِّحُ بِالمَهارى القودِ
We hope to draw near the beloved, but barring the way is
We long to be near the beloved, though his cheek
a swift march that torments the long-necked Mahri camels.
Would slay the enamored with its deadly sparks.
وَمَتىand when يُساعِدُناfavors us الوِصالُunion وَدَهرُناand our time
وَمَتى يُساعِدُنا الوِصالُ وَدَهرُنا
يَومانِtwo days يَومُa day of نَوىًseparation وَيَومُand a day of صُدودِrejection
يَومانِ يَومُ نَوىً وَيَومُ صُدودِ
And when will union favor us, when our time is
When will union assist us when our days are
two days: a day of separation and a day of rejection?
A day of intent and a day blocked by refusal?
طَلَبَتsought أَميرَCommander of المُؤمِنينَthe Faithful رِكابُناour riding camels
طَلَبَت أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ رِكابُنا
مِنfrom مَنزَعٍa starting-place لِلطالِبينَfor seekers بَعيدِdistant
مِن مَنزَعٍ لِلطالِبينَ بَعيدِ
Our riding camels sought the Commander of the Faithful
We sought the Commander of the Faithful though his threshold
from a starting-place far distant for seekers.
Is far for seekers to attain.
فَالخِمسُso the five-day span بَعدَafter الخِمسِthe five-day span يَذهَبُpasses away عِرضُهُits whole extent
فَالخِمسُ بَعدَ الخِمسِ يَذهَبُ عِرضُهُ
فيin سَيرِهاtheir travel وَالبيدُand deserts بَعدَafter البيدِdeserts
في سَيرِها وَالبيدُ بَعدَ البيدِ
So five-day span after five-day span is spent in full
Loss after loss wears away its honor
in their travel, and desert follows desert.
As it travels on while ruin after ruin comes to pass.
نَجلوwe dispel بِغُرَّتِهِwith his radiant brow الدُجىthe darkness فَكَأَنَّناso it is as though we
نَجلو بِغُرَّتِهِ الدُجى فَكَأَنَّنا
نَسريwe travel by night بِبَدرٍwith a full moon فيthrough الدَآديthe month's final nights السودِblack
نَسري بِبَدرٍ في الدَآدي السودِ
We dispel the darkness with his radiant brow, as though we
By his veil he cloaked the darkness so it was as if
traveled with a full moon through the month's black final nights.
We were travelling by the full moon in the black valleys.
حَتّىuntil وَرَدناwe came to drink at بَحرَهُhis sea فَتَقَطَّعَتso were cut off
حَتّى وَرَدنا بَحرَهُ فَتَقَطَّعَت
غُلَلُburning pangs of الظَماthirst عَنthrough بَحرِهِhis sea المَورودِvisited for water
غُلَلُ الظَما عَن بَحرِهِ المَورودِ
Until we reached his sea, and there were quenched
Until we arrived at his sea and the shackles of gloom
the burning pangs of thirst, at his sea to which we had come.
Were severed from his abundant, flowing sea.
فيin حَيثِwhere يَعتَصِرُpresses out النَدىgenerosity مِنfrom عودِهِits stem
في حَيثِ يَعتَصِرُ النَدى مِن عودِهِ
وَيُرىand is seen مَكانُthe seat of السُؤدُدِnobility المَنشودِsought-after
وَيُرى مَكانُ السُؤدُدِ المَنشودِ
Where one presses generosity from its very stem,
Where the sap is pressed from his fragrant wood
and the seat of sought-for nobility is seen.
And the place of the beloved goal is visible.
عَجِلٌswift إِلىtoward نُجحِsuccess of الفَعالِdeeds كَأَنَّماas though
عَجِلٌ إِلى نُجحِ الفَعالِ كَأَنَّما
يُمسيcomes to evening عَلىwith وِترٍa score to avenge مِنَagainst المَوعودِwhat was promised
يُمسي عَلى وِترٍ مِنَ المَوعودِ
Swift to bring deeds to success, as though
Swift to accomplish the deed as if
at evening he had a score to settle with what he promised.
He will fulfil his promise this very eve.
يَعلوhe rises بِقَدرٍwith a rank فيin القُلوبِhearts مُعَظَّمِrevered
يَعلو بِقَدرٍ في القُلوبِ مُعَظَّمِ
أَبَداًforever وَعِزٍّand glory فيin النُفوسِsouls جَديدِnew
أَبَداً وَعِزٍّ في النُفوسِ جَديدِ
He rises in rank revered within hearts,
He is eternally exalted in hearts and renewed glory
forever, and in glory ever fresh within souls.
In souls forever dignified.
فيon هَضبَةِthe high plateau of الإِسلامِIslam حَيثُwhere تَكامَلَتbecame complete
في هَضبَةِ الإِسلامِ حَيثُ تَكامَلَت
أَنصارُهُhis supporters مِنin عُدَّةٍequipment وَعَديدِand numbers
أَنصارُهُ مِن عُدَّةٍ وَعَديدِ
On Islam's high plateau, where complete are
On the plateau of Islam where his supporters united
his supporters in equipment and in numbers.
From all tribes and clans.
مُتَرادِفينَfollowing in succession عَلىat سُرادِقِthe pavilion of أَغلَبٍa mighty lion
مُتَرادِفينَ عَلى سُرادِقِ أَغلَبٍ
تَعنوbows لَهُto him نَظَرُthe gaze of المُلوكِkings الصيدِthe proud
تَعنو لَهُ نَظَرُ المُلوكِ الصيدِ
Thronging in succession at a mighty lion's pavilion,
Crowding his pavilion, their eyes fixed
before whom the proud kings lower their gaze.
On the king of hunters.
جَوٌّan open expanse إِذاwhen رُكِزَare planted القَناthe spears فيin أَرضِهِits soil
جَوٌّ إِذا رُكِزَ القَنا في أَرضِهِ
أَيقَنتَyou were certain أَنَّthat الغابَthe thicket غابُa thicket of أُسودِlions
أَيقَنتَ أَنَّ الغابَ غابُ أُسودِ
An expanse where, when spears are planted in its soil,
An atmosphere, when the spear is fixed in its earth,
you are certain the thicket is a thicket of lions.
You know the jungle is a black lion.
وَإِذاand when السِلاحُthe weapons أَضاءَgleamed فيهِin it حَسِبتَهُyou thought it
وَإِذا السِلاحُ أَضاءَ فيهِ حَسِبتَهُ
بَرّاًland تَأَلَّقَglittered فيهِin it بَحرُa sea of حَديدِiron
بَرّاً تَأَلَّقَ فيهِ بَحرُ حَديدِ
And when weapons gleam there, you would think it
And when the swords shine bright in it you’d think it
a land where a sea of iron glitters.
A land whose sea is raging with steel.
وَمُدَرَّبينَand seasoned men عَلىfor اللِقاءَcombat يَشُفُّهُمwears them thin
وَمُدَرَّبينَ عَلى اللِقاءَ يَشُفُّهُم
شَوقٌlonging إِلىfor يَومِthe day of الوَغىbattle المَوعودِpromised
شَوقٌ إِلى يَومِ الوَغى المَوعودِ
And seasoned in combat, worn thin
His trained warriors are consumed with longing
by longing for the promised day of battle.
For the day of battle promised to come.
لَحِقَتovertook خُطاهُhis footsteps الخالِعينَthose renouncing allegiance وَأَثقَبَتand pierced
لَحِقَت خُطاهُ الخالِعينَ وَأَثقَبَت
عَزَماتُهُhis resolves فيinto الصَخرَةِthe rock الصَيخودِhard and massive
عَزَماتُهُ في الصَخرَةِ الصَيخودِ
His footsteps overtook the rebels, and piercing
His steps overtook those who rebelled and his resolve
the hard, unyielding rock were his resolves.
Pierced the flinty boulders.
وَرَمىand assailed سَوادَthe host of الأَرمَنينَthe Armenians وَقَدwhen already عَداrampaged
وَرَمى سَوادَ الأَرمَنينَ وَقَد عَدا
فيin عُقرِthe heart of دارِهِمِtheir homeland قُدارُQudar ثَمودِThamud
في عُقرِ دارِهِمِ قُدارُ ثَمودِ
And he assailed the Armenian host, when already there had rampaged
He attacked the darkness of the Armenians after he raided
in the heart of their homeland a Qudar of Thamud.
The settlements of Thamūd in their homeland.
فَغَدَواso they became حَصيداًa harvest لِلسُيوفِfor the swords تَكُبُّهُمtopple them
فَغَدَوا حَصيداً لِلسُيوفِ تَكُبُّهُم
أَطرافُهُنَّtheir tips وَقائِماًand standing كَحَصيدِlike the reaped
أَطرافُهُنَّ وَقائِماً كَحَصيدِ
So they became a harvest for the swords, felled
So they became prey for the swords that harvest them
by their tips; and the standing were like the reaped.
With their blades while they stand like the harvested crop.
أَحياrevived الخَليفَةُthe caliph جَعفَرٌJa'far بِفَعالِهِthrough his deeds
أَحيا الخَليفَةُ جَعفَرٌ بِفَعالِهِ
أَفعالَthe deeds of آباءٍfathers لَهُof his وَجُدودِand forefathers
أَفعالَ آباءٍ لَهُ وَجُدودِ
The caliph Ja'far revived, through his deeds,
Ja‘far revived through his actions the deeds
the deeds of his fathers and forefathers.
Of ancestors of his, men of merit.
تَتَكَشَّفُunfold الأَيّامُthe days مِنfrom أَخلاقِهِhis character
تَتَكَشَّفُ الأَيّامُ مِن أَخلاقِهِ
عَنabout هَديِguidance of مَهدِيٍّMahdi وَرُشدِand sound judgment of رَشيدِRashid
عَن هَديِ مَهدِيٍّ وَرُشدِ رَشيدِ
The days disclose, from his character,
Through his character time reveals
Mahdi's guidance and Rashid's sound judgment.
The guidance of Mahdī and wisdom of the rightly guided.
وَلَهُand he has وَراءَbehind المُذنِبينَthe offenders وَدونَهُمand before them
وَلَهُ وَراءَ المُذنِبينَ وَدونَهُم
عَفوٌpardon كَظِلِّlike the shade of المُزنَةِthe raincloud المَمدودِoutstretched
عَفوٌ كَظِلِّ المُزنَةِ المَمدودِ
And he has, behind the offenders and before them,
Behind and before the sinful he has
a pardon like the outstretched shade of a raincloud.
Forgiveness like the shade of the outstretched tent
وَأَناةُand deliberation of مُقتَدِرٍa powerful man تُكَفكِفُrestrains بَأسَهُhis might
وَأَناةُ مُقتَدِرٍ تُكَفكِفُ بَأسَهُ
وَقَفاتُpauses of حِلمٍforbearance عِندَهُin him مَوجودِpresent
وَقَفاتُ حِلمٍ عِندَهُ مَوجودِ
And the patience of a powerful man: his might is checked
And the forbearance of the Almighty that curbs his might
by pauses of forbearance present in him.
And the patience found with him and present.
أَمسَكنَthey preserved مِنsome of رَمَقِthe last breath of الجَريحِthe wounded man وَرُمنَand sought أَنto
أَمسَكنَ مِن رَمَقِ الجَريحِ وَرُمنَ أَن
يُحيينَthey revive مِنsome of نَفسِthe life of القَتيلِthe slain man الموديthe dead
يُحيينَ مِن نَفسِ القَتيلِ المودي
They preserved the wounded man's last breath, and sought to
He withheld the dying breath and refused
restore life to the slain man who had perished.
To revive the soul of his slain enemy.
حاطَsafeguarded الرَعِيَّةَthe subjects حينَwhen ناطَentrusted أُمورُهاtheir affairs
حاطَ الرَعِيَّةَ حينَ ناطَ أُمورُها
بِثَلاثَةٍto three بَكَرواthey came early وُلاةَheirs to عُهودِsuccession covenants
بِثَلاثَةٍ بَكَروا وُلاةَ عُهودِ
He safeguarded the people when he entrusted their affairs
He protected the flock when he appointed as heirs
to three who early became heirs apparent.
Three faultless leaders.
قُدّامَهُمbefore them نورُthe light of النَبِيِّthe Prophet وَخَلفَهُمand behind them
قُدّامَهُم نورُ النَبِيِّ وَخَلفَهُم
هَديُthe guidance of الإِمامِthe imam القائِمِthe reigning المَحمودِthe praiseworthy
هَديُ الإِمامِ القائِمِ المَحمودِ
Before them is the Prophet's light, and behind them
Before them the light of the Prophet, behind them
the guidance of the reigning, praiseworthy imam.
The guidance of the rightly guided Imam.
لَنwill not يَجهَلَfail to know الساريthe night-traveler المَحَجَّةَthe clear highway بَعدَafter ماthat
لَن يَجهَلَ الساري المَحَجَّةَ بَعدَ ما
رُفِعَتwere raised لَناfor us مِنهُمfrom among them بُدورُfull moons of سُعودُgood fortune
رُفِعَت لَنا مِنهُم بُدورُ سُعودُ
The night-traveler will not miss the clear road, now that
None who brandish the standard will remain ignorant
full moons of good fortune have been raised for us from among them.
Now that their brilliant constellations have risen for us.
كانواthey were أَحَقَّmost entitled بِعَقدِto binding بَيعَتِهاits pledge of allegiance ضُحاًin broad daylight
كانوا أَحَقَّ بِعَقدِ بَيعَتِها ضُحاً
وَبِنَظمِand to stringing لُؤلُؤِthe pearls of تاجِهاits crown المَعقودِstrung
وَبِنَظمِ لُؤلُؤِ تاجِها المَعقودِ
They were most entitled to bind its pledge of allegiance in broad daylight,
They were most deserving to be bound by its pledge openly
and to string the pearls of its strung crown.
And to string the pearls of its crown, well-knotted.
عُرِفواthey were recognized بِسيماهاby its mark فَلَيسَso there is not لِمُدَّعٍfor a claimant
عُرِفوا بِسيماها فَلَيسَ لِمُدَّعٍ
مِنfrom غَيرِهِمothers besides them فيهاin it سِوىanything except الجُلمودِhard rock
مِن غَيرِهِم فيها سِوى الجُلمودِ
They were recognized by its mark, and no claimant
They were recognized by its mark so none but them
other than them has in it anything but hard rock.
Can lay claim to it, the rest merely pretend.
فَنِيَتdied away أَحاديثُthe whisperings of النُفوسِsouls بِذِكرِهاat its mention
فَنِيَت أَحاديثُ النُفوسِ بِذِكرِها
وَأَفاقَand came to his senses كُلُّevery مُنافِسٍrival وَحَسودِand envier
وَأَفاقَ كُلُّ مُنافِسٍ وَحَسودِ
The souls' private musings died at its mention,
Talk of rivals faded away with mention of them
and every rival and envier came to his senses.
And every jealous opponent was humbled.
وَاليَأسُand despair إِحدىone of الراحَتَينِthe two comforts وَلَنand will not تَرىyou see
وَاليَأسُ إِحدى الراحَتَينِ وَلَن تَرى
تَعَباًweariness كَظَنِّlike the expectation of الخائِبِthe disappointed man المَكدودِthe worn-out
تَعَباً كَظَنِّ الخائِبِ المَكدودِ
And despair is one of the two comforts, and you will never see
Despair is a kind of rest—you will never see
weariness like the expectation of a disappointed, toil-worn man.
Toil like the notion of the despairing disappointed one.
فَاِسلَمso remain safe أَميرَCommander of المُؤمِنينَthe Faithful وَلاand do not تَزَلcease
فَاِسلَم أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ وَلا تَزَل
مُستَعلِياًexalted بِالنَصرِthrough victory وَالتَأَييدِand support
مُستَعلِياً بِالنَصرِ وَالتَأَييدِ
So live in safety, Commander of the Faithful, and never cease
So submit to the Commander of the Faithful and may you remain
to stand exalted through victory and support.
Ever victorious and supported!
نَعتَدُّwe reckon عِزَّكَyour glory عِزَّthe glory of دينِthe faith of مُحَمَّدٍMuhammad
نَعتَدُّ عِزَّكَ عِزَّ دينِ مُحَمَّدٍ
وَنَرىand we see بَقاءَكَyour survival مِنas part of بَقاءِthe survival of الجودِgenerosity
وَنَرى بَقاءَكَ مِن بَقاءِ الجودِ
We reckon your glory the glory of Muhammad's faith,
We see your power as the might of Muhammad’s religion
and see your survival as part of generosity's survival.
And we consider your existence an essence of generosity.
Sol 6.1