فُؤادٌ بِذِكرِ الظاعِنينَ مُوَكَّلُ

فُؤادٌ بِذِكرِ الظاعِنينَ مُوَكَّلُ

وَمَنزِلُ حَيٍّ فيهِ لِلشَوقِ مَنزِلُ

وَمَنزِلُ حَيٍّ فيهِ لِلشَوقِ مَنزِلُ

My heart is devoted to remembering those who journeyed away,

A heart is bound to remembrance of those who have departed,

and to a tribe’s dwelling where Layla once dwelt.

and a clan's dwelling, in which longing has a home.

أَراحِلَةٌ لَيلى وَفي الصَدرِ حاجَةٌ

أَراحِلَةٌ لَيلى وَفي الصَدرِ حاجَةٌ

أَقامَ بِها وَجدٌ فَما يَتَرَحَّلُ

أَقامَ بِها وَجدٌ فَما يَتَرَحَّلُ

Is Layla departing while a need remains within my breast,

Is Layla leaving, while in the breast there is a longing

where longing has settled and will not depart?

where passion has settled and will not depart?

سَلامٌ عَلى الحَيِّ الَّذينَ تَحَمَّلوا

سَلامٌ عَلى الحَيِّ الَّذينَ تَحَمَّلوا

وَعَجلانُ مِن غُرِّ السَحابِ مُجَلجِلُ

وَعَجلانُ مِن غُرِّ السَحابِ مُجَلجِلُ

Greetings to the people who loaded up and journeyed on,

Peace upon the clan who have packed up and left,

and to a swift, thunderous cloud among the radiant clouds.

and a swift, thundering cloud from the bright-white clouds.

فَكَم كَلَفٍ في إِثرِهِم لَيسَ يَنقَضي

فَكَم كَلَفٍ في إِثرِهِم لَيسَ يَنقَضي

وَكَم خُلَّةٍ مِن بَعدِهِم لَيسَ توصَلُ

وَكَم خُلَّةٍ مِن بَعدِهِم لَيسَ توصَلُ

How many a passion for their traces never comes to an end,

So how much passion in their wake will never end,

and how many a bond, after them, can never be restored.

and how many bonds of affection, after they have gone, remain unrenewed!

وَقَفنا عَلى دارِ البَخيلَةِ فَاِنبَرَت

وَقَفنا عَلى دارِ البَخيلَةِ فَاِنبَرَت

بَوادِرُ قَد كانَت بِها العَينُ تَبخَلُ

بَوادِرُ قَد كانَت بِها العَينُ تَبخَلُ

We stood before the dwelling of the withholding beloved, and there burst forth

We stopped at the miserly beloved's dwelling, and forth burst

the first tears an eye had once been loath to spend.

tears the eye had once been loath to shed,

عَلى دارِسِ الآياتِ عافٍ تَعاقَبَت

عَلى دارِسِ الآياتِ عافٍ تَعاقَبَت

عَلَيهِ صَباً ما تَستَفيقُ وَشَمأَلُ

عَلَيهِ صَباً ما تَستَفيقُ وَشَمأَلُ

Across its effaced signs, obliterating winds followed one another—

over an effaced site with faded traces, swept in turn

an east wind that never rests, and a north wind.

by an east wind that never abates, and a north wind.

فَلَم يَدرِ رَسمُ الدارِ كَيفَ يُجيبُنا

فَلَم يَدرِ رَسمُ الدارِ كَيفَ يُجيبُنا

وَلا نَحنُ مِن فَرطِ الجَوى كَيفَ نَسأَلُ

وَلا نَحنُ مِن فَرطِ الجَوى كَيفَ نَسأَلُ

The traces of the dwelling did not know how to answer us,

So the dwelling's traces did not know how to answer us,

nor, in the extremity of our anguish, did we know how to ask.

nor did we, from overwhelming heartache, know how to ask.

أَجِدَّكَ هَل تُنسى العُهودُ فَيَنطَوي

أَجِدَّكَ هَل تُنسى العُهودُ فَيَنطَوي

بِها الدَهرُ أَو يُسلى الحَبيبُ فَيُذهَلُ

بِها الدَهرُ أَو يُسلى الحَبيبُ فَيُذهَلُ

Can covenants truly be forgotten and folded away

Tell me in earnest: can pledges be forgotten and folded

as time passes over them—or can the beloved take comfort and forget?

away by time—or the beloved cease to be missed and be forgotten?

أَرى حُبَّ لَيلى لا يَبيدُ فَيَنقَضي

أَرى حُبَّ لَيلى لا يَبيدُ فَيَنقَضي

وَلا تَلتَوي أَسبابُهُ فَتَحَلَّلُ

وَلا تَلتَوي أَسبابُهُ فَتَحَلَّلُ

I see that love for Layla will neither perish nor pass away,

I see that love of Layla will not perish and come to an end,

nor will its bonds twist loose and come undone.

nor will its cords twist loose and unravel.

مُعَنّاً بِهِ الصَبُّ الشَجِيُّ المُعَذَّلُ

مُعَنّاً بِهِ الصَبُّ الشَجِيُّ المُعَذَّلُ

عَلَيهِ وَذو الحُبِّ المُعَنّى المُعَذَّلُ

عَلَيهِ وَذو الحُبِّ المُعَنّى المُعَذَّلُ

Through it the sorrowing, reproached lover is tormented;

The ardent, sorrowful lover is tormented by it, reproached

upon him—the love-stricken man, rebuked and blamed—lies love’s burden.

for it; and the lover is the tormented, reproached one.

سَتَأخُذُ أَيدي العيسِ مِنهُ إِذا اِنتَحى

سَتَأخُذُ أَيدي العيسِ مِنهُ إِذا اِنتَحى

بِأَشخاصِها جِنحٌ مِنَ اللَيلِ أَليَلُ

بِأَشخاصِها جِنحٌ مِنَ اللَيلِ أَليَلُ

The legs of the white camels will bear him away from there when he sets his course,

The pale camels' forelegs will take their toll on him, when

their silhouettes borne into the blackest wing of night,

a pitch-dark wing of night bears their shapes onward,

إِلى مَعقِلٍ لِلمُلكِ لَولا اِعتِزامُهُ

إِلى مَعقِلٍ لِلمُلكِ لَولا اِعتِزامُهُ

وَمَنعَتُهُ ما كانَ لِلمُلكِ مَعقِلُ

وَمَنعَتُهُ ما كانَ لِلمُلكِ مَعقِلُ

toward a stronghold of sovereignty—had it not been for his resolve

toward a bastion of kingship: without his resolve

and his protection, sovereignty would have had no stronghold—

and his might, kingship would have no bastion;

وَمَكرُمَةِ الدُنيا الَّتي لَيسَ دونَها

وَمَكرُمَةِ الدُنيا الَّتي لَيسَ دونَها

مُرادٌ وَلا عَن ظِلِّها مُتَحَوَّلُ

مُرادٌ وَلا عَن ظِلِّها مُتَحَوَّلُ

and toward this world’s glory, beyond which

and toward the world's noble glory, short of which there is

there is no desire, nor any turning from its shade:

no goal to seek, nor any turning away from its shade.

إِلى مُصعَبِيِّ العَزمِ يَسطو فَيَغتَدي

إِلى مُصعَبِيِّ العَزمِ يَسطو فَيَغتَدي

وَمُتَّسِعِ المَعروفِ يُعطي فَيُجزِلُ

وَمُتَّسِعِ المَعروفِ يُعطي فَيُجزِلُ

toward one resolute in purpose, who strikes and prevails,

Toward one of Mus'ab-like resolve, who pounces and feeds,

and vast in beneficence, who gives abundantly;

and boundless in beneficence, who gives in lavish measure.

فَتىً لا نَداهُ حَجرَةٌ حينَ يَبتَدي

فَتىً لا نَداهُ حَجرَةٌ حينَ يَبتَدي

وَلا مالُهُ مِلكٌ لَهُ حينَ يُسأَلُ

وَلا مالُهُ مِلكٌ لَهُ حينَ يُسأَلُ

a noble youth whose bounty knows no barrier once it begins,

A young man whose bounty is unconfined when he takes the initiative,

and whose wealth is not his own whenever he is asked.

and whose wealth is not his own when he is asked.

إِذا نَحنُ أَمَّلناهُ لَم يَرَ حَظَّهُ

إِذا نَحنُ أَمَّلناهُ لَم يَرَ حَظَّهُ

زَكا أَو يَرى جَدواهُ حَيثُ يُؤَمَّلُ

زَكا أَو يَرى جَدواهُ حَيثُ يُؤَمَّلُ

When we place our hopes in him, he does not deem his fortune

When we place our hopes in him, he does not deem his own share

increased unless he sees his bounty bestowed where hope is placed.

increased until he sees his bounty wherever he is looked to.

لَهُ قَدَمٌ في المَجدِ تَعلَمُ أَنَّهُ

لَهُ قَدَمٌ في المَجدِ تَعلَمُ أَنَّهُ

بِسُؤدُدِها يُربى مِراراً وَيُفضِلُ

بِسُؤدُدِها يُربى مِراراً وَيُفضِلُ

He has precedence in glory, and by its supremacy you know

He has a footing in glory; you know that he,

that he repeatedly surpasses others and excels.

through its nobility, repeatedly surpasses and excels.

إِذا جاءَ أَغضى العاذِلونَ وَكَفَّهُم

إِذا جاءَ أَغضى العاذِلونَ وَكَفَّهُم

قَديمُ مَساعيهِ الَّتي يَتَقَبَّلُ

قَديمُ مَساعيهِ الَّتي يَتَقَبَّلُ

When the reproachers come, they lower their eyes, restrained

When he comes, the reproachers lower their eyes, checked

by those ancient deeds of his that win acceptance.

by the long history of the noble deeds he undertakes.

وَمَن ذا يَلومُ البَحرَ أَن باتَ زاخِراً

وَمَن ذا يَلومُ البَحرَ أَن باتَ زاخِراً

يَفيضُ وَصَوبَ المُزنِ أَن باتَ يَهطِلُ

يَفيضُ وَصَوبَ المُزنِ أَن باتَ يَهطِلُ

Who would blame the sea if it spends the night surging,

And who would blame the sea for swelling through the night,

overflowing—or the raincloud if it pours?

overflowing, and the clouds' rain for pouring all night long?

وَلَم أَرَ مَجداً كَالأَميرِ مُحَمَّدٍ

وَلَم أَرَ مَجداً كَالأَميرِ مُحَمَّدٍ

إِذا ما غَدا يَنهَلُّ أَو يَتَهَلَّلُ

إِذا ما غَدا يَنهَلُّ أَو يَتَهَلَّلُ

Never have I seen glory like that of Prince Muhammad

And I have seen no glory like the emir Muhammad,

when he comes forth, pouring bounty and beaming joy:

when he goes forth raining bounty or beaming with smiles.

حَياةُ النُفوسِ المُرهَقاتِ وَمَأمَنٌ

حَياةُ النُفوسِ المُرهَقاتِ وَمَأمَنٌ

يَثوبُ إِلَيهِ الخائِفونَ وَمَوثِلُ

يَثوبُ إِلَيهِ الخائِفونَ وَمَوثِلُ

life for exhausted souls, and a refuge

Life to overburdened souls, and a sanctuary

to which the fearful return—a shelter and a home.

to which the fearful return, and a haven.

أُعيرَت بِهِ بَغدادُ سَكبَ غَمامَةٍ

أُعيرَت بِهِ بَغدادُ سَكبَ غَمامَةٍ

تَعُلُّ البِلادُ مِن نَداها وَتَنهَلُ

تَعُلُّ البِلادُ مِن نَداها وَتَنهَلُ

Through him Baghdad was lent the downpour of a raincloud,

Through him, Baghdad was lent a raincloud's downpour,

from whose bounty the lands drink deeply and are drenched.

from whose dew the lands drink, draught after draught.

فَقَد فَقَدَت أُنسَ الخِلافَةِ وَاِنتَحى

فَقَد فَقَدَت أُنسَ الخِلافَةِ وَاِنتَحى

عَلى أَهلِها خَطبٌ مِنَ الدَهرِ مُعضِلُ

عَلى أَهلِها خَطبٌ مِنَ الدَهرِ مُعضِلُ

For it had lost the companionship of the caliphate, and there descended

For it had lost the caliphate's comforting presence, and there bore down

upon its people an intractable calamity of time.

upon its people a grievous calamity from time.

وَليتَهُمُ وَالأُفقِ أَغبَرُ عِندَهُم

وَليتَهُمُ وَالأُفقِ أَغبَرُ عِندَهُم

وَجَوُّهُمُ عَن صَيِّبِ المُزنِ مُقفَلُ

وَجَوُّهُمُ عَن صَيِّبِ المُزنِ مُقفَلُ

It clung to them while their horizon was dust-gray,

You took charge of them while their horizon was dust-gray,

and their sky was barred against the raincloud’s downpour.

and their sky was shut against the rainclouds' downpour.

فَجاءَ بِكَ الصُنعُ الَّذي كانَ ذاهِباً

فَجاءَ بِكَ الصُنعُ الَّذي كانَ ذاهِباً

وَجيدَ بِكَ الصُقعُ الَّذي كانَ يُمحَلُ

وَجيدَ بِكَ الصُقعُ الَّذي كانَ يُمحَلُ

Then Providence, which had seemed to depart, brought you,

So the favor that had vanished returned with you,

and through you the tract that had been barren was made fertile.

and through you the region once parched was drenched with rain.

وَما كُنتَ إِلّا رَحمَةَ اللَهِ ساقَها

وَما كُنتَ إِلّا رَحمَةَ اللَهِ ساقَها

إِلَيهِم وَدُنياهُم أَتَت وَهيَ تُقبِلُ

إِلَيهِم وَدُنياهُم أَتَت وَهيَ تُقبِلُ

You were nothing but God’s mercy, which He drove

And you were nothing but God's mercy, which He sent

toward them; their worldly fortune came advancing with you.

to them, and their world came forth, drawing near.

وَيَومُهُمُ السَعدُ الَّذي ضَمَّ أَمرَهُم

وَيَومُهُمُ السَعدُ الَّذي ضَمَّ أَمرَهُم

إِلَيكَ هُوَ اليَومُ الأَغَرُّ المُحَجَّلُ

إِلَيكَ هُوَ اليَومُ الأَغَرُّ المُحَجَّلُ

Their fortunate day—the day that gathered their cause

And their auspicious day, which brought their affairs

and entrusted it to you—is the radiant, white-blazed day.

to you, is the white-blazed, white-footed day.

تَلينُ وَتَقسو شِدَّةً وَتَأَلُّفاً

تَلينُ وَتَقسو شِدَّةً وَتَأَلُّفاً

وَتُملي فَتَستَأني وَتَقضي فَتَعدِلُ

وَتُملي فَتَستَأني وَتَقضي فَتَعدِلُ

You are gentle and stern, combining severity with concord;

You are gentle and stern, both firm and conciliatory;

you grant respite and so deliberate; you judge and so act justly.

and you grant respite and take your time; you judge and are just.

وَمازِلتَ مَدلولاً عَلى كُلِّ خُطَّةٍ

وَمازِلتَ مَدلولاً عَلى كُلِّ خُطَّةٍ

مِنَ المَجدِ ما تُرقى وَما تُتَوَقَّلُ

مِنَ المَجدِ ما تُرقى وَما تُتَوَقَّلُ

You have always been guided toward every path

And you have always been guided to every station

of glory—those readily ascended and those laboriously scaled.

of glory that cannot be climbed or scaled.

تَدارَكَني الإِحسانُ مِنكَ وَمَسَّني

تَدارَكَني الإِحسانُ مِنكَ وَمَسَّني

عَلى حاجَةٍ ذاكَ الجَدا وَالتَطَوُّلُ

عَلى حاجَةٍ ذاكَ الجَدا وَالتَطَوُّلُ

Your kindness overtook me, and in my hour of need

Your kindness came to my rescue, and I was touched,

your liberality and gracious favor reached me.

in my need, by that bounty and gracious favor.

وَدافَعتَ عَنّي حينَ لا الفَتحُ يُبتَغى

وَدافَعتَ عَنّي حينَ لا الفَتحُ يُبتَغى

لِدَفعِ الَّذي أَخشى وَلا المُتَوَكِّلُ

لِدَفعِ الَّذي أَخشى وَلا المُتَوَكِّلُ

You defended me when neither al-Fath nor al-Mutawakkil

And you defended me when neither al-Fath could be sought

could be approached to ward off what I feared.

to ward off what I feared, nor al-Mutawakkil.

لَعَمري لَقَد وَحّى اِبنُ مُخلَدَ حاجَتي

لَعَمري لَقَد وَحّى اِبنُ مُخلَدَ حاجَتي

وَأَسعَفَني عَفواً بِما كُنتُ أَسأَلُ

وَأَسعَفَني عَفواً بِما كُنتُ أَسأَلُ

By my life, Ibn Mukhlad swiftly carried forward my need

By my life, Ibn Mukhlad swiftly met my need,

and freely granted me what I had been asking.

and freely granted me what I had been asking for.

أَطاعَكَ في رِفدي رِضاً وَتَقَبُّلاً

أَطاعَكَ في رِفدي رِضاً وَتَقَبُّلاً

لِما تَرتَضي مِنّي وَما تَتَقَبَّلُ

لِما تَرتَضي مِنّي وَما تَتَقَبَّلُ

He obeyed you in rewarding me, gladly and with acceptance,

He obeyed you in aiding me, with approval and acceptance

approving in me what you approve and accept.

of what you find pleasing in me and what you welcome.

هُوَ المَرءُ يَأتي ما أَتَيتَ تَحَرِّياً

هُوَ المَرءُ يَأتي ما أَتَيتَ تَحَرِّياً

وَيُعطي الَّذي تُعطى اِتِّباعاً وَيَبذُلُ

وَيُعطي الَّذي تُعطى اِتِّباعاً وَيَبذُلُ

He is a man who does what you do, carefully following your way,

He is the man who does what you have done, intent on your example,

and gives as you give—emulating you and spending freely.

and gives what you give in imitation, and bestows.

يُبادِرُ ما تَهواهُ حَتّى يَجيئَهُ

يُبادِرُ ما تَهواهُ حَتّى يَجيئَهُ

تَوَخٍّ فَيُمضي أَو تَقولُ فَيَفعَلُ

تَوَخٍّ فَيُمضي أَو تَقولُ فَيَفعَلُ

He hastens toward what you desire before your purpose reaches him;

He hastens to what you desire, until he receives

then he carries it out—or you speak, and he acts.

an intention, which he carries out—or you speak, and he acts.

فَلا تَكذَبَن عَن فَضلِهِ وَوَفائِهِ

فَلا تَكذَبَن عَن فَضلِهِ وَوَفائِهِ

فَما هُوَ في هاتَينِ إِلّا السَمَوأَلُ

فَما هُوَ في هاتَينِ إِلّا السَمَوأَلُ

Let no one gainsay his excellence and fidelity:

So do not speak falsely of his excellence and loyalty,

in these two qualities, he is none other than al-Samaw’al.

for in these two he is none other than al-Samaw'al.