عَهدٌ لِعَلوَةَ بِاللِوى قَد أَشكَلا

عَهدٌ لِعَلوَةَ بِاللِوى قَد أَشكَلا

ما كانَ أَحسَنُ مُبتَداهُ وَأَجمَلا

ما كانَ أَحسَنُ مُبتَداهُ وَأَجمَلا

A memory of 'Alwa at al-Liwa has grown obscure;

A promise to Alwah in Liwa has become intricate

how lovely its beginning was, how beautiful!

Though its beginning was most beautiful and graceful

أَنسى لَيالينا هُناكَ وَقَد خَلا

أَنسى لَيالينا هُناكَ وَقَد خَلا

مِن لَهوِنا في ظِلِّها ما قَد خَلا

مِن لَهوِنا في ظِلِّها ما قَد خَلا

Shall I forget our nights there, though there has passed

Forget our nights there though they're gone

what has passed of our revelry beneath their shade?

And what's passed of our amusement in its shade

عَيشٌ غَريرٌ لَو مَلَكتُ لِما مَضى

عَيشٌ غَريرٌ لَو مَلَكتُ لِما مَضى

رَدّاً إِذاً لَرَدَدتُهُ مُستَقبَلاً

رَدّاً إِذاً لَرَدَدتُهُ مُستَقبَلاً

A carefree life! If I could turn what has passed

A fleeting life - if I could own the past

back, I would bring it back as days yet to come.

I would bring it back to make the future more beautiful

لاموا عَلى لَيلي الطَويلِ وَكُلَّما

لاموا عَلى لَيلي الطَويلِ وَكُلَّما

عادوا بِلَومٍ كانَ لَيلي أَطوَلا

عادوا بِلَومٍ كانَ لَيلي أَطوَلا

They blamed me for my long night, and whenever

They blamed my long night and the more

they returned with blame, my night grew longer.

They returned with blame, the longer my night became

اِتبَع هَواكَ إِلى الحَبيبِ فَإِنَّهُ

اِتبَع هَواكَ إِلى الحَبيبِ فَإِنَّهُ

رَشَدٌ وَخَلِّ لِعاذِلٍ أَن يَعذُلا

رَشَدٌ وَخَلِّ لِعاذِلٍ أَن يَعذُلا

Follow your desire toward the beloved, for it

Follow your love to the beloved for he is

is right guidance; leave the reproacher to reproach.

Guidance, and leave the blamer to keep blaming

وَاللَهِ لا أَسلو وَلَو جَهِدَ الَّذي

وَاللَهِ لا أَسلو وَلَو جَهِدَ الَّذي

يَلحى وَما عُذرُ المُحِبِّ إِذا سَلا

يَلحى وَما عُذرُ المُحِبِّ إِذا سَلا

By God, I shall not cease to love, however hard the one

By God, I won't ask even if the one who

who reproaches me strives; what excuse has a lover if he ceases to love?

Reproaches perseveres, for a lover has no excuse to ask

أَحيا الرَجاءَ وَرَدَّ عادِيَةَ الجَوى

أَحيا الرَجاءَ وَرَدَّ عادِيَةَ الجَوى

قَولُ الَّذي أَهوى نَعَم مِن بَعدِ لا

قَولُ الَّذي أَهوى نَعَم مِن بَعدِ لا

Hope was revived and the onslaught of love's anguish repelled

It revived hope and refuted the accusation of passion

by my beloved's 'Yes' after 'No',

The words "yes, after no" from the one I love

وَمِزاجُهُ كَأسي بِريقَتِهِ الَّتي

وَمِزاجُهُ كَأسي بِريقَتِهِ الَّتي

ثَلَجَت فُؤادَ مُحِبِّهِ فَتَبَلَّلا

ثَلَجَت فُؤادَ مُحِبِّهِ فَتَبَلَّلا

and his mingling my cup with his saliva, which

And his disposition is like my cup with its coolness

cooled his lover's heart and left it moistened.

That chilled the heart of his lover, so it dripped

لا تَعجَبي لِمُعَشَّقٍ أَن يَرعَوي

لا تَعجَبي لِمُعَشَّقٍ أَن يَرعَوي

عَن هَجرِهِ وَلِعاشِقٍ أَن يُوصَلا

عَن هَجرِهِ وَلِعاشِقٍ أَن يُوصَلا

Do not marvel that a beloved should desist

Don't wonder if a lover acts mad

from his estrangement, and that a lover should be granted union.

Or a lover acts devoted

بِتنا وَلي قَمرانِ وَجهُ مُساعِدي

بِتنا وَلي قَمرانِ وَجهُ مُساعِدي

وَالبَدرُ إِذ وافى التَمامَ وَأَكمَلا

وَالبَدرُ إِذ وافى التَمامَ وَأَكمَلا

We passed the night, and I had two moons: my willing companion's face

We stayed awake as two moons while the face of my aide shone

and the full moon, when it reached its fullness and was complete.

And the full moon rose to its apex and became complete

لاحَت تَباشيرُ الخَريفِ وَأَعرَضَت

لاحَت تَباشيرُ الخَريفِ وَأَعرَضَت

قِطَعُ الغُيومِ وَشارَفَت أَن تَهطِلا

قِطَعُ الغُيومِ وَشارَفَت أَن تَهطِلا

The first signs of autumn appeared, and there spread out

The signs of autumn appeared, and the pieces

patches of clouds, on the verge of pouring down.

Of clouds turned away and were about to pour down

فَتَرَوَّ مِن شَعبانَ إِنَّ وَراءَهُ

فَتَرَوَّ مِن شَعبانَ إِنَّ وَراءَهُ

شَهراً يُمانِعُنا الرَحيقَ السَلسَلا

شَهراً يُمانِعُنا الرَحيقَ السَلسَلا

So drink your fill in Sha'ban; for after it

So enjoy Sha'ban, for after it is a month

comes a month that denies us smooth-flowing, pure wine.

That will prevent us from sipping the soft nectar

أَحسِن بِدِجلَةَ مَنظَراً وَمُخَيَّماً

أَحسِن بِدِجلَةَ مَنظَراً وَمُخَيَّماً

وَالغَردِ في أَكنافِ دِجلَةَ مَنزِلا

وَالغَردِ في أَكنافِ دِجلَةَ مَنزِلا

How lovely the Tigris is as a sight and an encampment,

Dijla is best seen with its tents and camp

and al-Ghard as a dwelling by the Tigris!

And the chirp in the bosoms of Dijla is home

خَضِلُ الفِناءِ مَتى وَطِئتَ تُرابَهُ

خَضِلُ الفِناءِ مَتى وَطِئتَ تُرابَهُ

قُلتَ الغَمامُ انهَلَّ فيهِ فَأَسبَلا

قُلتَ الغَمامُ انهَلَّ فيهِ فَأَسبَلا

Its courtyard is moist; whenever you tread its soil,

The grass of the courtyard - when you step on its soil

you say, 'The clouds poured here and showered their rain.'

You'd say the clouds poured down on it, so it flushed

حَشَدَت لَهُ الأَمواجُ فَضلَ دَوافِعٍ

حَشَدَت لَهُ الأَمواجُ فَضلَ دَوافِعٍ

أَعجَلنَ دولابَيهِ أَن يَتَمَهَّلا

أَعجَلنَ دولابَيهِ أَن يَتَمَهَّلا

The waves mustered for it abundant driving surges

The waves gathered for him, exceeding motivations

that kept its two waterwheels from turning slowly.

Quickened the wheels for him to slow down

تَبيَضُّ نُقبَتُهُ وَيَسطَعُ نورُهُ

تَبيَضُّ نُقبَتُهُ وَيَسطَعُ نورُهُ

حَتّى تَكِلَّ العَينُ فيهِ وَتَنكَلا

حَتّى تَكِلَّ العَينُ فيهِ وَتَنكَلا

Its exterior gleams white, and its light blazes,

Its dome shines white and its light beams

until the eye grows weary of it and shrinks away.

Until eyes tire of it and recoil

كَالكَوكَبِ الدُرِيِّ أَخلَصَ ضَوءَهُ

كَالكَوكَبِ الدُرِيِّ أَخلَصَ ضَوءَهُ

حَلَكُ الدُجى حَتّى تَأَلَّقَ وَانجَلى

حَلَكُ الدُجى حَتّى تَأَلَّقَ وَانجَلى

Like a pearly star whose light is purified

Like the brilliant star, it manifests its light

by night's blackness, until it sparkles and shines clear.

The darkness surrounds it until it glitters and shines through

رَفَدَت جَوانِبَهُ القِبابُ مَيامِناً

رَفَدَت جَوانِبَهُ القِبابُ مَيامِناً

وَمَياسِراً وَسَفَلنَ عَنهُ وَاعتَلى

وَمَياسِراً وَسَفَلنَ عَنهُ وَاعتَلى

Domes supported its sides, to the right

Domes flank its right and left, lowering

and left; they stood lower than it, while it rose above.

Themselves before it, submitting to its reign

فَتَخالُهُ وَتَخالُهُنَّ إِزاءَهُ

فَتَخالُهُ وَتَخالُهُنَّ إِزاءَهُ

مَلِكاً تَدينُ لَهُ المُلوكُ مُمَثَّلا

مَلِكاً تَدينُ لَهُ المُلوكُ مُمَثَّلا

So you picture it, and picture them before it,

Above it is an overseer who doesn't

as a king portrayed, with kings submitting to him.

Sleep, assigned with turning the winds

وَعَلى أَعاليهِ رَقيبٌ ما يَني

وَعَلى أَعاليهِ رَقيبٌ ما يَني

كَلِفاً بِتَصريفِ الرِياحِ مُوَكَّلا

كَلِفاً بِتَصريفِ الرِياحِ مُوَكَّلا

And on its heights a watchman never slackens,

It turns to wherever it turns, seeking its direction

intent upon the shifting winds, entrusted with them.

Doing what a warrior does - it goes forth then turns back

مِن حَيثُ دارَت دارَ يَطلُبُ وَجهَها

مِن حَيثُ دارَت دارَ يَطلُبُ وَجهَها

فِعلَ المُقاتِلِ جالَ ثُمَّ استَقبَلا

فِعلَ المُقاتِلِ جالَ ثُمَّ استَقبَلا

Wherever they turn, he turns, seeking their face,

A miracle upon miracle in generosity that you see

like a fighter who wheels about, then faces his opponent.

Of its affair only the wondrous and astonishing

بِدَعٌ لِبِدعٍ في السَماحَةِ ما تَرى

بِدَعٌ لِبِدعٍ في السَماحَةِ ما تَرى

مِن أَمرِهِ إِلّا عَجيباً مُجذِلا

مِن أَمرِهِ إِلّا عَجيباً مُجذِلا

A marvel for a marvel of generosity—you see

It has excelled people in famous and well-known

nothing in his deeds but wonders that bring joy.

Piety and generosity among people, excelling them

فَضَلَ الأَنامَ أَرومَةً مَذكورَةً

فَضَلَ الأَنامَ أَرومَةً مَذكورَةً

وَتُقىً وَأَنعَمَ في الأَنامِ وَأَفضَلا

وَتُقىً وَأَنعَمَ في الأَنامِ وَأَفضَلا

He surpassed mankind in renowned ancestry

Caution can hold back its first moves

and piety, and bestowed favors and bounty upon mankind.

And sometimes its resolve would be rash

تَثني بَوادِرَهُ الأَناةُ وَرُبَّما

تَثني بَوادِرَهُ الأَناةُ وَرُبَّما

سارَت عَزيمَتُهُ فَكانَت جَحفَلا

سارَت عَزيمَتُهُ فَكانَت جَحفَلا

Deliberation curbs his impulses, and sometimes

It inherited from the Prophet a pleasing disposition

his resolve marches forth and becomes a mighty army.

And an approach of moderation in words and deeds

وَرِثَ النَبِيَّ سَجِيَّةً مَرضِيَّةً

وَرِثَ النَبِيَّ سَجِيَّةً مَرضِيَّةً

وَطَريقَةً قَصَداً وَقَولاً فَيصَلا

وَطَريقَةً قَصَداً وَقَولاً فَيصَلا

He inherited from the Prophet a pleasing character,

So when it resolves complex matters, consecutive

a moderate way, and decisive speech.

Wisdoms come that show you how revelation descended

فَإِذا قَضى في المُشكِلاتِ تَرادَفَت

فَإِذا قَضى في المُشكِلاتِ تَرادَفَت

حِكَمٌ تُريكَ الوَحيَ كَيفَ تَنَزَّلا

حِكَمٌ تُريكَ الوَحيَ كَيفَ تَنَزَّلا

So when he judges difficult matters, there follow in succession

O son of the rightly guided leaders, upon whom

words of wisdom that show you how revelation descended.

The foundations of our religion were built and sculpted

يا اِبنَ الهُداةِ الراشِدينَ وَمَن بِهِم

يا اِبنَ الهُداةِ الراشِدينَ وَمَن بِهِم

أَرسَت قَواعِدُ دينِنا فَتَأَثَّلا

أَرسَت قَواعِدُ دينِنا فَتَأَثَّلا

O son of rightly guided guides, and of those through whom

A persona whose morals have reached a peak, so it rose high

the foundations of our faith were anchored, and it took root!

And the splendor of its face brightened and sparkled

خِرَقٌ سَمَت أَخلاقُهُ فَتَرَفَّعَت

خِرَقٌ سَمَت أَخلاقُهُ فَتَرَفَّعَت

وَأَضاءَ رَونَقُ وَجهِهِ فَتَهَلَّلا

وَأَضاءَ رَونَقُ وَجهِهِ فَتَهَلَّلا

A generous man: his character soared and grew exalted,

When it rises on a fitting occasion and takes pride

and the splendor of his face shone, and he beamed.

In a fatherhood succeeded by the latter over the former

فَإِذا تَرَفَّعَ في المُناسِبِ وَاعتَزى

فَإِذا تَرَفَّعَ في المُناسِبِ وَاعتَزى

لِأُبُوَّةٍ يَتلو الأَخيرُ الأَوَّلا

لِأُبُوَّةٍ يَتلو الأَخيرُ الأَوَّلا

So when he takes pride in his lineage and claims descent

It counts the auspicious stars, qualified

from forefathers, the later following the earlier,

For authority, deputized or sent

عَدَّ النُجومَ الطالِعاتِ مُؤَهَّلاً

عَدَّ النُجومَ الطالِعاتِ مُؤَهَّلاً

لِلأَمرِ أَو مُستَخلَفاً أَو مُرسَلا

لِلأَمرِ أَو مُستَخلَفاً أَو مُرسَلا

he numbers rising stars: one fitted

I accompanied it with my hopes, and the likes of its perfection

for rule, or appointed caliph, or sent as a messenger.

Were generous, giving the seeker what he wished for

أَصحَبتُهُ أَمَلي وَمِثلُ خِلالِهِ

أَصحَبتُهُ أَمَلي وَمِثلُ خِلالِهِ

كَرُمَت فَأَعطَت راغِباً ما أَمَّلا

كَرُمَت فَأَعطَت راغِباً ما أَمَّلا

I made my hope his companion; qualities like his

If you wanted, a blessing would come from it and be granted

have proved generous, giving a seeker what he hoped for.

And a request made easy, so it flowed

إِن شِئتَ جاءَت نِعمَةٌ فَتُلُقِّيَت

إِن شِئتَ جاءَت نِعمَةٌ فَتُلُقِّيَت

مِنهُ وَسُهِّلَ مَطلَبٌ فَتَسَهَّلا

مِنهُ وَسُهِّلَ مَطلَبٌ فَتَسَهَّلا

If you wish, a favor comes and is received

All that remains is for you to will and it vanishes -

from him; a request is made easy, and becomes easy.

What was delayed or divided will then be separated

لَم يَبقَ إِلّا أَن تَهُمَّ فَيَنقَضي

لَم يَبقَ إِلّا أَن تَهُمَّ فَيَنقَضي

ما قَد تَطاوَلَ أَو تَجُزَّ فَتَفصِلا

ما قَد تَطاوَلَ أَو تَجُزَّ فَتَفصِلا

Nothing remains but for you to resolve; then comes an end

I have spoken, so do what you intend for it is the way of

to what has dragged on—or you cut through and sever it.

Your generosity to tell and then act accordingly

قَد قُلتُ فَاِفعَل ما وَأَيتَ وَإِنَّ مِن

قَد قُلتُ فَاِفعَل ما وَأَيتَ وَإِنَّ مِن

عاداتِ جودِكَ أَن تَقولَ فَتَفعَلا

عاداتِ جودِكَ أَن تَقولَ فَتَفعَلا

I have spoken: do what you promised, for it is among

And if you hasten what you grant, then that is enough

your generosity's customs to speak and then act.

To attain it, that the granted would have come fast

وَلَئِن عَجِلتَ بِما تُنيلُ فَإِنَّهُ

وَلَئِن عَجِلتَ بِما تُنيلُ فَإِنَّهُ

حَسبٌ لِنَيلِكَ أَن يَكونَ مُعَجَّلا

حَسبٌ لِنَيلِكَ أَن يَكونَ مُعَجَّلا

And if you hasten what you bestow, it is

Live the long lifetime happily

enough for your gift that it should come without delay.

Filled with reign - an everlasting life

عِش مُدَّة الزَمَنِ الطَويلِ مُمَتَّعاً

عِش مُدَّة الزَمَنِ الطَويلِ مُمَتَّعاً

وَمُمَلَّأً بِالمُلكِ عُمراً مُكمَلا

وَمُمَلَّأً بِالمُلكِ عُمراً مُكمَلا

Live through the long span of time, blessed with joy,

and filled to the brim with sovereignty for a full lifetime.