أَتُرىdo you think الزَمانُtime يُعيدُwill restore ليto me أَيّاميmy days
أَتُرى الزَمانُ يُعيدُ لي أَيّامي
بَينَamong القُصورِthe palaces البيضِthe white وَالآطامِand the fortresses
بَينَ القُصورِ البيضِ وَالآطامِ
Do you think time will restore my days to me,
Will time restore to me my days,
among the white palaces and the fortresses?
'Mid white palaces and dark wines,
إِذwhen لاnot الوِصالُunion بِخُلسَةٍin a stolen moment فيهِمamong them وَلاnor
إِذ لا الوِصالُ بِخُلسَةٍ فيهِم وَلا
فَرطُabundance اللِقاءِmeetings لَدَيهِمُwith them بِلِمامِin a fleeting encounter
فَرطُ اللِقاءِ لَدَيهِمُ بِلِمامِ
When union with them was no stolen moment, nor
When meeting secretly was not with haste,
frequent meetings with them mere passing encounters.
Nor was parting with them marked by the waving of hands.
ساعاتُhours لَهوٍdelight ماnot تَجَدَّدَwas renewed ذِكرُهاtheir memory
ساعاتُ لَهوٍ ما تَجَدَّدَ ذِكرُها
إِلّاexcept that تَجَدَّدَwas renewed عِندَat ذاكَthat غَراميmy passion
إِلّا تَجَدَّدَ عِندَ ذاكَ غَرامي
Hours of delight: whenever their memory was renewed,
Hours of playfulness, whose memory renews
my passion was renewed then too.
Only to renew in me my passion,
وَهَوىًand a love مِنَamong الأَهواءِloves باتَbecame مُؤرِقيmy cause of sleeplessness
وَهَوىً مِنَ الأَهواءِ باتَ مُؤرِقي
فَكَأَنَّهُso it is as though سَقَمٌan illness مِنَamong الأَسقامِillnesses
فَكَأَنَّهُ سَقَمٌ مِنَ الأَسقامِ
And one love among loves has become what keeps me sleepless,
And a love that has kept me sleepless at night,
as though it were an illness among illnesses.
As though it were an illness without cure.
لِلدَهرِfor time عِنديwith me مِنَّةٌa favor مَشكورَةٌgratefully acknowledged
لِلدَهرِ عِندي مِنَّةٌ مَشكورَةٌ
شَفَتِhealed الَّذيwhat فيin الصَدرِthe breast مِنof أَوغامِresentments
شَفَتِ الَّذي في الصَدرِ مِن أَوغامِ
Time has earned my thanks for a favor
I am thankful to fate
that healed the resentments within my breast.
That healed the anguish in my heart.
وَاللَهِby God ماnever أَسضىbestowed (probable reading) مَبادِئَthe beginnings of نِعمَةٍa blessing
وَاللَهِ ما أَسضى مَبادِئَ نِعمَةٍ
إِلّاexcept that تَغَمَّدَenfolded أَهلَهاits recipients بِتَمامِin fullness
إِلّا تَغَمَّدَ أَهلَها بِتَمامِ
By God, it never bestowed the beginnings of a blessing
I am not pleased with the beginnings of a blessing
without enfolding its recipients in that blessing's fullness.
Unless it clothes its people in completion.
طَلَبَhe sought العِمامَةَthe turban وَالقَضيبَand the scepter وَأَينَand where لَمnot
طَلَبَ العِمامَةَ وَالقَضيبَ وَأَينَ لَم
تَبلُغreach حَماقَةُthe folly of ذَلِكَthat الحَجّامِcupper
تَبلُغ حَماقَةُ ذَلِكَ الحَجّامِ
He sought the turban and the scepter—where has
He sought the turban and the staff though where did
that cupper's folly failed to reach?
The foolishness of that barber reach.
أَتُراهُdo you think he وُهِّمَwas deluded أَنَّهُthat he أَهلٌworthy لَهاof it
أَتُراهُ وُهِّمَ أَنَّهُ أَهلٌ لَها
سَفَهاًfoolishly تَعَدّيoverreaching هَذِهِthese الأَوهامِdelusions
سَفَهاً تَعَدّي هَذِهِ الأَوهامِ
Do you think he was deluded into believing himself worthy of it?
Does he imagine he deserves them,
What folly in the overreach of these delusions!
In ignorant excess beyond these delusions?
قَدindeed رامَhe sought تَفريقَthe division of المَواليthe retainers بَعدَماafter
قَد رامَ تَفريقَ المَوالي بَعدَما
جُمِعواthey were united عَلىaround مَلِكٍa king أَغَرَّillustrious هُمامِvaliant
جُمِعوا عَلى مَلِكٍ أَغَرَّ هُمامِ
He sought to divide the retainers after
He wanted to divide the loyalists after they
they had been united around an illustrious, valiant king,
Were united under a king whose ambition aroused them,
مُتَعَزِّزٍstrengthened بِاللَهِby God أَصبَحَhe became نِعمَةًa blessing
مُتَعَزِّزٍ بِاللَهِ أَصبَحَ نِعمَةً
لِلَّهِfrom God سابِغَةًabundant عَلىupon الإِسلامِIslam
لِلَّهِ سابِغَةً عَلى الإِسلامِ
strengthened by God, who has become a blessing
One strengthened by God who became a perfect blessing
from God, bestowed abundantly upon Islam.
Upon Islam, abundant and wide.
ثَبتِsteadfast الأَناةِdeliberation إِذاwhen اِستَبَدَّhe acted independently بِرَأيِهِby his own judgment
ثَبتِ الأَناةِ إِذا اِستَبَدَّ بِرَأيِهِ
وَفّاكَhe fulfills for you حَقّاthe due claims النَقضِundoing وَالإِبرامِand confirming
وَفّاكَ حَقّا النَقضِ وَالإِبرامِ
Steadfast in deliberation, when he decides by his own judgment,
Steadfast of purpose when his opinion prevailed
he fulfills for you the claims of both undoing and confirming.
And justly final in unraveling and tying matters.
ساقَhe drove الأُمورَaffairs بِعَزمِهِwith his resolve فَاِستَوسَقَتso they fell into order
ساقَ الأُمورَ بِعَزمِهِ فَاِستَوسَقَت
لِمُوَفَّقٍfor one granted success فيin أَمرِهِhis affairs عَزّامِresolute
لِمُوَفَّقٍ في أَمرِهِ عَزّامِ
He drove affairs with his resolve, and they fell into order
He led matters with his resolve so they came to be watered
for one blessed with success in his affairs and firm of purpose.
By one successful in his command, determined.
فَخمٌmajestic إِذاwhen حَمَلَhe bears السِلاحَarms عَجِبتَyou marvel مِنat
فَخمٌ إِذا حَمَلَ السِلاحَ عَجِبتَ مِن
بَدرٍa full moon تَأَلَّقَshone فيin سَوادِthe blackness of غَمامِclouds
بَدرٍ تَأَلَّقَ في سَوادِ غَمامِ
Majestic when he bears arms, he makes you marvel at
A frowning face that, when it took up arms, you were amazed
a full moon shining in the blackness of clouds.
By a full moon gleaming amid the darkness of clouds.
لَبّاسِever wearing أَثوابِthe garments of الحُروبِwars مُشَمِّرٍrolling up his sleeves
لَبّاسِ أَثوابِ الحُروبِ مُشَمِّرٍ
عَنfrom ساعِدَيthe two forearms of أَسَدٍa lion بِبيشَةِin Bishah هامِroaming
عَن ساعِدَي أَسَدٍ بِبيشَةِ هامِ
Ever clad in war's garments, he bares
Wearing the garb of war, rolling up
the forearms of a lion roaming in Bishah.
The forearms of a lion, with a zealous soul.
يَجفوhe shuns رَقيقَthe softness of العَيشِlife حَتّىuntil تَنجَليclear away
يَجفو رَقيقَ العَيشِ حَتّى تَنجَلي
شُبَهُthe obscurities of الشُكوكِdoubts وَسُدفَةُand the gloom of الإِظلامِdarkness
شُبَهُ الشُكوكِ وَسُدفَةُ الإِظلامِ
He shuns the softness of life until there clear away
He routed the soft life until the doubts were dispelled
the obscurities of doubt and the gloom of darkness.
And the darkness of confusion lifted.
لَمّاwhen اِستَرابَhe grew suspicious بِماof what اِستَرابَhe grew suspicious بِهِof it اِنبَرىhe sprang forth
لَمّا اِستَرابَ بِما اِستَرابَ بِهِ اِنبَرى
بِمُهَنَّدِwith an Indian-steel sword الحَدَّينِthe two edges غَيرِnot كَهامِblunt
بِمُهَنَّدِ الحَدَّينِ غَيرِ كَهامِ
When he grew suspicious of what he suspected, he sprang forth
When he doubted what he doubted, he stirred
with a double-edged Indian-steel sword, no blunt blade.
With the sword of sharpness, showing no cowardice.
فَسَرىthen he marched by night بِعَينٍwith an eye ماnot تَنامُsleep عَلىupon القَذىa mote
فَسَرى بِعَينٍ ما تَنامُ عَلى القَذى
لِهَلاكِfor the destruction of سَرعىprostrate men فيin الحِجالِcurtained chambers نِيامِasleep
لِهَلاكِ سَرعى في الحِجالِ نِيامِ
Then he marched by night, with an eye that will not sleep upon a mote,
He went with an eye that does not sleep on the slain
to destroy men lying asleep in curtained chambers.
To destroy the swift fugitives on chargers dozing.
لَعِبواthey trifled وَلَجَّand pressed relentlessly بِهِمagainst them لَجوجٌa stubborn man ماحِكٌcontentious
لَعِبوا وَلَجَّ بِهِم لَجوجٌ ماحِكٌ
فيin الحَربِwar يُرخِصُهاhe makes it cheap عَلىfor المُستامِthe bidder
في الحَربِ يُرخِصُها عَلى المُستامِ
They trifled, while a stubborn, contentious man pressed them
They played and a stubborn deceiver goaded them
in war, offering it cheaply to whoever bids.
To make war easy upon the submissive.
أَيقَظتُموهُyou awakened him وَنِمتُمُand you slept عَنheedless of صَولَةٍan onslaught
أَيقَظتُموهُ وَنِمتُمُ عَن صَولَةٍ
طَحَنَتit ground down مَناكِبَthe shoulders of يَذبُلٍYadhbul وَشَمامِand Shamam
طَحَنَت مَناكِبَ يَذبُلٍ وَشَمامِ
You awakened him and slept heedless of an onslaught
You awakened him while you slept through a raging assault
that ground down the shoulders of Yadhbul and Shamam.
That crushed the shoulders of one emaciated and starved.
ماwhat غَرَّكُمdeceived you مِنهُabout him وَقَدand already جَرَّبتُمُyou experienced
ما غَرَّكُم مِنهُ وَقَد جَرَّبتُمُ
سَطَواتِهِhis assaults فيin سالِفِthe bygone الأَعوامِyears
سَطَواتِهِ في سالِفِ الأَعوامِ
What about him deceived you, when you had already experienced
What seduced you from him when you had already experienced
his assaults in years gone by?
His power in bygone years?
تَرَكَhe abandoned الهَوادَةَleniency حينَwhen كَرَّhe charged يُريدُكُمseeking you
تَرَكَ الهَوادَةَ حينَ كَرَّ يُريدُكُم
بِعَزيمَةٍwith resolve فَصلٍdecisive وَطَرفٍand a gaze سامِlofty
بِعَزيمَةٍ فَصلٍ وَطَرفٍ سامِ
He abandoned leniency when he charged, seeking you,
He abandoned gentleness when he intended you
with decisive resolve and a lofty gaze.
With a resolute separation and a glancing blow.
وَغَداand he went forth وَآجامُand the thickets of الرِماحِspears مَظِنَّةٌa likely haunt
وَغَدا وَآجامُ الرِماحِ مَظِنَّةٌ
مِنهُof his وَمَغنىand the dwelling of اللَيثِthe lion فيin الآجامِthe thickets
مِنهُ وَمَغنى اللَيثِ في الآجامِ
He went forth: the thickets of spears are a likely haunt
And he attacked in the morning while the spear-tips harbored
of his, a lion's dwelling amid the thickets.
Death from him and the lion's refuge in the thickets.
حَشَدَتmustered مَواليهِhis retainers لَهُfor him فَتَرادَفَتthen followed one another
حَشَدَت مَواليهِ لَهُ فَتَرادَفَت
عُصَباًin bands تُسايِفُcrossing swords دونَهُin his defense وَتُراميand exchanging projectiles
عُصَباً تُسايِفُ دونَهُ وَتُرامي
His retainers mustered for him, following one another
His loyalists marshaled ranks for him
in bands, crossing swords and exchanging projectiles in his defense.
In bands that strike below him and stretch wide.
لَوif لَمnot يَكونواthey were مُقدِمينَbold تَعَلَّمواthey would learn
لَو لَم يَكونوا مُقدِمينَ تَعَلَّموا
مِنهُfrom him التَقَدُّمَadvancing صاعَةَthe hour (probable reading) الإِقدامِdaring
مِنهُ التَقَدُّمَ صاعَةَ الإِقدامِ
Had they not been bold, they would have learned
Had they not been the first to advance, they would have learned
from him to advance at the hour of daring.
Advancement in the hour of daring from him.
مُتَقَحِّمٌplunging بِهِمِwith them الغُمارَthe depths of battle وَعَزمُهُand his resolve
مُتَقَحِّمٌ بِهِمِ الغُمارَ وَعَزمُهُ
أَنto يَخلِطَmingle الأَعلامَthe banners بِالأَعلامِwith the banners
أَن يَخلِطَ الأَعلامَ بِالأَعلامِ
He plunges with them into the depths of battle, his resolve
Assailing the dustcloud with them while his determination
to mingle banners with banners.
Was to mix banners with banners.
يَسلونَهُthey ask him فيهاin it الأَناةَdeliberation وَقَدand already رَأَواthey saw
يَسلونَهُ فيها الأَناةَ وَقَد رَأَوا
لُجَجاًdeep waters يَموجُsurges بِهِنَّthrough them بَحرٌa sea طامِoverflowing
لُجَجاً يَموجُ بِهِنَّ بَحرٌ طامِ
They ask him for deliberation there, having seen
They ask him for patience therein though they had seen
deep waters through which an overflowing sea surges,
Surging seas raging with it.
شَفَقاًout of concern عَلىfor خَيرِthe best of البَرِيَّةِcreation كُلِّهاall of it
شَفَقاً عَلى خَيرِ البَرِيَّةِ كُلِّها
نَفساًin soul وَأَفضَلِand the finest سَيِّدٍlord وَإِمامِand imam
نَفساً وَأَفضَلِ سَيِّدٍ وَإِمامِ
out of concern for the best of all creation
Concerned for the best of humankind, all of them,
in soul, and the finest lord and imam.
A soul and the finest of lords and imams.
لَمّاwhen شَهَرتَyou unsheathed السَيفَthe sword مُزدَلِفاًadvancing بِهِwith it
لَمّا شَهَرتَ السَيفَ مُزدَلِفاً بِهِ
قَلِقَgrew anxious العُبَيدُthe petty slave وَرامَand sought كُلَّevery مَرامِpossible course
قَلِقَ العُبَيدُ وَرامَ كُلَّ مَرامِ
When you unsheathed the sword, advancing with it,
When you brandished the sword, drawing near,
the petty slave grew anxious and tried every course.
The slaves were restless, each set on his goal.
وَزَحَفتَand you marched مِنfrom قُربٍnearby فَلَمso did not تَكُbe دارُهُhis dwelling
وَزَحَفتَ مِن قُربٍ فَلَم تَكُ دارُهُ
لَمّاwhen زَهَفتَyou rushed إِلَيهِtoward him دارَa dwelling of مُقامِresidence
لَمّا زَهَفتَ إِلَيهِ دارَ مُقامِ
You marched from nearby; his dwelling was not,
You approached from nearby and his house was not
when you rushed toward him, a place to remain.
A home when you stormed against it.
جَمَعَhe combined العَزيمَةَresolve وَالإِباقَand a slave's escape بِفَرَّةٍin a flight
جَمَعَ العَزيمَةَ وَالإِباقَ بِفَرَّةٍ
مَذكورَةٍmemorable أَخزَتهُit disgraced him فيamong الأَقوامِthe peoples
مَذكورَةٍ أَخزَتهُ في الأَقوامِ
He coupled resolve with a slave's escape in a flight
He gathered resolve and fleeing in remarkable
remembered for disgracing him among the peoples.
Haste that humiliated him among the tribes.
يَرجوhe hopes for الأَمانَsafety وَلاand no أَمانَsafety لِغادِرٍfor a traitor
يَرجو الأَمانَ وَلا أَمانَ لِغادِرٍ
رَشَقَhe hurled العَصاthe staff وَأَحَلَّand made lawful كُلَّevery حَآمِforbidden thing (probable reading)
رَشَقَ العَصا وَأَحَلَّ كُلَّ حَآمِ
He hopes for safety, but there is no safety for a traitor
Seeking safety while no safety is for a deserter.
who hurled the staff and declared every forbidden thing lawful.
He flung away the staff and made all things permitted.
فَاليَومَso today وجَدَتِhas found الخِلافَةِthe caliphate عِزِّهاits glory
فَاليَومَ وجَدَتِ الخِلافَةِ عِزِّها
وَأَضاءَand shone وَجهُthe face of المُلكِsovereignty بَعدَafter ظَلامِdarkness
وَأَضاءَ وَجهُ المُلكِ بَعدَ ظَلامِ
So today the caliphate has found its glory,
So today the caliphate regained its glory
and the face of sovereignty shines after darkness.
And the face of kingship shone after darkness.
أَضحىbecame بُغاءُBugha وَأَقرَبوهُand those closest to him وَهِزبُهُand his faction (probable reading)
أَضحى بُغاءُ وَأَقرَبوهُ وَهِزبُهُ
وَكَأَنَّهُمand as though they were حُلُمٌa dream مِنَamong الأَحلامِdreams
وَكَأَنَّهُم حُلُمٌ مِنَ الأَحلامِ
Bugha, those closest to him, and his faction are now
The transgressors, and those who supported and acclaimed them
as though they were a dream among dreams.
Became like a dream among dreams.
طاحواthey fell فَماand not بَكَتِwept العُيونُthe eyes عَلَيهِمِfor them
طاحوا فَما بَكَتِ العُيونُ عَلَيهِمِ
بِدُموعِهاwith their tears وَمَضَواand they departed بِغَيرِwithout سَلامِa farewell
بِدُموعِها وَمَضَوا بِغَيرِ سَلامِ
They fell, and no eyes wept for them
They fell and no eyes wept for them
with their tears; they departed without a farewell.
With their tears, and they passed without farewell.
فَاِسلَمso live in safety أَميرَCommander of المُؤمِنينَthe Faithful مُمَتَّعاًenjoying
فَاِسلَم أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ مُمَتَّعاً
بِتَتابُعِwith a succession of الآلاءِblessings وَالإِنعامِand benefactions
بِتَتابُعِ الآلاءِ وَالإِنعامِ
So live in safety, Commander of the Faithful, enjoying
So surrender the Commander of the Faithful, enjoying
a succession of blessings and benefactions.
The succession of blessings and boons!
Sol 6.1