يُجانِبُناshuns us فيin الحُبِّlove مَنone whom لاnot نُجانِبُهwe shun him
يُجانِبُنا في الحُبِّ مَن لا نُجانِبُه
وَيَبعُدُand keeps far مِنّاfrom us فيin الهَوىpassion مَنone whom نُقارِبُهwe approach him
وَيَبعُدُ مِنّا في الهَوى مَن نُقارِبُه
One whom we do not shun in love shuns us,
and one we draw close to in passion keeps far from us.
وَلاand no بُدَّescape مِنfrom واشٍa talebearer يُتاحُis provided عَلىfor النَوىseparation
وَلا بُدَّ مِن واشٍ يُتاحُ عَلى النَوى
وَقَدand sometimes تَجلُبُbring about الشَيءَthe thing البَعيدَdistant جَوالِبُهits causes
وَقَد تَجلُبُ الشَيءَ البَعيدَ جَوالِبُه
There must be a talebearer sent to foster parting;
even a distant thing may be brought about by its causes.
أَفيis it on كُلِّevery يَومٍday كاشِحٌa spiteful foe مُتَكَلِّفٌmeddlesome
أَفي كُلِّ يَومٍ كاشِحٌ مُتَكَلِّفٌ
يُصَبُّis poured عَلَيناupon us أَوor رَقيبٌa watcher نُراقِبُهwe watch him
يُصَبُّ عَلَينا أَو رَقيبٌ نُراقِبُه
Must every day bring some meddlesome enemy
poured upon us, or a watcher we must watch?
عَناtormented المُستَهامَthe love-crazed man شَجوُهُhis grief وَتَطارُبُهand his agitation
عَنا المُستَهامَ شَجوُهُ وَتَطارُبُه
وَغالَبَهُand contended with him مِنfrom حُبِّlove for عَلوَةَ'Alwa غالِبُهhis conqueror
وَغالَبَهُ مِن حُبِّ عَلوَةَ غالِبُه
His sorrow and agitation have tormented the love-crazed man,
and the conquering force of his love for 'Alwa wrestled with him.
وَأَصبَحَand he became لاnot وَصلُunion with الحَبيبِthe beloved مُيَسَّرٌmade easy
وَأَصبَحَ لا وَصلُ الحَبيبِ مُيَسَّرٌ
لَدَيهِfor him وَلاnor دارُthe dwelling of الحَبيبِthe beloved تُصاقِبُهlies close to him
لَدَيهِ وَلا دارُ الحَبيبِ تُصاقِبُه
Now union with the beloved is not made easy
for him, nor does the beloved's dwelling lie close to him.
مُقيمٌdwelling بِأَرضٍin a land قَدalready أَبَنَّhe has stayed مُعَرِّجاًlingering
مُقيمٌ بِأَرضٍ قَد أَبَنَّ مُعَرِّجاً
عَلَيهاin it وَفيand in أَرضٍa land سِواهاother than it مَآرِبُهhis desires
عَلَيها وَفي أَرضٍ سِواها مَآرِبُه
He dwells in a land where he has stayed, lingering
there, while his desires lie in another land.
سَقىmay water السَفحَthe slope مِنat بِطياسَBityas فَالجيرَةِand the neighbors الَّتيwhich
سَقى السَفحَ مِن بِطياسَ فَالجيرَةِ الَّتي
تَليlie beside السَفحَthe slope وَسمِيُّearly autumn rain دِراكٌfast-following سَحائِبُهits clouds
تَلي السَفحَ وَسمِيُّ دِراكٌ سَحائِبُه
May the slope at Bityas, and the neighboring dwellings
beside the slope, be watered by autumn rain with fast-following clouds.
فَكَمand how many لَيلَةٍa night قَدindeed بِتُّهاI spent it ثَمَّthere ناعِماًin bliss
فَكَم لَيلَةٍ قَد بِتُّها ثَمَّ ناعِماً
بِعَينَيin the two eyes of عَليلِone languid of الطَرفِgaze بيضٌwhite تَرائِبُهhis upper chest
بِعَينَي عَليلِ الطَرفِ بيضٌ تَرائِبُه
How many a night I have spent there in bliss,
delighting in the eyes of one languid of gaze, white of breast.
مَتىwhenever يَبدُhe appears يَرجِعreturns لِلمُفيقِto one recovered خَبالُهُhis madness
مَتى يَبدُ يَرجِع لِلمُفيقِ خَبالُهُ
وَيَرتَجِعِand reclaims الوَجدَthe passion المُبَرِّحَagonizing واهِبُهthe one who gave it away
وَيَرتَجِعِ الوَجدَ المُبَرِّحَ واهِبُه
Whenever he appears, the recovered man relapses into madness,
and whoever relinquished searing passion takes it back.
وَلَمand not أَنسَهُI forgot him إِذwhen قامَhe stood ثانِيَbending جيدِهِhis neck
وَلَم أَنسَهُ إِذ قامَ ثانِيَ جيدِهِ
إِلَيَّtoward me وَإِذand when مالَتleaned عَلَيَّupon me ذَوائِبُهhis locks
إِلَيَّ وَإِذ مالَت عَلَيَّ ذَوائِبُه
I have not forgotten him as he stood, bending his neck
toward me, and as his locks leaned down upon me:
عِناقٌan embrace يَهِدُّshatters الصَبرَpatience وَشكَthe swiftness of اِنقِضائِهِits ending
عِناقٌ يَهِدُّ الصَبرَ وَشكَ اِنقِضائِهِ
وَيُذكيand kindles الجَوىburning heartache أَوuntil يَسكُبَpours out الدَمعَtears ساكِبُهthe one shedding them
وَيُذكي الجَوى أَو يَسكُبَ الدَمعَ ساكِبُه
an embrace whose swift ending shatters patience
and inflames heartache until the weeper pours out tears.
أَلاlisten هَلhas ...? أَتاهاreached her أَنَّthat مُظلِمَةَthe darkness of الدُجىdeep night
أَلا هَل أَتاها أَنَّ مُظلِمَةَ الدُجى
تَجَلَّتhas cleared وَأَنَّand that العَيشَlife سُهِّلَwas made easy جانِبُهits side
تَجَلَّت وَأَنَّ العَيشَ سُهِّلَ جانِبُه
Has word reached her that the darkness of night
has cleared, and life's way has been made smooth,
وَأَنّاand that we رَدَدناreturned المُستَعارَwhat was borrowed مُذَمَّماًdisgraced
وَأَنّا رَدَدنا المُستَعارَ مُذَمَّماً
عَلىto أَهلِهِits owners وَاِستَأنَفَand took up anew الحَقَّthe right صاحِبُهits holder
عَلى أَهلِهِ وَاِستَأنَفَ الحَقَّ صاحِبُه
and that we returned what was borrowed, disgraced,
to its owners, and the rightful holder reclaimed his right?
عَجِبتُI marveled لِهَذاat this الدَهرِage أَعيَتhave baffled صُروفُهُits reversals
عَجِبتُ لِهَذا الدَهرِ أَعيَت صُروفُهُ
وَماand not الدَهرُthe age إِلّاexcept صَرفُهُits changing fortunes وَعَجائِبُهand its wonders
وَما الدَهرُ إِلّا صَرفُهُ وَعَجائِبُه
I marvel at this age: its reversals defy comprehension,
yet the age is nothing but its changes and wonders.
مَتىwhen أَمَّلَhoped الدَيّاكُthe cock-keeper أَنthat تُصطَفىbe reserved لَهُfor him
مَتى أَمَّلَ الدَيّاكُ أَن تُصطَفى لَهُ
عُرىthe fastenings of التاجِthe crown أَوor تُثنىbe wound عَلَيهِaround him عَصائِبُهits bands
عُرى التاجِ أَو تُثنى عَلَيهِ عَصائِبُه
When did the cock-keeper ever hope that for him would be reserved
the crown's fastenings, or its bands be wound about him?
فَكَيفَso how اِدَّعىclaimed حَقَّthe right to الخِلافَةِthe caliphate غاصِبٌa usurper
فَكَيفَ اِدَّعى حَقَّ الخِلافَةِ غاصِبٌ
حَوىheld دونَهُto his exclusion إِرثَthe inheritance of النَبِيِّthe Prophet أَقارِبُهhis kinsmen
حَوى دونَهُ إِرثَ النَبِيِّ أَقارِبُه
How, then, did a usurper claim the right to the caliphate,
while the Prophet's kinsmen held his inheritance to his exclusion?
بَكىwept المِنبَرُthe pulpit الشَرقِيُّeastern إِذwhen خارَbellowed فَوقَهُabove it
بَكى المِنبَرُ الشَرقِيُّ إِذ خارَ فَوقَهُ
عَلىat الناسِthe people ثَورٌa bull قَدalready تَدَلَّتhung down غَباغِبُهits dewlaps
عَلى الناسِ ثَورٌ قَد تَدَلَّت غَباغِبُه
The eastern pulpit wept when above it there bellowed
at the people a bull with dangling dewlaps.
ثَقيلٌheavy عَلىat جَنبِthe side of الثَريدِbread soaked in broth مُراقِبٌwatching
ثَقيلٌ عَلى جَنبِ الثَريدِ مُراقِبٌ
لِشَخصِfor the form of الخِوانِthe dining table يَبتَديto appear فَيُواثِبُهthen he pounces on it
لِشَخصِ الخِوانِ يَبتَدي فَيُواثِبُه
Heavy beside the tharid, he keeps watch
for the table's form to appear, then pounces upon it.
إِذاwhen ماemphasis اِحتَشىhe stuffed himself مِنwith حاضِرِthe available الزادِfood لَمnot يُبَلhe cared
إِذا ما اِحتَشى مِن حاضِرِ الزادِ لَم يُبَل
أَضاءَwhether blazed شِهابُthe meteor of المُلكِkingship أَمor كَلَّgrew dull ثاقِبُهits piercing light
أَضاءَ شِهابُ المُلكِ أَم كَلَّ ثاقِبُه
Once he has stuffed himself with the food at hand, he cares not
whether kingship's meteor blazes or its piercing light grows dull.
إِذاwhen بَكَرَcame early الفَرّاشُthe chamber attendant يَنثوrecounts حَديثَهُhis tale
إِذا بَكَرَ الفَرّاشُ يَنثو حَديثَهُ
تَضاءَلَdwindles مُطريهِhis eulogist وَأَطنَبَand speaks at length عائِبُهhis detractor
تَضاءَلَ مُطريهِ وَأَطنَبَ عائِبُه
When the chamber attendant comes early, recounting his tale,
his eulogist dwindles, and his detractor speaks at length.
تَخَطّىhe overreached إِلىfor الأَمرِthe office الَّذيwhich لَيسَhe was not أَهلَهُfit for it
تَخَطّى إِلى الأَمرِ الَّذي لَيسَ أَهلَهُ
فَطَوراًso at times يُنازيهِhe contends with it وَطَوراًand at times يُشاغِبُهhe wrangles with it
فَطَوراً يُنازيهِ وَطَوراً يُشاغِبُه
He overreached for an office he was unfit to hold,
now wrestling with it, now wrangling with it.
فَكَيفَso how رَأَيتَyou found الحَقَّthe right قَرَّbecame firm قَرارُهُits footing
فَكَيفَ رَأَيتَ الحَقَّ قَرَّ قَرارُهُ
وَكَيفَand how رَأَيتَyou saw الظُلمَinjustice آلَتturned out عَواقِبُهits consequences
وَكَيفَ رَأَيتَ الظُلمَ آلَت عَواقِبُه
How, then, did you find the right, firmly established,
and how did injustice's consequences turn out in your eyes?
وَلَمand not يَكُنِwas المُغتَرُّthe falsely confident man بِاللَهِin God إِذwhen سَرىhe traveled by night
وَلَم يَكُنِ المُغتَرُّ بِاللَهِ إِذ سَرى
لِيُعجِزَto escape وَالمُعتَزُّand al-Mu'tazz بِاللَهِthrough God طالِبُهhis pursuer
لِيُعجِزَ وَالمُعتَزُّ بِاللَهِ طالِبُه
Nor was the man falsely confident in God, when he fled by night,
to escape, with al-Mu'tazz bi-llah in pursuit.
رَمىhe cast away بِالقَضيبِthe scepter عَنوَةًunder compulsion وَهوَwhile he was صاغِرٌhumbled
رَمى بِالقَضيبِ عَنوَةً وَهوَ صاغِرٌ
وَعُرِّيَand were stripped مِنof بُردِthe mantle of النَبِيِّthe Prophet مَناكِبُهhis shoulders
وَعُرِّيَ مِن بُردِ النَبِيِّ مَناكِبُه
He cast away the scepter under compulsion, humbled,
and his shoulders were stripped of the Prophet's mantle.
وَقَدand indeed سَرَّنيpleased me أَنthat قيلَit was said وُجِّهَhe was dispatched مُسرِعاًin haste
وَقَد سَرَّني أَن قيلَ وُجِّهَ مُسرِعاً
إِلىtoward الشَرقِthe east تُحدىare urged onward سُفنُهُhis ships وَرَكائِبُهand his riding beasts
إِلى الشَرقِ تُحدى سُفنُهُ وَرَكائِبُه
It pleased me to be told that he was dispatched in haste
eastward, his ships and riding beasts urged onward,
إِلىto كَسكَرٍKaskar خَلفَafter الدَجاجِchickens وَلَمand not تَكُنwere
إِلى كَسكَرٍ خَلفَ الدَجاجِ وَلَم تَكُن
لِتَنشَبَto fasten إِلّاexcept فيin الدَجاجِchickens مَخالِبُهhis claws
لِتَنشَبَ إِلّا في الدَجاجِ مَخالِبُه
to Kaskar, after chickens; never would
his claws fasten on anything but chickens.
لَهُhe has شَبَهٌa resemblance مِنto تاجَوَيهِTajawayh مُبَيِّنٌclear
لَهُ شَبَهٌ مِن تاجَوَيهِ مُبَيِّنٌ
يُنازِعُهُhe vies with him for أَخلاقَهُhis traits وَيُجاذِبُهand tugs against him
يُنازِعُهُ أَخلاقَهُ وَيُجاذِبُه
He bears a clear resemblance to Tajawayh,
vying with him in character and contending with him.
وَماand not لِحيَةُthe beard of القَصّارِthe fuller حينَwhen تَنَفَّشَتit bristled
وَما لِحيَةُ القَصّارِ حينَ تَنَفَّشَت
بِجالِبَةٍbringing خَيراًany good عَلىupon مَنwhoever يُناسِبُهis related to him
بِجالِبَةٍ خَيراً عَلى مَن يُناسِبُه
Nor did the fuller's beard, when it bristled,
bring any good upon anyone related to him.
يَجوزُpasses muster اِبنُIbn خَلّادٍKhallad عَلىin الشِعرِpoetry عِندَهُin his judgment
يَجوزُ اِبنُ خَلّادٍ عَلى الشِعرِ عِندَهُ
وَيُضحيand becomes شُجاعٌShuja' وَهوَwhile he is لِلجَهلِfor ignorance كاتِبُهhis scribe
وَيُضحي شُجاعٌ وَهوَ لِلجَهلِ كاتِبُه
Ibn Khallad passes muster in poetry with him,
and Shuja' becomes his scribe—a scribe to ignorance.
فَأَقسَمتُso I swore بِالبَيتِby the House الحَرامِsacred وَمَنand by those whom حَوَتcontained
فَأَقسَمتُ بِالبَيتِ الحَرامِ وَمَن حَوَت
أَباطِحُهُits gravelly valleys مِنof مُحرِمٍa pilgrim in consecration وَأَخاشِبُهand its rugged mountains
أَباطِحُهُ مِن مُحرِمٍ وَأَخاشِبُه
So I swore by the Sacred House, and by those whom
its gravelly valleys and rugged mountains hold, pilgrims in consecration:
لَقَدsurely حَمَلَhas led المُعتَزُّal-Mu'tazz أُمَّةَthe community of أَحمَدٍAhmad
لَقَد حَمَلَ المُعتَزُّ أُمَّةَ أَحمَدٍ
عَلىupon سَنَنٍa path يَسريleads إِلىto الحَقِّthe truth لاحِبُهits open course
عَلى سَنَنٍ يَسري إِلى الحَقِّ لاحِبُه
al-Mu'tazz has surely led Ahmad's community
along a path whose open course leads to the truth.
تَدارَكَhe rescued دينَthe religion of اللَهِGod مِنfrom بَعدِafter ماthat عَفَتhad faded
تَدارَكَ دينَ اللَهِ مِن بَعدِ ما عَفَت
مَعالِمُهُits landmarks فيناamong us وَغارَتand sank كَواكِبُهits stars
مَعالِمُهُ فينا وَغارَت كَواكِبُه
He rescued God's religion after the fading
of its landmarks among us and the sinking of its stars.
وَضَمَّand gathered شَعاعَthe scattered parts of المُلكِthe realm حَتّىuntil تَجَمَّعَتcame together
وَضَمَّ شَعاعَ المُلكِ حَتّى تَجَمَّعَت
مَشارِقُهُits eastern lands مَوفورَةًundiminished وَمَغارِبُهand its western lands
مَشارِقُهُ مَوفورَةً وَمَغارِبُه
He gathered the realm's scattered parts until they came together—
its eastern lands, undiminished, and its western lands.
إِمامُan imam of هُداًguidance يُرجىis hoped for وَيُرهَبُand is feared عَدلُهُhis justice
إِمامُ هُداً يُرجى وَيُرهَبُ عَدلُهُ
وَيَصدُقُand is right in راجيهِthe one hoping in him الظُنونَexpectations وَراهِبُهand the one fearing him
وَيَصدُقُ راجيهِ الظُنونَ وَراهِبُه
An imam of guidance, whose justice inspires hope and fear:
those who hope in him and fear him find their expectations true.
مُدَبِّرُruler of دُنياa world أَمسَكَتheld fast يَقَظاتُهُhis vigils
مُدَبِّرُ دُنيا أَمسَكَت يَقَظاتُهُ
بِآفاقِهاto its horizons القُصوىfarthest وَماwhile not yet طَرَّsprouted شارِبُهhis mustache
بِآفاقِها القُصوى وَما طَرَّ شارِبُه
A ruler of a world—his wakeful vigilance held fast
to its farthest horizons before his mustache had sprouted.
فَكَيفَso how وَقَدand already ثابَتhas returned إِلَيهِto him أَناتُهُhis deliberation
فَكَيفَ وَقَد ثابَت إِلَيهِ أَناتُهُ
وَراضَتand tamed صِعابَthe unruly hardships of الحادِثاتِevents تَجارِبُهhis experiences
وَراضَت صِعابَ الحادِثاتِ تَجارِبُه
How much more now that deliberation has returned to him,
and his experience has tamed the unruly turns of events!
وَأَبيَضُand a fair man مِنof آلِthe house of النَبِيِّthe Prophet إِذاwhen اِحتَبىhe sits with knees drawn up
وَأَبيَضُ مِن آلِ النَبِيِّ إِذا اِحتَبى
لِساعَةِfor an hour of عَفوٍpardon فَالنُفوسُthen lives مَواهِبُهhis gifts
لِساعَةِ عَفوٍ فَالنُفوسُ مَواهِبُه
And a fair man of the Prophet's house: when he sits, knees drawn up,
for an hour of pardon, lives are his gifts.
تَغَمَّدَhe enveloped بِالصَفحِin pardon الذُنوبَsins وَأَسجَحَتand were lenient
تَغَمَّدَ بِالصَفحِ الذُنوبَ وَأَسجَحَت
سَجاياهُhis traits فيtoward أَعدائِهِhis enemies وَضَرائِبُهand his dispositions
سَجاياهُ في أَعدائِهِ وَضَرائِبُه
He shrouded sins in pardon, and mildness marked
his traits and dispositions toward his enemies.
نَضاhe unsheathed السَيفَthe sword حَتّىuntil اِنقادَsubmitted مَنwhoever كانَhad been آبِياًdefiant
نَضا السَيفَ حَتّى اِنقادَ مَن كانَ آبِياً
فَلَمّاthen when اِستَقَرَّbecame established الحَقُّthe right شيمَتwere sheathed مَضارِبُهits cutting edges
فَلَمّا اِستَقَرَّ الحَقُّ شيمَت مَضارِبُه
He unsheathed the sword until the defiant submitted;
once the right stood firm, its cutting edges were sheathed.
وَمازالَand he has ever been مَصبوباًpoured forth عَلىupon مَنwhoever يُطيعُهُobeys him
وَمازالَ مَصبوباً عَلى مَن يُطيعُهُ
بِفَضلٍwith bounty وَمَنصوراًand granted victory عَلىover مَنwhoever يُحارِبُهfights him
بِفَضلٍ وَمَنصوراً عَلى مَن يُحارِبُه
He has ever poured forth upon those who obey him
in bounty, and been granted victory over those who fight him.
إِذاwhen حُصِّلَتare assessed عُلياthe loftiest honors of قُرَيشٍQuraysh تَناصَرَتrally together
إِذا حُصِّلَت عُليا قُرَيشٍ تَناصَرَت
مَآثِرُهُhis glorious deeds فيin فَخرِهِمtheir boasting وَمَناقِبُهand his virtues
مَآثِرُهُ في فَخرِهِم وَمَناقِبُه
When Quraysh's loftiest honors are assessed, they rally together—
his glorious deeds and virtues—in their proud claim.
لَهُhe has مَنصِبٌa station فيهِمamong them مَكينٌsecure مَكانُهُits place
لَهُ مَنصِبٌ فيهِم مَكينٌ مَكانُهُ
وَحَقٌّand a right عَلَيهِمupon them لَيسَis not يُدفَعُdenied واجِبُهits due
وَحَقٌّ عَلَيهِم لَيسَ يُدفَعُ واجِبُه
He holds a station among them whose place is secure,
and a claim upon them whose due cannot be denied.
بِكَthrough you اِشتَدَّgrew strong عُظمُthe might of المُلكِkingship فيهِمamong them فَأَصبَحَتso became
بِكَ اِشتَدَّ عُظمُ المُلكِ فيهِم فَأَصبَحَت
تَقِرُّstand firm رَواسيهِits foundations وَتَعلوand rise مَراتِبُهits ranks
تَقِرُّ رَواسيهِ وَتَعلو مَراتِبُه
Through you the might of kingship among them grew strong; now
its foundations stand firm and its ranks rise high.
وَقَدand indeed عَلِمواthey knew أَنَّthat الخِلافَةَthe caliphate لَمnot تَكُنwas
وَقَد عَلِموا أَنَّ الخِلافَةَ لَم تَكُن
لِتَصحَبَto follow إِلّاexcept مَذهَباًa path أَنتَyou ذاهِبُهtaking it
لِتَصحَبَ إِلّا مَذهَباً أَنتَ ذاهِبُه
And they have known that the caliphate would never
follow any path except the one you take.
Sol 6.1