إِنَّindeed طَيفاًa dream-apparition يَزورُنيvisits me فيin المَنامِsleep
إِنَّ طَيفاً يَزورُني في المَنامِ
لَخَلِيٌّis certainly free مِنfrom لَوعَتيmy anguish وَغَراميand my passion
لَخَلِيٌّ مِن لَوعَتي وَغَرامي
Indeed, a phantom that visits me in sleep
A specter visits me in my dreams,
is quite free of my anguish and passion.
One who shares my torment and passion.
غادَةٌa tender maiden بِتُّI spent the night أَحمِلُbearing اللَومَthe reproach فيهاfor her sake
غادَةٌ بِتُّ أَحمِلُ اللَومَ فيها
وَعَناءُand the torment الموهِبِّthe lover (unclear reading) طولُthe length المَلامِof reproach
وَعَناءُ الموهِبِّ طولُ المَلامِ
A tender maiden, for whose sake I spent the night bearing reproach;
A beautiful damsel for whom I bear the blame,
and a lover's torment is prolonged reproach.
And the toil of gifting is to bear the blame.
نَظَرَتshe looked خُلسَةًfurtively إِلَيَّat me فَأعدىand infected
نَظَرَت خُلسَةً إِلَيَّ فَأعدى
بَدَنيmy body طَرفُthe glance عَينِهاof her eye بِالسَقامِwith sickness
بَدَني طَرفُ عَينِها بِالسَقامِ
She looked at me furtively, and struck
She glanced at me furtively and her gaze
my body with sickness through her eye's glance.
Infected my body with lovesickness.
أُنِّثَتwas made feminine ثُمَّthen ذُكِّرَتwas made masculine فَلَهاso she has دَلُّthe coquetry
أُنِّثَت ثُمَّ ذُكِّرَت فَلَها دَلُّ
فَتاةٍof a maiden رودٍgentle وَقَدُّand the figure غُلامِof a boy
فَتاةٍ رودٍ وَقَدُّ غُلامِ
Made feminine, then masculine, she has the coquetry
She's feminine yet masculine, so she has the allure
of a gentle maiden and the figure of a boy.
Of a delicate girl and vigor of a youth.
وَلِحُسنِand for the beauty الحَلالِof the lawful فَضلٌa special merit إِذاwhen ماindeed
وَلِحُسنِ الحَلالِ فَضلٌ إِذا ما
شابَهُmingles with it فيin العُيونِthe eyes ظَرفُthe charm الحَرامِof the forbidden
شابَهُ في العُيونِ ظَرفُ الحَرامِ
And lawful beauty has a special merit when
Virtuous beauty is superior when
forbidden charm mingles with it in the eyes.
It resembles the charm of the forbidden.
قَدindeed سَقَتنيshe gave me drink بِكَأسِهاfrom her cup وَبِفيهاand from her mouth
قَد سَقَتني بِكَأسِها وَبِفيها
ماwhat يُرَوّىbrings relief مِنfrom غُلَّةِthe burning thirst المُستَهامِof the lovesick one
ما يُرَوّى مِن غُلَّةِ المُستَهامِ
She has given me drink from her cup and her mouth:
She quenched my thirst with her cup, in which
what quenches the lovesick one's burning thirst.
Was a draught to slake the most ardent thirst.
فيin اِعتِدالٍtemperateness مِنَof الزَمانِthe season يُباريrivals
في اِعتِدالٍ مِنَ الزَمانِ يُباري
هِit (attached suffix) فَتَحكيهِand she mirrors it بِاِعتِدالِin the balance القَوامِof the figure
هِ فَتَحكيهِ بِاِعتِدالِ القَوامِ
In a temperate season, she rivals
In the prime of life she rivals,
it, mirroring it in the balance of her form.
Her dimples with the prime of stature.
إِنَّماonly العَيشُtrue living أَنthat تَكونَbe اللَياليthe nights
إِنَّما العَيشُ أَن تَكونَ اللَيالي
مُفضِلاتٌexceeding طولاًin length عَلىover الأَيّامِthe days
مُفضِلاتٌ طولاً عَلى الأَيّامِ
True living is for the nights to be
Life is truly living when the nights
longer than the days.
Are longer than the days.
قَدindeed صَفاhas cleared جانِبُthe expanse الهَواءِof the air وَلَذَّتand has become delightful
قَد صَفا جانِبُ الهَواءِ وَلَذَّت
رِقَّةُthe delicacy الماءِof water فيin مِزاجِthe blend المُدامِof wine
رِقَّةُ الماءِ في مِزاجِ المُدامِ
The expanse of air has cleared, and delightful is
The air was clear and the delicate
the delicacy of water blended into the wine.
Taste of water mixed in wine was pleasant.
وَاِستُتِمَّand was completed الصَبيحُal-Sabih فيat خَيرِthe finest وَقتٍtime
وَاِستُتِمَّ الصَبيحُ في خَيرِ وَقتٍ
فَهوَso it is مَغنىan abode أُنسِof delight وَدارُand a dwelling مُقامِfor residence
فَهوَ مَغنى أُنسِ وَدارُ مُقامِ
And al-Sabih was completed at the finest time;
And the morn culminated at the best time,
it is an abode of delight and a place to dwell.
As a companion of intimacy and home of stay.
ناظِرٌfacing وِجهَةَtoward المَليحِal-Malih فَلَوand if يَنspeaks (first part)
ناظِرٌ وِجهَةَ المَليحِ فَلَو يَن
طِقُspeaks (completion) حَيّاهُwould greet it مُعلِناًopenly بِالسَلامِwith peace
طِقُ حَيّاهُ مُعلِناً بِالسَلامِ
Facing al-Malih, and if it could
A viewer faced the direction of the beauty, so if
speak, it would greet it openly with peace.
Her life greeted with peace proclaimed.
أُلبِساboth were clothed بَهجَةًin splendor وَقابَلَand faced ذاthis one
أُلبِسا بَهجَةً وَقابَلَ ذا
ذاكَthat one فَمِنso among them ضاحِكٍone laughing وَمِنand among them بَسّامِone smiling
ذاكَ فَمِن ضاحِكٍ وَمِن بَسّامِ
Both were clothed in splendor, and this one faced
She was clothed in joy and met
that one: one laughing, the other smiling.
Him with laughter and smiles.
كَالمُحَبَّينِlike two lovers لَوif أَطاقاthe two were able اِلتِقاءًto meet
كَالمُحَبَّينِ لَو أَطاقا اِلتِقاءً
أَفرَطاthe two would go to excess فيin العِناقِembracing وَالاِلتِزامِand holding close
أَفرَطا في العِناقِ وَالاِلتِزامِ
Like two lovers who, if they could meet,
Like two lovers, if able to meet
would embrace and hold each other to excess.
They would cling in intense embrace.
تُنفِذُcarries through الريحُthe wind جَريَهاits course بَينَbetween قُطرَيthe two extremities
تُنفِذُ الريحُ جَريَها بَينَ قُطرَي
هِof it (attached suffix) فَتَكبوthen stumbles مِنfrom وِنيَةٍlassitude وَسَآمِand weariness
هِ فَتَكبو مِن وِنيَةٍ وَسَآمِ
The wind runs its course between its two extremities,
The wind makes its way between its rains
then stumbles from lassitude and weariness.
Then settles out of lassitude and boredom.
مُستَمِدٌّdrawing its supply بِجَدوَلٍthrough a channel مِنfrom عُبابِthe surging mass الthe (article of 'water')
مُستَمِدٌّ بِجَدوَلٍ مِن عُبابِ ال
ماءِwater كَالأَبيَضِlike the white الصَقيلِpolished الحُسامِkeen-edged sword
ماءِ كَالأَبيَضِ الصَقيلِ الحُسامِ
It draws its supply through a channel from the surging
Drawing from the overflowing water
water, like a white, polished, keen-edged sword.
Like the polished white sword.
فَإِذاand when ماindeed تَوَسَّطَenters the middle of البِركَةَthe pool الخَضthe green (first part)
فَإِذا ما تَوَسَّطَ البِركَةَ الخَض
راءَgreen (completion) أَلقَتit casts عَلَيهِupon it صِبغَthe hue الرُخامِof marble
راءَ أَلقَت عَلَيهِ صِبغَ الرُخامِ
And when it enters the middle of the green pool,
So when it bisects the green pond,
the pool casts upon it the marble's hue.
It takes on the dye of emerald.
فَتَراهُso you see it كَأَنَّهُas though it were ماءُwater بَحرٍof the sea
فَتَراهُ كَأَنَّهُ ماءُ بَحرٍ
يَخدَعُdeceives العَينَthe eye وَهوَalthough it is ماءُwater غَمامِfrom clouds
يَخدَعُ العَينَ وَهوَ ماءُ غَمامِ
You see it as though it were seawater,
You would think it a sea,
deceiving the eye, though it is water from clouds.
Deceiving the eye, yet it is rainwater.
وَالدَواليبُand the waterwheels إِذas يَدُرنَthey turn وَلاand no ناwater-drawer (first part)
وَالدَواليبُ إِذ يَدُرنَ وَلا نا
ضِحُwater-drawer (completion) يُسقىwater is supplied بِهِنَّthrough them غَيرُother than النَعامِthe 'ostrich' well-frames
ضِحُ يُسقى بِهِنَّ غَيرُ النَعامِ
And the waterwheels, as they turn, with no water-drawer
The wheels spin but are not
to supply water through them but the 'ostrich' well-frames,
Used to irrigate any but ostriches.
بِدَعٌmarvels أُنشِأَتwere fashioned لِأُولىfor the most entitled عِبادِservants اللَGod (first part)
بِدَعٌ أُنشِأَت لِأُولى عِبادِ اللَ
هِGod (completion) بِالرُكنِto the Corner وَالصَفاand al-Safa وَالمَقامِand the Station
هِ بِالرُكنِ وَالصَفا وَالمَقامِ
are marvels made for the one among God's servants most entitled
A deserted place made for the first
to the Corner, al-Safa, and the Station.
Worshipers at the corner, plain and station.
إِنَّindeed خَيرَthe finest القُصورِof palaces أَصبَحَhas become مَوهوbestowed (first part)
إِنَّ خَيرَ القُصورِ أَصبَحَ مَوهو
باًbestowed (completion) بِكُرهِagainst the will العِدىof the enemies لِخَيرِupon the finest الأَنامِof mankind
باً بِكُرهِ العِدى لِخَيرِ الأَنامِ
Indeed, the finest of palaces has been bestowed,
Indeed the best of palaces has been
against the enemies' will, upon the finest of mankind.
Avoided, hated by the best of people.
جاوَرَneighbors الجَعفَرِيَّal-Ja'fari وَاِنحازَand has drawn close شِبداShibdaz (first part)
جاوَرَ الجَعفَرِيَّ وَاِنحازَ شِبدا
زُShibdaz (completion) إِلَيهِto it كَالراغِبِlike one eager المُعتامِchoosing the best
زُ إِلَيهِ كَالراغِبِ المُعتامِ
It neighbors al-Ja'fari, and Shibdaz has drawn
It neighbors Ja'fari and leans
close to it, like an eager chooser.
Toward it like one blindly imitating.
حِلَلٌabodes مِنamong مَنازِلِthe residences المُلكِof kingship كَالأَنlike the stars (first part)
حِلَلٌ مِن مَنازِلِ المُلكِ كَالأَن
جُمِstars (completion) يَلمَعنَthey gleam فيin سَوادِthe blackness الظَلامِof darkness
جُمِ يَلمَعنَ في سَوادِ الظَلامِ
Abodes among the royal residences, like stars
Gleaming residences of a kingdom like
gleaming in the blackness of night.
Stars in the darkness of night.
مُفحَماتٌleaving one speechless تُعيِexhaust الصِفاتِdescriptions فَماso not تُدare grasped (first part)
مُفحَماتٌ تُعيِ الصِفاتِ فَما تُد
رَكُare grasped (completion) إِلّاexcept بِالظَنِّthrough conjecture وَالإيهامِand illusion
رَكُ إِلّا بِالظَنِّ وَالإيهامِ
They leave one speechless, defying description, and cannot
Perplexing qualities, so they are
be grasped except through conjecture and illusion.
Perceived only by conjecture and illusion.
فَكَأَنّاso it is as though we نُحِسُّهاsense them فيin الأَمانيwishes
فَكَأَنّا نُحِسُّها في الأَماني
أَوor نَراهاsee them فيin طارِقِthe night-visitant الأَحلامِof dreams
أَو نَراها في طارِقِ الأَحلامِ
So it is as though we sense them in our wishes,
It's as if we sense them in our wishes
or see them in dreams that visit by night.
Or see them in the visions of our dreams.
غُرَفٌchambers مِنof بِناءِa building دينٍfor faith وَدُنياand worldly life
غُرَفٌ مِن بِناءِ دينٍ وَدُنيا
يوجِبُordains اللَهُGod فيهِfor it أَجرُthe reward الإِمامِof the imam
يوجِبُ اللَهُ فيهِ أَجرُ الإِمامِ
Chambers built for faith and worldly life,
Chambers of religious and worldly structure
for which God ordains the imam's reward.
For which God confers the reward of the imam.
شَوَّقَتناthey made us yearn إِلىfor الجِنانِParadise فَزِدناso we increased
شَوَّقَتنا إِلى الجِنانِ فَزِدنا
فيin اِجتِنابِavoiding الذُنوبِsins وَالآثامِand transgressions
في اِجتِنابِ الذُنوبِ وَالآثامِ
They have made us yearn for Paradise, so we have increased
They have roused in us longing for paradise
our avoidance of sins and transgressions.
And avoiding sins and misdeeds.
وَبِهاand through them تُشرِفُyou surpass الأَوائِلَthe ancients مُلكاًin kingship
وَبِها تُشرِفُ الأَوائِلَ مُلكاً
وَتُباهىand you vie in glory with مُكاثِريthose competing in numbers with الإِسلامِIslam
وَتُباهى مُكاثِري الإِسلامِ
Through them you surpass the ancients in kingship,
With them the predecessors ennobled
and vie in glory with those who rival Islam in numbers.
A kingdom and the proliferators of Islam boasted.
بارَكَmay bless اللَهُGod لِلخَليفَةِfor the caliph فيin المَجthe glory (first part)
بارَكَ اللَهُ لِلخَليفَةِ في المَج
دِglory (completion) المُعَلّىexalted وَالمَأثُراتِand achievements الكِرامِnoble
دِ المُعَلّى وَالمَأثُراتِ الكِرامِ
May God bless the caliph in exalted
May God bless the Caliph in glorious
glory and noble achievements,
Deeds and generous acts.
وَأَراهُand may He show him آمالَهُhis hopes فيin وُلاةِthe heirs العَهthe covenant (first part)
وَأَراهُ آمالَهُ في وُلاةِ العَه
دِcovenant (completion) أَهلِpeople of الوَفاءِloyalty وَالإِنعامِand generosity
دِ أَهلِ الوَفاءِ وَالإِنعامِ
and show him his hopes fulfilled in the heirs
And show him his hopes in the governors
apparent, men of loyalty and generosity.
Of the covenant, people of loyalty and favor.
لاnot يَزالواmay they cease فيin غَبطَةٍfelicity وَسُرورِand joy
لا يَزالوا في غَبطَةٍ وَسُرورِ
وَبَقاءٍand continuance مِنof مُلكِهِhis reign وَدَوامِand permanence
وَبَقاءٍ مِن مُلكِهِ وَدَوامِ
May they ever remain in felicity and joy,
May they remain in felicity and joy,
and in the continuance and permanence of his reign.
The durability of his kingdom and permanence.
Sol 6.1