رَأَتshe saw وَخطَa streak of شَيبٍgray hair فيin عِذاريmy sideburns فَصَدَّتِso she turned away
رَأَت وَخطَ شَيبٍ في عِذاري فَصَدَّتِ
وَلَمand did not تَتَنَظَّرwait بيfor me نَوىًseparation قَدalready أَجَدَّتِbecame resolute
وَلَم تَتَنَظَّر بي نَوىً قَد أَجَدَّتِ
She saw a streak of gray in my sideburns and turned away.
She saw the streaks of greyness in my temples, so she turned away,
Nor did separation, now in earnest, wait for me.
And did not glance at me with desire like she used to.
تَصُدُّshe turns away عَلىdespite أَنَّthat الوِصالَunion هُوَit الَّذيwhich
تَصُدُّ عَلى أَنَّ الوِصالَ هُوَ الَّذي
وَدِدتُI wished زَماناًonce أَنthat يَدومَit last وَوَدَّتِand she wished
وَدِدتُ زَماناً أَن يَدومَ وَوَدَّتِ
She turns away, though union is what
She turns away excusing that it is connection that I wanted for so long to last,
I once wished would last—and she wished it too.
and she wished for a time that it would endure and be affectionate.
هَلِis ...? العَيشُlife إِلّاexcept بُلغَةٌsustenance مِنfrom دُنوِّهاher nearness
هَلِ العَيشُ إِلّا بُلغَةٌ مِن دُنوِّها
أُعيرَتwas lent فَزالَso vanished العَيشُlife حينَwhen اِستُرِدَّتِwas reclaimed
أُعيرَت فَزالَ العَيشُ حينَ اِستُرِدَّتِ
Is life anything but sustenance from her nearness,
Is life anything but a loan from its joys?
lent to me? Life vanished when it was reclaimed.
When it was taken back, life ceased when she turned away.
تَجَنَّبتِناyou shunned us أَوor تَسلُكَtake the road العيسُthe pale camels قَصدَناtoward us
تَجَنَّبتِنا أَو تَسلُكَ العيسُ قَصدَنا
أَمِor العيسُthe pale camels عَنّاfrom us يَومَon the day of عُسفانَUsfan نَدَّتِstrayed
أَمِ العيسُ عَنّا يَومَ عُسفانَ نَدَّتِ
Did you shun us, or did the pale camels take the road toward us,
Whether you avoid us or the night patrols come toward us,
or did the pale camels stray from us on the day at Usfan?
Or if the night patrols turned away from us during a stormy night.
وَفيand in البَلَدِthe land الأَقصىfarthest الَّذيwhich تَسكُنينَهُyou dwell in it
وَفي البَلَدِ الأَقصى الَّذي تَسكُنينَهُ
سُكونٌrest لِأَحشاءٍfor inward parts بِبُعدِكِthrough your distance كُدَّتِwere exhausted
سُكونٌ لِأَحشاءٍ بِبُعدِكِ كُدَّتِ
And in the farthest land where you dwell
In the furthest land which you dwell,
lies rest for hearts worn out by your distance.
My heart finds no peace without you.
شَكَرتُI thanked السَحابَthe clouds الوَطفَrain-heavy حينَwhen تَصَوَّبَتthey descended
شَكَرتُ السَحابَ الوَطفَ حينَ تَصَوَّبَت
إِلَيهِtoward it فَأَدَّتand delivered ماءَهاtheir water حينَwhen أَدَّتِthundered
إِلَيهِ فَأَدَّت ماءَها حينَ أَدَّتِ
I thanked the rain-heavy clouds when they descended
I thanked the gentle clouds when they headed
upon it, delivering their water when they thundered.
Toward you and emptied their rain when they poured down.
تُقارِضُنيexchanges with me لَيلىLayla التَهاجُرَmutual estrangement بَعدَafter ماthat
تُقارِضُني لَيلى التَهاجُرَ بَعدَ ما
تَسَدَّيتُI braved هَولاًterror فيin الهَوىlove وَتَسَدَّتِand she braved it
تَسَدَّيتُ هَولاً في الهَوى وَتَسَدَّتِ
Layla trades estrangement with me, after
After I suffered long passionately in love,
I braved terror in love, and she braved it too.
Laila treats me with estrangement.
وَماand not كانَwas لِلهِجرانِfor estrangement بَينيbetween me وَبَينَهاand between her
وَما كانَ لِلهِجرانِ بَيني وَبَينَها
بَدِيُّa beginning سِوىexcept أَنّيthat I هَزَلتُjested وَجَدَّتِand she was earnest
بَدِيُّ سِوى أَنّي هَزَلتُ وَجَدَّتِ
And estrangement between me and her had
There was no reason between us for the separation
no beginning except that I jested while she was earnest.
Except that I jested, and she became serious.
فَأَقصِرso desist عَنِfrom الوَجدِpassion الَّذيwhich عَنهُfrom it أَقصَرَتshe desisted
فَأَقصِر عَنِ الوَجدِ الَّذي عَنهُ أَقصَرَت
وَعَدَّand turn away عَنِfrom الشَوقِlonging الَّذيwhich عَنهُfrom it عَدَّتِshe turned away
وَعَدَّ عَنِ الشَوقِ الَّذي عَنهُ عَدَّتِ
So desist from the passion from which she desisted,
So leave aside the passion from which you have turned away
and turn from the longing from which she turned.
And ignore the longing from which you have distanced.
وَلِلمُهتَديand for al-Muhtadi بِاللَهِby God مَجدٌglory لَوِif اِرتَقَتrose
وَلِلمُهتَدي بِاللَهِ مَجدٌ لَوِ اِرتَقَت
إِلَيهِtoward it النُجومُthe stars رِفعَةًin height ماnot تَهَدَّتِwould find their way
إِلَيهِ النُجومُ رِفعَةً ما تَهَدَّتِ
And al-Muhtadi bi-llah has a glory that, were
If the stars in their loftiness had ascended to where the rightly-guided one reached,
the stars to rise toward its height, they would not find their way.
They would have collapsed and not remained firm.
مَواريثُinheritances مِنfrom آيِthe verses of الكِتابِthe Book وَقُربَةٌand kinship
مَواريثُ مِن آيِ الكِتابِ وَقُربَةٌ
مِنَwith المُصطَفىthe Chosen One حيزَتwere brought together إِلَيهِto him فَرُدَّتِand were restored
مِنَ المُصطَفى حيزَت إِلَيهِ فَرُدَّتِ
Inheritances from the verses of the Book, and kinship
Inheritance from the verses of the Scripture and nearness
with the Chosen One, brought to him and restored.
From the Chosen One distinguished him, so he attained them.
وَقَدand indeed عَلِمَknew الأَقوامُthe peoples أَنَّthat صَريمَةًfirm resolve
وَقَد عَلِمَ الأَقوامُ أَنَّ صَريمَةً
إِذاwhen اختَلَفَتdiffered شورىthe counsel of النَجِيِّconfidants اِستَبَدَّتِtook sole command
إِذا اختَلَفَت شورى النَجِيِّ اِستَبَدَّتِ
And the peoples know that firm resolve,
The people knew that obstinacy,
when the counsels of confidants differ, takes sole command.
When the council of the Prophet disagreed, became rebellious.
مَتىwhenever وَقَدَتit blazed فيin مُظلِمِthe darkness of الأَمرِthe affair ضَوَّأَتit illuminated
مَتى وَقَدَت في مُظلِمِ الأَمرِ ضَوَّأَت
وَإِنand if ضَرَبَتit struck فيinto جانِبِthe flank of الخَطبِthe crisis قَدَّتِit cleft
وَإِن ضَرَبَت في جانِبِ الخَطبِ قَدَّتِ
Whenever it blazes in the darkness of affairs, it illumines,
When it ignited in the darkness of the matter, it misled,
and if it strikes a crisis's flank, it cleaves.
And if it struck the side of serious matters, it transgressed.
مَلِيٌّwell able بِنَصرِto champion الحَقِّthe truth وَالحَقُّand the truth أَوحَدٌalone
مَلِيٌّ بِنَصرِ الحَقِّ وَالحَقُّ أَوحَدٌ
إِذاwhen عُصبَةٌa faction مِنّاof us لِظُلمٍfor wrongdoing تَصَدَّتِrose up
إِذا عُصبَةٌ مِنّا لِظُلمٍ تَصَدَّتِ
He is well able to champion truth, though truth stands alone,
I am loyal to the victory of truth, and truth is one.
when a faction of ours rises to commit injustice.
When a group of us is biased to injustice, it opposes.
وَتَأيِيدُهُand his upholding حُكمَthe rule of الهُدىright guidance بِخُشونَةِwith sternness
وَتَأيِيدُهُ حُكمَ الهُدى بِخُشونَةِ
مِنَof الجِدِّearnest resolve لَوif مَرَّتit passed عَلىover الصَخرِrock خَدَّتِit furrowed
مِنَ الجِدِّ لَو مَرَّت عَلى الصَخرِ خَدَّتِ
And he upholds the rule of guidance with a sternness
His support is the rule of guidance with strength
of resolve that, if it passed over rock, would furrow it.
Of seriousness - if it passed over rock, it would crack it.
جَلَتunveiled قُبَّةُthe pavilion of المَيدانِthe arena أَحسَنَthe fairest حِليَةٍadornment
جَلَت قُبَّةُ المَيدانِ أَحسَنَ حِليَةٍ
لَناfor us عَنfrom تَلاليthe gleam of غُرَّةٍa radiant brow قَدalready تَبَدَّتِhad appeared
لَنا عَن تَلالي غُرَّةٍ قَد تَبَدَّتِ
The arena's pavilion revealed the fairest adornment,
Before us, the dome of the battleground wore the finest adornment,
uncovering for us the gleam of a radiant brow now in view.
When the hills were stripped bare.
وَقيدَتand were led عِتاقُthe thoroughbreds of الخَيلِthe horses حَتّىuntil تَلَفَّتَتthey turned
وَقيدَت عِتاقُ الخَيلِ حَتّى تَلَفَّتَت
بِأَعطافِهاwith their flanks مُختالَةًstrutting proudly وَتَقَدَّتِand pranced
بِأَعطافِها مُختالَةً وَتَقَدَّتِ
And the thoroughbred horses were led forth, until they turned
The freed horses were tied up, turning
their flanks, strutting proudly and prancing.
With their forelocks proudly and impetuously.
حَمَلتَyou mounted عَلَيهاon them البالِغينَgrown men تَوَقِّياًas a precaution
حَمَلتَ عَلَيها البالِغينَ تَوَقِّياً
عَلىfor صِبيَةٍboys لِلهُلكِfor destruction كانَتthey had أُعِدَّتِbeen prepared
عَلى صِبيَةٍ لِلهُلكِ كانَت أُعِدَّتِ
You mounted grown men on them, to safeguard
You carried the full-grown warriors as a precaution
boys for whose destruction they had been prepared.
Against children who were prepared for destruction.
فَماso did not اِستَثقَلَتfind heavy فُرسانَهاtheir riders إِنif تَلاحَقَتthey overtook one another
فَما اِستَثقَلَت فُرسانَها إِن تَلاحَقَت
وَماand did not اِستَبعَدَتdeem distant غاياتِهاtheir finish lines حينَwhen مُدَّتِwere extended
وَما اِستَبعَدَت غاياتِها حينَ مُدَّتِ
They did not find their riders heavy when they overtook one another,
Its steeds did not find it hard when they raced each other,
nor deem their finish lines distant when they were extended.
Nor did its goals seem far when they were extended.
وَلاand not عُدَّwas reckoned سَبقٌpreeminence مِثلَlike سَبقِكَyour preeminence فيin الَّذيwhat
وَلا عُدَّ سَبقٌ مِثلَ سَبقِكَ في الَّذي
أَتَيتَyou accomplished إِذاwhen آلاءُthe benefactions of غَيرِكَothers than you عُدَّتِwere counted
أَتَيتَ إِذا آلاءُ غَيرِكَ عُدَّتِ
No preeminence was reckoned equal to yours in what
No precedence is like your precedence in what
you accomplished, when others' benefactions were counted.
You did when others’ glories were counted.
وَماand not زِلتَyou ceased بِالمَجدِwith glory الغَريبِrare مُظَفَّراًvictorious
وَما زِلتَ بِالمَجدِ الغَريبِ مُظَفَّراً
إِذاwhen الأَنفُسُthe souls المَخسوسَةُdiminished in الحَظِّfortune حُدَّتِwere thwarted
إِذا الأَنفُسُ المَخسوسَةُ الحَظِّ حُدَّتِ
And you have never ceased to win rare glory,
You have not ceased to be granted wondrous glory
when souls with diminished fortune were thwarted.
When the tainted souls had little fortune.
أَسيتَyou grieved لِأَقوامٍfor people مَلَكتَyou governed أُمورَهُمtheir affairs
أَسيتَ لِأَقوامٍ مَلَكتَ أُمورَهُم
وَكانَتand had دَجَتdarkened أَيّامُهُمtheir days فَاِسوَأَدَّتِthen grew black
وَكانَت دَجَت أَيّامُهُم فَاِسوَأَدَّتِ
You grieved for people whose affairs you came to govern,
You were kind to people whose affairs you controlled,
and their days had darkened and grown black.
And their days had grown gloomy, so they became most gloomy.
مَضَواthey passed away لَمdid not يَرَواsee مِنof حُسنِthe beauty of عَدلِكَyour justice مَنظَراًa sight
مَضَوا لَم يَرَوا مِن حُسنِ عَدلِكَ مَنظَراً
وَلَمand did not يَلبِسواwear نُعماكَyour bounty حينَwhen اِستُجِدَّتِwas renewed
وَلَم يَلبِسوا نُعماكَ حينَ اِستُجِدَّتِ
They passed away without seeing a sight of your fair justice,
They passed away without seeing the beautiful sight of your justice
or wearing your bounty when it was renewed.
And did not experience your blessings when they were renewed.
وَلاnor عَلِمواdid they know أَنَّthat المَكارِمَnoble deeds أُبدِيَتwere displayed
وَلا عَلِموا أَنَّ المَكارِمَ أُبدِيَت
جِذاعاًyoung and vigorous وَلاnor أَنَّthat المَظالِمَinjustices رُدَّتِwere redressed
جِذاعاً وَلا أَنَّ المَظالِمَ رُدَّتِ
Nor did they know that noble deeds had been displayed
They did not know that virtues were made everlasting,
young and vigorous, or that injustices had been redressed.
Nor that wrongs were repelled.
لَئِنeven if خَسَّdiminished حَظُّthe share of الغائِبينَthe absent لَقَدindeed زَكَتflourished
لَئِن خَسَّ حَظُّ الغائِبينَ لَقَد زَكَت
حُظوظُthe shares of الشُهودِthose present مِنthrough نَداكَyour bounty وَجَدَّتِand prospered
حُظوظُ الشُهودِ مِن نَداكَ وَجَدَّتِ
Though the share of the absent dwindled, indeed there flourished
If the lot of the absent was wretched, the fortunes
the shares of those present through your bounty, and they prospered.
Of those present were purified through your bounty.
وَإِعمالُكَand your enforcement of الحَقَّjustice المُجَرَّدَunalloyed بَينَناamong us
وَإِعمالُكَ الحَقَّ المُجَرَّدَ بَينَنا
إِذاwhen عُصبَةٌa faction مِنّاof us لِظُلمٍfor wrongdoing تَصَدَّتِrose up
إِذا عُصبَةٌ مِنّا لِظُلمٍ تَصَدَّتِ
And your enforcement of unalloyed justice among us,
Your practice of impartial truth among us
when a faction of ours rises to commit injustice.
When a group of us is biased to injustice opposes it.
هَنَتكَmay it gladden you أَميرَO Commander of المُؤمِنينَthe Faithful بِشارَةٌglad tidings
هَنَتكَ أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ بِشارَةٌ
إِلَيكَto you عَلىdespite كَرهِthe displeasure of الأَعاديthe enemies تَأَدَّتِwere conveyed
إِلَيكَ عَلى كَرهِ الأَعادي تَأَدَّتِ
May glad tidings bring you joy, Commander of the Faithful,
Joyful news of you as Commander of the Faithful
delivered to you despite your enemies' displeasure.
Came to you despite the hatred of enemies it provoked.
لَقَدindeed بَسَطَbroadened الآمالُhopes حادِثُthe occurrence of وَقعَةٍa battle
لَقَد بَسَطَ الآمالُ حادِثُ وَقعَةٍ
بِدِجلَةَat the Tigris أَجرَتهاmade it flow دِماءًwith blood فَمُدَّتِso it swelled
بِدِجلَةَ أَجرَتها دِماءً فَمُدَّتِ
Indeed, a new battle has broadened hopes,
The occurrence at Dijla that shed blood
at the Tigris, making it flow with blood until it swelled.
Expanded hopes - its downpours were extended.
كَتائِبُbattalions لِلمُرّاقِof the renegades سارَتmarched لِمِثلِهاagainst their like
كَتائِبُ لِلمُرّاقِ سارَت لِمِثلِها
وَكُلٌّand each كَفَتovercame أَقرانَهاits opponents وَأَبَدَّتِand dispersed them
وَكُلٌّ كَفَت أَقرانَها وَأَبَدَّتِ
Battalions of renegades marched against their like,
Battalions set out for those like them
and each overcame its opponents and dispersed them.
And each battalion contained its counterpart and surpassed it.
وَلَمّاand when تَلاقَواthey met قُلتُI said مَنٌّa favor وَنِعمَةٌand a blessing
وَلَمّا تَلاقَوا قُلتُ مَنٌّ وَنِعمَةٌ
مِنَfrom اللَهِGod أَيُّwhichever of العُصبَتَينِthe two factions تَرَدَّتِperished
مِنَ اللَهِ أَيُّ العُصبَتَينِ تَرَدَّتِ
And when they met, I said: "A favor and a blessing
When they met, I said, “Favor and bounty
from God, whichever of the two factions perishes!"
From God - which of the two bands will be repelled?”
فَكِلتاهُماfor both of them كُفراًthrough unbelief أَضَلَّتled astray وَأَوبَقَتand brought ruin
فَكِلتاهُما كُفراً أَضَلَّت وَأَوبَقَت
وَكِلتاهُماand both of them ظُلماًin wrongdoing بَغَتrebelled وَتَعَدَّتِand transgressed
وَكِلتاهُما ظُلماً بَغَت وَتَعَدَّتِ
For both led astray through unbelief and brought ruin,
Both of them went astray in unbelief and were ruined,
and both, in wrongdoing, rebelled and transgressed.
And both of them were unjust and aggressive in transgression.
وَلِلَّهِand, by God ماwhat لاقىendured عُبَيدَةُUbayda إِذwhen رَأىhe saw
وَلِلَّهِ ما لاقى عُبَيدَةُ إِذ رَأى
فِجاجَthe passes of الوَغىbattle ضاقَتnarrowed بِهِaround him فَاِجرَهَدَّتِthen stretched far
فِجاجَ الوَغى ضاقَت بِهِ فَاِجرَهَدَّتِ
And, by God, what Ubayda endured when he saw
To God belongs what Ubaydah faced when he saw
the passes of battle narrow around him, then stretch far ahead!
The tumult of battle - its expanse was too narrow for him.
إِذاif بُتِكَتis severed يُمنىthe right يَديof my hands فَهِيَthen it is الَّتيthe one that
إِذا بُتِكَت يُمنى يَدي فَهِيَ الَّتي
مَكانَin place of الشَمالِthe left حاجَزَتstood in defense أَوor تَحَدَّتِchallenged
مَكانَ الشَمالِ حاجَزَت أَو تَحَدَّتِ
If my right hand is severed, it is the one that
If my right hand is paralyzed, it is the one that will take
took the left's place in defense or defiance.
The place of the left to defend or resist.
وَقَدand indeed سارَmarched موسىMusa فيamid جِبالٍmountains لَوَif اِنَّهاthey
وَقَد سارَ موسى في جِبالٍ لَوَ اِنَّها
تُراديwould batter الجِبالَthe mountains الراسِياتِfirmly rooted لَهُدَّتِwould surely be shattered
تُرادي الجِبالَ الراسِياتِ لَهُدَّتِ
And Musa marched amid mountains which, if they
Moses traveled mountains - if they intended
were to batter the firmly rooted mountains, those would be shattered.
To oppose the firmly rooted mountains, they would collapse.
لَهُمthey have عادَةٌa custom مِنof نُصرَةِhelp from اللَهِGod فيagainst العِدىthe foes
لَهُم عادَةٌ مِن نُصرَةِ اللَهِ في العِدى
أُقيمَwas raised بِهاthrough it دَرءُa bulwark for الثُغورِthe frontiers فَسُدَّتِso they were sealed
أُقيمَ بِها دَرءُ الثُغورِ فَسُدَّتِ
They have a tradition of God's help against their foes,
They have a custom of God’s help against enemies
by which a bulwark was raised at the frontiers, and they were sealed.
By which the defense of frontiers is established and blocked.
فَأَنتَso you لِمَنfor whoever وَدَّdesires الرَشادَright guidance مُراصِدٌkeep watch
فَأَنتَ لِمَن وَدَّ الرَشادَ مُراصِدٌ
لِساعاتِfor moments of حَزمٍresolve لِلجَليلِfor great affairs اِستُعِدَّتِwere prepared
لِساعاتِ حَزمٍ لِلجَليلِ اِستُعِدَّتِ
So, for whoever desires right guidance, you keep watch
So you watch for one who loves guidance
for moments of resolve prepared for great affairs.
At times of wise precaution taken for momentous events.
وَعَينٌand an eye مَتىwhenever كَلَّفتَهاyou charge it with الحِفظَwatchfulness لَمdoes not تَنَمsleep
وَعَينٌ مَتى كَلَّفتَها الحِفظَ لَم تَنَم
وَنَفسٌand a soul مَتىwhen ماever سُمتَهاyou bid it الجِدَّearnest effort جَدَّتِit strives
وَنَفسٌ مَتى ما سُمتَها الجِدَّ جَدَّتِ
And an eye that, whenever you charge it to guard, does not sleep,
An eye which you tasked with guarding does not sleep,
and a soul that, whenever you bid it strive, strives.
And a soul which you summoned to seriousness becomes serious.
وَكُنتُand I was اِمرَأًa man لاnot يَتبَعُfollows النَقصَdeficiency رائِديmy scout
وَكُنتُ اِمرَأً لا يَتبَعُ النَقصَ رائِدي
وَلاand not تَتَعَدّىgoes beyond الأَكرَمينَthe noblest مَوَدَّتيmy affection
وَلا تَتَعَدّى الأَكرَمينَ مَوَدَّتي
And I was a man whose scout does not seek what is deficient,
I was a man who did not follow deficiencies as my guide,
nor does my affection stray beyond the noblest.
Nor did my affection exceed the most generous.
غَنيتُI have lived أُراعيcherishing نِعمَةًa favor مِنكَfrom you أُكِّدَتwere strengthened
غَنيتُ أُراعي نِعمَةً مِنكَ أُكِّدَت
مُقَدَّمَةُthe first of الأَسبابِthe ties فيهاwithin it فَشُدَّتِthen were secured
مُقَدَّمَةُ الأَسبابِ فيها فَشُدَّتِ
I have lived cherishing a favor from you; strengthened were
I sang, reaping a blessing from you that was confirmed -
its first bonds, and firmly secured.
Its means were given precedence, so it was fortified.
وَصالِحَand favorable رَأيٍregard مِنكَfrom you كُنتُI had ذَخَرتُهُstored it away
وَصالِحَ رَأيٍ مِنكَ كُنتُ ذَخَرتُهُ
فَصارَso it became عَتاديmy equipment لِلزَمانِagainst time وَعُدَّتيand my provision
فَصارَ عَتادي لِلزَمانِ وَعُدَّتي
And favorable regard from you, which I had stored away,
I had stored your wise opinion,
became my equipment against time and my provision.
So it became my provisions for time and my tool.
فَإِنso if تَمَّis completed إِذنٌpermission فيfor الوُصولِgaining access فَإِنَّهُthen it is
فَإِن تَمَّ إِذنٌ في الوُصولِ فَإِنَّهُ
تَمامُthe completion of وُجوبِthe obligation of الشُكرِgratitude آخَرَto the end of مُدَّتيmy lifespan
تَمامُ وُجوبِ الشُكرِ آخَرَ مُدَّتي
So if permission to enter your presence is fully granted, it means
If permission to visit is completed, then it
a full obligation of gratitude to the end of my days.
Is the perfection of gratitude - my final stretch.
Sol 6.1