يُفَنِّدونَthey impute folly وَهُمwhile they أَدنىnearer إِلىto الفَنَدِfolly
يُفَنِّدونَ وَهُم أَدنى إِلى الفَنَدِ
وَيُرشِدونَand they guide وَماyet not التَعذالُreproach مِنpart of رَشَديmy right guidance
وَيُرشِدونَ وَما التَعذالُ مِن رَشَدي
They call me foolish, though they are closer to folly.
They refute while they are closer to refutation
And they counsel me, though reproach does not guide me aright.
And guide while they are far from guidance
وَكَيفَand how يُصغيlistens إِلَيهِمto them أَوor يُصيخُlistens intently لَهُمto them
وَكَيفَ يُصغي إِلَيهِم أَو يُصيخُ لَهُم
مُستَغلِقُheld captive القَلبِthe heart فيهِمto them راهِنُpledged الكَبِدِthe liver
مُستَغلِقُ القَلبِ فيهِم راهِنُ الكَبِدِ
And how can he listen to them or lend them an ear—
How can one with a heart locked inside them listen to them
One whose heart is captive to them, whose liver is held in pledge?
When the liver is a hostage among them
هَلwhether أَنتَyou مِنfrom حُبِّlove of لَيلىLayla آخِذٌtaking hold بِيَديof my hand
هَل أَنتَ مِن حُبِّ لَيلى آخِذٌ بِيَدي
أَوor ناصِرٌa helper ليfor me عَلىagainst التَعذيبِtorment وَالسُهُدِand sleeplessness
أَو ناصِرٌ لي عَلى التَعذيبِ وَالسُهُدِ
Will you take my hand to free me from love for Layla,
Are you here out of love for Layla taking me by the hand
Or help me against torment and sleeplessness?
Or supporting me against torment and persecution
وَهَلand whether دُموعٌtears أَفاضَmade flow النَهيُprohibition رَيِّقَهاtheir first drops
وَهَل دُموعٌ أَفاضَ النَهيُ رَيِّقَها
تُدنيbring near مِنَfrom البُعدِdistance أَوor تَشفيheal مِنَfrom الكَمَدِanguish
تُدني مِنَ البُعدِ أَو تَشفي مِنَ الكَمَدِ
And can tears, whose first drops admonition made flow,
Have tears poured down whose flow brings nearness
Bring the distant near, or cure anguish?
Or heals from despair
فَماfor not يَزالُceases جَوىًburning grief فيin الصَدرِthe breast يُضرِمُهُkindles it
فَما يَزالُ جَوىً في الصَدرِ يُضرِمُهُ
وَشكُimminence of النَوىseparation وَصُدودُand aversion of الأُنَّسِcompanionable women الخُرُدِbashful maidens
وَشكُ النَوى وَصُدودُ الأُنَّسِ الخُرُدِ
For anguish still burns in the breast, inflamed by
The embers still burn inside my chest
Imminent separation and the aversion of gentle, bashful maidens.
And doubt of purpose and the loss of petty pleasures
قَدalready باتَspent the night مُستَعبِراًweeping مَنhe who كانَwas مُصطَبِراًpatiently enduring
قَد باتَ مُستَعبِراً مَن كانَ مُصطَبِراً
وَعادَand became ذاpossessed of جَزَعٍanguish مَنhe who كانَwas ذاpossessed of جَلَدِfortitude
وَعادَ ذا جَزَعٍ مَن كانَ ذا جَلَدِ
He who once endured patiently has spent the night weeping,
The one who was patient has awoken desperate
And he who once had fortitude has become distraught.
And the one who was brave returns fearful
إِنif أَسخَطِI resent الهَجرَestrangement لاnot أَرجِعI turn إِلىto بَدَلٍa substitute
إِن أَسخَطِ الهَجرَ لا أَرجِع إِلى بَدَلٍ
مِنهُfor it وَإِنand if أَطلُبِI seek السُلوانَconsolation لاnot أَجِدِI find
مِنهُ وَإِن أَطلُبِ السُلوانَ لا أَجِدِ
If I resent estrangement, I turn to no substitute
If I get angry at estrangement, I will not go back on it
For it; and if I seek consolation, I find none.
And if I seek solace I will not find it
وَقَدand already تَجاذَبَنيpulled me both ways شَوقانِtwo yearnings عَنby عَرَضٍchance
وَقَد تَجاذَبَني شَوقانِ عَن عَرَضٍ
مِنfrom بَينِbetween مُطَّرَفٍnewly acquired عِنديwith me وَمُتَّلَدِand long-held
مِن بَينِ مُطَّرَفٍ عِندي وَمُتَّلَدِ
And two yearnings have unexpectedly pulled me in opposite directions,
Two desires have pulled me between an offer
One newly acquired by me, the other long possessed.
From one well dressed and finely adorned
لاnot عَيشُlife in وَجرَةَWajra يُنسيmakes one forget عَيشَlife in ذيDhu سَلَمِSalam
لا عَيشُ وَجرَةَ يُنسي عَيشَ ذي سَلَمِ
وَلاnor هَوىlove of القُربِnearness يُسليoffers consolation عَنfor هَوىlove of البُعُدِdistance
وَلا هَوى القُربِ يُسلي عَن هَوى البُعُدِ
Life at Wajra does not make me forget life at Dhu Salam,
Neither the life of displacement makes me forget the life of peace
Nor does love close at hand console me for love far away.
Nor does the passion of nearness distract from the longing of distance
تَنَصَّبَrose up البَرقُthe lightning مُختالاًswaggering فَقُلتُand I said لَهُto it
تَنَصَّبَ البَرقُ مُختالاً فَقُلتُ لَهُ
لَوif جُدتَyou gave generously جودَthe generosity of بَنيthe sons of يَزدادَYazdad لَمnot تَزِدِyou would exceed
لَو جُدتَ جودَ بَني يَزدادَ لَم تَزِدِ
The lightning rose up, swaggering, and I said to it:
Lightning stood tall and arrogant, so I said to it
Were you to give as the sons of Yazdad give, you could give no more.
If you were to find generosity, you would not increase if given more
الجاعِلينَthose who devote عَلىdespite عِلّاتِafflictions of دَهرِهِمُtheir age
الجاعِلينَ عَلى عِلّاتِ دَهرِهِمُ
كَرائِمَthe choicest treasures of المالِwealth فيin الإِنعامِbeneficence وَالصَفَدِand gifts
كَرائِمَ المالِ في الإِنعامِ وَالصَفَدِ
Those who, despite the afflictions of their age, devote
They have made the excellent characteristics
The choicest wealth to benefactions and gifts.
Like generous wealth, a defect for them
فَلَستَso you are not تَنفَكُّbecome free مِنfrom شُكرٍgratitude وَمِنand from أَمَلٍhope
فَلَستَ تَنفَكُّ مِن شُكرٍ وَمِن أَمَلٍ
مُكَرَّرَينِboth repeated بِيَومٍby a day مِنهُمُfrom them وَغَدِand a morrow
مُكَرَّرَينِ بِيَومٍ مِنهُمُ وَغَدِ
So you never cease to feel gratitude and hope,
So you will not be rid of gratitude and hope
Both renewed by them, today and tomorrow.
Repeated day after day by them
تَيَمَّمواthey sought الخُطَّةَthe course المُثلىbest عَلىalong سَنَنٍa straight path
تَيَمَّموا الخُطَّةَ المُثلى عَلى سَنَنٍ
لَمnot يَظلِموهُthey strayed from it وَباعواand they traded الغَيَّerror بِالرَشَدِfor right guidance
لَم يَظلِموهُ وَباعوا الغَيَّ بِالرَشَدِ
They sought the best course along a straight path
They devised the best plan according to principles
From which they never strayed, and traded error for right guidance.
Without wronging him and traded wisdom for deviance
بَنوsons of أَغَرَّan illustrious man مِنَfrom الأَقوامِthe peoples شادَbuilt لَهُمfor them
بَنو أَغَرَّ مِنَ الأَقوامِ شادَ لَهُم
مَجدَglory of الحَياةِlife وَأَقناهُمand endowed them عَلىfor الأَبَدِeternity
مَجدَ الحَياةِ وَأَقناهُم عَلى الأَبَدِ
Sons of an illustrious man among the peoples, who built for them
The sons of Gharr built the glory of life for them
The glory of life and endowed them with it forever.
And made it eternal for them
يَقفونَthey follow مِنهُfrom him خِلالاًtraits كُلُّهاall of them حَسَنٌgood
يَقفونَ مِنهُ خِلالاً كُلُّها حَسَنٌ
إِنif عُدِّدَتthey are counted غادَرَتthey leave فَضلاًa surplus عَلىbeyond العَدَدِthe count
إِن عُدِّدَت غادَرَت فَضلاً عَلى العَدَدِ
They follow his example in qualities that are all good,
They inherit from it only good, however much is counted
Which, if counted, leave still more beyond the count.
It goes beyond the count in virtue
وَماand not تَزالُcease to be أَواخيthe tethering stakes of المُلكِkingship ثابِتَةًfirm
وَما تَزالُ أَواخي المُلكِ ثابِتَةً
مِنهُمamong them بِكُلِّthrough each رَحيبِbroad الباعِthe armspan وَالبَلَدِand the breast
مِنهُم بِكُلِّ رَحيبِ الباعِ وَالبَلَدِ
And the tethering stakes of kingship remain firm,
The pillars of the kingdom remain steadfast through them
Through each man among them, broad of reach and breast,
Throughout the breadth of the land and country
بِنُصحِthrough sincere counsel of مُجتَهِدٍa diligent man صَحَّتproved sound عَزيمَتُهُhis resolve
بِنُصحِ مُجتَهِدٍ صَحَّت عَزيمَتُهُ
أَوor عَزمِresolve of مُنجَرِدٍone keen to act أَوor حَزمِprudence of مُتَّئِدِa deliberate man
أَو عَزمِ مُنجَرِدٍ أَو حَزمِ مُتَّئِدِ
Through the sincere counsel of a diligent man whose resolve is sound,
With the advice of one who makes effort, his determination succeeded
Or the resolve of one swift to act, or the prudence of one deliberate.
Or the resolve of one focused, or the firmness of one who braces
فَاللَهُso God يَكلَأُguards عَبدَAbd (servant of) اللَهِAllah (God) إِنَّindeed لَهُhe has
فَاللَهُ يَكلَأُ عَبدَ اللَهِ إِنَّ لَهُ
مَكارِماًnoble qualities مَنwhoever يُخَوَّلis granted بَعضَهاsome of them يَسُدِbecomes a lord
مَكارِماً مَن يُخَوَّل بَعضَها يَسُدِ
May God guard Abd Allah, for he possesses
So God will protect the servant of God, indeed he possesses
Noble qualities: whoever is granted some of them becomes a lord.
Virtues that suffice even if only some are commissioned
بَحرٌa sea مَتىwhenever تُستَمَحare asked for bounty أَمواجُwaves of جَمَّتِهِits abundant waters
بَحرٌ مَتى تُستَمَح أَمواجُ جَمَّتِهِ
تَفِضthey overflow وَغَيثٌand rain مَتىwhen ماever يُستَجَدis asked for bounty يَجُدِgives generously
تَفِض وَغَيثٌ مَتى ما يُستَجَد يَجُدِ
A sea: whenever the waves of its abundant waters are asked for bounty,
An ocean - when the waves of its abundance are summoned -
They overflow; and rain that gives whenever its bounty is sought.
Overflows, and a rain - when sought - brings rain
تَفَرَّجَتparted حَلبَةُthe racing company of الكُتّابِscribes حينَwhen جَرَواthey raced
تَفَرَّجَت حَلبَةُ الكُتّابِ حينَ جَرَوا
عَنrevealing سابِقٍa front-runner بِخِصالِin the qualities of السَبقِprecedence مُنفَرِدِunrivaled
عَن سابِقٍ بِخِصالِ السَبقِ مُنفَرِدِ
The field of scribes parted as they raced,
The arena of writers showed joy when they flowed
To reveal a front-runner unrivaled in the qualities of victory.
Beyond precedent, uniquely possessing the merits of precedence
إِنif يُعمِلواthey practice الجَورَinjustice يَقصِدhe acts equitably فيin تَصَرُّفِهِhis dealings
إِن يُعمِلوا الجَورَ يَقصِد في تَصَرُّفِهِ
أَوor يُسرِفواthey go to excess فيin فُنونِvarieties of الأَمرِaffairs يَقتَصِدِhe is moderate
أَو يُسرِفوا في فُنونِ الأَمرِ يَقتَصِدِ
If they practice injustice, he acts equitably in his dealings;
If they commit injustice, his dealings with it aim
Or if they go to excess in diverse affairs, he remains moderate.
To make things right, while if they exceed in authority he shows restraint
أَدّىfulfilled الأَمانَةَthe trust لَمnot تَعجَزfell short كِفايَتُهُhis competence
أَدّى الأَمانَةَ لَم تَعجَز كِفايَتُهُ
عَنهاof it وَلَمand not يَستَنِمhe relied فيهاin it إِلىon أَحَدِanyone
عَنها وَلَم يَستَنِم فيها إِلى أَحَدِ
He fulfilled the trust; his competence never fell short
He fulfilled the trust, his competence
Of it, nor did he rely on anyone in its discharge.
Did not fall short of it, nor was he dependent on anyone for it
مُشارِفاًoverseeing لِأَقاصيto the farthest reaches of الأَمرِaffairs يَكلَأُهاhe guards them
مُشارِفاً لِأَقاصي الأَمرِ يَكلَأُها
بِرَأيِwith the judgment of مُحتَفِلٍone attentive لِلأَمرِto affairs مُحتَشِدِmustering his efforts
بِرَأيِ مُحتَفِلٍ لِلأَمرِ مُحتَشِدِ
Surveying the farthest reaches of affairs, he guards them
Handling the peripheries of authority, prostecting them
With the judgment of one attentive to affairs, mustering all his powers.
With the heedful opinion of one firmly centered around it
إِنَّindeed السِياسَةَgovernance قَدalready آلَتhas passed إِلىto يَقِظٍa vigilant man
إِنَّ السِياسَةَ قَد آلَت إِلى يَقِظٍ
مُوَفَّقٍrightly guided لِسَبيلِto the path of الحَقِّtruth مُعتَمَدِtrusted
مُوَفَّقٍ لِسَبيلِ الحَقِّ مُعتَمَدِ
Governance has indeed passed to a vigilant man,
Indeed, politics came into the hands of one vigilant
Rightly guided to the path of truth and worthy of trust.
And successful towards the path of truth, reliable
لَمnot يَرجُهاhe hoped for it بِأَكاذيبِthrough the lies of الظُنونِconjectures وَلَمand not
لَم يَرجُها بِأَكاذيبِ الظُنونِ وَلَم
يَمتُتhe pleaded ties إِلىto نَيلِهاattaining it إِذwhen مُتَّties were pleaded مِنfrom بُعُدِafar
يَمتُت إِلى نَيلِها إِذ مُتَّ مِن بُعُدِ
He did not hope for it through lying conjectures, nor
He did not tilt it with the lies of assumptions nor
Did he plead ties to attain it when ties were pleaded from afar.
Incline towards attaining it when absent from it
أَلفىhe found أَباهُhis father عَلىon نَهجٍa path فَطاوَلَهُand rivaled him
أَلفى أَباهُ عَلى نَهجٍ فَطاوَلَهُ
عَلىon السَواءِequal terms وَجاراهُand kept pace with him إِلىto الأَمَدِthe finish
عَلى السَواءِ وَجاراهُ إِلى الأَمَدِ
He found his father on a path and rivaled him,
He found guidance like his father in an approach
On equal terms, keeping pace with him to the finish.
Matching it in extent and moving with it towards perpetuity
بِمَذهَبٍwith conduct غَيرِnot مَدخولٍflawed وَلاnor طَبِعٍsullied
بِمَذهَبٍ غَيرِ مَدخولٍ وَلا طَبِعٍ
وَنائِلٍand bounty غَيرِnot مَنزورٍscant وَلاnor ثَمَدِa shallow pool
وَنائِلٍ غَيرِ مَنزورٍ وَلا ثَمَدِ
With conduct neither flawed nor sullied,
With an unprecedented way or nature
And bounty neither scant nor a shallow pool.
Attaining the unvisited without any pillar or support
تِلكَthat الخِلافَةُthe caliphate قَدalready دارَتhas turned عَلىupon قُطُبٍa pivot
تِلكَ الخِلافَةُ قَد دارَت عَلى قُطُبٍ
مِنof رَأيِهِhis judgment الثَبتِsteadfast وَاِستَذرَتand sought shelter إِلىwith سَنَدِa buttress
مِن رَأيِهِ الثَبتِ وَاِستَذرَت إِلى سَنَدِ
That caliphate has turned upon a pivot
Authority has revolved around a pole
Of his steadfast judgment, and sought the shelter of a buttress.
Of steadfast opinion, seeking support unto a backbone
تُهابُis feared عَدوَتُهُhis onslaught مِنfrom دونِbefore حَوزَتِهاits precincts
تُهابُ عَدوَتُهُ مِن دونِ حَوزَتِها
كَماjust as تُهابُis dreaded وَتُخشىand is feared عَدوَةُthe onslaught of الأَسَدِthe lion
كَما تُهابُ وَتُخشى عَدوَةُ الأَسَدِ
His onslaught is feared before its precincts,
The enmity towards it is feared without its realm
As the lion's onslaught is dreaded and feared.
As the enmity and fear towards a lion is feared
يَرُدُّhe sends back أَيَّany يَدٍhand مُدَّتwas extended لِتَنقُصَهاto diminish it
يَرُدُّ أَيَّ يَدٍ مُدَّت لِتَنقُصَها
مَجذوذَةَsevered at الزَندِthe wrist أَوor مَهذوذَةَhewn off at العَضُدِthe upper arm
مَجذوذَةَ الزَندِ أَو مَهذوذَةَ العَضُدِ
He sends back any hand extended to diminish it,
He repels any hand outstretched to diminish it
Severed at the wrist or hewn off at the upper arm.
Scraped by the sharp edge or severed at the bone
إِسلَمremain safe أَباAbu (father of) صالِحٍSalih لِلمَكرُماتِfor noble deeds فَقَدfor already
إِسلَم أَبا صالِحٍ لِلمَكرُماتِ فَقَد
أَحيَيتَهاyou revived them وَهيَwhile they مِنto مَوتٍdeath عَلىin صَدَدِclose proximity
أَحيَيتَها وَهيَ مِن مَوتٍ عَلى صَدَدِ
Live in safety, Abu Salih, for noble deeds; for
Abu Salih has submitted to acts of grace so you
You revived them as they stood on the verge of death.
Have revived them while nearing death and demise
عَمَّتencompassed صَنائِعُكَyour benefactions الراجينَthose who hope وَاِبتَعَثَتand awakened
عَمَّت صَنائِعُكَ الراجينَ وَاِبتَعَثَت
آمالَthe hopes of مَنthose who لَمnot يَرُمsought سَعياًeffort وَلَمand not يُرِدِwished
آمالَ مَن لَم يَرُم سَعياً وَلَم يُرِدِ
Your benefactions have reached all who hope, and awakened
Your crafts have encompassed the hopeful and awakened
The hopes of those who had neither sought to strive nor wished to.
Hopes for those who did not strive nor seek
وَرَدَّand restored تَدبيرُكَyour governance الدُنياthe world وَقَدwhile already صَلُحَتit was set right
وَرَدَّ تَدبيرُكَ الدُنيا وَقَد صَلُحَت
عَفواًeffortlessly وَلَولاكَand but for you لَمnot تَصلُحit would mend وَلَمand not تَكَدِit would come close
عَفواً وَلَولاكَ لَم تَصلُح وَلَم تَكَدِ
And your governance restored the world, now set right,
Your governance returned the world to order, and properly it has,
Effortlessly; without you it would not have mended, nor come close.
It would not have succeeded if not for you, nor continued
ماnot فيin الخِلافَةِthe caliphate مِنany وَهيٍweakness فَيُجبِرَهُso he might mend it
ما في الخِلافَةِ مِن وَهيٍ فَيُجبِرَهُ
آسٍa healer وَلاnor فيin قَناةِthe spear-shaft of المُلكِkingship مِنany أَوَدِcrookedness
آسٍ وَلا في قَناةِ المُلكِ مِن أَوَدِ
There is no weakness in the caliphate to be mended
There is no defect in the caliphate for him to mend
By a healer, nor any crookedness in the spear-shaft of kingship.
No weakness in the conduit of the kingdom to repair
وَلاnor الكَواكِبُthe stars فيin لَيلِthe night of الرَبيعِspring تَلَتfollowed
وَلا الكَواكِبُ في لَيلِ الرَبيعِ تَلَت
غَيثاًrain بِأَبهَجَmore delightful مِنthan أَيّامِكَyour days الجُدُدِnew
غَيثاً بِأَبهَجَ مِن أَيّامِكَ الجُدُدِ
Nor are the stars on a spring night, following
Nor do stars in the spring night pour
Rain, more delightful than your new days.
Rain more delightful than your renewing days
Sol 6.1