ميلواturn aside إِلىtoward الدارِthe dwelling مِنof لَيلىLayla نُحَيِّيهاlet us greet it
ميلوا إِلى الدارِ مِن لَيلى نُحَيِّيها
نَعَمyes وَنَسأَلُهاand ask it عَنabout بَعضِsome of أَهليهاits people
نَعَم وَنَسأَلُها عَن بَعضِ أَهليها
Turn toward Layla's dwelling, that we may greet it.
Towards the abode of Layla we went to greet her,
Yes, and ask it about some of its people.
Yes, and to ask about some of her family.
يادِمنَةًO deserted campsite جاذَبَتهاwrestled with it الريحُthe wind بَهجَتَهاits beauty
يادِمنَةً جاذَبَتها الريحُ بَهجَتَها
تَبيتُspends the night تَنشُرُهاspreading it out طَوراًat one time وَتَطويهاand folding it away
تَبيتُ تَنشُرُها طَوراً وَتَطويها
O deserted campsite, the wind has wrestled with you for your beauty,
O bending branch that the wind drew away in its joy,
Spending the night now spreading it out, now folding it away.
It would spend the night spreading it out and folding it.
لازِلتِmay you ever remain فيin حُلَلٍrobes لِلغَيثِof rain ضافِيَةٍample
لازِلتِ في حُلَلٍ لِلغَيثِ ضافِيَةٍ
يُنيرُهاlights them البَرقُthe lightning أَحياناًsometimes وَيُسديهاand weaves them
يُنيرُها البَرقُ أَحياناً وَيُسديها
May you ever be clothed in ample robes of rain,
You remain in rainy garments because of the rain,
Which lightning sometimes lights and weaves.
Lightning illuminates you at times and darkens you at times.
تَروحُcome in the evening بِالوابِلِwith heavy rain الدانيnear at hand رَوائِحُهاits evening clouds
تَروحُ بِالوابِلِ الداني رَوائِحُها
عَلىupon رُبوعِكِyour dwelling-grounds أَوor تَغدوcome in the morning غَواديهاits morning clouds
عَلى رُبوعِكِ أَو تَغدو غَواديها
Its evening clouds come with heavy rain close at hand
The scent of its gentle rain wafts in your meadows
Upon your dwelling-grounds, or its morning clouds come at dawn.
Or makes its way through your valleys in the morning.
إِنَّindeed البَخيلَةَthe stingy woman لَمdid not تُنعِمgrant a favor لِسائِلِهاto her petitioner
إِنَّ البَخيلَةَ لَم تُنعِم لِسائِلِها
يَومَon the day of الكَثيبِthe dune وَلَمand did not تَسمَعlisten لِداعيهاto her caller
يَومَ الكَثيبِ وَلَم تَسمَع لِداعيها
Indeed, the stingy woman did not grant her petitioner a favor
Indeed the stingy one did not favor her asker
On the day at the dune, nor heed the one who called her.
On the day of prosperity, nor did she hear her suitor.
مَرَّتshe passed تَأَوَّدُswaying فيin قُربٍnearness وَفيand in بُعُدٍdistance
مَرَّت تَأَوَّدُ في قُربٍ وَفي بُعُدٍ
فَالهَجرُso estrangement يُبعِدُهاkeeps her distant وَالدارُand the dwelling تُدنيهاbrings her near
فَالهَجرُ يُبعِدُها وَالدارُ تُدنيها
She passed, swaying, both near and far:
She would pass by showing affection, whether near or far,
For estrangement keeps her distant, while her dwelling brings her near.
So separation keeps her away while the house brings her near.
لَولاwere it not for سَوادُthe blackness of عِذارٍa sideburn لَيسَdoes not يُسلِمُنيsurrender me
لَولا سَوادُ عِذارٍ لَيسَ يُسلِمُني
إِلىto النُهىreason لَعَدَتwould have assailed نَفسيmy soul عَواديهاits afflictions
إِلى النُهى لَعَدَت نَفسي عَواديها
Were it not for the blackness of a sideburn that will not surrender me
If not for the blackness of chastity that does not deliver me
To reason, my soul would have been assailed by its afflictions.
To prohibition, my soul would have frequented her abodes.
قَدsometimes أَطرُقُI visit by night الغادَةَthe tender maiden الحَسناءَbeautiful مُقتَدِراًin command
قَد أَطرُقُ الغادَةَ الحَسناءَ مُقتَدِراً
عَلىover الشَبابِyouth فَتُصبينيso she beguiles me وَأُصبيهاand I beguile her
عَلى الشَبابِ فَتُصبيني وَأُصبيها
I sometimes visit the lovely, tender maiden by night, in full command
I have often frequented the beautiful, chaste beloved
Of youth; she beguiles me, and I beguile her.
And she captivates me while I captivate her.
فيon لَيلَةٍa night لاnot يَنالُreaches الصُبحُthe dawn آخِرَهاits end
في لَيلَةٍ لا يَنالُ الصُبحُ آخِرَها
عَلِقتُI grew fond بِالراحِof wine أُسقاهاI am served it وَأَسقيهاand I serve it
عَلِقتُ بِالراحِ أُسقاها وَأَسقيها
On a night whose end the dawn cannot reach,
On a night whose end the dawn does not attain,
I grew fond of wine, being served it and serving it in turn.
I clung to the wind, quenching it and being quenched by it.
عاطَيتُهاI exchanged cups with her غَضَّةَtender الأَطرافِthe limbs مُرهَفَةًslender
عاطَيتُها غَضَّةَ الأَطرافِ مُرهَفَةً
شَرِبتُI drank مِنfrom يَدِهاher hand خَمراًwine وَمِنand from فيهاher mouth
شَرِبتُ مِن يَدِها خَمراً وَمِن فيها
I exchanged cups with her, tender-limbed and slender;
I gave it a glance of darting eyes, being gentle,
I drank wine from her hand, and from her mouth.
I drank wine from her hand, and from her mouth.
يامَنO you who رَأىhas seen البِركَةَthe pool الحَسناءَbeautiful رُؤيَتَهاthe sight of it
يامَن رَأى البِركَةَ الحَسناءَ رُؤيَتَها
وَالآنِساتِand the charming maidens إِذاwhen لاحَتappeared مَغانيهاtheir dwelling-places
وَالآنِساتِ إِذا لاحَت مَغانيها
O you who have seen the pool, so lovely to behold,
O you who saw the blessed beauty and her sight,
And the charming maidens when their dwellings come into view:
And the intimate ones when their meanings shone.
بِحَسبِهاenough for it أَنَّهاthat it مِنby virtue of فَضلِthe excellence of رُتبَتِهاits rank
بِحَسبِها أَنَّها مِن فَضلِ رُتبَتِها
تُعَدُّis counted واحِدَةًone وَالبَحرُand the sea ثانيهاsecond to it
تُعَدُّ واحِدَةً وَالبَحرُ ثانيها
It is enough for it, such is the excellence of its rank,
She suffices by her excellence in rank,
To be counted first, with the sea second to it.
She is counted as one, and the sea as her second.
ماwhat بالُis the matter with دِجلَةَthe Tigris كَالغَيرىlike a jealous woman تُنافِسُهاrivals it
ما بالُ دِجلَةَ كَالغَيرى تُنافِسُها
فيin الحُسنِbeauty طَوراًat one time وَأَطواراًand at other times تُباهيهاboasts against it
في الحُسنِ طَوراً وَأَطواراً تُباهيها
Why does the Tigris, like a jealous woman, rival it
Why does the Tigris compete with the Euphrates in beauty,
In beauty at times, and at others boast against it?
At times surpassing it and at times vying with it?
أَماhas ... not رَأَتseen كالِئَthe guardian of الإِسلامِIslam يَكلَءُهاprotects it
أَما رَأَت كالِئَ الإِسلامِ يَكلَءُها
مِنfrom أَنbeing تُعابَfaulted وَبانيand the builder of المَجدِglory يَبنيهاbuilds it
مِن أَن تُعابَ وَباني المَجدِ يَبنيها
Has she not seen Islam's guardian protecting it
Does it not see the protectors of Islam hugging it
From reproach, and the builder of glory building it?
Lest it be blamed and the builder of glory builds it?
كَأَنَّas though جِنَّthe jinn of سُلَيمانَSolomon الَّذينَwho وَلواundertook
كَأَنَّ جِنَّ سُلَيمانَ الَّذينَ وَلوا
إِبداعَهاits creation فَأَدَقّواso they refined فيin مَعانيهاits details
إِبداعَها فَأَدَقّوا في مَعانيها
As though it were Solomon's jinn who undertook
As if the jinn of Solomon, who submitted
Its creation, making its details exquisitely fine.
To its perfection, were keen in its meanings.
فَلَوso if تَمُرُّwere to pass بِهاby it بَلقيسُBilqis عَنby عُرُضٍchance
فَلَو تَمُرُّ بِها بَلقيسُ عَن عُرُضٍ
قالَتshe would say هِيَit is الصَرحُthe palace تَمثيلاًby analogy وَتَشبيهاand comparison
قالَت هِيَ الصَرحُ تَمثيلاً وَتَشبيها
So, if Bilqis happened to pass by it,
If Bilqis had walked by its façade,
She would say, by analogy and comparison, “It is the palace.”
She would have said it resembles an illustration.
تَنحَطُّdescend فيهاinto it وُفودُdelegations of الماءِwater مُعجَلَةًhurried
تَنحَطُّ فيها وُفودُ الماءِ مُعجَلَةً
كَالخَيلِlike horses خارِجَةًbreaking free مِنfrom حَبلِthe rope of مُجريهاtheir handler
كَالخَيلِ خارِجَةً مِن حَبلِ مُجريها
Delegations of water descend into it in haste,
The troops of water plunge into it hastily
Like horses breaking free of their handler's tether.
Like steeds emerging from the rope of its channel.
كَأَنَّماas though الفِضَّةُsilver البَيضاءُwhite سائِلَةًflowing
كَأَنَّما الفِضَّةُ البَيضاءُ سائِلَةً
مِنَfrom السَبائِكِthe ingots تَجريflows فيin مَجاريهاits channels
مِنَ السَبائِكِ تَجري في مَجاريها
As though white silver were pouring
As if white silver, molten
From ingots, flowing through its channels.
From ingots, flows in its conduits.
إِذاwhen عَلَتهاpassed over it الصَباthe east wind أَبدَتrevealed لَهاon it حُبُكاًrippled patterns
إِذا عَلَتها الصَبا أَبدَت لَها حُبُكاً
مِثلَlike الجَواشِنِbreastplates مَصقولاًpolished حَواشيهاtheir edges
مِثلَ الجَواشِنِ مَصقولاً حَواشيها
When the east wind passes over it, it reveals rippled patterns,
When the morning wind rises over it, it shows it knots
Like breastplates with polished edges.
Like polished jewels on its banks.
فَرَونَقُso the radiance of الشَمسِthe sun أَحياناًsometimes يُضاحِكُهاlaughs with it
فَرَونَقُ الشَمسِ أَحياناً يُضاحِكُها
وَرَيِّقُand the first fall of الغَيثِrain أَحياناًsometimes يُباكيهاweeps with it
وَرَيِّقُ الغَيثِ أَحياناً يُباكيها
So the sun's radiance sometimes laughs with it,
So the radiance of the sun sometimes makes it smile
And the first fall of rain sometimes weeps with it.
And the downpour of rain sometimes makes it weep.
إِذاwhen النُجومُthe stars تَراءَتshowed themselves فيin جَوانِبُهاits sides
إِذا النُجومُ تَراءَت في جَوانِبُها
لَيلاًat night حَسِبتَyou would think سَماءًa sky رُكِّبَتwas set فيهاwithin it
لَيلاً حَسِبتَ سَماءً رُكِّبَت فيها
When the stars show themselves along its sides
When the stars appear on its sides at night
At night, you would think a sky had been set within it.
You would think the sky was mounted within it.
لاnot يَبلُغُreaches السَمَكُthe fish المَحصورُconfined غايَتَهاits farthest limit
لا يَبلُغُ السَمَكُ المَحصورُ غايَتَها
لِبُعدِbecause of the distance of ماwhat lies بَينَbetween قاصيهاits far side وَدانيهاand its near side
لِبُعدِ ما بَينَ قاصيها وَدانيها
The fish confined within it cannot reach its farthest limit,
The confined fish cannot attain its extent
So great is the distance between its far and near sides.
Due to the distance between its furthest and nearest parts.
يَعُمنَthey swim فيهاin it بِأَوساطٍwith midsections مُجَنَّحَةٍwinged
يَعُمنَ فيها بِأَوساطٍ مُجَنَّحَةٍ
كَالطَيرِlike birds تَنفُضُshaking فيin جَوٍّthe air خَوافيهاtheir secondary feathers
كَالطَيرِ تَنفُضُ في جَوٍّ خَوافيها
They swim in it with winged midsections,
Fish swim in its middle with fins
Like birds shaking their secondary feathers in the air.
Like birds fluttering in clear air.
لَهُنَّfor them صَحنٌa courtyard رَحيبٌspacious فيin أَسافِلِهاits depths
لَهُنَّ صَحنٌ رَحيبٌ في أَسافِلِها
إِذاwhen اِنحَطَطنَthey descend وَبَهوٌand a hall فيin أَعاليهاits upper reaches
إِذا اِنحَطَطنَ وَبَهوٌ في أَعاليها
They have a spacious courtyard in its depths,
They have a spacious basin in its depths
When they descend, and a hall in its upper reaches.
And an abyss in its heights.
صورٌinclining إِلىtoward صورَةِthe likeness of الدُلفينِthe dolphin يُؤنِسُهاreassures them
صورٌ إِلى صورَةِ الدُلفينِ يُؤنِسُها
مِنهُfrom it اِنزِواءٌa sidelong turn بِعَينَيهِwith its two eyes يُوازيهاaligning with them
مِنهُ اِنزِواءٌ بِعَينَيهِ يُوازيها
Inclining toward the dolphin's likeness, they are reassured
Figures resembling dolphins accompany it
By its sidelong glance, its two eyes aligned with them.
With glancing eyes corresponding to it.
تَغنىcan dispense بَساتينُهاits gardens القُصوىfarthest بِرُؤيَتِهاat the sight of it
تَغنى بَساتينُها القُصوى بِرُؤيَتِها
عَنِwith السَحائِبِthe clouds مُنحَلّاًloosened عَزاليهاtheir spouts
عَنِ السَحائِبِ مُنحَلّاً عَزاليها
The sight of it suffices its farthest gardens,
Its farthest orchards are enriched by seeing it,
In place of clouds with their spouts unfastened.
Independent of clouds dispersing its isolation.
كَأَنَّهاas though it were حينَwhen لَجَّتpersisted فيin تَدَفُّقِهاits outpouring
كَأَنَّها حينَ لَجَّت في تَدَفُّقِها
يَدُthe hand of الخَليفَةِthe caliph لَمّاwhen سالَflowed واديهاits valley
يَدُ الخَليفَةِ لَمّا سالَ واديها
As though, when it pours forth without ceasing,
As if when it surged in its flow,
It were the caliph's hand, when its valley flows.
The hand of the Caliph guided its course.
وَزادَهاand added to it زينَةًadornment مِنfrom بَعدِafter زينَتِهاits adornment
وَزادَها زينَةً مِن بَعدِ زينَتِها
أَنَّthat اِسمَهُhis name حينَwhen يُدعىis called مِنamong أَساميهاits names
أَنَّ اِسمَهُ حينَ يُدعى مِن أَساميها
And what added beauty beyond its existing beauty
And it increased its adornment after its adornment
Was that his name, when spoken, is among its names.
That his name is called among its names.
مَحفوفَةٌsurrounded بِرِياضٍby gardens لاnot تَزالُyou cease تَرىyou see
مَحفوفَةٌ بِرِياضٍ لا تَزالُ تَرى
ريشَthe plumage of الطَواويسِpeacocks تَحكيهِthey imitate it وَيَحكيهاand it imitates them
ريشَ الطَواويسِ تَحكيهِ وَيَحكيها
Surrounded by gardens where you always see
Surrounded by gardens that you still see
The peacocks' plumage—they imitate it, and it imitates them.
The feathers of peacocks relating it and conversing with it.
وَدَكَّتَينِand two platforms كَمِثلِjust like الشِعرَيَينِthe two Shi‘ra stars غَدَتcame to be
وَدَكَّتَينِ كَمِثلِ الشِعرَيَينِ غَدَت
إِحداهُماone of the two بِإِزاopposite الأُخرىthe other تُساميهاrivals it in height
إِحداهُما بِإِزا الأُخرى تُساميها
And by two platforms, like the two Shi‘ra stars, set
And two hills like two forelocks have become
One opposite the other, rivaling it in height.
One rising with the elevation of the other.
إِذاwhen مَساعيthe achievements of أَميرِthe Commander of المُؤمِنينَthe Faithful بَدَتappear
إِذا مَساعي أَميرِ المُؤمِنينَ بَدَت
لِلواصِفينَto those describing فَلاthen no وَصفٌdescription يُدانيهاcomes close to them
لِلواصِفينَ فَلا وَصفٌ يُدانيها
When the achievements of the Commander of the Faithful appear
When the efforts of the Commander of the Faithful appear
Before those who describe them, no description comes close to them.
To describers, no description attains it.
إِنَّindeed الخِلافَةَthe caliphate لَمّاwhen اِهتَزَّquivered مِنبَرُهاits pulpit
إِنَّ الخِلافَةَ لَمّا اِهتَزَّ مِنبَرُها
بِجَعفَرٍwith Ja‘far أُعطِيَتwas granted أَقصىthe utmost of أَمانيهاits wishes
بِجَعفَرٍ أُعطِيَت أَقصى أَمانيها
Indeed, when the caliphate's pulpit thrilled
Indeed when its pulpit shook with Ja'far
With Ja‘far, it was granted its utmost wishes.
It was given the utmost of its wishes.
أَبدىhe showed التَواضُعَhumility لَمّاwhen نالَهاhe attained it رِعَةًout of piety
أَبدى التَواضُعَ لَمّا نالَها رِعَةً
مِنهُfrom him وَنالَتهُand it attained him فَاِختالَتso it strutted بِهِbecause of him تيهاproudly
مِنهُ وَنالَتهُ فَاِختالَت بِهِ تيها
He showed humility when he attained it, out of piety
He showed humility when he attained it trepidously
On his part; it attained him, and gloried proudly in him.
And it attained him, so it was perplexed by him.
إِذاwhen تَجَلَّتrevealed itself لَهُto him الدُنياthe world بِحِليَتِهاin its finery
إِذا تَجَلَّت لَهُ الدُنيا بِحِليَتِها
رَأَتsaw مَحاسِنَهاits beauties الدُنياthe world مَساويهاits flaws
رَأَت مَحاسِنَها الدُنيا مَساويها
When the world reveals itself to him in its finery,
When the world shone before him in its beauty,
The world sees its own beauties as its flaws.
It saw its own beauties equal to him.
ياO اِبنَson of الأَباطِحِthe gravelly valleys مِنfrom أَرضٍa land أَباطِحُهاits gravelly valleys
يا اِبنَ الأَباطِحِ مِن أَرضٍ أَباطِحُها
فيat ذُروَةِthe summit of المَجدِglory أَعلىhigher مِنthan رَوابيهاits hills
في ذُروَةِ المَجدِ أَعلى مِن رَوابيها
O son of the gravelly valleys, from a land whose gravelly valleys
O son of the desolate lands whose desolation
At glory's summit stand higher than its hills.
Is at the peak of glory, higher than its summits.
ماnot ضَيَّعَneglected اللَهُGod فيin بَدوٍthe desert وَلاnor حَضَرٍthe towns
ما ضَيَّعَ اللَهُ في بَدوٍ وَلا حَضَرٍ
رَعِيَّةًa people أَنتَyou بِالإِحسانِwith benevolence راعيهاtheir shepherd
رَعِيَّةً أَنتَ بِالإِحسانِ راعيها
God has not forsaken, in desert or town,
God did not waste in nomad or settled lands
A people whose shepherd you are through kindness.
A populace whose caretaker you are through your kindness.
وَأُمَّةٍand a nation كانَwas قُبحُthe ugliness of الجَورِoppression يُسخِطُهاangering it
وَأُمَّةٍ كانَ قُبحُ الجَورِ يُسخِطُها
دَهراًfor a long time فَأَصبَحَso now حُسنُthe beauty of العَدلِjustice يُرضيهاpleases it
دَهراً فَأَصبَحَ حُسنُ العَدلِ يُرضيها
And a nation angered by the ugliness of oppression
A nation which the ugliness of tyranny provoked
For so long is now pleased by the beauty of justice.
For so long, and now the beauty of justice satisfies it.
بَثَثتَyou spread فيهاamong it عَطاءًbounty زادَincreased فيin عَدَدِthe number of الthe
بَثَثتَ فيها عَطاءً زادَ في عَدَدِ ال
عَلياlofty deeds وَنَوَّهتَand extolled بِاِسمِthe name of الجودِgenerosity تَنويهاwith emphatic praise
عَليا وَنَوَّهتَ بِاِسمِ الجودِ تَنويها
You spread bounty among it, increasing the number of the
You have bestowed upon it gifts which increased
Lofty deeds, and extolled generosity's name with high praise.
Its exalted ones, and extolled the name of generosity.
ماnot زِلتَyou have ceased بَحراًan ocean لِعافيناto our petitioners فَكَيفَso how وَقَدwhile already
ما زِلتَ بَحراً لِعافينا فَكَيفَ وَقَد
قابَلتَناyou met us وَلَكَand yours is الدُنياthe world بِماwith all that فيهاis in it
قابَلتَنا وَلَكَ الدُنيا بِما فيها
You have always been an ocean to our petitioners; how much more, now that
You remain a sea of our wellbeing, so how could it be now
You have met us, and the world with all it holds is yours?
When we have met you, and you possess the world and all within it?
أَعطاكَهاgave it to you اللَهُGod عَنby حَقٍّright رَآكَHe deemed you لَهُfor it
أَعطاكَها اللَهُ عَن حَقٍّ رَآكَ لَهُ
أَهلاًworthy وَأَنتَand you بِحَقِّby the right of اللَهِGod تُعطيهاbestow it
أَهلاً وَأَنتَ بِحَقِّ اللَهِ تُعطيها
God gave it to you by right, deeming you
God gave it to you rightfully, for He saw you
Worthy of it; and you bestow it in keeping with God's right.
Deserving, while you distribute it by the right of God.
Sol 6.1