لَوْif رُمْتَyou sought إِبْقَاءَto preserve الوِدَادِaffection بِحالِهِin its state
لَوْ رُمْتَ إِبْقَاءَ الوِدَادِ بِحالِهِ
لَمْnot تُغْرِyou urge طَرْفَكَyour gaze بِارْتِيادِto seek out نِبَالِهِits arrows
لَمْ تُغْرِ طَرْفَكَ بِارْتِيادِ نِبَالِهِ
If you had sought to keep affection as it was,
If you wanted to maintain affection as is
you would not have urged your gaze to seek its arrows.
You would not have turned your gaze by getting used to its arrows
أَمّاbut وَقَدْand already سَلَّمْتَyou surrendered نَفْسَكَyourself لِلْهَوَىto passion
أَمّا وَقَدْ سَلَّمْتَ نَفْسَكَ لِلْهَوَى
فَأَتَتْso it brought بِماwith what تَلْقَاهُyou encounter it مِنْof أَهْوَالِهِits terrors
فَأَتَتْ بِما تَلْقَاهُ مِنْ أَهْوَالِهِ
But now that you have surrendered yourself to passion,
But since you surrendered yourself to passion
it has brought you what you now face of its terrors.
It brought what it experiences of horrors
حَدَقُpupils الجَآذِرِyoung oryxes كُنَّthey were أَوَّلَthe first شَافِعٍintercessor
حَدَقُ الجَآذِرِ كُنَّ أَوَّلَ شَافِعٍ
لِلْعَقْلِfor reason حَتَّىuntil فُكَّwas undone أَسْرُbondage عِقَالِهِits tether
لِلْعَقْلِ حَتَّى فُكَّ أَسْرُ عِقَالِهِ
The eyes of young oryxes were the first to intercede
The piercing of the separations were the first intercessors
for reason, until the bondage of its tether was undone.
To reason until its shackles were undone
يَاO مَنْwho يَلُومُblames الصَّبَّthe lovesick lover فِيin بُرَحَائِهِhis anguish
يَا مَنْ يَلُومُ الصَّبَّ فِي بُرَحَائِهِ
إِبْغِseek السَّلامَةsafety لاَnot بُلِيتَmay you be afflicted بِحَالِهِwith his condition
إِبْغِ السَّلامَة لاَ بُلِيتَ بِحَالِهِ
O you who blame the lovesick man in his anguish,
O you who blame passion in its playfulness
seek safety—may you never be afflicted with his condition.
Seek safety, you have not been afflicted by its state
مَنْone who شُغْلُهُhis preoccupation بِالحُبّwith love عَنْaway from مَحْبُوبِهِhis beloved
مَنْ شُغْلُهُ بِالحُبّ عَنْ مَحْبُوبِهِ
كَيْفَhow الفَرَاغُleisure لَهُfor him إِلىtoward عُذَّالِهِhis reproachers
كَيْفَ الفَرَاغُ لَهُ إِلى عُذَّالِهِ
One whose preoccupation with love distracts him from his beloved—
One whose preoccupation with love distracted him from his beloved
how can he have leisure for his reproachers?
How can he have time for her rejection?
هُوَhe ذَلِكَthat القَمَرُthe moon الَّذيwhich القمرُthe moon الَّذيwhich
هُوَ ذَلِكَ القَمَرُ الَّذي القمرُ الَّذي
مُتَنَاقِضٌat odds بَدْرُthe full moon الدُّجَىnight's darkness لِكَمَالِهِwith his perfection
مُتَنَاقِضٌ بَدْرُ الدُّجَى لِكَمَالِهِ
He is that moon which—the moon which—
He is that moon which is the moon which
the full moon of night is at odds with his perfection.
Is inconsistent; the full moon of darkness due to his perfection
لَوْif كُنْتُI were أَمْلِكُI possess خَدَّهُhis cheek أَفْنَيْتُهُI would consume it
لَوْ كُنْتُ أَمْلِكُ خَدَّهُ أَفْنَيْتُهُ
بِاللَّثْمِwith kisses أَوْor أَذْبَلْتُI would wither وَرْدَthe rose جَمَالِهِhis beauty
بِاللَّثْمِ أَوْ أَذْبَلْتُ وَرْدَ جَمَالِهِ
If I possessed his cheek, I would consume it
If I owned his cheek I would have extinguished it
with kisses, or wither the rose of his beauty.
With a kiss or made the rose of his beauty wilt
الحَرْبُwar بَيْنَbetween عُهُودِهِhis pledges وَوَفَائِهِand his fulfillment
الحَرْبُ بَيْنَ عُهُودِهِ وَوَفَائِهِ
كَالسِّلْمِlike peace بَيْنَbetween وُعُودِهِhis promises وَمُطَالِهِand his delay
كَالسِّلْمِ بَيْنَ وُعُودِهِ وَمُطَالِهِ
The war between his pledges and his fulfillment
War between his promises and loyalty
is like the peace between his promises and his delays.
Is like peace between his affection and hopes
طَالَتْgrew long مَسافَةُthe span هَجْرِهِhis estrangement فَكَأَنَّهَاso it is as though
طَالَتْ مَسافَةُ هَجْرِهِ فَكَأَنَّهَا
مِنْfrom لَيلِthe night عَاشِقِهِhis lover وَمِنْand from آمَالِهِhis hopes
مِنْ لَيلِ عَاشِقِهِ وَمِنْ آمَالِهِ
The span of his estrangement has grown long, as though it were
The distance of his abandonment is so long it is as if
drawn from his lover's night and his hopes.
It is from the night of his lover and from his hopes
دَانيnear المَزارِthe visiting-place يَرُوعُterrifies قَلْبيmy heart صَدُّهُhis rejection
دَاني المَزارِ يَرُوعُ قَلْبي صَدُّهُ
يَاO قُرْبَnearness شُقَّتِهِthe distance to him وَبُعْدَand remoteness مَنالِهِreaching him
يَا قُرْبَ شُقَّتِهِ وَبُعْدَ مَنالِهِ
His dwelling is near, yet his rejection terrifies my heart.
The sight of his tomb agitates my heart
How short the distance to him, how far beyond reach he is!
Oh so near is its separation and far is its attainment
كَيْفَhow الخَلاصُescape لِمَنْfor one who تَقَسَّمَbecame divided قَلْبُهُhis heart
كَيْفَ الخَلاصُ لِمَنْ تَقَسَّمَ قَلْبُهُ
ماwhat lies بَيْنَbetween بَدْرِthe full moon المُنْحَنَىthe bend وَغَزالِهِand its gazelle
ما بَيْنَ بَدْرِ المُنْحَنَى وَغَزالِهِ
How can one escape whose heart is divided
How can one whose heart is divided between
between the full moon of the bend and its gazelle?
The full moon of the beloved and the gazelle attain peace?
بِاللَّهby God ياO رِيحwind الشّمالِthe north رِسَالةًa message
بِاللَّه يا رِيح الشّمالِ رِسَالةً
فَسِوَاكِfor anyone but you لَمْnot أَرْكُنْI relied إِلىon إِرْسَالِهِsending him
فَسِوَاكِ لَمْ أَرْكُنْ إِلى إِرْسَالِهِ
For God's sake, north wind, carry a message!
By Allah o north wind take a message
For I have relied on sending no one but you.
For none but you have I resorted to for its delivery
قُوليsay لِتيَّاهِto the haughty one الشَّمائِلِmanners لَمْnot يَزَلْhe ceases
قُولي لِتيَّاهِ الشَّمائِلِ لَمْ يَزَلْ
يُبْدِيhe shows لَنَاto us مَلَلاًweariness بِشَرْعِthrough the rule of مِطالِهِhis delay
يُبْدِي لَنَا مَلَلاً بِشَرْعِ مِطالِهِ
Tell the one with haughty manners, who never ceases
Say to the owner of the features, he continues
to show us weariness through his rule of delay:
To show boredom with the legality of his wish
عَانِpractice التَّعَطُّفِcompassion حِينَwhen تُبْصِرُyou see عَانياًa captive
عَانِ التَّعَطُّفِ حِينَ تُبْصِرُ عَانياً
وَإِذَاand when ظَفَرْتَyou win بِوَالهٍa lovesick person بِكَfor you والهِlove him in return
وَإِذَا ظَفَرْتَ بِوَالهٍ بِكَ والهِ
Practice compassion when you see a captive,
Help a lamenting lover when you see him suffering
and when you win one lovesick for you, love him in return.
And when you gain a confidant through him, be a confidant to him
يَجْنيhe offends عَليَّagainst me كمَاjust as جَنَىgathered الأَثْمَارَthe fruits مَنْone who
يَجْني عَليَّ كمَا جَنَى الأَثْمَارَ مَنْ
أَمَّsought out ابْنَIbn يَعْقُوبٍYa'qub عَلىin إِقْلالِهِhis poverty
أَمَّ ابْنَ يَعْقُوبٍ عَلى إِقْلالِهِ
He wrongs me, as fruits were gathered by one who
He attacks me as the fruits attack
sought Ibn Ya'qub while in want.
The son of Jacob due to his beauty
لَوْلاwere it not for التُّقَىpiety وَهُوَand he الَّذيthe one who وَهَبَbestowed التُّقَىpiety
لَوْلا التُّقَى وَهُوَ الَّذي وَهَبَ التُّقَى
لَعَبدْتُهُI would worship him وَعَبَدتُand I would worship حُسْنَthe beauty خِلالِهِhis virtues
لَعَبدْتُهُ وَعَبَدتُ حُسْنَ خِلالِهِ
Were it not for piety—and he is the one who bestowed piety—
If not for God-consciousness, which granted me God-consciousness
I would worship him and worship the beauty of his virtues.
I would have worshipped him and worshipped the beauty of his traits
وَجْهٌa face تَغارُfeels jealous الشَّمْسُthe sun مِنْهُof it إِذَاwhen بَدَاit appears
وَجْهٌ تَغارُ الشَّمْسُ مِنْهُ إِذَا بَدَا
وَتَودُّand wishes لَوْif طُبِعَتْit were fashioned عَلىafter أَمْثالِهِforms like it
وَتَودُّ لَوْ طُبِعَتْ عَلى أَمْثالِهِ
A face the sun envies whenever it appears,
A face the sun hides from when it appears
and wishes it had been fashioned after its likeness.
And wishes that it could be imprinted upon its likeness
مُتَهلِّلُradiant القَسَمَاتِthe features يُؤْذِنُgives notice بِالرِّضَاof contentment
مُتَهلِّلُ القَسَمَاتِ يُؤْذِنُ بِالرِّضَا
وَجْهُthe face الكَريمِthe generous man يبينُreveals عَنْabout أَفْعَالِهِhis deeds
وَجْهُ الكَريمِ يبينُ عَنْ أَفْعَالِهِ
Radiant in feature, it signals contentment;
Cheerful in fortune, the face of the generous shows
the generous man's face reveals his deeds.
His deeds
سَمَتِrose العُلَىglory عِشْقاًin love لَهُfor him وَدَنَاand he drew near لَهَاto her
سَمَتِ العُلَى عِشْقاً لَهُ وَدَنَا لَهَا
مُتَواضِعاًhumbly فَتَمَنَّعْتso she became unassailable بِوِصَالِهِthrough union with him
مُتَواضِعاً فَتَمَنَّعْت بِوِصَالِهِ
Glory rose in love for him, and he drew near to her,
He sought the heights in love for him and came close to it
humbly; through union with him she became unassailable.
Humbly so it was unattainable through his union
إِنْif رُمْتَyou seek مَجْداًglory فاسْتَدِلّthen take guidance بِفعلِهِfrom his action
إِنْ رُمْتَ مَجْداً فاسْتَدِلّ بِفعلِهِ
أَوْor رُمْتَyou seek رُشْداًright guidance فاسْتَفِدْthen learn بِمَقالِهِfrom his words
أَوْ رُمْتَ رُشْداً فاسْتَفِدْ بِمَقالِهِ
If you seek glory, take guidance from his deeds;
If you seek glory, take example from his actions
or if you seek right guidance, learn from his words.
Or if you seek righteousness, gain insight from his words
أَوْor حَارَبَتْكَwar against you صُرُوفُthe vicissitudes دَهْرِكَyour age فاسْتَتِرْthen take shelter
أَوْ حَارَبَتْكَ صُرُوفُ دَهْرِكَ فاسْتَتِرْ
بِحِمَاهُin his protection مِنْهَاfrom them وَاعْتَصِمْand hold fast بِحِبالِهِto his cords
بِحِمَاهُ مِنْهَا وَاعْتَصِمْ بِحِبالِهِ
Or if the vicissitudes of your age war against you, take shelter
Or if the turns of fate fight you, take refuge
from them in his protection, and hold fast to his cords.
In his protection from it and hold firmly to his rope
أَوْor شِئْتَyou wish تَلْقَىto encounter البَحْرَthe sea عِنْدَat هِياجِهِits raging
أَوْ شِئْتَ تَلْقَى البَحْرَ عِنْدَ هِياجِهِ
فَانْظُرْthen look إِلَيْهِat him تَجِدْهُyou will find it يَوْمَon the day جِدَالِهِhis debate
فَانْظُرْ إِلَيْهِ تَجِدْهُ يَوْمَ جِدَالِهِ
Or if you wish to meet the sea in its raging,
Or if you wish to face the sea during its turmoil
look at him: you will find it on the day he debates.
Look at it, you will find it calm during its storm
يَدْرِيhe knows مَقالَthe words الخَصْمِthe opponent قَبْلَbefore سَماعِهِhis hearing
يَدْرِي مَقالَ الخَصْمِ قَبْلَ سَماعِهِ
لِكَلامِهِto his speech فَيُجِيبُso he answers قَبْلَbefore سُؤَالِهِhis question
لِكَلامِهِ فَيُجِيبُ قَبْلَ سُؤَالِهِ
He knows his opponent's words before hearing
He knows the argument of the adversary before hearing it
his speech, and answers before his question.
Due to his words answering before being asked
لِمحَمّدٍfor Muhammad فيin المَجْدَglory مُعْجِزُa marvel سُؤْدَدٍeminence
لِمحَمّدٍ في المَجْدَ مُعْجِزُ سُؤْدَدٍ
عَجزَتْfell short بِهِbecause of it الأَيّامُthe days عَنْfrom أَمْثالِهِhis equals
عَجزَتْ بِهِ الأَيّامُ عَنْ أَمْثالِهِ
Muhammad has, in glory, a marvel of eminence
For Muhammad there is in glory the miracle of Suda
that has left the ages unable to produce his like.
The days fell short in comparison to him
بِمُبَخّلٍwith one deemed miserly فيin عِرْضِهِhis honor وَذِمَامِهِand his pledged protection
بِمُبَخّلٍ في عِرْضِهِ وَذِمَامِهِ
سَمْحِgenerous اليَدَينboth hands بِجَاهِهِwith his influence وَبِمَالِهِand with his wealth
سَمْحِ اليَدَين بِجَاهِهِ وَبِمَالِهِ
One deemed miserly with his honor and pledged protection,
One who is stingy with his honor and defective
open-handed with his influence and his wealth.
The generosity of his hands with his status and wealth
مُغْضٍturning a blind eye عَنِto الفَحْشاءِindecency يَشْفَعُcomplements حِلْمُهُhis forbearance
مُغْضٍ عَنِ الفَحْشاءِ يَشْفَعُ حِلْمُهُ
حِذْقُskill الذكيِّthe clever man بِغَفْلَةِwith the heedlessness of المُتَبَالِهِone feigning foolishness
حِذْقُ الذكيِّ بِغَفْلَةِ المُتَبَالِهِ
Turning a blind eye to indecency, his forbearance is joined by
One who overlooks vulgarity, his forbearance intercedes for him
the clever man's skill, with the heedlessness of one feigning folly.
The perception of the intelligent from the heedlessness of the foolish
ويُمَارِسُand he grapples with الدُّنْيَاthe world بِهِمَّةwith the resolve of مَنْone who يَرىsees
ويُمَارِسُ الدُّنْيَا بِهِمَّة مَنْ يَرى
أَيَّامَهَاits days شَرَفاًhonor لِوَقْعِfor the blows of نِصَالِهِhis blades
أَيَّامَهَا شَرَفاً لِوَقْعِ نِصَالِهِ
And he grapples with the world with the resolve of one who sees
And he deals with the world with the determination of one who sees
its days as honor for the blows of his blades.
Its days as honorable for the occurrence of his arrows
أَنَّىwherever التفتُّI turned رَأَيْتُI saw مِنْof إِحْسانِهِhis kindness
أَنَّى التفتُّ رَأَيْتُ مِنْ إِحْسانِهِ
أَثراًa trace مُشاهَدَةًplainly witnessed وَمِنْand of إِجمالِهِhis graciousness
أَثراً مُشاهَدَةً وَمِنْ إِجمالِهِ
Wherever I turned, I saw of his kindness
Wherever I turned, I saw from his favor
a visible trace, and of his graciousness:
A trace, visible and from his totality
مَنْone who مُقْتَدٍan imitator بِكَمالِهِof his perfection أَوْor مُهْتَدٍis guided
مَنْ مُقْتَدٍ بِكَمالِهِ أَوْ مُهْتَدٍ
بِجَلالهby his majesty أَوْor مُجْتَدٍa seeker of bounty لِسُؤالِهِto petition him
بِجَلاله أَوْ مُجْتَدٍ لِسُؤالِهِ
one emulating his perfection, or guided
One who takes him as an example in his perfection or one guided
by his majesty, or seeking bounty by petitioning him.
By his majesty or one seeking his question?
اللّيْثُthe lion بَيْنَbetween أَمامِهِhis front وَوَرَائِهِand his rear
اللّيْثُ بَيْنَ أَمامِهِ وَوَرَائِهِ
وَالبَحْرُand the sea بَيْنَbetween يَمينِهِhis right وَشِمالِهِand his left
وَالبَحْرُ بَيْنَ يَمينِهِ وَشِمالِهِ
The lion lies between his front and his rear,
The lion among his front and behind
and the sea between his right and his left.
And the sea between his right and left
أَعْطَىhe gave بَنِيهِhis sons حُسْنَthe excellence سِيرتِهِhis conduct الَّتيwhich
أَعْطَى بَنِيهِ حُسْنَ سِيرتِهِ الَّتي
عَنْfrom وَالِدَيْهِhis parents فاعْتَجِبْso marvel لِفَعالِهِat his deeds
عَنْ وَالِدَيْهِ فاعْتَجِبْ لِفَعالِهِ
He gave his sons the excellence of his conduct, which
He gave his sons the virtue of his conduct, which
came from his parents; marvel, then, at his deeds.
From his parents, so wonder at his deeds
شَهِدَتْbore witness مَنَاقِبُthe virtues آلِهhis family فيin مَجْدِهِhis glory
شَهِدَتْ مَنَاقِبُ آلِه في مَجْدِهِ
مَعْنَىthe meaning مَنَاقِبthe virtues مَجْدِهِhis glory فيin آلِهِhis family
مَعْنَى مَنَاقِب مَجْدِهِ في آلِهِ
His family's virtues bore witness, in his glory,
The virtues of his family in his glory bore witness
to what his glorious virtues mean within his family.
To the meaning of the virtues of his glory in his family
مِنْof مَعْشَرٍa people يُهْدَىis guided الدَّلِيلُthe guide بنُورِهِمْby their light
مِنْ مَعْشَرٍ يُهْدَى الدَّلِيلُ بنُورِهِمْ
وَيَضِلُّand strays رُشْداًin right guidance عَنْfrom طَريقِthe path ضَلالِهِhis error
وَيَضِلُّ رُشْداً عَنْ طَريقِ ضَلالِهِ
Of a people by whose light the guide is guided,
Of a people whom evidence is guided by their light
and strays, in right guidance, from the path of his error.
And the rightly guided are misguided from the path of its misguidance
وَإذَاand if اسْتَعَنْتَyou seek help بِهِمْfrom them عَلىagainst كَيْدِthe plotting العِداthe enemies
وَإذَا اسْتَعَنْتَ بِهِمْ عَلى كَيْدِ العِدا
نَهضُواthey rose بِأَبْطالٍwith champions عَلىto إِبْطَالِهِundoing it
نَهضُوا بِأَبْطالٍ عَلى إِبْطَالِهِ
And if you seek their help against the enemies' plotting,
And if you seek help through them against the deceit of an enemy
they rise with champions to undo it.
They rise with heroes against its invalidation
جَلَسُواthey sat عَلىupon الفَلَكِthe celestial sphere المُحيطِencompassing وَدُونَهُمْand beneath them
جَلَسُوا عَلى الفَلَكِ المُحيطِ وَدُونَهُمْ
هَذاthis الزَّمانُage بِشَمْسِهِwith its sun وَهِلالِهِand its crescent
هَذا الزَّمانُ بِشَمْسِهِ وَهِلالِهِ
They sat upon the encompassing celestial sphere, beneath them
They sat on the all-encompassing heavens and below them
this age with its sun and crescent moon.
Is this world with its sun and crescent
مِنfrom كُلِّevery مَنْone who يَلْقَاكَmeets you قَبْلَbefore لِقَائِهِmeeting him
مِن كُلِّ مَنْ يَلْقَاكَ قَبْلَ لِقَائِهِ
مَاwhat شَاءَhe wills بَلْrather مَاwhat شِئْتَyou wish مِنْof أَفْضَالِهِhis bounties
مَا شَاءَ بَلْ مَا شِئْتَ مِنْ أَفْضَالِهِ
From each one, before you meet him, there comes to you
From all who you meet before meeting him
whatever he wishes—rather, whatever you wish—of his bounty.
Whatever you wish, rather whatever you want of his virtues
تَتَأَخَّرُdraw back القُبُلاتُthe kisses عَنْfrom أَقْدامِهِhis feet
تَتَأَخَّرُ القُبُلاتُ عَنْ أَقْدامِهِ
مِنْout of هَيْبَةٍawe فَتَؤُمُّso they seek تُرْبَthe dust نِعَالِهِhis sandals
مِنْ هَيْبَةٍ فَتَؤُمُّ تُرْبَ نِعَالِهِ
Kisses draw back from his feet
Kisses fall behind his feet
out of awe, and seek the dust of his sandals.
Out of reverence, so the dust of his slippers bear them
مُسْتَغْرِقٌabsorbed بِاللَّهِin God يُظْهِرُhe reveals بَعْضَهُpart of himself
مُسْتَغْرِقٌ بِاللَّهِ يُظْهِرُ بَعْضَهُ
لِلعالمينَto the worlds ظُهُورَthe appearance طَيْفِan apparition خَيَالِهِhis image
لِلعالمينَ ظُهُورَ طَيْفِ خَيَالِهِ
Absorbed in God, he reveals a part of himself
Engrossed in God, he shows some of it
to the worlds, like the appearance of his phantom image.
To the worlds, the appearance of its mirage
لَوْلاwere it not for مَهابتهُhis majesty الَّتيwhich ثَنَتِturned back الوَرَىmankind
لَوْلا مَهابتهُ الَّتي ثَنَتِ الوَرَى
عَنْfrom قُربِهnearness to him صَلُّواthey would have prayed عَلىupon أَذْيالِهِhis robe's hems
عَنْ قُربِه صَلُّوا عَلى أَذْيالِهِ
Were it not for his majesty, which turned mankind
If not for his awe which prevented the people
from drawing near him, they would have prayed upon his robe's hems.
From his nearness, they would have prayed upon his robes
لاnot يَعْرِفُhe knows الفَحْشَاءَindecency لاnot عَنْfrom ركَّةٍweakness
لا يَعْرِفُ الفَحْشَاءَ لا عَنْ ركَّةٍ
بَلْrather عَنْfrom تَكَرُّمِهِhis nobility وَعَنْand from إِهْمَالِهِhis disregard
بَلْ عَنْ تَكَرُّمِهِ وَعَنْ إِهْمَالِهِ
He knows no indecency—not out of weakness,
He knows no vulgarity, neither from frivolity
but from his nobility and his disregard for it.
But from his nobility and from his disregard
أَغْناهُspared him عَنْfrom وَصْفِdescribing الشَّجَاعَةِcourage نُبْلُهُhis nobility
أَغْناهُ عَنْ وَصْفِ الشَّجَاعَةِ نُبْلُهُ
لاnot عَاجِزٌincapable ماwhat رَامَhe sought فيin إِهْمَالِهِhis neglect
لا عَاجِزٌ ما رَامَ في إِهْمَالِهِ
His nobility spares him any need to be described as brave;
His nobility made courage unnecessary to describe
he is not powerless to attain his aims, even in his neglect.
The incapable, whatever he sought in his disregard
وَلمنْand for whom يُحارِبُdoes he fight فيamong الأَنَامِmankind بِأَسْرِهِمْall of them
وَلمنْ يُحارِبُ في الأَنَامِ بِأَسْرِهِمْ
عُتَقاءُfreedmen رَأْفَتِهِhis compassion وَبَعْضُand some عِيالِهِhis dependents
عُتَقاءُ رَأْفَتِهِ وَبَعْضُ عِيالِهِ
And for whom would he fight among all mankind—
And for whoever fights the people with their captivity
freedmen of his compassion and some of his dependents?
Are the freed ones of his mercy and some of his family
هَيْهَاتَfar from possible يَبْلُغreaches وَصْفَهُhis description مَدْحٌpraise وَلَوْand even if
هَيْهَاتَ يَبْلُغ وَصْفَهُ مَدْحٌ وَلَوْ
أَفْنَىexhausted البَليغُthe eloquent man الجُهْدَeffort فيon أَفْعالِهِhis deeds
أَفْنَى البَليغُ الجُهْدَ في أَفْعالِهِ
No praise could ever fully describe him, even if
Alas, describing him is an unattainable feat even if
an eloquent man exhausted his efforts upon his deeds.
The eloquent exhausted himself in his deeds
يَاO مَنْthose who لَهُمْfor them هِمَمٌhigh resolves تَفِلُّblunt شَباthe points الظُّبَىblades
يَا مَنْ لَهُمْ هِمَمٌ تَفِلُّ شَبا الظُّبَى
ظُبَةُthe edge الحُسَامِthe sword بِحَدِّهwith its sharpness وَصقالِهِand its polish
ظُبَةُ الحُسَامِ بِحَدِّه وَصقالِهِ
O you whose high resolves blunt the points of blades,
O you who have ambitions that put to shame the young lions
the sword's edge, with its sharpness and polish.
The edges of the swords with their sharpness and polish
خُذْreceive شَهْرَكyour month الآتيthe coming بِبَهْجَةِwith the joy of عَالِمٍone who knows
خُذْ شَهْرَك الآتي بِبَهْجَةِ عَالِمٍ
بِنِهَايةِof the utmost الأقْبالِgood fortune فيin إِقْبَالِهِits arrival
بِنِهَايةِ الأقْبالِ في إِقْبَالِهِ
Receive your coming month with the joy of one who knows
Take your upcoming month with the joy of one
the utmost good fortune in its arrival.
Who knows the conclusion of fortunes in its fortune
شَهْراًa month حَوَيْتَyou gained ثَوابَهُits reward وَحَكَيْتَand you mirrored ماwhat
شَهْراً حَوَيْتَ ثَوابَهُ وَحَكَيْتَ ما
فيin حُسْنِthe beauty مَقْدَمِهits arrival وَشِبْهِand the likeness هِلالِهِits crescent
في حُسْنِ مَقْدَمِه وَشِبْهِ هِلالِهِ
A month whose reward you have gained, and you have mirrored what
A month whose reward you collected and related what
lies in the beauty of its arrival and the likeness of its crescent.
Was in the beauty of its emergence and crescent
وَقَرنْتَهُand you joined it بِالبرِّto beneficence فيin شَعْبانِهِits Sha'ban
وَقَرنْتَهُ بِالبرِّ في شَعْبانِهِ
وَبِهِand through it يَكونُwill be الزَّادُthe provision فيin شَوَّالِهِits Shawwal
وَبِهِ يَكونُ الزَّادُ في شَوَّالِهِ
And you joined it to beneficence in its Sha'ban,
And you paired it with righteousness in its Sha’ban
and through it there will be provision in its Shawwal.
And through it provision will be in its Shawwal
لَوْif لَمْnot يُؤمّلit hoped عَوْدَهُits return لَكَto you ثانِياًagain
لَوْ لَمْ يُؤمّل عَوْدَهُ لَكَ ثانِياً
لَمْnot يَرْضَit would consent مِنْكَfrom you بِبَيْنهto its parting وَزَوَالِهِand its passing
لَمْ يَرْضَ مِنْكَ بِبَيْنه وَزَوَالِهِ
If it did not hope to return to you again,
If he did not hope for its return to you again
it would not consent to part from you and pass away.
He would not be pleased with its separation and departure
خُذْaccept بِنْتَthe daughter لَيْلَتِهَاher night ومَهّدْand prepare عُذْرَan excuse مَنْone who
خُذْ بِنْتَ لَيْلَتِهَا ومَهّدْ عُذْرَ مَنْ
لَمْnot يَسْتَفِقْhas roused himself لِلنَّظْمِto compose verse مِنْfrom أَشْغَالِهِhis occupations
لَمْ يَسْتَفِقْ لِلنَّظْمِ مِنْ أَشْغَالِهِ
Accept this daughter of her night, and make allowance for one
Take the daughter of its night and pardon those who
who has not roused himself from his occupations to compose verse.
Did not wake for poetry from their preoccupations
مُصْفِيoffering pure الوِدادَaffection يَعُدُّhe counts بأْسَكَyour might قُوّةًstrength
مُصْفِي الوِدادَ يَعُدُّ بأْسَكَ قُوّةً
وَيَعُدُّand he counts ذِكْرَكَmention of you فُرْصَةًan opportunity فيin فَالِهِhis augury
وَيَعُدُّ ذِكْرَكَ فُرْصَةً في فَالِهِ
Sincere in affection, he counts your might as strength,
Purifying affection, it counts your strength as strength
and counts mention of you an opportunity in his augury.
And counts your mention as an opportunity in its cycles
بِصِفَاتِكin your qualities العُلْيَاlofty مَحَطُّthe resting place رَجَائِهِhis hope
بِصِفَاتِك العُلْيَا مَحَطُّ رَجَائِهِ
وَبِبَابِكَand at your gate الأَعْلَىmost exalted مَحَطُّthe resting place رِحَالِهِhis travel gear
وَبِبَابِكَ الأَعْلَى مَحَطُّ رِحَالِهِ
In your lofty qualities his hopes come to rest,
With your lofty traits the place of its hopes
and at your exalted gate his travel gear is laid down.
And at your highest door the place of its encampments
Sol 6.1