نبأٌnews عادَbecame لَهُbecause of it الصُّبْحُthe morning دُجىًdarkness
نبأٌ عادَ لَهُ الصُّبْحُ دُجىً
وذعافاًand deadly poison رَيَّقُthe freshest part of الماءِthe water الزُّلالِclear and sweet
وذعافاً رَيَّقُ الماءِ الزُّلالِ
News that turned the morning into darkness,
News returned at dawn obscured in gloom,
and the freshest clear water into deadly poison.
And morning dew as fine as scattered pearls.
جلَّwas too great أنْto يُبْكيcause weeping دموعاًtears فَجرتْso flowed
جلَّ أنْ يُبْكي دموعاً فَجرتْ
أعْينُthe eyes of الحيِّthe people بِمُحْمَرٍّwith crimson blood مُذالِfreely shed
أعْينُ الحيِّ بِمُحْمَرٍّ مُذالِ
Too great to draw mere tears—so flowed
Before tears flowed from living eyes
from the people's eyes a crimson stream, freely shed.
Flushed crimson with heartfelt sorrow.
وانْثَنتْand turned مٍنfrom حَزَنِthe sorrow of الدَّهرTime بهover it
وانْثَنتْ مٍن حَزَنِ الدَّهر به
غُرَرُthe radiant brows of الأيامِthe days سُوداًblack كالَّياليlike nights
غُرَرُ الأيامِ سُوداً كالَّيالي
And from Time's sorrow over it, became
Days darkened by the sadness of fate
the radiant brows of days black as nights.
Turned black as long nights.
وعَلاand rose عنabove ندْبَةٍa lament مِنfrom بَشَرٍa mortal
وعَلا عن ندْبَةٍ مِن بَشَرٍ
فرثاهso it mourned him المجْدُGlory مفهومَunderstood المَقالِspeech
فرثاه المجْدُ مفهومَ المَقالِ
It rose above any mortal's lament,
Above the cries of anguished souls
so Glory mourned him in words plainly understood.
Glory eulogized with mournful words.
منْwho لِعَقْرِfor slaughtering النِّيبِthe aged she-camels فيin مُغْبرَّةٍdusty conditions
منْ لِعَقْرِ النِّيبِ في مُغْبرَّةٍ
ولِقَوْدِand for leading الخيلِthe horses جُرْداًsleek-coated كالَّسعاليlike she-ghouls
ولِقَوْدِ الخيلِ جُرْداً كالَّسعالي
Who will slaughter the aged she-camels amid the dust,
Who will avenge the Prophet’s grave defiled,
and lead sleek steeds like she-ghouls,
And horses’ necks bloodied by unsheathed swords?
ولريِّand for slaking السُّمْرِthe brown spears والبيضِand the bright الظُّبيblades
ولريِّ السُّمْرِ والبيضِ الظُّبي
منwith دَمِthe blood of الأبْطالِthe heroes فيon يومِthe day of النِّزالِcombat
من دَمِ الأبْطالِ في يومِ النِّزالِ
and slake the brown spears and bright blades
Who will avenge the red and white horses
with heroes' blood on the day of combat?
Whose blood colored the battlefield that fateful day?
وبنيand the children of الآمالِhopes اذْwhen يَغْمُرهمْit envelops them
وبني الآمالِ اذْ يَغْمُرهمْ
فيضُthe flood of نُعْماكَyour favors بعزٍّwith honor ونَوالِand bounty
فيضُ نُعْماكَ بعزٍّ ونَوالِ
And who for the children of hope, when they were enveloped
When hope’s sons were engulfed
by the flood of your favors, with honor and bounty?
By your great gifts of glory and grace,
نُزلواthey lodged فيin حالكٍa dark night ذيpossessing خَصَرٍcold
نُزلوا في حالكٍ ذي خَصَرٍ
فبذلْتَso you bestowed الجودَgenerosity منْfrom غيرِother than سُؤالِasking
فبذلْتَ الجودَ منْ غيرِ سُؤالِ
They lodged in a dark night, bitter with cold,
They came to you in destitution
and you bestowed generosity without being asked.
And you gave generously without their asking.
ولِجانٍand for an offender جَلَّwas grave منهُfrom him جُرْمُهُhis offense
ولِجانٍ جَلَّ منهُ جُرْمُهُ
فتغمَّدْتَso you enfolded بصَفْحٍin pardon واحْتمالِand forbearance
فتغمَّدْتَ بصَفْحٍ واحْتمالِ
And who for an offender whose crime was grievous,
To the sinner whose crime you forgave
whom you enfolded in pardon and forbearance?
You showed clemency and tolerance.
مَنْwho لمِحْرابٍfor a sanctuary مجيدٍnoble طالماso often
مَنْ لمِحْرابٍ مجيدٍ طالما
قُمْتَyou stood فيهin it بِصلاةٍin prayer وابْتهالِand supplication
قُمْتَ فيه بِصلاةٍ وابْتهالِ
Who will tend the noble sanctuary where so often
For the glorious pulpit where you long stood
you stood in prayer and supplication?
In worship and supplication.
ولتْريلِand for recitation (corrupt spelling) كِتابِthe Book of اللّهِGod فيin
ولتْريلِ كِتابِ اللّهِ في
ظُلَمِthe darkness of الليلthe night اذاwhen لمnot يَتْلُrecites تالِa reciter
ظُلَمِ الليل اذا لم يَتْلُ تالِ
And who will recite the Book of God in
And reciting God’s book in the dark of night
the darkness of night, when no reciter recites?
When no reciter intoned its verses.
قَسَماًby an oath لوif لاnot for الاِمامُthe Imam المجْتبيthe chosen
قَسَماً لو لا الاِمامُ المجْتبي
باقياًremaining alive لمnot يُلْفَwould be found قلبٌa heart لكَfor you ساليconsoled
باقياً لم يُلْفَ قلبٌ لكَ سالي
I swear: were it not for the chosen Imam,
By God, were it not for the chosen Imam
still living, no heart would find solace for your loss,
No devoted heart would remain unruptured.
والنُّجومand the stars الشُّهْبbrilliant منfrom ولْدِthe offspring of العُلىeminence
والنُّجوم الشُّهْب من ولْدِ العُلى
عُدَّةُthe bulwark of الدينِthe faith واعْدادُand the ranks of المَواليloyal followers
عُدَّةُ الدينِ واعْدادُ المَوالي
and the brilliant stars, the children of eminence,
The shooting stars, offspring of the Most High,
the bulwark of the faith and the ranks of loyal followers.
Are the religion's weapons and loyal soldiers.
ماnot ظنْنتٌI thought الموتَDeath يُمْضيwould wield بأسَهُits might
ما ظنْنتٌ الموتَ يُمْضي بأسَهُ
وسُطاهand its onslaught فيamong بُحورٍseas وجبالِand mountains
وسُطاه في بُحورٍ وجبالِ
I did not think Death could wield its might
I never thought death could end your life
and its onslaught among seas and mountains.
Despite its far reach and high mountains.
لاno ولاnor خِلْتُI imagined الثَّرىthe earth منwithin طَوْقهِits capacity
لا ولا خِلْتُ الثَّرى من طَوْقهِ
أنْto يُجِنَّconceal البدْرَthe full moon منfrom بعدِafter كمالِfullness
أنْ يُجِنَّ البدْرَ من بعدِ كمالِ
No, nor did I think it within the earth's power
Nor that the earth could be rid of your presence,
to conceal the moon after it had reached its fullness.
That the moon could wane after its fullness.
اِنif عصىdefied موتْdeath فدthen indeed (corrupt spelling) صرَّفْتَهyou directed it
اِن عصى موتْ فد صرَّفْتَه
آمراًcommanding أوor ناهياًforbidding فيin كلِّevery حالِcircumstance
آمراً أو ناهياً في كلِّ حالِ
Though death has defied you, you had governed it,
You made death obey, commanding and forbidding,
commanding or forbidding in every circumstance.
Saving those who sought refuge from death’s assault.
ذُدْتهُyou repelled it عنfrom لائِذٍone seeking refuge مُسْتعْصِمٍseeking protection
ذُدْتهُ عن لائِذٍ مُسْتعْصِمٍ
بعدماafter أزْجيْتَهyou drove it onward تحتَbeneath العَواليthe lofty spears
بعدما أزْجيْتَه تحتَ العَوالي
You repelled it from one seeking refuge and protection,
Did your palaces become deserted,
after sending it forth beneath the lofty spears.
Or Paradise's gardens abandoned?
أوor if خَلَتْbecame empty منكof you قُصورٌpalaces أوor حشتgrew desolate (text fragment)
أو خَلَتْ منك قُصورٌ أو حشت
فجنانُthen the gardens of الخُلْدِeternity ليستare not بخَوالِempty
فجنانُ الخُلْدِ ليست بخَوالِ
Or if palaces are empty of you, or desolate,
Did your weary body hide from view
the gardens of eternity are not empty.
When efforts failed and strength departed?
أوor if توارىvanished منكَof you شخْصٌa bodily form بالياًdecaying
أو توارى منكَ شخْصٌ بالياً
فالمَساعيthen the deeds الغُرُّradiant ليستْare not بَبوالِdecayed
فالمَساعي الغُرُّ ليستْ بَبوالِ
Or if your bodily form lies hidden, decaying,
Did your throne become empty,
your radiant deeds have not decayed.
And your sharp sight begin to falter?
أوor if غَدتْbecame عُطْلاًunadorned حَشاياthe cushions of سُرُرٍcouches
أو غَدتْ عُطْلاً حَشايا سُرُرٍ
وقَراand the back of الطِرْفِthe courser فانَّfor indeed الرَّمْسَthe tomb حَاليadorned
وقَرا الطِرْفِ فانَّ الرَّمْسَ حَالي
Or if the cushions of couches lie unadorned,
For the eternal bliss of immortality
and the courser's back too, the tomb is adorned.
Your spirit rose above the home of annihilation.
شَرُفَتْwas too noble نفسُكَyour soul عنfor دارِan abode of فناءٍmortality
شَرُفَتْ نفسُكَ عن دارِ فناءٍ
لنعيمِfor the bliss of الخلدِeternity منfrom غيرِother than زَوالِcessation
لنعيمِ الخلدِ من غيرِ زَوالِ
Your soul rose above the abode of mortality
In the Most Exalted King’s company
to the bliss of eternity, without end.
You found a higher calling than any earthly status.
حيثُwhere لاnot تَرضىyou are content بِزُلفيwith nearness to مَلِكٍa king
حيثُ لا تَرضى بِزُلفي مَلِكٍ
فلكso you have الجارُthe neighbor المَليكُthe Sovereign المُتَعاليthe Most Exalted
فلك الجارُ المَليكُ المُتَعالي
There you are not content with nearness to a king:
O light from the Most High’s consuming flames
your neighbor is the Sovereign, the Most Exalted.
That burned brightly then faded after rising high.
أيُّهاO الضَّرْمةُflame مِنfrom نارِthe fire of العُلىeminence
أيُّها الضَّرْمةُ مِن نارِ العُلى
خَمدتْwas extinguished بعدafter عَلَوٍّsoaring واشْتِعالِand blazing
خَمدتْ بعد عَلَوٍّ واشْتِعالِ
O flame from the fire of eminence,
Long you were a raging fire for injustice,
extinguished after soaring and blazing!
Or a warming glow for the righteous.
طالماso often كنتَyou were حَريقاًa blaze لْعِدىto foes
طالما كنتَ حَريقاً لْعِدى
موحيَdeath-dealing الَّلهْبَةِin flame أوor دِفْءاًwarmth لصالِfor one warming himself
موحيَ الَّلهْبَةِ أو دِفْءاً لصالِ
How often you were a blaze to foes,
Had rebellious fate ignited unrest,
death-dealing in flame, or warmth for one seeking heat.
And a swarm of pigeons attacked in war,
لوif حمتْprotected منْfrom قَدرِthe decree of اللهِGod وَغىًwarfare
لو حمتْ منْ قَدرِ اللهِ وَغىً
وانثْنىand turned back جيشُthe army of حِمامٍdeath بقِتالِthrough battle
وانثْنى جيشُ حِمامٍ بقِتالِ
Had warfare shielded anyone from God's decree,
Horses would have charged before you
and battle turned back the army of death,
Galloping swiftly into the fray.
لَجرتْwould have raced دونكَto defend you جُرْدٌsleek steeds سُبَّقٌswift
لَجرتْ دونكَ جُرْدٌ سُبَّقٌ
بمقاديمَbearing bold warriors إِلىtoward الطَّعْنِspear-thrusting عِجالِhurrying
بمقاديمَ إِلى الطَّعْنِ عِجالِ
swift, sleek steeds would have raced to defend you,
Like wild cows amidst the rain clouds
bearing bold warriors, hastening to the spear-thrust.
Raining swords continuously.
عادياتٍgalloping كَسَراحينِlike the wolves of الغَضاthe ghada trees
عادياتٍ كَسَراحينِ الغَضا
يتعثَّرْنَstumbling بهاماتِover the heads of الرِّجالِmen
يتعثَّرْنَ بهاماتِ الرِّجالِ
Galloping like wolves of the ghada trees,
Whenever darkness engulfed the battlefield
they would stumble over the heads of men,
Gleaming blades lit up the scene.
فيin عَجاجٍswirling dust كَغَمامٍlike a cloud حافلٍladen
في عَجاجٍ كَغَمامٍ حافلٍ
يُمْطِرُraining upon البيدَthe wastes بِقانٍwith crimson blood مُتَوالِunceasing
يُمْطِرُ البيدَ بِقانٍ مُتَوالِ
through swirling dust like a laden cloud,
Turning the plain into a sea of blood
raining unceasing crimson over the wastes.
After the army was washed away in the flood.
كُلماwhenever أظْلَمَgrew dark منهwithin it غَيْهَبٌdeep gloom
كُلما أظْلَمَ منه غَيْهَبٌ
ضَوَّءتْهُlit it up لامِعاتٌflashes مِنof نِصالِblades
ضَوَّءتْهُ لامِعاتٌ مِن نِصالِ
Whenever deep gloom gathered within it,
But God does not fail what He ordains
flashes of blades would light it up.
With might and cunning against His creation.
فأعَدْنَso they turned القاعَthe plain بحْراًa sea مْنof دَمٍblood
فأعَدْنَ القاعَ بحْراً مْن دَمٍ
بعدماafter سالَit streamed بجيشٍwith an army ورِand—(word fragment) عالِcavalry bands (word fragment)
بعدما سالَ بجيشٍ ورِ عالِ
They would turn the plain into a sea of blood,
Then oh how I grieve for the noble steed
after it had streamed with an army and cavalry bands.
Killed without fighting or struggle.
غيرَexcept أنَّthat اللّهَGod لاno رَدَّrepelling لِماfor what
غيرَ أنَّ اللّهَ لا رَدَّ لِما
شاءَHe willed فيfor الخْلقِcreation ببأسٍby might وأحْتيالِand stratagem
شاءَ في الخْلقِ ببأسٍ وأحْتيالِ
But there is no thwarting what God
His blade rusted beyond polishing
wills for creation, by might or stratagem.
After the swordsmen failed to sharpen it.
ثُمَّthen ياO لهْفيmy anguish علىfor ذيthe possessor of شُطَبٍblade grooves
ثُمَّ يا لهْفي على ذي شُطَبٍ
كَلَّgrew blunt منْfrom غيرِother than ضِرابٍswordplay وقِتالِand combat
كَلَّ منْ غيرِ ضِرابٍ وقِتالِ
Then, alas for that grooved sword,
And the noble horse retired still capable
blunted without swordplay or combat!
Reined in before reaching full potential.
صَدِئتْrusted صفْحتُهits surface مِنfrom وَصَبٍsickness
صَدِئتْ صفْحتُه مِن وَصَبٍ
عَجزَwere unable الآسونَthe healers فيهاin treating it عنْto صِقالِpolish
عَجزَ الآسونَ فيها عنْ صِقالِ
Its surface rusted with sickness;
He settled in dear Iraqi soil
the healers could not polish it.
Worn not emaciated and frail.
وعلىand for طِرْفٍa courser سبوقٍoutstripping others فيin العُلىeminence
وعلى طِرْفٍ سبوقٍ في العُلى
عَقلوهُthey hobbled it عنْfrom مَداهُits course بِعقالِwith a hobble
عَقلوهُ عنْ مَداهُ بِعقالِ
And for a courser that outstripped others in eminence,
Severing the cord without being branded,
whose course they checked with a hobble.
Parting with grace not haste.
حَلَّsettled فيin بَطْنِthe belly of ثَرىearth عَرَّاقَةٍflesh-stripping
حَلَّ في بَطْنِ ثَرى عَرَّاقَةٍ
ببِلىًthrough decay لاnot بِنُحولٍthrough thinness وهِزالِand wasting
ببِلىً لا بِنُحولٍ وهِزالِ
He settled in the belly of flesh-stripping earth,
Death always pursues unrelentingly,
through decay, not through thinness and wasting.
Spared neither by fleeing nor means.
صَرَمَcut off الواصِلَone maintaining ties منْfrom غيرِother than قِلىًhatred
صَرَمَ الواصِلَ منْ غيرِ قِلىً
وجَفاand shunned الخُلْصانَclose friends منfrom غيرِother than تَقالِmutual aversion
وجَفا الخُلْصانَ من غيرِ تَقالِ
He severed ties with those who kept them, without hatred,
With gaping mouth none can evade,
and shunned his closest friends without mutual aversion.
Neither mighty of strength nor crafty of plot.
انماindeed only الموتُDeath طَلوبٌa relentless seeker لاحِقٌan overtaker
انما الموتُ طَلوبٌ لاحِقٌ
لاnot يُنَجِّيsaves منهfrom it حَثٌّhaste فيin ارْتحالِdeparture
لا يُنَجِّي منه حَثٌّ في ارْتحالِ
Death is a relentless pursuer that overtakes;
A hero indeed, but cunningly
no hurried departure can save anyone from it.
He exchanged glory for a quiet passing.
فاغِرٌgaping فاهُits mouth فماand not تَقْدَعهُrepels it
فاغِرٌ فاهُ فما تَقْدَعهُ
شِدَّةٌthe fierceness of البأسِmight ولاnor فرْطُthe utmost المِحالِcunning
شِدَّةٌ البأسِ ولا فرْطُ المِحالِ
Its mouth agape, it cannot be repelled
O Imam of truth, be patient
by fierce courage or the utmost cunning.
You are most worthy of patience and reliance.
بَطَلٌa champion لكنهُyet it مِنْthrough حِذْقِهِits skill
بَطَلٌ لكنهُ مِنْ حِذْقِهِ
بَدَّلَexchanged الضَّوْلَassault (corrupt spelling) بِشَرٍّfor evil فيin اغْتيالِassassination
بَدَّلَ الضَّوْلَ بِشَرٍّ في اغْتيالِ
A champion, yet through its skill
Steel your heart that faced
it traded open assault for treacherous assassination.
The horses’ assault without care.
ياO اِمامَImam of الحَقَّtruth صَبْراًpatience انماindeed only
يا اِمامَ الحَقَّ صَبْراً انما
أنتَyou أوْلاناthe worthiest of us بصَبْرٍin patience واتِّكالِand trust
أنتَ أوْلانا بصَبْرٍ واتِّكالِ
O Imam of truth, patience! For
If you grieve for what has transpired
you, above us all, are fit for patience and trust.
Glory itself will grieve and supreme goals falter.
والبْسَand put on القلبthe heart الذيwhich تلْقىyou face بهwith it
والبْسَ القلب الذي تلْقى به
كَبَّةَthe massed charge of الخيْلِhorses قُسوّاًhardened لاnot تُباليyou care
كَبَّةَ الخيْلِ قُسوّاً لا تُبالي
Put on the heart with which you face
He who attained his Lord’s pleasure
the massed charge of horses, hardened and untroubled.
And ascended through exaltations to exaltation.
فاذاfor if تحْزنُyou grieve منْat حادثَةٍa calamity
فاذا تحْزنُ منْ حادثَةٍ
يحْزَنُgrieves المَجُدُGlory وتخْتلُّand fall into disorder المَعاليlofty honors
يحْزَنُ المَجُدُ وتخْتلُّ المَعالي
For if you grieve at a calamity,
For him the fullest rewards,
Glory grieves, and lofty honors fall into disorder.
And for him the Most Merciful after ascension.
فالذيas for the one who حازَwon رِضيًapproval منْfrom رَبِّهِhis Lord
فالذي حازَ رِضيً منْ رَبِّهِ
وتَسامىand rose منْfrom جَلالٍglory لِجلالِto glory
وتَسامى منْ جَلالٍ لِجلالِ
As for him who won his Lord's approval,
and ascended from glory to glory,
فلكَso yours is الأجْرُthe reward جَزيلاًabundant بَعْدَهُafter him
فلكَ الأجْرُ جَزيلاً بَعْدَهُ
ولهُand he has الرَّحمْنُthe All-Merciful بعدَafter الاِنْتِقالِpassing
ولهُ الرَّحمْنُ بعدَ الاِنْتِقالِ
yours is abundant reward after him,
and he has the All-Merciful after his passing.
Partial English translation: 84 of 88 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1