أماnow اذاif سَلِمَremained safe الاِمامُthe Imam الأعْظمُthe supreme
أما اذا سَلِمَ الاِمامُ الأعْظمُ
وسليلهُand his son دَقَّbecame slight الجليلُthe great المُعْظَمُthe greatly esteemed
وسليلهُ دَقَّ الجليلُ المُعْظَمُ
Now, if the supreme Imam remains safe,
When the Greatest Imam is safe
And his son too, even the great and weighty grows slight.
And his noble descendant strikes the revered illustrious one
عَزَّwas difficult العَزاءُconsolation وهانَand became easy حينwhen بَقِيتُهاI outlived her/it; probably 'you both survived'
عَزَّ العَزاءُ وهانَ حين بَقِيتُها
فالمجدُso glory باكٍweeping طَرْفهُits eye مُتَبسِّمُsmiling
فالمجدُ باكٍ طَرْفهُ مُتَبسِّمُ
Solace was hard, yet grew easy when you both survived [probable reading].
Solace is difficult when part of it remains
Thus glory weeps, yet its eye smiles.
So glory weeps while its eyelid smiles
يُمْهيperhaps deepens; uncertain verb لناfor us الحُزْنَthe sorrow الأليمَpainful عزاؤهُmourning him
يُمْهي لنا الحُزْنَ الأليمَ عزاؤهُ
فيكُفُّهُso restrains it كوْنُthe fact of الخليفةِthe caliph يَسْلَمُremaining safe
فيكُفُّهُ كوْنُ الخليفةِ يَسْلَمُ
His mourning deepens our painful sorrow [uncertain verb],
His solace calms our intense sorrow
But the caliph's remaining safe restrains it.
So the Caliph's survival suffices it
وبقاءُand the survival شمسthe sun الصبحof morning حدثbrought about سلوةًconsolation
وبقاءُ شمس الصبح حدث سلوةً
فيناamong us اذاwhen بدْرٌa full moon هَوىfell أوor أنْجُمُstars
فينا اذا بدْرٌ هَوى أو أنْجُمُ
The survival of the morning sun brings solace
The dawn sun's survival brought some solace
Among us when a full moon falls, or stars.
When a full moon or stars fell
للّهِby God ثاوٍone lying فيin التُّرابِthe dust وطالماand how often
للّهِ ثاوٍ في التُّرابِ وطالما
زُهيَtook pride النَّديُّthe assembly بهin him وتاهَand exulted المَقْدَمُthe vanguard
زُهيَ النَّديُّ به وتاهَ المَقْدَمُ
By God, a man lies in the dust who so often
To Allah belongs one who rests in dust, and often
Made the assembly proud and the vanguard exult.
Morning dew was sullied by him, and skulls cracked
ومُطَعَّنٌand one pierced بشبby the edge; uncertain form الحِمامِof death وطَالماand how often
ومُطَعَّنٌ بشب الحِمامِ وطَالما
رَوِيَdrank its fill الحُسامُthe keen sword بكفِّهِin his hand واللَّهْذمُand the sharp spear
رَوِيَ الحُسامُ بكفِّهِ واللَّهْذمُ
And one pierced by death's edge—how often
A youth whose hand thrust with swords, and often
The keen sword and spear drank their fill in his hand!
The blade was bloodied by it, and skulls smashed
ومُمنَّعُand one unassailable in الأقوالِspeech يحصرُfalls speechless بعدماafter
ومُمنَّعُ الأقوالِ يحصرُ بعدما
نطقuttered البليغةَeloquent words والفصيحُwhile the eloquent one مُجمجِمُstammered
نطق البليغةَ والفصيحُ مُجمجِمُ
And a master of unassailable speech falls silent, after
One whose exceptional words were halted, after
Uttering eloquence while the eloquent stammered.
The eloquent, articulate skull spoke
كُفَّتْwere restrained يداهُhis two hands عنfrom النَّدىgenerosity منfrom بعدماafter
كُفَّتْ يداهُ عن النَّدى من بعدما
حسدَenvied الغمامُthe rainclouds بَنانهُhis fingers والخِضْرِمُand the vast sea
حسدَ الغمامُ بَنانهُ والخِضْرِمُ
His hands were stopped from giving, after
His hands were stopped from giving gifts, after
The rainclouds and vast sea envied his fingers.
The clouds envied his fingertips and greenery
ونَبتْand faltered عزائمهُhis resolves وكانَand was مَضاؤهاtheir keenness
ونَبتْ عزائمهُ وكانَ مَضاؤها
فيin الخطبcrisis يرهبهُfears it الطَّريرُthe keen المِخذمslashing sword
في الخطب يرهبهُ الطَّريرُ المِخذم
His resolves faltered, though their keenness
His resolves sprouted, and their glare
In crises was feared by the sharp, slicing sword.
In speeches terrified the squeaking, rumbling camel
وأجَنَّand concealed غَرَّتهhis radiant brow الثَّرىthe earth منfrom بعدماafter
وأجَنَّ غَرَّته الثَّرى من بعدما
عادَbecame الصَّباحَmorning بهاthrough it البَهيمُthe pitch-dark المُظْلمُgloom
عادَ الصَّباحَ بها البَهيمُ المُظْلمُ
The earth concealed his radiant brow, after
The soil hid his pride, after
Through it, pitch-black darkness had become morning.
The brutish, gloomy morning returned it
نُهديwe offer الصَّلاةَprayers لهto him ويكرُand is too great; uncertain form قدْرُهhis worth
نُهدي الصَّلاةَ له ويكرُ قدْرُه
ومحلُّهُand his station منْfor أنthat يُقالَbe said تَرَحُّمُa prayer for mercy
ومحلُّهُ منْ أن يُقالَ تَرَحُّمُ
We offer him prayers, though his worth is too great,
We send prayers upon him, though his merit
And his station too high, for merely saying, 'Mercy on him.'
Cannot be expressed, with condolences
اِنيِّindeed I لنًدَّابٌsurely a mourner أخاًa brother لخليفةٍof a caliph
اِنيِّ لنًدَّابٌ أخاً لخليفةٍ
وعنand about الصميمِthe purest core منof النِّجارlineage مُترجمa spokesman
وعن الصميمِ من النِّجار مُترجم
I am indeed a mourner for a caliph's brother,
I who console a brother of the Caliph
And speak of the purest heart of his lineage.
And who intimately knows the carpenter's son
فاذاso if اختصرتI shorten القولthe speech تخصمينيdispute with me العلىlofty virtues
فاذا اختصرت القول تخصميني العلى
واذاand if أطَلْتُI prolong مقالتيmy speech لاnot تُسْأمُyou grow weary
واذا أطَلْتُ مقالتي لا تُسْأمُ
If I shorten my speech, lofty virtues dispute with me;
When I summarize my words, the sublime criticizes me
And if I prolong my speech, you do not tire.
And when I prolong my speech, it does not bore
يبكيكmourn you ضِيفانُthe guests الشتاءِof winter عَشيَّةًat evening
يبكيك ضِيفانُ الشتاءِ عَشيَّةً
والعامُwhile the year مُغْبرُّdust-gray المَطالعِin its horizons أقْتَمُdark
والعامُ مُغْبرُّ المَطالعِ أقْتَمُ
Winter's guests weep for you at evening,
The winter's two guests weep for you at night
With the year's horizons dust-gray and dark.
And the dusty year, bleary-eyed, is tearful
حيثwhere المَواقدُthe hearths منfrom تَعاقبsuccessive falls of رِهْمةٍlight rain
حيث المَواقدُ من تَعاقب رِهْمةٍ
يقَقٌstark white ولُوحُand the face الجوِّof the sky جَوْنٌdark أدهمpitch-black
يقَقٌ ولُوحُ الجوِّ جَوْنٌ أدهم
Where the hearths, from successive light rains,
Where the fires from the smoke's procession
Are stark white, while the face of the sky is pitch-black.
Smoulder, and the air's expanse is dusky
فهناكَso there كانwas نَداكَyour generosity غيرَnot مُمَنَّعٍwithheld
فهناكَ كان نَداكَ غيرَ مُمَنَّعٍ
يُكفىis provided for الخميصُthe hungry one بهby it ويثْريand grows rich المُعدمthe destitute
يُكفى الخميصُ به ويثْري المُعدم
There your generosity was never withheld:
For there was your calling, unrestrained
It sustained the hungry and enriched the destitute.
Sufficient for the meager, and enriching the destitute
يبكيكَmourns you مرعوبُone terrified الفؤادِat heart تخاذلَتْabandoned
يبكيكَ مرعوبُ الفؤادِ تخاذلَتْ
عنهaway from him الملوكُthe kings فكلُّso every حَيٍّliving person مُسْلمُone who forsakes
عنه الملوكُ فكلُّ حَيٍّ مُسْلمُ
One with a terror-stricken heart weeps for you, whom
A terrified, anxious soul cried out for you
Kings abandoned, every living soul forsaking him.
While kings abandoned him, and all the living submit
ناداكَhe called you يخْفضُlowering صوتَهhis voice مِنfrom رعبهِhis terror
ناداكَ يخْفضُ صوتَه مِن رعبهِ
فعطفْتَso you turned kindly توسِعهُgranting him ample الحَريمَsanctuary وتعْصمand protect
فعطفْتَ توسِعهُ الحَريمَ وتعْصم
He called you, lowering his voice in terror,
He called you, lowering his voice in fright
And you turned kindly, granting him ample sanctuary and protection.
So you were kind, securing him and protecting
منfrom بعدماafter that يبكيكmourns you أروعُa noble man قانِتٌdevout
من بعدما يبكيك أروعُ قانِتٌ
مُسترشدٌseeking guidance باللّهِthrough God بَرٌّrighteous مُنْعِمُgenerous
مُسترشدٌ باللّهِ بَرٌّ مُنْعِمُ
After them, a noble, devout man weeps for you,
After, the finest worshipper weeps for you
Seeking guidance from God, righteous and generous.
Guided by Allah, righteous and gracious
السَّاهرُthe wakeful one اللَّيلَthrough the night البَهيمَpitch-dark مُحاولاًstriving
السَّاهرُ اللَّيلَ البَهيمَ مُحاولاً
حِفْظَto guard الرَّعيةِthe subjects والرعيَّةُwhile the subjects نُوَّمُare asleep
حِفْظَ الرَّعيةِ والرعيَّةُ نُوَّمُ
He stays awake through the pitch-black night, striving
Staying awake the brutal night, striving
To guard his subjects while his subjects sleep.
To protect the commoners while they sleep
والصَّائمُand the fasting one اليومthrough the day الهَجيرِscorching تَقَّيةًout of piety
والصَّائمُ اليوم الهَجيرِ تَقَّيةً
رْمضاؤهُits sun-baked ground منْfrom لفْحِهِits searing heat يَتَضرَّمُblazes
رْمضاؤهُ منْ لفْحِهِ يَتَضرَّمُ
And fasts through the scorching day out of piety,
And fasting the hot day cautiously
Its sun-baked ground blazing from its searing heat.
His breath from thirst pants and exhales
وهناكand blessed are you; congratulatory reading أنكَthat you مِتَّdied تحتbeneath لوائهِhis banner
وهناك أنكَ مِتَّ تحت لوائهِ
حيثwhere الملائكُthe angels ماثِلاتٌstanding in attendance تَخدِمُserve
حيث الملائكُ ماثِلاتٌ تَخدِمُ
And blessed are you to have died beneath his banner,
And there you died under his banner
Where the angels stand in attendance, serving.
Where angels stand in service
لَهْفيalas for me عليهfor him لاno longer بَوادرُswift sallies نَصْرهِof his aid
لَهْفي عليه لا بَوادرُ نَصْرهِ
تحْميprotect الصَّريخَthe one crying for help ولاnor المكارمnoble gifts تثجمُpour forth
تحْمي الصَّريخَ ولا المكارم تثجمُ
Alas for him! No longer do the swift sallies of his aid
My anguish for him, no glimmers of victory
Protect those crying for help, nor do noble gifts pour forth.
Protect the cry, nor virtues silence
فثَوىso he lay بموحِشةِin a desolate place الكسورof recesses شقاؤهاits misery
فثَوى بموحِشةِ الكسور شقاؤها
بسويthrough other than; uncertain spelling نَعيمِthe bliss مَعادهِof his hereafter لاnot يُنْجِمُceases
بسوي نَعيمِ مَعادهِ لا يُنْجِمُ
He lay in a place of desolate recesses, whose misery
So he dwelled in the desolation of grief
Cannot cease except through the bliss of his hereafter.
Despite the bliss of his destination, stars don't shine
فيamong زُمْرةٍa company قطعواparted from الأحِبَّةloved ones عَنْوةًby force
في زُمْرةٍ قطعوا الأحِبَّة عَنْوةً
وحَداand drove onward ببَيْنهمُtheir separation القَضاءُfate المُبْرمُirrevocable
وحَدا ببَيْنهمُ القَضاءُ المُبْرمُ
Among a company forcibly parted from their loved ones,
Amongst a group who forcibly severed loved ones
Whose departure irrevocable fate drove onward.
And destiny separated them decisively
رحلواthey departed علىon غيرother than الركابِriding mounts وعَرَّسواand halted for the night
رحلوا على غير الركابِ وعَرَّسوا
مُعرَّسٍa resting place ثاويهِits dweller لاnot يَتَرمْرَمُutters a murmur
مُعرَّسٍ ثاويهِ لا يَتَرمْرَمُ
They traveled without mounts, and made camp
They journeyed without mounts, and traveled
At a resting place whose dweller never murmurs.
On a conveyance with prone rider, unmoving
مُتجاورينdwelling side by side كأنهمْas though they لتَهاجُرٍthrough estrangement
مُتجاورين كأنهمْ لتَهاجُرٍ
مُتباعدونَfar apart فمُنْجدونَso some gone to Najd ومُتْهِمُand one gone to Tihamah
مُتباعدونَ فمُنْجدونَ ومُتْهِمُ
Side by side, yet as though estranged,
As though emigrating, distanced
Far apart: some gone to Najd, another to Tihamah.
Scattered, then assembled and blamed
مُنعواthey were prevented عنfrom الشكوىcomplaining فلاso not أبيهُمُtheir defiant one
مُنعوا عن الشكوى فلا أبيهُمُ
آبٍdefiant ولاnor مِنْطيقُهمْtheir eloquent one يتكَلَّمُspeaks
آبٍ ولا مِنْطيقُهمْ يتكَلَّمُ
Forbidden to complain, not even their defiant one
Silenced from complaining, so neither their fathers
Defies, nor does their eloquent one speak.
Nor mothers speak
أغْضواthey lowered their eyes علىbefore جَوْرِthe injustice المَنونof death وطالماand how often
أغْضوا على جَوْرِ المَنون وطالما
أغْضىlowered its eyes للحْظِهمُbefore their gaze الخميسُthe army المعْلمbearing insignia
أغْضى للحْظِهمُ الخميسُ المعْلم
They lowered their eyes before death's injustice, though often
They ignored the injustice of fate, and often
The bannered army lowered its eyes before their gaze.
The inauspicious ignored their misfortune
وتوسَّدواand they pillowed themselves عَمِدَdamp التُّرابearth ولمand did not يزلcease
وتوسَّدوا عَمِدَ التُّراب ولم يزل
ملْقىthe resting place نعالهمof their sandals الدِّمَقْسُsilk المُعْلَمُpatterned
ملْقى نعالهم الدِّمَقْسُ المُعْلَمُ
They pillowed themselves on damp earth, though always
And they pillowed the pillars of dust, and never
Patterned silk had lain beneath their sandals.
Ceased to be where their slippers tread, known
ركضتْgalloped حُروبُهُمُtheir wars لهمtoward them فتمنَّعواso they resisted
ركضتْ حُروبُهُمُ لهم فتمنَّعوا
ومَشىand walked الحِمامُdeath اليهمُtoward them فاستسلمواso they surrendered
ومَشى الحِمامُ اليهمُ فاستسلموا
Their wars galloped toward them, and they stood unyielding;
Their wars galloped to them, so they resisted
Death walked toward them, and they surrendered.
While doves submitted and surrendered to them
منamong كلِّevery أغْلبmighty warrior لوif تصوَّرtook shape موْتُهُhis death
من كلِّ أغْلب لو تصوَّر موْتُهُ
فيin مَنْسرٍa raiding troop أرْداهُwould have slain it منهُfrom him تَقَحُّمُa headlong charge
في مَنْسرٍ أرْداهُ منهُ تَقَحُّمُ
Each a mighty warrior: had his death taken shape
If one imagined his death in a boudoir
Within a raiding troop, his charge would have slain it.
Which he spurned, he would barge in aggressively
ماnot ينفعُbenefits الأسْوانَthe grief-stricken طولُthe length بُكائهِof his weeping
ما ينفعُ الأسْوانَ طولُ بُكائهِ
واللّهُand God يفْعلُdoes ماwhat يشاءُHe wills ويحْكمُand decrees
واللّهُ يفْعلُ ما يشاءُ ويحْكمُ
Long weeping does not benefit the grief-stricken,
Lengthy weeping does not avail the helpless
And God does as He wills and decrees.
While Allah does as He wills, and judges
حُمَّwas ordained القضاءُfate فالكدَّنيِّso like the lowly; corrupt spelling مُمَجَّدٌan honored man
حُمَّ القضاءُ فالكدَّنيِّ مُمَجَّدٌ
عندat المماتِdeath وكالجَبانِand like the coward مُصَمِّمُa resolute man
عند المماتِ وكالجَبانِ مُصَمِّمُ
Fate was ordained: the honored man is like the lowly
Destiny insisted, so the coward in death
At death, and the resolute man is like the coward.
Is honored, and the resolute, determined
ياO حامليهِbearers of him تكَثَّرواgather in numbers ماas much as اسْطَعْتمُyou can
يا حامليهِ تكَثَّروا ما اسْطَعْتمُ
فالشِّلْوُfor the corpse طوْدٌa mountain والفريدُand the solitary one عرمرمُa vast host
فالشِّلْوُ طوْدٌ والفريدُ عرمرمُ
O bearers of him, gather as many as you can,
O you who carried him, you were numerous, but dimmed
For this corpse is a mountain, this single man a vast host.
For the weak are a burden, and the unique aloof
وتوسعواand widen فيin الأرضthe earth شقَّthe opening ضريحهof his grave
وتوسعوا في الأرض شقَّ ضريحه
ماشئتُمُas much as you wish فالطَّوْدُfor the mountain طَوْدٌa mountain أيْهَمُtrackless and inaccessible
ماشئتُمُ فالطَّوْدُ طَوْدٌ أيْهَمُ
And widen in the earth the opening of his grave
And you widened his grave however you wished
As much as you wish: this mountain is sheer and trackless.
For the cumbersome is cumbersome, whoever it is
لاmay not زالَcease رجَّافُa rumbling storm-cloud العَشيof evening مُزجراًthunder-driven
لا زالَ رجَّافُ العَشي مُزجراً
جَمَّabundant الرُّعودِin thunder لهُit has ركامٌa mass of clouds مُرْزِمُrumbling
جَمَّ الرُّعودِ لهُ ركامٌ مُرْزِمُ
May an evening thundercloud forever be driven onward,
The evening's thunder still roars, warning
Abundant in thunder, with a rumbling mass of cloud,
The mass of clouds, for it a mound piles up
مُتفارطُin rapid succession التَّسْكابِpouring rain كلُّevery مُسفَةٍlow-hanging cloud
مُتفارطُ التَّسْكابِ كلُّ مُسفَةٍ
منهof it تُذامِرُurges onward أخْتَهاits sister اذْas تُقدِمُadvances
منه تُذامِرُ أخْتَها اذْ تُقدِمُ
Pouring in swift succession, each low-hanging cloud
Pouring rain uncontrolled, every downpour
Urging its sister onward as it advances.
Cascades into its sister when it arrives
ثقُلتْgrew heavy سحائبُهits clouds وأجْلبَand clamored صوْبُهits downpour
ثقُلتْ سحائبُه وأجْلبَ صوْبُه
فكأنَّso as though عُطَّلَهُits unadorned clouds عِشارٌpregnant she-camels رُزَّمُlowing
فكأنَّ عُطَّلَهُ عِشارٌ رُزَّمُ
Its clouds grow heavy, and its downpour clamors,
Its clouds are heavy and its direction twisted
As though its unadorned clouds were pregnant she-camels lowing.
As if its slackness is a tied bundle
جمعتْgathered شتاتيهِits scattered halves الدَّبورُthe west wind ولمand did not تزلْcease
جمعتْ شتاتيهِ الدَّبورُ ولم تزلْ
وُطْفَthick-fringed السَّواريnight-clouds والغواديand morning-clouds تلئمُjoins together
وُطْفَ السَّواري والغوادي تلئمُ
The west wind gathers its scattered halves, and keeps
The returning rain has gathered its scattered parts
Joining thick-fringed clouds of night and morning.
And the valley runoffs and streams join together
حتىuntil اذاwhen مَخَضْتهُit churned it عندat كَمالهِits fullness
حتى اذا مَخَضْتهُ عند كَمالهِ
مخْضthe churning السِّقاءِof a waterskin اسْتنَّrushed onward لاnot يَتَلوَّمdelays
مخْض السِّقاءِ اسْتنَّ لا يَتَلوَّم
Until, when it churns it at its fullness,
Until when it gave birth at its peak
As a waterskin is churned, it rushes onward without delay,
Like the drawing of water, steady, uncorrupted
يُلْقيpours علىupon جَدَثِthe tomb الأميرِof the prince بِعاعَهits full downpour
يُلْقي على جَدَثِ الأميرِ بِعاعَه
والدمعُand tears أهْمىmore freely streaming لوif يُقاسُmeasured وأثْجَمand more copious
والدمعُ أهْمى لو يُقاسُ وأثْجَم
Pouring its full burden onto the prince's tomb;
It throws its sprinkles on the prince's tomb
Yet tears, if measured, stream more freely and copiously.
While tears, if measured, would be copious
لاmay not يُحْزنِgrieve اللّهُGod الاِمامَthe Imam فانهُfor he
لا يُحْزنِ اللّهُ الاِمامَ فانهُ
ليجِلُّis surely exalted عنabove حَزنِthe grief النفوسof souls ويعظمُand is great
ليجِلُّ عن حَزنِ النفوس ويعظمُ
May God not grieve the Imam, for he
God does not sadden the Imam, for he
Is surely too exalted and great for the grief of souls.
Transcends saddening souls and is grand
حاشاfar be it from خَلائقهِhis character تُسامُto be required تَصَبُّراًforced patience
حاشا خَلائقهِ تُسامُ تَصَبُّراً
والصَّبرُand patience منfrom تلْقائهِhis presence يُتَعلَّمُis learned
والصَّبرُ من تلْقائهِ يُتَعلَّمُ
Far be it that his character should be urged to patience,
Far from it! His creation shows patience
When patience itself is learned from him.
And patience by itself is learned
يقسوhardens علىagainst طعنِthe thrusts الكُماةِof armored champions فؤادهُhis heart
يقسو على طعنِ الكُماةِ فؤادهُ
ويَرِقُّand softens للمستضعفينَtoward the oppressed ويَرْحَمُand shows mercy
ويَرِقُّ للمستضعفينَ ويَرْحَمُ
His heart is hard against the thrusts of armored champions,
His heart is harsh towards the blow of fools
Yet softens toward the oppressed and shows them mercy.
And soft for the weak, showing mercy
المُستهلُّthe radiant one اذاwhen تَجِنُّovershadows شَديدةٌa dire ordeal
المُستهلُّ اذا تَجِنُّ شَديدةٌ
والمُسْتقلُّand one deeming it light اذاwhen يَؤددُweighs heavily; uncertain form المَغْرَمُthe liability
والمُسْتقلُّ اذا يَؤددُ المَغْرَمُ
He beams when a dire ordeal casts its shadow,
When disaster strikes the independent
And deems burdens light when liabilities weigh heavily.
Or debt burden the beholden
ولقدand indeed عجبتُI marveled منat المَنيَّةِdeath اِذsince غَداbecame
ولقد عجبتُ من المَنيَّةِ اِذ غَدا
منهاof it مُطيعٌobedient ماwhat أردْتَyou wished ومُجْرِمُand criminal
منها مُطيعٌ ما أردْتَ ومُجْرِمُ
I have marveled at death, since it has proved
And I am amazed by death, when it rendered
In part obedient to your wishes, in part criminal.
From it obedient, whatever I desired or criminal
تعْصيكit disobeys you فيregarding اصِّنْعوthe sibling; corrupt spelling الشقيقthe full brother سفاهةًfoolishly
تعْصيك في اصِّنْعو الشقيق سفاهةً
وتُطيعُand obeys أمْرَكَyour command والقَناwhile the lances تتَحطَّمُshatter
وتُطيعُ أمْرَكَ والقَنا تتَحطَّمُ
It foolishly defies you regarding your own full brother,
Disobeying you in viciously killing a brother
Yet obeys your command when the lances shatter.
Yet obeying your command, while the spear shatters
فاذاso if سلمتyou remain safe فكلُّthen every بؤسhardship نِعْمةٌa blessing
فاذا سلمت فكلُّ بؤس نِعْمةٌ
واذاand if بقيتَyou survive فكلُّthen every غُرْمِloss مَغْنَمُgain
واذا بقيتَ فكلُّ غُرْمِ مَغْنَمُ
If you remain safe, every hardship is a blessing;
So if you are safe, then every adversity is bounty
And if you survive, every loss becomes a gain.
And if you remain, then all debt is profit
ياO ابْنson of الجحاجحthe great chiefs منof قريشQuraysh والاُلىand those who
يا ابْن الجحاجح من قريش والاُلى
فضلواsurpassed الورىmankind فيin البأسِvalor والنَّعماءِand bounty
فضلوا الورى في البأسِ والنَّعماءِ
O son of the mighty chiefs of Quraysh, and of those
O son of Juhajha, from Quraysh and its allies
Who surpassed mankind in valor and bounty,
Who surpassed people in might and bounty
والمُتْلفينَand those expending المالwealth فيin بذْلِbestowing النَّدىgenerosity
والمُتْلفينَ المال في بذْلِ النَّدى
اِتلافَهُمْas they expend للسُّمْرِthe brown lances فيin الهَجياءِbattle
اِتلافَهُمْ للسُّمْرِ في الهَجياءِ
Who spent their wealth in giving freely,
And united wealth with generosity
As they spent their brown lances in battle.
Like their gathering at night for chatter
مَلكواthey possessed ببذْلِby bestowing نوالهمْtheir gifts وببيأسهمْand by their valor
مَلكوا ببذْلِ نوالهمْ وببيأسهمْ
مُهَجَthe hearts العُفاةُof petitioners وأنْفُسand the souls الأعْداءِof enemies
مُهَجَ العُفاةُ وأنْفُس الأعْداءِ
By bestowing their gifts and by their valor, they possessed
They ruled with their support and valor
The hearts of petitioners and the souls of enemies.
Subduing the nomads and the souls of enemies
وسعْيتَand you strove بعدهمafter them فنلْتَso you attained محلَّةًa station
وسعْيتَ بعدهم فنلْتَ محلَّةً
أرْبَتْexceeded علىabove الأسلافِforebears والآباءِand fathers
أرْبَتْ على الأسلافِ والآباءِ
You strove after them and attained a station
And you strove after them, attaining a position
Surpassing your forebears and fathers.
Towering over predecessors and forefathers
تأبىyou refuse مُصانعةَconciliation with العدوِّthe enemy بَسالةًout of valor
تأبى مُصانعةَ العدوِّ بَسالةً
اِلاsave بضرْبِby striking طَلىًnecks وسَفْكِand spilling دماءِblood
اِلا بضرْبِ طَلىً وسَفْكِ دماءِ
In valor, you refuse to conciliate the enemy,
Refusing to reconcile with enemies except
Save by striking necks and spilling blood.
By striking with sharp swords and shedding blood
ولرُّبَّand many a يومٍday بالعَراءِin open country مُنَوَّرٍbright
ولرُّبَّ يومٍ بالعَراءِ مُنَوَّرٍ
بَدَّلْتَهُyou changed it باللَّيلةِinto the night اللَّيْلاءِpitch-dark
بَدَّلْتَهُ باللَّيلةِ اللَّيْلاءِ
Many a bright day in the open country
And for many a day in the wild you made radiant
You changed into the darkest night.
Exchanging it for the darkest night
غادرْتَyou left فيهin it السَّابقاتِthe fleet horses ظَميئةًthirsty
غادرْتَ فيه السَّابقاتِ ظَميئةً
والمَشْرَفيَّةَand the Mashrafi swords فيهin it غيرَnot ظِماءِthirsty
والمَشْرَفيَّةَ فيه غيرَ ظِماءِ
You left the swift horses thirsty there,
On it, you surpassed previous morning glooms
But the Mashrafi swords there were not thirsty.
While the shining residence in it had no thirst
ماليwhy is it that I أُناديcall منكَin you أكرمَthe noblest منone who وعىunderstood
مالي أُنادي منكَ أكرمَ من وعى
حِكَمَthe wisdom الكلامِof speech فلاyet not يُرَدُّis answered نِدائيmy call
حِكَمَ الكلامِ فلا يُرَدُّ نِدائي
Why do I call upon you, the noblest ever to grasp
Why should I call upon one more heedful than aware
The wisdom of speech, yet my call goes unanswered?
Of the wisdom of words, so my call goes unanswered
وأشيمُand I watch for برقthe lightning الجودِof bounty وهوwhile it علىover الورىmankind
وأشيمُ برق الجودِ وهو على الورى
هاميpouring السَّحابِclouds فلاyet not يُبَلُّis moistened صدائيmy thirst
هامي السَّحابِ فلا يُبَلُّ صدائي
And watch for bounty's lightning, while over mankind
And perceive the lightning of generosity which upon people
Its clouds pour down, yet my thirst remains unquenched?
Is my raving, so my echo dies unrepeated
بقصائدٍwith poems غرٍّradiant كأنَّas though بُيوتَهاtheir verses
بقصائدٍ غرٍّ كأنَّ بُيوتَها
حَصْباءُpebbles دُرٍof pearls أوor نجومُstars سَماءِof the sky
حَصْباءُ دُرٍ أو نجومُ سَماءِ
With radiant poems, whose verses seem
With crude poems, as though their rhymes
Pebbles of pearl, or stars in the sky,
Are pebbles of pearls or stars in the sky
جُمَعِيَّةٍcomposed in a week لكنهاbut they منْin جَوْدةٍexcellence
جُمَعِيَّةٍ لكنها منْ جَوْدةٍ
أرْبتْsurpassed علىbeyond حوْليَّةِyear-long الاِنْشاءِcomposition
أرْبتْ على حوْليَّةِ الاِنْشاءِ
Composed in a week, yet in their excellence
Assembled, but from excellence
Surpassing poems a year in the making.
Towering over the best compositions
حاشاكfar be it from you تزيrequite; uncertain form منone who طوىtraversed أرضthe land العدىof enemies
حاشاك تزي من طوى أرض العدى
يرجوhoping for النَّدىbounty بشَماتةِwith the gloating الأعْداءِof enemies
يرجو النَّدى بشَماتةِ الأعْداءِ
Far be it from you to repay one who crossed enemy lands
Far from you being adorned by an enemy land
Hoping for bounty—with his enemies' gloating.
Seeking gifts with the gloating of enemies
أوor أنْthat تُذمَّyou grant protection منfrom الحمامdeath لمُهْجمةٍto a soul; uncertain form
أو أنْ تُذمَّ من الحمام لمُهْجمةٍ
فتُميتهاthen you kill it بالفقْرِwith poverty والَّلأواءِand hardship
فتُميتها بالفقْرِ والَّلأواءِ
Or to grant a soul protection from death,
Or that you be blamed for an attack on doves
Only to kill it through poverty and hardship.
So you kill them with poverty and misery
أوor أمْلأَI fill الدنياthe world بحمْدكَwith your praise دائماًcontinually
أو أمْلأَ الدنيا بحمْدكَ دائماً
فيكونَso becomes حِرْمانيmy deprivation جوابَthe answer ثَنائيto my praise
فيكونَ حِرْماني جوابَ ثَنائي
Or for me to fill the world forever with your praise,
Or I fill the world with your perpetual praise
Only for my deprivation to answer my praise.
And my deprivation is the response to my eulogy
واذاand if نظرْتَyou reflect فكلُّthen all ماthat which تحويholds يَدٌa hand
واذا نظرْتَ فكلُّ ما تحوي يَدٌ
فانِperishing وذِكْرٌand a remembrance صالحٌgood لبَقاءِfor endurance
فانِ وذِكْرٌ صالحٌ لبَقاءِ
And if you reflect, all that a hand possesses
And if you look, all that a hand contains
Perishes, while a good name endures.
Is fleeting, except for benefaction and righteous mention
Sol 6.1