ياO لامحاًyou who glimpse شبحَthe shape of المُسِفِّthe low-hanging cloud الأكْحلkohl-dark
يا لامحاً شبحَ المُسِفِّ الأكْحل
والغادياتand the morning clouds معwith الصَّباحِdawn الحُفَّلِfull-laden
والغاديات مع الصَّباحِ الحُفَّلِ
O you who glimpse the shape of the low-hanging, kohl-dark cloud,
O fading specter of the black knight
and the laden clouds moving out with dawn,
And maidens leaving with the faded dawn
والجوْنُand the dark cloud يُلحفُcloaks بالهضابover the hills ربابُهُits low clouds
والجوْنُ يُلحفُ بالهضاب ربابُهُ
كنَعامِlike the ostriches of دَوٍّDaww ذيwith الرِّثالِostrich chicks (uncertain reading) المُجْفِلstartled
كنَعامِ دَوٍّ ذي الرِّثالِ المُجْفِل
while the dark cloud's low cloudlets cloak the hills,
While youth wraps the highlands in its rhythm
like startled ostriches of Daww with their chicks—
Like a heavy Nea'ma ostrich in loose feathers
همدتْfaded نضارتهُhis freshness وأشْعَبand spread هَمُّهُhis distress
همدتْ نضارتهُ وأشْعَب هَمُّهُ
فغَداso he became يَعُجُّcrying out عَجيجwith the cry of نِضْوٍa worn-out camel مُثْقَلheavily burdened
فغَدا يَعُجُّ عَجيج نِضْوٍ مُثْقَل
whose bloom has faded and whose cares have spread,
Its vigor has waned and its worries multiplied
who now cries out like a worn-out, overburdened camel—
So it moans heavily like a laden camel
دعْleave عنكaway from you مركومpiled-up السْحابclouds وودْقَهand its rain
دعْ عنك مركوم السْحاب وودْقَه
وابْغِand seek النَّدىgenerosity عندfrom الإِمامِthe Imam المُفْضِلthe beneficent
وابْغِ النَّدى عند الإِمامِ المُفْضِل
leave aside the piled-up clouds and their rain,
Leave the piled clouds and their drizzle
and seek generosity from the beneficent Imam.
And seek the dew at the esteemed leader's abode
تجدyou will find الحَياrain هَلَلاًfalling in drops وماthough not استَمطرْتَهyou called it down
تجد الحَيا هَلَلاً وما استَمطرْتَه
جَوْداًgenerosity يصوبُكَraining upon you منfrom سحابa cloud of الأنملfingertips
جَوْداً يصوبُكَ من سحاب الأنمل
You find rain falling, without having called it down—
You'll find life crescent-shaped, though not watered by the rain
generosity showering upon you from a cloud of fingertips,
A downpour aiming you from the constellation Al Na'ml
مُتبعِّقاًgushing forth يَذَرُleaving الحُزونَthe rough uplands قَرارةًa basin
مُتبعِّقاً يَذَرُ الحُزونَ قَرارةً
ويذيبُand melts وابلُهits downpour صليبَthe hard substance of الجَنْدَلrock
ويذيبُ وابلُه صليبَ الجَنْدَل
gushing forth until it leaves rough uplands a basin,
Dripping, leaving the grieved boiling
its downpour melting the hard substance of rock.
And its torrent melting the wooden cross
تُحْييrevives البلادَthe lands بهthrough it بَنانُthe fingertips of خليفَةٍa caliph
تُحْيي البلادَ به بَنانُ خليفَةٍ
تذَرُleaves الهواجرthe midday heats كالربيعِlike spring المُبْقِلِsprouting greenery
تذَرُ الهواجر كالربيعِ المُبْقِلِ
Through it a caliph's fingertips revive the lands,
It brings the countries to life under the leadership of Khalifa
leaving the scorching noons like a verdant spring.
Leaving migrants like the blossoming spring
خِرْقٌa generous man يُعاجلhastens to supply سائليهhis petitioners برِفْدهwith his bounty
خِرْقٌ يُعاجل سائليه برِفْده
ويَجودُand gives freely بالنُّعْمىwith blessings إذاwhen لمnot يُسْألِhe is asked
ويَجودُ بالنُّعْمى إذا لم يُسْألِ
A generous man who hastens his bounty to his petitioners,
A breach promptly providing for its seekers
and lavishes blessings even when he is not asked.
And bestowing goodness without being asked
فكأنَّso it is as though ناديَهُhis gathering-place ومجْمَعَand the meeting-place of مجْدِهِhis glory
فكأنَّ ناديَهُ ومجْمَعَ مجْدِهِ
سَلْسالُsweet-flowing water وِرْدٍa watering-place بالمَفازَةِin the desert مُثْعِلbrimming
سَلْسالُ وِرْدٍ بالمَفازَةِ مُثْعِل
It is as though his gathering-place, the meeting-place of his glory,
As if its oasis and the site of its glory
were a sweet-flowing watering-place, brimming in the desert.
A necklace of flowers in the wilderness adorned
يتفارطُvie to arrive first العافونَseekers of bounty حُبَّout of love for ورودِهِreaching its waters
يتفارطُ العافونَ حُبَّ ورودِهِ
كتفارُطlike the racing of الكُدْريِّdun sandgrouse نحوtoward المَنْهَلِthe watering-place
كتفارُط الكُدْريِّ نحو المَنْهَلِ
Petitioners vie to arrive first, eager to reach its waters,
The benefactors exceed in love of its roses
like dun sandgrouse racing toward the waterhole.
As the rain pool exceeds toward the watering hole
لوif جادَhe gave freely بالبحرthe sea المُحيطِencompassing لَظَنَّهُhe would deem it
لو جادَ بالبحر المُحيطِ لَظَنَّهُ
منْfrom فرْطِthe excess of همَّتِهhis aspiration ثَميلةَa remnant of moisture سحْبَلof a large lizard
منْ فرْطِ همَّتِه ثَميلةَ سحْبَل
Were he to give away the encompassing ocean, he would deem it,
If he were to give away the great ocean, one would think
in the vastness of his ambition, a large lizard's scant store of moisture.
Due to his ambition, a small cup
أوor سامهُasked him for عافوهُhis petitioners بُلغَةَa sustaining portion of مائهِhis water
أو سامهُ عافوهُ بُلغَةَ مائهِ
يومَon the day of التَّصافُنِsharing scarce water صائفاًin summer heat لمnot يَبْخَلِhe would withhold
يومَ التَّصافُنِ صائفاً لم يَبْخَلِ
Or if his petitioners asked him for the water that sustains him,
Or quench those he granted in a day
on a summer day of rationed water, he would not withhold it.
When allies meet, not stinting
وإذاand when دجاdarkened الخطبcalamity البهيمُpitch-black وأغْدفتْand let fall
وإذا دجا الخطب البهيمُ وأغْدفتْ
شمسthe sun of الرَّجاءhope نِقابَa veil of ليلٍnight ألْيَلutterly dark
شمس الرَّجاء نِقابَ ليلٍ ألْيَل
And when pitch-black calamity deepens, and down is drawn
And when the minds of beasts darken and
by the sun of hope a veil of darkest night,
The sun of hope dons the veil of a long night
كشفdispelled الإِمامُthe Imam المسْتضيءُal-Mustadi ظَلامَهاits darkness
كشف الإِمامُ المسْتضيءُ ظَلامَها
بعَزيمةٍwith resolve مثْلِlike الحُسامِa keen sword المِقْصَلcleaving
بعَزيمةٍ مثْلِ الحُسامِ المِقْصَل
the Imam al-Mustadi dispels its darkness
The shining Imam dispels its darkness
with resolve like a keen, cleaving sword.
With resolve like the sharpened sword
تتْلوfollow سباعُthe predators among الطَّيرِbirds طيرَthe bird of لوائهِhis banner
تتْلو سباعُ الطَّيرِ طيرَ لوائهِ
وتَشيمُand watch عاسِلَهُhis swaying spear عُيونُthe eyes of العُسَّلwolves
وتَشيمُ عاسِلَهُ عُيونُ العُسَّل
Birds of prey follow the bird of his banner,
The predatory birds recite his banner
and wolves' eyes watch his swaying spear.
And the honey bee's eyes admire his standard
دَرِبَتْhave grown accustomed بأشْرءto pieces of flesh (uncertain reading) المُلوكِof kings فكُلَّهاso all of them
دَرِبَتْ بأشْرء المُلوكِ فكُلَّها
تأبىrefuse سوىanything but لحْمِthe flesh of المُطاعِthe obeyed ruler العبْهَلunrestrained
تأبى سوى لحْمِ المُطاعِ العبْهَل
Accustomed to kings' flesh, they all
Skilled in the ways of kings, yet all
refuse all but the flesh of an obeyed, unbridled ruler.
Refuse but the flesh of the obeyed lion
فمَرازِقُthus the commanders of الجمعيْنِboth hosts عندbefore كُماتهِhis champions
فمَرازِقُ الجمعيْنِ عند كُماتهِ
والكُومُand the high-humped she-camels بينbetween دُخانِهhis smoke والقَسْطَلand the dust-cloud
والكُومُ بين دُخانِه والقَسْطَل
So the commanders of both hosts stand before his champions,
The livelihoods of both armies are in his clutches
and the high-humped she-camels amid his smoke and dust.
And the heap between his smoke and embers
حَبْرٌa scholar لهُfor him تقْواهُhis piety أمْنعُthe most protective جُنَّةٍshield
حَبْرٌ لهُ تقْواهُ أمْنعُ جُنَّةٍ
وأعَزُّand the strongest مُعْتَصمٍrefuge وأشرفُand the noblest معْقلstronghold
وأعَزُّ مُعْتَصمٍ وأشرفُ معْقل
A scholar whose piety is his most impregnable shield,
An ink his piety protects stronger than any shield
his strongest refuge and his noblest stronghold.
And a firmer refuge and higher fortress
فإذاso when طَغىoverstepped الأعداءthe enemies كَفَّheld back جيوشَهُhis armies
فإذا طَغى الأعداء كَفَّ جيوشَهُ
معdespite بأسهمْtheir might وغَزاand campaigned بجيشِwith an army of تَوكلِtrust in God
مع بأسهمْ وغَزا بجيشِ تَوكلِ
When enemies overstep, he restrains his armies,
So when enemies transgress, his armies halt them
despite their might, and campaigns with an army of trust in God.
Despite their might, and he attacks with trust
فالنَّصرfor victory يُحقرbelittles كلَّevery طَعْنٍthrust مُنْفذٍpiercing
فالنَّصر يُحقر كلَّ طَعْنٍ مُنْفذٍ
والسَّعدand good fortune يصْغرُdiminishes كلَّevery ضربٍblow أرْعلrending
والسَّعد يصْغرُ كلَّ ضربٍ أرْعل
For victory makes every piercing thrust seem paltry,
Victory belittles any piercing stab
and good fortune makes every rending blow seem slight.
And fortune humbles any fierce blow
نامslept الرَّعيَّةُthe subjects والإِمامُwhile the Imam مُسَهَّدٌkept sleepless
نام الرَّعيَّةُ والإِمامُ مُسَهَّدٌ
جَمُّabundant in الرَّويَّةِdeliberation فيconcerning صلاحِthe reform of المُهْمَلwhat is neglected
جَمُّ الرَّويَّةِ في صلاحِ المُهْمَل
The subjects sleep, while the Imam lies sleepless,
The subjects rest while the Imam lies awake
deep in reflection on setting neglected matters right,
Guarding the flock in reforming the neglected
فيin العدلjustice والإِحْسانِand kindness مُمْتثلاًcomplying لماwith what
في العدل والإِحْسانِ مُمْتثلاً لما
يتْلوهُhe recites it منْfrom نصِّthe wording of الكتابِthe Book المُنْزَلrevealed
يتْلوهُ منْ نصِّ الكتابِ المُنْزَل
in justice and kindness, obeying what
Upholding justice and benevolence as he recites
he recites from the text of the revealed Book.
What he memorizes from the revealed Book
يَسْعىstrives إلىto إِحرازِattain كلِّevery حَميدةٍpraiseworthy virtue
يَسْعى إلى إِحرازِ كلِّ حَميدةٍ
طَلْقَthe free run of النَّعامةan ostrich أوor شِكالِthe hobble of الهيْكلa mighty steed
طَلْقَ النَّعامة أو شِكالِ الهيْكل
He strives to attain every praiseworthy virtue,
Seeking every praiseworthy trait
at an ostrich's full run or a mighty steed's hobbled pace.
Nimble as an ostrich or sturdy as a temple
وطغىand grew tyrannical المُلوكُthe kings وباتَwhile he spent the night منfrom إِشْفاقهhis fearful concern
وطغى المُلوكُ وباتَ من إِشْفاقه
خَشْيانَfearful يُخْبِتُbows humbly للقديمto the Eternal الأولthe First
خَشْيانَ يُخْبِتُ للقديم الأول
Kings grow tyrannical, while he spends the night in fearful concern,
Kings cowered and spent the night in dread of him
afraid, bowing humbly to the Eternal, the First.
Silent fear of the ancient days
شعفيmy passion بمجدكfor your glory ياO ابنson of عمِّthe paternal uncle of مُحمَّدٍMuhammad
شعفي بمجدك يا ابن عمِّ مُحمَّدٍ
شَعفُthe passion of الخوامسcamels watering every fifth day بالبَرودfor cool water السلسلsweet-flowing
شَعفُ الخوامس بالبَرود السلسل
My passion for your glory, O cousin of Muhammad,
I boast of your glory, O son of Muhammad's uncle
is the longing of camels at their fifth-day watering for cool, sweet-flowing water.
Boasting of the necklaces with the smooth pearls
فمَدائحيso my praises والمَجْدُwhile glory ينظمُstrings دُرَّهاtheir pearls
فمَدائحي والمَجْدُ ينظمُ دُرَّها
فيon سِلْكِهِits thread كَصبابَةِlike the ardent longing of المُتَغزِّلِa love poet
في سِلْكِهِ كَصبابَةِ المُتَغزِّلِ
Thus my praises—glory stringing their pearls
So my praises and glory compose its pearls
on its thread—are like a love poet's ardent longing.
In its strand like the prolonged infatuation
أحببتُI loved أبْلَجَa radiant man مثلُthe like of فخرthe glory of حديثِهhis story
أحببتُ أبْلَجَ مثلُ فخر حديثِه
وكريمِand the noble سيرةِhistory of مجْدِهhis glory لمْnot يُنْقَلhas been recounted
وكريمِ سيرةِ مجْدِه لمْ يُنْقَل
I have loved a radiant man: the like of his glorious tale
I loved the most eloquent like the pride of his tales
and the noble history of his greatness has never been told.
And the generous morals of his unmatched glory
نسفَscattered الغُبارdust بكلinto every معْطسِnostril of ماجدٍa noble man
نسفَ الغُبار بكل معْطسِ ماجدٍ
فضْلَwith the superiority of الجوادِa thoroughbred horse علىover الهجينa half-bred horse الأقْزَلlimping
فضْلَ الجوادِ على الهجين الأقْزَل
He cast dust into the nostrils of every noble,
He blew away the dust of every towering hero
as a thoroughbred outstrips a limping half-bred.
The superiority of the generous over the brindled horse
فبَقيتَso may you live on ياO منone who صانprotected وجهيَmy face جودُهhis generosity
فبَقيتَ يا من صان وجهيَ جودُه
ونَوالُهُand his bounty عنْfrom ذِلَّةٍhumiliation وتَبَذُّلِand abasement
ونَوالُهُ عنْ ذِلَّةٍ وتَبَذُّلِ
So may you live on, O you whose generosity has shielded my face,
So you remained, O you whose generosity protected my dignity
and whose bounty has spared it humiliation and abasement,
And whose bestowal was safe from humiliation and fickleness
لرضاfor the pleasure of الإِلهِGod وحِفْظهand upholding His rights فيamong خلْقِهِHis creatures
لرضا الإِلهِ وحِفْظه في خلْقِهِ
والذَّبِّand defending عنْon behalf of سُنَنthe ways of النَّبيِّthe Prophet المُرسلsent by God
والذَّبِّ عنْ سُنَن النَّبيِّ المُرسل
for God's pleasure, and to uphold His rights among His creatures,
For the pleasure of God and preserving His creation
and to defend the ways of the Prophet sent by God.
And following the way of the sending Prophet
Sol 6.1