قالَتshe said حُبِستَyou were imprisoned فَقُلتُso I said لَيسَis not بِضائِرٍat all harmful
قالَت حُبِستَ فَقُلتُ لَيسَ بِضائِرٍ
حَبسيmy imprisonment وَأَيُّand what مُهَنَّدٍIndian-steel sword لاnot يُغمَدُis sheathed
حَبسي وَأَيُّ مُهَنَّدٍ لا يُغمَدُ
She said, “You have been imprisoned.” I said, “No harm is done
She said, "You are imprisoned," and I said, "It's no misfortune -
by my imprisonment; what Indian-steel sword is never sheathed?”
My imprisonment, for what brave man does not sheathe his sword?"
أَوَماand have ... not? رَأَيتِyou have seen اللَيثَthe lion يَألَفُkeeps to غيلَهُhis thicket
أَوَما رَأَيتِ اللَيثَ يَألَفُ غيلَهُ
كِبراًout of pride وَأَوباشُand the rabble of السِباعِthe wild beasts تَرَدَّدُroam about
كِبراً وَأَوباشُ السِباعِ تَرَدَّدُ
Have you not seen the lion keep to his thicket
Have you not seen the lion grow accustomed to his lair
out of pride, while the baser beasts roam about?
Out of pride? Yet the rabble of beasts comes and goes.
وَالشَمسُand the sun لَولاwere it not for أَنَّهاits being مَحجوبَةٌveiled
وَالشَمسُ لَولا أَنَّها مَحجوبَةٌ
عَنfrom ناظِرَيكِyour two eyes لَماwould not أَضاءَshine الفَرقَدُFarqad (a star)
عَن ناظِرَيكِ لَما أَضاءَ الفَرقَدُ
And were the sun not veiled
If the sun were not veiled from your eyes,
from your eyes, Farqad would not shine.
It would not shine on the horizon.
وَالبَدرُand the full moon يُدرِكُهُovertakes it السِرارُthe moon’s dark phase فَتَنجَليthen pass away
وَالبَدرُ يُدرِكُهُ السِرارُ فَتَنجَلي
أَيّامُهُits days وَكَأَنَّهُand as though it were مُتَجَدِّدُrenewed
أَيّامُهُ وَكَأَنَّهُ مُتَجَدِّدُ
And the full moon is overtaken by its dark phase; then
The moon is overtaken by clouds, yet clears
those days pass away, and it seems renewed.
Its days as if made new again.
وَالغَيثُand rain يَحصُرُهُconfines it الغَمامُthe clouds فَماso not يُرىis seen
وَالغَيثُ يَحصُرُهُ الغَمامُ فَما يُرى
إِلّاexcept وَرِيِّقُهُand its first rain يُراحُis smelled وَيَرعُدُand thunders
إِلّا وَرِيِّقُهُ يُراحُ وَيَرعُدُ
And rain is confined by clouds, unseen
The rain is confined by the clouds, unseen
except when its first rain is smelled and it thunders.
Until its drizzle flows and thunders.
وَالنارُand fire فيin أَحجارِهاits stones مَخبوءَةٌhidden
وَالنارُ في أَحجارِها مَخبوءَةٌ
لاnot تُصطَلىis used for warmth إنif لَمnot تُثِرهاrouse it الأَزنُدُthe fire-strikers
لا تُصطَلى إن لَم تُثِرها الأَزنُدُ
And fire lies hidden in its stones;
And fire lies hidden in stones -
one cannot warm oneself by it unless the fire-strikers rouse it.
It is not lit unless flint strikes it.
وَالزاعِبِيَّةُand the Zaʿibi spears لاnot يُقيمُstraightens كُعوبَهاtheir joints
وَالزاعِبِيَّةُ لا يُقيمُ كُعوبَها
إِلّاexcept الثِقافُthe straightening clamp وَجَذوَةٌand a firebrand تَتَوَقَّدُblazes
إِلّا الثِقافُ وَجَذوَةٌ تَتَوَقَّدُ
And nothing straightens the joints of Zaʿibi spears
The lively mare is not steadied but by
but the straightening clamp and a blazing firebrand.
The bridle, and a briskness that kindles in her.
غِيَرُreversals اللَياليof the nights بادِئاتٌcoming anew عُوَّدٌrecurring
غِيَرُ اللَيالي بادِئاتٌ عُوَّدٌ
وَالمالُand wealth عارِيَةٌa loan يُفادُis acquired وَيَنفَدُand is exhausted
وَالمالُ عارِيَةٌ يُفادُ وَيَنفَدُ
The reversals of the nights come and come again;
Except the darkening nights, all is fickle -
and wealth is a loan, acquired and exhausted.
Wealth borrowed, spent, and gone.
وَلِكُلِّand for every حالٍstate مُعقِبٌa successor وَلَرُبَّماand sometimes
وَلِكُلِّ حالٍ مُعقِبٌ وَلَرُبَّما
أَجلىunveiled لَكَfor you المَكروهُadversity عَمّاfrom what يُحمَدُis praiseworthy
أَجلى لَكَ المَكروهُ عَمّا يُحمَدُ
And every state has its successor; sometimes
Every state has a successor, and sometimes
adversity unveils for you what is praiseworthy.
The hated makes clear the praiseworthy.
لاnot يُؤيِسَنَّكَmake you despair مِنof تَفَرُّجِthe lifting of كُربَةٍdistress
لا يُؤيِسَنَّكَ مِن تَفَرُّجِ كُربَةٍ
خَطبٌa calamity رَماكَhurled at you بِهِwith it الزَمانُtime الأَنكَدُthe wretched
خَطبٌ رَماكَ بِهِ الزَمانُ الأَنكَدُ
Do not be made to despair of relief from anguish
Let no misfortune make you despair
by a calamity that wretched time has hurled at you.
Of relief from the most pressing sorrows.
كَمhow many مِنof عَليلٍa sick man قَدhas تَخَطّاهُpassed him by الرّدىdeath
كَم مِن عَليلٍ قَد تَخَطّاهُ الرّدى
فَنَجاso he survived وَماتَand died طَبيبُهُhis physician وَالعُوَّدُand the sickbed visitors
فَنَجا وَماتَ طَبيبُهُ وَالعُوَّدُ
How many a sick man has death passed by,
Many a sick man, though undone by ills,
so he survived, while his physician and sickbed visitors died!
Recovered, while his doctor died.
صَبراًbe patient فَإِنَّfor indeed الصَبرَpatience يُعقِبُbrings راحَةًease
صَبراً فَإِنَّ الصَبرَ يُعقِبُ راحَةً
وَيَدُand the hand الخَليفَةِof the caliph لاnot تُطاوِلُهاrivals it يَدُany hand
وَيَدُ الخَليفَةِ لا تُطاوِلُها يَدُ
Be patient, for patience brings ease,
Have patience, for patience brings comfort,
and no hand can rival the caliph’s hand.
And the Caliph's hand is not beyond reach.
وَالحَبسُand prison ماas long as لَمnot تَغشَهُyou enter it لِدَنِيَّةٍfor a base deed
وَالحَبسُ ما لَم تَغشَهُ لِدَنِيَّةٍ
شَنعاءَabominable نِعمَexcellent is المَنزِلُthe dwelling المُتَوَرَّدُthat is entered
شَنعاءَ نِعمَ المَنزِلُ المُتَوَرَّدُ
And prison—unless you enter it for a base deed,
Imprisonment is no mean dwelling
an abominable one—is a fine dwelling to enter.
If no base warden degrades it.
بَيتٌa house يُجَدِّدُrenews لِلكَريمِfor the nobleman كَرامَةًhonor
بَيتٌ يُجَدِّدُ لِلكَريمِ كَرامَةً
وَيُزارُand he is visited فيهِin it وَلاand does not يَزورُpay visits وَيُحفَدُand is eagerly served
وَيُزارُ فيهِ وَلا يَزورُ وَيُحفَدُ
A house that renews the nobleman’s honor,
A home renewing honor for the noble,
where he is visited, pays no visits, and is waited upon.
Where he is visited, not visiting.
لَوif لَمnot يَكُنthere were فيin السِجنِprison إِلّاexcept أَنَّهُthat it
لَو لَم يَكُن في السِجنِ إِلّا أَنَّهُ
لاnot يَستَذِلُّكَhumiliate you بِالحِجابِby barring access الأَعبُدُthe slaves
لا يَستَذِلُّكَ بِالحِجابِ الأَعبُدُ
If prison offered nothing else but this:
If prison had no more effect than
slaves cannot humiliate you by denying you access.
To spare you abasement by the lowliest guards...
ياO أَحمَدُAhmad بنَson of أَبيAbi (father of) دُؤادٍDu'ad إِنَّماindeed
يا أَحمَدُ بنَ أَبي دُؤادٍ إِنَّما
تُدعىyou are summoned لِكُلِّfor every عَظيمَةٍmomentous affair ياO أَحمَدُAhmad
تُدعى لِكُلِّ عَظيمَةٍ يا أَحمَدُ
O Ahmad ibn Abi Du'ad, indeed,
O Ahmed son of Abi Du'ad, you
you are called upon for every momentous affair, O Ahmad.
Are called on for every lofty deed.
بَلِّغinform أَميرَthe Commander of المُؤمِنينَthe Faithful وَدونَهُand before him
بَلِّغ أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ وَدونَهُ
خَوضُwading through العِدىenemies وَمخاوِفٌand dangers لاnot تَنفَدُend
خَوضُ العِدى وَمخاوِفٌ لا تَنفَدُ
Convey this to the Commander of the Faithful; before him lie
Convey to the Commander of the Faithful -
foes to wade through, and dangers without end.
Beware plunged strife and unending fears -
أَنتُمyou بَنيsons of عَمِّthe paternal uncle of النَبِيِّthe Prophet مُحَمَّدٍMuhammad
أَنتُم بَني عَمِّ النَبِيِّ مُحَمَّدٍ
أَولىmost entitled بِماto what شَرَعَordained النَبِيُّthe Prophet مُحَمَّدُMuhammad
أَولى بِما شَرَعَ النَبِيُّ مُحَمَّدُ
You, sons of the Prophet Muhammad’s uncle,
You are the kin of the Prophet Muhammad,
are most entitled to what the Prophet Muhammad ordained.
Closer to what Muhammad decreed.
ماwhatever كانَthere is مِنof حَسَنٍgood فَأَنتُمthen you أَهلُهُits rightful people
ما كانَ مِن حَسَنٍ فَأَنتُم أَهلُهُ
طابَتare noble مَغارِسُكُمyour planting grounds وَطابَand is noble المَحتِدُthe lineage
طابَت مَغارِسُكُم وَطابَ المَحتِدُ
Whatever good there is, you are its rightful people;
Whatever good there is, you are its people -
noble are your planting grounds, and noble is your lineage.
Your roots are blessed, and blessed the faithful's way.
أَمِنَis it in accord with السَوِيَّةِfairness يااِبنَO son of عَمِّthe paternal uncle of مُحَمَّدٍMuhammad
أَمِنَ السَوِيَّةِ يااِبنَ عَمِّ مُحَمَّدٍ
خَصمٌone litigant تُقَرِّبُهُyou bring him close وَآخَرُand another تُبعِدُyou send away
خَصمٌ تُقَرِّبُهُ وَآخَرُ تُبعِدُ
Is it just, O cousin of Muhammad,
Is it of the rightly-guided, O kinsman of Muhammad,
that you bring one litigant close and send another away?
To make one opponent near, another far?
إِنَّindeed الَّذينَthose who سَعَواhastened إِلَيكَto you بِباطِلٍwith falsehood
إِنَّ الَّذينَ سَعَوا إِلَيكَ بِباطِلٍ
أَعداءُenemies of نِعمَتِكَyour bounty الَّتيwhich لاnot تُجحَدُis denied
أَعداءُ نِعمَتِكَ الَّتي لا تُجحَدُ
Indeed, those who hastened to you with falsehood
Those who unjustly intrigued against you
are enemies of your bounty, which cannot be denied.
Are enemies of the blessing you embody.
شَهِدواthey were present وَغِبناand we were absent عَنهُمُfrom them فَتَحَكَّمواso they judged at will
شَهِدوا وَغِبنا عَنهُمُ فَتَحَكَّموا
فيناconcerning us وَلَيسَand is not كَغائِبٍlike one absent مَنone who يَشهَدُis present
فينا وَلَيسَ كَغائِبٍ مَن يَشهَدُ
They were present, and we were absent from them; so they ruled at will
They bore witness while we were absent -
over us; one present is not like one absent.
Then judged us though the absent witness naught.
لَوif يَجمَعُbrings together الخَصمَينِthe two litigants عِندَكَbefore you مَشهَدٌa gathering
لَو يَجمَعُ الخَصمَينِ عِندَكَ مَشهَدٌ
يَوماًone day لَبانَwould surely become clear لَكَto you الطَريقُthe path الأَقصَدُthe straightest
يَوماً لَبانَ لَكَ الطَريقُ الأَقصَدُ
If a gathering before you brought the two litigants together
If both opponents could but meet you one day,
one day, the straightest path would become clear to you.
The right path would be clear.
فَلَئِنso if indeed بَقيتُI survive عَلىthrough الزَمانِtime وَكانَand there is ليfor me
فَلَئِن بَقيتُ عَلى الزَمانِ وَكانَ لي
يَوماًone day مِنَfrom المَلِكِthe king الخَليفَةِthe caliph مَقعَدُa seat
يَوماً مِنَ المَلِكِ الخَليفَةِ مَقعَدُ
So if I survive the passage of time and am granted
If I outlive this era, and one day
one day a seat by the king, the caliph,
Have status with the Caliphate...
وَاِحتَجَّand argues خَصميmy adversary وَاِحتَجَجتُand I argue بِحُجَّتيwith my case
وَاِحتَجَّ خَصمي وَاِحتَجَجتُ بِحُجَّتي
لَفَلَجتُI will surely prevail فيin حُجَجيmy arguments وَخابَand will fail الأَبعَدُthe wretch
لَفَلَجتُ في حُجَجي وَخابَ الأَبعَدُ
and my adversary argues while I argue my case,
If my opponent disputes and I make my case,
I will surely prevail in my arguments, and that wretch will fail.
I will win with my proofs, and the distant fail.
وَاللَهُand God بالِغُaccomplishes أَمرِهِHis purpose فيamong خَلقِهِHis creatures
وَاللَهُ بالِغُ أَمرِهِ في خَلقِهِ
وَإِلَيهِand to Him مَصدَرُناour departure غَداًtomorrow وَالمَورِدُand the arrival
وَإِلَيهِ مَصدَرُنا غَداً وَالمَورِدُ
And God accomplishes His purpose among His creatures,
God accomplishes His command among His creatures,
and to Him tomorrow are our departure and arrival.
And to Him we go tomorrow, our haven.
وَلَئِنand if indeed مَضَيتُI pass away لَقَلَّماsurely scarcely يَبقىremains الَّذيthe one who
وَلَئِن مَضَيتُ لَقَلَّما يَبقى الَّذي
قَدhas كادَنيplotted against me وَلَيَجمَعَنّاand will surely gather us المَوعِدُthe appointed time
قَد كادَني وَلَيَجمَعَنّا المَوعِدُ
And if I pass away, scarcely will the one remain
If I pass before then, scarcely will remain
who has plotted against me; the appointed time will surely bring us together.
Those who envied me - we will meet again!
فَبِأَيِّthen for what ذَنبٍoffense أَصبَحَتhave become أَعراضُناour reputations
فَبِأَيِّ ذَنبٍ أَصبَحَت أَعراضُنا
نَهباًplunder يُشيدُproclaims aloud بِهاabout them اللَئيمُthe vile man الأَوغَدُthe contemptible
نَهباً يُشيدُ بِها اللَئيمُ الأَوغَدُ
Then for what offense have our reputations become
By what crime have our honors become
plunder for a vile, contemptible man to malign aloud?
Prey for the vilest rogue?
Sol 6.1