شَرَعَordained الحبُّlove لَهُfor him ماwhat شَرَعاordained
شَرَعَ الحبُّ لَهُ ما شَرَعا
فَبَكىso he wept خوفَfear of النوىseparation واِفتَجعاand was grief-stricken
فَبَكى خوفَ النوى واِفتَجعا
Love ordained for him what it ordained,
Love granted him all it granted,
so he wept for fear of separation and was stricken with grief.
So he wept fearing the pain and grieved.
وَدَعاهُand called him الحبُّlove جَهراًaloud فَاِنثنىso he turned
وَدَعاهُ الحبُّ جَهراً فَاِنثنى
بِالإِجاباتِwith answers لهfor it حينَwhen دَعاit called
بِالإِجاباتِ له حينَ دَعا
And love called him aloud, so he turned
Love called him loudly so he leaned
with answers for it when it called.
Toward its calls whene’er it called.
كَلفٌa lovesick man رامَsought الهوىpassion فيin مصرعarena of downfall الthe (continued)
كَلفٌ رامَ الهوى في مصرع ال
حبِّlove منهfrom him مصرعهhis downfall فَاِنصرعاso he fell
حبِّ منه مصرعه فَاِنصرعا
A lovesick man: passion sought, in the arena of
A camel yearning for love collapsed
love, his downfall—and he fell.
At love’s collapse, collapsing itself.
لَمnot يَكنwas منهfrom him هواهُhis passion بالّذيwith what
لَم يَكن منه هواهُ بالّذي
نالهُbefell him مِنof سقمهِhis sickness مُقتنعاcontent
نالهُ مِن سقمهِ مُقتنعا
His passion was not content with
He did not crave of it but what
the sickness that had befallen him.
Sufficed him of his sickness, pleased.
جَزعتهmade him grieve فرقةseparation from الحيِّthe tribe منfrom الthe (continued)
جَزعته فرقة الحيِّ من ال
وجدِlonging لمّاwhen أَنthat تولّواthey departed جزعاanguish
وجدِ لمّا أَن تولّوا جزعا
Parting from the tribe filled him with
Parting from friends made him grieve when
longing's anguish when they departed.
They turned away, grieving themselves.
كلّماwhenever كفّhe restrained لَدىin the presence of أصحابهِhis companions
كلّما كفّ لَدى أصحابهِ
دمعهُhis tears مِنfrom مَدمعيهِhis tear ducts اِندَفَعاgushed forth
دمعهُ مِن مَدمعيهِ اِندَفَعا
Whenever, among his companions, he checked
Whene’er he stopped his tears before his friends
his tears, they gushed from his tear ducts.
They streamed from his tear ducts anyway.
ماnot رويwas quenched منby شربِdrinking كاساتِcups of الهوىpassion
ما روي من شربِ كاساتِ الهوى
لاno ولاand not فيin الطعمِeating منهُof it شَبِعاbecame sated
لا ولا في الطعمِ منهُ شَبِعا
His thirst was not quenched by drinking passion's cups,
That which is told of drinking cups of love,
no, nor was he sated by feeding on it.
None quenched their thirst or tasted full.
أيُّهاO العاذلُreproacher يبغيseeks سلوةًforgetfulness of love
أيُّها العاذلُ يبغي سلوةً
مِنfrom فتىًa youth ثوبrobe of التسلّيsolace خَلَعاhe cast off
مِن فتىً ثوب التسلّي خَلَعا
O reproacher, seeking forgetfulness
O critic, seeking solace
from a youth who has cast off the robe of solace,
From a lad who cast off his cloak of comfort!
لاdo not تَلُمهblame him فيfor هواهُhis love إنّهindeed he
لا تَلُمه في هواهُ إنّه
فيin هواهُhis love لَمnot يكُنwas مُبتدعاan innovator
في هواهُ لَم يكُن مُبتدعا
do not blame him for his love; he
Do not blame him for his love, he
is no innovator in loving.
Was no pioneer in his passion.
ماwhy لِذاتِwith the woman bearing الخالِthe beauty spot منهاfrom her قطعتshe severed
ما لِذاتِ الخالِ منها قطعت
مِنfrom وِصاليunion with me حبلَهاher cord فَاِنقطعاso it snapped
مِن وِصالي حبلَها فَاِنقطعا
Why has the woman with the beauty spot severed
For my separation from the cheek’s moles
her cord of union with me, so it snapped?
Severed our bond, so it was severed.
ماwhat لهاshe has مِنof عادةٍa habit ماnever اِستَصحبتshe took along
ما لها مِن عادةٍ ما اِستَصحبت
عَنfrom محبٍّa lover قطّever إلّاexcept خَضعاsubmission
عَن محبٍّ قطّ إلّا خَضعا
What a way she has! She has never taken
Never had she a habit, when she accompanied
anything from a lover but submission.
A lover, except to submit to him.
مَلَكَتshe possessed سرّيmy secret self وجهريand my open self وفؤاand heart (continued)
مَلَكَت سرّي وجهري وفؤا
ديcompletion of 'my heart' وَعَقليand my mind وَحشاشاتيand my life's remnants معاtogether
دي وَعَقلي وَحشاشاتي معا
She possessed my secret and open self, and my
She possessed my secrets and my acts,
heart, my mind, and my life's remnants together.
My reason, madness, and my passions too.
غادَرتshe left behind يومthe day تولّتshe turned away ونأَتand grew distant
غادَرت يوم تولّت ونأَت
فيin الحَشاthe breast لَهاfor herself ربعاًa dwelling مُرتبعاa springtime abode
في الحَشا لَها ربعاً مُرتبعا
The day she turned away and grew distant, she left behind
The day she turned away, she sheltered
a dwelling for herself in my breast, a springtime abode.
In the wilderness, squatting in a corner.
ماnever رَمانيstruck me طرفُهاher glance إلّاexcept وقدand already
ما رَماني طرفُها إلّا وقد
غَصبseized الروحَthe soul إذاًthen واِنتَسباand proclaimed its lineage
غَصب الروحَ إذاً واِنتَسبا
Her glance never struck me but it had
She glanced at me but to snatch
seized my soul then and proclaimed its lineage.
My soul away, instantly claiming it.
ماno لسقميfor my sickness مِنany طبيبٍphysician غيرهاother than her
ما لسقمي مِن طبيبٍ غيرها
لاno ولاand no ليfor me مِنany شفيعٍintercessor شَفعاinterceded
لا ولا لي مِن شفيعٍ شَفعا
My sickness has no physician but her,
I have no healer but her,
no, nor have I an intercessor who has interceded.
No intercessor to intercede for me.
ياO غزالاًa gazelle راتعاًgrazing لكنّهُbut it
يا غزالاً راتعاً لكنّهُ
فيin رياضِmeadows of القلبِthe heart منّيof mine رَتَعاgrazed
في رياضِ القلبِ منّي رَتَعا
O grazing gazelle—yet it
O gazelle, calm yet
has grazed within the meadows of my heart.
Grazing in the meadows of my heart!
إنّماit is only حبّكyour love أورىkindled فيin الحَشاthe breast
إنّما حبّك أورى في الحَشا
نارَa fire of وجدٍlonging حرّهاits heat قدhas لذعاscorched
نارَ وجدٍ حرّها قد لذعا
It is your love that kindled in my breast
Your love has sparked within my soul
a fire of longing whose heat has seared me.
A fiery ache that stings me to the core.
أيُّهاO الناسُpeople وريبُand the adversity of الدهرtime عنfrom
أيُّها الناسُ وريبُ الدهر عن
ثديهِits breast يعظمgrows great مَنwhoever قَدhas رَضعاsuckled
ثديهِ يعظم مَن قَد رَضعا
O people! Time's adversity—from
O people! Time betrays
its breast, whoever has suckled grows great.
Those it nursed - magnify those who nursed it back!
مَنwho لقلبٍfor a heart خامَرَتهpossessed it همّةٌan ambition
مَن لقلبٍ خامَرَته همّةٌ
طَأطَأbowed its head النجمُthe star لهاbefore it وَاِتّضعاand humbled itself
طَأطَأ النجمُ لها وَاِتّضعا
Who can help a heart possessed by an ambition
When an ambition stirs in a heart,
before which the star bowed its head and humbled itself?
The stars bow down submitting before it.
ماnot رَأىhas seen ماwhat قَدhas رأىseen راءٍa beholder وَماand not
ما رَأى ما قَد رأى راءٍ وَما
سمعَhas heard السامعُthe listener ماwhat قَدhas سَمِعاheard
سمعَ السامعُ ما قَد سَمِعا
No beholder has seen what it has seen, nor
None has seen what he saw,
has any listener heard what it has heard.
No listener heard what he has heard.
مارَسَexperienced الأيّامَthe days تجريباًby testing وفيand into
مارَسَ الأيّامَ تجريباً وفي
سرّهاtheir secret المحجوبِveiled غيباًunseen وقعاentered
سرّها المحجوبِ غيباً وقعا
It has tested the days through experience, and
He experienced days flowing by,
entered, unseen, their veiled secret.
Their hidden mysteries a secret fate within.
كَمhow many لَهُit has مِنof همّةan ambition تخطرstirs لوif
كَم لَهُ مِن همّة تخطر لو
يَذبلYadhbul حملهاbore it لاِنصَدعاwould surely split
يَذبل حملها لاِنصَدعا
How many an ambition stirs within it! If
He has ambitions that would wither if
Yadhbul bore it, it would split asunder.
Their burden was shouldered, crumbling from the strain.
وأُمورand deeds of رحمةٍmercy لوif شَرحُهاtheir account
وأُمور رحمةٍ لو شَرحُها
خُطَّwere inscribed فيon وجهِthe face of السماthe sky ماnot وَسِعاwould fit
خُطَّ في وجهِ السما ما وَسِعا
And deeds of mercy—if their account
And matters of mercy - were they revealed -
were inscribed on heaven's face, it would not fit.
Script on the face of heaven would not contain them.
ياO مُجدّاًone striving diligently فيin اِكتسابِearning الرزقِlivelihood عُجturn aside
يا مُجدّاً في اِكتسابِ الرزقِ عُج
نَحوَtoward بهلاBahla ماwhatever قدhas دَناdrawn near ماwhatever شسعاgrown distant
نَحوَ بهلا ما قد دَنا ما شسعا
O you who strive to earn your living, turn
O Glory, in gaining wealth, draw near
toward Bahla, whether near or far.
To the ruin - do not hesitate to spread wide!
وَاِخلَعنand surely bestow مِنfrom حللِrobes of المدحِpraise علىupon
وَاِخلَعن مِن حللِ المدحِ على
سائسِruler of الملكِthe realm فلاحاًFalah خلعاrobes of honor
سائسِ الملكِ فلاحاً خلعا
And bestow, from the garments of praise, upon
And take off garments of praise upon
the realm's ruler, Falah, robes of honor.
The horsemen of the king - cast off finery!
ملكٌa king فَرّقdistributed فيfor نيلِattaining العُلاgreatness
ملكٌ فَرّق في نيلِ العُلا
وَالثناand praise مِنfrom مالهِhis wealth ماwhatever اِجتَمعاwas amassed
وَالثنا مِن مالهِ ما اِجتَمعا
A king who distributed, in pursuit of greatness
A king who shared in attaining heights
and praise, whatever wealth he had amassed.
And brought together wealth as it dispersed.
زَرَعhe sowed الحمدpraise قمليهunclear in the supplied text وقدand indeed
زَرَع الحمد قمليه وقد
يحصدُreaps الإنسانُa person ماwhat قَدhas زَرَعاsown
يحصدُ الإنسانُ ما قَد زَرَعا
He sowed praise [unclear word], and indeed
He planted seeds of praise, his orchards grew,
a person reaps what he has sown.
For man reaps what he sows.
صِلgo إِليهِto him تلقهُyou will find him بدرَa full moon of هدىًguidance
صِل إِليهِ تلقهُ بدرَ هدىً
فيamong البراياhumankind نورهُhis light قَدhas سَطَعاblazed
في البرايا نورهُ قَد سَطَعا
Go to him: you will find him a full moon of guidance,
Reach out to him, meet him with a full moon’s light
whose light has blazed among humankind.
Shining in the wild - its light has radiated!
نافعٌbeneficial بالصبرِthrough patience فيamong الناسِpeople علىdespite
نافعٌ بالصبرِ في الناسِ على
أنّهُthe fact that he بالضرّthrough harm فيهمamong them نَفعاbrought benefit
أنّهُ بالضرّ فيهم نَفعا
He benefits people through patience, though
Beneficial in people’s patience but
through harm he has benefited them.
Harmful to them in affliction.
ردعَcompelled الدهرtime إِلىinto طاعاتهِobedience to him
ردعَ الدهر إِلى طاعاتهِ
فَاِرعوىso it took heed الدهرُtime لهُof him وَاِرتَدعاand was restrained
فَاِرعوى الدهرُ لهُ وَاِرتَدعا
He compelled time to obey him,
He disciplined fate in obediences,
so time heeded him and was restrained.
So fate yielded to him and withdrew.
لَوif جبالُmountains of الطورِal-Tur يوماًone day نالَهاreached them
لَو جبالُ الطورِ يوماً نالَها
بَطشهُhis onslaught زَعزَعهاwould shake them واِقتَلَعاand uproot
بَطشهُ زَعزَعها واِقتَلَعا
If one day the mountains of al-Tur were touched by
If the mountains of Mount Sinai one day
his onslaught, it would shake and uproot them.
Faced his might, he would shake and uproot them!
جلّhow exalted مِنas ملكٍa king عظيمٍgreat قدرهُhis rank
جلّ مِن ملكٍ عظيمٍ قدرهُ
فيin مَعاليهِhis lofty virtues عَلاhe rose واِرتَفعاand ascended
في مَعاليهِ عَلا واِرتَفعا
How august a king, mighty in rank,
Exalted king, his worth so great,
who rose and soared in his lofty virtues!
High in sublimities, ascendant and towering.
ياO أعزَّmost esteemed of الناسِpeople نفعاًin beneficence هلdo ترىyou see
يا أعزَّ الناسِ نفعاً هل ترى
شاعراًa poet غيريother than me إِذاwhen قلتyou spoke وعاunderstood
شاعراً غيري إِذا قلت وعا
O most valued of men for your beneficence, do you see
O most honored of men in benefaction! Do you see
a poet other than me who understands when you speak?
A poet but me when I speak and lament?
شاعرٌa poet أَهدىoffered لكَto you المدحpraise وقدand indeed
شاعرٌ أَهدى لكَ المدح وقد
حَفظَpreserved الودّaffection لَكُمfor you وَرعاand nurtured it
حَفظَ الودّ لَكُم وَرعا
A poet who offered you praise, and has
A poet who gifted you praise and
preserved affection for you and nurtured it.
Preserved affection for you and took care?
ماnever رَناgazed بِالطرفِwith his glance إلّاexcept ورأىand saw
ما رَنا بِالطرفِ إلّا ورأى
منكَfrom you برقاًlightning بالعَطاياwith gifts لَمَعاflashed
منكَ برقاً بالعَطايا لَمَعا
He never cast a glance without seeing
My eyes spied only lightning flashes of
lightning flash from you with gifts.
Your gifts gleaming with bounties.
لَمnot يشمwatched for غيثrain of ندىًbounty مِنfrom جودِكمyour generosity
لَم يشم غيث ندىً مِن جودِكم
مُسبلاًpouring down إلّاexcept أَتىhe came مُنتَجعاseeking pasture
مُسبلاً إلّا أَتى مُنتَجعا
He never beheld bounty's rain from your generosity
None smelled the dripping cloud of your generosity
pouring down without coming to seek pasture.
Raining down except he came consoled.
رَفعتlifted up نعماكَyour favor ليfor me ماwhat حادثthe calamity of الدthe (beginning of 'time')
رَفعت نعماكَ لي ما حادث الد
دهرtime وَالأيّامand the days منّيof me شنعاmarred
دهر وَالأيّام منّي شنعا
Your favor lifted up for me what the calamities of
Your favors raised me high when
time and the days had marred in me.
Time and days treated me harshly.
بكَthrough you نَحسيmy ill fortune صارَbecame سعداًgood fortune وغَدتand became
بكَ نَحسي صارَ سعداً وغَدت
بكَthrough you أيّاميmy days جميعاًall جُمَعاFridays
بكَ أيّامي جميعاً جُمَعا
Through you my ill fortune became good fortune, and
Through you my luck turned to joy, and
through you all my days became Fridays.
My days altogether prospered through you.
وَاِبقَand remain محمودَpraised الأياديbenefactions منعماًbestowing bounty
وَاِبقَ محمودَ الأيادي منعماً
ماas long as تغنّىsang طائرٌa bird أَوor سَجَعاcooed
ما تغنّى طائرٌ أَو سَجَعا
And may you remain praised for your benefactions, bestowing bounty,
May the Praiseworthy Hands remain bountiful
as long as a bird sings or coos.
As long as birds sing or turtledoves moan.
Sol 6.1