تَهاوَنَmake light بِالظُنونِof conjectures وَماand what حَدَسنَهthey surmised
تَهاوَنَ بِالظُنونِ وَما حَدَسنَه
وَلاand do not تَخشَfear الظِباءَthe gazelles مَتىwhenever كَنَسنَهthey enter their coverts
وَلا تَخشَ الظِباءَ مَتى كَنَسنَه
Make light of conjectures and what they surmise.
He disregarded suspicions and whatever crossed his mind,
And do not fear the gazelles whenever they enter their coverts.
And did not fear rumors whenever he swept them away.
وَأَوقاتُand the times الصِباof youth فيin كُلِّevery عَصرٍage
وَأَوقاتُ الصِبا في كُلِّ عَصرٍ
أَراقِمُspeckled vipers وَالمَنِيَّةُand death ماwhat قَلَسنَهthey disgorged
أَراقِمُ وَالمَنِيَّةُ ما قَلَسنَه
The hours of youth in every age
The times of youth in every era,
are speckled vipers, and death is what they disgorge.
Are fleeting moments and fate strips them bare.
يُجِدنَthey are lavish بِهَينٍwith falsehood وَيَعِدنَand they promise فيهِin it
يُجِدنَ بِهَينٍ وَيَعِدنَ فيهِ
أَلَيسَis it not بِعِلمِwith the knowledge رَبِّكَof your Lord قَدindeed أَلَسنَهthey deceived
أَلَيسَ بِعِلمِ رَبِّكَ قَد أَلَسنَه
They lavish falsehood and make promises through it;
He enjoys them heedlessly and makes promises therein,
was it not with your Lord's knowledge that they deceived?
Is it not by your Lord's knowledge that it was smoothed over?
يَلُسنَthey devour شُخوصَthe bodies أَهلِof the people الأَرضِof the earth حَتّىuntil
يَلُسنَ شُخوصَ أَهلِ الأَرضِ حَتّى
يُسِخنَthey sink وَراءَbeyond ذَلِكَthat ماwhat يَلُسنَهthey devour
يُسِخنَ وَراءَ ذَلِكَ ما يَلُسنَه
They devour the bodies of earth's inhabitants, until
The elders of mankind will sit around,
thereafter they sink what they devoured.
Until what comes after that melts them away.
وَماand what أَناI وَالظَعائِنُand the women in litters سائِراتٍtraveling
وَما أَنا وَالظَعائِنُ سائِراتٍ
أَغُرنَthey enter the lowlands مَعَwith الغَوائِرِthose descending أَوor جَلَسنَهthey enter the uplands
أَغُرنَ مَعَ الغَوائِرِ أَو جَلَسنَه
What concern have I with women traveling in litters,
I am not one who roams with the gazelles,
whether they descend with others into the lowlands or take to the uplands?
Or one who sat with the diving ones or kept count of them.
ضَرَبَتI set forth لِجاهِلٍfor an ignorant man مَثَلَthe example الغَوانيof beautiful women
ضَرَبَت لِجاهِلٍ مَثَلَ الغَواني
قَلَبنَthey pierced hearts وَماand not رَأَينَthey saw غَداةَon the morning رُسنَهthey sauntered
قَلَبنَ وَما رَأَينَ غَداةَ رُسنَه
I set before an ignorant man the example of beautiful women:
They posed as an example to an ignorant one the deep pools,
they pierced hearts they had not seen, the morning they sauntered.
He overturned them and did not see their depth the next morning.
هِيَthey النيرانُthe fires تُحسِنُlook beautiful مِنfrom بَعيدٍafar
هِيَ النيرانُ تُحسِنُ مِن بَعيدٍ
وَيُحرِقنَand they burn الأَكُفَّthe palms إِذاwhen لَمَسنَهthey touch
وَيُحرِقنَ الأَكُفَّ إِذا لَمَسنَه
They are fires, looking beautiful from afar,
It is fire that appears beautiful from afar,
but burning the palms that touch them.
But burns the palms if you touch it.
أَخَذنَthey took اللُبَّthe mind ظاعِناتٍwhile departing
أَخَذنَ اللُبَّ ظاعِناتٍ
فَعُدنَthen they returned وَماand not رَبَعنَthey took a fourth وَماand not خَمَسنَهthey took a fifth
فَعُدنَ وَما رَبَعنَ وَما خَمَسنَه
They took the mind away as they departed,
The diving ones undertook it undeterred,
then returned, having taken neither a fourth nor a fifth.
Then returned without gaining any fourth or fifth of it.
إِذاwhen مَدَّتreached out رَوامِقَهاeyes gazing at them إِلَيهاtoward them
إِذا مَدَّت رَوامِقَها إِلَيها
قَوابِسَfire-seekers لَمdid not يَعُجنَthey heed بِماto what قَبَسنَهthey borrowed fire
قَوابِسَ لَم يَعُجنَ بِما قَبَسنَه
When eyes gazing at them reach toward them,
When its towering heights extended towards them
seeking fire, they heed not what they have borrowed.
Torches that did not avail by what they grasped.
وَلَولاand were it not أَنَّهُنَّthat they أَذىًharm وَكَيدٌand guile
وَلَولا أَنَّهُنَّ أَذىً وَكَيدٌ
لَماwould not أَصبَحنَthey came to be فيin كِلَلٍbed-curtains حُبِسنَهthey were confined
لَما أَصبَحنَ في كِلَلٍ حُبِسنَه
Were they not harm and guile,
Had they not been harm and plotting,
they would not be kept confined behind bed-curtains.
They would not have remained confined at daybreak.
ثُغورُfrontiers مُحارِبٍof a warrior مَنَعَتdenied هُجوعاًsleep
ثُغورُ مُحارِبٍ مَنَعَت هُجوعاً
ثُغوراًteeth فيin مَضاحِكِهاtheir smiling mouths غُرِسنَهthey were planted
ثُغوراً في مَضاحِكِها غُرِسنَه
A warrior's frontiers denied sleep
The passes of an adversary prevented retreats,
to teeth planted in their smiling mouths.
Passes embedded in their laughing grins.
تَشابَهَتِresembled one another الخَلائِقُcreated beings وَالبَراياand creatures
تَشابَهَتِ الخَلائِقُ وَالبَرايا
وَإِنand even if مازَتهُمُdistinguished them صُوَرٌforms رُكِسنَهthey were reversed
وَإِن مازَتهُمُ صُوَرٌ رُكِسنَه
Created beings and creatures resemble one another,
The creations are similar and so are the lands,
though reversed forms have set them apart.
Even if their images are inverted.
وَجُرمٌand a crime فيin الحَقيقَةِtruth مِثلُlike جَمرٍan ember
وَجُرمٌ في الحَقيقَةِ مِثلُ جَمرٍ
وَلَكِنَّbut الحُروفَthe letters بِهِin it عُكِسنَهthey were transposed
وَلَكِنَّ الحُروفَ بِهِ عُكِسنَه
A crime (jurm) is truly like an ember (jamr),
A crime is truly like embers,
but the letters in it have been transposed.
But the letters caused it to be reversed.
غِنىthe wealth زَيدٍof Zayd يَكونُcomes about لِفَقرِthrough the poverty عَمرٍوof Amr
غِنى زَيدٍ يَكونُ لِفَقرِ عَمرٍو
وَأحكامُand the decrees الحَوادِثِof events لاnot يُقَسنَهthey are measured
وَأحكامُ الحَوادِثِ لا يُقَسنَه
Zayd's wealth comes from Amr's poverty,
The wealth of Zayd can become the poverty of Amr,
and the decrees of events cannot be gauged.
And the judgements of events cannot be divided.
كَأَنَّكَas though you إِنif بَقَيتَyou remain عَلىthrough اللَياليthe nights
كَأَنَّكَ إِن بَقَيتَ عَلى اللَيالي
بِأَعلامِbefore the banners الوُلاةِof rulers وَقدand already نُكِسنَهthey were lowered
بِأَعلامِ الوُلاةِ وَقد نُكِسنَه
If you survive the nights, it is as though
It is as if you remain according to the nights
the rulers' banners were already lowered before you.
With the signs of governors that are inverted.
وَخَيرُand the best الرِزقِprovision ماwhat وافاكَreaches you عَفواًunsought
وَخَيرُ الرِزقِ ما وافاكَ عَفواً
فَخَلِّso leave فُضولَsurpluses أَموالٍof wealth مُكِسنَهthey were taxed
فَخَلِّ فُضولَ أَموالٍ مُكِسنَه
The best provision is what reaches you unsought;
The best sustenance is what comes to you freely,
so leave aside surplus wealth that has been taxed.
So rid yourself of the excess of hoarded wealth.
وَلَيتَand would that نُفوسَناour souls وَالحَقُّand truth آتٍis coming
وَلَيتَ نُفوسَنا وَالحَقُّ آتٍ
ذَهَبنَthey departed كَماas أَتَينَthey came وَماand not أَحَسنَهthey felt
ذَهَبنَ كَما أَتَينَ وَما أَحَسنَه
Would that our souls—and truth is coming—
If only our souls and the truth were departing,
departed as they came, without ever feeling.
They would go just as they came without any sensation.
قَدِمناwe arrived وَالقَوابِلُand the midwives ضاحِكاتٌlaughing
قَدِمنا وَالقَوابِلُ ضاحِكاتٌ
وَسِرناand we departed وَالمَدامِعُand the tear-ducts يَنبَجِسنَهthey gushed
وَسِرنا وَالمَدامِعُ يَنبَجِسنَه
We arrived while the midwives laughed,
We came while the midwives were laughing,
and departed while tear-ducts gushed.
And we departed while tears were flowing.
عَناصِرُناour elements طَواهِرُpure غَيرَwithout شَكٍّdoubt
عَناصِرُنا طَواهِرُ غَيرَ شَكٍّ
فَياso O أَسَفاsorrow لِأَجسامٍfor bodies نَجِسنَهthey became impure
فَيا أَسَفا لِأَجسامٍ نَجِسنَه
Our elements are pure, beyond all doubt;
Our souls are pure without any doubt,
alas for bodies grown impure!
So what a pity for the contaminated bodies!
وَيَرجوand hopes أَنto يُزيلَremove الغُلَّburning thirst صادٍa thirsty man
وَيَرجو أَن يُزيلَ الغُلَّ صادٍ
إِذاwhen سَمِعَhe hears الرَواعِدَthe thunderclouds يَرتَجِسنَهthey rumble
إِذا سَمِعَ الرَواعِدَ يَرتَجِسنَه
A thirsty man hopes to dispel his burning thirst
And he hopes to remove the injustice with thunder,
when he hears the thunderclouds resounding.
When he hears the loud rumbling and crackling.
وَقَدand indeed زَعَمَmade claims الزَواعِمُthe claimants وَاِفتَكَرناand we pondered
وَقَد زَعَمَ الزَواعِمُ وَاِفتَكَرنا
فَوَيحٌso alas لِلخَواطِرِfor thoughts ماwhat هَجَسنَهthey whispered
فَوَيحٌ لِلخَواطِرِ ما هَجَسنَه
The claimants have made their claims, and we have pondered;
The arrogant ones claimed and judged us,
alas for thoughts, for what they have whispered!
So woe to the thoughts they elicited!
وَمَنand whoever يَتَأَمَّلِreflects on الأَيّامَthe days تَسهُلbecome easy
وَمَن يَتَأَمَّلِ الأَيّامَ تَسهُل
عَلَيهِfor him النائِباتُcalamities وَإِنand even if بَخِسنَهthey deprive him
عَلَيهِ النائِباتُ وَإِن بَخِسنَه
Whoever reflects upon the days finds
Whoever contemplates the days, adversities become
calamities easier to bear, even when they deprive him.
Easy upon him even if he is deprived of them.
وَلَوand if صُرِفَwere directed الهُدىguidance بِجَميلِthrough noble فِعلٍaction
وَلَو صُرِفَ الهُدى بِجَميلِ فِعلٍ
إِلىto مُهَجٍsouls نَفِسنَthey were precious لِماwould not نَفِسنَهthey begrudged it
إِلى مُهَجٍ نَفِسنَ لِما نَفِسنَه
If guidance were directed, through noble action,
If guidance was directed with a good deed,
to precious souls, they would not begrudge it.
To a desirous soul it would suffice it from what it desires.
وَمَنand whoever يَحمَدpraises لِعيشَتِهِin his life لِياناًsoftness
وَمَن يَحمَد لِعيشَتِهِ لِياناً
يَذُمَّwill condemn الغِبَّin the aftermath أَخلاقاًtempers شَرِسنَهthey grew harsh
يَذُمَّ الغِبَّ أَخلاقاً شَرِسنَه
Whoever praises softness in his life
Whoever praises a miserable living,
will later condemn tempers grown harsh.
Blames fate for its harshness impolitely.
وَماand not الأَحراسُthe ages إِلّاbut أُمَّهاتٌmothers
وَما الأَحراسُ إِلّا أُمَّهاتٌ
أَكَسنَthey bore females الناجِياتِthe swift she-camels وَماand not أَكَسنَهthey restrained
أَكَسنَ الناجِياتِ وَما أَكَسنَه
The ages are nothing but mothers
For the bereaved mothers
who bore swift she-camels, yet never held them back.
Are the ones who lose children and do not lose them.
تَحاسَدَتِenvied one another العُيونُthe eyes عَلىover مَنامٍa dream
تَحاسَدَتِ العُيونُ عَلى مَنامٍ
عَرَفنَthey knew كِذابَهُits falsehood وَأَردنَand they desired حُسنَهits beauty
عَرَفنَ كِذابَهُ وَأَردنَ حُسنَه
Eyes envied one another over a dream;
Eyes envied a slumber,
they knew its falsehood and desired its beauty.
They recognized its falseness and desired its beauty.
فَصَبراًso be patient إِنif سَمِعتَyou hear لِسانَa tongue سوءٍof evil
فَصَبراً إِن سَمِعتَ لِسانَ سوءٍ
مِنfrom اِبنِa son of مَوَدَّةٍaffection وَتَوَقَّand beware لِسنَهhis sharp tongue
مِن اِبنِ مَوَدَّةٍ وَتَوَقَّ لِسنَه
Be patient if you hear an evil tongue
So be patient if you hear an evil tongue
from a friend, and beware his sharpness of tongue.
From a beloved son, and restrain your own tongue.
فَإِنَّfor indeed الوِردَthe watering-place مِنof مِلحٍbrine أُجاجٍbitter
فَإِنَّ الوِردَ مِن مِلحٍ أُجاجٍ
أَجِئتَhave you come لِشُربِهِto drink it وَعَرفتَand you knew أَسنَهits staleness
أَجِئتَ لِشُربِهِ وَعَرفتَ أَسنَه
For the watering-place is bitter brine:
For the roses from the bitter salt,
have you come to drink it, knowing its staleness?
You came to drink it and knew its bitterness.
وَلَولاand were it not ضَعفُthe weakness أَرواحٍof souls أُعِرناwe were lent
وَلَولا ضَعفُ أَرواحٍ أُعِرنا
سَفاهاًin folly وَماand not اِبتَهَجنَthey rejoiced وَلاnor اِبتَأَسنَهthey grieved
سَفاهاً وَما اِبتَهَجنَ وَلا اِبتَأَسنَه
Were it not for the weakness of souls lent to us,
Had it not been for the weakness of neglectful spirits,
they would not foolishly rejoice or despair.
We would have neither rejoiced nor grieved from it.
وَإِنَّand indeed مُلوكَthe kings غَسّانٍof Ghassan تَقَضَّواpassed away
وَإِنَّ مُلوكَ غَسّانٍ تَقَضَّوا
وَلَمand not يُترَكwas left لَهُمfor them فيin المُلكِkingship غُسنَهa wisp
وَلَم يُترَك لَهُم في المُلكِ غُسنَه
The kings of Ghassan have passed away,
The kings of Ghassan passed away,
and not a wisp of kingship was left to them.
Nothing of the kingdom was left for them to grieve over.
وَفارِسُand Persia عَزَّoverpowered مِنهاof it كُلَّevery راعٍshepherd
وَفارِسُ عَزَّ مِنها كُلَّ راعٍ
أُسودٌlions لِلمَقادِرِof fate يَفتَرِسنَهthey prey upon him
أُسودٌ لِلمَقادِرِ يَفتَرِسنَه
As for Persia, every one of its shepherds was overpowered
The horseman of Persia filled every shepherd,
by lions of fate that prey upon them.
With gloom towards the decrees that stalk it.
وَهَدَّand laid low جِبالَهاits mountains أَقيالُthe princes فِهرٍof Fihr
وَهَدَّ جِبالَها أَقيالُ فِهرٍ
فَتِلكَso those رُبوعُهاare its dwellings آياًsigns طُمِسنَهthey were effaced
فَتِلكَ رُبوعُها آياً طُمِسنَه
Fihr's princes laid its mountains low;
Its boulders were struck down by the weapons of Fahrs,
there are its dwellings, signs blotted out.
So those are its meadows made into signs.
يُذيبونَthey melt النُضارَpure gold بِكُلِّin every مَشتىwinter
يُذيبونَ النُضارَ بِكُلِّ مَشتى
إِذاwhen الأَمواهُthe waters مِنfrom قَرٍّcold جَمَسنَهthey froze solid
إِذا الأَمواهُ مِن قَرٍّ جَمَسنَه
They melt pure gold in every winter,
They melt pearls with all sorts of things,
when waters freeze solid from the cold.
When the waters are from a brackish well.
وَقَدand indeed حَرَسَguarded المَمالِكَthe kingdoms حَيُّthe tribe لَخمٍof Lakhm
وَقَد حَرَسَ المَمالِكَ حَيُّ لَخمٍ
فَغالَتهُمthen destroyed them نَوائِبُcalamities يَحتَرِسنَهthey keep watch
فَغالَتهُم نَوائِبُ يَحتَرِسنَه
The tribe of Lakhm guarded kingdoms,
Livestock guarded the kingdoms vigilantly,
but watchful calamities carried them off.
So their misfortunes overwhelmed those who guarded them.
شَكاcomplained الرَكبُthe caravan السُهادَof sleeplessness فَلَمyet did not يُعيجواthey pay heed
شَكا الرَكبُ السُهادَ فَلَم يُعيجوا
بِأَشباحٍto figures عَلىamid قَلَقٍrestlessness يُنِسنَهthey offer companionship
بِأَشباحٍ عَلى قَلَقٍ يُنِسنَه
The caravan complained of sleeplessness, yet paid no heed
The travelers complained of sleeplessness,
to figures that offer company amid restlessness.
Due to specters unrelieved of their restlessness.
وَكَمand how often قَطَعَتcrossed سَواريthe night-travelers الشُهبِof the bright stars لَيلاًa night
وَكَم قَطَعَت سَواري الشُهبِ لَيلاً
سَواهِدَwakeful ماnot هَجَعنَthey slept وَلاnor نَعَسنَهthey dozed
سَواهِدَ ما هَجَعنَ وَلا نَعَسنَه
How often the night-roaming stars have crossed a night,
How often did the nights' insomnia on my temple
wakeful, neither sleeping nor dozing.
Cut off the pillows from sleeping or napping!
هَواكَyour desire مُشابِهٌresembles فَرَساًa horse جَموحاًheadstrong
هَواكَ مُشابِهٌ فَرَساً جَموحاً
وَماand if not أَلجَمَتهُyou bridled it فَعَلَيكَthen you must take رَسنَهits halter
وَما أَلجَمَتهُ فَعَلَيكَ رَسنَه
Your desire resembles a headstrong horse;
Your passion is like an untamed horse,
if you have not bridled it, take hold of its halter.
And you have not reined it in so handle its bridle!
وَلاand not يُعجِبكَimpresses you رَوضٌa meadow باكَرَتهُvisited it at dawn
وَلا يُعجِبكَ رَوضٌ باكَرَتهُ
غَمائِمُهُits clouds وَأغصانٌand branches يَمِسنَهthey sway
غَمائِمُهُ وَأغصانٌ يَمِسنَه
Do not let a meadow charm you, visited at dawn
Do not be enticed by a pasture whose clouds
by its clouds, while branches sway.
And branches touch it at the break of dawn.
وَلاnor الأَفواهُthe mouths تَضحَكُsmile عَنto reveal غَريضٍfresh white teeth
وَلا الأَفواهُ تَضحَكُ عَن غَريضٍ
فَرائِدُpearls فيin مُدامَتِهاtheir wine غُمِسنَهthey were dipped
فَرائِدُ في مُدامَتِها غُمِسنَه
Nor mouths smiling to reveal fresh white teeth—
Nor lips that smile despite a hidden pain,
pearls dipped in their wine.
For in their charm a spy is concealed.
تَنَعَّمَتِenjoyed ease الخَوافِضُthe easy-living women فيin مَقامٍan abode
تَنَعَّمَتِ الخَوافِضُ في مَقامٍ
فَكَيفَthen how الناعِماتُthe pampered women إِذاwhen رُمِسنَهthey were buried
فَكَيفَ الناعِماتُ إِذا رُمِسنَه
The easy-living women enjoyed themselves in their abode;
The small birds enjoyed a place of rest,
then what of the pampered women when they are buried?
Then how can the delicate endure if it is touched?
فَأَينَthen where القائِلاتُthe women speaking بِلاwithout اِقتِصادٍrestraint
فَأَينَ القائِلاتُ بِلا اِقتِصادٍ
أَأَلغَينَhave they abandoned التَكَلُّمَspeech أَمor خَرِسنَهthey became mute
أَأَلغَينَ التَكَلُّمَ أَم خَرِسنَه
Where are the women who spoke without restraint?
Where are those who say immoderately,
Have they abandoned speech, or become mute?
Did they refrain from speaking or have they become mute?
مَلَأنَthey filled مَواضِيَbygone periods الأَزمانِof time قَولاًwith speech
مَلَأنَ مَواضِيَ الأَزمانِ قَولاً
وَأُلزِمنَand they were compelled السُكوتَto silence فَماso not نَبَسنَهthey uttered a word
وَأُلزِمنَ السُكوتَ فَما نَبَسنَه
They filled bygone ages with talk,
They filled the eras with talk,
and were bound to silence, uttering not a word.
And were made to be silent without emitting a breath.
أَلَمdid not تَرَنيyou see me حَمَيتُI guarded بَناتِthe daughters صَدريof my breast
أَلَم تَرَني حَمَيتُ بَناتِ صَدري
فَماso not زَوَّجتُهُنَّI married them off وَقَدand already عَنَسنَهthey passed marriageable age
فَما زَوَّجتُهُنَّ وَقَد عَنَسنَه
Have you not seen how I guarded the daughters of my breast,
Did you not see my chest’s doves
never marrying them off, though they grew past marriageable age?
Whom I never wed though they aged?
وَلاand not أَبرَزتُهُنَّI brought them out إِلىto أَنيسٍa companion
وَلا أَبرَزتُهُنَّ إِلى أَنيسٍ
إِذاeven if نورُthe shy ones الوُحوشِof wild beasts بِهِwith him أَنِسنَهthey felt at ease
إِذا نورُ الوُحوشِ بِهِ أَنِسنَه
Nor did I bring them forth to any companion,
I did not bring them out to a companion
even if the shyest wild beasts felt at ease with him.
When the light of the beasts lit them up.
وَقالَand said الفارِسونَthe discerning حَليفُan ally زُهدٍof asceticism
وَقالَ الفارِسونَ حَليفُ زُهدٍ
وَأَخطَأَتِbut erred الظُنونُconjectures بِماin what فَرَسنَهthey discerned
وَأَخطَأَتِ الظُنونُ بِما فَرَسنَه
The discerning said: "An ally of asceticism";
The horsemen said an ally of asceticism
but conjectures erred in what they discerned.
While the assumptions were wrong in what they investigated.
وَرُضتُand I trained صِعابَthe unruly ones آماليof my hopes فَكانَتso they were
وَرُضتُ صِعابَ آمالي فَكانَت
خُيولاًhorses فيin مَراتِعِهاtheir pastures شَمَسنَهthey grew restive
خُيولاً في مَراتِعِها شَمَسنَه
I schooled my unruly hopes, and they were
I accepted the hardships of my hopes so they became
horses grown restive in their pastures.
Horses grazing in their pastures it lit up.
وَلَمand not أُعرِضI turned away عَنِfrom اللَذّاتِpleasures إِلّاexcept
وَلَم أُعرِض عَنِ اللَذّاتِ إِلّا
لِأَنَّbecause خِيارَهاthe best of them عَنّيfrom me خَنَسنَهthey withdrew
لِأَنَّ خِيارَها عَنّي خَنَسنَه
I did not turn away from pleasures except
I did not turn away from pleasures except
because the best of them withdrew from me.
Because the best of them stealthily left me.
وَلَمand not أَرَI saw فيin جِلاسِthe company الناسِof people خَيراًany good
وَلَم أَرَ في جِلاسِ الناسِ خَيراً
فَمَنso who لِيَfor me بِالنَوافِرِwith the fleeing beasts إِنif كَنَسنَهthey enter their coverts
فَمَن لِيَ بِالنَوافِرِ إِن كَنَسنَه
I saw no good in sitting with people;
I did not see any good in the gathering of people
who, then, can bring me the fleeing beasts when they enter their coverts?
So who can sweep it away if it is piled up?
وَقَدand indeed غابَتdisappeared نُجومُthe stars الهَديِof guidance عَنّاfrom us
وَقَد غابَت نُجومُ الهَديِ عَنّا
فَماجَso surged الناسُthe people الناسُthe people فيin ظُلَمٍdarkness دَمَسنَهthey grew pitch-black
فَماجَ الناسُ الناسُ في ظُلَمٍ دَمَسنَه
The stars of guidance have disappeared from us;
The guiding stars disappeared from us
so the people, the people, surged in pitch-black darkness.
So people mingled in darkness it crushed.
وَقَدand sometimes تَغشىenvelops السَعادَةُfortune غَيرَsomeone not نَدبٍdistinguished
وَقَد تَغشى السَعادَةُ غَيرَ نَدبٍ
فَيُشرِقُso he shines بِالسُعودِwith lucky stars إِذاwhen وَدَسنَهthey sprouted
فَيُشرِقُ بِالسُعودِ إِذا وَدَسنَه
Fortune may envelop a man of little merit,
Happiness can come without invitation
and he shines with lucky stars as they spring forth.
So it lights up if you tread on it unknowingly.
وَتُقسَمُand is apportioned حُظوَةٌfavor حَتّىeven صُخورٌrocks
وَتُقسَمُ حُظوَةٌ حَتّى صُخورٌ
يُزَرنَthey are visited فَيُستَلَمنَthen they are touched in reverence وَيُلتَمَسنَهand they are sought
يُزَرنَ فَيُستَلَمنَ وَيُلتَمَسنَه
Favor is apportioned, so that even rocks
Favor is divided until even rocks
are visited, touched in reverence, and sought out:
Are visited, touched, and sought after.
كَذاتِlike the one of القُدسِJerusalem أَوor رُكنَيthe two corners of قُرَيشٍQuraysh
كَذاتِ القُدسِ أَو رُكنَي قُرَيشٍ
وَأُسرَتُهُنَّand their kin أَحجارٌstones لُطِسنَهthey were battered
وَأُسرَتُهُنَّ أَحجارٌ لُطِسنَه
like the one in Jerusalem, or Quraysh's two corners,
Like the Sacred House or the Two Corners of Quraysh,
while their kin are stones that have been battered.
While their nests are stones made smooth.
يَحُجُّmakes pilgrimage to مَقامَthe station إِبراهيمَof Ibrahim وَفدٌa delegation
يَحُجُّ مَقامَ إِبراهيمَ وَفدٌ
وَكَمand how many أَمثالِequivalents of مَوقِفِهِhis standing-place وَطَسنَهthey were trodden
وَكَم أَمثالِ مَوقِفِهِ وَطَسنَه
A delegation makes pilgrimage to the Station of Ibrahim,
A delegation performs Hajj at the Station of Abraham
yet how many places like his have been trodden underfoot!
While so many examples of his position were tread upon.
تَشاءَمَtook ill omens بِالعَواطِسِfrom sneezing creatures أَهلُthe people جَهلٍof ignorance
تَشاءَمَ بِالعَواطِسِ أَهلُ جَهلٍ
إِنif خَفَتنَthey fell silent وَإِنand if عَطَسنَهthey sneezed
إِن خَفَتنَ وَإِن عَطَسنَه
The ignorant took ill omens from sneezing creatures,
The ignorant took omens from sneezes
whether they kept quiet or sneezed.
Whether they were suppressed or emitted.
وَأَعمارُand the lifespans الَّذينَof those who مَضَواpassed away صِغاراًyoung
وَأَعمارُ الَّذينَ مَضَوا صِغاراً
كَأَثوابٍlike garments بَلينَthey wore out وَماand not لُبِسنَهthey were worn
كَأَثوابٍ بَلينَ وَما لُبِسنَه
The lives of those who passed away young
The lifespans of those who died young
are like garments worn out without ever being worn.
Were like worn clothes never worn.
وَهانَand mattered little عَلىto الفَراقِدِthe Farqads وَالثُرَيّاand the Pleiades
وَهانَ عَلى الفَراقِدِ وَالثُرَيّا
شُخوصٌbodies فيin مَضاجِعِهاtheir resting-places دُرِسنَهthey were worn away
شُخوصٌ في مَضاجِعِها دُرِسنَه
The Farqads and the Pleiades cared little
To those lying still and buried,
for bodies worn away in their resting-places.
There were elders in their graves erased away.
وَماand not حَفَلَتcared حَضارِHadar وَلاnor سُهَيلٌSuhayl
وَما حَفَلَت حَضارِ وَلا سُهَيلٌ
بِأَبشارٍabout skins يَمانِيَةٍYemeni يُدَسنَهthey are trampled
بِأَبشارٍ يَمانِيَةٍ يُدَسنَه
Neither Hadar nor Suhayl cared
Neither Canopus nor Suhail cared
for Yemeni skins trodden underfoot.
For good news from Yemen to infiltrate them.
Sol 6.1