قَدindeed اِختَلَّfell into disorder الأَنامُhumanity بِغَيرِwithout شَكٍّdoubt
قَد اِختَلَّ الأَنامُ بِغَيرِ شَكٍّ
فَجَدّواso they strove earnestly فيin الزَمانِtime وَأَلعَبوهُand made a plaything of it
فَجَدّوا في الزَمانِ وَأَلعَبوهُ
Humanity has fallen into disorder, beyond doubt;
they strove earnestly in time, yet made a plaything of it.
وَظَنّواand they thought أَنَّthat بوهَthe owl الطَيرِamong birds صَقرٌa falcon
وَظَنّوا أَنَّ بوهَ الطَيرِ صَقرٌ
بِجَهلِهِمُthrough their ignorance وَأَنَّand that الصَقرَthe falcon بوهُan owl
بِجَهلِهِمُ وَأَنَّ الصَقرَ بوهُ
They thought the owl among birds a falcon,
in their ignorance, and the falcon an owl.
وَوَدّواand they wished for العَيشَlife فيin زَمَنٍan age خَؤونٍtreacherous
وَوَدّوا العَيشَ في زَمَنٍ خَؤونٍ
وَقَدand indeed عَرَفواthey knew أَذاهُits harm وَجَرَّبوهُand experienced it
وَقَد عَرَفوا أَذاهُ وَجَرَّبوهُ
They wished to live in a treacherous age,
though they knew its harm and had experienced it.
وَيَنشَأُand grows up ناشِئُa growing youth الفِتيانِof the young men مِنّاamong us
وَيَنشَأُ ناشِئُ الفِتيانِ مِنّا
عَلىupon ماwhat كانَhad عَوَّدَهُaccustomed him to أَبوهُhis father
عَلى ما كانَ عَوَّدَهُ أَبوهُ
A young man among us grows up
upon what his father accustomed him to.
وَماand not دانَembraced faith الفَتىthe youth بِحِجىًthrough reason وَلَكِنbut
وَما دانَ الفَتى بِحِجىً وَلَكِن
يُعَلِّمُهُteach him التَدَيُّنَreligious observance أَقرَبوهُhis closest kin
يُعَلِّمُهُ التَدَيُّنَ أَقرَبوهُ
A youth embraces faith not through reason; rather,
his closest kin teach him religious observance.
وَطِفلُand the child الفارِسِيِّof the Persian لَهُhas وُلاةٌguardians
وَطِفلُ الفارِسِيِّ لَهُ وُلاةٌ
بِأَفعالِin the practices of التَمَجُّسِMagian worship دَرَّبوهُthey trained him
بِأَفعالِ التَمَجُّسِ دَرَّبوهُ
And a Persian's child has guardians
who trained him in the practices of the Magian faith.
وَضَمَّand embraced الناسَthe people كُلُّهُمُall of them هَواءٌair
وَضَمَّ الناسَ كُلُّهُمُ هَواءٌ
يُذَلِّلُhumbles بِالحَوادِثِthrough calamities مُصعِبوهُits unruly ones
يُذَلِّلُ بِالحَوادِثِ مُصعِبوهُ
Air embraces all humanity;
its unruly ones are humbled by calamities.
لَعَلَّperhaps المَوتَdeath خَيرٌis better لِلبَراياfor created beings
لَعَلَّ المَوتَ خَيرٌ لِلبَرايا
وَإِنeven though خافواthey feared الرَدىdeath وَتَهَيَّبوهُand dreaded it
وَإِن خافوا الرَدى وَتَهَيَّبوهُ
Perhaps death is better for created beings,
even though they fear death and dread it.
أَطاعواthey obeyed ذاthe possessor of الخِداعِdeceit وَصَدَّقوهُand believed him
أَطاعوا ذا الخِداعِ وَصَدَّقوهُ
وَكَمand how often نَصَحَgave counsel النَصيحُthe sincere counselor فَكَذَّبوهُyet they called him a liar
وَكَم نَصَحَ النَصيحُ فَكَذَّبوهُ
They obeyed the deceiver and believed him;
how often the sincere counselor advised them, and they called him a liar.
وَجاءَتناand came to us شَرائِعُthe religious laws of كُلَّevery قَومٍpeople
وَجاءَتنا شَرائِعُ كُلَّ قَومٍ
عَلىupon آثارِthe traces of شَيءٍsomething رَتَّبوهُthey arranged it
عَلى آثارِ شَيءٍ رَتَّبوهُ
The religious laws of every people came to us
in the wake of something they had arranged.
وَغَيَّرَand altered بَعضُهُمsome of them أَقوالَthe sayings of بَعضٍothers
وَغَيَّرَ بَعضُهُم أَقوالَ بَعضٍ
وَأَبطَلَتِand annulled النُهىreason ماwhat أَوجَبوهُthey made obligatory
وَأَبطَلَتِ النُهى ما أَوجَبوهُ
Some of them altered the sayings of others,
and reason annulled what they had made obligatory.
فَلاso do not تَفرَحrejoice إِذاwhen رَجَّبتَyou are honored فيهِمamong them
فَلا تَفرَح إِذا رَجَّبتَ فيهِم
فَقَدfor indeed رَفَعواthey raised الدَنِيَّthe base man وَرَجَّبوهُand honored him
فَقَد رَفَعوا الدَنِيَّ وَرَجَّبوهُ
So do not rejoice if you are honored among them:
they have raised the base man and honored him.
وَبَدَّلَand altered ظاهِرَthe outward form of الإِسلامِIslam رَهطٌa band of men
وَبَدَّلَ ظاهِرَ الإِسلامِ رَهطٌ
أَرادواthey sought الطَعنَassault فيهِagainst it وَشَذَّبوهُand pruned it
أَرادوا الطَعنَ فيهِ وَشَذَّبوهُ
A band altered Islam's outward form,
wishing to assail it, and pruned it.
وَماand not نَطَقواthey spoke بِهِof it تَشبيبَas a love-prelude to أَمرٍa matter
وَما نَطَقوا بِهِ تَشبيبَ أَمرٍ
كَماas بَدَأَbegan المَديحَthe panegyric مُشَبِّبوهُits love-prelude poets
كَما بَدَأَ المَديحَ مُشَبِّبوهُ
They did not utter it as a love-prelude to some matter,
as poets of love-preludes begin a panegyric.
وَيُذكَرُand it is said أَنَّthat فيamong الأَيّامِthe days يَوماًa day
وَيُذكَرُ أَنَّ في الأَيّامِ يَوماً
يَقومُwill rise مِنَfrom التُرابِthe dust مُغَيِّبوهُthose buried in it
يَقومُ مِنَ التُرابِ مُغَيِّبوهُ
It is said that among the days there is a day
when those buried in the dust will rise.
وَماand whatever يَحدُثُhappens فَإِنّاthen we are أَهلُpeople of عَصرٍan age
وَما يَحدُثُ فَإِنّا أَهلُ عَصرٍ
قَليلٌfew فيamong المَعاشِرِthe communities مُنجِبوهُits begetters of worthy offspring
قَليلٌ في المَعاشِرِ مُنجِبوهُ
Whatever happens, we belong to an age
with few begetters of worthy offspring among its communities.
صَحِبناwe accompanied دَهرَناour age دَهراًfor an age وَقِدماًand long ago
صَحِبنا دَهرَنا دَهراً وَقِدماً
رَأىthought الفُضلاءُthe virtuous أَنthat لاnot يَصحَبوهُthey should accompany it
رَأى الفُضلاءُ أَن لا يَصحَبوهُ
We kept company with our age for an age; long ago,
the virtuous thought they should not keep its company.
وَغيظَand were vexed بِهِby it بَنوهُits sons وَغيظَand it was vexed مِنهُمby them
وَغيظَ بِهِ بَنوهُ وَغيظَ مِنهُم
فَعَذَّبَso it tormented ساكِنيهِits inhabitants وَعَذَّبوهُand they tormented it
فَعَذَّبَ ساكِنيهِ وَعَذَّبوهُ
Its sons were vexed by it, and it was vexed by them;
so it tormented its inhabitants, and they tormented it.
وَمِنand among عاداتِهِits habits فيin كُلِّevery جيلٍgeneration
وَمِن عاداتِهِ في كُلِّ جيلٍ
غَذاهُit nourished it أَنis that يَقِلَّare few مُهَذَّبوهُits refined people
غَذاهُ أَن يَقِلَّ مُهَذَّبوهُ
Among its habits, in every generation
it nourishes, is that its refined souls are few.
أَساءَit behaved badly بِغِيِّهِthrough its waywardness أَدَباًin manners عَلَيهِمtoward them
أَساءَ بِغِيِّهِ أَدَباً عَلَيهِم
فَهَلso is there مِنany حيلَةٍstratagem فَيُؤَدِّبوهُso they might discipline it
فَهَل مِن حيلَةٍ فَيُؤَدِّبوهُ
In its waywardness it behaved ill toward them;
is there any stratagem by which they might discipline it?
وَماand not يَخشىdoes it fear الوَعيدَthreats فَيوعِدوهُso they might threaten it
وَما يَخشى الوَعيدَ فَيوعِدوهُ
وَلاand not يَرعىdoes it heed العِتابَreproach فَيُعتِبوهُso they might rebuke it
وَلا يَرعى العِتابَ فَيُعتِبوهُ
It does not fear threats, so that they could threaten it;
nor does it heed reproach, so that they could rebuke it.
وَهَلand can تُرجىbe hoped for الكَرامَةُhonor مِنfrom أَوانٍan age
وَهَل تُرجى الكَرامَةُ مِن أَوانٍ
وَقَدwhen indeed غَلَبَhave overpowered الرِجالmen مُغَلَّبوهُits habitual losers
وَقَد غَلَبَ الرِجال مُغَلَّبوهُ
Can honor be hoped for from an age
whose habitual losers have overpowered men?
وَهَلand is there مِنthan وَقتِهِمtheir time أَبغىmore oppressive وَأَطغىand more tyrannical
وَهَل مِن وَقتِهِم أَبغى وَأَطغى
عَلىalong أَيِّwhichever المَذاهِبِcourses قَلّبوهُthey turn it
عَلى أَيِّ المَذاهِبِ قَلّبوهُ
Is anything more oppressive and tyrannical than their time,
whichever course they turn it toward?
أَجَلّواthey honored مُكثِراًa wealthy man وَتَنَصَّفوهُand served him
أَجَلّوا مُكثِراً وَتَنَصَّفوهُ
وَعابواand faulted مَنwhoever أَقَلَّhad little وَأَنَّبوهُand rebuked him
وَعابوا مَن أَقَلَّ وَأَنَّبوهُ
They honored the wealthy man and served him,
and faulted the man of little means and reproached him.
وَلَمand did not يَرضَواthey accept لِماfor what سَكَنوهُthey inhabited it شيداًplaster
وَلَم يَرضَوا لِما سَكَنوهُ شيداً
إِلىuntil أَنthat فَضَّضوهُthey plated it with silver وَأَذهَبوهُand gilded it
إِلى أَن فَضَّضوهُ وَأَذهَبوهُ
They were not content with plaster for their dwelling
until they silvered it and gilded it.
فَإِنso if يَأكُلُهُمit devours them أَسَفاًin anger وَحِقداًand rancor
فَإِن يَأكُلُهُم أَسَفاً وَحِقداً
فَقَدthen indeed أَكَلَhave eaten الغَزالَthe gazelle مُرَبِّبوهُits rearers
فَقَد أَكَلَ الغَزالَ مُرَبِّبوهُ
So if it devours them in anger and rancor,
the gazelle has indeed been eaten by those who reared it.
وَتِلكَand those الوَحشُwild beasts ماnot جادواdid they lavish عَلَيهاupon them
وَتِلكَ الوَحشُ ما جادوا عَلَيها
بِعُشبٍgrass غِبَّafter نَدٍّa straying beast عَشَّبوهُthey put it to pasture
بِعُشبٍ غِبَّ نَدٍّ عَشَّبوهُ
And on those wild beasts they bestowed no gift
of grass, after a stray they had put to pasture.
يَسورُbounds الكَلبُthe dog مُجتَهِداًstraining إِلَيهاtoward them
يَسورُ الكَلبُ مُجتَهِداً إِلَيها
وَيَحظىand gain بِالقَنيصِthe quarry مُكَلِّبوهُits hunting trainers
وَيَحظى بِالقَنيصِ مُكَلِّبوهُ
The dog bounds toward them, straining,
and its trainers gain the quarry.
رَجَواthey hoped أَنthat لاnot يَخيبَwould fail لَهُمfor them دُعاءٌa prayer
رَجَوا أَن لا يَخيبَ لَهُم دُعاءٌ
وَكَمand how often سَأَلَbegged الفَقيرُthe poor man فَخَيَّبوهُyet they disappointed him
وَكَم سَأَلَ الفَقيرُ فَخَيَّبوهُ
They hoped no prayer of theirs would fail,
yet how often the poor man begged, and they disappointed him.
وَماand not شَأنُthe concern of اللَبيبِthe wise man بِغَيرِwith anything but سِلمٍpeace
وَما شَأنُ اللَبيبِ بِغَيرِ سِلمٍ
وَإِنeven though شَهِدَwitness الوَغىbattle مُتَلَبِّبوهُhis girded warriors
وَإِن شَهِدَ الوَغى مُتَلَبِّبوهُ
The wise man's concern is nothing but peace,
though his girded warriors witness battle.
أَلَظّواthey persisted بِالقَبيحِin ugliness فَتابَعوهُand followed it
أَلَظّوا بِالقَبيحِ فَتابَعوهُ
وَلَوand had أَمَرواthey been ordered بِهِto do it لَتَجَنَّبوهُthey would have shunned it
وَلَو أَمَروا بِهِ لَتَجَنَّبوهُ
They persisted in ugliness and followed it,
though had they been ordered to do it, they would have shunned it.
نَهاهُمforbade them عَنfrom طِلابِseeking المالِwealth زُهدٌasceticism
نَهاهُم عَن طِلابِ المالِ زُهدٌ
وَنادىand called out الحِرصُgreed وَيبَكُمُwoe to you اِطلُبوهُseek it
وَنادى الحِرصُ وَيبَكُمُ اِطلُبوهُ
Asceticism forbade them to pursue wealth,
and greed cried, "Woe to you! Seek it!"
فَأَلقاهاso it cast it إِلىinto أَسماعِthe ears of غُثرٍboors
فَأَلقاها إِلى أَسماعِ غُثرٍ
إِذاwhen عَرَفواthey knew الطَريقَthe road تَنَكَّبوهُthey turned aside from it
إِذا عَرَفوا الطَريقَ تَنَكَّبوهُ
It cast that cry into the ears of boors
who, when they know the road, turn aside from it.
سَعَواthey strove بَينَbetween اِقتِرابٍnearness وَاِغتِرابٍand exile
سَعَوا بَينَ اِقتِرابٍ وَاِغتِرابٍ
يَموتُdie بِغَصَّةٍwith a choking pang مُتَغَرِّبوهُits wanderers abroad
يَموتُ بِغَصَّةٍ مُتَغَرِّبوهُ
They strove between nearness and exile;
its wanderers abroad die of a choking pang.
غَدَواthey became قوتاًfood لِمِثلِهُمُfor their like تَساوىwere equal
غَدَوا قوتاً لِمِثلِهُمُ تَساوى
خَبيثوهُits foulest ones لَدَيهِto it وَأَطيَبوهُand its finest ones
خَبيثوهُ لَدَيهِ وَأَطيَبوهُ
They became food for their like; equal
to it are their foulest and their finest.
مَضَتpassed away أُمَمٌnations عَلىin شَرخِthe prime of اللَياليthe nights
مَضَت أُمَمٌ عَلى شَرخِ اللَيالي
إِذاwhen عَمَدواthey set about لِعَقدٍtying a knot أَرَّبوهُthey secured it
إِذا عَمَدوا لِعَقدٍ أَرَّبوهُ
Nations passed away in the prime of the nights;
whenever they set about a knot, they secured it.
وَكَمand how many تَرَكواthey left لَناfor us أَثَراًa monument مُنيفاًlofty
وَكَم تَرَكوا لَنا أَثَراً مُنيفاً
يَعودُreturn بِآيَةٍwith a wondrous sign مُتَأَوِّبوهُthose who revisit it
يَعودُ بِآيَةٍ مُتَأَوِّبوهُ
How many a lofty monument they left us,
whose revisitors return with a wondrous sign.
لَقَدindeed عَمَرواthey built وَأَقسَمَتِand swore الرَزاياthe calamities
لَقَد عَمَروا وَأَقسَمَتِ الرَزايا
لَبِئسَhow wretched الرَهطُthe band رَهطٌa band خَرَّبوهُthey ruined it
لَبِئسَ الرَهطُ رَهطٌ خَرَّبوهُ
They built indeed, and calamities swore:
"Wretched indeed is the band that ruined it!"
فَإِمّاso either عاثَwrought havoc فيهِin it حاسِدوهُthose who envied it
فَإِمّا عاثَ فيهِ حاسِدوهُ
وَإِمّاor else غالَهُdestroyed it مُتَكَسِّبوهُthose seeking profit from it
وَإِمّا غالَهُ مُتَكَسِّبوهُ
Either its enviers wrought havoc in it,
or those seeking profit from it destroyed it.
وَلِلأَرمَينِand of the two monuments خَطبٌa tale مُستَفيضٌwidely known
وَلِلأَرمَينِ خَطبٌ مُستَفيضٌ
يَعومُswim بِلُجِّهِin its depths مُتَعجِّبوهُthose who marvel at it
يَعومُ بِلُجِّهِ مُتَعجِّبوهُ
The two monuments have a widely known tale;
those who marvel at it swim in its depths.
وَلَوand if قَدَرواthey had power عَلىover إيوانِthe vaulted hall of كِسرىKisra
وَلَو قَدَروا عَلى إيوانِ كِسرى
لَساموهُthey would have inflicted on it الرَدىruin وَتَعَقَّبوهُand pursued it
لَساموهُ الرَدى وَتَعَقَّبوهُ
Had they gained power over Kisra's vaulted hall,
they would have consigned it to ruin and pursued it.
وَقَدand indeed مَنّواthey vaunted their favors بِرِزقِwith the provision of اللَهِGod جَهلاًin ignorance
وَقَد مَنّوا بِرِزقِ اللَهِ جَهلاً
كَأَنَّهُمُas though they لِباغٍfor a seeker سَبَّبوهُhad procured it
كَأَنَّهُمُ لِباغٍ سَبَّبوهُ
In ignorance they claimed credit for God's provision,
as though they had procured it for a seeker.
إِذاwhen أَصحابُthe adherents of دينٍa faith أَحكَموهُestablished it firmly
إِذا أَصحابُ دينٍ أَحكَموهُ
أَذالواthey debased ماwhatever سِواهُwas besides it وَعَيّبوهُand disparaged it
أَذالوا ما سِواهُ وَعَيّبوهُ
When the followers of a faith establish it firmly,
they debase whatever lies outside it and disparage it.
وَقَدand indeed شَهِدَtestified النَصارىthe Christians أَنَّthat عيسىJesus
وَقَد شَهِدَ النَصارى أَنَّ عيسى
تَوَّخَتهُsought him out اليَهودُthe Jews لِيَصلِبوهُto crucify him
تَوَّخَتهُ اليَهودُ لِيَصلِبوهُ
The Christians have testified that Jesus
was sought out by the Jews to be crucified.
وَقَدand indeed أَبَهواthey paid regard وَقَدand indeed جَعَلوهُthey made him رَبّاًa lord
وَقَد أَبَهوا وَقَد جَعَلوهُ رَبّاً
لِئَلّاlest يَنقَصوهُthey diminish him وَيَجدُبوهُand revile him
لِئَلّا يَنقَصوهُ وَيَجدُبوهُ
They held him in regard and made him a lord,
lest they diminish him or revile him.
تَمُجُّspew out قُلوبُهُمtheir hearts ماwhat أودِعَتهُwere entrusted with it
تَمُجُّ قُلوبُهُم ما أودِعَتهُ
لِسوءٍbecause of an evil فيin الغَرائِزِthe instincts أُشرِبوهُthey were imbued with it
لِسوءٍ في الغَرائِزِ أُشرِبوهُ
Their hearts spew out what was entrusted to them,
because of an evil with which their instincts were imbued.
أَضاعواthey divulged السِرَّthe secret لَمّاwhen اِستَحفَظوهُthey were charged to guard it
أَضاعوا السِرَّ لَمّا اِستَحفَظوهُ
وَقَدyet indeed صانواthey preserved الأَديمَthe leather وَسَرَّبوهُand made it watertight
وَقَد صانوا الأَديمَ وَسَرَّبوهُ
They divulged the secret when charged to guard it,
yet they preserved the leather and made it watertight.
لَهُمthey have نَسَبُthe lineage of الرَغامِdust وَذاكَand that طُهرٌis purity
لَهُم نَسَبُ الرَغامِ وَذاكَ طُهرٌ
وَلَمyet not يَطهُرbecame pure بِهِthrough it مُتَنَسِّبوهُthose claiming descent from it
وَلَم يَطهُر بِهِ مُتَنَسِّبوهُ
Their ancestry is dust, and that is pure,
yet those tracing their lineage to it have not become pure.
وَنُبِّئَand was made a prophet فيamong بَنيthe children of يَعقوبَJacob موسىMoses
وَنُبِّئَ في بَني يَعقوبَ موسى
بِشَرعٍwith a law ماnot تَخَلَّصَdid escape مُتعَبوهُthose burdened by it
بِشَرعٍ ما تَخَلَّصَ مُتعَبوهُ
Moses was made a prophet among Jacob's children,
with a law from which its burdened followers found no escape.
وَقَدand indeed نَضَتِgrew weary النَواظِرُthe eyes كُلَّevery عامٍyear
وَقَد نَضَتِ النَواظِرُ كُلَّ عامٍ
وَأَترابُand the companions of السَعادَةِhappiness مُترَبوهُits wealthy men
وَأَترابُ السَعادَةِ مُترَبوهُ
Eyes have grown weary year after year,
while its wealthy men are happiness's companions.
عَلىupon حَجَرٍa stone لَهُمof theirs تَهويfall جِبالٌmountains
عَلى حَجَرٍ لَهُم تَهوي جِبالٌ
وَلَمand not يَستَعفِsought pardon for ذَنباًa sin مُذنِبوهُits sinners
وَلَم يَستَعفِ ذَنباً مُذنِبوهُ
Mountains fall upon a stone of theirs,
yet its sinners have sought no pardon for a sin.
وَدونَand before الأَبيَضِthe white honey المُشتارِgathered زُغبٌdowny creatures
وَدونَ الأَبيَضِ المُشتارِ زُغبٌ
لَواسِبُstinging عُقنَهُمthey hindered them أَنfrom يَلبَسوهُpartaking of it
لَواسِبُ عُقنَهُم أَن يَلبَسوهُ
Before the gathered white honey are downy creatures,
stinging ones that kept them from partaking of it.
وَقَدand indeed رَكِبَtraveled الَّذينَthose who مَضَواwent before سَبيلاًa path
وَقَد رَكِبَ الَّذينَ مَضَوا سَبيلاً
إِلىto عَليائِهِمtheir heights لَمnot يَركَبوهُthey have traveled it
إِلى عَليائِهِم لَم يَركَبوهُ
Those who went before have indeed traveled a path
to their heights that these have not traveled.
وَحَبلُand the cord of العَيشِlife مُنتَكِثٌunraveling ضَعيفٌweak
وَحَبلُ العَيشِ مُنتَكِثٌ ضَعيفٌ
وَنِعمَand excellent الرَأيُis the counsel أَنthat لاnot تَجذُبوهُyou pull it
وَنِعمَ الرَأيُ أَن لا تَجذُبوهُ
The cord of life is unraveling and weak;
excellent is the counsel not to pull it.
وَماyet not فَعَلواdid they do so وَلَكِنbut باكَروهُthey approached it early
وَما فَعَلوا وَلَكِن باكَروهُ
بِأَسبابِwith the means of الحِمامِdeath فَقَضَّبوهُand cut it through
بِأَسبابِ الحِمامِ فَقَضَّبوهُ
Yet they did not do so, but approached it early
with the means of death and cut it through:
فَمِنso from سَيفٍa sword وَمِنand from رُمحٍa spear وَسَهمٍand an arrow
فَمِن سَيفٍ وَمِن رُمحٍ وَسَهمٍ
وَنَصلٍand a blade أَرهَفوهُthey honed it وَذَرَّبوهُand sharpened it
وَنَصلٍ أَرهَفوهُ وَذَرَّبوهُ
with a sword, a spear, an arrow,
and a blade they honed and sharpened.
وَماand not دَفَعَتwarded off عَنِfrom الملِكِthe king المَناياdeaths
وَما دَفَعَت عَنِ الملِكِ المَنايا
مَقانِبُهُhis cavalry squadrons وَلاnor مُتَكَتِّبوهُhis marshaled troops
مَقانِبُهُ وَلا مُتَكَتِّبوهُ
Death was not kept from the king
by his cavalry squadrons, nor by his marshaled troops.
حَسِبتُمyou imagined ياO بَنيchildren of حَوّاءَEve شَيئاًsomething
حَسِبتُم يا بَني حَوّاءَ شَيئاً
فَجاءَكُمُthen there came to you الَّذيwhat لَمnot تَحسِبوهُyou had imagined it
فَجاءَكُمُ الَّذي لَم تَحسِبوهُ
You imagined one thing, O children of Eve,
but what you had not imagined came to you.
وَجيرانُand the neighbors of الغَريبِthe stranger مُبغِضوهُthose who make him hated
وَجيرانُ الغَريبِ مُبغِضوهُ
إِلىto جُلّاسِهِمtheir companions وَمُحَبِّبوهُand those who make him loved
إِلى جُلّاسِهِم وَمُحَبِّبوهُ
A stranger's neighbors make him hated
among their companions, and make him loved.
فَإِنso if يولواthey bestow قَبيحاًan unkindness يَذكُروهُthey mention it
فَإِن يولوا قَبيحاً يَذكُروهُ
وَإِنand if يَحبواthey give يُشيعواthey publicize ماwhat حَبوهُthey gave it
وَإِن يَحبوا يُشيعوا ما حَبوهُ
If they bestow an unkindness, they recount it;
if they give a gift, they broadcast what they gave.
تَقولُsays الهِندُIndia آدَمُAdam كانَwas قِنّاًa bondsman
تَقولُ الهِندُ آدَمُ كانَ قِنّاً
لَناof ours فَسَرىthen traveled by night إِلَيهِto him مُخَبِّبوهُthose who tempted him away
لَنا فَسَرى إِلَيهِ مُخَبِّبوهُ
India says, "Adam was a bondsman
of ours; then his tempters traveled to him by night."
أولَئِكَthose people يَحرِقونَburn المَيتَthe dead person نُسكاًas a religious rite
أولَئِكَ يَحرِقونَ المَيتَ نُسكاً
وَيُشعِرُهُand clothe him in لُباناًfrankincense مُلهِبوهُthose who set him aflame
وَيُشعِرُهُ لُباناً مُلهِبوهُ
Those people burn the dead as a religious rite,
and those who set him aflame clothe him in frankincense.
وَلَوand if دَفَنوهُthey had buried him فيin الغَبراءِthe dusty earth جاءَتit would have brought
وَلَو دَفَنوهُ في الغَبراءِ جاءَت
بِماwhat يَسعىstrive لَهُfor it مُتَأَلِّبوهُthose banded against him
بِما يَسعى لَهُ مُتَأَلِّبوهُ
Had they buried him in the dusty earth, it would have brought
what those banded against him strive for.
أُديلَwas given victory الشَرُّevil مِنكُمover you فَاِحذَروهُso beware of it
أُديلَ الشَرُّ مِنكُم فَاِحذَروهُ
وَماتَand died الخَيرُgoodness مِنكُمamong you فَاِندُبوهُso mourn it
وَماتَ الخَيرُ مِنكُم فَاِندُبوهُ
Evil has gained victory over you: beware of it;
and goodness has died among you: mourn it.
Sol 6.1