هَلis there إِلىto سَلوةٍsolace وَصَبرٍand patience سَبيلُa path
هَل إِلى سَلوةٍ وَصَبرٍ سَبيلُ
كَيفَhow وَالرزءُand the calamity ماas عَلِمتَyou know جَليلُgrievous
كَيفَ وَالرزءُ ما عَلِمتَ جَليلُ
Is there a path to solace and patience?
Is there a way to solace and patience?
How, when the calamity, as you know, is grievous?
How, when adversity you have not known before?
فَجعتنيbereaved me الأَيّامُthe days لَمّاwhen أَلَمّتstruck
فَجعتني الأَيّامُ لَمّا أَلَمّت
بِصَديقٍupon a friend وَجديmy grief عَلَيهِfor him طَويلُlong-lasting
بِصَديقٍ وَجدي عَلَيهِ طَويلُ
The days bereaved me when they struck
Days have saddened me with the pain
a friend for whom my grief will long endure—
They inflicted, for a dear friend I pine,
بِأَبيupon Abu القاسمِal-Qasim الَّذيwho أَقسَمَswore المَجglory (first part)
بِأَبي القاسمِ الَّذي أَقسَمَ المَج
دُ(completes 'glory') يَميناًan oath أَنthat لَيسَthere is no مِنهُfor him بَديلُsubstitute
دُ يَميناً أَن لَيسَ مِنهُ بَديلُ
Abu al-Qasim, about whom Glory swore
My father al-Qasim, who swore
an oath that there was no substitute for him.
An oath that he has no equal or peer.
حسنُfine خَلقٍphysical form وَمَخبرٍand inner character ورُواءٍand appearance
حسنُ خَلقٍ وَمَخبرٍ ورُواءٍ
قَدindeed عَلَتهgraced him قَسامَةٌcomeliness وَقَبُولُand charm
قَد عَلَته قَسامَةٌ وَقَبُولُ
He was fine in form, inner character, and appearance,
Of good nature, an adviser and confidante,
graced with comeliness and charm.
Nobility and acceptance were his hallmarks.
كانَhe was مَغنىan abode الوَفاءfidelity وَالبِرّand kindness إِنif حاchanged (first part)
كانَ مَغنى الوَفاء وَالبِرّ إِن حا
لَ(completes 'changed') زَمانٌtime فَوُدُّهthen his affection ماnever يَحُولُchanges
لَ زَمانٌ فَوُدُّه ما يَحُولُ
He was the abode of fidelity and kindness; even if
He was the haven of loyalty and righteousness; if
time changed, his affection never changed.
An era changes, his love will not waver.
كانَhe was زَينَthe ornament النَدىof generosity فيin العِلمِlearning والand the
كانَ زَينَ النَدى في العِلمِ وال
آدابِletters تَرعىgraze رِياضَهُنَّtheir gardens العُقولُminds
آدابِ تَرعى رِياضَهُنَّ العُقولُ
He was the ornament of generosity in learning and
He was the adornment of dew in knowledge and
letters, whose gardens minds would graze.
Etiquette, pastures grazed by minds.
كانَhe was بَدرَthe full moon النُهىof reason فَحانَthen came the time أفُولُsetting
كانَ بَدرَ النُهى فَحانَ أفُولُ
كانَhe was شَمسَthe sun الحجىof wisdom فَحانَthen came the time أَصيلُevening
كانَ شَمسَ الحجى فَحانَ أَصيلُ
He was the full moon of reason; then its setting came.
He was the full moon of guidance, but has set,
He was the sun of wisdom; then its evening came.
He was the sun of truth, but dusk has come.
كانَhe was كَهفيmy refuge عَلىagainst الحَوادِثcalamities ماas long as عاlived (first part)
كانَ كَهفي عَلى الحَوادِث ما عا
شَ(completes 'lived') عَلَيهاover them بِرَأيِهِthrough his counsel أَستَطيلُI prevailed
شَ عَلَيها بِرَأيِهِ أَستَطيلُ
He was my refuge against calamities as long as he
He was my cave against calamities, in his
lived; through his counsel I prevailed over them.
Judgement did I seek refuge and protection.
لَهفَanguish نَفسيmy soul عَلىfor شَمائِلِthe qualities حُرٍّof a noble man
لَهفَ نَفسي عَلى شَمائِلِ حُرٍّ
سُحِبَتwere trailed لِلشَمالِfor the north wind فيهاwithin them ذُيولُskirts
سُحِبَت لِلشَمالِ فيها ذُيولُ
My soul aches for the qualities of a noble man,
My soul yearns for the virtues of a free man,
within which the north wind's skirts were trailed.
Snatched to the north, trailing his garments.
كَيفَhow أَسلُوcan I cease grieving عَنfor صاحِبٍa companion لَيسَthere is no مِنهُfor him
كَيفَ أَسلُو عَن صاحِبٍ لَيسَ مِنهُ
خَلفٌreplacement يَشتَفيis soothed بِهِthrough him ليfor me غَليلُburning grief
خَلفٌ يَشتَفي بِهِ لي غَليلُ
How can I cease mourning a companion who has
How can I find solace for a companion who has
no replacement to soothe my burning grief?
No successor, to give me comfort in his absence?
لَيسَthere is no هَيهاتَfar beyond reach! ليfor me إِلَيهِto him سَبيلpath
لَيسَ هَيهاتَ لي إِلَيهِ سَبيل
إِنَّindeed دَهريmy age بِمثلِهِwith his like لَبَخيلُtruly miserly
إِنَّ دَهري بِمثلِهِ لَبَخيلُ
There is no path for me to him—he is far beyond reach!
Alas! There is no way for me to reach him,
Indeed, my age is truly miserly with his like.
My fate regarding his like is miserly.
زانَهُadorned him العَقلُreason وَالحَصافَةُand sagacity وَالرَأand judgment (first part)
زانَهُ العَقلُ وَالحَصافَةُ وَالرَأ
يُ(completes 'judgment') وَحُسنُand beauty البَيانِof expression وَالتَحصيلُand learning
يُ وَحُسنُ البَيانِ وَالتَحصيلُ
Reason, sagacity, and judgment adorned him,
He was graced with reason, wisdom, opinion,
along with eloquence and learning.
Eloquence and attainment of knowledge.
وَعَفافٌand chastity يُثنيهِrestrains him عَنfrom مَوقِفِa situation of الشَكdoubt (first part)
وَعَفافٌ يُثنيهِ عَن مَوقِفِ الشَك
كِ(completes 'doubt') إِذاwhen أَطلَقَlet loose العِنانَthe reins الجَهولُthe ignorant man
كِ إِذا أَطلَقَ العِنانَ الجَهولُ
And chastity kept him from doubtful ground,
And chastity that restrained him from the precipice
when the ignorant man let loose the reins.
Of suspicion, when the ignorant is unrestrained.
مسعدٌhelpful فيin الرَخاءِease سَمحٌgenerous شَفيقٌcompassionate
مسعدٌ في الرَخاءِ سَمحٌ شَفيقٌ
وَلَهُand he has فيin النائِباتِcalamities برّkindness وصولُever-reaching
وَلَهُ في النائِباتِ برّ وصولُ
He was helpful in ease, generous and compassionate,
Prosperous, generous, kind during ease,
and in calamities his kindness reached out.
And righteous, loyal in adversities.
صادِقُtrue الوُدِّin affection ثابِتٌsteadfast لاnot كَخلٍّlike a friend
صادِقُ الوُدِّ ثابِتٌ لا كَخلٍّ
هُوَhe مُستَكرِهُaverse to الإِخاءِbrotherhood مَلولُeasily wearied
هُوَ مُستَكرِهُ الإِخاءِ مَلولُ
He was true and steadfast in affection, unlike a friend
A true friend, constant, not fickle,
who begrudges brotherhood and soon grows weary.
Not one who dislikes companionship and is aloof.
خُلُقٌa character كَالزلالlike clear water زَلَّglided عَنِoff الصَخrock (first part)
خُلُقٌ كَالزلال زَلَّ عَنِ الصَخ
رِ(completes 'rock') وَنَفسٌand a soul لِلعَيبِfor faults عَنهاfrom it زَليلُslipping away
رِ وَنَفسٌ لِلعَيبِ عَنها زَليلُ
His character was like clear water gliding off rock,
A nature like limpid water, free of
and his soul was one from which faults slip away.
Turbidity, a soul above blemishes and fault.
وَاِجتِنابٌand avoidance لِماof whatever يُعابُis blameworthy مِنَin الأَمconduct (first part)
وَاِجتِنابٌ لِما يُعابُ مِنَ الأَم
رِ(completes 'conduct') وَعَرضٌand honor مِنَfrom الدَناءِbaseness صَقيلُburnished
رِ وَعَرضٌ مِنَ الدَناءِ صَقيلُ
He avoided whatever was blameworthy in conduct,
And avoiding what is blameworthy,
his honor burnished free of baseness.
With honor untouched by baseness.
حافِظٌa memorizer لِلكِتابِof the Book يَعنيهِconcerns him مِنهُof it
حافِظٌ لِلكِتابِ يَعنيهِ مِنهُ
رافِداهits two tributaries التَنزيلُrevelation وَالتَأويلُand interpretation
رافِداه التَنزيلُ وَالتَأويلُ
He knew the Book by heart, concerned with
Upholding the Book, drawing lessons
its two tributaries: revelation and interpretation.
From its revelation and interpretation.
قائِمٌstanding فيin الدُجىnight's darkness حَليفُa companion of صَلاةٍprayer
قائِمٌ في الدُجى حَليفُ صَلاةٍ
مِنfrom سَناradiance وَجهِهِhis face عَلَيهاof it دَليلُevidence
مِن سَنا وَجهِهِ عَلَيها دَليلُ
He stood in night's darkness, a companion of prayer;
Persevering in the darkness, guided by
the radiance of his face bore witness to it.
Prayer, its light shines from his face.
مَنwhoever يَكُنmay be بَعدَهُafter him العَزاءُconsolation جَميلاًfitting
مَن يَكُن بَعدَهُ العَزاءُ جَميلاً
فَاِجتِنابُthen avoiding العَزاءِconsolation مِنهُfor him جَميلُis fitting
فَاِجتِنابُ العَزاءِ مِنهُ جَميلُ
For whoever finds consolation fitting after him,
Who will make consolation beautiful after him?
forgoing consolation for his loss is fitting.
Thus, to avoid it from him is beautiful.
ماnot عَلاهُcovered him الصَفيحُthe stone slabs فيin اللَحدِthe burial niche حَتّىuntil
ما عَلاهُ الصَفيحُ في اللَحدِ حَتّى
غالَنيoverwhelmed me بَعدَهُafter him البكاweeping وَالعَويلُand wailing
غالَني بَعدَهُ البكا وَالعَويلُ
No sooner had the stone slabs covered him in the grave
The coffin did not deter him in the grave,
than weeping and wailing overwhelmed me after his death.
After him did weeping and wailing overwhelm me.
أَيّwhat مَرأىsight وَمَنظَرٍand spectacle لاnot يَهولُappalls
أَيّ مَرأى وَمَنظَرٍ لا يَهولُ
مِنof خَليلٍa dear friend عَلَيهِover him تربٌearth مَهيلُheaped up
مِن خَليلٍ عَلَيهِ تربٌ مَهيلُ
What sight, what spectacle could fail to appall
What sights and views are not frightening,
when a dear friend has earth heaped over him?
Of a dear friend over whom dusty soil settles?
لَيسَis not ماwhat سالَflowed مِنfrom جُفونِيَmy eyelids دَمعاًtears
لَيسَ ما سالَ مِن جُفونِيَ دَمعاً
هِيَit is نَفسيmy soul تَذوبُmelts ثُمَّthen تَسيلُflows
هِيَ نَفسي تَذوبُ ثُمَّ تَسيلُ
What flowed from my eyelids was not tears;
What flows from my eyes are not tears,
it is my soul that melts and then flows.
Rather, my soul melting and pouring forth.
فَعَلَيهِso upon him سَلامُpeace ذيof the Lord of العَرشِthe Throne يُهديconveys
فَعَلَيهِ سَلامُ ذي العَرشِ يُهدي
هِit إِلىinto حَشوِthe depths of قَبرِهِhis grave جِبريلُGabriel
هِ إِلى حَشوِ قَبرِهِ جِبريلُ
So upon him be the peace of the Lord of the Throne, borne
Upon him be the peace of the Lord of the Throne,
by Gabriel into the depths of his grave.
Guiding him to the fullness of his grave be Gabriel.
وَأَتاهُand may it reach him مِنof رَحمَةِmercy اللَهِGod كَفلٌa share
وَأَتاهُ مِن رَحمَةِ اللَهِ كَفلٌ
هُوَit بِالخُلدِfor eternal life فيin الجِنانِthe gardens of Paradise كَفيلُa guarantor
هُوَ بِالخُلدِ في الجِنانِ كَفيلُ
And may a share of God's mercy reach him,
And may he attain God's mercy in abundance,
assuring him eternity in the gardens of Paradise.
To be secured in eternity a guarantor.
سُقيتmay be watered بِالذُنوبِwith a bucketful مِنهاfrom it عِظامٌbones
سُقيت بِالذُنوبِ مِنها عِظامٌ
ماthere is no لِعُظمِfor the enormity of الذُنوبِsins فيهاin them مَقيلُresting place
ما لِعُظمِ الذُنوبِ فيها مَقيلُ
May a bucketful of that mercy water his bones,
I was watered with sins, among them bones
in which the enormity of sins has no resting place.
For the immensity of sins have no recluse.
وَإِذاand when جادَتِbestow generously الغَواديthe morning clouds بِوَبلٍwith a downpour
وَإِذا جادَتِ الغَوادي بِوَبلٍ
فَسَقاهُthen may it water him مِنهاfrom among them سَحابٌa cloud مَخيلُpromising rain
فَسَقاهُ مِنها سَحابٌ مَخيلُ
And when the morning clouds bestow a downpour,
And when valleys pour down torrents,
may a rain-promising cloud among them water him.
A rain cloud will quench his thirst.
كَيفَhow يَنساكَcan he forget you مَنone who تَرَكتَyou left عَلَيهِupon him
كَيفَ يَنساكَ مَن تَرَكتَ عَلَيهِ
حَسرَةًsorrow لاnever تنيabates وَوَجداًand grief يَطولُlasts long
حَسرَةً لا تني وَوَجداً يَطولُ
How can one forget you, when you have left him
How can one who left behind
with sorrow that never wanes and grief that endures?
Yearning that does not subside and ceaseless pain forget you?
Sol 6.1