سَرىtraveled by night وَعَليلand the gentle breath of الريحthe wind قَدhad حَركstirred الرنداthe bay trees
سَرى وَعَليل الريح قَد حَرك الرندا
بَريقa gleam بَداappeared وَهناًlate at night فَذَكرناso it reminded us of نَجداNajd
بَريق بَدا وَهناً فَذَكرنا نَجدا
It traveled by night, as the gentle wind stirred the bay trees—
The breeze stirred the leaves of the willow
a gleam that shone late at night and reminded us of Najd.
A gleam appeared, awakening memories of Nejd
وَحَدثناand it told us عَنabout جيرةthe neighbors of البانthe moringa trees وَالنَقاand the sand dunes
وَحَدثنا عَن جيرة البان وَالنَقا
أَحاديثtales of جَدearnestness قَدindeed أَثارَتaroused لَناin us وَجداyearning
أَحاديث جَد قَد أَثارَت لَنا وَجدا
And it told us of the folk among the moringa trees and sand dunes,
It told tales of the settlement of Banu Hilal and Banu Sulaym
earnest tales that stirred yearning within us.
Stirring emotions long buried within
بِروحيI would ransom with my soul ذاكَthat الحَيencampment مِنwhat a مربعspring abode بِهwherein
بِروحي ذاكَ الحَي مِن مربع بِه
عُيونthe eyes of الظباءthe gazelles النجلwide-eyed تقتنصensnare الأسداthe lions
عُيون الظباء النجل تقتنص الأسدا
My soul would ransom that encampment—what a spring abode, where
It carried the spirit of that camp
the eyes of wide-eyed gazelles ensnare lions.
Where gazelles' eyes hunt lions
محلa dwelling فَقدناwe lost بَعدهafter it كُلevery لَذةpleasure
محل فَقدنا بَعده كُل لَذة
ترامthat is sought وَفارقناand we parted from بِهِwith it العيشةthe life الرَغداof ease
ترام وَفارقنا بِهِ العيشة الرَغدا
A dwelling after leaving which we lost every pleasure
When it left, gone was all pleasure
worth seeking, and with it parted from a life of ease.
Life became bitter when it departed
وَردناwe came to drink بِهِthere ماءthe water of الوِصالunion مروقاًclear
وَردنا بِهِ ماء الوِصال مروقاً
نعمyes وَشَمَمناand we smelled فوقَupon كُثبانهِits dunes وَرداroses
نعم وَشَمَمنا فوقَ كُثبانهِ وَردا
There we drank the clear water of union;
It returned cool, sweet water
yes, and smelled roses upon its dunes.
We smelled roses on its dunes
لَياليnights when كُناwe were لاnot نَرىseeing غَيرanything but ربربa herd of antelopes
لَيالي كُنا لا نَرى غَير ربرب
ألوفtame وَريمand a white gazelle لَيسَnot تخلفناbreaking for us عَهداa pledge
ألوف وَريم لَيسَ تخلفنا عَهدا
Nights when we saw nothing but a herd of antelopes,
Nights when we saw nothing but lightning
tame, and a white gazelle who never broke a pledge to us.
Thousands of sparks left no moment unlit
يُضاحكناlaughs with us بَرقthe gleam of الثُغورsmiling mouths عشيةat evening
يُضاحكنا بَرق الثُغور عشية
فَتَمنحناso they grant us دراًpearls وَتسكرناand intoxicate us وَرداwith roses
فَتَمنحنا دراً وَتسكرنا وَردا
The gleam of smiling mouths laughed with us at evening,
Dusk's lightning smiled as it granted
so they bestowed pearls upon us and made us drunk on roses.
Us pearls and intoxicated us with wine
لَياليnights when لَمnot نحذرwe feared بِهنduring them قَطيعةestrangement
لَيالي لَم نحذر بِهن قَطيعة
وَلَمand not نَرَwe saw مِنfrom ليلىLayla صدوداًaversion وَصَداand rejection
وَلَم نَرَ مِن ليلى صدوداً وَصَدا
Nights when we feared no estrangement,
Nights we never feared separation
nor saw from Layla any turning away or rejection.
Nor saw rejection or refusal from our beloved
لَياليnights of ريعانthe prime of الشَبابyouth بِحاحزat Hahiz
لَيالي ريعان الشَباب بِحاحز
يَجرdraws عَلَيناover us مِنfrom جَلابيبهits robes برداa mantle
يَجر عَلَينا مِن جَلابيبه بردا
Nights when youth's prime, at Hahiz,
Nights when the spring of youth clothed us
drew over us a mantle from its robes.
In its robes, warming us with its chill
يَعودbecomes عَلَيناfor us الرندthe bay trees مسكاًmusk وَيَنثَنيand turns
يَعود عَلَينا الرند مسكاً وَيَنثَني
حَصاهits pebbles لَناfor us دراًpearls وَغدرانهand its pools شَهداhoney
حَصاه لَنا دراً وَغدرانه شَهدا
The bay trees became musk for us, and transformed
The breeze returns, musk-scented, folding
were its pebbles into pearls for us, its pools into honey.
Its lodges to grant us pearls and its treason, honey
رِياضgardens of جنانparadise بِالمَحاسنwith beauties زخرفتadorned
رِياض جنان بِالمَحاسن زخرفت
بِهاtherein قاصِراتmaidens restraining الطَرفtheir gaze قَدhad سَكَنواdwelt in الخُلداeternity
بِها قاصِرات الطَرف قَد سَكَنوا الخُلدا
Gardens of paradise, adorned with beauties,
Gardens of bliss adorned with beauties
where modest-eyed maidens had made eternity their home.
Who dwell forever in eternal peace
غَرائرinnocent maidens أنسof humankind قَدindeed خلقنthey were created جَواهِراًas jewels
غَرائر أنس قَد خلقن جَواهِراً
جَعَلنَthey formed لجيدfor the neck of الحسنbeauty فيin حاجرHajir عقداa necklace
جَعَلنَ لجيد الحسن في حاجر عقدا
Innocent human maidens, created as jewels,
Houries of intimacy created as precious gems
formed a necklace for beauty's neck in Hajir.
Adorning slender necks with necklaces
عَرائسbrides of فردوسparadise لَبسنَthey wore مَطارِفاًbordered robes
عَرائس فردوس لَبسنَ مَطارِفاً
مِنof السُندسfine silk الشَفافsheer تستجمرperfumed with النداfragrant incense
مِن السُندس الشَفاف تستجمر الندا
Brides of paradise, clothed in bordered robes
Brides of Paradise, dressed in transparent silk
of sheer fine silk, perfumed with fragrant incense.
That sets their features aglow
إِذاwhen قُلتI said للدَهرto Time ائتنيbring me مِنsome of ملاحهاits beauties
إِذا قُلت للدَهر ائتني مِن ملاحها
وَعجلand hasten بِلَيلىwith Layla قالَit said خُذهاtake her وَخُذand take سعدىSa'da
وَعجل بِلَيلى قالَ خُذها وَخُذ سعدى
When I said to Time, 'Bring me some of its beauties,
When I asked fate for its salt, and for my beloved Laila
and hasten with Layla,' it said, 'Take her, and take Sa'da.'
It said: "Take them!" And take Saadi too!
سَقىmay water اللَهGod ذاكَthat الحَيencampment صيبthe downpour of مزنهHis clouds
سَقى اللَه ذاكَ الحَي صيب مزنه
كَأَنملlike the fingertips of عَبدAbd اللَهAllah إِذwhen نظرhe beheld الوَفداthe delegations
كَأَنمل عَبد اللَه إِذ نظر الوَفدا
May God water that encampment with His clouds' downpour,
May God water that camp with abundant rain
like Abd Allah's fingertips when he beheld the delegations.
Like the family of Abdullah when they saw the delegation
جَرىflowed وَبلهاtheir downpour جَريlike the flow of البُحورthe seas لِقاصدtoward a seeker
جَرى وَبلها جَري البُحور لِقاصد
فَماso not ادخرتthey withheld فَضلاًbounty وَلاand not أهملتoverlooked قَصداa request
فَما ادخرت فَضلاً وَلا أهملت قَصدا
Their downpour flowed like seas toward every seeker,
It flowed, reaching them like a torrent
withholding no bounty and overlooking no request.
Holding nothing back, neglecting no one
وَسالَتand they streamed كَماlike الوَسميthe first autumn rain فيin كُلevery وجهةdirection
وَسالَت كَما الوَسمي في كُل وجهة
فَماso not تَرَكتthey left جدباًdrought هُناكَthere وَلاand no جهداhardship
فَما تَرَكت جدباً هُناكَ وَلا جهدا
They streamed like the first autumn rains in every direction,
It spread in every direction like markings on skin
leaving neither drought nor hardship there.
Leaving no place parched or barren
وَلماand when هَمتthey poured خلناwe thought السَماءthe sky عَلىupon الثَرىthe earth
وَلما هَمت خلنا السَماء عَلى الثَرى
استهلتburst into rain فخذso take ماwhatever شئتyou wish مِنof درهاtheir pearls رفداas bounty
استهلت فخذ ما شئت مِن درها رفدا
When they poured, we thought the sky, down upon the earth,
When it descended from the sky to the earth
had opened in rain; take what you will of their pearls as bounty.
It opened: take what you wish of its copious gift
وَقُمand stand عِندهُbeside him وَانظرand behold هُناكthere فَضائِلاًvirtues
وَقُم عِندهُ وَانظر هُناك فَضائِلاً
تورثهاhe inherited them فَخراًas glory وَأورثهاand bequeathed them سعداas good fortune
تورثها فَخراً وَأورثها سعدا
And stand beside him, and behold there virtues
Stand before it and look upon virtues
he inherited as glory and bequeathed as good fortune.
That bring it pride and grant it happiness
عُلومsciences سَماhe surpassed فيin نَشرِهاspreading them أَنجُمthe stars of السَماheaven
عُلوم سَما في نَشرِها أَنجُم السَما
وَطالَand rose عَلىabove طولthe height of البُدورthe full moons بِهاthrough them مَجداin glory
وَطالَ عَلى طول البُدور بِها مَجدا
Sciences—in spreading them he rose above heaven's stars,
Celestial knowledge in its diffusion: the stars spread
and through them his glory surpassed the full moons' height.
And its glory covered the horizons for ages
سُطورlines of writing زَهَتshone مِنهاthrough them الطُروسthe pages بِكَفهin his hand
سُطور زَهَت مِنها الطُروس بِكَفه
يُحررهاhe writes them precisely نصحاًas counsel وَيوضحهاand clarifies them رُشداas guidance
يُحررها نصحاً وَيوضحها رُشدا
Lines through which the pages shone beneath his hand,
Lines that shine so brightly, the Pleiades cannot match them
which he sets down as counsel and makes clear as guidance.
He writes them sincerely, elucidating, guiding
يَراعa reed pen يريعterrifies الأَغبياءthe foolish حسامهاits sword
يَراع يريع الأَغبياء حسامها
وَيسكتand silences فيthrough بُرهانهاits proof الأَلسنthe tongues اللداcontentious
وَيسكت في بُرهانها الأَلسن اللدا
A reed pen whose sword strikes terror into fools
His sword's sharpness silences the babbling of fools
and whose proof silences contentious tongues.
His proofs refute the most stubborn tongues
نَتيجةa conclusion of فَضلexcellence مِنfrom قياسa syllogism إِذاwhen بَداit appears
نَتيجة فَضل مِن قياس إِذا بَدا
لِجاحدto a denier of حَقtruth لاnot يطيقhe is capable of لَهُagainst it رداa rebuttal
لِجاحد حَق لا يطيق لَهُ ردا
A conclusion of excellence from a syllogism: when it appears
These are the fruits of his judicious mind
to a denier of truth, he has no power to refute it.
None can challenge what he makes clear
تقدمexcelled before him فيهاin them والداهhis two parents وَجدهand his grandfather
تقدم فيها والداه وَجده
إِذاwhen كرمتyou are noble أَصلاًin origin فَماthen how أَكرمnoble الولداthe offspring
إِذا كرمت أَصلاً فَما أَكرم الولدا
His parents and grandfather excelled in these before him;
His father and grandfather excelled here too
when you are noble at the root, how noble the offspring!
Nobility's son is surely noble indeed
هُمthey سادةare lords يَقضيdecrees الزَمانTime بِكَونهمthat they are
هُم سادة يَقضي الزَمان بِكَونهم
إِذاwhen سالَمواthey make peace شَهداًhoney وَإِنand if حارَبواthey wage war ربداdusky lions
إِذا سالَموا شَهداً وَإِن حارَبوا ربدا
They are lords whom Time declares to be
They are lords whom time's passage has decreed
honey when they make peace, dusky lions when they wage war;
Witnesses, when conciliatory; destroying fortresses, when warring
وَإِنand if وَهَبواthey give سحباًclouds وَإِنand if غَضبواthey grow angry ربىlofty hills
وَإِن وَهَبوا سحباً وَإِن غَضبوا ربى
وَإِنand if طالَعواthey appear نَجماًstars وَإِنand if رَكِبواthey mount أسداlions
وَإِن طالَعوا نَجماً وَإِن رَكِبوا أسدا
clouds when they give, lofty hills when they are angered;
Bestowing clouds, when angry; lions, when mounts
stars when they appear, lions when they mount.
Stars, when they rise; lions, when they attack
هُمthey العربthe Arabs الأَنجابnoble-born مِنfrom آلthe clan of خندفKhindif
هُم العرب الأَنجاب مِن آل خندف
سلask السَيفthe sword عَنهُمabout them وَالمضمرةand the lean-trained horses الجرداsleek-coated
سل السَيف عَنهُم وَالمضمرة الجردا
They are the noble-born Arabs of the clan of Khindif;
They are the finest Arabs, of Khandaf's clan
ask the sword about them, and the lean, sleek horses.
Ask the sword about them, and the polished blade
وَسلand ask عَنهُمabout them سودthe dark الكَتائبbattalions إِنif عدواthey charge
وَسل عَنهُم سود الكَتائب إِن عدوا
أَيَبقونdo they leave مِنof تِلكَthose الجموعhosts لَهُمfor them فَرداa single man
أَيَبقون مِن تِلكَ الجموع لَهُم فَردا
And ask the dark battalions about them, if they charge:
Ask the thick ranks of enemies, if you number them
do they leave those hosts a single man?
Would any of those hordes leave even one of them?
فَعدso count مِنamong الأَفرادthe peerless عدنانAdnan إنَّهُindeed he
فَعد مِن الأَفراد عدنان إنَّهُ
مِنamong السادةthe lords السامينexalted للناسof mankind قَدindeed عداhas been counted
مِن السادة السامين للناس قَد عدا
So count Adnan among the peerless, for he
Count among the individuals: Adnan, he
has been counted among mankind's exalted lords.
Is one of the sublime lords of all people
وَوافand visit معداًMa'add كَعبةthe Kaaba of الجودgenerosity وَالنَدىand bounty
وَواف معداً كَعبة الجود وَالنَدى
فَللهso, by God ماhow أَجداهbountiful he is مَولىas a lord وَماand how أَندىgenerous
فَلله ما أَجداه مَولى وَما أَندى
And visit Ma'add, the Kaaba of generosity and bounty:
He brought generosity and munificence to perfection
by God, how bountiful a lord he was, how generous!
My Master! None were more generous or high-minded
وَلَمand never يعرفknew النزرthe scant القَليلmeager نِزارهمtheir Nizar
وَلَم يعرف النزر القَليل نِزارهم
وَلَكنهُbut he كَالغَيثlike rain إِنwhenever جادَhe gave generously أَوor أَسدىbestowed favors
وَلَكنهُ كَالغَيث إِن جادَ أَو أَسدى
Their Nizar never knew a scant, meager gift;
The little they had did not limit their generosity
rather, he was like rain whenever he gave or bestowed.
Rather, they poured like rain, whether downpour or drizzle
وَماand not مضرMudar الحمراthe Red إِذاwhen احمرتgrew red الوَغىbattle
وَما مضر الحمرا إِذا احمرت الوَغى
سِوىanything but أسدa lion يرديfelling بِصارمهwith his sharp sword الأسداthe lions
سِوى أسد يردي بِصارمه الأسدا
And Mudar the Red, when battle reddened, was
And Mudar, what are they when war grows hot
nothing but a lion, felling lions with his sharp sword.
But lions rending with swords the necks of lions?
وَإلياسand Ilyas حاميprotector of حوزةthe sanctuary of العَهدthe covenant لِلوَرىfor mankind
وَإلياس حامي حوزة العَهد لِلوَرى
إِذاwhen خفرواthey broke عَهداًa pledge فَلَنthen never يخفرwould he break العَهداthe pledge
إِذا خفروا عَهداً فَلَن يخفر العَهدا
And Ilyas guarded the covenant's sanctity for mankind;
And Ilyas, guardian of the people's covenant
when others broke a pledge, he would never break his.
None could break a pact they've agreed to guard
وَمُدركةand Mudrika لَمnot يُدركattained الناسmankind شَأوهhis stature
وَمُدركة لَم يُدرك الناس شَأوه
وَماand not هُوَhe إِلاanything but البَحرthe sea قَدindeed طالَgrew vast وَامتَداand stretched far
وَما هُوَ إِلا البَحر قَد طالَ وَامتَدا
And Mudrika, whose stature mankind could not attain,
Mudrika's stature none can comprehend
was nothing but the sea, grown vast and far-extending.
He is but the sea, endless in length and breadth
وَفيand in الجودgenerosity قَدindeed أَضحىbecame خُزيمةKhuzayma مُفرداpeerless
وَفي الجود قَد أَضحى خُزيمة مُفردا
وَقَدand indeed كانَhe was فيon يَومthe day of الوَغىbattle العلمthe standard الفرداpeerless
وَقَد كانَ في يَوم الوَغى العلم الفردا
In generosity Khuzayma became unrivaled,
In generosity: Khuzaymah, singular
and on the day of battle he was the peerless standard.
A unique standard on the day of battle As for the Banu Samun - recall Kananah
وَإِنand if ذكرare mentioned السامونthe exalted فاذكرthen mention كَنانةKinana
وَإِن ذكر السامون فاذكر كَنانة
عَلاhe rose فيin المَعاليlofty honors عَنabove مُعاونةcooperating with الأَعداenemies
عَلا في المَعالي عَن مُعاونة الأَعدا
And if the exalted are named, name Kinana:
Rising above the heights, disdaining aid of enemies
in lofty honors he rose above cooperating with enemies.
I have not seen the likes of Nadr, Malik and Fahr Their perspicacity surpassing wisdom's bounds
وَماand never نَظَرتsaw أَمثالthe likes of نضرNadr وَمالكand Malik
وَما نَظَرت أَمثال نضر وَمالك
وَفهرand Fihr عُيونeyes حَيثsince فاقواthey surpassed الملاmankind رُشداin sound judgment
وَفهر عُيون حَيث فاقوا الملا رُشدا
Never were the likes of Nadr and Malik
The palm of generosity conquered Ghalib's grip His avarice smashed, toppled from its pedestal
and Fihr seen by eyes, for they surpassed mankind in wisdom.
Kaab rose high; and the glory of Murrah's honor -
وَقَدand indeed غلبتoutdid سحبthe clouds of النَدىbounty كَفthe palm of غالبGhalib
وَقَد غلبت سحب النَدى كَف غالب
وَألوىand twisted لُؤيLu'ayy هَيكلthe edifice of البُخلmiserliness فَانهَداso it collapsed
وَألوى لُؤي هَيكل البُخل فَانهَدا
Ghalib's palm outdid the clouds in bounty,
Recall Kilab, whenever munificence is recalled
and Lu'ayy twisted the edifice of miserliness till it collapsed.
As for Qusayy - he is the apogee of mankind
وَكَعبand Ka'b علاrose high كَعباًin standing وَمرةand Murra قَدindeed سَمَتrose high
وَكَعب علا كَعباً وَمرة قَد سَمَت
مروءتهhis chivalry وَاذكرand remember كِلاباًKilab إِذاwhen أَجدىhe gave generously
مروءته وَاذكر كِلاباً إِذا أَجدى
Ka'b rose in rank, and lofty grew Murra's
While Abd Manaf brought glory to all people
chivalry; and remember Kilab when he gave generously.
How many times in Mecca did Hashim's palm
وَأَماand as for قُصيQusayy فَهوَthen he is أَقصىthe farthest-reaching of الوَرىmankind علىin loftiness
وَأَما قُصي فَهوَ أَقصى الوَرى على
وَعَبدand Abd منافManaf قَدindeed أَنافsurpassed الوَرىmankind مجداin glory
وَعَبد مناف قَد أَناف الوَرى مجدا
As for Qusayy, he reached mankind's farthest heights;
Strike down, as drought intensified, fires blazed
and Abd Manaf surpassed mankind in glory.
About Shaybah's praise - ask people, for when
وَكَمand how often هشمتcrumbled فيin مَكةMecca كَفthe hand of هاشمHashim
وَكَم هشمت في مَكة كَف هاشم
ثَريداًtharid وَحرwhile the heat of الجدبdrought قَدhad زادَincreased وَاشتَداand intensified
ثَريداً وَحر الجدب قَد زادَ وَاشتَدا
How often in Mecca did Hashim's hand crumble
His white hair prayed, rain poured in abundance
bread for tharid, while drought's heat rose and intensified!
Do not forget to mention Abdullah - he Is mankind's greatest in dignity and purity
وَعَنand about شَيبةShaybat الحمدal-Hamd اسألask الناسthe people إِذwhen سقواthey were given rain
وَعَن شَيبة الحمد اسأل الناس إِذ سقوا
بِشَيبتهthrough his gray hair البَيضاءwhite وَاستمطرand rain was implored وَالرفداand bounty
بِشَيبته البَيضاء وَاستمطر وَالرفدا
Ask the people about Shaybat al-Hamd, when they were given rain
Hasten to the best of all creation, Muhammad The greatest man in rank, the most praiseworthy
through his white hair, and rain and bounty were implored.
For the one whose virtues this poem exalts How can my words do justice to extol?
وَلاand do not تَنسَforget عَبدAbd اللَهAllah فيin الذكرthe recounting أَنَّهُfor he
وَلا تَنسَ عَبد اللَه في الذكر أَنَّهُ
أَعفthe chastest of الوَرىmankind ذَيلاًin hem وَأطهرهمand the purest of them برداin cloak
أَعف الوَرى ذَيلاً وَأطهرهم بردا
And do not forget Abd Allah in your account, for he
His daughter Fatimah your mother, and the noble youth Ali, your father: the magnificent, fragrant lion
had the chastest hem and purest cloak of all mankind.
What pride remains for successors to claim Even if they recount all I have proclaimed?
وَعجلand hasten بِخَيرwith the best of العالمينall worlds محمدMuhammad
وَعجل بِخَير العالمين محمد
أَجلthe greatest of الوَرىmankind قَدراًin rank وَأَوفَرهمand the richest of them حَمداin praise
أَجل الوَرى قَدراً وَأَوفَرهم حَمدا
And hasten to Muhammad, the best of all creation,
I was always silent about every disgrace
the greatest of mankind in rank and most abundantly praised.
But in the blessed Ramadan I renewed my vow
فَذاكَfor that one الَّذيthe one who فيin الذكرthe Remembrance قَدindeed جاءَcame مدحهhis praise
فَذاكَ الَّذي في الذكر قَد جاءَ مدحه
فَأَنىso how لِسانيmy tongue يَستَطيعcan manage لَهُfor him عَداan enumeration
فَأَنى لِساني يَستَطيع لَهُ عَدا
For he is the one whose praise has come in the Remembrance;
Be pleased with this fasting and the breaking of the fast thereafter May their reward from the All-Sufficient reach your door
so how could my tongue ever number his praises?
For fate is but your servant, and Eid but your slave
وَبضعتهand his own flesh الزَهراءal-Zahra أمكyour mother وَالفَتىand the hero
وَبضعته الزَهراء أمك وَالفَتى
عليAli أبوكyour father القاسمthe apportioner الأسدthe lion الورداtawny
علي أبوك القاسم الأسد الوردا
And his own flesh, al-Zahra, is your mother; and the hero
As long as the lightning of Sarrai flashes and stirs the leaves of the willow
Ali is your father, the apportioner, the tawny lion.
فَأَيso what فَخارglory بَعدafter هَذاthis وَسُؤددand lordship
فَأَي فَخار بَعد هَذا وَسُؤدد
يَقومsets forth بِهِit التاليthe reciter وَلَوeven if عدhe counted ماwhatever عداhe counted
يَقوم بِهِ التالي وَلَو عد ما عدا
What glory and lordship beyond this
could a reciter proclaim, however much he counted?
لقدindeed صمتyou have fasted طولthroughout العمرlife عنfrom كلevery سيئevil
لقد صمت طول العمر عن كل سيئ
وَفيand in رَمضانRamadan الخَيرof goodness جددتyou renewed ذاthis عَهداpledge
وَفي رَمضان الخَير جددت ذا عَهدا
Indeed, all your life you have fasted from every evil;
and in blessed Ramadan you renewed this pledge.
تَهنrejoice بِهَذاin this الصَومfast وَالفطرand the breaking of the fast بَعدهafter it
تَهن بِهَذا الصَوم وَالفطر بَعده
فَأَجرهماfor the reward of both الوافيcomplete لبابكمto your door يهدىis gifted
فَأَجرهما الوافي لبابكم يهدى
Rejoice in this fast and its breaking afterward;
for their full reward is brought as a gift to your door.
فَماfor not الدَهرTime إِلاanything but أَنto يَكونbe غلامكمyour serving-boy
فَما الدَهر إِلا أَن يَكون غلامكم
وَماand not العيدthe feast إِلاanything but أنto يَكونbe لَكُمto you عَبداa slave
وَما العيد إِلا أن يَكون لَكُم عَبدا
For Time can be nothing but your serving-boy,
and the feast can be nothing but a slave to you.
فَلاso may you never زلتcease to be ساميexalted in القَدرrank ماas long as لاحَflashes بارقa lightning gleam
فَلا زلت سامي القَدر ما لاحَ بارق
سَرىtraveled by night وَعَليلand the gentle breath of الريحthe wind قَدhad حركstirred الرنداthe bay trees
سَرى وَعَليل الريح قَد حرك الرندا
May you ever remain exalted in rank, as long as lightning gleams,
traveling by night, while the gentle wind stirs the bay trees.
Partial English translation: 91 of 102 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1