أَقرِconvey نَجداًNajd وَمَنand those بِنَجدٍin Najd سَلاميmy greetings
أَقرِ نَجداً وَمَن بِنَجدٍ سَلامي
إِنَّindeed نَجداًNajd مَأوىthe dwelling of غَريمِthe creditor of غَراميmy passion
إِنَّ نَجداً مَأوى غَريمِ غَرامي
Convey my greetings to Najd and those in Najd.
Greet Najd, and my greetings to those in Najd,
For Najd is home to the creditor of my passion.
Najd is the dwelling of my beloved and my longing one.
قِفstop وَسَلand ask عَنabout قَلبيmy heart إِذاwhen جِئتَyou come سَلعاًSal‘
قِف وَسَل عَن قَلبي إِذا جِئتَ سَلعاً
تَلقَهُyou will find it عِندَwith ساكِناتِwomen dwelling in الخِيامِthe tents
تَلقَهُ عِندَ ساكِناتِ الخِيامِ
Stop and ask about my heart when you come to Sal‘;
Stop and ask about my heart when you come to Sala',
you will find it with the women dwelling in the tents.
You will find it with the dwellers of the tents.
عِندَwith غيدٍgraceful women يَبسِمنَthey smile عَنrevealing أُقحُوانٍdaisies
عِندَ غيدٍ يَبسِمنَ عَن أُقحُوانٍ
وَلآلٍand pearls بيضٍwhite وَحَبِّand grains of غَمامِclouds
وَلآلٍ بيضٍ وَحَبِّ غَمامِ
With graceful women whose smiles reveal daisies,
Among the sand dunes smiling with gazelles,
and white pearls and hailstones.
And white oryxes and the love of clouds.
رانِياتٍgazing بِأَعيُنٍwith eyes رامِياتٍshooting
رانِياتٍ بِأَعيُنٍ رامِياتٍ
بِسِهامٍwith arrows واهاah! لَهاfor them مِنof سِهامِarrows
بِسِهامٍ واها لَها مِن سِهامِ
Gazing with eyes that shoot
Gazelles with eyes shooting arrows,
arrows—ah, what arrows they are!
Woe to them from their arrows.
لَحَظاتٌglances يَفعَلنَthey work بِالسِّحرِby magic فيupon أَلour minds (first part)
لَحَظاتٌ يَفعَلنَ بِالسِّحرِ في أَل
بابِناour minds (completion) إِذas يَنفُثنَthey breathe spells فِعلَthe effect of المُدامِwine
بابِنا إِذ يَنفُثنَ فِعلَ المُدامِ
Glances work magic upon our
Glances they cast a spell with sorcery in
minds, breathing spells with the effect of wine.
Our youth, when they blow the doing of wine.
ثَمَّthere تَلَقىyou meet أُسدَthe lions of العَرينِthe den عَلىupon الأَذchins (first part)
ثَمَّ تَلَقى أُسدَ العَرينِ عَلى الأَذ
قانِchins (completion) صَرعىlaid low بِأَعيُنِby the eyes of الآرامِgazelles
قانِ صَرعى بِأَعيُنِ الآرامِ
There you find the lions of the den upon their
Then you meet the lion of the den, slain
chins, laid low by the eyes of gazelles.
By the eyes of the Aramean maidens.
هُنَّthey أَحبابُناour beloveds وَيَفعَلنَand they do فيناto us
هُنَّ أَحبابُنا وَيَفعَلنَ فينا
فِعلَthe deeds of أَعدائِناour enemies بِغَيرِwithout اِحتِشامِrestraint
فِعلَ أَعدائِنا بِغَيرِ اِحتِشامِ
They are our beloveds, yet they do to us
They are our loved ones and they do to us
what our enemies do, without restraint.
What our enemies do without dignity.
وَغُلامٍand a youth مُهَفهَفٍslender مِنfrom بَنيthe sons of التُرthe Turks (first part)
وَغُلامٍ مُهَفهَفٍ مِن بَني التُر
كِthe Turks (completion) جَليبٍbrought from abroad واهاًah! لَهُfor him مِنof غُلامِa youth
كِ جَليبٍ واهاً لَهُ مِن غُلامِ
And a slender youth from among the
And smooth cheeked Turkish boy, woe to him
Turks, brought from afar—ah, what a youth!
From that boy.
كَتَبَwrote الحُسنُBeauty فَوقَupon خَدَّيهِhis two cheeks مِنfrom ليinkpad (first part)
كَتَبَ الحُسنُ فَوقَ خَدَّيهِ مِن لي
قَةِinkpad (completion) وَردٍroses بِأَحسَنِwith the finest of الأَقلامِpens
قَةِ وَردٍ بِأَحسَنِ الأَقلامِ
Beauty wrote upon his cheeks from an inkpad
Beauty has written above his cheeks with
of roses, with the finest of pens.
A blade of rose, in the best handwriting.
فَهوَso he is صاحٍsober مُعَربِدُriotously drunken in اللَّحظِgaze لِمwhy لاnot
فَهوَ صاحٍ مُعَربِدُ اللَّحظِ لِم لا
وَجَنىand the fruit of فيهِhis mouth فيهِin it أَشهىthe most delicious مُدامِwine
وَجَنى فيهِ فيهِ أَشهى مُدامِ
He is sober, yet his gaze is drunkenly wild—why not,
So he is crying “Why don’t I harvest in it
when the fruit of his mouth holds the choicest wine?
The sweetest wine?"
شاقَناmade us yearn بَرقُthe lightning of خَدِّهِhis cheek بِابِتِسامٍwith a smile
شاقَنا بَرقُ خَدِّهِ بِابِتِسامٍ
مِنهُfrom him يَبدوappears بِفيهِin his mouth حَبُّgrains of الغَمامِclouds
مِنهُ يَبدو بِفيهِ حَبُّ الغَمامِ
The lightning of his cheek made us yearn, with a smile
His cheek's lightning dazzled us with a smile
from him revealing hailstones in his mouth.
Love of clouds appears in it.
فَهوَso he يَنضوunsheathes مِنَfrom الجُفونِthe eyelids حُساماًa sword
فَهوَ يَنضو مِنَ الجُفونِ حُساماً
رانِياًgazing ماhow أَحَدَّهُsharp it is مِنas a حُسامِsword
رانِياً ما أَحَدَّهُ مِن حُسامِ
He unsheathes from his eyelids a sword,
He blooms from the eyelids, an ardent
gazing—how keen a sword it is!
Sword, polished by swords.
لَحظُهُhis glance يَثقَفُcaptures العُقولَminds فَهَلso has عَلtaught him (first part)
لَحظُهُ يَثقَفُ العُقولَ فَهَل عَل
لَمَهُtaught him (completion) خَزرَجٌKhazraj ثِقافَfencing المقامِthe arena
لَمَهُ خَزرَجٌ ثِقافَ المقامِ
His glance captures minds—has
His glance stupefies minds, so did his
Khazraj taught him fencing in the arena?
Signet ring learn stupefying from the dwelling?
حينَwhen يَزهوhe boasts بِقَولِهِwith his words إِنَّهُthat he لِلto the (prefix)
حينَ يَزهو بِقَولِهِ إِنَّهُ لِل
مَلِكِking الأَشرَفِal-Ashraf الأَجَلِّmost exalted الهُمامِvaliant
مَلِكِ الأَشرَفِ الأَجَلِّ الهُمامِ
When he proudly says that he belongs to
When he is proud of saying that he belongs
the most exalted, valiant King al-Ashraf.
To the most honorable king of great determination.
مَلِكٌa king ماnot اِهتَدَتhave reached إِلىto عُشرِa tenth of مِعشاa tenth (first part)
مَلِكٌ ما اِهتَدَت إِلى عُشرِ مِعشا
رِa tenth (completion) نَداهُhis bounty يَوماًever عُقولُthe minds of الكِرامِthe generous
رِ نَداهُ يَوماً عُقولُ الكِرامِ
A king—not even a tenth of a tenth
A king that the minds of the generous never
of his bounty have generous minds ever fathomed.
Reached a tenth of his glory one day.
بازِلُlavishing المالِwealth صائِنُguarding العِرضِhonor مُهتمconcerned (first part)
بازِلُ المالِ صائِنُ العِرضِ مُهتم
مٌconcerned (completion) بِتَحصينِwith fortifying بَيضَةِthe core of الإِسلامِIslam
مٌ بِتَحصينِ بَيضَةِ الإِسلامِ
Lavish with wealth, guarding honor, intent
Spendthrift with wealth, protector of honor, concerned
on fortifying the core of Islam.
With fortifying the egg of Islam.
فَلَهُso he has فيamong العُفاةِsuppliants بيضُwhite أَيادٍhands of favor
فَلَهُ في العُفاةِ بيضُ أَيادٍ
هَتَكَتhave rent سِترَthe veil of ظُلمَةِthe darkness of الإِعدامِdestitution
هَتَكَت سِترَ ظُلمَةِ الإِعدامِ
For suppliants, he has white hands of favor
So among the chivalrous he has the eggs
that have rent the veil of destitution's darkness.
That tore the veil of the darkness of annihilation.
فَتَعالىso exalted be الإِلَهُGod فَهوَfor he is الَّذيthe one who أَعrendered powerless (first part)
فَتَعالى الإِلَهُ فَهوَ الَّذي أَع
جَزَrendered powerless (completion) عَنfrom وَصفِهِdescribing him أُوليpossessors of الأَفهامِunderstanding
جَزَ عَن وَصفِهِ أُولي الأَفهامِ
Exalted be God! For he is the one who has left
Come oh God, for only You transcended
men of understanding powerless to describe him.
Being described by the wise.
لَمnot يَكُنwas لِلضِّرغامِfor the lion جُرأَتُهُhis courage فيin الthe (prefix)
لَم يَكُن لِلضِّرغامِ جُرأَتُهُ في ال
حَربِwar يَوماًever لاno كَيدَcunning لِلضِّرغامِfor the lion
حَربِ يَوماً لا كَيدَ لِلضِّرغامِ
No lion ever possessed his courage in
The hyenas never had the audacity during
war; a lion has no cunning.
War, the hyenas have no strategy.
وَتَخافُand fear الأُسودُthe lions مِنهُof him كَماjust as خاfeared (first part)
وَتَخافُ الأُسودُ مِنهُ كَما خا
فَتfeared (completion) أُسوداًlions سَوارِحُfree-grazing الأَنعامِlivestock
فَت أُسوداً سَوارِحُ الأَنعامِ
And lions fear him just as
And lions fear him as the beasts of prey feared
grazing livestock have feared lions.
The preying eagles.
فَلَهُso for him يَصلُحُis fitting المَديحُpraise كَماas قيwas said (first part)
فَلَهُ يَصلُحُ المَديحُ كَما قي
لَwas said (completion) لِعمرٍوto ‘Amr مِنfrom قَبلُbefore فيabout الصَّمصامِal-Samsam
لَ لِعمرٍو مِن قَبلُ في الصَّمصامِ
Thus praise befits him, like that once
So praise befits him as it was said to ‘Amr
spoken to ‘Amr concerning al-Samsam.
Before in Al-Samaw'al.
حاكِمُauthoritative in الرَأيِjudgment فيin القَريضِverse فَقَدfor indeed أَصhas become (first part)
حاكِمُ الرَأيِ في القَريضِ فَقَد أَص
بَحَhas become (completion) فيin الشِعرِpoetry أَعدَلَthe fairest of الحُكّامِjudges
بَحَ في الشِعرِ أَعدَلَ الحُكّامِ
His judgment governs verse, for he has
The arbiter of opinion in poetry, so he has become
become the fairest of judges in poetry.
The most just of rulers in poetry.
قَدرُهُhis worth قَدرُthe worth of لَيلَةِthe Night of القَدرِDecree فيin كُلevery (first part)
قَدرُهُ قَدرُ لَيلَةِ القَدرِ في كُل
لِevery (completion) زَمانٍtime ماnot فيهِin it شَهرُthe month of الصِّيامِfasting
لِ زَمانٍ ما فيهِ شَهرُ الصِّيامِ
His worth is that of the Night of Decree in every
His worth is the worth of the Night of Power in every
season, even without the month of fasting.
Era in which is the month of fasting.
سَيفُهُhis sword يَقهَرُoverpowers العِداenemies وَهيَwhile they are يَقظَىawake
سَيفُهُ يَقهَرُ العِدا وَهيَ يَقظَى
وَتَراهُand you see it يَروعُهاterrifies them فيin المَنامِdreams
وَتَراهُ يَروعُها في المَنامِ
His sword overpowers enemies while they are awake,
His sword vanquishes enemies while they are vigilant
and you see it terrifying them in dreams.
And it terrifies them in sleep.
عَلِمَknows اللَهُGod أَنَّهُthat he is أَسمَحُthe most generous of الأَمkings (first part)
عَلِمَ اللَهُ أَنَّهُ أَسمَحُ الأَم
لاكِkings (completion) كَفّاًin hand فيamong سائِرِall الأَقوامِpeoples
لاكِ كَفّاً في سائِرِ الأَقوامِ
God knows that he is the most generous of
God knew that he is the most clement
kings in open-handedness, among all peoples.
Of kings, all people altogether.
ناقِضٌbreaking up فيin الوَغىbattle جُيوشَthe armies of الأَعاديenemies
ناقِضٌ في الوَغى جُيوشَ الأَعادي
مُستَطيلٌwielding power بِالنَقضِthrough undoing وَالإِبرامِand binding
مُستَطيلٌ بِالنَقضِ وَالإِبرامِ
He breaks up enemy armies in battle,
Annulling in battle the armies of enemies,
wielding power through undoing and binding.
Unfaltering in invalidation and decree.
يَومَon the day when يَحكيresemble أَبناءُthe sons of سامٍShem بِهِon it مِنfrom
يَومَ يَحكي أَبناءُ سامٍ بِهِ مِن
صَدَأthe rust of السابِغاتِfull coats of mail أَبناءَthe sons of حامِHam
صَدَأ السابِغاتِ أَبناءَ حامِ
On that day the sons of Shem resemble, through
The day the children of Shem narrate about him
the rust of full coats of mail, the sons of Ham.
The rust of ancient coats of mail, the children of Ham.
مِنthrough أَياديكَyour favors أَيُّهاO المَلِكُking الأَشal-Ashraf (first part)
مِن أَياديكَ أَيُّها المَلِكُ الأَش
رَفُal-Ashraf (completion) يَنجابُis dispelled لَونُthe hue of كُلِّevery ظَلامِdarkness
رَفُ يَنجابُ لَونُ كُلِّ ظَلامِ
Through your favors, O King
At your hands, O most honorable king,
al-Ashraf, the hue of every darkness is dispelled.
The color of every darkness becomes radiant.
إِنَّindeed أَيّامَكَyour days اللَواتيwhich نَراهاwe behold them
إِنَّ أَيّامَكَ اللَواتي نَراها
هِيَthey are ساداتُthe lords of سائِرِall other الأَيّامِdays
هِيَ ساداتُ سائِرِ الأَيّامِ
Indeed, your days that we behold
Your days which we see are the best
are the lords of all other days.
Of all days.
وَلِيُمناكَand your right hand has بِالسَماحِwith generosity اِنهِلالٌa downpour
وَلِيُمناكَ بِالسَماحِ اِنهِلالٌ
مُخجِلٌshaming صَوبُهُits rainfall اِنهِلالَthe downpour of الغَمامِclouds
مُخجِلٌ صَوبُهُ اِنهِلالَ الغَمامِ
And your right hand has a downpour of generosity,
And to your happiness descended clouds
whose rainfall shames the downpour of clouds.
That make descending clouds embarrassed.
وَمَتىand whenever ماever (emphasis) هَزَزتَyou brandished يَوماًone day حُساماًa sword
وَمَتى ما هَزَزتَ يَوماً حُساماً
ضَحِكَlaughed المَوتُdeath فيon شِفارِthe cutting edges of الحُسامِthe sword
ضَحِكَ المَوتُ في شِفارِ الحُسامِ
And whenever, on any day, you brandish a sword,
And whenever you brandish a sword one day
death laughs along the sword's cutting edges.
Death smiles in the swords' edges.
ياO سدادَbulwark of الثَغرِthe frontier المَخوفِfeared بِطَعناwith thrusts (first part)
يا سدادَ الثَغرِ المَخوفِ بِطَعنا
تِwith thrusts (completion) ثُغورِthe mouths of العِداenemies وَضَربِand striking الهامِheads
تِ ثُغورِ العِدا وَضَربِ الهامِ
O bulwark of the feared frontier, with thrusts
O straightness of the awe-inspiring mouth with stabbings
at enemies' mouths and blows to their heads,
Of the enemies' flanks and neck strikes.
وَثَباتٍand steadfastness يَفتَرُّopens عَنto reveal وَثَباتٍleaps
وَثَباتٍ يَفتَرُّ عَن وَثَباتٍ
ثابِتاتٍfirmly rooted بِمُهجَةِin the heart of الضِرغامِthe lion
ثابِتاتٍ بِمُهجَةِ الضِرغامِ
and steadfastness that opens to reveal leaps
And steadfastness that shatters against steadfastness
firmly rooted in the lion's heart.
Of steadfast ones with the skulls of hyenas.
مُغرَماًenamored بِالإِقدامِof bold advance يَضطَرُّforces أَعداyour enemies (first part)
مُغرَماً بِالإِقدامِ يَضطَرُّ أَعدا
ءَكَyour enemies (completion) يَومَon the day of الوَغىbattle إِلىto الإِحجامِretreat
ءَكَ يَومَ الوَغى إِلى الإِحجامِ
Enamored of bold advance, forcing your
Passionate about daring, your enemies on
enemies, on the day of battle, to retreat.
The day of battle are forced to refrain.
فَعَلىso upon سَيِّدِthe master of الوَرىmankind المَلِكِking الأَشal-Ashraf (first part)
فَعَلى سَيِّدِ الوَرى المَلِكِ الأَش
رَفِal-Ashraf (completion) أَوفىthe fullest تَحِيَّةٍgreeting وَسَلامِand peace
رَفِ أَوفى تَحِيَّةٍ وَسَلامِ
So upon the master of mankind, King
So upon the master of all, the most honorable king,
al-Ashraf, be the fullest greeting and peace.
The most loyal greeting and peace.
دامَmay he endure فيin المُلكِkingship وَالسَعادَةِand happiness ماas long as داendure (first part)
دامَ في المُلكِ وَالسَعادَةِ ما دا
مَendure (completion) السُّهاal-Suha وَالسِّماكُand al-Simak وَاِبناand the two sons of تَمامِTamam
مَ السُّها وَالسِّماكُ وَاِبنا تَمامِ
May he endure in kingship and happiness as long as
May his rule and happiness last as long as
al-Suha, al-Simak, and the two sons of Tamam endure.
Partridges and fish and the son of completion lasted.
Sol 6.1