بِقَلبِيَin my heart حورِيُّa houri الجِنانِof Paradise المُنَعَّمُblissful
بِقَلبِيَ حورِيُّ الجِنانِ المُنَعَّمُ
ثَوىhas settled كَيفَhow يَثويdoes he dwell فيهِin it وَهوَand it is جَهَنَّمُHell
ثَوى كَيفَ يَثوي فيهِ وَهوَ جَهَنَّمُ
In my heart the blissful houri of Paradise
In my heart dwells a houri of Paradise in comfort
has settled—how can he dwell there when it is Hell?
How can such a one dwell within when it is hellfire?
وَذاكَand that one السَّقيمُlanguid الطَّرفin gaze مِنfrom غَيرِother than عِلَّةٍan ailment
وَذاكَ السَّقيمُ الطَّرف مِن غَيرِ عِلَّةٍ
وَكَمand how many مِنof صَحيحٍa healthy person فيهِfor him بِالوَجدِwith longing يَسقَمُgrows ill
وَكَم مِن صَحيحٍ فيهِ بِالوَجدِ يَسقَمُ
And that one is languid-eyed, with no ailment;
And that sickly-eyed one without any ailment
yet how many a healthy man grows ill with longing for him!
While many a healthy one is sick with passion in him
أَلاbehold إِنَّindeed أَسبابَcauses of الغَرامِpassion كَثيرَةٌmany
أَلا إِنَّ أَسبابَ الغَرامِ كَثيرَةٌ
خَفينَare hidden وَلَوand if يَظهَرنَthey appeared ماnot لامَwould reproach لُؤَّمُbase men
خَفينَ وَلَو يَظهَرنَ ما لامَ لُؤَّمُ
Behold, the causes of passion are many;
Know that the causes of love are indeed many
they lie hidden; were they revealed, base men would not reproach.
Hidden, though if revealed, none would blame the doting one
دُموعُtears شُئونِtear ducts of الصَبِّthe lover بيضٌwhite تَصَعَّدَتhave risen
دُموعُ شُئونِ الصَبِّ بيضٌ تَصَعَّدَت
وَكَيفَand how تَرىdo you see بيضاًwhite وَعُنصُرُهاand their source دَمُblood
وَكَيفَ تَرى بيضاً وَعُنصُرُها دَمُ
The tears from the lover's tear ducts are white, having risen;
The tears of a youth's ardour are pearly white
yet how can you see them white when their source is blood?
Yet how can you see them as white when their essence is blood?
وَلَمand not يُؤتَis granted سُؤلَthe desire of النَفسِthe soul إِلاexcept مُدَنَّرٌone with dinars
وَلَم يُؤتَ سُؤلَ النَفسِ إِلا مُدَنَّرٌ
يَجودُgives generously بِماwith what يَقضيdemands الهَوىpassion أَوor مُدَرهَمُone with dirhams
يَجودُ بِما يَقضي الهَوى أَو مُدَرهَمُ
No one is granted his soul's desire except a man with dinars,
None attain the desire of their soul except the debauched
who gives what passion demands—or a man with dirhams.
Who lavish whatever passion dictates or money can buy
وَمَنand whoever كانَwas مِثليlike me مُفلِساًpenniless لَمnot يَصِلreaches إِلىto
وَمَن كانَ مِثلي مُفلِساً لَم يَصِل إِلى
مُنىthe wishes of نَفسِهِhis soul وَهوَand he is الفَقيرُthe poor man المُتَيَّمُenslaved by love
مُنى نَفسِهِ وَهوَ الفَقيرُ المُتَيَّمُ
And whoever is penniless like me cannot reach
One such as I, bankrupt, never attaining
his soul's wishes, poor and enslaved by love as he is.
The wish of his soul, that destitute orphan
وَبيand I pine for رَشَأٌa fawn حُلوُsweet in الدَلالِcoquetry يَميسُsways فيupon
وَبي رَشَأٌ حُلوُ الدَلالِ يَميسُ في
كَثيبِa dune of النَقاfine sand مِنهُof him قَضيبٌa bough مُقَوَّمُupright
كَثيبِ النَقا مِنهُ قَضيبٌ مُقَوَّمُ
I pine for a fawn, sweetly coy; swaying upon
My she-camel's neck smoothly alluring, browsing
a dune of fine sand is an upright bough of his.
Amid the sand-dunes is a straight firm twig
بِجَفنَيهِin his two eyelids هاروتٌHarut وَماروتُand Marut بابِلٍof Babylon
بِجَفنَيهِ هاروتٌ وَماروتُ بابِلٍ
لِسِحرِهِماtheir magic مِنهُfrom him الوَرىmankind يَتَعَلَّمُlearns
لِسِحرِهِما مِنهُ الوَرى يَتَعَلَّمُ
In his eyelids are Harut and Marut of Babylon;
With his eyelids are Harut and Marut of Babylon
from him mankind learns their magic.
By their sorcery the people learn magic from them
إِذاwhen نَفثاthey both blow لَمnot تنفَعِbenefits الصَبَّthe lover رُقَيَّةٌa healing charm
إِذا نَفثا لَم تنفَعِ الصَبَّ رُقَيَّةٌ
وَلَمand not يُغنِavails عَنagainst كَلمَيهِماtheir two wounds القَلبَthe heart مَرهَمُa salve
وَلَم يُغنِ عَن كَلمَيهِما القَلبَ مَرهَمُ
When they both breathe their spells, no charm avails the lover,
When they breathe their charm, no amulet avails the lovesick
nor does a salve relieve the heart of their two wounds.
Nor does any salve cure their talk in the heart
فَكُلُّso every اِمرِئٍperson فيamong الناسِthe people إِذat ذاكَthat moment قائِلٌis saying
فَكُلُّ اِمرِئٍ في الناسِ إِذ ذاكَ قائِلٌ
أَياO رَبِّmy Lord سَلِّمgrant safety أَنتَYou أَنتَYou المُسَلِّمُthe giver of safety
أَيا رَبِّ سَلِّم أَنتَ أَنتَ المُسَلِّمُ
So every person among mankind says then:
So every person then says: O Lord, deliver me
O Lord, grant safety! You, You are the giver of safety.
You, You alone are the Deliverer
مَتىwhen ماever (emphasis) رَناhe gazed غارَتhid away جَآذِرُwild-ox calves جاسِمٍof Jasim
مَتى ما رَنا غارَت جَآذِرُ جاسِمٍ
وَوَلَّتand they fled كَأَنas though فيهاin them مِنَfrom التُركِthe Turks أَسهُمُarrows
وَوَلَّت كَأَن فيها مِنَ التُركِ أَسهُمُ
Whenever he gazes, the wild-ox calves of Jasim hide,
Whenever the whites of a Doe-eyed Beauty flash
and flee, as though Turkish arrows were lodged in them.
And glance like arrows shot by a Turk
بَنوthe sons of التُركِthe Turks لَوif مَرَّتthey passed بِأَبناءِby the sons of عُذرَةٍUdhra
بَنو التُركِ لَو مَرَّت بِأَبناءِ عُذرَةٍ
لَماwould not كانَthere be فيهاamong them بِالكَواعِبِwith budding-breasted maidens مُغرَمُone enamored
لَما كانَ فيها بِالكَواعِبِ مُغرَمُ
If the sons of the Turks passed by the sons of Udhra,
The Turks, had they passed the sons of Udhra
none among them would be enamored of budding-breasted maidens,
Would not be enamoured of the dark-eyed beauties
وَلاand not نَسَبواthey sang love verse إِلّاexcept بِكُلِّwith every مُذكَّرٍmasculine term
وَلا نَسَبوا إِلّا بِكُلِّ مُذكَّرٍ
بِهِwith it يُمدَحُis praised الطِرفُthe steed العَتيقُpurebred المُطَهَّمُwell-formed
بِهِ يُمدَحُ الطِرفُ العَتيقُ المُطَهَّمُ
nor would they sing love except in masculine terms,
And they attribute their lineage to every male ancestor
with which the purebred, well-formed steed is praised.
Thereby the ancient refined eye is praised
هُوَhe is الشَمسُthe sun وَالسَّرجُand the saddle الهِلالُthe crescent وَطَرفُهُand his steed
هُوَ الشَمسُ وَالسَّرجُ الهِلالُ وَطَرفُهُ
لَهُfor him فَلَكٌan orbit فيin حِليَةٍadornment هِيَit is أَلجُمُbridles
لَهُ فَلَكٌ في حِليَةٍ هِيَ أَلجُمُ
He is the sun, the saddle the crescent, and his steed
He is the sun, the crescent moon, his gaze a new moon
is his orbit, with bridles for adornment.
Revolving in the necklace that is his night-dark eyes
وَلاand not ذَكَرواthey mentioned لَيلىLayla وَلاnor أُمَّmother of جُندُبٍJundub
وَلا ذَكَروا لَيلى وَلا أُمَّ جُندُبٍ
وَلاand not تَيَّمَتهُمenslaved them with love أُمُّmother of عَمرٍوAmr وَكَلثَمُand Kaltham
وَلا تَيَّمَتهُم أُمُّ عَمرٍو وَكَلثَمُ
Nor would they mention Layla or Umm Jundub,
They mention not Layla, nor Umm Jundub
nor would Umm Amr and Kaltham enslave their hearts.
Nor their legendary beauty Umm 'Amr or Kulthum
وَكَمand how many فيهِمamong them مِنof شادِنٍa young gazelle ثَمِلِdrunken in الخُطاhis steps
وَكَم فيهِم مِن شادِنٍ ثَمِلِ الخُطا
مُعَربِدَةٌriotous أَلحاظُهُhis glances يَتَحَكَّمُhe rules at will
مُعَربِدَةٌ أَلحاظُهُ يَتَحَكَّمُ
And how many a young gazelle among them, drunken in his steps,
And how many languid gazes among them
has riotous glances and rules as he pleases!
Bashful, their glances coy and modest
يُخالُhe seems إِذاwhen ماfor emphasis اِختالَhe strutted شارِبَa drinker of قَهوَةٍwine
يُخالُ إِذا ما اِختالَ شارِبَ قَهوَةٍ
جَلاrevealed نورَهاits radiance كَأسُa cup of الرَحيقِpure wine المُفَدَّمُdeep-red
جَلا نورَها كَأسُ الرَحيقِ المُفَدَّمُ
When he struts, he seems a drinker of wine,
His image when alone rivals the wine-drinker's revelry
whose radiance a cup of deep-red nectar has revealed.
The light of his countenance outshines the goblet's redolence
رَبيبُa fosterling of مُلوكٍkings يَصرَعُhe fells الأُسدَlions رانِياًgazing
رَبيبُ مُلوكٍ يَصرَعُ الأُسدَ رانِياً
إِذاwhen كَرَّcharged مِنهُof his kind مُسفِرٌan unveiled one أَوor مُلَثَّمُa veiled one
إِذا كَرَّ مِنهُ مُسفِرٌ أَو مُلَثَّمُ
Nurtured by kings, he fells lions with a gaze,
A princeling who fells the lion bowed in humility
when an unveiled or veiled one of his kind charges.
When he scowls or when veiled from behind his cover
وَيَبلُغُand he attains ماwhat يَهواهُhe desires it فيin كُلِّevery مَأزِقٍstrait
وَيَبلُغُ ما يَهواهُ في كُلِّ مَأزِقٍ
وَلاand not هُزَّwas brandished عَسّالٌa supple spear وَلاnor سُلَّwas drawn مِخذَمُa keen sword
وَلا هُزَّ عَسّالٌ وَلا سُلَّ مِخذَمُ
He attains what he desires in every strait,
He attains all he desires at every impasse
without a supple spear being brandished or a keen sword drawn.
Without knight or horse being pushed back confused
وَلاand not أُفرِغَتwas poured دِرعٌa coat of mail عَلَيهِover him كَأَنas though بِهاwithin it
وَلا أُفرِغَت دِرعٌ عَلَيهِ كَأَن بِها
عُيونُeyes of الأَفاعيvipers وَالدَّبىand young locusts يَتَوَسَّمُone discerns
عُيونُ الأَفاعي وَالدَّبى يَتَوَسَّمُ
Nor is a coat of mail poured over him, as though within it
No coat of mail has been pierced by him
were vipers' eyes, and young locusts could be discerned.
As if in it are snakes and leopards' eyes watching
وَلَكِنَّهُbut he يَرنوgazes بِأَيسَرwith the slightest لَحظَةٍglance
وَلَكِنَّهُ يَرنو بِأَيسَر لَحظَةٍ
فَيَعنوso submits لَهُto him الجَيشُthe army اللُّهامُvast العَرَمرَمُmultitudinous
فَيَعنو لَهُ الجَيشُ اللُّهامُ العَرَمرَمُ
But he gazes with the slightest glance,
Rather with a hint of his gaze he gestures
and the vast, multitudinous army submits to him.
And the valiant army yields to him fully
وَلَمand not يَكُhe was مُحتاجاًin need إِلىof لبسِwearing خوذَةٍa helmet
وَلَم يَكُ مُحتاجاً إِلى لبسِ خوذَةٍ
إِذاwhen بَرَقَتit flashed فيin اللَيلِthe night لَمnot يَبقَremained مُظلِمُa dark place
إِذا بَرَقَت في اللَيلِ لَم يَبقَ مُظلِمُ
Nor has he needed to wear a helmet
He had no need for a helmet's protection
that, flashing in the night, leaves no dark place.
When his sword gleamed in the night, no darkness remained
وَيَملِكُand he possesses ألبابَminds of الكُماةِarmored warriors بِحُسنِهِthrough his beauty
وَيَملِكُ ألبابَ الكُماةِ بِحُسنِهِ
وَيَملِكُهُand possesses him المَلكُthe king الهُمامُmagnanimous المُعَظَّمُal-Muazzam
وَيَملِكُهُ المَلكُ الهُمامُ المُعَظَّمُ
He possesses warriors' minds through his beauty,
He rules the minds of the wise with his beauty
and the magnanimous king, al-Muazzam, possesses him.
While the magnificent, glorious King rules him
إِذاwhen صالَhe charged لَمnot يُرهَبis feared عَلىon الأَرضِearth كافِرٌan unbeliever
إِذا صالَ لَم يُرهَب عَلى الأَرضِ كافِرٌ
وَلَمand not يَخشَfears مِنfrom بَأسِthe might of المُعادينَenemies مُسلِمُa Muslim
وَلَم يَخشَ مِن بَأسِ المُعادينَ مُسلِمُ
When he charges, no unbeliever on earth inspires fear,
When he prays, no unbeliever on earth is afraid
nor does any Muslim fear the might of enemies.
Nor does any Muslim fear the enemies' might
هُوَhe is اللَيثُthe lion لَولاwere it not for البَرقُlightning وَالرَّعدُand thunder دونَهُbeneath him
هُوَ اللَيثُ لَولا البَرقُ وَالرَّعدُ دونَهُ
هُوَhe is البَحرُthe sea جوداًin generosity وَالمُعَظَّمُand al-Muazzam أَعظَمُgreater
هُوَ البَحرُ جوداً وَالمُعَظَّمُ أَعظَمُ
He is the lion—save that lightning and thunder fall short of him.
He is the lion, if not for the lightning and thunder guarding him
He is the sea in generosity, and al-Muazzam is greater.
He is the sea, boundless in generosity and greatest in greatness
هُوَhe is اللَيثُthe lion بَأساًin valor لَكِنِbut اللَيثُthe lion عابِثٌwanton
هُوَ اللَيثُ بَأساً لَكِنِ اللَيثُ عابِثٌ
قَطوبٌgrim-faced وَعيسىand Isa لَمnot يَزَلceases يَتَبَسَّمُhe smiles
قَطوبٌ وَعيسى لَم يَزَل يَتَبَسَّمُ
He is the lion in valor, but the lion is wanton,
He is the lion in valour, but the lion is playful
grim-faced, while Isa never ceases to smile.
While Isa is always smiling radiantly
مَليكِيَmy king بِالشِعرىat Sirius وَقَدand already حيلَa barrier was set دونَهُbefore him
مَليكِيَ بِالشِعرى وَقَد حيلَ دونَهُ
وَماand not لِيَI have دينارٌa dinar وَلاnor لِيَI have دِرهَمُa dirham
وَما لِيَ دينارٌ وَلا لِيَ دِرهَمُ
My king is at Sirius, and access to him has been barred,
My Shaykh at Ash-Shi'ra, but poverty blocks my way
and I have neither a dinar nor a dirham.
I own neither a dirham nor a drachma
وَأَنتَand you الَّذيthe one who قَدindeed طَبَّقَhas covered الأَرضَthe earth جودُهُhis generosity
وَأَنتَ الَّذي قَد طَبَّقَ الأَرضَ جودُهُ
فَلَيسَso there is not بِهاin it غَيريother than me مِنَamong الناسِpeople مُعدِمُa destitute person
فَلَيسَ بِها غَيري مِنَ الناسِ مُعدِمُ
You are the one whose generosity has covered the earth,
You whose generosity encompasses the world
so no one there but me is destitute.
So none but I am deprived among mankind
فَأَطلِقso release يَديmy hand فيماin what تَمَلَّكتُI acquired آنِفاًrecently
فَأَطلِق يَدي فيما تَمَلَّكتُ آنِفاً
وَأَنعِمand grant favor بِإِحلاليby releasing me فَإِنّيfor I am مُحَرَّمُunder a ban
وَأَنعِم بِإِحلالي فَإِنّي مُحَرَّمُ
So free my hand to use what I recently acquired,
Release my hand from what I lately possessed
and favor me with release, for I am under a ban.
And favour me by granting substitution, for I am forbidden
وَجُدand grant generously ليto me بِتَوقيعٍwith a decree شَريفٍnoble سَوادُهُits black lettering
وَجُد لي بِتَوقيعٍ شَريفٍ سَوادُهُ
هُوَit is الحَجَرُthe stone المُسوَدُّblackened فيin الرُكنِthe corner يُلثَمُis kissed
هُوَ الحَجَرُ المُسوَدُّ في الرُكنِ يُلثَمُ
And grant me a noble decree whose black lettering
Bestow on me with your noble script, its blackness
is the blackened stone in the corner, which is kissed.
Is the Black Stone, reverently touched and kissed
وَدُمand endure أَبداًforever وَاِفنِand destroy العِداthe foes وَاِبلُغِand attain المُنىthe wishes
وَدُم أَبداً وَاِفنِ العِدا وَاِبلُغِ المُنى
وَلاand never زِلتَmay you cease تُعطيyou give مَنwhomever تَشاءُyou wish وَتَحرِمُand you withhold
وَلا زِلتَ تُعطي مَن تَشاءُ وَتَحرِمُ
Endure forever, destroy the foes, and attain your wishes,
Be ever generous, attain wishes, and grant me success
and may you ever give to whomever you wish, and withhold.
You keep giving whom You will and depriving whom You will.
Sol 6.1