تَقولُsay صِحابيmy companions وَالمَطِيُّand the riding camels بِناwith us تَخديstride briskly
تَقولُ صِحابي وَالمَطِيُّ بِنا تَخدي
وَتُحدىand are urged by song وَقَدand already شَمَّتhave scented شَميمَthe fragrance of رُباthe hills of نَجدِNajd
وَتُحدى وَقَد شَمَّت شَميمَ رُبا نَجدِ
My companions say, as the riding camels stride on with us,
My companion says, while the mat is carrying us, it challenges
Urged by song, having scented the fragrance of Najd's hills:
And taunts, having smelled the scent of high meadows in Najd.
أَماis there no لَكَfor you مِنfrom حَثِّurging on السُرىnight travel كُلَّevery ساعَةٍhour
أَما لَكَ مِن حَثِّ السُرى كُلَّ ساعَةٍ
وَإِسآدهاand driving them by night فيthrough المَهمَهِthe trackless wilderness البيدِthe desert wastes مِنany بُدِّway out
وَإِسآدها في المَهمَهِ البيدِ مِن بُدِّ
Can you not desist from urging night travel every hour,
Don't you ever spur the caravan every hour
And driving them by night through the trackless desert?
And drive it into peril in the desert wilderness?
فَقُلتُso I said ذَرونيleave me be لاno أَباfather لِأَبيكُمُfor your father
فَقُلتُ ذَروني لا أَبا لِأَبيكُمُ
فَبِالقَدحِfor by striking يَبدوappears السُقطُthe spark قَسراًby force مِنَfrom الزِندِthe fire-stick
فَبِالقَدحِ يَبدو السُقطُ قَسراً مِنَ الزِندِ
I said: Leave me be—may your father have no father!
I said, "Leave me be. I am not the one for your fathers."
For striking forces a spark from the fire-stick.
For with the goblet, splinters become exposed from the firestick.
وَلَولاand were it not for مَسيرُthe movement of الشَمسِthe sun فيin كُلِّevery ساعَةٍhour
وَلَولا مَسيرُ الشَمسِ في كُلِّ ساعَةٍ
لَماwould not اِنتَقَلَتit have moved مِنfrom بُرجِa zodiacal sign of نَحسٍill fortune إِلىto سَعدِgood fortune
لَما اِنتَقَلَت مِن بُرجِ نَحسٍ إِلى سَعدِ
And were the sun not moving with every hour,
Were it not for the sun's movement every hour,
It would not pass from an ill-starred sign to a fortunate one.
It would not have transferred from the mansion of misfortune to fortune.
وَلَوand if لَمnot تَهُزَّshake الجِذعَthe trunk مَريَمُMaryam لَمnot يَذُقtaste
وَلَو لَم تَهُزَّ الجِذعَ مَريَمُ لَم يَذُق
مِنَfrom الرُطَبِthe ripe dates الحُلوِthe sweet الجَنِيِّfreshly gathered جَنىthe harvest of الشَهدِhoney
مِنَ الرُطَبِ الحُلوِ الجَنِيِّ جَنى الشَهدِ
Had Maryam not shaken the trunk, she would not have tasted
Had Maryam not shaken the palm trunk, she would not have tasted
The harvest of honey in sweet, freshly gathered dates.
The sweet, ripened dates, the fruit of delight.
كَذَلِكَlikewise موسىMusa أَنبَعَcaused to spring forth اللَهُGod بِالعَصاwith the staff
كَذَلِكَ موسى أَنبَعَ اللَهُ بِالعَصا
لَهُfor him الماءَthe water بَعدَafter الضَربِthe striking مِنfrom حَجَرٍa stone صَلدِsolid
لَهُ الماءَ بَعدَ الضَربِ مِن حَجَرٍ صَلدِ
Likewise, with Musa, God brought forth by the staff
Likewise Moses, Allah made water gush for him
Water for him, after the blow, from a solid stone.
After hitting a solid rock with his staff.
وَلَيسَand is not الحُسامُthe keen sword الهِندوانِيُّIndian-forged حائِزاًwinning
وَلَيسَ الحُسامُ الهِندوانِيُّ حائِزاً
حَميدَfine الثَناpraise لَولاbut for مُفارَقَةُleaving الغِمدِthe sheath
حَميدَ الثَنا لَولا مُفارَقَةُ الغِمدِ
Nor would the Indian-forged sword win
The Indian sword in its sheath has no merit
Fine praise had it not left its sheath.
Nor praised virtue unless separated from its scabbard.
وَلاnor السَهمُthe arrow يَوماًever فيin الكِنانَةِthe quiver نافِعاًuseful
وَلا السَهمُ يَوماً في الكِنانَةِ نافِعاً
إِذاif لَمnot يَلُجenters فيinto كُلِّevery مُحكَمَةِtightly wrought السَردِmail-linking
إِذا لَم يَلُج في كُلِّ مُحكَمَةِ السَردِ
Nor is an arrow ever useful in its quiver
The arrow one day will be of no use in the quiver
Unless it pierces every tightly linked coat of mail.
Unless it penetrates into every knot-hole of the shield.
وَسيّانِand alike are عَجزُthe butt of السَمهَرِيِّthe stiff lance وَصَدرُهُand its front
وَسيّانِ عَجزُ السَمهَرِيِّ وَصَدرُهُ
إِذاif نَجمُهُits star-like point لَمnot يَسرِpasses through فيin ظُلمَةِthe darkness of الكَبدِthe liver
إِذا نَجمُهُ لَم يَسرِ في ظُلمَةِ الكَبدِ
A stiff lance's butt and point are alike
The chest and back of al-Samhari are equal
Unless its star passes through the liver's darkness.
When his star does not rise in the darkness of his liver.
وَإِنَّand indeed عِتاقَthe noble-bred ones of الخَيلِthe horses لَولاwere it not for عِداؤُهاtheir running
وَإِنَّ عِتاقَ الخَيلِ لَولا عِداؤُها
لَماwould not وَسَموهاthey have labeled them بِالمُطَهَّمَةِas finely formed الجُردِsleek-coated
لَما وَسَموها بِالمُطَهَّمَةِ الجُردِ
And were it not for their running, noble horses
Truly, were it not for their running, the freed horses
Would not be named finely formed, sleek-coated steeds.
Would not have been branded on their shoulders.
وَلَوand if أَلِفَgrew accustomed to اللَيثُthe lion الهَصورُthe fierce عَرينَهُits lair
وَلَو أَلِفَ اللَيثُ الهَصورُ عَرينَهُ
لَماتَit would die طوىًof hunger فيهِin it وَإِنeven if كانَit was ذاpossessing لِبدِmane tufts
لَماتَ طوىً فيهِ وَإِن كانَ ذا لِبدِ
Had the fierce lion kept to its lair,
Had the formidable lion befriended its den,
It would have died there of hunger, despite its thick mane.
It would have died obscured in it, despite its boldness.
وَلَوand if لَمnot يَجُبtraversed أَبناءُthe sons of شاديShadi مَهامِهاًtrackless deserts
وَلَو لَم يَجُب أَبناءُ شادي مَهامِهاً
لَماwould not مَلَكواthey have ruled مِنfrom أَرضِthe land of قوصٍQus إِلىto الهِندِIndia
لَما مَلَكوا مِن أَرضِ قوصٍ إِلى الهِندِ
Had Shadi's sons not traversed trackless deserts,
And had the sons of Shadi not answered her behests,
They would not have ruled from the land of Qus to India.
They would not have ruled from the land of Qaush to India.
وَلاnor كانَwould be كُلٌّeach مِنهُمُof them فيin مَمالِكٍkingdoms
وَلا كانَ كُلٌّ مِنهُمُ في مَمالِكٍ
يُعايَنُseen كَالأسكَندَرِlike Alexander البانِيِthe builder of السَدِّthe barrier
يُعايَنُ كَالأسكَندَرِ البانِيِ السَدِّ
Nor would each of them, amid kingdoms,
Nor would each of them have been in kingdoms,
Be seen as Alexander, the builder of the barrier.
Appearing like Alexander the wall builder.
فَحَتّامَso until when أستَمريshall I savor جَناthe fruit of العَجزِinaction وادِعاًat ease
فَحَتّامَ أستَمري جَنا العَجزِ وادِعاً
وَأَكرَعُand I drink deeply فيin ماءِthe water of الخُمولِobscurity عَلىwith عَمدِdeliberate intent
وَأَكرَعُ في ماءِ الخُمولِ عَلى عَمدِ
How long, then, shall I savor inaction's fruit at ease,
So come on, persist in the inability and pretend incapacity,
And deliberately drink deep from the waters of obscurity?
And I will plunge into the water of indolence deliberately.
فَلاfor not أَناI ذوpossessed of مالٍwealth فَتُؤثَرso is sought after عِشرَتيmy company
فَلا أَنا ذو مالٍ فَتُؤثَر عِشرَتي
وَلَستُand I am not بِذيpossessed of جاهٍstanding فَيَرهَبَنيso that he fears me ضِدّيmy adversary
وَلَستُ بِذي جاهٍ فَيَرهَبَني ضِدّي
I have no wealth to make my company sought after,
I have no wealth, so none prefers my company,
Nor rank to make my adversary fear me.
Nor status, so none fears me as an adversary.
وَليand I have مَنطِقٌspeech إِمّاif سَلَلتُI unsheathe غِرارَهُits keen blade
وَلي مَنطِقٌ إِمّا سَلَلتُ غِرارَهُ
يَعُدreturns ناكِصاًrecoiling عَنfrom حَدِّهِits edge كلُّevery ذيpossessor of حَدِّan edge
يَعُد ناكِصاً عَن حَدِّهِ كلُّ ذي حَدِّ
Yet I have speech whose keen blade, if I unsheathe it,
I have an eloquence. Either I let its deceit flow
Makes every wielder of an edge recoil before its edge.
Or every person of merit returns from his limit.
سَأَدفَعُI shall thrust فيinto صَدرِthe chest of التَوانيdelay بِراحَتيwith my palm
سَأَدفَعُ في صَدرِ التَواني بِراحَتي
وَأَلطُمُand I slap خَدّيthe two cheeks of هَزلِهِits frivolity بِيَدَيwith the two hands of جِدّيmy earnestness
وَأَلطُمُ خَدّي هَزلِهِ بِيَدَي جِدّي
I shall thrust my palm against the chest of delay,
I will push way the clouds in the breasts of glasses with my palm
And slap its frivolity's two cheeks with both hands of my earnestness.
And slap my cheek with the jest of my hand, seriously.
وَأَنفُضُand I shake كُمّيmy sleeve فيin وُجوهِthe faces of مَعاشِرٍgroups of people
وَأَنفُضُ كُمّي في وُجوهِ مَعاشِرٍ
هُمُthey زَجَرونيdrove me back فيكَconcerning you عَنfrom سنَنِthe path of القَصدِpurpose
هُمُ زَجَروني فيكَ عَن سنَنِ القَصدِ
And shake my sleeve in the faces of those people
I will shake my sleeve in the faces of companions
Who deterred me, concerning you, from the path of my quest.
Who deter me from the ways of propriety concerning you.
وَأَنظِمُand I compose شِعراًpoetry كَالعُقودِlike necklaces طَلاوَةًin loveliness
وَأَنظِمُ شِعراً كَالعُقودِ طَلاوَةً
يُرىis seen كُلُّevery بَيتٍverse مِنهُof it واسِطَةthe centerpiece of العِقدِthe necklace
يُرى كُلُّ بَيتٍ مِنهُ واسِطَة العِقدِ
And compose poetry as lovely as necklaces,
And I will string together poetry like necklaces in eloquence,
Each verse of it seen as the necklace's central jewel.
Where each verse appears to be the centerpiece of the necklace.
وَأَكسوهُand I clothe it عِزّاًwith honor أَقعَساًunassailable بِاِنتِمائِهِthrough its affiliation
وَأَكسوهُ عِزّاً أَقعَساً بِاِنتِمائِهِ
إِلىto مَجدِthe glory of مَعنٍMa'n ياO لَكَfor you اللَهُGod مِنof مَجدِglory
إِلى مَجدِ مَعنٍ يا لَكَ اللَهُ مِن مَجدِ
And clothe it in unassailable honor through its affiliation
And I will dress it in blinding glory through belonging
With Ma'n's glory—God be with you, what glory!
To the glory of Ma`n – what glory from you, O Lord of glory!
إِلىto دَوحَةٍa spreading tree بِالمَكرُماتِwith noble deeds تَهَدَّلَتdroops
إِلى دَوحَةٍ بِالمَكرُماتِ تَهَدَّلَت
فَأَغصانُهاso its branches تُجنىare harvested عَلىat القُربِnear range وَالبُعدِand far range
فَأَغصانُها تُجنى عَلى القُربِ وَالبُعدِ
With a great tree drooping under noble deeds,
To a palm tree laden with favors its branches
Its boughs harvested by those near and far.
Bear fruit near and far.
شَأىoutstripped العُلَماءَthe scholars الراسِخينَthe firmly grounded فَكُلُّهُمso all of them
شَأى العُلَماءَ الراسِخينَ فَكُلُّهُم
عَلىat صَدرٍdeparture from water مِنfrom عِلمِهِhis knowledge وَعَلىand at وِردِarrival at water
عَلى صَدرٍ مِن عِلمِهِ وَعَلى وِردِ
He outstripped firmly grounded scholars, and all of them
It chose the firmly established scholars, and all of them
Depart from his knowledge's waters and return to them.
Recite from its knowledge and make litanies to it.
إِلَيهِtoward him تُنَصُّare driven swiftly العيسُthe pale camels مِنfrom كُلِّevery مَوطِنٍhomeland
إِلَيهِ تُنَصُّ العيسُ مِن كُلِّ مَوطِنٍ
فَمِنso among them is طالِبٍone seeking عِلماًknowledge لَدَيهِwith him وَمُستَجديand one seeking gifts
فَمِن طالِبٍ عِلماً لَدَيهِ وَمُستَجدي
Toward him the pale camels are sped from every land,
The fawns gather to it from every place,
Some seeking knowledge with him, others seeking gifts.
So those seeking knowledge with it and newcomers.
تَواضَعَhumbled himself عَمّاbelow what يَستَحِقُّhe deserves وَإِنَّهُalthough he is
تَواضَعَ عَمّا يَستَحِقُّ وَإِنَّهُ
عَلىdespite ذاكَthat ساميlofty in القَدرِrank وَالذِكرِand renown وَالجَدِّand fortune
عَلى ذاكَ سامي القَدرِ وَالذِكرِ وَالجَدِّ
He humbles himself below what he deserves, though he is,
It is humble about what it deserves. Yet it
For all that, lofty in rank, renown, and fortune.
Is most sublime in worth, mention, and vigor.
فَكَمso how many نِعَمٍblessings أَهدىhe bestowed وَكَمand how many مِنof عَمٍa blind person هَدىhe guided
فَكَم نِعَمٍ أَهدى وَكَم مِن عَمٍ هَدى
فَبورِكَso blessed be منas هادٍa guide وَمنand as ماجِدٍa noble man مُهديa giver
فَبورِكَ من هادٍ وَمن ماجِدٍ مُهدي
How many blessings he bestowed, how many blind ones guided!
So how many blessings it gifted and how many days it guided!
Blessed be such a guide, such a noble giver!
Blessed is the one who guides and the one who glorifies, a leader.
وَإِنّيand I وَإِنeven if يَمَّمتُI turn toward بِالمَدحِwith praise غَيرَهُsomeone other than him
وَإِنّي وَإِن يَمَّمتُ بِالمَدحِ غَيرَهُ
لأَبعَدُam surely the farthest خَلقِthe creatures of اللَهِGod عَنfrom طُرُقِthe paths of الرُشدِright guidance
لأَبعَدُ خَلقِ اللَهِ عَن طُرُقِ الرُشدِ
And I, if I direct my praise to someone else,
Though I intend to praise another, I will be
Am surely God's creature farthest from the paths of right guidance.
Farther than all of Allah's creation from propriety.
لَهُhe has أُسرَةٌa clan إِنif يَدعُهُمhe calls them لِمُلِمَّةٍfor a calamity
لَهُ أُسرَةٌ إِن يَدعُهُم لِمُلِمَّةٍ
يُلَبّوهُthey answer him بِالبيضِwith bright الظُبىsword edges وَالقَناand lances المُلدِsupple
يُلَبّوهُ بِالبيضِ الظُبى وَالقَنا المُلدِ
He has a clan who, if he summons them for a calamity,
It has a family. If it calls them to a skirmish,
Answer him with bright-edged swords and supple lances.
They answer it with white-bladed swords and sturdy spears.
هُمُthey كَبُدورِlike moons التِمِّat fullness فيin السِلمِpeace بَهجَةًin radiance
هُمُ كَبُدورِ التِمِّ في السِلمِ بَهجَةً
وَهُمand they فيon مَجالِthe field of الحَربِwar أَدهىmore formidable مِنَthan الأُسدِlions
وَهُم في مَجالِ الحَربِ أَدهى مِنَ الأُسدِ
In peace they are radiant as full moons,
They are like the full moons in their splendor
And on the field of war more formidable than lions.
And on the battlefield more ferocious than lions.
إِذاwhen اِحتَدَمَتblazes fiercely نارُthe fire of الوَغىbattle اِقتَحمواthey plunge into الرَّدىdeath
إِذا اِحتَدَمَت نارُ الوَغى اِقتَحموا الرَّدى
عَلىon كُلِّevery مَحبوكِtightly knit الفَراthe hide شَيظَمٍtall نَهدِpowerfully built
عَلى كُلِّ مَحبوكِ الفَرا شَيظَمٍ نَهدِ
When battle's fire blazes, they plunge into death
When the fires of turmoil rage, they plunge into the fray
On every tightly built, tall, sturdy steed.
Against every intertwined coat of mail, rending chests.
ثَبوتٌsteadfast وَأَطرافُand the tips of القَناthe spears رُعَّفٌbleeding دَماًblood
ثَبوتٌ وَأَطرافُ القَنا رُعَّفٌ دَماً
وَلِلبيضِand for bright swords فَتكٌravaging فيamong القَوائِسhelmets (uncertain reading) وَالسَّردِand mail
وَلِلبيضِ فَتكٌ في القَوائِس وَالسَّردِ
Steadfast while the spearheads drip blood,
Firmness – and the spear points shedding blood –
And bright swords ravage helmets and mail.
And the white swords have lethal strikes against the armored coats.
أَلاbehold إِنindeed مَعنَMa'n بنson of المُحَسِّنal-Muhassin لَمnot يَزَلcease
أَلا إِن مَعنَ بن المُحَسِّن لَم يَزَل
لَهُhe has المَكرُماتُnoble deeds الغُرُّshining فيin الغَورِthe lowlands وَالنّجدِand the uplands
لَهُ المَكرُماتُ الغُرُّ في الغَورِ وَالنّجدِ
Behold, Ma'n ibn al-Muhassin has always
Indeed, Ma`n ibn al-Muhassin always
Had shining noble deeds in lowland and upland.
Possessed favors as precious pearls in deserts and meadows.
لَهُhe has رَغبَةٌa desire فيfor الحَمدِpraise لَمnot تُغشَbeen cloaked in رَهبَةًfear
لَهُ رَغبَةٌ في الحَمدِ لَم تُغشَ رَهبَةً
وَلَكِنَّهُbut he فيregarding الذَمِّblame لَمnot يَألُfall short ذوpossessed of زُهدِaversion
وَلَكِنَّهُ في الذَمِّ لَم يَألُ ذو زُهدِ
He desires praise, his desire not cloaked in fear,
He has a desire for praise without attaining conceit,
Yet he spares no effort in shunning blame.
Yet for blame he does not weary, being ascetic.
وَلَولاهُand but for him كانَwould be الفَضلُmerit فيin الشامِthe Levant ضائِعاًlost
وَلَولاهُ كانَ الفَضلُ في الشامِ ضائِعاً
وَقَدرُand the worth of بَنيthe sons of الآدابِletters أَحقَرَmore contemptible مِنthan قِردِan ape
وَقَدرُ بَني الآدابِ أَحقَرَ مِن قِردِ
But for him, merit would be lost in the Levant,
Were it not for him, virtue in Syria would be lost
And the worth of men of letters lower than an ape's.
And the worth of the cultured considered lower than monkeys.
وَإِلّاotherwise أَرونيshow me فاضِلاًa worthy man لَيسَthere is not عِندَهwith him
وَإِلّا أَروني فاضِلاً لَيسَ عِندَه
لِمَعنٍbelonging to Ma'n يَدٌa favor يَوماًever وَلاand no سِيَّماequal عِنديin my case
لِمَعنٍ يَدٌ يَوماً وَلا سِيَّما عِندي
Otherwise, show me a worthy man who has never received
Or show me a superior if with him
A favor from Ma'n—myself least of all.
Ma`n does not one day even have a hand, let alone me.
لبيدٌLabid بَليدٌa dullard إِنif رَوىhe recites الشِعرَpoetry مُنشِداًdeclaiming
لبيدٌ بَليدٌ إِن رَوى الشِعرَ مُنشِداً
أَجلyes وَعَبيدٌand Ubayd ثُمَّthen أَصغَرُlower مِنthan عَبدِa slave
أَجل وَعَبيدٌ ثُمَّ أَصغَرُ مِن عَبدِ
Labid is a dullard when Ma'n declaims poetry,
Labid is a foolish poet if he recites poetry as a rawi,
Yes, and Ubayd then is lower than a slave.
More insignificant even than a slave.
وَعَىretained صَدرُهُhis breast ماall that فيin خَزائِنِthe storehouses of كُتبِهِhis books
وَعَى صَدرُهُ ما في خَزائِنِ كُتبِهِ
وَإِنeven though كُنَّthey are كتباًbooks زائِداتٍexceeding عَنِbeyond العَدِّcounting
وَإِن كُنَّ كتباً زائِداتٍ عَنِ العَدِّ
His breast retains all that is in his storehouses of books,
His chest encompasses what is in his library’s treasuries
Though those books exceed all counting.
Even if they are books beyond count.
تَضَمَّنَcontained أَبكارَthe virgin forms of المَعانيmeanings وُعونَهاand their mature counterparts
تَضَمَّنَ أَبكارَ المَعاني وُعونَها
فَجُدنَso they lavished لِقاريهِنَّon their reader بِالعيشَةِwith a life الرَغدِof ease
فَجُدنَ لِقاريهِنَّ بِالعيشَةِ الرَغدِ
It embraces meanings both virgin and seasoned,
It includes the finest virgin meanings and helps them,
And they grant their reader a life of ease.
So they charm their female reciters with prosperous living.
وَسيرَتُهُand his conduct فيamong الناسِpeople أَحسَنُthe finest سيرَةٍconduct
وَسيرَتُهُ في الناسِ أَحسَنُ سيرَةٍ
مُقَصِّرَةٌfalling short عَنof شَأوِهاits reach سيرَةthe conduct of المَهديal-Mahdi
مُقَصِّرَةٌ عَن شَأوِها سيرَة المَهدي
His conduct among people is the finest conduct;
His conduct among people is the best conduct,
Al-Mahdi's conduct falls short of its reach.
Fall short of his stature even the conduct of al-Mahdi.
وَقَدand indeed كانَwas جَدّيmy fortune نائِماًasleep قَبلَbefore قَصدِهِseeking him
وَقَد كانَ جَدّي نائِماً قَبلَ قَصدِهِ
فَمُذso since جِئتُهُI came to him أَصبَحتُI became منتَبِهَawakened in الجَدِّfortune
فَمُذ جِئتُهُ أَصبَحتُ منتَبِهَ الجَدِّ
My fortune lay asleep before I sought him,
My grandfather was asleep before visiting him.
But since I came to him, my fortune has awakened.
Since I came to him, I have been wakeful and serious.
أَياديهِhis favors أَنسَتنيmade me forget دِمَشقَDamascus وَأَهلَهاand its people
أَياديهِ أَنسَتني دِمَشقَ وَأَهلَها
وَإِنeven though أَشبَهَتit resembled فيin حُسنِهاits beauty جَنَّةَthe Garden of الخُلدِeternity
وَإِن أَشبَهَت في حُسنِها جَنَّةَ الخُلدِ
His favors made me forget Damascus and its people,
His hands made me forget Damascus and its inhabitants
Though its beauty resembles the Garden of Eternity.
Even though its beauty resembles the eternal Garden.
وَماand not ذاthis عَجيبٌstrange بَلrather سَلَوتُI forgot بِنَشرِهِthrough his fragrance
وَما ذا عَجيبٌ بَل سَلَوتُ بِنَشرِهِ
وَمَعروفِهِand his kindness عَنabout إِخوَتيmy brothers وَذَويand those possessing وُدّيmy affection
وَمَعروفِهِ عَن إِخوَتي وَذَوي وُدّي
Nor is that strange: through his fragrance I have forgotten,
What is surprising? Rather, I have been diverted by his company
And through his kindness, my brothers and those I love.
And kindness from my brothers, loved ones, and friends.
فَعَكسُso the reverse of اِسمِهِhis name لاmay no نيطَbe attached عَكسٌa reversal بِجِسمِهِto his body
فَعَكسُ اِسمِهِ لا نيطَ عَكسٌ بِجِسمِهِ
جَوابٌan answer لِمَنto whoever يَستَنجِزُseeks fulfillment of الوَعدَthe promise بِالنَقدِin ready coin
جَوابٌ لِمَن يَستَنجِزُ الوَعدَ بِالنَقدِ
His name reversed—may no reversal befall his body—
The inverse of his name – there is no inverse to his body.
Is the answer to whoever seeks a promise fulfilled in ready coin.
A retort to one who fulfills a promise with the cash at hand.
إِذاif كانَhe is فيamong قَومٍa people وَأَصلَدَand has become sparkless زَندُهمtheir fire-stick
إِذا كانَ في قَومٍ وَأَصلَدَ زَندُهم
فَماthen not زَندُهُhis fire-stick يَوماًever بِكابٍfailing to spark وَلاnor صَلدِsparkless
فَما زَندُهُ يَوماً بِكابٍ وَلا صَلدِ
If he stands among a people whose fire-stick has failed,
If he frowns among a people and his frown is stern,
His fire-stick is never dull or sparkless.
His frown is never with a sullen face and without vigor.
عَطاياهُhis gifts لِمَنto whoever تمنَنconferred a favor بِمَنٍّwith a favor وَلَمand not يَكُنhe was
عَطاياهُ لِمَن تمنَن بِمَنٍّ وَلَم يَكُن
بِمُعطٍa giver of قَليلاًlittle إِذwhen يَجودُhe gives generously وَلاnor مُكدِwithholding bounty
بِمُعطٍ قَليلاً إِذ يَجودُ وَلا مُكدِ
His gifts are for whoever has conferred a favor, and he has never
His gifts are for those hoping with nostalgia while he
Given little in his generosity, nor let his bounty fail.
Is neither miserly when he gives nor stingy.
يَرىhe sees بِصَوابِthrough the soundness of الرَّأيِjudgment فيin اليَومِtoday كُلَّall ماthat
يَرى بِصَوابِ الرَّأيِ في اليَومِ كُلَّ ما
يَجيءُwill come غَداًtomorrow منof حلّuntying أَمرٍan affair وَمنand of عَقدِtying
يَجيءُ غَداً من حلّ أَمرٍ وَمن عَقدِ
Through sound judgment, he sees today all that
He sees with sound opinion in the day all that
Tomorrow brings of affairs' untying and knotting.
Comes tomorrow, whether settled or knotted.
نَهوضٌenergetically shouldering بِأَعباءِthe burdens of السِيادَةِleadership لَمnot يَكُنhe was
نَهوضٌ بِأَعباءِ السِيادَةِ لَم يَكُن
بِوانٍsluggish وَلاnor واهيweak in العُرىbonds واهِنِfeeble in الشَدِّbinding
بِوانٍ وَلا واهي العُرى واهِنِ الشَدِّ
He shoulders leadership's burdens with vigor and has never been
Undertaking the burdens of authority, he was never
Sluggish, loose in his bonds, or weak in his fastening.
Languid, enfeebled, or frail in his strength.
إِذاwhen اِفتَرَّsmiles ثَغرُthe mouth of الهَزلِjesting عَبَّسَfrowns جِدُّهُhis earnestness
إِذا اِفتَرَّ ثَغرُ الهَزلِ عَبَّسَ جِدُّهُ
فَيالَكَso, O you مِنof هَزلٍjesting وَياand O لَكَfor you مِنof جِدِّearnestness
فَيالَكَ مِن هَزلٍ وَيا لَكَ مِن جِدِّ
When jesting's mouth smiles, his earnestness frowns:
When the lip of jest parts, his seriousness scowls.
Oh, what jesting! Oh, what earnestness!
What jest and what seriousness you have!
مفيضٌpouring forth عَلىupon قُصّادِهِthose seeking him وَعُفاتِهِand those seeking his bounty
مفيضٌ عَلى قُصّادِهِ وَعُفاتِهِ
بِسَحّينِwith two downpours منfrom صَوتَيthe two voices of نَوالٍbounty وَمِنand from رِفدِaid
بِسَحّينِ من صَوتَي نَوالٍ وَمِن رِفدِ
He pours abundance upon his visitors and seekers of bounty,
Bestowing on his readers and the chaste among them
In two torrents—the twin voices of largesse and aid.
With two spreading springs of voice and stream.
فَوَرَّثَهُso may He bequeath him اللَهُGod السَعادَةَhappiness سَرمَداًforever
فَوَرَّثَهُ اللَهُ السَعادَةَ سَرمَداً
عَلىdespite رغمِthe humiliation of آنافِthe noses of العِداthe enemies وَذَويand those possessing الحِقدِspite
عَلى رغمِ آنافِ العِدا وَذَوي الحِقدِ
May God bequeath him happiness forever,
So Allah granted him everlasting good fortune,
In spite of his foes and the spiteful, their noses humbled.
Despite the hostility of enemies and those of envy.
وَلاand may not بَرِحَتcease أَيّامُهُhis days مُستَطيلَةًbeing prolonged
وَلا بَرِحَت أَيّامُهُ مُستَطيلَةً
مُشَيَّدَةَlofty-built البُنيانِin structure بِالعِزِّwith honor وَالسَّعدِand good fortune
مُشَيَّدَةَ البُنيانِ بِالعِزِّ وَالسَّعدِ
And may his days never cease to lengthen,
His days have not ceased to stretch out,
Their edifice raised high in honor and good fortune.
Built with might and fortune.
Sol 6.1