أضاءshone بِبُرقَةٍover a stony tract بَرقٌlightning لَموعُbrilliant
أضاء بِبُرقَةٍ بَرقٌ لَموعُ
فَأَرَّقَةُand kept him awake وَصُحبَتُهُwhile his companions هُجوعُasleep
فَأَرَّقَةُ وَصُحبَتُهُ هُجوعُ
A brilliant lightning flash shone over a stony tract;
A flash of lightning illuminated with a brilliant flare,
it kept him awake while his companions slept.
Keeping it company, flickering and timorous.
كَإِيمَاءِlike the signaling of الحَوَاجِبِthe eyebrows يَومَon the day of بَينٍparting
كَإِيمَاءِ الحَوَاجِبِ يَومَ بَينٍ
بِتَسلِيمٍin farewell وَقَدwhile already غَفَلَwas heedless الجَمِيعُeveryone
بِتَسلِيمٍ وَقَد غَفَلَ الجَمِيعُ
Like the signaling of eyebrows on a day of parting,
Like an eyebrow's gesture on a day of leave-taking -
in farewell, while everyone was unaware.
Bidding farewell while all others are oblivious.
كَأنَّas though رَبابَهُits cloudbank الجَونِيّdark أعياgrew weary
كَأنَّ رَبابَهُ الجَونِيّ أعيا
فَصُبّso was brought down عَلَيهِupon it مِنof لَهَبٍflame قَطِيعُa whip
فَصُبّ عَلَيهِ مِن لَهَبٍ قَطِيعُ
As though its dark cloudbank had grown weary,
As if its heart-sick minstrel has wearied,
so a whip of flame was brought down upon it.
And a torrent of flames is poured upon it.
كَأَنَّas though الجَوthe sky صُكّwas struck بِصَارِمَيهِwith its two swords
كَأَنَّ الجَو صُكّ بِصَارِمَيهِ
فَسَالَso flowed عَلَىover حَنَادِسِهِits deepest darkness النّجيعُfresh blood
فَسَالَ عَلَى حَنَادِسِهِ النّجيعُ
As though the sky were struck with its two swords,
As if the air clashed its swords together,
so fresh blood flowed over its deepest darkness.
And their well-honed blades dripped down.
كَأنّas though الرّيحَthe wind تَجريraces فِيهِthrough it خَيلٌhorses
كَأنّ الرّيحَ تَجري فِيهِ خَيلٌ
بِأيدِيin the forelegs of الرَّاكِضَاتِthe galloping steeds لَهَاfor them شُموعُcandles
بِأيدِي الرَّاكِضَاتِ لَهَا شُموعُ
As though the wind were horses racing through it,
As if the wind races horses through it,
with candles in the galloping steeds' forelegs.
Their reins held by racing hands that grasp torches.
شَجاsaddened صدعُthe rift of السَّنَاlightning's radiance فِيهِwithin it فُؤَاداًa heart
شَجا صدعُ السَّنَا فِيهِ فُؤَاداً
لِرَوعَاتِfrom the terrors of النَّوَىseparation فِيهِwithin it صُدُوعُfissures
لِرَوعَاتِ النَّوَى فِيهِ صُدُوعُ
The rift of lightning within it saddened a heart,
The separation there has torn asunder a heart,
fissured by the terrors of separation.
Broken by the gazelle's glance within.
تَذَكّرَhe remembered إِذwhen شَبِيبَتُهُhis youth غُرابٌa raven
تَذَكّرَ إِذ شَبِيبَتُهُ غُرابٌ
لَهُfor it فِيin رَوضِthe garden of عِفّتِهِhis chastity وُقُوعُalighting
لَهُ فِي رَوضِ عِفّتِهِ وُقُوعُ
He remembered when his youth was a raven,
It recalls when its youth was a raven
alighting in the garden of his chastity;
Perched in the garden of its chastity.
وَإذand when مَرمَىthe reach of غَوَانِيهِhis fair ladies قَرِيبٌnear
وَإذ مَرمَى غَوَانِيهِ قَرِيبٌ
إلَيهِto him وَخَطوًand the stride of هِمَّتِهِhis ambition ذَرِيعُlong
إلَيهِ وَخَطوً هِمَّتِهِ ذَرِيعُ
and when his fair ladies lay within reach,
When its flirtations drew near, enticingly,
close to him, and his ambition's stride was long;
And its ambition advanced resolutely.
وَإذand when وَادِيthe valley of صَبَابَتِهِhis yearning مَرِيعٌlush
وَإذ وَادِي صَبَابَتِهِ مَرِيعٌ
عَلَيهِover it لِلتّقَىfor piety حِصنٌa fortress مَنِيعُimpregnable
عَلَيهِ لِلتّقَى حِصنٌ مَنِيعُ
and when the valley of his yearning was lush,
When the valley of its prime was submissive
with piety's impregnable fortress over it.
To it, a stronghold of virtue shielding it.
وَلَكِنّbut الشَّبَابَyouth إِذَاwhen تَوَلَّىdeparts
وَلَكِنّ الشَّبَابَ إِذَا تَوَلَّى
فَصَعبٌthen it is hard أَنthat يَكُونَthere should be لَهُfor it رُجُوعُa return
فَصَعبٌ أَن يَكُونَ لَهُ رُجُوعُ
But when youth departs,
But when youth turns away,
it is hard for it to return.
It is hard for it to return.
وَمَنand whoever لَمdid not يَستَطِعmanage رَدّاًa restoration لِشَيءٍof something
وَمَن لَم يَستَطِع رَدّاً لِشَيءٍ
فَإِنَّthen indeed الصَّبرَpatient endurance عَنهُwithout it يَستَطِيعُhe can manage
فَإِنَّ الصَّبرَ عَنهُ يَستَطِيعُ
And whoever cannot bring something back
Whoever cannot regain something
can still patiently endure its absence.
Can endure its loss with patience.
إِذَاif شَيطَانُthe devil of أَطمَاعِيmy desires عَصَانِيdisobeys me
إِذَا شَيطَانُ أَطمَاعِي عَصَانِي
فإنَّthen indeed قَنَاعَتِيmy contentment مَلَكٌan angel مُطِيعُobedient
فإنَّ قَنَاعَتِي مَلَكٌ مُطِيعُ
If the devil of my desires disobeys me,
When the devil of greed and disobedience
my contentment is an obedient angel.
Tempts me, my contentment is an obedient angel.
وَمَنand whoever وَطِئَتهُhave trampled him أَقدَامُthe feet of المَنَايَاdeath
وَمَن وَطِئَتهُ أَقدَامُ المَنَايَا
فَإِنِّيthen indeed I am ذَلِكَthat النّيقُpeak الرَّفِيعُlofty
فَإِنِّي ذَلِكَ النّيقُ الرَّفِيعُ
And whoever death's feet have trampled—
And when the steps of demise have trod upon me,
I am that lofty peak.
I am that elegant, noble corpse.
وَإنand if صَالَassails الزّمانُtime فإِِنَّthen indeed عَزماًa resolve
وَإن صَالَ الزّمانُ فإِِنَّ عَزماً
لَدّيّwithin me الأَنفِthe nose صَولَتِهِits onslaught جَدُوعُsevering
لَدّيّ الأَنفِ صَولَتِهِ جَدُوعُ
And if time attacks, there is a resolve
Even if time has marched on, my will
within me that severs the nose of its onslaught.
To straighten its twisting path remains sturdy.
وَإِنand if تَضِقِgrow narrow البلادُthe lands فَثَمّthen elsewhere عَيشٌa livelihood
وَإِن تَضِقِ البلادُ فَثَمّ عَيشٌ
وَثَمَّand there مَهَامِهٌفِيحٌvast, open deserts وَرِيعُand high ground
وَثَمَّ مَهَامِهٌفِيحٌ وَرِيعُ
And if the lands grow narrow, elsewhere there is a livelihood,
Even if the lands narrow, still there is livelihood,
and there are wide-open deserts and highlands.
Still there are glories, spoils and meadows.
وَإنand if مَحَلَwithhold rain الغَمَامُthe clouds فَلِلقَوَافِيthen for rhymes
وَإن مَحَلَ الغَمَامُ فَلِلقَوَافِي
غَمَامٌa cloud نَبتُthe herbage of مَسقَطِهِwhere it falls مَرِيعُlush
غَمَامٌ نَبتُ مَسقَطِهِ مَرِيعُ
And if the clouds withhold their rain, rhymes have
Even if clouds bear down, the rhymes
a cloud whose rainfall makes the herbage lush.
Still have clouds whose source of rain is submissive.
وَلَمand have not يُمحِلgrown barren رِيَاضُthe gardens of بَنَاتِthe daughters of فِكرٍthought
وَلَم يُمحِل رِيَاضُ بَنَاتِ فِكرٍ
وَمَاءُand the water of أبِيAbu الرَّبيعِal-Rabiʿ لَهَاfor them رَبِيعُspringtime
وَمَاءُ أبِي الرَّبيعِ لَهَا رَبِيعُ
Nor have the gardens of thought's daughters grown barren,
The gardens of the daughters of thought do not wither,
for Abu al-Rabiʿ's water is their springtime.
Nor does the spring of my father, their springtime, fade.
ولاnor أخوَتhave set نُجُومُthe stars of سَمَاءِthe sky of مَجدٍglory
ولا أخوَت نُجُومُ سَمَاءِ مَجدٍ
لَهَاfor them مِنfrom أُفقِthe horizon of سُؤدَدِهِhis eminence طُلُوعُa rising
لَهَا مِن أُفقِ سُؤدَدِهِ طُلُوعُ
Nor have the stars of glory's heaven set,
The sister stars in the sky of glory
rising as they do from the horizon of his eminence.
Still rise from the horizon of its serene beauty.
تَنَامُsleep عُفَاتُهُhis petitioners شِبَعاًsated وَرَيّاًand quenched
تَنَامُ عُفَاتُهُ شِبَعاً وَرَيّاً
إذَاwhen ذادَdrives away الكَرَىsleep ظَمَأthirst وَجوعُand hunger
إذَا ذادَ الكَرَى ظَمَأ وَجوعُ
His petitioners sleep sated and quenched,
Its chastity falls asleep content and sated
when thirst and hunger drive sleep away.
When cares of the day induce thirst and hunger.
وَيُورِدُand he leads to water مِنfrom مَوَاهِبِهِhis gifts بِحَاراًseas
وَيُورِدُ مِن مَوَاهِبِهِ بِحَاراً
إذَاwhen يَبِسَتdry up منَfrom الشّظفِhardship الدُّمُوعُtears
إذَا يَبِسَت منَ الشّظفِ الدُّمُوعُ
And he leads them to seas of his bounty,
It brings forth abundantly from its blessings seas
when hardship has dried up tears.
When the tears of those who plead are dried up.
ويُجنَىand are harvested دوحُthe spreading trees of أنعمهhis favors رطَاباfresh fruit
ويُجنَى دوحُ أنعمه رطَابا
إِذاwhen اصفَرَّتturn yellow عَلَىon الغُصنِthe branch الفُروعُthe shoots
إِذا اصفَرَّت عَلَى الغُصنِ الفُروعُ
And fresh fruit is gathered from the spreading trees of his favors,
And the groves of its blessings bear sweetest fruits
when the shoots turn yellow upon the branch,
When the branches are yellowed and bare.
وأُذهلَتِand are distracted المَرَاضِعُnursing mothers عَنfrom بَنِيهَاtheir children
وأُذهلَتِ المَرَاضِعُ عَن بَنِيهَا
وَأنسِيَand is made to forget أمَّهُits mother الضَّرعَthe udder التَّبِيعُthe suckling calf
وَأنسِيَ أمَّهُ الضَّرعَ التَّبِيعُ
and nursing mothers are distracted from their children,
The nursing mothers forget their children,
and the calf is made to forget its mother's udder.
And the weaning child forgets the breast that fed it.
رَعَىhe tended أمرَthe affairs of الثُّغورِthe frontier strongholds فَلاso no قُلُوبٌhearts
رَعَى أمرَ الثُّغورِ فَلا قُلُوبٌ
تُخالِفُهُoppose him ولاnor مَالٌwealth يَضِيعُis wasted
تُخالِفُهُ ولا مَالٌ يَضِيعُ
He tended the affairs of the frontier strongholds, so no hearts
It has tended to the affairs of the marches, so no hearts
oppose him, nor does any wealth go to waste.
Oppose it, no wealth is lost.
وَلَكنbut مِنّةa blessing لِلّهِfrom God عَمَّتreached all
وَلَكن مِنّة لِلّهِ عَمَّت
وَأعلَنَand proclaimed شكرَهَاthanks for it المَلأُthe assembly الجَمِيعُall together
وَأعلَنَ شكرَهَا المَلأُ الجَمِيعُ
But a blessing from God has reached everyone,
But the blessings of God have encompassed all,
and the whole assembly has proclaimed its thanks for it.
And the throngs together proclaim their gratitude.
وَمََنand whoever يَجحَدdenies فَمَاthen not حُرِمَwas deprived of اصطِنَاعاًfavor
وَمََن يَجحَد فَمَا حُرِمَ اصطِنَاعاً
وَلَكِنbut رُبَّمَاsometimes خابَdisappoints الصَّنِيعُthe recipient of favor
وَلَكِن رُبَّمَا خابَ الصَّنِيعُ
And whoever denies it has not been deprived of favor,
Whoever denies does not lose favor undeservedly,
yet sometimes the beneficiary disappoints.
But sometimes the maker of favor is disappointed.
إذwhen استشرىgrows fierce سَطَاpounces ليثٌa lion هَصورٌcrushing
إذ استشرى سَطَا ليثٌ هَصورٌ
وَإنand if أعطَىhe gives هَمَىغيثٌrain pours down هَمُوعُtorrential
وَإن أعطَى هَمَىغيثٌ هَمُوعُ
When he grows fierce, he pounces—a crushing lion;
When an awesome lion bares its claws,
and when he gives, rain pours down in torrents.
A generous cloud may shower, but remain discontent.
تَسَربَلَhe clothed himself مِنin مَهَابَتِهِthe awe he inspires دلاصاًsmooth armor
تَسَربَلَ مِن مَهَابَتِهِ دلاصاً
يُفَلّis blunted بِهَاby it السُّرَيجيُّthe Surayji blade الصَّنيعُfinely wrought
يُفَلّ بِهَا السُّرَيجيُّ الصَّنيعُ
He donned smooth armor of the awe he inspires,
It clothes itself in the mantle of its awe,
which blunts the finely wrought Surayji blade.
With which the skilled artisan is deft and diligent.
وَأصلَتَand he unsheathed مِنfrom عَزِيمَتِهِhis resolve حُساماًa keen sword
وَأصلَتَ مِن عَزِيمَتِهِ حُساماً
تُقَدُّare cleft بِهِby it الجَوَاشِنُbreastplates وَالدُّروعُand coats of mail
تُقَدُّ بِهِ الجَوَاشِنُ وَالدُّروعُ
And he unsheathed a keen sword of his resolve,
It has forged from its resolve a sword
by which breastplates and coats of mail are cleft.
With which coats of mail and armor are pierced.
فَمَهمَاso whenever ثَارَrises فِيin جَوٍّthe air قَتامٌbattle-dust
فَمَهمَا ثَارَ فِي جَوٍّ قَتامٌ
فَفِيهِthen within it لرَفعِat the raising of شَفرَتِهِhis blade صَرِيعُone lies slain
فَفِيهِ لرَفعِ شَفرَتِهِ صَرِيعُ
Whenever battle-dust rises in the air,
So no matter how darkly the clouds mass,
a man lies slain within it as his blade is raised.
Within them its blade finds a victim to pierce.
لَهُfor it فِيat سُوقِهِمtheir shins طَوراًat times سُجُودٌprostration
لَهُ فِي سُوقِهِم طَوراً سُجُودٌ
وَفِيand at هَامَاتِهِمtheir heads طَوراًat times رُكُوعُbowing
وَفِي هَامَاتِهِم طَوراً رُكُوعُ
At times his blade prostrates itself at their shins,
Before it they bow down in the markets,
and at times bows at their heads.
And their skulls bow down in prostration.
سَمِيُّthe namesake of مُسَخّرِthe subduer of الأروَاحِspirits فِيهِin him
سَمِيُّ مُسَخّرِ الأروَاحِ فِيهِ
مِنَfrom الهَديright guidance السَّكِينَةُserenity وَالخُشوعُand humble reverence
مِنَ الهَدي السَّكِينَةُ وَالخُشوعُ
Namesake of the subduer of spirits, he has
The All-Powerful has harnessed their souls to it;
the serenity and humble reverence of right guidance.
In them are tranquility and humility.
فَلَوso had وَلاّهhe entrusted him with ذاكَthat الملكَkingdom وَلّىhe would have appointed
فَلَو وَلاّه ذاكَ الملكَ وَلّى
أَمِيناa trustworthy man لاdoes not يخونُbetray ولاnor يَضِيعُneglect
أَمِينا لا يخونُ ولا يَضِيعُ
Had he entrusted him with that kingdom, he would have appointed
Had that King entrusted it with that kingdom, entrusted
a trustworthy man who neither betrays nor neglects.
A faithful minister who does not betray or neglect...
غَداhe became قَلباًa heart وَنَحنُand we لَهُfor him ضُلوعٌribs
غَدا قَلباً وَنَحنُ لَهُ ضُلوعٌ
تَحُفّsurround بِهِhim فَدَانٍso, one nearby أَوor شَسُوعُone far away
تَحُفّ بِهِ فَدَانٍ أَو شَسُوعُ
He has become a heart, and we are his ribs,
Tomorrow our hearts will be its ribs,
surrounding him, whether near or far.
Sheltering it, whether armored or vulnerable.
وَلكِنbut بِرُّهُhis kindness يَحنوbends tenderly عَلَينَاover us
وَلكِن بِرُّهُ يَحنو عَلَينَا
كَمَاas تَحنوbend tenderly عَلَىover القَلبِthe heart الضُّلُوعُthe ribs
كَمَا تَحنو عَلَى القَلبِ الضُّلُوعُ
Yet his kindness bends tenderly over us,
But its righteousness has compassion on us
as ribs bend over the heart.
As ribs have compassion on the heart they enfold.
أَقَائِدَنَاO our leader لَكَمhow often قيدَتwere led إلَينَاto us
أَقَائِدَنَا لَكَم قيدَت إلَينَا
أمَانٍwishes فِيin أزِمِّتهاtheir reins خَضُوعُsubmissive
أمَانٍ فِي أزِمِّتها خَضُوعُ
O our leader, how often have we been brought
Our leaders, how often you have bound us
wishes, submissive beneath their reins!
To safety in your decisive, commanding bonds.
قَطَفناwe plucked فِيin ظلالِكُمُyour shade جَناهاtheir fruit
قَطَفنا فِي ظلالِكُمُ جَناها
ولاand no خَطبٌcalamity يَعُوقُhinders ولاnor يَرُوعُfrightens
ولا خَطبٌ يَعُوقُ ولا يَرُوعُ
We plucked their fruit beneath your shade,
In your shadows we have plucked its fruits;
with no calamity to hinder or alarm us.
No misfortune thwarts or terrifies us.
حَيِينَاwe lived بانتِجاعِكُمُby seeking your bounty حَيَاةًa life
حَيِينَا بانتِجاعِكُمُ حَيَاةً
كَقَطرِlike the drops of الغيثِrain مَوقِعُهُits place of falling نَجيعُbeneficial
كَقَطرِ الغيثِ مَوقِعُهُ نَجيعُ
By seeking your bounty, we lived a life
By your care, you have revived life in us,
like rainfall, beneficial wherever it lands.
Like the falling of rain, wholesome in its places of descent.
وَكَانand was شَفِيعَنَاour intercessor عِندَbefore اللَّيَالِيthe nights
وَكَان شَفِيعَنَا عِندَ اللَّيَالِي
رَجَاؤُكُمُhope in you فَيَاthen oh نِعمَhow excellent الشَّفِيعُthe intercessor
رَجَاؤُكُمُ فَيَا نِعمَ الشَّفِيعُ
Our intercessor before the nights was
Your favor was our intercessor in the dark nights -
our hope in you—what an excellent intercessor!
O excellent indeed is an intercessor like you!
جَزَاكُمmay He reward you شَاكِرُthe appreciator of الإِحسَانِkindness عَنَّاon our behalf
جَزَاكُم شَاكِرُ الإِحسَانِ عَنَّا
فَإِنَّfor indeed جَزَاءَكُمrepaying you لاnot نَستَطِيعُwe can
فَإِنَّ جَزَاءَكُم لا نَستَطِيعُ
May the One who appreciates kindness reward you on our behalf,
May the rewarder of kindness reward you in our stead,
for we cannot repay you.
For repaying you is beyond our capacity.
وَهَنَّأكُمand may He grant you joy بِغُرّةwith the dawn of عيدِthe Feast of نَحرٍSacrifice
وَهَنَّأكُم بِغُرّة عيدِ نَحرٍ
لِرِونَقِهَاfor its splendor بِبَهجَتِكُمthrough your radiance سُطُوعُa shining
لِرِونَقِهَا بِبَهجَتِكُم سُطُوعُ
And may He bring you joy at the dawn of the Feast of Sacrifice,
And congratulations on the feast of sacrifice,
whose splendor shines through your radiance.
Illuminated by your joyous celebration.
مَنَائِحُthe gifts of جودِكُمyour generosity فِيهِon it تُضَحّيoffer sacrifice
مَنَائِحُ جودِكُم فِيهِ تُضَحّي
وَصَائِكُand the penetrating scent of طِيبِكُمyour perfume فِيهِduring it يَضُوعُwafts
وَصَائِكُ طِيبِكُم فِيهِ يَضُوعُ
The gifts of your generosity offer sacrifice upon it,
The offerings of your munificence are sacrificed in it,
and the penetrating scent of your perfume wafts through it.
And the fragrance of your perfumes wafts in it.
وَدُمتُمand may you endure مَاas long as حَدَاdrives onward بَرقٌlightning سَحَاباًclouds
وَدُمتُم مَا حَدَا بَرقٌ سَحَاباً
وَمَاand as long as جَلّىdispels دُجَىthe darkness of لَيلٍnight صَدِيعُdawn
وَمَا جَلّى دُجَى لَيلٍ صَدِيعُ
May you endure as long as lightning drives clouds onward,
May you remain as long as lightning flashes from a cloud,
and as long as dawn dispels the darkness of night.
And the gloom of night is pierced by brilliant morning.
Sol 6.1