ياO واقِفاًone standing يَبكيweeps over الطُلولَthe ruined dwellings وَيُنشِدُand recites verse
يا واقِفاً يَبكي الطُلولَ وَيُنشِدُ
بِاللَهِby God تِهتَyou have gone astray وَغابَand has vanished عَنكَfrom you المُرشِدُthe guide
بِاللَهِ تِهتَ وَغابَ عَنكَ المُرشِدُ
O you who stand weeping over ruined dwellings and reciting verse,
O you who stand weeping for the bereaved while reciting elegies
By God, you have gone astray, and the guide is absent from you.
By God you went astray; the guide is lost to you
كَمhow often تَدَّعيyou claim حُزناًsorrow وَأَنتَwhile you are مُرَفَّهٌliving in comfort
كَم تَدَّعي حُزناً وَأَنتَ مُرَفَّهٌ
إِنif كُنتَyou are مَحزوناًgrief-stricken فَماthen what لَكَis with you تَرقُدُyou sleep
إِن كُنتَ مَحزوناً فَما لَكَ تَرقُدُ
How often you claim sorrow, though you live in comfort!
How much sorrow do you pretend while you are heedless?
If you are grief-stricken, why do you sleep?
If you were grieved why then do you slumber?
هَلّاwhy not بَكَيتَyou wept عَلىover الحُسَينِHusayn وَأَهلِهِand his family
هَلّا بَكَيتَ عَلى الحُسَينِ وَأَهلِهِ
هَلّاwhy not بَكَيتَyou wept لِمَنfor the one whom بَكاهُwept for him مُحَمَّدُMuhammad
هَلّا بَكَيتَ لِمَن بَكاهُ مُحَمَّدُ
Why have you not wept over Husayn and his family?
Why did you not weep for Husayn and his household?
Why have you not wept for the one Muhammad wept for?
Why did you not weep for the one wept for by Muhammad?
فَلَقَدfor indeed بَكَتهُwept for him فيin السَماءِheaven مَلائِكٌangels
فَلَقَد بَكَتهُ في السَماءِ مَلائِكٌ
زُهرٌradiant كِرامٌnoble راكِعونَbowing وَسُجَّدُand prostrating
زُهرٌ كِرامٌ راكِعونَ وَسُجَّدُ
For angels in heaven did indeed weep for him,
The angels wept for him in the heavens
Radiant and noble, bowing and prostrating.
Choice ones bowing and prostrating
وَتَضَعضَعَand was shaken الاِسلامُIslam يَومَon the day of مُصابِهِhis calamity
وَتَضَعضَعَ الاِسلامُ يَومَ مُصابِهِ
فَالدينُso the faith يَبكيweeps for فَقدَهُhis loss وَالسُؤدُدُand nobility
فَالدينُ يَبكي فَقدَهُ وَالسُؤدُدُ
And Islam was shaken on the day calamity befell him;
And Islam was shaken on the day of his affliction
So the faith weeps for his loss, and nobility too.
So religion laments his loss and the devout weep
أَنَسيتَhave you forgotten إِذwhen صارَتcame إِلَيهِtoward him كَتائِبٌbattalions
أَنَسيتَ إِذ صارَت إِلَيهِ كَتائِبٌ
فيهاamong them اِبنُson of سَعدٍSa'd وَالطُغاةُand the tyrants الجُحَّدُthe deniers
فيها اِبنُ سَعدٍ وَالطُغاةُ الجُحَّدُ
Have you forgotten when battalions came toward him,
Have you forgotten when legions came against him
Among them Ibn Sa'd and the truth-denying tyrants?
Among them the son of Sa`d and the tyrannous deniers
لَمdid not يَحفَظواthey uphold حَقَّthe right of النَبِيِّthe Prophet مُحَمَّدٍMuhammad
لَم يَحفَظوا حَقَّ النَبِيِّ مُحَمَّدٍ
إِذwhen جَرَّعوهُthey made him swallow حَرارَةًburning grief لاnot تَبرُدُcools
إِذ جَرَّعوهُ حَرارَةً لا تَبرُدُ
They did not uphold the right of the Prophet Muhammad,
Who did not respect the right of the Prophet Muhammad
When they made him swallow a burning grief that never cools.
When they made him drink scalding water that does not cool
قَتَلواthey killed الحُسَينَHusayn وَأَثكَلوهُand bereaved him بِسِبطِهِof his grandson
قَتَلوا الحُسَينَ وَأَثكَلوهُ بِسِبطِهِ
فَالثُكلُso bereavement مِنfrom بَعدِafter الحُسَينِHusayn مُبَدَّدُdispersed
فَالثُكلُ مِن بَعدِ الحُسَينِ مُبَدَّدُ
They killed Husayn, bereaving the Prophet of his grandson;
They killed Husayn and orphaned him through his grandson
For after Husayn, bereavement lies scattered.
So separation after Husayn is scattered
كَيفَhow القَرارُrepose وَفيwhile among السَباياthe captives زَينَبٌZaynab
كَيفَ القَرارُ وَفي السَبايا زَينَبٌ
تَدعوshe calls out بِفَرطِwith an excess of حَرارَةٍburning anguish ياO أَحمَدُAhmad
تَدعو بِفَرطِ حَرارَةٍ يا أَحمَدُ
How can there be repose while Zaynab is among the captives?
How can you be settled when among the captives is Zaynab
She calls out in overwhelming, burning anguish: 'O Ahmad!'
Crying with intense heat: O Ahmad!
هَذاthis حُسَينٌHusayn بِالسُيوفِby swords مُبَضَّعٌhacked apart
هَذا حُسَينٌ بِالسُيوفِ مُبَضَّعٌ
وَمُلَطَّخٌand stained بِدِمائِهِwith his blood مُستَشهَدُmartyred
وَمُلَطَّخٌ بِدِمائِهِ مُستَشهَدُ
Here is Husayn, hacked by swords,
This is Husayn ripped open by swords
And stained with his blood, martyred.
While his blood stains the martyred one
عارٍnaked بِلاwithout ثَوبٍa garment صَريعٌfallen slain فيin الثَرىthe dust
عارٍ بِلا ثَوبٍ صَريعٌ في الثَرى
بَينَbetween الحَوافِرِthe hooves وَالسَنابِكِand the hoof-tips يُخضَدُhe is crushed
بَينَ الحَوافِرِ وَالسَنابِكِ يُخضَدُ
Naked, without a garment, fallen in the dust,
Bare and slain on the ground
Crushed between hooves and hoof-tips.
Between hooves and lances abased
وَالطَيِّبونَand the pure ones بَنوكَyour sons قَتلىslain حَولَهُaround him
وَالطَيِّبونَ بَنوكَ قَتلى حَولَهُ
فَوقَupon التُرابِthe dust ضَواحِياًexposed لاnot تُلحَدُlaid in graves
فَوقَ التُرابِ ضَواحِياً لا تُلحَدُ
And the pure ones, your sons, lie slain around him,
And your good sons slain around him
Exposed upon the dust, not laid in graves.
Above the dust, far-flung, unburied
وَالشَمسُand the sun وَالقَمَرُand the moon المُنيرُshining كِلاهُماboth of them
وَالشَمسُ وَالقَمَرُ المُنيرُ كِلاهُما
حَولَaround النُجومِthe stars تَباكِياboth wept together وَالفَرقَدُand al-Farqad
حَولَ النُجومِ تَباكِيا وَالفَرقَدُ
And the sun and the shining moon, both of them,
The shining sun and moon both
Wept around the stars, as did al-Farqad.
Wept around the stars bitterly and blinked
أَنَسيتَhave you forgotten قَتلَthe killing of المُصطَفَينَthe chosen ones بِكَربَلاat Karbala
أَنَسيتَ قَتلَ المُصطَفَينَ بِكَربَلا
حَولَaround الحُسَينِHusayn ذَبائِحاًslaughtered victims لَمnot يُلحَدواwere buried
حَولَ الحُسَينِ ذَبائِحاً لَم يُلحَدوا
Have you forgotten the killing of the chosen ones at Karbala,
Have you forgotten the killing of the two grandsons at Karbala
Slaughtered victims around Husayn, left unburied?
Slaughtered around Husayn, unburied
فَسَقَوهُso they made him drink مِنfrom جُرَعِdraughts of الحُتوفِdeaths بِمَشهَدٍat a scene
فَسَقَوهُ مِن جُرَعِ الحُتوفِ بِمَشهَدٍ
كَثُرَwas numerous العَدُوُّthe enemy بِهِin it وَقَلَّand was scarce المُسعِدُthe helper
كَثُرَ العَدُوُّ بِهِ وَقَلَّ المُسعِدُ
So they made him drink draughts of death at a place
They made him drink from the cup of death openly
Where enemies abounded and helpers were few.
While the foe against him multiplied and the fortunate few waned
ثُمَّthen اِستَباحواthey took as lawful spoil الطاهِراتِthe pure women حَواسِراbareheaded
ثُمَّ اِستَباحوا الطاهِراتِ حَواسِرا
فَالشَملُso the family مِنfrom بَعدِafter الحُسَينِHusayn مُبَدَّدُdispersed
فَالشَملُ مِن بَعدِ الحُسَينِ مُبَدَّدُ
Then they seized the pure women as spoil, bareheaded;
Then they deemed the pure women fair game
So after Husayn, the family is scattered.
So the kin after Husayn is scattered
بِالطَفِّat al-Taff حَوليaround me مِنsome of يَتامىthe orphans of إِخوَتيmy brothers
بِالطَفِّ حَولي مِن يَتامى إِخوَتي
فيin الذُلِّhumiliation قَدindeed سُلِبواthey were robbed of القِناعَthe veil وَجُرِّدواand were stripped bare
في الذُلِّ قَد سُلِبوا القِناعَ وَجُرِّدوا
At al-Taff, around me are some of my brothers' orphans,
Among the children - orphaned brothers - gather me
In humiliation, robbed of the veil and stripped bare.
Deprived in humiliation, stripped bare
ياO جَدُّgrandfather قَدindeed مُنَعواthey were denied الفُراتَthe Euphrates وَقُتِّلواand were slaughtered
يا جَدُّ قَد مُنَعوا الفُراتَ وَقُتِّلوا
عَطَشاًthirsty فَلَيسَso there is no لَهُمfor them هُنالِكَthere مَورِدُwatering place
عَطَشاً فَلَيسَ لَهُم هُنالِكَ مَورِدُ
O grandfather, they were denied the Euphrates and slaughtered,
O grandfather, they were denied the Euphrates and killed
Thirsty, with no watering place for them there.
Thirsty, so for them there is no watering place
ياO جَدُّgrandfather إِنَّindeed الكَلبَthe dog يَشرَبُdrinks آمِناًsafe
يا جَدُّ إِنَّ الكَلبَ يَشرَبُ آمِناً
رِيّاًto satiety وَنَحنُwhile we عَنِaway from الفُراتِthe Euphrates نُطَرَّدُare driven away
رِيّاً وَنَحنُ عَنِ الفُراتِ نُطَرَّدُ
O grandfather, the dog drinks in safety,
O grandfather, while the dog drinks safely
To its fill, while we are driven away from the Euphrates.
Gulping, we are barred from the Euphrates
ياO جَدُّgrandfather قَدindeed أَمسَيتُI have become مِمّاfrom what نالَنيbefell me
يا جَدُّ قَد أَمسَيتُ مِمّا نالَني
وَلِماand because of what أُعانيهِI endure it أَقومُI rise وَأَقعُدُand I sit
وَلِما أُعانيهِ أَقومُ وَأَقعُدُ
O grandfather, what has befallen me has left me
O grandfather, your grandson Zayd now
Rising and sitting because of what I endure.
Of what befell me I rise and sit
ياO جَدُّgrandfather لَوif only أَبصَرتَنيyou had beheld me وَرَأَيتَنيand you had seen me
يا جَدُّ لَو أَبصَرتَني وَرَأَيتَني
وَالخَدُّand the cheek مِنّيof mine بِالدِماءِwith blood مُخَدَّدُfurrowed
وَالخَدُّ مِنّي بِالدِماءِ مُخَدَّدُ
O grandfather, if only you had beheld me and seen me,
O grandfather, if you could see me and behold me
And my cheek furrowed with blood.
With my cheek streaming blood, gashed
ياO جَدُّgrandfather ذاthis نَحرُthe throat of الحُسَينِHusayn مُضَرَّجٌdrenched
يا جَدُّ ذا نَحرُ الحُسَينِ مُضَرَّجٌ
بِالدَمِwith blood وَالجِسمُand the body الشَريفُnoble مُجَرَّدُstripped bare
بِالدَمِ وَالجِسمُ الشَريفُ مُجَرَّدُ
O grandfather, here is Husayn's throat, drenched
O grandfather, this is the bloodied neck of Husayn
With blood, and his noble body stripped bare.
While the noble body is denuded
ياO جَدُّgrandfather ذاthis صَدرُthe chest of الحُسَينِHusayn مُرَضَّضٌcrushed
يا جَدُّ ذا صَدرُ الحُسَينِ مُرَضَّضٌ
وَالخَيلُand the horses تَنزِلُstep down مِنfrom عَلَيهِupon him وَتَصعَدُand climb up
وَالخَيلُ تَنزِلُ مِن عَلَيهِ وَتَصعَدُ
O grandfather, here is Husayn's chest, crushed,
O grandfather, this is the chest of Husayn gouged
And horses step down from atop him and climb up.
As the cavalry tramples up and down on it
ياO جَدُّgrandfather ذاthis نَجلُthe son of الحُسَينِHusayn مُعَلَّلٌailing
يا جَدُّ ذا نَجلُ الحُسَينِ مُعَلَّلٌ
وَمُغَلَّلٌand shackled فيin قَيدِهِhis fetter وَمُصَفَّدُand chained
وَمُغَلَّلٌ في قَيدِهِ وَمُصَفَّدُ
O grandfather, here is Husayn's son, ailing,
O grandfather, this is the chained son of Husayn
And shackled in his fetters, bound in chains.
Shackled in his bonds, fettered
يَرنوhe gazes لِوالِدِهِtoward his father وَيَرنوand he gazes حالَهُhis plight
يَرنو لِوالِدِهِ وَيَرنو حالَهُ
وَبَنوand the sons of أُمَيَّةَUmayya فيin العَمىblindness لَمdid not يَهتَدواthey find guidance
وَبَنو أُمَيَّةَ في العَمى لَم يَهتَدوا
He gazes toward his father and looks upon his plight,
Yearning for his father and his state
And the sons of Umayya, in blindness, found no guidance.
While the sons of Umayya in blindness did not guide
ياO جَدُّgrandfather ذاthis شَمِرٌShimr يَرومُseeks بِفَتكِهِthrough his murderous assault
يا جَدُّ ذا شَمِرٌ يَرومُ بِفَتكِهِ
ذَبحَthe slaughter of الحُسَينِHusayn فَأَيُّso which عَينٍeye تَجمُدُstays dry
ذَبحَ الحُسَينِ فَأَيُّ عَينٍ تَجمُدُ
O grandfather, here is Shimr, seeking through his murderous assault
O grandfather, here is Shimr striving
To slaughter Husayn—so what eye can remain dry?
To slaughter Husayn; so which eye will slumber?
لِيَحوزَto win جائِزَةَthe reward of اللَعينِthe accursed one
لِيَحوزَ جائِزَةَ اللَعينِ
لَعَنَmay curse المُهَيمِنُthe All-Protecting One ماwhat بِهِwith it يَتَضَهَّدُhe oppresses
لَعَنَ المُهَيمِنُ ما بِهِ يَتَضَهَّدُ
To win the accursed one's reward.
To gain the prize of the damned;
May the All-Protecting One curse what he uses to oppress.
Cursed by the Overseer be what he strives for!
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen أَهوىhe brought down عَلَيهِupon him بِسَيفِهِwith his sword
حَتّى إِذا أَهوى عَلَيهِ بِسَيفِهِ
نادىhe called out بِأَخفَضِin the faintest of صَوتِهِhis voice ياO أَوحَدُPeerless One
نادى بِأَخفَضِ صَوتِهِ يا أَوحَدُ
Until, when he brought his sword down upon him,
When he brought down his sword upon him
He called out in his faintest voice: 'O Peerless One!'
He called in the softest voice: O Only Son!
ياO خالِقيmy Creator أَنتَYou الرَقيبُthe Watcher عَلَيهِمُover them
يا خالِقي أَنتَ الرَقيبُ عَلَيهِمُ
فيin فِعلِهِمtheir deeds ظُلماًunjustly وَإِنَّكَand indeed You تَشهَدُbear witness
في فِعلِهِم ظُلماً وَإِنَّكَ تَشهَدُ
O my Creator, You are the Watcher over them,
O my Creator You watch over them
In their unjust deeds, and indeed You bear witness.
In their act of wrong while You witness
وَتَعُجُّand she cries aloud طوراًat times بِالنَبِيِّto the Prophet المُصطَفىthe chosen one
وَتَعُجُّ طوراً بِالنَبِيِّ المُصطَفى
ياO والِديmy father الساقيthe cupbearer عَلِيِّAli المُرتَضىthe approved one
يا والِدي الساقي عَلِيِّ المُرتَضى
And at times she cries out to the chosen Prophet:
You shall swiftly reckon with the Prophet
O my father, the cupbearer, Ali al-Murtada!
O father mine, O giver to `Ali al-Murtada
نالَhas inflicted harm العَدُوُّthe enemy بِناon us كَماjust as قَدalready مَهَّدواthey prepared
نالَ العَدُوُّ بِنا كَما قَد مَهَّدوا
ياO أُميَmy mother الزَهراءَal-Zahra, the radiant قوميrise عَدِّديrecount in lamentation
يا أُميَ الزَهراءَ قومي عَدِّدي
The enemy has inflicted harm on us, just as they had planned.
The foe has secured from us what they schemed
O my mother, al-Zahra, rise and recite a lament!
O mother mine, O Fatima the Radiant, rise and count
وَجَميعُand all أَملاكِthe angels of السَماheaven لَكِfor you تُنجِدُcome to aid
وَجَميعُ أَملاكِ السَما لَكِ تُنجِدُ
هَذَاthis حَبيبُكِyour beloved بِالنُصولِby blades مُقَطَّعٌcut to pieces
هَذَا حَبيبُكِ بِالنُصولِ مُقَطَّعٌ
And all the angels of heaven come to your aid.
My possessions in the heavens will assist you
Here is your beloved, cut to pieces by blades.
This is your beloved ripped limb from limb
هَذاthis مُصابٌa calamity ماnot أُصيبَwas afflicted بِمِثلِهِwith its like
هَذا مُصابٌ ما أُصيبَ بِمِثلِهِ
بَشَرٌa human being مِنَamong المَخلوقِcreated beings إِلّاexcept
بَشَرٌ مِنَ المَخلوقِ إِلّا
This is a calamity the like of which has never befallen
None has been afflicted with the like of his affliction
Any human being among creation, except ...
Ever among all mankind except
وَإِلَيكُمُand to you مِنfrom
وَإِلَيكُمُ مِن
بَعضِsome of النِظامِthe verse عَساهُperhaps he فيهِin it يَسعَدُfinds happiness
بَعضِ النِظامِ عَساهُ فيهِ يَسعَدُ
And to you, from ...
From your Household, and unto you
Some verse—perhaps he may find happiness in it.
Some prosody, hopefully in it to delight
صَلّىmay bless الاِلَهُGod عَلَيكُمُupon you ياO مَنthose who
صَلّى الاِلَهُ عَلَيكُمُ يا مَن
ماas long as دامَcontinues طَيرٌa bird فيin السَماءِthe sky يُغَرِّدُsings
ما دامَ طَيرٌ في السَماءِ يُغَرِّدُ
May God bless you, O you who ...
God bless you, O Household, for as long
As long as a bird sings in the sky.
As birds in the sky sing their trills
Sol 6.1