دَمعَةٌa tear مِنfrom دُموعِthe tears of عَهدِthe days of الشَبابِyouth
دَمعَةٌ مِن دُموعِ عَهدِ الشَبابِ
كُنتُI had خَبَّأتُهاI hid it away لِيَومِfor the day of المُصابِcalamity
كُنتُ خَبَّأتُها لِيَومِ المُصابِ
A tear from the tears of youthful days,
A tear from the tears of youth's era
I had hidden it away for the day of calamity.
I had hidden it for the day of affliction
لَبَّتِit answered اليَومَtoday ياO مُحَمَّدُMuhammad لَمّاwhen
لَبَّتِ اليَومَ يا مُحَمَّدُ لَمّا
راعَنيalarmed me نَعيُthe death announcement of أَكتَبِthe most accomplished of الكُتّابِthe writers
راعَني نَعيُ أَكتَبِ الكُتّابِ
It answered today, O Muhammad, when
It came today, O Muhammad, when
the death announcement of the finest of writers appalled me.
The obituary of the most eloquent writers pained me
هَدَّأَتit calmed لَوعَتيmy anguish وَسَرَّتand brought relief قَليلاًa little
هَدَّأَت لَوعَتي وَسَرَّت قَليلاً
عَنfrom فُؤاديmy heart وَلَطَّفَتand eased بَعضَsome of ماwhat بيis in me
عَن فُؤادي وَلَطَّفَت بَعضَ ما بي
It calmed my anguish and brought a little relief
It calmed my agony and gladdened me a little
to my heart, and eased some of what ailed me.
About my heart and softened some of my pain
مَوكِبُthe procession of الدَفنِburial خَلفَbehind نَعشِكَyour bier يَمشيwalks
مَوكِبُ الدَفنِ خَلفَ نَعشِكَ يَمشي
فيin اِحتِسابٍhope of divine reward وَحَسرَةٍand grief وَاِنتِحابِand sobbing
في اِحتِسابٍ وَحَسرَةٍ وَاِنتِحابِ
The funeral procession walks behind your bier
The funeral procession walks behind your coffin
in hope of divine reward, in grief and sobbing.
In resignation, sorrow, and lamentation
لَمdid not يُجاوِزexceed مَنازِلَthe stations of البَدرِthe full moon عَدّاًin number
لَم يُجاوِز مَنازِلَ البَدرِ عَدّاً
مِنof بَقاياthose remaining of الصَديقِthe friends وَالأَحبابِand loved ones
مِن بَقايا الصَديقِ وَالأَحبابِ
It numbered no more than the full moon's stations,
None passed by the dwellings of Badr except
formed of the friends and loved ones who remained.
A few of the loyal friends and loved ones
لَمdid not يَسِرwalk فيهِin it مَنanyone who يُحاوِلُseeks أَجراًa reward
لَم يَسِر فيهِ مَن يُحاوِلُ أَجراً
عِندَfrom حَيٍّa living person مُؤَمَّلٍlooked to with hope أَوor يُحابيcourts favor
عِندَ حَيٍّ مُؤَمَّلٍ أَو يُحابي
No one walked in it seeking reward
None walked in it attempting to gain
from someone living and looked to with hope, or currying favor.
Favor with the living or to ingratiate
مَوكِبٌa procession ماجَsurged جانِباهُits two sides بِحَفلٍwith a throng
مَوكِبٌ ماجَ جانِباهُ بِحَفلٍ
مِنof وُفودِdelegations of الأَخلاقِvirtues وَالأَحسابِand noble lineage
مِن وُفودِ الأَخلاقِ وَالأَحسابِ
A procession whose two sides surged with a throng
A procession overflowing on its sides with
of delegations of virtue and noble lineage.
Crowds of ethics and reputations
شاعَspread فيهِin it الوَفاءُloyalty وَالحُزنُand grief حَتّىuntil
شاعَ فيهِ الوَفاءُ وَالحُزنُ حَتّى
ضاقَproved too narrow عَنfor حَشدِهِits throng فَسيحُthe spacious الرِحابِcourtyards
ضاقَ عَن حَشدِهِ فَسيحُ الرِحابِ
Loyalty and grief spread through it until
Loyalty and grief spread in it until
the spacious courtyards could not contain its throng.
Its throngs overwhelmed the vast plains
فَكَأَنَّso it was as though السَماءَheaven وَالأَرضَand earth تَمشيwere walking
فَكَأَنَّ السَماءَ وَالأَرضَ تَمشي
فيهِin it مِنbecause of هَيبَةٍmajesty وَعِزِّand dignity of جَنابِstanding
فيهِ مِن هَيبَةٍ وَعِزِّ جَنابِ
As though heaven and earth were walking
As if the sky and earth walked in it
within it, such were its majesty and exalted standing.
With awe and the glory of His throne
تَتَمَنّىwish قَياصِرُthe Caesars of الأَرضِthe earth لَوif only فاgain (first part)
تَتَمَنّى قَياصِرُ الأَرضِ لَو فا
زَتgain (last part) لَدىat مَوتِهاtheir deaths بِهَذاwith this الرِكابِretinue
زَت لَدى مَوتِها بِهَذا الرِكابِ
The earth's Caesars wish that they might
The emperors of earth wish they had gained
win such a retinue at their deaths.
This followings upon their deaths
رُبَّmany a نَعشٍbier قَدindeed شَيَّعَتهُfollowed it to burial أُلوفٌthousands
رُبَّ نَعشٍ قَد شَيَّعَتهُ أُلوفٌ
مِنof سَوادٍa multitude تَعلوهُcover it سودُblack الثِيابِgarments
مِن سَوادٍ تَعلوهُ سودُ الثِيابِ
Many a bier has been followed by thousands
Many a coffin has been escorted by thousands
of a multitude covered in black garments;
In black, topped by clothes of black
لَيسَthere is not فيهِمamong them مِنany جازِعٍone distraught أَوor حَزينٍone grieving
لَيسَ فيهِم مِن جازِعٍ أَو حَزينٍ
صادِقِsincere in السَعيِthe attendance أَوor أَليفٍan intimate friend مُصابِbereaved
صادِقِ السَعيِ أَو أَليفٍ مُصابِ
among them is no distressed or grieving soul
Among them is no true griever or saddened
sincere in his attendance, nor a stricken friend.
Of sincere effort, or sympathetic to the afflicted
كُنتَyou were لاnot تَرتَضيyou accept النُجومَthe stars مَحَلّاًas a dwelling
كُنتَ لا تَرتَضي النُجومَ مَحَلّاً
فَلِماذاso why رَضيتَdid you accept سُكنىdwelling in التُرابِthe dust
فَلِماذا رَضيتَ سُكنى التُرابِ
You would not accept the stars as your dwelling;
You would not accept the stars as a dwelling
why, then, did you accept a home in the dust?
So why did you accept the abode of dust?
كُنتَyou were راحَthe wine of النُفوسِsouls فيin مَجلِسِa gathering of الأُنfellowship (first part)
كُنتَ راحَ النُفوسِ في مَجلِسِ الأُن
سِfellowship (last part) وَراحَand the wine of العُقولِminds عِندَduring الخِطابِdiscourse
سِ وَراحَ العُقولِ عِندَ الخِطابِ
You were the wine of souls in gatherings of
You were the soul's comfort in the gathering of intimacy
fellowship, and the wine of minds in discourse.
And the mind's comfort in discourse
كُنتَyou were لاnot تُرهِقُyou burden الصَديقَthe friend بِلَومٍwith blame
كُنتَ لا تُرهِقُ الصَديقَ بِلَومٍ
لاno وَلاand not تَستَبيحُyou violate غَيبَthe absence of الصِحابِthe companions
لا وَلا تَستَبيحُ غَيبَ الصِحابِ
You never burdened a friend with blame,
You would not burden a friend with blame
no, nor maligned your companions in their absence.
Nor violate the privacy of companions
وَلَئِنand even if بِتَّyou spent the night عاتِباًreproachful أَوor غَضوباًangry
وَلَئِن بِتَّ عاتِباً أَو غَضوباً
لِقَريبُsurely quick to الرِضاbe appeased كَريمُgracious in العِتابِreproach
لِقَريبُ الرِضا كَريمُ العِتابِ
And even if you spent the night reproachful or angry,
And if you blamed or got angry
you were quick to be appeased, gracious in reproach.
Soon reconciled, gentle in reproach
جُزتَyou passed سَبعينَseventy حِجَّةًyears لاnot تُباليyou care
جُزتَ سَبعينَ حِجَّةً لا تُبالي
بِشِهادٍabout honey تَعاقَبَتcoming in succession أَمor بِصابِabout bitter sap
بِشِهادٍ تَعاقَبَت أَم بِصابِ
You passed seventy years, caring nothing
You performed seventy pilgrimages, caring not
for honey coming in succession, or for bitter sap.
If the witness succeeded each other, or passed
وَسَواءٌand alike لَدَيكَto you وَالرَأيُand judgment حُرٌّunfettered
وَسَواءٌ لَدَيكَ وَالرَأيُ حُرٌّ
رَوحُthe gentle breath of نَيسانَApril أَوor لَوافِحُthe scorching blasts of آبِAugust
رَوحُ نَيسانَ أَو لَوافِحُ آبِ
And it was all the same to you, your judgment unfettered:
It was the same to you, judgment being free
April's gentle breath or August's scorching blasts.
Whether the spirit of April or hot August
ياO شُجاعاًbrave one وَماand not الشَجاعَةُcourage إِلّاexcept الـthe (before patience)
يا شُجاعاً وَما الشَجاعَةُ إِلّا الـ
ـصَبرُpatience لاnot الخَوضُplunging فيinto صُدورِthe breasts of الصِعابِhardships
ـصَبرُ لا الخَوضُ في صُدورِ الصِعابِ
O brave one—courage is nothing but
O gallant one, and gallantry is but
patience, not plunging into the heart of hardships.
Patience, not plunging into the depths of perils
كُنتَyou were نِعمَhow excellent الصَبورُthe patient one إِنwhen حَزَبَgrew grievous الأَمـthe matter (first part)
كُنتَ نِعمَ الصَبورُ إِن حَزَبَ الأَمـ
ـرُthe matter (last part) وَسُدَّتand were blocked مَسارِحُthe avenues of الأَسبابِrecourse
ـرُ وَسُدَّت مَسارِحُ الأَسبابِ
You were nobly patient when trouble grew grave,
You were most patient if matters got difficult
and the avenues of recourse were blocked.
And the means were blocked and inaccessible
كَمhow often تَجَمَّلتَyou bore yourself with dignity وَالأَمانِيُّand hopes صَرعىlay slain
كَم تَجَمَّلتَ وَالأَمانِيُّ صَرعى
وَتَماسَكتَand you held firm وَالحُظوظُand fortunes كَوابيstumbled
وَتَماسَكتَ وَالحُظوظُ كَوابي
How often you bore yourself with dignity while hopes lay slain,
How often you were patient while hopes lay slain
and held firm while fortunes stumbled.
And you remained steadfast while luck was contrary
عِشتَyou lived ماas long as عِشتَyou lived كَالجِبالِlike the mountains الرَواسيfirmly rooted
عِشتَ ما عِشتَ كَالجِبالِ الرَواسي
فَوقَabove نارٍa fire تُذيبُmelts صُمَّthe solid الصِلابِhard rocks
فَوقَ نارٍ تُذيبُ صُمَّ الصِلابِ
You lived, throughout your life, like firmly rooted mountains
You lived your life like firmly rooted mountains
above a fire that melts solid, unyielding rocks,
Above a fire that melts the hardest rocks
مُؤثِرَpreferring البُؤسِmisery وَالشَقاءِand suffering عَلىover الشَكـcomplaint (first part)
مُؤثِرَ البُؤسِ وَالشَقاءِ عَلى الشَكـ
ـوىcomplaint (last part) وَإِنand even if عَضَّكَit bit you الزَمانُtime بِنابِwith a fang
ـوى وَإِن عَضَّكَ الزَمانُ بِنابِ
preferring misery and suffering to
Preferring misery and woe to complaining
complaint, even when time bit you with its fang.
Though time gnawed you with its teeth
كُنتَyou were تَخلوyou withdrew alone بِالنَفسِwith the soul وَالنَفسُand the soul تُشوىwas seared
كُنتَ تَخلو بِالنَفسِ وَالنَفسُ تُشوى
مِنby كُؤوسِcups of الهُمومِcares وَالأَوصابِand ailments
مِن كُؤوسِ الهُمومِ وَالأَوصابِ
You would sit alone with your soul while your soul was seared
You would be alone with your soul as it burned
by cups of cares and ailments.
From cups of worries and misfortunes
فَتُسَرّيso you soothe بِالذِكرِwith remembrance عَنهاfrom it وَتَنفيand you banish
فَتُسَرّي بِالذِكرِ عَنها وَتَنفي
ماwhat عَراهاhad overtaken it مِنof غُضَّةٍdistress وَاِكتِئابِand gloom
ما عَراها مِن غُضَّةٍ وَاِكتِئابِ
Then soothe it through remembrance, and banish
So you would comfort it with remembrance and dispel
the pangs and gloom that had overtaken it.
What had saddened and depressed it
وَتَرىand you see وَحشَةَthe loneliness of اِنفِرادِكَyour solitude أُنساًcompanionship
وَتَرى وَحشَةَ اِنفِرادِكَ أُنساً
بِحَديثِthrough the converse of النُفوسِsouls وَالأَلبابِand minds
بِحَديثِ النُفوسِ وَالأَلبابِ
And see the loneliness of your solitude as companionship
And you saw the loneliness of your isolation as
through the converse of souls and minds.
Company through conversing with souls and minds
بِنتَyou departed عَنهاfrom it وَماand not جَنَيتَyou reaped وَقَدand already كاyou endured (first part)
بِنتَ عَنها وَما جَنَيتَ وَقَد كا
بَدتَyou endured (last part) بَأساءَهاits miseries عَلىthroughout الأَحقابِthe ages
بَدتَ بَأساءَها عَلى الأَحقابِ
You parted from it without reaping anything, though you had
You turned away from it though you gained nothing
endured its miseries through the ages.
For you had tasted its bitterness throughout the eras
وَنَبَذتَand you spurned الثَراءَwealth تَبذُلُyou surrender فيهِfor it
وَنَبَذتَ الثَراءَ تَبذُلُ فيهِ
مِنsome إِباءٍself-respect فيin بَذلِهِsurrendering it شَرُّthe worst عابِdisgrace
مِن إِباءٍ في بَذلِهِ شَرُّ عابِ
And spurned wealth for which you would surrender
And you spurned wealth, generously spending
self-respect, whose surrender is the worst disgrace.
From disdain in spending which is the worst shame
لَوif شَهِدتُمyou had witnessed مُحَمَّداًMuhammad وَهوَwhile he يُمليdictates
لَو شَهِدتُم مُحَمَّداً وَهوَ يُملي
آيَthe signs of عيسىIsa وَمُعجِزاتِand the miracles of الكِتابِthe book
آيَ عيسى وَمُعجِزاتِ الكِتابِ
Had you seen Muhammad as he dictated
Had you seen Muhammad as he dictated
the signs of Isa and the miracles of the book,
The verses of Jesus and the miracles of the Book
وَقَفَتstood حَولَهُaround him صُفوفُranks of المَعانيmeanings
وَقَفَت حَولَهُ صُفوفُ المَعاني
وَصُفوفُand ranks of الأَلفاظِwords مِنfrom كُلِّevery بابِgate
وَصُفوفُ الأَلفاظِ مِن كُلِّ بابِ
with ranks of meanings standing around him,
Rows of meanings and rows of words
and ranks of words from every gate,
From every door would stand around him
لَعَلِمتُمyou would have known بِأَنَّthat عَهدَthe age of اِبنِson of بَحرٍBahr
لَعَلِمتُم بِأَنَّ عَهدَ اِبنِ بَحرٍ
عاوَدَreturned to الشَرقَthe East بَعدَafter طولِa long period of اِحتِجابِconcealment
عاوَدَ الشَرقَ بَعدَ طولِ اِحتِجابِ
you would have known that Ibn Bahr's age
You would know the era of the son of Bahr
had returned to the East after long concealment.
Had returned to the East after long absence
أَدَبٌliterary art مُستَوٍwell-balanced وَقَلبٌand a heart جَميعٌcomposed
أَدَبٌ مُستَوٍ وَقَلبٌ جَميعٌ
وَذَكاءٌand intelligence يُريكَshows you ضَوءَthe light of الشِهابِa meteor
وَذَكاءٌ يُريكَ ضَوءَ الشِهابِ
Well-balanced literary art, a composed heart,
Manners well-balanced and a heart all-encompassing
and an intelligence that shows you a meteor's light,
And an intellect that shows you the light of meteors
عِندَwith رَأيٍjudgment مُوَفَّقٍsound عِندَwith حَزمٍresolve
عِندَ رَأيٍ مُوَفَّقٍ عِندَ حَزمٍ
عِندَwith عِلمٍknowledge يَفيضُoverflows فَيضَlike the outpouring of السَحابِclouds
عِندَ عِلمٍ يَفيضُ فَيضَ السَحابِ
with sound judgment, with resolve,
With a well-guided opinion, resolute determination
with knowledge pouring forth as the clouds pour.
And knowledge overflowing like rain clouds
جَلَّstood exalted أُسلوبُهُhis style النَقِيُّpure المُصَفّىrefined
جَلَّ أُسلوبُهُ النَقِيُّ المُصَفّى
عَنabove غُموضٍobscurity وَنَفرَةٍand jarring harshness وَاِضطِرابِand incoherence
عَن غُموضٍ وَنَفرَةٍ وَاِضطِرابِ
His pure, refined style stood exalted
His style, pure and refined, transcended
above obscurity, harshness, and incoherence.
Abstruseness, repulsion, and confusion
وَسَماand rose نَقدُهُhis criticism النَزيهُimpartial عَنِabove الهُجـfoul speech (first part)
وَسَما نَقدُهُ النَزيهُ عَنِ الهُجـ
ـرِfoul speech (last part) فَماand not شيبَwas mixed مَرَّةًonce بِالسِبابِwith abuse
ـرِ فَما شيبَ مَرَّةً بِالسِبابِ
And his impartial criticism rose above
And his sincere criticism, far from insult
foul speech; never once was it mixed with abuse.
Was never tainted by abuse
ذُقتَyou tasted فيin غُربَةِthe exile of الحَياةِlife عَناءًhardship
ذُقتَ في غُربَةِ الحَياةِ عَناءً
فَذُقِso taste اليَومَtoday راحَةًrest فيin الإِيابِthe return
فَذُقِ اليَومَ راحَةً في الإِيابِ
You tasted hardship in life's exile,
You tasted in your exile from life hardship
so taste rest today in your return.
So taste today comfort in returning
بَلِّغِconvey to البابِلِيَّal-Babili عَنّيfrom me سَلاماًa greeting
بَلِّغِ البابِلِيَّ عَنّي سَلاماً
كَعَبيرِlike the fragrance of الرِياضِgardens أَوor كَالمَلابِlike saffron perfume
كَعَبيرِ الرِياضِ أَو كَالمَلابِ
Convey my greeting to al-Babili,
Convey to Al-Baqillani greetings from me
like the fragrance of gardens or saffron perfume.
Like the fragrance of gardens or soft silk
كانَhe was تِربيmy age-mate وَكانَand he was مِنone of نِعَمِthe blessings of المُبـthe Creator (first part)
كانَ تِربي وَكانَ مِن نِعَمِ المُبـ
ـدِعِthe Creator (last part) سُبحانَهُglory be to Him عَلىupon الأَترابِpeers
ـدِعِ سُبحانَهُ عَلى الأَترابِ
He was my age-mate, and one of the blessings of the
He was my mentor, and was of the blessings
Creator—glory be to Him—upon his peers.
Of the Glorious Creator upon communities
فارِسٌa knight فيin النَدىgenerosity إِذاwhen قَصَّرَfell short الفُرthe knights (first part)
فارِسٌ في النَدى إِذا قَصَّرَ الفُر
سانُthe knights (last part) عَنهُof him وَفارِسٌand a knight فيin الجَوابِreply
سانُ عَنهُ وَفارِسٌ في الجَوابِ
A knight in generosity when the
A knight of refinement when the horses failed
knights fell short of him, and a knight in reply.
And a knight of repartee in answering
يُرسِلُhe sends forth النُكتَةَthe witticism الطَريفَةَdelightful تَمشيmoving
يُرسِلُ النُكتَةَ الطَريفَةَ تَمشي
فيthrough رَقيقِthe delicacy of الشُعورِfeeling مَشيَlike the movement of الشَرابِwine
في رَقيقِ الشُعورِ مَشيَ الشَرابِ
He would send forth a delightful witticism to move
Who would send the witty anecdote walking
through delicate feeling as wine moves.
Through the essence of feeling like a draft of wine
قَدindeed أَثارَstirred المُحَمَّدانِthe two Muhammads دَفيناًsomething buried
قَد أَثارَ المُحَمَّدانِ دَفيناً
فيin فُؤاديmy heart وَقَدand indeed أَطاراthey scattered صَوابيmy wits
في فُؤادي وَقَد أَطارا صَوابي
The two Muhammads have stirred something buried
The two Muhammads buried have stirred up
in my heart, and have scattered my wits.
In my heart grief while elevating my composure
خَلَّفانيthey left me بَينَamong الرِفاقِthe companions وَحيداًalone
خَلَّفاني بَينَ الرِفاقِ وَحيداً
مُستَكيناًsubdued وَأَمعَناand they went far فيinto الغِيابِabsence
مُستَكيناً وَأَمعَنا في الغِيابِ
They left me alone among my companions,
They left me behind among friends, lonely
subdued, as they went far into absence.
Wretched, intensifying my absence
Sol 6.1