أَيُحصيcan it enumerate? مَعانيكَyour qualities القَريضُverse المُهَذَّبُpolished
أَيُحصي مَعانيكَ القَريضُ المُهَذَّبُ
عَلىdespite أَنَّthe fact that صَدرَthe breast الشِعرِof poetry لِلمَدحِfor praise أَرحَبُmore spacious
عَلى أَنَّ صَدرَ الشِعرِ لِلمَدحِ أَرحَبُ
Can polished verse encompass your qualities?
Can poetic elegance convey your meanings,
Though poetry's breast is more spacious for praise.
Though the poem's heart is most spacious for praise?
لَقَدindeed مَكَّنَfirmly established الرَحمَنُthe All-Merciful فيin الأَرضِthe earth دَولَةًa state
لَقَد مَكَّنَ الرَحمَنُ في الأَرضِ دَولَةً
لِعُثمانَfor Uthman لاnot تَعفوfade away وَلاnor تَتَشَعَّبُfragment
لِعُثمانَ لا تَعفو وَلا تَتَشَعَّبُ
The All-Merciful indeed established on earth a state
The Merciful established an empire on earth for Uthman
For Uthman, one that neither fades nor fragments.
That neither relents nor branches out.
بَناهاhe built it فَظَنَّتهاso they deemed it الدَراريthe brilliant stars مَنازِلاًdwellings
بَناها فَظَنَّتها الدَراري مَنازِلاً
لِبَدرِfor the full moon الدُجىof darkness تُبنىare built وَلِلسَعدِand for good fortune تُنصَبُare erected
لِبَدرِ الدُجى تُبنى وَلِلسَعدِ تُنصَبُ
He built it, and the brilliant stars deemed it dwellings
He built it, so the nomads thought it dwellings
Built for the full moon of night, and erected for good fortune.
For the full moons to inhabit and the auspicious stars.
وَقامَand took charge رِجالٌmen بِالإِمامَةِof the leadership بَعدَهُafter him
وَقامَ رِجالٌ بِالإِمامَةِ بَعدَهُ
فَزادواso they added عَلىto ذاكَthat البِناءِedifice وَطَنَّبواand extended it
فَزادوا عَلى ذاكَ البِناءِ وَطَنَّبوا
And after him men assumed the leadership,
After him men arose in the Caliphate
So they added to that edifice and extended it.
Who added to that structure and embellished it.
وَرَدّواand restored عَلىto الإِسلامِIslam عَهدَthe days شَبابِهِof its youth
وَرَدّوا عَلى الإِسلامِ عَهدَ شَبابِهِ
وَمَدّواand increased لَهُfor it جاهاًprestige يُرَجّىlooked to with hope وَيُرهَبُand feared
وَمَدّوا لَهُ جاهاً يُرَجّى وَيُرهَبُ
And restored to Islam the days of its youth,
They restored Islam's time of youth,
And increased its prestige, inspiring hope and fear.
Giving it esteem to hope for and to fear.
أُسودٌlions عَلىon البُسفورِthe Bosphorus تَحميguard عَرينَهاtheir den
أُسودٌ عَلى البُسفورِ تَحمي عَرينَها
وَتَرعىand watch over نِيامَthe sleepers الشَرقِof the East وَالغَربُwhile the West يَرقُبُwatches
وَتَرعى نِيامَ الشَرقِ وَالغَربُ يَرقُبُ
Lions on the Bosphorus guard their den,
Lions over the Bosphorus guarding their den
And watch over the East's sleepers, while the West watches.
And tending the slumber of East and observant West.
لَهاthey have وَثَباتٌleaps تَحتَbeneath ظِلِّthe shadow هِلالِهاof their crescent
لَها وَثَباتٌ تَحتَ ظِلِّ هِلالِها
كَماas مَرَّflew past سَهمٌan arrow أَوor كَماas اِنقَضَّplunged كَوكَبُa star
كَما مَرَّ سَهمٌ أَو كَما اِنقَضَّ كَوكَبُ
They leap beneath the shadow of their crescent,
They have leaps, beneath the shade of its crescent,
As an arrow flies past, or a star plunges.
Like the flight of an arrow or a shooting star's swoop.
إِذاif راعَهاstartles them مَسٌّa touch مِنَof الضَيمِinjustice خِلتَهاyou would think them
إِذا راعَها مَسٌّ مِنَ الضَيمِ خِلتَها
كَمَنlike someone راعَهُstartled him بِالمَسِّby touch سِلكٌa wire مُكَهرَبُelectrified
كَمَن راعَهُ بِالمَسِّ سِلكٌ مُكَهرَبُ
If a touch of injustice startles them, you would think them
If adversity touches them even slightly
Like one startled by the touch of an electrified wire.
They are like lions prodded—enraged.
وَإِنand if هَزَّهاrouses them ذاكَthat الهِلالُcrescent لِحادِثٍfor a crisis
وَإِن هَزَّها ذاكَ الهِلالُ لِحادِثٍ
رَأَيتَyou would see قَضاءَthe decree اللَهِof God يَمشيwalks وَيَركَبُand rides
رَأَيتَ قَضاءَ اللَهِ يَمشي وَيَركَبُ
And if that crescent rouses them for some crisis,
When that crescent shakes them over some misfortune,
You would see God's decree walking and riding.
You see God's destiny marching and riding.
إِذاif ضاءَتِshine الأَحسابُancestral honors يَوماًone day لِمُعرِقٍfor one of ancient lineage
إِذا ضاءَتِ الأَحسابُ يَوماً لِمُعرِقٍ
فَعُثمانُthen Uthman خَيرُthe best الفاتِحينَof conquerors لَهُمfor them أَبُa father
فَعُثمانُ خَيرُ الفاتِحينَ لَهُم أَبُ
If ancestral honors ever shine for one of ancient lineage,
When accounts are settled on a day of reckoning,
Then Uthman, best of conquerors, is their forefather.
Uthman is the best opener for them.
وَإِنand if تاهَtakes pride بِالأَبناءِin sons وَالبَأسِand valor والِدٌa father
وَإِن تاهَ بِالأَبناءِ وَالبَأسِ والِدٌ
فَأَولىthen most entitled الوَرىhumankind بِالتيهِto pride ذاكَthat المُعَصَّبُcrowned one
فَأَولى الوَرى بِالتيهِ ذاكَ المُعَصَّبُ
And if a father takes pride in sons and valor,
If, confused by sons and war, a father goes astray,
Then that crowned one is most entitled of all mankind to pride.
The most lost of men is he who is most stubborn.
فَهَذاso here is سُلَيمانٌSuleiman وَقانونُand the code عَدلِهِof his justice
فَهَذا سُلَيمانٌ وَقانونُ عَدلِهِ
عَلىon صَفَحاتِthe pages الدَهرِof time بِالتِبرِin gold يُكتَبُis written
عَلى صَفَحاتِ الدَهرِ بِالتِبرِ يُكتَبُ
Here is Suleiman, and his code of justice
Inscribed on the pages of time in glory.
Is written in gold upon the pages of time.
There is he who launched the ships across dry land
وَذاكَand that one الَّذيwho أَجرىmade sail السَفينَships عَلىover الثَرىthe earth
وَذاكَ الَّذي أَجرى السَفينَ عَلى الثَرى
وَسارَand traveled لَهُfor him فيon البَرِّland وَالبَحرِand sea مَركَبُa vessel
وَسارَ لَهُ في البَرِّ وَالبَحرِ مَركَبُ
And there is he who made ships sail upon the earth,
And for him the vessel and the camel sailed the land and sea.
And whose vessel traveled over land and sea.
On his lofty gate gleamed lines
عَلىupon بابِهِhis gate العاليlofty هُناكَthere تَأَلَّقَتgleamed
عَلى بابِهِ العالي هُناكَ تَأَلَّقَت
سُطورٌlines لِأَقلامِto the pens الجَلالَةِof majesty تُنسَبُare attributed
سُطورٌ لِأَقلامِ الجَلالَةِ تُنسَبُ
There, upon his lofty gate, gleamed
Attributed to the Pens of Majesty.
Lines attributed to the pens of majesty:
What but a refuge were they who took shelter
هُناhere فَاِخفِضواso lower الأَبصارَthe eyes عَرشُthe throne مُحَمَّدٍof Muhammad
هُنا فَاِخفِضوا الأَبصارَ عَرشُ مُحَمَّدٍ
هُناhere الفاتِحُthe conqueror الغازيthe warrior الكَمِيُّthe armored champion المُدَرَّبُthe seasoned
هُنا الفاتِحُ الغازي الكَمِيُّ المُدَرَّبُ
Here—lower your eyes—is Muhammad's throne;
In the embrace of God's servant when foes threatened?
Here is the conqueror, the warrior, the seasoned champion in armor.
He tells them, “My scabbard guards my honor;
وَماand what كانَoccurred مِنfrom عَبدِAbd (servant) المَجيدِal-Majid (the Glorious) إِذِwhen اِحتَمىsought refuge
وَما كانَ مِن عَبدِ المَجيدِ إِذِ اِحتَمى
بِأَكنافِهِunder his protection كوشوطُKossuth وَالخَطبُwhile calamity غَيهَبُpitch-dark
بِأَكنافِهِ كوشوطُ وَالخَطبُ غَيهَبُ
And what of Abd al-Majid, when refuge was sought
My sword exacts revenge.”
Under his protection by Kossuth, while calamity was black as night?
If fortune favors, I am its heaven;
يُناديهِمُhe calls to them أَمّاas for نَزيليmy guest فَدونَهُthen before him
يُناديهِمُ أَمّا نَزيلي فَدونَهُ
حَيّاتيmy life وَأَمّاand as for صارِميmy keen sword فَمُشَطَّبُthen it is grooved
حَيّاتي وَأَمّا صارِمي فَمُشَطَّبُ
He calls to them: “As for my guest, before him stands
If misfortune comes, stand fast and try me!
My life; and as for my keen sword, it is grooved.
Thus they dwelled secure in their abodes
فَإِنso if كانَتِit is الحُسنىthe better course فَإِنّيthen indeed I am سَماؤُهاits sky
فَإِن كانَتِ الحُسنى فَإِنّي سَماؤُها
وَإِنand if كانَتِit is الأُخرىthe other course فَشُدّواthen charge وَجَرِّبواand try
وَإِن كانَتِ الأُخرى فَشُدّوا وَجَرِّبوا
So if it is the better course, then I am its sky;
While adversaries in the West suffered woes.
And if it is the other course, charge and try me!”
How often did the latter beg amnesty—and it was granted!
كَذَلِكَthus كانواthey used to يَستَقِرّونَdwell فيon الذُراthe heights
كَذَلِكَ كانوا يَستَقِرّونَ في الذُرا
وَأَعداؤُهُمwhile their enemies فيin الغَربِthe West تَشقىsuffer وَتُنكَبُand are stricken
وَأَعداؤُهُم في الغَربِ تَشقى وَتُنكَبُ
Thus they dwelt upon the heights,
In the East they found sanctuary and pasture.
While their enemies in the West suffered and were stricken.
They were the tribe's safety, while the East shone radiant,
فَكَمso how often طَلَبواthey sought مِنهُمfrom them أَماناًsafe conduct فَأَمَّنواso they granted safety
فَكَم طَلَبوا مِنهُم أَماناً فَأَمَّنوا
وَأَمسىand became لَهُمtheirs فيin الشَرقِthe East مَسرىًa route وَمَسرَبُand a passage
وَأَمسى لَهُم في الشَرقِ مَسرىً وَمَسرَبُ
How often they sought safe conduct from them, and were granted it!
And their distinction made the East life's evening star.
And in the East a route and passage became theirs.
They say, “This place breeds narrow-mindedness!”
فَكانَso it was أَمانَthe safe conduct القَومِof the people وَالشَرقُwhile the East مَشرِقٌradiant
فَكانَ أَمانَ القَومِ وَالشَرقُ مَشرِقٌ
فَأَضحىthen it became اِمتِيازَthe privilege القَومِof the people وَالشَرقُwhile the East مَغرِبُa place of sunset
فَأَضحى اِمتِيازَ القَومِ وَالشَرقُ مَغرِبُ
So it was the people's safe conduct while the East was radiant;
But what place is without such narrowness?
Then it became the people's privilege while the East was a land of sunset.
O East! If the West should bend or harden,
يَقولونَthey say فيin هَذيthese الرُبوعِlands تَعَصُّبٌfanaticism
يَقولونَ في هَذي الرُبوعِ تَعَصُّبٌ
وَأَيُّand what مَكانٍplace لَيسَis not فيهِin it تَعَصُّبُfanaticism
وَأَيُّ مَكانٍ لَيسَ فيهِ تَعَصُّبُ
They say, “In these lands there is fanaticism.”
In it is the pliant temper of bright steel.
And what place has no fanaticism?
Fear its rage in the head but also its weakness in drink,
فَياso O شَرقُEast إِنَّindeed الغَربَthe West إِنif لانَsoftens أَوor قَساgrows harsh
فَيا شَرقُ إِنَّ الغَربَ إِن لانَ أَو قَسا
فَفيهِthen within it مِنَfrom الصَهباءِtawny wine طَبعٌa quality مُذَوَّبُdissolved
فَفيهِ مِنَ الصَهباءِ طَبعٌ مُذَوَّبُ
So, O East, whether the West softens or grows harsh,
As the head burns and the cup makes it reel!
A quality of tawny wine is dissolved within it.
O West! Time floats men as boats
فَخِفso fear بَأسَهاits potency فيin الرَأسِthe head وَالرَأسُwhile the head يَصطَليburns
فَخِف بَأسَها في الرَأسِ وَالرَأسُ يَصطَلي
وَخِفand fear ضَعفَهاits weakness فيin الكَأسِthe cup وَالكَأسُwhile the cup تُطرِبُgives delight
وَخِف ضَعفَها في الكَأسِ وَالكَأسُ تُطرِبُ
So fear its potency in the head, while the head burns;
And sweeps them in the current of destiny to founder.
And fear its weakness in the cup, while the cup gives delight.
I see you are the ambitious man's destination,
وَياand O غَربُWest إِنَّindeed الدَهرَtime يَطفوfloats بِأَهلِهِwith its people
وَيا غَربُ إِنَّ الدَهرَ يَطفو بِأَهلِهِ
وَيَطويهِand engulfs it تَيّارُthe current القَضاءِof fate فَيَرسُبُso it sinks
وَيَطويهِ تَيّارُ القَضاءِ فَيَرسُبُ
And O West, time floats with its people,
As though each of your thrones has a high ladder.
And the current of fate engulfs it, so it sinks.
أَراكَI see you مَقَرَّthe abode الطامِعينَof the greedy كَأَنَّماas though
أَراكَ مَقَرَّ الطامِعينَ كَأَنَّما
عَلىon كُلِّevery عَرشٍthrone مِنof عُروشِكَyour thrones أَشعَبُAsh'ab
عَلى كُلِّ عَرشٍ مِن عُروشِكَ أَشعَبُ
I see you as the abode of the greedy, as though
Upon every throne of yours sits Ash'ab.
Partial English translation: 49 of 52 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1