شَبَحاًa specter أَرىI see أَمor ذاكَthat طَيفُa phantom خَيالِof imagination
شَبَحاً أَرى أَم ذاكَ طَيفُ خَيالِ
لاno بَلrather فَتاةٌa young woman بِالعَراءِin the open حِياليbefore me
لا بَل فَتاةٌ بِالعَراءِ حِيالي
Do I see a specter, or is that a phantom of the imagination?
A ghost I see, or is that a figment of imagination?
No—rather, a young woman in the open before me.
No, but a maiden by the dunes I spy.
أَمسَتshe came to be at night بِمَدرَجَةِin the path of الخُطوبِcalamities فَماso no لَهاfor her
أَمسَت بِمَدرَجَةِ الخُطوبِ فَما لَها
راعٍcaretaker هُناكَthere وَماand no لَهاfor her مِنany واليguardian
راعٍ هُناكَ وَما لَها مِن والي
Night found her in calamities' path, with no
She has reached marriageable age, yet has no suitor,
caretaker there, and no guardian.
No guardian, no protector here for her.
حَسرىexhausted تَكادُshe almost تُعيدُturns فَحمَةَthe charcoal-darkness لَيلِهاof her night
حَسرى تَكادُ تُعيدُ فَحمَةَ لَيلِها
ناراًinto fire بِأَنّاتٍwith moans ذَكَينَthat blazed طِوالِlong-drawn
ناراً بِأَنّاتٍ ذَكَينَ طِوالِ
Exhausted, she almost turns her night's charcoal darkness
Grieving, she almost rekindles the darkness of night
into fire with long, blazing moans.
Into a fire with her long, anguished moans.
ماwhat خَطبُهاher plight عَجَباًhow strange وَماand what خَطبيmy concern بِهاwith her
ما خَطبُها عَجَباً وَما خَطبي بِها
ماwhat ليwith me أُشاطِرُهاI share with her الوَجيعَةَthe suffering ماwhat ليwith me
ما لي أُشاطِرُها الوَجيعَةَ ما لي
What is her plight—how strange!—and what is my concern with her?
What ails her so? And why am I troubled by her?
What ails me, that I share her suffering? What ails me?
Why must I share her torment, what is she to me?
دانَيتُهاI drew near her وَلِصَوتِهاand her voice had فيin مَسمَعيmy hearing
دانَيتُها وَلِصَوتِها في مَسمَعي
وَقعُthe impact النِبالِof arrows عَطَفنَthat followed in turn إِثرَafter نِبالِarrows
وَقعُ النِبالِ عَطَفنَ إِثرَ نِبالِ
I drew near her; in my ear her voice had
I drew near, her voice falling sweetly on my ears,
the impact of arrows, volley following volley.
Like arrows following arrows in succession.
وَسَأَلتُهاand I asked her مَنwho أَنتِare you وَهيَand she كَأَنَّهاas though she were
وَسَأَلتُها مَن أَنتِ وَهيَ كَأَنَّها
رَسمٌa trace عَلىupon طَلَلٍa ruin مِنَamong الأَطلالِthe ruins
رَسمٌ عَلى طَلَلٍ مِنَ الأَطلالِ
And I asked her, “Who are you?” while she seemed
I asked who she was, and she was like a drawing
a trace upon a ruin among ruins.
On the remnants of ruins amongst ruins.
فَتَمَلمَلَتso she stirred جَزَعاًin anguish وَقالَتand said حامِلٌpregnant
فَتَمَلمَلَت جَزَعاً وَقالَت حامِلٌ
لَمnot تَدرِshe knew طَعمَthe taste الغَمضِof sleep مُنذُfor لَياليnights
لَم تَدرِ طَعمَ الغَمضِ مُنذُ لَيالي
So she stirred in anguish and said she was pregnant;
She tossed fretfully, saying she has not known
she had not tasted sleep for nights.
The taste of sleep since nights gone by.
قَدalready ماتَdied والِدُهاher father وَماتَتand died أُمُّهاher mother
قَد ماتَ والِدُها وَماتَت أُمُّها
وَمَضىand went away الحِمامُdeath بِعَمِّهاwith her paternal uncle وَالخالِand the maternal uncle
وَمَضى الحِمامُ بِعَمِّها وَالخالِ
Her father had died, and her mother had died,
Her father died, her mother died,
and death had carried off her paternal and maternal uncles.
Her uncle and aunt left her behind.
وَإِلىand up to هُناhere حَبَسَheld back الحَياءُmodesty لِسانَهاher tongue
وَإِلى هُنا حَبَسَ الحَياءُ لِسانَها
وَجَرىand flowed البُكاءُweeping بِدَمعِهاwith her tears الهَطّالِstreaming
وَجَرى البُكاءُ بِدَمعِها الهَطّالِ
And at this point modesty held back her tongue,
Modesty then tied her tongue
and weeping flowed with her pouring tears.
As copious tears flowed from her eyes.
فَعَلِمتُso I knew ماwhat تُخفيshe hides الفَتاةُthe young woman وَإِنَّماand only
فَعَلِمتُ ما تُخفي الفَتاةُ وَإِنَّما
يَحنوshows tenderness عَلىtoward أَمثالِهاpeople like her أَمثاليpeople like me
يَحنو عَلى أَمثالِها أَمثالي
So I knew what the young woman hid; only
So I understood what the maiden hid, though
people like me show tenderness to people like her.
The likes of me empathize with her likes.
وَوَقَفتُand I stood أَنظُرُهاI gaze at her كَأَنّيas though I were عابِدٌa worshipper
وَوَقَفتُ أَنظُرُها كَأَنّي عابِدٌ
فيin هَيكَلٍa temple يَرنوgazes إِلىtoward تِمثالِa statue
في هَيكَلٍ يَرنو إِلى تِمثالِ
And I stood gazing at her, as though I were a worshipper
I watched her as if I were a worshipper
in a temple, gazing at a statue.
In a temple gazing upon an idol.
وَرَأَيتُand I saw آياتِthe signs الجَمالِof beauty تَكَفَّلَتensured
وَرَأَيتُ آياتِ الجَمالِ تَكَفَّلَت
بِزَوالِهِنَّtheir disappearance فَوادِحُcrushingly heavy الأَثقالِburdens
بِزَوالِهِنَّ فَوادِحُ الأَثقالِ
And I saw beauty's signs, their disappearance assured
I saw the signs of beauty destined
by the crushing weight of burdens.
To decline, however weighty they are.
لاno شَيءَthing أَفعَلُmore powerful فيupon النُفوسِsouls كَقامَةٍlike a figure
لا شَيءَ أَفعَلُ في النُفوسِ كَقامَةٍ
هَيفاءَslender-waisted رَوَّعَهاterrified her الأَسىgrief بِهُزالِwith wasting
هَيفاءَ رَوَّعَها الأَسى بِهُزالِ
Nothing moves souls more powerfully than a figure,
Nothing affects souls like the form
slender-waisted, ravaged into gauntness by grief,
Of a delicate beauty worn thin with sorrow,
أَوor غادَةٍa graceful girl كانَتshe was تُريكَshowing you إِذاwhen بَدَتshe appeared
أَو غادَةٍ كانَت تُريكَ إِذا بَدَت
شَمسَthe sun النَهارِof day فَأَصبَحَتand she became كَالآلِlike a mirage
شَمسَ النَهارِ فَأَصبَحَت كَالآلِ
or a graceful girl who, whenever she appeared, once showed you
Or one who would show you, when she appeared,
the sun of day, but has become like a mirage.
The sun in daylight, but is now like the moon.
قُلتُI said اِنهَضيrise قالَتshe said أَيَنهَضُcan rise? مَيِّتٌa dead person
قُلتُ اِنهَضي قالَت أَيَنهَضُ مَيِّتٌ
مِنfrom قَبرِهِhis grave وَيَسيرُand walks شَنٌّan old waterskin باليworn out
مِن قَبرِهِ وَيَسيرُ شَنٌّ بالي
I said, “Rise.” She said, “Can a dead person rise
I said arise, but she said how can the dead
from his grave, and can a worn-out waterskin walk?”
Rise from their graves and the withered walk?
فَحَمَلتُso I carried هَيكَلَthe frame عَظمِهاof her bones وَكَأَنَّنيand as though I
فَحَمَلتُ هَيكَلَ عَظمِها وَكَأَنَّني
حُمِّلتُI was made to carry حينَwhen حَمَلتُI carried عودَa stick خِلالِa toothpick
حُمِّلتُ حينَ حَمَلتُ عودَ خِلالِ
So I carried her bony frame, and it was as though
So I carried her frail skeleton as if
I had been laden, in lifting her, with a toothpick.
I carried a wisp of straw.
وَطَفِقتُand I began أَنتَهِبُI snatch up الخُطاthe strides مُتَيَمِّماًheading toward
وَطَفِقتُ أَنتَهِبُ الخُطا مُتَيَمِّماً
بِاللَيلِby night دارَthe home رِعايَةِfor the care الأَطفالِof children
بِاللَيلِ دارَ رِعايَةِ الأَطفالِ
And I began snatching stride after stride, making for
And I went about that night, gathering the helpless
the children's care home by night.
From the ward for orphan children.
أَمشيI walk وَأَحمِلُand carry بائِسَينِtwo wretched souls فَطارِقٌso one is knocking
أَمشي وَأَحمِلُ بائِسَينِ فَطارِقٌ
بابَat the door الحَياةِof life وَمُؤذِنٌand one heralding بِزَوالِpassing away
بابَ الحَياةِ وَمُؤذِنٌ بِزَوالِ
I walked carrying two wretched souls: one knocking
I walked carrying two wretched souls, with Death
at life's door, and one foretelling death.
Knocking on the door of life and decline at hand.
أَبكيهِماI weep for them both وَكَأَنَّماand as though أَناI ثالِثٌa third
أَبكيهِما وَكَأَنَّما أَنا ثالِثٌ
لَهُماalongside them both مِنَfrom الإِشفاقِcompassion وَالإِعوالِand lamentation
لَهُما مِنَ الإِشفاقِ وَالإِعوالِ
I wept for them both, as though I were a third
I cried for them as if I were a third kindred spirit,
of their number, through compassion and lamentation.
Full of compassion and eager to help.
وَطَرَقتُand I knocked بابَthe door الدارِof the home لاnot مُتَهَيِّباًfearing
وَطَرَقتُ بابَ الدارِ لا مُتَهَيِّباً
أَحَداًanyone وَلاnor مُتَرَقِّباًexpecting لِسُؤالِa question
أَحَداً وَلا مُتَرَقِّباً لِسُؤالِ
And I knocked at the home's door, neither fearing
I knocked on the door without hesitation
anyone nor expecting to be questioned,
Or care for any inquiry or request.
طَرقَthe knocking المُسافِرِof a traveler آبَwho returned مِنfrom أَسفارِهِhis journeys
طَرقَ المُسافِرِ آبَ مِن أَسفارِهِ
أَوor طَرقَthe knocking رَبِّof the master الدارِof the house غَيرَnot مُباليcaring
أَو طَرقَ رَبِّ الدارِ غَيرَ مُبالي
as a traveler knocks on returning from his journeys,
I knocked like a traveler come back from his journey
or as the master of the house knocks, without a care.
Or like the homeowner, indifferent.
وَإِذاand suddenly بِأَصواتٍthere were voices تَصيحُcrying out أَلاcome now اِفتَحواopen up
وَإِذا بِأَصواتٍ تَصيحُ أَلا اِفتَحوا
دَقّاتُthe knocks مَرضىof sick people مُدلِجينَtraveling by night عِجالِin haste
دَقّاتُ مَرضى مُدلِجينَ عِجالِ
And suddenly voices cried, “Come, open up!
Then voices cried, "Open the door!"
Those are the knocks of patients hastening through the night!”
The knocks of the gravely ill in haste.
وَإِذاand suddenly بِأَيدٍthere were hands طاهِراتٍpure عُوِّدَتaccustomed
وَإِذا بِأَيدٍ طاهِراتٍ عُوِّدَت
صُنعَdoing الجَميلِgood تَطَوَّعَتvolunteered فيat الحالِthat moment
صُنعَ الجَميلِ تَطَوَّعَت في الحالِ
And suddenly pure hands, accustomed
And gentle, charitable hands accustomed
to doing good, volunteered at once.
To doing good hastened to respond.
جاءَتthey came تُسابِقُcompeting فيin المَبَرَّةِcharity بَعضُهاsome of them
جاءَت تُسابِقُ في المَبَرَّةِ بَعضُها
بَعضاًothers لِوَجهِfor the sake اللَهِof God لاnot لِلمالِfor money
بَعضاً لِوَجهِ اللَهِ لا لِلمالِ
They came vying in kindness, one with
Each competing in benevolence with the other
another, for God's sake, not for money.
For the sake of God, not wealth or fame.
فَتَناوَلَتso they took بِالرِفقِwith gentleness ماwhat أَناI حامِلٌcarrying
فَتَناوَلَت بِالرِفقِ ما أَنا حامِلٌ
كَالأُمِّlike a mother تَكلَأُshe guards طِفلَهاher child وَتُواليand keeps tending
كَالأُمِّ تَكلَأُ طِفلَها وَتُوالي
So they gently took what I was carrying,
They took from me gently, as a mother would coddle
like a mother guarding her child and tending it continually.
Her child, lavishing upon it her care.
وَإِذاand behold الطَبيبُthe doctor مُشَمِّرٌwith sleeves rolled up وَإِذاand behold بِهاthere she was
وَإِذا الطَبيبُ مُشَمِّرٌ وَإِذا بِها
فَوقَupon الوَسائِدِcushions فيin مَكانٍa place عاليhigh
فَوقَ الوَسائِدِ في مَكانٍ عالي
And there was the doctor, sleeves rolled up; and there she was,
And the doctor rolled up his sleeves, and then
upon cushions, in a lofty place.
She was above the pillows in an elevated place.
جاءواthey came بِأَنواعِwith kinds الدَواءِof medicine وَطَوَّفواand circled
جاءوا بِأَنواعِ الدَواءِ وَطَوَّفوا
بِسَريرِaround the bed ضَيفَتِهِمof their guest كَبَعضِlike some of الآلِthe family
بِسَريرِ ضَيفَتِهِم كَبَعضِ الآلِ
They brought medicines of many kinds and circled
They brought all kinds of remedies and tended
their guest's bed, like members of the family.
To their guest on her bed as if she were family.
وَجَثاand knelt الطَبيبُthe doctor يَجُسُّfeeling نَبضاًa pulse خافِتاًfaint
وَجَثا الطَبيبُ يَجُسُّ نَبضاً خافِتاً
وَيَرودُand seeks out مَكمَنَthe hiding place دائِهاof her illness القَتّالِdeadly
وَيَرودُ مَكمَنَ دائِها القَتّالِ
And the doctor knelt, feeling a faint pulse,
The doctor knelt to feel her faint pulse
and seeking the hiding place of her deadly disease.
And discover the origin of her fatal illness.
لَمnot يَدرِhe knew حينَwhen دَناhe drew near لِيَبلُوَto examine قَلبَهاher heart
لَم يَدرِ حينَ دَنا لِيَبلُوَ قَلبَها
دَقّاتِbeats قَلبٍof a heart أَمor دَبيبَthe creeping نِمالِof ants
دَقّاتِ قَلبٍ أَم دَبيبَ نِمالِ
He could not tell, when he drew near to examine her heart:
When he drew near to check her heart,
were these heartbeats, or the creeping of ants?
He knew not if it was a beating heart or a throbbing termite hill.
وَدَّعتُهاI bade her farewell وَتَرَكتُهاand left her فيamong أَهلِهاher family
وَدَّعتُها وَتَرَكتُها في أَهلِها
وَخَرَجتُand I went out مُنشَرِحاًlighthearted رَضِيَّcontent البالِin mind
وَخَرَجتُ مُنشَرِحاً رَضِيَّ البالِ
I bade her farewell and left her among her family,
I bid her farewell and left her with her people,
and went out relieved, at peace of mind.
At peace and content.
وَعَجَزتُand I was unable عَنto شُكرِthank الَّذينَthose who تَجَرَّدواdevoted themselves wholly
وَعَجَزتُ عَن شُكرِ الَّذينَ تَجَرَّدوا
لِلباقِياتِto lasting deeds وَصالِحِand righteous الأَعمالِworks
لِلباقِياتِ وَصالِحِ الأَعمالِ
And I could not thank enough those who devoted themselves
I was unable to thank those who gave selflessly
to lasting deeds and righteous works.
For lasting works and righteous deeds.
لَمnot يُخجِلوهاthey embarrassed her بِالسُؤالِby asking عَنِabout اِسمِهاher name
لَم يُخجِلوها بِالسُؤالِ عَنِ اِسمِها
تِلكَthat المُروءَةُnobility وَالشُعورُand feeling العاليlofty
تِلكَ المُروءَةُ وَالشُعورُ العالي
They did not embarrass her by asking her name:
They did not shame her by asking her name -
that is nobility and lofty feeling.
Such is their chivalry and noble sentiment!
خَيرُthe best الصَنائِعِof kindnesses فيamong الأَنامِhumankind صَنيعَةٌa kindness
خَيرُ الصَنائِعِ في الأَنامِ صَنيعَةٌ
تَنبوraises بِحامِلِهاits recipient عَنِaway from الإِذلالِhumiliation
تَنبو بِحامِلِها عَنِ الإِذلالِ
The finest kindness among humankind is a kindness
The best of all crafts among mankind is one
that lifts its recipient above humiliation.
That signals through its doer a refusal of humiliation.
وَإِذاand when النَوالُa gift أَتىcomes وَلَمand not يُهرَقis spilled لَهُfor it
وَإِذا النَوالُ أَتى وَلَم يُهرَق لَهُ
ماءُthe water الوُجوهِof faces فَذاكَthen that خَيرُthe best نَوالِgiving
ماءُ الوُجوهِ فَذاكَ خَيرُ نَوالِ
And when a gift comes, with no spilling for its sake
When generosity is given without draining
of the water of faces—their dignity—that is the finest gift.
The faces of their color, that is the best charity.
مَنwhoever جادَgives generously مِنfrom بَعدِafter السُؤالِa request فَإِنَّهُthen indeed he
مَن جادَ مِن بَعدِ السُؤالِ فَإِنَّهُ
وَهوَand he الجَوادُthe generous one يُعَدُّis counted فيamong البُخّالِmisers
وَهوَ الجَوادُ يُعَدُّ في البُخّالِ
Whoever gives after being asked,
One who gives after being asked is considered generous,
though generous, is counted among the misers.
While the miser is counted among the stingy.
لِلَّهِto God دَرُّهُمُtheir excellence فَكَمand how many مِنof بائِسٍa wretched person
لِلَّهِ دَرُّهُمُ فَكَم مِن بائِسٍ
جَمِّabundant الوَجيعَةِin suffering سَيِّئِwretched الأَحوالِin circumstances
جَمِّ الوَجيعَةِ سَيِّئِ الأَحوالِ
God bless them! How many a wretched soul,
God bless them! How many miserable souls
with vast suffering and wretched circumstances,
Whom life treats harshly with ill fortune -
تَرميtosses بِهِhim الدُنياthe world فَمِنthen from جوعٍhunger إِلىto
تَرمي بِهِ الدُنيا فَمِن جوعٍ إِلى
عُريٍnakedness إِلىto سُقمٍsickness إِلىto إِقلالِdestitution
عُريٍ إِلى سُقمٍ إِلى إِقلالِ
is tossed about by the world, from hunger to
Casting them from hunger to nakedness,
nakedness, to sickness, to destitution.
From illness to destitution and exhaustion -
عَينٌan eye مُسَهَّدَةٌkept sleepless وَقَلبٌand a heart واجِفٌtrembling
عَينٌ مُسَهَّدَةٌ وَقَلبٌ واجِفٌ
نَفسٌa soul مُرَوَّعَةٌterrified وَجَيبٌand a pocket خاليempty
نَفسٌ مُرَوَّعَةٌ وَجَيبٌ خالي
A sleepless eye and a trembling heart,
With a tearful eye, a desolate heart,
a terrified soul and an empty pocket.
A troubled soul, and empty pockets,
لَمnot يَدرِknew ناظِرُهُhis onlooker أَعُرياناًwhether naked يَرىhe sees
لَم يَدرِ ناظِرُهُ أَعُرياناً يَرى
أَمor كاسِياًclothed فيin تِلكُمُthose before you الأَسمالِrags
أَم كاسِياً في تِلكُمُ الأَسمالِ
His onlooker could not tell whether he saw him naked
Their observer knows not if naked or clad
or clothed in those rags.
In those ragged clothes they appear to be in.
فَكَأَنَّso it is as though ناحِلَemaciated جِسمِهِhis body فيin ثَوبِهِhis garment
فَكَأَنَّ ناحِلَ جِسمِهِ في ثَوبِهِ
خَلفَbehind الخُروقِthe holes يُطِلُّpeers out مِنthrough غِربالِa sieve
خَلفَ الخُروقِ يُطِلُّ مِن غِربالِ
It is as though his wasted body, inside his garment,
As if the bees that once shaped his body
were peering from behind the holes through a sieve.
Left holes in his garment through which you could sift.
ياO بَردُcold فَاِحمِلthen charge قَدalready ظَفِرتَyou have seized بِأَعزَلٍan unarmed man
يا بَردُ فَاِحمِل قَد ظَفِرتَ بِأَعزَلٍ
ياO حَرُّheat تِلكَthat فَريسَةِthe prey المُغتالِof the assassin
يا حَرُّ تِلكَ فَريسَةِ المُغتالِ
O cold, charge! You have caught an unarmed man.
O cold! You have triumphed over one exposed!
O heat, that is the assassin's prey.
O heat! That is easy prey for the assassin!
ياO عَينُeye سُحّيpour forth ياO قُلوبُhearts تَفَطَّريbreak apart
يا عَينُ سُحّي يا قُلوبُ تَفَطَّري
ياO نَفسُsoul رِقّيgrow tender ياO مُروءَةُnobility واليkeep giving aid
يا نَفسُ رِقّي يا مُروءَةُ والي
O eye, pour forth tears! O hearts, break!
O eyes! Weep! O hearts! Break!
O soul, grow tender! O nobility, keep giving aid!
O soul! Tremble! O manhood! Protect her!
لَولاهُمُwere it not for them لَقَضىwould have destroyed عَلَيهِhim شَقاؤُهُhis misery
لَولاهُمُ لَقَضى عَلَيهِ شَقاؤُهُ
وَخَلاand lay open المَجالُthe field لِخاطِفِto the snatcher الآجالِof lifespans
وَخَلا المَجالُ لِخاطِفِ الآجالِ
Without them, his misery would have destroyed him,
Were it not for them, his woes would have destroyed him,
and the field would have lain open to the snatcher of lives.
And death seized its opportunity to take him.
لَولاهُمُwere it not for them كانَwould have been الرَدىdeath وَقفاًreserved عَلىfor
لَولاهُمُ كانَ الرَدى وَقفاً عَلى
نَفسِthe soul الفَقيرِof the poor man ثَقيلَةَheavy with الأَحمالِburdens
نَفسِ الفَقيرِ ثَقيلَةَ الأَحمالِ
Without them, death would have been reserved for
Were it not for them, ruin would have befallen
the poor man's soul, laden with heavy burdens.
The soul of the poor laden with burdens.
لِلَّهِto God دَرُّthe excellence الساهِرينَof those keeping watch عَلىover الأُلىthose who
لِلَّهِ دَرُّ الساهِرينَ عَلى الأُلى
سَهِرواwere kept awake مِنَby الأَوجاعِpains وَالأَوجالِand fears
سَهِروا مِنَ الأَوجاعِ وَالأَوجالِ
God bless those who keep watch over those
God bless those who stay up nights with the suffering!
kept awake by pains and fears,
They sacrificed sleep, agony, and toil.
القائِمينَthose upholding بِخَيرِthe best of ماwhat جاءَتcame بِهِwith it
القائِمينَ بِخَيرِ ما جاءَت بِهِ
مَدَنِيَّةُthe civilization الأَديانِof religions وَالأَجيالِand generations
مَدَنِيَّةُ الأَديانِ وَالأَجيالِ
who uphold the best of what has been brought forth by
Those who bring the good to which
the civilization of religions and generations;
Civilization, religions, and generations call.
أَهلِthe family اليَتيمِof the orphan وَكَهفِهِand his refuge وَحُماتِهِand his protectors
أَهلِ اليَتيمِ وَكَهفِهِ وَحُماتِهِ
وَرَبيعِand springtime أَهلِof the people البُؤسِof misery وَالإِمحالِand drought
وَرَبيعِ أَهلِ البُؤسِ وَالإِمحالِ
the orphan's family, refuge, and protectors,
They care for the orphan, shelter him, guard him,
and springtime for those suffering misery and drought.
And are the springtime for the distressed and downtrodden.
لاdo not تُهمِلواneglect فيin الصالِحاتِgood deeds فَإِنَّكُمfor indeed you
لا تُهمِلوا في الصالِحاتِ فَإِنَّكُم
لاnot تَجهَلونَyou are ignorant of عَواقِبَthe consequences الإِهمالِof neglect
لا تَجهَلونَ عَواقِبَ الإِهمالِ
Do not neglect good works, for you
In your charity, do not neglect good works,
are not ignorant of the consequences of neglect.
For you know not the consequences of negligence!
إِنّيindeed I أَرىsee فُقَراءَكُمyour poor فيin حاجَةٍneed
إِنّي أَرى فُقَراءَكُم في حاجَةٍ
لَوif تَعلَمونَyou knew لِقائِلٍof a speaker فَعّالِactive in deeds
لَو تَعلَمونَ لِقائِلٍ فَعّالِ
Indeed, I see your poor in need,
To me, your poor are in need, if only you knew,
if you but knew, of someone who speaks and acts.
Of a Speaker whose deeds are effective.
فَتَسابَقواso compete الخَيراتِgood deeds فَهيَfor they are أَمامَكُمbefore you
فَتَسابَقوا الخَيراتِ فَهيَ أَمامَكُم
مَيدانُa field سَبقٍof racing لِلجَوادِfor the generous one النالِbountiful
مَيدانُ سَبقٍ لِلجَوادِ النالِ
So race in good deeds; they lie before you,
So race to good works! For they are before you,
a racecourse for the generous giver.
An arena of competition for the giving and the generous.
وَالمُحسِنونَand those who do good لَهُمfor them عَلىfor إِحسانِهِمtheir good deeds
وَالمُحسِنونَ لَهُم عَلى إِحسانِهِم
يَومَon the day الإِثابَةِof recompense عَشرَةُten الأَمثالِequivalents
يَومَ الإِثابَةِ عَشرَةُ الأَمثالِ
And those who do good will receive, for their goodness,
The benefactors will have tenfold reward
on the day of recompense, tenfold reward.
On the Day of Requital for their benefaction.
وَجَزاءُand the reward رَبِّof the Lord المُحسِنينَof those who do good يَجِلُّis too great عَنfor
وَجَزاءُ رَبِّ المُحسِنينَ يَجِلُّ عَن
عَدٍّcounting وَعَنand beyond وَزنٍweighing وَعَنand beyond مِكيالِa measure of volume
عَدٍّ وَعَن وَزنٍ وَعَن مِكيالِ
And the reward of the Lord of those who do good is beyond
The recompense of the Lord of the benefactors transcends
number, weight, and measure.
Counting, weighing, and measuring.
Sol 6.1