حَيّاكُمُmay He bless you اللَهُGod أَحيواrevive العِلمَlearning وَالأَدَباand literature
حَيّاكُمُ اللَهُ أَحيوا العِلمَ وَالأَدَبا
إِنif تَنشُرواyou spread العِلمَlearning يَنشُرit revives فيكُمُamong you العَرَباthe Arabs
إِن تَنشُروا العِلمَ يَنشُر فيكُمُ العَرَبا
May God bless you; revive learning and literature.
May God give you life, revive knowledge and literature,
If you spread learning, it will revive the Arabs among you.
If you spread knowledge, nobility will spread among you,
وَلاand no حَياةَlife لَكُمfor you إِلّاexcept بِجامِعَةٍthrough a university
وَلا حَياةَ لَكُم إِلّا بِجامِعَةٍ
تَكونُit is أُمّاًa mother لِطُلّابِto seekers of العُلاdistinction وَأَباand a father
تَكونُ أُمّاً لِطُلّابِ العُلا وَأَبا
There is no life for you except through a university
You have no life except through a university,
that is a mother to seekers of distinction, and a father.
That would be a mother to students of excellence and dignity,
تَبنيit builds الرِجالَmen وَتَبنيand builds كُلَّevery شاهِقَةٍlofty summit
تَبني الرِجالَ وَتَبني كُلَّ شاهِقَةٍ
مِنَof المَعاليnoble heights وَتَبنيand builds العِزَّhonor وَالغَلَباand triumph
مِنَ المَعالي وَتَبني العِزَّ وَالغَلَبا
It builds men and builds every lofty summit
It builds men and builds every towering
of noble achievement, and builds honor and triumph.
Edifice of glories and builds might and conquest,
ضَعواlay القُلوبَhearts أَساساًas a foundation لاnot أَقولُI say لَكُمto you
ضَعوا القُلوبَ أَساساً لا أَقولُ لَكُم
ضَعواlay النُضارَpure gold فَإِنّيfor indeed I أُصغِرُconsider insignificant الذَهَباgold
ضَعوا النُضارَ فَإِنّي أُصغِرُ الذَهَبا
Lay hearts as its foundation; I do not tell you
Lay hearts as a foundation - I do not tell you -
to lay down pure gold, for I hold gold in little esteem.
Lay riches, for I belittle gold,
وَاِبنواand build بِأَكبادِكُمwith your livers سوراًa wall لَهاfor her وَدَعواand disregard
وَاِبنوا بِأَكبادِكُم سوراً لَها وَدَعوا
قيلَthe talk of العَدُوِّthe enemy فَإِنّيfor indeed I أَعرِفُknow السَبَباthe cause
قيلَ العَدُوِّ فَإِنّي أَعرِفُ السَبَبا
Build her a wall with your own livers, and disregard
And build with your livers a wall for it and leave
the enemy's talk, for I know its cause.
The enemy's talk, for I know the reason,
لاdo not تَقنَطواdespair إِنif قَرَأتُمyou read ماwhat يُزَوِّقُهُhe embellishes it
لا تَقنَطوا إِن قَرَأتُم ما يُزَوِّقُهُ
ذاكَthat العَميدُdean وَيَرميكُمand assails you بِهِwith it غَضَباin anger
ذاكَ العَميدُ وَيَرميكُم بِهِ غَضَبا
Do not despair if you read what he embellishes—
Do not despair if you read what he makes palatable,
that dean—and hurls at you in anger.
That dean throws at you in anger,
وَراقِبواand heed يَومَa day لاnot تُغنيavail حَصائِدُهُhis harvests
وَراقِبوا يَومَ لا تُغني حَصائِدُهُ
فَكُلُّfor every حَيٍّliving being سَيُجزىwill be recompensed بِالَّذيfor what اِكتَسَباit earned
فَكُلُّ حَيٍّ سَيُجزى بِالَّذي اِكتَسَبا
And heed a day when his harvests will avail nothing;
And watch the day when its harvests will not avail,
every living soul will be recompensed for what it earned.
For every living soul will be recompensed for what it earned,
بَنىhe built عَلىupon الإِفكِfalsehood أَبراجاًtowers مُشَيَّدَةًlofty
بَنى عَلى الإِفكِ أَبراجاً مُشَيَّدَةً
فَاِبنواso build عَلىupon الحَقِّtruth بُرجاًa tower يَنطَحُbutts against الشُهُباthe blazing stars
فَاِبنوا عَلى الحَقِّ بُرجاً يَنطَحُ الشُهُبا
He has built lofty towers upon falsehood;
He built on falsehood lofty towers,
so build upon truth a tower that butts against the blazing stars.
So build on truth a tower piercing the flames,
وَجاوِبوهُand answer him بِفِعلٍwith a deed لاnot يُقَوِّضُهُdemolishes it
وَجاوِبوهُ بِفِعلٍ لا يُقَوِّضُهُ
قَولُthe words of المُفَنِّدِa faultfinder أَنّىhowever قالَhe spoke أَوor خَطَباhe declaimed
قَولُ المُفَنِّدِ أَنّى قالَ أَو خَطَبا
And answer him with a deed that cannot be demolished
And answer him with a deed that cannot be undermined
by a faultfinder's words, however he speaks or declaims.
By the words of the nullifier wherever he spoke or orated.
لاdo not تَهجَعواsleep إِنَّهُمindeed they لَنwill not يَهجَعواsleep أَبَداًever
لا تَهجَعوا إِنَّهُم لَن يَهجَعوا أَبَداً
وَطالِبوهُمand solicit them وَلَكِنand yet أَجمِلواmake gracious الطَلَباthe request
وَطالِبوهُم وَلَكِن أَجمِلوا الطَلَبا
Do not sleep; they will never sleep.
Do not sleep, for they will never sleep,
And solicit them, but make your request gracious.
And seek them, but make seeking beautiful,
هَلhas…? جاءَكُمreached you نَبَأُnews of القَومِthe people الأُلىwho دَرَجواpassed away
هَل جاءَكُم نَبَأُ القَومِ الأُلى دَرَجوا
وَخَلَّفواand left behind لِلوَرىfor mankind مِنfrom ذِكرِهِمtheir remembrance عَجَباa marvel
وَخَلَّفوا لِلوَرى مِن ذِكرِهِم عَجَبا
Has news reached you of those people who passed away
Did the news of the wretched people come to you,
and left mankind marvels to remember them by?
Who trod and left in the land from their mention wonders?
عَزَّتgrew scarce بِقُرطاجَةَat Carthage الأَمراسُthe ropes فَاِرتُهِنَتso were detained
عَزَّت بِقُرطاجَةَ الأَمراسُ فَاِرتُهِنَت
فيهاthere السَفينُthe ships وَأَمسىand became حَبلُهاtheir rigging اِضطِرَباunsettled
فيها السَفينُ وَأَمسى حَبلُها اِضطِرَبا
Ropes grew scarce at Carthage, immobilizing
In Carthage the building stones revelled, so the ships anchored
the ships there, while their rigging fell into disarray.
In it and their ropes swayed,
وَالحَربُand war فيin لَهَبٍflames وَالقَومُand the people فيin حَرَبٍdestitution
وَالحَربُ في لَهَبٍ وَالقَومُ في حَرَبٍ
قَدhad مَدَّspread نَقعُthe dust-cloud of المَناياdeath فَوقَهُمabove them طُنُباtent-ropes
قَد مَدَّ نَقعُ المَنايا فَوقَهُم طُنُبا
War was ablaze, and the people were destitute;
And war is blazing and the people are at war,
death's dust-cloud had stretched its tent-ropes above them.
The drink of death has poured over them bushes,
وَدّواthey wished بِهاthere وَجَواريهِمwhile their ships مُعَطَّلَةٌlay idle
وَدّوا بِها وَجَواريهِم مُعَطَّلَةٌ
لَوif only أَنَّthat أَهدابَهُمtheir eyelashes كانَتwere لَهاfor them سَبَباa rope
لَو أَنَّ أَهدابَهُم كانَت لَها سَبَبا
There they wished, while their ships lay idle:
They spilt it and their unveiled concubines,
if only their eyelashes could serve those ships as ropes!
If only their eyelids had been a cause for it,
هُنالِكَthere الغيدُthe graceful women جادَتgave generously بِالَّذيof what بَخِلَتthey withheld
هُنالِكَ الغيدُ جادَت بِالَّذي بَخِلَت
بِهِwith it دَلالاًout of coyness فَقامَتso they fulfilled بِالَّذيwhat وَجَباwas due
بِهِ دَلالاً فَقامَت بِالَّذي وَجَبا
There the graceful women gave freely of what they had withheld
There the braids dispensed with what they stinted
out of coyness, and fulfilled their duty.
As allurement, so they did what was obligatory,
جَزَّتthey sheared غَدائِرَbraids of شِعرٍhair سَرَّحَتreleased سُفُناًships
جَزَّت غَدائِرَ شِعرٍ سَرَّحَت سُفُناً
وَاِستَنقَذَتand rescued وَطَناًa homeland وَاِستَرجَعَتand recovered نَشَباwealth
وَاِستَنقَذَت وَطَناً وَاِستَرجَعَت نَشَبا
They sheared off braids of hair, set ships free,
They cut off locks of hair, launched ships
rescued a homeland, and recovered wealth.
And salvaged a homeland and regained vigour,
رَأَتthey saw حُلاهاtheir adornments عَلىupon الأَوطانِthe homelands فَاِبتَهَجَتso they rejoiced
رَأَت حُلاها عَلى الأَوطانِ فَاِبتَهَجَت
وَلَمand did not تَحَسَّرlament عَلىover الحَليِthe ornaments الَّذيthat ذَهَباwere gone
وَلَم تَحَسَّر عَلى الحَليِ الَّذي ذَهَبا
They saw their adornments upon their homelands and rejoiced,
They saw their adornment upon the homelands and rejoiced
and did not mourn the ornaments that were gone.
And did not grieve over the jewellery that was gone,
وَزادَهاand added to them ذاكَthat حُسناًbeauty وَهيَwhile they were عاطِلَةٌunadorned
وَزادَها ذاكَ حُسناً وَهيَ عاطِلَةٌ
تُزهىthey glory عَلىabove مَنthose who مَشىwalked لِلحَربِto war أَوor رَكِباrode
تُزهى عَلى مَن مَشى لِلحَربِ أَو رَكِبا
That made them lovelier, though unadorned;
And that increased their beauty while they were chaste,
they gloried above those who marched or rode to war.
Adorned over those who went to war or rode.
وَبَرثَرانِand Bertrand الَّذيwho حاكَwove الإِباءُproud defiance لَهُfor him
وَبَرثَرانِ الَّذي حاكَ الإِباءُ لَهُ
ثَوباًa robe مِنَof الفَخرِglory أَبلىwore out الدَهرَtime وَالحِقَباand the ages
ثَوباً مِنَ الفَخرِ أَبلى الدَهرَ وَالحِقَبا
And Bertrand, for whom proud defiance wove
And Barthran who the fathers spun for him
a robe of glory that wore out time and the ages,
A garment of pride, time and eras wore out,
أَقامَhe remained فيin الأَسرِcaptivity حيناًfor a time ثُمَّthen قيلَit was said لَهُto him
أَقامَ في الأَسرِ حيناً ثُمَّ قيلَ لَهُ
أَلَمhas it not يَئِنbecome time أَنthat تُفَدّيyou ransom المَجدَglory وَالحَسَباand noble lineage
أَلَم يَئِن أَن تُفَدّي المَجدَ وَالحَسَبا
remained in captivity a while; then he was told:
He stood captive for a while, then was told:
“Is it not time you ransomed glory and noble lineage?
"Does it not pain you to ransom glory and merit?"
قُلspeak وَاِحتَكُمand set your terms أَنتَyou مُختارٌfree to choose فَقالَthen he said لَهُمto them
قُل وَاِحتَكُم أَنتَ مُختارٌ فَقالَ لَهُم
إِنّاindeed we رِجالٌmen نُهينُwe disdain المالَmoney وَالنَشَباand property
إِنّا رِجالٌ نُهينُ المالَ وَالنَشَبا
Speak and name your terms—the choice is yours.” He told them:
Say: You are free to choose, so he said to them:
“We are men who hold money and property cheap.
"We are men who spurn money and youth."
خُذواtake القَناطيرَthe great weights مِنof تِبرٍgold dust مُقَنطَرَةًheaped up
خُذوا القَناطيرَ مِن تِبرٍ مُقَنطَرَةً
يَخورُwill falter خازِنُكُمyour treasurer فيin عَدِّهاcounting them تَعَباfrom fatigue
يَخورُ خازِنُكُم في عَدِّها تَعَبا
Take great weights of gold dust, piled high;
Take the quintals in sifted bran
your treasurer will falter with fatigue in counting them.”
That your treasurer will tire counting them.
قالواthey said حَكَمتَyou set terms بِماfor what لاnot تَستَطيعُyou can لَهُfor it
قالوا حَكَمتَ بِما لا تَستَطيعُ لَهُ
حَملاًa burden نَكادُwe almost نَرىconsider ماwhat قُلتَهُyou said it لَعِباa jest
حَملاً نَكادُ نَرى ما قُلتَهُ لَعِبا
They said, “You have demanded what you cannot
They said: "You have judged with what you cannot
bear; we almost think your words a jest.”
Carry, we almost see what you said as jest."
فَقالَthen he said وَاللَهِby God ماno فيin الحَيِّthe community غازِلَةٌa woman who spins
فَقالَ وَاللَهِ ما في الحَيِّ غازِلَةٌ
مِنَamong الحِسانِthe beautiful women تَرىshe finds فيin فِديَتيmy ransom نَصَباhardship
مِنَ الحِسانِ تَرى في فِديَتي نَصَبا
He said, “By God, not a single spinner in the community
So he said: "By God, no living woman is
among its beautiful women finds my ransom burdensome.
Flirtatious about seeing in my ransom difficulty."
لَوif أَنَّهُمthat they كَلَّفوهاrequired her بَيعَselling مِغزَلِهاher spindle
لَو أَنَّهُم كَلَّفوها بَيعَ مِغزَلِها
لَآثَرَتنيshe would choose me وَصَحَّتand sacrifice (apparently intended) قوتَهاher sustenance رَغَباwillingly
لَآثَرَتني وَصَحَّت قوتَها رَغَبا
If they required her to sell her spindle,
"If they tasked her with selling her spindle
she would choose me and willingly sacrifice her sustenance.”
She would prefer me, and her strength would grow keen."
هَذاthis هُوَit الأَثَرُthe legacy الباقيlasting فَلاso do not تَقِفواstop
هَذا هُوَ الأَثَرُ الباقي فَلا تَقِفوا
عِندَat الكَلامِwords إِذاwhen حاوَلتُمُyou pursue أَرَباan aim
عِندَ الكَلامِ إِذا حاوَلتُمُ أَرَبا
This is the lasting legacy; so do not stop
This is the lasting trace, so do not stop
at words when you seek an aim.
At words when you attempt a structure,
وَدونَكُمand here for you مَثَلاًa parable أَوشَكتُI am about to أَضرِبُهُapply it
وَدونَكُم مَثَلاً أَوشَكتُ أَضرِبُهُ
فيكُمto you وَفيand to مِصرَEgypt إِنif صِدقاًtruthfully وَإِنand if كَذِباfalsely
فيكُم وَفي مِصرَ إِن صِدقاً وَإِن كَذِبا
And here is a parable I am about to apply
And I almost strike for you in yourselves and in Egypt
to you and to Egypt, whether truly or falsely.
An example, in truth or lies,
سَمِعتُI heard أَنَّthat اِمرِأًa man قَدalready كانَwas يَألَفُهُis fond of him
سَمِعتُ أَنَّ اِمرِأً قَد كانَ يَألَفُهُ
كَلبٌa dog فَعاشاso the two lived عَلىin الإِخلاصِloyalty وَاِصطَحَباand kept each other company
كَلبٌ فَعاشا عَلى الإِخلاصِ وَاِصطَحَبا
I heard that a man was befriended by
I heard that a man was befriended
a dog; the two lived in loyalty and kept each other company.
By a dog, and they lived in loyalty and companionship,
فَمَرَّthen he passed يَوماًone day بِهِby it وَالجوعُwhile hunger يَنهَبُهُplundered it
فَمَرَّ يَوماً بِهِ وَالجوعُ يَنهَبُهُ
نَهباًutter plundering فَلَمso did not يُبقِleave إِلّاexcept الجِلدَskin وَالعَصَباand sinews
نَهباً فَلَم يُبقِ إِلّا الجِلدَ وَالعَصَبا
One day he passed by it as hunger plundered it,
One day, while hunger was plundering him
ravaging it until only skin and sinews remained.
Mercilessly, leaving only skin and nerves,
فَظَلَّso he kept يَبكيweeping عَلَيهِover it حينَwhen أَبصَرَهُhe saw it
فَظَلَّ يَبكي عَلَيهِ حينَ أَبصَرَهُ
يَزولُit fades away ضَعفاًfrom weakness وَيَقضيand meets نَحبَهُits death سَغَباfrom hunger
يَزولُ ضَعفاً وَيَقضي نَحبَهُ سَغَبا
He kept weeping over it when he saw it
He saw him wasting away in weakness and spending
fading from weakness and meeting its death from hunger.
His groaning in anguish,
يَبكيhe weeps عَلَيهِover it وَفيwhile in يُمناهُhis right hand أَرغِفَةٌloaves
يَبكي عَلَيهِ وَفي يُمناهُ أَرغِفَةٌ
لَوif شامَهاspotted them جائِعٌa hungry person مِنfrom فَرسَخٍa parasang وَثَباwould leap
لَو شامَها جائِعٌ مِن فَرسَخٍ وَثَبا
He wept over it, while in his right hand were loaves:
Crying over him while in his right hand were loaves
if a hungry man spotted them a parasang away, he would leap.
That if a hungry man from a mile away sensed he would leap,
فَقالَthen said قَومٌsome people وَقَدand had رَقّواfelt pity لِذيfor one with أَلَمٍpain
فَقالَ قَومٌ وَقَد رَقّوا لِذي أَلَمٍ
يَبكيweeping وَذيand one with أَلَمٍpain يَستَقبِلُfacing العَطَباdeath
يَبكي وَذي أَلَمٍ يَستَقبِلُ العَطَبا
Some people said, moved to pity by a sufferer
Some people said, as they pitied the one in pain
weeping, and another sufferer facing death:
Crying while the one in pain faces harm:
ماwhat خَطبُthe plight of ذاthis الكَلبِthe dog قالَhe said الجوعُhunger يَخطِفُهُsnatches it away
ما خَطبُ ذا الكَلبِ قالَ الجوعُ يَخطِفُهُ
مِنّيfrom me وَيُنشِبُand sinks فيهِinto it النابَthe fang مُغتَصِباseizing by force
مِنّي وَيُنشِبُ فيهِ النابَ مُغتَصِبا
“What ails this dog?” He said, “Hunger is snatching it
"What is wrong with this dog?" Hunger snatches him
from me, sinking its fang into it, seizing it by force.”
From me andsinks its fangs into him rapaciously."
قالواthey said وَقَدand had أَبصَرواseen الرُغفانَthe loaves زاهِيَةًlooking splendid
قالوا وَقَد أَبصَروا الرُغفانَ زاهِيَةً
هَذاthis الدَواءُthe remedy فَهَلso have…? عالَجتَهُyou treated it فَأَبىand it refused
هَذا الدَواءُ فَهَل عالَجتَهُ فَأَبى
They said, having seen the loaves looking splendid:
They said, as they saw the fresh loaves:
“This is the cure; have you treated it, and has it refused?”
"This is the cure, have you treated him with it?" But he refused.
أَجابَهُمhe answered them وَدَواعيwhile the urges of الشُحِّmiserliness قَدhad ضَرَبَتdrawn
أَجابَهُم وَدَواعي الشُحِّ قَد ضَرَبَت
بَينَbetween الصَديقَينِthe two friends مِنfrom فَرطِexcess of القِلىloathing حُجُباveils
بَينَ الصَديقَينِ مِن فَرطِ القِلى حُجُبا
He answered them, while the urges of avarice had drawn
He answered them: "The motives of stinginess have struck
veils between the two friends out of excessive loathing:
Between the two friends, from the excess sorrow, veils."
لِذَلِكَto that الحَدِّextent لَمdid not تَبلُغreach مَوَدَّتُناour affection
لِذَلِكَ الحَدِّ لَم تَبلُغ مَوَدَّتُنا
أَماis it not كَفىenough أَنthat يَرانيit sees me اليَومَtoday مُنتَحِباsobbing
أَما كَفى أَن يَراني اليَومَ مُنتَحِبا
“Our affection has not reached that extent.
"For that reason our affection did not reach
Is it not enough that today it sees me sobbing?
The point that I give him food while I grieve today."
هَذيthese دُموعيmy tears عَلىon الخَدَّينِboth cheeks جارِيَةٍflowing
هَذي دُموعي عَلى الخَدَّينِ جارِيَةٍ
حُزناًin sorrow وَهَذاand this فُؤاديmy heart يَرتَعيgrazes on لَهَباflames
حُزناً وَهَذا فُؤادي يَرتَعي لَهَبا
Here are my tears streaming down both cheeks
"These are my tears on my cheeks flowing
in sorrow, and here is my heart grazing on flames.”
In sorrow, and this is my heart aflame,
أَقسَمتُI have sworn بِاللَهِby God إِنif كانَتis مَوَدَّتُناour affection
أَقسَمتُ بِاللَهِ إِن كانَت مَوَدَّتُنا
كَصاحِبِlike the owner of الكَلبِthe dog ساءَturned bad الأَمرُthe affair مُنقَلَباin its outcome
كَصاحِبِ الكَلبِ ساءَ الأَمرُ مُنقَلَبا
I swear by God, if our affection
I swear by God, if our affection was like
is like that of the dog's owner, matters will end badly.
The dog's companion - the matter would change."
أُعيذُكُمI seek protection for you أَنthat تَكونواyou become مِثلَهُlike him فَنَرىand then we see
أُعيذُكُم أَن تَكونوا مِثلَهُ فَنَرى
مِنكُمfrom you بُكاءًweeping وَلاand not نُلفيwe find لَكُمof yours دَأَباsteadfast effort
مِنكُم بُكاءً وَلا نُلفي لَكُم دَأَبا
I pray you never become like him, lest we see
"I seek refuge for you from being like him, so we see
tears from you, but find no steadfast effort.
From you crying and do not find for you a way."
إِنif تُقرِضواyou lend to اللَهَGod فيin أَوطانِكُمyour homelands فَلَكُمthen yours is
إِن تُقرِضوا اللَهَ في أَوطانِكُم فَلَكُم
أَجرُthe reward of المُجاهِدِone striving in God's cause طوبىblessedness لِلَّذيfor whoever اِكتَتَباpledged a contribution
أَجرُ المُجاهِدِ طوبى لِلَّذي اِكتَتَبا
If you lend to God in your homelands, you shall have
"If you lend God in your homelands, for you is
the reward of one who strives in God's cause; blessed is whoever pledges.
The reward of the struggler. Good tidings to whoever volunteered."
Sol 6.1