صونواpreserve يَراعَthe pen of عَلِيٍّAli فيin مَتاحِفِكُمyour museums
صونوا يَراعَ عَلِيٍّ في مَتاحِفِكُم
وَشاوِروهُand consult it لَدىamid الأَرزاءِcalamities وَالنُوَبِand misfortunes
وَشاوِروهُ لَدى الأَرزاءِ وَالنُوَبِ
Preserve Ali's pen in your museums,
Guard Ali's morals in your consciences,
and consult it amid calamities and misfortunes.
And consult with him at times of adversity and fortune,
وَاِستَلهِموهُand seek inspiration from it إِذاwhen ماan emphatic particle الرَأيُsound judgment أَخطَأَكُمfails you
وَاِستَلهِموهُ إِذا ما الرَأيُ أَخطَأَكُم
يَومَon the day of النِضالِstruggle عَنِin defense of الأَوطانِthe homelands وَالنَشَبِand possessions
يَومَ النِضالِ عَنِ الأَوطانِ وَالنَشَبِ
Seek inspiration from it when sound judgment fails you
And seek inspiration from him when opinions misguide you,
on the day of struggle for homelands and possessions.
On the day of struggle, for homelands and for ideals.
قَدindeed كانَit was سَلوَةَthe solace of مِصرٍEgypt فيin مَكارِهِهاher hardships
قَد كانَ سَلوَةَ مِصرٍ في مَكارِهِها
وَكانَand it was جَمرَةَthe burning ember of مِصرٍEgypt ساعَةَin the hour of الغَضَبِanger
وَكانَ جَمرَةَ مِصرٍ ساعَةَ الغَضَبِ
It was Egypt's solace in her hardships,
He was Egypt's solace in her tribulations,
and Egypt's burning ember in the hour of anger.
And Egypt's ember in times of anger.
فيin شِقِّهِits nib's slit وَمَراميهِand its aims وَريقَتِهِand its spittle
في شِقِّهِ وَمَراميهِ وَريقَتِهِ
ماwhat فيin الأَساطيلِthe fleets مِنof بَطشٍviolent force وَمِنand of عَطَبِdestruction
ما في الأَساطيلِ مِن بَطشٍ وَمِن عَطَبِ
In its split nib, its aims, and its spittle
In his determination, his principles, and his disposition,
lies the force and destruction found in fleets.
None of the fleet possessed his might and excellence.
كَمhow often رَدَّit warded off عَنّاfrom us وَعَينُwhile the eye of الغَربِthe West طامِحَةٌwas covetous
كَم رَدَّ عَنّا وَعَينُ الغَربِ طامِحَةٌ
مِنَof الرَزاياcalamities وَكَمand how often جَلّىit dispelled مِنَof الكُرَبِdistresses
مِنَ الرَزايا وَكَم جَلّى مِنَ الكُرَبِ
How often it shielded us, while the West's eye gazed covetously,
How much he warded off intrigues from us when the West coveted,
from calamities; and how often it dispelled distress!
Of troubles and calamities he cleared many a heap!
لَهُit has صَريرٌa scratching sound إِذاwhen جَدَّgrew fierce النِزالُcombat بِهِwith it
لَهُ صَريرٌ إِذا جَدَّ النِزالُ بِهِ
يُنسيmakes forget الكُماةِthe warriors صَليلَthe clang of البيضِbright swords وَالقُضُبِand keen blades
يُنسي الكُماةِ صَليلَ البيضِ وَالقُضُبِ
Its scratching sound, when combat with it grows fierce,
When war intensified he had a clanging din,
makes warriors forget the clang of bright swords and keen blades.
That made seasoned warriors forget the clashing of swords and spears.
ماnot ضَرَّwould harm مَنwhoever كانَhad هَذاthis فيin أَنامِلِهِhis fingertips
ما ضَرَّ مَن كانَ هَذا في أَنامِلِهِ
أَنto يَشهَدَtake part in الحَربَbattle لَمdid not يَسكُنrely إِلىon يَلَبِleather armor
أَن يَشهَدَ الحَربَ لَم يَسكُن إِلى يَلَبِ
It would not harm one who held this in his fingertips
No harm to one whose hands contained such prowess,
to enter battle without relying on leather armor.
If he witnessed war and did not incline to rest.
فَلَوfor if رَآهُhe saw it اِبنُson of أَوسٍAws ماnot قَرَأتَyou would have read لَهُby him
فَلَو رَآهُ اِبنُ أَوسٍ ما قَرَأتَ لَهُ
السَيفُthe sword أَصدَقُtruer أَنباءٍin tidings مِنَthan الكُتُبِbooks
السَيفُ أَصدَقُ أَنباءٍ مِنَ الكُتُبِ
For had Ibn Aws seen it, you would not have read his words:
Had Ibn Aws* seen him, his sword would have conveyed
"The sword tells truer tidings than books."
Tidings truer than books contain.
أَلاis there not فَتىًa youth عَرَبِيٌّArab تَستَقِلُّshe may rise بِهِthrough him
أَلا فَتىً عَرَبِيٌّ تَستَقِلُّ بِهِ
بَعدَafter الفَقيدِthe departed وَيَحميand guards حَوزَةَthe domain of الأَدَبِletters
بَعدَ الفَقيدِ وَيَحمي حَوزَةَ الأَدَبِ
Is there no Arab youth through whom she may rise,
Oh, a noble Arab to succeed the deceased,
after the departed, and who will guard the realm of letters,
Who can independently guard the citadel of literature,
وَيَمنَعُand safeguards الحَقَّthe truth أَنlest يُغشيshould veil تَبَلُّجَهُits radiance
وَيَمنَعُ الحَقَّ أَن يُغشي تَبَلُّجَهُ
ماwhat فيin السِياسَةِpolitics مِنof زورٍfalsehood وَمِنand of كَذِبِlying
ما في السِياسَةِ مِن زورٍ وَمِن كَذِبِ
and safeguard the truth, lest its radiance be veiled
And prevent the truth from being clouded
by the falsehood and lying found in politics?
By the deception and lies politics contain.
أَودىhas died فَتىthe champion of الشَرقِthe East بَلrather شَيخُthe elder of الصَحافَةِjournalism بَلrather
أَودى فَتى الشَرقِ بَل شَيخُ الصَحافَةِ بَل
شَيخُthe sheikh of الوَفائِيَّةِal-Wafa'iyya الوَضّاحَةِillustrious الحَسَبِin lineage
شَيخُ الوَفائِيَّةِ الوَضّاحَةِ الحَسَبِ
The East's champion has died—rather, the elder of journalism; rather,
The East's knight - nay, the sheikh of journalism - nay,
the sheikh of al-Wafa'iyya, with its illustrious lineage.
The sheikh of evident, unambiguous loyalty has passed.
أَقامَhe lived فيناamong us عِصامِيّاًself-made فَعَلَّمَناand so taught us
أَقامَ فينا عِصامِيّاً فَعَلَّمَنا
مَعنىthe meaning of الثَباتِsteadfastness وَمَعنىand the meaning of الجِدِّearnestness وَالدَأَبِand perseverance
مَعنى الثَباتِ وَمَعنى الجِدِّ وَالدَأَبِ
He lived among us a self-made man, and so taught us
He established among us principles and taught us
the meaning of steadfastness, and the meaning of earnestness and perseverance.
The meaning of steadfastness, determination, and hard work.
وَراحَand he departed عَنّاfrom us وَلَمand had not تَبلُغreached عَزائِمُناour resolves
وَراحَ عَنّا وَلَم تَبلُغ عَزائِمُنا
مَدىthe full extent of مُناهاtheir hopes وَلَمand had not تَقرُبdrawn near مِنَto الأَرَبِthe desired goal
مَدى مُناها وَلَم تَقرُب مِنَ الأَرَبِ
He departed from us before our resolves had reached
He left us before our aspirations
the full extent of their hopes, or drawn near their goal.
Reached their extent or approached fulfillment.
قالواthey said عَجِبناwe were amazed لِمِصرٍat Egypt يَومَon the day of مَصرَعِهِhis death
قالوا عَجِبنا لِمِصرٍ يَومَ مَصرَعِهِ
وَقَدand indeed عَجِبتُI was amazed لَهُمat them مِنby ذَلِكَthat العَجَبِamazement
وَقَد عَجِبتُ لَهُم مِن ذَلِكَ العَجَبِ
They said, "We were amazed at Egypt on the day of his death."
They exclaimed wonder at Egypt when he died,
And I was amazed at them for that amazement.
Yet I wondered at them for that wonder.
إِنَّindeed الأُلىthose who حَسِبوهاthought her غَيرَnot جازِعَةٍgrief-stricken
إِنَّ الأُلى حَسِبوها غَيرَ جازِعَةٍ
لاnot يَنظُرونَthey look إِلىat الأَشياءِthings مِنfrom كَثَبِclose by
لا يَنظُرونَ إِلى الأَشياءِ مِن كَثَبِ
Indeed, those who thought her untroubled by grief
They thought the High Land** did not quake
do not look at things from close at hand.
For they do not closely observe events.
تَاللَهِby God ماnot جَهِلَتshe was unaware of فيهِin him مُصيبَتَهاher calamity
تَاللَهِ ما جَهِلَت فيهِ مُصيبَتَها
وَلاnor الَّذيwhat فَقَدَتshe lost مِنin كاتِبِthe writer of العَرَبِthe Arabs
وَلا الَّذي فَقَدَت مِن كاتِبِ العَرَبِ
By God, she was not unaware of her calamity in him,
By God she was not ignorant of her misfortune,
nor of what she lost in the writer of the Arabs.
Nor of the loss of the Arabs' writer.
لَكِنَّهاbut she أَلِفَتgrew accustomed to وَالأَمرُwhile trouble يَحزُبُهاbesets her
لَكِنَّها أَلِفَت وَالأَمرُ يَحزُبُها
فَقدَthe loss of الرِجالِmen وَمَوتَand the death of السادَةِthe leaders النُجُبِthe noble
فَقدَ الرِجالِ وَمَوتَ السادَةِ النُجُبِ
But she had grown accustomed, while trouble besets her,
Rather, she had grown accustomed as events confounded her
to the loss of men and the death of noble leaders.
To the loss of men and the death of esteemed nobles.
وَعَلَّمَتهاand taught her اللَياليthe nights أَنto تُصابِرَهاoutlast them patiently
وَعَلَّمَتها اللَيالي أَن تُصابِرَها
فيthrough الحادِثاتِcalamities وَإِنeven if أَمعَنَّthey went to extremes فيin الحَرَبِdespoilment
في الحادِثاتِ وَإِن أَمعَنَّ في الحَرَبِ
The nights taught her to outlast them patiently
The nights taught her to show resilience
through calamities, however far they went in despoiling her.
In adversities, however severely war flared up.
كَمhow often أَرجَفواthey spread alarming rumors بَعدَafter مَوتِthe death of الشَيخِthe sheikh وَاِرتَقَبواand awaited
كَم أَرجَفوا بَعدَ مَوتِ الشَيخِ وَاِرتَقَبوا
مَوتَthe death of المُؤَيَّدِal-Mu'ayyad فيناamong us شَرَّthe worst مُرتَقَبِprospect
مَوتَ المُؤَيَّدِ فينا شَرَّ مُرتَقَبِ
How often they spread alarming rumors after the sheikh's death, and awaited
How great was their alarm after the Sheikh's*** death as they anticipated
the death of al-Mu'ayyad among us—the worst prospect!
The death of the Supported One**** among us - a terrible anticipation!
وَإِنand if يَمُتit dies تَمُتِwill die الآمالُhopes فيin بَلَدٍa land
وَإِن يَمُت تَمُتِ الآمالُ في بَلَدٍ
لَولاbut for المُؤَيَّدُal-Mu'ayyad لَمwould not يَنشَطrouse itself إِلىto طَلَبِpursuit
لَولا المُؤَيَّدُ لَم يَنشَط إِلى طَلَبِ
And if it dies, hopes will die in a land
If he dies, hopes in a country die,
that, but for al-Mu'ayyad, would never have stirred to pursue its aims.
Without the Supported One it would not have aspired to quests.
صُبابَةٌa remnant مِنof رَجاءٍhope بَينَbetween أَضلُعِناour ribs
صُبابَةٌ مِن رَجاءٍ بَينَ أَضلُعِنا
قَدalready باتَhas begun يَرشُفُsipping مِنهاfrom it كُلُّevery مُغتَصِبِusurper
قَد باتَ يَرشُفُ مِنها كُلُّ مُغتَصِبِ
A remnant of hope lies between our ribs;
A youthful spirit of hope resides in our hearts
every usurper has taken to sipping from it.
From which each usurper wished to drink.
أَلَمdid ... not? يَكُنbe لِبَنيfor the sons of مِصرٍEgypt وَقَدwhen indeed دُهِمواthey were assailed
أَلَم يَكُن لِبَني مِصرٍ وَقَد دُهِموا
مِنby ساسَةِthe statesmen of الغَربِthe West مِثلَlike المَعقِلِthe stronghold الأَشِبِdense with thickets
مِن ساسَةِ الغَربِ مِثلَ المَعقِلِ الأَشِبِ
Was it not, for Egypt's sons when they were assailed
Did not the people of Egypt, when abused
by the West's statesmen, like a stronghold dense with thickets?
By Western politicians, have a bastion like an impregnable fortress?
كَمِhow many اِنبَرَتsprang into action فيهِin it أَقلامٌpens وَكَمand how many رُفِعَتwere raised
كَمِ اِنبَرَت فيهِ أَقلامٌ وَكَم رُفِعَت
فيهِin it مَنائِرُbeacons مِنof نَظمٍverse وَمِنand of خُطَبِspeeches
فيهِ مَنائِرُ مِن نَظمٍ وَمِن خُطَبِ
How many pens sprang into action in it, and how many were raised
How many pens rose in it, and how many pulpits
within it—beacons of verse and speeches!
Of prose and verse were erected!
وَكانَand it was مَيدانَa field of سَبقٍracing لِلأُلىfor those who غَضِبواgrew indignant
وَكانَ مَيدانَ سَبقٍ لِلأُلى غَضِبوا
لِلدينِfor religion وَالحَقِّand truth مِنamong داعٍan advocate وَمُحتَسِبِand a seeker of divine reward
لِلدينِ وَالحَقِّ مِن داعٍ وَمُحتَسِبِ
It was a racing ground for those who grew indignant
It was a racecourse for the passionate to compete
for religion and truth—advocates and seekers of God's reward.
For religion and truth, each a preacher and moral enforcer.
فَكَمso many a يَراعِpen of حَكيمٍa sage فيat مَشارِعِهِits watering places
فَكَم يَراعِ حَكيمٍ في مَشارِعِهِ
قَدِindeed اِلتَقىmet بِيَراعِwith the pen of الكاتِبِthe writer الأَرِبِdiscerning
قَدِ اِلتَقى بِيَراعِ الكاتِبِ الأَرِبِ
So many a sage's pen, at its watering places,
How many a wise man's endeavors met
has met the discerning writer's pen!
The endeavors of the Arabs' prolific writer!
أَيُّwhich الصَحائِفِnewspapers فيin القُطرَينِthe two lands قَدindeed وَسِعَتgave room to
أَيُّ الصَحائِفِ في القُطرَينِ قَد وَسِعَت
رَدَّthe reply of الإِمامِthe Imam مُزيلِdispeller of الشَكِّdoubt وَالرِيَبِand misgivings
رَدَّ الإِمامِ مُزيلِ الشَكِّ وَالرِيَبِ
Which newspaper in the two lands made room
Which newspapers in both countries contained
for the reply of the Imam, dispeller of doubt and misgivings,
Rebuttals dispelling doubt, led by the Imam.*****
أَيّامَin the days when يَحصِبُpelts هانوتوHanotaux بِفِريَتِهِwith his slander
أَيّامَ يَحصِبُ هانوتو بِفِريَتِهِ
وَجهَthe face of الحَقيقَةِtruth وَالإِسلامِand Islam فيin نَحَبِheadlong haste
وَجهَ الحَقيقَةِ وَالإِسلامِ في نَحَبِ
in the days when Hanotaux pelted with his slander
The days Hanotaux****** spewed his deceits
the face of truth and Islam, in headlong haste?
And turned the face of truth and Islam into frowns.
ماwhy ليfor me أُعَدِّدُI enumerate آثارَthe works of الفَقيدِthe departed لَكُمfor you
ما لي أُعَدِّدُ آثارَ الفَقيدِ لَكُم
وَالشَرقُwhile the East يَعرِفُknows رَبَّthe master of السَبقِpreeminence وَالغَلَبِand victory
وَالشَرقُ يَعرِفُ رَبَّ السَبقِ وَالغَلَبِ
Why should I enumerate the departed's works for you,
Why should I enumerate to you the deceased's works
when the East knows the master of preeminence and victory?
When the East knows the lord of precedence and conquest?
لَولاbut for المُؤَيَّدُal-Mu'ayyad ظَلَّwould have remained المُسلِمونَthe Muslims عَلىin
لَولا المُؤَيَّدُ ظَلَّ المُسلِمونَ عَلى
تَناكُرٍmutual estrangement بَينَهُمamong them فيin ظُلمَةِthe darkness of الحُجُبِveils
تَناكُرٍ بَينَهُم في ظُلمَةِ الحُجُبِ
But for al-Mu'ayyad, the Muslims would have remained in
Without the Supported One, Muslims would have remained
estrangement from one another, in the darkness of veils.
Estranged from each other, veiled in darkness.
تَعارَفواthey came to know one another فيهِin it أَرواحاًas souls وَضَمَّهُمُand united them
تَعارَفوا فيهِ أَرواحاً وَضَمَّهُمُ
رَغمَdespite التَنائيthe distance زِمامٌa rein غَيرُnot مُنقَضِبِsevered
رَغمَ التَنائي زِمامٌ غَيرُ مُنقَضِبِ
In it they came to know one another as souls, and were held together,
Through him kindred spirits got acquainted
despite their distance, by a rein never severed.
And despite divergence an unsevered bond unified them.
فيin مِصرَEgypt فيin تونِسٍTunis فيin الهِندِIndia فيin عَدَنٍAden
في مِصرَ في تونِسٍ في الهِندِ في عَدَنٍ
فيamong الروسِthe Russians فيamong الفُرسِthe Persians فيin البَحرَينِBahrain فيin حَلَبِAleppo
في الروسِ في الفُرسِ في البَحرَينِ في حَلَبِ
In Egypt, in Tunis, in India, in Aden,
In Egypt, Tunisia, India, Aden,
among the Russians, among the Persians, in Bahrain, in Aleppo.
Russia, Persia, Bahrain, Aleppo.
هَذاthis one يَحِنُّyearns إِلىfor هَذاthat one وَقَدand indeed عُقِدَتwas knotted
هَذا يَحِنُّ إِلى هَذا وَقَد عُقِدَت
مَوَدَّةٌaffection بَينَهُمbetween them مَوصولَةُunbroken السَبَبِin its cord
مَوَدَّةٌ بَينَهُم مَوصولَةُ السَبَبِ
This one yearns for that one, and there has been tied
This one yearns for that one - ties of affection
a bond of affection between them, its cord unbroken.
Were established between them with interconnected strands.
أَباO father of بُثَينَةَButhayna نَمsleep يَكفيكَsuffices you ماwhat تَرَكَتleft behind
أَبا بُثَينَةَ نَم يَكفيكَ ما تَرَكَت
فيناamong us يَداكَyour two hands وَماand what عانَيتَyou endured مِنof تَعَبِtoil
فينا يَداكَ وَما عانَيتَ مِن تَعَبِ
O Abu Buthayna, sleep; enough for you is what was left
Father of Buthaina! What your hands left in us suffices,
among us by your hands, and all the toil you endured.
And what tribulations you endured from exertion.
جاهَدتَyou strove فيfor اللَهِGod وَالأَوطانِand the homelands مُحتَسِباseeking divine reward
جاهَدتَ في اللَهِ وَالأَوطانِ مُحتَسِبا
فَاِرجِعso return إِلىto اللَهِGod مَأجوراًrewarded وَفُزand triumph وَطِبِand fare well
فَاِرجِع إِلى اللَهِ مَأجوراً وَفُز وَطِبِ
You strove for God and the homelands, seeking His reward.
You strove in God's cause and the homelands' as one who seeks reward,
So return to God rewarded; triumph, and fare well.
So return to God rewarded, successful, and serene.
وَاِحمِلand carry بِيُمناكَin your right hand يَومَon the day of النَشرِresurrection ماwhat نَشَرَتpublished
وَاِحمِل بِيُمناكَ يَومَ النَشرِ ما نَشَرَت
تِلكَthat الصَحيفَةُnewspaper فيin دُنياكَyour earthly life وَاِنتَسِبِand declare your affiliation
تِلكَ الصَحيفَةُ في دُنياكَ وَاِنتَسِبِ
And carry in your right hand, on the Day of Resurrection, what was published
And carry, with your right hand on Resurrection Day,
by that newspaper in your earthly life, and claim your kinship with it.
What that newspaper spread in your world, and affiliate with it!
Sol 6.1