طلعتَappeared كبدرlike a full moon دُجىdarkness تزفُّushers forth سُلافهاher finest wine
طلعتَ كبدر دُجى تزفُّ سُلافها
ياO حيِّhail طلعتَهاher appearance وحيِّand hail زفافَهاher bridal procession
يا حيِّ طلعتَها وحيِّ زفافَها
She rose like a full moon in darkness, ushering forth her finest wine.
You emerged like the full moon in the dark night, perfuming its procession,
O hail her appearance, and hail her bridal procession!
O most alive of its rising and most alive at its wedding!
بيضاءfair ناعمةtender الشبيبةyouth أقبلتshe approached
بيضاء ناعمة الشبيبة أقبلت
تُثنيsways بنشوةِin the rapture دلهاof her coquetry أعطَافَهاher flanks
تُثني بنشوةِ دلها أعطَافَها
Fair, tender in her youth, she approached,
White, soft, and youthful, she came happily
swaying her flanks in the rapture of her coquetry.
swaying with the tenderness of her ribs and sides.
تطأtreads upon الحريرَsilk ولوand if تُطيقُcould bear ذووthose possessed of الهوىlove
تطأ الحريرَ ولو تُطيقُ ذوو الهوى
فَرشتَwould spread لهاfor her فوقَabove الحريرthe silk شغافَهاtheir hearts' coverings
فَرشتَ لها فوقَ الحرير شغافَها
She treads on silk; could lovers bear it,
She stepped on silk though if she could endure those who love
they would spread their hearts' coverings for her above the silk.
you had laid above the silk her carpets.
يُهنيكmay it gladden you أنَّthat العامريَّةthe Amiriyya عنout of هوًىlove
يُهنيك أنَّ العامريَّة عن هوًى
ألفتgrew fond of حِماكَyour sanctuary ونافرتand shunned أُلاَّفَهاher companions
ألفت حِماكَ ونافرت أُلاَّفَها
May it gladden you that the Amiriyya, out of love,
Good fortune is yours since Al-Amiriyya for love
grew fond of your sanctuary and shunned her companions.
found your protection and turned away her affiliations.
طرقتكَvisited you by night زائرةًas a visitor بأسعدِon the happiest ليلةٍnight
طرقتكَ زائرةً بأسعدِ ليلةٍ
قدindeed كادَalmost يرفعlifts away نورُهاher light أسدافَهاits darkness
قد كادَ يرفع نورُها أسدافَها
She came visiting you by night, on the happiest night,
She came visiting you on the happiest night,
her light almost lifting away its darkness.
its light nearly lifting up its screens.
وجلتand unveiled بأنمُلِwith fingers فضَّةٍof silver ذهبيَّةًa golden wine
وجلت بأنمُلِ فضَّةٍ ذهبيَّةً
خَضبَتstained بلونwith the color مدامهاof her wine أطرافَهاtheir fingertips
خَضبَت بلون مدامها أطرافَها
With silver fingers she unveiled a golden wine,
She came with silver and golden fingers
having stained their tips with the color of her vintage.
dyed with the color of its red wine on their edges.
فاشرَبso drink علىbeside الوردthe roses النَدِيّdewy بخدِّهاon her cheek
فاشرَب على الورد النَدِيّ بخدِّها
صهباءَtawny wine مُقلتِهاof her eye تُديرُshe passes around سلافَهاher finest wine
صهباءَ مُقلتِها تُديرُ سلافَها
So drink beside the dewy roses of her cheek
Drink the dew of roses on her cheek
the tawny wine of her eye, as she passes her finest vintage.
turning its cup with her curled hair.
وتملُّand savor عيشَكَyour life ناعماًgently بغريرةٍwith an innocent maiden
وتملُّ عيشَكَ ناعماً بغريرةٍ
كالريمlike a gazelle أُرهفَwas made slender خصرُهاher waist إرهافَهاlike her delicacy
كالريم أُرهفَ خصرُها إرهافَها
And savor your life, gently, with an innocent maiden,
And make your life easy with a soft giggle
like a gazelle, her waist refined to match her delicacy.
like a gazelle, slender at its waist and neck.
وبمسقَطِand at the foot العلمينof the two landmarks شائقةawakening الهوىlove
وبمسقَطِ العلمين شائقة الهوى
ضربُواthey drew علىaround مِثلone like المَهاةِthe oryx سِجافَهاher curtains
ضربُوا على مِثل المَهاةِ سِجافَها
And at the foot of the two landmarks, a beauty awakening love—
And at Masqat Al-Almayn, passionate with love,
they drew her curtains around one like an oryx.
they beat the drums celebrating her arrival.
ثُعليَّةٌa woman of Thuʿal لكنyet لهاshe has منfrom حاجبٍan eyebrow
ثُعليَّةٌ لكن لها من حاجبٍ
قوسٌa bow غداbecame أهلُthe people of الهوىlove أهدافَهاits targets
قوسٌ غدا أهلُ الهوى أهدافَها
A woman of Thuʿal, yet from her eyebrow she has
With a cheek yet she has an eyebrow for those who love
a bow whose targets the lovers have become.
which became for them a bow and they its targets.
نشأتshe grew up معَamong الآرامِgazelles إلاَّexcept أنَّهاthat she
نشأت معَ الآرامِ إلاَّ أنَّها
لاnot شيحَهاtheir wormwood ترعىshe grazes ولاnor خِذرافَهاtheir khidhraf herbage
لا شيحَها ترعى ولا خِذرافَها
She grew up among gazelles, except that
She was raised with the Arabs but she has
she grazes neither their wormwood nor their khidhraf herbage.
neither herds to graze nor sheep to herd.
وبذيand at Dhu الأراكةِal-Araka ربعُهاher dwelling لكَfor you جنَّةٌa paradise
وبذي الأراكةِ ربعُها لكَ جنَّةٌ
غِيدُslender-necked الظباءِgazelles تفيَّأتtook shade ألفافَهاin its tangled groves
غِيدُ الظباءِ تفيَّأت ألفافَها
At Dhu al-Araka, her dwelling is a paradise for you;
At Dhi Al-Arakah her abode is a paradise for you
slender-necked gazelles have taken shade in its tangled groves.
whose gazelles have spread out in its crescents.
ألفتهُshe grew fond of it فارتبعتand spent spring بأطيبin the fairest ملعبٍplayground
ألفتهُ فارتبعت بأطيب ملعبٍ
منهُwithin it وكانَand was لطيبهfor its sweetness مُصطافَهاher summer retreat
منهُ وكانَ لطيبه مُصطافَها
She grew fond of it and spent spring in its fairest playground,
She loved it and settled in the most fragrant place
and, for its sweetness, made it her summer retreat.
and its fragrance became her place of rest.
أرجتgrew fragrant بريَّاهwith its scent رُباهُits hills وقدand already مشتshe walked
أرجت بريَّاه رُباهُ وقد مشت
عَطرىperfumed البرودin her robes فضوّعتand scented أخيافَهاits foothills
عَطرى البرود فضوّعت أخيافَها
Its hills grew fragrant with its scent, and she walked
She rode its freshness, it raised her, and she walked
with perfumed robes, spreading fragrance through its foothills.
with scented winds in her robes.
ياO ربعَdwelling of شوقيmy longing هلwill تُضيفُyou shelter حشاشةًa lingering soul
يا ربعَ شوقي هل تُضيفُ حشاشةً
نزلتalighted ظباكَyour gazelles بربعهاin its dwelling فأضافَهاand it welcomed them
نزلت ظباكَ بربعها فأضافَها
O dwelling of my longing, will you shelter a lingering soul,
O my dear country, will you host a lover
whose dwelling your gazelles entered, and which welcomed them?
who came down to you with her steps?
دِيستwas trampled بأخفافby the hooves المطيِّof riding camels لأنَّهاbecause it
دِيست بأخفاف المطيِّ لأنَّها
شوقاًin longing إليكfor you تقدَّمتwent ahead of أخفافَهاtheir hooves
شوقاً إليك تقدَّمت أخفافَها
It was trampled by the riding camels' hooves because,
She was mounted on a gentle ride since
in longing for you, it had gone ahead of their hooves.
she went to you in yearning with her steps.
حيَّتكsaluted you منfrom نَورthe bloom الثُريَّاof the Pleiades حُفَّلٌfull-uddered clouds
حيَّتك من نَور الثُريَّا حُفَّلٌ
حلبتmilked عليكupon you يدُthe hand الصباof the east wind أخلافَهاtheir teats
حلبت عليك يدُ الصبا أخلافَها
From the Pleiades' bloom, full-uddered clouds saluted you;
She greeted you with Pleiades' light, crowned
the east wind's hand milked their teats upon you.
with the hand of morning anointing you.
منfrom كلّevery صادقةِtrue المخيلةِpromise of rain حلّقتsoared
من كلّ صادقةِ المخيلةِ حلّقت
مِنfrom نحوthe direction of نجدٍNajd واغتديتَand you became مطافَهاits circling-ground
مِن نحو نجدٍ واغتديتَ مطافَها
Each was true to its promise of rain, soaring
From every honest imagination she flew
from the direction of Najd, and you became its circling-ground.
from Najd and frequented its plains.
طارتflew بأجنحةon the wings النسيمof the breeze وأقبلتand approached
طارت بأجنحة النسيم وأقبلت
تحدُوdrive onward الرعُودthe thunders ثقالَهاtheir heavy ones وخِفافَهاand their light ones
تحدُو الرعُود ثقالَها وخِفافَها
They flew on the breeze's wings and approached,
She flew on the wings of the breeze and came
the thunders driving their heavy and their light ones onward.
running with thunder in her heaviness and lightness.
قدalready حلّلتloosened كفُّthe palm البروقof lightning نطاقهاtheir girdle
قد حلّلت كفُّ البروق نطاقها
فغدتso they began تُريقُpouring بعِقوتَيكَacross your two precincts نطافَهاtheir drops
فغدت تُريقُ بعِقوتَيكَ نطافَها
The palm of lightning had loosened their girdle,
Lightning unleashed its knot
so they poured their drops across your two precincts.
so it drips on you with its droplets.
نثَرتscattered عليكupon you عشيَّةًone evening بردَhailstones الحياof rain
نثَرت عليك عشيَّةً بردَ الحيا
نَثرlike the scattering اللآلئof pearls فارَقَتthat left أصدافَهاtheir shells
نَثر اللآلئ فارَقَت أصدافَها
One evening they scattered the rain's hail upon you
She sprinkled on you one evening the coolness of life
as pearls scatter when they leave their shells.
separating her pearls from her necklaces.
أمشبّباًO singer of love بالغيدfor slender maidens زِدنيgive me more مازجاًmingling
أمشبّباً بالغيد زِدني مازجاً
فيin وَصفِthe description مَجلسِof the gathering أُنسناof our companionship أوصافَهاtheir descriptions
في وَصفِ مَجلسِ أُنسنا أوصافَها
O singer of love for slender maidens, give me more, mingling
Join me, perfumed with musk, mixing
their descriptions with your account of our convivial gathering.
the description of our circle of intimacy.
هوit is تُحفةُthe gift الدنياof the world لناto us قدindeed أحسَنتshe bestowed well
هو تُحفةُ الدنيا لنا قد أحسَنت
فيهwithin it بريحانwith the basil الهوىof love إتحافَهاher gift
فيه بريحان الهوى إتحافَها
It is the world's gift to us; she has bestowed it well,
It is the treasure of life perfected for us;
offering within it the fragrant basil of love.
in it the basil of love astonished with its gifts.
قدindeed بتُّI spent the night أقطفُplucking منfrom حديقةthe garden زَهرِهِof its bloom
قد بتُّ أقطفُ من حديقة زَهرِهِ
أزهارَflowers بشرٍof gladness ماhow ألذَّsweet قِطافَهاtheir gathering
أزهارَ بشرٍ ما ألذَّ قِطافَها
I spent the night plucking from the garden of its bloom
I started plucking from the garden of its flowers
flowers of gladness—how sweet their gathering!
the most delicious petals of joy.
ونديمتيand my drinking companion هيفاءُslender-waisted وُشّحwas adorned خصرُهاher waist
ونديمتي هيفاءُ وُشّح خصرُها
بمذهَّبwith gilded finery شَغفتshe captivated بهwith it وصَّافَهاthose describing her
بمذهَّب شَغفت به وصَّافَها
My drinking companion was slender-waisted, her waist adorned
My companion Haifa, a belt hugging her waist
with gilded finery by which she captivated those who portrayed her.
with what enchanted me and enticed me.
جلتshe unveiled المُدامَthe wine لناfor us فقلتُand I said لصاحبيto my companion
جلت المُدامَ لنا فقلتُ لصاحبي
مَنحتكَgranted you ساقيةُthe pourer الطلىof wine أسعافَهاher favors
مَنحتكَ ساقيةُ الطلى أسعافَها
She unveiled the wine for us, and I said to my companion:
She served us the wine so I said to my friend,
The wine-pourer has granted you her favors.
“The cupbearer of drinks handed you her palms.”
وَشَدَتand she sang وقدhaving أرختlet fall ثلاثَthree ذوائبٍtresses
وَشَدَت وقد أرخت ثلاثَ ذوائبٍ
بيدwith the hand الدلالof coquetry فأطرَبتand delighted أُلاَّفَهاher companions
بيد الدلال فأطرَبت أُلاَّفَها
And she sang, having let fall three tresses
And she let down three braids
with the hand of coquetry, delighting her companions.
held by the hand of the tender, enchanting with her harmony.
ودعوتُand I cried ياO بُشراكَglad tidings for you إنَّindeed لياليَthe nights of الthe (continued)
ودعوتُ يا بُشراكَ إنَّ لياليَ ال
تشريقِTashriq تلكthose فبادرso hasten استينافَهاtheir renewal
تشريقِ تلك فبادر استينافَها
And I cried: Glad tidings for you! Those are the nights of
And I called you good news for the nights of
Tashriq; hasten, then, to begin them anew.
no dawn are yours so start them again.
وصدقتكand spoke truly to you البُشرىthe glad tidings فعرسُfor the wedding محمدٍof Muhammad
وصدقتك البُشرى فعرسُ محمدٍ
عيدٌa feast علىfor الدنياthe world أدارَset circulating سُلافَهاits finest wine
عيدٌ على الدنيا أدارَ سُلافَها
The glad tidings spoke truly to you: Muhammad's wedding
And you made the good news true, and Muhammad’s wedding
is a feast that set the world's finest wine circulating.
is a celebration for the world adorning it.
ضحكتlaughed بهاat it الدنياthe world سُروراًfor joy واكتستand clothed itself
ضحكت بها الدنيا سُروراً واكتست
للزَهوِfor splendor منfrom حبراتهاits embroidered fabrics أفوافَهاits patterned robes
للزَهوِ من حبراتها أفوافَها
At it the world laughed for joy and clothed itself
The world laughed with joy at it and dressed
for splendor in patterned robes from its embroidered fabrics.
in its splendor the plumage of its happiest clothes.
فاليومَso today قرَّتfound comfort عينُthe eye هاشمَof Hashim فيin الثرىthe dust
فاليومَ قرَّت عينُ هاشمَ في الثرى
وسقتهُand watered him أنواءُthe rain-stars السرورof joy نِطافَهاtheir drops
وسقتهُ أنواءُ السرور نِطافَها
Today Hashim's eye finds comfort in the dust,
Today the eye of Hashim is delighted in the earth
and the rain-stars of joy have watered him with their drops.
and the breezes of joy watered it with its droplets.
وسرتand wafted إلىto أبناءthe sons عبدِof ʿAbd مُنافهاits Manaf
وسرت إلى أبناء عبدِ مُنافها
نفحاتُbreaths بشرof gladness أطربتdelighted مُستافَهاthose inhaling them
نفحاتُ بشر أطربت مُستافَها
And to the sons of the world's ʿAbd Manaf there wafted
The breezes of glad tidings came to the descendants
breaths of gladness that delighted those who breathed them.
of Abdul Manaf, enlivening its plains.
وصلتهمreached them البُشرىthe glad tidings بعرسof the wedding مُهذَّبٍof a refined man
وصلتهم البُشرى بعرس مُهذَّبٍ
أحيتrevived مآثرُthe glorious deeds جدّهof his grandfather أسلافَهاtheir forebears
أحيت مآثرُ جدّه أسلافَها
Glad tidings reached them of a noble groom's wedding;
The good news reached them of a refined wedding
his grandfather's glorious deeds brought their forebears back to life.
that revived the feats of its ancestors.
يُنميهtraces his lineage منfrom مَهديّthe Mahdi آلof the House محمدٍof Muhammad
يُنميه من مَهديّ آل محمدٍ
هذاthis man الذيwho نَعَشَتraised up يَداهhis two hands ضعافَهاits weak
هذا الذي نَعَشَت يَداه ضعافَها
He traces his lineage to the Mahdi of the House of Muhammad,
This, which his hands enlivened, grows it
this man whose hands raised up its weak.
from the cradle of the family of Muhammad.
وَرِثَinherited الإِمامةthe imamate علمَهاits banner وصلاحَهاand its righteousness
وَرِثَ الإِمامة علمَها وصلاحَها
علمَهاits knowledge وإباءهاand its proud resolve وعفافَهاand its chastity
علمَها وإباءها وعفافَها
He inherited the imamate, its banner and its righteousness,
He inherited the leadership, its knowledge and righteousness,
its knowledge, its proud resolve, and its chastity.
its knowledge, its resoluteness, and its chastity.
يتدارسُstudies together الملأُthe assembly المقدَّسُsacred عندهin his presence
يتدارسُ الملأُ المقدَّسُ عنده
حِكماًwisdom بَهرنَthat astonished منamong الورىmankind عرَّافَهاits most knowing
حِكماً بَهرنَ من الورى عرَّافَها
The sacred assembly studies together in his presence
The sacred scholars study with him
wisdom that astonishes the world's most knowing.
wisdoms that dazzled the people with its skill.
ربّmaster of القدورِthe cauldrons الراسياتِfirmly rooted موائلاًas refuges
ربّ القدورِ الراسياتِ موائلاً
كالبُركlike pools أرحبَhe made spacious مالئاًfilling أجوافَهاtheir hollows
كالبُرك أرحبَ مالئاً أجوافَها
Master of firmly rooted cauldrons, serving as refuges,
Lord of the space of settled abodes
he made them broad as pools, filling their hollows.
as vast as plains, sheltering their expanses.
هدَّارةًroaring تحتbeneath الدجىthe darkness فكأنَّماso it is as though
هدَّارةً تحت الدجى فكأنَّما
تدعوthey call بحيّwith come! علىto القِرىhospitality أضيافَهاtheir guests
تدعو بحيّ على القِرى أضيافَها
Roaring beneath the darkness, they seem
A guide in the darkness as if it calls
to call their guests with: Come to hospitality!
to the villages, “my guests,” with life.
ولوَand if انَّindeed يأجُوجاًGog ومأجوجاًand Magog أتتcame
ولوَ انَّ يأجُوجاً ومأجوجاً أتت
مغناهُto his abode تلتمسseeking القِرىhospitality لأضافَهاhe would host them
مغناهُ تلتمس القِرى لأضافَها
Were Gog and Magog to come
And if Gog and Magog came to it
to his abode seeking hospitality, he would host them.
its singing would make the villages host them.
ياO مَنyou whose مكارمnoble virtues شيبةِof Shaybat الحمدِal-Hamd انتهتpassed
يا مَن مكارم شيبةِ الحمدِ انتهت
إرثاًas an inheritance إليهto him وزادَهاand he increased them إضعافَهاmanyfold
إرثاً إليه وزادَها إضعافَها
O you to whom the noble virtues of Shaybat al-Hamd passed
O you in whom the noble traits of praise culminated
as an inheritance, and who multiplied them manyfold,
as inheritance and multiplied it manifold!
علمتknows قريشٌQuraysh أنَّthat قومكyour people خيرُهاare its best
علمت قريشٌ أنَّ قومك خيرُها
كرماًin generosity وإنeven if منعتهُمit denied them إنصافَهاits fair acknowledgment
كرماً وإن منعتهُم إنصافَها
Quraysh knows that your people are its best
Quraish learned that your people are its best
in generosity, even if it denies them fair acknowledgment.
in generosity though it denied their fairness.
فإذاso whenever قريشٌQuraysh فيin المكارمnoble deeds طاوَلَتvies
فإذا قريشٌ في المكارم طاوَلَت
غلبتis surpassed بطَولِby the bounty المُطعمينَof those who feed عِجافَهاits lean ones
غلبت بطَولِ المُطعمينَ عِجافَها
Whenever Quraysh vies in noble deeds,
So if Quraish competed in generosity
it is surpassed by the bounty of those who fed its lean ones:
it would defeat with the generous their misers.
بالراحلينَthrough those traveling بهاwith it وقدand already أخذُواthey secured لهاfor it
بالراحلينَ بها وقد أخذُوا لها
عهدَa covenant الأمانof safety وسلand ask بهمabout them إيلافَهاits trading covenants
عهدَ الأمان وسل بهم إيلافَها
those who traveled with it and secured for it
With those who sought peace and took
a covenant of safety—ask its trading covenants about them;
the covenant of security, so it mixed with them.
بالمُنشقينthrough those making inhale أُنوفَهاits noses عَرفthe fragrance العُلىof eminence
بالمُنشقين أُنوفَها عَرف العُلى
والمُرغمينَand those humbling علىto الهُدىguidance آنافَهاits noses
والمُرغمينَ على الهُدى آنافَها
those who made its noses breathe the fragrance of eminence,
With those who split its noses to the heights
and humbled its noses to guidance;
and forced its ignorance to guidance.
منthose who أعتقوهاfreed it فيduring المُحولdroughts وأرهنواand pledged themselves
من أعتقوها في المُحول وأرهنوا
فيin السبقthe race حتَّىuntil استعبدواthey made subjects of أشرافَهاits nobles
في السبق حتَّى استعبدوا أشرافَها
those who freed it in droughts and staked themselves
With those who freed it in hardship and pledged
in the race until they made its nobles their subjects.
in racing until they subdued its nobility.
فبكمso through you أعزَّexalted المؤمنينَthe believers إِلههاits God
فبكم أعزَّ المؤمنينَ إِلهها
وكفىand sufficed بواحدwith one man جمعكمof your company آلافَهاagainst its thousands
وكفى بواحد جمعكم آلافَها
Through you its God exalted the believers,
With how many did its God honor the faithful!
and one of your company sufficed against its thousands.
And one of you sufficed for its thousands.
واليومand today إنif شكتِcomplains الشريعةُthe sacred Law قرحةًof a wound
واليوم إن شكتِ الشريعةُ قرحةً
فسواكthen anyone but you ليسis not بمُدملٍa healer of إقرافَهاits affliction
فسواك ليس بمُدملٍ إقرافَها
Today, if the sacred Law complains of a wound,
And today if the way faltered from a wound
none but you can heal its affliction.
none but you can dress it and heal it.
ماnot أيقنتit was certain ببقاءِof the survival مهجتهاof its life-blood لهاfor it
ما أيقنت ببقاءِ مهجتها لها
حتَّىuntil دعاكَcalled you اللهُGod قمrise فتلافَهاand restore it
حتَّى دعاكَ اللهُ قم فتلافَها
It was not certain its life-blood would endure
It did not believe its intestines would remain for it
until God called you: Rise and restore it.
until God called you: “Rise and mend it!”
فمنعتso you defended حوزَتهاits domain وصنتَand safeguarded حريمهاits sanctuary
فمنعت حوزَتها وصنتَ حريمها
وحميتَand protected بيضتهاits core وحِطتَand guarded سِجافَهاits curtains
وحميتَ بيضتها وحِطتَ سِجافَها
You defended its domain and safeguarded its sanctuary,
You then protected its courtyards and protected its sanctums
protected its core and watched over its curtains.
and guarded its core and lowered its screens.
يابنO son of النبيّthe Prophet وتلكand that أشرفُis the noblest دعوةٍsummons
يابن النبيّ وتلك أشرفُ دعوةٍ
طرباًin delight تهزُّsways لهاat it العُلىeminence أعطافَهاits flanks
طرباً تهزُّ لها العُلى أعطافَها
O son of the Prophet—this is the noblest summons,
O son of the Prophet, and that is the most honorable call
at which eminence sways its flanks in delight.
that stirs with joy the heights rustling its edges.
أنتyou الذيare he who ارتضعsuckled النبوَّةprophethood درَّهاits flowing milk
أنت الذي ارتضع النبوَّة درَّها
ولهand for him الإِمامةُthe imamate مهّدتspread out أكنافَهاits sheltering sides
وله الإِمامةُ مهّدت أكنافَها
You are he who suckled the flowing milk of prophethood,
You are the one who suckled the milk of his prophecy
and for whom the imamate spread out its shelter.
and for him is the leadership that wrapped him in its folds.
منwhoever حلَّenters داركَyour house ظنَّimagines تربةَthe soil قدسهاof its sanctity
من حلَّ داركَ ظنَّ تربةَ قدسها
كافورةًcamphor خلديّةًheavenly فاستافَهاand inhaled its scent
كافورةً خلديّةً فاستافَها
Whoever enters your house imagines its sacred soil
Whoever settled in your abode thought the soil of its holiness
to be heavenly camphor, and inhales its scent.
was eternal camphor, so he reveled in it.
ونعمand yes هيit الفردوسُis Paradise إلاَّexcept أنَّهاthat it
ونعم هي الفردوسُ إلاَّ أنَّها
رضوانRidwan بِشركyour cheerful welcome خازنguardian of إلطافَهاits favors
رضوان بِشرك خازن إلطافَها
Yes, it is Paradise, except that
Paradise it is, though it has Ridwan
your smiling welcome is its Ridwan, guardian of its favors.
and the keeper of kindness companioning his bounty.
هيit باحةُis the courtyard الشرفof honor المقدَّسةsacred التيwhich
هي باحةُ الشرف المقدَّسة التي
ولدتbore بهاwithin it منكfrom you العُلىeminence أشرافَهاits nobles
ولدت بها منك العُلى أشرافَها
It is the sacred courtyard of honor,
It is the courtyard of sacred honor in which
where eminence has borne its nobles from you.
the heights were born to you from it.
ولدتهمbore them علماءَas scholars يكشفُremoves هديُهمtheir guidance
ولدتهم علماءَ يكشفُ هديُهم
عنfrom ذيthese القلوبhearts الغافلاتِheedless غِلافَهاtheir covering
عن ذي القلوب الغافلاتِ غِلافَها
It bore them as scholars whose guidance removes
It gave birth to scholars whose guidance
the coverings from those heedless hearts.
uncovers the heedless hearts from their veils.
شفّواthey became refined طباعاًin nature لاnot تميلinclining معwith الهوىdesire
شفّوا طباعاً لا تميل مع الهوى
منbecause حيثof how طهَّرpurified ربُّهاtheir Lord شفّافَهاtheir finest essence
من حيث طهَّر ربُّها شفّافَها
Their natures are refined, never swayed by desire,
They have a nature that does not incline to passions
for their Lord purified their finest essence.
from where their Lord purified their essence.
فإذاso when بجعفرهاfrom its Jaʿfar ارتفدتَyou seek aid مجدتَهyou find him noble
فإذا بجعفرها ارتفدتَ مجدتَه
فرَّاجa reliever of كلِّevery عظيمةٍgreat calamity كشَّافَهاits dispeller
فرَّاج كلِّ عظيمةٍ كشَّافَها
If you seek aid from its Jaʿfar, you find him noble,
When Ja’far sought you, you honored his glory,
a reliever and dispeller of every great calamity.
a lamp between celestial spheres.
قمرٌa moon توسَّطat the center of دارةًa circle فلكيَّةًcelestial
قمرٌ توسَّط دارةً فلكيَّةً
جمعgathered الكمالُperfection علىaround النهىintellect أطرافَهاits bounds
جمع الكمالُ على النهى أطرافَها
A moon at the center of a celestial circle,
Perfection gathered at its limit to guidance;
whose bounds perfection has gathered around intellect.
were it not for the envy of foes touching his slipper for glory,
لولاwere it not for اكتسابُthe gaining الحاسدينَby the envious بنعلهthrough his sandal
لولا اكتسابُ الحاسدينَ بنعله
شرفاًof honor لقالَwould say المجدُGlory طأtread upon آنافَهاtheir noses
شرفاً لقالَ المجدُ طأ آنافَها
Were his sandal not to bestow
majesty would have said: “It touched the heights.”
honor on the envious, Glory would say: Tread on their noses.
Wherever he turned he found tongues of praise
حيثwherever التفتَّyou turn وجدتَyou find ألسنةَthe tongues الثناof praise
حيث التفتَّ وجدتَ ألسنةَ الثنا
والمدحِand eulogy تعلنproclaim فيconcerning علاهhis eminence هِتافَهاtheir cheers
والمدحِ تعلن في علاه هِتافَها
Wherever you turn, you find the tongues of praise
and eulogy proclaiming aloud his ascendance.
and eulogy proclaiming their cheers for his eminence.
He comprehended the world’s patience and disciplined its ignorance
وَسَعembraced الورىmankind حلماًin forbearance وأدَّبand chastened جهلَهاits ignorance
وَسَع الورى حلماً وأدَّب جهلَها
غضباًin anger فآمنand calmed خوفهاits fear وأخافَهاand frightened it
غضباً فآمن خوفها وأخافَها
He embraced humanity in forbearance and chastened its ignorance
so it felt safe from its fears and he frightened it.
in anger, calming its fears and making it fear him.
And it is enough for the children of hope to ask
وكفىand spared بنيthe sons الأملof hope السؤالasking وطالماand how often
وكفى بني الأمل السؤال وطالما
ملّتthey tired of بساحةin the courtyard غيرهof another إلحافَهاtheir importunity
ملّت بساحة غيره إلحافَها
He spared the sons of hope the need to ask; how often
while they are bored in the field of others begging them.
they tired of their importunity in another's courtyard!
He is the master of the generous; if generosity is mentioned,
هوhe سيّدُis lord الكرماءِof the generous إنwhen ذُكرis mentioned السخاliberality
هو سيّدُ الكرماءِ إن ذُكر السخا
وأخوand brother of المكارمnoble deeds إنwhen غدواthey become أحلافَهاtheir sworn allies
وأخو المكارم إن غدوا أحلافَها
He is lord of the generous when liberality is named,
he is the brother of generosity even if they disagree.
and brother of noble deeds when they become their sworn allies.
The people claimed their souls were his mother's
زعمclaimed الأنامُmankind بنانهُhis fingers أمّwere the mother الحياof rain
زعم الأنامُ بنانهُ أمّ الحيا
كذبواthey lied وإنthough رضعsuckled الحياrain أخلافَهاtheir teats
كذبوا وإن رضع الحيا أخلافَها
People claimed his fingers were the mother of rain;
they lied though she suckled the snakes.
they lied, though rain suckled at their teats.
I would not say his fingers are stingy, for to him belong the dew
لاmay I not قلتُcall أنملَهُhis fingertips لأنَّbecause لهاfor them الندىgenerosity
لا قلتُ أنملَهُ لأنَّ لها الندى
طبعis a nature تُنيلكthey grant you دائماًalways إسعافَهاtheir aid
طبع تُنيلك دائماً إسعافَها
May I never call them fingertips, for generosity is
of nature that always comes to your aid.
their nature; they always extend their aid to you.
I said to the misers since the source of dew dried:
قدindeed قلتُI said للبخلاءto the misers مُذsince عُقرwas hamstrung الندىgenerosity
قد قلتُ للبخلاء مُذ عُقر الندى
وبنوand the sons المكارمof noble deeds حرّمتwere forbidden إيجافَهاtheir galloping
وبنو المكارم حرّمت إيجافَها
I said to the misers, since generosity was hamstrung
“Be Thamud, for Ja’far is righteous
and the sons of noble deeds were barred from their galloping:
for hosting the delegations overwhelming them with dew.”
كونواbe ثمودَThamud فإنَّfor indeed جعفرَJaʿfar صالحٌis Salih
كونوا ثمودَ فإنَّ جعفرَ صالحٌ
للوفدto the delegations يغمرُhe floods بالندىwith bounty مُعتافَهاtheir seekers
للوفد يغمرُ بالندى مُعتافَها
Be Thamud, for Jaʿfar is a Salih
This is the father of guidance whom if the clouds neighbored
to the delegations, flooding their seekers with bounty.
his hands, they would be stingy towards him.
هذاthis أبوis Abu الهاديal-Hadi الذيwho لوif جاورتstood beside
هذا أبو الهادي الذي لو جاورت
يدهhis hand الغيومَthe clouds لبخّلتwould make seem miserly وكّافَهاtheir rainiest
يده الغيومَ لبخّلت وكّافَها
This is Abu al-Hadi, whose hand, were it to stand
Between the imamate and the prophecy is a position
beside the clouds, would make their rainiest seem miserly.
ascended by the heights reaching its highest peak.
بينbetween الإِمامةِthe imamate والنبوَّةand prophethood رتبةٌa rank
بين الإِمامةِ والنبوَّة رتبةٌ
بعلىthrough the heights السيادةof lordship قدindeed علاhe scaled أعرافَهاits crests
بعلى السيادة قد علا أعرافَها
Between imamate and prophethood lies a rank
The angels stand in awe of the light of his glory
whose crests he has scaled through the loftiness of his lordship.
bowing down so their aspirations towards him multiplied.
تقفُstand الملائكُthe angels دونshort of نورthe light جلالهاof its majesty
تقفُ الملائكُ دون نور جلالها
خُضُعاًbowed فتكثرand increase نحوهtoward it استشرافَهاtheir upward gazing
خُضُعاً فتكثر نحوه استشرافَها
The angels stand short of the light of its majesty,
His fathers protected the law in difficult
bowed, continually lifting their gaze toward that light.
times when his opinion was no longer describable.
آباؤُهhis fathers حمتprotected الشريعةَthe sacred Law فيwith blades ضُباًsharp
آباؤُه حمت الشريعةَ في ضُباً
لمnot يعدdeparted from حاسمُthe decisiveness رأيهof his judgment أوصافَهاtheir qualities
لم يعد حاسمُ رأيه أوصافَها
His fathers protected the sacred Law with blades
It is as if his views were from its swords
whose qualities his decisive judgment does not depart from.
and as if his views were its unsheathed swords.
فكأَنَّso it is as though منfrom أسيافهاtheir swords آراؤهhis judgments
فكأَنَّ من أسيافها آراؤه
وكأَنَّand as though منfrom آرائهhis judgments أسيافَهاtheir swords
وكأَنَّ من آرائه أسيافَها
It is as though his judgments were fashioned from their swords,
An opinion that turns back the times' arrows
and their swords from his judgments.
until its calamities become its targets.
رأيa judgment يردُّthat turns back علىupon الزمانTime سهامَهits arrows
رأي يردُّ على الزمان سهامَه
حتَّىuntil تبيتَspend the night صروفُهits vicissitudes أَهدافَهاas their targets
حتَّى تبيتَ صروفُه أَهدافَها
A judgment that turns Time's arrows back upon it,
The tolerant whose palms if folded
until its vicissitudes spend the night as their targets.
sight cannot encompass the edges of his fingers.
جذلانَjoyful يبسطُhe spreads راحةًa palm لمnot يعقدclenched الإِwith- (continued)
جذلانَ يبسطُ راحةً لم يعقد الإِ
مساكُholding (continued) لمحةَfor a blink ناظرٍof an eye أطرافَهاits fingertips
مساكُ لمحةَ ناظرٍ أطرافَها
Joyfully he opens a palm whose fingers were never clenched by
What can his enviers say when they saw
withholding, even for the blink of an eye.
in his abundant generosity its destruction?
ماذاwhat حواسدُهاdo its enviers تقولُsay وقدhaving رأتseen
ماذا حواسدُها تقولُ وقد رأت
فيin المكرماتnoble deeds لوفرهاof its wealth أَتلافَهاits spending
في المكرمات لوفرها أَتلافَها
What do its enviers say, having seen
Can they say, “wasteful”? But it follows in its waste
it spend its wealth on noble deeds?
its ancestors in their generosity.
أتقولdo they say مسرفةٌextravagant بلىyes هيit تقتفيfollows
أتقول مسرفةٌ بلى هي تقتفي
بالجودin generosity فيin إسرافهاits lavishness أَسلافَهاits forebears
بالجود في إسرافها أَسلافَها
Do they say, Extravagant? Yes—it follows
It is as if his mouth contained deadly poison
its forebears in the lavishness of its generosity.
that he breathes into the chests of his opponents.
وكأَنَّماand it is as though فمهhis mouth حوىcontained نضناضةًa tongue-flicking serpent
وكأَنَّما فمه حوى نضناضةً
للخصمat the adversary ينفثُhe breathes فيinto حشاهhis breast ذُعافَهاits deadly venom
للخصم ينفثُ في حشاه ذُعافَها
It is as though his mouth contained a tongue-flicking serpent,
He is Muhammad in the tongue of generosity
whose deadly venom he breathes into his adversary's breast.
and Muhammad collected all its types.
هوhe فيin لسانthe tongue المكرماتof noble deeds محمدٌis Muhammad
هو في لسان المكرمات محمدٌ
ومحمدٌand Muhammad هوhe جامعٌgathers أصنافَهاtheir kinds
ومحمدٌ هو جامعٌ أصنافَها
On the tongue of noble deeds he is Muhammad,
A master of creation: if it spilled in the cup,
and Muhammad gathers all their kinds.
it would intoxicate the one who drinks it.
مولًىa lord خلائقهhis character حلتbecame sweet فلوَand if انَّهاindeed its traits
مولًى خلائقه حلت فلوَ انَّها
فيinto الكأسthe cup تُسكبwere poured أسكرتwould intoxicate رشَّافَهاthose sipping them
في الكأس تُسكب أسكرت رشَّافَها
A lord whose character is sweet: were its traits
He and Hussein in his glory are moons
poured into the cup, they would intoxicate whoever sipped them.
each rose above the world and rose above its horizon.
هوhe والحسينُand al-Husayn بمجدهin his glory قمراare two moons عُلاًof eminence
هو والحسينُ بمجده قمرا عُلاً
كلٌّeach عنfrom الدنياthe world جلاcleared away أسدافَهاits darkness
كلٌّ عن الدنيا جلا أسدافَها
He and al-Husayn, in their glory, are two moons of eminence;
The gardens of his perfection were watered by the water of guidance
each has cleared the world's darkness away.
so they dazzled in their flowers and fruit.
سقيتwere watered رياضُthe gardens كمالهof his perfection ماءَwith the water النهىof intellect
سقيت رياضُ كماله ماءَ النهى
فبهرنand dazzled فيin أَزهارهاtheir flowers قطَّافَهاthose plucking them
فبهرن في أَزهارها قطَّافَها
The gardens of his perfection were watered with the water of intellect,
A group of lineage that rivals the heights
and their flowers dazzled those who plucked them.
together entwining their shoulders.
فئةٌa family لهاthat has حسبٌa noble lineage تكافاwere equal فيin العُلىeminence
فئةٌ لها حسبٌ تكافا في العُلى
طرفاهُits two ends قدindeed وطَّاhave trodden معاًtogether أكتافَهاits shoulders
طرفاهُ قد وطَّا معاً أكتافَها
A family whose noble lineage is equally lofty at both ends;
So, O people of revelation and messengers in the world
together, those ends have trodden upon eminence's shoulders.
and on you did God extend its edges.
فلكمso to you بنيsons of الوحيrevelation الرسالةbelongs the Message فيamong الورىmankind
فلكم بني الوحي الرسالة في الورى
وعليكمand over you مدَّspread الإِلهُGod طِرافَهاits leather tent
وعليكم مدَّ الإِلهُ طِرافَها
To you, sons of revelation, belongs the Message among mankind,
If you favor in nobility the angels of the sky
and over you God has spread its leather tent.
God served your grandfather the noblest of them.
إنif تفضلواyou surpass شرفاًin honor ملائكةَthe angels السماof heaven
إن تفضلوا شرفاً ملائكةَ السما
فاللهthen God أَخدَمmade serve جدّكمyour grandfather أَشرافَهاtheir noblest
فالله أَخدَم جدّكم أَشرافَها
If you surpass the angels of heaven in honor,
If a description of your ascendance did not come in the Scripture,
God made their noblest serve your grandfather.
by God, the world would not have known its qualities.
لوif لمnot يجئhad come فيin الذكرthe Revelation وصفthe description عُلاكمof your eminence
لو لم يجئ في الذكر وصف عُلاكم
تاللهby God ماnot عرفwould know الورىmankind أوصافَهاits qualities
تالله ما عرف الورى أوصافَها
Had the account of your eminence not come in the Revelation,
For every time the channels twist
by God, mankind would not have known its qualities.
an imam of guidance from you straightens its culture.
ولكلِّand for every آنٍmoment فيamong الأنامmankind إذاwhen التوتthings bend awry
ولكلِّ آنٍ في الأنام إذا التوت
منكمfrom you إمامُan imam هُدًىof guidance يقيمsets upright ثِقافَهاits straightening-tool
منكم إمامُ هُدًى يقيم ثِقافَها
And at every moment among mankind, when things bend awry,
The imam of this time, your father stood in it
an imam of guidance from you sets its straightening-tool upright.
gently performing its duties with strength.
وإمامُand as imam هذاof this العصرage قامarose أبوكمyour father
وإمامُ هذا العصر قام أبوكم
فيهاamong them فراضَand tamed برفقهwith his gentleness إعسافَهاtheir waywardness
فيها فراضَ برفقه إعسافَها
As imam of this age, your father arose
Its scholars did not disagree on an issue
among them, taming their waywardness with his gentleness.
but he returned its disagreement to the truth.
لمnot تختلفdiffered علماؤُهاits scholars فيover مُشكلٍa difficult question
لم تختلف علماؤُها في مُشكلٍ
إلاَّexcept وردَّand he turned back إلىtoward الصوابthe right خِلافَهاtheir dispute
إلاَّ وردَّ إلى الصواب خِلافَها
Its scholars never differed over a difficult question
O son of the ascended ones, they rode the lead horses of ascendance
without his turning their dispute back toward the right.
and walked the path of glory with determination.
يابنO son of الأُلىthose who ركبواrode سوابقَswift steeds منof عُلاًeminence
يابن الأُلى ركبوا سوابقَ من عُلاً
عقدواthey tied بناصيةto the forelock السهىof al-Suha أعرافَهاtheir manes
عقدوا بناصية السهى أعرافَها
O son of those who rode swift steeds of eminence,
O son of those whom if the steeds carried
tying their manes to the forelock of al-Suha,
fiercely stood their ground with their chests.
وابنand son of الذينthose who إذاwhen الجيادُthe steeds حملنهمbore them
وابن الذين إذا الجيادُ حملنهم
لوغًىinto battle وقواthey protected بصدورهاwith their breasts أردافَهاtheir hindquarters
لوغًى وقوا بصدورها أردافَها
and son of those who, when steeds bore them
Take her as loyalty proposed, escorted
into battle, shielded their hindquarters with their breasts,
with your beautiful mention, delighted at her wedding.
خُذهاtake it كماas اقترحَurged الوفاfidelity مزفوفةًbrought in bridal procession
خُذها كما اقترحَ الوفا مزفوفةً
بجميلthrough the beauty ذِكركof your mention تستطيبُit finds sweet زفافَهاits bridal procession
بجميل ذِكرك تستطيبُ زفافَها
take it, as fidelity has urged, brought in bridal procession;
She sends her greetings exerting herself
in the beauty of your mention it finds its procession sweet.
and from modesty shows hope for your acceptance.
تهديit offers التهانيcongratulations جُهدَهاto its utmost ومنand out of الحياshyness
تهدي التهاني جُهدَها ومن الحيا
تبديreveals رجاءَthe hope قُبولكof your acceptance استعطافَهاits plea for favor
تبدي رجاءَ قُبولك استعطافَها
It offers congratulations to the utmost of its power, and shyly
You are the one whose glories blossomed
pleads for your acceptance, revealing its hope.
among the stars and the noblest radiated their brilliance.
أنتyou الذيare he whose زهرتblossomed مناقبُthe virtues مجدهof his glory
أنت الذي زهرت مناقبُ مجده
بينamong النجومthe stars وأشرقتand shone إشرافَهاtheir heights
بين النجوم وأشرقت إشرافَها
You are he whose glorious virtues blossomed
The law softened from your eloquent tongue
among the stars and shone in their loftiness.
so what frightened it before now calmed it.
نضتdrew forth الشريعةُthe sacred Law منfrom لسانكyour tongue مرهفاًa keen-edged blade
نضت الشريعةُ من لسانك مرهفاً
فمخيفهاso its terrorizer بالأمسof yesterday هاbehold هوhe خافَهاfeared it
فمخيفها بالأمس ها هو خافَها
The sacred Law drew from your tongue a keen-edged blade,
The delegations saw in your palms its comfort
and its terrorizer of yesterday—behold—now fears it.
from all those whose sufficiency she sought from them.
ورأتand saw بنائلكthrough your bounty الوفودُthe delegations غناءهاtheir freedom from need
ورأت بنائلك الوفودُ غناءها
منof كلِّeveryone مَنfrom whom طلبتthey sought لديهwith him كَفافَهاtheir subsistence
من كلِّ مَن طلبت لديه كَفافَها
Through your bounty the delegations saw themselves free of need
So when the intimate paths blame another
of all from whom they had sought mere subsistence.
your generosity is praised by the intimate paths.
فإذاso when لغيركtoward another ذمَّblamed موجفهاthose hastening السرىthe night journey
فإذا لغيرك ذمَّ موجفها السرى
حمدتpraised إليكtoward you بنوthe sons السرىof night travel إيجافَهاtheir haste
حمدت إليك بنو السرى إيجافَها
When those hastening to others blame the night journey,
You have immortalized knowledge in the world
the travelers of the night praise their haste toward you.
and your name fills its pages and notebooks.
فخلدتso you became immortal فيin الدنياthe world بعلمكthrough your learning فيamong الورىmankind
فخلدت في الدنيا بعلمك في الورى
ونداكَand your bounty يملأُfills صحفَهاits pages وصِحافَهاand its platters
ونداكَ يملأُ صحفَها وصِحافَها
So you live forever in the world through your learning among mankind,
and your bounty fills its pages and its platters.
Partial English translation: 192 of 194 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1