حيتْكَshe greeted you بكرُvirgin النظمverse غدوهat daybreak
حيتْكَ بكرُ النظم غدوه
تجلوdisplays الثناpraise شغفاًpassionately وصبوهand yearning
تجلو الثنا شغفاً وصبوه
The virgin of verse greeted you at daybreak,
The dawn of poetry greeted you at morn
Displaying praise with passion and yearning,
Revealing affection and young love
بنواصعٍwith radiant words منfrom لفظهاher diction
بنواصعٍ من لفظها
مثلlike الشموسthe suns بزغنَthey rose ضحوهat midmorning
مثل الشموس بزغنَ ضحوه
With radiant words from her speech,
With brilliant eloquence
Like suns rising at midmorning.
Like suns dawning in their splendor
طربتْrejoiced لمدحكَin praising you هيفُهاher slender beauties
طربتْ لمدحكَ هيفُها
فثنتْso they bent معاطفَcurving sides ذاتpossessed of نشوهrapture
فثنتْ معاطفَ ذات نشوه
Her slender beauties thrilled to praise you,
She was enthralled praising you
And swayed their bodies in rapture.
So she donned the robes of delight
جاءتكَshe came to you تشكرُthanks أنعماًfavors
جاءتكَ تشكرُ أنعماً
سبقتْhad already arrived إليهاto her منكfrom you حلوهsweet
سبقتْ إليها منك حلوه
She came to you to thank you for favors,
She came thanking you for favors
Sweet favors from you that had already reached her.
That had preceded her, freely bestowed by you
أوقرتهاyou loaded her منناًwith kindnesses أتتْthat came
أوقرتها منناً أتتْ
منكfrom you ابتداءاًon your own initiative لاnot بدعوهat a request
منك ابتداءاً لا بدعوه
You loaded her with kindnesses that came
You honored her with gifts that came
From you unprompted, not at a request.
First from you, not sought through request
عنfrom حملهاbearing them ضعفتshe grew weak وفيand through
عن حملها ضعفت وفي
هاthem أُعطيتْshe was given للسعيِfor striving قوَّهstrength
ها أُعطيتْ للسعيِ قوَّه
She grew too weak to bear them, yet through
She faltered bearing them, so you
Them she was given strength to strive.
Gave strength to effort, reinforcing her
فأتتْso she came تقاصرُfalling short عنof خُطاهاher strides
فأتتْ تقاصرُ عن خُطاها
خطوةًa step ثقلتْgrew heavy فخطوهthen another step
خطوةً ثقلتْ فخطوه
So she came, falling short of her own strides,
So she came short of reaching your steps
One heavy step, then another.
A pace made heavy, so she dragged her train
ودعتْكand she called to you ياO منyou who ليسnot يحنوshows tenderness
ودعتْك يا من ليس يحنو
والدٌa father أبداًever حنوَّهhis tenderness
والدٌ أبداً حنوَّه
And called to you, O you whose tenderness
And called you, O peerless comforter
No father ever equals.
A father never feels for his son as you feel
ماذاwhat أقولُcan I say بمدحِin praise of مَنْone who
ماذا أقولُ بمدحِ مَنْ
فيهconcerning him كتابُthe Book اللهof God نوَّهextolled
فيه كتابُ الله نوَّه
What can I say in praise of one
What can I say in praise of one
Whom the Book of God has extolled?
Whom God's book has extolled?
علمُstandard الهدىof guidance السَّاميlofty الذيwho
علمُ الهدى السَّامي الذي
لاnot تلحقُattain العلماءُthe scholars شأوهhis eminence
لا تلحقُ العلماءُ شأوه
The lofty standard of guidance, whose
The sublime, guiding knowledge, which
Eminence scholars cannot attain.
The scholars cannot attain in its loftiness
ورثَhe inherited from الأئمَّةthe imams كلَّماall that
ورثَ الأئمَّة كلَّما
قدindeed ورَّثواthey bequeathed منwith غيرno صفوهselection
قد ورَّثوا من غير صفوه
He inherited from the imams all
Inheritor of the Imams, whenever
They bequeathed, without picking and choosing.
They bequeathed, with no diminishing
فحوىand he gathered جميعَall خصالهمtheir qualities
فحوى جميعَ خصالهم
إلاَّexcept الإِمامةthe imamate والنبوَّهand prophethood
إلاَّ الإِمامة والنبوَّه
And gathered all their qualities,
Embodying all their merits
Except the imamate and prophethood.
Except for leadership and prophecy
أمنازعيهO his rivals رياسةًfor leadership
أمنازعيه رياسةً
كلٌّeach بهاthrough it يبغيseeks علوَّهhis own elevation
كلٌّ بها يبغي علوَّه
O you who contest his leadership,
Can any dispute his supremacy,
Each seeking his own elevation through it,
Each desiring through it his own elevation?
مِنfrom أينَwhere أنتمare you إنَّماonly
مِن أينَ أنتم إنَّما
إرثُinheritance الأبوَّةof fathers للبنوَّهbelongs to sons
إرثُ الأبوَّة للبنوَّه
Where do you come from? Surely
Whence come you? The legacy of fatherhood
The inheritance of fathers belongs to sons.
Belongs only to the son
بلrather مالكمyou have no فيin الاشتراكِsharing
بل مالكم في الاشتراكِ
معwith ابنthe son وحيِof revelation اللهof God حظوهfavored standing
مع ابن وحيِ الله حظوه
Nor have you any privilege in sharing
What portion do you claim in sharing
With the son of God's revelation.
With the son of God's revelation?
حيثُsince الإِمامُthe imam بكلِّin every عصرٍage
حيثُ الإِمامُ بكلِّ عصرٍ
واحدٌis one هوhe فيهin it قدوهan exemplar
واحدٌ هو فيه قدوه
For in every age the imam
For in every age there is one Imam
Is one, the exemplar of that age.
As exemplar, and our Imam of this age
وإمامُناand our imam مهديُّMahdi هذاthis الthe
وإمامُنا مهديُّ هذا ال
عصرِage نلجأwe seek refuge فيهin it نحوهtoward him
عصرِ نلجأ فيه نحوه
Our imam is Mahdi of this
To whom we turn, is Mahdi
Age; in it we turn toward him for refuge.
Is he equaled among you?
هذاthis man بقيَّةُthe surviving legacy جدِّهof his grandfather
هذا بقيَّةُ جدِّه
هلdo فيكمُamong you تجدونyou find كفوهhis equal
هل فيكمُ تجدون كفوه
This man is his grandfather's surviving legacy;
Wholly devoted in his deeds
Can you find his equal among yourselves?
To God, not to fancy and lust
ورعٌdevout جميعُall فعالهhis deeds
ورعٌ جميعُ فعاله
للهِfor God لاnot لهوًىfor desire وشهوهand lust
للهِ لا لهوًى وشهوه
Devout, all his deeds
Deceiving not in secrecy
Are for God, not desire and lust.
Cloaked in the silk of piety
لاnot مضمراًharboring غشًّاdeceit عليهover it
لا مضمراً غشًّا عليه
بزبرجwith the glitter of التقوىpiety مموَّهcamouflaged
بزبرج التقوى مموَّه
He harbors no deceit
Rather pure for God's sake
Disguised by the glitter of piety.
Pious in solitude and company
لكنbut تمحَّضhe became wholly devoted للإِلهِto God
لكن تمحَّض للإِلهِ
تقًىin piety بكلِّin every ملاًgathering وخلوهand solitude
تقًى بكلِّ ملاً وخلوه
Rather, he is wholly devoted to God
Steadfast in a state by which
In piety, in every gathering and in solitude.
He became an example for all faith
جارٍcontinuing علىin حالٍa way بهاthrough which
جارٍ على حالٍ بها
أضحىhe has become لأهلfor the people of الدينreligion أسوهan example
أضحى لأهل الدين أسوه
He keeps to a way by which
Then aid his cause, for nothing
He has become an example for the faithful.
Binds faith stronger than his cord
فاشددْso tighten يديكَyour two hands بهon him فماfor there is no
فاشددْ يديكَ به فما
للدينfor religion أوثقfirmer منهthan him عروهhandhold
للدين أوثق منه عروه
So grasp him firmly with both hands; no
How many tribulations has he eased! How much
Handhold for faith is firmer than he.
Has he apportioned from his compressed store!
كمhow many فكَّhe freed منof عانٍa captive وكمand how many
كم فكَّ من عانٍ وكم
قدindeed راشَhe feathered محصوصاًone plucked bare بثروهwith wealth
قد راشَ محصوصاً بثروه
How many captives he has freed, and how many
And insoluble affairs rendered smooth
Plucked-bare men he has feathered with wealth!
Since he calmed them after their ferment
وصعابِand unruly difficulties أمرٍof an affair أسلستْbecame docile
وصعابِ أمرٍ أسلستْ
مذsince راضَهاhe tamed them منfrom بعدafter نخوهhaughtiness
مذ راضَها من بعد نخوه
And unruly troubles grew docile
He is son of a people whose hands
Once he tamed them after their haughtiness.
Plunder does not make familiar
فهوfor he is ابنُthe son قومٍof people لاnot تحلُّloosens
فهو ابنُ قومٍ لا تحلُّ
لهمfor them يدُthe hand اللأواءof hardship حبوهa knee-binding
لهم يدُ اللأواء حبوه
He is the son of men for whom
Father of pure deeds, never in time
Hardship's hand never loosens a knee-binding.
Were their like forgotten among men
وأبوand the father of أطايبَnoble sons لمnot تقمْhave given birth
وأبو أطايبَ لم تقمْ
عنto مثلهمtheir like فيin الدهرall time نسوهwomen
عن مثلهم في الدهر نسوه
And the father of noble sons whose like
Moon of heaven! His father
No women have ever borne.
In nobility, whilst they and meteors are brothers
قمرthe moon السماءِof heaven أبوهمُtheir father
قمر السماءِ أبوهمُ
شرفاًin honor وهمand they والشهبُand the stars أخوهare brothers
شرفاً وهم والشهبُ أخوه
Heaven's moon is their father
Born in a house of revelation's houses
In honor; they and the stars are brothers.
Highest of the high in summit
وُلِدواthey were born ببيتٍin a house منamong بيوhouses (first part)
وُلِدوا ببيتٍ من بيو
تِcompletes 'houses' الوحيof revelation أعلاهنَّthe loftiest of them ذروهin summit
تِ الوحي أعلاهنَّ ذروه
They were born in a house among the houses
Suckled on the milk of Imamate
Of revelation, the loftiest of them in summit.
From the breast of prophecy
وتراضعواand they suckled together لبنَthe milk الإِماthe imamate (first part)
وتراضعوا لبنَ الإِما
مةcompletes 'the imamate' فيهin it منfrom ثديِthe breast النبوَّهof prophethood
مة فيه من ثديِ النبوَّه
Together they suckled the milk of the imamate
A house for virgin glories, graced each day
There, from the breast of prophethood.
With new unveilings of its wonders
بيتٌa house لأبكارِfor the virgin forms of المكاvirtues (first part)
بيتٌ لأبكارِ المكا
رمِcompletes 'virtues' كلّevery يومday فيهin it جلوهan unveiling
رمِ كلّ يوم فيه جلوه
A house where the virgin virtues
It is a Kaaba, generosity its crescent idol
Are unveiled each day.
And courage its inviolable sacrosanct stone
هوit كعبةٌis a Kaaba والجودُand generosity مشsacred station (first part)
هو كعبةٌ والجودُ مش
عرُهcompletes 'its sacred station' ومروتهand its Marwa المروَّهchivalry
عرُه ومروته المروَّه
It is a Kaaba; generosity is its sacred station,
Best dwelling midst scarcity of trying days
And chivalry its Marwa.
And dark night of wintry blasts
نعْمَexcellent is المناخُthe halting-place بيومon a day of ضيstraitness (first part)
نعْمَ المناخُ بيوم ضي
قةِcompletes 'straitness' فاقةٍpoverty وبليلِand on a night of شتوهwinter
قةِ فاقةٍ وبليلِ شتوه
What a fine halting-place on a day of
In it plant your hopes and you will find
Pinching poverty, and on a wintry night!
Them seeds that sprouted with blessings
فازرعْso sow رجاكَyour hope بهin it تجدْyou will find
فازرعْ رجاكَ به تجدْ
هُit كحبَّةٍlike a grain نبتتْthat sprouted بربوهon a hill
هُ كحبَّةٍ نبتتْ بربوه
So sow your hope there; you will find
In generosity it has a Jafar
It like a grain that sprouted on a hill.
Munificent, who makes the sea seem niggard
للجودِfor generosity فيهin it جعفرٌJa'far
للجودِ فيه جعفرٌ
كرماًin munificence يعدُhe reckons البحرَthe sea حسوهa sip
كرماً يعدُ البحرَ حسوه
Generosity has a Ja'far there,
And shows you the softness of his hands, that accept
Who, in munificence, reckons the sea a sip.
The roughness of rainclouds in drought
ويريكَand shows you لينُthe softness يديهof his two hands رقgentleness (first part)
ويريكَ لينُ يديه رق
ةcompletes 'gentleness' غادياتmorning-arriving السحبclouds قسوهharshness
ة غاديات السحب قسوه
The softness of his hands makes even the gentleness
Raiding every day the caravan of hopes
Of morning clouds seem harsh to you.
Plundering, he smiles as they are seized as spoils
فيin كلِّevery يومٍday فيwithin حماهhis sanctuary
في كلِّ يومٍ في حماه
لغارةfor the raid of الآمالِhopes غزوهan incursion
لغارة الآمالِ غزوه
Every day within his sanctuary,
How often has the aroma of his gifts spread
The raiding hopes mount an assault.
From the hearth of the potter neighbor!
تُسبىare carried off captive مواهبُهhis gifts بهاin it
تُسبى مواهبُه بها
ويُسرُّand he rejoices إذwhen يؤخذْنَthey are taken عنوهby force
ويُسرُّ إذ يؤخذْنَ عنوه
His gifts are carried off as captives,
And how often by it to honor he ran
And he rejoices when they are seized by force.
And the noble hastened after to attain it
كمhow often فاحَwafted منfrom أعطافهhis sides
كم فاحَ من أعطافه
أرجُthe fragrance الفخارof glory بدارin a house of ندوهassembly
أرجُ الفخار بدار ندوه
How often from his sides has wafted
So spur your steed of hope without stop
The fragrance of glory in a hall of assembly!
You will never see it balk or turn away
ولكمْand how often إلىtoward شرفٍhonor جرىhe raced
ولكمْ إلى شرفٍ جرى
وجرتْand raced بنوthe sons العلياءof eminence تلوهbehind him
وجرتْ بنو العلياء تلوه
How often he has raced toward honor,
The destitute pin their hopes, so he paused
And the sons of eminence have raced behind him!
The praiseworthy ladies met their brother
فهوواbut they fell وحلَّقَand he soared يركبُriding الthe
فهووا وحلَّقَ يركبُ ال
شعرىSirius العبورَal-Abur (its epithet) إليهtoward it صهوهas a saddle
شعرى العبورَ إليه صهوه
They fell, while he soared, riding
No longer fearing the violence of dearth
Sirius al-Abur as a saddle to reach it.
He is the epitome of open-handedness and chivalry
بشراكِglad tidings to you سائمةO grazing flock الرجاءِof hope
بشراكِ سائمة الرجاءِ
فلمand you have not تريْseen ماas long as عشتِyou have lived جفوهrebuff
فلم تريْ ما عشتِ جفوه
Glad tidings, O grazing flock of hope!
The water of life for the lovesick heart and its remedy
You have known no rebuff for as long as you have lived.
No sooner does he incline to the lofty
قدindeed جاءَhas come أكرمthe noblest مَنone بهbeside him
قد جاءَ أكرم مَن به
أملُthe hope العفاةof supplicants أناخَmade kneel نضوهits weary mount
أملُ العفاة أناخَ نضوه
The noblest man has come, beside whom
Than the girls wish to rise in station
The supplicants' hope has made its weary mount kneel.
Except piety, his brother in kind
لقيتْhave met أخاهاtheir brother المكرماتُthe noble virtues
لقيتْ أخاها المكرماتُ
فلمand they did not تخفْfear للبخلِof miserliness سطوهthe power
فلم تخفْ للبخلِ سطوه
The noble virtues have met their brother,
A worthy seed of excellent stock
And have not feared the power of avarice.
This eulogized one in the heights
هوhe ذاكis that man نعمَexcellent is فتىthe youth of السماgenerosity (first part)
هو ذاك نعمَ فتى السما
حةِcompletes 'generosity' والسجاحةand gentleness والفتوَّهand chivalry
حةِ والسجاحة والفتوَّه
He is that man—what a fine youth of generosity,
Named for the eulogized
Gentleness and chivalry!
Enraging the envious when he appears
ماءُthe water الحياةِof life لذيfor one possessed of الهوىlove
ماءُ الحياةِ لذي الهوى
ولقلبand for the heart of ذيone possessed of الشحناءhatred جذوهa glowing coal
ولقلب ذي الشحناء جذوه
The water of life to the lover,
Saddening the adversary when extolled
And a glowing coal to the hater's heart.
In him the traits of merit testify
ماnot إنindeed سماhe rose لعلًىto heights تودُّwish for
ما إن سما لعلًى تودُّ
النيِّراتُthe radiant stars بهاat them علوَّهhis elevation
النيِّراتُ بها علوَّه
Never has he risen to heights where
He is the paragon of merit
The radiant stars long for his elevation,
His features relate the features of those who
إلاَّexcept that التُّقىpiety معهis with him أخوهhis brother
إلاَّ التُّقى معه أخوه
صالحٌSalih منهاamong them بذروهat a summit
صالحٌ منها بذروه
Without piety beside him, and his brother
Became the essence of glory in morn’s first glow
Salih upon their summit.
The perfect soul, Muhammad
هذاthis is المنوَّهُthe acclaimed one فيamong المعاليlofty ranks
هذا المنوَّهُ في المعالي
باسمهby his name هذاthis is المنوَّهthe acclaimed one
باسمه هذا المنوَّه
This is he who is acclaimed among lofty ranks
Most generous of the generous elite
By name—this is the acclaimed one.
He and Hussein of the lofty
غيظُthe rage الحسودof the envious إذاwhen بداhe appears
غيظُ الحسود إذا بدا
شرقُthe choking anguish الخصيمof the adversary إذاwhen تفوَّهhe speaks
شرقُ الخصيم إذا تفوَّه
The envier's rage when he appears,
Both proud steeds of pedigree
The adversary's choking anguish when he speaks.
Two sprigs of honor whose fragrance
فيهin him سماتُmarks الفضلِof excellence تشهدُbear witness
فيه سماتُ الفضلِ تشهدُ
أنَّهthat he فيin الفضلِexcellence قدوهis an exemplar
أنَّه في الفضلِ قدوه
The marks of excellence in him bear witness
Suffuses the gardens of prophecy
That he is an exemplar of excellence.
O brethren in sublime kinship
تحكيmirror شمائلهhis character شماthe character (first part)
تحكي شمائله شما
ئلَcompletes 'character' مَنof one who غداbecame فيin المجدِglory صبوهhis peer
ئلَ مَن غدا في المجدِ صبوه
His character mirrors the character
Blessed are those ties of brotherhood!
Of one who has become his peer in glory:
A talent greeted you rapturously
روحthe spirit الكمالِof perfection محمدٌMuhammad
روح الكمالِ محمدٌ
أكرمْhow noble بهhe is للمجدِfor glory صفوهa chosen one
أكرمْ به للمجدِ صفوه
Muhammad, the spirit of perfection—
None but you embodying the gift of prophecy
How noble he is, glory's chosen one!
It created then offered you from its yield
هوhe والحسينand al-Husayn منof العلاeminence (first part)
هو والحسين من العلا
ءِcompletes 'eminence' كلاهماboth of them عنقٌa neck وصهوهand a saddle-back
ءِ كلاهما عنقٌ وصهوه
He and al-Husayn, in the realm of eminence,
Frank praise, pure drink for the virtuous
Are both its neck and its saddle-back.
And from it gave you recompense
ريحانتاtwo fragrant sprigs of شرفٍhonor تضوَّwafts (first part)
ريحانتا شرفٍ تضوَّ
عَcompletes 'wafts' منهماfrom them both أرجُthe fragrance النبوَّهof prophethood
عَ منهما أرجُ النبوَّه
Two fragrant sprigs of honor: there wafts
For benevolence, a draught refined
From them the fragrance of prophethood.
When dressed in robes of acceptance
ياO أخوةَbrothers of الشرفِhonor الرفيعlofty
يا أخوةَ الشرفِ الرفيع
وبوركتand blessed be بلكthat (likely intended: تلك) الأخوَّهbrotherhood
وبوركت بلك الأخوَّه
O brothers of lofty honor,
It is right she struts with pride
Blessed be that brotherhood!
حيتكُمُshe greeted you بدويَّةٌa Bedouin maiden
حيتكُمُ بدويَّةٌ
هيshe عنfrom سواكمall but you ذاتُpossessed of نبوهaloofness
هي عن سواكم ذاتُ نبوه
A Bedouin maiden greeted you;
She is aloof from all but you.
مخضتْshe churned ثميلتهاher remaining milk لكمfor you
مخضتْ ثميلتها لكم
حلبَthe milk of الثناءpraise صريحpure رغوهfoam
حلبَ الثناء صريح رغوه
She churned her remaining milk for you:
The milk of praise, with pure foam.
وسقتكمُand she gave you to drink منهاfrom it مكاin recompense (first part)
وسقتكمُ منها مكا
فئةًcompletes 'in recompense' علىfor الإِحسانِkindness صفوهthe purest portion
فئةً على الإِحسانِ صفوه
And gave you a drink from it, in recompense
For your kindness, its purest portion.
وإذاand when اكتستْshe donned حللُthe robes القبوacceptance (first part)
وإذا اكتستْ حللُ القبو
لcompletes 'acceptance' فحقَّthen it is her right أنْto تختالَstrut زهوهin pride
ل فحقَّ أنْ تختالَ زهوه
And when she dons the robes of acceptance,
She has the right to strut in pride.
Partial English translation: 111 of 120 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1